|
|
Post by Administrator on Apr 14, 2010 23:55:32 GMT -5
...leads to a back alley. It's one house down from the end of the row, so the street beyond is visible. To the right is where the fire escape comes down and to the left is a locked pile of firewood that only Will can access. The alley isn't the brightest place, but it's a good place to go to relax, be on your own, or smoke.
|
|
|
|
Post by Styx Kennedy on Feb 20, 2011 3:06:59 GMT -5
*For Bridgette* He sat on the back step with a cigarette hanging loosely from one hand, the end of it glowing bright orange in the dark. He’d been out at the pub that night and arrived back a little after curfew. Lucky for him though, Will, the caretaker of the Queens LH, usually only remembered to lock the front door when curfew rolled around. He chuckled at the man’s forgetfulness and took a drag, flicking the ashes lazily onto the alley beneath his feet. He could see the street easily from where he sat, the LH being only one building from the corner, and he watched the myriad of people still out on the street. Yes, it was late, but this was New York and this city never slept. |
|
|
|
Post by Bridgette O'Malley on Feb 20, 2011 3:47:56 GMT -5
And apparently Bridgette didn't either. The dainty barmaid was on her way back at least in the general direction of Brooklyn after walking a very articulate brit back to the Bronx. She laughed off his flirting, shook her head when he tired to get father then she was willing to let him go and turned back for Brooklyn alone. Though the trolley stopped running at a certain time (and really she was to late to even catch the late night) she'd caught a cart half the way and it had dropped her near the Queens lodging house.
She knew she had friends there, one in particular that wouldn't turn her away no matter how late it was or tired he might be. Tilting her head, blue eyes showing in the dark as she pulled her shawl a bit closer around her shoulders she walked towards the back. knowing that Will didn't lock the back had some advantages, but she paused when she saw Styx. Lips curving she moved forward, tilting her head. "The man I was lookin' for... we didn't get ta dance tonight love, ye were busy playing the reel..." And she'd almost missed it. Being able to dance was one of her favorite things and she loved nothing more than a sure footed partner.
|
|
|
|
Post by Styx Kennedy on Feb 20, 2011 5:18:39 GMT -5
Styx saw a feminine form moving toward him and recognized it instantly as hers. Finishing his cigarette, he grinned and stood up at her greeting, tossing the butte off to the side. She'd come to see him at night before, sometimes for convenience sake and others simply for him, but they always went the same way. He'd sneak her into the boy's bunk room where they'd cuddle up in his bed together and sleep, never once venturing beyond that.
The other boys were used to it now and knew not too wake him when she was over, for on those days he usually skipped the morning edition and only sold the evening. Prince had decided that there wasn't much she could do about the arrangement, the two of them were far to willful and attached to one another to stop, so as long as they stuck to just sleeping, she allowed it to continue.
His smirked as she drew nearer and his arms slid easily around her petite waist. "You come all the way to Queens jus for a dance? Love, ya flatter me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Bridgette O'Malley on Feb 20, 2011 15:01:51 GMT -5
She smirked at him when he drew closer, tucking arms around her that had her leaning into him and shaking her head. Raising a brow, "Ach, ye'd like that wouldn't ye?" Sometimes she did come all the way from Brooklyn to see him, other times, well other times he would sneak over when her brothers were gone off doing whatever it was they did that she didn't ask about and they would cuddle up in her bed. It was a cycle neither sought fit to break, because in a sense it made them both happy so why bother?
"No, I wasn't. Had ta take the trolley to take a Bronx lad home from the pub. Lord Byron? Lad wasn't as three sheets as he claimed and wanted to try his lucky with a pretty blond barmaid." It actually made her smile in a way, shaking her head ruefully. She was the ever unavailable one, oh she'd flirt with you, tease you and be kind and make it seem like you had a shot. though the latter was unintentional. But she never gave in, she wanted a lot of other things then to just be one of those girls that people thought they could have because she was a barmaid. She wasn't a whore. Tease yes, no whore.
