Up In My Room, I Planned My Conquests (Mike)

[Mitch Richards]

Mitch paced around Park Avenue, waiting for Mike D.Greaser. The two met a few days ago, and Mike found out Mitch was leader of the Bronx. Well where has he been for the last two years? Oh right, Mike told him he was gone for two years. Right, that's right. Anyways, Mike offered Mitch leadership once Mike took over New York. A risky plan, but who could turn down an offer like that? That's what Mitch craved was leadership, he loved being in charge. Maybe then his mother would notice...

No. She was gone forever. She abandoned their family in time of need. She left them. She was careless and horrible, she was the one who killed his father. Mitch believed that, even though it wasn't proven he believed it. He hated her, and didn't care if she was dead or alive. It was all her fault. Everything was her fault.

He crossed his arms and leaned against the stone wall, waiting for Mike. They had to discuss important things, such as his newsies and the conquest. With his newsies it wouldn't be as difficult. Almost all of them were loyal to him. It was just two he had to worry about. His thoughts were interrupted by footsteps. He sighed, "Its about time you got here Greaser!" He yelled.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Ding dong." The clock chimed, telling Mike that he was in fact late. About thirty minutes late. This was not good. Mike growled and turned his attention back to the task at hand. Mitch was going to wait. Yes, Mitch, the leader of Bronx. They'd met a few days ago and had gotten to talking. After awhile, Mike had offered Mitch a position as leader when Mike's plan had come to an end. If anything, all Mike wanted was Bronx. He'd thought that Bronx was run by a girl named Starsage, but apparently she was only second in command. Mike wasn't sure how this happened; Bronx was supposed to be one of the toughest boroughs in New York. Mike was glad that Mitch was back, maybe now Bronx would be what he needed.

Anyway, Mike was standing watching one of the Manhattan newsies. They were supposedly going to have a meeting to discuss Mike, but he wasn't sure what was happening. He was already supposed to be on his way to Bronx. He growled. It was either stay here and see what Manhattan was planning, or go to Bronx. Mike made his decision and turned in the direction of Bronx.

"Its about time you got here Greaser!"

It only took him ten minutes to get from Manhattan to Bronx, but that made him a total of forty minutes later. "I'm here! Bloody...." He walked up to Mitch and leaned against the wall next to him. He caught his breath and waited for Mitch to say something. Mitch was basically a mixture of Mike and Spot Conlon. He was evil, but also a great leader. Mike was glad he was on his side.

[Mitch Richards]

"I'm here! Bloody...."

Mitch rolled his eyes, "Nice to know you can tell time." He said. "I asked you to be here ten minutes ago. Mike, I'm sure you don't understand. I have newsies that I need to run, I have things to do. I can't have my schedule planned around yours." He said coolly as he smirked. Mitch was a very prompt young man. He wanted everything to be in order and at the correct time and place. Maybe that's why he was such a good leader.

"Greaser, we need to plan." He said, crossing his arms across his chest. "I'm sure you can't take over the newsies without the Bronx. We have some good fighters here. Even the girls, they're feisty." It was very true, the majority of the Bronx newsies were very tough. They all actually were very loyal, and they all respected Mitch. That's all he asked for was respect.

Mitch walked up and down the street with his arms crossed. "Most of my newsies are very loyal, and they will join in with us. There are, however two that we sort of need to be worried of." He said, stopping and turning around. "My second in command, Starsage and her friend, Mimi. Both of which are very good friends with some of the newsies, and they wouldn't go against them. They're very loyal. However, they aren't here half of the time, they performer with some girl named Collette in Brooklyn. So we might need to watch out for them and we might not. It'll all depend on how he play our cards. Now, besides me, who else do you have to work for you?" He asked, coming closer to Mike.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Nice to know you can tell time. I asked you to be here ten minutes ago. Mike, I'm sure you don't understand. I have newsies that I need to run, I have things to do. I can't have my schedule planned around yours."

Mike ignored his snide comment. It wouldn't do them any good to start off this way. The both had similar attitudes, and therefore clashed. But they weren't here to be friendly, but for pure business. "I know. I got held up." He left it at that, no more, no less. It was just a side job that Mike did on his own, Mitch didn't need to know about his trip to Manhattan.

