#he kept Crutchie too

[corpusdiem-seizethedead]

Skittery: *staring at Jack and Davey* Are we really going to let him keep that?

Mush: …we kept Racetrack.

Race: Hey!

Race: …

Race: …actually, that’s fair

[rhysdoesstuff]

My thoughts on TUTS Newsies!!!

It’s a long post folks, so here you go:

First of all, holy shit was that show good

Second of all, here are my thoughts about the show, in a mildly unordered manner-

During Carrying the Banner, the top part of Crutchies crutch broke off, so he spent the rest of the song, and a bit into the next scene hobbling around with the broken crutch until he could leave stage and get it fixed (they all did such a great job ignoring it) (I also feel it’s worth mentioning it got broken when Jack used it to beat up the Delaney Brothers)

When the Newsies found out the price of papes was raised, and were trying to figure that out, Wisel kept having to deal with Newsies moving towards the paper station, then backing away, and it was funny to watch him grow more and more frustrated with them all.

During one of the songs, Davey carried Les around on his shoulders for a bit and I loved it!

MEDDA. She is an absolute powerhouse of a singer and I love her. A very Very powerful voice, that I adore and love. Plus her outfits are phenomenal. I love them.

During That’s Rich, there was a man onstage watching it, and every time the name Frank was said, it was said to him, and he had such funny reactions to it all!! 

I don’t know if it was intentional, but when Kathrine went on her tangent about “Like someone said, "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power" she did a little voice, and it sounded a bit like Pulitzer, and now I headcannon Pulitzer saying that to her, and her using those words against him.

During the last few seconds of Santa Fe, as Jack is hitting that final amazing high note, the projection behind him turns from the dreary city streets to a bright and vibrant painting of Santa Fe and a sunset, and it was beautiful, but it was only there a few seconds before blackout and intermission. I loved it though.

Right before King of New York when Davey announced that they “launched the strike in a most auspicious manner” and no one cheers, there was one person who gave a little Hurrah, and that was Mr. Jacobi, who was walking offstage after dropping off the water. It had the audience laughing and I loved it.

Before the Watch What Happens reprise, when Davey asked Jack if what he is painting is Santa Fe, he says Santa Fe in a sing song voice, and he removes his hat as Jack does at the end of Santa Fe, and that was amazing to watch.

Jack, when he is painting during Watch What Happens Reprise, he puts on a red shirt over top of his undershirt. Then he leaves stage and that shirt is never seen again and I’m so confused at why it was there. I loved it, but then he was right back into the amazing blue shirt- so. Yeah.

THE FEMALE BRONX NEWSIE. We love her! I was able to track her through the show, she was in the other group Newsies numbers as well, and was doing an amazing job!

Also, Race. Let’s talk about Race. I absolutely loved him. He was so tall. Taller then everyone else (except maybe Davey, cause he was tall too, though I’m not sure as tall as Race)

In addition, I’m not sure if it was bad shadows, or intentional, but it kinda looked like Race had a black eye? Which would be in character. It’s probably my bad eyesight making it uncertain though. Also! Race’s elbows were all red after the fight. No other Newsies had as noticeable injuries. 

SPOT!!! SPOT AND ROMEO WERE PLAYED BY THE SAME PERSON. They did amazing with both characters, but I spent so long staring at Spot going, wasn’t that Romeo? Until I checked the program and went, Wait, that was actually Romeo! I’m not going insane!!

THE DANCING!!!! They had different choreo from Broadway which I loved. It was wonderful, I loved it so much, and everyone did such a good job. They were doing flips all over the place, and I’m not even sure what I saw half the time, but I know it was good.

The lighting was amazing, and I loved how it was used to set the energy level for each scene!! Also, the projections were beautiful, and paired wonderfully with the amazing set, which was rearrangeable!!!

Pulitzer had a really thick accent, which wasn’t fully New York. I can’t quite place what it was, but whatever it was, it was noticeable, and that made it funnier when Jack mimicked him at one point.

At the very end of the musical, when Jack buys papes and decides to stay, Kathrine buys papes too, and goes to celebrate with the Newsies, and someone puts a newsies hat on her head, which was adorable and which I loved.

[piedoesnotequalpi]

My unsolicited thoughts on the production of Newsies that I just saw

I overall enjoyed the show, but it was a mixed bag in some regards so. yeah!

Act 1

Crutchie and Jack were not nearly close enough (physically or emotionally) in the opening scene. Also, Crutchie's crutch was on the wrong side even though the actor playing him apparently has mobility issues?

Some newsies were dropped/sent off by their parents during Carrying the Banner! Amazing! Very neat to see this explicitly acknowledged! 100/10!

Jack was shorter than Katherine <3

Race was implied to be younger than Albert based on their pants styles???

Also, Albert paid for his papes, which was disappointing

This production's Les played the "I'm ten...almost" line very differently from Livesies Les (more a reluctant acknowledgement than aggressive), which I liked (I really liked this production's Les)

The way Pulitzer said "I don't look pretty" absolutely killed me. Also, he was incredibly fidgety during the office scene and Nunzio was visibly irritated by this. The Pulitzer and co scenes were generally really well blocked and acted.

Jack walked into the scene where Snyder shows up with a flower girl that he's implied to be flirting with, which I thought was an interesting addition. She spent most of the scene waiting and looking like she really wanted Jack to pay more attention to her (he was focused on Davey and Les) but did at least stick around long enough to distract Snyder.

"But I can see her - [embarrassed pause] - her legs."

The guy Medda addressed in That's Rich ("hey, baby, I was just talking about you") collapsed in his chair after the acknowledgement even though it's not a particularly positive interaction

During the pre-WWK scene, the ensemble was weirdly quiet the whole time.

Albert had to be held back after the "aw, just let 'em try!" bit

Now that I've seen the UKsies staging/delivery of "I say we save any interviews for a real reporter" I cannot go back to watching Davey deliver the line as directly as he did in this production.

Les tried to volunteer to visit Brooklyn but Davey pulled his hand down, which was hilarious

During the WWK reprise, they did a sort of chair assembly line to get the chairs offstage, which I thought was a good way to incorporate the set change into the choreography.

I wish Jack would've given Katherine more personal space in the post-Jacobi's scene, but it was at least better than Livesies

Also, this Jack overall did not have good pacing in his line delivery

Katherine absolutely crushed WWH and I loved the way she did the "it's a girl" section

I wish Crutchie had been better incorporated into the dances. Maybe it was something to do with the actor's disability, but there has to be a better solution than Crutchie sitting to the side/being offstage half the time during WWK and Seize the Day

After the line about skull-busting Albert stood up to fight the Delanceys and Mush had to pull him back down.

Davey didn't address people individually during the Seize the Day intro :(

Another UKsies related thought is that their choice to have the scabs explicitly be from the main group was a good one and I wish this production had done it too

Jack was really in the thick of it during the fight

As Jack was climbing to the rooftop before Santa Fe, he was audibly sobbing and he kept crying during Santa Fe, which almost made me cry.

A general thought is that the existence of Livesies seems to make directors afraid to do their own thing with the show.

Act 2

Jacobi was running the deli with his...wife? and she was helping patch up some of the newsies pre-KoNY

In this scene, but also in general, Race did not commit to the bit nearly hard enough - "wouldya lookit, that's me! I'm famous!" didn't really feel like a distraction tactic

The ensemble was divided into tap dancers and spoon players (they even had a "spoon captain" listed in the program) and the spoon players at one point played their spoons on the tap dancers' shoes

The Katherine interlude in KoNY was very oddly done and I am not sure what they were trying to accomplish (and she didn't even have tap shoes, which, what?)

