[IC] Chicago After Hours

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I grin from the compliment. It would be the smart decision, really. Caden studied everything, whereas I concentrated my work and knowledge in the arts and plants. I learned everything from healing to poison. It was a passion of mine and one I got rather excited about.

I cock my head to the side when Nic asks if there is an antidote. "Why would you want one?" I ask him. I pause for a moment, genuinely confused until I remember who I am talking to. I blanche and look away from him. "There is no known natural herb. Depending on how much is ingested, IV or respiratory therapy or seizure medications can be used. But it can be fatal or place a person in a coma," I explain. "It is more poisonous before it flowers, but every part of the water hemlock is dangerous. To remove it you have to use gloves and don't burn it unless you are wearing a respiratory mask."

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I watch her face as she explains it, noticing how she paled after asking me why I would want to know. ”Is it a common plant to come across? And does it have other uses outside poisoning? Like, it feeds the bees or something.” I say the last part in a joking tone, hoping to ease her tension some.

I want to ask her if she’s poisoned someone with it and that’s how she knows so much, but I refrain. We can approach those kind of questions down the line, not on our second date.

”Did you know wasps are as important to the environment as bees? But people still see both as pests.” I grin sheepishly. ”You probably definitely knew that.”

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I relax when Nic doesn't question me further on Water Hemlock. It's probably not an ideal conversation to have so soon in our relationship, but it was an important one. I take a tentative step back onto the path so we can keep walking, leaving the tale of Water Hemlock behind us.

I laugh a little but nod. "Everything has a role to play, just like hemlock and the wasp. I can see how people don't like them but I've never shied away from the less pleasant things in the world. Except when it's cold and wet at the same time, which is ironic considering where I lived for my first 18 years of life. And goblins. They are so gross," I say with a shudder.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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“Wait, goblins exist? What do they look like?” I ask as we walk - i take hold of her hand again. I don’t know when we stopped holding them, but I don’t want her to overthink anything. I figure the water hemlock and other poisonous plants will come up at another point and it will be similar to the conversation I had with Caden about his employees of the past.

It’s hard to think about still and I still haven’t fully untangled how I feel about it, but I understand the implications of someone causing panic over misinformation and rumors. I cast a sidelong glance at Cass, wondering if she had ever been persecuted as a witch. I know she missed out on the infamous witch trials of the 1600s and I’m glad of that.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I scrunch my nose up in disgust when Nic asks what Goblins look like. "They are like, 3-4ft tall, and they are gross and smell, and are rude. They can adapt to any terrain. There honestly might be some living here," I say and narrow my eyes looking around suspiciously. "They have little regard for human life or any life. They can be destructive even to their own territories and whatever you do, do not, let them bite you. If one bites you, call me immediately. However, they are very smart and crafty. I hate dealing with them, though."

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I chuckle as I watch Cass looking around like she’s hunting rabbits. The way she scrunched her nose is also adorable. “Oh, so Nero, got it.” I say with a smirk before asking, ”So what happens if you get bit by a goblin?”

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I snort at the mention of Nero and blush, embarrassed at having laughed at Nero. I look at Nic and laugh out loud more. I had to remember to try with Nero, but with Nic I didn't have to.

"Hallucinations, and not like you drank mushroom tea, like you'll think there's bridge in the distance and walk right off a cliff hallucinations. Magic is the only cure for that. I have to pull the toxins out of your system. It's not a fun time."

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I grin lopsidedly at her snort and silent argument she has with herself. “I’ll make sure to tell Caden tomorrow that you only said nice things about Nero.” I say, guessing at what was going through her head before I muse over the information about goblin bites.

“Yikes, that sounds terrible. How common would someone like me come across them? And what do their bites look like?” I briefly wonder if some of the patients who came in after attempts at leaving this world were just bitten by a goblin. I’ve had those few where no one had seen it coming and there were no signs that they would do that.

The medical side of me is going 100 miles per hour with possibilities. “Do you think one of Caden’s books would have more information?”

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I smile gratefully at Nic for his help in keeping the ruse up for Caden. I did tell him I would try after all. Just old habits die hard. I think about Nic's other questions, trying to think of a proper statistic.

"Honestly, they used to be more common about a hundred years ago, but with the advancement of technology and things, they seem to have become more docile. But, they are also being pushed out of their territories and homes by human advancement. For you, I've only come across two goblin attacks while being in Chicago and I've been here for about a year."

