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Post by Chloe Hawkins on Jun 4, 2008 1:59:29 GMT -5
"You're no fun. You're supposed to say "I dunno. What do you like?" That is how it is supposed to go!"
Exactly, She thought grinning. "Why do the normal thing?" she asked shrugging. she wasn't one to go with traditions or hang out with the "Normal" crowd. No, she marched to the beat of her own drums. No, she danced to the sound of her own...Trumpet. Yes, that was better.
She hated having to leave his closeness by sitting down in the food place, but as long as he sat near her, she would be alright. Oh great. She had become addicted. It wasn't her fault though, she argued in her head. He was just so addicting!
"Tell me about yourself."
Oh. Right. They knew nothing but each others names. No, they seemed to also have some inner connection of personality too. Chloe also placed her hands on the table, copying him. She put on a serene look of 'Professional', and began her tale;
"Once upon a time, there were 11 daughters. 11 daughters with no mom and a hard dad. The 11th daughter didn't like being in everyone else's shadow, so she left. Now she is here in NY, selling papers for the World during the day, and taking the Evening shift at Irving Hall in, well...The evening. Her name is Chloe Hawkins, but everyone calls her Joker. I don't know why? I guess it just fits..." she began, "Anyways, Joker is 17 years old, but people tell her she acts like she is really 7." she continued; "She just recently met a Crazy, fully clothed man, and is now very happy." she stated calmly.
"Does the Crazy, fully clothed man (Well, half clothed at least) feel the same way?" she asked, locking her blue eyes once again into his. This time, it wasn't for a distraction. She wanted to know.
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Post by Chance on Jun 5, 2008 10:32:28 GMT -5
"Why do the normal thing?"
Chance chuckled. That was so true. That basically summed up Chance's life right there. Why do the normal thing when you can do something that no one else would do? Those few words alone gave Chance goosebumps. She was so much like him. It was chance that they had met. The to jokers. Chance grinned coyly and glanced at her. Wow, she is beautiful.
Turning his attention back to the topic at hand, Chance shrugged. "I dunno," he replied lamely. It wasn't his normal, smart reply. But he blamed her for that. She was the one that was distracting him and making him feel so strange. She was the one that made his mind fuzzy and she was the reason he couldn't think straight enough to reply sarcastically. She was the reason he was falling, and fast.
"Once upon a time, there were 11 daughters. 11 daughters with no mom and a hard dad. The 11th daughter didn't like being in everyone else's shadow, so she left. Now she is here in NY, selling papers for the World during the day, and taking the Evening shift at Irving Hall in, well...The evening. Her name is Chloe Hawkins, but everyone calls her Joker. I don't know why? I guess it just fits... Anyways, Joker is 17 years old, but people tell her she acts like she is really 7. She just recently met a Crazy, fully clothed man, and is now very happy."
Throughout her little speech, Chance found himself leaning across the table, closer to her. 10 sisters? Goodness, that sounded crazy. Chance was used to having a lot of siblings; that is how he was raised. But all girls and no mom? He suddenly felt bad for the dad, until she said a hard dad. For some reason, Chance felt anger rise in him. If her dad had hurt her....
Chance shook his head slightly, realizing there was nothing he could do about it. She worked at Irving Hall? Chance found himself more and more intrigued by this girl. In the short time they'd known each other, she'd captured his heart. She'd captured the heart that everyone swore could never be caught nor tamed. And yet, she'd done both within two hours or less.
Chloe, Chloe, Chloe. Chance said the name over and over again, testing it in his mind. He liked it. For some reason, it just fit her. He smiled at her last comment, but found himself at a loss for words. They were now a few inches from each other and Chance didn't know what to think.
"Does the Crazy, fully clothed man (Well, half clothed at least) feel the same way?"
His usual crazy manner was gone. He was all seriousness now, or as serious as you could get with the two of them. He nodded, short of breath. How had she made him feel this way? "The Crazy, almost fully clothed man is very happy," he whispered. He waited, seeing how she would respond. Knowing her, she would probably pull him into an all out, make out session in the middle of the restaurant.
