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Post by Robert Rogers on Nov 4, 2014 3:03:13 GMT
"That addle pate! Who does he think he is taking my men."
Robert slammed his empty cup down violently on to the table. Only a few people looked up in the small, dark tavern. Robert's fit started in the early morning and had only increased throughout the day. With each drink he finished, his anger only grew. His own men. Taken from him. He picked up his cup to take another drink, already forgetting he just emptied it. He grumbled and threw it across the room. The drinks could not come quick enough. He shot a look at the tavern keeper who looked back in fear. Robert's anger boiled inside of him.
"I do not have to ask for another one now, eh?!"
Cursing under his breath, he stood and pushed the table in front of him. In a few short steps, he crossed the room and stood face to face with the man. In a speedy haste, the man poured another drink and handed it to him. Robert sniffled and grabbed the cup forcefully. He enjoyed the fear he caused. He took another gulp of his beer. It was difficult for him to function normally without any alcohol in his system but times like this were too much for him. His thoughts were clouded in anger and revenge. A major general had needed use of the Queen's rangers. However, he was not in need of Robert.
"Now I am just stuck here in this god forsaken town"
Drinking the rest of the beer, he slammed it down on a table.
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Redcoat
Mar 28, 2015 13:41:31 GMT
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Post by Danny McPherson on Nov 4, 2014 14:23:17 GMT
The Tavern was not far down the town, but it was far enough to leave it out of the main sprawl of houses. Danny guessed it's customers would be mainly farmers and frontiersmen. Men who had either not chosen a side yet, or kept their opinions to themselves when anyone of military colours came walking through the door. All the same, she had worn her buckskin clothes, to blend in as much as possible. No one wanted a jumped up British Redcoat waltzing into the place like he owned it, least of all her.
She was on assignment from a new colleague. A man who knew her secret and kept that knowledge to himself so long as she did well enough in his service. The fact that she was under his thumb rather than under his payroll boiled her blood, and she was glad he had told her to meet her target at a tavern. She needed a drink.
Before Danny had taken three steps in the dimly lit main room, she had found who she was looking for. A burly man in green rangers gear with a Scotsman's hat perched rakishly atop his head. She noticed the chieftain's feathers in the cap, but let it slide. If this man wanted to think of himself as a chieftain, let him, but she knew what a real one should act like.
"Whiskey, or wha'ever amounts tae scotch aroond here." She growled at the barkeep in her best highlander voice, making herself loud enough for the man in the corner to hear above his grumbling. She had caught his last complaint as she had entered and signaled for the man behind the counter to pour him a second dram of whiskey, shaking her coin purse in reassurance.
"You and me both, Jock. Welcome tae the end of the civilized world."
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Post by Ronald Norris on Nov 6, 2014 2:57:01 GMT
"Lissie, have you finished my lace yet?" The hobnails in Ron's shoes clopped the wooden floor as he paced back and forth in the front hall in front of his furiously concentrated cousin. The girl winced and swore under her breath as she put the regimental on her lap to pull out yet another splinter from the gold lace,
"Dear cousin," she muttered taking a deep breath growing snippier with each pace her cousin took, "patience is a virtue. You must sit and wait-- here," she motioned for the maid to approach with the tea tray, "Thank you, Alice." the maid curtsied before pouring the boiling liquid into a tea bowl, "Ron, sit you down beside me and take some tea. Mayhaps you should use less sugar, hmm?" the boy plopped himself down into the chair before gingerly grasping the hot tea bowl and drinking from it,
"Thankee, Lissie." he said putting the bowl back into its saucer and sitting it down. He craned his neck to take a look at his cousin's stitches. She sat straight up in the chair and did not look very comfortable sewing, but he could hardly imagine what it would be like to sit and sew while wearing stays. Did girls always have to wear them? Why couldn't they just take a break every once in a while? Didn't they hurt? She looked up and smiled at him,
"Do you approve?" she asked returning to her stitching,
"I would if I could actually see your stitches." they were nearly invisible, they were that small. She giggled,
"Aye, they are small, but they won't come apart, see?" she tugged at the gold lace to show the tight stitches securing the lace to the coat, "What did you do to get the lace to come off like this? Pray do not tell me the Doodles got a hold of you and were trying to steal it for funding their silly rebellion." Ron shook his head,
"Nay, Lissie! I was in battle and I dodged a cannonball! It came right at me and it missed!" she gave him a skeptical look,
"I am sure it missed you by a hair, Ronald."
