Just Like Fire
CisFem Reader x Portgas D. Ace
CW: angst, language, erotic, violence, serial killer, stalking, poisoning, over-bearing controlling parents, attempted forced marriage, possible dub-con, Munchausen by proxy (aka Factitious Disorder), wildly cute and fluffy despite the warnings. 18+ only
Summary: You're Sabo's biological sister in this AU. After college you moved in with your dear brother and his two sworn brothers in order to avoid going back home. You and Sabo despise your family equally.
Chapter 1: Nakama
“Thanks for letting me stay here.” You say for probably the fiftieth time in as many hours, setting down a small box of personal items in the room you’d been provided.
Sabo, your beloved brother, smiles at you. “Of course, (Y/N), I told you as long as you can deal with Ace and Luffy, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want.” He gives you a hug as the two of you hear a crash from downstairs, and can hear Ace and Luffy starting to squabble. “… Try to make it a month, at least.”
You start to laugh as the two of you head toward the stairs to see what happened.
“Oi! Be gentle with it Lu!” Ace snaps, picking up the scattered books carefully while his younger brother helps him.
Ace, Sabo and Luffy had been “brothers” since they were little kids. Your parents blamed Sabo’s rebellious nature on the other two, but there wasn’t much they could do about it. You knew Ace and Luffy were cursed, Sabo had talked to you about it when you were considering moving in with him. Cursed people had all sorts of things they could do, but the cost was an inability to swim. There were some other weaknesses, something about a certain kind of stone or metal, but unlike your parents you didn’t care if someone was cursed or not.
People were born that way, there wasn’t anything they could do about it, for better or worse. Just like how you and Sabo had been born to parents that didn’t suit you – there wasn’t anything you could do to change that.
“Honestly, we could just dump them.” You say, coming down the stairs.
“Oh, those are The Books, huh?” Sabo asks, his voice changing when he says ‘the books’.
“Haha, yeah, yeah.” You smile as you pick one up. Luffy looks confused, and so does Ace for a moment before he smiles. “Dad’s collection of must read titles.” You roll your eyes. “I couldn’t control what got packed, so these ended up coming along. I’m not going to suggest we burn them, but if you have a wobbly table or something?”
“What’s so bad about these books?” Luffy questions, flipping through one idly. “Aside from a lack of pictures.”
“It’s a bunch of flawed philosophy. Blood purity bullshit,” you say with a grumble. “Debunked theories and bigot science.”
“Burning stuff like that could be bad for the air.” Ace says flatly. “Oh! I know what we can do with ‘em – Lu, help me get ‘em gathered up.”
“Might I ask-?” You start as Ace looks up at you with a smile.
“It’s a surprise!” He beams up at you.
You tilt your head and feel Sabo’s hand on your shoulder. He gives you a reassuring smile before he continues past you to help the other two gather up the books.
“We’re going to the station, I assume?” He asks and both Luffy and Ace chime in the affirmative. Sabo looks back at you. “The station’s cooler and usually filled with some rough-.”
“-but nice!” Luffy interjects, head popping up over Sabo’s shoulder as your brother takes a second before continuing.
“-but nice people.” Sabo finishes. “You might not need a jacket, but you might want to dress warmer.”
“Any chance of a meal while we’re out?” You ask, already heading back upstairs.
“You just ate.” Sabo gapes.
“Just was nearly three hours ago, dear brother.” You correct. “We’ve been hauling boxes up these steps for the last three hours. I am hungry.”
“How does something so small eat so mu--.” Sabo stops as he and Ace look over at Luffy who’s already laughing. “Never mind.”
With the books eventually gathered, the four of you loaded into Sabo’s car.
“I still can’t believe you ended up with the Odyssean.” You muse as the box is loaded into the trunk. You clear your throat when you see a smile from Sabo, and confusion from the other two. Doing your best impression of your father you open your arm toward the vehicle.
“A masterpiece of bespoke stitching and sustainable design, this mainstream produced Bentley offers a balance of luxury and quality, while still leading the edge of sustainability and viability. A perfect first car for my chosen heir.” You rolled your eyes at the end. “If dad hadn’t said the words ‘mainstream produced’, Stuffy might have actually kept it.”
“Pfft – hahaha.” Ace laughs, Luffy breaking into a laugh with him. “Stuffy, ah-hahaha!”
