Working Class DJ
8. Hope and Heartstrings
Previous ChapterNext Chapter"Bloody sauce!" Octavia's voice sounded behind the door. "Who the bloody piss is—" the door swung open violently, revealing the messiest mare Vinyl had seen in her life. For a moment she couldn't believe it was Octavia — the earth pony's mane was thick with sweat and reeking of cheap alcohol; bits if hay dangled from her fringe, falling over baggy bloodshot eyes.
"Oh, it's you." the earth pony let out a bitter sigh. "Ain't a good time, Princess," Octavia said with a yawn. Behind her, Vinyl caught a glimpse of somepony's hoof on the bed — a stallion's hoof. The realization made the unicorn's eyes widen. "Ya, ya, I 'ayed a stallion," Octavia said casually, causing Vinyl to blush. "'ardly any good, mind. Was like a bloody colt — fi'teen minutes and out like a light."
"That's... err, very descriptive," Vinyl managed to say. She could feel blood rushing all the way to the ears. Merciful stars! She is wilder than my cousin! And to think I spent a night sleeping in that... bed...
"What ya need, Princess?" Octavia glared at her, annoyed. "I bloody well like to 'ave some breakfast. Maybe try for round two with twinkle 'ooves, if 'e ever stops sleepin'."
Your game is so obvious, Octavia. You are trying to make uncomfortable enough to leave. Well, you have succeeded in the former, but I am not going!
"I would like to have a word with you about something." Despite the discomfort, there was no hesitation in Vinyl's voice. This was a lady talking now, a lady that was used to have her demands met.
"Look, if it's 'bout last ni'ht, I warned ya." Octavia's expression seemed unchanged, but Vinyl could tell the earth mare was on the defensive. "Made sure ya were a'right, di'n't I? Just 'ad to go a bit—"
"That's a lie and you know it," Vinyl cut her off. Her tone's unnatural calmness made the other close her mouth. "That is not what I wished to talk to you about. I want to know the reason you don't teach ponies anymore."
"Just that?" Octavia tried to shrug it off. Her ears, however, betrayed how tense the topic made her feel. "Why not spill me life's story while I'm at it?"
"That is for you to decide." Keep on topic, Vinyl. Don't let her distract you with sarcasm or intimidation.
"Ya think ya're so smart, but you don't know a bloody thin', Princess!"
"Precisely why I'm asking." Vinyl held her ground. "And I can be just as stubborn as you on the matter."
For several seconds the mares kept on staring at each other. Vinyl’s pursed her lips, determined to get an answer, while Octavia narrowed her eyes, determined not to give it. Neither was prepared to back down, neither willing to admit defeat. Ironically it was the stallion that made the decision for them. Stirring in the background, he caused Octavia to turn around and look. Would he to wake, he would get out of bed and support her, winning the silent argument. Alas, he only turned to the other side and went back to sleep. The earth mare's uncertainty on the matter had been shown — she had lost, and Vinyl knew it.
"Ya buyin' food, righ'?" Octavia glanced at her, face still pointing towards the sleeping stallion. Vinyl nodded. "Bloody brilliant. Give me a moment to fix up, love."
The door closed, followed by the muffled sound of running water. Vinyl could only guess, that Octavia was doing her version of 'washing'. As if a few splashes could get the stench of alcohol out of her coat and mane. On second thought, maybe it was better that there was alcohol — at least it masked other potential smells.
It took Octavia less than a minute to 'fix up' — far too little, in Vinyl's view, and it showed. The earth pony looked as if she had literally put her head under the tap for a while, then passed a quick brush through her mane. Regardless of what happens, one of these days I'll drag you screaming and kicking to my manestyler for a proper makeover! You are a disgrace to mares walking like that!
"'ere we are, then." Octavia closed the door behind her. "Where ya reckon we get a bite?"
"What about..." Vinyl pointed at he door.
"Hmm?" The earth pony wondered. "Twinkle 'ooves?" she asked, almost laughing. "'e'll be fine. Left 'im a bowl o' 'ay on the table."
"That's not what..." Vinyl's world's trailed off. Best if I don't inquire. Her personal life is her own. I shouldn't judge simply because it's different from mine. Deep inside, though, she was screaming for details. In her experience such things only happened in novels.
