Who Among Them Would Try To Impress You? [Blake]

[Gabbi McGinn]

Gabbi was walking down the Harlem river banks, slowly, her bare feet in the mud. Occasionally she would rip various aqueous plant life off of the side of the banks, and at some point on her meandering trip had collected a piece of straw-like grass that was now hanging out of her mouth.

Her left hand came up to shield her eyes from the sun, looking down the river. The water itself looked positively filthy, and rubbish was floating down. Some of it collected on the lower banks, but the majority of it floated down the middle of the river, bumping into things occasionally in order to vary the course, only to be collected further downstream in the farmlands.

Sighing she kicked a rock into the river, hissing as her foot was injured by the hard stone. Of course that was probably what she should have expected, but that didn't mean the she was particularly keen on causing herself pain where it was not due, and particularly not when she couldn't receive a sense of accomplishment or reason from it.

There wasn't any pride in stupididty.

Grumbling something about the brightness of the sun she continued to ramble forward, onward until she was standing under the limbs of one of the great, tall trees that had preceeded her arrival to the country, and her father's birth. Perhaps even her grandfather's birth. She sighed, walking toward it and touching the rough bark with her hand.

She certainly hoped they weren't intending on cutting this tree down any time soon. It wasn't a person's place to cut a tree down because they thought a building or outpost or train stop would serve more of a purpose. It was rare even now that people would see trees in the city, and to lose this one would certainly be a shame.

[B l a k e]

<sub>Blake had made his way down to the river bank. His hands in his pockets as the light breeze rustled the trees that were along the area. He bent down and picked up a few of the more rounded rocks. Brushing his fingers over the smooth edges as he inspected them he nodded, deciding they were worthy enough and put them in his pocket.

He wore a black pants and suit jacket with a white shirt and nice black and white vest underneath. He always looked like he was part of the wealthier part of society but in a morer casual manner.

Stopping on the river bank after collecting a few more rocks he found the best spot and started tossing them into the river, counting the times they skipped.

He smirked as he continued to skip them further and further. He counted himself a master at this game.

Hearing some movement he glanced down the bank to see a familiar face.

HIs smirk turned into a grin and he headed towards her. "Well well if it isnt Miss gabbi"he said. 'long time no see"He laughed lightly. "How have you been?"</sub>

[Gabbi McGinn]

Gabbi turned around when she heard someone talking to her. Had he not said her name she most likely wouldn't have paid him any mind, but she supposed that if he knew her he couldn't be half bad. The face registered a few seconds after the voice, but the boy in front of her looked older. More mautre.

She smiled, a bit smarmily, and turned around. Slowly she leaned back until her shoulder blades were against the tree, the small of her back still a good half foot away from the tree. "I've been bettah, can't complain though." She shrugged with a grin, just looking at Blake for a few beats longer.

"Where've you been, huh?" she asked, after several beats of unacknowledged silence. They weren't awkward, exactly, but more preceptory. She was taking him in--and he was quite a bit to take in. He'd grown more handsome, she believed, but she wouldn't comment on that. Not yet, anyway.

[B l a k e]

<sub>Blake continued to walk up to her till he was only a few feet away. He grinned at her when she had acknowledged him "Mm..'He said, "no complainin?"he said, "Well isnt that the life we lead..."He shrugged.

Licking his lips he took her in casually. It had been some months since hed seen her, nearly a year. "eh.."He shrugged at her question as to where hed been. 'Just here and there..."He said. "no where in particular...or important..."He tilted his head a bit to the other side, his hands going back into their pockets.

"Still in brooklyn?"he asked her tipping back on his heels and then back forward. He brought a hand up to rub his chin, whiskers were starting to poke out and he made a face, hed have to shave once he got back.

His gray blue eyes sparkled a bit and he gave her a devlish grin. "you look good"</sub>

[Gabbi McGinn]

Gabbi shrugged, watching him approach her unflinchingly. It was always nice to find an old friend again, particularly when you could be pleased with the circumstances under which you've been rejoined. "Really? The way most a' de girls has been actin' thats just about all we live for. Complaining." She rolled her eyes and looked off toward the left, not at anything in particular, although it might have come off as her staring at a small, crumbling rock.