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Post by Chloe Hawkins on Jun 5, 2008 16:35:09 GMT -5
Was she even the slightest bit nervous as to what his answer would be? Yes. Her stomach was now trying to leap out of her body. That, or butterflies were trying to eat there way out of her lower abdomen. Either way, she felt queer right now. She was edgy in anticipation.
He had leaned in closer now, and the two of them combined made quite a repulsing aroma, but she hardly noticed. Hell, she had barely even noticed the fact that her trembling hands had somehow made there way to his hands and had taken them.
"The Crazy, almost fully clothed man is very happy,"
Her heart leaped up into her chest so fast that she thought she might throw it up. At the same time, the butterflies turned into little goblins and began to claw at her stomach, itching to be let loose. Ok, so the goblins were her sudden desire to throw herself at the still clothed naked man. Fight the Urge....Fight the Urge....But he's sooo good looking...Fight the Urge...Fight the Urge....But he likes me....Fight the Urge...Fight the Urge...But he is sooo Perfect....Fight the Urge...Fight the-- Forget it.
She was out of her seat faster than baby's butt slicked down with grease could slide down a metal tube. She was instantly by his side, and pulled him up out of his chair. She didn't care who the hell was watching, this was what she wanted, and there wasn't anyone who was going to stand in her way.
So she did it. She wrapped one arm around his neck and with the other she guided his arms around her. Then it happened. The moment she had been dreaming about since...Two hours before hand. Thats right, she kissed him. She didn't just send a light playful peck though, no, she dove right into it.
The fact that a ragged girl in mens clothing who smelled like a sewer and looked like she had just come out of one, was entwined with half naked young man who also wreaked of the same smell and looked like he had been doused in water recently in the middle of this little cafe, did not occur to Chloe in the slightest. Who cared? She didn't.
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Post by Chance on Jun 6, 2008 12:33:08 GMT -5
Within seconds, Joker had captured his lips. It wasn't just a small peck, no, it was an all out kiss. Just like Chance had expected. She had wrapped his arms around her for him, which he didn't mind, and her arm was around his neck. They were standing in middle of the little restaurant, entangled in each others arms. Both of them smelled like trash and both of them were absent of clothing. Him mostly, but she still wasn't dressed like girls usually dressed.
After the initial shock of being pounced on wore off, Chance responded. He smiled against her lips and then kissed her back. After several moments of this, which seemed like an eternity, Chance broke the kiss. He didn't want it to get to heated, not here. How unromantic was that? Pulling away from her, Chance couldn't help but beam. This was love at first sight, he knew it. All the guys were going to laugh at him and call him a hopeless romantic, but he didn't care. He loved this girl.
Carefully, he leaned his forehead against hers. Their closeness gave Chance goosebumps, and his face began to ache from the smile that continued to grow. He remained there, in her arms, just stuned at how right it felt. They were drawing stares, but Chance was pretty sure neither of them cared.
After several moments of just standing, Chance finally broke the comfortable silence. "Ya wanna go get cleaned up for our date?" He asked. What a weird question! Chance mentally kicked himself. But he just didn't know what else to say. After that kiss, who would?
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Post by Chloe Hawkins on Jun 6, 2008 13:01:29 GMT -5
Pure ecstasy. There wasn't any other word for it. Well, maybe there were plenty of other words for it, but all of them ended in either "Ible" or "ing". She liked the "Asy" effect herself. Of course she was sad that he broke her kiss, but was instantly reassured when he kept her close. His forehead against hers made her stomach flutter. Those darn goblins!
"Ya wanna go get cleaned up for our date?"
Chloe flashed a bright smile at him and nodded, "You know of a good place that we can wash up at?" she asked. She stayed at whichever lodging house would take her for the night, so she didn't really care where to go for washing up. Once again, she wasn't shy. She had learned to simply undress in front of people, as well as washing.
