kingdomdressing | (no subject)

[For what it was worth, the visitor should keep in mind that every last one of Roxas' beliefs about himself, his friends and everything had just been more or less torn to shreds by not only his last assailant, but the manifestation of Riku prior. He was bearing wounds reflecting two engagements that weren't only physically punishing, but if his appearance could reflect the state of his spirit; it would very much be black and blue with an ample side of third-degree burns, stitches trying desperately to hold several large gashes closed and likely missing a limb.

In a nutshell, the Nobody wasn't showing his usual defiance because there wasn't much of him left to show that defiance.

And being lectured by whatever version of himself this way was just stirring up one of the few things he still felt able to feel: anger and lots off it.

His ire wasn't the only thing raised as he clamored to his feet on the ledge, his hands closing around the air and summoning his Keyblade in hopes of threatening this annoyance away.]

Yes. I am going to let that happen because of several facts.

First thing is that I'm here, already consumed by that thing that's weaseled its way into my friend's mind or whatever we have in place of a heart!

Second, even if I somehow magically could be thrown-up like a bad lunch, do you think she'd listen to me? Do you think she'd show the least hesitance in just beating me further and devouring me again?!

I wasn't strong enough to protect her. And now that thing is going to take her body. Even more frustrating is that now I can only do what everyone else seems to do and hope that there's a Sora out there strong enough to defeat what's about to be turned loose.

[Of course in his anger, there were probably a few things he didn't pick up in his acquaintance's speech. There was also the matter that if things were reflecting any kind of darker change in Roxas' outlook, it's that the weapon he was brandishing was Void Gear.

Not that he'd recognize it.]

[Oh, he was very well aware the trials he had faced. And there was undoubtedly pity set in his eyes as he watched Roxas shout out in such an enraged state as he was in. He was frustrated. Frustrated and lost and torn. Everything in between. And everything he, himself, knew and understood. He had watched his friend become something he would have never wanted to see just as he had watched his own, feeling so helpless. Useless. Wanting to be there. To protect them, even if in the end his power did nil. Backing out wasn't an option. Not at the cost of his friends.

Never at the cost of his friends. No matter what they became.

His eyes narrowed on Roxas... only to became wide at the sight of the keyblade he suddenly summoned. And then they were scorning it as he summoned his own, Lost Memory, swinging it to the side in his own boiling frustration. But otherwise held fast and ready if only needed to defend himself.]

That thing is her! That one you call a puppet. Her and the other one are all in the same. Both pieces of her!

[It seemed to be the first thing that the stranger said that got through that skull of his. For a moment Roxas seemed to be in utter disbelief at at great deal of what all of that meant.

The first thing was the disappointment in himself for doing just what he'd told himself he'd never do. Secondly was the shock that she had that kind of cruelty streak in her... but then, Saix's abuses combined with her insecurities, all of that creating such a monster made sense in that fashion.

And while he was trying to figure out the whole power variance, even that made sense. It would be the same reason he'd been hoping to cause her enough trouble to come to where he stood now -that he knew in a person's inner world, absolutely mind-blowing levels of crushing willpower would be necessary to defeat the owner. While he didn't forget who he'd been inside this entire time, he'd been assuming that the nature of this Xion was of some rogue memory she'd absorbed that decided to take over.

It changed a surprising lot -more than enough for him to lower the weapon and release his grip on it as he took a step off the ledge and slumping against it once his feet were on the more solid ground behind it.]

That changes everything but the facts that at least that part of her doesn't want to listen; that it'll just beat me to a pulp and send me back here.

And also the whole thing that I'm stuck here to begin with.

[Finally.

Finally, something had clicked. He could tell by the way the anger drained suddenly from Roxas' face. How that stricken defensiveness left him to the sudden realization. It was a painful one he had to go through- but one he had to see to or else it really would be the end right there and then and perhaps they both would have been lost in Xion's core for the rest of their existence. His own expression turned into a grim reflection of Roxas' as he lowered his own weapon, not really thrilled to be the bearer of bad news. But all the same.]

No, she doesn't want to listen. And she probably won't the way things are. If you can't best her, why would she? But that's why you're not going to face her alone this time. [And this time, instead of his hand, he was holding out his keyblade. And with his other, he was hitting the armor plate on his shoulder. With a burst of light, a full body suit covered him.] I can get us out of here. And I can lend you my power. But the rest is up to you.

