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Post by Spot Conlon on Feb 14, 2018 20:43:43 GMT -5
Spot wasn't one to celebrate holidays like Valentines, but it seemed appropriate considering he did have a girl now. It was odd. He had never celebrated this day before. What was he supposed to do? He didn’t want to ask... it wasn’t exactly hidden that he finally had a girlfriend, but it wasn’t public either. He didn’t want all of Brooklyn to be talking about it.
So in the end, he asked Mr. O’Quinns. The lodge owner did his best, and now it was up to Spot to decide what to do. He just hoped Lacey would like it. Now there was another question... did Lacey celebrate Valentines?
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Post by Lacey on Mar 17, 2018 17:09:58 GMT -5
Lacey had always loved Valentines Day. She had never really had a reason to, of course; she had never had anyone herself to be her valentine. However, there had always just been that part of her that had loved seeing the couples wandering around together, holding hands or arms in a way that perhaps they wouldn't have quite as openly the rest of the year. Seeing people going out to dinner together and just enjoying each other's company was something that Lacey had always found to be wonderful to watch.
That year, however, there had been a different reason for her to look forward to Valentines Day. With Spot as her boyfriend now, albeit not entirely openly, the stakes seemed much higher, and she was much more worried that he may not like what she had gotten for him. It was nothing much, but she hoped that she would appreciate it.
With the selling day quickly approaching its end, Lacey found herself constantly fidgeting with the necklace around her neck, managing to pick off the last few of her papers as she sold in the park. Once she was done, she would have to find Spot.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Mar 22, 2018 10:33:17 GMT -5
Spot found himself meandering further into the park. He was done selling now. However, he wasn’t sure where to go now. Where would Lacey be anyways? He hadn’t thought that far ahead... He just had to hope he bumped into her before the day was over. But goodness...
He stopped to look around. He certainly was deep in the park. Spot hadn’t been this far into the park in, well, in a very long time. It was almost nostalgic. If it had been a different day, he might have been stayed to revisit those memories. But today was Valentines. He had other things to think about.
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Post by Lacey on Mar 22, 2018 18:02:54 GMT -5
It didn't take Lacey long at all to finish off selling her last couple papers. She had managed to catch a small group of people walking together, and her last couple had been bought up along with a few extra pennies that one of the men had stuffed into his jacket pocket. It was a nice end to the day, although seeing the couples together all day had been making a part of her wish that she could spend the day leisurely strolling in the same manner.
Beginning the slow walk back towards the lodging houses, Lacey caught a glimpse of a familiar male face on one of the paths a bit away from her. Almost immediately, she broke out into a relieved grin. At least finding him hadn't been difficult.
"Spot!" She exclaimed, bounding over to him.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Mar 22, 2018 20:34:15 GMT -5
”Spot!”
Spot glanced up immediately. Who could be calling for him in this area of the park? However, his confusion changed to a small as he saw Lacey hurrying over to him. It looked like he wouldn’t have to worry about finding her after all.
“Lacey, I was um... hoping to catch you around.” And why was he bashful all the sudden? “You um busy?”
This wasn’t going exactly as he had planned or memorized. Lacey had caught him a bit off guard, but at least the finding her part was over, right?
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Post by Lacey on Mar 22, 2018 20:37:06 GMT -5
“Lacey, I was um... hoping to catch you around.”
The confident stride towards him faltered for a brief moment, although she flashed him a crooked smile. "I uh, hope for a good reason? I was lookin' for you, too." Of course, she didn't figure that anything bad would happen on Valentines Day, but she didn't want to let her guard down just in case Spot didn't really consider it something that he wanted to celebrate.
"You um busy?"
She shook her head, "Nope, just finished sellin'. What did you need?" There was no point in beating around the bush, and she was hoping to give Spot his present soon so that she could get the weight out of her pocket.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Mar 22, 2018 21:54:37 GMT -5
”I uh, hope for a good reason? I was lookin’ for you, too.”
