Chapter 5: Starting Over
A week later Murdoc was back to his semi-normal self. His bullet and bite wounds were still healing but at least he wasn't puking his brains out. It had felt like he'd been partying every night and every morning he woke with the same splitting hangover. He'd been sleeping in the living room for the time being with both 2D and Noodle watching over him, despite his attempt to get some privacy or go to his Winnebago.
This morning he woke up to find that Noodle had already removed herself from the spot against his chest where he'd allowed her to fall asleep. It was really hard to say no to her now that he'd spouted all those sentimental things. 2D wasn't helping the situation either; the boy kept rubbing it in at every chance he got. Luckily for him though the dullard was still asleep. He rose quietly and shuffled himself to the kitchen for some breakfast. He scratched his crotch slightly with his left hand and opened the fridge with his right. He browsed through their food and pulled out tub of something. Scratching his head he turned the tub over a bit, hearing something inside move. Then he opened the lid and wrinkled his nose at the smell. He closed it and put it back in without a second thought unsure of what it used to be. He closed the fridge then opened the freezer and pulled out a box of waffles. He pulled out two and popped them into the toaster. He got some butter, syrup and a plate then sat down to wait for it to pop.
It was then that Stu-pot shuffled in with a yawn and waved lightly to Murdoc. "G'mornin' Muds." He said with a smile and went to the cupboard. He pulled out a bottle of medication and downed two pills. He put the meds away and pulled out a pan. He set the pan on the stove, started the burner and began to dig through the fridge. He pulled out a carton of eggs and some bacon and started to cook.
Meanwhile Muds had gotten up to go retrieve the morning paper and had returned to sit and read it. Little did he know the toaster had gotten stuck and his waffles were burning. While he was reading the entertainment section a smell started to fill the air. Though it was 2D who mentioned it first. " 'ey Muds, I fink somethin's burnin'."
"Well pay attention to wot your doin' twit." Murdoc responded, but got a whiff of his burning food. He dropped his paper and jumped up to go to the toaster with a curse. He hit the button a few times with frustration then grabbed a fork to jam in there and pull the waffles out. When they finally popped for him they were nearly black and mostly inedible. He grumbled and tossed them on his plate anyway. He went over to the table and sat with fork in hand and stared at his food.
"Ya know muds, I can make ya som…" Stuart started to say.
"I'M FINE… I'll, eat this." He muttered and coated one with butter. He poured syrup over them and cut a piece with his fork. Hesitantly he raised it to his mouth and started to eat. It crunched in his mouth as he chewed and he winced with each bite. He swallowed a few mouthfuls, hard, then gave up and shoved the rest in the trash.
"Still don' want any?" Stu asked waving his finished eggs and bacon in Murdocs face.
"No. I'm fine." Murdoc grumbled. 2D Shrugged and put his breakfast on a plate.
Russel and Noodle came in to join them and Russ got right to work, cooking his own breakfast with what D had left out. Noodle pulled out a plate of fish that she'd made last night and stuck it in the microwave to warm it up. She spooned some rice into a small bowl from her rice cooker and set up a Japanese breakfast for herself.
"Are you not going to eat?" Noodle asked quietly.
"I already ate." Murdoc muttered in response.
"No ya didn' ya burnt yo' waffles. I offered him some eggs but he said no." 2D explained.
"Ok, fine, I've lost my appetite." Murdoc pushed out his chair and moved to leave.
"Aren't you going to eat with us Murdoc-san? We're a family remember. Families eat together." Noodle said with a small smile.
The other two couldn't help but snicker a bit as Murdoc's back stiffened. He grumbled slightly and sat back down then promptly picked up the paper and stuck his nose in it. At least he wouldn't have to see their smug faces. Now all he had to do was find something interesting to read. Opening up to the sports section he browsed through for something juicy but didn't really find anything to catch his eye. So right to the front-page for anything tragic. He found a few things, a fire that killed a family, a local murder; some kid drove his car off a bridge. There was in a tid-bit about their zombie infestation. At least this would keep his attention.
