I was literally not expecting 14 reads and a review in the first chapter after 11 hours posting it. Thank you so much kind person!
I can't be sure whether the chapters will be in a chronological order or just connected in some way. Until I figure out which is more fun to read, ya'll get what you get hehheehehehe.
Again, Gorillaz does not belong to me. It belongs to Albarn and Hewlett the amazings. With that, moving on!
Chapter 2. Man At Work: DIY never felt this hard. Not at 50+ at least.
Murdoc is awakened by a loud crash and something that sounds a lot like Russel's stomach-rumbling voice echoing through the house in an unothodox morning greeting.
He tries to bury himself deeper into the bed, unwilling to deal with whatever crap there was to deal with so early in the day. But Russel's voice lessens none, and when he notices that the tiny clock he'd set on the corner actually read fifteen past 12, he grumbles the whole way out of his bed.
It's no bed, because no one would call a bunch of stacked blankets a bed. Unless if you were homeless or couldn't be bothered to set up the mattress. Since he was only half of that (the other half being unable to focus on the band's personal comfort and necessities due to all the housework needed to be done) the ache on his back has extra sting and makes him automatically don a nasty scowl.
Another crash and he's up on his feet and striding through the door.
"What in Satan's name is going on down there?!"
The house practically shakes from his voice, and he assumes it was likely to bring down more of its foundations if he was planning on raising his voice any higher. Whatever he sees downstairs will determine that, he decides.
Of course what he finds once he gets there pretty much settles his voice higher than the house can endure as his bandmates can stomach
"The fuck are you three doing?!"
The sight that meets him is that of Russel and Noodle standing over a rather disgruntled 2D. It doesn't look like much from where he stands, so he walks over to them closer and swears again when he realizes the reason for the commotion.
2D was in fact, stuck in a hole on the floor. Most likely caused by him. Noodle, with her legs and arms outstretched as she held onto the singer's arms, was trying to pull him out of the hole. Russel on the other hand, was just standing at the side, scratching his head and watching Noodle fail and fail again because 2D kept whining about hurting everytime he moved.
Murdoc groans at the entire sight. "As if I don't have enough problems to deal with in this shitty house. You had to make a hole right in the middle of the floor?!"
Although he's on his full rage mode (minus the physical outbursts), 2D seemed more worried about the sharp edges where the floorboards sticked around his torso.
"It's not me fault, Murdoc! The hole was already here and I didn't even see it!" The bluenette said in defense.
"Like I'm supposed to believe that shit." The bassist remarked.
"Believe it, dumbass. 'Coz this was the hole you made the other day."
Murdoc was just about ready to waste a good 5 minutes trying to defend his case and pin it all on 2D. Unfortunately for him, Russel had more 'authentic' evidence, and pointed it out before Murdoc could open his trap again.
"Yeah, you made it all right. You came home drunk the other day, stomping your way towards the stairs and smashed your foot right through the floor." The drummer picked up something from the floor. It was the makeshift caution tape Murdoc had made to 'seal off' the broken areas of the house. "You put this across the walls and just covered the hole with the carpet. I kept telling you to fix it, but when have you ever listened to me?"
Seeing the tape alone already has him remembering said incident. That it was in fact him that made the hole. It's not like he had forgotton about it. With all the damages around the house, it was hard to keep track of everything. And its not like he's begun the repairs already. But then again, he can't just say all that after Russel had singled him out. Murdoc was never one to back down from an argument after all. Even if he was the one at fault
"Well, why the hell didn't you see the tape?" He goes then, trying to brush off Russel's statement as much as possible.
"It's not like anyone can see it when you keep knocking it down." Noodle retorts, as she gives 2D's arm another tug.
Well, shit. If Noodle herself was going to single him out too, then Murdoc may as well drop the whole conversation already.
"If you're done blaming this on everyone, would you mind helping us getting D' outta this hole?" Russel suggests, kneeling down and wrapping his big arms around the smaller man's midsection. "Okay baby girl, you pull him out, and I'mma try to twist his body out from the floor."
Noodle nods and does as told. With Russel's aid, it hurts 2D less. But he stil showed no signs of getting out any time soon.
With a huff, Russel loosens his grip. "Ain't ya' supposed to be skinny D'? Like, the hell? It's like your body is perfectly wedged into the wood."
