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One More Soul to the Call
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Post by Shatter on Jul 2, 2013 0:11:54 GMT
It was hot, much hotter than Lorelei would have liked. She had stripped off her jacket back in the city and it now hung tied across her waist, swaying to and fro slightly as she walked through the town. It was small and quaint, with a few people milling about in the evening light, unlike where she lived. Lorelei frowned as she thought of her family, living in the upper levels of the skyscraper. That wasn’t where she wanted to be at all, for more reasons than one.
Her steps carried her to the front of the local inn, a familiar sight for the young woman. It was here she came to get away from her family, from the business of the city, from her worries. She planned on renting a room that night, but there was still some daylight to burn.
She crouched outside of the den, gently setting down the worn black case she had been carrying and flipping it open. The violin inside was old and slightly scuffed, but with a healthy chestnut color. It had seen better days, sure, but it was still in fine condition. Lorelei picked it up as if it would break apart any second. The instrument was precious to her; it had been her sisters.
With the violin resting across her lap, she quickly rosined the bow and, picking up the violin with her left hand, stood. Shouldering her blonde hair out of the way, Lorelei rested the old instrument in the crook of her neck and rested her chin on it. Long fingers stretched over the neck of the violin, she pulled the bow across the strings. Lorelei didn’t need any sheet music for this song; it was one of the first she learned, and the favorite of her twin sister. She could see her now: fifteen years old, her nearly transparent form laughing and dancing in the street; the only oddity was that she passed through the bystanders.
The song was fast and low, with a slightly haunting melody, or so Lily had told her before. All Lorelei knew was that she enjoyed the way the violin vibrated in her arms, and a grin spread across her face as she played.
A minute or so later and the song was over. Lorelei looked at the bystanders- some were real, leaning against the inn or just passing by, but a handful were semi transparent. Her grey eyes rested on each of the spirits for a short time. Many of them simply seemed curious, and she knew that none of them would bother her. Her sister beckoned for her to play another song.
Lorelei nodded slightly, before crouching by her case once more. She dug around for the sheet music in the case- a similar song, she decided, one called “One More Soul to the Call”. It seemed appropriate enough when one took into account that she was actually training; she had adapted it to suit her violin. Now, if only she could find that sheet.
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Post by Parrot on Jul 2, 2013 2:20:16 GMT
The sun was smiling down on Irving with waves of sticky heat and Irving was smiling right back up at it. His feet crunched on the gravel path as he walked from the city to the town. Irving still wore his janitor uniform, his back and armpits sweating so much that the material had turned a dark blue in those locations. The temperature didn’t really bother him though, not too much anyways, because if he just tricked his body into thinking he was cold then he wouldn’t feel so bad. There weren’t nothing that Irving McKaul’s brain couldn’t do.
Snow. Cold. Brrrrrr.
See? He was feeling chillier with every step. Cheerfully, Irving started a tuneless whistle that started out sounding a lot like “Three Blind Mice” but ended up trailing into something undetectable not even a few notes in. Irving didn’t like leaving the city, his home, to go out. Especially when the further he got into the town and forest the more likely he was to see a person who used Old Magic. And Irving had promised to his superiors that he’d kill any Elemental he met with his powers. They never doubted him or said he couldn’t. That’s what Irving liked most about his superiors- they always believed him.
Today, however, he was sent on a special mission. One of the powerful ESP families had complained that their daughter had left the skyscraper and, with no one else willing to walk the miles from city to town in this heat, the job was given to Irving. But he knew that was coming. He’d seen it in a vision. So off Irving went, one step after another, to tell Miss Lorelei that she was wanted back in the skyscraper. He’d seen the young woman around the skyscraper from time to time. He liked the music she made with her violin. Irving didn’t know what power she had, sometimes he wasn’t allowed to know with certain ESP’s, but as soon as he got near enough to her he could probably figure it out. His own abilities let him gauge others pretty quickly.
