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⬣//ILLNESS BEYOND CONTAINMENT, DEATH WITHOUT LIMIT
You wake to the sound of silence— no early morning birdsong, no rustling leaves, not even the sound of your own breathing reaches your ears. For a single moment, you feel as if time has frozen, your mind held in stasis, until a familiar boyish lilt hits your ears. A beat later and he's standing before you, a smile stretching from cheek to cheek, but that smile doesn't quite reach his eyes.
"Good morning, sleepyhead! I was wondering when you'd wake up. Are you well? Does anything hurt?
Mm, not that it makes much difference to me. If you're in pain, know that it's only temporary. If you're unhappy, you won't stay that way forever. This world is a world of miracles, one where everything that hurts you can be forgotten and destroyed!
Ah, but some of you don't believe me when I say that. Some of you still think the world that's hurt you oh so much is better than one where you can make all that pain go away. Don't you want to be happy? Why are humans so addicted to their own suffering?
I think it's time to find out!"
The boy vanishes before you can get a word in edgewise. Try to reach out and touch him and your hand will pass straight through. You now have, at least, a solid idea of what Lily looks like. It's only a shame that there is little you can do to stop him.
On the same day Lily made his presence known to all of Fragment, another equally sweet young boy has mysteriously vanished.
In the monster-laden streets of Mac Anu, shreds of bloodied white fabric can be found scattered about. A single golden horn can be found in the canal, roughly shorn and badly scuffed.
It's unclear who or what injured Zelkova, but no matter where you search or how hard you try to find him, no further clues will turn up.
When attempting to message Zelkova, who appears online as he always does, you'll always receive the same response—
"Hi! I'm Zelkova!"
In the wake of Zelkova's absence is a feeling of unease. You may feel anxious, scared, perhaps even angry over the perpetual downturn of events. In fact, you'll find that it's gotten very difficult to manage your own emotions.
Throughout the next two weeks, you'll steadily get more and more emotional. Small inconveniences will throw you into a rage. Stubbing your toe will make you lapse into hysterics. A smile from a friend may fill your heart with longing and your loins with lust.
No matter how you might try to quell the tempest of emotion inside of you, nothing seems to work. Every feeling is magnified, every feeling is intense, and all you can do is allow yourself to be taken by emotion.
It's a shame Zelkova isn't here to assure you that everything will be fine, just fine. Fine, fine, fine…
You may hear stirrings amongst the NPCs in various Root Towns that something unusual is occurring at Twilight Shoreline. Some claim that the sky itself has been ripped and torn while others make mention of an unusual figure lingering in the waves.
It may be tempting to gate in and investigate these unusual rumors yourself, but be warned: you may not leave in the same condition you arrived.
Do you remember what it was like to be a real human being? To have a life, a purpose, a meaning outside of the digital world? That must be nice. Memories are such lovely, precious things.
Unfortunately, what little remains to you will be taken away with the loss of your third and final core memory. Several other memories from your time in the outside world will disappear as the days roll by, slowly but surely erasing who you were and making room for who you have become: a swordsman, an adventurer, a catgirl, a being who has never known anything beyond the boundaries of Fragment.
Still, some pieces of your old identity remain, desperately clinging onto your old concept of self. Those with the drive to escape Fragment and return to the real world will still feel that flame burning deep within even if they no longer remember what sparked it. Not all hope is lost, but the worst has yet to come.
