Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/07/05(Thu)17:25 No. 429346 ID: 418e03
File 134153432753.jpg - (121.88KB , 1754x1240 , roomtwo.jpg )

uff, it's not a trap, but an actual chest, let me see what's inside she fully open the chest woah, I-It's has surprisingly tick walls, whom made this probably didn't wanted people to look inside it without permission . She look inside there are a lot of useful thing inside: there's another key, an electric torch, a lighter and a large keyring, probably for the keys, let me examine the pillar. She moove closer to the pillar and examine it. OK, I've it has some kind of mechanism and it can be turned, but I'm not strong enough to do it, maybe with a longer lever,nbut I need to look for it and the only place I've didn't looked inside was the h-hole...I'm a bit afraid of what Is inside it and I wonder If I should try to push the switch ? also we need a way to store all this items

Lets see if we can't [Hold Items for Her]

use the machete as a lever

>>429347

Hells yes. We can move, remember? That's how we climbed up! How cool would it be if we could act as a 3rd arm? Carry the load for our best bunny. :3

[prehensile scarf arm go]

>>429347
>>429357
Ah, I was saving this to surprise punch some bad guy. Well now, how much we can munch without breaking her neck?

>>429350
Good idea, but the key is better for that.

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/07/07(Sat)04:38 No. 429878 ID: a4b8fa
File 134166111744.jpg - (75.80KB , 877x620 , handscarfb.jpg )

Wow, this way we can carry more stuff...y-y-you were joking about my neck, right?

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/07/07(Sat)05:20 No. 429882 ID: a4b8fa
File 134166363136.jpg - (63.64KB , 1068x755 , push.jpg )

Yes, the keys work as a lever, I can ear a mechanism working and after a quarter of rotation I reach a dent that lock the pillar in position,nothing seems to happen,but It can be move further, unfortunately I don't have the strength to do so, not whit such short levers anyway” as soon as she finish telling this words the unlit switch become red again and the red one stop glowing “ O-OK, I was wrong it affected the switch of this room, maybe there is an hidden door and one of this switch open it

Lets grab that lock too... and then lets press that button!

I think your neck will be alright. I'm pretty sure we're offsetting any added load or torque by virtue of being magic. I mean, you don't feel any extra force on your neck, do you?

Okay, if it had an effect on the switch, there's not much else we can do but experiment. Let's test it.

ruin Pudding 2012/07/07(Sat)14:12 No. 429973 ID: a4b8fa
File 134169557176.jpg - (94.95KB , 1754x1240 , stiff neck.jpg )

You have actually become heavier...M-maybe you have some ability to handle our growing inventory a little better? While saying this she push the red switch, nothing happen in the room but the sound os stone and metal moving can be heard coming from the first room

lets try to lossen our grip on her kneck enough for us to form small loops of fabric were we can put the items. it should be a little omre comfortable on her.

Re-arrange ourselves to be more like a backpack then a noose. That should help.

If lack the material for a backpack, we could use one scarf arm as a kind of bandoleer, and keep the other free for manipulation, tool use, swinging the machete, etc.

Lets go see what happened... just in case let us ready the machete.

Ruin Pudding 2012/07/09(Mon)13:04 No. 430601 ID: a4b8fa
File 134186425285.jpg - (43.35KB , 1148x812 , magical backpack.jpg )

the scarf arm holding the items coil around them and shift turning into a makeshift backpack, then a new one regrow. “w-woah! You are really a magical scarf! I wonder If you have other ability...c-can you wrap the arm holding the knife around my shoulder? This way It should be less dangerous for my neck if you swing it, please?

>>430601

Certainly, bunny. We're happy to be accommodating. :3

[Reposition sword arm around shoulder]

>Other abilities

Dunno! Our memories here are about as good as yours. We don't know how we got here, or what we can do, yet. Heck, for all we know, you've got abilities you've forgotten too.

Ruin Pudding 2012/07/09(Mon)13:32 No. 430607 ID: a4b8fa
File 134186593338.jpg - (50.84KB , 1069x756 , peeking.jpg )

She smile that will be great, but I doubt it and thanks for be so nice to me. O-OK lets go back to the first room and see what happened. She cautiously move back to the first room trying to be as stealthy as she can and peek from the corner of the corridor...that t-thig hand disappeared, but I can't really see if something changed...oh, wait the hole! It look more it was build then just dug and there is light coming from it! S-so, s-should I look inside it?

