The aroma of the drink Thackery had placed in Mallymkun's hands was pleasantly pungent. Mally's first sip of the drink made him realize this was not tea. It was hot, but bitter tasting. He took another sip and another. With each sip it felt as if his very cells were waking up. He liked this drink! By the time Thackery got up and left so Mally could get ready for the show he felt his heart pounding. It was like being on stage in front of a cheering crowd, but without the hot lights or blaring music. The rush started in his chest and spread out to his limbs and finally settled in his head.
Mallymkun
felt
amazing!
He dressed himself for the show and did his own stage make up. Dayum, he looked sexy! He felt confident and alert. He felt aware of every hair on his body - and each one was vibrating with the excitement of going out there and playing an amazing show!
Mallymkun left his dressing room with a bounce in his step. Thackery - who was already dressed in his stage clothes - was leaning against the wall directly across from Mally's door. His hands were fiddling with the scarf tied around his neck until he looked up to see Mally. Then his hands dropped to his sides.
"You look great," Mally exclaimed. "Don't worry." He reached over and straightened the knot on the scarf.
A blush rose on Thackery's cheeks and made Mally smirk. Goaded on by Thackery's reaction Mally slid his fingers into the March Hare's hair until his fingertips touched the floppy ears. Then he scratched the sensitive skin there. Thackery's blush deepened as he squirmed away. "Hey!"
"You're right," Mally said. "We should save it for the crowd." He turned and began strutting toward the stage area. Thackery had to rush to keep up.
Chesshur joined them from his dressing room as they passed. As per usual - the cat was grinning. "My, my, Mally. You look rather… invigorated."
Mally shot him a devilish grin. "Just you wait and see."
From behind Mally heard Chesshur say: "See: it is working like a charm." Thackery mumbled something in reply, but Mally was too focused on getting to the stage. He had a feeling tonight's show as going to be the best show ever. His heart was pounding and he was giddy with excitement.
Nivens' set wasn't quite winding down yet as Mally reached the stage. He just marched right up there and over to the teacup the White Rabbit ran his music from. Nivens blinked up at him in surprise. Without a second thought Mally climbed into the booth with him and threw his arm around Nivens' shoulders.
"Your music rocks," he shouted over the music with hopes he could be heard through Nivens' headphones.
Nivens nodded and leaned in close to Mally to be heard over the music. "Thanks. So does yours. Um, you know you're early right?"
"I am aren't I? I'm sorry man! I'm just so pumped!"
Nivens quirked an eyebrow. "If you say so. This is my last track then I'll do your intro. Okay?"
"Totally!"
Mally climbed out of the tea cup booth and did a stroll down the front of the stage. Already a number of the fans were in place and waiting for the band to take the stage. Some of them were familiar faces, but there was a good mix of new people as well. Mally bent down and fist-bumped some of the crowd. He stopped for a picture, which only precipitated everyone else's cameras and phones popping out.
He made one more pass back across the stage to the steps where the rest of the band was waiting. Thackery and Chesshur had paused at the steps. Absolem was standing behind them with the hood of his vest pulled up over his head. Alice was leading Tarrant over in the rear. "Are we ready to do this?" Mallymkun said with a smile. He pumped his fist in the air and lead Absolem, Chesshur, and Thackery back onto the stage.
Absolem paused by Mallymkun as the Dormouse was putting his guitar on. He leaned in close and said, "Are you feeling well?"
"I'm better than well. I'm amazing," Mally said with a reassuring pat on Absolem's shoulder.
The Caterpillar just shook his head and went to stand behind his keyboards. Once his guitar was in place Mally glanced over to Thackery. The March Hare was still adjusting his bass. In front of Mally, Chesshur took his seat behind his kit. He spun his drumsticks and nodded at Mally. Mally nodded back just as Nivens began announcing the band.
"Now put your hands together and give a warm welcome to our very own: Mad Hatter!" Nivens said. His music ended as the Mad T Party Band began to play.
Tarrant strutted onto the stage with his arms open to the crowd. Mally strummed his guitar and bounced his leg to the beat as Hatter got the crowd going. The cheers just heightened all of the Dormouse's senses. The world was an explosion of color and sound, and he was at the center of it all.
Mally and Thackery danced and ran around the stage during the songs. They acted surprised to see Alice arrive on stage and played to the audience. Mally reached over at the beginning of "Very Merry Unbirthday" and started playing Thackery's guitar from his left. Thackery looked at him surprised for a moment, but rather than push the Dormouse away he just went with the flow. He folded his hands over the back of his head and gave the crowd a "Look Ma, no hands!" look. Mally pulled away just in time to pick up his part of the song and Thackery was there to take over.
Between two songs, Mally and Thackery were leaning against each other in front of Chesshur's drums. Thackery was grinning out at the crowd and nodding very animatedly to whatever Alice and Tarrant were saying. Mally reached over and brushed his fingers down Thackery's cheek - which was soft and slightly slick with sweat. When Thackery turned his face to look at him Mally planted a kiss on the end of his nose. Thackery's eyes opened wide in surprise and a blush flushed his cheeks. A wicked grin crossed Mally's lips as the crowd howled. Alice glanced over her shoulder confused, but had missed what set the crowd off.
Tarrant stepped to the back to let Alice sing her solo. Thackery and Mally stepped up to either side of Alice managing to completely invade her personal space. She just smiled and stroked Thackery's scarf before strutting away. Mally glared at Thackery and the crowd laughed. Why were they laughing! Alice should be paying attention to him!
