lonely in the shu

[jet]

Lincoln rested his head against the cold wall of the cell. It was his second day of being in the SHU. The Warden was as mad as hell when he found out that Lincoln had started a fight with one of the other inmates as they left the chapel.

The guy had it coming, he was being a smartass and kicking the back of the pew Linc was sitting on, trying set him off, at first Lincoln had ignored him, but by the end of the preachers sermon he was on Lincoln's last nerve.

As Linc got up and started to leave the guy stuck his foot out and tripped him. That set Linc off, he grabbed the guy in a headlock it wasn't hard the guy would have been half Linc's size. It took 4 guards to get Linc off the guy but not before Linc had choked the prisoner until he passed out.

The warden told Linc he lost PI, yard time and any other privilages for a week except chapel time the Warden was very religious and would never stop a prisoner from attending chapel.
Linc was surprised that he got such a leaniant punishment considering the time he had left before his execution.

The Warden said that when he attended mass from now on it would be in chains, he was also given 3 days in the SHU to think about his actions.


(anyone want a chat through the shu walls)

[Jazz]

Jazz was shaking as she was led into the SHU. She kept her wide blue eyes on her prison issued boots, studying the cheap material is it came in and out of view with each step.

“In here con,” the guard stopped, jerking his chin in the direction of the iron door that was held open for her. Jazz glanced up to see him waiting expectantly for her to step inside. Her blue eyes swiveled to the darkness of the cell, taking in its compactness and the shadows that lingered in the corners. She swallowed nervously before taking a small step inside. The door immediately swung shut behind her.

“Thank you,” she called out, remembering her manners as the lock slid into place.

“Ha! You’re welcome.” For some reason beyond Jazz’s understanding, her politeness seemed to amuse the CO and she heard him whistle as he walked away. The young blonde wrapped her arms about herself, turning slowly to look about the cell. There wasn’t much to it and its bareness depressed her. Jazz sank slowly onto the lumpy bed, sitting immobile for several long minutes. Unlocking her arms the young woman pulled herself backwards until she was sitting with her back flush against the wall. She rested her head on the cold cement and drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.

Well, she was going to be stuck down here for a good long while, she might as well cheer herself up and try to make the most of it. Jazz drew in a shaky breath and then spoke in a loud, clear voice to shatter the heavy silence.

“Things that make me glad: my family, my friends…um…puppies, rainbows, that smell just after it’s rained, and kittens.” Jazz paused for thought, nodding to herself as she recounted all the things that to her seemed beautiful and good.

[jet]

Lincoln had his eyes still closed he was almost asleep despite his upright position when he heard the footsteps of the guards and the shuffling feet of an inmate being lead into the shu.

He opened his eyes and looked towards his door almost as if he expected it to open. He heard a door open and then voices then the shuffling of feet as the imate entered the cell next to his. He heard the door close then a young female voice thanking the guards.

Lincoln frowned when he heard her thank the guards something he wasn't expecting to hear. Did this imate actually want to be in the shu? He found that strange. He listened as the guards footsteps faded away.

He faced forward and closed his eyes leaning against the wall hoping he would doze off again when he heard mumbling from the woman in the next cell, he couldn't make out what she was saying but thought she sounded frightened. He wondered if he should say something to her maybe tell her talking would get her into trouble in here but then she went quiet.

[Jazz]

Jazz had never been in solitary before and, as in most cases, was quite oblivious to the social rules that most inmates were able to pick up on. Heedlessly she continued to speak to herself, settling back on the bed comfortably as she lost herself to a soft, fluffy imaginary world.

“-Flowers, I’m definitely glad there are flowers in the world. They’re so pretty. The sun, cause apparently that’s good for them…and I guess the rain makes me glad too cause the flowers need it. Oh, oh and vanilla scented candles and cheesecake, mmmm!”

A dreamy smile fluttered across her heart shaped face, and she was blissfully unaware of the sound of approaching footsteps. The sharp rap of a nightstick striking the door ripped Jazz from her daydream and her eyes snapped open.

