AN: Okay, quicker update:D So, I was thinking, but I need feedback from you guys. :) I've suddenly taken a liking to the last chapter I did, so do you think that I should make a series based on voices in Sweeney's head driving him mad, and Mrs. Lovett trying to keep him sane? I'm not sure whether or not I should, as I don't know if it would be overkill on the topic, so if you guys could tell me your thoughts it would be nice. :) Thanks to all of my reviewers, over 100 reviews! That's crazy, thank you all so much. :)
Oh, also. I finally bought the full soundtrack (not just the highlights, yay!) and the movie companion book! Yay for Borders! I also bought a Sweeny shirt and poster. Yay. Also, you can buy Sweeney Todd to watch for $12.99 at the hotel. I'm buying it. Haha. xD Anyways, on with the chapter. I hope you enjoy.
Eleanor Lovett cried. Not very often, but she did all the same. The strange thing seemed to be that she never cried over herself. Her tears were shed over the man residing over her shop. While he paced the night away, she would typically stare at the ceiling until she drifted to sleep. Sometimes, however, she couldn't help but cry.
Saturday nights were always rather busy, which created more work for both Nellie and Tobias. The latter ran around to serve, while the former was constantly back and forth from the bake house and the customers. He would have a joyful expression of his face, as would she. Both enjoyed their work, as both were rather social. To work at a business such as Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pies, you had to be social.
"Toby, this gentleman needs some ale!" she called, gesturing to an elderly man who was sitting quite comfortably in his chair.
"Comin', m'um!" the boy called back, rushing over to serve the man.
She ruffled his hair lightly before walking over to another table to talk with the few who sat there.
The dinner rush passed quickly for Nellie, but she was glad to sit down and take a break. She sighed in relief as she sat at a seat near the entrance to the shop. Tobias had said he would finish cleaning up for her. He was a good kid, really. He never misbehaved, nor disobeyed any orders. He also helped out whenever she needed him to. She was grateful to have taken the boy in, and felt rather motherly towards him.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Tobias' voice saying her name. She looked up at him and smiled. "What is it, love?"
"There's a man outside, m'um. 'E says 'e wants to speak wit' you." He looked towards the doorway and then back to Mrs. Lovett.
"It's not 'bout the pies, is it?" If the man couldn't read the sign that said 'Closed!', she wouldn't have a word with him. She was done for the day.
"I don't known, 'e didn't say what it was about."
Nellie sighed, getting to her feet. "Okay, love," she said, walking to the door. "It'd better not be 'bout the bloody pies."
Upon opening the door, she saw a man dressed in higher quality clothing, indicating his wealth. He had a sly smirk plastered on his rather tanned face, and a twinkle in his eye. "Good evening, Mrs. Lovett."
She nodded, "G'evenin'. Sorry if you was wantin' a pie, but the shop's closed 'til mornin', ya know."
"Oh, I know. I did not come for one of your pies, although they are delicious."
She raised an eyebrow. "Then wha' did ya come for, Mister . . ?"
"Brown. Alexander Brown. I came to inquire something of you."
Nellie bit her lip gently. "Wha' is it you's wantin' to know, Mr. Brown?"
He laughed, his deep voice echoing through the quieting streets. "Please, call me Alexander. I would like to know whether you would like to take a walk with me around the park tomorrow. We could get to know each other a little better." He walked slightly closer to her, smiling as he did so.
Mrs. Lovett frowned. "We don't even know each other now. I jus' learned your name, Mr. Brown."
Brown's smile faltered, "Well, that's the point of getting to know each other. Just give it a change, you might enjoy yourself!"
Nellie bit her lip cautiously, a sigh coming from her mouth. "Mr. Brown, 'm'sorry, but I'm not interested. I 'ave my eye on someone already, I jus' don' really--"
"Mrs. Lovett!"
She spun around to stare at the man who had come up behind her. "Mr. T! Gave me a frigh', ya did!"
He didn't look at her. He was busy glaring at Mr. Brown. "Who's he."
She turned to look back at the taller, better dressed man. "Oh, 'e's Mr. Brown. Jus' stopped by to visit, 'e did."
