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Post by Lacey on Jan 12, 2019 19:05:14 GMT -5
Lacey knew that she had to find the man that she had spoken to before. She didn't know where he was from, especially since he hadn't seemed to be from Queens, but it had been incredibly difficult for Lacey to find a way into Queens to begin with. She had managed to sneak in during a time when she hadn't been able to spot any birds hiding out at the border, but she still easily could have been seen winding her ways into the alleyways. The first quiet place that she had found to gather herself was the cemetery, crouching down behind one of the gravestones for some sort of shelter while she continued to inspect the area around her.
She had to find the man, and she had to find him without Rip being notified that she was back.
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Post by Ace on Jan 12, 2019 19:16:03 GMT -5
Ace really hadn't been planning on coming back to Queens so soon, but there was a strange feeling gnawing away at him. He just had to come back and make sure Rip hadn't done anything stupid. Though, he was pretty sure the guy wouldn't do anything drastic without warning him first, but still, if Rip was angry enough, he might just go ahead without saying a word to Ace.
That's why he was back. To check on his friend. However, before he started searching for his friend, he decided to head the cemetery to pay his respects. He tried to do so every so often when he visited to Queens. It didn't take long to find the tombstone he was looking for. It wasn't much of a tombstone. Just a small rock with a name carved on it.
Ace crouched down and dusted off the snow that had built up on it, carefully pushing out the snow from the engraved letters before placing a small bouquet of flowers on top of it. He had no idea that he wasn't alone.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 12, 2019 19:18:17 GMT -5
It seemed to be impeccable timing on both of their parts. When Lacey had initially seen someone approaching, she had been quick to hide fully back behind the tombstone, only to peek out once again when she realized that this seemed to be exactly the man that she was looking for.
Almost instantly, she rose to her feet and scurried up to get behind the closest tombstone that she could find to him. "Hey... you."
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Post by Ace on Jan 12, 2019 20:59:36 GMT -5
"Hey... you."
Ace looked up, surprised. He hadn't expected to meet anyone in the cemetery except for maybe Rip. He cocked his head to the side as he stood up so he could face Lacey properly.
"Hey..."
He knew they hadn't left on good terms per say. He hoped she hadn't handled his news too badly...
"What brings you ta Queens?"
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Post by Lacey on Jan 12, 2019 22:35:46 GMT -5
"Hey..."
If she was being honest, she didn't know how to react to him now that she was finally standing in front of him again. Part of her wanted to be angry that he had said something like that about Spot, but she wasn't an angry person. Just... emotional.
"What brings you ta Queens?"
"Had ta find you," She cleared her throat, "I talked ta Spot."
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Post by Ace on Jan 12, 2019 22:41:06 GMT -5
"Had ta find you."
Ace raised an eyebrow. There was something she needed to say to him?
"I talked ta Spot."
He clicked his tongue lightly, understanding her purpose of searching him out. "He doesn't remember or denies it, I take it?"
He wasn't surprised. It had happened so long ago... and well, there was a certain person who had covered things up rather nicely. Or at least, covered the evidence that Brooklyn was even there.
Ace pursed his lips some. "Did you ever know a guy named 'Dragon'?" It might seem a little off topic, but it was actually quite closely related to this whole thing.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 12, 2019 22:43:05 GMT -5
"He doesn't remember or denies it, I take it?"
Her eyes narrowed a bit. She didn't really appreciate the fact that he still seemed to be insisting that Spot could be capable of something so terrible, but she chose not to mention it.
"Did you ever know a guy named 'Dragon'?"
She cleared her throat. "I, uh... think so? I don't think I was here long with 'im."
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Post by Ace on Jan 12, 2019 22:50:25 GMT -5
"I, uh... think so? I don't think I was here long with 'im."
Ace nodded, noting that Lacey had narrowed her eyes at him. She probably didn't believe him, but he couldn't blame her. "Probably a good thing..." he muttered softly. He didn't like to remember the days when Dragon was leader.
"Anyways... Dragon's the man behind it you could say." He wasn't denying that Spot hadn't killed anyone though, but he was going to show her he knew Spot hadn't purposefully killed anyone. What had been done was an accident. Yet, accidents still resulted in heavy consequences. Ace certainly didn't want Spot to die, but he knew Spot needed to know the truth about what had happened that night even if it hurt.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 12, 2019 22:52:21 GMT -5
"Probably a good thing..."
Lacey frowned once again. "Why's it a good thing?" Sure, she didn't figure that it was a bad thing, but why would it be good?
"Anyways... Dragon's the man behind it you could say."
Swallowing thickly, Lacey suddenly didn't feel quite so great. "He's... the person who killed Rip's cousin? Or the person who made Spot do it?"
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Post by Ace on Jan 12, 2019 22:59:48 GMT -5
"Why's it a good thing?"
Ace winced slightly, he hadn't meant for her to hear that. "Dragon wasn't exactly the nicest guy. Better not to know that's all."
"He's... the person who killed Rip's cousin? Or the person who made Spot do it?"
