|
|
Post by Administrator on Jul 22, 2007 12:02:40 GMT -5
Much nicer smelling than the boy's room, here's where the girls sleep.
|
|
|
|
Post by danewsiegoil on Mar 24, 2008 23:13:27 GMT -5
Suddenly a door swung open, making all the conversations cease. A short ratty looking girl waltzed it. "You have any extra bunks?" Unfortunately there was no answer.
"Look I just come a long ways and I need a place to stay. I am not here for a fight or nothing like that. If you don't got any extra bunks that's fine."
A small discreet smile crept over her face as a hint of humor flashed in her green eyes. She was going to like these girls, she could tell.
|
|
|
|
Post by fibs on Aug 9, 2008 16:42:04 GMT -5
[NEW DAY]
Freshly bathed, Fibs flopped onto her stiff cot, her wet mop of hair soaking the shoulders of her button up. Unceremoniously kicking her worn leather shoes to the floor, she could care less where they landed. That said, if one landed in one of the other bunks, she'd probably have it chucked at her head later that night.
Lazily drumming her fingers against her ribs, Fibs contemplated her plans for the night. She could spend her last few pennies on dinner, but that left her with just barely enough to buy her papers the next day. She hoped Dodger was working out the price hike with the other leaders--perhaps she'd bring it up with him if she saw him.
Leaning over to peer under her bunk, Fibs grabbed one of the many books stacked there. Running her fingers across the frayed binding, she eyed the embossed text of the cover--Alice's Adventures in Wonderland--one of the many books Fibs had and could not read. Still, she liked the story she made up for it and she was sure it was just as good as this Lewis Carroll's version.
|
|
|
|
Post by clara on Aug 12, 2008 0:36:04 GMT -5
Slip-Shoe skipped into the room, humming loudly. The girl twirled once, stumbled, and then flopped herself down onto her cot (a bottom, of course, her fellow newsies knew better than have her attempt to climb a ladder). She reclined against the bunks wooden frame, leaving her feet dangling off the side.
Slip dropped her hands into her pockets and fished about for the results of her afternoon efforts. She deposited the spoils of her work onto her lap. She grinned, obviously pleased with herself. Mayhaps she could get a sandwich at Movolio's and buy her papers tomorrow (she might even have enough to buy some treats for the triplets, if she didn't get a pop).
Oblivious to Fib's presence only a few bunks down, Slip-Shoe began to count her pennies aloud, dropping them into her out-stretched hand. "One, two, three - No wait, that's a button - real three, four..."
|
|
|
|
Post by fibs on Aug 12, 2008 1:00:24 GMT -5
Hearing a girl enter, Fibs propped herself up on her elbows and peered at the girl a couple beds down. Swinging her legs over the edge of her bunk, she watched her count her plunder. Lucky girl seemed to manage to get away with a few pennies despite the price hike. Good for her.
"Heya', Slip." Fibs lazily made her way over to the girls bunk, leaning against the metal supports and eying her money. "Good day? Mine was something interesting, let me tell you--got chased by this big ol' rottweiler. Kept me from selling my papers, it did. Still, I got away without any bloodshed so I ain't complaining."
Slip probably wouldn't believe her story, but Fibs lied more for herself than anyone else.
Momentarily considering nicking one of Slip's pennies, Fibs gave herself a swift mental kick. She would never steal from a fellow newsgirl, she couldn't. But with times getting tougher, the temptation was growing--her fingers began to flex with the concept of nicking from a few strangers. She had to keep herself from falling back on her bad habits.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dodger Samuels on Aug 12, 2008 1:04:53 GMT -5
Dodger always knocked at the girl's lodging house no matter WHAT he was doing, it had been beaten into him almost like Lanna and Moira that girls needed a kind of privacy that boys didn't seem to need when living communal.
He waited a beat and stuck his head around the door to see Fibs and another girl. He smiled at both of them but his eyes settled on Fibs, and then the other counting her change.
"Didn't mean to interrupt..." he was grinning though, Dodger had a way about him and his accent spoke of the real drudges of London. "Fibs! Please tell me your decent!" He'd knocked! But he was still grinning, he was holding up all right at least.
|
|
|
|
Post by clara on Aug 12, 2008 1:23:55 GMT -5
Slip stopped counting when she was addressed, at first confused how an empty room could be speaking to her. However, when she looked up and saw Fibs she realized the room hadn't been talking at all. "Lo' Fibs," she said, smiling up at the other newsgirl. She was a compulsive liar, but she was of a kind sort.