[And then with a small smile.] I know it's weird. [The situation. How they looked so much the same.] But trust me on this.

[There was some hesitance when he watched the armor materialize -like his body recognized it, almost feeling his stance shift slightly as if he was the one donning it. It was strange to say the least.

And really, with all that was one the line now, such a notion was the least of his concerns. However, he'd been getting a number of crash courses in recognizing an opportunity when it came up, so he waited a moment, wanting to say something before he took that Keyblade -before he'd be fighting again.]

I know we don't have much time, but before we go, will I see you again after this?

Seeing that Keyblade and that armor...

[He trails off, gesturing at the stranger as a whole.]

I get this weird feeling that I've felt the weight of that before. Just this sad, familiar feeling. Like when I first reappeared and started talking to Xion.

I know now isn't the time, but I have so many questions I want answers to.

It's funny. So did I. [So many questions left unanswered. And so many things left unsaid. Too little time for too many words. He found himself smiling sadly as he looked at Roxas. And then he was shaking his head, his expression growing a bit mysterious.] But I probably have about as many answers as you.

[He shrugged mildly. Resolve finding itself in his next words.] It doesn't change things either way. My time's over, but I'll still exist right here. [Holding a hand to his heart. The memories. They would probably be locked away forever more. But they would still be there.]

[He carefully pointed his keyblade up to the sky then and a streak of light shot forth towards it, ripping open up a portal.] That's the lanes in between. And this. [Returning to hold out his weapon.] Is your ticket out of here. You'll know what to do.

[Well, it had been a long shot. But while he still couldn't understand why the stranger bore such an air of familiarity about him, he got the impression that there would be a chance to find answers later. Then again, maybe it was for the better for now. He had purpose again. His body still ached from both previous encounters, yet he willed it to prepare to skirmish again... and again, and however many times it took for him to save his friend.

Right now he needed to focus on that task.

With a sigh, he watched skyward as the portal opened, some part of him musing that it looked like the opposite of a Corridor of Darkness. It was almost pretty as he observed the little flickers of light drifting to and fro around it like fireflies, that virtual sense of nostalgia weighing on his spirit.

His glance met the stranger's, Roxas' eyes narrowing as they settled on Lost Memory. For a moment, he debated on merely asking the weapon's name, but decided that he couldn't afford to get side-tracked now.

Gratefully, he took the weapon and nodded, some part of him in the back of his own head marveling at how natural the weapon felt in his hand -even as he experimentally flipped it into a reverse-grip.

It was strange.]

Thank you. I'll make sure to fix things.

[He shot the other blond a grin.]

I've got some crazy promises to hold up, after all.

[With that said, instinct took over as he hurled the weapon up into the sky. Beyond the line of sight, it vanished in a brilliant flare as it returned; it's shape and size changed considerably, but many aspects of the form still identifying it. As it swooped down for him, he leaped neatly into the air, flipping once before finding solid footing on the platform of the Keyblade Glider.

Giving one last glance to the stranger, he crouched low to keep his balance on the vehicle as it angled upward and rocketed with him into the light.]

[Crazy promises. Somehow, that sounded familiar. But if there anything more to say, it was left as it was. For the moment that Roxas had taken up Lost Memory, the other boy began to glimmer and fade off. Although if he was bothered by it, he didn't seem to show it. Grinning in turn. Bright as the sun. A very Sora expression.]

I'm sure you will. [And he chuckled as he faded off although his voice continued.] After all, it's our friends that make our existence meaningful. Seems that still hasn't changed after all these years.

[And as the other faded, Roxas might have realized that the armor he had dawned... was now upon him as he shot off into that brilliant light.]

[And through that light he would travel. The time it took would seem to stretch on forever, even if it really might have all been a minute's worth. But then, an end finally gave way- and he found himself high in the air above the platform from before. And on it, there she was again, knelt before the Xion laying on the floor with her hand stretched out to grip the one in her weakened state by the scalp and take her, too.]

[By the time his senses readjusted to everything, he'd about realized that he really just needed to get used to having the world turn topsy-turvy on him without warning. Really, it seemed like the only thing he'd really be able to count on.

