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Topic: X-COM Monday Nights Campaign (Read 4478 times) |
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Jenniza
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ooc: WARNING!!!!
DO NOT USE THE 'SKILL POINT RECOMMENDED" DISTRIBTION AUTOMATED SYSTEM IN D20...
somehow I must have done so along the way when making my character to level three...
and wasted 12 skill points into UNUSED D20 Skills that I can never recover. This is over and above the 8 skill points that went into Profession that LB worked out something in combination with my character's profession.
Hard lessons learned. :/
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| « Last Edit: on: May 21, 2008, 5:52AM » |
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vanya mia
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With a slight sigh Catalina gave a rueful smile to Dr Sandesh's departing back. "Now is that a case of painfully shy or a case of warned against giving information out, I wonder?" Retaining the chirpy air she'd left to clean up and rest.
The following day she was seated in the recreation roo, checking to see if her own email had left the outbox, when Dr Wagner's arrived. While reading it, Catalina's fingers drumming casually on the arm of her chair as she did so. Her head tilted thoughtfully for a moment the she spoke so that anyone around could hear.
"..until we capture some of the alien power source, research in this area will yield limited results," she quoted, "Does that mean they need the power source to complete the work in the first place, or that any technology gained wouldn't be as it could be if we have some?" She tapped her finger on the later comment about the power source and sighed. "They want some of the fuel I managed to let go I suppose, the stuff that vanished as soon as I pulled that lever?"
She paused again and frowned. "I imagine that I must have lowered whatever magnetic field was holding it, that would make sense. The trouble is, aren't we going to need something that echoes the containment field, even if on a smaller scale, in order to bring some back? It doesn't like like it would fit in one of those poly bag things, but I'm no scientist."
"In which case, I suppose we'd better ask one." Catalina grinned, "Only this time maybe by email." Saying that she composed a brief email to Dr Wagner on the two topics, using the xPhone, and sent it.
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Jenniza
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Jane listened and watched Catalina's actions then replied, "Thanks, Catalina, I had kind of wondered about what had happened with the fuel in retrospect; but, it all happened so fast. I had been kind of playing it back in my head to see what had happened that day. You filled in the missing piece."
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Lazybones
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on May 21, 2008, 7:54 AM, vanya mia wrote:| "In which case, I suppose we'd better ask one." Catalina grinned, "Only this time maybe by email." Saying that she composed a brief email to Dr Wagner on the two topics, using the xPhone, and sent it. |
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The response comes quickly; it seems Dr. Wagner is working at her computer today.
FROM: DR. KIMBERLY WAGNER, X-COM RESEARCH LEAD
TO: CATALINA DE FERRAGO
CC: MEMBERS, ALPHA TEAM
RE: Alien Power Source
Very good questions, Ms. De Ferrago. Regarding the alien weapons, our preliminary examinations have indicated that they use a small amount of the alien fuel that has been embedded in some sort of crystalline lattice. Our experiments have indicated that this material is both incredibly powerful and incredibly unstable; we need a supply of the raw fuel before we can understand how they work, and implement the proper safety protocols. Otherwise, an operative is as likely to blow his or her arm off as to blast an alien, through simple ignorance.
As for securing the fuel. Yes, you are right, in that the alien material appears to be contained in a magnetic bubble within the alien ships. The blue crystal you encountered appears to maintain the containment field around the fuel. When you deactivated the engine, the fuel imploded. Dr. Okwelume has theorized that this is a safety mechanism, to prevent an explosion that would destroy the ship. He also believes that the material may be a new element, one that cannot exist naturally within our universe. Be very careful discharging weapons near these magnetic containers!