The person I knew who was in the show had a dance highlight in the pre-Letter from the Refuge dance break! Yay!

Les was SO funny during the WWHR lead-up and as soon as the date exchange started Jack backed away slowly since he was standing between Davey and Les before.

The Bottom Line (reprise) lead-up was REALLY well-staged

When Katherine was revealed to be Pulitzer's daughter, Katherine was visibly upset at being used as a pawn and Hannah ended up trying to comfort her, with mixed success.

When Pulitzer mentioned Davey, Jack had already been knocked to the floor but he tried to get up and lunge at Pulitzer.

Katherine ran offstage when Pulitzer said "too bad you've no family, but you can't have mine"

The person with the Bronx sign kept the sign turned around until his line

Les was fully not at the rally, which, what?

Jack also didn't get into any physical altercations at the rally, which, again, what? Weird choices were made there!

Much like the pre-WWK scene, the ensemble was weirdly quiet.

This is probably an unoriginal thought about STBI, but I think a potential way to make the "or is it because I'm a girl?" line less weird is to have Katherine deliver it in a more resigned/frustrated than accusatory tone ("I'm dealing with this again? Really?") - her concern of being dismissed is not invalid, but I think it's less to do with Jack specifically and more to do with the world she lives in.

The way Jack said "if you weren't an heiress" killed me

There were fog machines during OAFA and the scene leading up to it, and that plus the lighting during the scene looked SO COOL

Davey and Jack had their arms around each other during the beginning of OAFA and Katherine just kinda stood next to them (close by, but still) which was. a choice.

During the lines "ready to fight us a war" and "talk about seizing the day" there were choreography callbacks to "either they gives us our rights or we gives them a war" and a section of the Seize the Day choreography.

Katherine kissed Jack on the cheek before she left, which was very cute

Davey and Jack stood face-to-face very close together with their hands on each other's shoulders at the end of OAFA and it was, again, certainly a (very gay) choice

Pulitzer terrified Bunsen out of the room during the phone call bit, which led into Bunsen presumably encountering Jack and co. and then escorting them in

Jack turned to Katherine instead of Davey after the Roosevelt handshake, which I disliked not for Javid reasons but just because Davey has context for the interaction and Katherine doesn't.

During the line "New York's got us, and we're family" Pulitzer stuck his head over Katherine's shoulder. Katherine was not particularly happy with this development, but I thought it was funny.

Katherine and Les hugged in the final scene!!!

Snyder being sent to jail in Broadway!Newsies always makes me miss 92sies!Crutchy's "make friends with the rats" line

Jack and Crutchie didn't hug until the very end (right after Jack and Davey hugged), which I thought was a weird choice to make. No one hugged Crutchie when he first entered either, which was sad and honestly made Crutchie feel less like part of the group :( (which is a staging choice I disagree with)

There was no curtain call, just slower-paced bows that extended from the curtain call music through the bow music. Also, someone juggled during the bows?? I need to figure out if I've met that person given how small the juggling community is in my neck of the woods.

...This kind of just turned into a stream of consciousness infodump. Bone apple teeth!

[ill-say-anything-i-hafta]

I went to see a local middle school production of Newsies Jr. and it was super cute and here are my...

SHOW NOTES

The production started with the choir singing "Home on the Range" a capella. 💯

It was very fun and moving to see child characters played by real kids. Jack was a little scrappy guy (David, Crutchie and Katherine were all taller). Racetrack had very pink cheeks. Albert was wearing an enormously oversized vest and shirt with rolled up pants. Pigtails was the dirtiest newsie. Buttons had the most emphatic New York accent.

David and Les showed up to sell in matching argyle sweater vests.

Pulitzer who was the only character not played by a middle schooler for some reason (he looked like a weird high schooler least or maybe he was in his 20s). He was a head taller than Hanna, Seitz and Bunsen, who were a comedy trio behind him, constantly cowering but then egging each other on.

Crutchie was so excited to teach Les to sell and looked on with pride as Les scammed that lady.

The kid playing Snyder was doing some kind of strangled, raspy villain voice that was hilarious and scary by turns.

At Medda's, David introduced himself as "Davey" and then looked so annoyed at himself.

Morris kept trying to give various newsies papes, even after they said they were striking.

Racetrack went around kicking the bundles of papes off the stage. He was absolutely that kid who always slides on his belly to the front of the pic, cheesing.

Katherine was a big girl with glasses and know-it-all energy and she had objectively the best voice. She killed Watch What Happens!

In the fight, Crutchie got knocked to the ground while three uniformed cops plus Snyder crowded around, kicking him. People in the audience were audibly upset. ACAB!

Jack picked up Crutchie's abandoned crutch with the strike banner still attached and he had it on the fire escape during Santa Fe. He sang the line "dumb crip's just too damn slow." This was the only time anyone said the c-slur in the whole play. He was so sad and he got angrier and angrier as he sang but that last note was beautiful.

They played "Money Money Money" by ABBA during the intermission, and I ran into Seitz in the ladies restroom. She was about 4'11" tall and asked me if I was enjoying the show. Of course!

Crutchie tried to get to his feet during his song, but he couldn't do it.

Bunsen made a big deal about concealing Katherine with his body and then dramatically revealing her.

In his office, Pulitzer said to Jack, "I'll see to it your pockets are filled with enough cash to take you to ... where was it again?" And then both Delancey brothers, who had gnarly bruises in their faces from the fight, sang out "Santa Feeeee!"

The Brooklyn newsies all had red bandanas.

After they made up after the rally, David initiated a spit shake with Jack, but Jack really horked up a loogie and David super regretted it.

David got right in Pulitzer's face to tell him circulation was down and Pultizer got mad and shoved him backward and David just grinned.

Crutchie and Jack hugged and then hugged again.

Pulitzer got booed during the bows!

The crew was mostly very queer high school students.

Some of this stuff might be in the Newsies Jr. script and not unique to this production, but it was all delightful.

[lovingmusicalmen]

May I request a blurb for the prompt “Do you want me to carry you?” with Davey Jacobs x Reader? Or Jack Kelly x Reader, whichever you prefer.

I hope you enjoy!! This is my first time writing for Davey so let me know what you think!

Still accepting blurb requests!

Fluff 17 - "Do you want me to carry you?"

Les was fast asleep, head resting on Y/N's knees as she idly combed through the kid's hair, talking to the other Newsies.

Davey, Jack and Les had finished up selling early that day and so had headed back to the lodging house to kill time, and go over future plans for the union. One by one, as more Newsies had returned from their days exploits, the conversation had gone from work-orientated to just chatting among each other.

Davey seemed more at ease than Y/N had seen him... well, ever, if she was going to be honest. Since she had met him, Davey had been stressed out and nervous about the future of his family, the strike, the union and now his newly acquainted brothers. So it was nice to see him relaxing with the other sellers. Cracking jokes with Crutchie and teasing Race over his latest gambling loss.

Les, however, had not quite kept up. He had come over to Y/N almost the moment she had returned to the lodging house and sat down to join her friends and demanded her attention. The kid was inexplicably fond of her - Y/N suspected it had something to do with her teaching him to tie his laces, and agreeing not to tell the other boys he hadn't known how to do it up until then in case they teased him.

Davey had confided in her that Les' admiration more than likely actually stemmed from the strike itself. She had stuck by his side through the whole ordeal, taking a couple of blows on his behalf when the bulls had arrived and she had been desperate to get him as far away from the fighting as possible.

