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Post by Skittery on Feb 21, 2008 16:39:27 GMT -5
"Are ya sure this is okay?"
Skittery coughed awkwardly. "Uuh..Not entirely.." he confessed. He led her up to the washroom and began to pump water into the tin tub behind the flimsy curtain. Hopefully everyone was out selling and would STAY out selling until Starsage had left, fully clothed. They had female newsies that lived and bathed here every morning, but it was different when you had the leader of the Bronx.
Skittery put together a few towels, and draped them over a small railing to make a sort of makeshift dressing room for her. "Ah, here you go. I'll keep watch." he said awkwardly. He gestured towards his make shift dressing room and the full tub, and then turned around and walked to the entrance of the washing room to keep watch.
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Post by Jack Kelly on Feb 21, 2008 16:49:06 GMT -5
Jack Kelly barged into the Lodging House, three unsold papers under his arm. He haphazardly tossed the papers onto the front desk for the absent Kloppman, who often cut the pages into squares to use in the johnny closet when necessary. Jack started climing the stairs and yelled, "Anybody there?" He was back early, and he didn't think many other people would be back. He noticed the tracks of mud, and his brow furrowed at them.
At the top of the stairs, he saw Skittery in front of the washroom door. Skittery explained the mud tracks: the boy was covered in it. "Skittery! What in the hell happened to you?!" Jack exclaimed, fighting a losing battle not to sound amused at the whole situation. Skittery was quite a sight...
((Instead of constantly switching, I might just put in Race's dialouge and stuff in Jack's posts to make it easier on all of us...am I allowed to do that...?))
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Post by Skittery on Feb 21, 2008 17:07:19 GMT -5
"Anybody there?"
Shit. Skittery scrambled as fast as he could to bar the entrance of the doorway. The last thing he needed was for Jack to come barging in and find the leader of the Bronx taking a bath in his tub... It didn't help at all that she was a girl either..
"Skittery! What in the hell happened to you?!"
Skittery tried to look as casual as possible and leaned against the door frame so that his whole body, lean as it was, covered the entrance. "Ah..A few thugs..The riled me up a bit. Ten of em' actually.." Skittery explained, lying through his teeth.
"Dangit, Skittery,"
Skittery heard the muffled muttering of the desperate leader back behind him very faintly. He prayed that Jack hadn't heard it. Skittery tried to stall as long as humanly possible for him to do. He came up with a story, very quickly;
"Jack - You don't wanna go in there. Race Track, ya see, he came up here about 20 minutes ago - Just pukin' like crazy...And now the whole place is a mess..." Skittery began, going on and on about how the place was just covered in Race Tracks Puke. But then, his worst fears came alive. A familiar Italian Voice echoed up the stairs. Boy was he in for it...
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Post by Jack Kelly on Feb 21, 2008 17:40:59 GMT -5
"Ah..A few thugs..The riled me up a bit. Ten of em' actually.."
"Ten thugs," Jack repeated, not believing a word of it. More likely, Skittery had just taken a fall into a mud puddle and was just playing it up so he sounded like a hero and not a moron. "No kiddin'? Now where did ya come across ten thugs? Not pay someone back their dough again?" Jack was trying to get Skittery to tell him the real reason why all this happened. Plus...being covered with mud wasn't usually a side effect of getting soaked.
"Race Track, ya see, he came up here about 20 minutes ago - Just pukin' like crazy...And now the whole place is a mess..."
Skittery was interrupted by a voice from downstairs: "Outta all the corners in Manhattan, I pick the one where the freakin' morons hang out!"
Racetrack had just come into the Lodging House in a sour mood. He had wasted most of his time convincing a group of three men that the headline he had been hawking was actually in the paper. Which, this time, it acutally was. The three morons wouldn't budge until they had found the exact article Race was talking about, and even then they took about three years to find a penny to give him. After Race went through hell for hree lousy pennies, some other boneheads come around, insisting they had been gyped. For once, Race hadn't gyped anybody, and had a hell of a time convincing them.