"Greaser, we need to plan." He said, crossing his arms across his chest. "I'm sure you can't take over the newsies without the Bronx. We have some good fighters here. Even the girls, they're feisty."

Mike scowled at him. Of course he could do it without Bronx! Bronx needed him. He let it roll off his back, and decided to focus on the important things. "Yeah, that is what I need. I have plenty of spies and such, but not a lot of fighters." Mike glanced around, making sure they weren't being followed. "Do we know anything on Queens?" So far, Queens was the only borough where nothing had been heard of. Queens had always been a middle ground place. Newsies could go there when they didn't want to pick a side. The newsies of Queens were not the toughest, but the more the merrier.

"Most of my newsies are very loyal, and they will join in with us. There are, however two that we sort of need to be worried of." He said, stopping and turning around. "My second in command, Starsage and her friend, Mimi. Both of which are very good friends with some of the newsies, and they wouldn't go against them. They're very loyal. However, they aren't here half of the time, they performer with some girl named Collette in Brooklyn. So we might need to watch out for them and we might not. It'll all depend on how he play our cards. Now, besides me, who else do you have to work for you?"

Mike nodded, taking in all the information. He remembered Mitch talking about Star. They knew each other from families or something like that. Mike was positive that without that connection, Star wouldn't have been in the Bronx newsies. She didn't seem like that kind of girl. Mimi was just a tag along, nothing to worry about. "They won't be hard to persuade." He waved it off, not concerning himself with two girl newsies. Mike looked around and turned back to Mitch. "We should go somewhere more private." He was worried about spies. Those bloody birdies were everywhere.

[Mitch Richards]

"I know. I got held up."

Mitch snorted in disgust. He was a punctual young man, and that's how you earned his respect. Punctuality and respect. That's all he asked from his newsies, and that's all he gave them. He had friendships with his newsies but not as well as some of the other boroughs. He couldn't put down his foot as easy as he could if he wasn't friends with his newsies. He would be swayed by hurting their feelings, and he didn't need that distraction. If he made them upset they would have to deal with it. If they wanted to be friends with their leader, they should've gone to Manhattan.

"Yeah, that is what I need. I have plenty of spies and such, but not a lot of fighters. Do we know anything on Queens?"

He frowned, "Well if fighters is what you need, we have fighters here. Brooklyn has some good fighters, and so does Harlem." He said. He folded his arms across his chest. "Queens has a new leader. Jordan something." He said. He didn't know anything about Jordan, he never met him. He didn't even know how he became leader, he knew Houdini was leader for a while, until he left. He was sure that he earned it, just like the other leaders. It wasn't right if you were handed it on a silver platter. Everything he had, he earned by working for it. On my own- never asked for a helping hand. That's how it was even when he lived with his family. Especially with his mother, he tried to earn her respect, it never happened. It didn't matter, she lost all of his anyway. That's why Mitch was so cold now, his heart was frozen. That's why he was a loner and didn't want friends, they would only disappoint you. I was my single good companion, taking my comfort there.

"We should go somewhere more private."

Mitch nodded, "I agree." He sighed. "No one can keep a secret in New York." He said absent mindedly. It was true, once you revealed something about yourself by the next day everyone knew about it. That's why he never confided in anyone. No one would understand. He glanced over at Mike, "And where would you suggest you go? We can't go to the Lodging House, there are probably some slackers there." He said.

((Whoot! Three points, hah, that song explains Mitch so well.))

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Well if fighters is what you need, we have fighters here. Brooklyn has some good fighters, and so does Harlem."

Mike pursed his lips, deep in thought. True, Bronx had good fighters, but that wasn't enough. He needed more. Brooklyn wasn't going to fight on Mike's side, that was for bloody sure. And Mike wasn't sure about Harlem. They had been pretty quiet lately. Maybe they would go with Mike, who knew? But then there was also the possibility that they stayed neutral. Either way, Mike wasn't relying on Harlem. "How would we come about gaining these fighters?" He voiced his concerns.

"Queens has a new leader. Jordan something."

