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pumpkinhollow) wrote2000-02-08 08:52 pm
TDM #4 - Aurora Borealis Bust? [REPRINT]
[Find our plain text version here!]
Pumpkin Hollow Gazette
2/8/24 | TDM #4 - AURORA BOREALIS BLITZ BUST?
Content Warnings: "Further Details" section has independent CW labels.
Forecast: SEVERE BLIZZARD WARNING
REBUILDING HELP REQUESTED
By Cecil Gershwin Palmer
A photo taken of the damage.
ACROSS PUMPKIN HOLLOW - City government is requesting aid with repairs to public buildings and local fixtures after the recent earthquakes on Tuesday, January 8th. While there was minimal damage to Town Hall itself, several important buildings sustained damage, including the Magpie National Bank, the South Train Station and the Clock Tower, which is now stuck with hands at 8pm.
Regarding the cause of the earthquake, local biologist Dr. Elias Coldwood was heard to say “There's never been seismic activity here.” And he’s a scientist, so he would know! But clearly this is no longer the case. Perhaps Pumpkin Hollow has a mysterious tiny civilization underground worshiping a destroyer god, planning to attack through the bowling alley, the moment we create a bowling alley. Perhaps not. More on this story as it unfolds, faithful readers.
In the meantime, volunteers to help with the damage to city buildings are invited to meet with Mayor Hellen Poe for assignments.
AURORA TURNS VIOLENT - MYSTERIOUS BLIZZARD INTERRUPTS CHAOS
By Yorick Aberdeen
An artist's rendition of last year's view.
ABOVE MARROW ISLE - Despite our earlier report, it turns out that this year's annual aurora borealis season did not turn out to be a pleasant or romantic viewing experience. Instead, starry monsters based off of classic constellations have been attacking the town each time the aurora is in the sky! However, due to some extreme blizzards that have been occurring most nights each month since late January, the aurora has been interrupted more nights than not and the monsters intercepted. Still, the Pumpkin Hollow Safety Board would like to remind everyone to take appropriate precautions during inclement weather, and to tread carefully on clear nights as monsters may still be attacking until late February!
HOROSCOPES
By Cecil Gershwin Palmer
What do the stars say about you today?
Capricorn: Do you feel as if you’ve lost something? If not, it’s wise to double-check. Perhaps it’s not something like a button or a key, but your sense of wonder or your self-confidence. Remember, things tend to be in the last place you look.
Aquarius: Something about the year ending made you feel lighter, like taking off a heavy wool coat. Ride this burst of energy as far as it will take you, because the shiny of a fresh beginning tends to wear off quickly.
Pisces: Don’t worry, I don’t believe what everyone says behind your back. You’re not too sensitive or too naive. They’re just jealous. Really, most of the time when they’re whispering, it’s not even about you.
Aries: You’re the sort of warm individual that babies and animals are drawn to. Unfortunately, this may include hungry wolves and swarms of insects. But don’t let that bring you down! We need that sort of personality around here.
Taurus: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best, until you work to stop others from also being the best. That’s called cheating and may lead to you being disqualified from competitions. If you get caught, that is.
Gemini: You know those riddles about the two guards, one who always tells the truth and one who always lies? Well, everyone hates those riddles with a passion. You’ll see for yourself, soon.
Cancer: Wouldn’t you like to know?
Leo: Your incandescent personality often makes you the center of attention. However, that’s not the only thing about you that glows. Moths may flock to you in the dark this week, and so might children afraid to sleep with the lights out.
Virgo: Be careful with your words–they aren’t just the precursors to your deeds, but the manifestation of your will. This is not a week for idioms and metaphors, not for you. Even something like bemoaning a lack of spoons may make eating cereal harder.
Libra: You are, inevitably, the first one heard to say a situation isn’t fair. And it’s not, nor will it ever be. Instead of getting upset, have you ever considered getting revenge? That’s usually more satisfying in the long run.
