Elite roleplay: Citi Gateway

CITI GATEWAY

The Orbis station is a center of activity. Within the station a myriad of places can be found.
  • The Warrens: Where the poor plebs of the station live. It's is a breeding ground for the most unscrupulous. Keep an eye on your wallet when traversing the corridors of these areas.
  • Habitation Complex: For those workers and pilots that can afford it, this area provides closer to 1G gravity for more earth like living.
  • Commerce Divison: and Administration Where the larger corporations make their home. Station administration can be found here.
  • Industrial Complex: Where industry manufactures their various goods.
  • Entertainment: District Bars, theaters and night clubs, tattoo parlors and other establishments can be found vying for a commanders credits in exchange for a bit of fun.
  • Station Security: A high tech brig used to house law breakers until they can be tried, and or deported off station.
  • Medical Ward: Where commanders can get patched up, enhanced, or fix existing cybernetics.

General Roleplay Etiquette:

1. Control only the actions of your own character(s). (AKA: God Mode)
This doesn't matter how small the action is, even if it is as simple as scratching their nose or a direct reaction to something else that just happened. This applies to everything from casual conversation to full blown fight scenes. If you'd like someone to do something specific, PM that person, however keep in mind they are completely within their rights to say no. Especially if said action is inappropriate to their character and/or circumstance.

2. Don't brute force your way into another persons RP.
Approaching with a conversation starter is fine, or indeed some other small action. However charging in, guns blazing and disrupting the flow of another person/pair/groups conversation/arc is about as rude as doing so in real life. If something is going on that you'd like to participate in, be subtle about it. Put out a gentle hook for someone to take, but again, be aware that said hook may not be taken. If you fear it was simply unnoticed, PM the person or people it concerns. Or even leave a message in the OOC forums.

3. Good grammar and spelling is preferred.
We're not asking you to be perfect, but please at least demonstrate willingness. no1 iz gna tak u srsly usng txt spk. There's a wide variety of people here, many who speak English as a second, or even third language. There are even some with varying degrees of dyslexia and/or likely other issues that affect spelling/grammar. We accept them all here. However, people who aren't accepted, are those unwilling to accept polite correction. Remember that even a small thing like the placement of a comma, or the wrong use of there/their/they're can completely change the definition of an entire sentence.

4. Accept constructive criticism gracefully and politely.
If someone spots an issue with your writings, they may wish to help you improve that writing. They may do this through PM or even publicly air their thoughts on the OOC forum. If they have taken the time to be polite and explain what is wrong with your writing, the best way to behave is to respond in kind, using the same manner they have approached you with. It means they have taken an active interest in what you have written and wish to see more. Basically, you have a fan!

5. Don't take the actions or opinions of things done IN RP, to be directly relevant to the writers thoughts or opinions.
Basically, if some ones character calls your character a jackass, it doesn't mean the writer thinks you are a jackass. It's a ROLE they are PLAYING. Watch a movie. The argument between the characters isn't an argument between the actors involved. The same applies here.

6. It's not a popularity contest.
Your RP might be bustling with participants. You have 3 people off station in a fire fight, while another 2 are infiltrating the darkest areas of the station, meanwhile a group of 4 others are tracking your movements in an effort to stop you. Good for you, I'm sure it will be a thrilling read! But you know what? Sometimes the absolute BEST work, comes from two RP characters having a simple heart to heart. Both are valid, both are great, but NEITHER is categorically better than the other. Period.


Inara RP Etiquette:

1. Respect the setting and rules of the universe.
Inara is an Elite: Dangerous 3rd Party Tool. The RP Forums are set in the Elite: Dangerous universe. Elite: Dangerous has rules, as any fictional universe does from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, or Game of Thrones to Star Trek. If you intend to RP within the Elite: Dangerous universe you are bound by the history and rules of that universe. Simply put, this RP forum is bound by the same rules as the game, so if it can't be done in the game, it is not permitted here. This applies to things from a 50Ly Jump Range on a normal, unmodified Sidewinder, to the destruction of entire stations.

2. Respect the characters created by others.
We have a wide variety of characters already here. It's expected that some will be similar, just as it's expected that two characters will be vastly different. Opinions of each persons character will naturally be varied, but all are valid provided they follow the rules of the universe. You are allowed to interact with, or avoid interaction with, any character in the RP forums. But you have no right to belittle others for their creation. You are not an authority figure on writing, nor are you directly affected by another persons imagination. You might not like it, but you MUST respect it.

