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 Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2016 10:01 pm
The confusion continued on a straight path. Batman has been dubbed the Worlds Greatest Detective before, solving mysterious using logic and other resources. Though one thing he could never fully understand was the likes of women. He wasn't sure if anyone could figure out truly what they're always thinking. The signals she gave left him curious, he could tell she was only yanking his chain. He couldn't help but feel there was more behind it, respectfully keeping to his mannerisms. She was different, he had to remember that. No words given, Bruce raised his glass to her. A playful gesture in response to her own. He took a sip of the last of the water from his glass, smacking it on the table slightly. He noticed the buzzing of his device came to a sudden halt, no alerts in the last five minutes. Alfred must have assumed he's seen them all. The man rose from his seat awaiting Sara to join him. "Shall we?" He said holding his hand out.
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 10:11 pm
The slight smacking of his water glass making impact along the table. Provided a hint, that they needed to get a move on. That along with Bruce rising up from his chair, offering his hand out to her. "Shall we?"Taking his offered hand, she too rose from where she had been seated. "We shall." As the two of them made their way to the entrance, she paid no attention to the eyes that may have been scanning the two of them together. Upon departure of the restaurant, heading to valet. Sara then turned to Bruce and said, "I can follow you to your house." Meaning she brought her vehicle with her this time. She came prepared, just in case something was to come up, unexpectedly. Of course, she didn't drive in an expensive vehicle like he did undoubtedly. "If that's alright with you?" Handing over her valet stub to the man who approached her. It didn't take long for the valet guy to return with an Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Crew Cab in a beautiful deep water blue color. Something else for Bruce to raise an eyebrow up about. "When you're ready, lead the way."
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 12:06 pm
She's full of surprises.. It wasn't much, but it wasn't anything to write off. Bruce would stare as the valet brought her vehicle up to her. Very quality service to add to that. He was no stranger to doing things himself, as she would do. His Lamborghini Murcièlago LP640 was brought around in a timely fashion, behind her vehicle. "I don't mind at all." He said while giving a smile. He pulled a fifty bill from his coat pocket placing it in the hands of the valet. He was doing a lot of that today. "It's not far from here, ten to fifteen minutes." He opened the doors as they ascended upward instead of the usual standard going out. Upon entering, he made sure everything was started, making sure Sara herself was ready, and getting Alfred on the line.
Bruce put weight on the gas pedal pulling out of the parking lot of the restaurant.
"I was wondering if you'd ever respond to the alerts, sir." Of course, Alfred has been waiting for quite some time to hear back from Bruce, this was infact important.
"I was in the middle of something, what's new with the sample we've been testing?"
"The blood of the man was altered to some degree, as if Hugo Strange was beginning to dabble back into making changes to the genetic code of his test subjects. I noticed something, a mixture that could quite possibly effect the outcome that is this 'super soldier'. It appears there was a chemical used in Strange's formula found here in Gotham. Only one place still houses this chemical." He could hear typing in the background, most likely Alfred bringing up the correct directions and navigations. "A small research lab, two blocks away from the Gotham museum."
Despite the vague information, Bruce knew of the place. It had come up in one of his searches in a previous case. "I'll look into it tonight. Also, Alfred. I'll be coming back to the Manor shortly, can you prepare lunch? I'm having a guest over."
"As you wish, sir."