"It absolutely did!" well, the cannon ball did nearly graze his back, but the real reason why his lace had come undone was-- in fact-- because he had been running through pricker bushes after various animals he wanted to sketch. Lissie went quietly back to focusing on the sewing and after not too long, she was finished,
"Ahh! There we go! Try it on, Ron, let me see it on you." he snatched the coat from her lap before pulling it onto him; it looked immaculate... almost. She squinted and turned her head, "Oh no..." she rose from her seat taking a moment to enjoy stretching her legs after sitting for an hour or so before going up to him, "This loop here is off by a tiny bit. Hold still, Ron." she pulled the needle out and his eyes widened,
"Oh not again! You will poke me with the needle again like you did last time you tried this!" he backed off,
"Oh come on, tis not so bad! See you the state of my hands? They're riddled with holes from the needle, come off this nonsense and sit still!"
"Lissie no!"
"Ronald, come back here and sit still!" the two were in a chase before he saw Danny walk by the house through the window,
"Oh look! It's my friend Danny! Lissie, let me introduce you!" he grabbed her hand and began pulling her out of the door,
"But Ron, I need to work on this hat--"
"You may work on it later, cousin! I must introduce you to my friend! Danny! Heyday Danny!" he ran after his friend with his cousin in tow,
"Ron, I pray you slow down! You must keep in mind that I am in pocket hoops and petticoats!" she held onto her linen organdy cap perched onto high hair as she ran with her cousin after this Danny fellow. The two followed him into the tavern,
"Danny! Heyday, tis good to see you, fellow son of Mars!" he shook the fellow's hand vigorously, "I have not seen you in such a long time, tis a delight!" he brought his cousin into the tavern with him. She was hesitant about going into the establishment for they were in the bar and certainly ladies like her would never be seen in such a place. Oh what would her mother say if she found out she was in a TAVERN,
"Ronald, if we could please take this conversation to another part of the tavern--"
"Pray, allow me to introduce you to my cousin, Lissie Norris. She just repaired my regimental, it is good as new, is it not? She is a most talented seamstress!" she blushed at the compliment. She gained a bit more confidence before entering the tavern,
"Heyday, sir, tis lovely to meet you." she said with a deep, respectful curtsey no doubt repeatedly practiced from girlhood, "I have heard many stories about you, Ron thinks most highly of you so a friend of my cousin is a friend to me." she was glad to see that her cousin was making friends, the boy was so full of energy, it seemed she was the only one that could keep up with him, but perhaps he found a friend he could relate to in the army. She scanned the room looking at all the men and feeling even more out of place in her cotton print caraco and silk petticoat then looked down making sure she didn't make eye contact with the men lest any of them get ideas from a well dressed lady in the bar part of the tavern.
Meanwhile, Ron was overjoyed to see his friend after such a long time,
"Danny, what have you been up to, mate? Have you been on campaign? I have been stuck doing garrison duty and it is quite the bore, but at least I have gotten to see my cousin again. I have been needing to see her for a long time, my sleeves were getting too short again. What are you drinking?" he sniffed the contents of the ceramic mug, "Woof! Scotch!" it was then when he saw Robert Rogers and calmed himself down a little since the chap didn't seem to be the cheery, "let me introduce myself" type like he was, "Sir." he said clearing his throat.
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Redcoat
Mar 28, 2015 13:41:31 GMT
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Post by Danny McPherson on Nov 21, 2014 3:12:22 GMT
It took a moment for Danny to realize who exactly it was that had burst loudly into the tavern behind her and grabbed her hand in a warm handshake. It was the quickness of his movements that set her brain to remembering Ensign Ronald Norris. She was almost certain that his quickness was what was going to get him through this war, no sniper or bullet would be able to keep up with him!
"Ah, Norris, guid tae see yae again laddie." She clapped him on the shoulder if only to get him to release her hand from his grip, smiling through gritted teeth as she watched Rogers' attention wane back to the bottom of the tankard in front of him, there went her chance to gain his company this night. She managed to catch the introduction of the cousin that stood awkwardly behind Norris, clearly not comfortable in the testosterone filled room.
Danny stood and made a modest bow as the girl named Lizzie collected her dignity and curtsied. "And a pleasure tae meet you, miss, I pray all the stories your cousin tells of me are the innocent kind, where we merely play cards together or attend parties like normal gentlemen. I fear, however, my appearance and the fact that you now find me in a tavern of lesser repute may sully those stories."
Again, Danny was bombarded with a spray of questions from Ron as he buzzed about her and Lizzie like a mighty bumble bee. It was when he noticed Rogers in the corner and tried to catch his attention that she decided they had better move to a quieter and less occupied area. "Norris!" She caught him by the arm before he could move closer to her prey and scare him off completely, "While I would love tae answer all of these questions yae put before me, is it not obvious your dear cousin Lizzie is uncomfortable in this room?" Danny offered the girl her arm in a gentlemanly way, most likely looking ridiculous in her buckskin tunic and leggings and a rifle strapped across her back. "Come, the both of ye, there's a private room in the back where we may have something a little more civil, do yae like tea, Miss Norris?"
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Post by Ronald Norris on Nov 24, 2014 4:51:47 GMT
Ron looked around the bar and it finally dawned on him that this was perhaps not the best place to drag his cousin, who was not much older than himself but by a year and a half, and quickly saw the error in his introduction to his dear friend,
"Oh, do forgive me. Erm, I agree, Danny, this is no place to have a conversation. Would anyone care for Cheshire pork pie? It will be my treat." his stomach rumbled in anticipation for the slices of apple, the delightfully smoked ham, and the golden, flaky crust it was wrapped in that was Cheshire pork pie. Back in Yorkshire, it was the cook, Bessie's, simple comfort food that she made the best; it always reminded him of home and was quick to scarf it down in the Colonies.
Lizzie couldn't help but giggle a bit at her cousin's high energy for there were occasions where she was just as energetic as he was-- this, however, was not one such occasion. In a more social situation, the girl was found flitting about from person to person always careful to observe what each lady was wearing and how she wore her hair. In less social standings such as this bar with rather surly looking fellows, she found herself far more withdrawn, and perhaps it was for the better. This Danny fellow seemed a pleasant young man, if not a tad conscious of his looks and surroundings for which, in her opinion, there was little need for. She took his arm and walked with him to the more brightly lit section filled with tables surrounded by more cheerful looking folk taking in supper with their families,
"Danny, your appearance is absolutely inoffensive and your surroundings tarnish not the gleaming reputation Ronald has given you for you have simply proven them correct; my cousin never has never failed to tell me of the adventures he has been through-- several of which have you have played a most grand and excellent part. He has told me of his scouting expeditions with you and they have proven to be quite exciting; he would visit me at the Lady Western's, at the sign of Apollo and Duck, simply to regale me with the trials and excursions you two have faced. Pray tell me for I crave the answer," she leaned in closer, "Is it true you are have befriended one of those Native chaps? My mother and I are part of the local society that provides them aid and I find their ways-- particularly their spiritual beliefs-- to be ever so fascinating." She perched herself on one of the chairs around the table then Ron sat beside her,
"Aye, verily 'tis true, dear cousin!" Ron said digging into his pockets for enough money for food and drink, "There was a native tracker guiding us upon our scouting trips. His name was Mister Onaawhaaaaa... Onnnaaaaaaa..."he had desperately tried learning the man's name but failed spectacularly every time he tried pronouncing it, "I have simply called him Mister Native Fellow, I have drawn him here, Lissie, come look." he pulled out his small leather sketchbook and opened the page, "Oh, look ye here, a bird! That bluejay was quite the pest to draw for he would not sit still long enough. Here is Mister Native Fellow." the sketch was detailed and fairly accurate, if not a little too colorful with the war paint. His cousin took the sketchbook and studied it carefully,
"Danny, your friend is rather colorful." she said trying not to giggle too much for she knew the chances were exceptionally strong that Ron took a bit of artistic license with Danny's native friend.
