[ none of this sounds good. since he's posing as entertainment, kazuki will not drink any champagne, but. he's keeping his eyes on the crowd, watching this guy in the silks with a frown. is anyone talking about what these "prospects" are...
also he's going to touch his earpiece and whisper, ]
Were there nausea meds in that med kit? Maybe one of us should stay behind so we don't all get sick?
[ racist 1 and 2 are buzzing with anticipation, it looks like. temenos and owner both have probably seen this sort of thing before, although it might not be hard for todomatsu and kazuki to place: it's a kind of perverse glee, in a way. excitement for something unusual, or forbidden, or an indulgence or sorts.
either way, it's unsettling. there are a few others that have this kind of energy, although they're fewer in numbers compared to those that are calm or nervous.
nothing in the immediate area seems to warrant any nerves. the plants are luscious, the fountain is peaceful, and everyone is partaking in the champagne that's being brought around. even the queen bee doesn't bat a pretty eye at taking a sip. no one seems to get sick from it, but only time will tell for that sort of thing... right?
a set of doors behind a towering, flowering plant has a pair of guards on either side of them. otherwise, there's not anywhere in specific that has a surplus of security - a few of the mooks are mingling in with you, but not the two that owner spoke with earlier.
adrastea's voice comes through for the four of them, although it's... crackly. ]
[ yeah this is unsettling. when offered the champagne, temenos will take it, though he just holds it for now, watching the reactions of the indulgently thrilled for a long moment before looking back to see what the announcer guy is up to now that he's finished making his speech.
is the crowd just waiting, or are they starting to mill towards the garden? should we follow? these are the questions that temenos considers for the moment, listening to kazuki and then...
... adrastea. the crackly sound is unpleasant and makes him shut an eye behind his mask, briefly, and the silence feels almost deafening in the buzzy oddness of the room. that's not good. one hand tightens around his staff, and for the thousandth time, he wishes he had his spells. ]
Stay calm. [ quietly, just to the others - moreso for kazuki and todomatsu than owner, owner's a freak like him so they're both probably fine - but he does tense up under todomatsu's hand. ] We will have to continue.
[ they can't just bolt out of here, because that would be insanely suspicious, and... maybe it's just like the eudora, and whatever's wrong with it will magically fix itself at the most inconvenient time possible. ]
[ todomatsu's following owner's lead with the champagne and is just going to pretend to take a sip without actually touching any of it — at least he's got a lipstick print on the glass now so it looks like he did — but otherwise, he's just sitting there and waiting to see where this heads next.
...and then adrastea's crackly voice is in his ear saying something unintelligible and it's everything he can do to keep the smile on his face as he thinks WHY ARE YOU THIS UNHELPFUL AT EVERY JOB YOU HAVE???? ]
still, he will keep his expression to one that should be akin to someone who is here for the first time and is excited. he looks over at the plants-- is there anything about them that stand out, besides just looking fancy and large? what about the one near the guarded door? does that one look special compared to the others? ]
[ ah. that's not good. but... at least they probably have nausea meds, if they need it? god. at least kazuki can use his cover to hide the anxiety - he's just a new performer feeling the nerves, that all. nothing to see here.
he is going to look for anything that looks like it could be interfering with the signal - any obvious tech, or just something out of place. maybe the guards have radios or something that would do it? ]
[ shut up todomatsu they'd like to see you do better with these conditions.
most of the crowd is just waiting, hypothesizing on what the size of the ceremony will be in a way that seems to imply something besides the attendees. the very elegant announcer is drifting through the larger groups at the moment, staying longer to talk pleasantly with the queen bee's group and spending less time with the space racists by comparison. no one mentions the "prospects" again, in any of the conversations you get piecemeal this time either.
