[Faustino let out a small laugh at that, working on finishing off the rest of his plate.]
It's not without it's perks.
[Through Al and Ciro, Faustino had been able to test what would work in earning a person's undying loyalty, and what wouldn't. It was better to rule through love, he found, than fear. After all, there were still so many people who were stronger than him, those who could truly horrify his followers and steal them away. But love, love was a harder emotion to break.]
Am I your favorite as well?
[While it was true, he was sure Lancia was content with his life and his lot, it didn't mean that there wasn't a glaring flaw in that scenario.]
True, but aren't you lacking in companionship? Most men your age are settling down and getting married, egregio signor.
If I say you’re my favorite, I think Al’s heart might break.
[But he says it with a grin, teasing. It’s hard to choose between the three boys- how could he? They all have their talents, their best qualities. Al he’s taken under his wing as a proper bodyguard, and is always a bright spot of energy no matter when Lancia sees him. In contrast, always in contrast, Ciro is quiet and intelligent, growing to be a steady presence who balances so many others out.]
[And Faustino… Well. It hardly needs to be said, with his charisma and sly commentary. Although that reminds him- Draping back against his chair, Lancia snorts.]
Many men my age don’t do the work I do. But I’ll tell you which of you is my favorite if you tell me another story like you promised. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.
[While Al might indeed, take it as a severe blow, all Faustino would need to do was assure him he still cared for him. Al may be easy to knock over, but he was just as easy to pick back up. It was one of his best traits, his simpleness.
He snorted slightly at the mention of the 'work' that Lancia did, shooting his mentor an unimpressed look.]
Yet there are still some that do and see fit to settle down.
[While normally he wasn't so easy to bait with such ploys, Faustino was willing to humor Lancia with more harmless stories. Besides, he was willing to gamble he was the favorite.
Tracing a finger along the rim of his glass, he tried to pick out one that would be rather innocuous.]
I have a French pen pal that I've been exchanging letters with for the past few months. Her name is M.M. and she is very rude, but she's proven to be entertaining.
[And useful. How many women could melt a man's insides with only a clarinet?
Not telling Al means you’d have to keep from boasting about being the favorite, you know.
[No hiding the fondness, even as he says it. If he were someone else, maybe Faustino’s pride would be grating, but Lancia likes him as he is.]
[Hearing about this pen pal is certainly new, and Lancia raises an eyebrow curiously. He wants to ask a lot more: has he seen her picture, what do they talk about, are there plans to meet? But Faustino doesn’t need him hounding on him like an old man. He’ll simply save his questions for later. Now that he knows she exists, he can bring it up now and again later.]
[Faustino, after all, seems much more interested in something else entirely, and Lancia chuckles as he gestures for the waitress to refill his drink.]
Fine, fine- it’s you. But don’t let it go to your head, alright?
[Which could be a lie or most likely Faustino had been telling everyone anyway that he had been the favorite. Either scenario was pretty likely.
His lips curved up wickedly, completely self satisfied by that answer, looking up at Lancia from underneath his lashes.]
Too late. Why am I the favorite?
[Because if Lancia thought he would get away with just admitting he was the favorite, information Faustino already assumed, then he had another thing coming. He should know how vain his charge was, right?]
[Which was clearly the most important thing about receiving compliments. Lancia's opinion was different than Al and Ciro's almost worship-like devotion. He was objective and down to earth, with few frills about his words or his personality. Faustino had always admired that about him, perhaps because he was so opposite to Faustino's own way with words. There was weight to what Lancia said.
However, his favorite things about Faustino made him wrinkle his nose up slightly. It was to be expected, he supposed, but he couldn't help but be disappointed nevertheless. Being called 'kind' or 'caring' seemed the exact opposite of what he wanted to be.]
If you say those traits are there, who am I to argue with you? But perhaps it's not for such rose-colored reasons as you'd like to believe.
[They totally were but Faustino wasn't going to allow this slander to be slung right into his face, even if it was Lancia doing it.]
[Yeah, he had a feeling he’d sulk at that, and Lancia’s grin totally isn’t saying that he gave that exact answer because he knew that Faustino would sulk about it or anything.]
[Also, it’s completely true, and he refuses to recant, so.]
[He gestures for the waitress to refill his drink, waiting until he’s sipped a bit more before he speaks up again.]
Your cleverness and your will are good too, of course. I wouldn’t want you to think otherwise. I know it seems like I fuss over you often, but I know you could do well on your own. It lets a bit of weight off of my mind.
[Ciro and Al, of course, have their own strengths, and Lancia is sure that, in an emergency, Ciro could step up if he really wanted to… But he knows they’d stress if something happened to, say, him, or Faustino.]
