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


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In spite of herself, Sophia made a bit of a face at the threat that she too would be facing hormones soon enough. To have to deal with all sorts of unreasonable emotions, adrenaline surges, lusts... hardly an ideal state of affairs. She could only hope that it wouldn't hit her as hard as it did most, and that her reasoning would remain clear the whole way through. In the midst of this train of thought, she answered his first question rather reflexively, "_Because_ you're trying to better your music, give it a deeper meaning... wouldn't you say?"

She blinked a little, trying to gauge what his reaction had been from the emotions that had chased across his face so quickly. He'd been taken aback at first, of course-- they always were-- but he'd gotten over it quickly. And maybe he was even a little... sheepish? For being caught in the semi-lie? Well, it was better than being angry at the one who had caught him. "I'm ten," she said, "but I suppose I really wouldn't call myself a little girl, not in mannerisms or mentality."

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"Mary McKay?" Kisoku raised a curious eyebrow at the other. "I've heard stories about that one...lucky boy, you. It musta been fun...ah, and I was so close to getting into Eli's pants too! Damn family obligation..."

"And I'm sorry about leaving without saying goodbye, but people told me you were a bit..._busy_."

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"Hey!" Darran spluttered as Para's camera came out, "where'd the camera come from?" Caught in the joking poses from before, he really couldn't do anything else but laugh-- and marvel at how quick Para was.

Her gleeful matchmaking provoked another loud laugh as Darran shook his head ruefully. "You mean-- take you _both_ out on a date tonight? I might be good, but I'm not that good..."

He paused when Wolfgang tucked the flower in his pocket, and though he had no hands to pull it out, he peered down at it and smiled. "Hey, thanks, it's a nice one too. And yeah, you're probably right, we should head over there..." Hitching Cordy back up where Darran could get a better grip on him, he continued walking.

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The cold air circled around as small soft foorsteps were heard throughout the streets, away from near crowds and homes where children could be heard laughing and bodies were bustling with energy. The footsteps continued, small and timid steps that could barely be heard. Eyes down cast and shoulders hunched ever so slightly, the owner of the small steps continued slowly moving forward in an unimportant direction. The plain brown coat wrapped around the petite body tightly, as if an armor to cast away any harm that may come to the small girl. The girl stopped looking into her pocket, her eyes wary but a smile creeping from her thin lips.

"Mousy... behave, I'll get you some cheese soon, stop tickling me..."

Soft squeaks could be heard from the pocket and the girl shook her head, using her other hand to pull her glasses upward on the crook of her nose. "Oh mousy, you know I always need a walk... it... it... helps." Looking up, slightly shaking from fear of being seen by another, she continued to walk, looking down and as she stepped into a crowd, she could feel herself twitching nervously, "Ano...itai.."

Hunching her shoulder more so, she bgan to walk more quickly, hoping that no one would notice her as she stepped from the crowd into Belthelem Park, leaning against a wall and breathing deeply, her trembling hands going up to her forehead, "I should've... I should've taken somehing before walking... so many people..." Looking to her left, she could see concession stands, a family laughing joyfully.

Her gray eyes couldn't help but cloud with a hint of envy, knowing that unlike them, she had but a mouse to keep her company.

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"Yea. Mary McKay." Sam nodded his agreement and, grinning a bit, he momentarily basked in the memories of that night. God. It _had_ been a good time. More than a good time...a _great_ time. "I can tell you, though: everything you've heard is _absolutely_ true and even moreso."

"It's a shame, though." He sighed heavily as he shook his head. "I don't think I ever heard back from her after that evening. Don't spread it too much, but I think she's really crushing on Lukie, to be honest."

"Hey, don't apologize for not saying goodbye; family matters take precedence, anyway." Shaking away the apology, he grinned. "Still, no big deal, right? I'm sure Eli'll put out for you any time you ask him; from what I hear, he's _really_ into you..."

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"Mm. You're right, Wolfgang!" Para agreed readily as she slid her camera back into the pocket from whence it'd come. Grinning happily, she elbowed her way between the two boys and, linking an arm with both of them, she again started down the street. "Let's not make her wait too much longer, then!"

"Hey, I don't imagine taking both of us out on a date would be hard for a rugged-yet-sensative guy like you." Turning her face toward Darran, she winked teasingly. "Besides, I bet that you're _better_ than good..."

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"Mhmm...he is definately into me...and he _is_ cute! Yay! Go me!" Kisoku giggled, brushing a few stray wisps of hair out of his eyes. "Though, it was very..._frustrating_ to have to go talk about ice sculptures and party favors when I could've been out partying..."

"I had no clue Mary had her eyes on Lukes...ah well, I guess that'll be one heck of a happy discovering for him..." Kisoku smiled, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Speaking of which, I wonder what he's up to...not that I don't love our alone time, darling. But usually his friend-ar would have found you or me out by now..."

