#oitnb masterlist

You had known Poussey for around six months now, meeting when you were assigned library duty after things became too much to handle for Poussey on her own.

Since then, you spent a lot of time together, bonding over your love of reading, books and keeping the library organised. You both hit it off immediately, she was always there for you and you there for her, it was the perfect dynamic.

Currently, you were both on the library floor, Poussey with a book in hand and you lay with your head in her lap, playing idily with the hem of her grey sweater - fiddling with the stitching.

You both love moments like this, being able to do your own things in each others presence. From time to time, Poussey’s attention would divert from her book to you, playing with your hair and moving it from your face before going back to the chapter, the silence and unspoken intimacy was nice.

It took a while for Poussey to finally finish in a place she could pay attention to you, using a shoelace as a book mark and placing the book beside you both, quickly bringing her hand to your face and gently comforting it - caressing your cheek softly.

You like this, so take her spare hand and place with in your own, fiddling with her fingers and occasionally bringing her hand up to your lips with a smile.

It was silence, until Poussey muttered your name, making your attention move from her hands and to face, “yeah?” You asked, smiling at her sweetly.

“I uhm…” She began, as if unsure whether or not it was right to talk. You thought it was because she, too, was enjoying the silence. You had no idea she’d spent the last hour deep in thought, not really ready, instead thinking about things, thinking about you, flipping the pages idily.

You had no idea of the feelings you involuntarily evoked from Poussey, how nervous you could make her and how hard she would fight for you. She didn’t want to ruin that, but she felt she had to make her feelings clear to you.

“… I think I love you,” Poussey finished, still playing with your hair, finding comfort in it, focusing on you as your expression changed to a bright smile, now looking at her hands again.

“I love you too.” You countered, sitting up and placing a kiss now on her cheek, a territory neither of you had yet crossed, pushing a large smile to Poussey’s face as she did the same.

Since arriving a Litchfield, you just couldn’t sleep. Never truly being able to get some red, and, when you did eventually doze off, your mind was flooded with images you thought you’d forgotten, and you were awake as quick as you weren’t.

Tonight, though, was worse than usual. Having not slept an hour the night before, you were exhausted, not tired, mentally (and physically) drained. You felt like a little girl, wanting to be back at home, in your mom’s arms or even your own bed. You wanted the comfort of your mom again - or even another person.

Wrapped in these thoughts, you were just upsetting yourself, but not daring to cry in fear of waking someone else up.

You hadn’t known how much time had passed, as you attempted to sooth yourself, sitting up on your bed with your knees to your chest, staring out into the walkway. If you could, you’d wrap your blanket around you, put your head on your knees and try sleep again here, but you knew it was fruitless, so just sat there, unmoving.

That was, of course, until you heard a noise from the cube beside you. Beside you was Poussey and Janae - there were many nights, similar to you, Poussey got trapped in a bad dream, and you being up, resulted in being the one to pull her out of it.

So you waited, listening for another noise before standing up and making your way to the cube over.

You were surprised, though, finding the person with the nightmare not to be Poussey, but to be Janae - who was laying, asleep with an expression of discomfort, occasionally moving around her bed frame.

You quickly found yourself beside her, crouching ok the floor as you held her shoulder and shook it, “Janae?.. J, hey, wake up.”

This didn’t work, though, as you tried again, and again, a film of sweat now covering her skin as you placed your hand to her cold forehead. So, you left it there, occasionally running your hand soothingly down her face until her eyes began to open.

“Y/n?” She asked, obviously confused as she began to sit up, looking around in the darkness.

“Sorry,” you muttered, taking your hand away and bringing it back to your side, “I heard you and wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Janae nodded, staring at you thoughtfully before speaking again, “will you… stay with me?”

This caught you by surprise, but you nodded, taking a place beside her as she rested her head on your tank-top covered chest.

You felt warm, and hoped she couldn’t hear the pounding of your heart, however, within minutes, your eyelids began to feel heavy, feeling yourself drifting off to sleep.

The next morning, you found yourself in your own bed, being “woken up” by Janae who told you the guards will be coming around soon, with a smile on her face.

You smiled too.

