Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 27, 2023 2:27:10 GMT 9
When Kazuki wakes, itās not to the kind rays of the afternoon sun. He wakes to the sensation of a thousand needles acupunctured into his face.
āShit!ā He hisses, jolting up from where heād been lounging against a tree. He rips off what clings to his face and finds it to be his loyal pestāexcept the catās absolutely frazzled, his eyes huge, and heās screaming. His lettuce-green fur looks like itās been singed at the ends.
The earth rumbles. There is fire crawling across the grass and the trees look shaken bald. āWhat the fuck happened?!ā He asks, to which he gets no answer, because Sprigatito is scared out of his mind and even if he wasnāt, his trainer could not understand his language. The kitten instead points to the battlefield.
In the middle of the camp lies the debris of Pansearās kitchen. Said monkey stands atop the rubble as a captain to a sinking ship, his fur glowing with rage, but heās breathing hard with exertion.
Mudbray stands in front of him, the only sign of her being anything other than bored out of her skull being the rhythmic drag of one hoof against the dirt, as if saying You still wanna go?
Pansear isnāt stupid. He knows when the fightās hopeless, and though his anger still burns bright, he relents: he raises both his mitten-like hands in the air and throws the fight.
It takes a while to put the situation together, but they eventually find a blue magikarp floating in the water along with some trace debris flown in from the battle. Kazuki, finding this oddly pleasing, fishnaps it, and pacifies Sprigatito by returning the other magikarp that Pansear had failed to kill. āWeāll fix this blue one up and make him tougher,ā his trainer says, and who was Sprigatito to doubt him?
They leave the grove as a team, but Pansear returns to his ball, refusing to walk near Sprigatito on the way back.
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Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 26, 2023 20:45:17 GMT 9
Veraiās reaction is hysterical. Kazuki doesnāt deign to answer his questionābecause itās stupid, he already called it what it isāand just shakes the baby carrier, grinning as he waits for the man to take it.
And he does. It now hangs on his front, this cartoonish pink star thing, and when Verai puts the egg inside it, it looks as if itās hugging the fragile shell. It evokes the image of a first-time parent. It is a devastating combination with Verai, whose avatar is shredded and comes with fuzzy cat ears.
āThis is perfect.ā Kazuki gives him a once-over with his hand on his chin, as if he were pondering a work of art. āAnd here I thought fatherhood wouldnāt suit you.ā
āOh, donāt forget the incubator.ā He picks up the screaming kitten from the ground like a football, plopping her atop the egg and then smacking Verai hard on the shoulder. āNow get moving, dad-to-be. We might just be able to deliver this thing before it gets cold!ā
Laughing, Kazuki saunters on, free hands shoved into his pockets as Sprigatito pads after him. The road theyāre on leads them from the open plains of the Steppes towards a clump of gnarled trees, where tracks of wooden wheels dig long lines into the dirt.
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Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 26, 2023 19:55:37 GMT 9
<What do you mean no?!>
Pansearās face scrunches up. He hates having to repeat himself; though he chooses not to talk, he does his best to convey his intentions clearly, and Sprigatito is his teammate who should understand him best. He shakes his head again, more aggressively, and points his knife down at the magikarp heās holding under his foot.
Sprigatito stomps his foot. <Heās not dead meat! He has a friend and a mom waiting for him!>
Pansear blinks. He makes a beckoning gesture with his knife.
<Iām not bringing them to you, why would I evenā> Sprigatito groans, putting his serious face back on. <Pansear, as team leader, I order you to give me that fish.>
Pansear stares at him. Stares at him long enough that it gets awkward, that even Mudbray stirs from her nap confused at the silence. And when it becomes apparent the kitten isnāt playing a prank, his shoulders drop, and the expression on his face shifts.
He launches a plume of fire at Sprigatito.
The kitten yelps, and in a fit of panic attempts to counter, sending leaves flying towards his teammate. The glowing blades rebound off rocks and tree bark.
