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 Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 9:08 pm
༶Who: Human Feilim (Kotaline) and Quietus Blaithe with human Jin Ho (Neon).
༶Where: The Jin Ho home, or more accurately, the garden; located between Pont and Ald.
༶When: Mid September, between harvests.
༶Weather: Warm and breezy, the sky mostly clear.
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 9:22 pm
While his abilities were a mere shadow of what they had been once, with the Fellowship’s blessing the former scribe was able to produce such bountiful and healthy crops; the attention his garden gathered reaching surprisingly far when it was only carried between breaths by strangers. There had been a few good visits and requests for shipments, and much to his surprise the Kyon family was prospering from his newfound ‘occupation.’ Jin Ho never once thought this would be his line of work, his father having put him through schooling to assure he would never break his back through labor, but here he was.
And he enjoyed it.
Blaithe, still unaccustomed to her new form, rested silently with Hero nestled carefully in her cap which lay on her lap as its opening was held daintily between her hands. The feline was resting, asleep while basking in the sun’s afternoon warmth, and the Quietus watched carefully as her Grimm tended his garden – their garden. She was also unaccustomed to such an idea, but now that she had grown she needed sustenance, and so far the only things she found appealing were flowers and fruits. Jin Ho was happy to supply, their bond having grown stronger since that night in July. That intense pain wasn’t something she cared to think about, but now that she was human shaped – human sized – she would gladly go through it again if it meant that perhaps she could find a use for herself.
A few weeks prior the three had received an interesting letter, another business proposition. However, it was a strange one; not many people came around looking for supplies in regards to ink, but this person specifically requested it as their former supplier had unfortunately passed. Given his handwriting was no longer the best, even despite his practicing, Jin Ho had Blaithe send a letter in response, figuring legible handwriting would have been a more… apparently professional.
Today was their scheduled meeting, the last remaining flora gathered for preparation, but it was to be Blaithe’s job to make the actual ink. Jin Ho had been teaching her since before she was large enough to be of real help so she was more than prepared; she had just never tried her hand at it.
There was little they could do until their guest was to arrive; Min Ho had already returned to her home and Han Ji was less than eager of the idea of being in Blaithe’s presence, never allowing himself to be in the same room. The girl had resigned to the idea that she was never going to be accepted, even though the idea hurt, but if it meant the man was more comfortable she would oblige. That left the three of them, outside in the comfortable Autumn air, and they were all fine with it. Beside Blaithe, a satchel of flowers and herbs rested, ready to be used.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:23 pm
It was a fine fall day, and Feilim didn't mind the journey. Tadhg would have been baffled by the idea of traveling almost all the way to Ald for ink, but Tadhg was a young lord, and despite the fact that he had been fostered by O'Neill for a time, Feilim was supposed to be a scribe. Without ink, he was just a snotty seventeen year old with a spotty apprenticeship, and his ink supplier had died of plague.
He blew up at his bangs in frustration. The plague had taken friends, family, business associates, but he had always had difficulty imagining that he might one day fall ill, even when people around him died and outbreaks happened in nearby towns. It was hard even to feel sad sometimes when an outbreak happened. There were just so many people dead, too many to take the time to mourn properly. They had always been dying, since before he could properly remember. It sometimes felt as if they would never stop.
"It's morbid," he muttered to himself, digging his heels into his father's horse. Technically, it was his father who had found the ink supplier and written to him. Feilim wasn't a boy anymore, but he wasn't old enough to ply his own trade yet, either. That would start next year. For now, he wanted to plan, because he wouldn't just be making his living as a scribe, he would have to start his own book. And he'd need ink. Lots of ink.
He thought he saw his destination, and drew the horse to a trot. "Foolish!" he called briefly, and a crow which had been circling lazily in the air came to rest on his shoulder. He had hesitated about bringing him, crows hardly being welcome in Imisus at the moment, but in the last few years, Foolish had become attached to him, and followed along anyway when he tried to leave him at home. Feilim had thought about clipping his wings, but he couldn't quite bring himself to. "Behave," he instructed, and Foolish tilted his head at him incomprehensibly.
