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another-corpo-rat · 2 years ago

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Not a shippy one this time – but the idea fit the prompt so I ran with it.

Prompts: All Comes Crashing No warnings apply Summary: Jackie Welles has a dead rockerboy in his head, is dying himself, and now a fancy-pressed suit he used to know is looking at him like he’s a damn fool.

Jackie knows Victoria. He saved her ass a few years back, during an op in Mexico that went tits up real quick. Kept an eye on her when she had to deep-dive in a shitty bathtub in a shitty hotel with no AC, the room still steaming from overheated tech and the heavy weight of the air despite the open window and bath that was more ice than water.

And she got what they needed to save the day and get the hell outta dodge. Credit went to her, of course. The Arasaka agent, not the nameless merc who kept her ass alive through it all.

‘Typical glory-hogs,’ Johnny huffs, voice taking that hard, bitter edge it always got when Arasaka was involved, ‘you spill your blood, they take the credit and you get to consider yourself lucky if they don’t spit in your face afterwards.’

Nah, he thinks. Not Vic. At least not entirely. She made sure his ass got some praise for it, paid him back enough that he didn’t have to worry about his too-many open tabs for a solid eight months. Even offered to wrangle him a place straight into Arasaka’s security training.

“It’s a simple enough job.” She said, tapping her cigarette into the ashtray. “Pays well, and your dear mother won’t have to worry about you coming home dead in a taxi.” And she knew what she was doing, plucking at his heart like that. Playing on the worry he knows his mama lives with, has lived with since he threw his lot in with the Valentinos as a kid.

He considered it, for all of a moment.

“Nah chica,” her eye twitched at the word, “I mean, ma’am- thanks but corpo life wouldn’t really be my thing, y’know?”

“Oh, of course. Who has ever become a legend in Night City by working as a security guard?” He nodded, she sighed, and that was that.

Last he saw her was their conversation in the plaza, below the giant fish, before the heist. She called him an idiot but wished him well. He didn’t expect to see her again.

Not here at least.

Victoria stands out like a sore thumb on the derelict Ebunike, white suit impossibly spotless against the grime. Yet she sits as comfortably as she might do on an office chair, legs crossed, tilted back just enough to appear comfortable. Watching him with a tight, judging expression. Like he was a fool.

He feels like one, that pit in his stomach a familiar thing – has been for a while now, since he watched Saburo get murked by his own son, since he heard T-Bug’s scream in his ear. He should’ve scoped the place out longer, waited for Rogue to get back in touch. Or just take a second to wonder if Smasher might have some extra, discreet security on his super-secret hideout beyond Maelstrom. Like a netrunner.

Sometimes it was hard to tell if the impatience was his own or Johnny’s.

He’d bet his leg on it being Johnny’s right now.

Guy was pacing in a small circle, sneering at the back of Victoria’s head. Somehow getting himself wound up at her lack of reaction, as if she was deliberately ignoring him.

“So, you have the engram of Johnny Silverhand in your head, brain leaking out of your ears, and you both decided that ending a grudge with Smasher would be a good use of your increasingly limited time?”

“Heh. Makes me sound like an idiot when you put it like that, Chica.” Her eye twitches.

“Because you are.” She stares at him hard, eyes narrowed. Used to be that look made him anxious, got him squirming. Now it was as easy to shake off as Rogue’s quiet disapproval. “You’re taking the word of a narcissistic terrorist as truth, for one.”

“I’m not taking his word—” he sits forward, Victoria straightens, eyes flashing in a subtle warning.

‘Easy Jacks, she’s got her finger on the trigger.’ And not of a gun, they both know. A decent netrunner doesn’t need one – and Victoria has long since bragged that she’s beyond decent. He knows himself how hard her quickhacks bite. ‘We do this, you gotta be quick and not so goddamn obvious.’

Right, right.

He relaxes himself back, too forced for it to even appear natural. She doesn’t ease. At all. “I’m not taking his word. Let’s be real, we both know that ain’t worth shit. But I- I’ve lived his memories. I was there when he stormed the tower, when he planted that nuke.” Something changes in her then, a brief raise of her brow, a sharpening in her eyes. “When Smasher pulled the trigger…”

“Then Silverhand lies to himself as much as he does you.”

‘Yeah, I’ve changed my mind. Just pop that bullet into her skull now.’

‘Careful Johnny. You’re making me think she’s got a point.’

‘Her point is to waste our time. Smasher’s not here, we oughta delta, regroup with Rogue and rethink our approach. If you’re gonna puss out on killing her, then at least knock her out.’

‘I’m not—’

“Welles.” Her sharper voice pulls him back, eyes focusing on her. “Do you know what a black-box is? For conversion frames, specifically.”

‘And here she goes, wasting more of our time.’

He ignores the engram, shaking his head in response to the question. She makes a soft little sound and finally lets herself ease back. He can’t tell if she’s really relaxed, or if she’s just better at pretending than he is.

“It’s a recorder. Always on, catching what they do at all times. And largely unalterable, unless they upload it elsewhere for a BD-editor to scroll through, but even then the source footage is still in their records, untouched.”

Something spikes in his head, right where the relic is fixed into his broken slot. A pulse of irritation and dread in a sickening mix that flows to sit heavy in his stomach. And it must show in his face – something in Victoria’s expression has changed, a slight but there lifting of her features. The smile on her lips isn’t pleasant.

“Unlike the worm you have writhing about in your head, Smasher can’t lie about the events of that night – not to himself, and not to anyone else who has seen that footage from its source.”

‘Are you really believing this shit Jacks? Shoot her, draw the bastard out and ask him yourself if you really wanna know-’ A desperate press to Johnny’s voice betrays him, the pause in his pacing, the draw of his brow and the pinch of the cigarette. All telling.

Victoria’s tongue darts out to wet her lips, a quick thing. A snake scenting the air.

“Do you want to see the truth of that night? Or are you going to let a dead man pull you into the grave with him, Welles?”

A buzz rises in his ears, a pull in his gut like a weight threatening to claw up and out. It deafens him to Johnny’s ranting – something he can see as the man returns to pacing. Back and forth, back and forth, arms in the air when he’s not gesturing wildly to the city, to Victoria, to his head.

