[ frank just nods, hanging her coat on the hook by the door before locking it behind her and lightly trailing her steps. he picks up his coffee cup and takes a sip even though it's lukewarm by now, glancing around at his barren space. there's a ham radio out on the counter in the kitchen and a vase of flowers on the table. they look fresh-ish, but obviously weren't purchased in the days they'd been speaking, white roses and pink peonies among the bouquet. ]
Shitbags live like shitbags, who knew?
[ he takes another sip to try and calm his nerves, but it only makes him visibly more twitchy. and he slips by her to dump the cup into the sink before he can be tempted to polish it off. ]
I don't know. You have flowers, I think that might make you a little overqualified for my kind of living.
[ she smirks at him and keeps her eyes focused on him, just for a little.
after her head turns back towards the TV she can hear him his footsteps lead him into the kitchen but doesn't really pay attention to what he's doing. she tries to let the picture distract her, but her brain can't really focus on it. nerves, or something. she's out of her element, these things are usually easy but she's learned or... is learning that frank is anything but. ]
How you feeling? [ oh, uh. not about the sex or about their current situation. hurry, jessica. quickly follow up. ] Your face, I mean. And the rest of your body. [ stop talking about his appearance. ] I guess mentally, too. [ mentally?? ] You know what, you look like shit, I can take a hint from that.
[ he tips his head to concede her point, shutting off the coffee maker on his way back out to her so it doesn't burn. his eyes trace the delicate bones around her collar, thinking about how out of joint her appearance is with her strength. strength he knows she has but has never seen for himself, and he swallows, catching up to her question late as his eyes drift over her shoulder to audrey's.
before he can open his mouth to answer, she's going on, and his eyes narrow as he tries to figure out what she's after. if she's realizing frank isn't easy, he's realizing jessica jones isn't easy to read, or figure out. it might be what he likes the most about her. ]
I've been better. [ he confirms, taking another step towards her stiltedly. he wants to be smooth right now, but that's not who he is. sometimes he can crack a joke at the right time, but he's never going to be good at flirting or... whatever this is. she's asking how he is... mentally? and he shrugs, looking a little helpless despite himself. ] I'm a little mixed up, you know.
[ frank bites into his lips and tries to ignore how fast his heart is pounding. can she hear it? he feels like she ought to be able to. ]
Probably just from getting hit too many times, right?
[ her eyes can't help but give him the once over as he steps over to her and she stands there still, unsure of how to respond to that or what to make of it... of him. ]
You don't even look like you should be standing. [ let alone making booty calls. ] You're normal, at least physically. You don't have any powers and... Here you are. [ she pauses, looking at him. ] You don't need any. [ you're talking to a girl who finds it hard to get out of bed after a long night of drinking, so. all this is pretty amazing to her. ]
I don't know if that makes you the worlds most resilient man or the worlds most stubborn man.
[ the up-and-down has him ducking his head, though she wouldn't be able to tell if his cheeks were any redder through all the damage they've sustained. they certainly feel hot. frank huffs out an ugly, dry laugh, but it's clear his bemusement is sincere anyway. ]
Little of both, you think? [ his eyes climb back up to meet hers and he grins a little riotously as he licks over his lips again. ] Maybe that is my superpower, yeah? I always get back up.
[ he used to think it was a curse... now he's not so sure. ]
[ it's a strange shift of the tone in their conversation, vastly different than the slew of happy chatter and music coming from the TV behind her. she stares at him a little more intently now, focusing on the subtle movements his face makes. on the outside it seems like a simple question, but she knows how complicated these things can be. honestly, she just wants to understand him a little better, figure out if the only reason why he's still going is because he hasn't been taken out yet, or if he actually feels like he's fulfilling a purpose. ]
[ his heart hammers as he meets her suddenly intense gaze, his own shining wetly, perhaps tellingly. how many times had he thought he was dead? had welcomed it, even? but now... things are different, aren't they? ]
Yeah. [ it starts out as a soft croak but then he's answering her with conviction, eyes still soft so she can pick out his sincerity in their depths. ]Yeah, I care. Of course, I care. Don't you?
