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


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Lukas blinked a bit at the sudden suspicion he saw in Sophia's eyes and for a moment, couldn't figure out what might be wrong. Then the thought came to him that, for all her apparent maturity and perception, Sophia *was* still a little girl. And he had just asked her to go god knows where with someone she barely knew to meet two people she knew even less. Now, what was someone with her perception *supposed* to think of a proposition like that?

"Sorry, Sophie-girl," he replied a bit sheepishly, "I wasn't thinkin' how this might look to you..." Shaking his head, he continued, "That was - as you prob'ly gathered - one of my buddies. They're at a pizza place not too far from here an' wanted me to come meet them. When I told them I was takin' a young lady out for a milkshake, they just assumed you were my date - well...I kinda helped 'em assume at the end... but since I *do* like you, it wasn't like I was lyin'...Anyway...they suggested I bring you along. I was gonna explain... but it just seemed like it'd be funnier to let 'em go ahead an' think that til we got there. You don't have to actually pretend to be my date, or nothin' like that... Hell, you don't have to go at all if you'd rather not - we can just go on to the diner like we'd planned an' you can get your milkshake there."

"*But*" he added, a broad grin once more spreading across his face, "If you *do* decide to go... you'll have a damn good story to tell your friends at school..."

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"Hai..." Sasurai nodded, carefully scooping up Mousy from his hand to hers, careful, still, not to make contact with Lemy even after the established bit of trust. Fidgeting only slightly as she looked back at him, she slowly walked towards the direction, making sure Lemy wasn't behind and looking down, she secretly, deep down sindie, congratulated at herself for at least having company at this festival, despite the crowd... Maybe holidays weren't so bad... Stopping by a stand and looking up timidly at the menu, she smiled softly seeing the items, "Look Mousy... I can as for cheese just for you..." Looking at Lemy and turning towards him, her eyes downcast she asked softly, 'is there anything you'd like... they have sandwiches, and nachos... and-and-and even pizza if-if-if you'd like..." though she was aware he could pay for him and treat her to something, the information seemed too kind... she didn't want to be an inconvience...

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Falling into step just a little behind the girl, Lem smiled a bit to himself. It was odd, but he was suddenly a bit glad that he had thought to come to the Park, after all. Of course, his only intent had been to see the decorations and the like, but it seemed like he had also somehow managed to meet someone nice.

And they say Christmas magic is dead.

"Hmmm..." As they came to the stands, he paused as he studied the menu, but he really didn't want to get anything overly salted; his mouth was still smarting a bit from his work yesterday and salt, of course, only seemed to aggrevate it. Still, spotting something near the bottom of the menu, he grinned in a manner more befitting a young child than a man almost twenty.

"Cotton candy!" He exclaimed happily as he smiled. "I... think I'll get myself a cotton candy!"

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Sasurai couldn't help but laugh openly, her laugh soft and subdued, but still a rare sound fom her throat. So long had it been since she actually laughed that Sasurai wondered if she took the right pills in the morning. Then again, it was surprising to see Lemy- sans's face light up like a child and the fact he asked for cotton candy couldn't help be alleviate her mood, "Chou Kawaii..." was all she muttered, shaking her head and her dull eyes almost lighting up as the feeling of laughter that has been released.

And to think she believed that the holiday spirit was dead inside of her. Ha!

Looking back towards the vendor at the stands, she carefully ordered herself a plain... extra cheesy pizza. Remembering the mouse furry companion in her hand, she asked for a swis cheese slice, looking down under the slightly shocked and odd glance from the vendor as he gave her the food. Moving aside to let Lemy-san order, she took out some money from her pockets, her eyes sitll laughing and smiling as she took in the decorations of the festival and the park.

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Lem found himself laughing quietly, to himself, at the suprised look crossing the vendor's features as Sasurai made her purchases then, once the girl'd moved aside, he ordered his cotton candy, as well as an extra thick milkshake. After paying for the lot, he turned to his companion and, nibbling a fit at the sugary fluff, he raised an eyebrow to the girl.

"Oh! I have an idea..." Tilting his head, he moved so the next in line could be waited upon and, walking to the edge of the crowd, he smiled softly. "There's supposed to be some really pretty decorations around the park. D'you want to take a bit of a walk?"

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Sasurai, gently placing Mousy into her pocket as he nibbled eagerly on his slice of cheese, look up at her new found companion and nodded, "Sure, I would like a walk..." She slowly took a bit of her pizza, not being able to help but slurp a bit at the cheese on tthe pizza.

