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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 17:45:51 GMT -5
It was hot. Unbearably hot. Rip hated this weather. He was more than ready for autumn. At this rate, he would welcome winter with open arms. It was just too hot... The heat brought back unwanted memories and made him crankier than he already was.
All he wanted now was to find a nice, shady place to rest and sharpen his knives. It would be even better if there was no one around. The boys had been too rowdy for his taste. He managed to get them to straighten up, but he knew that wouldn't last forever. He was not in the mood to scold them again. He just wanted peace and quiet away from every one and out of this heat!
He ignored the looks he got as he passed the distribution center. People often stared despite being quite familiar with seeing him. But still, he supposed it was an odd sight to see a tall newsie walking around shirtless. Well, he did have his shirt hanging off his shoulder, nicely covering his brand mark (that pleased him greatly). But what did they expect? It was hot! And... those buttons were so hard to button up! Why couldn't they make them bigger?
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 17:48:31 GMT -5
Lacey was a bit uncertain being there. She worried a lot about what could be happening around Queens, considering she had only walked through once or twice from the other side. She was unfamiliar with the territory, and she knew that Rip was dangerous. However, she was determined to make sure that she could bring back information to Spot. That was, after all, her job.
Finally finding a place where she could figure out where she was, Lacey stopped at the distribution center to catch her breath, a faint pain in her side from all of the brisk walking that she had been doing to get there. Hopefully, this wasn't a terrible idea. If she got hurt doing it, then she at least wanted something to bring back to Spot.
Now, she just had to find Rip.
It didn't take long at all, with a tall, incredibly muscular boy walking by. There was something about him that almost instantly helped Lacey recognize him, and she swallowed thickly. As he walked by, Lacey did her best to seem casual, stopping every now and then as she trailed behind him, staying back but never letting him out of her sight. If all went well, she would be able to find the lodging house through him, or somewhere else if he was taking refuge somewhere else.
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 17:55:37 GMT -5
While the heat was extremely bothersome for him, that didn't mean he let down his guard. No, he was practically always on guard. And right not, someone seemed to be trailing him. He didn't like that one bit. No one could get away with trailing him.
He stopped by a lamppost. It was not the best place for shade, but it was decent than continuing on his walk and getting trailed. When he glanced out of the corner of his eyes, he was surprised to see who had been stalking him.
A girl.
He raised an eyebrow as he studied her. She didn't look familiar. He would know. As leader, it was part of the job to know who was all in Queens. And she, definitely, was not. Might be a newbie. A lot of newcomers had been popping in lately. Probably why the boys were being so rowdy lately.
Rip looked over Lacey again. Maybe she was stalking him to find out about selling the evening edition? Being a newbie would explain why she didn't seem particularly nervous. Well, he better go see to her before the other boys decided to have fun messing around with the new recruit. If she had been a boy, he probably would have left her for the boys to do whatever and then show her the ropes. But she was a girl, and he would make sure the boys didn't bother her. He took care of his own.
He approached her. "Lost?"
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 18:01:22 GMT -5
The moment that Rip stopped, Lacey had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She only knew bits and pieces of the story of what Rip had done, but she knew that he was dangerous, and she remembered something about knives. That wasn't something that she was thrilled about.
Sure enough, he approached her, and she did her best not to look as terrified as she felt. This was for Spot.
"Lost?"
She bit her lip and glanced around, "Yeah, I'm uh, new around here. They said the lodging houses were somewhere around here, but I forgot the directions that they gave... Could you, uh, help me out?"
This had to work. She had no other excuse for being there.
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 18:05:18 GMT -5
"Yeah, I'm uh, new around here. They said the lodging houses were somewhere around here, but I forgot the directions that they gave... Could you, uh, help me out?"
Rip nodded. So it seemed as if he was right. She was new. Well, at least she knew about the lodging house. That meant she probably knew most of the ropes. He'd just walk her to the girl's lodge and let Ms. Seaton take care of her.
"Yeah, I can do that, little miss. It ain't too far." He probably should introduce himself so she'd know for future reference. "Name's Rip. I run Queens."
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 18:08:26 GMT -5
"Yeah, I can do that, little miss. It ain't too far."
She was incredibly relieved to hear that Rip was believing her, although she wasn't sure if that would stay the same throughout their entire walk there. Hopefully, it would all work out in her favor.
"Name's Rip. I run Queens."
Lacey bit her lip. She had the right person. That was a relief. However, it made her a bit more nervous knowing that she was standing next to someone who had caused Spot so much pain.
