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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Damien Verlac ~Admin~ on February 9, 2021 at 22:16

He wasn’t like any of the other ambassadors; he was different. Choosing not to change who he was just because he was given a promotion. He didn’t want to change himself to become someone who he was not. Now he just had a different title and more responsibilities that came with it. Damien knew that there were many more other long serving and experienced guards. All those who deserved the position more than him. Yet here he was, the Ailward Guard Commander. The one who was now in charge of many more people other than himself. In the last few years with all the new responsibility he had become more serious. There were some times he was still reckless. Being someone to act before thinking through a plan. It mostly played to his advantage but sometimes it didn't. There was one thing he knew when he first became commander was that he wasn’t going to be one who spent their whole time stuck in an office. That wasn’t who he was. Being a hands on type of person. Wanting to stand alongside his fellow guards. He still had some missions in him. Managing to help to take down a cult who was after Miles. Protecting the manor for an attack at the same time by taking their enemies far away so they could eliminate the threats.

Or the time when he hunted down a group of rogue Therian’s who kidnapped Nadiya. Finding her and uncovering a secret underground prison where supernaturals and others had been all chained up. Taking down all the rogue Therian’s who were in his way, then rescuing Nadiya and all the others. Yet he was a bit reckless that night too. Letting a Valkyr who had an alter ego take his blood rather than to risk her losing control with human blood. Risking his life to save hers. That was there his reckless behaviour and impulses got the better of him than thinking and doing what a normal leader does. Today he stepped away from the manor to help out Nadiya who was away on a work trip. Finding himself working behind the desk at  Poison Pleasure House, it was the brothel that Nadiya who was his sire and a mother to him works at. Sometimes he would help out to man the desk. Like times like now. He kept it a secret from the other guards finding it was a bit weird for them to know, and not wanting to know all he does out of work.  

There he was sitting at the front desk of the brothel house his feet were propped up on the desk. He was twiddling a pocket knife in his hands to pass the time rather than reading a book or to be on his phone like any other person. A couple hours had passed since he had arrived there had been a few walks in then some bookings the usual. Till he heard the door opening and someone walking in. His supernatural hearing was able to pick it up even with all the music being played. He noticed as she walked past thinking she could slip past him. It was too bad for her with how he was able to see who it was. The face he couldn’t recognize so to speak but the descriptions matched. It wasn’t too long ago since Malva had come to him, pre-warning some people from their past had come back. It used to be his job to keep watch of the phoenix’s in the past when they lived here. 

A smirk appeared on his lips as she stopped and walked over to the desk knowing he’d spotted her. The familiarity was coming back to him. Right then his suspicions were right, it was her. “It’s actually commander now” He valkyr remarked correcting her with a smirk till on her face. Waiting to see how surprised she would be. This was one of the last places they would expect to meet at. “I’m not bound to the manor 24/7, I’ll have you know” He started to say pointing out something that others forget. “I’m helping out a friend, she’s out of town. She needed someone to help run the place, making sure it didn't burn down and all”  Finding that he had to explain himself to why he was here but he would ask the same thing to her. “Malva told me that you were back” Yet he knew that she’d already expected it since he was able to know it was her. The Valkyr soon cleared his throat as he put his feet off the desk trying to be more professional. “So what shall it be. Is it business or pleasure for why are we here?” He marvelled teasing her and empathising the word pleasure with how it was in the name of the place. He was familiar with what she was like knowing how she liked to play games. 

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Leona Vivaldi d'Fierro on February 12, 2021 at 17:19

A look of feigned-shock washed over the Venetian's features as the valkyr announced his promotion. "Is that so?" she gasped sarcastically. "I suppose being a boot licker after a number of year does reap its benefits." A smirk then tugged upon his lips, matching the male's expression---Damien had known Leona long enough to know that it wouldn't be a proper greeting from the former-Phoenix without a bit of teasing banter. "Are you not?" she queered to him not being bound to the manor, an eyebrow raising lazily. "That's definitely news to me--it'd seem that your lives revolve the eight."

