Gloria scooped another pile of prison slop into a tray before passing it down the line. "This stuff is so disgusting...I can't believe they can even consider this edible." ,Dayanara stated as she plopped another pile of slop onto the tray that was passed to her. "Well they don't exactly consider us to be human beings so who cares right?" ,Ruiz answered as she placed a slice of toast onto the tray as Daya passed it along. Gloria listened as the two went back and forth as she continued to work, glancing around the cafeteria every so often as Daya and Ruiz continued to converse. A smile crossed her face once she spotted C/O Hunter standing by the trash bins near the exit. For once, the young man seemed to be in a pretty calm mood as he watched the inmates with his arms crossed over his chest.
Everything about the man's physical appearance would be considered intimidating to most. Krystopher stood at six foot, five inches and was built like a tank. He had short dark hair and a five o'clock shadow that made him look like something off of a poster for the marines but once one saw past that they were met with a genuine good guy. A hardworking man that took a job because he believed everyone could be rehabilitated and change their ways. He had once upon a time after all. Unlike most of his fellow coworkers, Krystopher didn't become a corrections officer so that he could throw his weight around, he became one to help people out. Something that didn't go unnoticed to most of the older inmates like Red and Gloria.
"All these dudes they just hired are fucking perverts too...man if I had it my way I'd have all their dicks cut off and shoved down their throats." ,Ruiz stated as she tossed another piece of toast onto a passing tray and handed it off to one of the inmates. After Ruiz made her comment, Gloria's attention went back to her and Dayanara. "Hey, not all of these guys are bad okay. Some of them actually give a fuck believe it or not." ,she interrupted as she handed another tray to Daya and glanced towards C/O Hunter briefly as she continued to serve up dinner.
Dayanara caught Gloria's glance and followed the woman's gaze to the man before she rolled her eyes and looked to the older woman. "Give it a week and he'll be feeling us up like the rest of them." ,Daya said in response with a slightly bitter tone as she continued to work as well. The young woman's response made Gloria sigh softly while shaking her head, "Eh, you're probably right." ,she replied in a simple tone before turning her complete attention to serving up food. It wouldn't really surprise her if C/O Hunter eventually did a complete 180 and started acting like the others but Gloria didn't want to believe it could be possible. Especially after he made it clear that he didn't want to make her uncomfortable during the searches and how kind she had seen him be since he started working at Litchfield.
Once the dinner rush was over and the inmates cleared out of the cafeteria, Gloria and the other ladies that worked the kitchen sat at a table with their trays. C/O Hunter stood by the table, leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets as he kept a watch on the ladies. "This stuff is bad when it's warm, it's just flat out horrible when it's cold and they don't give us enough time to even nuke it." ,Daya stated as she scooped up the slop on her plate and watched as it fell off the spoon and back into the pile. "I could maybe help with clean up if you guys wanted to take a few seconds to warm that up a bit." ,Krystopher said in response to the young woman's comment. After he spoke, Ruiz shot him a nasty look before slapping her hand onto the table next to her tray.
"Awe, thanks but no thanks. I don't need no favors, especially from you." ,the young woman snapped towards the guard making the man raise his hands in surrender while lowering his head a bit. "Okay...sorry I offered." ,Krystopher replied before sliding his hands back into his pockets and falling silent. Gloria rolled her eyes at Ruiz's unnecessary attitude towards C/O Hunter before getting to her feet and grabbing her tray. "Suit yourself chicka. Personally, I'd rather eat warm shit than try and swallow down cold shit..." ,she began before she made her way towards the microwave. "That and it couldn't hurt to get some help cleaning up. Lord knows we could use some man power to clean these floors." ,Gloria continued as she walked past C/O Hunter, offering the man a smile as she did so.
Red simply watched and listened as the ladies went back and forth, deciding not to partake in the conversation as she ate her food. The woman was tired and didn't exactly feel up to talking. Her bed was calling her name and the old Russian woman couldn't wait to call it a night. The sound of the microwave beeping caused Red's attention to go towards Gloria as she made her way back towards the table. "Remember the deal papi, you gave permission and offered to help clean." ,Gloria stated as she past by C/O Hunter again on her way back to the table. "I'm not gonna back out of it ma'am don't worry." ,Krystopher said in response to the woman before smiling softly.
