Who: Carter Jensen and Marissa Knight What: Mother and Son reunited. Not. Kinda. Or ‘crazy scenario by Lee and Kore #491’ Where: Portland State University Library in Portland, Oregon and then Marissa’s home When: February 10, 2010 Warnings: Craziness, a retelling of Sweeney Todd which is therefore somewhat gruesome. Also, it’s about 14,000 words. Beware~
The term didn’t start up for another week, but Carter was at the library. He’d moved back into the dorms. He wasn’t as relieved as he should have been being out of the center again, but after this long time off, he was at least content to be closer to his new home. He felt more comfortable walking the area then sitting about twiddling his thumbs. If he got too bored, he’d just head for the MTN...and really, he’d rather make that a thing for special occasions only. He couldn’t do it every time he felt listless.
So here he was, camped out a table and hunched over the first book he’d grabbed. Reading up on Victorian age serial killers might not have been the best of ideas - which Toby muttered about, quite liberally - but this study on Jack the Ripper was too interesting to put down. He wondered idly what would happen if a reincarnate of an actual serial killer showed up. Pretty damn intense.
Not, of course that people were the same. But it was still something to think of. He was read on, fairly lost in thought until hearing footsteps. He looked up with a slight furrowed brow at the woman, before looking back to his book. No one he knew. For years, Marissa had thought that she’d never see Toby again. She had grown well used to the idea, though she had never stopped missing him. It wasn’t at all in the same way that she missed Sweeney- that was an obsessive need to find him, to have him, to love him. But what she felt for Toby was... Different. She wanted to find him and love him, but she also wanted to protect him. To know that he was safe from harm and happy. So when she was browsing the reincarnates forums for information as she always did, she had gasped with delight when she saw that he was there! Her darling Toby was here! She’d clapped her hands and grinned with joy, hardly able to contain herself. He was really here, and she could find him.
The work required to track his reincarnated down was minimal, though she did have to wait awhile before she had the free time to go find him in person. She wouldn’t be shoving this aside in a letter, oh no. Not her dear boy. He deserved more then something so impersonal as that. And then of course, it was a matter of physically finding him. He was a college student now- something she was incredibly proud of- which meant he could likely be found on campus. She’d considered waiting for him at his home, but she was worried that might set him ill at ease. No, it was better to meet him somewhere in public. She’d asked around, showing the picture she’d filched through her many sources to people before she finally found him in the library. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies. This was it! She was going to see her Toby again. Or Carter, as he was now called.
It took her a few extra minutes of wandering, and the click-click-click of her heels echoed in the silence as she hurried past row after row. She had to find him. She had to find him! And then- there he was! Sitting at a table in front of her, hunched over a book. Her bright, smart boy, working so hard. She couldn’t keep the smile off of her face. It fell a little when he glanced up and then away. Of course. He didn’t know who she was.
Yet.
Slowly now, doing her best not to scare him off, she approached the table and sat down on the opposite side. “Hello, Carter.” Her voice was a soft purr, and she tried to keep her expression friendly. In truth, it actually came off as a bit over eager, and to a well trained eye, somewhat mad. Then again, she always looked a bit insane. When the woman settled herself across from him, Carter did pause where he was reading. Alright. There were other free seats, but having her sit across from him shouldn’t have struck him as weird. Still he glanced at her surreptitiously - placing her round thirty and noticing the expression. Huh.
Getting addressed totally knocked him away from the book and he actually met her eyes this time. Did he know her? “Hi?” He couldn’t quite keep the question from his voice and cleared his throat. “Sorry, do I know you?” Maybe from the forums? That could be it. She seemed too old to be in any of his classes and she didn’t seem like a professor either.
“I’m not the best with faces.” That was partly true. At least, he’d been told it enough times to believe it - that’s what had happened with that man he’d attacked... Marissa shook her head, her curly hair bouncing a little as she did so. She was still smiling, her dark red lips a seemingly bloody smear across her pale face. “Not exactly,” she said again, still keeping her voice low and even. “At least, not with this face.”
She studied him for a long moment. It was so different to see him face to face instead of just staring at a photograph. Dark messy hair, a bit of a stubble, an open look in his eyes. And there it was- that tiny hint of madness that Marissa usually so loved. But... Not on him. She surprised herself with that. Normally, when she saw that beautiful crack in a person, she wanted nothing more then to rip it wide open and let the insanity in. But not on him. Perhaps that was because of Mrs. Lovett. Still. She could dwell on that later. There were other tasks that needed her attention at the moment.
“My name is Marissa Knight. And you are Carter Jensen. You could say that we’ve... Met before?” She laughed a little- a strange mix between a giggle and a chuckle that sounded all sorts of wrong yet somehow worked for her. “Once upon a dream, in another life.” She tilted her head. How to do this? Perhaps just straight off? “I’m Mrs. Lovett.” She reached out to him, intent on taking his hand. Needing to touch, to know that he was really, truly here. “I’ve missed you, darling.” Not with this face? Aw, fuck not a crazy. Carter had left the center for that. He closed the book and let his finger slip out from the page he was on. “I’m sorry?” This really didn’t seem good. He’d have to keep calm, then make excuses and slip out. And possibly call a friend and stay with them. He wondered if Dinah could offer some help.
