Underneath it All

Mila noted the excitement on the other's face and took a mental note that they surely had to make plans to go. The brunette wasn't the best at skating, but she could skate in circles and to her that was enough. "I'm glad you think it's a great idea! And oh, oh, Bryant Park with the holiday markets? Maybe we can do that, too." The young woman bit her lower lip, not wanting to fluster the other with plans. In actuality, Mila was just so into the holiday spirit that she couldn't stop thinking of all that New York had to offer at this time. "Maybe this weekend we can go to Prospect Park? What does your schedule look like?"

Holly's laugh caused Mila to let out a light laugh of her own. "Now I'm curious as to how it works." She stifled another laugh as she started to slowly work her way up the tree with the lights. "How's it looking? Any holes?"

arden smiles softly, "no worries, i wanted to help" they reply, as they hold onto some of the unravelled lights. "i love decorating trees, i think it might be my favourite bit of christmas" they carry on, they'd recently started collecting christmas decorations, specifically weird ones.

Mila was on the chair, starting off the string of lights at the top. Her delicate hands worked to make the perfect hang of the lights, whilst keeping holes in mind as she began to work her way down. "Well, thank you. You're welcome to some holiday cookies and hot chocolate once the lights are on." The brunette announced with a friendly smile.

"Decorating could be so much fun. Though, I think it's definitely the company that makes or breaks it." She told the other. "Besides decorating, do you have any other traditions?"

( Like everything else he tried, he wanted to win the decorating, however that was possible. )

The last few centimetres of the string of lights were fixed into place so he was hands free to step around and observe his own efforts. Maybe Mila had a point.

He huffs to himself and then turns take the ornaments box from her, dropping down to sit criss crossed on the floor when he places it down in front of him and opens it to start rummaging through for ones he deemed tree-worthy.

"We rocking with a colour scheme or is this an ornament free-for-all?"

"You heard me! Holes, I tell ya - there's holes!" Mila threw her hands up in the air, taking on the New York accent perfectly. It was the kettle that pulled her away for a moment or two. When she reemerged, it was with two mugs of hot chocolate.

"For after you fix the holes." She claimed as she held up the one mug and placed them both on the coffee table. Speaking of the holes, the young woman went back to the ornaments box only for him to take it from her.

"Not an ornament free for all! It's a white light tree!" The brunette face-palmed. "We have to focus on red, green, gold and silver ornaments. Everything else is dead to me this year." She mentioned, sitting down beside him and quickly started to organize the baubles by color on the floor.

The mention of a whole family sorta threw the brunette through a loop. It took her a moment of disassociation before snapping back into it. "Yeah, the holidays this year just seem to be extra busy with all of our jobs and deadlines. Being an adult is tough."

She handed the other part of the lights so they could start stringing them up. "Do you have any traditions besides the tree?"

"Don't tempt me with a good time." Mila pointed at the other with a playful warning in her eyes. At the mention of her projects, her smile doubled over. "I'm working on 'Green is the new Red' as my column for the holiday issue. Besides that, I have a couple people I'm costuming for Jingle Ball." She shrugged as if it weren't that serious. "How's this season been for you? Rather busy or not so much?" Though they were close, Mila couldn't pinpoint a single thing about ice skating. The mention of a broken back had the brunette burst out into laughter. "No, no. He said I helped his back, actually." She was grinning ear-to-ear. "I kinda brought some down. But we can look at what we have and go from there?" Mila opens one of the boxes of ornaments. "Now, since it's a white light tree. Should we just put up white, green, red, silver and gold baubles?"

" You are far adventures than me but I guess that comes with youth." He sighs." Does it at least taste... Reasonable?"

"It's wrong in all the right ways." Mila commented, noting how different their generational views were just on a mere drink. She pshed and waved off his unsure talk. "You can do it! Don't make me make the whole bar chant for you, cause I'll do it." Coming from the girl who made two heterosexual males kiss after having one too many drinks. Plus, they were just creeping on her and her friends. Also, it didn't seem like they disliked it.

"It tastes like candy. I promise, you'll love it." Mila flagged down the bartender and ordered two of the drink in shots. "Look, and I'll be doing it with you."

