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Post by Prince on Jul 25, 2006 3:06:38 GMT -5
A place for the leader to go and do some thinking, or have some time to himself when he doesn't want to be disterbed. There's a bed, chair, as well as places for him to store things. Rather cozy place, and comfortable. Just right for Ace Cardoni.
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Post by Daniel Cardoni on Jul 26, 2006 19:31:10 GMT -5
There had to be a connection. There just had to be.
Ace was leaning on the table, both palms flat on the wood. It was hot, and he had given up on buttoning up his shirt, instead letting it fall from his shoulders. His kids were out selling, but he couldn't. He had something more important to do.
He was looking over his papers, from Boston, from all over New York...documents from higher ups and simple things such as newspapers. Random things were circled, others crossed out, and some just checked.
"I know you're behind dis, Leone." He snarled under his breath, slamming his fist hard onto the table. "I know it!"
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Post by prints on Jul 26, 2006 19:49:07 GMT -5
David sighed as he arrived at the Bronx Lodging House, running a hand through his curly brown hair. He didn't know why or how he had ended up in the neutral territory, his feet had led the way. The Manhattan newsboy was slightly tense, even in the neutral borough. Perhaps because he couldn't even walk the streets of Manhattan without worrying about a Brooklynite jumping him from an alley.
He just couldn't stand it anymore. Or, at least, he couldn't stand /them/ anymore. The Delancey Brothers. Not them, personally, but what they had done. He was sure they had killed Spike, but...why? Sure, the newsies were their constant tormentors, but Spike was a Brooklyn newsie, and thus wasn't around as much to drive them insane. Why hadn't they picked a daily tormentor, like Race or Blink? And it wasn't like the newsboy had anything valuable, nothing worth killing him to get. SO, why?
The Jacobs boy had a feeling that there was someone bigger behind all of this, someone who knew the newsies would turn on each other over the murder. But, who? Sure, Pulitzer, but he didn't care what the newsies did unless it hurt him financially. A frown appeared on his features. It had to be somebody with a lot of money, or at least enough to bribe the Delanceys into murdering Spike. Which might take a lot of money, and it might not.
Sighing, he realized his thinking had taken him to the door of Ace's room. He was about to turn around, convinced the Bronx Leader would be out selling, as he should be. That was, until he heard a fist slamming onto a table. Natural curiosity overriding any other emotion, he knocked hesitantly on the door.
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Post by Daniel Cardoni on Jul 26, 2006 19:56:38 GMT -5
Ace raised his head from where he was at the table, licking his dry lips. "Who is it?" He called out. If it were one of his kids, they could go leave him be. He didn't want any company from people who wouldn't understand. Besides....The general newsie population weren't too happy with the leaders right now.
And could he blame them? A kid's death had thrown them into fighting. Weren't they better then this? Apparently not. Apparently the leaders of New York weren't smart enough to take care of such a little problem as this. Heaven forbid it had been a leader, or someone else that influenced their lives. If that had been the case...
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Post by prints on Jul 26, 2006 20:00:56 GMT -5
Ah, so Ace was in. That disproved his first theory that somebody had been trying to steal the Bronx Leader's stuff....Which, now that David looked back at it, didn't make much sense. Newsies could hardly afford the food in their stomachs, let alone and valuables. Many owned only the clothes on their back. Sometimes it made him feel lucky to have a loving family.
Taking a deep breath, still debating on whether or not to just turn around and walk back towards Manhattan, he replied, "David Jacobs."
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Post by Daniel Cardoni on Jul 26, 2006 20:04:46 GMT -5
Ace's eyebrow shot up on the other side of the door. David? What would David want with him? Sure, when the leaders had been all buddy buddy he had seen a lot of the dark-haired, book smart newsie. He even called him a good friend.
But now...When Jack was still wary of him....Why would David be here? Quickly covering up his papers, or really, putting them in a lopsided pile, he crossed to the door and unlocked it, pulling it all the way open.
"David." He greeted, "What brings you out here?" He gestured him in the room.