>>430601
[Reposition to form a harness around her torso so there's no force on her neck at all]
Don't be nervous about us, and feel free to speak your mind. We need each other; we'll do our best to protect you.

Go to the middle of the room first, so you can look at it without getting in range to be surprised anything that might be hiding in there. If it's clear, you can examine it closer up. If there's anything cool inside, remember we can reach out to grab it for you, you don't have to crawl inside.

>We need each other
Yeah, we'd be a helpless blue snake on our own, if that. I'm not sure, but I get the feeling we wouldn't be able to move around at all without someone to wear us.

We're the most freakin' badass cloth of all multiverses! We can turn into a giant super robot, a cosmic and horrific abomination full of tentacles and teeth, or a beautiful bifauxnen Overlord from another cosmos! Or so we wish!

Now, let's give a little peek at this hole. Be careful, look from a safe distance.

Ruin Pudding 2012/07/10(Tue)14:56 No. 431002 ID: a4b8fa
File 134195741421.jpg - (49.27KB , 1069x756 , tunnel.jpg )

O-OK let me see... There's a room at the other side of the tunnel! O-o that's what seems to be...W-well what should I do?

Head in, I hope theres nothing dangerous in there but if there is you have us to help you.

If it looks clear, yeah.

What's that on the side of tunnel though? Is that another button?

Ruin Pudding 2012/07/12(Thu)14:30 No. 431589 ID: a4b8fa
File 134212863276.jpg - (89.20KB , 1754x1240 , dragging.jpg )

Umm it seems to be a regular light...OK, l-let's go in...there's a sealed shaft in the middle of the tunnel, I-I'm not sure I want to know what it's sealing away tough, can we move out of this place?

Yes move on, most likely those buttons on each end of the tunnel can control the shutters but they aren't on at the moment.

ruin Pudding 2012/07/12(Thu)18:37 No. 431674 ID: a4b8fa
File 134214342159.jpg - (197.43KB , 1754x1240 , blood.jpg )

>>431593
she crawl out of the tunnel and find herself in a new room her eyes widen in shock and she start to breath faster W-WHAT IS T-T-THIS PLACE! W-what happened here? We need to live as soon as we can!

>>431674
[Change from being a scarf to being a harness]

Yea, we need to leave ASAP. Can you read that writing that's over your right shoulder?
Also, take a closer look at that piece of paper.

Calm down bunny! The room is, admittedly, scary looking and covered in blood. But there's nothing that looks like an actual threat. And there's more puzzle things to manipulate, and clues to examine. We kind of have to deal with those things to find a way out, so you can't leave just yet.

Let's start with the note on the floor. What's it say? Hmm. Actually, can you read? I never thought to check. If so, that means whoever you were per-memory loss, you at least were in a position to get an education.

>>431674
this reminds me of the room where red killed himself in rubyquest.

read note, [hug scarfbearer]

>>431729

We're wrapped around her neck, and our other arm is holding a machete. I understand your desire to comfort her, but giving hugs may not be the best idea in these circumstances!

[Belay all chocking neck-hugs and sword hugs. Other, less dangerous hugs permitted if possible]

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/07/16(Mon)14:53 No. 433556 ID: 9d5eea
File 134247561417.jpg - (78.09KB , 1754x1240 , hug.jpg )

you put away the knife for a second and hug her, she look surprised for a second then seems to calm down, T-Thanks for being always so nice to me, with out you I would,probably, have already break down...a.also, I'm not a c-child *pout*, I can read just fine, the wall beyond me? O-OK

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/07/16(Mon)14:59 No. 433558 ID: 9d5eea
File 134247598475.jpg - (194.41KB , 1754x1240 , familiarletters.jpg )

She turn and see the strange symbols on the wall "I-I...this symbols seems familiar in some way, but I...can't grasp their meaning, i-if they have one...i feel like I should know them, but I just can't...the more I look at them the more this feeling grow...i-i" she suddenly turn her head away "I-I'm scared...can I stop looking?"