"Rip? Why do they call you that?" She tilted her head a bit, although quickly tried to come up with a name for herself. "I'm Lucy. Lucy Friedman." It worked for now.
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 18:14:53 GMT -5
"Rip? Why do they call you that?"
He glanced down at her, slightly amused. She really was new, wasn't she? Not many asked how he got his name, or rather those who didn't know were never brave to ask. "It's jus' a nickname."
She would learn in time. It wasn't a dangerous reason, just not one he cared to explain. It was one of the few precious memories that he treasured. The old leader of Queens had given it to him.
"I'm Lucy. Lucy Friedman."
Rip nodded. "Pleasure to meet ya, Lucy Friedman." He could tease when he was in the mood, but it'd be best not to get used to it. He was nice to the girls, but that didn't mean he didn't act rough around them when he felt the need. "The girls here will be able to show you the ropes 'round here. We ain't the same as the other softy boroughs," he warned.
Not many girls cared to be newsies in Queens. It was hard and too rough. He didn't blame them. It probably would be better if there weren't any girl newsies in Queens, but it couldn't be helped. Girls needed to make money just as much as boys. It just was dangerous in a place of Queens. Those in the other boroughs just didn't understand how rough it was.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 18:18:34 GMT -5
"It's jus' a nickname."
Lacey raised an eyebrow a bit, although she didn't bother to ask again. Perhaps she could get more out of him with time. She just hoped that she would have that time to begin with.
"Pleasure to meet ya, Lucy Friedman."
She grinned a bit. Rip didn't seem too bad for now, although she knew that he could flip when he wanted to, just from what she had learned from Spot. Hopefully this would be how it was between them.
"The girls here will be able to show you the ropes 'round here. We ain't the same as the other softy boroughs."
Lacey nearly scoffed. Softy boroughs? What could possibly be so different about Queens? And how would he know anything about life in the other boroughs?
"How's that?" Her smile and voice were a bit more strained this time around, but she didn't let her voice waver.
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 18:21:44 GMT -5
"How's that?"
Rip paused, looking down at her. Part of him wondered if it was best to just send her off to some other borough. A question like that... reminded him to much of her.
Instead of answering her question, he asked one. "How long how you've lived in Queens?"
Her answer would clue him in what to do. If she understood the dangers of Queens, he would know she was just unfamiliar with the other boroughs. If she didn't understand, well, he better send her off to a different borough. Harlem or Bronx would be good. He didn't really trust Manhattan.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 18:24:08 GMT -5
"How long how you've lived in Queens?"
Lacey was a bit put off by the way that he just ignored her question, although there was a deeper sense of worry that made her shrink back a bit.
"Just moved here a month or two ago. Mom can't work and dad died a few weeks inta workin' here. I've gotta start payin'." She shrugged a bit. It was a bit painful making up a backstory for herself, considering it still reminded her of her real backstory, but she wasn't going to mention having brothers. If things went south, she didn't want Rip knowing about them.
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 18:33:27 GMT -5
"Just moved here a month or two ago. Mom can't work and Dad died a few weeks inta workin' here. I've gotta start payin'."
Rip wasn't looking at her as he listened. Just a month or two... he shook his head. She couldn't stay here. A month wasn't long enough to understand Queens. And with a family? Even it was just a mom, she couldn't stay here. Queens was no place for newsies with family. Plus, seein' that she had only lived here with a family, showed him that she wouldn't survive long. She would be too used to the family protection. She would lose that innocence of not knowing the troubles of the world in Queens. No, he would send her to the closet borough instead.
Manhattan was technically closer, but he didn't trust Jack to let him in easily. And with a girl? Yeah, that'd spell trouble in Jack's eyes. They'd go to Bronx instead. Bronx was easy and laid back. They were wary of him and wouldn't give him any trouble.
"I hate ta say this, Lucy, but you can't sell here." He looked down at her. "Not wit' a mum. It ain't safe for someone who's got family ta be playin' newsie 'round here." He glanced up. Bronx wasn't too far of a walk from here lucky for them. "Bronx ain't too far from here. If you live close, it ain't gonna be a problem. Stick ta Bronx." He made a slight grimace. "Or 'Hattan. Those two boroughs are close to Queens. Whichever is closer ta your home is the best place for you ta sell."
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 18:39:14 GMT -5
"I hate ta say this, Lucy, but you can't sell here. Not wit' a mum. It ain't safe for someone who's got family ta be playin' newsie 'round here."
