Erik "String Master" Ivarsson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rockandroll_swede) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
nexus_crossings2021-10-05 12:06 pm
rockandroll_swede) wrote in nexus_crossings2021-10-05 12:06 pm
Inside the Eye of the Storm
Erik had his painting canvas propped up on his easel as he was now standing in the middle of the Plaza area, delving about in his leather painter's bag for some oil paints. He'd got his wooden palette already covered in an array of different colours which were swished across in painted dabs on the wood. Big blobs of blue, white, black and yellow were covering it since he was painting a sky portrait. The clouds slowly drifting across the Plaza sky, slow and lazy. The guitarist's instrument nowhere to be seen today as he was on a break from touring just for a few days before delving back through the portal into the crazy world of LA. The PINpoint was his go to when he wanted to leave the Nexus and head back to the LA hotel in which he was staying at. Robert's hotel room to be precise. Ziggy's limo driver.
"Where is it? I thought I brought it with me. Var är du? Säg inte att jag lämnade dig på hotellet."
The Swede shifting back into his own language because he often did when upset or worried. The worry now being he thought he'd left his favourite small paintbrush with the tiny head back home. Or, rather, back in the LA hotel room in which all his art stuff was currently being stored in. Damn. Sighing, he pulled out a slightly bigger brush and began swiping the rather worn bristle head into some blue paint and then across the canvas. He had painted a few clouds and blue sky but it was far from finished. Erik often enjoyed the break from the chaos which was the world of being a rock star. Sometimes, the pressure got too much and the young Swede withdrew to dissolve himself inside of a sketchbook or canvas. That's if he wasn't absorbed in his music, plucking away on his strings of his electric guitar.
"Don't you ever worry when you've left something behind and then can't remember where you've put it?"
That part infuriated the guitarist. His question directed towards anyone who may be curious about his painting or those wandering around the Plaza doing some shopping or out for a drink or bite to eat.
"Where is it? I thought I brought it with me. Var är du? Säg inte att jag lämnade dig på hotellet."
The Swede shifting back into his own language because he often did when upset or worried. The worry now being he thought he'd left his favourite small paintbrush with the tiny head back home. Or, rather, back in the LA hotel room in which all his art stuff was currently being stored in. Damn. Sighing, he pulled out a slightly bigger brush and began swiping the rather worn bristle head into some blue paint and then across the canvas. He had painted a few clouds and blue sky but it was far from finished. Erik often enjoyed the break from the chaos which was the world of being a rock star. Sometimes, the pressure got too much and the young Swede withdrew to dissolve himself inside of a sketchbook or canvas. That's if he wasn't absorbed in his music, plucking away on his strings of his electric guitar.
"Don't you ever worry when you've left something behind and then can't remember where you've put it?"
That part infuriated the guitarist. His question directed towards anyone who may be curious about his painting or those wandering around the Plaza doing some shopping or out for a drink or bite to eat.
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She's surprised to hear that Erik is a rock guitarist as well as an artist, but only a little. They're both creative pursuits, after all. "It's nice to meet you, Erik. I'm impressed that you have time for both painting and guitar playing. I'm a microbiologist, and between that and my volunteering, I barely have time for anything else."
Of course, it probably doesn't help that she takes on way more side projects and charitable acts than the typical person would invest in. Adia has a very hard time saying 'no' when it comes to helping others.
"Are you in a band right now? What kind of rock music do you play?"
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How Erik had time for his hobby? He made time usually when he felt the need to escape for a moment or two, delving into the bliss of quiet while he worked on a piece. He often enjoyed sketching life; people's portraits, events going on around him, that sort of thing. So far he'd drawn lots of people's faces and had a sketchbook bulging with pages of his friends and lovers.
"A microbiologist? That's quite a career to have. You sound like a very intelligent young girl. As for what music I play here is an example."
Erik pulling out a recording he'd made a while ago of him playing alongside his brother on stage.
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Erik strikes her as a contemplative sort of person, which helps relax her. She likes Ziggy a lot, but the idea of being around a lot of boisterous rock stars is unnerving. Being around a lot of people period is unnerving.
His compliment has her blushing a bringing a hand to her face modestly. "Thanks... it's something I've always been interested in, which made all the studying worth it, you know? I actually wanted to be a veterinarian when I was very little, but once I found out that you sometimes have to put down animals, I didn't want to do it. It's a lot easier to work with microbes."
When Eric pulls out the recording, she watches with rapt attention, and very soon she is smiling and tapping her foot to the beat. Her taste in music is eclectic, but this is a style of rock she already enjoys and Erik and his bandmates are very entertaining. This is the kind of concert she'd like to attend, hopefully with not too many people crowding around her in the audience.
"You guys look like you're having so much fun," she says brightly, peering up at him once it's over. "I like the song, too. It reminds me of The Rolling Stones a little."
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Erik smiled boyishly and wondered what she thought of rock stars in general. Then, he noticed her tapping her foot to the beat. Did she like it? That was some of his early time on stage with his brother.
"The Rolling Stones? Yes, we do bare a resemblance to that British rock band. They are some of my favourites along with Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Def Leppard and some other famous bands."
