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peanut-tyrug · 11 months ago

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Pink City AU: Hunt for the Boxman

Prologue: Part 2 - Stay Optimistic

Elain is a woman full of eagerness and optimism. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s difficult to stay optimistic when your mind is plagued by the confusing and unknown.

—

NOTICE: This AU is partially based on my ideas/interpretation. If anything appears to be inaccurate, I apologize. I tried to work with what little I had to make smth. I also took a few artistic liberties.

Another thing: THE PINK CITY AND IT’S CHARACTERS DO NOT BELONG TO ME!! IT BELONGS TO GOOSEWORX!! Some canon lore for The Pink City has also been implemented in this story. This is just an AU/story I made based on it. If you’d like to check out The Pink City series itself, check it out here!

—

TRIGGER WARNING: This fic contains death, disturbing imagery, mentions of drugs/tripping, visions/hallucinations, the poking of eyes, existential crises, and trauma. If you aren’t comfortable with these things, please don’t read this.

The Bounty Hunting business is simple, really. There isn’t much to it. Get assigned a target, catch said target, profit.

But when you’re working with someone as young and optimistic as Elain the Bounty Hunter, it doesn’t seem to go as smoothly.

“Your target today is an infamous crook that goes by Gp Donsterly.” Says the CEO of Pointiness, head honcho of the lead Bounty Hunting business in the Pink City, 'To The Point Bounty Hunting'. “He’s wanted for 12 cases of snipping and 57 cases of snapping. I trust one of you two to bring him in alive…”

The Bounty Hunter duo Elain and Dento listen intently to the info given.

“Now, good luck, and have fun!” Says the CEO.

Once the CEO has finished giving his orders, Elain swings into action and jogs over to a nearby window. Dento turns to her as he watches her jump through the window, beginning her plummet to the ground.

“…Oh, dear.” Says the CEO. “You’d best be after her.”

Dento nods and heads out through the exit the CEO’s office. He heads toward the elevator at the end of the hall, beginning his slow decent to the floor.

However, after awhile of standing in the quiet elevator, the power suddenly goes out. The elevator powers down, leaving Dento in darkness. Dento glares around a bit in confusion.

…Did Elain have something to do with this?

If she did, he wouldn’t be surprised.

…What the hell is he going to do now?

—

It’s been a few hours. Maybe even longer. Dento’s been passing time fairly well. How? Daydreaming about how else he could’ve left the building. One particular scenario: Taking the stairs. Although, it appears that he slips and falls down the entire flight.

Shortly after Dento’s daydreaming stops, sounds can be heard from outside the elevator. The sound of approaching footsteps.

“You still in there?” Asks a gruff voice from outside. A repairman.

Dento knocks on the door, indicating that he’s there.

“I’m gonna take that as a yes.” Says the repairman. “Hang tight. I’ll get ya out.”

As the repairman works outside, Dento begins to reflect on his companion.

Was Elain a pain to work with? Occasionally. She’s very quick to react and always excited to set off with her partner. Her eagerness to get on with hunts is what always contradicts Dento’s more organized way of hunting. That doesn’t mean Elain isn’t a good Bounty Hunter however. She’s good at her job, so is Dento.

The thing is though, Elain is spontaneous. Dento is more put together.

That doesn’t mean Dento doesn’t appreciate Elain. He does. He thinks of her as not just a great partner, but also a great friend. He couldn’t ask for anyone else.

They make a great team.

He’d imagine Elain thought that same.

Eventually, the door to the elevator opens. Dento slowly exits the elevator. As he exits, the repairman nods at him. Dento nods back.

As Dento reenters the hall, something catches his eye. A sticky note plastered to the wall.

It reads: 'What’s-Her-Name no longer works here :) -CEO'

Dento’s face remains as blank as it’s always been. However, internally, he can’t help but be in utter disbelief.

…What in God’s name did she do?

—

It’s later in the day. The afternoon. Dento sits alone in front of a small boba tea shop.

One that he and Elain would visit.

He didn’t take Elain’s departure very well.

Dento left his work place bubbling with hatred for the CEO. Elain was likely sitting in the Hunter Pound by now. Completely alone. And he didn’t do anything to help her? Not get her out of that cramped cage?

Dento didn’t threaten to quit though. He needs the money. So does Elain.

