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downywrites · 6 months

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WorldBuilding Ask Game

Here is a little ask game for WorldBuilding in your WIP to pad out one country or all of them! Use it for yourself or ask a friend and spread some love. Focus on a particular section and have fun!

Geography

What does your world look like? What's the biome? Are there different ones?

Are there any oceans? If so, are they accessible? Are they a reliable source of travel and food?

Are there any rivers in your world? Any lakes? What's the longest river? Deepest lake?

Is there a safe supply of drinking water? If not, why not?

Are there mountains in your world? What's the highest one?

What is the weather like? How does this effect life?

What animals inhabit the world? What animals are indigenous or considered exotic?

What are some natural features your world is famous for? Is your world considered beautiful?

How many countries in your world?

How are countries divided? By natural lines or by agreements?

Population

What's the population like? Is it large or sparse?

Is there any factors in population density? Do more people live in a certain area more than elsewhere? Why is that?

Are there different peoples living in your world? If so, how do they get on?

How important is nationality? Are foreigners tolerated? Or are they unwelcome?

What countries get on? What countries hate one another?

Are there any important cities? Why are they important?

What's the architecture like? Are there any outside influences?

What's a typical building material? What's considered an expensive feature to include?

What is infrastructure like? Are roads and railways in good condition?

Is there public transport? Is it reliable?

Government

What system of government does your world adhere to? Is it popular?

Where is the seat of government?

Are there different governmental agencies?

Are there political parties? If so, what are their goals?

How much control does the government have over the average person?

Can your people vote? If not, why not? If so, who has/hasn't the right to?

Are there any parties or organisations that oppose the government?

How does the government crack down on sedition?

Are people allowed to criticise the government? If so, how? If not, how do they get around it?

How are laws made? Who makes them?

Is there any odd laws in your world?

What are some punishments to crime? Are they considered fair?

What crimes are unfathomable for the people?

Who handles justice? Is justice obtainable for all?

Are there any police? What's their reputation?

What role does the military play in your world?

Who controls the army? Head of state or government as a whole?

Is it considered a good career path?

Who can join the army? Are there any restrictions?

What is your world's stance on war? Are there any neutral parties? Or particularly warlike ones?

Commerce and Trade

How is trade done?

Is currency universal or dictated by region?

How is your economy going? What effects it?

What trade is your world known for?

What are some exports? What must your world import?

Are any goods considered luxurious?

What services are available in your world? What services are niche?

What sort of work is common? Is work readily available?

Who is expected to work?

Are workers treated fairly or unfairly?

Are there any ways workers are protected? If not, what are some consequences?

Is your world more reliant on technology or on labour?

Is agriculture possible in your world? If so what can your people grow?

How big is industry? What goods can your people make?

What resources can your country exploit?

What are some barriers to trade and commerce?

Is your nation known for quality? Or Quantity?

Who does your country trade with most often? Who do they boycott?

Are there any major ports in your country?

Are there any banned goods? If so, is there a black market for their purchase?

Society

How society expect one to behave in public? Are there different expectations for different people/genders/ranks?

Is there a social order? Can one move up the ranks?

Is there any considerations made on account of rank, gender, age or position?

What is considered a social faux pas?

Are there any gestures or actions that are considered rude or socially unforgivable?

What would utterly shock somebody to see somebody do?

What are some opinions that are normal for your world but can be considered subversive in real life?

How can one rise up the status ladder? Is there much trouble to do so?

What denotes a person's place in society?

How is life different in cities compared to life in the countryside?

Daily life

Where would someone go to buy their weekly shop? Is food easy to come by?

What would be the daily routine of the wealthy? The common man?

How is hygiene handled in your world? Where does one go to spruce up?

What would be some day to day tasks one might face?

What is the favoured means of travel?

Are there any problems in your world that could effect a daily routine? Potholes? Gigantic spiders? Acid rain?

What ammenties would an average person expect to have access to?

Where would one go if they are injured or ill? What's healthcare like?

Do people feel safe where they live? Are there any places somebody might face danger?

How do people communicate? Is it difficult? Why?