“Hey, Blondie! I got a better idea what you can do with that mouth of yours.”

Jazz was quiet for a moment, sitting bolt upright on the bed. She heaved a sigh at last and slumped backwards, figuring that once again she was being told to shut up. Jazz was told that she talked far too much on a regular basis, so she wasn’t all that surprised that her silence was being requested once more. The fact that the guard had done so with a sleazy insinuation didn’t faze the young woman in the least – after all she was a part of Mama’s crew as a prostitute, and you heard some pretty outrageous things when you ran with that crowd.

“Sorry, I’ll try to be quiet.” Jazz sighed lowly again and began to examine her fingernails, but her head jerked up in surprise when her words were met with laughter.

“Baby if you’re lonely I can keep you company…and you can be as loud as you like.”

Now in most matters Jazz was as innocent and green as grass, but when it came to sex, well, let’s just say she’d been around that particular block a few times.

“Ummm,” her girlish voice quavered for a moment before she nervously hitched up a bright, sunny smile. “That’s okay, thank you though.”

“Ha, always polite ain’t ya Blondie? But I ain’t askin’.”

[Feel free to NPC the guard all you want ]

[jet]

Lincoln could hear the guard's foosteps coming towards the cells. He snapped open his eyes with a start when he heard the night stick banging against the door, he looked toward the door when he heard the guard yelling at the woman in the next cell, He didn't move from against the wall but held his breath so he could hear what was happening.


He heard the female prisoner's quiet and timid voice promise to be quiet but Lincoln knew once the words came out of your mouth, there was no taking them back. He heard the guards evil laughter and shuddered at the sleazy tone in his voice when he offered to keep her company, Lincoln knew exactly which gaurd it was on the other side of the door. Rossi, the guy always found a way to take advantage or the female prisoners especially the young, new ones who didn't know the prison system very well.

He frowned as he dropped his eyes to the floor under his door watching the shadows on the other side, he listened intently waiting for the sound of the cell door next to his to open, and hoping it wouldn't.

[Jazz]

Jazz didn’t know what to say. Rossi’s last statement had caused a hiccup in her usually fast-flowing train of thought and now she was struck momentarily speechless. There was the faint sound of jingling keys from outside her door and Jazz suddenly envisioned him casually unclipping the ring from his belt and sorting through for the right key.

“S’the matter Blondie, all of a sudden you don’t feel like talking?”

Jazz’s wide smile hitched up a couple more notches on the brightness scale until her cheeks started to ache. Her fingers wound themselves into the grey blanket and a bizarrely calm part of her noted the feel of the stern fibers scratching at her soft skin.

“No, it’s just…it’s just I think Mama might be missing me is all,” Jazz called back at last. The blonde woman had never been an intelligent girl; she’d ridden on the coat tails of people far more cunning and ruthless than she would ever be. Despite having spent the majority of her life in the company of these lowly people, she had never gleaned so much as a morsel of street sense from them. What she did learn was that mentioning the names of the big, the bad, and the powerful, as well as your relationship to them resulted mainly in good consequences.

“Mama? Shit Blondie, you’re one of Mama’s Girls?”

Jazz released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding and nodded vigorously despite the fact that Rossi could not see her.

“Yep, sure am! Mama and me, we’ve been together for aaagggeesss. I know she’ll be real happy to see me outta here and okay.” Jazz’s girlish voice was high and swift with nerves but she chattered as normally as she could, hoping desperately that her name drop and Mama’s influence in Fox River would save her from the CO’s grasp.

There was a silence from the opposite side of the door that seemed to drag on forever. Jazz twisted in her seat, fixing her pigtails nervously, feeling as though another second, just one more second of silence might kill her. She had to break it, she had to say something, she had to know if her little ploy had worked.
Just as Jazz opened her mouth to ramble on about her favourite topic (Mama, of course) she heard the guard laughing, and boy did it sound like he was really busting a gut. She sat up on the bed as she heard Rossi move away from her door. Through his chuckle the sound of his nightstick rapping against another cell door reached her.

