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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 12:18:35 GMT -5
Spot felt a little nervous as he hurried through the streets of Manhattan. He was concerned about what Jack needed to tell him. Were things really bad? Had Rip already made his first move? Spot wouldn't know until he saw Jack.
He was feeling tense and impatient when he arrived at Tibby's. There was no sign of Jack, so Spot was forced to find himself a seat and wait. And boy, did he hate waiting! He was going to give to Jack for being late! He should have been the first here if he had such important news to share with him that could only be shared in person!
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 12:34:36 GMT -5
Jack had been running late from the get go, considering he had been forced into a conversation with Crutchie on one of the street corners after some lady had hit him with a handbag. Nonetheless, he rushed to Tibby's afterwards, glancing around briefly before spotting Spot at a table.
He made his way over to the table, sitting across from him and leaning back in the chair. "Ya made it." Was his only comment.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 12:41:05 GMT -5
Spot looked up as he heard someone come in. He was glad to see it was finally Jack. He didn't even want to count the number of times he jerked up to see who had come in only to find it was an adult or some other newsie.
"Ya made it."
He snorted. "Obviously... took you long enough."
He tossed the menu over to Jack. "I'll pay so let's hurry things up, shall we?"
He didn't want to dilly dally any longer. This was important business so there was no chit chat to be involved. Strictly business.
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 12:45:14 GMT -5
"Obviously... took you long enough."
Jack scoffed at Spot's tone of voice, although he hadn't expected anything less from the Brooklyn leader. He took the menu as it was thrown to him, glancing over it briefly before setting it down again. He got the same thing every time that he was there. It was good, cheap, and a lot of food.
"As long as you're payin', Spot." He shot the boy a faux smile before sitting up in his chair.
"So I sent Davey in for a bit ta see what he could figure out from some o' the other newsies in Queens," He began, "He came back with a shiner, but 'e said that Rip's puttin' things tagether more now. He constantly has knives around, 'parently. Nearly hit one of 'is own newsies with one once."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 12:56:20 GMT -5
"As long as you're payin', Spot."
Spot rolled his eyes and put in his order as well. "'Course..."
"So I sent Davey in for a bit ta see what he could figure out from some o' the other newsies in Queens."
He couldn't help but frown slightly. "You sent the walkin' mout'?"
Not that he didn't like Davey, but the guy was still new to the whole newsie business. The guy probably didn't stand much of a chance if he rubbed Queens the wrong way. Which, Spot was pretty sure he would with the kind of attitude he had.
"He came back with a shiner, but 'e said that Rip's puttin' things tagether more now."
Spot snorted again. Oh, he was sure Davey came back with a shiner. He was only slightly surprised that nothing worse had happened to the guy. He raised his eyebrow slightly at the mention of Rip.
"Puttin' things tagether..." He was frowning again. He didn't like this at all.
"He constantly has knives around, 'parently. Nearly hit one of 'is own newsies with one once."
Spot shook his head. "That's nothin' new. He's always been doin' that. He's good aim too," he added somewhat in admiration and jealousy. "They say it keeps his boys in line." He glanced at the waiter as they were given their drinks. "Is that all?"
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 13:01:43 GMT -5
"You sent the walkin' mout'?"
Jack shrugged. Davey was the only one out of the Manhattan newsies that could get by over in Queens just because he knew how to talk, and he was good at manipulating stuff and everything. Apparently, he had managed to talk his way out of getting completely soaked, so Jack felt as though it wasn't an entirely bad decision, although he could have definitely done more to prepare Davey.
"Puttin' things tagether..."
Jack's face was completely serious as he leaned forward on the table, lowering his voice slightly so that the people around him wouldn't hear what he was talking about. "I dunno when he's comin', but when he does, I can almost guarantee ya that it's not gonna be just you that gets hurt. He's gonna go after everyone that ya care about. Not even just in Brooklyn."
"That's nothin' new. He's always been doin' that. They say it keeps his boys in line."
Jack nearly shuddered at the thought. Just because it was normal for him didn't make it any less twisted to hear about.
"Is that all?"
He slowly nodded, sighing softly and leaning back once again. "I'd say ya should get people ready for somethin' ta happen, Spot. Don't leave 'em in the dark about it until it's too late. More people are gonna get hurt that way.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 13:11:51 GMT -5
"I dunno when he's comin', but when he does, I can almost guarantee ya that it's not gonna be just you that gets hurt. He's gonna go after everyone that ya care about. Not even just in Brooklyn."
