Downstairs

[Lucky Volpecillia]

Lucky started laughing when she saw the look on David's face and leaned back a little, "Well, well, well, if it ain't the walkin' mouth come to our humble abode..." she stood up slowly, setting her book down on the chair as she stretched her arm over her head and made to round around David, looking at him sideways as she did.

"So what does Brooks owe the pleasure Dave?" She lifted a brow as she walked around, looking up at him when she stopped. Lucky could very well be Brooklyn's attack dog when no one was around, bring Smalls in and the Brooklyn Duo could tear anyone apart.

[Smalls]

Smalls listened to the exchange between the two girls from her place on the sofa, feet up on a crate and hat resting over her eyes. The only indication that she was awake was the slightest hint of a smirk at her friend's snarky response. She had been glad of Lucky's presence in dealing with the new girl so she could remain limp on the couch, but with the entrance of the third voice she visibly tensed, sliding her hat back up on her head and getting to her feet.

She remained where she was a good distance away behind Lucky, arms folded across her chest and chin lifted slightly in question. There was only one reason David Jacobs would be in Brooklyn. She knew it wasn't her place to discuss leader affairs, but damn, she was sick of starving and couldn't help but feel resentment toward the more appeasing boroughs. "'hattan decide ta man up and join the strike or what?"

[davidjacobs]

[Sorry to jump ahead, Bear! Feel free to leap in wherever you like. I just don’t want to get behind with my explanations or this post will be epic. =D)

Well, well, well, if it ain't the walkin' mouth come to our humble abode..."

“Indeed,” said David. Damn but he was sick of that nickname. If he never heard it again it would be too soon. “It’s been a while, Lucky,” he said, nodding respectfully to the young woman. Lucky was one of Spot’s most trusted newsies; David didn’t want to earn her distrust.

"So what does Brooks owe the pleasure Dave?"

David took a minute to consider his response, forcing himself not to glance back at Bear. “I’m here to speak to Spot,” he said. He remembered how ruffled Fighter had gotten when he had expressed concern for the poorer newsies in Brooklyn, so he closed his mouth on those explanations. He had no doubt Brooklyn was doing the best it could to support its kids, but there were some mountains even Spot Conlon couldn’t climb alone. He thought of poor hollow-eyed Pup and squared his shoulders. “There are more kids than usual on the streets these days and I don’t like it.”

'hattan decide ta man up and join the strike or what?"

David inclined his head politely to Smalls. “I’m not here on Manhattan’s behalf,” he said honestly. “I’m operating on my own.” He met Small’s gaze squarely. “And I’m not sure where I stand on the strike yet – maybe it’s the best way and maybe it isn’t, but I want to hear Spot’s reasoning before I make up my mind.” He held out his hands beseechingly. “I want to help in whatever way I can. I’m just trying to work out the best way to do that.”

[bear]

Bear pushed forward and glared at the newsies.

"Yeah, just give him a chance ta explain. At first I didn't trust him either but he's got a good mision so why don't you all shutup or tell us where Spot is so Dave can talk to him." Bear said coldly glaring at all of them.

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighter walked down the steps in time to hear what Bear had to say and when she noticed who he was talking to her face turned grim. She was already in a piss ass mood, she was starving, out of cigarettes, and in desperate need of a drink. As she finished walking down the stairs she walked over and boxed his ear before smirking at him. She hadn't a clue who this kid was and she couldn't care less, no one talked to her friends like that. "You know that's no way to talk to ladies." Then she shoved past him and into the room to stand by Smalls and Lucky. Obviously her mood was not improving anytime soon but she'd been more than a little moody lately.

[Smalls]

David Jacobs might not have been Smalls favorite person in the world, but he was bright, and she respected him for it. His explanation satisfied her, though she was a bit curious as to his distancing himself from Manhattan. "Fair enough.."

"Yeah, just give him a chance ta explain. At first I didn't trust him either but he's got a good mision so why don't you all shutup or tell us where Spot is so Dave can talk to him."

Smalls cocked a bemused eyebrow, slowly stepping forward toward the boy. "We'll tell ya wheah Spot is if an' when we damn well feel like it." She took a step closer, but turned her attention toward David. "You serious wit this kid?" She gestured to the loud-mouthed boy, a smirk still tugging at her lips. "An' they say you're smart..."

