ercookies | TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

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TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

Arrival

This time, you come out of the water, the Nameless Island's own inherent energy drawing people in. It's like being suspended between realities and abruptly pushed from behind through a rift in dimensions. It may make you sick, or that might be the motion of the ocean, lifting you to the surface and carrying you to shore.

Waterlogged and covered in sand, new arrivals will be greeted by robots who welcome them with towels and bracelet devices. The A5 card is already loaded up. Feel free to explore the Island, though there isn’t much to see. Most of the buildings are abandoned and in dire need of repair, and beyond the city lingers a thick fog that obscures much of the wilderness from view. Wander too far into this fog, and you will find yourself mysteriously looping back to where you began, your memories of what you were doing and how you got there erased.

With that in mind, it may be wise to stake your claim on a rundown apartment, a tent on the beach, or a bed in the "comfortable" new barracks. Your inventory will be found a day later, wrapped up haphazardly and delivered to each person's makeshift home.

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I. Harvest Hunt

As the daylight grows shorter and the muggy heat of the island’s summer gradually shifts to temperate days and chilly nights, Erku’s accessible wilderness explodes with a colorful collection of tempting fruits, fragrant-smelling herbs, and nuts and seeds plumped and ready for harvest. With warnings to beware of monsters, the robots of Erku encourage Islanders to take advantage of the land’s bounty by distributing basic camping supplies to those who are interested in exploring, hunting, and harvesting. They strongly encourage making the journey with a friend! Any surplus foods that Islanders bring home with them can be exchanged for credits with cafeteria robots! Just be careful out there - some of these fruits have strange effects once consumed.

For extra protection out there in the wilds, the robots have fashioned crowns of flowers or foliage to wear on their adventures. The sweet and herbal smells from the crowns will discourage most Erku-native monsters from approaching, they assure - this is ancient knowledge from the planet’s long-gone civilization, so it can’t be wrong!

What the robots don’t know is that the crowns have a deeper, more ritualistic purpose: after a few hours, the scent of flowers or herbs begins to awaken primal instincts within the wearer. Those who are wearing the foliage crowns feel overwhelmed by an urge to hunt, while those who wear the flower crowns delight in every opportunity to tease, outrun, and outwit the hunters. What happens when the chase ends? Well, that depends on the personalities and the chemistry between the hunters and their prey.

While the robots are very insistent on placing crowns atop the heads of any Islander they see, they aren’t stuck on in any way and they are easy to remove, which can prevent or break the hunting trance.

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II. seeds and sap

Of particularly high credit value, the robots explain, is an elusive flower known as the skull sunflower. It appears exactly as one might imagine: at the center of an otherwise innocuous, towering sunflower is the gruesome visage of an open-mouthed skull. Don’t worry, the flowers are harmless! Even if it’s strange how the empty-socketed eyes seem to follow your every move. And why is it that the teeth - which, on closer inspection, are actually the seeds of the flower - only seem to chatter when your back is turned?

Any Islander who can withstand their heebie-jeebies long enough to collect the petals and seeds from the flowers will fetch a handsome reward in credits upon exchange with the robots. Beware the sticky, blood-red sap that seeps from the eyes of each skull, however. Those who absorb too much through their skin will begin to hallucinate, visions of frightening or emotional events from their past dancing in the shadows. One might even mistakenly imagine that another Islander is someone they recognize from their past, someone who meant something to them - no matter whether that person is alive or dead in the present.

The hallucinogenic effects of the sap can last for hours, or they can be shortened by a dip in the public baths.

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III. Tarot

Night comes, and in the darkness, a robot sets up a table by the beach. A solitary candle sits in the center, illuminating a deck of cards. F̶i̴n̵d̸ ̸y̶o̸u̸r̵ ̵f̵o̸r̷t̵u̶n̶e̷?̴

The robot reveals tarot cards and will do a variety of spreads to tell your fortune. Each fortune can be distilled into one central theme, which characters will find pervades their life for the next 24 hours. There is magic afoot: it can be sensed, and perhaps even dispelled, if luck is on your side.

