#nagon

Пише: Милош Шебаљ.

Док се броје дани до изласка седмоинчне верзије овог издања, посредством немачког Contra Recordsа, ја ћу се бавити домаћом верзијом у изведби четири озбиљно активна човека на сцени и сада већ, слободно ћу рећи, култног Underground Disco из Беочина.

Пре свега, све похвале ваља упутити на адресу визуалног ументика чије се име не помиње у самом омоту, али не ремети чињеницу да је насловна страна касете једноставна али изузетно ефектна, што један бенд састављен од веома искусних чланова итекако заслужује. На моју жалост, оваква скупина музичара и, пре свега, људи сигурно може себи обезбедити убедљивију продукцију. Квалитет демо снимка од пре неколико деценија, када су се исти снимали у гаражним условима, на старим касетофонима може некоме звучати носталгично, док ће другима вероватно прилично засметати. Сматрам да је добар део иницијалног ударца који ово издање задаје претерано амортизован недостатком квалитетније продукције.

Како се овде ипак ради о музичком издању, фокус ваља усмерити на саме композиције. Иако дебитантски, снимак је начинила екипа која иза себе има поприличан стаж те се озбиљан приступ музици дао наслутити. Умешан ход по танкој линији која раздваја гаражни рок, панк, рокабили и хардкор је, такође, могао бити очекиван ако се узму у обзир појединачне каријере ове четворке. Иако стичем утисак да сва четири инструмента вуку сваки на своју страну, остаје закључак о једном врло компактном и кохерентном снимку.

Жанровски врло одређени у сопственој неодређености, Nagön испоручују пет нумера којима се нема шта замерити. Енергија је ту, порука јасна и гласна, а музика ако не оригинална, онда свакако довољно свежа да нико не може рећи да је бенд оваквог усмерења свакодневна појава. Једина песма за коју би се могло рећи да заиста иде само у једном правцу је претежно рокабили оријентисана We Will Get There чија порука може бити протумачена и као наравоученије целог издања, под чувеним мотом: Нема повлачења, нема предаје! Остале нумере су боље балансиране између поменутих жанровских одредница, што никако не чини да било која искаче испред осталих. Квалитет што песама, што целокупног издања је евидентан и то је, на крају крајева, једино чему треба посветити пажњу.

“Greetings, I am Cipriana and this is Irati.” Cipriana said to him with a larger smile that she wore previously.

Nasir gave a small smile in return but quickly looked away when he sensed someone coming towards them. He looked up at Agron as he came towards them, a scowl firmly set on his face. Nasir glanced back at Cipriana and Irati and found Irati staring up at Agron, her lips parted slightly and her eyes roaming over his body. Nasir felt like hissing at the girl. He turned his attention back to Agron when he stopped in front of him and bent down, picking up the cup he had given Nasir earlier. Nasir heard the growl pass Agron’s lips at the girl, Irati and then watched Agron stand and walk away with cup in hand. He had heard the girl let out a little squeak and turned his attention to her. Her face was beet red and her eyes were watery.

“She has strong feelings towards Agron!” Cipriana offered in explanation when she saw Nasir looking at her friend.

“Just for how he looks…” Nasir hissed out, he didn’t need to ask it as a question he knew it was the truth. It was true Nasir found Agron very pleasing to look at but he also wanted to know the man, if said man would allow it so. He didn’t know why but he felt like he could trust Agron. He shook his head slightly, he was sure that the girl and the short German man, he still did not know his name, wanted nothing but to be bedded by Agron.

“Blame cannot be laid in her that she finds him pleasing to look at. For you find him pleasing to do you not?” Ciprana said narrowing her eyes slightly at the Syrian that sat before her, he was now frowning and he seemed tense.

Nasir let out a hiss at her words and then got to his feet. He slowly made his way towards Agron. He was standing by the water barrel alone. “Apologies for earlier words, they were not meant to wound.” He said quietly as he stopped beside the barrel too. He looked up at Agron when the man did not respond to his words. He was staring down into the water. “It would seem you are a much desired man.”

