THEA HUDSON ;;

Thea Hudson, 21 years old. Nearly exceeding 1 month at Elswood Academy. (Ignis / Multiple Lives)

[thea-hudson]

before the dawn

[lunettics-blog]

She liked to pretend she was everywhere. Everywhere was easier than nowhere, though it sounded harder, because everywhere also meant anywhere. And that was why Lunette came to the forest; she imagined it was like many forests all around the world, and then she could pretend she was in those places (if only momentarily, if only partially) while she sat by a stream or on a rock and looked on into the endless array of flora stretched out before her. Endless, of course, not because it was infinite but because she nor any other Elswood student would make it to the end. Inside of Elswood, things were not so vague: they had specific points and distinct locations that made it easy to recognize but hard to lose oneself in. It was a very sad thing, if you asked Lunette, who appreciated being lost from time to time.

But it was very apparent from the moment that she heard her that the girl who had entered the forest had not done so for the same reason as Lunette. Though that didn’t mean she didn’t understand the reason immediately.

Fuck!

Yeah, she understood perfectly.

Lunette peeked from her place sitting behind the base of the tree, seeing the girl lean her weight into the tree. Something cringed behind her ribs. She stood up silently and trod her way over, picking up the stranger’s bag on the way and placing it softly at their side. 

“You picked a good place.” She didn’t say for what, but it filled itself out. It didn’t have a proper name because it was too many things at once: anger, grief, melancholy, the last spark dying or a new one igniting. “These trees are probably old enough that they’ve seen every emotion on dozens of people. They won’t judge. People – everyone here is too young. Well, almost everyone. Adham is probably alright.” Her face was soft and open, though not overwrought with emotion, it was still curved with it. Lunette could have walked away and left the girl to pluck the thorns from her howling demons on her own, but that was the whole issue with the place. In Lunette’s opinion, of course. But she stayed out of arms reach, not intruding on the girl’s space – and because she couldn’t be sure what kind of powers she had, and what it could do if she triggered the wrong emotion. “Did you hurt your hand?”

[thea-hudson]

Thea hadn’t cried like this in... awhile. When she was a child, she was the little girl that cried at anything and everything. Though as she grew older, she didn’t cry as much. Only in times of extreme distress or sadness. Which seemed to be the case just then. Her eyes were getting puffy with the continuous tears leaking down her cheeks, and the hiccups soon joined in. She was so damn worked up, it was to the point where she couldn’t even breathe properly.

“You picked a good place.”

Startled by the voice, Thea’s head spun in the direction of a girl who had joined beside her, unnoticed. Thea, so caught up in herself, didn’t even hear her walk up. Or drop her bright blue bag down beside her, that she caught out of the corner of her eye. Blurry vision, and all. 

The next thing she said was very... poetic. Thea probably would have appreciated it more if she wasn’t in such a state. “I- uh,” she started, voice too weak and shaky to properly form the words she meant to speak. 

Breathe, Thea. 

She drew in a slow, shaky breath and let it out as she brought her hand up to wipe away the tears, and the wetness on her cheeks.  “Did you hurt your hand?”

Thea looked down at her hand she slammed against the tree, turning it over to look at her red palm. She brushed away the residue the tree left behind and gave a small shake of her head. “No, it’s... it’s fine.” Thea finally really looked at the girl then, eyes lifting to her face. And a pretty face it was. Blonde hair, big eyes. She couldn’t help but wonder how she must look to her right then. Thea doubted she would have used pretty to describe her.

“I’m sorry, I thought-” she sighed, dropping her eyes and licking her lips. “I thought I was alone.” It was such a vulnerable state to be in, and Thea felt embarrassed at how she acted. So... out of control. “I’m not normally... well, like this,” she told her, feeling the need to defend herself. 

[thea-hudson]

before the dawn

The sun was slowly disappearing as Thea, jaw clenched and steps pounding into the ground, stalked into the forest alone. The entire week had been horrible, and Thea had truly never felt so outraged in her life. To the point where she had no idea how to handle her shaking hands and constant urge to- honestly- bite the head off of anyone who worked at the damn place. And it was so normalized, as if there was nothing wrong there. Oh yeah, no one can leave. But hey, it’s alright, because good food! Fuck that. Thea’s had under cooked squirrel and rabbit before and she’d take that over being trapped like a criminal.

