"Hey! You've reached Cayde, but either I'm busy or I'm busy. Either way, go ahead and leave a message...or don't. Obviously I won't get back to you if it's the latter."
I'm not really asking for a babysitter. I already have two friends that I'm going to be staying with. I really don't want to be myself but that's already somewhat handled. I'll let you know if it gets that bad. But I'm not quite sure when the really bad might happen.
[ He presses his lips together. He puts up a finger while pointing it at Cayde. ]
I'll let that one slide. He doesn't really know about personal space.
[ Cloud tilts his head at Cayde. ]
I have other pressing matters to worry about. Attachments isn't really on that list.
Didn't think you were, but good. So long as you got others aware of the situation. ...it's been bothering you already?
[He gives a nod toward the other's arm, considered the timing of the request, of everything. He's not even sure how long Cloud's already been dealing with this disease, or if his special condition alters the usual time period of when things get worse, if there's even a set period.
Touching on the brief mention of Tony does make him smirk, however.]
No, he does not, and don't you forget it.
[Not that Tony will likely let anyone.
Cayde nods. Priorities are important. Maybe easier in such a case, when you've got an immediate focus that isn't something to do with the whole alien kidnapping situation.]
Yeah, they already know about it. It's been acting up a little bit. Mostly pain for now. But that's usually the start. It's been different since I got here.
[ There really is no special condition that he could see. Everyone started the same way. Before they ended up getting to the worse of it all. ]
I won't forget it. He was making it very known at the common table.
[ He moves a hand up to fiddle a piece of hair while looking at Cayde. ]
Are you keeping yourself busy? Besides for card games and sharpening your knives?
[He nods, making a mental note. The start before things progressed to worse? Well, better earlier caught than overlooked. And knowing there's something to be watching for is better than having something happen and not knowing what the reason is.]
That is a very Stark thing he does.
[The Exo glances at his knife but leaves it where it is for now. He'll just pick up where he left off later.]
Eh, as busy as anyone can manage to keep themselves around here.
[He is so bored.]
I tried contacting the Agrii but no dice. Did find some interesting things out about some of the people who've been around here longer though.
[ He already knows what signs to sort of look for. Everyone else might grow concerned over time on how he looks. Cloud will start to look tired, maybe have a bit of bags under his eyes. He might look like death ran him over one day but look fine the next. ]
Do you always have people this figured about? Or is it that you two are close?
[ Or was it only to certain people? ]
That's another thing that I need to do. I need to stay busy but not really get myself into trouble by doing so.
[ He raises his eyebrows at that. ]
You tried contacting the Agrii? Like what kind of interesting things?
I try. Sometimes you can't help but figure people out. I think me an' him arrived around the same time. Heh, boy that was a weird meeting. He has a thing for machinery. He's probably waiting for a good excuse to take me apart to see how I work.
[Cayde chuckles, shaking his head.]
Anyway, you get past the weirdness and he's all right.
[He arches a brow at Cloud then.]
What kind of busy brings trouble? Aside from potentially destroying the drains in the shower room- which I absolutely was not considering, by the way.
-there's this button thingy on the communicators they gave us with their creepy face on it. I don't know if it worked right though, all I got were responses from people stuck in here with us.
Anyway, for some, this isn't their first rodeo- the whole being kidnapped by aliens gig. And the concerning thing is that this calibrations thing is also something they've experienced before. The aliens are supposedly different though, so what the link is, now that's the question.
You're more human than any other machine I have encountered. I know that I said... it at the table but you should know that's not what I meant at all. You're not a car. You have personality than some of us put together.
[ Cloud shakes his head while shrugging. ]
You could say that about anyone. [ Cloud had caught Tony calling him (and his friends) freaks. He hadn't meant to and he's not about to bring that up with Cayde. Cloud gets up from the bed and rubs the back of his neck. ]
Drift Fleet. The Atroma. A few of them were part of something prior to coming here. I heard the Atroma used them for ratings. Pitted them against one another for entertainment. The Atroma used their calibrations for those ratings.
