#newsies of harlem

[racetrackmybeloved]

newsies and threatening body language

hear me out: the manhattan boys are canonically wimpy little shits.

like ok. look at how romeo pounds his fist in the first clip, and how buttons does in the second clip. ZERO power. don't even get me started on smalls, what are you doing my love.

then, there's spot. THAT is how you do it. (ok hotshot's is kinda wimpy looking too BUT its way better than buttons romeo or smalls so im just gonna keep going)

and there's this scene:

ive seen people talk about this before but jojo baby, what kind of 'ready' stance is that? his legs are so wide, he kind of reminds me of a red panda trying to make itself look bigger when it's threatened. he's undoubtedly the worst, but the other boys' stances arent much better.

so yeah. point is, they're inexperienced, they think they're tough, but they are most definitely not. our favourite manhattan boys don't know how to fight, but thankfully managed to recruit some guys who actually do!

this got me thinking though, why are the manhattan boys so wimpy then?

THEY'RE NOT TOUGH BECAUSE THEY DONT HAVE TO BE!

theyve got the hudson, east, and harlem rivers doing their work for them, the borders of their turf are clearly defined

but brooklyn? they don't have that luxury, as they share a massive border with queens. they're bound to get into more conflicts, either newsies pushing their luck with selling across the border, or full on turf wars.

brooklyn newsies are a completely different breed, because they have to be.

[emmedoesntdomath]

I wonder how background a newsie I have to put here to have just absolute unhinged chaos

I wanna find out

I’ll start kinda easy?

Mush hcs please 🥰

“absolute unhinged chaos”

*gasps* it’s like you know me!

now. mush!

mush has been a manhattan newsie for as long as jack or race has been, and is very loyal to his city and leader. but- fun fact- he actually lives in harlem (info card again) (also, he stands with harlem in brooklyn’s here AND claims harlem in the jacobi scene)! taking all of this into consideration, it seems pretty fair to call him the harlem ambassador of manhattan (similar to how race is brooklyn’s).

clearly, this makes mush Very Important. as the harlem ambassador, he can read, write, and sometimes do math (obviously, I can relate). he’s also one of the more intimidating manhattan newsies, because he’s known for being willing to kick someone to queens at the drop of a dime. not like albert or race, either. no, no, he will beat up anyone (especially if they make fun of- or even mention- his slight lisp. sorry, it doesn’t exist, and rip to those who say it does).

and even if he doesn’t beat you up, rest assured, sir is internally judging you to kingdom come.

I’ve got more, but I can’t remember them right now, sorry

[kinnie-email]

@ newsies fandom what color are the other boroughs i need to know if theres an offical fandom uniform color coding

[kellyscowboy]

so very very tempted to write a fic based around my harlem ocs...

[metallicmikus]

Modern Newsie headcannons: NYC edition

i know the newsies live in nyc but a lot of the headcannons aren’t about them living in nyc so i came up with some

- Race sleeps a lot on the subway, mostly when he’s with albert cuz he knows albert will get them off at the right place. When they’re standing on the subway, and race is leaning his head on albert’s shoulder, al will keep his arm around Race’s waist so he doesn’t fall. If he’s asleep while they’re sitting down, albert will make sure his head doesn’t hit the wall.

- race and al use one pair of air pods on the subway to listen to the same music

- jack hates the subway (country boy at heart)

- finch will always ask someone if they would get up for crutchie to sit down if they’re are no empty seats

- race just knows the manhattan subway and streets by heart (native new yorker lookin ass)

- david carries hand sanitizer with him for after using the subway cuz you don’t know where everyone’s hands have been (the other newsies catch on cuz it’s smart)

- david is TERRIBLE at navigating the subway system. it’s overwhelming to him. he has cried while trying to figure out where they’re supposed to go when going somewhere new and jack takes over and never lets him navigate again. (unless he really wants to)

- race fanning albert while they wait for the subway (it’s hot as fuck down there)

- i know a very popular hc is that one of the newsies (usually jack) has a van, but realistically, these mfs don’t own cars 😭

- albert and jack will almost always take the stairs over the escalator

- race has fallen asleep alone on the subway and ended up somewhere completely different than where he was headed, which is why he now usually only sleeps if he’s with someone else

- most of the newsies live in lower manhattan (duh), but some of them live uptown north of central park. jack and crutchie live in the bowery with medda. the jacobs live in the lower east side (many jewish families settled there when they moved to nyc). races family lived in east harlem, but they moved to lower manhattan when race was a baby. spot and elmer are roommates (they live in brooklyn)

- race family is the classic italian roman catholic family

- david, sarah, and les are first generation immigrants from poland

- finch has picked up a pigeon off the streets on multiple occasions

- most of the newsies have never really left the city

- you know the newsies are constantly joining broadway lotteries

- race works at the broadway dance center (sky flaherty core)

- albert has no patience for slow walkers, he weaves in between people. he always looks like he’s on a mission.

that’s it for now !!

