Surprises

Who: Mickey and Shoshannah
When: Late night/early morning
Where: Her apartment

The storm had had Shoshannah up and down, in and out of sleep. She was seated with Ferdinand on her lap in her bed, hoping that it would ease her into sleep. It wasn’t that she was afraid of the storm, it was just so loud that it ended up keeping her awake. For once she was almost wishing she’d have an attack and fall asleep. It would at least be less boring than being awake at this hour.

Mickey had left December's still feeling disapointed and not realizing until he really tried her stairs that he was still a bit drunk. He'd thought the tattoo getting would have taken that away but apparently not. He'd headed for his place in the rain, not caring that he was drenched as he tried to sort through things. He wasn't that guy, he would have regretted it, maybe, but maybe not. Maybe it didn't matter, like she said.

That left him feeling even more confused and he didn't even realize he was headed for Elle's building until he was in front of it, looking up towards her windows before making his way inside and up to her apartment. He could ask her about it maybe, or at least she'd talk some sense into him, tell him not to fret about things not to worry that he'd somehow missed that December was interested in him, at least in some way. Leaning heavily against the door frame he knocked on the door, not even for a moment registering how late it might be, or what sort of mess he looked like dripping wet and a slightly less than steady from the booze.

Shannah had read plenty of books where the eeriest things happened in the middle of a downpour, like knocks on doors or creaky stairs, but she'd never imagined it to really happy here. Grabbing her robe, she pulled it on over her pajamas, but took her time leaving the bed.

Rationally, it was someone who needed sanctuary from the rain, someone who maybe had been caught out in it too long and how could she send that person away? But irrationally, Shannah was crafting ideas for who it was the entire time it took her to walk to the door. Peeking through the peephole, she managed to catch a glimpse of someone familiar when a crack of lightning came. The second crack had her recognizing the form and opening the door, concern on her face. "Mickey, what are you doing out in this? Come inside!"

Mickey couldn't help but stare at Shoshannah like he'd never seen her before. It hadn't even started to dawn on him that she might be there, that she might be in her robe and she might think that him being there was some sort of emergency. It made sense, that she was there, this was her home as well, but he hadn't expected her to open the door. "Oh..I...no. I shouldn't bother you Miss Shoshannah. I'm...I was looking for Elle but it's not important." He took a step back, feeling more than bashful about just dropping in on her. She'd probably been in bed and he'd woken her up. What a jerk.

"Mickey, I swear, if you keep calling me that..." She shook her head, stepping out after him. "No way, there's no way you're going back out in this weather. Come inside," She urged again, hand on his arm to try and pull him inside. For whatever reason he was here, it had to be important. He'd found his way here through a horrible storm and she wasn't about to let him back out into that storm. "Come inside, let me make you some tea and get you some towels."

He was sure he was blushing, glad for the dark to cover it. "No it's fine I can.." he trailled off when she grabbed his arm, just his luck she grabbed the newly tattooed one and he wince slightly, only going with her to ease the pain. "I don't need anything. It really wasn't important, I was just.." What wandering in the rain contemplating his life and how little he had in it? Drunk? None of the answers that came to mind were something he wanted to voice so he left it like that, trailed off with nothing.

Shoshannah saw him, heard the little intake of air, and immediately let go as she put a hand to her lips. Was he hurt? Now she really wasn't letting him go back out there. Ushering him in, she closed and locked the door, hurrying him towards the couch. "Mickey, is something wrong with your arm?" She asked as she flitted around the apartment, grabbing towels to come back over to him and wrap him in them. She didn't know what to do other than that because she had no clothes to offer him in exchange for his wet ones even if she was worried that he'd get sick.

Mickey let her guide him around, but it was still a little more stumbling than usual. The slightly drunk plus the limp weren't a good mix in any way. He managed to get his jacket off before she was there with the towel and wrapping it around him. "No," he said shaking his head a little. "Just sore. Nothing wrong." He moved out of her grasp a little, as nice as the attention was he didn't need it. "I'm alright. I promise."

Standing in front of him, she made sure that she had the towels around his shoulder before she was nudging him towards the couch. "I'll be right back," Shannah promised, heading to the kitchen in hopes that starting water for tea would at least help in the end. Warm drinks always helped, right? Coming back, she watched him curiously. "What were you doing out in this storm?"