They’re both liars, Johnny and Victoria. One for pride, the other for fun.

His fingers twitch, jaw clenched to keep that uncomfortable thing in him down.

He just about manages to ground out;

“Show me.”

(In the midst of a raw BD, where his steps are heavier and his voice mechanised, he doesn’t see her eyes aglow with an outgoing call.)

#cyberhanami23 #cyberpunk 2077 #Jackie Welles #johnny silverhand #hello boys #my first time writing either of them #idk how people manage Johnny #it felt like i was having him react too much but not enough at the same time #Victoria Crane #fic tag #my writing

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kwebtv · 1 year ago

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Burke’s Law - List of Guest Stars

The Special Guest Stars of “Burke’s Law” read like a Who’s Who list of Hollywood of the era. Many of the appearances, however, were no more than one scene cameos. This is as complete a list ever compiled of all those who even made the briefest of appearances on the series.

Beverly Adams, Nick Adams, Stanley Adams, Eddie Albert, Mabel Albertson, Lola Albright, Elizabeth Allen, June Allyson, Don Ameche, Michael Ansara, Army Archerd, Phil Arnold, Mary Astor, Frankie Avalon, Hy Averback, Jim Backus, Betty Barry, Susan Bay, Ed Begley, William Bendix, Joan Bennett, Edgar Bergen, Shelley Berman, Herschel Bernardi, Ken Berry, Lyle Bettger, Robert Bice, Theodore Bikel, Janet Blair, Madge Blake, Joan Blondell, Ann Blyth, Carl Boehm, Peter Bourne, Rosemarie Bowe, Eddie Bracken, Steve Brodie, Jan Brooks, Dorian Brown, Bobby Buntrock, Edd Byrnes, Corinne Calvet, Rory Calhoun, Pepe Callahan, Rod Cameron, Macdonald Carey, Hoagy Carmichael, Richard Carlson, Jack Carter, Steve Carruthers, Marianna Case, Seymour Cassel, John Cassavetes, Tom Cassidy, Joan Caulfield, Barrie Chase, Eduardo Ciannelli, Dane Clark, Dick Clark, Steve Cochran, Hans Conried, Jackie Coogan, Gladys Cooper, Henry Corden, Wendell Corey, Hazel Court, Wally Cox, Jeanne Crain, Susanne Cramer, Les Crane, Broderick Crawford, Suzanne Cupito, Arlene Dahl, Vic Dana, Jane Darwell, Sammy Davis Jr., Linda Darnell, Dennis Day, Laraine Day, Yvonne DeCarlo, Gloria De Haven, William Demarest, Andy Devine, Richard Devon, Billy De Wolfe, Don Diamond, Diana Dors, Joanne Dru, Paul Dubov, Howard Duff, Dan Duryea, Robert Easton, Barbara Eden, John Ericson, Leif Erickson, Tom Ewell, Nanette Fabray, Felicia Farr, Sharon Farrell, Herbie Faye, Fritz Feld, Susan Flannery, James Flavin, Rhonda Fleming, Nina Foch, Steve Forrest, Linda Foster, Byron Foulger, Eddie Foy Jr., Anne Francis, David Fresco, Annette Funicello, Eva Gabor, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Reginald Gardiner, Nancy Gates, Lisa Gaye, Sandra Giles, Mark Goddard, Thomas Gomez, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Sandra Gould, Wilton Graff, Gloria Grahame, Shelby Grant, Jane Greer, Virginia Grey, Tammy Grimes, Richard Hale, Jack Haley, George Hamilton, Ann Harding, Joy Harmon, Phil Harris, Stacy Harris, Dee Hartford, June Havoc, Jill Haworth, Richard Haydn, Louis Hayward, Hugh Hefner, Anne Helm, Percy Helton, Irene Hervey, Joe Higgins, Marianna Hill, Bern Hoffman, Jonathan Hole, Celeste Holm, Charlene Holt, Oscar Homolka, Barbara Horne, Edward Everett Horton, Breena Howard, Rodolfo Hoyos Jr., Arthur Hunnicutt, Tab Hunter, Joan Huntington, Josephine Hutchinson, Betty Hutton, Gunilla Hutton, Martha Hyer, Diana Hyland, Marty Ingels, John Ireland, Mako Iwamatsu, Joyce Jameson, Glynis Johns, I. Stanford Jolley, Carolyn Jones, Dean Jones, Spike Jones, Victor Jory, Jackie Joseph, Stubby Kaye, Monica Keating, Buster Keaton, Cecil Kellaway, Claire Kelly, Patsy Kelly, Kathy Kersh, Eartha Kitt, Nancy Kovack, Fred Krone, Lou Krugman, Frankie Laine, Fernando Lamas, Dorothy Lamour, Elsa Lanchester, Abbe Lane, Charles Lane, Lauren Lane, Harry Lauter, Norman Leavitt, Gypsy Rose Lee, Ruta Lee, Teri Lee, Peter Leeds, Margaret Leighton, Sheldon Leonard, Art Lewis, Buddy Lewis, Dave Loring, Joanne Ludden, Ida Lupino, Tina Louise, Paul Lynde, Diana Lynn, James MacArthur, Gisele MacKenzie, Diane McBain, Kevin McCarthy, Bill McClean, Stephen McNally, Elizabeth MacRae, Jayne Mansfield, Hal March, Shary Marshall, Dewey Martin, Marlyn Mason, Hedley Mattingly, Marilyn Maxwell, Virginia Mayo, Patricia Medina, Troy Melton, Burgess Meredith, Una Merkel, Dina Merrill, Torben Meyer, Barbara Michaels, Robert Middleton, Vera Miles, Sal Mineo, Mary Ann Mobley, Alan Mowbray, Ricardo Montalbán, Elizabeth Montgomery, Ralph Moody, Alvy Moore, Terry Moore, Agnes Moorehead, Anne Morell, Rita Moreno, Byron Morrow, Jan Murray, Ken Murray, George Nader, J. Carrol Naish, Bek Nelson, Gene Nelson, David Niven, Chris Noel, Kathleen Nolan, Sheree North, Louis Nye, Arthur O'Connell, Quinn O'Hara, Susan Oliver, Debra Paget, Janis Paige, Nestor Paiva, Luciana Paluzzi, Julie Parrish, Fess Parker, Suzy Parker, Bert Parks, Harvey Parry, Hank Patterson, Joan Patrick, Nehemiah Persoff, Walter Pidgeon, Zasu Pitts, Edward Platt, Juliet Prowse, Eddie Quillan, Louis Quinn, Basil Rathbone, Aldo Ray, Martha Raye, Gene Raymond, Peggy Rea, Philip Reed, Carl Reiner, Stafford Repp, Paul Rhone, Paul Richards, Don Rickles, Will Rogers Jr., Ruth Roman, Cesar Romero, Mickey Rooney, Gena Rowlands, Charlie Ruggles, Janice Rule, Soupy Sales, Hugh Sanders, Tura Satana, Telly Savalas, John Saxon, Lizabeth Scott, Lisa Seagram, Pilar Seurat, William Shatner, Karen Sharpe, James Shigeta, Nina Shipman, Susan Silo, Johnny Silver, Nancy Sinatra, The Smothers Brothers, Joanie Sommers, Joan Staley, Jan Sterling, Elaine Stewart, Jill St. John, Dean Stockwell, Gale Storm, Susan Strasberg, Inger Stratton, Amzie Strickland, Gil Stuart, Grady Sutton, Kay Sutton, Gloria Swanson, Russ Tamblyn. Don Taylor, Dub Taylor, Vaughn Taylor, Irene Tedrow, Terry-Thomas, Ginny Tiu, Dan Tobin, Forrest Tucker, Tom Tully, Jim Turley, Lurene Tuttle, Ann Tyrrell, Miyoshi Umeki, Mamie van Doren, Deborah Walley, Sandra Warner, David Wayne, Ray Weaver, Lennie Weinrib, Dawn Wells, Delores Wells, Rebecca Welles, Jack Weston, David White, James Whitmore, Michael Wilding, Annazette Williams, Dave Willock, Chill Wills, Marie Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Sandra Wirth, Ed Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Dana Wynter, Celeste Yarnall, Francine York.

