Self Sabotage v. Found Family
ch1, ch2, ch3, ch4, YOU, title card
AO3 Link
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One conversation does not undo years of insecurity, but it does give a pretty good start.
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What's up!! Last chapter of this part!! I know folks were excited to see Philza and I'm with you, but I like to do things in threes lol so you'll have to wait for the next installment.
TWs:
Threats
Technos' Chat being themselves
References to violence
Fake Lore
Insecurity
Anxiety
References to past Temporary Character Death
That should be everything but let me know (:
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Chapter 5: Lore Dump 2 Electric Boogaloo
They stayed in place for a long time. But eventually Technoblade slowly pulled out of the group pile and moved back a foot or so, actively ignoring his soft blush.
Tubbo and Tommy stayed sprawled across Wilbur but Niki gently extracted herself and asked, “Are you okay?”
He nodded slowly, “I mean, m’fine.” The boy paused for a long moment before hesitantly beginning, “You guys aren’t, uh- well, nevermind.” He cut himself off, rubbing a hand down his face.
Tommy rolled his eyes, “C’mon, just ask. Didn’t take you for a coward.”
“What he means is,” Tubbo cut in, hitting Tommy on the shoulder. “You don’t need to worry about telling us things.”
Chat jeered,
We really doin’ this?
Softnoblade
W take from Tubbo
RIP trying to be vulnerable with an internal audience making fun of you all the time
The boy laughed and muttered quietly in piglin, “And yet you don’t stop making fun, hypocrites.” before answering flatly, “You’re going to be annoyed.”
Wilbur shrugged his shoulders and flicked Tubbo absentmindedly, “Maybe, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t say it. Plus you’ve cried like ten times in the last week so if that didn’t send us away one more question won’t do it.”
“It’s not like you’ve hesitated to annoy us before.” Niki chimed in indulgently.
Technoblade flushed to the tips of his ears and chuffed anxiously, “W- ten times? No nevermind, I don’t wanna know about it.” he sighed dramatically and put his head on his knees. “It isn’t that big ‘a deal, and this is different th’n teasing you for being losers.”
“If it isn’t a big deal then you can just tell us!” Tubbo responded good-naturedly.
Bruh
Got you there lol
There is like no plot or lore right now
EEEeeeeeee
“Fine, but it’s stupid.” he exhaled heavily, “You guys aren’t just uh, jus’ saying all that right? ‘Cause I don’t mind if you are, obviously, but the viewers y’know.” Techno shrugged and stared into his lap.
Misrepresentation your honor
Boo!
Slander
Wilbur furrowed his brow, “I have literally no idea what you’re talking about mate. Like none, but uh for now what would we be just saying?”
Technoblade breathed slowly through his teeth, “Y’know all that stuff ‘bout uh- come on don’t make me say it, that’s cringe.” He groaned in frustration.
Tommy laughed, “But vulnerability’s pogchamp! Healthy masculinity and shit!”
“If it’s hard to explain, can you just think through it out loud?” Niki offered.
“I- it isn’t difficult, okay? It’s just, y’know cringe. I’d die if I said it and Technoblade never dies so, I just can’t.”
Tubbo smiled bemusedly, “So you want to know if we are lying about something, but you can’t say it ‘cause it’s embarrassing? So embarrassing you’d die?”
Techno nodded quickly, “Yup, right on the money, so nope. Won’t be uh, asking that actually.”
Wilbur snorted behind his hand. “So you never die, but uh, vulnerability would kill you?”
“Listen,” the hybrid began with a degree of condescension, “Technoblade never dies, not because it’s impossible, that wouldn’t be impressive. It’s ‘cause I don’t do things that kill me.”
Tommy scoffed and leaned forward until he was sprawled across Wilbur’s lap, “What so you don’t do things that kill you but you do 1v20 an entire country?”
“Didn’t kill me, did it?”
“Bruh, it killed me!” Tubbo replied, laughing as he collapsed on top of Tommy.
Technoblade cringed, “Well, I didn’t say Tubbo never dies?”
Niki hid a laugh behind a cough, “No! That is not funny, it isn’t!”
