[X] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.
 
[X] Ruby and Sky. She seems to have latched onto him over something. Maybe whatever it is he can do that warranted Ozpin's specific approval?
 
[X] Ren and Nora. Maybe Ozpin had a point about them being too close, they're the only ones that aren't mingling. Who better to expand their social circle than you, then?

I changed my mind, I want to see just how Thor Nora is.
 
Changing my vote

[X] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.
 
[X] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.

Let's go ahead and have a talk with Weiss "Faunus are Gits, take 'em to Auschwitz" Schnee. I want to see how she's changed in personality.

Namely: I hope she has one.
 
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[X] Ren and Nora. Maybe Ozpin had a point about them being too close, they're the only ones that aren't mingling. Who better to expand their social circle than you, then?
 
[X] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.

I am extremely curious about Cardin and I am morbidly curious about Her Bitchiness Schnee.
I wonder. Does Arc surname mean she will allow us to exist in her vicinity? Or is it not noble enough for her?
 
[X] Ren and Nora. Maybe Ozpin had a point about them being too close, they're the only ones that aren't mingling. Who better to expand their social circle than you, then?

I'm gonna level with you folks here. Nora's already Best Girl. I want to see just how much more Best she can be.

...

AlsoIwanttoseeifeitherJauneorthedetectiveareRensexual
 
[X] Ren and Nora. Maybe Ozpin had a point about them being too close, they're the only ones that aren't mingling. Who better to expand their social circle than you, then?
 
So since I really like this story and I'm fond of responses that examine various moments of a chapter and offer analysis here's my thoughts on some bits of Shadow/Jaune Dark's ongoing adventures.

coal-black claws skittering uselessly over its own mask, failing again and again to catch and slice through the silver cord binding its jaw shut. Thick steam huffs from its nostrils, violet light shining through its tightly shut fangs. It lets out a muffled yet no less enraged roar as it whirls to take its frustrations out on Pyrrha.

So the majority of Grimm being used for the Exam are basically newborns their little better than animals and far less of a threat than a genuinely mature Grimm. I'm pretty sure this is derived from Leila Han's comments about the entrance exam not effectively selling adult Grimm as a legit threat.

This one stands out because its further along, making it significantly more of challenge. To counter this its been hobbled its jaws bound shut. If I were betting man I would say that their were only a few Grimm of that caliber wandering around the Forest.

The Grimm brings its claw down with enough force to split stone. Pyrrha raises her shield and pirouettes with the blow, ebony claws sparking as they skate across the surface and land uselessly in the dirt. Only a half-second's chance, but she takes it. She slings her shield on her back with the motion, snatching at the beast's lowered arm with her now-free hand as she scarpers up its limb like a cat. For just a moment it seems stunned by her sheer gall. But then it's moving again, practically flickering as it darts sideways and aims to dash her against a nearby boulder. She leaps, catching hold of its armoured spine and holding on for dear life as the Grimm's arm shatters the stone to rubble instead.

Up she swarms, teeth gritted in a savage snarl, gripping its broad neck with her knees to steady herself. K-think goes her blade as she drives it into the seam between mask and shadow. Thump thump thump goes her palm as she drives it into the pommel, hammering the sword in like a nail. The beast spins wildly, swiping madly this way and that, tossing its head in a desperate attempt to dislodge her. Thick clouds of choking dust rise, more stone debris flies sky-high and rains down, even solid tree trucks splinter and fall around it as it lashes out in pain and confusion. Pyrrha weathers it all, grunting with pain as wild blows skate off her shield.

Honestly this stories take on Pyrrha reminds me of Asuka from Evangelion, a ultra competitive red head prodigy whose pride is derived from being legitimately better than her counterparts. Which is an interesting way for Zerban to portray her but makes sense.

Hopefully she doesn't have Asuka grade issues with her mother. Though given Zerban is drawing more heavily from the stories that inspired the various characters and the big effect Achilles's mother had on him ......

You're not quite sure what happens next because Pyrrha scoops you up under her arm like a suitcase.

