KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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Avery took Kimiko's hand, but still got up under his own power. "You talk a big game for someone so little," Avery said with a grin.

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Caden

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Location: Liberty Island – New York
Skills:
Fit

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Once they docked on the other island, Caden took Nero's offered hand and kissed the back of it. He stopped once they were standing on the island and looked up at the massive statue.

"I always found it interesting how we build things that are so much larger than us. How humans constantly do things to feel small, but at the same time do whatever they can to overpower others. It is such a strange concept."

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassi jumped at the poke and batted Nic's hands away. "That's cheating," Cassi declared, and kissed Nic's cheek before she stood. "I also won't spell your boxes to unpack themselves, so let's go."

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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"If it makes you feel better, I never liked these woods," Avery said with a small smile. It always smelled like the Chicago pack until recently. Now Avery was doing his best to make it seem more familiar, more for Kimiko's sake rather than his own.

"Come on. Let's finish this run. I'm looking forward to winning that race."

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Caden

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Location: Ellis Island ---> Liberty Island – New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden continued to wander ahead, knowing Nero was lingering to give them both some space to think about other things. Caden had mostly moved past the pain of his past. Of course, there was that one night it was bad and he nearly hurt Nero, but since then, Caden has been better.

Nero's arms wrapped securely around Caden from behind, their smaller statue doing nothing to stem the strength behind their hold or the security Caden felt from them. It was strange to feel so secure and safe with someone again. Caden was used to that role being reversed.

He rested his hands on Nero's arm, letting them hug them tightly before Caden turned around, and kissed Nero softly without a word. He knew and understood, just as Caden knew Nero understood the same. They were partners, they were mated. Sometimes words weren't needed, and one day, they would be able to share their thoughts and feelings. Caden smiled on Nero's lips, looking forward to that day.

Caden pulled back, taking Nero's hand and lead the little imp through the rest of the museum and through the grounds before they boarded the boat and ferried over to Liberty Island.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia laughed and nodded. "You should be able to read and do research out here too without any problem. A bigger table would definitely be better so it doesn't break under the weight of all those heavy books," she teased him.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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Avery grinned, Kimiko's enthusiasm contagious. "Well why don't we find one to stay in? I'm sure we can have a vacation of some kind."

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Caden

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Location: Ellis Island – New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden looked over some of the artifacts while they walked and he listened to Nero talk. At Nero's question, Caden looked at Nero and smiled sadly. "Yes. Although we didn't see anything. We were in the belly of the ships, stacked on top of each other with death as a constant companion. We were unloaded at night and shoved into carts. I don't even remember seeing any buildings until I was at the plantation."

Caden wandered ahead looking over some photographs. A few faces stood out to him but Caden put names to any of them.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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"Oh, I'm sure that's fine. I'll just put a bubble around the terrace now. It'll make it easier when we start building the garden boxes anyways."

Cassiopeia held her hand out, calling the wind to her. It responded immediately due to being on a highrise in downtown Chicago. The wind ripped around them and Cassi giggled as the wind wrapped up her hair, tangling it up.

"Ciùin... gabh fois... Socraich thu fhèin." Cassiopeia repeated the Gaelic words over and over until the wind did eventually, relax and settle down. A gentle breeze ran up Nic and Cassi's arms before it settled around them. "There. You'll still get little breezes and on really windy days it might seem like more but it won't nearly be as bad as it could be."

Translations

Relax...rest...Settle down

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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Avery laughed at the absurdity of the comment but also found it hot. ”Well, I guess we have our Halloween costumes,” Avery joked.

He looked up at the tops of the trees with Kimiko, smiling to himself because of her story, but also because they were in the woods and she was doing okay.

”Have you seen those AirBnBs or tree house homes people made? Some of them are insane,” Avery noted, thinking about one he saw that was connected by a series of bridges.

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Caden

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Location: Ellis Island – New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden nodded in agreement. ”Yes, this is where the large ships used to stop. Now, it showcases the history, both the good and the bad, of the United States.” Caden said, knowing this place talked about the slave trade as well.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Why don’t we do the living room today? That way, I can figure out a better plan for your terrace garden. Then we can make a day of getting lumbar and plants,” Cassi suggested.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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”Does that mean I can quit my day job and live off of you?” Avery asked. He rested a finger under her chin and kissed her softly before relaxing with her again.

He snorted and laughed. ”A tree house? I mean, I’ve always wanted to be black Tarzan, but I never thought about living in a tree.”

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Caden

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Location: Ellis Island – New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden chuckled, finding all of their little quarks endearing. He smiled brightly when Nero kissed the back of his hand. He pulled it back after to slide his hand around the back of Nero’s neck.

”Well, when you ask like that, who am I to resist? Your hint is everything we do today is related.” Caden kissed them before leading them off the boat and onto the island.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”That’s what I was thinking…But if you don’t want it so obvious, I can put it on your back or on one of your thighs,” Cassi suggested.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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Avery let his hands fall from her face so she could curl into him. He flipped his ball cap around so the brim was facing forward and rested his head against the tree. He chuckled when she asked how much he made.

”More than what the job is worth,” Avery answered. ”Although if you're only with me for the money then we'll be fine. We can live comfortably not extravagantly,” Avery stated.

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Caden

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Location: Ellis Island – New York
Skills:
Fit

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”Yes there is a museum inside then stairs leading up to a look-out point. Then Ellis Island, where we are going first, is an immigration museum. They also have gardens on the island. Then they'll take us to Liberty Island to tour the grounds and statue,” Caden explained to Nero.

