KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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"I don't think it's an actual bomb. If it was, there would be more damage. Or the instruments rattling on the tables or something." Cassi pushed her half eaten plate out of the way and leaned forward to look more closely at the screen. "I don't think I've ever come across something like this... I mean, it's possible to make everything disappear, but a missing body that just goes poof? Why hasn't anyone said anything...Unless whoever is doing it can wipe people's minds or convince them everything is fine..."

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Caden

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Location: Retail Store – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"How rude. I defended your honour today," Caden reminded. He had a smile on his face though as he changed out of his clothes into the fresh suit. He buttoned up the vest after tucking in the dress shirt. He slipped on the jacket, deciding to leave it unbuttoned.

Caden did a quick check of his face and hair before he stepped out of the change room, finding Nero already waiting for him. He smiled, capturing Nero's hand to stop their fidgeting and he twirled them around.

"Breathtaking as always."

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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"Ya... I had a feeling that's what the pink mist was. I'll talk to Caden and Kiki. She has access to the Men of Letters files. They might have something on record about it. Let me know what the other hospitals say, or if this happens again tomorrow," Cassi said, thinking they might have to stage something if they can't figure out what's going on.

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Caden

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Location: Retail Store – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"I haven't the faintest idea what you are referring to. I am a gentleman," Caden announced, going into his own change room.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia frowned and pushed the arrow buttons on Nic's laptop to go back and forth through the footage and flip between the videos he has.

"Different people aren't a comforting thought. That means there is more than one person. This isn't shapeshifting work so it isn't someone shedding their skin, which means we have a bigger problem," she said. Cassiopeia hunted through her bag for pen and paper and wrote down a few key words.

"And it's only happening when they are in critical? So... The patient could make it or not, which would be a good reason why it's gone undetected for so long --- aside from the whole disappearing in a cloud of pink mist thing."

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Caden

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Location: Retail Store – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden looked down at Nero, and chuckled. He kissed their forehead and wrapped both arms around Nero's waist. He held them close, picked them off the ground, and whispered in Nero's ear again.

"I'll make sure we get a corner table, so only I get to see your gorgeous back. No one will pay any attention to us," he said. He set Nero down and nodded to the salesperson who came over, and gathered Nero's new clothes to put into a room for them to change.

Caden released Nero and went to the other clothing rack. He picked through the clothes until he found a russet brown suit, with vest, and a white shirt that he could wear without a tie to keep the outfit clean looking but less formal.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia resumed eating while Nic played the video. She was glad for the slowed down frame by frame version. She frowned when the pink mist appeared, and then nothing. Cassi cocked her head to the side, her food forgotten.

"Play it again," she asked him. She scanned the whole room, looking for anything amiss. The pink mist appeared once again, but Cassi was no closer to knowing what or who had done it. "Were the same people in the trauma room for this patient's disappearance as well as the other?" she asked curiously.

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Caden

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Location: Retail Store – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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"I'm smirking because I can picture you in this dress clearly. I like seeing your legs, and this will be a fine dress for it. I also thoroughly enjoy the zipper placement, but I can understand if you are hesitant because of the open back."

Caden had shifted his position to stand behind Nero while they both looked over the little dress. He ran a protective hand down Nero's back, visualizing the scarring that was there from hundred of years ago.

"I can pick another," he whispered for Nero's ears only. "but you know how much your legs."

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia’s cheeks burned, but she smiled, pleased with Nic’s response. ”Soon then,” she said, her voice sounding a bit breathless to her. She focused on her meal, then looked at the laptop.

”Should we hit play and watch it a few times?” Of course, Cassi would rather ignore the video and watch it tomorrow before Nic went to work, so they could resume their conversation upstairs, but she had to be on her best behaviour.

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Caden

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Location: Retail Store – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden laughed and got out of the car. He locked it up, slipped his keys into his pocket, and took Nero’s hand.

”Never, my love.” He kissed Nero’s hand before walking into the store with them.

