|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jun 30, 2016 21:03:06 GMT -5
Spot always loved coming to the docks after selling. There was just something about the docks. It was a home away from home. It was the throne room to his Brooklyn kingdom. And well, things were going good. Spot deserved a relaxing evening at his dock. His boys hadn't gotten into any trouble. The girl newsies hadn't sent in any complaints. All was well which could be a bit worrisome, but Spot wasn't about to let that get in the way of his evening. He needed to just relax and enjoy the moment. Smooth sailing didn't come often to Brooklyn after all.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 18:10:39 GMT -5
It was just another typical day, when it came down to it. Lacey wasn't entirely bored, although she definitely could have used something to do. Not all of the newsies had come back from selling yet, although the sun was beginning to come close to setting, and so she figured that the bigger crowd would be coming in moderately soon. The one person who was there that she knew was Spot, and while a lot of the newsies were scared of him, she had found after a while that there was really no reason to. She understood why some of them were, considering he was a good fighter and perfectly willing to soak whoever deserved it, but he wasn't a straight up jerk or anything. "Good day, I take it?" The female moved slowly towards Spot, an eyebrow raised inquisitively.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 18:24:59 GMT -5
"Good day, I take it?"
Spot glanced over his shoulder. He quirked an eyebrow back at Lacey. She was one of the few girls who wasn't afraid of him and was not fawning over him. He especially disliked those girls. Couldn't they see he didn't have time for girls and most definitely did not want a girlfriend?
He gave her a slight nod before looking back at the water. "Yeah, real good day." He paused not sure if he really felt like continuing the conversation. Might as well, he thought. It wouldn't hurt and would be the gentlemanly thing to do. After all, his mother had taught him to act like a gentleman around all ladies regardless if he like them or not. "You had a good day?"
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 18:34:50 GMT -5
"You had a good day?"
Spot's voice caused the corners of Lacey's lips to quirk upwards ever so slightly, shrugging a bit. She made sure to keep her distance from him, not wanting to put him in a bad mood, but she was still close enough to comfortably talk to him.
"As good as it can be full of walking around all day selling papers." She shrugged. Since the end of the strike, things had been a lot better... Although the headlines were still only so-so. "Do you always come out here when you finish? I'm not sure I've seen you here before." Then again, she wasn't out there every day, either.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 18:49:50 GMT -5
"As good as it can be full of walking around all day selling papers."
Spot shrugged. He couldn't argue with that. Selling wasn't always fun and games. It was hard work, especially if there weren't any good headlines.
"Do you always come out here when you finish? I'm not sure I've seen you here before."
He felt his eyebrow twitch slightly. Not that he didn't trust Lacey, but he wasn't exactly fond of the idea that she or any other newsie for that matter keeping tabs on what he did or where he went. It was just a bit unnerving with the problems he had in the past.
"Depends," he answered a bit more curtly than he had intended. "Docks are my territory."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 18:54:33 GMT -5
"Docks are my territory."
The girl didn't flinch at Spot's tone, figuring that she should have been expecting something around those lines to begin with. Spot didn't want to be tied down or watched by anyone. It made perfect sense. She didn't either... Although she didn't think about that a lot. She hated being hypocritical, seeing as how she was typically the one keeping an eye out for anything bad that was about to happen, such as fights between the newsies over stupid things, or someone speaking badly about the Brooklyn leader behind his back.
"I believe that." She nodded briefly, brushing some of her long auburn hair over her shoulder and out of her face. "If you want me to leave you alone, then say somethin'. I don't mean to make you upset, it's just lonely without someone to talk to sometimes. I'm not thinking I'm the only one with that opinion, Spot." She pointed out, her voice just as calm and quiet as ever, although there was still quite a bit of confidence behind her words.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 19:02:12 GMT -5
"I believe that."
Spot gave her a slight nod, glad to know she knew that the docks were his. He tried not to be too possessive as a leader, but the docks were his special place. Always was and always would be.
"If you want me to leave you alone, then say somethin'. I don't mean to make you upset, it's just lonely without someone to talk to sometimes. I'm not thinking I'm the only one with that opinion, Spot."
He squinted at her. "Not upset," he finally answered after studying her a moment. "Didn't say I was..." He shrugged and fingered his cane that was hanging off his belt. "If you want ta stay I'm fine with that. If you want ta leave, then feel free." He stared at his cane for a moment. "You may not be the only one wit' that opinion, but that don't mean I share it."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 19:10:08 GMT -5
"If you want ta stay I'm fine with that. If you want ta leave, then feel free."
