My World of 1x1s discussion

Name: Elizabeth "Beth" Jensen
Age: 20
Occupation: Secretary
Appearance:

Personality: cheerful; curious; intelligent; active; somewhat outspoken; quite rebellious; considered to be "loose" by some (view spoiler)[namely her sister (hide spoiler)]
History: Her entire life, Beth has always lived in the shadow of her older sister. Anna can do no wrong in her parents' eyes and she is the golden child. Beth has slowly become the black sheep of the family even though this complex is technically only in her head. She loves her sister very much but would rather not be in the same room as her. Baseball has become an outlet of sorts for her and while Beth would have preferred to play the sport without her sister, she knows that Anna will never give it up willingly and so unless Beth does, they are "stuck" together in this activity as well for the time being.
Baseball Position: Shortstop

blue eyes, blonde hair, medium height, curvy of the non-fat variety
Anneliese "Anna" Jensen | Age 25 | Pitcher and Team Captain

Leather hitting leather was the only sound out in the back alley of Anneliese's house- perhaps mansion was a better word. No dogs, no cars, no talking. Just a baseball and a brick wall.
Her blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and under a baseball cap, and overall she looked very informal. She would never be caught dead dressed like that in public- it was just right for her current activity.
Her attire was a white button-up, which was rather dirty and used solely for her practicing, and simple high-waisted pants as well as saddle shoes. It wasn't correct for baseball, but it was alright for practicing pitching with only one person.
Anneliese had been playing baseball for years, mostly with her sister. Until they broke apart. It was a series of things that caused the hatred, but it happened and they hadn't talked since 1940- three years ago.
Anna currently lived alone, as her husband was fighting in the war. Not like he had a choice. She was afraid, as all wives were for the husbands, but she knew she'd get through it, and she hoped he would, too.
Upon catching another bounce-back, she heard a car approaching. Still holding it in her glove, she turned on her heel, looking for the source.
A black car pulled up near her, and she braced herself. She might have to sprint back inside at any moment.
A man got out of the car, out of the driver's seat. He was alone. "Anneliese Jensen?"
She pulled her glove off, setting it on the ground next to her. "Yes, I am her."
The conversation went on for only a few minutes, and eventually Anna found herself agreeing to meet many other women in Chicago to audition to join a female baseball league. She took the train ticket from him, and watched the car leave.
"Well, I suppose we're going to Chicago," Anneliese said, directing it at her glove and ball slightly sarcastically. Gathering them, she smiled and rushed inside to pack her bags.

One more look in the mirrored armoire told Beth that she looked lovely. A pretty face with sapphire blue eyes and dark red lips was framed by a halo of light blonde curls that stopped short at her shoulders, which was pulled back to stay in place for when she was active. Even when dressed to play ball, she was always conscious of her appearance and did not like to look disheveled. Her sister would have disapproved of her lipstick color, but Anna was not around to voice her opinion anymore. Especially not now. Not when Beth was on her way to Chicago! She had never dreamed of joining a female baseball league, what with the war going on and all, but with the lack of men on the continent, America was now looking to her women it would seem. About time too. "Go and show them what you've got, Beth Jensen!" the young woman said to her reflection before she smiled at herself confidently and without another delay, she headed for the door of her hotel room to make her way to the lobby where the other auditioners waited.

This hotel was one of thirteen that were housing the one thousand (give or take a few) women that were invited to audition for the American Baseball League. This was history in the making.
Anneliese had arrived the night before, eager to begin her training. She was informed that it wouldn't start for a full day, and even then there was a chance she wouldn't make any team. She doubted that silently, but she reluctantly agreed to mingle with the other hotel patrons. Obviously they wouldn't be wearing baseball uniforms until the actual audition, and so everyone was dressed quite formally, even in the lobby, where they were waiting for the buses to arrive. Auditions started in an hour.
Anna smoothed out her dress, one that she saved for special occasions. This wasn't anything near some of the parties she attended, but she wanted to look her best, regardless of if appearance was taken into account.
She fluffed the ends of her hair, which had been perfectly curled, and looked out in the crowd. And then she noticed a face. A very familiar face.

Beth was unable to contain her excitement, which shone on her face in the form of a bright smile as she entered the lobby. A waiter offered her a beverage on a silver tray, which she eagerly accepted, plucking up the long stem with her delicate lace fingerless gloved hand. She took a careful sip as she made her way through the crowd, glancing at the women around her from the corner of her eye, sizing up future teammates (she was sure she would be picked! having played ball her whole adolescent life) potential competition. What a wonderful day and a wonderful place to be! She just knew that this new development in her life would open up so many doors and create even more opportunities!

Feeling eyes on her, she turned in the projected direction... and stopped in her tracks. Anna?!

The server made his way over to the place Anneliese was standing, and offered drinks to the ladies standing there. She smiled, taking one from his platinum platter, and looked back in the direction of Beth. It was a bit surprising to see her there. Anna knew she played ball, as they so often did as children, and she knew she was rather good, but not good enough to...you know, make a professional team. But obviously something like this would happen, because there were only so many eligible women.
Anna raised her free hand, the left one, and wiggled her white gloved fingers in Beth's direction, her wedding ring catching light. She did this in an almost ironic fashion, a slight smirk on her face. It's not that she hated her sister, it was just...they drifted apart. Things happen and people change.