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Redcoat
Mar 28, 2015 13:41:31 GMT
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Post by Danny McPherson on Nov 25, 2014 4:03:12 GMT
As she led Lizzie to her seat, Danny had to turn her head in order to hide her blushing at the compliments the lady gave her. "Ach, Norris speaks much tae kindly of me it seems!" She let the lady sit first and then went to hang her rifle on a peg by the door before joining the two cousins at the table.
"Akwiran:iate, Norris, his name is Akwiran:iate. But Ah've just taken to calling him Tey." Danny let Ron show Lizzie his drawing of her friend, catching a glance at the drawing herself and smiling. He really did catch Tey's character quite well, even the pose looked like something he would do. The war paint, however, was a bit of a stretch, she had never seen a Mohawk with any kind of decorations like that, let alone Tey.
"Aye, colourful indeed, Miss. Ah'm afraid Tey is a bit more stoic than all that. When we met, we had been taken prisoner by the Green Mountain Boys, perhaps yae've heard of them? We were locked in a storehouse together, and refused tae speak. Scots, yae may ken, are a terribly stubborn bunch, as are the Iroquois. It wasn't until two days later when we were rescued by his kin that he finally spoke. I was surprised tae find he spoke English verra well, even better than myself I'm sure, and had gone to school and was even adopted by a settler named John Butler." Danny took a sip of her scotch and glanced past the doorway, she had picked a table specifically so that she could view where Rogers was sitting, he still had not moved.
"Anyway, we were taken tae his village and I was proclaimed his blood brother, since I had been the one that had cut his bonds when his tribe attacked the Mountain Boys. Both of us had also been wounded, and our blood was mixed that day. Sealing the bond forever." She rolled her shoulder blade when she spoke about being wounded, as if the memory had caused the old scar to flame up again. Tey had been flogged, and so had gotten the worst of the wounds, but she had been so weak from captivity that after cutting his bonds, she barely had the strength to walk away from the battle. She found herself in a foggy cloud of memory and blinked it away quickly, this was no time to focus on the past, she needed to keep sharp. She glanced at Rogers again, just to make sure.
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Post by Robert Rogers on Nov 26, 2014 4:10:45 GMT
The tavern filled with the sound of Robert's laughter. Most people would consider the end of the civilized world somewhere out in the native's territory. Robert found himself more at home there than in any sort of 'civilized' world. He swayed slightly before taking a seat at a near by table.
"Perhaps you're right," he mumbled to the man that just walked in.
He judged the lad, running his eyes up and down angrily. Any man at that age had to some how be involved in the war. He wasn't too fond of red coats at the moment. If he never saw one again, he would be quite happy. For all he knew the man was sent to keep an eye on him. Perhaps take anything else that Robert owned. He didn't have much on him besides his gun and sword. However, the sweet jingle of coins caught his attention. Once the mug was placed in front of him, Robert smiled at the man. He threw it in the air to cheer him before half emptying the mug in one swig. He couldn't hate a man who bought him a drink.
"At least I'm not the only one stuck here. Once I get my men back.."
Robert looked up to see the man was distracted by new people in the tavern. He watched them suspiciously. The woman was not the type to be seen with these men in a tavern. If they had respect for her, they would have left. Yet, something made them stay. Robert tried hard to keep his thoughts on track, however, they began to drift to how he was undermined. The alcohol fueled his thoughts. Immediately, he mind began racing with ideas. The only logical thought in his mind was that his men were taken from him to weaken him. Someone wanted to get rid of Robert's power. That had to be it. They were afraid of him.
"But who gave the orders," he mumbled to himself.
