|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 10:27:30 GMT -5
Lacey had been left beyond confused about how to feel about the previous night. It had been running through her mind all day, from watching the game, to leaving, to the conversation about 'friendship...'
Friendship.
That was what seemed so strange. She didn't know if people being Spot's friend was a common occurrence or not. She had been thinking about it all day - although she didn't entirely have any idea why - and her selling had suffered slightly. She had just had to spend another ten or fifteen minutes out, but it was still quite miserable, because she hadn't had a full night of rest the night before.
She figured that talking to Spot would be a good thing, although she didn't necessarily think that speaking about friendship specifically mattered. It was more just getting to talk to him in general that she found herself really having enjoyed lately. However, she had no clue where she was supposed to find him, so she had decided to check the docks first... Just in case. If he wasn't there, then she would probably check the lodging house... And then as a last resort, Manhattan.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 10:34:30 GMT -5
Spot had made it back to Brooklyn late. Like real late, like later than his normal late. It had been late enough to have Mr. O'Quinns miffed with him. So you can probably guess that he had a pretty bad start. Barely an hour or two of sleep didn't make Spot the most amiable person. He was rather cranky with his boys this morning and had a rough selling day. The cup of coffee he snuck from Mr. O'Quinns' office only lasted for so long. He was tired. Called it quits earlier than normal and headed to the docks to catch a quick nap. He needed to be alert for the rest of the day in case things happened.
He found a quite corner at the top of the docks. Perfect place to catch a few z's. He sat on a crate and had his cap cover his eyes as he drifted off.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 10:39:52 GMT -5
Upon seeing a sleeping form in a far corner section of the docks, Lacey made her way over slowly and carefully. Of course, if Spot was asleep, it probably wouldn't be a good idea for anyone if she was to wake him up and bother him. However, when she got to the crate, there sat Spot, cap over his eyes, leaned back and most likely asleep.
She sighed softly, slowly sitting down beside the crate, laying back and staring up at the sky. It was a nice day, actually, with the sun not being too hot, and the wind being slightly cool, but still comfortable. She figured that staying there would be better than leaving completely and not finding Spot again for the rest of the night. If she left, that was most likely what would happen, and she would be stuck with no sort of closure on the matter for another day. That wouldn't be good for anyone, as she was barely able to stay in the lodging house with the money that she made as it was.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 10:45:09 GMT -5
Spot had managed to doze off for a good twenty minutes when he heard someone approaching. He tensed and listened carefully. He had a pretty good ear for footsteps and could almost tell which newsie was coming just by their footsteps. This set of footsteps wasn't extremely familiar, but it was familiar enough for him to know it wasn't anyone dangerous. He relaxed and stayed still.
Whoever it was could wait a few minutes. He still had some sleep to catch up on or his boys would be cranky for the rest of the day.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 10:50:28 GMT -5
Lacey didn't have any problem with waiting. It was actually something that she had gotten extremely good at over the years of being a newsie. She watched the clouds roll by, pulling her hair over her shoulder and sighing softly. She closed her own eyes, as well, just allowing herself to relax a bit more after the small amount of sleep that she had gotten the night before. She figured that it had taken away from being able to sell that day, but she supposed that she would never truly know. All that she knew for sure was that she couldn't afford to have another off day again for a long, long time.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 11:01:12 GMT -5
The quietness of the docks was nice. It had been awfully loud at the lodge that morning. So peace and quiet was exactly what Spot needed right now. Sleep was very important, and he hadn't been getting very much lately. He probably should stop making so many trips to Staten... but that couldn't really be helped. He'd just have to spread them out a little and maybe start asking Thunder and Jasper to pop in over to Brooklyn on occasion.
He slowly stretched and flicked his cap up to study whoever it was who climbed up into his part of the docks. He raised his eyebrow slightly when he spotted Lacey.
"Hey," he said a bit gruffly, his voice a bit scratchy from sleep and yelling. He had dark circles under his eyes, but Lacey wouldn't know they had been worse this morning.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 11:05:44 GMT -5
"Hey."