The girl once again raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised that she had been given the choice at all. She slowly moved a bit closer, leaning gently against one of the pieces of wood that stuck through the docks.
"You may not be the only one wit' that opinion, but that don't mean I share it."
"Did I ever say that you had to share it? I ain't gonna tell you what to think." She sighed softly. "I really do want to get to know you as a person, Spot. The only problem with it is that you don't seem to be open to the whole idea of 'friendship' or 'talking.'"
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 19:17:04 GMT -5
Spot didn't actually see her move closer, but he definitely sensed it. Though, it didn't bother him. He was in a decent mood, after all. And well, he had given her the choice to stay or leave. She just happened to choose stay, and he was perfectly fine with it.
"Did I ever say that you had to share it? I ain't gonna tell you what to think."
He shrugged, not looking at her. "Just tellin' you what I think. You don't have to keep my two cents worth if you don't want ta."
"I really do want to get to know you as a person, Spot."
He snorted softly and resisted the urge to leave. He really did need to work on not leaving all of the sudden. Thunder had mentioned that he had a bad habit of running away from talking about things. But you couldn't blame him, could you? He just wasn't a people person. Just look what happened in the past with his cousin. Spot wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.
"The only problem with it is that you don't seem to be open to the whole idea of 'friendship' or 'talking.'"
Spot couldn't help but retort back, "Well, I don't see the problem with it. I got things ta do, a borough ta run."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 19:22:33 GMT -5
"Just tellin' you what I think. You don't have to keep my two cents worth if you don't want ta."
Lacey had to resist the urge to laugh at his words, shaking her head. "No, I think that listening to you is probably a good idea."
"Well, I don't see the problem with it. I got things ta do, a borough ta run."
Lacey sighed, "You can do things with friends, Spot. You have a few friends here and there now, but what about all of the people that are too scared to talk to ya? What about all of the younger kids that join 'n' look up to you, but are too scared to ask ya for advice? What about the fact that you could use some help around here with runnin' things. It's not that you're not doin' well now, but still. Help is never a bad thing."
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 19:32:42 GMT -5
"No, I think that listening to you is probably a good idea."
A slight smirk tugged at his lips. "Heh... you jus' sayin' that 'cause I run Brooklyn?"
"You can do things with friends, Spot."
"I do things wit' friends!" he said a bit indignantly. "I've got Jackie-boy..."
"You have a few friends here and there now, but what about all of the people that are too scared to talk to ya?"
He snorted. "Ain't that a good thing? I don't exactly need all the newsies comin' up ta me just ta talk."
"What about all of the younger kids that join 'n' look up to you, but are too scared to ask ya for advice?"
Spot winced slightly at that. He was almost tempted to mention that his little brother Jasper wasn't afraid, but there was no need to bring in the adorable pipsqueak in this conversation. He did his best to keep family and newsie stuff separate.
"They don't need ta come ta me for advice..." he mumbled. After all, he wasn't exactly the best role model for the younger boys. Besides, he always thought his older brother Thunder was better at giving advice.
"What about the fact that you could use some help around here with runnin' things. It's not that you're not doin' well now, but still. Help is never a bad thing."
Spot narrowed his eyes slightly at her, suddenly getting serious. Her words were making him nervous, but not about his personal life. No, he was worried about Brooklyn. Had his birds messed up? Gotten Queens irritated? He really could not risk clashing with Queens right now. He still needed to do so much more before he faced Rip, especially since he hadn't really grown an inch since they last met. "Not that I'm saying that I don't need 'help,' but it sounds like you are sayin' that my boids ain't doin' their job. I do have a few of my boys keeping an eye out on runnin' things here in Brooklyn."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 19:39:32 GMT -5
"Heh... you jus' sayin' that 'cause I run Brooklyn?"
Lacey shrugged slightly. "I s'pose ya could say that."
"I do things wit' friends! I've got Jackie-boy..."
Lacey rolled her eyes, "He's in Manhattan. I don't think it's woith pointin' out that he ain't here much."
"Ain't that a good thing? I don't exactly need all the newsies comin' up ta me just ta talk."
"No, that ain't a good thing! Yeah, maybe no conversations or anythin', but still!" She exclaimed, running her fingers through her hair, suddenly being glared at by the Brooklyn leader. She just gazed right back at him, her hazel eyes never breaking contact with his.
