Sin and Spotlights (Jai/Jory)

Jai's heart thumped wildly. He'd never argued with the present as bi thing. Even once he'd come out he hadn't been particularly open, and his family's reaction hadn't been encouraging in the least. He just did what he wanted behind the scenes.

"But like... they all think I'm bi, right? There's gotta be hundreds of pictures of me and Danica, what's one with a guy matter?" He didn't expect his questions to do any good, but he had to try.

Dismas watched his Sunrise, inspecting everything from the boy's posture to what little of his face he could see behind that fall of hair. He was beginning to sense some remorse, some willingness to rectify his actions.

"I'll speak with Jory," Dismas decided. He pulled close to Jai, listening to the thud of the boy's heart as he slid a cold hand around Jai's sweat-slicked waist. "I'll speak with Danica as well." His lips touched lightly to the crook of Jai's neck and he heard the boy gasp, felt his muscles tense, then relax.

"My Sunrise, you have a concert to finish," Dismas murmured. His teeth tested Jai's pulse without yet breaking the skin. He wanted this moment of anticipation, this moment to remind the boy of their relationship, of how much freedom Jai really had. "Continue as though nothing happened. Flirt with the crowd. Don't pull anyone else onstage. Is that understood?"

Jai, eyes closed against the tension, hummed his agreement. "Yes, Sunset," he said softly. He gave a quick groan at the feel of sharp teeth digging into his neck, then sighed. Everything would be all right. He was grateful for what he had.

Though the hot rush of blood made Dismas want more, he kept the drink brief. A lick of the wound closed it and a soft kiss brought him back to self-control. "Begin the set with Levitate and give Piper the attention you usually give the others. Fall back to your planned set after." He turned to look at a slightly dazed Sunrise. "You have fifteen minutes. Use them to rest." He'd have a snack sent in, then do more damage control.

"No matter how they spin it there'll be pictures," Danica told Jory. She watched her rings gleam in the backstage light as she spun them, then adjusted them, then spun them again. "I... I wish I could help, but... I've never really been in a relationship before. Except Jai," she corrected.

She looked up as Dismas came in and she pretended not to notice that there was a bit of actual color to his skin. His relationship with Jai was something the entire band knew about, but rarely mentioned. She blushed and looked back down. "What's going on?" she asked softly.

Jory's experience with relationships was hardly any better, considering that before Indigo had proven nothing bad would happen he'd practically expected everything would go horribly wrong at the beginning of every meeting. "Is Jai angry at me?" Although he either wouldn't or couldn't explain to himself why, he didn't want Jai to be mad. He'd kind of led the guy on during their first meeting, and he didn't like the idea of doing it again.

"No," Dismas said. "Jai sends his regards, but he'd getting ready for the rest of the show. I do apologize for any discomfort he might have caused you." He'd answered both questions, though Jory was unlikely to be satisfied. Regards could mean any number of things. In this case, it meant that they hadn't discussed the bright-eyed brunette at the center of things. Not really, anyway.

"He can meet with the both of you after the concert." He looked between the two. "You've spoken," he commented. "I do hope that you've found one another's company pleasant enough, considering the circumstances?"

Danica took the hint and nodded. "He's really nice," she said. "He's worried about his boyfriend, though. His boyfriend isn't here tonight." She didn't know what else to tell Dismas, but if she wasn't supposed to be angry, she'd just go with her instincts. However badly they tended to fail her.

Jory nodded along with Danica. "I shouldn't stay here, I need to go tell Indigo what happened, I can't stay." He had to go home, he had to talk to Indigo. If he stayed here, then that was just more risk for things to go wrong. Indigo was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he was terrified of messing that up any further than he already had. They'd gotten over some minor issues before, they could get over this, right?

Dismas watched the boy, his own calm apparently having little effect. "Might I speak with you for a few minutes first?" he asked. He didn't want the boy to leave at all. "I apologize for Jai's little stunt. He wasn't aware that you were taken, something he should have checked before his pursuit." He gave no such apologies to Danica, who stood silently, watching and listening.

"If you leave, especially in such a lather, you will add credence to any rumours that you and Jai are in some kind of illicit relationship. Do you see how it might look? If, on the other hand, Jai's relationship with Danica remains intact and the two of you are seen enjoying one another's company, it will be dismissed.

"I don't begin to suggest that you lie to anyone, of course." Dismas's lips curved into as gentle a smile as a vampire of his age could manage. He was neither old enough to force emotion with the kind of smoothness elders did nor young enough to still feel them as though a human himself.

"Still, I'd like to make this up to you. Free drinks for the night, and the next time you're here, please do bring your boyfriend. Tell the doorman that Sunset sent you and your entry fees will be waived." He gave Danica a pointed look and her face brightened in encouragement.

Jory wavered for a moment longer before he sighed, lowered his eyes, and nodded. "I'll stay," he said in a small voice. He doubted he would ever be able to take advantage of that offer. Why would Indigo ever agree to come back after he knew what had happened? But maybe staying invisible could make it all easier. Well, at least that was an idea he could cling to. "I'm sorry I went up on the stage," he said in that same small voice, refusing to look up at the man. He'd just wanted the experience, and it had all gone wrong.

"There's no need to apologize, Jory," Dismas said. "You were chosen for an experience many want and few get. If you must regret something, don't regret those moments you were allowed to shine. Don't regret the actions of others, nor thoughts you cannot control. Simply shine."

He turned to Danica now. "I see that your migraine has faded," he said. "It looked quite painful. Whenever you're ready, do go get a pain potion and show Jory around."

Danica nodded and tucked the information away. She wasn't angry at Jai or Jory, she'd been crying because of a migraine. Got it. "I'm feeling a lot better now," she claimed. "Come on Jory, let's go, I'll show you the second story." She gave another encouraging smile.

Don't regret those moments you were allowed to shine. Although on one hand it sounded like a meaningless statement, it reminded him of something he'd been told years before and quickly ignored. Finding a friend who becomes more had ended up being a huge, wonderful part of his life, so perhaps he needed to take that to heart. "Okay, show me, but I'm cashing in on that free drinks thing." He still felt horrible and confused, but he had a long time to anticipate talking to Indigo about this and he'd probably have a heart attack or something if he didn't at least try to calm down.

Danica smiled at the few people who noticed her as they left the backstage area. She didn't really have friends, but there were people who'd seen her with Jai and at least knew who she was. They didn't swarm her, thankfully, and if she got any of the threatening mail she'd expected, she didn't know it. She led Jory to a staircase without ever leaving the VIP section. The second story was the real VIP. You had to be able to get into the VIP, and you also had to be cleared by Dismas.

The security guard at the bottom of the stairs stepped aside without a question and Danica waved Jory up beside her. The stairs were plenty wide enough for people to walk side-by-side. "You can get up here with anyone in the band, me, or Jai's friend Cat," she told Jory.