06-27-2018, 08:28 PM
If Vena was there to be distracting, she was doing a great job. Jay would glance over the shoulders of this close-quarters circle, but for the most part, he couldn't stop staring at her. He didn't claim to be an expert charmer, but he did alright. Less than a year ago he found himself browsing jewelry websites to try and get an idea of the style of ring she would like best. That relationship ended almost the very next day, or might as well have. It was a terrible idea, and he kind of regretted ever dating her knowing that he intended to leave Iowa at the first chance for a job. Regardless, she'd been beautiful and he had loved her humor and adventurous streaks. Vena, on the other hand, was like a woman from the movies. The kind he didn't even know existed. With Natalie better off thinking their connection severed, and as distractions tended to be, the distraction of Vena was welcome.
Nox didn't seem to mind either. Apparently they had similar backgrounds when it came to this sort of thing. It didn't even occur to Jay to ask Nox about where he came from; although it was probably best to leave such backstory details a mystery. Best to not know. But he liked Nox. The guy was fun and had a knack for attracting trouble. So Jay naturally blamed him for luring Vena like a bug to a light-zapper.
Samuel signaled that he was going to continue on their route alone. Jay caught the man's arm before he did, "I'll go with you," he said, but Sam shook his head.
"You're good, Carpenter. Catch up with your friends while you can. We'll get sick of each other's company soon enough. Don't forget, North Africa."
he laughed. Sam's good nature was contagious. Jay nodded, but informed his brother he would listen for any trouble. He had a point, though. The nine of them would be sick of each other soon enough.
Vena heard the exchange, though. She swiveled the focus of her gaze back to Jay. "North Africa? That doesn't sound like a safari?"
Jay shook his head, wary to say too much. Though if Samuel had mentioned the future deployment, maybe it was safe to divulge. Ascendancy said nothing about secrecy. Given Jay's background though, he defaulted to black-level clearance.
"Something like that."
But the explanation was apparently unacceptable. Vena's brows lifted. "The Legion is based in Africa."
She blinked. "So you're a part of the Legion and one of these Rods of Dominion?"
Jay nodded. That feeling in his gut grew. Like he was saying too much.
She picked up on it. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me. I am only curious. All these power users are fascinating to me. Ascendancy, first. Then all of you. I only want to learn more about how the future of our world will look. There is even a new Consulate about it. Do you know the man who runs it?"
Come to think of it, he didn't know the Consul well, "I've met him."
he replied. Flashes of that solitary room, questions and fire flashed his memory. They were easy to suppress.
The close quarters grew more confined. Or maybe Jay felt the room grow smaller. It was hard to tell. But they suddenly found themselves shoulder to shoulder (or hem-to-hem) with a crowd. It seemed tales of the bar had spread and not everyone was interested in champagne.
Nox was bumped, and yet another American voice - with an accent that could be picked out in a rock concert - pardoned themselves.
Jay blinked when he saw who it was. Jensen James was famous. His mom loved listening to the pastor. Up until his disappearance, that is. How in the world he ended up in Moscow. In this room. Jay was speechless to guess.
Nox wrangled the preacher like a calf caught by the ankles, pushed a shot in his direction, and boasted all their collective deeds. Jay was barely able to follow along, other than to blink and laugh at the absurdity of the claims.
He tried to save the poor preacher from Nox’s craziness by offering him a handshake and welcome. “Jay Carpenter,”
he offered his name along with an apologetic smile. “Nox”
he shared the name of the one that seemed to momentarily kidnap him, and finally, “and Vena.”
For a moment, he watched the preacher closely, including the way that Nox hooked him close. Nox seemed rather friendly with the guy. More so than normal anyway. Jay looked between them. “Do you two know each other?”
Nox didn't seem to mind either. Apparently they had similar backgrounds when it came to this sort of thing. It didn't even occur to Jay to ask Nox about where he came from; although it was probably best to leave such backstory details a mystery. Best to not know. But he liked Nox. The guy was fun and had a knack for attracting trouble. So Jay naturally blamed him for luring Vena like a bug to a light-zapper.
Samuel signaled that he was going to continue on their route alone. Jay caught the man's arm before he did, "I'll go with you," he said, but Sam shook his head.
"You're good, Carpenter. Catch up with your friends while you can. We'll get sick of each other's company soon enough. Don't forget, North Africa."
he laughed. Sam's good nature was contagious. Jay nodded, but informed his brother he would listen for any trouble. He had a point, though. The nine of them would be sick of each other soon enough.
Vena heard the exchange, though. She swiveled the focus of her gaze back to Jay. "North Africa? That doesn't sound like a safari?"
Jay shook his head, wary to say too much. Though if Samuel had mentioned the future deployment, maybe it was safe to divulge. Ascendancy said nothing about secrecy. Given Jay's background though, he defaulted to black-level clearance.
"Something like that."
But the explanation was apparently unacceptable. Vena's brows lifted. "The Legion is based in Africa."
She blinked. "So you're a part of the Legion and one of these Rods of Dominion?"
Jay nodded. That feeling in his gut grew. Like he was saying too much.
She picked up on it. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me. I am only curious. All these power users are fascinating to me. Ascendancy, first. Then all of you. I only want to learn more about how the future of our world will look. There is even a new Consulate about it. Do you know the man who runs it?"
Come to think of it, he didn't know the Consul well, "I've met him."
he replied. Flashes of that solitary room, questions and fire flashed his memory. They were easy to suppress.
The close quarters grew more confined. Or maybe Jay felt the room grow smaller. It was hard to tell. But they suddenly found themselves shoulder to shoulder (or hem-to-hem) with a crowd. It seemed tales of the bar had spread and not everyone was interested in champagne.
Nox was bumped, and yet another American voice - with an accent that could be picked out in a rock concert - pardoned themselves.
Jay blinked when he saw who it was. Jensen James was famous. His mom loved listening to the pastor. Up until his disappearance, that is. How in the world he ended up in Moscow. In this room. Jay was speechless to guess.
Nox wrangled the preacher like a calf caught by the ankles, pushed a shot in his direction, and boasted all their collective deeds. Jay was barely able to follow along, other than to blink and laugh at the absurdity of the claims.
He tried to save the poor preacher from Nox’s craziness by offering him a handshake and welcome. “Jay Carpenter,”
he offered his name along with an apologetic smile. “Nox”
he shared the name of the one that seemed to momentarily kidnap him, and finally, “and Vena.”
For a moment, he watched the preacher closely, including the way that Nox hooked him close. Nox seemed rather friendly with the guy. More so than normal anyway. Jay looked between them. “Do you two know each other?”
Only darkness shows you the light.