Lacey's eyes narrowed a bit as Rip spoke, arms crossing over her chest as she stopped walking to look up at him. "I'm sorry, just because I've got a mom means that I'm incapable of bein' tough? Is that it?"
She probably should have just stopped there, but she was too worked up to do so.
"Bronx ain't too far from here. If you live close, it ain't gonna be a problem. Stick ta Bronx. Or 'Hattan. Those two boroughs are close to Queens. Whichever is closer ta your home is the best place for you ta sell."
"I know what I'm doin', alright? I ain't gonna bother ya, I'm just gonna sell. That ain't a real problem." She snapped, although promptly calmed herself down and closed her eyes tightly. All this talk about a family was getting to her too much.
"Just take me ta the lodgin' house, alright?" Of course, she had completely overlooked the fact that she had mentioned having a mother, but she was just hoping that it wouldn't matter.
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 18:45:56 GMT -5
"I'm sorry, just because I've got a mom means that I'm incapable of bein' tough? Is that it?"
Rip chuckled darkly. "It ain't that. You've got guts, I can see that. But it ain't the boys or the gals you gotta worry about when it comes ta family." His darkened a bit, old memories were resurfacing. Kids in Queens who were newsies were much safer if they had no family.
"I know what I'm doin', alright? I ain't gonna bother ya, I'm just gonna sell. That ain't a real problem."
She sure had a temper... but that didn't bother Rip really.
"Sure, sure, you know what you're doin'." He rolled his eyes a little. All newbies were the same. "It ain't a bother ta me if ya sell or not. Jus' warnin' you and keepin' ya and your family safe." He put an emphasis on family. He would know... that's why Sherlock had to stay away from Queens. No one was to know that he still had family.
"Just take me ta the lodgin' house, alright."
Rip raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, no can do, Miss Friedman. You do as ya like, but don't say I didn't warn ya." He looked back at her. "Besides, won't your mum be worried about ya not comin' back home? Or ya bein' a runner?"
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 18:58:15 GMT -5
"It ain't that. You've got guts, I can see that. But it ain't the boys or the gals you gotta worry about when it comes ta family."
Nothing that Rip was saying made sense to Lacey. She was confused, bewildered, and terrified, and completely unsure about where she was. Growing up in Brooklyn, she just didn't come to Queens. She never had any reason to, and later on when she could have, there was a rivalry between the boroughs.
"Sure, sure, you know what you're doin'. It ain't a bother ta me if ya sell or not. Jus' warnin' you and keepin' ya and your family safe."
She bit her lip harshly, to the point where she was afraid that she might draw blood. She didn't like this. Not anymore. Something about Rip scared her, but she had no clue what it was.
"Sorry, no can do, Miss Friedman. You do as ya like, but don't say I didn't warn ya."
Lacey frowned, "You were just takin' me a minute ago. Where am I supposed ta stay if I can't find the lodgin' house?"
"Besides, won't your mum be worried about ya not comin' back home? Or ya bein' a runner?"
She swallowed thickly. There it was. Lacey didn't know how to respond. If she said she was being a runner, then it would make no sense why she was a newsie in the first place, since she had mentioned wanting to help her mom by working. But if she said she would be worried, then it was just another reason for him to not bring her to the lodging house, and she wouldn't be able to ask around about Rip. "I, uh... I dunno."
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 19:03:10 GMT -5
"You were just takin' me a minute ago."
Rip shrugged. "That was until you showed me you don't got a clue what you're gettin' yourself inta."
"Where am I supposed ta stay if I can't find the lodgin' house?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering if there wasn't something possibly off about this girl. Lucy seemed to suspicious all the sudden. Maybe she wasn't just a newbie?
"I, uh... I dunno."
He sighed. She must be struggling with the passing of her dad and not being able to have enough money for the family. He could understand even if that was in the distant past. She must have run, not thinking about it.
"Here." He held out his hand. It was to anchor and comfort her if she needed. She looked like she needed it. "I won't take you to the lodge here. But I can take ya to the one in Bronx. It ain't far. You can go there, rest, and rethink what you need ta do. Don't make your mum worry, 'kay?"
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 19:06:51 GMT -5
"That was until you showed me you don't got a clue what you're gettin' yourself inta."
Lacey scoffed out loud this time. Rip was treating her like she was a child, and she didn't appreciate it. She didn't need to be babied, even if she had been a newbie. It wasn't like Queens could be that much different than Brooklyn, after all, right?
"Here."
She hesitated, looking from his hand to his face. She was weary to take his hand and trust him, but she knew that she had no choice. She couldn't risk looking too suspicious.
