Hello everyone!! Thank you so much to those who are reading my story! Your reviews have made me extremely happy! Also, I am open to constructive criticism and your opinions are welcome! This is actually my first fanfic, well story actually, ever! I hope you are enjoying it so far! Oh and I based the characters (appearances and attitudes) off the ones from Burton's movie. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Lovett or any of the original charaters.
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Pale yellow hair fell softly and caressed Benjamin Barker's rough fingertips. He brought the silken blonde blanket up to his lips and nose and inhaled. Lucy's hair always smelled of lilacs. He smiled serenely as her piercing sky blue eyes looked up at him and she giggled lightly. He gazed at her soft pink lips and closed his eyes as he leaned down to kiss his happy wife. Benjamin savored the moment and moved in slowly, taking his time to enjoy his own personal treasure. He anticipated the soft silk and comfort he would feel upon making contact with Lucy's lips. Finally, they touched. But softness didn't await him there. Hard, crusted, and dry lips met his. He opened his eyes with surprise. Before him stood the beggar woman, with dirt encrusted hair, no longer the brilliant blonde, but a dull dirty gray. Lucy's face was covered in thin scratches, pock marks, and warts. The blue of her eyes had faded as well and replaced with a crazed look of insanity. She looked up at him, not recognizing him. Most horrific of all was the red gash across her neck, it gaped open and stared at him, almost formed in the shape of a wicked smile, mocking him. Thick streams of crimson, flowed forth and stained Lucy's torn brown dress. She reached one blood soaked hand with gnarled fingers up and pressed it onto his cheek, smearing streaks of fresh blood onto his face.
"So ya wan a kiss, eh? That 'll cost ya a shillin or two boy", she cackled and held her bloodied palm out.
Benjamin Barker couldn't comprehend that his once beautiful wife had become this abomination. His heart broke at the thought that she had no idea who he was.
"Oh, Lucy.." he muttered and covered his face with his hands, sunk to his knees and began to sob…slowly all faded to black
Sweeney Todd awoke with a start. His eyes flew open. Todd glanced around the room from his position on the floor. He saw everything at an angle since he was lying on his stomach with his head turned to the side. The large black iron door of the oven was open, the pies in it had been burned to a deep black crisp, causing sparks to fly aimlessly about. Everything was in the order that it had been before. The blackened cobble stones lay beneath him and the usual foul smell of death, flesh, and pie crust evaded his nostrils. Turning his head ever so slightly he noticed two figures laying on the ground in to his right. Both covered in blood. Both with gaping slashes decorating their throats. One was Judge Turpin. The other was Lucy. Grief washed over Todd again, at the remembrance and realization of the events that had occurred. Mrs. Lovett had almost been his next victim, but that shit of a child had saved her. Recalling being struck in the back of his head, Todd attempted to lift himself up and his hand flew to the back of his head at the same time. Pain radiated, thick and heavy through the back of his head to the front of it. His ears began to ring and Todd cursed out loud. Ignoring the intense pain was an effort, but Todd got up regardless and walked on wobbly legs over to the two corpses. He stared in disgust at Turpin's lifeless body. Turpin's eyes were still open wide, frozen in a look of surprise of intense fear. Extreme satisfaction flooded Todd's body, causing him to slide his fingers over his razor in a grateful caress. His friend had come through for him indeed. Grabbing Turpin's corpse by what scanty gray hair it had, Todd dragged the body towards the oven with long strides. Once there, he lifted the body, with a grunt .Turpin was dead weight in the truest sense of the word, since rigor mortis had begun to sink in. Todd tossed the body into the mouth of the oven, as hungry flames consumed it. Todd then shut the door of the oven. He was relieved by the fact that Turpin's life had come to an end at his hands. That never again would he have to gaze upon Turpin's face. Turning around Todd's gaze landed on Lucy. His short lived moment of triumph faded as quickly as it had arrived. Regret, grief, and nausea overtook Todd. But no tears were shed. It was Benjamin Barker's job to shed tears. It was Sweeney Todd's job to take revenge. And that would come in due time. Gently lifting Lucy's lifeless form he carried her to the back of the bakehouse and laid her on a long wooden table. Looking down into his wife's face one last time, he brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her softly on her forehead. He then found a long white sheet which had possibly been used as some sort of table cloth before and brushed off thick layers of dust. Letting it fall over Lucy's body, he silently said his last goodbye. Todd remained silent for a few seconds, letting his eyes rest on the body under the sheet. Todd's moment of silence didn't last for long, peace had always been a fleeting visitor these days. Besides that fact, was the matter of Mrs. Lovett.
