#cannotfly: johanna barker

[betterto-die-thanto-crawl]

Connor was clearly panicked, betrayal showing clearly on his drawn, pallid face as he stood there, mouth agape. "I-I..." He gulped, listening to everything his sister was saying, looking at her like he didn't know her. "I suppose I sh-should be glad for you... I mean-" He hesitated, taking a panicky shaken breath. "I am... I am glad for you." All of the sudden, his expression crumpled to a look that could only be described as heartbroken. "He'll hurt me anyway. You know that. I thought..." He paused, his brow frowning as he thought to himself. "I thought we'd escape together... and that you wouldn't leave like everybody else..." He sounded like a child and looked like a caught, wounded animal. Something in his look hardened. "Don't let me keep you. You don't have long, I'm sure."

@betterto-die-thanto-crawl's connor mur.phy sent: "so that's it then? you're leaving?"

he wasn't supposed to catch her. he isn't supposed to know. it wasn't a decision she took lightly. whispering softly to anthony, she told him that she had a brother and she told him that she didn't know if she should let connor remain blissfully ignorant in case the judge asked him anything or if she should tell him. ( the truth of it lies deep in her stomach like a rock interrupting a wave crashing: she couldn't bring him with them ). later on, they would find a way to get him with them. approach him while he was at university -- away from the beadle and the judge's prying eyes. they could run away from london.

what she should wear? -- she daren't pack. her body seems to have frozen in front of her wardrobe. poised to pick out the prettiest dress she owned for what would be her wedding later on. instead, johanna tucks a stray curl behind her ear.

❝ connor, i -- ❞ she and anthony weren't as quiet as she thought they were. connor must have heard it all. ❝ you can't know. this is one step, alright? we're-we're-anthony and i . . . he's coming. tonight. you have university tomorrow. we'll come and we'll go. all of us. you just can't-! you can't know now. ❞ fingers run through the tips of her hair. ❝ you can't know! he'll-he'll-he'll ask you things and you'll know the answers and you can't know the answers. he will hurt you again. that's why i couldn't tell you. i couldn't let you get hurt. connor, please. i'm sorry this looks bad. it looks terrible. i'm sorry. but i can't tell you anymore. tomorrow. we'll come for you tomorrow. ❞

[notelasts]

@cannotfly liked for a starter ( for kaz )

Kaz glances up from his paperwork as the door to his office shuts. Johanna Barker, he assumes. His new Healer. Inej had told him about her and her situation. He knew that she wanted to employ Johanna because of her sympathy, but Kaz has needed a Healer for a long time—Nina’s good, but she’s a Heartrender, not a Healer—so the decision was made easily. “My Wraith tells me you’re indentured to Phillip Turpin.” He knows Turpin. He knows every rich old man in Ketterdam. And, more importantly, he knows their secrets. “I have a job for you. You can take it or leave it, but I assume with how the conditions are at home, you’re going to take it.”

[avilionea]

@cannotfly (JOHANNA)

All of this had been entirely unexpected. this was the first he'd been on his feet in some time, and the silence of the old Laurence mansion was deafening. the last he remembered was gun and canon fire.

He had been staring at a family portrait on the wall, his eyes fixed on his own father when he was but Laurie's age, a mirror of himself. it was hard to think he was gone.

Laurie shifted on his feet, and tried to shift his arm in its sling. He was glad for the cane in his hand, though he'd sooner be rid of it than have to use it. It was Mr. Brookes, the tutor hired by his Grandfather, that suggested that maybe this was enough time up and about today. Laurie protested the notion, despite his tutor being more than correct.

Standing was hard. Still, it was better than being in bed.

"Besides--" he continued before turning his head to spot her, "Good morning, Miss Barker." he said with a light tilt of his head. " You'll have to forgive me for not greeting you yesterday. I was not well." he was not awake to know that she was even there. He had know she was coming, of course. had the situation and the understanding of his removal from the army and the hospital with it. Without his grandfather as his benefactor, he might not even be here.

[widowshill]

BUZZFEED UNSOLVED. JOHANNA BARKER. @cannotfly said: "I don't have a nervous system. I am a nervous system." / to victoria!

