What's in a name, lovey?
Nellie Lovett heard the pacing, and sighed. If there wasn't a customer up there with the man, he became cagey, like the lion in London zoo between feeding times.
Of course, now that business was booming, Nellie paid less and less attention to the clop-clop-clop—pause—clop-clop-scuff—pause—that took up most of the day, more-so when all the gentlemen on Fleet Street were either freshly shaved or that day's batch of meat pies. But there were those first few days that Mrs. Lovett had spent memorizing that sound. And during those first few days, again exactly like that poor lion, if anyone approached him he'd either lash out or glare broodingly at them.
Nellie Lovett also remembered the initial discomfort she had saying his new name, the alias that her once beloved Mr. Barker had cashed in on while he was still rotting in a cell in Australia. Of course, she had learned to say the hateful words right quick. You don't let yourself dangle over the edge of the lion pit.
But then again, it was as if Benjamin Barker was a new man with this new pseudonym…not better, but new.
For one, Mr. Barker would never have let Mrs. Lovett get so nicely acquainted with him. Not that he hadn't been friendly, but Sweeney Todd felt no guilt or sense of wrong when Nellie pressed up against him from behind, or grabbed his hand, or pecked his cheek, craving the contact of his skin in any small way possible. Benjamin Barker had always kept a respectful distance, especially as a married man around a widowed woman.
Second, Lucy had possessed every part of Benjamin. She had taken his last name, and thus he was her conquest, her kill, in the eyes of man, God, and law. Every smile he smiled was intended for her only. Every glance was in her direction. Every touch made contact with her skin. And every time he earned an honest wage at his job, every pound went to her needs and wants. Sweeney Todd was no longer quite so trapped, now that Lucy was dead in the eyes of men and the law. The eyes of God may have seen them as still bound, but Nellie Lovett believed that God would have wanted Benjamin—or Sweeney, whichever—to be taken care of and cleaned up after, something he wasn't going to get with a wife that didn't even remember her own name, let alone his.
And on that subject, even Benjamin's name was Lucy's. Mrs. Benjamin Barker, all her letters stated. Mrs. Lucy Barker, wife of the best barber on this side of London.
As Sweeney Todd, he was a free man. As Sweeney Todd, he had no relations with the blonde braggart. As Sweeney Todd, she could make up her own pet names for him, such as Mr. T.
When Nellie Lovett thought like that, she could use the despised name with great ease. She knew that it was connotated with murder, years of prison, and great sorrow…
But Mrs. Albert Lovett dreamed of the day that she could be Mrs. Nellie Todd.
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Author's Note: For those of you who have read or are reading my fanfiction "The Demon's Razors", don't worry! I just needed to get this little ficlet out. I think this is the shortest thing I've ever posted on here, to be honest.
I can just hear her now, dear Mrs. Lovett: "What's in a name, deary? That which we calls a meat pie by any other name, still gots the bookkeeper down the street a-flavoring it." XD
Rest In Peace, ma'am. Fictious or not, you were strong-willed and practical, and we as fans will miss you. Which might explain the strong influx of LovettXSweeney alternate endings. But whatever. Not my place to judge.
"Reviews are like the love my dear mum never showed me." That's nice, Nellie dear. Make sure to do that ridiculous pout to get the good readers' feedback.