A girl? It's a girl, how the hell? Is that even legal? (Spot and Dodger)

[brooklynishere]

Siobhan Conlon had run away from home at age 12 and very quickly realised that the streets were a terrible place for a girl. Especially one with a smart mouth and a violent temper. It wasn't that she couldn't handle herself - she absolutely could - but she didn't want to have to all the time.

So she'd stolen some boy's clothes from a washing line and spent her second-to-last dime on a haircut, and when she'd shown up at the circulation gate with the other newsies one cold November morning, three weeks after first leaving home, they'd accepted her with open arms.

After that, it wasn't long before she had a bed at the boarding house, a whole new family and a name - Spot.

By now she has it down to an art, as the leader of Brooklyn she had her own room at the boarding house which made it easier, but she's spent years perfecting her act, she's got the swagger and the voice and the look, and everybody thinks she's just small for a boy - Spot's certainly got more than enough personality to make up for it.

So when Dodger comes strolling into her life she doesn't think anything of it at first, he's just another cocky kid for her to take under her wing and show the ropes, and if she finds him somewhat attractive... well, it wouldn't be the first time she's thought that about someone. She'll get over it, she always does. She can't risk revealing herself, not after all this time.

There's something about him, though, something that's just kind of easy to get along with - even when they're arguing - and Spot just likes having him around. It's dangerous, really dangerous, but she can't stop herself being around him.

Comments

[artfuldawkins]

Dodger had been amused when he got confronted by the great and terrible Brooklyn leader. Oh, they might have everyone else around them fooled, but Dodger saw right through her within in the first minute. He would play along, not his fault if the blokes around here were dafter than a brush. Maybe they were just too used to it, but it was there if you know what to look for. He did - few girls in the den who would hide themselves as boys to go on the lift and then switch into their proper clothin' to hide from the peelers.

It doesn't take too long for the others to bugger off to go and peddle their 'papes' - what is with Americans and their need to change the language - and Dodger finds himself following behind Spot, listening idly to the talk. He wonders how to bring it up, because he needed to know the score here.

"So, how long you been playin' as a boy?"

Better to be blunt about it. Was a lot more fun that way

[brooklynishere]

Spot has always had control, a certain level of grace one might say, she was certainly far from clumsy - so it would be a surprise to any that knew her when she amost tripped over her own feet in response to that comment. She caught herself before she actually fell, spinning to face him with wild eyes.

"What?" she hissed, angry and startled. How the hell had he seen through her so quickly? Literally nobody else had ever even come close to figuring her out, or if they had they'd never said anything about it, and suddenly she was concerned it was more obvious than she realised. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

[artfuldawkins]

Was anger the response that he expected? It wasn't not a reaction he thought he'd get so... probably in the wheelbarrow to be honest. He just stands at ease, hands pushed into his trouser pockets, before he eyes her up and down. He walks around her, as if inspecting it.

"Yeah, I'm right." Dodger nodded. "You're definitely a girl. Surprised no bugger round here ain't picked up on it." He shrugged. "Guess they must be right thick over here."

[brooklynishere]

Spot glared, her gaze darting around the streets as though she expected every passer-by to be listening in. Nobody was paying them any attention, and none of her boys were anywhere near. Small mercies, since they gossiped like fishwives. Still, she grabbed hold of his sleeve and dragged him into a nearby alleyway before replying, cane already in hand and waved threateningly in his direction.

"You think I'm just gonna stand there and let you say shit like that?" she hissed, and for a second she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she could scare him enough into thinking he was wrong.

But Dodger had already proved himself to be pretty fearless, and he was so sure of himself that she knew he wasn't going to give up on his theory without proof - proof she could absolutely not provide.

"....how can you tell?"

[artfuldawkins]

Oh, there were so many comments he could be made about being dragged into an alley, but he just laughed instead. It's hilarious, though he can see - by how she swings the cane about - how she might have been able to keep a hold on this territory as he was told it. She knew how to use it as an effective weapon.

"'Cause I seen too many girls pullin' the same thing to avoid the peelers," he answered honestly. "You get used to spottin' them." He pulled his jacket slightly. "You ain't got nothin' to worry on, ain't going to peach on you. Just wondered how long you been playin' it."

[brooklynishere]

The assurance he wasn't going to say anything wasn't totally reassuring, but it was enough for her to get control of herself, to rein in her anger a little. She paused, straightening her shoulders and lowering her cane, just a little. She looked at him, wary and thoughtful, the signature Spot Conlon stare-down.