❝ Miss Johanna, don't be silly. ❞

DEFT FINGERS move rapidly at the plait, quick enough that her ordinarily perfect work is lopsided, blonde hair pulling free of its confines like strands of spun gold that glint incriminatingly in the candlelight. but their appearance matters not –– not so much as their purpose, anyway, and the governess tucks the ends of the French-style braids beneath the common worker's cap, chewing on her lower lip enough to tear the skin. she hasn't the time to worry about it. the gnawing fear of being found out is one thing ––  but if she's seen aiding her plot ... Miss Winters isn't exactly sure what the judge will do to her, but she's certain enough that she stands to lose more than merely gainful employment.

and it will be worse for Johanna. the longer Mister Turpin thinks the governess on his side the better: the easier she can spin lies an ordinary man would never swallow. but from the mouth of a virtuous governess? untouched by the world –– by men –– and with (seemingly) no higher aim in the world than discipline ? the most ridiculous story is easily garnished with doe-eyed innocence and a way of the world simple and easy to understand. women, pretty, foolish, incapable. as fragile as a rib and incapable of serpentine plotting.

❝ worrying is my job. you're meant to be the one having fun this evening, aren't you ? ❞

[gathersroses]

#GATHERSROSES: an independent and highly selective historical fiction multimuse. as written by fleur (she/her; 18+). very low activity. meme tag. beta editor only. personals and non-roleplay blogs, do not interact. MOVED TO @pimpernals.

 rules. muses.  interest tracker.  pinterest.

other blogs below the cut:

johanna barker; sweeney todd (main; high activity)

graziella bianchi; west side story (sideblog to @cannotfly; low activity)

[pimpernals]

MUSES.

MUSICAL THEATER.

sweeney todd: the demon barber of fleet street:

— johanna barker (main muse; as found on @cannotfly)

west side story:

— sorella ricci (primary)

— tat agapov (secondary)

— karen hansen (primary)

— rhonda thompson (primary)

— tessie johnson (primary)

— mamie o'reilly (secondary)

— mack masotti (secondary)

— maxie kilmartin (secondary)

— natalie marcinek (secondary)

— gussie reiter (secondary)

— dot schmit (primary)

— sweden larson (secondary)

— graziella bianchi (request)

— maria nunez (secondary)

— maria gonzalez (secondary)

the great gatsby

— daisy buchanan (request/testing)

— myrtle wilson (request/testing)

TELEVISION.

schmigadoon/schmicago:

— jenny banks (secondary)

ORIGINAL.

sweeney todd: the demon barber of fleet street:

— marianne hope (secondary)

— amy jo hope (secondary)

— ellie hope (secondary)

— laura hope (primary)

stranger things:

— pamela howard (secondary)

fandomless:

— briar desrosiers (request)

— ellen marie truman (primary)

— rose of vobuvoria (primary; affiliated with gilbertine fabron *see below)

— gilbertine fabron (primary; affiliated with rose *see above)

— elsie day (primary)

OTHER.

the highwayman (poem):

— bess towneley (secondary)

SECRET MENU.

— livia cardew

[havvkinsqueen]

---☁︎｡⋆｡ Johanna reminded her of herself, in a way. Both were quite mousy and shy. And there was an air of something behind the other blonde's facade that Chrissy couldn't quite put her finger on. She often wondered, but never wanted to pry to ask more. Just as the blonde wouldn't want anyone to pry and ask about the pervasive melancholy that she emitted. So, as the two girls wandered about Chrissy did her best to include Johanna in conversation or any decisions they made. "Uhm. Yes and no. I know what I want to do, but what I'll likely do are quite different," she answered, which loosely translated to- I want to do one thing but my mother will likely veto it. "I love writing. I think I'd like to do that and maybe teach dance. But, I'll probably end up in nursing, or being an actual teacher." She looked at Johanna with a small smile. "I think I want to go to either Notre Dame, or Vanderbilt in Nashville. What about you?" She only managed either through cheer scholarships as her grades were mediocre at best.

