Letter For Nina

[Deleted]

An envelope addressed to Nina sits in her mail box from LexCorp.

Dr. Nina Stenet:

We are happy to inform you that we have accepted your application for the position as our Director of Operations for our Microbiology Department. You showed valuable skills sets that will be greatly useful for our corporations, and we would be honored to have you.

The position requires both managing and organizing the department’s research to help LexCorp’s mission goals. We will further discuss these matters in person when you come out to Metropolis. Because of LexCorp’s high standards of operations we would like you to begin immediately. Enclosed in this letter are your first month’s payment and the ticket for your flight. We are happy to include you in our LexCorp family.

Sincerely,

LexCorp
Director of Human Resources
Janice Middleton


Plane Ticket is for two days from now, and the check is twice the amount Nina normally makes.

[Nina Stenet]

When Nina opens the envelope both the letter and the rest of the contents are so perplexing that she finds herself reading it twice and checking everything else for some further explanation. Finding none, she mutters to herself as she stuffs everything back into the envelope and shreds the entire thing.

She's never worked for the money, never cared for a prestigious position, and has furthermore always demanded to be able to set her own goals and work alone. And Wayne Enterprises has given her exactly what she needs and wants, so she isn't even remotely tempted by the offer. And if they send out letters, checks, and tickets to people for jobs they didn't apply for and do not want, she feels no remorse in simply disposing of it without giving it a second thought.

[Deleted]

After the incident at the coffee shop, Edward went on a walk something he hadn’t done since before the accident. He needed to sort through his thoughts and the new puzzle that had been created. Normally, the process was easily accomplished at the coffee shop or in his study, but this was something different…something he hadn’t experience before. In all honesty, what he really wanted to do was run. He wanted to feel the pavement under his feet and the city air pressed up against his cheek as he sped through the streets. He wanted to feel the numbness and calm that came with such an activity. Of course…

He couldn’t have that.

And normally walking like this would taunt him of that fact, but his mind was too wrapped around Nina to even consider his cane that now pressed into his palm every time he took a step forward. If he went through with his riddle he would ruin Nina’s life. Not only would it become dangerous for her to live in Gotham, but also Wayne Enterprise would be one of the industries seriously hurt. She would probably lose her job that she loved so much. He knew backing out of the riddle wasn’t an option. He was proving a point to society, and he was getting rid of more inadequate people who didn’t deserve to ruin his life. The riddle would happen, which created this current puzzle.

How does he handle this situation with Nina? He knew the best option would be to ignore the feelings, but he couldn’t when knowing she wandered around this very city he lived in. Then it clicked. If he could get her out of the city, not only could he better ignore the feelings he had for her, he could also protect her from the possible dangers. He just needed her to leave, and what better way to get a workaholic to leave then offering a better employment opportunity. He smirked and pulled out his phone immediately contacting Lex. The conversation that followed was irritation on Lex’s side, but Edward smartly reminded him of the amount black mail he had on the man. A job opened up.

Edward felt content with his solution and felt ready to move on with his life until Lex told him he hadn’t heard from her, and therefore was forced to assume she rejected the offer. Rejected it. Ridiculous!

Luckily, Edward had come up with another plan.

Dr. Nina Stenet:

The American Medical Association would love for you to participate in our conference as a keynote speaker in Washington, DC. Your skills and research has greatly helped the medical community, and we would love for you to share your conclusions. Please contact us immediately to discuss this wonderful honor. The AMA conference is taking place the following week so we would love to get started as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

American Medical Association
Conference Director

Jackson Terri

[Nina Stenet]

Unlike the first letter that Nina received, this one actually strikes her as somewhat normal. Though she never does anything besides do her job very, very well to merit any attention to her work, that's often sufficient cause to get this organization or that's notice and they always seem to want something from her.

She only actually reads the first line of the letter: "Yes, you and everyone else," she mutters as she skims the rest. No specific mention of what's caught their attention this time, so she simply crumples up the letter and tosses it. She used to respond to these things, but that's just a waste of time: they always seem to use it as an excuse to write back asking what other time would be better. No time would be better: she leaves explaining her work to people who aren't busy coming up with other breakthroughs.