Spot nodded quickly not wanting to worry her. After all, this was supposed to be a special day. “Yeah, it’s for a good rea-“ Wait. She was looking for him? Was he the one who needed to worry? “You were lookin’ for me? Is something... wrong?”
Did he forget something? No, that couldn’t be it. His memory was impeccable! Lacey was a bird after all... maybe news from Queens? Or just s small squabble? He hoped for the latter. Queens was the last thing he wanted on his mind.
”Nope, just finished sellin’. What did you need?”
Spot relaxed a bit. It looked like plans could go as, well, planned. “I was umm... ummm... wondering if you’d like to um ta go out... ta dinner?”
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Post by Lacey on Mar 22, 2018 22:08:08 GMT -5
“Yeah, it’s for a good rea-“
Lacey exhaled softly. That was a relief. She had been worried that Valentines Day could mark the end of her relationship. Perhaps Spot had decided that he wasn't comfortable with it after all? She supposed that it was good that wasn't the case. Spot was incredibly special to her.
“You were lookin’ for me? Is something... wrong?”
"No!" Lacey exclaimed quickly, mentally cursing at herself for having worried Spot in the first place. "I just had somethin' ta give ya. Y'know, with it bein' Valentines and everythin'..." Her cheeks flushed. She had thought that she would be used to things like this by now, but it still managed to make her bashful every time.
“I was umm... ummm... wondering if you’d like to um ta go out... ta dinner?”
She blushed a deeper shade of red. "Oh, uh, yeah. Sure. Absolutely." She cleared her throat, her hand almost instinctively shooting to her pocket to grab the change that she had made that day, figuring that it would be only polite to pay for at least part of the meal. Besides, they both had to keep enough to continue selling papes and making a living. "I think I've got enough."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Mar 23, 2018 17:02:21 GMT -5
”No! I just had soemthin’ ta give ya. Y’know, with it bein’ Valentines and everythin’...”
Spot looked a bit surprised. He hadn’t really thought about getting something in return. He had always considered the holiday something for girls to enjoy, but that was probably because he had never really been involved in the festivities.
“Oh... umm. Thanks?”
Curse his awkwardness! Maybe this was the real reason why he avoided having a girlfriend.
”Oh, uh, yeah. Sure. Absolutely.”
He was quite relieved to hear that answer. His plans would have been shattered if she had said no.
”I think I’ve got enough.”
Spot grabbed her hand as she reached for her pocket . “No... don’t, um don’t worry about it.” He pulled away, embarrassed at his sudden action. “It’s on me... it’s um, part of my gift to you.”
That is if everything went according to plan.
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Post by Lacey on Mar 23, 2018 17:42:30 GMT -5
“Oh... umm. Thanks?”
Lacey bit her lip. She had made him feel awkward now. Perhaps a gift had been too much? She would have to wait and see - if he didn't want it then, she could save it for his birthday, or for Christmas. "Yeah, sure." She replied dismissively.
“No... don’t, um don’t worry about it.”
Lacey bit her lip, slowly removing her hand from her pocket as Spot seemed to be asking her to. "I can help, Spot, it ain't a problem."
“It’s on me... it’s um, part of my gift to you.”
She blushed. "Your gift? Oh god, part? Ya shouldn't be spendin' money on me, Spot, really." She really did appreciate it, but she knew that Spot was in the same sort of financial situation that she was; things like this could only really be afforded every now and then.
This many gifts was surely going to affect the number of papes that he could sell somehow, and even a small change would make Lacey feel bad.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Mar 24, 2018 19:48:33 GMT -5
”Yeah, sure.”
Spot pursed his lips. He hoped he hadn’t upset her. It just had been rather unexpected.
”I can help, Spot, it ain’t a problem.”
He huffed a bit, letting go of her hand and sticking his hands in his pockets.
”Your gift? Oh god, part? Ya shouldn’t be spendin’ money on me, Spot, really.”
Spot was suddenly rather bashful as he nodded, looking everywhere but into Lacey’s eyes. “Yeah... but it’s fine really,” he assured her. “I have a bit saved for a rainy day... and I umm wanted to do this for you,” he added shyly.
