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 Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:23 pm
Another 'dear sister' letter...
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:09 pm
__// Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye... He was dressed for the road... The road that was awaiting him now that he'd bested his Uncle Ja'reth in the arena. Lo'Dalen had been saddled up with all of his posessions save for the sword, which was belted to his hip, and the fine outfit that he wore complete with cloak that was fastened with an intricately designed leaf broach. Curled up in the design of one of the tendrils around the leaf was the tiny imprint of a dragon; the family crest.
She dusted off her hands agaisnt the apron she wore and smiled down at her work. She had been planting a fresh crop of fern seeds and now that she was done she felt proud. Thoes were her seeds, her little babies, and everyone else better stay away from them until they were grown.
He made his way to the greenhouse where, after stopping in the infirmary, he'd been told that Ayla was. It would be horrible to leave without saying goodbye to her... And he may have been a brattling, but he was no horrid brattling.
He loosened his cloak as he entered the greenhouse. It was warm in there despite the chill outside... And she was in there somewhere amongst the beautiful jungle. "Ayla?"
Hearing her name she walked away from the pond she had been planting the ferns by and looked around. "Yes...Keith!" She hadnt seen him in a while and was suprised to see him. The apron she wore covered most of her clothing since she had dressed to spend most of the day tending the plants.
He let a soft smile tug at the corners of his lips as he looked to her, reaching up to run fingers back through his hair... A nervous habit. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
"No... I was just planting some things." She brushed her hands off again and walked over. Under the arpon was hidden a loose bodice and skirt that just brushed her ankles. "They put me in charge of the greenhouse today."
He reached up, plucking a piece of plantlife from her hair before quickly withdrawing his hand... Not even thinking that she might not've wanted him touching her until he'd already done so. "... I came to say goodbye."
"Returning home already?" She remembered him saying that he was here because he was family so he must have finished whatever it was he was here for. "Your mother will be glad to see you." She smiled up and brushed a bit of dirt off her apron.
He nodded slowly. "I've spent the entire summer here... Save for the two days that I spent attemptiong to escape." A roguish grin overtook his facial features where once there had been a sheepish smile.
"You tried to escape?" She had thrown a fit about them trying ot teach her to be a lady but she hadnt tried to excape. "How far did you get? Enough to give them trouble?"
"Far enough that Ja'reth wouldn't permit me to have any form of shoes for nearly a month... I could've gotten further had Lo'Dalen not given me away by returning to the Keep for dinner."
She laughed at that. "Well we know where his loyalty's lie. I'm suprised that you got that far. Must have gotten good at getting away."
"Aye, my faithful steed's loyalties lie within his stomach." He snorted, letting his eyes roll before returning them to the girl. "Where there's a will there's a way... And I thought that I didn't wish to be here anymore badly enough that escape was my way."
"Well he knows he will get fed that way." She reached up and pulled a dead leaf off one of the plants. "Do you still hold it against your mother for sending you here?"
He shook his head slowly. "It took a great deal of time... Or, rather, at least what seemed like a great deal of time to forgive her after Ja'reth brought me back. I redirected my frustrations at him... And then I realized a few key things."
"That is good." She nodded. "I guess you learned what you needed to learn then?" She wasnt done learning and she rather liked the school. It was fun.
"What? You're not even going to question what I realized?" He chuckled as he turned to walk past her towards the pond. Most of the ponds, even those in the greenhouse, contained at least a koi or two.
She set her hands on her hips and turned around to look at him. "What did you realise? I was trying to not be .... nosey." She walked over and brushed a little more dirt over her seeds.
"You're a girl. Girls are supposed to be nosey." He nodded once more, flashing her that grin that had become less 'boyish' since their first meeting. "I realized that had I not come here I wouldn't have learned as much about swordplay as I have. I wouldn't have bested Uncle Ja'reth as I did. I wouldn't have learned how to play the games I've played..."
He was facing the pond as he continued to speak, eyes the only things that moved to look upon her. "... I wouldn't have met you in the woods had my mother not sent me away. You could've gotten lost, you know." Boyish arrogance... But there was something more than that. Perhaps.
