It was not an easy decision, but a necessary one. There were a few other options, but Edward was suspecting that whatever - whoever - was keeping Lyle Bolton in Arkham had to have a lot of influence. Calling just anyone would not do. No, he had to call someone. And no one in Gotham was more of a someone than Oswald Cobblepot.
On the surface, there wasn't really any issue with calling Oswald. He liked Oswald, for the most part, and he had no doubt that Oswald liked him. Appreciated him, even, for his habit of wearing very tight-fitted pants as much as his intellect and ability to entertain the crowd at the Iceberg Lounge. He was certain that Oswald had at least some vested interest in him not being wasted in Arkham. However, Oswald never did anything for free and, as favours went, depending on how negotiations went? This could count as a big one.
So Edward made sure he was no longer concussed when he used his phone call to dial his way through the system, bypassing the numerous people on the way and making sure his call would go straight to Oswald's personal telephone in his office in the Iceberg Lounge. It was afternoon, so he expected he'd be at work, not too drunk, and hopefully in a good enough mood. "Oswald? Good day to you! Edward here, Edward Nygma. It's been too long."
"Edward, my boy. You've been away for a while. They finally let you out? About time. Arkham truly does waste some of our greater minds." Oswald was in a good mood. He just sold a stupid painting for three times it's worth, won a very public debate against his mayoral challenger for the next election and he had the top shelf scotch on his desk. So yeah, really was a good mood to catch Oswald in.
It could be very up and down with Oswald but right now, it was great.
"Last time we talked was... God, New years about a year ago, wasn't it? Good party." Oswald remembered very little of it but he was very wrecked and that usually translated to a good party.
"Yes, yes. I've been in here since the summer, so there's unfortunately been a lot of time wasted we could have used to catch up a little. Share a nice drink or two." It was one of his longest stints in Arkham, especially considering that he hadn't spent any time in the infirmary to begin with. Right now, of course, here he was. "I hear through the grapevine that your mayoral campaign is going well. Such a shame I can't follow it more actively."
He let out a heavy sigh, glad that Oswald appeared to be in a good mood. Perhaps he could take advantage of that. "Alas, I am still stuck in Arkham. There's been a new-- The Joker himself has referred to the person in question as an immovable object. Quite the brute, really. A bully. Lyle Bolton. Have you heard of him before?"
"Bolton, Bolton, Bol-- oh. Yes. Waller's man. Yeah, he is quite the obstacle. Designed to be one, I believe. Blame our dear friend Joker for that one. Waller believes we Gothamites can't handle containing our own, she insisted on an import. If I'm remembering right, I'm not often big on discussing with the -- governmental operations like that." Oswald wasn't interested in anything going on in A.R.G.U.S. and usually sought to avoid Waller whenever he saw her at parties. She always just wanted to yell at him and honestly, he didn't care what she thought.
It wasn't surprising after the Joker's last rampage that they upped security, that wasn't news at all. The strange thing was that Edward felt the need to call him and recount the situation. Odd. What was his game?
"Edward, I love hearing from you, I really do but we rogues don't do social calls very often, especially not when incarcerated. So what do you want from me?" He always liked to be as direct as he could be, avoided any messy confusion. "Be open, we're old friends - give it to me straight."
Oswald paused and then made an amused noise. "In a manner of speaking." Nothing he did was straight.
Waller. Amanda Waller. Edward winced, even if he stayed silent, connecting the pieces. Damn the Joker and damn her even more. This was their city, they could handle it. And they would, he just had to have some time to regroup. Take proper stock of the situation and deescalate things before it could implode. Or, worse, explode. "Well, my dear Oswald, I'm calling you from the Arkham infirmary. I was thrown. Yes, literally."
How did he best do this? Edward considered, before he began to recount the tale. "See, Jonathan Crane is not the biggest fan of communal showers - few people are, but he is more reluctant than most - and he tends to linger behind. So Bolton took it upon himself to corner him in a cubicle and force the matter. It was-- Well, let's say that I saw it fit to intervene and as my explicit goal was to make myself the main target of his aggressions and as I have a habit of succeeding, he picked me up and threw me against the wall. My head split open."
What was it with people and giving him head injuries? "He's a brute. A slur every few seconds. The Joker is seething, Delite's mirthless. Something is going to give, my friend."
"Well. That's ... not good, Edward. Really not good."
This is why he hated outsiders meddling. This was a powder keg, Oswald could easily see what would happen. Either Arkham would implode under the stress or, worse yet, the Joker would riot his way out and bring his anger out into the streets. And an angry Joker was a problem. Violent, scorned, vicious. And Oswald had a campaign to run. Fuck. He was silent for a while as he scanned over his options and considered what move would be best. He had a loony bin full of angry crazies on the verge of a breakdown and Waller meddling from the outside.
"The inevitable outcome is one of them will kill him and then Waller will retaliate. It'll get worse. If the Joker is the one to do it, you can imagine where this will go. I think we could avoid another governmental attack on Gotham." The last one left them isolated for a year. He didn't fancy that again.
Oswald exhaled a sharp sigh, drank his scotch and then made a decision. "Distance from a problem does wonders for solutions, does it not?" It did for him and definitely for Edward. "Edward, I do believe you're far too sane to be in there."