A foul wind blows, billowing through Root Towns and Recreational Areas alike. On the wind, you hear the whispers of forgotten memories, both your own and those of the people trapped with you. Though you may no longer recognize those memories as your own or those of your friends, you can't help but feel as if some part of you has been clawed out and torn to shreds. It's a sad, lonely, isolating feeling, b̵͓̘͎͍̅̄͛́ú̷̹͕̒̀͝t̴̟̥̮͖̗̆̃̾͋̋̎̄̉͐̋͆̇̕͘ ̴̢̥̬̼͚̰̬̰͍̥͉̝̦͕̥̰̎̈́̃̅͆̉̈́̀̏̏̇̀͜í̵̧̧̥͓͇̠̗̤̺̖̼̬̪́̓̐̽̿̽͗͜t̴̨̲͎̼̦̱̪̬̭͖̓̾̈̄̈́̒̎͆̇̕͠ ̸̢̣̰͈̝͈̫̦͉͕̋͂̐͗̓̽́̈͛̃͑̓̚͜͝ẁ̷̙͛̍̑̈́̅͂͊̓̽̈̌̋͘͝ó̷̢̮̟͙̹̤̭̬̬̰͓̣͑͆̂̈́̎͂̒̌̊̽͘̚̚͜͠͠ņ̵̢̛̦̖̆͆͂̽̑̊'̷̢̮̫͚̜̭̰̙̭͚͓̭͙̺͑͜ţ̸̛̛̘͚̘̯̲̖̰̝̖͙̥͊̉̑̄̽̀̆̎̈́̅͘͜͝ ̶̩́̈̈́̌͑̿̆̾̈́͊̀̈́͘̚͝͝l̴̲͕̩̊́a̶̫̪̽̒̌̀̑̍̿̕s̶̱͉̩̣̒͆̽͗̽̊͂̚̕͠͝t̸̢̧̨̹̬̹͈̣̮͈̣͚̰̳̲̤͌͗̊͗̎͂̎͗̏̆̀̀͑̽̑̿͠ ̴̩̺͕̳̝̘̳̣͎͚̰̇̈́̈́͑͐̈̈̏̀͂̈́̍̽̑ͅf̷̛̙̖̲́͒͐̏̒̿̆͆̑̎͐̄̉o̷̱̭̙͗̌͆͗́̆̌́͗̚͘ȓ̷̡̢̦̠̖̟̻̬͚͈͔̥͓̟̤̋̿̃̎̌͗̂̽̐͛͆͠e̵̼̻͓̺̖͓̞̘̤͎̤͓͚͔͚͔̓̈́͘v̵̡̖̳̗̼͉̻͓̗̠̝̭͍̆͒ͅê̷̱̄̀ͅr̴̤̠̜̞͉̘̙̠̙̩̣̫̮̘͖͉̿͋̈͊̓̓͜.̷͓̯̒͐̏̋̓͗̄̉̓̎̒̾̚͝͝ͅ ̸͖̘̞̼͓͚̝̘̙͓͔̱̗͍̏̑̐̔̋̉͂̈̿̆͂̋̋̈S̵̢̫̭̠̩̻̩̈́̔̅̾͛͛̌̃̑͐̈̕͝o̵̡͖̙̘̟͕̗̲̒͋̇̿̔̍͒̈́̏͑͆̉̀͒́̕̕ö̸̜́̽̈́̀̆̐̂̉̔́̅̔̆ň̵̛̥͍̘͕̫̝͔̼̮̝̤̎̀̉̔̍̊͜,̸̨̛͇͙̺̱͎͙͖͎́̈̈̀̂͜͝ ̵̩̯̯̟̂̒͊̌̆̆y̵̢̜̘̘͗͂̎̓͒̿͑̇̆̉̋͘͠͠o̷̢̨̜̹̣̗̤͍͇̅́ŭ̷̞̇̈̑̂͊͂̓͋̅̌͐͘'̴̡̨̡̰̘̠͉͈̥̓͜l̴̡̡̰̖͙͕̹̹̝̖͉̓̿l̸̢̧̞̜̻̝͈̙̫̈́̒̈́̐̀̄̿̈́̀̄̚͘͘̕͜ ̵̛̗̗̙̩̙̝̩̟͎̗͉̠̉̋̒́̐̐̀̄̃̐́̎͒̕͝b̵̨̡̢͖̺̼͔͓̬̟̭͕̈̈̓̒̓͌ȩ̷̥̟̳̲̝̩̝̱͎̲͆̔̕͜͠ ̷̧͈̠͈͓͉̭͔̪͕͖̫͇̼̩͓̣̔̆̈́̋̓́̂̉̔̎͂̒̈́͂͂̈́̚ḥ̷̛͍͇͈̼̺̣̦͕̪̹̘̝̅̂̌͗̾̋͌̈́̾̂͠͝͝a̶̢̛̝͔͚̠̻̗̞̿̊̆͒̐̅̉͗͒̉͘̕͠ͅp̵̓̍̾̓͊̌̑̈͋̾͒͜͝p̶̳͎͙̹̎͆̿͠ͅy̸̨̧̡̩͚̯̪͕̽̓̅̀̇̕͜.