-1The smell in Prezzo was so warm and inviting it felt as if it had taken Murdoc by the hand and led him in. He followed the aroma's guiding hand through the door and in front of the hostess. She examined the dazed look on his face with confusion before deciding to say her line, "Hello sir, welcome to Prezzo. How many?"

He sighed and realized that he was very much alone. However, the lovely smells running rampant through the air were still capturing his attention. He shook himself out of his daze just far enough to manage, "Jus' myself."

"Follow me." she said simply before turning and waltzing between the rows of tables with a determined confidence. Murdoc could tell with a kind of pity that she really enjoyed her job; however pointless it may seem to normal human beings. She stood adjacent to the table that she must have meant for him and displayed it with her open palms Vanna White style. He slid into the chair at the single table and rested his head in his hands in boredom as she shoved a menu at him.

"Fanks." he murmured as his eyes scanned the menu. He wasn't really taking anything in because he already knew what he wanted. Fettuccini alfredo, heaping mounds of it, with the most expensive wine a normal civilian eatery carried. Murdoc salivated at the thought of it. He swiped at his mouth for safety as he dozed into a slight daydream of him munching happily on the fat coated pasta. His rumination was interrupted by his waitress who eyed him with concern much like the hostess had done.

"What can I get for you sir?" she asked with a lick of boredom gnawing away at her voice. Murdoc was pleased to see she hated her job far more than the bubbly hostess had.

He almost had to restrain himself from excitedly shouting his order out at her. He glanced at the menu casually and then laid some huskiness onto his voice to make it sound like he could care less. "I'll 'ave the fettuccini alfredo an'…what wine ya got?" he already knew what he wanted but he had to keep up that chill and cavalier façade he was constantly playing up.

The look in the waitress's eyes led Murdoc to believe she knew nothing about the subject. He could see gears creaking and tumbling behind her face at lightning speed as she tried to come up with some type of answer. He squinted at her name tag before deciding he could save her the panic.

"Miss…Elizabeth izit? I'd like some fink French and aged to perfection." he purred, narrowing his eyes sensually. Elizabeth looked slightly confused and a little put off by Murdoc's attempt at sexy wine ordering.

"I'll see whut I can do, yeah?" she gave him a cheeky smile as if to overlook his odd advances on her. Murdoc watched her bum as she left until she turned around and called over her shoulder, "And it's Izzi, no' Elizabeth." She was cute, but not educated enough in fine alcoholic drinks for his liking. Oh and that cheeky smile just wouldn't sit with him either. It was as if she was baring her teeth in a challenge to him. Murdoc was far more a fan of easier women than the ones who gave him a run for his money.

Izzi returned not five minutes later with a tottering plate of shot glasses filled to the brim with wine. "Dun tell anyone I did this…but I'll let cha try em all." She dropped/placed the plethora of wine on the table with a crash and a coy smile. Murdoc gave her an amused glance before sipping the fermented grape juice with a triumphant simper. Izzie watched him with interest before plopping into the seat across from him.

There were a few things Murdoc loved with all his heart and salty soul; free alcohol, free lap dances, and really overly friendly women companions. He figured two out of three wasn't bad and made a mental note that three out of three could be achieved if he played his cards right. He gave her a look and saw that she was resting her chin on the table and sighing in a bored fashion.

"You're no' very professional." Murdoc stated, eyeing her intently. Her head shot up and she met his gaze without hesitation. This was something Murdoc wasn't used to, people never had the courage nor respect to look at him like that. Obviously Miss Izzie saw some type of light in him.

She smiled that grin that made Murdoc cringe and responded, "I dun' care about this job. It's to pay the bills and buy the Spaghettios." She gave a simple shrug and looked away from him. She continued to pull on her lip and scan the floor of the restaurant for her boss. "My manager's a total git, he won't notice I'm no' doing nufink."

