Sincerely Stockholm

Chapter Eight: Part I, Stalking in Stockholm.

Dame was glad to see that Birgitta was working when she arrived with Elliott at Café Fika. Birgitta immediately recognized Elliott, greeting him by name. It was obvious that this gave Elliott a bit of a thrill, being recognized by a well-spoken, attractive Swede. As Birgitta served Dame and Elliott their coffee and croissant orders, Dame explained the concept of Fika to Elliott.

"Well Elliott, there is nobody else I'd rather Fika with today," Dame stated forgetting how racy that term sounded when said in English. Elliott responded exactly the same way she initially did, "Pardon me?" Dame giggled into her croissant just as Blix arrived at their table. Elliott stood immediately to shake his hand, trying not to sound too fanatical, "Very nice to meet you Blix. I have to say that I and the rest of the band have been quite the admirers of your work. The last three albums you've produced are brilliant."  Blix responded in his typically cool, modest way, "Thanks Elliott. You're great too - I mean this in all honesty, you are one of the most innovative guitarists around. You have a real, unique style of playing."

After Blix got his coffee and a pain au chocolat, he stated, "Well, it looked like you two had a nice reunion at the Big Ben last night." Dame and Elliott were both confused as if they misheard Blix, both wondering, "What do you mean looked like?" Just then Blix held up his phone and showed the curious pair photos from one of the world's most popular paparazzi sites, CELEB INSTAPIX. While Dame and Elliott swiped through over two dozen pics of them enjoying themselves at the Big Ben, Blix explained that someone at the studio informed him about the sighting. Dame read some of the captions aloud;

Dame Beauty and former Beau, Elliott spend the night together in Stockholm!

Dame and Elliott look like real "Swedees"!

Maybe that Dame is back into Ellie, a lot!

The last one really made Dame's eyes roll.  Blix then wondered, "So Erik took you there. I know he knows the owners, so they wouldn't let any paparazzi in. Besides, how would they know you were there?" Elliott didn't seem fazed by it, just stating, "I guess some photographer got lucky." However, the more Dame ogled the pics, the more troubled she became. Blix then explained, "Well hopefully it was a one-off. Anyway, I'm having someone in the studio monitor it, and if there are any more sightings, they're going to let me know." Just then Birgitta came over to Elliott, reminding him that he should be getting off to the airport soon. Out of the corner of her eye, Dame was glad to see that Elliott and Birgitta were exchanging contact deets. As Elliott bid farewell to Dame and Blix, he turned to Dame, reminding her about the hard drives.

After Elliott's departure, Blix inquired, "What hard drives was Elliott talking about?" Dame took a swig of coffee and then replied, "Oh yes. A few months back, Rupert got the original DAME back together, with the first lead singer Jules. Anyway, they all have been writing and recording demos, trying to shop the new material around to record producers. Elliott wanted me to hear their new tunes, just to get my opinion. I'll have a listen over the next few days. Don't know how much I can offer though." Blix was a bit surprised and asked, "So does Rupert know about this?" Dame just shrugged and said, "Elliott said that Rupert would 'throttle him' if he knew I had heard their demos." Blix then stated, "Sounds like Rupert is still pissed at you for splitting." Dame gave a half grin and stated, "Quite the opposite actually." She then held up her new charm on her keychain and exclaimed, "Look, Rupert sent this tamagotchi through Elliott to give to me. Elliott thinks it's a peace offering. I just think it's nice. A memento from our childhood."

Blix then changed the subject, "So are you ready to take on our next Stockholm adventure, Madame?" Dame took a final bite of her pastry, and stood at attention, "Yes. Where are we off to today, Mr. Andersson?" A big grin covered Blix's face as he said, "Vasastan."

As they arrived in this distinct section of Stockholm, Blix explained what made Vasastan, literally Stone City, so unique. Taking on his tour guide tone, Blix explained, "Here is some of the most unique architecture in all of Stockholm. It is noticeably different from other areas as it has wider streets and a particular architectural style -  the majority of the buildings being Neo-Renaissance, which resemble Germanesque architecture." Dame was quite enjoying the tour, but after about an hour of walking around, Blix received a notification. He stopped and looked at his phone. He showed Dame the CELEB INSTAPIX site, and there were a ton of photos of Blix and Dame walking around Vasastan with a caption that read:

Dame dumps Elliott for Blix Andersson in less than 24 hours!

The two were dumbfounded as Dame looked around, inquiring, "Okay. Last night wasn't a coincidence, Blix! That is too freaky." Blix could only agree, suggesting, "I think we should call it a day. You still look knackered from last night anyway. I'll get you an UBER home from here, and then I'll send you a text in the morning about details of where to meet for tomorrow." Stunned, Dame just nodded in agreement. Blix was probably right, the short night's sleep was making her particularly edgy.

Dame and Blix then spent the next two days zig zagging throughout Stockholm. Blix's hope was to stay a few steps ahead of any suspected paparazzi who might be on their trail. The two ended Day two at Café Fika. Dame had her usual order and was feeling very chill, glad that the shutterbugs had buggered off. Just then Blix received a notification on his phone. As he went to check out the INSTAPIX site, he just about spat out his coffee. There was a whole gallery of photos of Blix and Dame. There were pictures from every single place they had just visited - even pics on their boat cruise through the skärgården (archipelago) as well as on their trip to see the Seglora timber church in Skansen.

Dame was beside herself as she started to panic, "I told you Blix. I can't take this suffocation from the damned paparazzi. It's like my London life all over again!" Blix was perplexed but true to his nature, he remained calm. "Dame, there is an explanation for this. We were moving too quickly, dodging around Stockholm at light speed - those photographers must be getting some sort of tip. But I can't tell how. I mean, I'm the only one that knows our itinerary - as it just comes from my head." Dame listened to what Blix was saying and thought that he was making some sense. "It's like they have some sort of homing device," stated Dame as she nervously rubbed the rabbit's foot on her overflowing key chain. That's when Blix spotted it.

"Dame, you said that Rupert gave you that tamagotchi right?" Dame's eyes quickly sharpened as she inspected her newest charm, "I think you're a bloody genius Blix Andersson!" And with that, Dame unscrewed the charm, revealing a GPS chip-sized tracker inside. "Rupert's behind all this," claimed Dame becoming more emotional, "He just wants to mess me up. Well, he is succeeding, because he knows that the paparazzi really trigger me!" Blix reached over the table to hold Dame's hand and asked, "I think you're partly right, Dame. You told me that Elliott said that they are still trying to get someone to record their new album. And here you are in Stockholm with me about to start recording your debut solo album." Dame looked a bit confused, "Blix, I don't understand how that tamagotchi and recording my new record are related." Blix just continued, "Can't you see? Rupert is just trying to slow you down. He knows if you get too freaked out, you'll bail on your project and that will give him more time to get his record released before yours." Dame nodded in agreement, but as she thought it all through she became more angered, "You know, Rupert is a child and a control freak. If he can't be successful then nobody else is allowed to be. I'm going to text my mum and tell her I want a divorce from the family. Or at least from my brother."

With that statement, Dame began to weep, "Blix, I'm sorry. But I don't think I'm ready to do this record. I think I need to admit it. Rupert's won. I give up." Just then Dame stood, grabbed her knapsack and proclaimed, "Blix , it's been amazing hanging out with you over the last few days, seeing Stockholm  - but I'm going to have to go back to London... I'm getting the first flight out tomorrow morning!"