Todd ascended the stairs. He felt a fit of rage brewing deep within him, a silent storm, dormant unless Todd chose to set it free or was provoked. It was the same rage that had been his constant partner and only source of companionship for years. Todd chose to take the quiet approach, stalking gently to the door. He caressed his razor with one hand and softly placed the other hand on the door. Ever so silently, Todd began to turn the handle. To no avail. The rage began to boil and bubble, similar to an overheated kettle. That witch, that selfish, plotting, deviant witch had locked him in. The idea that she had delayed him his revenge infuriated him. Todd's eyes darkened and flashed. He began to grind his teeth .Had her and Toby decided to flee? He wouldn't doubt it, the spineless lying cretin she was. That woman had nerve; he remembered her earlier words to him. Her attempt to justify her actions by dragging Lucy's name through the mud and proclaiming her love for him. Claiming that she could love him more than Lucy ever would, and claiming that she had been a whore. Todd knew that all Mrs. Lovett was full to the brim with lies. Lucy would never disturb and disregard the sanctity of their marriage. Damn that Mrs. Lovett, that woman was insufferable. Todd, pressed his ear up against the door to confirm his suspicions. Instead of complete silence, he heard Toby's hushed whispers and Mrs. Lovett's usual cheerful ramblings. At that point Todd, lost all composure and went blind with hate and rage. He began his war on the locked door, slashing it with his razor, kicking and punching wildly, all while cursing at Mrs. Lovett.
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Mrs. Lovett stood, staring at the door defiantly with hands upon her hips.
"Mrs. Lovett, you're a bloody fucking wonder. Now open up this door my pet so that I may fully express my feelings for you" Todd spat at her.
The hate and disgust in his voice sliced her to her core, knowing that he held her in such low regard was enough to make her heart sink. Nevertheless, Nellie Lovett picked her head up high. She remembered that this murderous ingrate no more than an hour ago, had attempted to steal her life from her. She found strength in her anger and prepared to make her stand. Leaning down to Toby, she whispered gently in his ear, instructing him to put two "business closed for today" signs up. One on her door, one upstairs at Mr. Todd's shop. Toby ran off quickly, relieved to be as far away from Mr. Todd's voice as possible.
"Were you hopin to find we had run off Mr. T?" Mrs. Lovett inquired sweetly, honey dripped from her voice, she knew very well this would further anger Todd.
"And why would I wish that my love, did you truly believe that I would let you and that mistake of a child travel the easiest road possible? The only way either of you shall be departing is by way of my razor, with the final destination being the next life" Todd responded in his low, deeply breathy voice.
" Oh, contrary Mr. T, I don't believe either Toby or I shall be leaving, by any means of departure, whether that be horse, carriage, boat, or razor. Even more so, I highly doubt you have any say in the matter." Mrs. Lovett retorted with a smile on her face, and in her voice as well.
" Hmm, I see Mrs. Lovett, and what exactly brought you to this conclusion" Todd inquired, knowing how crafty this woman was. That was indeed one characteristic he had underestimated in her.
"I have a proposition for you Mr. T. A business proposition, one that I have thought out long and hard. I could be persuaded to let you out, I could indeed. At that point you have one of two options. The first bein' that you leave this place, and never return. You can be off on your merry way, leavin Toby and I to our lives." Mrs. Lovett had a difficult time getting those words out, all of her being silently cried out to him, trying somehow to mentally persuade him not to leave, but she pressed on " The second option is that you stay here, and continue your shop, at the same time we continue our, er business of shavin and bakin. We would solely be business partners, divide the money and stay out of each other's path. Seein as you have no other place to go, and you have already established your trade in this town, I believe this option would suit ya best. It is nonetheless your choice. All you have to do is give us your word and proof that we can trust you not to murder your business partners." Mrs. Lovett finished her explanation and took a deep breath, she hadn't realized that she had been holding it in.
" And pray tell, my fair lady, why in bloody hell would I do that?" Todd asked, and then fell silent. That woman must have lost her marbles, she must be barking mad. " I went through fifteen years of hell, fifteen years dreaming that I may come home to a wife and child. And now that dream is dead, because of your lies. Nothing would make me happier than to provide my razor with a gift of fresh blood. Your blood".
Mrs. Lovett rolled her eyes. That man had a one track mind. " You have over night to ponder your decision." With that she went to cleaning about the shop. She hadn't had a chance to scrub the counters free of flour and couldn't stand to see a mess. She laughed aloud to herself. To think that she had spent countless hours dismembering lifeless bodies and a bit of flour was beginning to irk her.
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Sweeney Todd's shoulders slumped, he had the feeling that she had ended the conversation.. Todd began to grip his razor. Clenching his hand around it, feeling his muscles tense and unclenching it, feeling his muscles release. The consistency of the action calmed him a bit as he descended the stairs. Todd stopped about half way down and sat, overwhelmed by his racing thoughts.