(Davey had also admitted, rather shyly, with flushed pink cheeks that he, too, had been touched by the attention shown to his younger brother. Grateful to her that she had been looking out for him. Y/N had wondered then if she was naive for wanting to read into his words, to try and convince herself that he returned her affections)

Les had grown sleepy quickly, though. And had passed out across Y/N's lap with the quiet murmurings of the Newsies to keep him company. Davey had met her eyes a couple of times across the room, since seeing his younger brother fast asleep on her lap. And there was an undeniable apology in his expression, which Y/N was quick to dismiss each time with a grin and shake of her head.

She didn't mind it at all.

(And no, that had nothing to do with the warm feeling in the pit of her stomach when she saw Davey looking over towards her and Les with such gentle affection)

The evening had, in short, been close to perfect.

Davey stood from where he had been resting on Crutchie's bed, leaning against the wall as he chatted idly with Race and Albert, and he stretched out his arms. Y/N could have sworn that she heard his back give a crack at the movement.

"I should probably get home - our folks will be worrying about us," Davey offered by way of explanation. There were nods and farewells called to him from around the room and Davey picked his way across the floor to reach Y/N and Les.

He offered her the shy smile she was used to seeing him wear and he reached up to ruffle his hair a little under his cap.

"Figure I should collect your limpet," he said, a teasing edge to his voice. "Sorry about him."

"Don't apologise - he's a sweet kid," Y/N paused before adding: "and you're a real good brother to him, Dave."

A pink hue sprinkled across the apples of Davey's cheeks, but Y/N forced herself to look away from it, gently shaking the kid on her lap.

Les groaned and swatted at her hand.

"Leave me alone," he grumbled. Y/N shared an amused glance with Davey, who crouched down.

"Come on - we've gotta get home, Les."

"I'm comfortable," he complained again, opening his eyes just enough to shoot his brother a glare. Y/N bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

Davey caught the action though, rolling his eyes at her in exasperation.

"I can't imagine it's all that comfortable for Y/N, though. Come on, get up."

Les opened his eyes again, this time directed up at Y/N in the same puppy-dog expression she knew Jack had been training him in to sell his papers.

"Y/N" he whined. Y/N chuckled and pinched his arm lightly.

"What do you want me to do, kid? Do you want me to carry you home?" She joked. Les looked contemplative though, and then nodded.

"That would work," he agreed.

Y/N burst out laughing, and Davey sighed again, letting his head fall down onto the mattress beside his brother.

"I told mum and dad you were a heathen," he complained. "I said they should've just stuck with me and Sarah."

"This is why I like Y/N," Les huffed, aiming a kick at Davey. "She's nice to me."

"Alright, kid - come on, your parents will be worried," Y/N cut in, laughing quietly. She pushed him off of her lap and stood up. "How does a piggy back ride sound?"

Ten minutes later, the three of them were walking the route back to Davey's family home. Les had fallen back asleep, resting on Y/N's lap, and Davey hadn't stopped spewing apologies for his brother's actions.

"Dave - I mean it, you don't need to apologise," she said with a gentle laugh. "Manhatten's nice to walk through at this time of night, anyway." She shot a teasing look at him from the corner of her eye. "Besides, the company's not all too bad, either."

Davey went bright pink, mouth gaping open slightly as he processed her... rather forward words.

"I mean - I'd never complain at the chance to spend more time with you," he managed to get out, smiling awkwardly at her.

"Such a charmer, Jacobs."

"You started it!"

The two of them lapsed into quiet laughter for a moment. Just as the two of them turned the corner down into Davey's street, he spoke again.

"Well... would I be able to take you out some time? To make up for this?" He gestured at the sleeping kid. "Without my brother, and the other's, I mean. Since we... like spending time together, and all," he added awkwardly.

"You asking me on a date, Jacobs?"

"That.... depends on your answer?" Davey tried weakly and Y/N laughed.

"And if my answer's a yes?" She asked as they came to a stop outside of the Jacobs' front door. Davey stepped forwards to scoop Les into his arms instead.

"Then yeah - definitely a date," Davey confirmed, far more confidently.

Y/N offered a crooked grin and stepped up to press a kiss to his cheek, marvelling in the stunned expression the action left behind.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow, Dave."

(Can confirm, Les was 100% not asleep, just sick of Davey's pining and decided to take matters into his own hands)

[loving-jack-kelly]

can i get uhhhh 3 and 14. if u please/dare. -@jack-kellys

3: screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr i don't have screenshots but does anybody else remember the republican newsies blog from like 2017 or 18? i don't even remember the URL but they kept posting takes about how newsies is about modern republican value and posting headcanons about the characters being republicans. made me giggle because it's a show about unions, workers' rights, and class disparity in a decidedly un-republican way but okay i guess. also that one time that person was like "calling Pulitzer a villain is wrong because he was a real person" as if we aren't talking about the fictional version of him who explicitly is aware of and continues to choose to enact suffering and starvation on the children working for him. lmao.

14: that one thing you see in fics all the time I'm sorry for the people who do it and like it and i used to do it too but the phonetic accents in fics. goils instead of girls. da instead of the. i am All For accents being present but you can just mention that the character has an accent without making me try to figure out what you mean by adding ten extra vowels and changing the consonants of a word. sorry.

also if we're talking characters. pushing crutchie aside in favor of making race jack's closest confidant (they can both be close with jack but c'mon.) sidelining crutchie in general. the general abelism of the way crutchie is perceived and therefore written by a good handful of people.

[racetrackhigg]

FAME AU- newsies

im gonna talk a bit ab their jobs and stuff but also just hcs that i have of them in this universe. i would love to make this into an actual au with each chapter focusing on a different character but i dont have the time rn. the ships are javid, blush and ralbert, although i don't talk about them much. i rlly want to, maybe on another post i will

Jack “Cowboy” Kelly - Artist

Age when the au takes place: 26

Song: You’re On Your Own Kid - Taylor Swift

Jack would have grown up in the foster system. His parents died in a car crash when he was young, leaving him an orphan.

Since he was a kid he would’ve used art as a way to escape the shitty situation that he was in. He would’ve been in numerous bad foster homes, and he would’ve been failing school, but art would be the one constant that would allow him to escape. 

Then at 15, he got adopted by Medda, and she took him to art classes and bought him proper supplies

Crutchie would be his foster brother

Jack went to art school. He started entering (and winning) contests, as well as publishing his art online. He got an agent and the attention of some important people who helped him in his journey, giving him positive critiques and advice. 

Then someone really famous would’ve purchased one of his works and that made him blow up

Jack would live in an apartment in the centre of Manhattan. His apartment would always be a mess, and he’d usually do most of his paintings there, so a lot of things are permanently stained with acrylic. 

He DIY’s a lot of his clothes, painting on his jeans and jackets and things like that. This was a habit that he kept since the foster system to try to make the shitty clothes he had a bit more him, and he never stopped doing it.

This also means that he DIY’s so many things in his apartment, and it always turns out amazing. Doesn’t like the colour of that couch? He dyes it. Feels like the wall is too bare? He’ll paint something over it. Feels like the windows are too boring? He’ll buy a kit and make them into fake-stained windows that he can peel off when he wants to, in case he wants to sell the apartment or he gets bored of it.

He’s also amazing at gift-giving because he always makes sure to write a card or add something handmade to the actual gift. He used to give his boyfriend handmade flowers so they’d last forever before, yknow, they broke up (he would’ve chated on Jack)

Other than art, he would be a big sports fan. He would love F1 and would eventually get a VIP pass to the paddock. He’d be a Red Bull fan.

