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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 16:31:37 GMT -5
"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."
Ace winced, but he understood. She didn't have time to just wait around... no one really had that kind of time.
"Please. I can't let him get hurt."
"I know..." He didn't want Spot to get hurt either. He'd been working and talking with Rip for years in attempt to get the guy to let go of his revenge. "I know..."
"Why? Tell me what's happening, please."
He had really hoped it wouldn't come down to this, that Lacey would just understand. But that was a little too much to ask from someone who had no idea what really went on in Queens.
He let out a long breath, and gently pulled Lacey further into the alleyway. "All right... I'll tell you, but you gotta promise me you won't breathe a word about this to anybody. Rip's trusted with me wit' this for years... if he knew I told somebody, he'd never forgive me an' you can forget about him waitin' to go after Spot."
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 16:34:46 GMT -5
"I know... I know..."
Lacey was worried. She was worried that she had somehow made things worse, and she was desperate to figure out a way to make things better. It wasn't right that Spot was going to be blamed and possibly killed for something that he had no idea about.
At the end of the day, this was the last thing that she could do... before she would have to beg Spot to leave Brooklyn to be safe. And she didn't want to do that.
"All right... I'll tell you, but you gotta promise me you won't breathe a word about this to anybody. Rip's trusted with me wit' this for years... if he knew I told somebody, he'd never forgive me an' you can forget about him waitin' to go after Spot."
Lacey swallowed thickly. It was obviously a tough subject... but if it could save Spot, then she would be quiet about it. "I promise."
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 16:41:31 GMT -5
"I promise."
Ace looked slightly relieved at her answer. He still was uneasy to tell her all this, but she had to understand how things really were in Queens. Spot wasn't going to tell her that was for sure... Spot didn't really need to since this sort of stuff tended to stay in Queens.
"All right... first thing you should know about Queens... it's dangerous. Not 'cause of Rip or the boys. They're tame compared to what really runs Queens." After all, when it really came down to it, Rip and his newsies were still just kids. Queens wasn't kind to them even if they were from there. "Queens is gang territory. The adults know about it, but don't care to get involved. The gangs are risky business 'round here. They do what they like and no one bats an eye."
He took in another deep breath. It was hard to talk about these things... after all, he had his own connections in all this mess.
"The gangs don't care about us newsies really. If we get in their way, we're as good as dead. You can't run away from them unless you maybe leave the state. But you stay in New York, they'll find you and kill you... But there are some newsies and unlucky kids who've gotten into the gang. They're kinda like most boroughs boids if you wanna look at it that way. The older ones though, they're basically the gangs lackeys."
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 16:44:33 GMT -5
"All right... first thing you should know about Queens... it's dangerous. Not 'cause of Rip or the boys. They're tame compared to what really runs Queens.
Lacey's brow furrowed a bit. She had always known that Queens was dangerous, just because that was what you were told living in Brooklyn. She had just always figured that it was Rip and his desire for revenge against Spot that made it so dangerous.
"Queens is gang territory. The adults know about it, but don't care to get involved. The gangs are risky business 'round here. They do what they like and no one bats an eye."
She swallowed thickly once again. Gangs?
"The gangs don't care about us newsies really. If we get in their way, we're as good as dead. You can't run away from them unless you maybe leave the state. But you stay in New York, they'll find you and kill you..."
It was definitely unpleasant to hear about, but she was still having trouble understanding what any of this had to do with Rip.
"But there are some newsies and unlucky kids who've gotten into the gang. They're kinda like most boroughs boids if you wanna look at it that way. The older ones though, they're basically the gangs lackeys."
The pieces were beginning to fall into place, but Lacey still wasn't sure if she was understanding correctly. "So... Rip is in a gang?"
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 16:50:17 GMT -5
"So... Rip is in a gang."
Ace winced. "Not just a gang... He's in the big one 'round here. But not in it like most of the kids 'round here." He bit his lip. "They own him. He can't get out even though he wants to..."
