4024/What Kind of Circle Never Ends

What Kind of Circle Never Ends
Date of Scene:	04 November 2020
Location:	Royal Dragon Restaurant - Hell's Kitchen
Synopsis:	Spiral and Harley Quinn appear out of no where to question Edward Nygma. Even now, he has no idea what they were trying to recruit him for is the Suicide Squad, but it seems he's agreed to an additional meeting. Perhaps with The Wall herself.
Cast of Characters:	Edward Nygma, Spiral, Harley Quinn

---

Edward Nygma has posed:
It's morning, and Edward Nygma is in the Royal Dragon Restaurant having a breakfast of Chikara Chow Mein.

He's not in full Riddler gear for once, he's instead wearing a plain green button up with some green slacks and expensive brown shoes. Aside from all the green, he could be easily confused for any random guy.

He's sucking up noodles with chopsticks when there's a sudden teleportation right next to his table.

Spiral's been sent to talk to him. She has to ask him questions to determine if he would be an adequate member of the Suicide Squad.

That is not why she's //actually// here, that's simply what she's been told. Her actual reason for being here is so that they can test how she might react in this particular circumstance with a man like Edward Nygma.

Harley Quinn, as a qualified therapist, depending on one's opinion perhaps, has been sent to take notes. If she follows that instruction, well, it will remain to be seen.

"What the hell?" he asks with a mouth full of noodles, staring directly at Spiral, not noticing Harley immediately.

Spiral has posed:
Spiral looks around, and then back to Edward with a frown. "Who eats breakfast in a restaurant?" she asks. "Edward Nygma, presumably...". And she grins at him, before walking around the table where he's sitting, circling him.

"You are Edward Nygma, right?". She dances, and an illusion of Nygma-as-Riddler appears, though in 2D, based on the photograph she was given. She glances between the two. "Not as well dressed now." she observes. "But the same man.".

Harley Quinn has posed:
Yay, breakfast at the Dragon! Harley being an informed citizen has already seen the menu online so when they pop in she immediately announces. "I am havin' JJ's Bourbon chicken!" alcohol at breakfast? Ewwww! "And yea yea, I know it's moanin', but it's night in Australia! So this one will be foh my australian friends." a toothy grin offered up at Spiral. She is dressed in overalls, faded yellow and a top. Nothing fancy, not even her usual sunglasses. She did bring an inconspicuous backpack though.

She casts a look over at Nygma, squinting her eyes. "Ain't I seen ya somewheah?" she goes to pick up a chair to settle down. She is just here for her food! Or is she?!

"I am Hah'lee, this is Spiral, awesome time danceh of awesomeness."

Edward Nygma has posed:
"I'm enjoyed by everyone, not always the same, but one thing's for certain, I'll cause many stains." Edward states as he starts to slurp noodles again. "It's very polite to slurp your noodles in Japan. I'm not sure if the same applies to China."

"It's the Riddler." he says to Harley when he finally notices her there, then motions for the two other chairs at his table. "Take a seat, I'm paying."

He focuses on Spiral, she's the unfamiliar thing, the //riddle//. "Is this an assassination attempt? I just cured my inoperable brain tumor, so that's an ironic bridge too far. Oh, that's a good one. I'm frequently misused and sometimes a coincidence, but I always have iron, as it takes precedence. What am I? That's perfect."

Spiral has posed:
"Oh I see. Edward Nygma. E Nygma. The Riddler.". Spiral looks over at Harley with a glare. "What is it with you people?" she asks, spreading all six hands. Gotham City, what a town.

"We're not here to eat." she adds, though Harley is already ordering food. "And we're not here to assassinate you. We are just here to ask a few questions... like, what you do, how do you do it.".

She doesn't sit, but she stops pacing around him, to stand opposite him, putting weight on first one furry booted foot, and then the other.

After a long pause, she concludes, "I think you stil have the brain tumour.", regarding his riddle. "I am not sure we're here for riddles.".

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Oh shit." Harley curses, eyebrows shooting up. There's some surprise there. She hasn't seen the guy since the terror times in Gotham. A bit of a frown then appears on her expression. "Well, a bit far from wheah ya used ta hang. Literally. I saw ya hangin' many a times aftah Batman uh ..., did things to ya." things.

But anyway, she goes to sit, waving her pale hand over. "Bourbon chicken foh me! And ..." she looks at Spiral. "Oh ya gotta eat somethin' oh ya just gonna be skin and bones. Also, not too polite ta be standin' while the rest o' us awhe all sittin'" see? Teaching manners! Like in Princess Bride.

She rests back on her chair then, not explaining why they are here at all. That's for Spiral to do! She is here to eat, and observe!

Edward Nygma has posed:
"It's gone. I went to Niffleheim and did some puzzles, so I was deemed worthy of staying alive and the death goddess Hela removed my tumor." Edward can't stop bragging about that, and also, bragging about it is a part of the deal. At least, that's how he interprets it.

