View source for 2798/You're too young to hear this.

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/10/18
|Location=The Garden
|Synopsis=Minako joins Izou in the Shed's Garden to meet the new Nemesis sapling, Blue Spinel. But of course, between two friends, more is shared.
|Cast of Characters=86,27
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>It was about that time during the weekend where he's carrying a tote bag full of the small bento boxes he prepared for Blue Spinel during the week. And as promised, he had texted the time and place to meet up as well. In front of the Shed in the morning. He brought a thermos of his own tea and awaited, sipping away.<br><br>Quietly, he wondered how Minako would take the little being.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Birds were chirping. The sun was up. Minako was... Mobile. Up was questionable.<br><br>Artemis can be seen before Mina, the white Mauian leading the way with head and tail held high. There's no greeting from him but that's entirely because he has a red hairbow clamped between his teeth as he marches along.<br><br>"Arrttyyy give it baaack you know I have bed-head if I don't put it up!" <br><br>You can practically see Artemis' eyes roll in response. He stops at Izou's feet with a little lift of his head as if to say 'here take it' regarding the familiar bow.<br><br>Minako comes into sight around the corner a moment later with her hair completely down and a recognizable scent of coffee wafting from the reusable thermos cup she has in hand. Bleary eyed but up she 'chases' after Artemis with the enthusiasm of someone who probably had to get dragged out of bed in the first place to get here on time.<br><br>"Hi Izooou. Artemis is being mean." He wasn't. Not really.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>green eyes blinked at the white feline, eyes mostly stuck on the bow once it was offered, but he did greet Artemis once the satin was in one of his hands. "Good morning Artemis. What... did Mina-chan do this time?" A tiny smile on his lips, standing back up to look over to Minako who was finally catching up.<br><br>"Good morning Mina-chan. Your hair does not look bad at all." Perhaps it was too early for her, but there was a reason he picked this time--Blue Spinel was always active ''early'' in the day.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Artemis smacks his feline lips a time or two once the bow is taken. It was a bit dry after all. "She sat down on a bench and started to fall asleep again. I thought this would be the fastest way," he explains with a sigh. "To be fair we do keep late nights often." While he could criticize her sleepiness it was true they were out late. She was still a growing teen.<br><br>A dip of his head is given, and he forehead bumps into Izou's leg before turning to march back the way he came. "I'll leave her to you. I want to see if I can catch Diana a bit today." With that he's off breezing by Minako without a word.<br><br>Mina just pouts down at him but she does nod in apparent understanding. Diana was too cute. If her daughter were a cutie like Diana she'd want to spend lots of time with her too.<br><br>Attention shifting to Izou she flashes a smile even if she does seem a bit tired. Now that she was here she was waking up some from the walk. "Thanks. It just feels really weird to wear down after all this time." Blue eyes dart to the bag that Izou has with a nod. "Sorry if I'm late. Are we still good to visit?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Lips form a small o in understanding why he was holding onto the bow, then snickered. Artemis knew how to pull his Sailor along in the best ways, even when she didn't want to. With the nudge to his leg, Izou waves as the white feline bounds off. "Have fun, Artemis. I owe you a scritch later."<br><br>Finally, when Minako was next to him, he offered the bow back, shaking his head. "You're not that late, so don't worry. Plus, I'm sure Blue Spinel would enjoy meeting you even if you were. I just would have left the door open for you." With careful supervision so no stranger would come in, of course.<br><br>Turning around, he begins to turn the knob a few times to and fro as to unlock the Shed before opening the door. A cool smell of petrichor was in the air as the Garden was being introduced. Izou holds the door open for Minako.<br><br>Dimly lit inside, except for a few lamps set on the tables to the far left side. A sickly Bonsai which Izou was looking after, and of course, where Blue Spinel was left in their large pot. The dirt around them was topped with soft moss where they had been resting on until the door opened.<br><br>Now fully alert, the sproutling tilts their little head towards the newcomer before sensing their ''guardian'' coming in after. Muzzle produces a smile, two tiny teeth poke out. They were indeed of ivory color.<br><br>"Goo' morning Zouzou!" It was a tiny voice for a still small sappling. Blue Spinel was around 20 inches tall, leaves and stems of green, but the tips had a purple-ish hue reminiscent of their planet of origin: Nemesis. "Who this?" Nodding their head towards Minako.<br><br>"Good morning Blue. This is miss Minako Aino, one of my friends. I wanted her to meet you." He beamed back after closing the door.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Minako Aino takes the bow back to smooth between her hands a moment. Of course Artemis had taken care not to drag it on the ground. Even if he was trying to lure her here with it, he knew how important it was to her, too. One handed she slips it back up to clip in her hair a bit lopsided for now. Not the best application but she wasn't about to release her grasp on her coffee cup either at the moment. A long sip is taken while Izou works on the door.<br><br>Though she'd been to the Shed many times she hadn't been to THIS portion of it. It's a bit of a surprise as she steps through inhaling the scent of freshly fallen rain, moss, plants. Of foresty things brought inside... Was it inside, technically? It was too early to dwell on such thoughts.<br><br>Before Izou can properly introduce her she's already fixated on Blue Spinel suddenly very, very wide awake. The corners of her mouth twitch as she murmers, "Zouzou?" Oh that was going to be something she remembers for later. <br><br>More importantly though she turns her attention back to Blue as she approaches the tiny baby plant. "Hi! Izou talks about you a lot! It's nice to meet you. You can just call me Mina."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>With proximity, one can pick on Blue Spinel's scent. Powdery sweet, especially when they speak.<br><br>"Mina." Blue repeats, a stem with three little leaves on it lifts to their muzzle, muttering the name back to themself before nodding with a smile. "Mina! Nice to meet you. Zouzou talk about his friends a lot." Another head tilt, and a soft sweeping of something warm, like air, could be felt this time.<br><br>Izou places the tote bag on the neighboring table as he looks over to the two. "Blue is sensing you. I think that's how they ''see'' others and the location they are in." Due to the lack of eyes.<br><br>Once done, Blue smiles behind the leaves still pressed against their muzzle--definitely imitating Izou's physical gestures. "Mina is also warm."<br><br>"She's warm blooded, like I am. We both produce heat. Here." Izou approaches with a bento box open, filled with cute fruits and veggies and a small dipping cup of caramel. Blue excitedly accepts it, the stem with leaves dexterously wrapping around the child's chopsticks to dig into the food.<br><br>The tennou now looks over to his friend, lifting a brow towards her. "Don't use Zouzou."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Minako Aino crouches down a bit to be more on level with Blue as that odd sensation washes over her. The scent was nice, relaxing, and she would normally press her face RIGHT INTO THE FLOWER--But this one was alive and that seemed awfully rude. The teeth (while adorable!) were enough of a warning that she didn't want to risk getting nipped either.<br><br>"Yep, I'm pretty hot!" She agrees with a solemn nod perhaps leaning just a bit into the wordplay, although she lets Izou actually explain properly about the whole warm blooded thing. It does cause her to pause with a tilt of her head at the plant *immitating Izou* curiously. "Does that mean you're cold? We could get you a space heater to help maybe." <br><br>The thought has her looking around for any place one could be plugged in. Maybe not.<br><br>When the food is offered, and he picks up the tiny chopsticks to use, she clasps her hands in front of herself beneath her chin. A little, tiny, high-pitched squeal of 'Awww!' breaks from her at the sight.<br><br>It turns into a sly grin with eyes narrowing to look back toward Izou. "Of cooourse not~ Zou-chaaaan."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>He couldn't help but pinch and pull at her cheek, eyes narrowing back. Of course she would keep that in her memory now that it was out, but there was no hiding how Blue decided to call him. One could only hope that it wouldn't catch on forever.<br><br>"Anyway, a space heater isn't needed." Izou let's go of her, placing the same hand under the lamp that was shining over the sproutling who kept busy eating. Tiny happy munches. "LED lights are good for plants indoors, but I also use a combination of UVA and UVB lights for Blue when I'm present. It helps them grow healthier while I keep them inside the Garden."<br><br>The glow wasn't as warm as them, but the light produced was sufficient. "At some point I want to talk to Mamoru about bringing Blue into the building. But he's been busy with everything happening with Riventon, so I'm just waiting for a good moment to bring it up."<br><br>There was some worry there, wrinkling between brows visible as it was pointless to hide how he felt.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Minako Aino yips when her cheek is pinched, pulled, and left pinkened from the experience. If she hadn't woken up at the sight of Blue this surely did the trick! Mina's lower lip juts out in a mock pout while her own hand lifts to gingerly rub over her abused cheek momentarily.<br><br>"Oh that's good then. I don't know much about plants other than the flowers that my parents get, usually." A pause as she adds, "But they're cut flowers." Not the same at all.<br><br>Curious she reaches out to hold her hand under the light as well testing the warmth. It wasn't the same for her as a plant of course.<br><br>The worried expression earns a lift of her eyebrow in turn. "What's wrong? Is it about Riventon being a dick? I'm sure Mamoru would be fine with you bringing Blue to the apartment."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>"If he were just a dick, that wouldn't have been as surprising." With what all he remembered from Riventon in Obsidian, dickishness was an expected aspect from both parties. Smart snaps and jabs, wordplay like a practice of swords whenever they had a moment. Yet it never moved past from that. No matter, Zoisite always had a small circle to care for anyway.