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


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"Really? What's wrong with him?" Lucia had a guess as to what the answer could be... not that Sammy would figure it out. Not if she could help it. Sam's friends were bad for business as far as she was concerned... but at least she knew how to handle Kisoku. Lukas was a different story altogether.

"Did you guys have a fight? Band brawl or something like that?"

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"I probably could see Japan, but then I'd just come back with tons of work to do and missing my friends and having missed so many rehearsals that they'd want to kick me out of the band!" Kisoku let out an exasperated sigh. "But such are the woes of my life!"

He chuckled a bit, blowing out a last long puff of smoke before crushing his smoldering cigarette underfoot. "Dante is a nice name. I really do think it suits you. Your sister has a knack for naming things..."

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Although the older boy's use of language caught him offguard, he quickly went over to the younger boy. From the looks of the boy, he didn't seem to be fairing that well at all. The signs of shattered glass on the ground near him didn't help the situation either. "I'll call you back, Thalia," he said as he flipped the cell phone closed. It was obvious that this boy was clearly frightened, whether it was from him or the entire experience, Nathan could not discern. Nevertheless, Nathan's demeanor quickly changed from anger to a calm and concerned one as he looked over the two younger boys. "Are you two, okay? There wasn't a fight was there? Anyone bleeding?"

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"No, it's nothing like that." Sammy shook his head to Lucia's latter question as he frowned thorughtfully. For the briefest of moments, good sense yelled at him to _not_ tell this woman-- this so-called Lucifer-- about his friend's problem, but, like all things of intelligence, it quickly died of lonliness.

"It's just..._something_ is really, really bothering him and I don't know what it is. I want to ask him, because I _know_ that it's really getting to him, but with Lukie..." Again, he frowned briefly. Really, he had no idea how to broach the subject or even if doing so would be a good idea. Would it make things worse? Would it made Lukie mad? Would he even be willing to tell? "...it's a bit complicated."

"I think it's something with his maman and papan, though." He commented pensively as he tipped his head on side. Indeed, the last few times he'd been around the Cajun's family, well, to say things were intense would be like saying that having your liver pulled out was a bit painful.

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"That really sucks." Dante commented eloquently to Kisoku's list of woes as he frowned somewhat sympathetically. Still, he soon shrugged this aside in favor of a faint grin. "So, you _are_ a businessman, then? I probably should have known. The great Kisoku Capulet..."

"That's right, you're in a band." He chuckled faintly at having forgotten that. It was odd that he could, considering that his sister was all but obsessed with its three members. It was one of her favorite talking points... not to mention, apparently, her very favorite thing to photograph, ever, if one were to go by the various CDs about her room. "Wingless, right?"

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"It... it wasn't really a fight." Addie shook his head as he raised a hand to touch at his brow. Wincing a bit, he soon forgot about this, though, as the elder walked closer to the two of them and, shying away, he went back to rubbing at his arm. "Just... just a bit of... horseplay. That's all..."

"Oh, he helped me, though!" He quickly ammended as he glanced gratefully to Alexei. Though he had his doubts on the situation, he still nodded to the kid's words about Nathan being the best and not about to hurt him. After all, even he really couldn't explain why he had his doubts; the man had been nothing if not kind. "So, it's... really all okay."

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"You know about us!" Kisoku perked up with a grin. "I mean, it's such a small band really. Unknown at worst. Underground at best. It's always such a nice suprise when someone knows about us, especially when they're attractive."

He let the last part of his sentence flow as if it were the most natural thing he could've ever said. Afterall, flirtation was flirtation, but he didn't want to sound or look desperate. "It's really amazing that I manage to do so much, y'know? Finishing up college. Running branches of my father's business. Playing guitar in a band. It's always nice to be able to hold a conversation with someone... like this. This is nice."

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"Oh my god... trouble at home..." Outside, Lucia was the vision of pity and shock. Inside, she was dancing with glee. She stored away this information for safe keeping. The boy's parents would be yet another way for her to get at him and break him down from the inside out, which she would do with the upmost pleasure.

"That's always the worst. Troubles at home. There's no foundation, no safe haven for children living in fractured environments. Friends can be helpful and all... but the kids I've talked to are usually reluctant to admit what their going through. It's a matter of pride... not wanting to look vulnerable amongst your group of equals. And Lukas is a very proud boy... y'know, maybe you should hint at him seeing one of the counselor's at school. It could be the school psychologist or a peer counselor. We have a bunch of kids on staff, not just me! I know he didn't take a real shine to me in the park..." She lowered her voice into a soft, sullen, pouting tone as if the redheads rejection of her had really gotten her upset.

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"Well, my sister knows about you." Dante corrected with a slight shrug. Of course, he couldn't have this ultra-successful businessman with multiple slashes think that he was actually interested in such things, let alone interested in him; again, it was a matter of pride. Or something. "She's pretty mad for your band, really. Has shoeboxes of photos of you guys ahd shit like that."

"Yea, I imagine that all those things really keeps you busy." He agreed as he glanced consideringly to the man. Of course, such things usually took their toll upon a person, but, looking at Kisoku, he seemed to be taking it well. Not that there couldn't be small, hairline cracks... "You seem to be taking it well, though, even if mobbed on the streets by fans and admirers."

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"Yea, I... don't really know if that's the case, but it seems the most likely answer." Sam answered doubtfully as he chewed, a bit, on his bottom lip. Of course, there was the scene with Lukie and Kisoku the other day, but that whole day had been so messed up that it was rather hard to pinpoint exactly what had caused which problems. Not that he liked a few of the answers which seemed to want to jump out at him. "It's terrible, though, if that _is_ the truth. I hate to think of Lukie having to go through that..."