Corn on the cob wasn't a particular favourite of Vinyl's. She had only tasted it once as a filly, and it had upset her stomach so much that she had been sick for over a week. Octavia, on the other hoof, seemed to relish it. A whiff was all it had taken for her to drag Vinyl to a street stall. Since she had promised, Vinyl had complied... and regretted it.
"Octavia, could you please at least not eat the cob?" the unicorn asked, looking nervously around. "It can't be good for your stomach. I can always buy more." I can buy the entire stall, for that matter. Just please don't eat like an animal!
"Done," Octavia said, much to Vinyl's relief, leaving the cob half uneaten. "So?" The earth pony asked once she had finished licking her teeth. "Still want to do this, love?"
"It was a lie wasn't it?" Vinyl got straight to the point. "The coin toss, the hesitation, even that whole thing about listening. You never intended to teach me, did you? What I want to know is why?"
"Ya're not for this life, love," came the curt response.
"Nothing you've done seems to make sense, Octavia Melody!" This was the first time Vinyl had used the earth pony's full name. She didn't have any intention of doing so, it just sort of slipped out. "You save me without knowing me, you perform the most beautiful composition I have ever heard for my birthday, then you leave me at the centre of a bar fight?"
"I'm a mare of many mysteries."
"There is a reason you don't want to take on 'disciples'. You were quite sympathetic towards me before I asked you to teach me. Otherwise you wouldn't have bothered saving me in the first place! And don't tell me you did it because both of us are notes! There were plenty of ponies with music related cutie-marks."
"You truly want to hear the reason, love?" The expression said it all — these were dangerous waters. If one was to quit now was the time. "No jossing, no lies, just the bloody truth?"
Vinyl nodded. Finally! And I thought I was being dramatic.
"I ne'er set off to become a DJ," Octavia began. Her voice was quiet, almost whispering. "Di'n't get me mark doing it either. Just 'appened to know Grandmaster Flower when the trance thing came 'ome. Every colt and filly tried copying back 'en. I just was be'er."
Just like in the Twin. Vinyl thought. Most of the ponies there were driven by raw enthusiasm. Likely their cutie-marks had nothing to do with music. And yet that hadn't stopped them; on the contrary, it had driven them to the point that they could actually gather a crowd with their music. Vinyl had achieved similar levels of expertise, as well, thanks to all her private lessons. She had a good grasp of literature, although the few stories she had attempted were bland, ill structured and naive; she could call herself adequate in fencing, although she would hardly win any competitions.
"So one day I gets me drunk and go take part in a street dance-off," the earth pony went on. "Flower was there, along with his mates. So like a foal I try to 'mpress 'im. 'stead of 'em standard tracks I use some of me own. And the bloody fool likes 'em!" She let out a deep sigh, covering her face with her hooves. "Nopony looked at the b-colt as I started DJing, 'eck the bloody b-colt stopped dancing and stared at me. And I wa' so drunk I thought it was bloody great!"
"Wasn't it?" Vinyl couldn't help herself from asking.
"'aven't ya been listenin' to a word I've been saying?" Octavia snapped at her. "What in 'I ne'er wanted to be a DJ' di'n't ya get?"
A feeling of sudden realization made Vinyl shudder as she finally understood. Seven years of fame — a third of Octavia's life — doing something she never wanted? That rang dangerously close to home. Octavia must have hated every moment of it. Well, possibly not hated, but not liked either. Is that the reason you resort to drinking and... other things?
"Couldn't you have said no?" Vinyl inquired, levitating the remnants of the cob into a nearby garbage can.
"Princess, if Grandmaster Flower says y'er good at DJ-ing, you bloody well nod and smile." Octavia returned to being her typical self. "Back 'ome t'is the same as Princess Celestia sayin' it."
Very interesting choice of words. Vinyl couldn't help but shuffle uneasily.
