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| Another talk, a bit more private this time...; attn. Franca | |
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| Topic Started: Tuesday, 28. October 2014, 19:36 (849 Views) | |
| George Henry Harris | Tuesday, 28. October 2014, 19:36 Post #1 |
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Once again a talk was scheduled and one that could be quite dangerous as well... So this time the meeting was not taking place in a coffee house or another public place, but one of the safehouses. In the middle of Grove Ward were a few old Victorian housing complexes, standing a bit lost in the newer blocks like a red wound in the grey skin of a giant. In the walls there were some holes patched up with slightly darker bricks and graffitti from generations of taggers clung on the walls and tried to conceal the patched up damages the Blitz, gang wars and neglect had inflicted over the years. The doors had been replaced with heavy steel doors and and the edgesof the building a few well-concealed cameras seemed like an addition the times forced upon the residents. In front of the building a small elderly man in a blue boilersuit was busy sweeping the pavement until he noticed Franca approaching. At that moment he leaned upon his broom and focused on her,as if to make sure he'd remember her,then resumed his labour. When she'd enter the run-down building Higgins would stopsweeping,shoulder his broom and follow her inside, keeping an eye on her but not saying a single word, just as his duties were. |
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| Franca | Tuesday, 28. October 2014, 20:12 Post #2 |
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Franca reached the safehouse wondering what secrets George was going to unveil; their latest talk at the coffee house had covered a few controversial topics (not to mention a borderline Masquerade breach that had been smoothly shrugged off). What was supposed to be the following step? She greeted the elderly man, who however proved to be as little talkative as conceivable, and entered the building, following the instructions that George had given her. |
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| George Henry Harris | Tuesday, 28. October 2014, 20:47 Post #3 |
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After Larry disappeared in a room labeled 'Caretaker' the faint 'pling' of an elevator sounded from across the room and a door opened revealing just what seemed obvious. The instructions told her to take the elevator the second sub-floor where the meeting should take place. In the sub-floor there was a long hallway leading to a big door with smaller doors left and right and behind that big door was an office where George sat behind a big desk and speaking to someone on the phone. With a smile he gestured for her to have a seat in an armchair and ended the call. "Good evening, nice you could make it here... I'm sorry for the rather long way but here we are completely undisturbed and safe..." |
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| Franca | Tuesday, 28. October 2014, 21:02 Post #4 |
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For a secretive place, Franca thought while walking past the big door, it really looked the part. What's more secretive-looking, after all, than a second sub-floor? (Well, a third sub-floor, maybe, but anyway...). "Good evening, George" she said as she sat down. "So, what secrets am I about to discover?", she asked, feeling that losing time in pleasantries wasn't all that required. |
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| George Henry Harris | Tuesday, 28. October 2014, 21:11 Post #5 |
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George nodded with a slightly malicious grin. Interestingly put, but she was right... Niceties were not really called for as they had a lot of things to discuss this night... "A few no one but me knows... They are more plans, but that is not that important... The first thing for this evening is, that we might come into a situation where we might need a second-in-command pretty bad, if my fears are justified..." Smiling he leaned back and made a dramatic pause before speaking on, watching her reaction. "Let's say I fear Blücher might become more paranoid and make people disappear and he could make me disappear as well in the right mood, so I'd make the most trustworthy member of the family whip and that is why you are here... Would you accept the burden ?" Edited by George Henry Harris, Tuesday, 28. October 2014, 22:08.
