Time to Be Seen

[ziggyplayedguitar]

It was almost time for something that had started, or been planned, long ago. Now they were here, the morning after the London show and the Anthean was standing on the mezinine, in the hotel, that overlooked the dining room. The bands were filtering in to find friends, bandmates, and lovers. The scene was rowdy, unpredictable, chaotic. Ziggy watched, leaning on the railing, and felt deep down that this is what he was meant to do. One of the messages that he had set out to send was the need for putting aside differences, crossing cultures and boundries. He knew that was needed to save humanity, to save the Earth.

He smiled guessing at the number of music generas now on the tour. 5? Glam rock, glam metal, punk. thrash, Glam..folk... what the hell genera were the Hammers, anyway? Ziggy suddenly realized he didn't know and no one had really ever defined them either. Maybe turning from labels was the point of it all. Seven countries represented the people below and, if he could be honest, two planets. That part had to remain quiet but seven countries was a hell of a lot.

All of his thoughts about grand ideas and prophecies easily became overshadowed by what he saw. Near thirty of them now, people who felt as outsiders, people who were lost, grieving, broken, hurting, traumatized... lonely... brought together into a family. One insane, gigantic family that had him laughing as he heard the morning scream of Aarne who never greeted anyone at less than his full vocal capacity. This had started with six; the Spiders, Robert and Ziggy's father. They weren't yet close, Mick bolting, and everything disjointed. Three years ago.

Ziggy's mind drifted, two years left. They had two years to save the world, to save it from the horrors that Jack and Damien lived because Ziggy knew that was one of the possible futures, one of the possible outcomes. Thomas had finally divulged that detail to him months ago. None of them knew, or well most of them didn't know, they were the saviors of this Earth, or trying to be. Maybe in their hearts they did know and he doubted them because it was subconcious, a natural drive. Was that what he had picked up on when he put these bands in proximity to each other? A drive to tell everyone and everything to fuck off and show the world a better way?

Ziggy had a lot of questions on his mind, but not a lot of answers. Life worked that way. Rekker had once told him that; “Hindsight is the only place with answers. If you were looking toward the future it should be like you are deep in a fog and fumbling toward the sound of your goals. Never knowing what was going to come out of it, no clue what you would stumble into. If you knew exactly how the future was going to go then you weren't risking anything at all. You weren't doing anything new.” Those words had been the older singer's advice to Ziggy when he started with his first band. Even with two prophetic aliens running with this crew the future was unknown. How true the Brit's words were now that they were kicking around in Ziggy's head with years of hindsight to give them meaning. For Ziggy, and the Brit himself.

Over all his thoughts was a layer of emotions and language from below. His Anthean senses picking up on it even if he was barely paying attention to the concrete world, lost in an internal dialogue. There was love below, a whole room full of it now that they had taken over the hotel's entire dining hall between the bands and the crew that were staying at the same place. The Anthean couldn't even tell them all how this one act protected him from the hostile environment of humanity. The environment that had nearly driven Thomas insane when he was trapped in it alone, lesson learned. He rolled his eyes at the older Anthean sitting beside his father, suspicious that he knew.

Thomas told Ziggy he needed to encourage the most hidden he encountered to be themselves and to love without reservation. The singer had thought that was a grand word of prophecy from the Anthean who was more in-tune with his abilities. Ziggy doubted it now. Hindsight, Rekker's heavy London accent intruded in his thoughts while the Anthean's eyes focused on Gilly. He was the one that started this. One diner conversation where Ziggy pulled him aside and told him to go to Hunter. A string of events rippled out from that moment which drew in each of the others one at a time. Stepping back from that moment with Gllly was Mick and his courage to finally say enough hiding. Ziggy was trying to weave a line of threads between people. He and Mick, to Gilly, to Gilly's older brother, the Hell's Angel's, Hunter, The Hammers, Hunter to Erik, to Robert, to Rekker and Hexed, to Bjorn and Blixt to Hans, and Ollie.. and back to Rik in the Hammers, twice there, to Billy to Viktor and Vars and across to Dee and Ulrik and on and on stitching back and around though the heart of the bands.. then he had to backpedal.. somewhere in there existed Jack to Zack to Damien and himself to Gloria and Weird. The spider web of connections.

