NeuroQueersies ~ The Diverse Story of the Newsies' Strike

Chapter 13 ~ Despair

See, there's a reason why the last chapter was where things started to go wrong.

This is where they really go wrong.

And yet there still is that darn alley scene ... you know, the one where to this day there is no heterosexual explanation for it...

Also, I gotta admit, every time I watch 92sies/Livesies, I kinda disassociate in the scene when Jack and Pulitzer talk, so my memory on the dialogue is kinda foggy haha.

Anyway, in whatever way you can...

Enjoy! :)

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They go under the cover of darkness. As stealthily as possible, David leads Kid Blink, Mush, Race, Boots, and Les to across the street from the Refuge.

David points at the forsaken building. "That's where we saw Crutchy." Not that he will ever forget that night.

Suddenly, the doors of the building open. They scatter, making sure that they aren't seen.

As they peer out, they see Jack being led into a carriage.

"There he is!" Les exclaims in a loud whisper. "There's Jack!"

David shushes him frantically.

"Where are they taking 'im, Dave?" Mush asks.

David stands up, an idea brewing in his mind. "I don't know." He finishes thinking about it. "But I'm about to find out." He nudges Les to Race. "Racetrack, watch him." The group watches as he leaves, all concerned about him, and about Jack. Race pulls Les closer to him, biting his lip, rooted to his place on the ground.

They can only hope that this goes well.

David doesn't think. There's only one thought in his mind: do. And that's what happens.

He gets on the back of the carriage.

He has no idea what he's doing.

Funny, isn't it? David thinks to himself as the carriage starts moving. In order to save Jack, you have to do what you think he would have done?

Would Jack have done this if the roles were reversed? If David was being led to who knows where, would Jack jump on the back of a carriage to save him? He only hopes so. And he also hopes that he never has to find out.

Jack shuts down mentally as he's being led into Pulitzer's office. He can't handle everything that's happening around him. And so he doesn't.

Seitz closes the door behind Jack, leaving Jack utterly and entirely alone in here.

He is absolutely terrified.

In order to try to ground himself, he looks around the room, identifying all objects/furniture that he can.

His observations fall flat.

It's just a rich person's home.

This isn't helping at all.

And then there he is. Pulitzer. Right across the room from Jack. 

Jack is in the same room as the most powerful man in all of New York City. In Jack's world, the newsies' world, that makes him the most powerful man alive.

Pulitzer gestures to a chair. "Sit."

Warily, Jack sits down, hunching over. His posture (which is really bad for his bound chest, but he doesn't care right now) makes him look smaller. Pulitzer sits down across from him.