#ask medda !!

[slozhnos]

rewatching newsies and i really love the detail at the end of of ‘that’s rich’ where jack is trying to wave at katherine

[askmissmedda]

Happy Halloween Lovelies! The theater has sweets, buckets and everything of the sort! Stop on by <3

[thatoneandlonelyemo2005]

there is no way in hell that my coworker used to watch 92sies as a kid

[i-politely-disagree]

Not The Ones They Love

Modern AU

TW: Swearing? Jack hating spot ig

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” Jack groaned, using the monotonous voice he reserved for scenarios when he knew it would be best not to express emotions “Really, Race? This guy?”

Race glared, tightening his arm around Spot’s shoulders.

 “Yeah. Got a problem?” he challenged.

Kicking one of Race's stray clothes to clear a path, Jack laughed wryly and motioned to Spot. 

“Um.. I do…it’s Spot Conlon.” He was trying to keep his cool. To breathe. He knew how easily Race was influenced. He knew how easily Spot could influence. And he knew damn well Race knew who he was dealing with. So why? Why the guy who got suspensions basically weekly, the guy who every idiot in school looked up to simply cause he could land a punch and kick a ball? 

Spot took the staring match between the siblings as his chance to leave. He pulled on his jacket and maneuvered his way out, extra careful not to disturb anything. As soon as the door shut, Race spoke up.

“Why do you give a shit who I’m dating?” he began to raise his voice. "This is the happiest I have been in years. You are not messing this up for me” 

“I give a shit because it’s him!” 

Race’s blood boiled; Jack knew nothing. Nothing about Spot's past, the persona he felt he had to put on, and how he treated people he was close to. Feeling Jack's hand rest softly on his shoulder didn't help. Jack was not on his side.

“Look,” Jack spoke, taking a more gentle approach, “I just don't want you getting hurt.” 

Something snapped inside Race. “Hurt?! You think he would hurt me?!” He yelled in disbelief and anger, thankful for his mother's current absence 

“I didn't sa-” 

“Forget it, Jack! I don't need your approval, I can make my own decisions!” tears of anger and frustration threatened his voice with a crack. He may not have said it, but Race knew he meant it.

Jack backed away, hurt by Race's sudden outburst “... I'm just trying to look out for you..”

He looked more worried as he took step after step closer to the exit

“Hurt people hurt people.” He stated like a mother comforting a 3-year-old. 

He wasn’t trying to be condescending; he was trying to gently back up his disapproval, but all Race's ears picked up on was the tone he could only perceive as Jack pitying him. He avoided eye contact, using his peripheral vision to see his brother closing the door. 

Tears spilled down Race's cheeks, falling off his chin, salty liquid staining the hem of his shirt. He brought his legs to his chest, hugging them tightly against him as if the weight of his body was too much for his mind to hold along with the weight of his emotions. Jack’s judgment fell around him, tiny particles accumulating until he couldn’t move, coating the waterlines of his eyes with dust, and falling into his lungs until he was gasping for clean air. 

He was forever grateful for Jack and how much trouble Jack had gotten him out of, but this was going a bit far. Race’s taste wasn’t that bad. Plus, he wasn’t allowed objections when Jack brought Davey over and he hated feeling somehow inferior because of how much control Jack thought he could have over him.

Race wrapped himself in crumpled sheets, his tears spilling and discolouring patches of his mattress. Tears of frustration, anger, lack of validation and vague fear he resented himself for even thinking of. He knew in his heart Spot loved him, even if they hadn’t used that word yet and he knew he had to trust him, trust in himself and trust Jack had no idea what he was talking about.

Hurt people hurt people, but not the ones they love….right? That‘s how it works, isn’t it? You work through the pain together, ignore how you can't fathom anything long-term with them and you stick it out until Jack has a reason to say ‘I told you so’. Feeling his phone buzz under his fingers and wishing his boyfriend had stayed, Race ignored the outside world. All he did was sit with the emotions until they became familiar so he knew exactly what he was bottling up again.

[sparkedblaze]

modern morris and oscar rely on food banks to eat after leaving medda’s, especially after leaving care entirely. medda sees them one day, through the window as she’s walking past a local church and glances at the open food bank.

she sees oscar hunched with his hood up, looking exhausted and ragged, digging through the food bank’s bare shelves to try and find something, anything, that morris will actually eat. morris is with him, always with him, looking close to tears and growing visibly more upset as oscar turns to him and holds out something like he’s done so countless times now. medda can’t hear them, but can tell oscar is trying to bargain with morris to eat it. it doesn’t work. morris shakes his head and wraps his arms tighter around himself and backs away. oscar grits his jaw and tosses the can back onto the shelf, dragging his hand down his face. they leave largely empty-handed.

medda starts donating to the food banks, as many as she can get to nearby. all sorts of stuff, especially the things she knows are most appreciated by those who use them - there was a time she used them herself - but she’s sure to donate morris’ safe foods, nutritious stuff for both of them, oscar’s favourites, to that particular church. the next time she sees them, they’re leaving with a full bag. they both look at least marginally healthier.

Hello everyone!! I am not dead!! At least.... I don't think

ANYWHOOO

*

Oscar leads Morris into the church- the fourth or fifth time that month- looking for food for the rest of the month. He opens the door, expecting the same half-assed spread as usual.

When he's greeted with shelves more full than he'd ever seen before, he's taken aback. He grabs hold of Morris' sleeve, handing him a basket as they pass by the stack of them. He tosses everything that he knows Morris will eat, offers other things he's unsure of, most of which get denied.

Oscar doesn't miss he way Morris lights up when he sees his favorite brand of macaroni and cheese, the way his free hand flaps, and he puts the few boxes in their basket, and moves along the shelves. "Mo, you see anythin' else you want, you tell me, okay? Or, hell, jus' throw it in the basket."

Morris nods, eyes roaming the shelves now, seeing another one of his favorite brands. A few cans of soup in the brand Medda kept at her house. He reaches out, putting all the cans into the basket, bouncing on his toes as he grows more excited with each spotted favorite.

Oscar throws his own food into the basket, and they continue deeper into the food bank. "Mo, you might actually get to fight this season- you- you gonna get to fight!"

*

That's all the thoughts that I could muster

I'm so sorry the thoughts weren't bigger.