The armor was something... he wanted to say it was different, but the way it fit him so well and the way his body seemed to know on its own, how to adjust for the added weight just made it seem like another forgotten memory. And for now, he'd just have to let this underlying auto-pilot handle the adjustments for him.

He'd have time to think later.

When he emerged from the Lanes In Between, his eyes immediately took stock of his surroundings. The same room where not more than what must have been only moments ago, he'd met a defeat most bitter. And below him, he could see things unfolding as he'd expected. A great deal of realization had changed his understanding of how this was going to unfold; he may have the stranger's aid, but it didn't change the fact that what he was looking at was Xion's inner world. Even with this edge, he'd need to stay sharp if he was going to somehow stall out her inner demon until he could get through to her.

In this arena, his opponent was still just a little shy of being god.

Rather than announcing his presence, he just accelerated. His fight path was almost a direct drop as he came in at full speed. Somehow, he knew how the Glider performed and how it could handle. His plan had two points to it. The first was that he'd be coming in literally on top of his foe and with her proximity to Xion, he knew the Glider could shift its momentum almost instantly. This would allow him to both snatch up the girl in his arms while using the prow of the vehicle to ram his opponent.]

[In truth, the last thing that the Sorized Xion had anticipated was his return. Considering the last of her victims hadn't as much as blinked let alone peeped after being absorbed, it was more or less a done deal to her. And he had just been added to that mark. The glider had also provided him with more than adequate speed, giving him a front that whether or not she had noticed at first... Well. Didn't matter.

One moment, she had the other Xion where she wanted her. The next, she was sprawling across the floor, rolling a good several yards before coming to land on her side with a grunt. She groaned to herself as she pushed herself up slightly with her arms, feeling dazed- but that soon gave away to confusion at the sight of the boy in the armor- on a... Foreign memories told her it was a glider, but she couldn't trace back whose. But all the same, she was staring wide-eyed in surprise.

In the meantime, the Xion he had collected had held her eyes shut tight for a moment more, still caught for a split second in that moment of inevitability. Tensing at the feeling those hands upon her only to realize she had been hefted off the ground and there was a fluid breeze drifting through her hair and making her coat billow. She slowly braved to crack a half-glazed eye. The image was blurry at first from that close call she had just had. But as her vision came to collect itself, her eyes both opened, widened in a similar state as the Sorized Xion- only half-lidded.]

Who...? [Who was this stranger that had shown up? And why did he seem so familiar?]

[He wanted to speak up, to tell her it was alright. But despite how much all he'd been through had forced maturity upon him, the part of him that was undeniably Roxas wanted to play the mysterious hero role for his friend. It was a feeling he didn't understand, a want for her to feel impressed by him -he just didn't understand why. But further dashing that notion was the realization that he'd need to speak up eventually. And then compounding his hesitance was that if he lost, he really didn't want to subject her to seeing him consumed like that again.

Win or lose, this was the round where everything was at stake. There was a hostility, a certain feel to this battle that made it feel far different from his battle with the Riku manifestation. He had no choice but to win, to get through to her somehow and repair the damage that had been done with all of this.

So after a moment's deliberation, he summed up his thoughts in only a few words; echoed slightly by the helmet he wore.]

It's going to be alright.

[The Glider slowed to a stop, his armored figure almost looking noble as he stepped off and laid the more demure Xion aside, doing his best to both be quick about it and make sure she was comfortable.

Immediately, he turned to his opponent as she recovered. He wasn't sure what to feel; pity? Sympathy? None of it felt right. The Nobody was still understandably angered from their earlier bout, but he now that he at least had a clue of what was going on, he couldn't even feel that scathing hatred he'd felt not too long ago.

His hand closed on the air, his transport vanishing in a flash of light before reforming as Lost Memory, carried neatly in a strangely familiar feeling reverse grip. Stopping at what he judged was a safe distance from his opponent, he spoke up again.]

Look. I said and thought some things back there that weren't called for because I didn't have much of a clue.

So I'm going to start by saying I'm sorry. And that I'm going to snap you out of this, even if it means I have to beat you senseless!

