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| What's the Rumpus? [FIN]; [P] with Persona | |
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| Topic Started: Sat Dec 24, 2011 1:36 am (402 Views) | |
| Shan Orison | Sat Dec 24, 2011 1:36 am Post #1 |
 
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Settled into camp and planning to spend a few days there, Shan secured his music book with a couple small stones. The Norwood Forest had held many terrors in the past, but he kept returning to them. He wasn't certain why, but it might be because it reminded him so much of home. And possibly because you get your best source material here, his second thoughts said. That, too. Now he chose to live for a bit off the beaten paths of the forest. He'd spent too long playing simple folk tunes in taverns. While they were fun and the best way to gain coin, he felt his dexterity slipping from lack of practice. So, the last time he visited Cascadia, he spent a bit of coin on a book: "Songs for the Experienced Violinist." Looking at the score, it wasn't joking about with the title. His eyes danced across the staff, marveling at the trills, sharps, arpeggios, scale changes, and other fun and fantastic musical devises promising to make the songs beautiful, the playing fun, and the attempt difficult. Which is why he was alone in the woods to play this. He didn't want a reputation as a great bard, but he also didn't want one for being rubbish. Here, he could practice in isolation. Only the animals of the forest would hear him play, and people didn't bother listening to animal gossip or those who gossiped with animals. He began to play. It was slow, stuttering going with his head bent down to read the music on the ground. This was certainly beyond what he had been playing, and he smiled even as he struggled. Finally, he felt confident enough to play all the way through without stopping. "Well, that was one measure," he said, grinning, and focused on the next. |
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| Persona | Sat Dec 24, 2011 2:13 am Post #2 |
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Moto grinned as he wandered through the forest, he had met Norta a few days ago and had parted ways with her to look for a town. Though Orpheus and Thanatos constantly argued about which way they went, Moto had tried going through the middle ground, the voices echoing and chiming in at inopportune times in his head, he had found out so little about the world and wished to learn more. Though for a while he had felt a slight chill at the base of his neck, he knew something was wrong in the forest, but he didn't know what, though whatever it was it had to do with the Dark Goddess and those blasted Shadows that appear every once in a while. He would sometimes stop and try to regain his sense of direction before striking out again, ever deeper into the forest. He had walked what seemed like for another hour before the chill disappeared... and at the same time he hear a violin playing, he had learned to play the trumpet, saxophone, harp, and had learned how to sing in his world, but without summoning forth another persona he couldn't remember those skills... and so few personas would even speak a word, only Thanatos and Orpheus spoke actively and Cu Chulainn sometimes spoke, only to silence the death god and bard, but never completely submitting to Moto's will. He listened to him play for a while before stepping forth, clapping slowly as he spoke, his words flowing out like a man reading a book, "That's very nice, you play violin splendidly. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Motogir Hajima, please call me Moto. I was a bit surprised to see a man so far into the forest playing such wonderful music, may I have your name sir?" Moto expected the same looks as always, his blue jacket, pants, and black boots along with his white button up shirt gave him odd looks from Norta, though he had no wish to fit in, though he knew people would stare at the set of headphones draped over his shoulders and chest, the black wire extending down into his pocket, a modified device that allowed others to hear his inner voices, but he hadn't let anyone hear them though, his Personas were personal, and sometimes he just wanted to listen to one of them alone, and not the one hundred and seventy inside his skull. |
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| Shan Orison | Sat Dec 24, 2011 2:54 am Post #3 |
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Measure by measure, pausing often to practice the fingering before putting bow to string, Shan worked his way through the first song, battling past each note of music, each key change and note pattern abruptly ending, and finally managed to play, without ceasing if lacking his usual smooth flair, those coveted double bars marking the end. Congratulations, his inner critic said. You got a song down after only two days. It has been a time since we've done a song at this level, his inner bard said. But it's a fun song, and it'd be nice to have something to break up the monotony in taverns. Since you've got the basics of that one down, why not move on? No, Shan decided, he'd try this one again, at least once. He began to play again, focusing on polishing and perfecting the flow of the song. Thing were going even better than before, when sudden clapping interrupted his concentration. He looked up to see...a very strangely strangely dressed man. He wore a strange cut of jacket and trousers, colored blue, and had strange earmuffs connected by a cord to something tucked in a shirt pocket. "That's very nice, you play violin splendidly. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Motogir Hajima, please call me Moto. I was a bit surprised to see a man so far into the forest playing such wonderful music, may I have your name sir?" "Oh, um, hi." Shan said, dropping his violin slightly but prepared to raise it again if this odd man proved threatening. "Call me Shan." He didn't bother disavowing how wonderful the music was. The music itself was fantastic. At this point, it would really be his own nitpicking of things the untrained ear wouldn't pick out. Or perhaps he's being friendly? his anima pointed out. "Thank you for the compliment, though the reason I'm out here is to practice without bothering anyone," he said, keeping himself from staring at the man's strange style but failing. "What are you doing all the way out here, Moto, if you don't mind my asking?" Traveling performer, if I'm any judge, his second thoughts said. That's the only way I can see him wearing that outfit without feeling self-consious. |
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| Persona | Sat Dec 24, 2011 3:38 am Post #4 |
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Moto smiled as Shan asked for his own reason for being here... well there was no point in hiding it, from what he could tell this was a land of magic, so perhaps his own way of entering the realm were normal, "I was forcibly pulled into this land from my own pocket universe from a dark ritual that a cult did in this world, so you could say I'm here against my will, but I plan on enjoying this place to it's fullest before I figure out a way back to my own pocket universe outside of Time and Space." He knew that his answer sounded strange, he personally would have never believed it unless some sort of proof, "Ah, but if you don't believe me I can show some proof, please watch closely." He put his hand out to the side and closed his eyes, reaching out to Thanatos as the Moonsea Cutlass flashed into his hand, he opened his eyes and smiled as the scabbard appeared on his belt, "I can call forth a weapon from this realm to help me fight... then again maybe other people have this talent in this world... hmmm I should probably find some kind of library to learn the basic history of this place." He stroked his chin for a few moments before looking back to Shan, "Ah, sorry, I tend to ramble a bit... in my world I was mute for two years, finally being able to talk has made a world of difference to me... so... do you know where a town or village is? I'd like to purchase a map and other things." He sheathed his blade and took a few steps forward, "So if you could point me in the right direction I'll be on my way, unless you'd care to talk some more, I must admit I'm a bit curious about this world." He walked over to a fallen tree and sat down, waiting for Shan's answers. |
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| Shan Orison | Sat Dec 24, 2011 3:52 am Post #5 |
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"Well, yes, there are enchantments that let you summon your weapon," Shan said Moto took a seat. "The closest town is Norwood Village, I think, though the elves there can be rather...insular. And there's Kellen, that' probably a better bet, assuming nothing bad's happening there at the moment. Balefire's a few days from here. That's a nice city, assuming you don't mind the dark and know how to keep low. Just don't go to Hauntwood Marsh. Trust me, there is nothing but trouble there." Are you trying to match his rambling? his second thoughts prodded. "But, um, if you want to hang out a bit, that'd be okay. I can even travel with you to Balefire or Kellen if you want. I've been out here a while, and I wouldn't mind going back for a proper bath. So, um...welcome to Imythess, I guess?" Shan said, still not quite trusting that the man's story was true or just the words of a man lost in his own mental creations. However, he is speaking to one of the few people who know there are other dimensions that are a breath away but unreachable. Wonder who brought him here and why? his curiosity said. "I'm a bard, so I've traveled around a bit and heard a bit more. I'm not sure how much I could help, but I'd be willing to answer any questions I can for you, if you don't mind a few from myself. So, um, you lived in your own dimension but were mute...How does that work? Couldn't you just, well, will yourself to speak again?" |
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| Persona | Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:09 am Post #6 |
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Moto nodded at Shan, willing himself to speak... he hadn't explained it properly, he would need to learn to tell the whole story, "Well in that dimension I was just a lock keeping the Door of Catastrophe closed, in my original world I was a human, my parents had died when I was young, after living with relatives for a few years I learned that no one wanted me around, they called me a gloomy child and wished I would go away. At the age of sixteen I became mute, during that last year at my old school... I had finally met people that cared about me, people that had my special gift. Unfortunately to save the world and my friends that I had come to love... I had to sacrifice not only my body... but my mind, soul, and my very existence was wiped from history. My friends only remembered me in dreams, but those dreams were erased once I took the door through time and space, trying to keep it away from my old home. I have just learned to speak again, mostly I had to communicate with sign language and writing notes." He stroked his chin and thought of why he couldn't have willed himself to speak, "As for why I couldn't will myself to speak... I had no one to speak to in the pocket universe that existed outside of time and space so I could probably talk... but I never really tried I guess." He shrugged, he had never really thought of not speaking out loud since his Personas were always speaking into his head, Orpheus chimed in his head, 'Thou shouldst let me talk to thy new friend, we are both bards and I would love to speaketh to him.' Moto chided Orpheus, he couldn't let him out without angering Thanatos, and when Thanatos got angry he could sometimes take over forcefully, and that didn't end well for anyone. |