Ziggy froze and then laughed thinking of Newton when the young Anthean had his heart set on his band being known as the Spiders. Newton had this knowing little smirk the entire time he sat quietly in that café while Ziggy prattled on with glorious intentions and optimism. It was before his father had met Newton, before the first band, long before this. The Spiders were a web, or created one anyway, that culminated in this. Thomas knew. And Ziggy laughed at the idea that his people thought he was the prophetic one.

The Anthean finally pulled himself away from his thoughts when he saw Mick staring up at him with love. He waved and moved toward the steps that lead below. They all needed to get food and get it together. This evening was to be an interview for the ages. He wondered if the silent Anthean, Thomas, had an inkling of what was about to happen. The more he thought about it the more the answer to that question was a resounding yes.

Comments

[guitar_voodoo]

Mick got a look at the guy and hoped he wouldn't be too much of an asshole asking intrusive and rude questions. The audience seemed quite shocked regarding some of the other band members behaviour. Joe and Aarne's to start with.

"There are quite a few of us, mate. Started off as us four then we grew in number since starting our New York tour a year and a half ago."

Mick speaking up because he could see Ziggy trying to count everyone, making sure he got all their nationalities correct. So many. Then, there was Korppi with his birds making the newest member of the tour. The interviewer nodded, watching everyone carefully before pulling out his first question card to the top of the pile.

"So many Scandinavians and a rag tag bunch of musicians I see. Let's start with you first Ziggy and your Spiders from Mars. Tell me---what made you chose the name the Spiders from Mars to be your backing band and do you believe the rumours out there around your androgynous appearance? Are you a boy or girl? Many can't tell the difference."

Mick kept his eyes on the bloke. Oh, here we go. The questions he knew would come.

[oprorsk_sode]

Ziggy was busy counting while Mick was talking, happy that his count had the right number.

The first part of that question Ziggy was ready to answer but the second part had him glance back at Mick. By the time he was about to answer the young Dane had sat up, incredulous and ready to go at this because it was something he lived with too and hated.

"Can't you tell a girl from a boy? And why do you care? Do you want in Ziggy's skirt like a lecherous old man after someone who is engaged because they show a bit of leg?" Mikkel was sitting in Fredrik's lap staring daggers at this interviewer.

Ziggy gave the Dane a gentle, mental nudge to calm down, even if Torden and Rik were actively stifling giggles over the comment.

Ziggy took a breath. "I was thinking about my dad being an astronaut and an event he told me about involving a UFO when he was a younger."

Ziggy left out that it was most certainly an Anthean vessel and the rest he knew about it from Newton. No one needed to know that. The second part of the question though had him sighing. "Rumors are just that, hear say and gossip."

[guitar_voodoo]

Mick was about to answer the guy back too but Mikkel had beaten him to it. The sass on that boy's mouth! Karl and Joe started to snort in giggles while Fredrik kissed Mikkel's cheek to try and calm him down. Sigurd just rolling his eyes and pulling the brat close to kiss him on the lips. Fuck, Mikkel! Trust him to sass the guy already. The interviewer looked a little put-out by Mikkel's sass but none the less remained calm.

"I see. Well, aren't you a spirited young man? You will get your turn soon with your band. It's Ziggy's turn first."

Sigurd inwardly cringing because this guy had no idea who he was speaking to and the consequences of this. Still, Mikkel was being a little rude and Sigurd would try to control the Dane so Ziggy and his band could get some answers out.

"Mick, I hear you're engaged? Who's the lucky girl then? I'm sure all our young ladies in the audience are dying to know."

The interviewer turning to see some of the young girls waving and giggling to their friends, whispering. Oh god. Groupies. Mick swallowed dryly and composed himself best he could.

"No, I'm engaged to Ziggy here. He's my fiancee."

Heart pounding so hard, Mick steeled himself for what was coming next. The interviewer raising an eyebrow and looking a little shocked but intrigued at the same time. Oh? Was Mick Ronno admitting that he was gay on national television?