At the little man’s words Agron looked up at him, he still did not want to believe the little man’s name was Tiberius, the thought made Agron raise an eyebrow at him. Glancing past the little man to the two girls that had been seated by him, Agron let out a sigh. “She has been like that since we freed her…” Agron looked back down at the water, his and the little mans images were distorted as the water rippled slightly. “She looks at Auctus in the same manner.”

Nasir watched Agron for a few minutes before he spoke. “And you do not care for it?” Nasir asked curiously. He still wasn’t sure what there was between Agron and Auctus but he didn’t want to be too forward with asking.

Agron shook his head. “And what is it you seek from me, little man?”

Nasir felt himself blush silently cursing himself as Agron’s eyebrow rose at him waiting for an answer. “All I seek is…” Nasir paused as Agron’s brilliant, beautiful green eyes met his own once again. “…is for my cup to be returned to me full!” Nasir looked down at the cup in Agron’s hand. He couldn’t help the smirk that he flashed at Agron.

Agron let out a chuckle. “That was my intent but you no longer sat alone.” He filled the cup and then handed it to the little man.

“You know name yet you refuse to use it. You still place the name little man upon me.” Nasir wondered why Agron would not call him Tiberius.

“I have doubts on name revealed.” Agron told him truthfully.

“It is what I have known since it was placed upon me ten years past.” Nasir admitted.

“Have you always been here?” Agron inquired looking back at the villa that stood behind them.

“I have…” Nasir said. Here Agron was again caring about him. Nasir let out a small sigh as he watched the man look at the building that Nasir called home.

“One Master?” Agron said surprised, most weren’t so lucky.

Nasir nodded. “I have been body slave to my Dominus since my thirteenth year.”

“Dominus no more.” Agron reminded.

Nasir hissed at his words and then took a drink.

“Bitterness does not suit you.” Agron mumbled.

Nasir picked his head up and looked at Agron again, his hands were on the edge of the water barrel and he was staring into the water again. His words did ring true; Nasir had never been a bitter person and did not know why he still held ill feelings. “Newness is not easily accepted.” Nasir told him.

Agron looked up from the water when he saw the little man’s reflection in the water again too. “It will become easier.” Agron offered. He stood up straight, stretching the sore muscles of his back. Agron glanced to his left and noticed some of the Gauls watching them. He let out a groan.

Nasir followed Agron’s gaze. “If they follow Crixus, why do they hate me so, at attempt on Spartacus?” Nasir asked quietly.

“They are fucking Gauls and Crixus is their leader, he hates, so they hate.” Agron glared at Acer, who smirked at him as he pulled his long hair into a tied state. Agron growled and looked back at the water.

“Does he cast looks like that, often?” Nasir asked when he saw the smirk on the Gaul’s face.

Agron nodded. “We are of the same Brotherhood…” Agron revealed his brand on his arm. “But they do not care for me because I stand a German and the feeling is returned!”

Nasir looked at Agron’s brand, it was a large B, and it would have been painful to receive. “You were a gladiator?” Nasir knew Agron was but he wanted to ask. He had been to one match with his Dominus before ages ago but he remembered little of the games because he had been serving his Master the whole time. Agron just nodded at him in response though. Nasir turned his head and noticed Rhaskos and Acer, two of the loudest Gauls coming towards them.

“Crixus would have words with you pup.” Acer said stepping closer to Agron.

Nasir looked up at the man; he stood yet but at few inches shorter than Agron. He wondered who Acer was talking about. Nasir let out a hiss at how close Acer was now standing to Agron’s back. These men had no respect for personal space. He noticed Agron’s whole body tense at the closeness of the Gaul and he watched Agron closely.

“Do you mind if I take this one to bed? I am sure I would be in for a wide ride!” Acer whispered against Agron’s ear and then let out a chuckle.

Nasir felt the blush creep into his checks again at the Gaul’s words. He knew he was meant to hear him. He watched as Agron’s hands gripped the side of the barrel his fingers turning white. Nasir had already seen Agron ready to get into a fight with the Gauls on his behalf and wasn’t sure what was about to happen.

Agron stepped away from Acer, putting distance between them. His hands turned into fists but he kept them at his sides. He knew they wanted a reaction out of him and he wasn’t going to give in. “I shall be with him presently…” He said through gritted teeth. Agron was not going to leave little man with them. Acer looked Agron up and down and then let out a chuckle. He then left with Rhaskos following him. “Fucking Gauls!” Agron looked back at the little man. “Apologies you had to hear that. You should stay clear of them.” He advised and then turned to go find Crixus.

