Chapter Three
Spills and Deals
Down a dark hall in Mordhaus, bright white lights blinked "Barbed Brothers", and underneath that in neon red letters, Rehearsal Room. The small room echoed with vibrant music, while Kyrie's slightly off beat drums dragged behind. "Zuzu keep up!!" Leo snapped, irritated by her slow pace. "The first concert is just a few months away, stop fucking up."
"I'm not trying to mess up!" she yelled back to him, feeling overwhelmed. She was sweating, frantically moving to hit the right drums while keeping count of the eighth notes. She raised her hand to hit a cymbal and felt her drum stick slip out of her grasp, landing on the other side of the room.
Leo growled, trying to control his temper. "Let's take a break?" Alvin suggested. Kyrie frowned, sliding out of her seat to retrieve the missing drumstick.
"Whatever." Leo said. He set down his blue and white guitar and sat on the floor next to it. Kyrie sighed, it wasn't her fault she couldn't keep up, Leo was demanding to much from her. "We suck. We're gunna get booed off the stage…" Leo muttered to himself.
"Well that's not a very positive thing to say." Kyrie, Alvin, and Leo over at Dethklok who stood at the doorway of the room, each member sporting a huge, creepy smile. Kyrie's heart skipped a beat as she gazed at Skwisgaar. "Why don't you guys play somethin' for us?" Pickles asked.
Leo grinned, feeling as if the question was a challenge, "Alright!" He raised himself off the ground and Kyrie hurried back to her seat. "Let's do 'Ache'. One….two…three, go!" Kyrie smiled, she liked this song, it was slower compared to the others. She moved her body to the beat, and glanced over at Dethklok to see what her beloved Skwisgaar may have thought about it thus far.
The looks on their faces was a mixture of disgust and pain. Kyrie was shocked, they hadn't even made it to the lyrics. Skwisgaar and Toki were covering their ears, "Stops that horrible sounds!" Skwisgaar said, the band immediately stopped. "What the hells is wrong with yous' guitars?"
Leo looked offended, "My guitar? Nothing."
"What you means nothing?" Toki asked, still covering his ears.
"I play fine, Zuzu's crap drumming must have thrown you guys off or something." Leo said, Kyrie growled and threw a drumstick, hitting Leo in the back of the head. He turned, looking slightly shocked. It was the first time Kyrie had ever retaliated against his comments, and Alvin chuckled approvingly.
"No." Skwisgaar said, "We shows you hows' it's done."
Leo looked irritated as Skwisgaar and Toki approached him. "Oh, and hey, I can help with lyrics." Nathan said, heading towards him as well. Leo mumbled under his breath, trying to fake an appreciative smile; Alvin and Kyrie couldn't help but laugh.
"Yea, and that bass could definitely use some work." Murderface said, moving towards Alvin.
Alvin pushed his glasses closer to his face, "Really?" he asked, interested in getting advice from such a well known bass player.
Kyrie looked back to the doorway at Pickles, who stood with the same, creepy-almost-friendly-seeming smile. "Let's work on those drums!" he said energetically. She smiled at him as he advanced towards her, although she knew very little about Pickles, she was very eager to learn from an actual drummer.
Pickles stepped up onto the platform Kyrie's drum sat on, "Hey Toki, could'ja hand her that other drumstick?"
Toki grabbed it off the ground and passed it back to Kyrie, as Skwisgaar and Nathan grilled Leo's musical abilities. "Here you go." He said smiling sweetly, and she reached out to take it. They each blushed when their hands brushed.
"Thank you…" she said softly. Pickles rolled his eyes, and Toki turned his attention back to Leo.
"So uh…" Pickles frowned, unsure of where to begin, "I guess, what do you know about drumming?"
Kyrie frowned, "Not very much…everything I do know is just from books, and guides on the internet."
Pickles nodded, "Well since your drumstick was on the other side of the room when I got here, why don't you show me how you're holding your drumsticks, and we can work from there."
She looked at her hands, feeling extremely self-conscious. She didn't know how she held her drumsticks, she just held them. "Uhm…" she frowned as nervous thoughts consumed her mind, and tried to quickly position her hands in a way that wouldn't make her seem like an idiot.
Pickles watched her panic and felt a little sorry for her, she didn't seem like she knew what to do. He was unsure if it was really necessary to go through with the plan, at least with her. "Like this." He repositioned her fingers on each hand the same way he remembered learning to play drums, "This is called 'Matched Grip', real popular. Helps you move quickly around the drums." He repositioned her fingers again, "This is 'Traditional', it's good for quick stroking. You should try out both styles, do whatever feels more comfortable."
She nodded, "Does it matter which way I hold them?"
