title Girl Anachronism

author pinkeop

summary Behold the world's worst accident, I am the Girl Anachronism. ( AU )

authors note Thank you guys for the positive feedback on the first chapter! starry eyed It gave me the want to go on with the story, and I am starting to like it so far.

So, without further ado, here is chapter two. I'm leaning on naming each chapter after a song of the soundtrack, but if that's not going too good for me the names will begin to vary to whatever song I'm listening to at that time. Yeah.

Oh, and I've had a few questions asked- no, the lyrics at the beginning of chapter one weren't written by me. All the lyrics at the beginning of each chapter will belong to the Dresden Dolls ( or maybe Belle & Sebastian if I'm in the mood for it ).

NOW without ANY further ado, enter chapter two!

Love!

Pink Elephants on Parade

--

chapter two No Place Like London

When Ana's eyes fluttered open she was met with a bright light. She groaned, raising her hand to her head, running her fingers through her hair, discovering the tangles were matted and fanned out around her head like a firey halo. Her eyes fluttered open again, running the heel of her palm against her eyes. Her head no longer pounded, but her body still ached slightly. Pulling her hands away from her face, she allowed her eyes to adjust to the light. She made to sit up, but her body became disoriented. Ana settled for gazing around the room. She lay on a bed low to the ground, against a wall left of the door that granted entrance to the square room. A long, thin window was opposite the door, opened a bit to allow a cool morning breeze into the room. Every inch of spare space was grammed with bookshelves, mantles and desks, decorated with picture frames and knicknacks. Everything looked so oddly out of place to her, or maybe she felt out of place. Ana finally managed to sit up- a loud yelp escaping her when she discovered that under the blankets she was bare as the day she was born.

When the door creaked open, Ana pulled the blankets up around her collerbone. A woman stepped into the room, carrying a tray against one hip. The smell of gravy hit her nostrils, and her dry mouth began to water. The woman was very pale, her eyes sunken with hollow bruises around both eyes, deep and purple. A pile of broken, auburn curls were twisted and pinned into place ontop o fher head, a few falling and brushing the exposed skin of her throat, the pale flesh bare all the way to the swell of her breasts, where the coller of her dress began. It was a very old-looking attire, lace and heavy material layered ontop of each other. But the woman, upon sseeing her awake, gave the warmest, most gentle look she'd ever seen on a face.

"Good! Yeh up! Gave me a fright there, love. Thought the was never gonna open yeh eyes." The woman grooned, setting the tray of food down on a desk. "Lemme see 'ere, did yeh fever break?" A hand was pressed lightly to Ana's forehead and the girl opened and closed her dry mouth uselessly. "It's down all right! That's a girl. Would yeh like a spot of breakfest, love?"

Ana swallowed and pulled her brows together in confusion. "Where am I? Who are you?"

The woman's look was warmly sympathetic. "The can call me Nellie, dear. I run the shop out front. An' me tenant, well... 'e has his own little business upstairs..." A soft sigh, almst longing was directed towards the ceiling.

"What... why..." Ana ground her palms into her eyes. "I don't understand what happened."

"Well, love... Mr. T an' I was coming up from the bake house an' I heard yeh moanin' like a dyin' animal. Lain out in me alleyway, yeh was, had to have been there for a few hours, yeh was soaked to the bone. Almost caught yeh death out there." Nellie brought the tray over and placed it warmly on the covers. "Yeh clothes is dry, love, but... curious attire you 'as there. What yeh doing wearin' trousers like that, love?"

Ana used one hand to dig into the plate of steaming food, the other holding her blanket up over her breasts. "Everybody wears them, lady," Ana answered simply. Nellie gave a curious look.

"Ah... well... no matter. With enough laces, I think you might fit into one of me dresses," the kind woman said thoughtfully.

Ana watched quietly as she went to an open closet door. "Where yeh live, love? What were you doing here all by yehself? There are demons prowling everywhere. Pretty girl like you might want an escort from now on..."

"I live with my mu--- ... my aunt." Ana frowned, pushing the tray away. "On Fleet Street."

Nellie chuckled and Ana felt slight relief wash over her. "Goodness, deary. An' 'ear I was thinkin' you far from home. When you're better, I'll 'ave Mr. Todd escort you home. This little shop 'ere is on Fleet street."

Ana glanced upwards. "Mr. Todd?"

Nellie was also looking upwards, a fond and soft smile on her lips. "Aye, love. 'E's a cold one, my Mr. Todd. But 'e's good to me."

"Is he your husband?" Ana asked as Nellie lay a dress out on the bed. Her skin prickled. Something was off. Something was very off.

"Oh, goodness, no," Nellie crooned, dropping a corset on the bed. "He's... he's just my tenant... Ol' friend. Good friend."

Ana sat straighter, her heart pounding.

"What're you pullin' them out for?" Ana asked frantically. "I'll just put my jeans on, really..." Her brows furrowed as she fingered the thick material of the dress and the hard shell of the corset. "Why would you wear this?"

Nellie looked at her with wide, curious eyes. "I may be nothing but a windowed baker but even I'm above wearing a begger's dress! Would you like me to help you up with it, love?"