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Post by prints on Jul 26, 2006 20:23:01 GMT -5
David was about to turn around and head back to Manhattan when the door swung opening, revealing the Bronx Leader. He hadn't seen Ace from the beginning of the war, considering he hadn't been able to enter the borough without fear of getting soaked. It was a slight relief to see his...friend again, but he could still fell the tension of war in the air.
"I truly have no idea," David sighed, taking a seat on the end of Ace's bed. In truth, however, he was beginning to realize that it was probably because he wanted to tell somebody of his suspicions of the war. Jack wouldn't appreciate being reminded, and he didn't know Prince too well, and, well, Spot was defiantly not a possibility. The other newsies probably would've soaked him for bringing up the topic. Ace seemed like his only option, even if he hadn't realized it before.
He cocked an eyebrow towards the lopsided pile of papers, curious. Not wishing to pry and get blamed of spying, he relaxed slightly, though he had to ask.
"What's with all the papers?" he asked, nonchalantly.
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Post by Daniel Cardoni on Jul 26, 2006 20:35:35 GMT -5
Ace, having just shut the door, stopped short. "...Its business, Davey. War business." He wasn't sure what effect talking about the war would have on his companion, but he had asked, and he was getting the answer. "Im finding out who is behind all this." He took a few steps forward, "I almost have it...I know i almost have it."
Its not that he knew the answers. Sure, he was 100% sure Leone was involved, but that didn't explain why or even, really, how. If it had something to do with him, however, he was afraid it was only a matter of time before he packed his bags and left. There was no way he could stay in New York with Leone hunting him.
Fingering a gold chain around his neck, he shook his head and perched in a chair at the table, spreading his paper's out again. "I've been up all night." He mumbled, "But its hard doing it alone." The other leader's would help, he knew...But keeping them out as much as possible was best. It was a shame Sneaks and Murder got involved...But he couldn't do anything about that. Not this late in the game.
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Post by prints on Jul 26, 2006 23:04:46 GMT -5
Usually, David, just like Jack, would've groaned, angered that the topic of war had come up yet again. But he wanted to help, wanted to tell somebody who'd listen about his suspicion rather than brushing off his words. And Ace, who also seemed, or so he thought, to think somebody had been plotting this, seemed like the best person to speak with. Besides, they'd been pretty good friends before the war. He wouldn't talk about the war with somebody he didn't trust, no matter if they shared his own suspicions or not.
However, he hesitated for a moment. Did Ace know of Blink's encounter with the Delancey Brothers? Did he know what they had said to Blink? By the way it sounded, he was sure Jack hadn't informed the Bronx Leader yet...if he had planned to, anyway. He bit his lip, wondering whether or not this would seem like betrayal if he did not know of the Delanceys' meddling. He decided it was worth the risk.
"You've heard that the Delancey Brothers might be behind this, haven't you?" he asked slowly. "Morris got in a fight with Blink at the Distribution Center, stabbed his arm and almost took off Race's head. When he finally stopped fighting, he said something along the lines of 'I'm not afraid to kill you, too.' We suspect he and Oscar murdered Spike," he sighed. Most newsies were content to leave it at that, having fueled hatred for the brothers for a long time. He wasn't.
"But...why would they do it? Sure, they hate us, but Spike was from Brooklyn, and I doubt he was around enough to torment them. And he had nothing of value worth killing him for. I think they were payed to do it. They aren't smart enough to realize that killing a Brooklyn newsies in Manhattan would start a war. But somebody was. And I figure they payed them to do it. Question is...who is it?"
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Post by Daniel Cardoni on Jul 27, 2006 9:11:24 GMT -5
Ace looked over at him as he talked, tapping at the table top lightly with his fingers. From the way David was talking, he apparently had no idea what the leaders have been discussing lately. But he hadn't really expected Jack to go around telling everyone in the first place, so he wasn't too surprised. There was one thing he was surprised at, though.
The fact David was sharing the same thoughts as the leaders, or at least Prince and Ace. That was interesting. Really interesting. Almost made him want to pull David into their leader talks, just to have a calm head there....so nothing like this happened again.
"Yah, i know da Delancey's are behind this. In fact, Blink was the one who told Prince of his suspicions, and Prince told me. They have the strength and the hatred, but not the motivation. You're right, David. Spike was nothing to them. If they were trying to hit the newsies a chilling blow, it would have been to someone else entirely. If it was just for hatred purposes, it would have been one of the people who was always there....which means Blink probably wouldn't have gotten away with just a stab wound."
