All That I'm Allowed (I'm Thankful For) [Open]

[Luther Lee Boggs]

It was just another day in Fox River. But every day that Boggs woke up was a day that he thanked God, for if he had been kept in North Carolina he would have been dead a long time ago. Other inmates didn’t take kindly to their fellow folks helping out authorities in order to get their sentence reduced…especially when it was a reduction from the death penalty to life in prison. But Boggs had simply been doing what he thought he could to redeem what he could of his wasted life.

And now here he was in the cafeteria with what looked like some kind of meat and what could possibly pass for mashed potatoes and a carton of milk on his tray. Nobody was going to hear any complaints from Boggs though about the food. He had been living on the streets for most of his life, so having a roof over his head and three square meals a day was more than he could ever hope for. Boggs always tried to look on the bright side of things. That’s why people rarely ever saw the man with a frown on his face.

Boggs was sitting at a table well away from any other inmates. He couldn’t say that he had any friends in Fox River. He wasn’t going to spend his last years on earth trying to make friends. He merely had acquaintances and none of those acquaintances seemed to want to sit with him today, which was completely fine with Boggs. He wasn’t a loner by nature but sometimes it was nice to enjoy a quiet meal by yourself. Boggs picked up his fork but just as suddenly set it back down. “I’m forgettin’ somethin’,” he said to himself. He rested his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together, closing his eyes as he mumbled a short prayer to himself.

[Mama]

Mama pushed her gray mashed potatoes around her plate lamely with her fork. Her top lip curled in disgust as she raised her fork, tilting her head slightly to watch the slop cling defiantly to the plastic utensil. “They s’pect us ta eat this shit?” She growled under her breath, tossing her fork onto her plate and opting for a drink of milk instead. Keeping in mind that Mama had recently recovered from a bout of food poisioning, she was extra suspicious of the meals served in Fox River. It made her just a little nervous that fellow inmates, who, let’s face it, could be jealous of the woman’s powerful position, might be the one’s preparing the very food she was putting into her body.

Mama set down her milk carton and eyed it suspiciously, turning the small container in her long fingered hands. What’s to say they wouldn’t add a little something to her drink as well? Sighing, Mama pushed her tray away and let her dark eyes roam around the cafeteria. Her bored gaze dropped on a lone figure sitting with his hands clasped, head bent and eyes closed in prayer. She rested her chin on her loosely closed fist, watching the unknown man commune with his God. Mama had always enjoyed watching people pray, likely because the act of prayer was such a private manner, and Mama, a woman who craved the full attention of everyone, liked to disrupt that very special intimacy. Her eyelids flickered low until the Southern woman was watching him through her lashes. She tilted her head, wondering curiously whether his prayer was one of simple thanks or if he was asking for something more, freedom seemed a common topic.

Mama withdrew her intrusive stare and cast about the familiar faces of her gang members. Business had been slow recently, and the Southern woman wondered momentarily if it wasn’t maybe time to pull in some new customers and rope in a few new fish as members of her working boys and girls. Mama’s gaze flickered back to the praying figure and her tongue slid across lower lip.

“Think I’ll take a walk,” she murmured to her family, standing up from the table and pausing to pick up her fruit cup – the only food she remotely trusted, and even then it was still questionable. Mama made her way over to the con, her gait rolling and relaxed as if this was nothing more than a stroll.

“S’cuse me, sorry to interrupt,” Mama paused, letting her lips curl into a slow smile. “Mind if I join ya?”

[Maraina Marlette]

Today, like most days, Mara was in a bad mood. Well not a bad mood but she wasn't in a good mood either. The two girls in the cell next to her had kept her up most of the night with there talking. She really should be used to this by now. So today day she finds her self walking into the cafeteria sleepy and slightly moody. She casts an eye around the sitting areas wondering where she would be sitting today. She knew she did not want to sit with her normal group.

Mara went threw the usual motions of the morning "rush". After picking up her tray she moved threw the line and was soon looking over the area again. She saw where she wanted to go. A table with only one person at it. She saw it was a male, this was good. There was a chance of not much chattering. She started walking over to the table. The two girls behind her went off to there normal spot still talking about the guards and which ones they thought where hot. There not many to choose from.

Mara sat herself down three seats down from the man and on the opposite side of the table. About that time another woman shows up and asks to join. Mara glanced out the corner of her eyes and assumed she was talking to the man. She ignored them both and went about picked at her meal. A vivid look of disgust and hate for the food clear as day on her face. "Prison food."

[Mama]

The distinctive sound of a feminine voice caught Mama’s attention, and she turned slightly to catch sight of the other woman. She looked revolted at the sight of the poor meal before her and Mama could hardly blame her.

“Tell me about it,” she drawled back lazily. Her dark eyes flashed to the man before settling back on the woman and Mama made a quick decision. She sat herself down opposite the man, leaving an empty seat between the woman and herself – she didn’t want to crowd her. Mama then oriented herself so that she could speak to both inmates comfortably.

The woman was a pretty looking thing, and there was an edge there that Mama liked. Mhmm she would fit right in with the crew, and probably manage to empty out a few customers’ pockets too.

“The name’s Mama,” she introduced herself easily and her smile was pleasant and unthreatening – a dangerous sign for those who truly knew the Southern woman and what she was capable of.

[Maraina Marlette]

(Me thinks Raina is a little old for her crew... lol)

Mara heard the woman speak, so she put down her fork and looked over at her as she sat herself down one chair down from her. Mara shyly looked back at her tray, then decided to just push it away from her. She may try to nibble something before time to go, but she doubted it. When the woman introduced herself to them, Mara looked back her way to see her expression. Mara knew the name. She had a reputation on the block.

Deciding today was not the day to make enemy's, she turned to them slightly and smiled back. "I'm Mara and I've heard of you." She studied the woman for a second trying to figure out what she was playing at by speaking to her. Most people never says anything to Mara unless they wanted something. She tried to keep her own expression friendly but not overly friendly. She did not want to seem weak or gullible. That is one thing that gets you in trouble in here.

[Mama]

[haha maybe just a chat then. Mama might still try to rope Mara in as a client or something, same as Boggs lol ]

Mama watched Mara’s shy movements with a soft smile playing at the coroners of her lips. How sweet it was to see such social innocence in an imprisoned world such as theirs. Judging by the look of Mara the woman was no fish, so the Southern woman put her reaction down as a personality characteristic rather than the antics of someone new and unused to the environment.

At Mara’s words Mama nodded her head slightly, an action that seemed to say ‘of course you’ve heard of me.’ A small smirk touched her lips.

“Only bad things I hope,” the Southern woman replied, giving a playful wink. “Well Mara – that’s a beautiful name by the way – it is an absolute pleasuh to make your aqquantiance.” Mama paused long enough for her dark eyes to flicker to the pushed away tray, and then back to the other woman. “I do hope I ain’t puttin’ you off your...well it can hardly be called breakfast can it?”