Poussey Washington:

- Poussey x Nyomi story masterlist!

- (FLUFF) You and I - Poussey Washington X Reader

- Poussey Washington who (season 1 and 2)

Janae Watson

SEASON ONE

- Poussey Washington who arrived at prison not knowing anyone, and didn’t want to get involved with the wrong groups, so found herself in the quiet of the library, loving her own place.

- Poussey Washington who was stuck sharing a cube with strangers, people who were supposed to be her friends but she couldn’t find common ground with.

- Poussey Washington who went to a regular day of work for 11 cents an hour only to meet her best friend (Taystee).

- Poussey Washington who spent all her days with Taystee and her new group, counting down the days until she was released.

- Poussey Washington with her smart mouth, building up a circle and getting to know others.

- Poussey Washington who liked playing basket ball despite having to play it with girls outside her “crew”.

- Poussey Washington who was Janae’s biggest advocate when she got sent down to the SHU on her first week, supporting her when she came out despite the girls tough exterior.

- Poussey Washington who got her visitation revoked because of Chapman, but didn’t retaliate and let the girl live through her sentence without bother.

- Poussey Washington who when y/n first came to prison, gave her hygiene products, despite not having much commissary money for herself.

- Poussey Washington who introduced y/n to her group, taking her under her wing when she first came to prison.

- Poussey Washington who was Taystee’s biggest supporter when running for prison council.

- Poussey Washington who shared a cube with Watson, every night watching her workout until the other girls complained - warning her the trouble it’ll get her in and helping her settle down for the night.

- Poussey Washington, who despite not getting her hair done, spent time during her week in the salon to keep people company.

- Poussey Washington who supported Tasytee when she was leaving, despite her being her best friend in prison.

- Poussey Washington helping y/n get assigned to the library before Taystee left.

- Poussey Washington who threw her best friend a going away party, only for her to return a few weeks later.

SEASON TWO

- Poussey Washington who kept Cindy’s magazines and newspapers to see if her and y/n’s star signs were compatible.

- Poussey Washington who put Taystee in her place when she returned from prison, being the first person to smack her over her head and give her a reality check.

- Poussey Washington who really could sing.

- Poussey Washington who wouldn’t sell cigarettes, knowing it was wrong and didn’t want any extra time.

- Poussey Washington who was confused because she was in love with Taystee and Y/n.

- Poussey Washington who needed someone to talk to when Vee started selling drugs, not being able to talk to Taystee so spoke to y/n and let her in.

- Poussey Washington who stood up for Janae… again… when she got sent down to seg.

- Poussey Washington who cried in y/n’s arms when Vee’s few started taking over the library.

- Poussey Washington who started drinking again when she felt she lost all her friends.

- Poussey Washington who regardless, stood her ground. Despite her friends all turning against her, being beat and torn down by all of them. Poussey Washington who felt her only friend right now, was y/n.

- Poussey Washington who hadn’t gone a day without drinking in weeks.

- Poussey Washington who drunkenly destroyed Vee’s tobacco stash, and ran to y/n not knowing what to do. She just wanted her friends back.

- Poussey Washington whose first concern in the storm was her books in the library.

- Poussey Washington who fought to get her friends back.

Now, Nyomi did struggle to read, preferring books with pictures than books with words - but she did like the atmosphere of a library, and what better chance to learn a new skill than a few years locked up.

Entering the Library, she found it empty, assuming that was because most people were still finishing up breakfast, spending as much time there before being sent to work. Thankful, Nyomi took a seat at a circle table, folding her arms and laying her head in them. She didn't plan to stay here long, just until work assignments began and then she'd find something else to do, perhaps she'll take a chance to get to know the place, or have a shower without prying eyes.

So, when the doors to the library opened once again, Nyomi jolted up, no longer lying down as she turned to whoever had just entered the room. To her surprise, though, it was Poussey, a girl she recognised from dinner last night.

"What you doin' in here?" She asked, strolling into the room carrying a few pieces of plastic and two books, "didn't see you down breakfast."

Nyomi shrugged, "wasn't feeling it."