[Deleted]

To say Edward was frustrated was an understatement. He had tackled the issue from two different angles, and she rejected both. Nonsense! Utter nonsense. He so irritated that he did something without completely thinking it through, something that seemed to happen all the time when he was dealing with Nina. He sat down and wrote a quick note in his scribbling mess of handwriting.

Not leaving Gotham is a horrible idea.
Interests and work can be pursued no matter the location.
Gather your research and use opportunities to benefit both yourself and humanity.
My personal opinion is irrelevant, but hopefully you will make the intellectual choice.
After you sacrifice your stubborn attitude, of course.

He stuffed it in an unmarked envelope and handed it to Robby to deliver to her mail box. If she rejected this, he wouldn't worry or care about the horrible consequences that would happen to her. She had all opportunity to leave, and if she stupidly stayed she deserved what ever came to her. He would worry no more.

(OOC: Read the first letter of every sentence)

[Nina Stenet]

It had completely escaped Nina's awareness that there could be anything more than moderately unusual about the other two letters she received, but as she reads this scribbled note, all the pieces fall into place:

• It was the Riddler who was behind these letters.
• He wanted her to leave Gotham.
• If he'd decided not to care about her anymore, he wouldn't care if she was in Gotham or not.
• That he does would suggest that he's realized his feelings for her.
• Perhaps he's worried about what may happen to her during his impending plan?

In some total, these realizations cause a bizarre mixture of emotions: she wasn't sure if she was more offended, afraid, relieved, disappointed, or frustrated. What was easier than figuring out her emotional state, however, was figuring out what to do about it: "It's about time you knew what it's like to have someone you care about in Gotham," she says to the letter as if talking to him directly. Rather than encouraging her to leave, this note actually encourages her to stay.

[sincereagape]

Only a few days after being admitted to Arkham Asylum, Arnold Wesker had been payed a visit by woman who referred to herself as "Mercy." Mercy claimed to be a 'friend,' a friend who would be able to help Arnold decrease the amount of time he spent at the Asylum exponentially. But just after having been defeated in humiliating fashion by the botanist, Pamela Isley, the Ventriloquist was in no hurry to enter society anytime soon.

Then of course there was the need to seek the approval of Mister Scarface, and just of sheer luck, Mercy had brought along the criminal mastermind to help Arnold make up his decision.

It's time to listen' to da nice lady Arnold....

Surprisingly enough, his company was sparse at the Asylum, and he did not want the reputation of being the only Gotham City rogue who was locked up in the koo-koo house. Here was the catch, Mercy represented some very powerful people, and these powerful people had a score to settle with a Mister Edward Nigma. So in order for Arnold to be granted 'an early leave' from the Supreme Court of Friendly Mental Health Rehabilitation, he would have to get his hands dirty.

How much 'could it hwurt?

Miss Mercy had given Arnold Wesker and Scarface a black and white photograph of a up and coming researcher in the field of Microbiology who worked for the billion dollar playboy Bruce Wayne at his shadow-casting tower in the center of Gotham City.

Oh! Wat a co-ink-key-dink dummy! Dat's the same dame from da bank!

So here we are standing in front of the entrance door to Miss Nina Stenent's apartment. Arnold looked at the lovely picture of the busy doctor one more time, and cracked a sadistic smile.

"This is going to be fun Mister Scarface. Yes. Yes. Fun."


"Glad to see dat yer as enthusiastic a'gout this one as much as Ah' am. Did ye g'ring da can opener?!"

Arnold folded the picture away into the jacket pocket of a dirty grey tweed blazer. The Ventriloquist adjusted his red with yellow poke a dot bow tie, before opening up the gym bag to take out the rusted monkey wrench.

"Of course. Of course Mister Scarface. Wouldn't dare leave home without it."

The Ventriloquist twisted Scarface so it looked like the mannequin was inspecting the killing tool.

"Awright. Seems ade-qua-te for da job...'wring da door'gell. It's gettin' stuffy out here."

Arnold reached forward and knocked on the door to Nina's apartment, then quickly he ducked back into the hallway so that if she answered the door she would not be able to see him right away.

While he waited to see what happened next, the Ventriloquist sung himself an inspirational nursery rhyme to prepare him for what was about to happen next.

"Little Polly Flinders
Sat among the cinders,
Warming her pretty little toes.

Mother came and caught her,
And whipped her little daughter
For spoiling her nice new clothes!"

