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For this Nexus Prompt: 5. How does your character handle long trips? Do they Have to be the one driving? Are they more content to be in the back sleeping the whole way? Do they want to stop every hour to take pictures?
Robert was packing the final things into the front seat of the limo. With Antheans on the trip flight wasn't always an option. He would have to drive this stretch of the tour. 17 hours to be exact which wasn't the longest drive he'd ever taken. It was going to be the longest one he'd driven with a group of rockstars though, especially one this large. This too without Tom's voice of reason to keep them in line. He would be on his own.
The bikes started rolling up, while he'd packed all the luggage in the trunk; the Dane, the Fin, and the Norwegian were going to drive with their partners. Damien was on the Dane's extra bike, presumably the drummer riding along. They'd slept most of the previous day in prep, resting up. It at least lightened the load of people in the back. The group had grown from 12 to 16, or more, and there was no way even this spacious limo was going to be able to contain that many for this long of a drive.
The goal was to drive most of the way in one go so they could get in and rest before another run of shows. The equipment and the crew were already gone on a semitruck and plane the night before. It was a lot to coordinate and more than he had managed in years, not since he was running recon missions years ago. He did get a laugh thinking about the rockstars as young airforce cadets, too rowdy and cocky for their own good. Maybe that is why he could deal with them so well. Practice.
He had some time, twenty minutes before they were due to leave. There was a breath to lean against the car and watch the sunrise while drinking a bit of tea. Time to wonder how he was going to fare being in charge of this lot for a week on the road. The group on the bikes already rowdy and tormenting each other over something or another. Robert watched them, listening to all the languages. The Scandinavians still surprised him with the sheer number of languages they spoke with decent to native fluency. More amusing was the Brits being totally lost ninety percent of the time when they got to harassing and yelling in someone's native languages. The tables turned though when the Brits started slinging around slang. Aarne had a good grasp but the others lagged, Vars would get angry if no one explained. Someone was going to get a busted lip for the trip at this rate.
The others had come down and climbed quietly into the back. The division made sense now that he saw it so starkly. The calmer Spiders, Jack, Hunter and Gloria in the car. Another snorted laugh thinking about Hunter as 'the calm one'. Mouka and Diamond hopped in the back before Ziggy offered Robert the cage with Bonne. She couldn't ride in the back or Gilly would spend the whole trip screaming like he was about to die. No one needed that. Robert didn't mind riding with the rat, often letting her out to spend some time on his shoulder while he drove.
Setting the small cage on the seat Robert was again struck by the sheer volume of things to manage. People, pets, instruments, bags, and that ignored all the equipment and instruments the crew took. It was enough to get a heavy sigh from the older man while he tried to ensure everything and everyone was where they belonged.
The Norwegian screaming at him for being a slow old man was enough to force him to give up. If something was left Tom would catch it on a final sweep of the rooms. The important things were all loaded up. Robert climbed in finally, glancing at Erik who had taken Tom's usual place as co-pilot and company on a long haul like this. Bonne was already curled up in her cage for a sleep. He had to admit the rat grew on him over time. Never as scared as Gilly, Robert simply hadn't been fond of them at the start of this tour. Now, he was as bad as the Dane about letting the rat run free or hang around on his shoulder.
The bike gang took off. Each giving him the finger in turn as they drove by. He laid on the horn in response. It wasn't even an insult any more but a wave, of sorts. The things he got used to in all this madness. He briefly checked in with the ones in the back who were already settling into a conversation. Seventeen hours. He could do this.
Another glance at Erik and then the mirrors before he pulled away and headed toward the highway. The sky was only now turning to the reds and blue of the sun breaking the horizon. This was his retirement and Robert found it better than sitting around. Who else could say they retired into rockstar circles. Usually it was the otherway around. People retired out of it.
Robert was packing the final things into the front seat of the limo. With Antheans on the trip flight wasn't always an option. He would have to drive this stretch of the tour. 17 hours to be exact which wasn't the longest drive he'd ever taken. It was going to be the longest one he'd driven with a group of rockstars though, especially one this large. This too without Tom's voice of reason to keep them in line. He would be on his own.
