#as someone who was in newsies a few years back

[justyourtypicalwriter]

Stan Marsh get out of here you Jack Kelly acting fuck

[sl-newsie]

American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 29: I Hope You're Happy

Masterlist: https://www.tumblr.com/sl-newsie/739551758747090944/american-woman-thomas-shelby-x-american-oc?source=share

Beep! Beep!

“Get a move on!”

“Watch it, toots!”

The streets of Brooklyn are one of the aspects of home that aren’t the best. But in a strange way the shouting brings a form of comfort to me. All these people, all different backgrounds, scrambling around to make a living. Bunches of people crammed into a giant city.

And the boat docks bring in even more people.

“Grace! Thomas! Hello!” I shout over the noise and wave them over away from the crowd. “Welcome to Brooklyn, where everyone sounds angry but they’re actually not… Most of the time.”

The sight of their joined hands makes my smile falter by a hair. Lovely engagement ring. Relax, Steenstra. You should be honored they chose your country for a holiday. 

“Hello, Verena.” Thomas smiles politely, scanning the bustling streets. “We’ve got one week here. Since this is your turf, what should we know?”

I can handle playing tour guide. “First, you need to see Lady Liberty. Prospect Park is good too. Also be careful in ‘Hattan ‘cause there’s construction for the new Rockefeller Center.”

The whole time I’m speaking Grace looks at me with confusion. “Did you know we were coming?”

“I spoke of it in the letter I sent,” Thomas answers for me.

Grace, still looking at me, nods. “I see.”

Message received. This is my home but I’m not welcomed to visiting with them. 

“You need to have a drink in Irishtown. Find The Wicked Monk, the best Irish pub on the East Coast. And stop by our joint if you want! Father would be happy to meet you.”

Grace doesn’t like that one bit.

“I’ll leave you to see the sights. I’ve gotta get back home to the shop. Tot ziens! Was good seeing you!”

Back into the bustling noise. Good. It will drown out my anger… By seeing people shout who are much angrier than I am. Now my own home, my used-to-be haven, is now stained with jealousy because of their voyage.

Two years later.

Words. Words. Words. The only thing linking me to the Shelbys. After Thomas and Grace went back to Birmingham I waited to hear back from someone. Anyone. Anything saying when they want me back. Nothing was said. Only a few letters describing their new happy lives and how the company is growing. Everyone is happy…

“Verena! Over here!”

And today is another reminder of the happiness I’m leaving behind. The wedding I hoped for but will never have. 

“Thomas! It’s been too long!” I greet as I haul my trunk off the train. “Oh my, you haven’t changed a bit!”

Same clean-shaven handsome face, same sharp suit. 

“And you look stunning, as usual,” the gangster smiles. “Welcome back to Birmingham.”

We start walking off the platform, no doubt to a car he has waiting for us. It’s so good to see him it's all I can do not to hug him. To look at those eyes.

“I won’t be staying too long, I don’t want to impose-”

“Nonsense. There’s plenty of room,” Thomas replies with ease. In the corner of my eye I see him looking. “You’re wearing your hair in braids?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”

“Guess not. ‘S just you’ve never done it before.”

“I do at home. Just thought I’d show some Dutch culture.”

Thomas chuckles. “You’re not going to start wearing clogs, are you?” 

I dramatically hold a hand up to stop him. “Heavens, no. That part of my heritage I can live without. But enough of me. How are you? This is a big day.”

A little enthusiasm doesn’t hurt. Despite my dislike for the given situation he still needs all the support he can get. I can tell his mind is in many places.

“‘M nervous,” Thomas says, anxiously rubbing his face. “But excited.”

“My brothers thought the exact same way on their wedding days.” With my free hand I give him a comforting pat on the back. “Don’t stress, it passes. Eoin nearly fainted on his wedding day.”

I was right. Today's car is a beautiful black Fiat 501. Thomas still spares no expense when it comes to his cars. He packs my luggage in the trunk and, like the gentleman he is, opens the door for me. A guts and glory gangster yet he still remembers how to treat a woman.

“Thanks for being here,” he says when we start driving. “Ada still doesn’t always see eye to eye with me and the boys just keep joking around.”

“Of course. Glad to be of service.” Time to throw on the American charm. “You’ve probably heard this multiple times but congratulations! These two years are up and now it’s time for you to tie the knot! It’s not every day one gets to witness an English wedding. Is it any different?”

The word ‘wedding’ throws Thomas’ smile off for a split second but the usual catch-up chatter resumes as we make our way out of town. We pass a sign that says Warwickshire. Apparently Thomas bought his own house and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t itching to see it. Maybe a quaint cottage with a nice horse barn-

Or a freaking mansion. That… That works too, I guess.

“Verena, welcome to Arrow House.”

‘House’ does little to describe it. This is an all-out mansion! Thomas’ castle. He drops me off to the front door and has a handyman drive the car away. I walk through the grand entrance and notice the gorgeous decorations for the special day.

A grand long table dressed in white, decorated with colorful flower centerpieces. They even brought out the best china. All around maids and waiters are scurrying to and fro, finishing the last-minute touches. Above the table is a giant portrait of Thomas holding the reins to one of his magnificent white horses.

“Like it? Got a good price for it.”

As much as I want to be glad for him I can’t help but think he’s using his wealth to compensate for happiness. I must be honest.

“This isn’t you, Thomas. All this money? Living like royalty?”

He walks us further into the house to the edge of a large staircase. “I’d say the family’s earned it.”

I shake my head with sympathy. “You can paint many pictures of yourself but you’re still Thomas Shelby. A simple life can be just as rewarding as an expensive one.”

But he’s amused by this. “Ah, Verena. Still philosophical as ever.”

There’s no use trying to change his mind. This is his world. He’s proud of it. We get to the top of the stairs and I see a familiar framed picture of Lady Liberty.

“I see you kept the picture from your trip.”

Thomas sees where I’m looking. “New York is a wild place. I don’t know how you grew up there.”

I quirk an eyebrow. “Birmingham is no tamer.”

Thomas smirks. “Touché. I did enjoy it, really. The Statue of Liberty was one of Grace’s favorites.”

“If you liked that then next time I’ll show you guys Niagara Falls. Gorgeous place.”

Thomas starts to reach for my hand. “Do you need help with your bags?”

I quickly pull away. “No no, it’s quite alright. This city girl can haul her own luggage.”

He shows me to a room at the end of the hall. A room so big it’s the size of our living room back home. Um, is this a good idea? Inviting another woman to stay in the house of a newly-married couple? I really should find somewhere else to stay. Grace will have my eyes if she sees me here.

“Is this alright?” Thomas asks.

“Thomas, this- The room is perfect. But I should really-”

“Great! I have to finish up some things downstairs. The wedding starts in one hour, I’ll arrange for someone to drive you.” He strides back down the hall.

“Wait!” I run to catch up and meet him at the top of the stairs. “I know my vote doesn’t count but I must say that I am very proud of what you’ve made of yourself. You’re not the same man I met all those years ago, Thomas. You’re a father. A husband. A legit businessman. May God smile upon your family today.”

This is probably the last time I can talk to him alone, and I really do want the Shelbys to be happy. Today is a day for good spirits.

“Verena, that… That means a lot,” Thomas says, looking up from a few stairs below. “Thank you. I-”

“Mr. Shelby!” A maid calls from the bottom.

“Be right there!” Thomas looks at me one last time before heading down. “I’ll see you later.”

Yes. Later. When he’s married.

“Wow. Royal in-laws? You’ve moved up in the world,” I comment as we drive by multiple uniformed men.

“It’s Grace’s relatives,” John says from up front. “Between us, I’m still not used to the uniforms. None of us are. They’re only here for her.”

“It’s good to have you here!” Finn says for the tenth time.

“It’s worth it to see you all. And Arthur, you look very handsome as the best man.”

The man driving us to the church smiles bashfully. “That’s nice of ya, Steenstra. I can’t wait for you to meet Linda. Will you be here for the toast?”

“No, no. I’ll be around for the reception.”

There’s already enough drama between the Shelbys and Grace’s family. I’ll only add to the mix. A quick congrats, a small drink, and I’ll pop out.

I’ll give it to the Brits, they sure know how to have a proper wedding. This church is marvelous! I take my seat next to Finn and see Polly waving from a few seats down. Such a welcoming reunion. If only it weren’t for this occasion. Thomas strides down the aisle, looking very handsome in his spiffy tux, and stands next to Arthur at the altar. The usual music begins and all eyes turn to the silhouette approaching from outside.

Oh my goodness… That dress! A gorgeous lavender if I ever did see one. And the veil… a cascade of purple lace. No wonder Thomas is so happy. Grace gets to the end of the aisle and Jeremiah approaches the couple.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have gathered here today to join these two together in holy matrimony. Thomas Michael Shelby and Grace Helen Burgess.”

I try to keep listening but my mind wanders elsewhere. He chose her. Not me. I’m the one keeping myself trapped in this world. I chose to come back. It’s my fault for feeling this way. But it’s fine. Isn’t it?

Same routine as all my brothers’ weddings. I do, I do, kiss the bride, cheers. What’s different about this wedding is that the cheers seem one-sided. All of Thomas’ family jumps to their feet and shouts with delight, while the other side remains seated and claps. Thankfully Finn sees my discomfort and drags me outside. Everyone files out after us. The bouquet is tossed and all the single women scramble to wrestle over it.

“Fight! Fight! Fight!” Finn and I chant.

“Verena, are you edging them on?” John asks.

I smile sheepishly. “Only a little.”

“Why don’t you try?” Finn asks.

I scoff at his attempt at a joke. “Oh, please. I hardly believe in such superstitious nonsense.”

“Says the woman who won’t sleep without a cross above the bed.”

“Hey! It’s religious, not superstitious.”

Finn shrugs. “Maybe there’s a blend?”

Thomas shouts for everyone to gather and a photographer readies himself in front.

“Go on, take the photograph!” Arthur says.

I’m pushed to the side by Grace’s family and before I can protest the camera flashes. Everyone’s thinking it. I don’t belong here. I could have refused. The only reason I decided to attend was to support Thomas and his family. But she’s part of their family now and more than likely I won't be welcomed as often. 

Oh, my mistake. Pair the gossiping barmaid with the blood-thirsty gangster? They’re perfect for each other! He’s married. It’s done. I can’t have him. I need to let him go.

@meadows5

[ftm-megamind]

jack being so unused to stability in his life that he kind of doubts david's love at first.. not that he isn't absolutely head over heels himself, he adores david and craves nothing else besides his love, but he just thinks that david will eventually move on. after all, david is so brilliant and handsome and has so many better choices than jack, and jack is just an orphan selling newspapers with nothing but fantasies to his name. so jack decides to simply savor their relationship while it lasts. and the fear of their inevitable break-up looms over him, like a damocles' sword dangling above his head just waiting for david's simple confession. but then time passes. david goes back to school when mayer finds a job, and even then, he never forgets about jack--they see each other less often, but when they do, it's as if david tries to make up for all their lost time, kissing and hugging jack more tenderly, reminding the boy of his feelings more often, always asking jack about how he's been for the past few days. jack still braces. but then more time passes. david graduates high school (jack is *so* proud) and tries to look for a job, just like jack, who is officially too old to be a newsie any longer, and even though david is stressed because adult life is hard and a lot people have rejected his offers, he still makes time for jack, still acts as if he isn't about to find someone better for himself. but more time passes, again. david moves out and into his own apartment, and he says that he wants jack to move in with him, so that they can live together as "bachelors," because that much isn't suspicious. sometimes, after work, when jack comes back to their shared home after a long shift at the docks, he's half-prepared to find his stuff packed and david telling him that he's kicked out, but that never happens--instead, david always waits for jack with warm dinner and warm tea and humming a soft tune, and after they catch up for the day and eat dinner, they cuddle up, or simply spend time in the same room, even if they're doing different tasks. and as even more time passes, after all these years, jack realizes that his fear has died down, and it's because he finally understood that david isn't going to break up with him. that every single "i love you" and every single kiss and every single touch and every single gaze was genuine and full of undying love. and jack feels so happy. because david gave him stability. and it took so long for it to dawn on jack, but david never ceased, never gave up, despite jack's obvious quirks and flaws--he always loved jack (and always will) for who he is, with all his heart. is this anything .