Mickey took the nudge towards the couch, making sure there was a blanket under him before awkwardly sitting and waiting. She didn't need to do anything for him, but it did feel a little nice to not be out in the rain and not be home alone. He looked up at her a little confused once she was back in front of him. "I was out, then...with a friend, and then started home and wound up here." The massive gaps in his story probably gave way more about his state than anything else, but he was trying to answer her question at least, but leaving out the part about being in December's bed. It wasn't as if anything had happened, but at the same time he wasn't sure Shoshannah would understand that.

Now that she was sitting down in the chair across from him, she was finally able to really take in Mickey's state. And the fact that he was talking in a slightly strange way. She narrowed her eyes a little in concentration, wondering if he was drunk. Why else would anyone go roaming the streets at this hour in this weather? "Well, you're staying here tonight. At least until the storm clears up. I can't let you back out in that rain."

"I'm..what?" Mickey said looking up too quickly and watching the world swirl some. Even if he wasn't as drunk he was already starting to feel hungover or worse. "I can't, can't impose like that. I can just go," he told her getting up though awkwardly from the couch. There was no way he was not staying with December just to follow it up by staying on Shoshannah's couch. That just didn't feel right at all.

'Mickey, sit down," Shannah said with a deeper voice than before. She didn't want him pushing himself when she still wasn't positive what had happened. "Sit down, please." This wasn't an issue for her. Mickey was a friend in need and she wasn't sending him out into the storm, but he seemed to really not want to be there. Maybe she could at least get some warm tea in him before he shot out of the house anyway. "You're never imposing, Mickey."

Mickey watched her for moment, surprised at the force of the comment and he wound up sitting slowly, nodding a little. She never got like that, not that he’d seen at least and he didn’t want to upset her. “I don’t want to be in your way. I wasn’t really thinking when I came over. I just...got here.”

Shoshannah didn't usually get that way but if he was going to rush back out into the storm, she was at least going to get him something warm to drink and hopefully ward off any sort of cold he'd catch by doing something so rash. "You're not in my way, Mickey. I wasn't even sleeping. And this is always a place for you. The door is always open, you shouldn't apologize. You're a little crazy for going out in this storm," She said with a smile, teasing him, "But you shouldn't apologize."

He was still surprised she was saying what she was saying and that it didn’t sound trite or forced. She sounded like she meant it. And then she was teasing him and Mickey was sure he was blushing slightly again. Ducking his head he shook it a little. “It’s hardly the craziest thing I’ve done tonight,” he said. Trying to find something that wasn’t her teasing him, her acting like he belonged here then latched on to part of what she said. “What had you up? Worried about the storm?”

"What is?" She asked, unable to stop herself. The curiosity always got her. She was endlessly curious and now Mickey had piqued that in her. Shrugging a little, though, she ran a hand through her hair. "The storm, yes. I'm worried about the gallery." She'd been worried about the gallery since the attack and now that it was back in working order, she was really hoping that something wasn't going to come along and destroy it again.

“What is the craziest thing?” Mickey asked. He really wasn’t sure what was though he was currently leaning towards getting upset that December hadn’t asked him to stay or that he had considered it in general. “I uhhh, I got a new tattoo,” he told her, something he wouldn’t normally just admit like that, but she’d asked and he was still a little drunk. When she mentioned the gallery he made a move to get up again. “If you’re worried I can check on it, see if there’s anything I can do. I’m guessing it’ll be fine though.”

Shoshannah gave Mickey a look and stood up when he did. “Sit down or I’m going with you.” He got a new tattoo? In this weather? She supposed tattoo parlors might be open despite any kind of weather. “Show me your tattoo instead?”

He made a face when she stood up but wound up sitting back down. “I’ll look at it in the morning then?” he offered. It gave him some sort of direction at least and something he could do to make up for dropping in on her so late. “Show you...you’d want to see it?”

"Only if you want to," Shoshannah said in regards to the gallery. She might even join him then too, if he did manage to stay here the whole night. Sitting back down, she smiled. "Of course I would. I love that rose tattoo on your arm, I am willing to bet that I will love this new one too."

She liked the rose? He nodded a little then reached for his shirt, working the first few buttons open. “Um it’s still a little raw. But I like it.”

