Cell 23(Tag: Mama)

[Tina Ayres]

Tina`s first night in the Fox River State Penitentiary was horrible. As hard as she tried she just hadn`t been able to sleep, and as a result she was dead knackered come morning and looked it too, with dark circles under her eyes and slow responses. Despite being locked away in a cell by herself she still didn`t feel safe, and it was too small and almost claustrophobic for her - not that she was afraid of small spaces, she just liked a lot of freedom and more room to move around in. The thought of letting her dad down again as well as the thought that she`d have to finally face the other inmates today had also preyed on her mind throughout the night, rendering sleep impossible.

Wincing at the loud clanging sound of all the cell doors opening in the C-Wing, the young Brit didn`t bother to move but still tried to sleep despite the futility. She didn`t want to have to face the other inmates in such a weakened state, prison was the LAST place to show any weaknesses, but then she didn`t want to have to face them period. And when Tina didn`t want to do something, it was almost impossible to get her to change her mind. She was incredibly stubborn.

She knew it was a dumb, naive thing to hope for, but she found herself hoping anyway that the prison staff would somehow forget about their new arrival and just let her be. She could certainly use the spare time to get some rest right now, but as she heard the other female inmates getting up, one even making a sleepy death threat to another, Tina knew it was hopeless. She wouldn`t be able to sleep even if the CO`s ignored her and let her stay in her cell all day, her cell door was open now and that was even worse than when it was closed. However, she still didn`t get up but merely rolled onto her stomach and held her pillow over her head in a vain attempt to block out the noise - as well as everything and everyone around her. She simply didn`t want to face reality right now.

[Mama]

[Muahaha it begins! It's a little longer than I intended, but that seems to happen usually when you get NPCs involved lol]

Mama had been out in the yard when the bus with the newest arrivals for Fox River had pulled up. Like every other con she had stepped up to the fence, however she hadn’t been so obviously perverted as the other inmates, who had entertained themselves by yelling a number of profane things. Instead Mama’s dark eyes had scanned the inmates, picking out the fish she thought might work well in her crew, and then she had noticed that beautiful young thing with dark hair. She’d stared for a moment before a smirk curled her lips and she winked conspiratorially, turning to disappear into the crowds.

Mama had set her Girls to work right away, trying to figure out how the fish was, but the girl's newbie status had made the information gathering rather difficult. Still, Mama had been patient, watching from her cell bars and she had been rewarded eventually when the new female inmates were led in to C-Wing. Her eyes had immediately landed on the fish she was after, and she marked her progress along the tier, memorizing the empty cell that the girl entered.

Perfect.

The Southern woman slept very well that night indeed, dreaming sweet dreams about the dark haired beauty and she awoke feeling quite rested. Mama was up and ready to go when the cell doors clanged open. She paused long enough to stretch languidly before swinging out her cell, her gait smooth and swaying as she strolled her way to the fish’s cell. She slowed as she that a lack of action from the cell had enticed the attention of a mean looking CO.

The guard dragged her nightstick along the cell bars, creating a cacophony of noise. “Get your lazy ass outa bed, con! Where do you think you are? The Ritz?” Obviously amused by her own wit, the guard chuckled loudly. However, when she saw Tina’s head under the pillow, her humour quickly died. “I said move it bitch! Don’t make me drag you outta there, cause God help me I will!” She made to take a step forward and Mama quickly swung into action.

Sidling up beside the CO the Southern woman rested one hand on her hip, a slow smile creeping across her lips. “Don’t worry about her Boss, she’ll learn quick. I can see it, she’s a smart cookie. You an’ I both know who runs this place, and she’ll know it soon enough. But can’t we let it slide this time hm? On account’a her bein’ new an’ all.” Mama turned her body slightly so that the fish wouldn’t see the suggestiveness that suddenly crept into her smile. “This one’s on me Boss, I’ll owe ya how ‘bout?” Seeing as how Mama had serviced this CO just the other night and probably givin’ her best time in her sad existence, she wasn’t really offering anything that wouldn’t have already been provided in the near future. Though it certainly appeared that Mama was doing the fish a big favour by apparently indebting herself to the CO.

The guard gave this offer some serious thought before brandishing her nightstick in Tina’s direction. “You’re lucky,” she grunted. “And I’ll hold you to that,” she said with a curt nod to Mama before turning and heading off in the opposite direction. The Southern woman watched her for a moment before turning towards the fish, leaning her shoulder against the door frame to her cell.

“I’m mighty sorry ya had to be subjected to that acerbity,” Mama drawled lazily, folding her arms loosely across her chest. “Ain’t the nicest way ta be woken up on ya first day here.”