The woman then let her hip rest against the tabletop, hands still propping her up as she looked at the male in amusement as he spoke. "Lucky for you then, that my name's no longer synonymous with burning, isn't it?" she drawled, rolling her olive green hues. "Did she now?" Leo slurred words hinted with the undertones of her Venetian upbringing when he brought up his charge had informed him of her return. "That's no surprise---I knew once I'd revealed myself to her, the news would travel like wildfire." A low chuckle sounded from her, Leona tossing her head so her thick, dark waves would move away from her face and fall over her toned shoulders. 

She watched as the man kicked his legs off the counter, sitting upright in his seat in what she assumed to be an attempt of looking somewhat more professional. This brought a flash of amusement to her expressive hues, and at his words, she couldn't help but let out yet another musical chuckle, especially at how he chose to emphasise a certain word. "Hmmm," she sounded, her gaze sultry as it slowly swept up and down his angular features, her tone playful. "A bit of both, I'd have to say if I'm being honest," Leona confessed a moment later, a smirk still upon her blood-red lips. "Makes the best sort of adventures, no?"

The Venetian creature raised an eyebrow before she spoke again. "I need to find a man who, well, let's just say wronged my family in the worst possible way." She paused, tilting her head to a side. "He's a dark-haired bloke, hazel eyes, rather tall---goes by the name 'Henry Lark.'" Leaning forward, she kept her gaze on the Valkyr guard. "I promise, if you tell me where I can find him here---and I know he's here---I'll play everything by the rules. No killing or unnecessary maiming." Her fingers then moved to draw an 'X' across her heart before rising by her head. "Scout's honour," she purred, looking at the man smugly.

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Damien Verlac ~Admin~ on March 19, 2021 at 13:27

It seemed like his laid back night of covering watching over the desk was no more now with the arrival of the ex-phoenix ambassador. Back when she left years back so did all of the other phoenix’s, all choosing to follow. All bar Sapphire who decided to stay beside and join the guard. Damien never did properly know why they all left then with the arrivals of Nieves. Truthfully it all confused him a little, these days he is barely able to keep up with all the happenings in and around the city. Damien was trying to boost a little of his promotion, looking smug. With how people least expected it to be given to him, surprising a lot of people. Yet he knew that Leona would come out with an insult in return, like always. “You never change don’t you. New face or not '' He teased softly smirking to his old friend-acquaintance. There was no denying it that it was her even if she’d had a re-birth. “We all have a life out of the manor if you should know” He commented little bit sarcastically to how she’d always teased the guards in the part of being so dedicated to their jobs whilst he took a more laid back approach. 

“Instead you're an ice bird rather than a firebird?” He smirked at the brunette. Damien could see that she wasn’t surprised that Malva had told him about her arrival. “You always did like to make a dramatic entrance” Pointing out how Leona always likes to cause a little bit of drama. Back in the past everyone knew who she was and what she was capable of. Knowing not to mess with her. Even if she caused him more trouble. Damien knew that she was always up to something. “So you haven’t been getting any lately” He winked at her softly since they were in a brothel and all thinking he’d take his chance to tease her. 

Just as he thought she was here to seek someone out. He listened closely as she told him some descriptions of the person, nodding his head a little. The name didn’t ring any bells to him, he didn’t think so. The Valkyr couldn’t help to roll his eyes at Leona as she promised that she would play nice and wouldn’t be killing the person she was after. “Hmmm how many times have I heard that” He uttered to her. “Leona d’Fierro doesn’t place nice” Not forgetting what she was like that a few years and rebirths wouldn’t change her. Putting all that aside he shook his head to her letting her know he didn’t know. “I don’t know anyone of that name. I only cover the desk when Nadiya is off or out of town. Maybe he’s used an alias. You can look at the books and records if you want” Letting her know he wouldn’t be that useful to helping her but at least he’d t

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Leona Vivaldi d'Fierro on April 5, 2021 at 15:27

Leona clucked her tongue at the Guard's remark about her never changing, a smirk still toying at her lips as she looked down at him. "How else would I keep my reputation, Commander Verlac?" she slurred, a smooth, velvety chuckle rolling off her tongue. Her fingers stretched along the cool surface of the table, the woman cocking her head to a side as he spoke to her. She nodded in mock agreement at his statement of having a life outside the manor, a patronising glint in her narrowed eyes. "You tell yourself that, dearest," she mused, "and maybe one day it'll come true."