"A month and 'alf la'er and the clubs back 'ome were figh'in' to get me. An year — I was Grandmaster Mel." Octavia smacked her forehooves one against the other, making Vinyl jump startled. "Just like 'at. Know 'ow I got it? Some bigwig josser at a radio network reckoned there can't be just one title given, there 'ad to be more. DJ Flower was the only pony that bloody deserved it! I an' two others only got it because of 'variety' reasons. And once ye become a Grandmaster, there is no turning back." The pony frowned. "Ponies are expecting things from ya. Ya get contracts, schedules, bloody groupies everywhere ya go. All fun a' first, but after a few years it really gets old. Soon ye realize that ya spend more time worrying 'bout ya image than anything else. Ya take disciples 'cause ya're expected to. Ya train 'em, shout at 'em, clean after 'eir messes 'cause they reflect on you. And when on o' 'em ungrateful 'ay splitters runs off, the entire city gets filled with rumours who will outdo who. DJ-ing is a bloody arena, Princess! Ye saw what happened last ni'ht. Imagine if real bits were involved!"
Vinyl felt herself slowly becoming detached from reality. It was as if her brain once more wanted to shield her from real life, placing her in a dream-like state. The things Octavia is saying can't be real, a voice whispered inside her head. There's no reason to empathize, no reason to feel sympathy. Such things could never happen in Canterlot. Not with the Princesses nearby. It was so tempting to let herself doze off in a false sense of security and ignore everything she was hearing, yet this time Vinyl was having none of it! This was the real world and, like it or not, she was going to become part of it!
"Wisp was the one who ran off," the unicorn said, clearing her mind. Suddenly everything around her became crisp again — she was actually sitting at a bench, she could feel it, smell the air... along with traces of alcohol. Octavia was still reeking of the stuff!
"All of 'em ran away, love," Octavia smiled bitterly. "Wisp is just one o' 'em that think 'ey are be'er than me. Goes to e'ery club I've been to asking for a job. 'e knows nopony will offer 'im none, but 'e still tries. 'is parents 'ave the bits to pay, so no skin off 'is muzzle."
"Oh," Vinyl looked down. I guess I came across a bratty kid as well.
"Look, love, I quite like you. Ya may be lost like a bat in daylight, but ye know yer music. Think I would have stepped in, if ya was just a pretty flank?" At those words, Vinyl inevitably blushed a touch. "Although, as Astra said, if ya were a stallion... 'ay, I bet you'd be a thousand times be'er than Mr. quick back 'ome."
"So you won't teach me," Vinyl quickly moved to safer ground, returning to the original topic, "no matter what?"
"Sorry, love." Octavia shrugged. "There's nothing ya can offer. I know ya 'ave money, but 'at don't ma'er. I can live fine on 'ay for months, me."
So that was it — Vinyl couldn't ask for a more unambiguous rejection. She could understand Octavia's reasoning. It made perfect sense, yet she couldn't portend not to be disappointed. For the very first time in her life the unicorn experienced not receiving something she wanted, at that through no fault of her own. There was nothing she could do about it now — no gifts, promises or money would get Octavia to change her mind.
Dumped twice, was that so, Glitter? Vinyl fought back tears. Maybe you should have told me how you dealt with it. I'm not going to cry, though. It's not like this is anything serious. It isn't a breakup or anything... just a normal thing of life. I'll get used to it. Yet that was by far easier said than done. Logically, nothing should have changed. Octavia's response shouldn't have been of any significance. Vinyl had enough money to get any tutor in Equestria she wanted. She could even fly Grandmaster Flower straight from Trottingham to give her private lessons, should she decide. And yet, she felt like it wouldn't be the same.
"Well, it's getting a bit late for me." Vinyl forced a smile as she stood up. "They are probably getting worried back home, especially after I hadn't slept there for the last few days."
"Life is crazy, love." Octavia looked her in the eye. "Sometimes things just 'appen for no reason at all."
"Indeed, they do."
A few more words were exchanged, all meaningless trivialities. Octavia offered Vinyl to visit every now and again, the unicorn agreed to do just that. Neither really felt the urge to. If anything, they just wanted to part in good terms. All the time Vinyl felt empty inside. Naturally, her upbringing helped her cover it up.
I really hate this! Vinyl started trotting back home. She wasn't feeling scared, or depressed, she wasn't even feeling sad. Instead, she had the most unusual desire to break things for no apparent reason. Why must real life be so messy! Can't there be proper rules, at least for some of the things? She hit the ground loudly as she trotted, making ponies nearby stare at her. At this stage it didn't matter in the least.
