and though she be but little

“Model and yes heiress, social media princess. People rank me up with Kim K, so I’d say that most people know who I am already.” Grinning at the other girl who Autumn could already tell was entirely her speed, she nodded her head for her to fall into step with her. “Thea. It’s so nice to meet you. Honestly, I can already tell we’re going to get along great. Especially if you can help me make Piper squirm. Trust me, that’s the most fun.”

“Well I think Kim K’s a joke; so I suppose that’s why I’m not familiar with you... That and social media’s more Rory’s thing.” While Thea had both a decent following on Instagram and Twitter , she wasn’t one to constantly update nor give her accounts the dedication needed to fully thrive. “But making Piper squirm... Where do we begin? After all, it is my job to ensure she’s good enough for my sister.” And what better way to ensure such a thing than seeing how the redheaded cop handled being messed with.

“I’m not entirely sure how any of us survived it, though toward the end tension were definitely running high. You could feel it in the air.” Shaking her head, Evolet gave a little chuckle. “It was most definitely an experience that I’m sure none of us are really hoping to have to share again.” With a soft laugh, Evolet dug in her bag for her phone and hit the button on the side before speaking after the little bleep that issued. “Located Piper Palmer contact card.” lowering the phone from her mouth she waited for it to ping once more, and then hit the button to have it dictate the screen it was one before holding it out to Thea. “her address should be there as well. Though, if you like we could walk together. It’s not far and Mozart here knows where it is as well.”

“Considering I’ve no idea where half the streets in this damn town are, it’d probably be best if you and Mozart—A+ name, by the way—showed me where to go.” Thea stated as she looked at the address on the other’s phone. It took her a few seconds to make out the street name; but even knowing the name, she had no idea where it was. The only streets she knew were Main Street and 2nd Street where her apartment was. “I take it you’re into music?” As a dancer, she could appreciate all genres of music; and her inner ballet dancer had a soft spot for classical. Mozart was a personal favorite. 

“Yes, as in Harry Birch.” Lucy droned with a little roll of her eyes and just a smattering of affection. That had been all that she, Max and Jude had heard at school. Harry this, Harry that. But she was a little surprised that Thea recalled him too. Then again, it was Harry. “He’s my biggest brother. I take it you heard about him through Rory?” Lucy snorted a little at the disgust that poured from the English woman, finding the poshness that hung on her like a perfume rather amusing. “Anyway, while your sister is suck- spending time with Piper, why don’t you join me for a drink? There’s a little dive bar down the road.” 

"I take it you were forced to grow up in his shadows, yeah?” It was evident in Lucy’s voice; and Thea couldn’t help but feel bad for her. As the second youngest of nine, she’d grown up living in the shadows of her older siblings; but she’d ensured from a young age she’d stand out. Getting into dance gave her that opportunity. On stage, she shown, far brighter than any other Baudelaire child ever did. On stage, she wasn’t Rory’s twin or Max’s sister or Ari’s sister or Remy’s sister or... The list could go on and on and on. “All Ro told me is that her best friend’s shagging him and that he’s childhood friends of her lady cop.” She’d never stop referring to Piper as such. “But a dive bar? Lead the way. I’m parched.” 

“It’s alright. I don’t think I had be a single bar’a reception the entire time we was stuck in that school, but Piper had been keepin’ me updated as we went.” Nodding her head, Ember had to laugh, nodding her confirmation. “Mine had ‘bout a dozen kids. August’s year was the largest year for a long time and they only had ‘bout eighteen. The entire town had ‘bout eight hundred people.” She was pretty sure that the school in Carroll had more people than the entire town. Nodding her head and giving a wave for her friend’s doppleganger to follow her, she started to lead the way toward the diner. “Well, it definitely ain’t hard. She was one’a the first people I connected to when I got here. She’d part’a what makes this place home, so I’m happy’ta hear she’s comin’-…. wait… did you say she’s movin’ in with Piper?!”

"Aye yeah. I did. Apparently Piper asked her to move in the first night she stayed with us.” Thea shared, unable to keep from giggling at the mere thought. All their life, Rory had been the more reserved twin, never wanting to rush into things and taking forever to feel comfortable in new situations. So the fact she’d agreed to moving in with Piper after they’d not even been together a full year, it was shocking for the older Baudelaire. Continuing to follow Ember to wherever they were going to get coffee, she continued on with everything she’d heard about the ordeal. “Since Rory no longer has her flat here, I guess Piper thought it the perfect opportunity. Shit for me since I thought me and Ror would be flatmates. That bitch made me have to go find my own place.” She added, the use of the word ‘bitch’ clearly said in a loving matter. 

