[network|video] @captaininvincible; Vandalism, Please Advise; Night 76 [open] [cw: language]

[notaquaman]

Well fuck!

[This is not the sound of someone who has just been successful at opening a mysterious safe in the post office.]

Alright, laugh it up, the bloody code won't work!

[He swings the tablet around from where it had been awkwardly facing the keypad to get a good view of his disgruntled expression.]

Here. [He lifts the paper up to the camera, displaying "SAFE: xiai xiai kic xoeqzw tmmjtd-wwvjr" clearly for all to see.] I'm shit where it comes to that whole...detective...deciphering thing. It needs to be something with numbers. The damn thing won't take letters. Couldn't even do anything! Anyone else got any brilliant ideas?

Comments

audio; assuming 'SAFE' is visible

[rattlingthestars]

[ Having tugged on Kunsel's sleeve until he read the picture out loud - way to not be accessible, Nathan! - Jim mulls it over for a long time. Nothing here's ever easy, but there's got to be some way to get in there. It's like the message he and Hiro had found leading to the video from the hospital. ]

Gotta be some kind of code, but you need - something like a key, and maybe something that could help you crack it unless you're really good at math.

[ Jim's not good at math, especially blind, and he doesn't actually know all that much about ciphers. Still, he gets quiet again as he turns the puzzle over in his mind. Eventually he sends a second message, this one less confident than the first: ]

What if ... what if 'SAFE' is the key? Not just telling you where to use it, but ...

[notaquaman]

Really, you think?

[Nathan looks at the paper again and pulls a face.]

I just thought it meant that the combination was for the safe. So you think the word safe unlocks the safe? [He laughs.] Kind of hilarious. Nobody would think to use that! But anyway, I don't know shit about math or cracking codes. I never paid attention much in algebra. Guess that means I'm shit out of luck down here.

[rattlingthestars]

Maybe. Or there's a key hidden somewhere else, but why hide a code if you didn't want someone to solve it? Is there anything in the building with the save that has... numbers, or a grid, or something?

[ Unless there's a different safe that has an alphabet keyboard, or he's completely wrong about what kind of code this is, or - well, about a billion other things, but tunnel (aha) vision is a hell of a drug. ]

I might have an idea. A friend of mine's got a program on their tablet that might be able to help, but I'm not sure he's seen this, or would know what to do. Going to shoot him a message, see if anything turns up.

[notaquaman]

Didn't see anything.

[Nathan gives a groan as he gets off his ass. He leaves the tablet facing the safe and goes to take a second look. There's much rummaging, crashing, and occasional cursing to be had. When Nathan comes back, he's huffing, but looks no worse for wear.]

Nope, nothing. Just a bunch of envelopes and shit. You go ahead and do that. [He waves a hand, as if giving his consent. As if it was even necessary.] I'm not going anywhere, I'll just be sitting here doing fuck all. Let me know what that buddy of yours comes up with, yeah?

[rattlingthestars]

Yeah, I will.

[ Jim's gone a while, talking to Quark, but that doesn't mean he's actually getting results. He looks intensely frustrated when he returns. ]

-Program didn't work. We might have to figure this one out by hand.

Would really help if I could see it...

[notaquaman]

Ah, well, it was worth a shot! Thanks for the attempt, man. I think we got a few others already trying to work this out on paper.

[He's in too good of a mood to be bummed out. Would've been nice if it could've just been plugged into a computer, but, hey! It's not like he's actually doing any of the work either way. It's all win-win for him.]

Should have this thing debunked soon enough.

[rattlingthestars]

Good, if somebody who knows what they're doing's looking at it...

[ Then maybe Nathan's good mood is catching. Stranger things have happened. ]

You're gonna let us know what happens when you open it, right?

[notaquaman]

[Nathan barks a laugh.]

Trust me, don't need to worry yourself about that. You can bet on me not to keep my mouth shut about anything.

[...great?]