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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 12:04:29 GMT -5
When Spot and Lacey entered the theatre, there were quite of few boys already there. Some were already playing cards, while others were just talking rather loudly over sodas. Racetrack spotted them and quickly waved them over to his table with a few other familiar Manhattan boys.
Spot hurried over to the table. "Hullo, Race." He motioned with his head towards Lacey. "This is Lacey. She's gonna watch a few games and might join us."
He frowned when Racetrack not so innocently asked if she was his girl. "You know she ain't. She's filling in as boid."
Racetrack didn't seem convinced but shrugged as Spot handed him the deck of cards to shuffle and deal out.
Spot pulled out a hair for Lacey before sitting down himself and getting comfortable before the game officially started.
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 12:11:23 GMT -5
"This is Lacey. She's gonna watch a few games and might join us."
Lacey shot the boy a smile, apparently called Race. She wasn't surprised. She had seen him at the Racetrack a few times when she had been selling, and some of the girls had said that he was always there. Apparently, a lot of the Manhattan girls had a thing for him. However, Race's question caught her a bit off guard. She shook her head slowly, although the boy didn't seem to be entirely convinced by either one of them.
As Spot pulled out a chair, it sent a blush immediately to the girl's cheeks, turning her face a bright shade of pink. "Thanks." She mumbled, sitting down beside him and leaning back in the chair, surveying the table.
[I'll be back when I can, going out to breakfast!]
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 12:25:12 GMT -5
"Thanks."
Spot gave her a slight nod, ignoring the nudges and grins from the Manhattan boys at his polite gesture. They were almost worst than his boys when it came to if he had a girl or not. Race had once told him that alot of the Manhattan boys had started bets on how soon Spot would find a girlfriend. He wasn't too thrilled with the news. He wished Race and the other 'Hattans would find someone else to bet on, or better yet, find a better hobby!
But enough of that, it was time to focus on the game. He had his cocky poker face on as he carefully looked over his hand of cards, letting Lacey get a peak so she could catch part of the game.
((Okay! Have a nice breakfast!))
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 13:40:18 GMT -5
[Just got back, and should be here for the rest of the day!]
It was quite obvious to Lacey what was going on, considering the boys weren't exactly keeping their teasing Spot about her being there discrete. She sighed softly, the blush still not fading from her cheeks as she did her best to push what they were doing aside.
Glancing at the cards as Spot showed them to her, she did her best to think about how high they were, since that was apparently the most valuable part of the game. She figured that she could remember them well enough, so she would just have to see what he did with them to see if she could get the hang of what was going on. Her face went blank once again, leaning back in her chair and trying channel Spot's "poker face."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 14:21:28 GMT -5
The first couple of games were slow. Spot was a bit antsy for the game to get placed and ended up giving up several rounds. He was saving up for the bigger rounds. This was his usual strategy on days when he knew he wasn't going back to the lodge until late. He could tell that Racetrack knew his plan. But it didn't matter if Race knew his plan or not, Spot always won. Race just wasn't that good yet, but Spot had to admit he was getting pretty close! He glanced over at Lacey occasionally between games just to see if she was following and checking what she was up to. He was starting to worry about if maybe he should walk her back to Manhattan. It was getting late. Only reason why he knew that was because Medda was getting up to sing. With most of the boys going wild over her, he knew it was her last song for the night which meant it was late. Really late. It wasn't quite past the lodge curfew, but it would be if they didn't leave once Medda was done. He nudged Lacey. "You gonna head back after dis round?" he asked softly, trying not to grimace at the kissing sounds Racetrack was making. Thoae kids really needed to knock it off! ((Yay! I'll be on and off. Still got some school to do so I'll be here between breaks. ))
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 14:28:32 GMT -5
[That's fine, take your time! I'll be here whenever you're on!]
Lacey had found that the game was a bit hard to keep up with towards the beginning, although after a few games had gone by, she was beginning to understand more about what was going on. She made sure to keep track of Spot's cards for each game, and her face remained blank, trying to make sure that she didn't end up giving anything away about whatever cards Spot had. It was actually quite interesting to her, considering strategy and things like that were some of the things that she loved.
"You gonna head back after dis round?"
Lacey glanced up as Spot nudged her, catching a brief glimpse of Race making kissy faces and noises behind him, although she ignored the smaller boy. She shrugged, "If you are. I'll leave when you do. I don't mind sleepin' on the street if it's just one night." She smiled a bit. "I'll leave if you're wantin' me to, though." She added quickly, not wanting to give Race an opportunity to make any comments about her wanting to stay with Spot.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 14:43:02 GMT -5
"If you are. I'll leave when you do. I don't mind sleepin' on the street if it's just one night."
