KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Ich werde dafür sorgen, dass sie im Auto bleibt. Behalte sie einfach drinnen.” I was working on Cassiopeia giving Nero a shot, but there was no way she would be fine with a house full of demons. I didn’t need to deal with dispelling a magic war this afternoon.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
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He might like feeling like a young man again.

I put my phone down and look behind me. ”Let’s go! We only have a few hours left.”

Caden shakes his head at me and pulls out his phone to call for a moving van. ”Drop me off at the police station first. I’ll start moving the furniture out of the room being used so the two of you can bring in Nero’s stuff right away.”

”That works.” Caden looked at Nero and nodded. They got into the vehicle and we drove over to check on the restaurant the woman recommended for food for tonight.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Too late,” I say and peck Nero’s lips before I turn and look at Cassiopeia. ”So we’ve got the candles and cards. She gave the name of a place where we could get food for Mr. Wu. That should be everything. After, we should go to Nero’s and get the furniture. I’ll need to call a moving truck to load the items.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Perfect. Let’s get going. No time to lose.” I say and grab a bunch of candles before heading to the front to pay for everything. Caden and Nero trail along behind me before we all pile back into the vehicle.

I risk a look at my phone. Please, nothing flirty. I didn’t think I could handle more right now. Okay, it isn’t so bad.

You’re not even born yet. Your father is the fetus. I send jokingly.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Ah.” I nod and look at the older woman. I smile kindly at her, bowing my head before asking her for supplies. ”Nǐ hǎo. Wǒmen zhèngzài xúnzhǎo zànglǐ suǒ xū de yòngpǐn. Nǐ néng bāngzhù wǒmen ma? I quickly tell her everything that we already have.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I take a step back and scan the store again. I wonder if there’s time to go to the botanical shops here… My phone buzzes, and I glance down to read the message. I feel my cheeks warming, and I quickly close my phone and clear my throat, looking at everything else but my phone.

How the hell can he do stuff like that? He’s like second nature to him. The teasing was almost flirting. Was he even flirting? Gah, I was probably looking into it. I didn’t even like him like that… Right?

”Get a grip, Cass,” I mutter to myself. I pick up one of those waving cats off the shelf before rejoining the others.

Ah, it’s nothing. As I said, we were already going to the station. It wasn’t anything to ask.

Translations/Disclaimer

Translations generated on Google Translate. Apologies for anything offensive or incorrect.
Hello. We are looking for supplies for a funeral. Can you help us?

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Uh, just French, Latin, and Gaelic. Caden is the resident wordsmith,” I say. I turn around the corner and see the problem.

”Ah, let me get him.” I turn and head for the front door just as Caden is walking in. ”Ah, perfect. Your language skills are needed. Hurry up.” I tank on his hand and tug Caden along. We reach Nero and the older lady. ”Translate.”

I pull out my phone and smile. It won't be a problem. Avery will be one of the ones doing security anyways. He'll come pick you both up at 630pm.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”White for sure. Colour or red is only allowed for people who have died after 80. It’s a celebration of long life. Which is beautiful if you think about it, which makes this harder… But ya, they have to be white. I’m not sure of the height. Maybe we could ask the shopkeeper?”

My phone buzzes, and I step back to check the message. That’ll be perfect! Caden can have a car sent if you need it.

”Okay, we have until 7pm to have everything in place,” I tell Nero and put my phone away.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Um candles? I called the florist, and they are going to send flowers to the station as well.” I’m looking at a bowl for a possible offering plate when Nero exclaims. I look over and grin.

”Yes! These are perfect. Let’s get a couple of packages just in case.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Something that’ll just fit money, maybe a cheque. Should we get some candies, too? I feel like we’re missing something,” I mutter. I continue to search the shelves, and my phone for anything else needed at traditional funerals.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Nero dashes off after Cassiopeia, and I take my fill of them walking away before I concentrate on the person talking to me. I give them brief details about the situation and acknowledge that it is very last minute.

”Whatever you could provide would be enough,” I assure them.

“It is no problem. I am intrigued by the challenge. We’ll see you tomorrow.” They hang up, and I relax against the car. I’ll go in and find Cassi and Nero eventually, but I wanted to give them some time.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chinatown – Chicago, IL
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I buzzed up and down aisles, looking this way and that for what I was looking for. I was so preoccupied that I ran into Nero.

”Omph. Hey! Oh, Nero. Keep up,” I pat them on the arm before I resume my search.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Driving —> Chinatown – Chicago, IL
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”Oh…I like that, actually. Thanks, Nero.” Cass goes back to typing and looking things up on her phone. I smile and rest my hand on Nero’s leg this time.

”Attraktiv und kompetent. Ich Glückspilz,” I say. We navigate our way into Chicago’s Chinatown. I find a strip-mall of sorts with several markets and novelty stores. Cassi should find what she is looking for here. We all get out, and Cassiopeia dashes ahead to start scouting the stores. I lean against the car, smiling and nodding at people who look as they pass. I greet a few in Mandarin before pulling my phone out. I feel somewhat at home in Chinatown. I did some schooling in China once upon a time and fell into the folklore of dragons. I look at Nero and smile.

”Do you want to wander around with Cassi?” I dial a number for one caterer and put the phone to my ear, but I’m still focused on Nero.

Translations

Attractive and knowledgeable. Lucky me.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Police Station – Chicago, IL
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I look back at the car, hesitating but I nod. ”Okay. Je schneller wir alles erledigen, desto glücklicher wird sie sein. Dann werden wir etwas Freiheit haben.” I kiss Nero’s cheek before taking them back to the car, and then we are on our way to Chinatown to get these little white envelopes Cassi says we need.

”What are they for?”

”Donations. Everyone in attendance gifts the family money. But it starts at $101 and goes up from there, but only odd amounts. I’m not entirely sure why.”

Translations

OK. The faster we get everything done, the happier she will be. Then we will have some freedom.