Author's Note: I wish I could say this isn't going to happen again but truth is, it probably will. I have however (hopefully) made up for the long wait by making this chapter extra long. Ten pages in word and 4000+ words ^.^
For those that like an explanation: I've just started my first year of college (survived my first week), one of my best friends is moving to Minnesota for her college of choice this Thursday, and a lot of things have been really hectic trying to figure out books, equiptment, financial aid and all that jazz. Again, I'm really sorry *sheepish grin*
Thank Yous!!! go to: -my-forgotten-rose- , Midna Hytwilian , BeBopALula , linalove , bittersweetxsymphony , SomeOtherPerson , and DnCnChIcK369
Uber thanks to: ThePurpleness who reminded me it's been a while and I better get my butt crackin on another chapter ;) luv yaz!
bold - sweeney
italics - judge turpin
italics underlined - nellie lovett
underlined - linnet
People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.
~ Will Rogers
For a brief moment, they stood as they were; embraced within each other, and admiring the warmth and familiarity that the other unknowingly offered. Linnet closed her eyes and breathed deeply out of instinct, being wrapped in this strong man's arms but found herself swallowing thickly as the raw odor of fresh blood met her nostrils. Sweeney, noticing her stiffen slightly, suddenly realized the arm that had been splattered with Pirelli's blood was slightly too close to her face for comfort, and from some small resurfacing memory, remembered that Linnet had always been slightly squeamish when it came to matters of gore.
He chuckled slightly as understanding swept through him before slowly lowering his arms and taking a step back, just in time for Mrs. Lovett to burst through the door saying, "That lad is drinking me out of house and home."
"Why do you care? You stole it from me." Linnet muttered under her breath causing Sweeney, still within hearing range, to cough slightly into his hand in attempts to cover his smile.
"What was that?" Mrs. Lovett asked innocently.
"Nothing Nellie." Linnet replied smirking.
"Well how long till Pirelli gets back?" She asked looking about as if he were hiding somewhere in the wide open room.
"He won't be back." Sweeney replied finally coming into full view of Mrs. Lovett and thus showing his bloodied sleeve as he cleaned his blade.
"Mr. T you didn't." She gasped, when her only reply was a look towards the chest by the wall, she cautiously made her way over gasping in horror as she opened the lid and observed the gruesome sight within. Immediately she slammed the lid back down and inhaled deeply through the mouth, "You're barking mad! Killing a man what done you no harm." She exclaimed.
"He recognized me from the old days, tried to blackmail me. Half me earnings." Sweeney's voice replied in a hollow tone as he looked at the blade that had just murdered a man in cold blood; as he checked for remaining blood spots, he gazed at his own reflection. His mind slipped away to a far away place where Benjamin Barker cowered in a corner at the act Sweeney had just committed. It was so unlike Benjamin that Sweeney seemed to smirk. Surely this was proof that Benjamin was, if not dead, mortally wounded and unable to return.
"Oh." Mrs. Lovett clipped, grasping the concept more easily now that a proper explanation was available, "Well, it's a different matter then. For a moment there, I though you lost your marbles." She sighed with relief as she opened the lid to the trunk once more.
Linnet shuddered at the ease of which the darker two individuals had accepted this gruesome event. Perhaps she were wrong about Sweeney, perhaps this was a brand new start to his life and her old friend really was gone for good.
She shook her head at the thought, she wouldn't, couldn't, believe that. For if there were no one left to believe in Benjamin Barker, he would truly be lost forever.
"All that blood." Lovett continued, "Poor bugger. Oh well." She shrugged before reaching into the temporary tomb and pulling out Pirelli's purse, checking the contents, "Well, waste not want not." She pocketed the purse within her corset and turned back to Sweeney with a look of contempt on her face, "So, what are we gonna do about the boy then?" She asked.
Linnet's lips twitched into the smallest resemblance of a smile as she looked at Nellie Lovett, though her face seemed to be devoid of emotion on the subject, Linnet could tell that she had already developed a bit of a liking to the boy. No matter how brazen he may be.
"Send him up." Sweeney all but whispered, still making it look as if he were checking his blade for blood.
