Tara walked up to the counter of Puddifoot's and smiled lightly at Pandora, with a soft wave, before going to a small table in a corner to stay away from other customers, she was worn down and tired, she just wanted the comfort of someone she knew near her along with a good cup of tea and some scones to go with it, it would be be good to have something soft and comforting.

She rubbed her eyes, while a monthly transformation was not something you can easily shake off the morning after, but a Blue Moon was something that she was struggling to cope with, she felt even more drained then usual, aswell as other weird side effects that were not yet over with, she felt more irritable and burnt out, while having a flash of more primal energy.

She had started going to Puddifoots for her transformations since she heard about it at the Ministry, she went the following day and seemed to be getting along well with the owner, the fact that she could wake up and get a cream tea following was helpful for why she went, it was also just nice to not be at the Ministry constantly, or transforming around your co-workers.

She slowly took her seat, dressed in loose clothing that was easy to wear, a set of jogging trousers, a tank top and a pair of sandals, she relaxed backwards and closed her eyes as she attempted to rest them a little before she heard footsteps approaching, a small smile formed on her face followed by a soft, almost feral growl. "Good morning, how did you fare?" She asked as if it was easy for herself, though she was pretty sure it was easy enough to see through her lie.

Pandora Paz Puddifoot was exhausted. Being a single mother of two infants with a full time booming business and Ministry approved werewolf safe house, Dora had never felt so bone weary. The twins were teething and two full moons in the same calendar month had her ready to just fall into a puddle. Instead, she put a warm smile on her face and grabbed a plate of elderberry scones and a large mug of chamomile tea.

Dora was off duty, as much off duty as the owner could be anyway. She usually let the crew run themselves on days leading up to and after the full moon. They were a good bunch and it wasn't like Puddifoot's had many unruly patrons to deal with. The twins were still with their father. He would bring them home later, but for now, Dora was free of responsibility.

She chose to spend her time with a fellow she-wolf who shared her basement on hairy nights. Not many were permitted into the basement of Puddifoot's since Dora became a mother, the safety of her family far outweighed any obligation she felt to helping her fellow 'wolf. Tara was one of the few exceptions, and though they spent the most time together when they were both emotionally charged, Dora found that she really liked her companion.

She sat the plate on the table carefully and slid into a seat even more so, cupping her mug of soothing tea with both hands. She was a little more put together than her companion, one of the perks of living above the safe house. She could get ready for the day before having to face the masses. Still, no make-up in the world could cover the bags under her eyes and her usually fine posture was slouched.

"No better or worse than usual, I suppose," she said in response to the witch, offering her a small smile, "Elderberry scones, try one," she continued, stifling a yawn. If Tara was anything like Dora, she would be ravenous after a transformation.

"How about yours? Comfortable enough or is there something we can get you for next month?" Ever the mother, Dora couldn't help but worry about how her friend had fared.

Tara watched the other woman sit opposite of her, she was somewhat jealous of the fact she looked in a better state, not that you could be in a good state after a full moon transformation but at the very least she looked like she was dressed properly, most people would be able to tell that Tara was not wearing a bra at a cursory glance and the complete lack of makeup or preparation.

"As soon as I get back home. I am sleeping until the next week starts." She said followed by a yawn escaping her, it was such an exhausting night no matter what, she was filled with so much energy that she attacked and lashed out at anything nearby regardless of if anything was in her place before eventually burning out as day would return once more and she transformed back. At the very least she knew she was getting her work out.

She took a scone and gently bit into it, giving almost a moan as she managed to eat something, her eyes closing with a breath out of her nose as she relaxed.

"I'm good with what's in there, unless we go for adding things for me to attack, otherwise its just going to be destroyed." She said softly before a shrug. "Or you know, just a male werewolf that I won't tear to pieces, if I'm going to be up all night I might aswell get something out of it." She spoke with more scone being stuffed into her mouth as she enjoyed the taste of it.

"Thesh are goodsh."

Dora let out a bark of laughter at Tara's mention of male wolves. Her voice, usually soft and gentle, carried throughout the room. The Puddifoot clan had always been more lover than fighter, so Dora knew exactly what the other woman meant. Wolves didn't care for much - a fresh kill, a warm den, and a mate. Registered werewolves, or rather responsible werewolves, denied themselves those things.

Dora often wondered if she allowed herself to fully 'wolf out' would the lingering effects of the transformation disappear? Would she stop craving bloody meat for days after if she just chomped on a goat one full moon? Would she still want to snap at everyone and everything if she didn't take her wolfsbane like a good girl? Dark thoughts that Dora knew would fade with the phases of the moon.

