Things were almost back to normal. And when Nox meant normal he didn't mean normal to most people - his normal. The world rotated on. But now along with every other fucking nightmare he had the pull of enormous power through his body torturing him every night. And the sounds of Sage and Aiden in the other room. Nox wished he could make sound stop flowing, instead he wrapped himself up in loud music and ignored everything Sage had said he'd wanted. Didn't fucking matter, he told himself. Nox didn't want a relationship. He sucked at it, he needed to go on with his life.
In the middle of his morning workout Nox received a subtle text from an unexpected person. They hadn't really been chums, but I guess saving each others asses and standing up together kinda made them something of friends. The text was simple with a location.
"I might be making an appearance. You'll know me when you see me"
Nox looked up the location and their website was the featuring a one night only cabaret. Nox wasn't the cabaret type. He wasn't the go out to a party type either. He'd done it a few times and things happened that were coming back in spits and sputters. Jaden had been a one time only thing, but his younger self wasn't afraid to dress the part. And now he was essentially being invited to a cabaret by a guy he'd met in passing in a place he had never expected to be. His father would have tried to kill him.
Irony was that Sage and Aiden had told him and invited him along. Nox had refused their invitation. Said he might stop in though so not to think it was a slight. But they needed alone time and maybe they'd find a hotel or something after. Nox wanted a little sleep.
Nox didn't dress up. He wore a pair of slacks and a button up with a sarcastic t-shirt underneath that said, "Cleverly disguised as an adult" But you couldn't read it with the buttons. He left his hoodie at home and opted for his leather jacket instead. Nox added to his getup the same thing he'd worn the fateful night that his father changed him for what had probably been forever if he hadn't crashed in a plane. The night he'd come home wearing eyeliner and black nail polish and his hair dyed in a bright color because that's what you did at a Methos concert. He remembered his dad shaving his head. He remembered the things he said and the fucking beating he'd gotten afterwards. It had changed him... irrevocably changed him and he hated his father even more for it.
"Good little brother." The praise made Nox feel better. Sage and Aiden were still getting ready. But Nox took the train to the location. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts.
The place was full of glitz and glamour and he didn't look too out of place - more so with his attire than the things he'd added. The things he'd been when his father had killed his spark. Made him change. Nox sat in the back alone in the shadows. Jaxen had said he'd know him when he saw him. But he hadn't seen him yet. The lights dimmed and the show started and Nox's wallet buzzed and he glanced at it and was surprised by yet another man he'd only just met. This one he looked at quickly with a smile. Jay made him nervous, but he liked him probably more than he should.
Three guesses where I'm at. If I die here, don't let them bury my ass in a cornfield. I won't be stuck here for all eternity. In the picture there was nothing but cornfields and Jay looking worn and tired. He could only be back home - fucking United States, but he'd been here only a few days before. I wasn't sure how that had worked since he was a rod... the name made Nox grin at the thought.
He sent a quick response and stuck the wallet back in the inside pocket of his leather jacket.
The main attraction was starting and the power flung wide. Lights that were not seen by most were everywhere. Nox didn't marvel at it like he had with Methos' concert he knew it was the power, knew how to do it. But Ascendancy took the stage and Nox chuckled to himself. The power wrapped around him and Nox laughed. Jaxen... His wallet buzzed again.
The usual. Giant conspiracy. Killers on the loose. Kidnapping. Murder. Revenge. But you think this is bad? I got my Stetson back, baby. Should see me rock the shit out of it. Send you pics later. Nox didn't like that particular returned reply. His reply was quick but now he was a little worried... Why was Jay back in the States.
The reply was quick. He wondered what Jay was doing in a cornfield... If you don't hear from me in a few days, assume the only help I need is finding a burial plot. Catch up later.
Nox watched humor of Jaxen's mockery. It was good, but Nox the emotions were conflicting at the moment. Humor, Horror and worry weren't a well suited pair.
As the speech started another text came in. This one had no caption - just a picture. Jay was still alive. Nox pulled his lips in while he stared at the picture of the stetson he promised. And very little else. It was artistic which wasn't something he expected of Jay, he didn't see his face, but Nox remembered the body well. He couldn't take his eyes off the photo.
