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


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His thoughts a rather angry frenzy, Muneca stalked down the streets. It wasn't even so much that the man hadn't paid him--hell, he hadn't been on the clock, really, so it wasn't _that_ much of a problem; it was more the issue of pride and who had injured whose. Sure, he often had to swallow pride with mouthfuls of bodily fluid, but, this time, he couldn't just let himself back down.

Just see how well it'd turned out, too.

Funniest thing was he couldn't pinpoint what, exactly, had made it so impossible to fall back to his usual role. Was it because the businessman had been rather young, compared to his usual pool of clients? Was it because the whole fucking thing had been like a stupid game of chicken? Was it just because he couldn't make himself beg to someone so smug and prideful? With a sigh, he shook these thoughts away and, brushing back a bit of his hair, he surveyed his surroudings.

It seemed as if he had walked quite a distance from the hotel, but he was still rather too close to the Park for his own sanity. After all, everyone in there'd likely still be infested with the Christmas spirit and he didn't really feel like coming down with it himself; not to mention the fact that his sister and littlest brother'd doubtlessly be inside and he didn't quite feel like a family reunion, either. Spotting a pizza parlour out of the corner of his eye, he decided that he could probably do with a cool drink and, if alcohol was out of the question, then maybe some caffeine would do.

Entering the place, he surveyed it quickly and, rather idly, he found himself wondering what the hell had happened; there was a decidedly odd vibe in the air and the blond kid behind the counter had a rather... shellshocked look to him. Going over possibilities in his mind, he ordered himself a soda and, once it'd been delivered, he slid into a booth just behind a group of kids and what looked to be a... cactus. Best of all, one of the kids and the cactus seemed to be playing a game on one of the placemats.

"Hn." He chuckled to himself as he shook his head. "I only hope that the cactus isn't winning..."

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Erik? The cactus? It wasn't often something could simply make Sophia come to a full stop, but... okay. The cactus was named Erik. There wasn't much one could say to that.

"Sophia," she replied to Tesu's introductions, "I hope you don't mind if I sit here." She took a sip of her milkshake-- very nice, actually-- and watched as the game began and another customer entered the store. However, her thoughts were actually focused on the boy next to her, Alexei. After all, he'd threatened to kill Sam, and whatever else had happened, that couldn't be allowed. Mainly, she needed more information: there were precious few scenarios that fully explained everything that had gone on. Alexei _could_ be a stalker... but then there was also what he'd mentioned about a 'Sergei,' who _might've_ been harmed by Sam... Sophia shook her head impatiently at the conjectures. They wouldn't get her anywhere; what she needed was some way to begin a conversation with Alexei.

Without triggering him.

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"You win, Erik," Alexei said after a moment, pouting slightly, "You always beat us." He picked up a slice of pizza, chewed thoughtfully, before starting a new game, this one with the boy known as Tesu. "If you win you have to play with Erik," He announced.

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Estelle squealed happily about Sam being sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool and ignored Lukas' advice completely. Getting to sit on Sam's lap was, in her opinion, the greatest thing to ever happen to her. Arvel and Jeremy stood watching, bemused. Stubby wagged his tail and pranced around, tongue lolling out, as he sniffed the ankles of all these new people.

"Aww, c'mon, guys, there are enough laps for all of us!" Estelle invited.

"No, thank you," Jeremy said, looking decidedly uncomfortable.

"Ok," Arvel agreed, and sat on Kisoku, "Hey, again."

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"If I win..." Tesu murmured, "I'll play Sophia... and when she beats me, then *she* can play Erik..." He nodded to the younger girl, offering her another half-smile when she introduced herself. "Nice to meet you..." he replied, glancing back over at the placemat and making a rather wobbly X in the lower left corner.

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"Tch. Lukie's just jealous cos he doesn't get a cute young thing warming _his_ lap." Sammy snerked as he stuck his green-tinted tongue out at the Cajun. Yea, yea. Of course he was only teasing and he was fairly sure that Lukas knew as much. Still, it was nice to just fool around a bit and not spend the whole time brooding over what'd just happened in the restaurant. "Still, I know the perfect solution to all this!"

Scooping Estelle in his arms, he got to his feet and, assuming that Lukas was sitting on the bench like the rest of them, he situated himself on the Cajun's lap, then settled Estelle on his own lap thus creating a rather wobbly and, for his part, giggly stack of humanity.

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"Very well. That is acceptable. Sophia seems capable of playing Erik... he's a tic-tac-toe champion," Alexei explained, placing an O next to Tesu's X. "He always beats us, but Sophia seems to be an intelligent girl. We are sure she is up to the challenge. Your turn."

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"Of course you may stay. It isn't a problem at all. Well, Ms. Nonezumi, it's been nice talking with you," He inclined his head in the young ladies direction, "I'll see you later, Lemy." He turned to Nevan, "We'll be leaving now... Unless you would care to stay and watch the play, of course, Mr. Alraune."

