Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Such is life. None of us make it out alive."
Damian brought her close to him. That fear of losing someone else besides his father bubbled up inside of him, unconsciously making his grip upon her stronger. He did like Raquel... in more ways than just a friend should.

"Strange things are happening in the world. Please stay until we can find out why, it is not safe out there."

The moment her lips parted from his, Damian found himself clutching on to her like she was a dream threatening to unravel. He didn't believe she was capable of hurting anyone any more than a child cold hurt someone throwing a hissy fit. If she became violent, then... he would figure it out later. But then, he realized that in his great selfishness, he wanted to keep her all to himself.

"Then let us contain you. It is part of my great selfishness to want to keep you here, to help you and keep the rest of the world from ever touching you again." For a moment, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, but thought better of it. It was bad enough that he was holding her practically against her will.

"No..." He let his grip upon her change from one of desperation to a comfortable sort of holding, just as they were the previous night. Damian let the walls around his heart decompose and crumble, but only in certain places. Only holes and openings large enough for her to fit through...

"No, you will never be a prisoner here... I am just being foolish." In a rare moment, Damian's voice changed to that gentle, loving tone he held in his heart, only for her. Once he had preserved it for Lorey only, but Lorey was fine then. She had Richard.
"It hurts too much to see you go. It would drive me crazy, every day, knowing you were walking about the world and I could not see you or protect you, or make sure you are taken care of. I want to see you dazzle all the people of Veratia in that gown I bought you while dancing..."
Such a bleeding hearted statement made him laugh out of embarrassment, even if it was true.

"Not crying alone when you don't have to be."

Damian was being driven crazy, but he was keeping himself in check, settling only for kisses. What did they mean, he wondered. He barely understood his feelings for Raquel past the fact that he wanted her to stay. She was like a child's favorite teddy bear: there to cuddle and hold, but with that underlying knowledge that you could always get a new one if you really wanted.

But would Damian ever try to replace Raquel if she did ever leave?

He continued kissing her until his desires were nearly driving him mad, and he had to pull away.
"You... should go get something to eat," he whispered, if not a little breathlessly.

"Ah."
They stood there in very awkward, charged silence before Damian made his hold on her shift to her hands. Sleeping together would only complicate things... besides, he didn't even know what Raquel might have picked up from all her clients. Things would have to wait.

Damian smiled, and kissed her forehead sweetly instead. "I do like you, Raquel. But you drive me crazy sometimes..."
He laughed, more at himself for getting so carried away.
"We should go make sure that Lorey is alright with Richard leaving so soon... Must make sure that our little family is alright, yes?"

"While you must think I am a manipulative little son of a b***h. Pardon my language."
Damian knew it for himself without her agreeing or disagreeing to it. Everything in his head told him how he could make her stay with him forever and a day. Making her feel loved was one of them, only he had to admit, that wasn't an act.

"We all have our own little battles and problems these days. Look at me for instance."
As if that was enough, Damian gave a smile. "So please, Raquel, do not think ill of yourself any longer. That hurts to see just as much as it hurts to think of you leaving."
He began pulling her gently towards the door so that they might find themselves in the open living room, surrounded by light an open spaces.

Lorey looked up at Raquel. It was evident she'd been crying a little bit, but she smiled, gave a sniffle and wiped at her eyes.
"I know... I just didn't think it'd be so soon. And the way he looked at me, was like... was like he'd never see me again."
She sat upon the couch, wringing her hands, thinking terrible thoughts. At that very moment, Richard could be dead, and she wouldn't even know it. Shot down, and bleeding... and she was sitting upon a plush couch, not able to do anything useful at all.

Damian looked down at Lorey before taking a seat next to her. He only placed a kind hand on the small of her back, feeling as if there was nothing else he could do to make her feel better.
"Richard is a strong man. He would not go rushing into anything if he did not know what he was getting into..."

Unfortunately, this only had a negative effect. Lorey started holding back a sob before she choked out a few words in her sadness.
"B-but he fell in love with me. Doesn't that say enough?"