Though most robots on the island show a capacity for greater-than-average artificial intelligence, this pseudo-psychic 'bot -- M.S. Cl30 -- is less advanced. It only has six interpretations prepared:

Always watch your back. - Characters will be compelled to walk, or even speak, backwards for the duration of the day. Those who mishear it as "wash your back" may spend longer in the shower than usual.
Fake it til you make it. - Characters will feel compelled to act performatively. They will more readily fall into acts for serious or flirtatious roleplay, or try on costumes that reflect a particular persona they're interested in exploring. Faked orgasms will seem quite realistic.
You will receive an affectionate letter from a friend. - Just as it is said, someone will be compelled to engage in correspondence - and whether it turns dirty or not, well, that's up to you! Characters may also quite literally receive an article of clothing with a red letter sewn on the top. What could it stand for?
Hold on tight. - Characters who are given this life advice will start to feel rather clingy. They'll attach themselves to someone's side and refuse to leave, or they may find a "security blanket" item and won't let it go.
You are a generous, giving person. - Characters will feel compelled to do something kind for someone else. Maybe they'll invite someone to the movies, come over and cook, or do that thing their partner is always asking for.
Don't think. Feel. - Even if they weren't before, characters temporarily experience impulsive and hot-headed urges. They will also become very tactile.

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N A V I G A T I O N

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_{[ Baths and music were among his list of things to use to cope, so yes, he thinks his is an excellent idea. Even better.. he thinks it's an excellent idea to bathe with his lover. Ghost or not. Hallucinated person or not. Manifested into something real or not. He doesn't know, but generally, Klaus doesn't quite know what's going on and he's become quite proficient at just winging whatever life throws at him.

Peter might want to reconsider fixing Klaus just yet. He seems absolutely giddy at this idea and touches his fingers right under Peter's lower lip. ]}

Who wouldn't want to take a bath with you?

_{[ All too eager, he stands to his feet too quickly and teeters slightly, but steadies his hands on any part of Peter he can.
... well, it seems whatever he's visualizing isn't as bad as it first was, but logically thinking, it is probably better we get him back into a sober mind. ]}

I'll even let you scrub me down.

_{[ Easy there. ]}

[ He will take a flirty Klaus over one having a breakdown any time. Flirty, Peter can do, can deal with. He doesn't want to lead on Klaus too much, however, it wouldn't be fair for the guy. He's just trying to help, the man is in no state of mind to make informed decisions and Peter isn't that kind of a bastard. Klaus is also very close now and caressing his lip, prompting Peter to let out a small, soft laugh. ]

You'd be surprised how many people wouldn't like that. But... [ Peter wraps an arm around his waist to steady him, then places the Zune in one of Klaus's pockets. That way he can keep listening to the music as they walk. ] ...now come on, pretty eyes, time to get you wet. Oh that sounded better in my head...

[ So bold, Klaus. That gets a louder laugh out of Peter. ]

Promises, promises. [ He doesn't walk too fast, keeping an eye on Klaus to catch him if he falls. He's not all sure that walking is among the brunette's actual capacities ].

In more ways than just one, I hope.

_{[ Peter, you have to be careful with what you say around this guy. The sad part is he would probably say it to Peter even if he wasn't thinking he was his deceased lover, but with that confusion, it just makes it even worse.

Klaus trails alongside Peter and allows his waist to be held, sliding his own arm around Peter as he listens to the music, his expression seeming calm and almost daydreamy at this rate. As they walk, he speaks softly: ]}

Even now, you're taking so good care of me, Dave. I..

_{[ He knows in the back of his mind this may not be who he wants it to be, but he doesn't want to say something strange or offensive. Klaus says something that insinuates he might be clued in on what this mirage is and isn't. ]}

I don't want you to leave me again, but I understand you might.. just stay with me as long as you can.
I missed you so much.

The day is long, we will see. If I tell you now what we will be up to, that will ruin the surprise.

[ Peter is worried about saying the wrong thing and triggers some bad memory by accident again so he can only be vague in his replies. So far so good, Klaus looks less stressed even if there's still an aura of sadness clinging to him, one that Peter can relate all too well. Dave, uh? At least now he got the name clearly. ]

Trust me when I tell you that leaving is the last thing I would want to do.

