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( Hange might be dreading the talk to come, but they wear their uncertainty like a crown. It needs to be done, so it will be.
They're quiet when they enter and decide they don't like the atmosphere, but at the same time, to inject levity into the situation feels strange.
They take a seat, take the cup into their hands, warmth seeping into cold palms. )
Thanks, Levi.
( Right. Where to begin.
They take a sip, and their eye lights up at the taste. They have been preparing their own tea, so a cup made by Levi seems to do wonders instantly. )
This is good ... I suppose we should start, though, before I lose nerve or something. Is there anything you know independent of Erwin while we wait for him?
( They're not sure that the pair would have ever kept secrets like that from one another but they're also uncertain if something has changed them here. Best to be careful here. )
They're quiet when they enter and decide they don't like the atmosphere, but at the same time, to inject levity into the situation feels strange.
They take a seat, take the cup into their hands, warmth seeping into cold palms. )
Thanks, Levi.
( Right. Where to begin.
They take a sip, and their eye lights up at the taste. They have been preparing their own tea, so a cup made by Levi seems to do wonders instantly. )
This is good ... I suppose we should start, though, before I lose nerve or something. Is there anything you know independent of Erwin while we wait for him?
( They're not sure that the pair would have ever kept secrets like that from one another but they're also uncertain if something has changed them here. Best to be careful here. )
Mm.
[ It's a difficult one, to be sure. Levi frowns when he feels how cold their hands are, has the impulse to take them in his own, but they have the mug now, and that'll be better than his hands, and they should drink it to warm the rest of their body anyway...(and he's pleased to see that expression come over them when they take a sip, feeling something ease a little in his chest).
So instead he picks up the blanket from the chair and drops it in their lap before settling next to them on the couch, his own cup in his hands. ]
...no, I don't think so. We both seem to last remember the night before riding out to Shiganshina to finally plug the wall with Eren's armor hardening ability.
[ His jaw tightens a little before continuing. ] I don't know exactly what happens. It seemed like Vaeros decided to drop some hints with his bullshit last month, and a couple other times. They could be lies but...
[ he trails off, brows furrowing as he sinks a little further into the couch. They could be lies, but somehow he knows they aren't.
Levi looks over at Hange, gray eyes lingering on the covering over their face. ]
...four years, you said? [ Somehow it sounds impossibly long. ]
[ It's a difficult one, to be sure. Levi frowns when he feels how cold their hands are, has the impulse to take them in his own, but they have the mug now, and that'll be better than his hands, and they should drink it to warm the rest of their body anyway...(and he's pleased to see that expression come over them when they take a sip, feeling something ease a little in his chest).
So instead he picks up the blanket from the chair and drops it in their lap before settling next to them on the couch, his own cup in his hands. ]
...no, I don't think so. We both seem to last remember the night before riding out to Shiganshina to finally plug the wall with Eren's armor hardening ability.
[ His jaw tightens a little before continuing. ] I don't know exactly what happens. It seemed like Vaeros decided to drop some hints with his bullshit last month, and a couple other times. They could be lies but...
[ he trails off, brows furrowing as he sinks a little further into the couch. They could be lies, but somehow he knows they aren't.
Levi looks over at Hange, gray eyes lingering on the covering over their face. ]
...four years, you said? [ Somehow it sounds impossibly long. ]
Treehouses as permanent living structures were pretty new to him too, but he's spent a lot of time in trees - normally they were one of the safer ways to avoid Titans, if you were in the right area. It just made sense, although they may need to move to something more traditionally on the ground soon.
Levi pulls the basket up, working hand over hand.
"All right." Not entirely true, but more than it had been the month before. He secures the line against the cleat on the railing, then pulls the basket in and retrieves the box before extending a hand to help her up onto the platform. Really, if the basket was large enough, he probably could have just brought her up with it.
"Sorry, it's a pain in the ass. You good?"
Levi pulls the basket up, working hand over hand.
"All right." Not entirely true, but more than it had been the month before. He secures the line against the cleat on the railing, then pulls the basket in and retrieves the box before extending a hand to help her up onto the platform. Really, if the basket was large enough, he probably could have just brought her up with it.
"Sorry, it's a pain in the ass. You good?"
Are lies common as far as what's happened in home worlds? If you've checked with the friends you've made here, maybe it could be found out ...