The tips of the town buildings finally came into view and Irving’s smile, if possible, grew even wider. Maybe, after he found Miss Lorelei, he’d go into the diner and get a drink. Irving didn’t like alcohol, he much rather preferred pop. A coke with ice in it…maybe a burger too. He knew that his mother’s traditional food never involved coke and hamburgers but he hadn’t seen his mother since she dropped him off in that mental hospital. Irving didn’t hold it against her. Some people didn’t have big enough minds to understand the powers that Irving had. It was the right thing to do at the time.
A sound, haunting to Irving’s ears, drifted by him as he entered the city. He followed it, knowing, just knowing, it would lead him directly to Miss Lorelei. His thoughts were correct (as he knew they were going to be) and he stopped in front of her, a crooked smile on his face.
“Beautiful as always Miss Lorelei,” he commented, bobbing his head up and down, “you should record your stuff. Those non-magical humans sure do love a good song. I had a friend once who would always play his saxophone and said the stuff he made coming out of it was magic. Now it wasn’t real magic, I can assure you, but it was pretty good.”
Irving continued this anecdote for a few more minutes not pausing to let Lorelei stop him at all. “He was a good guy thought. Now, I was here for a reason,” he smiled again, “you’re supposed to head back to the skyscraper now. Family wants ya.”
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Post by Shatter on Jul 2, 2013 21:15:38 GMT
Lorelei had just found the sheet music when her sister called her name. “Lorelei.” The soft voice of her sister echoed in Lorelei’s mind, and to this day she still found it surprising that she could hear the dead so clearly and the living, hardly at all.
She glanced up, wondering what the urgency was. Lily only really spoke when she needed to; she knew it startled her twin sometimes and it took an effort to communicate. But what she saw was a pleasant surprise: Irving, still outfitted in his familiar janitor clothes. Lorelei had seen the much older man working around in the skyscraper for, well, her entire life. Not that she minded him at all, he was pleasant enough. What bothered her were the people that pranked him all the time; her own brothers were notorious for that, and they used to do the same to her as well. It was in that respect that she felt a similarity with Irving.
“Thank you, Irving,” she responded with a smile to his compliment. Her words were a little slurred together, a result of learning to speak much too late. It was a wonder at all that Lorelei could speak, and she had her sister once again to thank for that. “But if I recorded it, it just wouldn’t have the same effect.”
She held the sheet in her long fingers as Irving continued to talk. Lorelei watched his lips carefully, and out of the corner of her vision, saw Lily leaning against the inn next to her. She nodded every once in a while as Irving continued on. It was a little interesting, what he had to say.
But it was the last part that caught her attention. So that’s what he was here for. Anxiety started to claw at her stomach, but her outer demeanor remained calm. She had only promised them to fight for the ESP to get them off of her back, and now when tensions were rising, they actually cared about where she went. Figures.
“They can wait a little bit Irving. I’m sure whatever it is, it can’t be that urgent. Besides,” she held up the sheet, “I still have songs to play.” Lorelei hoped that Irving would let her off the hook- the last thing she wanted right now was to go back to the skyscraper, or even the city in general. She glanced behind him for a second, and noticed that a couple of the ghosts were beginning to fade. “Besides, it’s part of my training.”
That last part was only half-true, but it was the best explanation Lorelei could come up with. Her intention had been to train, in the back of her mind at least; it just so happened that it involved playing her violin. Not that she was complaining of course.
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Post by Devi on Jul 3, 2013 2:20:43 GMT
Lynx ambled down the streets of Mapleport by memory, his eyes focused on the gold pocket watch in his hands. Or at least he hoped it was gold. The man he had lifted it from definitely looked the part of city slicker. I mean, who else wore a suit on a Saturday in this heat? In Mapleton, of all places? Then again, it was certainly possible for someone to play the part and use fake props. He rubbed a grimy, oil-stained finger over the gleaming metal with a frown. If the pawnshop wouldn't take it, he could always try and sell it on the street. Hell, maybe he'd throw it into the pot for his next transaction with Dan. He needed to find a radiator core support to fit the '69 anyways.