"I intellectually challenge myself and others. I solve puzzles, and give puzzles to solve, usually while trying to solve a puzzle." He looks Spiral over, taking note of her arms. "What has six arms but no hands, one beak but no wings, and two eyes but no lungs."

He asks this while staring at Spiral, quite enjoying his food. "I also do magic tricks." He holds both hands up, then suddenly waves a hand and there's an egg in his hand, which he promptly smashes, before opening his hand and revealing a small dove.

The dove flies away, and the restaurant owner suddenly yells, "What the //fuck// Eddie! I told you about the birds!"

"Sorry, sorry..." Edward says with a grumble. "I haven't seen you since the old outfit." He nods to her new outfit. "Good work on ditching the Joker. Never liked the guy, that's why sometimes I do joke crimes."

Spiral has posed:
"I got hands..." Spiral replies, scowling at Nygma. The rest just confuses her, and makes her think of some of the more twisted things she could do with her Body Shoppe - or Mojo could do in general. "I don't know. Some sort of corrupted monster. A mass of flesh that would live briefly, before dying in pain under its own contradictions.".

At the bird she backs up a little, before shaking her head. "Stage magic. I've seen the Prestige. You will kill one of those birds and pull out it's sister.". Reaching up with her two two hands, she grabs at the spikes on her helmet, trying to remember why she's even here. Oh.

"So, you make riddles, lie about goddesses, and you are a 'magician'. Can you shoot people?" she wonders. "Break into somewhere?".

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Oh look at ya, cavortin' with Gods and all that.. Goin' up in life, Eddy." Harley winks at Nygma then. "Good that ya took care of that tumah though! See, if I was a conspiracy theorist right now I'd be sayin' theah's a direct relation between doin too many riddles and gettin tumors." isn't that how those things work? But considering her tone, she appears to be saying it in a sarcastic manner.

With tricks make Harley grin more widely. "Ah, ya awhe similah ta the Jokah in that, he taught me a few o' those too, but he normally likes a few moouh uh ..., darin' performances." yes, like making pencils disappear...

"Hey, no killin' animals on my watch.." Harley says back to Spiral, shaking her head. But anyway, her food does arrive. Or should we say her bourbon with a bit of chicken? She begins eating up, quiet.

Edward Nygma has posed:
"An octopus." Edward quickly gives her the answer, and then pours some hoisin sauce on his noodles. Then he tilts his head. "I don't plan to kill any birds."

"The goddess is a true story. Walked into the Asgardian Embassy, pledged my allegiance to the Asgardian pantheon. Seemed like the best way to get rid of a brain tumor." But at her additional questions, he chomps into an eggroll and nods. "Shooting people and breaking into places is easy. Too easy, really. That's why riddles are essential. If I just commit flawless crimes, where's the challenge?"

"You know, that's not actually how bourbon chicken is supposed to work." he helpfully points out while continuing to examine Spiral. "Me and the Joker are very different. He just likes to murder and blow things up, cause chaos. There's no rhyme or reason to it. It's boring. If anything, I could create a puzzle that actually makes the Joker seem interesting, trap him in his own riddle Hell... But you can't really make a guy insane who doesn't feel any pain."

"So, Harleen, who's your friend?" he thumbs over at Spiral. "I feel like she wants to get to know me."

Spiral has posed:
"There probably is." Spiral, already irritated, agrees with Harley. "Making pencils disappear? Somehow I think I would like the Jokers jokes more.". So many ways to do that that she can think of, and not a single one pleasant. "And that's how stage magicians do the trick with tbe bird, there are two birds, one dies." she 'explains' to Harley.

Eventually she sits down, just because everybody else has, her many arms resting on the table before her as she pulls the chair up closer to talk. "I think what is wanted here are results not puzzles. The puzzles are the missions. You ever work for other people?" she asks Edward. She at least is on target for this one! "You can always make it more interesting if the work is boring..." she adds with a grin. "I know I do.".

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Well, I ain't heah ta talk about my ex-es." Even if Harley is the one that would have more insight on the Joker. She slurps a bit on her food and gets up close and personal with the chicken, silent for a few moments longer before glancing up again, "But ya shouldn't call him borin'" because he could be listening! With Spiral saying she would enjoy Joker's riddles more she lets out a sigh. "Yes, I am sure ya would. Not moouh than mine though!" or so she hopes.

"How d'ya know so much about stage magic, Spiral?" She then asks, curious now and her baby blues focused on the six-armed wonder, bit of a smile to her lips.

"She does." Spiral admits, about making things more interesting, then nods to Nygma's question. "And I already told ya, Spiral. Time danceh, magician, but not a stage magician even if she's got a disturbing amount of knowledge about stage magic." she says, "Or maybe ya should be the one tellin' me on who do you think she is. Ya already got enough time with her to be able ta assess."

