InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "These books are my paddles."

Sweeney Todd (fleetstbarber) wrote in utr_logs,
@ 2008-06-08 02:04:00

Entry tags:

sadako yamamura, sweeney todd

Who: Sadako Yamamura & Sweeney Todd
What: Trip to New York City!
Where: NYC and London.
When: Sunday
Warning: SRS warnings for gore, violence, blood. You know, usual standard fare for Killer!Sweeney. More violence occurring in Sadako's special brand of killy. Sap. Schmoop. Possible sex.

London mornings were dreary and gray, or at least this particular one was. The fog had yet to burn off and the clouds had yet to roll back, and it was well past nine when Sweeney showed up on Sadako's doorstep. He had asked Petit to look after Kage and the shop for the day while he had business to take care of in America, and although it was a business trip in his mind, at least half of the thrill of it was going there with Sadako.

He knocked on the lady's door, and waited patiently as ever while she answered. He was dressed fairly modern for what he usually wore. Though it was business-casual, it was still dark colors and rather keyed down from the norm. He had tucked one of his friends into his pocket -- it was Annette, the Maiden. He'd deliberated taking Josephine, the Wife, instead... but Annette was in need to get a taste after a century and a half.

And the only other thing that was to note about him was that he'd pulled his hair back into a short tail, held off by a ribbon. It wasn't as if he wanted to draw any more attention to himself than he already got with his pallor and streak of white. After all -- he was planning on 'thanking' a celebrity.

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 08:28 am UTC (link)

Sadako was wearing a neat black dress that fell just below her knee. Black patent leather pumps and her long glossy hair pulled into a neat braid helped make her look like she was going on a business trip rather than trying to hunt down the people who'd botched the movies about her. She was actually interested to watch Sweeney work. She figured you could tell a lot about a man by watching him work.

When the knock sounded on her door, she grabbed her purse and went to answer it. Blinking, she reached out to touch his hair, grinning. "You look delightful, Mister Todd. I trust you found me without too many obstacles?"

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 08:34 am UTC (link)

He didn't shy away from her touch, and actually moved just the slightest bit towards it. "Never had issue finding you, Miss Yamamura." He offered his arm to her, nodding towards the street, "Shall we?"

He couldn't help but look her over. She looked so prim and proper, and very businesslike in the outfit she was in, but still had a flare to her, an edge of seduction that was enough to make his smile go a bit lopsided. "You look beautiful as always, by the way."

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 08:43 am UTC (link)

"And you never will. If you get lost, I'll guide you. Well. I'll try - if I'm lost myself, that might not help you too much." She chuckled a bit, but did notice how he almost leaned into her touch.

Taking his arm, she nodded. "Yes." She rather liked playing the part of a businesswoman; it wasn't something that she'd ever done before. She was an actress, so she could quite easily take the part, but it wasn't something that she'd done herself.

His compliment made her cheeks flush, and she chuckled a bit. "Well, thank you. I only hope I deserve your flattery."

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 08:51 am UTC (link)

Sweeney's ability to smile a bit more easily had come back, if only because he felt whole again with all his ladies back in his possession, and the way the world had somewhat twisted itself on its heel since he'd last lived, and he was realizing how his generally strange behavior was something of a normalcy. His outright bad behavior, however, was a little more than beyond the norm.

So he smiled, "Of course it is." He squeezed her hand slightly closer to his side before starting off in the direction of the portkey, looking to Sadako briefly. "I've given quite a bit of thought as to what I'd like to do with you."

That sounded a bit more ominous than he'd have liked, so he followed up with "Would you like to go visit a movie with me after we've finished our business in the city, Miss Yamamura?"

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 08:58 am UTC (link)

When he pulled her a little bit closer to her, she felt her heart beat faster. Swallowing, she went along with it, glad that he couldn't tell that she was excited.