3. Be caught up on current events before joining in.
You need basic things like character descriptions in order to interact with them. You also need to know what's going on in the surrounding areas. This is simply because the people you are hoping to RP with, might be gearing up to something that you might not want to be part of. Or simply that the most recent post, out of context, could leave a different impression on the goings on than if you gather that context. We don't expect you to read every single post from the beginning of the forums, just enough to get that basic understanding.

4. Either subscribe to, or frequently check, the Roleplay: Q&A and OOC forum.
People may be discussing something relevant to you there, or even discussing you directly. Perhaps someone asked what the general consensus on the existence or non-existence of a certain object. Or we're just chatting about random gibberish. Either way, be aware of it and use it. If you're unsure about something, such as how guns would look and or behave, or even the music selection, use the OOC forum to ask. We don't have all of the answers, but the collective knowledge and logic usually allows us to overcome an issue and come to a decision on what should be allowed. Frontier Developments, and even David Braben himself, don't have the answers to every possible question that can be asked.

5. Large Scale events exploding out of nowhere are a complete no go.
We get it. Everyone wants their character to be noticed and for people to be tripping over themselves to interact with them. In some audiences, an introduction involving you blasting in for landing in a fiery wreckage of a ship, before cart wheeling out and sword fighting 35 Ninjas before whisking off with the local celebrity for a glorious night of passion, is in fact, cool. This is not one of those audiences. It is generally considered better to build your character up slowly over time. Eventually, you might even have a legitimate excuse to fight those Ninjas. Maybe even with other RP participants by your side.

6. Perfect characters are boring.
The point of a character arc, is that it is in fact, an arc shape. One who is morally unquestionable, fully kitted out and an infinite fountain of knowledge, cannot go through an arc. Give your character flaws. Be it a tendency towards befriending the wrong people, or a bad knee that frequently gives out at inopportune moments. It gives readers something to latch onto and empathise with. You can give your character exceptional capabilities at something, but it requires balance. She's a damn good pilot with no equal, but can't drive an SRV for peanuts. It can lead to some very interesting moments between characters, be it heartfelt or comedic.


Other Notes:
It should be noted that there can be exceptions to these points. For example, good grammar when a character is speaking is actually rare. Few people in real life actually speak with perfect eloquence after all. Or previously arranged actions during a fight scene, such as someone stumbling back after a punch. What's key to remember is context.

All in all, remember this is purely for fun. We have some seriously talented writers here, and others whose writing history starts and ends at high school. But many are willing to help out in whatever way they can. All it takes is that you ask nicely.

Also keep in mind that many people who RP here, also have logbook stories related to the character, or characters, they portray. If it looks like there's an "in joke" going on that you're unsure of, it's probably in those.

In fact, some users have even gone to the trouble of creating "alts" to RP with. If you read back far enough, it's usually pretty clear who has and hasn't, and which ones are the "alts". It's therefore not unheard of to see the apparent seizing of control of other characters. If you do spot one, point it out in the OOC section. If intervention is needed, it will be sorted quickly and (hopefully) politely.

Most, if not all RP participants here have Logbook stories pertaining to their character(s). These are for the reading pleasure of anyone who wishes to do so. While it can be useful to read them in order to gain a bit of backstory on a character you wish to interact with, it should not be assumed that your character shares that knowledge. Within the E:D Universe, these Logbooks either don't exist, or are private diaries kept by the characters. Either way, without explicit statements to say otherwise from the writer, your interactions should reflect that your character is in the dark about any information you, the writer/reader, have gained from reading the stories.
08 Aug 2023, 4:13pm
"Actually, you're not alone in that. Maybe only the hive is different", I shrugged, then realised she can't see me anyway. "Humans are social, and that's our blessing and our curse. To some... To many, societal norms, conformity and common opitions are the only way to go, they can't form thoughts of their own without too much social influence."

"Like, the Thargoids and people hating them..." I sighed and my voice changed to quiet, slow and soft version of it, "You don't expect to hear it from someone... Who's not the smallest cog in the AX formation. But I don't hate them. No doubt they're social as well, although... We don't know how does their society operate... I hate the hypothetical societal mechanism that makes them attack us and use that... Vile and dirty kind of warfare. Like... People aren't being born sexist, racist or whatever, but the society around makes them be. Conformity. Lack of information to build your opinions upon."

