[ Fortunately (or unfortunately for his extroverted nature), Junpei often gets the room to himself. Morgana had told Junpei he likes to spend time with his friends, so that will usually leave Junpei up to his own devices. At the moment, he has a tennis ball that he's been lobbing at the wall for the past hour. He tosses it so it will bounce off the floor, hit the wall and ricochet back to his hand. Then repeats this. Over and over again. This game of complete boredom.
When Eikichi opens the door, Junpei's just caught the tennis ball from his latest toss and he sits up. Oh, did he get it? He must've! And that becomes clear when he's drawn into that bear hug. Oof! ]
I dunno what you're talking about.
[ He feigns ignorance while also appearing so damn proud of himself. Hands come up to return that hug as best as he can in this position. ]
[ Holy shit, what?? Eikichi can read into lies? Is that just a turn of phrase or is it an actual power of his? It's a good thing Junpei found out with a playful lie! Not that he anticipates ever really telling Eikichi a bigger one. Oh geesh. Did that mean all the times Junpei spoke with confidence, Eikichi could tell he was just putting on a front?? How deep does this go????
He's in the middle of his mild panic when Eikichi lets him go, but the question gets him right out of his head. ]
Mad?
[ He's genuinely confused. ]
I was never mad, dude. Concerned, worried, heartbroken for you...yeah. But never mad.
[ Junpei tosses his tennis ball off into the corner. It bounces and rolls somewhere out of sight, probably lost in trenches of his room. There's no hope of finding it again now. ]
I get that type of shit ain't easy to talk about. And even Tatsu-kun only told me the bare minimum of it. The shitty choice you guys were given. But I'm with you, man. I'm with you to the end. Us being here together now? That means there's still a chance for it to be different. We're in a world of all kinds of magic and power. It's not like SEES needs me back any time soon, so I got plenty of time to throw down for you guys and figure this out.
[ He grins, punching Eikichi's shoulder playfully. ]
Oh! It's just those flowers also mean 'I forgive you'. Jun also used to give some to demons too. [He realizes how weird that might sound.] It's sort of his thing? He throws flowers at demons. Like really hard. I don't know how he does it bro. He's also a big flower guy in general? He could tell you all the meanings from any of them.
[He watches as the tennis ball disappears and then shrugs slightly, his body slanted.]
It's not something I like sharing with others cause I kinda fear they'll look at us differently...we didn't win like everyone else did, y'know? Sure Nyarlathotep cheated to get the result he wanted but we're not heroes. We were just being used as pawns to test humanity's worth.
[ Huh! Junpei is both surprised and honestly, a little delighted, that the flowers have that kind of meaning. And coming from a guy named Jun as well. That's kinda close to Junpei! It definitely hadn't been planned (he doesn't really know anything about this Jun apart from what he's hearing now and the picture he saw in Eikichi's sketchbook), but maybe Junpei's on some other wavelength when it comes to Eikichi! Tapping into this kinda shit unintentionally.
But he'll stop patting himself on the back and get serious. Because Eikichi confesses some serious shit here. It's definitely a fear Junpei understands -- not wanting to be looked down on. However, it's not one he's gonna allow Eikichi to stew in! ]
First off, you're welcome. Secondly!
[ Junpei reaches out to grab Eikichi's wrist and yank him off balance -- onto the bed with him. That's where Junpei just casually wraps his arms around him. ]
Let me tell you something right now, Eikichi Mishina! You told me all the things you guys had to face. The list being more like 'what didn't you face, bro?' You guys were dealt the shittiest hand, it's true. But there's nothing braver. Nothing more heroic than sacrificing all you knew to save the world. And then, not only that. You decide to do this and get a cheat code trip to Faerie World. I sure bet that Nyarly dude didn't factor that shit in! He might've wanted to use you as a pawn, but you got to the end of the board and upgraded! ....'cause that's what happens in chess, right? The pieces upgrade??
[ He shakes his head. Tangest aside!! ]
Of all the people I know, there's none stronger, none cooler, none more heroic than the great Michel! Tatsu-kun can be second, though. I'll allow that.
[ Alternate universe where the bros are the coolest and the main leaders can be in THEIR spotlight for a change. ]
[Junpei wouldn't know it, but Eikichi is fighting his every instinct in his body to follow the movement and throw Junpei over his shoulder. He'd been in a school with a large basin of delinquents after all, a touch like that usually meant that the other fist would come in with a punch. But no, he is getting a hug. Junpei really is big on physical contact, isn't he?]
Uh...I think it's just the pawns get turned into queens bro.
[Then he laughs, rubbing his eye. Just a little teary-eyed again, that's all!]
