Fall was a whirlwind. Between having her an unquenchable muse and just being constantly busy, she also had to think a lot about the fact that the end of the year was coming and so was her own private gallery debut. Two things she wasn't ready for. Madi got very sick at the end of October, with the sadness of having to miss Halloween completely which was her favorite holiday. The girls ended up decorating her hospital room and she participated in trick or treating with other kids from the Peds ward in full costume. It made her happy, and that's what mattered. Luckily she recovered from the bad bough or pneumonia and wasn't in there for long. During that time though Clarke was a mess. She spent her time bed-side letting the house go unkempt and her art untouched.
Now she had to face the music. Her debut was planned for the first week of December, right after Thanksgiving. Back to back holidays, things to do for Madi's school, taking care of Madi, the house, and the general change in weather had Clarke at the end of her nerves. She had less than a month to finish preparing for her gallery opening. She needed to select, organize, create and finish as well as do write ups for chosen pieces. She had so much to do and three weeks did not feel like enough time. It really wasn't.
Having gotten things back in order around the house and Madi back at school until Thanksgiving, Clarke had time to work on her art world. With how busy she had been she even let her online shop go by the wayside every so slightly and it made her feel horrible that a few orders went out two days later than they should have. The last thing she wanted to do was scorn her customers like that. In black leggings a longer tunic length olive t-shirt, black boots and her classic black leather jacket she grabbed her wallet and keys. She needed to run to a few stores, mostly craft supply shops and the grocery store. With that in mind she sat behind the wheel of her Firebird and turned the key. Nothing. The sound of nothing drained every positive molecule in her body and made her heart sink deep into her gut and melt into a puddle.
"No." She told the car flat-out. She wasn't having this. She didn't need and couldn't afford this hiccup. She turned the key again, full of hope. Nothing.
"Come on." She slammed the side of her fist on the wheel and tried two more times. Nothing.
"FUCK" She screamed her head off and began crying, the dam of emotional crumbling at the wheel of her car, the car that meant the world to her. She took in a deep sigh and leaned her head against the wheel, crying into it and just letting out everything that had built up. So much bullshit and for all she knew it would just get worse as there for three more holidays coming up. This time of year wasn't easy for anyone.
In full sobbing, she lost awareness of the world around her outside of that car. So when a knock on her window was heard, he made her body jump. She turned her head enough to look over at her window to find Bellamy fucking Blake bent down and peering into the window.
Oh great. She didn't bother composing herself, completely disheveled she opened the door and pulled herself out of the car almost hitting Bellamy with the door.
"Yeah?" She cleared her throat though it held a rasp of tears.
"You alright?" He dared to ask despite how obvious it was that she wasn't.
"Oh yeah, great." Clarke slammed the door shut enough to make them both flinch at the impact. A car like that should not be treated so poorly, and she regretted it instantly.
"I don't mean to call your bluff but I'm pretty sure beating your car up tells me you're not okay."
She sighed and leaned up against the car. "I give up." She stated plainly and he moved a bit to give her space but be right in front of her.
"On?" His brows knit together.
"Life."
"One of those kinds of days huh." He thumbed the inside of his pockets.
"More like a month and I'm sure it will just get worse. Tis the season." Clarke was flustered, clearly.
"Can I help at all?" He questioned.
"Not unless you can fix my car, fix my store, go shopping for me and oh, be me at my debut with an unfinished collection to display." Rattling off what plagued her mind was a relief but she sounded much more hostile than she wanted to or should have. He didn't seem fazed by that though. He mulled over her words and looked behind her. Wordlessly, he reached between them and gently plucked the keys from her hand.
"Scoot." He ushered her to move her ass off the door and let him open it. She did, she moved and stood nearby curiously. Most people wouldn't get the privilege of being in her car let alone behind the wheel or under the hood but he had long since proven his respect for the vehicle and adoration for it. Bellamy slid into the seat gracefully and tried to start it. The sound of nothing again paining her. He fumbled to find the switch to pop her hood but he did so, pulling it and popping the metal up. He slipped out of the car again and moved to the front of it, the massive bush in front of their house poking him in the ass. Clarke almost smiled and she almost had a notion of jealousy for that bush. Once the hood was up and supported, he scanned things over.
"Does Raven know shit about vintage? I know she works on big rigs." He asked, scanning things over.