Eventually she pulled her gave back up to him. "Here, dere and no where all at once? You've been a busy man." She didn't bother to question the statement outright, but she certainly left undertones of such an accusation of it's unlikely nature resonate throughout the statement.

She nodded when he asked her if she was still in Brooklyn. "Couldn't leave it if I wanted to. Its me home. I've been tempted to, dough, wid all da trash dey's been letting lodge wid us lately. It's...." she paused, failing to find the right word. She shrugged again, "abhorrent." Wow, that was a word she didn't really know that she knew. She impressed even herself and smiled a bit, coyly, at her own sense of intellect.

His grin didn't go unnoticed by any means, and she flashed one of her own in return. "I can only say the same for you," she said, putting her hands on the trunk of the tree and pushing off, taking a few steps closer to him as well, "Apparently sometimes change is good," she added, her hands resting on the hem of her long skirt now.

[B l a k e]

<sub>"Heh.. .well theres no room in life to complain"he said. "Sooner they learn, sooner... well.. I guess they stop complaining"He shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. "yeah..."

He grunted at her comment. "MMmm.."He shrugged. "a guys gotta do what hes gotta do"he said again. "So why not?" he crossed his arms. 'nice day..."He said. 'Lets walk"He quirked his brow up as he started to walk past her and then stop to turn and look at her, motioning his head towards the way he was going as if to say... ya comin?

Blake laughed a bit. "Spot losin his touch or something?"he asked and then shook his head. "yeah..'He said, "Coles... pretty pissed himself. Hes gotten headway on whats been going on and hes not pleased. Doesnt understand how they are just letting anybody in now a days. When we were around.... hell when they had the old leader at harlem you had to earn your spot..."He shook his head. "Personally..."He said, "I dunno... I do my own thing, but i gotta live with Cole, so I suppose I should care..."he shrugged again.

At the return of her smile he gave her yet another one and didnt stepp back when she stepped forward. "mm.. well thanks"he said bringing a hand to smooth over the front of his vest. "I didnt even try.."He teased lightly.

"That it is... that it is.."he said his eyes holding hers.</sub>

[Gabbi McGinn]

Gabbi laughed a bit, shaking her head. "They aint never gonna learn if someone don't teach 'em. And, if someone else don't git to it soon, I'se gonna take it into me own hands." She scoffed a bit, shaking her head. Garbage. Complete garbage.

She didn't remark on his relative awkwardness because she didn't feel the need to alienate him. Yeah, that sounded like a good plan. Run into an old friend, one who was being relatively nice to you, and then tell him he's being awkward. Even she wasn't so socially benighted as to do that. There was a time an a place for snide remarks, and this was not the time or the place.

"I don't see why not," she said, watching him as he began to walk off. He turned back though, as she would have hoped that he would have, and smiled as she approached him. It was generally a difficult procedure, to get her to smile, but that wasn't any ordinary person or any ordinary day. Ever since she set the match to her fellow Brooklynite--although you could hardly call the girl that, she might as well have just been deemed a street walker and done away with a lot of irritation and frusteration, seeing as she would never rise above the ranks of a whore-- she'd been in a particularly good mood.

His question about Spot made her start a bit. The average person wouldn't have suggested that in the presence of a Brooklynite, but Cole was Harlem. Harlem oftentimes got as hard of a rap as Brooklyn did, provided that they were under proper leadership. That, of course, was always questionable.

She scoffed outwardly at his vain teasing, and she gave him a gentle shove with her weaker arm, the right one. "Nah, but I bet you woulda if you'd known youse were gonna see me today," she remarked obnoxiously, her own egotistical side getting the better of her. It didn't take much, really.

She stalled as his eyes kept hers locked with his, the lingering remnants of a smile holding but not being the concentration of her features. She didn't quite know what to say to that, and so she didn't say anything for a time. "It's good ta have ya around again, Blake," she said, slowly, and a bit guiltily at that. It wasn't every day that she gave out such a compliment and meant it.

