Doesn't Really Matter

[Sophia Ramierez]

The little market was a buzz as usual people coming and going from cart to stand getting food or even some cloth for a dress when they got home.

Unfortunately that wasn't the kind of stand that Sophia was working at. She was working at a stand selling apples. She didn't really mind it was just that her job relied on her not letting people run off with them. Which was hard considering the stick fingers of the little kids and her height in comparison with the counter. She couldn't really see what was going on down on the other side of the apples. With a growl she hoisted herself up and leaned over to see the other side.

She growled as she saw a little boy no older then five going for the apples, she reached out and grabbed him by his grubby collar but he threw his weight and she about went over the counter. Getting out of her grip.

"Why you little," she growled as she moved to get a hold of him before he ran. But no good her nails missed every time and he got away. "YOUR MOTHER WAS A COW AND YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LITTLE--" she started sputtering bitterly as the sun drew out the highlights in her dark hair.

[Mitch Richards]

There were many things Mitch would rather being doing now than to be out selling papers. He hated it, absolutely hated selling papers. But, he got the respect and power he lusted for, and he got money out of it. It sounded like a pretty good deal, but it wasn't. Not for him anyways, apparently someone couldn't keep their mouth shut and now all of New York knew Mitch was helping Mike. He took about five papers and threw them in an alley. He didn't want to help Mike if he wasn't going to be appreciated. He had to work hard, while Mike got to sit on his throne of crates and twirl cigarettes. He had to keep up with his newsies whereas Mike let them wander and they still came back.

Mitch hated Mike D. Greaser.

There were many reasons to hate Mike, but did they hate Mike? Oh no, they hated the side kick. Mitch kicked a rock, he hated being a side kick. Mike got all the glory, Mitch did all the work. He growled, and threw five more papers, this time at little boys walking around. He glared at them so they didn't talk to him. He hated kids.

"YOUR MOTHER WAS A COW AND YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LITTLE--"

Mitch watched as a little boy ran by, he didn't move out of his way so the boy ran around him. He looked back, and saw where the boy was coming from, an apple cart. The person working was yelling, and Mitch assumed it was because the boy either tried or succeed in stealing an apple. Stupid kids. He walked up to the cart, there was a girl there who could barely be seen from the height of the counter. Somehow she looked familiar, he didn't know why but she did. "Do I know you?" He asked as he dropped a penny on the counter, "For the son of the cow." He said with a smirk.

[Sophia Ramierez]

She lifted her eyes to the man that was addressing her, he did look familiar. She couldn't really place his eyes, or his face but she vaguely recalled the voice. It was the smirk he shot at her that made her darkened eyes study his features a bit more intensely. Who was this bloke?

"Do I know you?"

"I'm not sure, but that smirk looks familiar," she folded her arms and leaned on the counter to better see the look on his face. She really wasn't sure she'd ever actually met the man in person, probably on he byways of life as it were.

He asked as he dropped a penny on the counter, "For the son of the cow." He said with a smirk.

"Son of a pig, son of a whore, I can't stand kids and the little brat should get run over by a newspaper cart.." it was a growl in her voice and something bitter deeper there. She'd been an only child so she'd never learned to be patient with those younger than herself. Sophia hadn't been spoiled but she hadn't had to share her space or her time with things that yelled and carried on. Brats. The lot of them were brats.

[Mitch Richards]

"I'm not sure, but that smirk looks familiar,"

Mitch continued to smirk, and raised one eyebrow. "I'm Mitch, not sure if you're one of the people who can remember names or just remember faces." As for Mitch, he could only remember faces, not names. Unless their name was Mike D. Greaser and thoughts of hatred towards that name crossed his mind. Then, he could remember the name.

"Son of a big, son of a whore, I can't stand kids and the little brat should get run over by a newspaper cart..

Another smirk danced across Mitch's face, he liked this girl's attitude towards kids. It was the same as his, "If the kid's a Bronx newsie, so be it. Even if he isn't, it'll be one less one of them." He promised himself if he ever decided to have kids, which at the moment he didn't want any, his kids weren't going to be brats. They were going to go to school, and not be newsies. He hated being a newsie.

