àłàż SAVAGE BONDS part I ă feyd rautha x atreides!reader ă
summary: destined to one another since conception, your very life belongs to feyd rautha. as a token of good will you are sent to the strange planet of giedi prime a week before your wedding ceremony, only to learn that it is far more hostile than you imagined it would be. a failed assassination attempt has tempers flaring and sparks flying when it is decided to be safer to sleep alongside feyd. you hate to admit it, but he has played the part of a "protector" better than the guards who were tasked to watch over you. whilst you have been dreading this union all of your life, feyd has been anticipating it. meeting you as children had left him awe-struck. . . and a bit obsessed.
warnings: !SMUT HEAVY IN FUTURE PARTS!, feyd is super overprotective in this fic and kills multiple people in your honor, blood and gore, it's a dark romance folks, political marriage, forced proximity, temporary unrequited love, a lil dubious consent in some scenes, there's a lot of talk about breeding, enemies to lovers (in your mind, not his), there's a "who did this to you" scene, knife play, blood kink, breeding kink heavy, lots of scent marking/marking. (needs to be edited, so please excuse any temporary errors!)
word count: 5.3k
The ancient walls of Castle Caladan were a fortress, the long winding halls a labyrinth to those unfamiliar with its layout. You had tried feigning sleep when you had been made aware of the surprise guestâs arrival, a one âreverend motherâ- as your mother referred to her. The cool air from the hallway nipped at your exposed arm, which currently hung limply over the side of the bed.Â
âSheâs even smaller than your son, Jessica.â The voice sounded more like a wheeze- and it certainly didnât belong to anyone you had ever met before.Â
âAs Iâve already said, the Atreides are slow to grow.â Your motherâs tone didnât hold even a semblance of a bite to it, not like you expected. She was usually fiercely protective of you and your brother.Â
Your finger twitched, causing the woman to stifle whatever disapproving comment she was about to make. Being caught eavesdropping like this certainly wasnât ideal, but you found it impossible not to be curious.Â
âShe really is just like her brother,â More like he was more like you. Youâd always been the more rowdy of the two. Paul must have been listening in as well, and you imagined that he was more insulted at the comments of his lack of height and muscle than you were. âThe little rascals.âÂ
There was a beat of silence before the woman began to crone again. This time you opened your eyes just a sliver, staring into the dark abyss of your room so that you could make out the shapes of your mother and the stranger.Â
âRest now. Both you and your brother need to be prepared to meet my Gom Jabbar.â The reason couldnât be pinpointed, but there was something about her tone that filled you with dread.
Your mother woke you up the next morning, bright and early.Â
Not even the breathing exercises that your mother had taught you had been able to calm you down last night. The darkness had swallowed you whole, which resulted in a dreamless sleep that left you feeling just as unrested as you had felt the night before. Your mother noticed your hesitations, the skirts of her dress dragging against the stone floor as she moved in the direction of your closet. The dress that she picked out for you was one of your more official garments, the red hawk of the Atreides crest proudly sewn onto the right breast.Â
âDid you sleep well?â She questioned as she laid the dress neatly onto the edge of the bed, urging you to stand once her hands were free.Â
You blinked at her, nervously brushing your hands along the soft cotton of your nightdress. Your voice felt stuck in your throat, but you still managed to lie.Â
âYes, of course.â Your tone was flat, and for once she didnât question you on the reasoning. She knew exactly what had you feeling so uncomfortable in your own home.Â
Gom Jabbar. Gom Jabbar. Gom Jabbar.Â
What exactly did the old woman want from your family? Lady Jessica was a Bene Gesserit, which could only mean that this woman was a higher up, sent to pay you and your brother a visit. You knew nothing about any âcoming of ageâ rituals.Â