Edward Nygma has posed:
"I'm not doing //that// bird trick." Edward tilts his head, but then the //Joker// comparison comes up, and he suddenly slams his hands on the table. "The Joker is nothing but a senselessly violent //hack//! What do you mean you'd enjoy the Joker's tricks more? Like I said, all he does is blow things up and shoot people! There's no substance to it."

He stops, then takes a moment. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten..."

Breathing, inhale, exhale. "Alright, sorry. I can accept a //mild// comparison, but the idea of the Joker being better..."

"Anyway, of course I've worked for other people. Though the people I work for are rarely particularly intelligent. I like to think that I fill the role of compensating for someone's low intelligence." He still seems to be trying to calm himself a bit, taking a slurp of noodles to help his mood.

But then he's staring at Spiral, and sits back to get a good look at her. "Mentally, slightly alien, so I'm assuming not natively from Earth, at least not our Earth if she is from Earth. Probably prone to violence, not one for purely intellectual endeavours. Based on the arms, likely suffered intense ridicule as a child, trauma that I'd guess may have carried over into adulthood, unless she's had proper therapy. Though in her native world, maybe everyone has six arms and she's in a good place with it."

He stares for a moment more, taking in more information. "Her movement, I'm guessing that's related to the 'time dance', whatever that means. But if she does real magic, it's probably related to ritual of some sort. Magical martial arts? Also probably a touch of psychopathy, since based on your interactions with each other, I would say that you're genuine friends rather than coworkers. Don't worry, I also have a touch of psychopathy, I think Harleen's great."

Spiral has posed:
"I already know a psychologist, I don't really need to know another one." Spiral tells Edward when he starts analyzing her. And she frowns. Did he just call her thick? "I'll have you know I am a surgeon AND a scholar of dimensional theory.". Affronted, she half stands up, four of her six hands on the table to push her up, but the other two free and waving. "But I AM prone to violence, I admit!".

She shakes her head while he dismisses or guesses her time dance, and tries to calm down herself. "We're not here to discuss me, but to discuss you. And so far all I really can see is 'annoying'. Though it sounds like you consider yourself very intelligent, which I suppose might actually be true. Would you like taking orders from a military guy?". One of her free hands salutes.

"He's great, very funny, hard bitten guy. Gets the job done.". Which is good as nobody else does.

Harley Quinn has posed:
"You ain't a very humble guy." Is what Spiral replies to all that Edward says. Which hey, that's an assessment! And she is busy with her bourbon too. Mmhmmm, delicious. Very much approved. She nom noms through it, filling her mouth and digging in like a lil hyena who hasn't eaten in a couple of days.

"Hey, no violence while eatin'..." She says up to Spiral in a casual manner. "Unless ya find a roach on yoh plate. Then it's everyone foh themselves and dibs on kickin' the cook's ass!" for some reason this seems like something that has happened in the past.

"He is also great in bed." Harley says of military guy. Still casual. She then eyes Spiral. "Whaaa? The otha gals in prison like gossip!"

Edward Nygma has posed:
"Up until I think he's going to get everyone killed, then I may or may not orchestrated his untimely demise, or shoot him, depending on the circumstances." Edward answers honestly, since he's among likeminded individuals, then takes a sip of iced green tea.

He stares up at Spiral, unsure of what she's about to do, but he keeps his calm. It's the best way to deal with people who have instant murder capabilities. "I'm not a therapist, just making simple observations of deduction. And I apologize for the incorrect assessment of your intelligence."

He stares at Harley at the last observation too. "I don't think I'll be finding it out any time soon."

Spiral has posed:
As Harley no doubt suspected, that does earn her a Look from Spiral. Because that really would be the ultimate sell out, given he's literally The Man. As for the deflection, she shakes her head. "Pfft, whatever." she eventually says to Harley. He's no Longshot.

As for Edward Nygma, well, that's kinda the right answer, and she grins. "That's probably more what I was thinking, than sleeping with him." she tells him reassuringly. "I think it would annoy the capo di tutti capi though.". Hey, Spiral has been working with the mob since she got here she assumes. And she's brushed up on her mafia movies.

"So. You and Mr Army would probably get on well, as it sounds like you'd be planning if you got hired.". She claps all six of her hands, seeing the opportunity for Cash to be bossed by the Riddler. "Beautiful, you're hired as far as I'm concerned.".

Harley Quinn has posed:
Looking up briefly from her plate Harley says. "Still gotta talk ta Wally most likely." yep, but noone tell Waller she called her that. Though then she is grinning up at Spiral at her 'whatever' comment. "I am tellin' ya, they awhe like Mean Girls up theah. Well, not so mean cause I haven't got a shank attempt in the showa yet." not that Harley is in prison now so ..., maybe it's just crazy talk.