The smell of eggs cooking was driving him mad with hunger and every now and then he found his eyes wondering to Russel's back as he cooked. But he swallowed back the words he wanted to stay and stuck to his guns.
" 'ey Russ, can ya cook me up another?" 2D asked.
"Sure thing D… any preference?"
"Ah, over-easy." He answered.
Murdoc couldn't help but notice the smell seemed awfully strong and happened to glance down by his hand. There it was, the plate of food that 2D had cooked, staring at him and beckoning him to eat. He glanced up at the blue-haired singer who was grinning at him. Damn the dullard was persistent. Finally with a growl he gave in and snagged the plate.
"Wot? I dun get a fank you?" 2D pouted slightly.
Murdoc glared at him, knowing full well the guy was just trying to push his buttons. "Piss off." He muttered with his mouth full.
"Your welcome then?" 2D looked at him quizzically before taking his breakfast from Russel. "Fanks Russ." Then dug in.
Russel joined them at the table with his own breakfast and everyone sat in silence as they ate. It was then that 2D spoke up about their new album in the making. He and the other three were talking about the lyrics he thought up last night. Russel rejected some while Noodle suggested others. Together they came up with a decent song. Russel drummed his fingers on the table with a beat while Noodle muttered notes and moved her hands along an air-guitar. 2D was singing his lyrics, every now and then they started over as each tested different things.
It was then that Murdoc couldn't take the noise and he slammed down his paper. "That sounds like bullocks man!"
"Well of course it does Muds, we need yo' bass in 'ere to pull it all togefa." 2D started.
With a sigh Murdoc shook his head. "C'mon mates, lets go to the studio then so we can get some real sound eh?"
They all met in the studio and began to test their instruments, tuning what needed. 2D stood at the microphone warming up his voice while hitting keys on his keyboard and matching the notes.
"Damn, I must've left my bass in the Winnie… I'll be righ' back."
The others watched his retreating back and felt their stomachs sink. "This isn't going to be pretty." Russel stated.
"Yeah, we're in fo' it now." 2D added.
There was a long period of silence as they waited. Russel started a count down. "3…2…1."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! WOT TH' 'ELL!" The yell echoed throughout Kong and shook the building as well as rattled the three band members still up stairs.
Up through the lift came Murdoc, Bass in hand though his fingers were straining its neck. "Who did it?" he stormed through the halls towards the studio. "WHO CLEANED ME WINNIE?"
Noodle and 2D pointed at Russ as the drummer sat silently staring at the angry bassist. "Look Muds I had to…t he zombies…" He tried to explain.
"It's CLEAN! You… You messed up everything! I don' give a damn about th' zombies! Wot th' 'ell were you thinkin' when you decided to even TOUCH anything in my 'bago?"
"M…m…uds he's right ya kno' if he didn' clean it th' zombies would be worse. We still 'ave to clean out a few left in Kong." 2D defended their percussionist.
"Besides, I didn't MESS anything up, I organized it. Everything is practically where it had been, it just looks nicer." Russ continued.
Murdoc's knuckles were white and his teeth were grinding in his anger. He looked like he would blow any moment. 2D shrunk back away from the angry Bassist as his mismatched eyes fell on him.
"It was yo' idea, it had to be. YOU told him ta do it cause it would piss me off!" He swung his bass at 2D's head but the lanky singer deftly ducked out of the way.
"M..m..murdoc! B…b…be reasonable. I… I didn' t..tell him ta… he jus…did it! AH!" he danced aside as the bass swung at him again. "G..guys! Stop 'im!"
"I'm goin' ta KILL YOU!" Murdoc growled and dropped his guitar to leap at 2D.