Tubbo smiled, “Well, like no, it wasn’t funny but the jokes are.”
“I mean, well, s’just- uh.” Technoblade pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered under his breath in piglin,”Godsdamnit, I’m really gonna do this, huh Chat. Alright honesty lets go.” before butting in louder, “You uh, y’know I didn’t like uh- ya’ get I didn’t wan’ to right?”
Tubbo turned to stare for a moment, trailing off mid word.
The piglin flushed at the sudden attention his yelling gathered. “S’just I mean that you uh- ya’ said we’re cool. And like yeah! Nice, but uh- I figured you’d uh, y’know, want some character development. And like may- maybe you’re just uh fine, and I shoulda’ just uh- uh, kept with the bit, there’s jus’ I didn’ wan’ it ta’ be like ‘gnored. I prolly shoulda’ but uhm, it seems ‘specially shitty to uhm assume? That like we’d be uh cool ‘cause I beat up Tommy, since he wouldn’t really be able to beat me anyways? Y’know maybe I sho- should uhm deal with tha’ too but uh we’re talkin’ ‘bout us and stuff.” He cleared his throat, “So uh, anyways. Y’know my bad.”
Wilbur snorted before collapsing onto Tommy’s back in laughter. Tommy crowed out a token protest before joining in the teasing, “You jus’ ne’er talk before! I think that’s the most you’ve ever said, big man! I thought you were being all in-timi-dat-ing an’ shit when you didn’t talk before but, was it just to make sure you didn’t do all that?”
Nikachu choked down her laughter and smacked Wilbur, “C’mon, s’not uh- not that bad?”
Tubbo shushed them before turning to the younger, who was staring at the ceiling with a bright red face and ears folded down in embarrassment. His tail was being wrung through his hands in his lap. “I- thanks Tech. Really that was uhm, sweet of you? Yeah it wasn’t super cool that I died, but uhm. I kinda figured that you didn’t want to kill me there? We uh, shouldn’t have left you out to dry like that. But I ‘preciate that you apologized, you coulda’ just left it alone so that was cool of you.”
Technoblade went even pinker and mumbled into his lap, “Wasn’ sweet was jus’ right ta’ say so. S’not like you coulda’ helped me anyways, you were bein’ executed.”
Tommy cooed loudly, “Aww, Techie! S’okay it was sweet!”
His ears flickered and he ran a hand through his hair, “Whatever.”
Bullying
Harassment!!
Bruh really hit him with the honesty huh
Healthy communication pog
RIP runt just suffering
Niki rolled her eyes at the bickering, “Alright, alright, we’re getting off track. Technoblade, do you want to ask us?”
The boy grumbled for a moment and hid behind his hair, “.... yes?”
Wilbur grinned, “Alright then Tech, c’mon we believe in you and all that shit.”
“Yeah, plus it’s not like whatever it is can be more embarrassing than tryin’ to say it for ten minutes.” Tommy added, to which Tubbo shoved him once more.
The voices laughed and encouraged in equal measure;
Imagine getting read so easily lol
YOu can dO IT!
Consider stabbing then running tho
Just say it all at once!
F
Techno pulled his knees up and continued to hide behind his hair, “Alright, alright, s’fine. They’ll just say they don’t and I’ll be right.” he muttered in piglin before taking one deep breath and answering. “D’ya mean it when you say all that uhm, stuff ‘bout y’know keepin’ me and uh caring all th’ time? ‘Cause like I said, I don’t care if ya don’t right? S’just the ratings and shit, gotta keep it uh entertaining.” he spoke in an anxious rush.
Nikachu smiled despite her befuddlement. “We wouldn’t say it if we didn’t mean it, Tech, alright? Though I really don’t know what you’re talking about with ratings and audiences and such.”
“Yeah! You’re stuck with us, even if I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about most o’ the time!” Tommy shouted
Tubbo pushed Tommy off of his back and gave Techno a small hug before sitting back, “We mean it, ‘course we do. S’ not stupid to want reassurance.”
“Yeah, yeah, we love you and shit,” Wilbur began, waving his hands dramatically, “but really what are you on about mate?”
Ha ha! Our turn!