Spot raised an eyebrow slightly at her mentioning sleeping on the street. "You can always sleep at the 'Hattan lodge..." He sent Racetrack a warning look as the younger boy made more faces at him and Lacey. "I'm probably gonna be stayin' late."
"I'll leave if you're wantin' me to, though."
He focused on Race dealing in the next game. "It's up ta you..." Even if he did want her to leave, he could never voice it aloud. He was too polite around the ladies sometimes. Thunder and Jack were always telling him if he didn't like the girl, he should just tell them. It wasn't like girls could soak him for that or anything. But he was just more comfortable in speaking his mind around boys.
"Like I said... I'm stayin' real late so, um ya might want ta hit the sack."
He was going to play a couple more rounds of poker which would last roughly around another hour or so and then he was going to pop by Staten before finally heading back home hopefully in time to catch an hour or two of sleep before the bell rang.
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 14:50:31 GMT -5
"You can always sleep at the 'Hattan lodge..."
Lacey shrugged a bit, biting her lip softly and crossing her arms over her chest. "I s'pose."
"Like I said... I'm stayin' real late so, um ya might want ta hit the sack."
Lacey was slightly saddened about leaving, although she understood why. There was no doubt in her mind that it also had something to do with all of the teasing that he was dealing with from the boys about her being there, and if he didn't want to deal with it, then she couldn't blame him. Besides, if she left now, she could make it back to the lodging house before Mrs. Harbour would close up for the night.
She sighed softly, slowly rising from her seat and pushing the chair back in carefully. "This was real fun. Thanks for tonight. I'll see ya tomorrow, yeah?" She shot the boy a smile, which was both bright and shy at the same time, moving away from the table full of boys without another word.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 15:05:53 GMT -5
"I s'pose."
Spot watched her from the corner of his eye. "Whatever you feel comfortable wit'. 'Hattan goils don't bite if that's what you're worried about."
"This was real fun. Thanks for tonight."
He smiled slightly. "Glad ya enjoyed it... maybe next time you can join in a game."
"I'll see ya tomorrow, yeah?"
He blinked a bit in surprise. He hadn't exactly been expecting her to leave right now. But she could stay or go as she pleased. He couldn't keep her. He gave her a slight not. "Might, might not," he shrugged. "Stay safe. Need one of the boys ta walk you to the bridge?"
He immediately scowled at a comment from one of the younger newsies. "Enough of that," he snapped and stood up. "I'll do it myself." He looked at her a bit sheepishly. "If you don't mind... would rather not have any goils headin' home by themselves."
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 15:15:13 GMT -5
"Whatever you feel comfortable wit'. 'Hattan goils don't bite if that's what you're worried about."
A small laugh escaped Lacey's lips at that. "I ain't worried about 'Hattan goils."
"Glad ya enjoyed it... maybe next time you can join in a game."
The smile on Spot's lips had her own smile brightening a bit, and she felt as though she understood enough of the game to play some next time that she was invited. Plus, the Manhattan newsies that were there seemed nice - at least when they weren't mumbling something about her and Spot. She figured that things like that would fade away after a while if she were to keep coming to more of those little get-together type things.
"Stay safe. Need one of the boys ta walk you to the bridge?"
Lacey shrugged, "I can-" She began, but she was cut off by one of the younger newsies chiming in.
"I'll do it myself. If you don't mind... would rather not have any goils headin' home by themselves."
Lacey did her best to ignore the shy blush that formed on her cheeks. Spot had walked her home before. It wasn't as though it was anything special, and his intentions were just being friendly. However, after having an entire night being teased about supposedly being Spot's girl, she couldn't help but blush. She nodded a bit, smiling softly and looking at the ground. "That'd be nice. Thanks." Her voice was soft, and nearly inaudible, so she wasn't sure if Spot actually heard her. "But if ya wanna stay here wit' your game, then don't let me stop ya." She quickly added.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 15:35:50 GMT -5
"I ain't worried about 'Hattan goils."
Spot shook his head, smirking ever so slightly. "Yeah... they ain't nothin' ta worry about."
The Manhattan girls were sweet things and maybe a bit ditsy at times, but good girls who were dependable for the most part. They reflected the same fun and kindness that the boys had.
"That'd be nice. Thanks."
Spot nodded quickly, barely catching her thanks over the boys cheering ,and glared at Racetrack and his friends as he took his winnings.