Poussey nodded in understanding, placing the things she brought with her on the table before grabbing the plastic trolley and rolling it towards where she was stood. Nyomi watched curiously as she stacked the books she brought in up, leaving the plastic behind.

"What's that?" Nyomi asked, pointing to the two pieces on the table.

Poussey shrugged, "A pee funnel, stopping me from touching them nasty-ass toilets."

Nyoni nodded, smiling, "that's clever," she praised.

"You think?" Poussey asked, smiling at the girl as she played with the two parts in her hand.

"Yeah," Nyomi replied, before laying back down on the table.

"You tired?" Poussey asked, "want me to wake you for lunch?"

"No tired," Nyomi replied, "bored as hell, though."

"Girl..." Poussey started, before dumping several books infront of the new girl, "help me stack these up then."

The pair - Poussey and Nyomi - spent the stacking and organising books, uninterrupted because Taystee was spending time with her "mom", a woman who arrived just before Nyomi called Vee. Usually, Taystee helps Poussey out in the library, so the girl was thankful for the extra help.

That was until lunch rolled around, the speaker announcing it caused them both to stop and make their way to the hall, Poussey first and Nyomi following shortly behind.

Nyomi sat beside Janae again,  not feeling too hungry so only playing with her chocolate pudding and leaving the rest up for grabs, which was happily taken by Cindy before she chose to leave and go back to her dorm with the three old ladies. Her councillor mentioned that morning she should be moved today, so that was something for her to look forward too.

Once she got there, it was only her in the room, sitting on the bunk and waiting for one of the CO's to come and find her and let her know where she'd be moving.

•••

After dinner, Nyomi found herself in the ghetto, in a bunk by herself until another woman found her way to prison. So, she made her bed, placed her things in her storage box, and made it pretty by leaving her new grey sweater and beige khaki top hanging up on her hooks.

She was glad she had moved, because that meant she received her true inmate ID card and could now start to figure out think's like the phone and commissary. Luckily, being the only inmate who came in her group, Healey said things were moving quicker for her, so she couldn't imagine coming to prison in a larger group.

It was also much easier to sleep in a cube cell, not being stuck in dead silence - the occasional creak of a bed and moving of fabric reminded the girl that other people were around her, weirdly, that comforted her. That night, Nyomi got the best sleep she had slept in months.

•••

The next morning, the block was awoken by a CO walking down the isle of the block, repeatedly announcing it was time to get up, followed by Suzanne who seemed to act as a parrot for the block - up and ready for her shower within seconds of the CO entering.

Nyomi felt that she had to give her credit for her passion, though, as she did struggle to wake this morning, choosing to remain in her white tank top and grey sweatpants and simply grabbed her towel, wash items and DIY shower shoes and made her way to the showers before everyone else.

Now, it wasn't that she felt insecure. Nyomi isn't an insecure woman - in fact, she thinks she has a pretty face and good body. However, only knowing the women two days, didn't yet give her the confidence to flaunt that, and she'd rather suffer early in the morning, alone, than in front of others.

So, when she entered the showers, apart from Suzanne, Nyomi was alone, the others only beginning to enter the room as she was brushing her teeth in the sinks.

Everyone was stood silent, the only sounds coming from showers and those brushing their teeth - that was until a commotion was heard outside the bathroom and a significant voice being louder than the others as she entered.

"All right, listen up!" She began, walking into the room with a gaggle of spanish women following behind her, "we got plumbing issues in Spanish Harlem."

That's all Nyomi needed to hear before making her way out, already dressed in her khaki pants and grey hoodie and made her own way back to her new block.

Soon after, Nyomi was joined by Suzanne, who too, was dressed and decided to invite herself into Nyomi's space.

"Nyomi, Nyomi, Nyomi," Suzanne spoke, entering the cube and sitting on the metal bed frame opposite of the girl, "so, who are you?" She asked, tilting her head left and right.

Nyomi giggled slightly, shaking her head, "Nyomi Anderson," she continued chuckling, "and you are?"

"Suzanne Warren," the girl infront responded, nodding her head in... approval? "I'm just... Scouting the place out for enemies... You know?"

"No..." Nyomi replied hesitantly, "I don't know, sorry."

