Thea Pallas

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea Pallas

a dependant rp blog for @godscobhhq

threads / muse / events / starters

Basic Information

NAME: Athena, Thea Pallas

GENDER: female

PRONOUNS: she/her

BIRTHDAY: September 7

AGE: 37

ORIENTATION: pansexual

OCCUPATION: Judge/attorney

Appearance

FACE CLAIM: Javicia Leslie

HEIGHT: 5' 3"

EYES: brown

HAIR: black

BUILD: curvy athletic

RACE/ETHNICITY: black

Personality & Behavior

SKILLS & HOBBIES: law degree, weaving

LIKES: brainstorming sessions, dancing, justice

DISLIKES: criminals

POSITIVE TRAITS: driven, just, wise

NEGATIVE TRAITS: abrasive, prideful, stubborn

Biography

The Goddess

Sprung from Zeus' head, clad in full war regalia, Athena took her place as goddess of Wisdom, War, and Crafts with full confidence. Though she wasn't perfect, she took her position seriously. Creating the olive tree, the chariot, and the justice system, she solidified her legacy through ancient Greece and beyond.

While she was personally neither for or against the creation of the town, she saw that for some gods, it would be best to have a safer outlet for their tendencies. So she voted in favor and helped create much of the infrastructure the city resides on. It was through her wisdom that the gods wiped their memories so as to protect the town from all of their hubris and destructive powers.

The Mortal

Driven and unrelenting, Thea Pallas worked her entire life to be as educated as thoroughly as possible. Teacher's pet, anti-social, brown noser. She heard it all but used it as fuel to complete her schooling. She'd completed high school by 16, then got through undergrad and law school by 22. Served as public defender, then District Attorney and finally by 30, The Honorable Chief Judge Pallas of Godscobh.

Her judgements are swift and ironclad and never without due diligence or cause. Even the most elite of the town has felt her wrath from time to time.

In her private life she does try to relax more, finding peace in hobbies that keep her sane when life seems to be against her. Weaving especially gives her ample time to calm her mind and recenter herself.

Growing up she's been plagued by the occasional vivid dreams that feel like memories but surely can't be. Probably just her over active imagination.

[spendfcrever]

"Understood, I can work with whatever you give me," The conversation with Zander was discouraging, but at least it made one thing clear to Elinor. They'd be working twice as hard for the next year to be getting anywhere with this project, and they'd be expected to pull out results immediately. Additionally, they can't show any fear in the face of a challenge, or else everyone would be doubting every step of the way.

"I'd love to start with you speaking to my class at the start of the school year. It'll give more credibility to the launch and more faces to look up to," Elinor absolutely had to believe in the power of a village working together on this. They would not back down because of scheduling issues, "And if you can find a place in your offices for an internship or two to offer, or a staff member who can act as a mentor, I think that'd be a great start."

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea pulls a notebook from her work bag and starts to take some notes for things she'll need her assistants to get on. She can already feel her body, seizing up in exhaustion. Just the thought of talking with any age of child or teen sounds like time better spent on other things. But she can see the logic in Elinor's proposal and Thea's not going to get in the way of that. Especially if Zander is sitting on his ass about it.

Once she gets everything written down, she looks back up to Elinor.

"Have you ever considered running for the school board?"

Thea assumes Elinor has good reasons to stay a teacher, but the judge can't help but be curious.

[faithinthemoon]

It was clear to Emanuel that the woman before him was troubled by his presence. In a sense, this appeased him; he was just as thrown off by her arrival! But he knew to be the bigger person and share... It is what he had learned all his life after all.

Besides, how else could he react to Honorable Chief Judge Pallas materializing herself, dead set on occupying his favorite bench. He respected her deeply. Though he assumed that surely she must have forgotten they'd crossed paths 10 years prior when the Patriaca famila attempted to murder him by way of... crushing him with a car. Judge Pallas had served as prosecutor on the case at the time. The mobster who didn't die on impact unfortunately landed himself a hefty sentence. All thanks to her diligent work and strong sense of justice. Something Emanuel would be eternally grateful for.

Waiting for her to take his invitation to sit by his side, he takes out his cellphone and begins typing.

"Best seat in the gardens, right?"

He waits a moment, making sure she read the entire message then returns the screen towards himself to add.

"Is this bench two small for the two of us? 🤠"

He chuckles quietly at his own attempt at lighting up the mood. Emanuel had a penchant for being a bit corny at times.