"Actually, I stopped by to ask Mrs. Lovett to accompany me on a walk tomorrow."
Nellie turned back around to look at Sweeney, a light blush appearing on her face. He scowled, "And did she agree?"
Alexander Brown sighed, shaking his head. "No, she didn't seem too enthralled by the idea, so I will take my leave of you. Good night, Mrs. Lovett." He reached to grab her hand, but she pulled it away.
"Come with me, Mrs. Lovett," Sweeney growled before he could say more, grabbing her shoulder to pull her with him up the stairs.
Once in the barber shop, he pushed her against the wall roughly. Nellie gasped gently as he pressed his body against hers. "Who was he?" His voice was harsh, but it was his eyes on her that made her frightened.
"Mr. Todd. . ." she whimpered gently, worried that he had a razor behind his back.
He pushed her harder against the wall. "Who was he?!"
Mrs. Lovett shook her head as fast as she could. "I don't know, Mr. Todd! 'E just showed up, I'd never seen 'im before, I don't think! If I did, I didn't know 'is name 'til now! Please, Mr. Todd. . ."
Sweeney's face was inches from hers, his breath hitting her with every exhale, his eyes filled with rage. He suddenly turned away from her, stalking a few feet away. He placed his hand on his chair, now seemingly staring at the worn seat.
She stared at him, confusion setting into her mind. She didn't understand why it was so important to him, or why it upset him so much. She walked over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Mr. T. . ?"
He sighed, gripping the chair tighter. "I don't want you to talk to him again."
Sweeney turned back to look at her, looking a little calmer but still angry.
"Mr. T, 'e started talkin' to me. An' I'm not gon'na just not talk to someone when they talk to me. An' anyways, why's it matter so much? It was jus' a friendly conversation, it was!"
"That's just it Mrs. Lovett! A friendly conversation with the likes of him, then you would have taken a walk with him, and God knows where you'd end up for the night!"
"Mr. Todd! I'm not a whore! I said no when 'e asked me to take a walk wit' 'im! I didn't wan' to!"
"He'll keep coming back! You encouraged him by acknowledging him! He'll come back, and ask you again, and you'll give in!"
"Mr. T, why does it matter to you what I say to the man?"
He clenched his fists, "It doesn't. I just don't want you to be taken advantage of."
She tilted her head to the side slightly, her eyebrows knitting together. "I wouldn't 'ave said yes to 'im anyways, Mr. T. An' if I did, I wouldn't let myself get taken advantage o'. No man's gon'na treat me like tha'."
He walked a step closer to her, "Why do you let me push you around all the time, then?"
Nellie looked up at him, at a loss for words. She knew it was true, she never complained about the way he just expected her to do things for him, she just did them. If he needed anything, she was right there. God knows she would satisfy his needs if he wanted her to.
"You're different, Mr. T. S'not the same."
"How isn't it, Mrs. Lovett?"
She looked away, blushing. She could feel him looking at her, wanting an answer. She wanted to tell him, really. She couldn't, though. She didn't want him to react badly. She couldn't risk it.
"It's jus'. . . Different, Mr. Todd. You're different, I feel different for you then for some man off the street. S'not the same t'all. . ."
Sweeney stepped closer to her again, placing his hand on her cheek. "Just don't talk to him, or any other man, again."
He walked over to the case holding his razors, pulling one out gracefully. "Leave me, now."
She nodded, turning away. She sighed, turning her to look at him again. Always staring at his razors, treating them like people. "G'nigh', Mr. T."
--
Eleanor Lovett laid on her side, a tear sliding down her face. He was right; she let him take advantage of her. Not in the sense he had meant, but she would let him take advantage of her that way as well. She couldn't understand what had gotten into him. She didn't know why he reacted the way he had. She didn't know why he pushed her against the wall so roughly, and then moments later tenderly placed his hand upon his skin.
She couldn't understand it one bit. She knew he was complicated, she never doubted that. She just wished she could understand.
AN: Alright, should I make the next chapter be Sweeney's view of this ordeal? I'm thinking about it, because I'd like to write his thoughts on the whole thing. Yet again, I'm not sure if it would be overkill on the topic. Let me know your thoughts, and please review. :) I hope you enjoyed.