Nasir nodded, he had planned on staying far away from them. He spotted Chadara and made his way towards her. “What troubles you so, to cause frown as such?” He knew his friend and something was bothering her.

“I chose to lay with a Gaul and Mira intervened.”

“She stopped you?” Nasir asked surprised.

“Yes with dagger to his cock!”

Nasir chuckled, but bit his bottom lip when Chadara glared at him. “Which Gaul was it?”

“Rhaskos…” Chadara looked up at him, concern in her eyes. “Do you now hate me?”

“Chadara, I could never hate you. I think you sell yourself short.” Nasir didn’t like the idea of her being with the Gaul but he would not hold it against her.

“He was the only choice.” Chadara tried to defend herself.

“I am sure that is false.” Nasir watched her closely.

“Spartacus lies with Mira, Crixus is in search of his woman and Agron…” Chadara paused a moment. “…he growls at any woman that approaches him.”

Nasir chuckled. “I think he knows it scares them off.”

“He seems to only allow you near him.” Chadara had seen them together. “Does he know name now and are you beginning to trust him?”

“He does, yet decides to call me little man.” Nasir usually did not care for such at name, but he allowed it to past Agron’s lips. “I think so…”

“Why?” Chadara asked. “And was it not you that said they are not to be trusted?”

“He believes name to be false.” Nasir let out a sigh. “I may have been wrong.”

“Well, it is, is it not?” Chadara knew the name Tiberius was not belonging to him, but did not know real name. She just smiled at him admitting he might have been wrong.

Nasir nodded.

“Then maybe you should say real name and hear it fall from his lips.” Chadara suggested.

It was then that Agron joined them looking frustrated. Crixus and a few of the Gauls walked past them and Agron growled. Chadara looked at Nasir a grin on her face, until Agron spoke, addressing them both. “Do you remember Crixus’ woman?”

“She was with us but a few days.” Chadara offered.

“She slept one night, I tended wounds.” Nasir looked into Agron’s eyes. “Dominus did not beat her that deed fell to previous hands.” Nasir paused looking back at Chadara who was now roaming her eyes over Agron’s body. He elbowed her in the ribs. She let out a squeak and Nasir looked back at Agron, before he continued. “She left well tended, other than being used.” Nasir knew Agron knew how he meant.

Agron nodded. “You may gain favor with the Gaul, for caring for his woman.” He placed a hand on Nasir’s shoulder and then left them.

Nasir looked at his shoulder where Agron’s hand had just been, the skin was tingling. He smiled as he watched Agron walk away. Chadara cleared her throat beside him. “What?”

“You watch his ass and cock rises!” She giggled.

Nasir blushed. He knew his light green cotton trousers were doing little to hide his arousal. He groaned and walked away from her as she giggled again. Nasir walked over to one of the fires that had been lit around the courtyard and squatted down, trying to get his body under control. He was soon joined by Kofi. Nasir greeted him with a nod as he crouched down by the fire beside him. Kofi smiled at him and Nasir hoped that the other man didn’t know what he was trying to hide. Nasir sat there in silence for a while until he heard the gates being opened and Crixus and his men came in.

“Men on the road, heading this way, quickly grab swords. Prepare yourselves.” Crixus ordered.

“Wait!” Spartacus said to Crixus. “They may be scouts from a larger force, if one was to get from grasp…”

“Then we shall grasp tightly!” Crixus yelled.  

“There may be another option.” Spartacus looked over to the boy as he stood. “Tiberius…”

Nasir frowned but walked towards the man. He listened as Spartacus explained the plan and then he nodded to let him know that he understood. He glanced past Spartacus and watched as Agron stood up from his postion leaned against the pillar. Nasir nodded once again as Spartacus clapped him on the shoulders.

“Agron, you and Auctus take everyone inside the villa, out of view. Make sure they keep tongues still.” Spartacus said as he turned to the German.