#Burke's Law #TV #Special Guest Stars in Alphabetical Order

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watasemasaru · 1 year ago

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Please tell us about the Days Sisters!

The Days girls are the American Japanese-Welsh cousins of Osaka Trio (Wakaba, Ryuko, & Kyrie). They were born and raised in Harlan, KY to Oisín M. Days and Chieko Ono.

They're parents are both doctors who work hard to help people in Harlan which is an major poverty stricken area. Oisín is very quiet, a bit spacy, and always looks to have a cloud of melancholy hanging over him. Chieko is bursting with good humor and energy. She has a big laugh and a big heart.

Shasta Shizuka Days (married name; Sanchez)

DOB: April 1, 1968

The eldest sister. In the typical trope way she's also the shortest. Shasta is a Harvard graduate district attorney that works in tandem with the major crimes unit her husband Julio works in LA. She's perceived to most, even to her sisters as cold, mean, crabby, etc. Julio and their children are pretty much the only people who get to see the real Shasta. Like Ian has mentioned; "she didn't used to be that way." Shasta is precise and logical, she needs everything to be just-so. She's very fashionable and has an austere, clean sense of style...which is a stark contrast to the shit box death wobble rust ridden pick up truck she won't get rid of. With Julio they have three biological kids; twins Mana & Shiho, and Mamoru, and an adopted son; Mark. Outside of work Shasta doesn't really have friends, she's a homebody and likes to read old french novels or watch black and white movies.

Dahlia Eiko Days

DOB July 7, 1973

The second sister and the tallest at 5'11. Dahlia is not in anyway like her parents and sisters in the academics department. She only just barely got out of high school and WOULD NOT go to college. Dahlia is a detective that made her way out to LA and worked in Farmington but bailed, seeing the writing on the wall with Vic Mackey and his strike team. She worked major crimes with Julio and Shasta but eventually felt the need for seasons so she's currently in Chicago working Intelligence. Dahlia is brash, sarcastic, a shameless flirt, and short tempered. Because of her temperament she makes risky impulse decisions, but is fueled by good intentions and almost naive sense of what justice should be. Dahlia is the antithesis of Shasta where you'll never see her in a dress or a skirt, you can't even get in a blazer unless work requires it. She's jeans, tshirts, and hoodies all the way. Dahlia currently has a restoration project of a classic muscle car. In her off time she's bent down under the hood working, grease and grime all over her face and a cigarette in her mouth. She's also a reader but it's modern mysteries.

Sunny Miyu Days

DOB December 13, 1978

Third in line and the "older" twin. Sunny has stayed close to home, when to a state school, trained at glynco and is a us marshall out of Lexington. Sunny is true to her name; lively, outgoing, friendly. She has big golden retriever energy. Sunny is also very nosy and that usually gets her into trouble because she can't leave well enough alone. Her dog with a bone nature is probably why she's so good at chasing fugitives. Her and Raylan Givens both kicking up dirt hasn't put either of them in the graces of the people in their hometown. Sunny dresses a little casual for work, jeans and a button down in a tacky print, but at home she's a cutoffs, tank top, and everyone be damned if you make her put on shoes lol. She watches a lot of tv, cooking shows especially since she's of the four the worst cook. Sunny is a bit of carpenter, she likes remodeling her house when the mood strikes her. And she's nursing a HUGE crush on her coworker, Rachel Brooks.

Ian Hibiki Days (married name; Barba)

DOB December 13, 1978

The youngest! She and Sunny are also mirror twins. If you look at the banner their freckles are the same but the opposite side. Sunny's dyed hair distinguishes them but also Ian is considerably shorter due to getting sick in her early teens that resulted in her stunted height. She's right as rain though, just now she's "the short twin." Ian is less outgoing than Sunny, but still friendly. Ian's described as empathetic, intuitive, kind, with a tendency to be analytical. She's also a Harvard graduate with linguistics and psychology. She's a detective in Manhattan with SVU. Her partner was Munch until he retired and then got partnered with Carisi. She did early in her story help out Chicago Intelligence where she was briefly close with Antonio Dawson.

