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writing-wren · 7 years

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Sa-Vrepit Hor

Fandom: Voltron: Legendary Defender Genre: Mostly fluff this time Word Count: 3211 Summary: Once a year the Galra celebrate. Team Voltron joins in. [Part 6 of the Mother Hens of Marmora ‘verse. Read all parts on Ao3]

Sooo I can't exactly remember right now who of you guys (because I think it's more than one by now) wanted the Galra-Christmas and Keith eating Galra food (and more things I won't say here because it might spoil your fun) but here you go~

Many thanks to @ midoritenchi90 who helped me with making up a Galra celebration and as always to @paladin-pile for the au in general!

Enjoy~

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Keith’s pack is behaving weird. It’s nothing major, just little things -Thace especially seems more… energetic, as if he was waiting for or looking forward to something. The others are behaving slightly less odd but still a bit off, exchanging looks, and Keith isn’t sure but he thinks they’re… preparing for something, maybe. When he asks, Ulaz hums.

“Sa-Vrepit Hor,” he explains. “The day to honor the dead. You couldn’t know about it, since you haven’t been raised Galra; it’s a very important holiday for us. The most important one, to be more precise.”

Keith frowns a little. “The day to honor the dead?” he asks. “Isn’t that… depressing?”

Kolivan shakes his head. “To us, it is not. To remember and honor the dead is something we take pride in. It’s something we celebrate, nothing to be mournful about.”

“We believe that the ones who fight, live and die honorably take their place among the stars,” Antok adds. “They’re not gone, but watching over us. So once a year we celebrate. It’s the one day where all fights are in abeyance; not even the empire will dare to attack us and breach that holy peace.”

Thace grins. “The best thing is the food, honestly,” he says. “We find a nice place to sit and eat together -not food rations but real, traditional food- and look at the stars as we remember and honor the dead; that’s why some call it The Stargazing, too.”

Keith hums. “So that’s why you’ve all been behaving so weird?”

Thace growls playfully and ruffles his hair. “We’re not weird. Just excited. It’s only once a year, you know?”

As the day approaches, the Galra get busier with the preparations. Thace and Ulaz go shopping for ingredients, returning with colorful but unfamiliar fruits and a lot of meat. Antok, when Keith asks him, sits down with him in the common room and tells him more about the whole thing, and Galra culture in general. Which quickly gets Pidge’s attention and she joins them, curious as ever, Hunk following soon after. Lance sees all of them and sits down quietly at first, but then starts to ask questions, fascinated at the idea of “Galra culture”. Seeing his human friends and a member of his pack like this gives Keith a kind of contentment he hasn’t even thought of before, even though some of Lance’s questions are obnoxious. Antok answers them anyway, with the patience of a saint -or maybe a father.

“Hey,” the blue paladin asks at some point. “Is that Sa-Something thing only for Galra or can, y’know, humans do it too?”

Antok hums at that. “Sa-Vrepit Hor,” he corrects. “And it’s a Galra tradition, but seeing as we’re all living here together, maybe you could join us… I’ll talk to Kolivan about it.”

Lance cheers as if that was a definite yes and grins at Hunk. “We get a holiday!” He does a little dance in his seat and Hunk beams. “I’ll cook something special, too, then! And we can decorate! It’s gonna be like Christmas!”

At which they have to explain to a somewhat confused Antok what “a Christmas” is, and a Christmas tree and how it’s actually not like Sa-Vrepit Hor at all, since there’s presents, too, and they kinda celebrate the birth of baby Jesus and not the actual people that died. Keith is not sure if they get the message across.

That evening, during pack time, Antok talks to Kolivan about the whole thing. Keith doesn’t look up from the book he’s been reading, but he listens anyway, a little hopeful, having come to like the thought of celebrating with not only his pack but the rest of the team as well.

“It might be a good idea,” Kolivan hums. “We should further our bond to the paladins and the princess, since they mean a lot to Keith… That way if we ever need to leave again-“ There’s a quiet, disapproving sound from Keith at that, which Kolivan meets with a reassuring rumble, we’re not intending to, youngling, before he continues as if nothing happened, “it might be easier on him.”

“Even though we won’t do that,” Antok clarifies. “We’re all in agreement about not leaving any pack member behind on their own anymore.”