"I would have gotten lost and someone would have had to come find me and i would not have been a happy little healer" She chuckled and moved to sit on a small rock section of the pond.
He stooped down beside the pond, reaching into to trail his fingertips along one of the fish. His mother had fish like this at home... Perhaps they were relatives of the fish he saw now. "Lo'Dalen will miss you."
"Ohh....I'll have to take him a treat before you leave." She bit her lip. "I think i have some chocolate in my room. And what? You're not going to miss me, I'm hurt."
His brow raised slightly as he looked towards her. "Don't tell me you're going to miss me, Ayla." Question safely skirted for the moment.
"That dosent answer my question." She grinned at him and crossed her legs. "Yes i'd miss you. Why wouldnt i?"
"I don't know..." He shrugged as he stood up, dusting off his pants despite the fact that there was nothing on them. "You don't strike me as the sort of girl who'd go about missing people all that much."
"I'm not the sort who is going to so sitting around pining because someone had to go somewhere. But that dosent mean i wont miss people." He still hadnt answered he question but she let it go for a moment.
"I wouldn't be here talking with you right now if I wasn't going to miss you." He said simply after a moment's pause.
"You could always write me letters." She was getting a feeling that admiting he was going to miss her was hard for Keith. "I'll be here for a while before i return home. "Or i am sure someone could take me to your home so i could visit."
"I'm not all that good with writing letters... But I could try." He nodded slowly, glad that a lock of hair had fallen across his face to sheild the soft rose color that had touched his cheeks. "Maybe I'll be back here before you leave..." Bringing her to his home would mean meeting his mothers and the rest of his looney family.
"Well I could write you one first if you leave me an address, or i could ask someone here, then you would just have to remember to write me back." She tilted her head and looked at him. "I doubt your family would complain if you wanted to visit"
"All you'd have to do is catch one of those silly little dragon sprites... Give it a treat and tell it to find me. Uncle Sylfaenol uses them as letter carriers all of the time. As long as they think they're getting something out of the deal, they remember where they're going." He nodded once more before tilting his head to look towards the greenhouse door. "... I... Should probably get going."
"Oh! One of thoes lives in my room .... it decided it liked me." She rather liked it to so she had never made it move. "I could get it to take letters for me i supose." She bit her lip in though for a moment. "Yea, i could do that." She stood up and grinned. "If you're going ot run you have to let me get a treat for Lo first."
"In that case, I'll be outside the front gate waiting for you." Another brief nod was given as he headed for the door. He could form a game plan while waiting for her.
"I'll be there in a few minuets." She hurried from the greenhouse toward her room. She had a box of chocolates and could take some for Lo and maybe give Keith a few to take with him. She returned from her room a few minutes later and headed for the front gates to find Keith.
He was leaning against the wall outside of the Keep, eyes closed as he waited for Ayla to join him. Lo'Dalen got to her first, of course, nosing her with great snuffles. Choocoolaaate.
"Hello Lo." She petted him and held the chocolate out of his reach. "I have a present for you." Pulling a piece of chocolate out of the box she held it out for him.
Lo'Dalen's tail began to swish back and forth as he quivered with excitement, looking at the piece of chocolate with wide eyes before sitting as Keith had taught him to... Because pouncing was 'bad'. His master had opened his eyes and was now viewing the two with a smile.
She laughed as he sat down and held out her hand so he could take the chocolate from her. "I knew you would like these." She'd bought them eariler in the week and thought they were wonderfuly delicious.
His tail continued to swish behind him almost as if he were a great big puppy... But the rough sandpappery feeling of his tongue was definately more feline as it flickered from his mouth to wrap around the chocolate. Ooh... Caramel inside. That would take a while to chew.
As Lo'Dalen chewed on the treat he stepped forward. "Yup. He's definately going to miss you."