Paul barged into the room, dressed in his finer clothes as well. He leaned against the wall of your room, lips pursed as if he was deep in thought. You tilted your head to the side, leveling him a worried glance. He simply shook his head, and you knew at once that he wasnât trying to dismiss your worries.Â
âNot here. Later.â His expression told you, and for once you obeyed.Â
âThe reverend mother is waiting on the both of you. Paul, get out of your sisterâs room so she can get ready.â She commanded, her tone leaving no room for whining or disobedience.Â
He groaned, pushing himself off of the wall so that he could head back out and into the hall. You shrugged out of your dress quickly at the hurried insistence of your mother, allowing her to do up the clasps of the dress for you.Â
âWho is she?â You asked simply, brushing your hair to the side so that she could get a better grasp of the dress.Â
âShe was my teacher at the Bene Gesserit school and now she is the Emperorâs Truthsayer.â Your mother sighed out your name, turning you quickly so that you were facing her. âYou need to do exactly as she says. There is no room to be prideful today, do you understand?â Her eyes were pleading, and you knew that she had your best interests in mind.Â
You and your mother walked wordlessly out into the hall, catching up with your brother who was busy running his fingers along the uneven stone walls. You flashed a quick look at your mother before jogging to catch up with Paul, taking the hem of his sleeve into your hand.Â
âWhat do you know?â You whispered, turning your head so that you could look at your mother. Much to your surprise she seemed to be in no hurry to separate the two of you.Â
âIâve had dreams about her before,â He whispered, and you had to pick up your pace to keep up with his strides. âAnd mother told me this morning that I have to tell her about my visions.âÂ
Your mouth went a bit dry at the realization that this woman truly was here just for you and your brother. What is the Gom Jabbar and what did it entail? There was no telling.Â
âSheâs in my morning room, you two.â She called out after you.Â
Jessica caught up, leveling the both of you a disapproving motherly look that had the two of you slowing your strides to match hers. She seemed a bit hesitant, eyes flickering between you and your brother and the closed door.Â
The âreverend motherâ sat in one of the tapestried chairs, her arms perched on either side of the armrests as she watched the three of you come in. The view behind her was beautiful, the sprawling, green farmlands of the Atreides family holding on full display through the large windows behind her. You glanced at your brother, eyes widening when you realized that he was already looking at you. He bowed in her direction and you followed his lead.Â
âThey are a cautious bundle, arenât they?â The witch-like woman croaked, looking between the two of you.Â
âAs they have been taught, your reverence.âÂ
In this room, here in front of this woman, your mother was no longer the Dukeâs concubine nor your mother. She was reduced to that of a pupil in the face of her teacher. You kept yourself from fidgeting, clasping your hands in front of you. You fought the urge to reach out and grab your brotherâs hand, as the two of you so often did when faced with anxiety as children. Fear hadnât regressed you to that of a blubbering child in years.Â
Your mother also seemed to fear the woman before her. There was something in her tone that led you to believe that whatever she was here for, it surely wasnât a pleasantry. Your brother was tense at your motherâs other side, jaw tense as he stared the reverend mother down.Â
âTeaching is one thing, but there are some things that cannot simply be taught,â Paulâs eyebrows furrowed as she spoke, and as if she was dismissing a servant of the castle, she waved your mother off with a flick of her wrist. âYou and your daughter leave us. It will be her turn soon.âÂ
For the first time that morning your mother hesitated, eyes softened as she looked upon her son.
âYour reverence, I-â She began, but was cut off before she could finish whatever it is she was going to say. Surely it was meant to be an objection.Â
âJessica, you know that this must be done.â Her voice held a tone of finality. There was no room for your mother to try and wiggle the both of you two out of this trap.
