[IC] Chicago After Hours

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile and let Nic lead me into his home. Once I'm inside I definitely get a happy little vibe from the place. There's an undertone of sadness, but that is to be expected. I know we are just in the entryway of his apartment but I still comment.

”I like it,” I tell him.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle and shake my head. I keep silent, letting Kimiko run through all the sets I gave her while I jog on the treadmill. After this, we'll have to get ready for supper.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Driving - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I grin. “Thank you,” I fuss over some of the plants in my entryway - most of them only like partial sun, but I want to make sure they still get some. Once I feel better about them, I unlock my door and usher Cass inside.

It’s not a very big place, but it has nice dark hardwood floors in most of the apartment. In the first room is navy blue couch that probably needs to be replaced, but I’ve put that off. There’s an armchair in the corner next to a very full bookcase. Most of the books out here were poems or works of fiction. The endless medical journals and textbooks were in my room next to the desk in there.

There’s a small coffee table between the couch and the television mounted on the wall opposite the couch. Underneath is a thick white rug with geometric patterns in shades of orange and blue. I stand awkwardly by the front door, letting Cass look around before I say anything.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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

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As I go through the sets, I feel sweat start to bead on my forehead and I can feel my arms start to feel sore with the burn of exerting muscles. When I finish the last one, I let myself fall onto a mat as I breathe heavily and stare at the ceiling. It felt good to work out again.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile as Nic scurries about, fixing this and that while we walk into his apartment. It's adorable.

I squeeze his arm as I walk past him into the apartment. I look around and get pulled in by the couch and the bookshelf. Blue is a good colour for a couch, I think to myself. It's the same colour as the throat Chakra which represents communication.

I wander over to the bookshelf and look over the titles.

”Poetry?” I glance at Nic, smiling and pull out a copy with intrigue.

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Avery Zain

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

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I stop running on the treadmill when Kimiko crashes to the mat. I grin and wander over to her. I set a bottle of water next to her before I stare down at her.

”Feel good?” I always loved a good workout.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Driving - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I grin with a shrug. “What can I say, I like it.” I tell her as I take my shoes off and leave them outside to dry.

“I don’t know, I learned about it in middle school and then became obsessed with it. Probably because I can’t write a poem if my life depended on it.”

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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

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I grin up at Avery when he brings me water. “Feels great.” I say breathlessly before I sit up and chug half of the water.

“You know, you make a pretty good trainer.” I tell him as look him up and down subconsciously before I catch myself. “Sorry, I really don’t mean to ogle, but your muscles are really impressive.” I say with a small laugh before laying back down again, putting my arm over my eyes to block out the lights.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I flip through the poetry book I hold and read a couple of passages. ”Sometimes I wish people spoke like this all the time, but then it wouldn’t be as special when you read poetry,” I said and put the book back on the shelf.

I walk over to the couch and set my bag on the floor before I lean over and slip my shoes and socks off.

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Avery Zain

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

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I chuckle and shrug. ”Honestly, I’m used to people staring. I just like bugging you about it because you seem really paranoid when you do,” I inform her. ”Make sure you do a cool down before you leave. You’re body will thank you in the morning when you start your second work-out,” I tell her.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Driving - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I watch her with a smile until she takes her socks and shoes off. I gasp dramatically and put a hand to my forehead. “My lady, your ankles are showing!” I tease before I grin.

Maybe now that I had someone special, a muse, I might be able to write poetry. The idea excites me and I make a mental note to buy some more poetry books next time I go to the bookstore.

“Anyway, washer and dryer are in the kitchen, follow me.” Not that she would need help getting there - it’s pretty obvious where it is since there’s no door or archway between the living room and the kitchen.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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

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I flip him off with my other hand when he says he’s just been bugging me about staring for fun. After he tells me to do a cooldown, I sit up and rest my arms on my legs to watch him. “How scared should I be for tomorrow?” I ask, lips twitching in amusement.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I give Nic a look from his statement and I stand up with my shoes and socks in hand. ”You know, the only ones who ever made a fuss about that were the high ladies of society in the public eye, but once you got them alone… Well, they were all too happy to let you see their ankles,” I note. ”There was a lot of sneaking around back then.”

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Avery Zain

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

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I grin. ”I’ll take it easy on you and Nic for the first week, but after that if you can’t keep up I make you do more for longer. You won’t be cursing my name in pleasure after that,” I tease her. I toss her a dry towel and make for the door. ”See you for supper.”

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Driving - Cary, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”How much sneaking around did you get up to?” I ask with a waggle of my brows before I lead her into the kitchen and motion to the washer and dryer unit.

“Give me a second to change pants and then we can start it.” I tell her, kissing her cheek as I pass by and head into my room to change. Over my shoulder I shout, “Did you want a change of clothes?”

