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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 26, 2017 21:08:45 GMT -5
"It's tough. But if ya work hard, I'm sure that you'll make a great boid someday. You'll make your brothers real proud takin' care of the borough."
Jasper puffed out his chest proudly. “I’m gonna work really hard so I can go back to Brooklyn and be a boid for Spot!”
Thunder and Spot seemed rather uncomfortable with that comment, avoiding eye contact with their younger brother and giving him small, tight smiles.
"Yeah, he's real good. He's a real good teacher, too, if you're capable."
Jasper grinned. “He taught me how ta play poker!”
Thunder nearly jumped in surprise. “You what?!”
Spot moved away from his brother. “It was a simple version!” He moved next to Lacey. “Nothin’ like the real game.”
"That's good. And a goil shouldn't ever hit a boy, either."
Jasper cocked his head. “Why? Don’t goils need ta hit boys when they are bein’ bad? That’s what Thunder said ta Darcy.”
Thunder just made a humming noise.
"He didn't like me that much. That took a good while longer. Truthfully, I have no clue when things changed for him... I guess I'm just glad they did."
Jasper nodded some. He supposed it would take time for Spot to really really like someone.
Thunder cleared his throat. “Um, well dinner is ready... if you guys want ta eat now that is.”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 26, 2017 21:17:44 GMT -5
“I’m gonna work really hard so I can go back to Brooklyn and be a boid for Spot!”
Lacey bit her lip. She figured that it was something that Thunder and Spot would be better at addressing, however, and it would be more appropriate coming from them, so she kept her mouth shut.
“He taught me how ta play poker!”
“You what?!”
“It was a simple version! Nothin’ like the real game.”
Having Spot beside her once more allowed Lacey to relax a lot more, her smile growing a bit less forced as she bit her lip.
“Why? Don’t goils need ta hit boys when they are bein’ bad? That’s what Thunder said ta Darcy.”
Lacey sighed, "Listen ta Thunder first, a'course, but I think that there are better things ta do than hittin' someone."
“Um, well dinner is ready... if you guys want ta eat now that is.”
She grinned, "I'll eat if they're eatin'. Maybe." All of a sudden, she remembered that she was a bit of an odd one out in this scenario. Spot and Jasper were Thunder's brothers, and he surely would cook for them, but Lacey was more than willing to forego a meal just to make sure that they got enough to eat if there was only enough for them. Besides... She had taken one of the cookies that Mrs Harbour had bought for the party.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 26, 2017 21:34:19 GMT -5
"Listen ta Thunder first, a'course, but I think that there are better things ta do than hittin' someone."
Jasper pursed his lips and nodded. That made sense. He would just have to try to mix both of those instructions together.
"I'll eat if they're eatin'. Maybe."
Thunder smiled and nodded, motioning for them to head to the small kitchen area. He had already set up four places for everyone. Spot raised an eyebrow at his brother but the elder said nothing so Spot just pulled up the chair for Lacey.
“Not much, but it is Christmas so I did my best,” Thunder said, sitting down last.
Dinner was just some roast beef and potatoes. Typical meal for the Conlon at Christmas. But Thunder did have something special up his sleeve for a little later.
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Post by Lacey on Dec 26, 2017 21:55:00 GMT -5
“Not much, but it is Christmas so I did my best.”
Lacey was impressed. The dinner looked good - something that she hadn't had in a really long time. The newsies never really got that sort of food, at least not from Mrs Harbour, and so seeing it nearly made Lacey's mouth water.
Taking the seat that Spot had pulled out for her, she flashed him a quick grateful smile before speaking up once more. "It looks wonderful. Thank you."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 26, 2017 22:10:47 GMT -5
”It looks wonderful. Thank you.”
Thunder looked a bit bashful at her praise. “Thank you... I hope it tastes good. Been awhile since I made dinner like this.”
Spot chuckled, digging into the meal. “That’s because I made dinner.”
Jasper began eating as well. “It’s great, Thunder. You should cook more.”
Thunder smiled. “Well, it’s a start, eh? I’ll do my best.”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 26, 2017 22:14:58 GMT -5
“Thank you... I hope it tastes good. Been awhile since I made dinner like this.”
“That’s because I made dinner.”
Lacey did her best to stifle her own giggles, instead masking it by digging into the food and forcing a serious expression.
“It’s great, Thunder. You should cook more.”
“Well, it’s a start, eh? I’ll do my best.”
Watching the Conlon's interacting was interesting, Lacey found. Spot seemed to hide many of his happier emotions when he was running his borough, but whenever he looked at his brothers, Lacey could see right away just how happy he was with them. It just had her feeling bad that Brooklyn had in a way taken them from him.
Pushing those thoughts away, Lacey continued to eat in silence.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 26, 2017 22:25:59 GMT -5
Dinner was quiet, but that wasn’t odd for the Conlons. They weren’t much talkers during mealtimes. Talking was not for the dinner table. Though Jasper still struggled with that. He was a bit of a talker. He just loved talking about his day and everything that had happened. He was still a kid after all. His brothers just smiled and nodded as they ate.
Thunder waited until they were almost done eating before he stood up. “I got somethin’ special prepared.” He looked a bit embarrassed yet proud as he pulled something out from the oven. “I um... found Mum’s old recipe.”
Spot’s eyes widened in surprise. ”Císte Nollag speisialta na máthar? (Mother’s special Christmas cake?)”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 26, 2017 22:31:29 GMT -5
The meal itself was one of the most pleasant ones that Lacey had ever had. She didn't often times sit down and eat real meals, and it was always a special treat when she did. Often times, it would be one of her brothers deciding to take her out and treat her, and they had never tended to talk much while they were eating, either. No time between bites.
"I got somethin' special prepared."
Lacey bit her lip. Something told her that this surprise was more for Spot and Jasper than it was for her.
"I um... found Mum's old recipe."
Watching Thunder as he pulled something from the oven, Lacey tilted her head for a moment, studying the cake in front of her. It was beautiful yet simple, and the expression on Spot's face told her right away that it was something incredibly special to him.
”Císte Nollag speisialta na máthar?"
Lacey's eyes widened when Spot spoke Gaelic, having never actually heard it before. She knew that he could, although hearing him speaking in a different language was enough to send a slight flush to her cheeks, regardless of the fact that she had no clue what she was saying. Needless to say, this was something that she was going to let the boys eat - she had eaten more than enough to be happy.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 26, 2017 22:42:09 GMT -5
Thunder looked sheepish as he nodded. “Yeah... I followed her recipe, but I dunno if it’ll taste the same.”
Spot cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed for letting his Gaelic slip. “I’m sure it’ll taste great.”
Jasper was eager to try the cake, hurrying to clean up his plate so he could have some. He had never been able to have their mom’s Christmas cake before so this was a real treat.
Thunder careful sliced the cake. The frosting was a little crumbly but you could tell that Thunder had done his very best to make it. He carefully gave each person a slice. Although, Jasper’s slice was a little on the small side, not like he really noticed.
Spot leaned over and whispered to Lacey. “It might have a bit of... kick to it.” He looked a tad bit pink. “Mum puts a bit of whiskey in the cake. But it’s real good. Might be more Irish taste I think.”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 26, 2017 22:46:58 GMT -5
“Yeah... I followed her recipe, but I dunno if it’ll taste the same.”
“I’m sure it’ll taste great.”
Lacey had to admit, she was impressed that Thunder had managed to bake the cake and make dinner for that night. She would have burned down the apartment trying to do such a thing, and the fact that nothing appeared to be burnt at all was an incredible feat if she had ever seen one.
“It might have a bit of... kick to it. Mum puts a bit of whiskey in the cake. But it’s real good. Might be more Irish taste I think.”
She blushed. She had never had whiskey before - especially not in its purest form - but she figured that putting it in a cake wouldn't be bad at all. "I'm sure it'll be good," She whispered back, "Besides, I've come to realize that I like things that are Irish."
Despite the faint blush on her cheeks, Lacey slowly took a bite of the cake in front of her, blinking a few times as she processed the taste of it. It was wonderful - even things that had seemed to have gone wrong didn't change that - although she could see what Spot had meant by a 'kick'. "Wow." She exhaled.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 26, 2017 22:58:52 GMT -5
”I’m sure it’ll be good.”
Spot nodded quickly, glad she seemed okay with it. “It’s really good... one of my favorite parts about Christmas,” he admitted quietly.
”Besides I’ve come to realize that I like things that are Irish.”
He turned pink as he started poking at his cake. He wasn’t sure if she was referring to him when she mentioned liking Irish things, but the thought was nice all the same.
Thunder felt a bit uneasy as he ate the cake. He wasn’t sure how Spot would like it. Lacey worried him too. He may or may not have overdone it on a few ingredients.
”Wow.”
Spot hummed in agreement. The cake was amazing. Not quite like his mother’s, but still good after so many years gone without it. “It’s great.”
Thunder let out a relieved sigh before taking a bite himself. It seemed like he could possibly think of a career as a baker, not that he would really change professions now.
“Glad you all like it.”
Jasper hiccuped as he finished his slice. “It’s real good! Thanks, Thunder!”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 26, 2017 23:20:32 GMT -5
“It’s really good... one of my favorite parts about Christmas."
