The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of John's bedroom, casting golden streaks across the sleek, minimalist decor. He stretched lazily before sitting up in bed, his pitch-black hair ruffled from sleep. Reaching for his Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra on the nightstand, he unlocked it and instinctively opened Instagram.
Among the flood of notifications, one direct message stood out: Ludwig.
John's eyebrows rose in curiosity. Ludwig, one of the most popular streamers in the world, had been hosting Special Guest Streams, an innovative IRL series where prominent personalities joined him for casual conversations and activities. It had been trending for months, with millions tuning in for each episode.
Clicking on the message, John read:
"Hey, John! Hope you're doing well. QT and I would love to have you on one of our Special Guest Streams. I know you're low-key about appearances, but we'll handle it however you're comfortable. Let me know! This would be huge, man."
John leaned back against the headboard, smirking slightly. Ludwig and QTCinderella were two of the very few people who knew the true identity of 'Animation Master,' the YouTube giant with over 245 million subscribers. He appreciated their discretion but also admired Ludwig's audacity to ask him to step into the spotlight—sort of.
Deciding to skip texting, John tapped on Ludwig's contact and made a call. The phone rang only once before Ludwig picked up.
"John!" Ludwig's voice was bright and excited. "Dude, you got my message?"
"Yeah," John said, his deep, calm voice carrying a hint of amusement. "First off, I'm honored you thought of me for this. But you know the deal—I don't do face reveals. If I agree, you'll need to blur my face the entire time."
"Done," Ludwig replied without missing a beat. "We've got the tech for it. No problem at all. Honestly, having you there is worth any workaround."
John chuckled. "You're making this hard to say no to. Alright, I'm in. When's the stream?"
"Next Saturday," Ludwig said, practically bouncing with excitement. "It's gonna be IRL-focused, so nothing too intense. Just fun conversations and maybe a few challenges. QT and I are stoked you're joining."
"Got it," John said. "I'll be there. Just send me the details."
"You're the man, John," Ludwig said. "This is going to be legendary. Thanks for trusting us with this."
After the call ended, John set his phone down and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't often step outside his carefully crafted anonymity, but Ludwig and QT had earned his trust over the years. This would be... interesting.
Just then, Athena strolled into the room, her blonde hair messy from sleep and a coffee mug in hand. She wore an oversized hoodie with the word CHAOS emblazoned across it, a gift from one of her gaming fans.
"Morning," she said, plopping onto the armchair near his window. "You're up early."
"Had a call with Ludwig," John replied, glancing at her.
Athena raised an eyebrow. "The Ludwig? What does he want?"
"He invited me to one of his Special Guest Streams," John said casually.
Athena blinked, then smirked. "And you're actually going? Wow, must be nice to be so famous people are willing to blur out your face just to have you show up."
John rolled his eyes. "It's not like that."
"Sure it isn't," Athena teased, taking a sip of her coffee. "When is it?"
"Next Saturday," John replied. "You coming?"
Athena waved a hand dismissively. "Nah, I'm good. I've got a backlog of work, and besides, I wasn't invited."
John shrugged. "Suit yourself. More coffee for me."
Athena shot him a mock glare but said nothing.
As the morning stretched on, John couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and curiosity. This was a rare step into the public eye, even if his face remained hidden. But if anyone could make it worth his while, it was Ludwig and QT.
Next Saturday was shaping up to be... something new.
To be continued...