Agron nodded and started ushering everyone inside. He placed a hand on Auctus’ shoulder as he glanced back at the little man. He let out a sigh and then followed Auctus and the others into the building. “You all heard Spartacus, silence fucking tongues!” He snapped as some of the new members whispered anxiously with each other. He watched as Spartacus and the other men took position beside the archways, closing the curtains as the loud banging started on the gates and the little man left through the curtained archway. Agron growled and Auctus placed a hand on his shoulder. He couldn’t really hear or see what was going on from his position.

  Nasir slightly cursed the Gods when he heard Crixus roar and come rushing out from behind the curtains. He took a step backwards and soon found himself on his ass; he hissed at the pain and watched the scene unfold in front of him.

Agron came rushing out when he saw Spartacus leave the villa, Auctus was right on his heels. He found the little man on his ass; he must have been thrown to the ground by one of the men. Agron quickly unsheathed his sword it finding its mark to one of the Roman shit’s stomach. Having his sword knocked out of his hand, when one of the other Roman soldiers tried to defend the already fallen one, he switched to his dagger, slitting the throat of one Roman and quickly launching himself onto another, stabbing him in the neck. Agron wanted to check on the little man to make sure he wasn’t in danger but when he looked up he was struck hard in the face with the butt of one of the Roman’s sword, blooding started to fill his mouth.

Nasir saw Agron get hit and blood fly from his mouth; he knew he had to do something. He got to his feet and grabbed the sword that lay on the ground in front on him, clenching it firmly he rushed forward. Nasir saw Agron look up towards him and then heard him yell Spartacus’ name as he and a Roman rushed towards the man’s back. Nasir stabbed the Roman in the back just as Spartacus turned around to face them. He let the sword fall to the ground with the Roman and him and Spartacus just stared at each other.

Nasir let out a yelp when he was grabbed by the throat and pushed into one of the pillars, his back making contact painfully and then the hand tightened to a painful state.

“Why did you invite them in?” Crixus growled harshly.

“He killed a man!” Spartacus yelled at Crixus.

“Only when he saw they would not win!” Crixus shouted back.

Nasir watched as Auctus and Agron both stepped closer to him and the Gaul. “Their eyes fell on the lack of collar, if I had let them leave, they would have returned with more men!” Nasir told them and felt Crixus’s hand release his neck. He rubbed his throat and then looked at the men around him.

“You did good Tiberius!” Spartacus praised him.

“Nasir…” Nasir looked up at Agron, locking eyes with him. “My brother called me Nasir.”

Agron nodded at him, he knew the little man was not called Tiberius. Nasir suited him. Agron gave him a small smile and then let out a hiss.

.

.

Agron liked to think of himself as a smooth, nice man. He was incredibly attractive, people said he had a body they'd kill for, and was well liked. His sense of humor always got people laughing, and his friends loved to be around him. The only person who didn't really like him was Crixus, but who actually cared about what Crixus thought anyway?

“I still don't believe this is a good idea,” Spartacus told him. “Crixus agrees with me.”

Well, apparently Spartacus still cared about what Crixus thought. Ignoring the last part of Spartacus's sentence, Agron slapped his shoulder, grinning. “Oh come on. Let lose a little; bring Mira or someone with you as a date and we'll all just relax. It's finals week. You need to let lose a little; you're already turning gray up here,” he muttered, hand moving up to mess with Spartacus's hair; Spartacus slapped his hand away.

“Says the man who is done with all of his finals,” Spartacus stated, but Agron caught the grin forming on his mouth. “I'll call Mira and see if she wants to join.”

“She'll say yes,” Agron stated as Spartacus pulled his phone out.

“And how do you know that?”

“Because I already invited her.”

Spartacus glared at him. “You ass,” he said, laughing as he dialed Mira. Agron slapped him on the back as he wandered off to speak to his girlfriend, not before shooting Agron a thumbs up as he left the area.

Grinning, Agron rubbed his hands together. “Tonight is going to be great, I just know it!”

.

.

.

“I may hate you with the passion of a thousand suns,” Crixus was saying as he tipped his head back and downed his drink. “But I have to admit, you know how to have fun.”

Agron shrugged his shoulders, glancing around the bar they were in, taking in his friends laughing, as well as his not-friends laughing.

“You are inviting Crixus, are you not?”

“Do I have to?”