"Not that I'm saying that I don't need 'help,' but it sounds like you are sayin' that my boids ain't doin' their job. I do have a few of my boys keeping an eye out on runnin' things here in Brooklyn."
"Yeah. I know. I heard." She rolled her eyes slightly, "I keep an eye out on everythin', too. That's the only thing here I'm really good at. I know more about what's happenin' 'round her than most of them do." She insisted, unwilling to back down from the leader, her eyes narrowed stubbornly. "But fine. It ain't that important anyway."
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 19:52:21 GMT -5
"I s'pose ya could say that."
Spot nodded some. After all, he expected that response. Most people feared and respected him... so it really was expected for people to say things like that just because he was leader. He didn't dislike the fact, but he wasn't overly fond of that. Make that another thing to work on...
"He's in Manhattan. I don't think it's woith pointin' out that he ain't here much."
"He's still a friend regardless," he muttered. "And that's because I go over ta 'Hattan."
"No, that ain't a good thing! Yeah, maybe no conversations or anythin', but still!"
Spot found himself rolling his eyes. It wasn't like he hadn't heard this one before... He noticed her returning his glare. Well, two could play that game, he thought as he scowled.
"Yeah. I know. I heard. I keep an eye out on everythin', too. That's the only thing here I'm really good at. I know more about what's happenin' 'round her than most of them do."
He pursed his lips some. So she was just saying she was keeping an eye out, not that anything that happened. Nothing was getting out of hand, yet. He could relax a little.
"But fine. It ain't that important anyway."
He narrowed his eyes at her again as she stubbornly glared at him. "You say that you know what's happenin' more than my boids... what do you say ta showin' me what you got?"
He never really thought about girls acting as birds, but he supposed it could be useful. But she better not be counting on becoming a bird. He didn't allow just anyone to be a bird, and he wasn't about to cut anyone slack even if they were a girl. But then again, he'd really rather not have the responsibility of a girl getting hurt on his watch.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 19:59:54 GMT -5
"He's still a friend regardless, and that's because I go over ta 'Hattan."
Lacey sighed, "Whatever you say."
"You say that you know what's happenin' more than my boids... what do you say ta showin' me what you got?"
"Tell me what you want to know and I'll tell you. If you just want to know everything that I know, then the first thing's that Lucky got 'imself a girlfriend on the job, and he spends more with 'er than 'e does really lookin' out for things in Brooklyn." She began. "Next thing after that is that there's been talkin' in the streets about Queens. They say Rip is tryin' ta find a new plan to hurt ya." She replied, never breaking gaze with the boy as she spoke, not one lying bone in her body, her tone dead serious.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 20:07:16 GMT -5
"Whatever you say."
Spot found himself rolling his eyes once again.
"Tell me what you want to know and I'll tell you. If you just want to know everything that I know, then the first thing's that Lucky got 'imself a girlfriend on the job, and he spends more with 'er than 'e does really lookin' out for things in Brooklyn."
He raised an eyebrow as she began and was soon scowling. How many times did he have to tell Lucky to stop getting girlfriends on the job? It was like the guy was asking for a soaking. That was probably another reason why Spot refused to have a girl of his own. Last thing he wanted was turning into some lovey dovey, mushy gushy guy like Lucky.
"Next thing after that is that there's been talkin' in the streets about Queens. They say Rip is tryin' ta find a new plan to hurt ya."
Spot stiffened at the mention of Rip. He always knew that Rip was out to get him, especially after that whole turn Darcy against him episode. But, he didn't exactly know why Rip hated his guts so much. The leader before him, Dragon, had said it had to do with Brooklyn/Queens rivalry. So Spot was always on guard making sure Brooklyn avoided Queens at all cost. It was bad news that Rip was on the move again. Hew knew it Rip would return... he just had hoped it would be a bit longer before they had a confrontation.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Where did ya hear all dis?"
It wasn't that he didn't trust Lacey. She was actually one of the few girls he actually talked to. He just wanted to make sure that he sources were reliable.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 20:16:02 GMT -5
"Where did ya hear all dis?"
That was the moment when it became clear to Lacey that she was getting through to him. Shoving away any signs of relief on her facial features, she cleared her throat a bit. "From one of your 'boids.' I thought that he had told ya, I guess not. His name's Cricket, I think." She shrugged. "I'd know 'im if I saw 'im. I don't keep track of names, but I remember faces. He was swimmin' here a few days ago after woikin', and he was talkin' ta Lucky about it." She nodded briefly. The thought of someone trying to hurt Spot was a bit nerve-wracking, yes, but she knew that if anyone was prepared to deal with it, it was Spot. He was tough, despite the fact that he might not have looked like it.
