#crowversestory

[theriddleskeeponriddling]

Enigma, or Elisa. Riddler’s young helper. [My Universe, V.2, Rough design]

Summary) Enigma is a teenager with an inspiration to be as just as ‘cool’ as the Riddler. She loves that his success as a rogue strives from his intelligence, and wants to be recognized by Gotham, just like him. She, after much bugging and begging, gets hired by Edward, and takes her new job as an opportunity to make her own name.

Personality) Enigma is energetic. Very optimistic around people she likes, very demeaning to those she doesn’t. Her symbol, (¿) is her attempt at making her own version of Riddler’s whole motif. She doesn’t ask riddles like Edward does, but loves to ask facts and info-dumps just as much. The ¿ is meant to reference the way that spanish grammar hints at a question. (she is hispanic) She often leaves her own puzzles around town, using graffiti to ask facts that hint to Riddler’s next scheme.

Relations) Riddler almost rejects Elisa, as he isn’t fond of kids. But he figures that Elisa could use some influence, as she has a few similar traits to Edward that he admires, and Riddler wouldn’t mind leaving an heir to his schemes whenever he inevitably quits crime. Elisa is also in great relations with Query and Echo. I plan for her to have common run-ins with one of the Robins, i’m not sure which one yet.

Reason for Deviation) I did, essentially, zero research into the original Enigma. If you are a fan of her, and hate this version, it makes sense. I don’t see my Crowverse Riddler as a guy who likes kids. He also is an Asexual man who’s probably never fallen in love, so the cause for a kid doesn’t fit in. This is why this version of Enigma is in no way related to Edward, and instead has two decent parents. I also don’t think he is fond of the idea for a ‘sidekick’ who is a carbon copy of himself. So, Enigma follows a slightly different motif from riddles and takes an interest in fun facts instead. Riddler wouldn’t want a sidekick who dresses in all latex, he prefers style, so Enigma covers herself up typically with jackets and pants, but she herself admits to wearing a suit underneath.

This takes place in (placeholder name) Crowverse V.2. Elisa takes on the name as Enigma, when Riddler is in his mid to late 30s. Crowverse V.1 is when Riddler is age 25-30 and V.2 is Riddler at age 33-40

“Lengthy posts like this are normal on this site, right?”

[theriddleskeeponriddling]

Rambling : RiddlerLore : Riddler And The Medication in Arkham

I saw someone post about the comic panel that shows that guards are told to sedate Riddler regularly, and wanted to talk about my version and events that it reminded me of

Everyone hates Riddler. The mostly-Sane inmates, The guards.. He just doesn’t stop talking. Riddler would rather take a baton to the head than back down. He enjoys the annoyance that everyone gets by him being around, constantly demeaning their intelligence; Bringing up all of their personal information that he scavenged for; And spitting insults at everyone’s faces.

The corrupt and poorly funded system of Arkham Asylum allows little checks for what medications are prescribed to Riddler. At some point his sleep medication dosage is cut in half so that Edward is more tired and talks less during the day. Riddler typically relies on Jonathan who often works there, to ensure that he is being prescribed the proper stuff, and doesn’t get hit by the guards, but it’s not always effective.

There is a period in time when Arkham Asylum is under so much extreme backlash for their poor security and slow progress, that the amount of rules that the facility breaks, doesn’t matter to them anymore. They treat inmates worse, fund the guards less if one escapes during their care, and start providing meds that are unchecked and improperly administered. Riddler happens to be sent to Arkham during this period, and faces large amounts of regular sedation. Riddler’s thinking is horrid at that point, he doesn’t leave the cell rarely ever, doesn’t talk, and has a hard time just functioning entirely. He is seen, for the entirety of the time, sitting in the corner of the room with a straight jacket on, leaning on the concrete wall zoned out and unresponsive

This is most upsetting to Jonathan who does in fact understand how much Riddler values his mind and ability to process. Riddler takes actions such as not drinking too much because he wants a clear head, ensures a healthy diet so that he is most mentally productive, ect. Because Jonathan ends up failing to convince the facility to lower the dosages given to patients, he ends up speaking to batman for once, knowing the man has the power and morality to help. This happens a bit into my late V.1 early V.2 when Riddler is about, 30 or 33. It has side effects that future Riddler will never bring up, like how he zones out a little more often than before, and is a lot more hesitant to drink for a while or take any possible brain altering pain medication. He refuses to take any required medication in Arkham from then on, his escapes from the Asylum happen faster than before, but physically, he ends up having few problematic side effects.