"Good day? Mine was something interesting, let me tell you--got chased by this big ol' rottweiler. Kept me from selling my papers, it did. Still, I got away without any bloodshed so I ain't complaining."
"I did alright, sold down by Calvin's." Slip told her companion, pocketing her coins. She listened to Fibs's tale. "A rottweiler, eh? Musta' been terrifying." Slip-Shoe believed Fibs's yarns about as much as she believed Pulitzer'd give his fortune to the newsies and become a priest, but Slip never told the girl. Didn't want to hurt her feelings. Besides, they did make life a bit more interesting.
Slip was about to inquire about the other girls plans for the evening when she heard a knock at the door frame. Turning toward it, she spotted the leader of the Bronx leaders, Dodger, poking his head in. Slip couldn't help but snort at his comment to Fibs. "Depends what you mean by decent!" Slip called back, still laughing.
Finally composing herself, she nodded at the Bronx leader. "Evening, Dodger. What brings you 'round here?"
|
|
|
|
Post by fibs on Aug 12, 2008 1:32:07 GMT -5
Fibs nodded at Slip with a smile, "Well, good for you! Can't say a lot of newsies are faring quite so well." The damn price hike was burning holes in pockets left and right--not even in the pockets of the men who deserved it. Kids were paying the ultimate price--kids who hardly had a nickle to their name at the best of times.
"Fibs! Please tell me your decent!"
Rolling her eyes, Fibs did her best to keep the smile that was tugging at her lips at bay. "Decent as I'll ever be, sir."
"Evening, Dodger. What brings you 'round here?"
Fibs nodded to reiterate Slip's question, "Yeah, Dodger, got any updates on the little problem?" Unlikely though it was, Fibs did hope Dodger was working out the price hike with the leaders from the other boroughs. He'd yet to fail the Bronx newsies so far and Fibs had faith that he'd see them through this. It's what kept her from running back to the guild.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dodger Samuels on Aug 12, 2008 12:40:12 GMT -5
Dodger sighed and leaned against one of the bunks watching the girls curiously as they asked him questions. He had to smirk a little as he stretched his arms over his head, taking his hat and flipping it from one hand to the other before setting it back down.
"There is talk of striking-- though I haven't spoken to anyone as of late to find out about the nitty gritty.." He nodded as he spoke, business before pleasure. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with striking, it would he harder on us then if we just went with the price hike-- then again we could get the price either back where it was or lower.."
|
|
|
|
Post by cricket on Aug 12, 2008 21:50:38 GMT -5
((Hope you don't mind another. If so, please do let me know and I shall delete immediately.  ) "Ah!" It was a stifled, yet pained outcry that passed through Cricket's slightly parted lips just as she reached the doorway of the bunk room in the 72nd Street Girl's Lodging house. Her slender hands grasped at a stitch in her side and she flushed deeply as she hobbled forward into the room, nearly knocking straight into Dodger what for not paying attention. "Oh! Sorry, Dodger." She apologized meekly, then bit her lip and moved toward her bunk. After selling her papers all morning (somewhat fruitlessly, given that she'd only been able to afford ten) and then taking an extra shift at the restaurant, she felt beyond exhausted. Sinking to her lower bunk, she listened raptly to her leader's news about the price hike. Massaging her aching side through her white blouse, Cricket blew a few strands from her flour-smudged cheek and winced a little. Had she known there was a splotch of white on her jaw from kneading dough earlier, she would have washed it off before facing her leader, but she was a tad absent-minded and hadn't thought to check. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with striking, it would he harder on us then if we just went with the price hike-- then again we could get the price either back where it was or lower..""I have to admit I'm somewhat wary of striking." She spoke up softly, almost ashamed to enter the conversation lately, "After all, there's no gaurantee that it'll be successful and what if it only gets worse for our trying? I have Flea to support..." She trailed off, eyes wandering from Dodger and over to the other girls? Were they as frightful as she was, or was she being paranoid again? |
|
|
|
Post by clara on Aug 12, 2008 23:46:45 GMT -5
At Fibs comment on the price raise, Slip grimaced. She'd forgotten all about the price hike. Seems that sandwich would have to wait; she might be able to get an apple or two, just enough to tide her over until morning.
At Dodger's mention of striking, however, Slip let out a strangled cry. The original strike had been bloody and painful for almost all involved, and it was likely to be twice as hard the second time around. To makes matters considerably worse, her mum had been out of work lately, due to injury. Her parents needed any money she could scrape up. She forced a hand through her tangled hair, ruffling it.