Mike raised his eyebrows and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Huh," he began. "Well, what do you think about him?" Mike knew much about the Queens leader, but wanted to see what Mitch knew. He decided to play dumb on the subject and let Mitch take care of Queens. Glancing at Mitch, Mike studied him carefully. They weren't friends, not at all. That weren't even friendly acquaintances. They simply wanted what the other had to offer. They were using one another. Simple as that.

"I agree. No one can keep a secret in New York.

Mike chuckled and nodded. When Mike first arrived, he had planned on staying in the shadows and staying a secret. That didn't last long. The newsies knew he was back within two days of his arrival. It frustrated Mike, but then he knew that it wasn't his fault. New York was a bloody awful place. No one could keep a secret to save their life. If the governor's daughter went missing, you would know the next day. If some big shot was having an affair, you knew the next day. It was infuriating, especially since it helped the newsies.

And where would you suggest you go? We can't go to the Lodging House, there are probably some slackers there."

Mike shrugged. "We can go to my place, but I wouldn't doubt that Kelly or Conlon have birds on me..." Mike sighed and shook his head. Why did everyone think he was up to no good? Couldn't they just except the fact that he was back, and that he possibly was a good man? Bloody newsies.

[Mitch Richards]

"How would we come about gaining these fighters?"

Mitch shrugged, "If I tell them what to do, they'll do it." Not all of his newsies had friends in other boroughs, and if they did they weren't close at all. However, him and Mike weren't even close, yet they came together to fight. Hopefully that wouldn't happen with his newsies, it shouldn't almost all of them were loyal.

"Well, what do you think about him?"

Mitch squinted his eyes just slightly, "Haven't met him." He said coldly. "Have you?" He asked. He wondered if Mike did, most likely he probably did. Mike seemed to know everybody in New York. Mitch didn't, probably because he didn't care about making friends. He was in this for himself, and he was alone. He was a loner and that's how it would be.

"We can go to my place, but I wouldn't doubt that Kelly or Conlon have birds on me..."

He smirked slightly, "You live in Brooklyn right? How do you know Conlon doesn't have birds staking out your apartment?" He said jokingly. He knew that some of the leaders would be watching Mike to see what he was doing, and if they saw Mitch with him it wouldn't go over good.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"If I tell them what to do, they'll do it."

Mike smirked and leaned up against the wall. This guy was pretty confident. He thought he had all of New York under his thumb. What did he think he was, the King of New York? Mike thought that was Conlon... but all the same, Mike was liking this guy more and more every time he opened his mouth. "So, really, you already have all of New York under your command. Why do you need me?" Mike asked, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"Haven't met him. Have you?"

Mike matched his cool gaze and shook his head. "Nope, haven't met him. Queens and Harlem have both been pretty quite..." Mike didn't like quiet. It made him edgy and annoyed. And to top it all off, quietness was a sign of cowardliness, or at least in Mike's eyes. Those who were quiet were biding their time until they saw an opportunity to come in. It was weak.

"You live in Brooklyn right? How do you know Conlon doesn't have birds staking out your apartment?"

Mike chuckled and shrugged. "I wouldn't be surprised. Where do you suggest going?" He countered his question, not knowing the answer himself. Where could they go? Conlon probably had spies on both of them. Why hadn't they thought about this before?

[Mitch Richards]

"So, really, you already have all of New York under your command. Why do you need me?"

Mitch smirked, "Its because I know you can't fulfill your plan without the Bronx, I've taken pity on you and decided to help you." He rolled his eyes, "I don't have all of New York under my command, if we ask Brooklyn newsies to fight, they'll fight. They just want a good fight." He said. "As long as Spot doesn't know, it'll be fine."

"Nope, haven't met him. Queens and Harlem have both been pretty quite..."

Mitch's eyes gleamed, "Well we'll just have to fix that, shall we?" He said. He didn't know anything on Harlem or Queens, "Since you have so many 'spies', why don't you get one of them to check up on Harlem or Queens. Don't you already have one for Brooklyn?" He asked. "If you do, then forget about Brooklyn for the moment. Your spy will take care of that, what you need is to focus on the quiet ones because they might be planning something with Jack or Spot." He thought it would be a strategic move on their part.

"I wouldn't be surprised. Where do you suggest going?"

