The Brooklyn Bridge

[Avalanche]

Have you ever seen a kid tight roping a crack in the side walk? Have you ever seen an adult do it? Avalanche was preoccupying himself, rather than looking forward, he was looking down. He was following a crack in the side walk with his feet. Ever since he met that circus performer in McGinty's one night he's been doing fake circus tricks everywhere. Most of them had ended in disaster, but this one couldn't be all bad, right? All he was doing was tight rope walking a crack!

That was until he ran into a messenger bicycle boy who was also not really paying attention to where he was going and the two of them collided and the messenger nearly ran Avalanche over before they crashed in a heap on the bridge. Once Avalanche realized what had happened he laughed and turned over to make sure the other was doing alright. He didn't feel anything broken, so he stood up and walked over to the young boy. "You okay? Sorry about that, totally my fault!" he said offering a hand to help the boy up.

"Yeah it was," he said as he took a deep breath laying on his back. Avalanche only chuckled. The boy eventually got oxygen back in him and then accepted Avalanche's hand.

"I don't think I did any permanent damage to your bike," he said. the boy went over and inspected his transportation and found it to be in good working condition if just scratched a little from the crash. "I'll be more careful," Avalanche assured him. And he sent the boy off with a wave.

He slowly made his way over to the side of the bridge and sat down beside Chimera. "Whoo... ow..." he said as he put a hand to his head. "I feel like I just got hit by a messenger biker..." he shook his head a little and then looked up from the ground at Chimera. ...he was tall. Probably taller than Avalanche, which he wasn't used to. "...mind if I... bum a cigarette to get rid of this headache?" he asked hopefully to the taller.

[Chimera Hudson]

Chimera was an observer. He watched everybody all day long, whether it be on the streets when he was selling papes or in the lodging house at night. It's what he did. It was how he learned to survive on his own so well. Watch everyone and listen to everything. That's what he was doing right now.

Chimera couldn't help the chuckle that escaped when he watched Avalanche collide with the bike messenger. What was that man doing anyways? He definitely was strange at times... But he was a good mate to have around in times of need.

Chimera took a long drag of his cigarette and looked down at Avalanche on the ground. Exhaling, the smoke billowing around his head, he reached into his pocket for another cigarette. "That's cause you did, mate," he handed the cig to his companion and passed him his lighter as well. "Surprised you're the one with the headache. You knocked that tiny bloke right on his date hard, and your built like a Brick shit house." He chuckled and took another drag from his cigarette, continuing to people-watch.




_{Aussie Dictionary:
'date'-arse
'built like a brick shit house'-big strong bloke}

[Avalanche]

He happily accepted the cigarette and the light and quickly lit it and leaned his head back against the Brooklyn Bridge. "Thanks again, mate," he said with a smile as he looked up at Chimera. He took in a deep breath and relaxed a little. He was already feelin' better.

He chuckled a little and shook his head, still resting against the bridge. "Wull, for what it was worth, I wasn't watchin' where the hell I was goin', but he must not have been either ta run into me like that. It's either that, or he's not so good at steering and couldn't dodge me," he said with another small laugh. Avalanche was one of those guys who bent but never broke. He was annoying in that fact because it meant he could take a ton of abuse and more than just a few hits, and he wouldn't go down in a fight. He'd probably make a good boxer, if he had a violent bone in his body.

He stretched his legs out in front of him and took a long drag on the cigarette and then blew the smoke out into the air. "So, how you doin' lately?" he asked. Ain't seen ya around lately," he said with a small smile. Avalanche prided himself on knowing as many people, specifically newsies, in New York as possible.

[Chimera Hudson]

Chimera lifted his cig to his mouth and took another long drag, chuckling at Avalanche's comment. He witnessed the whole collision so he knew that neither bloke had been watching where they were going. It had actually been quite hilarious to see. And, if that fella on the bicycle wasn't sore later tonight or tomorrow morning, he'd be surprised.

Chimera flicked the stub of his cigarette over his shoulder into the water below and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He continued to watch the people crossing back and forth across the bridge. "Here and there, mate. Haven't been real up to socializing much, lately... Have been spending a fair amount of time at Irving and Caprice Halls, though." He turned to Av and smirked, shrugging his shoulders, "You know me, mate. Sheila's. Everybody has some sort of Achilles' heal; guess they're mine." He chuckled again and turned back to people watch. "What about you?"

[Avalanche]

When Chimera called women "Sheila's" Avalanche couldn't stop himself from laughing out loud. Not in an insulting way, he just thought that was a great thing to call all women. It made him smile and laugh to think of it. He slowly lifted himself to his feet and leaned back against the side of the bridge by Chimera. "That is a great name kiddo," Avalanche said with a wide smile and a nod. And the kiddo remark was not an insult. Avalanche called everyone younger than him a kid, and sometimes even people older than him, if they acted younger.

"Me?" he asked in response to what he'd been up to lately. He shrugged his shoulders. "Lately, I've taken to taking walks around the city whenever I have a second of free time to spare," he explained. "It's been real fun. I've met some of the newer kids that I ain't seen yet," he explained, "and seen a lotta old friends that I ain't seen in ages." He had truly enjoyed the long walks he'd been taking lately, especially when they led him to familiar faces.

"So..." Aaalanche said putting the focus back onto Chimera, "If you've been payin' extra attention to the ladies lately," he said as they watched the people walk across the bridge, "you uh... care to elaborate? That is, I dun mean to impose... jus curious," he said with a sideways glance and smirk at the boy. He always was interested in hearing how other people were fairing in relationships. He wasn't sure as to why, perhaps because he could never seem to settle into one of his own. Either way, he was always happy to hear about it.

[Chimera Hudson]

Chimera smiled listening to Avalanche explain what he'd been up to. That was definitely like Avalanche. He was always out and about socializing with all the different newsies from all the different boroughs and trying to meet all the new kids arriving in the city. Even though he was no longer a newsie himself, he was still looking out for all the newsies; introducing the new kids to those who would become their best friends and new family, providing them with someone to talk to, or even just a safe haven at his own apartment if they needed it. He was a good mate.

Chimera chuckled at Avalanche's comment and the smirk that was shot his way. "There's nuthin' to elaborate on really, mate. You know me. I like to charm my way into their hearts but I'm not one for relationships... and I'm not one to bed 'um and run..." He turned to his companion and returned the smirk with a raised eyebrow. "Of course, I'm also not the kind to refuse a beautiful lady a little 'no-strings-attached' night time comfort if she wants it. That would be rude, mate." He turned back to watch the people passing by; the smirk still on his face.

[Devan Harper]

NEW DAY ~ OPEN

[/center]

Devan stood along the edge of the bridge in the middle, leaning on the railing. It had been a colder week then usual and so Devan was enjoying the somewhat warmth that the sun was offering this afternoon. She'd ended up taking a long walk and was currently watching the people who surrounded her. People watching was one of the few activities Devan truly enjoyed these days. New York had so much to offer and it amazed her how many different cultures blended into the city.

Since Ki was working and she had the day off she'd decided to come here. It offered a different sort then central park did. There was a young couple standing not far from her holding hands and taking turns leaning over the side of the bridge to yell. It wasn't something she was planning on doing but it was interesting to see how many other people were. Devan turned and started back the way she came, careful to sidestep the couple who were to immersed in each other to notice much of anything else going on around them.

A large smile crossed her face as she passed them. One day she hoped to be as in love as those two obviously were. It reminded her of her parents and of Ki's parents. The type of love where everything else around you faded away until you were left with only your significant other. Devan brushed her hair back off of her face as she continued walking.