At his observation of her change in species, she rolled her eyes. She lifted her hand, willing some water in a pitcher not far from them to come towards her, hovering about her fingertips before moving in a circle. "Water, ice--it's the same element really, and definitely not as entertaining as fire." A sigh slipped past her lips, and with a flick of her fingers, she willed the water to float back into its previous container. She then arched an eyebrow at his remark about her tendency to make an entrance, a smug looking moulding upon the Venetian's face. "Go big or go home, as I love to say," she uttered with a shrug, a teasing lilt to her accented tone. At his next words, Leona couldn't help but let out a low chuckle. "Have you seen me in this body, Damien? What do you think?" she purred, her teeth tugging on her bottom lip as she toyed at the guard.

She was well aware that Damien probably suspected that she was here to seek someone out---the expression on her face told her that he definitely was not surprised. However, at her promise, he rolled his eyes, causing the Niveis to raise an eyebrow once more. "I'll remind you that I do keep my word and not kill the ones I promise to keep alive." She shrugged, pausing for a moment. "If they try to fight me, however, the maiming does become necessary." Of course, there was no denying that she wouldn't kill the man if he gave her the chance, but death wouldn't come easy to those who didn't just wrong her, but the people she loved. Her heart fell slightly when Damien informed her that the name wasn't one he was familiar with.

However, when he offered to let her look over the books, Leona couldn't hide the satisfied smirk that pulled at her lips. She leaned forward, her hand reaching forward to push one of Damien's curls out form his face. "There's a reason I like you more than the other, Verlac," she quipped endearingly. Straightening, she felt her brow crease just slightly. "Show me these books then, if you'd please."

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Damien Verlac ~Admin~ on June 10, 2021 at 18:22

Without admitting it maybe there was a small part of him that missed the old fire bird. Although saying that he hadn’t missed the headache that she’d given him. All of the running back and being the inbetween whenever she’d caused problems then the Ailwards would send him out. Maybe it's a bit of the familiarity that he missed with all the changes that happened in the last few years, back when everything was much simpler. Who knows. “A reputation that follows you wherever you go. To make sure everyone knows their place and who the one and only Leona d’Fierro is” He mused sarcastically remembering how she’d made sure people knew who they were talking to, even making people fear her. “I try not to spend the day behind a day all day. I hate all of the paperwork and work at that” Damien was eating his words a little with how he was now spending the day behind a desk but it was different. This wasn’t his day job just him helping out a friend. 

Damien looked impressed as he watched the wielding water from one of the the pitchers nearby but still it wasn’t as good as before. “I still prefer fire no offence. Remember when you used to set fire to people. Now you can drown them to death?” The Valkyr smirked, teasing her, reminding her of what she used to get up to in the past. Back when she was more dangerous now he’s guessing she’s on good behaviour. Water and ice wasn’t as scary as fire. Damien looked over to Leona looking and taking in her new appearance more. Seeing the curves and features have changed, fuller. “Any face or body looks good on you” He shot a wink to her even if he knew that she was just toying with him. 

He was just waiting for her to tell him who she was looking for. It was obvious that Leona was here to seek someone out with how she was trying to sneak and slip past him. If she was here more for pleasure it would be different. Plus he knew her and knew what she was like. That there’s no changing her.  Damien wanted to remind her to play nice rather than causing chaos like before. “Just remember there’s no easy get out of jail card like before” He wasn’t trying to sound harsh it was just him trying to sound more of a leader. The Valkyr didn't want to see someone happen then Leona ended up in bad trouble, now she wasn’t an ambassador it wasn't easy like before to get away with things. Damien was sure that she knew that too. 

