”Uh, just French, Latin, and Gaelic. Caden is the resident wordsmith,” I say. I turn around the corner and see the problem.
”Ah, let me get him.” I turn and head for the front door just as Caden is walking in. ”Ah, perfect. Your language skills are needed. Hurry up.” I tank on his hand and tug Caden along. We reach Nero and the older lady. ”Translate.”
I pull out my phone and smile. It won't be a problem. Avery will be one of the ones doing security anyways. He'll come pick you both up at 630pm.
Maybe I need to have Caden helping me learn more languages sooner rather than later. I think to myself as Cass is about to go get my knight in shining armor. We’re in luck as he’s on his way in already. Beaming up at Caden, I say, ”Cass wanted to ask a shopkeeper to know if there was anything else we should get for the vigil tonight.” I chirp to him.
Nic Wu
Location: - Chicago, IL Skills:
I grin, relaying this message to my dad who almost falls to the floor crying all over again.Has anyone told you how incredibly perfect and amazing you are lately? I text Cass before typing up the next message and sending it. Because I’m pretty sure my dad’s ready to adopt you at this point.
”Ah.” I nod and look at the older woman. I smile kindly at her, bowing my head before asking her for supplies. ”Nǐ hǎo. Wǒmen zhèngzài xúnzhǎo zànglǐ suǒ xū de yòngpǐn. Nǐ néng bāngzhù wǒmen ma? I quickly tell her everything that we already have.
Cassiopeia Claire Alistair
Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL Skills:
I take a step back and scan the store again. I wonder if there’s time to go to the botanical shops here… My phone buzzes, and I glance down to read the message. I feel my cheeks warming, and I quickly close my phone and clear my throat, looking at everything else but my phone.
How the hell can he do stuff like that? He’s like second nature to him. The teasing was almost flirting. Was he even flirting? Gah, I was probably looking into it. I didn’t even like him like that… Right?
”Get a grip, Cass,” I mutter to myself. I pick up one of those waving cats off the shelf before rejoining the others.
Ah, it’s nothing. As I said, we were already going to the station. It wasn’t anything to ask.
Translations generated on Google Translate. Apologies for anything offensive or incorrect. Hello. We are looking for supplies for a funeral. Can you help us?
From Caden’s translations, we’ve got everything and she’s pointed us towards the candles, but she suggests a place to get some food for the humans. I beam up at Caden when she walks away. “You’re fascinating.” I tell him. “Don’t let that get to your head though.” I say with a wink.
Nic Wu
Location: - Chicago, IL Skills:
Let these two old Chinese men shower you with love, okay? I send in a text to Cass as I help gather up some things for tonight. Before you lecture me, I already know I’m a fetus. I send a little baby emoji with the text.
”Too late,” I say and peck Nero’s lips before I turn and look at Cassiopeia. ”So we’ve got the candles and cards. She gave the name of a place where we could get food for Mr. Wu. That should be everything. After, we should go to Nero’s and get the furniture. I’ll need to call a moving truck to load the items.”
Cassiopeia Claire Alistair
Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL Skills:
”Perfect. Let’s get going. No time to lose.” I say and grab a bunch of candles before heading to the front to pay for everything. Caden and Nero trail along behind me before we all pile back into the vehicle.
I risk a look at my phone. Please, nothing flirty. I didn’t think I could handle more right now. Okay, it isn’t so bad.
You’re not even born yet. Your father is the fetus. I send jokingly.
I tug on Caden’s jacket sleeve. “Muss ich die Dämonen loswerden oder wird Cassi außerhalb meiner Wohnung bleiben?” I ask him, unsure. I’m sure Caden will reveal my secrets to her at some point, but I don’t think this will be the right time. I don’t have a phone on me at this time, but if necessary, I can use a smoke form to get there ahead of time.
Do I need to get rid of the demons or is Cassi going to stay outside my place?
Nic Wu
Location: - Chicago, IL Skills:
I snort, laughing at her message. I’ll be sure to let my dad know his new status. I say, sending the crying laughing emoji. I head into my closet to pick out clothes for tonight.