Scorpio: Ugh, Scorpios. The position of Venus means your usually volatile emotions will be in the doldrums instead. Enjoy this while it lasts I guess. Who knows if you’ll ever experience such peace again, given, well. You’re kind of an emotional mess and no one likes you.
Sagittarius: There will never be another day like today. You must strive to make the day everything you want it to be. No mistakes, now! Consider your choices very carefully. Consider your choice to consider, very carefully.
SUNFIRE'S HEARTH
By Yorick Aberdeen
A photo of Mayor Poe's cats, Toffee and Butter, enjoying the view.
ASSORTED LOCATIONS - As the coldest part of the year settles over our fair isle, it is time for Sunfire’s Hearth--- an informal celebration of bonfires and hearth flames, for those unfamiliar! For the months of January and February, a raised platform for bonfires will be lit on weekends, and restaurants and taverns across town will keep their fireplaces lit. Unlike many of our other festivities, there is no structured celebration--- simply make some time during this time to bask in the warmth of a fire! You can even celebrate at home.
An additional benefit of this time of year is that Merrymeet is well on its way. So take this time and get snuggly in front of a fire with your special person to get in the mood for romance! (Or they could be platonic snuggles. Whatever suits you best.)
LOCAL ALCHEMIST REPORTS MISSING POTION
By Yorick Aberdeen
Some of Mx. Sallek's usual stock. Could stand to have better labels./p>
LOCATION UNCERTAIN - Early Monday morning, local alchemist Aeryn Sallek reported that a large container of magical potion has been swapped with another, and it would seem that the mistaken jug has been sent out for delivery. According to Mx. Sallek, they sent a number of jugs out for delivery in a case with our local delivery extraordinaire, Sam Porter Bridges. The jugs were meant to contain a harmless, potable freeze-resistance potion for our town’s various water sources, in the interest of keeping water reserves drinkable in sub-freezing winter weather. However, when they returned to the shop, one of these potions remained on their counter while a love potion they’d been working on went missing.
“‘Love potion’ is kind of a misnomer, honestly,” Mx. Sallek is quoted to have said on the matter. “But ‘emotional acuity’ potion doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Basically what it actually does is enhance existing romantic desire and embolden the user to be emotionally open. But Yorick should already know all this, since he’s the one who ordered it.” [Editing note: don’t forget to cut the last part of that comment before publishing. Cecil, you don’t need to include personal statements directed at reporters from these interviews!]
It’s unclear which area of town this particular potion ended up being injected into the water source, but according to Mx. Sallek, the potion was not particularly intense to begin with. It should be significantly diluted as to be harmless. Still, if you notice any strange symptoms such as butterflies in your stomach, a desire to burst into song, or inexplicable yearning, please file a report with the Safety Board at your earliest convenience.
FOOD SHORTAGES PUT STRAIN ON ISLAND ECONOMY
By Yorick Aberdeen
MARKET DISTRICT - While there are many things to celebrate this time of year, Marrow Isle is not without its adversity. Over these past months, many new members of our community have arrived by ferry after our numbers remained small and stagnant for many years. And the presence of our newfound neighbors has been a boon to all of us. Many artisans have opened useful businesses, medical professionals have expanded our access to healthcare, and a new fishing vessel has taken to the seas. However, despite a few additions, our farming community remains quite modest and planting was not planned with such incredible new growth in mind.
The unfortunate result of this is that food reserves on the island this year are uncharacteristically low. As such, Town Council has made the difficult decision to allow for the temporary inflation of food prices and the rationing of food staples.
“We understand the hardship this will place on the residents of Pumpkin Hollow,” said Mayor Poe in a statement after this decision was made. “But please know that we are all in this together. We hope to be able to offer a better incentive package for those interested in farming in the coming springtime.”
Page 1
Aurora
The dead of winter sheds all colors of the trees and flowers across Marrow Isle, but tonight, there are no stark whites and grays and browns.
Tonight, in the sky sprawling with stars above the dreary town, there are lights.
