#Will is kinda stuck since unless you draw him with like white-blond hair he's gonna look like somebody else | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mrstethras · 4 years

Text

Feedback Friday

It was our very first Feedback Friday in The Hanged Man on our discord server, and after giving thoughts on other pieces, figured I’d share the little sample I provided here too. From my new project (still unnamed) hawke/varric da2 & onward rewrite. As always, things aren’t always quite as Varric has told them.

"See that woman over there?"

"The scary blonde one burnin' two holes into your brother's back?"

"Yes, kid, good eye!”

“Sure -- ”

“Well, that's the one I need you to rob."

They both peered out from the corner of the square, a lanky, ginger urchin alongside a blonde-stubbled dwarf, half-hidden by the shadows cast from the high city walls. Stumbling over each other’s feet -- the dwarf cursing quietly to himself -- the mismatched twosome kept their sights on the bustle of the early morning marketplace. Conspiring, barely. There was a reason for their gathering at least, if Varric's information came through. And so they eyed, from a safe distance, the dwarf’s older brother and the two humans accompanying him, as they stormed the street, addressing their matters hotly. And there she was, in tow.

All things considered, she was pretty damn easy to spot, Varric thought. Long golden hair blazing, skin as pale as Kirkwall’s sun bleached stone. A head taller than the dwarves around her, glaring defiantly, face like thunder, her presence combined with his brother’s, they passed through with ease as they parted the crowd. And her accent, Varric caught as it echoed -- loud, brash and lazy compared to the clipped Kirkwall tongue (and not to mention far more colourful). Well, if this wasn’t the Ferelden refugee turned mercenary madwoman he’d heard so much about, Varric would retire right there on the spot.

This had to be Hawke.

The Hawke.

And giving his brother Bartrand a run for his money -- like any Ferelden -- conveniently ignoring anyone’s sense of self importance. Good for you. Neither of them budging -- their voices growing ever more heated, ringing off the great dwarven statues that loomed above their heads. His brother barked “NO!” for what felt like the fiftieth time, but Hawke refused to take that as an answer, clearly determined to make her case known. Rather you than me, Varric thought idly.

Shrugging his shoulders, satisfied with his find, Varric turned to the kid pressed at his side, flashing a most encouraging smile. “So, how about it?”

The young man’s face had fallen, his sallow cheeks had lost whatever little colour they had, like curdled milk, he swallowed hard. The cogs slowly turned, realising the dwarf’s proposition in full. He glanced down at the heavy pouch of coins Varric was offering, and winced as it gave that nudging clink.

“And you’re gonna stop me before anythin’ goes bad?” The kid reiterated the basis of the plan, his eyes fixed on Varric’s full palm.

“C’mon, do I look like the kinda guy that’d let anything bad happen?”

The kid appeared to be entirely unconvinced. Shit.

Varric sighed and tried again. “We just need it to look like you robbed her. You make it back here with her coin and I’ll handle the rest. Easy! You get paid, she’ll get her money back, no one has to --”

“Alright...”

He wasn’t buying it. Fine.

Varric couldn’t blame the kid, honestly. Sure, Hawke looked like she could snap your neck with nothing but a glance, what was even more off-putting than some graphic, violent death at the hands of a Red Iron merc, was entering the vicinity of his older brother Bartrand.

Still, Varric was confident enough that this would work. This was a rookie job, at best. Hawke was startlingly Ferelden (and farmland Ferelden, at that) her purse tied to her belt in plain view. Animated as she spoke, her hands pointing fingers at his brother instead of clasped around her coin -- hell, an actual kid could swipe her shit without a problem. “I’ve got you covered,” Varric reassured, stepping back into full cover of shadow. Giving a final thumbs up to the pale urchin, who in turn rolled his eyes, slipping without another word and disappearing into the street.

It didn’t take long. It wasn’t long enough. Varric had barely passed the pillars when he heard the commotion, unhooking Bianca from his back at the signal of disturbance, waiting for the kid to come charging, panting round the corner. Finger on the trigger of his crossbow, eyes fixed on the point of his arrow.

“YOU!”

She was ferocious. Feral. Her voice so cutting, even Varric was shaken from his concentration. The kid was running alright, practically clawing his away around stone to avoid her -- as she raged after him. Blonde hair billowing behind her like a flag hoisted in the midst of war. Andraste’s ass, she was pissed! And she was gaining on the urchin, fast. Her armor did little to slow her down, fueled by utter contempt, apparently.

Shit --

Varric had ballsed up his aim -- why did he do that!? -- drawing Bianca up to catch the kid at just the right moment. This was crucial. Bianca could send arrows blasting through him, all the way and out the other side. Concentrate.

“COME BACK,” Hawke was yelling in fury. “LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS!”

She was making it pretty hard to concentrate...

Varric’s finger twitched and he hesitated, spotting the kid and the look of horror plastered on his face. He came racing past, flushed from his neck to his forehead, eyes wide and wired. He’d have to pay him double for this. Raising Bianca again, Varric fired. One swift shot that sliced through the air with a whistle and --

The kid screeched.

Oh, shit.

Pinned by the arrow into the stone at his shoulder, blood was billowing against the urchin’s dirty white shirt. Shit. Shit Shit. Varric hurried to reach him.

And then there was Hawke.