Alright, stop looking now. Lets go read that note and get that peice of metal. I bet its made for turning those devices.

> I'm not a c-child
> *pout*
We have a problem here.

> darkness
Close your eyes.

>>433558
Read note and examine that spike-thing next to it. Also, watch out for the figure in the dark cell.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be insulting when I asked if you could read. Depending on your culture and background, literacy could be common even for children, or rare even among adults! And we currently remember nothing of our backgrounds, or the outside world.

The strange writing on the fall is unfamiliar to us as well, although perhaps it could be decoded in time. You need not study it further.

>>433582
Yes, there appears to be someone standing on the other side of the bars. We should investigate, carefully.

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/07/17(Tue)12:24 No. 433851 ID: 9d5eea
File 134255307785.jpg - (195.65KB , 1754x1240 , note.jpg )

S-sorry, I don't like being treated like child, I-I'm not sure why, but I dislike it so much... I know I look like one and I know your question was legitimate...s-sorry. O-OK let me pick up this note...she move closer to the note on the ground and pick it up

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/07/17(Tue)12:34 No. 433854 ID: 9d5eea
File 134255366738.jpg - (72.36KB , 1034x731 , note 1.jpg )

she pick up the note T-this is t-too much, what did they have done in this place!?what could they were studying?Suddenly she hear a sound coming from the cell

We'll do our best not to treat you as child, then.

Hmm. The note seems to confirm this was a place of research, although it looks more like a dungeon than a laboratory. Odd.

You should probably turn to see what that noise is.

[hold swordarm at the ready, between bunny and the cage]

say hi. introduce yourself. be polite even the most mad of individuals are often unbalanced by an unexpectedly polite greeting. its often disconcerting, and in certain situations can instill fear as your opponent wonders what reason you have for being so calm.

Well, yes, be polite but take some distance...

>>433558
they can't be bad people, they even corrected their spelling-mistake on the bloody text on the left wall from yuo->you!
and they cleaned even the floor of the red stain...

>>435504
lol

Ruin Pudding 2012/07/26(Thu)02:16 No. 436431 ID: e6ec44
File 134329421669.jpg - (55.20KB , 1159x819 , e-eto.jpg )

the scarf arm move between the girl and the cell, making her feeling safer,she muster all her determination to not stutter, trying her best to keep a calm tone of voice and say “hi who are you? Can you answer m-me?”[sorry, I'm no good at this things, please tell me it didn't noticed!] She answered by a few cough then a faint, hoarse voice ...eiling...the ceiling, look up! Now!

Bunny, Take a quick hop backward, THEN look at the ceiling. Things have a bad habit of falling directly on to you if you look up first. If we're lucky, the voice on the other side of the bars is just messing with us, but it's better safe than sorry.

yeah jump back and look up at the same time.

>>436431
swing the unoccupied arm behind, up, and forward, so as to intercept anything falling towards her, and hopefully throw it forward. if we catch something large and heavy, this will obviously throw us backwards as well. all problems fixed by physics.

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/07/27(Fri)08:21 No. 436903 ID: 8c9b35
File 134340251177.jpg - (84.54KB , 1754x1240 , ceiling monster is watching you.jpg )

She jump back even before looking up. From the ceiling, an horrid deformed creature look at her and let itself fall where she was standing just a moment before. hoping this time it will work

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/07/27(Fri)08:22 No. 436904 ID: 8c9b35
File 134340257087.jpg - (226.43KB , 1754x1240 , spider.jpg )

The thing scream something resembling a phrase a couple of times, then start to move very fast, with obvious aggressive intentions, in the direction of the girl s-stay away! D-don't hurt me p-please! The thing doesn't seems to understand, make a really strong roar and prepare to jump in the direction of the girl

It's threatening out bunny.

Kill it.

[Attack with machete arm, grapple with alt arm. Let inventory fall, if necessary. Prioritize blocking blows aimed at bunny, followed by attempting blows to head and neck with the machete]

We'll fight it, try and keep out of it's range. If possible, trying playing keep away around the center pillar while we engage at range.

