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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I put a few steps between us, and move to walk down the stairs once he’s halfway down. ”Just a couple downstairs. You’ve seen my office already, but there is two more downstairs, then one more up here, but you want to see that one last,” I remind them.

Once we reach the bottom, I take them down the hall to a smaller room on the opposite side of the office. ”The traditional British “smoking room” or, male salon if you prefer.” It was a room with dark red leather seats and lounge chairs, with a chess board and a pool table. It also overlooked the front drive, but when you were in this room, it wasn’t for the view anyways. I used this room to entertain some of the supernatural community.

The art work and collectables in here were more of a modern quality. They were expensive, but they weren’t unique items.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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The phone line falls silent, and I stare at my phone. ”A date… Far from it, actually.” I sigh and tuck it away before looking at Maxamillian. ”Are you coming? I’m sure the other two wouldn’t mind your company.” Max jumps from the counter before stretching and walking to the door. I grab my jacket and head out, Max leading the way.

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 track Nero as he crawls towards me, my mind thinking of all sorts of possibilities I could do with that crawl. I suck in my bottom lip as they prance away, more ideas entering my mind. Yes, Nero was incredibly suggestive. I rub a hand over my mouth and chin in an attempt to relax my thoughts.

”There’s something else I want to show you before I show you that room,” I inform them. Standing in the doorway, I walk up to them and slip my hands into my pockets to keep from throwing Nero back onto the bed. ”There is a staircase to your immediate left. We’ll go down there first.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I fall silent again. I don’t want to be rude, but I should end the conversation. ”Yes, I should go. The car will come and get you first. The liquor store we’ll need is closer to me anyways,” I explain to him. ”Be ready for five.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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Yes, this room would be perfect for Nero. I chuckle and stand at the end of the bed, resting my hands on the footboard. ”Well, seeing you in this room, the painting now reminds me of you,” I inform them. I look from Nero, looking cozy and positively kissable, up to the painting. ”This painting is quite, suggestive,” I said, clearing my throat. ’But there is still one more bedroom you should see before really making up your mind.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I smile as he says this. Maybe… maybe he was right. I fall silent again so I can hear the door opening and a rustle of paper.

”You sound busy. I should let you go,” I say. ”Besides, I should go check on my shop.” It wasn’t strange that I didn’t go to work today. I didn’t exactly have a “set” schedule and was always open at odd hours. Part of the appeal, I suppose.

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, my eyes sparkling and shifting at his joy. I nod as I look between their uniquely coloured eyes. ”It’s a date,” I say. I kiss them once, lingering longer than intended before forcing myself to pull away. ’Okay, next room kleiner Kobold” I say and lead them back into the hallway.

I lead them down to the next room on the left-hand side and open the red oak door. ”Guest room,” I informed them. It is wider than the guest rooms on the other side of the house, with more inviting tones and plant life. Hanging on the wall above the bed is a classic art piece that most people have seen. More recently, it was in the Disney film “Frozen”, but it was far from Disney-appropriate if one knew the piece's context.

It was sexual and inviting. Which if one was staying in the room next to mine, that ended up being a reason for staying there. ”The Swing" was another one of my favourite pieces, and the entire room had been designed around that piece. Looking at it now, it reminded me of Nero’s carefree nature. I could easily see them toeing the line between two suitors, being coy and suggestive. I smirked at the idea of it.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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”Never say never,” I say, waving my hand so a water cup is picked up and depositing more water into Max’s dish. He bats at the water mid-air, and I shake my head at my familiar — such a playful cat despite how old he was.

”I suppose I have to agree to this deal, or I’ll never hear the end of my improper rice cooking skills or taste buds.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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Before I can answer Nero, they’ve moved on to another question. And then they are staring up at me with wide, searching eyes. I look down at them, chuckling. ”I have ten other homes, and yes, they are full of different collections, most of them related to their location, but I do travel around with a few of my favourites. I’ve been known to move things around if I plan on staying in one place long term,” I inform them as I look about the library. ”And yes, I do play.” I grin as I watch them.

