After the Show ((Kris//Pete))

[Katt Stephens]

The bright marquee lights of the strip glowed as brightly as ever that night, every hotel and casino in Las Vegas advertising a show or an event on their front facades. Tourists made their way around, giggling excitedly and stumbling around in a buzzed stupor. Girls clung to guys that they had met in the last few hours, whispering (and not-whispering) sweet nothings into their ears. It was a very exciting night for everyone.

And in the front row of one of the biggest hotels in Vegas, sat a small, brunette girl in a very sparkly black dress. She didn't have a date next to her, and to any normal person she would have looked like a very vulnerable single female in Vegas, or maybe a prostitute judging by the sparkly, high-cut black dress and heels that she wore. But in actuality, she was the farthest thing from alone in the large theater, and not just because of the 10,000 other people in the room. The only person she cared about was the man on stage: Kristos Mihal, illusionist extraordinaire. It was the opening night of his new show, and she wasn't going to miss it for the world.

As he performed his last stunt, a levitation routine except involving fire and swords, the crowd clapped and cheered, and Katt clapped and cheered along. She had seen the stunt a hundred times before, of course -- she often got tired of studying and went to his dress rehearsals -- but she was still proud of her boyfriend. Oh, how strange and wonderful that word felt. To have an official word for him, to have him officially as hers. Well, not legally, but Katt didn't care about legality. He was hers, and that was all she ever needed.

As he gave his final bows, she stood and picked up her coat, and walked around beside the stage and behind the large, heavy black velvet curtain. She stood on the plank-wood floor, and waited for Kris to get off stage.

OUUTFIT: CLICKEY HERE

[Kristos Mihal]

He'd always loved attention as a child, while conversely being shy and withdrawn from large groups of people. Tonight, though, his inhibitions set aside, Kris performed like his life (or more specifically, his career) depended on it.

As he and his three assistants took their final bows, Kris could not keep the smile on his face. Out there, somewhere in the crowd, his beautiful girlfriend watched him finish the show, and honestly, he wouldn't - couldn't - have it any other way.

Walking off stage left as the curtain lowered for the final time, the werewolf accepted the towel handed to him by a stagehand and wiped the sweat off his brow. Taking a long drink of water from a bottle set aside for him, he looked up to see Katt.

"Katt!" He breathed, still hot and sweaty from the focused beams of stage lights, but currently not caring as he pulled her into an embrace and a hungry kiss. Stagehands bustled by, giving the two lovers a wide berth, but still offering the illusionist a hearty congratulations on a show well done. Kris grinned as he pulled away from the kiss and thanked them heartily.

"Enjoy the show?" He asked after a moment, looking back at Katt, eyeing her dress. "You look good enough to eat..." He teased lightly, bending down give her a love bite on her neck.

[Katt Stephens]

Katt returned his hug, smiling widely even as he kissed her. His vest was nearly soaked through with sweat, but she didn't care. It was kinda hot, actually, and not just in the temperature sense. Stagehands and managers bustled by, congratulating him, and he accepted it with a smile and a nod. Always so humble. Kat kept one arm around his waist, not sure if she was holding on to him for her own comfort or his.

Since returning to the States, she had barely left Kris's side. It wasn't in a clingy-insane-girlfriend way, it was in a way that made them both just feel... home. That was the only way that she could describe the feelings that she had around him.

She smiled, and nodded, and gave him a jokingly scolding look when he bit at her collarbone. "Not now, baby." She said, a devilish smile on her face. Truthfully, she was flattered, because Kris was never the PDA type, and him doing that was almost a milestone. But still, there were nearly a hundred or more people back stage, and that was no place for the intimacy fairy to show up.

She stood next to him as more people thanked him, stepping back the slightest bit to give him some room. She didn't want to be in the spotlight right now --this was his time. Until she felt Kris tense, every muscle becoming rigid as there was a voice from behind them.