Glancing back at the two men again, he tried to think of a plan for revenge. Someone would pay for taking control and ordering his men around without Robert there. Robert had multiple connections from trackers to natives to slaves. He would find out who really was taking control. He stood suddenly, although completely unsure of why. The tavern keeper rushed over and placed another mug in front of him.
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Post by Ronald Norris on Nov 27, 2014 2:37:45 GMT
"I told you he had the best stories." he said nudging his cousin in the side, though all he felt was the reed boning in her stays, he was slightly worried he had hurt her, "Danny, tell Lissie how you escaped from the Green Mountain Boys, I must go fetch the pie. Worry not, Danny, for I shall defeat all of those Green Mountain chaps myself when I see them upon the field of battle, my brother in arms!" he stood up and pushed his chair in before making his way to the bar, he quite fancied a glass of Madeira warmed over the fire with a hint of mulling spices. Perhaps Danny and Lissie would like a glass, too, he had enough money for it; he made his way through the crowded bar when the large, surly looking fellow Danny was seated next to when he first entered the tavern suddenly stood up sending Ron back a few steps,
"Pardon me, sir!" he said, his voice jovial for now he was on a mission for food, "You had almost spilled your beer there, chap! We would not want for that to happen at all, sir for that would prove to be most disastrous! I shall be on my way and out of yours, then! Take care!" he did a little spin as he dodged another chair in the way of his path to the bar then began humming Jolly Mortals as he approached the bar and instead of the friendly looking inkeeper, there stood what appeared to be his wife, an old, shriveled woman in her late fifties with a linen cap that framed a thin, angry face with piercing, beady eyes. She glowered at him through round spectacles,
"You, boy," she said peering down her nose. Her Irish brogue intimidated him a bit for skipping in with a bright British uniform was probably not something she wanted to see, "This is a house o' good repute, it is! I do not need ye comin' in here like a dandified muttonhead with some filthy trollop all done up like she is a bloody princess hootin' n' hollerin' to your friends! This is a house o' good repute, boy, so I recommend ye either keep that in mind or leave!" Ron took a step back,
"Forgive me, marm," he said giving her the "I'm completely innocent and physically incapable of doing anything wrong" look; it worked with his parents all the time, why not an angry innkeeper's wife? "The lady I have brought in with me is none other than my fair cousin who is a most respectable milliner and seamstress. She is much like a sister to me here in these colonies and I had merely wished for my dear friend Danny to meet her for he is also a respectable gentleman, marm! I promise you that there shall be no trouble from any of us!" The old woman narrowed her eyes at him and the two stared each other in the eye for a moment until Ron's stomach rumbled, "Marm, I had arrived to this fine establishment to order a Cheshire Pork Pie and three glasses of warm Madeira for I have heard that your food is the toast of this lovely town!"he had heard no such thing, but if it was good as he said it was going to be, he would certainly turn it into his personal toast of the town. The old woman continued eyeing him suspiciously until he handed her the right amount of money, including a tip, "Here you are, marm." he said with a little bit of a bow to continue his show of respect to get this woman to stop looking at him like his school masters did when he said something he thought was funny. He slowly backed up and briskly began his return back to Danny and Lizzie.
