Russel and Noodle's arrival on the island, had been unexpected. This had thrown the bassist off kilter a little, and it was taking him a while to re-adjust. Not that he thought Russel would stay away forever, he had expected the drummer would come after him about what had happened to Noodle. Just not so soon. In a sense, he had gotten most of what he had needed from those two, and they were almost surplus to his requirements, but now they were here and angry. Murdoc decided to handle it in his own way. After all, those two would just have to come to the conclusion that they were in Murdoc's world now. The one thing that really bugged him, was his loss of the cyborg, and what was all that noise coming from the young woman's room? Deciding not to dwell on it, he had retreated to his lair and locked himself in.
After making his way through fourteen bottles of rum, Murdoc staggers down the corridor towards his room. Hoping that whatever it was she had been doing the night before, was finished now, he stops at her door and turns toward it, slack jawed. Hearing nothing from Noodles room, he grins and continues on. He steps through the doorway and fumbles with his belt, trying to take his trousers off. After a brief struggle, the bassist finally manages to get them down and shuffles across the floor to his bed. Dropping down heavily, he pulls the trousers off part way, but is unable to get them completely free.
Awww, c'mon. How... how, am I... wait, what am I doing? he mumbles, falling sideways off the bed onto the floor. Okay, I am on the floor. he laughs loudly and tries to get to his feet, but finds it difficult. Deciding to use the wall to help him get up, he crawls on all fours across the floor and claws his way up the wall until he is standing again. Happy with the result he forgets about his trouser problem and takes a step forwards, falling flat on his face back onto the floor.
Shit. he mumbles into the carpet. The bassist gives up and crawls back to the bed, deciding to deal with his difficulties when he sobers up in the morning. He kneels beside the bed and shoves his hats onto the floor, which reveals a large lump in the center of his bed. For a moment he wonders what it is, but is far too drunk to really take the time to let it sink in. Snapping back the bedclothes, he is struck by what he sees. Cyborg Noodles head, just lying there in the middle of his bed. He stares at it drunkenly for a moment, as his brain desperately tries to register what the significance might be, but not much actually manages to get through. He continues blinking at it, and slowly begins to laugh, convinced he must be seeing things. The 'Godfather' theme runs through his mind and he suddenly breaks out in a gale of laughter, pointing at the head and holding his sides. Seeing that there is a note attached to the head, he sighs heavily and reaches out for it. After a few failed, random swipes, he manages to grab it and rips it from the cyborgs forehead.
Love, the real Noodle. he reads out loud. Mmmmust be menst... menstral, orrrrr some, sssome ssssshi, shit. he waves off. The huge amount of alcohol in his system wins, and he slides down the side of the bed, as a wave of drunken fog slowly makes his mind grow dark. He allows himself to collapse into a drooling heap on the floor, and finally rolling onto his back, the old man looses consciousness.
The next morning, Murdoc walks, with a very slight limp, into the captains room and flops down on the lounge next to 2D. His brain feels like someone has cut the top of his skull off, scooped out the contents with a fork, and after putting it through a blender, poured it back into his head through his ear. The young man swallows the spoonful of ceral he had just put into his mouth, and smiles at the older man.
Allo Muds. Didja sleep well'w? he asks the bassist. Murdoc winces painfully at how loud 2D is chewing and waves him down, shushing him and rubbing at his temples. He picks up the remote closes the blinds, switching on the television. 2D has seen Murdoc do this before, and knows why, so he tries to chew a little quieter.
Oh yeah, even got a little head. Murdoc quietly chuckles with a slight wince, turning down the volume on the telly.. 2D stops chewing and blinks, trying to grasp what the bassist had just said.
Oh... err, nice. Who from? Wait, no I don' fink I wanna know. he mumbles and wriggling uncomfortably, goes back to eating. Murdoc had woke that morning, still lying on the floor. Using the bed to pull himself up, he had spotted the head and only just managed to stifle a scream, as he leapt back and slammed up against the rowing machine, badly hurting his ankle. It had taken him a few seconds to understand what was going on, and after reading the note, realized it was Noodle's attempt to make a point. Not that Murdoc intended to take it seriously, which is why he had, in a sense, made the joke about it, with 2D.
