[IC] Chicago After Hours

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Your loss,” I tease, but oblige and take him to the other side of the house. About halfway there, the hallway narrows some, and there are two separate archways with a door leading to a second-story deck. Stairs lead from the deck down to the backyard, making it quite a grand affair.

The first arch we walk through follows the white, classic theme of the house we are leaving, but the second arch transitions into red oak and more of a rich and dark theme. I pull Nero along, past the second arch. Deep greens and reds accent the area amongst the dark wood. There are recessed shelves on every wall with precious treasures and books on each shelf. Reading nooks line the windows as we walk down the carpeted hallway. I stop in the first room on the right. The windows overlook the front drive.

”My receiving room,” I explain. ”I see my long-term clients and colleagues here.” We don’t stop for long, and I keep pulling Nero along. The next room is on the left, and it is set up like a sun room as well. Plants are everywhere, but all the walls are lined with bookshelves. There is a couch with a pair of chairs around a table in the corner, but a piano sits in the centre of the room, closer to the windows.

”This is the library. Smaller than my other homes, but full of American history and knowledge,” I explain. I stop in this room in case Nero wants to explore.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I pause for a moment, looking back at my kitchen. Max is lying on the counter beside his water dish, staring at me like it's empty but half full. ”What would happen if I say I don’t?” I asked.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I knew I would like his side of the house. There are tons of little nooks and crannies that I could get comfortable in, but Caden pulls me along past it all and I’m finding I have to run a little to match his gait. When we do finally stop for a moment, I want to tease him and fake being out of breath, but I’m distracted by all the new shiny things to look at. I prance over to the piano and gently press down on some of the keys, smiling when I realize it’s in tune. ”Do you play?” I ask Caden, turning to face where I left him. Then another part of what he says registers in my brain. ”How many other homes do you have?” I ask, eye wide with curiosity. I only had the place here in Chicago topside and then my little den in Hell. I scurry back to stand right in front of him so I can look up at him. ”Are all of them full of antiquities like this one??”

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Nic Wu

Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I can’t help it, I start laughing, putting my face in my hands. ”You’re so pretty” I tell her in a mocking tone. It was something my sister and I would say as kids when someone did or said something a little dumb. ”Don’t you worry your cute little head, I’m here now. You won’t have to go down this dark path anymore.” I’m smirking to myself at this point, thoroughly enjoying that I have the upper hand in this situation.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Before I can answer Nero, they’ve moved on to another question. And then they are staring up at me with wide, searching eyes. I look down at them, chuckling. ”I have ten other homes, and yes, they are full of different collections, most of them related to their location, but I do travel around with a few of my favourites. I’ve been known to move things around if I plan on staying in one place long term,” I inform them as I look about the library. ”And yes, I do play.” I grin as I watch them.

I’ve been called a show-off before, and although I didn’t mind the term, and maybe I was showing off a little now, I didn’t think of myself as one. I simply had a lot of time and grew bored quickly. Plus, 300 years was a lot of time to accumulate a large sum of money.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Oh, really? Teasing a sorcerer now, are you? I’m hanging up the phone now!” I threaten. I’m surprised at how much I am enjoying the conversation. I don’t usually talk to anyone this long unless it's my cats, plants, or Caden.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I beam up at him, wiggling in a sort of excited dance at these discoveries. Standing on my tiptoes, I gently grab his face. “Two things; you will have to take me to all of these places at some point, please and thank you.” I stare very intensely into his beautiful eyes, almost getting lost in them before I remember why I’m holding his face. “Secondly, I must request that you show me your piano skills sooner rather than later.” I bite my bottom lip for a moment while staring at them with wide eyes before I let a big grin settle on my face. I want to ask what other talents he’s hiding from me, but I remind myself that there’ll be time for that - I don’t need to know everything at this exact second.

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Nic Wu

Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Laughing, I say, “It’s too late, you’ve shown your hand. You won’t hurt me.” I tease. I don’t know the last time I had a conversation that was this fun, but I’m enjoying the much needed distraction. “I tell you what, I’ll show you how to make rice the right way and then we can make fried rice with it another day if there’s leftovers. Deal?”

