@Ophidian
Looking on it all, I would include Sam in the mix of trouble-making due to what he does, but I feel he would end up being forced to tolerate Nixon... I feel like they were ok friends until Nixon went to far on jokes which escalated into thievery of sorts just to mess around. Would he take to thievery during a practical joke? Regardless, I can see them both getting into a spat over it with both of them coming to fight one another, usually either persons game.
Nixon in general doesn't think much of anything when it comes to light thievery. It's just something he does, sometimes. Another way of flaunting that he doesn't play by the rules. He's got alot invested in his persona as an outsider to society, as someone not tied down to it. I'd say your take is accurate-Nixon would go too far for Sam. And they're just forced to tolerate each other by circumstances. At game start at least.