You grin. “You’ve met him, it seems.”
“He came camping with us once, remember?” Sabo says as Ace holds the passenger door open for you with an exaggerated flourish.
“Oh right, he pitched a fit for weeks to be allowed to go, and then was livid when he came back.” You laugh. “I’d almost forgotten, you were what, eleven?”
“Mm, it was one of the few times I had been hoping that father wouldn’t give in.” Sabo sighs.
“How long are you staying with us?” Luffy asks as the drive begins.
“A few months. I was thinking a year tops if you can all put up with me that long.” You answer with a smile, turning a bit to look at Luffy while you talk. “That should be enough time to job hunt and then start apartment hunting.”
“You should just stay!”
“… HUH?” You feel your mouth go slack.
“There it is.” Sabo says flatly.
“Well, it’s been decided.” Ace says with a smile.
You recover quickly and laugh. “Just like that huh? What in the hells just happened?”
“Luffy determines friend or foe very quickly.” Sabo explains as you sit back in your seat.
“I am in the friend column, it seems.” You muse as you hear Luffy laughing.
“No you’re not.” He says, still laughing, and there’s a second of tension in the air. “(Y/N) is nakama!”
“Sorry, what?” You ask, turning fully toward the backseat.
Ace points to everyone in the car. “Nakama.”
“Is that like siblings?”
He shakes his head. “Think of it like a step up from friends. Kind of like a found family, but not necessarily familial.”
You can feel your face starting to heat up and turn away before it shows. “Well… thank you then. Not even done with my first official day and I’ve been adopted.”
Sabo reaches over and pats your head. “It’s going to be a lot of adjusting. Ace and Luffy are doing a good job of holding back.” He admits. “Luffy usually hugs everyone he likes, and Ace is pretty handsy too.”
“Han- HANDSY?! Don’t say it like that, it makes me sound like a pervert!” Ace growls, hand on the headrest of your seat as he leans forward. “I give better hugs than Luffy, and I’m not asking to see people’s panties like Brook.”
“Will Brook be at the station?” You question, trying not to sound too concerned.
“Huh, no – er – he works at the Library downtown with Robin and Nami.” Ace answers you. “The guys at the station are pretty tame, you don’t have to worry about them.”
You can’t help yourself. “Mm, but I do have to worry about you?”
Sabo and Luffy are laughing as Ace’s entire face goes red. “No, I’m-.”
“Y-you can-can not say you’re tame!” Sabo manages between laughs. The infectious laughter hits you too and the car’s filled with it for a couple minutes.
“Ah, haha, haaa,” Sabo wipes a tear from his eye. “Oh, but you can trust Ace and Luffy, (Y/N), as I’ve said before. No matter anything else, they’re my brothers for a reason.”
“Brothers with you cause they’re menaces just like you are.” You tease, causing Luffy and Ace to laugh at Sabo’s expense. Which seemed only fair since you’d been tossing around teasing one another all morning.
The rest of the car ride was a continuation of the same. A little roasting, a lot of chatting, by the time you made it to the station you were pretty tired. Between all the moving you’d done that morning and all the laughing you were starting to run on fumes.
You let out a yawn and Sabo pats your leg. “I’ll go get us something to eat after I drop you off. Will you be okay with Luff, and Ace?”
You nod. “Even if all I had was your trust of them, but it’s been a fun few days moving with their help. I trust them on my own.”
Sabo smiles as he pulls into the fire station’s lot. “I’m just going to grab some grub - given the time should I-.”
“Oi!” A man with brown hair, a wide smile and a scar on the side of his face is waving at the car. “I recognize that beauty anywhere! What timing you lugs have!”
Ace opens the door getting out. “Whaddya mean, Thatch?”
“Izou and Marco just came back with a truck load of subs and sodas. There’s plenty to go around come on— oh, hello Miss.” Thatch offers you a wide smile. “You must be the mysterious sister.”
You open the door with a grin. “The mysterious sister does vaudeville on the Red Line.” You tease, offering your hand for a shake. “I’m just the disappointing sister, (Y/N).”
“Disappointing to our parents maybe.” Sabo says after putting the car in park and shutting it down. “Food’s already here? How fortunate.”