[ He turns his head to glance back at Cayde over his shoulder. ]
I know, I know. Anyway, I guess there are some valid concerns about if things go sideways, who's going to repair me when my Ghost's not here. So! I just gotta make sure things don't go sideways, yeah?
[His expression crumples into disgust as Cloud brings up the Atroma, and he nods.]
Oh, you heard too. Okay, saves me the trouble. As for what the Agrii 'tend to do with it? Hell if I know. I have heavy objections to being made a reality show though.
The ships here were from that fleet. Unfortunately no one knows the connection, or if they were found the same way as we were supposedly found. Needless to say? I don't like it one bit.
It shouldn't have to come to that. [ He turns to look at Cayde. ] There's people here who can protect others. From what I've seen without your ghost and someone gets a good clean shot, you're dead. I'm not going to let anyone get hurt. We will have to make sure it doesn't go sideways.
[ Cloud wrinkles his nose at the Atroma mention since he doesn't like it at all. ]
Yeah I heard about it. The Atroma could control them. If there's remotely a connection, the Agrii could use the calibrations against us too. I don't exactly like any theory. We can guess what it all means all day long but we can be doing other things.
The connection can show up... everything turns out to be a waiting game.
[ He looks at Cayde. ]
Going back to the keeping busy we could always have a rematch at go fish or you can try to teach me how to play poker now that I'm focused.
What were you going to do to the showers? The rest of us use the showers to clean even if the water is leaning towards being cold all the time. How any bright ideas on making it hot?
It's been a waiting game. Doesn't mean we can't try to figure things out in the meantime. Not a whole lot of other things to do anyway.
[He smirks.]
But sure, I'm game. Poker will still get real old with only two playing, but we can nail down the basics.
[A shrug, a laugh.]
Oh, that. I was thinkin' maybe if we broke one open it'd lead somewhere else? 'cept I was told it'd probably just end up going to the recycling unit. Given how there ain't even any vents around, it probably would be a dead-end.
I'm going to want to do something about it the more we talk on it. That is not something we can do right now.
[ He crosses his arms against his chest while looking at Cayde. ]
We have time to put in some basic learning.
[ He tilts his head to the side. ]
Actually... do you mind if we put the card game on hold? Breaking one open might not be a bad idea. If there was a vent around I would go for it, wouldn't be the first time I crawled around in one.
You don't have to sound so serious about it. If we're gonna play some cards, try having some fun, huh?
[He looks a little surprised as Cloud seems to hook on that idle mention.]
What, really? I dunno, we bust one of those open and it goes to a water recycler, and we'll be stuck with the stench and even more short fuses than we probably already have.
Woulda been way ahead of you on the ventilation, but there's nothing. Believe me, I've checked. There aren't even any seamlines in the walls or floors. It's kind of annoying, really.
[ He's not really the best at hang outs. He's done a lot of competitive gaming types of stuff. ]
I've been through an entire sewer system. If there was another way around it to avoid hitting a water recycler we could try that. But it sounds like that's not possible with the information you just gave.
The door could be a puzzle that we haven't figured out. I don't really know.
Eh, the rest was more a suggestion from the new arrival. Even during a killer storm they're bringing in people, depositing 'em straight into this bunker.
Heh. I wish I could believe it was a puzzle, but I have the feeling we're meant to be stuck. Not sure if the Agrii will be prepared for testy heroes once we're let out of here, but it goes without saying- we keep our guard up.
[ He looks at Cayde while making a small gesture with his hands. ]
If I'm not fun company I can leave. [ It's not that hard for him to do that. ]
The new arrival suggested it? I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
If we have exhausted all of our options that's the only time we can truthfully say that we're stuck. There's going to be plenty to do if we get out of here.
[Cayde pauses, then drags a gloved hand across his face.]
Aaand back to my original point. Which I think was entirely missed. Tell me, what do you do for fun?
When we get out of here. It'd be kind of pointless if they kept us in here. ...not that it's already pointless.
Maybe they're waiting for a mutiny. Or maybe they didn't think about that. Huh. I wonder, if anyone actually cracked from being stuck in this place for a month, who would the first one be...