[ The emotion in his voice is genuine. Peter too has lost someone very close to his heart recently and he is in no way over it. He's still processing the loss of Gamora and what happened with Thanos so he's probably not the most suited to try and cheer up someone who's also missing their better half. The bathhouse is visible in the distance, only a few minutes more and they will get there. Now, how to keep Klaus from spiraling into a traumatic episode again? ]

Why don't you tell me what you liked the most about us being together? Your favorite moments.

_{[ Klaus laughs again at that. Peter is doing a magnificent job masquerading as Dave even though he's never met the guy. He settles his head on Peter's shoulder again, any lingering noises of war and death becoming more and more distant as the music plays and Peter's voice hits his ears.

The next question just makes him close his eyes and let out a deep exhale. ]}

All of the moments, really. You give me.. so much more purpose than I ever thought I could ever be to anyone. I can't just pinpoint specific instances, Dave-id. God.

_{[ He dips over so kiss Peter along the slope of his neck. It's brief and chaste. ]}

But.. when we first kissed at the disco.. I think that was a great moment. You felt so warm and kind.. something I never felt from anyone else. And you're just so.. beautiful.

I knew my life would change in that instant, but I was ready for it to change.. so I think that was the best moment. Probably the best moment of my life.

[ Peter has a lot of experience both bullshitting his way out of difficult situations and smooth-talking people. He feels rather bad for what is going on, however, because it's only going to hurt Klaus more once he's back to normal. Unfortunately, there's nothing Peter can do but play along.

He leads them through he bathhouse's door as Klaus talks, walking past curious looking robots and other citizens, his own heart feeling heavy now. Maybe it was a bad idea to ask, he just wanted to keep Klaus thinking of positive memories but it feels like intruding in his life. Peter knows how it is to love someone more than your own life and how soul-crushing it feels to lose them all of sudden. He squeezes Klaus' waist for a moment when the man kisses his neck and then takes a deep breath. ]

That's...that's really sweet, Klaus. [ Peter's voice wavers a little at the end and he tries to stop his mind to wander to his own moments shared with Gamora but it's a lost battle: Their almost first kiss on that balcony of Knowhere, all the times he managed to convince her to dance even for a little while, and the kisses they eventually shared too. It makes his throat feel tight and his eyes sting. ]

Moments like that are unique. When you are certain you finally found someone who wants to stay by your side no matter how many terrible jokes you make or how screwed up everything about your past life turns out to be. I wish we had had more moments like that too.

_{[ Klaus isn't the smartest in his dysfunctional family, arguably the one with the least amount of brain cell, but he could tell when someone was upset or sad. He clicks his tongue and stops, steadying his hands on Peter's shoulders and rubbing in comforting way. Klaus takes his own shaky breath too. ]}

You never judged me for that.. how messed up I am. You're too perfect for me and you shouldn't be with me, but you wanted to be.

_{[ He arms his arms around Peter, giving him a nice, warm hug. ]}

I don't know what's happening to me right now, but you feel so real, so I just want to take it in so much right now.. cause I just know it won't last forever, and I'll be alone and pathetic again.

_{[ A beat, and then: ]}

You never should have enlisted.

[ It's true that Peter doesn't know the rest of Klaus' family but he is already displaying a lot of emotional intelligence in his opinion. The Ravagers used to mock him for being so emotional, so human, and no matter how much Yondu complained about it, he could never kick the habit out of Peter - and he had tried to do so literally. He appreciates Klaus comforting him and makes a small sound from the back of his throat, half a hum- half a sob before he catches himself. He needs to get his shit together if he wants to help the other man too. ]

No one's perfect, Klaus. But those we love make up be better, try harder.

[ The hug takes him off guard but after blinking, a couple of time Peter is wrapping his arms around Klaus properly and returning the gesture. Strangers hugging him usually get met with confusion or a bit of annoyance yet it feels nice now. Klaus and he are hurting because of the same reason. Peter knows he's going to feel awful the moment he gets Klaus to come back to his senses but they both need this now. ]

'You never should have enlisted.'

