Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 4, 2010 15:13:30 GMT -5
Conall nodded, watching Aimhirghin and, not for the first time, feeling quite guilty at the sight of his obvious pain and wounded pride. He was glad the Sidhe was able to stand again unaided.
"'Tis the least I can do, my lord. Debt or no debt," he said softly. "Ye were wounded because of my carelessness, after all. This would not have happened had I been more wary."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 4, 2010 16:43:33 GMT -5
"Thou are as if a child, it is not too surprising. But yes, be far more wary. Next time thou might not be so lucky," he said softly, then left, disappearing into the shadows even in the daylight.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 4, 2010 18:29:57 GMT -5
- - -
Somehow it didn’t seem like two years had passed already. Conall had seen the seasons changing, had withstood the wind and the rain and the snow, but had not felt the time passing. The sun and the moon circled endlessly overhead, giving order to his life (such as it was). He much preferred the cool of the night and the glow of the moon to the heat of the day and the glare of the sun, and so he walked about at night and slept the days away.
He had moved on from the Fae’s wood long ago, journeying west and northward from his old home. He had built himself a small but hospitable cottage, furnished with what little he had acquired over the long months -- tools and necessities fashioned from the bones and organs of the deer and other animals he lived on, a bed and chairs softened by their sewn pelts. (He had taken to dressing the meat and delivering it anonymously to the houses of those few who lived nearest to him, mostly shepherds who grazed their flocks on the fields. This was sometimes done in penance, if he should lose control of his thirst and take the life of one of their sheep.) It was humble, but it was home. Most importantly, it was far from human dwellings -- at least as far as was necessary to avoid temptation.
He sat silently by an east-facing window, looking out at the fields that stretched out beyond his home. The stormy grey hue of the sky reminded him of Aimhirghin, the Sidhe he had met all those months before. He had neither seen nor heard from Aimhirghin since those first few days in the wood; Conall wondered absently how the Fae was faring these days. He had promised to keep an eye on Conall’s sons… and Conall’s heart ached with sorrow at that very thought, however comforting it had seemed at first. He had no way of knowing if either of his sons were well, or even alive. He prayed that they had not followed their mother into death’s oblivion.
A soft, sweet sound drifted toward him, carried on the wind blowing in through the window. Conall sat up a little, leaning out the window, listening. Someone was playing bagpipes. He knew the tune, and smiled at the distant familiarity of it. Who could the piper be? Standing, Conall pulled his cloak down from a rack made from a stag’s antler fastened to the wall, clasped it about his shoulders and stepped out into the grey afternoon.
He spotted two figures at a distance, seated together on a grassy hill: a young man and woman. The man was playing the pipes while his companion listened contentedly at his side, occasionally playing with his curly red hair, smiling sweetly at him. Conall came slowly closer, his eyes widening in surprise. That was his son -- Caradoc! A shout of joy tried to leap onto Conall’s tongue, but he strangled it quickly, staying silent as he crept closer, unnoticed.
Caradoc did not look well; his face was pale and waxy, and his eyes were hollow, but the music he played was passionate and joyful. Conall watched and listened, confused, as the young woman leaned over and nuzzled Caradoc’s neck, kissing it gently. Caradoc shivered a little, not missing a note on his pipes, though his eyes drooped shut and his head lowered a little as he finished his song. The woman rose smoothly to her feet, offering her hand to Caradoc, who took and let her pull him to his feet. He swayed a little as he stood, and Conall winced in silent dread. What illness had befallen his son? He wasn’t coughing; he was still playing the pipes as well as ever, but he was so sickly…
As the two walked away in the direction of the nearest village, Conall followed them at a distance, hoping to stay unnoticed. Whatever had happened or was happening to his son, he intended to find out. Why was he here with this strange woman for company, and not Eòran or Lùthais?
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 4, 2010 18:46:52 GMT -5
The woman supported Caradoc as they traveled, occasionally ruffling his hair or just cuddling close. She seemed to truly care about her young man, taking care that he was not harmed as they traveled. They reached the village as the sun set, and she led Caradoc to a small inn, getting them a small room together.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 4, 2010 19:21:12 GMT -5
Conall followed swiftly and silently after the couple, growing more and more concerned with every minute that passed. Under any other circumstances he would have avoided the village, but this was of great concern to him. He needed to know why his son was not well, and who was this strange woman he was with.