What do people do for fun? What's considered normal fun versus hedonistic?

What pastimes are common? What kind aren't?

Is education valued?

Is there access to education? If so, for who?

Are the population educated? If so to what extent?

Family Life

What is the typical family set up?

Is extended family important?

Who can be considered family? Who can't be?

Is marriage considered a duty? Or is it more of a personal choice?

Is divorce possible?

Can people adopt children?

What happens to orphaned children?

Are children important? If not, why not? If so, why?

What are some typical toys children play with?

What are some games children play with one another?

How is in charge of household chores?

Is there a hierarchy in families?

Are children expected to take on certain roles?

What is the living situation like between the different ranks? Are the roles different?

What's considered the proper way to raise a child?

Culture and Languages

Are there multiple cultures in your world? How do they differ? Do they mesh well together?

How are cultures similar? How are they different?

Are there any traditions in your world? How important is tradition?

What are some rituals your culture undertakes?

Are there any special days? Events?

What are some traditional values in your world? Does it effect daily life?

Are there traditional clothes for your world? Are they something somebody wears on a daily basis or just on occasion?

Are there any rules around what people can wear?

What would be considered formal dress? Casual dress?

What would happen if somebody wore the wrong clothes to an event?

What languages are spoken in your world? If so, how do they sound?

Are there any dialects? If so, how do they sound?

Are most people monolingual? Or bilingual? Or multilingual?

Are there any languages that are closely related?

What is considered a universal language?

Religion

Is religion a thing in your world?

Is religion a staple of life or just a small part?

Does religion affect politics, personal lives and affiliations?

Is your world sectarian? Or ruled by religion?

What are some influences religion has on daily life?

What sort of religion is it? Monotheistic? Polytheistic?

What are some myths your people believe in?

What common rituals does one undertake on a day to day basis?

How does one please a deity?

Where do your people pray? How do they?

What symbols would denote a follower of a certain belief system to a stranger?

What places or objects are considered sacred?

Are there religious orders? If so, who can join?

Is there tolerance or violence over religion? If so, between which faiths?

Food and Drink

What are some traditional dishes in your world?

What would be a basic diet for the common man?

What's considered a delicacy?

Is there a societal difference in diet? What are the factors that effect diet between classes?

Is there any influence from other cuisines? If not, why not? If so, to what extent?

What would a typical breakfast contain?

What would lunch be?

What would be a typical dinner?

What meals are served during the day?

What's considered a comfort food or drink?

Are there any restrictions on who can eat what or when?

Are there any banned foods?

What stance does your world take on alcohol? Is it legal? Can anybody consume it?

Are there any dining customs? Are traditions?

Is there a difference in formal meals or casual meals? If so, what's involved?

Are there any gestures or actions unacceptable at the dinner table?

How are guests treated at meals? If they are given deference, how so?

Are there certain rules about how one can prepare food?

Are there any restrictions on eating with certain people?

How is food generally prepared by?

History

Who are some notable figures from history?

Who founded the country?

Is history looked back on with fondness? Or do your people rather forget?

Are there any heroes in history? Any villains?

What are some highpoints in the history of your land?

What are some points of history nobody likes to speak about?

Does history effect your land, people, culture, language in the present? If so in what ways?

What historic monuments are still around in the present day? What has been lost?

How do people learn about history? Do they learn the truth? Or just an abridged version?

What's a historical event that is important to the story?

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downywrites · 6 months

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i diagnose you with i love you

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downywrites · 7 months

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Research Tips for Writing Your Book

Are you diving into the exciting world of writing and researching for your book project? Here's what you need to know to make your research journey a success:

Define Your Purpose: Before diving into research, have a clear understanding of your book's purpose and goals. Know the themes you want to explore and the message you wish to convey. This will give your research a focused direction.

Create a Research Plan: Outline the specific areas you need to research, set milestones, and establish deadlines. A well-structured research plan keeps you on track and helps you manage your time efficiently.

Use Multiple Sources: Diversify your sources. Books, academic papers, interviews, and digital resources each offer unique perspectives and insights. This diversity enriches your understanding and adds depth to your writing.