"Wah!" you cry.

"I am not coming in second to them!" she growls, and sprints. The world turns to a jerking, juddering, smeared mess of shapes and colours as she rockets down the hill and through the town, no sound but her pounding feet and puffing lungs and your own startled cries. It's all you can do to keep hold of your banner, much less try to ask what's going on or why it's so important to get there first.

"ONWARD MORE, REN!" the woman with the hammer cries again, somewhere vaguely beside you.

Oh, they are teenagers aren't they. I really enjoyed this bit.

"Ladies," he says. "Welcome to my school."

Schnee makes a face like a rat just crawled up the back of her throat and into her mouth to die and she's trying not to show it. "Professor Ozpiiiin!" she fires back with a voice packed to the brim with false cheer, bringing her hands together so fast there's an audible clap. "You didn't happen to overhear any... minor leadership teething troubles, did you?"

"Very informative. I'll be taking all of your feedback into consideration for my final evaluations, rest assured," he replies in a reassuring voice that's almost completely sincere.

Hah! Ozpin the Snarky.

That's when he pulls the lever by the handle of his cane. All at once clockwork begins to ratchet and whir and catch, brassy gears visibly spinning through a clear plate on the side. He lifts it up off the ground and it begins to shorten, segment by segment, clicking and clunking, expanding, retracting, reshaping into the trick-weapon of the headmaster himself.

He detaches the bottom from the grip and pours steaming black coffee into the newly-expanded mug in his hand. He takes a sip with obvious relish, letting out a soft sigh of satisfaction that steams in the rapidly-cooling air.

His trick weapon is a coffee machine/mug. I love this man.
 
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[X] Ruby and Sky. She seems to have latched onto him over something. Maybe whatever it is he can do that warranted Ozpin's specific approval?
 
[x] Yang and Pyrrha. Well, this was pretty much inevitable. The two toughest, most aggressive killers of the pack are sizing each other up. This could be interesting and/or catastrophic
 
[x] Yang and Pyrrha. Well, this was pretty much inevitable. The two toughest, most aggressive killers of the pack are sizing each other up. This could be interesting and/or catastrophic
 
[X] Ruby and Sky. She seems to have latched onto him over something. Maybe whatever it is he can do that warranted Ozpin's specific approval?

Since it's coming back and I still really want to know about Semblances.

Also, we need to social Link Ruby more if we ever hope to have her turn our Banner into a Guitar trickweapon.
 
You just focus on keeping pace with Pyrrha's ever-retreating back, banner furled and held chest-height like a spear.
trip

"oh god I'm so sorry"

...actually, hm, do we know if Aura even exists in this setting? Obviously we didn't need to have ours "awakened", but can mortal Hunters turn aside blades with their bare skin, here? Is it replaced with a more interesting variant, or just... gone?

It's another towering humanoid shape; an adolescent on the cusp of adulthood by the state of its mask, not yet grown to cover its jaw. It's armoured in horny protrusions and bone-white scales, only scattered patches across its broad chest and trunk-like legs yet its arms are almost completely sheathed. It scrabbles at its snout as you watch, coal-black claws skittering uselessly over its own mask, failing again and again to catch and slice through the silver cord binding its jaw shut. Thick steam huffs from its nostrils, violet light shining through its tightly shut fangs. It lets out a muffled yet no less enraged roar as it whirls to take its frustrations out on Pyrrha.
  1. It's neat that teenage Grimm are quick and deadly threats in their own right, rather than Elder Grimm being fodder.
  2. ...huh. Did the staff bind the jaws of powerful Grimm shut just to make them less dangerous for the purposes of the test? Or did Pyrrah manage that and I somehow missed it? Wire would make sense as a weapon for magnet-girl, but I don't see any indication it was her, and silver isn't her colour.
She's already dashing forward, dropping into a roll and vanishing between its legs. Her short sword flickers out like a bronze streak as she rises, striking tendons, joints, arteries, anything even close to a more conventional opponent's weak points.
Not cool, girl. Not cool.

