Donut Look Now

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I blink in surprise - I honestly did not think it would be that easy. A toothy grin spreads on my face. “Well, then what day would you like to go get pizza with me?” I lean forward on the counter more so that I’m eye-level with Cass.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: In the Car - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I nod, repeating it in my head so I have a good idea. “And then I just channel my best impression of Caden.” Easier said than done, but I’d make it work. “I’m the alpha-est alpha that has ever graced this world.”

“If you’re not careful, she might steal me away from you with your own tactics.” Nero teases Caden. I try not to scowl as I think, And I’m the shit disturber?

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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“I’d feel bad making someone wait in the car while we ate though.” I rub the back of my neck. “I have my license, but like I said, I don’t know if he’d go for that... I’m a fetus after all.”

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Nero

Location: Outside The Bear - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I prance along beside Caden as we exit. “I mean, I’m just putting on the stockings, but I guess it’s better safe than sorry.” I look at Caden with a smirk, keeping a comment about about someone catching a peek of my legs to myself. We already have one shit stirrer.

“Are we staggering our entrances?” Kiki asks. Her ears are still red from the embarrassment at the table and that makes me smirk even wider.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I give her a crooked smile. “How likely is it that Caden would let us borrow a car for a night?” I figure the answer is probably not very likely at all.

“We also can go somewhere more local - Uncle Jerry based his recipe off of Malnati’s, which is actually in Chicago.” I offer. We could always drive out to Jerry’s some other time.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: The Bear- Chicago, IL
Skills:

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The little demon snorts, nearly choking on her wine. I give Caden a look, tempted to throw something at him. “In my defense,” I tell Nero. “I really did think I had the trick down. How was I to know I had to reach my first century first?” The demon tilts their head and I sigh at their silent question. “You know those nine-tailed foxes that are oh so powerful - well each tail is for each century they’ve lived. I’m only 62 years old.”

“Fascinating.” The little one whispers, eyes wide in wonder like a child’s and I start to straighten, feeling a little bit of pride in their awe. “You’re just a baby.”

I clench my jaw and make a tight-lipped smile before I chuck a roll at Nero’s head. Decorum be damned.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laugh. “Yes, pizza.” I pull out my phone and quickly pull up a place that my family used to frequent. “ This is Uncle Jerry’s. My parents used to take my sister and I here when we lived outside of the city more. I might be biased, but it’s the best deep dish pizza. Though, it’s about a hour north out of Chicago, but I thought that might be a good thing - less likely to run into people we know who would interrupt the date.”

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Nero

Location: The Bear - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Kiki made a stink face at Caden. “Only when provoked.” She argues with Caden. I squeeze Caden’s thigh gently to acknowledge what he said to me.

”How much of a shit disturber are we talking here?” I ask with another head tilt. I guess I hadn’t really been my usual prankster while topside and had definitely kept it to a minimum with Caden. If he ever got the chance to see me in Hell, he’d probably see why a lot of a demons hate me.

Kiki scoffs. “Okay, name the last time I did anything remotely like that.” She says to Caden, crossing her arms in a huff.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile and nod before I join in scratching Wayland. ”Deal.” I’m okay with this - it means she’ll be a little more open with me. ”Alright, would you like to know where we’re going for our next date?”

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: The Bear- Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I make a face at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I’m a tad offended.

Nero glances at Caden, seemingly curious as well. “That warning’s usually reserved for me.” The little demon tilts her head.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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“I’m only violent to people who deserve it. Like people who don’t use blinkers.” I lean forward a little to give her forehead a kiss. “It’s your choice if you want to tell me or not, but people can change over the course of just five years - I imagine the same can happen to someone who’s hundreds of years old.” I offer her an encouraging smile. She’s someone who’s important to me now and my loyalty isn’t something that’s easily wavered. I’ve seen a lot of good and bad in my life already before learning of this supernatural world that’s hiding in plain sight.