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I chuckle, my eyes sparkling and shifting at his joy. I nod as I look between their uniquely coloured eyes. ”It’s a date,” I say. I kiss them once, lingering longer than intended before forcing myself to pull away. ’Okay, next room kleiner Kobold” I say and lead them back into the hallway.

I lead them down to the next room on the left-hand side and open the red oak door. ”Guest room,” I informed them. It is wider than the guest rooms on the other side of the house, with more inviting tones and plant life. Hanging on the wall above the bed is a classic art piece that most people have seen. More recently, it was in the Disney film “Frozen”, but it was far from Disney-appropriate if one knew the piece's context.

It was sexual and inviting. Which if one was staying in the room next to mine, that ended up being a reason for staying there. ”The Swing" was another one of my favourite pieces, and the entire room had been designed around that piece. Looking at it now, it reminded me of Nero’s carefree nature. I could easily see them toeing the line between two suitors, being coy and suggestive. I smirked at the idea of it.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Never say never,” I say, waving my hand so a water cup is picked up and depositing more water into Max’s dish. He bats at the water mid-air, and I shake my head at my familiar — such a playful cat despite how old he was.

”I suppose I have to agree to this deal, or I’ll never hear the end of my improper rice cooking skills or taste buds.”

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Pouting that he ended the kiss, I let him lead me to the next room, a smile slipping on my face at the comeback of my nickname. It was larger than the other guest rooms for sure. I recognize the painting over the bed from that one Disney movie we used to torture some people in Hell. There’s only so many times you can ‘Let It Go’ before you lose it. “So what does this one make you feel?” I ask, gesturing to the painting. With this room being close to the library, I end up deciding to use it as my room while staying here. “Also, can I change my mind and choose this room instead?” I skip over and launch myself into the bed. I giggle, wiggling in the cozy comfort.

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Nic Wu

Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL
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“No you would not.” I tease. I hear a knock on the door and realize the groceries had been dropped off. Pinning the phone between my shoulder and ear, I start bringing the paper bags inside to put away. “You’ll never go back once you taste the difference.” I say with a laugh.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Yes, this room would be perfect for Nero. I chuckle and stand at the end of the bed, resting my hands on the footboard. ”Well, seeing you in this room, the painting now reminds me of you,” I inform them. I look from Nero, looking cozy and positively kissable, up to the painting. ”This painting is quite, suggestive,” I said, clearing my throat. ’But there is still one more bedroom you should see before really making up your mind.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile as he says this. Maybe… maybe he was right. I fall silent again so I can hear the door opening and a rustle of paper.

”You sound busy. I should let you go,” I say. ”Besides, I should go check on my shop.” It wasn’t strange that I didn’t go to work today. I didn’t exactly have a “set” schedule and was always open at odd hours. Part of the appeal, I suppose.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I sit up while he talks, tilting my head as I listen. When he says the painting is suggestive, I take the chance to crawl down to the foot of the bed. “Are you saying I’m suggestive?” I tease with a raised eyebrow before I grin, launching myself off the bed and prancing toward the door. “I can’t imagine another guest room being nicer than this one, but lass uns gehen.” When I reach the doorframe, I turn to face Caden again and wait for him.

Translations

”Let’s go”

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Nic Wu

Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL
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”Only if you want to,” I tell her with a small chuckle. ”I just had groceries delivered so that my dad and Jane aren’t forced to eat each other.” I kick my front door close with my foot and head towards my fridge. I didn’t want our conversation to end so soon, but I also didn’t want to take up all her time. As much as I’m starting to like her, I don’t want to ‘overstay my welcome’. I clear my throat as I straight after setting the bags down. ”What I mean is, I’m not busy, but if you need to go, I understand. After all, I’ll be seeing you tonight either way.” I smile at the reminder.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I track Nero as he crawls towards me, my mind thinking of all sorts of possibilities I could do with that crawl. I suck in my bottom lip as they prance away, more ideas entering my mind. Yes, Nero was incredibly suggestive. I rub a hand over my mouth and chin in an attempt to relax my thoughts.

