Cooking for...one. (OTA)

[innocendiary]

If anyone were to pass by Charlie's room on the first floor, they might notice the scent of things being cooked. Her door is partly open, mainly to keep an eye on anyone passing by. She had this weird idea that her luck was horrible and that one day either Rainbird or Hollister would show. And she'd even consider it terrible if her father showed up

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[aibileen]

Aibileen is walking to her room, fresh from leaving the McClane's. She's thinking a few steps ahead to making something special for Erica, seeing as how she got good news at the doctor the other day. Maybe a prime rib instead of steak.

When she happens to look up, passing by a room, Aibileen stops in her tracks, then backtracks, eyes wide.

"Miss Skeeter?" she asks quietly, not sure because the hair is different, but the face is most definitely the same. And that lanky little body.

[innocendiary]

Charlie turned her head towards the sound of the voice, smiling slightly. She shook her head slightly, an almost apologetic look on her face.

"I think you have the wrong person. I'm Charlie," she said, walking over to the woman with her hand extended.

[aibileen]

This is the first time Aibileen's meet someone who...looked like another person she knows. Reaching out her hand tentatively, she still looks a little shocked.

"I'm sorry, it's just, you look like a friend. I'll be on my way," she apologizes, intending to go.

[innocendiary]

Charlie's smile fades just slightly. "You don't have to go. I don't mind the company." She genuinely felt bad for not being this Miss Skeeter woman.

[aibileen]

Aibileen hesitates at that. "If you're sure. I don't want to be imposing. 'Specially not on your dinner."

[innocendiary]

"I'm one hundred percent sure," Charlie said, the smile returning. "And I made a lot. You're welcome to some if you want. I don't exactly have anything to store the leftovers in."

[aibileen]

"So you're new then?" She smiles, then extends her hand one more time, a little embarrassed for not being more polite. "I'm Aibileen. It's nice to meet you, Miss Charlie."

[innocendiary]

Charlie shakes the womans hand again, nodding at her question. "Yes, ma'am. I've been here a couple weeks, so far. And it's a pleasure to meet you, Aibileen."

[aibileen]

Aibileen's kind of getting used to people calling her 'ma'am' in return, but it still sort of makes her smile.

She's stopped wearing her entire uniform, but she cooked dinner before leaving work, so she's still wearing her apron.

"I got here a few months ago, myself. Got off a bus and found myself on the corner. I was stubborn, sat on a bench for an hour, convinced the bus was comin' back."

[innocendiary]

"That sounds a lot like how I arrived here. I got off one bus and was suddenly here." This place was very weird with how and when it pulled people.

"So, where are you from originally?" Charlie started retrieving plates from the cabinets, grabbing a handful of utensils and carrying them to the table.

[aibileen]

"Jackson, Mississippi. 1962," she adds, because it seems like everyone is from every different time. "Can I help you with anything?" she asks, still not accustomed to white people doing all the work all the time. Something Mister John and Miss Erica were really helping her work on. Maybe for nothing, since she'd just go back home to it, eventually.

between LJ screwing up and sick kids, i'm so sorry this is late.

[innocendiary]

"I've never been to Mississippi. It's on my list of places to travel to, though." Charlie had her hands full of utensils and other things. The only thing she really needed were the cups. She tilted her head towards them, smiling a bit sheepishly. "Do you mind grabbing those? That's really all I need."

Don't worry about it! I've been slow-timey myself.

[aibileen]

"You probably ain't missin' a whole lot," Aibileen says honestly as she helps with the cups, not minding at all.

"Where are you from?" she asks in return.

[innocendiary]

"Uh..." Charlie hesitates. Surprisingly, that question has a very long story for an answer. She decides to just stick with the bare minimum for now, smiling a bit as she sets forks and spoons out. "Kind of all over. I travel a lot. I was born in Pennsylvania."

[aibileen]

"Never been to Pennsylvania. Never been out of Mississippi, 'til this village." She helps Charlie set the table, still struck by how much she looks like Miss Skeeter.

"My momma come from Louisiana, though. Figure I probably still got family down that way."