What A Scene, What A Joy (Open)

[Mitch Richards]

Mitch stormed into the Bronx lodging house. He wasn't mad or anything, oh no, that's just how he made his entrance. He made sure his newsies knew who was in charge, and who to respect. He was a tough, but fair leader. He made sure his newsies knew that one wrong move would send them packing. He considered it a privilege to live in the lodging house, not a right.

He glanced over to where some boys were playing jacks, he had no problem with the newsies playing, but not when they made a mess. He glared at them with his cold, brown eyes, and the boys scurried to pick up their jacks. He smirked, he loved how they obeyed his every command. Power made him feel happy, and here, he had all of the power he needed. But he stilled desired more.

Maybe that's why he was so drawn to Mike, Mike was offering him power over New York. Mitch thought he deserved it more than Mike did, Mitch had been through so much more than Mike had. Sure, Mike lost his parents, how sad. Mitch lost both of his, and his entire family. In his opinion, he had been through a lot more than Mike had been.

Mike didn't even respect him as much, he just left him hanging, he didn't consider the Bronx a threat. Why not? Mitch considered it a threat, well...the boys that is. He didn't know too much about the girls, because A, there weren't too many of them, and B, he didn't want girls in his borough so he ignored them. He respected the ones who could hold their own ground, but he didn't respect the ones who tried to be like the boys, they went so far to dressing like them. He didn't know why he felt that way, but he just did. It was probably because he grew up knowing girls as feminine, and he thought they should stay at home learning motherly things.

Mitch went over to the couch in the foyer of the lodging house, and sat down. His sharp eyes kept watch over the entire room. Some of his boys teased him for having eyes in the back of his head, just because he knew almost all things at all times when it came to his newsies. Sure it was a pain to them, but it was necessary if they wanted the lodging house to function with order.

Someone was supposed to meet him today, but who? They just talked about it recently. Mitch had too many things on his mind to think about than who he talked to last week. He had a few spare minutes for right now, whoever it was could come in and talk to him now, or forget about it.

[Drake Camden]

Drake Camden slowly entered the rundown shack that was the Bronx Lodging House. He looked around in disgust. Never in a million years did he ever predict himself to be meeting with a bloody newsie! The lengths he went to for love! He should be dancing, and dining with New York's finest! Not searching around this decrepit old ruin for a insufferable urchin named... what was his name?

Drake thought hard about the letter he had received. Word had gotten to him that there was a rebellion quickly rising against the murderous Jack Kelly. Camden's icy glare suddenly burned with hate. Just the mere thought of that wretched guttersnipe enraged him, and ignited his mind afire with dark thoughts. Ooh, give me one moment alone with that miserable street rat, and I'll... Camden's hateful glare slowly slipped into a smirk, as he thought about his due revenge. Joining the rebellion against Jack couldn't be more perfect. Suddenly, the name came to mind.

Mitch.

That was it. Mitch, the so called leader of these Bronx hoodlums, had offered to introduce him to the mastermind behind the uprising against Jack Kelly, in exchange for his allegiance to the movement, as well as a good sum of money. Mitch had also explained, that this Mike fellow might even be able to help him find his darling Bella, and secure her in his possession. He grinned. Any man that despised Jack Kelly with such a fervent passion, and could aid him in his pursuit of his cherished prize, was definitely worth meeting.

Camden continued to search for Mitch, his spirits much lifted with the thought of enacting his hateful revenge upon Kelly. As he entered the foyer, he immediately saw a boy, lounging leisurely upon a frayed couch. The boy seemed to be much irritated. Wonderful. Arrogantly, he strode over to him.

"Boy, have you any idea where I might find a fellow, in a position of leadership, by the name of Mitch?"

[Mitch Richards]

"Boy, have you any idea where I might find a fellow, in a position of leadership, by the name of Mitch?"

Mitch looked up and glared at the person who just addressed him. He didn't like him for two reasons, A. He seemed arrogant. Mitch could tell just by his walk, and B. He called him 'boy'. Mitch was anything but a boy. Even when he was a boy, he wasn't one, he had been through too much, matured too early.

"I'm Mitch," he said, as he stood up. He wanted to add "don't call me boy." but he held his tongue. The person was nicely dressed, and that usually read important in the Bronx. He didn't want to offend him more than he probably already would. "And, pray tell, what would someone like you need the appearance of me for?" He asked in an innocent tone, as his smirk grew. He knew how to suck up to people.

But wait...what if this was one of Mike's British friends? That man had more random people coming here asking for him than Mitch had ever seen. He almost wanted to make a sign on the window saying, "MIKE D. GREASER NOW RESIDES IN MIDTOWN" so people wouldn't come in looking for Mike, and basically wasting his time.

Nevertheless, Mitch was bored, and didn't care who he had to deal with as long as he had something to do. It was ironic how his newsies could almost tell when he was busy, and that's when they would cause trouble. But now, when he was not busy, they were all acting like little angels. More like little demons, some of those kids didn't have a nice bone in their small bodies. Mitch smirked to himself, he had taught them well.

[Drake Camden]

"I'm Mitch."

Camden stared at the boy, doubtfully. Surely this was a mistake. He had been expecting someone much older, someone more... experienced in these type of matters. Was this some sort of trick?
He gave the boy a wary look. But who else knew that he was here? He had made it a specific point that no one knew about these dealings today. He slipped into a smirk. After all, kidnapping wasn't normally on the agenda of an elitist newspaper man, and wasn't the sort of thing one advertised.

"And, pray tell, what would someone like you need the appearance of me for?"

Camden glared, seeing right through the boy's feigned innocence. This little twit was mocking him! Of course, he should have expected nothing less from a bloody newsie. It was just the sort of thing Kelly would say. Camden could almost hear that boy's mocking, infuriating voice. "You lost Camden, do you wanna know why? Kelly had grinned like a fool. Cause we're newsies, and the newsies ya just can't beat!" Camden's glare intensified at the very memory of it.

But he hadn't lost... not yet anyway. He turned his attention back to the boy. This was far from over. Soon, Jack Kelly would wish that he had never crossed paths with Drake Camden. Slowly he smiled again, deciding to save his anger for his enemy, and not his supposed ally. Let's see if this boy truly is the infamous Mitch.

"Why, my dear sir, I had no idea." He smirked. Truly you haven't forgotten who I am. Gracefully he stuck his hand out to the boy. "Drake Camden, at your service. I believe we had an...agreement."

[Mitch Richards]

"Why, my dear sir, I had no idea."

Mitch's eyebrows raised in surprise. This guy went from glaring, to a combination between a smirk and a smile, and now he's calling him sir. What was wrong with him? Mitch tried not to let his surprise show on his face as he shook his hand. He decided not to say anything, and hoped his memory would come back to him. Who on earth was this guy, and why was he asking who he was?

"Drake Camden, at your service. I believe we had an...agreement."

Camden...Camden...Drake Camden...no, nothing rang a bell. Oh wait, he had an agreement with him about him working on his and Mike's side. He stood up, "Yes, we did have an agreement. What about it?" He asked, "What can I do for you?" Mitch forgot all about their agreement until a few seconds ago. It wasn't his fault, he had been busy with the newsies and everything.

There were many times Mitch wished he wasn't the leader, but that thought only brushed his mind once or twice. It was a big responsibility, and Mitch thought he was the only one who could do it right. That was just because he was the only person who he could trust. He had himself, and that was the only person he had. Everyone else failed him. His mother failed him, his father failed him, his sisters failed him. He was the only one left out of his family, and he was the only person he could trust.

[Drake Camden]

"Yes, we did have an agreement. What about it?"

The boy stood up so rapidly that he almost stumbled. Camden looked intently at him. He must have either forgotten all about their meeting today, or he was playing it cool to make sure he was indeed, Drake Camden. Smart boy. Slowly he drew the letter from his satin-lined vest pocket, and placed it in the boy's hands

"What can I do for you?"

Ahh, much better. "I believe we were to discuss the a ... terms of our arrangement. " He smiled softly for a fleeting momement then snapped quickly into a serious look. "I believe I was to offer this ... movement my assets and allegience, in exchange for the assistance in securing in my possession, a certain young woman. "As you can clearly see sir," Camden said as young Mitch reread the letter " You yourself, offered to introduce me to a certain, Mike D. Greaser, commenting that this was, right up his ally, as it were. Normally, I would not rely on anyone else to aid in my dealings, but this certain matter, calls for special... attention.

Camden's mind suddenly turned to Bella Braxton. He had had her, right in the palm of his hand, trapped with no escape. But, for Bella, nothing was impossible. The girl was bloody clever, and could not be underestimated again. There would be no mistakes this time. Together, they would have to outwit her, outplay her, isolate her, and finally catch her. It would be no easy task, and Drake Camden was convinced that allying himself with these tough as nails riff-raff leaders was his only hope. He had tried using his vast resources and numerous funds to find her, and it had gotten him nowhere. This time it would be different. This time Drake Camden would turn to the... professionals and get his hands a little dirty.