[Lucky Volpecillia]

It was Lucky who held up her hands, she could see Fighter was in one of those moods that begged any excuse for a throw down and she knew Smalls would go swinging no mater what the circumstances. It's why she loved the two of them like sisters. They were Brooks as sound as Spot was.

"Now, now," her eyes flickered to Bear and she lifted her chin, glancing sideways back at Prop who she was unsure if she was still around or not she sighed before glancing back at the loud mouth Brooklynite. "Kid, you've got two options, you either shut the whole in your face doubling as your mouth or three girls are going to beat the tar out of you then spread the news like newsies should, got me?"

That was the end of it as far as she was concnerned, but her attention went back to Dave and she nodded to him.

"You might as well come in and take a loud off for now, Dave, I haven't seen Spot in a couple days and we all know what that could mean. He's itching for this strike and we're all ready for war-- per usual." She looked down the line at Fight and Smalls. "The three of us are loyal to Spot Conlon before anyone else, but it don't mean we're gonna toss you out on your ass... we're a bit smarter then that. " A bit? A LOT smarter then that.

"And you might want to talk to us before you decide that we don't need to know what's going on in the other boroughs..."

[davidjacobs]

"Yeah, just give him a chance ta explain. At first I didn't trust him either but he's got a good mision so why don't you all shutup or tell us where Spot is so Dave can talk to him."

David held out his hand. “It’s all right, Bear,” he said. “This is just how things are done.” He certainly couldn’t be called a Brooklyn regular, but he knew how they conducted their business. They weren’t friendly, but they would listen as long as he worded his explanation carefully.

David cursed inwardly when Fighter swept into the room. His last conversation with her hadn’t gone well, but, he thought grimly, maybe he had learned from his mistake.

"Fair enough.."

David sighed with relief, but then –

"We'll tell ya wheah Spot is if an' when we damn well feel like it. You serious wit this kid? An' they say you're smart..."

“He didn’t mean any harm,” David said. “He was the one who brought me to the Lodging House. He didn’t trust me either at first, but I’ll tell you exactly what I told him. I’m trying to help the kids who are suffering because of this price hike, not just the kids in Manhattan either - all of them.” He held up his hands pleadingly toward Smalls. “But if I want to help, I need to know what the leaders are up to.”

"Kid, you've got two options, you either shut the whole in your face doubling as your mouth or three girls are going to beat the tar out of you then spread the news like newsies should, got me?"

David winced before turning to Lucky. He knew Bear had meant well and the last thing he wanted was to see the kid ostracized from his borough for helping David. “Look,” he said, trying to pull the attention back to himself. “I’m happy to wait if you don’t mind, but if you rather I weren’t here, I’ll go look somewhere else. I’m not here to start a fight.”

The three of us are loyal to Spot Conlon before anyone else, but it don't mean we're gonna toss you out on your ass... we're a bit smarter then that. And you might want to talk to us before you decide that we don't need to know what's going on in the other boroughs..."

David smiled wanly. Well, it was a better welcome than he had feared. “Thank you, Lucky,” he said. “And if you want to know what’s going on, all you have to do is ask. I don’t have any secrets.”

[bear]

Bear glared at them again not appreciating getting shoved and pushed around by girls. He piped up again, fed up. "I'se just as old as ya. I'm sixteen yeahs old. I'se a Brooklyn newsie too and just as good a fighter as all a' ya. Dere ain't no way goils can beat me up. I'd take ya one by one but I happens ta be a gentleman so I don't hit goils." He said smugly and coldly glaring at them. He glanced at David and then back at them.

[Smalls]

“He didn’t mean any harm, he was the one who brought me to the Lodging House. He didn’t trust me either at first, but I’ll tell you exactly what I told him. I’m trying to help the kids who are suffering because of this price hike, not just the kids in Manhattan either - all of them.” He held up his hands pleadingly toward Smalls. “But if I want to help, I need to know what the leaders are up to.”

Smalls nodded at this, ignoring Bear and giving David her full attention.

“And if you want to know what’s going on, all you have to do is ask. I don’t have any secrets.”

