KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Shopping – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia glanced around the store, taking in everything they had to offer quickly. She turned to look at Nic after he whispered in her ear. She patted his chest and looked back at the store.

”Don't worry. I'll be gentle. And maybe I'll thank you for letting me dress you up later,” she said, whispering the last part in his ear before leading him over to the shirts.

Cassiopeia started grabbing and mixing items. She gathered quite a collection of clothes, more of a semi formal casual wear for Nic to start with. She would bombard him with suits in the next store.

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Caden

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

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Caden laughed and took Nero's free hand. He took the dessert from Nero's other hand and set it on the ground before taking their other hand.

”How about I carry you on my back instead?” He kissed Nero's hands, eyes watching them for their reaction.

Caden didn't mind Nero's bratty or teasing tones. He found them endearing, although he was certain others would find it annoying. However, Caden knew Nero.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Shopping – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia's eyes remained locked on Nic's until she knew he understood her. She smiled softly, leaning into his hand. The kiss was brief, but it held enough passion in it to soothe her worried mind. Still, it left her wanting to pull Nic back into the SUV.

”I'm glad. I just wanted to make sure you knew I wouldn't take over like that,” she said. She captured Nic's hand and pulled him down the sidewalk and into the first store.

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Caden

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

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”One more day,” he reminded them. Caden kissed the top of Nero's hand before leading them onto the grass. He kissed their hand again before he released it and knelt on the ground. ”You may stay close, but just in case, don't touch me,” he reminded them gently before he tapped into his power and the wards on his property.

Lines glowed around them, woven into the very land itself and into Caden. He breathed heavily, searching his whole property from where he was. He turned his head to the side when he noticed a weakness further out along the creek that ran through his property.

Caden released the power, his eyes glowing faintly purple as the residue magic from using his power held on.

”There's a weakness in the warding,” Caden stood and looked at Nero. ”Want to come with me to fix it?”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving —> Shopping – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia jumped out of the SUV excitedly, ready to style Nic in several different outfits, but before they went anywhere she had something else to say. Cassi rested her hands on Nic's chest, looking up at him with a serious yet tender expression on her face.

”In all seriousness, when it comes to the conference, and if those people really do try to make you feel inferior, I'll follow your lead.”

Cassiopeia understood what it meant to be discriminated against. Her gender, especially in the time periods she grew up in, had her being overlooked and shut down a hundred times over. Even her culture had a long, violent history with Great Britain that had people questioning her in the 19th and early 20th centuries. But just because she had those experiences did not mean she understood the struggles or pain Nic went through. And in today's world, Cassi did have it a lot easier than most people. She would never want to take away from someone else's experience with discrimination by being the “white saviour”.

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Caden

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

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When it came to the things Caden was most afraid of, logic went out the window. Caden had genuine fear from Nero's words, and was desperately concerned with the poor man's outcome. Were there aliens? Or perhaps creatures from Earth messing with the man? Either way, the idea of it made space all the more frightening to Caden.

Caden pouted briefly, seeing Nero try not to laugh at him, but he smiled when they asked to stay close.

”You can stay close. When we're bonded, I might be able to give you a taste of what it feels like when I tap into my power,” he informed them. Caden got out of the car, walked around, and opened the door for Nero. He offered them a hand to take to help them out.

For Caden's people, a mating bond became a sort of conduit for their powers and abilities. It made the other stronger and when combined, even more so. Caden was sure he would be able to build on the strength of the wards after he was bonded to Nero because of their celestial power. But it was a theory he would have to test out. For now, Nero keeping their distance was more of a precaution than anything. The dragon recognized Nero as his mate, but when that level of power was flowing through Caden he wasn't sure how the dragon would react to being touched by someone they weren't fully bonded to yet.

How high can we count before a mod gets involved?

255

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Ah, old white men. My speciality,” Cassi said with a grin. She shifted her focus, looking at the stores as Nic drove past to find good parking. Luckily, they found something along the street with enough room for the larger SUV.

”Don't worry my love,” Cassi said as Nic parked. ”I'll win them over for you.”

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Caden

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Location: Driving —> Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden looked at Nero, his eyes wide, and he looked slightly pale. ”You're not serious.” He turned into their driveway and slowed down. Even though Caden was alarmed by Nero's “fun fact”, he was vigilant in scanning the property.

Caden shut the radio off and rolled the windows down to listen for anything strange or signs of trespassers on his property. As the house neared, Caden rolled the windows back up. He parked near the steps to the front door, and shut the car off.

”I'm going to check the wards. You can head inside if you don't want to wait for me,” he offered.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia rested a hand against her chest, looking offended as she looked at Nic. ”I would never make you look ridiculous or silly.” She glanced down at his casual hand placement, and crossed her arms, looking away while she pretended to be upset with him.

”If anything, I'd dress you down to keep it easier for me to fight off the screaming hoards of men and women who want to get their hands on you at the conference,” she teased.

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden laughed, patting Nero's leg before he took his hand back and turned down the road that would lead to their home. ”Perhaps I am still scared from the Planetarium visit. You'll have to comfort me when we get home,” he said, returning a cheeky comment to Nero.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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

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Cassi laughed and tucked her jacket in so it didn't get locked in the door. She buckled herself in before bringing up the GPS on the large screen in the SUV. She typed in an address and pressed go.

"There are several stores along this street we can check out, and it is completely up to you how many we go to. Just know if we don't do it all today, we will have to go another day," she told him.

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden relaxed into the driver's seat more, enjoying the direction Nero's hand was travelling. He chuckled with amusement, his eyes reflecting his own excitement and intrigue.

"I am certain I will meet your expectations," he said, gently squeezing the imp's leg.

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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"Yes, it'll be a bit cumbersome to carry. Do you just want to look for something for Caden and Nero's ceremony, or do you want to do a bit of shopping for the conference in Montana, as well?"

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Caden

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Location: Marrakech ---> Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden had one hand on top of the steering wheel with his other relaxed over the centre console. He didn't have his hand on Nero's leg this time, but he was brushing his fingers along their skin from time to time. Nero's words pulled Caden from his silent thoughts, and he glanced down at the small hand that rested on his thigh. Caden chuckled and shifted his free hand to rest more completely on Nero's leg.

"It seems you are right, my darling little imp. How do you think we should break in your new living space? Should I grab my violin? Or perhaps we'll need to relocate the cats for a few hours?" The idea of keeping Nero locked in their room for hours, taking them on every surface until both of them were drained was dangerously appealing.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery smiled, his lips brushing along Kimiko's soft skin. His hands roamed under her dress, growing tired of the thing being on her body.

"Mmm, you could always write it down. Or write me a song," he teased her. Of course, Avery had shown her the song he had written for her, but it wasn't the only song. Avery felt more vulnerable playing his music for her than speaking to her like this. It was strange, but Avery's music was an extension of his soul. Sharing that with someone was like cracking himself open for the world to pull apart and judge.

"But in the meantime," Avery said, his voice turning gruff. "I think there is another way you can express to me how I make you feel." He nudged Kimiko until he found her lips and kissed her deeply, done with talking.