[frogmanfae]

LOCAL NEWSIES ANALYSIS

ACT I

Jack doesn't have timing

Finch: smash

Holy fuck medda is so

ARE YOU BLIND?!!! S-SHES GOT NO CLOTHES ON!!!!

Step aside *shoves Davey away*

When they ran away from Snyder they just ran off stage so we were robbed of the chase scene :( it would have looked silly on such a small stage tho

Holy fucking shit medda

Davey is casted so so perfect

Katherine is so sassy holy shit

Uh. Bottom line was. Um. yeah so the guy who played Pulitzer actually spoke most of his lines that were supposed to be sung (and when he did sing it was pretty clear WHY this was) but he was good acting wise

Bunson said that the newsies will have to sell 25 more papers to make the same amount, which is mathematically incorrect sir

When the strike first started, after the union JUST voted to make it official and Jack was hyping everyone up, Davey was standing off to the side taking deep breaths and tapping his fingers on his legs and doing a couple of grounding techniques my therapist gave me for panic attacks (holy shit his actor was so autistic and definitely had anxiety and he also graduated from my high school like 5 years ago which was wild to see him again)

Les doesn't just say "I have a pencil!" he said "I have a pencil AT HOME" which to me really emphasizes just how impoverished the other newsies are. Even the ones who have homes don't have simple items (such as pencils) in those homes. Les isn't the only one of them who happens to HAVE a pencil. He's the only one who OWNS a pencil.

I wanna write a medda origin story (random thought I had)

During Jack and Davey's little dance thing in WWK Jack turned the wrong way and Davey had to nudge him to turn facing the back instead of the audience

There was a newsie in the ensemble who was so fucking pissed the entire show, especially during WWK, he put everything he had into that it was crazy shout out to him

At the end of WWH, Katherine started typing really dramatically and it actually looked more like autistic hand flapping (which I kinda love)

Davey talks with his hands a lot

The first scab looked like he was forced into this (not the stabbing, the show) he didn't throw down his papers, he dropped them and went "I'm with you 😐" and walked off stage

When they're striking and then weisel and the delanceys interrupt their songs, they didn't all stop at the same time and the last one you heard was Davey stopping after everyone

The delanceys took crutchie's crutch and literally like sabbed him with it before they dragged him off

Crutchie yelled for Finch as he was being dragged away

When crutchie was taken, the stage was completely empty except for him and the delanceys

During Santa Fe Jack was hyperventilating and he fell to his knees on the first couple notes. When he stood back up he kept leaning and looking over the railing like he was going to jump.

After he hit the last note of Santa Fe, he fell to his hands and knees near the edge and started wailing until the house lights came on for intermission

Les was really good omfg and it's apparently his first show like he's SO good it's insane

I got a newspaper purse during intermission :DD

ACT II

After viewing the program, the actor for Crutchie's day job is a MAILMAN (modern day newsboy pretty much)

Finch was laying face down on the table the entire time before Katherine walked in at the start of act II, including for the delivery of his line, "why do old people talk?"

The tap dancing was pretty good actually

When Crutchie says "so far they ain't brung us no food... Ha. Ha." he laughed like "heheh"

The music cut out earlier than in the original during letter from the refuge (it didn't stop, it just paused after "your best friend" and didn't continue until after the guard yelled) so "your brother, crutchie" was completely acapella and I sobbed

When the guard yelled from off stage to tell crutchie to quiet down, crutchie got this look of absolute terror in his eyes and it was heartbreaking

"Even Horace Greeley moved back to new York" "*waves his hand around like he's in class and really wants to get called on* OOH OOH YEAH! YEAH HE DID! AND THEN HE DIED!!"

"Dave (angry)" "Jackie (excited)"

Davey sounded pretty similar to Ben Fankhauser negl

Spot conlon was tall :( but he was scrawny asf so we'll accept it

At the rally, all the newsies were chanting "Jack Jack Jack Jack-" and Davey came and yelled "NEWSIES OF NEW YORK" and one guy just went "Jack?" and someone shoved him. Davey didn't acknowledge it.

Jack didn't storm away after the rally, someone paraded right in to the center of the floor and handed him the money where everyone was sure to see him and someone went "t-traitor! Youre a traitor!" And then the stage cleared until it was only Jack and Davey under two different spotlights, both looking at each other like they were about to cry. Jack looked at Davey like he wanted nothing more than to run to him and explain everything and Davey looked at Jack like he wanted to throw up. (Sobbing)

Jack and Katherine only kissed once, when she was threatening to punch Jack. All of the other kisses were replaced by hugs and to me that is so much more personal.

Jack seemed to be on the verge of tears for the entirety of Something to Believe In, like all he'd ever had was Santa Fe, but now there's something- some*one* who cares about him and he's gripping so hard onto that. He hugged her so tight I could see the tension in his muscles from the audience.

"... Oh no 😩 I know a printing press he'd never think we'd use 😮‍💨"

"Hey, ah- um, Jack? It's uh... It's good to have you back..." "... Shut up *teeny tiny loving smile*" your honor they're in love

The newsies all came into the audience during once and for all and the girlsie standing at the end of my row was singing harmony and she slayed so hard shout out to her

"Did you read this?? 😡😡 These kids put put a pretty good paper🤬🤬"

"I can't lower the price of papers-" "goodbye. *deadass walks out*" I CACKLED THIS WAS HILARIOUS

"*pouty, over his shoulder because his back is faced to Pulitzer,his arms are crossed, and his shoulders are up to his ears* it's a compromise we can all live with😤🫣"

Davey didn't lose any clothing :( but he also started out dressed more or less the same as Jack was so.

Katherine was blonde, which felt note worthy for some reason

Everyone cheered for medda the loudest during curtain call she was so fucking good

Davey kept stuttering throughout the show and at times it seemed like he was almost trying (and lowkey failing) to cover an accent of some kind but I know that his actor has an American accent because he and I are from the same town, which really feeds into my immigrant Davey hc

I can't get over how good Les was he's gonna grow up to be a star

Over all, this show was really fucking good

Also seriously, Medda. Girl if there's anyway you're reading this what on earth are you doing in the middle of fuck nowhere Pennsylvania?? I don't see many local actors who I believe can make it on Broadway, but you, you could thrive on Broadway.

Every one kept saying "San-ta Fe" and not "Sanna Fe" which felt note worthy

[suddenly--sam]

I feel like a hug from Miss Medda will make everything okay again.