He passed the village guard without trouble, but drew many curious looks from the village folk he passed. His height no doubt made him stand out more than he would have liked. At least no one here would recognize him from his old life. He kept his eyes on his son, watching in dismay as he and his companion disappeared into an inn.
Conall dug in a pocket of his leine, sighing at the realization that he had no money to buy his way into the inn. He circled the building warily, looking in windows, trying to catch glimpses of his son and his companion in the light from the windows. Spotting them in a room on the upper floor -- kissing quite passionately -- he realized that there was only one way to reach them.
He moved up to the wall, gripping the rough stone and starting to climb, using the gaps between bricks as finger- and toeholds. He reached their window quickly, gripping the sill and looking into the room.
- - -
Caradoc moaned softly as the woman seized his mouth with her own and wrapped her arms tightly around him. They stepped toward the bed, where Caradoc lay down on his back, and the woman crawled on top of him, pinning him to the bed. She attacked his neck with her lips, kissing it, sucking it. He moaned again, closing his eyes, feeling the strength draining from his limbs.
"I'm already worn out, and we haven't even begun," he panted weakly. He shifted underneath her, frowning. "I can't breathe..."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 4, 2010 19:33:31 GMT -5
She backed away a little, petting his forehead. "Then sleep," she said soothingly, patting his cheek lightly. She kissed his forehead, this time just a kiss, and brushed his hair out of his face. She put her head on his chest, sighing slightly. She did love him, even if she wasn't being... gentle on him.
"I'll keep watch for thee, my dear. Just sleep," she soothed again.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 4, 2010 19:47:23 GMT -5
Caradoc nodded, smiling and blinking a few times before letting his eyes close again. His head fell limply to one side as sleep overtook him.
- - -
Conall watched in horrified fascination as his son was seduced by the stranger, growing slowly weaker every time she kissed him. Suddenly he realized that his son's lover was not human at all -- she was a liannan sith, and she was slowly killing him.
Tensing in horror, Conall sprang up and forced the window open, leaping into the room. He spotted an iron poker next to the fire and lunged to snatch it up, being careful to guard his hand with his sleeve. Holding the poker out before him like a sword, he rounded on the seductress with a snarl, baring his fangs. "Leave him be!"
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 1:05:27 GMT -5
She stood quickly, moving between Conall and Caradoc with a deep-throated growl, "What are thou and what does thee care? He is mine."
She looked back at the sleeping man tenderly, then rounded on the interloper with a snarl, glaring at him and the iron poker in his hand. There had to be some way to get around that... Grabbing her cloak, she threw it around the poker and twisted the iron out of his hand. She lunged at him, throwing him against the wall. "And you can't have him."
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 1:19:29 GMT -5
Hitting the wall hard and crumpling to the floor, Conall lunged to snatch up the poker again, then scrambled to his feet, speaking to the liannan sith again. "I am the fuil-sumair, and I care for this man because he is my son. I command ye to leave him be and find some other to inspire and slay."
He kept a firm grasp on the poker, baring his fangs again as he rounded on Caradoc's lover again. The blood of the Fae held no temptation for the beast within him, but the man without him was not opposed to shedding it. He would kill, if he had to, to save his son from this creature.
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 2:10:13 GMT -5
The liannan sìth moved immediately to protect Caradoc, her lips drawn back though she did not have fangs like the intruder. "You are not his father. His father is dead, and I do not intend for him to join him. That is precisely why we are here. Fuil-sumair, go now or face my wrath. Caradoc is mine, and I will not give him up lightly."
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 2:18:14 GMT -5
Conall snarled, tightening his hold on the poker. "I will not go. I am his father. The Goddess Morrighan brought me back from the brink of death; I am neither dead nor alive, but cursed to walk in darkness and drink the blood of the living. Ye should be thankful that I have drunk my fill tonight, and that the blood of the Sidhe does not tempt me, else I would have a taste of thine."