overall, the plants are just pretty and impressive in their health and luster. the large plant near the door is just Very Large, think the size of a corpse flower without smelling like rot, although it's the only one that is a dusty, lotus pink. perhaps meant to be a centerpiece more than anything else. it smells very nice in here, crisp and fresh and floral. it's also not very hot, but that might be because a coolness radiates from the fountain. at least you're not anxious and sweaty at the same time?
no obvious tech stands out, in this very natural place. it's possible that the guards could have radios, considering, but nothing that's visible for any of you to see. owner also wasn't able to see any when he was checking the earlier guard for heat, just to clarify there.
an excited murmur comes over the crowd, and all four of you will feel a thrum of energy.
and, then, the guards pull open the doors to allow entry into what appears to be a glass tunnel that slowly gets darker due to the density of plantlife that presses in from all sides of the glass. you aren't the closest people, but neither are you the furthest, so you have a moment to collect yourselves. ]
[ boy this is a bad sign. listening to the people's commentary is even worse. at this point, the anticipation is only making it worse, but he's never been better at anything than keeping a cool head.
the energy thrum makes him grip his staff a little tighter. temenos' gaze sweeps across their group, briefly, and he exhales. they'll need to keep where they are and move naturally. do people go rushing forward to be the first to see, or is the entrance more controlled?
he tries the communicator thing one more time just to see if it will work - calling quietly for adrastea - and then shakes his head. okay. truly useless for conversation time to go see the horrors. ]
[ seriously, what the fuck is this ceremony... todomatsu is just keeping himself attached to uncle tem's arm as he cranes his neck to try to get a better look at that tunnel from a distance. ]
Come on, we don't want to be the last ones in~!
[ cheerfully keeping up the pretense for appearances though the tightening of his grip says actually he would be fine with that!!! ]
Hello, have you seen a bracelet around? I dropped it, and no one has been able to find it...
[ just says that part loud enough that anyone super close to hear, just in case anyone overheard owner asking the guards about it earlier. keeping up pretenses!!! but then he will whisper to him in a lower tone, ]
Remember not to wander too far from me from here on out, Hoshino-sama.
[ everyone else is looking at the tunnel i do not have much to add here besides LOOKS AT TUNNEL ]
[ immediately glances at owner's wrist like HOW DID YOU LOSE YOUR SPACE SUIT before it hits him that this probably an act. ]
Uh, no, sorry. I've been a little busy getting ready...
[ or something. with a nod, he adjusts the guitar on his shoulder and moves forward, sticking closer to owner and keeping his eyes on the crowd, especially looking for any other musicians or equipment. ]
[ the crowds closer to the doors at the time were the first to react to the doors opening, so they're trying to rush quickly without looking uncool about it, essentially. but most people are moving with an easier flow of the crowd, rather than rushing. the excitement is still cloying and thick, much like the humidity of the planet, but they'll get to their destination it seems.
no one else has equipment, but there is a harpist that wheels her harp along. she has six arms, so this will absolutely be a great performance ahead of you! (probably) (if it happens)
a small crackle is heard on their earpieces, but nothing else. attempts may be being made right now. ]
[ todomatsu does in fact briefly glance back in the direction they came through like WE COULD JUST LEAVE ACTUALLY but apparently that's not what they're doing and he's probably going to get jumped by security if he tries so
here we fucking go toward the tunnel of probably not love ]
honestly at this point owner is just kinda curious what kind of fucked up weird shit these rich people get up to. like is this going to be horny weird or gruesome weird or what
these are the thoughts that run through his head as he go into this tunnel................. ]
[ he's just gonna keep testing the earpiece, just in case, while following owner's lead into the tunnel. it'd be nice if there's a chance to pause and dig out the nausea meds from the guitar case but they're probably just being swept along with the crowd aren't they.......... ]
[ owner's priorities here are killing me but that's fair.
you're not being swept up so fast that you can't rummage in your case, at least, so there is that. if you'd like to prepare yourselves for anything there is the chance to do that, although it won't be anything you can do without being noticed by the people around you.