“Hear that Sink? We have the privilege of being in the company of an entertainer. Think she’d charge extra if we double teamed her, or maybe she’s so loose she wouldn’t even notice Ha ha!”


[oh gyaah I apologise for his disgustingness! I wanted him to be offensive enough to get a response out of Linc haha]

[jet]

(thats ok, I'm sorry I have been slow)


Lincoln was still watching the shadows on the other side of his door. What would he do if Rossi opened the cell door next to his? he couldn't break a metal door down and yelling out wouldn't stop much. He was powerless to stop the guard doing what ever he wanted to the woman in the next cell, and he hated that. As much of a thug Lincoln was he would never hit a woman, his mother had taught him that much.

He heard the rattling of keys, his eyes widened as he realised that Rossi was going to go in to the cell next door. He got to his feet and walked towards his door without taking his eyes off the shadows dancing underneath. He stopped and listened for a few minutes, he couldn't quiet make out what the muffled voices were saying.

He figured Rossi hadn't gone into the cell as he could still see the guards shadow under the door. He hadn't heard the familiar squeak of the door as the bolt slid back from the lock either. A sound he was all to familiar with.

He was sickened by the proposal for both of them to sleep with the women in the shu but chose not to react as that is what Rossi would have wanted. He was a loud mouth and Linc had heard him bragging to some of the other corrupt guards about his exploits with the female prisoners on more than one occasion. It had sickened him to his stomach to hear it especially as Rossi liked getting rough with the females and had even sent a few to the infirmary.


He took a step closer to the door in anticipation. Maybe he could bang on the door and get Rossi to come into his cell to quieten him as a distraction just long enough for other guards to hear the commotion. Whatever happened Linc had to do something, Rossi had to be stopped before he killed one of his victims.

(I promise Linc will get stirred up soon but I think he would try to ignore the guard at first)

[Jazz]

(No worries, I've been pretty busy too lately so I've been slow myself. It's all good

Lincoln was right to suspect that his silence would aggravate Rossi, and the guard hit the cell door again with his nightstick.

“You alive in there Sinc? The state’s gonna be pissed if you’ve up and died before we get to kill ya.” Rossi laughed to himself, obviously pleased with his own wit. “Oh wait, I know what it is!” Rossi interrupted himself as a sudden thought occurred to him, “You want Blondie all to yourself, ain’t that right? Well can’t say I blame you there. I’ll be damned if that ain’t the sweetest ass I ever saw, and I’m guessin’ it’s been a while since you’ve seen a good one.” Rossi paused, rubbing a hand along his coarse chin. A wicked grin tilted the corners of his lips and he turned, making his way back to Jazz’s cell.

“I feel for you Linc, really I do. And I’m in a generous mood so how about we share this one.”

While Rossi had been speaking Jazz had gotten up from the bed, stepping back into the furthest corner of the cell. Her arms were drawn in around herself, gripping at the fabric of her prison issued t-shirt. He talked about her as if she didn’t exist, throwing her sexuality around as if it were a joke. Jazz wasn’t a smart girl, but she caught in a flash how little this guard thought of her. She was a dog to him, a bitch. And if that was what the guard, a man of supposed civility…what would the inmate do?

The keys jingled ominously outside her door, sliding into the lock with a harsh grating sound. As the door swung open Jazz pushed herself further against the wall, shrinking from the advancing CO. “Please, please no I don’t wanna go-”

“C’mon honey.”

“No, no please. I’ll be quiet, I swear. Please, please don’t-” Her imploring was cut off with a shriek as Rossi, obviously tired of her pleading, snatched up her arm and yanked her forward.

“Shh shh Blondie, it’s gonna be okay. Now he’s a big guy, but if you’re sweet I’m sure he’ll be gentle.” He smiled and tugged on one of her pigtails. Jazz winced, still leaning away from the CO and making her weight as heavy as possible.