Marissa Knight. No bells rung there. He raised a brow at her laugh and all but froze at another life. Oh crap. Reincarnate. Please, please, please, don’t be Sweeney Todd who he was sure killed Toby because damnit, he liked living and he didn’t want to die or become a crazy shit head like Toby-
Who immediately spoke up at Lovett. MUM?! Carter absolutely froze then. His grip on his book tightened and he didn’t move from when Marissa took his free hand. Toby had been quiet lately, aside from an a comment here or ther. Now, like this, he was all but bursting with Mum mum mum mum MUM. It took all his self control to reel the boy in, not let him take control and not burst with it. And who was talking to him? Mrs. Lovett or Marissa?
“I’m not that familiar with the source,” Carter said gently. As much to soothe himself and Toby as Marissa/Lovett. Still he decided giving her hand a squeeze was not a bad idea. “But uh, Toby seems really happy to hear from his...Mum?” Despite himself, a hint of wistfulness crept into his tone there. His own Mother had died years ago.
But wasn’t Toby’s surname Ragg? What was with the surname differences? Marissa eyed him carefully when he froze, and her grip on his hand grew a little stiff. Was he going to run? She could hardly run after him, it would cause a terrible scene. And she needed him. He wasn’t allowed to leave her.
When he didn’t run and started talking though, she relaxed. He was open to talking to her. And he didn’t know much about Sweeney. Good. Very, very good. She squeezed his hand back and gave him another tight smile, a bit too broad to look truly natural. He was happy to see her! Regardless of Carter seeming to think he was separate from Toby. He would learn soon enough. Toby was a recent addition after all. He’d learn.
“That’s alright, love.” It was easy to slip in hints of her old cockney accent, make him feel like this was mostly Mrs. Lovett. Like he was talking to his mum, not a stranger. She knew that Carter didn’t have a mother any more, so if she got him to think that she could be his... Well, she’d be more then happy to fill the role. In fact, she intended to. “You don’t need to be familiar with it. But I imagine you probably have a lot of questions, hm?”
She glanced around the library and made a face- so unlike her usual stoic self. Of course, he didn’t know that she was acting unusually. “Perhaps we should talk somewhere a bit more private? If that’s alright.” She turned back to him. “I’ve- we’ve- waited a long time to find you again, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to get the chance to know you a bit better.” Toby was all but clawing to gain control. The endless chants of Mum rattled Carter. Lips pressed together in a firm line, trying to fight him back. Lady seemed a little off, not bad at all, but Jesus Christ, THIS WAS HIS LIFE. ‘Back off,’ Carter said mentally. ‘Back the fuck off.’ Mum, never free, Mum, Mum, not dead, LET ME- He shook his head, physically there. “Didn’t see a reason. I generally view us as separate?” He at least had the decency to look apologetic. He’d seen a few people get caught up in who their reincarnates were. “But, yeah. A few. Mainly about what he’s talked about. I don’t suppose you know why he’s...” Carter grimaced and with his free hand, made a ‘cuckoo’ sign. Had Mrs. Lovett - Mum - died before then? Or no?
Maybe he should have researched the fucking musical. Carter was beginning to wonder if that had been a wasted opportunity.
Most people would be intelligent enough to back away screaming from an offer to go elsewhere. Public was fairly safe, but Carter would like an answer - and if he lost control of Toby, it’d be better if that was somewhere private. He glanced around before nodding. “Yeah, that’s fine. Let me just put this book back? It was only an aisle or two over.” He extracted his hand from hers after a hesitating squeeze - he’d blame Toby. Way too fucking familiar with some gorgeousstrange woman he’d just met. Carter shook his head, throwing on his backpack and weaving through to the aisle over. Book on shelf, he looked back to see if she’d followed or was at the end, giving her leave to lead the way. Marissa nodded. Yes, she’d already figured that part out. But soon, he’d learn better. Very, very soon. Her smile turned into a frown and she glanced away. Oh yes, she knew very well why her little Toby was practically barking mad. And it was her fault, for not doing things right the first time round. She’d keep Carter far away from Sweeney when she found him- far, far away. He never need know about Marissa’s pseudo-child. “That is most certainly something best discussed in private. I can tell you, but it’s... Painful.” Her mouth twisted into a full on grimace. She’d have to tell him the truth. If she were to lie again (no, no not lied at all, no I never lied, never said that-) and he found out about it, she might lose their relationship. She couldn’t risk it.
“Yes, of course.” Her smile returned like it had never been gone in the first place, her expression holding no trace of the honest sadness and conflict that had been their only moments before. She squeezed his hand right back and let her hand slip to the table. Things were going well so far- much better then she had hopped. ‘Then again,’ she thought as she got to her feet smoothly, straightening out the wrinkles in her skirt, ‘there’s more to him then meets the eye.’ Yes, so much more. There was Toby- her dear sweet little boy- and Carter’s cracking. That delicious little hint of off-centered that Marissa adored to find in people that made everything they did so much more unexpected. She followed him to the other aisle and waited until he had returned to her side, right where he belonged, before she headed towards the library exit.