̷͍͙̹̓͛͐̀͐́͝ ̷̺̼͖̔͐̏̈̾̈́̆̿̅͝͠͠Y̷̢̛͗̀͛o̵̢͖͖͈̙͒̄̆̉̀̆͌̉͜u̵̫̩͓͖̲̝͔̲̎̏̐̈̓̚͘'̵̡̨̻͍̲͚͔̤̼̬̪̠́͌́́̒̕͠l̷̫͔̜̍͆̍͋̔͆͒̾̑͑̐͒̈l̴̡̩̳̟̩͕̗̠͗̓̆̚͝ ̶̯͈͕̜̤̗͚̙̗̝͒̃̎́̒̂̔͑́͊̈́̓͒͌̅͝k̶͕̬̳̰̝̮͈͉̰͊́̃͘͜ṋ̵̎̃͛̾̃͐̂̔̿̔͐̓̍ő̴̫͔̐̂͑͛͋̈́̂̈́̈̚ẅ̵̛̮̪̝̖̰͖́̃̇̃̇̅̓̇̕̚͠ ̴̢̫͕̻̜͇̝̺̣̟̥̥͉̖̗̱̙̇͑͆̿̓͑̕ņ̷̨̢̩̳̱̝̩͖̼̰̩͙̫͆̄͐ơ̶̢̧̢̡̰̜̰̞̭͓̹͔̲̱̄͋̄͐̆̏́͗̏̀͂̓͗͋͊͘ ̷̘͈̰͖̰͂͛͌̑̿̀͗͑́̽̊͂̒̚͝ͅp̸̯̤̀̄̀a̵͇̖̖̹͗͑̈͐̉̽͂̚͝ḭ̴̫̫͚̻̥̮̲̫͈̹̮̞̲̘̩̪̄͐͐̄̈́̒͌̇̇̽̓̆͗̒͝n̷͓̥̬̠͔̗̯̬͈̪̞̪̗̘̩̲̭͗̏.̷͙̹̥̗̼̉̽̆̈́͘̕͠͝ ̸̞͔̱͙̑̄̈́̂̔̎̃̓̐̚H̷̨̲̗̲͙̗̱̠̗̹͔̥̦̋͒̈́̆͑̚͜á̵̧̛̛̟͎͈̲̼̣̊̆̇̐͆̌͒̀̚͠ͅp̶͎̠̫͖̗͋͑̏͑͛̈́̏͋̈̇͘p̸͈̟̦̠̮͚̫̥̅̍̐̏͆̂̀̒̇̂́͌̐́̕i̵̡̡̘͔͍̭̱̜̯̞͎̬͈̗̎̀̈͒̆̀̓̈͜͝n̵̜̑̃̔͠e̴̡̢̦̩͙͚̦̥͎̩̰̓̈́̿̎̔͌s̸̥͓̱̗͙̥̺͖̥͉̱̹̟̀́̀̆̑͂̌͜ͅś̵͚̮̝̤̭̘͎͔̝͔̤͙̤̮͓̘̒͋̂͗̍̓̔ ̵̦͖̩̠͉̹̘͎̮͓͙̙̣̜̘͋͊̏͊̋̊̈̓́͆̌̚͝c̷̨͕͕͕̖͉̹͔͎̦̠̱̍ǎ̷̫̬̪̘̠͔͍͍̹̞͉̈́̃̓̊͆͘͠ń̸̢͆͒̀̀͂̊̆̚̕̕ ̶̙̺͇̬̼̪̩̮͗͌̍̈̀̀͝b̸̡̺̞̳̗̳̙̗̯̠̦̼̻̭̑͗̋̔͒̀̾̅̄̊̾̾͘e̴̢̢̘̜̟̯͎̜̭̞̼͚̟̾́̓͊̊̃̄͌̃̓͆̽̕ͅ ̵͔̝̖̖͚̓͂f̷̡̛̝̳͎̼̼̱̪͈͙̣͖͙̘̞̺̮̉͑͘͝͝ő̷̧̹̦͓̰̦̯̝̣̱̲̠̩̟̺́̋̅́͒̈̏͘͝u̸͍͍͇̟̲̟̟̺̓̌̍͑͒͌́̌̽̐͊̚̚͝n̴͓̺͕̜͚̲͍͍̰̙̖̘̪͓̙̘͇̍͑͛͊͂̄̾̿̍͋͊̂̈́̕͝d̴̺̟̞̙͍͓̪͈͋̓̇͌̚͜ͅ ̵̛̮̯̪̤̫͖̠͔̫̥̬̰͈͍͚̇̀͗̐͗̈̚͝͝͝ę̶̡̦̜͙͔̜̩̽̇̀v̵̢̡̗̥̬͉͍̱̲̻̘̝̮́̅̍̈́͑̌̏̚̕ͅͅͅë̶̝̳̤́͋̈͗͋̍̊̽͋̕͝n̵̪͓̠͖̫̫̩̻͚͍̬̤͆͗͊̉̾̌͐̾͑̑̍̈́̕ͅ ̷̙͍͓̂̔̓̃̄̚͝i̵̧̨̮͕̱͓͕̦͇̲̹̋̐̈́̆͜ͅn̷̝͈͇̹͚̝̏̄ ̴͇̪̬̈́̏͗̃̄͌̐̊͝ͅd̵͔̖̠͈̮̃̍͗̀̋͛͗̈́̏͂̇̇̕ę̴̪̟̰͍̱̘͇̼̻̤͎̇͊̐ą̷̧̪̭̖̣̖͎̪͌̒̐̄̑͊̐͑̕t̵̡̧̡̯̬̗̞̰̪͇͉͎͍̝̰̄̓͌̈́͆̿̔͐̇̈́h̷̥̖͔̆͑͊͛͂͠.̵̛̹̃̒́̋̾̒̔̓̒͛͆̓̃̕͠
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[ He squeezes Albedo's hand. He's lived a hard life, hasn't he? ]
I still want to see everything that fascinates you. I want to be there to help you with your research, and do fun things outside of that, too. I'll help you with your ambitions, like I promised I would.
[ The need to tell his secret is still there, still nagging at him. But his feelings are louder and stronger than that, at the moment. ]
I've grown fond of you, you know. Fonder than I expected. I realized it, back at the graveyard.
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But that is probably true. ]
If you were afraid, I wouldn't fault you for that either. But, you do seem insistent on keeping true to your word.
[ He holds the other man's hand tighter. For a long time, he had been quietly despairing in his own way that he had started to form bonds too late. That it felt like he was always so slow, and that in the end it meant that his future had been rendered moot.
But, the truth of the matter reveals itself in Noé's words. Is it his kindness? This kindness that remains even when the world is cruel? And their situation still dubious, even in the face of their determination? ]
As have I of you. Though, at times, I could not possibly understand it. I think even before I lost my memories, knowing anyone or building relationships of any kind was hardly within my nature.
