Blót in the back

[hellomajortom]

The goats in the hotel had nearly sent Tom into a downward spiral. Especially, when Vars informed him, they were going to slaughter them in a bathtub and start a bonfire on one of the balconies. It had taken time for the ex-astronaut to discover what was going on. Apparently, the twins were somehow at fault for this by putting the idea of a full Blót into Aarne’s mind at some point. He wasn’t particularly surprised by that part though he was surprised that they thought they could get away with this without him finding out. Aarne’s innocent look when questioned about starting a fire had the Fin glancing at Viktor and Tom shaking his head. Of course, the Brit singer would be the one to start the fire.

Tom had eventually given up and decided the best course of action was to direct, rather than try to deter, the Scandinavians from the task they were set on. He put a hold on the whole outer patio, thankfully fenced in with a high privacy fence, with the hotel to be theirs, undisturbed for two days. The musicians knowing, they would have to clean the place and return it to the state it was when they rented it. It was the only way Tom could imagine keeping this in some kind of control. Controlled and directed chaos was what the Brit did best these days. He watched them clear out all the furniture and tables. Things were getting strange, at least to Tom. He kept hearing chanting and saw more knives than he knew the musicians were traveling with. He did know about the traditional instruments and was less surprised to see those.

Music was forgotten which was an odd thing on the tour, to the point Ziggy postponed two tour dates to later in the month. Everyone threw themselves into some part of it, at least all the Scandinavians, and they dragged along their non-Nordic partners. There was cooking and prepping. The three goats housed out in the patio were tended to like royalty, fed apples and groomed all day. Tom wasn’t sure what to make of all of this though he did set out to ensure there was a proper iron firepit. Maybe not proper to the Nordic traditions but one to keep the fire from spreading across the patio. All he needed was Viktor to throw something flammable in it and set the whole side of the hotel alite. He had seen Rik teaching some how to sing and then watched as Ollie and Torden took turns slowly hand carving a large wooden bowl. Tom had no idea what any of this was for, but his sweet tooth told him the food smelled amazing. Omenakakku and Æblekage, Finnish and Danish respectively, were the sweets he kept smelling that made his stomach rumble. Tom loved apple pie and just how this was described to him sounded even better.

He was fascinated and worried in equal measures. Worried the hotel was about to be set on fire. Not to mention having to pull a tight noose to keep unwanted press out of the way. Damien ended up on paparazzi patrol. It was well into the night when he saw Aarne in full face paint and some antlered headpiece. Tom knew that things were happening. He was curious, it outweighed all of his reservations. Tom had once been a very devout Christian, funny how nearly dying in space had changed that. His wife had changed his perspective even further. That spiritual void only fueled the curiosity.

He wasn’t sure what to expect when he stepped out on that patio, but it felt like he had walked on to a movie set or stepped into the past. Most of the Scandinavians had at least partial traditional gear on or something that blended the two like Var’s long punk leather jacket with the fur collar and studs, the huge wolf painted on the back obviously Fenrir. Even Tom knew that now when he saw the broken chain hanging off the shoulders. It was nice to see Rik on the harp again. The music was soothing but noticing the pile of axes and the wooden target Tom knew this would get rowdy as the night went on. There was a table laid out with sweets and vegetables, but the selection of knives caught his attention. He wondered if Rekker was around and wondered if someone should watch the Brit. Maybe the situation would keep his hands off the blades. The variety of apples was incomprehensible but he had heard talk of some goddess of youth and apples. At least the apples made sense and the whispers that Mikkel would lead this Blót. The youngest for a celebration of youth wasn’t a hard connection to make even if he didn’t have much understanding of the intricacies of the religions or this event.

He wasn’t expecting to see Dee all painted up with her hair in braids, apparently in charge of sharpening the knives. After some thought he remembered that she was some sort of pagan, Wiccan he thought or one of the modern branches. He noticed Aarne and Mikkel with the goats, singing to them. Why that seemed the strangest in this whole landscape of new situations, Tom couldn’t pinpoint, though he wasn’t surprised at all to see Thomas in the background wide eyed and watching. Thomas was obsessed with human culture, and this was a chance to see it firsthand. The Anthean would never pass that up.

The patio went silent all the sudden, in unison, and it startled Tom, as an outsider with no true understanding of what the night would entail. Tom looked around for what was happening but noticed that every eye was on the two with the goats. Mikkel was singing in Danish that Tom couldn’t understand. He had a good handle on Swedish but hadn’t even started Danish yet. However, he didn’t miss the knife being passed around nor the bowl of water out of which everyone was washing their face. He hesitated and glanced at Raev beside him, who was offering him the two items.