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| Franca | Tuesday, 28. October 2014, 22:30 Post #6 |
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Franca would have lied if she had said she'd been taken aback. Actually, after their previous talk, she had seen it coming, although she had hoped it wasn't -that- impending. Was the situation really that bad? "I think there's no need to say I am not after offices, right?" Indeed, George hadn't even tried to make it sound like a honor, rather than an annoyance he needed help with, in a time of major concern. So, either they saw the issue quite similarly, or he was craftier than he displayed. Anyway, she didn't see many choices... "I won't refuse my help -if- we conclude it's the best course of action - she said after a bit of thinking - but after what we said are you sure it is? I've promised my support to a clansmate... who proved himself a disgusting liar, but a fortiori would give me a hell of a time if I take his coveted office". She scratched her head and leaned back in the chair. "Honestly I am not sure of what would be worse, to be without representation or to be a fractured clan - a fractured clan of three or two, if my picture of the situation is correct". She suddenly realized more poignantly the implication of that whole talk. George could have disappeared. He could have been made disappear by the Prince. It was disturbing for a good list of reasons. "But tell me, is the predicament really that serious? Why do you think the Prince would to that? I think I should know it at this point". |
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| George Henry Harris | Wednesday, 29. October 2014, 15:53 Post #7 |
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George smiled and shook his head as she indeed had made that quite clear, though that didn't get the issue off the agenda. "No, you have made that quite clear... Nonetheless I'd like to appoint someone who can understand my view and share it perhaps. Besides this someone needed to be trustworthy and be able to keep secrets and to be honest Max hasn't proven much of that to me..." He shrugged and thought about what to say next. "I don't know what a fortiori is, but as far as I know, you promised him your vote on a vote, which won't happen... You have my support if you needed and I'll try having a talk with him and hope he understands..." Sighing he paused and took a sip out of a bottle of Scotch he took out of a drawer. Then after a moment of thought he continued. "All I know is that I've been more or less at odds with him since the day he became Prince, you know ? I was the only Primogen not willing to support his claim until I had to... Additionally I'm not a good yes-man and keep telling my my opinions if they don't match his and I don't think he likes it, though he doesn't show that... Now his paranoia gets worse and to be honest I'm planning some things that might be seen as treason." Another swig later he took a folder out of another drawer and put it on the desk. "He's been giving me reason to worry lately, has expanded his minions and got a relative as chief of security because apparently a ghoul isn't enough anymore... At the moment he tries appeasement, but once that doesn't yield the results he wants, it's going to get ugly, I guess... I'm not saying it might happen today or tomorrow, but sooner than we think, so I think we need to be prepared... for everything !" Again he sighed, nodding to her words and thinking about how to word the thing he wanted to tell. "We are already separated anyway, into a part prone to rash actions and trying to get into the good graces of the prince and there's us... I'll tell you a few things and plans, but you have to swear to keep it to yourself until the time is right..." |
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| Franca | Wednesday, 29. October 2014, 17:33 Post #8 |
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Franca nodded. As suspected there weren't many other options. Still the situation was a rather delicate one. "I know he won't be able to enforce the boon. I can't imagine he would call the Harpy claiming that we should do what? Hold an election that was never meant to happen? But I guess he could resort to other means to delegitimize my position. I don't know how good he is at conditioning people, but even without supernatural means he could... I can't honestly figure out what exactly he could do, but he's already proved to be a liar... How are his relations with the Prince, to your knowledge?" Because if the Prince already considered George an enemy and happened to hear slander on the second in command, that would have been awful for the clan. "I think we'll have to deal with the consequences when the time comes, but I'd like to think things through and get an idea of what we can expect". She considered what George was saying about the Prince. It matched her first impression and a few other suspicions. "Now I start to understand why fighting the Sabbat gets treated like some kind of eccentric hobby, isn't it? Has the Prince some factual reason to be that concerned about his own safety or what? And yes, I see why such a person might take any piece of advice as sign of open hostility... My views on the topic are rather different but that doesn't change our predicament". Then there were these mysterious plans George kept on referring to. "Of course I won't tell anyone. You'll have to trust me on my word but, well, I think we are having this talk for a reason". |
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| George Henry Harris | Friday, 31. October 2014, 20:52 Post #9 |