Linnet gaped at him, killing Pirelli was one thing, the man deserved it after all, but an innocent child? Surely he couldn't be that cruel, even if he believed Benjamin to be gone! Linnet's eyes widened a split moment later at her revelation. That was it!
He wasn't just killing the boy for nothing, he was trying to rid himself of what he knew was still there. By murdering an innocent, something Benjamin wouldn't even be able to process in his most horrid nightmares, he was attempting to rid himself, no; he was attempting to rid her of the memory of Benjamin Barker.
"Oh we don't need to worry about him, he's a simple thing." Lovett replied quickly, the first traces of fear showing on her face.
"Send him up!" Sweeney demanded once more.
"Sweeney." Linnet interrupted before she could find out if Nellie was strong enough to stand up to the man she was so infatuate for. He complied with her hands as they forced his shoulders to turn towards her, "Sweeney please, leave the boy be. He won't be any harm, surely one life's enough for today." Sweeney looked at her and seemed to contemplate her words.
"And I was thinking of hiring the poor lad to work for me shop." Lovett interjected, "My poor knees aren't what they used to be you know." She pouted her lips and looked at him pathetically.
"All right." Sweeney mumbled before walking to the window. Linnet sighed in relief and Nellie smirked at her handiwork.
"Course we'll have to stock up on the gin. Boy drinks like a sailor." Lovett mused before she and Linnet noted that Sweeney's face seemed to contort in shock.
"The judge." He gasped. Lovett's face turned from a wistful daze to a surprised gape as Linnet rushed to stand beside him at the window and gazed at the man who ruined his life. "Get out." Sweeney whispered. Linnet turned to see him looking at Nellie and so remained where she were. "Get out!" He said more forcefully, snapping Mrs. Lovett out of her daze and leaving her to scurry out the door with a fleeting glare at Linnet who still stood by the window.
"Sweeney your arm." She said hurriedly as she rushed to get his overcoat.
He looked at his blood stained sleeve and shoved his ams into the coat that Linnet held open before he turned and rushed her to the inside door leading downstairs. "Do not let yourself be seen by either of them." He hurriedly muttered. She nodded and closed the door behind her just as Judge Turpin entered.
"Mr. Todd?" Turpin's voice purred with arrogance.
"At your service." Sweeney smiled with mock delight. The judge was none the wiser, "An honor to receive your patronage, me lord."
"You know me?" His voice was deeply confused.
"Who in this wide world does not know the great Judge Turpin?" Sweeney countered.
"Who was that?" Turpin nodded towards the door he had seen close.
"My assistant, fairly new to the place. Had a need for the privy so I showed the way." He replied, careful not to reveal that his 'assistant' was female.
"Hmm, these premises are hardly prepossessing and yet the Beadle tells me your the most accomplished of all the barbers in the city." Turpin walked the perimeter of the shop, observing and taking in all that it lacked with skepticism.
Sweeney smirked before turning to face the judge with the same innocent smile carefully placed on his face, "That is gracious of him. What may I do for you today, sir?" Sweeney moved closer, moving his hands up to the man's neck whose back was so foolishly turned to him. For a moment he envisioned strangling the man and enjoying watching the light slip from the eyes of the man as he struggled beneath him. He quickly removed those thoughts, however as he realized it would be much more painful to Turpin, and much more enjoyable to him, if he were to wait. And take his revenge with his friend in hand. He removed Turpin's coat instead.
"A stylish trimming of the hair?" He continued with ease, as if the man's death was not on his mind at this very moment, "Soothing skin massage?" He motioned to the chair, "Sit, sir, sit."
Turpin seemed to move towards the chair before turning back to Sweeney and explaining the situation, seemingly ignoring Sweeney's vehement glare, "You see sir a man infatuate with love,
her ardent and eager slave
So fetch the pomade and pumice stone,
and lend me a more seductive tone,
a sprinkling perhaps of French cologne,
but first sir I think,
a shave."
"The closest I ever gave." Sweeney muttered, glaring at the clueless man before whistling along with the tune of his song.
"You're in a merry mood today Mr. Todd."
"Tis your delight sir catching fire!
From one man to the next!"
"Tis true, sir love can still inspire
The blood to pound,
the heart leap higher
What more-can man require
What more can man require
Than love sir?
