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Neutral
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Feo’s gaze lingered on Lucius, studying the subtle shift in his mood. The vibrant energy that had filled the room only moments ago was gone, replaced by a quiet distance that Feo couldn’t fully understand. He didn’t know what had triggered it, but it was hard to ignore. Lucius, for all his infectious energy, had his own demons, just like everyone else. Feo wondered if something had just slipped through the cracks, if something had been said or done that had caused it—he didn't know. He wanted to ask but wasn't sure if it was his place. - His eyes flicked down to the sandwich wrapper in his hand, crinkling it absently as the thoughts circled his mind. Feo knew something had changed in the air—Lucius had been almost effortlessly lighthearted before, but now he was quieter, distant, and Feo could sense the tension settling in. - Trying to fill the silence, Feo kept his voice steady, trying to push past the discomfort in his chest. "The sandwiches were fine," he said, offering a small shrug. “I’ve eaten worse, trust me.” His attempt at a smirk didn't reach his eyes, and it didn’t feel like enough to mask the knot in his stomach. He turned his head, glancing toward the window, or more accurately, the curtains that shielded it from view. The rain hammered against the glass relentlessly, a constant sound in the background, while the wind picked up, howling in the distance. It was as though the weather outside mirrored the brewing storm in the room. The rain wasn’t just falling harder—it felt like it was pounding through the walls, louder and more intrusive with every passing second. - Feo shifted his weight, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees as he folded his hands together. It was a moment before he spoke again, unsure of how to approach the subject Lucius had brought up. “You’ve never used a weapon before?” His tone was low, thoughtful. The statement lingered in the air, hanging between them. “That’s… surprising.” Feo paused, trying to process it. “You’d think someone like you, with wings and all that energy, would’ve been handed a bow or something the second they could walk.” - He felt a slight pull in his chest at the thought. It made sense in his head, but it didn’t seem right. How could someone like Lucius, with his ease and confidence, have never been trained? He realized, with a sharp pang, that Lucius might not have had the same upbringing as he had—an upbringing shaped by constant threat, pressure, and fear. - Feo looked at him, noticing the subtle shift in his posture as Lucius shifted back onto the towel, his gaze turning to the ceiling. Feo’s fingers tightened for a moment around the wrapper before he tossed it aside, making himself comfortable on the floor beside him. - “But… I get it,” Feo continued, his voice quieter now, thoughtful. “Not everyone’s first instinct is to fight. And you…” He hesitated, thinking for a moment. “You don’t seem like someone who goes looking for trouble." He chuckled, knowing he was wrong, and rephrased. "I mean, you’re not the kind of person to pick a fight. At least, I don't think, not without good reason. And honestly, that’s probably a good thing. Keeps you alive. Doesn’t mean you're weak or anything.” - Feo shifted, adjusting himself slightly, as though moving just a little closer to the conversation. He felt the weight of the quiet between them, and it was starting to settle in the air, but he couldn’t quite shake the need to fill the space with words. "If you want," he said, his voice softer now, more measured, "I could teach you. Teach you the basics. I mean, I’m not the best teacher, but... I could show you how to handle a weapon, just enough to keep yourself safe, you know? Nothing crazy, just... a few tricks." - The words felt foreign coming out of his mouth, a little awkward. Feo wasn’t sure if Lucius would even take him up on it, but the offer was there. There was a small flicker of something between them, something unspoken, that made him feel like it was something he had to offer. A small piece of himself he was willing to share. - Feo glanced at Lucius again, his eyes soft but searching. He wondered if Lucius knew that, even though he hid it with his usual facade, Feo was paying attention, was always paying attention. That he could feel the cracks in the mask Lucius wore, even if Lucius tried to hide it. - “You’re not dumb, by the way,” Feo added, his voice gentle. “Not for not knowing how to use a weapon. You’ve just had a different kind of life than most people. Nothing wrong with that.” He shifted again, looking down at his hands for a moment, the scars along his knuckles catching the light. The ghost of memories—fights, weapons, survival—flashed behind his eyes, but he kept his voice steady. "Not everyone has to learn how to fight. Not everyone needs to." - With not much else to stay, the raging storm outside filled the space. |
