Hello again, everyone. No, I'm not dead and I may finish (rather quickly and poorly) my other two fanfics but for now I'll focus on this one (mainly because my roommate is addicted to ST fanfics right now and will murder me in my sleep if I leave off on this fanfic the way I did on the last two (just kidding!)). Of course I don't own Sweeney Todd or sniffles any of the sexy actors in it... sigh

To Relieve the Gloom

Sweeney thinks of something else…

It takes but a moment to change the course of a life.

"Gilley flowers maybe, 'stead of daisies. I don't know though, what do you think?"

Sweeney drew his eyes reluctantly away from the shining steel of his razor long enough to give Mrs. Lovett a disinterested glance.

"Mrs. Lovett," he began only to be interrupted by the baker.

"Daisies would be nice though…to brighten up the room," she added absently. Her dark eyes reflected the grey light of the hellhole outside known as London. Todd felt himself being drawn into the shine of her eyes as powerfully as he was drawn into the shine of his blades. What had she been saying?

"Maybe-"

"Jonquils," Sweeney interrupted, still distracted by her silvery glint.

Mrs. Lovett gasped but tried to cover it with a sigh. Her face broke into a smile and she nodded.

"Right then. I'll just get some next time I've gone to market."

Why was she smiling so? He only answered a question…it wasn't as if he had agreed to marry her or anything. The woman did seem to have it bad…

"My Alfred hated flowers. Only one he ever let me keep was a mutated cranes-bill. Sad, that it was, Love."

Sweeney felt that it was only fitting that he reply to the comment with his own recollection. Caught somewhere between Mrs. Lovett's eyes and the dead realm of memories, he murmured, "Lucy liked the crocus flower."

Mrs. Lovett went still and her face froze. "Ahh, yes…of course," she muttered, turning away from Todd. No longer held as he had been by her gaze, the barber blinked and returned to himself.

The sudden thundering of footsteps up the wooden stairs outside jolted Sweeney to his feet. It's him! He ran to the door, positioning himself behind it so as to get the upper hand. Mrs. Lovett did little more than glance at him before the door burst open and a man stumbled into the shop.

"M-Mr. Todd!!" Anthony panted. Mrs. Lovett gave him her best What the hell do you want glare, forcing him back a step. "Sorry ma'am."

"It's Mrs. Lovett, son," she snapped, crossing her arms just under her breasts.

Anthony, obviously holding no desire to converse more than necessary with the moody woman before him, glanced around for his acquaintance. Seeing no need to force the innocent lad into a confrontation with the already-annoyed (although he really had no idea why) Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney stepped out of the shadows and nodded at the newcomer.

"Hello, Anthony."

Seeing his friend, the young sailor turned away from the testy landlady and began spouting out a long bout of rubbish about a young beauty and her guardian and cages.

"And I know it's crazy, but Johanna-"

Sweeney twitched. "What did you say the lass's name was?"

"Johanna. She's being held captive by her guardian, the Judge Turpin. Will you help me?"

Shocked, Sweeney could find nothing to say to the boy. Johanna? His Johanna? She had caught the eye of this boy, this…sailor! Oh the hand of fate that struck him so harshly in all the worst ways! For an instant, Todd had the strangest sensation of being part of something…something larger than himself or Mrs. Lovett or even Turpin. Something…

"Bring 'er 'ere, Lov," Mrs. Lovett interrupted, breaking his train of thought. He looked up at her, trying to find the glint of silver again and feeling somewhat let down when she avoided his gaze, denying him his desire.

He realized Anthony was staring at him, waiting for acknowledgement of Mrs. Lovett's decision. Todd nodded, still distracted by his thoughts and the insane desire to grab Mrs. Lovett's chin and force her to look at him. Why wouldn't she? Where was the woman who followed him around, smelling his hair and whispering about her fondness for him? Had he angered her in some way?

"Right then." Mrs. Lovett walked to the door and finally turned to Sweeney. "I'd better get back down to the shop then." Some distant part of his mind registered that the lad had left and he hadn't even noticed, but mostly it was focused on one thought.

Mrs. Lovett had the loveliest eyes he had ever seen.

Yes, it's short but review and I'll lengthen it for you. I'll hop right to that now, actually.