a t e l o p h o b i c

“If you’re looking for my roommate, she isn’t here right now. Something about a new movie playing in one of the other rooms I believe.” Ceylan commented when she heard a slight knock to the doorframe of the open room, not turning away from what she’d been caught up in until she’d finished scribbling up her writing in elegant cursive. “Or am I the lucky recipient of your attentions today, hm?” The brunette queried as she finally turned to face her company.

“Why would I be here for your roommate?” Thea asked the other. “Obviously you’re way more interesting, far more intelligent, and I can tolerate speaking to you. All things that stack up in your favour,” she replied. “Are you up to much right now? Thought we could go for a walk or something.”

“It was proving to be real difficult to get your attention, so I grew desperate,” Harry explained as though that would justify the horrifying imagery. “Okay there’s no way in the Magic Dimension that I’m six levels above you. I actually look up from the books I read. Pretty sure I’ve even caught you using one as a pillow once– pretty nerdy if you ask me,” he teased her in response. “Fingers crossed,” Harry nodded, doing the gesture with his own fingers for emphasis. “No, you’re right. Nothing is worse than mom’s wrath. But everything else about her is so great that you find a way to get past those moments.”

“Well there are many other things you could have projected instead, like, I don’t know, memories of me pushing you into the mud as a kid. Or a half-naked man with a good set of abs, glistening with sweat. You know, that sort of thing,” she joked, waiting to see her brother’s reaction. She shook her head and tutted, “That happened once, and you bring it up all the time like its a regular occurence. It was a pretty comfortable pillow, to be fair. Meanwhile you just had dad’s bony shoulder to lean on. Who won that one, huh?” Thea chuckled. “You’re right. We really hit the jackpot with our parents, didn’t we?” The girl grinned before deciding to take a more serious tone to their conversation. “Have you heard these rumours about the missing teacher? I’ve heard he was kidnapped by witches but don’t have a clue what to believe.”

“I could have been faking it. I’m a great actor, thank you very much for noticing.” Emma teased in response, usually she wasn’t this casual with the students but she definitely had a soft spot for some of her students. “You can, but you shouldn’t. Who is comparing yourself to other people benefitting?” Emma then asked with a raise of her eyebrow. “It’s because I’m old. You know the phrase, older and wiser? It’s true.” She spoke with a laugh. “She doesn’t know how hard you work, to her it looks like a walk in the park.” 

“A great actor, hmm? Why haven’t I seen you in any of the Shakespeare plays that have been put on here then? I think you’d make a great Lady Macbeth,” Thea joked lightly. “No one, I guess,” she shrugged. “That’s not going to stop me from doing it, though.” She would always be self-critical, always comparing herself to her mom. “I wouldn’t say you’re old. Older, maybe. But not old.” Thea huffed, “Exactly, and she thinks it will be like that for me too because I’m basically a younger version of her.”

“I’m glad my clumsiness can come in handy for something good then, I did have a moment where I thought I was going to have to use it for un-pure purposes but I guess you saved me from going over to the dark side.” Benji joked to the other before raising an eyebrow at her, “I guess I tend to be more gifted when it comes to plants.” He commented, bending down to snap a stem of a flower that had yet to bloom, waving a hand over it and watching as the flower appeared. “Much more my speed.” He added, holding out the small flower to the other. “Maybe I was doing better than I thought then. Nice to know that me internally screaming that I want it to end so I can go take a nap isn’t visible through my actions.” He chuckled, “Your dad? Who’s your dad?”

“Un-pure purposes?” Thea questioned, tilting her head as she tried to work out what the other meant, though she figured it was meant to be a joke so chuckled along anyway. Thea watched intently as he leant down to snap a flower’s stem, unsure of what was going to happen, but was soon in awe at the casual magic that happened right in the palm of his hand, smiling brightly. “Woah,” she commented, taking the flower and cradling it in her hands. “I often think that mind fairies have the coolest powers but honestly I’m always so impressed by earth fairies,” she admitted. Sure she could read people’s minds but she couldn’t create life and beauty like he could. “I couldn’t hear that at all, don’t worry. It’s strange actually. I can hear everyone else’s thoughts and feelings at all hours of the day but with you, everything is completely blank. Calm, even,” she admitted, realising there was no point in hiding this any longer. “Caleb Cressport. He was one of the field agents who eradicated the burned ones last time. You’ve probably heard about him.”