[everythingisawayoflife]

hi i am a letterboxd junkie and certified cinephile and i am here to give you what i think the batfam’s four favorites are if letterboxd would like show up at a wayne gala or something. dont think too hard about this, its just silly i didnt TOTALLY psychoanalyse them for these picks (i did a little bit)

bruce

the godfather (1972)

singin’ in the rain (1952)

north by northwest (1959)

dave (1993)

dick

meet the robinsons (2007)

miss congeniality (2000)

grease (1978)

the lost boys (1987)

jason

little women (1994)

10 things i hate about you (1999)

newsies (1992)

dead poets society (1989)

tim

BASEketball (1998)

knives out (2019)

national treasure (2004)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

steph

tangled (2010)

13 going on 30 (2004)

barbie in the 12 dancing princesses (2006)

cars (2006)

cass

the book of life (2014)

treasure planet (2002)

the parent trap (1998)

chicago (2002)

damian

my neighbor totoro (1988)

the addams family (1991)

brave (2012)

frankenweenie (2012)

alfred

the untouchables (1987)

dial m for murder (1954)

ocean’s eleven (1960)

west side story (1961)

barbara

almost famous (2000)

the nice guys (2016)

when harry met sally (1989)

anastasia (1997)

duke

harlem nights (1989)

romeo must die (2000)

ferris bueller’s day off (1986)

men in black (1997)

some movies i think they all enjoy together include:

mr. peabody and sherman (2014)

the princess bride (1987)

the mummy (1999)

tarzan (1999)

the sound of music (1965)

annie (1982)

shrek 2 (2004)

the lion king (1994)

top gun: maverick (2022)

[sl-newsie]

Run Your Mouth (David Jacobs x Fem Brooklyn Newsie)

Request: While David and Jack are in Brooklyn trying to convince Spot to join the strike, Davey sees a girl in the corner of his eye.

Davey’s POV

“So is this Spot Colon a big deal?” 

“Just wait and see.”

It’s funny how fast a person’s life can change in a day. First I’m selling newspapers, the next I’m being taken to Brooklyn. I’ll admit I’m really anxious to be in such an unfamiliar atmosphere, especially with the tough Brooklyn newsies watching our every move.

“Where is he?” I whisper to Jack, trying to stick as close a possible. Meanwhile Boots keeps looking around with a laid-back smile.

“Be patient,” the cowboy mutters.

“Well if it ain’t Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.”

We both look up and literally spot the one I think is the Brooklyn leader named Spot Colon.

“See you moved up in the woild, Spot. Got a river view and everything,” Jack comments. 

 ‘Spot’ hops down and I see he’s hold’n a cane. Him and Jack do tha spit handshake and grin at each odda. 

“Is that Jack?” A distant voice asks. It’s a girl’s voice.

Just then, in the corner of my eye I see a tall figure step out from behind the crates, and my heart stops. If it weren’t for her voice, one might say she’s a boy from this distance. A few strands of blonde hair poke out from under her newsie cap. She’s wearing faded gray overalls and a messy, oversized blue shirt that’s left with two undone buttons, leaving part of her chest exposed. As the Brooklyn newsie steps closer, it only highlights her feminine charms even more. It’s the eyes. Her eyes. Those ocean blue eyes that I’m drowning in- Get a grip, David! 

She twirls a walking stick as she struts forward to meet us, appearing to size me up. “Who’s the geek?”

“I, uh-” For once in my life I dunno what to say!

Lucy’s POV

Spot likes to keep things simple in Brooklyn. We’s the toughest there is, therefore there’s little threats. But that also means we don’t get too much action ‘round here. I thought the highlight-a the week was gonna be when Bucky threw Scab into the river, but I was proved wrong when Jack came by for a visit. I’s one-a Spot’s lookouts, so I’d overhoid earlier about ‘Hattan’s strike business. I just never believed they’d have the guts to come here and ask for help. Jack’s here, and he brought company. I recognized Boots immediately, but then see an unfamiliar face. A cute one at that. I know Spot will club me for think’n like a lovestruck dumb blonde, but just ‘cause I’s a Brooklyn newsie don’t mean my goilish instincts are shut off.

Now the guy keeps look’n at me, his piercing blue eyes analyzing me as if I’m a museum art piece.

“Who’s the geek?” I ask, both curious and as a flirt.

“I, uh-” the blue-eyed newsie stutters. 

I can tell Spot already knows what game I’m playing ‘cause he keeps try’n to block me from get’n closer.

“Jack, tell the mouth he’s got no chance with Pickens. You know the rules.”

Cowboy looks back and forth between us, then accepts defeat as he pulls the ‘mouth’ away.

Now Spot turn to Boots. “How’s it hang’n?”

“Got some nice shooters for ya!”

Boots hands him a few smooth rocks. Spot then takes out a slingshot, loads it, and aims at a nearby bottle. “So Jackie boy, I’s been hear’n things from little boidies.” He shoots, caus’n the bottle ta shatter poifectly. “Things from Queens… Harlem. They been chirp’n in my ear, tell’n me Jackie’s boys are plann’n on a strike.”

“Well, we are,” the new guy says assurin’ly. 

I’ll give him credit for spunk. Most folks don’t even got the cahonies to look at Spot, let alone talk back to him.

“Oh yeah? Yeah?” Spot gets up in his face, try’n to intimidate him. “Whis is this Jackie boy, some kind-a walk’n mouth?”

Jack looks out from under his cowboy hat. “Yeah, it’s a mouth with brains. And you’ll here what he’s gotta say.”

Spot considers this, then agrees by lean’n against the crates and wait’n for their explanation. “So Jack, are all the odda boroughs pitch’n in?”

“They is wait’n for what Spot Colon is do’n.” 

Now the new guy jumps in. “They say that Spot Colon- you’re the key. That Spot Colon’s the most famous newsie in all of New York. And if you join, we’ll be unstoppable. You just gotta join!” 

Spot seems to think it over, and I can tell it’s really got him think’n.

“You were right, Jack. Brains. But I got brains too. How do I know you got what it takes? How do I know you’s won’t go run’n the first time some goon comes at ya with a club?”

“‘Cause I’m tell’n ya, Spot.” Jack replies.

Spot sighs impatiently and begins to walk away towards me. “That ain’t good enough, Jackie boy. You gotta show me.”