"Well, well, well. What the hell is this, Brother?" The deep voice asked. Katt turned, and saw a man with wild black hair, lots of chains, and a pentagram on his shirt. Definitely Petros. She had never met him -- Kris wouldn't allow it. But she could see the resemblance right away.

"Gotchurself a little whore to carry around?" he said, smugly, an ugly sneer on his face. "How much does he pay you? The same as the rest, I suppose." He said, giving her a look.

"He doesn't pay me at all, you judgemental swine." Katt said defensively, turning on a heel to face the man.

"Well, well, well... pussy's got claws..." He said, chuckling.

[Kristos Mihal]

The voice behind him had caused Kris's back to go rigid. The voice, almost like the hissing of a snake, always made him seize up... it was somewhat of a specialty of his older brother's. Slowly turning to face his long time tormentor, he allowed his brown eyes to go flat, his face to grow still, no expression at all.

"Petros." He said, merely stating the name, not bothering to greet the man. If he ignored him, it would only be worse in the future. He didn't look the other man in the eye, the submissive little brother still playing a big part of his personality when Petros was around. The older twin's voice was like ice in his veins and he fought the temptation to run, disappear like he tried to do whenever Pete sought him out. "I suppose it runs in the family." He said after a moment, his arm tightening around Katt's waist. "Except I actually respect women, not like you." The revulsion for his brother was obvious, not that there was much he could do about his feelings...

He looked at Katt, an apologetic gaze in his eyes. Turning back to Petros, he looked at a point somewhere past his brother's shoulder. "What do you want." It was not a question, but a statement demanding an answer. "Did your vampiric slut get sick of your creepy appetite?"

[Katt Stephens]

((I'm going to just god-mod the crap out of Pete xD))

Katt, completely unafraid of the man before her, glared at Petros. She didn't know what made Kris nearly cower just at his presence -- and she wasn't sure that she wanted to.

Oh, nothing. Just wanted to see my little brother's little show. Congratulate you on your success. But then, I guess you already have a prize for your... efforts, don't you?" the older twin said, giving a sneer towards Katt. The man stepped forward to touch her long brown hair, and Katt grabbed his wrist, her vampire instincts kicking in more than herself.

"You can say what you want to, but don't touch me." She said coldly, her fingers pressing into Kris's side slightly. It wasn't like Katt to be angry and defensive, but something about Petros made her instantly feel not only indignant, but also defensive of her boyfriend. Also, the fact that he kept insulting Kris and not even trying for a civil conversation made her quite angry. And this was for someone who usually hated small talk.

"Okay, whatever you say." said Pete, pulling his hand back, but not withdrawing the condescending look from his face. "She's such a good little guard bitch." He said to his brother, looking at his eyes, but not directly into them, as Kristos would never dare to meet his twin's gaze. He scrunched his nose. Obviously a hybrid; she had vampire in her. The smell, permeating his nostrils, was nearly enough to make him gag.

"If you're just going to be an ass, you are free to leave. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the security guards would love to show you out." Katt said through her teeth, giving an acidic smile.

Pete's eyes smoldered. He didn't stand for that kind of back talk, especially not from some whore of his coward brother's. "When was the last time we had a drink together, Kristos? Too long, I think. Why not drop off the mutt and go to the bar?" Pete said, a challenging edge to his voice, almost daring Kristos to say no.

[Kristos Mihal]

Kris's back was still rigid, his fear almost palpable in the air surrounding him. He'd told Katt little of his brother, not wanting the fear to hurt his relationship with her. She didn't know what the older Mihal did to him, he didn't want her to know. All he'd told her was his name, that Pete was his older twin and that he didn't see him much by choice. Every time Kris saw Pete, the memories of pain, torment, humiliation would flood back to him and he would try and get away... but although he hated his brother terribly, he also loved him fiercely. He'd been the one to bite Pete all those years ago, turned him into a werewolf. And now he was paying for it... he couldn't hide from his brother, at least not for long. The bastard would sniff him out in a city of supernaturals, given the chance... and he had taken that chance many, many times.