The term 'skinny' doesn't offend 2D at all. The fact that Russel even brought it up actually enlightens him with the thought as well. "Ye think I gained weight, Russ?" He asks, forgetting his predicament at the moment.
The three ramble on, and as Murdoc stands there, his patience had been all but spent. "Ah for the love of-!"
Without warning, Murdoc raises his foot and slams it right through the floorboard. It's an amazing feat, especially when considering the fact that Murdoc had only been up for the better of 10 minutes, and boot-less. But the wood breaks apart like dried wheat and there's now enough space for 2D to wiggle out of.
If the floor was as brittle as that, one would think it would"ve collapsed already. What with all four of them (especially cough*cough*Russ*cough*cough) there.
"Right, the lot of ye', out!" Murdoc proceeds.
Russel grunts, shrugs it off, and Noodle is too busy checking 2D for wounds and berating Murdoc for his methods to hear what he's saying.
"I said get out!" Murdoc tries again, and this time the trio faces him.
"Pardon?" Russel voices out.
"Ye heard me, lards. Out, the lot of ye. Been getting shit on fixing the house and not fixing the house. Well, I ain't gonna get any fucking work done if you three are gonna be here!"
Russel is calm and still has that same dead-eyed look that always told Murdoc to think twice before doing or saying anything. The younger members of the band though, look exactly like children he'd just ordered to leave the house.
Having too much to deal with already, Murdoc steps forward and begins pushing 2D and Noodle across the hall. It was unexpected for all of them that neither Noodle nor Russel tried intervening. There were some whining though, courtesy of 2D.
"I don't want te hear it! Get out, drive around, shop er whatever!"
"But we don't have any money!" The bluenette offered.
"Noodle has some from all that yakuza-slaying shite. Leave it to her." Murdoc remarked.
And the two were slammed out the door before Noodle could even make a stand for it.
With a long sigh, Murdoc drags himself back up the stairs to change, hearing Russel call out protests to his actions the entire way.
Russel is in the living room sipping coffee when Murdoc returns. The man is now in a pair of faded jeans, a white, long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and of course, his infamous Cuban heels.
"Ya sure you wanna work wearing those?" The drummer aks, only because he isn't keen on hearing the Satanist complain about it afterwards.
"Didn't I ask ye to get yer lard arse out of the house?" Murdoc returns, rummaging through the boxes scattered around the room, finding tools and the like in the most unusual piles.
"Please, this house will fall apart if I leave you doing God-knows-what."
"I'd have to break both me arms before I actually ask for your help."
That wasn't his point, but Russel doesn"t bother. Sooner or later the man would be crying for assistance. That is to say he didn't break the house before his body first.
Once he'd gotten everything he needed, Murdoc then proceeds to the kitchen. They had pre-ordered new floorboards, wall plaster, paint and all the DIY brick-a-brack a week before. It wasn't exactly wise a decision to have stored them all there, but Murdoc had argued that the kitchen was the only safe place to put it. Russel of course, thought otherwise. And that lead to an argument, as it always does with everything.
Eventually, the house is filled with pounding, clattering and a pandemonium of noise. For a moment Russel contemplates whether the bassist was really doing the repairs like he said he would, or just hitting on the next bit of broken garbage.
Finished with his coffee, Russel momentarily goes to the kitchen to dump his mug. He finds that a considerable amount of wood and plaster has already been put to use. It was 1:17 PM then
But when the noise increases by the hour, the drummer forces himself out of the couch and locates where the sound was.
He checks his watch as he goes, finds that it had been 3 hours since Murdoc started working. He comes upon the hall they'd all been 'stuck" in earlier. Much to his surprise the hole was already patched up. Nicely done, to boot.
"Mudz..." Russel called, sweeping through the first floor but unable to find the bassist.
Then a crash comes from upstairs and a loud echo of "Dammit!" has Russel speeding up the stairs.
What he finds almost makes him laugh, but for the good of the poor old sod, he holds it in.
"Karma's a bitch, ain't it?" He snorts, walking over to Murdoc whose one foot had went through another weak spot of wood and was now balancing himself between the wall and the large piece of drywall in his hands.
"Just shut yer trap and get me damed foot off. Me back is killing me." Complained the older man.
