The Paths

[Administrator]

..take a stroll..

[sophia]

Sophia Aragon twirled her parasol as she walked down the path, trying to avoid all the little people with disgust. They were getting far to close to her for her taste and she moved her skirts out of the way. It was aggravating all these little--- people around her. She set her pretty face into a scowl as she walked, her head held high unable to really decide what she wanted to do? Pay some little welp to carry her shopping bags for wait for Mitchel.

That was the first dawn of a smile on her face, ah yes. Mitchel. Someone who she felt was her equal and it gave her a sick thrill to remember that. She loved having an equal she didn't feel many were.

[drakecamdenvillain]

Drake Andrew Camden strode arrogantly through the winding paths of Central Park, his icy blue eyes snapping angrily, their steely gaze falling on nothing in particular. He had been searching for her.... again. Blast it! When was there ever a time when he was not searching for her? He ran his slender fingers through his vibrant blonde hair in utter frustration.

What were you expecting Drako? He thought bitterly, as he watched the leaves flutter on the cedar trees ahead. Nearly two years of chasing Bella Braxton back and forth across the Atlantic, enduring one clever escape after the next, and you expected to find her just as you had the first time. Selling papers out in the open and grinning all the while. Smiling that bewitching smile. He gritted his teeth at his own stupidity. Truth be told he was hoping to catch the bloody girl by surprise for once. He thought maybe if he ventured out on foot, without the ceremony of his lavish carriage and attending servants, he could search among the filthy rats, inconspicuously, and happen upon those spiraling chocolate curls and that intoxicating voice. Wasn't it just like her to hide among them? That's what she was, after all, a dazzling diamond, hidden among a sea of insignificant street pebbles. They belonged crushed beneath his feet, whilst she belonged enveloped in his regal hands.

Needless to say the search was unrewarding if not entirely draining. Even without his magnificent carriage he was instantly recognized as a man of wealth, and was soon swarmed by the eager little vermin spewing out made up stories and attempting to regale him with tales of their misfortunes. As if he possibly cared about their sad little lives. They were worth as much to him as the dust clinging to the bottom of his fine Italian leather shoes. He hated newsies, absolutely despised the revolting sight of them ALL!!! Well... almost all... A smirk found its way across his lips as an image of Bella settled in his mind. Never had he wanted something more....

Suddenly Drake caught sight of another young woman strolling toward him. She walked tall and proud, her pretty face, stoic and superior. She wore an expensive dress of pink silk, the white ruffles dancing along the stone path as she walked. Two pink diamond earrings hung from her delicate ears. A pink ribbon was tied neatly in her swept up midnight hair, and she twirled a white lace parasol, adorned with matching pink bows.

Two years ago, Drake Camden would have stopped dead in his tracks, his heart quickening. His crystal blue eyes would have roamed over her delicate figure, slowly, painstakingly. He would have grinned that dark grin of his, and calculated exactly what to say, and how to approach her. With his smooth words and charm he would have swept the Spanish beauty off of her feet, and would have been sure to have those soft pink lips upon his own that very night. He would have called her his Spanish rose, and would have showed her off upon his arm every night at numerous ritzy swarays, until he lost interest. Or at least until the next pretty face came along. Drake Camden used to pick women like flowers.

Strange how one fateful meeting, one moment in time can change a man forever. One pair of smoldering emerald eyes, and he could think of no other pair. Now as he watched the girl walk forward, he imagined Bella Braxton in that same dress, her magnificent brunette curls held by that ribbon, her mesmerizing laugh rising upon the afternoon air, as she twirled the white parasol. He imagined himself walking alongside her, his arm tightening around her slim waist, as he leaned in to kiss her soft pale neck... slowly...relishingly....

As the the girl passed him, Drake offered a kind smile, and tipped his hat to her pleasantly. She was pretty after all, and deserved some recognition from a man of his stature. Two years ago he would have felt an overwhelming attraction. Now he felt nothing but friendly propriety as her dark brown eyes met his. Bella Anne Braxton what have you done to me?

[David Jacobs]

<New Day - Open>

David was whistling as he cut through Central Park on his way back to the lodging house, his mood was cheery that afternoon as it had been more recently, and he figured Fighter's increased presence in Manhattan was the cause. Still none of his friends knew about their relationship, or hell that they were even friends, but she was more easily able to linger here and David was glad that she was. It was a hell of a thing - whatever it was that they had between them and though he knew with time he'd have to tell his friends, especially Jack, there was a part of him that still relished in the secret.

