Chapter 35

The Tune

You walk toward the back of the base where you kept your recording equipment. Music always helped redirect you when things or information became too much. You needed to keep your mind off of things for a while. There were a couple of songs you wanted to record anyway; tunes that had been running around in your head for a while. You take out the mixer and set up the drum machine, placed the turn tables and fired up the monitors. A lot of your sounds were prerecorded vocals or snippets of tracks that you gathered throughout your life. A particular tune kept circling around and you play it out on the keyboard to help redirect you. You repeated the seven note tune as you added in a basic beat and bass line. Layers were added on top of layers until a swirl of music enveloped you within the small recording studio. You close your eyes and let the beat take over. Your body sways and hands move in the air around your body as you feel the song taking over. Lyrics come next. You move towards the mic. Words spill forth and mix into the driving, seven note tune. Again, words never meant anything to you when creating. Sometimes you were surprised when you listened to recordings… the topics were inner thoughts and feelings; emotions you couldn't give voice to in another venue.

Today was no different. The lyrics came and left to build a crescendo along with the additional beats and breaks built into the set. The mood was solemn. The tone wavered between being lost and running away. Your body swung with the music and you enveloped it within you; letting it takes its course until the end. The silence was deafening. The end of a song always left you empty; like spilling forth something which had overflowed. This emptiness was different. It needed to come out and it needed to be now. You shake your head and turn to see Scar Rick on the other side of the glass. He points at you and then at the ground in front of him.

"What's up buttercup?" you ask with a smile. His look was not pleasant though…

"What the fuck was that?"

"Music I hope… Did it sound that bad? I kinda liked it…" You shrug your shoulders and Scar Rick pushes you back against the glass roughly.

"That is not what I am talking about… What… the… fuck… was… that?" each word was emphasized as he pressed his body along yours. His hands held your shoulders tight against the glass as he stared directly into your eyes. It was hard to read him. There was too much baggage to figure out what he might be referring to. You decide to play it out like on the ship and go limp, placid.

"I create music and sing when I am overwhelmed. Music is a part of my life. Numbers are notes to me. Words are lyrics that I don't fully understand until I listen to the track afterwards. There is a lot you could be asking about. Please help me understand." you spoke softly to him, not moving. He started to let up on your shoulders and closed his eyes to breath slowly. After a few minutes he started to chuckle and released your shoulders. He placed his hands on the glass to either side of you but still left himself pressed up along the length of you.

"That tune… fuck… that's the code for my personal quarters…" Scar Rick lets out a breath and watches you. Your face must have blushed as you closed your eyes. Now it made sense. The music wanting to get out was centered on the person you were worried about. Then you feel the blush spread as your mouth drops… fuck, the words…

"Um… those words… I don't know what I said… um…" you were stumbling over what to say, worried that you may have sang about something personal… or worse. You look up to get some baring as Scar Rick leans in close, hesitant on a kiss. His breathing quickens as you feel his body react. His fingers are pressing into the glass, creating a slight sound from the rubbing along the surface.

"I find it hard sometimes… to believe that Ricks can control you. You seem to have way too much control over me…" He closes the space between your lips for a light touch that creates a fire. You hear him moan as he slowly backs away. His hands are the last to leave the area as you continue to look into his eyes. "I desire you like no else…" He turns and leaves the room. You slid down along the glass wall and hold on to your knees. What the actual fuck is going on…

You remain on the floor for a while, trying to process everything that happened. Scar Rick has made no effort to hide his growing feelings for you. This shouldn't have surprised you; it shouldn't have gotten to you like this. But it did. You close your eyes and lay your forehead against the top of your knees. Your entire life has been with one man… You never even thought of looking elsewhere; never even flirted with anyone. There were nagging thoughts that this may have not been the case with him… All that mattered to you in the end was that your husband returned to you and loved you with the same passion he did upon first meeting. You knew he would sacrifice everything for you; he did. But now…

You met another Rick. You fell in love again when you thought it impossible. You love him in a whole new way. And then Scar Rick… you don't know what is going on. You care for him too. You want to protect him and get him away from the shit he is going through. But you are drawn to him in a completely different way. He is not afraid to express his desire… same with Rick but Scar Rick doesn't joke around about it. You let out a deep sigh and then yell out in frustration.

"What was that?" Rick yells rounding the corner and looking at you. "What happened? Are you alright?" He drops down in front of you, concern on his face.

"I hate Ricks…" you look up at him with a scowl. Rick starts to laugh and sits down across from you.

"Fuck… I get it babe. We're assholes. Let me guess… he's letting you know how he feels." Rick has a grin on his face. That just makes you angrier.

"Yes! Motherfuckers! You think this is funny? Do you?" you lean forward and push him backward as he laughs more. "You wouldn't think it was so funny if you saw it happen…"

"True. But hearing about it is…" he wiggles his brow at you and stands up, lifting you up into his arms. "Feel better now?"

"Yes. Thanks. Asshole. You know how torn I feel?"

"I get it. I do. Fuck, I barely know him and even I want to protect him. I usually hate other Ricks. They are so self-absorbed and nihilistic."

"Oh yeah… nothing like you…" you reply sarcastically.

"Exactly!" Rick chuckles. "This guy… I have respect for him. It dwindles every time I hear how he wants to fuck you though… but can't blame him. You're fucking hot babe."

"Yeah, right. I remember you saying how I wasn't your type…" you lay your head against his chest.

"I lied. You are the serious type. Not the 'I'll fuck her a bunch of times then leave' type. That's the usual type. My last lover was a hive mind, for crying out loud…"

"A hive mind? What the fuck? Should I worry…" you look at him in shock.

"Not anymore..." he holds on to your chin and lays a simple kiss against your lips. "I'm content in your arms."

"For now huh?" you wink at him.

"For always… why? You want to add in a third?" You freeze in his arms and look up at him. You couldn't tell if he was joking or not. "Wow… love that look on your face babe. Never had a three way?"

"Ok… so not talking about this…" Rick is laughing as you feel a deeper blush appear and you push away from him. Lately, he has taken a habit to enjoy poking fun at your sexual inexperience. Then again, you were not sure if anyone else had his experience.

"It's alright babe…" he yells after you when you turn to leave. "Two Ricks can't be considered cheating right? Do you think that would be considered Rickcest? You know, instead of incest?" He starts laughing louder as you chuckle yourself and shake your head. You know now that he is doing this on purpose. Walking in to the next room, Scar Rick was peering around the corner.

"Did I just hear him say Rickcest?" Scar Rick raises his brow.

"Don't ask… please don't ask…" you plop down on the couch as you hear another chuckle.