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Post by Cloud on Jan 1, 2017 18:57:16 GMT -5
"Yeah... I think it's a good idea.. Darcy won't talk ta me until she's ready."
Cloud felt relieved that Spot agreed with him and Lacey. It seemed like the Brooklyn leader was giving this whole thing more thought. In the past, Spot had acted a bit more rashly when it came to Darcy and Rip. But now, he was thinking about it carefully and allowing people to help him. It was a good thing.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 1, 2017 19:39:45 GMT -5
Whisper was actually quite a bit more nervous as she approached the unfamiliar borough. She didn't know if things would work, considering she had never had quite this much riding on if she was any good at acting hurt or not. However, the weather was proving to be quite helpful, and the female buried herself as much as she could into her scarf. The first step would be finding Spot, and then she would have to make him trust her. Something told her that it was much easier said than done.
Approaching the labeled lodging house for the newsboys of Brooklyn, she knocked on the door and just breathed for a moment, knowing that she had one chance to make a first impression. If she messed that up, everything would be off. Closing her eyes tightly, she did her best to get into character, with her already raspy and hoarse voice helping as well as the pale skin that she had. If she could pull off being sick, then things could be easy.
It was now or never.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 1, 2017 19:53:11 GMT -5
Cloud suddenly turned towards the window. He thought he had heard someone at the front door. Distracted by the sound, he looked out the office window. His eyes widened as he realized there was a girl outside the lodge. Ignoring Lacey and Spot's surprised looks, he hurried to the front door and opened it.
"Are you all right?" he asked concerned, waving for the girl to come in and out of the cold.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 1, 2017 19:59:30 GMT -5
"Are you all right?"
Trembling and with tears brimming her grey eyes, Whisper stumbled into the lodge, practically slamming the door shut behind her. She didn't say much at first, simply breathing for a few moments in an effort to control herself before turning her attention to the boy who had let her in.
"I-I'm fine... Thank you." She managed her voice hoarse as she coughed into her scarf, gripping onto the doorway for a bit of support. If she wasn't fooling them with this, then she was practically going to give up. There wasn't much more that she could do at the moment. "W-where is this place?"
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Post by Lacey on Jan 1, 2017 20:01:18 GMT -5
Lacey was a bit stunned to hear the sound of a girl's voice as the person who had been outside. She shot Spot a questioning glance, frowning ever so slightly. The whole situation seemed a bit off to her, although she didn't know how.
"I would be careful with this." She leaned in, mumbling into Spot's ear before briefly going to check on whoever had just come in.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 1, 2017 20:19:11 GMT -5
"I-I'm fine... Thank you."
Cloud helped support her as he guided her towards the office. "You sure? It's really cold out there..."
"W-where is this place?"
He sat her down in his seat. "This is Brooklyn... Where are you from?" he asked curiously before giving her a blanket to wrap around herself.
"I would be careful with this."
He barely heard it, but he did feel that Lacey was right... Something was strange, but he couldn't help wanting to help this girl. It was just in his nature to want to help and be trusting.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 1, 2017 20:23:50 GMT -5
"You sure? It's really cold out there..."
Whisper laughed weakly, although it nearly immediately turned into a cough. "Yeah... I noticed."
"This is Brooklyn... Where are you from?"
She frowned, hesitating a moment before turning to look the boy in the eyes again. She had to think briefly about the best way to answer it, although she eventually found words again. "Bronx."
It wasn't a complete lie - she had been born in the Bronx, from what the note coming along with her and her sister at the lodging house had said. There wasn't much more to go off of than that when it came to her family, though.
"I-I have ta get back home. I have ta get back..." She choked out once again, a single tear slipping out of her eyes as she gripped tightly onto the boy beside her.
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jan 1, 2017 20:39:03 GMT -5
"I would be careful with this."
Spot nodded, frowning. He wasn't sure how he felt about newcomers. Especially ones that came to the boys' lodge first...
