KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”If you want,” I say with a smile and a nod. I walk into one of the bedrooms to give Nero more of a chance to look around. ”These ones don’t have private washrooms, but the phone connects you to the staff, so you can ask for anything you may want or need.” The bedrooms were set up well with queen-sized beds, an armoire, a small seating area with a table, and a TV. There was a phone on one bedside table and some of my collection pieces. Nothing was of major importance in this room, though; it was more for taste and appearance. Everything was washed in white with neutral tones. The sunroom really was what made this side more inviting for guests.

”Come along, much more to see,” I inform him. I take him back to the living room and then up the glass stairs. There was a larger guest room with an attached bath, but only one upstairs. It was set up similarly to the ones downstairs, just with a king-size bed instead and more room around things. On the opposite side was a room with wide windows overlooking the backyard. It was a sort of sitting room. There were finer art collections here, including some rare paintings. I had Turner’s Alps Snowstorm from the 18th-century sublime period on one wall and Fredrich’s Wanderer above the fireplace. They were both conversational and beautiful pieces, which is why I had them placed in this room. I also used this room to get to know people; talking about art was a wonderful way to get to know someone.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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There were a few things I knew Caden liked. Mainly collectables, good drinks, and stimulating company. There were other things, but I was pretty sure Nero was looking after that with him. ”We can pick up a bottle of wine if you really want, but I wouldn’t worry so much about it. Not tonight.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I smile and walk around the desk. I reach out for Nero’s hand. ”Komm mit mir, mein kleiner Streuner.” Once they take my hand, I lead them from the office and back towards the central portion of the house. I gesture to the white and glass living room as we pass. ”You already know this to be the living room and outside the pool,” I say and look back at him with a grin. ”Everyone sees this first. It holds some of my more interesting collections, like the swords.” I point them out again, but don’t let us linger long. I take Nero down a hallway and point out the washroom they used already. Further down the hallway are a set of rooms and a sunroom.

”These are guests bedrooms,” I explain. ”The sunroom is for them to use in the morning, but it's full of all sorts of plants that like the morning sun. Cassiopeia set it up for me. She has an affinity for plants,” I explain.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I find myself genuinely smiling at his offer. I know it’s a bad idea and probably won't work, but I can’t help it. ”That would be fun,” I say. I find I mean it, too. It would be fun to work alongside Nic. I just don’t know if he’ll want to do that once he realizes how deep the supernatural world is.

”Oh, he’s stupid rich,” I inform Nic. ”But no, you don’t need to dress formally. This’ll be a casual supper,” I assure him.

Translations

Come with me my little stray.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I glance at Nero as I tuck the tablet away for safekeeping. I smirk and nod. ”Not everyone gets to see my whole house. This office, for example. Cassi is the only one aside from my staff that knows of it. And now you. I have a private bedroom for myself, as well as a dining and living space. The part you were in yesterday is for the public. Likewise, I have a bedroom there that I use when I bring nighttime guests home.” I lean forward and rest my hands on the desk. ”So tell me, Nero. Which side of me would you like to see first?”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I smirk, finding his need to help amusing and adorable. ”I’ll use the utmost discretion when handing out first aid kits. However, I will push more natural herbs and items first,” I inform him. ”As for Caden, he’s immortal, so, you’re good on that front. Maybe a bottle of something strong? I don’t know. Once you try the food his chef prepares, it's hard to go back to eating anything else,” I say, so he doesn’t feel the need to bring a food item.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle and lean forward before standing. ”Oh yes, starting with the bedroom first. That’ll definitely slow us down,” I state. I finish my drink and move to set it down on the table before moving to my desk. ”Which bedroom would you like to see first?” I open up one of my desk drawers and pull out a sheet of fabric to wrap around the stone tablet. The fabric helps to keep moisture off and protects it from light damage.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I laugh, shaking my head. ”That isn’t necessary, Nic. Make one for someone who truly needs it. I’m fine,” I assure him. I had been looking after myself for a couple hundred years now; Nic did not need to look after me. If anything, I would have to look after him. Especially if, after tonight, he still wanted to hunt down things.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I laugh and nod, brushing their cheek with my hand, and I nod. ”Yes, everything would be far more enjoyable for you, I am sure,” I say suggestively before I kiss them once.

I’m sure they would enjoy themselves regardless, but the sense might respond differently. Then again, I am not a demon, so I don’t know how they interpret human things. I think being in a body rather than being smoke probably improves a lot of things for them.

I smile when they ask if it’s really okay that they stay. ”It’s more than okay,” I assure them. ”Collections or not, your presence is a welcomed one. If you are staying, perhaps a tour of the house?”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I laugh hysterically when he asks me that. I can’t help it. It’s just so, cute? I force myself to stop laughing. ”Nic, I healed your dad, remember? I am a first aid kit.” It’s positively adorable that he thinks he needs to worry about my health. I’ve survived plagues, an attempt at burning, and so many more life-threatening injuries over my many years of life. Nic was far more fragile than I in that regard.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I release my hold on Nero to allow them to sit up more easily. I smirk at the question and look into their eyes.

