Gabriel hadn't been expecting Masaki to break up the fight between the kid and Stephen- but maybe he should have. After hearing a little bit about the world the kid came from, Gabriel had just sort of expected everyone to have a pretty cavalier approach to fighting. But the kid was a teen, even if he'd seen way too much for his few years. Of course, a mother would get upset, seeing something like that.
He wavered over checking up on her. She'd probably be mad with him- for letting the fight happen, for fighting her son himself, for encouraging it. But maybe he could smooth things over for his teenager friend a little.
Ultimately, he shows up too late to really do any good, a couple days down the line. He knocks lightly on the door, ready to give up on the whole prospect if she's not home.
The knock on the door has Masaki calling out "One moment!" to whoever might be on the other side. She's happens to be in the midst of filleting the fish that she caught the other day, and it takes her a little while to wash up. By the time she gets to the door, it's been more than a few seconds, but that's better than showing up at the door with her hands covered in fish guts.
Still, she opens the door, leaning out a little to do so, so she doesn't have to slip her shoes on. The fact that it's Gabriel at the door is a little surprising. She hasn't spoken to the man outside of Timeless, but it's not difficult to see the resemblance to his younger self.
He's a little disappointed that he's not getting the opportunity to sneak away, but he tells himself it'll be fine. He gives her a friendly smile. "Yeah, Gabriel. I didn't mean to interrupt- I can help out, if you're busy. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay after that fight a couple days ago. Everything settled down for you and your son, now?"
"I'm not that busy--but I wouldn't mind the company. Please, come in." She steps back, motioning for him to come inside. She figures he'll shut the door again on his way in. The area immediately to the right of the door is sectioned off with a low wall to make a kitchenette, a row of counters on either side and facing each other with a walkway in between. On the other side of the low wall is a dining room made of a wooden table and five chairs situated around it. The left side of the room is a large living room area with a wrap around couch and a television in the corner. Two more doors are set into the wall immediately to the left, one presumably being Masaki's bedroom and the other a bathroom.
She heads back to the kitchenette, though she doesn't yet pick up her knife again. "I guess you can say things are settled. We've talked it out. Set a few more boundaries." She smiles a bit in his direction, maybe a little playfully. "Did you come to check up on him? Make sure he wasn't grounded?"
This definitely gives the impression of a family home, even if Masaki probably lives alone. It just cements Gabriel's impression of her as someone who's very family-focused. He smiles a little as he closes the door behind him and follows her.
His smile turns slightly sheepish at her question. "You caught me. I know he's technically an adult, but you two seemed close. I know he didn't mean to upset you. I didn't either, honestly."
He runs a hand through his hair, giving the appearance of nervousness. "Both he and Stephen are friends of mine- well, not really sure on Stephen right now, but- anyway. I was trying to make sure they both had someone there that could help if either got hurt."
For what it's worth, that first part does get a bit of a softer look from her. She believes that much--that neither of them intended to upset her. And honestly, it wasn't either of them that she was really upset with. But then he keeps going, and her expression shifts.
It's a shame that she already knows it was him talking to Zangetsu about the fight. Otherwise, she would have bought that hook, line, and sinker.
"Mmm. It wasn't to be a part of the peanut gallery? As you put it?" She lifts a brow at him, and while she does look skeptical, she still doesn't look angry. "Or to see the 'amazing' fight?"
This is much more of a sudden reaction- he freezes in place and looks from side-to-side. It seems she actually caught him this time. He eventually sighs, giving her an apologetic smile. "Yeah, maybe a little. I'm a fan of creative combat, and both your son and Stephen are on different ends of the spectrum, as far as that goes. I had absolutely no idea what would happen, but I thought it'd be interesting to find out. If it got too extreme, I'd have stepped in, though."
He would've, too- or at least he thinks he would've. He has a good idea of what the teenager can take, and he can guess about Stephen. "I didn't want any serious injuries either. With Stephen fighting, I didn't figure there'd be any."
She narrows her eyes at him suspiciously--but it seems it's more for humor when she drops it a moment later. She might be older than she was in Timeless, but she doesn't seem any less quirky.