Bruce tabbed the disconnect option. They still had a few minutes out from the Manor. Looking into his rearview, he waited until he could see Sara in view.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 2:26 pm
Watching the valet drive Bruce's Lamborghini Murcièlago LP640 up. In the back of her mind, a wow! comment appeared, but she never uttered a word. The car seemed to... suit Bruce's persona, that's for sure. Tipping her valet as she moved to buckle up her seat belt, waiting on Bruce. She didn't have to wait long, as she watched him take the leave out of the restaurant's parking lot. His driving style lead her to believe that he was a man on a mission, not the type to dally. Being mindful of traffic, she drove out of the lot when the close was clear. With her eyes on the road, being mindful of the distance she placed between herself and Bruce's car, she managed to keep the pace he was driving at. Touching a button along her steering wheel, mood music settled into the void of silence as she followed. Taking in all of the scenery laid out along either side of the road. Gotham City has a different layout of the city verses to what she adapted to, back home in Star City. Home... swallowing away the dry effect her mouth caused briefly. When she had apparently drowned off the Queen's family yacht, 'The Gambit', six years ago. Back then, home was where ever the road took her. Presently speaking, she had found a new place to call home. The location was half way between Star City and Gotham City. A place that she could call her own. A place that she could relax, unwind and to train. Sara knew that she would eventually in time, bring over friends and family to see where she's at. And know that they could get a hold of her if needs be.  Gripping the steering wheel slightly, hearing a police vehicle's siren off in the distance behind her, drew Sara out of her deep thoughts. Half glancing down at her speedometer, she knew she wasn't speeding. As she watched the police car move from the far left lane of traffic, managing to make its way over and exit off down some unknown road. Perhaps there was a part of her that wondered where that police officer went, while the other half reminded her there were others with power to help out with situations such as petty crime.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 8:12 pm
Home at last. With a press of a button, the gates open for the two of them to enter their rides in. The long pathway that would eventually make it's way to the ring in front of the manor showed itself in due time. Bruce wrapped the car around once, coming to a slight halt in front of one of the more exposed garage entrances. Removing the keys and tucking the packet of files under his arm again, he made his exit from the vehicle clicking the lock button and in response caused it to blink it's lights signifying that it was locked off. Alred would most likely be at the door to greet them, though Bruce stayed outside waiting for Sara making sure she was ready to come inside. "Is everything ready in the cave?" He said smoothly through his earpiece.
"Just as you requested it, sir. I trust that your visit to the precinct did not take up too much of your time." Bruce gave a half smile. Quite the opposite actually. "No, really. I was in and out. I have some information I wanted to examine from the break in at A.C.E. Chemicals and the facility itself."
"I'll get the rest prepped for you momentarily."
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 2:51 pm
Sara followed the lead inside the iron gate. Bruce Wayne's family home definitely looked larger in the daytime, than it did at night. Sara parked her truck at the circular drive, but with enough space if anyone needed to depart. Reaching over towards a small satchel, that looked more along the lines as a backpack. She slung the strap over her shoulder as she climbed out and locked her truck up. With one hand latched onto the strap, she put away her keys into the pocket of her satchel, moving over to where Bruce was standing along the steps.  Trading an appreciative smile towards Bruce for waiting for her, as she ascended up the stairs. She could tell upon her approach that he was speaking to someone. Unsure as to who, but she was certain whomever he was speaking with had to do with the messages he had received on his phone earlier. Scoping out the exterior structure, she couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship of his home. A home this large, obviously had many tales to tell, as well as history. "Your home is, magnificent, Bruce." Pulling her eyes away from the surrounding to meet with his. That's probably, something he hears all the time. Or maybe not? She had been in many mansions before at a much younger age, which felt like a lifetime ago. "Thank you, for inviting me." Spoken politely and sincerely towards Bruce.
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:42 am
"Most people say that with more of a drunken slur and a less than regal way of saying it's magnificent. In my downtime I tend to host a few things for the party people looking for a good time." The way he described it, one would think that he's referring to being a teen with money, throwing large parties in his parents mansion. Sure people got drunk like a few young teenagers but for the most part, all events that took place in Wayne Manor were organized weeks, maybe months prior to it.
"This place has been under the Wayne name, well before the early 1900s." Bruce led her to the steps, then finally the front door. Giving himself a chance to unlock it, he pulled the door open allowing them to walk inside. "Alfred. I'm home." He said aloud. It was a big place, when addressing someone inside, an outside voice was recommended. He almost forgot he had him preparing lunch. The kitchen wasn't too far off but he figured he heard him nonetheless. "You weren't in the dining room, were you?" Bruce smiled to her, hanging up his jacket.
