Merengue Living Room, Friday Afternoon

[life_inshadow]

Turning sixteen already felt much better than any other birthday Tara'd had since puberty. For one, she no longer had the sword hanging over her head of in a few years, the demon will take over and everything will be different. That in itself was enough to make the crisp fall day feel different.

For another, Diana had dropped off a chocolate cake with coconut frosting before grabbing Samuel and disappearing on some mysterious errand.

Tara considered waiting for any other guests, but ultimately decided to just cut herself a slice and enjoy it. She sat in one of the battered chairs in the living room with a Fiona Apple CD playing on the stereo, feet up as she picked at the cake. She was happy.

[OOC: If you want Tara to have mentioned her birthday to you, or if you live in Merengue, this is open (with possible slow due to workiness). Diana modded with permission. Come have cake!]

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[life_inshadow]

"Then you have to have cake," Tara told her. "That's my, my favorite tradition."

She went to unwrap the gift, letting raven cut her own slice, and gasped when she saw the box. "Oh, this is j-just beautiful."

[trigons_child]

"Thank you," Raven said, helping herself to a slice. "And you are welcome. The incense inside came from my home and not from Airs. It is one of my favorite scents."

[life_inshadow]

"I like it," Tara said, taking a whiff. "It smells like trees, but warmer. It'll remind me of this trip."

[trigons_child]

"I am glad you like it," Raven said. And, because she could not help but feel Tara's mood, she added, "It is good to see you so happy."

[life_inshadow]

"I know," Tara said. "I mean, not that I'm usually miserable or anything, but -- there's this whole huge weight off my shoulders lately? It's good."

[trigons_child]

"I can sense it," Raven said, smiling at her friend. "You seem lighter. Freer." She couldn't help but be a little envious.

[life_inshadow]

"Yeah, there was this thing?" Tara sat and invited Raven to do the same. "There was this thing my family told me all my life, and it's not true. It makes getting older much easier."

[trigons_child]

Raven settled in a chair, frowning slightly. "Your family misled you? On purpose?" She shook her head. "I am sorry, this is a pleasant occasion, I should not be asking such questions."

[life_inshadow]

"No, no, I don't mind," Tara said. "I mean, I don't mind talking if you don't mind hearing about it."

[trigons_child]

"As long as you do not mind," Raven said. "I am curious but I do not wish to ruin the mood of your special day."

[life_inshadow]

Tara shook her head. "it shouldn't ruin it? I mean, probably?"

The preliminaries were just making her more self-conscious. "They said my mother was part demon. That I'd -- that that was why I could do magic. That I'd go bad."

[trigons_child]

"And...it was all a lie? Why would they tell you such a thing?" Raven said. She wished her own heritage was as easy to dismiss.

[life_inshadow]

"I don't know. I want to believe it was a mistake, you know? Tahiri thinks it was to co control me," Tara said, and there was something fierce in her tone. "To control my mom. To make us -- to keep us in our places."

[trigons_child]

"Whatever the reason, I am glad you know the truth now," Raven said. "It must be a great relief." She was mostly able to keep her feelings from showing on her face due to years of practice, but she did have a slight catch in her voice.

[life_inshadow]

Tara heard the catch but misunderstood the reason behind it. "It is. And -- let's talk about happy birthday stuff now?" she tried. "I got to go on a horseback ride this morning."

[trigons_child]

"I was debating trying that as well," Raven said. "Riding horses is another thing on the long list of things I have never done before. Is it difficult to learn?"

[life_inshadow]

Tara shook her head. "It -- sort of depends on the horse?" she said. "But if you get a gentle one and a good instructor, it's not hard, -- you s-sit there and the horse does all the work. I think there's a place in town if you want to go sometime."

[trigons_child]

"At least I know with my gifts I can find a gentle one easily," Raven said. "You have ridden before then? It was not your first time this morning?"

[life_inshadow]

Tara nodded. "Yeah, I learned when I was little. It's been a few years, but you don't really forget."