[IC] Chicago After Hours

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Nic's Apartment - Chicago, IL
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"Yeah..." I run a hand down my tired face. "She had cancer and... obviously she didn't make it." I say that part a little too darkly for my taste. "Uh, sorry.She was literally the ray of sunshine in everyone's lives - the nurses were so in love with her whenever we were in the hospital. The doctors were kind of course, but they weren't the ones always there for her; the nurses were."

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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Wayland comes near again and curls up beside me. I rest my hand on his back. Wayland purrs, providing me comfort. If only he could be providing comfort to Nic right now.

I listen to Nic’s story and I feel like I am starting to understand him. ”That’s why you wanted to be a nurse instead. Why you bring the sunshine to everyone around you. Nic… You can’t be two people. Your sister was a gift. A ray of light in the darkness but you can’t put that on yourself as well.”

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Nic's Apartment - Chicago, IL
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I fiddle with the bracelet on my wrist, remembering the grin on the kid who gave it to me... And the grief of his parents after he died. "No... But I can try, right? Otherwise there's just a hole where she and my mom used to be and I have no power over anything." I angrily wipe the stray tears that fall down my cheeks, frustrated at myself for always crying. I heave a big sigh.

"Maybe the two of us need to see therapists." I say with a small laugh.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Not at the expense of yourself. You’re no good to anyone, including your patients, if you keep pushing yourself all the time. And I swear if you tell me I should follow my own advice I will reach through this phone and smack you. And don’t think I can’t.” It makes me smile, threatening Nic like that. It’s all in jest, of course, but I’m still smiling.

”I think I would break a therapist if I started seeing one,” I joke. I fall silent again. ”What makes you happy, Nic? Like truly unbelievably happy. Like so happy your heart hurts?”

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Nic's Apartment - Chicago, IL
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I take her threat seriously, but I’m tempted to still give her a hard time just to see if she could do that. The silence after that question is deafening though. ”Research?” It’s not even an answer, but her question actually stumped me. ”You wouldn’t take seeing a patient pull through as an answer by chance, would you?”

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”If it made you unbelievably happy, I will, but I was hoping for something that was more centred around you than on others.”

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

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

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”What makes you happy?” I ask instead since I can’t think of an answer.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Nothing. I haven’t been that truly happy in a long time. I have little things here and there, but I haven’t had that painful happiness in a while. I make do with my shop and connecting with the land,” I tell Nic honestly.

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Nic's Apartment - Chicago, IL
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I frown at hearing this. "Sounds like we both could use some happiness in our lives." I say, my tone shifting. "How about we make a pact - by the end of the month, we should do something that makes us happy."

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I laugh but shrug. ”Sure, why not.” I had no idea what that was for me anymore but I guess I could find something that could work.

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Nic's Apartment - Chicago, IL
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Her laugh makes me smile - I'm glad to hear it. "Alright, let's go downtown tomorrow - I know exactly where I want to start." I want to take her to the trampoline play place where it's just a place to let loose and have fun. We'd start there to find something that makes us happy.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”What?! Why?” The panic is very clearly in my voice but I didn't think he'd actually want to see me or hang out. This is just going to make things way more complicated.

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Nic's Apartment - Chicago, IL
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I snort and clamp a hand over my mouth to smother my laughs before I reply. "You're adorable. I have a place in mind that I've been putting off going to, so I figured why not make use of the free time I have left." I pull a stray thread off of my couch. "But if you have a prior engagement or something, we can do it another day. I figure if both of us go, that's a higher chance of finding something that makes us happy and we can hold each other accountable to actually try."

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I frown when I hear Nic snort on the other line. I pull the phone away and stick my tongue out at it before I place the phone back to my ear. I sigh, picking at my comforter.

”Fine… it makes sense I guess. Where and when?”

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Nic's Apartment - Chicago, IL
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I grin. "If I give you the address, are you going to look up what it is beforehand?" I ask even though I feel like I already know the answer. I don't want her to overthink it - it's not about how good you are at these places, it's just getting some wiggles out of our system. "Otherwise, I'll make you meet me somewhere else and we'll walk there together." I tease.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I can't help but grin at Nic's tease. That's all it is, I remind myself. Just a tease and not flirting. Although I wish it was flirting.

”Well maybe we should meet somewhere else then.” Of course I was going to look the place up. Curiosity and all that.

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

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

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Laughing, I shake my head. I knew it. "Alright, hold on, let me find the closest bus stop to it and we can meet there, how does that sound?" I put my phone on speaker and open it to go to the public transit app on my phone. There's a stop pretty close and I text the location of it to Cass. "I'm free all day tomorrow, so let me know what time works best for you. Oh! And wear comfortable clothes." That reminds me, I need to take her on some hikes at some point too. I add a little reminder to my phone to do that later.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I glance at Wayland who looks at me sleepily, but the cat seems to smile at me. I sigh, shaking my head and rub his head.

”Here's hoping you know something I don't,” I whisper to him before Nic starts talking again.

Comfortable clothes? ”Um, okay…. Well I can be free whenever tomorrow. Before or after noon?” I decide to ask.

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Nic's Apartment - Chicago, IL
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”Hmmm… Let’s go before noon. I feel like making you wait all day is going to make you go crazy.” I say with amusement. Her curiosity is pretty substantial, but I find that to be adorable about her.

”How does ten in the morning sound? Oh and make sure to wear socks.”

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Okay, I'm hanging up now before I won't be able to sleep from dying curiosity. Good night, Nic. Don't let the bed bugs bite,” I taunt and hang up the phone before he can reply. Jerk.