"So, you're gay then, Mick?"

[oprorsk_sode]

"So you can't tell a girl from a boy?" Mikkel shook off both Fredrik and Sigurd. "And don't know shit about the bands you're interviewing."

Ziggy glanced at the Dane and giggled because this guy was digging himself a trench early on. The Danes knew this was exactly what would happen. Mikkel was defensive and took no time filtering between his thoughts and mouth.

Ziggy took a deep breath and raised a brow. "Does that mean you believe I'm a man?" It was a serious question. "I'm not a man."

[guitar_voodoo]

Sigurd tried to reassure the brat but knew trying to calm Mikkel down when he was angered was useless. The interviewer would just have to take it on the chin just like everyone else. Had he even interviewed this many rock stars before and on this level? It was a curious question.

"The lad's right, mate. Ziggy is a girl, can't you see? He's got long feminine legs."

Mick finding his confidence to speak to the interviewer, making a point and sliding one hand up Ziggy's right leg stopping just shy of his kimono skirt.

"He's got an engagement ring on too which I bought him."

The interviewer shifting in his seat slightly, curious about this situation but wanting to push further with it knowing the viewers at home would want to know.

"Am I to believe that you've actually made love with one another on some level?"

Mick just going wide-eyed for a moment or two, frowning and swallowing thickly.

[suomi_thunder]

Aarne had been giggling at Mikkel's mouth but that question had the Fin looking around at the others and then the interview.

"What the hell do you think partners do?" He slid his arms down around Joe's neck and rested his chin in all his fluffy hair. "Of course engaged people are fucking. Most people are fucking."

Ziggy had to cover his mouth at the audacity from the Fin but he wasn't wrong. Ziggy thought maybe to smooth this over. "We're a couple, of course we have, but it's none of anyone else's business, what we have or haven't done."

[helland_damnation]

Joe snorted out laughter and couldn't help but join in the fun with Aarne who was now speaking up. Was this guy totally fucking stupid? Of course couples fucked! What else would they do?

"What he said! Peachy and I fuck all the time. He bites me on the ass and I slap his peachy cheeks."

The crazy bassist now pulling Aarne in for a full open mouthed kiss. Mick just couldn't help but giggle himself as he caressed Ziggy's arm, trying to calm himself down more than anything. The intimate questions had him on edge more than anything else. The interviewer changing his question cards down as he readied for another round of questions.

[rage_rekker]

Aarne laughed in that kiss but the interviewer was ready to move on to a similar question. He turned to the other end of the row of couches. There were so many.

"Derek, I've read that you were recently engaged too."

Rekker looked up from where he had been messing with the fringe on the scarf around Bjorn's waist. He immediately had a sour face over his given name being said. How he hated it.

"Did the failed relationships with much younger women earlier in your career turn you to dating much younger gay men? Or is the blonde a woman?"

Rekker's breathing stopped and Devon got a worried look, ready to dive away if the ginger snapped. "You're a fucking Swine." Rekker barely spoke that loud enough for anyone to hear, a sign he was controlling himself the best he could.

[metallhuvud]

Hans froze and knew what was coming now that the interviewer had opened up this can of worms. Oh fuck. Some of the other band members were now hoping the guy wouldn't poke the ginger too much or anger him.

"Do I look like a fucking woman to you, cockhead? I've got a fucking cock."

Bjorn wasn't having any of this shit as he now stood up, angry, ripping down his pants best he could, albeit slower than usual because they were pleather, flashing his cock before pulling them back up again. There. He'd done it. Joe burst out into laughter while Hans hid his face behind his hand. Oh god.

"Fucking swine, did you get a good look? You seem to be obsessed with knowing if we're a boy and if we fuck. You're a gay pervert."

The Swede slumped back into his seat and kissed Rekker passionately on the lips.

[rage_rekker]

Devon's expression went from worried to oh god this is crazy. His eyes turning from Rekker to the interviewer who was now stunned to silence, the crowd too among a few gasps.