The next time Alice took center stage Thackery had dropped to his knees and shuffled toward her. Mally forcibly inserted himself between them to smile victoriously down at Alice. She smiled at him as she sang. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his thigh. A glance down showed Thackery leaning forward and biting him on the thigh! The crowd cheered and screamed. Mally threw him a glare, but as he turned his back on the crowd he couldn't help but smile. He loved it when the crowd reacted to their antics! Tonight felt like their reactions were one hundred times stronger.
As Alice addressed the crowd Mally and Thackery jumped and spun behind her. Mally found himself facing Thackery as a heavy beat was about to come up. With perfect timing Mally kicked out a foot at Thackery as if he were kicking the March Hare. Thackery reacted by flailing and spinning away with him. The crowd cheered!
Mally turned his focus back to Alice and stalked her back across the stage. He leaned in right over her shoulder as she sang the last line. Mally could only get so close with the guitar between them, but he closed the gap as much as possible. He was sure Alice could feel his breath on the side of her neck where her hair had fallen down her back and left the tender flesh there exposed. Mally leaned in a nuzzled her neck and was met with howls from the crowds. Discreetly he flicked his tongue out and licked the salty sweat just below Alice's hair.
Alice gasped and looked at him as he pulled away. Mally have her a wink that only those up front could really see. This time he turned and strutted away from her. He shot a triumphant smile at Thackery, though the March Hare could not have known what he'd done.
The set continued on, but for some reason every time Mally tried to get close to Alice she discreetly fled from him. He wasn't usually for games of "cat and mouse" given the precarious state the mouse. Mally tried flirting with Absolem, but he was too far back on the stage to incite the proper crowd reaction. Chesshur's seat behind the drums made him completely out of the way. He finally turned his attention back to Thackery.
During the last song of the set Thackery had moved to the front of the stage and was emoting to the crowd. Mally strode right over and snaked his arm around the neck of the bass guitar. He proceeded to play his guitar with his arm linked around Thackery's instrument. He smiled out to the crowd and they cheered. It was nearly impossible to untangle himself so he played through to the end of the song before he broke away. He smiled back at Thackery, and though Thackery smiled back it wasn't as large as his usual smiles.
With the set finished Tarrant announced the House of Cards performance and promised that they'd return. The band left the stage to the cries and cheers of the crowd. Mallymkun smiled and waved, but his attention was already focused on what he could do in the next set to top this one.
The band made their way back to the lounge to relax before the next set. Mally sank into a chair and kicked his feet up on the table. He leaned back and folded his hands behind the back of his head as he smiled at the others. Thackery sat down next to him and Tarrant opposite him. Alice looked at the empty seat next to Mally then back to Mally.
"That was totally inappropriate," she said after a moment's pause.
Mally blinked at her in confusion. "What?"
"What you did on stage," she hissed. She crossed her arms across her chest and frowned down at him.
He really was at a loss as to what Alice was referring to. Tarrant and Thackery both seemed confused as well. "Is everything okay?" Thackery asked.
"Ask him," Alice challenged. "Ask him what he did on stage."
Tarrant smiled and squirmed in his seat at the challenge. "Oh! A game. Yes, Mally! What did you do?"
"I did a lot of things," Mally replied. He was not sure of which thing Alice was referring. "If you ask me, I killed it tonight. This was great. I don't get what the problem is."
Alice leaned down so she could look Mally right in the eyes. "You know which thing. With your tongue."
Mally tilt his head to the side as the pushed to recall. "You mean when I licked you?"
Suddenly Tarrant was out of his seat and his chair had fallen over on the floor. "You LICKED her?" All traces of Tarrant's rock star persona were gone. His eyes were clear, angry, and directed at Mally.
"He kissed me," Thackery mumbled quietly as Chesshur seemed to appear in the doorway.
"I saw that," Chesshur added with a grin. He leaned in the doorway and twirled a drumstick in one hand.
Mally pulled his legs off the table and sat up straight in his seat. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable with the group's scrutiny. "What? We all play to the crowd. Thackery bit me."
Tarrant leaned forward and planted both of his hands on the table as he glared down at Mally. "This is different. Does Alice seem like she enjoyed being licked?"
Alice took a step back and blushed. "That is beside the point. The point is you took it too far, Mallymkun."
Mallymkun frowned and stood up so he could take back the height advantage. "I don't see what the big deal is! The crowd was eating it up. The fans love it. They love us. They love me!" His heart was pounding out of control and he felt sweat beading up on his forehead.
Thackery stood up with his hands out in front of him between Tarrant and Mally. "How about we all take a deep breath and calm down?"
"Calm down?" Tarrant and Mally said at the same time as they both turned on Thackery.
"How can I possibly calm down? My energy is crashing through me like a river off a waterfall! I need to go out there and use it!" Mally practically yelled. That got everyone's attention again.
"Um," Alice said softly. "Are you okay, Mally?"
"Why is everyone asking that?" he asked, exasperated. "I'm great! Now if you'll excuse me, I think there are some adoring fans who need my attention now more than you do." Mally turned and stormed out of the room. Where Chesshur had been blocking the exit a moment before he was then across the room rummaging through the refrigerator.
As Mally marched down the hall he heard Thackery say, "I think this is my fault." Mally made his way out of the backstage dressing rooms to find a small crowd that had broken off from the main party waiting around with cameras. He smiled and joined them with open arms. Mally decided to spend the time between sets socializing with those who truly appreciated him. Pictures were taken. Flirty words and glances were exchanged. A few slips of paper with phone numbers found their way into his pants pocket with empty promises to call. Everything was great. Mally was up, awake, and more focused than ever before. Why was the band so upset?