As they began to walk to couldn't help but also notice how... cute Lemy-san was, of course, these thoughts were tossed quickly aside, looking down nervously motioning towards his "food", "You are-are- are one of the first... p-p-people who loves that many sweets," the last word came out in a slight squeak, underlining her natural nervousness and she couldn't help but berate herself for doing so.

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"Y-Yea..." Lem flushed a bit at her words towards his food, but he also found himself laughing quietly. It wasn't anything he'd deny; he really _did_ have just about the worst sweet tooth in the city and, giving his druthers, he'd probably eat nothing but. Still, noting the nervous note to her tone, he quickly turned his attention to their surroundings as he continued.

"I... I've always just loved sweets..." He giggled quietly as he shook his head. Dipping, he sucked idly at the straw to his shake, but, as it was so thick, the sweet, sweet goodness simply refused to rise. "I... I guess that just... makes me seem childish, but..."

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Sasurai chuckled softly, looking around despite her natural hunched posture, "Childish? Iie... it makes you seem more..." What word could describe what it made him seen, "innocent... content..." The last word described how she felt at the moment, content.

The decorations were lavishing, trees glowing colorful lights, "Besides... at-at least sweet things are-are a normal favorite food... I'm-" she took a quick, yet rather large bite of her pizza, savoring the rich mozerella, "I'm a fan of-of... cheese..." Mousy squeaked in response to the word, nibbling on the last swiss as it began to slowly diminish. She glaced at Lemy-san, her nervousness fading slowly again as the feeling of content rose.

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"Content..." Lem repeated the word in a soft murmur as if tasting an odd, rare, but tasty fruit. Yes. That did fit. Despite the crowd and despite the Mr. Barano-lessness, he _did_ feel content, as if he didn't have to be afraid of what this girl might do or might say or how he might anger her with a mispoken word or action. Really, he felt as if he were in the presence of a... friend.

"Mm-mm." Slowly, he shook his head as Sasurai mentioned her love of cheese and, smiling, he nibbled a bit at his candy. "There's nothing wrong with liking cheese and, besides, it... well... not to be rude or anysuch... but... it... seems to... to suit you."

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"Yes... content." such an odd word, but a good word to describe this meeting and conversation. Sasurai couldn't help but feel as if she could finally open up, without the fear of being cast out or in pain. Of course... everything comes at a price, even contentment, yet hopefully... hopefully fate would let her have an exception.

Sasurai looked up at him, and blushed at his last comment... not knowing if the blush was the result of embarassment or if she was truly accepting his compliment/simple statement of a fact. She looked down and smiled softly, nibbling on her pizza, "Well... as if it-it's not obvious... I love mice, I can relate to them... so... of course I-I- I love cheese."

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"Mm," Sophia muttered noncomittally as she listened to Lukas' explaination. It would be foolish in the extreme to think she could defend herself against three teenagers with a single derringer-- but then, if she thought she was in danger, she shouldn't go at all.

The thing was, she _did_ trust Lukas, pretty much. Her instincts told her that safety wasn't really an issue, and he had also been very honest so far-- not even pretending to be, but truly forthright. It was unlikely the entire thing would be an elaborate scheme to trap her... and, she had to admit, if she didn't go, there would really be nothing else to do but go home to an echoing house and busy herself until it was time to leave for the festival. That would have been alright normally, but if another chance presented itself, would it be so bad to take it?

"Okay," she said with a nod. "Thank you for inviting me. I suppose your friends will be pretty surprised, to see you walk in with a child..."

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"It's... c-cute, though..." Lem offered quietly as he blushed a bit himself. Well, it was true. Being like a mouse, relating to mice..that'd be considered true to just about anyone. Still, of course, he had to try to draw back should the girl take offense or embarassment at his words, as could slightly be foretold by her faint flush.

"I-I mean... it's just..." Smiling in slightly sheepish manner, he turned his attention immediately back toward his food, but the milkshake still refused to give up its sweetness. "Well, mice're so cute and sweet and... and everything... and... and I really can't see how being like that'd be... well... anything but cute or... or... good."

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Sasurai eyes widened and she swore her ears were lying. "C-cute...? I-I-I-I..." She couldn't help but stutter incoherently. Slowly she forced her nerves to calm down, reminding herself that the minute she went back the home to take her medication, "Arigatou... I... I don't think of myself as... cute like... mice... I'm-I'm..." she sighed, "Gomen nasai... I'm not... used to compliments..."