walking into the tunnel, the sunlight slowly filters out as green overtakes everything. the shadows and dim light take on a very bluish, green tone because of the foliage pressing in on all sides.
another thrum of energy pulses through the area, resonating this time in a way that almost makes the glass sing with the small scale aftershock that's left behind. it doesn't rattle, but it does vibrate a little. the eagerness of the indulgent is amplified, and those that are more nervous cluster closer to the groups that they're traveling with.
with another crackle: ] ...r me, there's... terference... I'm going to land as close... careful.
hmm, well. there's adrastea! at least they can hear them, even if it's just a little. knowing the craft is closer is good, too. is the closest exit as far as we can tell just the one we came down the tunnel in...
beyond that, the vibration of the energy is putting temenos on edge - does it feel like anything particularly magical, or similar to it? he's paying close attention to that, trying to get a sense for it when the glass starts to vibrate. his expression is untenable behind that mask, but even with the anticipation rising, you might get the sense that he is still very outwardly calm, continuing to glide forward with the rest. ]
[ can they tell if they're like, changing altitude here... like is this a straight through horizontal tunnel or are they actually going physically deeper? can they actually hear anything from the other side of the glass? ]
Oh!
[ squeezes tem's arm and laughs a little as the glass around them vibrates. exciting (ominous as hell)!!!! ]
[ thank you adrastea for getting through. at the very least they know that they didn't get like, attacked or something out there, which would have caused a whole new set of problems for them.
also, do the plants outside the tunnel still look normal? like they're not looking strange compared to the ones in the previous room they were in? ]
[ unfortunately with all the nervous energy going around kazuki will be minutely distracted by the acoustics... to a trained musician's ear is there any way he could tell what's causing this or no
he will not dig into his guitar case just yet, he doesn't want too much attention on him when he's not performing. ]
that's all you get from adrastea for now. this CYOA is about fucking you guys up, but maybe they'll be able to meet up with you? who knows right now - things are certainly shifting, so better to focus on the moment as it is.
temenos and owner will be able to feel something... different, specifically something about them that they might have missed in this past week and a half, nearly two weeks:
the further into the tunnel you go, the more something seems to unlock inside of you. not because of the thrum of energy, and instead like whatever is causing this thrum has a sort of magical origins to it, and the magic inherent in you tries to rebuff it. it flickers loosely, though, in a way that seems like a sputtering fire trying to come to life, to stay alive.
the altitude doesn't change too much, but there is a slight downward slope since todomatsu is paying attention to it. nothing that takes you underground - there's still light coming through the plants surrounding the tunnel, so it's not dark dark dark fortunately. listening... a faint hum can be heard, but it might just be from the glass reverberating. no other sounds come from outside.
thank you for looking at the plants owner. it's mostly a lot of leaves of varying plants, some flowering blossoms of shrubs and bushes and trees pressing up close lower to the ground. not any that look the same as to what was inside the gathering hall, but some that were outside of the arrivals avenue can be spotted here and there. but there are some that are constricting vines.
something moves.
kazuki won't be able to tell what's causing this, but he does get the sense that it's melodic, not too dissimilar to when he strums a guitar just once and he can feel the way it resonates in the instrument. ]
well, that's a relief. a sputtering fire is a fire - a flame of truth, a flame of recognition. temenos' eyes widen behind his mask, and todomatsu can certainly feel him tense, further, and then suddenly relax. it's the equivalent of taking a shot of vodka before a terrible public speaking event, something empowering but something settling. it might not be perfect, but suddenly, his connection to aelfric is alive, and his gaze flicks upwards, briefly, before returning their surroundings. the nonverbal "oh, NOW you show up". don't sass your god.
anyway. his mind reels with questions about what could cause that - interference, like adrastea mentioned, though in this case it will perhaps be beneficial? and he adjusts his grip a little with his other hand.
very softly, just loud enough to be heard among the conversation and hums in the room of anticipation between the four of them: ] ... The nanites are being interfered with, as well.
