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Post by Cloud on Jan 5, 2017 18:11:18 GMT -5
Staten Island was a decently safe borough, so Cloud was just wandering around, daydreaming. Spot had asked him to tag along while he visited his brothers. He hadn't want to bother the siblings bonding time and had just made his way randomly through the streets of Staten. He knew most of the boroughs like the back of his hand, so he wouldn't get lost. It was just bad when he wandered too far. It would take awhile to get back home.
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Post by Critter on Jan 5, 2017 18:58:09 GMT -5
Upon arrival in Staten, Critter didn't have too much on her mind. She just needed a break from everything that she had gotten so used to and bored of over the years in Jersey City. It wasn't a bad place by any means, but it was always nice to take a break and change things up a bit. However, upon recognizing a familiar looking boy, she slowly made her way over to make sure that it was who she thought it was.
"Cloud?" She finally spoke up. She didn't know him too well, although she wouldn't have called the pair of them just acquaintances, either. That could have just been her liking to say that she had a lot of friends, but she didn't want to think of it that way. "What're ya doin' in Staten?"
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Post by Cloud on Jan 5, 2017 19:30:12 GMT -5
"Cloud?"
The newsie looked up in surprise, not expecting to hear his name called. He, however, smiled when he saw who called him. "Hi, Critter," he greeted with a bashful smile. He hoped she hadn't been trying to get his attention several times. He was known to not hear people call his name when in deep thought.
"What're ya doin' in Staten?"
He shrugged lightly, tugging his old coat close. "Came over wit' Spot. He wanted to visit his brothers." He cocked his head slightly. "What're you doin' in Staten?"
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Post by Critter on Jan 5, 2017 19:34:15 GMT -5
"Hi, Critter,"
Critter grinned slightly, a bit relieved that she hadn't been speaking to some random person who just looked like the familiar newsie. "Hi."
"Came over wit' Spot. He wanted to visit his brothers."
Of course, it was a bit strange to have Spot in Staten, as well, but she knew that Thunder and Jasper were there, so she didn't bother commenting much on it.
"What're you doin' in Staten?"
The pinkness of Critter's face quickly darkened, "Well, I was just searchin' for somethin' interesting ta do, I s'pose," She smiled, "But I guess I found you then, so that's alright now."
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Post by Cloud on Jan 5, 2017 19:41:24 GMT -5
"Hi."
Cloud was relieved. It seemed as though she had only called him once. He hated how easily it was for him to get distracted and not notice his surroundings at times. The boys back home often teased him and made fun of him for that. Asked how in the world he became Spot's best bird. But it was better not to think about those sorts of things.
"Well, I was just searchin' for somethin' interesting ta do, I s'pose."
He nodded some. "It quiet in Jersey?" he asked curiously. He didn't frequent the Jersey boroughs often, but he knew they were fairly calm places.
"But I guess I found you then, so that's alright now."
His cheeks turned a bit pink, but it could have been from the cold. "Yeah," he gave her a small smile. "You plan on stayin' over here? I'm probably not gonna go back ta Brooklyn until tomorrow."
Spot would understand and probably didn't really expect Cloud to make the return trip.
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Post by Critter on Jan 5, 2017 19:46:40 GMT -5
"It quiet in Jersey?"
Critter nodded, "Got done sellin' early, then went ta church but there was no one there, so I guess I just took a walk. It's real quiet down there, especially 'round now." She shrugged.
"You plan on stayin' over here? I'm probably not gonna go back ta Brooklyn until tomorrow."
She shrugged. She hadn't really thought about staying there, although she assumed that it wouldn't hurt. Her feet ached a bit from all of the wandering around that she had been doing that day, so it could be nice to relax for a bit. Plus, Spot probably wouldn't be spending the night in Staten, since he was a leader, so she could keep Cloud company until they actually had to head in for the night. Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
"I s'pose. I didn't think much of it, but I'll stay if ya want me to."
