75 Godiva Road, Saturday Morning

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Noah often didn't want to get up in the mornings when that arrogant overseer, Cato, rang the bell calling the field hands to work. Being a blacksmith was easier than picking cotton--no worries about getting whipped if he didn't make weight, for one--but it was still long hours and hard work, making sure that all the horses were shoed and the tools repaired and every bit of metal on the plantation was bright and shining.

Waking up this morning was even harder. His bed felt soft, like a cloud, and his blankets like the gentlest cotton, wouldn't scratch a baby's naked ass. His sheets felt clean and crisp and the soft breathing from behind him--

Sheets?

Breathing?

Noah's eyes snapped open but he made himself lie perfectly still. Sure, last night had been one of Bareback Shaw's parties, but that didn't explain why he was asleep in one of the white folks' rooms! He didn't even wanna guess what kinda punishment that would entail if he was found here. Never mind the one he'd get for not being back in his quarters by sunup.

Another muffled noise behind him. Noah wasn't sure he wanted to look over and see who it was. He was praying that it would be another slave. Getting caught in a white woman's bed would result in something far worse than just more stripes on his back.

Maybe he could just...eeeeease on out of this bed and be out the door and on his way back to Macon before anyone was the wiser.

[For thems that live here! Also TRIGGER WARNING! Hardison is Noah from WGN's Underground and is a slave from 1850's Georgia. That means there will be references to slavery, beatings, lynchings, sexual assault and rape/coercion and pretty much every other horrible topic that comes up in conjunction with treating humans like chattel.]

Comments

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Yes'm," Noah said, bobbing his head. "Sorry, ma'am. Ain't mean to interfere in your conversation, ma'am. An' this is Georgia, ma'am, ain't far from my massa's plantation, Macon."

He was trying to scramble out of the bed, his back a welter of scars and ink.

[whoisalicewhite]

"What in the hell." His back was the convincing part, that this wasn't a joke or a set-up that he was participating in. Miss Parker was now pointing the gun at the floor and staring at the guy, because she knew she was a bitch but seriously. Crazy? Or victim? This had Jarod written all over it, so could be both.

"Jesus. I don't even know what to say to that." She paused for a long minute, then, in a calmer voice told him, "I'm not mad at you. So yeah. Take a breath. Leave if you want to. Or, you know, stick around while I deal with this guy. Whatever you want."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"I'se gon' leave jes' as soon as I can find me my pants, ma'am," Noah said, practically groveling. He was also very carefully keeping his eyes averted, so she didn't think he was ogling her in her undress. She was mad at the white fella now, but it wouldn't take much to draw her ire instead. He was regretting mentioning the name of Massa Tom's plantation. "You an' this gentleman here can sort things out 'mongst yourselves."

[whoisalicewhite]

Miss Parker kind of hated obsequiousness, but again, this guy Noah was an extreme and weird case that probably wouldn't respond the way Broots did, with quiet snark that she was meant to miss. So she was left at loose ends at how to respond to that.

And then there was Cowboy Spencer dealing with the gun and all, and she finally just gave up on the whole situation until she had food and better clothing. Ugh.

"Food. Coffee." She snapped her fingers at him out of habit, then grimaced, stopping herself. "Sorry. Just." Argh. "I'm not ordering you to get me any. I'm not ordering you to do anything, ignore me if I'm a bitch, everyone I work with knows I'm horrible. I'm getting food, and coffee, and this guy is apparently not evil, so. Join us if you want to. Or not."

Christ, she could use a drink.

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Noah was already trying to scramble out of bed. This was clearly one of those white women who liked to believe they were 'egalitarian,' giving orders and then phrasing them as 'requests' to make themselves feel better. "Yes ma'am, of course ma'am, I'se gon' get you somethin' right away."

Look, he'd woken up in bed between her and a white man, either of which could get him lynched. Last thing he was going to do was piss either of them off more.

[whoisalicewhite]

Yeah. Giving up. Screw Jarod and this whole situation. Miss Parker stormed out of the room, resolving to get away from these people as soon as she could. With her damn gun.