[ though they're sure as hell fighting back? hmm. you win some, you lose some.
the something moving catches his attention belatedly, but very belatedly. there's a lot happening? for the moment, he's trying to coax that sputtering flame back to life, to keep it fighting against whatever the hell that is, and stay observing at the same time. ]
[ he doesn't really feel anything different inside himself, and he's not sure if whatever temenos seems to be noticing is supposed to be a good or bad thing. glancing at each of the others... maybe it's better to have the nanites getting interfered with than doing the interfering, considering how that whole scien thing turned out...?
as he's looking around at everyone else, though, he definitely catches the movement of the Something, and tenses up as he looks in that direction. where is this, is it outside the glass or in there with them? ]
[ also whatever it is, it's hidden by the plants right? so they just notice the plants being rustled?
although owner will be more distracted by the shift than the movement as soon as he notices it. he stops walking for just a moment, only really long enough for maybe kazuki to notice since the teen is slightly behind him. he resumes his pace though, just as what is probably the worst smile you have seen to slowly creep onto his face. owner at least has the foresight to quickly cover his expression with his hand, but.
sometimes you have spent since day one complaining on being nerfed.
but other than that he will just keep walking forward, and he will mutter quietly. ]
We may have more help than we previously thought we did. We shall see.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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also he's going to touch his earpiece and whisper, ]
Were there nausea meds in that med kit? Maybe one of us should stay behind so we don't all get sick?
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either way, it's unsettling. there are a few others that have this kind of energy, although they're fewer in numbers compared to those that are calm or nervous.
nothing in the immediate area seems to warrant any nerves. the plants are luscious, the fountain is peaceful, and everyone is partaking in the champagne that's being brought around. even the queen bee doesn't bat a pretty eye at taking a sip. no one seems to get sick from it, but only time will tell for that sort of thing... right?
a set of doors behind a towering, flowering plant has a pair of guards on either side of them. otherwise, there's not anywhere in specific that has a surplus of security - a few of the mooks are mingling in with you, but not the two that owner spoke with earlier.
adrastea's voice comes through for the four of them, although it's... crackly. ]
There should... something for... why do you...
[ and then nothing. ]
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is the crowd just waiting, or are they starting to mill towards the garden? should we follow? these are the questions that temenos considers for the moment, listening to kazuki and then...
... adrastea. the crackly sound is unpleasant and makes him shut an eye behind his mask, briefly, and the silence feels almost deafening in the buzzy oddness of the room. that's not good. one hand tightens around his staff, and for the thousandth time, he wishes he had his spells. ]
Stay calm. [ quietly, just to the others - moreso for kazuki and todomatsu than owner, owner's a freak like him so they're both probably fine - but he does tense up under todomatsu's hand. ] We will have to continue.
[ they can't just bolt out of here, because that would be insanely suspicious, and... maybe it's just like the eudora, and whatever's wrong with it will magically fix itself at the most inconvenient time possible. ]
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...and then adrastea's crackly voice is in his ear saying something unintelligible and it's everything he can do to keep the smile on his face as he thinks WHY ARE YOU THIS UNHELPFUL AT EVERY JOB YOU HAVE???? ]
Right. No problem.
[ warily watches the announcer... ]
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still, he will keep his expression to one that should be akin to someone who is here for the first time and is excited. he looks over at the plants-- is there anything about them that stand out, besides just looking fancy and large? what about the one near the guarded door? does that one look special compared to the others? ]
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he is going to look for anything that looks like it could be interfering with the signal - any obvious tech, or just something out of place. maybe the guards have radios or something that would do it? ]
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most of the crowd is just waiting, hypothesizing on what the size of the ceremony will be in a way that seems to imply something besides the attendees. the very elegant announcer is drifting through the larger groups at the moment, staying longer to talk pleasantly with the queen bee's group and spending less time with the space racists by comparison. no one mentions the "prospects" again, in any of the conversations you get piecemeal this time either.
