foxtamara

[foxtamara]

It was always nice having a mom's day out to relax a bit and give herself a rest. It was even better when a fellow mom friend tagged along for an adventure. "Supernatural mystery thriller sounds like an interesting combination," Tamara mused. "I'll keep an eye out and see if I can find any interesting titles from either of them." Her fingers combed through the shelves until landing on the spine of a book titled A Flicker In The Dark. She was immediately intrigued by both the beauty of the front cover and the synopsis on the back. "Welp, I've found one thing so far. How about you? Find anything interesting yet?"

When her mom had insisted that she needed some 'grandma and grandkid time', and Thea found herself with a light workload for the day, she couldn't help but wander around town for a bit. The last few years had been consistent in the sense of her time had been split between two things; work and her kids. So when she actually had a break, she didn't really know what to do at times.

Hence her wandering into the bookstore, glancing overing the random titles that her gaze grazed over without prejudice. Lifting her head up from the current book she'd been flipping through, Thea grinned at her friend. "Lemme think...suspense thriller? Okay let's see." She let out a hum, leaning lightly on the bookshelf to face the other femme. "Currently I'm reading The Rook by Daniel O'Malley, which is a supernatural mystery thriller combination. Truthfully I don't think you can go wrong with James Patterson or Catherine Coulter but that may be a copout answer." Thea laughed.

[foxtamara]

"Some TikTok captions have been getting pretty long these days. Sometimes I don't feel like reading the entire paragraph and just wind up scrolling on by." Tamara reaches her hand out to take a quick peek at the cookbook. "I too went through a linguine noodle phase, so you can break past it too." She flipped to a fairly simple parmesan chicken recipe that seemed easy enough to follow. "You think you can make this?" she asked as she pointed to the adjoining picture.

Delaina can't help but to laugh at the recommendation, especially coming from Tamara. "Fox, I thought we knew each other better than that. Only time I'm reading is when it's the caption of a TikTok or a client's emails." She holds up the cookbook that she's been mulling over like she's guilty of something. "My turn to ask a question — think this is beginner friendly? I'm reaching my thresholds of pasta intake and I'm afraid if I don't spice it up a little, I might actually turn into a linguine noodle."

[foxtamara]

Tamara's attention was piqued at the mention of twists and turns. It was hard to find a good page-turning story that was impossible to put down, which was exactly what she was craving to read. "I did see the movie Gone Girl, so there goes any surprise plot twists for me," she said with a small laugh. "Maybe I'll check out The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Thanks for your recommendation."

Faith looked up from the bookshelf she was perusing and smiled warmly at Tamara. "Oh, I know that feeling! Finding the perfect book after finishing a good one can be a bit of a challenge," she agreed with a nod. "As for me, I've been getting lost in a gripping mystery series lately, filled with twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat."

She paused for a moment, considering Tamara's preference for suspense and thrillers. "If you're looking for something in that genre, I'd highly recommend 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It's a real page-turner with plenty of surprises," Faith suggested, her voice carrying enthusiasm. "Or, if you prefer something more classic, you might enjoy 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It's got a great mix of mystery and intrigue."

She gestured toward the shelves. "Feel free to take a look and see if any of those catch your eye. Happy reading!"

[foxtamara]

Tamara's eyes brighten at the mention of first pressings and early additions. She had inherited a ton of her father's vintage records, but she was always curious about what else she could find to add to her ever-growing collection. "The weed aroma just makes them more authentic to me," she jokes with a melodic giggle.

Her fingers shuffle through the piles of well-loved outer sleeves, excitement flowing through her chest as she wondered what treasures she would come across. Her head perks up as the clerk continues the conversation. "I'm always going to be a die-hard Beatles fan, so they're obviously going to be my answer. But Fleetwood Mac, The Who, and The Rolling Stones are high on my list too." She paused for a moment before speaking again. "Who would you say are your top three favorite bands of all time?"

"Oh, yeah," she says, motioning to two neighboring containers. "60s," she points to the closest one, "70s," then to the crate next to it. "The majority of them are first pressings or early additions. A lot of the 70s records reek of weed, which I suppose is to be expected. Some of the linings have tiny messages from former owners. Dedications or comments on lyrics. Very cool stuff."