Ian is loyal to an almost deadly fault. She will always put herself out to help someone else. And like her twin will keep at it till she sees the desired result. Ian is a good cook but absolutely hates cooking. You can usually find her somewhere "low-end" as opposed to the fancy places nyc has to offer. She's big on breakfast. Ian now and then likes to play videogames, but to Fin's disappointment, not fps. She's a swanky dresser like Shasta but has a much more masculine/tomboyish flair. Trousers, jeans, oxfords, boots, blazers and plaid that looks like it came off a couch from the 70s.

She has a saint bernard; Chevalier, whom she had before she met Barba and a cat; Caderousse that Barba tried really hard not to like but that's his cat now. She and Barba have two children; Yui Catalina and Inés Hanamaru (middles names are maternal and paternal grandmother's names respectively)

#asks #oc spewage #shasta shizuka days #dahlia eiko days #sunny miyu days #ian hibiki days

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hriobzagelthewanderer · 1 year ago

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"So if this is where you live, why's it look ugly? Do you not clean at all? We need to buy you a swiffer mop or somethin'. The build up in here would not pass the mom test. Does Mama need ta come in here and teach you how ta clean?"

She's nitpicking his home "Need ta teach you how ta decorate too. I'd say this place needs a lady's touch, but even my Baba decorated better than this and he was a single dad for 1300 years! Then again, I was also doin' a lot of decoratin' myself by paintin' on the walls. Maybe I should paint somethin' for you! Maybe we get some brighter colors in here too. How do ya feel about pink?"

"Warden loooves pink. It's his favorite color. Everythin' he owns is pink to a degree. I'm partial to green myself, but you got enough green out here livin' in tha middle of a mountain. Maybe we get some blues in here, and whites- OH! How about magenta? Magenta's a good color. Though Mama likes red. OOOOO, how about some red strips on the columns? That might look nice. Or we could do some diamond patterns, or polkadots. OH! Auntie's got some real neat lookin' patterns on her walls. She calls her style vi- vic- victormium? Victananaiam?"

He wasn't paid enough for this... well, he was doing this out of the goodness of his heart, but you get the idea.

Taking a deep breath to focus... then another to focus on his innate powers, the Fae exhales slow and evenly... as a number of flowering vines appear and spread over all the walls: Morning Glories, Clematis, and Jasmine blooming and spreading their vibrant violets, burgundies, and whites along with fresh tapestries of green... while a far subtler pulse of magic re-polishes the remaining stone and wood as any remaining traces of dust or grime evaporate.

"...is that better? Paint is one thing, but the more living things are down here, the better for me, and the fresher the air around us. What do you think?"

#ic #thelittlestdemon #a child of fire and harmony #the fool - mainline #halls of krakonos

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bamby0304 · 2 years ago

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Victoria Grimes VIII: War

Ch.9: It's Gonna Happen...

Series Masterlist

Summary: Daryl and Victoria have worked through her mistakes made at the Sanctuary and have decided to keep the truth between themselves. But with the war between their communities and the Saviours brewing, their bond will be tested all over again. Lies, death and the threat of defeat are coming for Vickie… will she be strong enough to come through in one piece?

Warnings: Angst. Violence. Death.

Bamby

VPOV

The sun was golden in the sky, that beautiful colour it got before sun set. It was beautiful and warm.

I was laying down on a blanket in the field across from home, with Judith by my side. She was happily playing with her toys, watching Aly and Houdini run around us. Giggling and happy barking filled my ears, making my heart swell as I enjoyed the peace while I could.

Carl was only a few feet away, finishing off planting a tree he’d decided to plant in the field across from our home.

The day had been nice. It was a different pace that I’d really needed after the hell I’d been through for weeks now.

I couldn’t remember the last time things had been this quiet, this easy. Even when Daryl and I had our moments, when we allowed ourselves to get intimate and just enjoy each other while we could, things were never like this.

It wasn’t going to last, so I was going to enjoy it for as long as I could.

“Daddy!”

Aly’s voice had me sitting up on my elbows as I watched Daryl head towards us. My mood shifted in an instant.

Pulling myself up, I told Aly to wait with Judith while I headed over to my husband, meeting him halfway.

“You left.”

He nodded, chewing his lip. “Yep.”

“You went to the Sanctuary.”

“Yep.”

“Without me.”

“Couldn’t take you with me. Couldn’t risk it.”

“So you can risk yourself but not me?” I shook my head at him. “What happened to ‘Where you go, I go’?” When he didn’t respond right away, I stepped closer. “Daryl… is it ‘cause you don’t trust me.”

That got his attention.

He stopped chewing his lip as he met my gaze and held it. “I trust you, Vic. Aint trust no one like I trust you.”

“Then why did you go? Why… why did you leave me?” I felt my voice break a little as tears began to brim my eyes. “I was alone and I didn’t know if you were gonna come back, and I thought… I thought if you died out there, today, without me, you’d die hating me.”

Suddenly he was pulling me to his chest, holding me to him. I cried, letting out only a bit of the stress and emotions I’d been bottling up for far too long now.

“Never hate you, Vic.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Just did what I thought I had to. Had to protect you from that place. From those people.”

He didn’t have to say it, but we both knew there was only one person he wanted to protect me from. Negan.

“Won’t do it again. I promise. Won’t leave you again.”

I nodded against him, letting him hold me close as I cried a little more.

CPOV

I thought it would be safe when night fell. I thought I could sneak into the underground sewer tunnels to check on Siddiq. I thought I would go unnoticed. No one ever noticed when I snuck over the fence, so why should this be any different?

I’d been wrong.

As I slid the cover back onto the manhole I tried to be as quiet as possible. Once it was in place I turned, ready to head back home. Instead I came face to face with Michonne as she headed my way.

“Carl,” she called, a questioning look furrowing her brows. “I've been lookin' for you. We're about ready to head out. What are you doing?” she asked as she looked behind me at the manhole.

There was no point in lying, and if there was anyone I could trust it would be Michonne.

“I'm helping someone,” I admitted. “A traveller.”

“In the sewer?”

Before I could explain or defend my actions, the sound of something banging on the town walls had as both freeze and turn in the direction it was coming from.

The front gates.

Feedback rang through the air, followed by a voice we did not expect. A voice that made our blood run cold.

