Donut Look Now

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Chuckling, I watch as she puts her hair up and can see just a twinge of blush run across her ears, but I decide not to tease her about it. Now that I know she’s at least interested in me too, I feel silly that I didn’t notice her reactions before. Jane is right; it’s obvious that we’re intrigued by each other if nothing else.

“I’m just saying, carrying you bridal style would have been fun.” I say with a wink. I can see how hard she’s trying to make sure she reaches the others in one piece. It’s adorable.

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Nero

Location: Police Station - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I beam up at Caden when he says I did well, adding a skip to my step as we exit and head for the car. ”Oh, that’s what the shopping is for.” I say, feeling a little dense that I didn’t pick that up earlier.

“I’ll bite anyone who gives you a hard time.” I tell Avery with a toothy grin from beside Caden. “You just give me their name and I’ll make sure they stop bothering you.” I’m not actually going to go around biting people, but I know how rough it can be having a preconceived notion floating over you.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I scoff. ”You wouldn’t break me.” I tell her, following her as she carefully made her way towards Jane and Kat. Briefly, I wonder if she’s self conscious about her weight. I enjoy her curves, but if she’s worried, I won’t push it.

”I think you forget that I work out often.” I say to her, reaching out to teasingly muss her hair a little. As a nurse, I see doctors dismiss valid symptoms and complains often to perfectly healthy people often just because they aren’t super thin, but I made a vow long ago to only use weight as as probable cause for ailments when I’ve dismissed all other possibilities.

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Nero

Location: Police Station - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I flash a grin at Costa as Caden drags me away before I turn to walk in pace with Caden. ”Sorry, I did try to play nice.” I say, looking up at Caden to watch his expression. I briefly glance behind us at Avery to see if he has anything to add.

This puzzle would be difficult to solve, but I always did like a challenge. I stop suppressing my excitement and happily wiggle as we make our way out of the police station.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I grin, letting go of Cass’ hands and turning around to bend down. ”Alright, climb aboard the Nic train.” I offer to her, beckoning Cass to let me give her a piggy back ride. I really don’t want to see her face plant again. ”Oh we could totally play chicken!” I say excitedly. It’s been a long time since i last played the game, but this seemed like a perfect opportunity. Maybe we could play it in Caden’s pool against Caden and Nero.

I realize that the idea of hanging out with Nero doesn’t completely disgust me, but I tuck that away to think about later.

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Nero

Location: Police Station - Chicago, IL
Skills: Black Demon Eyes

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”Shopping?” I ask, a little confused, but we’ve moved on and Avery is here. The tension between Caden and Costa is palpable. When Avery smiles at me, I give a little smile and nod of acknowledgement back.

I mull over everything that’s being said. “Do we think this creature might be using the perfume as a way to mask their scent?” If it wanted to go about undetected in a city full of supernatural beings, that would be one way to do it.

I glance over at Caden and Costa before I prance towards the detective. ”Costa, if you don’t stop being a little bitch, I will bite you.” I say, putting my hands on my hips. Sure, I had to crane my neck a little to look up at Costa, but I could still see him shrink back from me a little. ”If Caden vouches for Avery, then you should listen.” I flash the black demon eyes at Costa to emphasize my point.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Keeping hold of her hands, I look around as we jump a little in place. I laugh when I spot them. Jane and Kat are on a beam over one of the pits full of foam cubes, each armed with some sort of foam sparring staffs and seem to be trying to knock each other off of the beam.

I turn my attention back to Cass. “How good are your sparring skills?” I ask. It might be fun to have a couples showdown.

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Nero

Location: Police Station - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Perfume?” I ask while raising an eyebrow. Wild, rare, and perfume? I tilt my head and tap my chin, trying to think if that rings any bells for me. It doesn’t, but I make a mental note to see if I can find anything when we’re back at Caden’s.

“Well, I’m at a loss for what it could be off the top of my head. Any ideas?” I direct the question to Caden.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: Airport —> Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Dinner sounds lovely I grin to myself, It’s been awhile since I had seen Caden and this is my first time stateside, so I’m a little excited for what’s in store outside of the real reason I’m here. But I can dwell on that later. It’s not long before a driver shows up and I’m on my way.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Much more important things, I’m sure.” I say with a chuckle. “Okay, on the count of three, let’s try a big jump, okay?” We’re doing pretty well with just small bounces, but I want to make sure she can get from one trampoline to another without face planting.