Dento only knows what it’s like in the Hunter Pound because his own father works there. Bounty Hunters are left in small cages. A punishment for Hunters that fail to catch a bounty. He can’t help that that’s just basic protocol for the Bounty Hunting industry.

Regardless of protocol, or how Elain normally did things, Dento couldn’t help but feel bad for his friend.

As Dento reminisces his friend, he begins going through photos on his phone. Memories that capture the time he and Elain had spent together.

The pair together at a beach. Getting chased by a ghost during a late night hunt. Trying boba together. Absolutely kicking the ass of a bounty they caught together. The pair holding each other by the shoulders.

The longer Dento stares at the picture, the more he begins to miss his dear partner.

So much so, it brings a tear to his eye.

Dento swipes his screen up, showing his contact list. He taps on Elain’s contact, hoping to just be able to speak with her.

Also to see if she would agree to being let back in the Bounty Hunting business.

He’d only return to avidly working for the CEO if he could let Elain back in.

The phone rings.

And rings.

…And rings…

And yet, no answer.

The line then goes to voicemail.

…Odd.

She normally picks up the phone by the last ring…

Once the phone stops ringing, the sky begins to darken. Rain then begins to slowly fall to the ground.

Dento can only hope Elain is okay. Hope that she’s safe.

…Wherever the hell she may be…

—

Elain was always the optimist. The one always eager to go out and have fun.

Although, her mood has changed a bit.

She doesn’t exactly feel the same anymore.

Elain had gotten adopted from the Hunter Pound. Sounds fine, right?

It’s not.

Elain had been adopted by a strange bulky old man. Someone with a face that you could never forget. A face with only a large mouth and pair of pearly white teeth.

A man that you could never trust.

A man with an odd hobby.

A man who was a bounty.

The man had been accused of 'injecting people with unknown substances'. Said unknown substances would cause one to be drugged, see things. Colorful, vibrant, confusing things.

Elain would know.

She got to experience the sensation first hand.

It hurt her mind. Her soul. Damaged her. Damaged how she functions.

Did she ever kill the man? Yes, but not without having to see her own internal organs and her heart get taken from her.

Along with the privilege of seeing what may have been the God of her world itself.

Shadowy pillars of colorful eyes stand tall before Elain and the now dead bounty Nuzzner Fubs. Looking down upon them from their terrifying height.

“NUZZNER FUBS IS DEAD.” The pillars repeat.

“DOWNLOAD HIS DATA.”

“MAKE USE OF IT.”

The pillars then begin to suck the 'data' out of the man. As Elain squirms in confusion nearby, she gets pulled into the stream as well.

It’s agonizing.

It’s like being electrocuted.

Normally, Pink City citizens are very durable. Able to face and live after any injury as long as it’s not severe enough.

But this…

It’s entirely different.

The pain of it all travels through Elain’s body at tremendous speeds.

Until it eventually stops.

The dead man and former Bounty Hunter are sent away from the Gods. They become further and further distant.

The two eventually make it back to the real world. Nuzzner lands to the ground while Elain shoots back into the man’s trash can.

Elain remains in the trash can for a bit, taking a breather. Trying to comprehend what had happened. She soon begins to rise from the can, and gazes upon a nearby tree.

…Something is off about the leaves…

She looks closer.

…The leaves have taken the shape of Elain’s head.

She looks up.

A large, puffy cloud looms over her.

Although, it appears to have taken the same shape of the leaves.

…Elain’s face.

Elain can’t help but begin to question the reality she lives in. Is anything even real? Is she real? Are they all just code? Data?

…Is this reality just a simulation…?

Elain is snapped out of her existential crisis when she hears a buzzing inside the trash can. She digs through it and finds her phone.

She sees a text from Dento. It reads: 'U ok?'

Elain recalls what had transpired.

She was adopted by a strange man. Got drugged and tripped out. Got to see her internal organs and got her heart removed. Saw God. Got her 'data' sucked out of her, basically electrocuted. Had an existential crisis…

Elain eventually responds with a single word.

'No'

—

Dento gave Elain the address so she can find him. Talk about what may have shaken Elain up. He looks through his phone while he waits. His mind also begins to wander.