A strange feeling washed over her at the thought that had suddenly invaded her head. Undressing and, or, washing in front of him.... It suddenly made her feel nervous. If ever she did undress in front of him, which, knowing her, she would eventually, she was afraid of what he might think. She was a skinny, not very curvy girl. She wasn't self conscience about her body normally, but now all of a sudden she was. Why? She pushed all of those thoughts out of her head and came back to the present. She would cross that bridge when she came to it.
She pulled her arm from around his neck, and wrapped it around his body with her other one in a gentle hug. She laid her head on his chest, since that was the only thing her head reached, and sighed contently. She could stay there forever.
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Post by Chance on Jun 8, 2008 14:36:53 GMT -5
"You know of a good place that we can wash up at?"
Chance thought for a moment and then nodded his head. "Yeah, come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction of the lodging house. That was the only place that Chance could think of to get cleaned up. And besides that, Chance wanted the guys to meet the girl that had him head over heels in love. They were probably going to poke fun at him, but he didn't care. What was amusing to him was that Race and himself had promised not to get girls. After seeing how it made Mush and Blink act, neither of them wanted that. They were going to be the half of the four musketeers that were not hopeless. But, well, this girl had changed Chance's mind.
They left the restaurant and headed towards the lodging house. Chance held open the door for her and smiled down at her. She was perfect; perfect in every way. After nodding the the owner of the restaurant (who was scowling because the two of them had walked in, created a scene, ordered nothing, made another scene, then left), Chance followed Joker out. Before she could get to far, Chance grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers. He began to swing their hands absently. But he couldn't help but smile at how it felt to hold her hand. He didn't want to let go.
After about 10 minutes, they had arrived at the lodging house. Chance glanced over at the girl next to him, wondering how she would respond. She wasn't from Manhattan, Chance knew that because he would have noticed her. Where was she from? Chance knew she was a newsie, but he wasn't sure where from. But he wondered how she would react to the Manhattan lodging house. Would she feel strange about getting cleaned up here? How would she react to the guys? Chance was positive that they were going to be teased, but he didn't care he just wondered how she would feel.
He shrugged and led her up the stairs to the lodging house. He immediately winced when he heard screaming and running. The Manhattan lodging house was crazy. He swallowed and opened the door for her.
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Post by Chloe Hawkins on Jun 8, 2008 15:03:04 GMT -5
"Yeah, come on."
Chloe went willingly. She smiled brightly at the restaurant owner as they left and called over her shoulder, "Have a great day sir!" It put a small chuckle to his lips, but he still held a scowl.
Chloe's whole body tingled when he took her hand. His weren't sweaty with nervousness or clammy with anticipation. No. They were warm with confidence. He liked her. A lot. She could tell. And she liked him too. A lot. For some reason, she just knew that he could tell too. But just in case, she gave his hand a little squeeze.
Upon arriving at their destination, Chloe recognized it as a lodging house. A newsies lodging house. She could work with that. She was fairly used to being around strange newsies and having to just get on with her abnormal little life with them involved. She was used to having no privacy and she lived with it with no problem.
She grinned at Chance as he held open the door for her, and she stepped inside to the bustle and madness of your typical lodging house. The bustle seemed to stand still for a moment as people stopped what they were doing to check out the new comer, and then the chaos started again. This time, directed mostly at the two people who had just walked in, holding hands.
Questions arose from the ones who knew Chance well, and Chloe just stood there, grinning at everyone. That is, until she saw...Him. The damn boy she had run into once before. There was a silent moment of recognition.
"You!" she screeched, pushing him backwards.
((Cough*Race*Cough)
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Post by Anthony Higgins on Jun 8, 2008 15:25:29 GMT -5
"Aw, you gotta be kiddin' me!" Snitch exclaimed, throwing down his hand.
Racetrack guffawed, and swept up the pennies that lay in the middle of the table. "Tough time, gentlemen," he said profoundly to Itey, Snitch and Jake, who had apparently felt confidant enough to play poker against him tonight. The boys sat at a round table in the lounge room, while some of the other newsies milled around, playing games of their own. Race didn't usually talk to Itey, Jake or Snitch all too much, but they were his friends, and he couldn't pass up the opportunity for a good game of poker, especially if he was confidant he could win.
