KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
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Cassiopeia froze briefly when Nic pulled her in from behind. She stared down the hallway while his arms settled around her, and his chin rested on her head. Cassiopeia leaned back into her boyfriend, resting her hands over top of his and sighed. His touch was healing and it sent a pleasant tingling feeling through her body that didn’t calm down.

She appreciated that he was willing to compromise with her, but she felt bad doing that to him. ”You don’t have to wait in the car. Just don’t leave my side. Okay?”

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Caden

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

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Caden chuckled and squeezed Nero’s leg. ”Maybe…but they’re in the hallway. Cassi is trying to convince Nic to stay behind, but Nic doesn’t want to,” Caden said and kissed their cheek.

Caden didn’t make a habit of listening in on private conversations, but sometimes he couldn’t help himself. He had shifted his ears slightly to enhance his hearing to see if he could understand what was delaying the others.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Well…no. It’ll be safe, especially with Caden and Nero there…I just…I dunno, worry or whatever.” Cassi mumbled. She had her shoes and socks back on now that she was completely clean from the dirt. She walked out ahead of Nic and stared down the hallway, knowing Caden and Nero were waiting for them, but she hesitated to walk down the hallway.

As soon as the supernatural community found out Nic was involved with them, it put a target on his head, and she was trying to delay that for as long as possible. Cass had set up protections for him as much as she could, but there were always risks.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden rested a hand on Nero’s leg, giving them a gentle squeeze. ”Should I take you back into the shower? I obviously didn’t do a good enough job if you are still worrying. I can do that thing with my tongue you seem to like so much,” Caden said, hoping to get Nero to relax and smile.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia breathed against Nic's lips when he spoke to her. Her skin tingled from the simple yet intimate gesture. His comment had her laughing, though, and she broke the kiss completely.

"No, but maybe I should," she joked and tapped his nose. She took his hand and led Nic into the bathroom, so he could shower and she could take care of her hands and arms.

"Is there anyway I can convince you to remain behind while we summon Crowley?" Cassi knew the main reason they were summoning him was Nero's problem, but they also needed to know who held the contract for Nic's father. Since Nic was involved, Cassi could see Nic wanting to be there, but she really didn't want him involved.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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After a moment more, Caden scooped Nero up and carried them the last few feet into the bedroom. Caden pushed the bedroom door closed with his foot, and carried Nero into the bathroom. He set his imp on the bathroom counter, continuing to kiss them deeply.

Caden was grateful Nero was who they were. He was grateful to be present while they went about the task of discovering themselves, but Nero still had a life about them that consumed them both.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassi felt a pang twinge in her chest from Nic's words. No, she wouldn't be the only one anymore. How lovely would that be if she could recreate her family, and bring the art of sorcery back into the light. Suddenly Cassi could picture it all so clearly. A couple of kids running around with black hair, flowers growing behind them as their powers started to show.

Once again, Nic pulled her from her thoughts and she couldn't help but laugh. "For someone who doesn't know magic, probably, but for us, I don't think so. No more than any other child."

Her heart swelled from his words, and she happily returned Nic's gentle kiss. She slid her hand into his hair, not worried about leaving dirt marks since he would be showering soon.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"As am I." Caden missed his room. It was the most sacred place in the house to him, and he missed seeing Nero in their bed waiting for him.

Caden stopped walking quickly when Nero jumped in front of him. His arms went out automatically, and his hands held onto Nero's hips while they spoke.

Caden broke into a smile and pressed his forehead to Nero's. "I am more than okay with him knowing. It may place a target on our backs, but there already is one. I'd rather they know who you are to me. Maybe that'll make them think twice," Caden said before he kissed Nero.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"At one point I did," she said, pulling back to look at Nic. She smirked at his facial expression. "Breathe, Nic. I don't want five kids in five years," she teased him.

She released him from her hold and took his hands in hers. "Scientifically speaking, my body is young enough to still have children without complications, so it is a very real possibility for us. But I've been around for three hundred years, and although I do think about the idea of children from time-to-time, I don't feel the urge to have children anymore."

Cassi's concentration remained on their hands as she intertwined their fingers while talking. At one time having children was part of her duty, but one she was excited to fulfill. She had always loved working with the children to train them and care for them. She thought she could be an excellent mother one day, but then everything changed. She no longer had that motherly urge she once felt, but the idea was still there. Besides, Nic was human. Cassi's children wouldn't be used for some demon's army now.

Cass looked back at Nic and placed one of his hands on her cheeks. "It is possible that if we have children they will develop some magical ability," she added.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"Well, we have some time before he wakes I am sure. I think we could probably talk to Crowley before he wakes," Caden declared. He walked inside with Nero and paused to listen for any conversation. A door closed near the training room, but aside from the construction noise that was now starting, Caden couldn't hear any other conversations. He would wait until after his shower with Nero to go check on Kimiko.

