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TDM #4
Welcome! Everything is fine.
Uploading. . . Complete!
The Lobby.
- When you open your eyes, there is quite a lot of beige to take in. The unassuming walls of the room you've found yourself in are barren save for a single motivational poster directly in your line of sight. An illuminated sign above an open door on the far wall reads 'lobby exit.'
"Welcome," chimes a polite, synthesized voice. "I'm happy you're here." A moment later comes the clarity of the situation: you have died and so has the world you came from. "This is Amani, your new reality," continues The Peacekeeper. "Everything will be fine."
At least you aren't the only one here, you'll soon find out, as others who are just as confused and concerned as you are mingling on the main hub's first floor. Hopefully, you find a familiar face among the crowd. If not, that's all right. You'll get to know quite a few people very well soon enough.
- If you're one of the unlucky few whose death required a bit more intensive re-coding to maintain stability in the simulation, you'll instead awaken on a bed in the infirmary. Everything is strikingly white save for the occasional string of vines with lavender growing in bursts to help keep people calm. Whether or not it works seems to be on a case-by-case basis.
While there is no active medical staff, the voice of The Peacekeeper is there to explain the situation in a more delicate manner to these individuals. It's already stressful enough having to have gone through such a violent death, after all!
If characters want more questions answered, they'll need to speak to The Peacekeeper directly. But first, it will encourage socialization in the main hub and hopefully, you'll find someone you recognize to make taking things in a little easier.
WHAT
The fourth Amani TDM!
WHEN
April 21st, 2022
KINKS OF THE MONTH
★ Tickling
★ Facials
★ School Uniforms
★ Sharing
★ Hurt/Comfort
★ Facials
★ School Uniforms
★ Sharing
★ Hurt/Comfort
WELCOME
Throughout the main hub where everyone congregates, a light chiming echoes through the first floor. "Hello, everyone," comes the synthetic voice from when you first arrived. "Please, watch your step since there's quite a few puddles around. If you'd like, there is cake, some refreshments, and some eggs for you in these trying times. If they feel warmer than usual, that's because they're going to hatch soon!"
While the Peacekeeper doesn't elaborate, as usual, simulation inhabitants are free to notice the eggs that either they gathered or are still littering the simulation are now warm to the touch, give off a faint glow, and may even move subtly now and again if watched.
Dark, ominous clouds begin to gather over every piece of sky in the simulation and before long blot out the sun. Sheets of rain begin to pour down almost without warning. Hopefully, you've managed to fix those leaks in your house! Or maybe you're finding new ones...
Lightning splits the sky with a dramatic crackle and thunder booms not long after it. The wind howls and the worst of the storm won't relent for a few hours at the least. Even after, the rain will linger for days on and off to varying degrees of severity.
While the weather has taken a turn for the gloomy, that doesn't mean that simulation inhabitants have to be! In fact, it may feel somewhat refreshing as if the rain is washing away any negativity lingering after The Overseer's masquerade. Whether by her design or not, she - nor The Peacekeeper - will say but it does seem that she wants to keep relations as peaceful between the simulation inhabitants and creators as she can.
Of course, your buckets might not just be catching water. With the rising water levels, the fish that inhabit the simulation's waters are just as confused as anyone else. Even more confusing is the glitch causing them to transform once they find themselves on solid (mostly) ground.
Thankfully, they don't change into anything harmful. Well, maybe to your teeth since an abundance of sweet treats is bound to cause a cavity or two... Not to mention the other odd effects that food here is known to have.
If the party and its cake don't appeal to you, that's perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to configure your Digitized Technical Friend or your DTF status. A DTF is similar to a dæmon from His Dark Materials in that it is connected to and a reflection of a character's soul. These DTFs take shape accordingly and are projections similar to the NPCs. Think of them as your own personal Clippy except less annoying. Hopefully.
Once that's set-up, there are other locations of the main hub to investigate! You can still find an (off-key) instrument to play in the music lounge or check out the (algae-ridden) pool.
You can even visit The Peacekeeper themselves on the second floor. They're always happy to have visitors! They're also conveniently where you might place a complaint about that status of the main hub and its amenities.
While the Peacekeeper doesn't elaborate, as usual, simulation inhabitants are free to notice the eggs that either they gathered or are still littering the simulation are now warm to the touch, give off a faint glow, and may even move subtly now and again if watched.
APRIL SHOWERS
Granted, there are bigger things to worry about such as the storm that's rolling in.Dark, ominous clouds begin to gather over every piece of sky in the simulation and before long blot out the sun. Sheets of rain begin to pour down almost without warning. Hopefully, you've managed to fix those leaks in your house! Or maybe you're finding new ones...
