The Deal (No Deal) **Nellie**

[Mitch Richards]

Thunder crashed outside as Mitch sat in his room in the lodging house, waiting. Mike asked for him to do a favor. They needed more spies for them. Mike wasn't taking any chances when it came to this. They needed another spy for Manhattan or the Bronx, and Mitch knew just who to ask, a certain Miss Nellie Lope.

It was perfect, she was one of his newsies, and he had heard she was in a relationship with Mush. When he last went to Manhattan it appeared that Mush and Jack were pretty chummy, and if not then Mush was friends with people Jack knew and trusted. It also didn't help that Mush was a complete idiot and Nellie could easily sway him. He heard that Mush would do anything for one of his girls.

He smirked to himself, and Mike gave him complete permission to do anything he wanted. That was complete freedom for him. He looked outside, rain was beating on the windows, and lightening flashed. He grinned, and ran his hand through his short, brown hair.

A knock was heard at the door. Mitch turned around and smirked. This was going to be excellent.

[nellie]

Nellie had been nothing short of shocked when one of the Bronx newsboys told her that Mitch wanted to see her. She had never spoken to the leader of the Bronx newsies, and preferred it that way. She knew that a lot of them considered her a scabber, because in their eyes she didn't need the money as much as they did. And maybe that was the case. But it didn't matter to her anymore. Soon she would give up selling papers and work a real job. As soon as she found a job...which was proving difficult. Worse, her mother's health was beginning to fail. She would have to work, and soon. For real money, no more pocket change.

The newsboy had been filled with contempt when he told her Mitch wanted an audience. Apparently, he didn't think she deserved it. But she didn't even know why Mitch wanted to see her. She couldn't even begin to fathom what was going to happen. As she made her way through the lodging house, she felt cold eyes looking at her. Her hair and shawl were wet from the rain, and she ran her hands through damp hair. She didn't necessarily vie to make a good impression, but didn't want to resemble a drowned rat. That was what many people considered her to be around here, anyway.

She reached what she was told was Mitch's private room. Apprehensively, she knocked, and when there was no initial response, she rolled her eyes and thought to hell with it, and opened the door. At the sight of the powerful young man before her, her confidence shattered and fell to the floor, unredeemable. "You...wanted to see me?"

[Mitch Richards]

"You...wanted to see me?"

Mitch turned around, and smirked. "Why yes, I did." He said, as he came to the door. "Get in." He said, "I don't have all night." He pulled a wooden chair out from over by his bed. "Sit." He ordered, "Unless you want to be difficult and stand." He crossed his arms, and stared at her.

The poor thing looked like a drowned rat, she was all wet from the rain. If she obeyed she would come out dry, if not...well, he would spare the details but someone wouldn't be too happy. And he could guarantee it wouldn't be him.

"Now, I bet you're wondering why I called you down here. Well, I have a little..offer for you, Nancy." He said, with a smirk. "I need some help, think of it as a favor." He came closer to her, "Friend to friend, think of that." He gestured to himself, then to her. "Now, would you like to now my proposition?" He asked.

[nellie]

"Why yes, I did. Get in. I don't have all night."

Automatically obeying, Nellie hurried inside and shut the door behind her. She stood with her hands folded in front of her, meek and powerless in front of Mitch. She had seen him before, but not up close. And she had never looked at him too closely. Handsome, yes. Intimidating, certainly. She felt utterly small when he looked at her, and said nothing as she stood there, wondering what she should do.

"Sit. Unless you want to be difficult and stand."

She stumbled over herself to obey. She made no effort to hide her fear of him. There would be no point. She was still, and overall, scared out of her mind. Again she remained silent.

"Now, I bet you're wondering why I called you down here. Well, I have a little..offer for you, Nancy."

"Nellie," she said quickly. Then she wondered if he cared. Immediately, though, she was wary. "What kind of offer?" She was partially intrigued, but she was no fool. She was suspicious. But then again...what was about to happen? On the inside she still craved acceptance among the Bronx newsies, and wondered if Mitch's proposition would help her gain that. Maybe she could...

"I need some help, think of it as a favor. Friend to friend, think of that."

Wary now, more than anything. "A favor," she echoed, her voice far-off sounding, even to her. She dared not say anything more.

"Now, would you like to know my proposition?"

Slowly, she nodded.

((Laziest post of life.))

[Mitch Richards]

Mitch couldn't help but smile when he saw Nellie trip over herself to obey his orders. He loved watching people go into almost chaos when he would snap orders at them. Nobody wanted to be on his good side, he intimidated them and he loved that. He smirked to himself.

"Nellie,"

He shrugged, "Whatever your name is." He blew off the correction, normally he would've bit the person's head off if they dared to correct him. He was in almost a good mood, but that would probably change once he began the proposition. He crossed his arms and eyes her. She seemed like a nice girl, and he had heard she had a family. She could go either way with the situation, it was her call...

