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Post by Astrid on Jul 2, 2016 17:16:54 GMT -5
Astrid trudged up the stairs. A long days work at the restaurant she waited at. Near falling on her bed she pulled the violin case out from under her bunk and carefully pulled the cherry violin out of its case. It was as beautiful as the first time she saw her mother play. Astrid was always transfixed by the lovely sound that was made. Sitting the violin on the bed she pulled the bow out of the case and slid it across the rosin. She perched the violin on her shoulder and slid the bow along the strings and tuned it carefully.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 2, 2016 21:26:15 GMT -5
Jasper knew he shouldn't move around and just be patient. But Thunder had been gone for hours! Or what felt like hours... They were supposed to meet up with Spot and go to the park for a fun family day. But there was no sign of either of his big brothers. Thunder had told him to stay at the Academy of Music, but Jasper just couldn't sit still! He wanted to look for Spot too. He didn't mean to end up in Queens. He had no idea where he was, and he was just a little bit scared. Only a little, cause Conlons don't get scared! He could be tough. Besides, Queens couldn't be as bad as Spot made out. There was pretty music coming out from that lodge.
He hobbled over to listen better, but he stumbled over a pebble and landed hard on his bottom.
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Post by Astrid on Jul 2, 2016 22:51:43 GMT -5
Astrid played a bit louder as she focused more on the music then outside. It took her home. When her parents were alive. When things were good. Things were different now though. She was alone. She had her music though. Astrid sped the music up some putting more pressure on the bow. Her eyes closed as the music took her.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 3, 2016 11:41:56 GMT -5
Jasper bit his lip and tried not to cry. He was a big boy, and Conlons didn't cry. But falling sure did hurt! It messed up his brace some, causing him to cry out as he managed to get onto his feet. He really wished Thunder or Spot was around.
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Post by Astrid on Jul 3, 2016 22:44:20 GMT -5
Astrid stopped the bow from sliding across the strings. She had heard something. As quickly as she could she put the bow and her violin away and went to the window. Seeing the boy on the ground she didn't waste any time getting down the stairs and put on a calm face before kneeling next to the boy. "Hey...ya need some help?" Astrid asked with a soft smile. She could see the tears in his eyes and she was trying to somehow make it better. Even if it was just a kind smile.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 3, 2016 22:50:51 GMT -5
"Hey... ya need some help?"
Jasper looked up in surprise."Y-yes please."
He hated needing help, but he really needed it. It was hard to get up with the stupid brace on his leg. He wanted to take it off, but Thunder said no. And Thunder's word was law.
"I um... I'm lost too," he admitted quietly. "I don't know where I am... Thunder told me to stay at Mr. O'Quinns' lodge..."
He was probably giving out too much information, but he was just a kid and didn't know better. Plus Thunder and Spot never really gave him a chance to be out and about very often.
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Post by Astrid on Jul 3, 2016 23:00:50 GMT -5
Y-yes please
Astrid looked him over. "Alright just tell me what you need me to do." She said with a helpful kind grin.
"I um... I'm lost too, I don't know where I am... Thunder told me to stay at Mr. O'Quinns' lodge...
Her eyes widened a bit hearing the name of the owner of the boys lodge in Brooklyn. "I'll get you back ok? Just don't talk to anyone else. If we run into anyone let me talk. Got it?" She looked around quickly to ensure no one heard him. "In the wrong part of Queens to be sayin those things." Astrid lightened her tone a bit knowing she was probably scaring the boy some. "Let's get you back ok? And maybe you can take me to get ice cream once we get you back to...Thunder was it?" She smiled again hoping she hadn't terrified him too much with her light scolding. It was more worry for his safety. If Rip found anyone from Brooklyn in Queens...she wouldn't dare think of what might happen.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 3, 2016 23:10:15 GMT -5
"Alright just tell me what you need me to do."
Jasper smiled shyly up at her. He knew that he was going to like her very much. "I just need help standin' up foist, miss."
"I'll get you back ok? Just don't talk to anyone else. If we run into anyone let me talk. Got it?"
He nodded, glad that this nice lady knew how to help him find his way back to Brooklyn. He rolled his eyes when she mentioned not to talk to anyone and let her do all the talking. It was a typical rule apparently. Thunder and Spot did it all the time.
"In the wrong part of Queens to be sayin those things."
Jasper's eyes widened. Queens?! Spot was going to have his hide! He was always telling him to avoid Queens... He bit his lip and tried not to cry. He didn't want to make Spot mad when they were supposed to be having a fun day together.
"Let's get you back ok? And maybe you can take me to get ice cream once we get you back to...Thunder was it?"
He nodded some. Ice cream would be nice... But he was too worried about Spot being angry to really think about ice cream.
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Post by Astrid on Jul 3, 2016 23:29:54 GMT -5
I just need help standin' up foist, miss
"Alright." She smiles holding out her hand and gently pulling him up to his feet. Astrid wanted to make sure he wasn't getting hurt as she pulled him up. "Ok...now we're up." She grined at him.