You make too many references for someone who wants to keep us secret
Lore?
That’s us!!
“I’m not used to people listening when I say shit, okay? They usually jus’ think I’ve lost it Chat!” Technoblade muttered to himself before leaning back from his knees and looking at the group. He deliberated internally for a long moment, “S’just the voices, that’s all.” he answered nonchalantly.
“The voices?” Wilbur asked.
Hey, not just!
We’re cool af!
Introduce us you coward
If it doesn’t work we’ll just murder them y’know how it is.
EEEEEEeeeee
“I mean, you guys didn’t think I was the Blood God right? Like ya’ didn’t think I was a god right?” Techno asked evasively.
Tubbo quirked his head to the left, “I mean no? I didn’t think you were a god, you’re impressive but not that impressive. What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Are you deflecting again? If you don’t want to answer you just gotta say so.” Niki added.
He shook his head, “No that’s uh- that’s not it. Okay, this is gonna require a bit of context.” the hybrid stretched his arms upwards before situating himself across from the others, “All right everybody shut it, this is uh, prime Technoblade Lore so no interuptin’ m’kay?”
Tommy huffed, “Fine, it better not be boring though.”
Wilbur flicked the back of the blonds’ head and leaned back on his arms, leaving Tommy sprawled across his lap and Tubbo nearly on top of him. Niki laid down on her stomach to the left of the others.
“Nope, uh not gonna be boring.” Technoblade laughed to himself for a moment before starting, “Right, I left my sounder when I was three or so for whatever reason. It happens, usually ya’ end up in a new sounder or you die because lot’s of things want to kill you in the Nether and sometimes players show up and just stab ya. I did not find a new sounder and I did not die, obviously.” he rolled his eyes, “There are reasons for that, y’know maybe I was just better but uh- well s’ more likely that the voices saved me. You see, I was born a vessel. For whatever reason the Blood God claimed me and uh, in return he gave me something called Chat.”
Yup yup yup yup yup
Canon
Explain the Blood God!!
Use the cool name! cool name pogchamp
Blood pog?
“You do know like the Blood God’s whole deal?” Techno asked reluctantly.
Wilbur shrugged, “I mean, a bit? He takes a blood sacrifice in return for strength right? He’s like a war god?”
The boy sighed, “Among other things, yeah. Also the god of loyalty, family, vengeance, etc. But yeah. The Blood God gave me Chat, sometimes they call themselves The Chorus when they're feeling sanctimonious, they're his past followers/vessels/victims or something like that. But for whatever reason he figured I could be strong. They give me a bit of an edge, usually they know a bit more than me so they warn me sometimes. They care about me or whatever, but uh they’re stuck in my head so they demand entertainment and interaction. Also blood, a lot of blood.”
Niki leaned heavily on her hands, “So can it hear us?”
“They, it’s a lot of people or something, and yes. They watch and give their input on basically everything, regardless of how unnecessary or useful.” Techno shook his head in exasperation.
“So do they like me?” Tommy asked immediately.
Technoblade laughed, “Uhm, sometimes? They usually just think you’re amusing or annoying, but again it’s a thousand voices in my head all yelling out for attention, so I’m not confident on how all of them feel about you.”
“So they’re who you were talking about when you said it was too loud? And who you’re talking to when you mutter in piglin?” Niki asked in concern.
The piglin nodded.
Wilbur frowned, “Don’t they know it hurts, since it’s in your head?”
He shrugged, “I mean yeah, when they get too loud some of the voices remind others not to spam, but like, it isn’t like they’re nice. They’re trapped in my skull so it’s really just as much theirs as mine.”
“It isn’t though, it’s your head! They should be nice to you.” Tubbo huffed angrily.
Goat boy thinks we’re mean lol
Pretty sure he’s a ram
We can be meaner if he wants
Bruh he’d be bitter too if he was trapped in a fourteen year old for eternity
“No you guys don’t have to do that, they just don’t understand okay? I get it, it’s fine m’kay? ” Techno mumbled quickly before turning to glare at the others. “Listen, I understand this is an odd arrangement, but no. They don’t need to be nicer, alright? They’ve kept me alive, and they were just as much thrown into this as me. Chat is cool, okay? They can be loud and annoying and bitter, especially if they don’t get blood, but they’ve been nicer to me than anyone else for much longer so, not really. You can’t just say stuff like that. I like the Blood God, but he isn’t nice either and Chat was a gift from him, not really in the mood to see how angry I can make my patron.”