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Post by Cloud on Jan 5, 2017 19:49:48 GMT -5
"Got done sellin' early, then went ta church but there was no one there, so I guess I just took a walk. It's real quiet down there, especially 'round now."
He nodded before sneezing onto his sleeve. "Mhmm," he agreed. "Most boroughs are pretty quiet."
Cloud just wished Brooklyn and Queens would be the same, or at least wait until spring before they decided to be reckless or whatnot.
"I s'pose. I didn't think much of it, but I'll stay if ya want me to."
His eyes brightened. "I'd like that." After all, he didn't have any newsies he really knew well in Staten. It would be nice to hang out with Critter since he knew her fairly well. She was a good friend. She didn't seem to judge him for his daydreaming or weaknesses or anything like that.
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Post by Critter on Jan 5, 2017 19:53:35 GMT -5
"Most boroughs are pretty quiet."
Critter nodded. She found it to be a bit boring at times, although she assumed that it was better than gangs roaming the streets and soaking people for no reason.
"I'd like that."
She was a bit relieved that he had agreed. She would have felt like a fool if he had said no when she had already begun to tell herself that she wouldn't have to do very much more walking that day.
"Great. So I s'pose I won't be alone then. That's nice," Critter laughed.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 5, 2017 20:01:12 GMT -5
"Great. So I s'pose I won't be alone then. That's nice,"
Cloud smiled and nodded. "Yeah, nice." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Not much fun bein' alone."
He felt a little awkward as a short silence fell between them. "You... doin' well?" he asked shyly. "It's been awhile since I last saw you."
It wasn't like he went to Jersey very often. He was in Brooklyn the most since that was where he was from, but he did frequent Manhattan, Bronx, Harlem,the Battery, and Staten quite a bit. He didn't visit Jersey very often since Jersey was rarely involved with the conflicts in the New York boroughs.
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Post by Critter on Jan 5, 2017 20:05:07 GMT -5
"Yeah, nice. Not much fun bein' alone."
Critter bit her lip, faintly smiling as she looked at the ground, breaking her eyes away from the bright blue eyes of the bird in front of her. "None at all."
"You... doin' well? It's been awhile since I last saw you."
She laughed breathily at his words, nodding a bit. "Yes, I've been fine. Sellin's been goin' well, I s'pose. As well as it can go when there's hardly anyone out for the evenin' edition and such."
She didn't often times visit Brooklyn, even though it was one of her favorite places to go. She just found it to be rather loud and busy, and some of the newsies could be rather mean there.
"What about you? Things been goin' well workin' for Spot?"
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Post by Cloud on Jan 5, 2017 20:12:45 GMT -5
"None at all."
Cloud had a small smile on his face at her agreement. He certainly knew what it felt like to be alone... He didn't like it, but it could be so hard making friends sometimes.
"Yes, I've been fine. Sellin's been goin' well, I s'pose. As well as it can go when there's hardly anyone out for the evenin' edition and such."
He nodded, glad that things were going well for his friend. "Evening's are always hard," he agreed. "Don't like sellin' then unless I," he paused to sneeze. "Unless I hab ta."
"What about you?"
He gave her a sheepish grin as he dug around in his pockets for an old hanky he just knew he had placed there. "I fink I got a colb." He was relieved to find he was right and this time, sneezed into the hanky.
"Things been goin' well workin' for Spot?"
Cloud's eyes clouded up a bit as he placed his hanky back into his pocket. "I don't know... It don't look good right now. Somethin' is up. That's why Spot is 'ere. Wanted ta talk ta Thunder 'bout stuff."
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Post by Critter on Jan 5, 2017 20:18:02 GMT -5
"Evening's are always hard. Don't like sellin' then unless I... Unless I hab ta."
Critter frowned. Cloud wasn't looking too good, with his nose being quite red compared to the rest of his pale skin. "Should we get you inside? You aren't lookin' too good."
"I fink I got a colb."
She couldn't help but giggle, although she did feel bad for the boy. "Yes, I think that I agree."
