KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery smirked. ”Good. He’s more entertaining to fight when he’s in a mood,” Avery informed Kimiko.

Once she sits in front of him, Avery lets his legs relax around her, pressing into her legs, and his hands resume their position on her back. Avery snorted when Kimiko asked if there were a lot of knots.

”That’s putting it mildly,” Avery informed her. His eyes narrowed slightly as he started to massage her shoulders and work down her spine. He could feel where she held tension and her fear from that night a week ago. For right now Avery concentrated on her back, shoulders, and arms. He knew as soon as he touched her neck, it would be an entirely different story told since that was her highest point of trauma, both physically and mentally, if Avery had to guess.

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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As always, Caden held Nero as they went through the motions of a memory. He felt them grow warm then cold, felt the tension in their back and wondered if Nero was remembering how they got those scars. Caden pressed his lips to the top of Nero’s head, resting there until Nero started to twitch and whimper.

Caden rested a warm hand on Nero’s knee. ”Ich bin genau hier, meine Liebe. Du brauchst keine Angst zu haben. Du bist sicher.”

Translations

I'm right here, my love. You do not have to be scared. You are sure.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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"Oh, it definitely is. And a lot more punchable," Avery agreed, knowing so from experience.

Avery knew he had found a good knot in Kimiko's back even before she let out a moan. He smirked before he dug his knuckle in a bit more. With his other hand he came over to massage and stretch the area around the knot to help it start to release. Slowly Avery started to feel the shift as the muscle started to let go.

Avery shifted his weight position on the couch, and sat back, planting his feet on the floor and spreading his legs. He patted the empty space in front of him.

”Sit on the couch in front of me. It'll be easier for me to get the rest of these knots,” Avery explained.

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Caden

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Location: Car – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden caught Nero as they stumbled into the room. He scooped Nero into a bridal carry and pressed a button on the outside of the elevator that would ensure they were left alone.

He walked down the short hallway to the open living and dining room. The dining table was full of covered dishes containing the desserts Caden ordered, but he didn't go to the table. Instead, Caden turned right and walked into the corner room.

He shut the door of the office behind him before sitting on the couch, keeping Nero in his lap.

”You're safe, my little imp. You can let go now.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery chuckled. ”Can I watch you punch Caden in the face? Just to make sure your form is right,” he joked.

As Avery rubbed Kimiko's back, he started to concentrate on some areas that felt more tense than others. He started applying more pressure to these spots with his knuckles and fingers.

”A good something?” Avery asked, hopeful.

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Caden

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Location: Car – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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”Almost there,” Caden whispered and squeezed Nero in close before looking out the window. They were indeed on the right street for the hotel now.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery couldn’t help the smile that formed when Kimiko mentioned that she hadn’t been with anyone else since Caden, which, of course, made Avery want to make an inappropriate joke, several of them, but he refrained as she continued on.

Avery tucked some hair that drifted in front of Kimiko’s face behind her ear. He noticed how red her cheeks were and brushed the back of his fingers along her warmed skin.

”I understand. I mean, I haven’t exactly been celibate, but it’s been a year for me since I’ve been in a relationship. If it helps, I’m enjoying getting to know the real you. This weekend has been good for us as much as it is for Caden and Nero getting away, I think.” Avery brushed his fingers through Kimiko’s hair and rubbed her back.

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Caden

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Location: Car – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Once in the car, Caden pulled his phone out before wrapping an arm around Nero. He quickly looked over the dessert menu, finding it rather delicious and decided to order three of everything rather than two. Caden had also noticed some sweets in the room’s mini bar and snack bar, so Nero would have free reign of that as well.

Caden put his phone away after placing the order and glanced at Nero. ”How are you doing?” Nero was terribly quiet, and it was starting to worry Caden.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery sighed heavily and rolled his head back to stare at the ceiling. ”I have a lot of respect for Cass and everything she does. She also terrifies me. When I’m working though, it’s always formal titles for me. When I’m not working, I’m more casual,” he explained.

”And don’t worry about laughing. It is pretty funny now.” Avery titled his head forward and looked at Kimiko, smiling because she wanted to share something else with him. ”I’m listening.”

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Caden

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Location: Gershwin Theatre —> Car – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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”If I’ve learned anything about your memories unlocking, it is the fact that they don’t wait. If they are going to happen, they will happen. We have an entire floor to ourselves. If you scream, it’ll be okay.” Caden reaches up and kisses Nero softly.

”We can order the desserts now so they are in the room for us when we arrive, that way, no one will come up during your release,” Caden said. He stood with Nero, setting them on their feet and guiding them out of their box and out of the theatre to the waiting town car.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery started to worry about how long Kimiko was taking before saying anything. He could hear her racing heart and uneven breathing, not to mention the ears that popped onto her head again. Avery has the urge to touch them again, wondering if his hand felt the same as when she touched him as a wolf.