The sound of a violin distracted him as he neared the inn. Curious as to who was playing around these parts, Lynx stuffed the pocket watch into his back pocket and headed towards the front. As he neared, he spotted the musician standing not far from the front door. It was a young woman (score!), and she seemed to have just finished her song as she was now crouched over her case rifling through some papers. Intrigued, Lynx was about to increase his pace when he caught sight of another man- dressed oddly in a janitorial uniform- approaching. He slowed his steps and approached casually, arriving just in time to hear woman's last statement. Training? The word made him tense him; if she had said practice, that would have been one thing, but training implied something else altogether.
"There a show I don't know about?" Lynx asked in lieu of hello once he had reached the pair. His bright blue eyes skimmed over the violinist, taking in her pretty face and the jacket tied around her waist. He then moved his gaze to the man, and he felt a strange tug in his stomach. He knew this guy! It took Lynx a moment for it to register, but then he remembered: it was that weirdo from the skyscraper! The non-magic nutjob who thought he was an ESP! Lynx could remember making fun of him as a boy with the other children, though oddly he found nothing funny about it now.
"I work here," he added, turning back to the girl with the violin and flashing her charming smile. It belied the unease he actually felt. He knew for a fact the crazy janitor was working for the ESP, and if this girl was an Elemental, Lynx had no doubt the whack-job would try and axe her, her right here in public. Of course, that was worst case scenario. Best case, the girl was ESP and they were here recruiting. Either way, though, it was magic sticking its nose where it didn't belong: right here in Lynx's home base. Not cool, bro.
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Post by Parrot on Jul 3, 2013 15:21:34 GMT
Miss Lorelei’s manner of speech never bothered Irving—he didn’t really focus on the oddities of a person. Not unless they were an enemy of the ESP’s, if that was the case than he would commit that person’s traits to memory. Anything that could help him eliminate the enemies. Irving’s head bobbed up and down as he thought to himself.
At Miss Lorelei’s answer, Irving chewed on the inside of his mouth. He was told to bring her back and Irving never disobeyed the orders he was given. He was dutiful like that. His blue eyes looked down at the girl, slowly taking in her violin, the sheet music, and that honest face of her’s. If she said she was training then Irving believed her, especially since he couldn’t quite get a grasp on what powers she had. That made the man a little uncomfortable as he shifted from one foot to another. Irving didn’t like it when his powers failed him.
“Well, if you’re training,” he muttered, trailing off as he shoved his sweaty palms into his pocket, “I guess it’s alright that we don’t go right away. So long as I can stay with you. They told me to bring you back so I have to stay with you.”
The more Irving thought about it the more he enjoyed the idea. They told him to bring Miss. Lorelei back, but they didn’t say when he had to bring her back. Maybe he could train with her and then they could go to the diner and get a burger and coke. Irving smile broadly. He liked that, he liked that a lot.
That’s when the newcomer sauntered over to them and started to talk to Miss Lorelei. At first Irving scowled at the man, wondering if the stranger was an Elemental in disguise, and then he started to relax as the man chatted on. There was something about the stranger that Irving just…knew…but he couldn’t recall what. Perhaps it was his powers trying to tell him something but the feeling wasn’t hostile. Familiar.
Irving smiled back at the man, scratching at the mole on the side of her face. “Does the diner do good burgers?” he asked suddenly.
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Post by Shatter on Jul 3, 2013 20:15:57 GMT
“Thanks again, Irving,” She smiled at the older man, lifting her violin to her shoulder again. She was glad that he understood- she didn’t want to have to resist, though she would if she had to. Besides, Lorelei didn’t really mind Irving’s company, seeing as normally she just had a group of spirits to talk to. Even then, it was normally only Lily.
She lifted her bow to the strings, eyes scanning the sheet in the case, when Lily caught her attention once more. “Over there,” her twin whispered, her translucent form pointing at another newcomer. But unlike the other bystanders, this one was talking to her. Lorelei lowered her violin once more, watching his mouth closely. She missed the first part of whatever he had to say, but the second part was easy: ‘I work here.’
