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kid-blinks-eyepatch · 1 month ago

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Blush

soulmate AU 🦇🧸♥️

-Blink-

I grit my teeth as I slid into Mush’s truck. He grinned at me. I glanced at him

“what?”

“tired?” he chuckled. I groaned and slumped down in the seat. Everything hurt and my muscles were trembling.

“yEs” I replied. he laughed and patted my hair gently. i glared at him and he laughed. I watched the teddy bear on his cheek move slightly as he grinned. I knew his mark by heart. It was a small teddy bear sitting upright, with one circle for an eye and a small x for the other. He yawned and glanced st me

“‘re you shakin?” he asked. I never really noticed his speech impediment much anymore. sometimes it was really prominent in words. I yawned

“stupid fucking conditioning cause stupid fucking Morris had to be a fucking asshole-“ I grumbled. Mush laughed, patting my hair again. I stuck out my tongue and yawned.

Mush dropped me off at my house and i waved goodbye to him as I half-limped inside.

“Louis?” My mom called

“Yeah its me” I said, peeking into the living room. She was on the couch, reading a boom “I’m gonna shower” I said. She nodded and I grabbed my bag from where id dropped it on the floor, taking it to my room. I threw it onto my bed and I followed, letting my trembling muscles rest for a second before i stood up. I grabbed a hoodie and sweatpants out of my closet and went to the bathroom. I shut the door and turned on the water. I pulled off my shirt and looked in the mirror. The black mark just below my collarbone stood out. A small bat. It was upside down and the way it was positioned it looked like it was hanging from my collarbone. I sighed softly as I saw the bruises forming on me. I grumbled under my breath

“stupid fucking Oscar” I growled, pulling off my jeans and boxers before getting in the shower. I ket out a low groan

“fuuuuck” I whined softly. It was the thirteenth. My birthday was tomorrow. My 17th birthday. and that meant I’d get my soulmates’ mark. I prayed it wouldn’t be obvious. I also prayed it wouldn’t be a boys if it was obvious. I wanted it to be Mush’s, bur at the same time i didn’t. I was scared that he wouldn’t want me. Not everyone believed in the soulmarks. but goddamn did i want it to be Mush.

I got out of the shower and pretty much inhaled dinner. My mom laughed

“you excited for your birthday?” she chuckled. I shrugged, not looking up from my plate

“kinda” I replied. My mom laughed and mussed my hair as she took mt plate

“Ma-“ I protested, getting up to help. she shook her head

“you go lie down- you’re still shaky” she laughed. I protested as she practically pushed me to my room. I laughed and gave her a hug

“gnight mom” I laughed. she kissed my forehead

“night Louie- dont stay up too late”

“I wont” I lied. she laughed.

——————

later that night i was watching a movie on my phone. I winced when i saw the time. 11:59. a minutes until id find out who i was supposed to be with. I sighed, rolling off my bed to look in the mirror. I stood and waited for what felt like an eternity. Eventually i felt a hot burning sensation on my cheek. I hissed and closed my eyes. It went away after a few seconds. Oh god it was on my cheek. oh god what was it. I slowly removed my hand from my cheek. I froze.

A teddy bear.

Sitting up.

one dot for an right eye

one x for a left eye

my hand flew to cover the mark. Itvwas warm to the touch. my phone buzzed. I looked. It was a happy birthday text from Mush. I smiled, my stomach doing a flip.

Mush: Happy birthday!! 🎁🎊🎉

Blink: im old like you now

Mush: whats your mark

Blink: uH

Mush: oooo you know them dont you???

Blink: ass

Blink: You wanna come over later snd see?

Mush: sure :D

Mush: Imma sleep now night night

Blink: gnight

I smiled nervously and laid down.

———yes another timeskip im a lazy writer ;P———

Mush flopped across the couch. i waved with my free hand. My left hand was over the mark on my cheek

“what’s your mark???” He asked

“what’s yours?” I replied. Mush shrugged and pulled his shirt collar down to display just below his collarbone. It was a bat. *my* bat. I felt myself redden as i moved my handy from my cheek. Mush stared at me

“Blink-“ He said, motioning between out cheeks. I pulled down my shirt collar to show him my collarbone. He stared at it. I looked down

“looo i know you-“

“Louis” He interrupted. My head snapped up to look at him

“Do you- is this something you wanna try?” he asked. I nodded. god more thsn fucking anything.

