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Fanfic 100 - 050, Spade
Title: Moon on a String - part four
Fandom: Sweeney Todd
Characters: Benjamin Barker, Mrs. Lovett, Lucy, mention of the Judge and Johanna
Prompt: 050, Spade
Word Count: 1391
Rating: G
Summary: Benjamin returns to London to find the world on its head.
Author's Notes: Sorry for the long delay in finishing this piece - I had a version of part four finished when I posted part three, and then I wasn't satisfied, so I kept re-writing it. I'm still not sure I'm satisfied, but I'm more satisfied. Also, as regards the prompt, it's in reference to calling a spade a spade. I realize that, from reading it, this may be a bit obtuse, but it did make sense to me.
It was eerie, how the pie shop had stayed the same. Mrs. Lovett bustled among her customers, making sure everyone was well fed and watered. She had almost been hesitant to serve him, until he had proved he had enough money to pay for his board, and then she was all smiles. It was clear that she didn’t remember him.
It seemed that an artist was renting the studio above, as there was a large advertisement for portrait wok in the upper window. The man calling himself Sweeney Todd tilted his head up, as if he could see through the floors into the apartment he knew so very well. No one was moving, but knowing artists, he was probably asleep. After all, it was barely noon. He shook his head and took another swig of watery ale. His pie was a bit scanty on the meat, but after months of nothing but hardtack, it seemed almost extravagant.
As the customers began to depart, Todd lingered, nursing his drink. Mrs. Lovett noticed him, and as the shop began to empty, she took a seat opposite. “Enjoy your pie, love?”
“Fine.” He took another drink. After a moment, he said, “Business is going well, I see.”
“Well enough, well enough.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Prices are bad these days, but I’ve held on to enough customers who come in regular-like to make do. We do as we can, don’t we?” Todd grunted in assent. Lovett raised an eyebrow. “New to Fleet Street, love?”
“It’s been…a great deal of time.” Todd paused, considering what to say next. “What became of the family. The ones who used to live upstairs?”
“What, the Barkers? Lord, you have been gone. None of them around here for ages. The barber, Benjamin Barker his name was, was transported for life, nigh on fifteen years ago. Beautiful man, he was too…such a shame.”
“What was his crime?”
“Foolishness.” Lovett shrugged, leaning her elbows on the table. “Had the prettiest little wife you ever did see, but they were both married to virtue, those two, man and girl. This was back when Judge Turpin was still wild, you know, and he and his Beadle creeped up and down with never so much as a ‘by your leave.’ But she’d have none of it, she wouldn’t, so they shipped him off South, and her all alone with the baby.”
When it became clear Mrs. Lovett wouldn’t continue without a bit of prodding, Barker asked “And after he’d gone?”
The woman gave him a probing, intent look as she said, “One for a good story, ain’t you? Tch, she was as big a fool as he was, but luckier. Went to a party the Judge was having, and if you lived about here once, you know what kind of parties those sort threw. Upon my soul, if they weren’t a disgrace to a disgraceful neighborhood. The Judge nearly had his way with her too, but she managed to escape. Near thing it was, and she was beside herself as she came back here. Didn’t half know where to turn, poor thing.”
She got up. “More ale?”
He scowled at her. “Then what, woman?”
“No need to be gettin’ so ‘igh and mighty, love. Everyone knows what ‘appened next. The Judge reformed. Swore off the bottle, swore off women. Turned over a new leaf, he did, right proper, and it was all the pretty little thing’s doing. Finally asked her to marry him about a year ago. Now the two of them and the girl live up in Tierney’s Lane.”
As she spoke, Todd could feel all the blood draining from his face. For a moment, the room started to swirl, and he could not place why, until he realized that he had stopped breathing. Forcing himself not to gasp, he inhaled several times, slowly, steadying himself. It was a lie, of course. But it had taken him off guard. To think that his Lucy could ever…
Mrs. Lovett had been watching him carefully for the past minute or so. Finally, she said quietly, “You’re ‘im, ain’t you? Benjamin Barker.”
He stood, angrily, though his voice was cold and indifferent, like the stranger’s it was supposed to me. “Benjamin Barker is dead, Madam. Anyone who tells you differently is a liar.” He left the shop, coat doing nothing to assuage the cold of the city clawing at his bones.
--
Standing in Tierney’s Lane, he gazed up at the terrace facing the street. The window had been flung open, and he could hear laughter from inside. At first, he had been sure it was Lucy’s, but now he realized it couldn’t be. Johanna’s laugh was higher, and more delicate, like he imagined a songbird would laugh if it could. Someone was playing a small organ in the parlour, though he had been gone too many years to recognize the tune.
He knew he made a grim spectre, in his dark, poor attire. Without his equipment, he couldn’t practice his trade, and he knew he would eventually have to find a job of some sort, if only in the plague hospitals, but first he needed to know. To see it, with his own eyes. He was calmer now - he knew Mrs. Lovett would have had no reason to lie. Still... Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the door and knocked.