The gruffness from Spot's voice caught Lacey a bit off guard, her eyes slowly fluttering open and chills shooting up her spine. Wow. "Hey." She mumbled in return, blinking in the sunlight as her eyes began to adjust. Spot wasn't looking entirely awake, either, with dark circles under his eyes, which shown with exhaustion.
"Are you alright?" She asked, slowly forcing herself to sit up, rubbing her eyes a bit to force the sleep out of them. "How late did you come in last night?" She asked curiously, a bit worried about him. Not getting enough sleep wasn't healthy. She hadn't gotten enough sleep, and she had suffered a lot with her selling that day. Spot, however, got even less sleep than her... She didn't want anything bad to happen.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 11:58:51 GMT -5
"Hey."
Spot grunted softly. "Hey yourself..."
He stretched and sat up some. Crates weren't exactly the most comfortable places to sit and nap on.
"Are you alright?"
He blinked slowly, eyes still adjusting the to bright sunlight. "Yeah... why wouldn't I be?"
"How late did you come in last night?"
He deadpanned. Come to think of it how late did he get back? He wasn't sure how late it was... just knew it was later than his usual late. He rubbed his eyes and shrugged. "Pretty late? I wasn't exactly lookin' at the time..."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 12:05:41 GMT -5
"Yeah... why wouldn't I be?"
Lacey shrugged, "You seem really tired, and your voice is kinda..." She cleared her throat, "Scratchy, I guess. It's, um... It's a good kinda scratchy, though." She added quickly, her cheeks flushing a bit red.
"Pretty late? I wasn't exactly lookin' at the time..."
She frowned a bit, "Shouldn't ya be restin' in the lodging house then? 'M sure that Mr. O'Quinn'd understand if he saw ya..." She stated. Spot truly did look tired, and slightly uncomfortable. "I could walk ya back, if that's what you wanted..."
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 12:16:40 GMT -5
"You seem really tired, and your voice is kinda... Scratchy, I guess. It's, um... It's a good kinda scratchy, though."
Spot resisted yawning and cleared his throat. "Yelled alot today... that's why it's scratchy."
Might have been the coffee too. Mr. O'Quinns seriously should think about adding a bit of sugar to his coffee.
"Shouldn't ya be restin' in the lodging house then? 'M sure that Mr. O'Quinn'd understand if he saw ya..."
Spot quickly shook his head. "Too loud. Boys are always comin' in and out."
Last time he tried to nap back at the lodge, the boys interrupted and somehow convinced him to go out to the races with them. Yeah, he didn't catch up on any sleep that day.
"I could walk ya back, if that's what you wanted..."
He cocked his head at her offer. "It's fine. Docks are better."
He couldn't hold back a yawn this time as he stood up to stretch his legs. Man... he was still tired.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 12:21:28 GMT -5
"Yelled alot today... that's why it's scratchy."
Lacey smiled. She figured that it was probably a perfectly natural thing for Spot, anyway... Plus, he was tired. It was a valid excuse.
"Too loud. Boys are always comin' in and out."
Of course, that made a lot of sense, as well... It just wasn't a good thing that it made any sense. She sighed softly, slowly forcing herself to her feet. "Then lemme take ya somewhere. I got some money from my brother... I could get you coffee? Real coffee?" She tilted her head slightly, although she didn't expect any entirely happy answer from Spot.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 12:25:32 GMT -5
"Then lemme take ya somewhere. I got some money from my brother... I could get you coffee? Real coffee?"
Spot straightened his cap and made a slight face. He didn't think he'd be drinking coffee any time soon. He really didn't understand how Mr. O'Quinns liked that stuff. It was terrible!
"Naw... had my fill of coffee for taday." He wrinkled his nose some to emphasize his dislike for coffee today. Maybe Mr. O'Quinns did that on purpose to keep the boys out of his coffee.
"But a soda pop would be nice," he added, not wanting to hurt her feelings. She, of course, didn't have to buy him one.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 12:30:05 GMT -5
"Naw... had my fill of coffee for taday."
