Saturday arrived faster than expected. The morning sunbathed Los Angeles in its usual golden glow, but for John, the day felt slightly different. While he wasn't nervous—John Jackson didn't do nervous—there was a sense of anticipation lingering in the air.
He stood in his massive walk-in closet, staring at rows of impeccably tailored suits, designer casual wear, and even a section of costumes he occasionally used for his animation skits. He pulled out a simple yet stylish black turtleneck and paired it with slim-fit gray trousers. It was understated but elegant, perfect for maintaining his low-profile vibe.
Athena, dressed in workout gear, appeared in the doorway, munching on an apple. "Look at you," she said, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Mr. IRL Streamer now. What's next? A TikTok dance collab?"
John glanced at her with mock annoyance. "Don't even joke about that."
She grinned. "Relax. You'll do fine. Ludwig's a good guy, and QT's hilarious. Just don't accidentally reveal your face, or the internet might implode."
"I'll keep that in mind," John said dryly, slipping on his favorite watch—a custom Patek Philippe gifted to him by Athena on their last birthday. "Besides, they're blurring me out."
Athena nodded, biting into her apple. "Good. I'd hate to have to bail you out of an internet frenzy. You're a pain in the ass when you're overwhelmed."
"Love you too," John replied with a smirk.
By noon, John was driving to Ludwig's studio, a sleek, private space in a quiet part of the city. Ludwig had texted him earlier with the address and a reminder:
"We've got everything set up. Blurring tech is locked in. Just come ready to have a good time. QT's already planning to roast you, though, so prepare yourself."
John chuckled at the message as he parked his car in the studio's lot. Ludwig's easygoing nature was one of the reasons John agreed to this in the first place.
Inside the studio, the atmosphere was buzzing. Ludwig greeted John at the door, his signature grin lighting up his face.
"John! Glad you made it, man."
"Wouldn't miss it," John replied, shaking his hand.
QT appeared a moment later, her energy just as infectious. "Well, well, the legend himself. Can't believe we convinced you to leave your fortress of solitude."
John smirked. "You're persuasive. Or maybe I just needed an excuse to get out."
"Either way, we're hyped," QT said, motioning him toward the setup.
The studio was equipped with multiple cameras, microphones, and a cozy set decorated with couches and playful props. A monitor displayed a real-time feed with John's face already blurred out—an impressive piece of tech that would ensure his anonymity even in live settings.
"Tested it a million times," Ludwig said, noticing John's gaze. "You're completely safe. No slips, I promise."
John nodded, satisfied. "Let's do this, then."
The stream went live an hour later. Within minutes, the chat was flooded with excitement:
"OMG IS THAT ANIMATION MASTER???"
"BLURRED FACE BUT THAT VOICE!!! IT'S HIM!"
"LUDWIG DID IT AGAIN!"
Ludwig kicked things off with his usual charm, introducing John as "a creative genius and a man of mystery." QT wasted no time diving into witty banter, peppering John with playful jabs about his secrecy and his "tragic" refusal to join social media trends like TikTok.
John matched their energy effortlessly, his deep, smooth voice captivating even through the blur. He shared behind-the-scenes stories about his animations, his creative process, and even a few lighthearted anecdotes about working with Athena on her games.
The chat couldn't get enough:
"His laugh is ICONIC."
"Athena cameo when??"
"This guy is too cool to be real."
One of the highlights was a segment where Ludwig and QT challenged John to guess animation scenes from various movies and shows. Despite their attempts to stump him, John's encyclopedic knowledge of the medium shone through, leaving Ludwig shaking his head in mock defeat.
"Okay, this is ridiculous," Ludwig said, throwing his hands up. "You're like a walking IMDb."
"It's a side effect of the job," John replied with a smirk.
The stream wrapped up with a Q&A session, where fans submitted questions. Ludwig filtered out anything too personal, keeping it light and fun.
As the stream ended, Ludwig turned to the camera. "Big thanks to John for joining us today. Honestly, this was one for the books."
QT chimed in. "And don't worry, we'll keep pestering him to come back. Maybe next time, we'll get Athena too."
John chuckled. "Good luck with that."
The stream ended, and Ludwig gave John a high five. "Dude, you killed it. Chat loved you."
"Thanks for having me," John said. "It was fun. Let's do it again sometime—blurred, of course."
As John drove home, he felt a rare sense of satisfaction. Stepping into the public eye, even partially, had been a leap. But it had been worth it. And with Ludwig and QT in his corner, he knew it wouldn't be his last adventure outside the shadows.
To be continued...