Dude What Are The Newsies Birthdays .... Like Are There Canon Days Or Is It Just Headcanons ......

Romeo is nearly asleep when he feels Albert rapidly gain weight on the other side of his bed.

He hears a whisper; 'Al, you awake?'

A returning whisper; 'Yeah.'

A quiet chu.

'Race, we can't do this here,' this whisper was barely louder than a breath. 'Romeo's right there.'

'He's asleep, we'll be fine.' Chu.

The bed sags even more.

'What if Romeo gets up early and finds you sleeping next to me?'

'That's a problem for the morning. Stow the seriousity.'

David didn’t want his first visit to the lodging house to be this, anything but this would’ve been better.

He attempted to readjust the way JoJo’s arm hung across his shoulders, fingers digging in in a grip that matched the wince on his face with every limped half step.

Les forged on ahead of them in some kind of attempt to clear the way, and people moved for the dirt-stained kid with tear tracked cheeks and an arm held to his chest, spattered with blood; his own or someone else’s David wasn’t sure yet and as much as he wanted to grab Les and give him a once over for any injuries aside from the obvious, JoJo who’d gotten a club to the knee and then the head once he went down took priority.

JoJo was also spattered with blood, but it was obvious it was his own, leaking from his newly crooked nose-

He lurched to the side suddenly, and David did his best to keep him upright but he was tired and his head was spinning and something in his chest was sending shooting pains along his ribs when he breathed too deep and staying upright was hard-

“Sorry Dave.” JoJo’s voice was slurred like he was drunk and Davey realised he didn’t even know what age he was. Not old enough to get drunk, not even close, 14 at most surely, not the youngest but younger and-

“It’s fine. We’re almost back, just a couple more steps.”

“Y’seen Splasher?”

“Don’t worry about him right now. We’re almost back.”

“That copper got him real good Dave. I don’think I seen him get up.”

David swallowed bile, clung to JoJo’s waist a little harder.

He hadn’t seen Splasher get up either.

“I’m sure he’s fine.” He said out loud.

TW: Death

---

There had only ever been two deaths in the Manhattan Lodge House.

13 years ago, a 12 year old boy named Rocky. A kid who'd been in the refuge for 8 years of his life and seemed to have contracted every virus he could've caught.

He went out quietly, passing away in his sleep and never waking up. An older girl, Nifty, was the one who found him and quickly informed Kloppman, who had him buried later that week in the patch of grass outside.

The second time was after the fight.

Everybody was sleeping soundly, aside from Race and Albert. Jack was nowhere to be found, so until further notice, they were now the ones in command throughout the house. They couldn't bring themselves to fall asleep in case something were to happen, so they were trying to keep themselves awake as long as possible.

They were simply lying there, Race tracing random patterns onto Albert's thighs with his thumb, while Albert smoked his cigar, trying to relax after such a rough day.

At around 01.36, Tommy Boy rushed over to their bunk, tears spilling down his face and panic in his eyes.

"Jesus Tommy, what's happening?" Albert asked, quickly showing himself to a sitting position. "You look like you saw a ghost."

"I think I did-" He stuttered out. "Splasher ain't waking up. We shook him, said his name, slapped him a few times but he still ain't wakin' up-"

Race swung himself off the bunk, Albert following suit and running to Splashers bunk, praying to whoever was up there that the situation wasn't as bad as they were thinking.

At the bunk, Buttons could be seen holding Splashers limp body in his arms, sobbing to himself.

"Buttons...is he-" Race began, before being cut off by Buttons slowly nodding his head.

"He's gone." Buttons whispered, wiping his cheeks as dry as he could get them. "My baby brother is gone."

A few more people were starting to wake up at the noise they were all making. JoJo had caught onto what had happened, and while his shake had come back, he was ushering some of the younger kids out of the room, making the situation easier for the ones in charge.

"C'mon Ike, outta bed." He whispered, Mike asleep on his back and Mush at his side. "Yeah, we's gonna go on a little midnight walk, aye?"

"Jo, yous are shakin'." Specs uttered, putting a hand on the other boys arm. "That ain't happened in a while, you sure you's are good?"