He said Blink mainly because no matter what the tall Hattaner did, those brothers always seemed to hunt him down. Wasn't necessarily always his fault....But it made for a goooood point. He raised a hand, pointing at David. "That is exactly what im doing. We were all set up, Davey. Someone knew we would would fight the way we did, knew we would pull sides. They were hoping we would kill each other off and save them the trouble."
He pursed his lips and got up, pacing the floor a little. "Prince and I think we know who it is, too....or more accuretly, who they are. There are two of them, if not more."
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Post by prints on Jul 27, 2006 19:15:24 GMT -5
David nodded slowly, considering Ace as he spoke. He wondered if Jack had been dragged into this conversation. If the Manhattan Leader had, he hadn't told David about it. Still, he didn't feel any anger or hurt for not being told. He hated discussing the war, since he and Jack always seemed to have different opinions about it. The Jacobs boy didn't truly understand why the leaders hadn't banded together in the first place to try and find Spike's murderer rather than making the circumstances worst and starting a war. But he also knew that rage and hurt could do things to people, especially those as prideful as the leaders. He'd experienced it first hand when Jack had turned scab during the strike.
He cocked an eyebrow. So they did know who was behind it all...? Or they at least had ideas? That was good, because if he had to worry one more time that the leaders were blaming the wrong people, he was going to go insane. If the war hadn't done that already. Sure, he had his own suspicions, but none of them seemed very likely. Mr. Wiesel didn't have enough money, Pulitzer didn't care what happened to the newsies, why would a leader start the whole war, ect., ect.
"Who do you suspect, Ace?" he asked simply, looking the Bronx Leader straight in the eye.
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Post by Daniel Cardoni on Jul 27, 2006 19:21:26 GMT -5
Ace opened his mouth to reply, and then shut it again. He knew there were so many suspicions, and what were his own? Except that...he had feelings, as did Prince.....and they were usually never wrong. Looking down to the ground and then back up, he locked eyes with David, and said the only thing he could.
The truth.
"Snyder and....my brother."
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Post by prints on Jul 27, 2006 19:27:45 GMT -5
Had Ace expected David to flip out, splutter something, or even stand up and leave the Bronx, the Manhattan newsboy did no such thing. He merely looked at Ace curiously, surprised, perhaps even shocked, but didn't yell at him for not telling him. Jack had lied to him about his past, and Ace had never gone into detail about his own. At the moment, the past seemed invaluable, the present war more important. He wasn't about to get mad that the Bronx Leader hadn't told him when there were more import an issues at hand.
"Why?" once again, a simple question. "Snyder hates us, yes, but the more newsies in the Refuge, the more money he steals, the more money he puts into his own pocket...oh," realization flickered across his face. "He thinks with the war going on, more crime will be committed, and thus more newsies will be sent to the Refuge, doesn't he? Not to mention revenge from the Strike.."
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Post by Daniel Cardoni on Jul 27, 2006 19:34:08 GMT -5
"And plus, he hates us for humiliating him...." Ace was glad David didn't pry...But it was going to come up. He could explain Snyder away easily, but as for Leone...David couldn't necessarily go away with the knowledge there was someone else involved and he had no idea why. Now could he?
"He's been dying to get a chance to get back at us without getting caught. What better way to do that then to have us fight? This could easily have ended with a huge fight among us leaders. There could have been a leader's casket up at Grace church, no problem. And why would anyone suspect him?"
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Post by prints on Jul 27, 2006 20:01:49 GMT -5
David nodded, surprised he himself hadn't suspected Snyder. It went to show that the Warden wasn't exactly the most obvious suspect in the world, even to the newsies. The obviousness of it made it seem too obvious. If he hadn't hated Snyder already, he defiantly did now. And the Jacobs boy wasn't much of a hater. Heck, he didn't even hate Spot Conlon, which was indeed saying something.
Now...Ace's brother. David immediately had the dreaded expression on his face. The expression that said 'I don't mean to pry...but...'. He didn't even have to ask, the question was in his eyes.
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(c)Red
