【 Thank you for choosing the Golden Peacock, 5-star resort and casino. You are currently registered as a WILDCARD in our system.
Due to a high volume of check-ins, temporary accommodations have been made in our parking garage for all new arrivals. We aim to have all guests moved into their reserved rooms as soon as possible. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience!
All are invited to There Is No Tomorrow, a Phoenix Casino soiree to celebrate our beloved guests. The festivities will begin at 1800 hours on January 20th and end at 1800 hours on January 27th. Please look forward to 168 hours of delight.
In an effort to raise happiness and encourage better guest relationships, attendance is required. The house will assist guests that are too shy to appear of their own accord. Please note that black tie attire is mandatory. As always, we hope you enjoy your stay! 】
PARKING GARAGE
ANY CAR IN A STORM
PHOENIX CASINO HALL
WELCOME TO THE NEXT 168 HOURS
Phoenix Casino is a-flutter with activity and packed to the beak with guests. As a famously ever-changing space, the staff would be remiss if they didn't deck the crown jewel of the Golden Peacock out. The casino glitters from top to bottom, shining brighter than diamonds, rubies, sapphires, opals! Party-goers are shiny and glamorous with picture perfect makeup, fluttering gowns, and sharp suits. Card tables are packed and the slot machines are a-ringing as guests play, play, play! Prizes, luxury, booze, attractive people, it's the place that everyone wants to be at.
Those people being dragged inside by some invisible force...? Silly, they were so excited to come that their bodies moved before they realized what was happening. Those are struggles of joy and definitely not the casino's infamous ghost hands dragging unwilling guests to the party at the behest of the house. Look, they're literally hurling their bodies at the card tables with unrestrained glee!
All clocks indicating day hours and night hours have been removed from the casino. Once a guest has entered, their Watch will jam, making it impossible to keep track of the time. You don't need to worry about that tonight.
▶ All characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. Suits will not manifest until characters are accepted into the game.
▶ All TDMs are game canon. This TDM acts as the game's January event.
▶ Current characters may top level on the TDM. Any current characters posting to the TDM should note they are current in their subject header.
▶ The top level directory is for new characters only. We want to make sure new characters are prioritized and receive attention! If you would be interested in a game invitation, you can note that in your comment header. This month we also have an ongoing ATP / EMP where players can connect. Please feel free to utilize this for all of your peafowl needs!
▶ If you aren't satisfied with these prompts, please feel free to check out our LOCATIONS to explore more of the resort!
▶ Smut threads that take place on this TDM can be used for rewards. If both parties in the smut thread join the game, you may retroactively apply the character's initial card values to your 52 bank. If one character does not join the game the thread will not be applicable toward rewards (as that character would not have a card value). The character that does join would still receive a small payout for the encounter. Hopefully it was a fun thread regardless!
▶ We ask you to kindly add content warnings to your threads as appropriate.
▶ If you do not currently have permissions and kinks listed in your character’s journal we suggest leaving a note in your top level of any limits or boundaries for other players to reference.
[Wow, that's the stupidest joke yet, no less because Yu isn't super big on sweets either. Besides, they're all here for spicy anyway-- (ahem.)
A few things are simultaneously true, here. First, it's nice to see Akira again, and his sense of humor in an unusual situation feels like a balm. Second, there was a time when Yu was new, too, and people he didn't know seemed to recognize him. It felt awkward and uncomfortable. And third, in relation to the second, it's only a matter of time before Yu slips up and calls Akira by name, thus bringing on the aforementioned brand of awkward.
So, having thought about it for a moment, and in lieu of any other dialogue choices, he sticks out a hand for the other teen to shake.]
[KAZUYA ALREADY BREACHED THAT AWKWARDNESS IT'S FINE!! besides—]
[. . . it's weird that a name Akira is certain he has never heard before (right. . ?) brings forth a wave of nostalgia. a gentle sort of wistfulness tinged with the scent of movie popcorn and the sound of flicking cinema reels. his nose wrinkles a bit as he lets those sensations sink in, brows furrowing. huh. . .]