"What're you harping about?" Ana demanded, throwing back the covers. She ignored the burning blus in her own cheeks at the concious awareness of her nakedness. "Where am I?!"

"Calm yehself, child," Nellie soothed, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, fititng into the bruises that her mother's hard fingers had left. She eased her to sit back on the bed. "Let's start from the beginning, love. What's yeh name, now?"

Ana swallowed thickly, staring at her bare knees as she let Nellie wrap her in a quilt. "Ana... Landon. Analise Landon."

"Alright, Miss Landon," Nellied soothed. "How'd yeh get in me alley? I see yeh bruises... did yeh get attacked, love?"

Ana thought hard. No, she hadn't. Had she? No. She had been upstairs. The book. The razors chased in silver. Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd... Aunt Helen's fake laughter.

"No... I was in my room... I found this book under a floor board... because I broke it... I'd just got there... I was so tried, and my throat was so tight..."

Nellie looked upon her with sympathy.

"I just closed my eyes a moment. And then everything was dark." Ana pulled the quilt closer.

"why don't you let me help you on with yeh dress, love. I'll make you a pie and I'll 'ave Mr. Todd escort you home." Nellie said. Ana shook her head vigirously, but soon found herself allowing the kind woman to help her on with the corset bodice. When she began clipping the pins in place, Ana sucked in her breath.

"I can scaresly breath!" She complained gaspingly.

Nellie laughed in quiet shakes. "You act like you've never worn one of these before!" When Ana said nothing, Nellie looked around her with a curious expression. "Goodness, child. Where are you from?"

Ana said nothing. Her brows furrowed into the middle of her forehead. Nellie patted her sides when the corset was snapped and laced and quietly helped Ana on with the dress. It was slightly too long for her legs and brushed against the ground, the sleeves cut off before the shoulders, dipping low on the cleavage she was suddenly sporting. It was made of heavy material, blacks and dark burgundies, and some lace along the sleeves.

"You look beautiful, love," Nellie said with a soft smile, her eyes warm as she looked over Ana. The younger felt her cheeks warm as she smoothed her hands along the mid section of the dress. She couldn't breath!

"M'am... Nellie..." Ana said softly. "Please, you have to listen to me... This is wrong, all wrong. I... this is..." She pulled at her hair, the tresses tangled and messy. "I was just upstairs...And..."

"I know, love," Nellie said soothingly, wrapping one arm around Ana's shoulders, pulling open the door. "Come on, I'll give yeh a fruit pie and then we'll see what Mr. Todd is up to."

Outside the bedroom was a parlor. A couch was infront of a dying fireplace, and a piano pressed against one wall. It was a small little room, with just enought space to fit a work desk and a chaise lounge opposite the couch. Just like the bedroom, knicknacks and picture frames crowded every bit of spare space. Ana even thought she saw a bottle labeled gin but paid it no mind.

When Ana rounded the corner of the parlor, her heart stopped in her throat. Older, perhaps, dirtier, darker, more dusty... but it was, without a doubt, the same kitchen- or now was it a shop? Ana's hand reached out to grab the door frame and her breath came in short gasps. She felt light headed all of a sudden.

"No!" she gasped. "No, no way! This can't be happening!"

"Whatsamatt'a, love?" Nellie gasped, reaching out one hand. Ana stormed through the kitchen- or was it still a shop? -and moved in awkward, jerking circles. Her hands clawed at her face and hair, dragging down her throat, discontented noises escaping her vocals.

"Miss Landon!" Nellie gasped as the girl threw open the shop door and stumbled out into the morning foot traffic. A few passersby glanced her way, but other than that she was ignored. The sky was shadowed with clouds, the streets dirty. It all looked so different, so dark. Instead of the smooth pavement, cobble stones paved the road and coaches drawn by horses pulled through the street. Everyone was dressed in about the same fashion. Women in dresses and corsets, men in vests and slacks and jackets. Ana paced into the street, forcing a couple to move around her, and spun in a full circle.

Her breaths came in quick gasps as hyperventalation set in.

"Come inside, deary!" Nellie crooned. Ana looked up at the building as the lady wrapped an arm around her shoulder and man handled her back into the shop. Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pie Shoppe.

"Now what's gotten into you, love?" She asked as she forced Ana down onto one of the booths. Ana placed her hands on her face. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. It was all impossible.

"This is my aunts home!" She said weakly. "I came here... with my mother. She was leaving me here." At least she thought so.. No! She had been! She had the sharp bruises on her shoulders to prove it. "This is all wrong..." Ana looked up at Nellie with a desperate glance. "The date. Today, what is today?"

Nellie looked almost frightened of her, moved back to place the counter between her and Ana. Finally, after counting on her fingers, she said, "May 16th, love."

"The year!" Ana shouted in desperation.

"Eigthteen-fourty-six!" Nellie squeaked.

Ana felt a crushing weight on her shoulders and her hands dropped between her knees, cradled in the skirt of the dress. Her head felt light and she looked upon Nellie with wide, blank eyes. The world spun and nothing made any sense. Up was down, left was right, and boy bands actually sang. Or, weren't in existance. She tried to find her footing, but her mind was entirely disoriented and she pressed her hand against the side of her head, shaking it vigirously.

