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Post by Lacey on Jul 26, 2018 5:06:37 GMT -5
“Yeah... cooler weather is always good for the boys.”
It was easy for Lacey to sense the change in Spot's attitude. Although he may have not really shown his reaction to it, there was definitely a change to the way that he held himself that she picked up on. She just didn't know why anything had changed.
"Selling'll get easier, too. It's hard ta sell when all ya wanna do is get out of the sun, y'know?" She didn't know how to change the subject to make him feel more comfortable, so she was just more or less feeling her way around for the moment.
"But thank you again... For this. All of this is so lovely." Was that a good enough subject change? Or had she ruined the mood for the rest of the night?
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 26, 2018 10:36:06 GMT -5
"Selling'll get easier, too. It's hard ta sell when all ya wanna do is get out of the sun, y'know?"
Spot chuckled a bit and nodded. "Heat does make it hard ta sell. Boys are always complainin' about how hot it is."
Cooler weather was good in that it got the boys to stop complaining. And well there were other benefits too. He should think about those, not the worrisome trouble fall could sometimes bring. He should save that concern for winter...
"But thank you again... for this. All of this is so lovely."
He couldn't stop his cheeks or ears from reddening. He was pleased with her comment... yet somewhat embarrassed. "Well umm... glad you like... It's Valentine's Day after all."
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Post by Lacey on Jul 26, 2018 13:47:03 GMT -5
"Heat does make it hard ta sell. Boys are always complainin' about how hot it is."
Lacey flashed a small smile. She had definitely heard some complaining about the weather from her brothers, although she had to admit, she didn't mind the heat some days herself It would just make her tired.
"Well umm... glad you like... It's Valentine's Day after all."
She bit her lip, "Best Valentine's Day I've ever had." That was very much the truth. She had always watched couples together on Valentine's, and it had always been nice to see people happy, but she couldn't help but be jealous that she never had anyone to be with. Now that she did... It felt magical.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 27, 2018 9:36:35 GMT -5
"Best Valentine's Day I've ever had."
Spot was pleased, though he did sense a bit of hesitation. Well, Lacey was feeling a bit shy. Not that he blamed her. This was their first real major date. Even he felt a little hesitant to be honest.
He nodded. "I agree..." It was no lie. Valentine's had always been a lonely day, but that was honestly by choice. He absolutely did not want to be bothered by the entire newsgirl population of Brooklyn. But still, Spot was human and got lonely. Not like he'd tell anyone. Times sure were changing.
"So..." What to talk about now? He really wasn't so good with this. He should've paid attention more to Jack and Sarah... "You have brothers, right?"
He was pretty sure he knew them, but he had never really made any connections to them and Lacey. He figured that if he was going to be with Lacey... he ought to get to know her family better.
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Post by Lacey on Jul 27, 2018 12:25:59 GMT -5
"I agree..."
It came as a massive relief to Lacey to hear that. She had been afraid on multiple occasions that night that she had ruined everything and made things awkward, and the fact that he didn't sound like he was openly lying was a wonderful feeling.
"So... You have brothers, right?"
Lacey beamed proudly the moment that they were brought up. "Yeah, three of 'em. All younger. Lights of my life." She adored her brothers. They were all that was left of her old, wonderful days with her family from before her parents had died, and they meant the world to Lacey.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 20, 2018 19:59:27 GMT -5
"Yeah. three of 'em. All younger. Lights of my life."
Spot nodded, smiling slightly as Lacey spoke proudly about her brothers.
"Ah younger... that's nice." He too had a younger brother. Jasper meant alot to him and Thunder after all. "Must be quite the handfull."
Jasper could be quite the rascal. Spot couldn't imagine how much trouble he and Thunder would have if they had three Jaspers. He shook his head some, smiling a little at the thought.
"Can you... tell me about them?" he asked somewhat cautiously. It was important to get to know her family, and well, he wanted to make sure he kept an eye out on them.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 20, 2018 23:55:42 GMT -5
"Ah younger... that's nice."