[ it almost feels like intimidation, the way she stares at him, like she does other people when she's trying to figure them out though. turn it around on her, start to ask her the big questions, though, and watch how quickly her gaze diverts away. ]
I don't know. [ it's indifferent, but it's honest. ] Just being alive... My whole existence has killed and ruined so many peoples lives. Every time I try to do the right thing... [ well, she carries her eyes back up to his because he knows, that much she does understand about him. ] I should be dead, I should have died in the car crash that killed the rest of my family. But I'm here, so. I just keep going until I don't have to anymore.
[ his heart goes out to her in an instant, forgetting about his circumstances in light of hers. survivor's guilt, it's a very real thing. he'd carried it for a long time, but it didn't do anyone any good in the end — it certainly couldn't bring them back. impulsively, a hand comes up, brushing some hair off her face. he rolls his lower lip into his mouth and frowns, wishing he had the answers for her. but it's not like he has any for himself, so how could he? ]
I guess that's why I do it, too. You can't bring them back, but you can live. That's all either of us can do. [ feels fucking lame in the end, but that's all he's got, really. lame platitudes and dumb jokes. ]
[ her brows lower somewhat when he touches her, not because she doesn't like it but because it makes her feel like she immediately needed to throw her guard up. if this were a simple hook up she wouldn't think anything of it. she knew there would be similarities there which was the whole reason why she picked him out; she could use him and he her and there would be no questions or ties. it would be... should be easy, right? just two pieces of shit who occasionally need a body to lay up against.
but she was realizing their similarities weren't just there for her to use and take advantage of. it was starting to make an emotional connection between them, and feelings that weren't just... fleeting, intense feelings of passion. it's something she didn't expect to and doesn't want to have to deal with. ]
I shouldn't be here. [ she shouldn't, but just like how they both live, here she is. ]
[ he drops his hand like she burned him, rubbing his fingers together where they rest against his side. frank would never try to keep her anywhere she didn't want to be, but she doesn't turn away or start leaving so he frowns again, trying to get a grip on what's happening. ]
You don't have to go. [ he says then immediately isn't sure why he said it, biting down on his lip and tasting blood, but he can ignore that for at least a few minutes. he assumes they're not sleeping together because of something he said, or maybe what she did. he points ahead to the screen suddenly. ] We could... finish the movie?
[ his question causes her brows to furrow while she releases the smallest of laughs out of her nose. something about it and him just felt so... out of place and innocent. she licks her bottom lip, barely looking over her shoulder towards the film then back at him. he looks so disappointed, whether it be at her or himself.
there's a long pause. she doesn't know what to say to him, but apparently she's not smart enough to leave, either. ]
Is that really what you want? [ and she takes a cautious step forward towards him. maybe if they just stop talking... ]
[ she advances on him just a step, but it's enough to get his heartrate going again. he remembers their text exchange and slowly shakes his head 'no.' he's seen the movie a million times, what he hasn't seen is her. maybe it's a mistake, but it's one he'd been willing to make since she propositioned him the first time, despite his lame answer that had been slated as rejection. ]
If it means you don't leave. [ frank clarifies, a gentle smile tugging up his broken lips, even as it reveals the cut he'd worried open, blood shining brightly in the dim lighting of the space. he's not like her, not this way. it isn't hard for him to admit this is more than sex for him, because it always will be. it's up to her if she can accept that. ]
[ it feels like she's being called out on her bluff, and she swallows her saliva (and denial) hard. there's a part of her that wishes he would have called it off, agree that she should be on her way. instead his response all but confirms that as far as his feelings go they're, yet again, in the same boat.