Kris bit the inside of his lip to stop from talking back. Talking back would earn him a backhand across the mouth and possibly even more things. There was a reason he had little to no gag reflex. Hadn't since he was in his early teens. He shuddered at the memories from his adolescence, Pete beginning to exert control. He took a deep breath so as not to let the tears that threatened fall.

The memories were pushed from his mind as he felt Katt's fingers in his side, and he wetted his lips, returning his attention to the present situation. He looked toward his brother as the man insulted Katt again. "Jealous, Petros?" He mustered up the courage to murmur. "Please leave, brother... I won't ask again."

As Petros's voice sent chills down his spine, the werewolf looked at Katt, the fear in his eyes evident. If he disobeyed Petros, he would be punished, if he obeyed him, he would be punished also... it was lose/lose. He licked his lips. "She's not a mutt." He said, a cold knife-edge to his voice. "She's my girlfriend... if you don't like that, find someone else to pick on. And... and..." He swallowed. "If I go with you, she goes to." Defiance... oh, God... he was going to regret this... badly.

Watching his brother try and calm his emotions, Kris's attention was suddenly occupied by a woman over Pete's left shoulder. The fiery redhead stood there, her eyes cold as ice and her face set in a permanent stony expression. Shit. Naamah. Kris hated the vampire with a passion... in recent times when Pete had sought him out, Naamah hadn't been far behind, often being the one to hold the younger Mihal down as Pete had his way, and often watched with glee and lust in the shadowy hotel rooms that charged by the hour. She was a sick, twisted whore of a vampire, a high end prostitute for the exceedingly rich and stupid and neither liked each other very much.

"Hey baby..." She purred, her gaze of ice on both Kris and Katt as she laid a palm on Pete's shoulder. "I got worried... oh, hey Kristos... loved the show." Sarcasm dripped from her voice. Leaning forward, she kept her eyes on Kris and Katt, whispering into Pete's ear. "Don't let the little slut get to you, baby... we'll get him, and his little mutt too... maybe we could even make her watch." A bell-like laugh sounded from her lips, her eyes taking on a hungry, lustful gaze as her hand trailed down Pete's side to his inner thigh.

[Katt Stephens]

A security guard, who had been watching the situation carefully for the past couple of minutes, walked over. "I'm sorry, sir, but you and your lady aren't permitted to be backstage. We can check you into a room or you can leave the hotel, but you can't be here." He said, his deep voice seeming to even shake Petros slightly. He moved closer to the couple, herding them away like sheep. As they walked away, Katt could almost hear the prostitutes protest.

Katt sighed, and shook her head. "Ugh, he seems like a complete ass." She said, rubbing Kris's back calmingly. She gave a big smile, as more crew members came to congratulate her shaken mate. "Come on, baby. He doesn't matter. It's your night, and you did an absolutely wonderful job." She said, kissing him again, putting her arms around his neck. She knew that her comforts weren't much, but they were all that she had to offer. She was not going to let his brother ruin his opening night. If she had to go kill him and drag his head back to prove to Kristos that he was gone, she would. Okay, so she wouldn't, but she could hire someone to do it for her. But blood? Ew, no. Not Katt's thing. She knew that it was an irrational fear, because blood was just a part of the human body that ran through her veins every day. But that was sort of the point of fears: they were mostly irrational.

"In the meantime, I think you said something about how good I look...?" Okay, so it was a lame excuse, but whatever would get them onto their previous track of conversation. Katt had quite liked their previous conversation. 

[Kristos Mihal]

Naamah protested to being herded away like some farm animal. She could have taken the big, burly security guard quite easily, but... for the sake of Petros, she decided not to. What kind of messabge would it send that someone like Pete couldn't take on a security guard, where as a hooker with insane strength could? She was apparently far more petite than he, and although as tall, she didn't want to get on his bad side, no matter how much she could take his anger.