Lacey grinned, "I can see why... It's some strong stuff, though. No cakes in the bakeries of Brooklyn are quite like this one."
Taking note of the faint blush on Spot's cheeks, Lacey made sure that she would say things more along those lines in the future. Anything to warrant a blush from Spot Conlon.
“It’s great.”
“Glad you all like it.”
“It’s real good! Thanks, Thunder!”
Everyone being so supportive of Thunder and the cake brought a smile to Lacey's face, continuing to take a few more bites of the cake. She was getting more used to the sort of taste that it had with each bite, and it was actually incredibly enjoyable once she had gotten more used to it. The cake itself was wonderful.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 26, 2017 23:26:05 GMT -5
”I can see why... It’s some strong stuff, though. No cakes in the bakeries of Brooklyn are quite like this one.”
Spot nodded in agreement. “It is strong... but good. None of the bakeries in New York can make this kind of cake. It’s one of a kind,” he added proudly.
Thunder was very pleased with how dinner and dessert had gone. Spot might actually be the better cook of the Conlon brothers, but he had proven that he could cook a decent meal and bake a cake. At last, he was feeling more like the eldest with this dinner under his belt. He grinned as he stood up. “Ready for presents, squirt?” He teased his younger brother.
“Presents!”
Spot smiled and helped Lacey up. He leaned over and whispered to Lacey, “Let them open presents. You and me can stay by the fire and just talk before bed.” He didn’t want to make things too awkward for her since he had already given her a gift.
((I have to go to bed. X3 Great talking with you as always! Hope to catch you on sometime tomorrow.))
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Post by Lacey on Dec 27, 2017 0:14:02 GMT -5
“It is strong... but good. None of the bakeries in New York can make this kind of cake. It’s one of a kind."
Lacey smiled. One of a kind seemed to be a part of the Conlon tradition.
“Ready for presents, squirt?”
“Presents!”
She couldn't help but smile at how excited Jasper got over the presents, watching his face light up at the mere mention of the word. She, however, figured that it was probably her cue to step back from the family for a while.
“Let them open presents. You and me can stay by the fire and just talk before bed.”
Standing up once help was offered to her, Lacey shrugged and nodded. "That sounds like a perfectly good way to end the night to me." Making her way to the fire, Lacey took a seat, allowing the fire to once more warm her up.
[Goodnight, sleep well!]
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 27, 2017 15:47:21 GMT -5
”That sounds like a perfectly good way to end the night to me.”
Spot smiled as he sat down next to Lacey. The fire was warm and just needed a little poking at to get it at full blaze. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Thunder and Jasper sort through the presents and open the ones labeled for them. It was a quiet Christmas... but for once, quiet wasn’t bad, even for the Conlon. Christmas didn’t have to be noisy to be Christmas. Just being together was enough.
He put his arm around Lacey, silently encouraging her to lean on him if she wanted to. “Merry Christmas...”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 27, 2017 16:26:08 GMT -5
The feeling of an arm draped around her shoulders earned a soft smile from Lacey, allowing herself to settle against him and rest her head gently against his shoulder. It was a much more comfortable position than she had always thought that it would be, especially with the fire behind them.
"Merry Christmas..."
Glancing up at Spot, Lacey grinned gently and removed her head from his shoulder for a moment. "Merry Christmas, Spot." She murmured, pressing a kiss to his cheek before laying her head back on his shoulder once more.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 27, 2017 16:35:30 GMT -5
”Merry Christmas, Spot.”
A small smile as well as a light pink flush crossed his face. “It’s... it’s been a good one.”
Thunder let out a low whistle, nudging his brother with his foot as he stood up. It seemed that time had passed a little faster than they had expected. Jasper was already dozing off. It was way past his bedtime.
“You two enjoy some time together,” the eldest Conlon teased. He picked up his brother. “There’s an empty room you can sleep in, Lacey. I’ll take the couch, and Spot, you can sleep in the room with Jasper.”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 27, 2017 16:39:49 GMT -5
“It’s... it’s been a good one.”
Lacey could feel her own cheeks burn slightly at Spot's words, biting back a smile. "I agree."
“You two enjoy some time together.”
She blushed a bit deeper now at Thunder's teasing, her gaze dropping to the ground as he continued.
“There’s an empty room you can sleep in, Lacey. I’ll take the couch, and Spot, you can sleep in the room with Jasper.”
Lacey nodded a bit, "Thanks for havin' me." She quickly thanked him again, although she was careful to keep her voice low so that she wouldn't stir Jasper from the place where he was, seemingly about to fall asleep.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 27, 2017 18:33:03 GMT -5
”I agree.”