He’s starting to think that maybe he should’ve jumped out that window with her… if both have them got caught, he could’ve suffered with her. She wouldn’t be alone. Or, they’d be triumphant in catching that dastardly Gop Donsterly.

He looks up from his phone and waits to see his friend cross his vision. As he looks, he sees a familiar figure pop up on the sidewalk.

That same fedora and Bounty Hunting gear, although, she’s no longer wearing her red scarf, instead, she’s wearing a spiked collar. Elain appears to be fidgeting with her hands as well. She glances around worriedly as she walks.

Dento wonders what could’ve happened to her…

As she approaches the small boba shop, Elain spots Dento, sitting at one of the tables. No one else is around. She quickly rushes over to her friend, almost tripping trying to get to him. She tightly wraps her arms around Dento, hugging him. And almost practically squeezing him. Dento tightly hugs Elain back. He missed her. And she missed him.

Elain eventually separates from Dento and takes the seat in front of him. She sets her hands on the table and fidgets with them. Dento closely looks at her. She appears to be trembling a bit.

After a bit of silence, Dento faces his phone. He taps on the keyboard.

Elain’s phone then dings. She looks at her messages to see Dento has texted her again. They prefer to discuss things through text.

'Do you want to talk about it?' Reads the text.

Elain types back.

'Idk how' It says.

'Why?' Dento asks.

'It’s confusing, sry' Elain responds.

‘Don’t say you’re sry' Dento texts. 'You’re okay. Whatever it is, I’ll get it'

'Are you sure?' Elain asks. 'There’s a lot'

'Yea' Dento responds.

Elain hesitates before texting again, trying to figure out how to explain everything to her friend.

“Excuse me,” says a waiter. “Are you going to order something or just sit there?”

Elain snaps out of her thinking and looks to the waiter. She isn’t sure what to order. She doesn’t even have a menu.

“Take a look.” Says the waiter, pulling out a small menu. Elain points at what she wants.

“Alright.” Says the waiter. “You want another drink, sir?” He asks, now looking to Dento.

Dento shakes his head, a no.

“'Kay.” Says the waiter. He takes his leave.

Elain looks back to her phone and picks it up. She thinks about what she wants to say before typing something up.

Dento looks on as he waits for Elain’s story. It takes awhile, but his phone eventually pings.

'A lot happened. I got adopted, drugged, I tripped out, my heart got removed, I saw… smth' Says one text.

Another text comes in. 'Idk… God? Smth abt data, Idk… I’m confused out of my mind man. I’m having a crisis and Idk what to do. I’m not okay'

Dento looks up from his phone, concern glossing over his eyes. Elain is looking down, looking embarrassed, fidgeting a bit.

…All of that happened?

Happened to her?

It was all so much to take in… so much for her to take in.

Dento couldn’t even believe what he had read… she saw God?

'Wdym you saw God?' Dento asks. 'And the crisis thing?'

Elain picks her phone up and responds. 'Long shadowy pillars? They had eyes all over them. Idek if they were God, that’s just what it felt like. I feel like they were'

‘Were God?'

'Yea'

'What abt the crisis?'

‘Life doesn’t feel real anymore'

Dento looks back up at Elain. Elain glances up from her screen and looks at him. Dento looks back at his phone.

'You telling the truth?'

'Yes. Istg I’m not lying to you'

'Plz God believe me'

'Please'

Each plea is it’s own message.

Dento looks back up at Elain. Elain looks at him back. Genuine desperation glossed over her eyes.

She needs him to believe her.

She’s not making anything up.

Dento then gets up from his seat and goes to Elain. He jumps onto her and hugs her tightly. She tightly hugs him back.

He believes her.

Regardless of how otherworldly it all sounds.

He’s there for her.

They make a good team.

“Hey.” Says a voice. “Here’s your order. You good?”

Dento turns back and lets Elain go. She takes her drink and Dento pays. The two stay and chat for a bit.

'U wanna try and get back into Bounty Hunting?' Dento asks.

'Yea' Elain responds.

'Whenever you’re ready'

'Yea'

—

It’s the next day.

Dento’s slept fine. Elain, on the other hand…

She struggled.