“I’m assuming it -- wasn’t supposed to go -- quite like this?” She stood there, breathing hard, watching the boy squirm, clearly taking the abrupt pause to catch her own breath. Cheeks hot and pink beneath a smattering of freckles. Okay, so she didn’t look terrifying, at least not up close. It was the slightest relief.

Varric considered his options quickly. Taking immediate note of the staff strapped to her back now that she shared the small space in the alley. It was some sort of make-shift weapon, sanded wood bound in crimson leather, tipped with a sheet of metal and sharpened to a gnarly edge. Fashioned to look something like a lance… A scythe, even? Some nondescript farmers tool, well, of course, that would be it. There was absolutely nothing suspect about that in the walled off, cramped and crumbling city of Kirkwall with not a ear of wheat in sight, or smell of shit for – nevermind, the latter was everywhere.

An unlikely choice for a renowned mercenary under the Red Irons. No matter how Ferelden she was. That is, unless you considered the underground mutterings of thug corpses found in warehouses, alleyways, the dockyards... all having been so curiously burned up and blackened to cinder… In that case, since those rumours appeared to be true then, the unremarkable stab-stick was a smart choice for her indeed. Varric needed this plan to work now more than ever -- let’s hope he wouldn’t make kindling.

And he hesitated, one hand clamped tight around Bianca’s grip, he smiled at her disarmingly, pulling out an arrow to flick between his fingers, ready to bullshit this problem away. Only, it slipped from his gloves and came clattering instead, to the ground, at her feet.

“Right, then,” was all Hawke said.

Varric was sure he’d just died a little on the inside.

How had this gone so terribly, shittily, badly in the span of --

“Is anyone gonna help me!?” The kid bleated, thankfully having only been nicked by the onyx head, and was now struggling profusely where he was stuck. Desperate to tear away from them. At the very least, the sudden whining distracted Hawke long enough for Varric to recover from his mild embarrassment, and he shook it away to make room for a confident smile.

Hawke, however, made no attempt to move toward them, standing back to watch him work, arms crossed and waiting, her hand outstretched. With some more whining from the kid, and some serious wrist wiggling, Varric was finally able to pull the arrow free of the brickwork. And as the kid flashed one final furious look at them both, he took off down the path hurriedly, clutching his grazed shoulder tight, offering one particularly crass hand gesture as a way of goodbye.

With the young man’s sudden absence, there came a lingering, awkward silence that followed whatever had just happened, until Hawke’s voice piped up -- the fury in her tone had ebbed away, at least. To tiredness, it sounded like. “He still has my money, you know?”

Varric closed his eyes, brows furrowed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I know.” And resigning himself, cursing wildly under his breath, Varric reached into his coat to offer her more. He dared not look as he dropped the purse into her pale palm, shaking his head. This one far heavier than the one they had taken from her. “I’ve just paid the same woman I robbed,” he stated, as both of them stared down the empty alley. Well, there was really no use in denying it now.

“You can rob me again, if you like,” Hawke replied, taking the money and patting her pocket, appearing most pleased with the end result.

Despite himself, Varric smiled at that, let go a breathy laugh and glanced up at her. She was still gazing off into the distance. All things considered, she was taking this pretty well. Perhaps he still could save this plan of his. For all it was worth, he’d have to lay on the charm, of course. “I’ve got a better offer if you’re interested, messere?”

The smallest simper flickered at the corner of her mouth. “You’re in luck," she said, "I’m always interested.”

She bit? She bit! He beamed. "Varric Tethras, at your service."

#hawke x varric #varric x hawke #fhawke #varric tethras #da2 #da2 rewrite #feedback friday #writing stuff #discord stuff #wip #fanfiction #dragon age #dragon age fanfiction #varric

34 notes · View notes

assassin-in-a-hoodie · 4 years

Text

Brooklyn’s here /Part 2/

Words: 5277(my hand slipped Sorry not sorry)

Warning: Stab Womb. Blood? The norm

Pairing: Katherine/Jack Kelly, Spot/OC

A/N: I’ve invented an Brooklyn Newsie, I’m claiming right on thsi little dude here unless someone has the exact same name and ID as me.

It must be nearly ninety degrees in the shade. I’m standing on a corner of a street in the shade of a towering business building. I told all the boys this morning before we even set out to change up their selling spot, find a place with some shade and change with the time of day, get under something at noon. I says to them,” If I find one of ya standing under God’s open sky without a hat or shade under ya head, I’ll soak ya so bad ya won't even know if the suns shining”

“Read it right here! Mouse kills the Bull in Saturday's match.” I waved the pape over my head, attracting the hard-nose man to me. He grunted, handing me a penny. I hand over the paper to him.

"Thanks ya, sir," I nodded to him as he walked away trying to find the article I said. It will take him about four blocks for him to realize that I lied.

A woman with a baby stroller is coming from the other direction. She’s all dressed up in a silky red puffy dress. I turn away from her and fold the paper in half and start up a real good cough. I cover my mouth, hunching my shoulders and wave the pape. The woman's foot steps hurry toward me and she puts a white-gloved hand on my shoulder.

“Oh my! Are you okay?” She asked her voice full of that loving care and kindness a mother only knows. I gave her my best watery pup eyes, and forced my voice to become scratchy.