"But if ya wanna stay here wit' your game, then don't let me stop ya."
He shook his head. "Naw, I'm done playin'." He shot another glare at Racetrack who seemed to finally be taking a hint. "I have somethin' else I need ta be doin' so I can walk ya ta the bridge."
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 15:41:54 GMT -5
"Yeah... they ain't nothin' ta worry about."
Lacey flashed him a smile, shrugging slightly. It appeared that she wouldn't have to worry about it either way, considering she could probably get back to the lodging house before it closed, or maybe a minute or two afterwards, which Mrs. Harbour would understand.
"Naw, I'm done playin'."
Lacey shrugged slightly. If he was done, then she wasn't going to argue with him. She just didn't want him to feel obligated to walk her anywhere and leave his friends earlier than he was originally planning to. She would feel terrible about that.
"I have somethin' else I need ta be doin' so I can walk ya ta the bridge."
She tilted her head slightly, although didn't bother asking. If she knew anything about Spot by then, it was that there were quite a few things that he would just refuse to talk about. She didn't know entirely whether it was just with her, or if he was shutting everyone out about certain things, but she wasn't going to bother checking. "If that's what you want." She shrugged nonchalantly.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 16:00:31 GMT -5
"If that's what you want."
Spot glanced at her from the corner of his eye and gave a slight shrug. It wasn't exactly what he had in mind, but thanks to Race, he wasn't really up to sticking around to play a few more games to bump up his winnings. Besides, he really needed to head by Staten sooner rather than later. Thunder wasn't excessively fond of extremely late night visits. He preferred for Spot to come in a bit earlier but that couldn't always be helped.
He motioned with his head that he was leaving before giving a quick goodbye to Race and Jack. Most of the boys were fawning over Medda as she gave her final bows, so it was easy for him and Lacey to slip out the back and into the cool night.
He sighed in relief. It was good to be outside and away from the teasing guys. He really wished they would knock it off. It wasn't like he was the only single newsie or newsie leader for that matter!
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 16:07:57 GMT -5
Moving out the back with Spot, she briefly waved goodbye to Jack and Race before following her leader. She didn't speak at first, simply beginning to walk with him, her hazel gaze attached to the ground. However, after maybe thirty seconds or so of silence, she spoke up.
"'m sorry about them... I didn't know ya were gonna get teased like that." She replied, her voice having quieted down quite a bit once more. She hated thinking that Spot had left early because of her when he would probably normally be leaving so much later, but what could she do? He didn't seem to be willing to allow her to walk home by herself, so she just had to apologize for it. She really did just want to see Spot happy, although it seemed as though she had managed to mess up the one thing that he apparently really enjoyed doing. "I wouldn've come along if I thought that it'd be a big deal." She swallowed thickly.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 16:29:01 GMT -5
"'m sorry about them... I didn't know ya were gonna get teased like that."
Spot shrugged and shook his head as he enjoyed the cool breeze passing through the streets of Manhattan. "It's not your fault. They're always like that. Just a bit more so than normal..."
Very true too. They were being a bit more in the teasing mood than usual. Racetrack must have hit it real good at the races or had a good selling day. That, or maybe even both. Racetrack was always in more of a teasing mood when his day had gone extremely well.
"I wouldn've come along if I thought that it'd be a big deal."
Spot raised his eyebrows and slowed their pace once they got to the more well lit street. "It's not a big deal at all. What makes you think that?" he found himself asking curiously. Normally, he would keep such questions to himself, but for some reason he was curious to know why she thought this was all a big deal. It was rather annoying, but nothing big. He just lost his patience a little sooner than normal. It probably had to do with the whole Rip business, and he was antsy about talking with his brother about that among other things.
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 16:38:33 GMT -5
"It's not your fault. They're always like that. Just a bit more so than normal..."
Lacey swallowed thickly, shrugging slightly and sighing. She wasn't entirely good at reading guy's emotions when it came to things like that, but it had still been quite easy to tell that everyone had jumped at the opportunity to tease Spot about having brought a girl with him. She couldn't help but feel bad.
"It's not a big deal at all. What makes you think that?"
Lacey shrugged, beginning to fidget slightly with her fingers as her gaze dropped to the ground once again. "I dunno, I guess I just thought..." She trailed off, closing her eyes tightly and sighing softly. "I'm not used to hearin' about people likin' me. Even though it's not the case." She added quickly. "I just don't normally get attention like that, 'n' so seeing them making fun of ya and stuff just made me feel bad. I don't want people havin' to deal with stuff like that because o' someone like me." She shrugged. She didn't even know if what she was saying made any sense. She just didn't really know how to word it. She didn't talk to a lot of guys. Typically she stayed back. She only really trusted her brothers and Spot, because he was the leader, and she had no choice but to trust him.