[Nina Stenet]

Not all that long ago, one would not be able to describe Nina as a suspicious person. However, certain recent events have changed that. Though Nina has chosen to ignore the Riddler's warnings and the last note provided some hint that he wasn't going to force the issue, she doesn't trust him even slightly. It's all too easy to say one thing and mean another, especially when it's obviously worded cleverly to begin with, so Nina isn't at all convinced that he won't try again.

So naturally, Nina has taken to checking the peephole in her door before opening it. And when she doesn't see anyone on the other side she is instantly suspicious that something is up. If she knew who was actually behind this, she would be far less nervous as she quickly comes up with a plan to turn this situation as much to her advantage as possible.

First she reaches for the switch next to the door and turns off the lights, plunging the apartment into darkness, only to open the door partway to allow the light outside of her apartment spilling through the doorway to be the only available illumination. "Hello?" she calls out into the opening as if answering the door normally and wondering why there was nobody on the other side. But instead of standing there confused, she uses the dim lighting and her memory of the way she has her furniture arranged to quickly back away from the door.

One of the main weaknesses of Nina's gift in the face of anything happening too quickly is that it takes her a few precious seconds to use it, so the best strategy when facing an uncertain danger is to put herself into a situation where she has the most possible time to react. Giving herself the best possible chance to see before she's seen by putting herself in darkness and making whoever it is stand in the light is one way, and adding some physical distance is another. She only stays close enough to be sure that if it turns out to be someone harmless, she'll be able to hear them talking from the doorway. Better to have to explain odd behavior than to be caught unprepared.

[sincereagape]

The Ventriloquist inched his way to the door. A large Alfred Hitchcock like silhouette of a figure wearing a Al Capone style Fedora and standing next to a short figure with bushy hair protruding from the sides like a circus clown cast itself over the dimly lite apartment.

"What-cha waiting for? An Inve-Ta-tion?"
Scarface was talking through his mind.

"It...it...its dark in there," the Ventriloquist whispered.

Scarface rolled It's eyes. Then head knocked the Ventriloquist.

"Go on, get!"

With new found inspiration, he resumed forward movement.


"Hello?" A female voice asked from inside.

"Awe. Doesn't she have a nice sounding voice Mister Scarface?" The Ventriloquist stifled a gleeful smile. He was thinking back to their first encounter with Nina, back when he was robbing the 3rd National Bank of Gotham.

He imagined a helpless citizen refusing to part ways with a briefcase containing who knows what types of goodies and treasurers. He made a mental note, then when they were finished having fun with her, they would wreck the apartment until they were able to find that item and end the mystery of what was inside once and for all!

The Ventriloquist used the hand holding Scarface to open the front door. There was a loud "Creaking" sound, signifying that the hings to the doors could use oiling or be replaced. Scanning around the darkened room, there was no sign of Doctor Nina Stenet. The Ventriloquist let out a small frown.

"Mademoiselle
Went down to the well,
Combed her hair,
And brushed it well,
Then picked up her basket and
Vanished!"

"Booohooo. Where did she go Mister Scarface?"

"Find da dang lights, stupid dummy."

"Yes Sir Mister Scarface. Right away."

There was some commotion as Arnold pressed his hands against the wall, trying to find the light switch to the apartment. Still holding the monkey wrench in hand, the weapon clattered was even louder then normal, in the process knocking things from their original positions towards the front side of the apartment such as pictures, items on bookshelves, coats from their hangers, etc


"We'll ge' right with ye Dr. Stenet, as soon as we solve' dese tech-ni-chal diff-cuwlties. Hehehe."

[Nina Stenet]

The amount of time it takes for whoever it is to reach the door almost makes Nina wonder if the knock on the door hadn't been a prank by some of the kids living in the apartment complex, but the shadow that reaches the doorway proves to be an adult. One of them, anyway - and the other stirs up a memory that's been half-forgotten. And when she hears the voices, the memory becomes clear: the man from the bank! What's he doing here? That he would turn up now is odd, but she doesn't allow herself to wonder about that for too long - she'd been so focused on the figure that she wasn't able to identify the other object held in his hand, though the clattering indicates that it's metal and whatever shape that metal takes it's probably meant to do her harm.