“You may be wondering why the hell your lookouts didn't sound the alarm,” Negan started. “See, we are polite. I mean, I don't know when they're gonna wake up from that kinda shot, but they should wake up. So let's just cut through the cow shit. You lose. It's over.”

My heart was racing. We were unprepared and outnumbered.

Dad wasn’t here. Hilltop wasn’t here. The Kingdom had fallen apart. There were women and children. Elderly people. People lived here that could not fight and could not run.

We were running out of time, and we were running out of options.

“So you're gonna line up in front of your little houses, and you're gonna work up some apologies, and then the person with the lamest one is gonna get killed.” Negan’s voice rang through the town. I had no doubt everyone was listening. “Then I kill Rick in front of everybody, and we move on. You have three, count 'em, three minutes to open this gate, or we start bombing the shit out of you!”

Michonne’s eyes were wide with fear. “They got out.”

“Come on.” I turned and headed towards the houses as Negan began whistling. “Michonne,” I called after her when she didn’t move. “Come on!”

We didn’t have time to waste.

MPOV

With his eyes on the road in front of us, Jesus drove. We were headed for the Sanctuary like we’d all planned. Cars full of our people followed as we drove through the night. Jesus and I were in the front, with him behind the wheel, while Neil- one of the Hilltop people- and Diane sat behind us.

Sighing, Jesus broke the silence, “Do you think they'll surrender?”

“They will.” I believed it. “Eventually.”

“Not now?”

I turned to give him a pointed look. “Would we give up that quick?”

“No, we wouldn't.”

“Damn straight,” Neil agreed from behind me.

“They don't surrender today, they will soon.” It was only a matter of time. “Just need to run out of food water choices.”

Turning back to the road, I focused on the plan ahead. We had one goal, one mission, one destination in mind. It was a road we’d taken several times before. One we knew like the back of our hands. So when something changed it didn’t go unmissed by me.

“Slow down,” I told Jesus as I shifted in my seat, suddenly tense and alert.

“What is it?” Neil asked.

I nodded to the road up ahead. “Tree in the road wasn't there before.”

“Could've fallen on its own,” Jesus suggested. “Trees do that.”

I knew better. “It's them. Something happened.” Grabbing the walkie talkie, I didn’t miss a beat before sending out orders, “Bertie, turn around.”

But there was no response.

“Bertie!”

I looked behind us for a moment to make sure the cars were still there.

“Maggie.” Diane nodded to the front of our car.

Turning again, I watched as a truck rolled down the road. It curved around the fallen tree and turned so the back was facing us before coming to a stop.

Sitting there, all of us tense as the anticipation built up, I found my mind reeling as a million scenarios played out in my mind. I had no doubt this was the Saviours, that was sure. I just didn’t know how they’d managed to get free.

Behind us we heard car doors opening and closing as other Saviours surrounded our vehicles. Then the back of the truck opened, revealing a few other Saviours… along with a beaten-up Jerry, and a wooden coffin.

One of the truck’s doors opened as Simon stepped out, toothy grin in place. “Hello, hello, hello!” He stretched with a groan. “Ahh. What a damn nice night.” He started to walk forward, thumbs hooked into the loops of his jeans. “You all know the drill. Due to your recent decisions, everything has changed. And yet, nothin' has changed. Everyone needs to hand over their guns. Gary, shoot that beautiful bastard if anyone tries anything. Same goes for everyone in the cars.”

With that order, Saviours reached in and took our weapons, their lights shinning in our faces. The coffin from the truck was dragged over and set on the trunk of car. It was all we could look at if we didn’t want to see the state jerry was in.

Glare set in stone, I watched as Simon headed towards me window. He sighed before bending down and leaning against the car to look inside.

“How'd you get out?” I asked, voice tense and full of venom.

“Three guesses.” He shrugged when I didn’t respond. “Well, let's just say we figured it out.”

“What'd you do to the others-”

He cut me off before I could finish. “Oh, yes! That's exactly where I was going next. Right now, Kingdom is getting its innards splayed out for the world to see. And the Saviours will be taking possession of that property, starting tonight. Same with Alexandria. As long as they don't make it complicated. But Hilltop? The farmers? The breadbasket of our nascent civilization? It's your lucky day. You've been chosen to keep producing. Gregory made a little bit of a fool out of me in front of the big man, so I am hoping that you are the one to make things right.”

He paused, leaning back to listen to something in the distance. It was music, coming from the direction of the Sanctuary.

“You hear that? I need you to shift into active listening,” He told me as a wide grin found it’s way back onto his lips. “Eugene! Who, by the way, I was admittedly sceptical of, but, man, worked out like gangbusters. He helped us get out of the situation with the masses of the cold and impolite. And now my guys are leading the rest of the herd away. So this can go one of two ways.

“One, I can kill this likable gent on his knees over there, drag you out of this car, and put you in this box.” He pulled back to knock on the coffin. “Hmm? In which you will not suffocate to death like your friend. Sasha.” He leaned back into the car and continued on, “And then we take you to Hilltop, gather everyone up, and kill you in front of the whole place. And then drag you back to Sanctuary and put on the spike in front of HQ. And then my people will lead the walker herd to the Hilltop and pull off the same move that your people tried unsuccessfully at our place.

“What a pain in the ass for everyone concerned. Hmm?” He shrugged. “Or two, you turn around, go home, start watering that sorghum, save everyone, and, most importantly, me, a lot of trouble. And, yeah we're gonna have to kill one of your people. But then we're aces.” Stepping back from the car, he turned to the Saviour pressing a gun to Jerry’s head. “Nah, Gary. I got this.”

The shot rang through the car as Neil’s head exploded. Simon had shot him. He’d killed him. Without warning or hesitation.

Snarling, Simon leaned in close. “I just really needed you to know what I was talkin' about. I need you to smell it. Now tell me I don't got to kill this gent with the lustrous mane. Tell me I don't got to go down the line! Tell me, Maggie!” He barely gave me a moment to respond. “Gary!”

A gun cocked as Gary got ready to do the same to Jerry as Simon had done to Neil.

“No!” I cried, stopped Gary in his tracks. “You don't need to do any of it.” Tense, tears brimming my eyes, I swallowed it all as I shifted in my seat. Now was not the time to snap. It was not the time to react. Not now. “I just want to ask you a favour.”

“What is that?”