Mush grabbed me and pulled me close. oh my god his face was so close

“is this okay?” He asked softly. I nodded mutely and he kissed me. I kissed him. we kissed. I squeaked as he pushed me onto the couch. He pulled me so i was resting against his chest.

“this okay?” he asked. I nodded, wrapping my arms around him in a hug

“im happy you’re my soulmate” He said, pettinf my hair.

“me too!” I hummed, pulling his shirt down so i could kiss the bat. He laughed and kissed the teddy bear on my cheek. I squeaked at the sensation. I pressed my cheek to his, the bears against each other. he laughed

“I never took you as a cuddly guy” Mush laughed as i snuggled against him.

I stuck out my tongue at him snd he grinned.

“ass”

“you know ya like mine” he grinned, winking. I felt myself redden and buried my face in his chest.

“oh god i really do” I whined. He rubbed my back

“dont worry i like yours too” he laughed.

“whatever” I grumbled

“im happy your my soulmate Louis” He said, kissing my hair. I leaned up and kissed his nose

“im happy you’re my soulmate too” I grinned

#mb i know this ones shitty #but im in study hall rn #so #newsies #isaac writes #92sies #livesies #blink newsies #blink x mush #mush newsies #mush meyers #blush newsies

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make-friends-with-the-rats · 3 months ago

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i don’t know if you’ve done him yet, but thoughts on racetrack higgins :D

@iliketoomanyfandoms

ah, yes. the little gambling gremlin

How I feel about this character: 10/10. He's probably the most developed minor character in newsies (at least in 92sies) and I love how snarky he is. I can't decide if he's actually really good at gambling or if he just has some good luck every now and then. Because while there's the "nobody told the horse" bit, he dresses nicer than your average newsie so he's got to have made some considerable money at some point. Also I will always find it funny that of all the newsies, Racetrack is the one that David apparently trusts the most with his impressionable kid brother.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: As I've said in the past I'm not very big on shipping, but I do enjoy the Spot and Race dynamic. They are partners in crime (probably literally).

My non-romantic OTP for this character: I think I'd say Jack and Race! I haven't seen the stage musical version in a while, but in 92sies I love how close they are. They really are like brothers. And the fact that both Jack and Race seem to know Medda better than the other newsies could mean that Jack and Race have also known each other for longer (assuming Jack was telling the truth when he said that Medda knew his father). Also Kath and Race in Uksies specifically.

My unpopular opinion about this character: Racetrack is incredibly smart even if he doesn't always have the best luck at the races. In a modern setting, Race would he the kind of guy who studies quantum mechanics just for the heck of it. That said, he actually hates all math unless it can be directly applied to something tangible or useful. Hence why he'd prefer physics or statistics and probability to abstract algebra or other purely theoretical mathematics. Also, don't kill me, but after Max Castella I prefer Josh Barnett's Race (UK Race) to any other portrayal. I'm sorry but I feel like Race in the Bway/Live show was just there for comic relief...

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: I wish the connection between Race, Jack, and Medda had been explained/explored. It would have been interesting to have that little piece of backstory. And, as I briefly mentioned, I wish the stage adaption version of Race was played more seriously as a rule and not as an exception. Might be controversial, but I feel like 92sies Race's snark was projected onto Albert rather than retained by Race in the stage adaptation.

Thank you both for asking!!

ask game

characters answered: David Jacobs, Jack Kelly, Blink and Skittery, Bumlets and Swifty, Sarah Jacobs, Specs and Dutchy, Les Jacobs, Crutchie, Snitch and Itey, Mush Meyers, Spot Conlon

#an ask!#racetrack higgins #newsies #newsies 1992 #92sies #newsies uk

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ao3feed-newsies · 1 year ago