"And..." I made a pause thinking it might be not quite comfortable for her. "You can keep the recordings, I'm going to see that one way or another, if they make you feel not okay. Don't neglect yourself and your own mind's responses, please. However, if you actually want, then yeah, thank you. Having a bit of sleep sounds nice anyway."

"Pills. Phah. The irony. Doc told me to keep them somewhere out of direct reach. And deal with all PTSD stuff with my own mind first. So the pills are for sleeping and emergency situations. However... I have the official prescription and there's a pharmacy nearby. If you don't mind staying here alone for, like, ten minutes, I can get them for you. What do you think? And... Don't worry, it isn't difficult or annoying or whatever for me. Can grab some food and drinks on my way back as well."
08 Aug 2023, 4:37pm
“Ten… I can do that alone. Food sounds good too. I don’t think I’ve eaten since… it.”

The last word came out with a certain, not quite intentional emphasis.

“And I’d rather not have the chance of a bad dream tonight. Don’t want to have any… reminders… of it again so soon. Besides, every doctor ever always tells you not to take pills without something to kick off your digestive system.”

I turned my attention to my wrist computer to send an order to EDI. I couldn’t look at and send those files myself, but it wouldn’t bother her as it would have bothered me.

“I told my ship’s computer to send those files to you. … external camera footage, at least.”

That was as much as I managed on the subject without getting overwhelmed by discomfort, so I said nothing further and sat upright to wait, crossing my legs.
08 Aug 2023, 4:59pm
"Sure. I'll be on my way then," I replied, using my communicator screen as a makeshift light source to find my boots. Once I succeeded in that quest, I turned the screen off, and slowly, holding the boots in my hand, left the room, to put them on in the corridor.

Learned that the hard way: always keep the digital, signed and verified copies of your prescriptions on every portable device that has a screen. The pharmacy was nearby and my stuff wasn't something exotic and rare, so, managed to get another 'curious plastic jar' without any fuss and, luckily, getting in the line ahead of an old man who's been comparing five types of headache meds trying to calculate which one is cheaper.

Forgot to ask Kasumi about her food preferences and realised that only reaching the vending machines in the corridor, though. So let it be four sandwiches, two of 'maximum bacon' type for me presumably, one with vegetables and one with fruit. Double-checked the expiration dates. At least I knew she doesn't like coffee, so two cans of tea, one water and one mixed fruit juice. Ah... Those little common mundane moments. Sometimes they look... Even sweet. A minute to bring someone a sandwich and a juice in the middle of hell and chaos.

With my pockets full of supplies, I returned and placed my acquisitions on Kasumi's bedside table.

"Here we go. Choose whatever you like, and I'll take the rest."
08 Aug 2023, 5:21pm
I eyed the sandwiches suspiciously, primarily focused on ones that said they came with bacon.

“Who even eats a sandwich with fruit or vegetables on it?”

I changed the lights to be slightly less dim while eating, and - seemingly to Meowers’ dismay - picked the bacon-laden bread with the ingredients I least took issue with, picking off a few cheese slices from it, which I handed back over, not interested in them myself.

Inspecting it a little more closely, I found there to be almost too much of the crispy treat that was bacon, so I set more of it aside on a napkin, then grabbed the fruit juice and ate away.

“Feel free to take the… leftovers. I’m probably not going to be eating them. Especially not all that cheese.”, I said between two bites, feeling more hungry than I expected, practically devouring the snack that I had snagged.
08 Aug 2023, 6:05pm
"Ah, I don't know, just realised I've had no idea what kind of foods you like," I replied casually, not even realising immediately what kind of picture I saw. And what I saw was something I saw for the first time in my life, perhaps. Something that made my mind take some time to process. I thought surprising me is difficult, but seems like picking the cheese slices out of the sandwich did the job.

"So... You... Don't like cheese that much? Ow", I took the cheese slices and bacon bits and carefully, not a breadcrumb away, put them into the second 'Max Bacon' sandwich as if they were there from the very start. Making it a 'SuperMax Bacon' that was now barely fitting its own package, "At least I know you like bacon..."

