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Post by Whisper on Jan 4, 2017 22:39:01 GMT -5
Whisper felt awful. She felt as though she had betrayed her entire borough through just having gone against one person, and now she was beginning to question everything. She had been told that Brooklyn was bad, and that had all been a lie. How many other lies did she believe about people?
The library was the only spot which she could seem to think of to cool down. There were books and there was silence, and those were two things that she desperately needed. She huffed slightly, sitting down in one of the chairs with a random book which she had grabbed off the shelf. She didn't care what it was. She wouldn't be reading anyway.
Whisper hated feeling as emotional as she did. It was extremely difficult to deal with so many things happening at once, and she didn't know whether or not the fact that she was so torn between two sides was a good thing or a bad thing. There were good things and bad things with either choice, and it was frustrating the female beyond belief. Her hands were practically trembling from her vice-like grip on the book, and she just eventually gave up, closing the book and looking out the window at the people passing by in an attempt to calm the anxiety and confusion in her brain.
Nothing, however, seemed to be helping much at all.
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 9:29:10 GMT -5
Jockey slipped quietly into the library. It was odd to be here since he rarely entered the library. But this was the best place to get away from the boys. He gingerly fingered the black eye he just knew was forming. That was not going to look good the next morning... He just hoped no one at the racetrack would notice tomorrow.
He wandered around the library, not really knowing where he wanted to go. Perhaps somewhere around here there was a book on horses that could help him out with work stuff. He wasn't sure though. Did libraries have books on horses? Or did they just have books about English and sciencey stuff?
He was just about to look for and ask a librarian, when he bumped into someone standing by the window.
"Oof!"
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 10:43:23 GMT -5
"Oof!"
As she was momentarily bumped into by someone, Whisper's first instinct was to whirl around and snap at them, although upon seeing the state that the boy was in, she suddenly didn't have anything to say.
He looked just about like Rip had, beaten and bruised. She was worried. Was he in the gang, too? Was the gang just deciding that beating up the newsies was going to be something fun to do? Why had it happened to more than one person?
"Are you alright?" She almost stumbled over her words, reaching out briefly to steady the unknown boy.
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 10:55:26 GMT -5
"Are you alright?"
Jockey dusted himself off and gave Whisper an apologetic look. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I didn't see you." He gave her a concerned look. "You okay?"
He cocked his head slightly. He didn't know many of the newsies by name, but he was sure he had seen her once or twice at the distribution center. "Name's Jockey," he introduced himself holding his hand out and smiling brightly despite his bruised lips.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 11:31:51 GMT -5
"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I didn't see you."
Whisper was still concerned, although she was glad that the boy seemed to be functioning much better than Rip had been. That could never be a bad thing.
"You okay?"
A small smile tugged at her lips, "Yeah, I'm fine. You're lookin' ta be in much worse shape than I'm in." Of course, it was true physically, although Whisper didn't want to get into all of the details about things that had happened with Rip and Spot. That stuff was private, and she barely knew the kid in front of her.
"Name's Jockey."
Jockey. She had heard of him before a few times. Something about the racetrack down at Sheepshead Bay. She didn't know for sure. It seemed a bit strange for him to be able to go to Brooklyn and then come to Queens whenever he wanted, although she didn't ask about it. "Whisper." Her reply was simple, and her voice was as quiet as ever, although she had calmed down quite a bit.
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 11:45:46 GMT -5
"Yeah, I'm fine. You're lookin' ta be in much worse shape than I'm in."
Jockey smiled sheepishly. "Ah well... it's my fault. Should've been more careful." He lightly dabbed at his bleeding lip. "Boys are gonna skin me when I get back ta the lodge..." he muttered.
"Whisper."
He smiled and shook her hand. "Nice ta meet you. I think I've seen you a couple times at the distribution center." He pursed his lip then winced a little. "The boys... haven't been botherin' you, have they?" he asked slowly, referring back to her comment about being in bad shape though not as bad as him.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 11:52:28 GMT -5
"Ah well... it's my fault. Should've been more careful."
Whisper frowned, "No no no, nothin' like this is your fault. Nothin'." She insisted. She wasn't willing to let Jockey go on thinking that something like that had been his fault in the slightest.
"Nice ta meet you. I think I've seen you a couple times at the distribution center."
She raised an eyebrow, "Really?" No one paid much attention to her at the distribution center. Of course, that was mostly because her friends were few and far between, but that was how she liked it to be.
"The boys... haven't been botherin' you, have they?"
Whisper slowly shook her head, "Nah, jus' some business for Rip. It's all done now." Ain't that the truth...
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 15:43:45 GMT -5
"No no no, nothin' like this is your fault. Nothin'."
Jockey cocked his head slightly. "But... it is? I should've been careful. I know the boys don't like people like me who jump boroughs."
"Really?"
He nodded. "Mhmmm. You come a little later than most of the goils."
"Nah, jus' some business for Rip. It's all done now."
He made a slight face. "Rip?" He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Well, I hope that went well. He does think in Queens best interest."
