Checking in on family

[thewild_one]

It had been far too long since Lex checked in on his aunt and cousin. He had been traveling and taking some time to learn new skills for the past year. It was easy enough to hunt him down by showing up at Jerry's bar. The American was a little surprised to hear his cousin had a serious partner but it is a comfort once Jerry spoke highly of the man in question.

About an hour, and a couple drinks later, he showed up at the apartment complex to search for his younger cousin. He's excited to see him after so long and feeling good that he was healing after the incident the year before.

Comments

[guitar_voodoo]

Mick was busy plucking some strings on his guitar around his neck, tuning at the same time whilst walking along in the apartments, minding his own business and not really looking where he was going. It was then he looked up and nearly bumped into a bloke coming his way.

"Oh--sorry, mate. I wasn't looking where I was going."

Who was this guy? Mick didn't recognise him and wondered if he was someone's family member.

"Are you looking for someone?"

[thewild_one]

Lex was looking at apartment numbers and trying to guess where Davy might be, or hear his voice. He almost ran directly into Mick.

"Yes, Davy Sutton." Lex mentioned wondering who this person was but he assumed he was one of the musicians for sure.

[guitar_voodoo]

"Davy Sutton? Oh, the American boy who plays guitar with City Charms? I think he was around here somewhere. He's with Sven a lot of the time. They might be down at the communal bar area since that's where most of us hang around to relax."

Mick guessed this guy was Davy's family or something. But fuck---he was tall too. Why were there so many tall people on this tour? He wasn't a Scandi either. Ah well, Mick was used to having Ziggy next to him so he didn't care anymore. It didn't make you less of a man to be short. Try telling Vars that.

"Want me to take you to the bar, mate? I'm Mick Ronno, guitarist for Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars."

[thewild_one]

"He's my cousin." Lex pointed out. He wasn't bothered by height. His cousin was shorter and Jerry was taller.

"Sure." He offered his hand. "Lex Harper." His hands were calloused both from his work and playing guitar.

[guitar_voodoo]

It was nice to meet another guitarist as Mick shook the man's hand noticing it was similar to his own being calloused from playing guitar. He smiled and could see the resemblance to Davy with the dark hair and American accent. But he also looked like Erik too in a strange way.

"Nice to meet you, Lex. It's always good to have another guitarist here with us. There are a few in our travelling circus. What make of guitar do you play? Custom or something else?"

Hans would no doubt want to meet this man too being a guitar-head like Mick. Johan too.

[thewild_one]

"I don't play for a career. It's a hobby." One that his cousin had gotten him into over time. "Ibanez usually. I have a three neck, 21 string Rekker made. I hear he's around here sometimes."

He was glad to talk and was naturally social, maybe too much sometimes, and certainly more than his quieter cousin.

[guitar_voodoo]

"Ah, I get you. What do you do for a job?"

Mick was genuinely curious about the man and always wanted to meet new people in all walks of life. Was Lex from LA itself? It was a possibility. He had a three neck, 21 string? Epic. The Brit went a little wide-eyed at that, impressed of course.

"A three neck? That sounds fucking epic, mate. I love my custom '68 Les Paul and wouldn't give her away for the world. She's my only guitar and she creates the best sounds."

[thewild_one]

"I work on big rigs."

Lex mentioned as he followed along to wherever they were going.

"It's neon pink and heart shaped." He did have it back home but not with him in the car. It was far too big to tote around usually. "Older Les Pauls are nice but I like the brighter sound of the Ibanez."

He might work as a mechanic but he knew a bit about guitars, again some of that was because of Davy talking his ear off at times.

[guitar_voodoo]

"Big rigs? Uh, I don't quite get what you mean, mate. Me being a daft British bastard---some of the American gets lost on me and my mates here."

Mick wondered what the man meant because to him a rig was something like an oil rig out at sea or a rig of staging or something. The Brit had worked as a stagehand before making or big as a rockstar.

"I love the sound of the older Les Pauls because I'm a classic rock guitarist, loving the riffs and tones of the 50's and 60's. Just something about it. Ibanez are good and I know Billy has one of those among other band members."

[thewild_one]

Lex wasn't used to having to explain but being British that made sense. "An 18 wheel truck. I'm not sure but sometimes bands use them on tours to move equipment."

He wasn't sure but there weren't many on the strip usually either. He didn't mind explaining.

"Davy's favorite guitar is a Les Paul Black Beauty." He wondered if the guitarist had talked to his cousin about them.