The bikes started rolling up, while he'd packed all the luggage in the trunk; the Dane, the Fin, and the Norwegian were going to drive with their partners. Damien was on the Dane's extra bike, presumably the drummer riding along. They'd slept most of the previous day in prep, resting up. It at least lightened the load of people in the back. The group had grown from 12 to 16, or more, and there was no way even this spacious limo was going to be able to contain that many for this long of a drive.
The goal was to drive most of the way in one go so they could get in and rest before another run of shows. The equipment and the crew were already gone on a semitruck and plane the night before. It was a lot to coordinate and more than he had managed in years, not since he was running recon missions years ago. He did get a laugh thinking about the rockstars as young airforce cadets, too rowdy and cocky for their own good. Maybe that is why he could deal with them so well. Practice.
He had some time, twenty minutes before they were due to leave. There was a breath to lean against the car and watch the sunrise while drinking a bit of tea. Time to wonder how he was going to fare being in charge of this lot for a week on the road. The group on the bikes already rowdy and tormenting each other over something or another. Robert watched them, listening to all the languages. The Scandinavians still surprised him with the sheer number of languages they spoke with decent to native fluency. More amusing was the Brits being totally lost ninety percent of the time when they got to harassing and yelling in someone's native languages. The tables turned though when the Brits started slinging around slang. Aarne had a good grasp but the others lagged, Vars would get angry if no one explained. Someone was going to get a busted lip for the trip at this rate.
The others had come down and climbed quietly into the back. The division made sense now that he saw it so starkly. The calmer Spiders, Jack, Hunter and Gloria in the car. Another snorted laugh thinking about Hunter as 'the calm one'. Mouka and Diamond hopped in the back before Ziggy offered Robert the cage with Bonne. She couldn't ride in the back or Gilly would spend the whole trip screaming like he was about to die. No one needed that. Robert didn't mind riding with the rat, often letting her out to spend some time on his shoulder while he drove.
Setting the small cage on the seat Robert was again struck by the sheer volume of things to manage. People, pets, instruments, bags, and that ignored all the equipment and instruments the crew took. It was enough to get a heavy sigh from the older man while he tried to ensure everything and everyone was where they belonged.
The Norwegian screaming at him for being a slow old man was enough to force him to give up. If something was left Tom would catch it on a final sweep of the rooms. The important things were all loaded up. Robert climbed in finally, glancing at Erik who had taken Tom's usual place as co-pilot and company on a long haul like this. Bonne was already curled up in her cage for a sleep. He had to admit the rat grew on him over time. Never as scared as Gilly, Robert simply hadn't been fond of them at the start of this tour. Now, he was as bad as the Dane about letting the rat run free or hang around on his shoulder.
The bike gang took off. Each giving him the finger in turn as they drove by. He laid on the horn in response. It wasn't even an insult any more but a wave, of sorts. The things he got used to in all this madness. He briefly checked in with the ones in the back who were already settling into a conversation. Seventeen hours. He could do this.
Another glance at Erik and then the mirrors before he pulled away and headed toward the highway. The sky was only now turning to the reds and blue of the sun breaking the horizon. This was his retirement and Robert found it better than sitting around. Who else could say they retired into rockstar circles. Usually it was the otherway around. People retired out of it.
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Date: 2021-08-07 08:00 pm (UTC)From:That is as much as he can muster. Erik rattled him sometimes though he was growing fond of the younger man's company. Maybe that was the issue that plagued him. His brother's music let his mind wander a bit in the silence and he tried to sort out why that word bothered him so much.
"His music is like hearing his personality. It's not the usual music I would listen to but I think that's why I like it, it sounds like Rekker." The music talk was a good distraction and soon he's listening to Erik play. More music meant more time to let his mind work out what felt so wrong or unnerved.
"It's bluesy." Robert commented about Erik's work. "I think Tom would like this too."
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Date: 2021-08-07 08:10 pm (UTC)From:Erik sensed that Robert was looking away slightly. Had he said the wrong thing? The Swede was trying not to dwell on it as he smiled fondly and nodded. This Rekker? He sounded like a rebellious man and could play the guitar well too. Wait until the others heard the way he played.
"Rekker is a good guitarist. A bit more heavy and fast than the style I am used to but he's good. Yes, I do like playing in the blues style mixed with rock. Perhaps I could offer Tom a tape if he likes this sort of music too."
