I Have To Look Up Just To See Hell

Breaking The Same Old Ground

Chapter 8 – Breaking The Same Old Ground

I wrung my hands nervously as I sat waiting. Marilyn and I were booked together on the Late Show with David Letterman...I’d seen Marilyn on his show before...he had a way of cutting you down and always saw an opportunity for a bad joke or two...hence my nerves.

I listened as the audience quietened and David’s laughter ceased. “Oh, you gotta laugh…my next guests, ladies and gentlemen, have inspired rumour, intrigue, fear, and disbelief that they’re still married after everything they’ve been through. Yes, Marilyn Manson and Lana Del Rey are on the show tonight!” David shouted and the audience screamed. “Yes, last years album left Manson’s audiences in two arenas…they either loved it or were confused by it; while Lana Del Rey’s fan base just grows and grows and grows. Now, I’m all for women taking the lead in the industry…but if it were my wife possibly overtaking me…I’d be a little concerned I wasn’t scaring people anymore.” David laughed as the audience gasped. “I’m kidding, I’m just kidding. I’m very good friends with both these amazing performers, ladies and gentlemen, give a warm welcome to Marilyn Manson and Lana Del Rey!”

The studio audience cheered and I put on my best smile, walking out and waving to the audience with Marilyn right behind me. I turned and smiled at David as he came and shook our hands. “Hi.” I said and then laughed as the audience became even louder.

“Hey, sit, sit.” David smiled as he lead us back over to his desk. “Marilyn Manson and Lana Del Rey, everybody!” he shouted and the audience cheered louder. “Oh, that must be nice.”

I smirked. “The cheering?”

“Yes, the cheering.” David nodded, not hearing the sarcasm in my voice.

“Oh, yeah, it’s…it still inspires awe in me that one person can make so many people scream quite that loudly.” I chuckled. “I’m waiting for the day the audience has my sense of humour and doesn’t applaud when they’re told to.”

“It does happen, it does happen.” David laughed with me. “Now, I’ve heard you two are going on tour, Lana with your latest album, and Marilyn…you’re going to be trying out some new material?”

“Yeah.” Marilyn smirked. “There’s gonna be mayhem in the streets and hopefully someone will…maybe defecate on a dead swan…who knows?”

“We live in hope.” David replied sarcastically. “Who’s looking after your little girl while this is going on?”

“Oh, she’s coming with me.” Marilyn nodded, mock deadpan face making the audience laugh. “They think I’m joking.” He chuckled. “No, yeah, she really is coming with me. It’s her first tour so I thought, for the first leg of the tour at least, she’d be better just making sure she and her band are okay and then sort out family later.”

“Your way of saying ‘welcome to the business, honey’!” David laughed.

“Sure, let’s go with that.” Marilyn shot me a sly smile and I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Uh oh, trouble in paradise.” David laughed, as did the audience.

“Good name for a song.” I chuckled, play punching Marilyn’s arm.

“Are you recording again after this tour? Would you ever record a song with, err, your husband here?” David asked bluntly. “I mean, we’ve all heard you sing together, but record together? Would that strain your relationship, do you think?” David steepled his hands in front of his face. “I mean, it’s torn marriages apart.”

“It can do that,” I nodded and felt Marilyn take my hand in his. “But, I believe what we have is strong enough that we could do that if we wanted. You just have to separate who you are when you’re working from who your are when you’re not. You’re business partners until you walk out of that studio, not friends, not lovers, business partners.” I looked at Marilyn. “If you have a tiff while recording or doing any form of work together, it stays where you’re working, don’t take that home with you…coz it’ll hurt more there.”

“Wise words from one so young.” David smirked. “Speaking of hurt, the song you’re gonna sing for us is, while a Christmas song, it’s a rather mournful song…what made you pick that particular song to, err, cover?”

“I remember listening to it when I was younger and feeling sad and bewildered that those emotions could still exist at Christmas, so, this song has a very special place in my heart.” I smiled and looked at where Marilyn’s and my hand were folded around the others.

“Alrighty then, do you wanna go get ready?” David asked me and I stood, walking over to the band and sighing as the lights dimmed around us. “Ladies and gentlemen, Lana Del Rey singing ‘Little Christmas Tree’.”

And, as the audience applauded, I took a breath for the first note…

***

Marilyn and I stumbled into our bedroom, clothes falling to the floor as we clung to each other, kissing passionately.

“I’m not going to see you for months…” he growled, warm breath making me shiver with delight, head mulled by the wine. “I’m not letting you go tonight…” I gasped as we tumbled back onto the bed and he chuckled darkly. “Which means neither of us is going to get any sleep…”

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Yay! Finally an update on this one! Special thanks to my friend Kat for her inspiration. There'll be one more update tonight, hopefully longer!

Keep reading my lovelies!!