Puzzle (Language Labs)

Around Midnight on the 16th, Tachyon began emailing back from the Language Lessons account.

Formula for Solving

For the play along instructions to solving please go here: Language Lessons (A How To)

AA

Getting at the Clue

Tachyon's Profile read:

Step AA: A small taste.
(see below)

NDkyZjQ5NDkyMDViMzQ1ZDIwMmEyZj MwMGQwYTU4M2EyMDQ1MzE0NjM2NDYz
ODM5NDU0NDMxNDQ0NjBkMGE1OTNhMj A1NzY4NjE3NDIwNjU3NjY1NzI3OTZm
NmU2NTIwNzM2ODZmNzU2YzY0MjA2NT
YxNzQyMDZmNmUyMDc0Njg2NTY5NzIy MDYyNjk3Mjc0Njg2NDYxNzkyZTBkMG E=

Which translated from Base64 to:

49 2f 49 49 20 5b 34 5d 20 2a 2f 30 0d 0a 58 3a 20 45 31 46 36 46 38 39 45 44 31 44 46 0d 0a 59 3a 20 57 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 72 79
6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 69 72 74 68 64 61 79 2e 0d 0a

Which translated from Hex to:

I/II [4] */0
X: E1F6F89ED1DF
Y: What everyone should eat on their birthday. 

Making Sense of the Clue

With 4 held constant on the outside ring and the input set as E1F6F89ED1DF it was time to find out what Y was.

Tachyon updated her profile with the clue:

[ A small hint: To find the answer, all you need is 'love.' Hopefully that will 'convert' you. ]

On an episode of Lovelines, Adam Corolla says all real men should eat pie on their birthdays.
Pie can't be the key becuase not all the letters appear on the cipher ring. However, 504945, hex for pie, does appear.

Decoding

With new key, E1F6F89ED1DF decodes as "Aww..." which opens the rar file

Rar Contents

from Gemma <gemmers19@gmail.com>
to Sebastian <sebastianv7@gmail.com>
date February 15, 2006 10:16 PM
subject Sincerest apologies

Dear Sebastian,

I want to apologize for my inappropriate remark after class today. It’s just that after spending so much time together, I am
finding it quite difficult to suppress these feelings I seem to be developing for you. Based on your reaction, however, it appears
you do not feel the same way towards me (please do let me know if I am mistaken).

I feel more than a tad embarrassed for putting my foot in it and creating such an awkward tension between us. I’ll understand if
you do not wish to continue our professional relationship as a result, but I hope that won’t be the case.

Regardless, your friendship has meant so much to me these past few weeks and I am truly sorry for doing anything to jeopardize
that. I am more than willing to do anything within my power to put this uncomfortable moment behind us.

Your friend,

Gemma