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 Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 8:18 pm
Jordan pushed himself up stretching his arms in an attempt to sit in a different position. The long body was so awkward and had him confused as to how he could become used to this particular change. It wasn’t like his first change where his hands and feet ad become paws. Jordan was able to function almost normally still; but, being reduced to walking on all fours with his spine having realigned, leaving him reeling in pain. The aspirin Nicky had given him weren’t by any means as strong as the pain medication he’d been using for a couple weeks now, but it was better than nothing. The middle leg that had grown surprised him when it pushed up as well, more easily propping his torso into a raised position, while leaving his hindquarters slumped across the bed.
“Peepul act like theh nevah ded ahnyt’ing wrong. Ohr theh conveniently ‘fohget’ ” He huffed with indignation once again, his nose flaring wildly at the very notion of others placing themselves on such pedestals. “Ahn cuz of that, ahnywun hoosh not wiff thar view, then thar not gud ahnuf aht ahl. Ah hat ahlitisht haschool mentahliteesh..” Jordan rolled his eyes after comparing many of the islanders to a network of high school children stabbing one another in the back to be the ‘golden child’ of the in-crowd.
Jordan regarded the other canine’s statement with an approving nod. “Ahv not had much inta’action wiff them. Ah havint falt welcome ahrond them. Eetsh eashier to dishtance mahshelf then deal wiff thar ballsheet..” he shook his head getting a few errant strands of blond hair in his eyes. “Watt abot wu, Neeky? How haf wu been doeen? Met ahnywun othah than mahshelf?” He asked curiously. “Ahd trah to avowd a few peepul.. lahk a nashty cat named Reechaard.. ahnd ah shychotic frog named Newt..” Jordan could use an ally against these folks. Inwardly he smiled from ear-to-ear, hoping Nicky would heed his warning.
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 8:49 pm
With a curious eye, Nicky watched Jordan shift positions. He idly wondered just how the mechanics of such a being worked. For instance...did he still have only one heart? It seemed like a body that big would need more than one in order to survive properly...either that or his single heart will soon work itself to death. He had heard cases of those with thyroid gland problems ending up just dropping dead in their late thirties. For that matter...how long could any of them live? Almost everything around nowadays causes cancer...and from what he studied back in college, such cellular growth at such a rapid rate would be anything but good for you. Forced mutations couldn't be accurate...he shuddered slightly at the thought of bursting out in tumors.
"You get that a lot in my line of work...it's called group-think...and in such a stressful situation such as this, you're lucky you weren't lynched," he said with a sigh. "All in all, they're not bad people...just...kind of ignorant. Of course...ignorance can be deadly." He looked away for a moment as he straightened up, his knees popping as he stood. It took a careful hand placed on the wall to balance himself as one foot tried to stand on it's tiptoes while the other remained flat of the floor. "...Christ..." he muttered to himself while looking down at his clawed toes.
"Hmm? Oh...just, mingling, I suppose. Information is key here. But yes...I've met this Pegasus named Gaius and whoever else he normally hangs out with....but ah...a frog named Newt? Haven't heard of him...however, Richard...Richard I have heard of. Heh...trouble that one...ironically, she's the one who gave me your name...I suppose she thought I'd come by and cause trouble or the like," he said with a knowing smirk. "She was there when all of...this happened," he gestured to the muzzle on his face with a grimace, "Gotta wonder what's with her...though with a name like Richard, something tells me I don't really want to know."
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 9:33 pm
Jordan defied mechanics. There was no rhyme or reason to this. His once-human body was being molded like clay in ways no sane person on the outside world could perceive. But he was quickly becoming what the good doctor wanted him to be in body. His mind was like fried eggs thrown against a wall and tossed in a blender. That too was being manipulated and he feared for those who knew or were suspicious: Awen, Dee, Richard… okay, so he didn’t care what happened to Richard. This body, for all the millions it cost, was imperfect. He still had one more change to reach Moreau’s vision of the loyal dog he wanted the criminal to become. Jordan wasn’t a doctor, he had little to no practical working knowledge of the processes he was undergoing, nor could he fortell the coming months of torment –perhaps years- before Doctor Moreau would allow Jordan to ascend to perfection. It was best not to dwell too deep into such thinking.