Tubbo cringed and nodded, his face pale.
“But they take care of you, yeah?” Wilbur asked.
Technoblade exhaled, “Yes, they take care of me. And plus, they’re typically chill, so long as they’re getting some type of blood. They're even funny on occasion.”
Niki nodded, “I mean I won’t say I get it, but that’s uhm neat?”
The boy laughed, “Well, better reaction than most people’ve had.”
Wilbur chuckled, “I know you said it can be hard to tell, and that they thought Tommy was annoying, but what do they think of all this?” he asked while he gestured at himself and the others.
Bruh
That’s funny, is Wilbur insecure?
EEEEE
We are always funny you're just a loser
You’re cool ig
It’d be funny if we killed you but Niki is nice and dadza’d be pissed
L
Shoulda been nicer in the beginning
We’ll kill you if you use him
When he introduces us and just says we're kinda funny sometimes
Bruh
He’s our runt first!!
Softbur
We control your headache level lol, watch it little pig
Revolution pog
Techno winced at the influx of voices, “Do I really have to say all that?”
Yes
“Right, uhm, right now they’re making fun of Wilbur specifically. Said you shoulda been nicer in the beginning? Uh, they’d kill you but Phil would be mad and they like Niki ‘cause she’s nice?” he sighed dramatically, “That’s about the best you’ll get I think?”
Ours!
Ours, tell them you’re ours runt
S’important little pig
If we’re bein’ nice enough to warn them what happens if they hurt you, you ought to let them know
Tell them tell them tell them tell them
Niki punched the air, “Ha! I won.”
Wilbur gaped, “Wha- what’d they say about me?”
Tommy giggled and Tubbo jeered.
Our little pig
Say it or we will
Nobody likes the alternative so don't make it harder than it has to be little one
Tell them
Don’t hide or we can make sure they know anyways
C’mon runt
“Chat please, they know, okay? S’fine you don’t need to do all that.” Technoblade answered in piglin.
Niki furrowed her brow, “What? Something wrong?”
Ha no hiding now
Blood for dishonesty
EEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Tell or we will
Tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell
We're giving you the choice but don't make us push
The boy paled slightly, “Fine, okay. Alright Chat, I'm sorry I'll tell them you don't need to be like that.” he sighed before turning to the others, “Chat is uh, very insistent that I let you all know- and really I don’t think it’s necessary, it’s really just dramatic, but uhm- well.”
“What? Are they trying to snitch on you? That’s rough.” Tommy laughed lightly.
Wilbur smiled vaguely, “I’m sure it’s fine Tech, what is it?”
Technoblade hesitated just a moment too long for the voices patience, “Well, they sa--Little pig is ours, our runt first, you would not be the first victim to join the chorus, blood for traitors, he is not your blade, death for dishonor, blood for the blood god, we will kill you if we have to, the blood gods disciple is of the last don’t think we won’t protect him, don’t q-” the boy smacked his hands over his mouth and panted for a moment, catching his breath.
Tubbo stared with a gaping mouth, failing to stutter out any words.
“Oh-kay?” Niki muttered to herself.
Wilbur snapped his mouth shut and breathed heavily through his nose.
Tommy stared for a minute before blurting out loudly, “Huh, did the dead voices of a god just give us the shovel talk through the mouth of a fourteen year old?”
Tubbo nodded, “I uh, I think so? Didn’t know they could uhm- didn’t think they could do that Techno. Often? Do they do that often?”
The piglin hybrid winced and bit back a whine at the now splitting silence in his skull, “Uhm nope. They don’t usually do that ever, it uh, well it’s not easy and uh, they can only really do it sometimes?” He laughed self-deprecatingly, “I guess they didn’t trust me to really get the message across.”