“I live not too far from here. We could perhaps speak there? If you’re comfortable with it, of course,” because she had to make him think that he still had a choice in all of this, that there was an honest option that something else could happen besides them becoming proper mother and son. “Otherwise, we could always go to a restaurant or some such place? They lack the same privacy, but if you would feel better about it...” She gave him another smile full of sharp white teeth. Of course he’d want privacy, all things considered. “Obviously, that’s the important thing here.” Great, further confirmation that Toby had been murdered by this Sweeney Todd dude. Just what Carter needed. He grimaced as well. “Sure. He’s not really been vocal on that.” Just about baking and pies. Which he really didn’t want to go into the meaning of.
Following her out, Carter tried to keep at her side. No reason to go ahead or trail behind. He didn’t need to feel like some dog. Totally equals here, even with Toby whimpering about Mum. The offer surprised him, sparking a ‘she lives around here? WEIRD.’ before he rubbed it off. Coincidence, these things happened. Getting caught up in them made life more crazy. Still, he suspected taking up the offer for a restaurant or something would be rude. Goddamnit. He really didn’t want to cause a scene.
And besides, it wasn’t like he couldn’t take care of himself. “Nah, I’m fine with that,” Carter lied. He adjusted his backpack, moving along. “You been in Portland long?” Easy, casual conversation was a go. “No,” Marissa murmured softly, half to herself and half to Carter. “I wouldn’t imagine that he would have been.”
She was pleased that he was keeping pace with her, eliciting another small smile from her. Her smile grew as she watched him out of the corner of her eye. It was almost as though she could see the thoughts in his head as he wondered about where she lived and who she was. Yes, there was no way he would be able to pass up this opportunity.
“I’m glad to hear it. If you wanted, I could call ahead and ask the maid to whip us up an early dinner?” There was her first hook, her little hint. Only the rich had maids in this day and age, and surely he would see and understand that she was more then just a woman with a strange desire to know him. She had money. She could help him, if he needed it. Pay for student loans, buy him nice things, be whatever he required. So long as he stuck with her, of course. Any money spent on him was of little consequence in the greater scheme of things, so long as she had her Toby. “No, I’ve only recently moved here from Dallas. Perhaps a few months? I travel quite often for work, you see.” She lead them towards a near by parking lot and retrieved the keys to her car from her purse, heading to the bright red Ferrari F430 in the back of the lot. “It is rather stressful having to move so often, but there’s little to be done about it, I suppose.”
Giving an imperial looking shrug, she changed topics. “What about you? Have you lived in Portland long?” Even if she already knew the answer to that, it was a question she was expected to ask. She couldn’t slip up- this was a lie she had to keep. There wasn’t much to reply to that. Murder was no easy topic. His right hand tangled in the strap of his backpack, clenching. Damn, he’d hoped to avoid this.
“The....maid?” Carter wanted to smack himself immediately after. Excellent job of sounding intelligent there. He grimaced and said, “No, I’m alright? I mean, I did a late breakfast...” None at all. “Don’t want to cause much trouble.” Except hadn’t she been the one to call him along and invite him? And seek him out? An old headache was developing at his temples. He didn’t like the confusion here. She was just Toby’s Mum and apparently she had money and her reincarnate missed her son. No big deal. It happened. Maybe he could find something good to share with Dinah. People who felt absorbed by their reincarnates. It could be a good line of research....not that they really needed more but for the future, perhaps.
“Oh yeah? What do you do? If you don’t mind...” Fuck he failed at small talk. At least he had an excuse for gawking at the car. That may have been the coolest vehicle he’d ever seen close up before. And as she pulled the keys out...he was going to get to ride in it? His inner kid was more then psyched.
The question threw him and he answered a bit distractedly as they neared the Ferrari. “Me? I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve only left a few times. I actually just left the state the first time a few weeks ago?” His smile was a bit sheepish and he rubbed the back of his head. “Another reincarnate and I met up and made an around-the-world trip.” After checking that they were going to that car, he moved a little ahead to get the door for Marissa. Toby all but prompted it and it seemed like a simple way to appease him. Marissa simply shook her head again. “Don’t be silly, dear. It’s no trouble at all.” How could he think it was trouble? It wasn’t as though she was cooking, and it was the maid’s job to do what she asked. Still, it had been a sweet enough thought. “What would you like? The maid-” she had to pause for a second while she tried to remember her name. Normal. She had to seem normal. “Eliza, is an excellent cook. She can make most anything, really.”
She smirked a little at his excited expression. Yes, bringing the Ferrari had been an excellent idea. She didn’t often use it except when she was trying to make an impression, and she had figured that this was most certainly in impression she really wanted to make. “Not at all. You’re free to ask me any question you want.” That was another important thing- he had to feel like he could open up to her, like she had no secrets to hide from him. What an wonderful lie that was. “I tend to drabble in many different sorts of work. I own a few businesses here and there, though I generally prefer my work with communications.” Oh yes. Her ‘communications’ work was by far her favorite.