Feilim shook his own head and looked out at the premises. "Hallo!" he called. "I sent a letter ahead, is anyone here?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:42 pm
Hero was the first of their group to notice their new companion; his ears perked and rotated but he made little effort to actually adjust himself, fart too contented with Blaithe’s idle stroking against his crown. No, he was perfectly fine where he was.
Blaithe had heard the muted trotting of the boy’s horse from a better distance than her Grimm, its dark splotches dancing across her vision as she heard a voice call out to an unknown second, though it could have come off as him reprimanding himself for some unknown reason – or perhaps he had addressed his horse? What a strange name, if it were indeed a name, and her head turned to face the road alongside their garden, stretching as far as the eye could see. Indeed, a boy on a horse, but the figure on his shoulder was temporarily unnoticed.
To the final call, finally Jin Ho had taken notice and he stood from his taller crops, though even then they only met his abdomen. Lifting his only arm, he called out a quick greeting of his own and then moved to wipe the sweat from his brow. With a passing glance toward Blaithe, the former scribe paced toward the entrance of their garden, just beside the house, to meet the young man. ”You must be Feilim. I am Jin Ho.” he said, offering a polite bow as his arm was pressed against his stomach.
The Anhelo, however, remained seated despite Feilim’s approach, her hands still mindlessly handling her feline companion. He wasn’t going to complain in the slightest about such a thing, but much like Blaithe he had come to notice the crow nestled against the boy’s shoulder – Blaithe’s movements had ceased as soon as her eyes had landed on the blackened fowl and Hero bristled. Obviously this one couldn’t be tainted, so eagerly nestled on a human perch, but maybe the man had yet to be taken under? Either way, at least for Blaithe, it caused unpleasant memories and she cared nothing for the thought. Much as she wished it hadn’t, her discomfort showed through her upward knit brows and the way she held her lip in her teeth, mouth closed.
I have all you need for your inks to be made, but I did have a proposition,” Jin Ho started, also passing a quick glance toward Foolish but he was not as uncomfortable as their Plagued companions. Extending his arm outward, he held it out toward Blaithe. ”If there is issue I can do it myself, but are you against a Plague creating your inks?”
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:53 pm
Feilim smiled as he was signaled to, feeling slightly relieved. This was the first trip he had made to any sort of tradesman on his own, and he had been nervous that something would go wrong, much as he hated to admit it. He had half expected them to have forgotten or suddenly changed their minds.
"Feilim Finch," he introduced, bowing slightly in the stiff and overly-formal way that a seventeen year old trying to seem older and more responsible might make. "It's a pleasure to meet you." The crow on his shoulder flapped into the air and let out an indignant caw as he bowed, and he stood up again quickly, grabbing it and stroking it slightly. "And this is Foolish."
Foolish looked past Jin-ho directly at Hero, his beady eyes glinting suspiciously. Feilim followed his gaze and held the crow a little tighter. "I'm sorry," he explained sheepishly, "I would have left him, but he follows me."
He hadn't noticed Blaithe at first, although he had seen Hero, so when Jin-ho mentioned his Plague, his first thought was of the only Plague he had yet seen, Hopkin. He bit his lip, unsure of what to say. "I mean no offense," he began hesitantly, "But would a Plague's ink plague the book it was used to make? I admit that I would rather learn more about how to make ink myself if possible, but otherwise, a Plague's ink should be fine, I have--"
He hesitated, thinking about all the problems that Hopkin's very existence had caused him, but he couldn't help but think about how sad and human hokin had seemed, too. "--I have no offense with Plagues."
He looked around, but, still thinking of Hopkin and never having seen an Anhelo, saw no Plagues. "Is your Plague inside?" he asked tentatively.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:07 pm
”I see,” Jin Ho spoke, eyeing the crow carefully. It was strange; there was no way to tell if the crow was plagued and perhaps young Finch was a fellow Grimm with the way it followed so loyally. ”An interesting name, I will admit. No stranger than Hero, I would suppose. Your crow is welcome.”