"Yeah, a bit." She noted.
"You happen to have a battery checker?" He looked up at her full of determination. It made her feel a bit better.
"No, I mean yes. She does but we don't keep it here at home." She replied like that was a dumb question and he broke a smile after.
"She planning on coming home anytime soon?" He asked with a bit of sass.
"No. She's at work." The tension in their replies was becoming catty and petty but she wasn't getting mad.
"Alright." Bellamy moved back to the driver's seat and checked the lights. They responded fine so the battery which could be dead did at least have some charge. He was no mechanic but his persistence in helping meant a lot to her. Sitting on that vintage leather, he pulled his phone out and shot off some texts. They were replied to instantly.
"Raven will bring home her multi-meter on her lunch break." He looked at her and got out of the car. He handed her the keys then moved to the front of the car to close the hood. "It's probably your starter and if it is, she can replace it and I can take you to get the right part. Until then, I have a free day and have no problem spending it with you." The words came out with no effort and he realized how bold he just sounded. Clarke looked taken aback by it.
"I can't ask you to babysit me all day Bellamy. I'll just make do with what I have here." Her hand flailed, pointing to the house.
"It's not babysitting if I volunteered and want to spend time with you, Clarke." Pointedly, he shut down her negativity and she didn't have a retort. "So before you deny me again, what were your plans before this beautiful thing decided to break your heart?" His hand stroked the hood of her car lovingly. Something about his words and actions made her get butterflies.
She swallowed back extra saliva. "I had errands to run. Trying to get supply for my show and groceries." She answered him with little to no emotion, as if he had yelled at her when asking.
"I can stand those, if you'll have me." He jokingly held out an arm. Instead of taking it, she swatted him and took her keys back.
"Fine, but I'll owe you." She gave in.
"Do you write an IOU to everyone you hang out with?" He asked before walking away, ignoring anything she could have replied with. She said nothing though because she knew he was right. It just felt… different. Around ten feet away from her he turned back. "Are you coming?" He feigned annoyed.
Sighing in frustration, Clarke relented and followed him. He seemed determined and maybe what she needed right now was to spend some time with someone else and be grateful for getting some help.
Bellamy climbed into his car and waited for Clarke to follow suit. She did, sliding into the passenger seat of his car. It smells manly.
"Princess, your chariot." He joked and she reached over, decking him in the shoulder.
"Keep calling me that and I may kill you."
"A threat, noted. Where to?" He asked through a shit eating grin.
"Maybe we can just go do groceries." She offered, trying not to keep his time. Yes, he offered to escort her today but her plans were to go to three different supply stores and then the grocery store. Now that she wasn't alone and on her own time she didn't feel like she should do all of that.
"Clarke, if your car was running, where would you be going right now?" His focus on her was serious and it intimidated her.
"Not Your Nanna's Craft Shoppe." She stated quietly.
"The fuck is that." He whispered to himself before finding it on his phone. He plugged the phone into the car so he could hear it through the car speakers and allowed the kind voice to guide him.
"Belt." He pointed before moving the car. She complied, as she did the same thing and then they were off. It took less than ten minutes to get to that shop in particular and he held the door open for her as they arrived and walked in.
"Miss Clarke!" A young girl ran up to Clarke and wrapped her arms around her. Clarke returned the hug and let the little girl run back to the front counter.
"Izzy, I see you're in charge today. Where is Nan?" She asked sweetly.
The maybe six year old looked around the little shop and pointed over to the furthest corner where a woman in her sixties stood.
"Nan!" Clarke called out and the woman alerted, turning to the sound.
"Oh hello sweetie." She spoke so gently and a bit skewed. The hearing aid hooked around her ear explained why.
"How are you?" Clarke made sure the woman was looking as she was a goddess at reading lips.
"I'm fantastic. My little Boss here is such a help." She pointed to Izzy who stood proudly at the counter. "What can I do you for today, the usual?" She asked as she bridged the gap between them. She stood close.
"Bellamy, this is Nan. Nan, this is my neighbor Bellamy." Clarke gave her a look that said something curious and Nan smiled like she knew a secret.
"You're a stunner." She point-blank complimented him and it made Clarke want to laugh. He looked on awkwardly, about to thank her but Clarke saved him from what would be a long-winded flirt from a woman in her sixties.