"I take it you don't like kids either, huh?" He asked as he leaned on the counter. "I see them as nuisances, good for nothings, and brats." Of course, when Mitch was younger he wasn't a brat. Why? He went to school, and actually made adult's time with him worthwhile.

[Sophia Ramierez]

I'm Mitch, not sure if you're one of the people who can remember names or just remember faces."

Mitch-- Mitch it caused a small smile to cross her face as she filed the name into her memory bank and tried to place where she knew the name from. But as realization dawned she laughed, oh yes now she remembered.

"Mitch, the leader of the Bronx kids-- yes-- now I remember I saw you once but it was in passing.. it was the smirk I recalled.." she had a slight accent because of her parents and her constant lapsing into Spanish. She didn't feel like that now, she kind of liked him now that she saw him up close. He had a confident air about him but there was something else there she couldn't place. "My name is Sophia, friends call me Sophie if I had many..."

f the kid's a Bronx newsie, so be it. Even if he isn't, it'll be one less one of them."

She continued to grin at that, he really did feel that way about them and he was the leader. She didn't even have to bother. Seemed like he was someone worth talking to.

"I take it you don't like kids either, huh?" He asked as he leaned on the counter. "I see them as nuisances, good for nothings, and brats."

She was inclined to agree, she'd never thought about having her own children it was a big risk for a woman and her mother had been a midwife. She was more inclined to believe that she could handle about anything but she'd rather not risk it for a kid. "All they do is steal to eat and eat so they can steal more later. They don't serve much of a purpose-- " Really they were annoying to deal with. She didn't have much of a tolerance for anything she felt didn't serve a purpose.

[Mitch Richards]

"Mitch, the leader of the Bronx kids-- yes-- now I remember I saw you once but it was in passing.. it was the smirk I recalled.."

"Yes, the leader of the Bronx kids. I must've been drunk or on something when I accepted." He shook his head, "The smirk," Mitch laughed, "It's what gets me recognized, and I see that it works." He smirked again, out of habit.

"My name is Sophia, friends call me Sophie if I had many..."

Mitch raised his eyebrows, "Well its nice to meet you Sophia," He said. "At least you have a few friends, I have none." He shrugged, "I have more friends that are enemies than I do just friends." Just friends were almost...boring to him, he liked to have something to dislike about everyone. It made life interesting, however there wasn't one thing about Sophia that he didn't like...yet. But the way that they sort of clicked, it seemed like he would have to look long and hard before he could find a smidgen of imperfection.

"All they do is steal to eat and eat so they can steal more later. They don't serve much of a purpose-- "

He had to agree with her, there was no purpose to kids. "That, is so true. In the lodging house all they do is eat, then trash the place with their cigarette butts and their poker chips." One of these days he was going to forbid cards from his lodging house, there were too many kids nowadays that gambled. No wonder they didn't have any money.

[Sophia Ramierez]

"Well its nice to meet you Sophia," He said. "At least you have a few friends, I have none." He shrugged, "I have more friends that are enemies than I do just friends."

She smiled at that and inclined her head, she was-- finding this man very interesting. Most of the time Sophia tended to avoid being around people because to her there was rarely anything between their ears but dead space. She had a few things going for her, she was a good catholic, and she could at least make some money and keep it. She was kind of a miser, she didn't like to give her money away willy-nilly. It was her money and by god-- she'd hold onto it.

"That sounds like something you might want to work at, though I have to admit I was exaggerating.. I don't really have any friends that are worth being called something like that. More like they are people I know from various jobs-- but I would never associate with them outside of that.."

"That, is so true. In the lodging house all they do is eat, then trash the place with their cigarette butts and their poker chips."

"Isnt that such a waste," she said with a shake of her head. "I've been known to make a bet now and again for my father but I would never put my own money down on anything-- I don't see anything worth it and wasting my hard earned money for-- something like that.." she locked her jaw a little-- she worked in factories and wash houses instead. Toiled and sweat blood for every dime. "Wasteful.."