[That definitely felt a bit patronizing, but Faustino wouldn't give Lancia the pleasure of seeing him pout over his words. Even though the older man undoubtedly knew the effect he had on him, Faustino wasn't going to let him know how much it sway a few offhand words had on him.
But for his lack of a reaction and argument, it seemed like he was rewarded, and he glanced up from his plate curiously as Lancia continued to praise him. It was a bit unexpected, and despite himself, he felt warmth buoying in his stomach.]
We can all take care of ourselves. After all, we learned from the best.
[He paused, deciding that if Lancia was in such a generous mood, he would press his luck for a bit.]
So does this mean you no longer see us as children?
[What a question… Lancia glances down into his cup, swirling the liquid around in it for a moment.]
[It’s been a very long time since the three of them first joined the Family. He can still remember it clear as day: Faustino first, perfectly charming and hiding things that the Boss had to coax out from him. Then Ciro and Al, together and clinging, their distrust worn on their sleeves in contrast. All young, and scrappy in some ways (Ken more than the others), and trauma clinging to their sleeves and trailing in the wind.]
[There’s no denying what the years have done to them, in the best ways: Ciro’s quiet confidence that has him no longer cling to Al or Faustino, Al becoming focused instead of lashing out at the whole world, and Faustino polishing himself like a diamond.]
[Becoming a man- a made man, especially- usually was one of those ways Lancia has known of that helped judge when a child wasn’t a child anymore, but that’s been made difficult with these three considering Ken tore out a grown man’s throat with his teeth once before he’d even hit double digits.]
I suppose it’s getting harder and harder to say that these days, isn’t it?
[That silence was enough to answer it, really, and Faustino looked down at his plate to help hide his victorious smirk. It was difficult to pinpoint when exactly he had stopped looking to Lancia for approval and when he had started looking at him for an entirely different reason, but it felt like it had been lifetimes. It was a trying juxtaposition, to have memories of what being an adult was like and not fully grasping them.
However, now Faustino could say confidently that he knew what he was asking for and what he wanted.]
So what do we have to do to be acknowledged as adults in your eyes, egregio signor?
[His mismatched eyes nearly burned as he glanced up at Lancia's face in barely concealed interest.]
[Amused, he sets his cup down. It’s not an easy question to answer. Really, he’s yet to find a steady pattern- everyone has their own ideas it seems like. Whether mafia or civilian, his three favorite troublemakers don’t quite fall neatly into either area, and those are the only ones Lancia knows.]
I have a feeling you wouldn’t be satisfied with a lackluster answer, so: the next job the boss sends you on, I’ll take a look at the results and decide then.
Who wants to be seen as a child in this day and age? After all we've been through...
[Idly, Faustino picked up the dessert menu, pretending to consider it, when instead he was using it as a distraction to help ground himself. Children, after all, were expendable. Worthless. Not worth getting in arms over to save. Men, however, would at least initiate that conversation. He was ready to be seen as an adult because he had never been a child, primed only for slaughter or molding. The same could be said of Al and Ciro. He wanted to make sure they were protected, using all the dirty tricks, words, or schemes he could.
He glanced up at Lancia when he spoke again, smirk curling at the edge of his lips slightly. At least he understood that much.]
And if the results aren't something easily understood or seen?
[There were many things that Faustino wouldn't mind doing with Lancia in public or private, and he picked the menu up again to consider the desserts instead of saying that aloud. Instead, after a few moments, he said idly:]
My, my, say it that way and I could easily misconstrue it.
[Still, Faustino might have puffed out his cheeks slightly in annoyance, but the sound of dessert ( though not the one he was gunning for ) was acceptable.]
Ha. It’s amazing you can say that with a straight face, considering how much you like to be spoiled.
[Still, he guesses something sweet now and then isn’t that big of a deal. Budino or something… Small and simple. There’s no need for anything complex.]
I haven’t gotten the details yet, but I’ll probably be staying in the territory for a while. From what I’ve heard, there’s a small Family testing the waters on the edge of things, so the Don will probably keep me around just so they don’t get any ideas.
[Al and Ciro had no complaints at least, and M.M. only had ones about his personality that were quite frankly, white noise.
Faustino made a small noise of interest at the knowledge that Lancia would be staying longer, keeping the sly smile off of his face, but just barely.]
If you're staying here longer, perhaps we should set up a daily sparring session. I'm afraid no one else here has proven to be a good enough sparring partner.
Really? I can’t say that’s surprising- your use of illusions isn’t something a lot of people can keep up with easily.