"I'm fine." JoJo replied, walking the kids out of the room. "Call for me when we can come back in."

Specs nodded, walking over to the group at the bed.

Albert had run downstairs to go and grab Kloppman, let him know about the situation on their hands, leaving Racer, Buttons, Tommy Boy, Specs, and poor Splish-Splash.

Tommy Boy was holding onto Buttons, who was now sobbing into his shoulder. Racer had Splashers body covered with a bedsheet, a few specs of blood from his injuries seeping through.

"Christ." Race sighed, unable to break his watch on the body. "Kids only what, eight? Still had everythin' ahead of him."

Soon enough, word had spread to everybody in the room about the death, Kloppman running in with Albert beside him, confirming the fact for everyone.

That night, Splasher stayed lying on that bed with the sheet remaining atop of him.

The next morning, Finch and Henry were sent outside to dig another spot in the ground where they'd lay Splasher just a few hours later.

Much like with Rocky, it was only some of the older Newsies who went out to witness the burial.

Tommy Boy and Buttons were crying again. They'd just lost their little brother, the kid they'd practically raised throughout their childhoods. Now he was gone, just like that, all because of that stupid rally. Kind words had been said, but that doesn't bring back the most important person in their lives.

Race and Albert were dead silent, practically unable to speak from shock and fear. How had Jack done this for so long without cracking? It was their first day, and a kid had just died. They'd been told that it wasn't their fault by Kloppman numerous times, but it just couldn't sit right with them that a child died under their supervision.

JoJo was leading a small prayer service. He hadn't stopped shaking, making a short note to himself to tell the nuns how long this one seemed to be going on for. He'd been in charge of keeping the little kids occupied and distracted, but he knew deep down that there was only so long he could hide the death of one of the loudest kids in the house. He was just praying the day wouldn't be sooner but much later.

For multiple years after, they would look out the window and see the graves of Splasher and Rocky, remembering two kids who ended up dying to fend for themselves and their families.

It wasn't about pennies from that moment onwards. It was about remembering the newsies lost selling to help their family and striking to help future generations.

youre telling me racetrack Higgins WOULDNT be into y2k fashion?????????????? he's a DANCER he's a MODERN MAN he's GAY of COURSE he loves y2k!!!!! the wraparound sunglasses, the tight crop tops, the big jeans, the headphones???? that man was MADE for y2k!!

yippee congrats on the newsies production and welcome back to superhell!! who are you playing?

thank u I'm glad to be back!!! im playing Albert :p

first date idea: we watch newsies and you sit there quietly while i commentate the entire thing

I think the newsies guilt trip Jack over his betrayal endlessly.

Race: hey can you buy me lunch?

Jack: no you can afford it I saw how many papes you sold today

Race: *dramatic sigh* but *looks down* you know, with that fancy new job o yours n... *kicks his foot forward with his hands in his pockets* n the way you... *looks up at him with big eyes* well, you know...

Hey we have accidental matching PFPs!! Accidental twinsies 😂😂

LMAOO .... it's an iconic photo tho ...... love David my guy my silly

sorry to send 2 asks in 1 day but im reading thru all of ur drabble things and GOD your writing is so ELEGANT ....... idk how to describe it but reading it is like the same as floating through clouds ... like that makes no sense but it's genuinely like the best shit I have ever read ........... how the FUCK do you do that ...

PLEASE my guy i am only one man i am not wired to take this many compliments :(( but seriously that's really kind of you, sometimes i get a little embarrassed or feel like i'm being way too pretentious with the way i write so it's comforting to know people connect with it! i've been chugging along since i was,,, i think twelve? so almost nine years now? so it really does mean a lot :)

crutchie who knows FAR too much about javey because every night if jack isn't at davey's house he's talking crutchie's ear off about literally EVERYTHING that happens. crutchie knows what daveys mouth tastes like and that one of his molars is chipped. crutchie knows the exact dimensions of davey's face and balls. crutchie knows. crutchie wishes he did not know because now every time he looks at Davey he cannot block the imagery.