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| Shan Orison | Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:21 am Post #7 |
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"Oh, um, I guess that makes sense," Shan said, digging out supplies for tea. He could sense this would take awhile. "Though it is interesting to hear about other dimensions. I mean, I've heard the theory about them, and there's been some evidence about other worlds link and unlike our own, but, um..." Shan held his hands over the pot, summoning some water to boil. "Well, I've had strange things happen to me, too, though I'll admit your life story is a lot bigger in scope." He dug in his bag a bit more, disappointed he couldn't find anything more appetizing beyond some stale biscuits to eat. "So, well, I have other questions, but the usual etiquette in these cases is everyone asks a question in turn, and it's your turn to ask. Which is also an easy way to get me to stop asking questions, really. I mean, I can't ask a question if you haven't without being rude. And don't worry about speaking too much. I tend to go on, too, but being a bard means I've also gotten very good at listening. "So, go ahead," he said, waiting for the water to simmer. "Ask anything you'd like. I'll let you know if I can't answer it." |
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| Persona | Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:43 am Post #8 |
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Moto tapped his knee, wondering what he should ask... one thing came to mind, "What are the main cities with places with schools that teach about magic. I need to learn how magic works here exactly before I start trying to tap into my old skills," 'And old Personas,' he thought as he kept still, waiting for Shan's answer. Time seemed to stop as Thantos and Orpheus squabbled over what questions they should be asking, from obvious from Thanatos to obscure from Orpheus, he didn't let himself look annoyed, he only knew that Norta had another being living in her head, he didn't know anything about Shan. The chill crept back, he could feel the anger of Thanatos and the fear of Orpheus, there was a Shadow... somewhere, but it wasn't close, or possibly only trying to take form. He hoped his new friend had a strong mind, otherwise the Shadow would feed off of his doubt, and other negative emotions to become whole, though depending on the specific emotion and what that emotion stemmed from... the appearances could vary greatly, until it took form he would wait and cut it down once it appeared. |
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| Shan Orison | Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:53 am Post #9 |
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"Learning magic? I'd say your best bet for a wide variety of magical schools in one place would be the Academy in Striberg. That's a city far to the north. It's on an iceberg, though there's magic to keep the harsh climate at bay. It'll snow outside, but inside it'll be warm rain. Just...be careful if you go out at night, or stay with the main streets," Shan advised, remembering his run in with the malicious killer Cutter. "There can be some dangerous characters there. In every city, really. There are practitioners all around Imythess, but the Academy in Striberg is your best bet." He looks concerned about something, his second thoughts said. Best to ask if he'd run into something that would raise his caution like that. And waste a question?! his curiosity glared. Not on your life. "So then," Shan said, pouring the now boiling water into the teapot and adding tea leaves, "I think it's my turn to ask. So, you mentioned having some sort of gift that you shared with others from your...let's say home world. And that you need to learn about magic here before you used the magic you knew. What sort of gift do you have, and how did your old world's magic work?" At the very least, he knew his mother would be fascinated by this information, so he planned to listen closely. |
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| Persona | Sat Dec 24, 2011 5:13 am Post #10 |
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Moto nodded, absorbing the information like a sponge, Striberg, that would be his next stop after getting a map. Though when Shan asked what his ability was... he was hesitant to show it, but Shan had been helpful so far... and showing a Persona to someone couldn't be all that bad. He asked his Personas and Thanatos was dead set against it, Cu Chulainn spoke up for once and stated, 'not me' while Orpheus volunteered. He nodded, "My power is called Persona, by tapping into the knowledge and strength of long dead men and women, or even sometimes spirits... and at one point a rabid wild weasel with an attitude... tapping into his power was a bit... odd. We called the power simply, 'Persona', I was the only one that could switch Personas at will though. At one point I had one hundred and seventy Persona under my command, now most of them sleep in my head, only two actively talk to me now... Thanatos, God of Death, and Orpheus, Master of Strings." He stood up and let Orpheus show himself, a ghostly image appearing around Moto, he even put his own energy into it to make even those without a good understanding of magic to see it. Oprheus seemed to have a body made of white metal, a large lyre on his back, and the only thing humanoid was his head. His voice came out of Moto's mouth, the voice sharper and lighter, as if music was coming from it, "I am thou, and thou art I, from the sea of thy soul I cometh, Orpheus, Master of Strings. I thank Moto for letting me cometh, now I may ask thou a question, bard to bard. Where is the closest place to pick up a lyre? I must resumeth Moto's training, thou must knoweth of a place of musical importance." Orpheus looked at Shan from Moto's body, hoping the man could see the ghostly image projected over Moto's body. |