It had all been in jest, but had Hero not felt obliged to Jin Ho he might have taken offense.
The more Blaithe watched, the more she protectively held Hero between her fingers – effectively shielding him as much as possible from being a potential meal. When Foolish spat and fluttered, she also drew back slightly against her perch on the bench and she quickly beckoned Hero into his pocket in case the bird happened to get away from its owner’s grip.
Holding up his hand, palm facing Feilim, Jin Ho shook his head slowly. ”You need not explain, but you should know that Quietus do not spread the plague – you would be in no danger of catching from ink she made from natural means.” Of course, it skipped his mind to even consider the fact that Blaithe had always been able to make her own paint, even now as she was almost constantly painting on her own time – but no, she would be creating it from earth and flora, not of her own magic.
The next question threw the Imises man through a loop, at least for a moment, as he passed Feilim a quizzical look. ”Well, no… She is here,” said Jin Ho, looking back toward Blaithe again with furrowed brows. He didn’t know that she was his first Anhelo to encounter, but he would have figured her strange appearance would have given that way. Her clothing was far too bright; hardly anyone would spend ridiculous funds on such vibrant garb or accessories unless they were of royalty and no one here even fit that description. Her face was excusable, other than her eyes, but from this distance he could let that slide.
”I have taught Blaithe how to make ink – I was once a scribe, myself. She can teach you, if you would like.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:28 pm
Feilim smiled gratefully, but he could tell from the way that Jin-ho looked at Foolish that he wasn't convinced. "I'm not an Obscuvian," he blurted, and coughed awkwardly, adding, "Foolish isn't either." The crow cawed at the sound of its name, and struggled a little before flopping limply in Feilim's arms. He looked at it helplessly, and then carefully put it in his satchel. It landed inside with a dull flopping sound and a muted squawk. Not an ideal solution, but better than he had hoped for.
"Oh, I'm not worried about catching the plague!" Feilim clarified with all the confidence of youth. "But I just-- It won't make the book into a Plague, will it? I'm sorry, I don't know how Plagues make Plagues." A briefly horrified look crossed his face as he imagined a few different possible scenarios, but he shook his head.
He looked confused when Jin-ho said his Plague was here, but he followed his gaze and saw Blaithe, realizing suddenly that he meant that the girl was a Plague, and turned deep red with embarrassment. "Ah! Of course! I mean, I've never seen a Plague that looks like that, so, uh," Human. The idea of Hopkin ever looking anything like that (but obviously male) made him uncomfortable. It meant that his uncle really was trying to stick something essentially human(ish) in the Collection.
"Tall." He hesitated, wondering if he was being rude. "And, um, charming! Tall and charming."
Eager to change the subject, he exclaimed, "Oh, natural means, as in nonmagical means? That would be excellent." He turned to Blaithe and bowed again, asking, "I humbly request that you teach me, then. If it's agreeable to you."
His bag jostled and an undignified squawk came from it. He blushed again and held tighter onto the handle.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:43 pm
The only response Jin Ho could muster, purely out of surprise – both at the statement and his way of handling his pet – was to raise a brow. His eyes passed from the bag, then to meet Feilim’s eyes once more. He wouldn’t have actually made that exact assumption, and quite honestly the boy’s defense was more questionable than had he not spoken up at all, but once again he would let that slide.
”Quite honestly, I’m not sure how two Plagues would create another. Usually, an outbreak will attach itself to an item, or items, and once they’ve attached themselves to a Grimm they are able to grow.” Jin Ho listed off, not quite thinking about the fact that it was a somewhat unrelated tangent. ”There are not enough Anhelo to actually have that as common knowledge.”