I made a first bite, eagerly, almost halving the sandwich, yet still over the open package since I didn't want to leave a mess and deal with it.

"Www... Ummm... At least okay bacon, not that vending machine fast cheap food stuff. But, well, it's better than nothing."

After Max Bacon disappeared in the Max Cat Belly, I popped open a tea can, made a big gulp and gave two remaining sandwiches, 'Veg-To-Go' and 'Summertime Madness', a look. Choosing the next victim for my claws and fangs. Fruit one was the most unlucky of those two, since... It was simply closer to me. My rate of devouring things became a bit slower on the third one as I felt that sensation of filling the stomach already, but it couldn't stop me. Thankfully, the manufacturers cheaped out on sauces and other gooey sticky dripping stuff.

"Ah. That feels much better now. And, those meds... They aren't some combat-grade chemicals, don't expect them to work intensively. It's a medicine. Slows down the mind, making the thoughts easier to control consciously and not so... Loud. And you may guess why it's good for getting asleep and sleeping well."
08 Aug 2023, 6:31pm
“No, I very much don’t like cheese. Unless it’s grated and sprinkled over some noodles, or the stuff that goes on pizza. However you pronounce that.”

I took another generous bite out of my sandwich, which, by the pace I was going through it, wouldn’t be finished before Meowers had gone through two and a half. At least I knew it would keep my hunger at bay, which had seemingly gone up ever since my brain was constantly receiving the hive mind’s signals, without so much as affecting my physique from the added food consumption.

My next move was to put down one of the pills, alongside some water, hoping it would act before I fell asleep. I continued to talk once I’d finished my sandwich and the fruit juice.

“So… what I meant with the implant ‘controlling my thoughts’ was… well, just that. I’m really not sure how much of an effect it has over what I think, or feel toward certain things. Maybe it just amplifies what I have always felt. I don’t know. I’d probably still hate Azimuth for what they did even without… but the Thargoid question shouldn’t be so difficult for me to figure out. It’s not like they ever did anything for me… ignoring that they’re the reason I have any kind of free will left, and am not dead.”

I hopped off the bed and into the bathroom, looking to find the items required to brush my teeth. Luckily, it seemed those amenities were present - I’d have hated to have to sleep with anything but a clean mouth. I closed off the door while I did that and taking care of other biological necessities, then came back out and lay down flat on the bed again, thinking about snuggling under the covers for coziness.
08 Aug 2023, 7:40pm
"I don't think they control you," I shrugged and that was visible now. "I heard about some wicked mind control experiments, and all the time people either had a total memory loss or realised that they were controlled after leaving the effective range or whatsoever. And, to control something, you have to exchange information... Like, we don't have any technology to decipher and understand Thargoid 'speech', but able to register disruptions and waves. If your thing tampers with your mind... I think it has to be standalone, pre-programmed."

When Kasumi headed for the bathroom, I grabbed a remaining tea can, went to the kitchen and turned on the vents to have a smoke and think about her words. Latest words, and then everything else I heard from her tonight.

Like, almost everything she said fit well to the effects and symptoms, knowledge of which I picked up from the texts on mental health issues, namely post-traumatic stress. And, well, some of my own experiences. But that didn't mean all that was easy for me. I knew how to approach some of these, how to untangle several complicated bits, what kind of new thought patterns, those countermeasures, might be helpful for her... Although, knowing a path is merely a part of walking. Anyway, I didn't want to be intrusive, didn't want to look like I'm telling her what to do and what to think, literally. And, I thought, I still didn't know even a quarter of details about what happened to her. And I didn't want to force her to talk.

When she returned, it was my time to use the bathroom. Yeah, I like those long float-in-the-tub sessions, although at the moment I didn't have any thoughts to kick back and forth across my brain while floating, so it was simply a quick shower, teeth and toilet routines and nothing more. After creating a neat stack comprised of hoodie, uniform trousers and socks, while I had the lights making it possible, I returned to the main room.

"I guess you took that pill already, so... No need to strain your mind anymore today, let it do its thing. And, have a cosy relaxing night", I twisted the light dimmer, making the room completely dark.

Thinking that it shouldn't hurt anyone whilst certainly helping me with getting asleep, I launched a pill down into my stomach too. Wrapping myself in a blanket and closing my eyes, I let that day end in a comfortable way.