"But right, no stabbin co-waohkahs. Unless they deserve it. Speaking of. Awhe you prone ta bein' mind controlled by evil extra dimensional creatures that wish to bring their Lord and Master to this dimension?" She asks of Edward. "Because this may weigh, oh not, on yoh assessment." her tone grave. Poor ninja guy and ThingJaw guy that she doesn't even remember the name well anymore...

Edward Nygma has posed:
"As I said, I recently had my inoperable brain tumor removed by winning an intellectual challenge against a god." Edward gives that as the answer to Harley's question. "I am earned, I am power, I am greater than the greatest god. What am I?"

"If you're attempting to hire me, you should know that I have multiple business endeavours right now, so I'll have to see what your employer is offering, and what the job is." That said, he looks to Harley. "Though I admit, working with Harleen, the best clown in Gotham, well, it is incentive."

Spiral has posed:
"Okay. Well, the ego fits. This should be even better.". Spiral wants to see the Riddler vs Cole, or the Riddler vs the Wall at this point. "I don't do the hiring but she can be very persuasive.". And she looks over at Suicide Mission Harleen for a moment, and pthbts to herself, thinking.

Spiral, not being into riddles, just totally blanks that part. She has her own obsessions! "She is a good clown. But all sad inside, supposedly. I am not seeing it, and I've been with her for months. Doing whatever she wants, lots of friends, nobody complaining about grievances...".

Harley Quinn has posed:
"That's a mighty claim ta be sayin', beatin' a God in a challenge on knowledge.." Harleen replies, one eyebrow arching up at the Riddler and she stopping on her eating, plate being set aside. "One less thing on yoh bucket list?" she grinning widely. "But good on ya ta beat the head thing." but then she asking. "And business endeavors? What about the cops? They ain't aftah ya anymoouh?" she is curious actually. "Thought Batman woulda stopped that kinda shit."

She frowns a bit up at Spiral, mmm'ing. "Look, I dunno why ya say I am sad inside. Haven't ya seen me? All happy and smiley?!" she brings her fingers to the corners of her mouth and opens her maw wider.

"No sadness heah!"

Edward Nygma has posed:
"If she's sad inside, I'll do something I know she'll like." Edward smiles, sipping his noodles again. "But it'll be a surprise."

"You know, I have a few fingers in a few pots, that I'm sure Batman will knock over. But I haven't been doing any super crime lately. I'm mostly doing private investigation, for anyone who can pay. I'm also about to release an app. Carmine Falcone donated over $800,000. It turns out that not doing super crime pays a lot, but who knows, maybe I'll get bored."

He shrugs. "If I get bored, you can both join me. Maybe we'll make the Legion of Doom."

Spiral has posed:
"Pfft, being a slave is not pleasant. And I have enough money now, from honest work. And I don't really want for anything, anyway.". After all, Amanda Waller gave Spiral license to shoplift, at least that's how she sees it.

"Maybe a few things, like magical knowledge. I feel I am over specialised... I should probably talk to Dr Strange again, though I doubt he will let us have the run of his house once more.".

As for Harley's rictus grin, she matches it with a smile of her own. It's more scary than amused.

Harley Quinn has posed:
"See, it's with those kinda names that ya get no respect. It's like ..., masters o' evil. Sorta tongue in cheek kinda thing, no room foh imagination! Like, fine they awhe evil, no need to rub it on people's faces." But now Harley has finished her food so she is getting up to her feet. She is done with the Royal Dragon.

"Anyway, I am ready to go take my siesta in the shade." she taps on her belly and lets out a brief sigh. Satisfied and fed. No better feeling!

"Also. Takin' money from Falcone? Alright then, yoh funeral!"

Edward Nygma has posed:
"I'd help you rob Doctor Strange, but leaving a riddle for a literal wizard doesn't seem very productive." Edward stares down into his noodles at the thought. "Might be fun though..."

He stands himself, finishing off his iced tea and slurping down his noodle broth. "I think he's getting a tax break out of it."

"Well, I'll see you around, Spiral, Harleen." Then reaching out, his finger stops short of Harley's nose. "Don't forget, there's a surprise coming your way."

Spiral has posed:
Spiral just pffts at Edward's talk of robbing Dr Strange. "Stick to banks, Gothamite." she tells him. "The Sorcerer Supreme could probably roll up that god you mentioned into a little ball.". She looks heavenwards for a moment. See, Stephen? I'm not gonna rob you! You can turn off the scrying spell now.

Two hands go to her hips, as she sees a little moment happening between Harley and Edward. What's with Harley's nose? She's already dancing though. "Time to be a travel agent again." she mutters. "To the stars.". And one hand points at Harley, eyes widening, finally realising that she's doing what she always did - shuttling stars around. "Pft!".

And then they vanish.