[[Scene: Mimi and Lauren in: "Girl Talk"]]
((One afternoon at the prison...))
*Lauren sits in the prison's small arts and crafts room. It doesn't see much use, and it doesn't offer many tools for making anything useful, but she's doing her best to crochet what...could be a sock? It's a little lopsided, but it sure is pink! Her tongue pokes out the side of her mouth as she concentrates solely on what she's doing.*
*Wandering down the hall just outside, Mimi yawns loudly as she searches for any form of daily excitement. She's had no luck today finding Jacques or Matt, and her turn for the TV won't be around for several hours. She passes by the arts and crafts room, and hearing a small noise inside the usually deserted area, she decides to take a peek.*
Mimi: ...? Oh, Paups, it's just you.
Lauren: Huh? *She glances up and, realizing that she's being watched, ducks her project into her lap.* Oh, hello Mimi.
Mimi: What're you doin' in here by yourself? *She walks inside, pushing the door closed behind her without bothering to turn around.*
Lauren: Oh, um, nothing. *Tries to hide her work more, but a ball of pink yarn bounces off her lap and onto the floor.*
Mimi: ...? *She takes a few steps closer and scoops the yarn off of the floor, holding it out for Lauren* Makin' something?
Lauren: Oh, um... *sighs, and finally pulls out her crochet mess.* I was trying to... but it's not very good.
Mimi: *bends down slightly for a better look* Hmm? That's a sock, right? Making those by hand is pretty tough. But, um, you picked a cute color!
Lauren: Thank you... *Lauren sets it down with a wince, like one might an unappetizing meal* I'm not so bad at sewing, but they wouldn't let me have needles in here, so I thought maybe... *murmurs to herself* Silly Lauren, crocheting is nothing like sewing...
Mimi: That sucks. *She leans on the edge of the table.* Oh yeah, did you end up, like, telling the guards about your little sugar-snatching and carving incidents? *She smiles teasingly.*
Lauren: *Blushes* No... I don't want to upset them. What if they had to replace the table because of it? It might be better if they just don't know...
Mimi: Haha! I'm sure they've been through worse anyway. *She cocks her head to one side.* If you're, like, going to be naughty, we're in a suitable place for it!
Lauren: Yes! No wait, but... *She squirms in her seat uncertainly* I'm supposed to be reforming! But now that I'm here, I'm worse than ever. Um, except for committing conspiracy and...the other stuff.
Mimi: Hey, hey. You just got, like, wrapped up in some bad stuff. You're not gonna do it again! *She crosses her arms across her chest* You just have to, like, be careful about who you hang out with next time.
Lauren: But now I'm hanging out with more criminals... for a little while at least. *lowers her voice* I think I'm going to miss it.
Mimi: ...! *She smiles.* I know a lot of people around here are totally gonna miss you. One in particular, for sure. But you're lucky to be gettin' outta here! Here, you're like...you know...a tulip in a big patch of weeds.
Lauren: Oh, no! You're not weeds! *blushes a little* I think you're more of a tulip than me, Mimi.
Mimi: Nahhh. Thanks, Paups, but if anyone's a flower here, it's you. *Her expression softens a bit.*
...You're, like, almost everybody's cute little sister.
Lauren: *Starts to say something, but pauses, and seems to consult herself.* Would that be rude? Maybe I shouldn't, but... *she licks her lips and makes up her mind* I'm sorry, don't be offended, but...I think you could be even more, um, tulipy, with a little... *she fluffs her hair*
Mimi: ...! *Her eyes dart to a distant corner of the room in a mix of surprise and mild awkwardness. She didn't expect this to come up!* O-Oh, you think so...? Well, I like, was never one for make-up and hair spray and stuff. I used to be a brunette, though, but it was like, a bit lighter-colored than yours. I was sort of thinking about dyeing it back...
Lauren: Really? But it's so pretty. *She stands and moves closer.* And so full. If you parted it more on the side...you'd look like a movie star. *she beams*
Mimi: Stooop. *Can't believe her cheeks are actually turning pink from a girl's comments for a change* C-C'mon, your hair is like, so much nicer. It's like, got that curl and everything! Mine's taking forever to grow back.
Lauren: They won't let us have hair dye in here, but... *her eyes light up* Will you let me brush it? Please don't think I'm too foward--I can brush better than I crochet! I used to for my dolls all the time!
Mimi: W-Well, I, uhh...! *She trips over her words being placed on the spot, but she can't find it in her to say no* I-I guess I don't see why not, but--
Lauren: *Lauren takes her hand and, abandoning her yarn, leads Mimi out of the crafts room.* Let's go back to my cell! I only have a little brush, but it'll work!
Mimi: O-Okay--whoa! Slow down!
*A few minutes later, the two young women are situated inside Lauren's cell with Mimi sitting quietly on Lauren's bed, her beret in her hands while Lauren cheerfully brushes her hair. Mimi's cheeks are a bright shade of pink, but she can't deny this is almost kind of fun.*
Mimi: Um, s-so, you had dolls when you were a kid, Paups?
Lauren: Yes, lots! My fath... *she trails off for a second, then straightens and continues.* My father
would send me dolls from the places he visited around the world. And different clothes for them, too! I spent hours taking care of them.