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If the video is any indication, she'd enjoy seeing Erik and his brother in concert, too.
"I've heard of Led Zeppelin... I think..." She frowns softly to herself before giving Erik a sheepish look. "Sorry, I'm not from Earth originally, so a lot of the music and culture is new to me. I think you're the first person I've met from Sweden. That's... up north? In Europe, right? I spent a lot of time at one point studying Earth geography, but I've forgotten some of it."
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Erik loved glam, punk, hard rock and blues. Particularly blues and rock since that was his one true love. Hence the reason why he played the way he did and why he loved using the slide guitar method and delved into playing the pedal steel guitar. All good stuff. His style of music was what he loved best about being a guitarist.
"I love Zeppelin. The way the singer can use his voice in pitch and resonance is amazing. My brother loves that about him. Myself, I love the guitarist and the way he plays a double-necked guitar. Yes, Sweden is up North in Scandinavia."
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It's obvious to Adia how much Erik loves music, particularly the guitar. "I'll have to pay more attention to the guitar parts the next time I listen to them. Scandinavia includes Norway, right? I have a friend who lives there."
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The Swede knew how close they were together on and off the stage and it warmed his heart. So far the tour had been wild and he was loving every moment of it. He'd have to thank Hunter for inviting him along sometime. Then, Erik was listening to Adia talk about Scandinavia.
"Yes, it includes Norway. That's the furthest north and is attached to Finland. It would be easier if I had a map but I don't. Your friend is Norwegian?"
It was always nice to meet other people.
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When Erik brings up a map, Adia immediately pulls a worn leather journal from her messenger bag. "I have one," she says brightly while she flips through the pages. There are handwritten notes and sketches on each of them, as Adia uses it for her research while she's in the Nexus. "Here it is... I traced it from an atlas in the Grand Library."
She shows it to Erik, pointing to a little dot in Northern Norway labeled Asvera. "This is where he lives... um... he's not Norwegian, though... he's a god, actually. His name's Thor and he's originally from Asgard, but he and his people are settled in Norway now..."
Her shy demeanor returns, glancing at Erik sidelong. It's weird to namedrop a god, especially one that the musician has probably heard of and might even worship. Her face pales a little as she hopes that she hasn't made things awkward. "I met him in the Nexus," she adds quickly. "I, um, I didn't know he was a god at the time, he's pretty down-to-earth for a god, actually..."
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Erik had noticed a few of the merry band coming and going through the portals from back on their world to step into the Nexus once more. The PINpoint was useful like that. The Swede took notice of the map Adia was showing him and nodded. He didn't know the name Asvera though. The word Thor though---that got the guitarist to gasp and go wide-eyed.
"Thor? The actual god? But---Jag kan inte tro det här! I can hardly believe a god is here but then Loki---he is also here and we have met him. How fantastical indeed! My brother must know of this and Aarne too, unless he has met this Thor."
The Swede was unsure, sceptical almost because Thor was a god and those were not supposed to mix with mortals were they? Asgard was a sacred place and Erik just sighed at the possibilities.
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Even as she braces herself for whatever reaction Erik will have to the news, she can't help but nervously fiddle with her journal, shutting it and stuffing it back into her messenger bag. At least he's already met Loki, so she doesn't have to namedrop him, too. "Yeah, Loki's here, too. There's a few Lokis, actually, from different universes... Thor is really nice, I don't know if he's what you'd expect, but he takes his role as leader of his people pretty seriously. He's used to people knowing who he is, so I bet he'd be pleased to meet you and your brother and your other band members."
Thor's goodwill with humans was not always the greatest on his own world, which saddens Adia. She's always held Thor and the other Avengers in high esteem. Maybe meeting Erik and his band would be a positive experience for him.
"Meeting gods is always scary for me," she admits quietly, rubbing the back of her head. "Being around Thor isn't scary, though. He's very kind."
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That part caused the young Swede to giggle because of the uncanny similarity with Ziggy's actual name and the fact that the famous singer was touring with Erik right at this moment. Or rather, Erik joining the merry band of travelling musicians. It had been fun so far!
"A few Lokis? I've only met the one and he seemed a really nice man. He has some really cute children too. As for Thor--yes, I'd love to meet him! Even though as a pagan I shouldn't really say such things as Thor is revered as a powerful being who should be worshipped."
It was a tough decision to make. Would Erik actually take Adia up and meet Thor in person? He was still very unsure about it all and distinctly frightened too.
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The species names probably won't be familiar to Erik, but she's happy to elaborate if he asks. There seem to be more pressing concerns at the moment, such as Erik's nervousness about meeting Thor. She gives him what she hopes is a reassuring smile.
"That Loki you met is very devoted to his children, yes. There's also one who runs a bar called The Viper's Pit, and another who..." She trails off, biting her lip, frowning thoughtfully. "Well, I only met him once, but he gave me a cookie. But, um... this Thor, the one who's my friend, he's the sort of god who likes to meet humans and befriend them. I don't know how he feels about being worshipped, but he definitely doesn't want people to think that they can't even say hello to them. I mean, when I first met him, he didn't even bother telling me he was a god!" She blushes a little at the memory and pokes at a loose thread on her scarf. "I thought he was an alien, actually..."