It's appearance was a little dated, though mostly everything inside was. He rather appreciated the manor's gothic look that took form over time. "Alfred should be bringing something for us to eat soon, feel free to look around if you'd like, there's just something I need to handle." His expression appeared much more genuine than the first time before departing towards the secret entrance, near the center of the entrance to the manor. He couldn't take as long as he did the last time, else have to make another set of apologies.
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:39 pm
"Most people say that with more of a drunken slur and a less than regal way of saying it's magnificent. In my downtime I tend to host a few things for the party people looking for a good time.""I know someone who used to host parties. They never ended quite well." Of course she was talking about Oliver Queen when he was wild and could careless of the consequences back in the day. "People change though." A possible story there if Bruce wanted to know what she was referring too. "I'm sure the parties you throw are for the various charities that your family company funds." Sara said as she walked up along the steps outside in tow behind, Bruce. "This place has been under the Wayne name, well before the early 1900s." Nodding her head lightly, "Impressive, indeed. I wouldn't mind hearing about the history here in your family home." She was interested, not just blowing smoke. "Alfred. I'm home." As Bruce opened the front door, leading into the foyer. She was a bit stunned to hear him shout out that he was home. However, being the size of his estate she understood why he did such a thing. "You weren't in the dining room, were you?" "The last time I was here? No, we had just practically walked in the door when you said you had to take care of something." Turning to look at Bruce, her eyes following the actions of him hanging up his coat. As well as leading her into the dining room. Her eyes left him to glance up at the giant chandelier hanging above the long dining room table. Moving her point of view to her new surroundings in the room. She could tell that the interior design was a bit dated. Somehow though, it fit Bruce's personality. "Alfred should be bringing something for us to eat soon, feel free to look around if you'd like, there's just something I need to handle." Trading a smile back with him, "Alright, I'll be here." Noticing the smile he provided her then. More genuine than the last time. Nodding her head in response as she moved further into the room. Migrating over towards the fireplace, finding that she was intrigued with the painting above the mantle.
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 12:24 am
Bruce was lucky to have had her so accepting of issues at hand, whether or not she knew what they were about. What he planned to do hopefully wouldn't take him longer than five, seven minutes top. Stepping into the foyer, Bruce opened the small door to the large clock, yanking on a instrument from it. Parts of the plastered wood began to slide and move to the right. Before him laid out a set of stairs that were position almost in the formation of a wave. There were too many to count and what point would there be in doing so. He descended down the dimly lit steps, pausing for a moment to make sure the hatch sealed behind him. Within seconds, the hatch closed leaving the stairwell only a little darker.
Reaching the end, he made his way over to the sample analyzer next to the Batcomputer setup. Alfred left the sample for him to review somewhere around here. He searched around and about, checking over and under and behind the Batcomputer. His fingers slid underneath the desk, feeling a plastic ziplock bag taped to the underside. With a swift yank, the plastic bag was in his hands completely. It's contents contained the paper, physical form of the review, along with the vial sample. Bruce placed the vial sample in a compartment connected to the Batcomputer which instantaneously booted up a screen that began scanning components of the collected sample. "Strange stumbled upon something big this time.." He stroked his chin scrolling through and rotating the vial as displayed on the screen. Most of the sample was a mixture of combined chemicals, all he was familiar with but the product was something entirely..new. Whatever it truly was, it enhanced the strength of a simple armed thug hired by Hugo.
"Batcomputer, run a scan of all known places in Gotham City where these chemicals are officially located." There were at least more than ten found in this one sample, this would take some time to sort through, luckily more than enough time to continue with the visit from Sara. Back up the stairs again he went and to reopen the door.