If possible, try to capture an alien storage unit intact. We are already working on constructing our own storage unit for the clean-up team, which should allow us to transport the alien fuel to X-COM. However, until the material is fully researched, Class 5 safety protocols will be observed in all interactions with the alien material. |
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| « Last Edit: on: May 21, 2008, 1:58PM » |
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Jenniza
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FROM: Jane Swift, X-COM Alpha Team Field Agent
TO: Dr. Kimberly Wagner, X-COM Research Lead
CC: Members, Alpha Team
RE: Alien Power Source
After watching some TV once, I was inspired to do some research on the internet which led me to a site at Cambridge on M-Theory. Didn’t understand most of it; but, it was interesting for the parts that they made understandable to the general public. What I’m getting at, is there some way to use all that advanced science out there to form a containment field capable of holding the fuel source in either a stationary unit or portable unit like the plasma guns’ power packs? The science has to exist, since the Sectoids use it on their ships and in their guns when they fire on us. We just need to figure out what it is. Think we could convince Stephen Hawking to consult for us somehow?
http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/
---------
ooc: it was a Stargate episode referring to M-Theory, and I was in the midst of my Project Twilight Campaign... my character being a sci-fi geek, I had to post the link on my campaign website under the technology & magic page 
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| « Last Edit: on: May 21, 2008, 6:44PM » |
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Smart Alec
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Anyone in the rec room a day later will find Vasily, sitting on one of the sofas staring at his phone and telling anyone who comes near:
"Stuff not being build fast enough! You seen how slow laser pistol is taking? Base too cramped, we losing ground. Need to seriously tell people to start making more building space. And then make more building space after that! I say after they finish missiles, we tell them to build more workshop. And then after that, tell them to build even more workshop."
And after that, if anyone shows signs of agreeing, he'll add, a little more quietly:
"You get sense that aliens doing what we doing? Examine other species, test new weapon on human and cow and horse and building... before big invasion? We need be ready. We need be ready faster."
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TheBaldMan
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on May 20, 2008, 11:59 PM, Lazybones wrote:
Before he or any of the others can reply, she turns and strides out of the room. |
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Buzzes smile broaden. He was surprised that he had missed any particular feature of the x-phone that could have been used to track his activities. But even so he was pleased with the effect of his mischief. The way she walked away...he would always hear Beach Boys music when she was near. That in itself would make her sour personality tolerable and bring a smile to his face.
"I guess she doesn't want my help!" He shook his head in mocking sadness and left the room. He would thoroughly examine his x-phone; whether Agent Drake was playing a bluffing game he could not tell. He would make short order of finding out. He would also make short order of developing some sort of circumvention. What better way to be a patriot than to be a rebel . . or at least a trouble maker, he thought.
While he was at it, he would test and probe every security barrier within X-Com's internal tech-matrix. If the aliens were attempting to track them through any means, communication or technology, Buzz wanted to be the first to know. He thought he could at least set up a warning message that would be sent to his x-phone. Maybe it could simultaneously place additional orders for Agent Drake. He almost laughed aloud at the thought. Regardless, he believed he would be the best at facing such a threat despite Agent Drakes' trepidations.
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Jenniza
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Joint post
Chat Room Program: mIRC
Host: irc.NeverwinterConnections.com
Port: 6667
Room: #X-COM
Cast:
[Jenniza] as Jane Swift
[BoomerX] as Doctor Baron
Edited by Jenniza
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Scene: Doctor Baron's Office
Doctor Baron shuffles his papers as he patiently waits.
Jane knocks on Doctor Baron's door.
Doctor Baron replies, “Come in.”
Jane enters and greets Doctor Baron, "Hello, how are you, Doctor Baron?" offering a friendly handshake.
Doctor Baron shakes her hand while smiling, "Well I haven't been shot today which is an improvement."
Doctor Baron gestures for her to take a seat.
Jane takes the offered seat, "Not being shot is always a good way to start the day," grinning in reply to Doctor Baron's joke.
Doctor Baron replies, “Well I suppose we should start off the session with that one question, has anything been on your mind lately?
Jane sighed, "Always a good question, I suppose," then she smiled a little, before continuing, "I guess it's been somewhat hard to get things done around here with all the limitations we keep running into, such as governmental red tape; international communities disagreeing over budgets, contributions and expectations; resource management here and how far we can stretch things and people; scientific limitations given current understanding of the universe; the amount the Sectoids kick our butts in the field as well as he world at large; etc."
Jane finishes, "It's just frustrating."
Doctor Baron gives a sympathetic nod, "If you had the choice all over again would you have still agreed to come here?"
