KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

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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’s eyes followed Nic as he stood, towering over her. He reached down and gathered her plate. She was tempted to tell him no, that she had a different idea in mind, but she wanted to see this footage and she was still hungry. Besides, Cassi intended to spend the night. They could have time for other activities later, even if Ren came home and they would have to be quiet.

”Yes, please, and dessert,” she finally answered.

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Caden

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Location: Car —> Retail Store – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”I can’t wait to see it.” Caden’s tone shifted to one of promises made in the dark. Of needs left unmet and moments interrupted.

He parked in front of a store and an employee immediately opened up the front door, waiting for Caden and Nero.

Caden leaned over, turning Nero’s face to look at him. He stared into Nero’s eyes for a moment.

”I love you, Nero. I would rather watch my entire collection be destroyed than lose you. Whatever is coming for you will not reach you. Not while I’m around.” For some, a silly pronouncement about losing a lifetime's worth of collections over a person would be considered obvious, but for a dragon to lose their collection would be to lose a part of themselves. Hoarding is in the very nature of a dragon. It is a severe compulsion that is not ignored. For Caden to tell Nero he would happily lose it all to save them was like saying he would rather be limbless or blind than ever lose Nero.

Chicago After Hours

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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 blushed at Nic’s statement. It was so pure and truthfully that it made Cassi shy, but also feel the love Nic spoke of.

”Well, don’t put me on to high of a pedestal. I don’t want to fall off,” she said, and twisted her hand out of his to caress his cheek.

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden laughed and grinned happily, more than enjoying this topic of conversation instead.

”Mmm, alright. But when we get home, will you put something on that I can destroy?”

Chicago After Hours

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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 smiled at Nic and placed a hand over his. ”I think them helping to kill the Chimera that took your parents, and them killing a wolf that was about to attack me is a pretty good reason for you to like them a little more than I do,” Cassi said and squeezed his hand. ”But I appreciate you wanting to be on my side all the same.”

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden chuckled and squeezed Nero’s hand. ”The most important collection in my horde,” he said shamelessly.

”As for my sweater, you can keep it if you want. I’m going to get a new one that doesn’t have a hole in it,” Caden declared. ”Although, I should wear it into the store to prevent causing an alarm.”

Caden currently sat half naked as he drove through Chicago, but it didn’t so much matter to him with the windows being tinted. Besides, Nero seemed to have grown fond of Caden’s clothing.

Chicago After Hours

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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 looked sideways at Nic before she ate another sushi roll. She chewed happily before swallowing. ”You can like Nero if you want to, Nic. You don’t have the history with them like I do.”

She leaned back in her seat, looking at Nic and enjoying his hand on her thigh. It was steadying, comforting.

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden released Nero’s hand to type on the screen in his car, sending a message to one of the clothing stores he frequented that he would be arriving soon with a guest for some clothes. After he hit send, he reclaimed Nero’s hand.

”Mmm, yes and no. Dragons are secretive, illusive. Pop culture got a lot of things right about dragons, but they also don’t know a lot more. I’m out and about because of what I horde. I can’t be cooped up; I have to go out and collect myself, but I’m also the leader of my people. Being in the world helps me know the world so that I can protect my family.”

Chicago After Hours

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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 slowed in her eating at the mention of Caden again. She fidgeted in her seat, glancing at the screen where an operating room sat pictured full of people, the patient — who somehow disappears — on the screen.

Cassi huffed and finished her last tempura roll before taking a sip of her drink. ”I don’t trust Nero. I think they’ve brought something to our doorstep that none of us should be involved in, but Caden is in love with them. He’s chosen Nero to be his mate and its all rather confusing for me. I trust Caden, but I don’t know. And Nero has been helpful in our hunts but they are still a demon. Causing pain is kind of their thing.”

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden squeezed Nero’s thigh while he chuckled at what Nero revealed about his best friend. ”I’m not surprised. She’s rather protective. We have my property and her place heavily warded. Most don’t know either location unless we invite people over. By bringing you in, I’ve allowed you access to invite people as well. I’m certain that’s what she was referring to. As well as likely hoping you were just going to be my latest playmate rather than my mate.”

Caden turned his hand and slipped his fingers around Nero’s. He twisted their hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss.

”I would offer to do the same to your place, but I’m concerned whomever that demon works for will detect my magic. Dragon’s magic isn’t exactly world-known. It’s one of our best kept secrets, next to my family’s location. I’m the only dragon that’s ‘out’ in the world, I guess you could say.”

Chicago After Hours

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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 mulled over the idea of tattoos, but with what Nic said it didn’t make sense that getting a tattoo without his wife was the problem. Maybe it was the reason for it, though.

Nic pulled Cassi from her train of thought, and she grinned at him. She wiggled two fingers in the air. ”Twice,” she declared. ”You really should have bought more,” she teased him before she returned to devour her meal. Even though she had just started, she was already halfway through and looking forward to seconds.