That’s Brooklyn talk for “no,” which don’t seem to please Jack. He nods respectfully and gestures for the two boys to follow him out. Deep down, I’d be lying if I said I weren’t disappointed to see the mouth go. He must feel the same, because he keeps looking back at me and is hesitant to follow. So much that Jack has to grab his arm to lead him outta his trance.

“Sorry, Davey. Rules state that goils don’t get involved with business.”

Davey? Ah, so the geek has a name.

I saunter forward and go to stand next to Davey, give’n Spot a sassy look. “Who says this is business? I’m go’n for a walk, and you can’t say no.”

Just like that, the King ‘o Brooklyn is reduced to a speechless mess. “Wait- You can’t- You seriously- Him?”

I laugh at his scatterbrained speech and point to Davey. “Yes, him. Be back in an hour!”

Quickly, I grab Davey’s arm and pull him through the crowd-a Brooklyn newsies towards the bridge. Once we’s alone, I relax and set a leisurely stride. All the while Davey looks as if he’s seen a ghost.

“You ok?”

He nods slowly, still stare’n at me.

“Can ya still talk?”

Davey flashes a noivous smile and licks his lips. “Hehe, maybe. Depends if you’re gonna stop being too gorgeous to look at.”

His woids make me suspect a joke, but his face don’t say that. He ain’t kidding. 

“You… think I’s gorgeous?” I tilt my head in consideration. “Yeah, just like every guy in Brooklyn. Look’n at me like a piece-a meat.”

This seems to erase all-a Davey’s worried nerves, because he’s got a different look on his face. One more determined, like a debate leader.

“I don’t think you are. Why would they think that?”

I scoff. “Everyone does! Like I’s just a dumb blonde who don’t know squat! Just anodda pretty face. No offense Davey, but I was hope’n you’d be a break from those guys.”

Davey halts in his tracks and grips my shoulders, and I have to resist my fight response to punch his adorable face.

“You’re not just a pretty face. I don’t know much about Brooklyn, but I do know that Spot Colon is a big deal. I admire how you’re confident enough to dominate over him, but don’t have an intense ego. If you’d like, I wouldn’t mind having an intellectual conversation with you instead of gushing about how you’re making my heart melt.”

He takes a deep breath, have’n just spilled his guts to me. This, in turn, has left me speechless. Never once has any newsie in Brooklyn been smart enough to carry on an educated conversation odda than what’s in the papes. Heck, some of ‘em can’t even read! 

Davey must take my silence as rejection, because he’s get’n noivous again.

“Sorry if I upset you. I… have the tendency to talk too much.”

“I like that.”

His eyes go crazy, almost try’n to double think what I said. “Y-You like it? It’s not annoying?”

A smile grows on my face and I nod. “Go right ahead, Davey. Run your mouth. I don’t mind.”

Something gets triggered in Davey, because he immediately starts lecturing about social issues. Part of it I understand, but some is a bit too complicated.

“Wait, wait. How do you know all this?”

Davey gets a cute blush on his cheeks. “I used to be in school, before my father had an accident that took him out of work. Now I gotta sell papers to earn money.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. You got family, yeah?”

“Yeah. Do you?” Davey rethinks this and quickly adds: “I’m sorry, that’s a personal subject. We don’t have to talk about it.”

“No no, ‘s alright. It ain’t new to me. I never knew my folks. They threw me in an orphanage as soon as I could talk, and I’s been a newsie since I was five. So, you was say’n ‘bout the problem of over-achieving?”

Davey gets back on track and continues. “I believe that success should be celebrated but to an extent. We shouldn't let our praise go to politicians and business men's heads. After all, living a healthy and free life is its own reward. What's wrong is that our economy has made it appear that being rich and important is better than being content with the little things in life.”

“Ain’t that a fact,” I scoff. “They don’t know what real wealth is.”

“By the way, we never got a real introduction.” Davey stands up straight and holds out a hand to shake. “My real name is David. David Jacobs. I- I know we literally just met, but- Are you familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet?”

The name washes over me. “No?”

Davey shakes his head and tries again. “There’s something called love at first sight. Maybe you'd know about that, Miss…? Gosh, I don’t even know your real name!” He chuckles. “Some romantic I must be. They call you Pickens, right?”

His innocent smile makes me soften up, bringing a hand over to grip his. “It’s Lucy. My real name’s Lucy, in case you wanted to know.”

“I- I did want to know. But I gotta ask- why me? You didn’t even know me, yet you’re so open to talking with me.”

“Because-a you, genius. You’s actually got brains in that pretty head-a yours, unlike most guys here who got cement for brains. And if at any time you’s ever feel like talk’n, come visit me. Or bedda yet, ya could ask me out?”

Davey stops dead in his tracks, blabbering on like a drunk squirrel. “Ask you- Like- Like a date?”

“No, like an interview. Of course a date, genius!” I laugh.

Davey still ain’t convinced. “But I’m me. I’m not like most guys-”

“All the more reason I’d luv to go on a date with you, David Jacobs.”

He laughs out loud and foist I think he’s make’n fun-a me, but then he gets a bewildered look on his face. “I was just thinking earlier about how fast a person’s life can change in a day. Now my life’s changed even more!” Davey smiles and gently takes my hand. “Thank you, Lucy! Thank you so much! I- I’ll be good to you, I promise. And you can choose the date location, of course.”

“Always a gentleman, I see.” Look’n into his kind eyes, I lean up and give a quick peck to his cheek. “Thanks, Davey.”

By now Jack and Boots have caught up, both give’n us funny looks.

