Google Hangouts

5:30 PM

Arthur Quincey

Lucy figured out the street number so we have a new clue!

A. Van Helsing

Hello, Arthur.

Arthur Quincey

Hi :)

SO this clue actually involves a video—who honestly has the time to design these things??—so it would be easier to decipher if you were, y'know, here to see it… ;D

That was me blatantly flirting with you, in case you didn’t notice.

A. Van Helsing

Ah, how very high tech. I'm sorry, darling, I can't come over tonight. I have a class at 9 tomorrow, and I need to stop by the archives beforehand.

Arthur Quincey

If you stop by the archives on your way over HERE tonight, you'll have that one out of the way!

Also I have a meeting at 9:30 so we'd be up and out the door in plenty of time

A. Van Helsing

The archives closed 30 minutes ago, alas.

Arthur Quincey

Well then, we'll just get up earlier. Seriously, I can make deciphering this clue SO much better.

Hey, if you had to choose only one fruit to eat the rest of your life, which would it be?

A. Van Helsing

Hmm, well, I'm torn between telling you that I'd choose my favorite, and being struck by the horrifying thought that if I ate only my favorite fruit for the rest of my life I would likely become sick of it and my love for it would turn to hate.

Arthur Quincey

That's why it's a very deep and probing question, Van.

Also you know it doesn't actually come to pass, right?

A. Van Helsing

Dare I ask why you wish to know? Never mind. All right, then. Mango, I suppose.

Arthur Quincey

Mango, really? I would not have taken you for a mango guy.

A. Van Helsing

Why not? What kind of guy had you taken me for?

Arthur Quincey

Well now that you say that, I mean, I can see it. Exotic, with a little bit of a bite ;)

A. Van Helsing

I think mangoes taste a bit of black pepper.

What fruit would you eat for the rest of your life? (Is this a euphemism that I am not picking up on?)

Arthur Quincey

Do you like that? I mean, I sort of want my mangoes to taste like mangoes.

Haha, no, but my answer would be pineapple

A. Van Helsing

That is just what I think mango tastes like. I also like pineapple. It reminds me of you: bold and sunny and sweet, once you get through its spiky exterior.

Arthur Quincey

And there's a whole one waiting for you right now at my house if you come over…

A. Van Helsing

Do you really want me to, or are you just trying to see if you have the ability to make me change my plans for you?

Arthur Quincey

That's a little petty, even for me. I honestly want you to come over and am relying on my skills of persuasion to convince you.

A. Van Helsing

I don't think it's petty, my dear. I know that when you worry whether you have someone's full attention, you…endeavor to find out. I didn't mean it as a criticism.

What is it that you wish to happen, should I allow myself to be persuaded?

Arthur Quincey

I want to taste your peppery mango, Van

No, I know—I just meant that I wouldn't do that for no other reason than to see if you'd come over. Not with you. It's because I want to see you.

And yeah, jump you. That was probably obvious though

A. Van Helsing

You're going to result in many fewer hours of sleep for me, aren't you, Arthur? All right, then. I'll see you soon. I suppose I can put the archives off until after my class.

Arthur Quincey

Yay!

What flavor of ice cream would you be?

A. Van Helsing

Oh good lord. I don't care for ice cream.

What are these questions, Arthur? They are strangely superficial, even for you.

Arthur Quincey

At all? Huh.

Remind me to show you what a buzzfeed quiz is.

A. Van Helsing

No, it's too…cold.

Ahh, I see. And what are we attempting to find out about my personality in this one?

Arthur Quincey

If you're a long-term relationship guy or in it for the sex

A. Van Helsing

Well now, Arthur. You could have just asked.

Arthur Quincey

I did, and now I know how much you like mangoes and won't try and serve you ice cream. See how useful technology is?

A. Van Helsing

I'll see you soon, Arthur.

Arthur Quincey

I'll leave my prickly covering on until you get here, Van

A. Van Helsing

I look forward to stripping you of it, my dear.

Google Hangouts

11:03 AM

Arthur Quincey

Clue time!

Mina Murray

Exciting!

Lucy Westenra

yaaaaay (i’m at work fyi)

A. Van Helsing

Yes, apologies, but I do have to teach again in about 30 minutes.

Arthur Quincey

You never interrupt :)

Okay, so, after we entered the street address that Luce found—good job, Luce

Lucy Westenra

Thank you *bows*

Arthur Quincey

What we get is what appears to be footage from a security camera. And I’m assuming the idea is that it’s footage from the security cam at the address we entered? Because it does also look like the Garden District.

It's about two minutes long and the whole first minute is just dark and a couple cars going by. But then near the end, you see this shadowy figure walk by and put something into a car parked near the house.

I’ll show you guys the vid when I see you—I can’t export it and I tried re-recording it with V’s camera but it just looked shitty.

Here are the screenshots I took, though.

[Screenshot]

Image of a tall man, face turned away from the camera. It is night, and the shadow of the house falls over the man and the street.

[Screenshot]

Image of the man standing in front of a BMW that looks newish, and is a dark color—blue or black or maroon—parked at the curb.

[Screenshot]

Image of the man standing before the open trunk of the car.

