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OPEN

WHO: Adam Young & you!
WHERE: Various locations
WHEN: Second half of September, after the Swear-in
WHAT: Many things! Back to school, working as a dog trainer, exploring, and any other scenarios
WARNINGS: Five billion questions and probable cheeky attitudes

☆ HEROPA; BACK TO SCHOOL ☆
You know, it wasn't even on his mind until a couple of weeks ago, when Aziraphale first mentioned with. With the events in the last couple of months - including ending up here in the first place -, school really wasn't something he was concerned about.

Well, now he's here, in this school, which is...a lot different than his school back home. But that's fine. A lot of things are different, and he's not really worried. Well, as far as it comes to classes and learning, not that he wants to deal with homework or anything. Actually, okay, that kind of sucks.

But it's...other things that bother him. His friends aren't here to hang out with him, and do things like not pay attention to class or complain about homework. Pepper isn't here to talk back at big kids that like to pick on the smaller ones. Wensleydale isn't there to correct them with facts that may or may not be true. Brian isn't here to do dumb stunts during recess that made the custodians mad. His dad isn't there to fail at helping him with his homework and his mom isn't there to help him with his lunches and clothes and making sure he has his books.

He spends lunches and recess alone, for the most part, drawing in his notebooks or reading books that are most definitely not part of any assignment ( unless some teachers have him reading about cryptozoology, the history of witchcraft, or any other themes of the supernatural/occult/cryptic/religious/other kind).

☆ NONAH; STRIKE A PAWS DOG TRAINING SERVICES ☆
Do you have a dog? Do you need to to behave? Or, maybe, you just want to teach it some neat tricks to show off to your friends and guests? Come on down to Strike A Paws, and ask to talk with Adam Young! He's around a couple of times a week, after school.

And you may find him there now, wandering through the aisles in search of supplies to take home. Dog food, check. Rabbit food, check. Maybe some new dog toys? Are there also toys for rabbits? What about beds? He and his guardians will be moving out soon, maybe they'll have enough space for a dog house and a pen in the back yard?

And even if you don't notice Adam, you might find his two little friends running up and down the aisles every so often.

They're friendly, but watch your ankles. The tiny jackalope might think you're intruding on her territory and those horns are sharp.

☆ DE CHIMA; EDGE OF THE WOODS; STRANGE THINGS ☆
It's Autumn, already. Like any other child, he already misses the Summer. It went by so fast, and ended so explosively, but the colder weather is nice too, he guesses.

He misses the woods from back home, so, clearly, the best way to fix that is to find some around here. And different cities are so easy to reach, it takes him no time to find himself standing at the edge of the woods around De Chima, behind some of the houses.

He's looking up at a tree, leaves still green, a bit late to the party compared to its fellows. There's nothing really interesting about it, but he's certainly giving it a ponder.

After a little while, the leaves on the tree suddenly turn yellow and orange, in seconds.

☆ NONAH; 'HOME' (closed to Nonah #003 residents, but open to phone conversations) ☆
He's sat on a couch in the main room - lounging, really -, a large book with strange illustrations left abandoned on his lap. His eyes are set on a window, looking out at the city lights. Dog sleeps on the couch next to him, while Bubsy the jackalope hops around the room, looking at things to chew on or headbutt.

The boy is entirely lost in thought, quiet, thinking about all the recent changes and events, about this place, about school, about moving, about back home. He's been having a great time, sure, and he's seen to many interesting things, and the weirdness of this place actually does wonders to help him feel pretty normal (which he is, a perfectly normal little boy), but it's hard not to miss what's back there. His friends and his family. Tadfield. The woods.

Some things change around the apartment. The food in the fridge. A couple of pictures on the walls - if any, they change, if none, they appear. Some of the colors tweak slightly, the sound of a TV even though the one in front of him is not on, as a British news anchor talks about things that don't make a lot of sense, playing like subtle white noise.

☆ YOUR OWN PROMPT ☆
[ ooc: If there's something else you'd like to play, feel free to drop a random starter down below! Or, if you'd like to plot something out, feel free to message me at

skree or sending a private message to this character account. ]

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[Jane has her own reasons for being out in the woods - mostly to get away from the bustle of the city. Even the more suburban areas can be a little much for someone who delights far more in the wilds of nature than the confines of human development.