"Seems I attract lads with silver tongues.. "
|
|
|
|
Post by Styx Kennedy on Feb 20, 2011 15:43:03 GMT -5
He laughed and nodded at her question, though it was more or less rhetorical. When Bridgette came by, whatever she said her reason was, he knew that he was part of it. The two of them were just close like that. At her mention of the flirtatious Byron, Styx frowned ever so slightly. Their friendship and or complicated relationship was by no means an exclusive one on either side, but he honestly couldn't help the little twinges of jealousy that stirred when other men tried to put the moves on her. He couldn't, of course, expect her to do something he himself could not, but he couldn't help wishing it was so.
"Ye attract us 'cause ya got a silver tongue as well." It was true. Bridgette could talk men into doing almost anything for her, give them next to nothing in return, and still they'd come back for more. he chuckled and began moving the pair of them in a slow dance, making up for the one with her he'd apparently missed. "An' how'd the Brit's luck pan out, hmm?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Bridgette O'Malley on Feb 20, 2011 15:59:19 GMT -5
She probably should have noticed the hint of jealousy that crossed his eyes before he pulled her in for a slow dance, her hand lifting to the back of his neck as she moved her feet right along, following his lead as she could without thinking many times. Shifting her hips, she followed the sound of a soft song in her head. It should have been more like a waltz, but they were pressed closer than they should have been. It didn't really matter, they were always like this.
"Oh I do not," she scoffed, meeting his eyes as they continued, his comment about her having a silver tongue made her laugh. "I'm Irish tis in me nature. And in this city, seems they've decided that there isn't much use for the Irish charms if ye ken believe some of the word in the tenements." But she didn't stop smiling, she really did like being with him. If she didn't, she wouldn't be there she'd have found some other way. "Ah, well, he's a Brit?" That should have been enough, she didn't fall into the Irish prejudices against the english but she wasn't about to go and snog a drunk Brit for no reason. "And he was a bit tipsy, didna get very far..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Styx Kennedy on Feb 20, 2011 16:30:46 GMT -5
"Ya do, so. Don' go tryin ta deny it," He chuckled as he spun her gently, humming a slow dance between comments. Styx liked dancing, it was something he had always been good at, and Bridgette had to be one of his favorite partners. She was sure on her feet and a quick learner, always up for learning a new dance, but already knowing most of the ones in his repertoire. Then, of course, there were times like this when they just made them up as they went along, falling into sync easily. "Ya can believe that if ye want ta, Bridge, but from my experience, the Irish charm has gotten me a ways..." Well, being half Dutch, he wasn't sure which side of his heritage had given him his charm, but he was grateful for its effectiveness either way. "Aye, there's my girl... Not givin in to the so called 'charms' of the British." He didn't see the draw of their kind, to be honest, but he supposed some people were just easily wooed. Styx pulled her closer as they danced, her head fitting perfectly under his chin in a way that he enjoyed thoroughly. Though the night people stalked the nearby street, no one bothered the two young people as they danced, each lost in their own thoughts. He paused his humming to voice one of his thoughts, "Ya stayin the night with me, love?" He knew what the answer would be, but he liked to ask anyway. |
|
|
|
Post by Bridgette O'Malley on Feb 20, 2011 17:20:23 GMT -5
They matched, body to body, really they fit in a lot of ways that neither one of them were at any kind of point to understand or accept. They'd been natural with each other the moment they met, flirting easily and laughing, running around the park like loons causing a stir. But that was who they were. She didn't have to be anyone else when she was with him, didn't have to change her tune or try and be something she wasn't. They had gone from playing, to knowing each other pretty well. Though she had a feeling they were keeping darker things from each other sometimes. It didn't really matter.
A smile ran across her face, making up the steps, keeping in tandem. She had a feeling that they could talk without words if they had a mind and the need. New York wasn't exactly safe, no matter what they thought, or silly idiots who thought they ruled the world thought. It was dangerous, people didn't care that they were technically just kids. They were old enough to work they were old enough to be treated like adults.