"It might not've mattered much to ya. You have goils all over Brooklyn that talk 'bout ya like that all the time. I just..." She sighed. "I don't."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 18:12:22 GMT -5
"I dunno, I guess I just thought..."
"You thought?" he pressed gently.
"I'm not used to hearin' about people likin' me. Even though it's not the case."
Spot nodded some in understanding though he cocked his head slightly. "Do people not like you?" he asked confused.
He had thought Lacey was decently popular among the girls and seemed to get along well with most of the newsies. Why would they not like her?
"I just don't normally get attention like that, 'n' so seeing them making fun of ya and stuff just made me feel bad. I don't want people havin' to deal with stuff like that because o' someone like me."
He shrugged. "No need ta feel bad. Race and his friends jus' like teasin'. It's not your fault. They do it all the time. No matter if I'm wit' a goil or not. Even did it once when my cousin was taggin' along for a game once..." he trailed off. He rarely brought up his cousin ever since she fled the state.
"It might not've mattered much to ya. You have goils all over Brooklyn that talk 'bout ya like that all the time. I just... I don't."
He made a slight face at the thought of girls talking about him. He really hated having their attention.
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 18:27:32 GMT -5
"Do people not like you?"
Lacey shrugged, glancing away and chewing harshly onto her bottom lip. It was a bit more complicated to answer the question than she figured that Spot assumed. She had friends, most definitely. She had a lot of friends that she figured she would always remain in touch with. She had her brothers. But she also had a lot of people that downright hated her. It was just the way that life was, and she had learned not to focus on them after a while. "I dunno, I..." She sighed, "I guess it depends on the person who you ask about that."
"No need ta feel bad. Race and his friends jus' like teasin'. It's not your fault. They do it all the time. No matter if I'm wit' a goil or not. Even did it once when my cousin was taggin' along for a game once..."
Lacey frowned. His cousin? She hadn't known that Spot had had a cousin at some point, although she figured that she very well could have known her and just not known her well enough. She hadn't really known much about Spot before a few days prior, either.
However, the thing that really caught her attention was the fact that Spot didn't seem entirely happy about the fact that girls would swoon over him wherever he went. "Do you not like attention? From goils? I-I can leave ya alone..." She coughed slightly, trying to play off her slight stutter at her words. She didn't want to leave Spot and not speak to him anymore. He was a good person behind his poker face. She wanted to keep that close.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 18:55:15 GMT -5
"I dunno, I... I guess it depends on the person who you ask about that."
"Oh..." Spot said softly. "Didn't mean ta pry or be rude..."
Stuff like that could be touchy. After all, there were alot of people who didn't exactly think the best of him even in Brooklyn. He didn't like talking about that so it wouldn't be odd if Lacey felt the same way.
"Do you not like attention?"
He shrugged. "I don't hate it, but I'm not crazy about it either. Jus' depends on what kind of attention I guess."
"From goils? I-I can leave ya alone..."
Spot made a slight face. "Depends on what kind of attention they give me." His eyes widened slightly. "What... you think I'm mad at ya or somethin'?" He stopped walking and frowned at her. "I might not always tell a goil that I hate attention, but if it comes down ta it, I will. But that's only when they try ta get in the way of Brooklyn which ain't somethin' you seem ta be doin'."
He was slightly irritated to think Lacey had thought he put her on the same level as all those other girls. If he did, she wouldn't have had the smallest of chances of being considered for the position of a bird.
"If I wanted ya ta leave me alone, I wouldn't be lettin' ya try out as a boid," he muttered as he started towards the bridge again.
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 19:03:16 GMT -5
"Didn't mean ta pry or be rude..."
Lacey shook her head quickly, "No, you aren't being rude at all." She smiled softly. "'m not gonna worry 'bout what other people say 'bout me. I can be a good person, or I can be harsh when it's necessary." She shrugged.
"I don't hate it, but I'm not crazy about it either. Jus' depends on what kind of attention I guess."
That was fair. Lacey would have felt the same way if she had the same problem as he did, with girls tripping over themselves as they tried to get his attention. It could even get frustrating to her, at times... And that was precisely why she never did it herself.
