|
|
Post by Racetrack Higgins on Sept 19, 2008 17:03:46 GMT -5
"Yeah, I guess so...but at least now I have someone to play with!""Swell," Race said shortly. It was a good thing for Les, to have someone to be with. Race could only imagine how it was for Les to live with people who were much older than he was. Personally, he'd be just itching for a friend around his own age. Maybe Les was looking for someone that he could tell what-for, instead of everyone else doing it to him. It wound be understandable. Race would surely take a similar view on the matter. "You kids got some grandmas to terrorize or somethin'? I tell ya, it ain't gonna be too in'nerestin' once this game starts." He personally hated to watch a poker game and not be in on it. It was a bore. "Wow, how do you do that?""Magic," Race said, his expression perfectly blank. Then he broke into a smile and glanced up a Les before pulling out a trick that he used to frighten his opponents into thinking he was one of the best players in New York (which he was, of course, but just so there was no doubt in their mind): he dovetailed the cards, making them fall in quick succession on each other, and then waterfalled them. "Impressed yet?" "Ha! D'you really think I've got the money to lose?"He held up his piece of bread. "Guess not. Then again maybe you're just bein' stingy?" "I'm honored that you think so highly of my intelligence. You can't possibly think I'm foolish enough to agree to playing a card game with you when money's involved." "See, you are smart, Hawkeye," Race complimented. "Not many people catch on so quickly." "Oh, ya'r playin' poker? Me daddy always had big business men over and dey would play poker."
"Well, big business men have money to spare, unlike the rest of us." "Ha! Lemme tell ya. I'm gonna be a big businessman when I'm done with this horseswap work. Then I'll have people lose to me every day." He considered for a moment. "Hey! I wonder how much Pulitzer would bet if ya played cards with him..." ((Bad. Sorry. Rushed.  ))
|
|
|
|
Post by pupdawkinsseitz on Sept 20, 2008 10:20:54 GMT -5
"When he came over he bet $70 bucks." Pup blurted. Then he realized what he said and quickly ducked his head and shook a little, mad at himself for letting out all these information. He wasn't going to say another word.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery James on Sept 29, 2009 0:05:42 GMT -5
((New Day))
Skittery was sitting at the game table with no one; just a bottle of scotch, a nice shiner, busted lip and he'd gotten caught in the shoulder by a club along the way. Other then that, he was just peachy. Normally it was race with the smokes, but the Manhattaner was having a pity party all on his lonesome. They'd made it home at least most of the, he hadn't bothered to stick around for a body count or who was there or why.
Snorting he took a long drag from the smoke and let some of the ash fall in the bowl he'd swipped from someone's porch, probably a milk dish for a cat at some point. But he really didn't give a shit. Time--- to get shit faced after the fact.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kid Blink on Sept 30, 2009 1:52:25 GMT -5
Blink came into the bunk room, stopping short when he saw Skittery. He'd been looking for some peace and quiet, maybe even somewhere to grab a quick nap... But, well, Skittery wasn't bad company. Especially if he was going to be quiet and broody, as most everyone seemed to be now.
"Hey, Skitts," he greeted flatly. "You looking for some company?"
Without waiting for an answer, he took a seat across from Skittery. His left arm, suspended in a shoulder sling, was in an almost constant state of throbbing--who knew getting shot hurt so much?--but the pills that scatterbrained doc had set him up with kept the pain at bay for some of the time. And right now, that bottle of scotch Skitts was nursing was looking like a mighty fine addition to his pain-killing regime.
"How's your shoulder feeling?" he asked his friend. Fumbling in his pocket, he withdrew a bundle of cigarettes and dropped them on the table, plucked one up and popped it between his lips, then went about searching for his matchbox. Patting himself down, he realized he'd misplaced it yet again, and sighed, hanging his head in frustration. Pulling the smoke from his mouth, he held it out to Skittery. "Mind lighting me up? I can't find my matches..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery James on Sept 30, 2009 16:34:57 GMT -5
When he'd heard Blink he took a drag from the smoke in his mouth and looked over at him. They were all worse for wear, there was a time for talking and there was a time for contemplating. Skitts was at the point where he didn't give a fuck what anyone thought or said. He was in a piss poor, broody mood and not a damn thing anyone said was going to change that at all.