Lacey shrugged a bit. Her brothers tended to be rambunctious at best, but they had all figured out what they could do to sell well, and if they were ever struggling, Lacey was there to help them out. They did the same to her if she ever struggled or got sick. They were family, and they had to take care of one another.
"Can you... tell me about them?"
She swallowed thickly. She had never spoken much about her brothers to people before. It wasn't that she wasn't proud--she loved them more than anything in the world, they were her loves and her joy. It just felt strange talking about them to other people and trying to describe them when she saw them so differently than everyone else seemed to.
"Well... Michael's the youngest. He was named after my dad. He's like a little ball of energy, he sells papes easiest... He's still pretty young. He just turned seven last month."
Michael was the one that she was perhaps the most attached to, considering he had just been a baby when their mother had died and forced them to become newsies to support themselves. She had been forced to take care of him while also finding time to work, and he had grown up with the newsies as his family. He didn't know anything else.
"Then Josiah is the middle one, he's thirteen, and he's the most level-headed. Real good at sellin' papes. People tend ta like him most of the four of us." He was a charismatic person, who was barely ever not smiling and saying hello to people that he didn't know. He had a knack for it--Lacey was sure that he would go really far someday.
"And Joseph is a year younger than me. He's a sweet kid. Just real quiet. He became a newsie last of the four of us. He's not big on talkin' ta people he doesn't know."
It still felt a bit strange, talking to Spot about her brothers. Like her, they hadn't really changed their names to become newsies. It felt almost like them changing their names, even losing their last name, would push them further apart as a family. They didn't talk all that much anymore, but they were still a family, and they helped one another out.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 24, 2018 20:26:51 GMT -5
Spot pursed his lips as he noticed Lacey hesitate a moment. Perhaps he had been too forward with that question?
"Well.. Michael's the youngest. He was named after my dad. He's like a little ball of energy, he sells papes easiest... He's still pretty young. He just turned seven last month."
He nodded as he stored this information. Her youngest brother was named after her father: Michael. He cracked a small smile as Lacey mentioned her brother's age and energy. Jasper had been the same at that age... it seemed like so long ago, yet it also seemed like just yesterday when Jasper was seven.
"Then Josiah is the middle one, he's thirteen, and he's the most level-headed. Real good at sellin' papes. People tend ta like him most of the four of us."
Spot nodded again as she introduced her second brother: Josiah. He was around Jasper's age then. Jasper would be turning 12 in the fall. How time flew...
"And Joseph is a year younger than me. He's a sweet kid. Just real quiet. He became a newsie last of the four of us. He's not big on talkin' ta people he doesn't know."
He cracked a slightly wry smile as her last brother, Joseph, was introduced. Surprisingly enough, that sounds alot like him when he first became a newsie. Quiet. Didn't talk much. Most definitely did not like stranger. It sounded like he might get along with Joseph.
"They sound great," he commented politely, but he meant it. He would be sure to know her brothers better and keep an eye out on them.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 24, 2018 22:07:29 GMT -5
"They sound great."
Lacey blushed a bit. It was certainly strange, talking about her family to someone else, even someone like Spot. She was the oldest, so she felt a sense of responsibility over her brothers. She wanted more than anything to take care of them and make sure that they had good futures ahead of them, even if that meant sacrificing her own future in the process.
"They're perfect." She nodded. She wasn't too sure about if she had said too much, or too little, or anything. She just hoped that maybe she hadn't bored Spot talking about them.
"Joseph really looks up to ya, too." Lacey added. Joseph had always mentioned wanting to be just like Spot, and Lacey had even bought him a slingshot once for his fifteenth birthday, just so that he could start practicing.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 24, 2018 22:23:54 GMT -5
"They're perfect."
"I'm sure they are," he agreed. If she thought of her brothers like he did, he sure they were a wonderful family. "I feel the same about Thunder and Jasper." He glanced towards the kitchen, hoping his older brother hadn't overheard while cooking.
"Joseph really looks up to ya, too."