“I don’t want-I don’t want-” the broken words became her mantra, chanted over and over again, rising to a shrill scream as Rossi dragged her from the dreary cell. He twisted Jazz’s arm up her back, making the young woman stand on her tip toes in an attempt to keep the bone from breaking. With one hand holding Jazz’s arm – an action which kept the girl immobile for she feared any movement would cause a fracture – his other hand fumbled with the keys to unlock Lincoln’s cell. Immediately Rossi stepped back as the door swung open in case the con decided to get cute. He pulled Jazz with him, holding her close in front of him like a shield though he was head and shoulders taller than her.

“See? I’m good on my end. Don’t say I don’t spoil ya.” With a wink and a lecherous laugh Rossi pushed Jazz, smacking the flat of his palm against her backside to drive her forward. As the blonde woman staggered into the cell, Rossi closed the door sharply behind her and locked it. His laughter echoed down the cell block as he swaggered away.

Jazz, having caught her balance, looked up into what seemed to be the coldest eyes she had ever seen. She drew back immediately, defensive and frightened; her blue eyes wide. While the majority of her was terrified, there was that part of her, that sweet part of the girl that made Jazz who she was, that demanded that she talk to the man. That she recognize that the hulking form before her was a man and therefore capable of goodness. Jazz held onto the naivety that no matter who you were, no matter what you had done, there was a little bit of goodness in everyone.

“Please…you-you wouldn’t hurt me would you?” Her childish voice was high and nervous; her fingers knotted themselves together in constant motion. She swallowed with difficulty, her blue eyes never leaving his face. “I mean I know you don’t know me, but I’m nice, really. And I don’t deserve to be hurt. I’m sure if-if you just gimmie the chance we’ll get along just fine and nothing…nothing bad needs to happen.”


(I thought this would be the best way to get Jazz and Linc talking, and that way if we want, Rossi can make an appearance later on or just stay away lol)

[jet]

(sounds good )

Linc jumped a little when he heard the bang against the door, he wasn't expecting it. He took a half step back as he eyed the door waiting for it to open. He balled his fists in anticipation and stood up straighter his eyes narrowing as he readied for a fight if Rossi entered his cell. Instead of the door opening and the guard stepping into his cell, he continued his rant. He could almost see the shine in the evil guards eyes as he talked about the girl like she was a piece of meat. He hated men like Rossi who got off on the power of the uniform. Without it he would be just another street punk that Linc could take down, but in here he had the power, it made Linc feel sick in his stomach that assholes like this could get a job where he had authority.

He heard the keys jinlge and wondered if the guard was just testing him to see if he could get a reaction. His ears pricked up when he heard the familiar sound of the lock being slid back from it's bolt his eyes went immediately to the bolt on his door but it didn't slide back like he was hoping.

He took a step closer and took another look just incase his eyes were playing tricks on him he had been in a dark room for two days but it wasn't his lock it was the cell next door. Linc's shoulders that he had tensed ready for a fight with Rossi now sank as he realised what was about to happen to the girl next door to him. He didn't know her and he didn't owe her anything and it would be so easy to turn a blind eye (or in this case deaf ear) to what was about to happen but he couldn't, it went against how he had been raised by his mother.

He heard the door open to the cell next to his and rubbed the back of his hand against his lips. He took a step closer to the door and banged his palm against it to get Rossi's attention.

"Leave her alone, man" he barked not sure it that would be enough to distract the guard. He heard the girl pleading with the guard to leave her alone. "Rossi" he grunted "Leave her alone" he said. He could hear the shuffling of feet and then the rustling of keys again, was he locking her in another cell? he wondered.

He was shocked when his cell door opened roughly and the guard walked in with the female prisoner in front of him like a criminal holding a hostage. Before Linc could lunge and attack Rossi he shoved the pretty blonde at him. He looked angrily at Rossi as the guard laughed and left the room.

"Rossi" Lincoln growled after him "I don't want...." but the guard had already slammed the door shut behind him and he could hear his evil laugh as he walked away.