Mina Murray

That's creeeeepy

Well, i guess anything's creepy when it's blurry vid screenshotted

Lucy Westenra

Is it the person or the car or what he’s putting in the car, do you think?

Arthur Quincey

Well, no matter how many times I watch the video, I can’t see what he puts in the car. It’s small, so it’s weird he’s putting it in the trunk, too.

So I was thinking maybe the clue box wants the license plate maybe?

Mina Murray

Yeah it’s weird to put something small in your trunk. So maybe it’s not his car and he’s leaving something for someone?

Arthur Quincey

Possible, sure.

I can see the license plate but not make out what it says—I wonder if the idea is it's blurry so you have to try out several combinations. And since a wrong answer means we get a 24 hour time delay before we can try again maybe it’s a slowdown tactic to make the game last longer

Lucy Westenra

Ugh, I hate that rule. Can you find a way around that, Arthur?

Arthur Quincey

Sure. Oh, wait, except I'm STILL NOT A HACKER

Mina Murray

Can't you do…a THING with the image to make it clearer? mess with it

Mina Murray

Zoe has this software that does that

Arthur Quincey

Sounds like Mina's on the next clue!

Mina Murray

That's my friend, who’s a photographer, Prof V

Arthur Quincey

Aww i think he maybe snuck out to teach without saying goodbye :(

Lucy Westenra

Oh my god you’re so sad *heart eyes*

Do you think Zoe’d let you mess around with the software?

A. Van Helsing

I am here, Arthur. Apologies. My computer…did something.

Arthur Quincey

*gulp* HIII sorry wow

Mina Murray

I could send Zoe the screen shot and ask if she can do…the thing to it? Probably faster than me muddling around in there

Lucy Westenra

Yes go for it, I mean, the fact you’re still friends with your ex, to me is some amazing feat

Mina Murray

It shouldn't be a problem. i'll send it to her now. Psh, you know i'm friends with all my exes!

Uh, not that there's a lot or anything

Arthur Quincey

VH is friends with his ex

A. Van Helsing

Yes, my ex-partner is one of my closest friends.

Mina Murray

Aw, that's nice! see, it's not just me, Luce

Arthur Quincey

I don't have a lot of exes because I was too much of a dick to really date anyone. Until now.

Mina Murray

I don't think you were a dick, A. Just…not that interested in anyone.

For more than one night I mean, obvs.

Lucy Westenra

Arthur was an elusive catch. Good job, VH.

A. Van Helsing

Call me Ahab.

Arthur Quincey

He makes jokes but sometimes I don't get them. I bet you do, though, Min.

Mina Murray

Moby Dick ref.

A. Van Helsing

Upon consideration, I don't much care for the comparison. Consider it stricken from the record. And I happen to know for a fact that you got that reference, Arthur, since you have a copy of Moby-Dick on your bookshelf.

Arthur Quincey

…ok fine but i didn’t read it

Mina Murray

Well, Ahab's a monomaniacal nutjob who risks the lives of everyone so I agree it's not apt, professor. Plus, uh, everyone dies.

Lucy Westenra

That part is at least right up our alley

A. Van Helsing

Arthur, you should consider reading at minimum the chapter entitled "A Squeeze of the Hand." I feel it’s to your taste.

Arthur Quincey

DID YOU JUST MAKE A SEX JOKE wait I’m screencapping that and setting it as my home screen on my phone

A. Van Helsing

Oh, can you change those screens' appearance?

Arthur Quincey

Oh my god, why are you so cute

Lucy Westenra

Arthur I cannot believe you just said that

A. Van Helsing

I should enjoy a photograph of Jack on my screen.

Lucy Westenra

Also I have to go—Mina, you and VH up for the next clue solving?

Mina Murray

Yeah I'll check in after I talk to Zoe.

A. Van Helsing

Yes. Mina, I assume you can just…contact me the way Arthur does?

Arthur Quincey

Well, not exactly the way i do ;) i hope

Mina Murray

I wonder WHY Melville called it Moby Dick. Such a strange name…gotta google it.

Yes, prof, I'll just ping you in chat.

Lucy Westenra

Arthur, they're gonna be besties now too

Arthur Quincey

Hey, I'm all right with that. you guys are great friends, even if you get me involved in weird-ass shit

Mina Murray

You'll always be my bestie, Luce.

A. Van Helsing

You don't want to be my bestie, Mina?

Lucy Westenra

Damn right ;)

Arthur Quincey

…

Mina Murray

HAHAHAHA

Arthur Quincey

You're in rare form, Van. Must have had a nice evening >:)

A. Van Helsing

I'm sure I did, and I'm sure it was private.

Mina Murray

Schooled.

Arthur Quincey

Don't talk about our sex life, Mina

A. Van Helsing

I believe that's my cue to go discuss the Great Consonant Shift.

Arthur Quincey

You'll have to tell me about that later ;)

Lucy Westenra

I…don't know what that means. I have to go tell a group of tourists the ghost story and then help with the check-in rush

Mina Murray

I have to go wrangle a bunch of teenagers who function at about Arthur’s level of emotional maturity

Have a good day at work, Luce.

Lucy Westenra

You too, Min! Bye guys <3