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Lightbringer
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The silence was not the same type of silence. It was heavier and Lucius knew it but he had to say it. It was one of those conversations that he had to power through. This wasn't one of the ones he could hide away, no, he needed to get it out, get it off and find a way to get ... out of it? Get better? Whatever the solution was. But the lack of warmth and giddy enthusiasm did nothing to stave off the chill that was creeping into his bones slowly. "No, not at all. I didn't even really handle knives or anything like that for cooking until I was at least... twelve? Maybe? I never really understood the whole fighting aspect... and to be honest, I try to avoid it as much as possible." A faint smile drew over his expression. Looking for trouble? Well, that would be wrong. Picking fights? No. That wasn't his thing. His smile faded just a touch as Feo laid out the offer, filling the space between them. "That--that would be nice," he whispered softly. "Something to at least keep myself safe if something does go wrong." Hopefully, it wouldn't require anything major. Or too much force or strength, that was his main worry. If it required too much strength or force that he wouldn't be able to handle it. His mouth opened to say something when Feo added the next piece. "... no, but it seems like everybody does--even if they don't need to." He didn't bother commenting on the first part, he already knew that was wrong. But that was a mess for later. By now, the chill had crept in. His skin raised with goosebumps, a slight shiver shook his shoulders despite his attempt to suppress it. Not to mention that he was a little bit more than tired now. Just a little bit. But he didn't want to go and lay down on the bed soaking wet. That was... not ideal either. But he wasn't sure how to fix it. He only had the one pair of clothes, which were soaked, a part of him really didn't want to show off the ... fun little scars that dotted his chest, his upper-arms, his shoulders... the likes. Because he knew that was going to draw out questions and then he couldn't lie about it because they all looked exactly the same and then that whole truth would come out that he'd been avoiding talking about. It was all a big mess. Something he wasn't looking forward to talking about. Not to mention... just the way he looked. He didn't ... as splotchy as his flushed face was, that was a natural sort of splotchy coloring for the rest of him. He could never figure out why. |
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Neutral
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Feo sat there, watching Lucius for a moment longer, the silence heavy between them, pressing in on both of them. He could feel it in the air, this tension that had built up. He had no idea what to do with it—what to do with the discomfort that radiated off Lucius, how his presence felt like it was both too much and not enough all at once. - Lucius's shiver was what finally broke Feo’s hesitation. He couldn’t stand it, the way Lucius was trying so hard to push through the discomfort. Too cold. Feo’s fingers twitched at his sides, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He didn’t know how to fix it, but he knew he couldn’t just let Lucius stay like this, drenched, shivering, and avoiding whatever was plaguing him. - Without thinking, Feo stood up, his movements quick and decisive. He walked to the bed and pulled his shirt and pants off. They were dry, had been, although they smelled faintly of coconuts. But Lucius... he was soaked all the way through, and it made Feo feel guilty. The warmth that had briefly filled the room, the energy of Lucius’s playful demeanor, seemed to vanish the moment Lucius shivered. Something about the way he looked now—the exhaustion in his eyes, the way he was trying so hard to hold it together—set something heavy in Feo’s chest. - He didn’t think, didn’t analyze, just acted. He grabbed the clean sheet from the bed and wrapped it around his shoulders. It wasn’t much—just a quick gesture to cover his exposed body, but it was better than standing there in his undergarments. He forced himself to look at Lucius as he turned and walked back to him, sitting beside him again. - Feo placed his clothes on the ground next to Lucius. His eyes flicked over Lucius quickly, assessing, wondering what else he could do. But for now, he simply placed the clothes down with a soft sigh, careful not to make the situation feel possibly more awkward. - "You can change in the bathroom," Feo said quietly, his voice softer now. The words were simple, but they were all he could offer in that