@havvkinsqueen ( starter call. )

while most other teenagers play sick to stay home from school, johanna was nursing a headache as she tried to take notes in biology. being sick at home means no library in the afternoon. the library is the only thing keeping her from running into the woods and screaming ( or, it would be if she had the courage to ). it's career day, though, who can really blame her for not wanting to miss out? she's silently clung close to chrissy during the presentation. now that they're left to their own devices to walk around and explore, she continues to follow her around. she likes chrissy's presence, even if most of the other cheerleaders scare her. but she can't make it obvious that she's sticking by her? perhaps, if she was feeling better she could've come up with something better. ❝ do you know what you want to do? ❞ a shrug and a glance over her shoulder. ❝ when we graduate? do you . . . have a university or anything? ❞

[cannotflyarc]

#cannotfly. independent and highly selective johanna barker of sweeney todd: the demon barber of fleet street. headcanon and musical based with influences from the 2007 movie and the bond play. written in a post-canon universe. as freed by darcy (she/her; 18+). personal/non-roleplay blogs do not interact. does not follow first. prev: ycllowhaired, cagesings.

a study in ending the cycle of abuse, caged larks, sweeney todd as a tragedy ( not a slasher, not a comedy ), femininity in the victorian era, doomed by the narrative to survive and yellow hair.    

carrd. interest checker. pinterest. memes.

drafts: 4. inbox: 21. owed starters: 0. updated: 6/1/24.

[avilionea]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ* ARRANGED MARRIAGE SENTENCE STARTERS

@cannotfly ASKED: “It is an odd thing, to be wed to someone you never met, to have a complete stranger suddenly become such a great part of your life.” (JOHANNA)

"it is not something either you, Ms. Barker, nor I could have imagined." His hand rested atop his cane, his thumb tapped it rhythmically, if not anxiously.

if he was not visited by the doctor to look at his wounds, then it was time spent with his grandfather ( who was stern and old and closed off. If there was any grief for the passing of Laurie's father, Laurie had a hard time noting its existence), then it was time spent with his fiancée only to be followed by tutoring with Mr. Brooke.

It was all too much of a full schedule. Whatever he needed, it wasn't this. Laurie glanced toward the clock and could only think of how quickly the time was ticking away. Presently he said "I've never been on the other side of the house." Before trying his best to stand quickly and efficiently while maintaining his balance with one arm in a sling.

"Grandfather says there's a library. Must be on the other side of the house." he was already limping toward the door, "I'm afraid I cannot hold the door and at the risk of being improper, would ask that you manage it if you could. We're do for some adventure-- don't you think?"

[avilionea]

NAME:  Lucy Barker SPECIES: human ORIENTATION: heterosexual GENDER: female BIRTH DATE:  June 4th, 1814

APPEARANCE

Yellow gold curls and pearl white teeth, her porcelain skin was her dowry. now though, her hair is matted beyond the saving grace of a comb, mud colored and full of bugs. Her teeth have yellowed too, though she has yet to lose them. she looks as snapped as she feels, a shadow of her former self.

face claim:  Alice Isaaz

RELATIONSHIPS

FAMILY:  N/A

SIGNIFICANT OTHER:   Benjamin Barker ( Husband / alive)

CHILDREN:   Johanna ( daughter / alive)

PERSONALITY

.She used to be sweet and full of laughter, gentle, and perhaps a bit naive. Now she is worn down, snapped in half by the perils of living. she isn't all there, she isn't what she used to be.

NEED TO KNOWS

Lucy is mentally unwell. She isn't completely present, but she has moments of lucidness. This is projected as madness during the events of the show in 1846, but tis really just some bad PTSD and other trauma.

While Mrs Lovett describes Lucy's fate, she is an unreliable narrator, so much of Lucy's strife is not as neatly outlined as Mrs. Lovett makes it out to be. Lucy's husband was sent to prison, she was being harassed and eventually raped by Judge Turpin, and drank arsenic to kill herself to escape him. Lucy, instead of being sent to bedlam, she was briefly seen by a doctor/sent to a hospital at the Judge's behest, then sent to prison for the standard six month sentence, but only avoided the mandatory hanging that followed the sentence by the Judge's influence. she was placed in the workhouse to pay off the hospital debts. during this time, she loses Johanna by court order, and the Judge makes her his ward. further headcanons to follow regarding this time period.

