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Post by Administrator on Apr 12, 2010 17:05:35 GMT -5
Great view of the courtyard
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Post by bellanewsiegirl19 on Apr 23, 2010 1:56:39 GMT -5
Bella Anne Braxton leisurely strolled through the crowded square, laden with a bundle of the New York World's latest. She pulled her newsie cap tight over her shining curls, and smiled brightly. It had been one a those days where everything was going right. The sun was beaming warmly upon her face, the birds were singing sweetly, and she was sellin papes like hotcakes! It was turnin out to be a fine morning.
"Extry Extry, Madman Releases Ring Of Terror On Streets Of New York!" She called out vibrantly to the crowd, hoping to catch someone's attention. Smiling, a young, handsome, well dressed man walked up to her and tipped his hat, revealing his well kept blond curls. "Hello, sweetheart, I'll buy one a those prints from ya!" She smiled warmly back at him "I thank ya kindly, sir. One cent please." Still smiling, the man dug around in his pocket, as Bella gave him his paper. "I sure hope you didn't read that story, sweetness. I wouldn't want a pretty little thing like you getting scared." Bella smiled softly to herself. Trust me, it would take a lot more than a maniac to get me scared, she thought. If he only knew...
Quickly, the man pulled a nickel from his pocket and placed it in her hand. "There you go, gorgeous. Keep the change and buy yourself somethin' real nice." He tipped his hat once more, and was gone. Bella stared down at the nickel, frozen. She shuddered as she was reminded of a similar scene.
She could still see his piercing blue eyes, and crooked smile. His words she would never forget. "Do you have a name, love?" Those were the words that had changed her life forever. For, that was the day she met Drake Camden. Her kidnapper, her tormentor, the reason she was always looking over her shoulder. He had bought a paper that day, and had paid her with a fifty cent piece. Likewise, he too had told her to keep the change. Never would she have guessed, that fifty cents would cost her freedom and almost her life.
Angrily, she cast the nickel away, and continued walking...
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Post by Specs on Apr 23, 2010 14:15:26 GMT -5
Specs had the lodging house in mind as he walked across the courtyard, planning to see Brook. In one hand he held the loaf of Irish sodabread he'd gotten free of charge from the baker woman's assistant in exchange for a wink and a kiss. He had no idea whether Creoles likes sodabread, but it was foreign-y, so he hoped it would be okay.
A glint of something caught his eye. "Swell, a nickel!" he exclaimed aloud, picked up the nickel and flipped it smartly from his thumb before pocketing it.
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Post by bellanewsiegirl19 on Apr 23, 2010 23:48:01 GMT -5
"Swell, a nickel!"
Bella smiled softly as she heard the other newsie's jubilant cry. Yeahh a year ago she woulda said the same thing. God, whouda ever thought that one day I'd just throw away a perfectly good five cents. It seemed so crazy! Such were the effects of Drake Camden, she thought bitterly to herself. That danged grafter had messed with her mind, turned everything upside down and sideways. He'd be happy to know he had played with her head today, and snaked his terror into her heart. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. You can't get to me Camden! I won't let ya! Not no more anyways....
Bella shook her head, softly tossing waves of spiraling chocolate curls about her small shoulders, determined to rid her mind of the bad thoughts and Camden's icy chill. She turned around quickly to face the other newsie. He seemed to be about her age and had a real friendly smile. The afternoon sun glinted off of his wire-rim glasses and a black bowler rested smartly upon his wisps of dark brown hair. She grinned warmly and called out to him.
"Haha that's real swell, pal! Enjoy! Hope that nickel reminds ya of better things than it ever did me."
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Post by dutchy on Apr 25, 2010 15:49:13 GMT -5
Dutchy jogged up to Specs, hearing his exclamation and looked up at the girl's reply. She was a newsie, just like them, or so it seemed. Who'd she think she was tossing around nickles like they fell out of the sky? Dutchy looked around for any other loose change she didn't seem to care for. No such luck.
Dutchy cast the girl a suspicious look, giving an aside to Specs, "You know I always thought girls had it a bit tougher... Guess I was wrong." He snorted a bit, shifting his pile of papers from his hand to rest at his shoulder. Pushign his glasses up, he flexed his left hand a little, still sore from the knife wound a few months ago. Dutchy's selling had taken a downward spiral suffering that injury and was only picking up now that he could hold a paper and take money or give change without dropping one of the other. He'd lost about five pounds from refusing handouts from the others, five pounds he could scarcely afford.