Shoshannah smiled a little more. "If it's too sore to show, then don't worry about it, but I'd still really like to see it." Right now, he was taking his shirt off and Shoshannah had to avert her eyes for a moment. Maybe she could dry it somehow, but still she didn't think she could be staring at him while he removed his shirt.

He watched her duck her head and look away which had him stopping. “I don’t...It’s on my shoulder,” he explained feeling a little embarrassed himself. Mickey turned a little so that his shoulder was showing and he pulled his shoulder out of the shirt. “You can move the bandage away, take a peek?”

"Oh, if it's bandaged...should I?" She asked, heading over to him to look at the bandage again. No wonder his arm had been sore. He had a big bandage on his arm and Shannah had to wonder if she shouldn't be messing with it. "Are you sure I can?"

Mickey nodded then looked up at her. “Yeah it’s fine, just put it back after. Really only need to keep it on for another hour or so.” If she wanted to see it, if she was actually interested, he wanted to show it to her. Maybe Shoshannah could ask the questions that no one else did.

Carefully, Shoshannah lifted the corner of the bandage up and gazed upon something incredible. There, among the reddened skin, was a beautiful, lively bird on fire. The kind of blueish fire that burnt hotter than any yellow or red fire. "Oh Mickey...it's amazing." Smiling up at him, she glanced back down just a moment after and studied it closer. "The lines are beautiful. Why this image?”

The attention, the fact that she was smiling about it, all of it was something he got a little bit more caught up in than he expected. “Amazing..” Then she was asking, asking about it and he really didn’t know what to say at first. “I didn’t pick it, it was a surprise.” There was more to say but he held it back out of habit than anything else.

"A surprise? Did you let the tattoo...er pick?" She asked, smiling at herself for not really knowing the correct term for the person who created tattoos."That would be interesting. Maybe they saw you and read what they could from you as a person? Resilient, brilliant, and full of light..."

“Kind of yeah. She designed it.” Mickey was surprised by her description of him, or what the tattoo said about him and it made him not want to tell her the part about rising from the ashes, about being something more than he was at the moment. “I guess so really.”

"What do you think it says?" She asked, looking up at Mickey. "That's more important than anything else, what you think about it." She wondered if Mickey could see those things in himself or if the phoenix meant something different, something else.

Had she always asked questions like this or was he just noticing now because he was drunk and December had said the things she said. “Um, it’s a sign of where I’ve come from I think. Or that was how it was explained. And where I can go.”

"What a lovely concept." She didn't want to, but she felt like she needed to close it up soon, to put the bandage back on. "It suits you." She was so intrigued by these tattoos that he had, by personal works of art that he got to keep with him, that she just didn't want to see them go. Sadly, though, she covered the tattoo with the bandage again, just as the water whistled. "Did it hurt?"

It suited him. He thought that too but to hear someone else say it was surprising. He winced slightly as the bandage went back on and nodded a little. “Probably would have hurt more if I wasn’t drunk, but I was a bit drunk when she did it. So no, not a terrible amount.” When the kettle whistled he started up again. “Can I help?”

"You want to help with tea? Sure, of course you can." Heading into the kitchen, she took the kettle off the stove and turned to look at Mickey. "The mugs are in that cabinet there." Shannah, instead, went to a little porcelain canister on the counter, pulling out two bags of types of tea. "I don't have many choices but I have a lovely plum infused tea from Chinatown and a strong black tea from the market."

He was a little more off balance than usual a result of the alcohol still in his system and though he tried to work the buttons on his shirt as he walked, he couldn’t quite get more than just one or two buttoned. It was enough to keep the shirt somewhat closed, but part of his chest was still exposed. When he’d taken it off before he’d just pulled it off, not bothering with the buttons. “Black I think works better for me,” he told her only knowing about tea from Elle, but the black stuff was closer to coffee and more his style than the fruity choices. He opened the indicated cabinet and took two mugs off a high shelf, then carried them over to her.

Plopping the black tea in one mug and the plum tea in another, Shoshannah poured water into them and then went for the lumps of sugar she kept in another canister. “How many? And don’t judge me if I say I sometimes put in four.”

Mickey watched her trying not to get too caught up but it was hard. He'd always had a crush on her, ever since she moved in with Elle and they never had moments like this. "No sugar for me. I just let it steep longer, but I won't judge you."