Sprawling trails of violet and green twist and wave through the sky, brightening the earth below and the sea beyond Jack's Marina in magical colors. The return of the borealis is something many Pumpkin Hollowites look forward to, and their reactions are very clear: people scurry down to the shores to watch with wide eyes, many retrieve telescopes, and some even borrow the decks of ships, abandoned for the night at the docks, to watch the sights.
It doesn't take long for this to change, however; the sea nor land are safe from the curse, and it's made quickly apparent that the sky is no exception.
At first, the sight seems like none more than an illusion, perhaps someone blinking and missing a strange shift of the lights. A glimmering outline forms around a cluster of stars, only slightly harder than any of the lines that define the aurora's rays. Several of these shapes form, each array of stars different from the last, some larger, some smaller.
And then, the stars begin to fall.
Seeming to peel off the painted sky, the ebbing colors surrounding the starlight drop, crashing to the world below. Some fall to the streets and beaches, while others fall into the forest, leaving view, or drop into the sea, leaving splashes and waves in their wake that ensure any watching knows full and well that this is not a trick of the light. At first, these shapes are unmoving, glowing masses of aurora-light with stars shining brightly within them. Most townsfolk are uneasy, but this seems to pale in severity to the other disasters, even if they lack any idea of what it could mean for them.
That is, of course, until the masses begin to move.
Each one is as varied as the constellation it stole from the sky: stars form suggestions of skeletal structures, and their "flesh", only consisting of swimming lights and liquid sky that steals any lights around them. Two identical glowing shapes rise to a face finally taking form, and slowly, moving more like gel than animal as it rises to freshly-formed legs, it settles on the closest living thing it can find.
There is no calculation in it, nor what seems to be a glimmer of thought.
It simply lunges with intent to kill.
Cecil’s disconcerting horoscopes have the following effects for the next few days:Horoscopes
[CW: Altered emotional states ]
(Don’t know your character’s sign? Feel free to just decide on one!)
The effects are not particularly intense. However, anyone who drinks any of the tavern’s housemade ale or cider, drinks the coffee, or eats any food that might require water to cook will experience symptoms of “emotional acuity”. This involves feeling more emotionally open, more receptive to positive feelings about others, a strong desire for physical or verbal affection, and the intensification of romantic or sexual attraction that you might already be experiencing. It will last about half a day. Just in time to help potentially land you a date for Merrymeet, a flower and fertility festival in early spring!Love Potion
[CW: Altered Emotional States ]
Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, the “love” potion ended up in the water supply of the Oak & Iron. As promised by Aeryn, it is thoroughly diluted, as its recipients believed it to be a normal freeze-resistance potion to be mixed with their water.
Food rationing and inflation will have the following impact: Grocery budgets for apped-in characters will be reduced in their efficacy. Bonuses and Discounts associated with the Farmer and Fisherman jobs are also reduced. Oak & Iron Residents will only be able to receive bland, repetitive meals with their food vouchers consisting of simple broth, plain bread, bland potato dishes, and the like. It is enough to be fed and comfortable but it is incredibly unsatisfying. (This includes all new characters that are not apped-in.) Drinks, however, are still plentiful. Characters who do not eat will find that their respective sources of fuel will be reduced to just barely enough to keep them functional, provided that they ration carefully. (Ex. Transformers may want to be less active. Vampires will find that victims cannot handle excessive blood loss without fainting and generally prefer to stay home.) Characters who were present to fight the Mother Crab back in late summer and chose to can some of their crab can use it now! Hunting, foraging, and fishing can help reduce the impact of these reductions, and people can share their food. You can absolutely die of starvation. After Merrymeet in February, food will return to normal.Famine
[CW: Starvation and food scarcity ]
Basic groceries will be only the most minimal of staples. You will likely go hungry if you do not find a way to supplement this.
Bountiful groceries will be reduced to the amount of food normally contained in basic.
Lavish groceries will not be available at all.
Your grocery choices from Activity Check are not able to be modified for this month unless otherwise stated.