[noxexistant]

Hi i momentarily fell into a deep slumber only to be broken by true loves kiss (which apparently includes my dogs slobber)

Developing on the Medda adoption:

There’s a reason she can’t have all these boys at once. She would love to have all of them, to see the same fierce protection that Oscar has for Morris encompass little Jack Kelly as well. But, they’re too distrusting. Of her. Of him. Of everyone but each other.

The first time they pick a fight with him, Jack’s only six. He comes to Medda in full blown sobs, rapidly trying to explain that he’d been trying to play with Morris and Morris got upset and Oscar just hit him to get him to back off. And he’s got a black eye and a bloody nose.

Medda worriedly reprimands them. If she gives them up, they’re left at the mercy of the system, where broken is a kind word for something far messier.

The second time, Jack is only seven. It had only been a few months since the last one, but Jack once again burst into Medda’s room in tears, running and burying himself in her arms, babbling about how he wished Oscar and Morris loved him like he loved them (he’s seven, he gets attached very easily, doesn’t understand why they’re so distant when all he wants-all he’s ever wanted-is brothers) and it isn’t fair that they get to be brothers and not him.

He tells her it was Oscar that hit him, even though it was Morris who had bruised him this time. The older Delancey had told him that he’d better tell Medda it was him-or else. Told her he’d been messing with them instead of just touching Morris’s favorite blanket. He’s just wanted to feel it, honest. He wanted to know what made it so special.

Medda can’t keep letting one of her kids get hurt.

But what to do?

She calls up their social worker-Denton, she remembers- and asks his opinion. He tells her that she’s got to either give up the two brothers, or she’s got to give up Jack. She can’t have both under her roof, not while they pose a threat to each other.

She’s never had to make a harder decision in her life.

And she hopes Oscar and Morris don’t despise her for it.

dog slobber absolutely falls under the umbrella of true love’s kiss. my puppy is currently snoring in his bed across the room - deceptively loud for something so little - and it’s my own personal lullaby.

also, [even more utterly feral screaming]

god, this is so good, it’s like you read my mind.

poor little jack just utterly cannot wrap his head around oscar and morris’ dynamic - not for what it is. how could he? he just sees their closeness and love for each other and wants in. he wants to be a part of it so badly, wants to be their brother, without understanding that their bond was built as a survival mechanism. that it was a lifetime of trauma in their short lives so far that made them so desperately close and so dependent on each other - and it was the same which also made them so quick to violence, so distrusting of anyone who comes close, so quick to lie even when medda promises them it’s safe to tell the truth.

morris’ blanket had been his only possession beyond the clothes on his back when he’d been introduced to medda’s care. oscar’s closest thing to a possession had been his grip on his brother’s hand, and he hadn’t let go for a single second for days, especially not in front of medda - he’d glared relentlessly at her, wouldn’t take his eyes off her, wouldn’t let her anywhere near morris. jack has a bag of things when he comes to medda’s - old clothes that don’t really fit him anymore, but they’d been the last ones his dad had bought for him; a couple books; a few toys - and he doesn’t have the years of abuse the brothers have, but he of course still has plenty of trauma. jack’s mom had been loving until she’d been dead, and his dad had been good too until he’d fallen apart, and he’s just got all these memories of the good times and what could’ve been. all these wants for what could be now, and he wants so badly to be part of a family again, even if he doesn’t really understand the dynamic at medda’s, he knows it’s his new family.

he’s so excited to have brothers. and he really does love them, wants to love them, wants to be their brother. even though he doesn’t understand why morris is so scared of harmless innocuous stuff like the kitchen, and covers his ears when men are talking - even on tv - and sometimes screams when jack is just trying to play with him. he doesn’t understand why oscar won’t play, and glares at medda even when she’s being nice, and has these big outbursts where he throws and breaks things and then hides like he’s terrified and has to be coaxed out by medda promising gently over and over that he’s safe here. there’s nightlights all over the house and there’s nothing glass and there’s silent alarms on the front and back doors if anyone opens them. jack’s not allowed to go anywhere near oscar and morris’ bedroom at night - even if he can hear one of them having a nightmare or medda talking to them - because morris starts screaming if he does, and then he can’t be calmed down, even by oscar.

and that’s another thing - jack doesn’t understand why neither oscar or morris run to medda when they’re upset, like jack does. they cling to each other, and they hide. they don’t tell medda if jack’s bugging them, they just hit him. they don’t tell medda anything, even important things or things they need help with. like when morris wets the bed - oscar just tries to change the sheets by himself, and starts beating on jack when he trails oscar into the laundry room to tell him medda says they’re not allowed to go in there. and medda tries to explain it to jack, sits him down and tells him gently and slowly that awful things happened to oscar and morris and that they’re not like this on purpose, they just need extra patience and looking after and accommodations made for them so that they can get better - just like someone with a physical injury would - but jack’s a kid, and he can’t help from growing to think that the delanceys are just cruel and strange.

which is why it feels like such an inevitability when medda - looking utterly grief-stricken, which jack hates - says as gently as she possibly can that oscar and morris are going to move on to somewhere new. she says it’ll be somewhere better for them, with this look on her face like she’s trying to believe it. and jack’s kind of sad too, an odd loneliness filling him at the thought of not having his brothers anymore, even if they’d never liked him back - maybe they could, if he kept trying - but he’s maybe glad too. he’ll have all of medda’s attention, even though he’d always had most of it because oscar and morris never wanted to join in. she’d still always been worrying about them. and she looks worried now, maybe more worried than ever, because she and jack both had been expecting some sort of outburst from the brothers at this news - oscar hitting and kicking and destroying, morris screaming and wailing. but instead oscar just looks cold, looks detached as he glares at medda and curls himself around morris, who’s crying quietly, and his understanding is clear.

they’re being abandoned again. they’re not loved, again. they don’t fit in here. they’re not wanted here. he was right to not trust medda, and he was right to keep morris close and protect him too. because everybody’s the same, and all the brothers will ever have is each other.

medda hates the system and hates the situation and hates herself for having to make this choice, because she knows the damage she’s just inflicted on these already brutalised boys is permanent now. and she wants so badly to keep them, but she can’t. she had considered just keeping morris, the quieter and less rough of the two boys who has never hurt jack (as far as she knows), but then she’d thought about oscar and morris being forcefully separated - thought about those tiny, tiny boys who’d first come to her and been unable to let go of each other - and almost made herself sick. it’s her only comfort, really - that they’ll have each other, still, no matter what happens.