Lightning splits the sky with a dramatic crackle and thunder booms not long after it. The wind howls and the worst of the storm won't relent for a few hours at the least. Even after, the rain will linger for days on and off to varying degrees of severity.
While the weather has taken a turn for the gloomy, that doesn't mean that simulation inhabitants have to be! In fact, it may feel somewhat refreshing as if the rain is washing away any negativity lingering after The Overseer's masquerade. Whether by her design or not, she - nor The Peacekeeper - will say but it does seem that she wants to keep relations as peaceful between the simulation inhabitants and creators as she can.
ONE FISH, TWO FISH...
The constant rain brings water levels of the rivers and eddies up at an alarming rate. Flooding is inevitable and, hopefully, the place you've claimed as your own isn't in the way. If it is, you might want to get the buckets ready or consider a relocation!Of course, your buckets might not just be catching water. With the rising water levels, the fish that inhabit the simulation's waters are just as confused as anyone else. Even more confusing is the glitch causing them to transform once they find themselves on solid (mostly) ground.
Thankfully, they don't change into anything harmful. Well, maybe to your teeth since an abundance of sweet treats is bound to cause a cavity or two... Not to mention the other odd effects that food here is known to have.
- ★ Taiyaki » Despite having just jumped out of the chilly waters, these tasty treats will be warm to the touch and generate steam. After biting into one, you'll radiate warmth no matter what for a brief period of time. Being a walking furnace sure is nice with this damp, cold atmosphere... Maybe you'll find a friend or two to huddle up with and keep warm.
★ Swedish Fish » Eating one of these stretchy, gummy candies will increase your flexibility. Literally and metaphorically! It might be easier to be convinced to do something you wouldn't have before and now you can bend just the right way to make it extra fun.
★ Hard Fish Candy » These tart candies will render someone unable to speak until it completely dissolves. This can take a while, too, since they seem to be persistantly stuck to the roof of your mouth! Yet, don't underestimate the power of body language to speak your mind.
★ Chocolate Sardines » Eating one of these rich bite-sized treats will make you sweeter. No, really! Candy kisses isn't just an expression after eating these fish. You taste delicious. Maybe too delicious... Be careful! Once someone gets a taste of you, they might not want to stop anytime soon.
WHAT'S YOUR DTF STATUS?
If the party and its cake don't appeal to you, that's perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to configure your Digitized Technical Friend or your DTF status. A DTF is similar to a dæmon from His Dark Materials in that it is connected to and a reflection of a character's soul. These DTFs take shape accordingly and are projections similar to the NPCs. Think of them as your own personal Clippy except less annoying. Hopefully.
Once that's set-up, there are other locations of the main hub to investigate! You can still find an (off-key) instrument to play in the music lounge or check out the (algae-ridden) pool.
You can even visit The Peacekeeper themselves on the second floor. They're always happy to have visitors! They're also conveniently where you might place a complaint about that status of the main hub and its amenities.
RAINING CATS AND DOGS
While the fishy foods are odd enough as is, another glitch appears to be occurring throughout the simulation but this time originates not from the rain but The Peacekeeper's humble musings. "Did you know," speaks the resident AI, "that there is an expression called 'raining cats and dogs'? I think that's such a curious saying! It made me wonder what it might actually look like..."
Following the strange, unexpected 'announcement,' inhabitants may begin to notice large globs of water falling periodically from the sky now amidst the regular rain. When they hit the ground with a large splash, nothing is there... at first. The water will burst apart only to reassemble into a canine or feline friend. Well, it's shaped like a dog or a cat.
Due to the sudden nature of their spawning though, some things aren't quite right. Perhaps that cat has only three legs instead of four; a dog may be missing an eye, an ear, or even its tail. And those are the more tame oddities! While the unique animals aren't overly abundant there are still a good number that spawn across the days of rain. Don't be surprised if a dog takes up shelter from the storm on your porch or you come home to a cat you don't own having climbed through a loose window.
While this might be exactly the addition to your home that you wanted, it doesn't change the leaky roof or broken window in your new place. Or, unfortunately, the fact that there's no extra space for a pet yet. No, unfortunately that will still need to be fixed the peaceful way. If you'd like more lighting or even cozier clothes, simulation inhabitants are reminded that 'peaceful interactions' are very important!
It might be a good idea to stick close to someone you know, for now, since even the smallest amounts of intimacy might see subtle changes occurring where they're staying. Perhaps that broken window is now fixed, the grime and dust seem a little less, or the floor doesn't creak quite as loud.
