There are no windows in prison cells, but some have a semblance of a glassy opening like an alcove with dim lights coming in. In case you behave well you get to live in one like that. And Franky is top dog now after all. She looks up from the book she's been flickering through as soon as the perimeter lights go on – they always turn them on early at this time of year when the days are shorter. Franky thinks of one of those screws at their post being so damn exact and on time every day. She bites her lip and smells the book pages. It's got a tinge of cool windy perfume. It's boring as hell here and she wonders why she even stole the book from Erica's office in the first place. Franky Doyle taking a course of criminal law behind bars, does it get any more laughably fucked up than this? She scoffs. This place feels dead at moments like this, like it is being operated by some alien race or by robots doing everything precisely on time. Sickening. She almost wants another riot to occur or Jacks to be back to life. Almost. Bea is not a real player after all, maybe she's learning to be, but so bloody slowly. She throws the book into the corner, scratches her eyebrow and gets up. What's the point of reading now anyway?
It's been weeks after Erica left, she is now stuck with some goddamn new teacher whose facial expression has only two modes: "I'd rather be home knitting a coat for my poodle" or a not giving a fuck "You're not passing exams anyway". She doesn't ask as much questions anymore. And anyway, law is probably way over her head. She is now facing the bookshelf trying to pick something better to read even though she knows most of these books almost by heart now. "I should've listened to Ms. Davidson when she said you're not worth the effort". Franky cringes, turns around and hits her bed with her boot. Her foot hurts now but it feels good. Almost refreshing.
There's a knock on the door, and Kim opens it slightly with a suggestive look on her face. Franky smirks and nods, lets her get in and starts taking her clothes off with vicious determination. She can see Kim's surprised, but she's not trying to slow her down, only plays along without asking any questions. That's what she likes sweet Kim for. And she's a good fuck too. God knows Franky could use a good fuck now.
Minutes later when she's putting her clothes back on and sitting up, Kim's suddenly speaking up.
"Did you know that Liz is back to meetings with her curator? Possible probation. I heard this morning. Girls talk at breakfast"
"Poor thing will be sucking a bottle as soon as her release date gets closer. Last time is all the show we needed. And now that she's with Bea no one's gonna get their hands dirty giving her a sobering smack over her head. I'm done babysitting her and Dor".
"I miss them sometimes" Kim says simply.
"We all miss some illusionary mirth Kim. She made her choice. You'll get over it"
Kim nods and reluctantly starts putting her clothes back on, she knows in a moment they'll be each in separate cells, that's how Franky does it and Kim's not one to object. Life would be so much easier if Bea was as smart and could follow the lead.
"It's still odd they're giving her a second chance after last time" Kim adds.
"They need a poster boy, and it's hard to make Bea one quickly so soon. The Freak's probably just picking out of the crumbs to add to her new campaign. Keep your eyes and ears open for me will ya?"
"Sure" The younger woman looks sad. They are all in transition now, and adjusting to these changes has been hard on Booms too. A big group of former Jacs crew is now on Franky's side but she still can't trust most of them. Losing Dor and Liz has affected quite a few of her people, she's got to admit. But they'll just have to learn to live with it, and see them at the other side. All Franky needs is a couple of major mistakes on Bea's part. And Bea's already giving her a few, starting with playing buddies with the new Governor, being so compliant. That woman stinks, and is a promise for major trouble for the whole prison, and Franky knew it from the moment she walked into their laundromat.
Kim leans on the doorframe about to leave, smiling at her briefly, which reminds Franky of the last time she teased Erica here before Our Journey event. That body curve, her trying not to smile at Franky and deliciously failing.
"I'll see you tomorrow…" Kim offers with a silky tone to her voice. Franky simply nods and shuts the door behind her. Sex with Kim is fast, simple and just what Franky needs now. What she doesn't need is the aftertaste and Kim standing in her door like that. Franky swears under her breath, wanting to go to gym but knowing it's past open hours so the best she can do now is go to sleep hoping to stay free of nightmares.