The whole day seemed to drag on forever for the keyboardist. Somehow he had felt that having Noodle and Russel back, would make it much better. At least Murdoc would have other people to focus his frustration on, but it just did not seem to work out that way. Russel seemed to be angrier and seemed to have less patience with him than ever before. Noodle seemed far more wrapped up in herself and her own problems, to even look at him. To be truthful, most of her attention seemed focused on Murdoc. Not that 2D blamed her. After all, it was Murdoc's fault she had ended up in Hell in the first place. He was a little curious as to what Noodle intended to do to Murdoc for doing that to her, but Noodle was hard for him to work out sometimes, so he was not going to spend a lot of time thinking about it. In a way, Murdoc seemed to have the right idea, getting so drunk that nothing mattered. In fact, Murdoc had gotten so drunk, that the night before, 2D had seen him walk straight out onto the upper deck, and fall over the railing, onto the ground far below. All that had done was make the bassist get up, brush himself down and giggling like an idiot, walk off into the night. 2D shudders at the thought of how much alcohol he would have to drink to come even close to being that numb. He yawns as he makes his way down the elevator to his room, deciding the best way to stay out of it, was to focus on his own little projects. He glides in as the doors open and makes his way over to his bed.
Sitting on the balcony with Russel, Murdoc stretches his arms and legs as far as he can then relaxes further down in the sun lounger. He had decided to spend some time with the large American, in the hopes that he could get him back on side. Better to have Russel between him and the 'walking tsunami', than 2D. The keyboardist would probably squeal like a girl and dive under the closest piece of furniture, than be of any help. Somewhere in the distance, there is a blood curdling scream. Russel raises his eyebrow and looks all around, finally turning and looking at Murdoc.
Did yo ass jus' heya dat? he asks, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder in the general direction of the sound. Murdoc tips his head and cups one ear as if trying to hear what Russel was talking about. After a moment he shrugs.
Nope. Anyway, how have things been for you lately? he smiles. Russel snaps his head back and grits his teeth at him, snarling.
I'm not stoopid man, I know what yo ass is tryin'a do. Look, I definitely heard someone scream. You sho' yo ass didn' heya dat? he presses. Murdoc pretends not to of heard the first part of what Russel said, and shakes his head with a loud open mouthed yawn.
Nope, didn't here nuthin'. Murdoc replies. 2D suddenly bursts out onto the balcony, shaking like a leaf.
There's, there's, theres... a head! he squeaks, pointing back anxiously over his shoulder. Russel looks him up and down in disbelief and waves him off, turning and looking back out over the ocean. It seemed to him that nothing had really changed, and he was determined not to get dragged in to any more weird Murdoc and 2D induced 'hocus pocus'.
2D's los' his damn min' I see. he grunts at Murdoc in disgust. The bassist shakes, then nods, then pauses as if thinking about it, then shrugs and shakes it again, closing his eyes.
I don't think you can loose something you never had in the first place Russ. he mumbles back. Russel shrugs and nods in affirmation.
You go' a point dere. he admits with a heavy sigh. 2D huffs in annoyance at both of them, and storms off the balcony, heading back to his room. Murdoc lets out a long, loud groan and looks over at Russel with a pleasant smile.
Ahhhh, and then there was peace in the world. he chuckles. Russel hides a small smile with a cough and leans back on the lounger, making it creak loudly. They both look out over the ocean, listening to the waves crash down on the beach. For just a moment, the drummer feels the weight of the world slip away again, and he finally begins to relax. Just then, 2D returns.
Well'w, wot's this then? he snaps, tossing the disembodied cyborgs head into Murdocs lap. It lands awkwardly and bolt of pain shoots through the bassists groin into the back of his skull. With a yelp the older man grabs at his genitals and rolls off the lounger, the head rolling away and coming to a stop at Russels feet
Fucking kill you, you prick. Murdoc hisses in pain, rolling from side to side. 2D wrings his hands shifting his weight nervously from one foot to the other. Russel shoots 2D an angry glare, slowly bringing his hands up to his own groin and covering it protectively.
Dat woz wrong man. You neva hit a man in dah junk, don' matta who he is. Russel growls, wincing at Murdoc in a moment of male sympathy.
Yeah, I know, but like, the head. 2D whimpers apolligeticaly. He still wanted them both to acknowledge the fact he was right about the head. He jabs his finger at it, determined to get his point across. Russel looks down at it, and picks it up, looking into its cold dead eyes. There is a note stuck to it's forehead that reads. 'Love, from Murdoc.' Russel raises an eyebrow and looks from 2D to Murdoc and back again, finally rolling his vacant eyes.
Looks like my ass is back in dah monkey house. he grunts, sucking at his teeth. You two crackers jus' need tah get it on wit' each udder, an' finish it. All dis angsty lover, bitch slappin' , jus' ain' gettin' you no where. he growls and standing up, he shoves the head back into 2D's arms, lumbering off, muttering under his breath.
Get it on? 2D mumbles in confusion. Wot does he mean Murdoc? he asks with an exaggerated shrug, looking down at Murdoc. The bassist lifts his head slowly from the floor, his eyes bloodshot and tearing, but not being even slightly interested in engaging the young man in any conversation, he cancels it out.
Can't hear you smurf, my ears are bleeding. Murdoc mumbles back, slowly lowering his head back to the floor and making a small whimpering sound.