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 16:25:29 GMT -5
"But... it is? I should've been careful. I know the boys don't like people like me who jump boroughs."
Whisper sighed. She hated seeing people get hurt, although there quite obviously wasn't much that she was able to do to stop it from happening. She would just have to deal with it.
"Mhmmm. You come a little later than most of the goils."
She was surprised. Jockey really did pay attention. It was a bit strange to know that anyone actually noticed her, but it was nice to find someone who didn't seem to be afraid of talking to her. "Yeah... I don't like lots of people very much. Lots of 'em are scared of me."
"Well, I hope that went well. He does think in Queens best interest."
Whisper did her best not to show any sort of change in expression at his words, although her smile faltered for a moment. She did feel terrible. She felt as though she had betrayed her borough, and that wasn't a good thing. She didn't know if Rip trusted her at all, much less now that she had gone and warned Spot about everything.
"Y-Yeah, it was fine. He ain't that bad..."
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 17:24:44 GMT -5
"Yeah... I don't like lots of people very much. Lots of 'em are scared of me."
Jockey cocked his head slightly. "They're scared of you?" He gave her a sheepish look. "You don't seem scary ta me honestly."
"Y-Yeah, it was fine. He ain't that bad..."
He nodded. "That's good... tend ta butt heads with him." He rubbed a bruise he knew was forming on his arm. "But he's okay for the most part. Blizzard chose a good leader." He sighed. "Not everyone knows... but I wish it had been under better circumstances."
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 17:28:48 GMT -5
"They're scared of you?"
Whisper blushed a bit, shrugging and nodding. "They think I'm too quiet. I don't talk much... My voice kinda gives out after a bit."
"You don't seem scary ta me honestly."
Her blush intensified a bit, her bright grey gaze dropping to the ground. "'M glad. I don't wanna scare anyone."
"That's good... tend ta butt heads with him. But he's okay for the most part. Blizzard chose a good leader. Not everyone knows... but I wish it had been under better circumstances."
Whisper was a bit curious. What should have been under better circumstances? "Whaddya mean?" She inquired, brushing her hair back from where it had been blocking one of her eyes.
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 17:52:29 GMT -5
"They think I'm too quiet. I don't talk much... My voice kinda gives out after a bit."
Jockey furrowed his brows slightly. "I don't see why that's scary... we're all different after all."
"'M glad. I don't wanna scare anyone."
He grinned. "Well, I'm glad too."
"Whaddya mean?"
Jockey gnawed on his lips some. "Well ta be honest... most knew Rio would become the next leader. Jus' didn't think it had been so soon. But after Blizzard came back all bloody to the lodge after a visit ta Brooklyn... things changed and Rip suddenly had to become leader." He sighed. "And things happened with Rip and the White Hand... made things tough for him I guess. He wanted to be leader so bad when he was younger," he added thoughtfully. "But not with Blizz stepping' down suddenly like that."
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 17:57:07 GMT -5
"I don't see why that's scary... we're all different after all."
Whisper nodded slowly. She would take whatever she could get when it came to friendships with people.
"Well ta be honest... most knew Rip would become the next leader. Jus' didn't think it had been so soon. But after Blizzard came back all bloody to the lodge after a visit ta Brooklyn... things changed and Rip suddenly had to become leader. And things happened with Rip and the White Hand... made things tough for him I guess. He wanted to be leader so bad when he was younger, but not with Blizz stepping' down suddenly like that."
Hearing the story about Rip caused Whisper to swallow thickly. She seemed to have suddenly lost the ability to speak and function normally. Had she made the wrong choice not helping him? "I-I... Wow." She managed to choke out, hear eyes having widened a bit.
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 18:19:14 GMT -5
"I-I... Wow."
Jockey shrugged lightly. "Most people don't know that... it was all kinda hushed off. Rip don't like talkin' about it." He sighed softly. "And no one knows where Blizzard disappeared off to, or if he's even okay. Didn't say anything ta Mr. Folwell... and he looked real bad too."
He shook his head. It had been a scary time but Rip had managed to make things stay calm.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 18:26:25 GMT -5
"Most people don't know that... it was all kinda hushed off. Rip don't like talkin' about it. And no one knows where Blizzard disappeared off to, or if he's even okay. Didn't say anything ta Mr. Folwell... and he looked real bad too."
Whisper suddenly found herself quite worried. Could the same thing that happened to Blizzard be what was happening with Rip? Was Rip gonna somehow vanish, too? She bit her lip, chewing harshly on it as she glanced out the window again.
"Was 'e beaten up or somethin'? Or was he just sick?" She asked slowly, although she didn't entirely want to know what the answer would be.
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 18:30:56 GMT -5
"Was 'e beaten up or somethin'? Or was he just sick?"
Jockey furrowed his brows trying to remember what exactly had happened. "He... he was stabbed," he answered slowly. "All bloody... and pretty beat up from what I remember." He shrugged. "It's been so long... Mr. Folwell would definitely remember."