âYes. . . of course.â Your mother straightened, turning towards both of you.Â
âThis test. . . Itâs very important to me, you two.â She spoke in a hushed voice, eyes still fearful.Â
âTest?â The two of you questioned at the same time, looking at one another in concern. You were confused, even more so than you were before.Â
âRemember that youâre the dukeâs son.â And with that your mother was grabbing your arm, pulling you in the direction of the door.Â
âI suppose that it is my turn?â Your voice shook with anger as you practically tore the door off of its hinges, anxious to take your brotherâs place. His cries and whimpers did not go unheard, even with the thick wood separating the two of you.Â
Looking at him now, his right arm still shaking from the pain, was like being slapped across the face.Â
âRight you are, girl. Jessica, please escort your son out of the room.â There was a silvery glint in her bright eyes- a challenge. She could sense it in you.Â
Your mother didnât interrupt this time, and without any words exchanged the door closed. Your brother was too shaken up by whatever had taken place in that room to fully comprehend that the same thing was going to happen to you. He tossed a terrified glance over his shoulder at you just before the heavy doors closed. The sound of it echoed around the room, pulsing in your chest as you tried to steady the adrenaline pumping through your veins.Â
âYour future. . . do you know what is expected of you?âÂ
You eyed the black box that sat next to her as you began closing the distance between the two of you. The question she had asked. . . it was a touchy subject with you. Of course you knew. A day didnât go by that you werenât mortified by the prospect of your future. You only had three short years to live and enjoy before you would be forced to abandon your family to join hands with another one.Â
âOf course I do. It is my duty to marry.â Your voice had a bite to it, your eyes unwavering as you stared her veiled face down.Â
âIt is your duty to marry a Harkonnen. It is an honor to be the only reason that these two great Houses are allies. Your heirs will be powerful beyond comprehension.â The way she spoke. . . she truly believed the shit she was spouting.Â
It was impossible to consider marrying Feyd an honor. It was an ever-present looming threat.Â
âPut your right hand in the box.â She commanded, nodding her head in itâs direction.Â
It seemed harmless enough, nothing more than a metal box. You bent your head ever-so-slightly, trying to have a look inside. It appeared to be a pitch black, endless void. No beginning or end in sight.Â
You did as you were told, biting the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from muttering anything too disrespectful under your breath. If Paulâs screams were anything to go off of then this was going to be painful. Still, you were shocked by how cold the box was. You wiggled your fingers a few times, feeling the metal encasing them. Slowly a tingling sensation began, almost as if they were falling asleep.Â
âYouâve heard of animals chewing off a leg to escape a trap? Thereâs an animal kind of trick. A human would remain in the trap, endure the pain, feigning death that he might kill the trapper and remove a threat to his kind.âÂ
The tingling sensation somehow melded into. . . heat. No, not heat. Burning. It felt as though you had your hand held up to a bright flame. You flinched, but froze when you finally noticed that the reverend mother was holding something against your neck. Your eyes flickered the best that they could to her hand, not wanting to turn your head.Â
âWhat I hold at your neck is the Gom Jabbar. The tip of the needle is dipped in poison. Remove your hand from the box and I will plunge it into your neck.âÂ
The palm of your free hand began to sweat, the gravity of the situation finally landing on your shoulders. You would be forced to endure the pain and there was nothing that anyone outside of the doors could do. No guards had come to protect your brother when it was his turn, and no matter how emotional your mother had gotten whilst hearing his screams she still hadnât rushed in after him. You could truly die here in this room.Â
âWhy are you doing this?â You urged, wincing again as the burning continued to worsen.Â
Now it felt as though you were almost touching a flame, fingers dancing dangerously close. It wasnât just uncomfortable now but painful.Â
âTo determine if youâre human. Now be silent.â
Meant for greatness, yet stifled before her prime.Â
It was impossible for your clipped wings to take flight. The Bene Gesserit had instilled in you your purpose from a very young age, letting it be known that you were little more than cattle to be sold off to breed. The whole arrangement was dehumanizing, but this was the way of galactic high society. Every House had been developed by the close, watchful eye of the Bene Gesserit. Your mere existence was a result of a centuries long breeding program, so how could you ever expect for your own life to be any different?Â
Every child, especially in their naive youth, dreams of greatness. There was a point in time where you had hoped to mean something. There were differences to be made, rules to be broken, wars to be raged- but you would never be at the helm of any of it. But Paul. . . Paul was different.Â
âYou know something that I donât.â You werenât asking Paul, rather telling him what you already knew.Â
Where you were used to your brother pulling no punches, he had been overly cautious with his treatment of you during training today. For a second he just stared ahead blankly at the wall, and you wondered whether he would try to lie. The older youâve gotten, the stranger other peopleâs treatment of you has become. Women were little more than something to be owned. It was a hard lesson to learn and was one you were still grappling with.Â
Your femininity were the chains that bound you. And what of your ambition? It was currently acting as the flames licking at your boot heels. Soon you feared that it would fully engulf you; become your undoing.Â
âTell me.â Your lovely features crumpled, and as childish as it was you found yourself giving his arm a slap.Â
He jumped at the sudden contact, eyes widening as he turned to face you after what felt like an eternity of prolonged silence between the two of you. The hard flooring felt cool beneath your legs as you stretched them out beneath you, and for a second you found it hard to keep yourself up in a sitting position. The world felt unsteady beneath you, both literally and figuratively.Â
Paul didnât have to say anything at all. You looked, you saw, you felt, you understood. Your shared connection had nothing to do with your genes, rather it had to do with your likeness. Two bodies, two minds, but one soul. Your twinâs features crumpled, mirroring that of your own as he pushed a few strands of dark hair away from his face.Â
âSo there is nothing I can do? My fate is sealed.â Your lips felt numb as you spoke.Â
Your brotherâs visions were more frequent than they had ever been before. âHorrorsâ, heâd described them.