He finally gave the rest of his papes to Crutchy, whom he met on his way back, and made his way back to the lodging house, looking bitter. He came in on time to hear Skittery mention his name and something to do with vomiting. As he climbed the stairs, he called up, "What about me? Skittery, if yer talkin' trash I'll..."
Race caught sight of Skittery, and his sentence went unfinsihed as gales of laughter escaped him. "What'd ya do?! Trip over yer own feet?!" Race exclaimed, finding the sight of Skittery covered in mud more hilarious than anything.
Jack, however, wasn't too amused. He cast a death glare at Skittery. "You was sayin'...?"
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Post by Skittery on Feb 22, 2008 2:20:05 GMT -5
"Ten thugs," "No kiddin'? Now where did ya come across ten thugs? Not pay someone back their dough again?"
Skittery ran a hand through his wavy hair sighing. "Ok, ya caught me. It was about 40 little kids and they tried to make me into a mud ball." Skittery said slowly. He was just getting himself in deeper and deeper...
"What about me? Skittery, if yer talkin' trash I'll..."
"What'd ya do?! Trip over yer own feet?!"
A look of shock passed over Skittery's face, but he quickly regained control of the situation.
"You was sayin'...?"
"Did I say Race? I meant all those kids are in there now and the place is a mess. I felt bad for em' ya know? They all got muddied and I felt the least I could do was let them wash while there was nobody here.." Skittery took a deep breath.
Mush came hurrying up the stairs, taking them about..5 at a time. He needed to use the bucket very badly, and was slightly enraged to see three people blocking his entry to the washroom.
"Heya guys - I really gotta go!" he said quickly with a look of pure agony on his face. He tried to go past Skittery, but Skittery slammed his hand into the opposite wall making a barricade.
"You cant go in there.." he muttered with a straight face. This situation was turning out much worse than he had planned.
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Post by Jack Kelly on Feb 22, 2008 9:30:13 GMT -5
"It was about 40 little kids and they tried to make me into a mud ball."
Jack could buy that, as much as he still thought Skittery was lying through his teeth. He asked Skittery pointedly, "Then why aren't you washing yourself off? Kloppman'll kill ya if you get mud anywhere else..." It was already tracked up the stairs and to the bathroom door, and a nice smudge was forming where Skittery stood.
"They all got muddied and I felt the least I could do was let them wash while there was nobody here.."
Every bit of Skittery's credibility vanished. "Lemme get this straight," Jack said, his face going stony again. "About forty no-good kids come and make a mess outta you...and you let all forty of 'em come to our lodgin' house to wash up..." Then there was the fact that Skittery had clearly told him Racetrack was in there with a sour stomach. "And you made a big deal outta tellin' me Race was in there, and..." Jack looked at Race.
Race glanced at Jack, and then turned to Skittery. "So what's goin' on here, eh?" he demanded. "Whatcha hidin' in there?" He couldn't imagine why Skittery wouldn't let anyone into the bathroom. A sudden thought came to him. "Skittery, ya bum! If you been makin' a damn mess outta the johnny closet again, we'll all come after ya!"
"Heya guys - I really gotta go!"
Mush had come barrelling in, looking miserable. Skittery slammed a hand against the door, blocking Mush's way. "You can't go in there..."
"Skittery!" Jack and Race said almost at the same time.
"What the hell's a'matter with you?!" Jack demanded.
Race guestued to Mush with an open hand. "Let the poor guy in!"
"You better tell us what's goin' on here, Skittery..." Jack said seriously. "It won't take much for us to push you aside and open the door, and I better know now if I won't like what I find..." Jack didn't much like to use the minimal authority that came with being a leader, especially on his own newsies, but sometimes it was necessary.
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Post by Skittery on Feb 22, 2008 11:32:51 GMT -5
Skittery was on the verge of answering all of the questions thrown at him, but was knocked to the floor by an impact sent by Mush's body in his rush to get to the bathroom.