-unless they've been taking a page from those Atroma for entertainment and are waiting for something to happen. In which case we stick to being boring and bored. ...ugh, see, this is why I hate this sort of thing. Too much time to just think.
Not missed. I drink sometimes. I might play a few games that are around, probably an arcade type of game. One that holds a score board. Back at home I watched the orphans. [ Cloud glances away. ] Did I mention I spend my time alone? Even though I don't want to be.
We don't know [ Air quotes with his fingers ] "when". Why bring all the heroes to one spot with the calibrations?
I already tried having a voice of save the planet. I can tell you what happened with our choices and the consequences that followed. [ He looks at Cayde. ] They could bring this entire tunnel down upon us.
[ Cloud had thought about that because a plate can take out an entire sector and it's been done before. ]
I like going on long walks. Do you like going on walks? The scenery is fucking boring but having company would be better than staring at walls.
That can be fun. I used to help with keeping an eye on kids back home every now and then too. Children get really vicious when they're cooped up too long, you know?
[Good times. Especially swapping with Shaxx for a day.]
Clearly we need to come up with some more games at some point. I got paper. We can do tic-tac-toe. If we had a better surface to stick it on, I could draw up a dartboard.
[He winces a little at the suggestion that the whole place could be brought down around them.]
Assuming that the entire point was entertainment. They could be trying to feel us out. They can't expect us not to ask questions, so I'll assume they're going to avoid answering us. They seem pretty good at that.
[For a moment he wonders if Cloud's joking about the walk. The suggestion comes up out of nowhere, but he's feeling restless just sitting here chatting, so he nods.]
Don't know about long walks here, but yeah. Sure. Let's take a walk.
[He gets up, tossing his whetstone on top of the bag in the drawer. Then he picks up his knives, the largest first, sheathing it, then tucking the others away as well.]
I do know how children can be with being cooped up. Adults can get the same way.
[ Cloud sighs as Cayde goes on with thoughts of games. ]
If there's cardboard boxes you can come up with a game with them. Do you have extra paper and a pencil that you don't mind giving away? I need to write something actually.
[ He tilts his head to the side. ]
We can think that's the entire point but we don't really know if that's true or not. We could be feeling each other out in that matter. [ He gives a shrug since they happen to be going into each others mind space. No, he wasn't joking. ]
You go around a few times to make it feel longer.
[ Cloud walks towards the door, opening it as he waits for Cayde to finish up doing whatever so that they can go on the walk. Cayde might actually need it. ]
[He pulls out the drawer again to rifle through the bag there, pulling out some rolled up paper. Flipping past the first few that already have a bit of writing on it, he slips out a few blank sheets, tossing it on the bed before tucking the rest away again. A pencil follows.]
You can take 'em now or grab them once we get back.
[Patting himself down and lastly, the hand cannon holstered at his side, he gives a nod, gesturing for Cloud to head on out then. He'll be right behind him.]
If we go around enough times maybe we'll wear the floor down.
[ Maybe Cayde might be less restless. Cloud goes on walks often enough knowing that there might not be enough of it. But it helped to keep moving and pacing in a room wasn't really ideal.
He watches Cayde as he does whatever he needs to feel safer. Cloud gives a nod back to him while leaving the room to wait for the other to follow. ]
Depends if we want to walk that long. We might come up with other ideas.
[You just don't feel fully dressed without at least a couple dozen weapons on you. Anyway, you never know when you'll need a knife, and he's never going anywhere without his Ace.
He steps on out after Cloud, and not without a groan at the suggestion that the longer the walk, the more ideas they might have.]
[ Cloud smiles briefly at the groan as he looks at Cayde. ]
It won't be that bad.
[ He starts walking as if he's done nothing but this and maybe he has. ]
What other games do you think we could come up with besides tic-tac-toe? I'm all for competition. But, I'm lacking in needing something extra to go with it.
[Cayde drags his feet the first few steps before falling into a more normal pace. With nothing really to look forward to and no set destination, he sees no hurry to go anywhere, although that just makes him less eager to move. Still, it's something.]
Too bad we don't have a ball. Otherwise...
[He doesn't dwell too much on the thought, shrugging.]