He figured that no one would be in the mood for a rematch, so he collected his winnings (sixteen cents, four from each player) and put the deck of cards back together. He continued chatting with Itey for a while, while Jake and Snitch went to watch a game of toss penny going on against the stairs. Race's closest friends were scattered all around, and who knew where they were at the moment. Mush and Blink had both gotten girls recently, so they were usually out with them. Racetrack wasn't curious what they did when they were with their girls, but he found himself wondering why they required so much time...
Race intended to put his winnings away, so he wouldn't have it in his pocket during the night. He made his way past the front desk and was almost to the stairs, about even with the door, when a sudden silence fell across the room. Confused, Race looked around, and followed the gaze of the rest of the newsboys: the front door had opened, and Chance had entered. He was holding the hand of...what?
Racetrack was dumbfounded. That was the dame he'd been mad enough to soak in Central Park the other night! Apparently, she had noticed him too, because their eyes locked before she cried, "You!" and pushed him back. He staggered a little, but took back his ground. He sneered at her. "Yeah, me, ya tramp. Ay Chance...wha'd I tell ya about pickin' up garbage? Ya don't know where it's been." There was the possibility that the girl, whoever she was, and Chance had something going, but Race didn't quite care at the moment.
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Post by Chance on Jun 8, 2008 16:10:28 GMT -5
"You!"
Everything was perfect. His friends were asking questions, just like he expected. He smiled and gave Joker's hand a squeeze. He was enjoying himself, beaming at how some of the boys commented on how beautiful she was. He laughed as some of the whistled. Glancing at Joker, Chance's smile slowly faded at her expression. She looked upset, shocked? His eyes then traveled to what she was staring at. Chance saw Race with the same expression as hers. Chance narrowed his eyes and looked to Joker. Before he could say anything, Joker had pulled out of his grasp and was heading to Race. She shoved him backwards and yelled. Chance was utterly confused.
"Yeah, me, ya tramp. Ay Chance...wha'd I tell ya about pickin' up garbage? Ya don't know where it's been."
Well, Chance didn't care what had happened between the two. He stalked to Race and threw a punch at his face. Whatever happened with Joker and Chance, and if it was Joker's fault or Race's, Chance didn't care. Race had just called his girl a tramp. Well, she wasn't really HIS girl, but they were close enough. Of all the people, Chance had expected Race to be to most excepting to Joker. But as all could see, that wasn't happening.
Chance quickly wrapped his arm around Joker's waist. For one reason, to show everyone that he cared about this girl, and another to keep a hold on her. She would probably be lunging for Racetrack here soon. And knowing Joker, she wouldn't stop until Race was on the ground beginning her to stop. Chance glared at Racetrack, his chest heaving. He couldn't believe that he'd just punched him.
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Post by Chloe Hawkins on Jun 8, 2008 16:30:39 GMT -5
"Yeah, me, ya tramp. Ay Chance...wha'd I tell ya about pickin' up garbage? Ya don't know where it's been."
Chloe started after Race again, but someone beat her to it. Chance had decked the boy who he apparently knew, before Chloe could even get close enough. Once he was done though, Chloe wanted a go at him. She went to lunge forward again, but a restraining arm around her waist stopped her. In a normal circumstance, she would have beamed at the thought of him holding her waist, but right now, the only thing she wanted to beam was the boy in front of her.
If she couldn't attack physically, then she would attack verbally.
"You mother fuckin' bastard!" she spat at him. She wasn't afraid to use profanity, especially not around a bunch of boys. A few murmurs could be heard, and guffawing that she had just used such language on Manhattan's own smart mouth. By now, almost everyone had come to watch the scene.
Her demeanor changed suddenly, and she smiled sweetly. Too sweetly. She wriggled her way out of Chance's hold and walked up to Race. "If you don't mind, your highness," she began, putting her index finger in the middle of his chest, "I came here to wash up peacefully, now would you kindly get out of my way before I make you?" she asked, whipping her finger upwards and tapping him on the nose.