He struggled up to his feet and dashed in behind Mush, who hadn't even seen Starsage, with Jack and Race at his heels. He saw that the curtain was still drawn, and figured she must be still in the tub. He mentally cursed in his head...
((Not really much I can say either..))
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Post by Jack Kelly on Feb 22, 2008 12:02:12 GMT -5
Mush barrelled into the bathroom, and Skittery bolted after him. With a quick glance at each other, Jack and Race ran in after them. The first thing Jack saw was the washtub full and the curtain drawn around it. The scattered pile of towels caught his eye next, and then a small pile of clothes. He noticed Starsage last, in a degree of undress. Quickly he cursed and looked away. "What the hell are you doing here...?" Jack demanded, a slight tone of embarassment tainting his voice.
The first thing Racetrack saw was Starsage. He almost said hello, before he realized she wasn't completely dressed. Race turned scarlet and looked at the floor. He coughed into the back of his and and looked pointedly at Skittery. "Skittery, if you don't think this don't need some explainin', you're dumber'n you look..."
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Post by Skittery on Feb 22, 2008 12:25:42 GMT -5
"Skittery, if you don't think this don't need some explainin', you're dumber'n you look..."
Skittery glared at Race and put his hands on his hips.
"Fine..." he said gruffly. "Star and me fell into some mud and I brought her here to clean up." he began, "It was my fault, and I didn't feel right just leavin' her in Manhattan covered in mud." he finished. He rubbed his head, and felt the rest of the mud coming off of his face. He must have looked awful.
"So, ahh..Who's up for some poker?" he asked trying to lighten the mood and get the attention off of the half naked Bronx Leader.
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Post by Anthony Higgins on Feb 22, 2008 12:36:44 GMT -5
"Uh, hi Jack."
Some answer, thought Jack. Starsage covered herself with a towel, and considering it safe (also not being one for modesty) Jack turned back to her and looked her in the eyes. "What's goin' on here?" he demanded. "Why did nobody tell me...and what're you doin' here in the first place?!" He was getting a little angry, and he tried to calm himself down. But what the hell had just happened..?
"It was my fault, and I didn't feel right just leavin' her in Manhattan covered in mud."
Jack looked at Skittery. "So you bring her here?! Without tellin' me?" Jack didn't have any animosity towards Starsage, but they weren't best friends, either. There was a code of conduct among the boroughs that was righter than law. And Jack, being headstrong, considered it a violation of his turf.
Racetrack had nothing to say. He looked from Jack to Skittery, and then at Starsage for half a second before remembering she wasn't decent and looking away again. Skittery said, "So, ahh..Who's up for some poker?"
Racetrack slapped Skittery upside the head. "Moron!" he exclaimed. "Keep ya mouth shut, will ya? Ya ain't makin' this any better..."
"Easy, Race," Jack said. He addressed Starsage. "We'll head outta here. You get dressed and meet us in the bunk room. And don't think'a runnin' outta here..." With a jerk of his head, Jack led the boys out of the washroom. Race walked after him, a look of slight disturbance on his face.
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Post by Skittery on Feb 22, 2008 12:51:43 GMT -5
(( I think it'll be easier to just say That they are in the bunkroom now, and keep it in one thread.  )) "Hey!" Skittery yelled as Race, in his normal fashion, smacked him upside the head. He rubbed the side of his jaw that was hit and clenched his jaw as he listened to Jacks rigorous speech. He sounded mad...Really mad... Skittery felt there was nothing else to do other than to follow Star, Jack and Race into the bunkroom. He shuffled his way in and sat down on the bunk opposite Jack and Race, Next to Star. Before Jack or Race could begin though, he raised his hands in surrender. "I swear - The only reason she was here is because we was close to the lodging house when we fell! There aint nothin' going on..." Skittery muttered in his defense. Mush came walking in looking very relieved. "Heya Star! Hows it going?" he asked cheerfully unaware of the situation. ((BRB you guys..)) |
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Post by Anthony Higgins on Feb 22, 2008 13:05:13 GMT -5
"I swear - The only reason she was here is because we was close to the lodging house when we fell! There aint nothin' going on..."