"It doesn't seem he intended there to be any injuries, no." Though it didn't turn out quite that way. She doesn't feel any better for Dr. Strange being the one to get hurt and not Zangetsu, despite how Dr. Strange might have protested.
She moves to her kitchen counter and takes up her knife again to continue filleting the fish she'd caught. When she speaks next, it's while looking down at the fish, but she means the words for Gabriel. "I'm sure you want to make a good impression, but you don't need to tell me what you think I want to hear. If you're going to be friends with my son, I'd like to get to know the real you."
He watches her fillet the fish, and the way she's acting is starting to remind him of Mrs. Bennet. It's harder to read the tone in her voice, now that she's older. Or maybe he wasn't as good at it as he originally thought, back in Timeless.
He's quiet for a moment, then clears his throat. "Well, I'd love for you to meet him, but. I will admit, I'm still sort of figuring out the 'real me'. The place I was at before- Norfinbury- it sort of turned my whole concept of 'me' upside down. For the better, I think." It makes him wonder what he should address first, here. He eventually settles on the most pressing question. "Did your son tell you we've been sparring, sometimes?"
There's a brief look that he gets, not much more than a flicker of her eyes up for a second or two and then back down to her work. There's a bit of curiosity there, but also some sympathy. It's difficult to figure out one's self--even more-so when something happens that sets you back at square one. But she'll let him tell that story at his own pace, if he wants to tell it at all.
"He told me. I asked him about you, when I saw your offer to fight underneath Dr. Strange's." Not that she knew who it was that had made such an offer--people leave unsigned notes on the board all the time; but Zangetsu had put a name to the messages readily enough. She hadn't even had to pry that much.
"I'm... trying not to mind it. I know it's what he likes; and if you like it too, then that works out well. He can have fun without getting into trouble--so long as you're being careful." She flicks her gaze up at Gabriel again, this time with a smile. She has a feeling, given that he said 'sparring' and not 'fighting' that there's at least an understanding not to do any serious injury.
Gabriel nods at the condition. "And that's part of what I wanted to warn you about, if you ever see us sparring. I have an ability that heals me near instantly- he can hurt me all he wants and I'll barely feel it. So he doesn't have to hold back with me, at all. And I make sure I give him stuff he can dodge. I can't really say I'm taking it 'easy' on him- he's so fast, we'd never get to any sort of combat if I was. But I am making sure he stays at least relatively safe."
Is that a good enough disclaimer? It was going to have to be. He's still a little surprised that Masaki is even trying to be okay with this, but she's apparently a pretty practical person. The fact that she knows about the sparring and hasn't immediately tried to forbid it is a relief.
"But both him and me, we've got a part of us that relaxes when we're in the middle of a fight. Everything fades but figuring out the puzzle of how to beat someone. There's a sort of joy in letting everything else go, and I think your son needs that in his life sometimes." It's a quiet admission. "He seems like he worries a lot- like he's got a lot on his shoulders. I've been trying to get him to relax a little, let himself enjoy this place."
Masaki nods along as he explains their fights. It... sounds okay. She's a little surprised that someone with confessed super powers would find a matched fight in a teenage boy. Then again, she did stop Zangetsu just as he was about to sling shot a knife into Dr. Strange's shoulder...
As he continues, her attention drifts from the fish on the counter, her movements slowing. He touches on something that she's already thought herself, something that's been bothering her for at least a little while now.
"He does have a lot he worries about. Far too much for someone his age. I wish I could tell him to let it go for a little while, but I know he won't. He's so determined to get me home... And to go back to his life like it used to be."
She pauses, exhaling a quiet sigh. "... At the very least, I want him to be happy while he's here. He told me, fighting is when he feels most like himself. I can't take that away from him."
His shoulders relax and he gives Masaki a soft smile. "Yeah. Sounds like you get it. I know that's got to be hard for a mother- mine would've never understood it. But I'm guessing you understand his situation a little more."
So he should probably tell her a little about his own, right? He's honestly not sure how much he needs to say. "You weren't here yet when I posted up my notice about my past on the bulletin board, right?" He shakes his head. "That made it so much easier to talk about, oddly. But you should know more about me if I'm going to be hanging around."