Last edit: 08 Aug 2023, 8:45pm
08 Aug 2023, 8:03pm
By the time Meowers had finished her own routine in the bathroom, I'd already slipped under the bed covers and begun to slip away into the welcome embrace of unconsciousness that sleep provided, bringing with it a break from the otherwise constant, incessant chattering of voices in my head.

It felt difficult to explain that the implant had the potential to affect my brain, not necessarily itself, but rather from whatever the hivemind was feeding me, or directives they gave to the biomechanical device, if there even was any deliberate action from their part. How it wasn't just a simple machine, but partly alive, maybe even 'think' on its own. Or perhaps it could simply use my brain for whatever it required - I wasn't sure.

There was too much we didn't know about Thargoid technology, and my case of somehow making ammonia-based DNA not be immediately rejected and destroyed by my immune system, but also meld it with my own, made it even more difficult to figure anything out about what was in my body. Which, in turn, was not helped by the fact that I needed it to live at this point, and so it couldn't be removed for easier study.

The thought stream still keeping me awake slowed down, eventually stopping entirely as I simply wanted to sleep, and the pill seemingly kicked in. It also had a certain subduing effect on the voices of the hive, turning them into a subtle background buzz that was easy to ignore after a while. I stopped hearing it entirely when my active consciousness faded into a, thankfully, dreamless void.
09 Aug 2023, 12:35pm
A strong urge to relieve myself pulled me out of sleep prematurely after, however many hours I’d slept. I tried to ignore it at first, still feeling sleepy, but it proved too strong to.

I slipped out of the bed quietly and snuck over to the bathroom, careful to try avoiding waking Meowers, who was still sound asleep.

Once I had taken care of that need, internally cursing my body while rubbing my tired eyes, I returned to the bed and almost dropped on it like a rock. It was still far too early for me to be awake, so I wanted to at least continue being lazy in the bed.

Sleep seemed to be out of the question, seeing as the hive was back to its usual loud self in my head, meaning that the pill had likely worn off. At least, it had stopped any unwanted dreams from occurring while I got some much needed rest in.
09 Aug 2023, 2:21pm
*an hour and something later*

"Mmmmmm..."

I emitted a quiet yawn-like sound, turning on my side and slowly waking up. Couldn't remember what I saw in my sleep, might've been some unrecognisable mess or nothing at all: thankfully, nothing particularly bad, disturbing or otherwise hindering my mind's attempts to rest. So, whatever signals my just activated brain was able to produce, sleeping more wasn't on that list, as my eyelids were slowly getting back to 'open' when I tried to close my eyes and relax. The room was filled with darkness and silence, and my own breathing was the most audible source of sound for me; not knowing if Kasumi is still sleeping or not, I quietly reached for the stack of clothing on my bedside table.

Retrieving a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, I silently slip out of the bed and wandered to the kitchen to have a wake-up smoke. The person who invented those minibars must've been a big shot in the hell now: the temptation is completely irresistible, no matter how badly overpriced those drinks are. Thing is, putting my trousers and boots on and covering that unforgiving distance of, like, twenty metres in total, will wake up my mind in a forced, not exactly comfortable and hedonistic way, stripping that 'wake-up smoke' thingy out of the main source of its pleasant effect. And minibar was here, already, just open it and compliment the taste any way you'd like.

So, I let my brain start up without any unnecessary torturing. Finding a can of fresh non-alco tonic, cooled almost to the freezing point, I didn't hesitate and pop it open, after turning the vents on and lighting a cigarette. A few enjoyable minutes, spent leaning on the table, almost sitting on its edge, with those simple human vices such as a cigarette and not exactly natural drink, were something I really welcomed right now.

Getting back to the room, I sat on the bed as silent as I could, and decided to ask, whispering, "Hey, are you awake? How are you?"
09 Aug 2023, 2:37pm
I gave off a displeased sound and hid away under the blanket completely, expecting lights to come on and shine brightly into my face, in entirely obnoxious and unwanted manner.

“Annoyed”, was given as a muttered response, muffled by the fabric. I stayed under it for a few more minutes, still unwilling to get up. Eventually, I gave up on sleep and crawled back out of my hiding spot, but remained on the bed, barely even keeping my eyes open.