( They drink a bit deeper this time, notably tense again, though not out of anxiety or anything — just a strange excitement this time. The need to know.
Four years. )
Four years, yes. Felt a lot longer ... Tell me what Vaeros showed you, though.
( They drink a bit deeper this time, notably tense again, though not out of anxiety or anything — just a strange excitement this time. The need to know.
Four years. )
Four years, yes. Felt a lot longer ... Tell me what Vaeros showed you, though.
Not sure. Haven't asked...
[ It seemed pointless, when his gut feeling was that they were right. Of course even that could be wrong - Levi's never claimed to have all of the answers, to be so confident in a hunch. Perhaps it feels right because he can't imagine any other option. ]
...
[ He sinks a little more into the couch, moving his knee so that it rests against Hange's as though by coincidence, and leaves it there. The visions from last month aren't ones he wants to revisit, even if they've already cropped up a handful of times in his dreams since. ]
Last month some people had...ghosts or hallucinations or whatever follow us around. Sometimes it made Erwin look like a moving corpse. Sometimes I saw the bodies of my squad hanging from trees, heard their screams.
Saw you a few times...
[ His gaze shifts to them, shoulders tense in unhappy anticipation. ]
...on fire...
[ It seemed pointless, when his gut feeling was that they were right. Of course even that could be wrong - Levi's never claimed to have all of the answers, to be so confident in a hunch. Perhaps it feels right because he can't imagine any other option. ]
...
[ He sinks a little more into the couch, moving his knee so that it rests against Hange's as though by coincidence, and leaves it there. The visions from last month aren't ones he wants to revisit, even if they've already cropped up a handful of times in his dreams since. ]
Last month some people had...ghosts or hallucinations or whatever follow us around. Sometimes it made Erwin look like a moving corpse. Sometimes I saw the bodies of my squad hanging from trees, heard their screams.
Saw you a few times...
[ His gaze shifts to them, shoulders tense in unhappy anticipation. ]
...on fire...
"Oh no, compared to some trees in Prydain it's not as bad." Eilonwy answers as she reaches out with her dominate hand to take his and pushes up for some added momentum. "Thank you, and I'm fine, yes. That's what the stretching was for."
Once she's on the platform Eilonwy takes a breath and looks around. "It's very different than being on the ground. The air even feels a little different."
Once she's on the platform Eilonwy takes a breath and looks around. "It's very different than being on the ground. The air even feels a little different."
"Good." He can appreciate self sufficient people, but it doesn't stop him from helping.
Levi glances around with her. The sight has become familiar, although the changing season means that the tree tops are mostly bare, now. He misses the cover of the leaves, the sound it makes when the wind blows through. But it'll come back, in time.
"Yeah, it's less stuffy." It reminds him best of being high up while using the gear. It's fresher, clearer.
He gestures. "Come on in. Take your shoes off once you're inside."
There's a mat and small foyer area for shoes, and in one corner are two pairs of tall over-knee boots. One is noticeably shorter than the other, and next to them is a neatly stacked set of strange looking metal boxes with what looks like narrow gas canisters atop them, along with trigger handles and a complicated set of leather harness pieces hanging on a peg on the wall.
Levi steps into a pair of slippers after leaving his loafers at the door, still holding her box, and leads them both to the kitchen.
Levi glances around with her. The sight has become familiar, although the changing season means that the tree tops are mostly bare, now. He misses the cover of the leaves, the sound it makes when the wind blows through. But it'll come back, in time.
"Yeah, it's less stuffy." It reminds him best of being high up while using the gear. It's fresher, clearer.
He gestures. "Come on in. Take your shoes off once you're inside."
There's a mat and small foyer area for shoes, and in one corner are two pairs of tall over-knee boots. One is noticeably shorter than the other, and next to them is a neatly stacked set of strange looking metal boxes with what looks like narrow gas canisters atop them, along with trigger handles and a complicated set of leather harness pieces hanging on a peg on the wall.
Levi steps into a pair of slippers after leaving his loafers at the door, still holding her box, and leads them both to the kitchen.
Edited 2023-12-02 05:29 (UTC)
She nods in agreement. "Yes! That's a good way of phrasing it." Eilonwy follows him, stopping long enough to take off her shoes as instructed. Putting them in the area indicated, she notices the boots, boxes and pieces hung on the wall but doesn't remark on them outside of- "What tall boots."