"My brother seems to have horded himself a groupie." Petros said as they were ejected out of the hotel, a disgusted look on his face, though there was a feral look in his eyes. "Wonder what else baby brother has gotten up to while I've been away?"

"Her?" Naamah laughed, throwing her red hair back and looking at him sultrily over her shoulder. "Please... she's so frigid, when she opens her legs, a light turns on." She smirked.

--

Kris's muscles were still tensed from his confrontation with Pete, and he had a haunted look in his eyes for a moment or two as the two were shown the way out. As Katt put her arms around his neck, he seemed to click back into reality and his gaze sought hers, fear and loathing still evident behind those deep brown pools. He knew, he just knew Petros would hunt him down pne way or another. He made a note to hire more security detail, though that would probably anger Pete more.

"Uhmm.." He murmured, trying to focus on the conversation between himself and Katt. "You..." He swallowed, taking a deep breath and trying again. "You look beautiful, as always," He shook away the feelings of dread and smiled, perhaps a little uneasily, before kissing her. "Thanks, Katt..." He murmured.

[Katt Stephens]

Katt smiled, and kissed Kris back. She was determined to not let his night go completely sour. She was so proud of him, and loved him so much. But how to show him, how to lighten his mood? That was the real question. Physical mood-altering was out of the question, she knew that. At least for a while. She rubbed his arm, never letting their skin break contact.

She looked at him, remembering how happy and carefree he was on stage, and after the show. That was one of the things that she loved about Kristos: how passionate he was about his work, his other love. She was well aware that magic was his other mistress, and didn't mind. It made him happy, and that was all that she could ever ask for. For her werewolf to be happy.

"Come on, why don't you show me where the trapdoors are, again? I don't want to get caught in one..." She said playfully, really just looking for an excuse to leave the bustling crowd of stagehands still working to move props and lights.

[Kristos Mihal]

Kris gave a small smirk, some of his good cheer coming back to him, though his eyes still held that haunted look. That look would take time to leave... Petros did have that effect on him. He sighed heavily, putting an arm around Katt's shoulders, trying his hardest to keep in good spirits.

"Hey, everyone!" He called. The stagehands, assistants and everyone who made the show possible stopped what they were doing, directing their attentions to the man of the hour. "Hey, I just wanted to thank you all personally," Kris smiled and put a hand on his heart. "It makes me so happy that this show came together so well... the real stars are you guys, and I want to you to join me in giving yourselves a round of applause." He clapped his hands and the crew, smiling, joined in. In the short time that Kris had been living at the hotel, he'd charmed and won the affection of almost every member of staff that he came across. Unlike some 'stars', he genuinely appreciated their commitment and help and everything they did.

"Thank you all again for all your help to make tonight go without a hitch." He exchanged a glance, first with Katt, then with the bouncer who had ushered Petros and Naamah away. "And a big thanks to Davs over there for getting me out of that tight spot, earlier." He grinned. "But yeah... hope to see you all here tomorrow... I can't do the show without any of you." Placing his hands togehter in a universal prayer gesture, he bowed graciously to them all, before putting an arm around Katt again and heading further backstage, to get away from the focus of everyone.

[Katt Stephens]

Katt smiled at him as he spoke to the crew. Always such a humble, gracious man. She knew that he got that from his mother, and was thankful for the woman that she taught him to be a gentleman. Kristos could have very easily ended up a douchebag, but he didn't. He was kind, and gracious, and sweet. And she loved him for that.

She clapped with the crowd. They really were an amazing bunch of people. She could barely keep up with her boyfriend's grand schemes and ideas, and she wasn't even the person who had to put them into reality. She caught his look, and gave the bouncer an appreciative glance. Then, she leaned her head into his shoulder as he led her away, further backstage.