Spot's face hardened. "How much does he know?"
Rip couldn't know about his brothers. They had left Brooklyn long before Rip became leader. There was no chance... but he had to be sure Rip didn't know. If Rip did, well, he had to warn Thunder immediately. Maybe even send them to Jersey.
"I'd say ya should get people ready for somethin' ta happen, Spot. Don't leave 'em in the dark about it until it's too late. More people are gonna get hurt that way."
He nodded somewhat reluctantly. He knew Jack was right, but he didn't really like getting his newsies too much involved with the whole Rip business. This time, he would inform them what was going on and keep careful watch. He wasn't about to let a single newsie get hurt because of him. This whole thing was just between him and Rip.
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 13:33:34 GMT -5
"How much does he know?"
Jack sighed. "I dunno exactly, Davey got hit before he could find out many more details. But I would warn everyone, Spot. I'd get the woid out about how dangerous he is and that he could come anywhere. We don't know where he could strike first." He pointed out.
Seeing Spot agree caused Jack to relax a little, sighing softly. "I'll take care o' 'Hattan and Staten. If ya wanna talk to your brothers in person, then that's fine. But I'll get most of the boroughs over here just the leaders, and I'll let them figure out what ta do about it. You focus on Brooklyn and your family. Keep people outta Queens, and keep people from Queens outta Brooklyn. Even the races." There was no humor or sarcasm in his voice like there normally was. Jack had never been more serious before in his life.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 13:44:56 GMT -5
"I dunno exactly, Davey got hit before he could find out many more details."
Spot shook his head and sipped his coke. Of course, Davey wouldn't be able to get information that easily, walking mouth or not.
"But I would warn everyone, Spot. I'd get the woid out about how dangerous he is and that he could come anywhere. We don't know where he could strike first."
He scowled some. "I know what I need ta do, Jack. Lay off, will ya? I know how ta run my borough."
"I'll take care o' 'Hattan and Staten. If ya wanna talk to your brothers in person, then that's fine. But I'll get most of the boroughs over here just the leaders, and I'll let them figure out what ta do about it."
He nodded. "Don't say nothin' about Rip quite yet... still some checkin' up we should do foist. But let 'em know ta keep an eye out on Queens."
"But I'll get most of the boroughs over here just the leaders, and I'll let them figure out what ta do about it."
He nodded again. That sounded like a good plan. Just the leaders. They needed to keep this as quiet as possible until they knew for sure what was going to happen.
"You focus on Brooklyn and your family. Keep people outta Queens, and keep people from Queens outta Brooklyn. Even the races."
Spot was scowling again. He knew it was serious, but it was getting a little annoying with how Jack kept telling him what to do. He knew how to keep Brooklyn running. And he might add, he made sure no one from Queens crossed over into Brooklyn and no one from Brooklyn crossed over into Queens.
"I got it," he snapped a little.
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 14:13:57 GMT -5
"I know what I need ta do, Jack. Lay off, will ya? I know how ta run my borough."
Jack sighed, "I'm not sayin' ya don't, Spot. I'm just sayin' that there's more that goes on there than ya think. I know of one person in particular who passes from Queens ta Brooklyn every day, and you don't seem ta know about him."
"Don't say nothin' about Rip quite yet... still some checkin' up we should do foist. But let 'em know ta keep an eye out on Queens."
In a split second, his sarcasm was back. "I know what I need ta do, Spot."
"I got it."
"I get that you're tense, but it's still nothin' ta snap at me about. I'm tryin' ta help, and I'm one of the only friends that ya have when it comes ta the leaders right now. So far, I know about it, and Thunder and Biscuit probably know about it. Then there's Rip, but I'm thinkin' him knowin' doesn't help ya out much."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 14:29:17 GMT -5
"I'm not sayin' ya don't, Spot. I'm just sayin' that there's more that goes on there than ya think. I know of one person in particular who passes from Queens ta Brooklyn every day, and you don't seem ta know about him."
Spot frowned but raised an eyebrow. How did Jack supposedly know something about his own borough that he didn't? He crossed his arms. "An' who would dat be?"
"I know what I need ta do, Spot."
"Then stop tellin' me what ta do," he snapped back. He didn't mean to be so snippety with Jack. It was just all the stress from the past few days on top of lack of much needed sleep.
