The Girls Bedroom -- Beds

[Administrator]

The girls' bedroom is large, but cramped with rows and rows of beds, not bunks. Though the beds are cramped in here, they're comfortable. So find an empty one, and settle in. There's windows on two walls, facing the street, and a small, tattered sofa in the corner.

The washroom is across the hall and the boys' bedroom is next door. The fire escape entrance is through a window in the hall just outside the boys' room

[Gianna Mancini]

<New Day - Reserved for Prince>

Gianna was sitting in the middle of her bed, the one tucked up into the far corner of the room, crossed legged and writing in the small notebook that she kept under her mattress. It wasn't a journal really, more a scattering of thoughts and ideas, sometimes the snippet of a song that drifted through her mind while she was out walking the streets. She wasn't bold enough to believe she might ever get to string together the little bits of words and phrases into real songs, but it pleased her to write them down when they came to her. She'd finished selling her papers a bit early that afternoon, a rarity for Gianna who struggled with the art of paper hawking, and returned to the lodging house to while away the hours until some of the others returned.

She was a of a quiet nature, but she did rather enjoy the company of her fellow lodging house members. They had a way of lighting up her existence, chattering about brightly the younger ones bursting with stories of what had happened and the older girls talking about whatever struck their fancy. Gianna didn't often participate, but she listened and was warmed by the fact that she had found a place here, with the hodgepodge collection of people that made her feel, at least a little, like she had a home.

[Prince]

As though she had walked through the wall, Prince suddenly appeared right behind Gianna and was reading over her shoulder. "What we have here?" She draped an arm around Gia's shoulders. She smiled brightly down at her friend with a smirk. Gia was a good kid. Hadn't been around long, but all the same, she was pretty cute. Prince reached up and pulled her hat off of her head, letting her semi-short hair come down around her shoulders. "Doin' some writing?" Prince had no problems with that. She enjoyed writing herself, and even kept her own note book to write down stories.

Prince came in front of her and stopped looking over her shoulders. Instead she sat down on the bed and tucked her leg under herself as she sat down. "So how you been Gia? Everyin' around here treatin' youse alright?" she asked as she sort of leaned back on the bed and folded her arms across her chest. She greeted her with a congenial smile. Prince was always sure to make sure that as many people as possible were happy and as comfortable as they could be while they were in her care. Especially when they were new.

[Gianna Mancini]

Gianna jumped a little when Prince spoke, not having heard her come up behind her bed, and though her instinct was to slam her notebook shut so her leader couldn't see it's contents, Gianna resisted the urge. Prince had always been kind to her and Gianna knew that she wasn't the easiest person to get to know sometimes - her painful shyness was always a hindrance when it came to meeting and conversing with others. "Just a few thoughts I had," Gianna explained softly with a smile as she looked over at Prince as she walked around to sit across from her on the bed. She'd never told anyone about her songs, they were just for her right now and as much as she liked Prince, she intended to keep it that way for the moment.

As such, she was grateful for the change in topic and the shift away from her notebook which she now quietly closed as she considered Prince's questions. "Everyone has been very kind," Gianna replied sincerely, pleased that Prince had thought to ask. "It's taking me a little bit as you might imagine, but I'm settling in." Gianna picked at the threads on her blanket for a moment before looking back at Prince with a smile. "Still trying to get a hang of the selling thing, how do you manage so many in one day?"

[Prince]

As Gia started to tell Prince how she'd been doing Prince leaned forward a little and put an elbow on her knee, and her head in her hand listening intently and nodding as she spoke. "Good good!" she said nodding and then sitting back up a little. "I'm glad ya startin' to feel a little more at ease." She knew that Gia was shy, or practically an introvert, so she wanted to make sure that the girl was happy. Since she was rather talkative and communal herself it was harder for her to understand Gia's quiet nature. However, she didn't and wouldn't judge her for it, she would just take extra care because of it. "Ya know," she added, "it'd be a little more easy to get comfortable if you had some close friends or somethin' ya know?" she advised the young girl. "I know it's hard for you to strike up a conversation. But just havin' one close friend can make life a hella lot easier," she said with a sincere smile.

At the mention of how Prince sold so many papers every day she laughed and shrugged. "Helps havin' a loud voice," she said chuckling. Because hers wasn't even that loud. "Gotta take some risks and ya gotta sound more excited about it than ya actually are." Those were her trade secrets really. Avalanche had always had odd ways of making more money, or selling papers in record time. But Prince just put her heart into it a little, and found the job not only sort of fun some days, but she actually enjoyed it most of the time. "But mostly," she said leaning back onto her arm, "it all comes with practice." She smiled at the younger one.

