Seems A Downright Shame
Author's Note: OMG! So I had my first and amazing dream about Sweeney Todd last night, March 5, 2008. I felt that I had to share with the world. I sure hope you all enjoy it. I will need many opinions from reviewers of this story, on whether they think I should add more to what I already have written, or just leave it as it is. So, read on my loves.
Chapter 1
Mrs. Lovett was trembling. She had just witnessed Sweeney Todd's first murdered victim. She knew that the phony barber deserved some kind of revenge for attempting to blackmail her dear Mr.T, but murder? She honestly never thought he'd go that far. What am I thinking? She scoffed at herself. He's not bright that Benjamin Barker I once knew anymore, he's a dark, tortured soul wot's lost his family. Poor dear, poor thing.
Mrs. Lovett sighed out loud to herself. She continued to roughly knead the dough for another useless pie she was making. Another day, but no customers. The frustration at that thought caused her to pound the dough with more force than needed.
A little snore from Mrs. Lovett's room made her pause mid-way through her kneading. She cautiously went to inspect whatever was in her parlor. Ah, it was only Toby. The poor little boy that terrible Italian had brought with him, when coming to visit Mr. Todd.
Mrs. Lovett had nearly forgotten about Toby whom she had entertained with her pies. In fact, she was surprised that he had scarfed down her pies without spitting anything out.
Must've tasted like eaven' after being with that horrible man for so long. Lord knows what he fed that boy. Mrs. Lovett though with a frown. She sat on another chair across the room to watch Toby as he slept.
Toby had come down moments ago, after frantically running up to remind his master of an appointment he had. Mrs. Lovett had warned him not to go, but fear outshone her kindness towards him. That bloody fool. He probably scared the poor kid with threats no doubt, and that's why he didn't stay down ere' and relax for very long. Much to Mrs. Lovett's surprise, Toby had come back down with very excited look on his face.
"Mr. Todd told me to tell you to give me some gin! He said I could ave' some!"
Mrs. Lovett was shocked, but complied with a friendly smile to the little boy's wishes. Wot are you doin up there that made you want to keep the boy down here Mr. T? She had wondered. After personally inspecting the situation herself, Mrs. Lovett was very relieved that Sweeney hadn't at least killed Toby for implying about his master's hasty departure.
And now, here he was. Fast asleep on Mrs. Lovett's nice sofa, gin in hand, snoring deeply. Poor love.
No doubt he was tuckered out from all those beatings that bastard had given him. Not to mention all those phony products he was forced to sell in addition. Mrs. Lovett thought to herself while smiling down sympathetically at the little boy.
Well, at least this poor little bloke won't be prey to his master's abuse anymore.
As if to prove her point, Mrs. Lovett saw a large bruise on the back of the little boy's neck. She gasped quietly while softly stroking her soft hands against the mark.
What kind of monster could hurt this precious little boy? He was an orphan no doubt, and his first guardian just had to be a cruel salesman, who wasn't even a real seller!
Mrs. Lovett sighed while shaking her head. Life could be cruel to its little wonders.
Suddenly, her face lit up with an excited smile!
Maybe Toby can stay with us, and be a help to me around the bloody kitchen. Lord knows e' needs a home, and I've always fancied of aving' children of me own around. Maybe, Toby can fill up that empty place in me' heart. Mrs. Lovett throat choked up at the thought of having no children.
Her dear old Albert never did take the time of night to share the gift of passion with her. He was always too tired…or so he claimed.
Pleased with her idea at harboring Toby, Mrs. Lovett planted a soft kiss on the sleeping boy's forehead before walking out of the parlor and into the kitchen.
As she began, once again, to knead the pie dough, some thoughts began to enter her head. Wot' in the world is Mr. T gonna do bout that body up in his shop? We can't just leave the poor bugger to rot.
Mrs. Lovett began to ponder different ways of getting rid of the freshly killed man. She was so deep in thought, that she didn't hear Sweeney Todd walk in her pie shop.