“Really?” Marissa did her best to sound surprised. “That sounds lovely. How did you travel? Just by MTN?” She smiled at him when he opened the car door for her. Oh yes, Toby was in there alright. “Thank you.” Her voice was sickly sweet as she stepped into the car with the same grace that she did everything. She started up the car while she waited for him to get in on the other side. Once he was in, she swiftly pulled out of the parking spot and took off, away from that dreadful college and back towards more familiar territory. He didn’t really feel like causing more work for the maid - Eliza - either. Still, he wasn’t quite sure how to protest that. “I’m good, really. Whatever’s easiest?” he said as a means to at least be no trouble. He didn’t like causing it. Had enough of that over the years. Besides, Carter was a guy for the simple foods at heart. If for some reason she interpreted ‘easiest’ as a bowl of macaroni and cheese, he’d be thrilled. Still, he knew better then to ask that. Especially because he wasn’t going to take advantage of this situation. She was just being nice and the whole Sweeney Todd thing.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Carter promised. He had a sneaking suspicion he’d have a hell of a ton of questions once they sat down somewhere not-so in motion. Toby had a few of his own, that seemed to be bursting out. He bit his lip, nodding as she went on. That felt pretty vague, but what did Carter know of business?
Lovely seemed like a strange way to put it. But then again, she could be polite. Rubbing again at the back of his neck, he said, “The MTN. Neither of us had used it before. Seemed like a good way to get your feet wet.” He shut the door behind her, circling about to his side - no, the passenger’s. He shook his head before slipping in. His attention moved from Marissa immediately, taking in the interior. Buckling up was automatic as was moving his bag next to him. Man, this was a sweet ride. Marissa arched an eyebrow at him and pursed her lips, but otherwise made no commentary on the matter. She knew well he was only trying to be polite, but he needed to learn that around her, he need not make such exceptions. He was allowed to do whatever he liked- so long as it also involved keeping Marissa in his life. That was was a given.
“Well, it’s an excellent way to travel. On occasion, when I have the time to spare, I do still enjoy traveling by plane. It’s nice to just get away from the stress of life for a few hours- it literally can’t touch you when you’re in the air. But on the whole, yes, I do enjoy using the MTN.” She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to like her car. Good. Maybe she should buy him a car. That would certainly help to get him to hang around her more- before he started to want to hang around her, it was likely she might need to make him feel obligated to hang around her. Which of course, she had no issues with in the slightest.
“Hold on just a moment- I’m going to call Eliza.” She rummaged around in her purse for a moment, trying to find it while still keeping her eyes on the road. Finally she got it and made the quick call to the maid. The maid- Eliza, Marissa reminded herself- had been bribed not to inform Carter of any of Marissa’s strange behaviors, and to act as though they were on friendly terms. Eliza was desperate for the money, and of course, Marissa had a few of her secrets so if she were to betray her, she could easily end quite a few of Eliza’s beloved family relationships. Smiling, she told her to make a steak and potato dinner, and that she would be arriving with a guest soon. After a few ‘mmhmm’s and pretended pleasantries she hung up.
“Sorry about that. So! Tell me more about yourself.” The eagerness in her voice wasn’t the slightest bit put on- she honestly wanted to know. There was, after all, only so much you could learn from second hand sources. “Where did you go on your trip? What sort of stuff do you like to do in your spare time?” Still keeping an eye on the road, she reached over with her right hand and gave Carter’s arm a light squeeze. “I want to hear everything.” “Never tried it,” Carter said, with a shrug. Not as much as a confession as a statement - he’d already admitted to never having been out of the state. Kind of a given on the plane front, even if he hadn’t confessed to growing up in the center yet. “But yeah, I’ve heard it’s nice. Less nausea inducing then the MTN at least,” he said with a slight chuckle. His only complaint about the system. A hand ran along the arm rest, casually, but surreptitiously checking out the material. Wow.
He fell silent as she made the call, trying to see if he could place where they were going. Obviously towards the wealthier side of town with how she was driving...and the fact she had a freaking maid. He didn’t read too much what was said, treating it like any phone call. Her business and technically private, despite being in the same car.
The hanging up threw him and Carter’s attention snapped back. His hand fell to his knee, almost ashamed. “Nah, it’s alright...me?” Not expected at all. Even less then anything else. Carter coughed, trying to think. The last thing he wanted was to mention the center or his mom or...anything important. “I’m ah- I’m currently a psychology major? Not sure what my minor is. I’ve got time to figure it out and all. Kind of want to branch out and try to find my interests and skills. Like, take a music course or something....” Crap, he hated rambling. He shook his head. What was the other question? Ah, right the trip. “I went with Cassie, she’s the reincarnate of Sam Winchester? He’s this guy from that TV show Supernatural.” He wasn’t going to admit to not having seen it. “She’s new to the reincarnates too. Little newer then I am. Anyhow, we went to Malibu first, for the beaches. Then we made a bit of a scavenger hunt? All over the place. All Carmen-Sandiego like. It was a blast it...” He laughed and shook his head. “I mean, it was really neat.” “Well, that’s the nice thing about the future, isn’t it? You can change things like that.” She laughed with him, though it was a smidgen forced. “Yes, it certainly is that. Not as fast though. Bit of a trade off, really.”
Marissa nodded as he spoke. She already knew about his major- and oh did it make her giggle when she first found out about it. What wonderful irony! The music surprised her though. Considering that he didn’t seem to be overly fond of Toby she would have thought that he would avoid music. The bit about the scavenger hunt was amusing, and helpful. He liked to make things fun and adventurous, clearly. And he liked warm tropical places. She tucked away that information for later.