Mimi: *She feels a pang of pity for Lauren--she'd almost forgotten about what happened to her father.* That was really cool of him. Sounds like he really loved you. And, you get along okay with your mom, right?
Lauren: Yes, very well. The socks were going to be for her... *she winces* Maybe I should just buy her some instead. I'm sure she doesn't want lopsided socks...with holes in them.
Mimi: Hey now, I'm sure your mom would love anything you made her! *She toys with her beret, tugging at it, trying to hide any bitterness that may accompany her tone of voice as she thinks of her own mother.* That's, like...what moms do, you know?
Lauren: I suppose. *Lauren finishes brushing, and after a moment--and without asking permission--she begins to change Mimi's part* What's your mother like, Mimi?
Mimi: Ah...! *Opens her mouth to protest, but she's distracted by Lauren's query* Uh...we...don't get along. She's this hotshot businesswoman for a company called Star Blazers. Probably like, one of the biggest feminine feminists you could ever know, too. She...She didn't really approve of a lot of my choices in life.
Lauren: No? Oh, well...before, or after you came to prison? If you don't mind my asking...! *she stretches behind her for the only bobby pin substitute she has--a paper clip*
Mimi: *Shrugs a bit, deciding there's no real harm in Lauren knowing.* It's fine. To answer you, it's both. She's busted my butt about being a tomboy since I was, like, three. She adored my sister though, 'cause she was, like, the complete opposite of me. You have any brothers or sisters?
Lauren: No, it's just me. I wish I had a sister sometimes. *she sweeps Mimi's hair to the side, and with some careful work manages to pin it.* Ahh, look how it bounces! I wish I had a mirror...
Mimi: We'll find something, I can't wait to see what you've been doing up there! *She smiles at her, almost a bit sadly* You'd make a super big sister, Lauren.
Lauren: *blushes* R-Really? Thank you. Maybe my mom...no, that's silly. *she gives herself a shake* Let's go find a mirror!
Mimi: Y-Yeah, okay! Um, there's like, the ones in our bathroom off that way, I think. Wanna head there?
Lauren: Okay! *She hops to her feet and glances around, wishing she had some makeup to add.* If only we had some hair spray, or lipstick...! I don't understand why they're not allowed... *she starts out of the cell*
Mimi: *She rises to her feet and brushes the lines out of her skirt, following Lauren.* Chemical contraband, I guess. They think we'll use it to escape or something. Like, replacing the stuff in the spray can with sleeping gas, maybe? People come up with all sorts of ideas. We don't have too many, like, standard "dumb" criminals in here.
Lauren: I think sleeping gas is even less allowed... But maybe you could concoct it. Like if you followed instructions on the internet... *She gives that a little too much thought, and then frowns, glancing around as if one of the guards might overhear* Not that I would ever do that...!
Mimi: *Laughs* Yeah, I wouldn't go doing that if I were you! You're actually gonna get outta here, so don't, like, jeapordize that! I think that's why our net is restricted. But like, come to think of it, I think you can probably make make-up out of food and some other things around here.
Lauren: Food? Like...jelly lipstick? *She touches her lips thoughtfully* Maybe if we had candy, it would stain our lips pink...
Mimi: Yeah! Or at least we could, like, make lip gloss or something. *She eyes Lauren's hair curls as they near their destination.* Is your hair, like, naturally curly near the ends, Paups? It's totally cool how it's fluffier near the back, too.
Lauren: Oh, yes. *She fingers her short hair self-consciously* That's why I usually leave it long--I don't like how it sticks up when it's short. I hope it grows back soon...
Mimi: Luckyyy. You know...? *She smiles at her with a wink.* Jacques really digs girls with curly hair.
Lauren: *Blushes darkly* Really? I mean...what? How do you know that?
Mimi: *Grins, placing her hands behind her head.* He told me the other day. And he sure likes talking about you. He's gonna be, like, totally bummed when you leave!
Lauren: When I leave... *mumbles to herself.* It's going to be pretty soon now. What should I do...? *she spots the bathroom ahead of them and hurries toward it.* Here, let's see how your hair turned out!
Mimi: *Jogs after her* Yeah! And maybe we can raid the cafeteria later and, like, try to make some makeshift make-up, huh? *She continues to smile, wondering when she stopped feeling so jittery about doing "girly" things.* You know Lauren, I can see why he likes you so much. And like...why everyone else does, for that matter.
Lauren: E-Everyone? *blushes, and when Mimi catches up she smiles at her.* I don't know about that, but I'm glad you don't mind me, Mimi.
Mimi: Hey. *She sets a hand on Lauren's shoulder, her tone somewhat soft and serious.* If like, anyone has a problem with you, then they'll have a problem with me. If you ever get into trouble, I'll lend you a hand, okay?
Lauren: Oh! *She's never had an offer like that before, and it makes her especially happy.* Thank you! And you, too. Though I'm not sure how much good I'd be...
Mimi: Hey, you've already helped me out a lot. If I didn't, like, return the favor, the guilt would haunt me forever! It's time someone did something nice for you, Paups.
Mimi: So I'll look out for you from now on.
Lauren: *touches her cheeks* Th-Thank you. Oh, but this was about you! Let's find the mirror. *She takes Mimi's arm and leads her into the washroom.*