"Not native!" you reply. What a powerful strain it must be to be so hard to kill already! You're already salivating at the prospect of consuming it. Which is very inappropriate right now so you conceal that fact by hiding your mouth behind your sleeve and raise your banner.
...what's with all these non-native Grimm? Do they import fairy tale monsters into the Forbidden Forest? Is that wise? Or even possible?

"Take the mask?"

"The mask?"

"Pry it off, trust me!" you shout, spiking your banner securely in the earth and letting it unfurl.
Pyrrah you meathead "hit the obvious weakspot" is not a tough concept to grasp.

The Grimm brings its claw down with enough force to split stone. Pyrrha raises her shield and pirouettes with the blow, ebony claws sparking as they skate across the surface and land uselessly in the dirt. Only a half-second's chance, but she takes it. She slings her shield on her back with the motion, snatching at the beast's lowered arm with her now-free hand as she scarpers up its limb like a cat. For just a moment it seems stunned by her sheer gall. But then it's moving again, practically flickering as it darts sideways and aims to dash her against a nearby boulder. She leaps, catching hold of its armoured spine and holding on for dear life as the Grimm's arm shatters the stone to rubble instead.

Up she swarms, teeth gritted in a savage snarl, gripping its broad neck with her knees to steady herself. K-think goes her blade as she drives it into the seam between mask and shadow. Thump thump thump goes her palm as she drives it into the pommel, hammering the sword in like a nail. The beast spins wildly, swiping madly this way and that, tossing its head in a desperate attempt to dislodge her. Thick clouds of choking dust rise, more stone debris flies sky-high and rains down, even solid tree trucks splinter and fall around it as it lashes out in pain and confusion. Pyrrha weathers it all, grunting with pain as wild blows skate off her shield.
...I don't think I previously grasped how big this thing was, if Actual Amazon Pyrrah Nikos needs to Shadow of the Colossus it.

You drop flat on the ground and tear open your maw, practically throwing the unfamiliar Grimm's cracked mask down your gullet like a coin in a slot a moment before its corpse comes down like a hammer on an anvil. You let out an all-too-real cry of pain, minds rattling around in your empty skull like dice in a cup. For a moment you fear you'll vomit up your prize, but after a heartstopping second you find it. Safe and sound right where it belongs, dissolving in the well of shadow. Making off with another predator's just reward - oh it's almost nostalgic.
Acting like a total moron has many benefits, in terms of concealing our true powers and motiv-

oh fuck

we're sith lord jar jar binks

The pair that vanished while everyone was arguing after Ruby left. The slender man with a coloured streak in his hair and the ginger woman that was talking at him. He holding a bow with bladed limbs, she holding a warhammer with some kind of mechanism behind the head. Too far away to smell the specific kinds of Dust in their construction. Just close enough to notice you notice them. Close enough to lock eyes with you and Pyrrha for a long, tense moment. The four of you turn as one to look at the sheer cliff the town is nestled against, rising up and up and up until Beacon seems to be riding atop the crest of a stone wave poised to come crashing down. Accessible, as far as you can tell, by nothing but a staircase cut into the side. And there, up at the very top, so far it's difficult to really see clearly, is a pair of flags. You don't quite get the significance.

"... I don't-" you start to say out loud break the silence.

The ginger woman leaps on the man's back and thrusts her hammer forward. "ONWARD!"
I'd just like it on record that this entire sequence is amazing.

You're not quite sure what happens next because Pyrrha scoops you up under her arm like a suitcase.

"Wah!" you cry.
Once again, two points:
  1. It speaks well of Pyrrah that she didn't just leave us in the dirt and sprint for the finish herself.
  2. "Wah! What are we going to do on the bed, Hunter-onee-san?"

