Sweeny Todd

It has been a week since Azrael and Sweeney had agreed to work together, and since the meeting they had together, Sweeney has been trying to figure out a way to gain his and Azrael's revenge. He has spent at least majority of the week planning while Azrael continued on her tactic in making the shop a more bearable place to visit, Mrs. Lovett eventually learned the full story of Azrael's past by hearing it from the girl herself and could not help but feel horrible for the young woman. But, as the days went by it seemed that Azrael and Mr. Todd were starting to understand each other much more and this didnt go unnoticed Mrs. Lovett noticed the attention they both were giving each other and could not help but be irritated with the fact that they became friends. However, on another note Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pies were starting to regain some attention. Not as much as one would hope but a decent amount of patrons did come into the shop. However, today would be the day Sweeney Todd will make his name known for Signer Adolfo Pirelli has came to town as he did every Thursday to give proper shaves to the people, and today is the day Sweeney Todd shall go against this man to show who is the better barber. As the three started to stroll down through St. Dunstan's Marketplace, they finally came across a hand-drawn caravan, painted like a Sicilian donkey cart that stood on the street. On the cart it said in an ornate script "Signer Adolfo Pirelli, Haircutter-Barber-Tooth puller to His Royal Majesty the King of Naples," and under this the text is stated "Banish Baldness with Pirelli's Miracle Elixir." Azrael stared at the massive crowd that was swarming this caravan and arched her brow "That's him? Over there?" she asked as she pointed at the caravan. Mrs. Lovett nodded and looked over at the young woman who was between her and Mr. Todd "Yes, dear. He's always here Thursdays." Azrael then gave Mrs. Lovett a confused look never hearing about this man in her life. "And what is so great about him? I never heard about this man I my home town." Just then, Mr. Todd started to read the sign before him. "Haircutter, barber, tooth puller to His Royal Majesty the King of Naples." Azrael then shrugged her shoulders "well that explains why." Mrs. Lovett then nodded and looked over at the two noticing that Mr. Todd seemed to be skimming the area to make certain that the Judge or the Governor were in site. While Azrael was staring at the caravan looking like she was deep in thought. "Eyetalian. All the rage, he is" just then, Mr. Todd looked over at her and had a grim smirk on his face "Not for long." Mrs. Lovett then rushed over to him, placed her hands on his arm, and gave him a concerned look. "Oh Mr. T., you really think you can do it?" Azrael rolled her eyes after seeing this woman's reaction. She knew very well that Mrs. Lovett had feelings for Mr. Todd but as the weeks went on, she realized that he had no feelings to return for her. Azrael supposed that it had a lot to do with the same reasons she had. It was too soon. Sure, she had to admit that Mr. Todd was an attractive man, but you cannot just go rushing into a relationship after finding out that your wife and child are gone, just like she could not go rush into a relationship after losing her family in just a mere two weeks. However, she assumed that Mrs. Lovett did not really care for what had happened to his family and seemed more delighted by the idea that she had him for herself. Oh well it is not her problem right? She was only here to gain her revenge on the governor and as soon as that was finished, she would go and open her own baker's shop and make a satisfying living for herself. After all, she was still young and had much to offer for this world, who knows maybe one day she will find a new life for herself and maybe marry and have a happy life again. She doubted it, since she knew that Gerry will always be in her heart and no one could ever understand what she felt, but she could be wrong she has been before. However, as she looked over at the two she noticed how unfazed Mr. Todd was by Mrs. Lovett's actions and seemed to be more interested in his plan. So typical of him and what amazed Azrael the most was that Mrs. Lovett could not see how uninterested he was with her. Nevertheless, like she thought earlier, it is not her problem and may as well ignore the whole situation completely, until she heard Mr. Todd speak. "By tomorrow they'll all be flocking