He pursed his lips once more. "Not exactly... Spot did do it... but why he was even there that night? That's on Dragon."
Dragon had been quite the sneaky and conniving leader. He had quite the grudge against Queens and had gotten deeply involved in things he probably shouldn't have... especially as a newsies and leader of Brooklyn.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 12, 2019 23:02:23 GMT -5
"Dragon wasn't exactly the nicest guy. Better not to know that's all."
Lacey frowned once again. She hadn't known Dragon for long, but from what she had known about him, he had never done anything cruel or bad to her. At least, not that she could remember.
"Not exactly... Spot did do it... but why he was even there that night? That's on Dragon."
"Then why wouldn't Spot remember it? Why would he insist that he didn't do it?" He wasn't lying, that much she knew for sure. He wouldn't lie to her about something like that, and the anger and frustration that he had felt had been too real looking for it to be fake.
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Post by Ace on Jan 12, 2019 23:13:53 GMT -5
"Then why wouldn't Spot remember it?"
Ace shrugged. He didn't know why Spot remember, but he did have his suspicions.
"Why would he insist that he didn't do it?"
That was another question he couldn't directly answer. He could only tell Lacey what he knew. "There's only two possible reasons why Spot doesn't remember or denies it." He held up one finger. "One, he blocked the out the memory. It was a horrible night, so I don't blame him. I wish I could forget. I wish we all could..." He held back a shudder at the memories. There had been so much blood... "Two," he held up another finger. "He didn't know he killed Rip's cousin. Just thought he injured the kid real bad. But Dragon..." Ace had seen the Brooklyn's leader face. "Dragon knew what had happened and made sure Spot didn't think anything of it."
Those were the only reasons that could possibly explain things, because Ace had seen everything that night... He knew what had happened.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 12, 2019 23:17:29 GMT -5
"There's only two possible reasons why Spot doesn't remember or denies it."
Lacey tilted her head ever so slightly. It all just seemed so strange to her, like something was off.
"One, he blocked the out the memory. It was a horrible night, so I don't blame him. I wish I could forget. I wish we all could..."
Again, she frowned. Surely if he had just blocked it out, there would have been some glimmer of pain in his eyes rather than confusion. She supposed that it was still possible, but she didn't know how much weight she would give the idea.
"Two, he didn't know he killed Rip's cousin. Just thought he injured the kid real bad."
Lacey paused. Could that be the reason? Could he really not know that someone had died because of him?
"But Dragon... Dragon knew what had happened and made sure Spot didn't think anything of it."
Her heart sank a bit. So this was Dragon's fault. Sure, Spot might have been the hand that dealt the final blow, but he didn't realize that it had happened. Dragon was the bad person in the situation.
Slowly raising her gaze once again, her eyes narrowed. "I need to talk ta Rip."
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Post by Ace on Jan 12, 2019 23:26:11 GMT -5
"I need to talk ta Rip."
Ace pursed his lips. He wasn't sure if Lacey ought to talk to Rip. Tensions were high... Rip wanted revenge on Spot, and Lacey wanted to protect Spot. Anything could go wrong if the two met. He had no idea that they had already met several times before. But even though he didn't, it still didn't change the fact that the confrontation could be dangerous.
"I don't know where he is."
Which was true. He had come to the cemetery first, so he had no idea where Rip was. There were any number of places the guy could be at this time of day.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 12, 2019 23:27:51 GMT -5
"I don't know where he is."
"Then help me find him." Her voice was softer this time, moreso pleading than she was commanding. "We have ta tell him what happened, we have ta tell 'im that Spot didn't know. That he's attackin' Spot for no reason, please."
It could be dangerous to approach Rip, yes, but she was bound to be safer with someone who knew him beside her.
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 12:03:19 GMT -5
"Then help me find him."
Ace was hesitant to do so, but she had asked as a plea for help. He could not deny her that.
"We have ta tell him what happened, we have ta tell 'im that Spot didn't know. That he's attackin' Spot for no reason, please."
He bit the inside of his cheek and shook his head. “He knows about Dragon... and about Spot.”
Rip knew that Spot wasn’t fully aware of his actions, but that hadn’t changed his decision. Whether Spot knew what he did or not, he had still killed.
While Ace knew that Rip already knew this... it might not be so bad to have someone else try to talk sense into the guy.
“But,” he added quietly. “We can try ta see what we can do.”
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 12:44:56 GMT -5
“He knows about Dragon... and about Spot.”
It hurt hearing that perhaps Rip was just being cruel for the sake of getting back at Spot for something that he didn't know he had done. Did Rip really not care that Spot hadn't known? How was that fair?
“But, we can try ta see what we can do.”
She relaxed, quickly nodding her head. Finally, someone was willing to take her seriously and help her. It would be safer than doing it alone, though she would have tried anyway if he had denied her again.
"Let's go."
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 15:48:41 GMT -5
"Let's go."