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Wakes Wakey

by, joysoglife by joysoglife How do newsies wake everyone up? Based on a fic by IdudiblyBoxedIn (honestly the whole series is) Words: 463, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 4 of Character thingz (newsies) Fandoms: Newsies (1992), Newsies - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: No - Character Relationships: Spot Conlon/Racetrack Higgins, David Jacobs/Jack Kelly, Kid Blink/Mush Meyers, Albert DaSilva/Finch (Newsies), Bumlets/Skittery (Newsies), Romeo/Specs (Newsies) Additional Tags: Italian Racetrack Higgins, Hispanic Spot Conlon, wake me up, Short, Everyone Is Gay, No beta we die like spots part in the musical, im continuing this? Yes, fluff ig, kloppman cares, Medda is a mom, Denton is a dad, (Separately), spot is there cuz he different, Nonbinary Character, Trans Racetrack Higgins, Trans Jack Kelly (Newsies), ok lets gooo, Character Study, ?? - Freeform read : https://ift.tt/iJAKDe5 - November 14, 2023 at 07:40PM

#AO3feed #newsies #fanfic #newsies fanfic

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heartsunholy · 4 years ago

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Albert: Okay...what are you guys doing today? Want to hang? Is that crazy? Is that strange?

Mush: That’s cool. Uh. Yeah, do you guys wanna, uh. I don’t, do you guys wanna...throw rocks in the river or something? Or...? What do we...do?

Albert: ...Did the river do something?

Mush: ...No?

Race: That sounds insane, Mush, that doesn’t, that, that doesn’t sound like an activity

Mush: Well, we usually hang out at the Pulitzer manor so I figured we’d just do something cause we can’t go to the manor cause Katherine’s out of town -

#the boys night one shot is wild i love my sons so much #albert dasilva » character study #mush meyers » character study #racetrack higgins » character study #also the fact that i made race fabian is hilarious because he's just as haughty and has a lot of baggage but is so poor

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poorguysheadisdoingwhatnow · 7 years ago

Conversation

In the Newsies groupchat

Crutchie: we have a week before finals should we study or party

Davey: Me studying for finals is a party, Crutchie.

Race: me drinking and partying is my studying

Sarah: I drink and party while I study

Mush: drinking during the exam too will help bring back memories of your study session

Smalls: who studies

Sarah: I do when I drink

Jack: drinking is my final jokes on you

#based off my trumpet gc of course #newsies #we only have like a week and a half before finals #better study hard #crutchie morris #david jacobs #racetrack higgins #sarah jacobs #mush meyers #smalls newsies #jack kelly #newsies groupchat

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softheartstm · 3 years ago

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tag drop 10/?

#( luna d'angelo ; in character )#( luna d'angelo ; mirror )#( luna d'angelo ; study )#( luna d'angelo ; headcanons )#( luna d'angelo ; aesthetic )#( melody andersen ; in character )#( melody andersen ; mirror )#( melody andersen ; study )#( melody andersen ; headcanons )#( melody andersen ; aesthetic )#(mush meyers ; in character )#(mush meyers ; mirror )#(mush meyers ; study )#(mush meyers ; headcanons )#(mush meyers ; aesthetic )#blog maintenance tag

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thatsit-thatsthepost · 4 years ago

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Play for me sometime?