He considers pausing and waiting for her go-ahead, but now that he's started, he wants to get it out. "I used to be a terrible person, back where I originally came from. I was-" He hesitates for a moment, finding the words. "-overtaken by the special ability I was born with, and it made me into a murderer. Zephyr helped me make sure I'd be safe here, and I've been trying to figure out how to make better what I can." It still feels like partially a lie, even with all the evidence he's had that things were out of his control. Every time he goes into this, he wonders if he shouldn't approach it differently.
It's probably a good thing that Masaki has already stopped filleting the fish for the time being because she might have cut herself when that bit of information surfaced. At the mention of being a murderer, Gabriel finds himself with her full attention fixed on him, something like surprised with a bit of horror mixed into her expression.
It takes her a few seconds to even figure out what to say. She's never had anyone admit to murder right in front of her. She can't even imagine... His only saving grace is admitting that he wasn't in full control of himself.
"Ah-- That..." she starts, fumbling for words. Normally she would default to a more cheerful facade, but that doesn't seem appropriate in this situation. So she's left with just taking it at face value. "...Has that... been working? Between Zephyr and you?"
It's only belatedly that she even considers how bad it might be for her if it wasn't.
His expression has become more serious and solemn as well. The whole story seemed surprisingly not a huge issue for a good chunk of the Meadous, but it's clear it's not like that for Masaki.
He nods. "I set up some failsafes, in case it wasn't enough for some reason. Alphonse and Stephen are both set aside to stop me if I couldn't control myself. I heal just about anything, but they know the spot to hit that basically puts me in a coma. We kept a close eye on it after my abilities came back, but- I've been okay here."
He reaches up and runs his fingers through his hair with a small sigh. "I know that's a lot to lay on you all of the sudden. Just thought you should know."
"Well... I appreciate your honesty." She can say that much, at least. It's better to hear something like this from him than to hear it from someone else and wonder why he's been hiding it. And he seems to be serious about wanting to keep anything from happening again. So that's a point in his favor, too.
"...Even if it does make a very poor argument for letting you fight with my son." That's the place that her thoughts go to first, rather than her own safety in the moment. She was okay when it seemed like just two people with an interest in combat. Knowing that Gabriel's killed others before--and likely not for good reasons, if he's calling himself a murderer... It reignites that uneasiness in her chest.
Gabriel lets out a small, mirthless laugh. "Yeah, it sure does. That's why I thought you should know. And if there's anything that might make you feel better about it, all you have to do is say so. I can tell you more about the ability, what threw me off balance in the first place. You can watch us fight if you want- I mean, it's fine on my end, not sure about your son's. I've been working on pure defense lately, which was advice from another Meadous resident. I think that's been good."
He shakes his head. "But if you're not comfortable with it anymore, I understand." The teenager might hate it, but Gabriel would respect Masaki's wishes. "Honestly, the fact that I'm still talking to you is kind of surprising to me."
"Were you expecting me to kick you out?" That probably wouldn't be out of the question if she was more wary or if he was less remorseful. But she's not the kind of person to be keen on retribution or shunning him.
"I'd like to know more about your abilities... And I'd like to watch your matches. I don't think my son will mind." She smiles, but wryly and a bit like a grimace. ".. He'd probably welcome the chance to show off. And I've promised to spar with him, too. It's probably better that I'm around to handle as mishaps."
He looks vaguely sheepish as he shrugs at the question. He certainly would've understood if she had kicked him out. People here tended to let a lot of things slide, but that piece of news was a pretty big ask.
Gabriel nods at her request and chuckles at hearing the kid will want to show off. "Of course he'll want to show you what he could do. Especially if you're sparring with him too. So yeah, that's all fine." So that means- "Let me tell you about my intuitive aptitude, then. That was the really dangerous one."
He taps his temple. "It's also the hardest one to see, because it's a mental ability. It shows me how things work- how to fix any complex system so it's working perfectly. But I don't get anything else, so there's this drive- this hunger- to get as complete a picture as I can. That drive, back home, took over everything else, and it became the only thing I cared about. I learned new abilities and everyone in my way was just--" He shakes his head. She can guess the rest. He's sort of figuring that being vague might be a better idea in this instance. "Here, Zephyr's 'adjusted' my curiosity so it stays at normal human levels. I can actually prioritize things now."