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Nero

Location: The Bear - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I beam up at Caden when he pulls out my seat for me and try to surreptitiously scoot closer to him when he sits. “Let’s not even get started on slavery or World War Two for that matter.” I chirp, finding that I’m close enough to Caden to put my hand on his leg. I fidget happily in my seat as the two of them look over the menu. I don’t even bother, figuring I could just steal whatever sounded good off of Caden’s plate.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I wrap my hands gently around her arms. “I don’t want to push you into telling me right now, but someday I’d like to hear your story.” I tell herm observing her face. “But right now I want to know if there’s anyone still alive that I can beat the heck out of for you.” I give a little smile, hoping to ease some of the tension.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: The Bear- Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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All of this would be so much easier if my mother could be a parent who’s present in her daughter’s life. I walk a little behind Caden and Nero, watching the little one walk as if they’re dancing. “So, you’re telling me that even demons don’t know what’s considered good or evil?” I ask as we enter the restaurant.

“I’m not aware of it at least.” Nero tells me. “Maybe some of the original ones or Luci know, but, morality and ethics has always been a large gray area. Think of all the philosophers humans have had.”

I nod in agreement as we’re shown to our table. As usual, Caden must have pulled some strings to get us seats in a more secluded part of the restaurant. “I suppose that’s true when you think about it.”

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I want to crack a joke, to ease the moment with some comedic relief by saying I’ll kick the shit out of anyone who says any of those things about her again, but I refrain. “A rather large range of characteristics to place on your shoulders.” I briefly wonder if my dad and I had made her feel like a savior.

“I can only guess the negative ones are from people who couldn’t accept the truth?” I wager as she keeps her back to me. I can only guess that she’s trying to keep up a strong and resilient appearance.

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Nero

Location: In the Car - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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“You’re telling me.” I say with a wry smile. Not that any of us Demons know how souls make it to Hell outside of them making a deal with us. “I mean, look at angels. They’re thought of as the holiest creatures, yet not even a few years ago they were trying to get all of mankind killed.” I, for one, was most glad that neither Michael or Lucifer were able to duke it out.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Well then most people are wrong.” I say, my eyes following as she walks away and starts checking on plants. “How do ‘most people’ describe you then?” I ask, leaning down on the counter as I watch her.

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Nero

Location: In the Car - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I put my hands up in a sort of shrug to Caden, not really sure how to put my feelings into words and not being able to try explaining it in German when Kiki can understand it. I pout and face forward, again wishing I knew another language that she did not so I could still have my private conversations with Caden.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: In the Car - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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My cool and confident facade is starting to chip away little by little. “Urgh, that would be so much easier if my mother wasn’t so much of a pain in the arse.” I groan with a sigh.

”In the lore, the blessings would stay with the humans as long as they were good and pious, but who knows what that definition would be.” I fume a little bit in my pity party before I blink and reset my attitude.

“Sorry, we aren’t here to talk about my mum.” I say with a chipper voice, trying to bring the good mood back. “How long until we’re there?” I ask of Caden.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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A pleasant shiver runs down my back when she moves her hands to my arms. “Just stop blushing.” I say with a crooked smile. I hope she never stops blushing, though. I bend down to kiss her forehead. “Why do you have to be so stinking cute?” I ask as I pull back enough to gaze into her gorgeous blue eyes.

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Nero

Location: In the Car - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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I chew on my bottom lip. “That’s a hell of a coincidence.” I say, knowing Caden trusts Kiki and that’s the only reason I don’t have my ‘claws’ out. I glance back at Kiki again and I see her eyes darting about like she’s going over all the details in her head.

“That should not have been possible. They had a blessing of protection that warded off evil spirits.” She furrows her brow, obviously trying to figure this out. “I’d like to meet the remaining family as soon as I can - could you arrange that Caden?”

I turn to look at Caden, mixed between concern and curiosity as the plot keeps thickening.