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Damian saw her reaction to everything, and couldn't help but smile himself. He felt like he was bringing her into a dream that she would get to take with her at the end of the day.
"Where would you like to go first? The clothing department?"
He had seen her tugging and messing with her skirt earlier, and thought it might be best to begin with her overall wardrobe. After all, didn't Raquel deserve to feel comfortable and lovely in her own skin?

Damian allowed her to cling, simply because if that was what made her feel safe, that was what she would do. But the looks they were getting he couldn't do anything about. Not only was Raquel under criticism, but no doubt the people behind those incriminating eyes saw him as the deliverer of that horrid bruise upon her face.

"Damian!" a voice suddenly called out. His grey eyes flicked anxiously over to a rather dashing woman behind a perfume counter. Though Damian made no move towards her, he did stop to give a slight nod of the head.

"Kiera? How are you?" The woman came into better view, making herself proudly known in her well-tailored suit, curling brown hair, and very red lips. Her skin was as fine as porcelain, though mostly due to the layers of makeup she had applied that day.

"Oh, wonderful. But... who is this?" She made a slight gesture to Raquel, not even bothering to hide her look of confused amusement. It was like a joke was being played upon them all with the presence of this ragamuffin.

Damian placed his other hand over Raquel's to give it a squeeze.
"A friend who has fallen on some very hard times. We're here to get her to rights again, and really must be going." With a sugary sweet smile and another nod, Damian began walking just the same way they had before, away from the counter and leaving Kiera behind.

Once they were a good distance away, Damian eased his grip on Raquel. He'd felt guilty, not letting her speak, but there were certain things he just had to do himself. "I'm so sorry about that, Raquel. She's a harpy and would have eaten your heart first."

"You're right about that," he said, coming up behind her to look at a gown she was focusing on for a few more moments than the others. He leaned down over her shoulder a bit, trying to get a glimpse at the maker or price tag. "You are priceless."

The word 'priceless' came out in a softer, more elegant way than all else he had just said, and unintentionally right against her ear. Damian wasn't aware of it. If he had been, and had it been intentional, he would have lingered to playfully make her nervous, but he simply regained his posture as he had been before.

"Well," he said, suddenly taking on a take-on-the-world attitude. "You're quite fair-skinned, so anything will look rich against it..." He gestured to a green gown that looked like something appropriate for an evening dance and dinner.
"But the brown-ish... gold-ish... whatever color you would call those high lights in your hair would be complimented by this."

With a chuckle, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I'm straight, I swear. But these little details were ground into me by the woman who dressed me."

Breathtaking. For a moment, Damian held her to be the most beautiful woman he'd ever beheld. She, too, had that nervousness that Lorey had. But how could she not see herself as lovely?

"My lord..." he muttered under his breath. Damian stepped forward to take her hand gently. Up it went over her head so that he could give her a twirl, sending the fabric out around her in a radiance of green. They would have to go dancing, he decided.
"It suits you so well. Would you like it?" The price to him was actually rather cheap for a dinner gown, only 500 credits. His eyes met hers in the mirror, and for once he didn't compare her to Lorey.

With his hand around her like that, he felt a strange... rightness. Raquel was the perfect height to be his dancing partner, really. And her build was lovely to him. She probably couldn't dance, not that he knew anyhow. But Damian couldn't stop thinking about twirling her around the floor... he'd thought about Lorey like that, but... Raquel felt obtainable where Lorey felt distant and taken.

"All that matters is that you like it." Damian slowly removed his arm from her to look at her from an arm's length. "But make sure that there is nothing else that has caught your eye. If you'd like some time looking at dresses, I'll go look for a few things for Lorey and Richard."
Goodness knew they needed fresh clothes so they could feel human every day.

"Take as long as you need. I don't mind."
And truly he didn't. Just her happiness was making him feel wonderful enough. He couldn't really remember when he had last made Lorey smile... or when he had held her. Never, actually. Raquel could tolerate him much more, it seemed.

"Choose whatever you like, and have fun!" Damian gave a little bit of a wave before suddenly heading off into the store under the light of the floating crystal chandelier. This whole situation was making his already addled head spin.

His shopping experience was rather droll because of this, though he chose everything with great care nonetheless. Lorey would be receiving several dresses, as she seemed to like wearing nothing but. A few skirts and shirts were there as well, all in colors he felt would suit her beautifully, which indeed they would. Richard would receive a few shirts, both casual and nice. Those he chose with just the slightest hint of disdain. But, Damian had a very good eye for sizing and was sure everything would fit properly.

For himself, Damian bought a few casual shirts and pants so he could begin to relax a bit more in these trying times. While trying on a new jacket, Damian began thinking of Raquel, hoping she was doing well...
He had to admit to himself that she was enchanting in a mysterious way. They had just met, really... But he wanted to know more. He wanted to take care of her. But why?