Nox sent a reply Um... I wish I was there. Still alive and kicking
And then he flashed his own picture, not nearly so artistic, but it showed the difference. Trying something new." Nox stole another glance at the picture of Jay and knew if he didn't pay attention to Jaxen's skit he'd probably get an ear full... Rich and pampered he told himself, when did he fall in with that crowd?
In the middle of his morning workout Nox received a subtle text from an unexpected person. They hadn't really been chums, but I guess saving each others asses and standing up together kinda made them something of friends. The text was simple with a location.
"I might be making an appearance. You'll know me when you see me"
Nox looked up the location and their website was the featuring a one night only cabaret. Nox wasn't the cabaret type. He wasn't the go out to a party type either. He'd done it a few times and things happened that were coming back in spits and sputters. Jaden had been a one time only thing, but his younger self wasn't afraid to dress the part. And now he was essentially being invited to a cabaret by a guy he'd met in passing in a place he had never expected to be. His father would have tried to kill him.
Irony was that Sage and Aiden had told him and invited him along. Nox had refused their invitation. Said he might stop in though so not to think it was a slight. But they needed alone time and maybe they'd find a hotel or something after. Nox wanted a little sleep.
Nox didn't dress up. He wore a pair of slacks and a button up with a sarcastic t-shirt underneath that said, "Cleverly disguised as an adult" But you couldn't read it with the buttons. He left his hoodie at home and opted for his leather jacket instead. Nox added to his getup the same thing he'd worn the fateful night that his father changed him for what had probably been forever if he hadn't crashed in a plane. The night he'd come home wearing eyeliner and black nail polish and his hair dyed in a bright color because that's what you did at a Methos concert. He remembered his dad shaving his head. He remembered the things he said and the fucking beating he'd gotten afterwards. It had changed him... irrevocably changed him and he hated his father even more for it.
"Good little brother." The praise made Nox feel better. Sage and Aiden were still getting ready. But Nox took the train to the location. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts.
The place was full of glitz and glamour and he didn't look too out of place - more so with his attire than the things he'd added. The things he'd been when his father had killed his spark. Made him change. Nox sat in the back alone in the shadows. Jaxen had said he'd know him when he saw him. But he hadn't seen him yet. The lights dimmed and the show started and Nox's wallet buzzed and he glanced at it and was surprised by yet another man he'd only just met. This one he looked at quickly with a smile. Jay made him nervous, but he liked him probably more than he should.
Three guesses where I'm at. If I die here, don't let them bury my ass in a cornfield. I won't be stuck here for all eternity. In the picture there was nothing but cornfields and Jay looking worn and tired. He could only be back home - fucking United States, but he'd been here only a few days before. I wasn't sure how that had worked since he was a rod... the name made Nox grin at the thought.
He sent a quick response and stuck the wallet back in the inside pocket of his leather jacket.
The main attraction was starting and the power flung wide. Lights that were not seen by most were everywhere. Nox didn't marvel at it like he had with Methos' concert he knew it was the power, knew how to do it. But Ascendancy took the stage and Nox chuckled to himself. The power wrapped around him and Nox laughed. Jaxen... His wallet buzzed again.
The usual. Giant conspiracy. Killers on the loose. Kidnapping. Murder. Revenge. But you think this is bad? I got my Stetson back, baby. Should see me rock the shit out of it. Send you pics later. Nox didn't like that particular returned reply. His reply was quick but now he was a little worried... Why was Jay back in the States.
The reply was quick. He wondered what Jay was doing in a cornfield... If you don't hear from me in a few days, assume the only help I need is finding a burial plot. Catch up later.
Nox watched humor of Jaxen's mockery. It was good, but Nox the emotions were conflicting at the moment. Humor, Horror and worry weren't a well suited pair.
As the speech started another text came in. This one had no caption - just a picture. Jay was still alive. Nox pulled his lips in while he stared at the picture of the stetson he promised. And very little else. It was artistic which wasn't something he expected of Jay, he didn't see his face, but Nox remembered the body well. He couldn't take his eyes off the photo.
Nox sent a reply Um... I wish I was there. Still alive and kicking
And then he flashed his own picture, not nearly so artistic, but it showed the difference. Trying something new." Nox stole another glance at the picture of Jay and knew if he didn't pay attention to Jaxen's skit he'd probably get an ear full... Rich and pampered he told himself, when did he fall in with that crowd?
![[Image: nox_sig.gif]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/nox_sig.gif)