I would like everyone to please turn their attention to the picture above. That post is basically the story of my life.

When I say I'm going to do something there's always a 60 40 chance of it actually happening. Ok some stuff I mentioned I was going to has happened only because for some reason I was extremely motivatedand other times I had nothing else going on. Which is the case with this is a mystery....along with the fact the knowledge I have on Mush is insane. Like I went into deep character research to figure out what I wanted my version of him to be and how he'd work out with Feister. But any who lets hop into this cause there's a lot to talk about. I'll be using 92sies, Aron, and Livesies, Nick, because that's the easiest variation to compare/the most known. C'mon people it's the movies we're talking about, that's forever set in stone. Remember this is what I've seen/a general viewing.

92sies

We first see Mush in the "who asked you?!" scene. He kind of does that "get outta my way" gesture with his hand/fist(?) I dunno it's really quick. His first and most memorable scene would be when he asked Jack how he slept. May I mention that he's also shirtless. He comes off as very playful, has a good sense of humor and overall seems like a morning person. I say that last bit because the rest of the boys are still groggy and stuff.

When Crutchy mentions how he needs to find a new selling spot, Mush is the first one to suggest, and start off Carrying the Banner with, "From bottle alley or the harbor". Not long after that Jack flicks shaving cream at his face for whatever the reason, and we also hear glass breaking in the background, which I can only assume (as I said to Aisling) is one of the boys breaking glass. Of course, I can't forget about Mush's iconic "Met this goil last night", line. He says this to distract Blink from Crutchy's "you smell foul" line. As the number continues he does a bunch of flips and tricks, stays close with the other main boys. He also needs to "find angle."

I also find it interesting that he's the only one wearing shorts. Ok, ok, I know in that time younger boys would wear shorts until a certain age, but see there are plenty of younger boys in the group and they're all wearing pants like the older boys are. Me? I headcanon him as sixteen. But that's just me. While on that note, I also find it funny his suspenders are just...always hanging down, like he never wears them properly. A little moment I enjoy is when the boys are walking out of the gate when Jack is saying "you only took twenty papes" if you watch closely you can see Mush trip over his own feet. And when the young lady walks by, he's just so aw stuck for a brief moment. It goes without saying this boy is a ladies man, and isn't too bad of a flirt either.

When the prices goes up he's the calmest while all the other boys are out right mad. But what sticks out to me the most is when he says, "let's get our lousy papes while they still got 'em". Based off of that, it's almost like he's the voice of reason(?) like he doesn't like the new price, but also knows this is the only way they can all make a living for themselves So he's kind a torn. When Jack of stops Mush and he backs off right away indicating he's loyal too Jack.

He starts off King Of New York. Pair of new shoes with matching laces. Which is a very practical to want. With all the walking  a newsie has to do shoes would wear out quickly. He's also very adorable in this scene, like ok I love the green shirt but when you stick the cap on when he's wearing the white shirt ugh I love it. During Jack's betrayal when all the other newsies are in disbelief or angry Mush is the only one who's calm in the situation. He tries to get Jack to look at him, he sounds so heartbroken, looks like a kicked puppy. I never wanted to hug a character more in my life.

Mush comes of as a very sweet guy who loves a good laugh. He's loyal to the boys and seems to fight when given no other choice too. He's also very strong. As Aisling said "he looks ripped without looking too ripped". No I do not have any shame. The one shot His Promise should be enough proof of that (and also I wanted to have a moment where he's shirtless and trying to impress Feister who doesn't give two darns about it).

May I also mention he's adorable, and cute, and as Ais and I always, and I mean ALWAYS say in each other's comments...I need a Mush in my life. Anyways, it's seen right off the bat he's good friends with Kid Blink. Literally you never see one without the other. I think Crutchy is another good friend, I dunno why but I get that vibe. He comes off as someone who doesn't like to fight, but can and will when he absolutely has too. I don't think we ever really see him punch anyone....(and I wrote the rest of this out while watching 92sies)

Livesies

In the musical, just like the movie, Mush first appears in the "who asked you bit". He kind of...yells it right in Albert's face with a "seriously dude shut it!" look. The next time we see Mush is he's standing next to Finch when he ask Crutchie if it's gonna rain or not. He kind of gives an "oh yeah sure" face/nod thingy. Just moments later we see him having a stick fight with Romeo. And this is a good time to mention the cute little wink, cap tilted thing he does before flipping (You all know what I'm talking about!). The line "papers is all I's got" indicates that being a newsie is the only life he's ever known. Which translates too he's been selling papes for a long time. When the boys line up to get their papes we briefly see him talking to Tommy boy, so they might be good friends, who knows, it's kind of hard to tell.