Magikarp yelps, ducking back into the water, wincing as one of the blades manages to nick his fin. He peeks through the ripples to see the camp turn into a warzone.
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Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 26, 2023 6:51:19 GMT 9
Sprigatito is grooming himself by the waterās edge. The sun is bright, and his trainer hasnāt found the next fish to harass, so heās taking the time to relax. His fur luxuriates in the vibrant heat, absorbing it to nourish his body. He prefers this a hundred times to eating whatever Pansear is struggling to make back there.
<Excuse me...>
He jumps, yelping a little. There is something sticking out of the water in front of himātwo giant fish eyes blinking his way. A magikarp! Or at least he thinks it is, the colorās a bit weird. <Shh!> The fish implores. <Donāt be so loud, youāll wake him up...>
<Him?> Sprigatito blinks. He glances around to see his trainer lounging against a tree, his fishing line propped up beside him. <Oh, he doesnāt sleep! My trainer always goes to bed with one eye open,> he declares proudly.
<... Okay...> the fish mumbles, unconvinced. <Well, I donāt want to face him, so please keep your voice down. I have a favor to ask.>
Sprigatitoās nose twitches, head tilting. <What do you need, Fishy Friend?>
<Could you... return to me... that fish, over there?>
Behind Sprigatito is what looks to be Pansear training for a juggling act, though in reality is the chef-to-be struggling to skewer his catch. <Oh, no! Is that your friend?>
<Well, I wouldnāt say friend.> Magikarpās eyes move to the side. <Jaredās, um. Not really nice. But we go to the same school together, and if I donāt bring him back, his momās going to be mad...>
Sprigatito gasps, standing up and shocking the magikarp. <You can leave it to me!> A task! And a really important, heroic task of saving someoneās life! Of course heāll do it.
He puffs out his chest and turns around. <Iāll just tell my teammate to hand him over! Iām the leader, so he has to listen to me.>
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 26, 2023 6:17:51 GMT 9
The response is instantaneous: Pansear ducks, narrowly avoiding a fish to the face, and it smacks straight into Mudbray.
Mudbray huffs, not even bothering to shake herself off as she lets the magikarp fall onto the dirt. She nudges it away from her with a hoof, placing it next to Pansearās improvised kitchen rock. This is the most she has contributed to the cooking so far.
The monkey gives his trainer a thumbs up before proceeding with a sushi experiment, though when he tries to chop down with his knife, the magikarp flops to the left. He chops again. It kickflips right.
Kazuki prepares the next line, ignoring the outraged clang of knives behind him.
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Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 25, 2023 2:32:59 GMT 9
Fuecoco starts the process, heating the metal into something malleable, and with Mudbrayās hooves smashing chunks out of the spire, it all goes surprisingly well. Kazuki watches with some interest as the harvested ore drops into whole ingots, as if shaped automatically.
He takes out the crafting UI, checking the recipe. Reaching down and picking up an ingot causes it to appear in his inventory, the words āSurging Steel Ingot x1ā under the Armorās label lighting up as itās completed.
The armor forms slowly. When Kitten spits out a glob of fire, the āa Fire-Type Move x2ā requirement is somehow completed. Kazuki looks around, spotting his own cat sniffing curiously at one of the half-formed gauntlets.
āWant to bite it?ā Kazuki asks, since babies love to put dangerous things in their mouths.
<Would I!> Sprigatito lunges, only to wince and yelp as his teeth clang against the metal, spitting it out immediately.
The āa Physical Move x2ā requirement lights up.
Veraiās already making quick work of the tankaābecause of course he isāand then the crafting process is complete, Kazuki standing by comfortably, having done next to nothing.
At least until an arrow appears under his feet.
And a prompt in his face:
āOf course,ā he grumbles. There is no time to foist the task onto someone else: the first arrow blinks thrice to signal the start of the dance, and music begins to play out of nowhere.
