Glada Vappen!

[suomi_thunder]

Aarne hadn't celebrated holidays properly in over a year which left him feeling disconnected. Giant bonfires in the streets and rampant reindeer were frowned upon in most civilized cities, unless of course the punks were involved, then that was arson not celebrations.. ok, well for the punks it was a celebration but not for a Saami.

In the Nexus though, oh here he could do whatever he wanted, or that was what he had learned in his few visits. He had been planning and cooking and collecting. The gods probably don't even know where he stirred up reindeer from in the Nexus but he has and Mouka was happy to have a job keeping them corralled. His usual rock gear is augmented with his family necklace and oddly doesn't look too out of place with rest of his wildness.

He didn't have a lot but parties always started this way. The host had some things and then people came and brought more booze and food, ordering all kinds of things. Aarne did bring Mead, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and a a bunch of lemon tippaleipä batter. He had cooked some but this was something he could show visitors how to make on their own. The honey mead based sugar in a large bowl. Strips of dried reindeer meat and juustoleipä, a Finnish reindeer milk cheese, are out on the table too. There are fruits; strawberries, apples, and nuts which were common as well as a cream from reindeer milk traditional to the culture and nearly like unfermented yogurt.

That all done he looked to the huge pile of logs that he had gotten from various people around the Nexus. The Sami added leaves to it to create smoke at first to attract others. Before lighting it he put up a banner of hide dedicated to the Akka, the female fertility spirits, decorated with the same imagery as his traditional drum. It was sentimental, the first drum he ever learned to play.

Drum in hand he poured kerosene on the log pile and lit it. The reindeer spooked at the sudden fire but soon calmed, especially when the tall Fin went among them.

Comments

[midnight_devil]

The Fin had hounded him relentlessly to come along, of course he had. Like his bandmate Vars didn't have the opportunity or space usually to celebrate how he wanted. Usually he turned to rebellious and destructive things to celebrate rather than anything as positive as this celebration had the potential to be.

He's more of a watcher and has sat down at one of the tables off to the side with his boots kicked up on the edge of it, casually drinking vodka. He's definitely a punk from the black leather to the spikey white hair but anyone who knows the symbolism can see he wears a fairly large twisted metal Fenrir collar and a matching Norse dragon bracelet among all the other metal and spikes in his attire. He's not quite anti-social. He's just not as brazenly social as his bandmate.

[coldsong]

It is impossible for Loki to get tipsy on human liquors, so there's no way the little bit of mead he's consumed should be affecting him. He's in an elated mood, though, probably because of the general celebratory atmosphere. And he looks relatively ordinary, except for the elaborate braided hairstyle he wears, but there is something smooth and sleek and graceful about the way he moves around the assembly, like a fish through water. He's very much at home.

When he spies Vars, he wanders over and sits on the table he's got his boots propped on, as if to one-up him.

"Poor Fenrisúlfr," he says, nodding at the collar. "Really got a raw deal in the stories, no matter how you slice it."

[midnight_devil]

Vars looks up at the man who has sat down and there a curl to his lip and a little snort but he pushes the vodka bottle toward the newcomer. He's in no mood to prove anything and would rather have drinking company than scuffling right now, physical or otherwise. Besides the Fin would come over and bust him in the mouth for a fight here anyway.

"Same deal man gets." Vars tells him without missing a beat. "Everyone tries the chains and you have break them or be caged."

He's by no means a traditional follower of the Norse myths and religion, but he strongly relates it to his own life and how the world works. "Have to be Fenrisúlfr some days and bite off few hands."

[coldsong]

Loki smiles at the offer and takes a swig from the vodka bottle companionably. There is no wince or grimace, just a thoughtful look as he evaluates the burn in his throat and the words exchanged.

"An apt analogy," he agrees, nodding. "I like the way you think."

"Although, personally, I'd rather not actually bite people. Who knows where those hands have been?"