She wiped her hand on her skirt, which was already covered in dirt and plant grime, and laughed. "He'll miss my chocolate more than me." She held the box out to Keith. "Here. You can take these with you."
He shook his head. "Oh, no... If I take those will me he'll want to stop every five minutes for a treat and I'll never get home." He chuckled. "Keep them."
"Then maybe I will just have to feed them all to him and make him fat then you cant leave." She giggled and wiggled the box at him. "Sure you dont want them?"
"You're not allowed to do that, Ayla. My mother is expecting me." He reached out, gently tapping her nose. "Yes, I'm sure. Besides... If I take your chocolate now what will you have to feed Lo' when I make him carry me back?"
"I'll have bought more by then." She stuck her tongue out at him. "Its not like i dont usually have chocolate with me somewhere."
"It's not nice to stick your tongue out, Ayla." A teasing grin slipped over his lips. "What have they been teaching you? I thought somewhere amongst your lessons you were supposed to become a lady."
"It was. Until i threw a terracota pot at the teacher's head." She grinned. "They decided I was ladylike enough and i should get on with my more important studies."
"Shame on you." He tisked softly as he tilted his head to look at her. "I'm probably keeping you from your studies by lingering on out here."
"Hey, it got them to stop trying ot make me girly." She shruged. "No. I wasnt really doing anything, just poking plants." She almost didnt want him to leave even though he needed to.
He shifted on his feet, rocking from one foot to the other before falling still once more as his eyes sought hers. "I... Have something for you before I go, Ayla."
"Something for me?" She titled her head slightly and looked at him. Shouldnt she be giving him going away presents, not the other way around?
He nodded slowly as he took a step towards her, purposefully leaving his hands behind his back. "Do you trust me enough to close your eyes?"
She looked at him for a moment before closing her eyes. "I supose ..."
He brought one hand around, waving it in front of her face slowly to make sure that her eyes were truly closed. Once that was confirmed he leaned in, quickly brushing his lips against hers.
Her eyes snapped open in shock. That hadnt been expected at all.
He stepped back, teeth tugging on his lower lip as he tried to keep that rogueish grin from seeming too... Too something.
She blinked and looked at him as her fingers came up to her lips. "Keith ....."
"I'll be waiting for your first letter, Ayla." He smiled as he moved towards Lo'Dalen, nudging his mount to his feet before climbing on top of his back.
"I'll be sure to write you soon." She smiled as her hands fell to tuck the chocolate into a pocket on her apron.
He flashed her one last smile before leaning down, nickering something soft into Lo'Dalen's ear which prompted the Sarnin to spread his wings and take flight. Home... he'd be home in no time.
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:00 pm
"There's no place like home..."
Keith's Journal - September 3rd In coming home there are certain things that are almost expected... Change is one of them. I returned home and, much to my suprise (and joy) nothing has changed. My room is still in one piece. Everything is there that I left behind... Toy swords piled in a corner long forgotten, starry night scenes on the ceiling and a tiny plush dragon named Cygnus sitting on my pillow.
Does growing up mean leaving all things of childhood behind? Or does it mean keeping them as reminders of the inner child that should never be forgotten?
Ugh. I sound like such an old man writing that. Uncle Sylfaenol would be proud and Uncle Ja'reth would laugh and clap me on the shoulder saying that I've finally learned something. Of course, if I hadn't learned anything, I wouldn't be here at home writing from the desk in my bedroom, would I?
I am not yet a man, but I am no longer a boy. I've learned that much. I am somewhere in between and, you know what? I don't mind that much. A man has too many responsibilities whereas a boy has none. I have enough to keep me occupied and so few that I can still enjoy myself. I may have to start taking advantage of that. I may have to get out more...
Nodel'mam took my return well. There was no gushing... Just a hug that I initiated. No hard feelings. I've learned so much this summer and, if she hadn't forced me away from the home, I never would have experienced the things I have... Or met the people that I've met.
I didn't write about her before... But I might as well now because, sooner or later, I'll find myself wanting to explain and it would be better if I just did it now.