[ Oh, that explains a lot. It's another piece of information that Peter memorizes but he doesn't, can't, say anything to Klaus about. The Guardian doesn't know what to say about it, instead he rubs the small of his back to return the comforting gesture and lets him keep the hug for as long as Klaus wants to. It's only until a few minutes has passed that Peter squeezes his bicep. ]

A bath will make you feel better.

_{[ Klaus remains embraced up until Peter invites him to bathe and he smiles. Something was suspicious about the Dave he was talking to, but it didn’t matter. He wanted to live in this happiness as much as he could.

Klaus steps back, removing the Zune from his attire and.. his attire goes along with it, peeling off his shirt to reveal his lithe body, covered in the tattoos that he was fond of and the almost completely faded track marks he wasn’t so fond of. He’s careful with putting the items aside before going for his pants. ]}

A bath will make you feel better too.

_{[ His tone is firm— as if demanding. ]}

[ Peter grabs the Zune as soon as Klaus doesn't need it anymore and safely pockets it. It's the only thing he owns Peter will really regret losing and he doesn't want the water to damage it. He helps Klaus with the clothes just in case the other man isn't yet fully steady on his feet. As more skin is revealed, his eyes fall on the exposed tattoos, appreciating the patterns and making no comment on the faded marks and scars. He's got some of his own as well and he's seen plenty of those on other people too.

The Guardian had planned to let Klaus wash himself and only staying near in case the other man wanted to talk more. Klaus' tone makes it clear that such an idea isn't good enough. ]

I suppose I can make sure you don't drown. What a loss that would be. [ Peter's tone, in return, it's teasing and friendly. His only worry is that he has no idea how Dave looked like and maybe if he sheds his clothes Klaus's illusion will finally be broken.

With no real other option, Peter undresses to his underwear and waits for Klaus to be ready, then hold his hand to lead him into the steaming waters. They're still stained with red sap streaks and it's the first thing Peter wants to get rid of, so he starts to rinse them and by extension, massaging Klaus' hand. ]

I know this probably doesn't make any sense now but...I want you to know it's okay. Everything that happened today, with us, it's fine.

_{[ Peter may be a bit modest with just how much he strips down to, but Klaus is shameless, especially with someone who is supposed to be his lover. There's also the fact he wasn't wearing any undergarments? Not today, at least. So once the pants are gone, he's completely exposed. You're welcome, Peter.

Sadly enough, Peter simply showing more skin doesn't deter his visual. Not yet, at least. Not until he can properly soak and bathe. ]}

Not really. I could at least be with you.

_{[ Awful he might have entertained the idea before. But, for being someone who was supposedly an expert on the dead, Klaus wasn't sure what would happen if he ever came to that route. It seemed like God didn't want him in heaven, so would he just end up in that other place? Or would he have an opportunity to reject that light and be a wandering spirit where he could be reunited with Dave again? Something specific did keep him going.

Sorry. He hadn't meant to take a joke to such a dark turn, but Klaus was flippant that way. Sometimes he barely knew how.. not okay things that came out of his mouth were.

The more Peter talks and pretends to be Dave, the more Klaus is believing it could be him. The look in his eyes as Peter talks looks absolutely lovestruck. He even lets out a pretty dreamy sigh. ]}

I just love you so much. You just make everything so much better, especially when you talk like that.

_{[ His eyes drop down to his hands, distracted by this moment to really focus on anything else. He closes what little distance there is between them, allowing their bodies to mesh together. ]}

You're going to kiss me, right?
_{[ HMMMMM. ]}

[ No one who's ever talked to Peter for five minutes would call him shy but he does show a modicum of decorum when dealing with someone who is intoxicated and not in their right might. He keeps his eyes trained from Klaus's chest up to his face to give him privacy even if the other man doesn't have any issue looking at him all over. Who knows what Klaus is seeing, anyway, Peter knows he would be just as shameless if the situation were reversed and he thought he was with his partner

The implications of Klaus' words make an unpleasant feeling run cold up Peter's spine and not even the hot water makes him feel any better. It's a familiar, dark idea, a fleeting thought that might have crossed his mind too when he was younger and feeling lost. When he was too human for space but too alien for Earth, when the people he loved were too far away from him or no longer alive. ]

That's never the solution, Klaus. Never. [ He shakes his head, lips pressed into a tight line, his sad eyes cast downward. Strong hands give Klaus another squeeze, feeling at a loss both at the suicide ideation and the following love confession. Things are getting out of control and he just knows they will get worse. Because when has Peter's life been easy? He just screws things up further when he tries to help.