The nightmare comes in a most exquisite form though. She sees herself on a lowest deck of a ship that is dark and somehow full of red glow. Erica's in her bunk naked but enclosed in some sort of glass globe so Franky can't reach her and they don't hear each other, the globe is sound proof. Erica's just asleep in that glass globe, her form peaceful, Franky can see her back, her lush wavy hair and hips curved so nicely Franky aches to touch her skin but can't. The ship's in distress all of a sudden sinking and there's no way to get Erica out. Franky dives into the sea trying to get to the surface pushing the glass ball out but it is too heavy, she doesn't have enough oxygen and Erica's still asleep inside the ball unaware. The last thing Franky remembers is a green spikey sea monster coming at her and gulping down the glass globe. She has no choice but to get back to the surface of the stormy sea with sickening helplessness. She wakes up all sweaty and swears out loud.
There's visitors time in the afternoon next day, and Franky's usually the last one to be a part of it because she doesn't have any family and the only people to see are either drug dealers or some goods smugglers, people she knows from the outer world who can be of some help. This time she's arranged to meet with Sam, her mate she forced Bea to meet with when Bea first arrived. He's Franky's old pal who can sometimes get her what she needs here. And right now she needs stuff for the kitchen to keep her team in good spirits. They've agreed on the phone to meet up and have a word on logistics.
The doors to the visits room open and Vera leads her, Liz and a few other inmates into the open space with tables. Franky's the only one not to find her visitor there. She ends up waiting for minutes, watching the clock on the wall and getting more and more irritated. She knows he wouldn't bring anything large with him today, he's not so stupid to get easily caught at the checking desk so it must be some heavy traffic or his messed up sense of time that he's letting her down. Franky licks her lips impatiently and glances and the clock again. Another few minutes, and she knows he's not gonna turn up. Franky's done with this shit, she's gonna tear his head off next time.
She gets up to leave when she suddenly notices Liz in a private room behind glassy walls having a chat with a blonde woman in an awfully fitting deep green business suit. She's glued to the spot, can't believe her own eyes now. Liz catches her lingering look and glances away from the blonde now as Franky can't help coming closer to the glass wall. She doesn't pay any attention to Liz's questioning look, instead drilling the blonde's back with her intent stare. Franky thinks that maybe it's a coincidence and she's just so fucked in the head after that dream that she sees Erica in anyone who resembles her now. The blond woman turns her head, aware that Liz isn't responding to her and is distracted by something outside their topic (whatever the hell that might be!). It's Erica alright, more beautiful than ever before, as if work away from prison walls has done her good. Franky lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding; Erica's blinking, unable to turn back to Liz just yet, clearly she wasn't expecting to run into Franky like that. And what the hell is she doing here visiting Liz anyway?! Franky'd never admit it but that's when a reddish flare of anger strikes her. It's now that it dawns on Franky that Erica's acting as Liz's new consultant on probation or whatever the fuck they call it. How long has it been going on, these visits? Kim mentioned something. All of a sudden Franky wants to crash into this glass wall that separates them, shatter it into tiny little pieces, and scare Erica to death. She makes hard fists in her pockets and squeezes her jaw instead to the point that her teeth hurt. She shakes her head at Erica and lets out a bitter laugh that will surely remain unheard. Erica's closing her arms across her chest like she's lacking some sort of shield. Franky can see the ring shining on her finger still, looks up at her, sees Erica catching her line of sight and the look in Franky's eyes. Erica quickly covers her ring with her other hand automatically, uncrosses her hands again, forcefully, like she's chastising herself for a little slip-up. She scratches her collarbone, gulps down, regains her pose and tells Liz something that Franky can't hear. It makes Liz come out of the room and get to Franky in a dozen steps.
"Ms Davidson is asking if you could wait till we're done. She'd like to speak with you for a moment"
"Tell Ms Davidson to stick her request up her arse, would'ya?"
Franky's glad to hear how smoothly and dismissively she sings it out. No doubt Liz will swallow the pill and write it down to Franky being her usual rude and crass self. With that Franky turns around and walks away quickly, for once gladly being accompanied by Vera out of the visits room that seems too small to contain so many people.