overall, the plants are just pretty and impressive in their health and luster. the large plant near the door is just Very Large, think the size of a corpse flower without smelling like rot, although it's the only one that is a dusty, lotus pink. perhaps meant to be a centerpiece more than anything else. it smells very nice in here, crisp and fresh and floral. it's also not very hot, but that might be because a coolness radiates from the fountain. at least you're not anxious and sweaty at the same time?
no obvious tech stands out, in this very natural place. it's possible that the guards could have radios, considering, but nothing that's visible for any of you to see. owner also wasn't able to see any when he was checking the earlier guard for heat, just to clarify there.
an excited murmur comes over the crowd, and all four of you will feel a thrum of energy.
and, then, the guards pull open the doors to allow entry into what appears to be a glass tunnel that slowly gets darker due to the density of plantlife that presses in from all sides of the glass. you aren't the closest people, but neither are you the furthest, so you have a moment to collect yourselves. ]
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the energy thrum makes him grip his staff a little tighter. temenos' gaze sweeps across their group, briefly, and he exhales. they'll need to keep where they are and move naturally. do people go rushing forward to be the first to see, or is the entrance more controlled?
he tries the communicator thing one more time just to see if it will work - calling quietly for adrastea - and then shakes his head. okay. truly useless for conversation time to go see the horrors. ]
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Come on, we don't want to be the last ones in~!
[ cheerfully keeping up the pretense for appearances though the tightening of his grip says actually he would be fine with that!!! ]
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Hello, have you seen a bracelet around? I dropped it, and no one has been able to find it...
[ just says that part loud enough that anyone super close to hear, just in case anyone overheard owner asking the guards about it earlier. keeping up pretenses!!! but then he will whisper to him in a lower tone, ]
Remember not to wander too far from me from here on out, Hoshino-sama.
[ everyone else is looking at the tunnel i do not have much to add here besides LOOKS AT TUNNEL ]
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Uh, no, sorry. I've been a little busy getting ready...
[ or something. with a nod, he adjusts the guitar on his shoulder and moves forward, sticking closer to owner and keeping his eyes on the crowd, especially looking for any other musicians or equipment. ]
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no one else has equipment, but there is a harpist that wheels her harp along. she has six arms, so this will absolutely be a great performance ahead of you! (probably) (if it happens)
a small crackle is heard on their earpieces, but nothing else. attempts may be being made right now. ]
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i was going to write more of a tag but no that's it Here We Go ]
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here we fucking go toward the tunnel of probably not love ]
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honestly at this point owner is just kinda curious what kind of fucked up weird shit these rich people get up to. like is this going to be horny weird or gruesome weird or what
these are the thoughts that run through his head as he go into this tunnel................. ]
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you're not being swept up so fast that you can't rummage in your case, at least, so there is that. if you'd like to prepare yourselves for anything there is the chance to do that, although it won't be anything you can do without being noticed by the people around you.
walking into the tunnel, the sunlight slowly filters out as green overtakes everything. the shadows and dim light take on a very bluish, green tone because of the foliage pressing in on all sides.
another thrum of energy pulses through the area, resonating this time in a way that almost makes the glass sing with the small scale aftershock that's left behind. it doesn't rattle, but it does vibrate a little. the eagerness of the indulgent is amplified, and those that are more nervous cluster closer to the groups that they're traveling with.
with another crackle: ] ...r me, there's... terference... I'm going to land as close... careful.
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hmm, well. there's adrastea! at least they can hear them, even if it's just a little. knowing the craft is closer is good, too. is the closest exit as far as we can tell just the one we came down the tunnel in...
beyond that, the vibration of the energy is putting temenos on edge - does it feel like anything particularly magical, or similar to it? he's paying close attention to that, trying to get a sense for it when the glass starts to vibrate. his expression is untenable behind that mask, but even with the anticipation rising, you might get the sense that he is still very outwardly calm, continuing to glide forward with the rest. ]
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Oh!
