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


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"Oh no no no! I get it all the time." Kisoku smirked, wrapping his arms around the boy's waist. Hey, if the kid was going to remain tenent atop his legs, then Kisoku might as well get some enjoyment out of it.

"So, Arvel, tell me about yourself..."

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Lukas *tried* to keep up his end of the banter, he really did... but the image of his granny tearing ass down the highway straddling a Harley - wearing knee-highs, at that - was just a bit too much for him, and he burst out into a wild gale of laughter.

"D-don't be *too* d-downhearted, b-budreau," he stammered, laughter still bubbling uncontrollably over his lips, "You m-might be a b-bit tame for her... b-but she might j-just t-take pity an' agree t-to educate you..."

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"Do you _really_ think so, Lukie?" Sam asked with almost heartbreaking hope as he straightened. Groping for the Cajun's hands, he 'peered' into the other's eyes with what probably inteded to be hope distilled, but was likely killed by barely withheld laughter. "Do you _really_ think she'd be willing to let me learn at her knee-high clad knee?"

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"About me?" Arvel asked, settling back against Kiso, "Ummm... My name is Arvel and I'm fourteen and I live with my mom in Shangri-la and I go to Psyche High and I have lots of cats and I wanna be a dancer when I grow up. Yeah. I'm not that exciting," He apologized.

Jeremy and Estelle cheered at the mention of dancing. "Ha! Dancing rocks!" Estelle exclaimed.

"Booyah!" Jeremy agreed.

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"...Um... yeah..." Tesu replied, smiling wanly at Alexei, "I'm sure it would've been..."

At Mune's speculations regarding Sergei, Tesu caught his breath, glancing rather guiltily over at Alexei before turning a reproachful look onto the Mexican. True, Mune had no idea who Sergei was - or what had happened earlier... but... did he *have* to say *that*?

"I-it's okay, Alexei..." Tesu murmured softly, "H-he was just j- joking... He didn't m-mean it..." He frowned slightly at the comments about killing Them and all Their friends. Dammit... *why* did Mune have to make that smartass comment? If Alexei made another scene, they'd probably call the cops and arrest all four - five - of them.

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"Ah, I see." Mune nodded to the new bit of news as to Sergei's identity and, killing a half-borne wince, he chewed a bit at the soft flesh of his inner cheek. Well, that had been far less than tactful and, from the variety of glares and reproachful looks, it seemed as if it'd been covered. Closing his eyes, he sighed softly and, cupping his cheek in hand, he took another long drink of his soda. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Still, you've vowed yourself to going around killing those demons whom possessed and killed your brother?" He seemed to ponder this for a while before nodding slowly. The demons part was obviously more than a little odd, but the idea of wanting to avenge a killed love one, well, he could understand that. "Seems like a noble enough mission..."

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Yup, that one was the straw that broke the camel's back. Nearly doubled over with laughter, Lukas lurched drunkenly away from Sam, making a grab for the back of the bench to steady himself before he fell over into the street.

"Oh... n-no doubt, S-Sammy..." he gasped, when he was finally able to attempt speech again, "After all... sh-she's only h-human... 'n ain't y-you always s-said you're irresistable?"

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"Oh, I am! I'm entirely irresistable!" Sam managed quite modestly as he groped to find his lost sunglasses. Once these were found, he reset them upon his nose and, running a hand through his hair, he uttered a rather wistful sigh. "Or I'm utterly irresistable to everyone but that knee-high wearing, badass biker chick temptress you call Grandmere..."

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"A dancer eh? So you're a fellow artist..." Kisoku grinned, nuzzling the younger boy. "A kid after my own heart! And yes, dancing is very cool... it rocks muchly."

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Collapsing rather heavily onto the bench, Lukas propped his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking with mirth as wave after wave of laughter escaped him. When he'd finally laughed himself out, he rose a bit unsteadily to his feet and patted Sam's shoulder consolingly. "Aw... don't fret none, Sammy... I'm *sure* someone else's granny give you a tumble, if mine turn you down..."