[Tina Ayres]

Already cranky from lack of sleep, the CO that was now mocking Tina and dragging her nightstick along the bars, making even more of a racket, did nothing to improve her mood. No matter how tightly she clutched her pillow to her head, it only slightly muffled the noise, so she had to hear every clang and every word. It was when the CO threatened to drag her out of her cell that Tina finally showed some signs of life and slowly lifted her head, letting the pillow slide off on its own, and brazenly glared over at the person that was verbally harrassing her. "Yeah, I`d like to see ya try!" she growled, not caring that she was talking back to a CO, she`d said worse to the judge at her own trial after all. Tina never backed down from a confrontation.

There was nothing like someone mouthing off to her that could get Tina to wake up, at least somewhat, and with her temper already spiking she was more than ready for a fight. However, just as she was pushing herself up to get out of bed an older female inmate stepped in and stopped what would have probably been another of the Brit`s biggest mistakes, causing Tina to pause and stare looking both annoyed and confused. She certainly didn`t think she needed anyone fighting her fights for her, and she didn`t know why this older woman was bothering to put herself on the line for someone she didn`t even know in the first place.

Moving into a sitting position on her bed, Tina`s lip curled in a cute sneer at the CO when the woman grunted she was lucky, and mumbled, "more like you`re the lucky one," and folded her arms and continued to glare after the gaurd as she walked away. The moment she was gone Tina turned her steely gaze on the other inmate that was now leaning against the frame of her cell door, wondering what this older woman`s agenda was and clearly incensed that she thought she was incapable of looking after herself.

Scoffing at what Mama said to her, she looked away as she said sarcasticly, "ya mean there`s actually a nice way to wake up in prison?" She grabbed her sky blue short-sleeved collared shirt and lazily got out of bed, sliding it on over her white long-sleeved top as she turned to face the other woman. She might be taller than she was, and probably in for a worse crime, but that didn`t stop Tina from getting in her face and saying coldly, "it`s not that I`m ungrateful for what ya just did, but I don`t need anyone to fight for me. I fight my own battles, alright? I`m not an invalid, I can look after myself!"

[Mama]

Mama couldn’t say she had expected much less of a reaction from the girl. Fish usually fell into two categories: the quiet, fritghened ‘I-just-want-to-do-my-time-and-go’ type, or the ‘I-got-something-to-prove’ badasses. Truthfully, Mama was glad that this pretty little guppy had some fight to her, she was getting rather bored with the grovelling and the spineless creatures she dealt with.

The Southern woman watched the British bobcat’s eyes glitter furiously and knew that her previous actions had pricked a nerve. Well good, it always served you well to know what made your working girls tick, that way you knew who could serve which client best. Looking at the girl now in all her righteous fury, Mama was sure there were at least a few cons in Fox River who fantasized about getting there bottoms spanked by a British school teacher.

“I don’t doubt ya,” Mama responded calmly, even as the girl sought to get in her face. “Ya don’t look like the type who’d just take somethin’ lieing down.” She offered up no explanation for her interruption, but instead gave a small nod as if she approved of the girl’s rough attitude. Of course, Mama had been around long enough to see all theacts, and this particular display of bravado did little to impress her, but it wouldn’t hurt to let the girl think she found it worthy of respect.

She doubted that the fish would have heard Mama’s name before or her reputation, seeing as how she had merely spent one night behind Fox River’s walls. Usually Mama liked to be recognized and known by all, but on this particualr occasion she thought it might be best that her rather scandalous reputation be unknown to the fish for the time being. The girl needed to be reeled in carefully, not just scooped outa the river and dropped into the tank.

“What’s your name darlin’?” Mama asked in her lazy Southern drawl.

[Tina Ayres]

Tina continued to stare the older inmate down, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to figure out whether this woman was messing with her or was genuinely friendly and not someone she needed to keep an eye out for. She very much doubted that anyone in prison was 'genuinely friendly' though, but seeing as Mama hadn`t attacked her for her rather rude 'thank you' and acknowledged that she was capable of looking after herself, Tina didn`t see her as an immediate threat and her anger was able to cool down a bit.

At the other woman`s observation that she wasn`t one to take anything lying down, Tina folded her arms across her chest and cut in swiftly with a firm, "I`m not," making it clear she didn`t want anyone thinking she was an easy target. Which was somewhat true; while it would be easy to gang up on her, or for a bigger and older inmate to overpower her, Tina was difficult to get along with even at the best of times. Even her dad had to creep around her cos of her short fuse, and he was the only person in her life that she cared for. If he didn`t stand a chance, no one did. This young girl flips out over the littlest things that an inmate didn`t even have to provoke a fight with her to realise she wasn`t a pushover.

