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buffyfic-digest        Tuesday, April 28 1998        Volume 02 : Number 151



In this issue:

       BUFFYFIC: my first posting to this list... (Temporary Insanity 1 of 1)
       BUFFYFIC: ADMIN:  List rules
       BUFFYFIC:  That Night  [By Rach Jones]
       BUFFYFIC: Must Be the Weather (a Spike story) (1/2)

See the end of the digest for information on (un)subscribing to the buffyfic
or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 23:15:07 EDT
From: Blu2cool <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: my first posting to this list... (Temporary Insanity 1 of 1)

Temporary Insanity (or Without Internet)
by Blu ([e-mail])

Disclaimer: All things Buffy belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB, etc.
I make no claims to them and no copyright infrengement is intended. No
spoilers at all, except that Oz is in this story, so I guess that would make
it about Surprise/Innocence... All comments welcome to the author's email.
Thanks!

The story:

  A deafening scream interrupted the sanctity of the library. Giles, who was
reading a bulky leather-bound book, while standing up, dropped it. The book
landed with a thud. Xander was eating a Twinkie and he swallowed it whole,
immediately choking. He doubled over, coughing and spluttering. Cordy had be
leaning over the table, but when she heard the scream she jumped and let out a
shriek.

  Willow, who had screamed, stomped her foot angrily, and slapped her hands
down on the keyboard of "her" (technically, the library's) computer.

  "Aaaaugh!" Willow whacked the top of the monitor, none to gently either.
"Let" (whack) "me" (whack) "have" (whack) "on!!!" Thump. Her fist crashed into
the modem.

  The library doors flew open. Oz ran in. "What's wrong??!" he demanded,
confused. Xander, Cordelia, and Giles all stood openmouthed, gaping at Willow.
Xander managed to point to Willow, and she continued her not-so-little
tantrum. Oz didn't even blink.

  He strode over to Willow, dodging the mousepad that was flung in his
direction. Before Willow could help the mouse follow its counterpart, Oz
grabbed her upper arms and turned her to face him.

  "Willow, Willow! What's up, cutie?" Oz asked lightly, forcing her to look
into his face. Willow's eyes were wide and angry.

  "The computer!" Willow hissed, trembling with rage. "I tried to get on the
Internet and-" Willow pulled away from Oz with another shriek. She turned
toward the computer.

  "Willow," Oz warned ominously. She paused. "You know that's school
property."

  Willow turned to face Oz, her face reddening with her anger.

  "You don't understand!" She shouted, advancing on Oz. "It wouldn't let me on
the Internet!" Oz stayed cool, even as Willow closed in on him. < Can anything
ruffle his feathers? > Willow wondered in the back of her mind. < Maybe we'll
just find out. >

  Oz raised his hand in surrender. "Can't you try again?" he asked. Willow
kept coming closer.

  "I tried again," Willow's decibel level returned to a more normal level,
causing Oz to relax prematurely. Her next words froze him in place. "20
times." Willow's voice was cool, as were her eyes. < Icy was more appropriate
> Oz thought. Willow took another step toward Oz. Only a foot of space
separated them now. Willow raised her arm and ran her hand down the side of
Oz's face. He remained absolutely still. Willow moved in on him and placed a
taunting kiss on his lips.

  Oz swallowed. Xander chose that moment to try to intervene. "Willow, come
on. It's just a computer," he soothed. His words grated on Willow's nerves.
She turned on Xander quickly.

  "Stay out of this, Xander!" she screamed. Oz felt his eardrums pop. < So
much for the decibel thing. > "Just a computer," she muttered, turning back to
Oz. Her eyes flashed. Strangely, Oz found this attractive (in some weird
werewolf sort of way). He smiled unconsciously.

  "You think this is funny??!" Willow's voice could've been heard from the
football stadium (wasn't there one in "Some Assembly Required"?).

  "No," Oz growled, rubbing his ears. < I guess I'm tired of playing games. >
Oz gritted his teeth. "Sit down!" he ordered in a voice that demanded Willow
obey. She did. Willow looked up at Oz with surprised eyes. Then her eyes
filled with tears.