"I don't know... It don't look good right now. Somethin' is up. That's why Spot is 'ere. Wanted ta talk ta Thunder 'bout stuff."
Critter's smile slowly faded. It sounded serious, and that was never a good thing, especially when it would entail Spot traveling all the way to Brooklyn to visit his brothers. That just made it even more serious. "Did someone get hurt or somethin'?"
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Post by Cloud on Jan 5, 2017 20:31:15 GMT -5
"Should we get you inside? You aren't lookin' too good."
Cloud gave her a slightly puzzled look and then glanced up at the sky. Oh wow... he had been wandering for much longer than he thought. It was getting quite dark. "Yeah... it is gettin' bit cold."
"Yes, I think that I agree."
He gave her another sheepish look. "Obvious, huh?" he laughed softly before sneezing again. He really should have kept a better track of the time. It was just so hard in the winter to check how long he had been outside.
"Did someone get hurt or somethin'?"
Cloud quickly shook his head. "No, no one's hurt. Least not yet."
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Post by Critter on Jan 5, 2017 22:28:27 GMT -5
"Yeah... it is gettin' bit cold."
Critter nodded. She was more than willing to get him out of the cold air if he was feeling under the weather, and it was beginning to get quite dark, too. She knew that Staten was relatively tame, although she didn't like being out much after dark.
"Obvious, huh?"
She nodded again, a small smile forming on her face. "Kinda."
"No, no one's hurt. Least not yet."
It was good news, although it only left Critter more confused. What could possibly have been so important that Spot had to come talk to his brothers, and bring along the best bird that he had? It didn't make sense. "If ya ain't with him, then why are ya here? I'm not complainin' or anythin', but it just seems odd."
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Post by Cloud on Jan 5, 2017 22:37:33 GMT -5
"Kinda."
Cloud smiled and sniffles some. "Spot ain't gonna like that."
"If ya ain't with him, then why are ya here? I'm not complainin' or anythin', but it just seems odd."
He gave her a sheepish look. "I was with 'im but left ta give him space with Thunder and Jasper... kinda just wandered off and got distracted."
It was what he was well-known for. He drifted off a lot. That was probably why Brooklynners tended to look down on him. How could such a distracted newsie be a great bird? But Cloud tried not to let their judgment bother him. He just did what he enjoyed and was good at.
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Post by Critter on Jan 6, 2017 14:06:30 GMT -5
"Spot ain't gonna like that."
Critter smiled weakly "It ain't your fault for gettin' sick. It's been real cold 'round here lately, it was bound ta happen at some point," She pointed out.
"I was with 'im but left ta give him space with Thunder and Jasper... kinda just wandered off and got distracted."
She nodded. She knew that Cloud was pretty easy to distract, considering it had gotten him his name. She found it endearing, however, because it was a bit sweet to see a guy who would daydream through important situations, and then get all bashful trying to figure out what he had missed.
"Well, we may wanna go find Spot or somethin' so that he knows that you're alright." Critter suggested.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 6, 2017 14:29:50 GMT -5
"It ain't your fault for gettin' sick. It's been real cold 'round here lately, it was bound ta happen at some point."
Cloud nodded, holding back another sneeze. "Yeah... but I should be more careful." He couldn't hold back the sneeze any longer. "'choo!"
"Well, we may wanna go find Spot or somethin' so that he knows that you're alright."
He nodded once more as he pulled out his hanky. "Yeah, don't want to make him more worried than he already is." He sighed as he used his hanky. "It's not gonna get much better I don't think," he thought aloud.
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Post by Critter on Jan 15, 2017 16:41:19 GMT -5
"Yeah... but I should be more careful."
Critter sighed. She wasn't going to argue, although she wished that she would. Newsies got sick. It was just part of the job. At least Cloud would get over the cold sometime soon; some newsies would catch things and never get better.
"Yeah, don't want to make him more worried than he already is."