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George thought about the possibilities then he spoke. "He could try getting stuff about us to blackmail us, he could try to disgrace us, he could even consider a duel or an ambush... As far as I know, his relations aren't really good nor are they too bad, as many people I'd say..." Taking another swig he thought about the question and with a serious expression he nodded. "There have been things like the assassination of Prince Chambers, terrible thing, blew half the building up as well... Nobody knows who did that... Or the murder of the former Prince Hamilton, wasn't pretty as well, but that had to be done... Nevertheless that doesn't justify turning Blythe House into a fortress and shutting himself off, you know ?" Then he nodded, smiling at her. "I'll take the risk. What I've been planning is serious stuff that could be seen as treason... There were times when it looked like he'd start a war against the Anarchs and I'd actually have to close Grove Ward up and deny him my support... Luckily I didn't have to do it yet... Another thing I've been thinking about lately is the coup once he gets too much for the domain, though I've no idea how to do that yet... |
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| Franca | Saturday, 1. November 2014, 00:37 Post #10 |
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Franca took a few second to consider what Max was more likely to do. "You know, when I talked to him he stroke me as, how can I say, desperate to get a charge whatsoever? I am not sure I get his mindset, he seems to need a specific role to feel he has a purpose... or maybe it's just the way he coats his petty ambition. Anyway, I don't hope he'll take it gracefully, whether it's for careerism or genuine angst. I guess, we can only deal with his reactions when the time comes, hoping he doesn't disgrace the Clan in the process... Anyway it's better to delay the discussion until our mission in Redbridge is done. I hope he wouldn't really come to -that-, but it might not be too smart to go in Sabbat territory with someone who's plotting revenge..." She listened attentively to what George was saying about the Prince and... Really? A coup. A coup? She had been in London for less than two weeks and she was getting involved in the planning of a coup? There was a pause before she replied. "Isn't it a self-fulfilling prophecy? You start treating your allies as enemies and eventually they'll turn against you. At least, this is my picture of the situation, for what little I can know". She moved on her chair, her quest for a comfortable position being a mirror of her inner state. "You see, I am not that concerned if a Prince is paranoid about his own safety, the issue is if it becomes his only interest. One of the reason why I wanted to see you yesterday was that I got the feeling that the content of my bag was receiving much more attention than the Sabbat... although, these are only the impressions of a newcomer. For anything more than that, I can only take your word". A coup. He was talking about a coup. There was no way to ignore it. As a gut instinct, she was prone to trust George better than Alarik and to think the Primogen had probably some good reason to be considering that. Whether such reasons would have been valid for -her-, however, was a different matter. "So talking about the big stuff... Of all the questions I might ask, one first of all: do we have any viable alternative to Alarik? Are there any better people who could aspire to the charge, or is it just a matter of getting rid of an unfit ruler?" There was no need to blabber on loyalty, she was loyal to people and principles that deserved it, not to anyone who had a nice title attached to his name. Could she have ever considered a coup, to get a less despicable ruler? With her history, it would have been a lie to say no. Would she have rushed into any revolutionary plot, without the faintest idea of what he could have led? No, and in the specific case she needed to know much more. "Since we are at it, what is really happening with the Anarchs? I have heard from Henderson that the Prince had made some, uh, move towards them, although I am under the impression it wasn't a well conceived one". |
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| George Henry Harris | Wednesday, 12. November 2014, 22:27 Post #11 |
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George nodded and sighed internally. What Max could do was a big issue, probably more than they could need now but there was no way to avoid it... Sadly. "True. And hopefully he doesn't split the clan into two fractions, that wouldn't be good now... An internal war is something we can't afford right now so let's hope he doesn't go on a Vendetta against us..." Scratching his head on the next Topic he took a swig and thought for a while before answering. "It might be, though he does trust in his minions and the support quite a few People give him, willingly or not... And in the authority and power his office gives him... Not to mention his fortress and his disciplines..." "Yes, he is convinced the Sabbat is no threat and the Anarchs are the next menace to his reign... We even had a Justicar here for some reason on the last council of Prince Archon and that arsehole tried to tell us the scum is nothing to worry about and we should concentrate on the Anarchs instead... Blücher apparently swallowed that..." He shrugged as they had no alternative and who knew when or if there would be a good one ? Unfortunate but sadly the truth... "There is no alternative as far as I know... which is more than unfortunate, you know ? Until we have enough allies and a good plan all we can do is trying to develop that plan and hope that an alternative will arise... So until then we just wait untill he gets so unfit that we won't be killed automatically... Or he Forces us to act, but that won't happen hopefully..." On the topic of the concession he put on a weird grimace somewhere between amused and worried. "Oh yes, the 'concession'... I heard it wasn't really taken favourably in the North. Know what I heard ? Anarchs are allowed to settle among us if they go to Blythe House and get registered and milked for a boon possibly that is... On the other hand it seems like everyone they don't know there may have a problem... Don't know if it was the plan but the Anarchs won't like it..." |
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| Franca | Thursday, 13. November 2014, 20:58 Post #12 |