“Maybe you just feel morally obligated to stick around because you fear that without you I’ll have no friends and just go around talking to myself and looking like a crazy person.” Eren commented in a joking manner, though if he were being honest with himself, Thea was one of the few people that did find him bearable enough to actually stick around for long periods of time. “I think knowing a little too much about one another has nothing to do with the fact we’re mind fairies and more to do with the fact that we overshare.” He pointed ou to the other. “I’m not sad.” He grumbled, just feeling a great load of guilt. “It’s because of what I think of you that I believe that if you couldn’t get a free room, you’d use mine since I don’t have a roommate as of current.” Eren let out a small hum as the other spoke, the smirk falling from his face when the other wouldn’t let the subject drop. “I spent my night in a guy’s bed, but not in the way you’re thinking.”

“I couldn’t tell you how much I don’t care about you looking like a crazy person,” Thea said before grumbling. “I think we both need each other as much as the other though. I know my life would be quite boring without your influence.” She shrugged, “We do overshare, you’re right,” she said, though in that moment had realised she hadn’t said anything about the one other interesting aspect of her life to him. “Still gross. I would not want to use your room to hook up with someone. I wouldn’t even know how to tell that person where we were. Oh yeah, we’re just going to my ex’s room but it’s cool. We’re best friends,” she said, putting on a slight accent. But as soon as Eren told her the reason he was in a grump, Thea couldn’t help her reaction as she punched his arm. “Holy shit! You hooked up with someone! Who? You gotta tell me or I’ll go searching.” 

“They told me my resting bitch face was too strong– are you kidding me?” Billie grumbled to the other, not caring if they were listening closely to her or not. “I don’t have resting bitch face, right? I mean– what the hell kind of argument is that even in the first place?”

“Well you don’t not have resting bitch face,” Thea commented. “It might just be more of an unwelcoming face but you know, they’re on the right tracks.” She could tell the other was a little angry but thought she deserved to be told the truth. “Who is this person? I feel in the mood for slapping someone today, might make them the target.”

“Wow, gee, thanks.” Eren commented, normally the commented would have washed right over him, but given the state he was in right now. It stung. “Nice to know from my ex that I’m unbearable and therefore destined to be alone.” Eren let out a scoff, “I’m glad you’re not for that reason, bit of an invasion of privacy.” Because he hardly ever blocked his mind, but he couldn’t have Thea going poking around in there right now. Not when it was still so fresh. “Am I not allowed to brood every so often, maybe I’m just hungover.” He shrugged, about to leave it at that when she spoke. “Ah-… that explains why my sheets were rumpled. You better not have brought anyone back to do it in my room. Or were you waiting for me? Wanting another taste?” He commented, deflecting the prying but knowing it wasn’t going to last long.

“Well you’re not completely unbearable. I’m still friends with you, aren’t I? I wouldn’t be around now if I couldn’t stand you,” she added. “You can’t use that invasion of privacy argument with me. We’re both mind fairies who know a little too much about each other,” she said. They both probably knew more about each other than they realised too. “I know the difference between being hungover and being sad, even without my powers,” Thea pointed out before feigning shock. “Woah, woah. I would not bring anyone back to your room, that is gross. I can’t believe that’s what you think of me, Eren,” she shook her head in disbelief. “I was waiting for you to come back but absolutely not in that way. That chapter of our lives is completely over,” Thea told the other, crossing her heart with her finger. She exhaled and looked Eren straight in the face, “I’m being serious, dude. Where were you?”

“A lot of people think my personality is charming and witty and clearly it’s not too unbearable given you put up with it for a while.” He told the other, finally looking up to her to give her a brief hint of a smirk as he did. “It won’t, because it’s currently like Fort Knox up here- you’re not getting in.” He told the other, tapping his temple as the other mentioned prying herself into his thoughts. “Nothing is going on.” He grumbled, but he knew she’d see right through it, he’d been moody all day and he had a feeling that wasn’t going to disappear anytime soon.

“It’s unbearable enough that we broke up because I couldn’t deal with it, or did you forget that part?” She said, quirking a brow at the other. “It’s times like these when I wish I had mom’s powers. She’d be in there in a millisecond,” Thea added, pointing to his temple. “That is complete bullshit. I know something is going on because you’re brooding and that’s not a typical Eren emotion.” Thea was debating saying her next words, but she hoped it would get him to spill quicker. “That and I also know you didn’t go back to your dorm last night.”

“I know I’m handsome, Thea, but the amount of time you’ve spent staring at my face is starting to become a little unsettling.” Eren commented, not looking up from his textbook and his notebook as he spoke. “I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not going to work.” He added, knowing she was probably trying to access his thoughts, but he had came prepared, putting up every defense and block on his mind when around the other so no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn’t be able to get into his head unless he slipped up.