Soon as he told her the name didn’t ring any bells he could see the disappointment on the brunuttes face with how she knew she was getting her hopes up. Then he managed to turn her frown upside down saying that he’d look harder for her. “You just know that I’ve always had a soft spot for you” He teased softly smirking over her with. Letting her get away with practically murder before. “So how much further are you looking?” Wondering how many books they needed to go through. Hoping that the person hadn’t used a fake name which was possible then they’d be wasting their time. It could be in any of the books or records.

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Leona Vivaldi d'Fierro on July 17, 2021 at 16:56

"Damn straight," she slurred with a chuckle at his mention of how she had a habit of making sure people knew who she was. "Well, fear not, Commander," she continued, smirking at his remarks about how he got bored being behind a desk, "with me around, you can be sure Malva will have you tailing me making sure I haven't lost my mind again---also, the Niveis don't go insane, so do keep that in mind," she finished in reference to the curse of insanity that befell Phoenix leaders in the past. 

She scoffed when he mentioned that she was less fearsome without her fire. "May I remind you, Verlac, that water is always around us," she mused as she willed water to condense into an orb from the air. "For most, it makes up around 60% of their bodies. But of course, for those like you, who I doubt have water in their brains..." she trailed off as she willed the orb to separate into spikes before freezing. Another chuckle sounded from her. "These are great for torturing. So don't doubt my abilities to make the most out of my situations, and trust that I'm just as deadly as before." With that, she let the icicle spikes fall to the ground and shatter.

She simply raised an eyebrow as she left his gaze skim up and down her hourglass frame, a bored expression upon her sharp features."Tell me something I don't know, Verlac," she purred, yet a smirk poked at the corners of her lips. At his warning words about her not being able to get away with things nowadays, Leona couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I'm surprised you think that's why the Aspects haven't thrown me in a pit yet, dear boy," she mused. "Did Malva never tell you of the deal I struck with her lot? To only kill those who've wronged my people and haven't seen justice by the hands of the Aspects?" She clucked her tongue and let out a heavy sigh. "Seems like them to leave that bit out." Shaking her head, she met his gaze once more, a smirk upon her lips as she ran her finger through her thick, mahogany locks. "Whatever the case, you have my word that I'll keep to that bargain---you'll not have to suffer with my absence for long," she teased.

She smiled when he said he had a soft spot for her---in truth, she did like him a little more than the Guards. He had less of a stick up his arse, as she would often tell her family and friends when it came her dealings with the Ailwards. "You're not so bad yourself, Damien," she responded. "I want to say three years ago, max. At least for now. I've seen his handwriting before, so I'd recognise it. Let's start from about a month back first---my sources say he's visited within the last few weeks."

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Damien Verlac ~Admin~ on August 19, 2021 at 21:12

Back in the old days Leona was a headache to say the least to the Ailwards, mostly to him. With how in the end he’d always find himself to be the one landed to deal with all of the problems that had arrises from the former Phoenix. Mostly back then he thought it was punishment given to him by Malva. With how he knew the Ailward always loved giving him the worse jobs or the interns ones. Anything to see him running around in circles for. In his case it would be chasing after people for her making sure they were not a danger to others. Or so he had tried. It was quite difficult to try to tame a phoenix, especially one who was as difficult as Leona. “So I got to wait to have Malva on my speed dial again… great” He chuckled, sounding a little bit sarcastic at the end. The Valkyr guard was still not all that tuned up with the Nieves species. They still confused him a little. With how they were all phneix’s but were not anymore at the same time. There was none in the guard so he wasn’t all that clued up still. “Wait so you won’t go all crazy on me again?” He wondered curiously raising his brows. Damien could still remember back to what Leona was like just before she disappeared off the face of the earth and in the earlier years when he was her own guard detail so to say. 

Damien zoned out for a few moments as she was explaining water and how her powers worked without needing to have any near her. “Still fire is still a much cooler ability. Like having a ball of flames right in the palm of your hands” He spoke out knowing that she’d probably give him hell for saying it but he wasn’t scared of her. He was known for speaking his mind. Or that the two of them liked to insult each other but took nothing to heart. Soon as he watched her turn her ability into icicle spikes he was starting to turn a little bit impressed. As she was starting to change her mind a little. “Okay maybe that's cool. So you're like the modern day Elsa?” Trying to understand how it works. 