He moved quickly, pointing the poker at the throat of the liannan sìth, its tip almost touching her skin. "Leave this place, and leave my son to me, and I will not harm ye."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 3:04:18 GMT -5
She jerked back slightly, knocking it away with her sleeved arm. "And how would thee know that the blood of the Sidhe is not of thy interest?"
She leapt at him, keeping the iron away and knocking the one who called himself Caradoc's father... Conall... This was not Conall. It might be another Fae, trying to take Caradoc from her. "I will not let thou take him. I love him!"
She twisted the iron from his hand again, hissing in pain as it touched her skin and throwing it away quickly. Her hand forming a fist, she swung at the man who claimed to be Conall, aiming for his jaw, then his solar plexus. Dead or not, mortal or not, he'd have to react to that.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 10:00:01 GMT -5
Conall moved his head back quickly to avoid the blow to his jaw, but the blow to his chest caught him hard. He bent double, gasping; then his own hand shot out and gripped the liannan sìth by the throat. He straightened up, getting his breath back as he cut off her own.
"I could drain ye dry if I wished," he snarled into her face. "I've never tasted the blood of a Fae, though I've had many chances to. I care not whether ye love my son or not -- I will not let ye hold sway over him any longer! First and foremost he is mine, the child of my flesh and of my soul."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 12:02:03 GMT -5
She kicked out, her hands keeping him from strangling her. Her foot connected with his chest again, and the other reached up to catch his throat. "He knows what I am, and we are here to find another," she struggled, then dug her nails into his hand and pulled it free.
Dropping to her feet, she snarled and lunged at him, her nails held like claws to gouge his eyes or face. She tried to force him back, out of the room to avoid waking Caradoc.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 12:25:12 GMT -5
Conall flung up his arms to protect his face from her clawing fingernails, standing firm. He would not let himself be forced away from his son. "Then why continue to have yer way with my son, if ye're so eager to find another man? Why not leave Caradoc with what strength he has left, if ye love him so?"
He shot a glance toward his son, who still lay pale and sickly in the bed. At least he was still breathing, Conall noted by the rise and fall of his chest. Looking back at the liannan sìth, he bared his fangs in a snarl. "Answer me and I may let ye free to seek another mate, if ye let my son be."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 14:47:46 GMT -5
"I have my own life to protect as well," she snarled. Her eyes darted toward the door and she moved toward it quickly, as though to make a break for it. Then she spun and grabbed the poker with her cloak, wrapped around it with the point still visible.
Leaping toward the intruder, she wrapped her free arm around his neck and kissed him, pulling the energy from him more swiftly than she had Caradoc. He'd been with her for a few months... but this was self-defense, not merely for survival.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 14:53:21 GMT -5
Conall lunged to stop the liannan sìth as she snatched up the poker from the floor; then he staggered a little as she pulled him into her embrace, seizing his mouth with hers. He fought hard against her, trying to at least turn his head and stop the kiss, but he could feel the energy draining swiftly from his limbs, and his struggles grew weaker.
His knees buckled, and he would have fallen were she not holding him. He cringed, almost able to hear Aimhirghin's voice in his head: Thou art a fool, Conall. Thou should have been more wary.
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 15:03:56 GMT -5
She let him hit the ground, still kissing him. Pulling back for a moment and letting him fall completely, she drove the poker through his stomach, pinning him to the floor with the iron weapon. Curling her lip at the putrid smell of his blood, she checked on Caradoc carefully. Glaring at the man she had trapped, she shook Caradoc awake enough to walk.
"Come with me... we are no longer safe here," she said softly, wrapping his arm over her shoulder as she pulled him carefully out of the room. She didn't let him look at the man on the floor, closing the door behind them quickly before Caradoc could look back.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 15:16:31 GMT -5
Conall shuddered as the liannan sìth lowered him to the floor; then he gave a strangled cry as he felt the poker plunge through his stomach, scorching the flesh as it pierced it. The sound that emerged from his throat was weak and pathetic. He gasped, trying to breathe through the red haze of agony clouding his mind. He lay on his back, the poker protruding from his stomach and sticking deep into the floor; he could not summon the energy to try to reach it, much less to pull it out.