The familiar group of colts were sitting about, as Vinyl passed through Canterlot's centre. Just you whistle, she thought, eyeing them. Just one of you dare whistle at me, and I'll bucking blind you! Unfortunately for her, none of them did. Either they had gotten used to her, or she appeared more frightening in her current state than she thought. Regardless, she was left without an excuse to go into a display of rage. Great! The one time I need them to do something inappropriate, and they stand there like idiots. Stallions! Utterly useless for anything!
The manor appeared before Vinyl could notice. The distance, seen as unbearably large just a few days ago, now had seemed a short stroll. Possibly it also helped that Vinyl had gotten familiar with the route, and wasn't constantly worried about getting her hooves dirty.
"Good evening, young miss," a large unicorn greated her at the entrance. Vinyl allowed herself to arch a brow — for Stoic himself to be here, the servants had to be worried indeed. Or maybe her mother had finally come home?
"Good evening, Stoic," she said in turn. "I take it my mother has returned?"
"Unfortunately, her Grace is still away, young miss." Stoic didn't bat an eye. As name, as nature, Vinyl suspected it would take three simultaneous earthquakes for him to react. "However, your governess has expressed concern regarding your current behaviour."
Perfect. Another pony to lecture me.
"It has also come to my attention, that you have been frequenting a place of ill repute," he went on. "Hardly becoming one such as yourself."
"I don't have time for this, Stoic." Vinyl trotted past. Any other time she would have listened, possibly felt guilty, but right now there was too much rage bottled up inside her to bother... even if it was coming from her mother's head butler. "If my cousin can get away with such behaviour, I don't see why my life should be of anypony's concern. Furthermore, if any of my parents feel that I am misbehaving in any fashion, they are more than welcome to tell me so in person!"
"Duly noted, young miss." Stoic nodded, his thoughts on the matter remaining unclear.
"Oh, and one final thing, Stoic," Vinyl stopped, a few yards into the manor. "It has come to my attention that Glitter is a charity hire. Why wasn't I informed on the matter?"
"It was not deemed necessary that you be bothered with such details, young miss." The answer came almost immediately. Oh, so mother told you to keep it from me, didn't she? "If she had been neglecting any of her duties, I shall immediately see to it that—"
"Her performance is above satisfactory," Vinyl interrupted. "And in future, I would appreciate that any decisions regarding her are made by none other than myself. Unless mother decides I no longer merit a personal maid."
"Duly noted, young miss." Nothing was capable of creating an impression on the head butler. "Would you have the kitchen start preparing dinner for you?"
"That sounds like a magnificent idea, Stoic." Vinyl continued down the hallway. "Have it brought to me in the bathroom."
"As you request, young miss."
That takes care of that! Vinyl thought. In truth she was barely keeping herself from shaking. Angry or not, talking back to Stoic wasn't something she dared do. For one thing, he had been longer in the manor than she had. Everypony in the household treated him with fear and respect. For another — Vinyl's father had once let it slip that Stoic was a former captain of the guard. Originally, he as to be given to Vinyl's cousin, but apparently other arrangements had been made.
Having a huge bathroom was the greatest gift of civilization. The more Vinyl learned of the world beyond her home, the more she got to appreciate that. Quite possibly she was overindulging, but could anypony blame her? Cleanliness aside, she felt it was one of the few places she could relax adequately.
"Your dinner, Lady Vinyl," a muffled voice came from beyond the door.
"Come in, Glitter," Vinyl said, her torso still submerged in water.
The maid entered, levitating a huge wooden platter not the room. As usual chef Gustave had outdone himself — there was enough food to feed a table of six, at least. Most of it would probably be town out after Vinyl finishes her ten bites. Quite a waste to be honest.
"Where would you like me to put it, Lady Vinyl?" Glitter asked, as if the earlier conversation at Donut Joe's had never happened.
"Place it on a stool, please," Vinyl ordered loudly, then used her magic to close the door. "Will you be in too much trouble if you stay a little while?" she asked. The hesitation on Glitter's face couldn't have been clearer if she had said it out loud. You are still scared, aren't you? "I spoke with Stoic that all future decisions regarding you are to be left to me alone." Vinyl tried to reassure her. "I really could use a friend right now. Please stay."
A single sigh filled the room, one Vinyl couldn't be happier for hearing. This was the moment of transformation — for the shortest periods of time they would no longer be lady and servant, but rather two mares.
"I take it didn't go well?" Glitter asked, placing the platter near the bathtub. "Did you get to the bottom of things, or did she give you the runaround?"