Slip fought back the urge to hug Dodger when he told the girls of his reluctance to strike. True, the price hike would lessen the newsies income, but striking would make it painfully nonexistent. Instead, she offered the boy a bright smile. "It's good to know you're thinking all the options through." She kicked of her shoes and stretched out her legs onto her bunk. "Let's hope the other leaders are as thorough as our Dodger here." It was true. The good Bronx leader looked out for his newsies.
When Cricket staggered in, Slip shot up and hurried toward the girl, shouldering past Dodger without a second though. "My god, you look positively ghastly! Are you alright? You work much too hard!" The brunette then extended a hand toward Crickets forehead, intending to take he temperature. Thankfully, she caught herself. Blushing bright red, Slip snapped her hand back as if she had been slapped and clasped both behind her back. Living with so many young girls had fostered a mothering trait in Slip, and the 15 year-old often forgot herself. Embarrassed, Slip sank to the floor, leaning against the bunk's post.
Keeping her head down, she spoke quietly to Cricket. "I could spot you, you know?" Her eyes bulged, realizing she might have insulted the other girl. "It'd be no skin off my nose, Cricket, and I owe you from a few weeks back." Slip was lying, but she figured the other girl wouldn't remember. Slip-Shoe herself couldn't remember half the kids she'd lent money to in the last two days, let alone the last two weeks.
She fished about in her pocket for some coins. It was odd; her pocket which only moments ago seemed bursting now felt terribly light. Still, she pulled out a couple coins. Forcing a smile, she offered them up in her open palm to the seated girl.
((Sorry about the Epic Post of Fail guys. I'm still sort of feeling out who Slip is as a character))
|
|
|
|
Post by Dodger Samuels on Aug 13, 2008 0:30:01 GMT -5
((No worries))
Dodger nodded and sat on the bed, he knew his girls were the softer ones. His boys could hold their own in a fight but his girls were the ones that needed to be protected most of the time. He sighed, taking his hat from his head and turning it over in his hands.
"I have to admit I'm somewhat wary of striking." She spoke up softly, almost ashamed to enter the conversation lately, "After all, there's no gaurantee that it'll be successful and what if it only gets worse for our trying? I have Flea to support..."
"I know Cricket, Aye, I know--" His accent wasn't as light as usual, he was thinking and the girls needed him to be strong in this. Like Moira normally did. He'd use that strength that Moira gave him to keep this all together.
It's good to know you're thinking all the options through." She kicked of her shoes and stretched out her legs onto her bunk. "Let's hope the other leaders are as thorough as our Dodger here." It was true. The good Bronx leader looked out for his newsies.
Dodger chuckled and nodded, "Ever at your service Slip, but the truth of the matter is this. If the other boroughs strike, there isn't any other way. I'm trying to think it threw, considerin' how we could make it work but the options we have and we don't-- aren't exactly that grand for us all. I'm goin ta speak with Jacko and see what he's got to say but I'm not at all sure of where it will go. If Spot strikes, it'll be the same as last time. It'll be hard.."
He looked at all the girls and frowned himself, "I'll do what I can to keep you girls safe as I've tried to do., I'm the Artful Dodger after all.." He snorted at it for a moment. He had grown beyond that for some strange reason, instead of getting lost in that identity he'd come more of himself then he ever thought before. "I'll call a meeting soon, after I speak with the leaders-- then together we'll decide the right course of action. Will that suffice?"
|
|
|
|
Post by fibs on Aug 13, 2008 1:01:58 GMT -5
"Ever at your service Slip, but the truth of the matter is this. If the other boroughs strike, there isn't any other way. I'm trying to think it threw, considerin' how we could make it work but the options we have and we don't-- aren't exactly that grand for us all. I'm goin ta speak with Jacko and see what he's got to say but I'm not at all sure of where it will go. If Spot strikes, it'll be the same as last time. It'll be hard.."
Fibs, letting her legs bend from under her, slipped to the floor with a thump, still leaning against the metal support of the bunk. At this point, Fibs was unsure where she stood on the strike--on one hand, it had worked before, on the other, she didn't really want to be put in the refuge... or jail, at that.
"What Spot does doesn't dictate everything," She remarked with a roll of her eyes. Fibs had never been pleased with the fact that Spot's word seemed to be the law when it came to the newsies--there were other leaders, like Dodger, who deserved the same respect he got. " 'Sides, if Jack doesn't strike, we can band together--solidarity, y'know?"