  "I want my Internet!" Willow wailed pitifully. She sobbed into her hands.

  Oz looked over her head to Xander and Cordelia and Giles. He face asked them
what was wrong. Xander raised his eyebrows and shrugged. Cordy was staring at
Willow like she'd sprouted fangs and a "game face". Giles looked on
helplessly. He anxiously took off his glasses, played with them for a second,
then placed them back on their precarious position on his nose.

  Oz patted Willow's back comfortingly. She looked up at him, tears still
streaking down her face. Her eyelashes were matted with tears. Then her mouth
opened in a silent scream and her eyes widened with fright, staring at
something behind Oz.

  Oz turned around quickly, expecting a scary monster of some kind, but saw
nothing. He glanced carefully at Willow again. She continued to stare at a
spot behind Oz. The others looked around the room but saw nothing.

  "Miss Calendar?" Willow asked shakily. The group in the library looked at
Willow in shock. Giles' face noticeably paled, and his hands began to shake.
Cordy moved closer to Xander, who placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

  "Is it really you?" Willow's voice was now reduced to a whisper. She saw the
faint figure of Miss Calendar step toward her.

  "It's me. In a way." Willow watched the ex-computer teacher walk past her to
the computer and gently run her hand over the top of the monitor. "Is
something wrong with the computer?" Miss C. asked quietly.

  Willow shook her head 'no', wiping her face with her hands. "The phone lines
are too busy, and it won't let me get on the Internet!" Willow felt her spunk
returning. "I just wanted to get on the Internet!" Willow stood and took her
place at the computer. She sank into her comfy chair.

  "Try one more time, Willow, for my sake," the almost invisible Miss C. said
patiently.

  "Okay." Willow logged onto the Internet in less than a minute. "Hey, it
worked!" she exclaimed happily. "Miss Calendar it worked!" she turned to look
at the teacher but Miss C. was already gone. Vanished.

  Willow's face fell, but then she slowly turned to the computer and a smile
brightened her face. The other four occupants of the library looked at each
other with raised eyebrows. They shook their heads and tried to clear their
brains.

  Had any of that really happened? Or had the last hour been all a dream? Will
they ever know the truth? Willow surely won't tell.


The end

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 10:52:36 -0400
From: sah <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN:  List rules

Welcome!  This list is for fiction related to "Buffy The Vampire
Slayer," both the TV series and the movie.  To ensure that we all get
to enjoy as much fiction as possible, please adhere to the following
guidelines, and please save them for future reference.

1. Fiction should have Buffy characters in it and clearly be related
to Buffy.  Crossovers are great, and expected, but general
vampire/monster stories that aren't in the Buffy universe and don't
use Buffy characters belong somewhere else.

2. Discussion of posted fiction is permitted onlist.  Please put
"DISCUSS" in your subject line.  Requests for missing story parts
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Discussion that is not related directly to the fiction should go over
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follow common netiquette guidelines and use PG-13 language.

3. No advertising of <any> items or services, Buffy related or not,
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No attached files of <any> kind-- if your mailer makes your fiction
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     **Mark the post as a "spoiler" in the subject header.
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This ensures that anyone who doesn't like knowing about an episode
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them a chance to see "spoiler" in the header.

Spoiler warnings are not necessary after the start of the episode's
national viewing time, which is currently set at 9 p.m. Mondays,
Eastern Standard Time.  Spoiler warnings are not necessary for reruns.