She steps into another pair of slippers after a moment's hesitation and then falls into step behind Levi, looking around as they go. "Do you like your teas weak or strong?"
She steps into another pair of slippers after a moment's hesitation and then falls into step behind Levi, looking around as they go. "Do you like your teas weak or strong?"
Levi glances at her, his usual resting frown somewhat lightened with a faintly arched brow in what could probably be amusement.
"What do you think?" Him, weak tea? But no - the real answer is that he prefers the perfect medium, the way a tea is supposed to be brewed, neither too weak nor over-steeped.
He reaches for the kettle and starts to fill it from the sink (indoor plumbing, truly wonderful).
"How hot should the water be?"
"What do you think?" Him, weak tea? But no - the real answer is that he prefers the perfect medium, the way a tea is supposed to be brewed, neither too weak nor over-steeped.
He reaches for the kettle and starts to fill it from the sink (indoor plumbing, truly wonderful).
"How hot should the water be?"
Eilonwy considers for a moment. "Not weak, at least." A diplomatic enough answer before the other question reaches her.
"A rolling boil, so about one hundred degrees Celsius. The tea should be brewed for- I'd guess three and a half minutes if you wanted something between the two versions."
"A rolling boil, so about one hundred degrees Celsius. The tea should be brewed for- I'd guess three and a half minutes if you wanted something between the two versions."
( They want to reach out and hold onto his hand, maybe; doubly so, when he continues to say what he saw.
They drink again, but cradle the cup with their hands in their lap decidedly, like they realized they're drinking a bit arbitrarily. Just to fill an anxious void. They breathe in deep.
Man, this sucks. )
Mm. Yes. That's how I went out.
( There's no excitement there, no animated discussion of how, exactly, they bit it.
Just a quiet sort of horror, of understanding how much it must've been to see that when they weren't around. Seeing what became of himself, that could be one thing.
Erwin, beside him for those four-ish months, another thing entirely. )
Did you see the Titans too?
They drink again, but cradle the cup with their hands in their lap decidedly, like they realized they're drinking a bit arbitrarily. Just to fill an anxious void. They breathe in deep.
Man, this sucks. )
Mm. Yes. That's how I went out.
( There's no excitement there, no animated discussion of how, exactly, they bit it.
Just a quiet sort of horror, of understanding how much it must've been to see that when they weren't around. Seeing what became of himself, that could be one thing.
Erwin, beside him for those four-ish months, another thing entirely. )
Did you see the Titans too?
[ Levi, by contrast, hasn't even touched his tea, merely holding it, half forgotten. This isn't at all the sort of conversation he wants to have at all. Ever. But he tries to find some comfort around the miserable feeling that twists in his gut: Hange is alive and here with him now. Right now.
Until Hange confirms it, he realizes that he hadn't fully believed that part of the vision. A grimace takes over his expression. Perhaps without even realizing it, he's leaned a little closer. ]
...oh.
[ His voice feels terribly small as the reality of that sets in. Fuck.
Fuck. Where the fuck had he been? What is all of this strength and power ever good for, in the end? What the fuck has he ever been good for?
Can he not save even a single person he loves?
He shakes his head, trying to stave off the spiral opening like a void in his chest. ]
No...just you. Actually couldn't really see you, just a ball of flame...
[ His jaw works a few times. ] ...-but I could hear you. [ Screaming. ] That's how I knew.
Until Hange confirms it, he realizes that he hadn't fully believed that part of the vision. A grimace takes over his expression. Perhaps without even realizing it, he's leaned a little closer. ]
...oh.
[ His voice feels terribly small as the reality of that sets in. Fuck.
Fuck. Where the fuck had he been? What is all of this strength and power ever good for, in the end? What the fuck has he ever been good for?
Can he not save even a single person he loves?
He shakes his head, trying to stave off the spiral opening like a void in his chest. ]
No...just you. Actually couldn't really see you, just a ball of flame...
[ His jaw works a few times. ] ...-but I could hear you. [ Screaming. ] That's how I knew.
( Deep breath in, deep breath out.
Hange feels their insides sink and twist up. The note, oh, of somber realization. Silence between them feels like it needs to be filled, and yet they can't say anything in the way of lightening the situation.