“Of course,” Ulaz chimes in. “But what if it becomes necessary? This is war after all… None of us likes the idea, but at a time of need our personal preferences might have to come second to the fate and freedom of the entire universe.”

Keith honestly hopes that will never happen, but he knows it might, and he’s mature enough to deal with it should it come to that, and Antok lets it be, knowing Ulaz is right.

Still, the decision stands to invite the rest of team Voltron and Keith falls asleep that night with his head on Antok’s chest and all of them touching each of the others in some small way somehow as always, feeling some kind of anticipation for the first time. He hasn’t ever celebrated Christmas or any other holiday, but this might be fun…

The day approaches with Lance and Pidge going overboard decorating the castle. Heaven knows where they’ve found all those garlands and tinsel (Keith strongly suspects Coran has something to do with it) but it keeps them occupied. Antok is following them; Keith thinks he’s a little concerned they might get hurt, seeing all the stunts they pull to get up the decorations and that maybe he’s a little amused to see their eagerness, too. Hunk and Thace are in the kitchen, preparing the food for the evening, and Shiro, Kolivan, Allura and Coran are having a last strategy meeting. This leaves Keith with Ulaz. Not that he had anything against his company, he just thinks he should be doing… something. Just what that would be, he has no idea.

Ulaz hums. “What’s bothering you, youngling?” he asks.

“Nothing, just… I feel like I’m lazing around when everybody else has a job, y’know?” He sighs. “That’s not what I usually do… I just don’t really know what needs to be done, either. I’ve never celebrated anything… and everybody else is busy.”

“You have never celebrated? Not even… Christ-Mess?” Antok has told them about it, what little he understood.

Keith grins. “Christmas,” he corrects. “And no, not really. I moved so often when I was a kid, I guess nobody ever really thought about it. And then I didn’t want to celebrate anything either, especially when I was on my own. I mean, for what reason?”

The Galra sighs. “I see…” he says. “Well, you have people to celebrate with now, and it seems they have it all under control. Which is why we get to laze around like this.” A hum. “Though, if you want to do something, we could always spar.”

And that’s how Keith ends up in a very rare training duel with the Galra doctor. When he reaches for his bayard, though, Ulaz shakes his head. “We’ll take our blades, youngling. You need to get used to it sometime…” So Keith takes out his knife and lets it grow until it’s the saber he’s familiar with by now, earning an approving nod from Ulaz.

“A good form,” he praises, drawing his own blade.

After that there’s not much more praise. Not because Keith was doing especially badly, but because there’s not many words at all. Ulaz is as good a fighter as the other blades, even though he’s their doctor, too. He would probably lose in a direct fight with Kolivan or Antok, but he can hold his own just fine against others. He might lack his leaders’ size and strength, but he’s more agile, faster, and he makes use of his knowledge of anatomy to aim for the points that are weak, easily broken or hurt. Of course he doesn’t try to hurt Keith, it rather feels like he’s playing with him, but Keith has seen him fight before. This is for training, and at least for Keith it’s difficult enough to be just that bit more of a challenge that he has to go to his limits.

Ulaz ends it once he deems it enough, always concerned for Keith’s health. They both go to take a shower and afterwards visit Hunk and Thace in the kitchen in the hopes of maybe getting their hands on something small to eat. Thace hums and hands Keith one of the weird fruits; it’s about as big as an orange but light blue.

“Try this,” he says. “We call it You’ll like it, trust me.”

By this time Keith has eaten green space goo, drunk… whatever that purple stuff was Coran called Nunvil and a lot more weird things, so a light blue orange really isn’t that disgusting or even noticeable. He takes a bite and hums. This is good. Better than many other things he’s eaten, and not only in space but back on earth as well. It’s kinda juicy, and tastes like a combination of fruits Keith can’t exactly make out. His surprised half-hum-half-purr gets him a grin from Thace.

“Good, huh?” he asks and Keith nods. The Galra throws him a second one from where he’s standing and Keith catches it, too focused on savoring it to notice Ulaz’s calculating look.