On my way to the Keep I met someone... A girl who was traveling to the Keep with me. As any young gentleman knight would do, I insisted on escorting her the rest of the way. We talked, as people traveling with one another are likely to do and, somewhere durring the time that I spent at the Keep we became friends. She's smart... And pretty... And not at all like any of the girls that I've met except for maybe Lethe. She seems to have that same adventurous streak.
I gave her a kiss before I left the Keep. I still don't know why exactly. I just did. Everyone has a first kiss and, for some reason, it just seemed right that she be mine. It was... Nice. Soft and sweet. Nothing like you see in movies. A first kiss shouldn't be anything like that. Ours wasn't.
She's supposed to be writing me a letter... We'll see if she does. Who knows, maybe I'll wind up back at the Keep again for a day or so to visit. I bet Lo'Dalen would like that. He seemed to like her alot. She and her chocolate.
I'll leave off with that for now... I promised Rian that I would show him a few of the card tricks that I learned from one of the other boys at the Keep. I'll write again soon.
~ Keith Devlin
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:09 pm
Dear Keith,
I said i would write didnt i? Well i am. Mostly because i was having lunch with a few girls in my class and one of them mentioned being sad that this really pretty red haired guy had left and it made me giggle. I couldnt tell them what mad me giggle really, only that i knew you, and they looked at me funny. It made me remember that i said i write so i am. Did you make it home alright? I wouldnt think you'd run into any problems but one can never be too sure. Lo didnt hurt himself either i trust?
Your uncle, Ja'reth i think, has been driving the doctors nuts. He wont get out of the imfimary and he keeps hitting on all of us new girls. Its silly but kinda cute in a way. Almost like a little kid is calling you pretty and you just have to smile and nod.
You really havent been gone long but i though i should write and make sure you were home alright, so i dont really have much to say. Oh, the little box comming with this is a treat for Lo so make sure he gets it.
~attached is a small box of blueberry chocolates~
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Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:28 am
Keith's Journal - September 10th I recieced a letter today via a delivery made by a rather energetic dragon sprite. Do you realize what that means? It means that she wrote to me. She. Wrote to me.
I'm sitting here writing about it when I really should be writing back to her. I just...
She wrote to me.
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:50 am
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:45 am
Keith's Journal - November 16th I think I've spent more time traveling lately than I've spent between either of my homes... Yes, I have two places that I call 'home' now, so it seems. It's strange, but right. Very right.
I attended a wedding last month. My Uncle Sylfaenol took a mate. The ceremony was beautiful, of course, as I'm lead to believe that most ceremonies held at the Keep are. I don't think it would have been the same though had Ayla not been with me. She made the event seem less serious... And that smile on her face when she saw how beautiful the decorations she'd worked on turned out? It was priceless.
Sylfaenol has been teaching me many things while I stay at the Keep and, when I return home, Nodel'mam has been quizzing me; testing the limits of what I've learned. It's all simple, really.
I've become quite fond of card tricks. They're one of the easiest things to learn and, once you've got the hang of hem, you can start adding little twists to the trick. Callie and Rian love them. It seems to be one of the few things that the twins can agree on. I can't believe how different they are.. How much they've grown.
Gods, I'm starting to feel old.
I'm home for the weekend but soon I'll be returning to the Keep again. Lo'Dalen is antsy and eager to return. I don't think there is enough chocolate here for him to want to stay. I'll have to ask mother to get some for when we come back. There are holidays coming soon, afterall. Thanksgiving... Christmas... Halloween may be my favorite, but at least I have good food and gifts to look forward to.
Perhaps Nodel'mam will permit me to attend the ball this New Years. I hope so... I am going to be a man, afterall.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 9:35 am
"Oh there's no place like home for the holidays..."
Keith's Journal - December 25th I don't know what possessed me to invite Balin home for Christmas... Or, rather, I do know why. I invited him to come back to the Stacia'maskan home of insanity because he managed to convince me that his home was crazier than mine.
I'm still begging to differ that.
