thisisgroundcontrol | The Chaos can't be stopped and captcha is bloody daft.

"What if I don't want them?" Robert asked with a bit more seriousness than his recent laughing fit. The nicknames caused more of that feeling where he wanted to get away from Erik.

It was that other comment though that dampened his happiness and laughter to quiet. Robert had only ever been told he had screaming nightmares and sleep paralysis like symptoms. He knew why and didn't want to think about them. Erik brought up the feelings related to those nightmares, the terror inside of being anything closer than friends. He glanced over at Erik and forced a smile through a heavy breath.

"Most of them snore when they drink enough."

"If you don't want them then I won't call you any. I am just being truthful since I believe in no lies. My brother is the same."

Erik swallowed thickly and wondered if he'd gone too far again with the whole nicknames thing. He knew he would have to back up a little after the whole erotic dream thing. Robert had heard him speak. Shit. He patted the Brit's arm gently and nodded.

"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable so please tell me if it pisses you off. It won't offend me."

Most of them did snore when drunk just like all the trashed rock stars Erik had befriended over the years. This was a common thing. Offering a rather sheepish smile he let Robert get back to driving as he looked out the window as they drove. He could tell there was some tense feeling in the driving seat so wanted to try and back off a little to give the driver space.

"My brother snores like a train after getting drunk on too much red wine."

Robert makes like he's about to respond but falls silent instead. He didn't want to lie either but he didn't want to talk. He didn't even know what he's feeling. The touch makes him feel guilty about being so standoffish, compels him to find something to say.

"Erik...." He sighs heavily and wonders what to say. "What you're trying to get from me, it isn't the same for me as for the rest of you. I don't believe in jumping into it because I don't want to cause pain." And that was more about his pain sometimes than others. Now, it was definitely about his own fears. "I've never been... loose? like the rest of you moving from one person to another quickly."

He didn't know what else to say and so sighed and looks out on the road, focusing on it because this wasn't a conversation he wanted to have. Maybe he was more private than he thought? .. At least sometimes.

"I don't know if I'm offended." That was the most honest thing he could say on the subject. There was too much emotional and mental turmoil to be certain.

Erik listened and nodded, just trying to recount Tom's words in his head as he took it all in. Robert was certainly like no man he'd met before yet the Swede was infatuated with him and it was more than just for sexual reasons. Just hearing the Brit talk, laugh and walk---was it love building up inside? It was something. Yet, he had to listen and wanted to. This was important.

"I understand, Robert. It is just a clash of cultures mixed with different ways of life. Yet, I like you as a person, not just for a bed friend. Just being in your presence makes me smile. You warm the room. But---I do understand what you are saying and am grateful you also speak the truth. I want to be your friend I really do---just please give me a chance at friendship. I know I need to slow down and calm my loins at times it is just I am uh-- yster---frisky and can't help it at times."

The Swede was learning and hoped that they could get to know each other at Robert's pace even with such a high libido as Erik's.....he desperately wanted to make this work. He was too far in to let go now.

There was definitely a clash of culture, or maybe spiritual views or both and other things too. Robert smiled a little more, relaxing into the honesty easily even if his emotions were still nervous and strung out some.

"I'm not attracted to appearance." Robert laughed a little. "Well, I have limits but appearance isn't even high on what makes people attractive." It seemed important to tell the Swede after all the compliments he'd given on the Brit's appearance. The truth was that the things that made people attractive; honesty, trust, morality, beliefs took time, took knowing someone well.

"I'm flattered that you think I'm attractive." He was even when it made him uncomfortable. Who wouldn't be by a much younger person telling you that you were sexy? "Sexuality based on physical attraction makes jumping into things fast and easy, maybe? I don't work that way. I find people.. their energy or spirit or ... well whatever you Swedes call it... what attracts me. The physical body is less important though not unimportant. I still think some people are too ugly, physically, to get involved with."

Just sitting in his seat Erik stayed quiet and listening intently, wanting to know what drove Robert and what he liked and disliked. Just hearing the conversation become deeper pleased him since this was an insight into the Brit's personality. He'd only known Robert for a few weeks but this---it was what he needed to hear.

"You speak wise words and I do understand where you are coming from. Energy and spirit? Yes, I think ande och energi is what you mean. Perhaps soul too? The person's insides how his heart beats and how he sees the world. I am trying to understand and think I am?"

Erik frowned a little but was nodding and listening oh so much. The English he could pick up and trying to make it out in his head what Robert meant. So, he was a spiritual man. This pleased the Swede who was also spiritual himself being a Pagan.