Hunk and Thace rope them in for minor kitchen jobs after that, something Keith is more than okay with, considering that he wanted to help somehow anyway. The fruits (and some more little tidbits Thace slips him from time to time) tide him over most of the rest of the day. By the time they land on an unoccupied planet that reminds Keith of Arus and the beginning of their journey there’s little left to be done for him and Ulaz in the kitchen so they go to help the others with setting up outside.

The other Galra have taken the lead and instruct them to put several blankets, courtesy of Coran, on the ground. One or two pillows that Keith is pretty sure come from the nest find their way onto the blankets, too, though nobody seems to know who put them there. They just sit there and talk quietly for a while, paladins, Alteans and Galra alike and Keith watches from his place between Antok and Shiro and feels a new kind of warmth at all of them getting along so well.

Pidge and Lance are bombarding Ulaz with questions, well, mostly Pidge. Shiro and Allura are talking to Kolivan, Coran chiming in every now and then and Thace and Hunk are still in the kitchen. Antok, Keith realizes, is the only one who isn’t really participating at all. He’s looking up at the stars with a longing the young paladin has rarely seen. At some point he raises his glass to the sky in a subtle gesture the others don’t even notice and murmurs something that sounds like “Da Sa-Vrepit hor, Arah, Dek, Ila.” He looks lonely so Keith scoots a little closer and leans against his shoulder with a questioning little sound in the back of his throat. Antok doesn’t look at him but puts an arm around his shoulders in acknowledgement of his presence and squeezes a little, rumbling quietly in return. They’re silent for a while.

Then, “Arah was my wife. Her fur was the most wonderful shade of violet and she was always up to some mischief. Dek was our son; he was quiet but always kind. Ila was our daughter. She was fighting before she could even walk properly… Da Sa-Vrepit hor; today I honour you.”

At this sad explanation Keith whines for him and his loss, not caring for once if the sound his heard by the other paladins, Coran or Allura. If they do they don’t react to it. Antok smiles at him, if a little sadly, and starts carding a hand through his hair. “Do not worry, youngling. Their lives were short, too short, but honest and good and I’m sure they have taken their place among the stars. I shall join them once my time has come.”

Keith doesn’t like this idea and he lets him know with a little growl. “We’re not talking about you joining them for a long time,” he emphasizes for good measure and Antok bows his head a little.

“Of course not, youngling.”

“Good.”

Lance chooses that moment to sit down directly opposite of them, bored by all that scientific lingo Pidge and Ulaz are throwing around by now. Keith tenses imperceptibly, not sure if his fellow paladin is going to make fun of him (or rather, the position he’s in right now), but Lance just grins at them and does the unexpected.

“Maaan that looks so damn comfy… Hey Antok, d’you think us others could get some Galra cuddles, too?”

Before the Galra can answer, Keith lets out a growl. The meaning is clear, at least to every Galra, but Lance is a human so he says it just in case he didn’t understand, because this is where he draws the line. “No way. That’s a Galra thing.”

Antok’s rumble sounds like silent laughter at their antics. “Sorry, paladin, you heard the k-“ he stops mid-sentence and says “Keith,” instead but the half-Galra in question is pretty sure he was about to say kit. Lance just pouts and whines about how it’s not fair that only Keith should get awesome cuddles, but it doesn’t carry any malicious intent or even real jealousy. This is just Lance bickering, and Keith can keep up with that even with Antok’s somewhat distracting hand in his hair.

They go back and forth for a while, as they do so often these days, Antok listening with an amused expression.

“That’s so unfair,” Lance complains, mock-hurt. “You have a pack and are, like, super close to them, and what about us? I thought we were friends, man. We’re basically family, too!”

Keith hums. “Well, you’re not pack, and you can’t be because you’re not Galra.” Which is the truth, but for a second there’s real hurt in Lance’s eyes Keith just rolls his eyes at. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? You guys are a pride.”

Lance thinks about that for a moment, blinking as if he’d never thought it before -which he probably hasn’t, but Keith has. “Wait, but you’re a part of it, right?” his fellow paladin asks.

“Sure I am. I’m piloting one of those lions, am I not?”

Lance opens his mouth to reply something to that, but right then Hunk and Thace come outside, carrying bowls, plates and glasses and everybody hurries to help with the rest so they can all sit and eat together. Keith ends up between Antok and Shiro again, everybody helping themselves to the food when Ulaz thrusts a full plate into his hands. Keith raises an eyebrow; he’s used to the Galra fussing over him but he hasn’t gone that far before.

“Trust me,” Ulaz says. “I have a theory and if it’s true you will like this even more than the fruits from before…”

So, because Keith trusts him and because all he wanted was some food anyway, he shrugs and starts eating. The first bite makes him freeze. The second makes him look up at Ulaz with wide eyes.

“What is that?” he asks. He’s never eaten something this good before.

“Traditional Galra food,” the other replies with a quiet sigh. “I guess I was right then…”

“Right with what?” Pidge asks, having noticed the little scene.

“Galra are very sensitive to some things,” Ulaz explains. “Our senses are better than yours, for one; with that comes seeing, hearing, smelling but also touching -as you might’ve noticed, we’re very tactile with each other- and of course, our sense of taste. There is just something to the foods from our home planet that is different to us, much better. The younger kits will usually not eat anything else until they’re older. The problem is that Keith grew up on earth; he never had anything like it, so everything must have tasted like military rations at best… This might very well be one of the reasons he never eats more than he absolutely has to, apart from the fact that in the past sometimes he just didn’t get a lot of food in general.”

Keith looks up from where he’s been cleaning his plate quicker than even Hunk does when he’s starved and shrugs. “I didn’t know food could actually taste good. It was always more of a survival thing, y’know?” He shoots Hunk an apologetic look, knowing how much pride their human cook takes in his cooking. “Sorry.”

The yellow paladin just shrugs. “Hey, man, you can’t change it if it’s something about the whole Galra thing…” He grins. “I’m just glad you’re getting good food now. I didn’t know that was a thing, but we can get you guys something of that Galra food from now on, right?”

“It’s difficult,” Thace chimes in. “Since we’re considered a terrorist group. Just visiting our home planet outside of the time of the holy peace is dangerous… The good thing is, eating this once a year has a lasting effect on everything else we eat. Of course it’s not as good as the real thing, but it just tastes a lot better.” He grimaces. “I don’t even want to imagine what it would be like to live without that… Everything must’ve tasted like dust…”

Lance cringes. “Eww.” He looks at Keith. “And you still ate?”

The paladin in question shrugs again, accepting another full plate from Antok. “I didn’t know anything else and I couldn’t just… not eat, y’know?”

He ends up cleaning that plate, too, and another he gets from Kolivan. After half of his last plate, this time from Thace, he feels as if he might burst and has to stop, feeling so very, very tired that he just doesn’t really care about what the others might think and leans back against Antok. Almost immediately there’s an arm pulling him closer and a hand in his hair and Keith lets out a quiet huff and a purr before he passes out. He doesn’t wake for the rest of the night and in the end Antok has to carry him back to the nest, but nobody makes any fun of that and Lance can’t, because he’s in a food coma, too, as dead to the world as Keith is. Kolivan carries him to his room and tucks him in before he joins the rest of his pack in the nest and Keith purrs in his sleep, subconsciously aware of his arrival and content with his whole pack where they belong. He’s hugging one of the pillows they had with them on the blankets; it smells of all of them, Galra, Alteans and humans alike, which might have been the reason it was there to begin with. Right now, however, Keith is fast asleep and he doesn’t think of any of that, content to lie here with his pack and this pillow that smells of more than just the pack, surrounded by the warmth of the other Galra and more than sated for once.

#voltron #fanfic #mother hens of marmora 'verse #fluff #galra culture #dads of marmora #my writing

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lordofthebigtimesupernatural · 7 years

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No Time for Bullies

This one is for @midoritenchi90 who sent in a wonderful prompt about the birth of sassy Keith. Sassy Keith is my fav Keith and you can bet that it was sudden and hot tempered. I had fun writing this and you provided me with the best line of this fic so I do hope you enjoy it!

x.V.x

It wasn’t a secret that Keith was adopted.

Not at all. Shiro had been quite honest and upfront with Keith when he was old enough to really understand what was happening. In fact, he’d sat Keith down and explained to him what the word adoption meant, and that it would never mean that Shiro would love him any different. In fact, it only meant that Shiro had to love him more because he waited patiently for Keith to come into his life, just so he could give him all of his love.