“I'd like that box. Take Neil home, to bury him in.”

Simon nodded. “Favour granted.”

Pulling away from the car one more time, he headed towards the truck and got in without looking back. The other Saviours followed suit, leaving the rest of us there to turn around and head back home.

VPOV

Carl was taking charge. We were all alert, listening to him as he spouted orders, a plan already firm in his head.

“You need to make it look like we're escaping out back,” he explained as he scavenged for things we might need out of the little amount of supplies we had at Alexandria. “Get to the woods, halfway to the quarry, and cut the lights. Get enough of a lead on them, hit them, and get away on foot. You know where we'll be. Just have to get the guns, get everyone else here, and we'll meet you there.”

The plan was simple enough. A group of us would make it out, just a little ways down the road, not too far from home. Then we’d trap as many Saviours as we could and shoot them down. Meanwhile everyone else would be home, being ushered into the sewers while Carl kept Negan distracted.

There was a problem, though. I had a problem… I didn’t want him doing it on his own.

Carl was my baby brother. I’d been in the hospital the day he’d been born. I was there the day Otis shot him. I was there for him after we lost Mum. He’d been there for me, too. We I was found months after the farm it was Carl that I reconnected with first.

He was my lifeline, my childhood, my… my best friend. Before the world crashed and burned, and after it all went to hell, Carl and I had been there for each other.

Was I really ready to leave him here knowing there would be nothing I could do when the Saviours eventually broke down the walls?

“Two minutes, people!” Negan’s voice rang, pulling me out of my head. “Dig deep. I want these apologies to be memorable. Bonus points for creativity. Work up a poem, sing a song. I love that shit.”

Carl turned to those who were staying to get our people to safety. “Get going. There's gonna people in the infirmary. They're gonna need your help.” They ran off without question.

Tara stepped forward then. “Look, we got guns. We can fight them.”

Rosita shook her head. “We will, but not now. Carl's right.”

Surveying the area, taking in our home, Michonne turned to my brother. “Carl, we can't just let them have this place.”

“We can,” he assured her.

It was just a place. Just one more place we’d called home. But as I’d come to realise just a few weeks ago, it wasn’t really a home.

Home was wherever my people were. Home was wherever Aly rested her head at night. Home was wherever Judith would grow up. Home is wherever Daryl was. This place was just that, a place, and it was replaceable. The people here weren’t.

“Carl’s right.” I looked to the rest of the people gathered around. Tara, Rosita, Michonne, Daryl, Carl. “This place can burn and we’ll be fine. We always end up fine. This isn’t about saving our home, it’s about saving our people.

Carl nodded. “All you need to do is survive tonight.” His gaze landed on Michonne as he stepped towards her. “This is my show. You said it. This is my plan, and you're gonna do it. You're all gonna do it. So let's go!”

I grabbed Carl’s arm before he could run off. The others went to do their jobs, except Daryl. He waited for me.

“I can’t leave you here to do this by yourself.”

He looked down at my hand as I continued to hold him in place, before he looked up to meet my eyes. “You can’t stay here. If this doesn’t work out, if I fall… Dad needs you. Everyone needs you.”

I glared at him, feeling tears sting my nose. “Don’t talk like you know whats gonna happen. Don’t talk like you’re already dead.”

“One minute!” Negan called. “One. Minute.”

Pulling me in for a hug, he gave me a quick but tight squeeze. “I’ll see you when you get back.” Slipping from my grasp, he then ran off.

I watched as he hurried for the gate, towards the enemy.

“Vic.” Daryl’s hand landed on my shoulder. “We gotta go. Come on.”

Swallowing the tears that threatened to spill, I turned and let him lead me towards the others. If Carl was going to be in charge then I was going to make sure his plan went as smoothly as possible. I wasn’t letting us lose anyone tonight.

NPOV

“Okie dokie. Brought this on yourself, Rick,” I called on the megaphone as I paced in front of Alexandria’s gate. “See, was willing to work with you. All you had to do was follow a few very simple rules. Now? Well, now I see that you got to go. Scorched earth, you dick!”

“He's not home.”

My people spun around, aiming their guns up at the lookout, where someone now stood. Someone I did not expect.

“Oh-ho-holy shit! Everybody hold your fire,” I ordered, grinning up at the kid. “It's Carl.” They all did as I said, however the guns remained trained on the kid. “Look at you. Answering the door like a big boy. I am so proud. Daddy's not home, huh? What about big sis Vickie? My girl in there somewhere?” I asked looking to the gate, waiting for it to open.

Ignoring my questions, he did something I did not expect from him. He tried to convince us to hold fire. “There's families in here. Kids. My little sister and niece.”

The smile fell from my lips. “Well, that shit just breaks my heart. There's kids at the Sanctuary,” I countered. “You must've seen 'em. Even had a little baby at one of the outposts. I wonder what happened to her.”

Gracie. She was one of the worker’s kids and now she was gone. There was no body, so she wasn’t dead. At least I hoped not. I wondered if she was on the other side of the walls. I wondered if that was where Vickie was. She was a killer, but she was a mother, she’d protect all the babies until she had nothing left in her.

“None of this shit's fair, kid. Hell, you know that. You had to kill your own mum. That is screwed up. Ergo, we need someone in charge who's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that shit doesn't happen.” I shrugged. “Oh. Wait. That's me.”

“Bad stuff does happen, but we can figure this out,” he argued. “We can stop this.”

“Oh, now you want to talk?” I dropped the megaphone, choosing to yell out at him instead. “See, your dad had it that I died. He gave my people a choice. Not me. Now we're gonna need a new understanding. Apologies, punish-”

He cut me off, “Kill me.”

My blood ran cold. “What did you say?”

“If you have to kill someone, if there has to be punishment, then kill me. I'm serious.”

“You wanna die?”

He shook his head. “No, I don't. But I will. It's gonna happen. And i-if me dying could stop this, if it can make things different… for us, for you, for all those other kids, it'd be worth it.” I could see he was. I could hear it in his words, in his tone. There wasn’t an ounce of a lie in him. “I mean, was this the plan? Was it supposed to be this way? Is this who you wanted to be?”

I couldn’t do it. Not because of the deal I’d made with Vickie. No, that shit had folded the second this war started. No, I just couldn’t kill the kid because I couldn’t. I liked him. I wasn’t lying when I said I’d want my son to be exactly like him if I’d had one.

He was a better man than his father, that’s for sure.

“They got a convoy out. We’re on ‘em.”

My eyes were drawn down to a Saviour behind me and their walkie talkie. The others we’d brought had been outside the other gate of the community to hold the people inside. By the sounds of things, that had gone according to plan.

As I looked back up, the kid was gone.

“Son of a bitch, Carl! Was that just a play?! I thought we were havin' a moment, you little asshole!” I turned to my people. “Bombs away!”

VPOV

I was crouched in the bushes with Daryl, Michonne, Rosita and Tara. We were waiting, knowing it was only a matter of time before the Saviours who had followed us found us. At the same time, though, I knew it was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan back at home. The longer we were out here the more at risk are people were.

My daughter.

My sister.

My brother.

My people.

“They didn't get out because of what we did with the truck.” Tara’s voice had us all turn to her.

“Even if they did, it was just a mistake,” Rosita assured her. “And I made one, too. If I hadn't gone to the Sanctuary to kill Negan, maybe Sasha would still be alive. Maybe she would've gone herself. Maybe everything would've ended up going exactly the same way. I didn't want you guys to do it, but maybe you needed to. Maybe you needed to play things out to figure shit out.”

I was not blaming anyone. I had a feeling things would have gone to hell even if the other’s hadn’t gone back to the Sanctuary despite the plan. Negan always had a way of getting his way. I’d seen it time and time again.

“Where the hell are they?” Michonne was growing impatient. We all were.

The sound of vehicles approaching had as all duck down a little more as Daryl watched, waiting for our moment. Rosita snuck up to the edge of the road, throwing a smoke bomb out in the middle of it. The cars didn’t stop, though, not until they were covered by the fog.

“Now!” Daryl called.

We all aimed and fired, shooting down the unprepared Saviours as they tried to scurry to safety. Shooting down one each, Daryl and Michonne took two more down before we turned to the last couple.

Laura and Dwight.

“That's why you didn't want to block the gate with the trucks. That's why you drove right up to this! It was you! All of it!” Laura yelled, taking a shot at Dwight. “You tell them to stop!”

Aiming my gun, I caught sight of her and pressed my finger to the trigger. She was quick though, ducking out of the way as if sensing danger. She ran off into the bushes, leaving Dwight on the road. Whether he was alive or not we weren’t sure.

“It’s over!” Dwight called.

Pulling myself out of the dirt, I took the lead. The second I saw him I knew he was fine. “You’ll live.”

“Maybe not,” Daryl grunted as he stormed up to Dwight and pressed his gun to his head.

Dwight’s hands were up in surrender right away. “I made sure you guys could get out the back. I drove the convoy right up to the roadblock. I knew what it was. I can't go back. One of 'em got away. She's gonna tell them.”

Daryl didn’t let up, though. “How'd they get out? Was it what I did?”

“Eugene.”

I knew it. I knew they would have figured out something, and of course it was because of the one who had betrayed us. Eugene had been a sight for sore eyes when I’d been at the Sanctuary, but now he was just a thorn in my ass.

“I can still help you,” Dwight offered frantically, knowing his life was at risk.

I could have saved him with one word. He had helped me while I’d been away from my family. He’d helped me escape. I could have spared his life like he’d done mine. I didn’t make a move to, though. This was Daryl’s fight.

“I know how they work, how Negan thinks.” Dwight was scrambling now. “I want you to win. I want Negan to die. And we can settle up after.”

Reaching forward, I rested a hand on Daryl’s shoulder. “He’s right. We’ll settle this later. Right now I need to make sure our family is safe.”

Michonne nodded as she started grabbing guns from the bodies of the people we’d shot down. “We need to get back.”

Bamby

#daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon fic #daryl dixon x oc #victoria grimes #victoria grimes viii #victoria grimes viii war

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goldenrat33 · 7 days ago

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till death do us part | chap 4 | victor pov

SCC backstory 2

A watering can was passed on over to me. “‘Really do appreciate you helping out around here. Thanks for coming by again, Vic.”

I was at Patches’ farm today, assisting him with a few tasks: pulling weeds, harvesting crops, and watering plants. It’s weird how many nobles don’t take this kind of work seriously - calling farmers peasants, poorly compensating them. The amount of hours I put in to help him with his work is miniscule compared to all that he does, and I still feel prideful. Going through the labor myself has made me more appreciative - I love watching each plant grow from a seed into something I can plate.

He stands close by; currently, the two of us are only watering. We’ve been out here for hours, just doing manual labor together. There’s nothing I’d rather do right now. I enjoyed the tasks, the company, and the end product. I thought I’d hate it when I was first told to volunteer here, and now I just come for fun.

Fun andâ€¦ I wish to spend less time in my household. My family isn’t corrupt nor neglectful, sometimes I just feel as though I can never truly be myself around them. I feel more at home here, working at Patches’ farm, than I have anywhere else. He’s made me realize things I never would have known about myself had we not met.

And so of course, I tell him, “The pleasure is all mine. Just being around you makes me happy.”

Patches and I have not been dating for a long time - we’re in this ‘honeymoon’ sort of stage right now. Another reason I love staying at his farm so much is because I don’t have to worry about being loving to him here. Had I acted this way somewhere where my parents or any Christian nobles could see me, I’d be disowned and shunned from my family at the very least. Seriphona’s reaction wasn’t that strong in retrospect. All she did was yell at me and kick me out; if she had told a single soul, I’d have dire consequences.

“Aww,” his face lit up at my words of affirmation. It was so easy to get distracted when I was around him. I loved the way the edges of his mouth crinkled as he smiled, the way he stared into my eyes so endearingly. I loved the dirt and grime on his skin because it represented something -- how caring and hardworking he could be, how devoted he was to his farm.

I took a step closer to him, drawing closer. I gently cradled his face then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re so beautiful when you smile,” I laughed softly, so whipped for him. Just being around him made me feel warm inside. It was important to me that it wasn’t an anxious or flustered feeling, like butterflies in your stomach; I just felt at home, understood, loved. Everything about his presence was comforting.