[It’d be interesting and probably better for him, Lancia has to admit, if there was someone who could do that- Faustino won’t advance if there’s no one to challenge him.]
Still, I would have thought Al would try to keep from lagging behind.
Even when I strip my illusions away, I have few peers.
[It was another reason that Faustino had started searching far and wide for ways to hone his skills, having already exhausted his avenues here. There was always the thought of joining the Varia and learning under their famed illusionist, but Faustino found the uniforms to have a terrible color scheme and too much fur. Besides, it would be a place that would force him to listen to a tyrant.
The mention of Al's abilities made Faustino shrug slightly, stirring at his drink idly.]
Al is gifted physically, but he's far too easy to read. He also has a bad habit of holding back when it comes to sparring with me.
I’ll have to crack down on him for that when I see him again, then. He’s my replacement in the event anything happens. [A dry smile.] I can’t have him be too obvious in a fight.
[Because he’s already decided on that, in his head. Faustino can be just about anything he cares to be; it’s impossible to deny his skill both in quality and range. Ciro is a clever fight, but it’s not something he really has an aptitude. Lancia would feel more guilty about it if the boy hadn’t said so himself, years ago, a child who knew his limits even back then. That’s a sharp mind better for going through the technical details of keeping a Family running. It’s intelligent minds like Ciro’s that keep a Family funded and secure, not the vicious strength of someone like Lancia.]
[And that leaves Al. There’s a lot of potential in him. Even unaided by his channels, he’s good at just about anything physical. With those, however, he becomes an army knife of ability, and the only thing that really is a problem is getting him to be as protective of other people as he is those he’s personally invested in. Lancia isn’t naive when it comes to this dark underworld he’s made his home in. He won’t make promises he can’t keep about surviving every encounter. Someone needs to be there if he’s gone, and he thinks Al fits the bill perfectly, once he's polished up his fighting skills.]
Anyway, since you’re so eager for a challenge, I guess there’s no helping it, huh?
[While death shouldn't be a big deal, not in the mafia where it was as commonplace as bread and butter, a small chill skimmed through Faustino's blood at the thought of Lancia needing to be 'replaced'. It was silly, an almost juvenile and childish reaction, but Faustino's movements stilled, his eyes narrowing dangerously.]
Replacement is a bit premature, isn't it?
[His voice was soft, chilly, with almost as much teeth as Al had. He had done his best to keep tabs on anyone who might be a threat to them, and had paid special care for Lancia. He'd been working on dispatching them as quietly as possible without catching anyone's interest, but to think of all of his hard work being in vain, well.
He forced himself to relax, turning his gaze away from Lancia, even though knowing the other man was right there and still breathing should have been comforting enough.]
None at all. [It was lighter, though his eyes were still burning.] Please continue to spoil me as you always have.
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badliifechoiice22016-01-08 10:36 am
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It's not without it's perks.
[Through Al and Ciro, Faustino had been able to test what would work in earning a person's undying loyalty, and what wouldn't. It was better to rule through love, he found, than fear. After all, there were still so many people who were stronger than him, those who could truly horrify his followers and steal them away. But love, love was a harder emotion to break.]
Am I your favorite as well?
[While it was true, he was sure Lancia was content with his life and his lot, it didn't mean that there wasn't a glaring flaw in that scenario.]
True, but aren't you lacking in companionship? Most men your age are settling down and getting married, egregio signor.
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[But he says it with a grin, teasing. It’s hard to choose between the three boys- how could he? They all have their talents, their best qualities. Al he’s taken under his wing as a proper bodyguard, and is always a bright spot of energy no matter when Lancia sees him. In contrast, always in contrast, Ciro is quiet and intelligent, growing to be a steady presence who balances so many others out.]
[And Faustino… Well. It hardly needs to be said, with his charisma and sly commentary. Although that reminds him- Draping back against his chair, Lancia snorts.]
Many men my age don’t do the work I do. But I’ll tell you which of you is my favorite if you tell me another story like you promised. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.
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[While Al might indeed, take it as a severe blow, all Faustino would need to do was assure him he still cared for him. Al may be easy to knock over, but he was just as easy to pick back up. It was one of his best traits, his simpleness.
He snorted slightly at the mention of the 'work' that Lancia did, shooting his mentor an unimpressed look.]
Yet there are still some that do and see fit to settle down.
[While normally he wasn't so easy to bait with such ploys, Faustino was willing to humor Lancia with more harmless stories. Besides, he was willing to gamble he was the favorite.
Tracing a finger along the rim of his glass, he tried to pick out one that would be rather innocuous.]