He watched the girl carefully, worried that Cloud was getting too friendly with the girl. Cloud just had to help people out. So naive and so trusting. He hated when Cloud got deceived and picked on. He just hoped this girl wasn't trouble.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 1, 2017 20:41:29 GMT -5
It only took a few moments when Whisper looked away from the boy who was helping her for her to recognize Spot. She did her best not to show that she recognized him, although in reality, she knew that she was right on target now. He was there, and she could have him for Rip in two days without a problem.
"Please..." She croaked once again, looking between the three people in the room. "S-someone has ta be able ta help me back, don't they?"
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Post by Lacey on Jan 1, 2017 20:43:23 GMT -5
"S-someone has ta be able ta help me back, don't they?"
"I will." Lacey insisted quickly. If there was something fishy going on, then she didn't want Spot anywhere near it, or Cloud. They were the two most important newsies in Brooklyn. "It ain't that far, I can protect myself. You guys still have stuff ta discuss..." Lacey insisted, moving over to take the weight from the girl from Cloud, shooting Spot a warning glance. She wasn't going to change her mind.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 1, 2017 20:45:34 GMT -5
"Yeah... I noticed."
Cloud smiled slightly. "Yeah... it's gettin' real cold out these days."
"Bronx."
He whistled low. "That's quite a ways from here."
"I-I have ta get back home. I have ta get back..."
Cloud's eyes widened slightly in surprise as she gripped him tightly. It was pretty strong for someone who seemed to be weak... but he would think about that later. "Whoa, whoa," he murmured softly. "Easy now. It's cold out an' gettin' late. You shouldn't go back out there." He glanced at Spot. "Probably should just stay here until mornin'... then I can help ya get home."
He tried not to sniffle. He wanted to help, and he knew Spot wouldn't let him if he thought Cloud was catching a cold.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 1, 2017 20:51:44 GMT -5
"Yeah... it's gettin' real cold out these days."
Whisper nodded quickly in agreement. That didn't require any acting at all.
"That's quite a ways from here."
"Yeah." She managed, clearing her throat once again. Her voice was beginning to give out with all of the talking that she had been doing lately, and the genuine cold from the weather outside wasn't helping.
"Easy now. It's cold out an' gettin' late. You shouldn't go back out there." He glanced at Spot. "Probably should just stay here until mornin'... then I can help ya get home."
Whisper's eyes widened a bit. Rip had told her to meet him that evening. If she was supposed to stay there, she would be messing up the first time around. But it was already past the time when the evening edition would have begun to be sold. Suddenly, real panic set in, and Whisper found her hands trembling as she held onto the boy beside her.
"P-please. Please get me back. I-I can't just wait, I have a baby sister ta take care of..." She begged.
"It ain't that far, I can protect myself. You guys still have stuff ta discuss..."
Whisper found herself frowning, "But we're both goils. There are gangs around there, we'll be attacked in an instant..." She whispered, although she was suddenly unsure of her words. In all honesty, she didn't know much about the Bronx, or any other borough, for that matter. She barely knew Brooklyn!
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jan 1, 2017 21:07:01 GMT -5
"Please... S-someone has ta be able ta help me back, don't they?"
Spot didn't like the quick glance she sent his way. It made him nervous.
"I will. It ain't that far, I can protect myself. You guys still have stuff ta discuss..."
He frowned slightly but nodded. It probably would be safer for the girls to go together. Plus, Ms. Harbour was still a bit miffed with the boys for their Christmas prank... Even if Spot wasn't involved she wouldn't be too thrilled to see him. "Lacey can take ya ta the girls' lodge and help ya ta Bronx in the morning."
"Probably should just stay here until mornin'... then I can help ya get home."
He shook his head. "No, Cloud. You're sick. You are stayin' at the lodge."
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Post by Whisper on Jan 1, 2017 21:20:06 GMT -5
"Lacey can take ya ta the girls' lodge and help ya ta Bronx in the morning."