David “Mouth” Jacobs - Director

Age when the au takes place: 26

Song: the lakes - Taylor Swift

David’s mother would have been an actress. She hadn’t been very famous, but it already gave him an in the industry. 

He used to participate in the school musicals as the “director’s assistant”. 

He preferred movies over the theatre though, and he often wrote his own movies that he would’ve loved to direct someday.

He made a lot of short films with his friends and participated in different contests, building his portfolio for when he went to college.

In college, he continued to participate in many different movie contests and got a lot of recognition for his short films. He would have a very distinct movie style, very much giving “dark academia”.

He’d be given various awards for his work and eventually, he’d get to direct a full movie. It would do pretty well for being his debut. 

He’d continue creating short films and co-directing some movies. He’d start working on more important movies and gaining a large following.

His most popular movie would be one that would’ve been inspired by a painting. One of Jack’s paintings. It would be about the obsessed artist trope (think Black Swan or Whiplash).

David would live in Boston, and most of his short films would be filmed there. 

Outside of directing, David reads a lot, it’s his way of escaping from the world for a moment.

He’d love vintage books and would have them scattered all around his house. He’s a big fan of the classics.

Has a black cat named Dawn.

He’s a very private person. He doesn’t really date much, and he doesn’t post stuff online. This all changed when he met Jack, of course.

Antonio “Racetrack” Higgins - Formula 1 

Age when the au takes place: 23

Song: Labyrinth - Taylor Swift

Racing number: 16 

He drives for Ferrari 

He’d come from a well-off family, but they wouldn’t be rich. His dad would’ve been an F2 driver, but he never made it to F1. He would’ve been a huge Ferrari fan, something that he passed on to his son.

Started karting when he was 5 years old

His parents would’ve gotten divorced when he was 7. He would’ve blamed himself because they used to fight a lot over him doing karting. His mom didn’t want him anywhere near racing, but his dad supported him fully. 

He’d have a 5-year difference with his little brother 

After his mom remarried, she moved to France with his little brother (Romeo), while Race stayed in Italy with his dad.

At some point, Race almost had to quit racing because his dad wouldn’t have been able to afford it. However, his stepdad offered to help, and they had no choice but to accept. Race would have a really bad relationship with his stepdad and his mother, he would’ve been much closer to his dad.

He joined the Ferrari Driving Academy, wanting to drive for them once he joined F1

He joined F1 when he was 19, and joined Ferrari a year later, full filling his lifelong dream.

The same year he joined Ferrari his mother died.

His goal is to win a championship someday, and is currently second in the driver’s standings. But Red Bull is dominating and unbeatable, so the chances of winning this year are slim.

He would live in Rome. He has 2 cats, a Ragdoll called Sofia (but he calls her Sof) and an orange cat called Stella  

He would meet Jack in the paddock and they’d hit it off immediately, become really good friends. Despite the fact that Jack was there to support Red Bull. He’d know who Jack was because his ex-girlfriend would’ve been an artist and a huge fan. 

Outside of racing, he would love music. He’d play the piano and the guitar. He started composing his own songs after his mom died and continued after he broke up with his girlfriend (they would’ve dated for 2 years, and broken up a year before the au started). But he’d keep them to himself.

Think folklore and evermore (particularly seven, the lakes and tolerate it)

However, he would mostly listen to rock music, completely different from what he composed. 

His favourite band is “Untitled”, and he’d go see them when they came to Italy on their world tour.

Albert DaSilva, Kid Blink, Jojo de la Guerra and Finch Cortez - Band

Band Name: Untitled (I'm bad at names, if I think of smth better I might change it)

Genre: Rock

Albert and Finch met in high school and became best friends. Finch played the guitar and Albert played the drums, and they usually did covers of songs together. 

Flash forward to college and they meet Blink. They went to college together studying music composition and became close with Blink, who plays the bass guitar. Suddenly they have a new addition to their band. At this point, their still just making covers of songs.

Then they meet Jojo, who also joins their band. He sings. After this, they start making their own songs and playing at bars. They got noticed by a record label and signed a contract. 

They gathered a large following when their first album was released, but they blew up with the lead single of their second album. After that, they quickly rose to fame. 

In each album, there is one song dedicated/about each of the members, but they never say which song is about who

Fans love to speculate, though, and a lot of the time they get it right

They all live in Manhattan.

Albert

Age when the AU takes place: 24

Song: I Can See You - Taylor Swift

Lives with Finch, their roommates. 

They have a dog named Cheese. Why? No one knows.

His mom would’ve died soon after he was born, and he’d grow up with his dad and older brothers. They’d struggle a bit financially, his dad would be working all the time and when he’d be home he would usually be drunk.

He’d never be abusive, just incredibly distant and Albert would have to take care of him after his brothers moved out. 

Once he moved out he kind of cut contact with most of his family

He has a Twitch account and streams all the time. He’s a big fan of video games, particularly horror games. 

He often calls with friends and plays with them, for example, he calls Elmer a lot (his best friend other than Finch)

He also skates

He tried to take Finch to a skate park to teach him once and it did not end up well 

Probably the most disorganized person you’re ever going to meet. His room is a mess and it drives Finch insane. 

He would have a bit of a reputation when it comes to dating. He usually wouldn’t get involved in anything serious that lasted more than a couple of months.

Then he’d do a world tour where he would meet Race, a Formula 1 driver who apparently loved their music, and all that would change

Finch

Age when the AU takes place: 24

Song: Welcome To New York - Taylor Swift

Lives with Albert, their roommates.

He’s a big movie fan, particularly sci-fi movies.

He’s not much of an animal person. But in middle school, he used to have an obsession with birds, so Albert started calling him “Finch” and it just stuck

He’s really close to his family. His parents would be so supportive of him, they’d be there at almost every concert. They’d be really proud.

His fashion sense is atrocious but he’s trying his best and that’s what matters

He loves cooking. He’s really good at it too, and he’s always trying new recipes.

He has a TikTok account that has literally nothing to do with the band, it’s just him sharing the recipes he made. He also has a series where he does a meal for each college major and things like that. 

He has a secret Tumblr account where he interacts with fans and no one knows it’s him. 

People are aware of the existence of this account, but no one knows it’s him

Kid Blink

Age when the AU takes place: 25

Song: It's Nice To Have A Friend - Taylor Swift

Lives with his boyfriend, Mush, who owns a cat cafe.

They met in freshman year of high school and became best friends before they started dating in Junior year

He gives their PR manager a heart attack each time he opens his mouth because this man has absolutely no filter. 

Not allowed to post his own things on Twitter because he would get cancelled in a second

He used to watch BuzzFeed Unsolved religiously, but now he watches Watcher all the time.

Always knows the most random and disturbing facts. He’ll say the most unhinged things at the most unexpected times and provide no context.

He only posts things about the band, he’s a very private person and doesn’t like people getting in his business.

His private account however is basically a fan account for his boyfriend, since that’s almost all he posts about. And his cat cafe. 

Only his family and friends follow him there, though.

Also has a secret Tumblr account, but it’s just to see the Watcher posts. 

Middle kid energy

Jojo

Age when the AU takes place: 23

Song: Foolish One - Taylor Swift

He does pottery!! 