My affection elicited a nervous laugh out of him. “You’re too kind to me, heart.”

I took a step back, getting back to watering the plants. I picked up a can and poured it across a few crops. Water sprinkled out of the container, showering the plants properly. Patches got back to his tasks as well.

He stopped in his tracks for a moment, a thought coming to mind. “You know, I haven’t seen much of that Seriphona lass recently. Why don’t you let her come over sometime? I could give the both of ye a tour ‘round.”

Seriphona. The two of us haven’t spoken to each other for four months now. Not since she both went off on me and revealed she was in an arranged marriage. I suppose this is what I really should have been expecting. She’s learnt her whole life that homosexuality is wrong, I can’t be surprised when she sticks with that belief. I used to think the same way. Until I met Patches, that is.

“Mmmâ€¦” There were no reasons to keep secrets with Patches. It frustrated me so much when Seriphona kept secrets from me; I could never do the same thing with him, could never play silly mind games. “Seriphona and I haven’t really seen each other in a while, honestly,” I inform him, though it hurts me to say it. Nothing about our relationship has been addressed - not between the two of us, and not by me complaining to others. It’s all been sitting in my head, given far too much thought. It was draining.

“You and Seriphona?” he laughed, doubting my words. “Nonsense, you two are always so close. I’m sure you saw her just last weekend. Is that too long for you?” he teased, completely oblivious.

I clarified, “No, not last weekend. It’s been four months.”

“Four months?” Patches face contorted, astonished. “Why not? Somethin’ happen?”

A sigh escaped my lips. I ran my fingers through my hair -- thinking about Seriphona stresses me out. I wish she’d at least give me clarity. I wondered if our argument was really all she had to say. The thought stung.

Patches picked up on my discomfort. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” he reassured me. I shook my head, “no, I think it’d be better to tell someone.”

He nodded, setting the watering can down to give me his full attention. “Alright then…” he acknowledged, “go ahead.”

I took a deep breath. My heart felt physically strained, these events had taken a huge toll on me. “The two of us got into a fight four months ago, and we haven’t spoken since,” I began to explain. I leaned up against some fencing as I explained the whole situation. “I think she was upset about an arranged marriage her parents put her in. She mentioned it briefly as she got emotional, and I’ve heard plenty of talk of it from my parents and other nobles.”

Patches sympathized, “Poor her. I hate what the upper class does to young women.” He was right. I often felt more bad for her than I did for myself at times. She’s so wonderful, so very exceptional; Julian was just another guy born into a high-class family. He’s not good enough for her. And even if he was, Seriphona is still too good for arranged marriages.

“It’s awful,” I agreed. “I suppose I was pushing her too far when we spoke. Things escalated, she went off on meâ€¦” I continued telling my recount of the events. Patches listened attentively, looking at me as I spoke just to show he cared.

He stepped closer to me and gave me a hug. His hands came around me, my chin rested on top of his head. “Victor, love, it’s not your fault.”

I cleared my throat, still holding onto him. “I…” I hesitated, worried how he’d react to the last things I had to say. “I also told her we were a couple. She did not take it very well.”

I shouldn’t have told her. I should’ve known how she’d respond.

Execution.

The thought of execution was frightening, and yet it’d been on my mind since I told her. If Seriphona told a single soul, I’d most likely be met with that fate. Every time I enter a group setting, their eyes all on me, an anxious feeling swarms my chest -- how do I know they don’t know? I had no way to tell what they thought of me. Whether or not I was hiding my relationship well enough.

And what would happen to Patches? Was my happiness worth gambling both our lives for? Certainly not. I considered breaking things off with Patches at times, just for our safety. I don’t want to be the reason Patches is murdered. I can’t be selfish.

I hesitated. “Maybe we should break upâ€¦” I spoke quietly. Patches’ eyes widened, instantly shaking his head.

“Nay,” he refused. His gaze softened on me, hurt. “Why do you say that?” I knew he didn’t want to. But it was better to be safe, wasn’t it? Who knew if this would even last?

“I mean… What do we do if someone finds out about us? I don’t want to see you hurt. Seriphona’s already hurt by me. And I already told one person, her, about our secret. I don’t want the two closest to me unhappy because of me.”

“Ah,” Patches acknowledged that. It wasn’tâ€¦ great. My friends and family were already suspicious of me; I’d never been attracted to a woman before. Seriphona can’t tell anyone what I told her. “It’s okay,” he told me. “I’ve met Seriphona. She’s a good person, she won’t tell anyone.” I let out a deep breath. “We’re not breaking up,” Patches affirmed. “If I end up in trouble, that's on me. It’s worth risking it to be with you.” He smiled sweetly at me, reassuring me with his words. I’m worth it.

“You’re right,” I answered. We’re better off together, anyway. I didn’t feel any less unsafeâ€¦ but at least we’d be in this together. “She hasn’t in four months; I doubt she ever will. Even soâ€¦ I wish she would just talk to me again.” I trusted her. But I also missed her. Everytime I went to the church, I wished she could be there by my side again, lighting up my day. I prayed each day that she’d just listen to me, pray that things could go back to normal. We still had joint family dinners every now and then, but we didn’t do so much as look at each other. She used to be there every single day, always by my side; I now feel as though a piece of my life has been ripped out of my hands.

“That must be tough,” he frowned. Our relationship was the only thing keeping me happy during these times. We hadn’t directly addressed it before, he hadn’t specifically helped me regulate my emotions before, but just being around him was enough. Every day after I went to the church, I made my way over to his farm. I don’t know how this situation would be affecting me if I didn’t have him, nor did I want to know.

“Have you tried speaking to her?” he asked suddenly, taking a step away from the hug and looking up at me.

I hadn’t thought of approaching her at first. I figuredâ€¦ she was so upset with me before, and we haven’t spoken in so long - how would she respond to me speaking to her again? How do I know she doesn’t hate me now? “But should I?” I inquire. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea. She may hate me now.”

“Maybe she does. But you’ll never know what she thinks until you try talking to her… Seriphona is upset about her marriage. Give her something to be happy about.”

“Give her something to be happy about?”

“Aye,” he confirmed. “Actually…” I watched as a lightbulb seemingly lit up in his head, a proud look suddenly washing over him. “I have an idea.”

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