[. . . ah, wait— he can't be rude]
Kurusu Akira. But just Akira is fine.
[no point in formalities in a place like this, right?]
[and after a pause to consider—]
. . . this is going to sound a bit weird, but have we met before—?
Yu's first impulse is to just come out with it. Yeah, you were here before, it's a pretty common thing, by now. But something about the way Akira asks that makes him reconsider, reevaluate. Before this seems to be the implication, but that would be way too much of a coincidence, wouldn't it?]
I don't-- [think so, the words are on the tip of his tongue, but he pauses, his expression setting thoughtfully.
(A heady jungle, a sword clashing against a gun, a masked stranger...)
He rephrases,] ... I don't know. It doesn't seem possible, but...
[what a creepy thing to say to someone you just met, Kurusu, Akira finds himself thinking. . . and he is quick to stammer out an excuse, both hands raised, palms forward]
Ah-- haha, yeah, obviously.
[obviously!! what is he thinking? maybe the atmosphere of the casino is getting to him, because he finds himself wanting to say stupid things like, it's just that there's something about you that's so nostalgic and I feel like I'm meeting a friend again after a long time apart. and those lines are never nearly as slick and suave as those bodice-ripper romance novels would make one think!1]
[he shoves those thoughts aside and shakes his head, pulling up an easy smile]
Don't mind me. Too much to drink, probably. [he had like three sips before he started floating he's perfectly sober] It's nice to meet you, Yu.
[The thing is, Akira's right. It's a weird thing to say. A weird thing to think, too, when it comes to a total stranger.
And yet, the thought is there now, stuck firmly at the front of his mind.
But he's not going to puzzle through this right now, either, so he reflects Akira's expression instead, pulling levity back into the conversation -- if for no other reason than to distract himself from the puzzle trying to nestle itself in his thoughts.]
Could've been the fall. [He points upward, lightly, at the floating party guests.] What do you think? Need to have your head checked?
[that answer is immediate. it's silly, but. . . Akira has always felt at his most free when gliding through the air via grappling hook or parkour. he has never really flown, of course. . . that's impossible for him even in the Metaverse. but he bets it'd be amazing]
[the floating champagne is the closest he has come. with that thought in mind, he finally picks his way through the destroyed dessert table to meander back to the bubbling drinks]
[That's a three-music-note response if ever I've heard one. Yu is already moving toward the drink table when he responds,]
Absolutely.
[Just like zero hesitation whatsoever, wow. Look, he's never had a chance to try flying, and the Midnight Channel wasn't the most welcoming of places for stuff like that, so he wants to try it!! First, though, he lifts a glass, tipping his head a bit.] Cheers?
[Akira yoinks a drink for himself. despite his rough landing, he looks pretty eager to try again. maybe next time he'll dig deep into the cat within and land on his feet! a guy can hope!]
[with glass lifted, he clinks the drink lightly against Yu's, a small ding echoing in the air]
I feel so bougie, making toasts and drinking champagne like this.
[he says, right before he throws his head back to down the whole thing, which is not bougie at all. okay, Akira]
It's not really my scene, but trying new things isn't bad.
[That's one thing that he's had to get used to. The way this place really goes all in on flashiness is...something, alright, and it's generally not to Yu's taste, so it. It can be a little overwhelming. Less so when you're doing something fun with it.
He suppresses a bit of a smile as Akira downs the whole champagne flute, but he's quick to follow anyway.]
I know what you mean, though. It's good to shake things up a bit.
[... I mean, maybe not this much a bit, if he could choose, but still.]
[the levitation magic (or. . . whatever it is. the champagne bubbles??) kick in soon after the alcohol goes down. slowly, but surely, Akira's feet rise from the ground, heart lifting right along with them, until his entire body hovers in place. he isn't floating quite as high as before, but!! it's a start!! and he may be beaming a bit as he goes]
[with all of the dexterity that comes with being a Phantom Thief, he manages to twist mid-air until he is hanging upside down. with. . . the fancy suit tie draped across his face, messy curls bobbing in the air. hang on, let him push that aside]
How often do things get shaken up around here? Rough estimate.