[bumlets-appreciation-blog]

Loving A Heroine

A/N: This is not Newsies-related whatsoever but it's something I've been thinking about for a long time. The "Male Hero, Female Civilian" has been a staple in comic books for a long time and I feel like the inverse isn't given as much thought. Most female heroes end up in long-term relationships with other heroes but we don't get a lot of Lois Lane-esque love interests. I didn't really have a specific character in mind when I started but as I was writing it, I kind of started thinking about Stephanie Brown/Batgirl. I mostly wrote this to try something new but I do hope you guys like it!

You didn’t see it when you met her but looking back it was obvious: her calloused fingers and scarred knuckles as you shook hands for the first time, the way her restless eyes clocked every exit point in the restaurant before your drinks had even arrived, the grace in her step and power in the set of her shoulders as she walked in that had left you breathless.

She didn’t talk much about herself that night, sidestepping personal questions in a way that suggested nerves instead of forethought and her lips had quirked up in a beautifully sardonic grin when she admitted that she didn’t date much. You were completely infatuated by the time your food had arrived and half in love by the time she kissed your cheek after you walked her to her car. You didn’t know what it was at the time but you knew you needed to see that girl again.

She kissed you for the first time after your third date, her fingers tangled in your hair and your hands cupping her face. One of your pinkies had rested on the side of her neck, directly over a thin puckered line you recognized as a scar. She’d mentioned that she had scars and you had even seen a few but this was the first time you ever touched one and it made the moment even more intimate.

Time melted into days and nights spent together until it was six months later and she’d carved herself into your soul. She was a little flighty and more than a little forgetful, showing up late and breathless more often than not and sometimes even canceling completely but she always apologized and only missed a rescheduled rendezvous twice. She almost always fell asleep during movie nights and would wake up gasping for air or crying out in anguish. She refused to talk about it and broke your heart a little every time she did.

It wasn’t until almost a year had passed that you found out how she spent her nights, about the lives she’s saved and the burden she carried on her shoulders. Someone had found out who she was and what you meant to her but thankfully she was there, your knight in black leather and Kevlar. She’d brought you back to her place that night and the truth came spilling from her like a raging river. The tragedies that had shaped her, the day she chose to don her mask, the stories behind every scar that etched the canvas of her body.

Vulnerability had never come easily to her but that night she’d been a raw nerve, an open wound gushing with all of the pain she’d kept inside. The fragility in her eyes when she told you that she understood if you didn’t want to see her anymore had pierced your heart with a stinging pain but the relief in her eyes when you told her that you wanted to stay had soothed the ache.

“It’ll be dangerous,” she’d said, her voice soft and unsure.

“I know,” you’d replied. “I love you and I think you're worth it.”

Things became easier and more difficult at the same time, the understanding between the two of you filling you with both pride and fear. Her tardiness didn’t elicit the same fond exasperation it once had but instead the sharp pains of terror at the thought of her lying dead in some alleyway. She still fell asleep during movies and jolted awake from nightmares but she told you about them now, about the loss of her parents and the people she couldn’t save.

She’d wake you up when she crawled into the bed you shared at two, three, sometimes four in the morning but she never fell asleep until she was curled into your arms. Sometimes you’d wake up and find her in the bathroom, swearing under her breath as she tried to tend to a wound. You started taking first-aid classes after the second time and she started cutting the tension with sexy nurse jokes every time you patched her up.

It didn’t always work and you fought about her night job more often than you would’ve liked but you did what you could to accept it. Even though you loved her so much that the thought of losing her left you half mad with worry, what she did was such an intrinsic part of her that you couldn’t imagine her any other way.

 So you patched her up on her bad nights and washed the blood from her body when she was too injured to do it herself. You held her when she cried over a nightmare or another soul she couldn’t save and kissed her scars, from the long, thin wounds from knives and the raised circles from bullets, because you couldn’t take them away but maybe your love could heal at least some of the emotional pain that lingered.

You chose to love her in all of her righteous fury and fiery passion. Her steely glares and sun-bright smiles. Her bruised, scarred body and her stubborn, hopeful heart. The ferocious way she fought and the gentle way she loved. The way she always, always stood back up, with blood in her teeth and bruises blossoming across her knuckles, a half-feral grin on her face as she declared, “I can do this all day.”

She’d told you once, “I won’t turn my back on people. Not when they need help and I can give it to them.”

“And I won’t turn my back on you.”

[blurglesmurfklaine]

hi hello tell me more about spiderman davey.

SO GLAD YOU ASKED AHHH

*miles morales voice* Let’s do this one last time:

At the end of the year of his Junior year in high school, students with the highest science and math grades get invited to a field trip to see Oscorp or whatever the newsies equivalent of that would be (I don’t have all the answers unfortunately) and Davey goes and gets bitten by a spider blah blah we KNOW the deal

The summer before Senior Year is uneventful, just hot lazy days spent saving for college, working at Mr. Jacobi's bodega-slash-deli with his best friend Jack Kelly (who have been inseperable since the sixth grade) (if Davey has been secretly in love with him for as long as he can remember THAT IS HIS BUSINESS), Oh, and branching out into vigilantism, saving the city from imminent danger and petty crime, figuring out his new powers, etc. ya know, the ush.

The fall semester rolls around and Davey's friends have made their opinions on the friendly nieghorhood spiderman very clear. Katherine loves anything her dad hates, on principal, and thinks the articles he writes trying to paint him as a villain are distasteful. Race thinks Spider-Man is badass. Charlie admires the heroics. Most surprisingly, though, Jack isn't his biggest fan because "I kick some guys ass for beating on Charlie and I could get sent to juvie. He does it and he's a hero?"

Davey tries to stay neutral about it all because duh he's spiderman and no one can know. When Oscar and Morris push him around he obvs COULD take any of them to the floor but he wouldn't because he doesn't want to draw attention to himself. (Jack, after Oscar pushes Davey into the lockers: TRY THAT AGAIN AND YOU'LL BE SEEING THROUGH A BLACK EYE BIIIITCH)

One day they're at Mr. Jacobi's. Davey is at the register while Jack stocks up. Davey's spidey-senses go off and he asks Jack to cover for him for a bit. Jack is wary because Davey's been... off and unusually disfocused, flaky these past few weeks, but he's come to expect it. So he agrees. Davey goes off to fight some super down the road or smth and in his absence, Jack gets robbed.

Davey returns to work to see a stranger pointing a gun at Jack and swings into action (literally) and saves Jack as Spider Man.

Spider Man leaves before Jack can properly thank him and wouldn't you know it Davey is suddenly back on the scene and "Oh my GOD you got ROBBED?? Are you oka--WAIT THE SPIDERMAN SAVED YOU?"

And suddenly Jack has changed his tune when it comes to Manhattan's fave super hero.

Which. If Davey's being honest, he doesn't mind hearing Jack gush about him at length (even is he doesn't know it's... him). Davey kind of likes listening to Jack's ravings of "Oh he was so funny, actually. You'd think someone like that would have an ego but he was actually so humble?? God, and he's TALL--the pictures I get of him for The World don't do him justice." He doesn't mind it.

At first.

Because as we all know, when Jack Kelly puts his mind to something he will NOT shut the fuck up about it and he has been dead set on trying to meet spiderman again so he can "thank the guy properly". In fact, Jack's dumbass has been so distracted by his infatuation with spiderman that he's been walking into traffic, taking wrong turns on his walk home and ending up in dicey neighborhoods, and thank GOD Davey's always with him to prevent disaster because--

"Wait a second. Are you TRYING to get into trouble so spiderman will come and save you again?"

"ppppssshhh whaaaat? No! That's stupid--"

(that is 100% what Jack is doing.) (It doesn't work. For obvious reasons.)

And Davey laughs in disbelief like "I can't with you. Be safe on your shift. I'll see you tomorrow." BUT HOHOHOOOOO my boy has PLANS and you will NEVER GUESS who the fuck shows up to Jack's shift at Mr. Jacobi's that evening? Yeah it's spiderman.

Jack thanks him and they get to talking "Thanks for what you did. Not every day the guy you spent the last six months shit talking saves your ass."

Davey Jacobs can't stick up for himself at school, for fear of being found out. Even before that, he could never find the nerve to fight back to the Delancey brothers, or to tell Jack how he really felt. But with when he puts the mask on? Hoooooo boiiii he has the freedom to be the version of himself he;s always wanted to be: he's witty against these idiot villains and charismatic with the people he saves. So with his newfound courage he says:

"Not every day I save someone as handsome as you."

And that's where Davey went wrong because if Jack was annoying before, he's INSUFFERABLE now, and their lunch table can't go a single day without Jack bringing up his date that wasn't a date with spiderman and Race insinuates Jack might have a little crush and Davey snaps: "Can we please just shut up about that stupid bug?"

and it's Race, who is a little shit, so he smirks. "I though you liked old spidey?"

"in moderation."

and now Davey is jealous of himself. which is totally fun and enjoyable and not miserable at all.

Despite wishing he had the strength to be the person he was behind the mask without it, Davey finds himself visiting Mr. Jacobi's as spiderman more and more often, just to hang out with Jack. He loves it, because he loves Jack. But it's also sort of sad in a sense because he realizes in the half a year he's spent being spiderman, he hasn't had time to be a kid. To spend time running the school newspaper with Katherine. To sit on the rooftop of Davey's apartment with Jack and watch the city below them and talk about their future--about the apartment they're going to get together one day, where Davey will write for one of the local newspapers and Jack will fill the walls with his art.

And as much as he loves spending time with jack as spiderman, he can't help but mourn the loss of the little he gets with him as Davey. He can't help but notice the growing distance, and it's all his fault. HIs grades are slipping, he's losing his best friend, and honestly, he isn't even sure he's really making a notable difference in the city. And even though Davey's wearing a literal mask, Jack has always been able to see right though him.

"What's wrong?"

And Davey tries to lie. "Nothing."

"You know, you remind me of my best friend."

"How so?"

"He's a terrible liar, too."

And Davey lets it out--in his own, vague way. "I just... I've got the--powers. The suit. The mask. But underneath it all... I don't feel like much of a hero. When I go home tonight, I'm still going to be just an idiot kid who is way in over his head."

And that's when Jack takes spiderman by the hand and leads him to the alley behind the deli. "I wanna show you something."

and Davey's breath catches in his throat at the mural before him--spiderman with a million colors dancing around his silhouette. And Jack takes Davey's gloved hands. "You might not agree, but this is how New York sees you. How I see you." And Davey is SO overwhelmed he tries to run away but Jack grabs his hand, pulls him close, slides his hands under the bottom of his mask--

"I--" Davey tries to protest.

"Don't worry," Jack assures him. "I ain't gonna take it off, I just... If I don't do this I'm gonna regret it for the rest of my life."

