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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 11:12:47 GMT -5
Blondie had his hands in his pockets as he headed back to where he promised to meet up with Astrid. An hour had almost passed so he knew he should head back to the statue. He hoped she found some good information. He had found some, but nothing extremely interesting.
He blinked in surprise to see her already at the statue. "Hey... did you find out anything?"
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Post by Astrid on Aug 18, 2016 13:35:48 GMT -5
Hey... did you find out anything?
Astrid nodded. "From Jersey. Guys I talked ta think he's a saint or somethin. Dunno why he's hanging out with Rip." She paused a moment. Astrid needed to trust him but part of her was having a hard time doing that. "They said he was gunna be at Medda's tonight playin cards."
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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 13:45:25 GMT -5
"From Jersey. Guys I talked ta think he's a saint or somethin. Dunno why he's hanging out with Rip."
Blondie nodded, sighing some. "Yeah, that's what I was able to find out as well. Seems like the guy is friends with like everybody. He's got friends in Harlem, the Battery, and even Brooklyn apparently." He frowned some. "And apparently in Queens too... It doesn't really make sense why a nice sounding guy like him would be friends with a guy like Rip."
"They said he was gunna be at Medda's tonight playin cards."
He raised an eyebrow. "Tonight?" That wasn't exactly bad news, but it wasn't good news either. He was hoping he could get back to Bronx today. It looked like he'd have to spend some time in Manhattan and tell Sand everything in the morning. He sighed. "Well, it's better than having to go to New Jersey..."
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Post by Astrid on Aug 18, 2016 14:01:04 GMT -5
Yeah, that's what I was able to find out as well. Seems like the guy is friends with like everybody. He's got friends in Harlem, the Battery, and even Brooklyn apparently. And apparently in Queens too... It doesn't really make sense why a nice sounding guy like him would be friends with a guy like Rip
Friends everywhere...that was either a tribute to the kind of guy he was or a very dangerous asset. He might be the saint everyone thinks him to be. Then he might just be gathering an army for whatever battle Ace and Rip deem worthy. This couldn't lead to good things.
Tonight? Well, it's better than having to go to New Jersey...
Astrid nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We're right here and Medda's isn't too far off. Much closer then Jersey." She said rolling her shoulders. Astrid needed to loosen up. Relax some before trying to find Ace and figure out what him and Rip were up too.
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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 14:08:38 GMT -5
"Yeah. We're right here and Medda's isn't too far off. Much closer then Jersey."
Blondie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we should definitely be able to bump into him this way." He popped his neck. "You any good at cards?"
They had to be careful going into Medda's. If Ace was anything like Rip, they had to play the game well. They didn't need him to be suspicious of them.
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Post by Astrid on Aug 18, 2016 14:15:44 GMT -5
Yeah, we should definitely be able to bump into him this way." He popped his neck. "You any good at cards?
Astrid shrugged. Not bad or good really. I can hold my own...you good?" She asked trying to piece a plan together. If he was better then maybe he should play cards and she would stand on the side trying to get a read of this Ace character. See if he was indeed anything like Rip. Maybe she could get a temporary job working at Medda's for the night. She could be their server? Of course this all depended on how good Blondie was at cards.
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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 14:24:47 GMT -5
"Not bad or good really I can hold my own...you good?"
Blondie shrugged back. "I like to play. I'm okay back in Bronx, but I haven't really played in Manhattan. I can probably fit in and play a couple of games. I know some guys here and can probably get them to set up a game with Ace for me."
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Post by Astrid on Aug 18, 2016 14:29:31 GMT -5
I like to play. I'm okay back in Bronx, but I haven't really played in Manhattan. I can probably fit in and play a couple of games. I know some guys here and can probably get them to set up a game with Ace for me.
"Ya wanna do the card game then? I might be able ta get in and be a server. It's still early enough." She said working on formulating the plan in her head. "You have any ideas?" She asked wondering if he had any input here. His insight might be helpful.
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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 14:49:01 GMT -5
"Ya wanna do the card game then? I might be able ta get in and be a server."
Blondie quickly nodded. "Yeah, I can do it. You're sure about going in as a server? I don't think there are a lot of them where the boys play."
"You have any ideas?"
He shrugged. "Well, most guys bring a date..." His ears turned a bit pink. "The other girls are usually just talking with each other or taking lessons with Medda... the server girls are usually serving the adults."
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Post by Astrid on Aug 18, 2016 20:40:06 GMT -5
Yeah, I can do it. You're sure about going in as a server? I don't think there are a lot of them where the boys play.
Astrid nodded. "Yeah. I got server friends that work. They'd like a night off."
Well, most guys bring a date..." His ears turned a bit pink. "The other girls are usually just talking with each other or taking lessons with Medda... the server girls are usually serving the adults.
"Ya wanna take me as a date? Will that help us...?" Astrid asked genuinely curious.
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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 20:49:26 GMT -5
"Yeah. I got server friends that work. They'd like a night off."
Blondie nodded some. It was good to hear that she had some connections. It could make this meeting with Ace go a whole lot easier.
"Ya wanna take me as a date? Will that help us...?"
He scrunched up his face, unsure of how he felt about this. "Well... um..." He scratched the back of his neck. "I don't know about Ace, but I know the guys find it kind of annoying when the server girls hang around them when they are trying to play. So if you were um... a date, the guys probably wouldn't be as annoyed."
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Post by Astrid on Aug 18, 2016 20:57:36 GMT -5
Well... um...I don't know about Ace, but I know the guys find it kind of annoying when the server girls hang around them when they are trying to play. So if you were um... a date, the guys probably wouldn't be as annoyed.
Astrid nodded some. It was a valid point. "You think it would be best?"