"Right, so you remember how I told you about that Gallery I was trying to win residency with last time I was here?" Clarke began and the woman nodded. "Well, I debut the first week of December!" The excitement in her voice grew childlike and was precious.
"Oh!" Nan happily whined out and wrapped Clarke into a hug. "I'm so proud of you. Izzy, you hear that? Clarkey got the big show!" Izzy ran over and joined the hug.
"So how can we outfit you for your big show my dear?" The older gal asked, pulling away and rousing up the hair on the kid's head.
"Well I wanted to know if I could get a snoop through your prized collection." The look on Clarke's face read weary, not sure if she'd be privy to that treat again, let alone to purchase anything from said collection. Nan seemed more than willing though.
"Oh of course!" She pulled a retractable key-ring out of her pocket and flipped through a few keys. She unhooked the lot and handed the key to Izzy. "Let Clarkey into the fancy room for me, then bring that key right back." The kid was elated to do as told and guided Clarke by the hand to this illustrious room. While she struggled fitting the key in the lock she eventually got it and opened what once was a small bedroom.
"Tada!" Izzy moved aside and let them in, Clarke eagerly stepping into the room. The room was a bit stuffy, the one window was covered in a panel of curtains that outdated her.
"Thank you Izzy" She bid the girl off to return to her tasks and Clarke ushered Bellamy in behind her.
"Wow." Bellamy was surprised by the sight. The room was covered, literally, in frames. Picture frames of every size, shape, color and age hanging from mounts, the ceiling, shelves and leaning up against the wall. There had to be hundreds of them.
"Yeah, she's a collector and doesn't let many people back here." Clarke instantly began looking through some of the collection, getting a general thumb on what was in there. "Nan owns the shop, that's her actual name by the way. Izzy is her son's daughter."
"How long have you been shopping here?" He looked through the frames himself, too interested in the vast nature of the collection.
"I've been coming here since I was sixteen." She squatted down and looked through a box of stacked framed, pulling out a few.
"Long time."
"Don't call me old. Anyways, my dad would buy me pencils and stickers here when I was younger. When he died, I would come by and buy my own stuff. I like supporting local businesses, so I support Nan. What I can't get here though, I'll go to chain stores for. Also, Nan is partially deaf and the other ear is deteriorating so if you talk to her, make sure she can see those lips." The term came out without thought of it.
"Those lips." Bellamy repeated, smiling at Clarke's word choice. She shot him a glare and ignored him, going back to her task. "So why are we here?"
"I need a few things but I wanted to come through and see if she had anything in here she'd let me buy off of her for the opening. I'm rethinking the display. Lorelai wants me to do so plexi displays like the first friday displays but I didn't like it." She went through some more frames and it seemed nothing felt right to her. "Dammit. I don't know." She sighed and stopped looking.
Bellamy came to her. "You need to chill." He told her. "You want something different, let's start there. Talk to me about what your vision is."
"I'm showing a lot of different stuff, mostly charcoal but also some paintings, and some mixed media. I don't want everything to be stuck in plexi glass, it feels so cold and impersonal. What I create has so much more personality and meaning than that." She poured her heart out in only a few words and he listened, nodding.
"So you thought maybe frames?" He looked around them.
She nodded. "I thought maybe each piece could have it's own unique frame but I doubt Lorelei would let me get away with that and I don't think Nan would let me buy that many pieces.
"Hmm" Bellamy mulled over what she had said and eyed the frames. "How about we grab a few, you see how you feel about them. If you don't like them, you use them on something else. If you love them, we find you more, even if they aren't from this collection. And if that doesn't soothe your soul, we can figure out something else." He shrugged.
Clarke seemed to like the idea, as she looked lighter. "Okay." She went back to pick out a few frames and it took her a while so Bellamy went back out into the main part of the store.
"Hi, Nan?" He sought her out.
Beaming up at him, "Yes handsome?"
"Clarke has tasked me with collecting some stuff for her, she said you'd know what she's looking for?" The older gal smiled at him and wordlessly guided him to the counter. She had already collected and wrapped Clarke's regular order brown butcher paper. It was a charming break from stores handing you everything in plastic and he could only imagine how many artists came through and actually used the packaging in their art.
"She also said she would like five full sheets of white matte board and three of black."