Well, with Tyr, you know. He was exceedingly noble and straightforward, and Loki wasn't a fan, but his world's version had a different fate anyway. "I don't think I've seen you here before. Are you a friend of the host?"

[midnight_devil]

Vars gives a nod though the the acknowledgement of how he thought. He gets in a lot of trouble for it back home, not that he cares about being in trouble exactly.

"Many ways to bite men. Voice is good as teeth or knives." Vars shifted in his chair so he could better meet the other man's gaze while they spoke. Even in agreement, his gaze holds rebellious intensity because he holds no masks like so many others he sees around. What is here is what you get.

When it comes to introductions though, the punk nature kicks in and his feet come down as he leans forward to offer his hand or arm. "Vars Hagen. Host is my bandmate."

[coldsong]

Oh, no. I think I like him. The thought flickers through Loki's head. That fierce stare is impressive. "I agree with you there, friend," he says mildly, and spares a moment to hope this conversation doesn't turn hostile when he introduces himself.

"I've been known as silver-tongued, myself. Silver is a better weapon than it gets credit for."

He shifts easily and clasps his arm, meeting his gaze firmly out of respect rather than challenge. "I am Loki, of Asgard and Jotunheim. And now, of the Nexus, I suppose, as this is where I make my home."

[midnight_devil]

"Never been silver tongue." Vars was like a bull when he spoke. He said it, meant it, and backed it with a stubborn and unbending arrogance but he wasn't a bad person in general, simply abrasive and crass.

He hesitates at the name but then firms his grip and meets the god's gaze. His pupils are dilated wildly which hints at the instincts he is keeping under control. There were many things in the world to meet and worry about, Loki would be an uncertainty. However, in the bassist's estimation it was better to stay friendly than act out. When he lets go of the arm clasp Vars sits back in silence for a moment, staring and thinking.

"Loki is name or blood?" Vars has to ask. Curious whether this is some elaborate persona, he's seen plenty of those in the rock community, or the god himself. Aarne and Ziggy had both warned him things in this place were strange. The Norwegian hadn't expected things this out of the ordinary though.

[coldsong]

"Bluntness can be an admirable trait, as well," he says.

That blend of wary and resolute only pleases Loki. He likes to be recognized; likes when people know he is potentially dangerous; likes best of all when people are willing to take him at face value anyway, and give him a chance to show them what he's actually like. He smiles, and there's something a little smug in it, but when Vars asks his question, Loki sobers a little and gives the most honest answer he can.

"Both," he says. "Though I would caution you that many worlds meet here in the Nexus, and what is true of the Loki in your world may not apply to me."

"There are clearly parallels, though. And I am the god of lies, of mischief, and the outlier."

[midnight_devil]

He listens closely to Loki, attentive and absorbing what he is hearing. "Ziggy says more than one of some people here."

While he hadn't thought about running into any gods, the bassist had prepared himself for potentially running into himself like one of those American movies where you see your twin. If he had a twin, why wouldn't Loki too?

"Back home, punks sometimes look up to you or other Norse. Norway has old traditions come back with new music."

[coldsong]

"That's true," he nods. "And of myself, there are at least two other Lokis that dwell here, so I'm not even the solitary Trickster in this place. You get used to that, with experience, and it becomes easier to tell one twin from another."

He decides to move from his perch on the table and take one of the nearby chairs, instead. It's a peculiarity of Loki's that when he sits in a chair, he nearly always leans to the left, and rests his elbow on the arm of the chair. "I'm unable to visit my own world's Norway extensively, but I know the old stories haven't died, and some have been renewed. It pleases me to hear it."

...although, he's also aware there are some truly terrible people who claim Norse gods as their inspiration, as well. But he'll do this man the courtesy of not mentioning that.

[midnight_devil]

The idea of multiple Lokis in one place gets a full laugh from the punk. He could only imagine what kind of mischief would come out of them meeting. "You are friends with twins?"