Wilbur laughed anxiously, “Yeah, uh, okay. Right, so just future reference, don’t be mean to you or else god will kill us? That’s a pretty fucking good shovel talk Tech, I’ll be honest with you.”
“I mean the Blood God likes me a lot, but uh he prolly wouldn’t kill you himself? He’d probably just uhm- well. Just encourage me to do it?” he sighed heavily, “They’re pretty protective so y’know. But we don’t have to worry about that…” the boy rubbed his temples in mild agitation, the sudden silence after they took control was always disorienting.
Niki nodded, “No for sure, like I wasn’t gonna make you a blade anyways but uhm, it’s nice to know they care about you too?”
Techno flinched lightly at the wording, “Yup. So anyways, uhm they probably won’t do that again, or at least not for a long time so no worries there.”
“So they don’t like us then?” Wilbur laughed hesitantly through the question.
“Do you really wanna know what the thousands of people who can’t do anything but watch my life have to say? Like honestly?” Techno asked in disbelief.
Wilbur started before flushing and shaking his head.
Tommy cried out, “I wanna know! What’d they say! You should tell us every time they make fun of Wilbur!”
Techno laughed, “Well, I guess just now they called him insecure, but uh earlier they called you insane too.”
Tubbo barked out a laugh, “Do Tommy next!”
“Nope, uh no? They’ll get too excited if I keep this up. Plus they tell me to stab him all the time so uh, pass?” Techno cut in immediately.
Niki laughed loudly, “Alright, enough. Just uh, stick around for a bit Techno? We do want you around.”
Chat gave a token effort to mutter, but they had exhausted themselves and only one managed a small whisper;
Ha can’t avoid your emotions for long runt
Technoblade sighed, “I guess if the voices in my head that call for blood didn’t get you to let this go then I might as well. So long as this all stays between us?”
The others nodded and Tubbo cheered.
“Stuck with us for life now!” Tommy shouted.
Technoblade smiled lightly, “Yeah, guess so.”
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Self Sabotage v. Found Family
ch1, ch2, ch3, YOU, ch5, title card
AO3 Link
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Nothing stays hidden for long, especially when someone so desperately wants to be known.
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Hullo! I haven't forgotten about you all, enjoy
TW's:
Crying
Emotional conversations
Vaguely dubious consent (they push Tech to talk about it after he has shut down, but he does want to)
Mild swearing
Touch starvation
That should be everything, let me know if I missed something though!!
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Chapter 4: Sometimes Love Is Being Dragged Kicking and Screaming Towards Hope
Tommy shook his head, “No it isn’t. Why can’t you just say it?”
Technoblade chewed his lip for a moment, “Please, just don’t tell anyone how old I am, okay? You don’t hafta’ do anything else alright?”
“That isn’t an answer Techno! Come on, what do you want, not what do you think we’ll agree to or what’s easiest.” Tommy snapped.
“No, no, I’m not going to! You don’t have any right to know, and I’m not stupid enough to offer a weakness while knowing it won’t get me anything anyways!” He forced out, yanking a hand through his hair anxiously. “I won’t get it anyway so please stop asking, okay? It’s fine and I know that alright. You’ve got what you want alright? I’m begging, I’m pleading. Don’t make me. Please don’t make me. The mighty Blade, begging like a child. You win okay? You’ve done what no one else could. Please stop asking!”
Chat cooed,
Poor runt
It’s okay, you’re fine
L
C’mon it isn’t like that.
It’s okay that you want it
Tubbo moved forward slowly, stopping just a foot in front of the distressed boy. “Hey listen, s’alright, you’re okay. Nothing is the matter okay? Nobody is in danger. We want to give you what you want, alright? That’s it, no ulterior motive, no trap, and no trick. Could I give you a hug?”
Techno bit back the growing desire to cry and stifled the urge to hide, “No, no, no I don’t- just stop, okay? Please?” he whined out, shoving his face into his knees.
Niki cooed quietly, “C’mon, s’alright. If you don’t want one you don’t have to. You’re okay Tech.”
“Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Tubbo asked from his spot a foot in front of him.
The boy choked down his sobs, “I don’t, I can’t do it! S’ not safe, I know. I know what I get! I know what I’m g-good at. Please jus’ stop pretendin’ now. Tell me what you want and let me go.”