Lacey nodded slowly, her facial expression not changing much at all. She was a bit saddened about not getting the chance to do anything with him but stand there talking to him or run errands for him, especially when he had taken her out the previous night.
"But a soda pop would be nice."
Lacey's bright hazel eyes lit up, grinning brightly and nodding. She couldn't remember the last time that she had gone out for legitimately good food, although taking Spot out seemed just as fun to her as anything else. "Yes! Let's go!" She grinned brightly, grabbing his hand and practically beginning to drag him across the docks back towards Brooklyn, a skip in her step that hadn't been there before.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 12:37:31 GMT -5
"Yes! Let's go!"
Spot was a bit taken back at her excitement. But they were going for a soda, so he couldn't complain. He needed something to wake him up and help him survive the rest of the night. He let Lacey lead him out from the docks, but as soon as they reached the streets, he was walking beside her. Couldn't let the boys see him being led by a girl. Not that girls weren't as good as boys or anything like that. Just bad for his reputation.
The rest of the day might not be so bad. It had been awhile since he had a soda.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 12:42:15 GMT -5
Once Spot was walking beside her, she had immediately dropped his hand, walking a bit slower so that she wouldn't look strange to the people on the streets around her or to the other newsies. She was quite excited, especially because going out and selling was the only time in which she ever really walked around Brooklyn. She didn't know many places unless she sold there, although she did know where they sold soda pops. You were crazy if you didn't.
She pulled a few coins from her pockets, glancing at the four bits that she had left. She could spend almost all of it, and if she remembered correctly, she would still have twenty cents left once she had gotten the soda pop for Spot. That was reasonable enough. She could buy papers the next day with that.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 12:51:26 GMT -5
Spot stayed close to her but not too close. It wasn't often that he went out about Brooklyn for simple pleasures like soda. He was normally scanning the area over making sure his boys were behaving and such. Ever since his brothers and later Darcy too, Spot hadn't really went around Brooklyn for himself. Oh, he went to the races and played poker with the guys at the lodge, but that was more out of obligation than for his own amusement.
He entered the shop with Lacey, glancing over some of the new items that had just come in. Thunder had mentioned that Brooklyn tended to get certain items in before Staten did. He said something about this candy Jasper was wanting. He couldn't remember the name, so he just picked out a couple of the new ones. Prices were decent, and he had got some decent winnings last night from poker so he definitely could afford some candy as well as some soda.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 12:58:01 GMT -5
It didn't take long to reach the shop, and she entered along with Spot without another word. It was a comfortable silence, however, and she didn't entirely want to be the one to break it. She glanced over what they had, although her eyes were mostly flicking in Spot's direction.
"I'm gonna buy ya this stuff... Just so you're aware." She replied, figuring that she should probably make sure that it was clear now before they got up to pay for it and they started arguing about it there. They were already receiving quite a few strange looks for being there in the first place, although she didn't pay any attention to anyone else in the shop. Spot was who she was here with... And he's the only person that mattered to her there. In a completely platonic sort of way... Of course.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 13:24:49 GMT -5
"I'm gonna buy ya this stuff... Just so you're aware."
Spot looked up from his stash of candy in surprise. "Wha? I mean... you really don't have ta. I can um maybe..." He stumbled over his words as he set his items on the counter. "I dunno, pay the difference?" he added hopefully.
He didn't really like the thought of making a girl pay. It was the gentlemanly thing to do, pay for the stuff.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 13:32:07 GMT -5
"Wha? I mean... you really don't have ta. I can um maybe..."
Lacey couldn't help but giggle softly at his stuttering, along with the expression on his face. It was sweet, and it was cute... Although there was no way that she would say something like that out loud to him.
"I dunno, pay the difference?"
She shook her head, smiling a bit. "Nah, it's on me. My treat. Somethin' special for ya. You're lettin' me be a boid. I'll feel bad if I don't pay ya back somehow." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Plus, I don't need anythin' for myself."
She set the money out on the counter without another word.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 13:36:33 GMT -5
"Nah, it's on me. My treat."