((Bwahahaha))
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Post by Anthony Higgins on Jun 8, 2008 16:56:20 GMT -5
Race had been prepared for the girl to lash out at him, but he figured he could take her. She wouldn't do much anyway, and it was in this mindset he decided to say something off-color. He had never thought Chance would get angry. Well, it was a possibility, sure, considering he'd walked in holding the girl's hand. But a punch, he wasn't prepared for.
Racetrack's head was snapped back. He staggered and ran into the front desk, supporting himself as best he could with one arm. The other hand went to his face, where the dull, yet palpable pain was spreading quickly. A murmur circulated: everyone knew that Chance and Race were some of the closest friends around. Slowly Race took his hand away from his face, his eyes looking to meet Chance in shock and disbelief. With a stony expression, Chance put his arm around his girl's waist.
A sharp feeling of betrayal came over Racetrack, and his shocked expression slowly turned into anger. He knew this would happen if his friends kept getting girls. The more time they spent with them, the more they decided they'd rather spend time with their girls than their friends. "Sad day when a fella picks a girl over a friend," he retorted sharply. "Musketeers for life, huh, Chance?" His gaze was accusing, but somehow duller than it usually was.
"You mother fuckin' bastard!"
Slowly Race came back to his senses. He stood straight again and set cold eyes on the girl. "Name callin'? Weak. An' if ya care to enlighten me on why I'm a bastard, please do. Cause I'm still at a loss at what in the hell I did to you. You're just tryin' to pass the blame so you don't end up lookin' stupid." As far as he was concerned, he hadn't done anything to her. If Chance decided to sock him again, Race would punch back. He hadn't wanted to initially, because he couldn't decide what was worse...being punched by a best friend, or punching them back.
"If you don't mind, your highness, I came here to wash up peacefully, now would you kindly get out of my way before I make you?"
He shoved her hand away. "You fuckin' poke me one more time..." he threatened through grit teeth.
((What obscenities!))
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Post by Chance on Jun 8, 2008 19:49:50 GMT -5
"Sad day when a fella picks a girl over a friend. Musketeers for life, huh, Chance?"
Chance winced and immediately regretted punching Racetrack. Maybe he had been blinded by his love for Joker. Don't get him wrong, he was still upset at Race for what he had said, but maybe he should have heard him out; get his side of the story. Chance matched Race's stare, but his wasn't an angry glare; it was an apologetic stare. He cleared his throat and looked away. For the first time, Chance noticed all of his friends and newsies staring at him. He pressed his lips into a tight line and looked back at Race. This had not turned out like he had planned.
"You mother fuckin' bastard!"
Joker was still struggling against his hold, and Chance tightened it. He found himself sending a glare in Joker's direction. Even if he liked her, Race was still his friend. "Joker, stop it," he warned. This was getting them nowhere. Several of the newsies went back to what they were doing, unconcerned about the little dispute among the newsies. But those who knew Chance and Race very well couldn't help but stand and stare at the two. They had never fought before, at least not like this.
"Name callin'? Weak. An' if ya care to enlighten me on why I'm a bastard, please do. Cause I'm still at a loss at what in the hell I did to you. You're just tryin' to pass the blame so you don't end up lookin' stupid."
Chance's gaze flicked to Joker. What had happened between the two? Chance was curious. But whatever it was, it wasn't worth losing two friends over. Chance realized he had overreacted. But, really, he couldn't help himself. Race had just insulted the girl he had been excited to show him. It hurt him, but he didn't need to act like he did. But whatever, he wasn't about to back down.
"If you don't mind, your highness, I came here to wash up peacefully, now would you kindly get out of my way before I make you?"
Chance clenched his jaw when Joker was pulled out of his grasp. "Joker! Stop it!" He exclaimed when she flicked Race. She was only making this harder on him. She had to know the relationship Race and Chance held. She was pushing it, and she had to know that. Chance grabbed her and pulled her back. After doing so, he turned around to the newsies and glared. "There is nothing to see here! Move along!" He turned around to the two, hand still holding Joker back. They were going to figure this out right now.