Hahaha! B-bro you're e-exaggerating a little too much there. [But he gets into the role anyway.] F-fine! The great Michel shall fine a way to get us the hell out of here and still keep the chessboard upgrade with the help of Junpei Iori! And Ta-chan too of course. And maybe your leader bro will show up too!
Oh, I'm a hundred percent for real! Go ahead and fact check me, ya human lie detector!
[ Junpei grins, tightening his arms around Eikichi just a bit. Truly, there is no lie to be found. He does believe Eikichi's about the coolest guy he's had the honor of meeting and if anyone's gonna find a way forward, it's gonna be him and Tatsuya! ]
But that's the spirit!
[ He nods right along with the playful enthusiasm, looking up at Eikichi. ]
I mean it, though. The future's not yet written. Maybe it seems like it is with the rest of us future 'sonas here, but maybe meeting us was the key. Maybe I'm gonna show up at the handsome 26 year old Eikichi's house, holding his sketchbook of memories and tell him all about his awesome adventures. Or maybe the phantom thieves can do something in the cognitive world or whatever they got going on. Unlock those memories. I dunno. But we'll figure it out.
[ Junpei gives Eikichi one, final squeeze in the hug before he slowly (almost reluctantly) lets him go. ]
Hmmm...you seem to be tellin' the truth. [He pauses as if he's really thinking about it before laughing.] Nah I'm kidding bro, pretty sure you're being truthful.
[It is a nice thought. He doesn't want to get his hopes up that they'll figure something out, that it could be as easy as 'borrowing' the power of other Persona users, but with Junpei's enthusiasm, it's really hard not to get into that whole positive vibe. A true hype-man da-man, indeed.]
Okay okay fine. Uncle! Uncle! I give up. I just can't seem to be depressed around you.
Junpei Iori, knocking it outta the park once again!
[ Finger guns. Pew, pew. He tucks a leg up beneath himself, leaning back. ]
You can be anything you want around me, though. No judgement. It's just I'm gonna fight back. 'cuz I know the truth of how hella cool that Eikichi Mishina guy is.
[ The other leg joins its twin and he sits cross-legged, facing Eikichi. ]
But if there's anything on your mind. If you wanna talk about it more, I'll listen. You don't gotta carry it alone, man.
You're going to kill me with the baseball puns, bro.
[It still is weird to have a friend like Junpei. Eikichi is used to his trio of Cuss High dorks who tend to follow anything he said like it was the gospel. They were hype men, sure but a different type of hype. There's a small tug at his heart about them too...he really hopes they'll come back once the world is fixed.]
Ehh...nothing really comes to mind right now? Honestly, that was the Big One. Just hard telling other Persona users you kinda failed, you know?
[ He tugs at his baseball cap, smug and unapologetic. If anything, calling them out makes him want to make more baseball puns just to be Contrary! ]
Is that how Tatsuya feels about it, too? He didn't make it sound like it was a failure. I mean, he didn't make it sound like a win either...so I don't know where he stands beyond it just being this heavy choice you guys had to carry.
[ Junpei shakes his head quietly. ]
I dunno, man. I dunno if I could've done it if it was my choice. Being a persona user and fighting with SEES is the first time I felt worth something, yanno? Losing that...
[ He winces. ]
S-sorry. Not trying to rub salt in the wound. I'm just saying you guys got a strength I could never have.
[Rude, Junpei. He's going to have to fight back with art or music puns.]
Taa-chan is...hmm...it's kinda weird. I know he has something he doesn't want to tell me, but I ain't gonna pry it out of him until he's ready.
[Eikichi isn't stupid. And he can tell when his greatest rival, best friend, etc etc etc is trying to pull wool over his eyes. But Eikichi knows all of this is really delicate stuff. And even if there's something pulling at his own brain, he won't push it. He knows Tatsuya would be the same.
Well except Eikichi probably would have cried about it the day he showed up.]
Tch. Are we gonna keep doing this? Come on Junpei. You have that strength too! It doesn't matter if the first summon was embarrassing or some shit. Actually...okay sure you know what? I have an embarrassing story too. It wasn't my first summon but...it's was back when I ran into Taa-chan and Lisa again. I'd forgotten they were childhood friends and my bros called up Tatsuya so he could join my band. We were in rival schools so you know...seemed normal I'd call him up for a beatdown and kidnapping a girl from his school?
[ Oh. His brows draw together, unsure how to take what Eikichi says about Tatsuya. It's concerning, and while it's not Junpei's business... not really, there's a part of him that feels -- he doesn't know. Protective, maybe? Wanting to step in on behalf of his bro and get to the bottom of it. Maybe a little jealous, too. Of this bond they have and how Eikichi can so easily tell there's something Tatsuya is withholding.