A plump, red-faced woman answered the door. He could hear the organ and the laughter more clearly, floating down the hall behind her. “Yes, sir?” She looked suspicious at his appearance.
His voice was smooth, but low. “I beg your pardon ma’am, for troubling you. Is this the great Judge Turpin’s house?”
“It is.” Her eyes narrowed. “What do you want with his honor?”
“I just have a message to deliver for his wife. No need for me to come in, if you call her here, ma’am.”
The housekeeper looked relieved to be given an excuse not to let the stranger in. “Very well. Wait there.” She closed the door, retreating into the house. Tood waited, a hollow feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.
And suddenly, the door opened and she was there. She had become slightly plump in the fifteen years since he’d seen her, but her face was startlingly unchanged, hair still golden, eyes still large and blue. It was almost like he’d never left, for one breathless instant.
Except that she was in the wrong house. And that, despite everything that had happened, she managed to look… happy. Content. Perhaps not the girlish giddiness of their young married life, but try as he might, Todd could see no longing or dissatisfaction lingering behind her eyes. She smiled gently and said, “I’m Lucy Turpin. May I help you?”
It took a moment, for his brain to catch up with his mouth. “Yes, ma’am. I… was at Botany Bay. Recently pardoned. But I knew Mr. Benjamin Barker. I believe he was your first husband, ma’am?”
Lucy looked startled, then nodded. To his momentary satisfaction, Todd could see a lingering sorrow take hold of the corner of her lips, as if by habit. Quietly, she said, “Yes, indeed he was. What of it, sir?” Only Lucy would ‘sir’ an ex-convict on her doorstep. Todd was caught between wanting to laugh and wanting to scream.
“He…he asked me to tell you, when I left. That he loved you and Johanna, very much. He thought of nothing but the two of you.”
“Oh. I…” Lucy faltered, for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you. It means a great deal…to hear you say so.” She tilted her head to one side, the way she always did when she couldn’t remember something. “Excuse me, but…don’t I know you, sir?”
Before Todd could answer, the Judge’s voice came from within the house. “My dove, who is it?”
Todd said quietly, “No. Now off with you. I wouldn’t wish to keep you from your husband.”
She hesitated, then said, “Thank you, again. If there’s ever anything you need…”
“Keep your money.” It came out a bit rougher than Todd had intended, but he turned to go. He could feel Lucy’s eyes following him, waves of pity and regret flowing from her golden form in the doorway. Finally, she shut it, and Todd slipped back into the shadows.
Fandom: Sweeney Todd
Characters: Benjamin Barker, Mrs. Lovett, Lucy, mention of the Judge and Johanna
Prompt: 050, Spade
Word Count: 1391
Rating: G
Summary: Benjamin returns to London to find the world on its head.
Author's Notes: Sorry for the long delay in finishing this piece - I had a version of part four finished when I posted part three, and then I wasn't satisfied, so I kept re-writing it. I'm still not sure I'm satisfied, but I'm more satisfied. Also, as regards the prompt, it's in reference to calling a spade a spade. I realize that, from reading it, this may be a bit obtuse, but it did make sense to me.
It was eerie, how the pie shop had stayed the same. Mrs. Lovett bustled among her customers, making sure everyone was well fed and watered. She had almost been hesitant to serve him, until he had proved he had enough money to pay for his board, and then she was all smiles. It was clear that she didn’t remember him.
It seemed that an artist was renting the studio above, as there was a large advertisement for portrait wok in the upper window. The man calling himself Sweeney Todd tilted his head up, as if he could see through the floors into the apartment he knew so very well. No one was moving, but knowing artists, he was probably asleep. After all, it was barely noon. He shook his head and took another swig of watery ale. His pie was a bit scanty on the meat, but after months of nothing but hardtack, it seemed almost extravagant.
As the customers began to depart, Todd lingered, nursing his drink. Mrs. Lovett noticed him, and as the shop began to empty, she took a seat opposite. “Enjoy your pie, love?”
“Fine.” He took another drink. After a moment, he said, “Business is going well, I see.”
“Well enough, well enough.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Prices are bad these days, but I’ve held on to enough customers who come in regular-like to make do. We do as we can, don’t we?” Todd grunted in assent. Lovett raised an eyebrow. “New to Fleet Street, love?”
“It’s been…a great deal of time.” Todd paused, considering what to say next. “What became of the family. The ones who used to live upstairs?”
“What, the Barkers? Lord, you have been gone. None of them around here for ages. The barber, Benjamin Barker his name was, was transported for life, nigh on fifteen years ago. Beautiful man, he was too…such a shame.”
“What was his crime?”
“Foolishness.” Lovett shrugged, leaning her elbows on the table. “Had the prettiest little wife you ever did see, but they were both married to virtue, those two, man and girl. This was back when Judge Turpin was still wild, you know, and he and his Beadle creeped up and down with never so much as a ‘by your leave.’ But she’d have none of it, she wouldn’t, so they shipped him off South, and her all alone with the baby.”
