Author's Note: In collaboration with Halloween and 'Sticks and Stones' from the Pierces here is the result. If the video part is too descriptive, well sorry, I was trying to get my idea across. Any constructive remarks are accepted and noted for future reference. Have a Happy and safe Halloween Everyone!
A special thanks to:Blackheart Ace8 and Lucy Chafer for reviewing the last chapter
Chapter 10
She sat in his dressing room picking at a frayed edge of a cushion on the couch while Murdoc had make up artists working on his face and hair dressers making his hair fall just so. A curl fell in front of her eyes from her hair piled on top of her head. Goose bumps formed on her skin because every time she looked in the mirror her eyes would catch with his and it felt like he was putting a spell on her with his dark and haunting eyes. No matter how much time she spent with him, he could always make her unsettled with a look or a touch.
Her innocent eyes avoided his every time he looked at her in the reflection. He was trying to appreciate the view that she was unconsciously putting out on display. With her hair out of the way, he could see the faint love bites that graced her delicate collar bone. The sweet heart neckline of the corset dress she had on left little to his imagination, the fabric draped across her body like a second skin. The only thing that broke her cold demeanor was her foot tapping against the floor.
One of the make up artist tried to relieve some of the unnamable tension in the room. Chancing a glance over at Missy she spoke "So how long have you guys had a thing going on?" Sparkling green eyes met dark ones in the reflection of the mirror, but this time she didn't look away. Missy straightened her back and stuck out her chest a bit. It seemed as if she were trying to say you don't intimidate me."I'd say about a month now, is that right Murdoc?" He chuckled. "I've been in the relationship a little bit longer, but she didn't know so it differs doll." His grin looked especially wicked with his face made to look like the undead.
Since the announcement of their relationship went public, the band shot up in publicity and sales; something that Murdoc didn't have a problem with. A repercussion that Missy didn't think about was that being known as his girlfriend would lead to less of a private life. Already she had to take numerous different routes to and from work just to get away from prying eyes, which in her opinion was absolutely ridiculous.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Murdoc had a blank look in his eyes with everyone fussing over him. He made up a lie on the spot "I'm ready to get this over with." With a look in the mirror he decided he looked dead enough and told the professionals he needed some peace. Flustered make up artists and hair dressers gathered their things and walked out the door. Joining the crowd, Missy hiked up her skirts to make it easier to stand up and walked to the door.
"I didn't say you could leave." His breath caressed the nape of her neck and she fought to keep the shivers back. Murdoc's dexterous fingers started nimbly untying the back of her dress. Missy turned around and slapped his hands away. She hissed "Business and pleasure don't mix well." Her fingers were made clumsy from her heady experience just a moment ago and it made it hard to tie up the laces again. She walked over to the lighted mirror to see if she would have better luck being out of such a close proximity from him. Slowly her fingers worked through the holes and loops, but it looked sloppy. Murdoc's hands brushed her's away and quickly she turned her head to give him a warning look. He scowled at her, but relented. "I'll be a good boy, for now at least." Missy sighed and gave him access to her laces. His rough hands went to work, but his breath still sent shivers down her spine. He gave a slight laugh "Besides, who says you can't mix business with pleasure?" He was nearing the bottom of her back. She said nothing, knowing he was trying to goad her into getting angry. Murdoc finished and tied the bow right above her bottom. He stepped back to admire his handy work and her backside.
Missy turned and looked in the mirror and was satisfied with the outcome of her laces being retied. She stood there in silence playing the quiet game by herself. "What's got your knickers in a bunch?" She crossed her arms as if she were bracing for an attack, then her eyes drifted past him.
"I don't want to talk about it. Not now anyway."
Frustrated he grabbed her wrists and pulled her body against his. "Look at me." he demanded in a low voice. "You've been in a pissy mood for the past few days and I want to know what's up."
Unexpectedly, she leaned her forehead against his chest like she was admitting defeat, this caused him to let go of her wrists. She spoke into his chest rather than to his face. "I'm not used to all the exposure and now people are saying that the only reason I'm here is because I'm screwing the client." Murdoc was silent for a moment, but a knock at the door robbed him of his thought.