Lorelei glanced back over to Irving, to see his reaction. His scowl first alarmed her, but as he relaxed, so too did Lorelei. Irving was serious about taking on Elementals; this man clearly wasn't one. Just because she told her family she’d fight didn’t mean she intended on doing that. After all, what good would a bunch of ghosts be in a fight? At best she could send them to check out the surrounding area, but so far the only one who would actually obey was Lily, and that was when she was feeling like it. Lily didn’t often like to leave her sister, and the same had been true when she was alive.
Her head turned back towards the newcomer. His smile seemed nice enough, but she was still unsure. “I thought I knew everyone who worked here. Are you new?” She asked, taking the time to enunciate her words carefully. Lorelei was still sure there was something off about her voice, even though Lily gave her a ghostly thumbs-up. Hopefully, he wouldn’t catch on. “What is your name?”
It was hard for her to keep up between two people speaking, and she glanced back and forth between the two men. Lily drifted over to stand- more like float – on the opposite side of Lorelei, ready to chime in. The medium had to force herself to not look at her sister; after all, that would seem odd, staring at the empty space to her left. She had learned long ago that staring at and talking to 'empty space' often earned her odd stares.
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Post by Devi on Jul 3, 2013 20:42:45 GMT
Lynx was mildly concerned about Irving recognizing him, but the man had always been a bit slow. So slow, in fact, that he didn't notice when the kids were making fun of him. Or perhaps he didn't care. Living on the streets, watching people, and just growing up taught Lynx that most people were damn complicated underneath, regardless of how "simple" they seemed. This didn't intrigue philosophically or anything, it was just beneficial to recognize that and accept it as fact; it certainly kept Lynx from underestimating people, and that had kept him alive AND undiscovered since he had escaped the Skyscraper.
"Bro, the diner does AMAZING burgers," Lynx answered with vigor, still keeping up friendly pretenses. It wasn't a total act, as Lynx had no reason for hostilities...unless the two had ESP business here. Lynx wasn't about to let Margo and her establishment get dragged through this way. Hell, if he had his own way, not a single place in Mapleport would get dragged through it, but that just wasn't going to happen.
"Lynx, the name's Lynx." He turned his attention back to Lorelei, explaining, "I don't deal much with customers, I just fix whatever Margot asks me to. What's your name? Can't say I've noticed anyone playing the violin around here, which is a shame, 'cause you play beautifully."
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Post by Parrot on Jul 4, 2013 2:48:13 GMT
Images of juicy burgers and ketchup drenched French fries floated around in Irving's mind. If the man, Lynx, recommended the place than Irving was even more determened to go. And maybe if Miss Lorelei did an exceptional job with her training, Irving would buy her a shake. He remembered the times at school, when he was just a small boy, how the other kids would share shakes and fries at a diner with their Dad's. Irving never got that from his father, not that Irving minded too much, but he was happy he might be able to pass that tradition along to Miss Lorelei. But only if her training went well.
The middle aged man completely missed Lynx's flirtations with Lorelei, too wrapped up in his own thoughts as he was. But, when Irving's attention did return, he was itching to be free of Lynx and off to train with Miss Lorelei. If Irving hadn't been on a job and had to get Miss Lorelei back so soon, he would have loved talking to their new companion. Unfortunetly, unless Lynx could help them train, Irving was certain they needed to move on.
"Miss Lorelei," Irving said, his tone apologetic, "we should probably move on to that training of ours now. Don't you agree?"
Irving still didn't known what her powers were...he pulled his sweaty hands free of his pockets and wiped them on his pants. He didn't like it when his powers failed him.
OOC: I wrote this from a tablet so sorry about length or errors.
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Post by Shatter on Jul 6, 2013 21:53:14 GMT
A curious look crossed Lorelei’s face at the mention of the man’s name. “Lynx,” Lily quipped, seeing her expression. “It’s pronounced Lynx.” Lorelei wished she could nod in response. Names gave her the hardest time, so many lip movements, and with even more possible sounds they could make.
