Hello! Hope everyone's having a good day/night. So here's the second chapter, This is where I expect hatred and confusion towards my OC, but I decided to explain the title, so, maybe that will help. Sorry about the writing quality, I wrote 99.9% of this while I was exhausted, had a massive headache, or both, so, sorry.
Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies
Trigger warnings: Slavery, spears, fire, physical fighting.
Have fun reading!
One of the best examples I can think of is the secret place they flock to after curfew, where they all make sure everyone is provided for….
This was my sixth day as a slave, and I was amazed that the others managed to stay in such good spirits when they were treated so horribly. After a monotonous day of helping Buttons -who despite being extremely kind and hilarious at times, was much too focused in his work to talk to me more than occasionally -we returned to the run-down cabin, and had our pathetic meal of stale bread and over boiled potatoes. Once I had finished, I collapsed on the bed and tried to block out the cacophony everybody else was causing.
"I's guessing you're still hungry?" I opened my eyes to see Moon smirking at me, her arms crossed. I wasn't sure how to answer for a second. Was that a normal-sized meal for them? Will they figure out I'm lying if I say yes? Will they think less of me? I decided I didn't really care.
"No, that bite of hard, stale bread and over boiled potato really filled me up," I replied, enfusing my voice with as much sarcasm as I possibly could.
"So she does have a sense of humor," Moon deadpanned, then chuckled," Well, congratulations, you've officially joined the newsies, and now you have the option to eat with us."
"Newsies?" I asked, thoroughly confused by the unfamiliar word.
"Yeah," she shrugged, "It's a name I made up for the group. I'd call them chaos, but that don't have the same ring to it."
"Oh," I said, not sure how she came up with a name like newsies, a name that made absolutely no sense to me.
"Anyway, you coming?"
Not wanting to turn down the offer of food, I replied,"Sure."
"You have the option of leaving anytime, so don't feel obligated to stay." I nodded. She grinned.
"How did you find this place?" I asked as I was led into a clearing that had been completely invisible only seconds earlier.
"A friend of ours was 'exploring' when he found the clearing," Crutchie explained, laughing slightly, I presumed it was at the memory. As we walked, I noticed what looked like a cave in the distance.
"Is that a cave?" I asked.
"Yep," A boy said cheerfully, popping the 'p'.
"So where's this food you promised me?" I asked, a few boys around me laughing at my eagerness.
"It's in Tomorrow," A blonde kid with ice blue eyes said before laughing as if he had just made best joke ever. The boys all groaned, one actually slapping the back of his head.
"What Race is trying to say is: the food's in the river," Moon explained, glaring at Race, but I could tell there was no malice behind it. Race smirked at her before walking over and throwing his arm over her shoulders. Were they courting?
"The river's called Tomorrow," a boy explained cheerfully, flashing me a bright grin. I hesitantly returned it.
"So you live off stale bread, over boiled potatoes, and fish?" My statement was met with a chorus of affirmation.
"You truly feast as well as the royalty themselves," I deadpanned, earning myself a few laughs and causing Moon to let out a small snort.
"But of course," Race said dramatically, gesturing with his free hand, "For we are the most powerful, as we know the secrets of Tomorrow."
"Do you even think about anything you say?" Moon asked, smirking.
"He's probably trying to recreate Shakespeare," A boy said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"At least Shakespeare could speak english, unlike you, peasant," Race spat, his arm leaving Moon's shoulders as he stepped closer to the first boy. I started to feel increasingly concerned. Could this be when the slaves turned savage?
"What did you just call me, heathen?" The boys stepped even closer together, before slowly circling each other, each ready to tear the other apart.
"I called you a peasant." The first boy froze for a second, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. I looked around at the other slaves, expecting them to separate the two boys before they caused each other serious harm. Instead I was met with unconcerned faces, a few smirks, and even some boys who seemed to be placing bets. Fear started to creep up on me, pooling in my stomach and making me feel ill. Could this be what slaves did for fun? Tear each other apart and watch it as some sick sort of sport, even placing bets on it? If so, why had they been so kind to me…?