"My apologies, Sara. I wanted to make sure Alfred had done what I had requested of him." He noticed her demeanor as she moved across the room to observe the surroundings. Most mansions were updated to the current standards although Bruce preferred it this way, something reflecting his personality. Assuming a brief backstory was appropriate, he reflected on what he knew from the books he had around. "During the American Revolution, or towards the end perhaps, my ancestor Darius received a large plot of land, which would eventually become Wayne Manor." He paused for a moment to pull out a chair for her, inviting her to sit to continue the discussion while he himself took to his own. "I feel like we've talked a lot about who I am, what I do, my family..I haven't gotten much out of you have I now?" It occurred to him that most of the during their conversation it was more or less about the life of Bruce Wayne when really he was so intrigued by the life of Sara Lance instead.
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 8:57 pm
Lost in her own world, while admiring the different paintings throughout the dining room. It did not appear to be any length of time, when she heard the echoing of footsteps making their way to where she was located. "My apologies, Sara. I wanted to make sure Alfred had done what I had requested of him."Turning her head to the side, in recognition of Bruce's voice as he spoke up, upon making entry back into the dining room. She smiled quietly, as she stood there watching Bruce close the distance between the two of them. "During the American Revolution, or towards the end perhaps, my ancestor Darius received a large plot of land, which would eventually become Wayne Manor."When their eyes met once more, she couldn't help but smile. Following his lead to where he pulled out a chair for her to sit in, thanking him in the process. "I feel like we've talked a lot about who I am, what I do, my family..I haven't gotten much out of you have I now?"She didn't mind at all, she liked listening to Bruce talk. Whether it was about the weather, his business, the history of his family. True, Sara wasn't Vicki Vale, wanting to know every intimate detail of Bruce. What Reader's Digest version she received from Bruce was interesting. She knew that there was a big history with the Wayne family bloodline. "That's okay, I don't mind it at all. Shall I start off with the basics? " Thinking briefly about what she had been told once, The best place to start is at the beginning and when you come to the end.... to stop. Clearing her those thoughts away, she replied. "I'm originally from Starling City. Known now a days as Star City. I have an older sister, Laurel Dinah Lance, she's a legal aid attorney that works for CNRI (City Necessary Resources Initiative). Our father, Quentin Lance is Captain of Star City Police Department and our mother, Dinah Lance is a Professor of Greek and medieval history at Central City University." A little bit of information on her family. "I've lived in Starling City all my life... well, I did before I went on a trip with a really good family friend of ours. To where we both vanished completely off the grid. Presumed dead." She fell silent for a moment, before canting her head off to the side, "I'm sure you've heard about the Queen's Gambit went down in 2007? I was on board that yacht, with Oliver Queen and his father." Swallowing away the sudden appearance of dryness in the back of her throat. Coming to realize she had not really talked about her history with anyone, outside of family. Then again, she didn't really give any details to her own parents as to how she came back, after thought she had drowned and perished.
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 9:37 pm
Bruce listened attentively as she spoke, as she would do for him whenever he would speak. He was always told that he wasn't the only one to live a harsh life. The death of his parents was a lot to bear at such a young age, though many others would experience much worse, considerably as life would go on, and they'd get over it. He himself seemed to struggle with doing so, basing his crusade on that one night. That one night that made him realize that evil and the root of corruption was swallowing Gotham.
It was good to hear that she had living immediate family. Something to fall back on when things were looking bleak. He had d**k, Tim, Damian, even Alfred. Those were the people he trusted the most. Overall her family seemed quite successful in their careers, good to hear.
Starling City's events he had followed closely ever since the rise of another vigilante. Now known as the Green Arrow. He's crossed paths with him once before only a few months back after the siege led by Slade Wilson. The two cities, Gotham and Star City alike had a bit of a run in with multiple accounts of dangerous events in the history of their respective cities. From fear inducing criminals, to white faced psychopaths, all the way to venom induced super thugs. One event in particular he looked up on, the disappearance of the Queen's Gambit along with a majority of the crew. He was yet to arrive back in Gotham at the time of it's wrecking though from where he stayed, he heard very important figures, the CEO of Queen Consolidated and his son went down. To think he was getting to know someone who experienced something like that, it astounded him.
