[There is a definite pause this time on Oswald's end before he replies, the little bubble to show he's typing popping up and vanishing a couple of times first.]
No. Often you get ambushed or affected in ways you aren't aware of. When I first arrived, there were these charms, that could affect how you thought and felt. And if you didn't have, you'd end up with one.
I picked up a green one. I liked the colour. I couldn't see that it made me... suggestible. Vulnerable to predators. It kept Riddler smothered down, unable to even be heard. He didn't like that.
[Perhaps part of him keeps hoping that there's some kind of practical upshot of all of this, something that will make the impending forced discomfort worth it somehow. It's wildly naive of him and on some level he knows that even searching for the silver lining is ridiculous and doomed to waves of disappointment at best and outright crashing failure at worst. It's like looking forward to red jello day at Arkham. Not even strawberry flavour, just red.
Letting his head thump back against the pillow of the bed he's still not quite moved from yet, Oswald makes a low whining sound that he's very glad won't be picked up by text.]
What about pockets of resistance? Rebel factions? Corrupt LIES workers? There has to be something.
[If he sat with this a little longer, he would of course realise that if Ed and Riddler haven't found a way to exempt themselves yet, it really is as dire a situation as has been intimated.]
[Ever persistent Ed. This is clearly not something that's going away any time soon, something that they're going to have to find a way to deal with one way or another because Ed isn't inclined to just ignore Oswald and he knows it. When they're further apart, it's easier for Oswald to focus on the version of Ed that he left on ice and everything that lead to that moment. It's much harder to hold that line when he's called on to interact with Ed directly, even harder still when they're physically around one another.
Oswald hesitates on the offer, shifting to sit a little more upright. He still has some things to attend to here and it's much harder to just sneak out of a secure mansion.]
You don't think there will be any issue with two Marked individuals attempting to procure a meal together with the atmosphere as it currently stands?
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What?
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Last month.
Not in our house.
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People were paid to raise eggs and the ensuing spawn. They've been collected now by the scientists.
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[There's a slight pause, then another message follows in rather quick succession.]
I suppose it is fair to assume you haven't always been granted the luxury of avoiding such things. Is that correct?
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No. Often you get ambushed or affected in ways you aren't aware of. When I first arrived, there were these charms, that could affect how you thought and felt. And if you didn't have, you'd end up with one.
I picked up a green one. I liked the colour. I couldn't see that it made me... suggestible. Vulnerable to predators. It kept Riddler smothered down, unable to even be heard. He didn't like that.
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Letting his head thump back against the pillow of the bed he's still not quite moved from yet, Oswald makes a low whining sound that he's very glad won't be picked up by text.]
What about pockets of resistance? Rebel factions? Corrupt LIES workers? There has to be something.
[If he sat with this a little longer, he would of course realise that if Ed and Riddler haven't found a way to exempt themselves yet, it really is as dire a situation as has been intimated.]
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You should come to lunch. I'll take you out somewhere if you prefer.
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Oswald hesitates on the offer, shifting to sit a little more upright. He still has some things to attend to here and it's much harder to just sneak out of a secure mansion.]
You don't think there will be any issue with two Marked individuals attempting to procure a meal together with the atmosphere as it currently stands?
[It's not an outright no, at least! Improvement?]
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I'll send you the name and address and meet you there.
[ Which he does as soon as he's made the reservation. ]