The best thing about working his way off the midnight shift was going to the bar after work, which was a thing that could happen without raising some eyebrows. His shift hadn't been too hard so as he sat at the bar maybe that's why he was approached by a tourist, "No I promise I'm not a stripper i am an actual paramedic," the laugh in his voice letting him know that he was not offended by the ask. He reached down to pull out the little badge he had. "but you can still take a picture to show your friends you meet a stripper. He was taking the second to undo a few more buttons before he posed. as they walked away he shook his head and brought his beer to his lips. "Gotta love the city at Christmas"

Mila was at the bar, awaiting for another double pornstar martini. She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but with the bar not being that crowded where they stood it made a hard feat. The brunette stifled a laugh, it coming out more so like a smothered snort as a tourist so boldly asked the person beside her for a photo. What she wasn't expecting was for him to play along with the tourists. Her mai tai now in front of her, she took a sip. Of course he had to speak when she was thinking of heading out.

"Too many tourists for my liking. But, it looks like you can start your own business with the way they asked you for a photo." Mila mentioned, tossing a piece of her hair over her shoulder. "Just don't let Elmo or Dora see you, or it'll be a character throw-down on the streets." Her lips turned upwards into a smile, marking her jest.

"If I order takeout tonight do you want in on it?" Deanie questioned as she scrolled through the delivery app, trying to decide what she was in the mood for.

"Or should we be big brave girls and go out somewhere?"

"Depends on what you're in the mood for." Mila instantly responded, filing her nails on the couch beside her close friend.

The mention of going out piqued her interest as she looked over at the raven-haired woman with a smile. "Yes and yes." She jumped off the couch. "Oh, fuck - what am I going to wear?"

That was when her eyes caught the other's attire. "Please tell me you're borrowing something of mine and we're hitting the clubs?"

There was a humbled smile that overtook Mila's features as she brushed off the compliment, "That was nothing. Anything for you - you know that." She mentioned, a friendly softness made her smile grow small. At the mention of Cecelia being a pro, the brunette nodded, "I don't doubt that. You should be topping Buddy the Elf at being the best decorator this point." She snickered to herself, but really she was hopeful. With her roommates falling behind in the realm of being festive, she felt the need to rush in order to keep up with everyone else. Cecelia's decorating skills would help lessen the burden on Mila who would be working o the apartment seemingly alone this year. "I know - I totally meant to get the tree after Thanksgiving, but with work, it's been a hassle. And, you see me - I'm a twig. I needed to bother a poor old dude to help me get the tree up the stairs the other day."

"Thank whatever higher power there might be for that." Mila commented before giving the other a grin. In honest truth, she nodded as she realized they didn't tend to hang out much outside of the events. "Yeah, it's about time. I know Prospect Park has their ice rink, if you wanted to set up plans for that sometime soon?" The brunette offered up a suggestion to the other as her manicured hands worked on perfectly draping the string of lights on the tree.

When the other crouched low, Mila instantly took the draped lights off where she was working and followed Holly's lead. "Oh really? I always thought it was from top to bottom!" She practically gasped at this new discovery, her hands then working the lights deep in the tree. "Look at you saving Christmas."

There was an apologetic look that flickered over her features as she realized he was attempting to write his response. Mila's eyes took in the screen easily, her eyes reading over the words quickly. She gave Elliot a warm smile and a humbled nod of her head. She took her own phone out to type: do you think you're good with the lights if I go get the ornaments? Turning the phone to Elliot, she gave him some time to read it before going to the next room and bringing in a box of ornaments from the kitchen counter.

" Surely not, I've never heard of such a thing." He turns to look at her." Wouldn't a drink that, allegedly can obliterate you, in one glass be dangerous? What exactly is in it?"

Noticing he was staring at the drink, the young woman raised her brows at him as she awaited an answer.

She couldn't help but to snort out a laugh. "It has vodka, gin, tequila and rum." In all honesty, she could be exaggerating how strong the drink is. She is a petite woman, nonetheless. "You can take it as a shot, too. Maybe you should try it for yourself."