5.  This list is absolutely NOT for erotic fiction.  <Nothing> stronger
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If you have a question about something's suitability for posting, feel
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PLEASE NOTE:  not following any or all of these rules will get you
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Again, welcome!  If  you have any questions about these rules, please
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 &
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[e-mail]

sah * [e-mail] * [e-mail]
NatPack * Jungle Patrol * Bishop * Bossy the Lost Dwarf * BTVS Listowner
"I feel nauseous.  What is this world coming to, that a perfectly nice,
reasonably sane atheist who forwards me slash and thrives on Xena subtext,
can suddenly start watching 7th Heaven and planning FIC, for Elvis' sake?"
                                                    --jk

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 17:59:57 +0100
From: "Mark Jones" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC:  That Night  [By Rach Jones]

OK û I have decided to send this poem to you all before I send the rest of
my story, I HAVE to know what you think about this!!!  So please, please,
please tell me, I donÆt mind what you say, any comments or questions will be
greatly appreciated û and replied to!

[e-mail]  Please send stuff to that address not the
Mark Jones one above!!

Thank you for reading all of that waffle, and now I present to you my first
ever Buffy poem and the first poem of mine that I have allowed people to
read!!  Enjoy:


THAT  NIGHT

The sun set,
The wind howled,
The vampires rose.

æNew ones obviouslyÆ
All four were dead,
But something remainedà

The rain began to fall,
The temperature dropped,
The place felt different.

æWhat is out there?Æ
A foot crunched on the leaves,
They were comingà

The feet crunched again,
The noise getting louder,
The Slayer was worried.

æWho could it be?Æ
A hand came down on her shoulder,
She jumped and turnedà

The hand was death but comforting,
The face was cold yet inviting,
The Slayer felt cold but warm.

ôWhere have you been?ö
ôLooking for youö
ôWell, IÆve found you nowö

The wind was gone,
The Slayer felt happy,
They would always be together,
In life and death,
Buffy and Angel.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 16:50:33 EDT
From: Blu2cool <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Must Be the Weather (a Spike story) (1/2)

    I felt like I was suffocating, even though I didn't really breath. I was
torn up with jealousy, and I forced myself to hide it form Angelus and Dru. If
he knew...well, let's just leave it at he'd torment me even more, if that was
possible.

  So every day while Dru and Angelus slept I crept (as much as on can creep in
a wheelchair) to the farthest corner of the warehouse and made use of my legs.
I pushed myself as far over the edge as I dared, ignoring the pain when it
wasn't enough to make me faint. I fought with myself, using rage and jealousy
as my weapons, making them the strength with which I could go on walking. And
after I could walk, I paced. For hours on end, I paced, rebuilding the muscles
the Slayer had so carelessly destroyed. I still played the part of a cripple,
though, and pretended to ignore the way Angelus and MY Dru kept leaving
together for the hunt. They never asked me to go with them. If they would've
I'd have jumped up and exclaimed, "Let's get to it then!"

  And I paced. Until the Plan came to me one day when I was angrier than
usual. Angelus and Dru had stayed out all night last night. The Plan was
brilliant. Get the help of the Slayer to kill Angelus. Surely I could talk her
into it, make her believe that all I wanted was to get rid of him. Then Dru
would be mine and only mine.

  The next night I waited anxiously for Angelus and Dru to leave for the hunt.
Finally they did, without a backward glance. A whisper of a growl escaped my
lips. Once this was over...I never allowed myself to finish that thought.

  I quickly dismissed all the "servants" as Dru tended to call them. Then in
an instant I was on my feet and outside. I had missed the cold chill of the
nights...I allowed a small smile to play on my face for a brief moment.

  I found Buffy in the graveyard, just where I expected her to be. I didn't
approach her from the open, I wasn't fool enough to think I was back to full
strength yet. I watched as she paced back and forth. Stalked would have been a
better word for it. I wondered if I looked this angry when I paced.

  The Slayer was ready when a small female vampire flew from a new grave,
staking it in a few seconds. I made my move.

  I was behind her before she could sense my presence. I pinned her arms to
her sides in a quick movement. She froze. I carefully guarded my game face,
not wanted her to get the wrong impression (author's note: is there a right
impression of vampires?).

  "Slayer," I greeted cheerfully. Buffy tried to head-bang me but I was ready
for that and dodged it.

  "What do you want?" Buffy hissed angrily.