Era: Modern Ship/Central Character(s): Buttons x Mush Words: 764 TW: none

~~~~~

Music. The way it both consumed him and freed him. It seemed to eat him up inside, attack everything about him he wished he could change. And yet it wrapped around him comfortingly, offering advice and giving him a chance to breathe, to do some good. It was these kinds of thoughts that led Benjamin - affectionately known as Buttons in many of his social circles - Davenport to return to the corner outside Jacobi’s Deli with his guitar and foot drum. He sometimes guessed that people were tired of him, but the generous tips - and free lunchtime drink from Jacobi - begged to differ.

“Morning.” He made a point to say hi to Jacobi. He figured it was the least he could do to pay him back for the drinks, and for clogging up his sidewalk every weekend.

“Ah, good morning, Ben.” Jacobi was a difficult man to read, often seeming upset when he was amused, or amused when he was angry. “Don’t know how long you’ll stay out today, those clouds are looking pretty mean.” The sky was grey, but Buttons shrugged.

“I’ll manage. I can always hide in here until it passes.” He grinned. So many of the local boys loved to hang out at Jacobi’s, and insisted on doing so even with no intention of ever actually eating there. With a wave he ducked back outside, a strong breeze ruffling his hair. He zipped his hoodie up the whole way and busied himself setting up all his equipment.

“Thank you so much.” He smiled as he played the last note and a woman tossed a few coins into his guitar case. She nodded and continued on her way. He strummed mindlessly for a moment, deciding what he wanted to play next, and was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the boy cross the street to stand in front of him.

“Hey.” Buttons snapped out of his stupor and smiled sheepishly.

“Hey.” He offered, still mindlessly strumming. No more was said, and Buttons did what he could to ignore the gaze of the scruffy-haired boy watching him as he continued to play.

The day wore on and the scruffy-haired boy sat himself down, leaning against the lamppost on the corner. Buttons strummed the last chord of his current favourite song to play, when the boy spoke up again.

“You’re pretty good.” He was still studying Buttons in a way that bordered on invasive, despite the fact that he was a good meter away.

“Thanks.” He smiled awkwardly. “I’m glad you think so.”

“You’re here a lot, as well. Don’t you have anywhere else to play?” The boy pressed on with his compliments. “Like, inside? Or at one of the other pubs or clubs?” Buttons couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Inside? No, I’m not… they don’t want me inside. I don’t have… I’m not near professional enough for real gigs.” He shook his head.

“You’re good enough though. And I should know.” The boy huffed as he dragged himself to his feet, brushing off his shorts. “I consider myself somewhat of a talent scout.”

“Really?” Buttons raised an eyebrow, and the boy nodded.

“Yep. I spend time looking for new acts.”

“Why? Like, you’re scouting talent, obviously, but for what?” Buttons couldn’t help asking.

“Oh, for my juke joint.” The boy must have caught Buttons look of surprise. “I mean, I don't have it yet, but I will someday. And when I do, I'll need occasional live acts.” He shrugged as though this should be obvious.

“Right...” Buttons responded hesitantly. A drop of water hit his head, and he looked up. Sure enough, the clouds had gotten greyer and heavier, and were starting to open and let the rain fall down. He jumped up and hurriedly started gathering his stuff. Without even asking, the scruffy-haired boy helped him with it. Everything was back in its case just as thunder rumbled and the rain really started to pour.

“I’m Bill. Here’s my card.” He handed over a neatly printed business card. “Give me a call, and maybe you can play for me sometime.” He waved and dashed across the street, narrowly avoiding an oncoming car. Buttons read the card with confused interest.

Bill ‘Mush’ Meyers - Talent Scout I know my stuff, so if you’ve got this card, you know you’re good! [email protected]

There was a number on the card as well, and Buttons shoved it into the pocket of his jeans, retreating back into the dry warmth of Jacobi’s, mind reeling with thoughts of the ‘talent scout’, Bill Meyers.

#Em writes words #newsies fanfic #ButtonMush stans come get ya'll's juice #they don't have a proper ship name yet #newsies

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jordmacwriting · 7 years ago

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Masterlist

Requests: CLOSED

Updated: 5/15/19

Things I write for/requests

How to get tagged

Posting Schedule

Prompts