"What you'd like to do with me?" She couldn't help laughing when he explained himself, moving a little bit ahead of him to meet his eyes. Mister Todd, you'll find me different from anyone you've known in that I have no fear of you. There is nothing you can do to harm me, I assure you. Point made, she giggled girlishly and reclaimed his hand. "I'd love to go to a film with you."

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 09:09 am UTC (link)

He forgot that one simple bit about her, that she didn't have need to fear. And he nodded to her thought, responding with I will keep it in mind. Though, the more you say it, the more it sounds like a challenge, luv.

He nodded then, "Lovely. Your choice, Miss Yamamura, I'm afraid I haven't gotten so far into my knowledge of this world as to know what I'd like, film-wise. Though I did find out that I'm rather taken with spicy food."

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 09:10 am UTC (link)

A challenge? Maybe. Would you like that? It could be our game. She bit her lip and laughed quietly to herself, wondering what he'd do if he let her.

She didn't know what kinds of movies he'd like either, and she squeezed his hand. "We'll go to the theater and see what movie you'd like to see. If you like, we can go get some sushi afterwards. If you like spicy, you'll love wasabi."

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 09:28 am UTC (link)

I would like that, yes. Though I have my hesitations about even trying to harm you. He was smiling still. It was a secretive, devilish little smile that belied his interests in what could be done.

"That sounds splendid - what is sushi?" He stepped up to the portkey, not yet touching it, looking at Sadako, just looking her over, tracing over the line of her jaw with his sight alone, and down her neck. Oh, the possibilities...

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 09:35 am UTC (link)

But you want to, don't you? Aren't you curious about how much I can take? She smiled far more broadly than he did. For her, it was almost a way to practice her skills, to keep them sharp. If it pleased him - someone who made her heart flutter - why not?

"Sushi is fish. It's very common where I'm from." She noticed him looking at her neck, and looked up at the sun, tilting her head backward and baring her neck to him before turning back to wink at him, stepping forward and touching the portkey.

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 09:40 am UTC (link)

He laid her hand on hers as she touched the portkey, and huffed a half-chuckle, thinking first You're trying to seduce me. I think I might like it. And then about Central Park, where he arrived a moment later, and he had to get his bearings.

"Well of course it would be, being an island country like Japan is, I'm sure fish is very common as lunch and dinner." He offered his hand instead, this time, raising one brow. "Now if I read the maps I'd seen correctly, We go west, and then up... Blast, what street was that?" He pulled out his directions which were wrapped around the handle of his razor, and read them, looking very serious for a man whose thoughts were somewhat loudly on Sadako and her offer.

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 09:48 am UTC (link)

You think you might like it? Clearly, I should try harder. And then she was in New York, traveling as fast as it took her to murder a man. She smirked a bit, adjusting her dress.

"It is. And snacks." She took his hand, then couldn't help giggling as he tried to find directions to the office while thinking about running his razor down the length of her jaw. It is a pretty thing. I'd be flattered, you know. It's an odd sort of intimacy - killing someone.

Walking toward one of the park patrons, she smiled her most genuine smile. "Pardon me, my friend and I are new here and we're looking for... " She pulled the address from Sweeney's mind, taking care to look demurely at her feet as the stranger thought about the best way to go.

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 09:55 am UTC (link)

I'm sure I like the implications. He corrected, and then the next thought made his own pulse quicken, and his skin get a chill before going a bit warmer than usual. That's not fair, you know.

The stranger was a bit confused, themselves, but they gave straightforward directions, keeping their eyes on the girl instead of the man who looked far too much like a heroin addict in a suit than anything. Sweeney thanked the person for the directions, and started that way, hand in Sadako's as they continued on their little journey. "Miss LeBeau took me to New Orleans a couple nights ago, to celebrate the return of my ladies to me, and she ordered a soup that was primarily seafood and spices. It was very good. Have you had gumbo?"