He’s a plant dad and all of his flower pots are made by him

He writes his own music separate from the band, but he doesn’t release any of them. It’s just something he does for fun sometimes

He was practically raised by his older brother since his parents weren’t great

His brother was the one who helped pay for his singing lessons when he was a kid. His parents didn't want him to have anything to do with music, they didn't think he'd make anything of himself

But his brother supported him fully and it got him to where he is now 

Wears his heart on his sleeve and tends to get hurt because of it

[fireylesbianhell]

well, I've been thinking about David Jacobs, and now its everyone else's problem.

Dave was never really considered someone's real, honest to god good/best friend since elementary school, until the newsies.

Most people just seemed to veiw him as some loner kid, or 'too smart for the other' or, for some reason, just an asshole if they cared enough to notice the subtle expressions from his day to day that masked his distain now and then. Though, they always misinterpreted that disdain either for the schoolwork he was oh so good at or as disdain for the people around him, that was untrue.

it was his disdain for himself and how boxed he kept himself, but he would not admit that to a soul

but, then he joined the newsies and that changed a little while after his little brother got himself roped up with the annoyingly heroic handsome charismatic Jack Kelly, and they talked to each other. during and after the strike. he usually only talked to Jack, and, that was okay, he was closest with Jack and he never expected that relationship to extend to anything other than polite interactions with Crutchie and Katherine.

but. that wasn't right-

Suddenly David Jacobs walked to school with a smile on his face thinking about that stupid thing mush did last night and the way Race slapped him on the back when doubling over from laughter.

Or telling Sarah about Henry and Smalls very passionate argument about rats and mice, that they looked to him for some specific facts, and helped to be Henry's saving grace for the Anti-Rats argument

Or just sitting there with Jack in a pile of the boys, the boys he'd go to hell and back for again and again and he realized what he found were real friends that he could just, be Davey with. Not uptight goody to-shoes David or resting-bitch-face David, just Davey Jacobs, one of the newsies.

[aceofspades-sml]

Newsies 30/07 matinee - closing matinee

So yes the show closed almost a month ago but I just found this in my drafts and realized I never actually published my notes from this show so... Here you go ! (Also let me know if you want my actual notes from closing night because I just kept ranting about random moments but can totally do an organized post if required)

Cast : all the main actors were on, Les was played by Harry and Bobbie did Hannah but not Splint since she was still sick

Josh's presence on stage at the beggining is so good- like man just owns the stage for the first 30 seconds and oh boy does he enjoy it. Race of all times.

After Buttons steals apples at the beginning he gives one to Ike and then they both spot Tommy boy kind of sulking in a corner and Ike throws him an apple while they both look at him like "take care, kid"

When Tommy boy comes back on for Carrying the banner the apple is still in his hand and I think it's adorable

Matthew was definitely already losing it in the Prologue and like. Mood. I kid you not he was crying for the whole show

Carrying the banner being the mess it usually is

Jacob Albert was back and ready to throw hands with anyone coming close to him. Especially if that person happened to be Oscar Delancey.

"Whatever happened to rOmAnCe"

Henry getting on his knees and crawling toward Wiesel with a pout and Wiesel just sighing and giving him the papes

Harry was such a cute Les oh my god. Actually everytime he was onstage I just kept turning toward my friend mouthing "he is adorable" but like he is so precious and must be protected at all costs

"and guess what ? 🎶He got elected🎶"

"buy a pape from a poor orphan boy ?" "nO he's not an orph-" ft jack holding his boyfriend back

"why don't you come home with us fordinnerimean"

Bowery beauties <3 also Lillie Pearl giving Les a feather from her costume while Davey's entire attitude is just "les NO"

For the first time I noticed Specs and Albert on top of the stage directing the lights during that's rich I love them

Also during That's rich Ike, Buttons and another newsie (if anyone remembers who PLEASE tell me i can't believe I forgot) are watching the show and they are a mess

"hey baby I was just talking about you !" *points at Ike* ft Ike standing up super excited and Buttons going "sit DOWN" while violently gesturing to prove Medda was pointing at him

And then "Life is too short to waste it on youuuu" *points again* and Buttons just mimics following her finger like "see she is pointing at ME"

Anyway also Alex looking at Lindsay for the whole song

When Albert is getting back down after That's rich and Katherine arrives he just looks impressed and stands aside

"we got a father too !" Davey desperatly trying to get his brother to stop talking

Oscar pacing back and forth before world will know while Morris is just sitting there with his legs hanging from the structure

I don't know if it was just me or because I was really close to the stage for the first time or something but Wold will know was the most intense I have ever heard ?? As in I always get chills during this song but then more than usual. Even in the evening it wasn't like that idk this one was just super intense I loved it

Finch physically dragging Crutchie away from the gates of the World after jack, Davey and les are thrown out

"two cents for a glass of seltzer ? Just give me a watah" then Race (who is sitting at albert's table) snatching the glass of seltzer from Jacobi's plate and Jacobi just grabs it right back in a way that says 1- he was expecting it 2- this is totally a thing Racer does every time

Race then proceeds to look personally offended for the next five minutes of the show

"I would say we launched our strike in the most auspicious manner" *longest silence you ever heard* "I dunno about thaAT"

Another one to add to the list of "who wants Brooklyn ?" reactions : mark spending a good minute wrapping his neck ribbon thingy around his eyes

"why don't I tell you what I'm hoping for for tonIgHt" and "can't you see it ? In my eyyyyes ?" This is true comedy right here. Jack trying so hard to be a straight guy and failing miserably.

Bronté legend queen goddess nailing the best Watch what happens ever

When the scabs arrive and Albert just shoves Tommy boy so hard he falls on the floor and Buttons has to help him up oh my god

Anyway I will make no comments about Seize the day nor Santa fe because I was bawling my eyes out at this point. And so was everyone on stage. All I can say is during the name call when it was Les's turn everyone started cheering and it was the cutest moment ever

ANYWAY king of new york my baby love of my life

Everyone rolling their eyes to high heaven when Katherine shows up

"the world's your erster !" Josh Race ceo of saying the dumbest things you have ever heard with an unmatched level of confidence

Featuring Henry's entire "what the absolute hell" attitude I love him like "your WHAT ?????"

I could talk about this scene for hours but anyway sitting in the bronx was so scary when they started spinning on the lamps lmao

The spoon crown is still the cutest thing ever done in newsies to this date <3

And like I never talk about it but I absolutely love how they removed the awkward moment when Katherine starts tap dancing and they all look at her legs because urgh I always hated this moment. But here ? Nothing ! They are just having good fun !

Anyway Matthew already crying during Letter absolutely broke me so I won't talk about it

Did I ever mention Davey is gay

"Front page news above the fold ! Oh yes. Above *flips paper* the *flap* fold *flip* !"

WWH reprise had me absolutely dying because of how adorable Les was okay bye

"Can we table the palaver and *angrily stomps foot* go back to business ??"

Jack and Davey are gay. If you even care.

The scene in Pulitzer's office is always so heartbreaking because you have jack being so confident and all but then the second Katherine appears you can see how heartbroken and lost he is

Michael's facial expressions >>>

Also the way he just has a flight reflex the second Snyder appears like urgh

And Oscar and Morris grab him violently and one of them (I wanna say Morris ?) growls "let's don't" like Jack is trapped in every way possible

Brooklyn's here my baby my angel love of my life

As much as I missed Stray I absolutely loved Lucy's energy on "when you doooo" and her lil high five with Spot

Brooklyn girlsies have my heart now and forever like "Pips !" "Ritz !" "Mack !" "SPOT !!"

