Disclaimers: All characters belong to rightful owners.
Story concieved by Lee.


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Though it was only the very beginning of December, the vital excitement, joy, anticipation that always heralded Christmas hung heavy in the air of Eden and it seemed that even the most joyless, the most cynical of its citizens were becoming, again, the children they once were... or were never allowed to be.

Throughout the city, it was known that the Noel Festival would be held this very night and it would carry through until the penultimate day, the twenty-fifth, when the celebration would reach its head. Tonight, though, there would be festivities for all, including the much-anticipated lighting of the city's official Christmas tree at the very center of the town's largest park, aptly called Bethlehem Park.

Here, throughout the day, there would be booths of delicious foods and small handcrafted goods from the local merchants, as well as the usual variety of fair games with the usual variety of prizes, for all the citizens to enjoy. Also, it was planned that local groups would be performing in various ways in various places throughout the day-- anything from traditional Christmas hymns and Carols to the traditional Christmas paegent to a visit from good old Saint Nick himself. Certainly, there would be much to see and to do and it seemed everyone in the town had some plans to partake in this wonderful celebration of the upcoming Holidays.

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It was a starkly cool morning and, as he stepped out onto the street, Nevan Alraune could feel the pale flesh of his face stinging, stiffening with the chill. Still, as he wound the long scarf about his neck and the lowermost portions of his face, he found that he could only smile.

Christmas!

Though the season had only just begun, he could already feel the excitement, the anticipation of this beautiful season of love and peace for all mankind and he was truly looking foreward to the festivities that lie ahead.

Bundling his wool coat tight around his frame, he started down the street toward Bethlehem Park where, later in the day, he'd be helping Mrs. Yumeomiru and her kindergarten class to put the final touches on the Christmas Tree. Of course, he was as much looking foreward to this as he was to anything else and he was quite grateful to Gleda for her kind invitation to help.

Still, his anticipation for working with the children was momentarily suspended as he paused before the large plate glass window of the city's largest toy store. Naturally, displayed inside this was a fine array of toys-- everything from trains to stuffed toys to dolls-- and, gathered around, children gaped in pure awe at the desired objects as their parents made vague promises of goods to come. Yet, Nevan had eyes for none of this.

In fact, the only thing that held his stormy grey gaze was a beautiful doll with cherubic curls and eyes the same shade as pristine seawater. Faintly, a frown tugged at the corner of his lips as the thought wandered, unbidden, through his mind that this would have been her fifth Christmas, that she would have adored to have a doll like that for her collection...

So lost in his thoughts, was he, that he had become wholly oblivious to the street around himself...

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The warm, tempting smell of fresh baked cookies drifted up through every floor of the Yumeomiru home and, as it infiltrated the slightly messy room of the family's only son, a head of bed-mussed hair lifted from a tangle of covers. The face revealed was young, rather beautiful, but also notably unrested for one just stirring from bed. Stifling a yawn with a single, graceful hand, Samezameto-- or Sam, as he insisted on being called-- stretched fluidly as he slid from the bed and, not stumbling even on the things strewn about, he quickly gathered some clothes, dressed in these same. Still, of course, Gleda'd have to help him with any makeup he might choose to wear, so, gathering the needed things, he quickly bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Sneakily, he snatched one of Gleda's miraculous chocolate chip cookies from the rack upon which they were cooling and, after snatching the milk from the fridge, he slid into a chair at the table.

"You're helping me at the Park later today, right, Sammy?" Gleda chirped cheerfully as she slid a fresh batch of cookies from the oven. "I've already got Nev helping, but extra hands'd be appreciated!"

"Of course!" Sam agreed with forced cheerfulness as he chewed on the cookie. Of course, given his youth, going a night without sleep was nothing, but it didn't help that this was almost the fifth consequitive night in a row. "I might even try to pull Lukie and sempai along, if they aren't doing anything..."

"Great!" The woman smiled and, once the cookies were arranged on the cooling rack, she crossed to her stepson. Taking up the few scattered objects, she started to apply a bit of makeup to the boy--something which she'd actually grown accustomed to, over the years. "Maybe you boys can even help me with the cookies and hot chocolate...?"

"Of course!" The blond boy nodded and, once all was set, he snatched up another cookie, as well as his standard pair of dark glasses. Arranging these on his nose and loosely tying back his longish hair, he chewed thoughtfully on the trapped food bit. "Though, really, I think we'll need free samples so that we'll work extra hard..."