“Yeah, it’s Ducky Bree’s birthday and we’re just having some grub.” He explains. “Nothing too over the top.”
“Birthday?! Thatch did you make a cake!?” Luffy asks, nearly tackling the older man.
“Yes,” Thatch says, hooking Luffy with his arm and holding him back. “For later, you unhinged little black hole!”
“At least make sure the birthday boy gets a slice first, Luffy.” Ace teases. He holds out his elbow toward you with a smile. “Would you like an escort, oh mysterious sister?”
You laugh, putting your arm through his offered one. “I see you offered your elbow so as not to be too handsy, hm, Mr. Portgas?”
Sabo laughs as Ace’s cheeks flush a little. “Not living that down huh?”
“We’ll see.” You say with a smile as the two of you walk toward the station. “Sabo said you’re a firefighter. Luffy as well, yes?”
“Yeah, he’s a part-timer, he does volunteer EMT work for the main hospital. He’s good friends with a couple of the doctors there. I mean, it’s Luffy, he’s never met a stranger.” Ace explains.
“I don’t feel like you have either.” You say with a smile.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He says, unthreading his arm from yours and opening the door. “After you, Miss.”
The man-door opens into a huge, cooled room with several large fire trucks in it. There’s lines painted on the floor to direct traffic, and where to park the trucks. There’s poles, stairs, and gear everywhere, and there’s a few fold out tables set up with food and drink on them. There was a small mess of people inside, all well-built guys walking around in little more than pants and boots with the tops of their fire gear hanging around their waists. Some wore t-shirts. Some did not.
Everyone looked warm and kind, and several people greeted Luffy, Ace, and Sabo. Most of them gave you a wave from a comfortable distance – they probably knew they could be an over-bearing and rowdy bunch and were doing their best to hold back a little.
Ace brought you a seat, and Sabo brought you something to eat, the two sitting with you for a while.
“You doin’ alright?” Ace questioned.
You nod, swallowing your bite of sandwich. “Yeah, my uh, constitution’s a little weak, but I do well enough.”
“The move’s worn her out a bit.” Sabo offers. “If it had only been a day or two it probably wouldn’t have caught up like this.”
“Oh. Oh, hey, if you need to stay in we can go back, I didn’t mean to drag you out when-.”
You put your hand up. “It’s okay. I promise.” You say reassuringly. “I don’t like to let it hold me back if I can help it. If I was really worried, I would’ve spoke up though, I promise.”
“Alright.” Ace accepts it, looking at you for a moment before going to get himself something to eat.
“He and Luffy will likely worry about you,” Sabo says. “I hope it’ll be okay.”
“Mm.” You nod. “It’s genuine concern, I can’t fault that. It’s not like what mom and dad did my whole life.”
“Once he comes back I’ll go get some-.”
“Sa-boo.” You tease, sticking out your tongue a little. “I’m good, go get something to eat. These guys aren’t going to eat me if you leave me alone for a minute.”
Sabo grunts a half-hearted laugh before getting up and going to get his own food. You look around a little while you eat, noticing some pictures taped onto the wall. There’s a bunch of guys in various states of uniform dress in the pictures. You recognize quite a few of the guys who are here right now. You find a couple pictures with Ace and Luffy in them, and even a few pictures with Sabo reluctantly hauled into the middle.
It warms your heart. Growing up with your parents wasn’t easy for either of you. Sabo came away from it with physical scars, and you came away from it with emotional ones. Both of you were considered disappointments to the rest of the family, but once they shifted all their hopes and dreams onto Stebby’s shoulders things almost got worse.
At least for a little bit. Once you were both able to leave for more than just a few hours a day, things began to improve. You’d both specifically chosen Universities and jobs in the New World, instead of the East Blue. It kept you further from home, which suited you both. Ever since the One Piece had been found, the New World had been the center of growth and opportunity. Maybe a little rough for you, but Sabo had a solid foundation here and that gave you a better chance of getting your own feet under you.
The better you could do for yourself, the less likely you were to get dragged back home.
“Ah, you found the pictures, huh?” Ace asks, sitting back down and breaking your train of thought.
You smile. “I did. Quite the lively bunch. I can see how you and Luffy fit in.”
Ace beams. “They’re good guys. The Family I didn’t know I needed sometimes.”