"I'll do what I can to keep you girls safe as I've tried to do., I'm the Artful Dodger after all.."
She grinned up at her leader, nudging his leg, "You'll do us proud, I'm sure." She wondered if she should bring up Pirate with Dodger--he might want to know about his sudden reappearance. Quickly shaking the thought from her head, Fibs remembered she promised to keep his presence a secret... that and she didn't want him coming after her if ever word got back to him.
|
|
|
|
Post by cricket on Aug 13, 2008 6:37:10 GMT -5
"My god, you look positively ghastly! Are you alright? You work much too hard!"
Cricket had to smile at Slip-Shoe's nature, but she shook her head a little to assure her all was well. Being that she was normally the one having to mother, with her sister nearly always being so frail, it was almost a relief to have someone wanting to cater to her health for once. "I'm just tired, Slip." She assured her softly.
"I could spot you, you know?"
The girl's selfless offer was far from insulting. Cricket didn't possess that since of self pride that would keep her from accepting a hand when it was needed, but she could see that all were in the same sinking boat here. It would have been counterproductive to get herself out of the water by throwing in a friend in her place. All were trying to keep their heads up.
"Don't be silly." She smiled, taking Slip's hand and gently closing the girl's fingers over her coins. "We'll get by. I have three incomes to your one, Slip. You forget Flea's been selling a lot of buttons and flowers lately." If anything, Cricket would be willing to spot her. They were family, regardless of parentage. The newsies in the Bronx were extremely important to Cricket--the were her life now.
"Ever at your service Slip, but the truth of the matter is this. If the other boroughs strike, there isn't any other way. I'm trying to think it threw, considerin' how we could make it work but the options we have and we don't-- aren't exactly that grand for us all. I'm goin ta speak with Jacko and see what he's got to say but I'm not at all sure of where it will go. If Spot strikes, it'll be the same as last time. It'll be hard.."
Biting her lip, Cricket had forgotten to release the other girl's hand that she now gently clasped. It might have been simply for support, out merely out of forgetfulness. "I'm behind you, Dodger, no matter what you decide. You know that. I'm just... well, you know Flea is so fragile. I wasn't here for the first strike, and I'm afraid it'll only serve to worsen her condition."
No one knew exactly what was wrong with Flea Petherbridge. She was simply born without the steel that kept the others so strong. Like her mother, the eight year old was too weak to be living out on the streets. She had glowing spirit, but beyond that... Cricket was afraid that she wouldn't have her for long. The thought of losing her was crippling.
"You'll do us proud, I'm sure."
Forcing a smile, Cricket nodded her agreement adamently. Despite her worries, she had confidence in their British leader. He had never yet let them down and she had no doubt that he would pull them through this unpleasant trial. "Yeah, Dodger. You always do."
|
|
|
|
Post by clara on Aug 13, 2008 12:44:39 GMT -5
Slip nodded glumly at Cricket, "Alright, if you say so." It was true she had her waitressing job, but Flea needed a lot of care and attention, a lot of the expensive kind. Her younger sister was sweet as honey, but she was definitely a frail child..
She put her other hand over Crickets, trying to be comforting. "How is the little thing? I haven't seen her 'round here in days." It seemed Slip and Cricket shared similar feelings about striking. They both had others to think about; Slip had her siblings, and Cricket had Flea.
You'll do us proud, I'm sure."
Forcing a smile, Cricket nodded her agreement adamantly. Despite her worries, she had confidence in their British leader. He had never yet let them down and she had no doubt that he would pull them through this unpleasant trial. "Yeah, Dodger. You always do."
She nodded, agreeing with both the girls. Dodger had never let them down before, and Slip-Shoe trusted him completely. She trusted almost all of her fellow newsies. It just happened in their sort or profession; everyone looks out for everybody else. And about Conlon? Well, Slip had never understood why everyone was so afraid of him. Spot was small, and even with his goons in Brooklyn, Slip didn't understand how the others let the boy act the way he did. She'd never met him though, and figured it might be because if they teased him he'd beat 'em with that walking stick he supposedly carted about.
Still, there was more to be concerned about than the whims of a tiny Irish mite who'd gotten too big for his britches. Slip walked over toward her bunk, grabbed her shoes, and clapped Dodger on the shoulder. "Just let us know what the decision is, Dodger."
Dropping down onto her bunk, she looked over toward the British boy. "We'll back you, whatever that outcome is. Have you talked to any of 'em yet, Prince or Kelly?" Slip faced her leader as she began to lace up her boots, waiting for his reply.
|
|
)