Larger changes, however, will only come after demonstrating the more powerful peaceful interactions. If you want new hardwood floors or a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you're going to have to demonstrate how well you 'get along' with others against them first.
Following the strange, unexpected 'announcement,' inhabitants may begin to notice large globs of water falling periodically from the sky now amidst the regular rain. When they hit the ground with a large splash, nothing is there... at first. The water will burst apart only to reassemble into a canine or feline friend. Well, it's shaped like a dog or a cat.
Due to the sudden nature of their spawning though, some things aren't quite right. Perhaps that cat has only three legs instead of four; a dog may be missing an eye, an ear, or even its tail. And those are the more tame oddities! While the unique animals aren't overly abundant there are still a good number that spawn across the days of rain. Don't be surprised if a dog takes up shelter from the storm on your porch or you come home to a cat you don't own having climbed through a loose window.
While this might be exactly the addition to your home that you wanted, it doesn't change the leaky roof or broken window in your new place. Or, unfortunately, the fact that there's no extra space for a pet yet. No, unfortunately that will still need to be fixed the peaceful way. If you'd like more lighting or even cozier clothes, simulation inhabitants are reminded that 'peaceful interactions' are very important!
It might be a good idea to stick close to someone you know, for now, since even the smallest amounts of intimacy might see subtle changes occurring where they're staying. Perhaps that broken window is now fixed, the grime and dust seem a little less, or the floor doesn't creak quite as loud.
Larger changes, however, will only come after demonstrating the more powerful peaceful interactions. If you want new hardwood floors or a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you're going to have to demonstrate how well you 'get along' with others against them first.
SEEING PINK
ear the end of the week, the rain finally relents and temperatures continue to gradually increase. Those May flowers can't quite seem to wait though since several of the trees lining the edge of the forest bloom brilliant pink blossoms that a DTF will be able to identify as love blossoms. While the blooms won't last very long, they certainly are using all the time they have to take over.
The pollen is one thing. It may start out as just a tickle in your nose or stuffy head but eventually turns into something much more lovely. You're tickled pink about almost everything, it seems, and want to share that happiness with others. And who needs rose-colored glasses when almost everywhere one looks there's a string of love blossoms blooming?
These invasive flowers are in your garden, along the vines in the city, and even sprawling through the main hub! It actually seems almost impossible to avoid them. The Peacekeeper assures inhabitants that it isn't purposeful and just the natural cycle of the love blossoms.
Enjoy the mood-lifting and groin-tingling effects while they last! The love blossoms will only linger for a few days, at most, before receding back to the forest line and eventually falling dormant again until next spring.
The pollen is one thing. It may start out as just a tickle in your nose or stuffy head but eventually turns into something much more lovely. You're tickled pink about almost everything, it seems, and want to share that happiness with others. And who needs rose-colored glasses when almost everywhere one looks there's a string of love blossoms blooming?
These invasive flowers are in your garden, along the vines in the city, and even sprawling through the main hub! It actually seems almost impossible to avoid them. The Peacekeeper assures inhabitants that it isn't purposeful and just the natural cycle of the love blossoms.
Enjoy the mood-lifting and groin-tingling effects while they last! The love blossoms will only linger for a few days, at most, before receding back to the forest line and eventually falling dormant again until next spring.
SEXY STAMP CARD
If you're wondering about these 'peaceful interactions' that keep being mentioned or what the kinks of the month are for... Here's your answer! Upon arrival, all characters will receive a digital copy of their very own sexy stamp card.
Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it!NOTES
Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it!
★ The kinks of the month have changed! Be sure to check this post for what the new ones are. Also, give a congratulations to Corrin (
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fatefulprince) as the as the new leader of the sexy leaderboard! 🎉★ The effects of the strange fish candies can, as always, be as heavy or light as you'd like! It can be chalked up to differences in resistance, non-humanity or not, etc. etc. Also, they can mixed-and-matched! Have fun with that.
★ The flora and fauna page will be updated. It's also still open for player suggestions! All you need to do now is link your check-in (or player claim) comment to make a submission!
★ Make sure to dunk your questions/feedback in the thread below!
NAVIGATION
fishy lkdfjgsdfg
He's considering climbing the rubble pile himself to check out the rest when he notices what Zack hasn't yet. "Does that...hurt?" He points at the rising steam.
Re: fishy lkdfjgsdfg
He finally seems to notice when he tries to figure out the source of the heat, and discovers it's him.
"What the-?" he drops his food in surprise, arms held out in front of himself to observe the layers of warmth that seem to wisp from his body with just how cold it is outside. "Uh, alright, that's a new one. This place seriously can't have one meal not full of freaky effects?"