A few scenes later, we get the iconic "sirens are like lullabies to me, the louder the wale the better the headline, and the better the headline the better I eat, and the better I eat-" then he gets cut off by Race and kind of silently tells Race to "shut it". We see him kind of throw a hand, the same gesture 92sies Mush did in the beginning of the movie. He kind of seems like he's completely done with things....When Albert announces the prices goes up, he's one of the first boys to get up, while asking "what'd ya say?" When Race says, "Sure he is, can't ya smell smoke?" in reply to Les' question, Mush groans and takes off his cap. However, while the scene does cut, we hear something in the background, a cap slapping something, or someone. When the scene changes again we see Mush is putting his cap back on and Race is rubbing his arm, indicating there was indeed a cap slap.

When they got to Jacobi's deli he's the one who says "I dunno bout that...but we sure scared the bejabers outta Weasel!" He's also sitting on top of the middle table...why? Eh who knows. Mush does what he wants. Anyways, he volunteers to go to Harlem in order to spread the word. Must mean he's on good terms with the Harlem boys if he's going up there. If you look at a map of Manhattan you'll know Harlem is towards the top and Lower Manhattan is well...at the bottom. During the whole Jack and Kath fight thingy you can see him looking between them and laughing along with whatever. He's either the one who tells Romeo to "get outta here" or "sit down idiot. It's hard to tell since Jack is talking over him and there isn't a clear view of him to lip read. Also their voices sound really similar in that one moment.

Next morning at the gate when Jack is saying they've got the rest of the city's newsies on their side Mush says, "not so fast boss....Harlem wants ta know what Brooklyns gonna do." The way this sounds to me is that he doesn't want to tell Jack the bad news. You can  hear the hesitation in his voice for the quickest second.

In King of New York he wants a barber shop haircut that cost a quarter instead of new shoes. And something I've noticed is that during the broom dance if you look and listen closely you can see Mush yelling out "c'mon Red! Alright Red!" Translation? He's cheering Albert on rather than Buttons and - I forgot who the other dude in the broom dance is. Sorry - meaning they must be close. Right before the brawl when the goons show up he walks up to where Jack is mumbling something but Jack pushes him back. But during the betrayal, he mumbles "he's a sell out" then runs away. 

It's stated on Mush's trading card that he considerers himself Jack's muscle. Like Jack knows he can count on Mush when trouble comes and Mush trusts Jack to get them out of said trouble. Is willing to fight whenever. A little on the aggressive side, but still seems like a sweet guy who enjoys a good laugh. Friendships, brotherhood (whichever one floats your boat) he's kind of seen with everyone at least once. But from what I've seen, it would be Romeo, Crutchie, Tommy boy and Albert. I am not just saying that because I am also an Albert fan. We see this multiple times throughout the movie. "Alright Red" during the broom dance, the prices going up, the "who asked you" bit. etc....

Compression

One of the biggest difference is that 92sies Mush is a soft boy, while Livesies is a toughie. When I tell you I didn't know Mush was in the live version for a good month or so, I mean it. When I found this out, that was the different I saw right off the bat. The reasoning for this personality change is still a mystery to me. In 92sies we see more of who Mush is compared to Livesies where it's just a few scenes. And that my friends is why I throw in hints of 92sies Mush into my fics because when combining the two together, a well rounded character is born. Because if I chose just to do one of the versions then it'd only be half of a personality. But again that's just me and my writing style.

(Mini side tangent, does that add more light to how Meister works together? Feister is obviously the wild, reckless one, and Mush is her....filter, if you will. But the minute she gets into trouble there isn't a single thing on earth that would stop him from saving her no matter how much she claims she can do it on her own)

But of course, every actor brings something different to a character. From what I can tell, the Broadway version of Mush kind of stays true to the 92sies version while the toursie version is the toughie. However that's a completely different rant, because we all know when a Broadway show goes on tour there are tiny, mild, changes made here and there for whatever the reason. So, maybe that's where it came it(?) but don't quote me on that, this is just an assumption. (also, please note  Nick Masson was the replacement Mush on tour. I only know that because that's what the cast list on Wikipedia says)

So yeah there's that.

Facts about Mush in general is that on trading card it's stated that he was missing his two front teeth when he came to the Lodge and he spoke with a lisp. Which is how he got his nickname. In 92sies I remembering reading somewhere that he was supposed to speak with a lisp and he was also going to be crossed eyed, but obviously that got cut out.

Historic wise Mush is the only real newsie to make it in both productions of Newsies. His actual name was Nick Meyers. Often referred to as Young Meyers or Mush. I think I saw someone about him not being too bad with the ladies which is, what I can assume, is how he got his nickname. A fun history fact is that.

Also there's this

Now for a small tread of my favorite Mush (incorrect quotes) posts from Tumblr

And if you continue down to the next four parts (assuming I don't move this one) you can find some edited incorrect quotes that also involve Mush.

Last but not least I have to know...how do you guys pronounce his last name? Do you say Meyers as May - ers or My - ers. I've always done the first way.

Ok that's it see ya on the next random moment. Or maybe character analysis. If I were to do that Albert would most likely be next...or not who knows for sure. Thanks once again for putting up with my randomness

Crystal