Jane doesn't hesitate in answering, "Knowing what I know now? I wouldn't give up on a chance to save the world in its time of need. I could never turn my back on this."
Doctor Baron crosses his arms, "I'd like to tell you that it will get simpler... that soon the red tape and government difficulties will change... but they probably won't... at least not in our time. The world is having to wrestle with a brand new concept of alien life and it will probably be years before it will be handled smoothly."
Jane admitted, "For the time that I need to cope with at least, I'm simply assuming that it will just get worse and worse. Part of my job will be coping with it. Part of all of our jobs will be coping with it. We're all in this together at least," there was an air of gratefulness in her smile and her eyes.
Doctor Baron chuckles, "Yes, if nothing else at least none of us has to go through this alone. If I remember correctly you brought up the subject of whether aliens should be treated as prisoners of war. Have you had many thoughts on how they should be treated and how we should define them as enemies?"
Jane considered the question carefully, "Chief Hallorand was the one that first steered me onto the idea that they should treated as Prisoners of War. The term seems to apply in some ways and in other ways not. To apply officially, a major world Power would have to officially declare war on the Sectoids and acknowledge that they exist to the general public. Since that has not been done, we are not officially at war with the Sectoids, and that means the Geneva Convention does not apply to them. It is a bad loophole to exploit if one wanted to avoid treating them as Prisoners of War; but, technically, it's true."
Doctor Baron nods as he rubs his chin, "That shows a good perspective of looking at the future. I'm afraid most of us, including myself, got too caught up in the combat of aliens. We haven't placed much thought on how we should view or treat them in years to come."
Doctor Baron looks at his watch, "I have another appointment I must attend to, but I'd like for us to have more sessions if possible."
Jane nodded in reply, "I've been looking at this as total war to defend all of Earth. Same time next week?"
Doctor Baron grins, "Certainly, let me know though, if you ever want an earlier session."
Jane nods as she gets up and shakes his hand while leaving, "Will do. Thank you."
-----------------
ooc: Boomer, let me know if you want anything changed, just figured this would be faster.
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| « Last Edit: on: May 22, 2008, 12:52AM » |
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TheBaldMan
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on May 21, 2008, 10:18 PM, Smart Alec wrote:Anyone in the rec room a day later will find Vasily, sitting on one of the sofas staring at his phone and telling anyone who comes near:
"Stuff not being build fast enough! You seen how slow laser pistol is taking? Base too cramped, we losing ground. Need to seriously tell people to start making more building space. And then make more building space after that! I say after they finish missiles, we tell them to build more workshop. And then after that, tell them to build even more workshop." |
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Buzz always listened when the Russian spoke. He did not speak often so when he did Buzz knew he had something important to say. Buzz looked up from his x-phone, "You know, it does seem to be taking quite a while to get us weapons. I'm just a tech guy but do you think just making the workshops bigger will speed things up?"
quietly:
"You get sense that aliens doing what we doing? Examine other species, test new weapon on human and cow and horse and building... before big invasion? We need be ready. We need be ready faster." |
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Buzz said something to Vasily in Russian((PM Sent)) but anyone nearby would have clearly heard the words "Agent Drake."
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Jenniza
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Jane sighed, "I have to agree with you on the production issue; but, it's a balancing act to consider with manufacturing resources: Do we ever cut production of immediate needed goods for building facilities and labs, which can increase the production rate of future things such as research, medical, defense or even the overall manufacturing rate which can increase the rate of producing thoe facilities as well? It's a difficult question about planning for the future of this war. There are many out there that refuse to acknowledge the scope of this war and treat it as a minor thing that can be handled on a tiny scale. Until we bring this up to the full potential of lessons learned in World War II where they finally brought the entire Industrial Revolution to bear, we're not going to win this."
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Jenniza
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FROM: Jane Swift, X-COM Alpha Team Field Agent
TO: Dr. Kimberly Wagner, X-COM Research Lead
CC: Members, Alpha Team
RE: Alien Power Source
In Pop Culture Science and Science Fiction, I’ve heard the term Plasma, Plasma Drive and Plasma Weapons kicked around before as a fourth state of matter, besides solid, liquid and gas, as applications for space travel and weaponry, besides basic stellar composition. Is there any relationship to what the scientists here are investigating with the Alien Power Source and its containment field?