“What sort of music courses were you thinking of?” Marissa prodded, trying to delve deeper and learn more. She wanted to get as much of this information as she could before they arrived at her home- and considering that she was speeding a bit it wouldn’t take too long. She could slow down, but that simply wasn’t her style. “Electric guitar, cello, piano, drums...” Listing options after asking a question was normal wasn’t it? She’d heard someone do that once. “I can’t say that I’ve ever seen it,” she admitted with a small smile. “I don’t watch much TV. Haven’t the time, you see. But it sounds like you had a lovely time.”
She wanted to ask him if he would want to go somewhere with her- somewhere nice and exotic. But she couldn’t. It was much too soon. ‘Patience,’ she told herself. ‘You’ve waited this long, you can wait a little longer.’ Instead she asked, “So what made you choose Psychology?” “Yeah, I guess,” he said with a shrug. Generally, he was using the MTN for any future travel. The key thing about it - which like hell, was he going to mention now - was the fact that it was FREE. “Yeah. Worth it though.” The faint smile remained on his face, before her questions began again.
What kind? It had never been more then a faint wish, a want-to-do example. He’d like to be able to read music, join his voice with others... he glanced at her again. He wasn’t sure if she’d understand that communal feeling. Even phrasing it in his head sounded silly. He rummaged about for an answer, “Violin, actually. Though I guess in terms of things, learning the piano would be more doable. Finding a piano not in use would be easier. Next semester, maybe.” He shrugged.
That comment did give him enough of a cue to confess, “I haven’t either. Apparently, it’s big but I’d never-” Heard of it. “Got into it. She’s pretty nice and her headmate’s sane, so, can’t mess with that.”
The next question did make him freeze entirely. Even Dinah hadn’t messed with that. His mind floundered about and he struggled to come up with an answer that wasn’t revealing. He didn’t want Marissa thinking he was as psycho as her headmate’s son was. He didn’t want to really lie either. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck- “I’m just interested. Seen a bunch of people suffer because of cruel people in charge-” Fuck. Slip up. “I mean, in general.” He clenched the arm rest, trying to not feel sick. God, he just wanted to be normal. “And you know, it’s intriguing. How the mind ticks and all. What can push someone over the edge. You know?” He chanced another look at her, barely fighting panic from his expression. Fuck, fuck, fuck. As he spoke, a plan formed in Marissa’s mind. Her lips curled into a smile just at the thought of it. Oh, she loved her own brilliance sometimes. But she had to stay with the conversation, so she put away her ideas for the moment to be examined later. “Most colleges have music rooms that you can use- and many of them have pianos for students use.” It was noncommittal in terms of the violin and his desires with that- it was just a statement of fact. She had plans for his dreams of the violin, but if she even said the word she was sure she’d spoil her surprise.
“Then I suppose you’re in good company then,” she said. “She sounds lovely.” There was no denying that his comment about ‘sane’ hurt. What was so bad with insanity? She had lived with it all of her life, and yet she was far more successful in what she tried to do then most of those blind ‘normal’ people. Ugh. Those people disgusted her in the same way that worm disgusted her. Blind, crawling, and useless creatures. That’s how she saw them.
She didn’t miss him freezing up, and she wondered what made him react that way. Perhaps he’d gone into psychology due to his own psychological abnormalities. She hoped he wouldn’t be like this about his cracks forever. She listened intently to what he was saying. ‘Because of cruel people in charge.’ Had someone.. Had someone been cruel to him?! Her darling, precious son? (Obviously the other people he had mentioned hardly mattered. Only him.) She bristled at the mere thought. If she were a dog, her hackles would have been raised and she would have been growling. But she wasn’t, so instead she tried to compose herself. Her face was carefully smoothed, but her hands had become pale white claws on the steering wheel.
“Yes, I know exactly what you mean.” That was her whole life after all- finding those buttons and then pressing them hard enough that the person broke. “To try to figure out the puzzle of the mind is fascinating. What makes them who they are, what makes them... Crack.” She barely kept from smiling at that last word. How she loved that word. “Not to worry, it makes perfect sense.” She could see the panic and the fear on his face out of the corner of her eye, and she had a feeling it had to do with the ‘hurting’ part then because he was worried that she might misunderstand him. But it was best to make him feel like she had misunderstood that fear. She could approach that part later, when he trusted her. “Yeah, I was by there with my roommate from first semester.” They’d been reassigned, mid-way. Not for any reason Carter could place a finger on, but he wasn’t questioning it. “He was decent.” No one worth worrying over and he’d been sympathetic when the headaches and voice-hearing started. At least, the version he heard.
Carter managed a nod. Toby was back to humming - a faint tune that Carter couldn’t place from anything he’d heard before. Words didn’t quite matter, but he had a suspicion from the clarity that this wasn’t some Victorian tune. Possibly from the musical. He shook his head, ignoring the tune. It caused his stomach to flip from uneasiness. Damn it.
Her reaction was taken for what it seemed. It was all Carter could do to not sigh in relief. “Yeah well...that’s it. Really. Not much to it then that.” And he was blabbing again. Fantastic. He fought the urge to smack his forehead by clenching his teeth. Damn. “Yeah, exactly. That’s how you get them back together after all. Whole.” God, he needed to shut up. “Well, that’s a far better reason them most people have for their majors,” Marissa mused. She didn’t like that comment about putting people back together, it made her feel a little uneasy. What if he figured her out? Tried to fix her? She mentally shook herself. In that case, she’d just have to be extra careful around him to ensure that he didn’t figure it out is all. “Sometimes I wish I’d gone into something else.” Lies, of course. But it would probably make him feel sympathetic towards her, wouldn’t it? “Broadway, perhaps. But I was young and foolish, and I do well at what I do. Little to be done about it now of course.”