[theriddleskeeponriddling]

Rambling : Riddler : Empathy And Riddler’s View On Relationships

I was speaking with my friend about how my Crowverse version of riddler handles friendships, empathy, disorders, ect. I really enjoyed voicing it there, and now I wish to voice it here so I can look to it for reference and whatever. Thank you @a-sxft-chaotic for helping me by psycho-analyzing my Riddler, Much love to you silly Crane2.0. This post may be updated tomorrow when it’s not late and I can think better. Suggestions to anything mentioned here are welcome

Edward has several disorders. Autism, Ocd, Npd ect. He is already born with lower levels of empathy, but with added traumatic childhood experiences, it has only gotten worse. He rarely had any friends has a child. He was too honest. Blunt. And while he began as a kid upbeat and striving to share about himself and to learn, he soon stood out for not expressing much sadness or care like other kids. After elementary school, he never made any friends.

The first closest sort of friend he makes, is a girl named Destiny. A girl often bullied for being of color, and requiring a wheelchair. She is similar to Hannah in the ways of being very empathetic and supportive, traits that Edward finds foolish but admirable in a way. He doesn’t make much effort to be her friend, giving her schoolwork anytime she is away for surgeries; Lending her books that she sees Ed reading; and whatnot. Destiny views Edward as a close friend, and believes he is nice for his treatment to her and the several times that Edward ‘mysteriously’ got her bullies to back away. (blackmail) He slowly starts to get used to her, but the girl, so morally righteous, finds that Edward bought a laptop using money stolen from his father and tells Mr. Nashton, Unaware that Edward would receive a bad fracture to his leg the following night.. This is the first point in which Edward truly starts finding friendships as an inconvenience.

Riddler calls everyone ‘friend’ even after saying how much he despises every person in the Rogues Gallery. He jokes about not having friends, and always claims it as his biggest strength. He doesn’t have anyone to be used as blackmail, He doesn’t need to worry about anyone other than himself, he doesn’t need to worry about losing anyone.. It sounds easier to him. It is a mix of pushing people away, and being overly egotistical that causes Riddler to have no real friendships. Riddler grew up accidentally appearing rude and emotionless to everyone around him, So now he believes it himself. He believes he doesn’t care for anyone, and refuses to make any real connections or offering genuine kindness. Though sometimes caring acts slip through, and it’s when he falls in love with Jonathan and starts dating him, that his emotional intelligence is challenged.

Riddler is rude for three reasons.

1) His autism prevents him from understanding why he should change his blunt and honest mannerisms, which appear as insults to anyone who is faced with them.

2) He thinks he is better than everyone else, and as such, his opinions matter more than anyone’s emotions. He has so much pride, that he refuses to change anything about himself for the benefit of others. He also sees that caring for others is a weakness. It means putting emotion over strategy and logic, and in his line of work, there is no room for such a risk. Edward believes that nobody should even like him. That he is so rude and emotionally absent that anyone who cares about him, is foolish and makes no sense.

3) He refuses to keep anyone he cares about close.. Caring for himself alone is easier, and if he thinks everyone will leave him in the end, why risk the relationship at all? He is already well disliked, but if he starts becoming fond of anyone, he starts pushing them away with more negativity in the hope that they will leave him now, instead of leaving him later when he is more attached. Choosing the lesser pain.

Riddler’s sisters, Hannah(2-) and Lydia(6+), are the only two he has consistently cared for. After leaving for Gotham at 18, he cuts ties with them, thinking to reconnect again only once he makes a name for himself.. But when the name happens to be for a well known costume criminal, he further refuses to speak with his sisters. He figures they are safer in their hometown, and it means that he doesn’t have to think or worry about them at all.. When he finds out his older sister Lydia moved to Gotham as an officer, Riddler can’t handle the concern that he has avoided, and begs her to leave so that he can forget about her more and so she isn’t at risk. If she is in danger, Edward knows he would risk himself to help, but because he loves himself so much, he hates the idea that he could ever consider sacrificing himself for anyone else..

It doesn’t matter how close Riddler is with anyone, he needs the security of being prepared. He digs in everyone’s business, finding every little detail he can. The closer they are with him, the more blackmail he documents. He worries than in any wrong move, anyone and everyone would leave him for a heartbeat, so he feels the need to have blackmail ready just in case someone threatens to embarrass or ruin him with personal information.

He also refers to everyone by first names. It’s his way of getting personal and to also hint that he pays attention to people for more than their life as costume criminals. That he knows them beyond their persona, and he doesn’t respect their criminal identities.

This is the end of this Rambling session, for now. I do plan to change the little speech for Jon, I need to flesh his character out more, but other than that, this is pretty much all I have going for Edward.

Edit: This Riddler Is Asexual or Demisexual. That form of relationship hasn’t existed for him. Romance is being thought of story-wise, but hasn’t happened for him at any point before age 30