He rolled his eyes, "Do you Brits not understand sarcasm?" He asked. "I was joking, I don't even think they know where you live. So let's go there." He said, assertively. Mitch was a leader, and he knew it. Even when he was with his family he was the one in charge. He had his mother to thank for that, but that was the only thing he would thank her for. And I wonder does she know..? He folded his arms across his chest. "Are we going or not?" He asked.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Its because I know you can't fulfill your plan without the Bronx, I've taken pity on you and decided to help you."

Mike scoffed and rolled his eyes. He didn't need Bronx; Mike could do this on his own. In fact, Bronx needed him. Bronx had the brawns, but Mike had the brains. Bronx wouldn't have a game plan without him. They would just be mindless people fighting. Mike wanted to retort, but decided to keep his mouth shut. If they started fighting now, there would be major troubles.

"I don't have all of New York under my command, if we ask Brooklyn newsies to fight, they'll fight. They just want a good fight. As long as Spot doesn't know, it'll be fine."

Mike pursed his lips, deep in thought. "I don't think you are giving Conlon enough credit," Mike began carefully. "As a leader, I think he would know when some of his newsies were betraying him." Conlon was a great leader and Mike didn't doubt him. Unfortunately, Brooklyn had the best fighters. They needed Brooklyn, but with Conlon as the leader, that didn't look like it was going to happen.

And Brooklyn and Manhattan were so closely knit. If they could somehow put a tear in the friendship between the two, maybe they would have a chance. But how? If they got them mad at each other, maybe that would work. "We need to attack the friendship of Manhattan and Brooklyn. But how?" Mike turned to look at Mitch.

"Well we'll just have to fix that, shall we? Since you have so many 'spies', why don't you get one of them to check up on Harlem or Queens. Don't you already have one for Brooklyn? If you do, then forget about Brooklyn for the moment. Your spy will take care of that, what you need is to focus on the quiet ones because they might be planning something with Jack or Spot."

Mike nodded and thought for a moment. So far, he had Bella and Daphne. Some would think that two girls couldn't do much, but they were very attractive girls. Attractive girls and a bunch of guys usually turns out one way. The girl gets the guy to tell them whatever they want. Bella had done a great job. She was already in a relationship with one of Manhattan's own: Blinky boy. Mike smirked every time he thought about it. He was teaching her well.

Daphne was in Brooklyn. She was supposed to be grabbing at the heart of Spot, but so far they had only fought. Mike told her to turn on the charm. Daphne was a very attractive young girl and with Spot's reputation, hopefully he would fall for her trap. He didn't have one in Harlem nor Queens. But he could find one for them easily. He smirked. "I think I have someone perfect for Harlem. But I'm not sure about Queens. Do you have anyone?" Mike wasn't going to be the only one supplying spies.

"Do you Brits not understand sarcasm? I was joking, I don't even think they know where you live. So let's go there."

Mike sneered at him, but tried to hide it. "Fine, lets go." He turned on his heel and headed to his apartment. But Mike couldn't help but feel doubtful about this. What would happen if Spot did find out about this? They were in trouble then. No one was supposed to know about Bronx being in on with Mike. Mike tried to push aside the feeling and focused on walking to his apartment.

When they arrived, Mike fished for the key in his pocket. He retrieved it and opened the door. "Home sweet home," he said sarcastically. It was better than the lodging house, you had to admit that.

[Mitch Richards]

"I don't think you are giving Conlon enough credit, As a leader, I think he would know when some of his newsies were betraying him."

Mitch smirked, "Well we'll have to fix that then." He said. He didn't know how him and Mike could pull this off, they needed more than just the Bronx and Mike. The more they had, the better things would end up for them. He ran his hand through his short hair, thinking. They needed more, but how?

"We need to attack the friendship of Manhattan and Brooklyn. But how?"

His attention was snapped back to Mike. In his own sick and twisted way, he enjoyed breaking apart friendships for his own sake. It was because of what happened to him when he was growing us. "Doesn't Jack have a girlfriend?" He asked, the wheels in his head were turning. "Her name's Sally or something. Anyway, she's related to David, who's the "second in command" for Manhattan. My point is, David and Jack are really close. Sarah and Jack are close. We could say something that Spot took Sarah out, and since Jack is a jealous boy, he'll get jealous and all hell will break loose." He said with a smirk. "Or do you have a better idea, Greaser?"