“I'm Fine Ma’am. Just a little cough,” I looked away and cough again. Her clean hand moves from my shoulder to my cheek. I freeze.

“My poor boy. Here take this.” She took out a dollar coin from a pocket in her dress and pressed it into my hand before I could say no. She didn’t move her hand away from my cheek but gently started to stroke it with her thumb. She's making her purty glove all dirty, and me very uncomfortable.

“You look like a smart boy. I lived on the street once,a long time ago, use this to go get some medicine.”

Too much, that's way too much money. Way too deep in Conlon, pull up and pull back.

“Thank you ma’am. But ya d’nt have ‘ta.”

“No, take it. It breaks my heart every time I see a kid working on the street. You take this money and go home to your family and get yourself fixed up okay.”

I bit down on the inside of my lip hard enough to draw blood. It's not so much the money it’s just too much money from a lie. Stealing from a mother and her baby fast asleep in the basket. Hey don’t get me wrong, I lie all the time. I lie to get food, clothes, to sell papes. To get a dime, sure. A quarter lets me know I’m not losing my touch.

But it's a dollar. That’s a day pay. I'm stealing from this kind mother. She gave my cheek one more pat before walking away. I want to put my hand over were she touched my face. It's like I can still feel her hand there. I reach up and touch my cheek. Still kinda feels warm from her gentle touch.

I hear a cough from above me. I whip my head up sliding into a fighting stance ready to soak anyone who just saw that. Above me on the side of the building, sitting on the ledge of a building is my right-hand man, Mutter. The boy is always up or tree or something like some freak squirrel.

I would have called him Squirrel when I first met him but he never talked. He never speaks, unless it's under one word and barely over a mutter. This is what happens when you tell a kid to shut up so many time. They tend to, Shut up.

“What?” I quip at Mutter. Wiping at my cheek in disgust with the back of my hand. I hate being touched. It’s too... foreign.

Mutter looks down and sticks out his lower lips, batting his eyes at me. Faking sympathy.

“Not! A Word. You got it. Not a word!” I say pointing a finger at him. Mutter makes a locking motion over his mouth. Then throws away the key.

“Good.” I look from him to the paps in my hand, I count how many I have left. Five, but the setting sun let's me I'm cutting it close on my walking time.

“Hey, Mutter. What the time?” I ask. Nothing stands up on the ledge and looks inside the building for a clock. He cups his hand over his eyes and looks through the window. He turns and holds up three fingers. I’m going to be late for meeting Jack.

I fish around in my pocket to count how much today's eaning. A dollar and five cents. Plus a dollar from that lady, two dollars. Think I have enough to pay for Jack’s food now, a real meal this time. Mutter dropped from the side of the building and stands next to me. He looked up at the sun, adjusting his hat over his eyes.

“How’d you like it if I gave you more papes,” I said to Mutter. He gives me a begrudging look. “Wasn't a question.” I says handing him the last five,“After you sell these get home and out of the heat. Make sure we have enough fresh water.”

Mutter raises one eyebrow. “Where yous going?”

“Got a met’n with Jack Kelly. I’ll be home around five or six, depends how long we’s talk.” Mutter gives me a worried look. I wave him off.

“All good things, I'll be at Winnie's. If I'm not back by Mid Night look for me then, okay?” Mutter nods. I nodded back and head out.

The sun is unforgiving. Relentless constant heat. Makes everything smell like sweat and fish. I made the mistake of selling my papes a week ago around the market where they sell the “Fresh” fish. I've all but sworn them off my eating diet.

It is about an hour's walk to Winnies from here. The streets aren't too bad, its just hot. Winnie's is not out of my way per se since I goes down there at least once every two days. Not to Winnie’s that is, but a small bakery next doors. I don't go into the bakery, I've seen inside it but ever stepped inside. But today is the day I do it.

After the hour walk, I make it to Winnies but, I cross the street to the bakery next doors. The sig above the brick building reads,“Aharon Bakery.” A little Jewish family owns it. And my luck is alive and well because the most beautiful girl I've ever seen is working the front.

I check my reflection in the glass of the next shop over. My face is flushed from the heat, streaked with dirt. Can't do a thing for my sweat-stained shirt. Or my stained paint...or the holes in my boots. I take off my hat and was about to wipe my face clean. Kinda just smeared it. Leave the hat off? I smooth my hair down, combing it through with my dirty fingers, thenstick the hat in my back pocket. Or should I hold it in my hand? But hair looks greasy, better leave it on. Why am I so dirty? I sigh putting my head on the glass. Forget it. Forget it! I’m not going to do it. I can’t shoot my shot if I ain't got anything to shoot with.

Then I picture Nothing flapping his arms, call’n me chicken. Well, Spot Conlon is no chicken. I’m cool.

I’m cool. I tell my sweaty palms as I grab the door handle. The bell abovethe door lets out a small ring. The place smell like what I have always imagined heaven to smell like. Baked bread.

There she is. Her beautiful head of blond curls is covered by a cloth triangle and is typed back behind her ears. Shes dresses in a beautiful white dress, not a smidge of makeup to cover her wide smile.

My knees go weak, I'm thinking about turning around and walking away but I'm too late.

”You going to order something or just stand there?” She asks. Her hands are on her wide hips.