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea's a bit surprised when he offers her his phone but then reads the message. Huh. Deaf or mute? Both?

But then she let's out a small laugh at the second message.

"I think it's just fine," she says, then realizing she might need to...

But he seems to understand her just fine so she nods.

"This is one of the better spots. Hides some of the town in a way that makes you feel like you're not in a town."

She doesn't know why she would care about something like that. She's thrived in cities before. She needs a town in order to do her job. But there's something about nature that does provide a sense of serenity.

[spendfcrever]

No one would ever say Ms. Pallas wasn't one astute cookie. Her question makes Elinor laugh sheepishly, since the answer is so obvious. God, were they really out of their depth? Either way, too late to back out now. They were already too far in and didn't want to fail.

"To be frank, I wouldn't consider 'forthcoming' a general strength of our city council," Elinor allows a little too much frankness, perhaps, within the statement. It's no secret they've been in these bureaucratic back-and-forths with the council before, and everyone takes their sweet time answering all their letters.

"But an optimistic side of me would like to believe that if I show good results from this, he'll improve on that front in the future. I just need good people to work with me."

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea doesn't take offense at the candor. The day she'd joined the council, she'd made it clear that she was going to provide at least more structure to a group comprised mostly of disparate personalities. She was never going to be a "forthcoming" leader. But she can be swayed by the right information.

"Well, it's good to hear at least one of our teachers is optimistic."

Thea finishes skimming the binder, closing it to look at El.

"I have a very busy schedule so if you're sure you want my assistance, you'll have to work around that. And of course, I'll be wanting as much data as you can collect to show this is having even a fraction of effect as you're claiming it will."

[faithinthemoon]

Starter | Peculiar Interests

Where: Olympian gardens | When: mid-day | Whom: open to all

Today is a day off for Emanuel. He seldom gets the chance to stop and rest. For the occasion, the young manager chose to go to one of his favourite places, Olympian Gardens. At a slow pace, he makes his way to a bench. In truth, he would be tempted to claim it was "his" bench. After all, he never saw anyone else sit there and coming to this spot has become a bit of a ritual during his few days of rest.

A tranquil and quiet stroll. Always stopping to smell the fresh air when it hit the various flowers of the garden. Taking in every bit of nature he can as if uncertain he'd get the chance to do so any time soon. Once he'd sufficiently reconnected with the elements, he proceeds to his final destination: the bench! A quiet groan escapes him as he sits down. Tired wasn't enough to describe the pains in his body from standing long hours at the Ambrosia. The weight of keeping the establishment open was definitely starting to take a toll but Emanuel never once considered leaving. In fact, he almost felt guilty to be away from his post. Surely a bit of administration was left to be done. What of the day old pastries? Would his worker remember to give them away? Did-- "Never mind all that, Emanuel!" he thinks to himself. He takes a deep inhale to recenter himself. In actuality, Emanuel had come with a purpose beyond relaxation this time. He had brought a book... a dream dictionary! Which he opens almost impatiently moments after settling down. The young manager begins reading with intent, deeply focused. Last night he had a weird dream and he's keen on deciphering.

A wheat field. A golden sunset. A child running away from him. Always out of reach. The child disappears into the foliage only to emerge as a flock of doves...

Just as he begins to find keywords and definitions, he hears the sound of gravel cracking under the weight of someone approaching. Emanuel moves to close the book half way, almost instinctively hiding it from prying eyes. He's aware of the oddity of his... peculiar interest in dreams. Being mute, he has very few options in ways to explain away his odd choice of literature. Should they have noticed the book, he can only hope the other is open minded enough not to mock him. Then again, it's not like it would have been the first time. With a brother like his...

Emanuel looks up, squinting slightly as the sun rays light up his face. He smiles awkwardly and nods in acknowledgement, waiting for his judgment. A quiet moment passes... Suddenly, it hits him. Perhaps they wanted to sit there as well and he had selfishly taken up all the space available! He hurriedly shifts aside, leaving a space available by his side. With an inviting gesture and a reassuring nod, he indicates to the stranger that he's free to join him.

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea wouldn't say she's a rigid personality. She's actually quite adept at reacting when situations change. Of course, most of the time she has at least one back-up plan but that's besides the point. So, she shouldn't feel this paralyzed by a change in her routine right?