[ squeezes tem's arm and laughs a little as the glass around them vibrates. exciting (ominous as hell)!!!! ]
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also, do the plants outside the tunnel still look normal? like they're not looking strange compared to the ones in the previous room they were in? ]
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he will not dig into his guitar case just yet, he doesn't want too much attention on him when he's not performing. ]
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that's all you get from adrastea for now. this CYOA is about fucking you guys up, but maybe they'll be able to meet up with you? who knows right now - things are certainly shifting, so better to focus on the moment as it is.
temenos and owner will be able to feel something... different, specifically something about them that they might have missed in this past week and a half, nearly two weeks:
the further into the tunnel you go, the more something seems to unlock inside of you. not because of the thrum of energy, and instead like whatever is causing this thrum has a sort of magical origins to it, and the magic inherent in you tries to rebuff it. it flickers loosely, though, in a way that seems like a sputtering fire trying to come to life, to stay alive.
the altitude doesn't change too much, but there is a slight downward slope since todomatsu is paying attention to it. nothing that takes you underground - there's still light coming through the plants surrounding the tunnel, so it's not dark dark dark fortunately. listening... a faint hum can be heard, but it might just be from the glass reverberating. no other sounds come from outside.
thank you for looking at the plants owner. it's mostly a lot of leaves of varying plants, some flowering blossoms of shrubs and bushes and trees pressing up close lower to the ground. not any that look the same as to what was inside the gathering hall, but some that were outside of the arrivals avenue can be spotted here and there. but there are some that are constricting vines.
something moves.
kazuki won't be able to tell what's causing this, but he does get the sense that it's melodic, not too dissimilar to when he strums a guitar just once and he can feel the way it resonates in the instrument. ]
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well, that's a relief. a sputtering fire is a fire - a flame of truth, a flame of recognition. temenos' eyes widen behind his mask, and todomatsu can certainly feel him tense, further, and then suddenly relax. it's the equivalent of taking a shot of vodka before a terrible public speaking event, something empowering but something settling. it might not be perfect, but suddenly, his connection to aelfric is alive, and his gaze flicks upwards, briefly, before returning their surroundings. the nonverbal "oh, NOW you show up". don't sass your god.
anyway. his mind reels with questions about what could cause that - interference, like adrastea mentioned, though in this case it will perhaps be beneficial? and he adjusts his grip a little with his other hand.
very softly, just loud enough to be heard among the conversation and hums in the room of anticipation between the four of them: ] ... The nanites are being interfered with, as well.
[ though they're sure as hell fighting back? hmm. you win some, you lose some.
the something moving catches his attention belatedly, but very belatedly. there's a lot happening? for the moment, he's trying to coax that sputtering flame back to life, to keep it fighting against whatever the hell that is, and stay observing at the same time. ]
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[ he doesn't really feel anything different inside himself, and he's not sure if whatever temenos seems to be noticing is supposed to be a good or bad thing. glancing at each of the others... maybe it's better to have the nanites getting interfered with than doing the interfering, considering how that whole scien thing turned out...?
as he's looking around at everyone else, though, he definitely catches the movement of the Something, and tenses up as he looks in that direction. where is this, is it outside the glass or in there with them? ]
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although owner will be more distracted by the shift than the movement as soon as he notices it. he stops walking for just a moment, only really long enough for maybe kazuki to notice since the teen is slightly behind him. he resumes his pace though, just as what is probably the worst smile you have seen to slowly creep onto his face. owner at least has the foresight to quickly cover his expression with his hand, but.
sometimes you have spent since day one complaining on being nerfed.
but other than that he will just keep walking forward, and he will mutter quietly. ]
We may have more help than we previously thought we did. We shall see.
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