"So you and Oliver eventually made it out..It took five years for Oliver to come back if I recall, did you return with him?" He knew how touchy certain subjects could be, but the situation fascinated him.
Alfred chimed in from the doorway with a platter of food decorated on the top of his tray. An assortment of meat there, vegetables here, fruit there. Alfred had once again put together a respectable ensemble of food.
"As it is presented, Master Wayne. Ms. Lance I wanted to say how deeply sorry I am that I wasn't able to satisfy your needs the other night before you left, I can see how dreadfully dull it might have been to sit there and wait." He said with a bow and finishing with a smile. With a swift turn, he left the room and back through the corridor he came from. It was strange how Alfred never seemed to sit down with Bruce at any given time to just eat and talk even though they were very close. Real conversations, the motivation he gave Bruce, usually that all went down in the cave.
"Thank you, Alfred," He was able to get out before he walked off so suddenly. Their individual plates were sat in front of them, neatly placed and separate of each other. Left by Alfred as well with the food was a normal sized bottle of wine, one opposite of the caves location where some of the aged content was kept. There was another, only a tad smaller. That was what Bruce was more accustomed to drinking: ginger ale. It normally fooled the people around in bigger crowds that he too was consuming alcohol but he's seen the negative effects of those under the influence, he would not become one of them. "I doubt I'd feed myself if he wasn't here," More of a joke as he was more than capable of handling a lot of his needs.
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 11:50 pm
"So you and Oliver eventually made it out..It took five years for Oliver to come back if I recall, did you return with him?""We did make it out. But we didn't return together." A light sigh escaped, past her lips. "The island, Lian Yu, that we were marooned on? Changed us." Looking down at her hands briefly, before making eye contact with Bruce again. She knew that Bruce could probably sense this was a difficult topic to discuss. She started to speak up again, but couldn't find the words. Providing a small shake of her head to the sides. Frowning mostly at herself. "I..." Before she was able to continue, she heard Alfred make entry. Doing her best to erase whatever negative expression she may of hand present as she listened to Alfred apologize to her "As it is presented, Master Wayne. Ms. Lance I wanted to say how deeply sorry I am that I wasn't able to satisfy your needs the other night before you left, I can see how dreadfully dull it might have been to sit there and wait.""Thank you, Alfred.""Thank you Alfred, it's nothing, don't worry about it. I should...?" Noticing Alfred was gone before she had a chance to apologize to him. "...uhm?" Sitting there with a somewhat confused expression, wondering if Bruce saw how quickly Alfred entered and departed without skipping a beat. "Does...Alfred do that a lot?" Turning to look at Bruce in question. "I doubt I'd feed myself if he wasn't here,"Sara released a light laugh, in response to Bruce's joke. Nice ice breaker! "Alfred, seems to be a really nice, compassionate man." Taking the time to look at what Alfred brought them to eat and drink. Trading a glance over at Bruce, "Tell him thank you, but no thanks, I don't drink alcohol. I drink water, all the time. On occasion, I will have sparkling white grape juice or ice tea." Sara knew the effects that alcohol did on people. She has first hand knowledge, of how alcohol has a way of tearing families apart. That including her own. "Oliver thought I drowned when the Queen's Gambit went down. A few days after the shipwreck accident I was found by a ship called the Amazo. The crew took me on board the ship..promising me food, shelter, shower.. you name it. Things that people take for granted. Instead they..."Closing her eyelids, remembering the moment as if it were only yesterday. "Instead, they took me down to the belly of the ship and threw me in a cell. As a prisoner. I wasn't alone... I don't know how long I was caged. The same men that rescued me, drug me out, and..." She couldn't look at Bruce then, staring back down at her dainty hands. "Before they could ..have their way with me an middle aged gentleman stopped them. He took me to his quarters and introduced himself as Dr. Anthony Ivo, a man who was going to save the human race and asked me if I would join him." Sara's eyes looked like they were on the verge of glass breaking, releasing a dam of tears. But she didn't cry. She held onto that moment, stuck in time. "He told me that he was looking for a serum created by the Japanese in World War II called Mirakuru (Japanese for Miracle) which could increase muscle