Jordan tried not to notice Nicky’s difficulty getting to his feet, as he’d been there himself, plus some with his accelerated changes. At least this guy wasn’t already covered in fur. He had time before that would inconvenience him. But Jordan couldn’t ignore him in his awkward movement. Jordan was ready –or so he thought he could be ready- to extend a paw if Nicky fell.
Nicky was insightful, so he listened diligently. Jordan listened too well as he heard Richard’s name thrown out in the way that it had been. The bane of his island existence, the unamker of the master crafter. Richard was his persistent tormentor like a schoolyard bully with deadly claws and hooks. Jordan’s paws slipped forward on the sheets. His eyes went wide and his triangular ears flattened to his head in fear. His hindlegs kicked and flailed and Jordan nearly fell off the bed when his body thrashed nervously to gain proper support of his weight and length. Jordan looked like he was about to ball up and cry as he heard that. He was afraid of what to say now and what to do. He’d invited this man into his home and he was here because that damn cat had pointed him into the direction, no doubt to work him over for information, like he’d used Awen.
“Wu… wu know Reechard..?” Jordan whimpered. “Ah.. ahr wu here tah shpy on mah..?” he looked hurt at that thought, like he’d just lost a good friend. “W-watt ahr wu gonna tell her..?” His eyes pleaded for Nicky not ot hand him over ot hte cat like a cornered bounty.
He… wanted to believe that this man would do the right thing after all they’d said. His breath was sharp and hard as his chest visibly pushed out and then in rapidly. “Ahm shcared of Reechard… she ushes peepul.. she tormentsh me... threatensh mah.. that evol cat ish turning mah friend againsht me… ushing her ash a shpy… ah tried tah warn mah friend, buhd it ended en ahn argument.. Ah ah like wu, Neeky.. pleesh dun get involved with Reechard..”
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 10:04 pm
Nicky was barely able to catch Jordan watching him as he himself continued to struggle against the tag team of gravity and his own body. Finally though, he got himself comfortable enough in a leaning position to not have to worry about falling on his strange tail. When he looked at Jordan though, he realized that the dog would have jumped up to help him...even in the miserable condition Jordan was in, he'd still have put himself out if only to help Nicky if he fell. His face remained impassive, but slowly, without its owner noticing, the large tail began to sway from side to side. The tail soon stopped with the advent of a frown on Nicky's canine-face. Jordan's reaction to the mention of Richard was extremely surprising...and unsettling...was this grown man really that terrified? Just what had that b***h done to him!? Nicky's frown took on a look of worry as he began to fear that he will lose Jordan's attention and lucidity to this terror...the dog-taur seemed downright hurt that Jordan had even spoken to Richard. It took him a moment to decide on just what to do...but he finally realized he could possibly use this to his advantage. His heart went out to the fear-stricken young man...but he also knew he had to do what he had to do.
He casually quirked a brow as he looked down on Jordan, that small smirk once more gracing his muzzle. The ex-wiseguy even took as much of a gamble as he tried to go down on a knee to get closer to Jordan. "Is that all you think of me?" he asked, the smirk now a grin as he attempted to playfully shove Jordan's upper shoulders lightly to the side. "A goddamn rat? Hey, lookitme...look," he said while trying to turn Jordan's head toward his own with a gentle hand, "Trust me, Jordan...I've done a lot of bad things in my life, but I've never ******** over someone I liked, alright? And especially not for someone like that manipulative, flea-bitten, squiddy b***h of a p***y...you get me?" He said all of this with as much bravado as he could muster, doing his best to convey his fearlessness when it comes to the Displacer Beast. "Richard...is a minor annoyance at best...and trust me, I'll make sure of that."
"You alright now? Just calm down...You don't have nuthin' to worry about."