Spot looked at her slightly surprised and inwardly pleased. While he was leader of Brooklyn, he didn't really think of people looking up to him. Respect? Yes. But looking up to him as a role model? He really never thought of that.
"Does he now?" he asked thoughtfully. Perhaps he should look into Joseph. While he was close in age to Lacey and Spot, it was still not a bad idea to see if Joseph might be a good choice for next leader.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 24, 2018 22:28:17 GMT -5
"I'm sure they are."
She quirked a small smile. It was certainly a comfort knowing that perhaps Spot hadn't become annoyed with her talking about her brothers.
"I feel the same about Thunder and Jasper."
Lacey grinned. Of course, she hadn't doubted that Spot felt anything less towards his siblings, especially after seeing them together, but there was definitely a part of her that was still surprised whenever Spot would show off his more sensitive side. He seemed to try so hard to hide it, and she felt special for getting to see things like this with him. "I'm sure they know."
"Does he now?"
She bit her lip with a nod. Joseph was shy but he knew what had to get done and he would do it. That certainly made him a strong person in Lacey's book.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 24, 2018 22:37:29 GMT -5
"I'm sure they know."
He cracked a half-grin. "Yeah... I'm pretty sure they do too."
Lacey had nodded shyly in answer to his question. Understandable. It really wasn't something she could respond accurately. Only way to really find out about how much her brother looked up to him was by asking Joseph himself. He would definitely be adding that to his to-do list. As much as he would love to talk about Joseph as a prospect for leader, he knew now was not the time. Right now, this was just time for him and Lacey. No need to talk about Brooklyn politics or anything. That was for another time.
For now it was light, small talk. Get to know each other a little better than they did. Enjoy some private time together.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 24, 2018 22:40:47 GMT -5
"Yeah... I'm pretty sure they do too."
Lacey couldn't help but smile. Family was important when you were a newsie, considering for most of them, siblings were all that was left. The newsies would act like a big family, but when you were related by blood... Things became a million times more intense.
"You look nice." She commented after a few moments of silence. While the silence was by no means uncomfortable, as she had sat with Spot in longer silence many times before, she felt the need to break it for the moment. She wasn't the best at giving compliments that didn't seem out of place or awkward, but she didn't mean them any less because of it.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 24, 2018 22:46:18 GMT -5
"You look nice."
"So do you," he returned the compliment. He had actually been dying to say so, but he had been too proud... too shy to actually say it out loud until now. He hoped she didn't notice the tips of his ears turning red in embarrassment. "I like you hair," he added quickly. Perhaps too quickly. He had always thought her hair was a nice color. It was brighter and more... lively? than the other girls' hair color. Perhaps that was one of the little things that had drawn him to her.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 24, 2018 22:50:30 GMT -5
"So do you."
Truthfully, Lacey hadn't been expecting the compliment back. She had partially been expecting her words to come across as strange and terribly random, and his response earned a scarlet blush on her cheeks.
"I like your hair."
She cleared her throat a bit, trying to force back the blush that was threatening to grow darker on her cheeks. "I, uh... I like your eyes?" It wasn't a question, even though it came out as one. Spot's eyes were bright blue and they really were a nice color, but her body seemed to be shutting down as she tried to compliment him back. So many thoughts were running through her mind at once that she felt strange and tingly all over.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 24, 2018 22:54:25 GMT -5
"I, uh... I like your eyes?"
A smile curled at his lips before he laughed. It was like a game. Neither had meant for it to be a game. They truly meant what they had said. It just had turned into a sort of compliment game. Well, at least they weren't feeling as embarrassed anymore?
"My mum always said my eyes were the most striking part of me," he chuckled. "Though, I think Jasper's got brighter eyes than me."
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Post by Lacey on Aug 24, 2018 22:57:00 GMT -5
He was laughing. It came as a huge relief to Lacey, and it seemed to allow her to relax a bit, a relieved giggle escaping her own lips at the sound. At least the situation hadn't become weird, as it easily could have.