She's usually alone when she comes out here. Save for one occasion when someone joined her (and that occasion now swiftly pushed to the back of her mind with the individual's follow-up in the library not long ago) she can spend hours just walking under the trees.

So, when she sees a familiar person ahead of her, she's both delighted and slightly concerned.]

Oh, Adam! [And she picks up her skirt to hurry along. But, wait--] Are you out here by yourself?

[ He's snapped out of his focus as soon as he hears a voice, turning around to see the familiar face move closer. He smiles, and, just a moment later, Dog comes trotting out of the woods with a stick in his mouth, rather large for his little furry body. ]

Hey, Jane. [ A smile at her, although the question makes him look over at Dog. ]

Kind of. Wanted to see the woods, and it's kind of hard to find any in Nonah.

Oh, I have heard that. What a pity. Hello, Dog!

[She bends down, patting her hands against her knees.]

Can I have the stick? I'll throw it for you.

[ Adam turns and smiles, watching as Dog merrily trots over to Jane and drops the stick by her feet, looking up expectantly.

Apparently Jane’s gentle good manners work on Dog.]

What about you? What are you doing out here?

I love nature.

[An easy answer, and maybe one would have anticipated from her. She picks up the stick that Dog so obediently drops for her, weights it a little in her hand, then throws it forcefully off between the trees for the pup to chase.]

I come out here a lot, when I'm not at the bookshop.

[ Dog barks loudly and excitedly, running off after the stick as fast as his little legs can carry him.

Adam smiles, watching the animal for a second before he's looking at Jane again. ]

I spend a lot of time in the woods at home. Could get there right from the garden.

Feels kind of weird, being in big cities like this, now.

Mm... I know how you feel. London never feels quite right when I'm there.

[She'd much rather be here, out and in nature, breathing in the fresh air.]

There are parks, of course... but it's not the same at all.

[ He settles a bit on a thoughtful look, when it's clear that she knows exactly what he means. ]

Yeah. I mean, it's really fun to see all these different places. There's a lot of stuff to see.

[ But. ]

Still miss it, though.

I'm sure that you do. There's nowhere quite like home, here. Everything is so... big.

[Big, and fast, and often frightening, and if Jane was the kind of person to hide herself away from danger no one would ever see her.]

We could have a picnic out here. Wouldn't that be nice?

[ Adam smiles at that, clearly please by the idea.]

Yeah. That’d be great. [ He thinks about it. A picnic sounds great. Under the autumn trees and everything.] We could ask Aziraphale and Crowley if they want to, too.

[ Dog comes trotting out of the woods, bouncing over to Jane and dropping the stick at her feet. He barks up at her and trills, wagging his tail.]

[Dog gets a pat, and Jane throws the stick again. For her slight frame, she has a decent arm, but she throws it a little too high this time and it catches on a low branch and drops before it travels very far at all.]

Oh-- Sorry, Dog.

[Still, fetch it anyway?]

Do you think they'd like that?

[ Adam follows along watching as the stick flies, and Dog darts off at speed - only to have to skid to a stop and go sliding a bit on a bunch of fallen leaves.

Adam is amused.]

Yeah, I think so. Aziraphale would, anyway. And I bet he knows where we can get some really good food for it.

[ The boy looks towards the woods again, while Dog trots back over with the stick, but doesn’t let go of it this time.]

Do you think there’s anything out there?

[Jane takes hold of the stick, then looks down curiously when Dog refuses to let it go. She tugs on it very gently (so as not to hurt his teeth, of course).]

Out there?

[She presses her lips together for a moment.]

What do you mean?

[ Dog growls playfully, clearly proposing a challenge, pulling back on the stick. C'mon, Jane, test your strength against the mighty former-hellhound.

Adam is still looking towards the trees, wondering how far he could go out there.]

There's lots of weird stuff around here. I bet there's lots of stuff we don't even know about, hidden away somewhere.

Maybe weird animals. Or monsters. Or caves with something odd in it.

