'Twas The Afternoon Before Christmas...!

[Arista]

Gil seemed to know where, and when to press Dani's buttons, even with the relatively short time they has spent together, she seemed to know all of the things that could fluster Dani, either that, or Dani was just flustered by Gil's presence alone...! Soon enough, Gil let up and dragged Dani -on along to wherever she wanted, which was all around the store, aimless wandering until finding the perfect, most cutest pair of panties Gil had ever seen, but of course, they weren't for Dani's refined palate, she would have to be educated on the finer things, things Dani saw fitting of her luxurious tastes and style...!

The matching set of bra-and-panties was surely adorable, fancy, cute, elegant, everything Gil thought about Dani! Her eyes glanced it up and down quickly a fair-few times, inspecting it, much longer than Gil looked at anything before making judgement before...! "...It's adorable...!" How well thought out! She couldn't imagine herself in it, but stepping out and trying something new was always fun, heck, it was half the reason she was in L.A.W...! "...Hmm...?" Gil looked closer to the tag, it took her a second but she quickly realized that it was Dani...!

"DANI!?" She spoke a little to loudly. "You look great, in the picture, and right now...!" She giggled! "...I bet you where this all the time, it so suits you! Is it comfy? It doesn't ride-up you butt, does it?" Gil inquired, turning to look for the set on the shelves. "...Aha...!" She held up the panties, victoriously, as if she had just conquered a beast to obtain them...! "...Perfect, do you think I could pull them off...?" Gil held them against her hips, trying to give a visual image! "...What do you think, am I sexy...?" Gil put on her best 'intimate' voice and propped her leg up on the shelf, trying so desperately to come off as sensual. "...Now let's see if they have that bra..." Gil rifled through the pile, they had plenty, but as luck would have it, none that fit her. "...They never have my cup-size..." She pouted. "...Maybe I'll have to mix-and-match it..."

[CaptainL]

When Danielle stood next to the items she herself had modeled for, she couldn't help but let a smug smile cross her face. Sure, at the time, she thought that the job was beneath her, but by now, it had all paid off. Not only was she getting the chance to show off to Gil, both in terms of her looks and her exquisite tastes, she also had the satisfaction of hearing even someone as dull and slow-witted as Gil praise something that had graced her figure. Oh, if she could only tell her past self that some day she'd be glowing in the adoration of a common peasant, she could only imagine the look on her face.

But soon enough, the realization set in for the brunette, and Dani threw her head back with a laugh. It was only a second later she realized how unused to the sound she was, and for a moment she stopped dead in her tracks. She...had laughed. A genuine, warm, welcoming laugh, and one that hadn't come from the misery of others. It seemed so strange, and so out of place, that she needed to process it. Was that really coming from her? And...why did it feel so good? Even when Gil mentioned how good Danielle looked in the picture, the response she got wasn't the sly, seductive grin of a model working her stuff. It was the blush, the glance over the shoulder, and the covert nod of a girl who was dealing with genuine, heartfelt compliments. "Ah...thank you..."

A moment later, of course, Dani cleared her throat and straightened her back. She wouldn't want anyone thinking she was going soft, after all! "Ah, well," she began, "even I must admit, the designers did a fine job on it. And it is much to my tastes...though, of course, what I typically wear is far more elegant than anything you could afford..." Even then, though, she did blush a little at the mention of the panties riding up, and she spat in exasperation. "W-What..!? No, no, of course not-! W-Well, on me it doesn't, and..."

Dani had gotten lost in her train of thought, but when she looked up, she saw Gil holding the panties up to her own hips, leaning seductively against the shelves. For a moment, she blushed - a blush that only deepened when she remembered Gil's little quip about the Frenchwoman imagining her in her underwear. But, then again, that was what Gil wanted her to do. And, though Danielle hated to admit it...the thought of it wasn't one she was opposed to. At least, not the thought of her in this underwear.

Not that she'd let Gil know that, of course. With a huff, she stood up straighter. "W-Well...that's a silly question. I'm sure such garments could flatter anyone." Nevertheless, when Gil announced with frustration that she couldn't find a matching bra in her size, Danielle still bit her lip. She could have easily mocked Gil now, but...she couldn't bring it in her heart to do that. She felt bad for her. She was genuinely trying to look sexy, and why shouldn't she? If that was the case, Dani didn't want her to have to settle for mixing and matching.