She took a bite of her own scone, wishing it was a rare slab of beef instead, and washed it down with a sip of chamomile. Chamomile was her go-to tea of late, though her in-house diviner had turned her onto a lovely valerian-hibiscus brew that was simply divine. Growing up around the tea shop, Dora learned her teas and tinctures well. Still, no amount of soothing teas could calm her today.

She knew that blue moons were truly nothing special - the moon didn't skip phases, every twenty-nine and a half days she would wolf out. A blue moon didn't change the synodic month, but her business didn't run on the synodic month. Her suppliers, her children, her customers, basically no one cared that her schedule was off. No, chamomile wasn't going to cut it.

She took another bite of her scone and smiled warmly at Tara's compliment. Dora loved deciphering garbled speech from full mouths - it always meant she had done a good job in the kitchen. She had been doing less and less since the birth of her kids, but the house special was always made by Dora's own hand.

"So tell me how you've been since last time," She said, placing her mug on the table and settling more comfortably into her chair.

Tara sighed as she swallowed the scone pieces she had been eating, she drank down a bit of her tea to help it down her throat further instead of having the feeling of it slowly moving down and like it was clogging her airways. It was delicious but she was starving, almost ravenous, she had always felt like she could eat a feast after a transformation, something she denied herself to help maintain her figure.

"Not too much, helped take down a fake wolfsbane seller." She said gently as she wiped her mouth to attempt to look a bit more dignified then she was, something her outfit did not assist in at all but she didn't care.

She was getting weary of her job, all she ever did was the same thing, sure she helped get people off the street, but since becoming a werewolf, she had herself second guessing alot of who she bags, while she enjoyed putting away actual fake werewolf sellers, she'd several times had to take down people who were selling legitimate for good reasons, she didn't like taking down those who were trying to help unregistered werewolves.

If she had a choice in the matter, she probably would of been unregistered herself, but she didn't get to choose alot with what happened to her back then.

"I'm half tempted to quit, I've saved up enough money, I've got...an inheritance from my parents. I'll have time to figure stuff out." She sighed, she didn't get to give much honesty, she didn't know very many non work people, and she couldn't mention this to them. "With how...things are here with Werewolves...and ELF, I'm worried someday soon I might be forced to march somewhere that'll do more damage then good."

Dora nodded politely as Tara ranted about her problems. She loved listening to her friends almost as much as she loved a good cup of tea, and today she had both. Though she felt stretched thin, her own issues were minuscule when compared with Tara's. No one would be upset if her shipment of Lady Grey was delayed by a couple of days, but several good people could be hurt by Tara's work.

The issue was, several good people could also be saved by Tara's work. She had been fortunate by joining the registry, but that wasn't an option for some weres. Wolfsbane from a tested source was always preferred, but when wolves were denied those stores, they still needed care. She was guilty of giving unauthorized wolfsbane herself, actually. Pandora didn't usually care if someone was registered - when someone needed help, she would offer. Still, the potion was one of the most complex she had ever seen - it would be all too easy to make a mistake and ruin some poor werewolf's life.

"Perhaps you just need a break," she said kindly, reaching over to pat her friend's hand consolingly. "I know I sure could. Come have a drink with me this week,"

"Kale will watch the tykes and I'll invite a couple of other like-minded people to join us. What do you say?" She wasn't suggesting that Tara not worry, ELF had everyone on their toes, she just wanted to alleviate that stress a tiny bit. And convince some ladies to go drinking with her - Dora hadn't been to a bar since before she got pregnant - she needed wingwolfs.

Tara nodded gently at the suggestion, a break sounded good, she could use one to relax a few days, maybe she might make a trip to the beach, sunbathing with some cocktails, it sounded like a good relaxing holiday she could take, and perhaps she would, she couldn't even remember the last time she did really take a break, probably back when she was a Quidditch player...before the war.

"A night out sounds good, although you sure you can manage a night without kids?" She teased gently as she sipped her drink, letting the tea wash down her as she relaxed herself slowly, she wondered if Pandora could give up being a mum for a night now, it would be interesting to see regardless.

"Maybe that could be my break, I just get myself knocked up, how hard could it all be anyway?" She joked with a wry grin towards Dora. "Just having to tend to a tiny screaming human, instead of lots of screaming adults."

She took another sip of her tea after biting a chunk of her scone, watching for Dora's reaction, she had no intentions of being pregnant yet, she had to find a partner first, but she wanted to see how her friend might react to such an outrageous idea.

Pandora groaned internally while laughing ironically. Getting 'knocked up', as Tara put it, was the easy part. Dora had met her children's father on Valentine's Day, completely by chance, and was impregnated that night. Kale Ferris had not been part of Dora's life plan - neither was having children out of wedlock, but here she was.