She steps aside to let Tamara do her own searching. She was going to go back behind the counter and resume sorting the shipment of photographs, but she wanted to talk to the other woman some more. It had been an especially slow day. "Who would you say is your favorite 60s band?"

[foxtamara]

She reaches into the cooler and pulls out two Cokes, handing one off to Ava with a warm smile. She cracks the top open and a small fizz breaks free. There was nothing like an ice-cold Coke on a hot summer day. "Pretty much the same old thing. Running the Daiquiri, performing a few times a week, and trying not to freak out because soon I'll be the mom of a teenager," she says while sipping on the fizzy drink. "How about you? What's new in your world?"

Ava returns Tamara's smile, appreciating the friendly gesture. She watches as Tamara gets settled and pulls out a cold soda from her cooler, the fizzy refreshment enticing in the warm summer air. Ava's eyes light up at the offer, grateful for the opportunity to quench her thirst. "Thank you so much! A Coke sounds perfect," she replies with enthusiasm. The mention of Capri Suns brings a nostalgic twinkle to her eye, a reminder of carefree childhood days. "What have you been up to these days? The kids are getting so big."

[foxtamara]

My muse knows how to...

bake a cake from scratch | ride a horse | drive stick | speak a second language | dance | catch a fish | play an instrument | throw a punch | build a deck | ice skate | unclog a drain | program a computer | change a flat tire | fire a gun | sew | juggle | play poker | paint | fly a kite | sculpt | write poetry | change a diaper | sing | shoot a bow and arrow | ride a bike | swim | sail a boat | do a back flip | play chess | give CPR | pitch a tent | flirt | stitch a wound | read palms | use chopsticks | write in cursive | use an electric drill | braid hair | make a campfire | make a mixed drink | do sudoku puzzles | wrap a gift | give a good massage | jump-start a car | roll their tongue | do magic tricks | do yoga | tie a tie | skip a rock | shuffle a deck of cards | read Morse code | pick a lock

My muse's strengths...

adaptable | adventurous | affectionate | ambitious | artistic | athletic | assertive | beautiful | brave | charming | clever | compassionate | confident | considerate | cooperative | corteous | creative | curious | decisive | dependable | determined | diplomatic | easy-going | enthusiastic | fair | fashionable | forgiving | friendly | fun-loving | funny | generous | gentle | hard-working | heroic | honest | hopeful | humble |  imaginative | incorruptible | intelligent | intuitive | inventive | jocular | leader | lively | loving | loyal | merciful | musical | observant | open-minded | optimistic | organized | outgoing | passionate | patient | playful | polite | popular | practical | resourceful | self-assured | selfless | sensible | sincere | strong | studious | thoughtful | tough | versatile | warm-hearted | well-intentioned | wise | witty

My muse's flaws...

absent-minded | abusive | addict | aggressive | aimless | alcoholic | anxious | arrogant | audacious | bad liar | bigmouth | bigot | blindly obedient | blunt | callous | childish | chronic heroism | clingy | clumsy | cocky | competitive | corrupt | cowardly | cruel | cynical | delinquent | delusional | dependent | depressed | deranged | disloyal | ditzy | egotistical | envious | erratic | fickle | finicky | flaky | frail | fraudulent | guilt complex | gloomy | gluttonous | gossiper | gruff | gullible | hedonistic | humorless | hypochondriac | hypocritical | idealist | idiotic | ignorant | immature | impatient | incompetent | indecisive | insecure | insensitive | lazy | lewd | liar | lustful | manipulative | masochistic | meddlesome | melodramatic | money-loving | moody | naive | nervous | nosy | ornery |  overprotective | overly sensitive | paranoid | passive-aggressive | perfectionist | pessimist | petty | power-hungry | proud | pushover | reckless | reclusive | remorseless | rigorous | sadistic | sarcastic | senile | selfish | self-martyr | shallow | sociopathic | sore loser | spineless | spiteful | spoiled | stubborn | tactless |temperamental | timid | tone-deaf | traitorous | unathletic | ungracious | unlucky | unsophisticated | untrustworthy | vain | withdrawn | workaholic

My muse has...