<br><br>Unfortunately, not for Mamoru. That orbit housed many. "It's that he chose to swing at Mamoru at all. The more I think about it, the more it bothers me." Those two had always been close since the start, and it had not dawned on him how ''pitching mamoru at masato'' would have looked like.<br><br>Violent.<br><br>His fingers rub against one of Blue's leaves, watching them eat away happily. "I know Mamoru won't mind much if I bring Blue around. But it's always better to ask. Sometimes he sees things I can't."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>"No, that's true. Even if he doesn't mind it's still good to ask. Especially when he might be feeling like he doesn't have control of a lot of things. His home should at least be something he has a say in," Mina reasons as she tries to be thoughtful over the entire situation. <br><br>Minako grows silent watching how he tends to Blue so tenderly. A vague look of amusement creeps over her before she remarks, "You know, you'd make a pretty good father some day."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>"Exactly. This is something I feel Mamoru should have a say in. Blue is still estranged from Earth, we don't know how they'll react to being outside, or what lies ahead for them at all. Nemesis doesn't exist anymore, and neither does the Death Phantom. But for it to have had some kind of flora in the middle of so much dark energy gives me pause."<br><br>And yet, Blue did not give off any hint of Dark Energy. A small sproutling that seemed as normal as any, merely magical and sentient.<br><br>It was a relief for him.<br><br>Of course, this did not keep him from feeling some heat crawl over his own cheeks, before clearing his throat. "Being a plant guardian is different. I always loved plants, you know? A human baby is very.. different. I don't know how I would be good as a parent of one." Or if he even wanted a child. Maybe. If he and Kazuo talked about it in the future, maybe.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>"Well of course it'd be different, but it'd also be *your* baby. That's different too." Minako doesn't meet his gaze as she's busy in her own thoughts a moment. A quick moment that she finishes with a sharp shake of her head as her thoughts had begun to wander to wether or not she wanted that for herself in the future.<br><br>Then she turns with a flashed grin and reaches out to give an open-palmed pat between Izou's shoulders a few times. "Just saying. You're attentive, caring, protective. Don't discount yourself. You get to choose your own future." <br><br>Abruptly her thoughts turn back to the topic of Nemesis. A change of topic to give an out to the awkward remark that had popped up. "I mean it was a planet before all of *that* so it had to have had something on it originally, before Death Phantom showed up to begin with."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Something about the way Minako said ''your baby'' deepened the small furrow on Izou's face. There was very little he shared about his childhood with her, about his past and present worries that extended outside of the family he found and clumped together with the Shitennou. A brotherhood of sorts. None of them blood related, despite the amount of willingness they each had to put themselves in front of the other to protect and maintain.<br><br>And what was Blue, besides a sappling he cared for? What would they become, with all the care he was giving them? A child? A pet? Something else? So much around him existed without proper labels or definition. It always took so long for him to even identify what it was he felt besides the old festering anger fueled by darkness.<br><br>Minako's mentioning of life having existed before the dark energy however lightened his expression enough to feel a little more relaxed. "You're right. Saphir possibly just found something that had existed before the planet was engulfed. When I looked over those files in Crystal Tokyo, I neglected to look into anything on the planet before Queen Serenity sent Death Phantom away. So it more than likely only housed some flora, if anything else. So... perhaps Blue is all that was left of the actual planet."<br><br>Izou smiles again, looking over to Minako. "Thank you"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Minako Aino leans over toward Izou to bump her shoulder into his. A light gesture in recognition of his thanks. "Welcome. Besides," she adds with another grin cast toward Blue. "Blue is so cute!"<br><br>Mina draws a breath, and lets it out slowly. "You know. When I checked on myself in Crystal Tokyo, I was still single. ... A thousand years. And still." Her face scrunches with teeth digging into her lower lip trying to repress the urge to admit how that felt finding out. Since they were talking about Crystal Tokyo though it had risen to the surface again. "It's kind of sad, huh? But I totally have a guy that likes me here now, you should meet him sometime!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Brief contact made him smile a little more, taking in the physical tenderness. How many times has Minako been gentle with him, despite their fiery meeting months and months ago? Enough that his guard was now very lowered with her, and willing to share more if she asked.<br><br>"Blue is cute. And smart. Didn't take them long to learn Japanese." Izou was considering teaching her English, French and Spanish as well. But that would come with time.