Nan set the parcel down on the counter and turned to a small room behind the desk, in it he could see deep cubicles of matte board and she pulled out what was needed. Izzy stood by to help carry them even though they weren't hard to carry. Nan scanned the items and set them on the counter. "Anything else?"
"No telling, she may be lost in there. You have a beautiful collection of frames." He complimented the woman and she sweetly blushed. Clarke came out of the other room with a bit more pep in her step, one larger frame hanging off her arm and four others in her hands.
"Nan, I'll pay you anything for these five." She presented herself covered in frames. Bellamy took the heaviest looking one off of her arm and held it for her. It was a thick frame and had to be older than everyone in that room combines. It had an age to it and flecks of gold on it's dusty wood.
"Oh good choices. Izzy, what do you think?" Nan included her granddaughter.
"I don't know granny, Clarke is my favorite."
"You heard the boss, we'll cut you a deal." Nan studied all five frames and did some math in her head before snowballing a price to Clarke. "This one is probably worth about two-hundred alone, it's from the 18th century and that is real gold. That plus these four, I'll give you all of them for one eighty." She finally came to a price.
"Really?" Clarke was surprised by the price and Bellamy didn't know if that was good or bad.
"Yes dear. Take them, you'll give them more love than I ever could. We better get an invite to your opening though."
"Yeah!" The kid demanded.
"Deal." Clarke looked so much happier now, elated even. "Handsome here got your matte board, anything else?"
"Oh, my pens." Clarke darted over to a gel pen display like she had the store memorized and plucked out two white pens and two in a grey-blue. "That's all." Nan slipped the four pens into a fold of the parcel she already wrapped for Clarke and rang everything up. Her total was a lot for art supply but shopping at a local place probably meant higher prices. Though the frames are was cost a lot.
"Want me to wrap those? I have moving blankets in the back." Nan offered but Clarke began to say no.
"Where at? I'll wrap them for her. Last thing I want is my car damaging those frames." Bellamy protest Clarke's refutal.
"I'll show you." Izzy pulled Bellamy through the door behind the desk and he came back out with two moving blankets. He laid one out and wrapped the larger frame in it, alone. The second blanket he folded the four smaller frames into like layers.
"I'll bring those back tomorrow Nan." Clarke promised, taking the parcel and matte board into her arms.
"Don't worry about it, they can wait until next supply run."
"You're so good to me." Clarke coo'd.
"You need help son?" Nan offered in vain, knowing Bellamy wouldn't take help carrying the frames from her.
"No thank you." He was polite.
"Izzy, get the door for them, love." Nan pointed.
"Yes Granny!" Izzy bounded to the door and opened it, holding it for them. Clarke went first and Bellamy behind her, wrapped frames in arm.
"Bye Izzy!" Clarke waves off the little girl. The two walked to his car. He had the frames wrapped to where one arm held the stack of four while his other hand balanced the larger frame.
"Which pocket?" Clarke boldly asked.
"Uh, front right." He said in the form of a question, but it wasn't a question. Clarke put her parcel down and without hesitating, plucked the keys from his front pocket. He hardly felt a thing, she was so delicate about it and quick. She unlocked his car and opened the back seat for him. He slid the frames in and then the matte board before shutting the door and opening hers.
"Where to next?" He asked. She gave a courteous nod and took her seat, he shut the door behind her before going and getting behind the wheel.
"Grocery store?" She asked.
"Ah, you said more than one craft place. We're running your errands."
"Bell-"
"Nope. NEXT." He commanded in a very playful tone.
"Hobby Lobby." She stated, and he cringed. One store he didn't like to go into. His mom would take him when he was younger.
"Or Michael's. I need both."
"Then both you shall receive," he paused. "... Princess." He didn't dodge the smack that followed and he set off. They made quick work of the other two stores as Clarke knew exactly what she wanted. Both stores were a quick in and out before they were back in the car and ready to tackle the grocery store.
"I don't need much." She promised, as if she was putting him out. Not only was he learning so much about his beautiful neighbor, but the time spent together between each location was fun. They would chat, she would sing if a song she liked came on and by the Gods if her voice wasn't enchanting. He was really enjoying spending time with her. They pulled into the lot at the store and he followed her into the store. She grabbed a hand basket and they spent all of twenty minutes to fill it up with what she needed. They checked out and he even carried her bags without asking. She grumped about that. Back in the car she settled into the seat with a bit more peace of mind.