“Hey, um, David. Spot instructed very clearly for us to tell you to send Pickens back. I suggest you do it before something intense happens.”

Davey nods in response, still dazed by my kiss, then turns to me to give me a quick handshake. “See you soon?”

“I’ll count the minutes, genius.”

[crystallizedtwilight]

Do you gave any headcanons as to why is Spot SO hard on himself, when it comes down to something with Race?

below the cut!

Spot is hard on himself about Race being injured in the strike because he believes that was something he could have prevented. That Race getting hurt was a direct result of his reservation.

Jack Kelly may be famous, but it’s no secret that Spot controls all the boroughs (“Harlem wants to know what Brooklyn’s gonna do” / “Queens will be right there backing us up as soon as we get the nod from Brooklyn”). So, if Spot had answered Jack’s call to join the strike, all of the boroughs would have instantly followed suit, and they could have confronted Pulitzer before he sicced the bulls on them. Instead, Spot demands proof that Manhattan isn’t going to fold at the first sign of trouble and, unfortunately, he gets it in the form of Race and the others being beaten by the cops and Pulitzer’s henchmen.

Spot is a well-respected leader and that didn’t happen by chance—it was years of running Brooklyn in a way that made them strong and kept them well looked after. It was the responsible thing to do, waiting and watching to see if Jack Kelly was not just famous but an unyielding leader as well. After all, Jack’s plans had been foiled many times before—he had been sent to the refuge on several occasions (“his total disregard for authority has made him a frequent visitor”) so why should Spot put his boys in danger by thinking Jack wouldn’t be just as reckless now? Spot would be a fool to risk his boys’ safety just because Jack Kelly asked him to. 

And it is Jack asking him, not Race. Spot didn’t even know Race was Manhattan’s second-in-command at the time (he thought it was Davey since that’s who Jack brought with him to ask Spot to join). Race, who sells in Brooklyn every day. Race, who he didn’t know was willing to go down with Manhattan. Race, who gets hurt because Spot hesitated. Race, the one he loves beyond words. 

Spot makes the responsible decision to play it safe and it has painful consequences he feels could have been avoided if he'd only acted sooner. But in the process, Manhattan did prove themselves. Spot got exactly what he asked Jack for, though he wishes he didn’t. He can't forgive himself for that but he can, and does, kick down Pulitzer's door with the wrath of Brooklyn and all the boroughs, not only ensuring that the newsies win the strike, but that no one will ever hurt Racetrack Higgins again.

[bigmack2go]

My list of random newsies headcannons and thoughts that are litterally all over the place

Might add onto it later

Actually scratch that: im definitely adding onto this over time.

Everyone screamed “for splint” when they all ran into the fight

Spot and jack are ex‘s(fight me)

Albert is the delancys cusin (mothers were siblings. Father and weasel)

Hannah is hungarian

Hannah is lefthandet

Davey has tiny-ass ears

Racetrack has green eyes

Alberts nickname is twitch

Newsies are good with littles

Racer has ADHD (obv)

Spot is Hungarian

Scottish/ irish crutchie

Theres a rumor spot conlon is almost seven feet tall (HA! You wish)

Crutchie has a tooth gap (period)

The newsboys lay together to buy a bed if a girl couldn’t afford one because she didn’t earn enough that day so she doesn’t have to sleep out in an ally where she could be raped etc.

Race and/or finch is colorblind

Mush and blink have an ongoing fight on who’s taller

Racetrack „i don’t do rules“ Higgins

Albert „rules are overrated“ DaSilva

Jack „rules are made to be broken“ Kelly

Spot „i make my own rules then“ Connlon

Katherine „ehh“ plumber

Boots “rules? Whats a rule?” Argus

Hotshot „rules are for loosers“ hotshot

Crutchie has a slingshot integrated in his crutch

Smalls real name is Laura

Albert has blue eyes

Race isn’t dumb he’s just an idiot jerk. (In fact he’s incredibly smart)

Taking over the bronx at the age of 13(almost) smalls was the youngest to become a burrow leader aside from spot (who was 11 when he took the ‚crown‘)

Spot refuses to wear clothes to sleep

Elmer and spots sister are cusins (and therefore logically them too lol)

Theorys about yorks name origin vary a lot. Tho most think that he got the name because he’s been to all of new york. He has live in all the burrows and gotten thrown out of almost all the lodges . In reality it was simply because he came from yorktown.

Even some newsies dont know that there are seperate lodges for boys and girls because that isn’t used. Neither the keepers nor the newsies care. There are so few newsies girls anyway so it wouldn’t pay to open an extra one for them. Plus the boys lodge is overfilled anyway and they can’t afford to not use the space they have. Newsies boys are usually very respectful and responsible though. Some say its because they’ve been through stuff themselves some think their simply normal human beings. In reality its a mix (sadly). Since most never had family etc and was rejected by society, that automatically meant that society couldn’t shape them. Society never got to make them think that it was okay in the first place.

Spot and Davey both either bite their nails and they are totally rotten or have the most beautiful and cared for hands/nails

Spot had full on tears in his eyes maybe even down his cheek when Jack scabbed. He didn’t know if he could trust Jack again after what happened what ended their relationship. When he thought he could finally trust him again he pulls this.

Spot spreads rumors abt himself sometimes. Racetrack (and others) help. But race not by saying stuff but by doing stuff.

When crutchy has to sign stuff with a real name, he doesn’t want to use his real name, charlie, he uses shawn because he reminds me of shawn the sheep so yeah

Brooklyn is red

Manhattan is blue

Queens is green

Midtown is yellow

The bronx is dark green

Flushing is dark teal

Richmond are brown

Harlem is Yellow (and mint because midtown are NOT having it) (yes Harlem is an own borough, okay. Fuck you!!!)