jack continues to grow up under medda’s care, and he gets plenty of siblings over the years - who are kinder to him, and stay his siblings even after they leave medda’s care. antonio and sean and patrick and plenty of others. medda becomes mama somewhere along the line. jack goes to school, where he does his best and does okay, and he makes friends, and he visits his parents’ graves when he can, and he starts drawing and painting and flirting. he builds a life. he largely forgets about oscar and morris.

oscar and morris are sent to “the refuge” - a notorious low-rated care facility for at-risk and troubled youth in new york. wards of the state. they don’t go to school, and they fight everyone but each other, and they’re punished constantly and drilled into submission and stripped of everything they never even got to be. they’re taught they’re not worth anything, not anyone’s time or effort and certainly not their love. they’re all they’ve both got in the world and that’s the only thing they can both trust. oscar ages out age eighteen and pulls morris out with him, they move in with some estranged uncle who never wanted them and hardly wants them now, and they don’t build a life so much as they survive. same as they always have. and they never forget jack kelly.

[kellyscowboy]

Dancing prompts

“I can feel your heartbeat.”

Tommy x Barney

sorry for this was so late!! fic exchange, and writers block, and yk the drill lol // so sorry if this is ooc or not their dynamic?? idk running off the very little information i know abt them lol || the prompt list

Tommy had never hated a woman more than he hated Medda at that moment. Although, she was not the only one to blame for this situation. There was also David, who had off-handedly mentioned his upcoming school prom. And then there was Jack, and Racetrack, and Crutchie who thought a dance for all the newsboys would be a great idea. After all, most of the New York newsboys would never experience a prom. But hey, they were kids too! They deserved the experience just as much as an educated kid!

The plans looked dreary though. Very few of the boys knew how to dance and there really wasn't a place that would allow hundreds of newsboys in until the late hours of the night. Until, Jack had the bright idea of asking Medda. Who, of course, was overjoyed by the proposition. She quickly offered to let them use the theatre (with her there, along with the governor and Denton) and then, to top it off, suggested a dance class.

Tommy's belief in a god died the moment he heard the announcement. A couple of the boys, including himself, liked to listen in on the borough meetings. And when Jack dropped that bomb on them (and everyone was excited) he had given up all hope of a higher power. Kill me now.

"And, listen, boys. Ya don't have to came if ya don't wan-ta. Ain't no-one gonna force ya to dress up and come tap shoes with the rest of us." Jack reassured. Maybe there is a god.

David cleared his throat. "Except for all of us Manhattan boys, of course. We're hosting, so we'll all be there."

They continued to ramble on. Something, something, dance lessons, something, something, anyone you want to bring. It was all non-sense to Tommy, including the original idea. He had really hoped a nasty cough might make its way into his throat right before the dance.

And it never did. So Tommy sat there in Medda's theatre, all dolled up and grumpy. His arms crossed and his watched as the condensation from his cup stained the wooden tables. Then, he felt a tap on his shoulder. "What?" He snapped, turned around all angry. Until he saw Barney, eyes wide and hands bouncing at his side excitedly. "Hey, Peanut."

"Tommyboy!" Barney took the greeting as an invitation to sit beside him. "I guess you're not a big fan of dancing, huh?"

Tommy shrugged. "I dunno. I just get embarrassed. I got two left feet."

Barney smiled. "Well, I was thinkin'- and it's kinda dumb but uh. Maybe we could dance?" His fingers rubbed together nervously, excitedly. "Everyone's all infatuated with their partners, anyway. No-one will see you. I heard dancin's less embarrassing with a friend."

"Uh... yeah, sounds... fun." Tommy said. He hesitantly stood up and let himself get drug to the stage by Barney.

Upbeat songs played loudly. Barney bounced around in circles, his hands thrown into the air. Every so often he would force Tommy to spin, then he would spin himself. Other than the obligatory spins, Tommy mostly swayed side to side. Too infatuated with Barney to really do anything else.

Until a slow song started playing. The big groups of people shoving each other around and laughing slowly began to disperse. Tommy froze and watched as other began to pair up. Jack's head immediately spun, and he was pulled towards David like a magnet. Hotshot's hands found their way to Ike's hips, a grin fighting to stay off his face. Even Albert had shyly found Finch, and he hid his face in the boy's shirt as Finch grinned.

When he turned back to Barney, he noticed that the boy in front of him had frozen too. But he was looking up at Tommy and his hands were twitching at his side. Hesitantly, slowly, he trailed his fingers up and around Tommy's neck. "Um, if you-"

Tommy shook his head no and, equally as hesitantly, pulled Barney closer to him. The two swayed to the music, took steps like Medda had taught them to. Barney laughed into the boys chest. "I can feel your heartbeat."

"Really? Honestly, I thought I had died 'n went to heaven or somethin'."

[amiharana]

au where link runs a daycare and one day as he's waiting with all the kids during pickup, this guy he's never seen before comes in asking for a kid, and the girl runs up to the guy and is like "uncle revali!!" all happily but link is like "you're not the parent that normally picks her up, how do I know you're not trying to kidnap her 🤨" and revali gets all pissy like "duh, I'm her uncle and I'm just picking her up this one time bc her parents are busy🙄" and so he has to show like id verification and confirmation from the parents that he's authorized to pick the kid up from daycare but whatever, link is just glad that this was a one time thing and he doesn't have to deal with the guy again..

until! revali keeps coming back to pick up the kid (I still dunno why so don't ask me). and link and revali keep talking to each other, and revali realizes how well link works with kids and link realizes that revali is just very protective of his niece and he loves her a lot 🤭

ok but have you ever seen ted lasso because revali is LITERALLY roy kent like.. idk how to describe it if you haven't seen the show but roy kent curses a lot and has a bad attitude, but it's just out of love and what his circumstances required, and he's sooo sweet with his niece!! anyways that's 100% revali idc

crow this au is so cute 😭🤍🤍 i have not seen ted lasso but i will take your word for it bc that sounds very revali-like 💪💯

do you think link would want to have initially pursued childcare as his career? i feel like he wouldn't have even considered it as a possible career choice until having a Awakening™ like imagine link is a nursing student at first because he knows that the job brings in good money, and he's doing clinicals in a pediatric ward for a shift when a crying kid and her very anxious father come in. turns out, she's broken a bone after a nasty fall and link's clinical instructor assigns link to work with her. at first, link is nervous because this is the first time he's ever worked in the pediatric ward and he's never really worked with little kids before so he's not sure how to approach the whole situation.