So caught up in her thoughts, she hadn’t realized how far she had walked. Though with a quick glance around and only seeing trees, she assumed she got pretty far out.

Good.

Dropping her bag to the ground, she brought a hand up to run through her hair. God, she almost felt claustrophobic at the thought of not being able to continue past the forest and find something other than the damn castle. It was like they were on a whole other planet, isolated from every other part of the world.

Deep breaths, Thea.

She was pacing, muttering to herself. She had to calm herself down, she knew it wouldn't be long before they took their own measures to keep her calm. It was just so frustrating. She’d come so far, met so many good people. She had found a permanent home again, kind friends that treated her like she was family, like they’ve known her her entire life. Iris, the kind old woman that had barely a dime to her name never stopped smiling, and Sara had the biggest heart, she reminded her so much of her younger sister. Andre would play fetch with the stray dogs, and little Hugo- Fuck, fuck.

“Fuck!”

Thea slammed her hand against the tree she found herself in front of, fresh tears burning her eyes. Leaning forward, she let her weight fall against the heavy oak, forehead pressing to the bark and eyes squeezing shut. Her chest was so tight, the sadness weighing her down like bricks. Thea wanted so desperately to just go home.

[luckiestcricket]

“How does…” She pauses long enough to collect her thoughts, settling cross-legged on the floor in front of Thea. “How does your ability work? With immortality, I can die, it’s just that I wake up after like nothin’ happened at all. And I’m a little bit stuck at the age I was when I first died. Kinda sucks, but let’s just not focus on that part right now.” Gosh, her cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. It’s dang maniacal. Not like Cricket’s even a little bit pleased about her ability or even this other girl’s, just that it’s nice to know Mr. Morcos isn’t the only other person she’s stuck knowing forever. No offense to him.

Her expression falters for a moment and she can barely meet Thea’s eyes when she asks her next question. “How did you die? You don’t have to answer. It’s just sort of a unique experience that ain’t the easiest to get over and I’m morbidly curious, I guess. I was murdered, personally. It was…not great.” She laughs, smile vanished. “Don’t think she realized that her murder weapon of choice wasn’t sharp enough to get the job done quick. Murderers should really try and be more considerate to their victims. There should be seminar on that.”

[thea-hudson]

Sharing a bit shouldn’t hurt much. It wasn’t like Ashe had any idea she would be alive. Meaning, he wouldn’t put the pieces together. So Thea leaned a bit forward in her seat and licked her lips before starting. “Like, okay, I don’t return in the same body. Or, the one time it happened I didn’t. So, I don’t even know if I stole someone’s or if.. I just manifested? It’s insane, because, I was pronounced dead. Not missing, dead. Which meant they found my body but-” she shook her head, blowing out a nervous laugh. Thea’s never talked about it out loud with anyone, so it was hard to keep her thoughts at bay once she started. 

"Shit, Cricket, I’m so sorry.” Thea’s face casted over in a deep frown at hearing how she suffered. And was murdered, at that. Thea could hardly imagine what that must’ve felt like. “Do you... do you remember how it felt? I’m sorry if that’s insensitive to ask. I really hope you don’t.” She paused and then gave a small shake of her head before speaking. “I got hit in the head. Pretty quick, hardly remember it.” 

[trashebag-blog]

“Hey, it’s not that bad. I mean, we get three square meals, free education, free healthcare…unlimited fro-yo,” he says, flashing a smile at her in some kind of attempt to ease her mind. “It’s a kushy hell. Fuck, it’s a hell of a lot better than some of the shit people get out there” he said before letting that s i l e n c e wash over them.

                  “—Since ‘13. You’re new, right?”

[thea-hudson]

Thea’s stomach sank, and she bit the inside of her lip as she listened to her brother defend their fucking prison. He had a point, yes, but everything came at a price. No way this was some fantasy dream world, there was something underlining it all. Why else make it impossible to leave? “Yeah, maybe,” she said. Finding it hard to argue with him. 

"It’s been just over a month. Can’t say it’s been the best experience of my life,” she forced a small smile. “But, everyone’s been fairly nice. Students, I mean.”

[hawkechang-archived]

“Hey, no biggie. Everyone forgets sometimes, since I ditched the cane.” Hawke looked wistfully off to the horizon, trying to imagine what it looked like—-even his echolocation didn’t reach that far. “I appreciate you telling me what it looks like though. Not many people seem to do that. Especially the heated newbies.”

“Oh, nothing much. Just some rumors off the old Elswood grapevine,” he commented nonchalantly. Trying to forcefully escape via the forest was a common thing for newbies to do, and he wasn’t at all surprised if the buzz died down after a while. “Probably the same thing, you know, apt failure. I don’t recommend trying to do it, Thea. It’ll get you fridged or worse, and what’ll I do without my favorite Ignis?”

[thea-hudson]

“Do you wish they didn’t?” She asked, genuinely curious. “I’m sure it’s easy to forget when you’re not the one with the disability.” The next thing brought a soft smile to her lips, and Thea drew in a slow breath. “Well, I may not be the best at describing things. English, poetry... not my best. But, I’m always happy to, if you want. Just say the word.” 

Thea wished there was more to go off of. It seemed everything was a huge mystery, not any clues or breadcrumbs. Disappointing, to say the least. “Right, well, I’ll be fine. Hope you’re not pulling my leg on the whole favorite thing, though. That’s definitely keeping me grounded,” she joked.

[ninaxmorevna-blog]

“Just going for walks. When you’re by yourself, you can lose track of where you’re going. It’s happened once or twice. It feels a lot like waking up in Elswood for the first time. Confusing, feeling like you’ve woken from a long sleep. Well,” she paused. “It’s much less terrifying.” 

[thea-hudson]

Thea hummed in response, face easing into a small frown as she watched the other girl. “I’m sure. I just... God, I just wish that I knew what was going on. Do you feel that way? I feel so useless, you know? Just a fucking sitting duck in this horrible place. Hell, the food probably tastes so good because it’s laced with some kind of- fuck, I don't know. A drug or something. I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised.” 

[leahwestbrook-deactivated201607]

Brows raised quickly at the challenge, not because she minded being challenged (wasn’t that always the way?), but because she actually found herself giving it a moment’s thought following the comment. It was rare that any comment was presented in a manner that actually gave her even a moment’s thought, and that if nothing else earned the other some interest if not respect. However, all the same, the answer didn’t change. “Answer’s the same,” she said, before elaborating further. “It was quiet before you came.” Eyes rolled in response to the map. She didn’t hold much stock in them, she had never been good at navigating, and when she was an animal… navigating was different, visceral (animal dependent, of course). But still, it was typical, so typical, it seemed to her, for new students to get like this- lost, helpless. And though she wasn’t kind to the masses, there was a softness in her this respect, at least right now (perhaps it was the fact that the other had made her think). “If you want to go, I’ll show you the way.”

[thea-hudson]

Thea let out a short breath, nearing a laugh. “Fair enough. Next time, I’ll make sure to hold my breath. Wouldn’t want to disturb the peace,” she teased, hardly affected by the other girls demeanor. She did wonder what brought on the sour mood, however. Maybe she’d try to talk to her another time. “Oh, that’d be great.” A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she stepped back to wait for her to lead the way, soon asking, “So you’re Leah, right?”  

[oliverdubois]

“Sounds— complicated,” Oliver said after thinking about it. “I assume this has been tested out?” Because really, how else were you supposed to know what happened to you after you die? 

Oliver scrunched up his face in a grimace. “Mhm, I make it do whatever I want. Creation is a little tricky. I still need a lighter for it.” 

[thea-hudson]

“Yeah, it is. I mean, I don’t fully understand it myself, y’know. I died and came back a couple weeks later, and that’s pretty much it.” 

Thea smiled and said, “right, and I’m sure those are pretty hard to come by here. Probably for the best, though. Fires and forests... well, not a good combo.”  

[luckiestcricket]

“YOU CAME BACK TO LIFE?!” Look, she didn’t mean to yell. It was just that, that here – right here – right in front of her was someone else who had died. Recently, too! “Same! I mean, I’ve died. Actually, a few times. I haven’t told anyone that yet though. They think it was just once. But, you know… Diggin’ yourself out of your grave ain’t exactly easy! I suffocated!! Like twice!” Cricket had leapt up from the couch and was pacing now, words flooding out so fast that she nearly choked on them. 