"Since I was 12." she answered truthfully. "Ain't nobody ever seen through me that quick, Jack Dawkins. Ain't nobody ever seen through me at all."

Despite herself, she's almost impressed. Still a little terrified, the fear well hidden under a familiar cloak of false bravado, but impressed nonetheless.

[artfuldawkins]

12. That was an awkward age to start that kind of act, at least from what he knew of it all. Still, probably better to start then when there was a chance it could still work than later when stuff would make it more obvious.

"How old are you know?" It bore asking. How long had she been playing at this act, how long had she managed to fool people with her fronting? He smirked a bit. "I ain't just nobody. I'm the Artful Dodger. Got a talent for all kinds of mischief."

It's said with a bit of swagger, that sense of knowing he was good at what he did.

[brooklynishere]

Spot scoffed at his boasting, not one to give someone a big head however accurate his statement might have been. He must have been watching her pretty closely to see through her disguise, and that made her feel...
nothing important. Nothing at all.

"Eighteen." she answered the question quietly. She knew people figured she was younger than that, but that suited her fine, it kept them from getting too suspicious.
There was no point in not telling him, but she still didn't look forward to seeing how smug he'd get when he realised he was the first person to figure it out in six years.

[artfuldawkins]

This one, Spot, well, she was fun. Not for giving anything away in her expressions. Made it a bit more interesting trying to figure out her ticks. He liked figuring out people's ticks - made the job a lot more fun. He hadn't expected that age, though.

"You read younger," he commented. "Reckon you know that though. Useful for the job." Still... "No one person, in six years? Blimey, they really are thick as two planks 'round here." He laughed.

[brooklynishere]

"Nobody that's said as much," Spot admitted after a moment, because okay there was a possibility that somebody had picked up on it and not said anything, she did have that slightly intimidating thing going for her that most people knew to shy away from. But not this guy.

"You ain't worried I'll soak ya just to stop you talking?" she asked curiously, eyeing him up. He didn't seem scared by her at all and she didn't know if he was brave, stupid, or both. Or if this was some kind of failing in her own intimidation techniques. She supposed up until this point he had probably thought she was a few years younger than him, and he hadn't seemed to realise the significance of being leader of Brooklyn.

[artfuldawkins]

Dodger just shrugged.

"If you were going to do it, you'd have done it when I opened my mouth," he said with a shrug. "Told you, no one's goin' to hear it from me. The Artful Dodger keeps his word. Ain't got much else worth keepin'," he added.

Spot would be glad to know she was right on her thoughts - Dodger wasn't really aware of what being leader of Brooklyn meant, so there was a lack of comprehension regarding how scared he should be. Of course, the other part of that was he'd spent years having Sikes screaming and it was hard to be scared of much after being subjected to that bloke.

[brooklynishere]

"...you've got a lot to learn about this place." she said eventually, because honestly just because Spot didn't start a fight with him right then and there, without backup, didn't mean he was safe - Spot didn't need to explain why she wanted somebody soaked most of the time, and there were boys enough who hadn't taken much of a liking to Dodger to begin with.

That said, he wasn't actually in any danger, because somebody Spot did believe him when he said he wouldn't tell. Still..

"If you wasn't gonna tell anybody, why tell me you figured it out?" did he just want to make her sweat? There was no hint of blackmail in anything he'd said so far, unless that was still to come, so why bring it up? By Spot's logic, there wasn't any point.

[artfuldawkins]

"Someone better teach me then," was the easy comment in reply. "Ain't goin' to learn if someone ain't tellin' me what I'm gettin' wrong," he pointed out simply. He figured this was about his comment regarding not being worried about being soaked. If someone explained it a bit more, he'd probably get it.

"Told you, just wanted to know how long you been playin' it." That's all it was, really. Curiosity. "Gettin' the feelin' tryin' to squeeze you for coin is not the best plan to take an' I'm a lot of things, but I ain't thick."

[brooklynishere]

"A lesson for you, then," she conceded, her voice calmly dangerous "if I wants you soaked, you're gettin' soaked, and that's the way of it. Don't matter why, don't matter how big or mean or tough you are, or how many buddies are backing you up, because there ain't no gang bigger than every newsie in Brooklyn and I own Brooklyn."

She paused, to let that sink in, to let him understand just how fucked he could be if she only decided it was the case - which she hadn't, not at all, but she didn't like it when people didn't take her seriously.