They wouldn't have wanted anyone to do that for them with their squad, or any of the countless others. Their mountain of corpses deserves to be respected, and Hange supposes they're one of the bodies atop Levi's own.
Even if he never saw it come to pass himself. )
If it makes you feel better, it wasn't really suffering, there was too much to be done at the time. And ... I think I mentioned it before, but it was something I chose to do.
( A pause. )
... Before I continue, that's all? Some sort of vision?
Hange feels their insides sink and twist up. The note, oh, of somber realization. Silence between them feels like it needs to be filled, and yet they can't say anything in the way of lightening the situation.
They wouldn't have wanted anyone to do that for them with their squad, or any of the countless others. Their mountain of corpses deserves to be respected, and Hange supposes they're one of the bodies atop Levi's own.
Even if he never saw it come to pass himself. )
If it makes you feel better, it wasn't really suffering, there was too much to be done at the time. And ... I think I mentioned it before, but it was something I chose to do.
( A pause. )
... Before I continue, that's all? Some sort of vision?
[ It doesn't make him feel better, because in the end, dead is dead. The only pain he's really spared is that he doesn't know how it happens, doesn't know how it will mirror the loss that awaits his more immediate future.
But they're here. Erwin's here. By whatever miracle of this place or this person. Vaeros says that he'll grant wishes after people stay here for however long, and yet he seems to keep just...dropping the only things Levi could ever think to ask for in his lap.
Yet it still fucking hurts. They deserved so much more.
He sighs, takes a halfhearted sip of his tea and leans forward to set it on the table, sick of holding it. Arms fold over his chest, subconsciously curling in on himself. ]
Hallucinations. They...looked real. Sounded real. Most of them were people who're already dead. Except for the two of you.
[ Levi looks back at Hange again then, knee leaning into that contact a little more, as though to remind himself that they are real. ]
...drink your tea.
But they're here. Erwin's here. By whatever miracle of this place or this person. Vaeros says that he'll grant wishes after people stay here for however long, and yet he seems to keep just...dropping the only things Levi could ever think to ask for in his lap.
Yet it still fucking hurts. They deserved so much more.
He sighs, takes a halfhearted sip of his tea and leans forward to set it on the table, sick of holding it. Arms fold over his chest, subconsciously curling in on himself. ]
Hallucinations. They...looked real. Sounded real. Most of them were people who're already dead. Except for the two of you.
[ Levi looks back at Hange again then, knee leaning into that contact a little more, as though to remind himself that they are real. ]
...drink your tea.
Is there tea here for me, too?
[Erwin climbs into the treehouse; he could hear them speaking as he climbed the ladder, and the hushed, somber tones of their voices lets him know that this is something serious and painful. He hoists himself up and stands, slipping off his boots automatically.]
I assume we're talking about the future for Levi and I, yes?
[Erwin climbs into the treehouse; he could hear them speaking as he climbed the ladder, and the hushed, somber tones of their voices lets him know that this is something serious and painful. He hoists himself up and stands, slipping off his boots automatically.]
I assume we're talking about the future for Levi and I, yes?
Oh! Erwin. Yes, how astute of you.
( The tone of their voice lifts, brightens when Erwin makes himself known, but it settles back down again as they continue. )
We've established Levi isn't hiding any secrets as far as things he knows about the future ... And we talked about how I went out.
( There's a deep breath, and a sip of tea again as they're bid. )
... You know, Levi, people would pay for this, I'm sure. If you ran a little tea hour somewhere ... But, mm. Erwin, were you privy to that? Those ... visions?
( The tone of their voice lifts, brightens when Erwin makes himself known, but it settles back down again as they continue. )
We've established Levi isn't hiding any secrets as far as things he knows about the future ... And we talked about how I went out.
( There's a deep breath, and a sip of tea again as they're bid. )
... You know, Levi, people would pay for this, I'm sure. If you ran a little tea hour somewhere ... But, mm. Erwin, were you privy to that? Those ... visions?
[ Levi feels his chest lift a little as Erwin returns. He gives him a lingering, complicated look before swiveling back to Hange.
...A tea house? It's one of those things that has briefly and wildly crossed his mind a very small handful of times, when he so rarely indulged in bothering with what-ifs. He hadn't really considered it here, since there already was one, but that didn't mean he couldn't start up something small, at least to occupy his time for a little while...