Stranger Things

Steve Harrington

It Was All A Scheme

Goonies

Never Say Die Fic

Never Say Die Characters

Marvel

Peter Parker

Does He Know

FallingForYou

First Kisses

Forever Yours Fic

Part 1//Part 2//

Ghost Boy Fic

Part 1//Part 2//Part 3//Part 4//Part 5//

Part 4

Part 5

Heartbreak Girl

I Didn’t Choose This

I Love Her, Tony

Imagination

Kid In Love

Mask Off

Never Be Alone Fic

Only US

Prom Asks

School Library

Secrets Fic

Sorry, Wrong Person

The Whole World

Les Mis

Modern Les Mis

Tuck Everlasting

Miles Tuck

Jesse Tuck

Partner in Crime Fic

Mean Girls

Aaron Samuels

Kevin G

Marwan Jitla

Tyler Kimble

Competition

Masquerade

Stupid With Love Fic

Stupid With Love//Part 2//Part 3//Part 4//Part 5//Part 6//

Part 6

Requested Fic

Newsies

Friendsgiving

Halloween Horror Nights

Holidays with the Newsies

Modern Newsies

Modern Newsies Fam

Spooky Costumes

Romeo

Mush Meyers

The Creeps

Elmer Kasprzak:

Finch Cortes

Requested Fic

Crutchie Morris

Albert DaSilva

This Is Awkward

Requested Fic

Jack Kelly

Requested Fic

Spot Conlon

A Soft Spot

Cuddle Buddy

Cute Little Roommate

Dance With Me

I Promise, I’m Alright

Scary Movies Suck

Spot x Kelly!Reader

JoJo De La Guerra

Flower Thief

Hufflepuff Halloween

I Don’t Even Know Your Name

I Hate You...and Scary Movies

Marry Me?

Wanted

Davey Jacobs

A New Friend

Can We Dance

Dive

Embarrassed

Happier

Her Voice

Mosh Pits and Broken Noses

Nervous

No Need To Be Embarrassed

Not Your Fault

Oblivious

Study Break

Stupid With Love

To All Those I’ve Loved Before

August//September//October//November//December

October

November

December

What A Dork

Requested Fic

Racetrack Higgins

Anythin’

Are You Alright

Bad Pickup Lines

Beer Pong

Bracelet

Burning//Part 2//

Cain

Complete Strangers

Could You Be Any Closer

Did I Scare You

Firework Show

First Kiss

Happier

Good Kid

Halloween Horror Nights

Helpless

Hoodie

I’ll Stop When You Kiss Me

I’m Not Goin’ Anywhere

It’s Tradition

I Won’t Say I’m In Love

Jessie’s Girl

Knowing Me, Knowing You

New Years Eve

Peter Pan Kiss

Pikachu

Pride & Prejudice & Pulitizer

Prom Ditchers

Pulled//Crazier Than You

Race x Conlon!Reader

Race x Jacobs!Reader

Secret Love

She’s Not Afraid

So Annoying

Somebody Else

Someone In Brooklyn Misses You

Summer Break Fic

Summer Love

Talk Too Much

That’s My Kid Sister

This Girl

To Kiss A Girl

Truth or Dare

Wedding Crashers

Well....that’s tragic

Would You Cut It Out

You Scared

You’re Pretty Cute Doll//Part 2//

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pandolfo-malatesta · 7 years ago

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Once or twice on her walk Pauline wondered if maybe she ought to have asked Calvin to accompany her. But each time she bucked up her courage, squared her shoulders, and quickened her stride. Besides the pin in her hat, she’d tucked one in the folds of her skirt, just to be on the safe side.

Below the sign her footsteps wavered, just for a moment. Before she’d been with Calvin, not to mention Roman and Hana and Andy. But entering the Newsboys’ Lodging House alone, in the evening, seemed to skirt impropriety. She looked down at the steps, and, in doing so, noted the box in her hands, and her hesitation fled. She was carrying a package; clearly she was delivering something. Not a bit of harm in that. With a resolute nod she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

This time there was an older gentleman behind the counter in the lobby, a ledger splayed open before him. He glanced up over his glasses when she entered, then raised his head. “Good evenin’, young lady.” There was a note of surprise in his rusty voice. “Can I help you?”

Pauline nodded. “Yes, sir. Is Mush Meyers in? I have something to give him.”

He peered at her and the package in her hands, nodding. “So you do,” he muttered. Then he squinted past her, searching the lobby; she turned her head and saw that the room was empty save for the two of them. He sighed. “Never around when ya need ’em. I’ll see if he’s upstairs.” With a nod at the bench behind her suggesting that she stay put, he shuffled out from behind the counter and moved toward the stairs. No sooner had he disappeared from view did the door open to admit a pair of young men. The first was younger, with warm brown skin, but the next was a familiar blond. What was unfamiliar was the serious slant of his brow, the tightness in his jaw—until he noticed her. Blink cowered behind the other newsie, thrusting him forward with hands on his shoulders and ducking his head. “Hide me, Boots!” he hollered, volume contrary to his words. “I’m too young to die!”