[guitar_voodoo]

"A lorry? Ah ok. I get you now. Massive great big things these American trucks. We've used them before on tour in New York and here in LA for transporting all our stuff and staging."

Mick knew his dad would love to talk to this guy because Ted worked on big mining trucks and the like back home.

"My dad works on mining trucks and big wheeled monsters fixing them when they break down and stuff. Maybe you should meet him and talk about it."

[thewild_one]

"Lorry?" Lex hadn't heard of that word before but assumed it meant a big truck as the guitarist went on.

"Not many people work on them here. It's not a popular trade." Which meant he was paid well. Not as well as a rockstar but he was secure with his job.

[guitar_voodoo]

"Lorry is a truck here. British and American language can be different in certain things. That I'm getting used to spending over two years touring here so far on and off."

Lex seemed like a decent working bloke and Mick liked that. They soon reached the entrance to the bar area and already there was screaming coming from the corner as Joe began downing shots one after the other. Hunter was buying red wine for himself and Gilly while Ted was laughing at a joke from Syn or one of the others had just said.

"Here we are. Welcome to the madhouse."

[thewild_one]

He nodded to the explanation. He was used to hearing Spanish so this wasn't too unusual for someone else to have other words for things.

Lex stepped into the room and didn't immediately see Davy but Syn saw the other American.

"LEXXI!!!" He bounded up from where he was sitting beside Ted to give Lex a hug. He gave the singer a hug in return. It had been awhile since they saw each other, longer than since he saw Davy.

[sweeter_thantherest]

Mick could see his dad getting drunk with the babies again, which didn't surprise him, so just smiled as he lead Lex to the crowd at the bar. Ted gave his son a wave and then got up to greet the new bloke. It seemed he was known to City Charms judging by the reaction Syn was giving him. Ted liked meeting new people and got up from his bar stool.

"Hello, I'm Ted Ronno and that's my son, Mick."

Pointing to Mick, Ted giggled, drunk before holding a hand out to Lex. Mick could see his dad was enjoying himself so went to buy himself a gin.

[thewild_one]

Lex was a little overwhelmed so it was good to have someone to focus on one person. He offered his hand to the drunk once Syn had let go of him.

"Lex Harper. I'm Davy's cousin." With how close he was with Syn he couldn't imagine this man didn't know Davy. "Mick says you have a job working on big trucks."

[sweeter_thantherest]

"Davy's cousin? Oh, prissy tarty Davy! He's getting fucked by the big burly Swede, Sven."

Ted had been drinking several strong cocktails and had downed a few shots so his mouth was all over the place. He was having fun with Syn and his friends but wanted to divert his attention to this new man now.

"My boy spoke about my work? Well, yes, I work on big mining trucks as well as being a miner down in the coal pits myself."

Not many people would be interested in that work here, would they? Yet, Lex seemed to be.

[thewild_one]

Lex laughed. "Jerry didn't tell me it was a Swede but I'm surprised he's let anyone in his bedroom. He's so fucking picky."

It was said with love but his cousin had always been picky about everything. He wondered how this Sven dealt with it constantly. The sex must be good.

"I work on big shipping trucks." He remembered that Mick didn't understand the words he used before so he changed his language. "I've worked on a few excavation trucks but they aren't my specialty."

[sweeter_thantherest]

"There are quite a few Swedes here on this tour, more than Norwegians and Danes I think."

Ted was just trying to think how many Swedes there were compared to all the others Scandis. As for Davy, Ted just smiled and guessed that Sven got slapped now and then due to his ego.

"Big shipping trucks, eh? Long haulers? We call those Artic lorries where I come from or HGVs. Heavy goods vehicles. It all means the same no matter what country you're from. I mainly work on the engineering side of fixing mining trucks, wheels, engines, anything that goes wrong with them on site."

Ted loved having another trucker buddy on the tour.

[thewild_one]

"I heard there's a Norwegian trying to get into Jerry's pants from one of the bartenders." Lex didn't have much of a filter when it came to speaking about things.

"Yes. I work mostly on the electrical systems but I can also work on engines and building out the living space in the cab." Lex took a seat on the other side of Syn from Ted. It had him laughing the way the young blonde was hanging on the older man and giggling.

[sweeter_thantherest]

"There is? I'm not surprised though because a lot of the lads here are into each other's pants and the like. Those two over there, Joe and Aarne, they seem to want to fuck wherever and whenever they want."

Joe now screaming and biting Aarne's ear, getting more drunk as the night went on. Ted nodded and listened to what Lex was saying as he gently ruffled Syn's hair. The young singer hanging onto Ted's arm. Mick now taking a seat close by Lex and everyone so he could listen in.