She could barely sleep. Visions of what she saw and experienced plagued her mind. Ate at her as she tried to sleep. It wouldn’t leave. It haunted her. Even without the sleep, she seemed fine enough to return, telling Dento that she’d be able to push it off. Insisting that she could handle it. Multiple times… She seemed so insistent. Why deny her when she’s so certain she’s okay? Even if she had been through something horrible… maybe she’s tolerant to it? She acted that way often.

She tried. Tried to think of anything else. She tries to keep up, no matter how hard it tears her down.

Stay optimistic.

Keep your mind off it.

Although, it’s difficult.

Dento barges into To The Point with Elain by his side, both of them dressed in their Bounty Hunting gear. Dento struts forward while Elain follows. The two head to the elevator, no one is around to see them.

It takes several minutes, but they eventually reach the CEO’s office.

Dento slams the door open, Elain stands next to him. The CEO looks down upon the duo from his desk.

“Dento, I knew you’d—“ The CEO pauses. “…What is she doing here?”

Dento firmly walks up to the CEO’s desk and stands with his hands to his hips. Elain stays by him, not really trying to look convincing.

“Ah, I see.” Says the CEO. “You want her back in.”

Dento nods. So does Elain.

“It won’t be easy, I hope you’re aware of that.” Says the CEO.

Both of them are aware. Once you lose your spot at To The Point, and you want your it back, it takes a good bit of work to get it back in your hands.

“I’ve got a bounty for you, Oinstrius Lethinns.” Says the CEO. “Not much is known about this bounty, no one’s been able to catch it, and it’s been in our sights for years.”

Dento begins looking through his Target Buddy for the bounty, Elain looks over his shoulder. Dento eventually comes across the bounty they’re after.

Elain looks at the bounty in shock.

It’s reminiscent of the pillars Elain had seen.

It looks like a weird spider. Long, lanky, shadowy legs sprouting from it’s center. A singular vibrant eye makes up it’s center and face.

It’s description is unreadable, as it’s written in binary code.

You’ll be fine. You’ll be okay. You can do it.

Stay optimistic.

“I’d suggest you stay vigilant.” Says the CEO. “You catch it, your friend here gets her job back. You fail, you both lose your jobs.”

The duo looks up at the CEO, fear swelling up in them.

“Good luck.” Says the CEO. “Don’t jump out the window this time, we’ve recently bought a replacement.”

Dento and Elain nod and head out of the office.

A long day awaits them.

—

It’s been a few hours. Elain and Dento have scoured the city, but no luck. As they looked, they never spotted a single wanted poster for the bounty.

…They’re uncertain of why.

They walk down a sidewalk, thinking the hunt is a lost cause. Both of them will likely end up jobless.

As they pass down the sidewalk, Elain looks to her side. She spots a dark alley way.

She stares into it.

For a split second, she sees something in her vision.

Vibrant, piercing eyes. Staring directly at her.

She begins to tremble. Reminders of what her and Dento’s world may likely be. All of it swirling in her head. Making her head spin.

Little did she know she had tightly grabbed onto Dento’s shoulder out of fear.

Dento taps Elain’s arm. She snaps out of her existential crisis and looks to her friend. He looks at her with concern.

Elain nods, indicating that she’s okay.

Keep your chin up.

You’re fine.

You’ll be okay.

You can do it.

Stay optimistic.

Dento looks to the alley way and points, looking up to Elain. Elain nods. They enter the alley, staying close by each other.

As they walk deeper into the alley, they begin to realize just how far it goes. It feels as if there isn’t an end to it.

As they approach the supposed end… something feels off.

Screaming can be heard.

Someone’s down the alley.

Elain and Dento quickly rush toward the end, running down a path that feels ever so endless. The screaming becoming more and more audible…

…Pleas…

“No!” Shouts the voice. “No! No, please!”

As the duo approaches the end, they turn.

They look on in shock.

A man, sitting defenseless on the ground, in front of the criminal creature…

Oinstrius Lethinns.

As the man continues to plea, a bright beam of light shoots out of the creature’s eye and encompasses the man in a bright blue and violet aura.

Elain quickly recognizes the display.

…The familiar and awful feel…

The man squirms as his data gets sucked out of him, as if he were some kind of juice box to the creature. The beam and light eventually fades. The man limps.

He’s cold. Dead. Lifeless…

Elain and Dento stare at the horror, terror in their eyes.