“Witness the sharpness and cleanse your face.” He instructed quietly. It wasn’t appropriate to talk, or that was what Tom gathered from the situation. He felt like a child where everyone else knew what they were doing, and he didn’t. Being the oldest in the group, aside from the Antheans, the role reversal put him ill at ease. The ex-astronaut was rarely in a place where he was completely clueless.

Tom took the knife and wondered what to do, he ran his thumb on the cutting edge just like he would test a kitchen knife. He had no idea if that was the right thing to do but no one said anything. He then splashed the water on his face and handed both things off to the next person. Tom was counting musicians and noticed everyone was around, including Ziggy and he swore he saw the twins in the hotel earlier. Isamu better be here if he was the one that started this trajectory.

The knife made its way to Aarne who spoke in Finnish to Mikkel, a language Tom knew even less about. Mikkel responded in Danish and then took the knife while Aarne picked up that wooden bowl that he had seen the Vestergaard brothers making the day before. The way he held it out and Mikkel squatted with the goat Tom knew what was coming. The knife cut like butter through the neck and the blood came flooding out, Aarne catching it in that bowl. The animal barely struggled or made a sound. The kill must have been clean, precise. All three goats were slaughtered in turn before Aarne stood and held the bowl of blood overhead. It sloshed and Tom watched it rain down on the white clothing Aarne and Mikkel wore.

Tom was staring and couldn’t blink. There were words coming in more than one language he didn’t understand. Viktor, Harald, and Vars being splashed with blood before Mikkel offered them the dead goats. A thought ran through his head about the young, feminine boy offering the sacrificed animals to the older, masculine, warriors of the group. He wondered about all the cultural meaning he was missing. Like a midnight mass, the movements were practiced and mechanical so they must have all meant something even if he was clueless. Tom felt like a play by play would have been helpful but he would have to make due with remembering and asking later. The goats were taken to a table beside the fire pit which was blazing hot enough he could feel the heat. Someone had to have stoked it up while he was transfixed on the goats. Tom watched with awe as Devon also joined the three with Dee and the animals were quickly cleaned and beheaded. He’d seen animals butchered before, but this was something else, parts separated out into piles for reasons he didn’t know. Tom only came around when something wet touched his face. He looked over to see the Dane and the Fin standing there. Mikkel’s red hand slipping from his face, and he could feel the cool wetness left behind.

Mikkel spoke in Danish and then Aarne repeated, or Tom thought he did anyway, the words in English. “Will you join us?”

For a moment he could only imagine he was about to be treated like some village elder. In this village of a tour, he was the elder and the leader even if everyone went their own ways on a personal level. Tom was stunned, not by the invitation but the drips of blood rolling over the white paint on Aarne’s cheek and the mess of red in Mikkel’s bleach white hair. The details felt overwhelming, but he found himself nodding and then jumped as blood was splattered on his face. It was still warm and caused him to step back. Glancing around he noticed he was the first to be anointed, was that even right but it did remind him of holy water in that midnight mass on his mind. The thought of being treated like a village elder came around again. His focus had been so driven down to one thing that he missed the fact that the Danes were singing. Rik on the harp and Ansgar on some war drum while Ollie and Raev sang. What they were singing was lost on the Brit who didn’t know the language though he did pick up a couple of god names, all Norse. It didn’t even sound like Danish. Maybe it was something else? Vars spoke Old Norse and Tom wondered if there was an Old Danish or some equivalent. Truth was he was well outside his area of expertise or experience. This coming from a man who had lived with aliens. Tom cracked a smile with that thought, interrupted by Aarne kissing his cheek before they went off to find others. He noticed the elder feeling had some merit when Hexed and Robert were the next approached. The oldest of the group.

Tom glanced at the spitted goats and realized that the intent of this was to go on until food was ready to share. Tom took a breath and decided he was going to need a drink to survive this. No mule though. He had seen enough people huddled in the bathroom from the Danish liquor. Maybe Hunter had some wine, surely he wouldn’t be caught at a party without it. Tom didn’t move from where he stood near the middle of the patio. His eyes were trying desperately to take this all in but there was simply too much. Tonight wasn’t going to be like any other experience. Another notch on his belt of strange things he’d lived through in his life.