"Let's just say," Suzanne said, standing up and doing a spin before looking straight at Nyomi, "if you see any... suspicious activity in these premises... you let me know."

"I will, don't worry," Nyomi replied with a smile.

The girl must've deemed that enough, as she walked off to stalk around the cubes of the other girls who weren't in the block, as if she was inspecting them.

Once the doors of the van were opened, she quickly took her seat next to a woman who sat... Bored? Nyomi hoped she wouldn't be sat here long enough to get bored like her, silently sending God a prayer in her head. She hadn't even realised she was staring at the poor woman until she turned her head, sending Nyomi a harsh glare, causing her to look away and hug her bag close to her chest.

Nobody in the van spoke, the woman in the front focused on her magazine with her sunglasses sitting comfortably on her face - she looked to be ready for a wait, which didn't send Nyomi much reassurance.

However, another woman soon joined them - a black hair poised woman, who seemed much too full of class to be joining them. The older woman took a seat beside Nyomi, sitting comfortably before beginning to talk.

"My jacket is itchy," she said, pulling at her jacket, causing her bags to hit against Nyomi as she did - evoking a reaction from the girl beside her.

"Yo stop that, you're hitting us." The girl to Nyomi's left quipped, kissing her teeth before looking straight forward again, shaking her head.

•

"And this will be where you'll be staying," Morello said, showing me inside this cube-like cell, three bunkbeds sitting against the wall, three elderly ladies currently sitting on their bunks, "bunk give is yours," she said, pointing at it before walking off.

"Don't take it personally," one of the older ladies stood, taking my bag and placing it on the bottom bunk, "the races stay separate here - like the old days, only less 'hatecrimey'. She won't help you like she did the other girls."

Nyomi smiled kindly at the woman, thankful for her advice that she assumed would already help her, "Thank you," she replied, nodding her head, "I'm Anderson."

"Of course sweetheart," the woman replied, holding out her hand, "I'm Irma, them two ladies are Taslitz and Jimmy."

I nodded, "Nice to meet you all," I said, shaking Irma's hand.

Irma then sat down, causing Nyomi to go to do the same before an alarm went off, causing the three to stand up by their bunks, which Nyomi followed and did the same.

"It's count," Taslitz said simply, seeing the confusion on Nyomi's face, "don't sit down until we do."

A few seconds later, a guard came in, clicking his counter four times before leaving and going to the next room. Following him were two other guards, who both did the same.

•

After count was dinner, so Nyomi followed them to the lunch hall and watched them make their way to a long line, hesitantly following them and finding herself a few people behind. Looking around the hall, the girl quickly noticed how decided the room way, cliques forming at tables, the only dividing factor being race - Irma was right.

Receiving her tray from the hispanic ladies serving dinner, Nyomi was quick to smile at the woman serving, offering a thank you befote going to find a place to sit. Not wanting to assume she was welcome to any of the cliques, she found a seat at an empty table at the back corner of the room.

Beginning to eat silently, a woman set infront of Nyomi, causing the girl to take ahold of her tray, expecting the woman to tell her to move. However, she didn't, instead she placed a toothbrush, bar of soap and toilet paper infront of Nyomi.

"Taystee sent me," the woman spoke, looking the girl up and down, "now you have to follow me."

Nyomi nodded, unsure what to make of the action - however, she quickly followed the woman with her tray when she stood, assuming it was the safest thing to do with the woman holding the same complexion as herself. The phrase 'the races stay separate here' from earlier repeating itself in her head - Nyomi didn't want to be on bad terms with the only people she had here.

Once they reached the table, Nyomi stopped, unsure where to sit so stood at the head.

"Sit next to Watson," one of the women spoke, nodding her head to an empty seat.

Nyomi did, placing her tray before sitting down, being mindful of keeping herself in her little bubble of space, making sure not to accidentally nudge either of the women now beside her.

"I'm Taystee," the girl continued, "that's Janae or Watson, that's Cindy - but we call her Black Cindy," she said, nodding her head to the woman who gave her the soap, "that's Suzanne and this is Poussey," she finished, wrapping her arm around the girl to her right.