KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery cocked his head to the side when she stuttered. She had never been this flustered with him before. Avery wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about it. He did, however, enjoy having his hands on her and hers on him.

”Okay, well, lean on me at least then,” Avery said. He let go of her waist and offered his arm to her instead.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Property – Chicago, IL
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Inside the shed, there were three different cages. Two were the same size, with the third being slightly larger and looking like it could fit a number of large creatures. Caden opened up the larger cage and put the person he was carrying inside before he opened the other two cages. He turned around and watched Nero usher the other three inside.

Caden watched Levi move into the larger cage. Caden walked over and closed that cage once there were two people inside and he locked it. ”I’ll come by with food later.” Unlike the Chicago werewolf pack, Caden wasn’t a monster.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia’s cheeks warmed after Nic kissed them. She didn’t mind the idea of showing off for him a little.

Nic’s hands were strong and comforting as they rubbed her shoulders. Cassi felt herself sinking into the water more as she relaxed. She rested a hand over Nic’s and gave it a gentle squeeze.

”I’m doing okay still,” she assured him. She was looking forward to being clean, drinking her tea, and then going to sleep.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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

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”I’m saying I don’t want to take you on a date when it’ll look like I’ve beaten you,” Avery said, his tone harder. Because that’s exactly what she looked like, and that’s exactly what had happened.

Avery rests his hands on her waist to help steady her. ”Do you want me to carry you to your room?” he offered.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Property – Chicago, IL
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”Unfortunately I have standards, even though they are cages. They are bigger than Kiki’s, but yes, you can scare them a little more if you would like, my little imp.” Caden rests his fingers along their chin and kisses them softly. He pulled back after a moment and opened up the back of the SUV and started hauling the wolves out. One of them was still sluggish, so Caden just threw him over his shoulder. The other three, including Levi, were more coherent.

”You can walk under your own power, or Nero here will help you,” Caden declared and gestured to Nero before Caden turned and walked away. He unlocked the shed before heading inside.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia closed her eyes when she felt the water pour over her head. Nic was careful so that the water didn’t go into her eyes or over her cut. The only time it started to pull was when he started to separate her hair. Cassi held her breath to keep from wincing and worrying him.

She smiled at his question and decided to play along. It would be a good distraction for her anyway. ”White,” she informed him.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving —> Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
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Avery parked the car and looked at Kimiko. ”Eager to go out on a date with me, are you?” Avery opened up his door and got out before going around to help Kimiko out of the car.

”I’ll take you somewhere fun, but maybe in a few days after you’ve healed up,” Avery said.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Property – Chicago, IL
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”I have several cages inside. Sometimes we’ll hold creatures here until we figure out what to do with them,” Caden explained and opened up the door and got out of the SUV. ”Charles will be round sometime tomorrow,” Caden said, turning around to look back at Nero.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
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Cassiopeia wiggled her nose and giggled when Nic splashed the water at her. She turned, sitting her back against the tub closest to Nic. ”Another swimsuit, but you’ll just have to take me swimming to know what it looks like,” she teased him.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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Avery laughs and shrugs. ”It’s because of when I was born. To me, it sounds better than saying, ‘you wanna go out?’” he said in an obnoxious tone. He pulled down Caden’s driveway and glanced at Kimiko. ”Nic is going to yell at me if you keep splitting your lip open like that,” he stated.

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Caden

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Location: Driving —> Caden’s Property – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden relaxed when his home came into view. He looked into the rearview mirror. All of the wolves were starting to stir, including Levi. Caden tapped his stirring wheel in compilation of where he wanted to put the wolves while they waited for Charles to make it to Chicago. Which wouldn’t be until tomorrow.

Along Caden’s driveway, there were a few side roads and bends one could take to other areas of his property. Caden turned down one of these roads, leaving Avery and Kimiko as they made for the main house. Caden drove down the road until a little cabin appeared. It was more of a shed than a place to live, but it was mostly empty. Caden parked outside and shut the SUV.

”Will you help me move our cargo?” Caden asked Nero.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia rolls her eyes, but can’t help the blush or grin that comes to her face from Nic’s teasing. ”Stop it. You’re going to make me fall,” she gently scolded Nic.

The hot water made Cassi sigh. She sat down and shut her eyes while the water soaked into her tired muscles. She turned her head, opened her eyes, and looked at Nic.

”If you take me swimming, I’d probably wear a different suit,” she informed Nic.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Antoinette McCarthy

Location: Outside – X-Mansion
Skills: Running

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Antoinette glanced at Guin after hearing the shift in her voice. She looked away, watching the path they ran on, and contemplated a response. ”Sometimes everything needs to go wrong in order to find the right path again.”

Antoinette looked back at her friend and training partner. She gave Guin a little smile before nodding to a fork in the path up ahead. One way led around the lake, which would be the original running path they decided on, while the other headed back towards the mansion. ”Want to head in early and get some water?” Antoinette suggested. ”Arnold’s probably hungry anyways,” she added to help Guin with an out if she needed it.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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The sound of Kimiko’s breathing, or lack thereof, worried Avery, and he glanced at her again. She was staring at him, rapt with attention. He chuckled and focused back on the road.

”It means my wolf recognizes you as our mate. Which means I’m asking you if you would like to go steady with me.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia smiled and nodded, watching Nic retreat to her bathroom before she goes to her bed. Cassi gathers the clothes she worse last night to change into after her bath before she picks out a two-piece swimsuit to wear for her bath.

