knowntoherfriends | Why Should I Worry?

Entry tags:

who: spot conlon: brooklynishere

Why Should I Worry?

Moving out of London had never been a thing that Jackie would have even considered, not in a million years. But after what happened to Nancy, after who caused it... She had to get out. She couldn't stay in that city, nut just because she saw Nancy everywhere she looked. Without Nancy, she had no one helping keep what she was hidden from Fagin.

There was only one option. Grabbing what little she hat and hopping on a ship as far away as possible.

Brooklyn was not like London. Well, actually it was in a lot of ways. It wasn't like London in the important way - there was no Fagin here, no Nancy, Jackie was totally on her own and had to make her own way. So, of course, she started lifting papers - papes, they called them - to start selling. This didn't sit too well with the leader of the territory - or so he was called. Spot Conlon made it clear to her how things where done around here.

Never let it be said the Artful Dodger couldn't move with the flow.

So she followed him, listening to how it was. This was only a stop gap anyway. A chance to learn the city. The Artful Dodger would known this place as well as they'd known London. It would be hers, soon enough.

Just needed to keep certain things out of people's notice.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I am," Spot agreed with a grin (and did he make any of the watching newsies swoon? Well if he did, he didn't notice it)

"Thank you, that's very kind of you to say," Davey looked pleased

Dodger looked a bit surprised at the swooning newsies, and a small frown crinkled her forehead. Why... were they swooning? They didn't know Spot, they shouldn't be swooning at his impressiveness when they didn't know him. She took a step closer, looking round.

She just didn't like how they were assuming. That was it. Had to be.

"Just sayin' the truth as I've been told it," she said. "So, what we meetin' for to natter on about today, then?"

"Manhattan doesn't have anything pressing, but I think a couple of other boroughs have things they want to share. Not everybody's here yet, though, so we still have a little time before we get started," Davey explained with a smile.

"I should introduce you to some other people. Spot said, perhaps a little abruptly, he definitely wasn't bothered by how much Dodger was making Davey smile.

Dodger didn't blink at Spot's abruptness, but just shrugged. "Alright then," she said, "see you around then, Davey," she gave as a nod, and turned to Spot. "Where we lookin' then boss?"

Davey was a little surprised by it, and after saying a friendly goodbye to Dodger he gave Jack a confused look, wondering if there was something going on he didn't know about.

Spot picked another borough at random and took Dodger over to introduce her.

Jack gave a shrug. He didn't know - first time meeting Dodger so he had no idea why Spot was being the way he was.

"Alright," Dodger said to the person. They just gave the briefest of nods to her, turning their attention to Spot.

"Nice to see you here, Spot."

Spot inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"And you. You heard much about any business coming up tonight? Sounds so far like it's gonna be a short one."

They gave a laugh, taking a step closer to Spot. "I think you're right. Sounds like Davey just wanted a check in with all the boroughs, from what I've heard."

Dodger's eyes narrowed a little, seeing how that leader looked Spot, how close they were trying to lean.

"Well it's worth doing," Spot admitted (a little reluctantly, since he's still not entirely pleased with Davey for reasons he won't admit to himself) "Keeps us all from starting unnecessary turf wars with each other if we do a little socialisin', right?"

"Exactly," the newsie agreed with a bright smile. Too bright, if you asked Dodger. "An' it doesn't hurt to get to see people, right?" That sounded ... really hopeful. What were they hopeful about?

"Well that's why I brought Dodger here," Spot agreed, oblivious to that hopeful tone and bright smile, and nodded his head towards his companion "Figured he ought to get to know the big names in the bizz and all that."

Disappointed with Spot's obliviousness, the newsie looked at Dodger.

"Bit short, this one."

"What's wrong with short?" Spot had put on a few inches in recent years but he'd spent plenty of time being on the shorter side himself "Short sells more papes." he smirked.

The newsie shrugged, looking back at Spot with something that made Dodger feel funny. "Brooklyn boys is big," was the answer given. "Anyway, ain't like you to drag a newbie around here."

Spot just rolled his eyes - most of his boys were big, he knew that, but plenty weren't and they were just as good as the ones that were. Besides, something about the other newsie's tone rubbed him the wrong way, or maybe it was the way they were insulting Dodger, either way he didn't like it.

He stepped up a little closer to the other newsie, threateningly "An' what's it to you if I did? You got a problem?"

Dodger raised an eye, just watching the interactions here.

"Never got a problen with you, Spot."

"Well you sound like you got a problem," Spot retorted "Since you's asking all these questions about my business."

He wouldn't normally be this defensive at this kind of meeting, but they'd annoyed him.

The newsie looked thrown, and unsure of what to say. At that moment, David came over.

"Hey, sorry Spot, I need to talk to you," he said to the newsie, dragging them away. "Sorry Spot!" he called back again.

Dodger blinked. "Don't reckon they thought much of me."

"Who cares what they think," Spot said dismissively, turning his attention back to Dodger. Honestly, he wasn't even sure why they seemed to have such a problem with Spot bringing Dodger here.

"You wanna meet anybody else?"

Dodger reckoned it was easy enough for Spot to say something like that. He ran Brooklyn, and more than a couple of newsies in this place were making eyes at him like he hung the damn moon. It was odd to see, and left a weird feeling that she didn't like.

Hm.

"Ain't thinkin' there's anyone else, an' besides, it looks like Davey boy is going to start?" As she spoke, David semeed to be taking to what she supposed was a stage area.

"'bout time." Spot glanced over at where David did appear to be getting ready to begin. "C'mon."

He grabbed Dodger's hand and tugged her over to the best place to sit with a good view of the stage. He let go pretty quickly once they were sitting, because for some reason any physical contact with Dodger made him hyper-aware of his own skin and he didn't know why.

He wasn't the only one hyper aware. Dodger kept touching the hand he grabbed, wondering why it had felt so different once he touched it. She knew one thing: this was not good.

She didn't hear anything that was said.

Spot paid attention, he'd swear he did, but he can't remember much of what was going on. Luckily none of it was particularly important and it was over fairly quickly.

"You want to mingle or head back to Brooklyn?" he asked Dodger once Davey was wrapped up.

_{[I reckon we need somebody to do some proper flirting, what do you think?]}

Dodger looks around. She can still see people looking at Spot with those eyes.

"Headin' home sounds good to me."

[Agreed. Even if I'm terrible at writing it LOL.]

Spot nods in agreement, bringing Dodger here felt like a mistake somehow, but he couldn't figure out why. It wasn't like anything had gone badly, it was just...a feeling.

He lead the way back across the room, saying his goodbyes as he went.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject