KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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

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I grin and begin my stretches for my back and shoulders. I pull on the band opening my chest up. Nero keeps a good hold and gives me quite the challenge. I switched positions and stretched several times for my shoulders and back before I stopped to take a break and stretch out.

”I might require your assistance for resistance training more often. I haven’t been that challenged in a while,” I tell Nero.

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Avery Zain

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

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I look at Nic and smirk. ”Trust me, you don’t want to get mixed up with the wolves.” I look at Kimiko and laugh at her comment about me. ”Yes, because I’m sure you could have easily taken on all three without me there.” I looked back at Nic and showed him what I wanted for the third round. I started throwing in front kicks into the mix.

”We were working on another case, and the wolves were there, interfering as usual. They don’t exactly like that Caden or I are here, despite Caden allowing them to run freely and hunt on his land.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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

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I nod. ”Just don’t let go. I fear I’m not fond of that sort of foreplay,” I say with a wiggle of my eyebrows. I grab hold of the other end of the resistance band and look at Nero. ”Ready?”

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Avery Zain

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

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I smirk at Kimiko’s name-calling. ”Terrance. Pick a spot on the bag and aim. Just focus on the one-two punch to start with. Don’t worry about getting the rest of the routine. I’ll keep moving forward with Nic.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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

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I grin and lean in close to Nero, whispering in their ear. ”Sie können mir helfen, indem Sie Ihr Talent nutzen, um mich zurückzuhalten.” I stepped back and grinned at Nero before I picked up resistance bands and ropes. ”You just hold onto one end and don’t let go,” I explain to them.

translations

You can help me by using your talent to hold me back.

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Avery Zain

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

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I watch Kimiko hit the bag and smirk when Nic reacts. I cross my arms and focus on Kimiko. ”Humans maybe, but what about other supernatural creatures? The wolves the other night, you didn’t seem to have a problem punching them. What makes this bag different than that of a face or groin?”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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

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I chuckle and shake my head. ”You, Kiki, and Avery are a bad combination,” I joke and walk away from the bench to go and start my resistance training. ”Do you want to help me?” I ask Nero.

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Avery Zain

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

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”Boxing is the foundation of many things. What do you normally do if you get in a fight?” I ask, having her practice more slowly and with fewer moves at a time.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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

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I smile, looking over at Nero when they rejoin the group. I watch them take Kimiko’s straw with mild intrigue.

”Well, Nic guessed he lost the kitsune family blessing, and Kimiko is freaking out that Cass is going to kill her. As for what is happening now, it looks like Kiki isn’t used to such trained hand-to-hand training.” I turn around and look at Nero.

”Und was hast du gemacht, kleiner Kobold?

Translations

And what have you been up to, little imp?

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Avery Zain

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

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I watched Nic go through the first round, nodding in encouragement. He was doing really well. I would have to give him something more challenging on his second day. I gave the second routine while they had their cool down and started them before looking at Kimiko this time. She…was not so lucky.

”Okay, okay. Stop,” I said. I positioned myself on the side of Kimiko’s bag and walked her through the hand movements one at a time, getting her to mirror me. ”Focus on power if you don’t have the speed. I want you to make every hit.” I told her before getting her to start again.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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

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”No, because I’m on her good side,” I say with a wink and dart away before she can retaliate. I go stand by Nic’s bag and watch him finish a round.

”Good, good. Alright, let’s do several rounds. Each round will be different and will last about three minutes, with thirty seconds in between to breathe or drink some water. Okay? Let’s get started.”

I use Nic’s bag to demonstrate the moves I want them to do. I start off with just a hitting combo to ease them into it. ”Focus on speed or power in the beginning. Remember there are several rounds, and it’s important to participate in each one to keep your heart rate up.” I grab a remote and turn on some upbeat music. ”Ready?! Begin!” I say and step back.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I finish with the weights and stand up to stretch and drink some water. I go over to the bench and watch Nic and Kimiko at the bags, taking a bit of a break before I have to start on my resistance training. Thankfully, I’ve been working out with Avery for ten years now and have a well-established routine, so I don’t need him for much help.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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

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”Well, you are definitely one of those,” I tease her again. I opened up the boxing gloves and slid them over her hands one at a time. ”Are you seriously that scared of Cass?” I ask, slightly amused by how panicked Kimiko is. It’s also quite adorable. Wait, what?

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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

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I listen to Kimiko panic and watch her wrap her hands. I have to get her to stop and refocus several times before she finally gets it right. I snort when she asks if Nic is psychic.

”No, he’s not psychic. He’s observant. He’s the head nurse at Chicago Med in the emergency department. Noticing things and seeing beyond is kind of his thing. Also, Cassi likes him, so there was likely something under all that that she noticed. But if his family was upfront with him about their history and your kitsune, well,” I shrug at Kimiko. ”Maybe answer some of his questions first if he has any. If he outright asks you, then you aren’t bombarding him with information. He’s asking for it.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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

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I watch Kimiko with amusement, wanting to leave her to struggle just for the hell of it, but Nic is the better man and says he’ll start with the bags. ”Start with a basic one-two punch, Nic, alternate between strikes, hooks, and uppercuts. I’ll give you two proper routines once I help hopeless here,” I say and look back at Kimiko with a grin.

I grab an extra pair of wraps and teach Kimiko by showing her what to do.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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

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I give Kimiko a look when she calls me sir and tries to be bubbly. ”Right, well. I'm going to get you guys set up on the bags and run through some punching and kicking drills to help warm up a bit more, and get your minds thinking about defense and offense.”

I lead them over to a bench where I have set out wraps and gloves for each of them.