I was jolted from my thoughts when the boy lunged at Race, but instead of striking him as I expected, he pulled him into a headlock and rubbed his knuckles against his skull. I blinked, confused, before slowly realizing that I had mistaken playfulness for malice. My fears slowly started to dissipate, and after a few seconds, I was able to laugh with the other boys at Race, whose limbs were wildly flailing as he desperately tried to escape the headlock.
"As much as I love laughing at Race, we should probably start fishing before someone collapses from hunger," Moon said, prompting the boy to release Race, who swatted at him.
A few boys started towards the caves, disappearing from view as they slipped inside. I watched them disappear, then turned to find Race unlacing Moon's dress. I stared, aghast at their behavior, but once Race pulled the garment over her head, I could see the dark pants and long-sleeved shirt she was wearing underneath. I let out a sigh of relief, watching as Race unceremoniously threw the dress over a low tree branch. The other boys returned, each one bearing some sort of net, cage, or spear. I followed them as they rushed to the river, checking traps and pulling out fish, killing them quickly with their spears. A boy walked over to a burnt spot in the ground, obviously there had been many a fire in that spot. Moon walked over to the boy, and after a short conversation, approached me.
"Want to help me get some firewood?" she asked.
"Sure," I replied. She started walking towards the caves, and I quickened my pace to match hers.
"So, how are you adjusting?" She inquired.
"What?" I asked, thoroughly confused as to what she was referring to.
"How are you adjusting?" she repeated, "you know, to being a slave. You doing okay?"
"I'm alright." She nodded, then stopped at a giant pile of logs that were presumably to be used as firewood. She stooped down, picking up a few logs and piling them in her arms, before standing again.
"Can you grab some kindling?" she asked, nodding towards a nearby pile of twigs and shavings. I nodded and grabbed a few handfuls, feeling the rough twigs scrape against my hand. I deposited the kindling in my apron, lifting up the ends to make a sort of basket. I noticed Moon staring at nothing in particular, biting at her lip, almost hard enough draw blood.
"Moon?" She looked over at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue. "Are you alright?"
Moon nodded, releasing her lip, "I just thought I heard something."
I wasn't really sure I believed her, but I followed her back to the burnt spot in the ground. Once there, I kneeled, handing the boy my kindling and brushing off my apron. He carefully arranged the logs and kindling, before pulling a piece of metal and a greyish rock from his pocket. In one quick motion, he struck the rock with the metal, creating sparks. He blew on the sparks, and after, a few seconds,I could see the fire beginning to catch, the flames hungrily consuming the wood.
Of course, my quiet moment of peace was rudely interrupted by the boys running over with their now-gutted fish. I almost laughed, the moment reminding me of the way Jack would manage to ruin almost every quiet moment I had. Of course, he usually wasn't carrying gutted fish. Usually.
Once everyone had finished cooking and eating the fish -one nice boy being kind enough to share his with me -Romeo jumped up and demanded we reenact Romeo and Juliet. Another boy with glasses rose to his feet, wrapping his arm around Romeo's waist, nonverbally supporting what Romeo had said. After a chorus of sighs and a few annoyed mumbles, all the boys rose to their feet, each one seemingly knowing what they were doing. I remained sitting, not really sure what I was supposed to do. The boy with glasses noticed my confusion, and after a whispered conversation with Race, who sprinted towards the caves, he turned to me.
"Do you want to play the nurse?" he asked kindly, offering his hand out to me.
"Sure, but I don't have the script memorized," I responded, taking his outstretched hand. He pulled me up with apparent ease.
"Don't worry, that's what Race is getting."
I glanced over at Race, who was sprinting toward us, then turned back to Specs and smiled. Why does everyone except me have the script memorized?
Race handed me the script, and at Specs' nod to start, I began to read the chorus, my voice blending with everyone else around me.
Acting out Romeo and Juliet with a ragged group of slaves was admittedly quite entertaining. I was not only surprised by the fact that everyone there had it memorized, but by the way they acted with such feeling, while also managing to deliver their lines in the most hilarious ways possible. In that moment, acting with the slaves who treated me as one of their own, even though I had met them a mere six days go, I was perfectly happy and content, no longer harboring any fear towards them.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ PM or review if you have questions, comments, or hate.