“Nakama.” You offer, and Ace smiles wider. You feel your heart skip a beat at that smile.
“Exactly! Catching on fast.” He says taking a few big bites of food. You’d spent a couple days with him and Luffy now, though most of it was packing, moving, unpacking, organizing and then sleeping like the dead, so you hadn’t really had time to just chat. But you’d seen the two of them eat, and your only thought was how your parents would be appalled.
Somehow, it made it endearing.
You’d matched up most of the people in the photos to the people in the station, but there were a couple you didn’t see. Either they were off today, which seemed unlikely, there were a lot of people in the station in civilian clothes, and it seemed everyone meant to come by for the celebration. Or they had moved on to something else.
Ace talks you through some of the people in the photos, pointing from them to the hubbub in the room. He gives you names, and little anecdotes about them. Sabo joins in when he comes back, sprinkling in complaints about what some of them had nearly done to his favorite hat. One you realize he isn’t wearing right now.
“Who’s that?” You ask, pointing to a man with shaggy black hair and an impressive beard for a guy running into burning buildings.
Ace’s eyes darken. “Teach.” He says before giving you a sheepish look. “He… was executed.”
Your eyes go wide.
“We kept the one picture up because for a long time he did save people, yoi.” Marco interjects, causing you to look over at him. You recognize the blonde from Ace’s earlier run down of people, and already you know he has a high regard for the older man. “Doesn’t excuse what he did, but -.”
“No, I get it.” You say, looking back at the picture. “The good he did doesn’t excuse the bad, but the bad he did doesn’t invalidate the good. People are complex like that.”
Marco’s eyebrows raise a little before he tips the bottle of soda toward you and the picture. “Well said.”
“… I think I remember the story about that.” You admit quietly.
“It was international news.” Sabo agrees. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“He was… cursed, right?” You ask tentatively. Sabo nods, but you can see Ace is getting uncomfortable. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to-.”
“Ah, no – no, it’s okay.” Ace interrupts, giving you a sad smile. “It’s just-.”
“It’s an extra sour subject for us.” Marco interjects again, having come a little closer. “Most of the people at this station are cursed.”
You make a dissatisfied face. “There needs to be a better word for that.”
“Eh?” Marco’s head tilts and Ace looks at you questioningly.
“Cursed is such a negative connotated word. But you’re not. You’re not monsters. There’s nothing wrong with you. If anything, … I don’t know. If anything, I think people should at least be kinder about it, I guess.”
There’s a moment of silence and you see a flicker of blue slide over Marco’s shoulders.
“Sabo, your mysterious sister is divine, yoi.” He says before smiling brightly at you. “Pardon me, but I think you need to meet everyone.”
“Wha-uh, sure?” You question as Marco leans down and lifts you up easily onto his shoulder. You yip a bit as Sabo and Ace move to steady you if Marco loses his grip, but the older blonde has a good hold on you.
“Sons of the New World!” Marco says getting everyone’s attention. “Meet the guardian deity of the station!”
“… the what?” You murmur, holding onto Marco’s head as he steadies you easily.
There are hoots and cheers and people are raising their bottles of soda and water. Thatch cheers over the crowd.
“Three cheers for (Y/N)! Hip!”
“Hoo-rah!”
“Hip!”
“Hoo-rah!”
“Hip!
“HOO-RAAAAAAAHHH!!” Even Sabo and Ace were cheering for you by the end of it.
Your face was burning hot as Marco set you down. You were smiling, even if you were confused to no end.
“What just happened?”
“Nakama.” Ace says with a smile, catching your gaze. “Feeling okay?”
“Yeah. I mean, a little confused, but I’m good.”
“The New World is a little more accepting of the cursed,” Marco explains. “But there’s a lot of fear and anger around it still. Most of us end up in jobs that are dangerous, yoi. People expect us to take the risk, but there’s not much acceptance or reward to go with it.
“Hearing you say something like that, it’s kind of its own reward, yeah?”
“Ah, but I’m nobody.” You try to say, but the words die on your lips a little. You might not like your family, and you might not like that they are your family, but you and Sabo are still nobility.
“Even if your family was different,” Marco says, crouching down to catch your gaze. “What you said shows you get it. That’s rare, yoi.”