Klaus's presence moving closer, chest pressing together, gets Peter out of his own mind. He lets Klaus do as he pleases, frozen in place. ]

I'm not sure if it's a good idea. The...uh, the robots might see us.

_{[ He listens to Peter's response, which again, is incredibly Dave-like, watching the other man work on his wiry hands to scrub them clean. Somewhere in his head, he's not sure why he's no intent on cleaning the sap off of his skin, but he lets Peter do his thing, a sad but genuine smile fixed on his face. He makes no comment on what the other man says in regards to his dark thoughts.

One of his hands lift, pressing a finger to Peter's lips. ]}

Shhhhshsh.. sh. Look, that's always the think about you. You're so.. modest.. and sometimes shy. You have so much self control. And I don't. I don't. I'm a selfish prick, and I'm going to keep acting like one.

_{[ His hands steady on Peter's chest, again, particularly over where his lover's fatal wound would be. He dips down to press a kiss there, brief and tender, before bringing their lips together and kissing Peter. This kiss is a lot less innocent as you'd expect from someone like Klaus who had fallen in deep love with someone else. It's a fervent and eager, filled with passion. He's not behaved enough or be in his right frame of mind; to him, he's kissing someone he's madly in love with and has missed terribly.

Depending on how long Peter allows this to happen, he'll even use his tongue, hands wandering over the curves of the other man's arms. ]}

[ If Peter has had the chance to meet Dave, he probably would have liked the guy too. Klaus's opinion f him is colored by his feelings, of course, but Dave does sound like a genuinely nice person. Unlike Peter, who's has a list of flaws longer than his arm. Modest, shy, and with self-control are not among his very few qualities.

He doesn't get a word in, not when Klaus starts climbing over him once he's done praising him. Talk about being passionate. Peter opens his mouth to protest before moving away but doing that ends with Klaus pushing his tongue against his own. Well, crap.

The guy's a very good kisser and any other day Peter would be very on board with what is going on. But Klaus thinks he's his dead lover and Peter isn't jackass enough to take advantage of people who aren't in their right mind. The idea alone makes him disgusted with himself and after a second he turns his head to break the kiss, taking a deep breath. He supposes he should be grateful that Klaus isn't as big as Drax or Thor, a relatively easy to push away once his hand takes a hold of Klaus' shoulders. ]

Klaus I...as nice as this was, we should finish bathing first.

[ He really hopes that the water works their magic soon. Otherwise he's going to find that robot who suggested it and give them a piece of his mind. ]

_{[ The sounds of war and violence are fading fast in his mind, but the thing that is slowly drawing him back to reality is the way that the other man kisses; it’s definitely different than the way a lover would kiss Klaus.

He allows the kiss to be broken, hands raising from the water to scrub his eyes where they’ve become misty again. Klaus blinks a few times, trying to focus on Peter’s face, and although he still sees quite a bit of Dave in the other man, he’s beginning to realize what was happening.

He can’t look at Peter any longer and breaks all contact from him, though remains close to his space. ]}

Yeah, yeah. I know.. I know.

_{[ He brings his hands around and embraces himself, allowing himself to be washed if Peter continues to, though his grimacing as he gradually sobers up. ]}

[ There's concern in Peter's face when Klaus starts to rub at his eyes but also some hope that it might not be a bad sign. It seems like realization is settling in. The robot wasn't very clear about how the water is supposed to help or how long it would take for whatever was affecting Klaus to stop. Peter continues to wash of the man's hands and then the rest, figuring that he might as well make himself useful.

Klaus has curled into himself and Peter doesn't say anything for a little bit or tries to catch his eye. He cups some water in the palm of his hands and cleans the little remains of red sap sticking to the side of Klaus's face and his hair. The Guardian tries his best not to make it awkward and he somehow ends running his fingers through Klaus's hair, massaging the scalp and scratching it lightly. His mother used to do that when he was upset and it helped to calm him down. ]

Ey. Are you okay?