Astrid saw his change in his demeanor. He had no clue where he was. He probably wasn't allowed to leave Brooklyn. Astrid pulled him gently out of the way and knelt in front of him holding his arms a bit hoping she was reassuring. "Hey...don't worry. Thunder won't be mad at you. It was an accident. He will just want you back safe ok? Don't think about how they will be upset with you. Think about getting back. Think about something good." Astrid smiled some and rubbed his arms. "You'll be home." She smiled a bit. "And I expect an ice cream date. Even if your brother has to come." Astrid smiled brightly at him.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 3, 2016 23:35:12 GMT -5
"Alright. Ok...now we're up."
Jasper grinned back at her, shaking off his brightest grin. "Thank you, miss!"
"Hey...don't worry. Thunder won't be mad at you. It was an accident. He will just want you back safe ok? Don't think about how they will be upset with you. Think about getting back. Think about something good."
He shook his head, fighting tears. "Not Thunder... Spot'll be mad not Thunder."
Thunder would be worried. Spot would be angry.
"You'll be home. And I expect an ice cream date. Even if your brother has to come."
He gave her a wobbly smile. "I like ice cream... So does Thunder and Spot."
Maybe ice cream would make everything better.
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Post by Astrid on Jul 3, 2016 23:56:47 GMT -5
Thank you, miss
Astrid smiled happily. "No problem. And you can call me Astrid."
Not Thunder... Spot'll be mad not Thunder
She paled. Spot. The worst name he could have said. Astrid forced a smile. "Don't worry. We just need to get you home. Don't want the wrong people to find you." She smiled a bit. "You'll be home in no time."
I like ice cream... So does Thunder and Spot.
"You'd have to be crazy not to like ice cream." Astrid laughed softly. "We can all get ice cream if you'd like." She straightened up some and held out her hand. "But first we need to get you home. Tell me to slow down if you need me too ok?"
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Post by Jasper on Jul 4, 2016 0:01:32 GMT -5
"No problem. And you can call me Astrid."
Jasper nodded happily. "Okay, Astrid. I'm Jasper."
"Don't worry. We just need to get you home. Don't want the wrong people to find you. You'll be home in no time."
He nodded again. They really did need to hurry and get home. If they were lucky, Spot might not even know he went into Queens.
"You'd have to be crazy not to like ice cream. We can all get ice cream if you'd like. But first we need to get you home. Tell me to slow down if you need me too ok?"
He took her hand and smiled. "Brooklyn foist then ice cream." He frowned though at the mention of slowing down. "I can keep up! I'm fast!"
((I have to get off for tonight XD Battery is getting low and I should get some sleep.))
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Post by Astrid on Jul 4, 2016 0:15:07 GMT -5
Okay, Astrid. I'm Jasper.
"Nice to meet you Jasper." Astrid smiled at him.
. "Brooklyn foist then ice cream Astrid nodded. "Yup that's the plan. Home then ice cream." She smiled down at him.
I can keep up! I'm fast!
"Of course. I just have long legs and can sometimes go to fast." Looking down at him she explained. "No one tends to tell me to slow down and I don't want your brothers to think I wore you out on the way over. So don't be afraid to tell me to slow down."
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Post by Jasper on Jul 4, 2016 7:45:00 GMT -5
"Nice to meet you Jasper."
Jasper grinned. "Nice ta meet you too."
"Yup that's the plan. Home then ice cream."
A slight smile tugged his lips and he shook his head. "Brooklyn ain't home."
"Of course. I just have long legs and can sometimes go to fast."
He pursed his lips and glanced over at her legs. She was pretty tall compared to him, but so was Thunder!
"Thunder's got long legs, and I can keep up!" he insisted.
"No one tends to tell me to slow down and I don't want your brothers to think I wore you out on the way over. So don't be afraid to tell me to slow down."
Jasper scrunched up his face in a rather Spot-like way. "You won't wear me out... I can keep up fine."
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Post by Astrid on Jul 4, 2016 10:24:30 GMT -5
Brooklyn ain't home."
Astrid looked down at him some. "Then where is home?" She asked watching where they were going but also flickering her eyes back to him.
"Thunder's got long legs, and I can keep up! You won't wear me out... I can keep up fine.
She chuckled a bit at his determination. "Alright you can keep up. Got no doubt about that." She smiled down at him as she kept her pace a bit slower then usual but nothing that was so obviously slow to keep him in his pride intact. Conlon boys...if anyone found out she was helping Spot and told Rip...well it didn't really matter. She was more prepared then when they were children. Astrid had learned a long time ago not to trust anyone. Even someone related to a Conlon. Pulling her mind out of the past she headed for Brooklyn and focused on keeping Jasper safe. "So Jasper...tell me about yourself? You sell papers or go to school or somethin?" Astrid asked smiling at him.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 4, 2016 11:34:15 GMT -5
"Then where is home?"
"Staten," he answered. "Brooklyn used ta be home, but Thunder wanted to move closer ta Harlem's hospital."
"Alright you can keep up. Got no doubt about that."