broken a bone | gotten stitches | had a near-death experience | killed someone | tried and failed to kill someone | invented something | been hungover | kissed someone | slow danced | been in a long-term relationship | had sex | had sex and regretted it | had a one-night stand | had a threesome | experimented with their sexuality | had a kid | gotten married | self-harmed | traveled to another country | been in a play | received an inheritance | been in a car wreck | lost a loved one | been dumped | dumped someone | smoked | gotten high | been slipped something in their food/drink | won a contest | won an election | joined a sports team | gone skydiving | gone hunting | been in a band | had a job | been fired | been in a wedding party | owned a pet | seen a ghost | skipped class/work | learned an instrument | gotten a noticeable scar | sued someone | been robbed | been mugged | been brainwashed/hypnotized | gone more than one day without eating | had a recurring nightmare | been bullied | bullied someone | saved someone’s life | cheated on someone | been cheated on | had a stalker | been betrayed | been in a fight | been arrested | been to a funeral | had surgery | broken someone’s trust | gotten a piercing | gotten a tattoo | used a fake name | been blackmailed | gotten away with a crime | gone on a road trip | been in love

My muse's habits...

nail biting | throat clearing | lying | interrupting | chewing the ends of pens | smoking | swearing | knuckle cracking | thumb sucking | muttering under their breath | talking to themselves | nose picking | binge drinking | oversleeping | snacking between meals | skipping meals | picking at skin | impulse buying | talking with their mouth full | humming/singing to themselves | chewing gum | leg jiggling | foot tapping | hair twirling | whistling | eye rolling | licking lips | sniffing | squinting | rubbing hands together | jaw clenching | gesturing while talking | putting feet up on tables | tucking hair behind ears | chewing lips | crossing arms over chest | putting hands on hips | rubbing the back or their neck | being late | procrastinating | doodling | shredding paper | peeling off bottle labels | forgetfulness | running hands through hair | overreacting | teeth grinding | nostril flaring | slouching | pacing | drumming fingers | fist clenching | pinching bridge of nose | rubbing temples | rolling shoulders

[foxtamara]

open for anyone @fairfordstarters

location: The Book Nook

Whenever Tamara had a day off with nothing planned, her routine usually consisted of heading to the pool. She would throw her headphones in, crank up her favorite playlist and lose herself in a book as she soaked up the sun. The only problem was, she had just finished her book last night and was in search of what to read next.

She wandered between the narrow aisles of the bookshop and occasionally pulled a book out to read the blurb on the back. "Have you been reading anything interesting lately?" she asked the person browsing a few shelves over from her. "I just finished a cheesy romance book but I think I'm looking for more suspense/thriller next. Any recommendations?"

[foxtamara]

Tamara stepped outside for some fresh air and sat at one of the outdoor tables at her business, Daring Daiquiri. As soon as she noticed the mother and her toddler, Tamara couldn't help but smile. Her memories flashed back to when her son was that age and how quickly he had grown up. "Naps just hit different when you're a kid," Tamara agreed. "Oh no, you're fine. I'm a mom too so I know that once your toddler falls asleep, you don't want to endure the crankiness of waking them up." She let out a small laugh. "You're welcome to bring her inside so you can both be comfortable in the air conditioning."

location: anywhere open to: anybody ( @fairfordstarters ) To say that life with a toddler was hard was an understatement but she did not realize how exhausting it would be. She thankfully didn't have to work today but that good feeling only lasted a few minutes before the meltdowns started and Nadia was all but pulling her hair out. Nothing she did helped the little girl - no walks, no parks, no food, nothing. Finally, Ivy let her hold her and rock her to calm her down, slowly falling asleep in her arms. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there with the little girl when someone approached her. "If only I could sleep this good," she laughed, glancing up at the person. "I'm sorry. Do I need to leave?"

[foxtamara]

Even though she took the day off, Tamara still had a full day of errands to run. She decided the best way to start her day would be to drop into Java Junction and grab a coffee and her favorite pastry.