"No, I got to the root of it all." Vinyl felt a spark of anger emerging once more. "She won't teach me. She never intended to. I feel like such an idiot!" She hit the water with her hoof. "It was stupid to think she would. If she were interested at all, she would have offered. It was apparent I had money."
Glitter gave her a strange look, accompanied by a discreet cough.
"Well, it's true! There wasn't a pony in the club left unaware. Besides, I treated her to food twice. If for some reason she hadn't noticed before, she definitely did then." Vinyl levitated an full-wheat cracker covered with a thick layer of asparagus mousse to her mouth. "What I don't understand is, what did she mean that I don't have anything to offer?"
Glitter remained silent.
"Maybe I should have just told her who I am?" Vinyl continued, levitating another bite-sized hors d'oeuvre to her mouth. "I would have liked to see her reaction then! Grandmaster, my hoof!" She paused for a moment. "You know you are welcome to have a bite as well," Vinyl invited Glitter. "Gustave is extraordinarily good in his art." Yet another hors d'oeuvre floated to her mouth.
"Err, Lady Vinyl..."
"Mhm?" Vinyl chomped on an another piece of food. For some reason she was feeling particularly hungry.
"I've already tried it," Glitter said, with a tad of guilt. "Actually, most of the staff have."
This caused Vinyl to arch a brow. This was new. Yesterday and the day after, she would understand — she had spent the evenings out. It was normal for the staff to eat the food prepared for her. Today, though...
"Please don't tell anypony you know, but we have been doing it for years. Chef always feels unappreciated when he doesn't create a masterpiece..." A slight hesitation. "And to create a masterpiece he needs tasters. In your case, particularly, he has expressed the opinion that a pony of similar age should take the brunt of the testing... I mean tasting."
Vinyl blinked. "You have been eating the food prepared for me?" Vinyl managed to say.
"Yes... and it has been so very very much." Glitter couldn't help but wince slightly at the same youth. "After a while even chef's cuisine gets... too much."
For a short while, Vinyl remained speechless, then out off nowhere, she started laughing.
"Too much?" she barely managed to say. "His cuisine gets too much?" Why am I laughing? she wondered, unable to stop. There was nothing funny about the 'revelation', nothing funny at all... and yet. This week is so stupid!
"Lady Vinyl?" Glitter looked at her in alarm. "Lady Vinyl, are you alright?"
The only response that came was more laughter, accompanied by splashing and the waving of hoofs. This was the first time Vinyl had done that, stars, it was the first time she had laughed in the past three years.
"Lady Vinyl, please!" Glitter attempted to bring Vinyl back to her senses, but a treacherous chuckle forced her lips to curve, despite the efforts not to. "What would Miss Presence think if she heard?"
The laughter increased more and more for the next minute, before a lack of breath caused Vinyl to calm down again. Levitating a towel to her face, she brushed a few tears off her eyes, then leaned back in the bathtub.
"Well, that's another dream I'll never get a chance to achieve." Not that it was the first. I wanted to become an archeologist before I got my cutie-mark. so much for that happening. "I guess the stars wanted me to remain plain boring Lady Vinyl." She glanced at the food on her platter. Plenty remained, yet she no longer felt hungry.
"Vinyl..." Glitter said quietly. "Do you really want to become a DJ? Or was it just a cheap thrill for you?"
"Hmm?" Vinyl's ears perked up. "What are your talking about, Glitter?"
"If you are still serious, there might be a way..."
* * *
The way's name was Lyra Heartstrings, and she was unmistakably the most peculiar unicorn Vinyl had ever seen. She studied at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, which meant she had to be part of the magic elite. At the same time she took classes in the Canterlot Conservatory, which was normal, having in mind her cutie-mark was a Lyra. What wasn't normal was the colour of her coat — it was fluorescent.
"Hey, there!" Lyra waved to Vinyl from the other side of the room. "Want to join me?"
Vinyl froze. This was embarrassing! She had been looking forward to this meeting ever since Glitter had told her of the mystical unicorn that knew everyone and everything regarding the Canterlot music scene. In fact, Vinyl had almost skipped breakfast out of fear to miss her. And now that she had actually got to see her, Vinyl had spent over a minute staring at her coat.