”You two enjoy some time together.”
Spot pulled back a little from Lacey in surprise and embarrassment from his brother’s comment. He was quite sure his ears were and face were red. Thunder seemed a bit too cheeky about all this...
”Thank for havin’ me.”
Thunder just smiled and winked at her. “Pleasure was all ours. Hope you sleep well,” he replied softly. Jasper could be a light sleeper at times, but tonight, he was completely out of it.
Spot watched Thunder leaved, waiting for the eldest to be out of ear-shot before sighing and relaxing a little.
“Brothers...”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 27, 2017 18:48:23 GMT -5
Feeling Spot shift away from her allowed Lacey to slowly move back to sit up, surprised at how little the fire seemed to be warming her now that the arm wasn't placed around her shoulders. She didn't know how to feel about it.
“Pleasure was all ours. Hope you sleep well.”
Lacey grinned back at him and watched as he took Jasper to bed, taking a couple of moments before Spot spoke up once again.
“Brothers...”
"Ya love them," She nudged him, a teasing grin tugging at her lips, "And they love you. It's a sight ta see, all the Conlons sittin' tagether for dinner."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 28, 2017 22:32:39 GMT -5
”Ya love them, and they love you.”
Spot chuckled a bit, putting his arm back around Lacey. “Yeah... I do, but they can be a pain sometimes.”
”It’s a sight ta see, all the Conlon sittin’ tagether for dinner.”
He turned a little pink. “Heh heh... I suppose we are a sight.” But then he added softly in afterthought, “Not all the Conlon though...”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 28, 2017 22:59:49 GMT -5
“Yeah... I do, but they can be a pain sometimes.”
Lacey grinned, "I've got three brothers, Spot, I understand."
“Heh heh... I suppose we are a sight.”
She couldn't help but laugh. "That's one way ta put it." They all had extremely different personalities, she had realized. Spot was more brooding and standoffish for the most part, Jasper was a stereotypical wonderful little kid, and Thunder was the 'tall, dark, and handsome' type that everyone always talked about. Yet somehow, it was easy to tell that they were a family.
“Not all the Conlon though...”
Lacey bit her lip. She had nearly forgotten about Darcy until it was mentioned, and she suddenly felt a bit bad for bringing up a conversation that had led Spot into thinking about her. "I'm sure... I'm sure she's okay, Spot." She bit her lip and gently squeezed his free hand.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 29, 2017 22:14:41 GMT -5
”I’ve got three brothers, Spot, I understand.”
Spot looked at her surprised. He hadn’t known she had siblings much less brothers... He supposed this showed how much attention he gave to the girl newsies. It made him feel a little guilty how little he knew about Lacey and her family.
”That’s one way ta put it.”
He smirked slightly. “You should see us on St. Patrick’s Day.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Or at least Thunder. Jasper is still too little for the holiday.”
”I’m sure... I’m sure she’s okay, Spot.”
He sighed. “Yeah... just wish we knew where she was. If she’s even really here.”
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Post by Lacey on Dec 30, 2017 2:05:54 GMT -5
“You should see us on St. Patrick’s Day. Or at least Thunder. Jasper is still too little for the holiday.”
Lacey giggled softly, "Ah, I gotcha. I can imagine that it would be a sight ta see indeed."
“Yeah... just wish we knew where she was. If she’s even really here.”
She felt terrible that there was nothing that she could do to help Spot. She wanted more than anything to see him reunited with Darcy, but she didn't know truthfully if that was ever going to happen. At this point, it was all Darcy's choice, and Lacey wasn't going to be able to do anything to change her mind if she didn't want to see Spot again.
"For now, though... You have a whole borough that cares about you and wants the best for you. And you've got enough family to give you a good night and a good meal. It's not perfect, but if you can settle for it... It can be close enough." She nudged him gently.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Dec 30, 2017 22:39:03 GMT -5
”Ah, I gotcha. I can imagine that it would be a sight ta see indeed.”
Spot’s ears turned a bit red in embarrassment. “Yeah... we go a bit.” He coughed. “Wild on St. Patrick’s Day.”
”For now, though... You have a whole borough that cares about you and wants the best for you.”
He nodded. Brooklyn was home after all, and the newsies were practically family.
”And you’ve got enough family to give you a good night and a good meal. It’s not perfect, but if you can settle for it... It can be close enough.”
A soft smile spread across this lips. “You’re right... it’s not quite perfect.” He gave her a side hug. “But with you... I think it can be.”
Darcy was important to him, but now, he was ready to move past worrying about her. Yes, he would always care and worry about her, but he had Lacey now. He would be putting her before his cousin.
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