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 10:00 am UTC (link)

Perhaps not. But it's true. She knew that they could potentially have sex in any number of ways - but it would never mean as much to him as running cold steel along her skin. Oddly enough, she didn't mind. All she'd ever wanted was to be accepted, and he'd done that.

Once they'd started off again, she couldn't help swinging his hand slightly. "No, that sounds nice, though. Soup is always good. Warmth is quite soothing." She thought about Zōni, and how she would like to share it with him on New Year's.

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 10:11 am UTC (link)

Though the fact was that he was just as sexually motivated as he was motivated towards blood. The thought of the two together never really came into play until just this moment, and as he said, he seemed to like the implications. His mind -- generally of the one track sort -- was split between that train of thought, and the mission at hand. His imagination was vivid enough where if she was listening into his mind at all, snips and flickers of what he was thinking might have shown up -- a cut there, a moan here, a shaded grin and a gasp of pleasure...

And then there was the darker side, the scent of blood and the death of an old man who knew far too much. The barber was set on seeing the look on Sondheim's face as he realize that he'd been done in by the man he'd written about so many years previous. Sweeney was set on it, desiring that for a week already, having been thinking about it nearly constantly. He started humming, though he hadn't realized it -- it was a tune that was dark and shifty, rambling, but not aimless.

He'd retreated into his thoughts. He got that way, sometimes.

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 10:19 am UTC (link)

His thoughts made her cheeks color, made her squeeze his hand tighter. Once you've breathed in his last breath, I''m going to find the people behind my movie. And then we'll dine. After that, the evening is yours.

Thinking about what she was going to do to the writers made her grin slowly, lips curving upward in pure, absolute pleasure. "Today is a good day. I can feel it."

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 10:27 am UTC (link)

He looked over to her, the look on his face was dangerous and sharp, but it was still a smile, "Yes, I feel it too." Though the underlying thought behind what he said was, The whole day is ours, my dear. Never one or the other's, I will see what you can do, and you can see my work and art. This is a day for exploration in many things.

The address led them to a building taller than any he'd ever been in, and the office was high up in the building. He walked inside, and to the lift, still holding onto Sadako's hand. Though once they were inside the elevator, his hand tightened just slightly.
He hadn't said anything before, but he dreaded two things about lifts. Heights and small, enclosed spaces. Even as the fear crept down his spine, like an ice cube down the center of his back, he pressed the correct button, and stayed perfectly serious looking, not letting his fear show.

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 10:32 am UTC (link)

A mutual day of victory is called for, I agree. She let herself daydream as they made it to the office building, smiling a bit at how afraid they would be, at how they'd know that she was coming for them for seven whole days. 168 hours of the satisfaction that they knew their end was coming, and there was no way to stop it. Her smile didn't leave even as they pushed into the building and climbed into the elevator.

She squeezed his hand gently, thinking about the sweetest parts of her childhood and shoving them hard into his mind - open fields, playing with her mother, learning oragami. She'd been remembering the simple joys of folding paper correctly as the elevator dinged. "Did I help? I - understand, not liking small spaces. The dark. Cold."

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 10:48 am UTC (link)

He savored the memories as much as he had the first time she'd ever done that, letting them linger and turn in his mind like one would inspect a snow globe. Apart from it but thickly within it. When the elevator doors opened, he nodded, "You did." He was slightly amused, especially at the folding of paper, "It's interesting, what you remember as such a simple, but complex task. When I got bored after work, before I was sent off, I used to fold small boxes to put Lucy's hairpins in. She left them practically everywhere." He smirked and stepped into the reception office of the lyricist, and the secretary looked up at him. "I've got an appointment; ten o'clock, Jack Swift." He said after approaching the desk, having slipped his hand away from Sadako's.
The receptionist nodded, "Yes, he's been expecting you, go in, sir."
He turned to Sadako and slipped in through the doors to a rather lush office, with a piano on one side and a desk on the other, and an older gentleman behind it, in a plush chair, on his computer.