"Both Hunter and myself we are Pagan and worship Freyr. He is the god of virility, peace and prosperity, with sunshine and fair weather, and with good harvest. I do understand what you mean by in here."

Gently touching Robert's chest where is heart is, quickly pulling back as to not put the man off.

He repeated the Swedish words under his breath while listening. Even native English speakers had to struggle with his ideas of attraction sometimes so he's keeping the conversation slow.

"Yes. Who a person is, that is more important to me than what they look like." He confirmed, reiterating so there's not confusion. Turning to talk of religion is easier and the touch to emphasize doesn't bother him at all.

"I'm Agnostic but my spiritual beliefs are... hmm.. more like Aarne's when it comes to views on Nature and people." The comfort comes back to Robert and the nervousness fades as he explains more. "The term is agnostotheism; spirituality but believing that God or gods are unknowable or undefinable so I don't follow religious doctrines or faith of any kind though I do believe in most spiritual parts of religious ideals."

"I think I am beginning to understand you better, Robert. Getting there a little slowly because of the language barrier but your word "Agnostic" it is strange but the spiritual side I also believe in. We cannot see our gods because they are not of this world yet they are all around with us always. A calming presence and guiding light. That is how I see it."

Erik wondered if he was making any sense to the Brit but he was trying here. Hunter was better at explaining these sort of religious matters but the younger guitarist found Robert interesting as well as attractive.

"My god, Freyr, he is someone we worship and believe in because he is part of us. How man came to be on this Earth. Our existence is defined by our beliefs."

His eyes wide and his mind going at a speed trying to absorb it all. Was he rambling? He wasn't sure.

Robert's nerves had completely calmed and it's clear in his tone and body language. "Agnostic; a is without and gnostic can be many things but in this sense knowledge of god. Agnostic means that the person is spiritual and usually believes that there is something greater than themselves but they see god, gods or whatever that is to be unknowable or something that humans can't understand completely. It's deep spirituality without religion or identifying a deity in a very broad definition."

He had no problem explaining his beliefs and was fairly open about them. He and Tom had manty conversations like this since, until the Stardust mission, Tom was more Christian and traditionally religious in his views on god. Aliens changed that quickly.

"Everyone's existence is defined by their beliefs, and that isn't limited to religious beliefs." Robert glanced at his passenger while he spoke. "I'm not bothered by the different religions here. I've heard of Freyr before from Vars."

Nodding slowly, Erik took it all in, so pleased that Robert was opening up to him like this. Agnostic. He was mulling the English word over in his head along with all what it meant because it was special to the Brit.

"Yes, Vars is also a pagan as are all the Scandinavians here on the tour. We're an odd lot to you Brits but we're friendly and fiercely loyal. Even my brother wouldn't hesitate to throw his heeled boot in some bastard's face to protect you or Tom."

This was the truth. The Ivarsson brothers were very close and stood up for one another just like a pair of brothers would. Their religion binding them into a pact of almost tribal belief which made them stronger overall. Erik just gazing at Robert with admiration, almost like a puppy would at it's master.

"You are a very interesting man, Robert."

"You're not odd to me." Robert comments with a smile. "I don't follow gods but some of the pagan spiritual practices align with mine."

He does laugh at the comment about Hunter because there was no doubt to Robert that the man would pull some bitchy shoe throwing and slapping.

"At least you think so."

Erik blushed a little and pushed some of his messy hair back from his face. His boyish grin coming into view as he gazed upon the driver next to him. Gods, he found the older man so hot. The bond they were developing was special and he wondered how far their friendship would actually go. Hopefully, it would develop into something special---at least that's what the Swede fantasised about. This limo ride together was blossoming into something very special indeed.

"My brother and I follow Freyr. Some people who aren't pagans just think he's a god of big cocks. At least that's what Joe said when I told him."

What Joe said got Robert laughing. "I think that's Joe and his sex addiction talking."

Was the Brit addicted to sex, maybe, but he was definitely attached to the Fin like he was a drug. Robert shrugged.

"I thought peace, fertility and the sun was Freyr, similar to Apollo in Greek?" He wasn't exactly sure but he had read some on mythology in his time.

"You think so? Perhaps. The crazy boy does love his Fin and is permanently attached to Aarne it seems. I have drawings of Freyr I could show you sometime."