Once Foolish was put away, Blaithe’s attention remained on the bag for a moment before she, too, looked upon Feilim. The shade his face took on was attractive from an artist’s standpoint, at least in terms of color, but she stared regardless. It took a moment but when she was finally content with the bird not having the chance to approach, she removed her hands from the lip of her apron’s pocket, allowing Hero to come back out if he so pleased. He didn’t care to, instead keeping to himself for now inside his home away from home.
Both Grimm and Plague seemed a little confused by his broken and hastily put together statement, but neither of them lingered on it as the boy continued with another train of thought.
”I do not mind showing you,” said Blaithe, grabbing her staff and pushing herself onto her foot. She was so dainty with her peg leg, so unaccustomed to the feeling now that she was the size of a normal human. Of course, if one were to lift her she’d feel like the weight of a toddler, perhaps – much lighter than a human her size. Once she was on her feet, for a lack of better term, she turned and lifted the satchel of flowers, herbs, clays and various other ingredients. It was by no means a conventional way of making inks; it was more common to use vitriol or sulphate mixed with wine or water, but with what he had available the former scribe had learned a few things. Once the satchel was slung over her shoulder, Blaithe added, ”If you would not mind having me.”
His discomfort was obvious and it nearly put the girl on the spot. Perhaps it would have been better for Jin Ho to teach him… The last thing Blaithe wanted was to be the source of their new client’s discomfort.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 9:06 pm
Feilim frowned. "It was a rude question to ask. I'm sorry, I didn't realize." Now that he knew how human they looked in the end, he especially didn't want to imagine Plagues making more Plagues, especially since the only two Plagues he knew were this girl and Hopkin. The mind simply boggled.
"Of course I would be honoured," he insisted, distracting himself from that particular train of thought as Blaithe stood up. "Blaithe-- That is your name, right?" He thought that was what Jin-ho had said, but he hadn't been properly introduced. "You can call me Feilim. Oh! Do you need any help?" His brow furrowed when he saw her missing leg, but he didn't want to seem even more prying by asking how it had happened. "Will we do it here, or...?"
He felt Foolish flap once in his bag, and said "Ah," taking it off and looking for a place to put it. "I'm sorry, I need to take him out. He's tame, I promise!" He opened the bag, and Foolish flapped back onto Feilim's shoulder, where he promptly settled in with a brief, contented caw.
"He won't be a bother, will he?" Feilim asked anxiously.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 9:30 pm
”It’s quite alright,” Jin Ho chuckled, taking a step away from Feilim and his party. ”I do not have a horse post, so feel free to tether him where you can.”
The boy’s quick change in demeanor was well received, putting Blaithe at ease when she first thought perhaps he would have been in kin with Jin Ho’s father. Working would be far easier now and she would have gotten to take part in it rather than sitting out like a child denied their candy. ”Yes, that is my name.” she confirmed, turning to face him fully with both hands on her staff. ”It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Feilim.” Once the offer was made, she passed a quick look to her satchel, Jin Ho and back to Feilem before walking toward him and extending her arm. Getting around was a bit difficult and she hoped she wasn’t taking advantage of his hospitality despite being the guest.
Even if he had asked, there was no story to tell. If you had asked about the scar resting on the bridge of her nose, that was another story…
Blaithe had become a little more tense once Foolish was brought back out, her hand protectively reaching down toward the pocket Hero rested in, but once the fowl seemed content on the boy’s shoulder she exhaled quietly. ”No, he is fine.”
”My father is… less than hospitable toward Plagues, so while he is awake we are to be outside. I hope that isn’t an issue.” Jin Ho stated, offering his hand for Blaithe to take. She took it gratefully, pulling her staff through the hoop of her sash so that it was out of the way. ”On the other side of the house we have a table and shade – if you would follow.”