“Strong, black tea. Makes sense.” Mickey didn’t seem the type to fool around with flavored teas or drinks, but she still enjoyed learning these little things about him. She put in two sugar cubes this time, not thinking the extra sugar would be good for someone who was already too awake from the storm, and nudged him back towards the couches in the living room. “Tell me more about tattoos. I don’t know much about them.”

He took his mug and the little nudge making his way back to the couch and sitting as he'd been before hands around his mug watching her. "More? Um what do you want to know?"

“It’s fascinating, just the idea. I’m just curious as to why you choose to get them done. About what actually happens to make the tattoo in your skin, the process...I don’t know much about them other than the fact that they’re beautiful and meaningful. I’m curious,” She explained, sitting back on the chair again and letting him have the couch to stretch on if he wanted to.

Mickey thought about it for a moment then shrugged. "I guess I like the idea of it being permanent. That was what drew me to get the first. The second was more of a whim." the whole night had been full of whims. "As for the process you'd have to ask December or someone. It involves a needle and the ink is..injected?" that he didn't claim to know much about honestly.

“December?” She asked, not sure who that was. “Was she the one who gave you the tattoo? She’s very talented.” For some reason, Shoshannah had not thought it was going to be a woman even though he’d mentioned that before. It was refreshing to know that it was, though. “Do you have to get large ones?” She asked, looking back between his arm and his shoulder again. Both of his were fairly large, though Shannah wondered if maybe they had to be. It would make sense, she couldn’t even imagine an artist using a needle to create something on her skin that without being able to use as much skin as necessary. Like a canvas.

Mickey shook his head slightly. "No you can get whatever you want. It's your body right?" Then be was nodding about December. "She did my shoulder yeah. And really talented. One of the best I've seen in town."

“Does December have tattoos?” She asked, looking back up at him. How acceptable was it for a woman to have tattoos? Not that it really mattered, Shoshannah would get one if she decided she wanted it. A tattoo made perfect sense in her mind, some work of art that she would have on her forever.

Mickey nodded and smiled. “She does. Wings on her back. It’s pretty lovely actually.” He smiled again thinking about it then looking back down at his mug and taking sip. She’d clouded the hell out of his mind, getting too caught up in December which wasn’t smart considering what she’d said. That he wasn’t that kind of guy. Shaking his head he looked up and focused on Shoshannah instead.

“I’m sure they are...” She sipped at her tea as well, looking down robe covered arms as she pondered. “I wonder what I would get if I were to get a tattoo...” Her mother would lose her mind. Father too, probably, but that didn’t matter really. If she found something worth getting, she was already on her way to considering having it done so that would only help.

Mickey stopped the mug as he rose it to his lips, looking at the curiously. “You’d think about getting one?” he asked. That didn’t seem to fit her, not really. She was pretty and not different like December was.

Shrugging a little, Shoshannah looked back at him. “It’s a nice thought, being able to carry around a lovely work of art on me always.” She wasn’t really thinking past the end point of it, though. Not the pain or the problems she’d face with any sort of visible tattoo.

He opened his mouth to answer that question then frowned. “I never though of it like that, traveling art pieces. Makes sense, I just didn’t think of it that way. Usually they have deeper meanings.” He was quiet for a moment then he shrugged slightly. “It’s just not very lady like is all.”

She frowned a little. "I don't mean to say that they aren't deep in their meanings...I just meant that all the ones I've seen," Which had been Mickey's only, really, "have been truly beautiful like pieces of art." And some art could really mean something deep to someone, but she kept that to herself considering that just sounded mean. "I'm not lady like all the time," She said, looking back up at him with a hint of a smile. "I'm just me."

That she’d called his tattoos beautiful, or at least he guessed his were some of the few that she had seen. Laughing a little he leaned back against the couch. “You are nothing but lady-like. Tell me one thing you’ve done that isn’t lady like.”

It was a little sad that Shoshannah had to think about it. What was the last thing she'd done that would be considered unlady-like? After a moment, she gave him a grin. The last thing she could really think of was Angelo painting her arm a rainbow of colors. "Ok, so perhaps I'm more lady-like than I want to be. That doesn't mean I have to be all the time, though. I'm not lady like all the time and I'd be interested in doing something less lady-like..."