Of course Erik had sketched his god among the other things being Robert. Lots of sketches of the driver with clothes on and without. Different poses and positions. Those were private though. Leaning back in his seat, Erik wondered how it was going back behind the glass screen. Probably chaos.

"Yes, it is similar. The fertility part is when we spread our seed over the land and make things grow."

"Trust me, I know. They hardly make it into the backseat before they start striping." Robert laughed good natured. They were in love, young and wild. It was cute, more so that they we so alike and able to keep up with each other.

Robert laughs and shakes his head. "Yes, the field plowing and sex connection. It's amusing how many turns of phrases come from that."

"I heard Tom call it the----sex mobile? Is that right? We're sitting in the sex mobile right now."

That got a boyish grin and a laugh out of the Swede, who looked to Robert and then giggled. Tom wasn't wrong though. How many rock stars had stripped and fucked inside? Probably a lot.

"Ploughing. Yes. That can also mean fucking."

Erik couldn't help himself as his eyes drifted down to Robert's crotch and he knew he had to control himself. It was going to be a long drive.

Robert can't control the near giggling laughter. "Yes, he does. That is why I had it soundproofed. I don't need to hear everyone in the back while I'm driving."

The whole conversation was turning subjects to lewd discourse, or he imagined it was on track for that.

"Sowing oats? Vars told me they jokingly say pillaging the fields." Robert had thought he knew a lot of slang until he ran into the Scandinavians, especially the Norwegian language, which had so much lewd, dirty and insulting slang.

"A good idea because my brother and his drummer get high and screamy together. You don't need to hear that."

Erik was giggling alongside Robert now, knowing full well that Joe and Aarne got shouty and loud too along with the punks growling and making animal noises. The guitarist had heard all kinds of noises when trying to sleep back in his hotel room alone. A pillow over the ears didn't really help either.

"Sowing oats? Yes. All these phrases mean the same. We say sådd av fröet och tillbearbetning av fälten. It means sowing the seed and tilling the fields."

"None of you are quiet back there." Robert laughs, glancing at Erik and then back at the road. "Tickling, arguing, sex, and hell, if there are more than three back there drinking."

Robert's teasing despite the truth of the statement. He knew they were a loud and rowdy bunch. They were rock stars after all.

"It's interesting but not surprising, that farming is a universal euphemism for sex."

"Unless they are asleep or passed it from booze. We're a rowdy lot, Robert. Are you sure you can keep up with us?"

The cheeky Swede giggled at the driver and then couldn't help but delve more into the euphemisms around sex and tilling the soil. Just staring at the older man made the younger man's heart skip a beat.

"How about using a garden....hoe? That could be a lot of funny things. I bet you're good with those strong hands of yours gripping that steering wheel all the time."

Was the guitarist being dirty? Of course he was.

"Most of you snore when you're drunk." Robert barely gets the words out before laughing. "Tom and I can keep up with all of you at once. The one or a few usually in the back is easy."

He's not at all surprised to hear the young guitarist keeping the sexual innuendo going. The compliment warmed his cheek but he mad no comment to that part at all. "I'd rather keep the hoes out of the garden. They tend to crush all the flowers in the flower beds."

There was a story there, one that Robert wasn't yet sharing.

"We do? I know my brother snores when he's drunk on wine. I'm not sure about the others though."

Erik just leant back in his seat and then shot a look to Robert wondering what the driver meant by that. Hoes out of the garden? Crushing flowers? What did it all mean? The young guitarist frowning but giggling slightly.

"What does that all mean? Will you tell me?"

The Swede leant in closer so that his shoulder touched Robert's, enjoying that he got to sit in the passenger seat next to the Brit.

"I'm pretty sure I've heard all of you." Robert laughed and shook his head. "Its's the worst after a double concert night with heavy drinking."

He glanced over at the Swede and started laughing to the point he nearly snorted. "Use your imagination?"

He might tell him once he stopped laughing so much at the naivetés of the question.

"Use my imagination? Ok! How about a fuck in the flowers then? Is that what you mean?"

Erik was stifling a cheeky giggle as he tugged on a few of Robert's curls gently before withdrawing his fingers once more. Just feeling those blond strands between his fingertips caused the young Swede to swell up with want and lust. He knew he'd have to try and behave somehow for the long drive.

"Rolling around naked fucking in the flowerbeds sounds hot, sötnos."

The Swede's cheeks heating up.

"That's why the hoes need to stay out of the garden. They crush the flowers." Robert started laughing, especially when he saw the hot red on the young guitarist's cheeks.

It was cute to watch him embarrass himself.