[center][h1][b]Tatiana and Cole Walk Into a Bottle[/b][/h1][/center] [center][i]Monochromatic Rainbow, Wind Wild[/i][/center] [center]Akime, Cole, Tatiana[/center] [center]Day 3, Evening[/center] Tatiana strode confidently through the masses of people present at the reception. She cradled an ornate platinum inlaid ebony carving in her right hand, intended as a wedding gift for Christian and Catherine. She had been told of the marriage well ahead of time and still had barely managed to finish the gift - requiring the help of several professional and expensive woodworkers throughout to aid her in the process. It would’ve been simpler to just commission it from them - but she figured the two would appreciate the personal touch that came from her spending her own time to make something for them. She’d enchanted it with a secret spell she’d learned centuries ago, hopefully to do her part to help keep the love the newlyweds had for each other burning bright and strong for millenia to come. Placing the carving down on the table she admired it for a second. It wasn’t a small gift - about a half foot tall and just as wide in some sections. It depicted in intricate detail both the Tower of Stars and the Blackwing. Every detail that could be included was there, with the platinum inlay highlighting certain parts of the carving for an aesthetically delightful contrast. In front of the Tower and the ship were upscaled carvings of both Christian and Catherine, with Christian’s dragon form and Catherine’s Coat of Arms behind them. While their expressions were intentionally unclear, one of the few details that had been left out, their stances suggested a bright future, full of happiness, and side by side. Hidden here and there throughout the carving were references to significant events and funny moments between friends. Yes, this gift would do. Tatiana would wait until a bit later to congratulate them personally, for now… her stomach was rumbling. She made her way over to the long table overflowing with dishes both exotic and familiar, her silky deep crimson dress billowing out behind her as it caught the air. There were many faces here, some she knew well, some she vaguely remembered, and some completely new. Tatiana decided that socializing could wait for a bit, and she examined the food closest to her, eventually plucking a few appetizing looking bits of food from the area before setting off back into the crowd. Cole sniffed her out from a mile away. He had a thing for older, or should we say, “experienced” women, but could barely believe his luck today – so many of them were leisurely strolling around that he even had a [i]choice[/i]. One of them ticked all the boxes. Tall, beautiful, strong, [i]redhead[/i]. His heart fluttered with joy as he looked around and didn’t see a man accompanying her. Win. He smiled to himself and approached, only hoping that his fathers were well pruned – oh. Wait, he was human now. Well, he didn’t know much about what human females found attractive but his mistress was always making sure her followers are as glamorous as possible and he trusted she knew what she was doing. After all, who could know better than someone who could only get the visual satisfaction from the opposite sex? So, with a confident stride, he presented himself to the lady of his interest and asked her name as politely as possible. Tatiana paused as an attractive man introduced himself as Cole. He seemed… somewhat familiar, especially once he’d given his name. “Well hello there,” she began, studying him for a moment before giving him a tacit nod of approval, “I’m Tatiana. Tatiana Winchester, lover of fun, alcohol, and a general fire hazard anywhere and everywhere.” She quirked an eyebrow at him, giving her head a quick shake to get a stray lock of hair out of her eye, “You seem rather familiar, if I do say so myself. Cole, yes? What brings you here?” Cole raised an eyebrow at her, the charming way she flicked her hair not going unnoticed. That was a sign, right? “You’ve heard of me? That’s certainly flattering… I hope.” He hesitated, frowning slightly confused but shook it off quickly. He was certain he’d have remembered her if he’d seen her before. “I’m afraid that I can’t remember having met you before. I hope it’s not too late to fix that?” Tatiana smirked, “Well, I certainly have no problems with fixing that. Hopefully I’ll remember what it is that’s so familiar about you.” She cast a quizzical glance at him, trying to recall some distant memory. “Regardless, tell me about yourself.” “I’m not that great with words.” Cole smiled shyly. “But I can try to show you.” [center]~~~~~ Half An Hour Later ~~~~~[/center] Cole put just enough distance between their lips to suck in a shallow breath. He really wasn’t that great with words. With actions, however…. “Does it ring a bell yet?” He smiled softly. Tatiana’s skill with words and actions tended to fluctuate more depending on just how much alcohol was in her system. As it was she’d had several glasses of champagne and a full flask of whiskey - the buzz was coming on now, and a faint red tinge colored