Leaving his mother laughing at this, Sam exited out into the cool morning and, drawing his coat about himself, he started off down the street. Of course, he didn't know _exactly_ where he was planning to go, but, without a doubt, he'd eventually run into someone he knew...maybe even Lukie or sempai.

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The beginning of the festival brought with it any number of reasons for children in New Eden to be excited. The tree lighting and games, treats and prizes-- small wonder children all over the city were jittery, driving their parents wild as they counted down the hours till the festivities began.

But one little girl sat calmly, chewing steadily at a hardboiled egg and sipping at a small cup of tea. She gave no sign that this was anything but an ordinary day, or that her thoughts had strayed anywhere beyond the research she'd been doing the night before.

"Sophia," Umed broke the silence as he sat down beside her, "wouldn't you like to go to the festival tonight?"

She looked up with a faint frown, "There's a hearing in three days, and I still have a few cases I need to look up."

He smiled, but her eyes could pick out creases that shouldn't have been there, faint strain as he wondered why on earth any ten year old should be relucant to attend a festival-- and why he didn't even understand her well enough to know why he was having this conversation. "Ah, but Sophia, it'll only be one night. And it'll be so beautiful, seeing the tree lit up and all. We can stop at some booths while we're there, you can play some games, and-- we can get you an ice cream. Wouldn't you like that, Sophia?"

Sophia looked up at him for a long moment. She wouldn't enjoy it, not all that much. Not when there was still work to be done. But-- he wanted her to be normal so badly. To Umed, the change in her was still so sudden, so unexplained. He might've known the how, but would never understand why she had become what she was.

"Alright," she replied softly. "May I invite Olhado?"

"Sure!" he exclaimed in relief. There, she _was_ still a normal child, in some ways. She was. But his smile died altogether as he heard her add softly, "And Inaya won't be coming, will she?"

Umed's eyes flicked only a moment towards the chair at the head of the table, the elaborate carvings and beautiful varnishing that were only visible because the chair was entirely empty. "N-no, your mother is feeling-- I believe she's feeling rather under the weather." He tried to summon cheerfulness again, "but that means you'll have an escort for each arm! You must be the luckiest little girl in New Eden."

Sophia offered her father a slight smile, in pity and in sympathy for his struggle to hold the house together, even when it was hopeless. "Yes, Umed. I'm finished. May I go tell Olhado?"

He nodded, and she slid off her chair, then padded out into the hall. Scarf, jacket, hat, gloves, boots, and then she was out and on her way to Olhado's store.

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Freedom! Sweet glorious freedom!

Kisoku Capulet, heir to the Capulet Corporation's millions upon millions of dollars, pranced around the streets in his brand-new navy blue peacoat, humming the tune of "Little Drummer Boy" to myself as he glided around on cloud nine.

He had lost his cousin a block or two ago, and he felt a sudden weight lifted off of his shoulders. True, he loved Nazoko very much, but having a bodyguard follow you around 24/7 was stifling to say the least. She would probably turn around and report this to his father and Caressa, but he was willing to risk the scolding that he would get. He was an adult anyways, an adult who carried a tazer. There was really nothing to be worried about.

He pulled his sunglasses down over his eyes, a local celebrity like himself couldn't take too many chances. Through his grey-tinted view of the world, he took in his surroundings. He had no clue where he was going--that is, until he caught sight of his best friend walking on the other side of the street.

"Thank god for ESP..." He grinned, spreading out his sparkling, glossy lips. Stealthily, he jaywalked to the other side of Maple Ave and crept up behind his friend. Without warning, he pounced upon the other--arms tangling aroung the other as he placed an affectionate kiss on the other's cheek. "Well, well. It looks like lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you, babe."

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Uhh, the Xandria shirt. No, damn it, that had a little bit of a blood motif. Maybe the green one? NO, bondage-promotion just wasn't the way to go for this sort of thing.

Darran Isanyeti stared at the clothes he'd already selected-- and rejected-- from his closet. Didn't he have _any_ normal outfits guaranteed not to scare little kids?

"This was a stupid idea to begin with," he grumbled, but plucked a little scrap of paper from his bed and re-read it anyway: /Hey Dar, sorry I can't make it to the Noel Festival with you. But I heard from a friend that the tree lighting is going to have little kiddies and stuff. right up your alley, isn't it? Freaking perv! (kidding, you know that.) Tell me about it when I catch up with you. -Molly/

She had a stupid sense of humor anyway, he grumbled to himself as he tossed the paper to the floor, but-- god help him-- the thought process had been: group of little kids? Maybe they need chaperones!

And damn it, it _would_ be cute as all hell.

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Kein Montague raised his eyebrows as his best friend strolled in half an hour later, dressed surprisingly conservatively. "Red oxford, black jeans-- if you're trying to dress up as a yuppie, you're a little late for Halloween, Dar."

Darran grinned a little, trying not to let sheepishness creep in. "Ha ha and very cute, buddy. No, I just figured I'd go out to the festival, y'know, and try not to scare-- err, people."

"Much luck, with that face," Kein shot back, then rolled his eyes. "And no doubt you'll come back full of stories about how cool it was and gee, I should've gone."

"But you've got work to do," Darran picked up the litany easily, "and can't afford to waste a whole day like _some_ of us can."

He recieved a hefty 'friendly smack' on the shoulder for his efforts as Kein passed him on the way to the door, grinning, "Alright, slacker, at least do the minimum your bodyguarding duties entail and try to get me to the office in one piece."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Darran grumbled as he closed the door behind them, and both continued out to the street.

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"Ah! My favorite little elf!" Sam laughed cheerfully as soon as he realized the person glomping on him was his very own sempai and, twining his arms around the elder, he plopped a rather wet, messy kiss on the blond's forehead. Lowering his voice to a sexy growl, he purred. "So, have you been a _good_ little boy?"

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"Oh no no no. I've been a very _naughty_ boy, Santa baby!" Kisoku giggled, his eyes giving Sam a once over. Maybe it was the festivity and joy in the air, but Kisoku could've sworn that his ex looked exceptionally good. It was one of those days that made his insides churn with regret...not that he would ever say this aloud.

"So...what are you up to, hun?"

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The day was so full of life...humans beings bustled here and there, chatting their lives away. New Eden--no, the Earth itself--was so incredibly full of life...

Lucia Abandonne was just about ready to gag. She walked amongst the filthy creatures, occasionally catching sight of the familiar faces of potential souls for her cause.

They were all so excited...excited about the annual celebration of the birth of the Son. Until recently, Lucia had indeed known nothing of the Christ. She had been stuck in that infernal seal the entire time. And yet, upon reading the human-written word of God, she couldn't help but find it odd. These humans were celebrating the life of a person that they had killed.

Either they were in serious denial, incredibly self-hating, or simply complete masochists.

Anyway you sliced it, they were horribly imperfect. Yes...that was the word for this humans: imperfect. And here the once great Lucifer stood...condemned, cast out, damned by his beloved to wander amongst the scum of humanity until he could once again reclaim grace...

And to top it all off, it was that time of the month. Not to mention, she had volunteered to do some such volunteer work with children. God almightly, she hated children. Inevitably, her face would start to cramp from forcing the smile.

"This bites..." She muttered under her breath.

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"...but why _can't_ I...?" The thirteen year-old whined as only thirteen year-olds can as her dark, sullen eyes bore into those of the older girl. Slowly, steadily, she edged toward the gateway to freedom as she was determined as she could be to escape the house in her chosen outfit. "It's not even that revealing..."

"'tana, you're _thirteen_..." Parajo Delvidrio sighed as she eyed her younger sibling. Yes, this was an ongoing argument between them and, as far as the elder could see, it would keep happening until Gitana was too old to even consider wearing any of the outfits she so favored, now. "What do you think people see when they look at you dressed like that?"

"Doesn't matter..." Gitana bratted as she shrugged a single, slender shoulder. Coming to it, she wrapped her hand around the doorknob and, with a sharp tug, the cool winter's light flooded the narrow entryway. Grabbing her coat from the hook, she slid into this and, giving the older girl a defiant stare, the thirteen year old was soon lost down the walk.

"I think we're all ready..." Iago stated quietly as he descended the stairs. For a moment, he glanced quizzically at the open door, but this was soon lost in a soft chuckle as the bundle of sweater-scarf- heavy coat in his arms reaches its slender arms out to its sister.

"Okay, Cordy..." Para smiled brightly to her youngest brother and, relieving Iago of the bundle, she cuddled the boy close to her side. "We're going to go see the Christmas tree, and play some games, and have some food. Sound good?"

"Hmm..." Iago chuckled quietly as Cordy nodded eagerly to their sister's words and, ruffling the younger's curly locks, he turned to go back upstairs. "Have fun, you two..."

"Yea, don't study _too_ hard, kiddo..." Para teased as she headed for the door. "You'lll get old and wrinkly before you're time!"

Quitting the house, she quickly walked out to the street and, setting Cordero to the ground, she reached for his hand. Still, being an adventerous and outgoing five-year-old, Cordy soon took off down the street without his elder sister and, giggling in his beautiful manner, he rather randomly glomped onto some random stanger or another.