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”I was prepared to do a whole lot worse to them, but then we were rudely interrupted,” Caden informed Nero. He slipped his hand onto their thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.

”I don’t want to go home just yet, in case we are being watched. I have a safe house we can go to, or I can call one of the stores in town, and they’ll let us in to find something to wear.” They were likely closed, but Caden had formed a good relationship with many stores in Chicago. They would happily send someone in to open the store for him with the amount of money he spent.

Chicago After Hours

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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 wiggled her nose and stuck her tongue out at Nic when he tapped her forehead. She swatted his finger away before she rubbed the space over her third eye, feeling a weird tingling from where he had tapped.

”I wasn’t going to,” she defended. ”Well…completely. Did your mom have an aversion to tattoos? Or did she want to get one with your dad?”

Cassi piled her plate high with food, stealing another piece of the rice dessert to eat as she walked over to the table. She tucked her left leg under her as she sat down and started in on the tempura, like a bear fresh out of hibernation.

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”If it had something to do with that, I would be more inclined to believe either Cassi or I would be the target for stalking and not you,” Caden announced.

At Nero’s touch, Caden relaxed into his seat, lifting his foot off the gas peddle to slow down. ”Do you want me to take you out for supper, or would you rather we return home?”

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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

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”Is it just me or is your dad acting like a moody fifteen year old boy?” Cassi meant it in jest, she knew he had just lost his partner in life and it was hard for him, but it also seemed like he was regressing.

She opened up the take out boxes and started to pile food on a plate for Nic. When she opened up the mochi box, she popped one in her mouth and hummed happily before she finished her other task.

Cassi handed Nic his plate of food with a warm smile. ”Don't say I've never done anything for you.”

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting
Fit

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Caden chuckled and pecked Nero's lips before guiding them to the car.

”I'm perfectly unharmed. Let's get going. I don't want to linger in this area,” he said.

He got Nero in the car before he quickly got in himself. The tinted windows concealed them, and Caden quickly sped off in the opposite direction of Nero's home and their's for right now.

”The demon wouldn't talk to me. I tried to get them to talk, threatened them but they smoked out. What bothers me is they smoked out straight to Hell. Something tells me Crowley wasn't messing with you when he showed up today.”

Chicago After Hours

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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 happily followed along behind Nic, still carrying the food. She walked into the dark apartment, Nic beating her to turn on the light.

”The property is three times the size or more. The house is relatively the same, but I just know there is a lot of activity there during the winter to make sure the animals are well looked after. Maybe if you have a free day we can stop in. I'd just rather not stay there.”

Cassiopeia walked down to the kitchen and plopped the food onto the counter before she grabbed drinks and glasses.

”Where's your dad?”

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Caden

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Location: Nero’s House —> Car – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting
Fit

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Caden grew more frustrated, ready to just snap this demon's neck before exorcising him, but then they smoke out and disappear into the ground. Caden frowned, staring at the ground before he walked back into Nero's house.

He paused on the threshold, staring at the space before he closed the door and locked it. Caden went around and drew all the curtains on the windows shut before he replied to Nero.

I'm coming. Just securing the house.

Once he completed his task, Caden opened one window, a tiny crack before he closed the curtain and blinds. He shifted again but this time into a mouse. He scurried up the curtain and squeezed himself out the window before he dashed across the yard, invisible in the tall grass.

He ran as a mouse all the way back to the car before he shifted back into his normal body. Shirtless, since Nero bore his sweater, Caden walked over to the car to check on Nero.

”Are you okay?” He looked Nero over to ensure they were unharmed. Caden's eyes glowed still from all the shifting he had done within the last few hours. Seven times in total between shifting into other creatures and himself.

It had been exhilarating, and Caden felt great from being able to shift so much, but his joy was dampened from the demon who had been watching the house and how they left.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Walking – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”I told Caden his jet would be appreciated but I declined the use of his home for a couple different reasons but the main one is I'd rather be alone with you when you aren't learning to save all of humankind. I was thinking maybe we could rent a little cabin or an AirBnB of some kind close to your conference,” she suggested.

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Caden

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Location: Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting
Fit

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Caden remained calm even though the silent treatment frustrated him. He continued to smile sweetly and looked the demon up and down.

”Mmm, the strong silent type. Well, as much of a joy and conversationalist that you are, I really must protest you using me and my home for your kink. I mean, unless you want to come inside,” Caden said, dripping the last two words with nothing but sexual energy.

He pulled one of Nero's daggers out of his clothing and twirled the point on his finger.

”Either tell me who you are, or I'll cut the reminder into your meat suit that I don't like unwanted lawn gnomes.” Caden said, and looked up at the demon through his/Nero's eyelashes. He tried to maintain the innocent yet intimidating look Nero had, but Caden wanted nothing more than to burn the demon and the human they rode.