Of course, Keith had been fairly thrilled that his daddy still loved him but overall, he had already known that. So, for Keith this “surprise” hadn’t had much of an impact on him.

For others, it took some time getting used to.

Lance, Hunk and Pidge all sat down with their parents and Shiro when Keith had claimed that he was adopted one day. It took some time, but eventually they all accepted it and didn’t bat an eye at the fact that their friend was adopted. All except for Pidge, who was in denial that they weren’t related and had attempted to gather DNA evidence on Keith and Shiro on three separate occasions.

Eventually though, everyone was okay with the thought and accepting of it. But that still didn’t mean that everyone outside of their group was as understanding.

Many kids in Keith’s class were confused by what adopted meant. While most were confused and just didn’t care enough (especially since many didn’t talk to Keith) there were a few who were very confused and quite vocal about it.

“Does that mean your mommy and daddy didn’t want you?”

“Can I adopt a new sister because mine is stinky?”

“Do you sell kids? My mommies said they are trying for a new baby too.”

“How come your parents would give you up?”

Most were harmless questions, that were blunt only because they were kids but Keith would ignore them.

“I don’t know.”

“Probably but I don’t think your parents will be happy if you get rid of your sister.”

“No. But ‘parently a sociable lady sells ‘em. I’ve met mine before and she’s rea nice, she might be able to help you.”

“How should I know? I have my daddy and that’s it.”

Overall, the kids left Keith alone or would ask confusing questions that Keith would try to ignore. However, on occasion there were kids who did understand, and were just nasty about it. These kids knew what the word adoption meant and weren’t afraid to taunt Keith about it.

One in particular was a lanky, tall boy who had been one of Keith’s reoccurring tormentors over the school year. Keith tried his best to continuously ignore the kid and he was thankful that Pidge and Lance were both in his class this year to keep the kid away from Keith. During recess when the friends met up with Hunk, Hunk acted as a personal bodyguard to keep the bullies away from Keith. Normally Keith would be able to ignore the bullies and only sometimes would his feelings get hurt.

But on days when Keith was alone, were hard.

Like today.

Lance had come down with the flu and had been at home all week, much to Keith’s disappointment. Pidge’s brother had a minor surgery yesterday and was out today to see him in the hospital and Hunk had to stay inside during recess in order to make up a test he had missed last week. Meaning that Keith was spending his recess alone.

In attempts to get Keith more sociable, the teachers had told Keith he had to go outside for recess today since he stayed in for lunch. He was, however, allowed to bring some tools outside with him under supervision to continue making his cards. Keith was making a card for each of his friends. One was a “Get Well Soon” card for Lance, with a blue stick figure making an awkward face on the front. Another card said, “I hope your brother isn’t terminally still ill.” This was for Pidge and a tiny, Shiro-like voice in the back of his head said to get rid of the word “terminal” because Matt had only had his appendix removed. The last card was for Hunk and was an encouraging one that said, “You are Smart.”

He was quite proud of the cards and hoped that his friends liked them once they got back.

Unfortunately, Keith’s good time was ruined by none other than his typical bully and his squad. A dark shadow crossed over Keith as he finished up the last touches to Hunk’s card. Looking up, Keith swallowed upon seeing the looming figures of his tormentors over him. However, his unease and fear was becoming overpowered by a newfound annoyance for these bullies. Couldn’t they leave him alone for one day?

“Whatcha doing there reject? Making cards in hopes that your dad won’t get rid of you.” The words stung and at one point it would have driven Keith to tears and to hide in his bathroom cabinet, afraid that his daddy would return him. But he’d learned better over the years.

“Shut up, Koltinak.” Keith rolled his eyes and snatched up his cards before Koltinak could grab them.

Unused to the response and not being able to grab Keith’s work, Koltinak frowned and his hands were clenched tightly into fists. His friends behind him nervously shifted. Keith usually didn’t bite back at Koltinak.

“What did you say, reject?” Koltinak hissed tightly.

“Stop calling me that. I have a name, you know?” Keith replied, gathering up the supplies and his cards. He jumped when Koltinak managed to slap the supplies out of his hands and all over the playground’s court. Luckily, he hadn’t managed to grab the cards and Keith was quick to hold them as close to his chest as possible. His fear was almost completely gone and instead replaced by red hot anger. How dare they try to ruin Keith’s gifts?