"Still, you know, I might suggest seeing a counselor at school, but I'd like to try to talk to him about it first." He murmured as he inclined his head, slightly. After all, what were best friends for and, too, Lukas had pulled _him_ through so very many troubling times. "He may be able to open up to me since, you know, we've been friends for quite a few years, now..."

"Oh, hey! Don't take it like that!" Still, as Lucia 'pouted' at Lukas' rejection of her, he immediately reached across so as to wrap a comforting arm around her. "Lukie's just really like that. He can be kinda rough on people and he's really protective of his friends... not to mention that it was a bad day. I'm sure you two'll get along and soon you'll be really good friends!"

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"Well some days are hell, but everytime I wish that I was less busy I remind myself that I could have a lot more free time if I gave up the band. I mean, I can't complain because I'm giving my time to something I love." Kisoku smiled a little, his eyes lowering to rest on his shoes. Amazingly, he really was enjoying a friendly conversation with someone other than Sam and Lukas.

"Well, while the shoebox scenario isn't totally uncommon these days, I'll be the first to admit that it was worse when I was in high school and modelling. I had a steady boyfriend and girls falling all over me because of some stupid pictures. It'd happen on dates. It'd happen everywhere. So I gave it up, and life has been much quieter."

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"It sounds like you're really devoted to this band." Dante commented lightly as he tipped his head at the other. Still, he couldn't help a faint smile as he thought on this. Honestly, it was... nice to see a businessman-- even a young one-- who had interests other than the amassing of money and it was just as nice to simply have a light, somewhat anonymous conversation with someone without all the usual bullshit. It was a welcome change. "It's good to hear that, really. It's good to see that some people can still be devoted to the simpler things which drive them."

"You gave which up?" He asked to the last statement as he cocked his head. "The steady boyfriend of the girls falling all over you everywhere you go?"

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"Both I suppose. The boyfriend, the girls, and add modelling into the mix. Life has become both simpler and, inversely, more complex as a result." Kisoku shrugged, fishing through his pockets for a packet of gum. He popped a piece into his mouth before holding it out to the other boy. "Want some?"

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"Alright. You talk to him... but don't wait until it's too late to get him help if he should be in need of it." This was such an amusing game. Lucia couldn't help but grin at the thought of the great Lucifer actually having any concern for a human being. Ah well, if Sam wanted to be naive and stupid, then who was she to interfere?

"I do hope that Lukas and I can learn to get along. I mean, I'm personally all for it. I can totally understand, though, if he'd be defensive and apprehensive of trusting people with his best friends."

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"Yea, life seems to have a way of doing that." Dante agreed with a slight nod as he took a stick of gum. Sticking this into his mouth, he chewed thoughtfully on it for a moment and, internally, he had to grin. It was odd that he'd be having a conversation with a stranger on the street and odder still that he'd have a conversation with a young businessman, after what happened last time. Still, here he was and, to be brutally honest, he wasn't having that bad of a time.

"Then again, you're probably best off without it." He continued with a slight shrug. "Lovers, girls falling over you, they probably only made you more self-concious of who and what you are; without them, you aren't as clearly defined."

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"Yea, I was going to try to grab him after our last class, but I guess that I sort of spaced out." Sam commented quietly as he frowned faintly. That wasn't exactly right, though. Really, in truth, he hadn't managed to get to Lukie because he was too busy angsting over his own dumbass problems... which likely made him the assiest friend ever. Sighing at this thought, he ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe I'll get lucky enough to run into him sometime this afternoon... or I'll just call him tonight."

"Oh, I'm _sure_ that you and Lukie can get along!" He enthused as he nodded eagerly. "I mean, like I said, Lukie can be a bit rough sometimes, but he really _is_ a great guy. You just have to get to know him better, that's all. You'll be the best of friends before much longer!"

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Lukas chuckled at Jeremy's grumbling and shot the younger boy a grin, "Not to worry, petite, I think we can get in an' out of McParadise between now an' 5:00, no problem." taking hold of his guitar case, he levered himself to his feet to follow after Arvel, another soft chuckle rumbling in his chest. "Never saw no one so excited about eating at Mickey P's before..." he mused aloud, teasing the excited redhead a bit.

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"Lysander... and Max...? Yes... I believe they were once employees of mine," Ausar replied as if recalling a vague memory of the distant past, "Unfortunately, I had to let them go a month or so ago..." That was what the books showed, anyway, all nice and legal. "I am very sorry if a former employee of mine caused you any grief, my friend..." the Egyptian purred smoothly, "but... I can really not be held accountable for what mischief they get into after they have left my employ, now can I?"

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Nathan looked over at the older boy holding the catcus and nodded at him. "Good thing you came when you did, then," he said as he smiled, seemingly forgetting the situation with Thalia and his anger from before. There seemed to be something a bit off about the kid, but from what he could tell, he was a good person. He had felt a great deal of hurt and sadness beforehand, but now it seemed to be fading a bit. His attention then turned back to the younger boy, specifically his forehead. He was trying to hide it a little bit, but from what he could tell, there was swelling and some blood. But the boy seemed to be too nervous around him to admit it. 'Do I stink or something?' Nathan thought as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to the young boy. "For your head. Are you two waiting for someone to pick you up? I mean, I don't want to leave and then find out something happened."

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"Oh, we do not go to school," Alexei replied earnestly, "We were merely coming to learn what we could of Them. They go to school here, the Evil ones do. It is Their fault Sergey died." He narrowed his eyes, hissing as he spoke, then turned concerned eyes on Addie. "You are hurt. We will walk you home or stay with you until your ride comes. We do not want the bad ones to hunt you again." He paused in thought, "Chacha, we have not given you our names. We are Alexei Parnikov and this," he held up his cactus, "is Erik. He is our best friend and confidante, you can trust him."

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