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Franca cringed at the thought of what Alarik's 'disciplines' must had been, suddenly realizing how all their precautions could have been nullified so easily. Then what followed left her literally agape. The Sabbat was no threat, the Anarchs were the real menace? And somehow there was a Justicar involved. She had to let it sink in. "...and... on what bases do they claim that? I mean, now I know that the Sabbat is scattered but I also know that they have much less scruples than we do, when it comes about increasing their numbers". She shook her head, hoping that George had exaggerated the facts to add emphasis. "I can't think of a situation in which the Sabbat can be just left alone... Who was this Justicar, if I may ask, and what was he doing here?" Which was another interesting question. Justicars didn't usually roam around for no reason... "Without an alternative to support, even if we manage not to get killed immediately I doubt that a coup could lead to anything good. What's the point of getting rid of Alarik just to get yet another control freak, this time possibly sent directly from the Inner Council?" At least, that was the first scenario that came to her mind when she thought to a Prince getting killed without anyone ready to seize the throne. And they already had a Justicar looming around. "No, it doesn't sound like something the Anarchs might ever like. I don't know what conditions they had before this notorious 'concession', if they were allowed to dwell everywhere in London or not. But trying to attract them in these bureaucratic coils, even better if claiming it is a privilege, sounds like a perfect plan to piss them off, while claiming at the same time to be offering a helping hand". |
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| George Henry Harris | Friday, 14. November 2014, 21:42 Post #13 |
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George thought a while, as the whole matter had happened a bit ago and he wasn't sure what had been said... Then he remembered the stuff that 'indante' had said and he had to fight not to get angry and smash the furniture... "Well, what did they base it on ? If I had to guess I'd say 'I'm a Justicar and I say so', even if he tried to depict the Anarchs as a threat to the stability of the Domain and Camarilla rule.... Anarchistic unruly masses waiting for the perfect Moment to start an uprising to kill us all... Stuff like that, you know ?" He shrugged as if to say he didn't really get the whole Point of that. After a bit he continued with the next topic. "Me neither but apparently they are scattered and leaderless, so they are no big deal, or so he tried to convince us... Probably really believes that, who knows ?" "The Justicar is a difficult matter, all I know is that his name is Indante and I've heard everytime he's here people die or vanish mysteriously... I don't know why but he happened to be there at the time... And some other times as well, I think... He comes and goes and if he has an Agenda, I don't know it." "Well, I'd only do this if he'd be no longer a good Prince but a danger to the Domain, you see ? I could say we'll find a solution without any outsider getting here, we managed with Archon as well... In time everything will be sorted out, I think..." "Before the concession they kept dwelling in the North, as they do now... Perhaps the only difference is that now it is official that they need to get 'into the system' and they clearly don't like it... Al's paranoia in general doesn't help much, I think... Especially now as there is no Baron at the moment... Difficult, everything is difficult..." With another sigh he took another swig of Scotch and then looked at her as if trying to gauge her reaction. |
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| Franca | Friday, 21. November 2014, 19:19 Post #14 |
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Indante? She had never heard such name. She considered what George was saying. It was possible that Alarik really believed the Sabbat was not a threat. But the Justicar? Shouldn't he have known better? What was going on in that city? "You know, for how I see it if the Sabbat is scattered and leaderless it's the moment to finish them for good, not to ignore them until they are back in force. But I suspect I am preaching to the choir... and as we were saying yesterday night, the situation in Redbridge may not be so straightforward". Which led to another topic. "Since we are at it, what is the Seneschal's role in this scenario? For what I could see he's much more interested in the actual ruling of the Domain than the Prince himself. Which isn't all that unusual, per se, but it's kind of interesting given our Prince's peculiar, hm, priorities". As for the Anarchs being a threat of any kind, she was prone to think they were not but she couldn't know for sure. In Europe they seemed to have little agendas beyond not bowing to their Elders, but she knew how elsewhere they were much more... she wasn't sure that 'proactive' was the correct word. "Talking about the Anarchs, is Alarik's paranoia motivated by something concrete? Have there been accidents, open conflicts, anything besides the fact that there is someone he doesn't know and that don't recognize his authority?" |
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| George Henry Harris | Wednesday, 26. November 2014, 18:26 Post #15 |