but then link gets to talk to her 🥺 her name is aster, she's seven years old, and she wants to become a dancer! the reason why she's in the hospital in the first place is because she was trying to do a dance move she learned in her classes, but she spun too hard and landed really badly on her wrist 🥺🥺 link nods because he relates, he too loved to dance as a child, and he still dances a little in his free time (while admittedly is not a lot because nursing is kicking his ass). he shares this with aster (minus the getting his ass kicked), and the whole conversation calms her down enough for his instructor to start leading them over to the x-ray room to get a proper diagnosis of the broken wrist. the whole time they're doing the x-ray, link and aster just keep on talking about what kind of music they like to dance to, their favorite dance moves, etc. and they get through the x-ray with no issues!

the injury ends up not being too severe and they won't need to do any surgical procedures (aster's father medda is very relieved at this point), but they do have to realign the bone in order to put it into the cast and have it heal properly. dr. deku (link's instructor) says they'll have to use a local anesthesia, and when aster asks what that is, he explains that they have to inject her with a needle and the poor girl pales.

internally, link facepalms (dr. deku isn't very good with dealing with kids, is he?) and he tells aster, "hey, it's gonna be okay! you wanna fix your wrist so you can go back to dancing, right? but we have to give you the anesthesia so that your wrist won't hurt too much when we put it back where it's supposed to be." it comforts her a little, but she's still quiet and wide-eyed about the needle, so link kneels in front of her and keeps talking. "i know it's scary, but i promise, the needle will hurt less than when you hurt your wrist. you're so strong and brave, it's gonna be like nothing! and if you let us fix your wrist, i'll teach you one of my favorite dances when you're all better. how does that sound?" slowly, aster physically relaxes, nodding quietly. and link smiles. "that's it! i'll be here to hold your hand if you get scared, okay?"

so they inject the anesthesia, correct the bone position, apply the cast, and it all goes smoothly! aster squeezes link's hand once during the injection, but she puts on a brave face and link tells her he is very proud of her :) dr. deku finishes up the procedure and talks to medda about at-home treatment, insurance, etc., while link talks to aster telling her she was very brave and that she's going to heal in no time :> before they leave, aster gives link a hug (with her non-broken wrist arm lol) and tells him, "thank you for holding my hand mr. link. i was scared for a little bit, but you helped me not to be!"

and that's kind of the moment that link is like. Wow! That was really cool and i think i would like to work with kids! he ends up really enjoying his time in the pediatric ward and he eventually graduates with his nursing degree specializing in pediatrics, but when it comes to actually getting a job... link doesn't want to do nursing anymore 😳 he wants to work in childcare ���

so after graduating, link looks into how he can open his own daycare but there's. a lot going on. you have to get certifications, go to orientations, get licensing and look into zoning if you open your own facility, not to mention the supplies and resources he would need, it's just so much :(( so link decides to get a job at a local daycare first, that way he can save up money and get the experience working with kids to make sure this is what he wants to do and it is ✋😭 he has no more doubts, this is for sure what he wants to do in his life, he just luvs taking care of little kids he is so hashtag mother

link spends a couple years working to save money to build his own daycare and one day he does! he finally opens the 'second sunrise' daycare on hateno street. his sister zelda becomes the manager/receptionist, while her gf mipha ends wanting to work there because she loves kids too! she loved raising her younger brother sidon so she has a natural affinity for childcare which is exactly what link needs to run this place >:] it all works out and the daycare becomes moderately popular with many families leaving their children at the second sunrise daycare, their children always well taken care of <3

now. here's the actual revalink part. HAHAHAH sorry i got super invested in how link would have gotten into childcare

molli is one of link's favorite kids to take care of at the daycare. she's a very sweet sleepy kid and likes to sit with link to tell him all about the stories and fairytales her grandfather used to tell her about before he passed. her father harth is the one who drops her off and picks her up and at first, the dude was kind of standoffish and quiet. over time, link was able to break the ice with harth and now they chat and catch up every time he comes to drop off and pick up molli ^^

there's one day where harth comes in the morning to drop off molli, but he doesn't come at the normal time that he picks her up, and link is starting to get worried. this is very not like harth at all... but molli doesn't give a shit tho she's peacefully sleeping in one of the naptime cots LMFAOKDJHFJD until finally a stranger that link has never seen before enters the daycare looking disgruntled and disheveled. he talks to zelda at the receptionist desk but she looks over to link with a somewhat nonplussed look, so he looks over to make sure mipha is handling everything in the main room before going over to the front.

"hi, is there a problem here?" link says, looking over at the stranger. he's taller than link with white streaks in his dark hair, narrow green eyes, and a furrow in his brow. he's kinda hot...

"yes, there is a problem," the man says through gritted teeth. "i just need to pick up my niece and your receptionist won't allow me to."

link raises a brow. "your niece? what's her name?"

"molli," the man replies. somehow, link thinks he hears his voice soften, but it doesn't negate the biting tone in his next words. "her father sent me to get her as no one else could and i see myself as a good enough person to run such an errand."

link crosses his arms and leans against the desk. "molli's father usually picks her up at 4pm sharp. why would he send you to come get her? do you even know his name?"

the man rolls his eyes. "of course i do, his name is���"

"uncle revali!" comes a little shout, and link turns to see molli waddling over to the man, her hair still messy from her nap. he looks back at the man, now identified as "revali", but his eyes are only molli, his shrewd green gaze softening as he crouches into a squat, extending his arms as molli throws herself into hugging him.

he wraps his arms around her and returns her embrace gently. "hey sleepyhead," revali says. "ready to go home?"

"where's papa?" molli says instead, and the man sighs. he lifts molli up easily with her arms around revali's neck.

"your dad's a little busy right now, darling, that's why i'm here to come get you today." revali looks back at link and zelda expectantly. "well? it's clear she knows who i am. are you going to keep interrogating me?"

"i'm afraid we have to at the very least verify your identity," zelda says. "it's protocol, since you're not the parent that normally picks her up and neither did we receive confirmation from the parent who does that someone else would be coming in. it would be a safety violation if we let her go with you without verification."

