Miss: Trinity & Jessie are also busy. Catherine does take you to a different nightclub, where you encounter a new woman.

"Alex," you hear Catherine call out to you, "if you're looking for Trinity & Jessie, then they've already taken off for a night out Downtown."

"Oh? They have?" You turn to face Catherine. "I can't blame them for taking time for themselves."

"They deserve some time for themselves, if you ask me." Catherine tells you. "I do know of a place where my hubby & I like to go to sometimes. Have you heard of a place in Beverly Hills called 'The Rodeo Theater'?"

"No, I haven't." You tell her. "I've only been in Beverly Hills a few times, and I haven't been there in years."

"It's a nice, little theater, Alex." Catherine tells you. "Most of the time, my hubby I go there for local bands in concert, or theater plays, among other things. But tonight, there's a burlesque dance show over there, and it carries a nerdy theme."

"What kind of nerdy theme?" You ask her.

"A comics crossover battle theme tonight." Catherine tells you. "You might like it."

(Later that night.)

You find The Rodeo Theater in Beverly Hills to be a nice, little place. It's a rather new building, so its architecture & interiors are trendy for today's generation. While you did leave your camera back in the hotel, you did bring your smartphone, and you keep an eye on your social media feeds, & messages, before the show begins. When the show does begin, you find a rather large group of female performers being featured, sporting various costumes of many different comic characters--not necessarily from the big, AAA publishers. Some of them show off their professional dance skills,, as they play out a "DC vs. Marvel" battle scene. Others show off their ballet, pole dancing, or other exotic dancing skills, as they mix in the striptease consistent with burlesque dancing.

"Find any of them to you liking, Alex?" Catherine asks you in a low, soft tone, in between acts.

"They're all talented, Catherine." You tell her in a low, soft tone. "There is that one Goth-looking woman that looks interesting."

"Which one?" She asks you.

"The one that is dressed like a vampire countess," you tell her, "...and it looks like she's...doing a striptease...into Vampirella."

You feel Catherine tap your shoulder gently, as you watch the woman in question dance to a suitable striptease music, as she strips out of the Gothic noble gown, to show her Vampirella costume. Although you've seen many different cosplayers sport their own versions, the woman you're watching, though, looks to have used the least amount of material possible for the main piece of the outfit. The red velvet piece is so skimpy, that you can see most of her proportionately mid-size breasts for her fit, mid-size body shape--that is, somewhere between petite & big. She looks around 5'7" - 5'9", although that is hard to tell because of her high-platform, high-heel, thigh-high leather boots. Her dark hair flows down to the small of her back, and you can't really tell what color her eyes are. You do notice her various tattoos on her right arm, as well as the small of her back, on the back of her neck, that goes into her upper back, and on her left wrist. You watch as she does her dances, running her hands all over her body, as she takes a goblet, and drinks its blood-like substance. Then she hisses like a vampire, and the lights darken, ending her act.

Thanks to the backstage pass Catherine got for you, you go with Catherine & her hubby to the backstage area, when the show ends. Some of the burlesque dancers were already in their street clothes, as you greet them; while some others are in the process of changing. When Catherine takes you to the dancer that did the Vampirella striptease, you get a better look at her tattoos. Her right arm has been inked with a thorny bed of red roses--some of the thorns have been inked to look like they're coated with dripping blood. On her the back of her neck & upper back, is an image of Red Sonja, while the Vampirella logo is on the small of her back. On the left wrist, you see that the tattoo design resembles a Wonder Woman bracer. When you put it all together, it's clear that this woman thrives on being a strong, fierce, independent woman. You watch as the burlesque dancer stands up, and hugs Catherine & her hubby, then she turns to you, & shakes your hand.

"So this is your guest tonight, Catherine?" The dancer asks her, who nods, then turns to you. "I'm Anastasia."

"A pleasure to meet you, Anastasia." You tell her, shaking her hand gently but firmly. "I'm Alex, lead photographer of 'Lionheart Images'."

"Oooooo, so you're the Alex that I've heard Catherine and her fellow cosplayers talk about lately." Anastasia tells you, her green eyes softening a bit. "I never thought I'd come face-to-face with the young photographer who's taking photos like a veteran pro with many years of experience."

"I've learned much about photography from my dad, since I was a kid." You tell her. "He runs a small photography business of his own--although it's primarily a few camera shops."

"Wow, that's nice." Anastasia tells you. "I thought you'd be joining some of Catherine's colleagues somewhere in Hollywood, or Downtown. If I wasn't busy doing this show, I'd be watching a live concert. Speaking of this show, did you enjoy it?"

"Yes, it was very enjoyable." You tell her. "I've never seen a burlesque show before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect."

"I did kinda surprise everyone, going from being a noble vampire countess," she tells you, "and stripping down into my Vampirella costume. I gave out a good vampire hiss, didn't I?"

"Yes, it was really nice." You tell her. "So I take it you know Catherine, and the rest of the Hollywood Cosplay Guild?"

"I've done a few stints with them, when time allows it." Anastasia tells you. "I don't do it as often as I do burlesque dancing. If I'm not modeling my body & tattoos, or doing tattoo work with my crew, I collect oddities."

"You collect oddities?" You ask her.

"Yes, I do." She tells you. "You haven't seen those cable shows, where the cast members buy & sell odd-looking artifacts?"

"On occasion." You tell her. "I just never thought I'd be introduced to one who collects such things."

You talk for a bit more with Anastasia, as she sits down, and removes her boots. As she does that, you can see the tattoo of the Star Sapphire symbol on her right ankle. Then she stands up again, and heads around a screen, and begins to change into her street clothes. She comes back out, in a Star Wars-themed shirt, and a pair of dark blue jeans. Then she sits back down, to put on a comfortable pair of socks, then a pair of Doc Martens.

"You know, Alex," Anastasia tells you, "I'd like to see what you & your crew can do with your cameras. Are there any available dates that I can do a photo shoot with you guys?"

"I believe I have a few open time slots this week," you tell her, grabbing your smartphone, "if you'd like to do a photo shoot, at some reasonable rates. I'd have more time slots available, but I have to go over the photos I'm doing with the cosplay guild starting on Monday."

"Fair enough, Alex." She also grabs her smartphone, and looks over the available time slots. "So late Monday afternoon is your earliest? I can fit that in, even if I may be a little late due to traffic."

"No worries, Anastasia." You tell her, and exchange social media pages.

"Sounds good." Anastasia tells you. "It's great meeting you, Alex. I look forward to posing for your camera soon."