”Necrophilia. Bestiality. Although, that last one is a bit of a blur since I can shift to any form. Sexuality, race, Creed, religion, or gender has never influenced my choices. I've been around too long and experienced too many world changes to put stipulations on such things.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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Good going, Cassiopeia, I mentally berate myself. ”No, it's a weekly thing for me. Some hunts are easier than others. The Chimera was a team effort, but I've taken down a few vampires and werewolves on my own. Other sorcerer's are easy, they can be tricky though. It's the creatures that are old or travel in packs that you usually have to watch out for,” I briefly explain.

This was why I didn't want to talk. It was hard not to jump to this conversation since I was a supernatural entity.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I continue to rub circles into their hip with my thumb. I always seemed to have to do something with my hands, and I enjoyed this activity far more than twirling my pen or tapping my fingers on the desk. When they lean into me, my hands move up their back and hold them close.

”I think I understand. If you didn’t want this connection with me, those questions and these feelings wouldn’t matter to you. You would just do whatever you wanted and move on,” I say. I shut my eyes to focus on holding them.

”I’m never satisfied for long. I am constantly looking for something to capture my attention, but it never lasts. I confess I’ve had a couple of long-term relationships, but I haven’t felt this way before. I’d like for you to connect with your human side so we can share this feeling. But I understand and respect your hesitation. I am worried about what will happen when you unlock your memories, especially with your physical scars. As for my preferences, well… It would be easier to ask what I am not into,” I inform him, a dark, flirtatious note in my tone.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I find myself nodding in understanding, but remember I’m talking on the phone and have to say something. ”Right, yes. Yes, that makes sense,” I agree. ”It’s brave of you to want to bridge that gap between the mortal and supernatural worlds as well. It’s one reason why I have a shop,” I state and then freeze. Crap. Now I’m giving information freely? Dammit, Cassiopeia. ”I mean, well, uh…” I sigh loudly and finish my drink. ”The shop allows me to conduct business with the humans and help them, whether it's just the confidence to go about their normal days or if they truly did encounter something supernatural, like you, then it provides me with a way to hunt down the creatures.”

The human world considered what I did to be magic or witchcraft, or nowadays, it was grounds for being called crazy. That was furthest from it. Disney and Hollywood really messed up a lot of things, but they didn’t miss the mark on the persecution we went through and still go through. My shop did well enough so that I made a living, but it wasn't easy keeping it afloat. I had lost count of how many times it had been broken into or vandalized over the years. People still feared the strange and unusual, and if they thought I was the most bizarre thing out there, well, I was happy to take the fall for it if it kept them safe from the real monsters that go bump in the night.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I start to rub circles into their hip with my right thumb, enjoying the look of enjoyment on their face from my touch. I like that they like me as much as I like them. I smile at his comment about having all the time.

”We do have all the time, doesn’t mean you can’t ask all the questions now.” Between the two of us, we had been alive for over a thousand years. That was a thousand years of knowledge and lived lives. There would always be something new to learn that I was sure of.

They glanced away from me again when they confessed about their emotions being new to them. ”Is that one reason why you want to unlock your human past? You’re starting to feel something that isn’t conventional with demons.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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”Ha ha,” I say and sip my drink again. They may think knowing my favourite colour was nothing, but it was personal and it was mine. Now, it was his. Sharing parts of me meant far more to me than the average person thought.

”Isn’t it hard, though, being connected to your patients for longer than a doctor would be?” I would think forming connections, and maybe even friendships with patients would be hard, especially if they died.

I was no stranger to loss, but I didn’t go out to actively find it or set myself up to experience it. It wasn’t my idea of a good time.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”I interviewed them. Honestly, it was a lot of trial and error. Chicago has many strict views regarding humans knowing about the supernatural, and the rest of America seems to be oblivious as well, but not as much in the other countries. Henry I hired for my house in the UK, but I liked him so much and the way he runs the house that I now have him travel with me. I won’t lie to you; there were a few staff members that I had to dismiss. Their minds were usually wiped, or if they had been a part of my staff for too long, well, they are looked after well, but they aren’t a part of normal society anymore.” I only had to do that to a few ex-staff members, but it was enough to have me really change my interview process. It was another reason why I was so grateful for Henry. He ensured everyone was comfortable working for me and paid attention to the rumours running through the staff.

My hands come back to rest on Nero’s hips, and I hold him close. ”You look like Cassi when she is about to ask a hundred questions,” I tease.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I frown when Nic withholds his answer. I internally curse my need to have my questions answered. I could hang up the phone right now and be done with it until tonight, but I can’t bring myself to do it. ”Touche.” I take a sip of my drink before setting it down on the counter. I look around my house, deciding whether I want to answer. The line falls silent again, but I don’t mind it as much.

”Purple and blue, I guess. It changes,” I inform him.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I finger the sweater, smiling. ”I think I can survive without this sweater for a little longer,” I tell them. ”And don’t worry about the staff, especially Henry. They’ve seen all number of peculiarities working for me.”

I've had quite the parties in the past with the supernatural community and others with just humans. It was hard to tell which community was more strange. Then, there were the antiquities I would order and bring in. Some of them were a little more active than I thought. Unfortunately, I had to destroy a few things or call Cassiopeia for backup in subduing creatures long thought dormant or gone.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I smirk and stand up to walk into the kitchen. ”Usually,” I confirm. It was a safe enough question to ask, and I didn’t mind answering this one. I open up my fridge and search for something to drink

”A doctor? So why did you just settle for nursing?” I probably could have worded my question better, but being blunt was also my thing.