#pre strike

[honey-bri-books]

These two deserve SO much attention, after the strike ends. I hope people are inviting them to be interviewed for EVERYTHING about the movie, post August 11th.

P.S. - the re-watchability of these interviews show why they were cast together. Be honest, how many times have you re-watched these clips/interviews, now? I've re-watched the elevator clip Taylor took of Nick like a billion times.

[trekkiehood]

Insecurities - Part 3 (Better)

A Newsies Fanfiction

Part: [1], [2], [3], [4]

Words: 869

Ships: None

Post-Strike 

In this one, Davey tries to convince Jack that the boys love him as much as he loves them.

WARNING: Verbal Abuse, Minor Physical Abuse, Mean Delancy's, Some Ableist Language (italics) and the whole thing deals with Self-doubt

David approached his friend with a concerned frown. Jack looked terrible. He had deep bags under his eyes, he looked weak and... hungry. He looked very hungry.

"Hey, Jack."

The boy in question looked up, seeming almost startled, before relaxing into a tired smile. "Hey, Davey."

David was mildly surprised that his friend was so far back in the paper line. He was normally one of the first people there. "Late start?"

Jack grunted, rubbing at his face. "Romeo's sick. Di'n want to take his medicine. Took a while to convince him."

Oh. Sick. Medicine. No wonder Jack looked half-dead. Davey shook his head, Jack did more for these boys than some parents did for their own children."You know," he said casually as they moved up in the line. "The boys are really lucky to have you."

The leader of the Newsies let out a breathy laugh, "No they ain't." He slammed his money down before grabbing his papers.

"Well Jackie-boy, I've been waiting a long time for this." Oscar closed in on him, his brother shadowing behind him. "We was told to make sure you behave, but we all know that you ain't gonna. So let's just get right to it yeah?"

Jack began backing up until his back hit the wall. He ducked as Oscar aimed a punch at his face.

"Careful Oscar, don't want it to look too obvious." Morris sneered. "He has an appointment later today." It was said with a gleam in his eyes, a smirk gracing his lips.

Jack pushed Oscar away from him and jumped across the old printing press he had slept on the night before. The brothers began to corner him again. Jack hadn't felt this trapped since he was last at the Refuge. The Refuge. Where Crutchie was. Where they were going to take his boys if he didn't do what they told him to.

"I find this whole predicament funny." The younger brother closed in on him, pounding his fist into his hand. "You act like you're such a great leader, but, you couldn't even keep that crippled friend of yours from the Spider."

Jack was about to say something, but he was caught off guard by Morris grabbing his arms from behind, pinning him against the older brother’s chest.

"And now you gotta choose.” Oscar continued closing in on him. “Do you leave, do your own thing and get them all thrown in the Refuge, so they hate ya," He punches Jack in the stomach with his brass knuckles, causing the boy to gasp. "Or, do you do what Pulitzer says, call off the strike, so they all hate ya." He laughed throwing another fist.

Jack sputtered to catch his breath, "The-they wouldn't. They'd understand." He didn't know if he was trying to convince the brothers or himself.

"They'd turn on you, Jackie." The younger Delancy shook his head, "The second you tell 'em to quit, they're gonna turn against ya."

"They-they wouldn't. They'd let me explain-" He was cut off by another swift punch.

"I'm tellin' ya. They've been waitin' for this. The second you turn, they've got someone else lined up to take the lead. They know they'd be better off without ya, just haven't had a reason to tell ya yet. They deserve better than you, Kelly, and they know it."

Morris dropped him to the ground, aiming a swift kick at Jack's sore stomach. The brother started to walk away.

"You're wrong." Jack pushed himself up. "They'll understand. They'll let me explain."

Oscar shook his head, "Just wait Jackie-boy, they won't even let you finish what you want ta say before they turn against ya. But hey, it's better than the Refuge right?" The boys laughed as they left the room.

He remembered those words when he was at the rally trying to explain. They didn't even let him finish talking before they turned on him.

"Come on, Jack," David grabbed his papers before following his friend. "The boys love you!”

"They deserve better than me." He said it with so little emotion that it actually scared the other newsie.

"You're the best thing to ever happen to these boys!"

Jack laughed, "You got a realize Davey, that ain't sayin' much."

"Come on, Jack. These boys worship you." He waved his arm, motioning towards the newsies gathered. "They'd do anything for you! Don't sell yourself short."

"I'm all they have, Davey. Don't mean I'm good at it, just means they haven't found someone better." He readjusted the strap on his bag before nodding, "Come on, we can't stand around here yappin' all day, we got papes to sell." Then he purposefully strode away.