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Post by Lacey on Mar 24, 2018 20:02:06 GMT -5
“Yeah... but it’s fine really.”
Lacey bit her lip. She felt bad for making Spot pay when they lived the lives that they did, although she figured that there was no sense in trying to argue with him about it.
“I have a bit saved for a rainy day... and I umm wanted to do this for you.”
She grinned, “You’re too good ta me, y’know that?” She really was grateful to have Spot in her life; it had been a long time with her mostly keeping to herself, and Spot has been one of the first people that she had really allowed herself to get actually close to. “Dinner sounds perfect.”
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Post by Spot Conlon on Mar 24, 2018 21:42:07 GMT -5
”You’re too good ta me, y’know that?”
Spot gave her no reply. He only tugged at his cap and looked thoroughly embarrassed yet somehow a bit proud. He didn’t really feel that he was being that good to her. They had had a rather rough beginning you know.
”Dinner sounds perfect.”
He smiled, relieved that Lacey was happy with plans. “I’m glad to hear that.”
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Post by Lacey on Mar 25, 2018 16:10:28 GMT -5
"I'm glad to hear that."
She blushed. "Should I, uh, go and get fancied up? And where are we goin'?"
She suddenly was all too aware of the fact that she probably looked quite dirty, with her selling clothes having gotten worn over the years, and bits of her hair beginning to come out of the ribbon that had been tied neatly around it that morning. If Spot wanted to go out with her, she felt almost as though the least that she could do would be to freshen herself up a bit.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Mar 26, 2018 17:08:44 GMT -5
”Should I, uh, go and get fancied up?”
Spot glanced at her and then at himself. He had gotten a bit dusty while selling... that would not do. Besides, on nice occasions such as this, he should wear his red suspenders.
“We both should probably wash up a bit,” he admitted.
”And where are we goin’?”
He hesitated a moment. “That’s um... a bit of a surprise. Let’s head back to the lodge and wash up foist, okay?”
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Post by Lacey on Mar 31, 2018 11:19:10 GMT -5
“We both should probably wash up a bit."
Lacey giggled quietly. Selling wasn't really something that most people could do without getting dirty, with all of the horses and people around and the dust in the streets. There was always something to leave everyone looking mildly dirty at the end of each day. "Sounds good."
“That’s um... a bit of a surprise. Let’s head back to the lodge and wash up foist, okay?”
A surprise? Lacey hadn't been expecting that. Of course, she loved surprises, but the whole thought about having dinner with Spot on some sort of holiday, however silly that holiday may have seemed to the rest of the newsies, at a surprise restaurant, seemed to make Lacey just slightly nervous. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach, although she found herself grinning.
"Lead the way." She nodded.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Mar 31, 2018 11:29:07 GMT -5
”Sounds good.”
Spot nodded, grinning a bit sheepishly. He was a bit embarrassed for not thinking about the need to wash up. Dusty clothes were not ideal for a date.
”Lead the way.”
He smiled and held out his hand. This wasn’t bad. It wasn’t bad at all. It took some getting used to, but he was thinking this whole girlfriend and Valentine’s Day thing was actually quite nice. He just hoped Lacey would like his surprise.
It was a brisk but short walk back to the lodge. Spot dropped Lacey off first before hurrying to the boys’ lodge to change and wash up real fast and hurrying back to the girls’ lodge to pick up Lacey.
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Post by Lacey on Mar 31, 2018 11:35:36 GMT -5
Lacey didn't hesitate to take Spot's hand when he offered it, beaming almost immediately from the contact. It had taken some getting used to, of course, and she wasn't sure that she was quite used to it yet. However, she was more than happy that Spot at least didn't seem as worried about hiding her as he had been earlier in their relationship.
The walk to the lodge was uneventful and calm, although the moment that she had been dropped off there, she found herself scrambling around to get cleaned up, washing herself as quickly as she could and managing to brush her tangled auburn hair. She then tied it up with the ribbon that he had gotten her, finally deeming herself presentable to go outside and wait on the porch for Spot.