moment. "Hang those up, let them dry for a while." - He avoided looking directly at Lucius for a few moments, his gaze drifting over the room. He wasn’t sure why he was suddenly so... careful. Feo didn’t usually second guess himself like this, but something about Lucius’s vulnerability made it feel harder. Made everything feel... important. The way Lucius was trying to hide his discomfort, trying not to show how cold he was, made Feo want to help, to ease the burden. But his usual ways—his teasing, his humor—felt far away, impossible to reach in this moment. - "Just... let me know if you need anything," Feo added quietly, his words barely above a whisper. The quiet sincerity of it felt almost out of place, but it was the truth. He didn’t know what else Lucius needed right now, but he wanted to be there. He wanted to help, even if he didn’t know how. - The wind had begun to howl again, the gusts rattling the windows slightly. It seemed like the storm wasn’t quite ready to let up. |
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Lightbringer
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Lucius paused watching Feo for a moment with a faint wince. "It's... I'm fine." Even he really didn't believe himself and as Feo stood up, Lucius sat up as well. "Wait--oh-" He dropped his sapphire gaze to the towel beneath him. That... was not what he had been expecting in the slightest. Not that he was sure what he had been expecting at all but that was definitely not it. He kept his gaze averted for a moment or two until he was somewhat certain he could safely look back at Feo. Once more, that patchy, splotchy flush of color had attacked his cheeks, over the bridge of his nose and now into the tips of his ears. "I--Feo, are you sure?" His eyes flicked up, finding Feo's. He insisted and perhaps a bit reluctantly, Lucius took the discarded clothes and stood up from the towel--which was also now... damp and cold. He was just worried that he'd ruin them somehow, someway. He didn't know how. But it felt like he could. He paused, glancing back at him for a moment before smiling, faintly. "Maybe a good bit of sleep after this," he admitted. But even that was a terrifying thought. Sleep? What if he said something? What if he lost Feo in the night? If something came up and--no. Lucius stepped into the bathroom, shaking the thoughts away. He'd sleep just fine, like he usually did. Nothing had happened this time. He was fine. He knew. He knew that was a lie. The worst part... was that he knew he'd have some sort of dream, some sort of nightmare with the whole Atlas incident. Or the train. They were just sitting there, ready to leap out and shatter his heart to pieces. But he didn't want to. He wanted sleep. A small part of him was irritated that the storm had rolled through. It kept him from going and getting supplies for the dreamcatcher. The clothes smelled like coconut. They hung off of his shoulders just slightly. Which wasn't too unexpected, Lucius was a few inches shorter than Feo and Feo had a solid build to him. Lucius lifted his clothing, draping it over the shower curtain rack, it'd probably dry by morning. He sure hoped it did at least. He stepped out again, standing a touch awkwardly in the middle of the floor for a moment. "... I think, hear me out, I think you might be a bit bigger than I am," Lucius gave him a lopsided smile and shrugged loosely, trying to dispel the tension. "Why don't you come onto the bed instead? It's going to be softer than the tile floor," Lucius made his way toward the beds, listening to the wind howl outside. |
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Neutral
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Feo sat still for a moment, watching Lucius closely, as if trying to gauge his discomfort. There was something about it all that made Feo feel like he was walking on thin ice, unsure if he should push further or let the silence settle. - When Lucius stood up, taking the clothes Feo had set down for him, Feo couldn’t help but feel a wave of guilt. The faint flush on Lucius’s face didn’t escape him, and it only made him more certain that he’d done something unexpected—maybe even unsettling. He hadn’t meant to make Lucius feel uncomfortable, but he wasn’t entirely sure how to rectify the situation now. - “Yeah, uh,” Feo said, awkwardly running a hand through his hair, his tone a little sheepish. “I mean... if you’re sure, then, uh... it’s no problem.” He tried to relax into his seat again, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had pushed things too far. - He watched as Lucius went into the bathroom, and Feo let out a quiet breath, his eyes following him before settling back on the damp towel on the floor. The silence stretched between them again, the wind howling louder outside, and the rain picking up even more, rattling against