Queens

Anyway the rally was. something. I was finally able to catch some of the unscripted comments (what with being in the bronx and all) such as Tommy boy going "how is that realistic ??" and it just made the whole thing so much more heartbreaking

Also the way Davey has to build up so much confidence to speak in front of everyone and then Jack arrives and turn everything he just did to nothing

Finch booing Jack with his whole chest is honestly one of the best moments of the show he just puts his whole heart into this

Gosh I had missed Michael and Bronté's dynamic during Something to believe in they are. they were. them. the best.

"It's good to have you back" "...shut up"

Jack's reaction to bill and darcy will never not be funny because he fully says "I suppose you are the son of William Randolph hearst ?" as a joke and then Bill answers with the straightest face possible and Jack is left like "?????" (Picture that one Pikachu gif if it helps because that's exactly the face Michael makes at this moment)

Spot and Race were flirting idc

"he can't talk right now he'll call you bAcK" *hangs up* *picks up the phone again* *incoherent sobbing*

"no you can't come i-" see uksies is great because they actually made spot scary. Lillie Pearl just has to stomp in front of Bunsen and he backs up to the other end of the stage

I missed almost the whole scene in Pulitzer's office after Once and for all because I was busy looking at Ross Lindsay and Josh in the aisles behind me leave me alone. Also because I was sat right opposite ross's sister and they just spent the whole scene waving at each other

"I am told we once shared a carriage ride !" "I TOLD YOU"

Roosevelt pointing at Les and harry's reaction was just adorable

There is something so personal about Race just going "it's Snyder the spider !" in such a genuinely mean way and Tommy boy having to physically hold him back and dragging him away so he can chill

Anyway I was full on sobbing at the end but during the bows I could see Ryan and Harry making up their bow choregraphy in the back and they were adorable

...this got way longer than I expected I am so sorry I think I am slightly in denial

[fluffydavey]

a prompt thing!

davey is sick and doesn’t show up to sell (or modern au to school/work/etc)

i'm distracting myself with writing so feel free to send me any prompts and i will try my best to write them!! &lt;3

At first, they barely notice anything is wrong. Davey's back in school, but he's continued selling papes with the boys in the evenings and at the weekends. Although Davey had been a quick learner in the early days, he's becoming slower and he looks distracted.

It's brushed off with jokes, until Davey doesn't even have the energy to respond. "Sore throat," he musters, and Jack sends him home and promises to give their equal share to Les when he gets home that evening. He doesn't think much of it - the cold New York winters are harsh, especially during your first time selling in Demeber, and Davey looks like a strong gust of wind could knock him over on the best of days.

He walks Les home that night, refusing a dinner proposal again, and bids the younger boy goodbye and shouts out "make sure that brother of yours doesn't skip out on any more hard work!"

But Davey doesn't show up the next day, and neither does Les. Nor do they show up for three more days after that. Jack gets tired of waiting for the boys with no answer. He climbs up the fire escape to try and get into David's room, when he sees the outlines of tall figures looming in the background.

"He's burning up," one of the men say, leaning over Davey's bed. "Hot to the touch!"

He tries to make it through another window, when he's blocked by Sarah. "You can't be here," she says, worry dripping from every word.

"Davey?"

"They say it's scarlet fever," she says, and Jack's read too many headlines about how it's been killing children all over the world. His heart sinks, feeling utterly hopeless.

"Les?" he asks, clinging onto some hope.

"He's okay, he's with our grandparents. They wanted me to go too, but I told them I wouldn't go anywhere without Davey," she says confidently. "He'll be okay Jack."

"I..."

She places an arm on Jack's shoulder, giving him a sad, knowing look. "I know, Jack."

"What happened?"

"He came home from school, and ma caught him coughing up blood into a handkerchief. She told him to rest, but he only got worse. He was getting sick, kept complaining about pains. I've never seen him like that before Jack, it was scary. I haven't been able to see him since," she says, and Jack can tell she feels as lost without Davey as he does. "Go back Jack, they won't let you anywhere near him. I'll let you know when there's news."

Jack knows better than to argue with Sarah, so he lets himself wander off, walking back to the lodgings on autopilot. He doesn't say anything when he returns, not sure how to break the news to all of their friends who had been waiting for Jack to turn up with the Jacobs' boys behind. Instead, their eager faces begin to fall, and Jack runs straight up to the penthouse. He tells them eventually, and the lodgings don't feel the same as they used to anymore, not without the infectious laugh that follows the two wherever they go.

It's a long week, until finally Davey and Les join the line to pay for their papers. It's Crutchie who spots them first, and the boys run to crowd their friends. Les looks like he's eating up every bit of fame it takes, although Jack can see the protective grip he has on his older brother's hand.

"What? You miss me?" Davey asks, as Jack watches him smiling at the sight before him.

"Don't do that again," Race says, barging in to be the first to give Davey a hug. "You had us worried sick. I couldn't win a game of cards for days."

"I'm sorry that I through you off, your game" Davey says, as Specs is the next person to hug him, Les still holding onto him with a strong clutch. "Guys, I'm okay. I swear. Got it all out of my system."

One by one the Newsies say their hellos, and get on with their days, but before he catches up with the two, he watches Davey divide his share with Les, giving the young boy a few more papes than usual. Jack joins them then, puts his satchel around his arm, and he tells Les to run ahead to some women in the park talking.

"You really scared me Dave," Jack says, and watches as Davey's eyes wander from his excitable brother to his selling partner. "I saw you one night, when the docs were all crowded round you. And I just kept dreaming that I'd wake up and you weren't with us no more."

"Hey, hey. Jack, it's me. I'm here. I'm here and I'm okay," Davey says, grabbing Jack's hand. There's no one too close by, so Davey seemingly decides to risk such a bold move. "I'm really sorry that I scared you like that, but it's okay now."

Jack looks down at their hands, and wishes he could capture this moment with his new paint. Instead, he begins to trace the lines on Davey's hands. "I was afraid you wouldn't know just how much you mean to me."

"Jack -"

"You can't go anywhere, okay? Because I can't stop thinking about you and it's driving me crazy. I was too cowardly to say it before, but you've been it for me. And I've been crazy gone after you from the very beginning."

"Okay," Davey says, and Jack watches him.

"Okay?"

"Okay, I'll stay. Here with you, for as long as you'll let me."

Les runs up to them, dime in his hand before he looks at them both. "Gross. Come on, these papes won't sell themselves!"

Jack watches the kid run off, proud as punch, and he wraps an arm around Davey's shoulder, bumping into him. "One day I'll have you selling like him."

Davey pokes him in the side, before laughing to himself. "Oh shut up. You're the worse."

"You love it though."

"Yeah," Davey says, staring earnestly into Jack's eyes. "I really do."

[kellyscowboy]

I need to know your thoughts on who's been to the refuge and how many times!

ouu okay! i've never really thought abt this before, but here we go:

JACK - i think Jack has only been to the refuge once, but it was for a really long time. like he was in there for at least a year, maybe even longer.

DAVID - okay i'm doing him bc i can. in a world where the refuge wasn't shut down due to the strike, i can imagine he went once bc of his snarkyness but the boys got him out in less than four days. || "dave's a schoolboy, he ain't gonna be handling the refuge well!" (meanwhile, david's more or less as fine as you can be in the refuge, he's just grumpy)

RACETRACK - i think he's probably gone like three times. got thrown in for stealing, disturbance of the general public, and probably assault (but who hasn't punched a guy on the street?). these we're probably like week long stays, no more than a month. i think he'd get too rowdy & restless to stay. i also think he probably tried to beat jack's escape every time he landed himself in there, just for shits & giggles. || "i think i gotcha beat this time, jackie." "yeah, and i'm sure that has nothing to do with why you're limping & busted up with a shiner."