"I won't take you to the lodge here. But I can take ya to the one in Bronx. It ain't far. You can go there, rest, and rethink what you need ta do. Don't make your mum worry, 'kay?"
Lacey swallowed thickly as she hesitated a moment more. This would be giving up on finding out about Rip, and she couldn't do that. She couldn't do that after she had come this far. However, she reached out and slowly took his hand. It was rough and large, and in a way, it just made Lacey feel smaller and more vulnerable. "Thanks." She muttered.
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 19:11:47 GMT -5
"Thanks."
Rip raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear her thank him. That wasn't something he heard often.
"It's nothin'," he answered gruffly. "Let's get ya to the lodge."
He held her hand firmly, but not roughly. If she wanted to let go, she was free to do so. He walked beside her, shooting looks at anyone who dared to come near. Lucy was off limits. She needed to get back to a safe place away from the darkness of Queens. She wasn't anything like the girls in Queens. Yeah, she had spunk, but there was an innocence about her that just wasn't suited for living in Queens.
The walk to Bronx was brisk and quick, which he was glad of. It was still too hot. Now to get to the lodge. It was just a few blocks away from the border.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 19:15:01 GMT -5
"It's nothin'. Let's get ya to the lodge."
There was something about the way that Rip spoke and brushed off her thank you that made Lacey just a bit unsure about things. Sure, she had heard all of the bad stories about him, but she was worried now that maybe she hadn't gotten even a part of the full story when it came to both sides of it. What was so terrible about living in Queens? What made Rip like this?
Walking with him to the Bronx, Lacey couldn't help but curse to herself under her breath. She had screwed this up. She hadn't succeeded at the one thing that she had set out to do, and she was left feeling stupid for thinking that she could do it in the first place. She just felt like she had let everyone down now.
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 19:35:08 GMT -5
It was quiet as they stepped into Bronx. It was getting late. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see them. It looked like he wouldn't be able to walk Lucy all the way to the lodge. He felt bad, but it couldn't be helped. The last thing he needed was for them to show up here in Bronx. It wasn't really part of their territory anyway.
He sighed and let go of Lucy's hand. "Sorry, but somethin' has come up. I have ta go." He pursed his lips. "If you go down this street." He pointed to show her. "And turn left at that big buildin' with the green roof, the lodge is right there. You can't miss it."
Rip glanced back towards Queens. "An' here. It ain't much, but should help ya an' your family." He placed his wallet in her hand. It was light, but had a couple of quarters in it. It would be enough to help a little. He hadn't been able to make much money off of papes today.
"Stay safe, little miss."
And he was off before she could say anything else. He needed to get the gang away from Bronx. He hated it when they stalked him. He would come when called. He wasn't stupid to run from them.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 19:39:42 GMT -5
"Sorry, but somethin' has come up. I have ta go."
Lacey was surprised by this, suddenly frowning as Rip spoke about needing to leave. Could she really let him go? She was so close?
"If you go down this street and turn left at that big buildin' with the green roof, the lodge is right there. You can't miss it."
She nodded slowly, taking in his instructions even though she wouldn't be using them. She didn't fully understand why he was being so nice to her, but maybe it was just because she was a girl.
"An' here. It ain't much, but should help ya an' your family."
Lacey's eyes widened when she felt Rip's wallet being placed into her hand, staring back at him with her mouth agape, unsure of what to say. "I-I can't take this, I'm not-"
"Stay safe, little miss."
And then he was gone. She was stunned. Swallowing thickly, she curled her fingers around the wallet and let out a soft sigh. Well then...
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Post by Rip on Aug 31, 2018 19:59:31 GMT -5
Rip glanced over his shoulder to make sure Lucy was all right. Heh, she just seemed a bit stunned. She'd get over it and probably forget all about this meeting. All the better for her.
He picked up his pace as he looked up at the sky. It was getting darker already... that must be why they were stalking him all the sudden. He knew he'd get it if he was late.
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Post by Lacey on Aug 31, 2018 20:04:34 GMT -5
Lacey frowned a bit as she watched Rip walk away, taking in a couple of shadowy presences around him. It all made her nervous, and everything felt wrong. Should she have gone after him? Probably not. She nearly did, however, before a familiar face suddenly showed up from around a corner.
Jack.
She nearly turned and ran right there. She didn't want to face Jack, and she especially didn't face Spot, who she figured was more than likely with him. However, instead, she stood still as Jack approached, finally leading her back off towards Manhattan so that they could get to Brooklyn.
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