She grinned at this, respecting the Jacobs boy more by the minute. "Well Davey why don' ya start with.."

"I'se just as old as ya. I'm sixteen yeahs old. I'se a Brooklyn newsie too and just as good a fighter as all a' ya. Dere ain't no way goils can beat me up. I'd take ya one by one but I happens ta be a gentleman so I don't hit goils."

Smalls stopped mid-sentence, sighing deeply and closing her eyes as she turned to face him. Taking a step toward Bear she raised an eyebrow, resisting the urge to connect her fist with his face. "You may be a gentleman," She took a step closer as she spoke, "But we aint no ladies, an' we won't think twice about heavin' your ass out the door if you don' wise up, got it?" She was being kind, for David's sake. He had defended the guy-- anyone else in his situation would have a broken nose by now.

[Lucky Volpecillia]

As David spoke Lucky gave him her full attention.

"Thank you, Lucky," he said. "And if you want to know what's going on, all you have to do is ask. I don't have any secrets."

She shrugged her arms and nodded at that, whatever about that.

"Well Davey why don' ya start with.."


"I'se just as old as ya. I'm sixteen yeahs old. I'se a Brooklyn newsie too and just as good a fighter as all a' ya. Dere ain't no way goils can beat me up. I'd take ya one by one but I happens ta be a gentleman so I don't hit goils."

Lucky turned and her brows shot up as if he'd sprouted wings and started babbling Dutch.

You may be a gentleman," She took a step closer as she spoke, "But we aint no ladies, an' we won't think twice about heavin' your ass out the door if you don' wise up, got it?"

Lucky took Dave's arm and moved him a little bit away from the group before the fight broke out, she could feel Fighter snapping any minute now so she said nothing to the boy except, "Watch it kid, this is our lodging house and you mess with us you'll be singin' soprano outside in the cold on your ass.." She sighed and looked back to Dave shaking her head.

"I know he probably means well Dave but he should know better than to talk to us coming from our borough and all-- start by telling us what JackJack is really think, and Dodger and Prince.." Unlike a lot of the newsies, Lucky was on personal terms with all the leaders, they were all really good friends of hers. She respected them all as such.

"Look I ain't sold a paper since-- hell I can't remember when but you know how we play here in Brooks--" Obviously Bear didn't. "We're loyal to each uthah, Spot and Brooklyn.... but we want to know where everyone stands.."

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighter stood silent, listening to Smalls, Lucky, and David. She was willing to give him more of a chance at this point because he wasn't questioning kids who barely knew the borough. These were her friends and she trusted them and respected their opinions as highly as she respected Spots. When Bear spoke up again it took all of her restraint to keep herself in line and not deck him. Honestly she could care less about the kid but she knew that this was neither the time or place.

When Lucky pulled Davey to the side though she felt she could make her opinion known and stepped towards Bear all of her pent up aggression and anger showing on her face. As she neared him she grabbed his arm, her hand tightening around it. "Kid...they may be willing to let you go with a warning but I'm so near my wits end, I'll deck you if you say another damn word. I don't care if you think your gentlemandly enough to not hit me back. And I certainly don't care if you think your Brooklyn. If you wanna test how much I don't care take a step outside and I'll show you, otherwise we got company and I'd like to hear what he has to say."

None of what she said was loud, she was trying to keep it discreet. Davey didn't need to know exactly what she said. She didn't want him thinking that this would interfere with what he came here for. It certainly wouldn't. Like the other girls she was brewing to find out what was going on in the other boroughs. She tried her sources but they didn't run with that crowd and weren't in on the secrets. She made sure to tighten her hands enough at a sensitive point where his elbow met his forearm that he'd get just how serious she was and then she stepped back. Wanting to hear the rest of the conversation.

[davidjacobs]

I'se just as old as ya. I'm sixteen yeahs old. I'se a Brooklyn newsie too and just as good a fighter as all a' ya. Dere ain't no way goils can beat me up. I'd take ya one by one but I happens ta be a gentleman so I don't hit goils.

It took all the self-control David possessed not to slap his hand to his brow and groan. “Bear, please,” he said. “This is not the time.”

But we aint no ladies, an' we won't think twice about heavin' your ass out the door if you don' wise up, got it?"