...it's a better thought than what Erwin's going to say next, so Levi shifts to stand. He braces one hand on Hange's knee, giving it a little squeeze as he leverages himself up off the couch to go to the kitchen to finish making Erwin's tea.
After a few paces he turns back to watch them both for just a moment, the space of a few heartbeats. This is the sort of familiarity he'd been missing for weeks now. Of course he's mind numbingly happy that Erwin is with him, that they get this time together. He wouldn't trade that for anything. But it hadn't stopped him from missing other people for the comfort of moments like this where they're all together.
He knows now that he'll lose them both. The thought is a thousand daggers in his chest. But here he has them both. And he'll hang onto that for as long as possible.
Levi listens to Erwin's answer from the kitchen, setting the kettle to boil again. It shouldn't take long. ]
...A tea house? It's one of those things that has briefly and wildly crossed his mind a very small handful of times, when he so rarely indulged in bothering with what-ifs. He hadn't really considered it here, since there already was one, but that didn't mean he couldn't start up something small, at least to occupy his time for a little while...
...it's a better thought than what Erwin's going to say next, so Levi shifts to stand. He braces one hand on Hange's knee, giving it a little squeeze as he leverages himself up off the couch to go to the kitchen to finish making Erwin's tea.
After a few paces he turns back to watch them both for just a moment, the space of a few heartbeats. This is the sort of familiarity he'd been missing for weeks now. Of course he's mind numbingly happy that Erwin is with him, that they get this time together. He wouldn't trade that for anything. But it hadn't stopped him from missing other people for the comfort of moments like this where they're all together.
He knows now that he'll lose them both. The thought is a thousand daggers in his chest. But here he has them both. And he'll hang onto that for as long as possible.
Levi listens to Erwin's answer from the kitchen, setting the kettle to boil again. It shouldn't take long. ]
I think so too. We've tried tea and coffee all over this world, and there's never been any tea as fine as what Levi makes.
[Erwin unabashedly steals Levi's chair, settling into it across from Hange. His longer legs get into their space, but he doesn't move them; instead, he hooks one foot behind Hange's ankle, wanting that gentle, constant contact for this conversation. It's clear that this isn't going to be a light-hearted chat about tea houses.]
Not the same ones as Levi, no, and I wasn't as badly affected. But sometimes, when we were touching... [He pauses and looks towards the kitchen, because he wants to know that Levi is still there and hasn't disappeared on him.] I saw scars. Old, healed scars on Levi's face, like something had slashed him there a long time ago.
[Erwin unabashedly steals Levi's chair, settling into it across from Hange. His longer legs get into their space, but he doesn't move them; instead, he hooks one foot behind Hange's ankle, wanting that gentle, constant contact for this conversation. It's clear that this isn't going to be a light-hearted chat about tea houses.]
Not the same ones as Levi, no, and I wasn't as badly affected. But sometimes, when we were touching... [He pauses and looks towards the kitchen, because he wants to know that Levi is still there and hasn't disappeared on him.] I saw scars. Old, healed scars on Levi's face, like something had slashed him there a long time ago.
Does anyone from his world understand temperature or use things like Celsius? No clue, but he understands rolling boil well enough.
"Got it." Kettle filled, it gets put on the stove and the burner switched on. Incredible, this concept of stoves with immediate heat. Levi never wants to go back.
He hesitates a moment, then pulls the package toward him. "Okay if I open this?" She brought it for you, Levi?? But gifts are a strange thing for him, even if she'd already mentioned she'd be making some for him.
"So what've you been up to, lately? Survive last month ok?"
"Got it." Kettle filled, it gets put on the stove and the burner switched on. Incredible, this concept of stoves with immediate heat. Levi never wants to go back.
He hesitates a moment, then pulls the package toward him. "Okay if I open this?" She brought it for you, Levi?? But gifts are a strange thing for him, even if she'd already mentioned she'd be making some for him.
"So what've you been up to, lately? Survive last month ok?"
( Levi being a bit touchy is an interesting development; it's never been something that bothered Hange much, but it does feel a bit unusual in a welcome kind of way. They reach out and touch at his hand as he strides past.