"Electrical, eh? I'm mostly engineering so manual gearboxes and the tinkering side. Engine maintenance too. The living space in the cabs are important when blokes spend over twelve hours a day driving those things at least on a mine site. With what you work on they spend days on the roads I bet."

[thewild_one]

He listened and looked at the drunken blonde giggling against him. "Are you with this one?" He leaned in and tickled Syn which caused him to wiggle around while asking Ted. He could see it. Syn was really adorable and sweet.

"We have a lot of drivers who sleep in their cabs. It takes six or seven days to drive across the US." Lex had never pulled that kind of haul but sometimes he drove repaired trucks back to their owners.

[sweeter_thantherest]

"With this one?---"

Ted frowned and then turned to where Lex was staring at Syn. Oh, that got a small giggle from the older man who sipped on his drink. It was a reasonable assumption that the young singer was with the older Brit, seeing how he was hanging off Ted's arm drunk.

"Oh no, mate. I'm a married man and Elsie is my wife. Syn here is a close friend and is a cutie really."

The Brit patted Syn on the hair gently then pulled out a photo of his wife from his wallet to show Lex. She was the love of his life.

"She's beautiful and everything I ever want in a woman."

[thewild_one]

"Yeah this one." Lex gave Syn another good tickling by pinching him at the hip bones. He'd known the other members of City Charms since Davy joined them.

"You act like a couple." Lex thought it was cute and then leaned over to look at the picture. "She is pretty."

It was an honest answer. Ted's wife was nice looking for.. she must have been in her 40s too like Jan.

[sweeter_thantherest]

"We do? You let my lad Mick hear that and he'll laugh his bloody pants off."

Ted giggled and then leant over to give Syn a playful kiss on the cheek just because he could. The Brit was slowly getting to grips with his sexuality and that he was bisexual after the talk he had with Martyn. Elsie knew her husband would never cheat on her or be unfaithful so playful flirting with Syn was no harm.

"She is so beautiful, mate. You'll get to meet her soon as she likes to stay around Ziggy and some of the other femmes."

[thewild_one]

Syn let go of Ted for a second to give Lex another hug. Davy's cousin was like an older brother to them, much like Jerry. Though they saw him less often the closeness was still there. "I know how Syn is with men he likes."

It was sweet to see the kid get more friends and safe spaces. Things had been rough on them for a few years now.

"I'm sure I will." Lex nodded because he was interested in meeting the others. He was social and wanted to check in on his cousin and aunt which also meant seeing who was around them.

[sweeter_thantherest]

"I first met Syn at this club with Aarne and some of the other lads, well---I first thought they were all girls. Mikkel, Aarne, Syn---I thought they were all very tall girls. Bloody embarrassed when I found out they were boys."

Ted blushed a little but now knew he didn't have to hide the fact that he enjoyed boy legs.

"It's the legs, mate. Boy legs. I can't help but like them."

Elsie understood now.

[thewild_one]

"I'm sure my cousin didn't help." Lex laughed because so many thought that Davy was a girl too. Though, unlike Syn, Davy would give them hell for it.

"Long legs are nice." Lex admitted. He'd slept with a range of people over the years and he could appreciate a nice pair of legs on a man or a woman.

[sweeter_thantherest]

"I knew Davy was a boy because he looked boyish more than the others like Syn or Sam but---he's quite feminine too. I nearly thought he was a girl too."

Ted shook his head grinning. It was pretty bloody hilarious really.

"They are. Elsie has such a pretty pair on her and I love them when they wrap around my body."

The Brit wasn't shy talking about his sex life because he was crass.

[thewild_one]

"People in the bar grab his ass and call him sweetie all the time. He slaps so many of them." Lex both hated that they did it and then it was always funny to see their expression.

"I think most people like a nice pair of legs around them." Lex could be crass too sometimes.

[sweeter_thantherest]

"Bloody hell, they do? No wonder they get slapped if they grab him and push themselves on him. Poor lad. They deserve to be slapped being fucking bastards like that."

Ted didn't like the sound of poor Davy getting touched on by strange men. If it was someone doing it to Elsie then Ted would deck them in.

"You are right there, lad. She makes me feel all warm inside."

[thewild_one]

"I hear he has a boyfriend. I'm sure there's a lot of bar fights about to happen." Lex felt bad for Davy and how many people were always after him. Hopefully there were no more stalkers.

"I'm sure it's all warm inside." Lex winked at Ted and tried not to laugh because he was being lewd but this Brit seemed to understand and enjoy that kind of comment.