[B l a k e]

<sub>"Be careful Gabbi girl"he said, "Spot gets wind you're taking matters in your own hands, he might get a bit... well miffed'He smirked. "Why dont you have a little chat with the brooklyn leader."He suggested. 'Whats the worst that could happen hmm.?"

Blake was glad to have run into someone from before. There were a lot of changes that had happened, and a lot of new newsies. It was refreshing not to have to introduce himself every ten seconds. He was about ready to get a name tag and just point to it every time he ran into someone he didnt recognize.

When she didnt comment about the spot comment he just let it go, it wasnt an accusation, you never know whats going on and Spot is human just like any of them. It seemed he wasnt the only one that was letting anything into their newsiedom. It was happening all over the place. Maybe there was just so many of them they were over running, well maybe someoen should get their own lodging house.. hell half of them didnt even sleep in a lodging house.

"you know..."He said,"youve got an awfully pretty smile and rarely do I see it. Should I count myself lucky that I get to see it so often today?'he asked. "or is this my welcome home present"He teased again.

Blake laughed as she returned her own vain comment. "Mm.. I suppose you're right"He said, "Im not even in my best duds...'He said. "Though next time..'He nodded "next time.. which Im going to say is tonight... at 7. Say... Renollis?"He said smoothly, casually.

"thanks..'He said to her. 'good to be back.."His gaze not wavering.</sub>

[Gabbi McGinn]

"He should be thankin' me, thats what he should be doing," she laughed shortly, and then gave him a look of uncertainty. "Whats the worst that could happen? I get my face kicked in, thats what. Ain't that just anybody gets to talk like that to Spot Conlon." Gabbi paused, briefly, "Although I hope it's safe to say dat I might be high on da list."

She rolled her shoulders, whose muscles were tightened and constricted by the tension of street life and physical work that she regretted, always, though she'd gotten an early start. Farm work had dominated her younger years, from the age of four to nine, when she first immigrated. After that they'd moved to Brooklyn, then briefly to Chicago--briefly being a term used loosely, though she was only there until her father went and drank himself into a hypothermic death, after which time she used the leftover money to move back to Brooklyn at the ripe old age of twelve-- and so here she was.

Though the hard work hadn't ceased upon immigration. No she just stuck the papers high over her head, working her shoulders even more.

Gabbi almost caught herself blushing at the compliment, but she couldn't let herself follow through. A girl of the streets couldn't let herself blush at something as petty as something said about her smile, although it did score him good homecoming points.

"A bit of both really, youse good company," she began, licking her lips absentmindedly as the thoughts formulated, "But its compliments like those that'll keep them coming."

His laugh was enough to boost her spirits considerably, although they were already pretty high. "I never thought I'd see da day when you asked me someplace decent," she said, grinning and arching her eyebrows at him. His mentioning of time made her realize that she had no idea what time it was presently, but he would assumably give them both time to get home. The truth was that after he'd made his little disappearance, she didn't think she'd hear much from him, if anything, again.

"But anyway, seven works for me." Her smile refused to abandon her now, no matter how much she may have tried to will a scowl. It simply wouldn't come. Her own eyes remained set on his, for a few moments longer, before she turned her head to the side and broke their little unspoken staring competition, of sorts. She sighed and bit her lip, in a poor attempt to quell her smile, but it didn't work. She glanced up once more at him, quickly, before breaking their gaze again.

By this point she'd lost track of the conversation, and couldn't even remember the last thing he said. So instead of making an even bigger ass of herself, she let it go and let them fall back into silence.

[B l a k e]

<sub>"Well.. that may be true, but this is spot we are speaking of"He said and then laughed lightly. "safe to say?'he said. "So you dont like being on the brooklyn leaders good side?"he said, "or do you just like trying his patience?"he quirked a brow with a smirk.