She's familiar with the garden's busy times and when it's virtually if not completely empty. She prefers those times to get out of her office and soak up some summer sun. But there's someone here. And they're sitting at her preferred bench.

She's thrown off. She can't explain it. Of all the things in her life to be thrown off by...

But the man is gesturing for her to sit down. Clearly he's not that thrown off by her, so she shouldn't be either.

"Apologies," she says, taking a seat. "Just wasn't expecting another person here today. At this time."

She regains her composure, straightening her back, rolling back her shoulders, and tilting her chin up slightly. Calm, collected, unfazed.

[spendfcrever]

"I wasn't- That's not my intention," Elinor pushed back a little, sitting up in their chair. Perhaps it wasn't that Thea was easier to work with than Zander, just tough in a different way, "I have a lot of plans, but I think strategy is best decided on through brainstorming and collaboration."

The teacher pulled the same large, three-ringed binder they'd shown Zander out and plopped in onto the table. A handful of sections were trimmed and polished since getting their mission, but the thing still weighed as much as a brick, maybe more.

"My plan is to get volunteers in the community to pair up with students for the coming school year and teach our graduating class about the variety of low-cost, accessible options for beginning careers. There's a few different ways I could see you participating, if you're interested. For one thing, it'd be helpful to have someone on the council who can back up my record keeping and help observe all the training, since it's been... alluded to that those might be difficult. And in regards to the speakers, I was thinking you'd enjoy connecting with the students since, if my program is a success, fewer of them would end up in your court in a handful of years."

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea hums, letting out a quiet laugh at the binder. Seems the teacher is thorough. Thea pulls over the binder and begins to flip through it, skimming the information with an interest.

The suggestions El makes of how Thea could help do sound reasonable. And maybe gently scaring young people onto the right path could make some parts of her future easier.

"Let me guess, Judge Olympios wasn't as forthcoming with assistance as he appears to be?"

The waiter brings their appetizers.

[swanprncess]

"Right? Or like we're in some sort of social experiment," she says, shaking her head.

It's surprisingly relaxing, sharing this moment with Thea, even though she'd usually rather be alone to decompress. Thea has a natural groundedness to her presence that centers Odette.

"If anything, this town is resilient. I'm sure the end of this round of storms will be around the corner before we know it, and this will just be a blip in our memories."

Her phone buzzes with an S.O.S. text about an emergency meeting regarding a hiccup in their clean-up process, and she barely restrains a frustrated groan. "Looks like another storm to take care of."

Closing her eyes again, she takes one last moment to soak in the nature around her. At least now, she feels more prepared to re-enter reality and face the rest of her day.

"This was nice, Thea," she says as she stands, a warm smile accompanying the words. "I hope the rest of your day is egotistical-men-free."

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea smiles, basking in the quiet moment of camaraderie. She finds herself wanting more moments like this than she had at the beginning of her career. Should she be worried about that?

She doesn't think about it for long as Odette stands.

"And I hope the same for you," Thea replies, smiling then leaning back and closing her eyes.

[spendfcrever]

Thea's respond makes Elinor smile a little. the other council members could be so commanding, downright scary in their refusals to entertain Elinor's pursuits. At least Thea's complaint was more a comment on her own image than the initiative itself.

"I think you can be personable. Well, as personable as I am," Elinor could be quite stubborn when they tried, funnily enough. Just because Thea always possessed this formal, professional attitude didn't mean she couldn't be spoken to like any other resident of Godscobh, "I've been given quite a daunting standard to meet in a short time frame, so... planning all these different mentorships coming together is something I want to make sure I hear others' wisdom on. You're the person I think of."

Plus, who better to know how to strategize against Zander's tactics than someone who works with him?

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea tilts her head.

"Careful, flattery only gets you so far with me, Mx. Frell. Now, I hope you're not coming to me without a strategy. Daunting as it may be, you should still have something for me to consider besides saying, 'yes.'"

Thea sips her wine, watching how El responds to the challenge.

[spendfcrever]

Elinor always felt a little uncomfortable coming uptown, feeling underdressed and undervalued the second they step into a higher tax bracket. It couldn't go any worse than their meeting with Mr. Olympios or Ms. Lee, though. That is, if Elinor could avoid pissing Thea off by saying the wrong thing. She was known for being wise and balanced though, so the teacher had a stronger hope for visiting the meeting times with her.