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Post by Specs on Apr 25, 2010 17:43:13 GMT -5
Specs looked from his pocket to the girl, incredulous. "You're tellin' me you threw this away?" he cried. "Are you out of your mind or what?" He couldn't believe anyone would be offered a nickel and throw it away...for any reason.
Dutchy ran up to his side, and said, "You know I always thought girls had it a bit tougher... Guess I was wrong."
Specs nodded in agreement. "She can't have it that hard at all." He called to the girl, "Hey, doll, you live at home with rich parents or what?"
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Post by bellanewsiegirl19 on Apr 26, 2010 1:18:48 GMT -5
"You know I always thought girls had it a bit tougher... Guess I was wrong."
"She can't have it that hard at all." He called to the girl, "Hey, doll, you live at home with rich parents or what?"
Bella's bright and warm smile instantly faded. With every cruel word against her and every suspicious look she received from the two boys, she felt another smoldering flame of rage rise in her heart and burn into her cheeks. Who the freakin' heck did these two nose-wipin' grafters think they were!? She could feel her teeth clenching and her slender fingers tightening into an iron fist. Hard? What did they even KNOW about hard!? Did they have a crazed psychopath chasin' them everywhere they went? Did they have to hear about their own folks' horrible death from a danged headline!!? Bella had had to fight for everything she ever got. Were they every forced to feel like an outsider in their own city? NO! Her fist tightened harder and her mind flooded with dark thoughts of TRULY teachin these wannabee Delancys a lesson. Bella's delicate appearance and soft beauty often caused people to underestimate her. God if they only knew what I could do....
Bells, just because ya can beat the heck outta them doesn't mean ya should. Jake Riley's laughing voice flooded into her mind. He'd been her best friend ever since she was ten and he'd also backed her up, no matter what kinda trouble she'd gotten herself into. For five years they'd been inseparable, him taking her under his wing and teachin her everything there was when it came to being a newsie. He'd also been the first guy to ever tell her that he loved her. A pang of deep pain laced itself into the fuming anger that swirled within her enraged heart. Jake was gone now, whisked away like a cloud in the wind. She could almost see his grinning face with the scar on his right cheek. The golden hair falling into his honey brown eyes.
Jakey you know they deserve what's commin' to them! Didn't ya hear what came out of their danged mouths? Nothin' but disrespect! Her emerald eyes smoldered. They ain't worth it Bells, and you know they ain't. Bella sighed. Yeahhh she did know it. Jakey wasn't ever wrong. Not to mention they were newsies. God, why did they have to be newsies! It was that fact that really got to her. Having enemies outside of her own turf was one thing, but to have two, true blue Manhattan Newsies like herself gangin up on her was an entirely different matter. She released her fists. The last thing she ever needed was two more reasons to look over her shoulder when she was alone. Dang it Jakey, I won't soak 'em but I just want you to know I coulda done it! They wouldn't have ever messed with me again. She could hear Jake's proud laughter, and the wildfire turned to glowing embers. I know Bells, God I know...
Bella swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure, as she faced her two snickering attackers. God you are two lucky fellas. This was supposed to be a friendly type meetin and Bella, as hard as it was not to defend herself, was gonna make sure it ended that way. This was the one time when fightin wouldn't help her. She relaxed, turning to the first kid with glasses, the one with the bowler, and was surprised to hear her voice strong and calm.
"No pal, I ain't got no parents anymore. I had to read about their awful deaths from a headline when I was a kid. Nobody even told me." She then turned to the other boy with glasses. "You're danged right girls got it harder. You got some crazed maniac chasin you everyday? Trust me fellas, If I wasn't a girl I wouldn't have half so many problems. I got to fight twice as hard and put up with people thinkin I'm weak because I'm female." Then she kinda smirked as she looked at the nickel shining in the boy's hand. "I know what you're thinkin though. You think I'm off my rocker, for throwing away money. Truth is I woulda thought the same thing. What kinda newsie would do that? Well let me tell you. That nickel reminds me a somethin' I don't ever wanna remember, but believe me pals, if it wasn't for that snake Drake Camden I'd be spending that beautiful five cent piece faster than the two of ya could blink..."
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Post by dutchy on Apr 26, 2010 15:22:34 GMT -5
Dutchy frowned a little, the sudden onslaught was not expected, not by a long shot. So, the kid was new, or at least Dutchy has never seen her before, with a less than desirable past that he could sympathize with. So it was dirty money. Whoever this Drake fella was, she clearly didn't want anything to do with him. Good for her.