He watched Blink and just nodded before he reached out and lit his smoke with the matches he'd had sitting on the table. He remembered smokey hours of cards around this table. But everyone was in a somber mood. "Shoulder's hurtin' like a bitch.." he replied easily as he slid the bottle of Scotch across the table to his friend and he leaned back to settle the look back on his face. "How 'bout you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by lunayoung on Sept 30, 2009 23:23:35 GMT -5
Luna walked into the room and looked around. She had popped over here to see if Snoddy had returned from the fight, because she had been worried sick over him. She tried to hide the feelings she had for him when she was around him, just acting as his friend (and did quite well at it because he was totally oblivious), but she wasn't as successful at hiding her feelings for Snoddy from everyone else.
Coming to the conclusion that he probably hadn't returned, Luna decided to ask around and see if anyone knew where he was, if he was still gone, or if he was worse--dead. She made her way over to Skittery and Blink who were sitting across from each other nearby, drinking and smoking. She stopped in her tracks when she caught sight of Blinks arm in a sling, and her heartbeat quickened a bit more. She bit her bottom lip before plopping down in a seat beside Blink. "Hey, Skitts." she gave him a weak smile and turned to Blink, "Hey handsome, are you okay?" Since Luna spent quite a bit of time with Snoddy, she had become friends with several of the other Manhattan newsies. Even though Skittery wasn't always the friendliest person, she enjoyed having a pint or two with him and the guys every once in a while, and Blink she often flirted with just for fun trying to get a rise out of Snoddy.
((If this is just for you two just let me know.))
|
|
|
|
Post by Kid Blink on Oct 2, 2009 1:08:50 GMT -5
"Shoulder's hurtin' like a bitch... How 'bout you?"
Blink took the lit cigarette, taking a deep drag before snorting and pointing to his sling. "I got shot!" he said in an exhalation of smoke, his voice laced with irony. "How do you think it feels?" Carefully balancing his smoke between his fingers, he accepted Skittery's proffered bottle of scotch and took a hearty swig. Oh, but that familiar burn was soothing...
Letting a few moments of silence pass as he pushed the bottle back in Skittery's direction, Blink finally sniffed and rubbed a hand over his face. "Actually, s'not so bad. The doc--you know, the one with the gahh! hair?" (He raised his good hand alongside his head and wiggled it a bit, fingers outstretched in a panicky gesture, signifying spiky, unruly hair.) "He gave me these pill-things. Kinda make the pain go away. Ya want one? Make ya sleep good..."
"Hey handsome, are you okay?"
Blink looked up as Luna took a seat next to him, and pointed to his sling. "I got shot!" he repeated, feigning surprise. He found he kind of liked the way the words sounded. This could definitely be a good sympathy card to play with the ladies... "What are you doin' up here, anyway? I figured Queens would'a had more than their share of injured." He took another long drag from his cigarette. The scotch burning his throat and stomach, the smokes burning his lungs... Ah, what a feeling! "If yer lookin' for Snoddy--and I know you are, 'cause you always are--you'll probably find him over at Medda's. He an' that Styx-kid from your borough been watchin' over this girl good ol' Snod rescued. Styx-kid's sister, what the hell's her name...?"
((Just fyi, the "pill-things" Blink is offering Skittery are morphine lozenges. You know, for historical accuracy and all.))
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery James on Oct 2, 2009 1:55:04 GMT -5
"Actually, s'not so bad. The doc--you know, the one with the gahh! hair?" (He raised his good hand alongside his head and wiggled it a bit, fingers outstretched in a panicky gesture, signifying spiky, unruly hair.) "He gave me these pill-things. Kinda make the pain go away. Ya want one? Make ya sleep good..."
"Your a fucking genius," he held out his hand that wasn't wounded and took some of the pills. He'd ignored the, I got shot bit. Hell Skittery had his arm yanked out of the socket and put back in. He'd take being shot over that agony any day. He popped the pills and downed them with the scotch as Luna entered.
"Hey, Skitts."
He wanted to bang his head on the table but it already hurt enough so he rolled his eyes. And offered her a wave with the hand that held his smoke before he took another drag. For fucking pete's sake cant' a man be miserable in peace? At least he didn't tell her to shove off like he'd planned. For about anyone else. Fucking women, they muddled things up.
"Snoddy ain't here, like he said.. speakin of dames. Saw you and Brook tusslin before the battle. Ain't seen her round since, you finally tell her to take a hike or what?" Please god! Skittery had enough of the damn women roaming the place as it was. At least he liked Sweets.
|
|
|
|
Post by lunayoung on Oct 2, 2009 22:23:38 GMT -5
"I got shot!"