Caden pulled Nero along to the temporary bedroom they shared. "On the plus side, the construction for our room should be done today."

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia smiled as Nic spoke more about his sister. "She sounds like she would have been a handful, but just as passionate," Cassi surmised.

Once they were back in the training room, Cassi stared at the damaged wall in deep thought. Nic's kiss brought her back and she leaned into him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him.

"Kiki is young. She may be older than you, but she still is quite young with a lot still to learn. She's strong though, and brave. She's gone through the majority of her life by herself. I so rarely see her..." Cassi leaned her head against Nic's chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"Do you want children?" she asked suddenly.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden looked at Nero briefly with alarm when they laughed that way. Once Nero shifted back to reveal their masterpiece, Caden had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. However, that didn't stop Caden from taking several photos with his phone.

He looked at Nero's full hands and patted their shoulder. "I'll grab the mirrors," he said and gathered the one in the main room before wandering into the bathroom. It was a little more difficult to take the mirror from the bathroom wall, and it would be obvious it was missing, but hopefully Avery wouldn't notice straightaway.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia remained glued to Nic's side while they walked back to the training room. She had to admit, aside from Nero's memories, she was enjoying the extra time with Nic. The rest of the week he would be busy trying to hunt down this creature for them, and Cassi would be in her store working as well as doing her own research to prepare to take the thing killing people in Nic's hospital down.

"That makes sense. You did really well with Kiki today," Cass noted. She looked up at Nic while they walked, tracing his facial features with her eyes. "Thank you for looking out for her like that."

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Antoinette McCarthy

Location: Foyer – X-Mansion
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Antoinette blinked owlishly at the people in the room. Her head moved between looking from Jean and Scott to Guin and Pietro before looking back again. She had to think back to the last time Mary had a slip, and the only time she remembered was when they were in that alternate reality. Could she have slipped again? Of course, Antoinette knew that mental health problems didn't just magically go away. Mary was likely fighting every day, but maybe things had been calm until recently. It would explain why she was gone so often. She could be looking for answers for her mental health or the Phoenix.

Jean's story with the Phoenix had been like a bedtime story for the students of Xavier. She was sure everyone knew the story of the Phoenix and how Jean had fared with it. But Mary having it on top of everything, that could definitely be cause for alarm. Especially if she was sending notes that declared she was in trouble.

Antoinette tapped a finger to the bottom of her chin, processing all the information. "It's been a while for sure. The alternate reality was when I noticed," Antoinette said, glancing at her friends for confirmation. "If it's getting bad again, she definitely needs her team." Her family, Antoinette thought, but she wasn't sure if Mary considered the X-Men her family.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"I believe it is more closely related to asshole than a sewer cover. Cass was just specifically calling out men rather than all people," Caden roughly explained.

It took a few minutes but Caden became successful in finding some of the make-up Nero had requested. He returned to Avery's bedroom and shut the door behind him before depositing the goods into Nero's lap.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassi blushed from the way Nic was looking at her. She reflexively went to tuck some hair behind her ear but it was all braided back. She blushed more before taking Nic's hand to stand. She was amused by his attempts to keep them both in the same room no matter what.

"I'm starting to think you like being with me, by how much you want to keep me in the same room as you," she teased him.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden watched with amusement while Nero marked up Avery's face.

”I believe it's meant to be a play-on-words, my dear.” He walked over and kissed the top of Nero's head.

”Remember less is more,” he said and left to find Nero some make-up.

Caden didn't want his friend's entire face to be covered with the sharpie, but he didn't mind some of it being that way. Avery had to learn to relax and not be so uptight all the time. Besides, everyone else would get a good laugh at seeing the word and the hearts on the alpha wolf's face.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia watched Kimiko go, half tempted to change her mind and just follow her back to her room. Cass could wash her hands and sit on Kimiko's bed until she was done. But Cass understood the value of alone time and believed Kiki needed a little of it to reset.

Her thoughts became distracted when she felt the familiar sensation of Nic playing with her hair. She had left her hair in braids due to not being able to condition her hair properly last night. She turned her attention to him, amused by his actions and words. She could shower here easily. Caden was a gracious host and was never short on supplies for his guests.

”If you want me to shower with you, you just have to ask,” she teased him. She looked down at her hands and wiggled her dirt covered fingers. ”I should wash my hands at the very least. If I shower, I don't think I'll be able to get my clothes back on,” she said with a laugh.

Cassi was wearing clothes that contained spandex, and since she had been in the rain with them, they almost felt permanently a part of her body. Taking them off would be difficult let alone putting them back on.