I have a French pen pal that I've been exchanging letters with for the past few months. Her name is M.M. and she is very rude, but she's proven to be entertaining.
[And useful. How many women could melt a man's insides with only a clarinet?
He glanced up at Lancia with a small smirk.]
So, who is it?
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[No hiding the fondness, even as he says it. If he were someone else, maybe Faustino’s pride would be grating, but Lancia likes him as he is.]
[Hearing about this pen pal is certainly new, and Lancia raises an eyebrow curiously. He wants to ask a lot more: has he seen her picture, what do they talk about, are there plans to meet? But Faustino doesn’t need him hounding on him like an old man. He’ll simply save his questions for later. Now that he knows she exists, he can bring it up now and again later.]
[Faustino, after all, seems much more interested in something else entirely, and Lancia chuckles as he gestures for the waitress to refill his drink.]
Fine, fine- it’s you. But don’t let it go to your head, alright?
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[Which could be a lie or most likely Faustino had been telling everyone anyway that he had been the favorite. Either scenario was pretty likely.
His lips curved up wickedly, completely self satisfied by that answer, looking up at Lancia from underneath his lashes.]
Too late. Why am I the favorite?
[Because if Lancia thought he would get away with just admitting he was the favorite, information Faustino already assumed, then he had another thing coming. He should know how vain his charge was, right?]
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A lot of it would be things that you’ve already heard before. Does your ego really need the additional fuel?
[Still, if he insists- Lancia smirks a bit.]
You look after Al and Ciro more than you openly admit, and I like that kind of caring and dedication when the small hints of it show through.
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[Which was clearly the most important thing about receiving compliments. Lancia's opinion was different than Al and Ciro's almost worship-like devotion. He was objective and down to earth, with few frills about his words or his personality. Faustino had always admired that about him, perhaps because he was so opposite to Faustino's own way with words. There was weight to what Lancia said.
However, his favorite things about Faustino made him wrinkle his nose up slightly. It was to be expected, he supposed, but he couldn't help but be disappointed nevertheless. Being called 'kind' or 'caring' seemed the exact opposite of what he wanted to be.]
If you say those traits are there, who am I to argue with you? But perhaps it's not for such rose-colored reasons as you'd like to believe.
[They totally were but Faustino wasn't going to allow this slander to be slung right into his face, even if it was Lancia doing it.]
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[Yeah, he had a feeling he’d sulk at that, and Lancia’s grin totally isn’t saying that he gave that exact answer because he knew that Faustino would sulk about it or anything.]
[Also, it’s completely true, and he refuses to recant, so.]
[He gestures for the waitress to refill his drink, waiting until he’s sipped a bit more before he speaks up again.]
Your cleverness and your will are good too, of course. I wouldn’t want you to think otherwise. I know it seems like I fuss over you often, but I know you could do well on your own. It lets a bit of weight off of my mind.
[Ciro and Al, of course, have their own strengths, and Lancia is sure that, in an emergency, Ciro could step up if he really wanted to… But he knows they’d stress if something happened to, say, him, or Faustino.]
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But for his lack of a reaction and argument, it seemed like he was rewarded, and he glanced up from his plate curiously as Lancia continued to praise him. It was a bit unexpected, and despite himself, he felt warmth buoying in his stomach.]
We can all take care of ourselves. After all, we learned from the best.
[He paused, deciding that if Lancia was in such a generous mood, he would press his luck for a bit.]
So does this mean you no longer see us as children?
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[It’s been a very long time since the three of them first joined the Family. He can still remember it clear as day: Faustino first, perfectly charming and hiding things that the Boss had to coax out from him. Then Ciro and Al, together and clinging, their distrust worn on their sleeves in contrast. All young, and scrappy in some ways (Ken more than the others), and trauma clinging to their sleeves and trailing in the wind.]
[There’s no denying what the years have done to them, in the best ways: Ciro’s quiet confidence that has him no longer cling to Al or Faustino, Al becoming focused instead of lashing out at the whole world, and Faustino polishing himself like a diamond.]
[Becoming a man- a made man, especially- usually was one of those ways Lancia has known of that helped judge when a child wasn’t a child anymore, but that’s been made difficult with these three considering Ken tore out a grown man’s throat with his teeth once before he’d even hit double digits.]
I suppose it’s getting harder and harder to say that these days, isn’t it?
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However, now Faustino could say confidently that he knew what he was asking for and what he wanted.]
So what do we have to do to be acknowledged as adults in your eyes, egregio signor?
[His mismatched eyes nearly burned as he glanced up at Lancia's face in barely concealed interest.]
