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[newsie-collective]

Lorenzo "Itey" Mancini

Quickfire Favorites

Food: “Ma’s pasta. Anythin’ she would make wit’ it.”

Color: “Green! Blue! Uh… Buttons us’ly call it sea green.”

Season: “Uhh… I like the time ‘tween winter an’ spring.”

Weather: “I like when it’s rainin’ bu’ not stormin’.”

Hobby: “Sewin’ with Buttons an’ Ike an’ Snitch!”

Animal: “Penguins! I seen penguins when i’s sellin’ at the zoo once! ‘N me ‘n Mush sit in the library sometimes an’ read ‘bout ‘em.”

Memory: “Me favorite mem’ry? Movin’ Gio into the Lodge. Him was real excited to fin’lly get to stay with the rest o’ us. Medda ain’t trusted us ‘nough to watch ‘im through the night ‘fore him turned six.”

Comfort Item: “Me suspenders! Madre got ‘em for me when I firs’ got here!”

Big They/He vibes

A first-generation immigrant, Lorenzo is from a small town in Italy called Bussana Vecchia. 

There was an earthquake and tsunami in 1887, just after their birth, that caused the entire town to flee.

Itey's parents set sail for America, hoping to find safety and freedom there. 

They found nothing but prejudice and judgment. 

Even their son wasn't saved from the names thrown their way, being called Itey for most of their life outside of home.

Their parents were victims of hate. And, Lorenzo brought his toddler brother out of the house when they disappeared, knowing the rest of their family was too far away to be of any help.

The two of them snuck into Medda Larkin's Theatre, hoping to find a warm place to sleep.

Instead, they ran into Francis and Jack, who were heading out for the night, followed closely by Albert and Racetrack. The four older boys talked to the two scared kids, and decided to introduce them to Medda, and ask what to do.

Medda said she would help watch Giovanni during selling hours, but she had her own job to do, and that Itey would have to come and get him between morning and evening selling. 

And they did. 

Until Gio was old enough to hawk himself. Then, Gio moved in with the other newsies.

And, since the two of them had been in and out of the Lodge over the years, he was easily accepted into the group.

Now, the newsies had no idea that 'Itey' was meant as an insult when people threw it their way.

Couldn't imagine why anyone would need to insult this kid anyway, they were literally harmless. 

So, the nickname caught on, not even knowing that Itey wasn't their real name.

There weren't enough bunks for all of them, obviously, and so Gio shared with the younger newsies. 

Itey started bunking with Snitch.

And, at first it wasn't pretty. Arguing over space and blankets and clothes and who knows what else, but even if Snitch threatened to soak Itey if they so much as looked at him again, they never rose to the bait. 

Itey was being the best influence he could be to his baby brother.

And, soon enough, the arguing and fighting began to simmer. 

That simmer sparked a new heat between them.

They soon shared stolen kisses and whispered secrets during selling, or late into the night.

Itey calmed the angry fire that seemed to stay lit in Snitch. Until one day, there wasn't any anger left. It melted away like winter snow, and left Itey feeling proud of himself.

They have the biggest smile, and they love love, just like Mush.

Jeez, I love this lil enby. They're so fking adorable, and they just have the biggest smile, and they deserve the World.

They also deserve to smack Pulitzer at least once

This is 1/2 posts for today! We'll eventually get Romeo's all put together 😅

👻