after me like sheep to be shorn." He said in his usual grim tone. Mrs. Lovett nodded and skimmed the crowed and immediately pointed at a chubby grotesque man who had a black suit and top hat on "Oh no! Look. The Beadle Beadle Bamford!" Azrael quickly looked over at the man. Once she caught sight of him and let out a disgusted look. "That's him?" she said distastefully as she looked back at them and noticed the menacing smirk that was on Mr. Todd's face. "So much the better" Mrs. Lovett then frowned and looked up at Mr. Todd "But what if he recognizes you? Hadn't we better." she was then cut off by him who was obviously getting annoyed by her "I will do what I have set out to do, woman." He muttered agitatedly as he ripped his arm away from her, Mrs. Lovett then sighed and gave him a disappointed look for his recent action. "Oops. Sorry, dear, I'm sure." Just then, an adolescent appeared out of the curtain causing Azrael to point at him "look! They're starting!" Mr. Todd then strode up next to her, leaving Mrs. Lovett behind but that did not last for long since she rushed up right next to them. They saw the boy who was wearing a hat and was beating on a tin drum, and blows a factory whistle as the crowd of people comes running on, gathering around him. Just then, the boy starts to shout to the crowd "Ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention, please! Do you wake every morning in shame and despair, to discover your pillow is covered with hair, or what not should be there? Well, ladies and gentlemen, From now on you can waken at ease! You need never again have a worry or care; I will show you a miracle, marvelous, rare. Gentleman, you are about to see something wot rose from the dead! On the top of my head" just then the boy pulls off his hat to show a full amount of blonde hair on his head and starts to sing. "T'was Pirelli's Miracle Elixir, That's what did the trick, sir, True, sir, true. Was it quick sir? Did it in a tick, sir, just like an elixir ought to do!" The boy then took a couple of bottles and threw them to the crowd " how about a bottle mister? Only costs a penny guaranteed." He then opens a bottle and sprinkles the liquid on top of a bald man's head "Does Pirelli's Stimulate the growth, sir? You can have my oath, sir, 'Tis unique. Rub a minute Stimulatin', i'nt? Soon you'll have to thin it once a week!" as the boy was singing Mr. Todd then grimaced and leaned over to Azrael "pardon me ma'm what's that awful stench?" Azrael then scrunched up her nose in disgust and shrugged "are we standing near an open trench?" Mrs. Lovett then leaned over to Mr. Todd having the same disgusted look on her face "pardon me sir what's that awful stench?" Mr. Todd then shrugged his shoulders still staring at the boy "are we standing near an open trench?" meanwhile the boy continued to sing " Buy Pirelli's Miracle Elixir anything will slick, sir, suits brass, curls. Try Pirelli's when they see how thick, sir you can have your pick, sir, of the girls!" he then kneels down and hands over a bottle to a woman. "Wanna buy a bottle misses?" as the boy continued to sing one of the bottles came into Azrael's hold she then opened the bottle and grimaced from the smell. "What is this?" she asked and handed it to Mr. Todd, who took a sniff and grimaced as well. "What is this?" he asked as he handed it to Mrs. Lovett, Mrs. Lovett took a whiff and frowned "Smells like, ew!" she frowned and handed it back to Mr. Todd who smelled it again "Smells like piss" he said a little louder catching the crowds attention. Azrael then looked over at the bottle and frowned and then spoke a little louder for the crowd to hear her as well. "What is this? This is piss. Piss with ink." Mrs. Lovett then nodded and leaned over to someone who was standing next to her "I wouldn't touch it if I was you, dear." Meanwhile the boy continued to sing. "Let Pirelli's activate your roots, sir." While Mr. Todd then looked over at a gentleman who was standing right next to them "keep it off your boots, sir, eats right through." The boy then looked up at them hearing what they were saying and frowned but continued to sing. "You're scared Pirelli's is usable and of it, ladies seem to love it." Azrael then had a devious smirk on her face and then added, "As flies do too." This caused Mr. Todd smirk while Signore Pirelli walked out of the curtain in a bright flamboyant blue suit with gold embroidery on the sleeves. He also wore and frilly white shirt and had a small mustache. As