"Also..." she said going back to the first conversation, "I've found that a lotta my friends like ta go places when they're done sellin'. How come ya stayin' all cooped up in here?" she asked. "We should go somewhere, where'd ya like ta go?"

[Gianna Mancini]

There was practicality in her words, Gianna knew that and there was a part of her that did long for a close friend that she perhaps might share things with. But when it came to such things, Gianna didn't even know where to being and though a few of the other girls had made attempts to take her under her wing - Luna had been especially attentive - Gianna was at a bit of a loss at times. "Luna has been nice," Gianna offered, shooting Prince a small smile. The truth was that Gianna was rather in awe of Prince, so confident and easy with people and had a way about her that Gianna could only dream about; she would give anything for just a little bit of Prince's boldness.

"Oh I'm not a very loud person," Gianna said, a blush tinging her cheeks as she realized that was probably one of the more obvious statements that she had ever made. Just about any soul who met her could practically read the shyness on her face and it had a tendency to make people leave her alone, whether that was her intention or not. "Except when I'm singing," She announced quite suddenly, the words slipping out before she realized that Prince might not know that she even sang. "I can be as loud as I imagine myself to be when I sing." Gianna smiled a little more faintly and then shrugged a thin shoulder. "That sounds rather foolish, doesn't it?"

"I wouldn't know where to go," Gianna explained when Prince asked why she was cooped up in the lodging house instead of meeting with some of the other newsies or still out roaming the streets. "I rather like it here but..." She looked around the empty room and then back over at Prince with another trace of a smile. "I'd be willing if you know of a place to go."

[Prince]

She could only smile as the girl said that Luna had made an effort. "Well... I'm sure she's not the only one who's been nice to ya since ya got here?" she said with a small chuckle. True, one could have friends by the score, but it was the ones that were close who really helped you through at the end of the day, so she hoped that Gianna would be able to make at least one rather close friend. True, best friends and the like weren't nessisary, but they were quite helpful for selling with, workin' scams, and having fun. Prince was more of a communal friend maker, but lately, had been getting a bit closer to a few of her borough mates, specifically Styx, which was dumb because she'd be leaving soon. But enough about that.

Prince couldn't help but laugh at her blush as she reddened after explaining that she wasn't a very loud person. "No wait... you quiet? I never woulda guessed..." she said folding her arms across her chest and laughing some more. However, her laugh quieted itself when Gianna said that when she was singing she could be loud. Prince sort of looked at her interested. "Oh really?" she said as she unfolded her arms and leaned forward. "Singing huh?" she said as a small smile formed on her face. As the girl talked some more about her unadvertised love of music Prince listened intently. "Nonono," she said shaking her head slightly, "not foolish at all, I think that's great!" truth be told, she thought it was near brilliant that the girl had something she really loved doing. She smiled at her, and an idea began to form.

As Gianna explained that she wouldn't know where to go Prince's idea began to take shape. The girl would probably love to take in a show, and Caprice was just the right walking distance away. "I got it," she said as she hopped up off of her bed. She took her hat down and put it between her teeth as she twisted her hair up and then replaced it on her head. "You and me, we're gonna go ta caprice, and see a show, on me," she promised with a wide smile. "C'mon, it'll be fun!" she said offering her hand to the younger girl. "You know ya wanna..."

[Gianna Mancini]

"No, no of course not," Gianna agreed with a slight smile, everyone had been very kind and welcoming and Gianna hadn't lacked for help or encouragement when she needed it, she just wasn't the sort to ask after such things. Luna was just the one she had connected with the most, though Gianna had a hard time telling if it was because they had much in common or because the other girl's bright, forceful personality had a way of drawing people in. And it wasn't that Gianna didn't want friends other than Luna, nothing could be further from the truth as she often did enjoy the company of another person, she just wasn't altogether certain how to go about the business of making friends.

The corner of her mouth quirked up into a smile as Prince teased her gently, the sound of the other girl's laughter making Gianna relax a little bit more - feeling the blush leave her cheeks. "Yes, I sing," She confirmed with the slightest nod of her head, finding even the topic put her a little more at ease. There wasn't much that Gianna felt sure of, but music and her ability to express herself through it was one of them. "Sometimes...sometimes I give some of my papers to the younger ones and sing for coins instead," Gianna explained, looking over at Prince with an expression somewhere between an apology and a smile. "I like it much better, it's....easier for me."

Gianna's eyes grew large at Prince's suggestion and she looked down at the notebook in her hand and then back over at Prince. There was no way that she could know that Gianna sometimes slipped into the balcony to watch the performers, found a way to settled in so she could see down onto the stage and watch the spectacle and envision herself someday up there herself. But there was more to what Prince was offering, though there was no way that the leader could know it - a chance to see the show up close was almost more than Gianna might have hoped for. "That...that would be wonderful!" Gianna said, a light sparking in her idea at the thought and she hugged her notebook against her chest as she smiled brightly. "Are you sure you have the time?"

[Prince]

She couldn't help but stifle a laugh as Gianna asked if she had time. "Time, and money enough for us to both go, believe you me," she promised her. And besides, now that Styx was starting to take over for her a bit, she found that she didn't have to hang around as much and always be accessible, and that was a sort of freedom that she could really get used to. And then she suddenly had an idea. "And maybe while we're there I'll go back stage and speak to Naomi for a little bit," she said with a grin. Naomi was the woman who was running the place now "That is if you don't mind?" Prince could kill two birds with one stone. Maybe Naomi would let her work there as a stage hand. Heck, it was worth a shot, right? True Prince didn't know Naomi like she had Aria, but at the same time, it was never too late to make new friends, right?

"C'mon girly, and if we leave now we can still get a good seat, and catch the evenin' show!" Prince was all excited for this now, so for her there was no turning back. "And for the record... you know ya dun gotta buy and sell papes ta live here duncha? If ya wanna sing for money, and ya can make a livin'... girly do it! Don't waste ya hard earned money on papes ya ain't gonna sell... when you can do somethin' ya love and ya makin' a profit."

She couldn't help but smile at the younger girl. And, as far as Prince was concerned, if the girl had a talent, she should be auditioning while they were there too! Stage performers were making big bucks these days in the big time. And if Gianna was any good... maybe she could make it to the big time!

[Gianna Mancini]

Gianna couldn't help but be pleased when Prince said that she had the time - she hadn't figured the other girl would offer if she didn't - but Prince had a lot of things to manage and Gianna wanted to make sure she wasn't infringing on other things Prince might need to be doing. But Prince seemed earnest and maybe even a little excited at the prospect of a show at Caprice Hall herself, so Gianna tucked her notebook away and then ran a few fingers through her hair. As many shows as she had seen from the balcony, it would be another matter entirely from the floor - and did Prince just say something about Naomi?

"...you mean Miss Talbot?" Gianna paused in her movements and stared at Prince, hanging around the hall the way she did at times she'd picked up on a few things. And Naomi was a name that she recognized and it only took a few trips for her to piece together that the woman ran the place - Gianna even thought she knew what she looked like, though she couldn't be certain. "Would she...I mean, no...no I don't mind."

She nibbled nervously on her bottom lip for a moment, not at all sure what the evening would bring but deciding that for once she was just going to try and enjoy the moment. Her nerves would no doubt cause a mess later, but Gianna was too excited at the prospect of seeing the stage show up close, she'd worry about maybe having to talk to Miss Talbot later. She shook her head as she caught the last bit of Prince's statement, about not having to spend her money on the papers if she preferred to sing. "I don't mind it really, the younger ones could use the extra coins and people seem to like my singing," She smiled at Prince and lifted a thin shoulder in a slight shrug. "It seems to work out for everyone all around."

Sliding off the bed she tried to match Prince's enthusiasm as best she could, which was mostly more frequent smiles and a light in her eyes that she couldn't diminish if she tried. She might not be able to match Prince's boundless energy, but Gianna could appreciate the moment - and the time the other girl was taking. Smoothing out her skirt, she reached for her shawl and then glanced over at Prince and paused, looking at the other girl seriously for a moment. "Thank you," She said finally, smiling a little before pulling on her shawl. "Thank you very much, Prince."

[Prince]

Prince hadn't really realized that Gianna had such a soft spot for the younger generation of newsies staying at the lodging house, but she was very glad for it! She hoped that maybe Gianna would be able to take care of some of the younger ones since she was going to be gone. She made a mental note to ask her about this later. She did think it was very kind of the young lady to be so giving of her papers and hard earned money. "Ya know," Prince said, "if it were me, i think I'd sing headlines intead of yellin' 'em," she said with a smirk. She thought that was pretty clever, really.

She couldn't help but smile at her as she agreed to go speak with Naomi after the show. Prince was in dire need of a job, and it was just possible that Ms. Talbot might help her out. She hoped so anyway. She could do all the things that the men could do, and would help back stage, and she could wear her hair up like always. Very little would have to change she figured. And that sounded like a brilliant plan to her! "Great," she said, "just sometime after the show we'll hang around a little longer so I can locate her to talk to her, if that's okay," she didn't want to keep the poor girl out too late now.