<br><br>At the mention of Sailor Venus from Crystal Tokyo, the hint of furrow returned. But only a small hint. "You mentioned you found a new beau to obsess over. I do need to meet him, make sure he's even worthy of you." Looking over to Minako, he gave a cheerful little wink as though it was meant to be humorous. Gods, he was also half serious as well. If anyone made Minako cry, he'd probably lose his patience in an instance.<br><br>"From what I understand, those in Crystal Tokyo live for a very long time. Your counterpart possibly just hasn't met her love yet. Too much to look after." He hoped it encouraged Minako, not letting her mind remain in the a possible gloom of another life. "She has more than all the time to find the one meant for her."<br><br>Breathing in, green eyes looked over to his sapling. Blue Spinel continued to be very busy, eating. "...I never spoke to my counterpart in Crystal Tokyo."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>"Yeah. Maybe." Though Minako does take in the offerd words with a serious tone she doesn't meet his gaze as she does. Instead she watches Blue with her expression softening just a bit.<br><br>"Sometimes I really take to heart the fortune Ace gave me, even if he told me he had redone it later. That I'll always choose duty over love." A deep breath is drawn that she holds tight in her chest a moment. Only a moment. It's exhaled with a quick puff of air that sends her bangs floomfing up momentarily.<br><br>"Of course I always will, I know, but the way he said it makes it seem *so sad* and lonely and it's not that at all! I'm just going to always choose to protect Usagi and the others. That's obvious."<br><br>Now her head tilts back toward him with a grin that was slightly mischevious as she slyly remarks, "I spoke to him~"<br><br>"He worked in the medical area. Very nice, friendly, and personable. A bit of a flirt too from what I heard!" A pause as she assures, "I didn't flirt with him though, promise. I know you and Kazuo have a thing and ... Well, even then I figured if it wasn't yet, it probably would be." A little shrug as she tries to be thoughtful in perhaps the most awkward way.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>"I think Ace forgot to add the rest of us in his analysis." Izou added. "You're not the only one that will choose duty over love. And you won't be the last, either. We all choose duty over love, even..." Another deep breath, as memories of twins runs across his mind, or how cleanly his rapier split between flesh and metal. All decisions made and learned from. All carried weight, as much as Venus' actions did as well. "When it hurts us to make that choice. It can feel lonely, but you're right. We really are not alone in this. And that is true for your counterpart. She's not alone, far from it."<br><br>Yet, he goes quiet as Minako brings up his own counterpart. Who he was, how he seemed like, his romantic status and all in between. Green eyes averted, looking away. A bit of stiffness of muscles and twisting of lips.<br><br>"I didn't speak to him because I didn't want to know about him, Mina-chan." Izou cleared his throat, feeling torn between guilt and a sudden wave of jealousy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>"Oops." Mina always was good at sticking her foot in her mouth by running it a bit too much. A little awkward laugh rises up in her as she rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "Sorry, Izou. He was... I mean, I don't know if it'll help to say, but he wasn't awake yet. Most of them weren't honestly." He would at least understand that, and it didn't really tell MORE of his counterpart other than that, perhaps, he didn't have the memories of being a Shittenou at the time she had dealt with him. Which was true enough.<br><br>A little uncertain about the tensin that he seems to have now, she nudges her elbow gently against his side. "Don't worry, you're still cuter!" <br><br>"I just thought you'd like to know I didn't make things weird with him like I did with Nephrite."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Did it help to know this? He wasn't sure. All he had been aware of was that his other self was, like Sailor Saturn, busy in treating both Nephrite and Mamoru. And seemed emotional when when they all departed. What for, he didn't know. Or he did but didn't want to think about it.<br><br>It tied a knot in his throat, forcing a little smile as Minako nudged him.<br><br>"He just seemed happier. Even with everything that was happening in his timeline. So... 'firm' in what he was, who he was." Izou muttered. "I didn't want to know him and find out how much better his life was." Or be compared to, have that fact brought up, if ever, when he was not at his best.<br><br>Another deep breath then. "But I'm sure I missed out on knowing more about myself. I could have at least asked him about what he remembered, what happened to the Shitennou." Looks over to Minako. "I think he knew I didn't want to talk to him either. He'd look at me, and leave me be."<br><br>A brow rose. "...What did you do with Nephrite?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Minako Aino nods along in understanding as Izou sorts through his own feelings about his future self. Even his future self, as far as she could recall, hadn't asked about him. Out of any of them he would likely be the one to not want to know ... himself. That way. She doesn't argue it and just accepts it at this point.<br><br>Her thoughts are quickly scattered when he asks the question she'd left herself wide open to. Blue eyes jolt open wide with a quickly reddening face. Crouched as she was, it's easy enough to rock her weight back to just land on her rear so that her knees can come up protectively in front of her. The perfect spot to boink her forehead down against her knees.