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"Yea. I imagine it must suck to be sitting in a business meeting when you could well be sitting on something far more pleasant." Sam grinned at his own stupid innuendo and, letting this spread to a teasing smirk, he briefly razzled the elder. "Still, sucks to be you; I know, I know...."

"Yea, well, I didn't really know that Mary was hot on him, either, until one of her friends told me." He laughed easily, then shrugged. "Still, I really don't know what, if anything, will come of it."

"Y'know, you have a point." Nodding, he tilted his head as he considered where Lukie could well be. Maybe he was stuck in the house with his maman and pere. Wincing at this thought, he shook his head. No, if that were true, then he'd have to go see if he could rescue his friend and that might not fly over very well. Shaking himself from these thoughts, he grinned and, reaching into his coat pocket, he produced his cell phone. "Wanna find out what our favorite Cajun wet blanket is doing?"

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"Well, I'm not going to actually _contradict_ you on that," Darran laughed, "no one in his right mind would, eh? So I guess, if you've got me backed into a corner and all, I'll reveal myself! Yes, I _am_ good enough to date you both at once," he proclaimed with a flourish, "however," he quickly undercut himself, "Wolfgang's meeting up with a friend tonight, isn't that right? Alas, the plan is ruined!" He leaned forward a little and gave the boy a conspiratorial wink; he was nearly dead sure the word Wolfgang had cut himself off on before had been 'boyfriend,' so he felt sure that the offer to double-date would be seen as nothing more than a joke.

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Observing Sophia's reaction to the idea that sooner or later, will- she or nill-she, she'd also be subject to the idiocies of adolescence, Lukas chuckled softly, "Don't fret, Douce... It's not *all* bad.. An' someone as level-headed as you already appear to be should at least be able to avoid bein' as bone-headed as me 'n my lot can be sometimes... Not," he added with a slightly self-deprecating laugh, "that that's a very high bar to jump..."

A thoughtful look crossed his face at Sophia's admission of her age. No... she *really* wasn't a little girl at all. What could have possibly made a child so thoroughly...adult like that? She should still be playing with Barbie dolls or giggling and sighing with her friends over some movie or rock star. Every kid should have the chance to be... well... a kid, but something had cheated this grave- eyed little woman-child, and in Lukas' mind, that was just...wrong. With a renewed determination to bring a laugh or a smile to this very unchildlike child, Lukas offered Sophia another lopsided grin, "You headin' anywhere in particular, petite? I figure since you saved my life, I at least owe you breakfast."

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"Not all bad," she somewhat grudgingly agreed, "but more something to be endured than anticipated..." as some of the sillier girls in her class were doing, wishing for their periods and studying tampons with awe-stricken faces. As if the day wouldn't come soon enough-- or all too soon, she added, remembering a grisly case involving a girl who was barely thirteen, convicted of murdering her newborn baby out of desperation.

Lukas' breakfast offer brought a surprised look to Sophia's face. She hadn't been expecting that... but gave it serious consideration. Of course, no matter how nice he seemed, she couldn't possibly go anywhere private with him. But if what he meant was breakfast in public-- maybe at the diner she knew was nearby-- then she was pretty sure that he was simply being nice, and not threatening. "I already had breakfast, actually, but if you're hungry there's a diner close by. I wouldn't mind a milkshake." Though her perception was sharp, she completely missed the fact that, for all she acted mature, she was just as willing as any child to have her sweets in the morning.

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He could spot someone approaching; bubbly pink, a girl. The boy was tempted to show off - Carol of the Bells, purhaps? No, he decided, and continued with the song. He pretended almost not to notice her, not out of rudeness, but because it would throw his playing off. He did, however, observe this spectator out of the corner of his eye.

She looked about his age - perhaps even went to his same high school - a girl of fifteen, sixteen, maybe? She was small compared to him, not short, but definitely not his size. 'White Christmas' ended, and he decided to take a break. He turned, still leaning against the building, and smiled at the girl nonchalantly.

"Any requests?" he chuckled, letting the instrument slack against his chest, placing one hand in his pocket. "You name it, I'll play it. No charge."

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"Well... that be truth, Sophie-girl," Lukas chuckled, "But at least you grow out of it... eventually..." Blinking a bit, he paused, then added, "At least, I *think* you do..."

"Sounds good," he agreed easily at Sophia's suggestion of the nearby diner. "Lead the way, petite." Smiling a bit sheepishly, he shrugged, "Tell you the truth, I was so...er... preoccupied earlier, I kinda lost track of what part of town I'm in..."