@theacressport·

“Oh shut up, will you?” Thea told the other, “Yes you’re handsome but that doesn’t make up for the defects in your personality now does it?” She joked, trying to add a little bit of positivity into the atmosphere. The girl was sure Eren hooked up with someone last night, even staking out his room after she saw he left the party and didn’t return back until morning. But, expecting positive emotions to be coming off the other the next morning, she was really quite confused to be feeling tension and sadness, definitely not the emotions expected post-hook up. “It might work. Or, you know, you could tell me what is going on with you so I don’t have to intrude on your thoughts and accidentally find something you don’t want me to.”

“This is just how I talk,” She responded with a shrug, brushing off the other’s slight accusation. Emma sighed quietly at Thea’s uncertainties. “You can’t compare yourself to anyone else, who is that beneficial to?” Emma asked. “Everyone learns at different paces, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You, just like everyone else are good at some things and still learning other things. There’s nothing wrong with that.” Emma said, trying to relieve the stress. “Your mother can’t expect you or Harry to know everything first go around.” 

“I’ve known you long enough to know that is not how you talk,” Thea teased. It was nice to be able to talk to a teacher so casually though when usually Thea was slightly scared of most of the others. “I can compare myself to other people... but you’re right. Not beneficial to anyone, really,” she shrugged before a slight smile crept onto her face. “Why do you always know what the perfect thing to say is? Like, seriously? Is this a skill I can learn?” Thea sighed, “She can because she did.”

“Shoe stores have shoes other than heel, y’know,” Finn commented. “It’ll be fun, heels for me, boots for you.”

“But I don’t know anything about heels. And I’m pretty sure the stores that sell your expensive heels won’t sell shoes suitable for me,” Thea shrugged. “I’ll come with you though as I want to get out of this place for an afternoon. Maybe get a soft pretzel from the mall.”

“So you’re calling me gross now? That’s new, but I’ll most definitely remember that,” he feigned offense from his sister’s words. He knew that after all they were really just messing around. “More nerdy? I didn’t realize there were levels of nerd-iness to these things,” Harry couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “But sure, whatever you say… nerd,” he couldn’t help but add with a cheeky grin. “That… is totally valid,” he nodded. “I can also imagine she’s pretty terrifying when someone does get on her bad side too.”

“I’m not calling you gross. The image of dead puppies is gross, you’re just a weirdo for projecting them into my head,” she shook her head. “Oh there are. You’re at least six levels above me and that is completely objective. Nothing you do or say will change that fact... nerd.” Having conversations like this with her brother really did put a smile on her face in an otherwise quite stressful time in her life. Dealing with her suitemates and Zac and keeping up with classes were all things Thea struggled with, but everything with Harry was easy and stress-free, and for that she was very glad. “Let’s hope we never find out what her bad side is like, huh?” Thea chuckled, “It can’t be worse than when mom is annoyed at us though.” 

“I guess either way I look like a dick,” he sighed in defeat after her remark. Harvey had a hard time focusing sometimes and it often came back to bite him in the ass more often than not. “They might both contain sound waves but that doesn’t mean I want to listen to both. Quite like all music is made up of sound waves, but not everyone likes the same types,” Harvey pointed out. “My… favorite… philosopher?” he couldn’t help but blink back at her after attempting to listen better to what she had to say. “Who the hell has a favorite philosopher?”

“You do, yep,” Thea shrugged. “At least you admitted it yourself so I didn’t have to say it.” The girl wasn’t usually that insulting, but when it came to her work she was very serious and wanted to do her best. “Just because you don’t want to listen to them doesn’t give you an excuse not to. I don’t think anyone particularly likes the soundwaves coming out of his mouth, but we’ve gotta listen to them if we’re going to pass.” Thea paused at his question, “My entire family does?” She blinked back at him, “Mom’s is Galileo, and she loves him so much she named our cat after him. Mine is Pythagoras. I thought it was just... a common thing to have one. I guess not.”

Zachariah took a slight sigh, but smiled at some of her comments. “No, that’s uh, that’s not exactly what I meant. I’m alright if you want to come over and have time with Harry, it’s where you’re comfortable. I just want you to understand and try to be patient with my mess of a mind. I’ll get there one day. I get you’re trying and I guess maybe we just need to be patient with each other and ourselves.”