<br><br>"What *didn't* I do with him!" She bemoans ever so slightly muffled. The remark likely could lead to many, many wrong leaps of judgement. It's certainly not helped by the fact that she begins to speak, only to abruptly stop as her head lifts to gaze at Blue.<br><br>"You're too young to hear this."<br><br>That doesn't stop her from explaining to Izou though! She just switches up to English as she gives her explanation.<br><br>"We were all out fighting to bring the survivors to the castle, and there was this guy fighting with us who wore a mask and he was really pretty good! So. *YOU* know what it's like. You just start talking and then it turns to flirting and then the mask comes off and bam! It's Nephrite! And Naru's *grandson* and you're already in too deep and end up carrying him the rest of the way to the castle!" <br><br>Okay perhaps this was a situation Izou would *not* understand completely.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>No, he didn't exactly know what it was like. But he could imagine it. The tension in his shoulders and mind slowly melt away as she explained just how she met the Starseer's counterpart. It tickled him somewhere in the back of his mind like it felt familiar in both a good and annoying way. Where this was coming from, he also could not place. Just that it existed, and was present.<br><br>"Why did ye' stop at just him? Should've tried to flirt with all of 'em by the end. Would've been funny." It was his turn to nudge her with his shoulder, his English carrying a Welsh accent. Smile reaching his eyes at how Minako always seemed to find herself in these situations.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Minako Aino scrunches her nose right back at Izou when he teases her. It takes a moment for her to catch the difference in accent as her own was very decidedly British in pitch and tone. It was almost like she was used to speaking it, once upon a time.<br><br>"I wasn't trying to be funny! ... That would have been a bit though, yes, but you know I just..."<br><br>Mina pauses as she realizes what she's about to admit to. The smallest hint of a blush creeps over her as she looks just a tad bit guilty at admitting it. "There was so much going on and I was so stressed out, but it's not like I could admit it. So I flirt to lighten the mood. He seemed to be doing the same so we just kept at it." <br><br>"Then we went to Nemesis and he checked on me after. I *really* needed that."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Ah. That... explained quite a bit. Eyes widening, still leaning against her. "Ye' were doing what ye' could. I think we all were, survivors included. Ye' were flirting, and I was being a right prick." The best way to put it for himself at least.<br><br>"After Nemesis, everything just fell apart. Usagi-chan and Small Lady were gone, what else could we do." At the time he didn't feel as bad about Sailor Moon being lost, and his frustration against the little princess was still fresh--so most of his worries were geared towards Mamoru's recovery, and clinging close to Kazuo.<br><br>But there was some guilt as he knew Minako had not felt well back then. Izou leans his head over hers. "Glad you had someone to look after ye'. Sorry it wasn't me."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Minako Aino lets herself relax against Izou as they just lean against one another for now sharing their time back then. It was a subject she hadn't really expected to come up. Then again given where Blue had come from perhaps it made sense to lead here.<br><br>"You had Mamoru to take care of. If I had Usagi or Chibi there I would have been able to focus outside of myself, too." But she hadn't. There's no need in saying that. Besides that, the future version of Nephrite did give really good hugs.<br><br>For once she decides not to speak such thoughts out loud.<br><br>"We're here now," she remarks instead with a little grin. "But in the future I expect a hug." <br><br>"Should we let Blue finish eating in peace? It's probably really confused by us by now."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>It made sense, due to Blue Spinel but also due to them needing to catch up on many things they probably needed time to process. Especially himself. Izou had been sparse up until recently, and he was grateful he could share such things with someone besides Kazuo, Mamoru and sometimes Masato. It felt comfortable.<br><br>"Make it the present then." Back to Japanese, he leaned away only so he could wrap his arms around her shoulders, squeezing her against his chest.<br><br>"We should. They get very involved with their food, and usually sleeps right after." Izou let's go of Minako so they both could get ready to leave.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:27|Minako Aino (27)}} has posed:'''<br>Minako Aino shifts away expecting Izou to pull away. It was about the time that he usually did in her experience. When he comes back instead for the hug she finds herself momentarily speechless.<br><br>It was nice though so she lets her forehead rest against his chest just a moment while squeezing the hug in return. "Thanks, Izou."<br><br>Recalling Blue Spinell again she sits up and straightens, taking care to smooth her skirt out as she stands so she doesn't accidentally traumatize the sapling. "We should let them rest then. It was good meeting you, Blue! And," her gaze shifts back to Izou with a warm smile. "Thanks for letting me meet them."<br> <br>
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