David was grateful to Smalls for not taking a swing at Bear then and there. Shifting until he was blocking Bear from view, David said, “Smalls, I’m sorry, he doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s just looking out for me.”

David shot Bear a sidelong look. “And while I do appreciate it,” he muttered, “let’s try to keep this civilized, all right?” If this degenerated to a brawl, he’d be right back where he started.

"I know he probably means well Dave but he should know better than to talk to us coming from our borough and all-- start by telling us what JackJack is really think, and Dodger and Prince.."

David saw solid ground and leapt for it. “That I can answer,” he said quickly. This was sort of like being on trial. Smirking grimly, David went on. “Jack doesn’t want to strike. He thinks they’ll expect us to do that and they’ll plan for it. It’s not a ridiculous theory either. If they were really scared of us, they wouldn’t have dared to do this to us again. Dodger seems to agree with him.” What was it the Bronx leader had said to him? “Never try the same trick twice,” David tried, paraphrasing as best he could. “Prince, on the other hand, is less certain. She’s worried about her kids, though, and will do whatever she can to help them. She’s got a lot of youngsters, you know.”

David took a deep breath. “The thing is, I’ve got an idea. I don’t know if it will work, but I think it’s worth trying before a strike. If we can get public sympathy by showing off a few cute or well-spoken kids then they won’t be able to hike up the price without risking losing customers. There are a few young kids in Queens and a girl named Mabel in Manhattan who fit the bill. If you know of any Brooklyn kids who might be willing to help, I’d be very grateful.” David chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip. “And if we can get to some people in government, well, that would be even better.” David rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “And if that doesn’t work, I’m all for striking.” He smiled at Lucky. “But it won’t work unless we all work together, which is why I wanted to talk to Spot.”

Out of the corner of his eye, David saw Fighter snarling at Bear and winced. Keep calm, David thought, wishing Bear could read his mind. You can get into all the fights you want later, but for now, just keep calm,

[Lucky Volpecillia]

"The thing is, I've got an idea. I don't know if it will work, but I think it's worth trying before a strike. If we can get public sympathy by showing off a few cute or well-spoken kids then they won't be able to hike up the price without risking losing customers. There are a few young kids in Queens and a girl named Mabel in Manhattan who fit the bill. If you know of any Brooklyn kids who might be willing to help, I'd be very grateful." David chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip. "And if we can get to some people in government, well, that would be even better." David rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "And if that doesn't work, I'm all for striking." He smiled at Lucky. "But it won't work unless we all work together, which is why I wanted to talk to Spot."

Lucky listened and she nodded slowly, taking in what he said for a moment before she folded her arms and let out a sigh. She was honestly considering what he was saying and seeing as how she hadn't thrown him out on his tail-- she was almost agreeing. She ignored Fighter and gave Dave a warning look.

"I know you mean well Davey by trying to protect the boy, Dave but handle your business before his okay?" she tapped her foot and looked over at Smalls before she shook her head.

"The truth of it is Dave, most of us can be well spoken, maybe even cute if we're cleaned up but a lot of Brooks kids have police records, Spot included." she leaned against the door frame so he would meet her eyes. Wanted to convey what she was really thinking to David for once. "None of us are getting any younger, Dave-- you might be right with appealing to the public but look at us. We're a bunch of street kids, we die and no one bats an eyelash-- I don't want that to be what the world sees me as.. You've got a home and family, most of us did once and weren't nearly as lucky as you. We've got to pick our battles carefully, aye?"

her eyes darted to Smalls, they'd been threw everything together since they were tiny. Looking back at David she found she needed to get this out in the open right now, "If you can convince Spot that this is what we need to do, with his go ahead, I'll back you. . ." That was more than anyone got from Lucky. EVER.

"If you can't-- you know where Brooklyn's Loyalties lie.."

[bear]

Bear was finally quiet. He was standing next to David just listening intently to what he had to say. He thought that was the best speech he had ever heard. Dave was right, the little kids needed help and they were the only ones who could do anything about it. The speech kind of struck him, he was never really loved by anybody. He grew up just like all the little kids. Alone in the world and unloved by his parents. He nodded his head and smiled a little when Lucky agreed. Now all they had to do was find Spot.