  "Not you, don't worry," I murmured near her ear. "Not tonight." I moved my
face within biting range. Then I released the Slayer in a very risky venture.
She turned to me prepared to fight. I shoved my hands in my jacket pockets,
another dangerous thing to do. Buffy let her stance relax slightly. She
glanced around the graveyard.

  "Where are all your minions?" she asked suspiciously.

  "They're at home, watching Interview with a Vampire and making jokes about
Brad Pitt." When all else fails, try humor. Buffy tried to hide a smile, but I
saw it first. I slowly smiled in return.

  "So...what do you want?" Buffy asked me, replacing a stake in her jacket
sleeve.

  "Dru." My answer was curt. Buffy's brows furrowed in an amusing way.

  "I thought you already had her," she commented, now thoroughly confused. A
good thing, in my eyes.

  "Not anymore," I said, sitting down on a nearby bench. My legs weren't going
to last me much longer. < I just hope this works. > "Not since Angelus came
back," I stated vehemently.

  "You want to get rid of Angel?" she asked, disbelief written all over her
face.

  I nodded gravely. "Ever since he killed that teacher, he's been really
cocky." I purposely pushed the sore spot. "And he's taken Dru away from me."

  Buffy bristled. < Good girl. >

  "Don't you want to get rid of him, once and for all?" I asked slowly, ready
to bolt should Buffy decide she didn't like what I was saying. Her shoulders
slumped weakly. The Slayer nodded sadly.

  "But I can't seem to do it on my own," Buffy admitted with a frown.

  "I have a plan," I offered casually.

  "I'm listening." She wiped her hand across her eyes.

  "If they see us together, you and me, they'll go nuts. Dru's very
possessive," I added for Buffy's benefit.

  "So's Angel," Buffy muttered. She took a step closer to me. "But do you
really think seeing us together would distract them enough for us to get the
jump on him?"

  I hedged. "Well, uh...that is...um..." Buffy glared at me. "We'd have to do
more than just be seen together."

  "Like how much more?" Buffy's voice came as close to a growl as any human's
I've ever heard- living, that is.

  I cleared my throat, watching the Slayer closely, should she up and decide
to stake me. "Like kissing more," I said softly.

  Buffy's eyes showed her disgust, although her face remained neutral.
Something inside of me got a sharp pain. "Just one kiss?" Buffy asked
reluctantly.

  I nodded quickly, before she changed her mind. "Only one."

  "And how do I know you aren't setting me up? That this isn't some elaborate
trap?"

  I stood and turned to go. "You'll just have to trust me."

  "Easier said than done," I heard her mutter. "What if you're thinking of
killing two birds with one stone and killing both me and Angelus?" Buffy
called out. She jogged a few feet to catch up with me.

  "Meet me tomorrow at sunset at the front of the warehouse, if you're in.
I'll dismiss the 'minions' and then open the door for you, as soon as Angelus
and Dru leave." I stopped walking and turned to her. "Oh, and wear
something..."

  Buffy got my meaning. "Right," she said sarcastically. And I walked away,
leaving the Slayer in the cemetary. I couldn't do this without her, killing
Angelus. I needed her help. And that chilled my bones.
*******

  Sunset. Dru and Angelus left quickly, and I immediately sent all the
'servants' out with a request to bring me back three young women. For them,
the task would take all night. I knew they would return just an hour before
sunrise. It was typical of them.

  I opened the door carefully, to find Buffy pacing in front of it. I really
would have to talk to her about that particular habit. I stepped back
courteously and the Slayer walked in warily. She glanced around the room.

  "They're all gone," I informed her, walking around her to one of the chairs.
I sat to conserve my strength.

  I examined the Slayer. She wore a long black coat, hiding everything else
beneath it.

  "Well..." Buffy murmured, looking uncomfortable. Extremely uncomfortable. I
tried not to grin.

  "Something to drink?" I asked. I motioned at the table before me. Crystal
tumblers and a large crystal pitcher graced it's top.

  Buffy walked over to the table, keeping as far away from me as she could.
"Wonderful," she whispered. "Glass things for me to break when I fight."

