Chapter Text
Jodie gazed up at the sky, clouds coasting around the sun. A soft breeze made its way through the walls and gates, and Jodie tried to listen to the rustling of gum trees laying beyond the prison. The shrub in front of her had begun to shed, the drops of autumn arriving. F-Block's garden was impressive; an organised mix of native shrubs, and lush herbs like basil. The middle of the garden hosted an arbour, wrapped in jasmine and surrounded by bushes of roses. Jodie inhaled, and checked for any trouble, before exhaling. This was totally the Botanical Gardens of Wentworth. Lost in the mellow and choosing to risk her spatial awareness, Jodie closed her eyes, feeling the warmth seep into her dark hair. Admittedly, Jodie hadn't went outside much since her H-Block days, and her bloods always came back severely Vitamin D deficient. She couldn't see the point, and sometimes, she felt afraid she'd open her eyes to a blade in her hand if she were to hang out in the yard too much. After today's ordeal of somehow getting kicked out of the kitchen, her choices were laundry or the gardens, and she figured a change of pace would be worth it. Soaking in the sun, Jodie confirmed to herself that at least she wasn't a vampire.
"Hey," a familiar voice sounded to her left, making Jodie slightly jump, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I didn't know you left the kitchen." Next to Jodie, Tasha was squatting with her over the garden bed, a large bag of dirt in her hands.
Jodie rolled her eyes, "I just got here from an appointment. Those girls in the kitchen wouldn't let me do anything except wash dishes, and it made my rash worse. They started saying some shit about workplace safety and food contamination, so now I'm here," she smiled, "Can't complain though."
"They put me on dishie duty until I left too. They're the preppy kids of the place." Tasha picked up a spade and laid the bag of soil down, cutting it clean down the middle.
"I got those vibes, yeah. I would've bagged those bitches out if I saw them treating you like they were yelling at me." Tasha seemed to crack a smile through her usual still face at the statement, while Jodie looked around the garden, "Is there any way I can help you? I don't really know what to do with my hands, I'm just used to kitchen and laundry."
"Uh, I'm fertilising the plants, I've heard it's good for the grass to be fertilised in autumn too. You don't have to, but if you want, you can help spread it out over the lawn," she explained as she spread the soil around the shrub. Golden light highlighted glimmers of sweat on her forehead, as she focused at the task on hand.
"Okay, I'll give it a go."
"The bags are in the shed. Blue bags are fertiliser. Everything's all set up in that weird trolley thing in the corner, you just have to walk around at a steady pace. Thank you. Saves me time."
"No worries."
Entering the shed, Jodie felt a chill run down her spine with the amount of sharps lined up in the dark space. Hoes, rakes, shovels, and many other tools. She eyed numerous pairs of garden gloves on one of the benches, considering taking a pair. Instead, she raced off, cradling a bag (and maybe also making a mental note to consider working out). There was no way J-Block would've been able to upkeep a garden of this calibre, let alone have a shed full of weapons. Jodie pondered how the gloves would've been a good way to pass on money and gear, but the image of fingers entering and exiting the fabric made her skin crawl.
You're too stupid and weak. Why do you care so much about the lawn anyway? What does it mean to you?
Jodie cursed under her breath as she loaded the cart up and started to push the "weird trolley thing", wondering if she was too slow, or too fast, or maybe too uneven. Her own self dialogue wasn't helping, and she had a look at what the other women were doing in the yard to try and learn. She noticed the sky had started to get more temperamental, the sun dipping in and out of the clouds. It was cool one minute, and toasty the next. Jodie huddled up in her hoodie, pulling the sleeves over her fingers as they gripped the handle.
Tasha had already made her way to the roses in the middle, spreading a thin layer of soil around the plants, and a thinner layer of the fertiliser, making quick yet intentional work of the plants. Her white shirt was full of stains that Jodie hadn't really put two and two together until now, and she figured Tasha was working hard enough that she didn't even need a jacket on the site. Without her hood her hair was visible, a lot more grown in than the first time they met. Her jet black hair was feathered, soft bangs framing her face. It suited her. Tasha seemed in her element, and Jodie looked down at the verdant lawn, realising she wasn't doing so bad after all.
Maybe I should get her some Up & Go from the canteen sometime. I'll have to ask what flavour... I mean, I assume it'd be chocolate. Duh. Chocolate is the best. But people tend to surprise you.
They do tend to surprise you.
Not a second without a reply.
Whatever.