And then Jack slides Davey's mask up to his nose and kisses him.

"Well don't you just look like the cat that caught the canary," Katherine says to Davey at the courtyard the next morning. "You finally tell Jack you're in love with him."

Davey rolls his eyes. "Sure. And I also found the holy grail this morning before school."

"Okay, strike one for me. No to the feelings. You finally tell him you're spiderman?"

"I mean, I've thought about it, but at this point I think it'd do more harm than--" and then Davey realizes. He looks at Kath, who looks just as surprised as he does.

"Hoooooly shit. I mean... I thought--you're always running off, and at the football game when that sand guy--no one could find you, but you're actually--!"

He claps a hand over her mouth. "Don't tell Jack."

and tbh that's all that I've got BUT other misc stuff I figure:

Medda would be the Uncle Ben character (which PAINS me, but could also tie in to Jack's waryness of spiderman??)

Jack works for The World as a photographer, but after developing his crush convinces Pulitzer to let him take pictures of spiderman

There's a Big Bad B-Plot but idk what lmao

ANGST!! Davey being sad about Jack being in love with SpiderMan but not with Davey because my boy would overthink the SHIT out of this

A conversation between SpiderMan and Jack where Jack brings up Davey "Davey's my... We're best friends." "And... that's all?" (is jack BLUSHING???) "I uh, it's not like that. We... I love him to death, but he's been so. Weird lately. Pulling away. I wanna talk to him, but. He ain't like me. He's smart. He's going to college. He's the greatest guy I know, but... guys like me don't end up with guys like him." cue more Davey overthinking

Katherine, after finding out, becomes Davey's "guy in the chair"

Katherine and Davey get secretive bc. hero shit. and Jack thinks they're secretly dating "You know, Davey... If you and Kath are in love, you can tell me" Davey: ????? "What gives you that impression?" "You two are always sneaking off. It's pretty obvious." "I--no. it's not like that at all--" "Well it sure seems like that" "Why do you even care? Aren't you going steady with the bug guy?" "His name is--" "You don't even know his name! You don't know the first thing about this guy and you're mooning over him like some fanboy." "Yeah, well I know he's there when I need him!" "What's that supposed to mean?" "Don't act like you don't know. Like you haven't spent the last few months prepping to leave me here, while you're over in princeton or yale or wherever the hell you're going off to." "The fact that you think I could ever go on without you-- Jack how do you not know..." "Not know what?" "Nothing..."

Eventually Big Bad would find out Davey's identity and use Jack against him and there's a Big Battle at the end where Jack has to watch spiderman get the crap kicked out of him and the mask slowly falls off and when Jack realizes it's Davey he just LOSES IT

I have no idea how this ends :)

THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR NOW FOLKS

[piedoesnotequalpi]

2024 Fic Writer End of Year Roundup

Thanks for tagging me @somanywords! Sorry it took a minute to respond. Anyway, I am currently in a state of wanting to write but being exhausted due to post-juggling festival collapse + bad sleep, so I will talk about writing instead of actually writing! Anyway @agentsnickers @we-are-inevitable @chair-in-a-ditch if you would also like to do this feel free to join in!

How many words did you publish on AO3 in 2024?

AO3 tried to claim 207,722 words, but that felt inaccurate so I double-checked and it turns out AO3 was counting the entirety of HIWB towards 2024 so I checked the word count from the back half of HIWB in the document and I posted about 108,144 words to AO3 this year!

2. How many fics did you complete this year?

10, apparently (of wildly varying lengths)! Unfortunately the juggling AU is still not complete :(

3. How many in progress or ongoing fics did you start this year?

4, I think? I have the juggling au, the camp au, and two bachelorette one-shots that may or may not end up being finished (one is more likely than the other, but it needs some revision to make the plot more cohesive).

4. What was your favorite thing you wrote?

Excluding HIWB/the bachelorette au, probably It turns my head inside out, which features high school age UKsies Sprace realizing they're both bi! I had so much fun with UKsies Spot and leaning into the Vermont of it all.

5. What piece was your most experimental or different from your usual style?

There are a few, for various reasons: give me years (and i'll want more time) for the sole reason that it is my second-ever non-Newsies fic (outside of my cursed English class Shakespeare mashup, that is); all dressed up for someone you never see since it was my first venture into present tense in a while and was a series of fairly introspective vignettes; and Got these itchy feet for a change of scene since it was not focused on any sort of interpersonal relationship and also was outside my usual preferred genre.

6. Did any fics surprise you - either while writing or their reception?

Reception: Be a little boulder. People really liked it!

While writing: I've mentioned this before, but in the Men Tell All chapter of HIWB I was writing a scene between Spot and Race and they kind of took on minds of their own and I didn't realize until I looked at the page and realized that what I had to write next was very much not what I had planned.

7. Do you have a fic you wrote and loved that went under the radar? (This is your sign to reblog/repost it!)

(sling)shot through the heart! It was for last winter's fic exchange, and it was not necessarily a broadly appealing fic (i.e. it is focused on a less commonly written platonic relationship), but I had fun writing it and the person I was writing for really appreciated it.

8. Who is an artist that inspired you?

@agentsnickers' Clarence Plumber art lives rent-free in my head tbh. I am never not thinking about him and also about Katherine and her relationship to gender and gender presentation.

9. Who is an author that inspired you?

Uhhhh I do not know if I have a good answer for this unfortunately :(

10. Who is a new author you discovered?

I started reading 911 fic this year, so some authors there? I've been really enjoying lesbianrobin's fic second child, restless child, and I've also read so much of letmetellyouaboutmyfeels' backlog of 911 fic.

11. Did you do any collaborations? How did it start?

@echofive7567 was the artist I worked with for the Newsies mini bang, so yes! I did technically do a collaboration! Also, Finn and Alex continue to contribute brain cells to the very important cause that is me writing my silly gay fanfiction when it comes to figuring out plot points and such.

12. What accomplishments are you proudest of?

Finishing How It Will Be! It is over 150,000 words! It was my first time writing a throuple! I wrote a rarepair! I balanced a very large cast of characters! I researched locations and flight schedules and activities! I wrote some very dramatic fight scenes! And people seemed to like it!

A smaller thing I'm proud of is that I have written 1/5 of the fics in the Crutchie/Albert tag on AO3 >:)

13. What did you learn about writing or creating this year?

It's okay to write slowly. After finishing the bachelorette au at a rate of about one chapter/month (where most of the chapters were over 10,000 words), I'm pretty tired.

14. Any advice you'd like to share with new or aspiring writers?

I know a lot of my writing friends are pantsers rather than planners, so they might disagree with me, but if you're writing something that is a) multichapter and/or b) over about 10,000 words, PLAN👏YOUR👏FIC👏OUT👏 (at least a little bit). I cannot tell you how many times I've lost steam because I knew how it started and knew how it ended but could not figure out what happened in the middle. You don't have to be like me (My multichapter fics have several tables involved to keep track of chapters/separate plotlines/POVs/dates/characters/god knows what else) or the one author whose event I went to that said she uses Microsoft Excel to plan her novels, but like. figure out some of what goes on in the middle of the story?

My less controversial advice is to 1) read your dialogue out loud when you're editing, and 2) use paragraph breaks early and often.

15. What are your creative goals for 2025?

Finish the juggling au! Maybe finish the camp au! Write something set in canon era! Maybe do something for that NTMD challenge I reblogged! The world is my fancy clam with the pearl inside!

[thedramaticgazette]

I saw the first ever preview of Great Gatsby on Broadway. Here are my (pretty negative) thoughts.

Before I begin, I am just writing this for fun. This is not serious, and it's all my own opinion. We're all entitled to our own. I go on tangents as well so know this is more than a review. If you'd like to read more reviews, I try to upload once a week. ALSO THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

On Friday, March 29th, 2024 I went to see The Great Gatsby on Broadway. It was their first preview, first time ever on a Broadway stage with a paying audience. My friend and I went, bought tickets the moment they went on sale. We sat back orchestra, not to the wall but close. Despite it's hype...it was a tad underwhelming.

_________________________________________________

Let's discuss the Headliners.

The show is commercialized as "Featuring Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada" which I understand is to rake in revenue necessary to keep the show running, but I hate when shows do that. I feel like it takes away from the work and talent of everyone else involved in the cast. Jeremy Jordan is a Broadway phenomenon, almost everyone knows his name. He is best known for his role as Jack Kelly in Newsies, but has since then gone on to do a ton of projects and concerts including the Greatest Showman's workshop, where he so famously discusses at a concert of his how he lost the role to Zac Efron. He's been in Little Shop Off-Broadway, which I had the pleasure of seeing him in and will definitely post a review of because it was a breathtaking performance from everyone involved but - I digress. My point is that everyone loves Jeremy Jordan. He is placed on this pedestal above everyone else, a renowned Broadway actor. He plays the leading man, Jay Gatsby, who has been in love with one Daisy Fay, now Daisy Buchanan, since they met years before when he was about to leave for war. Daisy is played by Eva Noblezada, a Broadway superstar best known for her role as Euridyce in Hadestown, or as superfans know her, as Kim in Miss Saigon. I had the pleasure of meeting both, Eva as she snuck out of a different stage door as the mob at the actual stage door was panic attack inducing, where she thanked us for coming and we chatted for a few. I met Jeremy after a Little Shop performance back in August, and he was one of the douchiest men I have ever met in my life.

And let me preface this all by saying that I cannot imagine how annoying it must be to feel like you have to be "on" all the time for people. Like you're an enigma people just want to look at, and all. I don't know a thing about showbiz. I do know, however, that it isn't too hard to be kind.

I cannot imagine how annoying it is to stage door all the time - to have so much privacy ripped away when you are as renowned as you are in the theater world - a world that so famously does not understand boundaries. But would it fucking KILL YOU to be the teensiest bit kind? Jordan threw my pen back at me after we met, barely signing my playbill. It looked like a chore to be out there, and there were only about 20 of us waiting at stage door that day. I assume, and this is coming from someone who knows next to nothing, that he doesn't HAVE to do stage door. If I'm wrong, ignore everything above. But if it's his choice, then don't fucking come out! I'd rather not meet someone if they're going to be rude than meet someone who makes me feel like it's annoying that I'm there.

All that being said, Jeremy's voice is no doubt superb. It's soft but passionate and I could listen to it for hours. He does, however, lack any wow factor when it comes to acting this role. He is able to reach in and become the character when he sings, but during speaking scenes I felt like I was watching a bad high schooler. Also, here's a game you can play if you go to see it. TAKE A FUCKING SHOT every time Jeremy Jordan says the term "Old Sport" in the show. You'll have alcohol poisoning by the end of it. I understand we wanted accuracy from the book and that that phrase has a lot of meaning for Gatsby's character but MAN the way Jordan says it made me want to swallow a pair of jorts or something.

Noblezada has a voice clearer than the seas in the Caribbean. It cuts like glass. She is an incredible performer, every note looks and sounds effortless. She did, in my opinion (and who the fuck am i, really) act Daisy much like she did Eurydice though. Her performance is lovely, per usual at the center of it all.

The letdowns.

