“It is,” Kaj deadpanned. “I could explain the scoring system to you right now.”
Aksel shook his head. “You have no idea how many times we’ve all sat through something we never asked to watch because Xander had ‘just one more interesting fact.’”
“You all stayed and watched, though,” the bassist countered with a shrug and a cheeky grin.
Martin chuckled. “Alright, what about the rest of you?”
“Nothing weird, but I like to read,” Kaj said.And have sex with Noah. But that was not something he could say during a live stream.
“And play video games,” Aksel added. “It’s like our family thing. Just like when we all go sightseeing together.”
Noah thought for a second. “Honestly, I think I just end up crashing half the time. They’re more used to this hectic type of routine, but it’s been quite exhausting to get used to the rhythm of things. When we’re not playing, we’re traveling, and when we’re not traveling, we’re waiting. I feel like I’ve taken more accidental naps in random places than I ever have in my life.”
Kaj nodded with his arms still crossed. “You learn to sleep anywhere. Dressing rooms, venue floors, under tables…”
Martin raised an eyebrow. “Under tables?”
Kaj shrugged. “Look, sometimes it’s the darkest, quietest place available.”
Aksel smirked. “Kaj just disappears sometimes, and we find him curled up somewhere like a cat.”
Martin laughed, and the conversation drifted through the usual topics—how the next album was coming, whether they had any dream collaborations in mind, stuff like that. The answers varied from teasingly vague to outright sarcastic, with Kaj, in particular, making sure to keep the conversation just on the edge of professionalism.
“Alright, let’s get into the fans’ questions,” Martin said, scrolling through the chat.
Niels sat up a little straighter behind him as the reporter scrolled through the incoming flood of comments, his expression hovering between amused and concerned.
“Okay, let’s start with an easy one.” Martin grinned as his eyes scanned the screen. ‘If you had to swap instruments with another band member for a full set, who’s getting screwed over the hardest?’”
Aksel laughed. “If Noah had to play drums, we’d be dead in five minutes.”
“Hey! I can keep a beat,” Noah shot back.
“That’s debatable.” Kaj smirked.
Xander chuckled. “I think the real tragedy would be Aksel on my bass.”
“Excuse you,” Aksel said, feigning offense. “You just pluck at the strings. What's so hard about it?”
Xander snorted. “And that's exactly why I'm never allowing you to touch my instrument.”
Aksel smirked. “Which one?”
“So basically, no one here should be switching instruments,” Martin said.
“Unless we want a full-band catastrophe,” Xander confirmed.
“Got it.” Martin chuckled as he glanced at the screen again. “Next question—‘What’s the worst thing that’s happened to you on stage?’”
“Easy,” Aksel said. “That time I tripped over a monitor and ate shit in front of thousands of people.”
Xander smirked. “Which time?”
It wasn’t that Aksel was clumsy, but the occurrence of mild and big accidents during shows was unbelievable.
“The one where I actually faceplanted,” Aksel replied.
Kaj snorted. “That was a highlight.”