”Ich werde dafür sorgen, dass sie im Auto bleibt. Behalte sie einfach drinnen.” I was working on Cassiopeia giving Nero a shot, but there was no way she would be fine with a house full of demons. I didn’t need to deal with dispelling a magic war this afternoon.
Cassiopeia Claire Alistair
Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL Skills:
He might like feeling like a young man again.
I put my phone down and look behind me. ”Let’s go! We only have a few hours left.”
Caden shakes his head at me and pulls out his phone to call for a moving van. ”Drop me off at the police station first. I’ll start moving the furniture out of the room being used so the two of you can bring in Nero’s stuff right away.”
”That works.” Caden looked at Nero and nodded. They got into the vehicle and we drove over to check on the restaurant the woman recommended for food for tonight.
I fidget but nod at Caden’s answer until we learn we’d be dropping Cassi off before my place. I grin at Caden in response to his look, happy that the issue was resolved rather easily. “Habe ich gestern Abend etwas verpasst? Cassi scheint sehr entschlossen, den Menschen heute zu helfen.” I ask Caden with a tilt of my head once we’re back in the car.
Did I miss something last night? Cassi seems very determined to help the human today.
Nic Wu
Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL Skills:
I pull out clothes for myself for tonight - earlier I had picked up clothes for my dad - and set them down on the bed before I pulled my phone out and grin. Careful, next he’ll ask to marry you ;) I toss my phone on the bed and went to take a shower after riding my bike everywhere today.
”Ich habe ihr gesagt, dass es in Ordnung ist, Menschen zu vertrauen. Das ist eine lange Geschichte. Ich kann Ihnen einiges davon erzählen, aber nicht alles.” I rest my hand on Nero’s leg, it becoming an automatic now, and drive towards the restaurant.
”Quit talking about me in German. Caden, you’ve got the caterer and things lined up for tomorrow?”
”Yes ma’am.”
”Okay, good. I’ll tell Avery to pick up Nik and Mr. Wu at 6:30 pm.”
I look at Nero and smirk. Sometimes, it was best to just let Cassi do her thing. We would have to calm her down after everything was done, and she would have nothing to obsess over.
Cassiopeia Claire Alistair
Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL Skills:
I sent a quick text to Avery about picking up Nic for tonight and bringing them to the police station. Avery replied immediately and assured me they would be looked after well.
Nic’s message comes in next, and I respond quickly to it, caught up in the moment. I wouldn’t mind. He’s quite generous.
I told her it's okay to trust people. That is a long story. I can tell you some of it, but not all of it.
I return Caden’s smirk, placing both of my hands on his where it’s resting on my thigh. ”Would you rather I talk about you in Latin?” I ask Cassi impishly before looking at Caden.
“Ego iustus volo ad pulmentum cum suo.” I say to him.
I just want to mess with her
Nic Wu
Location: - Chicago, IL Skills:
I walk out with a towel around my hips and a head of wet hair before I check my phone. Chuckling, I shake my head in bemusement. Oh, is generous your thing then? I throw it back on the bed and start getting dressed.
”Perge.” I respond in Latin. At least then I would know what they find so amusing about me. I find myself suddenly thirsty and I remember the water bottle I brought with me. I pull it out and drink half its contents.
I’m running through a checklist in my head when I get a text message. It’s from Nic I nearly choke on my water.
Caden
Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL Skills:
I pat Nero’s leg. ”I know, but you have to play nice. Not so much pranking yet.”
Cassiopeia starts choking in the back and I look around at her with concern. ”Are you okay?” I ask, quite concerned.
”Fine….fine,” she wheezes. ”Drank too quickly.” I nod, not fully believing her.
I pull up to the restaurant. ”I’ll just be a minute. Nero, Rufen Sie Ihre Hausgäste an, um sicherzustellen, dass sie uns helfen, alles in den Umzugswagen zu laden.” I get out of the car, leaving it running for them, and head into the restaurant.
Latin: Go ahead. German: Call your house guests to make sure they help us load everything into the moving truck.
I try my best not to laugh at Cassi nearly choking, forgetting any rebuttal I was going to say in response to Caden chastising me. When Caden tells me to contact my peons, I bite my lip. That’s a tall order without a phone - and mine had taken a swim yesterday. ”Cassi, how would you feel about me borrowing your phone to make a quick call?” I turn to give her my best smile.