She nodded. That was fair enough, and she figured that they would be able to find him working together.
"It's not gonna get much better I don't think,"
Critter frowned, "What do ya mean? Why wouldn't it get better?"
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Post by Cloud on Jan 15, 2017 19:02:02 GMT -5
"What do ya mean?"
Cloud shivered some. "Well... it's got ta be bad wit' Spot goin' ta talk ta Thunder about things..."
He wouldn't mind telling Critter everything about the exact reason why Spot was seeing his brother, but he knew he couldn't. As a bird, he couldn't give that sort of information.
"Why wouldn't it get better?"
He bit his lip. "Rip is on the move again..."
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Post by Critter on Jan 15, 2017 19:37:41 GMT -5
"Well... it's got ta be bad wit' Spot goin' ta talk ta Thunder about things..."
Critter swallowed, nodding slowly. She wouldn't know for sure, but it certainly seemed to be serious.
"Rip is on the move again..."
Whatever was left of the smile that had been on Critter's face was gone in an instant. She frowned, a concerned expression settling on her features as she furrowed her brows. "That's... Not good."
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Post by Cloud on Jan 15, 2017 19:55:58 GMT -5
"That's... Not good."
Cloud nodded again. Most newsies had at least heard of Rip. They knew how dangerous he was and that he had something against Spot. It was partially why so many newsies were afraid to go into Brooklyn.
"Jus' hope Thunder can helb Spot," he sniffled. "Don't want Spot bettin' hurt abain. Last time waf so bad."
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Post by Critter on Jan 15, 2017 20:07:30 GMT -5
"Jus' hope Thunder can helb Spot."
Critter nodded. It would be bad for everyone if something happened to Spot. It would throw off the system quite a bit, with Brooklyn being one of the strongest boroughs that needed a strong leader, and she didn't think that Spot had picked out any replacements yet in case something serious happened to him. They couldn't afford for him to get hurt.
"Don't want Spot bettin' hurt abain. Last time waf so bad."
She frowned, "We should get ya inside. Ya aren't soundin' too good..." She insisted.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 15, 2017 20:13:30 GMT -5
"We should get ya inside. Ya aren't soundin' too good..."
He rubbed his nose sheepishly. "Yeah... gettin' bit colb."
Cloud rubbed his arms in an attempt to warm himself. "Wanna drink somethin' hot at the lodge?"
It would be nice to be inside drinking some tea or hot cocoa with Critter. They always had the nicest chats when they met. He felt bad that they had to stop at the moment because he was getting sick. He enjoyed spending time with good friends from other boroughs. After all, they were really the only friends he had.
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Post by Critter on Jan 15, 2017 20:17:28 GMT -5
"Yeah... gettin' bit colb."
Critter nearly laughed, although she restricted it to a faint smile, "I can tell."
"Wanna drink somethin' hot at the lodge?"
She blushed, although almost instantly pushed the pink tint to her cheeks away. She nodded slowly, slipping off her coat and placing it around Cloud's shoulders. She could manage until the lodging house without a problem, but Cloud needed all of the warmth that he could get. "Sure. I can get it for us. You need ta sit down for a while." She mumbled, beginning to lead him back towards the main part of the borough.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 15, 2017 20:28:18 GMT -5
"I can tell."
Cloud gave her a small smile as he quickened his pace some. "Best hurry ben, huh?"
"Sure. I can get it for us. You need ta sit down for a while."
His cheeks turned pink as Critter placed her coat on his shoulders. He really needed to buy a new jacket. This was the second time someone offered him their jacket and he felt a little guilty but very grateful. "Thanb you..." He pulled the coat around himself tightly as he gave her another smile. He was glad she was going to stay a little longer. Besides, snow was starting to fall a little more heavily. It wouldn't be a good idea for her to go out by herself to the girls' lodge. It would be all right for her to stay a little while. Mr. Thorne wouldn't mind and could make room for her just in case it got worse and kept her at the lodge.
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