When blink and mush got together it was winter and they kissed in the snow outside the lodge and everyone was watching from inside and started cheering because about damn time these two finaly stop pining and anoying everyone with their obliviousness

(Second in comand things abt race that he keeps track if everyones there or if someone’s missing like in 92‘sies when he was the one to realize crutchy, or calming everyone in the broadway version when jack turns on them)

„Theres a headline even elmer could sell“ isn’t cause its a good headline but because he refuses to lie, but he cant sell without lying about the headline usually, but there he doesn’t have to lie about it

The first time Hannah went to meddas she was really reluctant. She knew she would be accepted there and not chased for whom she loved but for some reason she was really hesitant.

She only made some hints before that to Jack prolly and he told her „why don’t you come to Meddas Theater some time hm?“

with a wink and a look of understanding

[racetrackmybeloved]

ok but i think we really gloss over the fact that "spot conlon's turf" consists of the entirety of brooklyn.

according to the 1901 Census Bulletin, the population of NYC in 1900 was 3,437,202. of that, 1,166,582 were in brooklyn. assuming that the ratio of newsboys to the general population is consistent, thats just over a third of all the newsboys in the entirety of NYC that spot is in direct leadership over. that is a lot of power.

in comparison, jack is only the leader of lower manhattan. according to that same census, manhattan's population was greater than brooklyn's (1,850,093), but we know from the scene at jacobis that manhattan is divided into multiple newsie groups, including harlem, midtown, the bowery, and the east side at the very least. jack only had the authority to declare that "the newsies of lower manhattan [were] officially on strike", so his leadership clearly does not extend beyond lower manhattan.

now let's talk influence:

newsies from other areas didn't show up to the strike after jack asked them to. just talking manhattan groups, we know for a fact that midtown and harlem didn't show, and we can infer that the bowery and east side groups didn't either. jack is potentially well known among the other newsies, both for his leadership of lower manhattan and his escape from the refuge, but he has very little influence outside of lower manhattan.

whereas spot's influence? unmatched. he decided to show up to the rally, therefore the rest of the NYC newsies did too. also the implications of the midtown newsies (literally right next to lower manhattan so they definitely knew jack somewhat) not being willing to strike when it was jack who was asking, but being happy to follow spot? hilarious to me. this is even more hilarious if we assume that the bowery newsies didn't come either, since we know for a fact that jack goes there often, since that's where medda's theatre is. spot has more influence over manhattan than jack does.

so yeah. spot is in direct leadership over a third of the city's newsies, but the other two thirds? they follow his lead anyway.

conclusion spot is powerful af (and he knows it)

(source for stats: https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/38-population-ny.pdf)

[worldsbiggestnerd101]

Harlem to Delancey

newsies reference??

[emmedoesntdomath]

SPOT CONLON SPOT CONLON SPOT CONLON SPOT-

I’m not even going to lie to you, this man (92sies) was the reason I first actually got into this fandom.

also- I know next to nothing about uksies’ spot, and while she seems like an absolute badass of a woman whom I would adore, I’m going to stick to what I know, and that’s livesies and 92sies spot. sorry.

(these headcanons are somewhat based in history, mostly not.)

sean ‘spot’ conlon was born and bred in brooklyn, nyc to an irish mother and a spanish father. his first language was spanish (his mother died when he was really little, otherwise it would have gaelic/irish), but he learned english pretty quickly. he became a newsie at nine, and was damn good at it. he rose up the ranks at a speed unheard of, and by the time he was fourteen, he was the king.

here’s the thing about brooklyn politics- they’re messy as shit. in manhattan, leaders aren’t formally elected, they’re just kind of the implied leader. the bronx is the same way, with a little more dispute. so smalls and jack became leaders pretty naturally. queens is more or less a democracy, flushing’s pretty much the same. but brooklyn and harlem? you have to literally fight your way to the top. and once you get there, you have to keep fighting to maintain that power.

so when people say they’re scared of spot conlon? yeah. yeah, they should be.

he rules with an iron fist. there’s no mercy for traitors or rebels. he leads this way for roughly three, four years, gaining hotshot as his second and a motley crew of loyalists behind him. and then- and then hotshot reports of a manhattan newsie working the crowds at the races (and to be clear, brooklyn and manhattan aren’t on great terms)(spot thinks jack’s an idiot and wants nothing to do with him).

suddenly, spot’s got a weakness, and said weakness is now the official ambassador of manhattan (hotshot hates him with a burning passion, and spot kind of respects him for that). and then there’s the strike, and spot steps down a year and a half later, at nineteen- steps down, spot conlon is not FORCED down, thank you very much- and that’s the end of the king of brooklyn.

sean conlon, though.

he still likes the water, and the way the air smells after a particularly hard rain. he sometimes starts speaking in spanish while he sleeps. he isn’t the biggest fan of smoking, but damn, if he doesn’t find it hot when other people do it. he got his nickname because he had freckles on his arms and nose. his best friends are david jacobs and hotshot, but he won’t admit to even liking either of them. he hates when people call him short. he’s never liked girls, but he never really cared much for boys, either, until he met racetrack higgins. he can’t read, but he pretends to when asked, because he’s embarrassed about it.

he joins the army when the war begins, and the war ends without him coming home.

the world and a ptsd-riddled italian boy with curls mourn.

[newsie-collective]

Nick "Mush" Meyers

Quickfire Favorites

Food: “Anythin’ I can get me hands on.”

Color: “Green! ‘S tha cola’s of all the trees ‘n stuff when me ‘n Blink ‘n Tommy ‘n Specs have picnics!”

