Raven's assurance that he and Serafina might surely get along with him if she provided him with some sort of treat or incentive brought that simper back to his lips. Tobias chuckling slightly before his eyes offered an almost playful roll directed entirely at himself. The boy more than capable, in this present mind, of finding amusement within his own introspective actions to some extent. That his other side might be so easily bought was perhaps hard to believe and yet, he suspected that other being was inclined to behave himself when the right bribery was added or indeed something could be achieved through his chosen co-operation. It was clever really. Strikingly so for someone so many others outside of Tetradore and Raven herself seemed to write off as some sort of lunatic. There was, he supposed, a very distinct intelligence to that being even if he seemed oddly determined not to allow people to see it. Still, that there was some hope he might not terrify Raven's friend and maid of honour was at least pleasing, this Serafina surely a decidedly strong being if she had already put up with him once before and hardly been daunted. Tobias scowling more readily then at the series of images that suddenly seemed to find him, blurry and difficult to grasp though they were. Serafina. He knew her scent. He knew when it clung to Raven and yet an image of the woman was difficult to conjure- at least in this state.

"Does she have a boyfriend? A blonde one? He's tall?"

That this was perhaps not a strong description was surely clear and yet if Serafina did or had dated a tall blonde man then Raven would surely be able to identify him. This being seeming a little more potent in his memory if only for the notion that memory seemed to be tied to a far stronger reaction somewhere within him. His head shook slightly as they continued on through that mall then. The young man allowing those thoughts to fall by the wayside before they teased at him anymore with all they might contain and yet dare not share. Tobias largely oblivious to any concern that turned within his fiancé then over what little off his own self-depreciation, perhaps, had settled within him. It was a difficult thing, after all, to face the veritable crimes off his other half- to be hit with them all at once through whatever fragments of memories remained and whatever others might tell him he had done. That other being held no guilt, no sense of remorse, no true sense of any repercussion of his actions. He was all or nothing all at once and while he, Tobias, the very one present now was so left to pick up the pieces of that fall out. Cursed perhaps, to feel anything and everything his other side was protected from feeling- as if each and every wayward emotion somehow missed the Other and collided with him here and now. His existence a veritable minefield to move through and yet with each passing minute and hour that veritable burden had begun to ease in a fashion. How difficult that acceptance could be and yet how determined it seemed Raven was to have him find it. She- it seemed- having long ago found a total acceptance for he was and was not all at once. Tobias allowing one eye to lift slightly at her words, his hand still within her own.

"It's a little hard not to be slightly ashamed of chasing the King of Italy down the street. He must have put a suppression order on those photos, the Press was everywhere so there would be pictures. It was nice of him to stop them being published. I'm glad to know he still makes friends though. I don't like to think of him holding you back in any fashion- although I am starting to think that perhaps he doesn't, not like I thought anyway."

Tobias was, it seemed, an honest being, even when present as he was now and far more capable of hiding those emotions. The man seeing little need not to offer his fiancé that look into his thoughts and those changing perspectives. The idea that she would chase away anyone who didn't like him drawing that chuckle from his lips once more and yet he offered no further comment on it for now. Tobias rather sure she would chase away anyone given the chance. The man finding he hardly doubted her in any sense. He lead her easily into that store then, that bright smile on her features at the realization of his intentions making that very moment entirely worth it in every sense. Tobias, however, in perhaps a typical display of his gender, having hardly taken any consideration into his girlfriend's clothes. Clothing perhaps the very near last consideration for that day or the idea Raven might have found her own unacceptable.

Her hands trailing along his chest drew his gaze away from that assistant then and back to Raven herself. Tobias unable to prevent that almost pleasing sensation her hands seemed to leave in the wake of their touch as she settled for smoothing his collar. Really he was sure she looked just fine as she was and yet he supposed, girls would be girls and really- he hardly minded her desire to find something else if it would make her happy. He liked making her happy. His head softly nodding that agreement. That woman assuring them she would be waiting when they came back as he followed her out of the store. Raven content to lead the way then and past what he could only presume were the stores they were not allowed in- well- that he specifically wasn't allowed in. They moved across to near the other side of the mall, Tobias allowing himself to be guided to the front of the store Raven seemed to have settled on before following her inside. Well. This was new. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been in a store before. Had they always had this many clothes? The man almost instinctively looking for that 'boyfriend bench' most men were relegated too in such events as this and yet the idea of leaving Raven alone to wander that store seemed equally as displeasing. He'd much rather stay near her.

"Compliments my outfit? I don't think I've ever heard you say that."

His voice held that ready tease then, that soft chuckle rising within his throat as he wandered amongest those clothes. The man feeling decidedly out of his comfort zone here and now. What colour did she want? Were they looking for a dress or jeans? What on earth complimented his outfit? Tobias pausing briefly to glance down at it as if this might offer him some clues.

"What about that?"

His hand lifted to gesture to the mannequin and the outfit it wore, those fitted jeans and v-necked shirt entirely pleasant to his own mind. Tobias, perhaps, as unhelpful as any man had ever been in a store.

"That's nice too."

His other hand moved then, gesturing to a floral print blouse better suited to a much, much older woman then Raven herself. Tobias, it seemed, not entirely skilled in choosing women's clothing.

madness, as you know, is like gravity: all it takes is a little push