strength, enhance senses and regenerate cells. He told me that if I joined him, that he would protect me. Protect me from those animals (his crew). Anything was better than being locked away in some cage, down in the belly of that ship and away from those crazed crewmen. Once I told him, I'd help him he said he would teach me many skills in the field of biology and technology. But... I would have to assist Anthony in torturing his men. He had saved me, how could I say no to him? As dark and morbid as that sounds, I was secretly glad that I wasn’t one of the crewmen that he tortured. I was on the Amazo for one year, helping Dr. Ivo search for the sunken Japanese submarine in the chain of islands nearby. When I bumped into Oliver again. I was not the same person Oliver went on the Queen's Gambit with. I was... darker. I had been forced to survive and adapt in harsh environment." Swallowing back the dryness in her throat, she realized she probably just killed the whole conversation then. Too much information to absorb on the first sitting. There was more to tell, much more. Sara just didn't know how Bruce would handle it, Or for her, for that matter. Taking a moment to break her gaze away from her hands to glance up at him, quietly. Telling him this, was a bold move on her behalf. Not even her family knew this much about her, for the time she was missing and considered dead.
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 12:33 am
Her comment about not drinking any form of alcohol was a plus one noted in his head. He pushed the bottle slightly to a more open area of the table where it was clearly not in use. Bruce poured himself a glass of the ginger ale, taking an immediate sip as he finished dumping a little of the content into the glass. Bruce did not partake of any of the food before them, at least not yet. He was caught up in the story of Sara Lance, as tragic as it became with every word she spoke. Her time spent in those five years reminded them of the eight years he spent acquiring various skills to come back with to help purge Gotham of it's crime, though his adventures were his choice. They weren't forced like her's had been and that's what set them apart. Bruce suffered hardships voluntarily, he was sure Sara nor Oliver ever asked to be shipwrecked on the island.
He could feel that she was becoming tense the more she went on, struggling to force some of the story out. Placing a hand over her's, he'd meet where her eyes landed. "You don't have to continue. I'm sorry I put you in an uncomfortable situation, whether you told me or not." Never has he met someone so open so soon. Added to the fact that she was another person to be a strong individual after facing almost certain doom, she was quite the well rounded person.
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 8:24 am
Looking down at his hand upon her own with half a smile, "No, you didn't Bruce. It's just.. that I have never really talked about this with anyone. I would say, not even Oliver but that wouldn't be a true statement. He got to know life on board the Amazo, for a short amount of time. We never even thought, let alone dreamed that the yacht would shipwreck. Let alone put us both on different paths."Looking up at him then, "The people we met. Helped mold us into who we are. What lifestyles we both run. I couldn't tell you what route Oliver had to take once we got off the Amazo. I got separated from Oliver, yet again. As if fate was directing my compass to point in another direction. I didn't spend five years on the island... I got off the island...but at a price." Should I tell him? What would he think? Other than a girl who suffered tragedy at sea. "The second time I was rescued on the island, was by someone I had never seen on the island, let alone heard of. My rescuer didn't have to save me but apparently she saw potential in me. Her name..Nyssa al Ghul, she took me off the island of Lian Yu to place called Nanda Parbat. Where I spent the better half of four years there training." Believe it or not it felt like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Now, she had to wait and see how Bruce would react. Quite the shock factor. Turning slightly in the chair she was sitting in, she used her free hand to cup Bruce's hand that was still covering the other. "I know, I'm probably dumping a tremendous amount of information on you. It's a lot to try to absorb in one sitting. I want you to know, I feel like I can tell you anything and you wouldn't hold it against me in judgement. I trust you."Sara felt as if they had known each other for years, even though it was for a short amount of time. She was being honest with him. She did trust him. She just felt that they had an strong understanding and connection with one another. She wasn't the type of person to hand out that kind of trust to anyone.
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