❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[illuminating]

No? Will you show me your favorites later, then? [This, accompanied by invigorating groaning, before she's flopping over to right herself, giving a settled sneeze, and then raising to her paws to shake her coat hard. With neutral panting, she sinks to sit.]

Bar is the word for a place people go to drink, isn't it? It's a new one for me. I've only overheard it being used in El Nysa. [Same tone as ever, or well. Considering what he's been able to hear of it so far. Same presence as ever. Not cruel, unassuming, not accusing in anyway, and so she's not insulting him when she adds—but she still adds:] You seem small for it.

[If anything, there might be a hint of concern creeping in there. Her head tilts completely to one side while she regards him, mulling on how worried she should be about little veins enduring fermented beverages.]

[illuminating]

[She's quiet for a minute or more, and it may seem she's already drifted off again. The truth is that she's near it, but only partially. She's in consideration of what he's shared.

Finally, her voice comes through once again,] it's true that people are complex. They're often doing things I can make no sense of. It's different, [her head raises to yawn, something almost whining, stretching mouth and pinning ears back briefly,] for the gods. At least where I come from.

[illuminating]

[She watches him with a quiet interest, and takes a step back to cant and tilt and then cant her face at the scarf he stretches. Tongue swiping over her nose, her ears fall all the way back, and she plants herself again with an incredulous whine.

Won't he get cold? He can't be negligent of himself on her account, or worse: risk falling sick on her account. With deeper whines, plainly uncertain about this request, she doesn't bow her head. Instead, she opts to take hold of one end in her mouth, and try to step around him, aiming to try and get it back to his neck again. Somehow. Lack of hands aside, it's not as if she's ever dressed before.]

[morbide]

That's 'cause it IS a weird keepsake.

[Henry pats his hip proudly. That tooth is very real and very much his, now. That's a dare he won.]

See? You can control the cool dares by making them yourself, and winning. Easy peasy. And I'm one tooth richer, to add to my tooth collection. That's why I didn't do a counter-dare: because I liked my idea better.

[Does he have a tooth collection? Would he ever give a straight answer? Mysteries.]

[morbide]

[Don't think he doesn't notice how the subject's been turned around on him, Nott... Of course, Henry doesn't mind, if it brings her some comfort. He laughs at the notion of him being "evil" and crosses his legs, letting them swing from his seat.]

Sure, I've been evil to somebody! Depends on who you ask. If you ask me, I couldn't tell you; I just go after the bad guys and knock 'em dead with a dark dose of magic. As for being weird, well... [He gives a hearty shrug.] Dunno. Just am! Got a problem with weird people like me?

[revlon]

It could very possibly be.

[ It's strange that no one has dug deeper into where they're from. But of course, just because it seems as though something isn't happening doesn't mean it's true. Her entire life during the war hinged on that. She has an entire cover story ready for anyone too nosy for their own good, but so far she's only ever had to offer the bare minimum. Too much embellishment seems suspicious, after all.

With a quiet glance at Jim, she wonders how much he suspects about her. No telling. He has more pieces than most and is too clever to not put them together. But that's a conversation for another time. ]

The Olympians and Wyverns — or Raysc, at the very least — clearly know this place exists if they've built something out here. I imagine they gave up because of the climate. [ It's why the Germans failed to take Russia. ] But we won't know for certain until we take a look ourselves. And I'm not the least bit busy up here; are you?

[morbide]

[Now if that isn't an absurd sight that really lands on Henry's radar as suspiciously curse-like, he may as well pass over a frog with a mustache and a top-hat. He hums, blood dripping onto the front of his shirt freestyle as he doesn't bother to bring his hand up to act like a dam.

So he doesn't react promptly until Takasugi's dragging him away from the bar, and then his voice, grating as it is, cuts through the air in a more urgent way.]

Um, well– wait! Just a moment.

[Would a clinic be able to help a guy who has a curse on him? Did he really curse the drink?! Could he be so unpracticed that he accidentally turned his alcoholic beverage into a magical potion? (Could stasis have affected the control he has on his magic?) Henry wonders if he could have slipped up that badly, or... The possibility that somebody else out here is practicing the dark arts occurs to him. He'd prefer that to being unable to control his own magic. There's one way to find out.