"A favor,"

"That's right." He said, "If you do as I say, why I could give you anything you wanted. I have my ways, and all you need to do is listen and obey." He smirked, "Doesn't that sound easy?" He cleared his throat, "Listen, I'm only going to say this once and then you have the choice to say yes or no. A yes will get you anything, a no...well, things won't turn out so well."

Mitch took a breath and began, "You've probably heard about this whole good versus evil situation going on, and you probably know that I'm being played as not the nicest of guys." He chuckled, "Why my dear, that's not true. In fact, I'm nicer than some of the Manhattan newsies, its just that I'm intimidating. Because of that they don't like me. But you like me, right?" He asked, tracing a finger over her jawline.

"Well, being such a nice guy I need to know what's going on in places. Like, Manhattan. You know some people there, right? So you could go to Manhattan and see how everything is doing there, come back to me and tell me. Simple, no? And that's all I'm asking." He smirked, "No one will be harmed, everything will work as planned." He said.

[nellie]

"That's right. If you do as I say, why I could give you anything you wanted. I have my ways, and all you need to do is listen and obey. Doesn't that sound easy? Listen, I'm only going to say this once and then you have the choice to say yes or no. A yes will get you anything, a no...well, things won't turn out so well."

She didn't need telling twice. As wary as she was she was rapt with attention, and she was interested in whatever he had to say. She didn't know what he was asking, and she had the feeling it was nothing good, but she saw something in this imminent offer that perhaps not even Mitch intended to be there. She saw a door, a way out of her current life. This, she knew, was a turning point. She could feel it. It was outside the norm, but she knew that she had to go beyond to change her life. You follow all the rules, you swallow all the stories, and every night you with on a star: dreaming your day will come, trusting in allegories, and every morning, girl, look where you are.

"You've probably heard about this whole good versus evil situation going on, and you probably know that I'm being played as not the nicest of guys. Why my dear, that's not true. In fact, I'm nicer than some of the Manhattan newsies, its just that I'm intimidating. Because of that they don't like me. But you like me, right?" He asked, tracing a finger over her jawline.

She stiffened considerably when he touched her, his touch made her shiver. She didn't answer, stunned to silence. She looked at him, met his eyes, and then immediately turned away from the vehemence of his gaze. He was so frightening. Seductive. Frightening. She put Mush's face in front of her, but couldn't focus. There was the promise of a better life. There was something he wanted her to do. Something evil. But still! Anything. She believed him. She believed in the power he held. She found her voice and said, "And I get...anything?"

"Well, being such a nice guy I need to know what's going on in places. Like, Manhattan. You know some people there, right? So you could go to Manhattan and see how everything is doing there, come back to me and tell me. Simple, no? And that's all I'm asking. No one will be harmed, everything will work as planned."

She froze. It was too simple. Anyone could do that, anyone. Why did she have to do it when anyone else could? Mitch had never before looked at her twice, and now he was having a private audience with her. Her suspicion heightened. "That's not all is it?" she asked, her voice hardly above a whisper.

[Mitch Richards]

"And I get...anything?"

Mitch smirked as he saw her shiver, he loved the effect he had on people. They trembled in his presence, afraid of his power, afraid of what he would do to them. He put the fear of God in them, and that's how he would keep it. Everyone in the newsie world knew that Mitch Richards was a force not to be reckoned with.

He grinned, "Why of course you'll get something, my dear." He said, over exaggerating every word. "Tell me, what is something you've always wanted that I could help you with? If you help me do this, why you can get anything you ever wanted and more. I have my connections, I can help you, you just need to help me." He said, smirking.

"That's not all is it?"

"Of course not!" He exclaimed as if it was the silliest thing in the world. "No, its not." He paused, realizing that it was basically it. "In a way, I didn't explain it well, I apologize. Now, your job, your favor is to go to Manhattan, check up on them. I don't want to use the word spy, but...in a way it is. Nothing wrong with that, of course. One of my sources told me you're romantically involved with a certain Manhattan newsie, Mush." He smirked, "They'll trust you, and tell you things. Then you come and tell me them. Nobody will get hurt before or after this process, however if you don't do as I say," He scowled at her, "there will be consequences."

[nellie]

"Why of course you'll get something, my dear. Tell me, what is something you've always wanted that I could help you with? If you help me do this, why you can get anything you ever wanted and more. I have my connections, I can help you, you just need to help me."

With Mitch's words, Nellie saw her door of opportunity fly open. She considered nothing else, only what was there for her now. There was no doubt in her mind that Mitch could give her what she truly wanted. "I don't want anyone to call me a scabber," she said firmly, her eyes alight as she stared at Mitch as directly as she could bring herself to. "I want a free pass to come and go as I please to the lodging house. No one should call me a scab because I have a home and a mother; I'm just as much a newsie as they are. I'd do anything for a chance to be considered their equals." She was so passionate about her desire to strip away her outcast status that she was unaware that she'd just sold herself out.