"I might not always tell a goil that I hate attention, but if it comes down ta it, I will. But that's only when they try ta get in the way of Brooklyn which ain't somethin' you seem ta be doin'."
It took a moment for Lacey to process what had just happened, with Spot having suddenly stopped walking to look at her and speak to her about girls. Of course, her eyes had widened slightly as she stared right back at him, taking a moment to process things before quickly catching up with him. He had started walking away again a few moments prior, mumbling about trying her out as a bird.
She swallowed thickly, forcing back whatever else she was thinking about saying in fear of upsetting him further. It wasn't that she was scared of him if he was upset, it was that most of the newsies were, and she didn't want them to have to be on their toes about everything because of something that she had said.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 20:00:55 GMT -5
"No, you aren't being rude at all."
Spot relaxed, relieved that he hadn't been rude.
"'m not gonna worry 'bout what other people say 'bout me. I can be a good person, or I can be harsh when it's necessary."
He nodded slowly. He probably worried a little too much about what people said about him. It was probably because he was a leader and felt so much responsibility. He had a reputation to live up to as Brooklyn's leader.
The rest of the walk was rather silent. Spot wasn't sure if he liked it that way or not. It seemed this night wasn't going as planned. The start hadn't gone well so why did he think it would end well? One could always hope for a better end, but that wasn't something that always happened with Spot.
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 20:06:36 GMT -5
The walk suddenly becoming silent could have been a good thing or a bad thing. Lacey had no idea. She didn't know how to read Spot at all anymore, which she figured was because she had spent all night focusing so much on hiding her own thoughts and emotions. She was out of it. However, the silence didn't feel entirely... Comfortable. Lacey normally loved silence. It calmed her down and it helped her think, but that wasn't something that she was working out that night.
It felt strange not saying anything to Spot now. It felt strange because it didn't entirely feel like they were in a great place in their friendship - if she was allowed to call it that. She didn't even know what to call Spot anymore. Partner? Boss? Friend? She had no idea.
"What're we" She blurted out, suddenly blushing and shaking her head. "Not, like, relationship relationship-wise... But like... Relationship-wise?" She asked, wincing a bit at how little sense she was making. "Just... You said that you didn't want me to leave you alone. Do you want me to be - stay - with you?"
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 4, 2016 23:41:52 GMT -5
"What're we?"
Spot would never admit it, but her question startled him. The walk had been so silent that he hadn't been expecting her to speak up all of the sudden.
"Not, like, relationship relationship-wise... But like... Relationship-wise?"
He paused and studied her. "Relationship-wise?"
He wasn't sure how to answer that. He didn't know the answer to that himself. What was Lacey to him? Just another newsie? A bird? Or something else?
"Just... You said that you didn't want me to leave you alone. Do you want me to be - stay - with you?"
He pursed his lips and shoved his hands into his pockets. He glanced up at the moon before meeting her eyes. "Well... I don't know exactly what you mean by 'stay,'" he said slowly, ears turning a bit pink. "But um... I'm thinkin' I might like havin' you be a boid."
He wasn't sure if that was the answer she was looking for, but he wanted to let her know in his awkward, leader sort of way that he appreciated what she did for the borough and that he respected her and didn't want her to leave.
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Post by Lacey on Jul 4, 2016 23:47:05 GMT -5
"Relationship-wise?"
Lacey's cheeks were flushed a deep scarlet color as he repeated her words, shrugging slightly. "I dunno how ta explain it. I s'pose I'm not too good with woids." She laughed nervously.
"I'm thinkin' I might like havin' you be a boid."
A smile tugged at Lacey's lips after hearing that, laughing nervously once more and brushing her hair out of her face. "O-Oh, that's good. Thanks, Spot." She smiled a bit. She was a bit relieved to know that she had done something right with the whole trial run for being one of his birds, considering it was making her more involved with things and such... It would help her in the long run. "I'm thinkin' I might like bein' a boid."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 9:12:05 GMT -5
"I dunno how ta explain it. I s'pose I'm not too good with woids."
Spot nodded slowly. "Guess... guess maybe we could say it more like friendship-wise?" He chuckled a little nervously. "I don't really like the word 'relationship.'"
"O-Oh, that's good. Thanks, Spot."
He merely shrugged as they finally reached the bridge. "No need ta thank me... you've earned bein' a boid."
"I'm thinkin' I might like bein' a boid."
He cracked a small grin. "That's good."
He wanted his birds to enjoy doing what they did. It wasn't good if they didn't like being a bird. It caused all sorts of problems... made Spot uneasy. Sometimes he worried about where their loyalties lied.
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