"Well I thought about it," she replied. "And the trolley's stopped runnin, tis a bit of a way back to Brooklyn an' I dunno if I could find another cart goin' that way.." Her intention stopping here was hoping to find him or be able to sneak in the back. She liked to just sleep with him, because sleeping was all they did.
|
|
|
|
Post by Styx Kennedy on Feb 24, 2011 4:14:16 GMT -5
He wanted her and she knew it. Styx was a rogue in many ways, there was no denying that, but he somehow managed to be a gentleman about it. When a girl was hesitant he waited and didn't force or pressure them. What he did do, was tease them with kisses, woo them with words (and dances...), and draw the desire out of them with practice perfected looks. He was a charmer, a silver tongue, and he just couldn't help using it to his advantage at every possible opportunity.
Unlike most rogues though, once he got the girl, he kept her. He didn't use and discard, that simply did not make sense to him. Why work hard to get something and then just throw it out? No, he held on to girls and it was that trait of his that so often got him in trouble. He found out the hard way that even though a girl may say she didn't want to be exclusive...she usually did. That they couldn't just say what they were thinking was truly frustrating.
Bridgette was one of those girls that just wasn't ready yet. So he waited, coaxing her gently, but never pressuring her. Styx actually liked just sleeping with her; it was relaxing. Prince had long ago given up telling Bridgette she couldn't stay over, because she would always just sneak in the window anyway. He twirled her around and then dipped her low, their faces only inches apart. "There jus so happens, ta be a spot in my bed with your name on it... Interested?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Bridgette O'Malley on Feb 24, 2011 4:42:06 GMT -5
And she wasn't the girl that wanted to be used and discarded. Be exclusive? Honestly she didn't understand what that meant. Courting? that terrified her, a commitment to one person had a million scenarios running through her head. All of them ended with her and a broken heart and completely alone. She never trusted people to stay. She didn't trust him to stay either, no one stayed. They died or they left and came and went, they were never there when you needed them.
The lack of commitment, was more of a lack of trust on her end. Though really she was terrified to give someone that much power over her. That he could have control, and would break her heart in the end. The little pieces of her heart Styx had almost stolen just being her friend, there were times she wanted to yank them back and beat him with them.
At the dip she laughed, letting her head bend most of the way back, hair brushing the ground before she shifted to meet his eyes. There was nothing more to say, or maybe there was. Smiling she ran her hand up his back and along the back of his neck.
"Always a spot in your bed with me name on it," she replied with a smile. "Thinkin' I should be lablin' it... etch me name in the wood somewhere.."
|
|
|
|
Post by Styx Kennedy on Mar 12, 2011 3:19:37 GMT -5
Laughing, he kissed her nose and brought her back up again, "Aye, that there is," and as far as he knew, there always would be, "but don' go carvin' up the bed jus yet, Bridge. Will'd have a fit." He released her, their dance coming to an end, and grinned at the thought of the look on Will's face if she did. The poor man worked hard to keep their LH clean and, as much as they liked to tease him, they were all rather fond of him.
Styx yawned and stretched his arms over his head. It was well past his usual bed time by now, what with all newsies waking up at the butt-crack o' dawn, and he was really beginning to feel the long day he'd had. Playing the fiddle down at the pub had probably been the highlight of the day, but this was quickly gaining on it. The fact that the two best parts of his day included Bridgette was not lost on him, but he didn't think much of it. They had a lot in common, they enjoyed spending time together, this was nothing new. The two of them were always like this.
He grinned at her and offered his hand, so ready to get up to his bed and to sleep. He slept better with someone else beside him and he slept especially well when that someone was her. "Well I don think I'm gonna last much longer... Ready, love?" When she accepted his hand, he quietly opened the door and let them both in, then they padded up the stairs and into the boy's bedroom. Sleep at last.
|
|