She listens attentively as Gabriel explains his ability. It's not something she's sure that she understands, but she's trying. He trails off, and she's pretty sure she can fill in the details there.
"What were you trying to learn? What... System were you trying to figure out? That led you to kill others for it?"
Gabriel stares down at his hands for a moment. "The brain. Special abilities developed in unique variations in the brain. Once I understood the brain itself, I could understand the variations. And once I had that, I could replicate them, in myself. So I learned about and copied abilities that way." He shakes his head. "People didn't usually survive my 'examinations'."
There's a silence that falls between them as Masaki tries to process that. The brain. Examinations. She can't fathom what those people must have gone through, and she doesn't want to. She just...
"I feel sorry for them. No one should have their life cut short like that." The words come quietly, not from a place of condemnation for him but honest compassion for his victims. "...Do you think about them?"
Gabriel knows what the right answer is, here. Show remorse, show guilt, and be labeled as a true human being.
Al's made him too honest.
"Sometimes," he replies. "Probably not as much as I should. Ever since I had started, it was always easier to just put it out of my mind. I thought I'd go crazy- well, crazier- if I thought about them too much. But Al's been helping me realize that I'll never be a- well, functional person, if I don't recognize what I've done. The weight of it."
He rubs at his chin. "I found out, too, that I'd been repeating the actions of the man who killed my mother when I was five. So. Definitely don't want to continue that, either."
She's not entirely sure how to feel about his response. It's not the response that she would have liked, and maybe that's why she feels more okay with it than she should. It's not a perfect answer, but it's a very human one. The kind of humanity that's striving to do better.
"I think this Al has very good advice, then. You owe it to those people to understand the weight of their lives, even if it's only little by little. And you owe it to yourself. So that the you from tomorrow can look back and be proud of the progress you've made."
Gabriel listens to her thoughtfully, nodding at the advice. It makes a lot of sense, both with his own concept of needing to have control back in his life, and with what Bucky's talked to him about. "Yeah. I'll keep working on it, here where I won't do too much damage if I do mess up. I don't deserve all the support I've got- I mean, Al would argue that, but I doubt anyone else would. But since I've got the support anyway, it'd be a shame if I didn't do anything constructive with it." He allows himself a small smile at that.
"I'd really like to have something I could be proud of, something that's actually good. Something my friends can look at and say that they didn't waste their time with me. So yeah, that's the plan."
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A Couple Days After the Fight
Date: 2018-08-28 02:35 pm (UTC)He wavered over checking up on her. She'd probably be mad with him- for letting the fight happen, for fighting her son himself, for encouraging it. But maybe he could smooth things over for his teenager friend a little.
Ultimately, he shows up too late to really do any good, a couple days down the line. He knocks lightly on the door, ready to give up on the whole prospect if she's not home.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-28 04:37 pm (UTC)Still, she opens the door, leaning out a little to do so, so she doesn't have to slip her shoes on. The fact that it's Gabriel at the door is a little surprising. She hasn't spoken to the man outside of Timeless, but it's not difficult to see the resemblance to his younger self.
"Oh, hello. It's... Gabriel, right?"
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Date: 2018-08-29 06:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-08-29 08:15 pm (UTC)She heads back to the kitchenette, though she doesn't yet pick up her knife again. "I guess you can say things are settled. We've talked it out. Set a few more boundaries." She smiles a bit in his direction, maybe a little playfully. "Did you come to check up on him? Make sure he wasn't grounded?"
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Date: 2018-08-31 07:20 pm (UTC)His smile turns slightly sheepish at her question. "You caught me. I know he's technically an adult, but you two seemed close. I know he didn't mean to upset you. I didn't either, honestly."