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"Th-thank you, M-Master Barano..." Lem murmured gratefully as he offered the elder a bright and rather teeth-rottingly sweet smile. Of course, he knew that it was possible that were be ramifications later, but, for now, he'd be able to spend a bit more time with Sasurai. "Pl-please enjoy yourself. I... I'll see you later, then."



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"Well, the play sounds interesting, but it's really your choice, Mr. Barano." Nevan spoke up for the first time since this whole conversation had begun. Actually, he really didn't know what to say, since there seemed to be such an odd air among this group of people. Still, he managed a bright smile as he turned to the elder. "Really, I think I'd be willing to do just about anything on such a lovely day."

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Sasurai bowed her head slightly in being addressed by Barano, mumuring a soft "Nice to talk with you too" just to be polite, though she was happy in knowing that she'll still be able to spend time with her new friend. As for the others... whether they'd stay or not didn't matter... if they decided to see the play she'd... only have to get used to their presence.

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"Wee! Now I can tell my friends I sat in Sam _and_ Lukas' laps!!" Estelle declared happily.

"Why is it that the two of you can think of nothing better to do than sit in the laps of celebrities?" Jeremy complained, trying to get Stubby to sit.

"It wasn't the celebrity thing that intrigued me, it was the fact that this one is hot _and_ nice," Arvel explained.

"His name is Kisoku, Arvel..." Estelle informed her friend.

"Uh...ok, hi, Kisoku, nice to meet you."

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Shittsui shrugged, "I wasn't planning on staying. Well, you two enjoy the play and behave yourselves," that was a veiled threat to Lemy right there, "you can tell me how it went, Lemy, sweet. Mr. Alraune?" Sui turned to his companion, "How does dinner sound right about now?"

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Kisoku grinned at the boy in his lap. It wasn't everyday that you got cute young things throwing themselves on top of you... well, that wasn't necessarily true for Kisoku, but it was his day off from being a celebrity. Therefore, it was pleasantly unusual.

"Nice to meet you, too... Arvel!" Kisoku chirped after take a moment to recall what the girl had called her friend. "Hot and nice, thaaaat's me! But, you forgot rich and uber-talented... and humble!"

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"O-Of course. I'll... I'll be sure to behave myself." Lem agreed quickly as he winced just slightly at the veiled threat. Still, as he turned to glance to Sasurai, he found a small, soft, and just slightly sheepish smile shaping his lips. Really, that had gone a lot better than he had thought it would and he was quite pleased that he'd be able to, at least watch the play with his new friend.

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"That sounds very good, Mr. Barano." Nevan nodded eagerly to the invitation to dinner and, reaching into his coat pocket, he smiled as he felt his wallet, along with the usual pocket paraphenalia. After all, it wasn't quite kosher to expect a near stranger to pay for dinner. Smiling, he tipped his head as he turned his attention back to the elder. "Stil, if you'd rather, you can just call me Nevan. There's really no need to be so formal to me..."

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Sasurai smiled back at Lemy, just faint, soft smile, but a genuine one of secret enthuaism. Though she didn't really understand the relationship between her new friend and the stranger, it didn't seem to matter. Of course, though she couldn't help but twitch at the comment of "behaving" said by one of the strangers, she did notice a very slight wince made by Lemy in response... of course that perhaps was not important and she shook that little curious thought from her mind.

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With a long-suffering sigh, Lukas gave up to the inevitable and allowed Sam and Estelle to perch on his lap. No point in arguing with the blonde singer when he was like this; when he so desired, Sam could be almost a force of nature. So... he wouldn't resist, wouldn't protest, wouldn't make a peep... but he *didn't* have to like it. Stretching his arms out along the back of the bench, he leaned back against the backrest and tried to pretend he was somewhere else entirely. Capistrano sounded good...

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"You can sit in my lap _anytime_..." Sam purred to Estelle as grinned widely. Yup. He was in his element, now, with a cute girl on his lap and his Cajun friend probably mortally embarassed... or just pissed off at him for being a jackass. Still, it wasn't like he couldn't 'improve' things.

"Still, I only wish Lukie could enjoy this..." He sighed heavily and, drawing one arm around said boy, he tried to pull the Cajun from his recumbrant position to something much closer to his own body. Nuzzling Lukas' neck, he purred low. "...or maybe he's just a grumpy Pere Noel..."

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"...Um... yeah... I'm sure she is..." Holding his pencil rather awkwardly, Tesu scrawled another shaky looking X in the upper left corner. Although he had originally planned to throw the game, the thought of being defeated by a kid who was outplayed by a cactus left something to be desired. So he decided to at least try to win this game and then let Sophia beat him, thereby salvaging at least some of his pride. Pushing the placemat back over to Alexei, he smiled at his opponent and reached for his slice of pizza. "Your move..."

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