He heard the liannan sìth step away from him and speak to Caradoc, but could not see what was going on. He could only watch as she led him carefully out of the room, supporting him as he walked, not letting him look around and see the man who lay pinned to the floor. His last glimpse of his son was of his back, just before the door swung shut behind them.
No one even knew he was here... Conall sucked in an agonizing breath, lifting his head with the dregs of his energy and lifting his voice in a feeble shout. "Help!"
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 15:23:03 GMT -5
Korlian ran across the liannan sìth and Caradoc as they left the inn. He paused, surprised to find her and him together, let alone so far from their usual haunts. Caradoc looked ill... but there was little Korlian could do about that. "Saraid... Well me-"
He sniffed, wrinkling his nose and then gasping. He knew that smell, and he could hear a soft cry from within the inn. His glamour hid his true nature from the two, though knowing her name had established his identity to the liannan sìth. Glancing at the two of them, he bolted upstairs and growled. "Can thee not avoid trouble at ALL?!" he examined in frustration.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 15:33:00 GMT -5
Conall heard footsteps hurrying up the stairs, and the door burst open as someone came quickly into the room. He lifted his head again, looking up into the exasperated face of Aimhirghin. He tried to draw sufficient breath to speak, his words coming with a great effort. "Ap-parently... not."
He could feel the blood pooling underneath him, making his clothing stick to him and to the floor. The smell of it was thick in his nostrils. He looked at Aimhirghin, drawing another deep breath and speaking haltingly again. "I need to... find my son... Caradoc. Please... free me?" he asked, his eyes urgent, pleading.
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 15:37:46 GMT -5
"Thy son is fine... thyself on the other hand..." he shook his head, walking toward the man on the floor and taking in what had happened. Sighing, he found the cloak that had fallen when Saraid had pinned Conall, and wrapped it again around the handle. Shifting his shoulders, he prepared to pull it out and paused.
"How stupid art thou planning on being once I free thee?" he asked softly.
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 15:44:14 GMT -5
Conall made a noise that might have been a laugh or a sound of derision. "That depends... Where... is Caradoc? He... his lover is... a liannan sìth. I need to know... he will be well." He grunted softly in pain, trying to breathe. "And Eòran... Lùthais... are they well?"
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Feb 5, 2010 15:50:38 GMT -5
"They are fine. Caradoc escaped my guard and I was looking for him... as I went about my own life. Eòran and Lùthais are still home, safe and well. Saraid will take care of Caradoc, I've never seen her so careful with one of her lovers. But if thou plans on running, I will not free thee until I have thy word that thy own life is important to thee. I know where Caradoc is, I will insure his survival."
He looked at Conall, tilting his head to the side. Saraid had really done a number on the man; he was in no shape to hunt the liannan sìth on his own. Taking hold of the poker again, he pulled it out swiftly at a straight angle, causing no more damage than the iron had already. Kneeling, he put a hand on Conall's chest to keep him down. "Stay down."
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Conall
Ireth
Ding dong, the witch is dead~
"Please do as I say, or I'll rip your throat out. How does that sound?"
Posts: 576
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Post by Conall on Feb 5, 2010 16:04:56 GMT -5
Conall nodded at the mention of his own life's importance, coughing a little. Lesson learned. "Aye... I give ye... my word."
He clenched his teeth against the pain as Aimhirghin pulled the poker out of his body, then glanced curiously at the Sidhe's hand on his chest. Stay down? Hah. He could hardly have moved if he had wanted to. Conall lay as still as he could, concentrating on breathing and ignoring the pain he was in. But there was something else he needed to say.
"Thank... you," he managed, looking up into Aimhirghin's stormy grey eyes.
His voice was sincere; he knew that Aimhirghin could just as easily have left him there unheeded, never mind his plea. But he had not, and that struck Conall as intriguing. What made Aimhirghin so interested in him, that he would watch over Conall's family and come to his aid even when the debt between them was long ago settled?
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