Whisper frowned a bit, although she nodded slowly. She would have to find a way to slip out and get back to Queens - it wouldn't be too hard. Queens and Brooklyn were right beside one another.
"No, Cloud. You're sick. You are stayin' at the lodge."
Cloud. She would have to remember his name for Rip, just in case something happened. He was quite obviously a bird, with his friendship with Spot seeming to be the way that it was. Plus, Spot seemed protective over him. That would work as bait, right?
"Thank you... So much." She whispered, slowly trudging out with the girl, 'Lacey.' She would get news back to Rip somehow.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 1, 2017 21:22:48 GMT -5
"P-please. Please get me back. I-I can't just wait, I have a baby sister ta take care of..."
Cloud's eyes widened and he looked over at Spot desperately.
"No, Cloud. You're sick. You are stayin' at the lodge."
"Spot please!" He glanced at Lacey, hoping to get some support from her. They couldn't let her go alone. Not like this.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 1, 2017 21:23:08 GMT -5
"Lacey can take ya ta the girls' lodge and help ya ta Bronx in the morning."
Lacey nodded. That wouldn't be a problem. Plus, that way she could keep an eye on the new girl and see if anything else suspicious happened.
"But we're both goils. There are gangs around there, we'll be attacked in an instant..."
Almost instantly, alarm bells went off in Lacey's head. There weren't gangs in the Bronx that she was aware of, at least not any that would bother with people that they didn't have anything personal with. Lacey hadn't been there much, but she was a bird. She had been there enough to know that it wasn't horrible when it came to things like that. She shot Spot a quick glance, doing her best to show that she didn't trust the new girl at all without saying it out loud.
"Spot please!"
"Cloud!" Lacey shot back at him quickly, shooting him the same look and shaking her head. "Calm down. Her sister'll be fine 'til tamorrow."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jan 1, 2017 21:39:28 GMT -5
"But we're both goils. There are gangs around there, we'll be attacked in an instant..."
Spot raised his eyebrow. "The gangs shouldn't bother you... they don't hang out near the lodges. Besides, most of 'em are in Queens."
"Spot please!"
He shook his head firmly as he walked Lacey and the girl towards the front door. "I'll walk 'em to the lodge. You stay here and get some tea or somethin' with Mr. O'Quinn."
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Post by Whisper on Jan 1, 2017 21:43:50 GMT -5
"The gangs shouldn't bother you... they don't hang out near the lodges. Besides, most of 'em are in Queens."
Whisper cursed under her breath. It wasn't much of a slip up, but too many little ones would give her away just as easily as a single bigger one would.
"I'll walk 'em to the lodge."
It wasn't exactly what she had been hoping for, but it was a bit more time. She could at least do her best to make something work. "Th-thank you..." She whispered, walking with him while resting her weight on Lacey. If she could make things work, then she could do her best. She just wanted to do well for herself, after all.
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Post by Cloud on Jan 1, 2017 21:47:53 GMT -5
"Cloud! Calm down. Her sister'll be fine 'til tamorrow."
Cloud bit his lip. He just wanted to help... He didn't like how distressed Whisper sounded...
"I'll walk 'em to the lodge. You stay here and get some tea or somethin' with Mr. O'Quinn."
He nodded slowly and a bit reluctantly. He had just wanted to help. He hoped things turned out all right. "Okay..."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jan 1, 2017 21:58:34 GMT -5
"Th-thank you..."
Spot gave her a slight nod. "It's nothin'..."
He glanced at Lacey. He wasn't sure what he felt about this girl. It seemed the feeling was mutual. Cloud was just being too concerned.
"Let's head ta the goils' lodge then..." He grabbed two spare jackets from the closet and handed it to the girls. "It's cold out... No one uses these anymore so feel free ta keep 'em."