Rekker did his best to cover Bjorn when he sat back down in his lap for a kiss. Rekker though glanced past Bjorn to pin the interviewer with his gaze.

"My name is Rekker and I'm not gay." Rekker spit the words out. He didn't consider himself gay. He had been straight, mostly, but now he saw it more as straight with an exception or two. Bisexual but very close to straight. He certainly wasn't a gay man, though he knew Bjorn was.

"Of course." The interviewer cleared his throat and looked to the next question.

Dee piped up sympathetic but serious. "I wouldn't ask him another question unless you want the San Francisco treatment."

The interviewer was confused by that but listening into the ear piece he heard the assistant in the booth tell him that apparently the ginger had thrown a couch at an interviewer in the past. He was wondering if these had been written purposefully to agitated the musicians. Maybe he should do these out of order so the musicians had a moment to cool down.

[rockin_thehousedown]

Bjorn was pissed off at the questions but knew they would be asked because it was total shit. Calming down, he hoped the guy understood what the San Francisco treatment meant so that he wouldn't be walking into an outright brawl and a trashed set. The interviewer cleared his throat and moved on to his next set of question cards, turning to other members of the bands.

"Ah, Hunter, I do believe you are known to be one of the more affluent members of this tour. Lead singer for your band "The Hammers" and known to have a large mansion based in the countryside around Stockholm. You took in young men of various ages. Some say it was no more than a bawdy sex mansion used to create pornographic films."

Hunter bristled. Fuck. The Swede squeezed Gilly's hand tighter and glanced to Rik and then to Aarne.

"No, I am not a deviant, blomma. My mansion was a home for my band mates and my then at the time partner, Hans. There was no "pornographic films" or anything underage going on."

It pissed Hunter off because most used the fact that his parents were adult film stars.

[riff_razor]

Rekker was still pissed off because he knew exactly what Hunter was feeling. He was also wealthy and people believed this sort of things about his students. It wasn't calming the ginger down but he knew Hunter could handle this, after taking on a mosh pit.

Rik had been sitting quietly on the back of the couch beside Aarne all this time. Rik turned on the interviewer with a voice so jarringly cold for the usual warm and caring guitarist.

"How dare you treat Hunter like a pedophile." Rik had venom over these questions. "I had a boyfriend when I joined the band, so did Hunter. Hunter gave me a home when I didn't have anywhere safe to stay."

Aarne ruffled Rik's hair and glanced at Ollie before adding his own comment. "Hunter and Hans were like parents to us, Vars got to be our crazy uncle who taught us how to navigate the music industry. You bastards are all the perverts who only think about underage sex and what people got between their legs. Maybe you're the pornographic, deviant bastards asking this shit?"

[rockin_thehousedown]

Hunter wanted to calm Rik down because he had dealt with these kinds of questions before regarding his mansion and the company he kept on it. Sighing, he reached over to touch the guitarist's leg, squeezing it gently.

"Shh, det är ok, blomma. Dessa intervjuare tror på en massa skräp. Tack för att du står upp för mig även om det betyder mycket."

The Swede speaking his own language so that the interviewer wouldn't understand but Rik and the other Swedish speaking band members would. Erik was now getting angry at the insults to his brother, rousing himself from his restful state, attempting to get up but failing, one of his crutches clattering to the floor.

"Leave my brother alone. He is not a child molester at all and you should be ashamed of thinking so!"

Hans was about to calm Erik down himself but he knew Robert was there. The anger slowly pulling at Hans' own strings insulting his ex-boyfriend. The interviewer shuffled his cards and cleared his throat.

"Forgive my misconceptions, Hunter. The press paint an awful picture of you and clearly they are in the wrong. Shall we move on?"

[rage_rekker]

Rik hushed up but he was still angry and leaned into Billy for some centering. Robert pulled Erik back into his lap. Robert knew this was going to get a lot of them going in a very dangerous direction. He hazarded a glance at Rekker who's jaw looked so clenched that his teeth might break. Thankfully, the interviewer kept his mouth shut.