He laughed again and shook his head. “See? I told you were were lady like. The definition of in fact. I think people who want to be lady like use you as a guide.” Mickey gave her a curious look leaning forward again. “Something unlady-like? Like what?”

Shoshannah shook her head, sure she wasn't the guide for all things lady-like. Still, though, she ended up smiling at his question. "Anything. I'd like to learn something knew, something non-lady-like. Any suggestions?" She asked, smiling behind her mug.

Mickey looked at her like he was contemplating something big then let out a sigh. “I’m not really sure. Though taking in dripping wet, half drunk mechanics and forcing them to sleep on your couch is a start I’m sure.”

She laughed but then it clicked. "Mechanic...you could teach me some things about engines. If you wanted to, of course, only if you wanted to. But that would be so unlady-like.." Yes, she’d sort of invited herself into a day with him teaching her mechanical things, but that could be fun, right? Shannah lived for the curiosity of things so she was always up for learning something new.

Mickey rubbed at the back of his neck while he thought about that and making a slight face at it. “Well I suppose I could. I said I would right? Or something like that.” He guessed she would still make working on a car look lady like, but he was willing to help her out if she wanted.

"It will be fun! And I'd love to learn more about what you do every day." Shoshannah smiled again, already thinking over the new things she'd learn about cars and engines and whatever Mickey worked on day to day. "I'd really like to give it a try. And maybe, if you want, we could go out later with my camera and you could take some pictures. Something you do and something I do."

Mickey opened his mouth once again, trying to answer, but not sure what to say. She’d just...planned something. And what else could he could do but agree? Not agreeing would be stupid. “Sounds like a deal,” he said with a nod. “Could be interesting at least.”

"It will be interesting and it will be fun," She promised, smiling at him. This was something. She'd learn something new and she might even be able to show Mickey something he'd not seen before. Standing up, Shannah was about to head to her room to find her camera, but before she took a step the lights in the living room blacked out, followed by the lamp in her room and they were left in the darkness after a particularly bright flash of lightning. Lightning that proved to Shannah she hadn't blacked out, which had her with her hands out immediately. "Mickey? You ok?"

He’d been half up when the lights went out, more a reaction to her getting up than anything else. When she reached out, she got his arm and Mickey closed his other hand over hers, pulling her towards him slightly, just to prove he was there. “M’alright,” he said as the thunder crashed and lightning lit up the room for another instant. “Are you?”

She felt grounded again as soon as she had his hand. It wasn't like she was in danger here. She was in her own home, but there was something inherently unsettling to the power going out and it had her squeezing his hand a little more. "I'm fine," She promised, looking around the blackened room as if she could see. "So I guess the storm is worse than we thought..."

“Just a little yeah. I’d say I could find a circuit breaker, but I think given the weather, you know it’s probably sort of a mess.” Mickey sighed and used his hold on her hand to guide her back to the couch, sitting awkwardly while still holding on to her.

Shannah, now seated, was starting to freak out. "What do we do when the power goes out?" That sort of basic life skill was not something she had. Her parents would have dealt with this up until now and Shoshannah didn't exactly know how things like breakers or circuit boards worked. "Is it up to me to fix it?"

When she got anxious he squeezed her hand for a moment. “We stay inside. Light some candles if we can find them.” He shook his head even if she couldn’t see him. “No, likely the power company will need to get things up and running again, but in the morning I can head down to the basement and see if your landlord has someone looking into it.” He patted her hand, then leaned back against the couch. “It’ll be fine, just dark. Not an issue yet unless it stays off for a long time.”

"Candles. of course. We have a couple candles. I'll go find them." Smiling, but realizing he couldn't see it, she squeezed his hand and then stood again. "Get comfy." He definitely couldn't go out in a power outage. Not that she knew if the rest of the city or even the area had this issue, but better safe than sorry. So she started walking carefully, tripping over this and that until she really did run right into a side table, a string of Yiddish words coming from her in reaction to it.

He was hesitant to let her go, but did eventually, watching her as best he could in the few flashes of lights. Once she was out of sight, he made an attempt to relax, but the string of gibberish had him looking over the couch again. “What was that? Are you alright?”