The aforementioned Boots kept walking, tipping her a polite nod as he passed. “Evenin’, miss.” Pauline responded in kind. Unhurried, he signed his name in the ledger, dropped a coin in a box next to it, and crossed the lobby to the stairs.

Kid Blink, on the other hand, leaned against the counter, legs crossed at the ankle. “Shiv,” he greeted, grinning. Of course he knew about that. Letting him rile her would accomplish nothing, though, so she refused the impulse. “Blink.”

“Snoddy ain’t here,” he offered. Though a statement there was a question in it, a subtle search for information; she wasn’t willing to give away the reason for her visit just yet.

“I know.”

“Aha.” His grin grew smug and his thumbs hooked in his belt. “So ya came to see me.”

“Such confidence!” she laughed. If the truth were told, she rather admired him for it. “While spending time with you is always a delight, it’s not the reason I’m here. I came to drop something off for Mush.”

Not unpredictably, he pouted. “So Mush gets presents an’ not me? That ain’t fair. Not after all you’ve put me through.” One hand landed on his rear, as if he could still feel the sting of her hatpin there.

It was with some difficulty that she refrained from rolling her eyes. Instead she tipped the box toward him, displaying the seal with the shop’s name on it. Looking from the box to Blink with wide eyes, she said, “If I’d known you wanted something from the shop, I would have brought it. And I don’t even know your size!” She feigned dismay for a moment before stepping back to study him, a fingertip to her lips. “We just got a lovely lightweight Portuguese flannel, printed in rose and linen stripes with a pattern of tiny bouquets. It would suit you beautifully.”

Rather than retreat he played along, framing his jawline with his hands and fluttering his eyelashes. “Ya don’t think the rose’d make me look too pale?”

She stifled a laugh. “Quite the opposite! It would bring out the healthy glow in your cheeks. And it would make the most fetching top.” Maybe she’d have a shirtwaist made from it...

Her sartorial distraction was interrupted by footsteps flying down the stairs. Blink craned his neck and Pauline peered past him to see Mush, his face creased in a curious frown. It dissolved when he saw them. “Hi, Pauline!” He thumped Blink on the shoulder, beaming from his friend to her. Blink tensed briefly before patting Mush’s stomach. “When Kloppman said a young lady was here to see me I didn’t know who he was talkin’ about. What’re you doin’ here?”

The worry that she’d offend them returned. Not wanting to be seen as seeking praise for doing something decent she hadn’t consulted either Calvin or Hana about the idea; now she wished she had. From the tales Calvin told, life among the newsboys was governed by an unspoken code of honor. She gulped and offered the box, hoping that she was not about to breach that code. “I brought some things for Daisy. The new season’s stock is arriving, so we haven’t any room for the winter accessories, and since you said she liked looking at our things, I thought they’d find a good home with her,” she rambled.

Mush took the box only after wiping his hands on his pants. He didn’t look upset, she thought, and with his earnest face it ought to be easy enough to tell. “It’s just a few small things—scarves, ribbons, a pair of gloves.” Mostly things that anyone could use, regardless of size. There was also a handkerchief, butter yellow and scallop-edged; for it she’d paid full price, and then wheedled Henriette into adding a D and a few small white flowers.

“Really?” he said, a smile blossoming on his lips. She nodded, relieved. “Thanks, Pauline! It’s awful nice o’ ya.”

As she demurred, Mush’s eyes flew to the clock. “Still got time to get there before supper,” he said, before turning back to her. His face was aglow with eager goodwill. “Wanna come with me? That way you can give it to her in person.”

“Oh, no.” If she hadn’t already felt awkward about it, trying to explain to a stranger that she was just trying to do something nice would do the trick. “I need to be on my way. But I do hope Daisy likes them.”

Mush laughed, bright with excitement. “You kiddin’? This’ll make her day! Thanks,” he said again, tucking the box under one arm to shake her hand.

“It was my pleasure,” she said honestly. Then, grinning, he thumped Blink once more and rushed out the door, calling goodnight as he went. Blink’s expression was pensive in the ensuing vacuum left by Mush’s departure.

“I suppose I’ll be off now,” she said. It wasn’t late at all, but dinner was waiting at home.

Blink’s attention returned to her. “Do me a favor an’ let me walk ya home.”

She bit her lip, caught between not wanting to put him out and not wanting to make the trip alone in the swiftly descending twilight. “If you don’t mind...”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “An’ no funny business.”