Could do a contest of who can down the most nutrient paste, but that's not a fate I'd wish on anyone.
[ Cloud keeps an eye on Cayde watching him. They weren't going up flights of stairs. They can take a slow pace although that would make this a bit boring for Cloud. ]
Who says we need a ball? There's plenty of other stuff that can be tossed...
[ He can't help but give a small laugh at that. ]
No paste eating challenges. [ Cloud shakes his head. ] But we could use the paste to create something. A waste of resource but could be worth it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deal_me_in
no subject
Date: 2020-07-08 05:18 am (UTC)[ He presses his lips together. He puts up a finger while pointing it at Cayde. ]
I'll let that one slide. He doesn't really know about personal space.
[ Cloud tilts his head at Cayde. ]
I have other pressing matters to worry about. Attachments isn't really on that list.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-08 05:43 am (UTC)[He gives a nod toward the other's arm, considered the timing of the request, of everything. He's not even sure how long Cloud's already been dealing with this disease, or if his special condition alters the usual time period of when things get worse, if there's even a set period.
Touching on the brief mention of Tony does make him smirk, however.]
No, he does not, and don't you forget it.
[Not that Tony will likely let anyone.
Cayde nods. Priorities are important. Maybe easier in such a case, when you've got an immediate focus that isn't something to do with the whole alien kidnapping situation.]
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Date: 2020-07-08 06:29 am (UTC)[ There really is no special condition that he could see. Everyone started the same way. Before they ended up getting to the worse of it all. ]
I won't forget it. He was making it very known at the common table.
[ He moves a hand up to fiddle a piece of hair while looking at Cayde. ]
Are you keeping yourself busy? Besides for card games and sharpening your knives?
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Date: 2020-07-08 06:57 am (UTC)[He nods, making a mental note. The start before things progressed to worse? Well, better earlier caught than overlooked. And knowing there's something to be watching for is better than having something happen and not knowing what the reason is.]
That is a very Stark thing he does.
[The Exo glances at his knife but leaves it where it is for now. He'll just pick up where he left off later.]
Eh, as busy as anyone can manage to keep themselves around here.
[He is so bored.]
I tried contacting the Agrii but no dice. Did find some interesting things out about some of the people who've been around here longer though.
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Date: 2020-07-08 07:15 am (UTC)[ He already knows what signs to sort of look for. Everyone else might grow concerned over time on how he looks. Cloud will start to look tired, maybe have a bit of bags under his eyes. He might look like death ran him over one day but look fine the next. ]
Do you always have people this figured about? Or is it that you two are close?
[ Or was it only to certain people? ]
That's another thing that I need to do. I need to stay busy but not really get myself into trouble by doing so.
[ He raises his eyebrows at that. ]
You tried contacting the Agrii? Like what kind of interesting things?
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Date: 2020-07-08 08:05 am (UTC)I try. Sometimes you can't help but figure people out. I think me an' him arrived around the same time. Heh, boy that was a weird meeting. He has a thing for machinery. He's probably waiting for a good excuse to take me apart to see how I work.
[Cayde chuckles, shaking his head.]
Anyway, you get past the weirdness and he's all right.
[He arches a brow at Cloud then.]
What kind of busy brings trouble? Aside from potentially destroying the drains in the shower room- which I absolutely was not considering, by the way.
-there's this button thingy on the communicators they gave us with their creepy face on it. I don't know if it worked right though, all I got were responses from people stuck in here with us.
Anyway, for some, this isn't their first rodeo- the whole being kidnapped by aliens gig. And the concerning thing is that this calibrations thing is also something they've experienced before. The aliens are supposedly different though, so what the link is, now that's the question.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-08 01:24 pm (UTC)You're more human than any other machine I have encountered. I know that I said... it at the table but you should know that's not what I meant at all. You're not a car. You have personality than some of us put together.
[ Cloud shakes his head while shrugging. ]
You could say that about anyone. [ Cloud had caught Tony calling him (and his friends) freaks. He hadn't meant to and he's not about to bring that up with Cayde. Cloud gets up from the bed and rubs the back of his neck. ]
Drift Fleet. The Atroma. A few of them were part of something prior to coming here. I heard the Atroma used them for ratings. Pitted them against one another for entertainment. The Atroma used their calibrations for those ratings.
