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


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"Oh... I don't know if you're talented, because I've never heard you sing," Arvel offered, "and I didn't know you were rich, either."

"Of course he's rich! He's one of the richest guys in New Eden!" Estelle exclaimed as she made herself comfortable on Sam's lap, "and they're really, really good! I've got copies of all their concerts, I'll let you borrow them."

"Yeah, he's really rich and famous," Jeremy agreed, "Lives in Eleysian Fields. Haven't you heard of the Capulets?"

"No..." Arvel squeaked, suddenly embarrassed -- more because being around very rich people made him nervous than because he hadn't heard of the Capulets, "I... ummm... wow, Eleysian Fields, really?"

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Alexei nodded to nothing in particular and drew a big, fat 'O' in the middle of the board. "This is very good pizza..." He added, and turned to the boy behind them, "Hello. Would you like to be part of our tic-tac-toe marathon?" He asked the Hispanic.

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"Hm? A tic-tac-toe marathon?" Mune quirked an eyebrow at this and, half-rising, he peered over Alexei's shoulder at the offical game board. "Is there room for another? It sounded like you had the rounds all mapped out... and the cactus's the one to beat."

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Surprised by Sam's actions, Lukas so forgot himself for a moment that he actually returned his friend's nuzzling, his eyes sliding closed as he drank in the fragrance of the other's hair, a soft smile clinging to his lips. The lapse was only momentary, however, ending almost as quickly as it had begun, and a moment later he was sliding out from under the other two, hastily rising to his feet.

"Or maybe," he said sharply, "Just maybe I don't feel like makin' a public spectacle of myself offstage."

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Of course, Sam was just as suprised by Lukas' returning of the nuzzlings, but he found himself suprised, even moreso, as the Cajun rather quickly slid from underneath him. Doing his best not to displace Estelle in the confusion, he reseated himself on the newly vacated bench as he turned a slightly confused expression to Lukas.

"What d'you mean making a public spectacle?" He giggled as he fell back on his usual coping skill of making _everything_ a joke. "I was just being _nice_ to you, Lukie. C'mon, don't be mad..."

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Intent on the game, Tesu hadn't noticed Mune's entrance. When Alexei spoke, he glanced up from the gameboard, his pencil poised over the top center square, and blinked, "...Dante..?"

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"I ain't mad," Lukas replied, keeping his voice carefully neutral, "but I ain't one of your groupies, neither... so don't feel like you got to give me any special treatment."

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"Hm?" Dante blinked as he heard his name and, glancing across the table, he noted a familiar dark-haired boy. Grinning faintly, he quirked a brow as he waved idly. "Hey, Tesu. What's up?"

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"What's that supposed to mean?" Sam frowned a bit as he tipped his head on side. "I wasn't giving you... special treatment or whatever you want to call it. I was just being nice to one of my best friends. It's nothing to get all jumpy over."

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"Who's jumpy?" Lukas drawled casually, forcing a laugh, "But don't bother bein' nice to me... just treat me the way you usually do, eh?"

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"I _was_ treating you as I usually do, Lukie." He shook his head and, deciding to just let all of this conversation go, he giggled. "Still, nice to see my favorite Cajun's still a nice wet blanket, ne?"

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"Oh... um... not much..." He considered, for a moment, telling Mune about the rather odd events of the past few minutes, but quickly dismissed the notion. Alexei seemed to have calmed down, and as he didn't seem to think the Mexican was one of the mysterious Them, hadn't attacked. So, not wishing to provoke any more outbursts, he remained silent on that score.

"You can join us... if you want..." he said, lowering his gaze once more to the gameboard and finishing his move, scratching another shaky X into the top center square.

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"Y'sure it's alright?" Mune quirked an eyebrow as he reached to retrieve his soda. "I'd hate to disturb a peaceful meal and, besides, the competition's already so heated.."

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Regaining at least some of his composure after his momentary slip, Lukas snorted, "Well... *someone's* gotta keep you 'n Kiso in line, eh?" More than happy to let the previous conversation fall into oblivion, he chuckled a bit, adding, "Honestly... the way you two carry on sometimes, I been givin' serious thought to resignin' from the band an' hirin' on as your nursemaid..."

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"Oooh! I _like_ that idea!" Sammy giggled and, gently displacing Estelle from his lap, he moved so as to try, at least, to glomp onto the Cajun. "Just as long as that means you get to wear a cute nurse's outfit and give the both of us regular check-ups and booster shots!"

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"Sure..." Tesu replied, glancing over at his two companions - three, counting Erik. Weird. He was beginning to think of the cactus as an intelligent entity in its own right...

"You're not disturbing anything..." he said, sliding over across the seat to make room, "And you don't have to play, if you'd rather not... but if you do, we can just add in another round..."

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"No..." Lukas replied patiently, deftly avoiding the glompage - but holding out a hand in order to catch his friend if he should lose his balance. " It means I get to wear my regular clothes 'n lock the two of you in a playpen..."

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"Lock sempai and I in a playpen, huh?" Sam laughed at this and, indeed losing his balance, he rather gratefully steadied himself on the offered hand. Still, retaining his grasp on this, he giggled suggestively as he tipped his head. "I never knew that you were into that sort of thing, Lukie..."

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Kisoku couldn't help but chuckle, not just at his friend's bantor but also at the conversation between the trio of friends before him. "Wow, I have a real fan following don't I?

"Don't get jumpy, kid..." He grinned, nuzzling the red-head sitting in his lap. "I prefer it this way... it's better to be known for who really you are rather than for your last name or some picture in a magazine."

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Suppressing a groan by sheer willpower, Lukas rolled his eyes at Sam's remark. Honestly, the boy could make a risque comeback if someone commented on the weather. "You didn't?" he asked, adopting an air of puzzled confusion, "Well, budreau, I may be in a band... but that don't mean I don't enjoy peace 'n quiet as much as the next fellow..."

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