#tabithahc

David Teivel (65) - alan ruck

Stoic, astute, and prone to melancholy, David Teivel is the patriarchal head of the family. Out of everyone, he understands his middle child Tabitha the least. He is also weary of her, and prone to age old superstitions surrounding her whispered ‘changeling’ status. David is involved in bits of the apothecary business and holds pride over his family’s legacy. Tabitha is simply kept at a greater distance than most.

Abigail Teivel (58) - robin wright

The matriarch and true controlling force of the family. Abigail Teivel brought a warmth and light to the household with ease. She cared for her children and also ran the apothecary regularly. Occasionally she was influenced by her husband’s superstitions, but in general tried her best to include Tabitha in everything. Was known to give small gifts and enveloping hugs to show her love. Wrote letters sporadically to relatives outside the valley. Passed away of an unknown illness in late August 1923.

Judith Teivel (48) - vera farmiga

Still residing in Salem, Massachusetts Judith only has faint memories of the valley. Married once upon a time, and now a widow, she was delighted to watch over niece when the opportunity presented itself. First Judith and Tabitha were merely good company for one another, but when the distant aunt discovered Tabitha’s natural abilities outside of green magic she was the first to encourage and nurture the young witch in delving deeper into the arcane world.

Simon Teivel (38) - mark o’brien

The oldest brother and prodigal son, Simon takes his role seriously. Similar to his father, he is more on the pensive side. He likes order, rules, and most importantly – being in charge. He stands as one of Tabitha’s most severe critics and the pair fought mercilessly growing up. He is nervous for her return but also hoping to see her find a more stable path in life. Married to Fanny Leong, his attention is neatly divided between the apothecary and general market.

Tabitha Teivel (32) - elizabeth olsen

The black sheep of her family, Tabitha is used to endless nicknames and acute middle-child-syndrome. A natural try hard, where Tabitha lacks the attention, she wants she expels energy elsewhere. Known to be audacious, sharp, and mercurial by her family, she presents more of a mystery to the rest of the world. That is, she won’t confirm or deny changeling allegations for anyone.  It’s mostly harsh whispers and nervous looks, but negative attention is better than nothing at all.  

Rebecca Teivel (30) -  jessica rothe

Personality & Traits

Tabitha is charming and energetic. She likes to stand out from a crowd, and most importantly – her siblings. It was tough being a middle child growing up, and even harder being a suspected changeling. She never felt she had prove herself, in fact if people want to believe she’s a changeling she feels it gives her more mystery and distance from nosy townspeople. She wants to live her life as she pleases and play by her own guidebook. Tabitha doesn’t have problems with fibbing or breaking rules to get what she wants. Most importantly, she knows how to read a room, and adapt her persona for her benefit. She doesn’t appear to be a very loyal individual on the outside, but if you’re one of her friends, you’re friends for life.

Biography

The Teivel’s settled in Albion generations ago. Known to be some of the most gifted and intuitive Green Witches in the valley they quickly established themselves as an integral part of the ever-evolving community. To be a Teivel means something - with certain hopes and responsibilities, an important garden and apothecary business to upkeep, and of course, a reputation.

It was a well maintained, orderly legacy until Tabitha was born.

Her family sensed something different about the girl right away, something deeper than her red hair and stark gazes. While her parents and siblings were digging in the dirt and sampling wild flora Tabitha’s attention was turned towards the sky. The cosmos, star charts, astrology mythos, and most peculiarly; the strange, forbidden paths in Northwood.

Maybe the fae switched their real Tibby at birth, and left some strange changeling in her place. It was whispered speculation between her parents that never seemed to die out. Her short-lived disappearance at six years old certainly hadn’t helped matters, but Tabitha had tried to be good for them. Burned potions, and dead plants at her watch only seemed to complicate matters. A rambunctious, attention seeking child who never fully snuffed the fire within her, even if it was just to blend in. By eighteen, things had seemed to calm amongst her parents whispers and glances, but it had been a façade and Tabitha was sent to live with her Aunt Judith in Salem, Massachusetts. Far away from them, and far away from the influences of the valley.

In her new home, Tabitha was able to learn and indulge in what she truly loved with little reproach. Albion was hidden with magic, but one could also hide in plain sight in Salem. She first discovered her love for the library there, happy to help searching patrons but also taking advantage of slow time to research maps and tomes of her own personal interest. She was developing a life outside the valley, making a name for herself and becoming endeared by townspeople and tourists alike.

And then she got the call that her mother had passed. Tabitha would have stayed away and ignored her remaining family just like they had done to her for the past fifteen years, but her father was persistent, and visions of Northwood wouldn’t leave her mind.

Arriving at the depot after fifteen years, Tabitha is stuck to live with her family again in what she hopes to be a temporary situation. She has no intention of helping at the family apothecary and has already received a job acceptance letter from Green Valley Public Library. With a suitcase, trusted feline companion, and a lot of nerve she’s not quite sure what to expect from Albion after such a long absence. But the woods are calling.

Mysterious Past

Tabitha isn’t touched in Green Magic like the rest of her family, but she has a certain connection with Northwood that seems to transcend an insight into the foliage that grows there even through strange weather. For Tabitha, it’s almost like a calling. The midwinter she was six years old Tabitha wandered away from her home and watchful older brother to get a closer look at the yearly dansa lights. If you had asked her at the time, she would have told anyone the lights were for her all along.