”There’s something else I want to show you before I show you that room,” I inform them. Standing in the doorway, I walk up to them and slip my hands into my pockets to keep from throwing Nero back onto the bed. ”There is a staircase to your immediate left. We’ll go down there first.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I fall silent again. I don’t want to be rude, but I should end the conversation. ”Yes, I should go. The car will come and get you first. The liquor store we’ll need is closer to me anyways,” I explain to him. ”Be ready for five.”

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I bend to peer out the doorframe and locate the stairs. Raising an eyebrow at Caden, I smirk at the fact that he’s stuffed his hands in his pockets rather than just taking my hand as he’s been doing. I think I have an idea what’s going on, but I won’t tease him about it now. Maybe after the tour is finally done… I throw him a wink as I go through the door and start disappearing down the staircase. “Wait, so how many rooms are left on this tour?” I call up the stairs when I’ve reached bottom, waiting for Caden to catch up.

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Nic Wu

Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile to myself, only a little sad the conversation is ending, but that’s okay for now. ”It’s a date.” I tease before I hang up the phone. I want to make dinner out of the groceries anyway, as a kind of way to thank Jane for helping me out.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I put a few steps between us, and move to walk down the stairs once he’s halfway down. ”Just a couple downstairs. You’ve seen my office already, but there is two more downstairs, then one more up here, but you want to see that one last,” I remind them.

Once we reach the bottom, I take them down the hall to a smaller room on the opposite side of the office. ”The traditional British “smoking room” or, male salon if you prefer.” It was a room with dark red leather seats and lounge chairs, with a chess board and a pool table. It also overlooked the front drive, but when you were in this room, it wasn’t for the view anyways. I used this room to entertain some of the supernatural community.

The art work and collectables in here were more of a modern quality. They were expensive, but they weren’t unique items.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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The phone line falls silent, and I stare at my phone. ”A date… Far from it, actually.” I sigh and tuck it away before looking at Maxamillian. ”Are you coming? I’m sure the other two wouldn’t mind your company.” Max jumps from the counter before stretching and walking to the door. I grab my jacket and head out, Max leading the way.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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My eyebrows twitch when he mentions that the other room upstairs will want to be my last. I try to decipher the hidden meaning, but my brain gets distracted easily and I’m traipsing around the room to look at everything. The collectibles in this room are different than the rest of the house. I pick up one of the pool balls and look at Caden with another signature tilt of my head. “Do I want to know how well you play Schach or Billard?” I ask, tossing the ball gently in the air and catching it before I place it back on the table. I don’t want to spend too much time in this room since I now wanted to see the last room badly. I start wiggling with excitement again, not able to control myself and heading back to the door.

Translations

Chess / Billiards

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Nic Wu

Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL
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I sing along to some Disney songs that play from my phone as I start chopping up ingredients for dinner. My dad yawns loudly and joins me in the kitchen. I try to shoo him back out, but I give up easily when he takes over shopping and does it much more quickly and efficiently than me. ”Show off.” I tell him, but soon we’re both working on dinner together, singing along to the music, and it feels like mom and Kiki are there with us too.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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The excitement of what I am keeping from them radiates from their every pore, and I can’t help but chuckle. They walk away from the billiards table before I can answer their question — again. I walk to the table, ignoring their impatience.

”Depends on what we’re playing for. I’ve known to throw a game or two if it's just for status. If it’s for something more, well…” I shrug and trail off. I roll the white ball around on the table before going over to the sideboard to pick up the darts.

’I’ll also set up a shooting range in the backyard when the need arises. I have a series of guns from all eras in a locked shed by the garage,” I explain.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House —> Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
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Max hops into my bag once we reach the bus stop. Cats, for some reason, aren’t allowed on public transit. The whole thing irritates me, but Max and I make it work. It’s a fifteen-minute drive to my shop, plus another five-minute walk to my shop.

Max runs on ahead, and paws at the door. ”Well, if you were more patient, I would open the door, but you always insist on running ahead.” He responds with an irritated meow, and I roll my eyes. I unlock the door, and rather than hear the doorbell, I hear a cacophony of meowing.

”Jeez, you’d think I deprived y’all from each other’s company,” I say. I start mucking about the shop, mumbling in Gaelic as I go about my chores.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I narrow my eyes as I watch him move about the room. Is he teasing me now?? My feet twitch to go join him on the other side of the room, but I stay strong, instead choosing to shift my weight a couple times. Fighting an actual pout, I ask instead “What have you played for in the past?”