"Nothing wrong. Just clumsy is all..." She said with a little laugh in her voice as she leaned against the table and rubbed at her toes. Shannah felt her way into her room and though it felt like forever, returned with two candles. "...Couldn't find the lighter. Do you have one?"

Mickey reached into a pocket, finding his lighter and holding a hand out for the candle. He wasn’t much of a smoker, but it was handy thing to have even if he didn’t smoke much. “So what did you say back there, it sounded like...well I have no idea.” The first candle flamed up, casting a soft glow on her features.

"Back there? Oh..well, sort of...it would translate to some obscenities." Grinning in the dark, she realized this was a chance to show him she was less lady like. "Loosely, it means 'Get the hell out of the way'."

He lit the second candle, grinning as it cast a second glow in the room. “Obscenities?” he asked, teasing tone to his voice. “I wouldn’t have thought you had it in you. Translated from what exactly because I’ve been around some Italians and that’s not Italian.”

"It's not Italian because I'm not Italian," She said shrugging a little. "It's Yiddish. My parents speak it sometimes, really more interchangeably with English. Just sort of grew up hearing everyone speak a little of it here, a little of it there."

Mickey set the candle on the table. “Yiddish? What’s that?” he asked. It was just English in his home and he was pretty sure he wasn’t really familiar with Yiddish in any way.

“Yiddish is a language that...a lot of people in my family speak. My grandparents speak it more often than my parents. Sometimes the older generation at Temple speak it too but it’s less common now than it used to be.” Shoshannah explained, shrugging a little. In the dim light, she managed to find her place back on the couch and turned so that she could look at Mickey. “Do you know any other languages?”

Mickey frowned for a moment trying to get his head around that. “Temple...” he started not sure what that meant either really. “Other languages, um no. I know a bunch of the prayers in Latin, but that’s more memorizing that understanding the language.”

"I bet you could still translate some of the words if you wanted to. I think that counts." She watched him for a moment and tilted her head a little. "Temple, or the Synagogue, is where Jewish people go to pray. Like church."

“The big ones, like God and spirit maybe, but mostly it’s just the prayers. I know what the prayers are in English, but don’t ever really think about what words in Latin correspond.” That she was Jewish though caught him off guard, or at least that was what it seemed like she was saying. “You’re Jewish?” That thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. She didn’t go to his church no, but he hadn’t corresponded the two to each other. There were other churches in the city, other Christian churches. “I don’t think I would have ever though of that.”

"Hagel's a pretty Jewish name, I think," She teased back a little. "I mean, technically yes, I suppose I'm Jewish. I haven't been to Temple in a very long time and I'm not really practicing. My parents are fairly Orthodox. Temple every week, no ham ever. But I've already had ham and I am not going back," She said with another tease in her voice. "I'm going to say you're not Jewish?"

“I suppose it is. I never really thought about it though.” She didn’t seem like the others he’d see around town, maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t as practicing as the few that stood out were. “No ham? That just seems like a bit of shame,” he said lightly, giving her a smile. “No, no I’m not. Catholic actually. I go to the big cathedral.”

"It is a shame, I do really like ham. Just don't tell my parents I had some." She straightened up a little more, interested in this. "Catholic? Interesting. No wonder you know some Latin. Tell me more about the cathedral. It's so beautiful from the outside. Is it the same from the inside?"

“You’re secret’s safe with me. I’ll leave out the swearing bit as well.” That got another smile out of Mickey, something conspiratorial. “Just as lovely. The stained glass looks best in the sunlight which sadly we get so little of, but it’s quite pretty on the few days we do get. I try to get around that way if the sun is out, which is normal I help out a lot around. The ladies’ groups like me for carrying heavy things.”

Shoshannah couldn’t help but grin back at him. “I’m sure the ladies’ group does love for you to carry things for them. I can see them now, just like our ladies’ group would, gossiping over you.” Of course he’d go to church and help the women there move around heavy things, who probably just picked out heavy things for him to move so they could see his strength. It was just too appropriate and it had her smiling. “I’d love to see that.”

“Gossiping about me? What’s there to say? I doubt that’s the case. I think it’s more like ‘that nice boy Mickey’,” he said. It probably continued with ‘it’s a shame he’s deformed or he’d have a nice wife’, but Mickey kept that to himself.