[To his credit, surprise only lasts for a second in his fac ase he floats off the ground as well. Look, this-- like, speaking of things being shaken up, Yu's never really...flown? floated? levitated?? before, and it's not like there's a "how to float" book just hanging around, so it hasn't been part of any one of his very nerdy library excursions.
Logically, he thinks maybe it's like floating in water...?? So he tries to sort of balance himself, and it ends up looking a bit like he's sitting in a chair. It's weird. Speaking of weird -- a smile curves in his expression as he watches Akira float the way he is. He seems almost at home.]
Every few months, I think, [but he sounds a little distracted by all of the everything, so the answer is a bit vague.] Sometimes it's things like this, with new people. Sometimes the resort will change peoples' ranks, move them around, things like that.
[he feels very much at home! strangely inverted in the air as he may be. somehow, the silliness of the champagne cuts through the almost suffocating opulence of the party. it's. . . nice]
[don't mind him as he maneuvers into a casual mid-air flip. A gentle tumble!!]
Huh. . . sounds like a pain, keeping track of people's ranks.
[it's one way to fuck around with the game they're supposed to be playing, he supposes]
Do you think the powers that be like making things hard on us?
[It could be an answer to both of those thoughts, but he seems to say it offhandedly, a little incredulously, as if he's not totally on board with the game, himself. He has a lot of complicated thoughts about the ranking system, about the notion of collecting people like cards, about whether this "wish" they've been promised is even true, but he's not sure where to start with any of that.]
The resort wants something [--he can't help it, his cheeks pinken very slightly--] very specific. I think it's willing to do a lot to get it.
[don't worry; Akira has his own set of complicated feelings, which show on his face when Yu talks about what it is the resort wants from them. he doesn't flush— not this time— but he does roll his eyes a bit, a small huff escaping from his lips]
[dumb hotel, not realizing how the human heart works. honestly!1]
Soooo I've heard. [another gentle tumble, and he slowly propels himself closer to the ceiling, until his feet touch solid sheetrock] Personally, I think mood lighting and music go a long way.
[it's way better than the other highly insistent methods he has been told about. but it's also a mild joke, because if he doesn't keep it light he'll get mad all over again]
Hmm. [He exhales a bit of a laugh.] Sounds like you've got it all figured out.
[Not that he disagrees. This place messes with free will in a way that cuts deeply, to someone who fought so hard for it. But-- in terms of keeping the mood light, he adds,] floating included.
[More than Yu can say for himself; he's not nearly as agile in the air, rising more slowly and with less flourish. He's just a solidly on-the-ground guy, maybe. But it's still fun.]
[he is just stubborn as hell, and he truly has no idea how that stubbornness will work (or not!) for him while he is here. but regardless. . . Akira is the type to stay perfectly true to himself no matter the circumstances, and he isn't about to change that now]
[Said on the edge of a chuckle, not quite serious and not quite teasing. It's refreshing, that attitude -- the perfect stubbornness that so many of them cling to in a place that can leave you fully unmoored. Yu goes back and forth, acquiescing in places where he's never had a solid sense of self, and standing firm in instances where he has. Maybe it makes him a bit...mm, wishy-washy, in a way. But he's still working on it. Pursuing his true self was always easier when the people around him gave him the strength to do so.
He reaches for Akira's hand and pulls himself closer.]
Thanks. [Muted but genuine. He crosses his arms over his chest, thoughtfully. It looks kinda goofy when you're floating near the ceiling?? He doesn't seem to care, venturing instead with a question-not-question,] No need to ask what you think of this place, I'm guessing.
[in that way, they're quite alike— but isn't that part of being a wild card? emboldened, changed, motivated and shaped by the people around them. . . Akira wouldn't be the person he is today without his Confidants. his strength comes from his bonds, and he isn't afraid to admit to that]
[but that is a conversation for another time, because tragically this thread is before Kazuya's im the timeline and SOME-DEMON spilled the wild card beans!!]