“Still able to put anyone under your spell?” He teased the Nievies. That anyone's room she walks into every head would be turned. “Maybe we’re just keeping the pit ready?” He matched her smirk toying back to her. “So you're the one doing her dirty work then?” Valkyr always had wondered how Malva and the others had left her off so lightly but he knew that they liked to have and use Leona for their advantage. So they didn’t have to have blood spilled at their own hands to have someone do it instead. “I guess you're back to being a pain in my arse again?” He teased back knowing that it was going to be like old days again. Seeing that she hadn’t changed one bit, the same old Leona but with a different face and different type of species. 

For a moment he’d forgotten that she was here for a reason, with each other distracting the other catching up on old times. A groan escaped his lips as she had first mentioned that they had to look in the books right up to 3 years. “So you're looking more for a specific handwriting than name?” Making it more difficult than he first thought. “Let’s just hope he hadn’t changed his handwriting in the books then” The Valkyr walked over the filing cabinets near where they were sitting, pulling out a few books filled with names. “We’re still trying to go digital but we’re not there yet” Both him and Nadiya weren’t all that tech savvy as other people, leaving it to the people who were born in the modern generation. “Did you want a drink?” Forgetting his manners for a moment plus he knew they would need some liquor to help get them through what could be endless hours of searching through the files.

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Leona Vivaldi d'Fierro on September 18, 2021 at 14:58

A smirk toyed at her lips when the Valkyr questioned her sanity. "Crazy's not in my vocabulary anymore, Verlac," she slurred before waggling her eyebrows at him. "But don't you worry, my dear; I'll be keeping you on your toes--for nothing if not my own amusement. I'd be damned if things got boring around here while I'm in the city."

His remarks on her display of powers brought forth a chuckle from the Niveis woman. "If you think that's cool, you should join me the next time I torture someone," she only half-joked. She then loosely shrugged her shoulders as her lips pressed together for a brief moment. "Kind of like Elsa? But I want to say that I'm far more...interesting."

A sultry look crossed over Leona's face as she looked at Damien through her thick lashes. "I don't know, is it working on you?" she teased, a smirk slowly pulling at the corners of mouth as she held his gaze. Another low, velvety chuckle sounded from her as amusement shone in her olive-hued eyes. "Of course they have the pit ready--they'd be stupid not to." She then rolled her eyes at the Commander. "About time you put the pieces together. I give you far too much credit on your intelligence, Verlac," she said in a mockingly-dismissing tone. "Pain in your arse, your reason to get up everyday---poe-tay-toe, poh-tah-toh," Leo slurred with a airy wave of her hand.

Finally, they started on what she came here to do: find her missing link. At his query, she shrugged her shoulders, attention drawn to the books he pulled out. "I know of a few aliases he goes by, but nobody uses their real names in a whorehouse," she mused. "So yes--handwriting is my best lead as of now. To make things easier, I have records of when he was definitely not in the state, so that'll make our job slightly easier." At his doubt-filled words, she couldn't help but let a sly, toothless grin spread across her features. "Don't fret, Verlac--one can't change their handwriting too much, especially when their minds are on getting laid." 

"If you don't have gin, whiskey on the rocks is fine with me," she said in response to his offer. Her long fingers reached for one of the books and flipped her open, her eyes narrowing as she quickly scanned through the scribblings. "It's a blessing you aren't digital yet--I would have barely anything to go on anyway," Leo soon added. "So what's been going on in the city, hmmm?" she asked, not looking up from the books. "Who's this new big bad that's got everyone's feathers rustled?"

