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[Guest]

Rouen. How odd the last time she had been there was about seven years ago and at the same time had happened last week. This is where she had died. Her own head empty and a body that seemed to just disappear. Some skeletons weren't worth burying. That didn't mean, however, that she was freed of the duty to help rebuild Rouen. No, quite contrary. Instead, Tatyana now had higher expectations to reach. A hand could never grasp at irony well when it followed her closer than her own shadow. Her own life stalked up her back, but that didn't mean she knew what she was doing. The beauty of the whole thing was that in fact, Tatyana was winging everything. There was a feeling, like a pull that led her here and there with good and bad decisions in her wake. What was destined was what tied her hands up and made her follow the callings this dimension had for her. She hated it. The fact she was stuck in the cage, the jar glass that left her disconnected wasn't enough. She had to watch the world go by without so much as a hand she could put forward. The people she knew were either not born or didn't know she existed, because she didn't exist.. not yet. Really, all that chained her was the fear. Fear of not existing if she so much as breathed in the wrong direction. A game of dancing around the cracks was only fun when there were spots to step. Being surrounded by a falling floor was something else. It would only take a second to drown into nothingness.

Such thoughts were troubling but not so- was that a peacock? Tatyana found her eyes moving with the beautifully colored bird, chasing its movements. Her head cocked to the side, a bit troubled by what she'd just seen. Or HAD she seen it? Perhaps she was losing her- No. There was another. Curious. She knew that Peacocks didn't live strictly to zoos, but in Rouen? She had never expected as much. Surely though, her steps led her to the flocks that rustled around called out to each other. Tatyana could swear the image of a large wolf formed in the chasing forest behind her. Howls echoed in the back of her mind. Dear this place was familiar to her, but only in some of her darker fantasies. Dreams that people had and wondered just what of. What would have inspired the odd mix of large wolves and peacocks living in harmony..?

There it was.. a large and beautifully made building. Tatyana followed each curve, each brick and adored the sense it had of simplistic beauty. Sometimes the classics just never died. From behind, she felt a puff of wind and a nudge. Her body spun to see a wolf. A large and beautiful beast that eyed her up, quite largely before pushing her again. Tatyana blinked a couple times. "Why hello there." Her voice was solid and curious. The animal started its way towards, beckoning her to follow. How strange.. another wonderland for Tatyana to explore.

Fixing her slightly tattered dress, she followed. Naturally she'd done odder before, but following a wolf into the unknown was undoubtedly one of the oddest checks to put on her checklist. Her boots were moved a bit, fixing the way they sat. It was kind of sad, but alas it was all Tatyana really had for now. it wasn't as if her very home and all her stuff had been pulled into the past with her. No, she had the clothes on her back, quite literally. She had yet to go shopping, because she had no money yet, either. Her wallet was used to obtain food and some other more important thins. She had money back home-- BUT her bank account didn't exist yet. She wondered how that would turn out. What would scanning a future bank card into a past ATM make? Likely an error "this user does not exist" pity, she could use something other than these pajamas. Her hands dusted her lap once more, straightened her straps and primped her hair some.

Into the building, she was ushered, past the doors and into the overwhelming abyss of hallways. She was trapped, but at least it was beautifully. "I love what she's done with the place." Naturally, Tatyana had assumed Villetta would be within, waiting on her, but something wasn't exactly right. The whole feel of the area wasn't the same as th efeel from her 'partner' in repairing Rouen. The wolves led her further in, deeper within the confines of a den she knew not what lurked within. The passerby person looked at her hungrily, almost as if they too were wolves. Odd.. Tatyana found all of this odd, until the wolf stopped and gave her a look. "I won't move from here." Tatyana said, trying to guess what it was saying, before it ran off. Tatyana stood there patiently, observing each crack and cranny.