"oh, for hylia's sake," revali growls, rolling his eyes. "do i need to call harth for you right now?"

"that would be preferable," link says, giving revali a once over. "for all we know, you could be stalking their family and have been manipulating molli." revali shoots a glare at him, but pulls out his phone and taps at it a few times before they hear the ringing. after three rings, the call takes and revali puts it on speaker.

"revali?" comes harth's voice. he sounds tired and pained, and it instantly puts link on high alert. "did you get molli yet?"

"i could have, if your daycare would let me leave with her," revali grumbles. "they said i have to get my identification verified because it's a safety violation."

harth snorts over the phone. "yeah well, you aren't exactly the most friendly looking guy. can you hand the phone to one of the staff?"

"you're on speaker."

"mm. hey link? you there?"

"i'm here," link says, leaning towards the phone. "is everything okay, harth? why weren't you able to pick up molli yourself?" he glances at revali, who's still glaring at him.

harth sighs, a tinny breath through the speaker. "i would have, but i got in a car accident on the way over. i'm in the hospital right now." link's eyes widen and zelda gasps, covering her mouth with both hands. "i'm mostly okay, but my arm's fractured so i'm gonna be off for a couple weeks and i won't be able to drive... but since i'm the only who takes care of molli, i'll probably still have her over at sunrise like normal since i can't really take care of her like this. she likes it there anyway... she tells me all about how you're her favorite caretaker, link."

link smiles for a moment, but it turns back into a frown as he remembers something. "wait, how are you going to get her over here if you can't drive?"

"that guy who's with you there right now is an old friend of mine, revali. molli will call him 'uncle' but we're not actually related, it's just what she calls him. i don't have any friends who can actually babysit molli themselves, since teba and saki are gonna be covering my shifts at work and amali's got her hands full with her own kids. revali works, but he can at least take molli to and from sunrise at the normal times i do drop offs and pickups. you can take care of her still, right?"

"of course we can," link replies softly. "we're just worried about you too, you know. how bad was the fracture?"

"they said it was a transverse radial fracture and that it'll take about six weeks to heal. don't feel too bad, it's not like you were there to fix me up with a splint or something. i'll be fine. insurance is taking care of the crash and the injuries."

"okay," link says. "we'll have to register revali in our system as a confirmed parent for molli's file for our safety protocols. that okay with you?" he gets a hum of confirmation over the phone. "okay. i'll take care of that here. you rest up, we'll try to come visit you soon. take care, harth."

"you too. thanks, link." the call ends and revali pockets his phone again, adjusting his grip on molli in his arms.

"is papa gonna be okay?" molli says looking up at revali. link's heart cracks in two at the quiet, sad tone of the child's voice, and watches the way revali's eyes soften as he looks back at molli. interesting...

"your dad's going to be just fine, darling," he says softly. "he's a very strong and brave man, he can get through anything, don't worry."

"can we go see him?" she says.

revali pauses for a moment before responding. "sure, sweetheart, we can go see him." and link's heart just shatters.

they have revali sign a couple things for the confirmed parent paperwork and verify his identity with a government-issued ID, and let him go, link and zelda waving at molli as she waves back and snuggles into revali's hold. revali nods at them in silent acknowledgement and turns, leaving the daycare with zelda and link at the desk.

"he was kind of attractive once you get past the prickliness, don't you think?" zelda says, breaking the silence. link rolls his eyes and walks back into the main room with mipha. (he won't admit that he agrees 😄)

this shit is so long now LOL but revali coming in every morning and afternoon to drop off and pick up molli every weekday for the next couple of weeks. he mostly doesn't say anything and just nods, a surly look on his face when he interacts with link and zelda but the softest look in his eyes when he hugs molli goodbye or in greeting when he picks her up. it's so interesting to link, how someone this much of a pretentious dickhead could be so tender towards one of the sweetest children ever.

he tries striking up conversation with revali, just small talk, but revali only gives him short cold answers. it reminds link of how harth used to be when he first started coming to the daycare, and link wonders if he can get through to revali eventually. (he hopes he can; he does think revali is kinda fine 🤑 especially since one of his fav kids loves revali so much)

"your earrings are beautiful," link says one day when revali is dropping molli off. he's wearing little jade green hoops; they're simple, but they're elegant.

and the compliment catches revali off-guard. he reaches up with one hand to touch one of the hoops gently. "thank you..." he murmurs. "they're... a family heirloom."

link smiles at him. they're making progress! "they're beautiful," he repeats. "see you later?"

"yes..." revali says, blinking. "see you later..." link and molli wave goodbye as revali leaves the daycare, subconsciously reaching up to touch his earrings with his other hand.

it goes like that for a while; simple compliments about accessories or clothing or hairstyles (revali came in once with his hair in braids and link internally swooned a little, but kept his friendly facade up).

"...do you know any good coffee places nearby?" revali says, another time he's dropping molli off. it catches link by surprise since revali never initiates conversation, but he quickly turns it into a thoughtful look.

"hm... the east wind cafe is just down the street from here," link says. "they also have some food if you need a quick bite. tell pruce and ivee i sent you and they'll give you a discount for your first order." link winks. "i recommend their caramel macchiato."

"i will... keep that in consideration," revali says. he gives link a slight nod. "i'll see you later." he pauses, looking like he wants to say more. "have a good day."

link smiles. "you too, revali."

i talked a bit about this au to my irl who i've converted into revalinkism (but hasn't played botw yet 😒) and they were like This has so much potential for a slow burn, and they're SO true for that. it takes 15 conversations like this before revali and link even imply the idea of going out with each other in a romantic context

"have you always been a part of molli's life?" link asks when revali picks her up on one of those days.

revali hums as he picks molli up and holds her with one arm. "i was in the waiting room the day she was born," he said. "i felt as though i was in the actual hospital room as well, with how anxious i was."

he rubs molli's back as she snuggles drowsily into his hold. "there were complications during her birth, and i'm sure you're aware that she tends to be frequently drowsy like this, yes?" link nods. "molli has some health issues as a result of the circumstances of her birth, and i took part in caring for her back then when harth and her mother were struggling." revali presses a kiss to the top of molli's head. "she's like my own daughter, too. i would do anything for her."