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| Shan Orison | Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:21 pm Post #11 |
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Shan listened to Moto's explanation of his magic, trying to think of an equivalent. With his offer to demonstrate his abilities, Shan sat back. He still wasn't certain how to take everything Moto said, so he was letting his story wash over him, taking it in like a skillful tale. He'd work out how true it was later. Moto stood and then he...shimmered. A second figure overlapped his own, a white, ghostly phantom of a human shaped lyre. It spoke, but somehow it felt like he was singing as well, asking Shan where he could obtain a lyre. Make a joke, make a joke! his prankster said said laughing. "Lyre!" So much material! Let's try to be more mature than that, his bardic side said. This is a serious question. We shall treat it as such. "Oh, um, hi, Orpheus," Shan said, studying the figure. "A lyre? Well, you can probably find one in most cities, though really, if you want to guarantee you get a good lyre -" Hahaha, a "good lyre!" "And not just a bowl attached to a board and strings, then you're best bet is Cascadia. It's not near Striberg, though, but it's the heart of artistry in Imythess. I'd suggest any bard go visit there. Let's see...my friend Kalla got her lyre at the "Plucked Quill" and there's that instrument shop on Litwit Lane that sells enchantments, too. Hope that helps. "So, Moto, you're, um, a medium, I guess? Well, with hundreds of soul, I guess you're more of a large..." Yes! Got one in! That was horrible, Joker, his second thoughts groaned. "So, um, god of Death, eh? That sounds...creepy," Shan continued, personally imagining the image of a slaver that had chased him a while ago. "So, you plan to be a bard while you're here? Or something else?" What if he is Not Gehrin? his paranoia asked. I mean, he could shift his looks at will, and it can't be Diana since it's daylight... He's not Not Gehrin, Paranoia, calm down, his second thoughts said. But what if he is? "I guess that's my question," Shan said, trying to ignore his paranoia. "Sorry I can't seem to think of a better one." |
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| Persona | Sun Dec 25, 2011 3:52 am Post #12 |
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Orpheus and Moto listened to him and nodded, Orpheus speaking once more, "I thank thou for thy information, I shall plan a trip for Moto once we get a map at some point. Now I giveth back control to Moto." The ghostly image disappeared as he took the Lyre off his back, strumming a single note, piercing the near silence as a single clear and beautiful note. Moto shook his head slowly, a small headache was the after effect of tapping into Orpheus, Thanatos just made him hungry... if he ever got Cu Chulainn to come out he knew he would need to sleep. When Shan asked what he was going to become, well that was a tough one, he did love music, especially the saxophone and jazz music. He scratched his chin and shrugged, "I guess the closest thing I would be is a Skald, a warrior musician, once I tap into the Persona that hold my musical talents, that would be Orpheus but her refuses to instantly give me the skills unlike the other Personas. So I will mostly be a wanderer, probably learn how to play the lyre so I can make some money, get better at swordsmanship to do mercenary work... I guess I'll be a jack of all trades, dip my finger in everything, make sure the cult isn't looking for me to hard, not that I intend to hide, I just want to fight them on my terms... or at least fight them without Shadows as their back up." He stroked his chin, thinking of his own question, and then nodded once, the question forming slowly in his head, the cold chill running up and down his spine, "Do you feel that chill... do you sense anything dark or some kind of fear rising in your head, something you might have never thought about or a thought you never entertained for long, perhaps something that truly frightens you." He grimaced, a shadow was taking form, and if he knew the form he could at least get the jump on it before it fully formed. |
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| Shan Orison | Sun Dec 25, 2011 4:04 am Post #13 |