“Yeah but if I’m round yours, you’re not comfortable. I’d rather us both be uncomfortable than just one of us,” Thea replied. “I’m trying to be patient, but Jesus some of your thoughts are intrusive and it’s really quite hard to ignore those.” It was often when she was around Zac that she felt grateful for her lack of a messy mind. “I’m not the most patient person, you must know that by now Zac.”

“Okay, I’m here,” Logan said when she got to the destination the other had given. “Now what was so important that I had to stay up till midnight for? You’re cutting into my precious sleep hours.”

“You can just sleep later, right? We don’t have classes til after lunch tomorrow,” Thea pointed out. “Okay, so. I think my best friend is seeing someone, and I need you to help me stake out his room so I can find out who it is.”

“The assignment has officially been submitted!” Marzia announced, swinging back in her chair rather dangerously. “Let’s do something to celebrate like eat our weight in ice cream or jump into the lake that’s probably still freezing cold right now. On second thought let’s not do the latter idea. But I’m open to any suggestions really. I can stress about the other one I gotta do tomorrow.”

“Shit, you’re done already?” Thea groaned, and leant forward on the desk, smacking her head slightly too hard on the surface. “I need to sit here and finish this one but if you’re getting ice cream, please also bring me some. I really need the energy.”

Zac was shocked to say the least. He was sure that Thea has caught his emotions, but not to this extent. Weirdly though, he didn’t get nervous about it, he just felt bad that she had to full on deal with that. Instead of this information triggering anxiety, it instead relaxed him a little more, enough to say what he said next. She was being truthful to him, and he decided to return the favor. “I’ve dealt with anxiety for most my life, and then when my Mom died, it was like it gradually got out of control, and someone with crap lungs, anxiety and panic attacks were not fun at all. Believe or not, even though it’s very believable, when I was seventeen, there was a period of time where I couldn’t even get out of bed or out of the house without it triggering a panic attack, which in return just made my breathing worse. I struggled going to school, going out with friends, even going to dinner or something with Maggie, Izzie, and our Dad. So, this is progress for me to even be here and not feel like I might die.”

Zachariah sighed. “But, I know what it’s like in my body, and in my mind, and it’s a lot to handle for someone who deals with it almost all day every day, sometimes without any reason. I would never wish that upon anyone, nor would I want to cause anyone to feel what I feel, especially when you don’t expect it or can’t control it.” Zac ran a hand through his hair. This was the most he has ever told Thea about his life, and his feelings, and it was weirdly not anxiety causing as he thought it would be. “That’s why I try to give you two some time without me, because no one deserves to feel what I feel everyday, because it’s exhausting to say the least. It’s really not you, it’s just me. I know where everything is in my dorm, everything I need in case of an emergency is there, and while I love being at Izzie’s or Maggie’s, it’s hard dealing with that unknown variable, because I’m all one unknown variable. But you deserve a break once in a while, it’s not your fault you have trouble controlling your powers, so in that sense, I don’t mind.” He let out a breath. “I just, I’m trying, I swear, but it’s taken me a lot to even get where I am right now, and I’m still working on it. I can’t ask you to be patient with me, because it affects you sometimes, but I really am trying.”

Thea just sat there listening to Zac talk. In just this one, long spiel of speech, it was probably the most words she’d ever heard him speak despite knowing him for the best part of two years, but it was nice to finally have the whole image of the other instead of little parts she couldn’t fit together. That was what annoyed her about his thoughts, that despite her many attempts she couldn’t piece together what these bursts of anxiety were about as she only ever caught onto words like lungs or mom. “I might know a bit but I didn’t know that, Zac,” she said with a sigh. Maybe she was being a bit too harsh on him, she didn’t know his whole family or health background as much as she liked to think she did. 

“I know you don’t do it maliciously, okay? It’s as much my fault as it is yours. I can’t control my powers, you can’t control your emotions. Neither one of us is more to blame here,” she felt she had to tell the other, because she knew he’d blame himself for everything as that was just what Zac did. “You don’t deserve to feel what you feel every day because as someone who has been inside your mind, it’s really not a fun place to be,” she commented. “Harry can come to mine, or I can go to Eren’s, or, wild thought incoming, stay in my own room. If me being in there is such a nuisance to you I won’t do it as often as I can. I don’t want my feeling of comfort making you uncomfortable.” Because while she did just love those nights in her twin’s room, eating nachos and watching shitty action movies, she didn’t want to do that at the expense of the other’s feelings. “I know you’re trying, Zac. I can feel it. I am too.”