KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I try not to fidget in my seat. I pull a mint out of my bag and offer one to Caden. I pop mine into my mouth and roll it around and around to keep me busy. I smile as people walk by or join us, making small talk — until Nic walks in.

I had seen him and the girl he was holding hands with and been rather flirty. She was even there to comfort him, and now they were walking in together and she was sitting up front with Nic and the rest of the family. She was clearly important. I knew when Nic kissed me it had meant nothing… It was just his way of saying thank you. Both Nic and his father were flirty like that.

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Caden

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I tap my fingers on Cassi’s leg while we wait for the service to start. I check my watch. It's only been an a little over an hour, but I already miss Nero. It's strange for me, but I have become quite fond of them.

Cassi's energy shifts beside me and I look at her. She's staring ahead intently, her eyes moving as they track Nic walking with his friend to the front of the hall. I pat Cassi’s leg.

”Down girl.”

She smacks my arm and then smiles apologetically at the people beside us who look over alarmed. ”I just don't know why he didn't say anything about her,” she whispers in anger.

”Probably because it's just a friend. Like we are,” I remind her.

She snorts and rolls her eyes. ”What do you know?” she grumbles.

I chuckle and shake my head. Poor Nic. He was certainly going to have his hands full. Perhaps I should have given him better warning.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile, shaking my head when I get called the daughter-in-law again. I put my phone away, double checking it's on silent, when Mr. Wu and Nic excuses themselves.

I hold onto Caden's arm again, looking over the venue. I'm glad the flowers turned out so well. They really helped bring everything together. I smile and nudge Caden to walk forward. I glance back, looking for Nic. I find him hugging, smiling, and laughing with another girl. I stop suddenly, yanking Caden to a stand still beside me.

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Caden

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I’m not really paying attention when all of a sudden I'm yanked back. I clear my throat and adjust myself. I look at Cassiopeia, frowning. She's staring intently in one direction, and I follow her gaze to see Nic with some of his friends. I see Cassie's problem and smirk.

”Should we head inside?”

”Yes, yes,” she says but we don't move. My smirk broadens into a grin and I lean down.

”Want me to tell you what they are saying?”

Cassi snaps her focus back to me. Her face flushes and she looks away, watching Nic again. ”What? No… no of course not.”

I chuckle lightly and pat her arm. ”Come along.” I pull her inside, so we can find seats for the service.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I raise my eyebrows when Nic coughs and chuckles at my comment. He points out my tattoo to his father and I turn to give Mr. Wu a better look.

”I do. I design them and I tattoo. I've done all Caden's as well.”

Caden shows off his hands but that's about all. He chuckles briefly. ”I would show you the others but I'm afraid I would cause quite the scene.”

I pull out my phone and open the photo album of all the tattoos and designs of done in the past. ”I can make it less painful if that is another concern of yours.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I blush when Nic’s dad pecks my cheek and thanks us both again for everything we have done. I fiddle with my hair while Caden talks to him, and run a finger along the piercings in my ear. My tattoos are fully visible now. I should have brought a shawl, I think to myself.

On my left arm, I have a black and white tattoo of three cats layered with flowers and outlines of herbs and crystals. The cats have bat-like wings with haunting eyes. I called them my spirit cats, my companions on the other side. On the back of my left forearm, I have the phases of the moon done in point work. The third sits on the inside of my left wrist. It’s a rose with a dagger through it.
The anti-possession tattoo sits on my right shoulder, but it sits inside a rose, with an orchid wrapped around it in a circle.

Nic comes over and I smile at him shyly. ”The turn out looks good,” I comment lamely.

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Caden

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laugh when Mr. Wu kisses my cheek. I thank him in kind, kissing his own cheek. He asks us where Nero is, and Cassi looks away.