CRUTCHIE - i think crutchie only went during the strike. not that he didn't do 'refuge worthy' shit. i just think he was really careful about it. i imagine he wouldn't be too eager to land himself in the refuge, none of the boys would, but especially with his disability. he'd definitely be fucking shit up but it was on the downlow

SPOT - let's assume all newsies, no matter what borough can get sent to the refuge. cuz tbh i don't know the rules, but they sure can in '92sies! anyway. i imagine spot's been there a couple of time, nothing in the doubke digits but more than a lot of boys. however, i also think spot knows it's inevitable he ends up there & has run through multiple different drills with his newsies on how to rescue him.

ALBERT - i'd say he's been in there like two times, and one of them he definitely got thrown in with another newsie. probably racetrack. again, really short stay.

ELMER - has never, will never go to the refuge. he can't afford to go to the refuge w/ the size of his family. tbh the strike made him shiver in his timbers, especially when he saw crutchie getting locked up.

tldr; i think a good majority of newsies have been to the refuge. jack only went once, however i think it was for like a year (at the time, i can imagine manhattan either didnt have a leader or he just so happened to be leaving a little bit after jack showed up.) or even longer. david went once (if the refuge hadn't got shut down) but the boys got him out quickly. racetrack was three times, kept trying to make his escape cooler than jack's. crutchie only went during the strike. spot's gone quite a few times but always has a plan. elmer has never gone.

lmk if there's anyone else specifically you'd like to know my opinion abt!:)

[daveyfvckingjacobs]

ok erm i didn’t finish my writing yet but here’s some hcs while u wait

on the rooftop, crutchie and jack are happy to let any of the newsies stay overnight. often they hang out and share stories

jack has drawn every single couple together at least once. like getting a portrait done. most of the newsies actually hate getting this done because it’s a long and tedious process and they have to sit still for a really long time lol

jack is trans. end of story LMFAO

racetrack higgins is also trans. END OF STORY.

crutchie is a very good listener, and that’s why he knows so much random shit that jack tells him about Santa Fe, 90% of which probably isn’t true

jack has most definitely ( but kept secret ) drawn crutchie riding a palomino, ridin in style.

race chose his name *very* wisely. he had a selection at hand and he chose racetrack bc let’s be honest if u could choose a badass newsie name you would want RACETRACK. i know i would

ok bye enjoy my writing is actually based on some of these hcs so you’re welcome

take your time!! I am chill waiting

oh :((( when one of them has a nightmare or is reminded too much about their past, has a bad selling day or is just generally feeling low they get to spend the night without needing to ask. sometimes they just sleep with the quiet, less chaotic comfort of the pair or they’ll chat. whatever the newsie needs

jack drawing all the newsies is one of my fav simpler hcs for him but honestly I’ve never thought about him sitting down the couples that’s so cute I cannot. most of them are horrible fidgets and sometimes he has to resort to memory or drawing while they’re curled up asleep, racing to get it done before they wake up and ruin the pose or get embarrassed

TRANSRACETRANSRACETRANSRACE. I’m always down for all trans hcs, race is my personal fav along with some other gender fuckery of handful of others I love but jack is one I’ve never put any thought into. I am intrigued tell me more I’ll swap you for mine

jack has no idea how to draw someone on a horse. he loves the drawing anyway, even if it’s a little wonky. it’s in his pillowcase so crutchie won’t ever come across it accidentally and it makes the lines a little smudged and blended but he likes the effect. it makes it look old, like some prophecy or foretelling of their dream

the idea of race sitting down and choosing racetrack instead of being dubbed it is so funny for the thought he would put but also sad for the connotations. choosing a new name to fit it? forget his old one? endless possibilities

[somedayonbroadway]

Hey how was albert in the gravity fall au? Was he okay after the whole blood thingy?

Gravity Falls AU Master List

No one was okay after that…

Race was in pain. His head was killing him as he once again rolled over to the side of his bed and spit up into that bucket that was beside him. His limbs felt weak and sore and he couldn’t get a grip on what was happening.

He could remember agony and screaming and all of the sudden Jack was holding him and crying, begging him to wake up. He wasn’t sure how long it had been, but he swallowed hard, coughing as he felt his dry throat pinch. “JJ…?” he whispered, trying to open his eyes, but his eyelids were too heavy.

“Hey bud,” Jack responded gently. Race felt him run a hand over his hair. That’s when he realized he was sweating and shaking all at once.

“Jay…” Race called again, not having the energy to ask questions, but wanting to know everything.

A soft hush fell over his ears as Jack sat at the side of his bed. “Your fever’s coming back down, it’s okay,” Jack whispered. “Just relax—“

The boy whimpered, leaning into Jack’s hand as he tried to move, to sit up, but he couldn’t make his body and his brain cooperate. He squeezed his eyes shut as a cold wave of pain washed over his head. With his eyes closed, he could see fangs and red hair attacking him. He flinched at the hallucination, shaking his head, and twisting a bit under his covers. He could hear a harsh hiss, like a snake and then agonizing pain. He sucked in a breath and sobbed as Jack shushed him again and shook his head. “It’s alright, Racer, you’re okay,” he promised. “You’re safe—“

“N-no,” Race whimpered. “A-Albert, where’s Albert?” he asked.

Jack sighed. This was the sixth time Race had asked for Albert. And after his sighting of him in the woods, he knew that Albert would lose it at the sight of Race. He could see the addiction in the redhead’s eyes. He shook his head, his heart breaking as he said what he needed to say next. “Wh-who’s Albert?” he whispered.

The boy stilled on the bed, finally able to crack his eyes open. He sniffled. “A-Al… m-my friend, m-my friend Albert…” he whined.

Jack’s shoulders sagged and he glanced out the window and sniffled. If he kept going with this bit, he wouldn’t have to erase just Albert from Race’s mind, but everything, all of it. Graves, Crutchie, Spot, Drake every crazy and impossible thing they had discovered in this place.

But as he remembered the boy writhing around on the ground, unable to breathe or move, he knew it was best, he knew he had to do this. “Race… we don’t know any Albert, pal,” he assured calmly. “You’ve been sick for weeks now… you need to rest.”

Race couldn’t keep his eyes open. They fell shut nearly immediately and he tried to open them again. “Jackie… stay…” he whispered before he fell back into his fitful sleep.

Jack sniffled, looking down at the boy and nodding. “I’m not going anywhere, kiddo,” he swore. “Not until you n’ me are on that trip back ta New York…”

With all the money he had, he was getting them out of here if it was the last thing he did.

[riding-palominos-every-day]

Hyperfixation isn't back but I still think about the Spot and Elmer brothers AU a lot so here's another bit of writing for it

One thing every newsie in New York knew was to never get on the wrong side of Spot Conlon. Everyone knew what Spot was capable of if he felt he or one of his gang had been wronged, and when the Brooklyn leader was on the warpath you knew to steer clear.

Spot was currently on said warpath, and it was taking him over the Brooklyn bridge and straight to Duane Street.

"Kelly!"

Jack felt the whole building tremble from the force which the front door was opened with. Although 'opened' was something of an understatement; 'violently kicked in' would describe Spot's method of entry more appropriately.

"Easy, Spot. What's the problem?" Jack kept his tone light, trying to sound calmer than he felt.

"Y'know damn well what's the problem!" Spot snarled, stretching up to his full height and getting in Jack's face as best he could, "I ain't had much time to chat with your boys lately, thanks to your little speech at the rally, an' of course we've been busy since then, but d'you care to tell me why my little brother's head was wrapped up like that last time I saw him?"