[Grab it with the other arm]
[Slice and dice with the machete]

>>436904
Keep the pillar between it and yourself!
[Shift from a scarf into a harness so we can get leverage without snapping her neck]
[Engulf its head with our free end and start crushing its skull while suffocating it.]
[Attack its joints with the machete]

>>436907
exactly. grab its head with the empty arm, hold it away and use any slack to wrap up its limbs. then jamb the machete into its collar bone, assuming it has one, and start levering until its head pops off like a barby-doll head.

Pudding 2012/08/12(Sun)15:55 No. 442281 ID: 63ce56
File 134481212687.jpg - (216.00KB , 1754x1240 , chop.jpg )

he creature prove itself more agile then what it looked like and manage to avoid the attempt attempt of the scarf to grab its head, but it's not agile enough to deflect the machete chop delivered by the other scarf arm; the blade cut through the creature arm and bury itself in the head of the creature, the beast fall to the ground near the girl, twitching like an insect for a few second before stopping definitively “I-i feel like trowing up...w-what's going on here?" You ear the figure in the shadowspeaking and, even if it's voice isfaint you manage to understand him saying"Are you OK?"

[Apply coup de grâce]
[Make sure it's good and dead]
[Clean blade by wiping blood off on body]

...you okay bunny?

After you clam down, and you're sure you're alright, talk to the figure in the cell, and thank him for the warning. Don't get close, though.

[hack and slash!]

Pudding 2012/08/22(Wed)06:33 No. 446310 ID: 141b0e
File 134564239161.jpg - (218.83KB , 1754x1240 , the cell.jpg )

O-OK, I believe I’m OK ” you give a final blow to the creature to be sure it's not going to attack anymore, chopping the thing head off. Doing so without any premise shock the bunny quite a bit aaagh, w-why did you do it? Y-you could at least w-warned me!

Um, sorry. It was some kind of horrible blade monster, and it tried to hurt you. Didn't want to take the chance of it getting back up again. Didn't mean to scare you. We'll try and warn you in the future if and when we have to do anything like that.

There now appears to be someone behind the bars there. Don't get too close though in case it is another blade creature.

Talk to him with a safe distance...
But don't give him any scissors!

Pudding 2012/08/25(Sat)19:08 No. 447665 ID: 66409c
File 134594691213.jpg - (43.58KB , 1062x751 , lily.jpg )

S-sorry, y-you are r-right, i-it's just that I-I wasn't expecting you to do that and I admit I'm way to easy to startle...S-sorry

Pudding 2012/08/25(Sat)19:09 No. 447666 ID: 66409c
File 134594695324.jpg - (54.02KB , 1089x770 , alone in the dard.jpg )

she then move a little closer to the cell, minding to keep her distance T-thanks for the advice, without your warning I would have been in serious trouble the man inside the cell respond “you can help me by lifting this bars, to do so you only have to turn left the pillar near my confinement, if you don't I can understand, I’m a mysterious voice trapped beyond this cell and tied up in the darkness”

>>447665
Aw, it's okay. It's not a bad thing to be bothered by violence.

>>447666
Ask him if he can tell you anything. Who is he, what is this place, why is he locked up? You woke up in here without any memories and you have no idea what's going on, or why you're trapped in a place full of puzzles and monsters and bloody messages on the wall.

The floor writing says not to trust him; also it looks like to free him you need a key. I'm betting turning the piller turns off the lights; and the wall writing says that is an abysmal idea.

Go for it! Also, examine that weird shape on the ground that wasn't there before we killed that hell-beast.

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/09/11(Tue)09:11 No. 453602 ID: d7d4d4
File 134737988040.jpg - (177.66KB , 1754x1240 , lily2.jpg )

T-thank you, she say referring to the scarf
she move a little closer to the cell ”W-well...umm it's not l-like I don't trust you, but I j-just wake up in this scary place, n-not knowing why or even who I am! She pause a little then say,” C-cam I ask you something?” the voice answer “sure child, ask what you want” she say “w-who are you and why are you locked behind those bars?she pause for a second then ask again “a-a-and are you sure I have to turn the pillar, there is an obvious keyhole near the entrance of the cell a-

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/09/11(Tue)09:18 No. 453603 ID: 51ba60
File 134738032168.jpg - (166.69KB , 1754x1240 , hehehe.jpg )

the man in the cell rise his head just enough to look at you in the eyes and say “eheheh, you are a smart kid, but if I wanted to make you fall in a trap I just had to stay silent and let the thing kill you, you can always try, tough, anyway I’m markus, but I do not know how I ended up in ths cell nor where we are

he has a point. he did give us a warning. he at least doesn't want us dead, at least any time soon. open up.