As Gloria sat down she looked towards the man just in time to see the smile cross his face and Red looked to her just in time to see her bite her bottom lip and smile while looking to her tray. "Yes...he is one of the good ones...too bad that'll get him chewed up and spit out in this place." ,Red stated in a casual tone as she looked to Gloria who shot the Russian a look making the woman laugh before reaching a hand out and patting Gloria's free hand that rested on the table beside her tray. "Don't worry though, I'm sure he didn't get all those muscles playing patty cake...I give him two weeks before he's running with his tail tucked between his legs...especially with ladies like our friend Ruiz here...so feisty." ,Red continued in her thick Russian accent while smirking at Ruiz who instantly glared at the older woman.
"We ain't friends old lady, we just work together." ,Ruiz said in response to Red's comment before getting up and emptying her tray. "Seeing as you got C/O Do good to help with clean up you shouldn't need too many hands at all...come on Daya, I got some snacks in my bunk...fuck this prison slop." ,she continued before shooting another dirty look towards Krystopher who simply brushed it off and returned his attention to the other ladies at the table just as Daya was getting to her feet. "Where are you going Daya?" ,Gloria asked although she already knew the answer. She hated seeing Dayanara getting mixed in with Ruiz and her crew and she was trying so hard to get the young woman to stray away from them somehow. Unfortunately, Daya was an adult and that meant she could make her own decisions. The only thing Gloria could do was try and guide her in the right direction.
After Gloria asked her question, Daya rolled her eyes and motioned towards the direction that Ruiz went. "You heard her, this stuff is crap...warm or not." ,the young woman replied in a slightly snotty tone before looking to C/O Hunter. "I'm sure you feel so horrible when you're eating actual food while laying in a nice warm bed. So drop the good guy act okay." ,Daya told the man before she headed off to follow Ruiz. As Dayanara, Ruiz, and a few others walked off, Krystopher watched to make sure they headed in the direction they were supposed to before again turning his attention back to the table where Gloria and Red were left by themselves.
"For the record, eating in bed is innapropriate and I would never do that...Also I'm currently on a ramen and pb&j diet due to my job paying really shitty...not together of course but..." ,he began before shaking his head then looking towards the mop cart that was next to the counter. "I'll get to work now...don't rush. I feel like you being short handed tonight is my fault somehow." ,Krystopher continued before he made his way over to the cart and grabbed a rag and a spray bottle full of cleaner.
As the man began to work on cleaning off the table tops, both Red and Gloria watched him for a few moments as they finished up the mess on their plates. "For the record..." ,Red then stated in a bit of a mocking but playful tone as she looked to C/O Hunter while her and Gloria got to their feet to empty their trays. "Ramen noodles are terrible for you, buy some regular pasta and cans of tomato sauce if you're going to go cheap. Sure it's a few cents more costly than those little packets of sodium and artificial crap but it's far more healthy." ,the woman continued in a lighter tone that caused Gloria to laugh a bit as she emptied her tray and made her way over to the cart. "Also nothing is your fault, don't flatter yourself. They'll find any excuse to sit on their lazy asses. All children do." ,Red continued, her comment making Gloria nod in agreement as Krystopher laughed softly.
"Well, that makes me feel a bit better. I honestly didn't mean to step on any toes I know what it's like to be..." ,he began before shaking his head softly. "Nevermind" ,he continued before smiling nervously. After he spoke, both Red and Gloria's attention went to him and a dark smirk came across Red's face as she grabbed a broom. "Oh don't be shy...we all have our dark little secrets and...well, you interest me...that and this kitchen takes a good two hours to clean on a good night and there's really only so much we can talk about amongst each other before we've heard it all...so, give something fresh C/O Hunter." ,the old Russian told the young man before she began to work on sweeping up the floor while Gloria began to assist with cleaning the tables.
After Red spoke, Krystopher looked to her as he wiped up the cleaner he had just sprayed across the table. He stayed silent for a few moments as he thought on whether he should talk about his personal life with the two or not before he responded. "When I was fifteen I did some time in juvi for stealing a car and leading the local police force on a chase from Crown Heights to Dekalb Avenue..." ,he began as he scrubbed up some gunk that was caked up on the table as both Red and Gloria gave him their full attention. Red raised an eyebrow as another smirk crossed her face. "So, how did they finally nab you?" ,she asked as she dragged the broom across the floor.