Where she didn`t fancy mingling with the other inmates and didn`t want anything to do with them, her usual response to Mama`s inquiry of her name would have been somewhere along the lines of 'It`s none of your business' or 'Get lost!' However, this woman had - for reasons of her own and which baffled her - chosen to save her from the evil CO and got herself indepted to her, so Tina bit back her snarky remarks and simply answered, "it`s Tina."

[Mama]

Tina: a woman of few words. Had the Brit not been the possessor of such stunning good looks Mama would have likely replied with a sweetly sarcastic pleasantry in order remind the con just who she was dealing with. Of course, Mama wanted the girl ignorant, and as the situation stood she wanted that pretty little hot-head on her crew so she opted for open civility instead.

“Tina, huh? Well it’s a pleasuh to be makin’ your acquaintance,” Mama replied with a flash of that Southern charm. “Folks round these parts call me Mama.”

She used her shoulder to push off from the cell door frame. Being careful not to step into Tina’s cell – the last thing she wanted to do was crowd the girl and set off her short temper – Mama extended her hand for a shake.

The older woman was conducting herself in a manner quite contradictory to the inmates’ harsh surroundings. She was polite, helpful even, and unruffled despite Tina’s frequent abruptness. Yet her actions were so calm, her hooded gaze and slow smile so lazy that it seemed like the woman had simply grown bored in her cell and decided to come up for a bit of a chat. Her stance was relaxed and unthreatening, but her previous encounter with the corrupt CO was a reminder and indication of the influence she held.

[Tina Ayres]

Tina was surprised a con was being so nice to her, and was even more surprised when she extended her hand for a handshake. She certainly didn`t expect such polite behaviour in a prison, and it showed on the Brit`s face. Mama didn`t seem fazed by Tina`s rude and abrupt behaviour like most were either, but apparently found their meeting 'pleasurable'.

Instead of shaking the other inmates hand, she narrowed her eyes slightly and actually hesitated before asking, "did ya hit your head when you got out of bed this mornin`? Shouldn`t you be makin` death threats or bullying someone instead of...wha`ever this is? Ya do remember this is a prison?" She had to ask, not because she wanted to be bullied or anything, but to make sure she hadn`t accidentally been placed in the psychiatric ward.

Seeing as the other inmate didn`t look like she was about to attack her in any way, Tina gave the handshake a pass and turned her back on Mama and went on over to the one sink in her cell to freshen up. As she readied her toothbrush, fully aware that Mama hadn`t left, she surveyed the grimy sink with disgust before saying snarkily, "wow, this looks clean. It doesn`t look like it`s been sterilized since it was made, ya can`t even see the manufacture date." Yes, Tina was showing more interest in a dirty sink than in her present company. As if suddenly remembering she was there, she added, "so, Mama, is this place a free-for-all for germs, then?" Only now finding the name odd, Tina looked over her shoulder at the other woman and asked while brushing her teeth, "what do they call you Mama for anyway?"

[Mama]

A handshake was a bizarre gesture in Fox River, and one that most inmates did not participate in. the fact that Mama had offered up such a gesture suggested a level of civility perhaps higher than the animals that prowled behind those bars. Of course, that wasn’t to say that Mama wasn’t simply a different breed of animal.

“Dahlin’ I’s been in heah since before you was born. Trust me, ya see enough bullyin’ to last you a life time.” Mama paused and let her dark eyes roam about the barren cell, her tongue sliding slowly across her lower lip. “It ain’t so easy to forget where you are.”

Her gaze flickered back to Tina as the Brit turned away from her and towards the sink. Mama would have received this as a dismissal had the young beauty not kept on talking. Mama gave a small amused snort at Tina’s obvious repulsion over their sanitary conditions.

“Well if all ya got ta complain ‘bout is a ratty ol’ sink, your time here is just gonna be peaches’n cream.” Mama delivered the words pleasantly; she even managed to throw in an amicable chuckle at the end. Yet behind this unassuming exterior the serpent that was Mama’s true self was beginning to uncoil. She wondered how long it would take to break the bitch in; how long before she lured her in hook, line and sinker, and had her working the yard like the rest of her Girls. She temporarily entertained the idea of keeping Tina as a source of her own private entertainment, but quickly dismissed the thought. Mama liked her lap dogs to know their place, and she would quickly grow irritated if she had to remind Tina of hers often.

“Why do they call me ‘Mama’?” The Southern woman repeated, tilting her head as she pondered the question. The sharp angles of her beautiful face were kept smooth and impassive, betraying no emotions other than those that she wished Tina to see. “I s’pose it’s cause I’ve been around for such a long time,” she replied at last. Her near black eyes swiveled back to Tina, and an affable smile touched lightly at her lips. “And I look after my friends too.”