the windows. - When Lucius reappeared, Feo immediately caught his smile, though it was faint. The lopsided grin did a little to ease the tension, even if it didn’t erase it entirely. Feo's gaze flickered briefly to Lucius’s body, realizing the clothes were hanging loosely on him, the fabric not quite fitting in the way Feo had originally thought it would. He tried to keep his gaze elsewhere but couldn't help but notice how small Lucius looked compared to him. It was so strange. They were nearly the same size, thought perhaps Feo was just a small bit bigger, and that shirt was too small on Feo anyway. Yet, it hung off of Lucius loosely. - Lucius’s attempt to dispel the tension with a joke didn’t go unnoticed. Feo let out a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck in a way that was far too familiar. “Maybe just a little,” he said, his grin pulling up a bit despite himself. “I mean, you’re probably right. I’m... taller. But, uh, I think that’s the only advantage I have.” - Feo watched Lucius walk toward the bed, the offer hanging in the air. “Right, uh, sure.” He hesitated, still tired but wondering if sleep would be worth even trying, for the food he just ate and the former broken naps. But the thought of the cold tile beneath him wasn’t exactly appealing, so Feo rose slowly from the floor, moving toward the bed. The soft sheets beckoned, and he found himself wanting to take up the offer, not because he needed it, but because he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle the current situation. Lucius's reaction was not something Feo knew how to respond to. Because what it was was barely a reaction at all. What does he say to that? Why does Lucius seem almost fine with it, if not just a little flustered? - “Thanks,” Feo said as he slid onto the bed, the softness of it a stark contrast to the cold floor. The weight of his own thoughts and uncertainty still lingered, but at least now, the tension between them felt a little easier to bear. - Feo found himself turning his head toward the window for just a moment, listening to the storm as it battered the house. He'd always preferred storms to sunshine, anyway. All kinds of weather had their own beauty, even those that cause destruction. - He looked back at Lucius, thinking for a moment beforr asking another question. "Are you still cold?" |
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Lightbringer
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Lucius could feel the gaze. The questioning look. In all reality, it was the flush of layers and a touch of confidence that had his appearance much bigger than he really was. It was hard to bulk up when his entire skeleton hardly let him do much more than struggle at best. His shoulders were broader, aided with the muscle of wings. But when the wings were gone...? He didn't need the muscles to really be there. Magic. It was a weird thing. "Tch," Lucius gave him a loose smile. Taller? And stronger, and heavier--but he'd let that remain unspoken. He settled on the edge of the bed for a moment or two, looking to the window to just listen to the storm. The howl of the wind that threw the rain against the window pane, tapping against it relentlessly. Lucius was almost surprised that a storm like that could last this long. He was much more used to little storms that dumped and ran. This one was lingering onward, pushing and trudging forward slowly--refusing to budge. The wind hadn't faded at all. The rain still pounded the glass. Distantly, he had to wonder if he had seen a flash of car lights or lightning. He wasn't entirely sure. With no sound, he figured it was probably car lights. The demigod startled lightly at the question that Feo asked, turning his attention from the window back to the demigod on the bed. Was he still cold? He had been trying to convince himself that he was warmer now. But the chill was still lingering in his bones, the tips of his fingers and toes. It was the type of aching cold that had him wanting to curl up and just shiver. But he refused to give in. His eyes turned from the window, wanting to listen and watch, but also wanting to soothe Feo's worries. "... a little bit, yeah," Lucius finally answered, his tone lower and quiet. He managed a weary smile and winced at the sound of thunder that rolled overhead. That was... that was something he hadn't been expecting. The storm hadn't brought thunder with it but now it had evolved, he supposed. But the distant memory of an old thunderstorm crashing around the rickety old house... it was faint, a long past memory but it still had his heart skipping several beats. "I... I think it's a little more than a rainstorm now," he attempted a weak laugh and shook his head, rubbing at his arms. |
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Neutral
