The question would have looped him, had Eddie not already anticipated its emergence. The key to manipulation was clear: know your subject. Understand what interests him. Uncover the connections he will uncover. It was such a simple formula, Occam's razor simple, but yet one that yielded triumph more often than not. Edward needed to convince Harvey that he only had the former DA's best interests in mind. He needed to come across as at least 80% altruistic, especially since the reality was a far lower number. He needed Harvey to recognize aspects of himself within the Riddler.
"Yes," the soft admittance, almost unwilling. "I don't leave riddles anymore. I don't feel the suffocating necessity. But it wasn't easy, Harvey. It really wasn't." It was a sacrifice only Edward would have mourned: a year-long coma, one which had suppressed parts of his obsessive-compulsive disorder. Perhaps scientifically impossible, and yet it had happened. But that was only one compulsion, the successfully disposed-of one. And Harvey had only inquired after one.
Nor did he ask about any psychopathic obsessions.
"What happens then? That's in your own hands. Up to you. But if you want to no longer be a prisoner of your own mind, your own fears--if you want a fighting chance--you need to understand your enemy, Harv. Or you'll never win. You'll be welcomed back." The gravity of that serious timber broke when another smirk split his face. "But I guess things could be worse. After all, you'll never be alone. Two's company."
no subject
"Yes," the soft admittance, almost unwilling. "I don't leave riddles anymore. I don't feel the suffocating necessity. But it wasn't easy, Harvey. It really wasn't." It was a sacrifice only Edward would have mourned: a year-long coma, one which had suppressed parts of his obsessive-compulsive disorder. Perhaps scientifically impossible, and yet it had happened. But that was only one compulsion, the successfully disposed-of one. And Harvey had only inquired after one.
Nor did he ask about any psychopathic obsessions.
"What happens then? That's in your own hands. Up to you. But if you want to no longer be a prisoner of your own mind, your own fears--if you want a fighting chance--you need to understand your enemy, Harv. Or you'll never win. You'll be welcomed back." The gravity of that serious timber broke when another smirk split his face. "But I guess things could be worse. After all, you'll never be alone. Two's company."