He takes a few steps, mentally blowing dust off lessons decades out of dateā
ābefore grabbing Verai and yanking him into the crossfire.
The man is jarred, the tanka shattered, but Kazuki only grins, pulling them into position: hands clasped and outstretched to the side, his other hand on Veraiās back in a grip less as if cradling a lover and more as if trying to grip a cat by the scruff.
Verai asks what heās doing and he answers:
Armor's tempered in flames, right?
The music adjusts, the arrows blinking in and out of existence at intervals impossible for a solo dancer. Kazuki leads the salsa like a man leading a horse through a china shop: knowing full well what heās doing and making it worse.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 23, 2023 4:27:09 GMT 9
āNot everyone is blessed with taste,ā Kazuki nods sagely, infuriatingly. Then he snickers as they point out he had stared first. āWas I not supposed to, Funky Cyborg?ā
The timer hits 0 and the event officially ends just as he packs the strange catch.
The cyborg asks him about the labels, to which he blinks. āI havenāt been paying attention to any of them,ā he says with a shrug. āLast place I fished at, I was talking to a girl that had rainbows for hair and eyes. Couldnāt read for shit.ā Couldnāt be bothered, rather.
He chuckles, pulling up his screen to check on the label of his catch. āAdulterous. Wonder if that Blarney guy would be into that? Doesnāt seem impossible when he wants to marry five fish.ā
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 23, 2023 3:56:39 GMT 9
<Aww!> Sprigatito whines. <But we can teach them stuff! Like games! And how to shoot fire and leaves andā> He continues rambling, his fierce defense of āwhy I should have a teammateā waning only when he gets distracted by a small animal scurrying in the distance.
Kazukiās in the middle of catching the egg when Verai grabs it out of the air. His brows rise, the corners of his eyes creasing as with the hitch of his mouth. āActually, itās a pile of ones and zeroes.ā He makes to grab for the egg, only for Verai to hold it out of reach, their voices melding together as they argue. āMe getting off? Iām not the one who is so easyāā
The bickering comes to an abrupt pause as Verai gawks at the egg, Kazuki baffled for a moment as well. āItās cold?ā He prods it to check for himself. āFeels fresh from the fridge. Thatās unfortunate.ā
And then he pulls something out of his inventoryāthe other thing he had snatched out of the Professorās hands before Verai got to it. It appears to be a pile of soft salmon-colored cloth with padding. Kazuki holds it up to Verai as if checking to see if heāll fit in it.
āGuess youāll have to warm the egg up! Alright Ver, put on the baby carrier.ā
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 23, 2023 3:25:09 GMT 9
Sprigatito purrs and purrs, as if the closer he gets to being a car engine the more effective this healing strategy will be. The human holds him tighter and heās a little more uncomfortable, but then he feels them press their lips on his head. The gesture has him blinking curiously, unsure of what it meansāmaybe itās how humans purr?ābut the stranger isnāt sobbing anymore, so maybe it worked!
The rain has thinned into a drizzle. Even a whisper carries in the lonesome expanse of the burrow.
There is a heat in Kazukiās chest. Like his blood, boiling. Like shame. He hates the consideration they extend to himāas if heās the one who broke down here. The injury? 'Tis but a fucking scratch.
When they get up and approach him, he recoils as if ready to snap their hands between his teeth. But they peel off the ridiculous cloak around their shoulders and approach him the way you approach a frightened animal.
He is very seriously debating on biting them.
They tug at the flimsy bandage on his shoulder and he resists the impulse, his eyes moving from their toothpick fingers to the pathetic excuse of medical aid barely hanging on his bicep. The blood has already changed its color. Denying help now would just beāimpractical.
So for once, he stays put. He has a mean sneer on him as if heās swallowed a lemon instead of given proper assistance, but he doesnāt make a fuss as they fix the tourniquet, adjusting his arm so the injured medic can work without moving unnecessarily.