That got the Swede smiling broader since he wanted more people to see how he played, often being overshadowed by his older brother's successful career in the Hammers. Erik still wanted to make it big one day.
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Date: 2021-08-07 08:17 pm (UTC)From:"Those tones he pulls you can't get from a standard guitar. He makes all the ones he plays, has since he moved to California. I think he built his amps too. I can't keep track of everything he makes." Robert nodded. "Tom is always looking for more music."
Robert relaxed again as his internal self rebalanced, but Erik cause him turmoil on and off ever since they had met, or well Aarne just dumped the young guitarist on him in the middle of the night.
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Date: 2021-08-07 08:34 pm (UTC)From:Talking of that, Erik turned his head to glance back and then realised the screen was still up. Of course. No noise except maybe the odd scream or loud high pitched laugh. This was all normal of course.
"He builds his own amps? I am sure the other guitarists in our group will be interested in what Rekker builds. Ronno, Billy, Rik---I am sure they would love to meet your talented brother."
Who wouldn't? Erik himself was curious as to what he built. Then, he found himself gazing up at Roberts as he drove. Those luscious curls causing his fingers to twitch a little in want. His tongue sliding over his lips wanting to kiss that handsome jaw....
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Date: 2021-08-07 08:42 pm (UTC)From:"I'll have to warn them about his personality. He's a right arrogant bastard and not the most sociable until you get him distracted with music or something he's interested in."
He could feel the gaze on him and glanced over at his passanger. He felt that unease again in the pit of his stomach but kept it bottled behind a smile as he drove.
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Date: 2021-08-07 08:46 pm (UTC)From:Erik blushed a little because he might sound a little odd or eccentric to many. Maybe he was but he felt like opening up to Robert because he liked him. Oh, did he like him.
"I am sure Rekker can't be any worse than the punks with attitude. He sounds a very talented man."
Thoughts of wanting Robert were now dominating Erik as he tried to think of anything except kissing those full lips of the Brit. Knulla! Why was it so hard? Erik swallowed and looked out of the window, feeling sparks of desire igniting within him. No, not here. Not on the road. Gods.
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Date: 2021-08-07 08:54 pm (UTC)From:"He's going to give the punks a run for it. He's got Vars' readiness to fight and Viktor's hair trigger temper but like both of them he has a sense of brotherhood and friends, in his own way and on his terms."
Robert could feel the electricity in the front seat and tried to ignore it before there was knocking in the passenger side of the limo. Robert knew what that was as the Fin came into the passanger window, sucking lewdly in his fingers right in front of Erik's face. Of course. He looked in the mirrors and saw the Dane and Damien coming up on them too. Where the hell they had been? Who knew, some side trip.
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Date: 2021-08-07 09:03 pm (UTC)From:Erik began snorting in laughter but then his eyes went wide when he noticed Aarne and Joe pull up next to his window knocking on it and---well. The trash had arrived. The lewd gesture not helping the poor Swede's "predicament" at all. Oh fuck. Gasping, the guitarist then giggled and rolled his eyes.
"Aarne! You dirty bitch you. Where the hell have they been?"
Turning to Robert, the Swede had his cheeks tinged with pink because he was now aroused and crossing his legs trying to hide the obvious bulge in his tight pants. Why did he pick his tight jeans for the ride?
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Date: 2021-08-07 09:07 pm (UTC)From:Aarne laughed and started screaming so he could be heard over the Ducati.
"Fick du en titt på hans kuk än?"
Robert started laughing because he has no idea what the Fin was on about but he was obviously harassing Erik from the look and flushed cheeks.
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Date: 2021-08-08 06:40 am (UTC)From:Then, Aarne was screaming through the window as he rode with his crazy bassist. The language easily picked up by the Swede, causing him to giggle and wipe his hand over his face. Of course he would ask that. How could he not? Trying to not fluster himself, Erik offered the Fin a middle finger and shouted back through the glass easily using Aarne's own language.
"Mikset ime brittiäsi?"
That should keep him amused. Erik, however, probably should aim for a toilet break since the rowdy lot in the back probably needed to stretch their legs too. Turning to Robert, he sighed and smiled rather awkwardly.
"I need the bathroom. Any chance we can stop at the next pit stop?"
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Date: 2021-08-08 12:02 pm (UTC)From: