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 smile and clap lightly when Nero plays through the scale. I chuckled when Nero vowed to get me back for all the compliments I had given them. I take the violin and bow from Nero and place it under my chin.

”Hmm, well I’ll just have to double up on the compliments I’ve been giving you then,” I say before I start playing a classical piece.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Grocery Store – Cary, IL
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I’m just grabbing some mustard when I hear Nic. I smiled, glancing down at the drinks he gathered. ”They look tasty,” I said, noticing the raspberry cider as well. That one looks really good.

”I got mustard, do you want mayo or butter?”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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Once I wipe down my arms I notice a small figure and look down to see Kimiko openly staring at me like I had been at her earlier. For some reason, her eyes on me pleases me. One because she is looking but also because I was doing the same earlier, so now I don't feel so creepy.

Her eyes linger before snapping to my face, and I grin at her. ”What are you doing down there, little fox?” I note that she's in a robe, and the top gaps open slightly. My eyes shift, but I don't let them linger anywhere aside from her face.

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 have Nero play the note a couple of times before I finish off the scale and get them to start again. ”I don’t need the compliments. I know my worth, but they are lovely to hear. You may compliment me as many times as you wish,” I tell them.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Grocery Store – Cary, IL
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”Whatever you like. Surprise me,” I said with a smile. I turned back to speak with the butcher about getting some ham for our sandwiches. I get them cut a little thicker, but not so thick it would be hard to bite through. We can always layer the ham in case we want a thicker sandwich. Once I have the package of ham, I go in search of condiments.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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I do a few laps in the pool, working everything out from the training this morning to the bike ride and then building garden boxes. I pull myself out of the pool and wipe the water off my body. I didn’t bring a towel with me as I didn’t want Kimiko stealing it. As I think about it, I wonder if she’s noticed there are no straws anywhere in the house yet.

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 look at Nero and chuckle. ”It isn’t often, but yes, I can blush,” I said and leaned down to kiss Nero’s lips before I moved their finger positions again. ”It’s the flattery. I don’t hear it very often, at least not the way you say things.’

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Grocery Store – Cary, IL
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”That’s okay. Do you want to pick the drinks then? We could just do water if that’s easier.” We reached the in-store butcher, and I flip-flopped between ham and roast beef. ”What do you think? Ham or roast beef?”

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 find myself blushing again from the compliment. ”Thank you, my dear. I really do try to play from the soul,” I explain.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Grocery Store – Cary, IL
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”Mmm, so be it,” I said. If that’s how he wanted to play it, then that is exactly how I would play it.

I looked over the items on display. ”Well, carrots for sure, and we need fruit. Lettuce or spinach for sandwiches, cheese. Oh, we should get some meat from the butcher if they have one in store. That’s always far better. Hmm, drinks. What do you usually like to drink?” I asked as I gathered up the veggies we needed.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Many years,” I confessed. ”It was probably the most difficult instrument I’ve learned to play. Being able to plan it now the way I can is a reward unto itself,” I said and showed Nero the next note on the scale to play.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Grocery Store – Cary, IL
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I’m looking in the opposite direction when Nic tugs on my arm. I stumble forward, jogging a little to catch up with his speed. Someone is excited for a picnic. I grin, shaking my head.

”So I have to let you spoil me, but what if I want to spoil you?” I counter.

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 laugh, feeling my cheeks warm for probably the first time. It wasn’t that I did feel emotional when Nero said things to me, I just responded to their heartfelt words in other ways. This time, though, I did feel slightly embarrassed, but relieved they felt the same.

I rubbed the back of my neck, not quite able to meet Nero’s eyes as I handed them the bow. I distract myself by placing their fingers. ”It will take some time to get the notes and the placement of the bow just right. The bow is like a second instrument. Depending on how you tilt, push and pull it, will depend on the sounds you make. Don’t worry about breaking strings or the threads. All of that are easily replaced and have to be once in a while for age.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving —> Grocery Store – Cary, IL
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I go to get out of the vehicle and pout when Nic says he’s paying. ”Fine,” I said and got out of the vehicle. I wait for Nic, though, and take his hand before we walk into the grocery store. ”Something tells me we’re going to be that couple that races each other to the cash out to pay before the other.”

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 smile at Nero and set them on the piano bench to go and fetch my violin. ”I think eternity with you will be too short,” I said. I return with the violin and teach Nero how to hold it.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple —> Driving – Cary, IL
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I gasp at the idea Nic suggests and nod my head eagerly. A little picnic in some park under a tree sounds absolutely perfect. I sit in my seat, happily tapping my hands on my legs while I wait for Nic to back up and drive to a grocery store.

I actively ignore how he backs up, so I don’t think about that and him kneeling in front of me. I start looking along the streets until I find and point out a little grocery store we can go to.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Hey,” I say and take Nero’s hand. I run light fingers over their scars and the new one I created this morning. ”I happen to like these tiny hands. Be nice to my mate,” I gently scold. I kiss Nero’s palm, wishing at that moment I had the ability to heal them.

”Hmm, well, I’ve always gravitated towards the violin. Or any instrument with a string, really. There’s something about the tones the strings create that soothe me. But anything you chose to play, Nero would bring a smile to my face,” I told them. I didn’t want them making decisions solely based on what I liked or didn’t like.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
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”I would love something to eat, actually. Maybe somewhere outside?” Not only would it help to dry me off more if we sat in the sun, but it would also help me to stay grounded and connected to the earth. I always found after a ceremony like that I was flighty and in the clouds. My family and Caden used to joke that they should tie bricks to my feet to keep me from trying to fly away.

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 as I watch Nero stretch their fingers as much as they can. ”Unfortunately, no. They are all relatively the same size. Keyboards might be a bit smaller, but not by much. You might have more success with a string instrument, like the violin or viola. The guitar wouldn’t be easy, as there are some notes that require your fingers to be pretty spread out as well,” I explained, and started looking about the room for something else Nero could try.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
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I watch Nic as his eyes flicker to my lips. I like how much he’s attracted to me as I am to him. He focuses back on drying my legs, and I force myself to look away and dry off the upper half of my body. ”I think that’s okay, Nic. I can sit with the towel wrapped around my feet and ankles while we drive back to Caden’s,” I said.

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 smile at Nero as they join me at the piano. I pull them onto my lap and nod. ”I would love to teach you,” I said. I kissed Nero’s cheek before I pointed out C and then the rest of the main scale on the piano. ”It seems tedious, but once you know the scales, it makes learning the songs easier.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
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I laugh, brushing my thumb along Nic’s dimple. I snatched my hand back after I realized what I was doing. It was hard not to be memorized by Nic when he smiled like that.

I take the towel from Nic and start drying myself off. I pause when Nic kneels though to dry the bottom of my pants, and I can’t help but stare at him. He looks up at me, and I have a desperate need to run my fingers through his hair, bend down, and kiss him. My fingers twitch on the towel I hold, and I bite my bottom lip when he winks at me.

”I feel very much like Cinderella at the moment. Should I misplace one of my shoes?” I joked.