And Erwin, too. )
Scars ... Interesting you'd be shown that. I'm curious about the circumstances in which you'd become privy to these, but ... I can confirm Levi was injured heavily ...
( Fuck, they're glad they don't really know about Zeke as deeply as Levi would come to know him later. He'd be murderous. )
Let me back up, though. I'm sure you're wanting to know about Shiganshina and the mission there.
( They look towards Levi's direction in the kitchen, and then they begin; they detail arriving and getting to the Wall, but right as they get to the part where Armin's authority led to discovering Reiner ... Their storytelling goes from more factual to a little more invested and emotional. )
It ... Hmm. You could really feel the tension. I don't think there are words for it. It became a siege of all things. Pretty quickly. The Beast titan revealed himself.
And Erwin, too. )
Scars ... Interesting you'd be shown that. I'm curious about the circumstances in which you'd become privy to these, but ... I can confirm Levi was injured heavily ...
( Fuck, they're glad they don't really know about Zeke as deeply as Levi would come to know him later. He'd be murderous. )
Let me back up, though. I'm sure you're wanting to know about Shiganshina and the mission there.
( They look towards Levi's direction in the kitchen, and then they begin; they detail arriving and getting to the Wall, but right as they get to the part where Armin's authority led to discovering Reiner ... Their storytelling goes from more factual to a little more invested and emotional. )
It ... Hmm. You could really feel the tension. I don't think there are words for it. It became a siege of all things. Pretty quickly. The Beast titan revealed himself.
[ His fingers curled briefly against theirs in response, lingering until out of reach and wanting to hold on. It's not been unheard of him touching others in the past, but rarely casually, and almost never as a way to convey his own need for comfort (because he's never known how to ask for it, having gone most of his life without anyone to even ask it from, not since his mother died, and only Farlan and Isabel had been able to break through some of that barrier, and then they were gone, too).
It's easier now, after the last few months spent curled up with Erwin at almost any chance he gets.
Heavily injured. A feeing twists in his stomach, fingers curling against the counter. So not just his face, something even more devastating. Whatever it is...was...he fucked up -- will fuck up -- badly. And then what? What use is he, if he can't fight?
...is that why...Hange...
Levi doesn't make any response from the kitchen, listening quietly as Hange begins to explain about the mission, pours water into the waiting cup he'd already prepared once it's boiling and waits for it to steep the proper amount of time. Adds cream. Adds a little bit of sugar (just enough for flavor, but probably not as much as what Erwin has been dumping into his coffee lately, because Levi absolutely won't let tea be desecrated in that way), and then carefully walks back to Erwin. He touches his shoulder briefly as he hands over the cup. ]
...so three at once. The brats and whoever that creep is.
[ He folds himself back onto the couch next to Hange, leaving the slippers on the floor to tuck his legs up onto the seat, turned toward them. It's not that hard to piece together some of the rest with a handful of clues. Siege. Nearly the whole regiment lost. Erwin dead. Hange injured. It's strange to hear the outcome of something they haven't yet experienced.
His arms cross over his chest, shoulders tight. ]
...So how did we get out of it?
It's easier now, after the last few months spent curled up with Erwin at almost any chance he gets.
Heavily injured. A feeing twists in his stomach, fingers curling against the counter. So not just his face, something even more devastating. Whatever it is...was...he fucked up -- will fuck up -- badly. And then what? What use is he, if he can't fight?
...is that why...Hange...
Levi doesn't make any response from the kitchen, listening quietly as Hange begins to explain about the mission, pours water into the waiting cup he'd already prepared once it's boiling and waits for it to steep the proper amount of time. Adds cream. Adds a little bit of sugar (just enough for flavor, but probably not as much as what Erwin has been dumping into his coffee lately, because Levi absolutely won't let tea be desecrated in that way), and then carefully walks back to Erwin. He touches his shoulder briefly as he hands over the cup. ]
...so three at once. The brats and whoever that creep is.
[ He folds himself back onto the couch next to Hange, leaving the slippers on the floor to tuck his legs up onto the seat, turned toward them. It's not that hard to piece together some of the rest with a handful of clues. Siege. Nearly the whole regiment lost. Erwin dead. Hange injured. It's strange to hear the outcome of something they haven't yet experienced.
His arms cross over his chest, shoulders tight. ]
...So how did we get out of it?
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