Of course she was here. She could never have been overlooked when she was good at everything she did. Would her husband be okay with it? Beth wondered, finding herself waving back to Anna as she remained where she stood, rooted to the ground, gravity acting for her to keep her immobile. How long had it been since they'd seen each other? With both parents dead, it meant that family reunions were not a regular occurrence and Beth simply found herself unable to make it to her sister's place for Christmas or New Year's, always with an excuse of a previous engagement that wasn't necessarily true.

She wanted to tell Anna that she looked lovely--she always did--but Beth could not bring herself to close the physical and metaphorical distance between them. Not now. Not just yet.

Anneliese began walking through the crowd, setting her drink upon another tray as it passed in the hands of a finely-dressed waiter. If her sister wasn't coming over there, then Anna was going over there.
The last time they'd seen each other was over three years ago, when their parents had died. They were originally going to stay together, but things went wrong and they just weren't close anymore.
Anna stopped in front of her, her heels making her legs look even better than they usually did. "Hello, darling," Anna said with a smug smile. She wasn't trying to be so sarcastic, but she was just so ecstatic that she might be on a professional baseball team her attitude was so cheery it seemed fake.
She smoothed out the front of her dress, her hands running down the soft blue silk.

"Hello, Anna," Beth replied, fighting the urge within herself to grit her teeth or walk away. Why was she smiling like a cat who found the cream? Was it because Anna knew that with herself here, Beth did not stand a chance of being picked over her older sister and they both knew it? She opened her mouth to say something like "I didn't know you were here" but then realized that that sounded stupid so she said nothing. Then she thought that perhaps she should mention that she missed her--for she did--they were still sisters after all--but that might sound like a lie to Anna, so instead, Beth forced herself to smile even though it did not reach her eyes and asked, "Been playing a lot of ball these past years?" They had this in common and so at least it would mean no awkward silences for the next minute. Come on, Beth Jensen. You can get through one minute of polite, social niceties with the ice queen. For Mom and Dad's sake.

"Mhm, I have. Went on a bit of a hiatus after the wedding, but I picked it up again soon after. Now that Henry's off in the war I've taken it up once again, not having much need to work," Anneliese answered, thinking back on the days when her mother told her to "marry rich". But Anna hadn't only married him for that reason- she truly did love him. He just happened to come from a very wealthy family that solved most of their problems. But they were married after Beth and Anna's parents had died, so she never really did please mother.
"And how about you, dear?" Anneliese finished, continuing to address her as though she were a child. But that was something she always did- nothing personal.

"Fine, thank you," Beth replied, gritting her teeth this time. She'll never see me as anything more than a child, the younger sister grumbled inwardly. Hadn't Anna noticed how much Beth and grown and matured both physically and mentally? No, probably not. Anna had never really paid much attention to her other than as a nuisance to her otherwise perfect life. "Yes, I have been, but not as much as I'd have liked. My job takes up a lot of my time," she explained, regretting it the instant the words left her mouth. She didn't need to become reacquainted with Anna to know that her sister would certainly disapprove of Beth working. People did not take too kindly to women entering the labor field, but with the war going on, there was a lack of able bodied men and Beth had been one of the first girls she knew who had gone out to find a job, husbandless though she may be.

"Congratulations on the wedding," Beth added almost as an afterthought, although it was probably something she should have said right away. Of course Anna was married. How could she not be?

Anneliese took note of her talking through her teeth and just the overall tense nature that Beth had.
Upon mention of Elizabeth's job, Anna pursed her lips. "Working?" She raised a perfectly shaped (by hand, but perfectly shaped nonetheless) eyebrow at Beth, continuing, "I've noticed that more and more women are taking up men's work, but I'd never think you would. Don't tell me you're riveting or welding?"
If she had a job, and she wasn't married, there was very much a chance that she was riveting or welding. That was definitely a man's job, and many people disliked that women were doing it in fear that they would mess something up. Anna didn't like this, and although she was basically a stay-at-home wife before the war, she was very much one to stand up for women.
Anna also took into account how the audience would react to Beth, and the judges. Certainly they would know of her personally life, everyone's, probably, and they might call her out on it publicly.

Beth resisted the urge to roll her eyes, wishing that she had placed a bet on Anna's reaction since she had been spot on--but gambling would have been another thing her older sister would most certainly frown upon. "Nothing like that, sister, dear, but only because I don't have the experience or training to do so," she couldn't help but add even though it was childish. "I am a secretary. I also help with the telegraph lines from here to Europe," she explained. Best not tell her I visit pubs after work on weeknights for a good gin.... "Someone needs to keep the country going while the men are at war," she added, bringing her drink to her painted lips then to take a reflective sip. Dear Lord, I really want to be picked, but I really don't want Anna to be picked, she prayed somewhat sullenly.

Anneliese tittered. "A secretary, is it? For whom?" Anna had often heard of scandelous relationships between secretaries and their bosses. She did hear them from the wives of Henry's rich friends, however, which could definitely make them anything but true. Nevertheless there had been at least one movie with such occurrence.
"I agree. Someone does need to work while the men are away. Although the delicates must be sheltered," Anna commented, definitely not implying anything. "Some of us still have children to raise."
She wasn't one of them, fortunately for her.