Avery looked at Kimiko when she put her face in her hands. Avery shifted his arm around her to rub her back.

”It doesn’t bother me, Kiki. That was, a while ago and even if it wasn’t, it’s none of my business. You had a life before me, just as I did before you. If it helps, I tried to pursue Cass once, and she turned me down,” Avery said, offering her an olive branch of sorts with that information.

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Caden

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Location: Gershwin Theatre – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden noticed the shift within Nero almost immediately. He had witnessed enough of Nero’s flashbacks to know when one was trying to come through. Caden kissed Nero’s cheek, tasting salt from their tears.

”We can order two of everything off the menu if you wish,” Caden said, more than okay to spend the rest of the night with Nero in their hotel room.

”Do you want to wait here a bit longer for more people to leave?” Caden offered, unsure what Nero felt comfortable with doing. They definitely weren’t the only ones crying after the performance. Caden could still hear the sniffling of people leaving the theatre after watching such a moving show.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Antoinette McCarthy

Location: Outside – X-Mansion
Skills: Running

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Antoinette looked at Guin with concern before she looked at Pietro. Should they do something? Antoinette didn’t know the struggle of addiction, but she knew the struggle of having PTSD. Some days were good; other days were really bad. In the beginning, a car backfiring would set Antoinette into panic attacks. Nowadays, it was only when there was heavy gunfire that she started to hyperventilate; going back to that day, she heard her mother being killed.

Antoinette swallowed and looked back to the car and the door. ”Well, we are already here. May as well see who it,” Antoinette said and marched ahead to see who else was here aside from Runa and Klara.

Rolls/Questions

Who's here!?

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery smirked, looking down and rubbed his hand on his leg. ”That’s exactly why I thought there would be a barrier. You and Caden are close, and he is like an older brother to you. I knew I was going to get “the talk”, but because you’re also under his protection, I didn’t know what that meant for a potential relationship,” Caden is rambling a little as well before Kimiko rambles.

Avery noted how her heartbeat shifted again, and now she’s not looking at him. Her words don’t match her body language. ”Kiki… I know you and Caden dated for a bit. I don’t know the details, but well, Caden did tell me there is history there, but it ended amicably.”

It had been earlier in the week that Caden informed him that the two of them had tried dating once Kimiko was of age. Honestly, it didn’t surprise Avery when Caden told him. Caden kept the details limited, and truthfully, Avery didn’t care. He just cared about how it would affect Kimiko. If it affected her.

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Caden

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Location: Gershwin Theatre – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden watched his imp hop back and forth, completely enraptured with the musical. Caden made a mental note to book another weekend where they could watch Wicked and another Broadway.

When Nero looked back at the couple's song, Caden smirked, holding his arms open when Nero returned. Caden finished watching the play with his arms wrapped around Nero and his chin on their shoulder. When the play came to its conclusion, Caden clapped for the wonderful performance. He had seen the musical with several different casts now. None of them ever disappointed.

Caden glanced at Nero to see that they were dabbing at their face. Caden shifted and pulled out a silk handkerchief before he presented it to Nero without a word.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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The tracing movements Kimiko does have a soothing effect on Avery, and he closes his eyes to enjoy the sensation. His heart had been pounding during the kiss, as it often does when Kimiko catches him off guard.

He listened to her thoughts, eyes closed, and a smile on his face. ”It’s not weird. I’m glad he bonded with you, if only so I could have a chance with you. I owe so much to Caden, so I wouldn’t have pursued you out of respect for him. I’m grateful for the chance to do so now,” Avery said.

He opened his eyes after another minute and kissed the top of Kimiko’s head. ”Like I said before, when I told you what was going on, you don’t need to accept the bond if you don’t want to. We can take things slow and see where this goes.”

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Caden

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Location: Gershwin Theatre – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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”You can. You’re my favourite view anyways,” Caden said and kissed Nero’s shoulder before the lights dimmed completely, and the second act started.

Caden left his arm around Nero, continuing with tracing lazy circles on their hip, but he didn’t do anything else to distract Nero.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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The way Kimiko grabbed Avery’s shirt had him moments away from pulling it off. He could think of nothing he’d want more than her to run her hands over his chest and torso, but before he could, she pulled back from him. In hindsight, Avery supposed that it was probably better.

Avery chuckled again from her comment. ”Maybe, but the sound of your heart tells me you didn’t mind the distraction,” Avery said. He pecked her lips before pulling back. He removed his hand from her cheek, resting it on his leg and relaxed his hold on her once more.

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Caden

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Location: Gershwin Theatre – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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”Precicesly, my little imp.” Once Nero leaned into Caden’s touch, he rubbed his thumb along their cheek. He smiled to himself, memorizing the way Nero looked at him at that moment. The lights in the theatre started to flash and dim once more. Caden took the moment to lean in and tenderly kiss Nero’s eyelids and then their lips before he pulled back.