Lucy's complete path for begging/prostituting goes from the docks, to Fleet Street to Kearney's Lance totaling a five mile walk one way with at least a mile between Fleet Street and Kearney's Lane. She does talk to Johanna, though she doesn't know that that's her daughter. She often asks about ' the baby'.

Lucy has a rag doll that she refers to as her own baby, she also has a bag full of broken or thrown out toys, such as stuffed animals from the trash and small broken doll heads from mudlarking in the river. She's saving them all for when her 'baby' is old enough to enjoy them. the ragdoll is a comfort an she treats it like a real human being. Lucy sings many lullabies and nursery rhymes while walking her route and begging/prostituting. the baby gets turned away or laid face down so it doesn't have to see her 'work'.

Lucy has had her head shaved twice( once in hospital and once in prison) and now is very protective while simultaneously being neglectful of her hair as well as her body. she doesn't have access to a bath or a brush, but she does touch her matted hair often, just to make sure its still there.

Lucy is heavily affiliated with @cannotfly

[cannotflyarc]

#cannotfly.  an indepedent, mutually-exclusive, and highly selective portrayal of johanna barker of sweeney todd: the demon barber of fleet street. mainly headcanon and musical with influences from the bond play and 2007 film. typically written in a post-canon or alternate universe setting. as freed by darcy (she/her; 18+). personal/non-roleplay blogs do not interact. meme tag below. warnings for all types of abuse, rape, eating disorders ( anorexia ), mental illness, murder, suicide, and references to other dark themes. previously ycllowhaired and cagesings. does not follow first.

a study in ending the cycle of abuse, clinging to sanity, caged larks, being trapped behind cold glass, the loss of control and attempt to gain it, if i cannot fly; let me sing, sweeney todd as a tragedy ( not a slasher, not a comedy ), femininity in the victorian era, doomed by the narrative to live and yellow hair.    

carrd  |  interest checker  |  pinterest | playlist

drafts: 15. inbox: 18. owed starters: 5. updated: 3/27/24.

[gathersroses]

MUSES.

MUSICAL THEATER.

sweeney todd: the demon barber of fleet street:

— johanna barker (main muse; as found on @cannotfly)

— lucy barker (request)

— nellie lovett (secondary)

— annie bamford (secondary)

les miserables:

— cosette fauchelevent (strictly plotting only)

west side story:

— graziella bianchi (as found on @aintdumb)

— sorella ricci (primary)

— tat agapov (primary)

— karen hansen (secondary)

— rhonda thompson (primary)

— tessie johnson (primary)

— mamie o'reilly (secondary)

— mack masotti (secondary)

— maxie kilmartin (secondary)

— natalie marcinek (secondary)

— gussie reiter (secondary)

— dot schmit (primary)

— sweden larson (secondary)

— maria nunez (secondary)

— maria gonzalez (secondary)

a tale of two cities:

— lucie manette (request/testing)

the great gatsby

— daisy buchanan (request/testing)

FILM.

corpse bride:

—victoria everglot (strictly plotting only)

cyrano (2021):

— roxanne (secondary)

TELEVISION.

schmigadoon/schmicago:

— jenny banks (secondary)

stranger things:

— chrissy cunningham (request/testing)

ORIGINAL.

the haunted mansion:

— eleanora beaufort (request)

pirates of the caribbean:

— catherine sherwood (request)

phantom of the opera:

— clarise battencourt (request)

sweeney todd: the demon barber of fleet street:

— clara hope (secondary)

— amy jo hope (primary)

— ellie hope (primary)

— laura hope (primary)

stranger things:

— pamela howard (secondary)

a haunting in venice:

— alicia drake (testing)

fandomless:

— briar desrosiers (secondary)

— ellen marie truman (primary)

— rose of vobuvoria (primary; affiliated with gilbertine fabron *see below)

— gilbertine fabron (primary; affiliated with rose *see above)

— elsie day (primary)

— mary o'clergh (primary)

OTHER.

the highwayman (poem):

— bess towneley (secondary)

sense and sensibility:

— eliza williams (request/testing)

MILF CLUB.

— helene lautmann (request; affilated with @soldwrecked)

— mary o'hara (request; affliated with @whatsbehindthefacade)

— marta hoffman (request; affiliated with @whatsbehindthefacade)

— sophie mcclellan (request; affiliated with @heygutlcss)