āā¦ Do I seriously have to call you Silvermoon?ā he grumbles. āAre you a warrior cat?ā
Sprigatito pauses where he's settled beside Silvermoon and his trainer, turned to the direction of the big scary tunnel (guard duty!) and looks back, ears twitching as if called.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 23, 2023 1:10:47 GMT 9
As the prince is hefted onto her back, Mudbray only blinks slowly, unfazed by the weight of a man twice her height. She gives Veraiās clothes a quick sniff before her attention is taken by something nudging her back hoof. Glancing back reveals it to be Sprigatito, who is making a valiant attempt at contributing by bunting his head against her leg and pushing with his face.
Mudbray rolls her eyes, her plan of standing around like deadweight ruined by sentiment. She begins walking in the direction of the spire. She canāt even lax her posture; the prince slumps over her neck, practically boneless and threatening to topple them both. Her glowering eyes are set on the ground to avoid tripping over the chains dangling from the manās wrists.
Kazuki takes said chains into his hands, though not for some noble cause. āItās kind of like weāre taking him to the sheriff,ā he chuckles.
At the spire, Mudbray comes to a stop, and Kazuki squints at the monument of raw steel, hand framing his eyes as he observes its peak. When Verai asks him if heās sure, he grins, āFuck no. Hell, the only reason I left you alone after the delivery is ācause I pressed a random button.ā
He then reaches over, suddenly lifting the prince off Mudbray as if he were a bunch of grapes. āBut heating it up and using a lot of force is how you split steel in real life. Off the mule, your highness, thatās our chisel.ā
The Prince does not take well to this, and he makes his distaste known. Kazuki can only snicker at the look on his face, but does settle him against an outcrop of rock in the clearing around the spire, likely out of harm's way.
āAlright kid, you wanted fire duty.ā He directs Mudbray to wait on standby. āOn your signal.ā The fires have to subside first, and then Mudbray can hurry over and slam the weakened metal with her hooves.
MUDBRAY READIES ROCK SMASH
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 20, 2023 10:58:43 GMT 9
After completing the introductory quest with Mom, they are greeted with a notification from the Professor. Another tutorial, except this time it requires them to deliver a package for her.
Simple enough. Like a blood-sucking flea, Kazuki tags along with Verai, hellbent on following his tracks. Sprigatito also joins them, happy to stay out of his ball while his new best friend is around, and delighting in the open space and all the grass he can sniff and chew on.
Their conversation with Professor Ash is brief. Ever the concise type, her instructions and transfer of the item last for all of two minutes, wasting no oneās time before she sends them off with a bright red mark on their maps and the package.
Right, the packageā
āIām surprised she just handed this over,ā Kazuki hums, tossing the expensive pokemon egg in his hands as if it were a baseball. āNot only is it some rich bratās starter, but Iām pretty sure she remembers how I tried to attack her last time.ā Heās following the path set out for them. The destination in mind is at the mansion of said ābratā, which isnāt far but does require quite a good trek.
Sprigatito weaves in and out of his trainerās legs, curious eyes upturned to the big polka-dotted thing in his hands. <New friend?> He wonders if this one can join his and Litten's games.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 20, 2023 10:19:31 GMT 9
Kazuki is making no effort to hide his laughter as he watches, arms crossed at the sidelines.
āIs this because I wouldnāt let you cook the last one?ā He asks as a red blur dashes past him.
Pansear doesnāt respond. Heās on the hunt, chasing on all fours, the fire not only in his eyes but flicking out from the gaps of his mouth, the tuft of hair on his head glowing so harshly it could blind a man. The Patrat ahead of him realizes this when it glances back, screeching and slapping its little hands over its eyes as it continues to run from the deranged monkey.
He had figured it out. The perfect recipe for this ingredient. It would be beautiful, tasteful, and easy to eat, even for morons! And since heās substituting some of the vegetables with meat, there is no reason for anyone to deny eating it. He would call it Patratatouille.