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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

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I wipe off my brow and neck, not liking the look of his grin when he says he’ll take it easy on us before I feel my face flush. “I won’t be cursing your name in pleasure either!” I declare as I throw my towel at him.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I look away from Nic and shrug innocently. ”I have no idea what you are referring to,” I stated. I tossed my socks into the dryer as Nic walked away, and then he asked if I wanted a change of clothes.

I looked down at my pants, still feeling their dampness and I worried my bottom lip. ”Maybe? But maybe sweatpants or shorts with an elastic? I do have wider hips than you.” Nic’s shirts might fit, but I know I would fit his pants when it came to my hips and waist.

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Avery Zain

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

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I laugh and leave Kimiko to it while I go shower and change for supper. I know she probably wouldn’t engage in any activity with me that would have her saying my name in pleasure, but the idea was there and teasing her was fun.

I walk outside and jog outside over to the staff housing. I see some of my friends and nod greetings, catching up with a few of them before I head to my room. I don’t know how Caden managed it, but we each have our own bathrooms with an endless supply of hot water.

I take my time in the shower before I get out to change.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

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I quickly kick off my jeans and socks and pull on a pair of gray sweatpants, grabbing a pair of dark grey joggers for Cass. “Are you trying to tell me I don’t have hips?” I ask as I rejoin her in the kitchen.

“If these are uncomfortable, I think I have a couple of other options for you if you’d like.” I tell her. I still have some of the clothes from college when I was bulking up.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I shake my head at Avery’s antics before I get up to do a quick cool down. Once I finish up, I wipe down the equipment I used and head to my room to take a quick shower before I change.

I wear the same sweatshirt I’d been lounging in before and a new pair of legging before I go to blow dry my hair a little so it’s not completely wet.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I take the joggers from Nic and kiss his lips briefly. ”Not feminine hips meant for child-bearing,” I state and head to his room. I shut the door and unbuttoned my pants. As I change, I look around his room.

[Donut Look Now]

V

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

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In my room, I have a desk in the corner and the wall across from the closet and bathroom is made up of shelves full of medical textbooks and journals. I try to think of what I last read, which would be open on the desk - I think it might have been horticulture, but I’m not sure. I throw my jeans and socks into the machine before I start looking through what food I have that I might use for dinner.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I slip one leg then the other into Nic’s pants. I hop around a bit, distracted from looking around his room. Once I have the pants on I walk over to his bookshelf and peruse the titles. There were general medical texts and more specific from signs and symptoms for diseases, prescription and holistic medicine and their properties, latest medical journals, and more. Basically it was everything one might need to know when in the medical field. I was impressed.

My eyes wandered to his desk and I smiled, recognizing the plants. I flipped through the pages until I found water hemlock. I looked around his desk and found a sticky note and a pen.

When in doubt, call your local sorcerer.

I wrote in elegant cursive and stuck it on the water hemlock page before I grabbed my pants and headed back into the main area.

”These pants are ridiculously comfortable,” I inform Nic, and toss my pants into the dryer.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

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I turn and grin at Cass. “I try to make sure most of my clothes are.” I tell her as I chop vegetables by the stove. I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to cook, but starting off with chopped onions, bell peppers, and garlic seems like a good start. I’m tempted to sneak a tomato in, but I resist… at least this time.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic's Apartment – Chicago, IL
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I start the dyer and turn to stand at the counter near Nic. ”What are you making?” I ask curiously, stealing a bit of pepper and pop it into my mouth.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

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“I wasn’t sure yet - is there something that sounds good to you? And don’t you dare say chicken soups with grilled cheese.” I tease, booping her nose after she steals some of the pepper.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I pout and go cross-eyed when he boops my nose. I stick my tongue out and steal more bell pepper. ”The next time I have you over, I’m making that and you’ll understand,” I state firmly.

I look over Nic’s ingredients and run ideas through my head. ”We could make a pasta, or stir fry. Do you have anything for meat?” I ask, and help myself to his fridge.

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

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I shake my head, still wildly confused by this combination of foods. “I look forward to it.”

“Stir fry sounds amazing actually - there should be some beef sirloin in the fridge that we can use.” I say, watching her with a smile as she helps herself into my fridge.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Ooo, you can show me how to wash rice properly,” I say and pull the beef out of the fridge and set it on the counter. I turn in a little circle. ”Cutting boards?”

[Donut Look Now]

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

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I shake my head with a laugh. “Maybe next time, but we’re making this stir fry with udon noodles.” I reach over her head to the cabinet to grab the package.

“Cutting boards are behind the breadbox.” I say, nodding towards the metal box near the sink. “Are you planning on helping me? I thought you couldn’t cook.” I tease with a grin.