“Lynx,” she said in reply, “that’s a nice name. And thanks.” She didn’t mean to be so short with him. Not a lot of people really talked to her about her playing, and she wasn’t quite sure how to respond. At least he was being sincere, or seemed to anyway. “I’ve been trying to play more recently. I need the practice.” And time away from my family, she thought unhappily to herself.
“Nice name? Try 'weird name'. I don’t know if I like this guy.” The fifteen-year-old ghost stuck her tongue out, and Lorelei shot her a look for a brief second.
She turned back to Irving just in time to see him ask her to train elsewhere. It suddenly dawned on her that he didn’t know what her power actually was- neither of them did. Not that it should have been surprising: the Collins family had always been one of secrets and, more recently, fighting. But why did she have to be? Lorelei hardly felt like a part of her own family nowadays anyway. And she could trust Irving- Lynx she wasn’t too sure about, but he didn’t strike her as an elemental (Irving would have attacked him anyway), which meant he was neutral or on their side.
Either way, she decided to take a chance.
“Its fine, Irving. I was actually already training.” She lifted the violin a bit to demonstrate her point. And Lily- you remember Lily, don’t you?- she wants me to keep playing. Oh, and she says hi.” Lorelei added, seeing the teen wave out of the corner of her eye. She hoped that Irving would remember Lily, otherwise that would be rather awkward to explain.
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Post by Devi on Jul 7, 2013 15:30:08 GMT
There was something odd about this girl, but Lynx couldn't quite put his finger on her. Perhaps it was in the way she spoke, or the way it seemed to take her a second longer than most people to process what he was saying...it was strange, not a glaring peculiarity, but off enough for it to bother him. He listened quietly as Irving insisted they get to training. A small frown appeared on Lynx's face, for this is what irked him about their presence. He was not pleased with an ESP using Margot's Bed and Breakfast for a training arena. He wasn't about to have her or Asher or one of the patrons here end up as collateral damage, and that's what ESPs and Elementals did best: collateral damage.
I was actually already training.
Lynx's eyes moved from Lorelei's face to her violin and back again, not grasping what she was talking about. The mention of Lily didn't help either, and he wondered if Lily was perhaps another ESP- Lorelei's teacher, perhaps? The frown on his face grew as he stole a brief look at the janitor. Irving looked uncomfortable, and Lynx wondered if it was his own presence that made him nervous.
"I don't wanna pry or anything, but what exactly are you training for?" Lynx asked bluntly, deciding to just cut to the chase.
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Post by Parrot on Jul 7, 2013 21:04:57 GMT
A frown rippled across Irving’s face as he tried to recall who Miss Lilly was. He met and saw many ESP’s in the Skyscraper, some nice and others…well…either way he had a hard time placing a face to Lily. But the name did sound familiar. It wasn’t a teacher, no, Irving knew most of them from when he asked them to tutor him in his powers. It wasn’t one of the kids who messed around with him…but he could clearly remember there being another girl with Miss Lorelei when she was growing up for the longest time. Until, one day, there wasn’t. Her sister. It had to have been Miss Lorelei’s passed away sister, God rest her soul. Irving beamed happily as he was certain it was his powers, enabling him to read Miss Lorelei’s mind, that had allowed him to understand that Miss Lilly was the dead sister. He was also saddened by this. He remembered the two little girls always playing by each other’s side many years ago. Irving had seen how sad Miss Lorelei had become from the death, but, she didn’t look too sad now.
“Hi, Lilly,” Irving stated, “I miss hearing you laugh with Miss Lorelei. You two were real nice to me as children.”
He didn’t understand what was going on and Irving was a little more than relieved when the Lynx guy asked his question. Although, Irving wasn’t that fond of the other man’s tone. “Don’t speak like that to Miss Lorelei. Show some respect. It ain’t none of your business to pry at her.”
Pry at her…was that right? Irving wasn’t too sure, he didn’t know that word. He did hope that Miss Lorelei explained what was going on, though, even if her music playing was nice, Irving still didn’t know what it had to do with the dead Miss Lilly.
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Post by Shatter on Jul 8, 2013 2:07:49 GMT
Lorelei shook her head, a bit sadly. She had figured Irving would have been able to figure it out- she wasn’t quite sure how to say it directly; she never had to in the past- but the man did come off as a bit scatterbrained from time to time. Not that he could be blamed for that.