They were guided to the back where a selection of clothes, the latest fashions were already hung out for the two of them to look through. Caden scanned through the clothes they had picked for Nero. They had everything from pantsuits to dresses and skirts laid out for them. Of course, Caden had a certain look for Nero that he liked in his head, so he was immediately drawn to a short dress that came in a blush colour.

There were even black lace tights paired with heels he was sure Nero would be comfortable in. Caden moved the dress over and leaned his arm on the rack. He looked from the dress to Nero, and smirked.

”This one, please.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia grinned innocently at Nic. ”I worked hard today. I deserve an extra treat, besides, I’m a better treat for you than mochi anyways,” Cassi said boldly.

She accepted her plate from Nic, focusing on the food rather than Nic’s reaction to her statement.

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Caden

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Location: Car —> Retail Store – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden smiled, accepting his sweater back from Nero, but didn’t let them move far away.

”Simply because my love for you keeps growing,” he said. Caden kissed Nero again before he made himself move back and pull the sweater on.

”Are you truly going to let me pick your outfit for supper?”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia’s eyes followed Nic as he stood, towering over her. He reached down and gathered her plate. She was tempted to tell him no, that she had a different idea in mind, but she wanted to see this footage and she was still hungry. Besides, Cassi intended to spend the night. They could have time for other activities later, even if Ren came home and they would have to be quiet.

”Yes, please, and dessert,” she finally answered.

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Caden

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Location: Car —> Retail Store – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”I can’t wait to see it.” Caden’s tone shifted to one of promises made in the dark. Of needs left unmet and moments interrupted.

He parked in front of a store and an employee immediately opened up the front door, waiting for Caden and Nero.

Caden leaned over, turning Nero’s face to look at him. He stared into Nero’s eyes for a moment.

”I love you, Nero. I would rather watch my entire collection be destroyed than lose you. Whatever is coming for you will not reach you. Not while I’m around.” For some, a silly pronouncement about losing a lifetime's worth of collections over a person would be considered obvious, but for a dragon to lose their collection would be to lose a part of themselves. Hoarding is in the very nature of a dragon. It is a severe compulsion that is not ignored. For Caden to tell Nero he would happily lose it all to save them was like saying he would rather be limbless or blind than ever lose Nero.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia blushed at Nic’s statement. It was so pure and truthfully that it made Cassi shy, but also feel the love Nic spoke of.

”Well, don’t put me on to high of a pedestal. I don’t want to fall off,” she said, and twisted her hand out of his to caress his cheek.

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden laughed and grinned happily, more than enjoying this topic of conversation instead.

”Mmm, alright. But when we get home, will you put something on that I can destroy?”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassi smiled at Nic and placed a hand over his. ”I think them helping to kill the Chimera that took your parents, and them killing a wolf that was about to attack me is a pretty good reason for you to like them a little more than I do,” Cassi said and squeezed his hand. ”But I appreciate you wanting to be on my side all the same.”

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden chuckled and squeezed Nero’s hand. ”The most important collection in my horde,” he said shamelessly.

”As for my sweater, you can keep it if you want. I’m going to get a new one that doesn’t have a hole in it,” Caden declared. ”Although, I should wear it into the store to prevent causing an alarm.”

Caden currently sat half naked as he drove through Chicago, but it didn’t so much matter to him with the windows being tinted. Besides, Nero seemed to have grown fond of Caden’s clothing.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassi looked sideways at Nic before she ate another sushi roll. She chewed happily before swallowing. ”You can like Nero if you want to, Nic. You don’t have the history with them like I do.”

She leaned back in her seat, looking at Nic and enjoying his hand on her thigh. It was steadying, comforting.

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Caden

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Location: Car – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden released Nero’s hand to type on the screen in his car, sending a message to one of the clothing stores he frequented that he would be arriving soon with a guest for some clothes. After he hit send, he reclaimed Nero’s hand.

”Mmm, yes and no. Dragons are secretive, illusive. Pop culture got a lot of things right about dragons, but they also don’t know a lot more. I’m out and about because of what I horde. I can’t be cooped up; I have to go out and collect myself, but I’m also the leader of my people. Being in the world helps me know the world so that I can protect my family.”