[Lust]

In a way, it was strange to see the cycle of death and rebirth in such a large scale. Tanandra had been born in Esparia and raised there, but every night had been filled with stories of Rouen and how someday, they would all return to their beautiful home. Louise had been raised speaking Rouenian in the land of the enemy as a refugee of a land she'd never set foot on. With the urns of all her family, Ms. Collier had said that one day, she herself would return to Rouen to stay, and take the remains of her murdered family so that they could rest peacefully in the land they loved, and with Vasco's permission, she had done so. Aurel had given a slight nudge to this effect, of course, but that was how the wheel had turned.

The wheel was turning again, Tanandra noted. The island paradise she had lived alone on and guarded for Aurel was now changing. Aurel was again the one nudging the wheel, but this Aurel... was not the one she had known and been given the stone from, she had been told. They had not met yet. It was entirely confusing to her, but anymore the actress didn't know if she minded or not. The new plan was to let Rouen rebuild and repopulate, become strong once more. There would be a nation founded and wholly supported by RIOTE so that they could propel themselves to whatever end... Their means, their goals, their hands... Tanandra was a part of that game, yes, but only loosely, and the longer she sat idly by the looser her threads were becoming, and she so hated the tattered look.

The cities and villages overgrown with twenty years of jungle were being cleared away, one by one, and rebuilt by crews as large chunks of wilderness were sectioned off to be contained. Her wolves were not happy, and after a few crew had been eaten they were less happy to know that the invading humans were not prey that their Mistress had loosed for them to hunt. Things were changing, and so must they. Wisps of silk trailed along the ancient polished floor, Tanandra restlessly moving through the rooms of her home. She was looking for something, but she herself didn't really know what. Perhaps she was restless because the jungle was, and the stone within her made her blood sing more with the beasts than men as time went on. Publicaly, she was all for it, dripping with enthusiasm and moved tears, pledging money into the project of rebuilding their great home. Her mother, ah! If only dearest Maman could have lived to see the day, and her brothers and sisters, too! Foundations had bee quickly put in place to contact Rouenian refugees still in hiding and their children, offering support and skill assessments if they wished to come home and start fresh.

Tanandra was becoming a face synonymous with philanthropic good deeds since the war, even though nobody had survived that had seen her there. Her public image was filtering to something between a sex symbol and a saint. It was nauseating, but highly effective as her own reach was beginning to spread. However, it was slow progress, and there were still too many variables for a woman who liked to know where all the possible moves and motives would be. She'd been pushed aside time and time again, and left wondering about her own next move, and the feeling of being lost was not something Tanandra liked. That wasn't what she'd spent her whole life working so hard to cultivate in her life. The room she stood in was large and filled with old things from years gone by and relics from before Rouen's collapse, all covered in white sheets. They'd make for a nice auction, and weren't her family's urns in here somewhere with this junk? She would have to pick a few pieces to put out for her next party and auction the rest for her founda--

The soft clicking of claws on marble caught her ear, Tanandra turning around to see the large grey and brown wolf standing at the open doorway, looking to his Mistress. "What is it, my love," Tanandra asked, stepping forward and kneeling down gently. A perfectly-manicured hand reached out to caress the wolf's cheek and scratch his ear lightly. Golden eyes that matched her own locked with hers, a faint whine whistling past his lips as his ears swiveled. Something had his attention, and needed hers. A guest? She hadn't invited anyone. Tanandra sighed, standing back up and closing the door to her memories and sheet-covered plans. "Let's go say hello, then... I suppose I have to learn to tolerate new neighbours." The wolf turned swiftly and headed down the hall, guiding his Mistress through the vast remains of the palace and down the stairs where a young woman was waiting. He looked to the two women and ran down the stairs, sitting near enough to their guest to encourage her to stay put. Tanandra looked her up and down... She wasn't one of the workers, nor was she the woman who would be leading Rouen. Her clothes were in horrible shape, but the refugee program wasn't ready to start bringing people back yet.