"What is it!" He yelled in an irritated tone. The door opened revealing the lanky singer who looked back and forth between Missy and Murdoc. "What is it Dullard!" 2D scratched the back of his head bashfully, as if he walked in on something.
"The director said it's time to get started."
Missy clapped her hands together. "Wonderful!" Quickly she strode out of the room leaving the pseudo zombies to their business. She went back to the dancer's dressing room to make sure her face hadn't been rubbed or smeared in any way before she went on set. In the mirror Missy inspected herself critically, hoping no one thought she looked a little worse for wear from her outfit being manhandled from lustful hands. There was a noise that sounded like a person looking for something. Missy looked down the row and in the last mirror, there was Felicia applying black lipstick. "What are you still doing in here?"
Felicia dropped her lipstick and took a sudden inhale of breath. "Gee, don't scare people like that!" She walked closer to the redhead. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I just heard it's time to get on set though, so you might want to hurry up." Looking at her best friend full on, she could see her mouth had a grayish black smear along the side. Looking in Felicia's make up bag, she grabbed a make up wipe and rubbed off the smear. "You really should be more careful with your make up. You of all people should know that."
Felicia grabbed a white foundation and blotted it ever so delicately where the smudge had been taken off. "I'll remember next time worry wart." Next she grabbed a powder and pressed it into her skin. After everything was put up Felicia announced she was ready to leave for the set. They both left the last station, but before Felicia opened the door Missy stopped her. "Do I have any black on my teeth?"" She smiled and turned her head side to side. "No, do I?" Felicia did the same motion. Missy laughed and rubbed at a couple smudges on her teeth. "What did you do? Eat your lipstick?" Felicia rubbed at her teeth. "Am I good now?" After another check Missy thought she looked presentable enough. As they exited the room Missy said to Felicia "You know, sometimes I think we are way too close."
For Halloween the band had decided to release a special music video for Latin Simone for their fans. To the girls it was especially creepy and after finding out the concept for the video and for Missy it only raised her freak flag high. The mood lighting on the set did nothing to help ease the creepy tension, as anything that moved shadow or not looked like it might jump out and attack. The set was a constructed house that was made to look run down and abandoned. Missy was easily spooked and even in scary movies she had seen before; she would have to cover her eyes if she knew something was going to jump out at the camera. To be in a place that was made for a scare made her frightened a little bit.
Felicia had a few cheap laughs at Missy's expense; she would jump from dark corners around the set to make her best friend almost wet herself. Peals of laughter could be heard from the red head enjoying her time goofing off while waiting for the band to finish shooting some of their scenes. There were a couple interns at one point and time telling her to quiet down.
Clutching at her chest the brunette gave Felicia an unforgiving glare. "I'm either going to go gray because of you or have a heart attack. Take your pick."
A loud voice came from a megaphone "All dancer's on set." They looked at each other and shrugged, knowing that they had to get to work. In the weeks before they had been given a couple different counts of choreography, but it was nothing too difficult, unfortunately for Missy and Felicia the director didn't seem to like their style at that moment. Their body movement's weren't capturing his epic vision and after a few shots the director yelled at them for not being in character enough.
His high pitched voice was only enhanced with his annoying megaphone. "I remember I told you to act like marionette dolls! Why aren't you listening to a word I'm saying?" He had enough with them ruining his artistic vision. Slumping down in his director's chair he announced that the two girls should take a break and watch the other two for their scene.
The other two girls from their dance company shot them looks of sympathy as they laced up their point shoes to go on set. Taking a glance over at the director Missy wished them both luck. Felicia added "Yeah, I think you both might need it."
Their scene was almost like a classic horror film and they most certainly didn't need the luck that Missy and Felicia threw their way. The director couldn't sing their praises enough, the way they moved and their expression coincided with everything that he had pictured in his own fantastic little mind. They were bewitched by some unseen force that led them down through the eerie house to a dark and leaky 'basement'. That's where a zombie Noodle and Russel were waiting to devour their victims and their eternal souls.
Both girls thought their fellow comrades 'deaths' were a bit gory, with limbs flying about and blood hitting the camera. Everyone had to admit that the scene was carried out flawlessly and with meticulous precision. The production crew had a blast and once all those scenes were shot and reshot they all clapped and cheered. The director cut all the fun short and blasted though his megaphone "Alright, are you two ladies ready to do your scenes right?"
Felicia walked by him with her hands clasped in front of him and she made her eyes wide and her voice was full of sarcasm. "Of course sir, we'll finally do it right." She walked behind the set to the opening of the hallway in the spooky house.
Missy let out a sigh. "I'm glad you haven't gotten us fired yet." She laced up her point shoes.
The director talked them through the entire scene of them going through the house, much to their annoyance. "Room to room, like someone is calling to you and you can't find them!"
Again with the megaphone! She angrily thought to herself. I'm a professional, maybe not an actress, but I can do this without you making me look stupid. After opening several doors to several empty rooms the director was finally pleased with their progress. "Next scene ladies!"
Felicia pushed past Missy into the empty room they were looking into. "My scene!" She then turned to the brunette. "Out of the room young lady!" She then shoo 'ed her out. For some reason the redhead was unusually cheery which perplexed her.
"Quiet on the set!" The director shouted and the music played.
Missy watched from the open door what she was supposed to be doing next after her counterpart was done. The lighting only illuminated 2D's silhouette from the window. He was still as a corpse, never moving from his designated spot near the window. His back was to her, not acknowledging Felicia's presence, adding to the mystery. Slowly she walked on her toes to him, looking as entranced and captivated as if he put a spell on her. When he finally turned around he looked very grotesque in the dark lighting, but he reached out and grabbed the red head and started rubbing his hands all over her.
He nuzzled her head against his and pulled her even closer. Felicia looked content as he moved her hair from the side of her neck and she leaned it over for better access. 2D then took his hand and lovingly stroked her neck and went down seemingly to kiss it. If one didn't know better, they would've felt like they were intruding on a very private and intimate moment, but it was deceptive moment. Instead of ravishing her neck, he looked up from the woman in his arms to the camera and gave a mean and menacing look and took a fast bite down on her neck. As instructed, she went limp in his arms as the fake blood poured down from her neck onto her white dress. As the rest of the scene went on, Felicia was devoured by her not so friendly host.
Once the scene had ended Missy saw Felicia grinning from ear to ear, covered in fake blood and breathing a little heavy. The same could've been said of 2D. She looked at the two bashfully looking at each other. "Now that was pretty intense."
2D stops looking at the red head for a moment to look at Missy. "Is that a good or bad thing?"
She smiled "It'd definitely a good thing. Perfect for zombie and horror lovers!" The last door at the end of the hallway opened and Murdoc's head popped out. "You ready to do this?"
"Well, I guess I better go finish this up." She beamed at the both of them and went to where Murdoc's head disappeared into the room. There were crew testing the lighting and some more make up artists painting his body. Oh good gracious he doesn't have a shirt on. No matter what various state of undress Murdoc was always in, it always made her heady. He had his bass next to him on a circular ottoman that was big enough for a few people to get on.
"Come here love." She walked over to him, wondering what he could possibly want while having his body painted. Her eyebrows were raised as if she were asking him a question. "I've changed our scene." Her eyes got as big as saucers. "What do you mean you changed it? What are we going to do?" He waved his hand in the air dismissive way. "Chill, we're just going to improvise. The end of it is still the same, so relax."
Missy put her hands on her hips. "Splendid, so what do you suggest I do?"
With an arrogant smirk he said "Treat me like the sex god I am." Her green eyes rolled; she was about to retort but a hair dresser began messing with her hair and a make up artist was putting more lipstick on her.
He so loved getting her riled up and flustered. Seeing her dark side come out was like seeing her in his bed, he knew that she was deathly innocent, but there was a spark of something darker in the depths that he desperately wanted to explore. That spark was what elated him to no end.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, final scene of the day, let's do this!" Came out loud and clear through the director's megaphone. The lighting went down and everyone except Murdoc and Missy were left on the set. "Alright Missy, start from the door and go in and from then on, you know what to do." With a long sigh she left the room and shut the door. A nod from the director and the music for the video started playing, cued Missy to walk in. She slowly opened the door and peered in, acting as though she was looking for something but she couldn't remember what it was. On the ottoman Murdoc was hunched over playing his bass. Walking to the count she had memorized in her head, she tip toed to her lover in the dark room. She circled once around him, but he made no notion that she was there.
That made her decide to take things up a notch. She stepped in front of him and grabbed his chin and planted one on his mouth. Slyly smiling, she moved back and continued her sensual assault. With her left leg planted to the ground, she raised and pointed her right foot as if to trap Murdoc on his right side. With her own hands she began to slowly make her way up her leg raising, it the higher her hands went. With a flourish, she flicked her foot quickly once it was above her head. Keeping his sex god comment in mind she quickly got behind him, trying to catch him off guard. Slow and steady was the key as she ran her hands from his scapula to his chest. She wanted to make him feel like he made her so she started to nip at the back of his neck and then she made her way to his earlobes. His breathing was tightly controlled and that make her giggle.
He turned around and grabbed her.
"Prepare to die." Murdoc went for the nook of her neck and bit her enough to hurt which caused her to gasp in pain. The fake blood started running down the side of her face and she could feel it getting in her hair. The lighting on the set started to get brighter, making the scene all the less intimate. There were some cat calls going on and that caused her to blush. Missy looked at Murdoc who had fake blood coming down his face as well.
"Don't you two look sexy!" Felicia called from across the set.
"Now would you expect anything less love?" Murdoc replied.
Looking at her white dress and the wonderful feeling of blood going down it she suggested "Why don't we go wash this off?" He called out to the director. "Are we good? Do we have to shoot again?"
The director cleared his throat. "We might have to cut out a bit, but you're good."
Missy leaned against her bloody counter part. "Oh thank goodness."
He turned his head to her ear and whispered "Why don't we clean each other off in the shower?" He waggled his eyebrows.
She heaved a big sigh. "Not here Murdoc, please."
With a dark glare he said "Soon you'll see things my way." He walked off the set.
In the dancer's dressing room Missy, Felicia, and the other two were busy washing blood and guts out of their hair and off their bodies. In a bright and cheery tone Felicia asked "What if you asked Murdoc if all of us could go chill?"
Pulling her fake arteries off her neck Missy retorted "I don't think Murdoc is too happy with me right now."
Furrowing her eyebrows she questioned her friend. "Why isn't he happy with you?"
She rolled her eyes. "He's just being stupid. I'm sure he'll get over it. But I'll ask if you want me to."
Felicia shrugged. "If don't want to its okay."
Missy shook her head. "No, it's fine. Besides, we deserve some fun after all this hot mess." She looked over to the other two. "Are you guy's game?"
They looked at each other and then back to Missy. "No, we're good. We're gonna head back to our flat and probably study." She had forgotten that they were in college. Sometimes a person needed a backup plan if dancing didn't work out. "Alright, well if you change your mind let me know."
Missy changed back into her street clothes which consisted of an blue oversized sweatshirt, black skinny jeans, and green flats. "I'm gonna go ask him." She announced and left the room. Walking around the studio she spotted and thanked several members of the crew after they told her what a good job she did. Knocking on Murdoc's door she heard an angry "What do you want!"
Tapping her foot she yelled back "Who's being pissy now!" The door swung open seconds later. She stared at him, wondering what he was going to do next.
"What do you want woman?" For a moment she considered slapping him silly, but she decided against it because it would only make the problem worse.
"If you want to act like a spoiled child who didn't get his way then let me know." She turned on her heel and started walking away. I'll just tell her that he wants to turn in for the night because he's old.
"Wait!" She stopped and turned her head.
"Yes dear?" She said in a sickly sweet voice.
"What did you want to say?" Her arms crossed her chest. "Felicia was wondering if you guys wanted to hang out once everyone was ready." He looked at her for a moment. "Why does Felicia want to hang out with my band?"
Missy gave a light growl. "She's a friendly person? Gee I don't know, why don't you be rude and ask her?"
He laughed at her. "Chill out love, it was an innocent question." He pulled her chin up and kissed her.
"Nothing is ever innocent with you."
Author's Note: Re edited on 10-30-10. I re-read this a few times and decided I wasn't too happy with the finished product, so I decided to add and change a few things. Big thanks to Blackheart Ace8 for discussing music selection for the video.