I’d still need at least a little bit to even want to, or have the brain capacity to talk properly. So I simply lay there, eyes closed more than opened, unmoving, beside the rythmic up and down of my chest from breathing. The hour of trying to find more sleep had done little more than make my tiredness worse.
09 Aug 2023, 3:00pm
"Ow. Did you see something... You didn't want?" I enquired quietly, and then, realising she might be not in the mood for talking, questions especially, added, "Don't force yourself if you don't want to reply, it's okay."

The reason why I don't like questions and deem them not always comfortable and acceptable in daily conversations, is... Kind of, deep. Maybe going straight to my shitty childhood. I think... That's why asking questions is equal to 'squeezing information out of a person, regardless of their willing to speak' for me, most of the time. They're making people face a choice, to speak now or to be impolite leaving them unanswered, they force people to speak. People, well, most of them, don't like to be forced. So, kind of, last resort measure. Mostly, I like to provide the groundwork, something that might make a person talk voluntarily, without me asking directly.

But, uh... That was just something that randomly crossed my mind. So.

"No worries then. I'll just take my comm and start doomscrolling the news and whatever."
09 Aug 2023, 3:09pm
*spends another few minutes being silent, the only noises in the room being the comms device and breathing*

“No, I just… my body decided that I needed to go to the toilet instead of continuing to sleep until I wanted to wake up. So I’ve been awake for longer than you, and I hate morning.”

I rubbed my closed eyes, then stretched, giving off a pleased sound that transitioned into yawning rather audibly.

“And the hive decided to stop being quiet. The meds you gave me shut them up for a little while. So I’m still …” Another yawn slipped out. “… tired. Like every other day.”

I sighed, closing my eyes again, after a cautious attempt to keep my eyelids apart. Part of me wanted to explain how my implant actually worked, but the other that said it was still far too early for any kind of extended talk was more powerful, getting me to wait until I had more than two active braincells.


Last edit: 09 Aug 2023, 3:32pm
09 Aug 2023, 3:26pm
"Aaah. Totally can relate... If you see a person in the bed 'til afternoon, then it's probably me," I giggled quietly. Then, continued the idea with more of a cartoonish-ranting tone. "When it's possible, gah."

"Glad the meds worked though. But I honestly advise you to observe those side-effects. I know, like, chance of having them is somewhere around two per cent..." I shrugged, "It's better to be sure."

Thankfully, I didn't have any nightmares of my own. For some reason, waking up after seeing that shit, in a complete darkness, without an active or at least immediately reachable soft light source, was utterly merciless. So people sometimes ask me about being afraid of the dark, and, due to some moronic stereotypes, it's easier for them to believe that an adult person might be afraid of the dark, even not having anything like that in their child years, rather than 'I just want to give this godsdamned brain a chance to rest, otherwise I'm heading straight into the day of feeling like a rotten zombie far beyond its expiration date'. Screw people.

"Just signal me when you catch a thought about a breakfast. Or something like that."

Though, the latest GalNet news article seemed... Disturbing. Not for me, I knew that already and, well... I'm almost completely desensitised. No. It wasn't about me. Judging by the content, it might provoke another acute negative reaction if Kasumi reads it.

"Or, well... Anything else to keep our heads far away from the chaos around us."


Last edit: 09 Aug 2023, 3:33pm
09 Aug 2023, 3:49pm
“Side effects …” I let the word hang in the air, as if I’d forgotten what it meant. In a way, I had. “Remind me what they were again?”

My half-active brain wasn’t particularly good on a detail that I didn’t really care to remember much, so far never exhibiting a negative reaction to anything other than a certain type of antibiotic, which would almost always get rejected by my body immediately, in rather messy fashion.

I massaged my head below the ears while waiting for a response to the question, responding to another of the things mentioned.

“Just… ten, fifteen minutes. Need to give my brain time to start up.”

It was the least I could do to not feel groggy for the entire day, though I would likely be tired throughout anyway. Implant or not, it seemed like I was not getting rid of sleepiness after insufficient sleep, even if I didn’t have a bad night. The only thing it did was prevent me from falling over and snoring on the floor, to a degree.

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If you are new here, please try to at least partially involve in the ongoing stories and conversations instead of establishing a completely different "arc". You can always turn it to a different story later.