She found herself fond of him as they spoke, it was strange and different-- someone who shared her dislike of idiocy it seemed. She liked it. Someone in the city worth more than a passing glance and a hole in the ground.

[Mitch Richards]

"That sounds like something you might want to work at, though I have to admit I was exaggerating.. I don't really have any friends that are worth being called something like that. More like they are people I know from various jobs-- but I would never associate with them outside of that.."

"I do need to work at trying to be nicer to people. I just refuse to be kind towards kids and that pisses people off." He shrugged, "In my opinion they shouldn't of had the brats. But they normally don't want my opinion." Mitch smirked, "What else is new?" He muttered.

"I've been known to make a bet now and again for my father but I would never put my own money down on anything-- I don't see anything worth it and wasting my hard earned money for-- something like that.."

Mitch snorted, "I have never been able to grasp the concept of poker, but my newsies are playing it all the time. They bet, smoke, drink, and make a mess." He rolled his eyes, "Oh, and guess who has to clean it up." He asked, sarcastically. He hated his newsies almost as much as he hated Mike, and knowing him..that was a lot.

Of course, there were the few good ones. Mainly the older ones who woke up, sold their papers, came back, went to bed. The ones that stayed out of his way. Mitch was the type of person who would leave someone alone if they left him alone.

"Wasteful.."

Mitch nodded, and rolled his eyes in agreement.

[Sophia Ramierez]

She listened to him for a moment and smiled, that was something else wasn't it? They had a lot of dislikes in common.

"Oh, and guess who has to clean it up." He asked, sarcastically.

She looked appealed on his behalf golden eyes blazing a little as she leaned back and considered a response that wouldn't be offensive. "Little brats should clean up their own mess, Mitch. That or toss them into the work house... or something. It's not up to people like us to change their nappies and the like when they should have grown out of that long ago.." It settled ill on her shoulders honestly to think that he would be forced to play a-- nanny to a bunch of homeless children.

She kind of wondered why. "Well we both agree what we don't like, what do you actually like?" she was curious, it wasn't as if she had thought he was a smelly brute. Sophia wasn't normally charmed by men and they did try. She'd put her cigarette out in more than one person's eye before.

[Mitch Richards]

"Little brats should clean up their own mess, Mitch. That or toss them into the work house... or something. It's not up to people like us to change their nappies and the like when they should have grown out of that long ago.."

Mitch thought about what she said, and then nodded. "You know, the next time they have a poker party, and don't clean up, I'm kicking them out." He smirked, it was their own fault for not respecting their leader's wishes. Besides, he had been too nice to them it was time for a wake up call.

"Well we both agree what we don't like, what do you actually like?"

"Well, let's see." Mitch said as he thought over what he liked. "I like power, and money...money's always good." He said with a smirk. "I do enjoy a good book when I can get my hands on one, I normally don't have time. I'm helping that blasted Mike D. Greaser with everything." He rolled his eyes, "Without me that guy couldn't put on his socks." He said with a nod. It was somewhat true, Mitch was convinced Mike needed him.

In all honesty, Mitch was somewhat jealous of Mike. He had a charm that Mitch didn't have, he had a way to seduce anyone onto their side. And Mike actually seemed to have a heart. Mitch didn't, ever since his siblings died it was like his heart died with them. He was a walking corpse, only he could feel emotion. But it seemed like the only emotions he could've felt was anger, jealousy, and bitterness.

"What about you, what do you like?" He asked.

[Sophia Ramierez]

"I like power, and money...money's always good." He said with a smirk. "I do enjoy a good book when I can get my hands on one, I normally don't have time. I'm helping that blasted Mike D. Greaser with everything."

Mike D. Greaser? "I've never heard of him," she said rather bluntly. And it was the truth, she'd never heard of this man before in her entire life. She moved her hands to clasp them in front of her, running her thumb over her fingers in a gesture that might have been considered her tell.

"What about you, what do you like?" He asked.