I recall the two times clearly due to my dislike for goblins being so strong. I could easily describe the bite to Nic, but I nod when he asks about a book. "Yes, Caden has that information. I could get him to set aside the book for you."

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Well, I’ll probably see him tomorrow morning anyway.” I tell her with a smile. I’m more interested in another question at the forefront of my thoughts. I take the pause in our walk as an opportunity to play with some loos strands of her hair, wrapping some of it around my fingers. “What made you move here?”

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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We find a bench to sit down on that overlooks the wetlands and the boardwalk further up. I tuck one leg under me so I'm more angled towards Nic. He starts to play with my hair and I try not to blush from the attention he is giving me.

"Oh, um. I had been intrigued by Chicago for a while due to the treaty. I wanted to see how it was working. I didn't come right away though because I was traveling. I was down in the Caribbean and I confess it was difficult to leave the warmth. Chicago winters are rather trying."

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”What, 34 degrees with high wind chill in the middle of May isn’t your thing?” I tease. I tuck the strands of hair I’m playing with behind her ear and grab her hand to hold in my lap. The cold doesn’t bother me so much anymore, but the chilly wind that comes off the lakes is what kills me.

My other arm wraps easily around her shoulders and pull her a little more into my side. “What was in the Caribbean?” Somewhere tropical does sound like a nice place to be.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I laugh and shake my head. My laugh gets cut off when Nic pulls me closer to him. I have the urge to pull my other leg up and fully curl into his side, but I don't.

"Oh, I was learning about what the shamans do there, plus some of the tropical plants and native animals to the area I was learning more about. Monster hunting, the usual. Everywhere I go it's usually to learn something from the magic wielders there," I tell Nic. "Have you ever wanted to travel there?" I ask him curiously.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I smile warmly at Cass, happy that she’s been answering my unending questions today. “The thought has occurred to me during some of those winter nights here. I think the closest I’ve gotten to tropical was when I rode the ferry in the harbor here.” I have the biggest urge to kiss her head, but I resist for now.

“I would love to travel and learn some of the different medicine practices in other places… Maybe you and I can travel the world together sometime.” I say wistfully, aware of how cheesy it sounds. This time I don’t resist and I pull her head into my chest more so I can kiss the top of it.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I feel my heart swell at the idea of travelling with Nic. We could start by going to some of my favourite places before we go off on our own adventure finding and discovering new places. I find myself daydreaming a little while Nic pulls me in closer. He kisses the top of my head and I suppress a giggle.

”Nic, if you pull me any closer I’m going to be sitting in your lap,” I tease him.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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“Why would you foil my plan like that?” I tease. I give her head a kiss once more before I release her and stand up and offer her my hand. “We better get going if we’re going to hit the art museum, the pizza place, and the temple all before heading back to Chicago.” I show her a big grin, dimples and all.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I laugh and take his offered hand to stand. ”Well I didn’t think sitting in your lap in the middle of a nature preserve was exactly beneficial to why we are here,” I declare. I open up the trash can by the bench and toss my empty tea cup into it before closing the lid.

”What’s your favourite thing about nature?” I ask, curiously. Nic seemed to be the one asking all the questions lately. I hardly had a chance to get one of my own in.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I manage to toss my empty cup in the trash before she closes the lid. “Who said it needed to be beneficial to here and not to beneficial to us?” I say while I mule over her question. I start walking ahead a little slowly, looking around.

“I like how comforting the quiet is. It’s not silence; you can hear birds, the leaves in the wind, the insects on the water.” I stop and turn to face Cass, sheepish rubbing the back of my neck. “I don’t even know if that makes sense.”

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nature Preserve – Cary, IL
Skills:

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Nic walks on ahead, and I let him, falling into step behind him while we walk along the boardwalk. I watch the back of his head, smiling as he talks. I stop when he stops to turn around, and smile from how insecure he looks. I close the distance between us and look up at him.

”It makes perfect sense,” I assure him. ”Silence can be deafening, but nature is serene and contentment. It’s healing.”

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Nature Preserve - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I look down at Cass and chuckle, my ears warming. “I should have guessed you would understand completely.” I gaze in her face, once again completely entranced by how blue her eyes are. Cass is close, but I want her closer. I snake my arm around her waist and pull her to me., my hand cupping her cheek and tilting her head up so I can bend mine to kiss her.