"That can't be right!" Ana moaned. "No, no, that's not right. It's wrong, all wrong!"

The woman moved around the counter, towards Ana, and placed a warm hand on the back of her head, pulling it against her stomach, stroking the girls hair. "Now, now," Nellie said softly. "You 'ad a harsh fever, love. Tossed and turned in fits for two whole days before yeh came out of it. Silly stories is all you be thinkin' of."

Ana closed her eyes, the woman's mid section warm and her mesh-gloved hands soothing as they stroked through her messy hair. "What say you," Nellie said softly, with slight enthusiasm. "That you stay 'ere, with me? Where I can watch over yeh until yeh mum or aunt comes lookin for yeh?"

Ana's brows slammed together. They wouldn't be coming. Impossibly, they wouldn't be coming. She felt a silent sob shake her body. She looked up at her.

"I want to go home," she whimpered softly. "I want my mum. I don't know where she is. I don't know where I am. Nothing makes sense. I just want to go home..."

"Shh," Nellie murmured, stroking the girl's hair. "Easy now, hush love hush, don't distress yourself too much..."

Ana found herself clutching onto the older woman's dress. She never wore dresses in her life! Always ripped jeans, but now here it wasn't like lady to wear such things. "Easy now..." Nellie sang quietly. "Now.. 'ow about that fruit pie?"

Ana's smile was weak and watery, but she nodded and released the woman, letting her move about the shop, around the counter, moving things as she went. Her head snapped upwards at the sound of loud foot steps, then the slamming of a door. Her heart thundered in time with the sound of heavy foot steps on the stairs outside the shop- still there? -and around the corner of the shop entered a man she could only assume was Mr. Todd.

The man towered over her, his cool gaze instantly zeroing in on her still shaking frame. His eyes were like black coals with deep, sleepless bruises creating hollow shadows around them. His brows were thick and slumped in an unpleasent expression covering his sickly-pale face. His hair was wild and raven black, pushed back out of his face in wirey clumps, a curious streak of white sweeping back, reminding her faintly of Captain Ahab from Moby-Dick. Or Aunt Helen and her poorly hidden grey hairs. He wore a brown vest over a white shirt, the sleeves puffy, the way she always saw portrayed in the movies at the theatre, and black pinstrip trousers over thick black boots. A holister was clipped to his belt, holding what she wouldn't know, for the man turned away from her too quickly and Ana ducked her head down to look at her feet, bare toes wriggling against the cold floor of the store.

"Mr. T!" Nellie crooned delightedly at him, sweeping around the counter to wrap one arm awkwardly around his broad arms. "Say 'ello to my new assitant. Hired 'er to 'elp around the shop! Miss Landon, this is my darling barber. Say 'ello, Mr. T."

The man said nothing. Ana looked up at him- he was looking at Nellie with such a tolerant expression, it was almost comical. When she stood, his eyes flickered to her and his cleared his throat, his brows slamming together in the middle of his forehead in an uncertain, doubtful expression.

"Ana," she said. "You can call me Ana."

The man pulled back his lip slightly. "Sweeney. Sweeney Todd. But you will call me Mr. Todd." He shot a discontented look at the baker.

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd...

Ana frowned. "Sweeney Todd." She repeated softly, curiously. The name rang so familiar.

His skin was pale nad his eye was odd...

What was so peculiar about that name?

He shaved the faces of gentleman...

Ana wheeled back and nodded softly. "Mr. Todd," she repeated.

Who never thereafter were heard of again.

"What did ya need from me, love?" Nellie questioned, patting one hand lovingly on Mr. Todd's chest before turning away quickly and busing herself with flour and dough and a big, thick, dangerous looking rolling pin.

Mr. Todd looked between Ana and Nellie, before turning away. "Bring me up some gin," he said quietly. "And then see to it I am to remained undisturbed."

With that he was gone, the door above slamming with a renewed vigor.

Nellie smiled sweetly at Ana. "He's got 'is moods, but 'e's the only company some days." The woman laughed softly and then her smile brightened ten watt. "Well, not anymore. I got you 'ere, Ana. I'll 'ave someone to talk to at nights. Won't get so lonely."

Ana tried to smile back, but she could only manage a small grimmace. She felt the need to cry, but the look on Nellie's face was so warm and happy that she couldn't bear to ruin it with her pitiful tears. Quietly, she weighed the pros against the cons. The biggest con was that she was in some different time period, some different world than she was entirely used to, and mere thought of hand-washing things she hadn't had washed since she was two and her parents couldn't afford all the luxuries made her skin crawl. She was alone, with her mother, her aunt, her father. In this strange time, this strange place. She knew no one but the dangerous looking barber upstairs and the kind faced baker. Her family was gone. Her belongings were gone. All she had were her beater and jeans. She felt completely alone and it was crushing, like a weight on her chest. The pro, was that this woman, so warm, so loving, was like her own little ray of sunshine. Her personal sunshine. She almost even cancled out the eerie feeling that Ana got at the thought of the barber up stairs.

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd... He served a dark and vengeful god...