12-05-2023, 02:23 AM
He wasn’t entirely surprised that Ezvin followed him from the dance floor. A wave of relief washed over him when Ezvin tried to lighten the mood with a joke about an ex. He couldn’t help but crack a small smile despite the turmoil inside. He had only one ex, an ex-wife, unless Jessika qualified as a widow, and she was on the other side of the world, but it was a preferable suggestion compared to the truth.
His attention was momentarily diverted by Ezvin's enthusiasm for the rock star across the room. "Aiden Finnegan? From Blarney Stoned?" Jensen mused quietly to himself. He vaguely recognized the band name but couldn't place any songs. His years out of the secular music loop, coupled with his past preference for spiritual music, left him a bit disconnected from the current scene. He had no idea who the band was that was debuting an album tonight either.
Ezvin's admiration for the rock star’s bold, ruby-embellished suit was infectious, though. Jensen couldn't help but wonder about the extravagance of it all; were those real rubies or just clever imitations? The cost alone must be astronomical, he certainly looked like a rockstar. Then again, Jensen was hardly one to judge.
Jensen was a quiet observer as Ezvin effortlessly made the introduction. He likely would have remained in such a state until Aiden’s companion suddenly addressed him. The man's American accent was unmistakable.
"Jensen James, as I live and breathe. What would Aria say if she saw you now?"
His phone buzzed in his pocket, but Jensen was too transfixed to notice.
"You've come a long way since your night fighting mist monsters. I hope none show up here. They seem to like you channelers -- and I think there is a smorgasbord of them showing up around Moscow. They could be anywhere."
Jensen's heart skipped a bea as his face drained of color, and a chill ran down his spine. Who was this man? How did he know his name, and what did he know about Aria – someone Jensen hadn't seen in almost a year? The mention of mist monsters and channelers struck too close to home, and in doing so, the stranger revealed a secret he had purposefully kept hidden.
Jensen's mouth opened, but words failed him. He was speechless, his mind racing. His gaze flickered to Ezvin, fear and apology mingling in his eyes. He had never intended to keep secrets, but this revelation was too sudden, too raw.
Finally, finding his voice, he spoke, voice strained, "I... I would have told you, Ezvin. When the time was right." His voice was a mix of fear and sincerity, a plea for understanding.
Aria's friend might have revealed the truth, but it was this current version of Jensen who was masquerading as another man. It was a dangerous play pretending to be someone he wasn’t destined to become, and parties, stars, and dates were about as far from himself as he could possibly go. Continuing down this path would only lead to disappointment and heartache, not to mention forsaking his own calling. He momentarily recalled Ezvin’s hand on his neck and the way he pushed and pulled at his waist as they danced, but that was all it would be: a memory. He should leave.
“Please excuse me,” he spoke quietly as he bowed out. He turned toward the exit, but the party was full of people and he was not able to navigate his way. He’d made it less than ten steps before he needed to go around a group of people when he looked up just in time to come face to face with... "Maksim." The name spilled out as he interrupted their conversation.
He was briefly aware that Maksim was in the company of two other women and two other men, but he couldn’t look away from Maksim. He was all but frozen in place. Behind him was a man who knew him as Jensen James and here he was face to face with someone who knew his alternate identity as Iáson. Please, he silently begged Maksim, say nothing.
((Ooc: Jensen didn’t get far; maybe less than a few steps. So if Sage or Aiden or Ezvin wants to follow, they absolutely can. He has ended up all but walking into the group with Alistair, Nadya, J.J., Maksim and Alina.))
His attention was momentarily diverted by Ezvin's enthusiasm for the rock star across the room. "Aiden Finnegan? From Blarney Stoned?" Jensen mused quietly to himself. He vaguely recognized the band name but couldn't place any songs. His years out of the secular music loop, coupled with his past preference for spiritual music, left him a bit disconnected from the current scene. He had no idea who the band was that was debuting an album tonight either.
Ezvin's admiration for the rock star’s bold, ruby-embellished suit was infectious, though. Jensen couldn't help but wonder about the extravagance of it all; were those real rubies or just clever imitations? The cost alone must be astronomical, he certainly looked like a rockstar. Then again, Jensen was hardly one to judge.
Jensen was a quiet observer as Ezvin effortlessly made the introduction. He likely would have remained in such a state until Aiden’s companion suddenly addressed him. The man's American accent was unmistakable.
"Jensen James, as I live and breathe. What would Aria say if she saw you now?"
His phone buzzed in his pocket, but Jensen was too transfixed to notice.
"You've come a long way since your night fighting mist monsters. I hope none show up here. They seem to like you channelers -- and I think there is a smorgasbord of them showing up around Moscow. They could be anywhere."
Jensen's heart skipped a bea as his face drained of color, and a chill ran down his spine. Who was this man? How did he know his name, and what did he know about Aria – someone Jensen hadn't seen in almost a year? The mention of mist monsters and channelers struck too close to home, and in doing so, the stranger revealed a secret he had purposefully kept hidden.
Jensen's mouth opened, but words failed him. He was speechless, his mind racing. His gaze flickered to Ezvin, fear and apology mingling in his eyes. He had never intended to keep secrets, but this revelation was too sudden, too raw.
Finally, finding his voice, he spoke, voice strained, "I... I would have told you, Ezvin. When the time was right." His voice was a mix of fear and sincerity, a plea for understanding.
Aria's friend might have revealed the truth, but it was this current version of Jensen who was masquerading as another man. It was a dangerous play pretending to be someone he wasn’t destined to become, and parties, stars, and dates were about as far from himself as he could possibly go. Continuing down this path would only lead to disappointment and heartache, not to mention forsaking his own calling. He momentarily recalled Ezvin’s hand on his neck and the way he pushed and pulled at his waist as they danced, but that was all it would be: a memory. He should leave.
“Please excuse me,” he spoke quietly as he bowed out. He turned toward the exit, but the party was full of people and he was not able to navigate his way. He’d made it less than ten steps before he needed to go around a group of people when he looked up just in time to come face to face with... "Maksim." The name spilled out as he interrupted their conversation.
He was briefly aware that Maksim was in the company of two other women and two other men, but he couldn’t look away from Maksim. He was all but frozen in place. Behind him was a man who knew him as Jensen James and here he was face to face with someone who knew his alternate identity as Iáson. Please, he silently begged Maksim, say nothing.
((Ooc: Jensen didn’t get far; maybe less than a few steps. So if Sage or Aiden or Ezvin wants to follow, they absolutely can. He has ended up all but walking into the group with Alistair, Nadya, J.J., Maksim and Alina.))