she takes note of the blood but unsurprisingly it doesn't bother her as her hand comes to rest on the side of his cheek, thumb moving to brush away the excess at the injury. ]
[ his breathing stutters at the sudden touch of her cool hand, lips parting to allow her to collect the blood on her thumb and take it away. the reasons they shouldn't do this is a growing list, but he'd already admitted he didn't want her to go. his heavy gaze bounces down to her lips and back to her eyes like ping-pong. ]
Well. I thought maybe... we could have that drink. [ this time he's obviously talking about her meaning of the phrase. ]
[ it's somehow the wrong answer and everything she needs to hear to move forward all in one. it's coy and pretty witty and while she appreciates it, there's no real reaction from her other than the inevitable lean in.
she's light at first when their lips connect, more so than usual. not that she's a gentle kisser in the first place, but something about his appearance paired with her abilities makes him feel fragile to her. the hint of iron doesn't bother her as her other hand makes way to his neck, using this to pull herself into his chest now, still maintaining her careful demeanor. ]
[ his lips tremble when hers cover them and his hand comes up to gently encircle her bare upper arm. if he minds the carefulness, he certainly doesn't show it, in fact, a tiny noise ekes into her mouth as she pulls herself against him. maybe it's only surprise or because his front is a roadmap of sutures and bruising he's putting off addressing, but it also feels pretty nice, too. she does. he returns the kiss just as gently, closing his eyes as he leans into her without ever trying to take it over, he seems to enjoy her direction in this arena already. ]
[ it's not much, but him returning affection excites her enough to lay off the daintiness a little and proceed further, having no issues taking control of this situation. with a head tilt she adjusts her lips on his slightly, pressing into him a bit more ferociously while hands simultaneously move down his chest to the rim of his jeans where his shirt is tucked in. it takes everything in her not to just rip it off, but she's doing her best to be patient right now, allowing their lips to familiarize themselves with one another before grabbing a hold of his shirt fabric and untucking it from his pants.
she doesn't even see the immense damage as she pulls it up and over his chest, too inconvenienced that she has to break their kiss in order to completely pull it off of him. once she does, however, she gets a full glance of just what she's working with and takes a step back. ]
Jesus Christ--look at you!
[ it sounds more hostile than it's actually meant to be, but that's jessica jones for you. she's more annoyed than anything, because clearly he is in no position to be... put in any kind of position. and she's really, really turned on right now. ]
What exactly am I supposed to do here when you look like this? Why the hell would you even invite my freaky super hero strength ass over here to have sex with you when clearly--
[ maybe she's not giving him enough credit but, holy shit she honestly feels like she could have accidentally killed him. she knew he was damaged but had no idea the severity of it, and he gave no indication that it was even an issue. ]
Does your dick even work right now? Is it still there??
[ as the kiss deepens, he's able to pick out her unique taste beyond the whiskey and immediately find himself addicted to it. frank's other hand comes up, cupping her face as he allows her to tug his shirt up. he should really say something before — yeah, no, apparently it's too late. cool cool cool cool cool cool.
"gave no indication" was definitely not how he'd describe... any of their conversations, but she also seemed hellbent on taking his refusal personally, so yes, maybe... this was a bad idea. the whole thing. just from kissing her, there's an obvious situation going on through his jeans, so he doesn't even bother answering the second part of that. ]
I'm fine. [ if it comes out a little defensive, well. but in his defense, 'alive' is pretty close to fine in his dictionary. frank turns away from her to grab his shirt off the floor, which only puts the wounds at his side on display and he grunts tellingly on the way back up. at least there's no blood (this time.) ] Sorry.
[ he worries the fabric between his fingers and shakes his head, mortified. he really should've known this was ill-fated but he'll try one more time anyway. ]
Don't guess you'll buy it's not as bad as it looks?
You just grunted picking up your shirt, and I think I might have got a good look at your kidney when you did it, too.
[ the look on his face and his immediate reaction to cover himself up isn't... what she wanted, but she can see why. with her own reaction. the last thing she wanted to do was make him feel uncomfortable around her of all people.
she tilts her head back and sighs. ]
Just--stop, would you?