Level 1 bonuses will be reduced to standard, which is to say how they would function for a non-Farmer/Fisherman character during a normal, pre-famine month. (ex. Whereas normally a Level 1 Farmer would get free Basic groceries, they will now have to pay the 50 Brass, but do not have the efficacy of Basic groceries reduced as described above.)
Level 2 bonuses will be reduced to that of a Level 1 Farmer/Fisherman. (ex. Whereas a Level 2 Fisherman would normally be able to have Bountiful groceries discounted to 50 Brass, they now must pay full price for Bountiful groceries. However, they can still get Basic groceries for free and don’t suffer from the famine induced efficacy reduction for either budget.)
well this was not unexpected at least
César considers for a moment, then speaks, "I normally wouldn't, but—"
And then Dabi is in his space before he can explain. And then Dabi's grabbing his shirt before he can do anything else other than widen his eyes. And then Dabi's producing a blue flame and threatening his life.
For a moment, there's a flash of fear on César's face—and then, without effort, he calms. "... If I make her cry in that sort of way, then I'm not myself, and either someone has taken control of my body or taken on my form. In which case, if I can't be snapped out of it, then it may be necessary to take my life in order to restore me to myself."
Well, at least the man has some guts. This was a response he expected, perhaps even planned for. Good thing they're in private.
from what Magne has told him about the League, anything less would be the surprise I'm sure
"What, that something that happens to you a lot?" Arms folded over Dabi's chest, he just stares at César. That same bored neutral expression back now that he's not actively threatening the poor guy.
ABSOLUTELY also CW: cannibalism recap
"... once. There was a feast, and anyone who got the invitation arrived in a sort of trance. Then we had dinner. Where one of the more powerful demons made small talk and offered deals to people at his table. I was still myself... but unable to see the danger. All red flags were green. Nor could any of the others, and that includes one of the most perceptive people I've ever met."
César pauses to let that digest then continues. "The spell or whatever they put us under didn't break until the very moment he had a servant present the head of the person that had been cooked for us." Barely a pause. "That is what we're up against. ... and the victim's alive again, for the record. People really don't stay dead here."
oh fun--
"That's fucked," He rubs at his face a bit, still frowning at the lack of piercings. He needed to get those replaced before everything closed up damn it. "Good to know what I'm getting into I guess. Was...was Mag there?" He could only imagine what bullshit she might have had to face here between hearing about that and facing those weird star monsters on the beach.
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César shakes his head. "... she would've handled it, if she had been there. Magne's strong-willed, you know that. Even after the full disclosure about what happened when I brought home some vegetarian sides that were left, she still decided to eat them. Things were a bit desperate. Calories were calories."
Dude literally circled back and risked potential death to grab some doggie bags for Magne.
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"Yeah well, when you're used to food being scarce...you kinda eat what you can." He can't help but let his mind wander to the rest of the League and their time before Overhaul showed up. When they were all starving and Toga and Twice wouldn't shut up about sushi. Scrounging up and stealing whatever they could. It was life, but at least here she still had people to look out for her.
"Still good she wasn't there. Just because she coulda handled it doesn't mean she should have to." And yes, he's starting to get that he's preaching to the choir here but still. If he were any nicer of a person and he might even thank César for looking out for her, as it is...Dabi's a dick. So yeah. No.
At least not until he warms up to the guy, which might be never.
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"Yeah. I got that impression from what little she's told me." César states quietly, finally crossing his arms and leaning against the wall, eyes looking into the middle distance. "... You have my agreement there. And you know what she's been through more than I ever will." That's the closest he'll imply that he understand Dabi's been through shit, too, until there's maybe some room for that.
He blinks, then focuses his eyes and looks up. "Missing everyone from the League all so dearly and the food crisis that's abating aside... she's been doing well, here. Like I said before."
