Henrietti appeared to be happy with her beautiful dress and so Juka was pleased. He had done his good deed for the day in helping the darling teenager find somethng perfect for her. That was certainly a reason to feel good and, perhaps, a reason to celebrate. Yes, good deed accomplished congradulations Juka. You win a prize.

Noel, unfortunately, did not look nearly so pleased and Juka was trying so very hard to be nice to her. It was difficult, though, when she clearly had no taste in fashion at all. Really, she should just trust in his expertise and allow him to bring out her natural beauty because, of course, everyone had their own natural beauty and he was, in truth, an expert at bringing it out. If only she could realize this it would be so much easier for both of them. He was, after all, doing this for her own good. Oh well, some people needed to learn the hard way.

"I know it's winter, but aren't long skirts like… so 1800's?"

Juka sighed dramatically as only the long suffering could sigh. "Dearest, fashion takes inspiration from the past. It is the past blended with the present to creatue something both classic and modern. Trust me, it is gorgeous and you are gorgeous in it. See the beauty in yourself." If only he could make her see what he saw.

Noel didn't seemed pleased with the dress Juka chose. She also didn't seem overl approving of Henrietta's dress. It was obvious that both Juka and Noel were making an effort to be civil. It was very nice for Henri to see this, but it was also obvious that it wasn't their most easy tasks. Smiling, she curtsied. "It's a wonderful dress, Juka."

Trying to think of something quickly, she glanced around. How do we keep this from being awkward? What should I say to Noel? She probably thinks I have horrible style. I don't want her to think I'm lame..."Well, I should probably put my own clothes back on. You two have fun." Before she took off the way she came, she gave the two a friendly grin. Now that she was back in the dressing room, she began to change back into her jeans, shirt, and jacket.

Juka had a point. But Noel had been thinking of wearing something that would get her a kiss, not something that would attract hungry moths. And definitely, definitely something more this century.

She wasn't going to get anything done here. She just wasn't willing to leave yet. Almost. Maybe.

Noel went to pet the fur coat... well. it just happened to be close.

Juka waved Henrietta away back into the dressing room, a wide grin across his face. He knew she loved the dress and he had done his small part to make her even more beautiful than she all ready was. Another day another good deed done. Perhaps it wasn't proper superhero action, but it was still something to be proud of in a strange sort of way.

As for Noel, she was a different matter entirely. She didn't like the dress, her loss really for not seeing things as Juka saw them, but he spotted her eying, rather covertly, a fur coat. This time Juka decided on a change of technique. Seeing as how Noel didn't like him or respect his opinion on fashion, foolish though that obviously was, he decided on complete indifference. Yes, that was most certainly the way to go. The coat would be perfect for her but he wouldn't say a word. Perhaps she would come to the correct opinion herself. Yes indeed.

Henri got the beautiful dress back on the hanger after it had put up quite a fight. It seemed that it didn’t want to set the brunette free at first. She almost began to panic at one point earlier when it blocked out all of the light and her arm was trapped in one of the sleeves. Fortunately, Henrietta had won the war that the piece of clothing had tried to wage on her. Opening the dressing room door, she hummed to herself as she went to find the odd pair she had left behind.

Standing behind Juka and Noel, she saw the woman eyeing a fur coat. Henri smiled but decided not to say anything. It seemed that that was Juka’s approach as well. He just stood there quietly. The brunette almost began to laugh at his lack of talking. She liked Juka, but this was the first time he hadn’t said anything.

“Well, how is everything out here? Good, I’m guessing. Everyone’s still breathing.” Henrietta laughed slightly at her joke. “So, do you want to move on after I pay for the dress, Noel? You can pick next.” She gave the other girl a smile.

Noel dropped the coat sleeve like a hot potato. What? leaving? "I don't know of any deals, but I do know there's a store full of high fashion stuff that I always walk past but never go in." She shrugged, all fur forgotten. "It's worth a shot even if it's just to try things on." It'd be nice to just get an idea of what looked good and would hide a holster at the same time.

After Henri got her payment all squared away Noel was all business. She herded Henri and Juka like a professional sheep dog to a modern boutique. It wasn't Channel, but it was chic. Simplistic displays, modern furniture, everything was very streamlined in Noel's opinion. It was quite a change from the previous store.

"It's probably too expensive." Her tone was just about the only thing that made that statement an apology. Noel waited for the other two to find something to look at before she would slip over to the dresses.

It seemed as if Noel was not going to look at the fur coat after all, a disappointment if he ever saw one. Some people simply had no concept of what was fabulous and what was not. Worse still, she was the one who was going to lead them to their next store. Juka refrained himself from sighing in dismay.

Upon entering the newest store, Juka looked around in disappointment. It wasn't that the clothes were terrible or anything like that, but they were just so...plain. He was Juka Miami and thus had to stand out in a crowd, had to be fabulously amazing all the time. And these two dears should do the same, if only they realized their own potential. Well, at least Henri was well on her way to doing so, Noel clearly needed more work.

"It's probably too expensive."

"Darling, nothing is too expensive if its worth it," Juka amended with a smirk.

Henrietta followed the two to the next store with her new purchase in a bag. Smiling happily, she walked around the store looking at everything. The stuff was pretty nice. Well, overly nice. Overly nice meant you had to spend half of your life savings on everything. Grabbing a price tag that hung from a shirt, she looked at it. The girl thought she felt her eyes pop out of her head. Dropping the tag, she walked over and sat down. It's better if I don't look.