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 10:52 pm
He wanted to trust Nicky so much. He’d been that one person who he seemed to mesh with well and he didn’t want to lose that over a damn meddling tentacle-cat. He was scrambling to remain on the bed, kicking off the edge to scoot back into the middle. If only anyone could understand the fear he felt. So defenseless against beasts that threatened him with hooks and claws. Being broken by the tiger, taunted and tormented by Richard, who would inevitably torture Jordan with physical pain until she literally ripped the answers from his body, bit by fleshy bit. That she-cat was not a good person as some proclaimed. They wouldn’t listen to him, of course not! He was just a traitor in their eyes! He was just… a.. and then.. if he was such a traitor… and Nicky was sent here by Richard… why hadn’t the other canine threatened him likewise? He hadn’t even yelled at him, nor call him irrational in the face of kind old ma—woman. Maybe Nicky was the one person who was true to his word? He could be trusted, right? Jordan wanted to believe that so much that he did. In a leap of faith, he convinced himself to believe in this man and his word as truth.
“Ah dedunt mean tah… um… n-nah.. ah t’ink beddah of wu.. honeshtlee..” he was expressing a mix of terror and stupid perplexion. This is exactly what they wanted! They intended to turn him against the new guy, to show everyone that Jordan was the enemy! Richard was a conniving old curr, but this plot was low even for her. Using the new guy as a liason decoy to infiltrate his domicile, garner his trust, and then to let the chips fall where they may, so that Richard could walk in and look like the hero. Jordan felt like such an idiot. He’d almost fell right into place into Richard’s trap. His muzzle quivered with his eyes moistening. He was about to cry now. No holding back this time. He was such a wuss. When would he be strong? He was afraid more than ever, not because he thought that Nicky would lay a finger on him, but because Richard had intensified his inquisition, spreading his infectious influence unto others like an unstoppable plague.
As Nicky took hold of his face, Jordan lost it. The damn broke and the tears began. He was weak and that was why he was seen as prey. That’s why he needed protection. As he was forced to look Nicky in the eye, he settled down as ordered. “Ah dedunt mean to doubt wu.. of coursh ah trusht wu. Ahm sho shcared and confushed that ahm becoming pahranoid..” he squeezed his eyes shut, expelling excess tear build-up. “Ah jusht dun know watt to do.. Reechaard esh making mah life hard fow hew own shick amushement and know one believesh me. Mah friend Reechard esh using iesh poishoned bah hew liesh. Sheesh dah monshtar, not me.”
Jordan leaned forward carefully and violated Nicky’s personal space by giving him a trembling hug. “Reechard esh tahking evryt’ing from mah life.. ah dun haf much left tah loshe.. ahn ahm sho scared.”
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 6:31 pm
Nicky stared into Jordan's inhuman eyes, a swollen...yet still relatively human hand despite the thickened nails...held the side of the dog-taur's face toward his own. The lower half of his face had changed, true enough, but his eyes still held that deadly calm which was forged from his years in the underground. The only thing that betrayed this intensity was a slight twitch in his right ear as it tried to turn toward some small sound that came from outside. However, the muscles which controlled his ears weren't developed enough yet, so instead it just twitched around a little bit. Though despite this minor setback, he still tried to completely capture Jordan's attention due to the extremely precarious position of his new acquaintance's emotional state. Of course...then Nicky noticed the waterworks begin to turn on and...even he hated to think this callously...but he knew he had locked in the deal at this complete and utter emotional breakdown. Still, throughout all of this, he was able to keep a completely impassive face. Like a dam under pressure, he had to ease out the emotional support for this young man. But then again...the only reason he himself hadn't broken down yet was only because he knew how much he needed Jordan as an ally. He couldn't show any weakness now...especially not now. But he damn near broke down when he saw the tears and Jordan's furry arms wrapped around him. The sheer fact that something so animalistic could show such a human emotion...it almost made him run out of there not because of the horribleness of it all...but he saw a bit of hope in what seemed to be a completely hopeless situation.