[Mitch Richards]

"I believe we were to discuss the a ... terms of our arrangement. "

Mitch read the letter that Drake put in his hands, he still felt really lost. Things have been a blur for him, first Mike was dishing a lot of the responsibility on him, and then some of his newsies were disrespecting him. He sometimes wondered why in the world did he choose to be the Bronx leader. He didn't care about any of the brats he had to take care of. He just made sure no one died, and no one ran away; that was his job. Their job was to earn his respect, and then he had some sort of a care about them.

"I believe I was to offer this ... movement my assets and allegiance, in exchange for the assistance in securing in my possession, a certain young woman. As you can clearly see sir, You yourself, offered to introduce me to a certain, Mike D. Greaser, commenting that this was, right up his ally, as it were. Normally, I would not rely on anyone else to aid in my dealings, but this certain matter, calls for special... attention.

He read over the letter again, not really understanding what this guy's point was. Yeah, he would introduce him to Mike, sure, who didn't want to know Mike? Mitch sometimes wished he didn't. Mike was getting credit for all of Mitch's ideas. In Mitch's eyes, he was the mastermind behind it all. Mike just wanted revenge, Mitch took it to the next level. Mike was getting all of the glory from it, Mitch sat in the background and watch. Like usual, he did that with his mother. His stupid, stupid mother. The one that ruined his life.

Mitch had to almost bite his tongue from laughing in Drake's face. He wanted to get involved just to get a girl? That was a very stupid reason. Women were a waste of time, they broke your heart and complained all the time. That's all they were good for. Love was a waste of time, it distracted you from working. And love wasn't real. Mitch saw his parent's marriage fall apart, and they ended up dead. Just like that stupid story, Romeo and Juliet, they both died in the end. And love was the reason why they were dead.

Nevertheless, Drake needed his help, well he needed Mike's help. So Mitch would help him get Mike's help. "So...basically you want me to introduce you to Mike, so you can get the girl you're talking about? Is that it?" He asked.

[Drake Camden]

"So...basically you want me to introduce you to Mike, so you can get the girl you're talking about? Is that it?"

Drake broke into a rare smile. Laughing, he patted Mitch roughly on the shoulder.

"My dear boy, you make this sound so entirely simple!" He grinned, "As if we were mere school children, seeking the coquettish attentions of a simpering Charlotte at tea time!"

Suddenly he sobered, removing his hold on Mitch's shoulder. "I can assure you, sir, that this shall be no easy task." We are dealing with a most clever, adamant, and infuriating young female! Slowly he started to pace back and forth. "This shall require wit, cunning, strategy..." He suddenly ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "And an extensive amount of determination. Not to mention, brute strength." He smirked, turning to Mitch, whose sharp brown eyes focused on him, inquisitively.

"All qualities I believe the three of us to possess."

He stared at the young man intensely. The boy seemed distracted and entirely uninterested. Mr... Richards, is it? I don't believe you are fully grasping the vast... possibilities this... alliance has in store for you ." I can assure you, I am quite financially capable in allowing this Mike fellow, and yourself, anything you could possibly need or desire. He smiled softly. "In addition, my name can prove quite useful when you, shall we say, find yourself on the wrong side of the law. I, myself, have gotten in and out of a few scrapes, I'd rather not discuss, with much ease."

He put his hand on Mitch's shoulder once again, as he faced him.

"In conclusion, Mr. Richards, your life might be taking a very auspicious turn... that is, if you are up to the challenge."

[Mitch Richards]

"My dear boy, you make this sound so entirely simple! As if we were mere school children, seeking the coquettish attentions of a simpering Charlotte at tea time!"

Mitch raised his eyebrows, in his mind it was simple. He didn't understand why Drake had to think so complex. He was just like Mike; a complex thinker to go with a complex person. Mitch didn't understand how they could be like that, they made things too complicated sometimes. "It is simple." He mumbled.

"I can assure you, sir, that this shall be no easy task. We are dealing with a most clever, adamant, and infuriating young female! This shall require wit, cunning, strategy... "And an extensive amount of determination. Not to mention, brute strength. All qualities I believe the three of us to possess."

Why was Mitch risking his life and the lives of his newsies just to help Drake get a girlfriend? Why couldn't he just forget about the girl and move on? There were plenty of women in this world, many were probably much prettier than the girl he wanted. "Why not forget about this girl, and focus on the task at hand?" He said, "Mike and I are working together to take over New York. We're not getting anything out of it, except for the grand prize; New York City."