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 18:54:46 GMT -5
"He... he was stabbed."
Whisper's eyes widened, and her hands curled up into tight fists at the thought. How was Rip being so calm about having being beaten up then? What if he was going to be stabbed next?
"All bloody... and pretty beat up from what I remember. It's been so long... Mr. Folwell would definitely remember."
"We have ta go talk to 'im!" She exclaimed, although quickly forced herself to calm down a bit. "Um, that is... If ya want to. I could just go on my own, too, if ya have somethin' else ta do."
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 19:09:44 GMT -5
"We have ta go talk to 'im!"
Jockey blinked. "To Mr. Folwell? Why?" He gave her a concerned but worried look. "Is somethin' goin' on?"
"Um, that is... If ya want to. I could just go on my own, too, if ya have somethin' else ta do."
He shook his head. "I don't mind... jus' um wondering if something is wrong?"
If something was wrong, they could have a repeat of what happened last time. And he didn't think Rip had prepared for a new leader yet.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 19:22:51 GMT -5
"To Mr. Folwell? Why? Is somethin' goin' on?"
"When I last talked ta Rip, he was real beaten up. Said it was just a 'bad day' but now I'm worried it won't just be a 'bad day' for much longer..." She bit her lip. She hated being so worried about Rip, but she was. He was her leader, after all, and while it may not always seem like it, she really did care.
"I don't mind... jus' um wondering if something is wrong?"
Whisper bit her lip, "I don't know. I have no idea. But it'd be better ta know before somethin' is wrong than when it's too late."
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 19:35:24 GMT -5
"When I last talked ta Rip, he was real beaten up. Said it was just a 'bad day' but now I'm worried it won't just be a 'bad day' for much longer..."
Jockey frowned. "Come ta think of it... He never came ta the lodge last night," he mentioned slowly.
He never really paid much attention to whether Rip came to the lodge or not, but he had noticed that the older newsie hadn't been spotted the previous night or morning. That couldn't be good, especially if he was as badly off as Whisper said.
"I don't know. I have no idea. But it'd be better ta know before somethin' is wrong than when it's too late."
He nodded grimly. "Yeah... can't sit around doin' nothin' if Rip's in trouble."
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 19:48:31 GMT -5
"Come ta think of it... He never came ta the lodge last night."
Nothing that was being said was helping to calm Whisper down.
"Yeah... can't sit around doin' nothin' if Rip's in trouble."
Whisper nodded, briefly gesturing towards the door with her head. "Let's go ask about it, then. Better find out soon... Then we've gotta find Rip somehow, and warn him, too." Her voice was serious, and she felt terrible about everything. What if Rip died?
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 19:53:25 GMT -5
"Let's go ask about it, then. Better find out soon... Then we've gotta find Rip somehow, and warn him, too."
Jockey nodded quickly. "Yeah the sooner the better..." He opened the door for Whisper as they headed out of the library. "It shouldn't be too hard ta find Rip... an' I'm sure Mr. Folwell knows somethin'. He might even let us look at the log book."
Rip wasn't known to use the log, but there was a chance that it could leave a hint for them if Mr. Folwell couldn't. And well, Rip wouldn't be hard to find. He stood out like a sour thumb amongst the newsies. He towered over them and had a distinct build and look. It was hard not to miss the leader.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 5, 2017 19:56:03 GMT -5
"It shouldn't be too hard ta find Rip... an' I'm sure Mr. Folwell knows somethin'. He might even let us look at the log book."
Whisper nodded, her attention focused straight ahead as she walked with Jockey. She was determined to stop things from repeating themselves with Rip, especially since she didn't think that Rip would be wanting to choose a new leader for once he left anytime soon.
"The log book would be good. If not, I'm trustin' that you and I knew this borough like the back of our hands, and that Rip wouldn't go around wandering into any other boroughs." She muttered.
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Post by Jockey on Jan 5, 2017 20:06:49 GMT -5
"The log book would be good. If not, I'm trustin' that you and I knew this borough like the back of our hands, and that Rip wouldn't go around wandering into any other boroughs."
Jockey pursed his lips ever so slightly. "Doubt Rip would travel out from Queens..."
He picked up his pace as they left the library. He didn't want to bump into any of the boys on the way to the lodge.
Jockey was pretty sure Rip wouldn't leave Queens. After all, the White Hand focused mainly in Queens and Brooklyn. There would be no reason for Rip to leave. He didn't seem to care about playing cards or going to Medda's. Though... he did hear he had a friend of sorts from a different borough.
"But..." he panted softly as they reached the lodge. "I did hear he had a friend... from another borough."
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Post by Whisper on Jan 6, 2017 11:47:31 GMT -5
"Doubt Rip would travel out from Queens..."
Whisper nodded. It wouldn't make much sense for anything else. Rip seemed intent on Queens newsies not traveling around, and what reason would he have to break his own rule?
"But... I did hear he had a friend... from another borough."
She exhaled, catching her breath for a few moments before pausing. "Wait, what?"
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