I want to say something but my mouth suddenly goes very dry, I'll choke if I talk. It's eight maybe ten steps to the counter. I look up to the menu and try to think of something, anything to say. Order, and fast. Then I'm standing at the corner. And I thank God above, that I'm taller than the counter, and her. She has dark brown eyes, there are purple rings under them, I’m wondering what she does that causes the dark circles, when she clears her throat.

“You gonna want something or are ya going stand there.” She says. I think of every baked good that's wonderful and I can't make the words connected to my mouth so all that's makes it's way out is-

“Baked Bread.”

I am a through breed idiot.

‘

Her eyebrows scrunched together in question and confusion. “You want a loaf of bread. Like a whole loaf.”

I almost says yes, almost, but I stop myself.

“No- No. Um.” Stop. Think. Breathe. talk. Now. You're blowing it Spot, you're blowing it. I pull my smirk out and take a step out looking at the shelves.

“What’s good.”

She smiles and dust off her hands. They are incredibly small and have some burn marks on them, some more fresh than the others.

“I’ve just made some cupcakes an hour ago. Want one?”

Sweat drips down my back. The sweat that is pooling in both of my palms of my hands is getting so bad I shove them in my pocket.

“Sure.” Ask how much. Ask her how much. She comes back with a small cupcake in her hands. White cake, pink frosting curled on tip dusted with a powdery sugar I've only seen in windows.

“Eight cents.”

My mouth goes dry. That's actually a lot. A lot, lot.

Just pay it! Pay it and go. You look stupid, she thinks you’re stupid and short. And dirty. Who smell like a pig.

I grab the change in my hand and just fish out what I have. I see a dime, a penny, a nickel, I have everything in my hand. I have a couple of pennies. I’ve just lost the ability to count. Is this a penny? Or a dime. Just give over a dine. Or a nickel, a penny. Or just-

My hand starts shaking and I'm sweating, I'm overly sweating. I'm stuck, standing there looking at my hand trying to remember how to count.

She can see you sweating. Just give her the money! GIVE HER THE-

A hand appears on my palm. Slightly burned fingers pluck out a nickel and three pennies. Her fingers just briefly touch my sweaty palm and she’s gone. The cash register opens, coins drop into the slots and then closes with a ding.

I..am...beyond mortified.

“The cake is yours.” She pushes the round cake across the counter to me.

Take the cake and go.

I grab the fluffy pink thing by the wrapper and just about to turn around and leave, hope springs into action.

“So, you got a name.” She asks leaning over the counter to rest her elbows.

Give her a name. Just your name. One word. Just the one.

“Conlon.”

First name! What is your Frist name!

“Spot,” I say with a tremer I didn’t want there. I almost gave my real name.

She cocked her head to the side in question, “Your name is Conlon Spot?”

“Yes. I mean no. Spot Conlon.” I’m thinking about holding out a hand for her to shake but no one want to shake a sweaty man hand.

“Emily.” She says with a nod.

I nod. I got a name!

I don’t know what to say so I take a bite out of the cupcake.

How-WHOA!

I almost moan ‘cause it’s that good. I've never had the luxuries of having a cake every once and a while. But this.

“Is it good?” Emily asked really hopeful. Even if it tasted like moldy bread I would still say it tasted fantastic, but fantastic is not a word I would use. I at least swallow before speaking.

”Did God himself make this ?” I ask pointing at the cake, “Or at least with holy water?”

She laughs, and that what God did make. It’s beautiful. A small little snort at the end of each laugh.

“Um..You actually got a little....” she points to her nose then at mine. I cross my eyes and see a small dab of pink frosting on the tip of my nose. I quickly wipe it off, now I'm blushing again. I just so happen to glance out the window. Jack is making his way into the building going up the stairs backwards.

What is he doing?

“You okay there?” Emily asks.

“What? Oh, um. I'm meeting a friend, I just saw him. I um, should be going… now.” I'm slowly backing away toward the door.

“Okay. I'll see you again, right?”

Is she asking to see me again? Do I come back after I see Jack? Or is that too soon? Or is she trying to say come see me… later? Or is she-

“Spot!” Emily calls out to me but it’s too late. I knock into a little side table and chair and, what how you know I fall over. I hand in a heap on the floor.

GET UP!

I quickly stand up and upright the chair. And turn to the door.

“Spot, you okay?” Emily is coming around the corner but I've got one foot out the door.

Say something. Please!

“I’m- Don’t- I’m fine, no biggy, doll. It’s okay, I can't break what's already broke.”

“um okay.” She waves but doesn’t smile. Whhhhyyy did I say that. Out the door just get out the door. Go! Now!

I don't wave back, I just leave and starts to cross the street to Winnie’s. I wanted to stick my hands in my pocket but white smushed cake and Pink fluffy frosting stop me. I clutched the stupid thing too hard in my fist and now its nearly impossible to eat. No wonder she didn't smile. I killed the cupcake. She probably thinks I'm some stupid short idiot that has no manners whatsoever.

I don't want to throw the cupcake on the street right here but there’s nowhere to give it up. What if she's watching me? Why am I like this?

“Can’t just throw it away.” I mumble. So once I cross the street and am standing in front of Winnie’s, like the pig I am I shove the thing completely in my mouth in two sloppy bites. I make sure there’s no frosting on my mouth and go inside Winnie’s.