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George sighed and nodded, taking a swig of Scotch before speaking. "You're preaching to the choir indeed though I'm not in charge unfortunately... It's that the guys in Blythe House and elsewhere see things differently and not really to our benefit... Happens, though it's a shame really..." When the talk came to Henderson he seemed surprised, as he wouldn't include him in the plan until it became necessary as there still was the problem of 'political realities'. which might kill them if they approached him too early. "He isn't and won't be until I have to... Most likely he won't help us until we have a reasonable plan and there is a clear necessity to act and until then he is kept out of the picture, as he might sell us out at any stage if it suited his political necessities better, you know ? Guess he'll try to not get into a political battle to depose the Prince until he must..." On the topic of the Anarchs and Al's paranoia, he just sighed and thought for a bit before answering, shaking his head as he did so. "No, the big tensions were history until some people decided to try and recreate that, so it is likely what you say. As far as I know the most severe blows to the peace have been dealt by people from our side of the fence... The fireball affair in the Night Tripper, the blowing-up of it, the bounty on the head of an Anarch graffiti 'artist' and the Concession is the latest nail in the coffin so far... So I think for some reason there are people here trying to provoke the Anarchs into starting a war. For what reasons I can't say though..." |
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| Franca | Wednesday, 26. November 2014, 19:25 Post #16 |
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Franca had never thought to involve the Seneschal - Seneschals, especially active ones, were the first to be suspected, especially by paranoid Princes. What she was trying to understand was how much he could be trusted. She did appreciate the fact that Henderson seemed to care about the security of the whole Domain and not only of his dinette, but she didn't really like his attitude. True, an officer had to be careful, but still she wasn't fond of games and of people who played them. "I wasn't suggesting to involve him, just trying to understand a bit better who he is, since I got the impression that he's the one actually governing the land while Alarik double-checks for terrorists under his sofa". She tried to recall if she had already heard about any of the events George was telling about, but she could remember only the Concession. "What happened to the Night Tripper and to this Anarch 'artist'? I might have heard about them or not, but surely I don't know all the story. Also, who would have to gain from an open war with the Anarchs? I don't believe their boroughs are all that precious, or are they?" |
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| George Henry Harris | Wednesday, 26. November 2014, 20:35 Post #17 |
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George nodded understandingly. Folding his hands he looked at her and then when it came to what Henderson exactly was the smile faded and he shrugged. "He is a Nos and thus both important and of doubtful value as an ally... An enigma as well. I don't pretend to understand why he does the things he does but in the end they somehow seem to benefit everyone though his benefit isn't easily seen... True, he might have the best interest of the domain as his guideline, but I'm pretty sure he has his own agenda how to achieve that... So in fact I'm not sure how much he can be trusted..." On to the next topic at hand. After a swig of Scotch he thought a bit to get the details together and then tried to tell her what he knew about it. "Well, apparently someone found it a good idea to blow it up and rumour has it that once again Hogwarts is behind that though I'd like to think that style of 'piss everyone off' was put in a dungeon or whatever together with O'Dwyer, as he enjoyed that kind of thing but actually got taken care of before that happened... In fact there was nobody who could be charged that's why the rumour mill is running high, you know ?" Closing that matter off he leaned back and paused before dealing with the other. Clearly the last matter annoyed him, especially the fact that his own men went up North to get the bounty and only got trouble. "The matter with the 'artist' is actually quite a simple yet controversial one. It supposedly started when a Torrie painted some dicks on Blythe House walls and apparently was seen by a Nos who reported to Princey... Next thing I know for sure are Ronnie and Ares trying to get my support for delivering the guy to Blythe House... They even had a wanted poster with a bounty of 10,000 pounds on him. I don't know if someone earned that bounty but I have discouraged them yet they chose to go North and got into some trouble, it seems..." The question who'd benefit was tricky and thus he scratched his head looking both worried and confused, as the chaos that'd reign wouldn't really benefit anyone... "That is a good question actually... I can see how Blücher might think he benefits from it, but actually the only ones who'd really be profiting would be the scum and anyone who favours chaos in the domain... It doesn't make much sense to me why Indante might want that..." Edited by George Henry Harris, Wednesday, 26. November 2014, 20:40.
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| Franca | Wednesday, 26. November 2014, 21:06 Post #18 |
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What George told her about Henderson only confirmed her own impression. He wasn't useless or incompetent, but whether to trust him was a different matter. Not the first concern at hand, however. On the topic of the Anarchs, one could have mustered a good number of hypotheses and conspiracy theories. Cui prodest? was a question that was easily bent to any purpose. Unless... she couldn't help but think to Foucault's Pendulum... "There might be an agenda, behind these accidents, or they might be just the reckless initiative of some idiot, who might have had his very personal reason we couldn't ever imagine. The thing is, given a paranoid mind, everything might be shaped into a bigger threat". And also for what the material advantage was concerned, there wasn't really a need to have one. Being a control freak was a sufficient reason not to stand the Anarchs. Althoug Indante was still the biggest enigma. When a Justicar was concerned, assuming a specific agenda was just common sense. "But well, we can talk about it forever; whatever the reason we risk to ignore real enemies to lose time with more or less imaginary threats". Unless penis-shaped graffiti counted as a real threat, of course, but her sense of priority was somehow different. |
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1:24 AM Jul 11