As promised, on the opposite end of the house rested a stone table with wooden benches surrounding and a makeshift tent protecting it from the sun, ready for usage. Blaithe was catered to first, Jin Ho helping her down onto one of the benches before seating himself directly across from her. Unless Feilim requested otherwise, he was expected to sit beside Blaithe so he could show him what she knew – at least, if he was interested in learning for his own creation later. If it came down to it, the offer of making it before shipment could be arranged.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:06 pm
Feilim nodded, leading his father's horse to a shady tree that semeed good and tying him quickly to the trunk, pulling once on the reins to make sure that it was quite secure.
He smiled encouragingly, taking Blaithe's arm, which was surprisingly light. "The pleasure is mine." He had at least this to recommend him: he was far more comfortable around women than most Jawbone Men, having spent most of his childhood entertaining a younger sister. Blaithe was still a Plague girl though, and he couldn't help but feel the least bit uncomfortable. He held her as gingerly as if she was glass. She was colourful, and he couldn't help but wonder what she had come from. Ink, perhaps? Jin-ho was a scribe, after all. Or a book, like Hopkin? He wasn't quite brave enough to ask, after having been so awkward initially, especially now that things seemed to be going slightly better. He was curious, though. Hopkin had said that he liked beautiful, colourful things. Maybe it was something true of all Plagues.
"I'm fine outside," Feilim replied to Jin-Ho. "The weather is excellent." He felt a pang of sympathy for Blaithe, though. Hopkin hadn't been well received either, and Feilim naturally felt bad for people who didn't quite fit in. He could sympathize. "Do you often encounter that sort of mentality?" he asked carefully. The Jawbone Society was not strongly in favour of Plagues, but they were conservative in almost every way. It was sometimes difficult to tell what was Society dogma and what was a commonly held sentiment in Panymium.
Following Jin-Ho, he helped as Blaithe was settled, then sat obligingly next to her, pushing Foolish, who was looking intently at Blaithe's colourful hair ribbons, greed in his eyes. Feilim ducked into his bag and pulled out some parchment and his own quill. "Do you mind if I take notes?" he asked, unsure if the process was some sort of trade secret.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:24 pm
Admittedly, Han Ji was possibly held the most contempt for Plagues, regardless of alignment, that Jin Ho had ever met. ”Surprisingly, few that I have ever encountered. My brother long ago passed of the plague, and not long ago my mother followed suit. He is very jaded.” he confided, bringing his arm up to rest against the table top.
”He is convinced that it is my own fault,” Blaithe interjected, to which Jin Ho could only wince.
”No matter how many times we have explained, he does not listen. It is an impossibility for Blaithe to spread the Plague… at least now. When she was putesco she might have been able to… but not now”
As Jin Ho spoke, Blaithe placed the satchel onto the table, quickly setting to work on pulling each and every ingredient out and carefully spreading them between the two of them. ”If it helps you to remember, then by all means,” she said, her voice calm and collected despite the subject matter their conversation held. In truth, Blaithe was eager to shift from that discussion, but she felt it would have been rude to interject again.
Before them sat jars of honey, ashes and various different flowers, as well as gum and bark. Even without speaking, Jin Ho stood from the table and kicked at some kindling, working toward a fire so they could boil some water.
”If you would,” Blaithe chimed, turning fully toward Feilim, ”Grind the ashes and the flowers. Once the water is boiling, we will place the ashes with water and crush the gall and mix everything together.”
Blaithe had set to work on her own, allowing Feilim to either make note or do as instructed. They had quite a few jars ready to be filled and plenty of ingredients to do so. The brush would have been content to do it herself but the boy wanted to learn, wanted to remember for future reference and perhaps one day he wouldn’t need either of their help in making his own inks. The idea of teaching someone to be self-sufficient was almost exciting, but in a way it meant that she wouldn’t be helpful anymore. Wouldn’t be useful.
”There are several different ways to make other colors… I assume since you are a scribe you will only need black for now, correct?” she asked, her eyes solely on the work before her. ”I could technically make any color you asked, but you probably would not prefer my magics.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:43 pm
"I'm sorry for your loss," Feilim replied. "I lost two brothers to plague, myself. It's hard to believe that something so awful could be the will of anybody, human or not." He hesitated and elaborated a little awkwardly. "I can barely remember life without the plague, though."