"I think I have someone perfect for Harlem. But I'm not sure about Queens. Do you have anyone?"

"Oh really?" He said, "Who?" He wanted to meet the new spy that Mike had for Harlem. He knew that the leader of Harlem, Note and one of his newsies, Starsage had something going on. He didn't know anything about it, since he never spoke with Star. She kept to her business, and Mitch kept to his. All he knew about her was she was a performer, and she took over while he was away. As for spies for Queens, he didn't have any that he knew about. "No, not for the moment." He said. "If we get this Jordan fellow to join in our ranks, I don't think a spy would be necessary." He said.

"Fine, lets go."

Mitch smirked, "Oh and Greaser, in case anyone wonders about our "relationship"." He began, using air quotes for 'relationship'. "Tell them that we've known each other for years, and we're good friends. A little lying never hurt anyone, especially the gullible ones." He said, even though it was obvious Mitch and Mike weren't friends, or even acquaintances at all.

"Home sweet home,"

He glanced around as they walked into Mike's apartment. It was a lot better than his lodging house. It seemed like there nobody knew how to keep it tidy, unless Mitch put his foot down. "Nice place you got here." He said.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Well we'll have to fix that then."

Mike grunted, not liking Mitch's nonchalant manner. Getting past Conlon was not an easy task. Mike had tried it once. Conlon was a force t be reckoned with and Mike didn't aprreciate how Mitch acted like it wasn't a big deal. Last time Mike had crossed paths with Conlon, a few got hurt and some died. Mike wasn't going to let that happen again, he wanted them all alive if possible. Mike shrugged it off, though. Mike needed to learn how to get along with Mitch since they were working together.

Doesn't Jack have a girlfriend? Her name's Sally or something. Anyway, she's related to David, who's the "second in command" for Manhattan. My point is, David and Jack are really close. Sarah and Jack are close. We could say something that Spot took Sarah out, and since Jack is a jealous boy, he'll get jealous and all hell will break loose.

Mike nodded and pursed his lips, for what seemed like the hundredth time. That is what he did when he was deep in thought. Anyhow, Mike had already though about this. Him and Cole had been over the whole Sarah thing. "Yeah, I see what you mean. That would place a bind in their friendship..." He mused. That would get them both upset. If Jack approached Spot with

"Or do you have a better idea, Greaser?"

Mike shrugged. "Actually, Cole and I were thinking about getting Sarah to doubt her relationship with Jack. I have already talked to her and I am taking her out to lunch tomorrow, I think. And Cole was thinking about 'wooing' her." Mike chuckled and rolled his eyes. Speaking of Cole, where was he? Mike hadn't seen him in a few days. He must be busy. Mike only hoped he would have lots done when he came back.

"Oh really? Who?"

"Shadow." Mike had met Shadow and his twin, Chance, a few days ago. Shadow immediately went with Mike, but Chance wanted to stay loyal to his Manhattan friends. Fortunately, Chance knew nothing about their plans. But it had just been to close for comfort. Mike still wanted Chance on his side, but he wasn't sure if that was going to happen. But maybe Shadow could talk some sense into him.

"No, not for the moment. If we get this Jordan fellow to join in our ranks, I don't think a spy would be necessary.

Mike nodded and left it at that. Queens wasn't a worried. Even if they were on Jack's side, no one cared. They didn't have good fighters, nor did they have anything Mike wanted. They were just a side borough. But who knew, maybe they were a force to be reckoned with. And the more the better.

Oh and Greaser, in case anyone wonders about our "relationship". Tell them that we've known each other for years, and we're good friends. A little lying never hurt anyone, especially the gullible ones.

Mike chuckled and shook his head. "Okay, that works." Friends? Psh, Mike could have done better than that. How about long lost brothers. They did look somewhat alike. But whatever, at least they had something.

"Nice place you got here."

Mike glanced at Mitch. Was he being serious or sarcastic? Mike shrugged, eyeing Mitch. "It's cheap..."

[Mitch Richards]

Mitch rolled his eyes when he heard Mike grunt. Mike thought everything out too much, making him stress himself out. Mitch planned everything out in reason, but didn't over think like Mike did.