[Akira's fingers close warmly around Yu's, before he tugs his fellow floater a bit closer towards the ceiling, grip then falling away. he taps his toes against the plaster, a hum buzzing on his lips]
At first I thought this was an elaborate dream. You know— my subconscious telling me I've been too repressed lately.
[but listen relationships are hard when you're fighting multiple gods, he cannot be blamed!!]
But now. . . [something about his smile sharpens with subtle mischief]
I think I'd like to take the house for all it's got before I tear this place down.
[which is an awfully bold proclamation for someone who still doesn't know how things work around here. but there is someone precious to him within these walls. . . and he'd like to make whatever deity is responsible for Fox's pain suffer]
[They connect and then disengage, and for a moment, Yu feels very mildly unsteady on his own. He's getting used to it, but in a way, it feels more like a freefall than he'd like. Somehow it feels more uncertain, not having the ground beneath him. It's a feeling he doesn't relish.
At least the company is nice.]
"Lately," huh?
[Eyebrows lifted, a faint, amused smile on his face. He doesn't mean anything by the question, but it could easily be taken any kind of way. It's just that sometimes Yu's observations don't land with the humor he intends. It's dumb. He's dumb.
Anyway.
The rest is more interesting. There's something about Akira's answer that is both inspiring and familiar -- more chaotic than the declarations he's known to make, but no less dedicated. Besides, wouldn't it be interesting? The chaos that would invite. Sometimes you need to shake everything up to inspire a change. The two of them would know all about that -- though he doesn't yet realize they have that in common.
Tear it down. Take it for everything it's got. There's emotion behind that, in some way he can't quite parse yet. He could ask, but...that seems like rank 2 or 3 stuff, at least. For now,]
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peacockstop2025-01-15 09:00 pm
no subject
[Wow, that's the stupidest joke yet, no less because Yu isn't super big on sweets either. Besides, they're all here for spicy anyway-- (ahem.)
A few things are simultaneously true, here. First, it's nice to see Akira again, and his sense of humor in an unusual situation feels like a balm. Second, there was a time when Yu was new, too, and people he didn't know seemed to recognize him. It felt awkward and uncomfortable. And third, in relation to the second, it's only a matter of time before Yu slips up and calls Akira by name, thus bringing on the aforementioned brand of awkward.
So, having thought about it for a moment, and in lieu of any other dialogue choices, he sticks out a hand for the other teen to shake.]
My name's Yu Narukami. Nice to meet you.
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[. . . it's weird that a name Akira is certain he has never heard before (right. . ?) brings forth a wave of nostalgia. a gentle sort of wistfulness tinged with the scent of movie popcorn and the sound of flicking cinema reels. his nose wrinkles a bit as he lets those sensations sink in, brows furrowing. huh. . .]
[. . . ah, wait— he can't be rude]
Kurusu Akira. But just Akira is fine.
[no point in formalities in a place like this, right?]
[and after a pause to consider—]
. . . this is going to sound a bit weird, but have we met before—?
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Yu's first impulse is to just come out with it. Yeah, you were here before, it's a pretty common thing, by now. But something about the way Akira asks that makes him reconsider, reevaluate. Before this seems to be the implication, but that would be way too much of a coincidence, wouldn't it?]
I don't-- [think so, the words are on the tip of his tongue, but he pauses, his expression setting thoughtfully.
(A heady jungle, a sword clashing against a gun, a masked stranger...)
He rephrases,] ... I don't know. It doesn't seem possible, but...
[but this place does impossible pretty well.]
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Ah-- haha, yeah, obviously.
[obviously!! what is he thinking? maybe the atmosphere of the casino is getting to him, because he finds himself wanting to say stupid things like, it's just that there's something about you that's so nostalgic and I feel like I'm meeting a friend again after a long time apart. and those lines are never nearly as slick and suave as those bodice-ripper romance novels would make one think!1]
[he shoves those thoughts aside and shakes his head, pulling up an easy smile]
Don't mind me. Too much to drink, probably. [he had like three sips before he started floating he's perfectly sober] It's nice to meet you, Yu.
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And yet, the thought is there now, stuck firmly at the front of his mind.