"Of course not! No, its not. In a way, I didn't explain it well, I apologize. Now, your job, your favor is to go to Manhattan, check up on them. I don't want to use the word spy, but...in a way it is. Nothing wrong with that, of course. One of my sources told me you're romantically involved with a certain Manhattan newsie, Mush. They'll trust you, and tell you things. Then you come and tell me them. Nobody will get hurt before or after this process, however if you don't do as I say, there will be consequences."

Nellie let Mitch's words sink in, and her breathing quickened. He wanted her to spy on the Manhattan newsies. He was working for Mike Greaser, using her as a tool to get to Jack and the others in this ridiculous conflict that had started as a rift between two people, a hundred years ago, and was now hurting every newsie in New York. Mitch was asking her to sell out the Manhattan boys. She knew they would be hurt. Because both Mike and Mitch would seize any opportunity to hurt them. She knew she shouldn't.

But he could give her what she wanted! Her voice of reason was roundhouse kicked in the face by her ardent desires. No one better to give her the acceptance she wanted than Mitch. If she did this, if she got something good, if she won the war for the Bronx, she would be considered a hero. Everyone would love her, and she wouldn't have to worry about fitting in with them. They would love her. She would have an immediate in to their society, something that she had been vying for, for who knows how long? She could...she would!

She would be selling them out. Killing them.

"No."

The word came out even before she was aware she had said it. Her voice became someone else's; she lost all control. "Never. Those boys have been kinder to me in the months I've known them than you and your newsies have been in the years I've been here. You never gave me a second look. You condoned the rest of your squabbling minions to yell at me, heckle me and hit me around for no reason! You're using me! You'll kill them if I help you and I won't do that! I don't care what you can do for me! I'm leaving the newsies and I'm getting my own damn job so you won't have any power over me anyway. I was stupid to think you had power in the first place. Because you don't! All you have power over is a bunch of kids. And what can kids do? Nothing. You can't do anything. You have no power over me!"

She realized her tangent and stopped. At some point, she had gotten to her feet, and although she was shocked that she'd had the gall within her to stand up to such an intimidating force, she didn't back down. But his last threat hung in the air. It crossed her mind, but she waved it away. What was the worst he could do? "I'm leaving," she said firmly. "I'm going to Manhattan and I'm telling them everything..." She turned and headed for the door, intending to warn the Manhattan boys about the impending danger from the Bronx.

[Mitch Richards]

"I want a free pass to come and go as I please to the lodging house. No one should call me a scab because I have a home and a mother; I'm just as much a newsie as they are. I'd do anything for a chance to be considered their equals."

A smirk played across Mitch's strong features, her request was an easy one. "You're right, you're just as much a newsie as I am. I'm not going to tolerate that behavior." He was lying through his teeth, he really didn't care about how the newsies dealt with each other. As long as they weren't killing one another, that was his job.

He watched her reaction, so far so good. She would be like clay in his hands. An easy target, this was like taking candy from a baby. It was probably the easiest thing he had done for Mike, ever. He smirked, easy as pie. He relished in the pride of how he just stepped one step up on the ladder of power. That is until she opened her mouth...

"No."

She just rejected his offer. This wasn't part of the plan, she was supposed to be an idiot and agree! How did he let this happen? Mitch almost panicked, just almost. Then he remembered plan B. The plan that Mike told him not to do unless necessary. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Never. Those boys have been kinder to me in the months I've known them than you and your newsies have been in the years I've been here. You never gave me a second look. You condoned the rest of your squabbling minions to yell at me, heckle me and hit me around for no reason! You're using me! You'll kill them if I help you and I won't do that! I don't care what you can do for me! I'm leaving the newsies and I'm getting my own damn job so you won't have any power over me anyway. I was stupid to think you had power in the first place. Because you don't! All you have power over is a bunch of kids. And what can kids do? Nothing. You can't do anything. You have no power over me!"

He didn't listen to any of her silly rant, something on top of his dresser glistened, a switchblade knife. He knew what needed to be done, she was going to pay for what she just did. Mitch didn't care about anyone else's feelings at the moment. He wanted to let all of New York know that there was something going on. A war between the boroughs. Good versus evil, and this was the first step. This would prove to those silly Manhattan boys that they meant business. He watched her stand up and knew he had to act fast. He moved toward the knife and grabbed it, she deserved this. A smirk danced onto his face as he came closer to her.

"I'm going to Manhattan and I'm telling them everything..."

Oh no she wasn't. Mitch let the blade fly out from the knife as he grabbed her from behind and clamped his hand over her mouth. "I told you you would pay." He said before he trusted the knife into her back. "You're not going anywhere." He said, he twisted the knife and then pulled it out. She was already dead, but he trusted the knife into her one last time before throwing her and the knife onto the floor. Blood leaked out from her back, and made a pool. He grabbed a rag and cleaned his bloody hands off with it. Mitch opened his door and snapped his fingers, two of his newsies ran over to him. "Nellie Lope is dead, do something with her body, and clean up the blood." He said, before walking out of his room. Leaving Nellie's body on the ground with the switchblade by her side.

He did what had to be done.