Well, yes, his aid indicates he doesn't immediately want you dead. Doesn't mean he doesn't mean you some other kind of harm, There are so many things worse than death or that he's only interested in keeping you alive until he escapes.

...how come he remembers his name? We sure don't.

Ruin Pudding 2012/09/18(Tue)16:45 No. 455978 ID: f196ee
File 134801190711.jpg - (44.75KB , 862x609 , lilyworsethendead.jpg )

she say "T-that doesn't mean you will keep me alive as soon as I let you out...a-and w.why do you know your name?"
Hehehehe, you are clever child, I like it...you don't have to worry, I don't mean you ANY kind of harm, I just you to help me out. He take a short pause, as the conversation have drain to much of his energy “and I never said I don't know who I am, I just said I don't know where we are or why i'm inside this room."

>>455978
by the way... do we have any other options than letting him out or rotting here?
Weren't all other exits locked? this may leaves no other choice, right?

>>456097
sounds like we only have two choices.

up to me i say let him out. he can probably do things that even we aren't stronger enough to do.

>>456152
I didn't consider rotting here much of a choice^^

see to getting him out

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/09/22(Sat)13:40 No. 456845 ID: 605095
File 134834642191.jpg - (111.42KB , 1754x1240 , realization.jpg )

she mutteri-in the end i have no choice but to open then..." with a louder voice she say "I-I-I g-going oopen up this c-cell, i will trust you"

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/09/22(Sat)13:49 No. 456846 ID: 605095
File 134834694873.jpg - (82.93KB , 851x671 , trust.jpg )

M:"hehehe, i'm happy you finally choose to trust me child...mhmhhm, I will prove myself worthy of it"

"O-OK i will now open the cell" she place the spike inside the pillar socket and start to push, as soon as she start to move the mechanism a powerful growl and wood being broken can be heard

Pudding 2012/09/22(Sat)13:50 No. 456847 ID: 605095
File 134834705782.jpg - (35.10KB , 764x540 , nooooo.jpg )

the sudden powerful noise leave the girl trembling and unable to think "Nooooooo,stay away!"

You've got to turn it! He'll be trapped in there if they get you first!

they'll stay away if you finish turning the mechanism, you can do it ! also call it a bitch !

She's scared. Geeze. Just turn it for her.

>>456847
Come on, don't be afraid and continue turning the pillar, we'll do our best to protect you. :)Besides, we can't leave that man in the dark to be killed by those monsters, can we?

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/09/26(Wed)11:50 No. 458183 ID: d16542
File 134868540951.jpg - (95.16KB , 984x696 , on your feet.jpg )

>>456849
>>456856
>>457830

Child! On your feet, I can't help you if I'm trapped here!
Even if still obviusly shaaking, she manage to regain some self control " S-s-sorry, I-I'll be strong!" said that she rise back on her feet and with all her streght she push the pillar until ,like the other one, it reach a dent,this time the mechanism make the bars retract in the top of the wall freeing the man.

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/09/26(Wed)12:04 No. 458185 ID: d16542
File 134868626617.jpg - (200.86KB , 1754x1240 , fast!.jpg )

as soon as the bars rise, the creature that was growling in the other room, begin to crawl truogh the opening in the wall; thankfully it get stuck trying to exit the passage, but it wont reamain trapped for too long.
Makus: "Child, I need you to cut this ropes!"
the girl seems to be to afraid to move again and just stare at the creature
M:"Fuck it" the man try to force rip the ropes tied to his arms with all his strenght , but they seems to be to strongt and insted dig in his arms
M:"Chiiild! snap out of it!"