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"You're in Xanadu," she answered quickly, "corner of Fullen Avenue and Toylon Street. I hope that means something to you, otherwise you'll have a tough time getting home." After all, this stretch was part of the six blocks it took her to get from her house to Olhado's; five further and you'd be at her school, eight blocks from her house in a different direction would take you to the courthouse. But she knew absolutely nothing on how to get anywhere beyond these landmarks.

Fortunately, the diner she had referred to was, in fact, between Olhado's and her school. As they began, she frowned slightly and asked, "Preoccupied? You were furious..." then paused and peered up at him. That _was_ a little out of bounds, she knew; there was no reason in the world why he should have to tell her anything about the mood he'd been in before.

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Blinking a bit, Lukas glanced around him and immediately saw that Sophia was right. Had he really been so angry earlier that he didn't even recognize his own neighborhood? Of course, now that she had pointed it out, the surrounding area now seemed familiar. "I think I need a keeper," he muttered, shaking his head at his own stupidity. His deep blue gaze returning once more to his companion, he grinned, "Pretty stupid, huh... not recognizin' my own neighborhood?"

As he fell into step beside her, he was once again taken aback by her next comment. "Er... yeah..." he replied, turning his face aside a bit, pretending to glance over at a storefront Christmas display, "Guess I was, at that... Troubles at home... you know how it is..."

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"Well, I've always been fond of 'I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus'..." Lucia giggled, batting her eyes non-chalantly at the boy. "Just kidding!"

She added this last part with a wink. If there was any game that Lucia knew how to play, it was flirtation. "Umm...how about 'The Christmas Song'. Y'know, the one that goes ~chestnuts roasting on an open fire~! I _love_ that song!"

She smiled sweetly at the boy, pulling her white fleece hat tightly over her ears. "I guess you think I'm totally weird for standing here...I just think you're really good is all."

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"Ooh yay! Call him! Call him! Tell him that I cried myself to sleep because we were apaaaart!" Kisoku wailed, sprawling out melodramatically on the table. "I just can't live without him!"

The twenty-year-old child hopped up and down in his seat. "But seriously, call him! Then, the whole group'll be together! It'll be great."

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"Yes! I shall tell him that we're languishing away without his radiant appearance and that nothing is the same!" Sam called out loudly enough to earn looks from a few of the other patrons. Still, ignoring this, he sprawled dramatically in his half of the booth-- arms and legs jutting out in odd directions--and, of course, he started to sing. "For he is my sunshine, my only sunshine..."

This didn't last long though, and, digging his cell from his coat, he quickly dialed the number for Lukas' cell phone.

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"Ah, you live around here?" Meeting his eyes, she could hardly not see his friendly grin, and this time, tentatively, she responded... admittedly, it added up to about as much as a quick little tightening of her lips. Nevertheless, a small smile. But it was gone almost as quickly as it had come; how angry must he have been, to be disoriented in his own neighborhood?

She got her answer in his next words, and then it made some sense to her. Whether he meant a quarrel between him and one of his parents, or a fight between the two adults, it made no difference. "Yes," she replied softly, "I know." For herself, Sophia knew that in her particular instance there was simply no use patching up what had ceased to be a family unit of three: Inaya wasn't worth it, and that was the truth. But she saw Umed still hoping, still trying his best to do the impossible, and she had a feeling that the good-natured boy beside her was in the same predicament.

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Christmas meant one thing to Arvel and his two best friends, Estelle and Jeremy: Rehearsals, rehearsals, and more rehearsals. And then a few performances -- never enough, it seemed -- and then they were free -- relatively.

Today being the Noel Festival there were no rehearsals, so the three roamed the city at large. Arvel was entwined with colorful christmas lights and Estelle had donned a pair of stunning white wings and the three were roaming the park, singing Christmas tunes.

Everytime a starry-eyed couple wandered by Arvel would sigh and stare quite obviously at Jeremy, but the much taller boy never seemed to notice. The tiny red-head was an incurable romantic and had pined after his friend for years.

"I wish I had a lover..." Arvel sighed, grey eyes glittering with the idea. He beamed a smile at a man staring into a toyshop's display of porcelain dolls -- the man looked as though he could use a smile -- as they walked by.

"Romance is for fools," Jeremy muttered.

"It is not!" Arvel protested, "don't you ever want to find your soul mate and cuddle and kiss and be in love?"

"How many people do _you_ know like that?" Jeremy scoffed, "I don't know any. Everyone gets divorced, like my parents, or have affairs, like Estelle's, or have sex even though they don't even get married at all -- "

"Jeremy!!!" Estelle was horrified at such tactlessness.

Arvel's eyes widened as he tried to fight the tears, but when that didn't work he turned and ran -- ran towards home, in the poor district of Shangri-la. Estelle smacked Jeremy, who looked completely bewildered, before dragging him after the upset and offended Arvel.

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