Jasper nodded firmly. "No doubt! I'm fast!"
"So Jasper...tell me about yourself? You sell papers or go to school or somethin?"
His smile faded some as he shook his head. "Thunder an' Spot won't let me sale. I go to school sometimes when I'm not sick and I help out at the bookstore."
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Post by Astrid on Jul 4, 2016 12:29:47 GMT -5
Brooklyn used ta be home, but Thunder wanted to move closer ta Harlem's hospital.
Astrid nodded a bit. "Good reason ta move. Hear that's a good hospital."
"Thunder an' Spot won't let me sale. I go to school sometimes when I'm not sick and I help out at the bookstore.
"Workin at a book store ain't so bad. I don't like selling papers anyway." Astrid smiled at him.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 4, 2016 12:45:34 GMT -5
"Good reason ta move. Hear that's a good hospital."
Jasper shrugged. "I like Brooklyn better."
Staten wasn't fun. There wasn't a nice park, and it was too far from the amusement park too.
"Workin at a book store ain't so bad. I don't like selling papers anyway."
He looked up at her with big eyes. "You don't like sellin' papes?"
How could anyone not like selling papers?
"I wish I could sell papes... I wanna be just like Spot and Thunder."
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Post by Astrid on Jul 5, 2016 1:46:50 GMT -5
I like Brooklyn better
Astrid chuckled. "You always like what you can't have." She smiled some.
You don't like sellin' papes?
She shook her head and looked down at him. "Sellin papes isn't good if ya wanna do better...it's more ta get ya by. That make sense?" Astrid asked hopin she hadn't confused her younger companion.
I wish I could sell papes... I wanna be just like Spot and Thunder.
"You'll be just like them. I think that probably runs in the family. Strong, stubborn and to caring for their own good." Astrid smiled at him some. "You don't have to sell papers to be like them. Just think about it. Some kid is gunna look up to you and think 'I wanna be just like Jasper Conlon.' They won't be saying that if you don't make you're own way. So working in a shop isn't the best. But it's your way. Do your hardest and be someone else's Thunder and Spot." Relaxing some seeing the bridge in sight she's canned the area quickly before releasing the tension in her shoulders.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 5, 2016 9:34:31 GMT -5
"You always like what you can't have."
Jasper shrugged. He couldn't really argue with that. Almost everything he wanted to do, he couldn't. It didn't stop him from trying though!
"Sellin papes isn't good if ya wanna do better...it's more ta get ya by. That make sense?"
He nodded, not really understanding. He supposed that maybe as a girl, selling papers just wasn't for her.
"You'll be just like them. I think that probably runs in the family. Strong, stubborn and to caring for their own good."
He grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! I'm gonna be jus' like them when I'm older!"
"You don't have to sell papers to be like them."
He frowned thoughtfully. It was true. He didn't have to sell in order to be like his brothers. After all, Thunder didn't sell as much as he used to anymore. But there was just something about selling papers. He just wanted to do it.
"Just think about it. Some kid is gunna look up to you and think 'I wanna be just like Jasper Conlon.'"
He cocked his head slightly. It was weird to think that anyone would want to be like him. It was probably because he was still so young.
"They won't be saying that if you don't make you're own way. So working in a shop isn't the best. But it's your way. Do your hardest and be someone else's Thunder and Spot."
He shrugged He didn't really catch much of what she was saying anymore, not that he was being rude. He just didn't get it and was eager to pick up his pace as he started seeing more familiar places.
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Post by Astrid on Jul 5, 2016 11:06:40 GMT -5
Yep! I'm gonna be jus' like them when I'm older!
Astrid smiled. He was so eager to be like his brothers. It was cute. As he picked up speed seeing something familiar. She kept up and made sure to steer him in the direction of the lodge. Jasper didn't need much guidance but every once in a while he needed a little guidance.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 5, 2016 13:31:45 GMT -5
Jasper brightened when he finally spotted the lodge. He frowned slightly when he didn't see his brother, but he supposed that could be a good thing. Didn't want to face an angry big brother after all.
"We're here!" He smiled up at Astrid. "Thanks for helpin' me. Thunder should be around here somewhere."
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Post by Astrid on Jul 5, 2016 17:41:32 GMT -5
"We're here! Thanks for helpin' me. Thunder should be around here somewhere.
Astrid nodded a bit. "Ok we'll wait for him here then. Sound good?" She asked as she leaned against the wall. Astrid wasn't about to leave him alone. He could run off and get lost and not be so lucky in finding someone to help him.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 5, 2016 19:24:25 GMT -5
"Ok we'll wait for him here then. Sound good?"
Jasper nodded. "Mhmm! And then when Thunder comes we can go get ice cream!" His grin widened. "And maybe even some soda pop!"
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Post by Astrid on Jul 5, 2016 19:48:21 GMT -5
Mhmm! And then when Thunder comes we can go get ice cream! And maybe even some soda pop!
Astrid smiled and nodded. "Ice cream and soda pop. Sounds like a good plan." She smiled at him.
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