Erasthais Across Time

11 - Shopping Spree

Damien's POV:

What is this place, dude? Zeus asked me. I have no idea. I thought it was a clothes shop – already seems more like a club, I replied. We reached the top of the stairs and there was a check-in desk with no one seated at it. Then, out of nowhere, this tall, blue-gray short-haired woman with a nose ring that reminded me of a bull, walked out wearing very tall heels that almost made her reach my height. "Ah! Ms. Danielle! I am SO happy to see you!" she squeaked out as she shuffled towards my erasthai and gave her multiple kisses on her cheeks. Something tells me this is going to be an affectionate bunch, Zeus mumbled. Yea... I agreed. "Suki! It's so nice to see you! I'm surprised you've stuck around with him," Danielle said with a laugh. "Oh darling, pleease. That queen has no idea how to organize his work day – he'd be lost without me. I'm SO glad you called. He would've been SO bored with what was on the docket today," Suki said, with a flare of her hand. "Oh. Well good. I'm glad we can provide some entertainment for his royal highness," Danielle said, imitating a curtsey. Suki let out a genuine laugh. "Oh god! I missed you SO much! We are going to have SO much fun today!" she said, eyeing me. "Hey," I said, putting my hands in my pocket. Suki dropped her jaw and stared between Danielle and I. "Oh. My. God. He even sounds gorgeous!" Suki said, putting a hand on her chest like she was in shock. "Down girl, he's spoken for," Danielle said. For a brief second, Xena's silver halo emerged behind Danielle's hazel eyes. Zeus chuckled inside. "He's your man-candy? I thought we were fitting a friend?" Suki said, dramatically stepping back – and obviously – checking me out, again. "Yes. Damien's my...very close friend," Danielle said to her, with a head tilt, seemingly not having to explain anymore. "Well damn. If you have any other friends, male or female, you send them my way, mmk?" Suki demanded. "Haha, I will drop your name along with your phone number. Sounds good?" Danielle asked. "Perfect! Now, come this way. His majesty is waiting," Suki said, and led us down another hallway that opened up into this gigantic open space that extended into several different smaller hallways that all seemed to have similar racks of clothes aligned on them. The fuck was that about? Zeus asked. Yea, no, I have no fucking clue. Let's just get this over with as quickly as possible, I replied. As Suki walked away, Danielle stopped in front of this white giant staircase. "Jésus Christ, it's about damn time you two showed up!" shouted this man who I can only assume was Stefano based on the French that was spoken. "Excusez-moi, it is 12:30p. We are only a half-hour late from the assumed time. So technically, we are one and a half hours early in Stefano time. Bitch," Danielle said, imitating what looked like she was dropping something...? "OH! Well! If that's how it's going to be then you can take your knock-off self and your wannabe Ken-doll elsewhere!" Stefano said, with a flick of his wrist as he stopped in front of us. I'm confused, Zeus said. "For your information, sweetie. I'm wearing all of your original knock-offs. Including these kick-ass boots. So..." Danielle said, as she stuck up her middle finger. I chuckled at that. Stefano took a moment to look her up and down, then circled her like a vulture. "Hmm. Well. I guess my designs don't go out of style, do they?" he said with a dramatic sigh, ending this faux feud. "No, they don't," Danielle said, in a very satisfied tone as if they were both secretly agreeing she won whatever weird argument this was. "Soo, are you going to introduce us or are we just going to stand here looking pretty?" Stefano said, tapping his foot. Danielle rolled her eyes and shook her head and mumbled something like "Goddess help me." "Stefano, this is my erasthai, Damien Astralis. Damien, Stefano is going to be your fashion guide for the afternoon," she said. "Bienvenu. I look forward to assisting you however I can," Stefano said, offering a hand to shake. "Thank you. I appreciate you letting us come by on such short notice," I said, shaking his hand. "Oh s'il te plait! This was more than enough time. Almost too much... Some of my other clients show up at the door expecting me to drop everything and help them, as if I don't have anything else better to do! Of course...if they're willing to pay a lot then I have to but still! I like to have some time to prepare my outfits and catalogs," Stefano said, in what seemed like a mini-fit. "Right. Well, thank you nonetheless," I said. "Oh cher, is he always this polite?" he said, asking Danielle. "You just met him. Give him time. Tell him to wear pink," she said with a wink. "Please don't," I pleaded. A mischievous smile ran across Stefano's face. "Come! We have much to do!" Stefano said, and walked down the biggest hallway. I started to follow but noticed Danielle wasn't with me. "Everything alright?" I asked, stopping. "Yes, I'll be with you in a moment. I have to make a few calls," she said, not looking up from her phone. "Hmph," I said, with a small growl from my throat. She looked up and sighed. "Gooo. I'll be there as soon as I can. He gets very impatient," she said with a chuckle. "Fine. Don't leave me hanging, alright?" I said, about to turn on my heel. "I won't, I promise," she said, putting her phone to her ear and finding a place to sit. I turned around and walked a little faster to find this quick-footed man. I rounded a left corner and found him and two other people with him, standing next to what looked like a barber's chair and an attached sink. "Ahh! There you are! I wondered if I lost you. Come. Sit. Let's take a look at what we have going on here," Stefano said, as I obeyed, cautiously.