"No, you ain't stupid," she agreed "but ain't you ever heard curiosity killed the cat?"

[artfuldawkins]

Dodger listened, unintentionally comparing her attempt at intimidation against the threats Sikes would throw at anyone he thought had looked at him funny. She did pretty well, especially considering she was pretty young in all this.

"Well you'd win, can throw a punch, but ain't much of a fighter," Dodger replied with a shrug. "More of a thinker, if I'm honest about it." But he smiled a little.

"Ah, ain't you never heard? Satisfaction brought it back."

[brooklynishere]

"Damn right I'd win." she muttered. Even if it was just one on one she was pretty sure she could take Dodger. He was taller than her, for sure, but a lot of people were, and she was one hell of a scrappy fighter. She had to be, to get where she was.

"Oh?" she stepped forward, getting into his personal space, equal parts threatening and... something else. Something she'd never actually tried before. "You satisfied, Dawkins?" she asked, looking up at him with the faintest hint of a smirk dancing about her lips.

[artfuldawkins]

Her comment on winning gained a small laugh from Dodger. Oh, no doubt she would beat him, but it's the confidence there he can't help but find pretty impressive. Small thing, and so sure in herself. It's... Impressive is the best fitting word for it. He wonders how long it took her to gain that level of self assurance.

The getting up in his personal space is interesting. He turns slightly, head tilted, and there's another soft laugh. There's a bit of a spark there, and a hint of what could be called a roguish grin.

"Not yet, but I'm sure I'll find a way to get there."

[brooklynishere]

That grin did something funny to Spot's stomach and she stepped back almost abruptly. Well. That was...

That was nothing. She'd felt that kind of thing before and gotten over it, because it was too dangerous and that was that. Sure he knew her secret and he was the first one who had, but that didn't make it any less of a risk. Spot Conlon was not some romantic....girl.

"Yea, you sure about that?"

[artfuldawkins]

Now, what was that he spotted? Dodger considered. Could be anything. He shrugged, and moved over to lean against the wall, still having a bit of a carefree air in his posture. He eyed her once more and shrugged.

"Always manage to find a way."

[brooklynishere]

"Sure." Spot said, with just a hint of sarcasm in her tone. There was something infuriatingly relaxed about him, here he is just laying her life's secret bare without a care in the world, totally unconcerned by the way Spot is basically having a very quiet, very private freak out. Admittedly it is so quiet and private that, actually, you can barely tell she's having it, but it is happening and it makes his casual air all the more frustrating.

"So. Is that all you wanted?"

[artfuldawkins]

Is that all he wanted? Now, that was a question. He found himself eyeing up Spot again, considering his options. He wondered again why no one had found her out before now, but honestly, that wasn't his problem.

"Just need someone to teach me the area."

[brooklynishere]

"So, what, you figured spilling my secrets was gonna get me to warm up to you? Agree to show you the ropes?" she had kind of already agreed to do that, but that was before and it wasn't as though she'd given her word or anything - nobody was going to judge her for saying he'd gotten on her last nerve and she'd given up on him.

Only, she would judge her, because she didn't like to leave someone in the lurch like that, even if she felt like he kind of deserved it, when they hadn't really done anything in wrong.

[artfuldawkins]

"Like I said, that was just curiosity," he rolled his eyes a bit. Honestly, did she have to keep going on about it? Okay, yes, he knew it wasn't the best move in the world but he'd never claimed to be a genius. He had a brain, it just often got ignored when he got something niggling at him. Not the best thing in the world, but not a total crime neither.

"Asked, got an answer, that's good enough." It was. He wasn't going to tell - there was no point to it.

[brooklynishere]

He was so unbothered by it all and Spot wanted to punch him. He sounded like he was bored of hearing her mention it, like this secret hadn't been lingering over everything she did for the past six years.

"Fine," she bit out, frustrated "Fine. I said I was gonna show you about an' I will. Stick with me and you'll learn quick enough."

And that way she could keep an eye on him, make sure he really didn't intend to tell anyone.

[artfuldawkins]

Dodger just nodded, and gestured out of the alley.

"After you, then, I reckon?" He shrugged. "Since you're the guide an' all."

He could sense the frustration, but what would she prefer right now? That he make a big deal of it, and have everyone looking at her different. Or play it low key and have no one noticing at all? The latter seemed like the better option, if you were asking him.