More than love sir.
What sir?
Women.
Ah yes women."
Pretty women."
The two men continued whistling and humming with the merry and joyful melody. Judge Turpin, completely ignorant of the going ons in the mind of the barber. Sweeney, caressing his blade, his friend.
"Pretty little rosebud." Turpin commented on his intended.
"Pretty as her mother?" Sweeney spat.
"What was that?"
"Nothing sir, nothing." Sweeney continued easily, "May we proceed?" His mind slipped into thoughts of Lucy, his beloved-no. Benjamin's beloved wife. "Pretty women." He sang. The judge joined his song and together, they dreamed of the women in their lives, the ones who remained, the ones who had left. "Proof of heaven as their living." Sweeney though of Linnet. The only prayer he had ever had answered. His dear friend, perhaps something more than, was alive and, for the most part, well. She remained with him. Just as she promised she always would. He would help her seek her long awaited revenge, once he took this last swipe across this vile man's flesh. One more, and it was all over.
He inched closer, "Pretty women! Sir! Pretty women! Yes! Pretty women!"
"Mr. Todd! I've seen Johanna and she said she'd leave with me-tonight." Antony burst into the room and stalled when he saw who indeed was sitting in the barber's chair. Blasted boy! Thought Sweeney as he saw the look of rage cross Turpin's face.
"You." Turpin spat. Though Sweeney's mind was awash with rage at being disrupted, he did manage to recognize a faint glimmer of worry cross his mind, what had the boy gotten himself into and what would his mother do? "There is indeed a higher power to warn me thus in time." Turpin continued, "Johanna? Elope with you? I'll make sure that you nor any other man shall ever set eyes on her again." Sweeney's mind recoiled in shock. His daughter. His little girl, his angel, lost to him forever?
"As for you barber, it's all too clear the kind of company you keep, service them well and hold hold their custom for you'll have none of mine." As he gathered his belongings, he stormed out the door slamming it shut and bringing the point down hard. Sweeney realized it would be harder than he thought to end the judge. How would he exact his revenge and get his daughter back?
"Mr. Todd you have to help me." The boy was not helping his thoughts at all for it took all he had within him not to strangle the lad in frustration.
"Out." He whispered. Somehow, he didn't think Linnet would appreciate her son being asphyxiated.
"Mr. Todd, please." Antony continued.
"Out." He tried again. Damn boy do you not realize what you've done?
"Mr. Todd!"
"OUT!" He screamed, if the sailor wasn't removed from his sight this instant he would do something he knew he wouldn't live to regret. Linnet may have been smaller than him and frail in comparison, but should her son be threatened by anything, well; Lord have mercy.
Antony finally had the sense of mind to listen and scurried out the door. Mrs. Lovett and Linnet both rushed up the stairs as they heard the yelling and passed a furious judge, who luckily was much too lost to his own enraged thoughts to pay attention to those he passed, and a frightened Antony along the way.
"Antony darling what's happened?" Linnet asked once she was sure the judge was too far to listen.
"Mr. Todd is furious, I barged in on him with Judge Turpin. Turpin mentioned stealing Johanna away and left and Todd let loose! Mum what's going on? Why is Mr. Todd hell bent on Turpin and Johanna?"
"Oh sweetheart I curse the day you gained my sense of perception." She muttered as she patted his cheek and head to assure herself he was fine and Sweeney had not raised his hand against her son. "All will be revealed in time is all I can tell you love." She told him as she pulled him into a quick hug, "Now run along and find out where Turpin's hiding Johanna. I have a feeling Sweeney's going to need some placating."
She gave Antony a small push and then rushed up the stairs in time to hear and see that Sweeney indeed had lost himself in a furious frenzy of raw emotion.
"No, we all deserve to die!
Even you, Mrs. Lovett even I!" Linnet saw him push Nellie against the wall and held her by her throat.
"Because the lives of the wicked should be
made brief
for the rest of us death will be a relief
We all deserve to die!" He had thrown her into the chair and pushed the razor as close to her neck as possible before moving his gaze up to the horror stricken face of Linnet, "And I'll never, see Johanna
No I'll never
hug my girl to me.
Finished!"
