What would have happened had Moritz actually escaped to America. He meet the bohemians! This is assuming that Rent and Spring Awakening were happening at the same time. Set post Rent, mid 90s ish, because that's a lot easier to work with. This is also assuming that Moritz speaks English.

Mortz's POV

The harbor loomed up in front of me like a wall I had to climb before reaching somewhere more solid that the place I was dying to leave. Small sailboats bob in the water like dogs eager to get out and play, but I was searching for something larger.

"Excuse me," I say to the guy in an old navy hat, studying a piece of paper with an expression of disapproval.

"Yeah? What do ya want, kid?"

"Um, I'm looking for a ship? To America?"

He looked me over once, twice, eyes full of doubt.

"That's my ship over there," he said, pointing to a huge passenger boat spewing a cloud of smoke from its columns. "What do ya want with it?"

Shit. "Well, uh, I need to get on it. I need to leave here. I don't have any money but I'm strong and I can work hard. You don't need to pay me or anything. I just need passage, and food, I guess, but I'm not picky." My plea came out in one breath and I mentally kicked myself for it.

The man stared at me for a second, and then broke into a grin, showing yellowing, and several missing, teeth. "A runaway, eh? Well, kid, I was a runaway once too. Got me pretty far, dinnit?" He laughed, a breath stinking of whiskey at me and took my hand. "I got a place for you, kid," he said.

Two hours later, the captain left me in the crew's bunkroom. I stared at the rope hammocks, the rough floors, and threw my bag at me feet before climbing the steep stairs to the crew's deck. I felt a jolt as the huge ship began to move and I leaned over the railing, taking one last glance at the country that didn't have room for me anymore.

A sailor who couldn't have been much older than 20 appeared at my side, watched with me as the shoreline became a blurred line on the horizon.

"New kid, eh?"

I nod, and then ask, "Where are we headed, anyways?"

He grins at me as he answers, "New York City, center of the Universe."