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Feo hesitated, unsure whether his words would land the way he wanted them to. He had always struggled with this, unsure of the right things to say or how to make someone else feel better when they were cold, alone, or uncertain. His gaze kept flicking back to Lucius, watching him as he shivered, rubbing at his arms. It was clear that the storm had not only chilled Lucius physically, but there was a weight to him, an exhaustion in the way he held himself, that Feo couldn’t ignore. - The storm outside, relentless in its fury, only seemed to heighten the atmosphere in the room. The wind howled, slamming against the building like a warning, and the rain lashed against the windowpane. Feo found it harder to ignore the growing anxiety in his throat, an unspoken question lingering in the air. He knew that offering his bed to Lucius was a big step, maybe even too big for them, but he couldn’t just watch Lucius sit there, clearly uncomfortable. - Feo swallowed and shifted uncomfortably, feeling his own nerves flare up. "Hey, um..." His voice came out quieter than he’d intended, but it was too late to take the words back now. "If you're still cold... You could, I don’t know, come over here with me. Just for warmth." His voice rushed, almost stumbling over itself. He felt the heat rush to his cheeks, making the offer feel even more awkward than he had anticipated. "I mean, it’s... I get it if it’s weird or... too fast. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, and I know it’s not something... most people would want, but if you’re shivering and you’re cold, I could try and get you extra blankets from room service if that’s better for you. Or we could—" - He stopped himself, shaking his head and fidgeting with the blanket beneath him. His thoughts tangled as he tried to form the right words, but it felt harder than it should. "I just... don't want you to be cold, Lucius," he said, his voice much quieter now, almost a whisper. "You don’t have to come over here if it’s... too much, but if you’re freezing, I can do that. It’s up to you." - His heart thudded in his chest as he spoke, the raw honesty of his words almost making him falter. Would Lucius accept? Would he even feel comfortable? Feo had never been particularly good at navigating these things. His entire body felt wired, a strange mix of wanting to offer comfort and warmth but also worrying he was overstepping. He had no idea how Lucius would respond—how he would interpret the offer, or if he even wanted to share this moment. - But the more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t shake the feeling that he didn’t want Lucius to be alone in the storm. Not tonight. Not when things felt so tense and fragile between them. - Feo swallowed again, his gaze dropping to the floor, then back up at Lucius. "Please, don’t feel like you have to, okay?" His words were gentle, like he was giving Lucius the space to make his own choice. "I just... I don’t want you to freeze, and if you’re still cold, maybe we could share the warmth... for a bit." |
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Lightbringer
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Lucius watched the window after a few moments before shaking his head lightly. "It's--it's alright," he whispered softly, though it wasn't really clear what he was responding to. Perhaps he was trying to reassure himself at the same time, it wasn't clear what he was trying to do at all. His sapphire eyes lifted up, looking toward Feo as he offered his blankets, his warmth. It drew a much warmer smile to his face, a touch of fondness and gratitude crossed his features as he bobbed his head before adding a small verbal confirmation... and an attempt to lighten the tension. "To be fair," Lucius kept his tone slightly light, "I don't think you're quite dressed enough to go out there..." As he spoke, he pulled the blankets from the other bed and dragged himself across the floor. Each step was harder and heavier than before. This... this was strange. Lucius really hadn't felt anything like this before, how every limb was so heavy, like lead, dragging himself to the bed. Just one more step. One more step. "I-if I'm honest?" Lucius finally said quietly, pausing just before he got to the bed. "I-I... I didn't really want to be alone either." It wasn't a rather solid excuse to hold onto Feo, to make sure he couldn't disappear during the night. If he was right there... he couldn't just up and leave, couldn't be taken from him--he'd still be there in the morning. Lucius tried to crawl up onto the bed, his arms shaking with the effort. His nose crinkled with distaste at himself. What was happening? Why... why was this what was happening? One hand, one arm, gave out from under him, sending him face first into the pillows. A small grumble, mostly muffled by the pillows escaped from his lips. It wasn't entirely clear what was said but the tone was frustrated with himself no doubt. He was frustrated and largely confused. Every limb shook, a shiver down his spine and he simply couldn't move if he wanted to. His bones ached, his muscles were tired, his head foggy--he was exhausted. A type of exhaustion he really wasn't sure he had felt before. But he still had a hold of the other blanket from the other bed. That was probably worth something. Right? Extra warmth... extra something. He.... really didn't care anymore, he just wanted to have the aches and exhaustion go away. |