Linnet's face dropped in sympathy as she saw he had truly lost himself. She knew that approaching him now was futile. She would have to wait until he had exhausted himself and, if she were being completely honest with herself, she was feeling slightly warmer at watching him. Hearing his rough voice singing in such fury.
She couldn't bring herself to fear him, however.
Though she knew that at this moment, anything was possible and he could have killed either her or Nellie without a second thought, she had faith that he would snap himself out of it if he got that far.
"And my Lucy, lies in ashes!
And I'll never, see my girl again
But the work waits!
I'm alive at last
and I'm full of joy!"
Linnet's heart seemed to stutter in it's beating as she heard the anguish in his voice when referring to her late friend. Though she was slightly confused at his use of the word 'my'. Was Sweeney learning to accept that Benjamin is still a part of him? She thought.
"That's all very well but what are we gonna do about him?" Mrs. Lovett asked motioning to the trunk with the flick of her head.
Sweeney said nothing but lowered his hands. Linnet came closer to him and peered into his vacant eyes.
"Hello?" Lovett asked, moving slightly closer as well, "Do you hear me?" When she received no reply she scoffed in her frustration and left the shop, leaving it to Linnet to return him to what she thought as normal.
"Sweeney?" She held her steady, compassionate gaze against his worn out and slightly confused one, "Benjamin?" She asked tentatively.
"Nets?" He asked, his voice scratched as he had spent the better half of an hour yelling and his lips were pouting like a small child. It was the first real sign she had received that Benjamin was still alive, and not just a memory, he was speaking to her at this moment. She reached forward slowly, so as not to startle him and pulled him into a fierce hug.
"I knew you weren't gone." She whispered.
"Who's gone?"
"What?" She asked as she pulled back and realized his brief moment of vulnerability was gone. Sweeney was back. "Oh nothing dear. Let's get downstairs shall we?"
"Yes." He murmured in a daze, "Let's." Though he remained kneeling where he were.
"Come on then." Linnet huffed as she placed her arms under his and helped him up. He leaned on her heavily before she sat him down at the table downstairs.
When Mrs. Lovett noticed them coming down the stairs, she brought out the gin and a glass. "There. Drink it down." She muttered to him.
The promise of alcohol seemed to shake him out of his stupor as he picked up the glass and took a gulp.
"Now. We've got a body moldering away upstairs. Now, what do you intend we should do about that then?"
"Later on when it's dark. We'll take it out to some secret place and bury it." He said contemplatively.
"Oh yeah, course we could do that. Don't suppose he's got any relatives that's gonna come poking around looking for him."
"Obviously or he wouldn't be reduced to a pathetic street monger trying to pass off piss as something miraculous." Linnet chuckled. Sweeney let out one nasal breath as he smirked.
Nellie was looking out the window and watching the people mull about. From the corner of her eye, a stray cat ran by and an idea struck, "Seems a downright shame." She sang.
"Shame?" Linnet asked at the same time as Sweeney.
"Seems an awful waste.
Such a nice plump frame,
what's his name has
Had? Has?
Nor it can't be traced
Business needs a lift
Debts to be erased
Think of it as thrift
as a gift
If you get my drift
Seems an awful waste
I mean
With the price of meat, what it is
When you get it,
if you get it"
"Ah." Sweeney smirked as he caught on and Linnet gaped at both of them.
"If you're implying what think you're implying then-"
"Good you got it
Take for instance Mrs. Mooney and her pie shop!
Business never better using only pussy cats and toast
Now a pussy's good for maybe six or seven at the most
and I'm sure they can't compare as far as taste!"
"Mrs. Lovett, what a charming notion
eminently practical and yet appropriate as always
Mrs. Lovett, how I've lived without you all these years I'll never know!"
At this point, Sweeney smiled and picked her up into a waltz around the room. Linnet sat at the table, gaping. The world's gone mad. She thought.
"Think about it,
How delectable
Lot's of other gentlemen'll soon be coming for a shave
Also undetectable!
Won't they?
Think of
How choice
all them
How rare
pies!"
"For what's the sound of the world out there."
"What Mr. Todd, what Mr. Todd, what is that sound?"
"Those crunching noises pervading the air!"