“Ah, here we are!” She pulled onto a lone road that lead them past trees, and past them a couple of other houses could be seen, though they were all a fair distance away. Finally she pulled into the driveway of her house- though really it was a mansion. It towered over them as she parked in front of the steps that lead to the front door. Flashing Carter a quick smile, she grabbed her purse and exited the car, slamming the door shut behind her with the same carelessness she showed nearly everything she owned.
Slinging her bag over her should she headed towards the doors, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Carter was following. “Come along, then! Dinner should be nearly done.” she called out to him. Of course, her opinion of ‘nearly’ was likely different then the maid’s. But Marissa was hungry, so it had better be close to being done. Was it? Carter was of the permanent belief he was generally weird and chose the worst way to go about things. He decided to go with the compliment, mutter a ‘thanks’ before looking out the window. The comment on herself, jolted him back. “Oh yeah? That probably would have been funny now. With you know them and everything...” He made a note to ask about how long she’d had Mum - Mrs. Lovett for. Seemed like a good question anyhow.
The landscape entirely distracted him. Carter kept his jaw in place, unbuckling distractedly. He followed Marissa out, wishing he wasn’t dressed so informally. Not that he ever dressed in more then a t-shirt over a waffle-shirt and jeans but...still, he felt a little awkward. He slung his backpack on yet again and tried to surreptitiously fix his shirt. “Sounds uh, good.” That didn’t sound as confident as it should have and he made a point on returning her smile....then getting the door as Toby whined.
‘Dang it, you.’ IT’S MUM. DO THE RIGHT THING, WON’T YOU? He bit back a sigh. Dang it. Marissa opened her mouth, about to tell him that it would have been ironic even at the time, seeing as she’d had Mrs. Lovett all of her life, and then quickly changed her mind. No need to scare the poor boy. Instead she just said, “Yes, it certainly would be.”
She paid no mind to Carter trying to fix his appearance. If she had her way, he soon would learn that such things simply didn’t matter in her company. She was his mum. Maybe not biologically, and to him not emotionally (at least not yet) but she was still most certainly his mum. She gave him another sharp toothed grin when he opened the door for her. “Thank you, luv.” At once she regretted adding that last ‘luv.’ Sweetie and dear were one thing, but luv was another. She had to be careful! She mustn’t slip. Not now!
The house was opposite in every way from the pie shop on Fleet Street- there it was dark and filled with dust and dingy grays. Here everything was painted in warm colors and decorated with golds, while the light from the chandelier and the window illuminated the whole place. “Eliza,” Marissa called as she drew off her coat and put hung it on the coat hanger herself for once. “We’re home.” Yes, we’re. Carter would never be just a guest to her- he was family. “I do hope that dinner will be ready soon.” And for the first time that afternoon, there was a hint of her usual cold steeliness in her voice. Something that said dangerous. Yet despite that she kept on smiling at Carter. “I’ll be just a moment. There’s a sitting room over there,” she gestured elegantly with her hand to the room off to the left of the entry hall, “But you’re also free to look around.” And with just a couple clicks of her heels on the tile floors, she swept out of site and towards the kitchen. Carter didn’t think too much of the endearment, though Toby did. His chattering went on once more just like old times, you an’ Mrs. Marissa, and me an’ Mum, and none of that devil. Got rid of him. He’s gone, gone, and gone, and it’s just us and He shook his head, following Marissa in. The boy needed to shut up.
He looked about for a long moment, before standing awkwardly by Marissa. Caught up in his wonderings over what to do with his backpack -did he make use of the coat hanger or leave it there? Did he carry it along? Maybe he should have left it in her car, except that seemed wrong. His mind missed anything else, barely picking up on the directions. He nodded, watching her go off before making the decision to just go for the...sitting room? He gulped and hoped that wasn’t too formal.
He made his way to the left, slipping inside. Just as welcoming as the rest of what he’d seen and still leaving him out of place. Damn. He shrugged his backpack off, looking about. If he sat down on the couch and left it next to there, would it be alright? He facepalmed, right there, cringing into his hand. He wished he had anyone here to help him with all this. He had no idea how to proceed. Marissa’s conversation with Eliza certainly wasn’t going well for the maid. She had her shoulders hunched and she stared at the floor while Marissa stared at her coldly, her arms crossed over her chest and a steely look in her eye that reminded Eliza of a documentary she’d once watched on the great white shark.
“Everything must be perfect. Don’t you understand? Perfect. And that includes it being served on time.” Marissa’s voice was all ice and cruelty. The ‘or else’ didn’t even need to be mentioned. Eliza knew perfectly well what would happen if her employer wasn’t pleased with her work, and the very thought made her sweat with nervousness.
“Of course, ma’am. I’m sorry, ma’am. I’ll get on it straight away, ma’am. Dinner will be ready as soon as I can manage it, I promise.” She shrunk even further under Marissa’s gaze. After a long moment during which Eliza was absolutely certain her heart would give out, Marissa nodded sharply.