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"Oooh! Just what I wanted to hear!" Sam purred in much the same fashion as he drew back a hand only to give Kisoku a rather teasing swat on the rear. "I love my elves all naughty and bad..."

"Actually, I'm not up to anything, yet.." He sighed regretfully as he slung a companionable arm around his friend's shoulders. Though, of course, he had no way of really knowing it, somehow, he could still guess that this was one of the elder's less...pleasant days. Of course, this time of year always seemed to bring this onto Kisoku's slight shoulders. "Really, I was just hoping to find you or Lukie so we could have some fun before Gleda needs me..."

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"In pursuit of fun, and you found me...you must be incredibly disappointed!" Kisoku grinned, grateful for the comforting weight of Sam's arm upon his shoulders. Whenever they were together, Kisoku didn't feel so much like Kisoku Capulet...he felt more normal, like any other person out there in the world.

"How is Gleda doing? I hope she's not going to crazy with the kiddie crap like she does every year..." Kisoku giggled, remember the one year that he had offered his limited baking skills to his best friend's stepmother. The experience had brought new meaning to the words, 'if you want something done right, do it yourself'.

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"Actually I'd say that I'm pleasantly suprised!" Sam grinned widely as he gave Kisoku's shoulders a gentle squeeze. Really, it was true, though; between Kisoku and Lukas, he was never wanting for a good time or someone with whom to cause trouble. Yup. Everything a good best friend should be! "After all, you're just about the most amusing person in the city...and most definitely the most gorgeous and sexy..."

"She's going absolutely _mad_...." He laughed softly as he shook his head. It seemed just about every year Gleda through herself absolutely into doing things for her kindergarden class...or for this organization or that organization; it was madness, but it was also what made her happy. Besides, it meant free chocolate chip cookies-- and Gleda made the best damn cookies in all of Eden, hands down. "Y'know the tree thing at the Park later? She's volunteered for that _and_ for one of the refreshment stands; oh, reminds me, wanna come help hand out cookies, hot chocolate and stuff later?"

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Quietly, stealthily, Tesu eased open the window leading out to the fire escape. Scanning the alley below, he swung his legs over the windowsill, stepping lightly onto the landing where he again made a quick check for any passersby. Seeing no one, he closed the window behind him and quickly made his way down the fire escape, his light, quick footsteps making no sound against the metal runners. Once at street-level, one quick glance over his shoulder revealed none of Ausar's watchdogs stalking him, and so, flipping up the collar of his rather shabby woolen peacoat, he jammed his hands into his pockets and headed up the alley to the street.

As he'd gotten an early start, not too many people crowded the street - and the few of those who noticed him saw only what he wanted them to. They took in the slender, pale-skinned frame covered in shabby clothes, the shaggy, unkempt hair, the oversized black sunglasses - which were completely unnecessary in the pale winter light, but camouflaged his trademark tattoo very nicely indeed - and dismissed him as just another stray... possibly even a junkie. No one would possibly connect him with Tesu, Ausar's "pampered" pet, and the highest paid dancer/whore at the Lollipop Guild.

Although he longed to run through the streets, racing toward his destination, Tesu forced himself to remain at a casual saunter. After all, he had plenty of time to run his errands; it was only a little after 7, and Ausar *never* got out of bed before 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Which left Tesu with plenty of time to accomplish his purpose.

After leaving the marginally respectable area that contained the Guild, Tesu's footsteps led him to a much shabbier - not to mention, rougher - district: Shangri-La. The mythical land of peace, harmony and equality, where no one ever grew old. They'd even made a movie about it way back in the 1940s - which was the only reason Tesu had even heard of it. As he passed through the narrowed streets, picking his way gingerly over and between the army of homeless, junkies, and winos camped out on the sidewalk, a small, cynical smile curved his lips. At least they'd gotten one thing right when they named this area; no one here ever had a chance to die of old age. If the booze or the drugs didn't kill them, the gangs eventually would.

Making his way down the narrow, garbage strewn street that passed for this area's main thoroughfare, he approached a small, white, steepled building, pausing a moment before the wide oaken doors before pushing them open and stepping inside.

The interior of the church was ill-lit and musty smelling - in other words, the norm for this part of town. Passing quietly down the central aisle of pews - which, even at this hour, held a small contingent of the faithful - Tesu made his way to the front of the sanctuary where the alms box stood. Careful to keep his back to the small congregation, he reached into the front of his coat, withdrawing his wallet, and from that same, a large wad of bills - over a thousand dollars, the accumulated tips from his last three days work at the Guild. He stuffed the bills through the box's slot, and then turned, heading back the way he came to the front doors. His errand here now discharged, he had one more stop to make before heading back to his apartment.