_{[ It's comforting. Comfort that is to very foreign. He's not even certain if Grace did anything like this— if it was in her programming to do anything like this when he wasn't feeling great— but it does get him to look at Peter once more. He rubs his eyes again and shudders, a shaky exhale passing through his lips. ]}

I'm.. yeah. I just..
I knew it was too good to be true.

_{[ He feels a little sick as he recalls and pieces together what exactly just happened. ]}

You.. you don't gotta pretend to be someone else anymore.

_{[ How does he explain this? That he's been trying to conjure Dave here for awhile now? That he was hoping that was what was actually happening and he wasn't just a complete hallucination? He doesn't explain it and instead remains very still, other than cupping some water and splashing his face with it. ]}

Edited 2020-10-03 23:33 (UTC)

[ Peter can be loud, sarcastic, and boisterous but he too knows how to be gentle. It was another thing that Yondu tried really hard to change but Peter takes after his mother in that regard, and he refuses to let that part of her die too. ]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lead you on but I didn't know what else to do.

[ Peter nods at the acknowledgment that he doesn't need to try to keep up with the charade. He's still working on untangling Klaus long hair and offering comfort, that hasn't changed. ]

We can pretend nothing happened if that will make it easier for you.

_{[ Klaus smiles as his eyes focus on the surface of the water and he shakes his head, almost completely sobered up from the incident. ]}

It was nice.. just to dream enough that it felt real, for a moment, so.. thanks.

_{[ He flicks his eyes back up to meet Peter's gaze. ]}

It's also not the first time I've made an idiot of myself in front of someone I just met, so..

_{[ Other people's opinion of himself never really bothered him or constricted him to being who he wanted to be, but he really hopes this first impression doesn't scare Peter away from him.
Anyway. He kind of feels awkward now, so he takes a steady step back from him and proceeds to bathe himself like a normal person. ]}

... any news on what exactly made me trip like that?
_{[ Cause he didn't really catch that part during all the hallucinations. ]}

[ Peter gets it, how daydreaming can be much more comforting than the cruel reality but it only hurt more in the long run. Reality hits you harder and it leaves you feeling twice as empty. ]

The story of my life, trust me. I've made a fool of myself plenty often. It happens.

[ Peter's tone is light, trying to ease the tension. He doesn't think he's very successful given how Klaus moves away from him. Not like he can blame him of course, Peter would feel awkward too if their positions were reversed. ]

The robots mentioned the red sap from the skull flowers, it's toxic. They said the water should make the effects go away. [ Looking around for a moment, Peter ponders their options. Klaus looks more focused now, enough to look obviously uncomfortable. Time to give him an outlet. ] I suppose you'd like to bathe in peace, I should get going.

_{[ Peter is horribly mistaken. He would enjoy the company of another person— especially a handsome rescuer— but he can understand that Peter probably feels a little awkward too. Klaus crouched and sinks down into a deeper part of the water, rinsing his face once more as he tries to remember how exactly he was acting. It’s tough. ]}

You didn’t have to do this... I mean, take me here and be worried about me.

_{[ It’s still a foreign feeling when people outside of his family care about him. ]}

S.. sorry. Sorry again. For, I mean, probably everything.

[ He would stay if Klaus asked him but if the man doesn't say anything, Peter is going to assume he would rather be alone. Miscommunication happens. ]

Don't sweat it. We're lost on an alien planet, we need to look out for each other.

[ Who knows, maybe one day he'll eat the wrong fruit or touch another toxic thing and it will be him tripping balls. Peter hopes someone is nice enough to take care of him if that happens.

He reaches out to give Klaus's shoulder one last squeeze before standing up and moving out of the pool. Time to grab his clothes and find somewhere to change, he can't exactly put them back on with his underwear all wet. But before leaving, he crouches by the pool's edge again. ]

If you need to talk to someone or you just want to listen to some more music, feel free to contact me. It's not a bother.

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TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

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we just breaking out the shirtless icons.... i see.. anyway cw: suicidal thoughts just in case

They fit the occasion ~| And CW, yep

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