"'Course you didn't...of course not," he said with a careful eye. "Listen man," he said while leaning back, taking his hand from the side of Jordan's face. With what seemed to be an easy movement, he wrapped his arms about his legs in order to keep balance. Of course, if he hadn't done this he would have just fallen on his a**. "And you've got every right to be scared...with that blood-sucking bastards after you..." he said, trailing off. "But...if Richard is as dangerous as you say...I'll listen to you, Jordan. We'll keep an eye on him...and I'll be damned if I'll let her hurt you...or anyone who she wants to manipulate in going against us." His eyes took on a dangerous sheen at this idea...almost like he wanted a reason to cave in Richard's skull.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 7:12 pm
He’d broken down in some way after each prior change, just not to this degree. He didn’t want to become swamped in depression. He didn’t want to show others his cowardice and the weakness that made him suc a failure, but he was in his own home dammit and he could do as he pleased, even if that meant breaking down infront of the new guy he wanted to earn respect from. He respected the guy for putting up with him though. He wasn’t the easiest person to get along with, but that didn’t seem to matter. He’d freaked out on the guy after learning of Richard’s intervening influence and still the guy hadn’t left him high and dry. Nicky was a different lot than the rest, in that he wasn’t cold and unfeeling like Nita nor was he chastising him hypocritically as Richard or telling him that he’s treading thin ice as Awen had pretty much said. This othercanine islander he’d only met today wasn’t any of these things, not giving him lectures on what he’s doing wrong, not telling him TO do something because some lab tech he’s never heard of, and therefore was of no signifigance, was afraid of what Moreau was doing to him. Nicky wasn’t meddling in his affairs, he wasn’t trying to worm into his head or even extract information. This new friend treated him only like a person, despite his obvious lack of human traits.
Jordan pulled back. The hug probably went too far. Nicky let go of him and Jordan wasn’t sure how to react, nor what to say. He was falling apart only to be remade, an ingenious tactic for making a soldier. His body was ridiculously unwieldy and impossible to coordinate which made matters worse. “watt ahr yah gunna teel hew? Sheh’s trah’ing tah ushe wu too.. tha’ beech shent wu here tah shpy on mah ahn sheh’s gunna wan-na knowu watt wu fond ott frum mah.. sheh wall haunt wu dawn tell sheh getsh watt sheh wants, watt sheh shent wu here fow.. thrusht mah en thash.. Reechaard esh relentlesh..” Richard was a threat and Nicky was the only sane person who’d listen to his warnings. Everyone else was fooled by whatever charming quality they saw in that retched feline. “Sheh want beelev wu ef wu ahnt convinsheen. Wah ned tah plan shumfin.. a dahfensh or shumfin.. ef sheh knowsh wu’re lying, sheh’ll come ahfta wu and then sheh’ll come ahftah meh too..” Jordan backed up onto his bed, trying to show some bit of dignity with this new body and leaned back, which landed him on his a**, legs spread apart to either side because his lower half was that of a canine now. This was the best he could seat himself- and it hurt, but he remained vertical for as long as his body would allow, using his arms and middle leg as balance props.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 7:47 pm
The hug had bothered Nicky somewhat, true enough...he wasn't used to such physical contact...especially from another man. But the need for the informant (friend) overcame his initial discomfort. That...and his unexplainable urge to take a large whiff from the scent coming from Jordan's fur. Actually, he was proud of himself for bearing with it that long...but gravity had forced his hand to lean back when he did. He wasn't sure how Jordan would take that...but afterward it seemed like he took it well enough...he gave a slight nod of approval as Jordan began to compose himself. That's a good boy, he thought to himself as he watched Jordan. If he was going to be of any help to Nicky, Jordan was going to have to be able to turn it on and off at will.
