For them, it's not quite the same. Ed wants and craves affirmations but Riddler just wants attention. Admiration. Praise suits him fine, feels good, but it's not the same craving for him. "I'm going to put you in a place where you won't know if you're dying or coming, in pleasure or in pain," he breathes out, a promise high on drugs and endorphins.

And he's got John's whole attention. It satisfies in a way that even the drugs can't touch.

Filthy fucking freak!

His head snaps up, looking around for the source of the voice. "What did you-?"

"Wasn't me," Oswald promises.