"Anything else?" He asked. She shook her head.
"That was it." She meant it, and he knew. He started the car and drove them home. They were only out for just over an hour and a half so Raven hadn't had time to come home and check the battery yet. He pulled up into Raven's parking spot and helped her unload the car.
"Want a beer or something?" She offered awkwardly and he declined.
"Bit early in the day, but thank you."
"Okay, want food?" She offered, her own tummy rumbling.
"You don't have to be a host, I can let you get back to your day." He offered and she clocked him with a deadly glare.
"You did me a favor." She started.
"Or I just wanted to hang out with you." He corrected her.
"Yeah well maybe now I want to keep you around? I'm feeding you. What do you want?" She demanded and he raised his arms in defeat all the while smiling.
"I'll eat anything, literally."
She rolled her eyes and went to the freezer. She had these little mini-quiche bites that she had a hankering for. Turning the oven on quickly, she poured a group of them out into a small pan and tossed them into the oven without waiting for the pre-heat.
"Takes twenty. Don't starve until then." She joked and moved out of her kitchen, a bottle of sparkling water in her hand. She lunged it at him, her own already on the counter.
"I should get shit upstairs before it gets marred by a chaotic twelve year old when she gets home." The reality of her statement was understandable, Bellamy had his own tornado for a long time; Octavia.
"May I help you or are you going to sass me?" His words got him a glare yet again, and she nudged her head toward the stairs.
"Alright, Fabio. I'll make you do all the work." She crossed her arms but he had the sudden urge to tickle her and really check her resolve. He just didn't know if she'd murder him or what would transpire.
Silently, he went to where he put the frames and picked them all up. He looked to her, waiting to be guided. He wasn't going to walk through her house without her leading him. She took that cue and grabbed the rest of the art supply, her own arms loaded with bags and the matte boards. She led him up the stairs. The view he had while climbing up the stairwell was fantastic and he had to wash his thoughts to the back of his mind. It was a hard task.
Once inside her bedroom, she moved to put things down. It was an absolute mess and she realized that when she turned to him with a look of embarrassment.
"I should have warned you, it's a fucking sty in here." Her cheeks were red.
"I've seen worse." He lied. He hasn't seen a bigger mess but to be fair, her room was also her office for work, where she created all of her art. He also knew Madi had been very sick recently. "Where do you want these?" He asked, looking around. The room wasn't big enough for how much shit she had in it but that was due to the sheer volume of art she produced and stored.
"Uh…" She looked around the room and pointed to the wall next to him. "I guess there." She shrugged. He put them down where asked and as he stood back upright his eyes fell to her window, more so the view she had beyond it. He knew she could see him, they had locked eyes before, which was something he had thought about often. The things he had seen. He shook his head and focused back on her, she wasn't paying any mind to him. She was moving aside some things on her table and quickly flipped her sketchbook.
"Ashamed of your art?" He asked, genuinely curious as to why she'd hide it from him. Maybe it was one of those things where she didn't want anyone to see it until it was done, but he felt the need to poke at her.
"No. Actually, I wanted to ask-"
"Clarke!" Raven yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh." She moved out into the hallway. "Coming." Bellamy looked at the desk then back to her and then followed her out of her room, shutting her door behind him. They jogged down the steps and to Raven's surprise, appeared together.
"Oh shit, did I interrupt something?" Raven had the most mischievous grin on her face.
"Oh shut up." Clarke rolled her eyes.
"Middle of the day and I find a boy coming out of your room, whatever will I do with you?" Ray mocked her.
"Nothing, just like nothing was happening. He carried some stuff up for me."
Bellamy stood there awkwardly while they bickered about how they did nothing at all.
"Right, here's the meter. I have to get back two work. You two go back to doing whatever you 'weren't.' doing?" She threw air quotes and Clarke sighed, exasperated. Raven was gone as fast as she showed up.
"Here." Clarke handed him the multimeter, annoyed.
"Getting caught with me that bad huh?" He trolled her as he stepped out of the house and he caught the slightest glimpse of red in her face before he moved to the car. She threw the keys at him.