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[Amused, he sets his cup down. It’s not an easy question to answer. Really, he’s yet to find a steady pattern- everyone has their own ideas it seems like. Whether mafia or civilian, his three favorite troublemakers don’t quite fall neatly into either area, and those are the only ones Lancia knows.]
I have a feeling you wouldn’t be satisfied with a lackluster answer, so: the next job the boss sends you on, I’ll take a look at the results and decide then.
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[Idly, Faustino picked up the dessert menu, pretending to consider it, when instead he was using it as a distraction to help ground himself. Children, after all, were expendable. Worthless. Not worth getting in arms over to save. Men, however, would at least initiate that conversation. He was ready to be seen as an adult because he had never been a child, primed only for slaughter or molding. The same could be said of Al and Ciro. He wanted to make sure they were protected, using all the dirty tricks, words, or schemes he could.
He glanced up at Lancia when he spoke again, smirk curling at the edge of his lips slightly. At least he understood that much.]
And if the results aren't something easily understood or seen?
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Are you telling me you wouldn’t be more than content explaining it all to me in private?
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My, my, say it that way and I could easily misconstrue it.
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Only for someone with their mind in the gutter. Parfait today?
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[Still, Faustino might have puffed out his cheeks slightly in annoyance, but the sound of dessert ( though not the one he was gunning for ) was acceptable.]
Do you want anything?
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[A soft, teasing smile crosses his face, and he glances down at the menu himself only a moment.]
Tiramisu, maybe.
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[Faustino gave a wide eyed look of innocence. It wasn't that he wanted to just draw out the meeting, nope.]
Besides, I want to hear more of your stories. What is the Don having you do next?
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[Still, he guesses something sweet now and then isn’t that big of a deal. Budino or something… Small and simple. There’s no need for anything complex.]
I haven’t gotten the details yet, but I’ll probably be staying in the territory for a while. From what I’ve heard, there’s a small Family testing the waters on the edge of things, so the Don will probably keep me around just so they don’t get any ideas.
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[Al and Ciro had no complaints at least, and M.M. only had ones about his personality that were quite frankly, white noise.
Faustino made a small noise of interest at the knowledge that Lancia would be staying longer, keeping the sly smile off of his face, but just barely.]
If you're staying here longer, perhaps we should set up a daily sparring session. I'm afraid no one else here has proven to be a good enough sparring partner.
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[It’d be interesting and probably better for him, Lancia has to admit, if there was someone who could do that- Faustino won’t advance if there’s no one to challenge him.]
Still, I would have thought Al would try to keep from lagging behind.
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[It was another reason that Faustino had started searching far and wide for ways to hone his skills, having already exhausted his avenues here. There was always the thought of joining the Varia and learning under their famed illusionist, but Faustino found the uniforms to have a terrible color scheme and too much fur. Besides, it would be a place that would force him to listen to a tyrant.
The mention of Al's abilities made Faustino shrug slightly, stirring at his drink idly.]
Al is gifted physically, but he's far too easy to read. He also has a bad habit of holding back when it comes to sparring with me.
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[Because he’s already decided on that, in his head. Faustino can be just about anything he cares to be; it’s impossible to deny his skill both in quality and range. Ciro is a clever fight, but it’s not something he really has an aptitude. Lancia would feel more guilty about it if the boy hadn’t said so himself, years ago, a child who knew his limits even back then. That’s a sharp mind better for going through the technical details of keeping a Family running. It’s intelligent minds like Ciro’s that keep a Family funded and secure, not the vicious strength of someone like Lancia.]
[And that leaves Al. There’s a lot of potential in him. Even unaided by his channels, he’s good at just about anything physical. With those, however, he becomes an army knife of ability, and the only thing that really is a problem is getting him to be as protective of other people as he is those he’s personally invested in. Lancia isn’t naive when it comes to this dark underworld he’s made his home in. He won’t make promises he can’t keep about surviving every encounter. Someone needs to be there if he’s gone, and he thinks Al fits the bill perfectly, once he's polished up his fighting skills.]
Anyway, since you’re so eager for a challenge, I guess there’s no helping it, huh?
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Replacement is a bit premature, isn't it?
[His voice was soft, chilly, with almost as much teeth as Al had. He had done his best to keep tabs on anyone who might be a threat to them, and had paid special care for Lancia. He'd been working on dispatching them as quietly as possible without catching anyone's interest, but to think of all of his hard work being in vain, well.
He forced himself to relax, turning his gaze away from Lancia, even though knowing the other man was right there and still breathing should have been comforting enough.]
None at all. [It was lighter, though his eyes were still burning.] Please continue to spoil me as you always have.
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fudge thought i replied to this
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end scene??