Winnie’s is always crowded, but it’s not hard to spot Jackie sitting by the bar. His hands are in the air like he’s at a stick up, Winnie has a finger in his Jacks face. Kid can’t stay out of trouble.

“Like I say, sir. I'm waiting for a friend-”

”Sure boy, I've heard ‘em all before. Young boys with no respect for my rules! I know all the tricks.-”

“Aye Winnie!” I shout over the crowd. Jack turned around look’n all too relieved to see me. I start wading through the throng of drunk people. When I can’t push past a drunk man I grab them by the shoulder and growl into there ear, “Move.” They moved. I finally make it to the bar and hop up to sit on the open stool beside Jack.

“Aye, Jackie!”

“You know this man?” Winnie asks looking at Jack but points at me. Jack gives Winnie a very serious nod. This kid is acting like he saw someone thrown outside by the seat of his pants. Winnie slips into Hebrew and starts clapping his hands and rubbing his beard. He looks almost as happy as the day I delivered his firstborn...Not a day I want to relive ever again. There's a seven month old Sean Winnie crawling around somewhere.

“Why didn’t you say so! Any friend of Spot is always welcomed here. What can I get you?”

Jack calmly turns to me trying to play it cool. Not working Jackie. Winnie doesn't own a menu. I've memorized what the menu is everyday incase I ever find myself dragging one of my boys back home. Today the fresh-ish thing on the menu is the Onion rings served in a dirty basket. But hey, I've never had a soda colder than Winnies.

“Jackie here will have a basket of onion rings and soda pop. Same for me.” I dig in my pocket and count out the right change. I can count my money now but put a girl in front of me and I became a cluts.

“Coming right up.” Winnie says then goes to the back to fetch the food and sodas.

Jack turns to me and gives me a questioning look, looking from me to where Winnie went, I don't say anything to Jack but roll my eyes at him. I decided to tell him half of the story.

“I ran to get him a doctor for his wife and baby once. Saved the baby and wife’s life, see. So now Mr. Winnie took it upon himself to “adopt” me.” I shrugged to hide the stutter I was about to do. I took five baths with lye soap and I still don't feel clean.

“And the rest?” Jack asked, waving to the crowd behind us. I rolled his eyes at him again. He probably thinks I came down here to drink and frolic. I mean I do, but not every day, only on really, really bad days.

“Sometimes I have to come down here and drag the boys back home."

“Ah. So you went soft on ‘em.” Jack jokes. I give him a death glare, I slap my hand over his shirt and grab a fist full of the fabric and raise a fist aiming to pop him in the mouth.

“Ayee calm down Spottie. I'm only joking with ya.” Jack raises his hands under mine, a big smile on his face. He knows I would never hit him, I need to slap him at some point, keep ‘im on his toes, keep ‘im guessing.

“Your pretty nose better hope you are or I’ll mess it up for ya.” I let go of Jack all gently like just as Winnie came back with our food and sodas.

“So, how’s Manhattan Jackie?” I asked, popping an onion ring in my mouth. It's disgusting, dripping with grease and tastes like at least five hands have been in it before it went to me. It's cheap, probably won't kill me, but at least the sodas are cold.

“It’s mid-august, so it stinks like fish,” Jack says, taking a bite out of my food. His face wrinkles up in disgust, but he came to the same agreement as myself. Free food and cold drink, well, Jack is gettin’ free food.

“Eh, you don’t live next to the bay. When it gets like this, the fish sometimes starts to belly up.”

“Free meal.” Jack says. I really hope he’s joking about eating bellied up fish. I've seen kids die from getting too desperate for food.

“Yeah Kelly, eating belly up fish sure is a fast way to fill a stomach only to empty it.” And die. I grab the cold soda and take a big gulp. It's too much so it kinda looks like I’m trying to hurry up and eat. If I spit some back into the bottle, Jack will notice.

Jack is like some little brother I've never had. I don't see the kid enough so I'm constantly making up stuff to see ‘im. Like me making sure he keeps some secret between us. But the funny thing is I was the one talking to the pope that day, and Jack...well, Jack was the one wearing the dress.

We talked. For about an hour and a half, I ask him about how his boys are behaving, if I need to go soak someone hurting him and how Crutchie’s leg has been doing. I saw him a little after the Strike three months ago, and he put a little bug in my ear.

“So, tell me if I’m wrong,” I began, wiping the grease off my fingertips on my pants, “Because honestly when I heard about this I thought someone was sick or somethin’.”

“What, Spot?” Jack sighs shoving two rings into his mouth. Hungry little fellow.

“I hears from Crutchie that after the strike you found yourself a pretty lady friend.” I give Jack a wicked smile even going so far as wigging my eyebrows up and down. Oh, he knows I know. And he knows I’m going to nag him ‘till the cows come home.

Jack looks down his hand blushing, heart in his eyes. Oh, he’s got it, he’s got it bad. And I've got it too.

“Ahhh, so it’s true! You sly dog you! Who is it?” I took another big gulp of my soda.

“It’s um, Katherine Plumber.”

I coughed and all of the soda in my mouth came out of my nose like cold lava. Jack groans as I wiped my nose with my hand.

“Katherine Plumber? Pulitzer’s daughter? That Katherine? Same doll?”

“Women ain't dolls Spot.”

