KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”It’s not nearly as much fun, but I can make it work,” I state.

I make my way back to the bike, feeling better even though I didn't tell into the void as much as I thought I would have to. I didn't mind talking to Kimiko when it wasn't all about me all the time. Even if she did find me interesting.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I release the mag from the gun and empty the chamber just in case before putting those in my bag as well. ”We can swing by the police station, and I can drop everything off with Costa. There might be reports of missing gems from other places. If he finds them, then we could properly restore them, but I'd feel better if he had them rather than me walking around with all of these,” I explain to Nic. I close the safe and lock it before standing. ”We should get going.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Well, keep your eyes open,” I say and make my way to my feet. ”Do you want me to go slower?”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I write the numbers down on a little scrap piece of paper, but I don’t try the combinations yet. I’m not sure if the safe has a limit on how many combinations you can try, so I want to be careful with it.

I keep searching through papers and glancing around the room. That’s when I see something that looks like a trophy. I walk over, pick up the glass, and examine what it says. Apparently, Mr Scott won some lifetime achievement award. I bring the trophy with me to the safe and type in the month and day. The safe opens, and I grin. I set the trophy aside and opened the little door to see several gems inside.

”Someone has been busy,” I note. There are gems, notes, money, and even a gun in the safe. I pull out the yellow sapphire and cradle it in my hands. ”Hello little one,” I crooned. I slip the gem into a small bag before tucking it away. I look at the other items in the safe before I pull them out and pocket them the same. These don’t belong to him, and Mr Scott definitely doesn’t need a gun.

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Caden

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

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I shiver from the way Nero kisses me. My hand slides up their back to cup the back of their head while my lips parted. My tongue slips out to taste Nero’s lips.

As we kiss, I think about how incredibly lucky I am to have found Nero and have found someone to finally call my mate. We still need to go through the process, and I need to talk to them about the traditional ceremony, but for now, I keep kissing Nero, completely thrilled that they’ve chosen me.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I look around the space we are in and nod. ”It is. There are a whole series of trails and hikes throughout this park. The roads are amazing to ride on, too. If you’re up for it, we could take the long way back to Caden’s on the bike,” I offer.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Hmm, I doubt it would have anything to do with her. Something he’s accomplished on his own. Maybe when he graduated school, or if he’s won some sort of award,” I said.

I walk away from the safe and join Nic in looking through papers and blueprints of different projects the man has worked on.

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Caden

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

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I chuckle and nod. ”Okay. Deal,” I say and pull Nero in for another kiss. I leave my hand on their leg while the other slides up Nero’s back, pulling them closer to me. Mate, my mind repeats over and over again.

My dragon growls their assent, and the noise filters through my lips from somewhere deep in my belly. I nip Nero’s bottom lip and kiss them with a deeper hunger than I ever have before.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I think I might have, I think to myself, but I don’t voice that. Instead, I just chuckle and nod. ”Maybe I’ll be so lucky,” I say. I sigh and lean forward. ”Do you want me to take you back now?”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Not as good as doors or windows. When you were not looking in Mr Scott, were there any important dates or number combinations you came across that you might remember?” I go over to the safe while Nic examines the room.

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Caden

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

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I look into Nero’s eyes, searching them to make sure Nero is genuine. I break into a grin and pull Nero in, kissing them desperately. ”I am so in love with you,” I whisper onto their lips. ”I don’t deserve you.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Yes,” I say with a grin and flick a pebble back at her. I like this. I like the back-and-forth banter with no real meaning or end goal in mind. I like just talking with no real focus or intention. It’s a nice change of pace from always having to answer questions or give something of myself to someone else.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I go to step down the stairs, but Nic sneaks in front of me to go first. I blush, unable to help myself after he does that. Only the best for my little tomato. I hear his words from earlier play over in my head, and I can’t help but think Nic would hand me the world on a gold platter if I asked him to.

”Oh, um, ya, sure,” I say and give my head a shake, so I can focus. I put one hand on Nic’s shoulder, the other in loose at my side in case we come across anything unsavoury.

Like Mr Scott’s office, this place makes me uneasy. The only different is Mr Scott’s office was cold, whereas his home is full of pain.

We reach the bottom step, and I find a light to turn on. There are tools all over the place, along with blueprints and maps, a computer, and, in the corner, a safe.

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Caden

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

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I smile, shutting my eyes after they kiss my nose. I continued to rub my thumb along Nero’s leg, concentrating on the sensation. Nero placed their head back on my chest, and I hummed happily. However, it’s short-lived.

My eyes snap open and I’m certain my heart stopped beating before it started to pound. The dragon stirs inside me, coming awake at the sound of Nero wanting to claim me.