"I don't know if I've ever actually said this, but I'm really proud of you." Katt said, speaking her thoughts as she had a horrible way of doing. "I mean, when I met you, you were just a street performer outside hotels like these. And now, you have your own show, that sold out the first night. That's kind of huge." She said, smiling up at him.

[Kristos Mihal]

Kris smiled, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "Means a lot that you're proud of me." He said after a moment. "I live to please." He kissed her hairline as they descended the stairs to under the stage, where the contraptions that worked the tricks were found. "I didn't ever think I'd make it I was happy with street performing and the occasional TV spot... but this..." He gestured to their surroundings. "This was beyond even my wildest dreams." He chuckled, hugging the girl to him. "Thank you, Katt." He added, kissing her. "For everything."

After a moment, he pulled back. "Might I have this dance?" He grinned. "And then, I promise we'll go to dinner or something." There was no music playing, but he took her in his arms and moved deftly between props, dancing a waltz to some silent tune. He still needed a shower, but right now... that could wait.

[Katt Stephens]

Katt smiled, seeing Kristos in his element. She looked around, disbelieving at how many contraptions were required to perform the many tricks in his show. Of course, watching it, it all seemed like magic, like it appeared or disappeared from thin air. But under the stage, and she was sure that the case was the same above the stage, you could truly see the intricacies that went into such a spectacular performance. She returned his kiss, her smile fading into the kiss.

She gave him a look, confused, but went along with whatever it was that he was doing. She believed in dancing like nobody was watching, but dancing when nobody was watching and there was no music seemed particularly useless. But as they swayed, Katt found that she quite liked it, dancing with him. Whether or not there was music. She smiled at his promise of dinner, nodding as she leaned her head contentedly on his chest.

[Kristos Mihal]

As they danced, Kris smiled down at the woman. She'd stolen his heart, refused to give it back, and he'd found he'd cared about her more than anything he cared about anything in his life... well, except perhaps magic, and his menagerie of animals. Not that he had many, of course. Deenie the cat and Cosmo the parakeet lived in the penthouse with him, and he shared many animals with his assistants and crew... he loved animals, really and truly.

He spun her then, deftly, elegantly, manouvering around contraptions and mechanics, before ending their dance in a flourish, dipping her to kiss her like a rogue of old tales. Bringing her back up to stand on her own two feet, he grinned slightly. "So..." He murmured. "I was wondering..." He put an arm around her as they began to make their way out from under the stage. His other hand fumbled about in his pocket, grasping at the small object within. Pulling it out, he presented the ring to her.

It was simple. Elegant and a dusky rose gold, the knot in the metal similar to a celtic promise knot, or so he'd been told. It was alternative to anything seen in Vegas, where Kris had found that bigger was better... but in private, he was really into small and intimate. Plus, if she said no, she could wear the ring he'd gotten her as just an ordinary ring...

He liked to cover all of his options.

[Katt Stephens]

Katt went along with his movements, she having no experience in any type of ballroom dancing. She could white-girl it out at any festival, but this was something completely different. She laughed as he spun her, returning his kiss as he dipped her. She looked into his eyes, wondering how on earth she had been lucky enough to be with him. Katt had never believed in fate -- people made their own decisions, led their own lives, and whatever came of it came of it. But right now, she could almost believe that some things were meant to happen.

Almost like there were two people who got together on an internet program and just planned out their whole lives.

She walked with him, nuzzling her head on him. She wasn't sure what made her so keen on physical contact with him; with anyone else, she was more of the kiss-and-hug only type. She had always thought that cuddling had no point and was therefore not worth doing. But then, she had always used to think that committed relationships weren't useful either. And look at her now.

She looked up at him, and then down at the ring as he spoke. Surely, he wasn't? Not that she wasn't thrilled inside, but the idea of Kris proposing marriage was... well, not possible. She bit her lip, still smiling. "Are you wondering what I think you're wondering?" She asked. She just wanted to be completely sure before she said yes and then that wasn't even the question that he was asking.