Clearing her throat, Danielle leaned closer to continue in a softer voice. "Ah, you know...I do know a few very good tailors in town. I'm sure if I put in a favor, they could get it sized for you..."

[Arista]

"Mhm, I think you did a lot for the designers too...!" Gil smiled at the red-head, she did think she pulled off the set nicely, and she made it no secret that she thought Dani was cute, she had said so more than a few times! "...That's great...! I've had one too many pairs that always somehow find a way to make your day a wedgie-filled nightmare...!" Gil giggled. "...Well, maybe not that bad...!"

Gil's never-ending struggle to find a bra that fits would carry on it's legacy here, it wasn't surprising ever, but never fun, all she wanted was some cute, or, in this case, sexy underwear, but anytime she would go out to actually get herself some, the fact that she was lacking in certain areas would rear it's nasty head to taunt her...! "...I guess I can try and find a solid color..." She sighed with a smile, but Dani wouldn't have it! She offered to send her right to a tailor, one that could make Gil never dread shopping for bras again...! "...Really? I would appreciate that a lot, Dani...!" Gil stood up straight, her smile growing in size...!

"...I guess that means I'll take..." Gil grabbed one closest to her size. "...This one! And that also means, I have an idea...!" Words Dani may have come to dread. "...Since I'll be getting the Dani exclusive underwear, maybe you should let me pick you out something...!" Gil suggested, the idea was one Dani was not likely to be fond of, but convincing Gil otherwise had so far today proven to be a near impossible task, and when she had her heart set on something, she was willing to do most anything to make it happen...! "...Let's go, let's get Dani some panties...!" She snickered at the rhyme...!

Gil wouldn't go far, just stepping out into the main walkway area of the store and to a large basket filled sloppily with hundreds of pairs of underwear...! "...This is my favorite part of the store, I don't know who this 'Clearance' person is, but they have great taste...!" Gil clapped her hands, looking at the sign above the basket, the clearance section, before searching though the pile, filled with lots of designs, most more cartoonish rather than what fit Dani's tastes, and some out-of-season, themed ones from summer, and Halloween...! "...Look at these..." Gil held up a pair, orange with a typical pumpkin carving on the butt. "...Pretty cute, huh?"

[CaptainL]

Danielle could see the excitement cross Gil's face the moment she suggested taking her to see a tailor in order to get her clothes fitted. For a moment, she herself smiled a little wider, too. She could tell that excitement was genuine - it shone through in Gil's voice, in the look in her eyes, and for that matter, Gil was never one to have much in the way of ulterior motives anyway. She knew her priorities, she knew where she wanted to be, and she was happy to be working to that goal. Compared to all the scheming and manipulating Danielle had done in the same amount of time, making sure she was set up not only to achieve success in the modeling world but to get into LAW as well, such unambitious modesty felt quaint. But, at the same time, if Gil could be so happy with what she had, and where she was, it seemed almost enviable. Like she didn't have any of the cares that came with being at the top. Just for a little while, Danielle thought, she might like to walk in her shoes.

Dani soon shook the thought out of her head, biting her lip. Her face contorted into a displeased frown once again. She had already been thinking far too many positive thoughts about Gil for her tastes, and she didn't need any more reason to question herself. But...she wanted to help, too. It was the least she could do for someone less fortunate.

"Of course I could," she said, speaking now in a softer voice. "Of course, they'd never give you the time of day if you came by yourself," she added, hoping the appeal to her wealth and status would help her save face, "but if I recommended you, they'd surely be able to fit it in. And perhaps it would also help with your...posterior problems, if you brought the panties too," she continued, noting what Gil had said earlier.

But, as the redhead straightened herself to her feet, she would soon hear something that caused the color to drain away from her face. Now that Danielle had helped Gil pick out underwear, she was looking to return the favor - and that caused her heart to slow to a stop. She knew what Gil was wont to buy, and she wanted nothing to do with it! She could have no self-respect knowing she was wearing such silly, girlish undergarments, and the thought of being present at the counter when paying for them was even worse! Her reputation could never recover from the association!