He was eager to change the subject as Blaithe was, and leaned in extra-attentively as she spoke. Grinding the ashes and the flowers as he was told, he looked at the ingredients spread out on the table. "Gall is from oak, right? My father taught me a little, but I spent part of my apprenticeship outside of his care, and we get most of our ink from others."
He shook his head at Blaithe's question. "Black is useful, but I must also learn how to make as many colours as possible. I would like to buy ink from you before I leave, but if it would be all right for me to come back for lessons, I would appreciate it." Their mention of Jin-ho's hostile father occurred to him, and he added, "Or you would be welcome in my home if meeting here is uncomfortable for you." He doubted his parents would be terribly keen on having a Plague in their home, but the whole Finch family was aware of Hopkin by now, so they would have to get used to it, he supposed. Thinking of Hopkin made him think of Wickwright, and he explained, "My uncle is an illuminator and I may take up his trade." Maybe. The thought made his stomach twist a little. "Can you make ink with magic?" he asked, changing the subject again. "If you don't mind me asking, how can you do that?"
"Not that I could use it," he added apologetically. "For what I need this ink for, I need to make the ingredients by my own hand." He would feel strange using magic ink on his contribution. It would ring false.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:53 pm
The apology was received, but with Jin Ho’s back turned away all that was given was a mere nod. It had been so long since his brother passed he hardly thought of it now, but his mother… he still mourned for her every so often. It had been a weary several weeks then; his mother’s passing, the prospect of illustrating a manuscript and Blaithe filling the role, her growth… It was nice to finally relax again. To work, to live. Sure, their abode wasn’t the most accommodating but they did what they could with it.
His family hadn’t prospered like this once in their existence.
”Yes, it is,” Blaithe confirmed, lifting her hand to point out the tethered bag full of oak bark. She hadn’t been the one to harvest it, in fact, this particular batch came from one of their distant neighbors in return for produce – they had no oak on their property, so the agreement was more than welcome.
His invitation about traveling to his own home was nearly missed, but Blaithe glanced up momentarily to judge his expression and he seemed genuine. She would have to consider it; it was a fair offer and she couldn't deny that soon it wouldn't be as constant with fair weather...
Then, without a word, Blaithe carefully reached around Feilim for one of his spare scraps of parchment, though she did pause to ask for permission before she placed her fingertips against it, dragging her hand downward to reveal four multicolored streaks. However, without lifting her hand, she slowly pushed her fingers back upward and just like that, each drop had gone away, leaving not even a single stain. ”I have been able to do that since I was a Phasmas, though it comes at a larger cost now.
I had to illustrate an illuminated manuscript not long ago; you do not need to explain.” she added, giving him a small smile. She had no idea of his connection to Hopkin. In fact, with Jin Ho once being a scribe, Blaithe thought perhaps it was just as common a profession.
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:22 am
When she made ink appear on the parchment by magic, Feilim's face broke into the sort of goofy smile that only very gangly teenagers can make properly. "That's amazing!" he enthused. "Half the scribes in Imisus would want to hire you with a talent like that." He wondered briefly if Hopkin would be able to do that, and his grin faded slightly. He didn't like the idea of Hopkin being more useful than him, especially when Wickwright ignored him enough as it was. Coughing, he asked, "Does it have to do with your item?" He hesitated, and, realizing he did not know what item that was for sure, he asked, "That is to say, are you an ink Plague? If that isn't intrusive."
"Ah, so you're an illuminator as well!" he remarked, dipping a finger into the powder he had made experimentally while he spoke. "My family actually have not been illuminators very long. My great-uncle was the first, and before that we were just scribes. I find illuminating to be dreadfully difficult. I try to practice, but parchment is very expensive, and I have no eye for art. Does it come more naturally to you? I suppose it must." He gave a little resigned sigh.
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