"Aww, you poor thing." Luna gave him a sympathetic look, eying the sling, "Are the pills helping any?.. I heard you two talking about them when I came over..." Luna tried to keep the worried look from her face, but failed. Oh, no. If Blink could get himself shot then Snoddy sure could have too, she thought to herself biting her bottom lip.
"If yer lookin' for Snoddy--and I know you are, 'cause you always are--you'll probably find him over at Medda's. He an' that Styx-kid from your borough been watchin' over this girl good ol' Snod rescued. Styx-kid's sister, what the hell's her name...?"
The instant Blink mentioned Snoddy being at Medda's, relief washed over her. He was safe! Thank God! "I am not always lookin' for him..." Luna blushed. "Maybe I was lookin' for you." She flashed Blink a flirty smile.
Realizing that Blink didn't believe her, she sighed. At the mention of Styx's twin, the look on Luna's face went from being flirty and playful to curious and a little jealous. "You mean Nike?" Her brows furrowed for an instant but hoping neither guy had seen, she just stared at the floor. Don't get yourself worked up, Luna. Snoddy is probably just helping her. Luna always liked Nike but she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach that nothing good could come from that-- at least nothing good for her. Snoddy is a sweet guy, and if he saved someone then most likely that someone could ruin any chance she might have with him...
|
|
|
|
Post by Kid Blink on Oct 5, 2009 21:41:50 GMT -5
"Are the pills helping any?.. I heard you two talking about them when I came over..."
"Mm, yeah," Blink murmured, giving her a broad, slightly exaggerated grin. "Pills are gooood... Pills make aaaall better..." He tipped a pill for himself onto the table before tucking the tin away again, waiting for Skittery to finish overdosing himself before taking his own swig of scotch. "These little babies are my new best friends."
"I am not always lookin' for him... Maybe I was lookin' for you."
He snorted, spluttering a little on the booze before setting it back on the table, pushing it toward Skittery again. "Yeah," he coughed, laughing through the searing pain in his nostrils, "right. Girl, the only one oblivious to that crush you got on Snods is Snods. You still want him, you better say something quick, 'cause he ain't been nowhere 'cept by her side--yeah, Nike, that's her name--and over with that little squirt who tags along after him everywhere. You'd have better luck lookin' for him in Queens, Loo."
"Speakin' of dames. Saw you and Brook tusslin' before the battle. Ain't seen her 'round since, you finally tell her to take a hike or what?"
Blink groaned and flopped forward on the table dramatically. "Ain't this why we're up here drinkin'? Tryin' to forget our problems?" he moaned, face-down on the table top. Drawing up again, he took a long drag from his smoke before flicking the ash in the bowl Skittery had snagged from somewhere. "Nooo," he sighed reluctantly. "She was all--" (He adopted a horrible version of a southern accent, utterly failing in his attempt to mimic Brook's speech pattern.) "--'Before we go into this-here battle, I gotta know, do ya'll like me or not?' I told her, you know, yeah, I do. 'Cause, you know, I do like her. But I told her we gotta talk after the fight, and I ain't seen her since. Think she's avoiding me. Or, well, avoiding someone."
|
|
|
|
Post by Skittery James on Oct 5, 2009 22:14:35 GMT -5
Skittery looked at Luna and finally let out an annoyed sigh, setting his smoke on his lip as he moved to poor another drink for himself and his friend. "Ya know what, Luna. Ya wanna tussel with the dame, do it on your own time and not on our drinkin time. Alright? Go be jealous elsewhere. We men are tryin ta drink our problems away in scotch and pills cause we both got worked over and people DIED. Aint' no bloody time for your whinin and moanin.. now git." He jerked the thumb of his good hand towards the door and slid the bottle back to Blink, pulling the smoke out of his mouth so he could take another shot.
When Blink explained what happened with Brook, Skittery just sighed. "Someone is right. Drink, dames are nothin' but trouble like I keep saying. But you and Specs don't listen to me. Never, always dames with you two it's like a man can't have a moments piece without dames. Not sayin I don't like your cajun tag along, she's nice to look at but she--" he stopped right that and gauged what he was going to say with how pissed off Blink would be if he finished that 'she don't know her place' comment. He was a sexist, and anyone that knew him. Knew that. Women had their place, just.. it wasn't where his was. He took a drag from his smoke after a few seconds lapsed. "At any rate, you like the girl. Fine. Like her, whats it gonna get ya eh? Probably get all upset if ya flirt with another girl.. gettin' attached is where the problems are, Blink. You know it, I know it. Enjoy them then leave them.." as far as he was concerned Luna had been dismissed.
|
|
|
|
Post by lunayoung on Oct 6, 2009 20:38:08 GMT -5
"right. Girl, the only one oblivious to that crush you got on Snods is Snods. You still want him, you better say something quick, 'cause he ain't been nowhere 'cept by her side--yeah, Nike, that's her name--and over with that little squirt who tags along after him everywhere. You'd have better luck lookin' for him in Queens, Loo."