Sondheim looked up from what he was doing, and raised both brows, "Ah, nice to meet you, mister Swift."
"As I you." Said Sweeney, closing the distance between himself and his prey. Lock the door, luv.
The barber spoke again, "Though I'll say now that I've misled you. The name's not Swift. Have my card." And he handed one to the other man, who raised both brows, looked at the barber, then looked back down at the card.
"Yes. That Sweeney Todd. I've got to say, Mr. Sondheim, I'm rather impressed with your music, your lyrics, your every detail which rings true..." He had retrieved his friend from his pocket when he also reached for his card, and having done so, he brandished her.
"However, my dear friend, you know far too much, left too much out."

That said, there was a quick movement of his arm and a glint of silver and red. Blood trailed in a high arc, across the desk and over the white plush carpet, and spilled down the old man's neck, turning his white shirt maroon.

Sweeney looked satisfied.

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 10:59 am UTC (link)

"It's the little things that make things richer. Love is a series of small gestures, I feel." She smiled, remembering how Toyama used to wince when the first rays of sun would break through their bedroom window, as if it would burn him.

In amused silence, Sadako watched as he sweettalked the receptionist and pushed his way inside the office. Perhaps you were an actor too? She remained by the door as they entered the office, wanting the best vantage point to watch Sweeney work. Locking the door on command,she leaned against it. There was a simple flick of the wrist, then blood. She'd never really seen blood - her victims died of causes more internal - and she cocked her head to the side, fascinated. "It's so... dark." Approaching Sweeney's side, she reached out to touch some of the blood on his arm, idly tracing the letters of his name. "Warm, too." She looked down at the body and traced the line of his wound.

After a time, she was satisfied with exploring the more visceral parts of murder. After wiping her fingers off on Sweeny's already dirty shirt to her satisfaction, she laid some tissue on the dead man's desk, punching a name into his address book. It was a long shot, but one that paid off. "Apparently the writer I'm looking for is - seven blocks away." She committed the address to memory before deleting the entry from Sondheim's address book, grinning at her companion. "We should get you a new shirt. I'm sure you're sticky. If you were a composer - an artist, prone to fits of passionate composition - wouldn't you keep an extra somewhere?"

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 11:08 am UTC (link)

Sweeney watched his companion, quiet and dignified as he wiped the razor clean on the old man's shirt, and then, with no hesitation, drew the back of it across the side of her neck, the warm metal going across her beautiful skin, not leaving a mark whatsoever. "Hn. Yes, blood is darker than they tend to pretend that it is. It's darker when it's an artery like the one in a man's neck." He explained, folding the razor and slipping it back into his pocket, whispering "rest now" to his friend, before slipping out of his jacket and setting it aside. It was dark enough that what blood had splattered on it was absorbed and didn't show.

"Good question, pet." He said, tapping his chin before wandering over to a cabinet. "As to what you asked about acting... Well, I've always thought that acting and deception are hand in glove. But I did set an appointment." He said with a smirk as he opened the cabinet to find several shirts. "Ah!" He said, before unbuttoning his shirt and shrugging it off, showing scars up and down across his back and shoulder blades. He'd been whipped, but it didn't seem to phase him to let Sadako see those scars, even as he picked out another shirt.

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 11:30 am UTC (link)

Sadako gasped in surprise and pleasure as the blade kissed her neck. She couldn't help but watch him in fascination and amusement as he looked around for a new shirt. She could hear him talking, but his scars fascinated her. She didn't have any; her mind had always been too quick to heal any wounds she may have incurred during her life. She moved so she could touch them, fingers running lightly across his back.

"Acting is pointing out the truth. So is successful deception." She let her fingers fall, waiting for him to get dressed. "So. We'll take the stairs down - I can't bear too many more elevator trips - and then I can take care of some things. Can't come too soon, either. I didn't eat before we left." She giggled, the sound somehow childlike, and then waited for him to dress before taking his arm.