Season: “Spring! ‘S perty when we’s goin’ out!”

Weather: “Sunny! ‘S real nice when it’s sunny! There’s mo’ people to sell to!”

Hobby: “Visitin’ wit’ Clara at the snowglobe shop!”

Animal: “Frogs! Snails! Both ‘s good! I don’ like touchin’ ‘em but they’re real neat to look at.”

Memory: “Givin’ Kloppman the snowglobe after the strike!”

Comfort Item: “All me snowglobes. They make me feel real good ‘n they help me feel bett’a after a long day.”

He was missing most of his teeth when he made it to the lodge house (lucky for him they were all baby teeth), earning him the name Mush (both because of his lisp and the way his mouth looked after getting soaked for being in the wrong place at the wrong time)

Doesn’t talk all that much now because of this

He’s never known his family. He was on the streets as long as he could remember before moving into The Lodge™️

He’s the muscle of the Manhattan newsies. He’s originally from Harlem, but too many people knew him there (even if he didn’t know them) so he had to get a new selling spot, and he moved to Manhattan. 

Honestly, Manhattan is so diverse because they’re all adopted in from other boroughs. Like, they’re just a melting pot of New York.

He’s such a light sleeper

Also takes up the entire bed, and whoever he’s cuddling with either has to lay on top of him or beneath him

He's also an early riser, and his usual bunkmates (Tommy, Specs, and Blink) really aren't

He’s really protective of his friends. And even more of his partners. If someone gets sick, he will too. Because he will coddle them until they both get over it.

He would give extra papers to his partners (yes with an S. Mush loves so hard there’s no way he isn’t poly. More on that in a different post, once we start doing relationship analyses) if they were selling well, and would offer to help if they were struggling

Loves karaoke night at Medda’s

Terrified of bugs, especially moths and butterflies.

No one knows this

(Everyone knows but they all pretend not to bc Mush is super embarrassed by it)

Has scars all over from fights and such

HE LOVES SNOWGLOBES. IT’S THE ONLY THING HE COULD ALWAYS GET THE OTHERS TO LEAVE ALONE. AND HE WAS SO HAPPY THEY RESPECTED THAT

He made friends with Clara, the lady who sells the snowglobes. It's this nice little stained glass shop, and the snowglobes just caught Mush's eye one day.

He went inside, absolutely awestruck by them, and absolutely devastated that he could never even come close to affording one. But, they were too pretty to just leave. So, he slipped the smallest one in his pocket, but he isn't as sneaky as the others (he's got a really low dex score, lbr) and gets caught before he's even left the aisle.

Dude he is terrified when the owner rounds the corner with a glare, and he just knows he's getting sent to the Refuge for this.

He puts the snowglobe back on the shelf and is apologizing as much as he can as fast as he can and begging her not to say anything. Pleading with her not to call the bulls on him.

She knows he's a newsie, and they aren't normally allowed near her shop, much less inside, but Mush is just so adorable and she can tell he feels bad about it.

She offers him a deal. 

She will give him a snowglobe for each odd job he does (explaining very carefully that the bigger ones will need more than one job done)

And Mush is just head over heels in love with this idea. 

The newsies don't ask where his massive collection of snowglobes is coming from. Or where he disappears to every night.

She makes him a special snowglobe commemorating the strike once they've finished and won, and that's the only one he doesn't keep. 

He gives it to Kloppman.

Who promptly puts it on his desk because he wants everyone to know that those were his boys.

Has worked security at a number of places, especially after people realized that all it would take would be a snowglobe. But, the glass store owner taught him a lot about his worth, and won't do a job unless he's rewarded well enough for it.

That's why he was so hesitant on doing the strike. He was too uncertain of the reward for the massive risk they were taking.

He stopped in the glass shop in Harlem while he was out there recruiting newsies asked her opinion, and she told him that he should follow his heart. 

And when he told her he was going to go through with the strike, she gave him the big snowglobe he'd been eyeing since the first day he went in there (she'd kept from selling it just for him, but didn't tell him that until he went and visited her after the strike was settled) for good luck.

Is really good with the younger kids, and really enjoys hanging out with them, because they're easier to understand than adults with big emotions (and he also likes knowing more than someone for once, and likes teaching them new things)

Can absolutely make flower crowns and loves going to Central Park to make them

He really loves love. Like he used to get puppy crushes worse than Romeo. And he would fall so hard.

He eventually grew out of his puppy crush phase, but he stayed in love with love. He likes seeing all of his friends happy together.

The cuddliest cuddler to ever cuddle

He's a lot like Finch in the way that he doesn't care how he's laying with his cuddle partner. He just really really likes physical touch-like to the point where the others get annoyed with him. It's the way he shows his love.

It's been really toned down since he was younger, because the other boys used to get frustrated and tell him off for being too much. 

He's very insecure about it

He's very trusting. He trusts too easily, which is odd because he's one of the oldest newsies, and no one expects him to be this trusting but this boy does not know how to stop it

He's forgiven the Delancey brothers because they weren't much older than some of the older newsies, and they were being exploited and used, and Mush can't really hold that against them. 

He forgave Cowboy, didn't he?

He's so easily excited by the simplest things. Like he gets so excited so fast about things that are small.

Would totally be in those tiny things Facebook groups

Blush things:

He'd been at the Newsboy Home for ages and this mean dude with an eyepatch just showed up and started acting an ass and scaring the younger kids. 

He told Blink to either get his shit together or get out.

He found Blink outside after curfew that night with some shady guys.

And he just picks Blink up (after slapping a few guys around) and carries him to the lodge house. 