once, revali comes in a little earlier than 4pm to pick up molli. zelda isn't at the receptionist desk because she's helping out mipha and link in the main room; the kids just had a little costume-and-tea party today! they've just finished and are in the middle of cleaning up, so revali just leans against the receptionist desk with his arm atop it, watching them do so.

link is sitting in the middle of the group, clapping his hands to a beat and singing that one barney clean-up song, leading a sing-a-long that the rest of the children are beginning to follow as they pick up their toys, give their costumes to zelda, and their plates to mipha. once they finish cleaning, link erupts into applause and cheers, causing the rest of the children to clap and cheer too. a couple of the kids, including molli, come to link for hugs, which he gives freely with a huge smile on his face telling the kids how they did such a good job of cleaning up and how he's proud of them.

he's a natural at this, revali thinks as he watches link continue to smile and cheer. it's like he was made to do this. he would probably make a really good parent...

suddenly, link meets his gaze from the main room and his cheeks flush pink, his eyes wide. and without really thinking about it, revali just gives him a small smile and an equally small wave. link blinks but smiles shyly, waving back.

the day that harth finally recovers from his fracture is the saddest day of link and revali's lives. can you believe they still haven't gotten each other's numbers or something at this point. they just keep kind of talking to each other twice a day when they see each other like complete losers. ✋😭

link gets a text from harth being like Hey, my arm is finally healed up. I'm heading back into work, and I can start taking Molli over again. See you again soon. and he shuts his phone off, puts it facedown, and just sits down at the receptionist desk with zelda. she rolls her eyes at him.

"you should just ask revali out already," she says, taking a sip from her tea and scrolling through her computer. "it's been how many weeks now?"

"i don't even know if he likes guys, zel," link says. she glances at him, giving him a look.

"even if he wasn't gay, he seems to really like you," she points out.

link presses his forehead against the desk. "don't give me hope. he just loves molli a lot."

"believe whatever you want to believe," zelda says, rolling her eyes again and going back to her work. "he looks at you like he loves you too."

when revali finds out harth is healed up and ready to go back, he doesn't even know how to respond. seeing link those two times of the day had been like. the highlight of his entire life for the past couple weeks. it's not like he can just randomly visit the daycare now that harth is going back to picking up molli. he should try to convince harth to let him continue taking molli under the guise that he just really loves his niece and harth needs more time to recover, or—

"stop making that face," harth says gruffly, clapping a hand on revali's shoulder. "you look scarier than i do."

"shut up," revali wrinkles his nose at harth. "not even a mask could conceal the ridiculous unsightliness you're bringing into the world."

harth snorts. "if i'm 'unsightly', what does that make molli?"

"a very pretty young lady," revali says primly. "are you sure you're her father?"

harth smacks revali's shoulder in jest, but continues. "tell me what's actually on your mind, old friend."

"nothing of particular relevance," revali lies cleanly. "just that i'm surprised you're willing to go back to driving so soon after recovery, when driving is what caused all this mess in the first place."

harth raises his brows. "so not about link?"

revali blinks rapidly, furrowing his own brow. "what?"

"molli keeps talking about how you and 'mr. link' have been getting along real well when you come to the daycare," harth says. "says you look happier talking to him."

"that's not true," revali sputters, flushing, "i'm just being polite since they're taking care of her after all and—"

"you're saying my little angel would lie?" harth says, amused. "she's more perceptive than you give her credit for, you know." then his expression becomes more serious. "you're one of my oldest friends, revali. i'm always going to encourage you to pursue what makes you happy and if it's my childcare provider that's doing it for you, then you should go for it."

"no, wait, that's not," revali chokes, but harth shakes his head, chuckling. "i'm not, i don't like him, he's—"

"you can go pick up molli for me since you want to see him so bad, it's almost 4," harth says, waving him off and turning to walk away. "link's a really nice kid, i get why you like him so much, so go ask him out already."

revali is left there, completely flabbergasted that he's been seen through. is he really not that subtle about it? (yes the closet is made out of glass babe you are NOT slick)

so revali goes over to the daycare, sullenly wondering if this is the last time he's going to see link ever because it would be weird if he showed up not to drop off or pick up molli, and when he enters, link, molli, and zelda are already waiting at the desk. zelda greets him, link waves, and molli waddles over latching herself to revali's leg.

"harth let us know that he was going to be able to start taking molli again," zelda says, as business-like as usual, and revali's heart begins to sink at the reality of it all, until— "but i forgot to ask him if he'd like to keep you on molli's file as an emergency contact? i'm not sure if he had someone else in mind, but seeing as you're his close friend and we already know you, it would be convenient for both of us."

"ah," revali says, blinking. "yes, just keep me as an emergency contact. if harth has problems with it, he'll let you know, but i doubt he will." he pats molli's head. "i'm the only other person he trusts to take care of her."

"perfect! i'll update that on her file then." zelda goes back to typing on her computer, and revali doesn't know where to look because if he looks at link, he doesn't know what he's going to do or what to say or—

"will this be the last time we see you?" link says and revali can't stop himself from meeting the blond's gaze. something about his voice seems sad, disappointed, but it can't be, why would he be sad or disappointed? he stares with wide blue eyes that keep revali rooted to the spot, almost lost in their own little world, until revali forcefully tears his gaze away.

"well," he says, swallowing, "if harth will continue taking molli, i don't have much of a reason to come back here anymore. it would be strange, wouldn't it? coming to a daycare with no child to leave or take with."

"i guess," link replies softly. and they fall quiet, the only sounds in the air being zelda's typing, the faint echo of children's' laughter in the main room, the soft music in the reception room.

"are you gonna miss mr. link?" molli asks suddenly, looking up at revali. his eyes widen and he opens his mouth, trying to scramble for an excuse, but zelda answers for him.

"i bet he's going to miss mr. link so much," zelda says, in a very matter-of-fact tone. "they're the bestest of friends and now they can't see each other anymore! your uncle and mr. link must be so sad, molli." link shoots zelda a glare but she only smirks back.

"no!" molli exclaims. "i don't want you to be sad!" she pulls on revali's pant leg. "you're gonna come back to see mr. link, right? because you're friends and friends always play see each other and play. don't be sad, uncle revali!"

"what if they had a playdate, molli?" zelda says, almost deviously. link whisper-shouts at her, blushing, but she ignores it to continue. "do you think mr. link and uncle revali would like to have a playdate together?"