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vanya mia
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"Jane, right now the lack of ability of world powers to co-operate on a grand scale is being ably demonstrated by your own." Catalina remarked as she walked into the room. "I'd look very close to home before throwing too many stones, were I you." She wandered over and sat down. "Regardless of that, at this stage there is no way we can turn the manufacturing capacity of the entire world over to the production of any technology X-COM develops. That would mean being open about the threat on far too many fronts, and the mass panic that would ensue following any revelation of the reason behind it would do the work of the aliens for them."
She shook her head. "No, we have to hope Vasily is correct, and the aliens are testing us. If so then we make it as difficult as we possibly can for them on this small scale and give them reason to pause. Should luck be on our side we can deter any potential invasion until this work can be revealed slowly and incorporated into worldwide defence on a grand scale. If not," she shrugs a little ruefully, "I suppose we go down fighting."
"Either way, in my opinion our Russian colleague is also correct in the rest of his reasoning. We've lots of things we need made and not enough space to make them. Certainly the need the medical resources are important but, to quote an old adage, prevention is better than cure." Leaning back Catalina swung her legs up to cross her ankles on the table in front of her, but her expression was anything but relaxed. "First we resolve to make do with the equipment we have, but we make sure it is in the most appropriate hands, by practise to ensure that is the case."
The blue eyes turned a very pointed expression on each of the Americans in turn. "The weapons go to the best shots, and the motion scanner with the most effective scout. We assign ourselves roles in the team and we stick to them except in an emergency, overlapping actions are currently hindering rather than aiding us.” She looked directly at the big Russian as she continued. “And when out in the field I suggest we take orders on tactics from Vasily. He has more relevant combat experience than any of us, so out there he is in charge and we do as we are told unless he is down.”
Catalina gestured to the xPhone Jane was holding. “We also suggest that the base ploughs all of its resources into creating a new manufacturing workshop. When they have it ready we ask them to turn over the new workshop to manufacturing what equipment we feel would be most useful, while the rest of the capacity continues to build more workshops. We can't live with this trickle of resources. X-COM needs to show the Sectoids we are a threat, and do so now."
((OOC - I missed the conversation last week, due to the vagueries of my *insert expletive* keyboard setup which had reset somehow, and I missed how the decision was made to allocate the laser pistol, or how it came to be Catalina who ended up with the motion detector. Myself I'd say ideally the lasers need to be in the hands of the PCs with the highest attack and/or damage combinations. The detector should be with best scout or perhaps, in the case of some roll being used, the PC with the highest level of skill. This might have been what happened, I'm not sure, can someone confirm let me know?))
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| « Last Edit: on: May 22, 2008, 7:53PM » |
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Jenniza
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Jane replies, "Catalina, first off, I was agreeing with Vasily, not contradicting him. Please don't twist my words on me. Nor did I say the rest of the world exclusive of the United States was responsible for the red tape and delays. As a citizen, I have to use the term 'we', so we are just as responsbile for the delays and short-sightedness as the rest of the world unless we are going to start nit-picking... Do we really have the time and energy for that? Or do we have more important issues to discuss than play the blame game? Third, is it really necessary for you to go around the base using the term, 'Calamity Jane' in public or are you just looking to see if if it bothers me. If you're wondering, I find it unusual that you bother, when we have more important issues at stake," all said without anger or strong sense of emotion. She's kept calm and cool through this.
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| « Last Edit: on: May 22, 2008, 7:48PM » |
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TheBaldMan
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Buzz looked at Vasily with a knowing wink. "Good luck, Comrade." and he buried his nose back into his x-phone.