“Do you remember it? Dyin’? I mean…” Okay, she could do this. She could be calm. She could totally be calm even as her body nearly vibrated with excitement at the possibility of having someone who just… understood. “I don’t mean to flip out on you. It’s just that I’ve been goin’ crazy. About dyin’. I’m immortal, by the way. I get killed and just wake back up. And there’s Mr. Morcos, but he’s a bajillion years old and it’s different. But you. We’re basically the same age. It’s… it’s nice. Not that I’m happy you’ve died. It really sucks. It really, really sucks.”

Cricket took a long breath. “It’s just really nice to meet you, Thea.”

[thea-hudson]

Thea was not expecting that much of a reaction, as shown by the clearly surprised look on her face after the outburst. "Oh,” she let out a small laugh, “wow,” she managed to say between Cricket’s... word vomit. Thea guessed the chillaxing time was now properly over. “Yeah, I kinda do? No, it’s okay. I mean, it is.. unsettling, right? Like, I’ve only died once, but- fuck, it was terrifying when I woke up. I didn’t wake up buried alive though. That must’ve been really rough.” Cricket’s excitement almost made Thea a bit excited as well, even though her power didn’t exactly please her in any way.

A genuine, soft smile pulled at her lips followed by a small laugh. “It’s nice to meet you too, Cricket.”

[fleuralies-deactivated20140920]

[katehikerun]

[hawkechang-archived]

“They sound cool, I guess. But you know, I really can’t see them.” He gave a small laugh at that, pointing to his eyes. It was common for people to forget, seeing as he did ditch his cane a few months ago. “Yeah, I hear someone tried going to the borders and kept going and going for some science experiment or something. Crazy dedication.”

[thea-hudson]

After hearing that, Thea’s stomach sank. “Oh- shit, Hawke, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” Her face had settled into a frown as she looked at him, not sure what else to say. “It’s really beautiful. Nothing like it.”

“Wait, really?” Her shame had slightly subsided at his next comment, her face displaying more curiosity than apology. “Did they... come close to anything? Do you know?”

[joyless-divisionn]

[gimme-the-loot]

[wonpilie]

Kelsey Chow in Hayley Kiyoko’s Girls like Girls

[trashebag-blog]

“Oh, it totally makes sense.That’s pretty much this school’s whole thing. This Everything Is Fine shit just makes people fuckin complacent after a while. They want you to fall into that routine so you get used to not knowing. You kinda have a choice in how you wanna lose that fire you got there though. Either you give up and stop searchin for a way out or they make you stop searchin.”

[thea-hudson]

Her soft frown had grown more prominent as he spoke, and by the end, she let out a heavy breath. Thea had been worried about all that. Sedation, the damn cradle that’s been talked about. If Thea became one of those... lifeless people, she’s sure that would be worse than death. But then again, giving up her fight seemed just as bad all the same. “This place is," a heavy breath, "honestly fuckin hell on Earth. There's no better way to put it,” she finally said in response, voice growing angrier by the end. Thea turned her eyes away, thinking about what to say, what to ask. It took longer than she meant before she looked back and asked, “how long have you been here?” Even though she knew. 

[luckiestcricket]

“No, because I have priorities in life and don’t enjoy bein’ a loser.” She flopped over on the couch with a shrug, getting a better look at the other girl. Thea Hudson. Who was this Thea Hudson? Cute, yes. Competition, maybe. Friendship was probably the best way to go about this. You never knew when and if a fellow ignis would stab you in the back. “You know, I don’t know much about you. What’s your ability again?”

[thea-hudson]

“Relaxing doesn’t mean you don’t have priorities or you’re a loser, Cricket. It’s good to take a breather once in awhile.” Thea wasn’t all that sure about Cricket, though she seemed.. friendly enough. There was something about her that seemed off to Thea, for whatever reason. Though maybe she was just misunderstood? She wasn't sure; she didn't know her well enough. “Oh, um, yeah. Well, basically, I come back to life? You could say.”