The interviewer looked to his cards for a moment and then addressed the group as a whole. "Some fans are worried about attending your shows because there are prostitutes, strippers, convicted criminals and committed sociopaths among the band and crew. What do you have to say to these fans?"

Robert gave the interviewer and "oh God are you stupid look?" when he heard his brother growling and grating his teeth.

[hellfire_andfury]

Viktor was getting pissed with this interviewer bastard picking on certain members of the tour about stupid shit. The whole criminal question got him shifting in his seat, frowning.

"What band doesn't have a bit of fucking variety in it? The fans love us for who we are and how we play our music. Not what some fuckhole newspaper says about our lives."

The punk lighting up a smoke, exhaling above him and watching the guy with a cocky grin. Billy held Rik close and offered up the shy guitarist a kiss on the cheek. Zack wondered if Viktor would punch the interviewer if he said anything about Viktor's criminal past. That or insulting Vars.

[midnight_devil]

The interviewer kept his cool. "At least two have been convicted of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon or child abuse and served time in jail."

Rekker and Vars exchanged a glance that was one part camaraderie and one part violent anger. Rekker was worried talk of being put away would set Bjorn off in a bad way but then he looked past him at the Danes. Mikkel was about to sound off again but it was the way Ansgar was curling up.

It was Torden reaching down to comfort his lover that sent Vars over the edge. He picked up the full water glass and hurled it at the interviewer.

"They've dealt with enough, fucking bastard."

Rekker was about to go over the edge too. Robert was eyes wide because this could go south in a hurry.

[swedish_rocker]

Hans could feel himself becoming uncomfortable at the questions and the way the guy was insinuating things. Vars throwing the glass of water at the guy had the interviewer ducking and looking rather shocked. Hans sighed and noticed Viktor smirking at his fiance's actions.

"Well done, mate. This cock is saying shit about stuff he knows nothing about."

Rex noticing Ansgar curling up, offering a caress to his back with his hand. Hans wanted to try and cool the situation down glancing towards Hunter who nodded, almost reading his ex's mind.

"Yes, I think everyone's dealt with enough. No more questions about all these allegations."

Hans' voice was firm and direct causing the interviewer to think again. The punks seemed to be aggressive, especially the one with the cane. Moving on---the guy arranged his mic on his chest and then glanced to Erik and Robert.

"Is it true some of you prefer younger men as lovers? Mr. Sterling? With your young invalid here."

Erik frowned at the word invalid.

[rage_rekker]

Ansgar had a lot of trauma from being in prison. The very thought of it brought up memories the Dane didn't need.

Rekker was trying to keep himself in check but he saw red when he heard Mister Sterling come out. Rekker slid Bjorn off is lap, almost into Vars'. Robert turned to the interviewer.

"You shouldn't ask these..." Robert fell silent as Rekker stood and grabbed the edge of the coffee table like table between them and the interviewer. He tossed it aside like it was made of paper.

"Give me those fucking cards!" Rekker was unhinged and Devon was on his feet to try and rein in their wild young guitarist.

"Rekker. He's just asking shit they tell him to. The guy is just a talking head." Devon was trying but the look he got from Rekker had the drummer ready to dodge. Nope he was pissed.

Robert tried to ignore his brother, sometimes that was for the best. "My partner is an invalid due to an attempt on his life. As much as you find amusement in all of this, attacks continue to happen on the members of this tour; insults, death threats, stalking, and unfortunately, attacks with intent to kill; like Erik and only a few years back on Ziggy and myself. Your nonchalant taunting and foolery over questions that pose real danger to our lives is why you have the Demon King of LA ready to toss you on your head." That last part held some amusement for Robert and did manage to crack a smile in Rekker's otherwise deadly glare.

[wherewere_thespiders]

Weird had been observing this guy and had felt anger towards some of the questions asked but had so far remained silent throughout as usual. The stoic, silent bassist who observed and rarely got angry or showed that much emotion. Aside from Harald, Weird was the most stoic, passive man in the room.

Until now.

After Rekker was done throwing the table, Weird decided to act because he wasn't going to put up with this man's rude questions any longer.