Dinner was delicious. I most say that Nodel'mam outdid herself as far as that goes... And knowing that my brother, 'Vyn, did all of the baking made it that much better. I've eaten far too much and I have a feeling that I will only be stuffed with more once I make the trip back downstairs to open the rest of the gifts from my family.
... ... ...
Hours later I return mortified. Mother pulled out the photo album and promptly showed Balin all of the pictures from my childhood... Including the one where I, aparantly, made my toddler debut as a stripper. Next year I'm staying at the Keep for Christmas.
I'm going to hide those pictures if I ever find out where she keeps them. It's bad enough she showed them to Bal... I'd never hear the end of it if she showed them to Ayla.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 10:03 am
Keith's Journal - May 29th Crap. Has it really been this long since I've picked up a pen to start writing? I think it has been. Crap again. I've been so busy lately. Uncle has kept me running around and, when Uncle hasn't, it's been either Ayla or Balin running me this way or that... Not that I'm complaining. They keep me on my toes and I love them for that. What are friends and girlfriends for afterall, right? Things have been changing again. I've felt rather strange on and off. Uncle has reassured me that there's nothing wrong but, just to be sure, I decided to head home for a bit. Home was... Well... Home. Nothing's changed there. Sometimes it's good to see that. Nodel is doing well. Rian and Callista have gotten a bit biger... Mom's still as wacky as ever. I've heard they've been experimenting on pixies. In a way I'm glad that I haven't been around. I got to help Aaralyn move out. He built a house in the woods that suits him. I may go visit later on this evening to see how everything's going. I don't recall liking him much when I was younger... He was very bouncey but it seems as if he's changed just as I have. Family does that do you, doesn't it?
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 12:31 pm
Skye's Thoughts - May 29th You never realize just how busy it is around the house until you have two children teetering between child and teen, a Jivvin who has just become a man, and two Jivvins who seem as if they have some sort of plans stuffed up their sleeves. I've been running this way and that and, to be completely truthful, I've enjoyed every moment of it. It's kept me from thinking. I missed my birthday this year... Missed it and didn't mind. What's another year when you've already seen as many as I have? While I forgot others didn't... Which was nice. I recieved a card from my son along with a necklace that he made from various stones that he's found around the Keep; a reminder of home. Keith is, by Gaia standards, two years old. My baby. Two. Any other parent saying such a thing would be picking out toddler clothes, prattling on about first words, going on and on about 'terrible twos'.... Not a parent living on Gaia. Time flies by so quickly here; years pass by within a day's time. He's growign up before my eyes into a fine young man; one that any mother would be proud of. I'm proud of you, Keith; proud of everything that you've become and everything that you'll be. No matter what, I'll always be proud of you. ~ Skye
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:47 pm
Watch Closely // Main Thread RP pg. 606KeithDevlin He was sitting on the floor by one of the low tables in the waiting room with a deck of cards. This was one of the few places he knew he could come for, suprisingly enough, quiet. Had he thought to grab any money before leaving his mothers' home he probably would've gone for coffee... But this would have to do. He shuffled the cards carefully, spreading them out only to flip them all over before collecting them once more. Simple slight of hand; nothing special. The real 'tricks' had nothing to do with the shuffling. That was just a distraction, of course. Then again... Who was he trying to distract? Himself? Quite possibly. There were too many things on his mind; none of which he wanted to think about. He'd settle for cards until it was time to head home. Elda-Chan Eden shuffled quietly into the clinic waiting room, doing her best to go unnoticed. She felt silly and awkward, almost like she didn’t belong here at all. That, coupled with a feeling of sick dread over having to see a much feared doctor, was enough to shatter her already fragile nerves. It was a pretty room, quiet, calm, inviting. Empty save a handsome redheaded youth who sat on the floor playing with a deck of cards. Was playing the right term? It looked more like he was doing some sort of trick; like the kind a magician might do, only way cooler. Unsure of what to do with herself, she quickly took