When it became clear Mrs. Lovett wouldn’t continue without a bit of prodding, Barker asked “And after he’d gone?”
The woman gave him a probing, intent look as she said, “One for a good story, ain’t you? Tch, she was as big a fool as he was, but luckier. Went to a party the Judge was having, and if you lived about here once, you know what kind of parties those sort threw. Upon my soul, if they weren’t a disgrace to a disgraceful neighborhood. The Judge nearly had his way with her too, but she managed to escape. Near thing it was, and she was beside herself as she came back here. Didn’t half know where to turn, poor thing.”
She got up. “More ale?”
He scowled at her. “Then what, woman?”
“No need to be gettin’ so ‘igh and mighty, love. Everyone knows what ‘appened next. The Judge reformed. Swore off the bottle, swore off women. Turned over a new leaf, he did, right proper, and it was all the pretty little thing’s doing. Finally asked her to marry him about a year ago. Now the two of them and the girl live up in Tierney’s Lane.”
As she spoke, Todd could feel all the blood draining from his face. For a moment, the room started to swirl, and he could not place why, until he realized that he had stopped breathing. Forcing himself not to gasp, he inhaled several times, slowly, steadying himself. It was a lie, of course. But it had taken him off guard. To think that his Lucy could ever…
Mrs. Lovett had been watching him carefully for the past minute or so. Finally, she said quietly, “You’re ‘im, ain’t you? Benjamin Barker.”
He stood, angrily, though his voice was cold and indifferent, like the stranger’s it was supposed to me. “Benjamin Barker is dead, Madam. Anyone who tells you differently is a liar.” He left the shop, coat doing nothing to assuage the cold of the city clawing at his bones.
--
Standing in Tierney’s Lane, he gazed up at the terrace facing the street. The window had been flung open, and he could hear laughter from inside. At first, he had been sure it was Lucy’s, but now he realized it couldn’t be. Johanna’s laugh was higher, and more delicate, like he imagined a songbird would laugh if it could. Someone was playing a small organ in the parlour, though he had been gone too many years to recognize the tune.
He knew he made a grim spectre, in his dark, poor attire. Without his equipment, he couldn’t practice his trade, and he knew he would eventually have to find a job of some sort, if only in the plague hospitals, but first he needed to know. To see it, with his own eyes. He was calmer now - he knew Mrs. Lovett would have had no reason to lie. Still... Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the door and knocked.
A plump, red-faced woman answered the door. He could hear the organ and the laughter more clearly, floating down the hall behind her. “Yes, sir?” She looked suspicious at his appearance.
His voice was smooth, but low. “I beg your pardon ma’am, for troubling you. Is this the great Judge Turpin’s house?”
“It is.” Her eyes narrowed. “What do you want with his honor?”
“I just have a message to deliver for his wife. No need for me to come in, if you call her here, ma’am.”
The housekeeper looked relieved to be given an excuse not to let the stranger in. “Very well. Wait there.” She closed the door, retreating into the house. Tood waited, a hollow feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.
And suddenly, the door opened and she was there. She had become slightly plump in the fifteen years since he’d seen her, but her face was startlingly unchanged, hair still golden, eyes still large and blue. It was almost like he’d never left, for one breathless instant.
Except that she was in the wrong house. And that, despite everything that had happened, she managed to look… happy. Content. Perhaps not the girlish giddiness of their young married life, but try as he might, Todd could see no longing or dissatisfaction lingering behind her eyes. She smiled gently and said, “I’m Lucy Turpin. May I help you?”
It took a moment, for his brain to catch up with his mouth. “Yes, ma’am. I… was at Botany Bay. Recently pardoned. But I knew Mr. Benjamin Barker. I believe he was your first husband, ma’am?”
Lucy looked startled, then nodded. To his momentary satisfaction, Todd could see a lingering sorrow take hold of the corner of her lips, as if by habit. Quietly, she said, “Yes, indeed he was. What of it, sir?” Only Lucy would ‘sir’ an ex-convict on her doorstep. Todd was caught between wanting to laugh and wanting to scream.
“He…he asked me to tell you, when I left. That he loved you and Johanna, very much. He thought of nothing but the two of you.”
“Oh. I…” Lucy faltered, for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you. It means a great deal…to hear you say so.” She tilted her head to one side, the way she always did when she couldn’t remember something. “Excuse me, but…don’t I know you, sir?”
Before Todd could answer, the Judge’s voice came from within the house. “My dove, who is it?”
Todd said quietly, “No. Now off with you. I wouldn’t wish to keep you from your husband.”
She hesitated, then said, “Thank you, again. If there’s ever anything you need…”
“Keep your money.” It came out a bit rougher than Todd had intended, but he turned to go. He could feel Lucy’s eyes following him, waves of pity and regret flowing from her golden form in the doorway. Finally, she shut it, and Todd slipped back into the shadows.
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It's fun but also challenging to adapt parts of the original canon for fan fiction, I think. I find it very fun, personally, as a reader!
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