[It was hard to tell exactly from the voice with it being muffled as it was. But there was something in that tone that spoken volumes in itself. So, as Xion was returned to the floor a safe distance from the Sorized one, she couldn't help but gape at him in disbelief while she tried to search for him with a hand. But she was just as worse for wear as he would remember and her body's movements just wouldn't come. So, instead, she found herself watching helplessly once more. Although there was something about him... It wasn't just the armor. Or the glider. But... There- Just the way he carried himself as he faced the Sorized Xion once more. Especially the words that he spoke. No longer was he filled in a void of rage like he had been before.

The Sorized Xion herself noticed it, too. As she carefully climbed to her feet, dusting herself off nonchalantly before she was eying him up again with a thin lin for an expression... One that soon buckled to a wicked sort of laughter that rivaled Larxene. Finally, she settled into a smirk.] Snap who out of it now? Me? I can't help but think you've lost your mind. Considering there's nothing to snap out of. But, sure, you want to try, I'll play along.

[A snarl of darkness curled and warped around the hand she held up... and then in its grasp appeared a keyblade Roxas had briefly, unconsciously familiarized himself with just moments before. Void Gear came to form under the pretense of her blue- or were they really blue, blue? Was there a hint of gold sinking into her eyes or was it just the lighting? Regardless, she was holding that keyblade high and at the ready.]

Seems you just don't know when to quit anyway. But then. This makes things interesting. I was getting bored of absorbing everyone so easily. So, come on. Enlighten me with something fresh, something new.

[Leaving him to the first strike? Perhaps. Tauntingly so, too, if her arms being wide open was any emphasis.]

[Roxas is quiet as she taunts him again. He's determined not to let her get to him. The weight of the situation doesn't escape him, he knows the stakes and as calm as he's trying to act right now, the truth is that he's honestly terrified. This really isn't a battle of power -he's just trying to reach her and yet he doesn't know what to say. Honestly, from his stand point, after some of the things he's said, he briefly wonders if that's a bridge he'd burned during the last duel.

But he'd give this everything he had all the same. In an almost sickening flash of insight, it dawned on him that he'd end up having to play the same kind of game that Riku played with him. He was certainly grateful for this helmet now -he'd doubt the Sorized Xion would take him too seriously if she could see the way his facial expressions were shifting. At least this way, it just looked like he was staring blankly at her.

As she brandishes her weapon -one that not long ago he'd held, he gets an idea. It's a little difficult at first, wracking his brain to remember exact words, but at the same time, once he starts, the memories flow like the image above Memory's Skyscraper. But the application would come later, he'd need to at least get her to exert herself.

He considered his offensive and defensive options -finding much to his surprise that he was remembering techniques, magic, a countless variety of combat arts that he was absolutely certain he hadn't remembered before. And with a gift like this, he decided that now wouldn't be the time to squander it.

He held nothing back this time, starting immediately with a stronger technique.]

Time Splicer.

[It was different from her vanishing game. He uttered the words and he watched the world turn gray and slow drastically. His feet carried him with speed that made the world around him blur -even gravity was playing catch-up with him.

In an instant he was upon her, lashing out at first with Lost Memory, but then drawing Aubade in his other hand. He knew how this worked. He'd make an attack, perhaps two and then move, assaulting her from a dizzying array of directions and angles that would have made Xigbar turn green with envy. Even if she moved, even when she defended or shifted to counter-attack, he would adjust accordingly.

Slowly, the world caught up with him and he realized what that meant. His attack broke off immediately as he returned to his starting position in the blink of an eye. From there he'd wait as if he'd never moved, observing to see some sign of his first attack... and more importantly to see what the adjusted flow of time meant for him.

He was still aware that this was her world and he wasn't ready to buy it in the least that his new-found abilities allowed him to attack with impunity -no matter their limitations.]

[There had definitely been something different. Something she subconsciously knew the moment she had seen that armor. She had felt it. And it was bizarre how it didn't seem all that alien of a concept to her- but then considering they had both been two pieces of the same whole, it wasn't a stretch to consider the connections. Even as he called his attack, she was grinning- and then he had vanished. And she was left to blink. But before she had even opened her eyes again, she was being suddenly battered from the side. While the stopra hadn't held her in place, his speed was his saving grace.

It seemed that he had taken to really giving her the senseless beating he had in mind as the attack ran its course and he returned from whence he came. With a pretty scratched up Sorized Xion standing where she was- but then she suddenly flickered and faded out. Nothing more than an after-image. Leaving Roxas to wonder where the real one was. But where she was... would quickly be answered as she came down upon him from behind with energy crackling along Void Gear.] Too slow!