Sweeney Todd stopped at the sight of Mrs. Lovett, and watched her with slight fascination. Making pies while trying to come up with a plot of some kind, he knew that for sure.
The look on her face gave everything away.
The flour-covered lady was muttering to herself, trying to come up with a solution over the dead, fake, Italian. "Seems a downright shame…seems and awful waste…" She kept saying to herself.
"What's a shame love?" Mr. Todd's cold voice cut through her thoughts like one of those deadly razors he always carried with him.
Mrs. Lovett gasped, while covering her heart shakily. "Oh Mr. T! You gave me an awful fright you did dear." She exhaled breathlessly while blushing at his appearance.
Darkness or not, this barber was still as handsome as could be.
Sweeney smirked at Mrs. Lovett's reaction. He never knew her to one that was scared so easily. That was made apparent, after she fearlessly and nonchalantly took the dead Italian's money from his pocket. It was as if she was taking the payment he would have owed the barber, if he was still alive and had gotten a real shave.
Sweeney couldn't really blame Mrs. Lovett for being startled so, seeing as he did look like a ghost from being up in his shop all those recent days.
"Did you want something love?" Mrs. Lovett asked, flashing that cheery smile Sweeney couldn't seem to get out of his head, no matter how dark and cold he was.
"Well my pet, I came down to talk about the dead bloke upstairs." Sweeney replied, while grabbing a bottle of gin near by and pouring it into a glass.
"Funny you should mention im' love. I was oping' we could talk about im' too." Mrs. Lovett set her dough aside and walked to where Mr. Todd was sitting.
"So, we got a body molderin' away upstairs. Wot do you intend we should do bout' that then?" She asked while sitting across from him.
Sweeney stared at the glass he was drinking from. Pondering an answer. It came soon enough, for he easily answered, "Later on when it's dark, we'll take him to some secret place and bury him."
Mrs. Lovett's eyes opened in surprise. Well that certainly didn't take long. She thought while chuckling quietly.
"Oh yeah, I suppose we could do that. Anyway, I don't suppose es' got any relatives who'll come poking bout', looking for im'."
Sweeney nodded in agreement. The room was filled with an awkward silence, before Sweeney suddenly stood up and said with an anticipating voice, "Come my dear, join me for a walk outside."
"Wot' for?" Mrs. Lovett asked, surprised he would even consider taking a walk with her.
"What for? Well to look for a place we can bury the Italian upstairs of course. We can stroll around the city casually, but honestly, we'd be looking for a new burial grounds." Sweeny stated in a pleased, sinister tone.
His mischievous smile made him look like a naughty child who was planning on sneaking something behind his mother's back.
The idea made Mrs. Lovett giggle.
Sweeney looked at Mrs. Lovett oddly. "You find the idea amusing?" He asked somewhat offended, his eyes darkening that she would dare laugh at him.
"No, no love. It has nothing to do with you. Just a funny thought that went through me' head." She replied with a stifled laugh, oblivious to his dangerous stare.
Sweeney realized then, that he would give anything to know what would have made Mrs. Lovett laugh so adorably. But he wouldn't dare tell her that.
He was supposed to be a stubborn, secretive man who was full of dark anger and thoughts of revenge.
How could a mere woman, lovely and witty though she be, make such a difference in his heart?
Dismissing the thought, Mr. Todd extended his arm towards Mrs. Lovett. "Are you coming or not love?" He asked impatiently, trying to sound as cold as possible. But that didn't make Mrs. Lovett's smile falter any less.
Mrs. Lovett stood up, and accepted the extended arm Sweeny offered her. "Well then, I suppose we should go love." She replied with another smile, which momentarily broke the evil in Sweeney's heart.
"Besides," Sweeney added as they walked out the door, "we could always use the fresh air."
Mrs. Lovett rolled her eyes. Funny how she'd always mentioned that fresh air would be good for him. Mr. Todd had always ignored or dismissed her then, but he suddenly was taking her advice now. How odd…