Organize Your Notes: Keep your research notes well-organized. Consider using digital tools like note-taking apps or physical notebooks with labeled sections for different topics. Efficient organization will save you time and effort later.

Fact-Check: Ensure the accuracy of your research. Verify any details that are crucial to your story or argument. Misinformation can erode your credibility and disrupt the reader's immersion.

Cite Sources Properly: Keep meticulous records of your sources and be diligent about citations. Use a recognized citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) to give credit to the authors and avoid plagiarism.

Interview Experts: Reach out to experts or people with firsthand knowledge relevant to your topic. Interviews can provide you with valuable insights, real-life experiences, and unique anecdotes to enhance your book.

Visit Relevant Places: If your book is set in a particular location, consider visiting it if possible. Experiencing the environment firsthand can help you capture its atmosphere, culture, and nuances more authentically.

Take Breaks: Research can be mentally taxing. Don't forget to take breaks to recharge and maintain a fresh perspective. Stepping away from your work can also lead to new insights and ideas.

Stay Open-Minded: Be open to unexpected discoveries during your research. Sometimes, the most profound insights come from unrelated sources or tangential information that you stumble upon while researching.

Keep a Journal: Maintain a research journal where you can jot down notes, ideas, and thoughts as they occur. This journal can serve as a valuable resource when you're writing your book.

Join Writing Communities: Connect with other writers in person or online. They can offer guidance, share their experiences, and provide emotional support when you face challenges during the research and writing process.

Revise and Refine: Don't think of research as a one-time activity. Continuously revisit and refine your research as your book evolves. New ideas or directions may emerge, and you may need to adjust your research accordingly.

Respect Copyright Laws: Understand the copyright laws applicable to your research. Ensure you have the rights to use specific materials, especially if you plan to incorporate them into your book. Obtaining permissions or licensing may be necessary.

Balance Research and Writing: While research is crucial, there comes a point where you must transition from research to writing. Avoid getting stuck in a perpetual research phase. Once you have enough information to start, begin writing and integrate research as needed in your work.

Remember that your research phase is an integral part of the creative process. It's where the foundation of your book is built, and it can be a fascinating journey in itself.But keep in mind, as you're writing your first draft, you can never know everything, never research everything. A second opinion is always good, and for that, you can ask friends, family, or even me on this blog.

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downywrites · 7 months

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I’ve read a fic of yours and I love the way you write ngl. I’m not very good with prompts, but may I request lee!itto ? He is adorable and deserves to giggle imo.

I have a headcanon that he thinks tickling is fun, mainly bc I don’t want him to suffer. Also because it makes him laugh and smile but also makes his friends laugh and smile, which is precious. It’s clear in trailers and in-game that he loves to laugh in general.

ler!itto is another option bc he’s silly like that. He’s the type of guy to get revenge tickles every single time. I’ll let you choose who gets him or gets got by him. If u don’t wanna, that’s fine too! Your blog, your choice

I’d recommend inazuma characters, just anyone but Yae Miko or Raiden Shogun, I do not want them near him lmao

thanks for reading if u got this far uh have a great day 🐊✨

Thanks for the request :D I decided to pick a random Inazuma character, and Yoimiya came up.

Hopefully, I don't mess up their characterization too bad- this will be my first time writing Itto AND Yoimiya.

Resting in the top of this tree had never felt less comforting. He leaned back, eyes shutting for a moment of respite that he knew would do him no good. Within his head, a thousand thoughts swirled, unbidden, to the surface. Clamoring angrily for his attention, almost. Itto gritted his teeth.

'Why do you mess up things like this? Why can't you just..fit in?'

'Just a little?'

He touched his hand to his face. The wetness upon his hand almost felt mocking. It was such a little thing. Why was this weighing on him now?

Itto sighed heavily. "I shouldn't mope about this," he told himself. "I don't deserve to mope about this stuff…Uh- this is below me, Itto, the one and oni..!" Even to him, his mutterings sounded hollow.

A solemn silence filled the air, save for the sound of the wind blowing gently through the village's wind chimes.