Her teeth grazed at the flesh of her bottom lip before Mama turned away, glancing out the cell momentarily. Her attention was quick to return to Tina and she transferred her weight smoothly from one foot to the other. “Say, ya feel like stretchin’ your legs for a bit? I can tell ya that there’s only so many hours in a day before it seems like your cell’s shrinkin’ on ya.”

[Tina Ayres]

The fact that Mama had been in here for so long meant she had done something far worse than trying to strangle a few people and slagging off a judge like she had. While Tina had done far more than that, she was still only for in five years, not given a life sentence like this woman seemed to have gotten. However, she didn`t ask what she was in for; Tina was only bothered about getting through her own sentence, getting out alive, and being with her dad again. She didn`t seem at all concerned that this woman could be in for something as serious as murder.

Taking the time to spit and rinse out her mouth, she smiled and said cheekily, "ohhhhhh, so that`s why you`re bein` so nice to me, ya got some Mother Theresa thing goin` on. So you`re lookin` after the lost souls of Fox River then? Pointing them in the right direction and showin` them the error of their ways?" She chuckled, obviously finding the idea amusing given the location, before sticking the toothbrush back in her mouth and continuing to brush her teeth. "I wouldn`t hold my breath if I were you."

Tina turned and looked at her over her shoulder at Mama when she suggested stretching their legs for a bit, and asked with the toothbrush still in her mouth, "can I at least finish brushin` me teeth first?" This one liked to do things on her own time, and certainly took her time washing up without the slightest consideration of the other inmate waiting on her. She was so difficult to deal with at even the best of times that she had made a gaurd quit while she was in juvey.

Only when she`d finished brushing her teeth, washing her face, AND brushing her hair, as well as rolling up her long sleeves and putting on a pair of black fingerless biker gloves - the only thing she was able to fight with the gaurds to keep(she kept the argument up so long they let her have them to shut her up) - was she finally ready to head out of her cell. Knowing full well how irked others could get when she made them wait, she said indifferently, "it`s not like we`re goin` anywhere anytime soon, the prison grounds can wait." It wasn`t like she was in a rush to meet the other inmates anyway, or see what little this place had to offer. She had already made it clear she wasn`t impressed with a sink. With that, she walked on passed Mama and, taking hold of the frame of her cell door with one hand, swung rather playfully out of her cell.

[Mama]

“You could say that,” Mama replied smoothly to Tina’s Mother Theresa comment. It was almost laughable, comparing the Southern madam to a saintly woman such as Mother Theresa. Mama was certainly interested in looking after the lost souls of Fox River – that was one way of putting it at least – but she had no interest in pointing them back on the right path.

A smirk hinted at the corner of her lips, and Mama’s dark eyes glittered. She examined her nails as Tina took her time primping and preening herself. Now this was beginning to get a bit ridiculous. Her tongue poked at the corner of her mouth and Mama sucked on her lower lip, her teeth grazing the pink flesh. She had to work to keep her gaze from lingering on the pretty girl – and she was a pretty girl indeed, but Mama wasn’t appreciating the attitude.

‘Give it time,’ she thought calmly. ‘Give it time and ya won’t regret it. Jump the gun and you’ll lose out.’

Still, it was abundantly clear to Mama now how much work she was going to have to put into the arrogant little whelp, and at some point she wondered if she might have to ask herself just how worthwhile was this little endeavor going to be?

When Tina turned and gave her sassily indifferent reply, waltzing past Mama to swing playfully out the cell a smile worked its way across the older woman’s lips. Then again, some things were definitely worth waiting for.

Mama hung back, following Tina at a leisurely stroll and watching her fight her way through the crowds of cons that had flooded onto the tier and refused to move for the new fish. “I hate ta disappoint ya dahlin’, but yard time don’t come for us till after Lunch. Some cons gets it in the mornin’, some in the afternoon and othehs in the evening.” Mama called above the rabble of many raised voices. She removed her hands from her pocket and placed it on Tina’s shoulder to stop her rather hard going progress.

“Hold up girlie, I gotta make a delivery real quick like.” Her dark eyes like tunnels caught Tina’s gaze and she gave a quick wink, the corners of her lips curling into a fleeting smirk. Mama released the young con abruptly and ducked into a nearby cell.

“Mama? ‘Choo doin’ here?” A hispanic woman in her late twenties sat up from the bottom bunk.

“Your benefactor ain’t seein’ fit to look out for you no mowa.”

“Huh?”