Having had the chance to reach the far wall, Nina uses the silhouette offered to locate the man with her power. Specifically, she reaches out to a part of his neck: the spinal chord at the point where the spinal column reaches the base of the skull. All the nerves that reach into the body pass through that one point, and now that she has her target located, Nina crouches behind her dining table so that she'll be that much more difficult to spot when the lights come on. With a good portion of the work that will be required to disable him already done, she waits.

She'd rather not have to take him down in the doorway for two reasons: the first being that it will make things difficult for her when she wants to close the door in a moment, and the second being that it would be even less kind to him that she'd really like to be. Sure he may obviously be here to threaten her, but she's about to temporarily disable all the voluntary nerves in his entire body from the neck down - which will make him collapse in a heap without even being able to catch himself with his arms. It would be better for him if she can ensure that he lands on carpet at least by allowing him fully into the room.

She's done this particular move a thousand times on lab rats for practice as it's her primary alternative to killing someone, and she knows that once she's found the right spot she can do the rest in a split second in a rat. A person is considerably bigger, however, so she's guessing it will take her a full second just to rapidly work her way through the large mass of nerves. Which means that if he's holding a gun then she won't wait - if he spots her quickly enough, it would take only marginally longer for him to raise and point the gun than it would for her to be able to stop him. But when she sees the pipe wrench instead, she'll certainly let him come closer; it would take him much more than a second to cross the room.

[sincereagape]

"Did ye find the light switch' yet?" Scarface asked in an annoyed town.

"Almost Mister Scarface," the Ventriloquist responded, resting his tongue on the upper lip. "Ah! Voila!"

"Let dere be light!"

The Ventriloquist switched the lights on in the apartment. There as a temporary moment of blindness as his eyes became adjusted to the sudden alteration from darkness to being able to see again.

He scanned the room until he found the kind doctor crouching behind the dinner table. The Ventriloquist then thought back to their first encounter again. When he had pulled the gun on her, he remembered that his hand had become disables while he was around her. In fact, he was not able to use his hand for over an hour.

Why would LexCorp show an interest in this woman? Was it specifically for her expertise in microbiology, or was there more to this woman then first expected. His mind then quickly flashed back to Pamela Isley. On the surface, the woman appeared to be a unarmed and gorgeous femme fatale, who played the part of the ideal damsel in distress. Of course she turned out to be something completely different, and helpless by no stretches of the imagination.

The thought of Pamela Isley made the Ventriloquist's eyes widen in terror. Maybe this woman was the same way? Did she had some sort of meta-human power? Paranoia was beginning to sink in as he put his experiences with Pamela Isley and the sudden in ability to use his hand at the bank.

The Ventriloquist looked at the pipe in his hand in a dumbfounding manner.

"Throw da pipe ye dummy!"


Listening to the more dominant half of him, the Ventriloquist tossed the rusted monkey wrench toward her direction, hoping to either hit her with the heavy weapon or at least momentarily stun or distract her from the damage it would cause to her furniture.

The Ventriloquist then began to make his way over to the dinner table in a brisk and fast walk. He weaved near the couch and because he was not paying full attention to his surroundings, bumped his hip against the edge of a love seat, throwing him off balance for a second.

When he engaged with Nina at close range, he would be weaponless except for Scarface, a brawl with his first was not his ideal match up, but one that could prove to be entertaining.

[Nina Stenet]

Were the Ventriloquist watching Nina more carefully, he wouldn't be wondering so much about whether on not Nina has some sort of an ability. She's far too calm to be a helpless woman, especially when she sees that the man isn't holding a gun, and she's watching him a little too carefully with a very focused expression on her face. Barring any backup he may have, she knows that she's already won.

That he'd throw his weapon does come as a bit of a surprise to her, however, and she's forced to abandon her plan of quickly disabling him once he's entered the room in favor of throwing herself to the side to dodge the flying piece of metal. However, that only distracts her for a few moments, not nearly long enough for him to get much further than the love seat, and she's very quick to pick up where she left off: now she doesn't hesitate at all and very precisely but very quickly works her mind through the nerve fibers.

If the reaction of the rats is any indication, the man won't feel a thing. Won't even lose sensation in his body - going after the sensory nerves in addition to the motor nerves would only slow her down; he'd only experience a very rapid loss of the ability to control any part of himself below the neck. And it's something that Nina would rather not do to anyone, but he is trying to attack her.