Sliding Gloria from his lap gently, Weird got up, still passive in his emotions, grabbing the nearest glass of water close by emptying it over the interviewer's head. Maybe now he'd think more clearly about asking stupid questions.

"Stop with the shit. You don't want this ginger demon to put you on your ass. Nor do you want an army of tarts, punks and everyone else trashing your pristine set."

Mick just staring and the interviewer near cowering from Rekker's display of strength and now Weird's water throwing episode.

Weird sat back down, pulling Gloria back into his lap.

[rage_rekker]

Rekker watched Weird coming up and thought maybe he was going to try and assist Devon. The water glass had Rekker laughing and going back to his seat. Ok, that was hilarious. Gloria gave the bassist a hug for it. She has rarely seen Weird doing anything since he was more of a watcher.

Mikkel thought this was all funny. "This guy and his writers are just jealous they don't got what it takes to get a hot, young piece of ass. Jealous bastards need to start shit to make up for their tiny cocks.".

Aarne couldn't help it as he grabbed on to Joe to not fall off the couch laughing. Mikkel had such a mouth on him. Even Rekker was laughing now.

[rockin_thehousedown]

Sigurd just rolled his eyes at Mikkel and drew out another smoke. He was going through them at a rate due to the stress of being on national TV and coping with brat's mouth. Hunter was now figeting about in his seat causing Gilly to look at his partner with a slight concern. The Swede seemed on edge, yet it was nothing compared to how the interviewer was now picking up his cards from the floor and pulling off his microphone. The interview was over already?

"The fuck? It's over already? You didn't even ask me shit, babe."

Joe pouted but then pulled Aarne by the hair and kissed his Fin. Mick just laughed and then kissed Ziggy on the lips. Liberation indeed. Was the interview over?

"I---I have an announcement to make."

Hunter gently slid off Gilly from his lap as he stood up, clearly nervous and wide-eyed a little. Hans frowned and wondered what was wrong with the singer who was usually strong and upbeat.

[suomi_thunder]

Aarne pouted too but he was still giggling when he got kissed. The Fin looked at Hunter and then Joe before whispering in Finnish that this was going to be exciting.

Aarne saw the nervousness and then whistled and cheered before ruffling Joe's hair wildly and giving him a kiss. Between the statement and Aarne's loud and wild cheering, most eyes were on Hunter now, curious about what the commotion was about.

[rockin_thehousedown]

Hunter was now pulling out a red velvet box, feeling his heart hammer inside of his chest as he slid down onto one knee in front of Gilly, who looked surprised and didn't know what to say. Mick frowned and then realised what was going on. Oh---was he about to---

"Gilly, will you marry me?"

The Swede looking up at Gilly with his large brown eyes now filling with tears of joy as the blond drummer clapped a hand over his mouth, gasping as the box was opened, revealing the pretty jewelled ring inside. Oh, it was beautiful! Gilly screamed with happiness then felt giddy all of a sudden, falling backwards fainting. The cameras snapping onto the event which was taking place live on air.

[riff_razor]

Aarne covered his mouth to stop his screaming from interrupting Hunter and then he started to cry before Hunter even spoke. The emotions of being on the shopping trip rushed back unexpectedly and the laughter turned to burying his face into Joe.

Rik had been watching confused but he heard the words and saw the drummer wavering. He knew that look and almost sprung off the couch where he had been sitting with Billy to catch Gilly before he hit the floor. When what Hunter said registered Rik wasn't surprised by the fainting. A lot of people might, especially on national TV.

[wherewere_thespiders]

Mick could see Gilly begin to pass out and almost went to grab the tarty drummer himself except that Rik got there first, grabbing him before he fell and hurt himself. Joe now screaming at the proposal, happy Hunter had found love and was proposing to his little tart. Gilly slowly came back to life and found himself in Rik's arms.

"What--what happened? Hunter? Oh---are we---did you ask me to marry you?"

Hunter was crying and now buried in Aarne's neck just so happy this was finally happening. Weird was smiling and patting Gilly on the shoulder to reassure the young Brit. Yes, it was all real. Mick was beaming too, happy Hunter proposed. Fuck! On air too.