Because it's too fucking much to try and talk to him. He just lays him in a bed and tells him that if he's not in the house in the morning he'd have made his choice and to not come back because he doesn't have enough mental space to be worried about this new kid who doesn't even want to follow the few rules there are. 

And Blink's just like 'You're ;worried about me?  😏'

Mush decks that motherfucker. 

Just one good hit. 

And he went to bed.

The next morning, the bed was empty, and so was Elmer's. 

Mush went looking for Elmer, and found him and Blink cuddling on the couch.

He woke them up trying to figure out why they had to cuddle out in the living room, and the only response he got from Blink was "If i have to follow curfew, so does he"

He and Blink kind of became children wranglers after that. Not necessarily babysitting them, but making sure everyone was inside before  the door was locked, or Kloppman wouldn't get any sleep waiting up for them.

After he and Blink calmed down around each other, they actually became best friends, and eventually more than that.

Like slow burn turned up to 11. Like boil the frog kind of fucking slow.

It took them forever

Mush told Blink (while teaching him how to be less violent) to smack him when he felt like beating people up. 

It eventually turned to affectionate paps to the cheek like the one in the beginning of 92sies (which actually happened not long after Blink mellowed. He would still have some violent spells, like almost going after Crutchy in the beginning of the movie, when Mush stepped in)

Italian food 🤤

He really likes going into libraries for two reasons:

1) The endless shelves to wander through and get lost in leave him awestruck every time

2) There's usually a corner with just enough space for him to curl up and nap in

He's so good at hide and seek. At least the seeking part. He's practically hunting the hiders. It's honestly terrifying.

Really good with remembering the names and patterns of constellations, but cannot for the life of him remember where they are in relation to each other, and can only find really famous constellations like Orion and Ursa Major

Mush!! My sweet boy!!! I love him sm. He deserves everything 🥰

He's so freaking cute

👻

[the-woild-is-y-erster]

OUGH OK HI

this is kind of mostly for @chases-main-blog because you're probably the only one besides toff who'll read this but everyone's welcome xx its abt my ocs and just newsies in general btw babes so if you aint interested dont read it

ok so i got back from an airshow in my city (yes yes i know government propaganda galore, planes are cool ok) because my dad was in the air force for twenty-odd years and is a huge nerd, which he has passed on to me and my brother slightly

my point being!!

the entire tme i was thinking of. uh. basically a top gun au. of newsies. OK BUT HEAR ME OUT HEAR ME OUTTTT

(im gonna use some terms that if you didnt basically grow up on an air base like i did you might not understand but bear w me ok)so you need to trust your squadron with your life, right? what do the boroughs do? exactly. and they have callsigns in the AF (not sure abt any other branches, lmk if you have that info but i dont think they get callsigns hah boring losers >:P) WHAT DO THE NEWSIES HAVE??? STUPID NICKNAMES THAT DONT REALLY MAKE SENSE!!! DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN!!!!

so consider

theres no war because i say so and theye all just goofing off on base as all the different squadrons (OHGOHGOHOOHO BROOKLYN WOULD SO BE HELICOPTERS OMGGGG) and they just have a jolly old time until they get this super important super top secret mission where they all have to work together and it would be so cool

ok wait now i gotta

manhattan-F-16s, little guys that go NYOOOOM n shoot stuff

brooklyn-HH-60G pave hawks, theyre big helicopters, search n rescue (hey manhattan the calvary's comin WHO) and pararescue but they also have turrets i think and obvi everyone on board is armed so theyre like super cool

queens-A-10s cus they get to blow stuff up but theyre really slow so pick your poison, i think they'd do A-10s in the field and hang back to train on the T-38s but i know queensies would love A-10s cus they have a rotating gun on the front that shoots super fast and is just an all around cool plane ALTERATIVELY they would also be F-16s because go nyoom shoot stuff

bronx-T-38s, trainers for the big jets and only used sparingly (sorry bronx xx) i think they'd be ground control as well

harlem-C-5 galaxy, MASSIVE jet used for transportation of troops and cargo n planes n stuff and when i say massive i mean m a s s i v e like they drive wholeass tanks and jets n stuff in there, and the nose swings up aswell as the back hatch so you can just. drive straight through this giant plane, its so cool

long island-F-35 theyre pretty fast and can go pretty high so all around a good jet, not much else to say

can you tell i basically lived on base until i was like eight?

ive had a scene for if i actually wrote this stuck in my head all day abt eel n shoe and i just ughhhh ok now i have to write it but i'm gonna put a read more so if you dont want to read it you dont have to xx

a crackle and a ding came over the intercom, soft breathing following. "heya harv, it's just me n' you right now." eel rasped. harvey swallowed, bile threatening to rise in his throat.

"no no no, please-" another burst of static in his ear. "hey this is monkey to shoe, are you ok? i know-ah shit!-sorry, there's a lot goin' on, but no one was talking to ya before-?" monkey trailed off, waiting for shoe's answer. he blinked back the tears he knew were going to come, tilting his throttle up to get him higher. "i-uh, it's- it's fine, i-"

"harvey, i ain't got a lot of time, i ne-i need you to listen." eel's voice wavered, but it was still strong in harvey's ear. he nodded. "m' listenin'."

"monkey to shoe again, are-" "gimme a second, blake?" shoe snapped, maneuvering around the sky as projectiles screamed past him, missing him by mere meters. using the first name in the field was a big no-no, but it made monkey shut up, though shoe could hear him over the comms talking to the other pilots, asking if they had heard shoe as well.

his comms were messed up, he realized; he was supposed to be on a private channel with eel, and it had glitched and made it so only he could hear eel, but the entire squadron-and everyone on the ground, he thought-could hear him.

he drew in a shaky breath. "i'm here, zeke. talk to me."

eel chuckled dryly. "don't go all top gun on me, you'se the one makin it out of here."

harvey's heart seemed to stop, the air around him seeming to compress in and choke him.