And even as she disables him she realizes that it couldn't have been the Riddler who sent him: after all, she'd just received a series of letters that indicated that he wanted her to be safe. And even if he wanted someone to actually attack her, he'd know that this wouldn't work even a little bit. There are ways to hurt Nina, kill her even, and while she's certain that the Riddler could figure how to do it she knows that he'd know that this isn't it. Perhaps now she'll be able to find out why he's here then.

[sincereagape]

There was a loud clatter as the pipe ricochets off the dinner table before hitting the ground.

The effects of Nina's powers began to take into affect just after he bumped his hip against the side of the two-cushioned couch. Her 'gift' seemed to work from the neck down so the first part of his body that he lost the ability to use was his arms and upper body.

The Ventriloquist dropped Scarface to the ground, and his arms suddenly went limp, dropping to his sides. The image resembled someone who's arms were attached to the side of their body or someone who did not move their arms when they walked.

He took a few more steps before he lost the ability to use his lower body. The Ventriloquist dropped to both knees. He then looked around from left to right in utter shock, not being to explain what was happening to him. Turning his neck left and right, his response was something he would do if he was sinking in quick sand.

The villain finally slumped to the ground face first, onto a soft oriental carpet. He had actually managed to get only within two feet away from where Nina had dived to dodge the pipe, and there was nothing between himself and Nina.

It was very odd because he could still feel the dinner table, because his leg was touching one of the legs of the table. He could still feel the cold rug underneath him and the feeling of the floor.

"Now's not da time to be sleepin' on da job Dummy!. Get up and go get her!" Scarface screamed.

"I can't Mister Scarface! I can't!"

"Whatcha talkin' about?! Wat did ye do to us ye stupid dame!?"

[Nina Stenet]

The moment that she's finished tampering with the nerves, Nina breathes a sigh of both relief and frustration. How near he'd managed to get to her is of no real concern, only that he'd never gotten near enough. As powerful and as confident as being able to do this makes her, this isn't what she feels like her gift is meant for.

Picking herself up off of the ground she answers, "The same thing I did in the bank." He's not going to get any more information from her than he already has. Quite the contrary - she intends to get information from him. Retrieving the pipe from where it landed, she adds, "You are now completely helpless and will remain so as long as I want you to be. And since you can probably guess what I want to know and I don't want to waste time asking you questions, perhaps you should simply tell me everything and save us both a whole lot of time."

As she says this she leans casually against the wall, idly handling the very weapon he'd brought to attack her with with an eerily calm expression on her face. An implied threat that she has absolutely no intention of carrying out, but he doesn't have to know that - instead she hopes that he's noticed that she's left all his ability to feel intact.

[sincereagape]

When the Ventriloquist was forced to drop Scarface onto the ground, the mannequin landed on It's back so that it was facing the ceiling inside of the middle class apartment. The Fedora was still attached to Its head.

Scarface was smart enough to know what she wanted, but extremely hesitant to give up the information to her. Call it professional accountability. If Mercy discovered that they had squealed without putting up any sort of fight, sending a few goons to break the legs of the Ventriloquist and to tear the head off of Scarface would be going easy on them.

"Not g'ad toots. Dat's a dirty way to win 'a figh' don't ye think? Ah' mean ye left the dummy rendered helpless without givin' 'im a fair chance to defend 'imself."

Meaning, Arnold Wesker was feeling uneasy about this entire situation, but would not say anything at the present moment until Nina made her move. Like Scarface, he understood that he had to put up some type of resistance to the woman's inquiries. He would let Scarface do the talking for now. The Ventriloquist merely looked to the side, and closed his eyes. He attempted to move his arms and legs, but to no avail.

"Ah'll tell ye wat kid. Why don't ye release the dummy, drop and take 'im on mono-a-mono. If ye g'eat 'im, Ah'll tell ye wat all dat ye want to know. What-du-ye-say?"


The Ventriloquist opened his eyes at this request. Analytically, he began to think about this through his mind. It would have been like fighting Isley, Stenet was younger, faster then him. But the Ventriloquist held the experience. It was not a proposition the Ventriloquist was fond to follow through with, but he would be willing to test his physical combat prowess with an opponent who had a level head about her. Someone who was not intimidated based off his reputation.

"Ah' know dat the dummy is a little app-re-hen-souve at this proposition.But don't tell me dat ye would be a little scared too."