She would never call her children mistakes, but her experience had not been a pleasant one. As a werewolf, pregnancy was difficult - human embryos and werewolf physiology weren't strictly compatible. Beyond that, wolves tended to give birth to litters. Though Dora hadn't had any major issues, the stress had been overwhelming. Had Kale not been a healer, Dora wasn't sure she would have survived the ordeal.

Dora began to shake her head, a 'no' on the tip of her tongue, but then she paused. Tara's experience with motherhood wouldn't be anything like Dora's - if that was a route the hitwix chose to go. Tara would be respected and lauded for raising children on her own, whereas Dora was primarily given pity. Tara would be brave for soldiering on while Dora was labeled easy or slutty.

Refusing to allow her dark thoughts to bring her mood down, Dora let her laughter trail off. "Expect multiples," was all she said, though she said it fondly and with a twinkle in her eye. Then she circled back around to Tara's earlier questioning, shaking herself out of her funk.

"A night without children is exactly what I need right now. I'm so tired of reading Babbity Rabbity," Dora crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. She had dreams about that cackling stump and they weren't always pleasant.

"Those cackling stumps will get to you." She nodded gently as she understood how annoying the same story over and over could be, she couldn't imagine having to go through that, she also probably wouldn't put up with it, at the age of two they better be reading their own books or she'd lose her mind. "Start on the Deathly Hallows, then Quidditch through the ages, then Slither Girls."

That seemed like the right way around to do the reading order, got to get the kids into proper books quickly after all right?

The idea of multiples put her off immediately, even if it wasn't an idea she was really going for, just the thought of having several children at once was not something she wanted, and what happened if it was during a Full Moon? She'd read in old, though unreliable books, that they result in being incredibly smart and bigger then normal wolves, but wolves nonetheless. She didn't really feel like having pets nor would her flat allow that.

"Yeah a litter doesn't sound good." She took another sip of her drink, getting annoyed as her drink seemed to empty now. It was quickly displaced however as she got an idea in her head that made her smirk and a small twinkle form in her eye. "We going to help eachother get laid? I'm painfully single and maybe that'll help with me quitting my job."

Tara's talk of getting laid made Dora slightly nervous. She was no prude - hell, she'd met Kale only a couple of hours before falling into bed with him and getting pregnant with his children. Still, she hadn't been with anyone since then - Valentine's Day 2011, and the thought of being with someone else made her palms sweat. She wasn't holding on to any delusions that she and Kale would get married, nor was she planning on practicing celibacy all her life, but for the moment what she had was enough. Adding a new man into the mix would disrupt the balance they'd found as a family and Dora wasn't quite prepared to do that.

On the other hand, a year and a half was a long time to go with no sex and Dora had already passed that threshold. "We'll definitely get you laid," She said with another laugh, "You know I can't stand to see my friends in pain," She was mocking Tara's 'painfully single' comment, but playfully. Pandora Puddifoot was a master in sarcasm but she was rarely sarcastic with her friends.

"You know they'll be a year old next month?" She asked, bringing the conversation back around to the twins - mums loved to talk about their children. "These squishy little ugly blobs that grew in my body. I don't care what anyone says, every newborn baby is ugly when it comes from the womb, all covered in goop and angry at the world. Anyway, they're not ugly anymore, and they're not squishy anymore. They're tiny people and every day I see more and more the people they're going to grow into and my heart could just burst with pride,"

Here she paused for a second, realizing she'd let her brain wander and lead her on a tangent, "Anyway, all that just to say that I think they're still a bit young for Quidditch Through the Ages. I think I'm a bit too young for that book. It's so boring. Who exactly cares how old a ball game is or how many fancy ways there are to foul?"

Tara chuckled lightly at the comment made back at her, giving a gentle smirk back towards her, she rested back into the seat as she almost giggled. "Girl, we are both werewolves, you know how it is." She said with a grin. "I thank you." She adds with a nod of her head.

However then the other woman started to bring up the kids again, she couldn't blame her even if it was annoying, she wondered how much she had managed to get out even to work since the babies were born, and as she spoke of how her kids were developing into their own people...she felt herself get overwhelmed, her own usual coldness and sternness breaking.

And so she found herself getting up to hug the other woman, the gooeyness of the birth grossed her out, that was for sure, however it didn't stop her from embracing the other woman in her warmth as she spoke about the babies, a soft smile on her all the while as she nodded. To her it was wild that babies took on their own form so quickly, to her they just seemed...well babies, but she also wasn't around them all the time.

"Any big plans for them?" She asked softly, then gave a fake, hurt scoff at the comment of Quidditch Through the Ages.

"Excuse you, that book is amazing, it got me into the Appleby Arrows." She said lightly pressing her finger to Dora's side as she moved out of the hug.