I’ve been called a show-off before, and although I didn’t mind the term, and maybe I was showing off a little now, I didn’t think of myself as one. I simply had a lot of time and grew bored quickly. Plus, 300 years was a lot of time to accumulate a large sum of money.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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”Oh, really? Teasing a sorcerer now, are you? I’m hanging up the phone now!” I threaten. I’m surprised at how much I am enjoying the conversation. I don’t usually talk to anyone this long unless it's my cats, plants, or Caden.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Your loss,” I tease, but oblige and take him to the other side of the house. About halfway there, the hallway narrows some, and there are two separate archways with a door leading to a second-story deck. Stairs lead from the deck down to the backyard, making it quite a grand affair.

The first arch we walk through follows the white, classic theme of the house we are leaving, but the second arch transitions into red oak and more of a rich and dark theme. I pull Nero along, past the second arch. Deep greens and reds accent the area amongst the dark wood. There are recessed shelves on every wall with precious treasures and books on each shelf. Reading nooks line the windows as we walk down the carpeted hallway. I stop in the first room on the right. The windows overlook the front drive.

”My receiving room,” I explain. ”I see my long-term clients and colleagues here.” We don’t stop for long, and I keep pulling Nero along. The next room is on the left, and it is set up like a sun room as well. Plants are everywhere, but all the walls are lined with bookshelves. There is a couch with a pair of chairs around a table in the corner, but a piano sits in the centre of the room, closer to the windows.

”This is the library. Smaller than my other homes, but full of American history and knowledge,” I explain. I stop in this room in case Nero wants to explore.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I pause for a moment, looking back at my kitchen. Max is lying on the counter beside his water dish, staring at me like it's empty but half full. ”What would happen if I say I don’t?” I asked.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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My eyes widened with surprise at the small kiss and the comment. I’m adorable? Nero moves quickly in only the way Nero can and I find myself chuckling. I reach out and take his hand.

”Do you want to see the kitchens or the other side of the house?” I ask.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I groan. This is why I don’t talk about myself. ”Of course I do! And besides that, tomatoes don’t even grow in the ground. I know it doesn’t make sense, but that’s all I could think of to compare them to. They’re just, ick. I don’t get their purpose.”

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 knew I was not helping to keep us focused, but the tour was more exciting this way. I looked up at the artwork again. ”Beauty, power, strength. Conquering the unconquerable. But also respect,” I said, looking at the portrait for the last part. I glanced down at Nero and smirked. ”Don’t get me started on talking about art, or we’ll never move forward.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I fiddle with my hair while he speaks. Death and loss were such a hard topic to discuss or comfort people on. Everyone dealt with grief differently. I was glad when Nic decided to change the topic. It was another question about me, but I was happy to go along with it this time.

”Nothing, actually. But I don’t like tomatoes. It's a texture thing, I think, but also, they taste like dirt. Just gross.”

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 can’t help but place a kiss on Nero’s neck. ”That’s fair. I’m distracted as well.” However, their answers give me pause, and I look up at the paintings. I examine them from Nero’s perspective and nod. ’I can see that, the struggle of the group in one versus the isolation of the other.” I nod, staying silent for a moment as I look at the both of them.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I start writing down Nic’s allergies to milk when he falls silent. I realize what he’s gone and done, and I stay silent for a while, too. ”It’ll get easier,” I tell him. ”It might not be for a while, but one day that hole won’t feel so deep.”

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 follow Nero into the room, looking up at Turner’s work and smiling. ”Why do you think I picked these ones?” I release his hand and step behind Nero. I slip my arms around his waist and hold them. ”What do you feel?” I ask, whispering in their ear.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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”Okay.. We can stop somewhere, and I’ll help you pick out a bottle,” I say. At least I know what Caden would like, and I can also keep it within Nic’s price range.

”Oh, do you have any allergies? I can text Caden if you do to make sure the chef prepares something within your taste.”