As they walked out the office door, she saw the secretary from the corner of her eye. As she blinked, the secretary dropped to the ground, small bleeds in her eyes the only testament to her fatally damaged body.

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 11:38 am UTC (link)

The way Sadako touched his back, his scars, made Sweeney pause in his movements and get the faintest smile. He explained to her, "Work farms were not as humanitarian as they have become in recent years." And when he slipped on the shirt and his jacket, he felt strangely bare still, as if he'd forgotten something, though he'd made perfectly sure that he hadn't. He even plucked the card back from Sondheim's dead fingers and tucked it away with the others, rather liking what the drops of blood did to the look of the card.

When the secretary dropped, he raised a brow, then turned to Sadako. "Bad girl." He cooed, moving his arm from where it was, to around her waist, giving her the lightest squeeze, before going back to being a gentleman. "Really, luv, I could've dealt with her, but..." He looked over his shoulder as they left the office and started towards the stairs, "But I think I rather like your approach."

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 11:44 am UTC (link)

"They're lovely." Her fingers seemed to recall the smoothness of the skin even after she'd stopped touching him, and it made her feel somehow lighter. She took care to wipe off the handle of the door, clucking her tongue and looking back at Sweeney. "I'm not used to all this secrecy. It's so much easier when you know the whole world's going to die. Police can't really stop you there." That tickled her funny bone, and she laughed a little. "It's a bit like being in a film. The covering our tracks bit."

Sadako was rather proud of the secretary's death. It was something the medical examiner would puzzle over for months - how could a woman suffer cranial trauma so severe that her brain swelled to the point of death without any signs of actual trauma? Sweeney's arm around her waist made Sadako lift a hand to her mouth to cover a too-broad grin. She bit down on her finger when he called her bad, trying not to laugh too loudly. I'm quite glad, Mister Todd. Wouldn't want to put you off. Wait until you see how I finish the next one.

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fleetstbarber
2008-06-08 11:58 am UTC (link)

He was amused by the first, and shook his head, feeling the rush of adrenaline still pumping in his veins, making him feel electric, compulsive. "I'm not used to it either, except for the plainly obvious things. Crime's gone a long way, as has the science of investigation." He opened the door to the stairwell for her, following her through, taking the stairs at a moderate pace, no hurry to leave the scene of the crime. He brought his end of the conversation into thought as well, the sound of their footsteps echoing and trailing down loud enough that speaking would simply disturb the moment.

You truly are a delight, Miss Yamamura. So fond of the cheerful, bright side of things, yet so morbidly curious about the dark. And so good at what you do, no less. I'm rather humbled. Though, you have your way of doing things, and I've got mine. I wouldn't change my ways, even if I wished to. He liked the way his razor was an extension of himself, and the feeling of the tension below the blade just before the skin gave way and ripped beneath it. He loved the scent of blood and the sensation of it, never too far off from his own heat when it splattered on him. It was a heady feeling, a rush he couldn't replicate. And there was no replacement to that feeling, nothing that could even come close to it.

His slipped his hand into his pocket and wrapped it around the razor, glad she'd gotten her taste of the new world. The only one who hadn't was the mother, which he ironically named Mary. Mary had her purpose, and would get her chance soon enough.

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wheniamqueen
2008-06-08 04:38 pm UTC (link)

"It has. Though I can easily eliminate any investigators, I'd hate to have to alert them at all. An ounce of prevention and all that." She squeezed his hand lightly as they went down the stairs, her other hand lightly trailing the banister.

I quite like your ways. It has its own artistry to it. You're like a painter, only you've a different sort of canvas. I see my own technique in that way from time to time - only nobody but myself can see my work. Her lips turned upward, Sadako turned her head to smile at Sweeney. "I'm glad we did this."

Her skin was tingling and her heart pounding as they exited the building. "My turn now." It was enough to make her want to skip.