She stood back for a moment, surveying the menu to see if they had anything new or different that she was in the mood for. It was then that someone zipped right in front of her and cut her off. She stood there for a moment, an annoyed look twisting her face. Of course, it disappeared the moment the woman apologized. "No, it's okay. You don't have to do that," she insisted.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Mia shouted angrily, grabbing some clothing she found laying on the floor. She couldn’t be fussy this morning, she had to wear whatever she just picked up - after all, she was running late for work. The brown haired woman couldn’t exactly be late for work either as she had to hand over her presentation to her boss before the children came in. Mia questioned why she wanted to work as a teacher when all she truly wanted in that moment in time was more sleep. “Coffee.” She blurted out to herself, shrugging on her backpack. The brunette looked in the mirror, she really looked like a school kid. She was wearing a jumper, leggings, boots and a backpack with her hair tied in a bun. Mia always worried the children wouldn’t take her seriously if they had her in class and she felt as though her attire wasn’t helping her case either. Mia ran out the door, locking her apartment after her.

Mia was currently on one mission - get coffee. The short woman ran down the streets, trying her best to make it in time for coffee and work - she couldn’t do her job this tired after all. The brunette wasn’t usually one for coffee either, she was truly a tea lover through and through. Although, she did know when she was needing it - it just meant that she would be up all night marking papers before crashing hard. “Coffee, coffee, coffee.” The girl murmured, looking up at the shop that stood before her - Java Junction. She sped in, not realising she had jumped the queue. “Can I get a triple-shot espresso iced coffee please?” She asked the server, pulling out her phone from her bag to pay. The brunette looked up at the server with a puzzled face before turning round to the person before her who was also about to pay for their items. “Oh my God, I am so sorry.” She blurted out, looking the person up and down. “I just jumped didn’t I? I’m like the worst person ever. Please let me buy you your stuff.”

[foxtamara]

"It's funny you mention puppies since my son has been begging me to let him adopt one," Tamara said. She had to admit, it would be nice having a pet in the house. But the idea of attempting to train a puppy was too overwhelming for her to even think about. "What kind of puppies are they?" Xander never did specify if he wanted a specific breed or if that was something that didn't matter too much to him. "I don't have any at the moment. But like I said, my son has been wanting one. I'm starting to cave, but don't let him know that."

"Some people at my work think I'm crazy when a litter of puppies came in abandoned and I decided to take them all home to care for them. See what they didn't know was I've got the next six days off which means I've just entered heaven and have endless puppy cuddles that whole time while also getting to keep an eye on them. Not to mention the animals I already have running around my house who I'm sure are going to love the extra attention. " he glanced up from his list in his hand of the things he needed to grab. "Have any animals yourself?" @fairfordstarters

[foxtamara]

Tamara's face lights up as she follows the clerk's lead to the small vinyl section. Her eyes glaze over the tattered record sleeve that shows how well it's been loved over the years. She had never heard of the record before, but she was always open to the unfamiliar whenever it came to music. "Do you happen to have anything from the 60s or 70s? Those are the decades I vibe with the most."

Romy smiles, warmed by the presence of a kindred spirit. It was cozier than a bonfire, albeit you couldn't toast marshmallows over it, which was unfortunate. Thoughts of S'mores dance around her head like sugar plums in a Christmas carol. She might have to make some after work.

"Totally!" She rounds the counter and leads the way to the shop's modest record collection. "We don't have much, but what we do have is unique. Look at this one. It's my favorite." She gently takes out a record sleeve labeled Songs for Babysitters. "This one came out in 1952. It's kinda like those highly specific playlists people make on Spotify. It makes you realize that we weren't all that different in the past."

[foxtamara]

"Thanks," Tamara smiles as she sets her bag and towel on the chair. She keeps one eye on the kids while she gets settled and pulls out a cold soda from the cooler she brought. "Would you like one?" Tamara offers to her neighbor. "We have Coke, Sprite, and a few Capri Suns if you're feeling nostalgic."

No need to apologize. It's all yours," she responds graciously. As Tamara settles in, Ava's mind briefly drifts to her own aspirations. She watches the kids joyfully splashing in the pool, their laughter echoing in her ears. A flicker of longing passes through her as she envisions a future where she and Maya might have their own children to bring to the pool. The thought fills her heart with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. Ava brought her attention back to the present moment, ready to embrace the poolside camaraderie and perhaps strike up a conversation with her new neighbor.

[foxtamara]

Tamara's interest piqued at the mention of old photographs. It was always interesting to find frozen pieces of time like this. She couldn't help but wonder more about who the people in the photograph were and what their lives were like. "No, don't be sorry at all," she assures the girl. "I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to vintage and antique things. It's unfortunate you couldn't get more information about the people in the photos." She pauses for a moment, her eyes scanning the surroundings of the store. "I was hoping to check out your vinyl selection and see if I can find any hidden gems in there."