Does she expect that I have forgotten about Lucy so easily? And the injustice that she has done to the both of us? That I won't kill her at the first chance I get? Todd thought with a smirk, he ran his pale hand through his jet black hair. A single white streak ran through his thick ebony hair, he had acquired it on Devil's Island. As well as multiple long faded, pink and red scars from countless whippings. His heart was racing at the thought of using his razor again, until a realization came down upon him. His heart slowed and thoughts raced, Mrs. Lovett was quite right about one thing. There was truly no where else to go, no other purpose in this life. If I were to escape somehow, or if they were to let me out, I'd roam aimlessly. Killing has introduced itself as my life purpose. The thrill of bloodshed. The smell, taste, and victory of sensing fear in another human being are the feelings and emotions that keep me alive. If I am to remain here I would be able to exercise my passion in quite the artistic and appropriate fashion. At the same token, if I could earn Mrs. Lovett's trust, her full trust again, I could write the end of her story in blood, and my Lucy's death won't be in vain. Todd sat there in silence, unmoving, and conjuring up a plan as two days passed.
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It was a typical London morning. Gray clouds and smog created a protective blanket over the once blue sky. People passed by Mrs. Lovett's shop and peered in the window eagerly to see if her restaurant had resumed business yet again. When they spotted no movement inside the shop, no fresh delectable pies on the shelves or counter, they walked away disappointed. Many of them settled for heading to Mrs. Mildred Mooney's shop a block down.
As much as Mrs. Lovett despised her competitor, and as much as it pained her to have to turn customers away, she never once faltered or strayed from her post in front of the cellar door. She was a woman on a mission. Mr. Todd hadn't made a peep of noise for the past two days and she was experiencing growing concern. She had slid few a small plates of bread, butter, and fruit under the door. There was a water pump in the actual bakehouse so she hadn't worried about providing him with beverages. Although she knew he was probably longing for a glass filled to the brim with gin. As angry as she was at the man, she still had a kind heart and fretted terribly about his health. Without much to do these days in the area of business, she had taken the time to rearrange her closet, sweep her bedroom floor about twenty times, and organize her spice cabinet. Extreme boredom was overtaking her. She hadn't ventured outside for fear that she may miss something Mr. Todd would say. This day didn't seem to be any different than the previous two.
Nellie Lovett made her way to her vanity and peered into her mirror . The reflection that met her wasn't a pleasant one, and she cringed to see how much she had neglected her appearance in the past months. She had always piled her auburn hair atop her head in the same fashion since as far back as she could remember. Although it seemed particularly unruly and course at this moment. She examined her face and frowned. Before she had married Albert and started working day and night to keep the business flowing, she had constantly received compliments on her features. Especially on her eyes, they were large, round, a warm shade of brown and had a look of innocence about them. Her lips were full, but not oversized and her high cheek bones had given her a look of elegance. What a contrast to what she saw before her. Dark circles had formed under her eyes and and her cheeks appeared sunken. Her face was sickly pale and she seemed devoid of all color.
What I need is a rest, she thought then I may look a bit like my old self again. No better time than the present,' sides if he says something or moves, it'll rouse me.
Mrs. Lovett prepared to turn on her heel and longed to be engulfed in the comfort of her large bed and flowered quilts. Then her peace was disturbed.
CLINK. It was the sound of a metal object being slid across a floor.
Mrs. Lovett ran from her bedroom to the kitchen and looked at the cellar door. Her gaze drifted downward and she saw what had caused that beautifully clear sound. It was Mr. Todd' razor. Mrs. Lovett gasped.
"Mr. T?" She asked, confused.
"Yes, Mrs. Lovett. I have reached my conclusion. I want you to let me out. As you can see there on the ground, is your proof of trust. And there are more where that came from .I accept your business proposition and your terms. Now. Let. Me. Out." Todd declared in a stern yet monotone voice.
Mrs. Lovett, palms sweaty, hair standing on end, barely able to breath bent down to pick up the razor. Silently, with a racing heart and shaking hands, she undid the bolt. Todd stepped out in front of her, his eyes flashing.
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Hello dear ones! I hope you've enjoyed my story so far. I apologize anyone feels it is moving slowly, I have a lot of angles to cover. I want it to seem as realistic as possible and keep the characters IN character. If Mrs. Lovett seems out of character, as in not being her usual compliant self. It is due to the fact that Sweeney Todd just tried to kill her. Regardless of how madly in love I was with someone, I'd be experiencing MAJOR trust and anger issues if they tried to off me. So I hope that seems realistic enough. I will update as soon as possible, I'm having tons of fun with this. Thank you again!
Love,
ME,