“You think you’re some tough guy, huh reject? You can’t fight me.” Koltinak said, before towering over Keith. It was true; he had a good four or five inches on Keith’s smaller form and a lot more weight on him despite being lanky. However, none of that registered to Keith and he could only feel his anger simmering below his skin. “You’re just a rejected baby whose parents didn’t want you and now I bet your dad is real tired of you. He’ll never love you because he ain’t your real dad.”

“Shut up.” Keith growled before standing on his tip toes so that his face was even closer to Koltinak. Koltinak was momentarily surprised by Keith’s change in attitude and he almost faltered. “At least my dad chose me. Your parents are sadly stuck with your forever.”

Nothing by silence followed.

Complete and absolute silence.

Until it was broken by a shout.

“YOOOOOOOOOOO. We need an ambulance because Koltinak just got burned.” It was some random kid on the playground, but apparently, he and everyone else had heard what Keith had just said and the entire playground had erupted into screams and laughter.

Koltinak’s jaw had dropped and his entire face was bright red while Keith continued to glare menacingly at the bullies. Behind Koltinak, his squad rubbed their necks nervously. Eventually, Koltinak snapped out of his shock and growled at Keith.

“Listen here you friendless little – ”

“Please, I had real friends. Those ones can’t think for themselves, and they mindless follow you around waiting for your attention.” Keith rolled his eyes, jerking a thumb at the squad behind Koltinak. By now, everyone else was laughing and his squad’s faces were just as red as his.

Koltinak sputtered unintelligently and Keith shoved the taller boy off him. “W-Well your hair is stupid!”

“And your face is so ugly that a plastic surgeon would find it impossible to fix.” Keith bit back as he bent down to gather up his supplies. It took time to pick everything off the floor and all the while, kids continued to laugh at the ordeal but for once they weren’t laughing at Keith. No, this time they were all laughing because of Keith.

Koltinak and his squad stood, mouths open and faces pale, unable to form another sentence while Keith cleaned up the supplies. Keith carefully put the cards on top of the supplies, turning around one last time to look at his bullies before snorting.

“Careful there. You’re gonna catch flies that way.” Keith shrugged. He paused, remembering something from a movie Lance had forced him to watch a million times over. Then he stuck his chin up, flipped his hair over his shoulder and stormed back into the school.

All that Koltinak could do was gap at Keith’s retreating back listening to the sounds of laughter all around him.

x.V.x

“Wow Keith! These were so cool!” Hunk praised brightly, swinging Keith around in a hug. Despite being one for not enjoying much physical contact, Keith was happy to let Hunk squeeze him in a hug and swing him all around. He’d missed all of his friends, and it was great to see them back.

“Yeah bro! I love this. This totally looks like me.” Lance beamed, imitating the smoldering look that was on the card on his own face. Keith couldn’t help but giggle at the other boy when Hunk finally let him down. Pidge was perched on top of their jacket, without touching the ground and they too smiled.

“Yes Keith. These are wonderful. Thank you for making them.” They said, causing Keith to blush.

“It was no big deal.” Keith said shyly. It was then that Koltinak and his squad walked past the group. Hunk, Lance and Pidge all tensed, ready to defend their friend, only to be shocked when the group shuffled past them even faster than before. They were even more shocked to see the calm look on Keith’s face.

“Is it just me were those guys acting weird?” Lance scratched his head and the others nodded. Keith simply shrugged.

“I don’t think he’s gonna bother me anymore, after what I said to him yesterday.” Keith admitted before explaining what had happened yesterday. The whole times, his friends’ eyes were sparkling with excitement and awe. Each of them took turns complimenting Keith and congratulating their friend. His adoption had once been a bit touchy for him with others talking about it, but they were proud to know that Keith knew there was nothing wrong with being adopted. It only made him all the more special to them.

“Oh my gosh Keith, you totally roasted him.”

Keith frowned. “I don’t think you’re using that word correctly.

#single dad shiro #single dad shiro AU #kiddie!AU #kiddie!paladins #voltron legendary defender #sassy Keith and shy Keith are the best #look at my bby roast his bullies

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