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Neutral
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Feo’s eyes lingered on Lucius for a moment longer, heart hammering in his chest as he watched him struggle. He could see the weight of the exhaustion pressing down on him, could feel it too, as his own muscles tensed with anxiety. Every movement of Lucius’s, every shift of his body, made Feo feel more helpless. He knew that Lucius wasn’t okay, that something deeper was going on, but it was hard to know exactly what to do about it. The storm outside wasn’t helping either; it felt as if the world outside was just as turbulent as the emotions swirling around them. - As Lucius stumbled, Feo’s breath caught in his throat. He wanted so badly to just scoop him up and carry him to safety, to ease whatever was breaking inside of him, but that would never work. Feo’s actions were the only thing he could offer, even if he wasn’t entirely sure they would be enough. He had to try. He had to be there. - When Lucius finally collapsed, Feo couldn’t just stay back. His instincts took over before he could think twice. He moved quickly but carefully, gently rolling Lucius onto his side with a soft, "Tell me if you want me to stop, okay?" His voice was barely above a whisper, filled with concern and hesitation. He needed to make sure that Lucius felt safe, felt like he still had control, even if Feo's presence was starting to swallow him whole. - Feo could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he inched closer, ever so slowly, giving Lucius plenty of time to pull away if he needed to. He was painfully aware of the stillness between them, of the rawness in the air, as if the weight of everything they hadn’t said yet was pressing down on them. But he couldn't let that stop him now, not with Lucius so vulnerable. He wrapped one arm carefully around Lucius’s chest, the other slowly draping over his shoulder, his fingers trembling ever so slightly. He wanted to hold Lucius, to let him know he wasn’t alone, but he needed to make sure that it was okay first. His body shifted, moving carefully until the side of his face rested against Lucius’s neck, and then his body into his back. - Feo couldn't pull away. His whole being felt like it was on fire with nervous energy, his heart racing like it wanted to break free from his ribcage. He wanted so badly to comfort Lucius, to make him feel better, but part of him feared that his closeness might push Lucius further away. It wasn’t the first time that Feo had felt like this—like every action was a fragile thread, hanging by a single, trembling strand. But this was different. Lucius was different. - For a long moment, Feo didn’t move. He kept his body loosely pressed against Lucius’s back, holding him as gently as he could. The storm outside raged on, but inside, the silence was filled only with the soft sound of their breathing. - "You're not alone," Feo murmured softly into the silence. "I’m here." The words were simple, almost painfully so, and a little bit of a reoccuring theme, but they felt like the only thing he could say in that moment. He didn’t want Lucius to feel abandoned. Not now. Not ever. Feo tried to be as still as he could, wanting to offer Lucius all the space he might need, but also hoping that maybe, just maybe, Lucius could let go for once. Let someone else help. - Carefully, Feo pulled the blankets over both of them, trying to trap the warmth between them and shield Lucius from the cold that had settled deep into his bones. He wasn’t sure if Lucius could feel it, but Feo’s chest was tight, his breath shallow, as if all his senses were on high alert. The weight of his body against Lucius’s was both comforting and terrifying. He was trying so hard to be there, to be steady, to offer something solid in a world that had been anything but. - "Just rest," Feo whispered, though he wasn’t entirely sure if Lucius could hear him, or if he even wanted to. The words were quiet, barely audible over the howling wind outside, but Feo said them with all the conviction he had. Even if Lucius didn’t believe it, Feo did. He couldn’t let go of that belief, no matter how fragile it felt. |
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Winter 
Day 