With that ever-present smile, Henry bounds up to Takasugi and asserts himself in front of his path, preventing him from going straight for a clinic]

Can I see your eye?

Warm Welcome

[companioning]

Inara had been resting when she heard the commotion happening from the other room. She smiled slightly as she pushed herself up and swung her legs over the side of her bed. It wasn't all that surprising to hear the younger woman yelling so, things like that had happened quite frequently while on board Serenity.

She rose up and made her way out to where River was. She leaned against the door frame and flashed her young roommate a smile. While she was distressed about everything that was going on, at least she was there to watch over River. She didn't even want to think about how things would be if someone wasn't there who knew the young woman.

"Darling, what are you going on about?"

[objectionattorney]

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down... Okay. That wasn't exactly how the song went. But the cruddy 90's kid he was can't help but now have it stuck in his head.

Despite this, he kept his expression serious. This was a girl coping with the realization that her entire world was gone after all.

"Not just one planet. Thousands. Possibly more," He sighed out with that, his head lowering as he once more gazed over the image. Funny, it looked fairly similar to how his own earth looked. "It's difficult to comprehend how much that storm is capable of destroying."

And a moment of silence. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like to have lost literally everything when you're at that age where you're only starting to make sense of growing up.

"How long have you been here on El Nysa?"

One of the good things about being in a city filled with refugees at least, for once he didn't have to worry about asking such question outright.

[soulmakingsound]

She's still in the dress she woke up in. She washes it, of course, but the moment it's dry she puts it back on again. Unfortunately, sundresses and combat boots don't make for good winter clothing, despite the sweater she tries to pull tighter around her.

"The mirror," she says, casting it a withering glance. "Is being very rude."

[soulmakingsound]

She never had a beautiful wife, so adjustments had to be made to the lyrics to suit her situation. Artistic liberties.

River takes the edge of her thumbnail and presses it into the page, tracing the outline of the planet that she hasn't called hers for nearly five years now. "Only since the dragon froze. Strange how those words would make no sense in another conversation."

[companioning]

Shaking her head, Inara pushed off of the door frame and moved so she was standing behind River. Her dress was her normal flimsy sundress and it was from home, so Inara could understand her not wanting to wear something else. Taking her shawl from around her shoulders, she draped it over River's.

"I think it's just trying to look out for your wellbeing, mèimei," she said softly. "You can use my shawl until we can find something you adore. How does that sound?" Not that her shawl was much, but it was more than what River currently had.

[sparsity]

Yeah. [ He agrees. ] People acted strange around it... I guess it was magic, maybe.

[ Otherwise he didn't think bringing something back to life was as simple as "shove its heart back in and give it a jump start." ]

[sparsity]

Not really. My place is with someone who isn't awake yet.

[ But he shrugs slowly, stuffing the photos in his coat pocket. ]

But that's why I have to work hard down here.

[soulmakingsound]

"I have a sweater." But she wraps the shawl around her anyway, because it smells like Inara. And if she presses her face against the material, she can almost smell home. Not Osiris, but the boat.

But still, she doesn't want to leave Inara to freeze. So she offers this logic: "The room has a closet. Closets are, generally speaking, for keeping clothes. Something could be left."

[sparsity]

[ Briefly curious, brows ticked in wonder, it doesn't take long for Mikazuki to halt his actions and wise up to what she's trying to do. So they sit there, stubbornly criss-crossed by good intentions and the fabric of his scarf. He sighs patiently, white puffing against the sharp air. ]

Come on. [ He urges, briefly chastising, sounding older than he looks. ] I'm used to cold. I grew up a long way from Earth. See for yourself.

[ Leaning down, he points at his cheek, a little red from the air but otherwise not discolored. She can inspect his innate warmth all she likes, he's bullheaded too. ]

A Frozen Land

[companioning]

Even with the extra warm clothes she had on, Inara was freezing. She wasn't a fan of any sort of cold weather and having to make her way through a frozen snowstorm was the absolute worst! At least, that's what she thought at first.