"a playdate!" molli shouts. "uncle revali, you and mr. link should have a playdate! please? i don't want you to be sad, uncle revali, you're gonna miss mr. link if you don't see him anymore!" she pulls at his pant leg again, give him puppy-dog eyes. "you'll come see mr. link again, right?"

revali looks back up at link, who's blushing and leaning over the desk, telling his sister off, who's giggling behind her hand. he looks back, meeting revali's gaze and straightens, tucking a piece of hair behind his ear. he's pretty, revali thinks faintly.

"i... wouldn't be opposed to a playdate with mr. link," revali says softly. and link's eyes widen, face flushing darker. zelda looks even more devious behind the desk.

"yay!" molli cheers, dancing in a circle. "mr. link and uncle revali playdate!"

"yay for playdate!" zelda cheers, raising a fist. "you'll have to exchange numbers for the playdate, though. how else are you going to plan it?" she smiles expectantly at revali.

"don't you already have my number on molli's file?" revali says, finding the voice to speak as shrewd as he normally does. "you could have just gotten it from there."

"it's a privacy violation to give out or use the contact information of our children's caretakers' for non-work or emergency uses," zelda replies cheerfully. "but you giving your number to link in a personal context isn't. hope that helps!"

"you and your safety and privacy violations," revali grumbles, but he turns to link, who's still pink in the cheeks. "well? do you want my number so we can... plan our playdate?"

"s-sure," link whispers, eyes so blue and wide. "yeah, what's your number?" he pulls out his phone to open his contacts, and looks back up at revali. pretty, revali thinks again.

so they exchange numbers and revali and molli leave the daycare, molli cheering and skipping around. "bye mr. link! bye miss zelda!" she shouts as they exit.

"bye molli! bye revali!" zelda replies, waving. "see you next time!"

and when revali looks back, he meets eyes with link again. the blush has mostly died down from his cheeks now, but link as a whole glows warmly. he gives revali a small, shy smile and waves. just this once, revali allows himself to fully smile and wave back.

[we-are-inevitable]

Think about Jack Kelly who's wanted to be a foster parent since he moved in with Medda and learned exactly what he had been missing but when he is in the right place in life to be able to do that both mentally and financially he's scared he went through so many shitty foster situations before Medda got him he's terrified of fucking up a kid as badly as he was as a kid and it fucking hurts he knows the good he could do but also how bad it feels if it goes wrong and it paralyzes him for almost a year till Davey and Medda can finally talk some sense into him

-Races-Stupid-Cigar-

god yes i adore this.

jack is nothing if not a parental figure. he’s terrified that he doesn’t know how to take care of children, though, or that he’ll mess up- but the truth is that he knows exactly what not to do on account of how he grew up, so it’s just a matter of filling in the blanks to how he sees fit

[askmissmedda]

Hello! I'm about ready now, if you aren't that's okay I'm willing to wait. :)

@ask-bryan-denton

(Sorry for taking too long idk if we're doing it irl time or like yegsus, :)

(It's okay no worries!! it's whatever you prefer ^^!)

I'm ready! Let's get going, shall we? Don't want to keep the coffee shop open too long, do we?

[baura-bear]

👔 for newsies!!!!!!!!!

👔 Favorite Newsies Outfit?

This is strangely specific but I really love uksies Katherine outift during KoNY when she doesn't have the blue vest and it's just her white blouse with the sleeves rolled up (because I am a hopeless homosexual). I also really like Splasher and ALL of the Brooklyn girlsies (I couldn't pick just one) from uksies. After thinking about this I've decided that I just like the uksies outfits the best out of all of the productions.

honorable mention is Jack's fit from 92sies

[piedoesnotequalpi]

top 5 newsies(? idk actually know anything abt them but I know u like them)

Hello anonymous person! I will interpret this as top five Newsies characters

Race

Crutchie

Davey

Spot (specifically UKsies Spot)

Albert

[sparkedblaze]

Can we get some more tweets 👀

Like this?

[thefactsofthematter]

may i ask about olympic sprace and baby jack :)

-asper @loving-jack-kelly

you may!! @loving-jack-kelly

for olympic sprace, the plot of the eventual fic is still v much under construction, but i can share a couple fun snippets! i’ve written some parallel flashbacks to long before they met— they’ll either open the fic to set the scene, or be sprinkled in later on! here’s a peek:

"This isn't an option, Anthony Edward." His mom is using the voice now: the one that means he needs to smarten up if he knows what's good for him. "You can't just skip the first day of school, and I have to get to work. Get a move on, please."

and

"Sean, if you don't get your ass in the van in the next two minutes, I'm taking away your iPod for a week! Let's go!"

also! another fun detail is that i realized poor spot having a first name like sean in québec means that literally everyone mistakes it for jean bc it sounds ridiculously similar. he gives up on correcting people at a very young age, since even he can hardly hear the difference— he ends up doing the very french thing of tacking on his middle name and going by jean-patrick for a long time, until his gymnastics team gives him his nickname! when race meets him, it takes literal months to get to the bottom of wtf this kid’s name actually is lol

onto baby jack!! ah, the au that makes it very clear i took a bunch of child development classes in college when i minored in psych <3

for reference, here’s the already existing fic in this universe— i have another coming fairly soon i think, and many more thoughts about where things could go from there! at one point someone asked if crutchie and race might make an appearance, which is such a fun idea that i 100% want to explore eventually.

for now, the next little instalment is jack and medda focused again, and it’s once again a little heartbreaking but very sweet— it looks at 5 year-old jack a couple months after moving in with medda. he’s starting to process what happened to him in the group home he used to live in (a parallel to the refuge), and i’ve found it really really interesting to write this kind of thing from a child’s perspective! it’s so sad, but he’s so sweet and medda is so good to him.

here’s a little bit:

"I'm playing," he breathes, so quiet he can hardly hear it.

Her eyebrows go up a little, and she smiles.

"Yeah? What kind of game?"

Jack swallows some of his fear.

"Hiding. From a spider."

"A hiding game," Medda echoes. "Okay. Did you see a real spider somewhere that you're hiding from, or is it just pretend?"

"Pretend." Jack pauses. He feels the need to explain a little further. "It's really big."

Medda nods.

"A really big spider, huh? Sounds like kind of a scary game. What does the spider do?"