Bunny! Move away from the monster, towards the man, so we can cut his ropes! I promise we'll protect you from the monster, and from the man too if he turns out to be hostile, but you can't just stand there helpless, and we can't leave him there helpless either.

run! get into the room and [cut the ropes]

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/09/26(Wed)12:32 No. 458191 ID: d16542
File 134868796361.jpg - (90.04KB , 1012x715 , terror.jpg )

I-I...I can't move...
>>458185
M:"Child, i know how to close that opening, free me, I rember that most of this rooms are devicedto be solved with a companion free me and i will help you close the tunnel!"
>>458188
she seems to finally wake up from her state of paralisis and finally move to the opening of the dark chamber, you flash the blade inside the room and cut the ropes restraining the man

>>458191
Turn around and look where the monster is (check the ceiling, if it's not visible) we will protect you the best we can. Besides, we seem to be able to be proficient in moving ourselves to use the machete, and if need be we can always put ourselves in the path of an attack and try to redirect it.

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/09/26(Wed)13:14 No. 458202 ID: d16542
File 134869047204.jpg - (77.91KB , 882x624 , trustagain.jpg )

as soon as the ropes are cut, markus, not without a great effort, rise on his feet and rush out in the direction of the pillar.
M: "Now child, push the red button, it will make possible to turn the mechanism, never remove your hands from the botton until i finished!"

the monster seemsto be slowly freeing hiself, i't's about to get free!

hold the button and we will do what we can.

>>458204
Alright, I'm probably going to regret this, but trust the man and don't let go of the button, while we jump over to the man, and prepare to machete that monster in the face if it gets free before the opening is closed...

I got a better idea. Just in case the button is a trap...

[hold down the button in bunny's stead]

Ruin Pudding 2012/09/26(Wed)14:33 No. 458227 ID: d16542
File 134869519360.jpg - (106.57KB , 1072x758 , dafuq.jpg )

>>458213
you push the button instead, it start to emit a small amount of eletricity, not enough to kill, but enough to be quite painful
"I-IT was a trap!E-eletricity is coming out of it!
M:"what?! do not leave the button, or the light will go out! how could the trap disposition havechanged already?!"

just hold on.

...wait. We're a scarf. Cloth is an insulator. That's why people wear clothing. Electricity shouldn't effect us, or conduct along us to bunny. We're fine.

Auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-
auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh-auh

Ruin 1/2 Pudding 2012/09/26(Wed)15:05 No. 458238 ID: d16542
File 134869711066.jpg - (113.96KB , 1072x758 , squash.jpg )

>>458228
you keep on hold the button for a few instant
M:"ghhhhah!
you hear the sound of the mechanism locking in position and see the tunnel closing squashing hte creature head and body

Ruin 2/2 Pudding 2012/09/26(Wed)15:31 No. 458247 ID: d16542
File 134869871923.jpg - (111.58KB , 1072x758 , revelation.jpg )

now that the creature is been killed and you are no longer in immadiate danger, all the stressand tiredness catch up to you.
shakingly you fall on the ground and loose conciusness
Markus?:Hehehehe, in the end, it seems that the one you called a failed project will be the one who will save as all, sleep well my little child, i will guard your dream, my little Lily

Pudding 2012/09/26(Wed)15:35 No. 458248 ID: d16542
File 134869893566.jpg - (121.78KB , 1754x1240 , endchapter.jpg )

End of the first chapter

Ah, the inventor!
Not that surprising, but really a nice quest!
Please keep going! We want to help everything that is able to say its name halfway to a safe place in the outside world^^

Pff. Bunny doesn't need you to guard her Marcus. She's got her magic sword-scarf! And between all us threads, there's some of us awake at pretty much every hour of the day.

Knew you were letting on more than you said, by the way.

>>458247
Soo... Markus, is it? You seem to be knowledgeable about what's happening here, can you tell us what is going on?

Let me guess...

Someone tried something on some living test subjects.
Maybe an injection of something magical, chemical or nanotechnological.
It resulted in these beasts, who now roam and possibly murder anything not them.

Anyway, what was the research, theory and final objective this note we and Lily found, is talking about?