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[ Noé... He laughs again, though. He can't possibly understand why it'd be so difficult to like Albedo. He's also incredibly biased, but oh well! ]
You have a good heart. Just because you value research and the truth so highly, doesn't mean you don't care about others, either. You wanted me to leave when we fought The Sexton, so I'd be safe. You helped me get into that root town when I had no money.
There are little things like this, Albedo, that you do, even if you may not realize how kind it is. I have no reason to fear you.
[ His expression softens, and he smiles at him gently. ]
Only reasons to care for you and your safety.
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Though, the thought of that actually scares him. He thinks that is something he wouldn't want to do ever. And thankfully, he's in full control of himself so he doesn't have to be concerned about that either. ]
I see. In retrospect, despite your conclusion being chalk full of bias, there are logical points to your reasoning as well.
I haven't deviated or acted in a way that would imply that I would mean you harm.
[ A slight smile begins to tentatively make itself across his face. ]
It seemed so inconsequential to me at the time that I hadn't recognized such actions as kindness. Though, I would argue helping you into the Root Town was...hm. [ ... Well he did kind of go out of his way to construct fake GP. ] Ah, well. Nevermind.
I think I'm rather fortunate to have met you, Noé. Your kindness and loyalty is not something I would ever take for granted. And...I am happy, to know you think such things of me. That you can look at me the way you do now, and still have room for me to be beside you in many respects.
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[ He slowly brings Albedo's hand up and presses it against his chest, over his heart. ]
I'm not sure what this feeling is...but this feels warm. Right here. Almost as if things were always meant to work out like this. I trust that I can tell you my secret – and I'd like to share it with you.
[ Quietly, he taps Albedo's hand against his heart again. ]
Just as much as I'd like to share this, too.
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[ Albedo lets slip. He does have a bit of a trolling side once somebody gets to know him and it has been unlocked, it seems.
Judging by the tiny smile, it isn't like he's being serious, and it isn't like he's throwing aside what he is saying either. Especially since he doesn't let go of where the other has directed his hand. ]
But I believe if that were the case, I would be in the very same predicament. As you know, when trying to seek an answer to prove a working theory or something beyond a hypothesis, close examination at possible root cause is necessary. Perhaps, if I should wish to share 'this' with you as well, and understand this feeling...we should agree to engage in a mutual experiment with each other, yes?
[ He doesn't quite...understand everything, but he might have an idea of where they're wandering into? Albedo feels his heartbeat pick up a little, even as he adds, with no less severity, the following: ]
After, of course, you share your secret with me.
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[ Ah! He understands. His eyes light up, and he opens his mouth to answer enthusiastically.
But...secrets first. Right. ]
It isn't as intense as yours is, but...
A long time ago, I had lost someone. I can't remember who, when, or why, but it was someone incredibly important to me. It's been eating away at me, since we began to lose our memories.
During the fight a few days ago, I had cradled Macha's body as he passed away – it reminded me of how I felt, back then. However, as you know, Mithrun and Misteaks were reborn. My immediate feeling was jealousy. I wondered, why couldn't they bring that person back instead – even though I was relieved to see them, too.
[ He shakes his head. It could've been much worse, but it still feels cruel to think it. Cruel to Mithrun and Misteaks. ]
It was selfish of me. It probably won't be the last time for me, either.
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[ Sources of shame, and even if not that, the belief that others might shame them for it. For someone as kind as Noé, this is enough to incur pointed dark feelings towards oneself as it is. He perhaps can only perceive it as selfishness.
But, ultimately... ]
...Your reaction I believe was only natural, as selfishness is a part of being human. Therefore, it will not be the last time. But, your kindness overshadows that by far; you have an inability to let selfishness win over that part of you. It is a fact that can't be refuted.
[ Moving his hand from where the other had pulled it to raise it, a bit higher, fingers experimentally brushing against Noé's cheek. Which is a bit of a reach, but he can stand on his tippy toes to barely make it possible, it's fine. ]
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That's selfish, too, but Albedo's words are loud and clear in his head.