“He ain’t supplyin’. But me? Well just so happens I was able to procure some of the good stuff.” Mama smirked at the nervous woman before turning her gaze to Tina. “Tina, be a doll would’ya and keep an eye ta the door – make sure none-a them pigs bust us.” She turned her gaze back to the other con who had hesitantly gotten to her feet, her wide eyes and sunken face marking her as an addict. “How ‘bout it?”

The woman didn’t need any further prodding and she pulled a small wad of cash from her bra. She held the crumpled notes out in a trembling hand. Mama didn’t bother to look at the pathetic offering, but raised a brow slightly.

“Baby girl, don’t go insultin’ me. I know you don’t wanna be doin’ that.” Her voice was smooth and lilting with her accent, and her tongue flicked across her lower lip. The woman swallowed and dived down to reach beneath her mattress, pulling out handfuls of crumpled bills. She searched both ends of the mattress and then her cell mate’s mattress before turning back to Mama, her cupped hands clenching the offered notes as if they were her soul she was offering over.

“Ma-That’s all I got Mama. I ain’t insultin’choo I swear Mama, I swear.”

Mama held her gaze for a moment longer before she turned to Tina and cocked her head to the side. “Hmm, what do you think Tina? I want your opinion on this. You think she’s holdin’ out on me?”

“Nah nah, Mama I ain’t-“

Mama raised a hand to cut off the stream of whining protests. “I don't believe I was conversin' with you."

The woman turned to Tina as if seeing her for the first time – her attention had previously been on Mama alone. “C’mon chica. I’m good for it. ‘Choo gotta believe me, yeah?”

Mama regarded the display with veiled interest, watching to see what Tina’s reaction would be. She had deliberately turned the con onto the younger girl, wondering how she would respond to the rush of power felt when you held something in your hands that someone else so desperately wanted. She wanted Tina to get a whiff of that power that Mama held, she wanted the young girl to see how much control she really had. It was the first step in a series of plans that Mama had ready to call that short-tempered minx over to her side. The dark side.

[yup, it’s super late, I’m super maxed out now…I called Mama’s crew the dark side…I know shame on me but I’m done now hahaha. Sorry for the long ass post, it always gets that way with NPCs, feel free to play the Hispanic Woman as well that is what NPCs are for ]

[Tina Ayres]

Trying to move through the crowd of female cons was a lot more tedious than Tina had expected, as they flooded the tier and refused to budge. She was quite certain they were doing it on purpose, just because she was new and smaller than most of them. In fact, she looked to be the youngest there. However, just like in high school, Tina could not be bullied; those cons that refused to move were simply and unceremoniously pushed out of her way. "Of all the tiers here, ya HAVE to be crowding on this one?" she snarled at them, nearly pushing one con over the railing as she continued to fight her way through. She was lucky the other cons didn`t fight back, they were too surprised and amused at how feisty the little fish turned out to be. Tina ignored them though, she didn`t leave her cell to mingle, she had a destination in mind.

However, she did hear Mama`s voice behind her telling her they couldn`t go to said destination until after lunch. She stopped and spun around when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder, but seeing that it was only Mama she said crankily, "yeah, well, ya could`ve told me this before! Why do we have to go it in turns? That`s stoopid, I shouldn`t have to wait to go out into a yard!" No, Tina did NOT like to wait, she was way too impatient for that. Tongue in cheek, she watched in annoyance as Mama cut in about a delivery then vanished into a nearby cell.This irked her as she hadn`t finished ranting about the stupidity of having to wait ages just to stand out in a yard for a couple of hours.

Left alone, Tina caught one of the older cons a few feet away sizing her up, to which she immediately snarled, "what are you starin` at?" before abruptly turning and storming off into the same cell Mama had disappeared into. Inside, she heard Mama telling some Hispanic woman her supplier had pretty much abandoned her, but would only be too happy to supply her herself. It didn`t take a rocket scientist then to know what Mama was in prison for. Not wanting anything to do with drugs period Tina remained at the door, with her back against the frame and her arms folded across her chest, pointedly keeping her gaze away from the sickening junkie and onto the other cons back out on the tier. She scoffed when Mama asked her to keep an eye out for the COs, not just because she was pretty much doing that already but because she didn`t like being told what to do.

Tina gave an impatient sigh as Mama had the junkie turning her cell upside down for more cash, and cringed at the display of weakness from the Hispanic woman. If her mum were here to see this that junkie would be straightened out in no time, weakness was simply not allowed in her family. Even something so small as apologising had earned Tina a smack from her mum, because according to her apologising was a sign of weakness and would only invite people to walk all over you. As such Tina didn`t apologise to anyone unless it were under extreme circumstances. Mama seemed to be handling the sick display well enough, she seemed to have a lot of control while the junkie looked rather terrified of her. Tina didn`t know why the girl was so afraid, Mama seemed nice enough for a con, she eventually figured it was just paranoia caused by the drugs.