Woof. First I'll start with Paul Whitty. Good fucking lord. What the hell??? How was he the choice for George Wilson. His voice wasn't as bad as someone else's who I'll discuss further down, but I mean. No one else? Really? Is no one searching in the casting calls that 200 people are in line for almost every week? His songs were lackluster and felt like an afterthought, space that needed filling. Second, I'm a huge fan of Eric Anderson, I saw him many times in the 394790173493 times I've gone to see Moulin Rouge on Broadway, and he was fantastic every time (per my review you can find on my page.) However, his performance as Meyer Wolfsheim was...boring to say the least. His character, granted, has very little stage time and only one big number, which opens Act II and while the choreo was very flashy, it wasn't anything like the Bad Romance x Toxic opening of Act II that Moulin Rouge has. Third, I think John Zdrojeski was the most confusing choice to play Tom Buchanan, Daisy's abusive, cheating husband. He's pretty nice to look at, sure. But his voice? Jesus Christmas they couldn't find ANYONE else?!?!!? Maybe it's because he had five singing lines total that I couldn't get a better feel of his voice, or maybe that choice was made on purpose because they knew Zdrojeski was gonna play him but his voice sucks so much. SO SO much. His vibrato sounded forced and the melody sounded off, it felt like they put him on stage just because he was a pretty good actor and had abs.

There were a few mishaps in terms of head pieces falling off - which I got the pleasure of hearing about from the costume people who sat behind me and discussed notes during intermission and many of the dresses looked quite baggy on the dancers, but otherwise it seemed pretty accurate.

The best parts.

My favorite, by far, was Samantha Pauly as Jordan Baker. She is the standout for me, capturing Jordan's essence perfectly. Spunky, doesn't give a fuck and a girl's girl. The costume choices for Jordan's character were done exquisitely as well, and Pauly's voice was show stopping. Noah J. Ricketts as Nick Carraway was another showstopper. Not only is he nice to look at, he's nice to listen to. His voice is smooth like butta, his acting is great and I loved the back and forth he and Pauly's characters had. The set was a wow factor for sure - if this is nominated for any Tony's (I'll be as surprised as Gatsby when Daisy turns him down if there aren't) the set should surely win. Created by Paul Tate dePoo III, the set glides on and off, the projections work seamlessly and overall I was in awe of the glitter and gold of it all. Platforms erupt from the floor in a nonchalant way, as if to say "we had all the money in the world for this show." The choreo, was also one of the best things to watch. Choreographed by the well-rounded and talented Dominique Kelley, the choreo captures the era of this show (NYC 1922) well. I loved her choice for a tap number as much as I enjoyed the acrobatic-esque moves she made for the stellar, electric ensemble. All toes were pointed, all legs were extended, and it's clear, or it translated to the audience, that that was a part of the show everyone was confident in.

Sara Chase, who plays Myrtle Wilson deserved so much more stage time. What a fucking voice. Her energy, her lack of empathy for anyone but herself, I mean shit. She was so good. They didn't do her justice, but then again I forgot the Wilson's were even a part of the book until I saw the show again. Two of the dresses she wore (one being a very impressive on stage quick change where a literal rolling clothing hanger like the ones in malls rolls in front of her and when its past her shes in an entirely new dress) looked very baggy and her character's wig was god awful, looking like it was plucked out of an amazon package 10 minutes before curtain. But she was impressive regardless.

The music was pretty entertaining, written by Jason Howland with lyrics by Nathan Tysen. The songs "New Money," "The Met" and Gatsby's ballad "Past is Catching Up to Me" were star songs and have been stuck in my head for days. The ending of Act I "My Green Light" which has been teased on all of GG's social media accounts was as good as it sounded. There is no doubt that Jordan and Noblezada will go down in history as two of the most impressive singers on Broadway.

If you have the chance to see it, I think you should. Not for more than, like $150 with the way ticket prices are but it's definitely worth the music, set and Samantha Pauly.

Best part though? Every seat was given a mini copy of the book. My seat, however, apparently had the only signed copy of the book in the theater. So, thats pretty fucking sick.

Until next show,

Dramatic Gazzette

[fancyfeathers]

Hi! I’m the anon that sent you the Moriarty and Milverton kid request. It is wonderful! Could I request a part 2? No pressure, I’m just curious about Andrie and Darcy’s friendship. Plus……I have a feeling as kind as Darcy is, if he finds out his mother’s situation he might become even more conniving than his father to set her free when he’s old enough.

Father Like Daughter (Yandere William James Moriarty and his darling having a genius daughter)

Darcy is a sweetheart but not in the classical way, kind of like Jack Kelly from Newsies or Fiyero from Wicked, along with a mix of Jay Gatsby from the Great Gatsby along with perhaps a bit of Elphaba in wicked. He is a dreamer with his eyes on the stars but his feet on the ground.

Like when he is in school with Andrei he is the one who it falls on the get his classmates to step out of their shells, he grew up semi sheltered so now he is not passing up the opportunity to see and experience the world. He is the reason Andrei becomes such a cornerstone of social society in the time skip, because Darcy took Andrei out of the shell he grew up in as a child.

They are the best of friends, platonic soulmates in a way, though Andrei probably did have a bit of a crush on Darcy in school but it was just him realizing he was gay. Though I could definitely see Darcy perhaps courting Hyacinth, Andrei’s little sister, in the time skip while Andrei ends up with an actor from a local theater.

But at some point when Andrei and Darcy is home from school for the summer, and after Andrei had told Darcy about his own family, Darcy is torn up in pity for his best friend and-

Wait…

Why do things with his own mother and father feel so similar to what Andrei told him about his family?

This could not be right.

He just tries to shut it all out and convince himself that he is just overthinking things, but he could not get it out of his mind, but curiosity gets the better of him.

When the cat is away the mice will play.

The moment his father is out of the house, he sneaks into his office, which would normally be locked if it was not for the key he snuck out of his father’s coat pocket before he left. It does not even take a second of snooping in his desk that he sees evidence of the blackmail his father has collected and-

“Darcy, may I ask what are you doing?”

His father had forgotten a review for one of the papers on his desk and he found the key to his office was missing and he immediately knew something was up. He get dragged out of his father’s office and gets thrown into his room. He is just sitting there in shock as everything he feared turned out to be true. He has to stop and think on what happened and what to do now.

Then time passes and Andrei goes back to school after break but Darcy is nowhere in sight. He goes asking around and apparently he has left the school, the headmaster had gotten a letter a few days before the term started informing them of the departure of his son from their school. Then in his last year of school Andrei is alone again, sure he has a friend or two, but none who understood what his life was truly like or even cared to try to understand. He is alone again.

If Darcy does ever return to school he never feels really at peace, there is no doubt after what he saw that someone is watching him because there would be no way his father lets a loose end go. He cannot be even tell Andrei what was happening out of fear of something happening to him or any one else.

[kay-elle-cee]

Hello there! I just finished And The Roar Will Rise and I'm speechless (okay maybe not really speechless because I have a lot to say about it) but anyway, I'd love a director's cut of this fic. What drew you to it, why and how you changed some things, et cetera...

Also, while I'm on the subject, I left a comment on AO3 but totally forgot to mention how incredible the kiss and the moment at the pub later on (including Sirius' perfect reaction) were, so please please tell me more about that too.

Much love ❤️

🙈 A director's cut for And The Roar Will Rise? Prepare yourself, Leda, because I have a LOT to say! (also thank you so much for asking, I'm so happy you enjoyed this fic!!!!)

Alright, let's go point by point:

What drew you to it?

I LOVE Newsies. Like, as someone who listens to musicals on Spotify on a daily basis, as someone whose top genre on Spotify Wrapped is Musicals/Showtunes every year, Newsies is one of my favorite musicals. (The others being Next to Normal, Spring Awakening, and Hadestown, if you're interested in that tidbit of trivia). I love the music, I love the choreography, and I love the push-and-pull of Jack and Katherine.

While watching the pro-shot on Disney+ for the umpteenth time (because yes it's available to watch whenever you want and features Jeremy Jordan with a comical NY accent but the face and singing voice of an ANGEL) I was deep into a particular wave of Jily Brainrot and maybe it's because Katherine has red hair and that helped spur me on, but I just thought "oh my god it's Jily." Not to mention the whole fighting-against injustice plot and the ragtag crew Jack is so embedded in.

Fun fact, I worked so hard on including nods to the lyrics and lines from the actual script without just, like, dropping them in clunkily. It was my first time doing something like this and I really enjoyed the challenge of at least trying to make these things seem natural. I didn't want them to feel out of place, but noticeable to people who are familiar with it (like James telling Lily to "Give 'em hell, Evans" in place of Jack telling Katherine to "Write it good." or James shouting to the newsies "All for one and one for all, we newsies are on strike!" in place of the lyrics "No one can make us quit before we're done/one for all and all for one" followed by chants of "strike!") I actually color-coded and annotated my doc last night and you can see that here.

Why and how you changed things.

*cracks knuckles* alright SO. A few things happened during the planning process that brought it all together:

The World

I knew off the bat that I didn't want them to be in New York, so I needed to move them to London. But with this came the complication of the entire plot—namely, the history of labor unions in England. I looked at that and thought "I don't really want to do that research and get something wrong" so I needed to find the new crux of the Newsies issue.

Sometimes I regret not adding magic into the world of my other AU, restless waves rise and fall, so for this fic, I was like hmmmm what if there is still magic, and there's no statute of secrecy. How would that work? (I went through a few different iterations of this, if they still went to Hogwarts or not, if they all lived and schooled across England but came to London for the summer, etc) This also helped firmly establish a fictional world instead of it being more historical.

The Characters

And honestly first and foremost, I quickly identified the direct ties to the Newsies characters. I have been so adamant from the start (you can ask @alittlebitofeverything23) that Sirius was my Crutchie, even though Remus was probably the obvious choice. And Remus still would've been a good choice! But Remus is so Davey to me, and Crutchie being caught and sent to the Refuge very much felt like Sirius being caught and sent back to live with his parents for whatever reason (which I then changed to Azkaban, for ease and also canon-related reasons).

Picking my Pulitzer was hard for me.* I waffled endlessly on if it'd be Petunia or Vernon, but knowing it was them meant that there was kind of a clear canon-adjacent issue for the Newsies to face. It also made the reveal tricky, because if you know Newsies, you know Katherine's father runs the paper, but when you see it for the first time and she's in the office during that confrontation with Jack, it's a complete surprise. To kind of draw out that suspense a bit in Roar, I name dropped Mr. Mason as the owner (who the Dursleys have over for dinner in CoS), then you get Vernon, and THEN you get Petunia barging in with Lily at her heels. I'm calling it "the slow release reveal" 😂.

*On the subject of Pulitzer, I did briefly consider having it be an old wizarding family, or someone like Umbridge or Voldemort trying to sow division but that was too complicated to pull off so we just kept it simple.

The Plot

Now as for the plot (oh god this is getting so long, I'm sorry!), not only did I have a different central premise for the strike (which meant I had to find a new solution), I also had the fallout of Lily's article happen before the act break/chapter break, so that left a lot of questions for me while writing the second chapter. I had to adjust a bit, and I think finagling that is why it took me longer than expected to update. So I brought in a ringer, and that ringer was a nod to Katherine Plumber from Newies, and once I introduced her and other publications, the ending solution seemed a little more clear to me.

I didn't intend to get too in-the-weeds with press and prejudice but that's what I get for not wanting to do research on labor unions, haha. But it was really nice to write something just hopeful about everything, and I really loved writing how the Muggle newsies stood their ground and supported the wixen newsies.

The kiss and the pub.

Listen, the kiss scene in Newsies makes me absolutely FERAL. The anger to kiss speed does something to my brain, and I was SO EXCITED to write it! I've had the line "God you're so infuriating! I’m about three seconds from hexing you, you know.” written since like last summer, lol. James grabbing her wrist to place her wand under his chin, feeling like he deserves it, to have her GRAB his FACE and kISS HIM?!?!?!?! I'm unwell.

