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TC
theo crain
basically a clenched fist with hair
theodora crain | netflix's the haunting of hill house
i am a fucking doctor
STATISTICS
NAME Theodora "Theo" Crain
AGE 34ish
DOB August 9th, 1984
HEIGHT 5'8"
BUILD Thin and wiry
HAIR Black
EYES Blue
ABILITIES & SKILLS
Touch Empathy
NAME Theodora "Theo" Crain
AGE 34ish
DOB August 9th, 1984
HEIGHT 5'8"
BUILD Thin and wiry
HAIR Black
EYES Blue
ABILITIES & SKILLS
Touch Empathy
Obtains the emotions of others via skin-to-skin contact.Telepathy
Occasionally gets strong memories/images via physical contactObject Telepathy
Can obtain information from inanimate objects by touching them, though this takes more concentrationPhD
Doctorate in Psychology from Boston University
Doctor Theodora Crain is an up-and-coming child psychologist, living and working in the Boston area, close to her older sister Shirley and her niece, nephew and brother-in-law. Very close, in fact -- despite already distinguishing herself in her field, Theo chooses to live in the guest house adjoining Shirley's home-slash-funeral-parlor. Her relationship with Shirley is generally positive, though definitely less true with her other three siblings, and her father. Her mother died when she was eight -- a suicide -- and Theo was raised by her maternal aunt.
Theo is single, currently, though she carries on a series of sexual flings with various women she meets in nightclubs. She came out late in life, accidentally, at her youngest sister's wedding when she was thirty. Her family was generally accepting, though her serial one night stands definitely worry Shirley.
Among Theo's many many secrets is her unusual power of touch empathy -- she can feel people's emotions via skin-to-skin contact, so intensely that they become her own. This power is staggering and overwhelming, as Theo can also pick up images and memories this way -- from both people and objects -- feeling the trauma and memories of others as if it's her own. While this has been beneficial in her field of work, Theo makes a practice of wearing gloves all the time, to avoid being overwhelmed by her environment.
She also briefly lived in a haunted house, which she doesn't like to discuss. At all. The events of her eighth summer ended up becoming tabloid fodder for decades, and even now Theo's had to strive to remove the stigma from her name. She doesn't want to be the haunted house girl anymore. She wants to just be Theo, work with her patients, enjoy a beer with her sister and spend her nights dancing, drinking and diving under the covers with whoever catches her eye.
The problem with ghosts, though, is that they refuse to stay dead...
Theo is single, currently, though she carries on a series of sexual flings with various women she meets in nightclubs. She came out late in life, accidentally, at her youngest sister's wedding when she was thirty. Her family was generally accepting, though her serial one night stands definitely worry Shirley.
Among Theo's many many secrets is her unusual power of touch empathy -- she can feel people's emotions via skin-to-skin contact, so intensely that they become her own. This power is staggering and overwhelming, as Theo can also pick up images and memories this way -- from both people and objects -- feeling the trauma and memories of others as if it's her own. While this has been beneficial in her field of work, Theo makes a practice of wearing gloves all the time, to avoid being overwhelmed by her environment.
She also briefly lived in a haunted house, which she doesn't like to discuss. At all. The events of her eighth summer ended up becoming tabloid fodder for decades, and even now Theo's had to strive to remove the stigma from her name. She doesn't want to be the haunted house girl anymore. She wants to just be Theo, work with her patients, enjoy a beer with her sister and spend her nights dancing, drinking and diving under the covers with whoever catches her eye.
The problem with ghosts, though, is that they refuse to stay dead...
i'm drinking every time i feel like punching something
INTP
Enneagram Type 5
WEAKNESSES Emotional, Mistrustful, Numb
Theo is a series of contradictions inside one grouchy, sharp-tongued package. She presents as cold, standoffish and even uncaring upon first meeting, an impression that isn't helped by her overwhelming aversion to being touched. She's not a hugger, she doesn't like being too close to anyone, and will often position herself in corners, hugging her arms to her chest so she doesn't touch anything or anyone.
A huge part of Theo's personality comes from her abilities -- if her bare skin touches another person's, or even an object, she will immediately be flooded with emotions, images, memories and sensations, feeling them as if they were her own. Touching the pillow of an old sickbed has her immediately recognizing the suffering and illness that took place there, while touching the fabric of a couch gives her a vivid, violent full-body experience of a child's abuse. She literally experiences the trauma of others when she touches them or their belongings. To protect herself, Theo is closed off, holding everyone at arm's length with her sarcasm, angry words and blunt attitude.