César breathes in and blows out a sigh. "... I know I'm the outsider here. You don't know a damn thing about me. Going back to my first message... I'll answer what questions I can, and let you know why I can't answer one if I can't. I'd normally let the dust settle longer, but Merrymeet's coming up in barely more than a week, and that's basically her coming out to the community at large. It's a turning point in her life... and I realized that there's something that belongs to you and not me for that. And it requires us to at least be able to coordinate."
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Then he has to sit and think about questions he could ask. There are a ton he's sure but at the same time...he had worked with everyone else without knowing shit about them. Shigaraki was a freak, Toga was a psycho girl, Twice was...special, and Magne was someone who he felt society had judged wrongly for even stupider reasons than any of them. But a good portion of them had the one thread connecting them, Stain.
Here they didn't have that, but they had Magne. At least he knew her more personally, he had never met Stain in his life.
"Look," Dabi sighs. "Words are cheap so I don't give a fuck about what you have to say about your past or about yourself. Magne trusts you and you seem....alright. That's enough for now. Not sayin' a trust you, in fact it's because I don't trust you that I'm not gonna bother asking shit."
And then he mentions something important to Magne.
"Yeah? Good for her, she deserves to get to be herself for once. I don't see what that has to do with me, you're her boyfriend right?"
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When Magne told César about the rest of the League and how things would have been different if they had met someone like him, César vowed to make a difference if he could. But he doesn't know yet that it's going to take more than multiverse travel to save any of them.
César nods to the decision, "It'd be weird if you did trust me. Offer's still open for later, then. And I'll explain the key thing and my decision for it in a moment, but... Merrymeet."
He smiles a bit. "I might be her boyfriend, but people also dance with their friends. You knew her and accepted her before me. I was thinking it be most meaningful to accept her very first dance from you."
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Should he say something to Cèsar? It'd be the right thing to do right? Since when did Dabi ever do what was "right". Though, it did have to do with Mag...that changed more than most might think.
"You sure you want to risk that? I don't know how longyou two have been together and I'm not about to step on toes...but you should know, she used to have a thing for me." Not that he thinks she does now if she's moved on. And doesn't that just sit in his gut like a lead weight. "Never know, might just steal her back from you."
No he won't. So far this guy is way better for Magne than Dabi is. He's nice, he provides for her, and here he is trying to do something so incredibly sweet for her. He'd never be able to do that for her...and that just makes it hurt more.
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He looks up when the other man speaks again, looking mildly surprised, thinks about it quickly, and shrugs. "She did mention you were handsome when she described you, come to think of it. That helped me recognize who you were."
César fails to mention that was after the first time they kissed, while she was getting herself cleaned up with César's back to the wall. Or how after, he gently teased out all the knots in her hair from having been out in the cold without a winter coat, having revived without one. Or how she had let him shave her face when her hands would have been too unsteady. The way she nearly cried at a clean shaven face. ... or the fact that he fell in love with her that night, and she asked him to stay so she wouldn't be alone. César's certain in his relationship with her.
He mentions none of that, but there's a softening of his smile. "If you can steal her that easily from me, then we're not really close at all. Friends and family can dance, too. I can show you how to lead and follow and probably source some clothes since you don't have a job yet. ... money's a bit tight on my end next month, but I think I can swing it if I'm careful. Food budget's already shot, but I know how to cover that. It shouldn't be an issue."
César normally wouldn't offer that last little bit of information, but that whole love potion extending food in the Oak & Iron has affected him. Made him a little more open. Just enough to let that slip.
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Still, César offers to teach Dabi to dance, for Magne. Both to lead and follow, it gives her the option on which she would rather do. On one hand he hates the idea of letting someone he hardly knows so close to him. Letting some stranger touch him...but then. Dancing with Magne might be nice. And he is the only one here from home that could give that to her. Compress or Toga would have been better choices he's sure, but they aren't here. He is.
The talk about being low on funds does make him narrow his eyes though. He's not about to let someone go hungry just so he can, what, have a fancy outfit he'll wear once?
"If it's gonna cause you problems then don't. I'm not interesting on being blamed when you're starving."