[When time resumed its usual pace, he was weary and on guard -almost as if he'd expected his attack to have somehow injured himself. Yet to his pleasant surprise, there were not bizarre tricks or anything this time. Instead, to the credit of the sinking feeling in his stomach was watching her visage flicker and fade -probably not too different from what he figure she must've seen when he used his ability.

The insult hurled gets his attention almost too late. He dives forward to avoid the attack, but while he misses a direct hit, the force of her impact actually hurls him forward and off-balance.

Another memory crosses his mind as his body works as if he'd done this a hundred times. Part of it, he's familiar with. His balance rights itself as he goes through the motions or Aerial Recovery. But the twist was his body suddenly shifting his orientation, the momentum of the strike still carrying him back as his arm wound back and he hurled Aubade at his opponent.]

PAYBACK RAID!

[The way she came down upon him unfortunately left her wide open to that thrown keyblade and the Sorized Xion was finding herself flying backwards as it smacked right into her. She collected herself with an aerial recovery of her own, settling on her feet again if only for a moment. It might have been hard to tell with how fast things were moving, but there were definitely some tears in her coat now. But that was minimal compared to the main attraction.

Blood. Traces of it were trickling down from the small cuts on her cheek and chin, staining her coat in places where the coat hugged her form more and holes gaped open from his attacks. But despite the inflicted wounds, she was looking at him with a most psychotic smile.] That's more like it! Come on!

[And then she was hopping up into the air. And at first it seemed a nil point. That was... until she was sending an array of fast traveling projectiles of something nasty. A condensed thunder spell of sorts.] Take this!

[When she hopped, he was more expecting her to dive after him -maybe some kind of swooping attack. The crackling black lightning he got looked a great deal worse, but at least he'd been prepared to evade anyway. He jumped back, narrowly avoiding the attack as the spell crackled at his feet, a feeling of something unpleasantly familiar about it.

His feet touched down and Roxas found the hand with Lost Memory reaching across his frame and hitting the shoulder of his armor -removing it in the same flash of light it vanished in. If he was going to reach her, he was going to need her to see his face. And while it would probably cause all the more pain if the other Xion saw him fall again, it was a risk he'd have to take.

The Nobody's grip on his remaining Keyblade shifted to a normal grip; he wouldn't be able to pull off his next plan with the reverse grip he'd been holding and he didn't want to recall Aubade to his hand just yet. At least he felt confident that its re-appearance would be bad for the Sorized Xion in both cases. If he called it back, it would mean he could use his most effective fighting style. If she called it, it was a sign that her true nature was surfacing. Because part of the reason he was favoring that weapon was because of the bond he shared with Xion that it represented.

Wasting no time, he rushed in to meet his foe and hopefully lock his weapon with hers. He'd need to proximity for her to hear him and he'd need her to not try to kill him for things to even begin.]

[The Sorized Xion touched down on the ground shortly after the attack had released. For the moment, playing as observer as Roxas recovered and hit the shoulder pad of the armor; it dissolved with a flicker of light and there he was as she had anticipated. Surprisingly less battered than she had expected, but it mattered little to her. That just meant more fun for her, after all. More of a challenge.

She raised Void Gear again and simply watched him once more, readying herself for what was coming next. But this version of her didn't seem to be one filled with much patience and soon enough she was shooting off toward him- ironically, just as he was to her. Her swings burned now with something different as they came at him though, her eyes falling warmer by the second, blue now being tangled in flakes of gold that were slowly filling out to encompass the whole of them. Darkness permeating her strikes.]

Edited 2011-01-16 09:04 (UTC)

[Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. WRONG. To his credit he was trying to think of things -anything to try and jolt that person that he knew was beneath what he was fighting. Especially during their first battle, he was so caught up in his aggravation and frustration that he'd even go so far as to say he probably ignored it. However now, he could almost feel her beneath the condescending monster he'd just locked blades with.

Roxas' eyes met the Sorized Xion's and his expression immediately reflected a certain degree of concern. He couldn't consciously recall it, but a feeling deep inside of him told me he'd seen similar eyes before and it wasn't a happy memory. A note he filed into the back of his head would be to find out if that's how Sora felt whenever he tried to tell his Other something while they were merged.