Comments

[rage_rekker]

Mikkel would eventually find these three to decorate in blood. In the meanwhile Robert did find them. He was shirtless with only a slight splatter across the chest. Rekker was with him and looked completely different. His red hair streaked darker with blood. It was on his face, still running down his chest and looking like someone had poured the blood on him. Despite the mess, Rekker looked completely comfortable but Robert was keeping a close eye in him.

"That cape looks nice. You might want to do something with it before Mikkel finds you." And splatters him with blood. He didn't mention that though since Gilly looked a little green.

[rockin_thehousedown]

Erik noticed the slight smear on Robert's chest and that didn't stop the young Swede who was now reaching out to hug the limo driver, giggling softly. Hunter adjusted the cape on his shoulders before nodding, removing it carefully because he knew it would become covered in blood otherwise.

"I made it especially for this event. Poor Gilly here doesn't really know what's going on but I have explained to him what it's about. He just doesn't like blood much, poor thing."

Hunter patting Gilly on the shoulder while Erik kissed Robert on his chin. Oh, he looked so rugged and handsome without a shirt. The soft chest fuzz now rubbing against Erik's outstretched palm.

"You look so handsome tonight, Fluffig."

[thisisgroundcontrol]

Robert welcomed Erik into his arms with a kiss to the cheek. Rekker came up beside them with his blood matted hair and shrugged. "You better hide from Aarne and Mikkel or you'll end up like this."

Rekker was oddly ok with the blood soaking into his hair and wherever else. It felt good which might be a bad thing or a good thing with how his moods changed sometimes. He was cheerful for now at least.

"You should get him drunk." Rekker instructed Erik. Robert rarely let go enough to get drunk and it would probably do his nerves good.

[rockandroll_swede]

Erik just giggled at Rekker's suggestion about getting Robert drunk because this is what the young Swede always wanted to do. He just wanted to see the older man let his curly hair down for a bit and have some fun.

"Shall we have some wine together, sötnos?"

The guitarist offering Rekker a cheeky wink as he hobbled over to the drinks table, pouring out a wine glass for Robert but then he ran out of hands. He couldn't hold the glass and bring it back to Robert and hold his crutches. This was infuriating for the young man because he had to rely on his crutches for getting around everywhere until his leg healed up.

"skit... Jag orar inte med det här...."

The frustration easily heard in Erik's voice because he hated being this weak, not being able to do the things he always did like run around and be spry on his feet. He wanted to carry Robert's wine glass to him.

[thisisgroundcontrol]

Rekker patted Erik on the shoulder and went off to find something to do. He wanted to get into some of these warrior fights to blow off steam.

"Yes." Robert kissed Erik's cheek and easily saw the coming problem as the Swede went for drinks. Robert excused himself from Hunter and Gilly before walking up to Erik. He stroked his lover's back.

"I've got them. Why don't you decide where we should sit." He said it with a smile and love because he had hated being laid up after being shot. He had the same kind of frustration.

[rockandroll_swede]

"Fluffig I----I can't carry everything because of my crutches. It is so annoying."

Erik huffed slightly but smiled once more when Robert stroked his back. He always loved feeling those big hands against his body and the warmth the Brit gave off. Leaning into Robert, Erik kissed his lover on the cheek in return and nodded. He would have to resign himself to accepting help while healing up.

"Ok, how about we sit over there where it's nice and comfy? Soft cushions."

The Swede pointed to the area with his crutch.

[thisisgroundcontrol]

"You get the drinks."

Robert grinned at the Swede with a devious glint in his eyes. He took Erik's crutches in one hand and then slipped his other arm behind Erik's thighs and picked him up one armed. It was a show of strength but also an act of love. Erik could carry the drinks and Robert could carry Erik.

[rockandroll_swede]

Erik let out a small gasp when he felt Robert pick him up at the back of his thighs, just letting the Brit carry him. It was a cute gesture and caused the Swede to kiss Robert on the lips, carrying a wine bottle in his hand now that Robert had the drinks in his free hand.

"You are so strong, Fluffig. My strong sötnos. I love you."

The younger man giggled and held on tight so that he wouldn't fall now that he wasn't holding onto his crutches. Hunter witnessed this display of strength from the Brit and blew a kiss playfully towards both. Gilly was thrusting a glass of wine underneath Hunter's nose, distracting him from watching his brother being carried.

[thisisgroundcontrol]

Robert held tight only to laugh at the kiss.

"I love you too but I can't walk if your face is in front of mine." Robert just rolled his eyes at Hunter then walked over toward some of the cushions on the ground where Erik could sit and relax while they drank.