It was almost an infuriatingly fair-weathered day. The sun was shining, just enough to be warm, but not enough to scorch anybody for the crime of leaving the house. The sakura blooms were blossoming, soft petals dancing in the afternoon breeze. Children were laughing and frolicking in the tall grass, throwing balls and playing with toys their parents carved for them out of otogi wood and painted in many bright colors. Even the snack stalls were out and about. The smell of dango filled the air- the kind that Itto would smell commonly at festivals… wait a minute..

"Hey there, Itto! How's it going?" A voice below him made him yelp (in a very manly way) and almost fall off his perch (also in a very manly way). "Do ya want some dango? Surely sitting up there alone isn't all that fun on a good day like this!" He glanced down to see a rather familiar figure. "Ah..hey, Yoimiya. I'll take some, sure..!" Scrambling down from the tree and sliding down half of it in his haste to not make himself even more of a private embarrassment, he grabbed a stick of fish-shaped dango and quickly took a bite. "Ah, wait! Don't bite into that yet, it's hot-"

The oni bit back the screech of pain at the burning sensation in his mouth. Through watery eyes, he smiled slightly and gave her a thumbs up. He pulled the stick out of his mouth, chewing slowly. Yoimiya's hands flew up to her mouth. "Oh, are you okay??" Nodding through the pain, the geo user extended the stick towards her. "...wah ih bah?"

Yoimiya's experience with children speaking with their mouths full saved her the confusion. She shook her head vehemently. "Oh no, please keep it. I'll find you a place to throw that away in a moment. But first… are you alright?" Itto painfully swallowed the piping hot dessert quickly to respond. "I'm right…as rain!..Why do you ask?"

"You don't look too good, Itto…are you sure you're alright?" Yoimiya meant nothing by it, he was sure. It was probably because he had just done the equivalent of burning the entirety of the inside of his mouth. Even so, he felt more tears welling up in his eyes. Overwhelmed by emotion he was more than a little hesitant to express in front of the lady, he turned away from her. His shoulders trembled a little as he covered his face with both of his hands.

Yoimiya winced a little. She had suspected he wasn't doing too well when she found the rest of his crew wandering around without him. And, coupled with the look of concern that flashed on Shinobu's face when she asked about him, had spurred her to look for the man herself in hopes of finding out just how badly he was faring. Slowly, as to not startle him too much, she pulled the stick out of his hand and burned it to a crisp quickly. She was not half as slow to wrap her arms around him. "Hey, hey. It's okay. What's bothering you?"

The man's chest heaved, and as she patted his back soothingly, she felt his heartbeat. It was quick, not unlike a rabbit's. "You don't have to say anything if you don't feel up to it." He nodded into her shoulder, almost butting into her with his horns. "How about we find a better place to talk? I think it might be a little too open to chat about this stuff here."

He let her drag him to her house without much fanfare. If there was anything else that could make the firework creator any more concerned, it was the way Itto was behaving. The Itto she knew would be trying to act natural and walk ahead or beside her. Almost like a kicked puppy, the oni was trailing behind. His eyes seemed to be drawn towards the pavement below him. And, almost damningly, he was silent.

She opened the sliding door and slipped in ahead of him. "Welcome to my place!..Sorry, it's a little messy right now. I was working on some fireworks, and…" She trailed off, remembering swiftly why exactly she had brought him over. "Sorry, a bit too cheerful for the situation. Well..how do I make you feel better?" Itto had slipped in at some point, looking over the half-finished blueprints and the scatterings of gunpowder and colorful paper with interest.

"...I just…Yoimiya, do you think I needa try fitting in better?" Her head swiveled around so fast, she felt the muscles in her neck cramp a little. She bit back a wince. "Ehh…what?? Who made you think that?"

"I did… it just- y'know, feels like I always get my group in trouble for some reason or another. And then they tell me, well, onis are always like that an' stuff.. so should I just let my group go with Shinobu and find somewhere else to terrorize?" As he spoke, Yoimiya's eyebrows furrowed. With a strength he wasn't sure she had until just then, she gripped onto his shoulders firmly and shook him slightly. "Stop that, Itto. Those people are just being rude. And your presence isn't terrorizing anyone, and if they think that, then-then you tell them they should stop being scared of you!"

