It's a few weeks after their conversation that Edward's invitation arrives, although it's not immediately apparent from the plain package with no return address that that's what it is.
When opened, the package reveals itself to contain an elaborate puzzle-box, painstakingly constructed out of a series of interlocking sapphire blue and dove grey metal pieces. Once it's successfully opened, she'll find inside what looks like a Bluetooth headset and a green card with neat black text printed on it:
A trivial problem to solve: I share something with Lords, Saints and Kings From me, a chorus of finches sing. I can be of Man but no man is me. Can you synthesise the answer to find your next key?
The card has an oddly shaped notch in it and a series of black lines on the opposite side to the riddle, the purpose of which isn't apparent just yet.
Once Dawn decides to set out into the city, the headset will pick up a signal almost immediately. If she puts it on, she'll hear Edward, voice oozing with smug self-satisfaction. "When young, I am sweet in the sun. When middle-aged, I make you gay. When old, I am valued more than ever. What am I?"
It isn't apparent from the plain wrapping that Edward sent the package but considering there's no return address and no one knows hers except for Donna she's pretty sure she knows who sent it. Part of her feels guilty that he was able to find out where she lived as well as for inviting him to do so, but a larger part of her is curious.
Her curiosity grows stronger when she opens the package to find the puzzle box, her lips curving up into a small smile at how much detail he put into the design and color scheme. She did ask for effort and he certainly seems to be delivering.
Slowly, over her morning tea, she works on the puzzle box. Turning it over in her hands this way and that and sliding pieces into place, when she hears the last piece click into place she smiles and opens it to find the headset and card.
"Share something with lords, saints and kings hrm?" She muses to herself as she reads and re-reads the card, "Well I doubt hypocrisy is the answer you're looking for Edward."
It's obvious that the card will help lead her to a location for the next clue and while she showers and gets dressed for the day she mulls it over, making notes in her head at which line might mean and what the notch and lines on the back are for. The mention of 'synthesize' and 'chorus' along with the black lines makes her wonder if it has something to do with music.
Once dressed in a soft grey sweater dress, black boots and long overcoat she heads out into the city, the headset already in place and when she hears Edward's voice she tries hard not to smile at the pleased tone of his voice.
"Wine." She says almost instantly and then chuckles, heading down the street and in the direction she hopes is right. No doubt he'll tease her if it isn't.
"Although I was thirteen when I figured out I was bisexual so that middle aged bit doesn't exactly work."
Chuckling as well, Edward nods despite the fact she can't see him. She might be heading in the right direction - it's not immediately clear, and she did solve his puzzle box; she's not an idiot like most people are - so he keeps on with his preparations. She'll hear the faint clink of something glass being set down as he moves about. "So young to be so self-aware. And I'm sure earning all your peers' attention."
Nothing they had in common at that age on either point, but this is an instance where he's willing not to talk about himself. "I'll improve that line for next time. But I hope it doesn't impair your feelings on my selection for us."
So she knows he has more than the game planned, even if it's reward enough for Edward. He doesn't get people willingly playing often enough. "Although you will need to pier at your next key for that."
"Blame it on Jane Fonda, I saw Barbarella when I was thirteen and it just clicked in my brain that I liked girls as much as boys." She says with a chuckle, remembering just how enticed she was by the blonde bombshell when she was younger.
"I'm sure what you've picked out is fine, despite growing up wealthy I'm not actually that snobby when it comes to my wine selection. You can find good wines for under $20."
She pauses when he mentions the next key, his emphasis on the word pier is pretty obvious but which one?
"I can be of Man but no man is me...." She muses out loud, running over the note again in her head. "I'm supposed to be heading to one of the islands aren't I? Is it Governor’s Island?"
"You've chosen a good career if that's what draws your eye." Costumed hero types weren't so far off that image in some cases. There was plenty to enjoy there - even without that preference, there's something enticing about more than a few of them.
Humming noncommittally, Edward doesn't argue about the wine. He is snobby, as she puts it, about that and many other things, always aware of his image. No surprises there, given the effort he puts into his wardrobe alone.
"Governor's Island? Why would you think that?" There's a note of disapproval in his voice, although she has part of the answer. It's something, so- "No man is an island, but I do believe your ignorance is artificial." Like a certain artificial island where the American Ballet Theatre had been performing recently. He hopes she appreciates the hint, he doesn't usually offer them in his games.
"I was thinking Governor's because of your mention of Lords, Saints and Kings but it's obvious from your tone that I'm incorrect." She says and pauses to think, he obviously just gave her another hint and after a moment she makes a small thoughtful noise.
"Ah. Little Island on Pier 55." Her tone is more confident and she starts heading in that direction. "Did you pick it because of the ballet theatre's recent performance?"
"You're not hoping for a private show are you, Edward?"
"Better." He's pleased again, watching her move through the city thanks to the tracker in the headset. The hint hardly counted, as much drawing attention to the relevant clue in the riddle as anything and the subsequent question banishes any sense of disapproval entirely.
Chuckling, Edward replies, "If you're feeling so generous next time." Because, of course, there's going to be a next time. Who doesn't enjoy a game of riddles as the lead-up to a date?
