my bonny lies over the ocean

One More Try ~~ [Tomal]

#swynmal #tomal #one more try #lookbook

@mal-mchale

The thing about having your kid taken from you and being fired from your job--while also becoming practically unhireable--you found yourself with a lot of free time.

Tom hated free time.

So, once he'd pulled himself out of his depression--or, at least, the debilitating part of his depression that had kept him drunk and miserable, not leaving the house--

He found ways to fill his time: volunteering. Maybe everyone hated him, but there was one group that wouldn't turn him away--if only because they always needed the help.

Today: it was the soup kitchen. Tom wasn't much of a cook, but he could ladle out some soup for those that might need it. Swynlake didn't have much of a homeless population, but they hosted these kinds of things frequently that the unhoused came from all over for their resources.

He'd just put on a ridiculous looking hairnet with a little frown and turned to see--

"Oh, hey Mal," Tom said, reaching up like he was going to touch his hair but then remembering the hairnet, so he wound up just patting it awkwardly. "You volunteering too?" He hoped the rest of the crew wasn't out there...shit. He hadn't thought about that.

[outfit]

What to do with a Drunken Sailor {Compass}

"Yes yes a grown man drinking his pain away." Aurora mused shaking her head with a sigh.

Walking around him she looped her arm around his and tugged. "Tom you're allowed to be in pain. You're allowed to hurt. You're not allowed to give up. You gotta fight through this and maybe this is just today but drinking your pain away never helps. I sure as hell know that." Guiding him toward the stairs and up to his shower.

@sailor--thomas

#swynaurora #compass #what to do with a drunken sailor #this is sitll one of my best titles #cannot believe no one has said anything #it's so genius

Tom blinked when Aurora got her arm under his, tugging him forward. When had she gotten so close? He hadn't noticed her sneaking up on him like that. Which had been true this whole time, really. Aurora had appeared, a vision from the past, that Tom hadn't been expecting at all.

"I dunnae," Tom mumbled as they walked, his feet feeling as heavy as if they had anchors tied to them. In the morning, he would think about how humiliating this was--but as it stood, he was too out of it to really care about the appearance of it all.

"I think it's helping just fine--"

Right as he said that, Aurora pushed him into the bathroom. He stumbled into the tub. "This isn't neces--"

The water cut on, drowning out his protests as he was pelted with the droplets.

@aurora--briar

NAME: Ser Thomas Harrington

HOMETOWN: The farmlands outside la ciudad OCCUPATION: Former knight; current prisoner

YOUR WISH: To defend the weak WHAT YOU GAVE UP: His father's sigil ring, the only thing of value that his family owned YOUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE: He started to open his eyes to the disparities and unfairness of Magnifico's reign

LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Former loyalist; current rebel

BIOGRAPHY: Thomas grew up in the farmlands with a large family in the shadow of the castle, dreaming to be a knight.

He was determined to prove himself, just like his father before him. His father had been a knight who worked--and died--for the king. Tom just wanted to protect his family. His friends. His home.

So that was what he asked for.

He joined the ranks of the military, but suddenly, his dream felt off. He looked at the king, whom he once saw as benevolent and deserving, and saw how he treated others. Throwing theme into prison at the smallest slight, favoring some over others...

Tom couldn't ignore it and, eventually, his conscience got the better of him and he turncoated. For years, he was the castle spy--until he trusted the wrong person and his cover was blown.

Was it luck that spared him from the gallows? Or fate?

#swynapowawbio #inspiration #my knight son <3

What to do with a Drunken Sailor {Compass}

"What's it matter? I'm your friend Tom. That automatically means it matters. Now while I'm here you're not having another drink and man I'm getting you to sober up at least a little." Aurora sighed looking over the place.

"Now the question is do I trust you enough to leave you under running water and not you know- " Aurora waved her hand like it was obvious but she didn't want to put that into the air at all.

@sailor--thomas

#swynaurora #compass #what to do with a drunken sailor

"I can drink if I wanna, I am a grown ass man, thankye," Tom grumbled, his words still slurring.

Who did she think she was anyway, eh? Coming in here and making decisions for him? Telling him what to do?

Tom had, however, grown up in a house full of women--listening to orders was ingrained in him. So, even though he was feeling stubborn and grumpy, he could feel his wherewithal slipping...

Though, also, he had no bloody idea what she was talking about.

"Runnin' water? What the hell's that got to do with anything?"