"I get that you're tense, but it's still nothin' ta snap at me about. I'm tryin' ta help, and I'm one of the only friends that ya have when it comes ta the leaders right now."
He sighed and stared at his drink. "Sorry, Jackie-boy. It's jus' been a crazy coupla days."
" So far, I know about it, and Thunder and Biscuit probably know about it. Then there's Rip, but I'm thinkin' him knowin' doesn't help ya out much."
Spot nodded, still staring at his drink, just watching the ice bob up and down. "Yeah... kinda told the two about it yesterday. An' Rip knowin' would definitely be bad. Gotta lie low and take 'im by surprise."
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 14:36:32 GMT -5
"An' who would dat be?"
Jack sighed, "His name's Jockey, something like that. I only know because Race sees 'im at the races an' bets on 'im sometimes. He goes ta the races and back basically every day."
"Then stop tellin' me what ta do."
Jack had been able to tell from the moment that he saw Spot that the kid was tired, so he wasn't gonna comment about how snippy he was being for really no reason. He didn't want to upset Spot any further, especially when Spot had every right to be upset with the things going on in his life.
"Sorry, Jackie-boy. It's jus' been a crazy coupla days."
He nodded sympathetically, sighing sadly. He really wished that things had really calmed down after the strike was over, but it seemed as though things between the newsies from different boroughs were just getting more and more tense as time went on.
"Yeah... kinda told the two about it yesterday. An' Rip knowin' would definitely be bad. Gotta lie low and take 'im by surprise."
"Take 'im by surprise all ya want, Spot. You've got Manhattan and Staten behind ya for sure, and probably most of the other boroughs, as well."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 14:46:39 GMT -5
"His name's Jockey, something like that. I only know because Race sees 'im at the races an' bets on 'im sometimes. He goes ta the races and back basically every day."
Spot's frown deepened. Funny, Race seemed to have forgotten to give him that tip. He hadn't known about the guy being from Queens. He had just assumed the guy was from Brooklyn since he was always at the races. The Queens didn't like coming over to Brooklyn. Rip didn't like it, and they would rather not face his wrath. Which made it odd that this guy was okay with crossing the border. Well, he'd fix that.
"Take 'im by surprise all ya want, Spot. You've got Manhattan and Staten behind ya for sure, and probably most of the other boroughs, as well."
He nodded, tiredly. "Yeah... if I can take 'im by surprise."
He didn't know if that was possible. If it was... he would have alot of planning to do and alot of sleep he would probably be missing.
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 14:51:06 GMT -5
"Yeah... if I can take 'im by surprise."
Jack knew perfectly well that the element of surprise was going to be the hardest part when they were up against someone like Rip. Rip had been planning his revenge for who knew how long, and there was nothing that anyone could seem to do that would get Rip to admit what any of his plans were... Or even where he planned on striking first.
The Conlon family wasn't all in one place, and while Spot was the main target, his brothers could easily be used against him. That's what Jack was dreading. If someone hurt what was left of Spot's family, the guy would fall apart at the seams.
"But yeah... That's what I knew about. I didn't know if that was somethin' that'd be a good idea ta tell ya by boid." He nodded curtly.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 17:55:23 GMT -5
"But yeah... That's what I knew about. I didn't know if that was somethin' that'd be a good idea ta tell ya by boid."
Spot raised an eyebrow at Jack's curtness but nodded. "Yeah... this was probably for da best. Talkin' in person."
He traced the edge of his glass. "Glad ta know it ain't that bad yet."
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 17:57:35 GMT -5
"Yeah... this was probably for da best. Talkin' in person."
Jack chuckled a bit, nodding and shrugging once again as their food arrived. "I only do things if they're for da best, Spot. I ain't as much of an idiot as people expect me ta be."
"Glad ta know it ain't that bad yet."
He smirked, "Glad ta know you think it ain't that bad yet."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 18:06:03 GMT -5
"I only do things if they're for da best, Spot. I ain't as much of an idiot as people expect me ta be."
Spot rolled his eyes some in jest. "Riiiight. You ain't half the idiot people think ya are."
Jack was as good of a leader as they come. He knew what he was doing... for the most part. Sometimes Spot felt that Jack played around to much, but whatever worked for him he supposed.
"Glad ta know you think it ain't that bad yet."
He scowled some as he picked at his food. "Watch it, Kelly. I don't like playin' around wit' dis."