The danger of his position isn't what propels Russel to move right away. It was the physical state the man was in. He'd never seen Murdoc sweat like this before. Sweat and actually be exhausted to produce such fluids in thick trickles. His hair was all over the place, and his shirt was already filthy and soaked through.
"Never knew you were a secretor, Mudz." Russel sneered. Because Murdoc was asking for help, so he may as well say his best 'I told you so' in all forms possible while he can.
"Piss off." Murdof responds, albeit tiredly once his foot is free.
But even then, he is unable to follow it up with a better insult. Choosing instead to lean on the wall and breathe for a minute.
"You're pretty winded." Russel points out, becoming genuinely concerned now.
"Like you're one to talk, being so diabetic and all." Murdoc tries to laugh and wheezes instead.
Last time Russel had a medical exam, he was more on the gigantic side rather than diabetic. But he let's that slide too. Letting Murdoc catch his breath, Russel gets a good look of the second floor, and he is impressed that the Satanist had a lot of work done.
Several wall cavities were finally covered up. The thin-looking walkways were now nailed with extra boards. And a door had now been installed at Noodle's room, where he can see through the opening, had more work done compared to the rest of the house.
"You did Noods' room first." He concluded.
Wiping his face off with an arm, Murdoc finally straightens up. But not without a hand to his back. "So what? It was a damned eyesore. And she's been complaining about dressing without a door. Can't afford the press coming up with ideas about shit that ain't real."
What an excuse, Russel thinks. But surprisingly, he just let's it go too. Especially after what Murdoc says next.
"She was crying again last night."
Russel's face grows solemn. "Yeah, I heard that too. I think she found that beer stash of yours."
Murdoc takes a moment trying not to get pissed off about his beer being touched by someone else, and that someone else being Noodle. With a sigh, he calms himself down, and like Russel, let's it go. (For now).
It's difficult for either of them to say anything else in regards to the sudden topic. Even after their reunion, they've barely had time to talk about everything that happened. It's an unsaid agreement that they all still have their own grudges about 'certain things.'
"I'm doing my fucking best." Murdoc blurts all the sudden.
It's far too unexpected for him to say such a thing, drunk or not (and by the smell, it didn't seem like he was at the moment.) By the look on his face, it was clear that he was trying to make it look like he was referring to the repairs on the house. But after nearly 2 decades of putting up with his shit, it's easier to read between the lines now. Especially when they're getting thin and faded.
I'm trying to fix all the shit I've done.
Grabbing the drywall from his hands, Russel stomps to the room Murdoc had been working on. "Sit down or take a nap before that back breaks, crack'uh ass."
Throughout the entire ordeal of a day, Murdoc finally wears that signature grin with the matching snake tongue. "That's getting way too old, Russ."
Smirking, Russel swings the door to a close behind him. "Until it's older than you, I'm gonna use it as much as I fucking want.
The door closed just in time before he could even see the finger Murdoc pointed his way.
Later that night, around 7, the door opened to a rather dolled up Noodle and suave-dressed 2D. The duo strode inside, barely noticing the fresh repairs and patched up hole.
"Whoa. It looks like Mudz really went all out." 2D said, completely awestruck.
Ignoring the repairs for now, Noodle handed her paperbags to the singer. "Could you put these in the kitchen, Toochie-kun."
Immediately obeying (since the girl had practically treated him with her saved money), 2D saunters over to the kitchen.
Once 2D is gone, Murdoc is quick to appear on the stairs.
"Your back." He says, taking a swig from the bottle he's holding.
Noodle draws up her sunglasses. "It looks like you fixed some stuff up." She said, nodding to herself. "Pretty good."
Murdoc shrugs. "I did my best."
Scoffing, Noodle only says, "Well, you still have a long way to go."
"I've all the time in the world, girlie." He replied.
And as if it just had to happen, a crash came from the kitchen along with 2D's high-pitched yammering.
Murdoc could only laugh.
Yeah yeah! This took me a whole day due to unstable network connection, but I am absolutely satisfied with it.
Surely if you can do it yourself, why bother with spending money on the repair man. M pretty sure Murdoc thinks the same.
If 2D had eaten all that whale blubber, you'd think he'd gained some weight, right?
Hope you all enjoyed!