"Is there anythin' else you wanna know?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. She could think of something that she had overheard if so, but nothing else quite as serious was just popping into her mind.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 20:26:09 GMT -5
"From one of your 'boids.' I thought that he had told ya, I guess not. His name's Cricket, I think."
Spot raised an eyebrow. Cricket was one of his top birds, so she had a good source. But he couldn't help but frown a bit. Why hadn't he told him? He wasn't one to jump to conclusions, but it still bothered him that Cricket hadn't told him...
"I'd know 'im if I saw 'im. I don't keep track of names, but I remember faces. He was swimmin' here a few days ago after woikin', and he was talkin' ta Lucky about it."
His lips formed a thin line. It looked like he would have two birds to soak or give a good talking to. He hated having to discipline his boys, but it had to be done and someone had to do it.
"Is there anythin' else you wanna know?"
He shook his head. "No... not at the moment." He absentmindedly fingered his slingshot. "I probably should be checkin' on my boids. It's gettin' late." He pursed his lips and glanced over at Lacey. "Uh... do you um need me ta walk you home?"
If a girl was by herself and it was getting late, he would always offer to walk them back to the lodge. He just hated it when the boys got other ideas when they saw him doing it. He was just being polite and protecting the girl newsies in his territory.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 20:30:41 GMT -5
"No... not at the moment. I probably should be checkin' on my boids. It's gettin' late."
Lacey sighed softly, feeling a bit bad for Spot as he sat there, slightly more fidgety than normal. She did feel bad about having to tell him all of this when he clearly hadn't been expecting it, although she figured that it would be better if Rip were to try something for her to have said something rather than leaving Spot completely unprepared.
"Uh... do you um need me ta walk you home?"
Lacey shrugged slightly, swallowing thickly at the thought of what could happen if she was to say no. Slowly, she sighed, nodding. "Yeah... Sure, that'd be nice. Thanks." She shot the boy a small smile - the first one of that day - and slowly began walking. "I'm sorry. It's gotta be a lot ta take in all at once." She spoke quietly now, her voice going back to the soft tone that it normally possessed.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 20:37:37 GMT -5
"Yeah... Sure, that'd be nice. Thanks." Spot nodded and stood up. He was still feeling a bit anxious with all this news. He had birds to straighten out and Rip to worry about. So much for smooth sailing! "I'm sorry. It's gotta be a lot ta take in all at once." He looked at her in surprise. He hadn't been expecting her change of tone. He quickly hid his surprise with his poker face and shrugged. "Yeah... but not like somethin' like this hasn't happened before." ((Okay. Take your time. No rush! I'll be here. ))
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 20:44:57 GMT -5
[Dinner actually went a lot faster than I thought so I'm here!]
"Yeah... but not like somethin' like this hasn't happened before."
Lacey couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like to know that someone was after you in such a horrible way. She didn't know much about Rip, but from the stories that she had heard about him, he didn't sound pleasant at all. For all she knew, he could want to chop Spot up into little tiny pieces, and that would be uncomfortable for everyone. Brooklyn needed Spot. They just did.
"That doesn't make it any better." She glanced over at him, brushing her hair back from her eyes. "There's still someone out there who wants to hurt the only leader we've got. That ain't gonna settle well with anyone, especially not with me. I know I may not seem like someone who could help... But that could be exactly what you needed to woik things out with Rip. Or at least get in there and see what he was plannin'." She replied. "I wanna help. I do."
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 20:58:01 GMT -5
"That doesn't make it any better."
Spot shrugged. "No... but at least if you been through it once, you know what ta do the second time round."
"There's still someone out there who wants to hurt the only leader we've got. That ain't gonna settle well with anyone, especially not with me. I know I may not seem like someone who could help... But that could be exactly what you needed to woik things out with Rip. Or at least get in there and see what he was plannin'."
He stopped walking to get a good look at Lacey. He really didn't her as well as he thought she did. She was actually rather admirable. It was... nice hearing something like that personally. To be honest, there had been many a time when he wondered if Brooklyn would be better off with someone else as leader. It was really reassuring to hear that at least someone (outside of family) thought he was the perfect leader of Brooklyn. He did change quite a few things for the better once Dragon finally dragged his sorry behind to retirement.