However, underneath the prickly exterior, Theo is a deeply caring, empathetic, compassionate woman. She chooses a career as a child psychologist, a job that requires her to be gentle and kind to her frightened, vulnerable patients. And she's exceptionally good at it -- Theo is never more open and warm than when she's interacting with children, whether they be her clients or her niece and nephew. Kids tend to trust her, sensing that she genuinely cares about them and will go to great lengths to protect them. Though she's significantly more cautious with other adults, Theo is fiercely loyal, staying close to her older sister to provide her support, grieving her younger sister so intensely that she almost breaks under it and maintaining a soft spot for her brothers and father, even under all the resentment and anger.
Theo is a complicated person, ultimately, and she makes no apologies for herself. She has a strong sense of justice, and goes above and beyond to attain it for the people she loves. When she does love, it's intensely powerful, and when she hates, it's just as strong. She's a woman who feels everything so much, so often, that she finds it easier to turn off her emotions and feel nothing, as a coping mechanism. She'd rather hold the world at arm's length forever, rather than drown in feeling everything, all the time.
A huge part of Theo's personality comes from her abilities -- if her bare skin touches another person's, or even an object, she will immediately be flooded with emotions, images, memories and sensations, feeling them as if they were her own. Touching the pillow of an old sickbed has her immediately recognizing the suffering and illness that took place there, while touching the fabric of a couch gives her a vivid, violent full-body experience of a child's abuse. She literally experiences the trauma of others when she touches them or their belongings. To protect herself, Theo is closed off, holding everyone at arm's length with her sarcasm, angry words and blunt attitude.
However, underneath the prickly exterior, Theo is a deeply caring, empathetic, compassionate woman. She chooses a career as a child psychologist, a job that requires her to be gentle and kind to her frightened, vulnerable patients. And she's exceptionally good at it -- Theo is never more open and warm than when she's interacting with children, whether they be her clients or her niece and nephew. Kids tend to trust her, sensing that she genuinely cares about them and will go to great lengths to protect them. Though she's significantly more cautious with other adults, Theo is fiercely loyal, staying close to her older sister to provide her support, grieving her younger sister so intensely that she almost breaks under it and maintaining a soft spot for her brothers and father, even under all the resentment and anger.
Theo is a complicated person, ultimately, and she makes no apologies for herself. She has a strong sense of justice, and goes above and beyond to attain it for the people she loves. When she does love, it's intensely powerful, and when she hates, it's just as strong. She's a woman who feels everything so much, so often, that she finds it easier to turn off her emotions and feel nothing, as a coping mechanism. She'd rather hold the world at arm's length forever, rather than drown in feeling everything, all the time.
who's saying it's quick? i'm a giver
LOOK BOOK
Physically, Theo is tall and lean, pale-skinned and blue-eyed, with dark hair that reaches down past her shoulders. She occasionally curls it, but it's naturally straight. Her facial features and mannerisms closely mirror those of her older sister and mother.
Theo favors long-sleeved shirts or sweaters with slacks or jeans, and tends towards a muted color palette -- lots of black, grey, brown or green. At work, she dresses professionally and conservatively, wearing her hair back and up in ponytails or buns.
In casual settings, Theo tends towards baggy sweatshirts, zip-up hoodies or other loose, comfortable clothes. She'll occasionally wear short sleeves, but this is much rarer, and usually only in the company of someone she trusts. When Theo goes out with the express purpose of hooking up, she's much bolder, wearing tight, low-cut clothing that reveals much more skin.
Most importantly, Theo always wears gloves, and seems to have an enormous collection of them in varying lengths, colors and fabrics. Some are wrist-length, some reach up past her elbows, some are leather, some silk, but Theo always has gloves on. The rare exception is when she's working with her child clients, or when she's having a sexual encounter.
Theo favors long-sleeved shirts or sweaters with slacks or jeans, and tends towards a muted color palette -- lots of black, grey, brown or green. At work, she dresses professionally and conservatively, wearing her hair back and up in ponytails or buns.
In casual settings, Theo tends towards baggy sweatshirts, zip-up hoodies or other loose, comfortable clothes. She'll occasionally wear short sleeves, but this is much rarer, and usually only in the company of someone she trusts. When Theo goes out with the express purpose of hooking up, she's much bolder, wearing tight, low-cut clothing that reveals much more skin.
