Toxic Witches Character: Tam (Patreon)

Tam is a supporting character in Toxic Witches. They're basically a social services worker for magic users, and they enter the story when Elleanor basically needs protection services after her and Rachel's first big fallout and Rachel goes MIA. They end up trying to help her emotionally and becoming a friend.

They grew up wishing they could be a cowboy, but even though they live in a world of secret magic, being a professional witch is still a more viable career than cowboy in their modern world. But that doesn't stop them from incorporating the Cowboy Aesthetic into everything they do. They even tried to use a gun as a magic wand, but this was banned because of how violent it looked. So now they've learned how to use special gloves to channel their magic via Finger Guns. Much to the constant annoyance of their budgie familiar.

Backstory:

Tam is actually only part human. Their dad is half-Fae, and their adoptive mother is actually their half-sister from the same father. He kind of became a nuisance for the magical governing forces by sleeping around a lot and fathering a lot of part-Fae kids who weren't registered or recorded. Its not that part-Fae kids are dangerous, but more that they can end up having a lot of development issues. Fae are very eusocial and share a sort of psychic bond with their "family," and depriving a fae or part-fae child of that connection and offering no support can be emotionally devastating to them. Not knowing she was part Fae caused Tam's adoptive mom/sister a lot of grief and social development problems. In fact, she became Tam's mom when she met Tam as a baby, felt that psychic family bond and had no idea what it was, and kidnapped Tam.

Long story short Tam's mom got into a lot of trouble, but due to their connection was allowed to keep Tam for the latter's sake. Tam fortunately grew up with their adoptive mom and a lot of support from magical social and development services, which is why they have such a fondness for the job and pursued it themselves. Or rather, pursued it when they realized Cowboys aren't real anymore.

Knowing full well what its like to lose that sense of connection with someone - they've had to learn how to cope emotionally when they cannot be near their mom or other fae - Tam becomes highly empathetic to Ellie losing Rachel and takes her under their wing as much as they can. At one point they feel like the only voice of reason who actually views and treats Ellie like the child she is while everyone else is forcing her to make adult decisions fast.