They were a little small for the boys, but it should fit the two girls fine.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 1, 2017 22:01:33 GMT -5
"It's cold out... No one uses these anymore so feel free ta keep 'em."
Whisper took the jacket, placing it over her own and pulling it tightly around her body. She gave Spot a small nod as a thank you, although she didn't miss the looks that seemed to be exchanged between him and Lacey. She was a bit nervous about it working out, although she assumed that all she could do was try. If she failed... She could find another borough.
"I could just head back for tanight on my own... I could find my way back..." She breathed out, attempting at convincing them one more time.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 1, 2017 22:04:45 GMT -5
"It's cold out... No one uses these anymore so feel free ta keep 'em."
Lacey flashed him a small smile, although at the same time, she was slightly uncomfortable. While Whisper seemed nice enough, something just didn't feel right. It was hard to just wander around from the Bronx to Brooklyn. You had to cross a bridge to do so, and that would have been pretty obvious. Nothing made sense.
As they made their way outside, Lacey's hands immediately found the pockets of the coat, seeking the warmth there while she stuck close by the girl's side.
"I could just head back for tanight on my own... I could find my way back..."
"You'd freeze before ya got there in your condition." Lacey muttered, burying her face into her scarf and huffing slightly as they approached the familiar lodging house. "We'll see how I can explain ya ta Mrs. Harbour..."
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Post by Spot Conlon on Jan 2, 2017 10:27:44 GMT -5
"I could just head back for tanight on my own... I could find my way back..."
Spot shook his head. "Not in this weather. You need ta get ta the goils' lodge," he said firmly.
Besides, he was sure Lacey could find out why this girl was here. Bronx was pretty far away after all... there were only two ways you could get into Brooklyn from Bronx: over the bridge from Manhattan or through Queens. Sadly mostly his birds had been indoors so they wouldn't know if this girl came through Queens... He needed to change up his birds' schedules some.
""You'd freeze before ya got there in your condition. We'll see how I can explain ya ta Mrs. Harbour..."
Spot stopped in front of the lodge. "I don't think Ms. Harbour will really be in the mood ta see me..." He gave Lacey a small smile. "You two stay warm... And stay out of trouble," he added as a warning but more for Whisper than for Lacey. He tipped his hat at them before hurrying off back to the boys' lodge.
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Post by Lacey on Jan 2, 2017 11:45:17 GMT -5
"I don't think Ms. Harbour will really be in the mood ta see me..."
Lacey nodded slowly. He was probably right about that, however much she hated to admit it. She didn't want to be left alone with the girl, and she really didn't want to let her inside where all of the newsies were.
"You two stay warm... And stay out of trouble."
"G'night, Spot." She mumbled, leading the girl inside and saying a quick hello to Mrs. Harbour, making sure to pass on the message from Mr. O'Quinn and explain what had happened as she led Whisper to one of the empty bunks in the house.
"I don't trust ya. And I'm gonna be the one stickin' by ya while you're 'round here. I just don't want ya near any of the others." She narrowed her eyes. "Get some sleep. We're talkin' more tamorrow when I bring ya back ta the Bronx." With that, Lacey made her way back to her bed for the night. She knew one thing, though: If the girl wasn't there in the morning, then she was from Queens, and Rip was a lot further along in his planning than they had thought.
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Post by Whisper on Jan 2, 2017 11:48:51 GMT -5
"You two stay warm... And stay out of trouble."
Whisper frowned a bit, although she nodded. She understood where his skepticism may have been coming from.
"I don't trust ya. And I'm gonna be the one stickin' by ya while you're 'round here. I just don't want ya near any of the others."
She sighed. So either she had done something wrong, or all of Brooklyn was just in a massive kind of lockdown because they had heard about things that Rip was going to do to Spot. She would have to find that out.
"Get some sleep. We're talkin' more tamorrow when I bring ya back ta the Bronx."
Reluctantly, Whisper agreed, laying in the bunk and curling up, allowing herself to drift off to sleep.
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