As Gianna got ready to go Prince twirled her shorter hair up and hid it under her hat once more. She then picked up her coat from the floor and started to sling it over her shoulders when Gianna stopped suddenly and very seriously thanked her. Prince didn't know what she had done to deserve such a sincere thanks but she nodded all the same and shrugged the coat on the rest of the way to her shoulders. "No problem girly," she said with a soft smile."Jus 'cause I'm leavin' dun mean I can't still spend time with my newsies, yeah?" she said grinning a little more. "Now c'mon girly." she said slinging an arm around Gianna's shoulders. "Where do ya think ya'd like ta sit. Ya wanna sit up high, get a birds eye view, or wanna be on the floor?" she asked her with a sideways glance and smile. Either way, Prince would be happy to pick up the tab.

[Gianna Mancini]

"Sing the headlines...?" Gianna repeated, almost unable to believe that the idea had never actually occurred to her before. When she sang, she usually reached back into her memory for the ones she had learned at Sister Mary's side when she was in the orphanage, generally gospel hymns and the like. Even the snatches of phrases that she had written down in her notebook had rarely found a voice, but singing headlines - there was something almost genius and so simple about it that Gianna marveled at the idea. "Why, I never thought of that Prince!" Gianna said, glancing over at Prince and feeling something akin to excitement for the first time about selling papers. "I shall give that a try sometime."

"That should be fine," Gianna said, when Prince indicated they might be staying a little longer after the show so that she could talk to Miss Talbot. Her nerves were still a little on edge at the prospect but she didn't have anywhere else to be or to hurry back too - and it wasn't a chance that she really wanted to turn away from. She wasn't sure what she thought she might learn - though she did have about a thousand questions for the Caprice Hall owner - she just wasn't sure how many of them she might manage to get out of her mouth if the opportunity arose. Shoving the concerns aside, Gianna decided it wasn't something to worry about at the given moment, not with Prince standing there looking at her expectantly.

"I wish you weren't leaving," Gianna admitted, as Prince slung an arm across her shoulders and they started walking towards the door. "I know that everyone has to move on sometimes," Gianna began, because her life had probably taught her that most of all but knowing didn't often make it any easier. "But I will miss you." She smiled a little as she pulled her shawl more tightly across her shoulders at the slight admission.

"Um...the floor if that's no trouble," Gianna said softly, she had spent enough times tucked away on the balcony for the bird's eye view. She had never dared risk the floor alone, the crowds a little intimidating, but Prince was a reassuring presence and Gianna could feel herself getting more excited.

[Prince]

She couldn't help but smile at the girls excitement to sing a headline. It sort of made her chuckle. Sure, she had thought the idea was interesting and clever, but really she didn't think it was the best idea in the world. Still, if it would allow Gianna to make money, and do something she loved to do at the same time, then that was wonderful as far as Prince was concerned.

Prince instantly started to think of what she could think to get Naomi to give her a job. She didn't really know how to apply for any sort of job, but hopefully all the same she could maybe use an extra set of hands. She was hell bent on staying in Queens for a while, and maybe she could even get a roof over her head. She could do almost anything that the men at the theater could do, and she would hard night and day to prove it if she had to!

When Gianna said that she wishes Prince weren't leaving she looked at her a little surprised. "Hey girly, dun worry huh? I ain't gonna be gone forever, and I'm not gonna be far! I ain't leavin' the city, so I'll be sure to stop by sometimes to see everyone," she promised. "You too, maybe even take ya again when the show's new," she smiled at the girl softly. "Believe me," she said squeezing her, arm still around her shoulders, "Styx'll be good, and he'll take good care of ya, all of ya," she promised her friend. "He's smart, and I'm sure he'll be a good listener. So don't hesitate to talk to him okay?" She wanted the kids think highly of Styx, so she talked him up and gave him the good rep he deserved when ever he could. It would make the transition smoother.

As for the floor? "No trouble at all!" she said with a nod. "I think that can be handled." Prince opened the door to the Queens street. "Nice night..." she said her voice instantly dropping deeper as she was now in the public eye and was considered a boy. "March is turnin' out to be not so bad." Sure, it was still brisk, but nothin like the biting winds that feburary had in store. It was a calm sort of wind, and a nice sort of cool. Made the walk to caprice pleasant.

((OOC: If you want, we can continue there, you can reply to this at Caprice if you like!))