Then the older woman leaned forward, her mouth brushing against Eliza’s ear. “If it isn’t exactly what I dreamed it to be, you will most certainly regret it. Do you remember all of those birds you dispose of? Think of how you’d look if I did that to you. Or perhaps your darling brother, hmm?” When she pulled away her sickly sweet and entirely demented smile was back in place, and with a wave of her fingers she was gone, leaving Eliza clutching the counter and trying not to cry. Ms. Knight didn’t make empty threats, and while she didn’t know what was so special about this boy that was over, she prayed to God that he could escape Marissa before she caught him in her web. He had to be something awfully important, if Marissa was willing to kill her over a ruined dinner. And there was no doubt in Eliza’s mind that Marissa certainly would and could kill her.
Meanwhile, Marissa was feeling far better about the conversation she’d had with that idiot she’d hired to clean and cook for her. She’d never threatened the maid’s life before, but she knew the maid would take what she’d said to heart. Everything had to be perfect. If she lost Carter because of tonight, Marissa wasn’t sure what she would do. Well, she could always win him over later, but she’d rather just get off on the right foot to start with. It made things so much easier, after all.
Her smile had taken a turn for the slightly more normal by the time she’d returned to the sitting room where Carter was standing awkwardly. “So sorry for the wait, dear,” Marissa purred as she stalked towards him. “Please, sit down. And you can set you bag down wherever you like. I want you to feel comfortable here.” She herself took a seat on the large, elegant looking couch that looked like something from the Victorian period and nodded to the spot next to her, indicating that she wanted him to sit with her.
Her poor, dear, boy. She wished she could just wrap her arms around him and tell him that there was no reason to be nervous or frightened, but she musn’t. She must hold back for now. Before, when she was surrounded by other people and in unfamiliar territory, she’d slipped well into the role of normality- so well that even her thoughts echoed it more then usual. But now, on her own ground, she was tipping dangerously back into that wild place where she leaped from emotion to emotion on a whim, and where her possessive neediness came back with a vengeance. Yet her expression betrayed none of this. To anyone looking at her, she seemed simply to be a woman greeting an old friend, a wistful and excited look on her face. By the time Marissa had come back, Carter had at least let the bag hang from his arm and had stopped facepalming. Definitely didn’t want to be caught doing that - what if it was interpreted wrong? He managed a half smile when she came in - slightly thrown off by her tone, but choosing once again to not over think it. Paranoia was useless, seriously.
He put the bag down by the arm-rest, following her to the couch - not as much warily, as with deliberation. No, he didn’t really give a damn where he sat, but Toby just muttered SIGNOR PIRELLI’S PURSE. That - that’s the and he cut himself off, going back to his pathetic mumblings of nursery rhymes. It was kind of sad, Carter though as he sat down next to her. Just the songs were enough for him to consider Toby ‘quiet’ these days.
There was a sudden feeling of awkwardness, launching a gulp. Damn. “You weren’t gone long,” he said, fudging for a moment. Because she hadn’t, not really. He’d just had enough time to mostly fight off a panic attack. That was all. “Anyhow, uh...Toby’s kind of-” Again he made the crazy gesture, his index finger twirling counter-clockwise about his right ear. “More so then what I’ve usually dealt with. Can’t get much out of him and...” He grimaced, looking her way. “I haven’t looked it up. I’ve been mainly just trying to cope. I didn’t want the gory details.” “Even so, I feel like a bad hostess, leaving you off on your own.” She tutted at herself for her own rudeness, shaking her head a bit. With as much forethought as she gave anything, Marissa leaned back against the couch, stretching her legs out in front of her, her face resting against the back of her hand. Perhaps if she looked relaxed, Carter would feel free to do the same. At least, that was the theory.
Her smile twisted back into a frown as Carter brought up Toby, her eyes softening into something that could have been actual sadness. That was her son in there, and he was hurting badly. “Of course,” she murmured. “I understand completely.” No, she didn’t. She’d never had to cope with her reincarnation. They were one and the same in so many ways. Now the truth and the gory details of Sweeney’s betrayal, that she had been forced to deal with. Her hands clenched into fists just thinking about him. Today was not a day when she loved Sweeney Todd. Today, she quite loathed him. But never mind Mr. T (beautiful, wonderful, awful, treacherous Mr. Todd) because right now she was with Carter. Yes, her darling Carter.
“What can I do to help?” Marissa asked, sitting up a little in her seat and staring at Carter in a way that was a mixture of frighteningly intense and rather motherly. She wasn’t sure what exactly he was asking for. Did he want her to tell him what had happened, or didn’t he? “It’s fine. Really.” The movement didn’t quite encourage him to do the same. After all, this was Marissa’s home. Her place. She could probably feel comfortable there easily. Carter on the other hand still had that feeling of uneasiness.
He angled himself a bit more towards her as she spoke, body twisted as his legs remained forward. Some sort of parody of an Egyptian mural. It was good to have her get that - though granted, quite a few people had, from what he’d seen. Though most had been more uneasy about his not researching his source.
There was a beat as he considered - because he honestly didn’t know. It wasn’t as if he knew a place to start. All he knew was bits and pieces and a slight assumption. What was with Toby always singing about pies? Why didn’t the last names match up? How come Toby had gone crazy? How had Mrs. Lovett and Toby gotten caught up in the murder scheme? Carter’s head pounded, until at last deciding to go with the simplest: “How does the story go?” Maybe in her words, it’d be easier then some Wikipedia article. Marissa sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth, and then sighed. Well. He certainly wanted to get right to the heart of things, didn’t he? But how could she deny him that information? She just couldn’t.