“Yeah, yeah, Brooklyn slang. Pulitzer’s daughter?” I am in awe. How? I know I'm awkward and have no real chance with gurls. But Jack. Jackie boy?

“Same Katherine.” Jack takes a long drink from the soda, almost finishing it off, he smirking.

I couldn’t say anything, only whistled, smirking back at him, then bumping him with my elbow. I'm proud of him.

“What about you? You got some girl ‘round here?” The smile falls from my lips. I turn away and just start shoving food in my mouth.

“Spottie?” Jack leaned in close almost elbow to elbow with me. I gobel the rest of my food into my mouth.

“Come on Spottie.” He elbows me. I glare at him, finishing my soda.

“I'm waiting.” Jack says turning around in the stool and resting his elbow on the sticky counter. I wouldn't touch the corner Jackie, I've seen some things.

I don’t say nothin’. I’m thinking of ways I can make ‘im drop it, maybe even lie. But I turn over my hand, and just under my wrist, a small dap of pink frosting. I can’t lie about her. She deserves that much.

“It's… complicated.” I mumble not looking at him.

“What's complicated?”

I clear my throat, this is so stupid. Why am I talking about this? How did this turn on me?

“The, um… talking part.”

”I'm sorry what?” Jack eyebrows disappearing into his hairline. I can feel my face flush a beet red.

“You can't…?”

Jack started giggling, which turned into full-on doubled over laughter.

He's laughing at ya now Spot, in front of all these here spectators.

“Shut up!” I hiss at Jack kicking him hard enough to leave a bruise. But this only made him laugh harder. O’kay. I’m out.

“Food is gone. I'm gone.” I says shortly, hopping off the stool. Jack is still laughing at me and follows me out the door. Wish he would stop.

It’s still hot outside, but no longer the same heat that makes your shoes stick to the pavement. The sun is about an hour from fully setting. I’ll be home just in time to see the first couple of stars when I walks through the door. But Jack here, it will be near midnight by the time he gets home. It's not safe walking in New York at night I don’t care whos you are, unless your me. It wouldn't hurt anything if let Jack stay the night. I’ll even give him the dollar that lady gave me for my lie.

“You need a place to sleep?” I asked blocking my eyes from the setting sun.

“Nah, I's got to get back. Told Crutchie I would be home. Plus I got to get to work in the morning,I love ya, Spottie, but I missed the evening pape bein’ here. Gotta make money somehow.” Jack said shrugging one shoulder.

“You sure? You can bum some money from me if ya need ta. I don't want some ‘Hattan boy screaming at me ‘cause you got mugged.” I face Jack. I care for Jack, I've never had a younger brother of my own. And I hate to wake up tomorrow and hear he died. That would kill me.

“Appreciated but I need to be home.” Jack says holding a hand out to me to shake.

“Last chance Jackie.” Come on Jackie. Come with me. It's smarter and safer.

“Stop worryin’, Spot. If you don’t hear nothin’ I’m home, if ya hear somethin’ I’m probably dead. ‘kay?”

Well that doesn't make me a bed of roses now does it Jackie. I was just about to grab him by the shirt and drag him home with me, but I thought better of it. I can’t just drag him with me. He won’t understand. So instead I say,

“You didn’t tell no one did ya?” I’m talking about the accident, something I put behind me a long time ago. Because honestly it's funny.

“I didn’t even tell Crutchie. You say anything?” Jack whispers back to me, completely serious.

“If I told anyone, I’d lose my rep in Brooklyn.” Yet you were the one who was in a dress.

“That or called ya an idiot.”

“Aye,” I lower my voice to a warning, I step away from Jack and fix my hat then nod at ‘Im.

“Same time next year.” I says walking my way up the street.

“Only if you grow three more inches.”

I stop walking, turn, and lunge at him. Jack jumps back shielding his side and head. I smile and point at him.

“Yous know I can soak ya, Jack Kelly.” I shout at him as he walks away.

“Sure thing Spot.” Jack says walking away from me.

“I know where you live.”

“Okay, Spot.” He waves back to me, and turns the corner. I stand there for a minute maybe two, I’m waiting to see if he comes back, if he changed his mind. He doesn't come back. I look over to the bakey across the street. At Emily. She’s sweeping, or mopping or somethin’. I look down and kick a rock into the street. I’ve bombed it. I killed my shot. Burned crashed. I can't go back in there's, not now.

I sigh, I’m about to walk home when I look up just one last time. And Emily, is waving. And smiling. Waving and smiling.

Is.. she waving at me? I turn to look over my shoulder- no there no one there. Do I wave back? Do I wave once or just one of those hand up hand down things?

I wave back.

She waves back again.

We are waving.

I’m still waving but she's waving, no not waving- well yes she’s waving but waving me over. She’s calling me into the bakery. She wants to see me. It bring an sloppy side smile to my face, so I didn’t goof up too much then. Or all is forgiven.

I’m about to cross the street when an old man smacks into me from behind.

“Aye! Watch it!” I whip around guarding my pockets for sticky fingers.

The man turns to me, he's bald, dressed in nothing more than rags. He’s walking backwards. His face is as white as his stained shirt. He opens his mouth, says nothin’ just gaping at me. There is blood on his left hand, fresh blood. Is he bleeding somewhere?

“Hey, you there o’kay Mister.” I'm not opposed to helping people, I’m apathetic not soulless.

