KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia does her best not to think about Nic's hand caressing her cheek once more. Instead she eats more of her sandwich and watches the ants and other creatures crawling on the ground around them. She finishes her sandwich and grabs some carrots.

"Mmm, it's alright. If you like that sort of thing," she said, a teasing note in her voice.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Avery gave Kimiko an incredulous look. "Teach me a lesson? I thought I was your trainer," he said, shifting his position on the couch to look at Kimiko directly.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

"I'm sure she would. As long as we were clothed." Caden's arm wraps around Nero when they wiggle in closer. He kisses the top of Nero's head before relaxing back onto the pillows.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassandra resumed eating her sandwich, enjoying the different taste the goat cheese provided. She didn't often have mayo on her sandwich either, so that was a nice twist. She pauses in her eating when Nic questions her. A blush does move across Cass' cheeks, and she pauses to take a drink before answering Nic.

"Warm, comforted," she confessed.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

"Oh just not hit me. There's an idea," Avery said with a laugh.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

Caden stroked his hand along Nero's hip, making lazy circles as they laid tangled in the sheets still. He looked at Nero, smiling lazily at his mate before Caden redirected his focus to the light stokes he made along Nero's hip. He switched the direction and walked his fingers up Nero's spine.

"Do you think we can just stay here? Forget about the dinner and pretend we fell asleep?"

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

I blushed and tucked my hair behind my ear. "I little of both, I think," I said and picked my plate back up. "I think the willows felt how I was feeling and acted accordingly," I confessed.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I immediately snort and cover my mouth before I start laughing. "Yup that one will work," I agreed.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

My sandwich is temporarily forgotten but I manage to set the plate on the ground beside me, so I can rest my hand on Nic's forearm while we kiss. I feel nature respond to the gentle display of affection. A gentle breeze blows through the willows, letting their branches gently sway around us. Enough movement occurs to send sunlight down to warm my hand and Nic's forearm.

I smile on Nic's lips, feeling the warmth of the sun reflecting the warmth I'm feeling inside.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I jump from the sudden noise and start to laugh. I grab the remote and set in on the coffee table, so neither one of us accidently sits on it again. "I have no idea, maybe something more pillow related?" I said and start picking the feathers off of me to put into the pillowcase.

I keep my hands to myself as we finish cleaning up the feathers. I take the pillowcase and find a trashcan to throw it into for now before I sit back on the my end of the couch.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

I smiled at Nic and leaned into his touch. I truly did admire Nic's kindness and his compassion. I also adored how he could make me feel so small and cared for.

He leaned in to kiss me and I readily kissed him back. I marveled at how soft his touch was and yet how deeply I felt things when he kissed me.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Needing something to do with my hands as well, I started helping Kimiko gather feathers. With nowhere else for them to go right now, I started stuffing them back into the pillow that broke. I paused in my work when she apologized. I shifted in my seat to pick up feathers from the ground.

”Don't apologize, unless your apologizing for that terrible battle cry,” I said and glanced sideways at her. My fingers twitched and before I could stop myself I was tucking a piece of Kimiko's hair back so I could see more of her face.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

”Thank you for asking me out… I've had a lot of fun these last couple of days,” I said, resting my hand on his shoulder. We never would have had this opportunity if he didn't have the courage to ask me out. I was glad I was smart enough to say yes.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I pick another feather out of her hair but notice she's stopped laughing. I realize again how close we are. This isn't just reaching around me to get the remote, this is borderline cuddling.

”Kimiko… I—” The back door opens then and I jump away to look behind me. The kitchen staff is walking in, laughing about something. They smile and wave at us as they pass to go to the kitchen to start preparing for supper.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

I take a bite of the sandwich Nic gives me. I don't get to swallow it before Nic teases me. I push him, covering my mouth to keep from spitting out my food. I swallow and push Nic again.

”I knew you were making fun of me!”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I grin, resting my hand over Kimiko's where it gets on my arm. ”He'll never believe you,” I tell her.

When Kimiko leans against me, I almost stop breathing again but for an entirely different reason. It feels right but it also feels wrong. I know I'm very clearly attracted to her, but I shouldn't be. I can't be. But I also can't push her away. Instead I let go of her hand and picked the feathers out of her hair, letting them fall to the ground.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

I lean over and kiss Nic's cheek. ”You are incredibly giving and thoughtful, did you know that?” I set my drink aside and wrapped my arms around my legs.

”I'll have the same as you. I want to see if goat cheese is really worth the hype,” I teased.

I rested my cheek on my knees, watching Nic before I sat back up and crossed my legs. ”Trees are quite chatty, actually. They see a lot and like to talk. The willows were planted together and enjoy when people come to visit since they are cut off from the rest of the park.”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I laugh even harder from Kimiko's battle cry. I curl over, unable to block her hits anymore. I'm hardly breathing from laughing so much. I finally get a reprieve when I feel something tickle my face.

I sat back and looked up to see that Kimiko had broken the pillow. I grinned and looked at her.

”How could you? That was Caden's favourite pillow,” I joked.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

I glance at Nic when he asks me if I can talk to the trees. I find myself hesitating for a moment. I already know I'm strange and different from anyone he's dated before, but do I want to be more strange and unusual to him?

”Yes,” I eventually hear myself say. I break open a bag of carrots and start eating them, lost in my own thoughts until Nic pulls me back again.

”Oh, you don't have to make my sandwich,” I said.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I throw my arm up to block most of Kimiko's blows, but I'm laughing as she hits me. Each word is matched by a blow from the pillow, and it just makes me laugh more.

”I don't need anyone to believe me. I already heard you say it, and that's enough for me to treasure this moment always,” I teased further.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Fox River – Cary, IL
Skills:

---

---

The trees are young still with another ten years or so of life left in them. They were planted together and truly seemed like the best of friends. I smiled, looking up to watch the sunlight dance in-between their swaying branches. I lingered for another several minutes before I took a step back and joined Nic.

I sit down, wiggling my toes into the grass while Nic sets everything up. I dig through the bag with the drinks for the sparkling raspberry cider, and pour us a cup each.

”This was a great idea,” I declared. I was in a good mood to start with, but being out here, surrounded by so much nature and with Nic, my mood was ten times improved.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I clutch my chest when Kimiko says I’m right. I can’t help but to be a smartass sometimes. Well, most of the time. It was just so easy to do.

”I’m right? I’m sorry. Can you repeat that? And say it slowly. I want to savour this moment,” I joked.

I was also glad to hear that my explanation made sense, even though it sounded like I was scrambling for the right words.