Dutchy nodded, after a moment, "Oh, I get it." He said calmly, obviously not taking a lick of offense from her sudden defense. He didn't see the need to apologize to her though, if that's what she was after. "Well, you been a newsie long?"
If there was one thing newsies couldn't afford to throw away was money. But she had her pride and Dutchy respected that. He had his too. Dutchy was thinner than a rail because of it now, but it didn't bother him none. He placed his left hand on the back of his hat, moving it away from his face a little. The girl had some pretty green eyes, that was for sure.
This mention of a 'deranged psycho' following her didn't bode well with Dutchy, even if he had just met her and the first few words --well, maybe more than a few-- she'd spoken to them were angry. If she needed protection, staying at the Lodging House would give her that. They all looked out for each other there. Strength in numbers as they said. On the other hand, putting everyone else in danger because of some girl? Dutchy wasn't the quickest or best decision maker and he was glad if the question came up, Specs was here to give another vote. He'd keep his mouth shut for now.
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Post by Peaches Carington on Apr 27, 2010 12:02:41 GMT -5
Peaches had been wandering the streets of Manhattan all morning enjoying the heat of the sunshine on her face. She was just on her way back to Irving Hall when she caught sight of two familiar faces--Dutchy and Specs. It had been a while since she had seen any of the boys from Manhattan so she made her way over. As she got closer, she noticed a newsie she had never seen before, giving the two boys a piece of her mind.
Peaches shook her head, smiling to herself and walked up to stand at Specs' side. "Hey there, Dutchy," she greeted the blond boy in her southern accent. Then she turned to Specs and smiled. "Specs, darlin', what did you do now? Being your usual, charming self again...?" she teased.
(Hope it was okay to join in... Been looking for somewhere in Manhattan for Peaches to join in.)
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Post by bellanewsiegirl19 on Apr 28, 2010 15:37:38 GMT -5
"Oh, I get it." He said calmly, obviously not taking a lick of offense from her sudden defense."Well, you been a newsie long?"
Bella offered a soft, apologetic smile to the blonde haired kid. Ain't that a relief.
See what ya can do when you use that astoundin' charm of yours instead of your fists, Braxton? Sugar and spice, Bells, you gotta know when ta use one, and when ta use da otha.
Bella's smiled widened. Yeahh I hear ya Jakey boy. But sometimes these fists don't hear so good. When somebody's sayin words they ain't supposed to say, these fists just wanna make sure they never say them again... But I gotta save my fightin' abilities for my real enemies though, not guys that just say da wrong thing at the wrong time. Real enemies.... Like Drake Da Snake....
Bella smiled warmly at the boy and stuck out her hand congenially. "Yeahh sure have! My name's Bella, Bella Braxton, but all my pals call me Bells. I've been a newsie since I was eight, after my folks passed in that steamer wreck a while back."
The two shook hands, and Bella gave another look of apology at the two boys. " Uhh by the way I'm real sorry about givin' you two the green murder eyes earlier, haha. Guess I got a little touchy about my folks and all. Course it ain't no excuse to be that way with fellow newsies. Carryin da banner is what it's all about right fellas? She beamed, happy that the angry words and bad feelings had cleared the morning air. Happy that Jakey woulda been proud of the way she handled it. Who knew, one day her and these guys might become real good pals and they would all laugh about the whole misunderstandin'.
"Hey there, Dutchy. Specs, darlin', what did you do now? Being your usual, charming self again...?"
Bella had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she hadn't seen the other girl walk up to their little party. She seemed real friendly, with shoulder length honey red hair, and wide, bright blue eyes. Bella grinned always happy to meet another girl newsie like herself.
"Haha na it's just me, being my charming self. I take things the wrong way sometimes. Wait..." Quickly she turned back to the boys. "Specs, Dutchy?" Her green eyes danced with excitement. "Well I'll be danged, you're some of Jack Kelly's newsies ain't ya? She grinned more brightly than she had all day. "God, I've always wanted ta meet that guy!"
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Post by Specs on May 4, 2010 16:21:33 GMT -5
As Specs listened to the girl's story, his brow furrowed. Something was funny about her--he didn't know what. There was something in the way she told them everything about her. That was suspicious in itself, but the desperation in her tone was something he didn't like. He didn't know what to make of her, which he didn't like. Dutchy replied, "Oh, I get it. Well, you been a newsie long?"
"I'd bet not..." Specs said. His mind was working now, privately, yet predictably. "It's clear she needs a little, you know, guidance." He gave Dutchy a covert smirk before widening it into a grin for the girl. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Specs, darlin', what did you do now? Being your usual, charming self again...?"
