Welcome To The Newsies Multiverse. You Are Now Entering MEWSIES

TW: Death

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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.

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...

Update: The popcorn bag has burst.

Anyways, Albert, who shoves his hands in his pockets and sits on his knees whenever he feels the need to stim or move because he thinks it's embarrassing and feels the need to hide it away.

But then Race starts to take note of this and tries to show him that stimming is okay and a totally normal occurrence by holding his hands away from his pockets and stimming along with him if he ever does within his vicinity.

Something that's starting to happen more often is Albert letting it out at night. They'd both be lying in bed, and Albert would hit his fists against his thighs and shake his foot repeatedly to regulate after a long day.

Race would always wrap his arms around him tightly to apply pressure and help out a little when he does the above.

Keep On Standing- a song by me :D

(Note: Just a little song/poem I wrote- I hope you enjoy it!)

I get scared sometimes

Of never rising up

Of being the failure they think I am at school

I get sad sometimes

When I think about what could’ve been

My thoughts, they don’t calm down, and then

I’m stuck

But if only out of spite, or out of fear

I’m still standing

If only ‘cause I’m too scared to die here

I’m still living

You watch me fly

It’s worth it even if I cry

If only cause there’s so much left to do

You wait for me, I’ll stay here just for you.

Since I was young

I’ve always been a little different

And the folks around me never understood.

Since I was young

They always loved my high potential

Now that I’ve slowed down a little

I am stuck.

But if only out of spite, or out of fear

I’m still standing

If only ‘cause I’m too scared to die here

I’m still standing

You watch me fly

It’s worth it, damned if I don’t try

If only cause there’s so much left to do

You wait for me, I’ll stay here just for you.

If there’s a better place

I’ll find it!

If there’s a better life out there

It’s ours!

I haven’t gone so long

And suffered so damn much

To let them tell me I’m not worthy of life!

So to anyone who thinks they’re not enough-

You keep standing

To anyone who just wants to give up-

Just keep living

One day you’ll fly

You’re worth it, dear, so please just try

Try to stay, there’s so much left to do

And if no one else is there, I’m here for you.

If no one else, I’m always here for you.

there isn't any public uksies boots yet! there'll probably be some eventually but since it's so close to the shows closing they're all private

THANK YOU!!!!! now I know not to work my ass off looking for one ...

man I need moots i can't be on here talking to myslef ... embarrassing ...

hiii.. im insane abo ut easy flustered jack/confident davey…

have we considered davey learns spanish for jack and then says something to him outa nowhere and jack js. does a double take. resets to factory conditions.. thoughts?

REAL OMFG

factory settings jack he just kinda stares dumbly at davey and says 'que' with the most dumbfounded look on his face ,.. davey giggles and that puts jack back to normal mode (normal mode is blushing like crazy and trying to remain normal but his voice is shaky from being flustered does that make sense)

davey learns the phrase 'you are so handsome' btw

its my opening night for newsies jr pray for me

anyway! shoutout to all real artists in and around the newsies fandom. whatever your level of “skill” is, however you feel about your own art, however frequently you draw, whether you even share it at all - if you have ever picked up a pencil or a crayon or a stylus or a paintbrush or your finger on a touch screen, and created a doodle or a drawing or a painting of a character or a setting or a scene that you love, i love you. you are so important. you are everything. and ai will never, ever be able to create anything that matters even a sliver of how much your art matters. please keep going.