"what?"

eel sighed and sniffed, the shuffling from his end telling shoe he was moving his helmet around, wiping tears. "harvey, my engine's blown and we're on enemy territory. i'm miles away from everyone else on orders from boss, it was s'posed to be a sneak attack but they got to you faster than cowboy thought-" "no, do not say what-" harvey interrupted. "harvey liam sellers, will you listen to me for once in your stupidly beautiful life?"

shoe sobbed quietly, watching his radar on his display, praying to any god who might still have love for him that it would pick up anything but the others in the squadron and the MIGs.

"we both knew deep down when we got orders i wasn't coming back from this one." eel sounded surprisingly calm for a guy who was talking about the possibility of his own death. "no, please, you can't do this to me right now, what about-" shoe sniffed, knowing he was arguing with a mind made up.

"ground control to phantom four, are you alright?" it was comforting to hear another familiar voice, the message poker carried not so much. "peachy, ground. i- everything's just kosher." harvey knew he sounded extremely far from fine, and hoped his friends on the ground wouldn't comment.

"your comms seem to be malfunctioning, i'll get saz on that asap, but are you sure-" poker seemed hesitant, like he didn't want to push buttons but was genuinely worried.

"fine, poker." shoe flipped the manual switch to cut comms with ground, before flipping it back on a moment later.

"still there?" he murmured, knowing full well there was at least twenty people besides eel who could hear him if they listened.

"never left, sweetheart." harvey almost started crying at the sound of eel's voice, and the knowledge of what he was going to say next.

"you gotta listen here, harv. you n' i both know i ain't gettin out of here alive-no, do not argue, i know you want to i know, sweetheart-you have to get home to charlie and fia, you gotta-" he swallowed, the sound audible through the headset. "you gotta tell them what happened to me, and tell them-"

the scream of a missile and the unmistakeable sound of an implosion blocked out eel's voice.

harvey's heart stopped.

"eel? eel, are you there? this is phan- phantom four to ra- raven two, are you-" the panic in his head and the pounding in his ears made it nearly impossible to see. he tried to breathe like eel taught him, but his throat seemed intent on making him stutter and practically asphyxiate.

"hoarder to shoe, what is going on? are you alright, do you need backup?" his friend sounded alarmed. for good reason, thought shoe through his panic.

"ground, i ne-i need co-ords on- on raven two, i-i've lost comms with-"

"ah, merde! harv, i'm here!" the sound of eel's voice was garbled, but it was there.

"eel? ezekiel cattaneo, where t-the hell are you? give me your coord-coordinates, i'll be right there." the relief that flooded shoe's body was instantaneous, but short lived.

"no time! they got my other engine, i've put them post on standby and i'm usin' the propellors, but they blasted those too. i think there's three MIGs, but it's hard to tell."

the sounds of the entire rest of the squadron and ground control trying to get shoe's attention faded as he absorbed the information his lover gave him.

"i know i'm goin out, so i'll say this before i die.

"harvey 'shoe' liam sellers, you are the most incredible and amazing soul i have ever had the pleasure of meeting. my life has been so much better since i had you in it, and i know charlie and fia can say the same. i need you to tell the kids i love them, and i need you to remember to take deep breaths when you get overwhelmed, okay? can you do that for me, tesoro?"

"ez, i-i-"

"i love you, you know that? you're the first man i've ever truly believed that i've loved, and the first to have loved me back." eel was clearly out of breath and choked up, but shoe could hear him as clearly as if he was standing next to him, despite the delay on the comms and the static overlaying eel's speech.

"zeke, ple- please, y-you gotta tell me whe- where you are, i can get th- there in t- time i promise, please-" harvey was sobbing. he knew he couldn't reach his lover in time before his engines failed completely, and the risk of hitting the canopy on ejection was so high there was such a slim chance of survival it was almost laughable, if shoe had felt like laughing.

"i love you, ok?" screaming missiles and static filled shoe's ears again.

he sat in shock.

"eel? c'mon, y- you c- can't do thi- this to me, baby, i-i can't..." silence and more static.

"g- ground, y-you got a- a locat- a location o -on raven two?" he muttered, his brain feeling like mush.

"negative, lieutenant."

[spinningerster]

since mark refuses to give us mike lore I've created my own (tw. mention of death)

michael 'mike' ives was born in harlem, new york on march 8, 1889. his parents, john ives and melanie abbott, met at the factory where they worked. both were young and unable to financially provide for him as their families refused to support them, so they left him at the small local church when he was just a few months old, where he was raised by nuns. though his parents promised to come back for him when their life was more stable, this unfortunately never ended up happening, as mike's mother died just over a year later after a short illness, whilst his father moved away for a job opportunity.

when he was 1, another boy of his age (though a few months younger), who would come to be known as jojo, was left at the church, and the two became fast friends, and they particularly enjoyed playing hopscotch together. when he was 11, mike, along with jojo, became a newsie, as some of the older children within the church often undertook such jobs for a bit of spending money. when they made front page of the new york sun, mike couldn't wait to share the exciting news with the nuns who had raised him.

[baura-bear]

Things in New York that have reminded me of newsies:

Delancey street because well obviously. Brighton beach because Brooklyn. And the Bowery because Miss Medda 🥰

Not pictured: Houston St station (on the subway from Harlem)