Lincoln looked at her in slight shock at his new situation, he had no idea what to do. He could see the fear in her eyes, the same fear he had seen in Michael's eyes when he was a kid and was asking Linc about the monster in his closet.

He felt a pang of sadness for her when she asked if he would hurt her. Amongst the other prisoners he had a rep for being hard but when he looked at her he felt like a father looking at a child, in a way she reminded him of a young LJ. It made him wonder how she came to be here.

"No" he said in a gentle almost fatherly voice "I won't hurt you" he finished keeping his voice low as he looked down at her. He took a step away back to show she had nothing to fear but he knew that with his intimidating size that he often used on other prisoners it would be hard to convince her otherwise

[Jazz]

[bleh sorry it took so long - stupid school! And Jazz will get to her usually chatty self once intros are done haha. Pretty sure Lincoln will be wishing he had his own, soundproof cell pretty soon lol!]

Jazz watched the towering con’s expression change from anger to confusion and uncertainty, then softening further as he answered her question with a fatherly tone. As he took a couple of steps away from her then tension eased from her body. Emboldened by his words – which Jazz always took at face value – and by his actions, the flicker of a hesitant smile touched her lips.

“Thank you.”

As if he needed to be thanked, as if he were doing her a favour by not harming her. Still Jazz, despite her many flaws, had been raised to respect her elders, and she had a natural compassion to her soul that demanded a certain amount of niceties.

“I’m sorry about all that.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder to indicate the scene with Rossi. “I know you ‘prolly don’t want me in here and I don’t blame you, it’s awfully cramped. But I promise I’ll try not to be too much of a bother….I’m Jazz by the way.”

She paused to blink her big baby blues at him, a nervous smile curling the corners of her mouth.

[jet]

Lincoln watched as the woman in front of him relaxed a little. He kept his expression soft so she wouldn't be frightened of him he usually left that kind of intimidating look for the other inmates. He took another step back not taking his eyes off her.

His back lightly touched the wall and he leaned his head back against it wondering what to do next. If he called for a guard how would he explain a woman in his cell?

He smiled a half smile when she thanked him, not sure what she was thanking him for. He looked at the ground not sure of what to say next. Then she spoke again, apologising for Rossi's actions. He looked up from the floor at her his eyebrows raised slightly.

"Uh, Lincoln" he said awkwardly "Burrows" he added for some reason unknown to him. "That wasn't your fault" he finished looking towards the door then back at her.

[Jazz]

For better or worse Jazz wasn’t the type to be intimidated easily. This wasn’t because of wrongfully placed bravado, but rather came from her inability to sense danger. Jazz lacked the instinct that warned you away from the shadier people, and ore often than nought the young blonde would approach said people simply because others avoided them.

Jazz had a unique sense of naivety that allowed her to look past the scars, the crushing muscles and towering sizes of Fox River’s cons, wheedling her way beneath those spikey surfaces to find some nugget of goodness no matter how small. She always took them at their word too, and was constantly surprised when she found out they lied.

The situation with Rossi had been a rare occasion where Jazz had sensed trouble, and even then it had to be spelled out to her. However, the more Lincoln stepped back and talked softly, the more convinced Jazz became of his goodness. So when he gave her a half smile, she beamed back at him.

Jazz responded to his assurance that she wasn’t to blame for their current predicament with a small, easy shrug. “Mama always did say I talked too much. I know some people don’t like it...” The young blonde trailed off as the penny dropped and she recognized his name.

“Lincoln Burrows? THE Lincoln Burrows? Wow! I’ve heard soooo much about you, you’re like a celebrity or something!” Jazz watched him with round eyes, an obvious spark of awe and curiosity in their baby blue depths.

“Hey, so why’d you kill that dude anyways? Nobody ever told me why, they were all just so shocked you’d gone and done it.”
Jazz wasn’t a cruel woman; it simply wasn’t in her nature. However, she wasn’t the sharpest either and her comments, while typically well-meaning, were often unconsciously insensitive and prying.