"Oven." Her excuse was shoddy, but she disappeared into the house. While Bellamy tested her battery, she stood in the kitchen thinking about his comment. Her face was warm and it wasn't because the oven behind her was on. Her hunger was strong right now, for more than just food. She checked the oven, it hadn't been twenty minutes but she was impatient and this was better than avoiding Bellamy.
Minutes passed and Bellamy rounded the corner into the kitchen where Clarke still stood, her focus on her phone. The way her hair fell was so cute.
He cleared his throat and she jumped.
"Fuck." She exclaimed quietly and he smiled.
"Raven would catch us." Now that broke her, the red in her face as bright as day. It made him grin from ear to ear. He didn't give her any time to throw a fit though she did seem speechless. "Speaking of which, I texted her." She looked confused, Bellamy figured that is who she was texting. "Your battery is fine. Raven thinks it's the starter and wants me to take you to buy one so she can replace it when she gets home. She demanded more than suggested. I quote 'We have to fix her car, so take her or I'll kill you.'" He shrugged.
"Okay." Was all she said.
"Okay, we'll get you the part after you eat, or okay get out of my house and stop harassing me?" He asked.
She hid her blush by turning back to the oven.
"If you're willing, we'll go get the part."
He smiled at the notion of spending more time with her. "Mind if I wash my hands?" He asked, stepping into the kitchen. She shook her head and he moved to her sink. The sink had no space between it and the oven, which is where she hovered. He had to move around her awkwardly for a moment before she finally moved so he could access the sink. He washed his hands thoroughly and when done, she handed him a towel. He thanked her and moved out of the kitchen to sit on the bar side of the counter.
"You alright?" He asked, though he tried his hardest not to smile. He knew Raven had gotten a rise out of her and he didn't help.
"I'm fine." She smiled fakely.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'd totally let my roommates catch you in my room." He couldn't resist and the grin on his face warranted what happened next. She took the towel he just used and threw it as his face.
"You're a troll." She stated before going to the oven. She pulled out the tray and dumped the little quiche onto two plates. She slid one to him, a long look caught her off guard. He was staring and smiling. Hell, even his freckles were smiling.
She took her food and sat on the couch, kicking her feet up on the coffee table. The TV was on. It was almost always on. He watched her pop a hot quiche bite into her mouth and try to ignore him. He decided to give her a break and let her be, staying where he was and eating his own share of the little snack. They were actually pretty tasty. He moved to put his plate by the sink before leaning in the threshold of the kitchen. Clarke was on her phone again.
"You ready to run and grab that part, then I can get out of your hair?" He spoke up for the first time in what felt like ten minutes. She pressed her screen dark.
"Oh, yeah. Sure." She stammered, standing up to put her own dish away.
"Turn your oven off." He reminded her, as she had actually failed to do so. She noticed he was right and felt like a fool.
"Thanks."
"Yep."
The two left the house again and Bellamy took her to an auto parts shop he knew was fair and likely had what they needed with no fuss. He took control of the conversation and got them to find the part for her, even offering to pay for it but the moment he tried to she slid her card into play and clocked him with a glare that could ruin his world. He backed off.
The drive home was quiet, a weird tension in the car. She seemed out of energy or consumed by thoughts and he didn't want to upset her by picking on her. He pulled up into Raven's spot again, but didn't get out. They sat there in the car awkwardly for a moment, like teenagers ending their first date. Clarke was the one to break the silence.
"I uh." She stopped, cursing herself.
"Hypothetically, if I-" She stopped again. "Fuck." Unable to find her words, she got flustered.
"Can you come in again?" She looked at him with pleading eyes, and he nodded. He didn't know what she was thinking or what the problem was but he would play along, not knowing what he was getting into. They got out of his car and went back into her house. Once inside, she kicked off her boots.
"Come." She hushedly spoke, and ushered him upstairs. He didn't know what to think, but he followed her. Once in her room, she moved to the little spot behind her tables where she spent most of her time. Her fingers tapped the large pad of paper on her desk and she hesitated.
"Clarke?" He asked, confused as to why she was being so weird and why he was in her bedroom again. She looked at him and looked so scared and uneasy.
"This, I." She sighed. "Ugh! This is going to be weird. Or seem weird. Whatever. I need your consent." With that, she lifted the cover and a few sheets of thick paper, revealing a large charcoal drawing of him. He was floored and his face read it. Unfortunately, to her it read like horror rather than admiration.
To be continued…