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"But I don't _want_ anyone else's granny!" Sam bratted in a voice loud enough for a passing group of strangers to give pause. Still, of course, Sammy was immune to this and, sobbing pitifully, he buried his face against Lukas' shoulder. "I only want _your_ elusive vixen of a grandmother..."

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Even though he knew Sam was just kidding around the way he always did, Lukas couldn't keep himself from tensing slightly at his friend's close proximity. Nor could he prevent his feet from automatically taking a step or two back as he held the other at arm's length. "Well..." he said a trifle unsteadily, giving Sam's shoulder another consoling pat, "Next time I talk to her, I'll ask her if she'll take you on. Maybe you get lucky, eh?"

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"Yeah... thanks..." Arvel grinned up at Kiso, "Ok, now it's your turn. Tell me about you. I might as well know _something_ about you, if I'm gonna sit on your lap. Because I'm culturally ignorant and don't know anything about the rich and famous..."

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"Ah! A boy can only wish for such an experience!" Sam gave another exaggerated sigh, but, dropping this, he tilted his head as Lukas tensed, then took the few steps away. Naturally, this was pretty much normal behviour for Sammy so he really couldn't guess why Lukas could possibly be getting tense over it. Still, shrugging these thoughts aside, he made another glomp attempt on the poor, long-suffering Cajun.

"Still!" He exclaimed valiantly as he tried to snuggle against Lukas' side. "If I can't have the beautiful biker chick-slash-vixen, I'll just content myself with the adorable wet blanket that is her grandson!"

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Again, Lukas attempted to extricate himself from Sam's glompage and snuggling. "Riiiiight," he retorted, making another rather forced attempt at a laugh, "Like you could ever be contented with anyone - much less a wet blanket like me - for more'n three minutes..."

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"Well, you know..." Sam grinned a little and, allowing Lukas to extricate himself, he shrugged slightly. Putting his hands in his pockets, he fished out another candy and, eating this joyfully, he turned his head a bit back toward Kisoku and his current adoring fanboy. "It could happen. Maybe rarely."

"Still..." Shaking those thoughts away, he grinned teasingly as he pointed a single, slim finger at the Cajun. "I think that I could have plenty of fun, even with a wet blanket! After all, the fun'd be in unwettening you!"

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Following Sam's 'glance', Lukas frowned faintly, "Yeah... right... *very* rarely... like once in a lifetime."

Offering his friend a grudging smile - which, of course, he wouldn't see - Lukas flapped a hand at him dismissively - another wasted gesture - and forced his voice into the same teasing register as Sam's, "Oh, no doubt *you'd* have fun, budreau... but then, there I'd be, all dried out, an' you'd forget all 'bout me 'n leave me hangin' out on the clothesline."

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"Yea, I guess you're probably right." Sam nodded to Lukas' latter words and, tipping his head, he seated himself back on the bench. Drawing one leg up, he hugged this against his body and, turning his head toward Lukas, he smiled broadly. "Y'know, though, you are one of the longest lasting relationships I've ever had, even if it's just a friendship."

"Just for that, you probably deserve a medal!" He laughed outright as he shook his head. "Or maybe we just need to find a nice little fangirl or boy for you, too..."

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"Yeah... well... there has to be *someone* 'round who can resist your dubious charms long 'nough to tell you when you're bein' a jackass," Lukas replied, forcing a tight, somewhat pained smile. "'Course... if I told you *every* time, I'd be runnin' my mouth 24/7... so I just try to hit the high points..."

"Oh God..." he groaned in response to Sam's last comment, "Don't do *that*! I'm perfectly capable of gettin' my own dates, Sammy - an' pref'rably, one that won't go on an' on yammerin' 'bout how great Wingless is, how cool *we* are, an' yadda, yadda, yadda..." The *last* thing Lukas wanted was for Sam to concern himself with his lovelife.

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"Pet...?" Another odd thought corssed her mind, and yet it again, Sasurai shook it off. She let a soft sigh of relief as the two strangers strolled and looked back at her friend, for that is what Lemy surely is, "You... didn't..." Sasurai shook her head and her smile widened slightly, "Thank you... again, for keeping me company still."

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