A giant plume of fire is unleashed from his mouth when he gets close enough, fully intending to Incinerate the fleeing Patrat.
Prompt 21. [Tower]UH1AS93R1-50 1-50
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 20, 2023 10:04:51 GMT 9
Pansear crossed his arms, staring at his inventory with critical eyes. This wasā¦ insufficient. They had killed several magikarp by now and he couldnāt feed anyone with such sparse meat, let alone an entire team.
He begins flapping his arms in Kazukiās direction, trying to convey what he means. This, both hands chop in the direction of his ingredients, is unacceptable! He makes an āXā with both arms, frowning.
Kazuki snorts, before twisting and chucking his line in the monkeyās direction, a common magikarp being dragged out of the water and flung forwards.
spawn reset
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 19, 2023 21:39:36 GMT 9
āWhat does it matter!ā Kazuki hisses. āItās clean!ā Smack once again, and it is incredible, seeing how quickly a housewife can swat down a professional fighter before he can duck.
āBut is it cleansed?ā Mom insists. āBacteria, Kazuki! You are a grown man, you should know this!ā
āAs if you can even get sick!ā
āOf course I can, and in fact Iām getting sick right now. Sick of your attitude!ā
Instead of tearing his hair out, Kazuki proceeds to aggressively respray the cleared table with cleaner, cursing under his breath.
āAnd now youāre spraying too much. Really, is there such a need to be wasteful?ā Mom sighs. She pauses, finally noticing Verai in the room with the kittens in tow. āOh, welcome back, dear! Finished already?ā
Shuffling over to him, Mom beams, cooing briefly at the kittens. Sprigatito has learned to be accustomed to being carried by Purrai by now, and after wiggling his legs in the air for a bit, proceeds engaged in aerial warfare with Litten, batting at her paws.
āItās already overā¦ goodness.ā Mom looks close to tears, shining with pride. āMy boys are heading out into the world as pokemon trainersā¦ Iām sure itāll be wonderful. Just remember to have fun! And if you're ever tired from the journey, know you can always come home.ā
Kazuki pauses, practically throwing his hands up, one still clutching a cleaning rag. āThe hell! You arenāt even checking his work?ā
āNo need,ā Mom says, still smiling gently at Verai. āIām sure my room is now spotless.ā
Then she turns, āHurry over there, youāve still got the dishes to do! I thought you didnāt want Verai getting a head start?ā
Another loud sound of frustration, before Kazuki proceeds to move double time, leaving wiping down the table for after heās finished scrubbing the dishes, his mess having returned to bite him.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Mar 19, 2023 21:36:07 GMT 9
Sprigatito mewls as he feels the stranger curl around him, wiggling. Heās not used to this much contact. Purrai carries him, and his trainer lets him ride on his shoulder sometimes, but now itās as if heās wrapped in the soft clothes of that one nice ladyās house, except instead of cloth, itās made of scraped, trembling skin.
The strangerās face buries into his fluff. He begins to purr, his paws resting against them before he gently bunts his head against their cheek, rubbing insistently. He smudges the tear tracks this way.
Kazuki is waiting for the pain to subside. He sits with his eyes down, tracing the drying line of red slithering from his shoulder to his fingertips. When Silvermoon finally speaks, his face sours, gaze moving from his lap to their eyes.
āI donāt want your apology,ā he spits. āI want to get out of here.ā
He reaches down and rips up the end of his pant leg. āIf this is too much for you, you can leave. Accepting the quest teleported us here, itāll probably get you out if you quit.ā
He takes the jagged length of cloth and bites down on one end before beginning to wind it over his shoulder. āIārm shtāckāng to dāend.ā Pressing the makeshift bandage under his arm pit, he starts sloppily tying a knot one-handed over his bicep. āLike hell am I starting over after all that.ā
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