[Eve offers to meet them at the mall since she is putting together a list of needed school supplies, and she's been on the phone with the school since it was brought up to make certain everything will be smooth sailing for Adam. There's something to be said for having the first mother in existence on your side! She is a few minutes late so click clacking her way quickly on her heels - sensible this time since they'll be walking - and she spots Aziraphale from a distance. He's impossible to miss.

She is radiating excitement and energy by the time she gets there, but Eve has been working on not going over the top. She can be a bit much, so it's a work in progress.] Hi! This is going to be so much fun. [She says it and therefore it will be, she's an expert at fun creating. Eve offers Aziraphale the binder that's in her hands, keeping a little bag and notepad for herself.]

I put together a whole bunch of information about the school in there and all the names you'll want to know! Also emergency numbers oh and I met this very nice boy who suggested you might be interested in afterschool sports or clubs, Adam, but only if you think you are. [Eve's list has all the suggested supplies; she's over-prepared.] Oh, and I made cookies! [She offers the bag; double chocolate chip.] I'm Eve, mother of humanity, hi!

[Here they are! Aziraphale is genuinely grateful for Eve's assistance in this. He's more than a little out of his league despite being an ancient celestial being. He's never been prepared for back to school shopping. Or anything of the like.

He catches sight of Eve and lifts a hand to wave in greeting.]

Eve. Thank you again for the help. Adam and I genuinely appreciate it. Don't we?

[Right yes? But he takes the binder and. Wow. That is. Thorough. The angel looks down from it to Eve. This... is fantastic. Wow.]

[ The boy's a bit distracted playing some mindless game on his phone, and certainly not prepared for Eve's entire energy when she shows up. Which doesn't mean it's a bad thing, really, he's just never actually seen an adult this excited about back-to-school shopping before.

But, also: cookies? Yes please, he will take them.

Give him like a couple of seconds to take a peek at the cookies and look back at her. ]

Hum, hi. [ At least he doesn't look intimidated or anything. She seems nice. ] Did you say "mother of humanity"?

I hope I didn't step on your toes, I just wanted to make it easier on all of you. [Eve puts a gentle hand on Aziraphale's arm in greeting, since they aren't quite at a point where she'd kiss his cheek or anything of the like as she does for friends sometimes. He's lucky she didn't go right for the hug. She's learning to be better about personal boundaries, Chloe is usually very helpful about explaining what normal people expect.]

I did. I'm my world's version of Eve, as in Eve and Adam, the first two humans alive. [She is going to keep saying her name first because everyone else says Adam's first so she's going to even the scales. She understands that he existed first and she was made for him, but still.] Aziraphale here knew your world's version, which means we had to automatically be friends.

[Someone could smile at her and she decides they should be friends. This is how it goes.]

I'd love to hear more about you, Adam, and the things you like. I know you like dogs!

Not at all, my dear. Far from it.

[He's grateful for the help in whatever shape it comes in. But he does reach out to set a hand over hers in turn patting gently.

But then he's nodding along.] That's exactly right. It seemed only fitting.

[He offers Adam a smile and waits, curious as to how these two will get along. Eve is sweet and Adam is a kind boy, so he hopes it will ho well.]

[ Eve. Actual Eve. Well, a version of her, anyway, which is weird to think about still, but it’s not the first time it’s happened here - different versions of people or figures, that is. Though the first one he saw was...a bit more of an awkward meeting.

The boy smiles faintly.]

Yeah. I have one, actually. But he stayed home this time.

His name’s Dog.

[ He has a feeling this is going to be an interesting day.]

[Aziraphale patting her hand helps reassure that she didn't push. She really does want to be helpful. And it's a nice distraction from her personal problems. It would be so interesting to be a parent in this modern day, and she's only gotten a tiny glimpse at that from asking questions at the school. She really hopes acclimating won't be too hard on Adam.]

I'm only sad I didn't know an Aziraphale or Crowley myself! We missed out big time on that.

[She wonders if they do exist. It's entirely possible. Eve doesn't know every single angel that exists! Especially not the ones who are on Earth watching over people. But she does know that others were involved in Eden, so there's that.]

Oh that must make it easier when you call out for him! Simple and sweet.

[She gestures for them to follow, heading toward one of the young clothing departments first.] Do you have favorite colors or anything like that?