Though, he didn't really think things would "work out" with Rip. He wasn't the type to be reasoned with... and well, that guy was a giant compared to Spot! He didn't stand a chance.
"I wanna help. I do."
Spot pursed his lips and stared hard at her for a moment before continuing to walk towards her lodge. "Well... I suppose you could start helpin' by runnin' a few errands."
He wasn't about to let her be a full-fledged bird quite yet. He knew she had good resources, now it was time to find out if she was actually bird material.
((Yay!))
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 21:04:11 GMT -5
"No... but at least if you been through it once, you know what ta do the second time round."
Lacey didn't know why, but hearing his words caused a small smile to form on her lips, brightening up her features a bit as Spot suddenly began looking at her. She was a bit self-conscious about it, but she remained still, watching him as he surveyed her. "Enjoyin' the view?" She mumbled.
"Well... I suppose you could start helpin' by runnin' a few errands."
Lacey's bright hazel eyes lit up. This was her chance. She was finally going to get the chance to prove herself that she had been waiting for, and she was perfectly prepared for anything that he had to offer her. However, she did her best to remain cool, not wanting to seem too eager to get on the job. "And what errands would those be?" She crossed her arms over her chest.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 21:15:16 GMT -5
"Enjoyin' the view?"
Spot had to stop and do a double-take. "The what?"
He certainly wasn't expecting her to say that! And well, he probably should have been more composed. Must be from becoming too soft and distracted. This was probably one of the reasons he didn't have many close friends and also one of the reasons why he never hung out with the girls. It wasn't like he actually had experience around girls contrary to popular belief. The only girl he ever hung around was his cousin Darcy, and she didn't exactly qualify as a young lady.
"And what errands would those be?"
He glanced at her. Good, she wasn't being overly eager. That was a good sign. If candidates were too eager, it usually meant they just wanted something from the job. They weren't interested in actually helping the borough out.
"Mostly runnin' things between me and some of the boys," he answered as he continued walking. "You might be asked ta do a few favors in 'Hattan for me and Kelly. If you're going to be one of my boids, you're gonna need ta get ta know some of the leaders of the other boroughs."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 2, 2016 21:21:24 GMT -5
"The what?"
Lacey laughed a bit at his reaction, rolling her eyes. "I'm kiddin'. You were just starin' at me, it's a self-defense thing. If I don't say somethin', most guys just go right in for somethin'." She sighed. "It's nothin' to do with you."
"Mostly runnin' things between me and some of the boys. You might be asked ta do a few favors in 'Hattan for me and Kelly. If you're going to be one of my boids, you're gonna need ta get ta know some of the leaders of the other boroughs."
Lacey nodded, shrugging slightly. It sounded simple enough. She knew that there was obviously going to be more to it than just that, but for now, she was content in thinking that nothing was gonna be too hard. She had seen Jack around once or twice, although she had never spoken to him before. She wasn't the type to talk to people a whole lot. She wasn't shy, she just wasn't social, either. She liked thinking of herself as slightly more mysterious than creepy and lonely, though. "Is there anythin' that you're gonna need sometime soon?" She asked, continuing to walk with him without questioning things.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 2, 2016 21:34:01 GMT -5
"I'm kiddin'. You were just starin' at me, it's a self-defense thing. If I don't say somethin', most guys just go right in for somethin'."
Spot felt his face turn red as he stuttered, "I wasn't st-staring!"
"It's nothin' to do with you."
He stuffed his hands in his pockets, unsure if he should be insulted or not. He really didn't get girls.
"Is there anythin' that you're gonna need sometime soon?"
Back to business, he liked that. All that personal weird talk was making him uncomfortable.
"Well, it would be a good idea ta head over to 'Hattan ta check up on things there." Spot was glad there was one borough he could always count on. Jack Kelly was the few leaders who saw eye to eye with him. "Ask Kelly if he's heard anything about Queens."
Jack might not really know about Rip, but the guy knew enough about the Queens newsies to know if anything was up. He might be able to sneak in a few birds of his own into Queens. Spot would send in his own, but that was too dangerous. Brooklyners were not allowed in Queens, period. The Queens newsies would almost literally kill any Brooklyn newsie that set foot in their territory. Spot didn't want to lose any of his boys to them. He wasn't going to make any mistakes this time round.
He almost opened his mouth to ask her to check up on something else, but he quickly caught himself. He couldn't ask her to do that. He wouldn't even ask his birds to do it. He had to remind himself to keep family and newsie business separate.
|
|