“Agron...”

“Yes, I'll invite fucking Crixus.”

“I have connections,” he said, his smile still firm on his face. “Duro used to be really close to the owner of this bar,” he stated, his smile falling a bit as he remembered his late brother.

“Your brother knew good people,” Spartacus said from behind him, walking up to them with Mira's arm wrapped around his waist. “This was a good idea, Agron. I feel less stressed than usual.”

“It's because you're drunk,” Mira teased, reaching over to take the cup that Spartacus was holding; she took a drink from it before handing it back to Spartacus.

“'m not drunk,” Spartacus told her as he swayed slightly in her arms.

“Sure,” she laughed, her eyes turning to Agron. “I am happy that you got him out of the apartment,” she said, her voice raising as one of Crixus's friends threw back his head and laughed loudly.

“He would have studied into next week if he hadn't gone out,” Agron said, throwing a glare over his shoulder at the man laughing (what is his name? Rhaskos?); his eyes widened when he saw the man start to pull his pants down. “Uh, Crixus?”

Crixus turned around, then groaned. “Fucking Rhaskos,” he growled out as he stomped over and grabbed Rhaskos by the arm firmly.

Mira let out a clear laugh as she let go of Spartacus and took a more firm place next to Agron's side. “Why are you not completely trashed?”

Agron raised his cup. “I'm getting there,” he said, grinning at her. “I'm going slow; Saxa isn't here trying to get us all into a drinking contest, so let me just enjoy this.”

And ten minutes later he could feel the beer, could feel himself letting lose, even more so than usual. And he also found himself sitting next to an equally tipsy Crixus, his head resting on his arms as he stared at his empty cup. “I hate being single,” he found himself saying, his mind wondering why the fuck he was telling this to Crixus of all people.

“I hear you,” Crixus muttered, taking another slow drink.

Agron looked over his shoulder, giving Spartacus one long look as his friend and Mira continued to make out against the wall. “At least old Sparty is having fun.”

“Hear him call you that and he'll have your balls,” Crixus said, laughing softly.

Agron moved to turn back to face Crixus, his unexpected drinking buddy, when a flash caught his gaze. He found himself squinting to look over at the corner, where the man there turned and the earing he was wearing caught the light again; he turned completely, looking over at the entrance to the bar. Agron blinked, then sat up straighter as he stared at the man. Whoa... He's gorgeous.

The man stared at the door for a moment longer, then turned back to the table he was standing next to and gracefully sat down. “Uh,” Agron said, still staring.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and tilted his head to the right, still staring at the man at the table. “So, uh... does he interest you?” he heard Mira whisper in his ear.

“He's incredibly attractive.”

Mira grinned at him. “You should go over there and talk to him,” she said as she grabbed his arm and pulled him off of his seat; he stumbled a bit before regaining his footing. “Go on,” she finished, giving him a gentle push. He stumbled forward again, glancing over his shoulder back at Mira, who had now been joined by Spartacus and Crixus. Why am I doing this? He thought as he continued to walk towards the man sitting at the table.

Why are my feet still moving? He asked himself when he was only a few feet from the man.

Why am I not turning around? He thought as he stopped in front of the man, whose eyebrows furrowed before he turned his head to look up at Agron.

Why is my mouth opening, he thought one final time as his mouth continued to open and the words tumbled out:

“Pardon me, are you in heat?”

What.

The man's eyes widened and his mouth fell open just a tiny bit. “I'm... I'm sorry?”

“Because you're so hot you're melting the plastic in my underwear.”

Oh my god, Agron, stop talking.

“I... Are you okay?” the man asked, his hands pushing on the table as he moved to stand up. Agron nodded at him.

“No, I'm completely fine; I'm an astronaut, actually, and my next mission is to explore Uranus.”

Oh. My. God.

The man bit his lip, the hand that had been reaching out for Agron retreating. “Uh... how drunk are you?”

Agron could hear the laughter coming from his friends standing over at the bar and gritted his teeth. “Ugh, sorry, I'm normally not this idiotic sober.”

The man gave him a rather adorable smile. “It's fine; I've actually had worse pickup lines used on me,” he stated, moving to sit back down; he gestured towards the empty chair next to the one he was sitting in. “Why don't you sit down?”