Noé allows the gentle brush against his cheek. It makes him blush a little, and without thinking –
he takes the hand on his cheek and gently presses his lips to Albedo's palm. ]
I think I like how the experiment is going.
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Albedo isn't anticipating that. He is wearing gloves, mind you, but it doesn't make the action any less intimate. So, without preamble, his cheeks flare up in an obvious flushed color.
The way the other kisses his hand like that is actually quite gentleman-like. He is certain that no one has ever done that to him before. He would've notated that somewhere. ]
... I understand that you are enjoying the results so far. Findings indicate that I am fortunate to have someone who would treat me with the respect and care that you do.
Would you like to continue looking into other areas of interest?
[ He's so embarrassing right now but he can't help himself. Albedo half-thinks it's clever he has decided to phrase things in such a manner. ]
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And then he's asked about "other areas of interest". He has no idea what that means, but he looks at Albedo with a curious expression. Then, he nods a few times. ]
O-of course! I don't know what that entails, but I trust you.
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His cheeks still remain a soft color from the warm movement to them, but his expression turns thoughtful despite that. ]
First, lean a bit down, if you will?
It will be hard for me to show you otherwise.
[ ...Since he trusts him, this will be simple enough. ]
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Like this?
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[ Albedo reaches with gloved hands to gently cup each side of Noé's cheeks, one thumb brushing gently against the skin or hair that it may fall atop, and then plants a firm kiss right on his lips. ]
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He's never kissed anyone before, so this is absolutely a first for him. It's nice, and the feeling of things falling into place perfectly settles in his chest once more. This is what love should feel like, he thinks. Whatever Macha did to him doesn't even compare. ]
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It's still a strange feeling—foreign even—to contend with, but he wants to explore it, curious in a way he can relate to exploration in his investigations relating to experiments or otherwise. Yet, there is a deviation—this is less distant than that, far more warm for certain. So, that is why he returns his arms to wrap around the other in an answering embrace.
Love is a word that hardly has left his lips. But right now, he is sharing that affection with someone who will stand unequivocally by his side. From beginning to end. What is more lovely than that? ]
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Did I do that right?
[ He hopes he did. He hopes that he's made Albedo as happy as he's made him. ]
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His own heart is racing similarly; at the pace of a high-speed gallop. He is a little distracted by the way Noé cutely ducks his head, to boot. ]
You did. It was...new, I believe. For the both of us.
But, still rather—I suppose, exemplary, in the experience?
[ His own happiness is a calm warmth, but evident nonetheless. ]
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[ Noé looks a little bashful when he glances back at Albedo, but he's smiling and he ends up tightening his hold on the other. What a turn of events... ]
I ran into Macha before we battled him. He tried to emulate what love and heartbreak were supposed to feel like.
I don't think that version of love feels anything like this. It was never this warm and comfortable.
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I suppose it is only natural a hostile program can't quite emulate the feeling properly, nor understand what it is like for either one of those things.
Love is a very curious emotion. But one that I have discovered the merit in sharing with another person.
[ He's still...holding on securely himself. Albedo doesn't think of himself as a clingy person because he is not, though the feeling is so welcome he wants to bask in it more. ]
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[ That makes him incredibly happy to hear. Noé's face lights up completely and he can't help but bask in the warmth he's feeling right now.
He also can't help but lean in and excitedly pull Albedo in for another kiss.
Love is kind and gentle...and so full of comfort. He's smiling. ]
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Scientifically speaking, not many organisms can replicate the effect Noé's smile has on his person. This is a fact that can't be disproven. ]
I wonder if we should...
[ His words are swallowed up in the kiss, and he smiles into it. It is also a kiss that Albedo gently presses back with, more confident this time for sure. ]
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We should what?
[ He's so curious. Tell him what's on your mind...! ]
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...Go on an outing, of some sort.
[ A date. Like couples do. ]
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[ !!! He is very excited about this! ]
I would love to.
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