Jack paused, choosing his answer very, very carefully. The knowledge that Elmer was Spot's younger brother was still a surprise, and it came with a whole host of trouble- for Jack, at least. Now the information was at least semi-common knowledge, Spot had no qualms marching over to Manhattan and making sure Elmer was being looked after properly whenever he felt like. He couldn't convince his brother to move back to Brooklyn with him, but he'd made it very clear to Jack what he'd do if anything happened to Elmer.

"The cops got involved during our first strike attempt, you know that Spot. Crutchie got arrested-"

"Yeah, yeah, like y'said, I know that." Spot interrupted, "Your boys got bloodied up pretty bad. What I wanna know is why you had the littluns involved. I'd rather die than let Vince or Pips anywhere near a proper fight. You took kids younger than them into a situation you knew could be dangerous."

Jack didn't have a response for that.

Spot nodded slightly, before pushing Jack roughly aside.

"Now let me see my brother."

Jack stayed out in the hall, his heart pounding. He almost wished Spot had gotten properly angry; he could handle being hit, even by Spot Conlon. It was the reminder he'd put his kids in danger he hated having to think about.

Elmer had been relatively unharmed aside from a cut on his head, but Jack had learned very quickly just how fiercely protective Spot was of his little brother. He prayed to no-one in particular Spot didn't inspect the still-healing injury too closely.

"Don't get mad at Jack, Spot. Please."

Elmer's voice drifted from the bunk room, breaking Jack from his thoughts. He didn't like to eavesdrop, but the fact Spot had left the door open implied they weren't too bothered about having a private conversation.

"I'll get as mad at him as I like." Came Spot's reply, "It's his job to be lookin' after you, not puttin' you in the path of strikebreakers or bulls. Lemme see that cut."

"I'm twelve, I don't need lookin' after! And I wanted to be there anyway." Elmer protested, attempting to push Spot's hand away from his head. The bandages were off and the cut was healing, but Spot still swore when he saw the size of the injury.

"Yeah, you're twelve. Still a kid last I checked." Spot muttered. He gave Elmer hair a brief ruffle before sitting back.

"You sure I can't convince you t'come over the bridge? You'd still be allowed to come visit here, and I'd-"

"I'm sure, Spot." Elmer's tone wasn't unkind, but it had an edge of finality, "These guys took me in, I... I don't wanna just up and leave. We both know how hard that is. I appreciate your offer, you know I do, but..." He trailed off, unable to find the right words.

Spot wrapped an arm around him pulling him close to his side. In most cases Elmer would squeal and twist away, but this time he let himself lean against his older brother.

"I get it. I don't mean t'fuss over you so much." He said, "Well... I do, but that's 'cause it's my job. You're my brother, I'm s'posed to look out for you."

Elmer shifted closer, relaxing.

"I'm glad you're my brother."

[noxexistant]

NEWSIES CANT DIE THSTS TOO SADDDD but.... alternatively a bunch of them become ghosts

there’s all sorts of rumours about the refuge being haunted. everyone knows to go nowhere near the building, but when you glance down the street you can always see a few figures directly outside of it, some wandering, some sat on the ground, some stood vigil at the door like guards despite being no bigger than newsies. their figures are vague and indistinct, faces impossible to make out, and they don’t react to the few newsies who’ve dared to call out to them, warning them to get away from the refuge. they never listen, never leave.

inside the refuge, it’s impossible to keep track of how many are in there. the numbers seem to shift. you might go to sleep sharing a bunk with a boy and then wake up and never see him again, might see a figure at the end of the hall that doesn’t come when you call it to warn it away from snyder’s office door, might wake up in the dead of night to someone stood empty-eyed and bleeding in the centre of the room, but when their blood drips it never settles on the floor. there’s crying and wailing, distant, even when the bunk room is silent - echoing like it’s coming from the street outside. indistinct voices that whisper jokes, mock snyder and the guards when they leave, ask questions but never seem to stick around to hear the answers.

snyder hears voices. whispers and singing. the window in his office is forever opening by itself, even when he locks it, and there’s little palms always tapping at his door and the walls when he’s working late. he loses things, pens he just set down and only took his eyes off for a moment, paperwork, confiscated possessions. when he has jack arrested for the first time, his file - jack’s real name written in snyder’s own neat cursive on the top - disappears, and he never finds it again. when crutchie’s in the refuge, his crutch keeps disappearing from snyder’s cupboard to be returned to the boy. when albert was in there, he kept somehow stealing snyder’s lighter, which he never could’ve possibly had access to, and yet somehow it kept ending up in the boy’s palm.

when snyder is arrested after the strike, he hears laughter. laughter that follows him, echoing in his ears. and when he’s placed into holding, he’s sure he’s not alone despite the room being empty. he can feel eyes on him, burning resentment, mirth. he can feel blood, warm and sticky, on his clean hands.

[raggedy-albert]

RACETRACK GETTING KIDNAPPED

AHHHHH OK

so i feel like it would happen when jack scabbed and abandoned the strike. the other boroughs were rightfully upset but they decided to take it out on manhattan.

race was walking home from selling one day (and as people know he sells in/near brooklyn). it was getting dark-ish out and the walk home was sort of long, but he knew the way by heart from retracing the invisible footpath so many times. except he never got to the end of it. he heard something going on behind him but that always happens, especially when it’s a nice summer night. then he felt a hand grab his shoulder, and another grab his other, and before he could break away he felt a bag being pulled over his head and his hands were harshly pulled behind his back and tied together. he was forced to walk even though he didn’t know where.

the other newsies back at the lodging house thought nothing about race not being home, it happens sometimes to any of them, but when they woke up and he still wasn’t back, that’s when they got worried.

especially al.

he was freaking out that his father had gotten him, or snyder, or the cops, or that he was hurt, any could have gone wrong. with jack gone and now race too, and crutchie in the refuge, he was now in charge of everyone. the other newsies helped him out, sure, but they couldn’t bring race back, or jack, or crutchie. he was spiraling without any of the people who usually help him out, but he had davey and finch.

they helped him get through it and calmed him down before he did anything he would regret. they somehow found out he was captured and now they knew they would do anything to get him back. al offered to take his place, they offered money, but what the other boroughs really wanted was for jack to be brought back.

that’s when davey brought les and kath on a search party to find him. shockingly enough (not really) they found him at medda’s. they were so happy they found him and that he was ok, but also pissed at everything he had messed up for them. there wasn’t anything they could do about the past except take note of it for the future, so they told him about the race situation and they brought al who was waiting outside (finch was back at the lodging house to keep everything sane) to where they knew race was being held.

once the other boroughs saw that jack was back and he swore he wouldn’t run away again, they easily gave race back. he was a little roughed up, but nothing worse than he was used to.

al ran over to him and hugged him for the first time.

davey and kath kept an eye on jack and the situation unfolding.

luckily the newsies keeping race captive let them go with a very genuine warning not to do anything like that again to jack, and they wouldn’t do anything to any of the newsies. however, as the group was walking away one of the kidnapper newsies called jack back for a second and socked him in the jaw. he was going to fight back but between race looking a little worse for wear, dead tired, and hungrier than usual, al only focusing on race and literally nothing else, and davey, kath, and les, who had most likely never been in a fight their entire lives, he just let it go. besides, he deserved it, didn’t he?

this entire thing rifted the boroughs apart a bit. they never really trusted each other much, but this was a breaking point.

jack was back, and so was race, but at what cost?