Spot pursed his lips. He didn't really like her paying for the two of them. Maybe he should cut back on the candy?
"You're lettin' me be a boid. I'll feel bad if I don't pay ya back somehow."
"You don't have ta pay me back," he pointed out. "You bein' a great boid is more than enough..."
"Plus, I don't need anythin' for myself."
He raised an eyebrow. Well, this was an opportunity to compromise and keep his dignity. "Okay then, how's dis? You can pay for all this, but I get you a soda as well. I'd feel bad if I was the only one enjoyin' cold drink."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 13:47:23 GMT -5
"You don't have ta pay me back. You bein' a great boid is more than enough..."
Lacey wasn't sure if he was complimenting her or saying that it was what she should strive for, although she decided to be more on the humble side of things, nodding simply. "I'll try my best."
"Okay then, how's dis? You can pay for all this, but I get you a soda as well. I'd feel bad if I was the only one enjoyin' cold drink."
Lacey opened her mouth to object, although she sighed. There was no way that she was going to be able to convince Spot of anything otherwise, and deep down, she knew that she could use one. She sighed, biting her lip softly and slowly nodding. "Fine... If it's really what ya want..."
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 13:53:00 GMT -5
"I'll try my best."
Spot nodded in approval. Birds who tried to always do their best were the kinds of birds he could depend on.
"Fine... If it's really what ya want..."
He inwardly sighed in relief and nodded. "Yeah, it's kinda awkward to be the only one drinkin'," he joked as he picked out a soda for her. "Besides, it's hot taday. You could really use a cold drink."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 13:57:51 GMT -5
"Yeah, it's kinda awkward to be the only one drinkin'."
Lacey laughed at his words, rolling her eyes playfully. "Well, good ta know. I'll have ta drink with ya then, won't I?" She raised an eyebrow, watching as he picked out one of the sodas. She was actually really excited. She barely remembered what soda tasted like... So getting to have it again was going to [hopefully] be a pleasant experience. Plus, she wasn't all by herself, so she had someone to talk to while she drank it. It was a good end to a horrible day.
"Besides, it's hot taday. You could really use a cold drink."
Her eyes widened as she nodded, laughing a bit. "Yeah, it's swelterin' out there." She smiled a bit. The weather was something that she had learned to just deal with as a newsie, but even the newsies deserved some time off every now and then, and something to cool down with.
|
|
|
Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 5, 2016 14:04:50 GMT -5
"Well, good ta know. I'll have ta drink with ya then, won't I?"
Spot nodded a bit shyly, feeling a little awkward as he paid for Lacey's soda.
"Yeah, it's swelterin' out there."
"It sure is," he agreed as the two left the shop with their treats. "Boys are cranky and restless at the lodge. Most of 'em plan on swimmin' by the bridge later."
He was debating on whether he would join them. A swim would be nice, but he really shouldn't. He still had a few things to straighten out in Brooklyn after Lucky and Cricket had stirred up some trouble. The older newsies didn't take discipline very well, except maybe Lookout and a couple others.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Jul 5, 2016 14:09:39 GMT -5
Something about Spot seemed a little bit less assertive than normal, although she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. Plus, she wasn't complaining. It was a bit nice to not worry about if he was mad at her for something or not. She watched as he paid, feeling slightly bad about it, although he had offered and insisted. It was quite obvious that he wouldn't have dropped the subject either way. "Thanks." She smiled a bit, taking the soda and walking out of the shop with him.
"Boys are cranky and restless at the lodge. Most of 'em plan on swimmin' by the bridge later."
Lacey nodded, shrugging a bit. "'T makes sense. It's a good day for't. Are you gonna join 'em?" She asked, tilting her head slightly as she looked over at him. She probably wouldn't herself, considering a lot of the guys were, well... They were complicated. She didn't fancy taking off most of her clothes and swimming around with them. Spot would relax her a bit more, although she still probably wouldn't do it. If he wanted to, she would leave him alone and not question it. He deserved it.
|
|