Pickles shook his head, "Nah, just whatever is more comfortable. I—"
"Why the hell would I hold my pick that tight??" Leo asked, almost shouting. Everyone looked over as he and Skwisgaar stood face to face.
"Who's in the biggest band in the world?! NOT YOUS." Skwisgaar shouted back.
"We knows what we talking about." Toki added. "Just give yous' some friendly teachings."
Nathan stood behind them, "Yea, don't be such an ungrateful dick."
Leo narrowed his eyes, knowing now that something was going. He clutched his guitar pick, and gritted his teeth, "You know what, I think I need to go out for some air." He said, stomping away. "Practice is over today, Al and Zuzu."
Kyrie looked up at Pickles, "Could you help me just a little more, please?"
Pickles looked over at Murderface, who shook his head no, "Well…I think it's time we get goin'." She looked up at him sadly, and he couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
"Yea, it's probably best if we help you guys while you're all here." Murderface added.
"Alright, well…thanks." Alvin said. "Leo may not appreciate it, but Kyrie and I certainly do."
As Dethklok headed towards the exit, Skwisgaar yelled back to them, "Yous' twos' just keep on practicing, you gets better. Who knows, maybes' next times you not sounds like shit."
"Was that a compliment or an insult?" Alvin asked, looking at Kyrie. She shrugged her shoulders, and began practicing her new drumstick holding techniques.
x - x - x - x - x - x - x
Once they were well away from the rehearsal room of the Barbed Brothers, Dethklok broke out in laughter. "That was easy." Murderface said.
"Yea." Nathan added, "It'll be easy to get rid of them."
Toki frowned, feeling sorry for the unfortunate band. "Buts guys, they seems like real nice peoples. Maybe we shouldn't do's this?"
"Oh Toki," Skwisgaar said smirking, "You's just wants to make out with the little drummer. I sees' how you looked at her." Toki ignored the comment.
"She said she's new with the drums, but she might have potential." Pickles said. "Listened to everything I told her."
Skwisgaar took it as another opportunity to tease Toki, "Listeneds' to what you says? Much better than Toki. Maybe we should kick him from the band and adds' her." Toki scowled at him, starting to resent the girls presence.
"What did the lead guy call her?" Nathan asked. "Zoom Zoom?"
"No's, I think he say Zoo-Zoo, like fast." Toki responded.
Skwisgaar laughed, "You knows her name just like that? You really likes this ones, huh Tokis?"
"I don't likes her, Skwisgaar!" Toki shouted irritated, "You do's!"
Skwisgaar thought about this a moment, "Not mys' type, but I'd still do's her."
"The guy on bass was pretty good." Murderface crossed his arms and smiled smugly, "But he'll suck after taking all the advice I told him. I can't believe he accepted it all like that."
"The lead guy might be a problem." Nathan said, "Why'd he have to give us so much trouble? The other two just accepted what we said, why's he gotta be such a dick?" Pickles tucked his hands into his pocket, he didn't exactly give the drummer bad advice, but they didn't really need to know that.
"I kinda liked their singer," Murderface said, "it gets lonely being the only dick around here." They gave him a funny look, and he shrugged his shoulders. "Hey I get lonely too."
"My lords," they turned their attention to an approaching Roadie, "The Manager wishes to speak with you."
"What the hell does he want?" Pickles asked.
"He asked that you meet him in his office." The Roadie said, the band exchanged confused looks and headed towards Charles's office.
Once they were at his office they knocked on the door, which slowly creeped open. Charles stood by his desk, looking through a manila folder. "The recording label has made another request." He said, not bothering to look up.
"What? Another one?" Murderface asked.
"It seems they want you boys to shape up." Charles said, turning a page in the folder. "Having an opening act that is not a metal band has really made you all seem more tolerable to the non-metal world. Sales have increased by ten percent, and have been steadily rising since you acquired that opening act. Small bands of all music genre's actually feel like they have a bond with you."
"So's?" Skwisgaar said.
"This new market means more money, so the label has decided to take another risk to increase your appeal to the more 'traditional' folks in society. They want you all to cut down on the drinking."
"NO!!" Nathan shouted enraged, flipping over a chair in the office. The rest of the band yelled and cursed, Charles set down the folder and waited.
"Are you all done?" he asked when their tantrums seemed to stop, "I'm not happy about this either, I don't think the label understands how important alcohol is to your functioning. I'm asking you all to bear with me a few more days until I can talk them out of this."
They starred angrily at him, "It's not happening." Pickles said.
"What kind of manager is you's to lets them do's this to us?" Toki asked.
Charles sighed, "It's the same situation with the opening band, I advised against that as well, but the label wants to try some new idea's to increase profit."