Itto's eyes were wide as she continued. Determination and passion infused every word she spoke to him, and a steely look he hadn't seen many times before seemed to pierce his very soul. "You're amazing, just the way you are. Shinobu and the rest of the gang love having you around. Why else would they still be you?" The oni felt a prickling in his eyes and he reached up to wipe away the tears that began to blur his vision. His voice wavered. "Thanks, Yoi…" He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

The pyro user noticed. She pouted slightly, letting go of the man and placing her hands on her hips. "Not smiling still? On such a nice day? Now, this is a crime!" Tutting quietly and wiggling her finger, her amber eyes sparkled with playfulness. Any determination she expressed before seemed to have vaporized into thin air. "How about this- you can pay for your crimes quickly and easily, or you can resist arrest, and I'll catch you myself!" He looked at her, puzzled. "What are ya talkin about? I haven't done anything illegal for real, right?"

She sighed. "No, Itto. It's play talk. I wanna make you laugh like you always do, so…"

"Won't you give me a big smile, you big dork?"

Before he was able to respond, he found himself on the floor. The tatami mat was soft, almost bouncy. He yelped loudly, glancing up at his attacker. "AUG- Yoimiya, woah! Next time, warn a guy-"

Another yelp came from him at the sudden poke to his ribs. When he didn't push her away, her hands gently fluttered over his exposed ribs. He bucked instinctually. Yoimiya yelped, grabbing onto him for dear life. This only served to tickle more. "GaH! Hehehey, whahat-"

"I told you I wanted to hear you laugh again! What does it look like I'm doing, silly?" Itto's reply was too garbled with laughter to reply. Deep and rumbling, his laugh seemed to shake the entirety of his body with its intensity. Yoimiya's smile only grew as the oni below her showed no inclination to escape. From underneath her, his body was virtually limp, besides slight twitches here and there when she poked at his lower ribs. "Ah-hehe! Yohoimihiya, thihihis ihihis-"

"Is what? You do this to your friends all the time. Have they never managed to get you back?" As she spoke, her hands moved to his stomach, tracing the outline of his abs with a nail. A rather unmanly speal squeaked its way out of Itto. For a moment, their eyes locked in unbridled shock. The oni slapped his hands over his mouth. "Uhm…"

It wasn't silent for long. The pyro user took the short moment of reprise to taser his sides. "Okay, this silence doesn't sound like laughter to me." She watched as his shoulders shook and his eyes scrunched closed. But no noise came out from behind his hands. A fake frown settled on her face. "That won't do. Itto..~ could you let me hear your laughter?" He shook his head a little.

"Oh, come on. Okay, well.. if you don't want me to, I guess I have to make your laugh too loud to muffle!"

With that statement, Yoimiya tucked her hands into his sides, squeezing the muscle as firmly and quickly as she dared. Almost immediately, Itto's body seemed to jerk away from her hands. All compliance seemed to sail out the window the moment she got 'serious'. And, before long, she heard adorably high-pitched giggles. Muffled, and definitely restrained as much as possible, but audible.

"Mff-hihihi!" She watched as his ears turned red. "Awhh! Your giggles are soo CUTE!" Gently spidering her fingers over his sides only made his giggles louder. "Did I get you all worked up, just from this? Oh my archons, Itto.. you're such a cutie pie!"

"D-dohohon't sahahay thahat! Ihihi'm Ihihitto. Ihihi aihihin't cuhuHUTE-" Itto's voice hiked as she squeezed his hips. Unable to stop himself from curling into himself, he wrapped his arms around her and tugged her closer to him. Yoimiya could actively feel her heart melt. 'Why is such a big guy acting so cute right now? This has to be illegal. It has to be!'