She was abruptly torn from her thoughts when she realised Mama was asking for her opinion on the situation. Looking over at the pair, Tina shot at them, "do I look like a drug dealer?" She didn`t know why she was being asked and it showed on her face, but considering they might be here all day if she didn`t say anything and the fact that she couldn`t stand the display of weakness any longer, she looked back at Mama and said, "she hesitated, and she`s not meetin` your gaze. Druggies do that when they`re hidin` summat. She`s tellin` porkies, check her shoe." Tina wasn`t a drug dealer, but some of the guys she`s dated back in the UK had been into drugs so she knew what she was talking about. One of her ex`s had always snuck some into school, and another had drugs hidden everywhere in his car in the most sneakiest of places, so finding them in a prison cell would be ten times easier.

Tina noticed a change in the way the junkie now looked at her, she swore it was of utter loathing and hatred, but which changed back to fear the moment Mama looked back at her. The Hispanic woman`s false reassurances that she had no more money and her refusal to take off her sneakers made Tina lose what little patience she had. "You may have fooled Mama but ya don`t fool me!" she said angrily, her temper flaring up again. In a flash she had moved from the door and had roughly shoved the junkie back onto her bed. The girl barely had time to fall before Tina had grabbed her leg and wrested a sneaker off; turning it over she gave it a few shakes and a wad of bills fell out onto the floor. "Ya lyin` cow," she snorted down at her, letting go of the girl`s leg before nodding her head at her other shoe. "You gonna take that one off yourself or do ya want me to do that one too?"

[Mama]

Mama’s gaze lingered on Tina for a moment as the young Brit insisted that the other woman was withholding more money. She turned her dark eyes slowly to the Hispanic con who shrunk back from the cool look.

“You know, if there’s one thing I just cain’t abide by its liars.” Her tongue slid along her lower lip and her shoulders rolled theatrically as if she sought to rid herself of some discomfort.

“She’s liein’! she’s liein’ Mami I swear- I swear I don’t got-“ Her words were cut off as Tina exploded and shoved her down. Mama leant back against the cell wall, utterly relaxed with her arms folded loosely across her chest. She watched the scene unfold between the two women with interest, her dark eyes flickering between the scrabbling figures.

The woman squealed and tried to wrestle the younger woman off of her, giving a strangled yell as Tina succeeded in removing her prison issued boot. Mama stooped to scoop up the fallen bills and stood slowly; counting them into the wad of notes she had already collected from the woman.

“You fuckin’ loco bitch! That’s my money! I’m gonna kill you, you’re dead!”

“Huh, you gonna let her talk to ya like that?” Mama asked Tina without looking up from counting the cash. Normally the Southern woman would have cut in at this point, but she reckoned that Tina liked to do things her way and would want to take of this little situation herself.

Mama counted the handful of green slowly, giving the Brit time to reassert herself. When she was finished counting the madam pocketed the cash and decided that enough was enough. The Hispanic woman’s voice had risen to a high pitch squealing for the aid of the nearest bulls. Mama swung forward easily and put a finger to the woman’s lips.

“Hush now.” The woman’s voice died in her throat and what colour was left in her face drained as her eyes flew to Mama. “Take off ya boot.” The woman hesitated for a moment longer, her left eye twitching and her body shaking. The Southern woman removed her hand as the addict sat up and slowly removed her boot. With a trembling hand she reached into the depths and pulled out a smaller wad of crumpled ones and fives.

“Why thank you dahlin’, that wasn’t so hard was it?” The woman gave a soft sob as Mama’s fingers closed about the bills – probably her last amount of cash for a while. Mama replaced the notes from the woman’s hand with a small bag of pills and then patted her cheek gently. “Always a pleasuh.”

She stood and crossed back to the cell door, pausing momentarily. Pulling the money from her pocket Mama split the stack in half, lifting her gaze to Tina. “You did good girl, ya did real good. Here, as a…token of my appreciation.” Mama handed over half of the cash to the Brit with a smile, folding up and tucking the other amount into her bra. With a conspiratorial wink, Mama turned and exited the cell – this time moving into the tier ahead of Tina. She fully expected the young con to follow her and continue their little jaunt about the prison block. Partially because by now most inmates had settled into their favourite hang out corners, and partially because Mama was who she was (at least she liked to believe this was the reason) she had little difficulty parting the tide of cons as they walked down the tier.