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Time to just pretend that never happened.
"Maybe if you just sit on the floor, you'll boil all the water away and we can ditch the pails."
Cloud is cold, though. Without really thinking about it, he sloshes a little closer to Zack.
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"If there's leeches in here, I'm dunking you spikey hair first into the water with me." Zack gripes, but does as he's told, and sits down into the water. He shivers briefly as it comes up mid chest, and looks decidedly miserable as he does so. Admittedly, he does start to steam the water a bit, but he's really not sure boiling is gonna happen.
After a few minutes, he looks up at Cloud, some kind of plea in his gaze. Please free him, Cloud, he doesn't wanna give up on his own.
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But Cloud's not fast enough to stop Zack from doing it, and once he's already seated, Cloud figures they might as well see if it accomplishes anything.
It doesn't accomplish anything.
Zack's puppy face prompts a quiet chuckle, and Cloud relents, reaching down to help Zack up despite there obviously being no need for that. "...I was joking."
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"Oh, right." He laughs about it, and holds his arms out as he takes in fact he's soaking wet. The steam rising from his body hasn't stopped either. "Well, don't know what to do about that, but..."
Zack hooks his fingers under the hem of his shirt, and pulls it off over the top of his head. Hanging around in wet clothes is not exactly fun, after all.
"Heh, we gotta get you better jokes, buddy," he teases, and trudges towards the dry part of their shelter to continue stripping down.
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...there also appears to be an upside to Zack having taken his joke seriously, he thinks, watching his friend pull his shirt off. He might normally have immediately squashed this thought, but today he's feeling a little punchy or something. Also it's hard not to watch Zack strip his clothes off in front of him, frankly.
He might have stayed here and kept trying with the pail, but he's wet and cold, and Zack is warm, and that contrast jumps to the forefront of his mind as soon as Zack walks away. So without thinking much about it, he turns to follow with a little shiver, rubbing his bare arms with his hands. "You're one to talk," he teases back.
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Kicking off the rest of the sopping fabric, Zack turns towards him in only his (soaked) boxers. There's really not much left to the imagination there. Zack doesn't even appear to consider it as he offers open arms to the little blond.
"This weather is a real downer, huh?"
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Anything else he might have said gets derailed by the fact that he finds himself watching Zack pull his pants off and then turn to face him wearing what amounts to basically nothing. Under other circumstances, he might have stammered an excuse and turned right back around, but between the chill that's got gooseflesh rising all up and down his arms and the influence of the fish pushing him to consider things he'd otherwise be too cautious to try, he moves close to Zack instead, swallowing his nervousness as best he can.
"...yeah. Not a fan." He's still hugging himself in a futile attempt to keep warm, but he's close enough now to be in easy arm's reach for Zack.
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"You really were cold, huh?" Zack comments, feeling the stark difference. His embrace tightens fractionally, almost snuggling down to Cloud. It makes sense, he guesses. Cloud's thinner and smaller than him, while stuck in the same inclement weather. There's just less on him to provide insulation. "Shoulda said so sooner. Y'know I'd help."
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It's only after he warms up a bit that Cloud remembers how little Zack's wearing. Unbidden, the words of their DTFs resurface in his mind - 'peaceful interactions' can earn them shelter, which they currently badly need. Genesis' words drift back to him, too, about 'mutual feelings' and being honest with them. He doesn't want to cause Zack more anxiety...but he can't just say something like that!
"Hey, uh..." Hmm. Nope. Not happening. Gotta think of something else to say so Zack doesn't get suspicious. "Maybe...we should save some of those fish cakes for later. To stay warm after this one wears off."
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"Oh- uh, yeah, totally," he agrees after the sudden thought passes. Weird, he really shouldn't be so worked up about that enough to let it show. "I don't know how long they'll stay good though. Don't exactly have a fridge, or my ice materia. We gotta find someplace better than this," Zack laments. While he does, he subconsciously rubs a hand up and down Cloud's back in soothing strokes. If he ends up rucking up the other's shirt by the idle motion, and getting warm hands on Cloud's skin, he doesn't comment on it.
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"Yeah." Little do they know that once they're finished getting 'peaceful' here, their shelter will start improving around them...
Cloud sucks in a breath at the sudden sensation of Zack's hands finding his back, and it feels so good that he can't stop a low hum of contentment from escaping his throat; he barely even notices, though, preoccupied as he is with shifting in an attempt to get more of his skin in direct contact with Zack.