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Post by Lizbeth Norris on Nov 27, 2014 3:01:54 GMT
Lizbeth listened intently to Danny's stories unable to help imagining herself trying to survive such situations and slightly envious of Danny's great adventures
"Goodness, Danny." she said lifting her hand to her mouth, "What you have gone through are nothing short of trials, I truly thank you for your services in returning these colonies to their natural state of order. This rebellion has just begun and I pray it ceases quickly for I cannot imagine it continuing, brother fighting brother and whatnot, for I have a beloved uncle from Virginia who's heart is in the right place but his head horribly muddled in this rebellion and while I wish for him to return home safely, I do not wish his endeavors for the rebellion successful. This foul and unnatural rebellion is tearing my family apart and I would rather it be over than it to continue in the name of so- called 'freedom.' " her brows knit and she folded her arms, "These dissenters have gone too far creating regiments in mere mockery of His Majesty's arms thinking that we can become a nation!" her lips pursed, "We should be fortunate for souls such as yourself and my cousin Ronald for assisting His Majesty in bringing peace to our home by destroying this rebellion as soon as they can." she watched her cousin stand up and head out of the room to get the food then turned to Danny shaking her head with a bit of a laugh, "If he offers you any of the pie, take it for it might be the only chance of food you shall get if it is up to him. I have seen my cousin eat an entire pie the size of my head-- hair included!" she sat up a little straighter and eased one of her sides for the boning of her stays was beginning to dig into her sides,
"Pray tell, Danny, for you strike me as one who is both moral and intelligent, " she said placing a stray piece of hair back into the powdered work of art on her head topped with a large cap, "What think'st you of art? I personally think the earlier art we have been creating as a society is far too opulent and frivolous in nature and it deters our society from true morality. We must all study the Classical works our ancestors have created to guide us into a more moral and stoic people. I personally believe that the rebels have no art in their lives and therefore have no guide to what is intelligent, moral, or Classical for if they have, they would understand that a monarchy is necessary for a society to function for it is a monarchy that commissions artwork to be made-- as the great Roman emperors did thousands of years ago." she pulled out a painted wooden fan and began fanning herself lightly as she continued to think. She enjoyed a good conversation about artwork could easily have one with her cousin, though it usually returned to the topic of "why did the ancients wear bed sheets rather than clothes?"
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Administrator
Jan 16, 2015 23:50:21 GMT
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Post by Voltaire on Nov 27, 2014 4:08:13 GMT
(Danny, Ronald, and Lizbeth: You guys are skirting dangerously close to thread jacking. Please be sure to include Robert Rogers in your posts or you may need to create your own thread)
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Redcoat
Mar 28, 2015 13:41:31 GMT
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Post by Danny McPherson on Nov 27, 2014 18:42:23 GMT
"Och, I assure yae, Miss Norris, the escape wasnae sae much an escape as a rescue. Tey's tribe had been lying in wait for an attack, and it was only during the attack I was able to get a knife and cut my own bonds. Other than that, I did very little to help." Danny cast her eyes down as Ron's cousin spoke about the English and wished for their victory, she could only smile thinly and nod, not quite sure if she really believed in either cause anymore.
She watched as Norris tried to order them some food from the tavern keeper's wife, she couldn't help but chuckle, it was a good thing she had chosen her buckskin over her redcoat tonight! or the lady might be twice as angry they were here!
Danny felt her stomach drop as Lizzie started to talk about education and the arts, what would I know about such things! she thought to herself, frustrated. "Ah'm afraid this is where my facade fails me, Miss. Although it's true I am the child of a chieftain, my father fought on the wrong side of another rebellion, one for Scottish independence. And so I lived my childhood partly exiled from the civilized world. I couldnae tell you the difference between the Romans and the English, for they were all the same thing tae me as a child, invaders from the south." Danny was regretful that the last of her words came out a bit harsh, it was not this girl's fault Danny was poorly educated. "I ken my letters well enough, though, and I can read a map like any guid soldier. My education took place in the wilderness, yae see."
Catching movement out of the corner of her eye, Danny turned and watch Rogers stand, obviously well on his way to a hangover in the morning. She inhaled sharply, afraid he might leave, but then watched as one of the barkeeps ran over and shoved another tankard in his hand and sat him down. now why would he do that...She wondered to herself. And then it dawned on her. They're trying to keep him drunk, trying to keep him out of the way! The Inn keeper must be under her contact's control as well!
"Excuse me for a moment, Miss Norris, Ah've just recognized a friend and would be loath to miss a chance tae say hello. Ah'm sure Ron will be back momentarily." Danny stood from the table and padded over to Roger's table while the bar keep had his back turned. She sat across from the man while he had his tankard up to his face
"That uniform reminds me of the fabled Queen's Rangers, sir," She stated, "but Ah've heard they're away on a mission." She leaned forward over the table as if about to tell a secret. "Sae why aren't yae with them?"
OOC: Sorry about that Voltaire! you're quite right! we were beginning to stray! hope this brings us back on track a bit! sorry for the long post!
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