Fifty-Sixth Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

((Forward-dated to Sunday the 26th, after the village has cleaned up from the ice storm.))


[That was a good last try, Winter, but you are rapidly losing your hold over this ectotherm. He was trapped in C5 for several days, after Luke Skywalker’s guests shook off their movie-marathon stupor to realize they were iced in, but since making it safely back to House 55 he’s been increasingly alert and moving around with greater purpose.]

[Today he put on his heated snowsuit and struck out across the snowy village to the library. He had found this puzzle-box among his things, and he wants to work on it without his housemates hanging over his shoulders.]

[He also wants to strike up a conversation with anyone who so much as glances at him. Cold weather and semi-torpor don’t present many opportunities for socializing, and the normally-quiet Turtle has a lot of pent-up conversation in need of an outlet. It won’t be at his normal intellectual level, but it should at least be better than it has been in recent weeks.]


((Feel free to help Don with the puzzle-box, but I don’t want it to be opened yet.))

Comments

[fierybluebird]

Looks like a type of lock. [Puts on his glasses. They do nothing, but he looks smarter in them and people take him more seriously.] Any idea what's inside?

[i_speak_softly]

[Hey, you do look smarter.]

A present. I think.

[fierybluebird]

[Doesn't he? It's a miracle.]

Present? From who?

[i_speak_softly]

My friend Robert.

[fierybluebird]

Score. So he gave you the box too?

[Sneakily slides one of the pieces experimentally.]

[i_speak_softly]

Mm.

[He observes your efforts - is this going to work?]

[fierybluebird]

So is the goal to match them up?

[i_speak_softly]

I don't know.

[fierybluebird]

Maybe it's spring operated!

[He's kind of excited, but leaves it to Don. Don's present, Don get to figure it out after all.

[i_speak_softly]

[fffffffffff Good one! Don laughs uproariously.]

[fierybluebird]

[Welp, Marco knows why he finds it funny himself, but he's just hoping it's for the same reason Don is laughing.]

One of those Winters, eh? [Could mean boring. Or not.]

Sneaky little box... so does it require a specific combo?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don nods, and considers the box again. Did Robert lock it with some code that Don ought to recognize?]

[fierybluebird]

Maybe his birthday? Or is that too obvious?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don turns the box over - where would he enter a code like that?]

[fierybluebird]

The pieces that slide. [Gestures very vaguely.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Yeah that's helpful.]

I can't remember the date.

[fierybluebird]

Is there a favorite day of the year or something? Favorite number?

Like if I was giving Ace a present like this, I'd make it 1 - 2 - 3. Because 1/1 is his birthday, but that's my division number, his is 2, and 3 is for his brothers growing up.

[Also because Marco likes insulting his little brother's intelligence to troll him, but anyway....]

[i_speak_softly]

[Helpless shrug.]

[fierybluebird]

Maybe it'll come to you in time, eh?

[i_speak_softly]

Probably...

[He fiddles with the box again, still not getting anywhere.]

[fierybluebird]

Well good luck to you man, for now I'm gonna go check out those books. See you around okay?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don nods. Maybe he'll - head back home soon.]