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Nero

Location: Police Station - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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“Ich muss immer die Arbeit der Schweine für sie erledigen.” I tell Caden with a grin before we’re shown the bodies. I peer closely at the inflicted wounds on each, trying to see if I can make heads or tails of any of it.

Confidently I say, “Well, it’s not a hellhound at least.” The coroner eyes me with a disturbed look when I get closer to the bodies and smell them. “I don’t smell sulfur either, but did you pick up on anything?” I ask Caden, knowing his senses can go a lot further than mine. He’s on his phone, smiling about something. I quell the jealous monster that tries to rear its head and remind myself that I need to get a new phone sooner than later.

Translations

I always have to do the pigs’ job for them

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: Airport - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Well, I guess it’s fine that you can’t pick me up yourself. You’ll just have to make it up to me at some point. He doesn’t actually owe me anything - I owe him a lot and staying over is just adding to the tab. I grab my suitcases from the conveyor belt before I head down to the street level of the airport to wait for the car.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I chuckle and grab her hands to help stabilize her. I do tiny jumps in order not to throw her again. “That just means you’ve had more time to master it.” I tease with a wink. “Let’s just try straight up and down jumps.” I suggest.

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Nero

Location: Police Station - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I hold onto the claw again, turning it over like a clue will appear on it. I even lick it just to see if there was anything to gauge from it. “Faszinierend…”. I murmur at it as I follow Costa and Caden to the morgue.

“Maybe we can start asking landlords about tenants missing rent or being unresponsive - that might give us a little bit of a head start on possible victims.” I suggest as we walk through the doors of the morgue.

Translations

Fascinating

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: Airport - Chicago, IL
Skills:

Today’s Fit

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Finally out of the gate, I do a couple of stretches to help loosen my joints. International flights were always tedious and long. I could have probably used my dad’s connections to get a private jet or something, but I didn’t like to ask for much help.

Well, Caden excluded, but that’s because he was a valuable asset. Hello love, I just landed in Chicago. Is there any chance I may be able to borrow a room at your mansion? And maybe a ride from the airport? I hit send before making me way to baggage claims to retrieve my things.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I make my way quickly over to Cass to make sure she’s okay. When I’m standing above her, I see her laughing and I can’t help but join in. I bend down a little and extend my hand to help her up. “That was magnificent to watch.” I tell her with a grin.

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Nero

Location: Police Station - Chicago, IL
Skills:

Today’s Fit

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I wait patiently while Costa and Caden talk, not interjecting too much, but finding it hard not to fidget. At least I don’t go too crazy and keep myself in check. When we get to a lull in the conversation, I finally speak up. “Can we look at the body?” I ask. “If we can see it, we might be better able to pinpoint what kind of monster we’re dealing with.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I nod, smiling before I lead the way. I make a show of bending my knees and squatting before I launch myself onto one of the trampolines Cass had suggested. I get a good couple of bounces in and laugh. I beckon for Cass to join me, grinning lopsidedly at how absurd but strangely fun this is.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Jane laughs when I tell her what happened while Cass runs to the bathroom. “I thought you knew she liked you back!” She says in her own defense when Kat and I call her out for not helping the situation.

“Babe, as your lawyer, I recommend you stop digging your own grave.” Kat says, shaking her head. I smile at Cass when I see her on he way back. I shoo the other two to go do their own thing for a bit to help Cass relax a little.

“What do you want to start with?” There was some agility and obstacle courses or a giant pit of foam squares and then of course, just a ton of different trampolines.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I grin lopsidedly and pull her back into a hug, kissing her head quickly. “Don’t worry, I won’t tease you too much about it… Right now.” I release her from my hold. ”Come on, let’s go put our stuff in the locker before Jane and Kat come ask why you’re a little tomato right now.” I stop myself from wrapping an arm around her again, but this time it’s only to save her the embarrassment.