"Yes, of course! And I appreciate you making the time," Well, it's a public forum so not really Thea's choice, but it's polite to thank her anyways. Elinor wished more of the council would take meetings with the public like this, "I wanted to discuss some of the career services I'm planning. I don't know what you've heard so far, but I'm looking to get an array of speakers or leaders to meet with students and discuss post-high school education options."

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea listens, nodding. She's heard about this from Zander and Antonia but having this meeting requested was still a surprise.

"I have to say, I'm surprised you would want to meet with me. Surely, there are more personable people who can help with this."

They order and Thea settles in. It's hard to take off her robe sometimes but there are lots of times where she's expected to be Judge Pallas outside of the courthouse.

[grey-eyed-thea]

where: troian palace | when: evening | whom: open to all

With the turn to summer, Thea feels better about staying out of her house in the evenings more. Warm summer air mixed with the cool see breeze on her skin. It's her favorite time of the year, makes her feel at home.

So during the spring and summer she has a standing weekly reservation at Troian Palace that she rarely ever misses. Most times she's alone but it's an easy way to remain personally or professionally social. Friends and close colleagues all have open invitations to join her and sometimes when she wants a work meeting outside of the courthouse, she'll meet here.

She looks up from the card with the day's specials when her guest is brought to the table.

"You made it," she says with a polite smile.

[allxtted]

Sloane thought slowly for a moment, realizing she was tripping over her words. Miss Pallas wasn't like that, so composed and refined.

"I didn't mean I wasn't grown, I meant more like... Not experienced. I don't have the wisdom of experiencing life yet!"

Did that sound like she was calling Thea old? Sloane didn't think it was hurtful, but anyone could be sensitive about their experience.

"Here I am tripping over my words and all, I need to get better at that. I get easily flustered, and you're just very, very impressive."

[grey-eyed-thea]

"It just takes practice," Thea says, taking an apple from the table. "Wisdom's earned through action and consequence. No one can tell you how to get experience. You just have to do it."

She hands Sloane the apple then gives the vendor some cash for it.

"You'll be impressive too. Just in your own way. If everyone was like me, then the circumstances that made me this way wouldn't have existed. Don't be afraid to trip occasionally."

She smiles then starts to walk to the next vendor.

[swanprncess]

Thea's words about "egotistical men" surprise a dry laugh from her. She can certainly relate to that, given that there was no shortage of them at Callaway Realty and in their clientele.

When Thea gestures for Odette to sit, a frisson of excitement runs through her. It feels like she's passed her first Thea Test.

"That sounds exactly like the board meetings I've been stuck in," she says with a shake of her head as she sits next to Thea. "I'm here for similar reasons. I just needed somewhere to stop and breathe for a moment, away from everything."

She sighs, leaning back on her hands and closing her eyes, just breathing in the grounding smell of flowers and damp earth. "It's like this year has been determined to throw everything possible at this town."

[grey-eyed-thea]

"You're telling me," Thea says. "If I believed in God, I'd think they were trying to test my patience daily. Hourly even."

She mirrors Odette's deep breathing, feeling something calming about both of them sharing a quiet moment. Like they're both gearing up for battle. Thea's surprised by the contentment she's feeling. She very rarely finds it even in people she works with. But it's always small moments like this.

"Everything passes with time though, right? Whether we like it or not, and the town is still standing."

[allxtted]

"I guess it's just because you come across as very enlightened, very astute," Sloane didn't always trust her initial intuition about people, but she thought if Thea was important enough to be on the council, it makes sense that she'd be so smart.

"I'm from DC, and there are so many politicians who are old fuddy-duddies who speak in nonsense, and it's really refreshing to see you're so very poised and, like, certain of yourself. I hope I'm like that when I'm grown."

Sloane is grown now, of course, but sometimes she doesn't feel like it when compared to others.

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea watches the young woman. She has to admit, it's nice receiving compliments rather than curses from someone she doesn't work with. So many people seem to think of her as some immovable marble statue, unfeeling and uncaring.

She takes her purchases and smiles at the young woman.

"Well, just by looking at you, I'd say you're about there already. What makes you think you aren't?"

[kingoftheskiesgc]

The Godscobh Courthouse has been Zander’s home for almost as long as the City Hall has, but, nowadays, he is not the only person to call both of these places home. The honorable Thea Pallas serves, and has served for many years, as his colleague in both council and court, sharing with him a passion for the law but decisively lacking, in his eyes, the breadth of his experience.