Looking at Juka, she thought he seemed disappointed. He then told Noel that nothing is too expensive if it was worth the cost. Henri bit her lower lip in thought. She supposed it was true in some cases, but it wasn't for her. Things could be waaay too expensive, especially if you were a 16 year-old girl living on a short amount of cash that was being sent from your mean mother. Grumbling quietly to herself about mothers, she watched Noel look at clothing.

Everything was so minimalistic and sexy that it make Juka look like a clown at a fashion show. It was a shame, really, that one dress that seemed so elegant cost a good wipe job's worth of money. It was also a shame that the other two were not enjoying themselves. If she wanted to try something on, it would not be while Juka sat alone with Henri. That meant this store was an absolute bust.

There was a sad and lingering sigh that tasted like hotdogs before Noel moseyed back to the party poopers.

"Looks like this place is a bust. Henri? Any ideas?" It was her turn after all.

Juka was beginning to get the distinct impression that Noel didn't want Juka to be alone with Henrietta. He knew the woman didn't like him, but she didn't trust him either? He felt kind of hurt by the revalation as well as more than a little confused. Did she really think that he would do something to hurt the young woman? Juka wasn't like that, in fact he abhored people like that. Just because he was a little eccentric (and he could admit that much) didn't mean that he was dangerous, not at all. But this was Noel's store choice and even though she seemed to enjoy much of what was within she wasn't leaving to try any of it on.

"You don't trust me," Juka said to Noel, sadness in his voice. What had he ever done to warrant such a lack of trust? He hadn't hurt anyone, least of all Henrietta. Well, at least it looked like they were leaving the dreary little story. Perhaps Henrietta would suggest somewhere more interesting.

Noel told Henrietta it was her turn. Looking at the woman, she stood up. “No, no. You should keep looking if you want. I just don’t have the money for any of these things. It’s not that I’m not interested.” She felt guilty for making the other girl want to leave so soon. Henri turned and looked at Juka to see if he wanted to leave the store. “Besides, I don’t really know any stores around here or anything…”

Juka felt that Noel didn’t trust him. Henrietta glanced between the two people. She didn’t know either of them very well, but she didn’t get bad vibes from one person or the other. Noel didn’t seem to trust the odd man. Henri wasn’t sure if it was because of his appearance or if it was because he was a man in general.

Henri looked around and then down. She was hoping this wouldn’t become a fight or something ugly.

"You don't trust me."

Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up for reality. Of course she didn't trust him. She didn't trust much about anyone, let alone those that advertised themselves as deviants. He seemed a harmless puppy, but Noel knew better. Even puppies could bite.

She looked at Juka for a long time. Truth. Because she was sick of tasting crap.

"Of course I don't trust you. I don't know you from Adam. So far you've done nothing, but I don't know if that is because I'm here watching like a hawk or because you're really a kitten inside a man's body inside a woman's set of clothing. I'm sure you're a fantastic person or whatever, but I can't in good conscience leave a lamb with someone whose brain is in outer space."

And that was the sassy gospel according to Noel. If it made him feel any better, Noel was suspicious that Henri might be a runaway. Because honestly, what mother would allow her child to shop alone in the Big Apple?

"Of course I don't trust you. I don't know you from Adam. So far you've done nothing, but I don't know if that is because I'm here watching like a hawk or because you're really a kitten inside a man's body inside a woman's set of clothing. I'm sure you're a fantastic person or whatever, but I can't in good conscience leave a lamb with someone whose brain is in outer space."

Juka wasn't so much insulted or angry as he was hurt. Someone having such an impression of him was just one more nail in the coffin of his previously niavely optimistic view on life and the ways of the world. He knew there were bad people out there of course, he had even encountered a couple of them, but was it really so bad that someone could be so very jaded? And was it really such a crime to be an individual? He didn't really know how to be any other way, despite how hard his parents tried to make him fit in with everyone else.

"If you really feel that way I can just leave," Juka said, hurt and tired of having to defend himself. He glanced at Henrietta. "It was a pleasure meeting you dearest one, but it seems I'm not wanted here." He turned and began walking away.

Noel confessed to Juka how she felt. Henrietta could tell that it automatically hurt Juka’s feelings. He told the brunette that he enjoyed meeting her, but he had decided to leave. She couldn’t blame him, really. Noel hadn’t been too friendly towards him. Juka began to walk away and Henri felt her heart sink slightly. Looking at a clock, she saw it was starting to get late. The girl felt that she should be heading back to the Mansion soon, but she couldn’t leave Juka feeling down and lonely.

Reaching her hand out, Henri started to touch his left shoulder gently. “Juka,--“ The girl knew what it was like to feel lonely. He had that look about him now. “Please, don’t go. I, um, I need help finding my way back home.” It was a lie, but Henrietta had enjoyed talking to the eccentric man in the dress. She felt bad that she hadn’t stuck up for him at all.

Glancing at Noel, she smiled. She liked Noel too, but Juka and her weren’t getting along. That was okay. You don’t have to like everyone. The brunette knew that, but still.

Noel watched his vie for sympathy. He wasn't going to get any here. He needed to clean up and act like a human being instead of a cream puff. She'd given him the truth, likely something he hadn't heard much since he was so far off the deep end.

It was hard to resist tapping her foot. For someone who was just going to leave he sure was moping and dragging on.

And of course Henri took the bait.

She needed help finding her way home? She was actually, literally asking for him to see her home. To see where she lived so that if he wanted he could ambush her at his leisure. There was practically no helping the ones that invited it on themselves. Noel thought she'd give one last ditch effort to see the girl didn't invite disaster upon herself. "Where do you live?" She had to resist calling her dear or sweetheart. Somehow adding a little bless-her-little-heart afterward made it sound better after thinking so little of people.