“Oh, thank fuck.” Lucy breathed out, one hand laid melodramatically across her chest while the other pointed towards her cap. “‘Cause this thing is corduroy and that would’ve been a slog.” She pulled a face at the thought, her little nose wrinkling up at the thought. “Thea. Cool, nice to meet ya.” The blonde bobbed her head and offered Rory’s older twin a toothy smile. “I’m Lucy. The youngest Birch.” Though their family name held no weight with the Englishwoman, she’d almost felt obliged to offer up her relative age to her siblings just as Thea had. “As for Rory, I dunno. I’m gonna go ahead and guess she’s sucking face with Palmer a.k.a. hot lady cop.”

“Birch... Birch... As in Harry?” Thea had tried her best to recall all the people from Carroll Rory had rambled on about. The name ‘Birch’ definitely rung a bell; so she wondered if this Lucy woman was related to the Harry fellow she’d heard so much about, mainly due to the fact he was dating engaged to her sister’s best friend. “And please for the love of God, never say ‘sucking face’ when talking about Ro ever again.” She still had trouble believing her sister had a girlfriend, let alone was off making out with one. 

Ambrose narrowed his eyes at the other who addressed him, mostly in thought as he recalled the woman that looked quite like her. Another Englishwoman, the Sheriff’s girlfriend by current accounts. “My apologies, Ms… Baudelaire, I’m guessing? I haven’t seen her.” His own English accent rang out, not quite the same regionality as hers but as close as he’d heard in a long time. “Though might I say how lovely it is to hear an English accent this side of the pond.” 

“You...” Thea stopped, surprised from the accent she heard leave the man’s lips. Never in a million years would she have thought there would’ve been another Brit in the small town of Carroll. “God, I think you’ve just become my new favorite person in town.  Where is it you’re from originally?” The regonality of his accent was far from her own West Country dialect; but it was still quite familiar. A Londoner? She’d spend a good deal of time in London; and that’s what his accent reminded her of. Then again, she knew London was nothing more than a mish-mosh of people from all over the UK and even the world.

Brows rising high as it seemed like at first the reference had been lost, before nodding her head as it fell flat instead. Oh well, she’d never claimed to be a comedian. “I mean, I’m not sure if I’d say we’re friends, but we’re definitely familiar. I’ve known Piper pretty much my entire life so.” Giving a shrug and a push of her hair from her face, Autumn held out a perfectly manicured hand. “Autumn Manchester. Yes, that Autumn Manchester.”

Reaching out her own perfectly manicured hand, Thea shook the other’s hand before letting her own fall to her side. “You’re introducing yourself as if you expect me to already know who you are...” She began, wracking her brain to see if the name Autumn Manchester meant anything to her. “What are you? A singer? Actress? Model? Porn star?” She inquired, listing off the first things to come to mind. “Fellow trust fund brat? I’m Thea, by the way.”

“It’s like hearing Rory put on a different sort of accent almost, it’s very strange.” Smile kind, it was obvious that she meant no harm by her words, hand closing tight and giving the other woman’s a shake. “I do know Rory. The entire town is fairly well acquainted after a week locked together. Your sister dodged a bullet with that one, for sure. I don’t know where you can find her right now, though. Have you tried Piper’s house?”

"A whole bloody week?” The mere thought sent a shiver down Thea’s spine. She’d learned a little about the blizzard situation from Piper; but hearing that the whole town had been locked together in the high school for a whole week... It was a terrifying thought. “I’m glad she wasn’t here for that. I don’t think she would’ve survived it.” With her sister’s health, especially recently, she really wasn’t sure Rory could’ve handled such a situation. Between the cold and being in such close proximity to so many people, she would’ve been bound to get sick and end up in the hospital. “I’ve not tried Piper’s—well, their—house yet. Rory gave me the address; but like the shit I am, I kinda lost it already.” She’d check the house if she knew where it was. It would make sense that’s where they were since their flight landed. Probably cuddling up with each other between moving in all of Rory’s things.

“She does? Well, ain’t that just the most heartwarmin’ think I ever did hear!” Hands coming to her chest, Ember was truly touched to hear that Rory talked so much about her. “Oh, don’t you worry. I swear he’s real friendly and he ain’t even gonna get’ya dirty. We been doin’ a real good job teachin’im not’ta jump on nobody no more.” Giving a little tug to the piglets leash, he backed up and changed direction, going to sniff at the grass along the edges of the sidewalk instead. “Unfortunately I ain’t seen’er since she’s been back, but I’m bettin’ her and Piper are gettin’ settled in. Why don’t you let me buy’ya a cup’a coffee while we try’n get a hold’a one’a’em?”