But he's not going to puzzle through this right now, either, so he reflects Akira's expression instead, pulling levity back into the conversation -- if for no other reason than to distract himself from the puzzle trying to nestle itself in his thoughts.]
Could've been the fall. [He points upward, lightly, at the floating party guests.] What do you think? Need to have your head checked?
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Nah. If my head's messed up, that one happened a long time ago.
[AKIRA. . .]
Also, you missed the chance to ask me if it hurt.
[. . . ??]
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And yet Yu laughs, a short, amused chuckle abbreviated only out of curiosity at his next remark. Yu's eyebrows lift a bit.]
You dont mean like "did it hurt when you fell from heaven" or something, do you? Don't tell me you'd go for a like like that.
[... but so far he's not seeing a whole lot of evidence to the contrary.]
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[like a cat who knocked over an expensive vase]
No. . .
[genuinely, not really, but he is the kind of guy who would at least be a little charmed by the dumb joke]
[GRUMBLING A LI'L NOW]
I guess I'd rather crawl up from the depths of hell, anyway. . .
ahdhdhd help they're so dumb LMFAO
The atmosphere feels a bit heavy...
How to proceed from here...?
>Change the subject
>Yeah, you know, changing the subject has to be the right move, here
>Or I guess we could say something dumb instead
Okay, apparently we're doing this.]
Want me to say it anyway?
I KNOOOOOW buries face in hands
[and he feels a little lame about making the joke, too. god. he needs to figure out how to convey to Yu that he's a cool guy, too!!]
[. . . is this what it's like to feel like someone is out of your league. . .]
But I appreciate the offer. I'm sure another opportunity will present itself eventually.
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You could always go up again. [A gesture at the floating party attendees.] ... was it fun?
[Because, falling part notwithstanding, he can't deny that he's curious.]
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[that answer is immediate. it's silly, but. . . Akira has always felt at his most free when gliding through the air via grappling hook or parkour. he has never really flown, of course. . . that's impossible for him even in the Metaverse. but he bets it'd be amazing]
[the floating champagne is the closest he has come. with that thought in mind, he finally picks his way through the destroyed dessert table to meander back to the bubbling drinks]
Care to join me for round two?
no subject
Absolutely.
[Just like zero hesitation whatsoever, wow. Look, he's never had a chance to try flying, and the Midnight Channel wasn't the most welcoming of places for stuff like that, so he wants to try it!! First, though, he lifts a glass, tipping his head a bit.] Cheers?
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[with glass lifted, he clinks the drink lightly against Yu's, a small ding echoing in the air]
I feel so bougie, making toasts and drinking champagne like this.
[he says, right before he throws his head back to down the whole thing, which is not bougie at all. okay, Akira]
It's not really my scene, but trying new things isn't bad.
no subject
[That's one thing that he's had to get used to. The way this place really goes all in on flashiness is...something, alright, and it's generally not to Yu's taste, so it. It can be a little overwhelming. Less so when you're doing something fun with it.
He suppresses a bit of a smile as Akira downs the whole champagne flute, but he's quick to follow anyway.]
I know what you mean, though. It's good to shake things up a bit.
[... I mean, maybe not this much a bit, if he could choose, but still.]
no subject
[with all of the dexterity that comes with being a Phantom Thief, he manages to twist mid-air until he is hanging upside down. with. . . the fancy suit tie draped across his face, messy curls bobbing in the air. hang on, let him push that aside]
How often do things get shaken up around here? Rough estimate.
[the inner rebel already wants to cause a scene]
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Logically, he thinks maybe it's like floating in water...?? So he tries to sort of balance himself, and it ends up looking a bit like he's sitting in a chair. It's weird. Speaking of weird -- a smile curves in his expression as he watches Akira float the way he is. He seems almost at home.]
Every few months, I think, [but he sounds a little distracted by all of the everything, so the answer is a bit vague.] Sometimes it's things like this, with new people. Sometimes the resort will change peoples' ranks, move them around, things like that.
no subject
[don't mind him as he maneuvers into a casual mid-air flip. A gentle tumble!!]