A man stands over you, practically towers in fact. He has to be half a foot taller than Jaune, and the angle you're seeing him from only makes that more readily apparent. He's dressed in a black suit with matching vest and gloves, his undershirt and scarf a deep forest-green. A pair of small, dark spectacles sit perched on his nose, doing absolutely nothing to hide his golden-amber eyes. His silver hair is mussed-up and carefree, as if he only just got out of bed. His cane, a gilded silver thing that's all segments and brassy cogs, rests against the rough stone floor just by your ear.
Haha, Ozpin's not that tall-

Ozpin is 6'6"

what

wh- what


Also goddamnit Merlin we finally got you into a suit and you still won't comb your goddamn hair.

A gnarled old tree grows there, tall as five men and near-colourless with age, its leaves a shock of bright orange and russet red.
...you know, there's been a lot of autumnal imagery in these parts.

"Ohhhhh about..." Ruby makes vague gestures with her hands, "fffffour, maybe five hours?" She pauses, cradling her mug in both hands and shrinking down sheepishly. "I had to stay here so I wouldn't go back and ruin the exam for everyone."


"Well maybe if you were a little bit more careful with your strikes-!"

"Well maybe if you knew left from right-!"

"My left! I stated very clearly it was my left!"

"I was right next to you, left is left bitch!"

That'd be the ah... aforementioned tornado. You glance at the silver-haired man with the cane. He just stands there, quiet and still, entirely unbothered by the screaming argument reaching his ears.

"Clearly that... that toilet hooch has blinded you as well as completely ruined your sense of balance!"

"Wow. 'Toilet hooch'. Real five-star pull there, Princess. Have you ever actually been outside, or has it just been a series of Schnee-brand Envirobubbles?"

"You are just impossible! This whole trip you have done nothing but whine and complain!"

"I'm so sorry, I guess it's just in my nature to steal your jobs."

"Wha- that- that was uncalled-for."

Quite the opposite, the man seems to be relishing the thought of how the three will react when they crest the final rise.

"But seriously though she's right, is that paint-thinner in your flask or did something just crawl in there and die?"

"Hey man, didn't see you complaining when I torched those Grimm!"

"Yeah, because they still smelled better."

"You see? You see what I was trying to work with? She's just trying to be difficult!"

"No I'm not. I'm succeeding. Huge difference."

The corner of the silver-haired man's mouth quirks up.

"Well thank you, truly, this particular trip through monster-infested woods has been both bracing and enlightening! At this point I don't even care if I wind up with the street-rat and the vomiting one, so long as I never have to look at either of you. Ever. Agai-"

The three women finally climb into view and freeze. They look at the man with the cane, and he looks at them.

"Ladies," he says. "Welcome to my school."
My expression is an uncanny approximation of Ozpin's.

The sun's dipped noticeably lower in the sky by the time the final team makes its way up the final rise. The man with the slicked-back hair leading the way, heavy mace shouldered, taking in the sight of everyone else waiting for them with a look of grim resignation. His fine clothes are rumpled and slightly scorched, but he doesn't seem to have a scratch on him himself. The tall, broad one comes next, leading the one that hurt his arm -Sky, you think he said back on the ship- up the rest of the stairs. The tall one is sporting some fresh bruises and Sky seems to have hurt his leg. Finally there's the shabbily-dressed one with the half-shaved head. Now that you have time to look properly you can see the feathers mingled in with the hair he has left. He looks completely haggard, anxiously scratching the back of his neck with sharp black nails.
And here comes Hufflepuff.

There's a silent rustle and hubbub as a dozen prospective students from all walks of life huddle together in the shadow of the great tree, clumped in front of Ozpin. He waits patiently for everyone to be silent and still, for all eyes to be on him. That's when he pulls the lever by the handle of his cane. All at once clockwork begins to ratchet and whir and catch, brassy gears visibly spinning through a clear plate on the side. He lifts it up off the ground and it begins to shorten, segment by segment, clicking and clunking, expanding, retracting, reshaping into the trick-weapon of the headmaster himself.

He detaches the bottom from the grip and pours steaming black coffee into the newly-expanded mug in his hand. He takes a sip with obvious relish, letting out a soft sigh of satisfaction that steams in the rapidly-cooling air.
Offfff course it is.

Motherfucker probably has Cuphead as a Zanpakutou Spirit.