[ Anathema doesn't have a dog — she's more of a cat person — but she occasionally arranges to swing by Strike A Paws anyway, to visit Adam or pick him up at the end of a shift or go grab some ice cream together before he saunters back home. It turns out that she just likes watching the boy work: it's a picture of efficiency and a well-oiled mechanism, and Anathema loves efficiency. So today she's leaning against one of the barriers which keep the dogs away from the admin offices, her elbows propped against it, watching as Adam takes someone's puppy through its paces.

He really does have a way with them; the animals seem to hang on his every word, eager and desperate to please. ]

It looks like the government did pretty alright with your assignment.

[ beat ]

For a government, that is.

[ You know, no one really questions why an eleven year old has a job, even if it is just part-time dog training. Adam, for what it's worth, is pretty okay with this. No one really demands much of him, and hanging out with people's dogs is a lot of fun. Sometimes there's small dogs, sometimes there's really big ones. Not everyone really gets a well behaved dog when they get home, but the puppies sure do know some tricks, like rolling over and giving their paw and walking on their hind legs. That counts, right?]

I guess so. [ He crouches and gives the puppy a treat, gently fussing it's neck fur.] Good girl.

[ He looks over at Anathema. ]

Don't think everyone's got the right job. I mean, I've only ever trained Dog. [ Who, incidentally, is working on a complimentary free rawhide bone. ]

Did you get one?

Yeah, I can't tell if they're the best at or the worst. It's all very on-the-nose, like what they gave Aziraphale. You were good at training Dog, though, so at least that's a place to start?

[ Hearing his name -- and somehow intuiting that capital-letter Dog, apart from all the many other references to the other dogs in the building -- the animal perks up and looks at Anathema, who beams back and then hunkers down beside him to give some jaw-scritches. ]

I'm a fortune-teller in Jeopardy, at a place called Small Mediums at Large. I'm working on making the place my own, so it's getting cozier -- you could stop by. And bring Dog, obviously.

Do you like it? This gig. I'm sure you wouldn't have to work if you didn't want to.

[ The name of her workplace makes him smirk in a really amused manner, when it hits him. People are really good at shop names in this places.

But he shrugs.]

I mean, s’ not bad. I get to play with a bunch of dogs, and they let me bring stuff home. So that’s pretty good.

Do you get a lot of people wanting their fortunes told?

[ While Dog is busy being spoiled with scritches, even closing his eyes, Bubsy the jackalope decides to make her sneaky approach. She hops along the wall and gate, stopping to sniff at Anathema’s dress. Which she then decides deserves a nibble.]

Bubsy! Stop that. Bad jackalope.

A few. We're not booked up all day or anything and the shop's often quiet for hours, but we get enough to-- Omigod.

[ Anathema is usually all cool calm reserve, but part of her cracks at the sight of Bubsy. She'd registered at the swear-in and seen the cryptids, but had no idea he'd adopted one. ]

Is that-- yours? Do you actually own a jackalope now?

Oh, yeah. They were showing them off at the swear-in, and Aziraphale and Crowley let me get one. Her name’s Bubsy.

[ Bubsy, the small white and blonde bunny-like jackalope, seems to be entirely ignoring Adam’s order to stop chewing on the fabric of Anathema’s dress. But when she deems it Not Food, she takes to sniffing at it some more, and idly hopping around her until she reaches Dog.

Dog, in turn, eyes the jackalope, but makes no move, because he’s already learned the hard way to not mess with the pointy bits on top of her head.]

Do they get along? It's important to introduce pets to each other slowly, if they're feeling skittish about each other. We had dogs and cats back home that-- well, we had to lock them in separate rooms for a while. [ As if a jackalope is just an ordinary second pet, same as a cat. ]

Maybe you can train jackalopes, too.

[ Joking. Mostly. ]

[ Dog eyes the jackalope closely, quite obviously. Bubsy, in turn, settle on her hind legs and leans a paw on Anathema’s leg or anything solid she can reach, little nose twitching away as she seems to investigate this new person.]

I think they get along. Dog’s barked at her a couple of times, and she’s chased h8m, but they’ve calmed down.

I think he was a little jealous at first. [ Adam says so with a smirk, as Dog makes a low groaning sound at the jackalope.]

Kinda hoping they’ll become friends.

That's good. Me, I already like this one.