That's what made things so complicated in Queens. The gangs had made it difficult for kids to survive and the cops didn't care. No one cared, and the result was bitter kids just trying to survive.
"That's why it's so dangerous here... Brooklyn keeps out of gang business after," he cleared his throat some. "After some stuff happened a couple years ago. But Queens lives on it."
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 16:52:45 GMT -5
"Not just a gang... He's in the big one 'round here. But not in it like most of the kids 'round here."
Lacey chewed harshly onto her bottom lip. This was all much more complicated than anyone had ever acknowledged in Brooklyn.
"They own him. He can't get out even though he wants to..."
"So... that's why we can't talk ta him? Because he's with the gang?" It made sense, though Lacey was still worried that she might not have another chance.
"That's why it's so dangerous here... Brooklyn keeps out of gang business after, after some stuff happened a couple years ago. But Queens lives on it."
This didn't feel right. None of it felt right. How was she supposed to get through to Rip now, if there was a gang controlling him? "How can I talk ta him?"
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 16:57:15 GMT -5
"So... that's why we can't talk ta him? Because he's with the gang?"
Ace nodded slowly. "If we went in, there's no way they would let us leave..."
"How can I talk ta him?"
He sighed. He wished they could talk about it today. It was the best chance for them, but of course, the gang would get in the way. "I can get him to come over inta Bronx for lunch or something'... you can talk ta him then. Just, just not today."
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 17:08:35 GMT -5
"If we went in, there's no way they would let us leave..."
Lacey swallowed thickly. It was a tough situation... and one that she didn't know what to do in.
"I can get him to come over inta Bronx for lunch or something'... you can talk ta him then. Just, just not today."
Nodding in defeat, Lacey ran her fingers through her hair. It was quite possibly her last chance... but she had to get through to Rip. She had to find a way.
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 17:16:41 GMT -5
Ace was relieved that Lacey seemed to be backing down for now. It was the wisest decision. While he knew a lot about the gangs in Queens, he didn't know enough to keep them both safe and alive. For now, they just had to wait.
"There's a small cafe in Bronx... me an' Rip like goin' there sometimes. He probably won't mind eatin' there tomorrow."
It was a small chance, but a chance nonetheless for the next day.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 17:18:40 GMT -5
"There's a small cafe in Bronx... me an' Rip like goin' there sometimes. He probably won't mind eatin' there tomorrow."
Lacey knew that there was nothing else that she could have done, but she felt defeated. If Rip denied her pleas again tomorrow, then there was nothing else that she could do. Spot just wasn't safe, but she couldn't just ask him to pack up and run away from everything there. He had family in New York. He wouldn't leave Thunder and Jasper behind... and since Darcy seemed to have reappeared, he wouldn't be going anywhere... even if it might save his life.
"Just tell me when and I'll be there... promise."
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 21:20:32 GMT -5
"Just tell me when and I'll be there... promise."
Ace nodded. "Probably around noon would be the best time... can't say for sure thought."
If Rip decided to sell tomorrow, there was a high chance of him not being able to eat out with him right at noon. It might not be until a little later.
"If the time changes, how can I let you know?"
Come to think of it, he wasn't even sure if he knew the girl's name.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 21:23:51 GMT -5
"Probably around noon would be the best time... can't say for sure thought."
Lacey nodded slowly. It would be difficult to tell early like this.
"If the time changes, how can I let you know?"
She bit her lip. She trusted him enough... hopefully the trust was in a good place. "Just come ta Brooklyn... I usually sell near the park, I can keep towards the entrance of it tamorrow," If she didn't hear from him, she could head out around noon. "If ya can't find me there, I'll swing by the lodgin' house before I head over. It would be around noon then. Ya could wait for me there."
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 21:30:29 GMT -5
"Just come ta Brooklyn... I usually sell near the park, I can keep towards the entrance of it tamorrow."