"My mum always said my eyes were the most striking part of me,"
"I'd have to agree." Lacey grinned. Spot's eyes were definitely the first things that she noticed when she would look at him.
"Though, I think Jasper's got brighter eyes than me."
She shrugged, "Yours don't need ta be brighter; they're great now."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 24, 2018 23:11:35 GMT -5
"I'd have to agree."
Spot's ears were definitely burning now. But then again, Thunder had always teased him about how the girls loved his eyes.
"Yours don't need ta be brighter; they're great now."
He shrugged but nodded. "I agree though. I like my eyes the way they are. Though," he smiled at the memory. "When I was younger, I wanted green eyes like my mum."
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Post by Lacey on Aug 24, 2018 23:15:33 GMT -5
"I agree though. I like my eyes the way they are."
Lacey smiled. She was glad that Spot was confident with the way he looked, especially since he really had no reason to feel otherwise. At least, not around her.
"Though, when I was younger, I wanted green eyes like my mum."
She nodded a bit, "Green eyes are nice. I used to want them, too." There hadn't, of course, really been a reason for her to want green eyes aside from them being pretty, but she understood the appeal, especially if his mom had them.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 27, 2018 18:58:45 GMT -5
"Green eyes are nice. I used to want them, too."
Spot raised an eyebrow, curious but not wanting to press that. Instead, he just nodded. "Darcy wanted green eyes too. I thought it might be just a Conlon thing," he chuckled a bit. "Guess not."
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Post by Lacey on Aug 27, 2018 19:07:34 GMT -5
"Darcy wanted green eyes too."
Lacey bit her lip. The entire story about what had happened with Darcy was still a little bit iffy to her, although she figured that it wouldn't be a good idea to push Spot about it. He had every right to not talk about something bad happening to someone he seemed to care so deeply about. Losing family hurt like hell.
"I thought it might be just a Conlon thing. Guess not."
She quirked a small smile, "Well, for what it's worth, your eyes are great just as they are now. And I'm sure Darcy's were, too. So it's not all bad."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 27, 2018 19:22:34 GMT -5
"Well, for what it's worth, your eyes are great just as they are now. And I'm sure Darcy's were, too. So it's not all bad."
Spot returned a small smile. He was about to reply, but he was interrupted.
"As interesting as Spot's eyes are and," Thunder hesitated a moment. "And Darcy's... Dinner is ready!" He grinned at the two as he placed their hot sandwiches in front of them. "Enjoy!" He winked and nudged his brother before leaving. "Ádh mór!"
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Post by Lacey on Aug 27, 2018 19:26:12 GMT -5
"As interesting as Spot's eyes are and, and Darcy's..."
Lacey did feel a bit bad for bringing it up, but she figured that it had been better than trying to dive into more details about Darcy and what had happened.
"Dinner is ready! Enjoy!"
The sandwich looked wonderful. Lacey bit her lip for a moment before carefully picking it up. The bread was still warm, and as she took a small bite of it, it tasted just as wonderful as it looked.
"Ádh mór!"
She quirked her head a bit, turning back to Spot. "What does that mean?" She didn't figure that it was anything bad, but she couldn't be sure with the wink that Thunder had shot Spot just moments before.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Aug 28, 2018 10:04:15 GMT -5
Spot shot his brother a look to which Thunder just grinned as he slipped back into the kitchen to let the couple enjoy their meal.
"What does that mean?"
His ears turned a slight pink. He never really liked Thunder's teasing... maybe he should stop picking on Jasper. He probably hated this feeling too. Spot shook his head a little. "Just wishing me good luck," he grumbled. "I can handle myself..."
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Post by Lacey on Aug 29, 2018 18:50:16 GMT -5
"Just wishing me good luck."
Lacey quirked her head a bit more. What did he need luck for? Or was she overthinking the situation a bit?
"I can handle myself..."
"I'm not sure anyone doubts that." She offered, taking another bite of her sandwich as her eyes dropped back down to the plate in front of her. Had she done something really stupid without realizing it? Was that why Thunder had wished Spot luck?
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