Yet, before she could say anything in her defense, Gil had already hurried off, launching into a song that made Dani's face redden, especially as a few people looked back over their shoulders toward the sound. "SHH!! I told you, they can hear-!" she interjected - but as Danielle hurried after Gil, she would soon end up in front of the clearance bin. She folded her arms behind her back, biting at her lip and trying to act like she didn't know Gil. Certainly not as she acted as though "Clearance" was a name, and certainly not when she saw the merchandise the brunette had in mind for her!

Her eye twitched as she looked over at the pumpkin panties Gil held up, using every inch of her willpower to resist the urge to make a scene. "Non! Non, certainly not! I've told you enough already, I do not do cute-! Why must there be so many designs on the derriere, anyway..?"

[Arista]

It seemed as though every-time Dani began to feel warmed by Gil's presence, or like she was enjoying herself, Gil immediately brought her back down into a situation that was... Less than desirable for the model... It seemed mostly in the form of publicly humiliating her, even damaging her reputation, though, Gil was none-the-wiser, of course...!

Zipping right over to the clearance section, Gil had a field-day with the what seemed like millions upon millions of different designs, all much to Gil's taste, cute, often times simple, either decorated with wording or cute prints, mostly on the backside, as Dani had observed...! "...Well, Miss Princess Dani..." Gil bowed before the model! "...The reason for that is so that... For instance...!" Gil thought it over for a moment. "...Say when your pants fall down, someone can say 'Hey, Cute underwear...!' or, maybe your getting ready to get in the shower, and you catch a look at yourself in the mirror and see the cutest little design...! Or maybe when someone pulls your pants down in the ring, they get to see how cute your butt is...!" Gil laughed at that last part, nudging Dani, referring back to their match!

Gil folded the panties over her arm, her smile softening. "...I guess I can respect that though, it's not really for everyone..." She looked over her shoulder, spotting all the other designs. "...But just for the record, you might not 'do cute' but I think you'd pull-it-off perfectly, I mean, you are cute yourself, you know...!" She smiled and returned to shopping around, grabbing a few more pairs she saw before turning back to Dani, holding a pair that had a repeating print of penguins on it...! "...This one has your name written all over it...!" She handed them over to Dani, the grey-pair was soft as can be, a lacey-trim around it seemed a little more up Dani's ally, even if she didn't seem to be one for designs...!"

[CaptainL]

The whole time Gil went through the clearance section's array of panties, Danielle stood by stock-still, her face growing redder and redder with each passing moment as she stared straight out into space. Many spoke of the sensation of having one's life flash before their eyes when they were in the face of death, but Danielle was having that right now, when she was doing little more than shopping for underwear. She had to ask herself what went wrong; how her life could have possibly led to this point - with Gil showing her all kinds of ridiculous designs, designs that she could never take herself seriously in; even if no one saw them, Dani would know she was wearing them, and that was enough for her heart to sink.

Of course, it wasn't helping either that Gil was naming so many scenarios in which she believed that wearing cute underwear would be beneficial - all of which seemed like things that would shatter Danielle's reputation and self-respect. If she ever had her pants fall down in public, she would sooner die than to have anyone comment on it to begin with - but wearing underwear so childish would only make matters a thousand times worse! And the worst part yet was when Gil just had to bring up yanking down her trunks during their match - the match that had established Gil's name in LAW, but which was thought back on by Danielle as a shameful stain on her career that was better left forgotten. But Gil certainly wasn't letting her forget it so easily!

"How many times have I told you, MY BUTT IS NOT CUTE!" she snapped, her voice growing louder now - though the moment the words had left her mouth and a few passers-by looked a her, she clasped her hands to her mouth, blushing harder. Clearing her throat, she turned her back to Gil, pretending she didn't just do that. "Erm...as I was saying..."

Dani walked a little further down the aisle, trying to clear her head. Soon enough, though, Gil came up behind her with another pair of panties in her hand. "Hrm..?" The Frenchwoman started to look back in her direction. She held her hand out to accept her offer, and before she knew it she could feel the softness of the fabric in her hand. She smiled a little as she rubbed it between the tips of her fingers. "Well...these do feel n-"

But she stopped a moment later when she looked down and noticed the penguins on the fabric. She bit her lip, and the blush began to rise in her cheeks once again. Had she been had? Was Gil playing a joke on her? As her body began to tremble faster, Dani began to stammer, searching for the right words. "I'm...I..."