One had to be curious if doppelgangers would get along. Vars wasn't even sure if he would like himself if he met another one, probably but this would maybe inform him if it ever happened.

Vars is easily settling into the idea that there are just a bunch of similar Earths around. He believed things were infinite and changeable so it wasn't a foreign concept though he had no reason to think about it to seriously before being here. "Do you visit other Norways?"

He's curious now that he has what amounts to his own god sitting beside him and willingly answering his questions. The punk is also aware of the less savory versions of the beliefs. Moving from a punk band to a glam band, by opportunity and companionship rather than seeking it out, he had to deal with that fall out in his homeland. The less savory believers coming down on him for playing with a bunch of queers, or even more derogatory terms. There had been fights and sitting in jail but that had put an end to most people messing with him in his old stomping grounds.

[coldsong]

"I am! One is a recent arrival and I don't know him well, but we're on good terms. The other is very dear to me and is just as good as a sibling by blood. If you visit the Viper's Pit, that Loki is the proprietor. You might see her in female form; that seems to be her preference of late."

"Sometimes," he admits. "I sometimes visit other worlds when I feel the need to play a few tricks to let off steam. Or make some friends and collect favors. And my brother, Thor, has settled a number of Asgardians in a seaside down in the far north of Norway. That's...a long story. But I visit them sometimes."

[midnight_devil]

"Myths are true that Loki changes form and jötunn blood?" The discussion was encouraging the punk to scrutinize his beliefs, but not in a bad way as it was in the interest of truth. "True for all Lokis here?"

Vars is leaning on the table now, gaze intensely on the god but full of curiosity. His fearless nature allowing him to easily ask these questions of a god where others might not. That Thor would settle his people in the north of Norway felt right, felt like it belonged to myth itself.

"You ever come to my Norway, take you to meet punks who follow Norse ways." He's serious about that invitation and how could he not want to invite their actual god, one of them, to come and drink? "Do you like music or play?"

[itmeanstruth]

Eventually, after having savored the various forms of sugary goodness, Minoru made his way to one of the familiar faces from Ziggy’s tour. (Though, this face he wasn’t as familiar with compared to the more talkative ones.)

“Hey! Enjoying the break from being on the road?” He waved and sat down next to Vars.

[midnight_devil]

It's true that Vars is far quieter than many of the others, preferring to watch rather than get crazy. He's also known for picking on his bandmates and sometimes the crew, with a crass and rougher sense of humor, and laughs easily. He's far shorter and stockier than his bandmates. It wouldn't be outside of possibility that Minoru knows he's prone to getting into fights, or even that he had been to court accused of killing someone with a knife three years ago; that is if Minoru spent time talking the the Hammer's crew.

Whether Minoru drinks or not, Vars pushes the vodka bottle toward him when he sits down. Unlike his bandmates, the Norwegian isn't quite fluent in English and has a thicker accent than most of them. "Rest good but would rather be busy than nothing to do."

He takes a moment to stare at Minoru, trying to place him and then smiles. "One of riggers? Spend time with Stardust?"

He doesn't know Minoru's name and so offers his hand across the table. "Vars Hagen, bassist for The Hammers."

[itmeanstruth]

With his dates on the road being sporadic, save for the leg in Japan, Minoru didn’t know the opening acts or their crews nearly as well as he knew everyone associated with the Spiders. And gossip was just that. Gossip.

(Though, maybe Minoru should have been relieved that Vars recognized him as the guy on the lighting rig instead of the lunatic who Joe dared to climb a skyscraper with him in New York.)

“Not actually part of the crew.” He confessed. “Ziggy just put me to work. He’s my koibito.”

Minoru realized almost immediately that the word needed a translation here. English didn’t seem to be Vars’ first language by any means, and with that accent, Japanese didn’t top it.

“He’s my, um... girlfriend.”

Eventually those words would get easier.