[ she's trying to be a little more compassionate, but she still comes off a little annoyed. her hands grab his and she manages to pry his shirt from him with little struggle. ]
Hey— [ he exclaims (meekly) as she steals his shirt away from him. what she says gets a confused-puppy stare and he fjords: ] Then why'd we stop?
[ she probably can't like, throw him around, but he's obviously pretty damn sturdy. his condition is testament to little else. frank takes a step towards her this time, one bruised hand closing over her wrist with enough of a grip this time that she'll know he won't fall to pieces if she presses. his head dips to brush lips against hers, gently at first but then firm and questing though he's never been rough in bed and if she wants that she'll likely have to wait. he can still keep up, he's not a total lost cause. ...is he? ]
[ part of her feels fucking horrified when he gives her that adorable ass puppy stare because it increases the rate of beats in her otherwise normal and still heart. she's thankful when he leans into her, not just because she wants him really bad, but because he won't be able to see the redness that's beginning to fill her pale cheeks. yes, please--stop talking, stop giving her those looks.
there's no hesitation on her end as her lips comfortably fit between his own, hands gripping onto either side of his neck. she does question herself a lot, running over various scenarios in her head of how this would work. typically, she goes with the rough route because she's in it for herself. slow sex usually comes with investment and passion and the only things she's invested and passionate about in life are whiskey and a guy in harlem, despite her best efforts to give that one up. either way, it's definitely not with the random dudes she'd bring home.
but she's willing to go slow,.. with him. for him. and that thought leaves her a little unsettled. she had questioned and pushed the idea in her head on him that he couldn't handle her, never expecting it to be the other way around.
briefly she breaks the kiss, breathing heavy against his lips while maintaining their closeness. ]
[ he feels the heat of her face against his anyway, enjoys the feeling of her hands around his throat. frank is unshy in pressing the line of his body against hers, the sparks of pain it inspires not deterring him in the least. he's grinning as the kiss breaks, he's insufferable that way. he kisses her shortly a few times, hungrily, but in a way that takes no effort to sustain. his other hand bites into her hip and he starts walking her backward toward his little bedroom - it's thankfully only a few paces away. ]
[ she wants to be snarky, mention how she's only been after him to do this for the last few days, but the way he grins at her and leads her away from the TV into his room causes her mind to go blank. she smiles and shakes her head while looking down. ]
This is... so lame. [ she says, mid-chuckle between the two statements as she brings her head back up. ] You're lame.
[ everything about this and him is so different than what shes grown accustom to. ]
[ if she thinks he's bad off now, a few days ago he really might not have been able to get it up, truthfully. now, he's obviously not having that problem as he gently nudges her up against the doorway on the way inside. ]
I think you like it. [ he postulates. his lameness, and he laughs too as he presses his forehead against hers and his hands skim downwards to unfasten her jeans. he likes things slow, but he can tell she's even more impatient than he is and he's trying to find a steady balance between them. it's not related to how much he wants her, he tells himself, even as his breathing shallows out against her face. ]
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Shitbags live like shitbags, who knew?
[ he takes another sip to try and calm his nerves, but it only makes him visibly more twitchy. and he slips by her to dump the cup into the sink before he can be tempted to polish it off. ]
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[ she smirks at him and keeps her eyes focused on him, just for a little.
after her head turns back towards the TV she can hear him his footsteps lead him into the kitchen but doesn't really pay attention to what he's doing. she tries to let the picture distract her, but her brain can't really focus on it. nerves, or something. she's out of her element, these things are usually easy but she's learned or... is learning that frank is anything but. ]
How you feeling? [ oh, uh. not about the sex or about their current situation. hurry, jessica. quickly follow up. ] Your face, I mean. And the rest of your body. [ stop talking about his appearance. ] I guess mentally, too. [ mentally?? ] You know what, you look like shit, I can take a hint from that.