âIf there was something I could do. . .â He started, turning quickly to face you, tucking one leg beneath himself. âMy hands are tied. Mother and fatherâs hands are as well.âÂ
Hiding you away or knowingly allowing you to escape your duties would be seen as an act of treason. Youâd be putting your parents and their status in danger, and no matter how desperate you were to get out of any sort of marriage pact, it was far too late. Since the very moment you were conceived, this was what you were meant for.Â
âWhen will the orders come down, you think?â You pulled your legs up to your chest, wrapping your arms around them tightly.Â
You wished that you could stay like this forever, protected from the rest of the world. If only you hadnât been born as twins at all. You wanted so badly to be like Paul.Â
But the galaxy didnât work like that. You were not fortunate enough to get what you wanted.Â
âSoon.âÂ
You felt comforted by the hand that he placed on your shoulder, and even more so when he kept it there until you felt as though you were able to stand up.Â
You were to marry into House Harkonnen. That was your purpose; to unite the feuding houses and birth powerful offspring. You had met Feyd once before, but only for a fleeting moment. It hadnât been awkward- no, back then the two of you hadnât cared enough to pay any mind to the looming threat that was your betrothal. Youâd been too young back then to fully grasp the severity of the situation.Â
You remembered being shocked by his size. He towered over Paul, appearing to be years older than he really was. His hair had been dark back then, thick and slightly curly.Â
He had only just been taken under his uncleâs wing at the time. The environment of Giedi Prime had yet to fully sink into the young boy. The Harkonnenâs looks had always been startling to you, no matter how many times youâd been exposed to it. They were dark creatures, brooding, hairless with skin as pale as milk- not to mention violent.Â
The desperate way that Paul had clung to you was not lost on you. You let him squeeze you as tightly as he needed, your arms locking around his back. This meeting would change everything. In a matter of moments your life as you knew it would be taking a drastic turn, and not for the better.Â
Youâd made that very same trek to the parlor room a million times. This was your ancestral home- had been in your family longer than you thought was conceivable, and yet this felt new to you. Wrong. The shadows from the windows were casting strange lights on the wall beside you, and your footsteps sounded muffled in your ears as your pounding heart nearly deafened you. Your fatherâs hand brushed against your palm a few times, his attempt at showing you physical comfort without causing any sort of scene. You knew that this was Feyd-Rauthaâs right.Â
You were Feyd-Rauthaâs right. That simple fact alone was enough to send you reeling, that morning's breakfast churning in your stomach.Â
âIt will be fine.â Your motherâs fingers shaped the words at her side, a comforting and silent presence.Â
Your parents had always protected you. They had taught you well in all aspects of life. She was right. You had to trust yourself just as much as you trusted them. This will be fine. You will survive.Â
But god, you wanted to live.Â
Your worst fear was being locked up like a caged animal, only taken out to be played with or paraded around. You didnât want to be somebody's little wife; you were no homemaker or bed warmer.Â
âI am better than this.â You thought to yourself, your hands balling into fists at your sides.Â
As the double doors began creeping open, you felt the sudden urge to run the opposite direction, your parents be damned. The feud between House Atreides and House Harkonnen would surely become deadly if you were to turn your back on the promise now, and that was the only thing that steeled your feet. You stood, back straight and hands clasped tightly at your front.Â
You looked to be a pillar of strength, but oh- you were so close to crumbling. Your father took a step past the threshold, eyes hard as he bowed his head respectfully in the Baronâs direction. There was still time to turn around. The door was right there, and you were sure that you could commandeer a ship. Youâd piloted a few times before in your life, and while you werenât the best, you were certain you could get yourself the hell off of Caladan. You shuffled your feet, eyes wide as you looked up and caught your motherâs gaze. Her lips were parted, and you could tell that she was trying to decipher your expression.Â
âWhat are you doing?â Her hand moved quickly at her side, the flowy gauze-like material of her skirts hiding her frantic movements from the visitorâs view.Â
