taxonomites | [Location | Tamper and Trick, Central Taxon] Opening Day

As may have been evidenced by her frequent trips in and around the center of Taxon, Tara has been quite busy recently. And though it’s served the secondary purpose of distracting her from the unwelcome news she received from Kyra, she’s found a great deal of satisfaction in slowly transforming the empty shop into something to be proud of.

The shelves are now full of various hatched items, ingredients and books, including a few items enchanted by Tara and Ethan themselves. Most tend toward healing and protection, though there are no guarantees that one couldn’t find other things as well (especially if one asked Ethan very nicely). There’s a decent book selection, and dried herbs from the window garden Tara’s growing in the back. Behind the counter, there are gift wrapping supplies, along with some of the more powerful items.

Though she’s not much for tooting her own horn, Sam and Buffy at least know what she’s been working on. And Tara feels that they should do something to celebrate opening, even if it’s something quiet. Balloons and cake, perhaps, like it’s the shop’s birthday. Even if no one comes, though, it will do little to dampen her mood; it feels like one of the first things she’s done in Taxon, maybe in her life, that’s really come together.

She has enough things to worry about, but for this afternoon, she’s taking a break.

Also taking a break - from worrying about when this will end, from thinking about the other world that really sounds terrible, from wondering what Anya would think of the new shop - is Ethan, who discreetly added 'marijuana' to the, er, herbs on offer at Tamper and Trick. He's making tea in the backroom, presently, but he even put on a nice silk shirt (dark purple) for the occasion and he is taking it appropriately seriously-

"It's just not as satisfying when you can't play with the money," he says, bringing two cups out to Tara.

(Sort of seriously.)

The shop is open, so drop by. Curious strangers are also fine.

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He glances down, following Sam's gaze, and laughs thinly. "Remnants of a misspent youth."

Tara's smile dims ever so slightly at the tension Ethan's tattoo raises. But she's not going to jump in and change the subject unless things get really desperate; still, she tries to send Sam "I trust him" vibes.

Sam glances over at Tara then nods. He knows she trusts this guy or she wouldn't be in business with him. "They can be...seductive."

"If I indicated that the subject was up for discussion," Ethan says, still smiling, "it was entirely by accident."

He presses a hand to Tara's shoulder, bracing, and excuses himself to finish sorting the freebie bags he's sending any visitors out with.

She gives him a small smile as he goes, and says softly to Sam, "Well. Would you like a little tour, or..." She's clearly changing the subject, but as sort of an apology that isn't.

"Sorry," Sam mumbles the apology. He looks at Tara and smiles slightly. "Tour would be great."

"Okay. Not huge as you can see. But.... we've got the things you don't need to have skill to use up front. Protective charms, that kind of thing." The display cases out front are attractively set up. "Anything at all dangerous in and of itself is behind the counter."

"Yeah. That makes sense," Sam says as he looks through some of the charms. "I know how to do some specific charms you don't have here. I'd teach you if you wanted."

They're all demon related but he'd offer it even if it weren't for that tattoo on Ethan's arm. Ruby is here and if the good demon can get in then demons like Meg can get in too.

"That'd be great. Whenever you have time." In Tara's setting, demons are hard to keep out wholesale; they vary too much from type to type. But there's nothing to say his kind of demons might not turn up in Taxon too, at some point, so it would be good knowledge to have.

"It's not a lot and you might never need it but it can't hurt to know how to make them just in case," Sam answers. "This is a great place. It's good to know it's here."

He doesn't know how to do much really. Just runes, charms, summonings--that sort of thing. Real spells are things he's stayed away from.

"It's a little modeled after Ethan's shop at home. He ran it with my friend Anya and Giles. The librarian I'm going to introduce you to eventually."

It is foreign nature to Tara to be pushy about anything, but at the same time, magic is important to her in ways that it's hard to explain. It's not just a skill, it's a world view. (And that's part of what made her so angry with Willow; not just that Tara was scared for her, which she was, but that she was abusing the nature of what magic was supposed to be and do.)

"I don't know how many customers we'll get, but I'm glad we're open."

Sam could respect that. He just doesn't understand it yet.

"Me too. It's something for you to do and it's bound to come in handy at some point with people."

"Hopefully not for anything too dire. But at least you'll know where to find me, if I'm not home." Because the idea of Tara going out socially clearly doesn't cross her mind.

"Yeah, let's stick to little things like...curing warts and freckles," Sam smiles at her. He's going to have to take her out socially sometime. If he could dance he'd suggest that. As it is, it'll have to be dinner and bowling or something. "I'm sorry if I offended your friend...I didn't mean to."

"I know. It's just... kind of a touchy subject for a first meeting." And, of course, Sam can't know that the rest of the people Ethan expects to be his friends and family are reacting like he's pond scum, either. "I'm sure you're just used to looking for things like that. Habit."

"Yeah," Sam nods. "It's part of the job. Noticing details. Most people don't get out of whatever he was into though so...he's got to be pretty strong."

And Sam admires people who can dig themselves out of things like that.

"I don't doubt it," she says, quietly. "I... he knew me back home, but for whatever reason, I don't remember him. I met him here."

Sam makes a confused face along with a bit of a WTF face. "Yeah? That's odd."

She nods. "I... I think it's a glitch, of some kind, but it's weird." She's worried, actually - and she's more worried because Ethan's worried, and trying to keep her from noticing.

[Location | Tamper and Trick, Central Taxon] Opening Day

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