a seat in a chair not far from the young man. KeithDevlin He peered up from his cards, a slight smile curving the corners of his mouth as he caught sight of the young woman. "I'll hope you'll forgive me for saying so, Miss, but you look like you're expectin' someone t'bite you. I assure you, no one here at the moment bites... Unless you do, in which case, I ask that you warn me now so I can put away my cards and prepair to run." Elda-Chan Eden jumped slightly in her seat at the sound of the young man’s voice, and gave a weak smile to cover her embarrassment. “Don’t worry too much; I’ve had all my shots.” She joked, a weak attempt at humor. He liked the boy right off the bat, and he seemed friendly enough. KeithDevlin "Yes, but I haven't." He laughed as he scooped up his cards, shuffling them in his hands for a moment. "Afraid of needles, you know. Big nasty things. Make me cringe." His smile was warm and friendly as he spoke, trying to get the woman to relax. "Do you like card tricks?" Elda-Chan “I love them!” She exclaimed, genuinely smiling back at him. He had a nice smile, warm, calming; it made his whole face light up. It was the kind of smile Eden could trust, and like. “It’s amazing what people can do with a deck of cards!” KeithDevlin "Wonderful." He spun around on the floor, turning to face the woman as he held out the deck of cards. "Take a look at them. Let me know if you find anything about them that's out of the ordinary. Anything at all." She shouldn't, of course. They were nothing more than a plain deck of playing cards that he'd picked up at one of the small stores in the area. A regular store... Not even a magic shop. Elda-Chan Eden fanned the cards out in her hands, looking them over carefully. They seemed to be a completely ordinary deck of playing cards. There was nothing special or unusual about them, just like hundreds of other decks she’d seen in her lifetime. “They look very normal to me.” She told him, handing the cards back. KeithDevlin "Perfecct answer." He nodded with a smile as he took the cards back, giving them a light shuffle before spreading them out in his hands. "And now, the line you've been waitng oh-so-patiently for: Pick a card, any card." He grinned, closing his eyes tightly. "Once you've done so, memorize it and shove it back into the deck. My eyes are closed so I won't even know where you've pulled the card from or where you'll be placing it once you put it back." Elda-Chan She looked carefully at the cards before tugging one gently out of his hands. Studying the card carefully she smiled. The Jack of Hearts, interesting. She slipped the card back into his had in a random spot, then sat back in her chair. “Okay.” She told him. “Good to go.” KeithDevlin He gave the cards a good shuffle before setting them on the table behind him. His eyes opened as he continued to smile. He reached out, snapping his fingers in front of her only to have a card appear in his hand; the jack of hearts. "Is this your card?" Elda-Chan Eden’s eyes widened in amazement, and she looked momentarily stunned. She was sure he’d shuffled the cards really well and put the whole deck on the table, but somehow he’d not only gotten the right card, but made it appear out of seemingly thin air. “Yes that is. . . How, how did you do that?” KeithDevlin "A magician never reveals his tricks." He winked as, with the flick of his wrist, the card disappeared. "Feeling a bit better about being in this big, scary place now?" Elda-Chan “Well, it’s still big. . .” She looked around the room that seemed somewhat even more comfortable than before. “But not so scary now, even if there are doctors involved.” She joked. “And thank you so much. You’re trick was absolutly wonderful!” KeithDevlin He stood slowly, gathering his cards into his hands before stuffing them into the back pocket of his pants. "You are most welcome. Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do just fine here." He nodded. "The doctors must be nice... Afterall, so many people keep coming here. My parents did." Elda-Chan Eden stood with him, sorry to see him prepare to leave. She was surprised to find out his parents were patients at the clinic, though she realized it shouldn’t be all that surprising seeing as he had been just sort of lounging when she arrived. “Thank you for the well whishes. . .” She told him, smiling brightly. “And I hope to see you again, sometime?” KeithDevlin "You might, Miss. You might." He chuckled as he turned towards the door, whistling softly to himself as he stepped out into the sun. Now that he'd gotten in a bit of practice he could go try the trick on his younger brother again to see if he'd actually fall for it.
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:28 pm
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