The man doesnt say anything. He just keeps opening and closing his mouth, then looks to his old wrinkled bloody hand, to me, then behind me. I turn around and look into the dusk lit streets. There people walkin’ but, I don’t think that's what he’s looking at. I turn back to the man to ask him what he's looking at, but he's already walking away.

You ever get that feelin’ that you know somethings wrong? It's starts with dread and slowly becomes anxiety. An sickness starts in your belly and your shoulder and spine starts to ache.

I look back to Emily and hold up one finger a sign I will be right back, with Jack. I don’t know how or why. But something is wrong. I'm finding Jack and bring him home for a safe place to sleep, and if he is in trouble.

I take off running. I know Jack turned the corner but from there I have no idea where he went. I run past alley after alley, all empty or some drunk just laying there. I run two blocks before I start finally yelling.

“Jack!” He’s only been gone five mins, how far could he have walked?

“Jack!”

I push past a lady with a baby, and a man with groceries. As I pass the man, his groceries fall to the street. I don’t stop to help or yell an apology. My boots are ponding on the street, a stick is developing in my side but I run faster. I reach marker block number three. Come on Jack where are you?! I see him! I’d know that blue shirt and cap anywhere.

He’s standing next to a bus stop. I'm panicking and Jack’s just standing there all calm like! Me, worryin’ like some muther hen, lookin’ stuput screamin’for him up and down my streets, yelling for the Manhattan turf ruler, lookin’ like a a fool.

“Jack! Jack!” I’m ten feet away from him and he's not even turning around, “Jack! Will ya look at me! Turn around when I'm talking ya!” I grab his arm and whip him around to face me. It’s not Jack. It’s a kid, maybe just as old as me with yellow teeth and a crooked nose.

“I aint no Jack! I’m Philip!” The guy rips his arm from my hand. I’m almost frozen. I raise my hands and just step away. I spin in a circle, I’m at a four way intersection. There are three, maybe four, different ways Jack could have gone. I just crouch down on the street, just balancing on the balls of my feet with my hand in my hair. Just trying to think and breathe for a moment before I take off running.

Maybe I’m overreacting. I see a guy with blood only on one hand and instantly I think Jack is dying. Take off running before I can even think better of it. Emily probably thinks I’m some kind of weirdo now. Get a grip Spot. Go home. Jacks just fine.

I stand up and start my walk home with my tail between my legs. I just pass the frist alley and hear a cough. A sick wet cough that suggests blood. I look into the dark alleyway. And on the floor. His back to the wall, is Jack sitting in a bloody pool of blood, and a knife sticking out if his chest.

There’s a knife sticking out of Jack's chest. Jack… has been stabbed.

“Jack? What are you- Jack? JACK!”

#Newsies #newsies fanifc #spot conlon #spot conlon imagine #Jack Kelly #jack kelly imagine #Spot conlon Fanfic #Jack Kelly fanfic #Newsies Movie #Broadway Newsies

4 notes · View notes

artslip · 7 years

Note

1-92 enjoyyy

😑…. why you do this to me 😂

1) I’d rather not, that’s my mother

2) yup, he’s my friend and he sits next to me in music

3) no I haven’t

4) yea I do have a small issue with trust but I have many people I trust :)

5) I didn’t, I don’t like anyone that way at the moment

6) I’m excited for the school holiday. Just think of all the naps!

7) I went to my dance class

8) I haven’t seen girls get wasted yet, I’m a 15 year old loser XD

9) I guess a certain amount of confidence is cute? Over awkward like me isn’t great XD

10) water

11) I fully trust @kieran-sw and he is the opposite gender

12) all my jeans are skinny even though they’re not full on skinny on me, it’s hard to find the right size for my short ass XD

13) I’m gonna sleep until I’m too hungry to sleep, eat, try to draw, play the ukulele, play the piano, cuddle a cat, scroll through tumblr, watch youtube videos, listen to music and go back to sleep. It’s a busy day XD

14) I have no idea what I’m gonna buy next. Probably food knowing me

15) Im not going out with anyone and I haven’t kissed anyone sooooooo no

16) everyone changes so maybe. But I personally don’t change a lot for some reason? Even my face hasn’t changed much in about 8/9 years or so because looking back at pictures I look pretty much the same and my personality is also pretty much the same and I’m rambling and you get the picture so imma shut up and move on

17) I feel most comfortable talking about everything to @kieran-sw and my friend since we were even smaller @drawsmaddy

18) I’ve never felt so bad that I’ve felt broken but the closest I’ve been to feeling that way was a few days ago?

19) I haven’t no and I’m not planning to

20) I’m starting to realise that mY HAND REALLY HURTS! I damaged it back in March (on my birthday too) by playing against my own team in hockey (I hated them all) and I tackled someone and the impact of my stick clashing into theirs “bruised” my hand. It’s not broken but I think it’s something to do with my tendons. It was worth it though, my team lost each time XD i’m getting my hand checked out in the holidays though so I’ll find out what it is soon XD

21) I am in a good mood >:3c

22) I would love to swim with sharks! I was going to when I was about 4 but I couldn’t swim well back then so I freaked at how deep the tank was. But I can swim now and I would love to try it as I, missed a great opportunity!