But also the cause of his cheery nature, was perhaps that the long winter seemed to be somewhat breaking, though the air still had a bite to it, the days were starting to get longer and the sun, perhaps a bit warmer. So David was taking advantage of just such an afternoon and taking the long way to the lodging house. He was trying to do better about dropping in - he remembered how it was back in the days after the strike, when it had been a welcome meeting place and chance to see his friends. Now it seemed they had all scattered, tangled up in the bits of their own lives with barely a chance to spend any time together. But David was determined to see some of that change - they might have gotten older, perhaps even a bit wiser though that was certainly a point of contention, and given all that had happened David was actually missing those good old days.

[Baby]

Home...well thats what they called it and Baby was definately ready to head home after a long day of selling papes, hustling fools and pickpocketing hoity toitys. Baby grinned abit as she played with the change in her pockets before she pulled out a wallet she had snatched a few blocks ago and she pulled out the contents of it, counting the bills, wow the guy was loaded. Baby smirked as she shoved the wallet back into her pocket and figured she'd use the money wisely, maybe get a big dinner for the lodge house tonight. She smiled at least her troubles of her thievery were not wasted on people who didn't need nor deserve it, she spred her wealth quite wisely. She adjusted her cap and let her eyes look ahead as she walked down the path, she tilted her head and squinted abit when she saw a boy up ahead, he looked familiar.

Baby looked both ways and gained a skip in her step as she caught up to him and soon enough fell into step beside him. She had seen him before, this was Jack's friend, could she recall his name? Probably, had she talked to him much? not that she could recall. "Heya... yer Jackyboy's friend right? Ummm Davey?" she asked him, her voice inviting and kind as she looked over at him and smiled, she liked to get to know people she tended to see on a daily basis and she figured now was her chance to get to know him.

[David Jacobs]

David looked over at the sound of a voice and spotted a dark haired girl that he'd seen in and around the lodging house when he'd dropped in as of late. She had always seemed friendly enough, though he didn't recall exchange more than a few words with her as he'd passed through talking with his friends or hanging out with Jack. He was used to people knowing his name, enough time at the lodging house and nothing was sacred and his place as Jack's right hand tended to have news spreading perhaps faster than it did on most. So he smiled at her when she said his name and nodded his head. "Yeah that's me."

He slowed a little so she could fall into step beside him, as it appeared they were both headed in the same direction, and if he had to guess, more than likely the same destination as well. "I'm sorry, don't think I know yours. So many kids in and out these days, it's hard to keep track." He offered her an apologetic smile, he did the best he could to learn everyone's name, especially the newer crew. But he didn't get to catch everyone's name and though he knew her as one of his Manhattan girls, he couldn't say for sure what to call her. "Heading back to the lodging house?"

[Baby]

She smiled abit as she shoved her hands in her pockets, fishing around for a cigarette, when she found one she extracted it and lit it taking a long drag as she offerred him one. She tilted her head, she wasn't sure if she'd ever seen him smoke before. She looked up at the sky and slowly let the smoke escape her lips as she began speaking again. "They call meh Baby... and yeah I'm headed back to the lodge house, had a very long day, jus' wanna sit wit some of the boys and maybe play some poker," she told him as she glanced at him and looked him over briefly befre returning her eyes forward. "Ya headed to see Jackyboy?" she asked him in curiousity, she couldn't help it, she was always curious and she wasn't afraid to ask either.

She began kicking a rock infront of her as they walked and she thought for a moment trying to think of conversation,"So do ya play cards? Yer a newsie too right? I mean ya don't stay at da Lodge house too often do ya?" he asked she would understand if he didn't want to answer all her questions but there was no harm in trying.

[David Jacobs]

"Baby is it?" David repeated, trying to rack his brain to see if he could remember hearing that name around the house, and thought he could recall it a time or two. Though he'd be the first to admit that generally he was a bit more distracted when he was hanging around the lodging house. Either Jack was talking his ear off or Kid Blink was spinning some story or Race had to tell him about his big win (or loss) at the track. Not that David begrudged any of it, they were all part of his family and there wasn't any place he'd rather be most of the time. "Yeah headed to see Jack, maybe see who else is hanging around," David smiled and shrugged as he looked down at his companion as they walked, watching as she kicked a rock along the path.

"I play a little, mostly I just watch the others, they are too quick for me," David grinned and shook his head; he had a quick, practical mind and could generally find the words for just about any situation, but cards hadn't proven to be a strength. "I'm a newsie most days," He admitted with a bemused smile, he didn't think anyone had expected him to stick around after the strike but he had, how could he walk away after all of that? "I usually stay at my parent's apartment over down near Harlem, but I've been known to bed down at the lodging house a night or two." Not lately, as with Fighter hanging around most of the time he'd been more inclined to spend the time with her - and the lodging house wasn't the best place to bring her. "You like it there?" He asked, switching his line of thought back to Baby and their intended destination, shoving a hand in his pocket as they followed the curve of the path.