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The hands on Cloud's back ends up a little bolder, properly shifting beneath his shirt. His fingers press up along his spine, tracing each notch, and then trail back down again. The pattern is slow, methodical, almost like Zack is entirely lost in the motions of just touching along Cloud's back rather than thinking about it too hard. If he was, it'd probably be a lot more hurried. This feels more like basking.
"Is this okay?" he rumbles after awhile, after he's pretty much bunched Cloud's top up to his chest with enough motion.
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The question rouses him from it, and it's only then that he notices the state of his shirt. Honestly, though, it's soaking wet just like the rest of his clothes - it's hardly doing him any favors in warming up anyway. He backs off from Zack just enough to pull his shirt off over his head and toss it onto the floor before he steps in close again. This time, he wraps his arms around Zack as he does.
"Yeah. ...better than okay." Just say it. "Uh...Genesis told me you were feeling anxious about something. Something I said."
Well, that's a start.
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It takes a moment to register what Cloud has said, and Zack makes a startled noise in the back of his throat. "Genesis? Damn it-" his shoulders slump. Damn that bastard and his big mouth, of course he'd say something. Venting in front of him was a mistake.
"Well, guess that means the cat's outta the bag now, huh?" Zack lays his head atop Cloud's, mostly so he can pout without Cloud seeing. "He's not wrong, 'cause yeah... I uh- I- I guess I've been kinda worried you don't really like me. Not the way I like you, anyway..."
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"...sure I do."
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So when he gets something else entirely, he's shocked quiet for a moment. That was definitely not the answer Cloud gave him before.
"Wait, really?" Zack draws back just enough to put his hands on Cloud's shoulders, and tries to search his expression for wherever this could be a joke. "But- but you said...? Did something change?"
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Thinking and speaking were still kind of difficult at the time, too, but he doesn't feel the need to remind Zack just how weak he was for so long.
"But I guess...now I do." He gives Zack a small smile.
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He hadn't ever meant to put Cloud in that kind of position. It had mostly been the shock of the situation, making attempts to crack jokes to diffuse it.
"I'm sorry, Cloud. I didn't mean to, y'know, pressure you. I was just kidding around at first, 'cause, well the whole world and you being sick and then better and-" He snorts. Words are annoying sometimes. They really don't ever wanna cooperate when you need them. When he meets Cloud's gaze again, there's a smile on his face. "Look, the point is. I really like you. I kinda always have. I don't know how to explain it beyond just knowing. So I'm really glad you like me too."
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But then Zack's apologizing, and Cloud shakes his head. "No, it's fine. It's good you said something." Because Cloud sure wasn't going to on his own.
His smile grows just a little bit bigger. "Me too. Uh...all of that."
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"Thanks, Cloud." He manages that out, muffled against where he's pressed against the junction of Cloud's neck and shoulder. His warm breath against bare skin manages to be distinct even from the heat he exudes, and the way he keeps Cloud up against him is an arm tight on the smaller's waist. He doesn't seem intent to let him down either.
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A little shiver goes down Cloud's spine, feeling that breath on his neck, and it has nothing at all to do with the weather. His fingers tighten on Zack's shoulders just a fraction as he's suddenly reminded of how little there is between them; suddenly hyperaware of skin pressed against skin. He's...not sure what to do with this. Yeah, Zack said he liked him, but...what exactly does that mean he wants?
Time to try again.
Cloud lifts his head again. "So...would you want to...do things? With me? Y'know, like your dog said. ...and are you gonna put me down sometime today?"
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"Uh, yeah," Zack fumbles immediately, but manages to finally set Cloud on his feet. He rubs at the back of his neck sheepishly before continuing the thought. "Hope this isn't weird or anything. I... I definitely thought about it before. Maybe a lot. While we were running from ShinRa." Oh god, and his blush is deepening, he can feel the heat up to his cheekbones.
"Not that I did anything, 'cause, y'know-" he waves a hand towards Cloud. "But now that you're feeling better..." Actions are a little easier for Zack, so instead of trying to find an awkward middle ground of exposition, he just grabs Cloud by the hips instead. Tugging him close, Zack leans his forehead to Cloud's, and his gaze is a bit more intent. It's not the only thing more intent about him. And given how little fabric separates Zack's groin from the bare press against Cloud, he might notice it too. "Can I?"
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His breath catches when Zack pulls him close; he thinks he might stop breathing altogether when he feels the physical proof of Zack's interest in this with him. That intent look in those bright blue eyes mesmerizes him. He's not sure exactly what it is Zack's asking permission to do, but he also doesn't care; whatever it is, his answer is the same. He nods.
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I DIDNT RESPOND TO THIS??? /screams without the S
jkfgsd XD
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