23) My dad’s are green, but a different shade. His are more normal, mine are strange XD

24) I want a snack

25) I’d be a bit sad but I’d be happy for them both, and I wouldn’t really say anything. Their life, they do what they want :D

26) ,y current hair colour is a dirty blonde and that’s also my natural colour. I don’t see myself in any other colour, I’d look wierd XD

27) If they didn’t make me laugh then probably not. I’m a jokey person I want someone that I can joke with

28) The last thing that made laugh was my own joke :| I’m one of those people yes, I’m sorry

29) I quite miss @drawsmaddy, I don’t see her very often but when we do meet up its great XD

30) depends what they do.

31) no! @kieran-sw is a great hooman!

32) I don’t have feelings for anyone yet so I guess not because I don’t know him either

33) I’m not, it drink too much. But my dad keeps buying it so now I think I’m addicted to caffeine….

34) at the moment, my cat purring very loudly ^w^

35) I write my working out in pencil and when I’m at home and there’s no pens then I use a pencil because I have more pencils than pens

36) ask future me, she probably still won’t have kissed anyone XD

37) I do. It happens all the time to me. I’m just going about my day and then a dog comes by or a cat sits around somewhere and I’m overwhelmed with love at first sight ♡ (for humans though, no I don’t)

38) My mum

39) a bunch of people in my dance class just now

40) because they didn’t exist :)

41) around June 7th to June 10th?

42) I hug my mum all the time :D

43) honey I am an embarrassment ;)

44) I don’t tan, I’m like paper on a bonfire when I’m in the sun. So I stay so pale that I blinded myself when my arms are uncovered in the sun all year

45) I haven’t had my first kiss

46) no I didn’t actually. I usually do but last night I didn’t for some reason, I just slept

47) My mum, again hehehe

48) I do sometimes. When I’m home alone I do. When someone’s in I don’t. I don’t want to make their ears bleed XD

49) I do dance in the car when I’m travelling and I’m bored and get a burst of energy and have nothing better to do than embarrass my sister in busy traffic XD

50) I have used a bow and arrow and very badly. I’m better at rifles XD

51) I think I was 10 when that was last done

52) not all musicals, I’m obsessed with quite a few ;D

53) Christmas is stressful when I’m getting gifts for friends and getting asked what I want

54) eat a what now?

55) I’m not a pie kinda person. Soggy fruit/meat? No thanks

56) I wanted to be an animator, and I still do!

57) no but kinda? I dunno. Sometimes I guess

58) I do quite a lot yes

59) no I don’t, the only thing I swallow daily is a hayfever tablet XD

60) I don’t like wearing slippers so I don’t wear them. So I wear socks instead

61) I don’t wear a bath robe they get in my way. I wear a jumper like thing instead, it’s so cozy :)

62) I wear pj’s. But if I’m too hot I wear my old PE shorts and a vest

63) a concert that I’ve been a part of? I’ve never been a part of a concert. But I have been in shows in school productions and the local theatres since I was very little XD

64) I’ve never been to any of those, I’m brittish

65) I don’t care, as long as the stuff does its job

66) never had any of them. I’ve actually never heared of fritos either, what are they?

67) I used to eat sunflower seeds a lot. Not anymore though

68) I don’t really have one XD

69) I take Highland. But I used to do ballet, tap and modern dance classes too until I quit because even though I passed all my exams, so they’d never move me up so I’d be stuck with younger kids. Plus a boy kept pinning me into a corner calling me “hot” and i didnt like it and he clearly needed to get his eyes tested because I am definitely not hot, I’m a small potato XD

70) I’m 15, I’m not looking that far forward yet

71) I can. I can also made a triple curl in my tongue to make a clover shape, it’s wierd XD

72) I’ve never had a spelling bee

73) I have, I do that quite a lot actually

74) the maze runner series is quite good. Those are the last books I read and I enjoyed them so I guess those are my favourites XD

75) It depends what it is I’m studying really

76) I don’t burn it at all but a couple of friends do and I like it

77) once? I think?

78) I don’t know, I’ve seen quite a lot of people. I’d probably really wanna go if dodie did one? But I probably wouldn’t be able to go

79) it was one I went to with guiding. Saw a bunch of cool people

80) I don’t drink tea or hot drinks

81) the answer is basically the same as 80’s

82) ooooh… That’s a hard decision… white chocolate chip maybe? There’s so many!

83) I can swim well yes, I even had lifeguard training at one point :D

84) it’s pretty easy to hold your breath without holding your nose, is that a thing? Do people have to do that? Huh, I learned a thing today hehehe

85) I’m quite patient when I want to be. I’m patient enough to get through all these questions so I must be hehehe

86) I don’t know, I’ve only been to 2 wedding receptions and both had a DJ playing some pretty cool songs

87) I win the adults photography competition quite a lot. Never the kids one, I think they tend to go for the school’s photos instead of one’s taken with a big camera and not a tiny one hehehe. The prize is the same anyway

88) despite my ugly face, I wouldn’t have plastic surgery unless I got acid or serious burns on my face and it was necessary

89) ew olives

90) people can do what they want, as long as they’re sure that they’re ready then that’s fine by me. Athough underage sex isn’t really the best idea in my opinion but still, you do what you want, your life, live it how you want as long as it doesn’t effect other people

91) at some point yes I do :)

Finally! That took some time XD

3 notes · View notes