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| « Last Edit: on: May 22, 2008, 8:06PM » |
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TheBaldMan
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on May 22, 2008, 7:15 PM, vanya mia wrote:| ((OOC - I missed the conversation last week, due to the vagueries of my *insert expletive* keyboard setup which had reset somehow, and I missed how the decision was made to allocate the laser pistol, or how it came to be Catalina who ended up with the motion detector. Myself I'd say ideally the lasers need to be in the hands of the PCs with the highest attack and/or damage combinations. The detector should be with best scout or perhaps, in the case of some roll being used, the PC with the highest level of skill. This might have been what happened, I'm not sure, can someone confirm let me know?)) |
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((Went something like this, you crashed the scanner was dropped by the tech, Jane was ask if she wanted it, she said no and that she would be staying back, a lot of hem and haw, Buzz was ask if he would use it since he knew how to use tech stuff, Buzz said it would best be used by someone willing to be out in front and that he would be stay in the back(Buzz prefers foder in front of him hehehehe)and suggested maybe Cat would be a better candidate, someone suggested Buzz pick it up and hold it for Cat. And from there you know "The rest of the story" )
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Jenniza
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on May 22, 2008, 8:12 PM, TheBaldMan wrote:on May 22, 2008, 7:15 PM, vanya mia wrote:| ((OOC - I missed the conversation last week, due to the vagueries of my *insert expletive* keyboard setup which had reset somehow, and I missed how the decision was made to allocate the laser pistol, or how it came to be Catalina who ended up with the motion detector. Myself I'd say ideally the lasers need to be in the hands of the PCs with the highest attack and/or damage combinations. The detector should be with best scout or perhaps, in the case of some roll being used, the PC with the highest level of skill. This might have been what happened, I'm not sure, can someone confirm let me know?)) |
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((Went something like this, you crashed the scanner was dropped by the tech, Jane was ask if she wanted it, she said no and that she would be staying back, a lot of hem and haw, Buzz was ask if he would use it since he knew how to use tech stuff, Buzz said it would best be used by someone willing to be out in front and that he would be stay in the back(Buzz prefers foder in front of him hehehehe)and suggested maybe Cat would be a better candidate, someone suggested Buzz pick it up and hold it for Cat. And from there you know "The rest of the story") |
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ooc Jane is a Gunslinger and specialies in guns, so I fingured that it made sense for Jane to have the laser pistol. She has a high BAB despite being unlucky that night. She also gets LOTS of GUN feats... LOTS of them, that's what a GUNSLINGER is all about after all:
level 1: Point Blank
level 2: Gun feat
level 3: Gun feat
level 4: Defensive Position
Level 5: Lightning Shot
Level 6: Gun Feat
Level 7: SharpShooting
Level 8: Gun Feat
Level 9: Gun Feat
Level 10: Gun Feat
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vanya mia
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((I agree, what we probably need is an OOC exchange and then for folk to temper that with IC decisions on character. I've no idea how everyone's BAB or skill levels compare, and normally don't go in for this kind of OOC checking, but these things are tough. While we're low level and each point counts, and there's not enough kit to give everyone, maybe it's best to check?))
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Jenniza
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OOC two notes:
1) does the joint post between Boomer and I count as a post for Boomer as well?
2) In doing some testing of pistols and other firearms, I've noted that my initial assessment that the damage for the Laser Pistol is NOT 50% to 100% more than a typical pistol... it is different TYPES of damage...
I did not record the actual damage or have the erfs etc to back this up, so bear with me, this is purely speculation with some facts:
A shortbow is 2d6
A pistol is 2d6 +1d6 ballistic
A laser pistol is 2d6 + 1d6 energy (with a tag NO DAMAGE... which I think somehow translates to special effect of some sort, which I have no idea what that means, having sored 11 damage with 1 of the hits, I think)
FYI
a longbow is 2d8
certain rifles are 2d8 +d8 ballistic
a heavy crossbow is 2d10 (I think)
heavy weapons might be 2d8+d8 to 2d10+d10 (I forget) but they get very weird, I know that much
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vanya mia
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Throughout Jane's remarks Catalina sat with a calm smile and eyes seriously intent on the woman. When she had finished Catalina responded in the same measured tone as she'd used before. "You know, I thought Calamity Jane was one of your cultural heroes. Wasn't she some kind of sharpshooter too?" She gave a slight shrug and a ruefully innocent smile. "If not then I do apologise."
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| « Last Edit: on: May 22, 2008, 10:34PM » |
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