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before he can open his mouth to answer, she's going on, and his eyes narrow as he tries to figure out what she's after. if she's realizing frank isn't easy, he's realizing jessica jones isn't easy to read, or figure out. it might be what he likes the most about her. ]
I've been better. [ he confirms, taking another step towards her stiltedly. he wants to be smooth right now, but that's not who he is. sometimes he can crack a joke at the right time, but he's never going to be good at flirting or... whatever this is. she's asking how he is... mentally? and he shrugs, looking a little helpless despite himself. ] I'm a little mixed up, you know.
[ frank bites into his lips and tries to ignore how fast his heart is pounding. can she hear it? he feels like she ought to be able to. ]
Probably just from getting hit too many times, right?
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You don't even look like you should be standing. [ let alone making booty calls. ] You're normal, at least physically. You don't have any powers and... Here you are. [ she pauses, looking at him. ] You don't need any. [ you're talking to a girl who finds it hard to get out of bed after a long night of drinking, so. all this is pretty amazing to her. ]
I don't know if that makes you the worlds most resilient man or the worlds most stubborn man.
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Little of both, you think? [ his eyes climb back up to meet hers and he grins a little riotously as he licks over his lips again. ] Maybe that is my superpower, yeah? I always get back up.
[ he used to think it was a curse... now he's not so sure. ]
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[ it's a strange shift of the tone in their conversation, vastly different than the slew of happy chatter and music coming from the TV behind her. she stares at him a little more intently now, focusing on the subtle movements his face makes. on the outside it seems like a simple question, but she knows how complicated these things can be. honestly, she just wants to understand him a little better, figure out if the only reason why he's still going is because he hasn't been taken out yet, or if he actually feels like he's fulfilling a purpose. ]
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Yeah. [ it starts out as a soft croak but then he's answering her with conviction, eyes still soft so she can pick out his sincerity in their depths. ] Yeah, I care. Of course, I care. Don't you?
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I don't know. [ it's indifferent, but it's honest. ] Just being alive... My whole existence has killed and ruined so many peoples lives. Every time I try to do the right thing... [ well, she carries her eyes back up to his because he knows, that much she does understand about him. ] I should be dead, I should have died in the car crash that killed the rest of my family. But I'm here, so. I just keep going until I don't have to anymore.
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I guess that's why I do it, too. You can't bring them back, but you can live. That's all either of us can do. [ feels fucking lame in the end, but that's all he's got, really. lame platitudes and dumb jokes. ]
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but she was realizing their similarities weren't just there for her to use and take advantage of. it was starting to make an emotional connection between them, and feelings that weren't just... fleeting, intense feelings of passion. it's something she didn't expect to and doesn't want to have to deal with. ]
I shouldn't be here. [ she shouldn't, but just like how they both live, here she is. ]
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You don't have to go. [ he says then immediately isn't sure why he said it, biting down on his lip and tasting blood, but he can ignore that for at least a few minutes. he assumes they're not sleeping together because of something he said, or maybe what she did. he points ahead to the screen suddenly. ] We could... finish the movie?
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there's a long pause. she doesn't know what to say to him, but apparently she's not smart enough to leave, either. ]
Is that really what you want? [ and she takes a cautious step forward towards him. maybe if they just stop talking... ]
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If it means you don't leave. [ frank clarifies, a gentle smile tugging up his broken lips, even as it reveals the cut he'd worried open, blood shining brightly in the dim lighting of the space. he's not like her, not this way. it isn't hard for him to admit this is more than sex for him, because it always will be. it's up to her if she can accept that. ]
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she takes note of the blood but unsurprisingly it doesn't bother her as her hand comes to rest on the side of his cheek, thumb moving to brush away the excess at the injury. ]
And if I stay? What then?