But now, even though they were moving, Inara's teeth were chattering so much she was sure she would crack a tooth or two. She could barely feel her fingers and she was sure her lips were blue with how cold they were.

Hearing a man speaking to her, at least she thought he was speaking to her, she shot him an annoyed look. "I'm moving as fast as I can," she snapped, the cold having drained away every bit of her patience. "I can barely feel my feet, you're lucky I'm moving at all."

[companioning]

"But maybe now the mirror will stop nagging you." Inara truly didn't mind losing her shawl to River. Besides, maybe the mirror would stop pestering River now. Plus, it seemed as though River wasn't protesting too much over the use of the shawl.

"I'm sure there's something I can use," Inara agreed before turning to look around for said closet. "Perhaps you'd like to help me look and maybe pick something out?"

[soulmakingsound]

"Fèiwù," she grumps at the mirror as she passes it, which gets an indignant noise in return.

It isn't that she's mad at the mirror. It's that she misses Simon, and the rest of the crew. Grateful as she is to have Inara here, she wants her brother back. But crying over it won't help, and she can't do anything to change the situation. So she'll control what she can, like her clothes.

[heirworthy]

[ characteristic, but Sandalphon wonders if it's something the Astrals would do.

for research, maybe. but an ongoing research that's lasted this long? ]

Ability-wise, perhaps, but ... [ he just doesn't see the point of this experiment, if it were one. ] These individuals don't feel like an Astral either.

[ otherwise, he would've reacted the first time he's met them. no, they are certainly something different. perhaps even beyond the Astrals if they're capable of doing this. ]

[heirworthy]

[ ... putting him in the same level as knights. not that knights are bad per se but.

then again, Sandalphon doesn't think his title still matters in this realm. if he can't even protect his own realm, the same one assigned to him, then he doesn't think he even deserves the title of Supreme Primarch. ]

Not quite. I don't think I have the correct disposition to become a knight.

[ he knows that he's rude ok. ]

[heirworthy]

[ maybe he'll trust him more if he chucks himself in the lake. but that's still a maybe. ]

What makes you think I'll fish you out?

[ ... in case, you know, Cain actually thinks he'll fish him out. which Sandalphon will. eventually. after figuring out first what the creature is in that lake. ]

[heirworthy]

[ ... wow, "hunt" him down. as if that doesn't make him suspect further what she might be. most humans don't normally use that word, do they? ]

Sandalphon. [ it's only proper that he tells her his name. she told him hers, after all. ] What are you doing out in the cold, Diva?

[impavid]

Thank you!

Magical Wildcard Prompt

[impavid]

John sleeps better than he has in a long while. He doesn't know if it's that after barely sleeping for 3 days his body has finally given up, or if it's the reassuring warm weight of someone in the bed beside him. Either way, when he finally stirs he has no idea what time it is -- and after fumbling for his watch he's surprised to find it isn't early. Gently touching a hand Ianto to test if he's awake -- to make sure he knows he's not ditching him in his sleep purposefully, really -- he slips from the sheets to the bathroom and cleans himself up. The friendly AI seems to have re-powered itself overnight and cheerfully tells him both that early risers are more successful, the exact amount of time he should brush his teeth for and that sleeping too much is an early indicator of depression. He bangs the wardrobe in response to the last one and bitterly tells it I walked through snow for three days, asshole before fishing out a clean t-shirt and beginning to get himself properly dressed for the day. He gently coaxes Ianto out from under the blankets by promising him a hot drink and breakfast, then packs up and heads out into the cold.

Central is definitely an older model, John can see that as they carefully explore the re-purposed drop ship. Yet even though it's older it can't be so entirely different. He mulls it over as they sit and eat, studying the comings and goings of everyone else in the area.

"This is still a Natha ship," he says finally under his breath, setting down his drink and leaning over the table a little toward Ianto. "Which means maybe I can still get into it, if we can find somewhere they aren't going to be eyeing us."

Since he figures they don't exactly want outsiders messing with their stuff. That's fair. He wouldn't want that either.