She made a soft smile seeing him struggle to get the sweetness from his milkshake, "Here..." carefully taking the milkshake, using the straw, she swirled it around a bit, hoping that the added motion would heat of the mixture inside so it would be loose enough for him to slurp up. Handing it carefuly back to him, she blushed shyly, "Maybe... maybe that helps..."

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"N-no. That... that's fine." He shook his head and, feeling a bit bad for making her blush, he silently decided to curb his tongue a little more firmly for the rest of their conversation. After all, he wouldn't want the girl to keep feeling embarassed or uncomfortable and, beside that, he really wanted to try to make this warm feeling of content linger as long as possible. "I... I'll just be more careful in the future..."

"Hm?" Naturally, he blinked a little as she took his milkshake, but he only smiled to see that she was trying to loosen the thick liquid. Of course, he _should've_ thought of that himself, but, well, he wasn't always the brightest blub on the proch. Taking back his drink, he drew again at the straw and, as the sweet slush filled his mouth, he smiled brightly. It was _good_! Was all was swallowed, he turned this bright smile to Sasurai. "Oh, thank you! That was _such_ a good idea!"

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Arvel brightened up, "You really think so? Even... even with all the divorce and sleeping around and unfaithfulness? Aaah, I knew I wasn't the only person who believes it exists! Thank you! You've just made my day!" He spontaneously gave the man a hug of gratitude. At that moment, however, Estelle and Jeremy caught up to him. Estelle's wings had been knocked askew.

Jeremy stepped forward penitently, "I'm sorry, Arvel, I didn't mean to insult you."

"Yes, please forget about it and come eat pizza with us!" Estelle begged.

"O...ok," Arvel agreed. He waved goodbye to the man. "Merry Christmas! And thank you, again!"

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"It's alright, you can really stop apologizing!" Arvel said for the millionth time. "I'm not mad at you anymore." He took a huge bite out of his pizza. Then he noticed it -- a large roach crawling across the table. With a fearful squeak he jumped up, crashing into the people in the table next to them.

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Alexei finally realized he had gotten the wrong person and let go. "Chachacha...we did not intend to bite your dog. We were trying to kill one of Them, but your dog got in the way and now he is gone. We hope we did not do too much damage," He turned to the dog, mismatched eyes almost gaining focus, "We are sorry, dog. You should not get in our way when we are trying to kill Them."

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"Fine! I won't flirt... though if it's a girl, it won't really matter now will it---ACK!" Kisoku yelped as a strange boy crashed right into him. With much choas and tangling of limbs, he finally got a good look at him. Young thing... Kisoku cursed internally. If it hadn't been such a young person, he would have probably killed this boy for slamming into him so rudely. Ah well, there was no chance of his inner bitch to come out now. Which left only his inner flirt to do the dirty work...

"Say, do you jump into the lap of every guy you see, or are you trying to tell me something, squirt?" Kisoku winked at the boy who was sprawled out in front of him.

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"Tch." Naturally, Sam blinked at the confusion and, unable to tell what had happened, he'd been about to investigate in his own way. Still, hearing Kisoku's words and tone, he quickly assumed that nothing majorly bad had happened. Grinning, he leaned over the table. "Why is it that sempai is always the one to get cute boys in his lap?"

"I guess I'm just not hot enough..." He sighed further as he reached for another slice of pizza. "Oh well! More pizza for mee!"

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"It's nothing," Chance shrugged. "I think I rather like having a crowd..." he returned the girl's wink, and lifted his instrument to his mouth. And so he commenced to play the song, holding out a note here, making his vibrato more obvious there, and it was one of those times where he played perfectly. The notes were clear as ever, silky and warm in contrast with the glacial air that day, deep and melodic.

He let the saxophone relax against his chest again, and held out a huge hand, flashing a grin, which seemed to reflect in his eyes. "You must be a good luck charm, I usually don't play that well..." he straightened up, and ran a hand through his hair, letting the curls bounce back into place. "Name's Chance - and yours?" his sizeable hand was still extended in a gentleman-like fashion.

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"Good luck charm... well, a lot of people've told me that I'm great at bringing out the best in people." Lucia grinned, placing her petite hand in the other's. "I'm Lucia. Lucia Abandonne. It's a pleasure to meet you, Chance."

This was a find indeed, a musician... well, Samael was a musician as well, but when the time was right, she would call upon him for other matters. This one could sound the tone of battle. It'd be glorious! She could practically hear the ringing sounds of swords clashing against one another and the screams of pain and death and revolution...the sounds of change! It was only a memory, but it was still a beautiful thought.

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