AUTHORS NOTE:
Thank you so, so much for all of your reviews! I have 10 at last count! Yay!
Okay, I forgot to do a disclaimer. Oops. So, in case any of you thought that I owned the Gorillaz, etc – I don't. Now we've cleared that up.
"Okay, we've got all the cleaning stuff. Now what?"
2D stood in the middle of a shopping mall, blissfully ignorant of the hustle and bustle around him. He popped a pill and hummed a tune and was only jerked back to reality when Murdoc slapped him on the head.
"Dullard, anything you think we need?" Murdoc paused. What a stupid question to ask 2D. He didn't think AT ALL, least about anything they might need.
2D considered the question. Ow. This made his head hurt. "Er… do we need, you know, food or summink?"
The others considered the question. "We've got brain in the fridge," Murdoc remarked, grinning wickedly.
"Let's get some cupcakes." Russel suggested.
Murdoc raised an eyebrow. "Cupcakes?"
Russel shrugged. "Well, don't normal families eat cupcakes?"
"Or maybe you just want an excuse to eat lots of cupcakes. Lard guts."
"You little-"
Noodle stepped in before Russel started strangling Murdoc. "Please do not kill Murdoc in public, Russ, it is bad publicity for band," she said calmly in her heavily accented English. "And, Murdoc? If you do not stop teasing Russel about his weight, I will have to make you."
Murdoc shivered. Because it was cold, of course. Even still, there was something oddly spooky about the asian kid. "Remind me again why we're keeping the short kid in the band."
Russel shot him a glare. "That reminds me, we need to buy Murdoc a bible."
"WHAT?"
Russel stayed calm. "Ms Jenson said children need 'solid religious backgrounds'. Unfortunatly, Satanism in considered inappropriate. What a pity."
2D chose this moment to pop back to earth. "I thought you hated Satanism, Russ."
Russel sighed. "I was being sarcastic, D."
"Oh."
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They left the bible shop amid suspicious stares from the shopkeeper. It was not often you got Satanists converting to Christianity.
Murdoc made 2D carry the bag carrying the bible. "I've got an image to keep up, yeah?"
"What about my image?" The spacy singer protested.
Murdoc stared. "Stu-pot, you wear your hair like a girl, mate. I reckon nuthin's wreaking an image like that."
2D tried to think of an appropriate comeback.
…
…
Finally he got one. "Yeah? Well at least I don't sleep with a bunny rabbit."
There, 2D thought with satisfaction. That was good. He looked up to see what Murdoc thought of his comment. At first he couldn't see the bassist. But then he spotted the hulking form of Russel heading to the food court, Noodle and Murdoc close behind him.
2D sighed and hurried to catch up. Maybe next time he would think of a response to wipe the smirk off Murdocs face BEFORE everyone moved on.
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Noodle had been pleasantly surprised, to say the least, when she found out the sacrifices her bandmates were prepared to make to keep her in the band. She knew that they sometimes found it hard to cope with each other – their personalities were extremely different and there was always the issue of Murdoc stealing 2D's girlfriends… It really made her happy, the way they could all pull together as a team to complete the most trying of tasks.
Noodle felt a strange and sudden compulsion to call for a group hug.
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"So, Murdoc. Do you own any clothes that would be regarded as Christian?" Russel asked, turning to Murdoc.
Murdoc shrugged. "I have what I'm wearing. Don't Christians go naked the whole time?"
Russel smiled. "Er… that's nudists, Murdoc."
"No, like those two people. The dude and the chick. In the garden. I could always go naked – it might influence the lady's decision."
Russel shuddered. "Er… no. Won't the bible tell you what Christians wear?"
"Yeah, theres gonna be a section in the bible called 'Christian clothes.' Maybe 'Unoffensive, Christian clothes.' 'Christian Smart Casual.' Nah, I told ya, Russ, back then even the wrinkliest oldie went nude."
"Murdoc, we are NOT going without clothes. Ms Jenson will probably think she's walked into a nudist colony."
"But, mate-"
"Do you actually WANT to go without clothes? Do you want US to?" Russel shook his head. "Murdoc you are a sick, sick man. Go read the bible."
Murdoc thought of him and the rest of the band walking around without clothes. He shuddered. "Russel? Do you still have the number of your therapist? Cos I'm getting some butt ugly mental pictures here."
Russel grinned. "D, chuck us that bible, would ya? Murdoc has some reading to do."
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Murdocs reading was postponed when 2D remembered he was out of cigarettes. They were heading to the nearest supermarket when Noodle spoke up.
"Uh, 2D? Russ? Murdoc? If you are really wanting to keep me in the band, you cannot smoke cigarettes."
Russel slapped himself on the forehead. "Dammit! She doesn't want us smoking."
Murdoc was also annoyed. "Of, f---! We can't even buy f---ing smokes?"
2D was equally inconvenienced. "Why can't we smoke? It only hurts kids if you're pregnant while you're smoking. And none of us are pregnant. Unless someone's been seriously lying."
He stared at them all. Noodle took the empty cigarette packet from his hand.
"2D," she said, pointing to the health warning on the packet. "This means that if you are pregnant and you smoke, the baby inside you might get hurt. Smoking is dangerous to your lungs and the lungs of those around you the whole time."
"Well what are we supposed to do? I need a cigarette."
Noodle looked at 2D. He was looking forlornly at the empty cigarette packet, as if somehow another cigarette would suddenly appear.
Noodle sighed. "You do not have to do this, you know."
She did not want them to have to suffer just for her.
Russel patted her shoulder. "Noodle, we've already bought 500 dollars worth of cleaning products. We've started this and we ain't gonna stop til we're done. Right guys?" He nudged Murdoc and 2D, who were staring at the cigarette displays.
"Uh-"
"Right!" Russel smiled at Noodle. "We only need to go for a day without smoking. So, anyone know the number for the Quitline?"
Noodle had another compelling urge to call for a group hug.
AUTHORS NOTE:
As always, I'd totally appreciate it if you could review and tell me if you think anyones OOC, anything could be improved, that sort of stuff.
Can I just say, to Negitive Zero, do you mind if I use the 'Saving Noodle' title thing cos it sounds better than the one I have now.
To Madamoiselle Fleur, lol about the birth control pills thing. Sorry about that.
To jade, I have no idea what social services people do… (smiles) thanks for the review.
And to everyone else (Danakagome, Leepa-Meepston, Invader Yumi, Yumi-chan427, The Outer Limits, Hoshika, Muds-Girl and midnight972) Thanks for reviewing!