Shannah laughed. "I doubt it's like that. I'm sure they're thinking, 'Look at that charming man there, always willing to carry around anything we need him to. How lovely. And look at his muscles!"

Mickey gave her a look then shook his head, leaning back more against the couch as the alcohol and sleep started to take hold. “That I doubt is the case, though it does have me wondering what you were thinking about when I was boarding up the gallery.” He was teasing her, same way the might tease Elle, some of it from the drinking and some just because he guessed the thought never crossed her mind.

Shoshannah laughed, shaking her head a little bit. "That, Mister, I am keeping to myself." Maybe it had crossed her mind; somewhere in the midst of her freaking out about the gallery she was sure she took a break to think something else. But she did notice him settling down and it had her standing again, hoping he didn't get up as she went to grab a thick blanket and an extra pillow. Coming back, she nudged his feet up to the couch. "I'll get your shoes off so you can get comfortable."

He gave her a bright smile, shaking his head as well. “I figured you might,” he said. So as to let him off easy for not being interested. When she got up he made a move to get up as well, but she went too fast, which had him only half up before she was back trying to nudge his feet in places. “No, you don’t have to I can,” he said reaching for his boots even as the blush crept into his features.

"Stop being so stubborn, Mickey," Shoshannah said, putting the blankets down on the floor. "Just get comfortable, ok?" He'd done a lot for her, so much. Why couldn't he just let her take care of him for a little while?

He still tugged at the laces of his shoes, knowing they were drenched and feeling like an idiot. “You really don’t,” he said trying to keep from looking at her.

"Mickey...it's fine, really." Shoshannah gave him a reassuring smile. "If you don't want me to, I won't. I just thought it'd be nice to get to actually take care of you for once."

She might have had him there, not the type to be taken care of, ever and he felt bad instantly for not letting her do it while at the same time he hated her doing it. “I..yeah okay,” he said hunkering down a little and letting go of his shoes.

Shannah smiled again, setting the blanket over him finally. Then she went to untying his shoes, which was more difficult than she expected in the dark. She had one shoe off and went for the other one, glancing at him then back down at the shoes again. She managed to get both shoes off and went for his socks before he could protest. "Hopefully the blanket will keep you warm. Brought a pillow too.”

He was surprised, the way she was catering to him like that. “I’ll be fine,” Mickey promised as he took the pillow. “Really Shannah, you don’t have to do this.” It was an accident, slipping into using the nickname for her.

“I’ve already brought them out, Mickey. Taking them back will be more trouble than giving them to you,” She teased, smiling more at him. Picking up the blanket, she let it drape over him before handing him the pillow. “Is there anything else you’d like? Water, anything?”

You. The answer was right there, on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t say it. No matter how drunk he was he couldn’t say it. All he managed was to smile as she moved closer, touching her arm just lightly and shaking his head. “Nothing really. You’re too sweet to me. I’m gonna get spoiled.”

Shoshannah stepped a little closer to him, letting him take her hand. “You deserve it. You’ve been so kind to me, this is the least I could do.” Smiling a little bit, she squeezed his hand. “If you get spoiled, so be it. Wouldn’t be the worst thing that happened.”

It shocked him that she came closer, that she held his hand like that. Maybe it was like December had said, that he wasn’t as unappealing as a mate as he thought, but Shoshannah wasn’t Elle or December. While she was as sweet as anyone, she was a lady. She didn’t have any business being with someone like him. “It could be a bad thing. I’d get too used to it being you that’s spoiling me.”

Shoshannah laughed a little, something soft and more a reaction. “It won’t be if I get to keep spoiling you.” She ended up kneeling down a little so she could look in his eyes. “You should let yourself get spoiled sometimes, Mickey. You work too hard not to.”

In a better world, a braver one, he would have made a move. He would have touched her cheek like he wanted to right now he would. All that happened though was his cheeks coloring slightly, hard to see in the low light as he nodded. “Maybe you’re right.” It was all he could muster. That was it.

Smiling, Shannah tried to catch Mickey’s eyes. “The ladies are generally right,” She teased again, not really believing it but it was fun to say. She squeezed his hand again and stood up. “Good night, Mickey.”

He wanted to pull her back to keep her there, but he wound up letting her go, nodding again and settling back. “Goodnight Shoshannah,” he told her with another smile.