(Most people he's tried it with, but unlike them, Dawn doesn't seem annoyed.)
When she reaches the island, she'll find a trail of blinking green lights that illuminate as she - and the headset - approach, leading towards the performance space.
Dawn isn't annoyed, actually this has been kind of fun in a very weird way. She can't remember the last time someone put this much effort into a date with her, it had maybe been Hank when he tried to impress her by cooking for her, which of course had gone horribly wrong but it was sweet of him to try.
But memories of Hank hurt too much to dwell on and she pushes them aside so she can concentrate on getting to Pier 55, once there and once she sees the blinking green lights she chuckles.
"Green lights. Of course." She teases and heads up towards the performance area, part of her mind scolding her at being led so easily towards what could be a trap but the other part of her charmed by the fact that he took the time to set up all these specifically for her.
Edited (bumping in case dw ate the notif since it was freaking out lately) 2023-12-10 06:31 (UTC)
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no subject
When opened, the package reveals itself to contain an elaborate puzzle-box, painstakingly constructed out of a series of interlocking sapphire blue and dove grey metal pieces. Once it's successfully opened, she'll find inside what looks like a Bluetooth headset and a green card with neat black text printed on it:
A trivial problem to solve:
I share something with Lords, Saints and Kings
From me, a chorus of finches sing.
I can be of Man but no man is me.
Can you synthesise the answer to find your next key?
The card has an oddly shaped notch in it and a series of black lines on the opposite side to the riddle, the purpose of which isn't apparent just yet.
Once Dawn decides to set out into the city, the headset will pick up a signal almost immediately. If she puts it on, she'll hear Edward, voice oozing with smug self-satisfaction. "When young, I am sweet in the sun. When middle-aged, I make you gay. When old, I am valued more than ever. What am I?"
no subject
Her curiosity grows stronger when she opens the package to find the puzzle box, her lips curving up into a small smile at how much detail he put into the design and color scheme. She did ask for effort and he certainly seems to be delivering.
Slowly, over her morning tea, she works on the puzzle box. Turning it over in her hands this way and that and sliding pieces into place, when she hears the last piece click into place she smiles and opens it to find the headset and card.
"Share something with lords, saints and kings hrm?" She muses to herself as she reads and re-reads the card, "Well I doubt hypocrisy is the answer you're looking for Edward."
It's obvious that the card will help lead her to a location for the next clue and while she showers and gets dressed for the day she mulls it over, making notes in her head at which line might mean and what the notch and lines on the back are for. The mention of 'synthesize' and 'chorus' along with the black lines makes her wonder if it has something to do with music.
Once dressed in a soft grey sweater dress, black boots and long overcoat she heads out into the city, the headset already in place and when she hears Edward's voice she tries hard not to smile at the pleased tone of his voice.
"Wine." She says almost instantly and then chuckles, heading down the street and in the direction she hopes is right. No doubt he'll tease her if it isn't.
"Although I was thirteen when I figured out I was bisexual so that middle aged bit doesn't exactly work."
no subject
Nothing they had in common at that age on either point, but this is an instance where he's willing not to talk about himself. "I'll improve that line for next time. But I hope it doesn't impair your feelings on my selection for us."
So she knows he has more than the game planned, even if it's reward enough for Edward. He doesn't get people willingly playing often enough. "Although you will need to pier at your next key for that."
no subject
"I'm sure what you've picked out is fine, despite growing up wealthy I'm not actually that snobby when it comes to my wine selection. You can find good wines for under $20."
She pauses when he mentions the next key, his emphasis on the word pier is pretty obvious but which one?
"I can be of Man but no man is me...." She muses out loud, running over the note again in her head. "I'm supposed to be heading to one of the islands aren't I? Is it Governor’s Island?"
no subject
Humming noncommittally, Edward doesn't argue about the wine. He is snobby, as she puts it, about that and many other things, always aware of his image. No surprises there, given the effort he puts into his wardrobe alone.
"Governor's Island? Why would you think that?" There's a note of disapproval in his voice, although she has part of the answer. It's something, so- "No man is an island, but I do believe your ignorance is artificial." Like a certain artificial island where the American Ballet Theatre had been performing recently. He hopes she appreciates the hint, he doesn't usually offer them in his games.
no subject
"Ah. Little Island on Pier 55." Her tone is more confident and she starts heading in that direction. "Did you pick it because of the ballet theatre's recent performance?"
"You're not hoping for a private show are you, Edward?"
no subject
Chuckling, Edward replies, "If you're feeling so generous next time." Because, of course, there's going to be a next time. Who doesn't enjoy a game of riddles as the lead-up to a date?
(Most people he's tried it with, but unlike them, Dawn doesn't seem annoyed.)
When she reaches the island, she'll find a trail of blinking green lights that illuminate as she - and the headset - approach, leading towards the performance space.
no subject
But memories of Hank hurt too much to dwell on and she pushes them aside so she can concentrate on getting to Pier 55, once there and once she sees the blinking green lights she chuckles.
"Green lights. Of course." She teases and heads up towards the performance area, part of her mind scolding her at being led so easily towards what could be a trap but the other part of her charmed by the fact that he took the time to set up all these specifically for her.