“You mean you learned your lesson last time?” she teased.

“I was talkin’ about from you.” He smirked and she finally did roll her eyes. Together they walked out into Duane Street. The streets were busy as ever, noisy with New Yorkers and chilled by a wind up from the harbor. Blink slipped through the crowds with ease, but Pauline had been born and raised in this city, and kept close to him just as easily.

“Was that all true, about that stuff you brought?”

That uncomfortable feeling crept up between her shoulder blades again. “More or less,” she hedged.

He laughed softly. “More or less,” he repeated, glancing upward. “Guess it’s a good thing you’re a sweet kid, or else we’d all be in trouble.”

Ignoring the part where he called her a kid, she said, “I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere.” Then, after a moment’s consideration, she added, “Maybe more than one.”

“But who’s countin’, right?” She needn’t look to know he was smiling; it was evident in his voice. They walked along in companionable silence for a moment. Then, casually, he offered, “Say, Shiv, that shop o’ yours is filled with girls, ain’t it?”

It did not take a prodigious intellect to see where this line of questioning was headed. Again the idea of introducing him to Letty crossed her mind, and again she shooed it away. “Not your kind of girls, I’m afraid.”

He grinned cheekily. “Every girl’s my kind once or twice.” The way he tipped his head at her indicated that she should not consider herself absent from that sentiment.

“These girls,” and here she herself included, “want something that’ll last longer than that. Don’t you want to find a nice girl and settle down?”

He didn’t answer right away, instead kicking at a lingering, rubbish-studded heap of snow. After a moment he said, “You got lots o’ nice dresses, right? Ones that ya like?”

Caught off guard by the non sequitur she replied, “Yes, I suppose, but...”

“What if ya had to pick one an’ only wear that one for the rest of your life? How would ya feel about that?”

The idea nearly caused her physical pain, and she couldn’t keep from wincing. Eventually she managed to stammer, “It isn’t the same at all.”

He shrugged. “So it ain’t a perfect comparison. I saw your face; ya know what I mean.” Before she could argue the point he went on. “As far as settlin’ down... Do you ever want to get out o’ here?”

“Out of New York?” He nodded. “Certainly. I’d love to see Venice, and Bath, and Paris. Places I’ve read about that just seem so different from here.” The streets they were strolling lacked the elegance and mystery and romance of those far-off cities. For a moment she imagined exploring Europe with Calvin, taking the Grand Tour of the Continent the way heroines in novels did, wandering arm in arm with her beau through stately homes and stealing kisses in formal gardens. She tore her thoughts from such pleasurable possibilities to ask Blink, “What about you?”

“Yeah. Anywhere the tide takes me.” Such a romantic phrase sounded strange aloud, in his voice; it must have come from a dime novel. “Doesn’t matter, long as it’s away from here. All o’ this.” He swept a hand out, his lip curled in disgust.

“Including your friends?”

His whole body went taut at that, and his voice was just as tight. “They’d be alright,” he said, jerking his shoulders up and down once. “People leave. It happens. Nobody’d mind much.”

From the way all of the young men acted around each other, she didn’t believe he was telling the truth. “You don’t think Mush—what is his real name?” A ghost of a smirk lifted Blink's solemnity. “He, and Andy, and Calvin and Roman and Boots, would mind if you weren’t around. I bet there are even some pretty girls who’d miss you.”

“Some?” he repeated, his outrage, either feigned or genuine, weak. “Try hundreds.”

“I do beg your pardon.” She bobbed a little faux curtsy. “But my point is that people would notice if you left, and they’d miss you.”

They’d reached the building now, the place where she’d lived nearly all her life. The idea of leaving it without a second glance, of turning her back on Mother and Father and Hana, all of their neighbors, made her blood run cold. And the thought that no one would care if she did was simply unimaginable.

She mounted the first step up to the building and paused. Up there her mother would be ladling out their dinner, and her father would be washing up from work; she could only imagine what it would be like in the dining room at the lodging house. She turned. “Won’t you join us for dinner?”

His eyebrows shot up to disappear beneath the fringe of hair at his forehead. “Are you kiddin’?”