"Now," he says. "As you've all surmised by now I'm sure, the crash was no accident. You were not intended to be in real danger. A barrier was erected around the section of the forest we used for this test in order to keep the Grimm from running amok, and progressively shrunk over the course of the day to prevent any of you wandering off and getting lost. The Grimm we released were quite real, but you were monitored from afar by my colleagues and I in case of an emergency. I refuse to accept any but the best at Beacon, and my little test today was intended to weed out all but exactly that. Rest assured that if you had not left the crash site until the barrier shrank past you, I would have failed you immediately."
Oh god it's PUBG as an entrance exam. That's the worst.

Also interested by the mention of a "barrier". Is that magic, technology, or what?

He turns to the final group, the slowest and most ragtag of the lot. All four of them visibly tense, awaiting the no doubt even harsher dressing-down to come. Ozpin lets them sweat. He takes a nice, long sip of his coffee and looks at each of them in turn before he speaks again.

"Mister Winchester," he says. "I may be most impressed with your team of all."


More seriously, I really like that Ozpin's clearly actually evaluating teams and individual Hunters based on their attitudes and achievements throughout the test, identifying areas they need to improve on and motivating them to do so, while largely just acknowledging rather than praising their innate strengths. He's... you know, acting like a teacher. How unlike canon.

It also means we can see the logic behind his Team/Team Leader decisions, instead of the former being totally random and the latter being Extremely Mysterious Mentor With Twinkly Eyes Logic. Ruby's competent, eager, and decisive, but rushes off on her own, so give her responsibilities that tie her in place. Cardin's already taken charge of a group that clearly respect him and who he did a good job of guiding, he just needs refinement - so make him a leader. Ren/Nora and Pyrrah/Jaune are two pairs that split off immediately, both of whom need to learn to rely on and support a wider group, so join them up and make Jaune - not an egomaniac like Nora (and Pyrrah?) and not a pushover like Ren - into their nominal leader, aided by his support focus. Yang/Blake/Weiss are a) the leftovers, b) a rolling bitch tornado, it'll be hilarious, so stick them together and give none of them a leadership position, and instead put Ruby in charge. Yang's relationship with her will ensure she has consistent support and force Yang to be slightly more responsible, Weiss will clash with her and force them both to grow (or, y'know, die), and Blake can hopefully be overcome by her enthusiasm.

It makes sense, even without him outright explaining his logic.



Now for my vote - I previously tossed one at Ren and Nora just to get a head start, but honestly, we'll probably see enough of them in the future. So I'm going to instead take solid aim at Team Badger, who have likely changed the most (and I say this knowing that Yang has horns) in this setting.

We've already talked to Ruby, and while I'm interested by Sky's powers I don't actually see why we'd home in on them. Dove isn't even an option, poor invisible dude. Is that his Semblance? So that leaves...

[ ] Belladonna and the street kid. There seems to be something more at work below the surface for the both of them, and you're interested to know what.
[ ] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.

Racism or Classism? Hm, well, the first one actually interests me more, because the situation of the Faunus is likely quite different in this setting, but as an Arc I feel like we have a unique "in" to the latter. So...

[X] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.
 
[X] Ruby and Sky. She seems to have latched onto him over something. Maybe whatever it is he can do that warranted Ozpin's specific approval?
 
[X] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.

Jaune was a noble, so we need to show these nouveaux riches how much superior to them Jaune Alter is.
 
[X] Ren and Nora. Maybe Ozpin had a point about them being too close, they're the only ones that aren't mingling. Who better to expand their social circle than you, then?
 
I tried to tally the vote but the count was off. It wasn't registering several people I know have voted/changed votes. I will try again in a bit.
 
[X] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.

The interesting thing is Yang.

I mean, Ozpin addresses everyone by their surname. Except Yang. She is 'Miss Yang', so that implies fun things about Tai/Raven/Summer.

In canon Ruby sticks out by having Summer's surname instead of her father's. Here Yang seems to not have one at all.

