The Curb

[Medda]

Medda smiled and nodded, "That's quite alright, thank you. I won't be leaving until late." Stepping out of the carriage, Medda pulled out her purse and dropped the coins into Rex's hands before hastening her steps towards the front door of the home they had stopped in front of. Medda gave Rex one last tight smile before entering the house.

[Sweets]

*New Day*

Sweets sighed heavily as she felt a drop on her arm. Since she'd left the lodging house that morning there were dark clouds looming in the distance, clouds she hoped were not heading toward Manhattan.

As the passers by began picking up their pace, they all ignored the newspaper girl, hoping that they could make it inside before getting soaked. She tucked her papers under her arm and tried to keep them dry as the speckles on the sidewalk were rapidly increasing. Unfortunately she didn't have a hat that day, not owning one herself but often borrowing from the boys, and as the rain began falling in sheets and thunder rolling in the distance she looked up at the sky with a sneer.

There were no convenient shop overhangs or warm bakeries to run into, not on Fifth Avenue. Nothing but grand homes and sidewalk as far as the eye could see. It was one of the risks she took selling here, but one she considered worth it, much preferring the beautiful houses and clean streets to the dank inner city atmosphere. Looking down at her now thoroughly soggy papes she cursed under her breath, throwing them to the ground and taking a seat beside them on the curb. Some days, being a newsie just didn't pay.

[Brook LaRue]

Brook hadn't sold all day, mainly because she was to busy looking for her brother at the moment. Where had he gone anyway? Shaking her head she wandered until she saw Sweets on Fifth and a bright smile caught her face. Even though it was muggy and her borough mate looked down she came over and sat down next to her.

Noticing the soggy papers she sighed, "How's it going, mon che?"

[Sweets]

Sweets shrugged, not looking up from from where her eyes were blankly watching the increasing swell of water on the streets race toward the sewer drain. "How does it look like it's goin'?" she asked dully, glancing up at the sky with contempt. She didn't usually mind the rain so much, but then, she didn't usually use such poor judgment as to get caught out on Fifth Avenue.

Resting her elbows on her knees she gave Brook a sideways glance, her eyes squinting slightly as the rain caught and dripped from her eyelashes. "What are you doin' out heah anyway?"

[Brook LaRue]

Brook shrugged a bit and looked up at the rain letting it hit her face directly. She loved the rain, it reminded her of home. It was always damp there, always. "Had a delivery to make, mon che.." she looked at her sideways and then dug in her pockets for some of the salt candies that she'd gotten. She had some taffy in there. "Here.." she handed her the taffy since she seemed to be down and sweet things always seemed to brighten her mood.

[Specs]

Specs was at a loss. He bought fifty papers, as usual, and went to his spot on Sixth Avenue, as usual. But for some reason there must have been a convention of people who had change to spare and needed to know what was going on in the world. He hardly had to hawk the headlines--all he did was stand there, hand out papers, and take money. It was any newsie's perfect day. He had earned about eight cents more than he'd bargained for, because he had lied to two people who only had nickels about not having change.

That was all great, of course. But now, it was early in the day yet, and Specs didn't know what the hell to do with himself. And, damn it, it was raining. He had a pocket full of change, didn't he? There was no reason he couldn't find something to do. He started walking until he came across Fifth Avenue--and two very welcome sights.

Brook and Sweets. Sweets looking down in the dumps, and Brook with candy. His two favorite things. Attractive women--and candy.

He strode over and swept beside them. "Why so glum, sweetheart?" he said to Sweets with a smile. "No matter. I'm here now, so you can forget everything that's bothering you," he slipped an arm around her shoulders, turned, and winked at Brook. "Don't think I forgot about you, Brook, mon chaire," His French was terrible, and he eyed her taffy. "Got any more of that you need help with, eh, gorgeous?"

[Sweets]

"Had a delivery to make, mon che... Here.."

Sweets couldn't help but brighten a bit at the sight, even as another crack of thunder rolled in the distance. By the time she replied the candy was already unwrapped and in her mouth, muffling her speech slightly as she grinned. "Gee thanks Brook."

Though the candy had improved her mood slightly,being soaking wet and sitting next to about thirty cents worth of soggy papers was going to be hard to overcome. She barely heard Specs approaching through the pounding of the rain, but knew it was him as soon as he spoke.

"Why so glum, sweetheart? No matter. I'm here now, so you can forget everything that's bothering you,"

She couldn't help but smile as he sat down on the soaking curb with them, but furrowed her brow at his question. "Why so glum?" she looked from her soaking hair, clothes, and papes, and back to Specs. "That coulda come in handy about ten minutes ago," she said wryly with a grin, gesturing to his hat before leaning over and attempting to wring some of the water out of her hair. She sighed as the rain continued to pour down and slumped against him in defeat.

[Brook LaRue]

Brook chuckled at her friend, the taffy seemed to help as it always did and she blinked when Specs showed up a smile crossing her face. "Bonjou, mon choux!"

Don't think I forgot about you, Brook, mon chaire," His French was terrible, and he eyed her taffy. "Got any more of that you need help with, eh, gorgeous?"

"You better not have forgotten me," she said with a nod but she was still smiling and she handed him the only other piece of taffy she had. It was just how Brook was. "Here you go, mon choux... your french really needs work.." she chuckled a little. "And I'm not even french.."

[Specs]

"Why so glum? That coulda come in handy about ten minutes ago."

Specs shook his head. "Awe, doll. Don'cha know I can wipe out ten years of misery? You just wait. Another minute in my company and you'll be right as rain..." He glanced up at the sky and chuckled. "Course, that depends on how you feel about rain, don't it?" He offered Sweets another charming smile, hoping he could cheer her up. "So tell me what's got you so down, beautiful. Anyone I can sock for ya?"

"You better not have forgotten me. Here you go, mon choux... your french really needs work. And I'm not even french.."

"Shucks, Brook--I ain't French, nothing. I don't even know what I am. I got a hard enough time speaking English right." He winked at her. "I wouldn't say no to private lessons, however..."

[Sweets]

"Awe, doll. Don'cha know I can wipe out ten years of misery? You just wait. Another minute in my company and you'll be right as rain... Course, that depends on how you feel about rain, don't it?

Sweets grinned again, her mood slowly improving now that she was in the company of friends. It always managed to make money seem less important-- they'd always have each other, at least.

So tell me what's got you so down, beautiful. Anyone I can sock for ya?"

She huffed a small laugh, not sure if he was really so imperceptive about the situation or just being funny, but finding either option amusing. Glancing up at the thundering sky she shrugged. "Well I can't say for sure, but I'd like ta blame the Delancys..." She grinned, amused by the idea. If they could make it rain on her and cost her 40 cents in papes, she was sure they would.

"I wouldn't say no to private lessons, however..."

She elbowed him in the side at his comment to Brook, and yet couldn't suppress a small smirk at his suggestive humor.