Junpei keeps those thoughts to himself. He smiles a little, shaking his head. He wasn't talking about the power. It's more than that. It's a strength of will kinda thing. Giving up all those memories of the good times he and his team had. Giving up memories of meeting Chidori. Losing that feeling he had of being worthwhile or a hero. Giving up the life he now knew, that's the sort of strength he doesn't know if he could have -- even at the cost of the world.
Junpei doesn't get to say that either, though, because he's busy staring at Eikichi at the start of this story. ]
Eikichi.... what the fuck?
[ He's just.......confused???? How did this jump from Tatsuya joining a band to beating him down and kidnapping a girl??? ]
What? [Wait!] WAIT! No no! I didn't kidnap a girl! My bros did! Well...WAIT NO! T-they didn't kidnap a girl, they asked her to come to band practise and told me she was a fan. I even gave her food! Then they wrote a letter to Tatsuya saying I kidnapped her!
T-there hearts were in the right place! They were just trying to help a bro out!
[...]
H-he did end up joining my band later, y'know. And the kicker? They kidnapped Miyabi! I didn't know at at the time cause she'd grown up and called herself Kozy.
Anyway...
[Siiiiiiigh.]
Okay this is the stupid part.
[Because, yes there is more. He did say this was stupid after all, you'd been warned Junpei. No take-backs on hearing his stories.]
[ His eyebrows raise real high. Because they are only now getting to the stupid part? That wasn't reached at the sending fake kidnapping letters to score a new band mate? Or kidnapping Miyabi??? ]
O-okay so. I had...a reputation. I mean I was the Death Boss of Kasugayama High! But also uh...I beat up a lot of bullies. I got picked on a lot as a kid, so I started to fight back and...gave them a taste of their medicine.
[URGH. THIS IS HARD. His childhood stutter which he works so hard to keep in check returns in force.]
...
Y-you k-now...a r-real man shouldn't have d-done it but...I'd h-humiliate them by p-pulling their pants d-down.
Well...yeah. Sure I hid behind the fact it was just people who were bullying others but...it wasn't the right thing to do. It just continued the circle, you know?
Lisa's words callin' me Undie Boss pissed me off and made me ashamed to be called that...that I tried to attack them with my Persona...I didn't know it was a Persona at the time...thankfully it reawakened their Personas too I guess? Ta-chan kinda kicked my ass with a fire attack if we're bein' honest.
[ Undie boss. Heh, that's kinda clever. Junpei just casually scratches his nose with his whole hand. It's not like he's trying to cover a smile or anything. ]
So!
[ Recovering. ]
Your friends kicked your ass to set you straight. And this was...
...
--wait, bro! How many times do you lose your memory of your friends in your timeline??
[Bro he sees it. That's why Junpei getting a very tiny punch on the elbow. Just a tad.]
Twice, I guess? The first time was more due to a childhood trauma that got us all separated, and the fact we all wore masks around each other. The other was when...well..you know.
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When Eikichi opens the door, Junpei's just caught the tennis ball from his latest toss and he sits up. Oh, did he get it? He must've! And that becomes clear when he's drawn into that bear hug. Oof! ]
I dunno what you're talking about.
[ He feigns ignorance while also appearing so damn proud of himself. Hands come up to return that hug as best as he can in this position. ]
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[Had he...ever told Junpei that? Well now he knew. And knowing was half the battle. Eventually, he'll stop bear hugging him.]
Thanks. I mean it. You're not angry at me anymore are you?
[Someone didn't understand the meaning of the flowers quite correctly.]
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He's in the middle of his mild panic when Eikichi lets him go, but the question gets him right out of his head. ]
Mad?
[ He's genuinely confused. ]
I was never mad, dude. Concerned, worried, heartbroken for you...yeah. But never mad.
[ Junpei tosses his tennis ball off into the corner. It bounces and rolls somewhere out of sight, probably lost in trenches of his room. There's no hope of finding it again now. ]
I get that type of shit ain't easy to talk about. And even Tatsu-kun only told me the bare minimum of it. The shitty choice you guys were given. But I'm with you, man. I'm with you to the end. Us being here together now? That means there's still a chance for it to be different. We're in a world of all kinds of magic and power. It's not like SEES needs me back any time soon, so I got plenty of time to throw down for you guys and figure this out.
[ He grins, punching Eikichi's shoulder playfully. ]
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Oh! It's just those flowers also mean 'I forgive you'. Jun also used to give some to demons too. [He realizes how weird that might sound.] It's sort of his thing? He throws flowers at demons. Like really hard. I don't know how he does it bro. He's also a big flower guy in general? He could tell you all the meanings from any of them.