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Well. I thought maybe... we could have that drink. [ this time he's obviously talking about her meaning of the phrase. ]
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she's light at first when their lips connect, more so than usual. not that she's a gentle kisser in the first place, but something about his appearance paired with her abilities makes him feel fragile to her. the hint of iron doesn't bother her as her other hand makes way to his neck, using this to pull herself into his chest now, still maintaining her careful demeanor. ]
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she doesn't even see the immense damage as she pulls it up and over his chest, too inconvenienced that she has to break their kiss in order to completely pull it off of him. once she does, however, she gets a full glance of just what she's working with and takes a step back. ]
Jesus Christ--look at you!
[ it sounds more hostile than it's actually meant to be, but that's jessica jones for you. she's more annoyed than anything, because clearly he is in no position to be... put in any kind of position. and she's really, really turned on right now. ]
What exactly am I supposed to do here when you look like this? Why the hell would you even invite my freaky super hero strength ass over here to have sex with you when clearly--
[ maybe she's not giving him enough credit but, holy shit she honestly feels like she could have accidentally killed him. she knew he was damaged but had no idea the severity of it, and he gave no indication that it was even an issue. ]
Does your dick even work right now? Is it still there??
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"gave no indication" was definitely not how he'd describe... any of their conversations, but she also seemed hellbent on taking his refusal personally, so yes, maybe... this was a bad idea. the whole thing. just from kissing her, there's an obvious situation going on through his jeans, so he doesn't even bother answering the second part of that. ]
I'm fine. [ if it comes out a little defensive, well. but in his defense, 'alive' is pretty close to fine in his dictionary. frank turns away from her to grab his shirt off the floor, which only puts the wounds at his side on display and he grunts tellingly on the way back up. at least there's no blood (this time.) ] Sorry.
[ he worries the fabric between his fingers and shakes his head, mortified. he really should've known this was ill-fated but he'll try one more time anyway. ]
Don't guess you'll buy it's not as bad as it looks?
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[ the look on his face and his immediate reaction to cover himself up isn't... what she wanted, but she can see why. with her own reaction. the last thing she wanted to do was make him feel uncomfortable around her of all people.
she tilts her head back and sighs. ]
Just--stop, would you?
[ she's trying to be a little more compassionate, but she still comes off a little annoyed. her hands grab his and she manages to pry his shirt from him with little struggle. ]
It doesn't bother me, looking at it.
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[ she probably can't like, throw him around, but he's obviously pretty damn sturdy. his condition is testament to little else. frank takes a step towards her this time, one bruised hand closing over her wrist with enough of a grip this time that she'll know he won't fall to pieces if she presses. his head dips to brush lips against hers, gently at first but then firm and questing though he's never been rough in bed and if she wants that she'll likely have to wait. he can still keep up, he's not a total lost cause. ...is he? ]
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there's no hesitation on her end as her lips comfortably fit between his own, hands gripping onto either side of his neck. she does question herself a lot, running over various scenarios in her head of how this would work. typically, she goes with the rough route because she's in it for herself. slow sex usually comes with investment and passion and the only things she's invested and passionate about in life are whiskey and a guy in harlem, despite her best efforts to give that one up. either way, it's definitely not with the random dudes she'd bring home.
but she's willing to go slow,.. with him. for him. and that thought leaves her a little unsettled. she had questioned and pushed the idea in her head on him that he couldn't handle her, never expecting it to be the other way around.
briefly she breaks the kiss, breathing heavy against his lips while maintaining their closeness. ]
You really are the worlds most stubborn man.
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I'm willing to test that if you are.
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This is... so lame. [ she says, mid-chuckle between the two statements as she brings her head back up. ] You're lame.
[ everything about this and him is so different than what shes grown accustom to. ]
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I think you like it. [ he postulates. his lameness, and he laughs too as he presses his forehead against hers and his hands skim downwards to unfasten her jeans. he likes things slow, but he can tell she's even more impatient than he is and he's trying to find a steady balance between them. it's not related to how much he wants her, he tells himself, even as his breathing shallows out against her face. ]
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