[Tina Ayres]

Considering how much Tina had been able to get away with all her life, and how many fights she`d already been in, death threats simply went in through one ear and out the other. They meant nil to her, even in prison, and only ticked her off even more rather than the more desired effect of scaring her off. So the Hispanic woman`s threats only earned her a glare from Tina and a vicious retort of, "what, with two broken arms and your head down the lav? I don`t think so!" She always made good on her threats, and left no doubt that she really would break the girl`s arms and ram her head down the toilet if she continued to test Tina`s lack of patience.

Fortunately, for the druggie, Mama intervened and silenced her. Tina was surprised that the southern woman didn`t have to raise her voice or use brute strength to get the druggie to cooperate, as was her usual tactic, and was curious as to why the druggie seemed more afraid of someone being nice to her rather than someone issuing threats of violence. It all seemed backwards to her. Tina was great at intimidating people without having to lay a hand on them, but she usually had to show she wasn`t one to be messed with first as her looks were misleading. No one would expect this little Manchester girl to be so tough and violent, so it always came as a surprise whenever Tina did attack. It was probably why she`d won so many fights, especially against people bigger and stronger than her, they simply did not see it coming.

Tina had to look away again as the druggie trembled with fear and removed her boot, disgusted at the continuous show of weakness, and even had to move away and back over to the cell door as the drugs were being handed over. She only looked at Mama again when she came to the door, and was clearly confused when Mama handed her half of the money taken from the druggie. "What`s this for?" she asked, her anger faltering.

She watched as Mama headed on out of the cell, before following her out and catching up to her. "Token of appreciation? For what, dealin` with a pathetic liar? I didn`t even do it for you, she was tryin` to be smart with me! NO ONE messes with me, alright? And I especially hate liars!" Tina growled, before stepping around in front of Mama and stopping her abruptly in her tracks. She pushed the money back into her hands and said bluntly, "keep it. I don`t want your drug money." It wasn`t that she was ungrateful for the money, she just didn`t get why Mama would give any to her - and half of it, at that. She felt she didn`t earn it, especially where it concerned drugs; Tina preferred to earn her own money, and in a more legal way, despite the difficulty her current location posed for such a thing.

[Mama]

Mama was forced to stop as Tina swung in front of her, handing back the money roughly. She raised her eyebrows in surprise, risking a quick glance about to make sure no badges were around. Every con wanted something, usually money and cigarettes (the other form of currency) were the most desirable. Apparently, for Tina, there was something more: her dignity.

Mama nodded slowly, deftly tucking the money away. “Ya ain’t like otheh cons Tina, ya different. I like that. Most of’em would’a been afteh me for the other half.” Of course Mama had been trying to buy Tina in a way. Her action of giving the British girl the money was one of significance, a potential open door of opportunity. It had been a gesture of appreciation though hidden in those depths was a subtle hint: ‘stick with me and there will be more where that came from’.

Apparently Mama needed a new angle. She had to find out what this girl wanted while not encroaching on her independence and pride – something that was going to be very difficult for the Southern woman since her entire business ran on degradation.

“Ya got spunk girl.” Mama patted her shoulder, flashing the girl a small smirk. She crossed to the railings, resting her hands on the cool bars as she calmly regarded the sprawling cell block. Mama looked back at Tina over her shoulder, the smirk curling to take on a friendly jesting air. “I tell ya what, I certainly ain’t dumb enough ta go messin’ with the likes of you.”

[Tina Ayres]

"I`m not, and I don`t want anyone thinkin` I am either," Tina said firmly, folding her arms across her chest and glancing over at the other cons milling about the tiers, all of which were probably in for worse crimes than her own. Well, she liked to think she wasn`t like them, and was glad Mama recognized that. She didn`t doubt that the other cons would have asked for all of the money.

The older woman didn`t seem offended by having the gift returned at all, but pocketed it straight away. Sure, the extra money would have been nice in her own pocket, but Tina didn`t want to have a target over her head; money drew cons like moths to a flame. She seemed oblivious to the fact that being pretty, as well as a new fish, made you a target anyway, and she was bound to make a lot of enemies with that explosive temper of hers too which would definitely put a target on her head.

She looked back over at Mama when the woman patted her shoulder, her face expressionless, and watched her go over to the railings. Though she didn`t show it, Tina was still curious as to why this con, this drug dealer, was being friendly with her. If she was trying to turn her into a druggie, then Mama had a fight ahead of her - one she`d certainly lose. However, Mama hadn`t dangled a baggie in front of her face yet so it couldn`t have anything to do with drugs. Tina wasn`t stupid, she knew something was up, cons always wanted something. She`d learned that while in juvey, so it had to be ten times worse in a federal prison.