“Absolutely not. It would be a pleasure to have you as our guest.” And she meant every word, even though her mother’s curiosity afterward would be nigh well unbearable.

He gaped a moment longer before his jaw shut with an audible click. “What’sa matter, you ain’t done enough good deeds for the day?” he snapped. There it was: the censure she’d been afraid of, the anger she’d been waiting for all along. Her head dropped. She imagined he was thinking that she was no better than he and his friends were; how dare she act so condescending, doling out castoffs and inviting beggars to the table? In the corner of her vision she saw Blink jam his hands in his pockets, scowling at the ground.

At the sight of that expression, so fierce and undeserved, her fear turned to fury. “Heaven forbid anyone want to be nice to you,” she retorted. “Not everyone has ulterior motives to their every action, and I feel sorry for you if that’s all you can see.”

“Just one more reason to feel sorry for me, right?”

“The only reason! Oh, it’s so terrible being you, isn’t it, being handsome and charming and witty and hardworking, having all of those friends looking out for you?” She stabbed a finger back the way they came. “You could do so much with what you’ve been given, and what you’ve worked for, but you want to run away instead.”

He stepped forward until they were nearly nose-to-nose, his eyes blazing. “When’s the last time you had to decide between eatin’ and havin’ a bed for the night?” he demanded, voice still raised despite their proximity. “When’s the last time somebody crossed the street so they wouldn’t have to look at ya? I got plenty to run away from. I’m gettin’ too old for this, Pauline.” His fists flexed at his sides, and his breath came in quick pants. “What if it’s easier—better,” he corrected, “somewhere else? Then ya’d call me stupid for stayin’ here. How’m I s’posed to know if I don’t ever try?

“I can’t win either way. If I stay I’m too scared to try, an’ if I go I’m runnin’ away. So if you got all the answers, you tell me what to do.”

He was still angry and tense; if she were a boy, she thought, he would have hit her by now. But she didn’t think she was imagining the pleading in his eye as she met his stare in silence.

At length she said, “You’re right,” shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what it’s like for you. And if your heart is telling you to go, then it isn’t my place to tell you not to.” Any heroine in a novel would be rewarded for following her heart; maybe he would, too.

“I wasn’t trying to offend you—any of you,” she went on, “so please forgive me if I did.”

Blink stared at her for a long minute, one in which she could only conjecture at what was going through his head. “I shouldn’t’ve talked to ya like that,” he said at last, his voice gruff. “Guess I forgot you weren’t one of the fellas.”

It was so unexpected that it startled a laugh from her. “I’ll take that as a compliment. But you really must stop doing that, or my head will be so big I won’t be able to get inside.” She smiled, and was relieved to see his lips twitch upward, too. “I really would like it if you stayed to dinner,” she said a touch wistfully. “It would be fun.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “The boys’ll be waitin’. But thanks.” Without seeming to think about it he spat in his hand and extended it to her.

Her jaw dropped as she shuddered. “Louis Ballatt,” she said firmly, “that is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen.”

Despite his smirk there was a hard edge to his voice. “Lucky you.”

Between his remark and his challenging stare she had little choice. Pauline glanced over her shoulder, hoping that her mother’s call would save her from a slimy fate, but it was for naught. Drawing a deep breath she raised her hand just below her chin and spat gingerly in it; past her fingers she could see Blink looking delighted. Surely the whole lodging house would know about this before the day was done. Revolted now at herself as well as him, she stuck out her hand and tried her best not to wince as their palms met. She failed, of course, but squeezed his hand all the same.

The spark of triumph in his expression faded quickly, leaving a quieter satisfaction. Their hands were still pressed together but she missed him already. “See ya later, Shiv,” he said, warmer than she’d expected, than she deserved.

“You better,” she warned, “or I’ll hunt you down and turn you into a pincushion.”

He dropped her hand and gave her half a smile; then he adjusted his cap, stuck his hands in his pockets, and sauntered off into the night with a rolling shipboard gait.

#v New Yorku #The Adventures of Shiv Hermann #Pauline Hermann

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