I smile and answer. ’They had some other matters to attend to today, but they pass along their condolences.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Avery Zain

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Avery Zain

Character Quote:

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Character Summary

Name: Avery Zain
Aliases: Zain; Wolf; Brother;
Age: 32 (105)
Birthday: April 21, 1919
Ethnicity: American
Birth Place: Washington State
Gender: Male
Occupation Security
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Supernatural Species: Werewolf

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Appearance

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Height: 6’2”
Weight: 210 lbs
Body Type:
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Skin Tone: Black
Tattoos/Scars/Piercings: Tattoo right upper arm; Tattoo that encompasses whole back;
Personal Style:
Black, black, black, and more black. And a little bit of blue. Avery wants to blend in with his surroundings most of the time. Standing out isn’t always an asset. Avery dresses for comfort and ease of movement more than style. However, he does look sharp in a suit, and can dress up or down for any occasion.

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Psychology

Intuitive * Agressive * Loyal * Distrustful * Smart * Pragmatic

Sexuality: Heterosexual
Pronouns: He/him
Relationship Status: Single
Personality: Not surprisingly, Avery does not trust people easily. Everyone is a potential threat, but once he does trust you, you have earned a confidant for the rest of your life. Once trust is earned, Avery is incredibly loyal and forgiving. Of course, if that trust is severely broken, there is no gaining it back. He leads life very guarded, protecting people night and day, but has a heart of gold buried in the centre. Avery is the type of person to rescue a kitten from a tree, and then turn around and pummel a guy to death if they hurt or attempt to hurt someone Avery is meant to protect.
Fatal Flaw: Loyalty
Habits:
Hobbies: Loves being outside; fighting/training
Fears:

• Losing his pack
• Losing control of his wolf
• Enclosed spaces

Likes:

• Anything outside
• Films: 1980s and earlier
• Music
• Training
• Reading
• Museums

Dislikes:

• Bears
• People and supernatural creatures who he doesn’t know/isn’t friends with
• Music after 2015
• Full Moon (not for the reason you’re thinking)
• Fandoms

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Skills

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General Skills:

• Adaptable
• Any type of fighting
• Driving
• Security - knowledge, technology e.t.c.
• Survival Skills
• Guitar
• Dancing

Combat Skills:

• Weaponry - blade of any kind
• Mixed Martial Arts
• Agility
• Hand-to-Hand

Magic Item:

What Do They Carry On Them:

• Throwing knives
• Gun
• Cell Phone
• Snacks

Possessions:

• Booooks
• Film Collection
• Music Collection with sound system
• Acoustic, Electric, and Bass guitars
• Various weapons - blade and gun
• Combat gear - overseas

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History

Biography:
Not much is known about Avery Zain and his childhood. Or about his father. He either doesn't remember or he's blocked it so fully that he has forgotten. He has fond memories of his mother and paternal grandmother raising him in his youth, but one day they were there and the next they won't. After that he arrived on Bran Cornick's, the Marrok of the wolves, doorstep in Montana.

Avery was quickly trained and informed of his heritage as a werewolf. Bran finished raising him, but the world wasn't done with Avery. He joined the military like most youth and fought in World War 2, the war in Vietnam, and Korea. Avery is no stranger to blood, death, torture, or the other hardships of war. Or life.

After the wars, when the world started to shift, Avery started to drift. As a dominate werewolf with no pack, Avery clashed easily with other Alpha wolves who would come and go. He tried joining several packs but the tension between him and the Alpha was always too much for Avery to stay. Eventually, the burden of not being a part of a pack or feeling like he belonged started to weigh on him.

The world nor Bran could keep a hold on Avery, and like most wolves who live past their prime, Avery started to drift closer to his wolf side. He would goes days, sometimes weeks as his wolf self rather than his human self. Eventually, Bran called on Caden. A shifter from another time to help.

When Caden arrived, Avery was at a crossroads. Either Caden would be able to bring the human side of Avery back, or the Marrock would have Avery executed. An uncontrolled wolf is a dangerous wolf, not only for humans, but for their fellow wolves and supernatural creatures, as well.

Thankfully, Caden's leadership and own dominance broke through and pulled Avery back from a darker side of his life. Avery highly values Caden's friendship and the second chance at life he was given.

Avery took on the roll of security for Caden easily, preferring the shadow work over being out in the open like Caden.

Avery took up a career in fighting and training, really finding his niche while being able to keep the wolf within tame and satisfied with the more thrilling lifestyle Caden leads.