The creature then turns to face them, staring at them with it’s singular eye.

Dento draws a gun. Elain, however…

She stands there. Completely frozen. Not moving a single limb.

The creature then shoots it’s hanging legs forward.

Toward Elain.

Toward Elain’s eyes.

Into her eyes.

The legs protrude Elain’s eyes like needles. They stab through her cornea and into her retinas. It stings. As Elain struggles to process what’s happening, she can hear gun shots.

Other than that…

Whispers…

“JOIN THE CREED.” The phrase repeats.

“JOIN THE CREED.”

The whispers speak and echo over each other in varying pitches. Terror for the ears. Amongst Elain’s blackened vision, familiar vibrant eyes begin to appear.

…Along with an unfamiliar figure.

The figure is faint and blurry, hard to make out. Almost like a silhouette… broad shoulders, spindly limbs…

…And the most notable and oddly perfect feature…

…A cube head…?

The head slowly rises, looking at Elain with faint, beady eyes.

“JOIN THE CREED.” Says the figure.

Suddenly, the visions disappear and the whispering and stinging stops. Elain falls on her back, normal sounds quickly take over. Gun shots and the sound of terrible demonic shrills.

Elain looks up. Dento is shooting the bounty with a gun. The creature is now writhing on the ground. After a bit, the shrills begin to fade and the creature stops moving.

Dento looks back to Elain and rushes toward her. He looks down at her with a look reminiscent of their texts…

Are you okay?

Elain’s breathing and terrified expression only gives off one word.

No.

—

Elain stands outside of To The Point, completely alone. Dento had caught the bounty and brought it in lifeless himself.

Elain waits for her friend’s return.

Her phone then buzzes. She picks it out from her pocket and sees a text from Dento.

'Told the CEO we’re gonna take a break from hunting for a bit' Says the text. 'I wanna give your head a rest. U need it'

She didn’t want a break.

But she needed one.

She needed a break from all she had witnessed.

She couldn’t help but wonder though…

Who was the figure with the cube head?

—

It’s early the next morning. Elain struggled to sleep again.

The Bounty Hunting pair remains in the separate bedrooms of their small apartment, texting each other.

'I know you don’t want a break but you need one' Dento texts Elain. 'I don’t want you to hurt yourself'

'Ik' Elain texts back.

'Promise me you’ll relax' Texts Dento. 'Please'

'I’ll try' Elain responds.

'Don’t say try' Texts Dento. 'You will'

Elain doesn’t like this.

Would she rather make herself suffer and hurt her friend, or just relax for her friends sake?

Or for her own sake?

'Elain?'

'Yea?'

'U saw my text?'

'Yes'

'Will you take it easy? Please? I don’t want you hurting yourself. When you hurt, I hurt'

'I will. For you. When you hurt, I hurt too'

'I’m glad. Thanks for listening :)'

'Yw :)'

They make a great team.

—

Elain quietly lays in bed, doing whatever she can to keep her mind from pressing on what had happened.

Her mind couldn’t help but hover over the identity of the man she saw.

Who was he? Why was he there? Questions plague her mind.

At least it’s keeping her from thinking about the eyes.

A knock is suddenly heard at Elain’s bedroom door. Dento opens the door a bit, peaking into the room and letting himself in. He closes the door and sets himself on Elain’s bed. He texts her.

‘How you doing?' Dento asks.

'Okay' Elain responds. ‘Can I talk to you abt smth?'

'Yea'

'Yesterday, that creature made me see things. Those same eyes. And a man' Texts Elain.

'Man?' Dento asks.

'He had a cube for a head, beady eyes' Texts Elain. 'Do you know anyone with a cube head?'

'No' Dento responds. 'Maybe try not think abt it. I don’t you stressing over anything'

'I will'

'Good. You need anything?'

'No'

'K, let me know if you need smth'

'I will'

Dento looks over to Elain and pats her shoulder. He then looks back to his phone.

'You need me here or no?' Dento asks.

'I wouldn’t mind it'

'You sure?'

'Yea. Can I have a hug?'

Dento reaches for Elain and hugs her. Elain hugs him back.

Elain is happy she has someone to comfort her.

—

It’s been a few days since Elain’s break had started. She’s doing a lot better. Dento’s been a big help, comforting her whenever she needed to be comforted.