But then she stopped. Looking down at the penguin panties...she couldn't stay mad. They did feel awfully comfortable. And the penguins were cute, she had to admit. Besides, as she looked down at the bag in which she was carrying the stuffed penguin, Danielle realized it wouldn't be the first time tonight she acknowledged the guilty pleasures of owning something penguin-related. Clearing her throat again, she glanced back up at Gil.

"Well...I do like them..." she said softly. "But you're going to have to pay for them. That's my only rule."

[Arista]

It came as a surprise to no-one at this point that Dani had constructed such an imagined for herself, that even doing something slightly out of the ordinary that might cause someone to see her in a different-light was completely un-thinkable for Dani. She wanted to keep her image in-tact, which was fair enough, but Gil seemed to be at a constant battle with this side of Dani, trying to get her to indulge in the great things in life without worrying what others though, after-all, Gil never seeked the approval of a stranger...!

Dani lashed out for a moment, the embarrassment she seemed to have from merely being with Gil was enough to damage that perfect image she had, but when Gil poked every button she could find to get under her skin, intentionally or otherwise, it would cause her to yell-out, maybe doing more harm than good...! Gil's smile dropped for a moment, but quickly flashed again as she responded. "...I don't know, I got a pretty close and personal look at it, it was pretty dang cute..." She giggled.

Gil handed over the pair she had spotted, something Dani could refuse, as much as she may have wanted too...! "...I knew you would like them, just imagine how cute they would look on you...! Cute, comfy, and with you favorite animal on them, it's perfect for you...!" Gil clapped her hands together, nodding in agreement to pay for them, and so, she snatched them away from Dani and sprang-off to the register, and with that, all of her gifts had been gathered, of course, she still had one thing more personal left in mind, something to make it so they'd never forget this day...!

Gil stepped away from the counter after paying, stepping back beside Dani. "...Well, I have all the gifts I need, how about you?"

[CaptainL]

If there was one thing Danielle knew, it was that she knew herself. She knew exactly who, and what, she wanted to be, and she simply couldn't accept compromising her image. She was elegant, refined, seductive; alluring without being trashy. She was serious, mature, and confident. If there was one thing she was, it was not "cute" - and furthermore, she didn't fancy herself as being the kind of person who lost to Gil, no less having her behind exposed to so many laughing, cheering hooligans! The thought of it made a shudder go down the redhead's spine, and she shot a glare back at Gil with clenched teeth. "No! You shall not speak of such indignities here!"

But for all she'd deny wearing the panties the brunette showed her...Gil had made a generous offer. She could tell how excited she was to be shopping at Danielle's side, no less picking something out for her, and the thought of shooting her down almost felt too cruel to bear. It was Christmas, after all...even if she had to huff and rub at her temples wondering what was getting to her if she was having such thoughts.

She could at least be thankful that Gil was so willing to go ahead with payment, and that she wouldn't have to be seen making the purchase herself - she shuddered at the thought of what the tabloids could do with something like that! Even when Gil left the store, Danielle was somewhat slow to follow, lest anyone think for a moment they were doing this together. But eventually she left, meeting up at Gil's side.

For a moment, Dani lingered there, looking around the mall. She cleared her throat, standing a little straighter as she balanced the weight of the bags in her arms. "I...should be all set, yes. That's all I need," she said. As soon as the words had left her lips, Danielle thought about how now she could feel the relief of not having to put up with Gil any longer...

Yet, for whatever reason, she didn't feel that. Something felt like it was missing, and she knew exactly what it was. She stood in silence for a little while longer, her eyes running between passers-by as the thoughts brewed in her head. She bit her lip; it felt so ridiculous that she'd say something like that to Gil of all people. And yet...she would be remiss not to. She'd done so much for her, it was only fair.

"...Thank you," Danielle added in a softer voice, making sure only Gil could hear. "Dare I say it, that was...fun."