Even though Blake looked like a pretty boy hoity toity, it was the exact opposite of what he really was, and who he was. Hed been living the hard life since he was 8, and it definatly hadnt been easy. though hed also learned to be quite quick with his hands and his head and even though his little thefts didnt always go by smoothly, he still had more success with them then most, hence the nice clothes.

"Well thanks"He said. "I do take that as a high compliment from you"He nodded, "and you're pretty good comp'ny yourself"he grinned. "and if thats what ittakes to see you smile, then.. well I can compliment you from here to next tuesday and further still"he said. "youve got far too much about yourself that I could go on for eternity"he gave her another charming grin.

"Well... ive been making out quite well.."He held his money bag up and shook it a bit. "I can take you out for a nice dinner and... ice cream afterwards, not to mention ... buy you flowers." he nodded. Probably was all the money he had in there, but he didnt mind, its what he generally stole for. To impress and he was bored. Stealing gave him what he needed in more ways then one and in the end result he was usually impressing some girl with whatever he used it for.

"Good..'He said "Then ill come by the lodging house around that time..'He said pulling out a nice looking pocket watch, winnings from a poker game in louisianna, one of the many places they had been. "Gives us a good.. four hours.."he nodded. 'Sound good to you?"he looked up at her placing it back in his pocket.</sub>

[Gabbi McGinn]

"Da latter. He aint got enough patience for me to try, almost not even when he's in a good mood. It's all....a risk. A game of chance. But hey--who among us don't love ta gamble?" She grinned, and internally wanted to do something that would whipe the smirk off his face. Not something that would anger him, of course, but get him to change his expression at least.

Nothing came to mind.

She nodded complacently, feeling quite above her own place. Her chin was cocked upwards airily and she looked at him through narrowed eyes, "As you should, of course." It was a mild comment, but full of vain egotisticalness that was unavoidable when it came to her, particularly after her ego had been boosted with a consistent flow of compliments.

Gabbi wanted to lean back against the tree, and even her body made a move to do it. Of course it wasn't for a few more seconds that she'd recalled that she'd stepped away, but she made a quick save by landing on her back foot, then dragging it slowly forward again.

"And complimentin me like that might come to be a dangerous thing for you," she remarked, understandingly, "I might even take it all to heart." He was charming, that was unarguable. But was he safe? Probably not. Reguardless, she thought back to her earlier comment about chance. And yes, she supposed this was another excellent example of the gambling game. Besides, there was fun and freedom from responsibilty at her fingertips now, and she intended to capitalize upon it.

Her eyebrows raised when he listed off a few of the things he would provide her for. She hated to deflate her own ego, but now was one of those few necessary times when she couldn't just let it go. "Are...youse sure?" She asked, slowly, "I'm sure you could find more, uh.." she stalled, trying to word it right. Articulation had never been her strong suit. Her bite had always been worse than her bark.

"Well, uh, you sure that it's worth it? I mean, you could save it instead, or something..." she rubbed at the back of her neck, unaccustomed to having anyone want to do much of anything for her. She generally didn't return the favor, and so people stopped offering. It wasn't much her fault, though-- she was penniless as it was, and couldn't afford to reciprocate even if she had wanted to.

Gabbi nodded, watching the pocketwatch slide back into his pocket. "Yeah, that sounds fine." Now that she'd broken his gaze she seemed unable to lift her eyes to meet it again. Perhaps it was for the better though. She smiled a bit as she glanced up at him, furtively, and then away, but couldn't find anything of interest to look at, and so her eyes turned to his shoes, mirrored indirectly two thirds of a foot or so away by her own feet, although hers were bare. It reminded her, bitterly, that she'd have to find a pair to wear tonight.

[B l a k e]

<sub>"hmm..>"he said, 'and who wouldnt have patience around you"He said sarcastically.

Blake chuckled a bit. "Mm..'He reached out chucking her lighty under the chin. "well..."he said, 'dont you look quite happy with yourself"He teased. "and you should be. Youve got more then you think"he nodded firmly. "and i dont lie"he shook his head. "not at all"He smirked.

"And what if you should?"he asked when she commented she might take it all to heart. "maybe its my hope... and intent.."He quirked his brow. "What theN?"