And I'm so happy you enjoyed the end scene at the pub and Sirius' little quips. I missed him in this chapter and wanted to give him some of those lighter moments after I rudely put him in jail. The end was a little tricky, I won't lie, because as I had the Newsies script up, I realize Jack's decision not to go to Santa Fe is pretty....abrupt? Like his friends are just like 😔 and Pulitzer offers him a job that he doesn't even seem excited about and he's like ALRIGHT NEWSIES HIT THE STREETS! So I really wanted to make James' decision a little more fleshed out....he's still getting out of London, just not leaving everyone halfway around the world, which seemed like a pretty good compromise to me.

Additionally, in Newsies, Katherine is very much a "wherever you go, I'll go, too" type of person in the finale, and while Lily has her own plans, I wanted her to have that same sort of encouragement for him. She encourages him to go to Australia if he really wants to, because she wants him to be happy. She listens as he talks through his thoughts, even gently offers her own thoughts on it all. It's been a whirlwind week for them, but she helps offer him clarity for his next big step.

*breathes* Wow I'm....so sorry. This got SO long. I hope you at least enjoyed my ramblings? Could honestly talk about this fic for hours probably. Thank you again so much for the ask and I'm so happy you liked this fic!

[i-didnt-do-1t]

The Gatsby/Newsies crossover fic I posted on ao3 but never posted here, enjoy :)

The party was loud, which David had known it would be, but knowing didn’t help at all upon actually being amongst it. The extended invitation from a work friend meant that he had really had no choice but to go given it being his first week on the job and the innate need to make a good first impression paired with his vague people pleasing tendencies. If he could spin it into an article somehow that would just make it all the better. With the stories he heard floating around about the host, a man named Gatsby, alleged second cousin to the Kaiser, or a murderer, or a German spy, it really wouldn’t be that hard to do so.

Although it was hard to take in the vast expanse of wealth that was draped around him, adorning trees, and hugging the curves of the women's bodies and in the suit jackets the men wore, and he wondered how he had got here, among the display of hedonism and greed. Careless people, spending money carelessly.

Not for the first time since he was fifteen did he wonder how someone could have so much when he had known people who had grown up with so little. Grown up being a generous phrase for the few that hadn’t made it past fifteen, like Snipeshooter and Elmer.

He frowned to himself and picked up an offered glass of champagne from the tray of a well suited man walking past.

He thought of them often, but it was even harder to take their names off his tongue somewhere like this, somewhere that almost everyone in attendance could pay for a doctor ten times over, when they had been left in their bunks in the lodging house, getting paler and weaker by the day until suddenly they just weren’t anymore.

He took a gulp of the champagne, moving past a group of faces he didn’t recognise that didn’t spare him a second glance.

Or like Spot Conlon, who he got news of passing away five years back, found dead in his one man apartment in New York, door busted in and two gunshot wounds to the torso. It was gang affiliated apparently. Spot hadn’t been able to pay someone back and just like that the King of Brooklyn was dethroned.

Another gulp of champagne, another unrecognizable, all blurring together, group of faces to push past.

And then there were the rest of them that David hadn’t seen since maybe his mid twenties, Racetrack was somewhere in New York he knew, never one to stray too far from home, and they would call every now and then. Skittery too, in 1907 David had attended his wedding, he and his wife had a kid now he was fairly sure, racetrack had told him, named Tom after little Tumbler who had grown up and then disappeared without a word to no one.

He frowned as he found his way to the bar, and thank god he had found it, because apparently he wasn’t the only man who had lost the group he had arrived with and decided that standing to the side, out of the way was the next best bet. He put his half finished glass of champagne on the counter and turned around to survey the party again.

Loud music, louder people, glitter and lights and alcohol and-

“This is the only place a single man can linger without looking purposeless and alone isn’t it.”

David spun toward the voice, the man on his left looked around his age, late twenties early thirties maybe, with dark hair and dark eyes that roamed across the party the same way David was doing seconds earlier. It reminded him distantly of a younger Denton, the way you could almost hear cogs turning, thoughts passing through his head, even if he didn’t say them out loud. He was quiet and still, amongst the loud, and David appreciated the steadiness.

“Good to know I’m not alone in the feeling.”

“Have you been to one of these parties before?”

“No. No, first time. You?”

“First time, I live just across the garden you see. I got an invite.” he paused, and his mouth twitched slightly, imperceptibly, and David could not tell what he was thinking. “Have you met this Gatsby?”

“I’ve heard stories.” He held out his hand, decidedly not a spit shake that Race seemed to insist on any time they met. “I’m David.”

The man returned the hand shake. “Nick Carraway, what brings you here?”

David was grateful for the company.

“A work colleague insisted I come with him, but I lost him a few drinks back,” he admitted.

“It’s easy to lose people in a place like this.” Nick nodded, “your colleague, do you work nearby?”

“In the city, I’m a reporter for the New York Sun. I used to work for the World, but I had some,” he paused, “disagreements with their business practices that came to light again recently and decided it was time for a change. You?”

“I’m a bondsman. Seems that everyone is these days, moving East to make some money.”

He found it ironic, the recent move East that seemed to be happening everywhere, maybe because he had spent so many years listening to Sante Fe pipe dreams till Jack finally up and disappeared that he found it difficult to imagine people not wanting to move West.

“How are you finding the Party?”

David was knocked out of his reverie. For a second he struggled to find an answer, unsure whether or not he would offend the man in front of him, but as he gave him a once over, Nick looked about as comfortable as David felt. “I don’t think it’s really my thing.”

Nick paused and frowned slightly, looking down to a folded slip of paper in his hand. “I got an invitation from the host himself but haven’t been able to find him.”

“It’s a lot of people,” David said, reaching for his glass of champagne “I’m not so surprised that you couldn’t-”

The glass froze half way up to his mouth as his gaze locked on to a face a few feet away, moving down and between groups of dressed up women and men, practically lying on top of eachother as they danced and swayed to the music, cigarette smoke obscuring the gaps in between them.

But David would recognise that face anywhere. Even if it had been near fifteen years since he saw him last.

“I’m sorry” he said hurriedly, “I’ve got to-“

“No, go ahead,” Nick waved over his shoulder to someone David did not recognise, “seems we’ve both found our people.”

“Yes” he said, afraid to move his gaze for too long in case he lost him again.

“You should come over to mine for coffee sometimes David, like I said, just across the garden.”

“I’d love to.”

“Wednesday? Say, 10 O’clock. We can talk about your newspaper.”

“Can’t wait.”

“I’ll see you then, then” and his lipped twitched up somewhat for the first time during the whole interaction. “Jordan!”

With that David moved around him, once again fighting his way through the crowd and the drinks and the smoke.

“Jack!” He called, and pushed past a man too his left, hard enough to make him stumble and not enough time to shout an apology, “Jack!”

It reminded him suddenly all too much of the rally, fighting through the crowd and then for almost a second he swore he could see Snyder’s face but that would make no sense, aside from being in jail the man was probably dead by now but there were still bodies pressing into him on all sides and distant yelling and no bulls yet, but they could appear any second and-

“Davey?”

Davey- David sucked in a breath, gaze breaking from the ground and wall of bodies around him till it landed on familiar eyes.

“Jack?”

There was no way-

“Jesus, Dave it’s been years the hell are you doing here?”

And Jack grinned at him, that same lopsided smile from when they were kids, side by side on the street, newspapers in hand.

Without thinking and with a sudden heat in his veins and ache in his throat, David found both his hands on Jack’s chest, his pressed suit, and shoved him backward.

“What the hell am I doing here? It was you that ran away to Sante Fe,”

“Dave-“

“I’m not the one who left without saying goodbye.”

David had thought a lot over the years of what he would do if he ever saw Jack again, ‘if’ having a lot of connotations he didn’t like to think about.

Sometimes he imagined he would hit him because Jack had always been selfish, or at least tried to play it that way, despite everyone who knew him knowing the truth.

And Jack had thought he was a burden on people around him, he’d told him one night on the fire escape, and Katherine had warned him one evening weeks later of the same thing, warned him that Jack had been pulling away from her and Davey had noticed it even if they didn’t see each other as often as when they were teenagers together, newsies together, and Davey had said he would talk to him, and then he was gone.

A new tenant had met his gaze when David had knocked on Jack’s rundown apartment door and it had only been two weeks since he’d forced Jack out for a drink and now it was like he was never there.

And David, he decided, was angry. He could feel it like ants under his skin and a burn in the back of his eyes.

“I had to leave.” Was his excuse.

“Race thought you were dead. After what happened to Spot-“ he cut himself off and swallowed looking away and all at once aware of eyes on him and Jack, the lull of silence around them. “I-“ he lowered his voice, cleared his throat. “We should talk somewhere else.”

Jack stared at him wide-eyed with a tensed jaw, a familiar expression, and then nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, you should uh, come back to mine Dave.”

“You live near here?”

“Just outside the city.”

“Right. Fine.”

The party had come back full force as their argument quietened, and already people were dancing again moving against eachother in a way that people wouldn’t have dreamed off when they were teenagers and he nodded at Jack, shrugging at his suit jacket in discomfort.

“Lead the way.”

[spotfreakingconlon]

javey and touch but completely sfw yous’ns we ain’t about that in the asks keep it professional

davey isn’t really used to people touching him. sure people do: les hanging off his arm, sarah squeezing his hand briefly whenever he’s nervous, esther hugging him before he leaves for school/work, meyers little hair ruffles. but not for more than a few seconds at a time, a minute or so at most. it’s not something he ever particularly seeks out or wants, and a lot of the time is liable to just make him a little uncomfortable. hyper aware of his body and his clothes and can just lead to a sensory spiral if someone hand is on him in the wrong place for too long

jack needs touch. knees pressed together under tables, someone’s hand slotted into his, a head on a shoulder or just full body cuddles. he needs the contact to remind himself that whoever he’s with is still there, still with him, very much real and breathing. he likes to put a hand over their heart, pull people against his chest, big hugs from behind and so on (both romantic and platonic) but only ever if he initiates it. everyone else in the lodge know this, but davey doesn’t and it takes him a little by surprise at first

jack notices the way davey jumps when he lays a hand on his neck or around his waist/stomach, tiny jolts like he’s been shocked. davey notices the way jack fidgets, twisting his fingers together or bouncing his foot, when there’s space between them. they start to learn and fit with each other, after a while. jack learns where to touch and where to not, not to brush across anywhere lightly because it just makes davey wriggle, or do anything by surprise. davey learns that touch isn’t so bad when it’s not concentrated in one spot, that he quite likes the way jack will curl against him or pull him close with his chin on his head, rest the weight of his body over his chest and legs. it’s something he has to get used to, the way jack has to get used to recognising when davey would rather not be touched, but they make it work like their own little language

AW OMG

I love them sm your honour they are the boys

Davey seeks knowledge. He hates change and gets upset when he hears misinformation. He simply has to know everything. But suddenly here is someone who seems to know more than him. Davey was always different. He felt like an alien in school because he just didnt have the same understanding of “regular human things” like social cues and touch like they did. He didn’t like hugs and squirmed when they were forced upon him, he hated people trying to hold his hands, and as a baby seemed to scream louder when Esther tried to comfort him. But here’s Jack, who feels so deeply that he can’t stand it. Here’s Jack, proud and dreamy as ever wanting nothing more than to be held. But Davey doesn’t know where to start, he himself doesn’t seek touch the way Jack does so he doesn’t know what’s good and that isn’t. So he lets Jack do his own thing.

Jack feels like life is a dream. Days, weeks, years go by so fast and he feels like he hasn’t experienced anything at all. For years the only time he was happy was when he was touching someone. Cuddles with Crutchie on the rooftop when it’s cold, wrestling a stolen newsie cap out of Race’s hands, or giving one of the little a piggy back to the distribution gate. The strike was the first time in years that Jack felt truly alive, and Davey helped a bunch. Davey who doesn’t care that he’s a criminal, who has a logical solution to every worry of Jack’s, Davey who’s freezing cold hands and fingers intertwined with his own make him feel awake. Davey who pulls Jack back into reality without making him sad. He falls hard. He can’t keep his hands away. Davey makes him feel so grounded and happy and he holds on as if he would disappear if he let go. But Davey doesn’t like that. Jack is observant when he wants to be. He absolutely doesn’t miss when Davey flinches or squirms if he holds on too tight or in the wrong spot. Jack slowly starts to memorise which places are ok to touch and which aren’t, he starts to say things like “behind you!” Or “Hello there” before initiating any sort of touch, and slowly - painfully slowly in his opinion - Jack Kelly begins to decode Davey Jacobs.

And Davey? Davey has to learn too. Davey has to learn what’s too much and what’s too little. He begins to recognise the exact amount of pressure Jack likes in a hug without it feeling half assed and without it feeling constricting. He starts remembering that when Jack lays with his head in his lap or on his chest he isn’t asking for Davey to touch his hair but he’s asking Davey to hold his hand or place a hand on his chest. He makes sure that Jack initiates any sort of touch before he does.

And slowly, slowly they learn how to love each other

I hope this made some kind of sense lmao <33

[splashuttons]

Headcanons for Davey, Specs, or Splasher?

This might get long so apologies (I will add a break so not to fill everyone's dashes)

Splasher

I will link my Splasher backstory here but here is a few extra headcanons :

He is the youngest member of the newsies

He loves to play football

He can't sleep unless one of the other newsies is in the room with him

Davey

Davey is one of the oldest of the newsies, only a few months younger than Jack. After the strike and when his dad fully recovers, he goes back to school but he does not leave the newsies behind. whenever he can he’s spending time with them, selling with them on his days off and even buying papers off them when he can just to help them out. 

He becomes the reliable figure amongst the newsies, being one of few the newsies turn to whenever they need advice or just need to chat. He also starts teaching the newsies who want to learn how to read and write, bringing books from home and school back to the lodgings for them to learn from. 

Every few weeks he brings a group of the guys back to his for dinner which his parents are more than okay with. He makes sure that everyone gets to come and no one is left out. he always makes sure to bring stuff from home that the newsies may be running out of whenever he can because he knows how tight the money can be.

Specs

Specs is one of the older Newsies, joining the gang not long after Jack and co. He joined the newsies after having to drop out of school to help his family who sadly both passed away not long after leaving Specs as an orphan on the streets. He instantly was taken in full time by the newsies to the lodging house and became a permanent part of the family straight away. 

He along with Davey are the level headed, brains behind the newsies. People always came to Specs when they needed help fighting something out or needing advice as they knew he would give them the realest and also most beneficial advice. 

He’s worn glasses since he was a little kid but went years without them after they got smashed accidentally one day whilst he was out selling. He struggled along, trying to save up pennies every day to afford a new pair but the money was always needed for something else or to help someone else who needed it more than him. That was until one day Cructhie came along saying he had a surprise for him. In the box that was handed to him was a brand new pair of glasses that the boys had been saving up for to give back for all the times Specs helped them. 

[sl-newsie]

The Secret Ingredient (Willy Wonka (2023) x Fickelgruber Daughter) Chapter 2: Pleased To Meet You

Previous: https://www.tumblr.com/sl-newsie/747510006135554048/the-secret-ingredient-willy-wonka-2023-x?source=share

“Are you alright, Ms. Charlotte?” Lottie asks as she brings over my breakfast tray. “You seem distracted.”

She’s right. Ever since yesterday my mind’s been in a fog. I can’t stop thinking about the man in the top hat. It’s like I’ve got a nagging feeling in the back of my head that’s itching to know who he is.

“Sorry, Lottie. I usually don’t take so much interest in newcomers, but there was something different about that man yesterday. I hope father doesn’t go too hard on him.”

“I very much plan to!” The man in question announces. “That Wonka fellow is going to wish he’d never set foot in this town!”

My head perks up. “Wonka?” Now I have a name to match the face. “But why? He won’t hurt anyone.”

Father scoffs. “He will hurt our business! Besides, he’s-” he shutters. “P- P-”

I raise a brow. “Poor?”

He leans over and gags. “Yes! That! But don’t worry, dear. We are going to run him out and he will no longer be a threat.”

I feel my temper start to churn and I gawk at his arrogance. “There’s more to life than competition, dad. He wants to sell chocolate, that’s all. Isn’t encouraging his dream worth a few coins?”

But it’s no use. Once again my words wash over father and he walks off to join Prodnose and Slugworth for their morning meeting. Guess I’ll go back to my usual reading and study sessions? Unless…

“Say, Lottie,” I think out loud. “I might be willing to take up that offer from yesterday. You’d still be inclined to sneak me out tonight for a bit, would you?”

The maid’s eyes widen and she gets a funny smile. “Yes! I knew it! I knew there was something funny about you yesterday!”

I frown. “What’s that mean?”

She giggles. “Oh, you know. See a cute boy, can’t stop thinking about him…” She trails off suggestively.

“Excuse me?” I gawk. “What’s wrong with wanting to meet someone new? This man might be the adventure I’ve been looking for!”

The day drags on unbelievably slow. The whole time I’m stuck in mind-numbing private lessons about finance and lady etiquette. The only enjoyable session I have is my lecture on chocolate chemistry.

“Mr. Snickers, just how many cocoa beans can be churned into chocolate? Wouldn’t it be the more beans there are the richer the chocolate is?”

My teacher gets a certain gleam in his eye that always happens when I spark an idea. “One would think, Ms. Fickelgruber. But there is also a rumor that there could be a secret ingredient we may never be able to measure.”

A secret ingredient…

Mr. Snickers is by far one of my favorite people. Sometimes I wish he was my adoptive father. He’s no doubt much more caring than my real one. Sadly he has no wife or kids of his own so he’s devoted his life to teaching. His lessons both inspire imagination and moxy, which are things my life craves on a daily basis.

“I’ll leave off with that note,” Mr. Snickers says as he packs up his briefcase. “Remember your assignment is to compare the different cocoa bean to sugar ratios from the major chocolate corporations.”

Just then Lottie appears with his weekly check in hand. They both exchange shy smiles and my hypothesis thickens. For weeks I’ve been seeing their feelings blossom and it only drives my curiosity behind the idea of love. Obviously they take a fancy to each other so why ignore it? But perhaps it’s not as simple.

I catch a quick peek at the window. It’s dark now, meaning it’s almost time for father to retire to bed. My moment of opportunity approaches. It’s best to wear something less conspicuous so as to not draw attention from the constables. For this evening’s confidential gallivant I choose a plain light pink dress with brown boots. I’m actually surprised these are still in my closet. I haven’t worn anything this “poor” in years. But unlike father I prefer a touch of modesty.

Deep breath. Take a look outside… All dark. Father’s gone to bed. Time to move-

Thump. Thump.

What in Heaven? There’s footsteps on the ceiling- Wait a minute. Is that…? It is! The chocolate man and a little girl are floating on the roof! Carrying… balloons? There’s no way I can walk away from this now!

I do little to hide my excitement and take off running down the staircase.

Lottie spots me and starts following. “Where are you going?”

My smile widens. “I’m meeting destiny, Lottie!”

She grips her long skirt and chases after me. “Wait for me! I need to sneak you out, remember?”

Right. That part.

“Quick, get in here.” Lottie beckons to the dumbwaiter and I climb inside. “Once you’re downstairs, take the door on the right. It should lead you to the back alley. Good luck!”

She gives me one final wave and I’m lowered into the cellar. Down here all there is are extra ingredients and old trunks full of countless forgotten things. I follow Lottie’s instructions and step out into the brick alley. It’s so dark not a single shadow is cast. The perfect environment for a quick sneak-out.

If my intuition is correct, the wind would have blown the two balloonists towards West End Street. Thankfully there’s little foot traffic so I have the courtesy to search the skies without bumping into anyone. Since father hardly lets me leave I need to stay focused and not get lost. I shall use landmarks. Like this fountain-

“Don’t sell chocolate here ever again!”

The police chief’s familiar voice heightens my attention and I see him holding a man’s head under the cold water. Wait! Why is he dunking him?

“Stop!” I sprint over and now see it’s the Wonka man that’s being held under. “Chief, he’s done nothing wrong!”

“On the contrary, miss. He sold chocolate without a license.”

After a few seconds too long I start to fear for his vitals. “Let him breathe!”

The chief realizes he’s still holding Wonka under. “Oh. Right.”

He lets go and the poor man rises gasping for breath, sopping wet. Same overcoat, same worn out boots. I notice a top hat on the ground and pick it up to offer him. But Wonka’s still clearing the water from his eyes and he doesn’t see. 

“There’s your warning, Wonka,” the chief pats him on the back and starts walking away. “Have a good evening, miss.”

Wonka wipes the wet hair away from his face and now I can see just how cute he is, even if he is wet. But not just cute. There’s an intriguing look about him that makes me feel nostalgic and want to explore the wildest ideas my mind can conjure.

“It is you!” I gasp. “The strange man with the magic chocolate!” 

The man himself does a mock bow and tilts his head. “I’m sorry, have we met before?”

I shake my head. “No. In fact, I was hoping I might find you to meet you properly.”

Wonka’s eyes twinkle. “Really?”

“Yes I want to meet the man who made everyone happy with his chocolate. You see, normally the chocolate around here isn’t as enchanting as others make it out to be. But your chocolate really seemed to spark something in people yesterday.” I bite my lip and hold up his hat again as a kind of peace offering. “I’m sorry you got kicked out. I tried to stop them.”

“Thank you!” The man grins and places the hat on his head. “Well, since you have done me a service it’s only fair that you get to taste the marvelous chocolate you seem to admire. Here, try one!” 

He digs into his pocket and pulls out a chocolate the size of a strawberry. No charge? Father would go ballistic over free samples. It’s not that I’m not touched by his gesture but chocolate has sadly started to become more ordinary than it should.

“Oh, thank you. I appreciate it, really. It’s just… I’m personally not a big fan of chocolate…”

“Come again?” Wonka suddenly gets a serious expression. “I don’t trust people who don’t like chocolate.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t not like chocolate, it’s just that chocolate’s been a bigger part of my life than I’d care to admit.”

The man seems amused by my answer and tips his hat.

“I like you! Oh, where are my manners? Name’s Wonka, Willy Wonka! At your service! Miss…?”

A name. He wants my name.

I bite my lip again as I banter with my internal struggle. 

“It’s Charlotte.”

Willy gives me a lopsided grin. “Usually there’s a second part, right?”

I nervously laugh half-heartedly. “Yes, but for me people usually judge me differently when they hear the second part.”

The top-hatted man steps closer and wiggles his eyebrows. “Promise I won’t.”

I arch an eyebrow to show my doubts.

“I promise! And-” He holds up a pinkie. “I’ll pinkie promise!”

His childlike demeanor is too adorable to ignore despite my brain tugging at me to say no.

“Charlotte Fickelgruber,” I speak quickly and tense up, waiting for him to scoff or lose interest. But instead Willy’s surprise is actually polite.

“Really? I didn’t know Fickelgruber had a daughter.”

“Not many do,” I mutter. “Aside from being next in line for his chocolate empire I really don’t have much purpose.”

“Why say that?” Willy asks. “You’re part of one of the biggest chocolate industries ever!”

“Yes, and you’ve personally witnessed how cruel my father can be.”

We start a slow walking pace down the dimly-lit cobblestone street. Now I notice Willy’s still using a cane.

“Why the cane? You're not crippled.”

“It adds character!” he smiles. “You’d be surprised how many uses it can have.”

I peer over at him with curious eyes. “What’s your story? You’re obviously not from here.”

Wonka grins. “That obvious, huh? You’re right. I’ve just come from sailing 7 years at sea.”

My eyes widen. “Sailing? That sounds fun! What’s it like? Are there sea monsters and mermaids? I’ve only ever read about what the outside world is like.”

The man chuckles at my response. “I never spotted one of those, though that doesn’t mean they could be real. Do you read much?”

“Yes. Books are what take me away from here.”

“I know someone who thinks the exact same thing,” Willy points at me as if he’s a salesman addressing a lucky customer. “Well, this is me.”

We’ve stopped at what looks like a dingy hotel. Hm. For being such a colorful character Wonka certainly picked a dodgy place to stay.

“Will you be back at the Galeries Gourmet tomorrow?” I ask anxiously. “People adore your chocolate so you’re bound to make a big profit.”

Willy takes off his hat and twirls it open his finger. “Sadly I’m afraid my business deals will have to be done under the table from now on. Or better yet, under the city.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that since I’m not allowed to sell chocolate in the Galeries Gourmet without a license then I’m selling it elsewhere.”

An uneasy feeling starts to churn in my stomach. Illegal chocolate? What has this world come to?

“Don’t worry.” He must have noticed my concern. “I made some new friends who have helped me come up with a plan. By tomorrow Wonka chocolate will be sold throughout the city for one sovereign apiece, unbeknownst to the police.”

I stifle a laugh. “You only charge one sovereign? No wonder father and the others are upset. That’s way too affordable for their standards.”

Willy just shrugs. “Chocolate shouldn’t be deprived from anyone.” He dramatically looks around to see if anyone’s watching and leans in to whisper: “If you wanna see us in action, stop by the bridge tomorrow.”

My breath catches. “B- But I’m… me.”

“Yes. You are you. What’s wrong with that?” he asks.

“I’m the daughter of one of the men who are trying to run you out of town.”

“So? You’re not your father, Charlotte. Seems to me like you want to change the world with chocolate as much as I do.”

“Psst!”

We both look up to see a girl’s face peeking out of the top window. She’s the one Willy was flying with earlier!

“Willy! Come on! I’ve got the milk, now get up here so we can make the chocolate!”

“Right!” Willy turns back to me and tips his hat as he starts sneaking off to the back stairs. “Sorry to rush Charlotte but duty calls! See you tomorrow!”

And tomorrow can’t come soon enough!

[ya9amicide]

The End of the World In a Woman’s Hands [Newsies]

chapter four

♡ newsies masterlist ♡ previous chapter ♡ next chapter ♡

summary: Being a girl in the everyday world is difficult. Being the leader of the Manhattan Newsies and a girl? Even more so. Especially when nobody knows you're a girl and the truth is the closest kept secret you have ever had. For Jack Kelly, keeping the truth of her gender a secret is one she's found easy after doing so for many years. Unfortunately, having close encounters with the iron fist, Pulitzer, and a new Newsie who seems determined to get to know her, that secret might just become the opposite.

pairing: fem!jack kelly x david “davey” jacobs

warnings: none

A few Newsies convene outside the distribution window of the World as the circulation bell tolls.

“Man, them fire sirens kept me awake all night,” Race complains, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Mush perks up from where he’s sitting by the wagons. “Sirens is like lullabies to me. The louder they wail the better the headline. And the better the headline, the better I eat. And the better I eat–”

“The further away from you, I sleep!” Race cuts him off and Mush moves to sock him but gets pulled back down to his seat.

Les and David run up to the crown of Newsies, out of breath. “Morning, everybody. Sorry, we’re late. We had to help our mom with something,” David said.

“You gotta mudder?” Race asks, hiding his sadness with a joke. “I was gonna get me one.”

“What’d you do with the one you had?” Romeo asks.

“He traded her for a box of cigars,” Buttons jabs.

Race whips his head around. “Hey, they was Coronas!”

“We have a father too!” Les says and David puts a hand on his shoulder to stop him from saying more.

“A mudder and a fodder,” Buttons says.

Race smiles brightly. “Ain’t we the hoi polloi?”

“So, how’s it going today?” Les asks.

“Ask me after they put up the headline,” Tommy Boy says.

Les looks up to see a worker start writing the headline. “Here it comes now!” He points up and the rest of the newsboys follow his gaze.

“‘New Newsie Price: Sixty Cents Per Hundred,’” Albert reads in disbelief.

“Is that news?” David asks.

“It is to me,” Albert yells in outrage.

“I can eat two days on a dime!” Elmer says.

Crutchie looks around worriedly. “I’ll be sleepin’ on the street.”

“You already sleep on the street,” JoJo says.

Crutchie looks over at him with wide eyes. “In a worse neighborhood.”

Jack can tell something is wrong when she arrives at Newsie Square. She walks up to hear all of her boys yelling and screaming as she pushes her way through the crowd.

“Jack, get a load of this,” Crutchie says. “They jacked up the price of papes!”

“It don't make no sense!” Mush says. “All the money Pulitzer makes, why would he gouge us?”

Jack sees Weasel behind his window, grinning. “Alright, pipe down! Don't you see it's a gag? Just Weasel bein' a weasel.” She walks over to the distribution window. “Joke's over, Wease. Gimme a hundred.” She plops fifty cents on the counter.

Weasel's grin gets wider as he slides it back. “Hundred'll cost ya sixty, Cowboy.”

“I ain’t payin’ no sixty–.”

“Then make way for someone who will.”

“​​You bet! Me and the fellas will take a hike over to The Journal.” She grabs her money and starts to storm away.

Specs and a few other Newsies arrive at the square. “I’ll save you the walk. They upped their price too.”

“Then we’ll take our business to The Sun!”

“It’s the same price all around town,” Weasel drawls making Jack stop. “New day. New price.”

“Why the jack-up, Weasel?”

“Why not? It's a nice day. Why don't you ask Mr. Pulitzer?”

The Newsies start bursting out in yells and complaints, their voices the only thing anyone can hear. Jack finally has enough. “C’mere fellas.” She motions them over to where she sits by the wagons.

The Newsies start panicking again.

“They can’t just do that, can they?”

“Why not? It’s their paper.”

“It’s their world.”

“Ain’t we got no rights?”

“We got the right to starve,” Crutchie finally says. “C’mon, let’s get our papes and hit the streets while we still can.”

“Hold on,” Jack shushes them. “Nobody’s payin’ no new nothin’.”

“What, you got an idea?” Tommy Boy scoffs.

“Would you keep your shirt on? Lemme think this through.”

All the Newsies start crowding Jack, asking for the big idea.

“Stop crowdin’ him!” Led yells, pushing them all away. “Let the man work it out.” He waits a few seconds in silence while Jack thinks. “Hey, Jack, you still thinkin’?”

“Sure he is,” Race jokes, waving a hand in front of his nose. “Can’t you smell smoke?”

Jack looks at Les, then the others, her jaw set. “One thing’s for sure. If we don't sell papes, then nobody sells papes. Nobody comes through those gates 'til they put the price back where it was.”

“You mean like a strike?” David asks.

Jack stands in excitement. “Hey, you heard, Davey. We’re on strike!”

David looks around alarmed. “No, I didn't mean–we can't strike, we're not a union.”

Jack looks at him in confused excitement. “We go on strike, we're a union, right? Keep it comin', Dave.” Jack moves across the square, everyone following and cheering, a momentum building. 

David moves with her, his tone pleading. “There's not enough of us. Maybe if we got every Newsie in New York–.”

“Yeah, we organize -- we get all the New York Newsies to join us! This is great, Dave, keep talkin'.”

“It's no joke! You saw what happened to those trolley workers.”

“Another great idea! Any Newsie don't join with us, we soak 'im–just like the trolley workers!”

“Stop trying to drag me into this! I’m just trying to feed my family.”

Jack turns around angrily and David stops abruptly before he runs her over. They now stand face to face. “And the rest of us is on playtime? Just because we only make pennies don’t give nobody the right to rub our noses in it.”

He rolls his eyes at her. “It doesn’t matter. You can’t strike. You’re not a union.” She shrugs at him. “Well, what if I says we is?”

“There’s a lot of stuff you gotta have in order to be a union.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?” “Like…membership.”

“...What do you call these guys?” She drawls, pointing behind her where the Newsies whistle and wave at David.

“And officers!”

Crutchie bounds forward, hand raised high. “I nominate Jack President!” She puts a hand to her heart. “Gee, I’m touched.”

“How about a statement of purpose?” David asks.

“Must’a left it in my other pants.”

“What’s a statement of purpose?” Race asks.

“A reason for forming the union,” David tells them as if it should have been common knowledge to them.

“Well, what reason did the trolley workers have?” Jack asks.

“I don’t know. Wages? Work hours? Safety on the job?”

“Who don’t need that?” She walks closer to David and points a finger into his chest. “I bet if your father had a union,” he narrows his eyes at her, “you wouldn’t be out here sellin’ papes right now. Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he says dejectedly.

Jack runs up to stand on a crate by the wagons. “So, our union is hereby formed to watch each other’s backs. ‘Union’d we stand.’ Hey, that’s not bad. Somebody write that down.”

“I got a pencil!” Les says.”

Jack smiles and pulls him closer with an arm around his shoulders. “Well, meet our Secretary of State!”

“If you want to strike, the membership’s gotta vote,” David tells her, finally giving in.

“Dave's right again!” Jack says. “We gotta think this through! Old man Pulitzer and Hearst and all them other rich geezers, they run this city. Do we really think a buncha street rats like us would have a chance against people like them? The choice has gotta be yours. Are we gonna just take what they give us? Or do we strike?”

The Newsies are silent, faltering, suddenly uncertain. Les bounces in excitement. “Strike!” The  other Newsies follow his sentiment and start yelling in excitement.

“You heard the voice of the membership,” Jack yells. “The Newsies of Lower Manhattan are now officially on strike. What next?”

“Wouldn’t a strike be more effective if someone in charge knew about it?” Crutchie asks nervously.

Race pounds a fist into his other palm. “It would be a pleasure to tell Weasel myself.” He makes a move towards Weasel and the Delancey brothers but is quickly held back.

“Yeah? And who tells Pulitzer? Davey?”

“I don’t know…I guess you do, Mr. President.” He finally gives in fully.

“That’s right, we do!” She crouches next to David, bringing him in closer. “You’se my right-hand man, Davey. I can’t do this without you.” Her voice goes a bit hushed. “What do we tell ‘em?”

“Uh…uh…Pulitzer and Hearst have to respect our rights–.”

Jack stands quickly and hops off the platform to stand close to David. “Pulitzer and Hearst have to respect the workin' boys of New York!” She turns to David. “Keep it comin’, what else?”

“Uh…they can't treat us like we don't exist,” David says.

“Pulitzer and Hurst,” Jack interrupts. “They think we’re nothin’! Are we nothin’?”

“No!” The Newsies shout.

“If we stick together like the trolley workers, they can't break us up,” David says.

“Pulitzer and Hurst, they think they got us! Do they got us?”

“No!” The Newsies answer again.

David starts getting into it as well. “We’re a union now–the Newsboys’ Union–and we mean business!”

Jack finally starts preaching to the crowd without David’s help. “Just because we ain’t got no fancy hats or badges, don’t mean we’re not a union. We’re a union just by sayin’ so! We know it, The World will too!”

“What's to stop someone else from sellin' our papes?” Boots asks.

“We talk to 'em.”

“Some of 'em don't hear so good,” Race adds.

“Then we soak 'em!” “No!” David yells at her in a panic.

Crossing the square, Jack keeps everyone riled up as they make their way to The World building. The Delanceys close the gates behind them as Weasel glares.

Jack, excited by her power, is in full charge now. “We gotta get word out to all the Newsies in New York! I gotta have some…whattaya call 'em–.”

“Ambassadors,” David tells her with a smile.

“Right! You guys gotta be embastards and tell 'em we're on strike!” Some Newsies snigger at her mistake behind her. 

“I’ll take Harlem,” Kid Blink says.

“I got Midtown!” Says Race.

“I got the Bronx,” JoJo says.

“And I got the Bowery,” Buttons says.

“Bumlet, Specs, Skittery take Queens; Pie Eater and Snotty, the East side–Snipeshooter, go with 'em. Okay, who wants Brooklyn? Spot Conlon's territory?” Suddenly, they all look like they've got something else to do. “Finch,” she says, making the boy jump in fear. “You tellin’ me you’re scared of Brooklyn?”

He looks at her, upset. “I ain’t scared of no turf.” The other Newsies look at him in surprise and he gets nervous again. “But that Spot Conlon got me a little jittery.”

Jack rolls her eyes at all of them. “Well, he don't make me nervous. Me and Dave’ll take Brooklyn. Okay, Dave?”

David looks up at her and Jack grins, challenging him. David comes right back at her. “Sure. Right after you take our demands to Pulitzer.”

Her grin fades. “Me?” She looks up at The World building. “To Pulitzer?”

It’s David’s turn to grin now. “You're the leader.”

Jack looks at the huge doors of The World, steeling herself. She starts for them, then has a second thought and she beckons to Les, who runs to join her, thrilled. “Maybe the kid'll soften him up a little.”

Shouting encouragement, the Newsies clear a path as Jack and Les march up to the big doors. Jack pounds on them and there's a hush as everyone waits, watching. The huge doors swing open and Jack and Les disappear inside and the Newsies cheer.

It’s silent as they wait and soon, the door opens again. This time, they see Jack and Les being tossed out onto the street.

Jack turns around to face the inside angrily. “So's your ol' lady!” She yells. “Tell Pulitzer he needs an appointment with me!”

Later, they all sit in Jacobi’s diner. Jack, David, and Les devour a tray of sandwiches as Denton the reporter introduces himself and takes notes.

Jack rambles on. “So this snooty mug is sayin', 'You can't see Mr. Pulitzer, no one sees Mr. Pulitzer'–real hoity-toity, you know the type.”

Les nods along. “Real hoity-toity.”

“So I says, 'I ain't in the habit of transactin' business with no office boy–tell him Jack Kelly is here to see him now.'”

“That's when they threw us out.” Jack nods her head in confirmation at Les.

“Doesn't it scare you going up against the most powerful man in New York?” Denton asks.

Jack chuckles. “Yeah, lookit me, I'm tremblin'.”

Denton smiles and closes his notebook. As he gets up, he hands David a card. “Keep me informed. I want to know everything that happens.”

“Are we really an important story?” David asks him in confusion.

“What's important? A year ago I covered the war in Cuba. Charging up San Juan Hill with Colonel Teddy Roosevelt. A very important story. Now it doesn't seem so important–except Teddy's our governor and probably on his way to the White House. Is the Newsies' strike important? It all depends on you.”

Jack stops him from speaking further. “My name’s really gonna be in the papers?”

“Any objections?”

She smirks at him. “Not as long as you get it right–Kelly, Jack Kelly. And, Denton? No pictures.” She leans back in her seat, biting her nails in worry as she watches Denton walk out of the diner. After a moment’s contemplation, she turns to David, smacking his back appreciatively. “Good job findin’ that reporter, Dave. Publicity ‘s what we need.”

He smiles at her ruefully but can’t help but think back to the nervous look she gave when talking about the details of the paper. “Well, technically, he found me.” He shrugs off the compliment as they go back to eating and watching the Newsies goof around.

[blurglesmurfklaine]

For the fic title game, yet another shamelessly stolen song lyric: hearts will break (for future's sake)

EEEEEEE BRUH I’ve never heard that song and have no clue what it is but what a BANGER line

Okay so I’ve never done this with the newsies fandom only because i haven’t really written much for it, but I’m a sucker for reconciliation. Just an absolute slut for Right Person Wrong Time, so I think that’s what I would make this hypothetical fic about.

omg omg omg and it would be one of those double timeline fics where it jumps between the past and present as a nod to the (for future’s sake)

my vibe for the Past Timeline is: Jack and Davey meet and hit it off VERY quickly because they are them and inexplicably drawn to each other. I’m thinking college freshman era, maybe they’re roommates?? Yeah, yeah they’re roommates let’s roll with it. Past Timeline would ideally jump around through their four years of college in order of relevance to the Current Timeline (we’ll get there, bear with me. There’s a bear with me. His name is Fred. He’s a menace) but begin with their last interaction/falling out and end with their first meeting— Think JICFEBDHGA, If the scenes were the alfabético and alphabetical order was chronological.

The general vibe I’m going for is Jack being head over heels in love with Davey and Davey just having NO FUCKING CLUE because Jack is his friend, his buddy, his rotten soldier, his sweet cheese, his good time boy. But like, Davey is just so Repressed (not in a gay way, he knows he’s 💅🏽, he just doesn’t talk about his feelings and isn’t in touch with them because Oldest Brother Syndrome) that he’s like “yeah this Amazing Feeling and Deep Connection is just friendship :)”.

Meanwhile Jack desires this fucking weirdo he’s stumbled upon carnally and is literally obsessed with him and always dropping casual “I love you’s” “I would marry you in a heartbeat” “for real I want you in my life forever” bc he’s got that All Or Nothing personality and Davey’s dumbass is just like OH YOU!

That all ends poorly because eventually Jack’s like. Dude I am IN LOVE WITH YOU!!! But there is An Obstacle (maybe Davey’s already met someone else and Jack’s too late, maybe Davey thinks he doesn’t feel the same??) and jack… hoooooo boi that guy can NOT handle a) rejection (rejection sensitive dysphoria anyone???) and 2) the idea of davey Not Choosing Him so he DIPS. Skips out on graduation, and moves back to his hometown (Santa Fe)

This is the vibe for Present Timeline: it’s been several years, Davey hasn’t thought about jack in ages (that’s a lie, he was having his midnights moment like. Last night. CAUSE HE WAS SUNSHINE I WAS MIDNIGHT RAIN! ) but Jack’s in Santa Fe anyway and is married and has a kid according to Facebook a few years ago so rip Davey trying to find the colors jack painted his life :/ bc of That WS Just Friendship he hasn’t found anything CLOSE in ages. But surprise! He stops for covfefe and guess who the FUCK is the barista? In New York? Guess who the FUCK has been living there with his daughter (sorry I’m in a very Single Father!Jack mood) for SIX MONTHS and never said a WORD to Davey??

Anyway, this timeline would go in straight chronological order and follow them reconnecting, hashing out their old shit, deciding if they want to be together (they do) and what that looks like. So think 0123456789 numerical order being chronological.

So on the whole, the order would be something like:

0J1I2C3F4E5B6D7H8G9A (come out looking like a fucking verification code 😭) if that makes sense???

Anyway. That was a lot, whoops! But this was actually so fun to do while I wait for my laundry! :D

[notebookmusical]

Hi. I'm sorry I haven't replied but I wanted to give a quick review on the show and wish you a fantastic trip of seeing great shows! I meant to reply before you left but this will probably be short and don't worry about replying. I hope it's going well so far! The concert was amazing! I think it might have been my favorite show I've been to of theirs and I've seen them about 6 times. I think this was because being in the pit was kind of a fun and different experience with a lot of energy and fans loving the band as much as I do. At one point they were in the back of the pit and we got really close..they even walked right by us at one point getting to the other stage and I lost my mind and started laughing and almost crying in shock so that was really cool. I love the staging and effects..lots of pyro and flames. They tried to include fans in the pit for the last song which was something new. It reminded me a bit of the eras tour cuz they sort of went by eras almost and had a really good setlist..I think they played like almost 40 songs or something. That's also probably why it was my favorite cuz it had a bit of everything. It was really fun and I can't believe it's over! I totally understand everything you said about the stage door and how crazy fans are so I guess it makes sense if you don't want to. I know some of the Outsiders fans are crazy and apparently someone actually followed one of the actors home before. Btw did you try the Stay Gold cookie there? Probably not since you didn't see the show but I recognize it cuz I saw some of the cast was there earlier in the week. But anyway I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip and tell me all of the other cool things that you did! Thanks for the recommendations for tropes too. I admit Gossip Girl is not anything close to what I meant for the last one..I meant it more in a this will never work we are doomed sort of way similar to Aladdin, Newsies or Moulin Rouge, kinda the Outsiders too lol. I do see a bit with Normal People though and it would be hard to come up with a book like that. Also I only watched the first two seasons but Dan and Blair just make no sense to me haha. Like they really feel forced and he doesn't like anything about her or who she really is. I get some of the criticisms of her and Chuck but at least they have the chemistry and similar qualities like the scheming. Honestly Dan makes sense with no one knowing the big spoiler but I do like him and Serena more I guess. I realized with couples and tropes I usually like couples that are similar to each other. Anyway Idk if I will ever finish the whole show though and maybe it makes more sense in the show but idk. I hope you are enjoying Interview with the vampire..I definitely see a lot of gifs on here. I do have Seven Year Slip on my list though but have been so behind on reading lately. Maybe I will try to read something today. Also I just found out about Rachel Lynn Solomon's new book so I guess I'm excited for that although it includes fake dating and marriage, a trope I'm not used to. I've also been listening to Short and Sweet. What do you think about it and what are your favorites? At first I wasn't impressed but it's grown on me now and still has a few songs I really love. I think I just expected a bit more overall but it's fun with some catchy songs. I hope you're having an amazing time!!! 🩷

hi friend!!! i had the best time on my trip! so sorry this is so late + shorter than normal, i'm replying on my phone (which i normally don't do) 🤍 i definitely want to hear more about your concert — what were your favorite songs they sang? were you surprised by anything?

i did not, but i did see it on one of the days i was there! i don't think they sell it every day? i got a peanut butter cup and a funfetti and then realized very quickly that both are way too sweet for my taste :( funfetti was already very sweet to me back in like 2017-2019 but having it on this trip really made me go: oh this is Very Sweet.

ugh no you have to watch all of gossip girl (at least up till the end of season 5) for the full dan/blair experience. they're everything to me. no other relationship on that show comes even remotely CLOSE to them. serenate maybe. i did like serena & nate back in the day! i just finished watching the second episode of interview with a vampire so by the end of the year i'll probably have finished it haha. but i am enjoying it!

i really like short n sweet! it's also grown on me, it's very catchy but i think it took a second for me to solidify my favorites (juno, taste, coincidence). what are your favorites? 🤍