[sweeter_thantherest]

"I heard that too. A tall model bloke called Sven."

Ted hadn't actually spoken to Sven but he knew the man was into his fitness from what Mick had said. Now, he had a tarty boyfriend. It was cute.

"You're right there, mate. You dirty bastard."

The Brit laughed and clapped Lex on the back. He liked the American and saw that he too had a crass mouth.

"Do you prefer boys, girls or both?"

[thewild_one]

"That tracks. Davy's always looked for partners that are as pretty as he is."

Lex was going to have to meet this guy eventually. He could only grin at Ted's reaction to the trash talk but to the question he only shrugged.

"I'm not picky." Lex had dated a bit of everything by this point. "I like people with a lot of interests, interesting people, I guess."

[sweeter_thantherest]

"Pretty, eh? I suppose the tall blond Swede is pretty in a way but more masculine and built than feminine like Davy."

Ted grinned and knew there were plenty of femmes on the tour that would slap a mouth if insulted. That tarty Gilly for one.

"A man of all talents then? Myself and Mick like pussy and legs. Although---I'm bi-curious but never slept next to a bloke before."

[thewild_one]

"That's unusual. Usually he likes feminine men." Lex is curious about this Swede now. He must have something that Davy liked.

"I like a nice ass and lips good for kissing. Anyone can have those." Lex smiled. "We're all curious when we find a new thing that gets our attention." He's honest. Even he had things he was curious about and had yet to try out. "You don't have to sleep with them to be bisexual. All it means is you could see yourself with one for sex or a relationship."

[sweeter_thantherest]

"Maybe this Sven has something we don't know about."

Ted didn't know the man to say anything about it so just assumed Davy liked Sven for reasons other than his big muscles and ego. The Brit scratched the back of his head and was still unsure about the whole thing.

"I only admitted how I felt about boys the other week to Martyn. I've been hiding it mostly because I'm married and wouldn't want Elsie to think I prefer boy legs over her or something."

It was something that bothered him.

[thewild_one]

"Like a big cock?"

Lex snickered but it might well be true. Davy would probably slap him right in the face for saying that.

"I'm sure how you touch her legs tells her you don't like them more." Lex was trying to encourage the Brit. He knew a little about this kind of struggle from Rekker. He had been surprised to learn that the Brit had a male partner after years of exclusively, very feminine, women. They hadn't talked about it in detail but Lex could imagine. "A lot of people hide sexual things for one reason or another. I don't think you're alone."

[sweeter_thantherest]

Lex had Ted snorting out laughter and nearly falling off his bar stool. This American! Such a crude mouth and the Brit loved this because he often got called a toilet mouth by his mates back at the mine. Oh---but he was missing them. How were they even getting on back home? LA seemed like a world away.

"You dirty bastard. You might be right though if the Swede has a big knob. My mates back at the mine often laugh and joke about cock jokes. You know I never thought I'd say this but I miss their banter, being with them and having a laugh. Just---down to earth things, you know?"

The glitz and glamour of being around rock stars and being in LA was fun but Ted was a man who loved being around his friends too.

"I bet they're wondering where the bloody hell I've gotten to. Last time I spoke to them I told them I was spending time here in LA with my lad, Mick."

[thewild_one]

Lex started to laugh too, more from the snorting laughter of the Brit than the subject matter. "My cousin has always liked a man who can put his prissy ass in its place, not that he'd admit that."

Lex shrugged and took a sip of his drink. "Why don't you call them?"

[sweeter_thantherest]

Ted thought on what Lex was saying and nodded, knowing full well he could just use the phone in his room to ring his mates. Why hadn't he thought about that? It was more the cost of ringing from LA to the UK that had him worried.

"Won't it cost a bloody bomb to phone from here to the UK?"

International call rates and things.

[thewild_one]

Lex shrugged since he hadn't ever called to another country, aside from occasionally calling Jerry when his family went home.

"Surely one of these rockstars have enough to pay for a call." That made sense. Wasn't Ted's own kid a rockstar?

[sweeter_thantherest]

"I'll ask my lad if he'll be kind enough to pay for my call back to my mates back home. I wouldn't want to take advantage of his lifestyle and money though because I know he works hard."

Ted nodded and knew Mick wouldn't mind and would want his father to keep in contact with his friends back home.

"Thanks for the advice, mate."

[thewild_one]

"Any time." Lex started to laugh. "My cousin isn't that wealthy as a musician yet and he yells at me all the time for not asking when I need something."