Hopefully, all would end well that night.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 4, 2018 21:50:02 GMT -5
Walking to the lodge had been a littler shorter than Spot remember. But, he needed to hurry up and wash up, so no regrets for such a short walk.
He was glad that the lodge was fairly empty. It made it easy to quickly wash up and change as needed. He gave a quick goodbye to Mr. O’Quinns who merely smiled and wished him luck. Now it was off to pick up Lacey.
He adjusted his nicer cap and tugged lightly at his red suspenders. He hoped he looked all right... He was never sure about his reflection. His eyes brightened, however as he saw Lacey step out almost as soon as he had arrived.
“Ready?” he asked a bit shyly, holding out his hand to help her down the steps.
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Post by Lacey on Apr 7, 2018 21:41:29 GMT -5
"Ready?"
Lacey's cheeks flushed upon seeing Spot. He always seemed to look good, of course, but seeing him cleaned up and knowing that it was for her... Lacey couldn't help but blush at the thought.
"'Course." She beamed, taking his hand and bounding down the steps to his side.
There was only a moment's pause before she broke the silence. "Ya look nice." She blurted out, coughing slightly just afterwards. Her blush just seemed to deepen and she mentally cursed at herself for saying anything of the sort. "I mean- you always do anyway, but uh... Ya look extra nice tanight." She mumbled, her gaze dropping to the ground.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 8, 2018 14:40:38 GMT -5
’Course.”
Spot smiled. “It’s a bit of a long walk I’m afraid,” he admitted. “I hope that’s... okay?”
”Ya look nice. I mean- you always do anyway, but uh... ya look extra nice tanight.”
He was slightly embarrassed at her comment but covered it well. “Um thanks.”
After all, he was a bit flattered. Out of the three Conlon boys, Spot was the most vain.
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Post by Lacey on Apr 8, 2018 14:43:54 GMT -5
“It’s a bit of a long walk I’m afraid. I hope that’s... okay?”
She nodded, "That's fine. It ain't like we ain't used ta walkin' all day anyway."
“Um thanks.”
Lacey blushed a bit harder, "Yeah, uh, maybe we should start walkin'..." She hadn't meant to let that slip, and in a sense, it was absolutely humiliating. She just hoped that somehow Spot was managing to miss the redness of her face.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 11, 2018 9:40:11 GMT -5
”That’s fine. It ain’t like we ain’t used ta walkin’ all day anyway.”
Spot cracked a small smile. “Heh... that’s true.”
He hadn’t thought about it. He just felt a little bad for making them walk after walking who knows how long?
”Yeah, uh, maybe we should start walkin’...”
He cleared his throat and held out his hand to her again. “Good idea. The sooner the better,” he teased lightly.
The awkwardness was still there between them, but it wasn’t so bad anymore. It felt oddly pleasant. Spot supposed it was apart of being in a relationship.
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Post by Lacey on Apr 11, 2018 17:28:18 GMT -5
“Heh... that’s true.”
She grinned, "I'm sure a long walk would be worth it even if it wasn't true."
“Good idea. The sooner the better.”
Lacey's cheeks flushed, although she was quick to take Spot's hand. They began walking soon afterwards, although she still had no idea where it was they were going. She just hoped that she wasn't underdressed for the occasion - not that she could have done much better if she had been told to dress formally.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Apr 11, 2018 21:33:46 GMT -5
”I’m sure a long walk would be worth it even if it wasn’t true.”
Spot hoped so. He was starting to get nervous as they got closer to their destination. They were almost there after crossing the bridge. He was getting a little nervous. He just hoped everything went according to his plans.
“I hope you’ll like it,” he began quietly as they made their way into Manhattan. “It’s the best I could do for today...”
He led her down a small alleyway. His heart was beating so hard he was sure Lacey could hear it. He could only hope. The plan was in action. Now to hope Lacey liked it. He had to pull a lot of strings to make this happen and make sure that no rumors were spread. He owed Manhattan a lot of favors... oh and his brother.
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