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On the bright side, César's very obviously squishy. And you come back from the dead.
"I'm hardly going to starve. I've got friends I can ask for help with it this month, and I've still got the basics. And I need some extra the calories to farm and to keep Magne off my ass. I'll get it handled. Those are the sort of people we have here. ... We can talk to Annabel maybe and see if she has something you can rent to cut the cost down to something you can afford yourself, if you're worried."
César's absolutely not worried, because it's definitely something he can reach out to the rest of the community for. And he trusts them.
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"So long as it doesn't get her on my ass for putting you out then fine." He'll probably find some way of paying César back discreetly. Not about to be openly thankful for things, he's a villain...a villain who is learning slowly that he doesn't have to be that here.
Thanks for planting that little seed, Angel.
"Fine, if you think it'll make her happy then I'll do it."
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You can pay him back by telling on him to Mag, to be honest. Make him not have to go around asking everyone. The biggest gift he needs is time.
Angel's good for that; got César with that one, too.
"It most definitely will. You don't need to be perfect at it. Just being there will mean a lot to her. She's working hard to get ready, so you just being there acknowledges all the progress and effort she's made in the last couple of months."
There's a note of finality to that part of the explanation. He's not going to browbeat. Just enough to let it sink in.
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"So what, gonna dance me around your little office then?" He sort of tossed a look around the space, does it even have enough room to do that here? Maybe? Dabi's a terrible judge when it comes to dancing. You don't want to see the one time he did 'dance'. To be fair, he was completely manic at the time.
Still.
This is not going to be easy for César by any means.
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He cuts off a laugh at the question (look, he can picture them both killing themselves), then starts walking out and towards the front of the house. "Front room, more like. Parlor's only half-filled with furniture. Wish I had music, but recorded music isn't exactly a thing here. Probably the thing I miss the most about having a phone."
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Not that he used his phone much when he had it. It was useful for communicating with the group at most. He wasn't like Toga and Twice who liked to look at videos on that weird app. Or Shigaraki and Spinner with their games. But recorded music? Okay that he'd definitely miss.
Still, the place was starting to seem better than home, even with the downsides. At least for the most part. The story about demons and cannibalism might have changed that a little more.
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It's not just chatter, but tidbits of useful information. Agriculture keeps them all alive. César's going to be part of that.
There's a small potted plant near the windows, but they still have plenty of room. "Hot pepper plant."
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Oh well.
"Gonna be real interesting learning to dance without music...and then dancing to music later." So long as he doesn't step on her toes he'll count it a win. César's toes? Free game. No mercy--wait.
"So you're growing your own food?" He thinks back to the plans he glanced at as well as the board of notes in the entrance. Resourceful.
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César nods. "I've dealt with worse challenges." Have you really, César? Oy, oy.
He shakes his head and smile. "More like our food. The town didn't have enough farmers to make food last easily through the winter. I had experience, so I volunteered. My usual profession is 'mad' scientist."
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"But I guess what ever gets you by, huh?" At least that seemed to mean that Magne wasn't gonna go hungry anytime soon. Good. They had to deal with lack of food enough back home. Dabi was proof enough of that, though to be fair he also needed way more in the way of calories than the others did. Yay for high metabolism.
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That comment about Earth is apparently not a hyperbole, as casually as he says it. César puts his hands together towards Dabi. Subject change time.
"Anyways! What's your exact experience level with dance?"
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Instead of remarking on the guys family or the weird talk about 'his earth', he's still getting used to the multiple universes okay, Dabi turns his attention to the question about his level of dance experience.
"Not much really." Even he didn't consider what he did in front of his dad and brother a real dance. It was just him being him, dramatic and trying to call as much attention to himself as possible.
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César slides into thinking for a moment. "... Hmm. How complicated do you want to try for? And do you have any movement restrictions?"
Maybe something like single time Swing or the 4 count Hustle, he's thinking. Dabi might not be comfortable having César get in close.
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brief mention of Argentine history
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