The ex-wiseguy nodded a few times as Jordan spouted off his concerns. All were valid...and Nicky knew that, too. But he couldn't let Jordan know that he was scared of Richard almost as badly as Jordan himself was. Something was wrong with Richard...something wrong in her head anyway...not including the other obvious symptoms, what with the tentacles growing out of her back. Sure the claws and teeth were troublesome...but nothing a bat up the side of her head couldn't cure. But mind problems bothered Nicky...there was nothing set in stone about mental problems...no set solution...she was completely unpredictable. Again he nodded as he rolled these thoughts about his head.
"Heh...you're acting like I'm just wrapped up about her dainty little finger," he said with a grin as he gestured with a finger tip. "I'm not going to tell her s**t if I don't want to, Jordan. But you want a defense? I could always just tell her to go ******** herself with one of her tentacles...see how the 'ol b***h likes that, eh?" he said with a chuckle...although his grin looked somewhat jovial...his eyes were dead serious.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 8:12 pm
Jordan had been dealing with Richard for some six months now, so he was positive that old cat would come back with tooth and nail bared to shred apart her perceived enemy and crucify the remains. But nothing could have prepared Jordan for what had come out of Nicky’s muzzle. He was worried about Richard hunting them down, but not this guy. He had nerves of steel and still had time to be a smartass- at the expense of someone he hated, no less! This guy didn’t just have nerves of steel, he had a big pair of brass kahonies to match. Jordan expressed absolute stunned surprise at the unbreakable nerve of this man.
Seconds of silence passed afterwards until the incomplete dogtaur snerked. Out of the blue, through the fear and sadness, he made the sound from deep in his throat. And then he broke a smile. It wasn’t human and it had hurt for his sore muzzle to move like that, but Jordan definitely looked like a smiling dog. He'd opened his muzzle to speak when a fit of giggling hit him, which became a fit of laughter.
The fits of laughter knocked him off balance and he crashed onto his side (and almost onto the floor!), flailing as he’d never heard anyone say anything so amusing in a very, very long time. If anything could have broken the dismal mood, it had been achieved in spades. He couldn’t even speak his slurred speech. The laughter was uncontrolled, but needed. New tears had formed as he wiped them away, but they weren’t out of sadness. Not this time.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 8:49 pm
If only Nicky could read Jordan's mind at the moment...hell, even he may believe what the Samoyed was thinking. Truth be told, talking like this had bolstered his own confidence somewhat so that he may just tell Richard that. Yaknow...if he was deadset on making another enemy that day. But actually, now that Nicky thought about it, he was doing pretty well on the enemy to ally ration. The only person he had met so far that he had misgivings on whether or not he could turn them to his side...or at the very least not get in his way, was Richard. Anyone else had their heads shoved so far up their a** that they wouldn't know a revolution if it shot them in the face. Of course, there were still a lot more islanders he had to talk to...he pondered stopping by this Ambrose's duplex...the thought of having a wolf on his side intrigued him. And, at the very least, it would only increase Jordan's respect for him if he befriended the wolf. Upon considering this idea, he made a mental note to definitely at least meet with Ambrose in a more controlled setting in order to size him up.
However, once more his thoughts were interrupted...however this time by a mood swing for the better. He looked up sharply at the sound of the snerk, confused at first...was Jordan choking!? But then...he saw the smile...and as only the smile of complete and utter joy a dog can make, Nicky couldn't do anything else but grin back. Although his still had a tinge of humanity in the smile, his too looked way too much like a dog smile for comfort. Then, the laughter was infectious. Soon, Nicky too was laughing hysterically, having to lean against the wall in order to not fall onto his back. His tail, swaying from side to side, thumped against the wall in a slow and steady rhythm.
"You liked that, eh?" he said between laughs before finally calming down enough to speak normally, "Feelin' better then?"
"But seriously though...no...you can't take her seriously...she thrives on her stuck-up self importance...take that away from her and she's just a scared kitty."
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:11 pm
He was trying to answer the man, though he was laughing too hard to breath properly as he gasped for breath. The dog beat a paw on the bed while the other beat on his chest, his tongue lolling out as he coughed, slowly calming himself enough to take in a small lungful of air, but he nodded his enjoyment of the Nicky’s boldness till he could speak it.