  I laughed aloud. This Slayer was too much fun! Buffy shot a startled look at
me. I grinned at her. "Planning on wearing your coat all night?" I asked
offhand. The Slayer flushed slightly, but shed her coat immediately. I gulped
when I glimpsed her dress. It was midnight blue, and sleeveless. It was flared
from the waist down, and short, showing off a *lot* of Buffy's skin.

  I was not able to think of anything else intelligent enough to say. < No
wonder Angelus fell for her. > Buffy placed her coat on the table.

  "It was the only one I had that I didn't mind ruining. I ruin whatever I
fight in," she admitted with a laugh. She tugged at the hemline of her dress.
"So what exactly *is* the plan?"

  I stood and pulled my wheelchair out from the corner of the room. "Dru and
Angelus have no idea that I can walk," I said guiltily. "They won't be
expecting me to help you."

  Buffy nodded her assent. She crossed her arms and leaned lazily against the
table. I knew that it was a front. But a very good one. This Slayer wasn't
lowering her guard for a moment. She knew me all too well. "So what time are
our elusive hunters expected to return?"

  I paced across the floor and back again. "Not for another hour at least."

  Buffy sat down on top of the table and crossed her legs. My eyes traveled to
her half-boots half-heels. < How can she even fight in those? > I forced
myself to tear my eyes away from her. Buffy picked up the pitcher from the
table and examined its deep purple contents carefully. "What is it?" she asked
me curiously.

  "It's grape juice," I replied, pacing over to one of the boxes nearby where
I had hidden a few stakes. I took them out and over to the table. I noticed
Buffy hadn't served herself a drink. < She probably thinks I poisoned it. > I
laid the stakes down. The Slayer nodded. She pulled three of her own out of
some recess of her clothing.

  "I always come prepared." I shook my head in amusement. Here we were. We had
been having a conversation for over an hour, a vampire and a Slayer and
neither one of us had tried to kill the other. < Must be the weather. >

  I checked my watch. "Twenty more minutes." Buffy jumped up and joined my in
my pacing. She looked about ready to burst. < I guess hanging with Angelus
hasn't cured her nervousness around vampires any. >

  Together we paced until only five minutes remained before Dru and Angelus
would return. Quickly I hid the stakes in a pocket on my chair. I sat down and
motioned Buffy over to me. She questioned me with her eyes.

  "Come here," I commanded. Buffy obeyed slowly. "They'll be back any minute,"
I told her. I sat down in the wheelchair. Buffy stood awkwardly in front of
me. "Come here!" I pretended exasperation. In reality I was worried about what
we were getting ready to do. Especially Angelus' reaction. If the suspense
didn't kill me, he would sure try. I reached out and pulled Buffy into my lap.
She huffed angrily.

  "When you hear the door open, kiss me," I mumbled. If I had had any blood in
my veins, it would've all been gathered in my cheeks at this moment.

  Buffy adjusted her position on my lap. I felt the chair tilt sideways and
shifted my weight to compensate. My ears picked up on the faint sound of
footsteps. "That's them," I hissed. My stomach flip-flopped. Buffy nodded, not
looking at me, and leaned closer. I heard the footsteps coming closer and
closer and then they stopped. I pulled Buffy's head down to mine. I listened
as the door opened and Angelus and Dru walked in. Buffy's arms were wrapped
tightly around my neck. I could feel her hands shaking. The kiss ended soon
enough, when an outraged scream was heard from across the room. Angelus was
fairly shaking with rage. Drusilla stood behind him, staring openmouthed at
the two of us.

  "Angel!" Buffy exclaimed, pretending guilt. "What are you doing here?" She
hopped off my lap and went to stand beside me.

  "Spike!" Angelus roared. I flinched at the tone of his voice. "Just what do
you think you are doing?!" His volume remained that of a bugling elk. He took
two steps closer to us.

  "I was just having some fun," I drawled as calmly as I could. I had never
seen Angelus this angry before. I tugged Buffy closer. She leaned down and
placed another kiss on my lips for good measure, surprising me. Dru let out a
shriek and came flying at us. Buffy sidestepped and pulled me out of the way
with her. She pretended to support me, and slipped me a stake.