He runs a hand through his hair, giving the appearance of nervousness. "Both he and Stephen are friends of mine- well, not really sure on Stephen right now, but- anyway. I was trying to make sure they both had someone there that could help if either got hurt."
no subject
Date: 2018-08-31 07:43 pm (UTC)It's a shame that she already knows it was him talking to Zangetsu about the fight. Otherwise, she would have bought that hook, line, and sinker.
"Mmm. It wasn't to be a part of the peanut gallery? As you put it?" She lifts a brow at him, and while she does look skeptical, she still doesn't look angry. "Or to see the 'amazing' fight?"
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Date: 2018-08-31 08:26 pm (UTC)He would've, too- or at least he thinks he would've. He has a good idea of what the teenager can take, and he can guess about Stephen. "I didn't want any serious injuries either. With Stephen fighting, I didn't figure there'd be any."
no subject
Date: 2018-08-31 08:52 pm (UTC)"It doesn't seem he intended there to be any injuries, no." Though it didn't turn out quite that way. She doesn't feel any better for Dr. Strange being the one to get hurt and not Zangetsu, despite how Dr. Strange might have protested.
She moves to her kitchen counter and takes up her knife again to continue filleting the fish she'd caught. When she speaks next, it's while looking down at the fish, but she means the words for Gabriel. "I'm sure you want to make a good impression, but you don't need to tell me what you think I want to hear. If you're going to be friends with my son, I'd like to get to know the real you."
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Date: 2018-08-31 09:29 pm (UTC)He's quiet for a moment, then clears his throat. "Well, I'd love for you to meet him, but. I will admit, I'm still sort of figuring out the 'real me'. The place I was at before- Norfinbury- it sort of turned my whole concept of 'me' upside down. For the better, I think." It makes him wonder what he should address first, here. He eventually settles on the most pressing question. "Did your son tell you we've been sparring, sometimes?"
no subject
Date: 2018-08-31 10:32 pm (UTC)"He told me. I asked him about you, when I saw your offer to fight underneath Dr. Strange's." Not that she knew who it was that had made such an offer--people leave unsigned notes on the board all the time; but Zangetsu had put a name to the messages readily enough. She hadn't even had to pry that much.
"I'm... trying not to mind it. I know it's what he likes; and if you like it too, then that works out well. He can have fun without getting into trouble--so long as you're being careful." She flicks her gaze up at Gabriel again, this time with a smile. She has a feeling, given that he said 'sparring' and not 'fighting' that there's at least an understanding not to do any serious injury.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-31 11:05 pm (UTC)Is that a good enough disclaimer? It was going to have to be. He's still a little surprised that Masaki is even trying to be okay with this, but she's apparently a pretty practical person. The fact that she knows about the sparring and hasn't immediately tried to forbid it is a relief.
"But both him and me, we've got a part of us that relaxes when we're in the middle of a fight. Everything fades but figuring out the puzzle of how to beat someone. There's a sort of joy in letting everything else go, and I think your son needs that in his life sometimes." It's a quiet admission. "He seems like he worries a lot- like he's got a lot on his shoulders. I've been trying to get him to relax a little, let himself enjoy this place."
no subject
Date: 2018-09-01 12:57 am (UTC)As he continues, her attention drifts from the fish on the counter, her movements slowing. He touches on something that she's already thought herself, something that's been bothering her for at least a little while now.
"He does have a lot he worries about. Far too much for someone his age. I wish I could tell him to let it go for a little while, but I know he won't. He's so determined to get me home... And to go back to his life like it used to be."
She pauses, exhaling a quiet sigh. "... At the very least, I want him to be happy while he's here. He told me, fighting is when he feels most like himself. I can't take that away from him."
no subject
Date: 2018-09-01 03:04 pm (UTC)So he should probably tell her a little about his own, right? He's honestly not sure how much he needs to say. "You weren't here yet when I posted up my notice about my past on the bulletin board, right?" He shakes his head. "That made it so much easier to talk about, oddly. But you should know more about me if I'm going to be hanging around."
He considers pausing and waiting for her go-ahead, but now that he's started, he wants to get it out.