”What?” I stutter. ”I mean, are you sure? It’s only been a day… You don’t have to make this decision right away.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Mmm, usually, but this is the twenty-first century. Women can want things now, too,” I counter.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I go in the opposite direction, looking for locked doors or something. I eventually find a door, but I think it leads to the basement. ”Nic, over here,” I call. I scrounge through my bag until I find my lock pick set. I kneeled down, placed the instruments into the lock, and finessed the tools until the door unlocked.

I stood back up, putting my tools away before I opened the door.

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Caden

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

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I grinned when Nero effortlessly hopped into my lap. I rest one of my hands on Nero’s legs, rubbing my thumb along their smooth skin. ”I’m happy I make you so curious.”

I was genuinely glad I could. It validated the feelings Nero brought out within me. I knew we didn’t make sense as a pair. A demon and a part shapeshifter, part dragon, and my friends were concerned, but I knew how Nero made me feel and how I made them feel. I couldn’t explain that to them, but I didn’t need to. All I needed was to know Nero loved me as I loved them.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laugh, thinking about the straws, but I shake my head. ”No, never even looked. I figured if you don’t want to see me wet, you’ll return them to the pool,” I teased her in return. I couldn’t wait until she discovered the straws were missing.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I snorted, placed the container back into my bag, and scanned the room we were in. [color=#DB7093]”Well, if I didn’t keep it on my person, I’d want to keep it as close as possible but in a place where no one else would see it or be able to go. So, in a locked room in a safe would be my best guess.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I smiled, brushed some of the old cobwebs away and lifted up the bench to pull out some cushions. I examined them, impressed they still looked decent. ”I suppose you are right.”

I set the cushions out and sit down. I watched Nero prance around, looking at the different plants and flowers. I smiled as I watched them, amused and enchanted by the way they were fascinated by the simplest things.

”For someone who has seen so much and been around so much death, how is it possible that you still look at the world with such wonder?” I find myself asking them.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
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I smirk as she starts to compliment me. Some of the things she says I expect, some of the other things she says I don’t. All in all, it serves to render me speechless.

”Wow. I should have recorded that. No one is going to believe you complimented me,” I declare. I rub the back of my neck and turn my head away from Kimiko, feeling oddly uplifted by all her compliments.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know I was desired by people or oggled. It just sounded different coming from Kimiko. They were forward compliments, but I could also see nothing happening between us. Like Cassiopeia and I. Despite my initial crush on her. Unfortunately, she never reciprocated the feelings. We now had a rather strong brother/sister relationship that I treasured.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Oh, thank you so much!” Nic and I step in. I look at Nic and nod before I pop the container open and blow a little of the powder into Mrs Scott’s face. Her eyes roll back, and she instantly passes out, falling backwards. I close the front door quickly, hoping Nic’s reflexes are quick.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckled when Nero looked back at me, probably for the tenth time. ”I rarely make it out here anymore. It’s nearly overgrown,” I noted.

I walked across the bridge, removing some dried-out vines and tossed them into the water before I started cleaning up the gazebo.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Antoinette McCarthy

Location: Outside – X-Mansion
Skills: Running

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Antoinette laughed when Guin suggested they needed to start charging. It wasn’t a terrible idea, but of course, it would defeat the entire purpose of the X-Men. ”Just imagine if we had one of those hot shot services. We could have a van with our faces painted on the side of it,” she joked.

Truthfully, it would be nice if the Asgardians were just stopping by for a visit. After all, they had been on several missions together and had all grown close in their own way.

Antoinette started to feel her legs burn as they ran. She had already been running before Guin and Pietro joined her, but she didn’t mind the longer run. It felt good to stretch her legs and be outside for longer.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I rock my feet from side to side again, smiling as I watch them and process Kimiko’s statements. ”I guess I don’t understand why you find me so interesting. Surely, you’ve met more exciting people in your travels.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving —> Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
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Keeping up the act for now, I hang off of Nic’s arm, the powder in a container in my hand. It takes a while, but the door eventually opens, and I smile wildly at the woman on the other side. She smiles shakily, looking like a wounded bird. Maybe we should set up a meeting with Mr Scott, so I can teach him a few things about women and how they should actually be treated.

”Hi there! Our vehicle just broke down, and we were wondering if we could borrow a phone to call for a tow. We’re from out of town and, of course, didn’t spring for the international cell phone plan,” I said, laughing.

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Caden

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

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”I can’t wait to show you all of them,” I said, beaming from the joy that they want to see all my places and travel with me. ”Ah, not through the whole property, but the majority of it. I had the creek extended for the wolves and for other animals, so they had something to hunt safely,” I explained to Nero.

I push back a few low-hanging branches and encourage Nero to walk ahead of me. On the other side laid a secret garden of sorts. I bridge went over the creek, leading to a gazebo that was surrounded by flowers and trees. Seating lined the inside perimeter of the gazebo with a small fire table in the centre and string lights through the roof of the gazebo.