“It’s a long story,” she warned him softly, her cockney accent back again, though certainly not on purpose this time. “And its not very nice.” Her eyes grew distant and she thought of it. How could she start? How far could she really go? There was a barber and his wife, and he- no, no. She would not start with him. For once, she would start with herself.
“There was... There was a pie maker and her husband. But she didn’t love him, not really. She was in love with the barber who lived upstairs. They rented the room out to him and his wife, you see.” As she spoke, she settled further back into the couch, staring resolutely at a spot just over Carter’s shoulder, her eyes out of focus as she thought of those days on Fleet Street. “It was foolish of her. So very foolish. He would never love her back, yet she pined for him all the same. Then one day the barber was arrested on orders from a judge that hoped that by taking the barber away, he could have his wife. But she wouldn’t have him- she missed her husband so much it was all she could do to just take care of herself and their daughter. And the pie maker helped, because even if she didn’t like the barber’s wife, she still loved the barber and knew that would have made him happy.”
“Then the barber’s wife was...” Marissa blinked a couple of times. No. That she would not share. It wasn’t important to the story- not really. “She tried to kill herself. Arsenic. The pie maker tried to stop her- she really did, but it was too late. The barber’s wife survived, but it drove her mad. She left to go live on the streets, and for a little while, the pie maker took care of the barber’s daughter, but then the judge came and took her away as his ward. A few years later, the pie maker’s husband died, and she was left all on her own.”
She paused for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. This was when things started to get complicated. If she didn’t tread carefully, she could lose Carter forever- regardless of how she tried to make it up to him later. “Fifteens years after the barber was arrested and deported to Australia, he managed to escape. He found his way back to the pie maker, who was still waiting for him. As I said... She was a fool. The barber only wanted to get revenge for what the judge had done to him, and the pie maker was more then happy enough to go along with whatever he wanted, because she was convinced he could still fall in love with her.” Carter was quite content to sit back and listen to a ‘story’. Put like that and told in that manner, it allowed him to distance a bit more. More often then not, when it was just him and Toby - or when he didn’t think too much, he forgot that he was the reincarnate of a fictional character. Or even had a fictional character in his head. It was simply a person, who had his own life and came from another time. Toby’s own singing and mumblings went quiet as Marissa spoke - Carter supposed he was listening too.
The pie maker took him a few mentions, as well as a nudge from Toby to realize that was Mrs. Lovett. Oh. Right. That explained why Toby always mentioned pies. Love story then. Weird. He winced in turn at the barber (who he was pointedly not labelling as Sweneey Todd) was arrested and his wife tried to kill herself. He half wanted to know why she - the pie maker - didn’t help the woman when she went to the streets. Shouldn’t she have...kept her?
No, wait. Back then the crazy people were left to do that. Right? He was taking an apropos history class this semester. Christ, his head hurt.
He listened on, trying to be more neutral. He didn’t want to interrupt and all but...wait. He’d come back? For revenge? To get the Judge who...oh crap. “The barber was Sweeney?” Carter said, eyebrows rising. Double crap. ‘And notice she hasn’t mentioned you, so why are you calling Mrs. Lovett mum, though if you were his illegitimate kid and you ended up killed, I’m high tailing out of here. Now.’ Toby didn’t respond, which he supposed was a good sign. Marissa’s hand twitched and she blinked as she was ripped out of her narration by Carter’s question. She flicked her eyes over to him and recognized the expression on his face- he was talking to Toby. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts and remember what he’d asked.
“Yes,” she told him reluctantly. “The barber was Sweeney. Back then, before he returned from jail he had a different name. Barker, his name was. Benjamin Barker. But he decided to shed that life after he became a changed man.”
She wished she didn’t have to tell Carter this story. But better from her then straight from the real source. At least this way she could twist things just a smidgen- not lie outright of course. Simply nudge his thoughts so that he would understand her side of the story better. So that he wouldn’t be afraid of her, or think that she would ever, every betray him. She reserved that for the worthless shit the rest of the world was. Not him, though. Never, never, her darling son.
“Are you sure you want me to keep going?” She asked, knowing full well that he wanted to hear the story anyways. “We could finish talking about it later. You seem a bit... Torn.” That was the right word for it. Of course, she was hardly describing his reaction to her story, but to Marissa herself. Still, he didn’t know that. Alliteration was the last thing he expected. It seemed so freaking weird and well…Dr. Seuss ish, after expecting all this doom and gloom that a chuckle escaped him. He could feel Toby raise a brow at him and he knew it had been a bad slip. “Sorry, sorry, it just – felt funnier than it should have been.” And he had to feel a little better then be paranoid now.
There was a beat of hesitation, before Carter nodded. “If you don’t mind? I’d rather just…get it over with.” He winced. “No offense. I’m just expecting the worst here.” A hand went to his neck, rubbing at it. He’d picked up the habit as of late when exceptional uncomfortable and hadn’t recognized it yet. That fear of ole Sweeney - Benjamin, he fixed, thinking of Harry Potter – and his razors had to go.