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 18:37:23 GMT -5
"Riiiight. You ain't half the idiot people think ya are."
Jack laughed, rolling his eyes right back at Spot. "If I'm stupid and I dunno what I'm doin', then you're a romantic." He smirked.
"Watch it, Kelly. I don't like playin' around wit' dis."
"Oh, believe me, I can tell. You don't really like playin' around wit' anythin'." He replied. He knew that sometimes, that was what made Spot such a good and respected leader, but there were also definitely moments where he could have stood to loosen up just a little bit.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 18:53:49 GMT -5
"If I I'm stupid and I dunno what I'm doin', then you're a romantic."
Spot scowled. "Not anoder word on that..."
Of all people, he really hated it when Jack mentioned the whole romantic. He still wasn't letting him live down the night he brought his cousin Darcy to Medda's. Apparently, Darcy thought it would be brilliant to suddenly pretend to be his girlfriend. Worst night ever thanks to his cousin and Racetrack. Ended up with a bunch of confused people and a headache back in Brooklyn.
"Oh, believe me, I can tell. You don't really like playin' around wit' anythin'."
Spot raised his eyebrow slightly, still picking at his food and not really eating it. "Good, glad we're clear on that."
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 18:59:05 GMT -5
"Not anoder word on that..."
Jack shot Spot a cheeky grin. "Hey, it was great! We all had no idea! It was the greatest thin' in the world, gettin' ta see Race makin' fun o' the two of ya." He winked playfully, beginning to eat his food.
"Good, glad we're clear on that."
"Yeah, me too. Just thinkin' that you and I could learn things from one another. Ya kinda need to loosen up more - not now, o' course, but generally - and I guess I could stand ta be tougher." He rolled his eyes a bit at the thought. "Either way, if somethin' happens, 'hattan newsies are right behind ya."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 19:04:42 GMT -5
"Hey, it was great! We all had no idea! It was the greatest thin' in the world, gettin' ta see Race makin' fun o' the two of ya."
Spot made a face. "It was terrible... I don't know what got inta Darce's head. Gave me quite a headache ta fix back in Brooklyn."
"Yeah, me too. Just thinkin' that you and I could learn things from one another. Ya kinda need to loosen up more - not now, o' course, but generally - and I guess I could stand ta be tougher."
He sighed. "Yeah yeah... I hear it all the time. Loosen up. Not my thing jus' like bein' tough like me ain't your thing. Your borough runs jus' fine that way and mines runs fine this way."
"Either way, if somethin' happens, 'hattan newsies are right behind ya."
Spot nodded. "I 'preciate it."
It was always good to know that you had allies backing you up.
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 19:15:39 GMT -5
"It was terrible... I don't know what got inta Darce's head. Gave me quite a headache ta fix back in Brooklyn."
As bad as Jack felt for Spot, he couldn't help but snicker slightly at the thought. No one had known why Spot had seemed so uncomfortable that night, and why he had kept suggesting otherwise. They had all thought that he was just embarrassed to finally be dating someone.
"Yeah yeah... I hear it all the time. Loosen up. Not my thing jus' like bein' tough like me ain't your thing. Your borough runs jus' fine that way and mines runs fine this way."
Jack rolled his eyes playfully, "If that's what you wanna call it."
"I 'preciate it."
Jack nodded briefly, finishing up his food. "Yeah, don't worry about it. Least I could do for a friend."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 19:22:16 GMT -5
"If that's what you wanna call it."
Spot shrugged. It was almost as if he wasn't listening at all, but knowing Spot long enough, one would realize that he was just tired and not putting effort into the conversation. He wasn't ignoring his friend.
"Yeah, don't worry about it. Least I could do for a friend."
He gave his friend a small smile and finished off his coke. "Try not ta worry too much..." He started pulling out his change to pay for their meals.
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Post by Jack Kelly on Jul 8, 2016 19:23:44 GMT -5
"Try not ta worry too much..."
Jack nodded, putting two bits out on the table to help with the bill. "There ya go. I think that should cover me, and don't bother arguin'." He nodded curtly. "I'll see ya around more sometime soon, I hope?"
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jul 8, 2016 19:37:06 GMT -5
"There ya go. I think that should cover me, and don't bother arguin'."
Spot opened his mouth to retort but quickly shut his mouth at Jack's curt nod.
"I'll see ya around more sometime soon, I hope?"
He merely shrugged as he stood up and snatched up his cap. "Later, Jack."
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