[He watches as the tennis ball disappears and then shrugs slightly, his body slanted.]
It's not something I like sharing with others cause I kinda fear they'll look at us differently...we didn't win like everyone else did, y'know? Sure Nyarlathotep cheated to get the result he wanted but we're not heroes. We were just being used as pawns to test humanity's worth.
[His gaze goes to the floor.]
But t-thanks Junpei. I mean it.
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But he'll stop patting himself on the back and get serious. Because Eikichi confesses some serious shit here. It's definitely a fear Junpei understands -- not wanting to be looked down on. However, it's not one he's gonna allow Eikichi to stew in! ]
First off, you're welcome. Secondly!
[ Junpei reaches out to grab Eikichi's wrist and yank him off balance -- onto the bed with him. That's where Junpei just casually wraps his arms around him. ]
Let me tell you something right now, Eikichi Mishina! You told me all the things you guys had to face. The list being more like 'what didn't you face, bro?' You guys were dealt the shittiest hand, it's true. But there's nothing braver. Nothing more heroic than sacrificing all you knew to save the world. And then, not only that. You decide to do this and get a cheat code trip to Faerie World. I sure bet that Nyarly dude didn't factor that shit in! He might've wanted to use you as a pawn, but you got to the end of the board and upgraded! ....'cause that's what happens in chess, right? The pieces upgrade??
[ He shakes his head. Tangest aside!! ]
Of all the people I know, there's none stronger, none cooler, none more heroic than the great Michel! Tatsu-kun can be second, though. I'll allow that.
[ Alternate universe where the bros are the coolest and the main leaders can be in THEIR spotlight for a change. ]
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[Junpei wouldn't know it, but Eikichi is fighting his every instinct in his body to follow the movement and throw Junpei over his shoulder. He'd been in a school with a large basin of delinquents after all, a touch like that usually meant that the other fist would come in with a punch. But no, he is getting a hug. Junpei really is big on physical contact, isn't he?]
Uh...I think it's just the pawns get turned into queens bro.
[It is indeed still a valiant effort, Junpei.]
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Hahaha! B-bro you're e-exaggerating a little too much there. [But he gets into the role anyway.] F-fine! The great Michel shall fine a way to get us the hell out of here and still keep the chessboard upgrade with the help of Junpei Iori! And Ta-chan too of course. And maybe your leader bro will show up too!
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[ Junpei grins, tightening his arms around Eikichi just a bit. Truly, there is no lie to be found. He does believe Eikichi's about the coolest guy he's had the honor of meeting and if anyone's gonna find a way forward, it's gonna be him and Tatsuya! ]
But that's the spirit!
[ He nods right along with the playful enthusiasm, looking up at Eikichi. ]
I mean it, though. The future's not yet written. Maybe it seems like it is with the rest of us future 'sonas here, but maybe meeting us was the key. Maybe I'm gonna show up at the handsome 26 year old Eikichi's house, holding his sketchbook of memories and tell him all about his awesome adventures. Or maybe the phantom thieves can do something in the cognitive world or whatever they got going on. Unlock those memories. I dunno. But we'll figure it out.
[ Junpei gives Eikichi one, final squeeze in the hug before he slowly (almost reluctantly) lets him go. ]
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[It is a nice thought. He doesn't want to get his hopes up that they'll figure something out, that it could be as easy as 'borrowing' the power of other Persona users, but with Junpei's enthusiasm, it's really hard not to get into that whole positive vibe. A true hype-man da-man, indeed.]
Okay okay fine. Uncle! Uncle! I give up. I just can't seem to be depressed around you.
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[ Finger guns. Pew, pew. He tucks a leg up beneath himself, leaning back. ]
You can be anything you want around me, though. No judgement. It's just I'm gonna fight back. 'cuz I know the truth of how hella cool that Eikichi Mishina guy is.
[ The other leg joins its twin and he sits cross-legged, facing Eikichi. ]
But if there's anything on your mind. If you wanna talk about it more, I'll listen. You don't gotta carry it alone, man.
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[It still is weird to have a friend like Junpei. Eikichi is used to his trio of Cuss High dorks who tend to follow anything he said like it was the gospel. They were hype men, sure but a different type of hype. There's a small tug at his heart about them too...he really hopes they'll come back once the world is fixed.]
Ehh...nothing really comes to mind right now? Honestly, that was the Big One. Just hard telling other Persona users you kinda failed, you know?
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Is that how Tatsuya feels about it, too? He didn't make it sound like it was a failure. I mean, he didn't make it sound like a win either...so I don't know where he stands beyond it just being this heavy choice you guys had to carry.