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"Most gorgeous and sexy, eh? I bet you say that to all the girls...

"Of course, I'll help out. I gave Na-chan the slip, so I really have nothing better to do with my time. Maybe we can drag Lukas into it too...it'll be the Wingless Christmas Special!" He grinned, slipping a gloved hand around Sam's waist. "...speaking of which, we need to rock, paper, scissors for Bowie and Bing."

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As he set foot outside the posh apartment, the young Mexican drew a deep lungful of the morning air, but, before he could even exhale, he felt the phantom kisses of the bills which'd just been thrown in his face. A poor man's dream, any number of bills lay strewn about the boy's feet--tens, twenties, fifties all mixed lewdly together--but he didn't glance to these; instead, his hazel eyes were fixed to those of the elder man, his last client.

Screaming. The man was screaming at him. Words that came out as a jumble, nonsense. You aren't good enough. Cheap whore. Waste of time, of money. Not worth the effort it took. Yet, less than ten minutes ago, the man wasn't nearly so high and mighty as he beat him, scratched him, did any number of things to him. Letting the door slam in his face, Muneca stooped to gather the bills and, stuffing these into the pocket of his long coat, he started down the street at any easy pace.

Stooping his head, he let his long hair fall over his face, hide away the various bruises, the swelling around his left eye, the discoloration spreading from his cheek. Still, unfortunately, this also obscured his vision and, as he turned a corner, he found himself walking head first into something small, soft, human. Falling back, he slumped hard to the cold cement and, lifting his head, his eyes glared out at a slight form in an oversized peacoat.

"What the _fuck_ do you think you're doing?!" He snarled to the other. A junky, likely, from the look of things...or maybe a hobo. Didn't matter. It was a stupid accident, his fault, but he wasn't in the mood to let anything go. "Keep your fucking eyes open...or leave the shades at home, you fucking junky!"

Well, that was just calling the kettle black, as a few of the marks on his arms would well attest, but logic didn't figure into this in the slightest.

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"Well, no....not _all_ the girls.." Sam chuckled and, leaning in, he murmured to the elder's ear, lips to lobe. "Just the ones I _really_ want to get to know better..."

"Ah, that's right! No Na-chan!" He sighed mock-forlornly as he shook his head and, clapsing his hands over his heart, he hung his head sadly. "Now I'll never be able to tell her how much I... love her!"

"Oooh! Wingless Christmas Special! I like the sound of that! Just as long as it doesn't end up like _last year's_ special." He chuckled at the memory, then even moreso at the mention of rock-paper-scissoring for Bowie and Bing. "Tch. I don't know why you bother; you _know_ I'm always Bowie..."

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After leaving the church, Tesu headed up the street to a small flower shop he knew of a couple of blocks away. When he was still about a half a block from his destination, however... something... ran into him. He had a brief impression... height... and a mass of plum- colored hair before he was sent reeling into a wall with enough force to knock the breath out of him, as well as knocking his shades rather comically askew.

While he was still trying to catch his breath, and angry voice began yelling at him. His grey gaze turning in the direction the voice originated, he saw a young man sprawled on the pavement glaring up at him with hate-filled hazel eyes, yelling at him for causing the accident.

"I..I'm sorry..." Tesu stammered, shrinking back against the wall, away from the venom in those hazel eyes. "I..I d-didn't see y-you... Are you okay?" Even though the stranger's fury over the incident frightened him to the point where he wanted to just turn tail and run, he forced himself away from the wall, taking a couple of tentative steps toward the other youth, one pale slender hand extending to help him up.

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Muneca only blinked as the slight, pea-coat covered form shrinked against the wall instead of railing back at him, then even more so as it went on to apologize for the entire event. Knocked off-centre by this unexpected change, he exhaled slowly and, once the anger had gone from him, all that was left was regret for lashing out at the other.

"No. No, I'm fine." He sighed softly as he shook his head and, the anger seeping from his eyes, he peered to the offered hand as if he wasn't sure exactly what it was. Glancing past this, he looked to the other, but he still only had the impression of oversized, if not askew, glasses, peacoat; nothing of the underneath could be seen. Hell, it could just be a kid for all he could tell and that meant he'd just all but ran down a child. Lovely. Closing his eyes, he sighed out the next bit in a faint voice, as if it were difficult to make himself ask after the boy's health. "Yourself? Didn't....hurt you, did I?"

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