+My Lullaby+

[Mike D. Greaser]

Mike's fingers ran absently across his lips. Slowly, those lips turned up into a small smirk. Things could not get any better. Mike's plans were playing out perfectly. Thinking about them made him giddy. Manhattan was in an uproar, they simply didn't know what to do with themselves. The only problem Mike faced now was the next step.

The boy from Manhattan had been murdered. Mike had an alibi and Jack had been framed. Now, that just had to play out like he wanted. Sarah would stand for him, he knew that. All he needed now was for Spot to approach Kelly. He assumed it hadn't happened yet; no one had told him of anything. But it would happen.

And speaking of Brooklyn, things were going perfectly there. Daphne had done her part perfectly. Some things could have been better, true, but Mike believed that that was what made Spot attracted to her. She tried to be tough, but Spot had shot her down. But she never quit. And, although Spot had not come right out and admitted his attraction to Daphne, Mike could see it happening. Soon. And then they would be on his side.

Bronx was on his side, and they were laying low. That was good. After what Mitch had done, without his consent, they needed to lay low. Everyone was very angry with them, including Midtown. Well, only Mike was mad at them. The rest of Midtown thought it was fantastic how Mitch had taken action. But Mike thought that he was being rash. Mitch needed to take a step back; he was under Mike, after all.

Queens was, well, Queens. They had pretty much picked their side, but Mike was convinced that could be reversed. He was attempted to approach the leader of Queens himself. What was his name? Jordan? Mike heard that he was an airhead. He could be easily swayed, Mike was sure. Maybe he should send one of his female spies? Mike had to laugh at that one. They never failed him.

Except, Bella. What had happened with her? She was quiet distant lately. Was she feeling guilty? Something was up with her, and Mike was pretty sure it had something to do with that Blink character. He was distracting her. At first Mike thought he was a good idea; but now he just thought he was a nuisance. What to do about him?

And, taking care of Blink might show Bella who was really in charge. Yes, she wasn't his best man, but she knew enough about Mike to get him in some serious trouble. And if she proved disloyal, Mike would not hesitate to take her out. But maybe taking care of Blinky-boy, Bella would see which side she needed to be on.

And then there was Harlem. Harlem. Harlem. Harlem. It wasn't really Harlem that made Mike upset, it was their leader. He was knew, and didn't know what he was doing. He was a great leader, but a bad newsie. He didn't know how to handle the whole newsie battle. But, Mike could tell that Vice wanted some action. Well, Mike would give it to him. Hadn't he heard that Vice had a little girlfriend? Hmmm, maybe it was time to show Vice what happens when you choose the wrong side.

Mike grinned evilly, things just got better and better. But what was the next step? What should he do next? Maybe it was time to talk to Sarah again...

Thinking of Sarah made Mike thought of Alice. She would regret it; she would regret leaving him for Ian. Ian would regret ever laying a finger on his love. If Mike couldn't have Alice, then no one could. You could say it was a sort of obsession with Mike. He wanted Ian dead; he wanted Alice in his arms. But how to get one and get the other at the same time.... All of Mike's newsies could see a change in him. Mike was never skirt chaser, even though he could get any girl he wanted with his looks. But lately, he had relied on several girls to take the place of Alice. It wasn't really working...

Mike grunted and pushed himself off of his throne. He couldn't think about that now. And besides, who knew what Alice was doing now that they were not dating? He deserved some freedom, right?

Yes, it was definitely time to visit Sarah.

[aliceroosevelt]

((I hope it's okay if I reply with Alice. They just need to talk more. ))

She felt as if she was about to fall, and there would be no one to catch her. She knew, though, that she had already fallen. Her fighting spirit had been beaten down to a submissive flicker that could not sustain itself as a burning flame long enough to liberate her. So she was subdued. She was constantly conscious of the heavy diamond engagement ring weighing down her hand. Conscious of the occasional luster, the shower of rainbow light it gave off when it caught in the sunlight. Conscious of all her artificial friends sighing over it, constantly asking to see it and cooing about how lucky she was and how envious they were. If only they knew, thought Alice, how very unlucky she saw herself.

She had not seen Mike since the uncomfortable encounter at her home nearer to the start of her engagement. She had thought of him every day since, and every night. She thought of him when her stepmother whispered of the wedding; when Ted and Kermit asked her if she was feeling all right, she looked sick; when Ian chastely avoided kissing her before their wedding day, and her knowing that she would rather kiss another before she would kiss him, and knowing that the odds were, she never would.

The wedding was set for tomorrow evening.

Alice became desperate. How could she marry Ian, knowing that her heart belonged to Mike, even though she had no way of knowing if his heart truly belonged to her. She had to see him one last time before she was lost to him forever. And after that, she never wanted to see him again. But where to look for him? Alice ventured back to his apartment, wearing the dress she had acquired from the landlady the first night she and Mike had met. Neither Mike nor the landlady were there. She wandered, at a loss, until she met a young newsboy who gave his name as Scamp. She asked him if he knew where Mike D. Greaser could be found. The boy replied, "Mike Greaser? Well, everyone knows he's in Midtown. The old abandoned warehouse. But--I wouldn't go there if I were you, Miss Roosevelt. Shady place. I hear there are even murderers lurking around there.."

But Alice had no time for caution, with the wedding drawing so near and her desperation to see Mike growing with each passing moment. So she ventured into midtown, the landlady's dress hiding her wealth and an old shawl around her head hiding her face, she walked with purpose until she came to a warehouse that seemed to buzz with a lackluster activity. She made her way over, ignoring stares, and entered into the main room. Her voice far bolder than she felt, she said into the massive room, "I'm looking for Mike...Mike Greaser...?"