Luna dropped her gaze to the floor, and blushed. Blink was right. If she didn't want to lose Snoddy she needed to let him know how she felt. Luna sat up straighter and gave Blink a weak smile. "You're right. Thanks, Blink." She needed to head over to Medda's to go look for him and if he wasn't there, then she needed to go back to Queens and look there.
"Ya know what, Luna. Ya wanna tussel with the dame, do it on your own time and not on our drinkin time. Alright? Go be jealous elsewhere. We men are tryin ta drink our problems away in scotch and pills cause we both got worked over and people DIED. Aint' no bloody time for your whinin and moanin.. now git."
Luna turned to Skittery and scowled at him. "Men? What men?! I don't see any men, here... You definitely can not be talking about yourself! You're jest an asshole who tries to play at being a man!" She was tired of Skittery's shit. She stood up glaring at him, walked over to him, picked up the glass of scotch he just poured himself, and dumped it in his lap. She raised an eyebrow and smirked. Then, she turned to Blink and kissed him on the cheek. "Take care of yourself. I'll see you later, handsome." She turned to Skittery and gave him a fake sweet smile, "Enjoy your drink, asshole." Then, she headed out the door, and left the Manhattan Lodging House to go find Snoddy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kid Blink on Oct 6, 2009 22:52:38 GMT -5
Blink couldn't stop the surge of laughter he felt as Luna dumped the booze into Skittery's lap, but still had the wherewithal to reach across the table and grab his own glass before she snatched that one up, too.
"Hey!" he said, through a fit of giggles as she kissed his cheek and hustled from the room. "I'm a man!"
He looked back to Skittery, giggling again. He could feel that morphine kicking in right about now...
"Eh, girls ain't so bad," he argued. "They got their good points. There's a few things girls can do pretty damn good, you know what I'm sayin'? And they're a lot more willin' to do those things if they like you. I got no idea how you ever get laid, short'a payin' for it. Don't think I ever met a girl that likes you for more'n ten minutes..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Specs on Oct 7, 2009 21:53:07 GMT -5
Specs' arm was still pretty immobile. Well, he could move it, but it hurt like hell whenever he tried, and he was pretty sure it made him start bleeding again, too, so that was never a good thing. He was bandaged pretty well and had to walk like a schmuck with one arm held stiffly at his side. And some motherfugger broke his glasses so they sat crooked on his face.
He entered the bunk room wondering if it was a bad sign that his bandages were starting to smell a little funny.* Spotting Skittery and Blink at the table, he sauntered over. "Smokes, morphine...God, all we need is some booze and we'll be set..." he said without a great deal of humor as he took a seat between the two other boys. "Lemme have one of those," he said, meaning the morphine tablets. After a moment's thought, he said, "How many of those you 'sposed to take in a day...?"
* I don't mean to be gross here. Infections. They happened. Historical-ness. Thank you.
|
|
David Jacobs
Global Moderator
Manhattan's Second
Seize the day
Posts: 186
|
Post by David Jacobs on Oct 7, 2009 22:24:30 GMT -5
"Probably two less than any of you have taken today, not like that's going to stop you," David said from the doorway where he was standing with a bottle of scotch in his hand, watching his friends with an amused expression on his face. It was good to come here and see them at least attempting (and mostly succeeding) at being their normal selves ad it was one of the reasons he'd been spending more time around the lodging house recently. There were just some things his family would never understand.
Walking in the room he set the bottle on the table and sat beside Specs, looking over his friends. They mostly looked no worse for the wear, David seemed to have been one of the luckier ones, walking away with some bumps and bruises and the ugly knife cut on his forearm. "Uh Skitts...is there a particular reason you decided to wear your drink instead of drinking it?" Noting that Blink was practically clutching his drink to his chest and that David had seen Luna leaving on his way up and wondered if she had something to do with Skittery's situation.
|
|
))