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Additional Information

The werewolf lore used for Avery is from author Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson & Alpha/Omega world.
Theme Song:

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I chuckle when Nic kisses my cheek. ”Ah, she told me about this. I will pass along your compliments to Nero,” I say and nod.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I manage to hug Nic back — even if it is a group hug. Nic takes the bowl from me, and I smile.

”We’ll go find our seats,” I say, looping my arm around Caden’s. I smile at Nic again before Caden takes us in to find a spot.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving —> Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I switch to playing with my hair on the way to the service, nervously thinking about if I had done everything right with the flowers, and the master, and the white envelopes. We pull up to the service impossibly fast, and I see Nic walking towards us. I feel like I can’t breathe again. Why does he look so good in white?

I feel Caden’s hand on my leg again, a warm, steadying presence. ”Anail,” he reminds me and I nod. I take a deep breath in and out before I grab my bag and get out of the car.

I smile at Nic as he approaches. ”I brought a dish with envelopes for donations for after the service,” I say and present the white dish with gold inlay and the white envelopes. ”Did everything work out okay with the Master? Caden assured me he was good.”

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Caden

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Location: Driving —> Lì Wu’s Service – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia had always been a nervous speaker. She never stopped talking really. I walk around the car and nod to Nic. ”Cass, breathe,” I remind her, yet again, in English.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I bounce my leg up and down while I sit in my chair outside the house. I keep looking up and down the street, even though I know which way Caden is coming from. Even though I know we aren’t running late. Even though I know we’re going to be early. Yet I’m incredibly nervous. My body feels wired to blow. I pick at nothing on my white dress, unable to sit still.

Finally, Caden’s car comes into view. I pick up my bag with the bowl and envelopes and dash down the steps. I don’t wait for Caden to get out, and I pile into the front seat.

”Do you have—” Caden cuts me off by handing me the cheque. ”It’s an odd amount?” I double-check it before slipping it into an envelope and sealing it. It was a lot of money. I give Caden a look.

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia didn’t tell me I had to wear white until this morning after Nero and I had gotten out of the shower. I wasn’t sure how long we had been in there, but when I checked my phone, there were five missed calls and multiple unread text messages, all from Cassi. She was panicking. Thankfully, I had a white outfit I could wear. I tried not to linger with my goodbye to Nero, but it wasn't easy to drive away. Now, I was being yelled at by Cassi.

”Yes, mon amour. You look lovely,” I tell her as I pull away from the house and head to the funeral location. The feng shui master was already there, meeting Nic and Mr. Wu for the first time to go over the burial location he had picked for the late Mrs. Wu.

Cassi fidgets in the seat beside me and I rest my hand on her leg. ”Anail.” She looks at me, frowning, but I take a deep breath in, waiting for her to do the same, and breathe out. We did this a couple of times before she settled.

”You smell like sex,” she tells me. I laugh, removing my hand from her leg.

”It was a fun night,” I say with a wink.

”You are shameless,” she tells me. I laugh again, but I can see her smiling.

Translations

Scottish Gaelic - Breathe.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I only have a few seconds to take in how Nero looks before they have themselves pressed against me. Our kiss deepens almost immediately, and I run my hands up their back, feeling the raised scars, but I don’t mind them. I have many different thoughts running through my head when I feel those scars. Some I can’t act on, others I can at this moment. I run my hands lower, letting my mind fill with only thoughts of Nero for the night.

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Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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My fingers twitch when they agree. Part of me just wants to rip the outfit off and get it over with. I can always buy Nero a new one, but I don’t want to be that aggressive with them. There’s no need for it. At least, not right now.

I let go of their arm and cup their cheek with my hand. ”Just like yesterday, if you want to slow down, stop, or take over. You tell me.” I look into their eyes for a minute longer, letting Nero absorb what I said before I close the distance and kiss them.

The relief I feel with having Nero’s lips on mine is instantaneous. I kiss them deeply, my hand staying on their cheek while my other rests on their hip. I drag the moment out, feeling my own excitement build until my hands twitch on their body. I move them to the belt around their waist and loosen it. It falls away, and I instantly have my hands on the shirt around their waist. I untuck it from their skirt and pull it up and over their head. I have to break the kiss to do so.