Race began snickering behind his hand. Skittery and Starsage with something going on was probably one of the funniest things he'd heard today. But his grin vanished when he realized Skittery, who was still covered in mud, had parked himself on Race's bunk. He yelled, "Get your muddy can off my bed, ya idiot!"
Jack gave Race a light hit on the shoulder. "Shuddit, Race..." He wasn't in the mood for anyone yelling at anyone else. He looked at Starsage, a serious look in his eye. "Ya mind tellin' me why I had no idea 'bout this?" He didn't blame Starsage personally. He blamed Skittery for the most part. Still, it was quite a shock finding the Bronx leader in your washroom...
"Heya Star! Hows it going?"
Race took one look at Mush, and bend his head into his hand. "My God, I'm surrounded..." he muttered, shaking his head. "Just...siddown, Mush, and don't talk too much, okay?"
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Post by Skittery on Feb 22, 2008 16:34:48 GMT -5
"Get your muddy can off my bed, ya idiot!"
Skittery scowled at his best friend who he loathed. Race Track could be so impossible sometimes.
"Shuddit, Race..." "Ya mind tellin' me why I had no idea 'bout this?"
"Well, we figured no one would be back..." "We didn't think it would result in this, honest."
Skittery listened clenching his teeth together. This wasn't going very well. "Yeah - what she said!" he added.
"My God, I'm surrounded..." "Just...siddown, Mush, and don't talk too much, okay?"
Mush, who was very startled at the unpleasant tone that his leader had taken with him and everyone else sitting there, shut his mouth and hopped up onto the bunk above Starsage and Skittery.
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Post by Anthony Higgins on Feb 22, 2008 18:17:55 GMT -5
Race caught the wink that Starsage sent his way, and he responded with a grin. The entire situation was still a little awkward, what with him having seen Starsage with less clothes than she usually wore, but he was glad she didn't overthink it. All he had to do was prevent himself from doing just that...
"Yeah - what she said!"
Jack glared at Skittery. "Who axed you?" he said with a sigh. This was looking up to be one of the days that everything Skittery did annoyed him. He looked at Starsage. "I know ya didn't mean nothin' by it. But if Race or Mush was in your washtub without you knowin' nothin'...well, what would you do?" Jack had the feeling that she would react differently than he had, but that was rather beside the point.
Race looked at Jack. "Keep me outta this, eh?" Racetrack said. He shifted in his seat as Mush settled himself on the bunk above where Starsage and Skittery sat. Race caught Mush's eye and gave him a look. This wasn't going anywhere good, the look said.
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Post by Skittery on Feb 23, 2008 4:07:41 GMT -5
Skittery continued to glare at Race Track. Jack didn't concern him at all anymore, it was Race that he was bugged by now. He almost seemed to have enjoyed the thought of Starsage in his tub...
After listening to "The Talk" and watching them all exchange these knowing glances without him, he suddenly felt a surge loneliness. It was as if they had all just ganged up against him, even after he had tried to help Starsage.
"Yeah, well, I see where I stand in this situation...I'm Outta hea'.." Skittery muttered and stood up. He grabbed his hat and shuffled out of the bunk room, still covered in mud, and still tracking it behind him as he went. Who cared about the mud anymore. As far as Skittery was concerned, he would care about the mud as much as his fellow Newsies cared about him. Zip.
As he made his way out onto the street, he thought about maybe disappearing for a while. Then maybe they would see just how much he DID contribute, rather than how much he made trouble. Yeah, that was what he'd do...
(Back in the bunk room)
Mush looked at Race Track quizzically when he looked at him. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. When Skittery walked out, he said, "Now look whatcha gone and done.."
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))