her cheeks from the mixed effects of the booze and Cole’s flirting. She studied him for a moment, a lightbulb going off in her head. “Wait! Now I remember!” She stared at him, “Damn, you haven’t aged a day…” quirking her head again, she let a seductive smirk play at the corner of her mouth, “Then again my memory could still be a bit fuzzy… perhaps a little something to give it a bit more of a kickstart, hmm?” She learned forward, flashing him a winning smile and blowing a kiss at him before sticking her tongue out playfully. Cole still wasn’t sure he’d ever met her before but then again, constant transformations between human and animal did have an effect on the clarity of his memories sometimes. He wasn’t bothered either way, whether he’d seen her before or not, her kisses felt hot and novel and that’s all that mattered. And he was sure that he’d been pretty diligent trying to perform the best he can so far but that didn’t mean he couldn’t turn things up a notch. After all, she was a mature woman and surely she would stop him if he was crossing the line of what was appropriate. He smirked and leaned in, swiftly sneaking his tongue in her mouth. Tatiana’s definition of “appropriate” probably varied considerably from most others’. She leaned in as well, not at all surprised when Cole took things up a notch by introducing his tongue. She definitely remembered him now - though his name hadn’t been Cole back then, but that could wait for later. “Well, now I do seem to remember quite clearly.” She quipped, kissing him again, “I seem to remember you were better at much more than kissing. Much better at much more than kissing, in fact.” She smirked at him, pushing her own tongue against his, brushing another stray lock of hair away. Cole grinned under her lips, their teeth clanking lightly but he hurried to kiss them better. He heard someone clear their throat somewhere close but ignored them. His arm wrapped around her, quickly tracing her muscles down her back and reaching the base of it… That “ahem” again, and this time closer and this time he recognised her. Cole looked up to his mistress slightly guilty but really not all that much. Akime was cocking an eyebrow at his new love interest. “Tatiana? I didn’t know you were into bestiality now?” She grinned. Tatiana grinned at Akime, “Last I checked it wasn’t bestiality if they were capable of rational thought~” She shot a sultry look at the both of them, raising her eyebrows, “You’re welcome to join in of course, Though last I checked…” she studied Cole for a moment. Unlike most, alcohol didn’t affect her too much, but it still didn’t do her powers of deduction any favors. “Hmm… I gathered you weren’t actually him, even if you’ve got his talent.” She looked back up at Akime, “Friend of yours? I seem to recall we both enjoyed the company of a dashing fellow who looked rather similar.” “Her…” Cole cleared his thought, the next word slipping out through a smirk. ”…pet. Though not hers alone.” He practically offered himself to the woman. A little known fact was that Cole wasn’t only devoting time to his mistress. Another, even less well-known fact was that long, long ago said mistress had had a brief but intense “encounter” with a very handsome young man who looked strikingly like Cole’s current human body. And apparently said young man also wasn’t only devoting time to one woman alone. Akime all but gaped at Tatiana, embarrassment and horror bubbling in her dizzy head, ready to erupt. “I--” She stammered and tried to simultaneously cover it up and sweep her emotions under the metaphorical rug. “You must be mistaken; this griffin has chosen his visage on his own accord.” “Except I haven’t. You’re the one who made the whole transmu---” Cole’s voice faded as he saw his mistress’ eyes widen in horror. Apparently he hadn’t said the right thing. “Well whatever.” He turned back to Tatiana and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Shall we continue?” He leaned in for a kiss again. Akime pulled his shoulder back but was looking at the other attractive female. “Well, for the record, Kedrian was mine during April and June 5701. And this guy is still mine.” She grinned despite the blush and patted Tatiana on the shoulder. “So give him back when you’ve finished with him. And friendly advice, don’t agree to the whole kids business, he’s a really overbearing father.” “No need to advise me, I’ve no interest in kids. Now, the process for making them? I’m highly amenable to that.” She winked at Akime, blowing a kiss in her direction as well, “Sure you don’t want to join us? I’m sure you wouldn’t mind getting to undress Kedrian again, even if this isn’t actually Kedrian. I sure won’t have any objections.” Coyly pushing her hair away, Tatiana beckoned at her with a finger, before raising her hands in a sign of mock defeat. “But I can see you have little interest in broadening your horizons.” Turning to Cole, she grinned mischeviously, “Now, my ‘pet’, I suggest we conclude our business here and get down to business elsewhere.” Cole sent Akime one last smile before obeying his new mistress’ first order.