[ He turns his head to glance back at Cayde over his shoulder. ]
What do the Agrii plan to do with do it?
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Date: 2020-07-08 05:01 pm (UTC)I know, I know. Anyway, I guess there are some valid concerns about if things go sideways, who's going to repair me when my Ghost's not here. So! I just gotta make sure things don't go sideways, yeah?
[His expression crumples into disgust as Cloud brings up the Atroma, and he nods.]
Oh, you heard too. Okay, saves me the trouble. As for what the Agrii 'tend to do with it? Hell if I know. I have heavy objections to being made a reality show though.
The ships here were from that fleet. Unfortunately no one knows the connection, or if they were found the same way as we were supposedly found. Needless to say? I don't like it one bit.
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Date: 2020-07-08 07:23 pm (UTC)[ Cloud wrinkles his nose at the Atroma mention since he doesn't like it at all. ]
Yeah I heard about it. The Atroma could control them. If there's remotely a connection, the Agrii could use the calibrations against us too. I don't exactly like any theory. We can guess what it all means all day long but we can be doing other things.
The connection can show up... everything turns out to be a waiting game.
[ He looks at Cayde. ]
Going back to the keeping busy we could always have a rematch at go fish or you can try to teach me how to play poker now that I'm focused.
What were you going to do to the showers? The rest of us use the showers to clean even if the water is leaning towards being cold all the time. How any bright ideas on making it hot?
no subject
Date: 2020-07-08 09:26 pm (UTC)[He smirks.]
But sure, I'm game. Poker will still get real old with only two playing, but we can nail down the basics.
[A shrug, a laugh.]
Oh, that. I was thinkin' maybe if we broke one open it'd lead somewhere else? 'cept I was told it'd probably just end up going to the recycling unit. Given how there ain't even any vents around, it probably would be a dead-end.
this is a terrible idea... but uh um... >w>; I like terrible ideas.
Date: 2020-07-08 10:03 pm (UTC)[ He crosses his arms against his chest while looking at Cayde. ]
We have time to put in some basic learning.
[ He tilts his head to the side. ]
Actually... do you mind if we put the card game on hold? Breaking one open might not be a bad idea. If there was a vent around I would go for it, wouldn't be the first time I crawled around in one.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-08 11:24 pm (UTC)[He looks a little surprised as Cloud seems to hook on that idle mention.]
What, really? I dunno, we bust one of those open and it goes to a water recycler, and we'll be stuck with the stench and even more short fuses than we probably already have.
Woulda been way ahead of you on the ventilation, but there's nothing. Believe me, I've checked. There aren't even any seamlines in the walls or floors. It's kind of annoying, really.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 12:20 am (UTC)[ He's not really the best at hang outs. He's done a lot of competitive gaming types of stuff. ]
I've been through an entire sewer system. If there was another way around it to avoid hitting a water recycler we could try that. But it sounds like that's not possible with the information you just gave.
The door could be a puzzle that we haven't figured out. I don't really know.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 01:35 am (UTC)What? Having fun?
[There's another shrug.]
Eh, the rest was more a suggestion from the new arrival. Even during a killer storm they're bringing in people, depositing 'em straight into this bunker.
Heh. I wish I could believe it was a puzzle, but I have the feeling we're meant to be stuck. Not sure if the Agrii will be prepared for testy heroes once we're let out of here, but it goes without saying- we keep our guard up.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 01:42 am (UTC)If I'm not fun company I can leave. [ It's not that hard for him to do that. ]
The new arrival suggested it? I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
If we have exhausted all of our options that's the only time we can truthfully say that we're stuck. There's going to be plenty to do if we get out of here.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 01:57 am (UTC)Aaand back to my original point. Which I think was entirely missed. Tell me, what do you do for fun?
When we get out of here. It'd be kind of pointless if they kept us in here. ...not that it's already pointless.