After that there was a blur of face-to-face introductions with the people at the station. You met enough people you were losing track of names, but the faces were easy to remember. Eventually, Ace remembered why he had dragged everyone to the station in the first place and got a few people to help him bring the books from Sabo’s car.
The books were set near a brick wall out in a small training area.
“We train everything except live fires here.” Ace explains as he, Marco, Luffy, Izou, Jozu and Thatch help him set up a hose. “It’s enough to help keep us all warmed up without any big risks. Stand there.”
Ace points and you do as he instructed. Sabo is nearby, but he’s standing away from the set up. Ace stands behind you, with Marco on the other side of the hose. The other men line up behind the three of you.
“We’re going to brace the hose, so don’t worry about that.” Ace says, continuing his explanation. “Put your hands here, and here. When you’re ready, we’ll turn it on.”
“… You’re letting me use a fire hose to …?” You prompt, tilting your head.
“It’ll tear those books to pieces.” Ace beams. “C’mon, this is why we came here.”
“I’m not strong.” You admit a little reluctantly.
“We are.” Ace says, making sure you realize how many people are keeping the hose steady. “You’re not alone, I got your back. Sabo’s at the emergency shut off, it’ll be okay.”
You grip the hose a little more surely. “O-okay, let’s do this then.”
“Good, you can brace against me, it might buck a bit even with all of us holding it, but don’t worry.” Ace assures you.
“S-Sure.” You nod, setting your feet in a way that you hope is a little more steady than how they were.
“Relax, (Y/N).” Marco says.
Easy for you to say, you think. You don’t have your brother’s unexpectedly hot roommate ‘braced’ against you.
Ace has you put your hand over his as he engages the hose. There’s a small jolt as the pressure’s released and a jet of water shoots out of it. Ace lets you guide his hands as you take out one book after the other. There’s a thrill in the rush of water, and the catharsis of destroying the damnable books – especially in the company of the kind of people the books lambast.
You’re giggling and the guys holding the hose are laughing and cheering. You don’t even know if they know what’s written in the old books, but the whole thing gets your heart pumping.
After a few minutes, Ace turns the hose off and the blast of water turns into a slow trickle. A few shifts in the wind had misted you a little, but the cool water was refreshing and it was still plenty warm out.
“Oh – whew – that was more fun than I expected!” You say, bouncing a little as you head over to the ruined books. Sabo and Ace follow you as the others get the hose put away properly.
“Father would be furious to see these in this state.” Sabo says with utter delight in his voice.
You laugh. “Yeah. I almost want to take a picture.”
“What’s stopping you?” Ace asks.
“I wouldn’t get to see the looks on their faces when they opened the email.” You say with a devilish grin. “I’d much rather tell him in person.”
“Going back home anytime soon?” Sabo questions.
“Nah, but I’m not going to forget this day for a long time.” You admit with a smile.
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Jan 17th, Sunday 19:05
„That was a lot.“
„Agreed.“
They both stood by the frontdoor of Lucas’s flat, a shy smile on Lucas’s face, that Jens answered with his own. They had definitely cried for an hour after they had reached the subject of their moms. Jens had went first and it hadn’t taken a lot of time. Lucas already knew so much, Jens had learned.
Jens also had realised just how much Lucas and his mom must have talked on the days they had met at home. Perhaps that was why his mom had been so ready to accept their relationship. And why she had been quick to trust and let Lucas into their lives.
But then Lucas had begun to talk and it had left him in tears, with Jens joining in. Pained to see the younger boy cry and helpless to watch, as he wasn’t sure how much comfort would overstep the boundary they had drawn between themselves.
It had started out fairly simple, just the clinical study. And then their life in Utrecht, their family and her old job at the library. However it had turned rather fast, when Lucas had started to talk about the time it had all fallen apart. He had promised to tell Jens about the incident that had caused it, once he had asked for his mother’s permission. It was ominous enough, thatJens hadn’t dared to press on the reason.
Instead Jens had listened on about how deep her depression and delusions went. How she had struggled with suicidal thoughts. To a degree that Lucas had to talk her out of it twice, while a third time he found her after the attempt and it had destroyed Jens to have to sit through all of it being told through sobs and tears.
How had Lucas never shared any of this with him?
How had he just let Jens have all of their shared attention and energy, when Lucas had lived through so much already?