"Oh, yes. I've been feeling particularly sane lately." Well, he had edged some numbers into his arm because no one would give him any damn paper and he really had to get something out and down as soon as possible. However, it did not take a genius to know where Oswald was going with this. "I'm also of the firm belief that I could be of much more use on the outside."
Far away from the powder keg, as it was. "Crane doesn't abide bullies well. Between him and the Joker..." Something was going to give, in a very, very bad way. "Might I request a hasty approach?"
Oswald pondered again for a moment, idly looking ahead at his campaign post and frowning. Then it struck him. Edward would be useful on the outside. Far, far more useful.
"You're hired!"
Oswald smirked and leaned back in his chair. "I need some support on my campaign so you're hired, my boy. Congratulations. And no one on my team can be stuck in Arkham, can they? I can perhaps come tomorrow and pick you up for your first day at work. Can't do today, Victor is going to a school play." Very annoying. "Besides, you need to rest up a little more."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow." His heart was swelling with hope here, even if he did realise that there was likely a giant addendum to all of this. But whatever, he could owe Oswald for a bit, he could be useful, he could stay mostly above board, as long as he could just duck out of here before he felt compelled to act like even more of a hero. Besides, maybe he could resolve the situation in here from the outside. "Thank you ever so. I can't wait to help you reach your rightful place, Mayor Cobblepot."
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icebergloungers2022-11-05 07:24 pm
no subject
On the surface, there wasn't really any issue with calling Oswald. He liked Oswald, for the most part, and he had no doubt that Oswald liked him. Appreciated him, even, for his habit of wearing very tight-fitted pants as much as his intellect and ability to entertain the crowd at the Iceberg Lounge. He was certain that Oswald had at least some vested interest in him not being wasted in Arkham. However, Oswald never did anything for free and, as favours went, depending on how negotiations went? This could count as a big one.
So Edward made sure he was no longer concussed when he used his phone call to dial his way through the system, bypassing the numerous people on the way and making sure his call would go straight to Oswald's personal telephone in his office in the Iceberg Lounge. It was afternoon, so he expected he'd be at work, not too drunk, and hopefully in a good enough mood. "Oswald? Good day to you! Edward here, Edward Nygma. It's been too long."
no subject
It could be very up and down with Oswald but right now, it was great.
"Last time we talked was... God, New years about a year ago, wasn't it? Good party." Oswald remembered very little of it but he was very wrecked and that usually translated to a good party.
no subject
He let out a heavy sigh, glad that Oswald appeared to be in a good mood. Perhaps he could take advantage of that. "Alas, I am still stuck in Arkham. There's been a new-- The Joker himself has referred to the person in question as an immovable object. Quite the brute, really. A bully. Lyle Bolton. Have you heard of him before?"
He did wonder. Had to be connected, Bolton.
no subject
It wasn't surprising after the Joker's last rampage that they upped security, that wasn't news at all. The strange thing was that Edward felt the need to call him and recount the situation. Odd. What was his game?
"Edward, I love hearing from you, I really do but we rogues don't do social calls very often, especially not when incarcerated. So what do you want from me?" He always liked to be as direct as he could be, avoided any messy confusion. "Be open, we're old friends - give it to me straight."
Oswald paused and then made an amused noise. "In a manner of speaking." Nothing he did was straight.
no subject
How did he best do this? Edward considered, before he began to recount the tale. "See, Jonathan Crane is not the biggest fan of communal showers - few people are, but he is more reluctant than most - and he tends to linger behind. So Bolton took it upon himself to corner him in a cubicle and force the matter. It was-- Well, let's say that I saw it fit to intervene and as my explicit goal was to make myself the main target of his aggressions and as I have a habit of succeeding, he picked me up and threw me against the wall. My head split open."
What was it with people and giving him head injuries? "He's a brute. A slur every few seconds. The Joker is seething, Delite's mirthless. Something is going to give, my friend."
no subject
This is why he hated outsiders meddling. This was a powder keg, Oswald could easily see what would happen. Either Arkham would implode under the stress or, worse yet, the Joker would riot his way out and bring his anger out into the streets. And an angry Joker was a problem. Violent, scorned, vicious. And Oswald had a campaign to run. Fuck. He was silent for a while as he scanned over his options and considered what move would be best. He had a loony bin full of angry crazies on the verge of a breakdown and Waller meddling from the outside.
"The inevitable outcome is one of them will kill him and then Waller will retaliate. It'll get worse. If the Joker is the one to do it, you can imagine where this will go. I think we could avoid another governmental attack on Gotham." The last one left them isolated for a year. He didn't fancy that again.
Oswald exhaled a sharp sigh, drank his scotch and then made a decision. "Distance from a problem does wonders for solutions, does it not?" It did for him and definitely for Edward. "Edward, I do believe you're far too sane to be in there."
no subject
Far away from the powder keg, as it was. "Crane doesn't abide bullies well. Between him and the Joker..." Something was going to give, in a very, very bad way. "Might I request a hasty approach?"
no subject
Oswald pondered again for a moment, idly looking ahead at his campaign post and frowning. Then it struck him. Edward would be useful on the outside. Far, far more useful.
"You're hired!"
Oswald smirked and leaned back in his chair. "I need some support on my campaign so you're hired, my boy. Congratulations. And no one on my team can be stuck in Arkham, can they? I can perhaps come tomorrow and pick you up for your first day at work. Can't do today, Victor is going to a school play." Very annoying. "Besides, you need to rest up a little more."
no subject