Specs winked at Peaches, surprised to see her show up. "You know I couldn't be any more charming if I tried."
"Specs, Dutchy? Well I'll be danged, you're some of Jack Kelly's newsies ain't ya? God, I've always wanted ta meet that guy!"
Specs kept his smile in place, but his brow furrowed in confusion. "You, ah, you know of us?" This was strange. He didn't think anyone he didn't know would know him...
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Post by dutchy on May 10, 2010 14:16:56 GMT -5
Dutchy gave a nod and smile to Peaches in greeting before Bella went on with her story. Surprised to hear she'd been a newsie for sometime, probably half her life if Dutchy assumed her age right, he gave her a amused smile, "Oh, me too. I mean, since I was eight."
Glancing to Specs, noting the suspicious glance, his smile faded. Yeah, she did seem to be telling a lot about herself to a couple of boys she'd just met, and more than that, had just been yelling at. Dutchy just guessed she didn't have a whole lot of friends and was looking to make new ones. Apparently Specs did not have the same idea.
"You, ah, you know of us?"
While Dutchy was surprised she would have heard anything about the two of them, unlike, say Racetrack or even Kid Blink, he felt proud none the less.
"Well, she is a newsie, ain't she? Besides, we probably got a little more famous because of that warehouse fight. Or, you know, the strike." Dutchy shrugged, not wanting to make Specs look a fool, but Bella probably had her ear open to a lot of things. Or, Dutchy suddenly thought, maybe she had been following them? Nah. Reading too many mystery novels lately...
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Post by mush on Feb 6, 2011 17:52:05 GMT -5
((New Day))
Mush relaxed as he sat on the bench. He kicked his feet up and leaned back against the arm rest as he glanced through the headlines. Nothin' good nothin' good... something about fireman... nothing good, nothing good. He sighed, nothing good, oh well, what else was new? He smiled to himself as he sat up again, with his feet on the ground he closed the paper and added it to the stack in his hand. It wasn't that bad... for being winter. Though there were some rather ominous looking clouds in the distance that didn't look too nice. After all... winter was destined to be cold. He wasn't a very big fan of winter and cold, and snow and ice and things. He shivered and looped his scarf around his neck.
"Where to go where to go?" he looked from side to side wondering which route to take, and which one would get him home the quickest, so which route would he sell more news papers? As he was sitting here contemplating this the sun went behind a cloud which made him colder still. So now he really need to make a decision. Luckily it was a small cloud so soon the sun was out again and his indecisiveness came back anew.
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Post by Anna Maria Amaya on Feb 6, 2011 18:14:49 GMT -5
Shiloh moved through the streets before she caught site of Mush on the bench. Truthfully, she was just bored out of her mind. Having actually not bought papers that day to sell, she'd gone to the park and found a guitar player to dance with, having made enough to eat for a day or so and that was enough. Tilting her head she moved over and leaned her arms on the arm of the bench before she leaned forward, quiet enough she was sure he didn't hear her.
"You shoooould come with me," The Spanish girl replied tilting her head before she started laughing and reached down, grabbing his hand, tugging him to his feet. "Come on, Mush. Lets go on a date.." It was a joke really, she just wanted some company while she ran some errands for her father. That was it, and she was going home for a bit. But Mush could at least pass for not getting killed in Harlem. There were plenty of all kinds of people in the old city, but she didn't really care about that. They were all just trying to survive.
"I've got some errands I promised I'd run for Papa.. you can come with me and be tall and charming."
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Post by mush on Feb 6, 2011 18:42:34 GMT -5
He jumped at little at the sudden greeting. "Hello Shiloh," he said with a bright sparkling smile. "Where we goin'?" he asked before she grabbed his hand.
"A date huh? Okay," he shrugged. Mush liked spending time with people he was familiar with, and he was quite familiar with Shiloh. He couldn't help but smile at her, and her fun loving nature. And Mush seemed to adapt to those around him. "As long as I can sell these papers I don't rightly care where we end up," he said with a smirk.
"Errands, ok," he said shrugging. "Like what? Were do we go?" and when she calledhim tall and charming he smiled and even blushed a little. Mush was a sucker for a pretty girl. "Aw thanks Shy," he said. "And for what it's worth, no one'll be lookin' at me, everyone will be so focused on your beautiful face." He said with a slight wink. Okay, so he was a flirter, but what do you want with a name like, "Mush?"
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