Her hands drilled into his hips, and she felt his grip tighten around her. His shoulders shook with mirth. And, after a brief moment of giggles, Itto's laughter reached its loudest yet. Rough-edged, his laughter could scare someone if they heard it in the tides of battle. Coupled with his towering height, perhaps his stature and laugh would be reason enough for an entire squad of police officers to turn tail. Even so, the only feeling Yoimiya had for his laugh was fondness, a warm feeling that seemed to pervade every part of her body as she continued to drill and knead at the slightly protruding bone.

As he squirmed slightly, she could feel his heartbeat again. Just like before, it was quick. But this time, it didn't feel half as frantic as it was before. Testing the waters, Yoimiya's hands slowly moved towards his lower back. "He-hehehaha…! Hehehey!" She giggled at the way he tried to rest his chin on her shoulder. "I don't think I'm tall enough to be a chinrest… good try, though!"

As he grumbled in soft complaint, she decided to make it up to him by dragging her finger up his spine. The resulting yelp sounded both indignant and amused. "GAH! Yo, what was that for?!"

"Being all pouty in my ear is also illegal while I'm around!" Itto grumbled again. "Hmph, this stuff. I already told you, I didn't do anythin' wrong this time!"

The pyro user sighed. She shook her head slightly, her smile widening in a mix of both fondness and a tinge of resignment. "Ah, Itto. That's not what I meant. It's just a joke, okay? Nobody's arresting you." She couldn't help but giggle again at the confused sound he made, though. "It's just a tease! Don't Shinobu and the gang tease you like that?"

"No?"

"...okay, fair enough." Yoimiya's hands massaged at the tensest muscles she could feel in a soothing motion. She felt him sag in her grasp, and for a moment she reminded herself that his weight would probably be enough to crush her in this position. "Still, though. Are you feeling at least a little better now?"

He nodded. "Yeah.." The silent 'but' hung in the air. "You still want me to keep going?"

If it were virtually anyone else in any other situation, the sudden lack of noise would have been crushing. Nothing moved, not even the wind chimes outside. She took his silence (correctly) as acquiescence. "Alright, I hear you loud and clear."

"I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't need to say it, Itto. Now come on, let me make you smile again!"

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Let me know if you have any other requests for me. I'd love to receive them :D

#reblogging myself bc i posted this at ass o clock this morning

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downywrites · 7 months

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I’ve read a fic of yours and I love the way you write ngl. I’m not very good with prompts, but may I request lee!itto ? He is adorable and deserves to giggle imo.

I’d recommend inazuma characters, just anyone but Yae Miko or Raiden Shogun, I do not want them near him lmao

thanks for reading if u got this far uh have a great day 🐊✨

Thanks for the request :D I decided to pick a random Inazuma character, and Yoimiya came up.

Hopefully, I don't mess up their characterization too bad- this will be my first time writing Itto AND Yoimiya.

'Why do you mess up things like this? Why can't you just..fit in?'

'Just a little?'

He touched his hand to his face. The wetness upon his hand almost felt mocking. It was such a little thing. Why was this weighing on him now?

A solemn silence filled the air, save for the sound of the wind blowing gently through the village's wind chimes.

She sighed. "No, Itto. It's play talk. I wanna make you laugh like you always do, so…"

"Won't you give me a big smile, you big dork?"

Before he was able to respond, he found himself on the floor. The tatami mat was soft, almost bouncy. He yelped loudly, glancing up at his attacker. "AUG- Yoimiya, woah! Next time, warn a guy-"

"Oh, come on. Okay, well.. if you don't want me to, I guess I have to make your laugh too loud to muffle!"

As he grumbled in soft complaint, she decided to make it up to him by dragging her finger up his spine. The resulting yelp sounded both indignant and amused. "GAH! Yo, what was that for?!"

"Being all pouty in my ear is also illegal while I'm around!" Itto grumbled again. "Hmph, this stuff. I already told you, I didn't do anythin' wrong this time!"

"No?"

He nodded. "Yeah.." The silent 'but' hung in the air. "You still want me to keep going?"

"I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't need to say it, Itto. Now come on, let me make you smile again!"

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Let me know if you have any other requests for me. I'd love to receive them :D

#downywrites #my writing #genshin impact tickling #genshin tickle #tickle fic #lee!itto #ler!yoimiya #does that tag even exist..?

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