"I used to be a terrible person, back where I originally came from. I was-" He hesitates for a moment, finding the words. "-overtaken by the special ability I was born with, and it made me into a murderer. Zephyr helped me make sure I'd be safe here, and I've been trying to figure out how to make better what I can." It still feels like partially a lie, even with all the evidence he's had that things were out of his control. Every time he goes into this, he wonders if he shouldn't approach it differently.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-01 07:29 pm (UTC)It takes her a few seconds to even figure out what to say. She's never had anyone admit to murder right in front of her. She can't even imagine... His only saving grace is admitting that he wasn't in full control of himself.
"Ah-- That..." she starts, fumbling for words. Normally she would default to a more cheerful facade, but that doesn't seem appropriate in this situation. So she's left with just taking it at face value. "...Has that... been working? Between Zephyr and you?"
It's only belatedly that she even considers how bad it might be for her if it wasn't.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-01 08:00 pm (UTC)He nods. "I set up some failsafes, in case it wasn't enough for some reason. Alphonse and Stephen are both set aside to stop me if I couldn't control myself. I heal just about anything, but they know the spot to hit that basically puts me in a coma. We kept a close eye on it after my abilities came back, but- I've been okay here."
He reaches up and runs his fingers through his hair with a small sigh. "I know that's a lot to lay on you all of the sudden. Just thought you should know."
no subject
Date: 2018-09-01 09:56 pm (UTC)"...Even if it does make a very poor argument for letting you fight with my son." That's the place that her thoughts go to first, rather than her own safety in the moment. She was okay when it seemed like just two people with an interest in combat. Knowing that Gabriel's killed others before--and likely not for good reasons, if he's calling himself a murderer... It reignites that uneasiness in her chest.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 12:03 am (UTC)He shakes his head. "But if you're not comfortable with it anymore, I understand." The teenager might hate it, but Gabriel would respect Masaki's wishes. "Honestly, the fact that I'm still talking to you is kind of surprising to me."
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Date: 2018-09-02 01:18 am (UTC)"I'd like to know more about your abilities... And I'd like to watch your matches. I don't think my son will mind." She smiles, but wryly and a bit like a grimace. ".. He'd probably welcome the chance to show off. And I've promised to spar with him, too. It's probably better that I'm around to handle as mishaps."
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 02:33 am (UTC)Gabriel nods at her request and chuckles at hearing the kid will want to show off. "Of course he'll want to show you what he could do. Especially if you're sparring with him too. So yeah, that's all fine." So that means- "Let me tell you about my intuitive aptitude, then. That was the really dangerous one."
He taps his temple. "It's also the hardest one to see, because it's a mental ability. It shows me how things work- how to fix any complex system so it's working perfectly. But I don't get anything else, so there's this drive- this hunger- to get as complete a picture as I can. That drive, back home, took over everything else, and it became the only thing I cared about. I learned new abilities and everyone in my way was just--" He shakes his head. She can guess the rest. He's sort of figuring that being vague might be a better idea in this instance. "Here, Zephyr's 'adjusted' my curiosity so it stays at normal human levels. I can actually prioritize things now."
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 07:47 pm (UTC)"What were you trying to learn? What... System were you trying to figure out? That led you to kill others for it?"
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 09:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 10:45 pm (UTC)"I feel sorry for them. No one should have their life cut short like that." The words come quietly, not from a place of condemnation for him but honest compassion for his victims. "...Do you think about them?"
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 11:18 pm (UTC)Al's made him too honest.
"Sometimes," he replies. "Probably not as much as I should. Ever since I had started, it was always easier to just put it out of my mind. I thought I'd go crazy- well, crazier- if I thought about them too much. But Al's been helping me realize that I'll never be a- well, functional person, if I don't recognize what I've done. The weight of it."
He rubs at his chin. "I found out, too, that I'd been repeating the actions of the man who killed my mother when I was five. So. Definitely don't want to continue that, either."
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 12:21 am (UTC)"I think this Al has very good advice, then. You owe it to those people to understand the weight of their lives, even if it's only little by little. And you owe it to yourself. So that the you from tomorrow can look back and be proud of the progress you've made."
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 12:44 am (UTC)"I'd really like to have something I could be proud of, something that's actually good. Something my friends can look at and say that they didn't waste their time with me. So yeah, that's the plan."
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