Nothing. You were doing nothing. There were no options yet. If you fled then the insubordination would fall back on your parents. If you downright refused then the outcome would be the same. There was nothing you could do but keep your mouth shut and try not to show the Harkonnen even a semblance of vulnerability.Â
Disdain rolled off of you in waves as you breezed into the parlor, eyes locked on the side of your fatherâs face as he conversed with the baron. Tensions were high, even now. No pleasantries were being exchanged, that you were sure of. The Harkonnenâs stark black attire was a startling contrast to their pale skin. There, in the middle of two other men, whom you were sure were present for reasons of protection, was Feyd.Â
He looked the same as the rest of them. Hairless, blue eyes dripping with something that could only be described as malice. Gone was the curly haired child that you remembered. In his place stood someone unrecognizable to you. You wanted to question what the Baron had done to Feyd, but you already knew. Perfection was expected on Geidi Prime.Â
He had shaped Feyd into the very likeness of perfection. The once dark haired boy was now a walking, talking machine; not even a dead leaf echo of the boy you met all those years ago.Â
You tried to map out every single one of his microexpressions, searching desperately for any sign that he might disapprove of the predicament the both of you had found yourselves in. He tilted his head to the side, observing you with a horrifying level of concentration. The Baron began to speak, saying something that you didnât care enough to listen to. You were too distracted by the terrifying man before you.Â
âShe will come back home to Geidi Prime with us. No objections, correct?âÂ
You were marrying him out of an obligation, this he was already privy to. He had seen the reluctance written plain across your face as youâd entered the room. Youâd wanted to run. Away from him, away from your responsibilities- and he could not blame you for it. His understanding stopped there though, simply because this proposal wasnât going against his own wishes.Â
âThe wedding isnât taking place for another week.â The Duke didnât seem to like the idea of his unwed daughter leaving his side.Â
Feyd fought back a smile, having known that the Baronâs sudden request would have this effect on the Atreides family. He watched you squirm like a bug under a magnifying glass, your hand moving at your hip. For a second he thought that you might be tugging at the seam of your dress, writing it off as nothing but a nervous tick- but then he saw the way your motherâs eyes followed those movements.Â
The two of you were communicating.Â
âThat may be so, however I think that it is only right that your daughter,â Baron Vladimir motioned in your direction. âBecomes better acquainted with Feyd. You donât agree?âÂ
His uncle decided that it was best to test the boundaries of this alliance. He was pushing the Duke, seeing how far he could get. Letoâs lips twitched, his eyes flickering thoughtfully towards you. Feyd was finding it hard to pay attention to anyone else other than you in the room. Heâd spent years imagining what you would look like as an adult- dreamt about it. Heâd eagerly been awaiting this moment, counting the days that he could finally be reunited with you.Â
It wasnât just because he had been promised powerful heirs. It was the thought that someone was fated to marry him. Since before he was even conceived, you had always been promised to him. That idea had been put into his head since childhood. You were the constant topic in his mind, a person that was unavoidably meant to be in his life for the rest of his days.Â
In a strange way he had loved you since he was but a child.Â
Seeing you for that first time had been better than he had anticipated. You were a beautiful little girl, but now? The child that he had met all those years ago did not hold a candle to the grace and brilliance of the woman that stood before him now. Nobody else could ever compare. You didnât have to fall for him right now, he was content with that. Hell, you didnât even have to tolerate him.Â
He would find pleasure in wearing you down. He was going to make you love him.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.Â
The adrenaline had run its way out of your system, leaving you cold and alone on a planet that was so incredibly alien to you, you werenât sure how youâd ever be expected to adjust. Even the oxygen felt different in your lungs- the sweet, acrid smell of chemicals tinging the air around you. It was nothing like your home on Caladan. Your home was a stone castle, but this? This was a cold, black fortress.Â
You werenât sure if it was meant to keep people out. . . or in.Â
You thought back to that fateful day with the reverend mother.Â
âYouâve heard of animals chewing off a leg to escape a trap? Thereâs an animal kind of trick. A human would remain in the trap, endure the pain, feigning death that he might kill the trapper and remove a threat to his kind.âÂ