He pulled Nero back inside while the boat docked and they waited to disembark.

”Yes, I have several other things planned for us this afternoon until we have to leave tonight.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassi elbowed Nic playfully. ”I wake up in the morning. Just not before the sun rises like you crazy people,” Cassi teased. She still didn't understand how Nic could get up earlier to train with Avery and then do a full day's work into night then do it again the next day.

”If you want to do it tonight, no working out the arms tomorrow if that's still where you want your tattoo. If you exercise your arms too much, the colour will bleed. You should be fine to work, even if you have to lift and move people,” Cass added.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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Avery froze when Kimiko flinched from his kiss on her neck. He felt a growl of annoyance build in his throat, but he kept it buried. It wasn’t her he was annoyed with. Avery opened his eyes, staring at the tree Kimiko was backed against. Tears pricked his own eyes in empathy with Kimiko.

He released her hip, sliding his arm around her waist, pulling her from the tree, and he turned. Avery sat down on the ground, his back now against the tree and lifted Kimiko into his lap.

”I’d prefer if you didn’t. Caden might take the damage from my pay,” he joked poorly. Avery cupped Kimiko’s face in his hands, making her look at him.

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Caden

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Location: Boat —> Ellis Island – New York
Skills:
Fit

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”Yes. We have a couple hours to tour the island the the Statue before this boat will take us back, and then we can continue on with our last day in New York.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Mmm, four, maybe five hours,” she told him truthfully. She could help Nic with the pain and possibly the healing process, but there was no way to rush a tattoo. It took time to make things look right and precise.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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Avery’s kiss remained light, his lips brushing across Kimiko’s while she responded to his statement. He chuckled, running his lips up her jawline to her ear. They had yet to kiss or be intimate like this. Avery had really been trying to resist Kimiko and respect her boundaries, but it was getting hard, especially when she was the one to pull him in.

”Well, I can’t say I’m disappointed by that,” he whispered in her ear. He placed a kiss under her ear. Images of her bruised skin flashed across his closed eyelids, and he placed another gentle kiss on her neck, sweeping those horrible images and that horrible night from his mind. Those thoughts had no place in this moment.

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Caden

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

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Caden held his glass to Nero and clinked their glass with his. ”It’s a date,” he said. Caden finished his mimosa and glanced out the window. Caden smiled and set his glass down before he stood.

”Come with me,” he said and pulled Nero up from their seat before leading them out onto the deck of the boat. A gust of wind greeted them, but it quickly subsided as Caden guided Nero up to the bow of the boat. The Statue of Liberty loomed, larger than life the closer they got. It was even more awe-some than gazing at the Empire State building.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”I think that would be a good idea,” Cassi agreed. ”Whatever is going on in his head might relate to why your family blessing is gone.”

Cassiopeia closed up her notebook and looked at Nic. ”So, when can I tattoo you?” She’d prefer sooner rather than later, just so she knew he was safe and protected, but if he wanted to wait until whatever was going on with his dad was resolved, Cass understood that as well.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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Avery chuckled, his eyes drifting to Kimiko’s bottom lip. He ran his thumb over her chin and pulled down to force Kimiko to stop biting her lip.

”Do you have any idea how attractive you are when you do that?” Avery dropped his head and leaned in closer. His lips hovered just above Kimiko’s as he spoke again. ”Or how attractive I find you in general?” He pressed his lips lightly to hers, dragging the kiss out.

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Caden

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

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The conversation paused naturally between the two while they indulged in a well-prepared meal. The boat travelled through the waters, giving an excellent view of the New York skyline and some of the world-renowned bridges. In the distance, the Statue of Liberty could be seen looming over the water and New York like a guardian.

Caden leaned back in his seat, sipping his fresh mimosa while he took in the view both outside the point and across the table from him.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassi shut her eyes, enjoying the compassionate touch Nic always seemed to have. At the mention of Ren’s tattoo, she opened her eyes and looked at her sketchbook.

”Oh, sure!” She shifted in her seat, moving plates back out of the way and flipped back to Ren’s tattoo. ”It’s a reflection pond. It’s supposed to be representative of the past and present or where your life is going. I thought it would be nice to have something that represented Kiki and your mom in this way. And water is supposed to be healing and cleansing, but…Maybe not. Maybe it’s too reminiscent of what he’s lost,” Cassi said and ran a finger over the half-finished drawing.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Joggers

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”Ah, is that what it is?” Avery chuckled and released her cheek to brush his thumb along her jaw. His other hand remained on Kimiko’s hip, firmly pressing her hip into the tree. He barely noticed that hand, more focused on Kimiko’s face. ”It’s alright. I think I keep overestimating how much self-control I have as well.”

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Caden

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

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”Sweet and salty today,” Caden noted of Nero’s meal, as he added syrup to his plate of waffles.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic & Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassi shifted to stand, ready to follow Ren or tell him to stay and she would do the dishes, but Nic kept her firmly in place. She looked at him, worry creasing her brow and was ready to tell him she should go when he spoke first and completely shot that unspoken thought down.

Cassi opened and closed her mouth several times. She was reminded of when she first met Nic, and he always seemed to know or understand what was happening. His observation skills were paying off again. He would have made a great sorcerer, Cassi thought to herself.

She looked down at their joined hands before she leaned forward and pressed her forehead to their hands. ”Are you certain I shouldn’t? Maybe you two can talk about the information Kimiko needs… I have a feeling whatever is on his mind would answer those questions.” Cassi pulled her head away to look back at Nic.