This is why he had decided to take her under his wing when they first began to work together, taking it upon himself to mold her into the professional he believed she could be, and, in his opinion, he had succeeded. As both a councilwoman and a judge, Thea had earned the position of respect she now holds in his town — but that doesn’t mean that he will not continue to push her, still, into being even grander.

Naturally, while he knows better than to discuss with her an open case so as to not compromise her judgement or risk incurring a conflict of interest, he does like to check in on her about those most difficult of cases she adjudicates. To gauge her line of thinking and challenge her on her positions so that, if nothing else, she is forced to take a moment and reflect — after all, with people’s lives and livelihoods resting on their hands and justice hanging in the balance, they would be remiss if they were anything less than certain of each and every judgement they pass upon others.

This is why he approaches her now, as the sun dips below the horizon to herald the coming night, by knocking on the door of the judge’s chambers just as she is readying herself to collect her belongings and retire to her home.

“A long day, was it?”

@grey-eyed-thea

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea had just finished her paperwork for the day, placing files neatly in place so when he comes back in the morning, everything is in place for her.

He looks up as she's packing her briefcase, seeing Zander walk in. She smiles and resumes her packing.

"Always is. Never enough time for everything. You?"

She snaps her case closed and moves to her purse to pack. She's always felt safe with Zander. While she's sure that she's smarter than he is, she has found his advice to be sound in the past. At least in legal matters. She makes sure to keep their relationship strictly professional.

[justedmnd]

"They're not objections," This isn't a courthouse, Edmund feels like reminding Thea. She was an all-business sort of woman - on some level, Edmund had to respect it, but he also thought she could very set in the headspace of legalities and judicature. Considering multiple angles of a statement or strategy was essential to what they were both doing here.

"It's just that I'm a little concerned you're thinking of the press digging up dirt in future terms. I'm starting to operate under the assumption it's already happening," Edmund tried to explain, though he spoke as if he was expecting Thea to interrupt him at any moment, "There were a lot of arrests made, which is a good thing, but it means there's a lot of perspectives we can't control. Someone’s brother or cousin is going to talk. And if that story frames the council as secretive, or untrustworthy, before we’re ready…"

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea rolls her eyes. Fine, yes, she acts like she's always in her courtroom sometimes. She's working. It's what she does.

Lucky for him, he's making good points. Otherwise she would've shoved him out the building herself.

"And what would you suggest we do? This is a mess and I seem to be the only person available to clean it up on this front."

Everyone else is holed up in their offices or adding to the overrun sheriff's station. And she has to go over there at some point too.

[allxtted]

Sloane might not have been getting paid for her promotional work, but she feels absolutely no shame to be sharing the good news for delicious jams and jellies.

"Ms. Pallas! Thea! You're on the council!" Sloane smacked her forehead, feeling it should've been obvious. She hasn't been in town long enough to vote anyone on the council, but she should've recognized the tall woman, "I saw you in the paper the other day, you're very charismatic!"

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea tilts her head in confusion. She's never heard anyone describe her as charismatic. Blunt, no-nonsense, resolute, but not charismatic.

"Thank you, though how you came to that conclusion, I don't know."

She'd been helping play "Hold the Press" while they try to actually wrap up the raid debacle. She's pretty sure she heard one of the reporters call her "Dragon Lady" as she left the room.

[thebluefairygc]

"Pleased to meet you as well." She replies, at least able to rely on a script for that much. This was why she tried to stay in the background of most social situations. She was capable of being calm and composed, as long as she didn't have to talk all that much.

"I personally just help run the rehab. That's my job." She's fumbling it again, she can feel it. She can tell that Thea really wants to hear about what it is her parents do. And that's exactly why she's doing her best to avoid the topic altogether. To call herself the heiress to Majorelle Bank is like saying that she's been voted number 1 most likely to kick a dog in a movie. It's just asking to be branded as evil.

"I also do charity work. So you could call me a socialite too, if you like."

[grey-eyed-thea]

Thea raises an eyebrow.

"Socialite also implies a type of wealth that means you don't have to work."

She scans Sophia up and down again, trying to tie the new information in with what she's seeing. Not poorly dressed but not the usual brand of wealth laden dress even for a function like this. So embarrassed by wealth but still comfortable with it?

"But I think the rehab does in fact do good work, so clearly you or the money you provide is doing something good."