Okay everyone, the fun fourth installment of "ANYONE." This one may be a little longer, but hey, this is what happens when let your Blink!Muse take over his own story. I also tried to add a little more detail in this chapter as well.
I'd also like to mention that in my last chapter when I said MUSH had decided to act like a Mary Sue, I meant BLINK. I'm glad guys got that though. Somehow Dutchy and Charlotte let that slip past editing. *Runs off to check on editing muses who have been much too chummy recently*
____________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER FOUR - NOT BAD, FOR A GIRL
At Central Park Blink sits down on a wooden bench, pretending to be exhausted. He has already sold fifteen of his twenty-five papes and Mush is somewhat astonished. The two have been selling for a couple of hours now, and it seems every time Mush finds a customer, Blink finds two more. However, though Mush is certainly amazed, he is not amused. He stands above Blink, his shadow blocking the sun Blink is pretending to protect himself from in true Mary Sue fashion.
"Oh thank ya Mush! I was afraid the sun was going to ruin my skin."
Mush, not really prepared for this statement (Blink hadn't said much to him all day except to ask for another pape) has no reply. Blink, smiling at Mush's obvious frustration, stands and takes a pape out of Mush's hand.
"Yer right Mush, we really should get back to selling."
At this, Blink walks off looking for customers and a confused, frustrated, and still silent Mush follows. Throughout the day, Blink's enthusiasm for selling continues to amaze and annoy Mush. Finally, as Blink sells the last pape with a smile, Mush gives up.
"Yer done? Good!" he declares, taking Blink by the arm. "It's time we got back to the lodgin' house. Yer friend Spot's comin' over for a game and to make damn sure we were nice to ."
Mush begins to drag Blink towards the lodging house, heading into the heart of town. Blink, at first resistant and annoyed of Mush's persistence that they go immediately, eventually stops fighting and lets Mush lead him quietly. He smiles, amused at Mush's grumbling, and begins to contemplate his next move.
After about five minutes, Mush drops Blink's arm and crosses his own, giving him the opening he needs. With a 'bashful' glance at Mush to see if he is paying attention, Blink slides his hand through the crook of Mush's arm, linking them together in a pose that screams "we're a couple." Mush, still busy grumbling under his breath, does not notice this. That is, he doesn't notice until he begins to receive congenial smiles and disapproving frowns from the people they are passing on the street.
When he notices these, he comes out of his grumbling state and looks questioningly at Blink. His eyes only rest on Blink's face for a moment, however, because it is at this moment he feels the weight of Blink's arm on his own. He leaps away from Blink, ripping his arm from it's captor's grasp as he does so.
"What are ya doin'?!" he begins to yell, lowering his voice halfway through the phrase.
Blink smiles up at him innocently.
"I was just holdin' yer arm, Mushy."
Mush's face turns three shades of scarlet when Blink says this. He grab's Blink's wrist and propels him forward, walking beside him (or, dragging him, rather).
"Look, Biffy, ya can't make moves on me like that. Spot would have my neck if he knew!"
Blink pulls his arm away from Mush's hand and continues walking beside him.
"Oh him? Spot's my friend, but I'm not his goil if that's what yer thinking'. He just says that so the newsies won't bother me too much."
Mush frowns and says nothing the rest of the way to the boarding house. Blink, satisfied for the moment, leaves Mush to his thoughts.
___________________________
"I'll raise ya two cents."
Race, Spot, Mush, Jack and Swifty sit around a table playing cards. Blink, at the moment, is no where to be seen. Mush throws his hand down and sits back.
"I'm out."
Race smiles and collects his winnings as, one by one, the other newsies through in their hands as well. Mush takes a quick swig of his drink and stares at Jack questioningly. Jack doesn't notice this at first, until Spot turns to Mush and comments.
"Mush? Ya got a problem wit' old Jacky-boy here?"
Mush takes another drink and continues to stare for another few moments.
"Jack, why'd ya do it?"
Jack glances at Spot as if he has no idea what the hell Mush is talking about, but of course, he does. Spot just shrugs and turns back to Mush.
"Why'd I do what, Mush?"
"Ya know what Jack! Biffy- I mean- Elizabeth! Any other time ya'd have been all over that goil. Ya practically drooled on her hand when Spot brought her over last night. What changed?"
Jack thought for a moment, then leaned back and propped his feet on the table.
"Nothin' changed Mush. I just felt like sellin' on my own today."
Race, unaware of what is going on, drops his jaw when Jack says this. Jack, sell alone when there's a chance to sell with a beautiful broad? Not in his lifetime. Something is up, Race is sure of it, but he doesn't make any indication that he's suspicious. Mush also obviously does not believe him. He stands and leans over the table so he can get a good look at Jack's face.
"Jack, did you pay her?"
Jack, Spot, and Swifty all burst into hysterical laughter when he says this. Race, however, stands and pulls out a chair. Blink has made his appearance.
"Hello, boys. Can I play wit' ya?"
He sits down without waiting for an answer and smiles prettily at Mush. Mush decides to show his masculinity by pushing in Blink's chair and boasting.
"Biffy, we'd be delighted to have ya watch our game, but poker's not a game for a lady."
Blink smiles mischievously and picks up the cards.
"Not at all, I can play an excellent hand of poker. Race, would you be lovely and deal me in?"
Race, dumbfounded, takes the cards and nods assent. Mush, a little upset at being placed down, grumbles and returns to his seat.
___________
"Show me what ya've got boys, 'cause I'm takin' ya to the cleaners!"
All four boys lay down their hands, each revealing a loser. Blink smiles and begins to rake in the bottle caps the boys are using for chips. After he collects these, he glances around the table and grins.
"It seems you boys are out of dough. Too bad. I was havin' so much fun!"
Jack just stares open-mouthed at the table as Mush shakes his head in confusion. Race fumes about losing to a girl and Spot, well, Spot tries to hold back laughter. Finally, Mush stands.
"I don't understand it. Yer a goil. Newsies don't lose to goils."
He leaves his seat and slowly goes upstairs to the bunkroom, followed by Swifty and Race. Spot places his head on the table and allows himself to laugh aloud. Jack sighs, gathers up the cards, and stands. Blink does as well, and they go upstairs together as Spot leaves the lodging house to return to his own. Halfway up the stairs Jack smiles and turns to Blink.
"Ya know, that wasn't bad, for a goil."