Ace nodded before glancing at the small tombstone once more and heading out of the cemetery. He was cautious exiting. It wouldn't be good for the boys to see Lacey. At this time of day, he knew Rip probably wouldn't be at the lodge or around selling. There were really only two other places the guy could be... but one of those places, he and Lacey couldn't go. He hoped Rip wasn't there.
He carefully led Lacey through back ways, trying to stay out of sight while still keeping an eye out for Rip. They headed towards the center of the borough where several warehouses stood.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 15:58:14 GMT -5
Lacey was quick to follow Ace around, though she found herself constantly glancing around, just in case they were going to be seen by someone. She knew by now that people had to know who she was... she had confronted Rip straight up a few times now.
Once they began approaching some warehouses, however, Lacey frowned, slowing her pace. "Why would he be here?"
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 16:04:35 GMT -5
"Why would he be here?"
"Shhhh." Ace motioned for her to be quiet and to stay hidden in the alleyway they were in. "I'll check ahead ta see if he's here."
If the boys saw him, there would less commotion. Rip had made it clear to the boys that Ace wasn't to be bothered. They didn't always listen, but most of the them respected that rule.
Ace glanced at Lacey before heading to one of the smaller warehouses and knocking lightly on the door. However, Lacey could tell he had gotten no response, and now he had returned with a frown on his face.
"He's not here..." He looked oddly frustrated. "We won't be able to meet him today."
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 16:07:37 GMT -5
"Shhhh."
Lacey was a bit startled by the sudden command to stay quiet, but she did as she was told.
"I'll check ahead ta see if he's here."
She nodded slowly, though she was still unsure why he would have been in one of these warehouses.
"He's not here... We won't be able to meet him today."
Lacey's brows furrowed. Why couldn't they meet him today? If he wasn't here then he had to be somewhere else, and something about the way that Ace was speaking told her that she knew exactly where he was.
"Why not? I won't be able ta sneak in here again, Rip increased the border patrol. I need ta talk ta him, please just tell me where ta find him." She frowned. If she wasn't told... then she would spend the day searching herself.
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 16:12:50 GMT -5
"Why not?"
Ace glanced back at the open, as if he was afraid someone might be watching them or eavesdropping on them. "It's too dangerous."
"I won't be able ta sneak in here again, Rip increased the border patrol."
He nodded grimly. He had noticed that the borders had seemed a little more watched than usually. Brooklyn's border would be even tighter.
"I need ta talk ta him, please just tell me where ta find him."
He shook his head firmly. "I can't tell you. Even I don't know where he is exactly." Which was true, he knew were he 'was' but not the exact location. It could be anywhere... "You and I would be in terrible danger if we went to wherever he was."
He just hoped Lacey would understand the seriousness in his tone. Where Rip was, they could get killed... or worse. It was best to wait until tomorrow to try finding the Queens' leader.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 16:15:57 GMT -5
"It's too dangerous."
Lacey frowned again. "I already told ya I'll die for Spot if I have ta. I've gotta keep him safe from Rip, no one else is gonna do it."
"I can't tell you. Even I don't know where he is exactly."
She was frustrated. Sure, she understood from his tone of voice that it was bound to be dangerous, but it was dangerous now for her to be in Queens at all. It would be worth it if she could try getting Rip to leave Spot alone when he hadn't knowingly done anything wrong.
"You and I would be in terrible danger if we went to wherever he was."
"Then let me go. Don't come with me, but please. Please help me." She begged once again, keeping her voice low just in case someone might be eavesdropping as Ace seemed to worry that they might be. "I can do it, I promise. I'll be safe. I'm fast, if I need to run I can."
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 16:22:41 GMT -5
"I already told ya I'll die for Spot if I have ta. I've gotta keep him safe from Rip, no one else is gonna do it."
Ace bit his lip, wishing she would just understand how serious things were in Queens."I know... but this doesn't have to do with Rip. Not exactly. This kinda danger won't help you talk ta Rip."
"Then let me go. Don't come with me, but please. Please help me."
"No," he said firmly and a little sharper than he had intended. He had just meant to show her that this wasn't something they should get involved in. This... was something bigger than Rip wanting his revenge.
"I can do it, I promise. I'll be safe. I'm fast, if I need to run I can."
He shook his head again. "You don't understand... You won't be able to run even if you are fast. This isn't newsie stuff we're dealing with." Ace didn't want to say what is was unless Lacey gave him no choice. It was a dangerous world in Queens. He would know even if he wasn't living in this borough... after all, he originally was from this side of New York.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 16:25:45 GMT -5
"I know... but this doesn't have to do with Rip. Not exactly. This kinda danger won't help you talk ta Rip."
"Then what does it have ta do with? I may not have another chance, I can't just wait for Rip ta come ta Brooklyn and try killin' my boyfriend." She was stressed out. This all felt wrong, but she couldn't do anything to make it better.
"No."
She flinched a bit at his tone, though she stood her ground. "Please. I can't let him get hurt."
"You don't understand... You won't be able to run even if you are fast. This isn't newsie stuff we're dealing with."
"Why?" She teared up a bit. "Tell me what's happening, please."
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