Most importantly, Theo always wears gloves, and seems to have an enormous collection of them in varying lengths, colors and fabrics. Some are wrist-length, some reach up past her elbows, some are leather, some silk, but Theo always has gloves on. The rare exception is when she's working with her child clients, or when she's having a sexual encounter.
we're great builders. we make ourselves really safe
FAMILY TREE
MOTHER Olivia Crain
FATHER Hugh Crain
RELATIONSHIP STATUS Single
ROADMAP
BIRTHPLACE Massachusetts
CHILDHOOD HOME Hill House
CURRENTLY IN Boston, Massachusets
TIMELINE
1984
MOTHER Olivia Crain
FATHER Hugh Crain
OLDER BROTHER Steve CrainSEXUALITY Lesbian
OLDER SISTER Shirley Harris
YOUNGER SISTER Eleanor Vance
YOUNGER BROTHER Luke Crain
RELATIONSHIP STATUS Single
ROADMAP
BIRTHPLACE Massachusetts
CHILDHOOD HOME Hill House
CURRENTLY IN Boston, Massachusets
TIMELINE
1984
Born1992
Summer in Hill House1992-onward
Grew up with Aunt Janet2018
Events of Series
Theodora Crain was born the middle of five children to Hugh and Olivia Crain in 1984, somewhere in Massachusetts. By the time she was eight, she had moved numerous times, as her parents made a living by flipping old houses. In the summer of 1992, Theo and her family -- her older siblings, Steve and Shirley, and her younger twin siblings Nellie and Luke, along with her parents -- moved into a huge old house in Massachusetts known as Hill House. It was the biggest project the Crains had ever undertaken, but it would hopefully be the last, as they planned to build their own home with the money from selling Hill House. However, the house itself had other plans.
During those brief weeks in Hill House, Theo witnessed her family slowly falling apart. Her baby sister, Nellie, began having visions of a grotesque spectre she called "the Bent-Neck Lady", while Luke spent all his time with his new imaginary friend, Abigail. Theo herself became aware of her own special abilities for the first time while living in Hill House, as anything -- or anyone -- she touched would pass on images, emotions or thoughts. Worst of all, as Hugh focused more and more on restoring Hill House, Theo's beautiful, gentle, brilliant mother, Olivia, plagued by horrific migraines, slowly transformed into a woman her children no longer recognized.
This all culminated in one whirlwind night, where Hugh woke up his kids in a panic, put them in the car and drove them away from Hill House (and their mother). Forever. Theo's memories of that night are foggy, overshadowed by the media frenzy that followed once it was discovered Olivia had died, and Hugh would say nothing more besides "the house did it". Theo and her siblings were removed from their father's custody, and spent the rest of their childhood raised by their Aunt Janet.
Twenty-six years later, Theo lives in the guest house behind Shirley's home/funeral parlor. She's single (and happy to be, thanks), though she goes out frequently to pick up women in nightclubs and bring them home for a night. During the day, Theo is a celebrated child psychologist, who only really displays genuine tenderness and empathy towards the children she treats. Theo's relationship with much of her family (her famous writer brother Steve, her estranged father, her heroin-addict little brother Luke and her erratic, illogical little sister Nellie) is extremely strained, and even her closeness with Shirley hides a deep betrayal -- Theo secretly accepted money made from a tell-all book Steve published many years before, and financed her PhD education. But at least the ghosts of Hill House are dead and buried.
Aren't they?
During those brief weeks in Hill House, Theo witnessed her family slowly falling apart. Her baby sister, Nellie, began having visions of a grotesque spectre she called "the Bent-Neck Lady", while Luke spent all his time with his new imaginary friend, Abigail. Theo herself became aware of her own special abilities for the first time while living in Hill House, as anything -- or anyone -- she touched would pass on images, emotions or thoughts. Worst of all, as Hugh focused more and more on restoring Hill House, Theo's beautiful, gentle, brilliant mother, Olivia, plagued by horrific migraines, slowly transformed into a woman her children no longer recognized.
This all culminated in one whirlwind night, where Hugh woke up his kids in a panic, put them in the car and drove them away from Hill House (and their mother). Forever. Theo's memories of that night are foggy, overshadowed by the media frenzy that followed once it was discovered Olivia had died, and Hugh would say nothing more besides "the house did it". Theo and her siblings were removed from their father's custody, and spent the rest of their childhood raised by their Aunt Janet.
Twenty-six years later, Theo lives in the guest house behind Shirley's home/funeral parlor. She's single (and happy to be, thanks), though she goes out frequently to pick up women in nightclubs and bring them home for a night. During the day, Theo is a celebrated child psychologist, who only really displays genuine tenderness and empathy towards the children she treats. Theo's relationship with much of her family (her famous writer brother Steve, her estranged father, her heroin-addict little brother Luke and her erratic, illogical little sister Nellie) is extremely strained, and even her closeness with Shirley hides a deep betrayal -- Theo secretly accepted money made from a tell-all book Steve published many years before, and financed her PhD education. But at least the ghosts of Hill House are dead and buried.
Aren't they?
well, be sure to let your imagination get the best of you