Wilbur rubbed his face and moved closer to the silently sobbing child, “Okay, breath in Technoblade. C’mon, I can’t have any ally choking to death. Breath in with me.” he shoved Tubbo away gently and sat in his spot. “Alright, alright. Look at me Technoblade, I need you to look at me alright? Good, good, that’ll work. Follow my breathing, in and out, in and out.”
Techno stared at the man and mimicked him until his breathing slowed then after a long pause; “M’fine now.”
Niki moved to speak but Tommy cut her off, “Alright, you’re fine now.”
Wilbur nodded at the boy gratefully before turning to look at Techno again. “I need you to tell me what caused that.” he asked bluntly.
Tubbo tried to protest at his tone but Techno ignored him and instead answered Wilbur in an empty monotone. “Nobody talks to me like that.”
“Right, that makes sense, our bad.” Wilbur replied, nodding.
Tubbo finally got a word in, “What do you mean? Nobody’s nice?”
Technoblade stiffened, “Nobody’s soft with me.”
“Oh,” Niki whispered in understanding, “right. Technoblade can you answer us now?”
Techno deflated, “Can’t ya tell by now, isn’ it painfully obvious?”
“Do you want us to guess?” Tubbo asked hesitantly.
The boy laughed tiredly, “Sure, absolutely.”
“To do what you were doing before we found out?” Tommy asked immediately.
He shook his head hesitantly as he resigned himself to the situation.
“Freedom?” Niki chimed in.
“I mean I don’t want to be in jail.” he snickered drily, “But no.”
Wilbur leaned back, “Technoblade?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you know how your instincts work?”
“Mostly?” he answered cautiously.
“Right, of course. Do you know why you got clingy for three days?” Wilbur continued with a sigh.
“Pheromones? Depression? I don’t know.” Techno answered blithely.
Wilbur exhaled heavily, “No, not pheromones. Depression probably didn’t help but that wasn’t the reason. Kids need to be held, it’s important to growing and shit. Our hybrid instincts brain is more uhm, willing, to take care of baser desires. For kids it’s being held and hugged and doted on.”
Technoblade held deathly still and did not look up from his lap.
“It is instinctual for you to seek comfort. But you didn’t have any so your brain stopped asking. A healthy child doesn’t do what you did, and if you had regular contact and affection you wouldn’t do that. I never lost myself like that growing up, because I never had a reason to.” Wilbur looked at the boy. “What do you want Tech?”
He breathed weakly and tried to stop his shaking. “Tha’s cruel ta’ joke about, please just stop. I know what I get to have.”
Tommy pulled Niki and Tubbo into a hug as they held their breath.
“I don’t think you do know that, is the thing.” Wilbur sat up straight. “Do you want a hug, Techno?”
Technoblade shuddered in place and barely managed a slow, hesitant nod.
Wilbur pulled the boy into his lap and rested his head against him. “There you go.” he muttered, wrapping his arm around the younger's back and running a hand through his hair.
Niki tightened her grip on the other boys and let out a watery laugh.
Techno tucked his head under Wilbur’s chin and hid there for a long moment. “I- ‘M not gonna be all soft m’kay?” he interrupted himself with a quiet purr, “S’ just not what ‘m like. Yo- you don’t wan’ me all the time.”
Wilbur shook his head and held him tighter. “Nobody wants anyone all the time. But we’ll care about you all the time mate, that’s the point. Ya don’t have to be all cuddly and needy, s’fine. You’re just allowed to be when you are, and you’re allowed to stick around when you aren’t.”
Tommy cheered and yanked himself out of Niki’s arms, tumbling into Technoblade and Wilbur. “Fuck yeah! You’re the youngest now and we’re keeping you!”
Technoblade laughed wetly, “Fuck off.” he muttered with no malice.
Tubbo and Niki shot forward too, wrapping themselves around everyone.
“You’re the middle child now Tommy, rest in peace.” Tubbo goaded.
Niki laughed as Tommy gasped dramatically, then she whispered to Techno, “It’s gonna be okay, we’ll figure it out.”
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