Huh. . . sounds like a pain, keeping track of people's ranks.
[it's one way to fuck around with the game they're supposed to be playing, he supposes]
Do you think the powers that be like making things hard on us?
no subject
Only if you really want to play their game.
[It could be an answer to both of those thoughts, but he seems to say it offhandedly, a little incredulously, as if he's not totally on board with the game, himself. He has a lot of complicated thoughts about the ranking system, about the notion of collecting people like cards, about whether this "wish" they've been promised is even true, but he's not sure where to start with any of that.]
The resort wants something [--he can't help it, his cheeks pinken very slightly--] very specific. I think it's willing to do a lot to get it.
no subject
[dumb hotel, not realizing how the human heart works. honestly!1]
Soooo I've heard. [another gentle tumble, and he slowly propels himself closer to the ceiling, until his feet touch solid sheetrock] Personally, I think mood lighting and music go a long way.
[it's way better than the other highly insistent methods he has been told about. but it's also a mild joke, because if he doesn't keep it light he'll get mad all over again]
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[Not that he disagrees. This place messes with free will in a way that cuts deeply, to someone who fought so hard for it. But-- in terms of keeping the mood light, he adds,] floating included.
[More than Yu can say for himself; he's not nearly as agile in the air, rising more slowly and with less flourish. He's just a solidly on-the-ground guy, maybe. But it's still fun.]
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I wouldn't say that.
[he is just stubborn as hell, and he truly has no idea how that stubbornness will work (or not!) for him while he is here. but regardless. . . Akira is the type to stay perfectly true to himself no matter the circumstances, and he isn't about to change that now]
But I am trying.
[a cheeky smile, and he extends a hand]
Need some help?
no subject
[Said on the edge of a chuckle, not quite serious and not quite teasing. It's refreshing, that attitude -- the perfect stubbornness that so many of them cling to in a place that can leave you fully unmoored. Yu goes back and forth, acquiescing in places where he's never had a solid sense of self, and standing firm in instances where he has. Maybe it makes him a bit...mm, wishy-washy, in a way. But he's still working on it. Pursuing his true self was always easier when the people around him gave him the strength to do so.
He reaches for Akira's hand and pulls himself closer.]
Thanks. [Muted but genuine. He crosses his arms over his chest, thoughtfully. It looks kinda goofy when you're floating near the ceiling?? He doesn't seem to care, venturing instead with a question-not-question,] No need to ask what you think of this place, I'm guessing.
no subject
[but that is a conversation for another time, because tragically this thread is before Kazuya's im the timeline and SOME-DEMON spilled the wild card beans!!]
[Akira's fingers close warmly around Yu's, before he tugs his fellow floater a bit closer towards the ceiling, grip then falling away. he taps his toes against the plaster, a hum buzzing on his lips]
At first I thought this was an elaborate dream. You know— my subconscious telling me I've been too repressed lately.
[but listen relationships are hard when you're fighting multiple gods, he cannot be blamed!!]
But now. . . [something about his smile sharpens with subtle mischief]
I think I'd like to take the house for all it's got before I tear this place down.
[which is an awfully bold proclamation for someone who still doesn't know how things work around here. but there is someone precious to him within these walls. . . and he'd like to make whatever deity is responsible for Fox's pain suffer]
no subject
At least the company is nice.]
"Lately," huh?
[Eyebrows lifted, a faint, amused smile on his face. He doesn't mean anything by the question, but it could easily be taken any kind of way. It's just that sometimes Yu's observations don't land with the humor he intends. It's dumb. He's dumb.
Anyway.
The rest is more interesting. There's something about Akira's answer that is both inspiring and familiar -- more chaotic than the declarations he's known to make, but no less dedicated. Besides, wouldn't it be interesting? The chaos that would invite. Sometimes you need to shake everything up to inspire a change. The two of them would know all about that -- though he doesn't yet realize they have that in common.
Tear it down. Take it for everything it's got. There's emotion behind that, in some way he can't quite parse yet. He could ask, but...that seems like rank 2 or 3 stuff, at least. For now,]
Save me a seat? I think I'd like to see that.
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