He shook the offered hand, nodding his head respectfully. “Minoru Uchiwa.”

[midnight_devil]

(Vars knows that Joe and Aarne are insane and shrugs off most of it.)

He was about to ask what that word meant though he knew enough to expect it to be something about friendship or relationship. The explanation gets a nod.

"Say Stardust has many boyfriends." Vars shrugged at that because the media was full of it anyway. "Good for him."

Though he does pause and consider whether that should be her with the girlfriend term, but no, he's definitely heard Ronno use he so him was right. Vars, despite being very masculine and male is aware that not everyone is male, or even female. His bandmates are all over the place and he does try to accommodate and respect them.

"Heard name Uchiwa in California." He tries not to butcher the Japanese but it really isn't his language, or close to any of the Northern European ones he's most familiar with. "Restaurants with name there. Is your family?"

[itmeanstruth]

It was an interesting combination - male pronouns but female titles. Minoru got used to that far faster than the idea of actually using the terms boyfriend and girlfriend to describe their relationship.

Nor was there any surprise from Minoru about being one of many. He’s said it before and he’ll say it again - Ziggy has more than enough love to go around!

“A restaurant named Uchiwa in California?” He grinned. “No, that’s not anyone I know of. But now I want to go!”

He shook his head, “No, we grew up around Seattle. And most of the family, at least on Papa’s side is still in Japan.”

[midnight_devil]

"Stardust goes for Ramen. He may take for dinner, took us when we were there." All of the bands had learned quickly about Ziggy's love for Japanese food, though they often stopped at anything traditionally Northern European. It almost has Vars laughing while he thinks about the escapade and cop chase involved in trying reindeer burgers in Jersey.

"Born in America?" He asks and then adds. "I was born Drammen, south from Oslo. Good punk scene in Oslo."

[itmeanstruth]

“Okay, definitely going to ask Ziggy to go there. I wonder if there’s one there in the world I’m from.”

There was, as he tried to explain to Vars, a bit of a time difference. And a lot less alien influence.

“Yeah, we were born in America. West coast. Oslo’s in Norway, right?”

[midnight_devil]

Vars easily understood the idea of many worlds, one of the things about this place that might be easier for pagans to understand than other groups.

"Yes, south, near border with Sweden and North sea." He finally sits back with his drink to relax while they talk. "Learning American maps and language, different from British."

He meant that he only had a vague understanding of where Minoru was talking about but at least the lack of knowledge was two way.

[itmeanstruth]

The lack of knowledge definitely went both ways.

“Are you Saami too? Like Aarne?”

[midnight_devil]

"No." Vars tells him. "Sami in all countries in north. I live south. Viking punk follow Fenrir." Vars was using a term he had heard in the media about him that wasn't too far off. He was a Viking punk given his beliefs. Though, he wasn't blind to the idea that it was meant to be an insult when it was said originally but he like the idea.

"Rik is Viking of Bragi but Dane from Sjælland Island; Copenhagen, Denmark." He figures he can fill Minoru in so there isn't more confusion. "Hunter, also Viking from Stockholm, Sweden. Other bands, all Britains."

[itmeanstruth]

‘Viking punk’ might have been a somewhat relatable, although stereotypical, term, but Minoru had to ask, “what’s Fenrir?”

It was pretty cool, though, that the Hammers were from so many different places.

“Isamu and I are American, but our parents were born in Japan and came to America later. Visiting home is a neat mix of Japanese traditions and American ones. And both languages.”

[midnight_devil]

"Wolf son of Loki." Vars pulled off his jacket and had a very beautiful tattoo of the wolf that took up most of his left shoulder and outer bicep. "One of things start Ragnarök but punks believe Ragnarök not end but drastic change."

Which is one of the ways his beliefs varied from the traditional Norse mythology and belief.

"Grew up two languages too. Father worked for Germans so learn German." He had been a teen when his parents died and he didn't miss them much any more since it had been almost ten years now.