WELCOME TO THE DARK WEB.

[ashaya]

Who: Spock and anyone interested in the aforementioned technology plot.
Where: Mostly around the port, because you have to really lean into the Gothic Romance of it.
What: Local nerds build a computer and a system of their own to exercise privacy online for everyone with mixed results.
Warnings: TBD. None so far, unless you want to count Spock veering into poeticisms inevitably in metatext.




[ chances are, if you're curious, you've been seeing a handful of ciphers cropping up around aldrip.

they start in places most chosen would frequent, spiral out to areas more remote in the coming days. but, no matter which ones you encounter, they all seem to written in the same hand. the words, if you can call them that, are jumbled in such a way that it looks impossible to unknot at first. but, there's a odd weight across some of these... messages? the letters look strange and, comparing them over time, you'll find a key.

curious, indeed. someone likes vigenère ciphers.

what it shakes out to is a set of coordinates that will lead you squarely to an abandoned warehouse by the pier, a date, and a time. if you're compelled to go on your own, you might find some of your fellows waiting around with you. if you're not? well, maybe you can take a friend just in case.

either way, you'll get your answers one way or another. ]

( ooc: HELLO FRIENDS. first and foremost, please see the comments and the sub-comments below for week blocking and organizational efforts. if you would like to summon me into your comment, just put spock in the subject line or ping me directly on plurk at askefise or on discord! i'm usually around in some capacity or another.

other than that: have fun! if you need me to help you brainstorm why your blorbo would show up or how, i'm here for you. time for totally fun and normal times that will not end in any abnormal way whatsoever on the 19th. )

Comments

[fieldtrip]

[ Toph has not cracked any ciphers. She didn't even realize there were ciphers until she showed up and heard people talking about it. She instead has stalked Spock, who feels extremely distinctive and unique to her senses, and occasionally pops up around the warehouse to make a nuisance of herself.

It's this same approach that leads to her catching Vincent on the second or third time he drops something off. Spock might leave a polite note and some tea in thanks, but that's not at all what she's doing here. Toph hops down from where she'd been hiding on a platform near the ceiling (thanks, metal warehouses) and points a victorious finger directly at him. ]

Gotcha! It's you again! What's with the sneaking? You made me stay up late for this.

[ She couldn't just leave that mystery unanswered when all the nerds are sitting around hard at work and here she is, useless. This is one thing she could do. ]

[depressionnap]

[w e l p

If he knew that Toph was around, he might not have really bothered with sneaking because it'd be pointless around here, even at his level. From what he understands her senses are so vibrant that a feather could land on stone and she would be aware of it.

Vincent considers a moment, then turns to face her after setting some of the material.]

I didn't make you do anything. [because seriously who can ever tell toph to do anything lbr]

I can't help their endeavors in construction and programming, but I can aid in other ways. [Does that explain why he has been specifically sneaking around? Not at all.]

[fieldtrip]

[ She'd have to be paying attention, same as any sighted person would have to be paying attention to notice a detail like that, but a whole person creeping around is a lot bigger and more obvious to her than a feather. It's the motion itself that she picks up on, and a heartbeat alone is enough. ]

Okay, true.

[ He's right and his implicit acknowledgment that she can't be forced into anything pleases her. ]

Me either. I've just been sitting around haunting them like a useless ghost. I can't even tell what they're working on! [ Toph sounds long-suffering and annoyed. She does not like being idle. She also doesn't question Vincent's instinct to be sneaky in how he helps; some people are just like that. ]

Where've you been getting all this stuff? Can I go with you?

[ please give her something to do that contributes..... please ]

[depressionnap]

Something to do with construction of technology and equipment. Perhaps not unlike the devices we were presented with in order to remain in contact. Actually aiding in its make isn't something I'm very skilled at.

[like he's lucky he can barely use it

There's a pause as he looks down at her. He nods, but then realizes she probably couldn't pick that up. Oops.]

Trash. Abandoned places. I can't offer much, but I can still try to bring what is useful.

But you are welcome to join me, Toph.

[fieldtrip]

I figured that much, but anything happening on a screen is a big ol' blank for me, [ Toph grumps, not shy about admitting her limitations with Vincent. He's already made it clear he respects her abilities; she doesn't need to keep up a front or prove anything.

But then she grins at the immediate welcome, reaching up to adjust her headband. For the record, she definitely caught the nod. ]

Sweet. How about we pick that up tomorrow? I know you sleep, because you asked about it, [ she teases. ] I can introduce you to the furniture guy I know tomorrow, too.

[depressionnap]

I can't imagine how irritating that must be. I assume the majority of the people here are used to using this kind of technology.

[But she makes do, clearly. He wonders if there's some kind of accessibility for the blind with these devices, but Vincent doesn't know enough to look into that kind of thing.

There's a small tug at his lips, nearly a smile at the teasing.] That's fine by me. When and where shall we meet?

[fieldtrip]

I know! [ she bursts out with, enthused to find someone validating her intense irritation. ] I had somebody set up this thing on my device that reads things out to me, but if it's not text it's basically pointless.

[ She's still not sold on movies, though she's coming around on video games. ]

How about back at the casino, late morning tomorrow? I just bought the place out so I should check up on it before I go anywhere.