[ Junpei shakes his head quietly. ]
I dunno, man. I dunno if I could've done it if it was my choice. Being a persona user and fighting with SEES is the first time I felt worth something, yanno? Losing that...
[ He winces. ]
S-sorry. Not trying to rub salt in the wound. I'm just saying you guys got a strength I could never have.
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Taa-chan is...hmm...it's kinda weird. I know he has something he doesn't want to tell me, but I ain't gonna pry it out of him until he's ready.
[Eikichi isn't stupid. And he can tell when his greatest rival, best friend, etc etc etc is trying to pull wool over his eyes. But Eikichi knows all of this is really delicate stuff. And even if there's something pulling at his own brain, he won't push it. He knows Tatsuya would be the same.
Well except Eikichi probably would have cried about it the day he showed up.]
Tch. Are we gonna keep doing this? Come on Junpei. You have that strength too! It doesn't matter if the first summon was embarrassing or some shit. Actually...okay sure you know what? I have an embarrassing story too. It wasn't my first summon but...it's was back when I ran into Taa-chan and Lisa again. I'd forgotten they were childhood friends and my bros called up Tatsuya so he could join my band. We were in rival schools so you know...seemed normal I'd call him up for a beatdown and kidnapping a girl from his school?
[What was even his life.]
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Junpei keeps those thoughts to himself. He smiles a little, shaking his head. He wasn't talking about the power. It's more than that. It's a strength of will kinda thing. Giving up all those memories of the good times he and his team had. Giving up memories of meeting Chidori. Losing that feeling he had of being worthwhile or a hero. Giving up the life he now knew, that's the sort of strength he doesn't know if he could have -- even at the cost of the world.
Junpei doesn't get to say that either, though, because he's busy staring at Eikichi at the start of this story. ]
Eikichi.... what the fuck?
[ He's just.......confused???? How did this jump from Tatsuya joining a band to beating him down and kidnapping a girl??? ]
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[...]
IT WASN'T MY FAULT!!!
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[ Is he following this right? Again, what the fuck? ]
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[...]
H-he did end up joining my band later, y'know. And the kicker? They kidnapped Miyabi! I didn't know at at the time cause she'd grown up and called herself Kozy.
Anyway...
[Siiiiiiigh.]
Okay this is the stupid part.
[Because, yes there is more. He did say this was stupid after all, you'd been warned Junpei. No take-backs on hearing his stories.]
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....?
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[Deep breathes Eikichi.]
O-okay so. I had...a reputation. I mean I was the Death Boss of Kasugayama High! But also uh...I beat up a lot of bullies. I got picked on a lot as a kid, so I started to fight back and...gave them a taste of their medicine.
[URGH. THIS IS HARD. His childhood stutter which he works so hard to keep in check returns in force.]
...
Y-you k-now...a r-real man shouldn't have d-done it but...I'd h-humiliate them by p-pulling their pants d-down.
[He looks like he wants to sink into a hole now.]
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[ o k a y. ]
So that's what Lisa meant in your memory when she called you a perv.
[ He places a solemn hand on Eikichi's shoulder. ]
...
[ What does he say??? What would be profound right now?? ]
... only guys, right?
[ Does that make it better or worse?? He doesn't know. ]
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[Junpei??]
Well...yeah. Sure I hid behind the fact it was just people who were bullying others but...it wasn't the right thing to do. It just continued the circle, you know?
[He means the cycle.]
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Well it's not awesome, but you reformed and that's what counts, my guy!
[ ... ]
So you pantsu'd Tatsuya and that's how he joined your band?
[ Seems like a whole lot is missing in this story!! ]
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[...]
Lisa's words callin' me Undie Boss pissed me off and made me ashamed to be called that...that I tried to attack them with my Persona...I didn't know it was a Persona at the time...thankfully it reawakened their Personas too I guess? Ta-chan kinda kicked my ass with a fire attack if we're bein' honest.
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[ A palm hits his forehead. ]
Oh my god, I just got it.
[ Undie boss. Heh, that's kinda clever. Junpei just casually scratches his nose with his whole hand. It's not like he's trying to cover a smile or anything. ]
So!
[ Recovering. ]
Your friends kicked your ass to set you straight. And this was...
...
--wait, bro! How many times do you lose your memory of your friends in your timeline??
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Twice, I guess? The first time was more due to a childhood trauma that got us all separated, and the fact we all wore masks around each other. The other was when...well..you know.
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Me realizing the pain just keeps going
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1/2
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I'm sorry I had to
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I am sorry this is so much detail lmao
stop i love it >(
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