"Please." Lyra invited her again, smiling widely.
This is so improper. Vinyl levitated her doughnut tray and went to Lyra's table. This was not how she envisioned their introduction. Glitter had explained that Lyra was a regular at Donut Joe's — she had breakfast there every morning at eight. Originally, Vinyl had expected the place to be empty at this hour, allowing her to casually start a conversation on her terms. So much for that idea.
"I'm Lyra," the aquamarine unicorn said, way too joyfully for Vinyl's taste. "And I noticed you were staring at me?"
"Vinyl," the white unicorn said, trying to hide her blush. She had never felt so embarrassed her entire life! Not only had Lyra shouted through s full room of ponies to invite her over, but she had further accused Vinyl of staring! Those were not things that a cultured pony was supposed to do. If she wasn't so maddeningly cheerful, Vinyl would have outright ignored her.
"Very glad to meet you, Vinyl." Lyra levitated a piece of doughnut towards her.
At least she doesn't eat with her hooves, Vinyl thought. And was that a double chocolate supreme with sprinkles?
"I do apologise for the staring." Vinyl's voice was little more than a whisper. It didn't matter in the least that nopony appeared to be paying them any attention whatsoever. "It's just that a mutual friend said that you would be here, and I really wanted to be sure that I didn't miss—"
"You came here just to meet me?" Lyra's smile grew, as impossible as that seemed. "And who is this 'mutual' friend I have to thank?"
"Glitter."
"Glitter?!" Lyra nearly stood up, causing Vinyl to hide half of her face behind a hoof. What is it with this crazy unicorn? Must she be so intent on making a scene? "I haven't seen her in weeks! How is that filly?"
"Err, she is fine?" Vinyl really regretted there not being menus at the table. She could have really use one to hide behind.
"That's a relief." Lyra took another bite of her doughnut. "She used to be one crazy mare, let me tell you. The things she did back in the day. Of course, that changed once she started working for Duchess—"
"Shh!" Vinyl jumped, instinctively placing her hoof over Lyra's mouth. "Not so loud."
"Sorry." The aquamarine unicorn settled down, somewhat taken aback. "Didn't know it was such a big deal." She shrugged, then finished the last part of her dessert. "Besides it's not like she's seen... her..." she paused, awaiting Vinyl's reaction. Since nothing followed, she continued. "She's actually working for her daught—"
There was another pause, this time far more abrupt. Vinyl's self-preservation sense started to tingle — she knew what was about to happen now. As Lyra pointed a hoof at her face, preparing to scream her realization, Vinyl grabbed her, and as discretely as the situation would allow, dragged her out of the bakery.
"You are her!" Lyra hush-shouted as the two unicorns trotted along the street. "You are—"
"Don't say it," Vinyl said through her teeth, trying to appear as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on.
"Oh my gosh! I can't believe it!" The mare literally hopped beside Vinyl. "I've been asking Glitter to introduce me to you, but she always refused. And now you are here to see me? My strings, this morning's the best!"
Glitter, I honestly hope that this wasn't a prank on your part! You know I am not into humour, and if all this was some misguided attempt aimed at making me feel better, you and I are going to have words upon my return!
"I used to see you when you came to the palace with your mother," Lyra wouldn't stop. "You were so cute with your mane braided, and those night sky vests," she waved a hoof, nearly tripping in the process.
"Careful!" Vinyl raised her voice. She's a foal. I've come to ask a favour from a foal. "I've changed my style."
"I can see that. Suits you."
"Well, yes." The quicker I ask her, the quicker there's a chance that we move past this nonsense. "Listen, sorry for being so direct, but I was hoping you could help me with something. I have decided to pursue a career in music and—" No sooner had she said that, than Lyra suddenly stopped in place, as if hit by lightning. Vinyl followed suit. Oh dear. This didn't look right at all.
"You are asking me for help?" Lyra gesticulated as she spoke. "You?!"
Not sure what to make of it, Vinyl nodded.
"You are asking me to help you in something music related?" Lyra moved a step closer.
Once more Vinyl nodded.
"This is so great!" Lyra gave Vinyl a hug, much to Vinyl's annoyance. "I know just the place to start!"
This is just perfect. Vinyl rolled her eyes. Just. Perfect!
Author's Note
Next chapter: The Unconservative of the Conservatory
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