@quite-the-enigma I have you ur dad can you come pick him up I'm afraid if he says one more riddle red hood will find a more permanent solution to his questions
Please elaborate on the lesbian riddlebird you have imagined for the new Caped Crusader if you are still inclined to
Oh my gosh, hi hello thank you for asking I’m so excited!!!!
(also side note, I love your writing, you are amazing!)
Sapphic Riddlebird below!
So, because we don’t know much about the Universe of the Caped Crusader yet I have made my own assumptions, the first of which being that this takes place somewhere in the 30s-50s. This is important because Sexism™.
We know a bit about Oswalda Cobblepot in that she is our beloved Penguin who seems to run a crime syndicate in Gotham City, but she is also said to be a singer (I swear I read that somewhere in an article) so I imagine she has a very large public image. In my version of this she owns the lounge and performs there. Due to societal opinions, she’s seen as a bit of a disgrace. No one would ever say it to her face, but the facts remain that she is an unwed woman who performs and is getting up there in years and does not bend to societal norms. She’s never been beautiful by modern beauty standards, and she wasted her youth performing (and gaining power in the underworld) instead of finding a husband. Such a shame.
Oswalda doesn’t care about any of this obviously. She’s doing very well for herself, and despite keeping up the image that she is a high society lady, she breaks just about every gender norm in the book and is very proud of this. She's known for taking women under her wing and hiring them at the lounge. There's also rumors of her employees' worthless husbands disappearing, but that's neither here nor there.
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Edith Nashton is a secretary at Wayne Industries. She has a brilliant mind and a penchant for science. Especially engineering. Engineering was just solving a puzzle. Easy as a riddle, and Edith loved a good riddle. She originally applied to be an engineer at Wayne Industries, but she was laughed out of the office and handed a secretary job. In dire need of money, she took the job. As she worked there, she helped with projects in secret. Fixing notes here, redesigning blueprints there. Never receiving credit of course, she couldn’t let them know a lowly woman was their reason for success. After being berated for giving a suggestion on counterbalance valves for a new machine, she decided she was sick of it all.
She went to the Iceberg lounge to drown her sorrows in booze and a show after having been ‘invited out’ by coworkers. (A group of them were going and she happened to be nearby. She knows it was a pity invite.) It is there that she meets Oswalda, having just finished a set onstage. Oswalda asks about her troubles, as no one should look so unhappy at her lounge.
Edith breaks down and reveals her troubles to Oswalda, who is certainly no stranger to such troubles, but is wise in experience on how to get around such societal problems.
Oswalda takes Edith under her wing, where the two grow closer together, becoming each other’s biggest confidants.
Edith takes on the form of Edward Nygma, after learning that a hat, a suit, and a touch of makeup can be all that’s needed to pass as a man, especially if they’ll never suspect a woman of being able to be as much of an engineering genius as Edith is.
Under the guise of Edward, Edith becomes Wayne Enterprises’ top scientist. However, after the business experiences a record loss, cutbacks are made, and Edith loses all funding.
Furious, Edward marches into the board of directors where they give everyone within earshot a piece of their mind. Edward is fired and promptly loses it. How dare they fire the smartest person in Gotham!
Edith returns to Oswalda, who lends a shoulder to cry on. The two have gotten very close. Perhaps closer than they realize. As Oswalda comforts a very distressed Edith, our lonely and touch starved scientist kisses an eagerly accepting crime boss. Edith, shocked at what she has just done, profusely apologizes, swearing she was just tired, and please don’t tell anyone I promise I’ll leave-
Oswalda shushes her. She has had her fair share of both men and women partners in her time, and Edith’s kiss was hardly unwelcome.
Edith is incredibly nervous; she’s never been in love with a woman before. She’s only ever had two boyfriends, neither of which were worth a damn, but when she’s with Oswalda. . .she finally feels like she belongs and can be herself without fear.
After a period of healing and self-growth, and A LOT of planning, Edith vows revenge against all of Gotham. How DARE they not see her for the genius she is? So, she once again adopts a new name. This time that of the Riddler. A fearsome green jackal who terrorizes the city, executing those who cannot answer their questions. The Riddler is neither man nor woman, but an Enygma. Simply a genius hell bent on the destruction of Wayne Enterprises, and all that stands in their way.
When the Riddler’s tirade is over for the night, Edith Nashton returns to Oswalda, who glows with pride at her partner’s success.
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There’s bat stuff too but this is the basics. Not sure if I’ll write it as I’m in between two fics right now and a batman creature AU.