She turned slightly to face Lynx once more, prompted by Lily’s pointing to him. Her sister was fading by the minute, and Lorelei could feel her concentration slipping away. Unlike the others, Lily never disappeared entirely, though it would become near impossible for her to communicate soon.
She considered answering Lynx’s question briefly. It wouldn’t be something that her parents want her to do, which only made her want to do it more. Besides, it wasn’t like this information would change the course of the war, and maybe venting just a bit would help her feel better.
“My parents and brothers want me to train to fight in the war. I want to train, but for other reasons. I’m not fond of their big plans,” Lorelei shrugged, brushing her blonde hair back as she did so. “I’m a medium. I talk to ghosts and spirits, like my sister Lily.”
Finally, it was out. She didn’t feel much different, having people know. It had been surprisingly easy, and nothing bad had happened… yet. Honestly, what did her parents expect, that an Elemental was going to attack her the moment the words left her mouth? Lorelei had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at that thought, not wanting to seem rude to the two men.
“I came here to get away from my family, just for a little bit.” Lorelei added after a brief moment of thought, figuring she might as well explain why she had chosen the inn as well. “I’ve been sick of them as of late. Which is part of the reason why I don’t really want to go back.” She cast an apologetic look at Irving.
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Post by Devi on Jul 8, 2013 3:32:42 GMT
Lynx refrained from snapping back at Irving. He had no reason to show this Miss Lorelei any respect, other than common courtesy, and he especially had no reason to let some whackjob of a janitor chastise him. But, Lynx refrained, especially since Lorelei did not take into account Irving's scoldings. She didn't seem to think he was rude, and she was willing to answer his question.
In fact, the amount of information Lorelei divulged, and the readiness with which she divulged it, took Lynx by surprise. He very quickly decided that she was not much of a threat, not because he didn't think her powers were worthwhile, but because she obviously lacked the fanaticism for the cause. Had Irving not been present, Lynx would have been tempted to confide in Lorelei his own powers, though he wasn't sure why. Lynx never wanted to confide in anyone about anything, and he certainly didn't want to go telling an ESP about his powers. Yet, there was something a bit different about this girl, and Lynx found the idea of telling her that he, too, was an ESP who didn't care much for the "big plans" was comfortable.
But, that nutjob was present, and even though he was crazy as a loon, Lynx knew he was loyal to the bone and would report everything back to the ESP leaders. So, Lynx made no mention of his powers. The thought of Lorelei's powers...well, that made Lynx vaguely uncomfortable. He didn't like the idea of a bunch of dead people he couldn't see standing around watching him.
"Well," he began, trying to look at ease, "The inn is definitely a good place to get away from things."
Internally, Lynx cringed. His words sounded stupid, even to him, and he wondered how he could get away from this situation without being rude. After all, if Lorelei just wanted to play her violin and talk to dead people, that didn't really sound like it would cause much collateral damage...assuming she wasn't here to recruit, and assuming the janitor wasn't going to jump off the deep end.
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Post by Parrot on Jul 23, 2013 2:27:09 GMT
"That's alright Miss Lorelei," Irving drawled, shoving his sweaty hands into his pockets, "sometimes it's good to get a break from your family. You don't need to feel guilty about it." The older man knew that feeling quite well. There had been times in his childhood that he couldn't stand the thought of his father's drinking or his sibling's scorn and just needed to get away. It was natural, especially since the Skyscraper was so locked down all the time. Not a lot of places for someone to get their privacy.
Irving stood there sweating in the summer sun as he listened to Lynx talk. It made the janitor feel a little better that Lynx wasn't pushing for Miss Lorelei to preform in front of him- there was still something so oddly familiar about the stranger that made Irving uncomfortable. The janitor didn't want Lynx prying into something he shouldn't. ESP business was for ESP's only.
"I promised to bring you back, Miss Lorelei, so I can't really leave you...but I can practice with you. If that's alright?"
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