texts;

[3rs]

Comments

to Oswald

[3rs]

I have a question.

Don't worry, not a riddle!

[beaky]

good, better not be.

Go ahead, Edward.
Ask.

[3rs]

My dear friend.

What are the odds of you letting me access any of the Lounge's CV footage of, ph, say, a specific night or two in recent weeks?

[beaky]

Very, very, very unlikely. Low chance. Not worth a bet on, the odds are garbage.

Why?

[3rs]

Because a very, very wise friend of mine - he looks remarkably much like you, fancy that - once told me that everyone and everything has a price.

So I am just wondering.

Hypothetically, of course.

[beaky]

It is also wise to be trusted. To not sell out patrons. Who would come back if I just gave away footage of everyone who came in and out?

The price would be VERY steep.

I doubt a man like you could pay it.

[3rs]

Ah, my friend. You know that in this hypothetical scenario, no one would ever find out about it. I'm not in the business of letting people know things they haven't earned.

But you, of course, also know that I have resources that not everyone has. And you have requirements and desires that few can meet, of course. A distinguished man like you.

[beaky]

Flattery is cheap, Ed.

What do you think I'd want? Let's make it a game.

Woah me.

[3rs]

I can think of a number of things.

Certain stock market information that fell into my lap. *cough* Luthor *cough*

Guaranteed intel on the Bat's - and his offshots' - whereabouts for specific times and dates.

[beaky]

Tell me which night, who it is about and how much footage and I'll tell you the price. I may be fair and ask for one.

I may ask for all three.

Let's see how much it's worth, yes?

[3rs]

Last Tuesday night. Ten to one inside, twelve to two outside.

Can't tell you who it's about, but if you draw your own conclusions, I can't stop you. You are entirely too clever.

[beaky]

Really? Interesting.

You know, I met with a few people that day but a few do come to mind. Why are you so interested in information about that?

I would have thought you'd have bigger fish to fry.

[3rs]

Oh, I have a lot of things on the fryer. So to say.

But you don't have to know why it's valuable to me to sell it, of course.

[beaky]

I think who you are playing would not be happy if I sold information on him and I happen to like him so play nice.

If you do anything I don't appreciate, I'll have to get revenge.

[3rs]

You might be jumping to conclusions. However, if it reassures you, let me give you my word that I don't intend harm to any of your patrons, employees or anyone affiliated with you.

I'd be willing to record myself saying that, or sing you a song about it, so you know I mean it.

[beaky]

Talk is cheap, I don't trust anyone.

That's how you survive in Gotham, you don't just trust people. It's stupid.

I'll give you the footage and you give your work. If you break your word, I'll make you suffer. Very simple! Now, how do I send it?

[3rs]

...do you have a tech guy? or gal?

[beaky]

Uhhh, kinda?

I can find someone.

[3rs]

then tell them mp4 and to send it to my email address

and you may ask for your payment

[beaky]

You are looking into a time when someone close to me was about so I'll have all three.

It's a big ask. I don't want to be accused of betrayal.

He's prone to pouting when betrayed.

[3rs]

You, my friend, are awfully paranoid.

Let me just assure you that if I planned on harming anyone close to you in any way, I'd be a lot sneakier about it.

to Harvey

[3rs]

You have enough fire- and manpower to go after Falcone if I give you a time and place and a Zsasz-free guarantee.

Right?

Re: to Harvey

[alphapollo]

Yep, easily. Why?

You gonna give me that guarantee?

[3rs]

It wouldn't be nice if I offered you something I'm not willing to give.

You have the guarantee. Keep an eye on the television, I think you'll catch my signal.

I'm not big on 'subtle'.

[alphapollo]

and why would you do this?

help me out and all?

it's one thing to do a deal together but this smacks of a favour... so what do you want in return?

[3rs]

Well. This has given me the opportunity to test out a working theory I had regarding the illustrious Mr Zsasz, and I now have confirmation. And I do so love gaining knowledge.

So. Let us just call it an IOU. Just make sure you stay around long enough to pay up.

[alphapollo]

and what if I don't?

then you'd lose out

[3rs]

You'll just have to take good care of yourself.

I don't like losing out.

[alphapollo]

Well, these days you and the coin tend to want the same thing so you probably have a lot of luck.

Were you always a lucky person? Just curious.

[3rs]

Ha.

Wait. You are serious. No. No, I'm not lucky. I have never been lucky.

[alphapollo]

I always tried to make my own luck. I figured that was the only way to cheat a flawed system.

The coin belonged to my old man. He always cheated luck too.

[3rs]

My old man thought I was the cheater. He also thought I talked too much. That I was too much of a little shit.

Let me tell you, Harvey, the Rogue Gallery is a Who's Who of Daddy Issues. Actually, put the Bat on that too. Trust me.

Sorry it's true of you too.

[alphapollo]

I don't know, I liked my old man. He just taught me a lot about trust. You can't just rely on people, you gotta rely on yourself making things better for you.

Sorry that your dad fucked you up so hard.

Seems like a common Gotham tale. Likely all the gangsters.

[3rs]

Yeah, it's not very original. Disappoints me at times. I'd like something a bit more extraordinary, but my old man is just an old drunk. Nothing grandiose there.

Have you ever had therapy, Harvey? I am aware of my own diagnosis, although I don't entirely agree with all that's on file with me at Arkham... I'll be honest, when I get bored enough, I just fuck with my therapists.

As in, I fake symptoms of something, not literal intercourse. I haven't done that with any of them.

Well. Mostly haven't.

See? Talk too much. Text too much.

[alphapollo]

I went to therapy once when I was younger, I kept having blackouts. They gave me some meds and I never went back. Didn't really stick out the meds either, I found other ways. Exercise worked for me the most, just run until all the thoughts go away, shit like that.

I would say that I don't think I need it but there's fucking two of me so I can't deny it.

It ain't normal, right? To take a jar of acid to the face and suddenly, there's another guy in here with me. And I can't shut him up, I tried.

[3rs]

Not normal, no. But another word for normal is ordinary and who really wants to be that? No one worth knowing.

To my knowledge, your condition is almost always tied to suppressed childhood trauma. Either one event or repeated events, something before the age of five.

Where my own issues are concerned, I believe in self-medication. And, at times, self-isolation.

[alphapollo]

Huh. Didn't think my childhood was that eventful. I dunno, sounds like therapist BS to me.

All these guys think you're into your mom and have daddy issues.

What's wrong with you? I never got that.

[3rs]

If you ever want a good therapist, look outside Gotham.

Honestly, it really is just OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Very common in anyone with a high intellect, possibly related to how the world is perceived by someone who is too aware.

Either way, I manage it well. Give or take a few riddles.

[alphapollo]

Well you ain't two people, a clown or a grown man dressed as a bat so you're managing better than a lot of Gotham.

I don't think I'll ever want a therapist.

I think I just want it all to go away like that. Unrealistic, I know. Still, it'd be cool to snap my fingers and undo it all.

[3rs]

You could get your face treated. Enough to, you know. Stop rotting.

Might help your social life.

[alphapollo]

I take it that my face bothers you?

I figured. It does everyone. I don't blame them.

[3rs]

I'm concerned about my bottom line. If you die, what's in it for me?

You'll owe me, so. Time to save face.

[alphapollo]

Funny.

Once I off Falcone, I'll flip for it.

How's that?

[3rs]

Good.

Wait for my sign. Be ready. Falcone's yours.