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Nic Wu

Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Once dinner it made, I head into my room to grab a change of clothes and a shower. I was just going to wear a t-shirt, some jeans, and sandals, but now that I know Caden is stupid rich, I don’t want to look like a complete slob.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I turn and open up the dartboard before picking up the darts and taking several steps back. ”Lots of different things. For status, for drinking service all night, antiques, laws… Men, women,” I say with a wink at Nero before I throw the dart at the board. It’s just shy of the bullseye, but if one knows the rules of darts, one knows you don’t want to hit the bullseye every time.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Oh he definitely is teasing me. I raise an eyebrow in challenge before smirking and stepping back into the hallway just out of Caden’s line of sight. “You know what I’m realizing?” I call to him as I shimmy out of the pants he had loaned me. Kicking them down the hall, I waltz back into the room. ”This outfit never really needed pants.” I grin impishly at him from the doorway. The shirt fit me like a dress anyway, so I figure it won’t be a big deal to tease him back a little.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smirk and focus back on the dartboard as they leave the room. They could continue the tour solo or come back. I had my bets that they would come back.

”Oh? What’s that?” I call out, throwing my second dart. I hear their voice enter the room again and smirk, throwing my third dart before looking at the doorway. The smirk on my face drops as I take in their very naked legs.

I simply stare, my mind racing.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House —> Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”You would think I leave for days and starve you. Not that I leave you in charge of guarding my shop with a supply of food that comes from a magical box so you don’t starve,” I grumble. The automatic feeder seems to mock me as it releases more kibbles for Calypso and Wayland. The pair in question kept winding around my legs and meowing in agony.

”My gods! Do you want to come home with me then?! I won’t be home tonight, but you’re welcome to destroy that place if it matters so much to you!” They seem to perk up at the idea and prance around everyone. I roll my eyes.

”Worse than children,” I grumble. ”Fine, then you all have to sit and be quiet while I ward the place.” The three of them move to the room's perimeter. One North, one East, and one West, leaving me to take up the South position. I set items down in the middle, including the door’s bell, before lighting candles and sitting down to ward my shop for the night. Once completed, I hang the bell back up.

”Seriously. It would be so much easier if you two would just stay here like you are supposed to.” Calypso hops into my bag and gets herself comfortable. Clearly, her mind was made up while Wayland and Maxamillian waited by the door for me. I sighed and closed the shop, letting them lead me to the bus stop.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden’s reaction is priceless and exactly what I’m aiming for. I do a little spin to taunt him before stopping and tilting my head with a smirk. ”On to the next room then?” I ask, playing innocence.

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Nic Wu

Location: - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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After the shower, I change into some of my nicer clothes just as I get an unknown number calling me again. I answer and it’s Caden’s driver, there to pick me up. Jane and my dad are already eating in the small dining room and laughing. I say my goodbyes before I grab my wallet and my shoes, jogging down the stairs to the front of my building to meet the driver.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Nero’s voice draws my focus back, and I clear my throat.

”Yes, right.” I leave the darts on the board and exit the room. It took tremendous willpower not to touch Nero as I passed. I take them down the hall, away from the stairs, and stop at another room near my office. I look at Nero once, taking in his very white, very bare legs and shake my head once more before opening the door.

”The music hall,” I state, my voice sounding odd in my ears. There was another piano, but there were also several other instruments, including guitars, bass guitars, acoustics, violins, trumpets, and saxophones. I stood out of the way, watching them look over the room.

There was a fireplace in the room and French doors that opened out onto the grass in the backyard. It was perfect to help keep the room cool on warm days when we were in here. The walls were lined with more paintings, both historical and creative. It was a fun little room. I gave the staff free access to the room, which they often took advantage of.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Caden’s Mansion - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I did a once over of the room, making a mental note to explore it more later. It’s very inviting and I can see myself curling up with a book by the fireplace. With all the different instruments, I was dying to know how many of them Caden could play, but I was keenly aware of where his gaze has roamed since I ditched the pants. I clap my hands twice before I turn and grin widely at Caden. “Now can I see the last room?” I ask, stepping closer to him.