You couldnât chew your leg off to be free of this. No, you had to lay in wait. Only then could you strike if the situation called for it.Â
âStrikingâ could wait until tomorrow though. For now you wanted to rid yourself of the anxiety. Sleep was the only cure you could think of.Â
âIs the room to your liking?â That husky voice of his was already grating on your nerves.Â
Feyd had only attempted to speak to you a few times and already you were sick and tired of his presence. He was a constant reminder that you would never know what it was like to be free. Then again, was anybody in the galaxy truly free? Feyd sure seemed to be carefree in his current position.Â
His tone felt off, like he was toying with you.Â
âI would be far more pleased about my new living quarters if you were to leave.â You said simply, pulling the slate gray blanket up and over your chin.Â
You werenât sure if it was due to his ill-breeding, but he didnât seem to care that you were in nothing but your night dress. He walked into the room in long-legged strikes, letting the door shut behind him. Never before had the two of you been alone together, not since you were children at least. If you were back in your family home you would feel safer during a moment like this.Â
You were in his territory now, meaning he had full reign over everything. Your father and family name couldnât protect you on Geidi Prime.Â
âYouâre in quite the rush to be rid of me,â He didnât falter for even a second as he moved to sit down on the edge of the bed, leaning back against the plush mattress with a small sigh. âIf I didnât know any better, I would think that you didnât like me.â He didnât seem upset at the notion of you disliking him. In fact, there was a glint in his eyes. That same sort of silvery glint youâd seen in the reverend motherâs eyes all those years ago: a challenge.Â
This was nothing but a challenge to him. You were a conquest, and you detested that. Your stomach soured, your face becoming pinched as you glared at him. This was all too much too fast. You were in the comfort of your own home not even four hours ago, and now you were expected to make small talk with the source of your life-long discontent. Â
âAnd what of your concubines? Could you not pester them tonight and give me a moment's peace?âÂ
âI dismissed them from their duties, permanently, weeks ago.â He said simply, his fingers running along the cotton of the comforter.Â
âWhat?â Youâd never heard of such a thing.Â
âSpending time with them would be a waste.â His blue eyes flickered up to meet your eyes. âAcquiring concubines had just been a show of status.âÂ
It took you a few moments to process what he was saying, the burning hatred you had felt just moments ago flickering out into a dull flame.Â
âWhy would spending time with them be a waste? Am I expected to spend that much time with you?â A horror, truly. You had hoped that youâd be able to get away with spending a night or two a week with him, if only to achieve the Bene Gesseritâs goal of siring an heir.Â
âA waste of time. A waste of seed,â He looked at you pointedly, his lip pulling up into a smile that revealed more of his black teeth. âAnd both of those things are important to me.âÂ
Your stomach hollowed out as you were once again reminded of what was expected of you. You had a week to prepare mentally for your wedding night, which you werenât sure was enough.Â
âAnd what happened to the concubines? Are they still being housed here?âÂ
âWhy? Are you jealous?â He was smiling even wider than he was before.Â
A shiver ran through you as you noticed how predatory his body language was- you felt like prey under his haughty gaze. It was hard to believe that Feyd had been administered the Gom Jabbar test and passed.Â
This man was no human. He was an animal, that you were certain.Â
âWickedly.â Your tone was flat and noncommittal. Even now, you never saw Feyd as a potential lover.Â
The man that was your so-called âdestinyâ was also your jailer.Â
âWell then youâll be happy to know that they no longer live here. . . or anywhere, for that matter.â He sat up, rolling his shoulders back to stretch his broad muscles.
The blood drained from your face as you stared up at him from your spot on the bed. He must have felt the weight of your gaze and turned his head, his eyes alight with. . . pleasure. Violence was as ingrained in him as breathing was. It was his life. Standing before you was the prince of death- pale, striking and terrifying.Â
Animal, indeed.Â
I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.Â
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A/N: this chapter was plot heavy, I know, however it was crucial to give you guys some background information so that I can better build tension. the beautiful dividers were created by @ kitsunecafe!
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