Pirelli strode up to the stage he gave everyone his charming grin and bowed to them, "I am Adolfo Pirelli, The King of the barbers, The Barber of Kings. Bonjorno, good day. I blow you a kiss." He then blows a kiss to everyone and continues to sing. "And I, the famous Pirelli, I wish-a to know-a who has-a da nerve-a to say: My elixir is piss! Who says this?" Azrael then looked over at Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett and noticed that they werent going to say anything, so Azrael sighed and rose her hand up in the air "I did!" the crowed gasped at the young woman and turned to stare at her while Mr. Todd grabbed her arm and yanked her to face him. "What are you doing?!" he growled. Azrael then smiled at him and winked "watch. There was a reason why my husband said I always was a trouble maker." She then turned back to face Pirelli and smirked at him. Pirelli looked down at her and gave her what he thought was a sexy smile finding this woman very attractive. "And my dear why would sucha lovely thing like-a you disgrace my invention?" Azrael rolled her eyes and walked further up to the stage "because I have opened a bottle of Pirelli's Elixir, and I say to you it is nothing but an arrant fraud concocted from piss and ink. In addition I believe that a barber should be honest with his people and not try to pull the wool over their eyes, and furthermore Signore! I know a barber who is ten times better than ya. He may have not have served no kings, but I'll wager that he can shave a cheek with ten times more dexterity than any street monger!" Pirelli then chuckled at the woman and waved his arms around staring at the crowd "You hear this foolish woman and her lies? Now please, you will see how you will regret the means of folly. Who is this man that you speak so fondly of?" Azrael then smiled at the arrogant barber and shrugged her shoulders figuring that she should annoy him a bit. "I maybe foolish and maybe dishonest Signore and a dishonest woman you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly..." she then has a huge grin on her face as she finished her sentence. "Stupid." Pirelli then rolled his eyes at the young woman and sighed. "Yes, yes. Now tell me who this man is that you speak of." Azrael then smirked at him and pointed at Mr. Todd "why none other than Sweeny Todd himself, the Barber of Fleet Street! I wager you five pounds for a challenge and if he wins you shall announce yourself as the sniveling fraud that you are!" The crowd gasped and then all turned to look back at Mr. Todd who was now walking up to the stage and shouted "Who's for a free shave?" just then a man who desperately needed one ran up the stage as someone grabbed a chair for the man to sit in. Once Mr. Todd made it up on the stage, he then looked over at Beadle and smirked at him "Will Beadle be the judge?" Beadle smiled at Mr. Todd, took his hat off, and bowed. "Glad, as always, to oblige my friends and neighbors. The fastest, smoothest shave is the winner." The men then start to sharpen their razors as Pirelli starts to sing as he whipped up the lather, glancing at Mr. Todd in a paranoid manner. "Now Signorines, Signori, we mix-a da lather, but first-a you gather around. Signorines, Signori, you look at da man who has had-a da glory to shave-a da Pope. Mr. Seeney Whoever, I beg-a your pardon, You'll probably say it was only a Cardinal. Nope! It was-a da Pope!" he then Looks over his shoulders to see Mr. Todd still stropping slowly and starts to regain his confidence. He then starts to lather his man's face and continues to sing, "To shave-a da face, to cut-a da hair, require da grace, require da flair. For if-a you slip, you nick da skin, you clip-a chin, you rip-a da lip a bit beyond-a repare." He then looks over again and sees Mr. Todd still showing no signs of starting to shave his man but merely watches Pirelli's performance. Pirelli was now feeling that he can take his time, sings lyrically as he shaves with rhythmic scrapes and elaborate gestures of wiping the razor. "To shave-a da face, or even a part, Widout it-a start, require da heart. Not just-a da flash, It take-a banash, It take-da passion for da art." Mr. Todd then strops his razor slowly and deliberately, disconcerting Pirelli and drawing the crowd's attention. "To shave-a da face, to trim-a da beard, to make-a da bristle clean as a whistle. Dis is from early infancy Da talent gives to me By God..." While Pirelli continued to sing, Mr. Todd starts slowly mixing his lather "It take-a da skill, It take-a da brains, It take-a da will, to take-a da pains. It take-a da pace, it take-a da gra-a-a-ace..." While Pirelli holds his high note elaborately, Mr. Todd lather's the man's face, and quickly shaves him in four short strokes and signals Beadle to examine the job. Once he was satisfied, he then blew a whistle and announced the winner "The winner... is Todd." The crowd cheered as Mr. Todd smirked and looked over at Pirelli who profoundly bowed down to him "Sir, I bow to a skill far defter than my own." Mr. Todd nodded and held out his hand "The five pounds." Pirelli gave him a sinister smile and pulls out a rather flamboyant purse, and from it takes out five pounds. "Here, sir. And may the good Lord smile on you." he then turns to the crowd and smiles "until we meet again. Come, boy. Signori! Bellissime signorini! Buon giorno! Buon giorno a tutti!" he then starts kicking Tobias ahead of him, and returns to the caravan. Mr. Todd then strode down the stage and walked up towards the women, Azrael who was completely excited by his win rushed up to him and hugged him "see! I told you it would work!" Mr. Todd smirked and hugged her back; he then gently moved her away from him and gave her a serious look. "Once again I have to agree with yer husband." Azrael then arched her brow and gave him a confused look "and what would tha be Mr. Todd?" Mr. Todd then smirked at her as he placed his blade back in his belt "tha you are a trouble maker." Azrael then giggled for the first time since her husband died and shrugged "what can I say? The man knew me like a book!" Mrs. Lovett then rushed up him and pulled him away from Azrael and gave him a huge smile "Who'd have thought it, dear! You pulled it off!" she said excitedly. Just then, Beadle strides menacingly up towards them and looks at Mr. Todd placing his hands behind his back "Mr. Todd Strange, sir, but it seems your face is known to me." Mrs. Lovett then started to chuckle loudly and quickly shook her head "Him? That's a laugh him being my uncle's cousin and arrived from Birmingham yesterday." Beadle nodded and then looked over at Azrael and smirked at her. "And this young woman I take it to be your wife Mr. Todd?" Azrael's eyes widened and was about to speak until Mrs. Lovett quickly cut her off "Her? No sir she is just a lass who works for me at my shop. Good worker she is so I figured she could have a day off and come for a stroll with Mr. Todd and myself." Beadle smiled at this, took Azrael's hand, and kissed it. Azrael had to prevent herself from cringing from the man's gesture and felt Mr. Todd come to stand closer to her. Beadle then looked up at Azrael from her hand and smiled again "a pleasure to meet such a beauty Miss" Azrael had to think fast of a name and then quickly said "Sheridan Erin Sheridan." Beadle then nodded still having that annoying arrogant smile on his face "a good strong Scottish name it is. I take it your from Scotland Miss. Sheridan which part may I ask are you from?" Azrael then quickly thought of a city "Glasgow sir. That is where I be from." Beadle nodded and was about to say something else to her until Mr. Todd cut him off obviously getting very annoyed by this man interrogating Azrael the way he was. "But I already, sir, have heard Beadle Bamford spoken of with great respect." Beadle then looked over at Mr. Todd whatever suspicions he had for the man quickly diminished by his flattery "Well, sir, I try my best for my neighbors." He then looked over at Mrs. Lovett and smiled at her "Fleet Street? Over your pie-shop, ma'am?" Mrs. Lovett then nodded give him a big smile "That's it, sir." Beadle then nodded and looked over at Mr. Todd once again "Then, Mr. Todd, you will surely see me there before the week is out" he then looked over at Azrael and smirked at her "and you maybe seeing me as well. A lovely young woman as yourself should be honored to have dinner with a man of my stature dont you agree?" Azrael then slowly nodded planting on a fake smile "of course sir." She said softly slowly edging herself closer to Mr. Todd feeling completely safe next to him. Mr. Todd gave him an expressionless look and nodded his head at Beadle smirking at him "You will be welcome, Beadle Bamford, and I guarantee to give you, without a penny's charge, the closest shave you will ever know." Beadle smiled at Todd and nodded before he left, as soon as the man had left the three then decided to walk back to the shop glad with the triumphs they had for the day.