Ace nodded. He knew Brooklyn fairly well, so it shouldn't be hard to find her. "If you could stay near the park, that'd be great. I shouldn't have trouble findin' you."
"If ya can't find me there, I'll swing by the lodgin' house before I head over. It would be around noon then. Ya could wait for me there."
He nodded again. That sounded reasonable. And again, he knew Brooklyn decently. He should have little trouble finding the girls' lodge. "We have a plan," he affirmed. "Um... I don't believe we ever exchanged names. I'm Ace. I'm a bird from Hoboken."
He felt he should give a slight explanation why he was outside of his own borough so much since it was obvious he wasn't from Queens.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 21:33:56 GMT -5
"If you could stay near the park, that'd be great. I shouldn't have trouble findin' you."
Lacey nodded. She would do her best. The was a factory nearby that usually had a good lunchtime rush so she wouldn't suffer much staying there.
"We have a plan,"
She nodded. She had no clue what she would say when she was there with Rip, but she wouldn't be breaking the rule that he had made for her by going into Queens, so she hoped that he might still be receptive.
"Um... I don't believe we ever exchanged names. I'm Ace. I'm a bird from Hoboken."
Lacey bit her lip. Ace, Hoboken. Unexpected, but she figured that it made sense that he was a bird since he seemed so familiar with other boroughs. "I'm Lacey."
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 21:36:07 GMT -5
"I'm Lacey."
Ace smiled. "Nice name. It's um good to be properly introduced to you."
After all, that hadn't exactly met under pleasant circumstances. It seemed to be a running thing with him. Bad meetings with girls in Queens...
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 21:37:55 GMT -5
"Nice name. It's um good to be properly introduced to you."
She quirked a small smile. "You too." It had definitely taken long enough. It had been hard finding him without a name to go by.
"Thanks for helpin' me... no one else would've." She added.
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 21:44:49 GMT -5
"You too."
Ace just smiled. He always liked meeting new people and makings new friends.
"Thanks for helpin' me... no one else would've."
He just shrugged. "I just want ta do the right thing," he replied quietly. "And... well, I don't want a repeat of the past."
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 21:47:15 GMT -5
"I just want ta do the right thing,"
Lacey nodded. Not many people seemed to believe her when she would insist that it was the right thing to try talking things out with Rip, but something told her that most people hadn't bothered. If she could get him to take a step back... then that was what she would do. She didn't want anyone getting hurt, and that included Rip. He had shown her kindness her first time in Queens, and she appreciated that. He wasn't a bad person, he was just in a bad place.
"And... well, I don't want a repeat of the past."
Her expression fell a bit. "We won't let it happen again. Somehow... we can change his mind."
At least, she prayed that they could.
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 21:59:52 GMT -5
"We won't let it happen again. Somehow... we can change his mind."
Ace nodded firmly. He had tried for years... but perhaps, this was finally the time Rip would be convinced to stop this madness.
"We won't," he agreed. "I'll see you tomorrow. I ought ta be headin' back ta Hoboken now."
He had a late shift at the Clam Broth House. After he got off, he would come back to Queens and see if he could meet up with Rip.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 13, 2019 22:08:07 GMT -5
”We won’t.”
In case Rip couldn’t tell by this point, Lacey wouldn’t rest until she had ensured Spot’s safety. For now, she had done all that she could do. She would try again tomorrow.
”I’ll see you tomorrow. I ought ta be headin’ back ta Hoboken now.”
Lacey nodded. “I’ll see ya tomorrow then. Good luck.”
And with that, she was gone.
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Post by Ace on Jan 13, 2019 22:13:55 GMT -5
“I’ll see ya tomorrow then. Good luck.”
"Same to you," he murmured as Lacey disappeared, making her way back to her own borough.
Ace placed his hands in his pockets and looked out towards the warehouses once more before also making his way to his own borough. He just hoped things would work out.
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