"NO! Nononono!" D tried to dodge but Murdoc caught him by the back of his shirt and pulled him down. The bassist was on top of the singer and drew back a fist. 2D raised his hands in a lame attempt to protect himself. It was then that Murdoc was lifted off of the lanky boy and held by his shirt. Murdoc swung wildly in the air and kicked at nothing. "PUT ME DOWN DAMMIT!" He growled, glaring at Russel.
"You can go and mess yo' precious winnebago up then. Leave 2D alone, he didn't do anything." Russel instructed. "Lets just practice for now ok?"
Murdoc crossed his arms over his chest and stewed a bit, grumbling incoherent threats until Russel put him down. He stalked over and picked up his bass guitar. Shakily 2D stood and brushed himself off then took up his spot by the microphone. The dark eyes, still wide, glanced warily at the bassist every now and then. Russel struck up the beat, Noodle came in with her riffs and Murdoc matched with his own. Then 2D started to sing but after the first line Murdoc stopped.
"No no no, that's crap… It sounds like the beginning of some whimpy love song." He muttered.
"It is Muds." 2D looked at him curiously.
"Well it's crap." Murdoc grumbled.
"Awright then… you write somefink."
"Awright, I will." Murdoc grumbled and left the studio. He returned with a pen and a paper and sat on the floor. He jotted down some lyrics, paused to think, then scribbled them out, he re-wrote the lyrics and paused again. After a few more tries he stood with a grin and tucked the pen behind his ear. "Theah', that wasn' so hard." He handed them to 2D.
"Wot is this?" The blue-haired singer eyed the new lyrics and wrinkled his nose. "Murdoc, this is mostly about sex."
"Yeah! It's a real love song!" Murdoc grinned obviously proud of his handiwork. "Awright, now it goes like this." He started to strum out his part, setting up a base sound to go from. Noodle nodded and counted out her beats then started in with her own. Russel chimed in to with a beat to match. 2D sighed and shook his head then after a measure or two started singing Murdoc's lyrics.
With a growl Murdoc shook his head. "No no… sultry… like yo' talking to a beautiful woman and tryin' ta get her to shag."
"I don't usually 'ave to talk to anyone like tha', they fall fo' me as I am." He frowned.
"Well jus' try to sound sexy awright? It'll get th' ladies fo' sure." Murdoc chuckled and continued to strum.
2D cleared his throat and they repeated the first few measures then D started to sing. After a few more lines he stopped. "I can' sing this." He rubbed his arm nervously.
"Why not? It's not like yo' fifteen anymore D. C'mon be an adult would ya."
2D's eyes moved to Noodle then back to Murdoc. "…Yeah but… I mean we've got kids tha' like our music… I dun want to be like Brittney Spears ya know. I wanted th' song to be more sentimental and tragic soundin'."
"Bah fine, let's take a break." Murdoc threw up his hands and took his guitar off before walking out. "Ya wanted a love song, I gave you a LOVE song. Jeeze, dun ask me ta do it again, if ya ain't goin' ta deal with wot I give ya." He muttered to the lanky singer.
"I didn' really expect ya ta do it Muds. I didn' really fink of you as a writer ya know?"
"Yeah, well I can write when I put me mind to it." Murdoc said with a sigh, running his hand back through his greasy mop. "I'm goin' to re-arrange me Winnie." He muttered and left for the lift.
"I'm going to re-write some lyrics." 2D said and followed Murdoc.
The other two just looked at each other and shrugged. "Guess I'll go work on my newest taxidermy project." Russel stated. "What about you Noodle?"
"I am going to practice my kung fu, maybe look for some more zombies." She said with a smile then bounded off to start her mission.
Authors Note: I realize that 2D states that he doesn't eat meat. I read an interview on their site and one of his questions was if he had a hamburger named after him what would it be? He answered of course saying he doesn't eat meat but that it would probably have to be a chicken burger. I'm not sure if that was a joke, or if the british take 'not eating meat' as just RED meat. In this case he eats eggs, note that he didn't order bacon the second time around. He intended to give the breakfast he made to Murdoc from the beginning. Ah see D can be clever sometimes.