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Hands went up in a defensive pose as if he was being interrogated. Which, really, he was.
"I went outside to clear my head and saw her being attacked. I saved her." And dropping his voice with a sideways glance, he said, "She was working the streets. Her situation is so desperate, she doesn't even want to be doing that kind of thing..." His eyes went to the battered guitar case sitting against the table. She was probably a great musician, though no one would give her the time of day let alone a few minutes for a song.
"I'm going to help her."

But there was something that made his speech go fast, and that demanded more attention than Raquel. Damian needed to know what had happened before he had gone out for air.
"I know I was drunk before. Did I hurt anyone?" His steel eyes looked up at Richard with a plea. "What did I do, say? I can't remember..."


As this little hushed conversation was going on, Lorey had sat up in bed and had done her own stretching. It was time for a shower, though she had a good look at the woman upon the couch before heading in. Poor thing, she thought. Her heart went out to her immediately, having known herself how it felt to be hit, if only once. It was time for this one to sleep, though. Lorey went off to make herself ready for the day ahead and for this new friend.

He was hardly convinced, though maybe his strange memories were more dreams? Damian would have to simply trust Richard. Yes, he thought, trust the man that Lorey trusts so much. Perhaps there was a reason for it.

"Richard... if it ever happens again, and by the powers that be, I will see to it that it doesn't... but if it ever does, please, knock me out before I hurt someone."

As far as he knew, Richard should have no reason holding back a blow for what he had done to Lorey. Because of that, Damian felt he didn't need an answer.
"Anyhow, her name is Raquel and she'll be posing as... well, a companion of sorts. I can't have people thinking things have gone awry, but I needed someone who won't ask questions. But..."

Again, that need to confide came bubbling through. Telling Raquel his story had made him feel better indeed. Perhaps opening up to Richard, his friend, would work the same.

"Richard, I've never taken care of someone before. She's consented, and she knows I ask nothing of her other than for her to be by my side at social events, but... good grief, I just want to care for her. I don't know why."

There was a silent understanding between the two, one that did not require any more words to be said. Damian sat down at the table to think over what had happened... he was utterly exhausted, but did not want to sleep in the same bed Lorey and Richard had just woken up from. Not that he had suspicions, but there would be something wrong about it. The couch was taken... Eyes closing, his head slowly sunk to the table in front of him, since that really was his last option.

Lorey eventually came out of the bathroom looking fresh and rather damp. Her long white hair hung in little waves where it was dry, while her clothing was fresher than it had been. She really needed some new clothes, but thanks to tips and tricks over the years, she could keep one outfit clean looking and smelling or at least a week.

"Richard," she whispered, seeing that Damian had fallen asleep right at the table. "What's going on here?"

Lorey stifled a laugh, though not too well since a little giggle came through despite her efforts. It was so adorable to her that she just had to give him a kiss.

"We should. Probably something that everyone will appreciate... pancakes or biscuits and jam or something. The kitchen always has those."
Having a friend in the kitchen had helped her, but as seen on the first day she had ever met Richard, even that friend had left to who knew where. There was no one to call in a favor to then. How strange it elt to be a customer rather than a lowly worker.

Lorey took her hand and gave it a shake, but she couldn't help but be self-conscious of her rough worker's hands. She was always like that with everyone, always preferring to simply give a wave or a smile rather than have physical contact.

"Yeah, he is a... sweetie," she said awkwardly. She herself had more seen him as a fawning nuisance sometimes, but there was no denying that underneath that aristocratic, spoiled exterior, there was a rather good heart. It seemed that in more recent times, that hidden trait was coming out more.

Lorey tilted her head to look at him, with his upper body laying against the table. His right arm hung limply at his side, having slipped off. Was he so exhausted that he had just... keeled over and fallen asleep? He was even drooling a little on the table. It was awkward, and yet somehow cute.

"So, are you staying with us now?" she asked with a small smile.

Lorey noticed the sarcastic tone. It confused her, for more than one reason. The first being, why sarcastic if Damian was helping her? And secondly, was she his girlfriend or something? Never had she heard about Raquel...

To answer Richard's question, Lorey went over to Damian, and gently shook him awake.
"Damian..." she whispered, almost like a mother to a child. "Wake up, food will be here."

"Mmmrf," was the immediate response. He'd only been asleep for maybe half an hour at the very most, and already he was being jostled awake. Rising into an upright position half-asleep required peeling the side of his face from the faux wood tabletop, which left it's circular red mark upon him. Even half-asleep, though, Lorey's face brought him right to his senses.

"Aah... sorry about that." Damian wiped at the side of his mouth to get the drool reside off. Hoping to be discreet, he swiped his sleeve against the table a few times to get rid of that little puddle he left.

Damian could see an intricate act taking place before his eyes. While Richard and Lorey were distracted with setting the plates upon the table, Damian leaned over to whisper in Raquel's ear.
"Please, you do not have to act in front of my friends. Richard knows..." He rubbed his eyes, still utterly exhausted. "Do as you wish." Because if there anything worse than being rejected, it was being falsely adored by someone you could actually care for.

Lorey smiled in her unconscious way as she set out little plates of butter and jam. There were pancakes, biscuits, bowls of fruit and a lovely pitcher of orange juice. If Raquel's stomach was ravenous, Lorey's was just as eager to eat. Goodness knows how she barely ate, and when she did, it was nothing nearly so wonderful.

The hand upon his knee was a bit surprising, but Damian understood. If something as simple as a plate full of food called for permission to be had, she was certainly in dire straits.
He nodded.
"You're going to be taken care of." His hand came up to give a small pat on her back. How he wished he could smile for her, but the weight of current events still crushed that away.
However, Damian could still provide reassurance through actions, and so he pushed her plate towards her a bit, and poured her a glass of orange juice.
"Take it slow..."

"Especially if you haven't eaten in awhile," Lorey chimed. Her eyes were projecting a sort of hopeful kindness. "I'm just getting back to normal eating myself."