"hey I dont offer things just to offer them"he said. "I told you Its what i want to do"he said. "So.. dont question it, just go with it"He nodded, tugging some of her hair lightly, playfully.

"Should i leave you now?'he asked as he watchd her avoid his eyes. He wondered briefly if she was regretting letting him suggest taking her out and had in fact been trying to get out of it by all that she had said.</sub>

[Gabbi McGinn]

Gabbi laughed a bit, more girlishly than she was accustomed to--not the hawking, hawing, loud and rambunctious laughter that she shared with her male housemates, drinking partners and friends. "I liked it bettah when you stuck to complimenting me," she said snarkily, but couldn't maintain the facade and broke into another giggle.

"If it's youse intent den you'se da only one whose intent on making me take anything to heart except a knife or a bullet," she commented, a bit uncomfortably. "And I suppose youse should be rewarded for dat, aye?" Grinning she took a step closer to him, a bit more closely than one would in average conversation. Her hands went to his middle and she grinned, looking up at him, deciding that it would be best to try to take the edge out of her words as quickly as she could.

"I got plenty, I know, but I have good reason for questioning," she said, her hands sliding from his sides to her own hips, "But uh, still. I jest aint used to havin' people spend money on me, ken what I'm talking about? It aint...normal for me, I guess." She cocked her head slightly to the side, admiring his face--or, rather, his chin, because that was most of what she could see-- from below.

"I thought youse told me you was gonna take me for a walk," she added, apparently able to meet his glance again. Interesting. Another laugh escaped her lips as he tugged her hair, her head being pulled sideways easily, without resistance. She smiled a bit, "But if youse think youse gonna need all four hours to get yerself primped, then by all means take advantage of it."

[B l a k e]

"oh well then I better get back to that..'He said, "you know... you have some of the .. prettiest hair.."He reached out and tugged it lightly. "I like it.. always have.."He took a piece and twirled it around one of his fingers and then let it loose before redoing it again.

Blake quirked a brow but said nothing more as she said what she had said. She then stepped forward her hands going to his midhalf. "mm..'He said, curious to know what exactly she was going to do. "I do like rewards..."he said, "Specially from pretty girls.."he knew he was over doing it, but it was all in fun right now.

"well... i aint saying you gotta get used to it but at least let me treat you for a night."he nodded.. "thats it... and after tonight you can go back to... well.. not being treatd... well no... I cant have that, but i wont be able to be as extravagent all the time. Im not always so lucky"he said.

Blake laughed "I did.. didnt i"He said and then reached out taking her hand, bringing it to his lips and then let it down again. "Then lets walk... I can assure you Im not so vain that I would take four hours to get ready."he laughed."You?"he asked.

[Gabbi McGinn]

Gabbi smiled, enjoying the flattery, and let her head move easily as he twirled her hair, then unwound it.

Her hands ran up his chest, briefly, and then quickly back down. She got up onto her tip toes, using him for support, and leaned in to talk quietly in his ear. A smirk pressed her lips and her feet wavered, not accustomed to being at such an angle with all her weight on her poor joints, but she just put hands a little bit more firlmly on his shoulders.

"Well," she said, quietly, "You might have to wait a little. " It was a mean game to play, and she knew this very well. But she decided to take the edge off and tilted her head, kissing at his neck just below his ear several times, then returning back to her feet. The poor digets thanked her, too, as the pain receded.

She watched him closely as he stumbled to make up his mind about how she was going to be treated after tonight. A slight smirk was still playing over her lips and she gazed at him, "Well, not being treated ain't so bad." She shrugged her shoulders a bit but beamed despite herself as he kissed her hand. Being treated to niceties--not even just material, more like just...someone being nice to her. Someone at the very least offering her some sort of support that didn't involve cruelty of some sort--there wasn't any physical hitting, or hitting anyone else.

"Four hours? I won't need half dat time, dun worry. But let's walk." She shook her head a bit, grinning, "And I shore hope you dont need four hours. I might'a been a bit concerned if you did."