"But we's already the biggest band in the world, what mores' they wants from us??" Skwisgaar asked, sounding a little desperate.
"Just a few days." Charles said, "You can drink with your meals still, but nothing outside of that. Now Nathan, I expect you to keep the others in line and enforce this."
Nathan said nothing, and turned stomping down the hall. The rest of the band followed his lead. "You don't have a choice." Charles said, shaking his head. He knew they were to far away to hear him, or even care at this point. "I've already taken the liberty of getting rid of all your private alcohol. Mordhaus will be dry until I can negotiate our way out of this."
x - x - x - x - x - x - x
Leo sped around the corner on his red Suzuki motorcycle, his eyes fixated on the road. He needed to leave that place, 'How could Al and Zuzu possibly be so stupid?' He could clearly see through their little act, Dethklok just wanted to get rid of them.
"I'm not going to let them fuck this up for me." Leo said, turning the corner and driving up a long, narrow driveway lined with flowers. "I'm going to be a star, and no one is taking this from me, not even Dethklok."
He stopped in front of a large, white mansion and kicked down his kickstand. A butler quickly ran out to greet him. "Master Leonardo? We were not expecting you." The elderly man said, moving to assist him.
"Are my parents in?" Leo asked, pulling off his helmet and handing it to the butler.
"Yes sir, they are in the main lounge speaking with a very important guest. I believe they were just going to phone you." Leo looked at the man confused, "It is wonderful that you are here, please come right this way!"
Leo quietly followed him into the house, looking around at unfamiliar paintings on the wall and sculptures tucked into corners. He wondered how much his parents had spent on their latest art shopping spree, and figured by now they had depleted what little was left of his unused college fund. The butler turned down a hall and Leo followed, peering forward into the main lounge.
"Master Harrison, Master Leonardo has arrived." The butler said.
Leo poked his head into the main lounge. He had grown up surrounded by influential politicians and Hollywood stars, and wondered who was the 'big deal' this time. In a chair adjacent to his father a man sat with gray hair in a buzz cut style, and a face etched with wrinkles. He wore an army uniform, decorated with various metals and patches of honor.
"Leonardo my boy!" his father said, standing to greet his son, "I'm pleased to see you. Look who stopped by today! I'm not sure if you remember him or not." Leo studied the man who rose from his seat. "This is General Crozier."
"I remember when you were just a boy." The General said, looking Leo over, "How are you doing, son?"
"Fine." Leo said in a flat voice. "Not interested in joining the troops, so don't waste your time trying to recruit me. I know my parents want me to 'make' something out of my life, but the military just ain't for me."
Leo's father shook his head disapprovingly, "Where are your manners?"
General Crozier only chuckled, "You've become just as sharp tongued as your father said." Leo cocked an eyebrow as the General continued, "Your father tells me your band won the contest to open for Dethklok. I came to congratulate you."
"You came all this way just to congratulate me?" Leo asked, knowing there had to be more.
The General grinned, "Harrison, may I have a moment alone with your son?"
"Ah, yes." Leo's father said quickly. "I'll be in the sitting room, we can catch up when you are finished, Crozier." Leo watched him leave the room through the corner of his eye, his attention was focused on the General.
"I understand that you have been living with Dethklok. How are things at Mordhaus?" The General asked, sitting comfortably back into his seat.
"Shitty." Leo responded, sitting across from the General. "Dethklok is fucking with my chance at being famous."
The General nodded as if he understood, "How important is fame to you, Leonardo?"
"It's real important." Leo said without hesitation, "I wanna be a rock star, more than anything else. That's my dream."
"What if I told you I have connections that would make you famous far beyond your wildest dreams?" Leo sat forward, listening intently. "Is that something that would interest you?"
"Yes." Leo grinned, if there was an easier route to stardom he would gladly take it. "What would I have to do inorder to get help from you and your connections?"
The General stood again, and walked towards a window overlooking the patio. "I want you to keep an eye on Dethklok. I need information about their daily lives, what they eat, where they sleep, what they do, and most importantly about their tour." He turned back to Leo, "All you would have to do is take a few pictures and report back to me from time to time."
"Why do you need information about Dethklok?" Leo asked, mildly curious.
"That's unimportant." The General responded, walking back towards Leo, "The question you should be asking yourself is whether or not you want to be famous." He extended his hand.
Leo nodded, and stood, "If I do this, you'll make me a star?"
"My boy, I'll make you whatever you want." Leo grinned, and firmly shook General Crozier's hand, confirming the secret deal.
Notes : I kind of want to rewrite the first two chapters because I think they may be a little confusing at some parts, but I guess for now I'll stick with them and continue the story anyway. YAY stuff is finally happening! Big thanks for the reviews Luna and Marner, I'm glad people are reading this. :D