"My love had said I had a guest," Tanandra said slowly as she started down the stairs, her Rouenian accent thickly laid into her Cretan words. "I'm afraid you're a few weeks early for my gala, however." Green silk so dark it verged on black draped from Tanandra's brown skin, bright green curls hanging loosely everywhere and bouncing slightly with each slow step down the staircase. A young woman in a tattered nightdress, but there was a scent to her that Tanda was picking up and might have been what puzzled the wolf so. Everyone had their own unique scent, but everyone also carried the scents of those whom they spent the most time with, and those who parented them. This girl's scent was.... peculiar, resembling one Tanandra knew, and yet was a variant of it. Finally she stood in front of Tatyana, gold eyes looking her up and down, sizing her up gracefully. "I am Tanadra Collier, Mistress of this house. What is it I can do for you, ma chérie?"

[Guest]

"My love had said I had a guest." A sweet voice hit Tatyana's ears rather smoothly, but startled her enough that her head snapped towards the speaker. "I'm afraid you're a few weeks early for my gala, however. I am Tanadra Collier, Mistress of this house. What is it I can do for you, ma chérie?"

Tatyana swept into a bow towards the woman. Her eyes closed as the dark brown locks fell over her shoulders. Her rags must have been very gross to look at, but at least her manners could hold a sort of grace to them. "Oh, my apologies. I was looking for someone, and saw this gorgeous abode. Your wolves are beautiful, madam. They ushered me so gently in here. I simply could not resist coming in. Might I say you have appealed in a way that only my sweetest dreams would bring." No, Tatyana wasn't trying to be over the top, but she knew it was better to be humble to people, than aggressive and brutish. More flies with honey, as they said. She left out exclusive details, as to avoid any problematic circumstances. How did Tatyana know if this woman even tolerated RIOTE or what her personal thoughts of Villetta were? It was best to avoid confrontation right after salutations. Her lips gave a coy smile, showing she had no malicious intent. No, she wasn't going to hurt her, steal or otherwise do something cruel. Well, at least not yet. It wouldn't be ladylike to harm somebody.

"I am Tatyana Firov, a pleasure to meet you, Mistress Collier. You look ravishing as always." It was instinctive, she'd seen the woman's face before. She was a celebrity from this time. She had to be polite, or else she stick out too hard like a sore thumb. She didn't belong in this time, she was a blemish on the timeline, for now and at some point Tatyana had to accept that fact of life. She would never be a part of the world she was in, at least not yet. Aurelius had her hands tied in such a way that made things most difficult. While here, Tatyana couldn't so much as breathe wrong or else she might upset the balance of her future. Or rather the balance of her current state? AHHH! More time-pain-in-the-rear-mess. It didn't matter for now.

"My most humble apologies for my mess of a dress. I assure you, come the gala I should hopefully have clothes by then." Oh dear, now Tatyana sounded like some poor girl. In a way she was, but she disliked how it tasted on her tongue. A bitter taste of gross proportions, but she at least it was done and over with.

[Lust]

Hmm. Dark brown hair that was thick and could do with a brushing, and the girl was pale and quite lithe. The few curves she had weren't unpleasant, but didn't give Tatyana an air of true womanliness, almost as an extreme opposite to the polished model that looked her up and down slowly. Those green eyes were striking, however, and still served to heavily contrast the melted gold that locked onto their young guest. A lovely inversion that still seemed so young, but held a certain prettiness that had potential. And there were few things Tanandra had come to love so much over the years as finding the gems that reminded her of herself in some way, and polishing them, either to suit her own ends or amuse her, or to simply add the talent that person held in the model's little "collection."

The girl bowed, sending cascades of thick hair rippling down. "Oh, my apologies," the girl stated, straightening up. color=forestgreen]"I was looking for someone, and saw this gorgeous abode. Your wolves are beautiful, madam. They ushered me so gently in here. I simply could not resist coming in. Might I say you have appealed in a way that only my sweetest dreams would bring."[/color] Hm... So, pretty with a sweet face, decent manners, and she was polite; all of which were things Tanandra appreciated immensely in guests, especially unannounced ones. "I am Tatyana Firov, a pleasure to meet you, Mistress Collier. You look ravishing as always."