[ She'd scritched Dog just a few moments ago, but now -- with Bubsy circling her curiously and resting a paw against her knee, Anathema ducks down again to get within easier reach of the jackalope. Hunkers down on her booted ankles and holds out a hand for it to sniff. Do jackalopes even sniff things? Rabbits do, so she assumes yes-- ]

You're making me feel like I should've adopted something. But I don't have a place of my own, so I wasn't really sure how all my housemates would feel about a pet.

[ Bubsy does sniff at her hand, and at her sleeve, sliding back down onto the floor and hopping around curiously for another moment. She comes back and hunkers, seeming to decide this human is Okay.]

I still had Dog, and got Bubsy when we were still in a flat with other people. [ But Aziraphale and Crowley never really paid any mind to their flatmates and Adam never put having pets in question.]

Maybe you should ask them.

Mm. I think I shall. [ She suspected the Outsider might be fine with another creature in the house just because it was another being to watch, at least. ]

How is it? Your new place, and living with Aziraphale and Crowley.

It's alright. [ He lets the training puppy go off to grab some toys, watching her calmly. ]

Got my own room. With a computer and a TV.

[ All it took as a suggestion. Aziraphale immediately accepted it, so, score. ]

[ A small smile. ] Bet you've got them wrapped around your finger. [ Not because of his powers, or his status, or what he'd once been: just by the fact of being a likeable young boy. ]

[ That, and both the fact that they're ready to give him almost everything he asks for, and that they're not quite experienced in how to care for a human child. At least not extensively. Adam smiles.]

Don't know about that. They're nice, though.

[ Not his parents, but they're all making due. And he appreciates what they do.]

They're a little bit weird, but in a good way.

I think that pretty much summarises everyone from back home.

[ The way Adam smiles makes it very clear that he agrees. After all, the best and most interesting people are all a little weird.

Bubsy hops over to him and he reaches out to pet her. ]

Have you met a lot of people around here, yet? Other imPorts?

So it is a bit difficult to miss bits and pieces of his surroundings changing. It's far from the strangest thing happening around this place -- or in his life in general -- and the angel is studiously putting them back to right until he notices something of a theme with what has changed. It's the family picture that stops him from trying to counter any of it, when it becomes clear he's seeing Adam and his family and ah.

Well. That explains that.

Something in Aziraphale's entire posture softens and he makes his way into the front room, sweeping up Bubsy and clucking his tongue. "Chewing on wires will turn you very crispy. There we are, here are your toys."

That done, he takes a seat at the other end of the couch, turning his attention to the boy, "Having a quiet afternoon?"

The boy seems to only drift back into reality when the angel speaks; coincidentally, the same exact moment the quiet vague sounds of what could be a television show fade completely, and the changed decoration mostly turns back to it’s earlier state. Dog wakes up from his nap, stretches and yawning, and Adam turns to face the angel.

“Oh. Hum, yeah.” He suddenly remembers the book he was reading, glancing down at it. It’s about animals. A bit too scientific. “Guess I got kind of distracted.”

And there it is. On reality fading out and replaced by another. It's unconscious then, what the boy is doing? How interesting. The angel offers a smile, nodding slowly. "Nothing wrong with drifting off in thought, I expect." Generally, daydreaming is harmless if not beneficial to humans, isn't it? But that isn't the point here. Adam isn't just letting his thoughts wander aimlessly, they have a rather obvious destination.

"I fear I owe you an apology, Adam. Sometimes, being what I am, I don't always remember that the human experience can be a very different thing. We've been here months now. For me, that's barely more than a passing moment -- Crowley slept away the better part of a century once, you know. But for someone human, especially someone young, that time adds up much more significantly much more quickly. You must be missing the people and places you belong with."

All of the changed pieces, as far as they can tell from the main room, fade back into their previous state. While Adam wasn’t doing so consciously, he's quickly aware of his actions, much like he had been on that fateful day.

It makes Aziraphale’s sudden conversational subject a bit less surprising, though the boy takes a moment, unsure of what to say. Which isn’t to say he doesn’t appreciate the sentiment.

“Yeah.” He finally says. No point in hiding it. He closes the book on his lap. “I was thinking about my mum and dad. And my friends.” A beat, before he adds: “ Tadfield, too. I was looking at a map the other day - it doesn’t even exist here.”