So he gave up for now. Thinking was never his strong suit and he'd really been pushing some limits trying to get so much of the deeper meanings behind everything all sorted out. Of course, that didn't mean that he wasn't going to just continue to fight a battle of constant insults, grunts and cries. What he needed first, was the understand the beast his friend had become.]

So you never told me, what did this to you?

[There's a marked shift in his tactics as he lets the blade lock slip, his footwork carrying him into a flanking position before he takes a swing at her side. There's intent to strike behind it, he's not playing around, but for some reason he's putting his usual acrobatics and high-mobility tactics aside for the moment.]

[There was a noticeable hiss of frustration as their keyblades practically tangled together when he let his slip, pulling hers with his momentarily. She found herself off balanced and that was all it took for Roxas to get his opening. The swing to her side connected and she was sent hurling into the air once more with a grunt. Another aerial recovery though and she found herself distanced again. The Sorized Xion did no more than scoff at that as she hopped further away.] What did this to me, you ask? Roxas, wouldn't you know it? No one did this to me. It was my choice all along!

[And, suddenly, a wave of keyblades tore from the ground and she found herself hopping upon them. Quickly, they tore around the platform they were fighting upon, coming to a crest before she was engaged in firing away a volley of shots, ones that came at him rapidly, burning with darkness.]

Edited 2011-01-16 10:24 (UTC)

[Roxas grit his teeth as she came around, that feeling inside still telling him that this was all too familiar -even the way his body was moving and dodging the incoming shots told him that somehow, he'd done this all before. His expression turned to a determined mask; his anger bled away, his fears acknowledged, but not in control and his drive to keep his promises guiding his actions.

Trust in that thing he didn't have.

He waited for a chance and when the serpentine wave of Keyblades came close enough, he jumped. If his bet payed off properly, he'd managed a half-decent landing on the amalgamation of weapons in motion and then rushing along that coil to take a swing at its master. Of course if that gamble failed to produce a yield, he'd just make sure his missed landing was properly recovered from and continue dodging. He'd need to get close again.]

[There was something about Roxas' move that was definitely new and unforeseen. Because the moment he had managed to gear up and follow along on that train of old keys, she had to pause and just flinch in surprise. Something that was conveniently to Roxas' advantage, giving him a chance to crash the distance and try to fold its master from the wave. She managed to raise her keyblade in time to block his attack once more, this time trying to press him off balance, attempting to break him from the flow of keys and throw him back onto the platform. All the while growling as she held fast. Her eyes were nearly glazed over completely in that gold now and the brown of Sora's hair was darkening.]

You just don't give up, do you?

[His mask cracked a little as he grinned. It wasn't arrogant, too honest and perhaps even just because of who it came from, it just lacked capacity to be condescending.]

You should already know me too well to have to ask that.

[When she pushed, he gave a little -still knowing better than to trust a direct contest of strength when she was on the offensive like that. At least he gave enough to avoid her locking him and allowing him the chance get close again.

Even though it was a skill that he had himself, he honestly never quite understood how Reversal allowed him to move the way it did. How even on an unstable train of Keyblades like this, he even seemed to slide on the air itself to move into position behind her. It was a position from which he took a swing to try and knock her off the wave again. And if he got lucky, well of course he'd dive off to pursue.]

[Perhaps she had. At one point. No, she still did. Somehow, she did. It wasn't even really something she pondered upon. It just was. And maybe she wouldn't have even bothered with those words, how something in them rang. Just a little. But the way he smiled at her like that. The way the anger had faded from it, that familiar warmth overtaking instead. A smile she knew too well- Too well. It was enough to push her off her game. To just think for a blink of time.

And then he was right behind her and she could only look over her shoulder before she was being cracked right across the back. She cried out this time, a shout of surprise and perhaps of pain, because she hadn't anticipated it, hadn't put herself to the ready to tolerate it. She fell from the wave of keyblades as, masterless, they whirled off and away, returning to whence they came. And in the meantime, she was making to quickly stumble to roll onto her back, intent of climbing to her feet as quickly as possible. Growling as she did so.]

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1/2

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Ah good, I can make my own entrance.

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