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Post by Chloe Hawkins on Jun 8, 2008 23:41:35 GMT -5
"Joker, stop it,"
The first one was only a warning. She was used to that phrase - it was used on her often. She had learned to ignore - and now did so inadvertently.
"Sad day when a fella picks a girl over a friend," "Musketeers for life, huh, Chance?"
Uh oh. That wasn't good. Friend? Musketeers? Good Friends? And Chance had just socked his good friend because he had called Joker, who he had only known for the day, a name? She suddenly felt a wave of pity and concern for Chance. This must be hard on him. She glanced up at his face. He looked like he was mad and grieved at this situation. And now, because of her, he was in it deep.
"Name callin'? Weak. An' if ya care to enlighten me on why I'm a bastard, please do. Cause I'm still at a loss at what in the hell I did to you. You're just tryin' to pass the blame so you don't end up lookin' stupid."
"Looking stupid?" she chuckled, "I'm not the one who set fire to my own papers..." she said quietly.
"Joker! Stop it!"
She winced. That one was a threat. That one was a "You better stop now or something bad is going to happen". She let him pull her back with ease. She didn't want something bad to happen. Not now. Not when things had just started to get great. Her day had gone from bad to excellent in a mere few hours, and now it was changing just like that again. She didn't ordinarily say she was sorry to anyone, but this was Chance. He was an exception.
"I'm sorry about that, Chance." she said quietly, and turned to leave the lodging house. It would probably best if she just left now and didn't get herself in any deeper.
((The obscenities might get worse...We may want to ah..*cough* put a little warning in the headline. I'll make ADMIN do it. For the younger ones, ya know?))
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Post by Anthony Higgins on Jun 10, 2008 19:00:14 GMT -5
"There is nothing to see here! Move along!"At Chance's words, the other newsboys seemed to come back to life. They jostled around, trying to find a place to sit where they wouldn't be too visible, but could still hear what was going on. Others with a little more sense (or respect...it was hard to tell at that point) made their way up to the bunk room, until the front desk area of the lodging house was empty, save for Joker, Chance and Race. Racetrack stayed where he was, his cheek still aching from the punch. He leaned against the front desk and stared as cool as he could at the unlikely couple. "You want me to go, Chance, say the word," he said, his voice unusually cold, darkly calm. "Though it couldn't be much clearer I should leave..." "Looking stupid? I'm not the one who set fire to my own papers..." Racetrack grit his teeth. Would she keep going on about that? It was a damn accident, and if she hadn't jumped on him, he would have never dropped his cigar in the first place. "And who the hell decided to jump over a goddamn wall on t'my back?" he retorted, his voice biting with contempt. "I'm sorry about that, Chance."Race looked on as Joker turned for the door. Good, she was leaving. Maybe she had finally figured out that it was possible Chance was the only one who wanted her around. "Good riddance," he muttered, so that (he hoped) Chance couldn't hear. ((Short. Sorry.  ))
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Post by Chance on Jun 12, 2008 10:46:42 GMT -5
Chance was more than thankful that everyone decided to leave. He honestly thought that everyone was going to stay. Obviously, this was something to see. Race and Chance fighting had never happened before. Out of the four musketeers, those two were the closest. But thankfully, everyone gave them their privacy.
"You want me to go, Chance, say the word. Though it couldn't be much clearer I should leave..."
Chance ran his hand along his face and sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry. I overreacted," Chance said through his palms. He had overreacted, but he was just frustrated. This was not how he had planned it out to be. Maybe this is why Blink and Mush hardly ever brought their girls to the lodging house.
"Looking stupid? I'm not the one who set fire to my own papers... And who the hell decided to jump over a goddamn wall on t'my back?"
Chance raised his eyebrows. This is why they were fighting about? Chance decided to let them work it out. So far, him intervening had not solved anything.
"I'm sorry about that, Chance."
Chance grunted and snaked his arm out to grab her. "I don't think so," he said as he pulled her to wards him. "You two are going to work this out." He didn't want there to be a rip in his friendship because of this girl. He liked this girl a lot, and if there was a way to work something out between the two, Chance would find a way.
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))