She smiled a little as she thought about it, "I like books too and about the same goes I read when I can get the chance. Power means rather little to me but I do like money I just don't necessarily like spending it. There is something to me about knowing you have money and that no one can touch it-- an odd concept I suppose but it also means I am fairly independent of any one.." She didn't need a man to care for her, she could make her own way in the world.

[Mitch Richards]

"I've never heard of him,"

Mitch snorted, "Good. Try to keep it that way." He said. Anyone that didn't know Mike was a very lucky person. In Mitch's opinion he was a liar, a cheater, and wasn't even qualified to be called a "bad guy". Sure, he killed one person. If Mitch actually wanted to kill someone, he would. But there was no one he had met that he loathed that much. Except for Mike, but without him. His life would be dreadfully boring.

"I like books too and about the same goes I read when I can get the chance. Power means rather little to me but I do like money I just don't necessarily like spending it. There is something to me about knowing you have money and that no one can touch it-- an odd concept I suppose but it also means I am fairly independent of any one.."

"What's your favorite book?" Mitch asked, he loved books for the reason that he could escape to someone's else life and see how that person dealt with their troubles. It was interesting to see the different reactions of the characters, and to see their lives play out.

He nodded, "Sort of like a nest?" He asked to her reply about not spending money, but knowing you had it. "And it does mean that you're independent. In fact, that's something I noticed. You have to attitude about not needing anyone." He paused, and picked up an apple. "I like that." He said, as he dropped another penny onto the counter.

[Sophia Ramierez]

"What's your favorite book?"

She had to think about it for a moment leaning back a little bit, she loved Sherlock Holmes because the twists and turns that came from such a mystery and she'd found herself loving the character of the dastardly Professor James Moriarty. She smiled at him, "Sherlock Holmes, most recently I read Bram Stoker's Dracula.."

"And it does mean that you're independent. In fact, that's something I noticed. You have to attitude about not needing anyone." He paused, and picked up an apple. "I like that."

Sophia considered that and knew it was true, she smiled when he said he liked it. "Honestly? Not many people do-- they say I've an attitude that far surpasses my station and one day my husband will beat it out of me.." she snorted. "I would love to see a man try..." There was a light in her eyes when she said that, she would not be easily beaten. By anyone or anything.

[Mitch Richards]

"Sherlock Holmes, most recently I read Bram Stoker's Dracula.."

Mitch's smirk grew, Sherlock Holmes was one of his favorites. He loved mystery, horror, anything but romance. Romance novels were too unrealistic. "Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorites." He said, his smirk still staying on his face.

"Honestly? Not many people do-- they say I've an attitude that far surpasses my station and one day my husband will beat it out of me.. I would love to see a man try..."

"You know, I would love to see one try as well." He said, in his opinion she had a natural spunk. Probably no one could take it away from her, even if they tried their hardest. "But yes, honestly. Girls that are just like the other are boring. You, are different, which is a very good thing in my book." He said.

((Ah! Its short, I'm sorry ))

[Sophia Ramierez]

"Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorites." He said, his smirk still staying on his face.

She smiled again and tilted her head, lifting her chin in a way that could be strange but it was actually an angle to see his face better. She was getting fond of the smirk that crossed his face. "I am a huge fan of Holmes but who I'm really a fan of is James Moriarty.. there is no one in all if fiction I have ever read that compares to James in villainy..."

"You know, I would love to see one try as well." He said, in his opinion she had a natural spunk. Probably no one could take it away from her, even if they tried their hardest. "But yes, honestly. Girls that are just like the other are boring. You, are different, which is a very good thing in my book."

"And you are gaining points in mine, you are an interesting sort of man. Most wouldn't still be talking to a woman who admits they don't need anyone. I find myself liking that about you.." She didn't deny it, she was growing fond of him and he was attractive. Especially that smirk. She was growing to like it the more she saw it.

Her eyes flickered back towards the back of the cart as if she thought she might have heard something but she turned back to him as if it didn't matter. And it probably didn't. She didn't feel like she was wasting her time with him.