Bandit Clans don't have surnames and so Tai 'honors' his first love by making sure Yang follows their naming convention?

Faunus in some places aren't allowed to have surnames?

Yang is technically bastard so no surnames for her?

Fun all around.
 
[X] Schnee and Winchester. They seem to be deep in conversation - well, she seems to be complaining at him as the only one close enough to her status for it and he seems to be humouring her. Eavesdropping alone might prove useful.

The interesting thing is Yang.

I mean, Ozpin addresses everyone by their surname. Except Yang. She is 'Miss Yang', so that implies fun things about Tai/Raven/Summer.

In canon Ruby sticks out by having Summer's surname instead of her father's. Here Yang seems to not have one at all.

Bandit Clans don't have surnames and so Tai 'honors' his first love by making sure Yang follows their naming convention?

Faunus in some places aren't allowed to have surnames?

Yang is technically bastard so no surnames for her?

Fun all around.
Under Chinese naming conventions, Yang Xiao Long's first name should be "Xiao Long", and her family name should be "Yang".

Rooster Teeth ignored this because I don't know, lol culture, whatever. So she's first name Yang, last name Xiao Long, as demonstrated by her father being Taiyang Xiao Long. Note that Taiyang means the same damn thing as "Yang", just... "bigger". So they're effectively Yang Sr. and Yang Jr. Fucking rednecks.

Presumably Zerban's set this to rights, so Yang's last name is... Yang. And her first name is... something else, maybe still Xiaolong. Ruby presumably calls her Yang because it's easier for a little child to pronounce, and it's not like her garbage-tier mother stuck around long enough for there to be any confusion, whatever her name might have been in this setting.

(we might ask why, in canon, Yang takes her father's name and Ruby takes her mother's - it's not like they're Ruby Rose and Yang Branwen, in which case matrilineal naming would obviously be the Patch convention - but I think I can confidently put this down to "who gives a fuck, Rooster Teeth certainly didn't")
 
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Wire would make sense as a weapon for magnet-girl, but I don't see any indication it was her, and silver isn't her colour.
Based on a single scene, I think she reverses events here instead of having magnetism. SO if she throws her spear, she can make it reverse back to her hand.

Or I'm completely off base, IDK.
we're sith lord jar jar binks
The common name is Darth Darth Binks.
Bandit Clans don't have surnames and so Tai 'honors' his first love by making sure Yang follows their naming convention?

Faunus in some places aren't allowed to have surnames?

Yang is technically bastard so no surnames for her?

Fun all around.
That, or Zerban decided to be consistent with the asian naming conventions.

So, much like Ren, Yang Xiao Long is surname first, given name last. And yes, that means that her first name is technically 'Little Dragon'. Still, probably better than having a first name which means 'penis'.
 
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Under Chinese naming conventions, Yang Xiao Long's first name should be "Xiao Long", and her family name should be "Yang".

Rooster Teeth ignored this because I don't know, lol culture, whatever. So she's first name Yang, last name Xiao Long, as demonstrated by her father being Taiyang Xiao Long. Note that Taiyang means the same damn thing as "Yang", just... "bigger". So they're effectively Yang Sr. and Yang Jr. Fucking rednecks.

Presumably Zerban's set this to rights, so Yang's last name is... Yang. And her first name is... something else, maybe still Xiaolong. Ruby presumably calls her Yang because it's easier for a little child to pronounce, and it's not like her garbage-tier mother stuck around long enough for there to be any confusion, whatever her name might have been.

(we might ask why, in canon, Yang takes her father's name and Ruby takes her mother's - it's not like they're Ruby Rose and Yang Branwen, in which case matrilineal naming would obviously be the Patch convention - but I think I can confidently put this down to "who gives a fuck, Rooster Teeth certainly didn't")
I don't know, I think you an barred the question of why she took her father's name even if the naming convention are matrilineal; would you want to carry the name of a garbage person not called Oscar?

Granted RT are so laughably incompetent I'm doubtful this ever came be up but I too have a little more faith in Zerban here.
 
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