"Mmhmm.” Thea nodded in confirmation. “Besides Piper, you were the one person she wanted me to keep updated in regards to her surgery... And I feel I must apologize for not doing a better job with that. Kept forgetting to bring her charger to hospital.” Then again, she felt as if her sister being in the ICU was a good enough excuse for her forgetfulness. Between that and the blizzard she learned happened in Carroll, the fact she’d managed to text Piper once seemed like a grand feat. “But she talks about you a lot. Says you need to come to Bristol next Christmas so she can show you what real city life is like. Says your graduating class had, like, ten kids in it or something. Is that true?” She could never imagine a school that small. Or a town that small to have a school that small. Carroll was small to her; and she knew where Ember grew up had to be even smaller. “Yeah. You’re probably right. Their flight should’ve landed earlier this morning; and, well, Rory is moving in with her lady cop. Probably settling in as we speak.” It was still somewhat of a bizarre thought to think her sister had a girlfriend, especially one that was a freaking sheriff. Kinky. “I won’t say no to coffee; but I’m buying. Least I can do as a thanks for being Rory’s bestie.”

“Oh, my goodness, look at you!” A hand coming to her lips, Autumn looked over the woman who just look far too familiar to process, and yet somehow managed to come off completely different from her sister. “I feel like I stepped into the end of The Lizzie McGuire movie.”

“The Lizzie McGuire Movie?” At first, Thea’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion; but then she recalled the moving the woman just mentioned. It had been years since she’d seen it; but it had been the reason she’d asked her parents to go on holiday to Rome for three consecutive years until they caved. “Right. Right. The whole doppelganger thing... So you must know Rory then, yeah?” She’d actually be surprised if the woman was a friend of her sister’s. It wasn’t like her baby sister to befriend someone with such an exquisite sense of fashion. 

“Wait, hold up.” Lucy pointed a suspicious finger at the woman who looked exactly like Rory. In so far as what lay beneath the lick of makeup and the expensive looking clothes. The fog began to lift as she went onto describe who Lucy could only imagine to be Piper. “Do you mean Rory? Because if you guys didn’t share a womb, I will eat my fuckin’ hat right here, right now.” 

“As much as I’d love to see you eat your hat, I’m afraid we did share a womb.” Thea couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her mouth at the other’s words. They were so ridiculous. “I’m Thea.” She began to introduce. “The older twin.” And she never let anyone, especially Rory, forget it. Thirty five minutes might not seem like a lot to the average person; but to a twin, it was like being eons older. And older meant wiser... Usually. 

“I’m sorry, but saying she looks like you doesn’t tell me much. From what I gather from your accent, though, you’re talking about the only woman I know who could leave and come back with a twin. I’m Evolet, it’s very nice to meet you.” Turning toward the voice, she switched her cane from one hand to the other so she could hold it out to be shaken. “The similarities in your voice are uncanny, so I can only imagine how it will be for those who can see it.”

Thea was too focused on what the woman had to say about the similarities between her and Rory’s voices that she completely missed her name. “Our voices sound similar to you?” She raised an eyebrow as she reached out to shake the other’s hand. “I don’t know if I should be praising her speech therapist or if I should be mildly insulted.” She was, of course, joking to some extent. She knew what the woman meant. She and Rory did sound similar, the only difference being her baby sister’s lisp and inability to pronounce certain words correctly. “But I’m Thea. Guessing you know Rory, huh?”

“Rory!” Though she knew her friend couldn’t hear her, Charlie was just making her way around her when the sunglasses slid up and she realized there was no way that was Rory. “Oh my goodness! You’re Thea, ain’t you?!” Smile lighting up bright on her face as she held out a hand. “Rory happens’ta be one’a my best friends in the whole world, and I’m right happy’ta meet’ya! I’m September, but everyone ‘round here calls me Ember, and this little fella is Wilbur. I swear he’s friendly as they come!”

“That I am.” Before the woman introduced herself, Thea knew exactly who she was. She’d heard about her sister’s best friend, the one with the thick southern twang. But actually meeting the infamous Ember, the twang was a lot thicker than she’d imagined. “Rory talks about you a lot, Ember. And you’re, uh, you’re little pig.” She scrunched up her nose as she glanced down to where Wilbur was sniffing around her feet. She definitely wasn’t as comfortable around animals as Rory, especially when she was wearing designer boots. “Guess I should thank you for keeping an eye on her all this time... But you don’t happen to know where she is, do you? She’s not answering my texts.”

have you seen ( theodora “thea soleil” baudelaire, she/her )? They look a lot like ( dominique provost-chalkley ). The ( 25 ) year old ( dance instructor/choreographer ) is so ( charismatic, ambitious, & protective ) but I heard they can also be really ( blunt, headstrong, & cynical ). Can you believe they’ve been in town for ( one week )?!