It took Cassi a bit longer to change as she was being mindful of her head, but she eventually managed it, and walked into the bathroom.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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Avery turned his head quickly when Kimiko cursed. His eyes immediately went to the drop of blood forming on her lips. His eyes flashed yellow, but he regained control quickly. Avery looked out the windshield to make sure they were still on the road before he looked back. Kimiko was looking at him now. Avery reached out and brushed his thumb along her lip to whip the blood away.

”Werewolves undergo something called the mating bond. It's not unlike what Caden has done with Nero, but the small factor is we don't choose who we form the mating bond with. Our wolf has the connection and we just go along for the ride. We can reject the bond, but it's not common,” Avery explained, and looked back to the road.

”When the bond snaps into place everything about that person that we bond to makes sense. Their hair, their smell, their stupid little quirks.” Avery smiles to himself as he thinks about Kimiko and her damn straws.

He glances over at her. ”I've been on edge around you since day one. My wolf has been close to the surface, and hasn't calmed down or shut up. Last night was the first time he settled. It was the first time I felt settled, and then something snapped. I panicked, and I pushed you away.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
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Cassiopeia laughs, but not as much as she would like, as it makes her feel dizzy and lightheaded. ”Make me comfortable? And you call me adorable. Why Nic, are you afraid you're going to ravish me if I bare my shoulder to you?” Cassiopeia teases, taking on a Parisian accent.

Cassiopeia rests her hands on Nic's shoulders, smiling at him. ”I am comfortable around you, and I do trust you to respect me. As much as I'd like you to have your way with me, I don't think I would be much fun tonight.”

Cassi lifted a hand from Nic's shoulder and caressed his cheek. ”I'll get changed and you can start the water,” she said, knowing he probably didn't want to leave her completely in her condition.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”They’re your family now, too. I know not Cassi yet, but I'm very grateful you protected her and Kiki like that.” If Cassi had been killed, Caden would have struggled not to kill every wolf of the Chicago pack. He hated even thinking about it, so he was glad when Nero moved the conversation along.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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Avery turns down the road that leads them out of Chicago and out to the country when Kimiko asks Avery about what he mentioned earlier. He gripped the steering wheel a bit more tightly, having no idea how to broach this topic.

”You already asked your one question of the day,” Avery teased Kimiko. ”How much do you know about werewolves? More specifically to relationships and their mating bond,” Avery asked.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
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Cassiopeia was glad Nic was holding her while they walked up the stairs as she probably would have fallen when Nic stuttered. She couldn't help but laugh when he suggested she wear a towel into the bathtub.

”Are you sure you weren't born in the 18th century?” she teased him.

They reached the top floor and thought about something else she could wear instead of a towel that would soak up half the bath water.

”I can put on a bathing suit and a t-shirt,” Cassi compromised.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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Caden laughed and nodded in agreement. ”I believe that made all of us pause for a moment,” Caden stated. He ran his thumb across Nero's leg before they captured his hand in theirs.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”Because you stole the towels! And you were being rather annoying with the straws,” he said, laughing.

Avery shifted in his seat, glancing at the mirrors while he drove. He tried to look busy and distracted, but it was hard to keep the smile off his face when Kimiko asked him to nap with her. He rubbed his hand over his mouth to try and relax, and cleared his throat.

”Napping in a bed would be nicer than napping in the hallway outside your door,” Avery said, and glanced at Kimiko. ”I think you'll find me not letting you out of my sight for a while.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
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Cassiopeia remained seated and watched Nic while he bustled about her kitchen. She knew if she tried to go run her own bath, he would try and pin her down or tie her to a chair. Cassi's head briefly shifted to a vision of him getting on his knees after and she quickly shut her eyes and shifted in her seat.

Nic's voice faded in and out while Cassi regained her composure. ”I can help you compile a chart. I know most of the ins and outs, but Avery can help fill in some of the blanks for wolves, and we're still learning with Kiki. Each Kitsune seems to be a little unique.”

Max jumped back down once Nic started to prepare Cassi's tea. He walked over and nudged her leg before he went upstairs to wait for them. Cassi took the opportunity to stand, using the back of the chair for balance before feeling steady enough to walk.

”Can we start the bath while the water for my tea heats? The adrenaline is gone and I can feel the dry blood and dirt all over.” If it wasn't dirt forming digging in the soil under Cassi's nails or in her hair, she hated being dirty.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Cassi's House —> Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden watched Nero with amusement as they climbed into the vehicle, and promptly turned to look into the back. Any of the wolves who were making movement or noise instantly stopped. Caden chuckled and got into the driver's seat.

”Ich fange an, mich zu fragen, ob ich mehr Angst vor dir haben sollte als ich,” Caden said. He waited for Avery to drive before following. He rested a comforting hand On Nero's leg, feeling more at ease, even with werewolves in the backseat.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Cassi's House —> Driving – Chicago, IL
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Once Caden got in, Avery drove off. ”I guess that means I should return your straws, hmm?” Avery finished off another sandwich before grabbing another.

”Do you want me to stop anywhere? I could get you something else to eat or drink, or whatever you might want while you're recovering,” Avery offered. He remained focused on the road, but kept glancing at Kimiko. He tried not to, but his eyes kept drifting to the black and purple bruises on her neck.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia holds onto Nic, her tears soaking into his shirt. ”Only if I can look after you,” she sniffed. Cassi placed a kiss on Nic's neck before she pulled back.

”Can I shower before bed rest, or would a bath be better with the head wound?” Cassi asked, gesturing to her head.