"Yeah, I see what you mean. That would place a bind in their friendship..."

He nodded, "Exactly, and the more we ruin their friendship the more it would help us out in the long run." He said, not really caring that they were about to destroy a very good friendship. They didn't exactly deserve it, friends were useless to Mitch. He had never met anyone who could've been considered a friend. They all were in it for themselves, and that taught Mitch to think of only what would benefit him.

"Actually, Cole and I were thinking about getting Sarah to doubt her relationship with Jack. I have already talked to her and I am taking her out to lunch tomorrow, I think. And Cole was thinking about 'wooing' her."

Mitch rolled his eyes, "It sounds like you're just in it for a fling." He said, not really caring about this 'Cole' character. One wrong move, and Mike would be losing a very important helper and a very important borough. "Have fun on your date, Casanova." He said, as he crossed his arms.

"Shadow."

How many 'minions' did Mike have? It sounded as if he had half of the newsie population just in spies alone! Okay, that was an exaggeration, but that's how it sounded to Mitch. Nevertheless Mitch wanted to meet the spies, get acquainted to them. They would be spending a lot of 'quality time' together. The next meeting that Mike had, all of the spies and Mitch needed to come to it. Unless by then they had the leaders on their side.

"Okay, that works."

He smirked, "Unless you have any better ideas, Greaser? But remember they need to be somewhat believable, and not just a little plan of yours." He said, coldly. Sometimes Mike had these plans that you just had to smile and say they were great even though they weren't. Mitch wasn't scared of confrontation, no, but he had to be the one delivering it and not Mike.

"It's cheap..."

Mitch ran a finger over a table, collecting a lot of dust on said finger. He looked over at Mike, making a point to sprinkle the dust off his finger noticeably. "I bet.." He said.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Exactly, and the more we ruin their friendship the more it would help us out in the long run."

Mike, on a sudden thought, blurted out, "What if we framed Jack of murdering one of Conlon's boy?" It was something he had been thinking of for a very long time. Conlon was very prideful and if he found that one of his boys was murdered, he would automatically become defensive. And if Mike had an alibi... no one could accuse him.

"It sounds like you're just in it for a fling. Have fun on your date, Casanova."

Mike raised his eyebrows and smirked. "Oh, I intend to. I highly doubt Jacky-boy is fulfilling her girlish needs." Mike chuckled, loving the idea of having Kelly suffer. Mike knew he would be very upset if someone messed around with his girlfriend... that he didn't posses yet.

"Unless you have any better ideas, Greaser? But remember they need to be somewhat believable, and not just a little plan of yours."

Mike tried not to scowl. Mitch was pushing his buttons, and Mike was getting annoyed. But he knew that Mitch was doing this on purpose, he obviously was testing him or something like that. But whatever, Mike could handle this. He was a lot like Mitch; their mouth and how they acted, but Mike had a lot harder time controlling his anger. But he was learning.

"I bet.."

Mike chuckled and rolled his yes, taking the comment half-heartily. He wasn't worried about what Mitch thought about him. He already had half of New York on his bad side, what would one more person be?

[Mitch Richards]

"What if we framed Jack of murdering one of Conlon's boy?"

Mitch snapped, and pointed his finger at Mike. "Good idea, Greaser. We all know how protective Conlon is over his newsies. To frame Jack of killing one of them would be genius." He said, thinking aloud. Mike did have some good moments, like now, when he thought of a good idea. Those moments, however, came like the rain.

"Oh, I intend to. I highly doubt Jacky-boy is fulfilling her girlish needs."

Mitch couldn't help but roll his eyes. He thought girls were a waste of him, thanks to his mother. He was too worried that if he found a girl, and settled down with her that she would turn into his mother. Making his children's childhood ruined, just like Mitch's. That was a risk too big to take. So Mitch decided to play it safe, and not fall in love. "Just make Jack suffer, I'm not coming to rescue you from a broken heart with this girl."

He leaned against a wall and smirked, "So do you?" He said, innocently. He could tell Mike was getting annoyed. How? Mike's mouth just twitched slightly into a scowl. Mitch was just testing him to see if he could handle this situation. You had to have a tough skin if you were going to try and take over New York City.

((Argh...sorry, it wasn't good. ))