[Arista]

Gil had surely been a thorn Dani's side today, and even a little blotch on her record, not aided by her constant reminder of her knowing what her butt looked like, she either really liked hanging that over Dani's head, or, the more likely and more Gil thing, she was trying to flatter Dani by telling her how cute she though her booty was...! Either way, the shopping was coming to and end, for Dani and Gil anyway, the mall was busier than it was when they both met-up...!

Gil stared out onto the mall, crowds of people bustled past and crammed into stores, all for the sake of getting something nice for those the cared for, Gil was really just happy she was able to do this for those she loved and held dear to her, and even better, she was able to do it with someone she really cared about, Dani! Through all the idle chatter, Dani's soft voice cut through to Gil like no other as she thanked her for the time they spent together! Gil just stared for a moment, a blank smile on her face, maybe a little too long, letting words that seemed not to come by Dani very often linger before...

"...Thank you, Dani! I had the time of my life this afternoon, it wouldn't have been the same without you...!" She brought Dani in for a tight hug, nestling her chin on her shoulder. "...Oh, that reminds me, some of these are yours, so... Merry Christmas...!" She giggled, handing over the underwear, perfumes and lotion, the plush penguin, and last but not least, a pair of golden loop ear-rings! "...See, these kind of match mine...!" Gil brushed her hair out of the way, showing off two little silver loops in either one of her ears, no-where near as big as the ones she had given to Dani. "...I know our styles differ quite a lot, but when you wear those, we can be matching...!" She smiled...!

"...Now, only one thing left to do...!" Gil for the first time today, didn't take Dani by the wrist and drag her into on-coming traffic, she instead gently took a-hold of her hand and walked with her...! "...I don't want to forget today, the first time we hung out, so let's get some pictures...!" Gil took her to the middle of the walkway, where single photo-booth stood, unused by anyone considering the hustle and bustle going on at the moment...! "...So, five-dollars for five photos, lucky me...!" She held up a five dollar bill and flashed a smile at Dani...!

[CaptainL]

As the two women stopped in the middle of the hallway, watching those last-minute shoppers pass by, Danielle paused a moment to reflect on all she had been through. She felt like an idiot pulled this way and that by Gil's childish whims, and even more so when she thought about the stuffed penguin in the bag Gil held, not to mention the matching pair of panties. She shuddered at the thought of how much money she had wasted on Gil; she was glad she had agents back home to take care of her paperwork for her so she wouldn't need to be reminded of it on her billing statements. But...at the same time, she couldn't help but smile, just a little bit. A reluctant smile, one made only by the corners of her lips, but a smile nonetheless. It was...fun, in its own way. Underneath all her reputation, underneath the image she'd built up as a glamorous, refined, yet still canny and intelligent woman, there was still a part of Danielle that missed being able to see the world the way Gil did, a way she hadn't seen it in years. And tonight, she could feel a little bit of that again.

"It's...it's fine. Don't mention it," Dani explained as she accepted the bags from Gil. She blushed faintly as she was reminded of what she'd be taking home, and she blushed even harder when Gil's festive greetings left the ball in her court to say something in return - something she thought was silly, yet she still couldn't help but say it. She spoke in a soft voice, one only loud enough for Gil to hear, but she spoke the words nonetheless. "And...Merry Christmas."

Even when Gil showed her the matching earrings, she had to smile a little bit wider. Perhaps that was the best way things could have played out. The gold earrings weren't anything too silly or too blatant, and no one on the outside would know any better; they would blend right in with what she wore already. But Gil would know, and Danielle would know. It would always remind her of the fun she'd had, and whenever she wore them she would be, on some level, with Gil. "Ah, yes...I suppose we can, hm?"

When Gil took her hand and actually began moving off at a managable pace, Danielle could hardly believe it; she had grown used to her dragging her this way and that with the focus and energy of a puppy on stimulants. She could believe it even less that she was actually walking at her side, yet the motions came naturally to her. And they led her to a photo booth, one where Danielle stopped in thought for a moment. Ordinarily, she wouldn't dare to be seen in public engaging in anything so frivolous with anyone, and especially not Gil. But when everyone's attention was elsewhere, it seemed as though they had this moment to themselves. Perhaps that was enough to make her give it her consideration. But, either way, the Frenchwoman still turned her head toward Gil, and a smile came to her face.

"Photos, hmm? Well, I should know a thing or two about being photographed...but I don't see why not."