"Oh, yeah. Tons," she exclaims, rising to her full five-foot-ten height. Her knees pop. C'mon, she thinks, I'm just twenty-seven. But her knees seemed to think they were several decades older.

"They're old photographs." She fans out a few of the silver-platted Daguerreotypes on the glass top so they could look at them together. "Some date back to the 1830s, which is not long after the invention of the first photographic camera. The guy who brought them in said they belonged to his second cousin thrice removed. Or something along those lines. He knew next to nothing about them or the pictures. Unfortunately."

Reel it in, Rom.

"Sorry," she smiles. "Sometimes I get carried away. Can I help you find something?"

[foxtamara]

It had been a while since Tamara had experience the type of hangover that made everything foggy. Sure, she had a few drinks the night before but she considered herself lucky that her hangover wasn't like the man in search of his keys. "Maybe pop into a few different bars and clubs in the area. Chances are you wandered into at least one of them at some point, so it won't hurt to check."

Grey tried really hard to remember. Last night was still pretty foggy for him, considering the fact how much he drank. Only thing he remembers clearly was when he came here for breakfast. Now, it would be awesome if he wasn't all hungover at that particular moment. Then he wouldn't be in this situation for sure.

"I remember being here this morning. So I guess I left them somewhere around here."

[foxtamara]

There was nothing like a bonfire on a summer night, but it only felt complete when there was at least one guitar laying around. It only took a few drinks in everyone's system before they were all passing it around and belting their hearts out to ever word. "Hm," Tamara turns to the person who's approached, a smiling pulling on her lips as she realizes it's Stevie. "It is. You're more than welcome to play it if you'd like!"

PRIDE BY THE BEACH. CUSTOM MADE FOR⦂ @foxtamara LOCATION⦂ THE BEACH.

Pride's a good time: always has been no matter where in the world she finds herself, always probably will be. She's milling about, cup in her hand, looking for somewhere to deposit herself on the sand where she won't be bothered when she looks up and sees a break-off bonfire and a small crowd. There's a guitar, avid chatter, and like magnetism, Stevie's drawn to it. She stands on the outskirts and observes, up until she's caught. "That yours?" she asks to the woman, head tipping in the direction of the guitar. "It's a beauty."

[foxtamara]

She wasn't entirely sure if dance would be the type of thing Xander would get into, but it never hurt to try something new. She grabbed a pamphlet and skimmed through it as she listened to the woman. "I'll mention it to him and see if he's interested." She paused, distracted by the paper in her hands. "You have adult classes too? I may be interested in signing up for a few lessons."

Cara always loved the children, even though she wasn't sure would she like to have them herself. She was so carefree and she actually enjoyed her liberty as such. She liked to have classes with kids because it was amazing how talented some of them were. It was also a good hobby for anyone.

"We are actually having classes for kids every Tuesday and Friday. It is currently 31 of them so your son wouldn't be alone for sure. It is so good for you to do that, my brother also danced when he was kid."

[foxtamara]

With a day off and little to no plans for her day, Tamara decides to swing by Top Drawer Antiques to check out what they have. It's one of those places that holds unique hidden treasures. You just have to hit it at the right time. She pushes the door open and is greeted with some of her favorite music, followed by a greeting from the salesperson.

She smiles in return, before she peers over to check out what new stock she's going through. "Find anything cool yet?" she curiously asks.

when: 3:43 PM where: Top Drawer Antiques

Romy is sorting new stock. It's a huge hoard of old photographs, and she realizes it's going to take her more than just one shift to get through, but she doesn't care: she's on cloud nine.

Humming along to the music burbling out of the restored vintage radio, Romy organizes the photographs by type (Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cartes des Visites, Cabinet Cards…) and then groups them by year. She is mentally noting the ones she wants to purchase for herself, but reasons they ought to spend some time in the storefront before accompanying her home. It's only fair.

The bell above the door rings, and Romy rises to her knees, peering over the horizon of the front counter. Only her honey-brown eyes could be seen. "Hi! Welcome! Let me know if I can help you with anything. I'm just down here going through some new stock. I'm actually quite tall."

@fairfordstarters