Mama`s jest brought out a little smile from Tina, and she gave a shrug and said, "I`m glad to see at least one person has a brain in here. It`s not like I have anythin` to spend the money on in here anyway, it ain`t Selfridges." She could see that there was some truth in the older woman`s words though, and was glad that she caught on quicker than most that she wasn`t one to be messed with. Even though Mama was up to something, at least she was wary about it and wasn`t treating her like some naive idiot.

As Tina walked up to the railing alongside her, quite confident that if the con tried anything it would be Mama going over the rail, her most prominent nagging thought couldn`t be contained any longer and she bluntly asked, "so when`s brekki?" Nevermind where she was, her unsatiable hunger demanded breakfast; Tina didn`t look it, but this Brit loved to eat and loved food in general. She was always stuffing her face.

[Mama]

Mama had never heard of Selfridges before but automatically presumed that it was a shop of some sort, and so the comment caused a smile to touch her lips as she gave a soft huff of laughter. The Southern woman turned her gaze back to the cell block as Tina came to join her by the railings. There was no fear in the older woman, nor any sign of suspicion that Tina could or would harm her. She was confident in her game, enough so that she suspected she had made the young woman curious enough to stick around, and what purpose would it serve that curiosity if Tina were to suddenly turn that ferocity onto the Southerner? At any rate, Mama could see that Tina needed provoking (albeit not a lot of provoking) in order to stroke that fiery temper.

To the British girls next question Mama felt the sudden pangs of hunger as if just the mention of food reminded her of her empty stomach. She nodded her head slowly in agreement though didn’t turn her gaze to the girl. “See them empty cells there?” Mama pointed out a section of the block where the cells were empty but no cons hung about. “When they get back we get’s ta go. Which should be any minute now.” Her Southern drawl was especially slow as she tasted the words, hinting towards a slight dissatisfaction that she had to wait for her meal. By now Mama was used to eating at 8:30am instead of eight o’clock, and it wasn’t so much the hunger as it was the order of things that seemed to annoy her ever so slightly. After all, a woman of her prestige should not have to wait for the other low lifes to finish gorging themselves on their slop before she herself was allowed her breakfast.

Then again they called it prison for a reason.

A smile immediately touched her lips as the bottom tier doors were opened and the woman from earlier that morning lead in the line of newly fed inmates. Mama straightened with expectancy, portraying an air of hurriedness that contrasted from the glimmer of eagerness of before.

“Chow time.” She turned to Tina, as friendly as before and wrapped up in that old Southern charm. “I do hope ya’ll join me for breakfast. That is, unless ya prefer to sit on yo’ own ‘cept there ain’t that many free tables.” She shrugged casually. “S’up to you Tina.”

[Tina Ayres]

For someone that had always been seen with some form of food in her hands outside of prison, having restrictions on mealtimes now didn`t bode too well and left Tina feeling rather lost - lost as in feeling like a part of herself was missing. If she wasn`t eating she was drinking, and if she was seen without any it was usually when she was on her way to get something to eat or drink. Food was one of two most important things in her life, the other being her family, especially her dad. Trashing her family or coming in between this Brit and her meal was a death wish. She may move at a slow leisurely pace most of the time but this girl can really move when she saw fit to, to the point you wouldn`t know what hit you.

With zero patience as it was, the wait for their turn to eat made things even worse, so Tina was cranky once again when Mama started talking about some empty cells. She gave an audible sigh of annoyance and cast her glance elsewhere before finally looking over at where the older woman was pointing, and at the news that they had to wait for the cell owners to come back before they could eat she growled in frustration, "you have to wait for everything around here! Doesn`t anyone think to have snacks in their cells? We always had them in juvey!"

Of course, in juvey, she was in with a bunch of other troubled kids; drugs were always present but so were candy and chocolate bars. The chances were rather slim that the cons in a federal prison would have candy on them, yet Tina refused to accept that. She also seemed unable to accept that she couldn`t have her way in here like she did everywhere else.

The sound of the doors opening down below drew Tina`s gaze, and she sneered automatically when she recognized the brazen gaurd from before. However, when Mama announced it was chow time the sneer vanished at once and Tina was already moving for the stairs. Hearing Mama`s offer to join her at breakfast behind her, Tina said bossily over her shoulder, "yeah, yeah, wha`ever, get a move on will ya? That lot took their sweet time eating, there`s probs hardly anythin` left. I want to get there before it`s all gone. I`ve waited long enough for this meal, I`m not missin` out!" She wasn`t bothered about where she was or who she would be sitting next to as long as she was fed. In seconds she had disappeared in the crowd of cons lining up for their turn at breakfast.