  Now both Angelus and Dru were coming at us. I quit faking and pulled Dru out
of the way while Angelus went after Buffy. He was so distracted with his rage
that he didn't even notice as the stake was plunged straight in his heart.
With an unearthly scream he was reduced to a pile of dust.

  Dru pulled away from me with another shriek and lunged for the Slayer. I
snagged the back of her dress and shouted Buffy's name. She quickly looked at
me, tears running down her face and bolted from the warehouse, not bothering
to take her coat with her. I held Dru back until she was far enough away that
Dru couldn't possibly catch her, and then released my hold. Dru fell, weeping
hysterically, to the floor over Angelus' ashes. I watched her for as long as I
could bear and then turned and fled.

  < My Dru doesn't love me anymore. > I ran through the streets, not caring
where I went. Nothing would soothe me now. Then I saw a bent figure sitting on
a swing at the park playground. The Slayer. I walked quietly over to her.

  "Hey," I said, taking a step to the left, so as not to get hit with that
stake she threw at me.

  "Don't do that!" Buffy exclaimed. I retrieved her stake for her. "Thanks."

  "Why so blue, Slayer?" I asked. I leaned against a nearby pole, almost
forgetting what I had been running from.

  Buffy's face fell. "I just kept hoping there would be some way to get him
back," she muttered sadly. She looked up at me. "Why are you upset? I thought
you'd be back having a PART-ay with Drusilla."

  I looked away. "Unfortunately, Dru wasn't in the partying mood. She's not
the same, since..."

  "I know how she feels." Buffy stood up, and stretched lazily. "I need to get
home..."

  "The sun is about to come up." I stayed where I was. This was the second
time in one day I had been close to the Slayer and hadn't even had an urge to
kill her. < Am I losing my touch? >

  I watched the Slayer walk off, then headed off in my own direction. I didn't
return to the warehouse. I was too afraid to face Dru. Instead I holed up in
the sewers. And paced.
***********

  The next evening, as soon as the sun was safely down, I crept back to the
warehouse like a dog with it's tail between its legs. I didn't go in, actually
I didn't even get near it. Hysterical weeping could be heard blocks away.
Shamefaced, I turned and ran away.
***********

  Dawn announced itself with streaks of pink across the sky. I reconsidered on
last time what I was doing. This rooftop of one of Sunnydale's many downtown
stores provided no cover from the sunlight. I glanced around. The streets were
deserted, no one would see me go. I closed my eyes for a brief second and
wished that things were different. Nothing had turned out right. I wasn't
supposed to fall for the Slayer, or have Dru NOT accept me back. True, Angel
was out of the picture, but the sadness of the two women who meant the most to
me had ruined any joy I could have gotten out of his death- er, destruction.

  I ran a hand through my short hair and felt the first rays of the sun burn
my skin. I panted in pain and gritted my teeth. A startled shriek behind me
told me I had been spotted. No matter. In minutes I would be no more. Strong
hands lifted me and roughly pulled me inside a metal door. It clanged closed.

  "No," I mumbled, hardly coherent anymore.

  "What do you think you were doing?" a familiar, and loved, voice demanded.
Buffy sat down, holding me up. We were in a dark stairwell. The air was cool.

  "Isn't it obvious?" I tried to move away from her but she held me still.

  "Then you probably should've tried it on a different roof. This is my
mother's art store. Not a good place to commit suicide. Especially when I'm
here."

  I realized my mistake. Now I had to escape. If only I could reach the door.
In my heart I knew I would do whatever she asked me. < Stupid muscle > Buffy
looked at the burns on my face and hands. She looked confused as to why she
had just saved a vampire. Then she shrugged.

  "I never learn my lessons soon enough," she murmured, leaning toward me. I
searched her face for any signs of the disgust she had displayed before. There
was none.

------------------------------

End of buffyfic-digest V2 #151
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