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"What?" Shan said. "That's an odd question. Although..." Shan trailed off. Should he share his suspicions? He wasn't wearing that black velvet the slaver wore, and the outfit Not Gehrin would have crafted from illusion would at least look as though it came from around here. It was the strange outfit and earmuffs around Moto's neck that really sold his story to Shan. "Well, it's something I do a lot when I run across strange people in the woods, but I met this...this man. He attacked me, but let me go, and I get a bit jumpy with new people about. He can change how he looks, you see. But I don't think he can change his clothes. At least, he didn't when he tricked me that one time. It's still something I keep in mind though. I mean, he was a rather dangerous elf, and powerful..." And it would be so easy to be just like him, his Shadow whispered. Shan squashed the thought. He knew that. If he were less scrupulous, he could even be working for Not Gehrin, and doing the job very well. With just his music, he could clear out entire villages and deliver them into slavery. Not a drop of blood shed or a bit of protest. It wasn't something he wanted to think about for long. Best not to share that aloud, his second thoughts said. No need to creep Moto out. "So, well, if you are him, I'd appreciate you dropping the charade, though I don' think you are. Your outfit's a bit too outlandish, to be honest, and your story is more elaborate than what I think he'd concoct. What are those earmuffs around your neck, anyway?" I wanted to ask about the Skald thing... Curiosity, his common sense said. You wanted to ask about the earmuffs, too. You want to ask about everything. Oh, yeah! his curiosity said, perking up. Around him, it seemed the forest was growing darker, though that might have been just a cloud passing by. Shan kept a tight grip on his violin, however, just in case. |
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| Persona | Sun Dec 25, 2011 4:32 am Post #14 |
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Moto nodded, so Shan had dark thoughts... about a man that could shift his appearance, that was far from good, that meant the Shadow could look like anyone... if there was enough dark thoughts in his head it might form one of Them, a large shadow with immense power, though he wouldn't tell Shan that, after all there was no reason to startle him, as long as the Shadow was small or at least weak he could probably take care of it. He stood up straight and looked around, he could feel it coming, it was slowly gaining power, like a rock slowly starting an avalanche, it was probably one of Them. He grimaced for a few moments, thinking to his Personas, 'You guys feel that right? Something big is coming... it feels familiar to the first one of Them that we killed, though back then Thanatos was a monster and had his full power, now we are significantly weaker, if it appears I'm going to need a more... magical weapon, something that'll take the natural cold in the area as a weapon, preferably a spear so I can fully awaken Cu Culainn, please start thinking about it while I speak to Shan.' His Personas agreed with grim resolve as they started to mentally forge a spear. He turned back to Shan and smiled, "Alright these are head phones, they're attached to my mp3 player, back in my world I would use these to listen to music, but now... I can let my Personas speak through it for three minutes before I use some of my magic to recharge the object, I'll allow one of my Persona to speak, but not take control." He reached into his shirt pocket and turned on the device, a bored voice with a thick irish accent came from it, "Ach, ye cannae let me rest, what are ye doin' bother ol' Cu Chulainn. I know that Thanatos and Oprheus are makin' ye a bonny spear ta' use in hopes ta' fully awaken me instead of me jus' speakin' up as I please. It's nice ta' meet tha' bonny lad that plays the music, now away with tha' device, it's probably scarin' tha' bard out o' his wits." He flicked the device off and turned back to Shan, "My turn... how fast can you run? I'm not going to attack you, it's just I have this thing where misfortune follows me like a plague, these tend to manifest as Shadows, long story short, they're not friendly and they will feed on negative emotions and weak minds." He ended it with that, if Shan was a fast runner he had no need to worry about him, if he wasn't, he would need to play Follow the Leader with the Shadow and keep it away from Shan. |
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| Shan Orison | Sun Dec 25, 2011 4:58 am Post #15 |
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"Shadows?" Shan said, his unease growing at the word. "I'm very skilled at running, since I do it so much," Shan said, standing. That tiny thing can play music? Like one of those geared music boxes? What song does it play? Not the time, Curiosity, said Shan's caution. Things aren't feeling right. Wonder what it is? Shut up, Curiosity. "But, um, I tend to have misfortune follow me around, too. So even if I did run, it'd probably chase after me first, whatever these things are. Besides, my next question was going to be about these Skahns you mentioned, and what they're like. They sound a bit like what I occasionally do." As if you could help much, some darker part of Shan began to whisper. So weak and pathetic. You're the one who needs help, not him. Best you run and hide, that's what you're best at. Let others take on your battles. "Um, Moto...?" Shan said, trying to fight back the litany. "When you say they feed on negative thoughts, what exactly did you mean?" Even better, why not just curl up on the ground now? Not like running ever helped you. Besides, what are you going to do if these things do show up? Play them a tune? Pathetic... Shadow, Shan thought. You aren't helping. What do you gain if I die? Right now, I'm just enjoying this new strength. It's amazing, and if what this man says is right, I won't have to worry about you for much longer, not if I can manifest on my own. All I'd need to do then is kill him and then, well...There's just so much fun I could have with a twerp like you... "Because, well, I can have pretty dark turns of mind myself..." |
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6:39 PM May 22