Maybe they're waiting for a mutiny. Or maybe they didn't think about that. Huh. I wonder, if anyone actually cracked from being stuck in this place for a month, who would the first one be...
-unless they've been taking a page from those Atroma for entertainment and are waiting for something to happen. In which case we stick to being boring and bored. ...ugh, see, this is why I hate this sort of thing. Too much time to just think.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 02:41 am (UTC)Not missed. I drink sometimes. I might play a few games that are around, probably an arcade type of game. One that holds a score board. Back at home I watched the orphans. [ Cloud glances away. ] Did I mention I spend my time alone? Even though I don't want to be.
We don't know [ Air quotes with his fingers ] "when". Why bring all the heroes to one spot with the calibrations?
I already tried having a voice of save the planet. I can tell you what happened with our choices and the consequences that followed. [ He looks at Cayde. ] They could bring this entire tunnel down upon us.
[ Cloud had thought about that because a plate can take out an entire sector and it's been done before. ]
I like going on long walks. Do you like going on walks? The scenery is fucking boring but having company would be better than staring at walls.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 03:23 am (UTC)[Good times. Especially swapping with Shaxx for a day.]
Clearly we need to come up with some more games at some point. I got paper. We can do tic-tac-toe. If we had a better surface to stick it on, I could draw up a dartboard.
[He winces a little at the suggestion that the whole place could be brought down around them.]
Assuming that the entire point was entertainment. They could be trying to feel us out. They can't expect us not to ask questions, so I'll assume they're going to avoid answering us. They seem pretty good at that.
[For a moment he wonders if Cloud's joking about the walk. The suggestion comes up out of nowhere, but he's feeling restless just sitting here chatting, so he nods.]
Don't know about long walks here, but yeah. Sure. Let's take a walk.
[He gets up, tossing his whetstone on top of the bag in the drawer. Then he picks up his knives, the largest first, sheathing it, then tucking the others away as well.]
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 03:42 am (UTC)[ Cloud sighs as Cayde goes on with thoughts of games. ]
If there's cardboard boxes you can come up with a game with them. Do you have extra paper and a pencil that you don't mind giving away? I need to write something actually.
[ He tilts his head to the side. ]
We can think that's the entire point but we don't really know if that's true or not. We could be feeling each other out in that matter. [ He gives a shrug since they happen to be going into each others mind space. No, he wasn't joking. ]
You go around a few times to make it feel longer.
[ Cloud walks towards the door, opening it as he waits for Cayde to finish up doing whatever so that they can go on the walk. Cayde might actually need it. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 04:00 am (UTC)You can take 'em now or grab them once we get back.
[Patting himself down and lastly, the hand cannon holstered at his side, he gives a nod, gesturing for Cloud to head on out then. He'll be right behind him.]
If we go around enough times maybe we'll wear the floor down.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 01:59 pm (UTC)[ Maybe Cayde might be less restless. Cloud goes on walks often enough knowing that there might not be enough of it. But it helped to keep moving and pacing in a room wasn't really ideal.
He watches Cayde as he does whatever he needs to feel safer. Cloud gives a nod back to him while leaving the room to wait for the other to follow. ]
Depends if we want to walk that long. We might come up with other ideas.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-09 04:53 pm (UTC)He steps on out after Cloud, and not without a groan at the suggestion that the longer the walk, the more ideas they might have.]
Fine, we'll just play it by ear.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-12 06:10 am (UTC)It won't be that bad.
[ He starts walking as if he's done nothing but this and maybe he has. ]
What other games do you think we could come up with besides tic-tac-toe? I'm all for competition. But, I'm lacking in needing something extra to go with it.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-12 06:43 am (UTC)Too bad we don't have a ball. Otherwise...
[He doesn't dwell too much on the thought, shrugging.]
Could do a contest of who can down the most nutrient paste, but that's not a fate I'd wish on anyone.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-12 08:16 am (UTC)Who says we need a ball? There's plenty of other stuff that can be tossed...
[ He can't help but give a small laugh at that. ]
No paste eating challenges. [ Cloud shakes his head. ] But we could use the paste to create something. A waste of resource but could be worth it.
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