"What your lust-filled mind probably can't process is that there are lives at stake here. Mike has murderers, my boys will probably kill a few people in the end. Your precious...whatever her name is might get killed. That's why love is pointless. You should concentrate on what we are here to do. The three of us could take over New York together. But we need one hundred percent from everyone involved."

"In addition, my name can prove quite useful when you, shall we say, find yourself on the wrong side of the law. I, myself, have gotten in and out of a few scrapes, I'd rather not discuss, with much ease."

Mitch raised his eyebrows, "Well then. We'll get along just fine then." He smirked, now if Drake could give his full attention to their little plan, and let them use his name so they wouldn't get in trouble with the law everything would be perfect..

"In conclusion, Mr. Richards, your life might be taking a very auspicious turn... that is, if you are up to the challenge."

"Challenge, Mr. Camden, is what I live for." Mitch said, smirking.

[Drake Camden]

"Why not forget about this girl, and focus on the task at hand?"

Camden stiffened at the boy's inconceivable words. Ignorant fool! His eyes narrowed. Simply forget about Bella? Ridiculous dribble! He had worked diligently and tirelessly to secure her as his own, and he was NOT about to throw it all away because of a few minor downfalls! His anger softened. Besides he did not think it at all possible even if he wished it. She was truly a lovely prize. Those emerald eyes, and long cascading curls drove him mad with wonder. Regardless of the way she felt about the matter, Camden would not rest until she was his bride. He had grown accustomed to getting exactly what he wanted. Truly this would be no exception. His thoughts drifted back to the boy. He was young, he simply did not comprehend such unwavering passion. But he would... in time.

Camden cleared his throat while straightening his fine Italian silk tie. His icy blue eyes met coldly with Mitch's. Sternly he spoke, his voice rising in a fervent anger. "I assure you Mr. Richards, forgetting Bella Braxton is simply NOT AN OPTION! He paused trying to calm his rage. If he was ever going to get Bella in his grasp, he needed this boy on his side. He collected himself before he continued. "I believe you simply do not grasp the severity of the situation. He gave Mitch a knowing glance and a smirk. "Mr. Richards, the truth is I was just like you once. He studied his fingernails. I used to care not a wit! Every pretty face was just as bloody good as the next, right? Women were absolutely nothing to me, but a momentary yet delightful distraction. He smiled. I could have any of them I wished and I knew it well. I was young, reckless, and had absolutely no intention of marrying or making any such commitment. He looked intensely at the boy. But sometimes, Mr. Richards, Our lives and philosophies can change instantly in a single moment.

His gaze drifted and he almost seemed to retreat inside himself for a moment. "I was just buying a bloody paper! Trying to size up my competition. She was nothing! A street urchin, inferior to me in every way! And yet... that moment when my eyes met hers..." he paused for a fleeting moment and almost looked in pain. "In that moment she became my entire bloody world! It was a feeling that I had never before experienced. It was impossible!" He grinned, "... until I discovered her little secret."

The boy had listened to all of this spitefully, and could not take it anymore. His outburst rather surprised Camden.

"What your lust-filled mind probably can't process is that there are lives at stake here. Mike has murderers, my boys will probably kill a few people in the end. Your precious...whatever her name is might get killed. That's why love is pointless. You should concentrate on what we are here to do. The three of us could take over New York together. But we need one hundred percent from everyone involved."

Camden's initial surprise immediately evolved into laughter. He could not believe the absolute stupidity of this boy! He rather hoped this Mike D. Greaser was not so entirely simple and childish. "Oh Mr. Richards do you not in the least comprehend? I practically hold this city in the palm of my bloody hand!" He snickered at his own cleverness. "And I mean that in a very literal sense. He grinned. "Indeed you don't think Ive had to ... eliminate certain persons in my pursuit of happiness? I assure u Mr. Richards, these hands have soaked in blood. This is nothing new to me. He looked at him closely. In fact, I'm offering my services to you, not only as an effort to find my Bella, but also because I have my own reason to despise and abhor Jack Kelly! His eyes went murderously dark. I assure u nothing would give me more pleasure than to aid in his gruesome murder.

He roughly grasped the boy's shoulder. " You give me Bella Braxton, and I will give u the death of our common enemy, and all of New York on a silver platter. He grinned. And if challenge is what you live for my friend, you'll never feel so alive. He stuck out his hand fiercely. Do we have an... understanding Mr. Richards?