“Yeh, guesh ah ahm felleeng beddah. T’anks to yah, Neeky.” Jordan layed himself into a more comfortable position Across the bed, pulling a pillow close so he could lay his head upon it. He’d feel better for the moment, but that too would pass once he was alone and trying to get this body to do what he wanted without hurting himself. He wasn’t sure if he could dismiss Richard as a threat, but for the moment, it came as a coaxing thought that kitty may have claws but nothing to back it up but idle threats.
He yawned. The dog was tired. His body was cooled down from the day’s exertion, which left him sleepy. In that position on the bed, his body became limp against the comfortable bed. He didn’t think he’d be so exhausted after laying in the cold, but he was. His arms wrapped around the pillow and it was clutched, fluffed, and repositioned under his head that was laid on its side, so he could still keep eye contact with Nicky. “Ahm… ..jusht gunna law dawn for a meenut…” but even as he said that, Jordan’s eyes were heavy with sleep. He wasn’t trying to go to sleep, but he was too drained to prevent it also. “Ah reelee hope wur rot abot hew, Neeky..” his words were becoming fainter. His tail wagged, lightly thumping the bed sheets.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:23 pm
Nicky continued to grin, not noticing his own tail as it continued to thump against the wall. He was too elated to really be worried about much at the moment. Meeting Jordan had, despite his underlying intentions, been really enjoyable. Also, he'd never admit to this, but he knew it was just the thing he needed. After his change...he just needed to talk to someone, not necessarily about his own change...but just about things in general. Something he'd never even admit to himself...he really just needed a friend here, and Jordan had that pathetic...help me quality that Nicky just couldn't pass up.
He eyed Jordan at the yawn and the drooping of the eyes and he knew it was time to make his exit. He felt compelled to make it on his own terms though as he pushed himself up the wall into a standing position once more.
"It's been good meeting you, Jordan," he said with that easy smirk, "think I'll let myself out now though...I'm going to take your advise and have a chat with Ambrose. If he's as good of a person as you say he is, I think it'd be in both of our best interests' to have him on our side, eh?" He began walking for the door before pausing and glancing back, his canine-muzzle in profile to the sleepy dog. "I'll catch you around, Jordan."
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:46 pm
Jordan smiled and his tail continued to wag even as Nicky had excused himself. For him as well it had been a good meeting of friends who didn’t know it. He’d turned a complete stranger into a staunch ally just by being his own pathetic self. Richard would be so pissed when she found out about this and it made him grin inwardly at that. If only to see Nicky tell her to go sit and rotate.. he’d have paid good money to see that.
“”Mak shore tah tall Ahmbwose ah shed hello..” he smiled, hoping the mention of Jordan would improve Nicky’s chances with making a case to the wolf.
Jordan waved a paw to the departing Nicky. He started to say something else, but all that had come out was another, longer yawn. The last thing that Jordan would remember was the door opening as he lost consciousness on his fluffy pillow. Whatever was going to result from this, with the number of participating players growing in the conspiracy of Moreau’s ‘loyal’ dog, the outcome remained uncertain, but it was looking better in his own favor with the new dog on the block backing him.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:58 pm
Nicky watched for a moment while Jordan continued to drift off. He honestly didn't know just how he could fall asleep in this type of cold. Making a mental note to bring a jacket next time, he turned once more to leave. Nicky was half-way about to turn back and ruffle Jordan's head...but stopped himself, forcing his thoughts to see the Samoyed as a person despite what he may look like. The tears were proof enough. A sigh escaped him as he turned and headed back out into the blessed warmth...glad to give his sweat glands another work out.
The Cerberus-to-be had a lot on his plate now with this meeting...maybe Ambrose will work out just as well. Of course, now he had to watch out for Richard...he mentally slapped himself for not telling Jordan not to tell Richard anything if he saw her again...but, too little too late. With a sigh, he began to hum his favorite AC/DC song, Dirty Deeds, as he strolled off down the beach.
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