Nic Wu
Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL Skills:
Dressed in a white t-shirt and a pair of light khaki pants, I let my dad know he can use the shower now if he wants.
”Um, sure.” I pull up the phone so they don’t have to hunt around for it. And so they hopefully don’t see Nic’s messages to me. I hand Nero my phone and take a minute to just breathe. I forgot how much I had just done in a short amount of time, and it was starting to catch up to me.
”Thank you, m’dear.” I say. A message pops up as I enter my house phone’s number. WAIT, THAT MADE IT SOUND LIKE I WAS REFERRING TO MY PENIS, I WASN’T. I snort, completely losing it at the fact that a message from Nic would arrive at the perfect time. ”Are you and the human sexting now?” I turn completely around in my seat to peer at Cassi, smirking.
My entire face drops, and I look at Nero. ”WHAT!? Noooo no no no. Of course not. Why would you think that? What did you see?!.” My entire face turns red as I try to think back. Nic has never said anything like that, and neither have I. It was just a little harmless flirting. It was incredibly inappropriate flirting, given the circumstances, but that was it.
I grin, physically stopping myself from replying to the text like I want to. ”What’s the phrase the young ones use, dick pic?” I tease, dialing my home phone and calling it. This would be the best way to avoid my minions getting Cassi’s or Caden’s information since I only had the antique house phone and it would be difficult to caller ID that. The one demon that speaks German answers and I could not be more grateful in that moment.
“Ich brauche ein paar von euch, die mir helfen, hier bald etwas in einen Umzugswagen zu laden. Oh, und sammelt alle Sitzmöbel ein, um sie in den ersten Stock zu stellen, danke.” They say ‘yessir’ and I hang up the line. Another text from Nic pops up.
I swear I didn’t mean it that way, please don’t be mad at me. My dad would kill me if he loses you as a potential daughter. Laughing, I shake my head and hand Cassi her phone back.
“Thanks for the entertainment.” I tell her with a grin,
I’ll need a few of you to help load something into a moving van here soon. Oh, and gather all the seating furniture to put on the first floor, thanks.
I fidget in the backseat while Nero makes their phone call. It is complete torture. They finally give my phone back and I look over the damage.
”Oh my goddess,” I groan. No, no, no. It’s fine Nic, that’s not what I thought I was just…on the phone. I sent the reply and put my head in my hands. Great. ”Why is this so difficult,” I grumble.
”So the human is mildly flirting with you, what’s the big deal?” I ask, genuinely curious what the problem is. ”Plus he didn’t even send a dick pic - isn’t that pretty good for a guy in this day and age?” Unless it’s an emotion thing. I still can’t make heads or tails of it.
Nic Wu
Location: - Chicago, IL Skills:
I let out a sigh of relief. It was good that my dad had been showering, otherwise he would have seen me anxiously pacing. Oh. Sorry for freaking out.
”There isn’t… I mean, there shouldn’t be, but I…” I sighed and rested my head back against the seat. ”I don’t know.” I look back at my phone when it buzzes.
The car door opens, and Caden gets back in. I ignore him and answer Nic’s message. Haha, it’s okay. Let’s just stay away from that topic of conversation.
Caden
Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL Skills:
”What did I miss?” I look between Nero and Cassi, the latter of whom looks on the verge of tears. I raise an eyebrow and look at Nero.
Still trying not to laugh my ass up, I put my hands up. ”It wasn’t me this time…Mostly.” I tell Caden truthfully. ”I borrowed Cassi’s phone to make a call and the younger Wu thought he had sent a penis innuendo to her.” I bite my lips to keep from giggling before I continue. ”Anyway, I don’t think it’s a big deal that they’re flirting, but she’s upset about it? I don’t know, emotions are not in my wheelhouse.”
Nic Wu
Location: - Chicago, IL Skills:
As much as I want to make a joke immediately, I know she’s right in setting that line. Yes, ma’am. I send a little saluting emoji, glad that I hadn’t completely screwed things up with her.