She had finally gotten a good night’s sleep for the first time in days.

Elain and Dento decide to spend the day together. Get some fresh air.

The sun has already set. The Pink City is coated in a soothing purple hue. Some lights from buildings from buildings remain on while others have been shut off.

The duo sits at a table in front of a small gonstri shop, discussing life and Elain’s condition.

As they sit, they hear what sounds like the begging of a crazy person out in the streets…

…Something about helping a celebrity…?

Elain and Dento continue their night, trying to ignore the begging and pleas.

…Until the sound of quickly approaching footsteps begins to catch their attention.

It’s too late, however.

A man dressed in a sparkling violet suit body slams onto Elain and Dento’s table. The man grabs Elain by the shoulders.

“WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO HELP A CELEBRITY LOOK FOR HIS IDOL!?” Shouts the man.

Elain darts her eyes around before quickly and swiftly shoving the man away from her. The man continues to stare at her with wide, insane eyes.

Dento rises from his seat and steps by Elain, as if to defend her. He stares at the unknown man intently.

The man looks into Dento’s eyes as fear appears to bubble within him. He scoots himself off the table, but doesn’t leave. Instead, he continues to beg.

“Have you ever heard of a man named Darles Nemeni?” Asks the man. “Darly Boxman?”

Dento shakes his head, a no.

Elain, however, begins to recall the man she saw in her vision…

…A cube head…

Was that the man’s name?

Elain then looks to the man and outlines a box around her head.

The man’s eyes light up. “Yes!” He exclaims, pointing at her. “You know who he is?”

Elain wasn’t sure. She felt like she did…

She shrugs.

“You don’t know?” The man asks.

Elain shakes her head. She isn’t sure. Dento looks over to Elain and begins to text her.

'You heard of a Darles? Darly?' Dento asks.

'No, the guy with the cube head' Elain responds. 'What if that’s who he’s talking abt? Boxman?'

'Oh' Dento responds.

“What are you texting for?” Asks the man.

The duo looks up at the man. Dento shows his phone to the man, trying to indicate that that’s how they communicate.

The man appears to have taken notice of the contact name.

“…Elain?” Asks the man, looking to the pair.

Elain nods. She shows the man her phone to see her partner’s name.

“…Dento.” Says the man. Dento nods once the man turns to face him.

“Well, allow me to introduce myself!” Says the man. “I am TV star Hoonis Boogie! But, just call me Hoonis. Good names, by the way.” Hoonis puts a hand out.

The duo nods as Dento steps foward to Hoonis. He hesitates, but eventually shakes his hand.

“Now that that’s done, would you mind helping look for Darly Boxman?” Hoonis asks. “He’s my idol, and I’ve been trying to find him for years, but to no avail. I’ve considered asking around the city for help, and so far, you two are the only ones who haven’t run away from me! Would you mind lending a hand?”

Dento turns to Elain. Elain turns over to Dento.

Dento’s face reads as 'Can we trust him?'

Elain doesn’t automatically think so. She looks up at Hoonis. He looks back with desperate eyes.

Elain looks back over to Dento and looks back at her phone. She types.

'Not really' Elain texts. 'But I’m willing to try. I wanna find that cube head'

'You sure?' Dento asks, concerned.

'Yes' Elain responds. 'I’m curious and I wanna know who the cube head is. He can’t be that hard to work with, can he?'

'Are you stable enough?' Dento asks.

‘I’ve been doing a lot better' Elain states. 'I’ll be fine'

'You sure?' Dento asks.

'Yes' Elain responds. 'I swear to you, l’ll be okay'

'I’ll take your word for it' Dento responds. 'Let me know if you ever want to step down or you ever need help'

'I will' Elain responds.

Elain and Dento pack their phones in their pockets and face Hoonis. Elain puts her hand out for Hoonis to shake.

Hoonis’ eyes light up with happiness and excitement. He takes Elain’s hand and firmly shakes it. “Thank you, thank you!” He says. “I’m so glad you have the same desires I do!”

Elain nods as Hoonis continues to shake her hand. She’s beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable.

“Now, follow me!” Hoonis declares as he begins to drag Elain along by the arm. Dento quickly follows suit.

A grand adventure beyond what is known awaits them.

- END -

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