Agron blinked, slightly (actually really surprised) surprised that it had been offered. “Uh, sure,” he said, and he sat down; once he was sitting, he heard the laughter from his friends stop and couldn't help the grin that grew on his face. “I'm Agron,” he said, holding out his hand. “And you're so hot your ass is on - ” and he bit his lip hard. “I'm sorry, really.”

The man laughed, however, and took Agron's hand. “I'm Nasir, and like I said, I've had worse pickup lines used on me.”

Agron let out a loud laugh. “You'll have to tell me about those sometime, just to give me an ego boost.”

Nasir smiled at him and opened his mouth, but instead of speaking his eyes moved to look over Agron's shoulder. “I believe one of your friends is coming over.”

“What?” Agron stated as he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder.

“Well, looks like your horrible and idiotic pickup lines worked,” Crixus said, laughter still clear in his voice.

“Fuck off,” Agron said, shoving Crixus's hand off of his shoulder. “Like you could do any better.”

Crixus scoffed at him. “I could, and I always will,” he said, punching Agron's shoulder harder than necessary.

“I thought I told you to fuck off?”

Crixus opened his mouth to speak, but instead a new voice joined their conversation, one that Agron had never heard before.

“Nasir? Are you getting hit on again?”

The woman who appeared next to them had dark brown skin, darker than Nasir's, with short hair and a smile on her face; Crixus' smile immediately fell, and a dumbstruck look on his face took its place. “Uh,” Crixus said intelligently.

Nasir grinned and stood up to give her a hug. “Hello, Naeiva. This fellow here is Agron,” he said, gesturing over to him. “And this man... I'm afraid that I do not know his name.”

“I'm, uh, I'm Crixus,” he stated, holding his hand out for Naevia to take.

“It's nice to meet you,” she said, shaking his hand.

Nasir took in the both of them, then grabbed Agron's hand. “Naevia, I'll get us the drinks, alright?”

“That's fine,” she said, her eyes still fixed on Crixus.

As he and Nasir walked away from them, Agron heard Crixus state, “So, you're a girl, huh?” and couldn't help the laughter that burst out of him; he took notice of the fact that Nasir was still holding his hand, and his smile grew bigger.

“So I take it that you learned your pickup lines from your friend back there?” Nasir asked.

Agron chuckled. “Like I'd ever learn something from that fuck,” he stated firmly.

“So you two do not get along?”

“Hardly – we hate each other.”

Nasir gave him a slow nod of the head, an “ah” slipping out of his mouth. Then he turned and, letting go of Agron's hand (which Agron did not like), held out his own hand instead. “I need your number.”

Agron blinked. “I'm sorry?”

Nasir gave him a small smile and rolled his eyes. “Let me put it in your terms. Hello, I seem to have lost my phone number, can I borrow yours?”

Agron shook his head, but took his phone out and handed it to Nasir. “Pulling the bad lines on me, now, huh?”

Nasir took the phone, then began to tap his number into it; Agron watched those fingers move, slightly mesmerized by the soft looking skin and the long fingers. “I'm also calling you out on being drunk, seeing as you're not as drunk as you claim you are. Here you go,” he said, handing the phone back to Agron. “I sent myself a text message while you were staring, so I have your number as well. Call me sometime, yeah? I have to tell you all about the horrible pickup lines that were used that made yours actually seem amazing.”

And then Nasir was leaning in and up and pressing his lips against Agron's cheek, and whoa. I really like this guy.

“I'll talk to you later, Agron,” Nasir said as he wandered over to the bar to order his drinks.

Agron let out a small giggle before he cleared his throat and headed back towards his friends, thinking about when he could call Nasir.

He was about halfway there when his phone vibrated with a text from an unknown number

From Unknown: and, just to keep you interested: My love for you is like diarrhea. I can't hold it in.

Agron blinked, then quickly typed back, watching Mira approach him out of the corner of his eye: are you actually SERIOUS?

The response was quick.

From Nasir: that's not even the worst one. ; )

Oh yeah, Agron really liked this guy. He shook his head, trying to hold his phone out of Mira's grasp as she attempted to get it out of his hands, and sent: clear out your schedule for next Saturday night.