David stood there for a moment, mouth slightly open. What was Jack saying? No one would argue the fact that he was the best leader Manhattan had ever had, in fact, he'd actually heard a few of the older boys say it! And every borough knew that Jack's boys were the happiest, knowing a freedom that few other leaders allowed their newsies to feel. Jack was one of the few people Davey ever knew to give up food, and even money, for someone else.

Of course, the boys loved Jack. Of course, he was the best thing to ever happen to them. Why didn't Jack believe it?

~TH~

I only have one more chapter written, so if you have any ideas, please let me know! You can comment, DM me, or sent an Ask (on Tumblr) if you think of anything. Just tell me the insecurity, character, pre/post-strike, and let me know if you have a specific backstory idea or if you just want me to come up with something.

Next Chapter: Katherine tries to understand why Jack breaks up with her.

Love you guys!

Please please please comment!

God bless, Jamie

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22487926/chapters/53799832

[somedayonbroadway]

Idea that since Race is at the tracks so much, the staff know him and let him see the horses once he's done selling for the day so now he has a real connection with them all.

Aww yes! That’s so cute! They’d all love him so much! And so many of them would’ve known him since he was really little and Jack used to take him down to the tracks too.

For sure Jack used to hold Race’s hand when they went to the tracks when Jack was ten or eleven and Race was six, seven or eight. Really little. Race would’ve found the tracks on accident after getting lost. Jack would find him — after panicking for a good couple hours — and Race would be wise eyed at the tracks. That’s how he gets his name, I think. And Jack walks with him for a long while, until the acting leader at the time thinks he’s big enough to go on by himself. And by then, Race already has the entire staff wrapped around his finger.

There’s one man at the tracks. Runs the place. His name is Massimo. Race calls him Massi, because they met when he was really little, and Jack knows him too, but the little mature child he is still uses his full name. Massi became a father figure to Race. He always sneaks him sweets and such when he could. And he’s the one who’d sneak Race down to go see the horses — except he wouldn’t have to sneak him because he runs the place. He’d teach Race how to ride. And he’d let Race take the horses out at night sometimes. When he just needed to think.

Massi has his own family. A wife and five kids. He’s not poor, so they’re good off. Race meets his family one day, when he’s a little older. After a fight with Jack. He runs to the tracks to hide. It’s late at night, but Massi’s still there. And he takes Race to his house to warm up, as its winter, and he feeds him a real meal, which is something that Race hasn’t had... ever. And Race would meet his family and feel so out of place. That would just make him even more upset. And Massi wouldn’t understand what was wrong and Race would breakdown and tell him he didn’t have a family and he didn’t know what it was like to have one and then Massi would tell him that Jack was his family, and that’s why Race would go back.

Massi is the one that would find Race after his first visit to the Refuge. He’d carry him to Jack and pay for a doctor. He’d tell Jack to come get him if Race wasn’t doing well. And Jack would go get him just because Race wanted to see him.

Massi died of a heart attack six months before the strike.

Race was devastated. He didn’t talk to anyone for days. He stopped going to the tracks for weeks. Until Massi’s oldest daughter came to look for him. And told him that Massi missed him. That Massi’s spirit was still at the tracks and it seemed gloomier the longer Race stayed away. So he went back. And he rode Massi’s favorite horse at night. And he cried.

And Jack was there waiting for him.

After the strike, Race takes Jack back to the tracks. He knows how much Jack wanted to go to Santa Fe. He knows how much Jack has always wanted to be a Cowboy. So he teaches Jack how to ride a horse.

Massi’s daughter still sneaks Race down to go visit the horses. And she still sneaks him sweets. (She’s like, twenty five, btw. She’s starting her own family).

Eventually, Race becomes apart of the staff at the tracks. And he finds his own little newsie to spoil. And he and Jack continue to sneak down to the tracks at night and ride the horses. Until Jack gets drafted. And Race soon follows.

But that’s another angst story.

Disclaimer: I made this up on the spot, I’m sleep deprived, and I have a dog that desperately wants attention. This might make no sense. But that’s okay.

[youthinkimlyin]

An Angel Come to Save Me

@frxncaise

Jack crept by one of the guards standing by the back entrance of the Refuge, careful to stay as close to the wall as possible. He did this maybe once a month, but after hearing that Snyder had gotten a couple of girls, he knew he had to get them out. No matter the cost. He dropped to the window close to the ground and knocked, waiting for someone to come and answer it.