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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 21:05:48 GMT -5
Blondie's ears were a little pink as he nodded. "Yeah... I think it would be best."
He wasn't overly fond of the idea himself, but he knew that doing this would better their chances at a smooth meeting. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "You ready to head off to Medda's? They won't be playing yet, but we might be able to catch Ace early or at least get comfortable before he comes."
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Post by Astrid on Aug 18, 2016 21:38:50 GMT -5
You ready to head off to Medda's? They won't be playing yet, but we might be able to catch Ace early or at least get comfortable before he comes.
Astrid nodded a bit. "Yeah I'm ready. Hopefully we can catch him early..." She hoped they did. The two of them were far to awkward to be an obvious couple. They might pull off a compel for a short period but long term no way. "We can do this..." She said quietly as the headed to Medda's.
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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 21:44:56 GMT -5
"Yeah I'm ready. Hopefully we can catch him early..."
Blondie hummed in agreement and awkwardly offered her his hand. If they were going to play the part, they needed to start working on it a little bit before they entered Medda's.
"We can do this."
He nodded, not trusting himself to say anything that would lighten the mood. They could do this.
Thank goodness, the walk to Medda's wasn't too long. He was feeling a bit antsy about this whole thing. A few boys were already gathered when he and Astrid arrived.
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Post by Astrid on Aug 18, 2016 22:00:40 GMT -5
Astrid took his hand and tried to find the character that she was to be. Blondie's date. It was hard though since she didn't know him well. But they could do this. They had their seperate reasons they had a similar motive. Get information. That, Astrid hoped, they could do.bahe looked at the others that had gathered and stayed close to Blondie holding his arm gently.
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Post by Blondie on Aug 18, 2016 22:07:03 GMT -5
Blondie tried to stay as relaxed as possible. He had never been on a date before, so this was rather awkward for him. But he could do it; he could play the part.
He led Astrid over to some boys, smiling at her and trying to play the part of her boyfriend. "Hey, guys," he greeted. "Mind if we join in a game?"
The boys glanced over at the two. A couple snickered and whistled. The boy dealing some cards stood up to face them. "Well, we're waitin' for Ace, so yeah ya can join in the game. Ace won't mind."
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Post by Astrid on Aug 19, 2016 8:03:09 GMT -5
Well, we're waitin' for Ace, so yeah ya can join in the game. Ace won't mind
Astrid had a small smile and held onto Blondie gently. Waiting for Ace. Perfect. They'd have to play their parts but they could do this...
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Post by Blondie on Aug 19, 2016 9:10:38 GMT -5
Blondie smiled and pulled out a seat for Astrid and himself. Once they sat down, he began some small talk with the other newsies. Just asking about things in Manhattan and how selling had gone. Simple things that wouldn't get anyone suspicious.
It had only been a few minutes when the dealer suddenly stood up and smiled, waving someone over towards them. "Hey, Ace! Over here!"
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Post by Astrid on Aug 19, 2016 9:18:48 GMT -5
Astrid was sitting quietly next to Blondie. After a moment of his talking she took his hand gently hoping he would play along. They had to sell this. She looked down at their hand and then focused on the conversation around them. Nothing of much importance. How selling went. What people's plans were. It was all quiet dull compared to what she wanted.
Hey, Ace! Over here!
She fought the urge to look up to hastily. She glanced up looking for who the dealer had called Ace.
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Post by Ace on Aug 19, 2016 9:26:43 GMT -5
Ace entered Medda's whistling softly. He was looking forward to tonight's game. It had been awhile since he had played in Manhattan. Lottie was with some friends, so he didn't need to worry about her. He could relax and enjoy the company of friends.
"Hey, Ace! Over here!"
His eyes brightened as he saw the guys he had planned to play cards with. He cocked his head slightly when he noticed that there were two new players. He shrugged to himself and headed over to his friends.
"Hey guys. Sorry if I'm a little late," he greeted a bit sheepishly and took his seat. He gave Astrid a polite nod and smile.
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Post by Astrid on Aug 19, 2016 9:38:45 GMT -5
Hey guys. Sorry if I'm a little late,
Astrid looked up and tried to hide her surprise. Definitely not what she was picturing with Blondie's description. Seeing his nod she gave a smile and a small nod to him as well.
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Post by Blondie on Aug 19, 2016 9:54:44 GMT -5
"Hey guys, Sorry if I'm a little late."
Blondie managed to hide his surprise as Ace took his seat. He had known this was what Ace looked like, but it was a bit different actually seeing the guy up close. He really didn't seem to be the type to be friends with Rip. It was so strange.
The other guys were laughing and chatting with Ace like he was their best friend. Was this really the guy he saw? Or was this guy just pulling on a really good act?
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Post by Astrid on Aug 19, 2016 10:33:35 GMT -5
Astrid watched as Ace chatted with everyone. How could someone this friendly be friends with Rip. What was going on here...?
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Post by Ace on Aug 19, 2016 11:43:45 GMT -5
Ace grinned as the boys started dealing the cards. He was relieved to know he wasn't late. He hated making people wait.
"What are we playin' tonight?" he asked as he glanced down at his cards. "Bridge? Hearts?" He chuckled softly. "It better not be poker."
The boys groaned. "Aw come on, Ace! Jus' one round!"
Ace laughed and shook his head and arranged his cards. "Nope. You guys know how I feel about poker."
"One for the dame?" one boy asked hopefully.
Ace immediately scowled and gave the guy a good kick under the table. "No, and you should know better than ta call a young lady that!" He looked over apologetically at Blondie and Astrid. "Don't mind the boys." He shot a warning look at them. "I'm sure they'll mind their manners for the rest of tanight."
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