"Yes Mr. Todd, Yes Mr. Todd, yes all around!"
"It's man devouring man, my dear; and
who are we to deny it in here!"
"Have you two lost your bloody minds?" Linnet screeched, "Surely you're only joking! This can't be real!"
"These are desperate time, Netty; desperate measures are called for." Sweeney replied.
"Here we are," Mrs. Lovett continued as if Linnet had said nothing, finally she was getting her moment of praise, "hot out of the oven."
"What is that?" Sweeney asked curiously.
"It's priest, have a little priest."
"Is it really good?"
"Sir it's too good, at least.
Then again they don't commit sins of the flesh,
so it's pretty fresh."
"Awful lot of fat."
"Only where it sat."
"Haven't you got poet, or something like that?"
"No you see the trouble with poet is how do you know it's deceased?
Try the priest."
"Oh and I suppose the two of you think you're so smart don't you? Ha ha, jokes on them, now can we please change the subject?"
"Lawyer's rather nice." Lovett continued.
"If it's for a price."
"Order something else though to follow
since no one should swallow it twice."
"Anything that's lean?"
"Well then if your British and loyal
you might enjoy royal marine
Anyway it's clean
though of course it tastes of wherever it's been!"
"Is that squire, on the fire."
"Mercy, no sir look closer
You'll notice, it's grocer!"
"Looks thicker, more like vicar!"
"No, it has to be grocer, it's green!"
"Honestly! It's one thing for Sweeney to need his revenge, another I suppose to kill Pirelli at least those can be justified! Well to some extent I suppose; but the mass killings of innocent lives! These people have family's and loved ones! You can't take that from them! Not everyone deserves death Sweeney!" She screamed.
Sweeney turned to her at this and picked her up into the same waltz he had had Mrs. Lovett in earlier, "The history of the world, my love."
"Save a lot of graves do a lot of relatives favors." Mrs. Lovett interjected.
"Is those below serving those up above."
"Everybody shaves, so there should be plenty of flavors." Lovett said more to herself this time.
"How gratifying, for once to know;
that those above will serve those down below!" They finished together and Sweeney, sensing Linnet still too tense to see his reasoning, began rubbing his hand soothingly up and down her back, manipulating her into his reality. He took her to the window and gave her a nudge, "What is that?"
Linnet hesitated a moment too long as Nellie found it to speak up, "It's fop,
finest in the shop
Or we have some shepherd's pie peppered with actual shepherd on top
and I've just begun
Here's the politician so oily,
it's served with a doily, have one."
"Put it on a bun." Sweeney smirked at Linnet as she understood his pun,
"For you never know if it's going to run!" She sang.
"Try the friar! Fried it's drier!"
"No! The clergy is really too course and too mealy!"
"Then actor, that's compactor!"
"Yes, but always arrives over done." Linnet added as Sweeney picked up a meat cleaver.
"We'll come again when you have judge on the menu." Sweeney told Lovett as he swept Linnet into a waltz one more holding the meat cleaver as his weapon of execution.
"Have charity towards the world, my pet."
"Yes, yes I know, my love." Linnet answered him as they moved towards the window, looking out.
"We'll take the customers that we can get!"
"High born and low, my love."
"We'll not discriminate great from small.
No we'll serve anyone,
meaning anyone
and to anyone! At all!"
On the final few notes, they had swept once more into a never ending waltz. Sweeney smiled as he gazed at her and moved to twirl her, forgetting the cleaver still in his hand. As Linnet began to spin out she stopped abruptly and gasped at the slightest knick of the blade against the base of her neck. Blood began beading before trickling down and Sweeney stood, seemingly hypnotized by the precious rubies making their way down the front of her body, into her dress, and teasingly hidden from sight.
It was only when Linnet's trembling hand moved up to inspect the damage, thereby obstructing his view, did he shake himself from his stupor and realize what he had, unintentionally, done.
"Upstairs." He muttered, dropping the cleaver and taking her by her waste, moving her out the door. Neither of them noticed Mrs. Lovett standing behind the counter, glowering at the woman who dared interfere with her quest for Sweeney Todd.
She had once lost the man she adored to Lucy, she had no intention of losing to Linnet.
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