Murdoc laughed, "I know what that's like. My previous manager…well ya know Gorillaz right?" He saw this as an opportunity to rub his fame in someone's face. These opportunities were becoming fewer and fewer as Gorillaz demolished slowly after 2D's now highly talked about death. People now knew that the band would have nothing else to show and no one else to head it as beautifully. Murdoc, who was starving to boast and brag, jumped all over his chance.

Izzie's eyes dulled slightly in thought and she shook her head, "Nope. They any good?" Murdoc face palmed with his free hand. She's dumber than the rock she's been living under.

"How could ya no' know? They're all over the charts." he drawled, starting in on his now sixth shot glass of wine. This one was definitely in the bottom three, it tasted like watered down cough medicine.

"I dun' listen tah popular music. I like the old stuff; The Smiths, Ozzie, Zeppelin, Betuhles, The Doors, that blind bloke…Elton? Oh an' Elvis Costello. What kinda genre is this Gorillaz group, yeah?" she drummed her fingers on the table and then looked up at Murdoc expectantly.

"Well I'd say alternative slash hip hop slash electronica. They could rule tha world ya know." Murdoc said tipping his head to side and resting it in his palm. He curled his other hand around another shot glass and downed it. This wine was sweet and warm and made him grin in delight.

Izzie sighed, "Run DMC thought they could rule the world too, that rap group didun get fah once Jam Master J met the barrel of a gun, yeah?" Murdoc was becoming impatient with this girl. Who the fuck did she think she was?

"Listen love…Gorillaz are-er-were diffrun. They've got a new wave an' soul that tha likes of you 'ave never heard." he spat, dumping out the wine glass he was holding on a napkin. He made to stand up but she reached out a hand to stop him.

"Wait I…didun mean tah offend you. You must really like this band." she said, trying to get him to sit back down. He complied reluctantly and rolled his eyes.

"I was in it really. I was the bassist…I made the band." he looked wistfully up at the ceiling. He banged his fist on the table and Izzie started in response, her green eyes widening. "Now it's all gone tah shits cause that Dullard of a singer 'ad to go an' get 'imself shot." he clenched his fists and teeth tightly, his knuckles turning a ghastly white against his otherwise olive green skin.

Izzie blinked and made to stand up. "I'm sorry." she put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder but he brushed it away quickly. He swiped at the wine glasses with his hand and turned back to her.

Murdoc took on a rather nasty tone at being angered, "Now get me some bleedin' fettuccini alfredo. I'm fucking hungry." He turned a cold shoulder to her and she rushed away to get him his order. Tears pricked at her eyes and she crossed her arms as she pushed her way towards the kitchen. How could someone she barely knew be so rude and bipolar? It was just insane. Who was this crazy tosser?

xxxx

The Winnebago rested in a vacant parking lot a few blocks from the restaurant as the rain waned into the dark hours of night. Murdoc laid on his back and stared up at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to wash over him. He shoveled some pills into his mouth from the bedside table, not bothering to count exactly how many were going in. He knew the dosage and their true purpose, to condition 2D's heart to work in the cavity that his had once occupied. Murdoc decided it would be quite satirical and comical to take too many pills to kill the heart they were supposed to save. He threw the pill bottle up and down as his mind roared into thought.

He missed Gorillaz, more than anything in the world. That idea of fame and being like some type of shining star or human rhinestone. He had been like a Greek god and El Diablo was his chariot. It felt as if the whole world would kneel at his feet and kiss his toes any second they could manage. The universe dreamed of him at night. But now that 2D was gone and he hadn't given a sob story interview that very same world had turned their backs on him and their dreams were Technicolor nightmares of him dying slowly and steadily. He huffed at himself and turned on his side.