Before Krystopher could responded, Piscatella appeared in the doorway with an irate expression on his face. "C/O Hunter! What in the world do you think you're doing?!" ,the large man barked out making Gloria and Red jump slightly before both women rolled their eyes as they continued to work. As Krystopher went to respond, Piscatella raised a hand to shush the man before pointing at him as he made his way towards the young C/O. "I know that you're still pretty wet behind the ears boy but this is completely unexceptable! Drop that rag and get back to your post..." ,the large man demanded before pointing in the direction of the trashcans by the doorway. After addressing C/O Hunter, Piscatella turned his attention towards Red and Gloria. "You two will both be recieving shots. Now finish up in here without another word...that means you as well Hunter." ,he growled out before going to storm off.
"You can't do that..." ,Krystopher blurted out right before Piscatella passed him, causing the large man to stop dead in his tracks and look directly at C/O Hunter. "What did you just say rookie?" ,he asked as he stepped into the young man who stood up straight while looking straight in front of him and away from Piscatella who was clearly ten times more pissed than he had been a few seconds ago. "It was my decision to step in and assist Mendoza and Reznikov with clean up. There's no reason they should be penalized for my decision..." ,Krystopher began in a serious tone before finally turning to face Piscatella. "Sir." ,the young man then finished in a tone laced with sarcasm and disgust before he again looked away from the man next to him.
Piscatella's eyes widened and his face burned red with anger after Krystopher responded to him. The look on his face causing both Gloria and Red to turn away from the two men as they fought back a laugh. "Well if you really feel that way Mr. Hunter..." ,Piscatella began in a quiet but clearly rage filled tone before he glanced over towards the two women who were moving around the kitchen. "I won't punish them...I'll put the real culprit on probation...fuck up again and I'll have your job." ,he then hissed out before smacking the top of one of the trash cans and storming out of the cafeteria before the young man could respond.
"I take it Piscatella knows your story?" ,Gloria asked once Piscatella's foot steps faded down the hallway. Although the man's tone was soft when he spoke to Krystopher, both Red and Gloria heard everything that was said. Before Krystopher could answer her question, Gloria sighed as she looked at the young man's expression and motioned towards the door Piscatella had just walked out of. "Listen man, fuck that guy...everyone fucks up...at least you've bettered yourself eh?" ,she told him before she got back to work on cleaning the tables. After she spoke Red looked to the young man as she swept up a pile of trash and dumped it into a bin. "Some other time, yeah?" ,she asked before offerng him a smile.
The young man laughed softly and nodded in response to Red's question before looking to Gloria. "He really can't fire me for wiping off a table, there's no rules against it in the handbook. My history automatically makes me a thorn in his side. People like him don't get to me...toss me that fuckin' rag." ,Krystopher stated as he motioned towards the rag he had left on the table and started walking back towards the table. Gloria couldn't help the huge grin that crossed her face as she picked up the rag and tossed it towards the young man.
"Mm, talk dirty to me papi, I like it." ,she then teased causing the young man to stand up straight while looking at Gloria with a shocked expression and pointing towards the woman. "That's totally inappropriate Mendoza and you know it." ,Krystopher blurted out in response. The tone in the man's voice making Gloria laugh loudly while throwing her head back. "Relax honey, I'm only joking." ,she then stated as she began to wipe up another table while Krystopher nodded in response then went to go back to work himself. After a few seconds, Gloria looked to Red with a smirk before turning her attention back to C/O Hunter. "Or am I?" ,she then purred out making the young man again stand straight up and look to the woman as she and Red snickered at his reaction.
"Okay, okay, I'm done...I'll stop." ,Gloria stated before Krystopher could say anything. "Good." ,the young man replied with a nod before he got back to work. The three kept a look out for Piscatella as they worked to prevent another lashing which ended up being pretty entertaining whenever the man did show up. Once everything was finished, Krystopher made sure everything that needed to be locked away was accounted for before shutting down the lights as Red and Gloria exited and headed towards their quarters. As Gloria made her way into her bunk she couldn't help but wonder what C/O Hunter's response to Red asking what finally got him caught would've been if the conversation wasn't interupted.
She slipped her shoes off and crawled into her bunk, sighing softly as she closed her eyes. The woman's mind going over everything that had happened within the last few weeks. Things had gone to hell at Litchfield and her stress levels were at an all time high lately. She along with the other inmates were treated like animals by the new recruits and even if Gloria didn't show it, they all made her feel like shit and it was taking it's toll. Knowing that at least one of them was willing to stick up for her and the others and treat them like human beings was refreshing. Sure it wasn't anything overly exciting but C/O Hunter being willing to stick his neck out and do the right thing despite the cards against him meant a lot to the woman, it gave her a little bit of light within the darkness that was Litchfield correctional.