The girl's coy smile was met with Tanandra's own, though far less coy. That was reserved for special kinds of bait, and at the moment, wasn't needed. "Charmed, darling," she cooed, the heavy Rouenian dripping from her words. It was still strange, though. Usually the wolves would grown and usher newcomers away from the palace, not to it as a guest to investigate. They knew only a few scents were welcome and not to be nipped or herded, or in some cases, eaten. But Tanandra and her wolves hadn't had the pleasure of meeting this girl before, which only left the conclusion that she must have either smelled like one of the few approved people from being around them all the time, being their family, or possibly, both. But while that narrowed down some questions, it opened many, many more.

"My most humble apologies for my mess of a dress. I assure you, come the gala I should hopefully have clothes by then." Like a white elephant between them, Tanandra hadn't wanted to openly comment on the girl's state of dress; they were both perfectly aware of how she looked, so it wouldn't do to embarrass her guest. And if Tatyana was someone the wolves had invited in themselves, then she certainly was a guest and not some begging waif, and her manners certainly helped underline that fact. Given the girl's face and lovely contrasting features, there was no question as to whether she'd clean up nicely or not. With a dismissive smile, Tanandra shook her head, green ringlets shining slightly in the streaks of light that cut through the shadows that clung to the corners and walls of the once-great halls.

An elegantly-manicured hand extended out palm up, offering itself to Tatyana. "Not at all, ma chérie," Tanandra purred. "You have been welcomed and invited into my home as a guest, and as your hostess, I'd be happy to help you find something more appropriate to wear if you like." With a smile like nightshade's blossom, Tanandra glanced at the wolf who sat silently and observing them. "Go tell Jean we have company." Quickly he rose, turned, and ran off down the corridor, vanishing off to find his way back to the kitchen where more humanoid wolves than himself would be. Golden eyes moved back to Tatyana as Tanandra motioned they make their way up the stairs. "Come, let's find you something comfortable to change into. You're welcome to join me for lunch and tell me about yourself, Tatyana. I don't often have guests here, and I thought I knew all the workers and their families who are here in Rouen restoring the cities. It is a ncie change of pace to have lovely company."

[Csilla Angelis]

{BUMP}

[Guest]

"Not at all, ma chérie, You have been welcomed and invited into my home as a guest, and as your hostess, I'd be happy to help you find something more appropriate to wear if you like." Her hand was offered out. Outstretched and waiting, it was there to be taken, but would it be? Could she take the hand of this woman whom she really didn't know that well? The answer of course, was yes. Tatyana was never really a woman to hesitate and debate, she threw caution to the wind and thought of things on the spur of the moment. This was one such moment to be used as an example. Stepping forward some, she was given even a better look of what beauty this woman held.

It was amazing that people so beautiful could even exist! Tatyana would be jealous, if she were the type to get jealous. Instead she was simply amazed and thoroughly pleased. then again, Tanda WAS a star of a lot of 'image' themes. A model for one. It suited her, really. Though, who was Tatyana to think such things? "Come, let's find you something comfortable to change into. You're welcome to join me for lunch and tell me about yourself, Tatyana. I don't often have guests here, and I thought I knew all the workers and their families who are here in Rouen restoring the cities. It is a nice change of pace to have lovely company."

How flattering! It almost made her blush for such a compliment. Lovely company? With a smile and nod, she couldn't help but follow. Naturally, she felt a bit odd about having to borrow clothes, but one should never deny opportunities when given the chance. "Thank you for such hospitality. Beautiful and kind, such a great woman you are!" Of course there were shadows for every person who had perfection, but those were hidden. Even someone as Tatyana had shadows of her own, but depending on each person, those shadows could make them even more beautiful. Flaws could be gorgeous in their own way.

[Csilla Angelis]

{BUMP}

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