Jens had felt his heart clench under the realisation just why Lucas had been that enraged and frightened on Thursday. It all made so much more sense, as well as it only created a hollow feeling and self-hatred at the blindness Jens had brought against the younger boy.
„I’m scared we will just fall into old patterns. I don’t want that.“
„We were barely together. You make it sound like we lived decades being married. We will be fine.“ Jens teased, his tone trying for amusment, when it left a stark bitter taste on his tounge. He was dumb to try to joke about this. Why did he say this?
However Lucas flashed a brief smirk, before he sighed and rolled his eyes at the older boy in the doorway. Why Lucas out up with all the bullshit he said, was still a mystery to him. This boy deserved a reward or something. Or perhaps they both were just beyond saving at this point.
„Can you give me like a night or two?“ Lucas asked meekly, his eyes darting up towards Jens from the floor he had stared at.
„Sure.“ Jens replied, his heart dropping to his feet. It sounded like a hopeless case to him. It never was a good thing if he was told to give it some time to think over. Usually that meant that they, the person in question and him, were done.
„Thank you.“
He swallowed down the lump in his throat. He wasn’t ready to leave like this.
„Luc?“ Jens tried instead, licking his lip, as the nervousness grew in the pit of his belly. Shit. He had thought that he was over that. Since they had left the sofa and the hours of conversation behind them.
„Yes?“
„Can I kiss you?“ His voice sounded so weak, Jens thought, dissapointed to not shoulder his usual confidence. However Lucas only watched him for a second. And Jens didn’t wanted to hear the rejection that he believed to see in the other boy’s face. „I didn’t get to kiss you goodbye last week. And if that’s it. I. I just.“
„This isn’t the end. I just need to think.“ Lucas answered instead. It wasn’t the thing that Jens wished to hear. He had hoped to see them together again after today, but that may have been premature.
„If you say so.“
The look in the younger boy’s eyes changed, suddenly much more determined. It wasn’t wrapped in the deep sadness it had shown just a moment ago.
And as if to prove a point, it actually was Lucas who leaned in first. Jens didn’t even had to think about his reaction when his hand rose to gently cup the other boy’s cheek and pull him closer. Lucas’s eyes fell shut as he melted into the touch.
He was beautiful, Jens thought.
„I’m sorry that I hurt you, Lu.“
His whisper had been cut off on his last word as Lucas’s lips came crashing against his. Almost desperate to feel the elctrifiying contact, while he tugged at Jens’s sweater under the open coat to draw him onto the younger boy.
His mind blurred when he felt the kiss deepen.
Jens lost his balance for a second, causing an arm to tightly sling around his middle. He himself pushing forward a step back into the flat. It was a bad idea, he should stop this.
Apparently the other boy had arrived at the same realisation. The heated kiss suddenly broken off under gasping lungs needing too much air.
„Sorry.“ Lucas whispered, his face red tinted, while Jens was still able to brush over his skin, down his jaw. He could have him, Jens knew, saw it in the younger boy’s eyes.
So Jens stepped back, loosing the contact and the warmth.
„I’ll see you tomorrow?“ He asked. And silently scolded himself that he couldn’t stop his thoughts from all the what if’s, if he would have allowed himself to stay instead.
„Absolutely.“ Lucas affirmed, his breath shaken. God, what Jens wouldn’t give to have his lips back on him. „Oh and please tell your sister, Lies, right? Tell her that I am sorry, that I didn’t get to meet her.“
Jens nodded dumbly as he closed his coat and wrapped his scarf around his neck, that had been loosely draped over his arm til now. It helped him to persuade himself to leave. To ground him in his desicion.
„I’m pretty sure, she feels the same way. But, will do, of course.“ Jens said and for a split second he saw Lucas about to step out of the door to meet Jens again, but the younger boy stood back. Their gazes still locked onto each other since Lucas had brought up his wish to give them time.
It was the right thing to do.
He hated behaving responsibly. It sucked.
„Bye.“
Lucas bid his goodbye with a small wave of his hand, as he rested his head against the doorway and watched Jens descend the stairs. The older boy briefly stopped, before he wouldn’t be able to see Lucas any longer, to turn his head back.
„Bye.“
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tagged: @odi-et-amo85, @tayspots
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