The fact that the boy apparently has access to powers rather like the ones he previously had in their world, right up until the apocalypse that wasn't, that isn't lost on the angel. But they can talk about that later.

More importantly, far more importantly, is Adam and how this all must be weighing on him.

"Ah... is that so? Perhaps it's something unique to our world then. But that must make it seem farther away." Not an easy thing for anyone, never mind a child. "I wish there were something I could do to put it right, but for now it appears we are here for at least a while longer. Is there anything you can think of that might make it easier?"

It does make it feel farther away. The conversation had come up with other imPorts, about their homes and the differences between their world and theirs. From what he's gathered, there are many places that, despite sharing a similar world, don't exist in this one.

The thing is, after thinking about it, he isn't too sure he'd want it to exist here. It might've been different. Maybe it wouldn't be a little village outside of London. Maybe it would have been all cool and futuristic, but that would still be too different. Maybe it'd be smaller, or bigger, and that still would have been different.

His parents and his friends wouldn't have been there. And that would have been worse.

He considers Aziraphale's question. Actually, actively thinks about it. But, sadly, there isn't one answer he can think of. He gently slumps against the back of the couch and shrugs.

"Not really." He looks up at the angel. "We're just stuck here. And things are different. Would've been weirder if they were all the same."

Aziraphale nods at Adam's answer. "I think you're right about that. It would be stranger if everything were identical." Bittersweet somehow too. If his bookshop were in this London, it wouldn't be his, and then what would it be? So that much he certainly understand.

He folds his hands in his lap. "And we'll manage, of course. But that doesn't mean that managing will be a simple matter. If you do think of anything you need, you aren't alone here, Adam. Crowley, myself, I know we aren't your family, but we do care about you."

And the angel is well aware it's not just them either. Jane, Anathema, and others, he's sure of that much. It may not erase the homesickness or lessen the missing of friends and family far away, but he does have some hope it makes things at least a little easier.

There is something that this place has been giving him - well, a few things, rather - which is the opportunity to meet more people. Not only that, but meet people from everywhere, from different places, from different worlds altogether - heck, even entirely different species. For as weird as things were back home, it's hard to think he'd ever get that opportunity. Beyond that day at the airfield, that is.

Of course, that also raises the question of what'll happen if one day they all manage to go back home. Or if he does. People have said that time stops back there, that, in theory, everything should return to normal, like unpausing a video. But that's a little sad too, isn't it?

His eyes are low while he thinks, but he looks up at Aziraphale and smiles again, genuinely. "I know." And he does. Even if he's only met everyone barely two months ago.

He thinks for a moment, considering their first conversation when they first met in this place. While the angel and the demon never seemed bothered about this whole ordeal to him, he still thinks to ask. "Do you miss anything from back home?"

"Oh goodness yes," Aziraphale answers immediately. "In my case, I think I'm fortunate in that Crowley is here. I'd admittedly be a bit lost otherwise, after centuries of having him around. But I miss many things from back home. My bookshop. The park and feeding the ducks. Several restaurants where I knew the proprietors and would have fascinating chats along with dinner. Honestly I miss London. I know there is a London in this world, but as similar as they may be, it wouldn't be the one I consider home, so that's certainly strange."

Aziraphale is, after all, an angel who enjoys his small material comforts, the familiar places and faces that he's grown accustomed to. He's basically a homebody who likes to go out to dinners. He also desperately misses his wine collection, but there's no need to bring that up to an eleven-year-old.

With that, he’s now sure Aziraphale feels very much the same as he does, although Adam can’t help but to wish he had some more familiar faces. He’s lucky there’s anyone here he knows from home at all, as been proven by several conversations with other imPorts who aren’t so lucky.

“I wonder what’s different. In London, I mean. And the other places.” What is there, instead of Tadfield? Is there still a mine? Does Hogback wood look the same?

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OPEN

☆ DE CHIMA

Re: ☆ DE CHIMA

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Shopping - Aziraphale, Eve, Adam

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sorry for the wait you two I return to life!

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nonah / strike a paws / some guesswork, i can edit if need be!

this is immediately adorable

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Home

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