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Damien Verlac ~Admin~ on January 9, 2022 at 20:15

“I’ll be making sure to hold you to that… crazy or not right now we never know with you. We all know that you are different from the rest, one of a kind” He smirked back to her pointing out what easily might happen. The Valkyr wasn’t trying to sound harsh but was saying what everyone else was thinking. The two of them were used to throwing insults, winding each other up. Neither of them took anything that the other said to heart. It was just the way that they were. “As long as this time it doesn’t include anyone being set on fire, we don’t want history to repeat itself” He was well aware of her old habits of setting people or things on fire but now it would be to freeze people instead. That was one the headaches he didn’t want to die with again, hopefully the new Leona was on better behaviour or probation. This time it would be harder for her to get away with murder or that he hopes. Damien rolled his eyes at the brunette as she spoke of him being able to watch in during her next tortute session that she only said it to toy with. “Umm no, I had enough of dealing with those in the past” He reminded her. Sometimes he’d easily forget that now he was commander, someone was in charge and that he was no longer a typical guard. Forgetting that he didn’t have it so easy anymore 

Damien could see what Leona was trying to do, he was used to her flirtatious nature. Like he said she would put people under her spell. This time it wasn’t working on him. “Hmm nope” He shook his head being one of the first people to turn her down in a long time. “I hate to break it to you but lately I’ve been more interested in men than women, so your flirting is not really working on me right now” Turning her down for once. The pit was a place that Leona was quite familiar with. A place that was built to fear people ended up being the opposite to the ex-phoenix. “You and the pit” Laughing a little remembering how they’d threaten to toss her in the pit and she’d be almost excited for it rather than fear it. Damien’s few years of peace were not gone, that he’d be back to following the brunette again like old times. “I just can’t wait, you know” He uttered sarcastically, preparing himself for the more headaches to come. 

He nodded his head as she spoke of nobody using their real names in places like these. “It’s a pleasure house not a whorehouse” Even if it meant the same thing pleasure house sounded better that's what Nadiya preferred people to refer to it to. “We have had times when the wives or girlfriends have caught their partners in the act as some men were stupid and people thier real names. Then when the woman came and found out, well lets just say it wasn't pretty” Always finding it amusing when things like that happen even if it’s something he shouldn’t laugh about. “D​​ot the i's and cross the t's” Sighing a little knowing that this wasn’t going to be so simple but he knew that Leona was determined to get to the bottom of it that she wouldn’t rest until she has. “Hmmm it sounds like you have experience in that department” 

“Don’t you fret the liquor cabinet is always fully stocked. We have Gin, Whiskey, Vodka, rum, wine or even a bottle of Baileys. Sometimes me and Nadiya like a glass of baileys every so often” It was no secret that he enjoyed alcohol, mostly he blamed it on either Dominic or Erytherus’s influence but he was partly to be blamed too. Damien walked over to the drinks cabinet that's kept locked up in the office, not wanting others to get their hands on their alcohol. Grabbing two glasses he poured a gin out for Leona and a whiskey for himself. Returning back to the brunette who was already flicking through the books. “Here you go, we might need a few more with how many books we might have to get through” Teasing her a little, handing her a glass of gin before sipping his whiskey. “Hmmm today must be your lucky day then” A sly smirk appeared on his lips. “Even if we do go digital, I bet Nadiya would still want a paper copy just to be sure” Knowing too well what his fellow Valkyr mentor was like that she still was old fashioned not trusting electronic stuff fully yet. Damien looked over to Leona, surprised hearing her bring up in conversation about what's been going on. Knowing that she’s probably caught wind of what's been going on. 

“We haven’t exactly got to that part. None of us has found out what or who is behind the strange things happening in the city. All of us ambassadors still don’t know” He started to say before he got the part that still was hurting him. Still he felt responsible and to blame for what happened. “It’s a few years back now when it all started back. We… I had sent one of our most senior guards Vladimir and Octavia out on what started out on a normal mission. Like thousands they had been on. Until it wasn’t. They hadn’t returned back when they should have. Days, weeks even past. None of us had been able to reach them. Not even Malva could track them” Still it pained him talking about what had happened to Vladimir as he was the one who sent him out. “Me and the other Aspects then the other senior guards had all gathered for a meeting so we could try to figure out a plan to go out and find them. Then suddenly there Octavia was but she was holding something in her hands that shocked all of us. She was holding an urn with Vladmir’s ashes. Vladimir was dead. Someone killed him out there but none of us knows how or why. Ever since then all throughout the city dark things have been happening people have been turning darker almost” Damien scrunched his brows for a moment feeling frustrated by it still blaming himself. 

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