That chick, Izzie…what was her deal? Sure she was cute and kind of rubbed Murdoc in the right ways but there was something about her that made him repulsed and kind of afraid. Was he turning gay? No that definitely wasn't it. Maybe it was the fact that she had no hope for Gorillaz. That was the thing Murdoc feared the most, that he would soon enough feel the very same. He was already starting to believe that his once awesome band's light had been extinguished fiercely and abruptly. It was gone all too quickly and innocent and open minds like Izzie's hadn't yet had the chance to drink in the sweet cool beauty of it all. That Moonshine that was Gorillaz during the Prohibition of good music in this current day and stinking age.

Murdoc opened his eyes to find himself on a beach. The white sand was framed by jetties and giant crags and cliffs on either side. It seemed to be uninhabited and undiscovered as there was not a soul in sight, not even a gull or pelican circling overhead. The water was tinted grey to reflect the overcast sky above. He wandered forward in quiet astonishment, his feet and chest somehow bare and revealed. Murdoc shivered at the cool breeze that ripped through the oasis as he settled himself on a rock in the middle of the shoreline. He looked out complacently over the endless sea and curled his knees to his chest.

Company came in the form of a quiet and gentle pair of footsteps which were muffled by the soft and pliable sand. Murdoc acknowledged the presence mentally but couldn't draw himself to look away from the water. He was far too enchanted by the majesty it held deep in its strong and boundless clutches.

"'Ello Muhdoc." came an all too familiar high pitched voice. Murdoc snapped his head in the direction of the greeting. He couldn't believe his ears so he decided to trust his eyes more.

There he was…in all his splendor and glory. His blue hair was coated with sand and his hollow eyes seemed to scan Murdoc. He smiled in a crooked manner, showing his missing front teeth perfectly. 2D hopped up onto the rock next to Murdoc without invitation and joined him in looking out over the water. "How ya bin?" he asked conversationally, as if he wasn't a materialized spirit.

"Horrible," Murdoc replied honestly. "Yourself? Where 'ave you been Dullard?"

2D looked kind of hurt but hid it from his voice so Murdoc wouldn't notice, "Good actually, God's a really cool bloke. Much more understandin' of my mental capacities then you Muhdoc." he had a flicker of a smile come over his face before turning back to the ocean.

"You went to 'eaven then?" Murdoc turned to him in astonishment.

"Well…it's like Simon an' Garfunkel said…'eaven holds a place for dose who pray." he sang to the tune of Mrs. Robinson to the key. Murdoc sighed, quite content to hear 2D sing something because he'd thought that it might never happen again. "Dat's a good song innit?" he smiled, sounding much like his old Faceache self.

"Hippy shit." Murdoc waved his hand as if to bat 2D's comment aside. The spirit looked slightly taken aback and crossed his arms defensively.

"Well I suppose I should be off den. You're bout to wake up." 2D said, slowly climbing off the rock and turning to face Murdoc who squinted at him in confusion.

"Whaddya mean Faceache?" Murdoc mumbled getting up so that he was standing next to 2D, who towered over him.

"This is ya dream Muhdoc. I'll visit ya again, no worries. Tell Noodle love I said 'ello den. Off ya go." he shoved Murdoc into the ocean. The waves washed up to meet him and crash on top of him. He let out a breath and was shocked that he could draw in another.

Murdoc found himself lying awake in the Winnebago with his forehead drenched in sweat and a banging at the door. He grumbled before pulling on a pair of jeans. Who in the fuck was banging on the door of a camper at, he glanced at the clock, one in the morning in the pouring rain? He shuffled to the door with a limping gate before shoving his face to the peep hole. The intruder was too short to be seen so he swung the door open.

He was shocked to find Izzie who was sopping wet dangling his wallet in front of him.

-Chapter 4 Fin-

Author's Note: This took ages to write, my apologies. I have been very lazy and uninspired. At first I hated where this chapter was going but now I'm kind of happy with it. Any comments on Izzie so far? I'm working very hard not to make her Mary Sue-ish. I hope everyone was happy to see 2D! I was so happy to write him in. Thank you all for reviewing and keep that feedback coming.