@aurora--briar

the devils helm | two tides

Jasper didn’t argue.

Didn’t frown, didn’t sigh, didn’t even blink. Just tipped his head in a way that said he expected no less — and maybe, if you looked close enough, he respected it too.

“Suit yourself, mate,” he said, voice even, almost bored. But not unkind. Never unkind.

Without missing a beat, Jasper set his coffee down with a soft clink, slid off his jacket, and slung it over the back of the chair like he wasn’t going anywhere.

Then, with the same easy, deliberate movements that once loaded a rifle or checked a parachute, he reached into his inside coat pocket, pulled a battered flask, and poured a slow, steady stream into his own mug.

He caught Tom’s eye as he capped it again, mouth pulling into the faintest, driest smirk.

“Well.” A low grunt of amusement as he raised the cup in a mock salute. “If you’re determined to drink yourself stupid, least you won’t have to do it alone.”

He threw the liquor back like it was water, sharp and clean, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and leaned back in his chair, legs kicking out, settling in.

“You want silence, I’ll give you silence,” he said, almost lazily. “You want to rant, I’ll nod along. Hell, you want to punch someone, we’ll pick a bastard off the street and flip a coin.”

A shrug, easy and unbothered.

“Today’s yours, Tom. However you want it.”

No judgment. No speeches. Just an old mate — clearing his bloody schedule.

@sailor--thomas

#swynjasper #jasmas #the devils helm #can consider this closed?

Tom didn't know what he wanted.

To be left alone? Yes, but that felt uneasy. There was too much lurking inside his own head. Being left alone was probably not the best or smartest choice, if he was perfectly honest with himself. Which, at this point, he had no reason not to be.

But he also, really, didn't want to be around other people. He hated how disappointed he felt in himself. How ashamed. And that was always elevated when other people were around and he was looking for the disappointment and shame in their faces too.

"Yeah, we can just--sit," Tom said, feeling small and uncertain.

The clocked ticked on and the whisky in the glasses lowered.

@goodeveningjasper

Letters from the Western Front [Valentine's Day AU] ~~ [Tabby]

gabrobichaux

Her eyes lit up at his comment, watching the color come to his cheeks. As forward as she would like... what a dangerous invitation, Thomas.

"Good," she hummed, leaning to press her lips lightly against his cheek, close to his mouth. "Because I want to be very forward with you, Tom."

With one hand still on his neck, she pulled him closer, kissing beside his ear. "You know, a lot of those horrible rumors come from people assuming I had relationships beyond professional with my previous costars," she whispered. "None of that is true. I never wanted to be with any of them. Truth is, I couldn't wait until filming was done to never have to see them again."

Gabby pressed closer, sitting up on her knees in the seat. "You though," a breathy laugh fluttered against his neck. "I've wanted you since our first table read."

The drive to her house wasn't long, which was probably for the best because this would be much more fun inside. But they could still play a little.

She moved to sit in his lap, her knees on either sides of his thighs. Gabby held his face in both her hands as she looked at him, the passing streetlights shining in his eyes in a hypnotizing rhythm.

"Tell me if I get too forward," said Gabby right before pressing her lips to his, kissing him with all the passion their characters had held in the scenes, but the flame this stemmed from wasn't written in a script. The warmth she felt from him was far deeper, the longing far greater. There were no cameras or directors watching their moves, timing how long their kiss lasted. There was nothing to keep them from deepening it. No ratings, no public images to worry about, no unspoken rules of film. Just them, here and now.

She wasn't going to waste a second of it.

@sailor--thomas

#swyngabby #tabby #letters from the western front

Maybe it was too forward. It was certainly more forward than the handful of girls that Tom had seen back home.

But it was the kind of thing, he supposed, he was told to expect from American girls. When he'd left his little hometown in Scotland, his buddies had told him that American girls were the kind of girls who did all sorts of unspeakable things...

He hadn't believed them and, besides, it wouldn't matter, because he was far too shy...

Gabby crawled into his lap, however, and he didn't stop her. Even if he thought that maybe he should.

Her words were intoxicating. Even if they felt far fetched to him, he wouldn't want to doubt her. It would be rude to tell her that she was wrong. That he wasn't worth much at all. Certainly not the kind of compliments that she was paying him.

And, besides, she leaned in to kiss him--shutting him up before he could think to say anything stupid enough to stop this.

He had no idea if she was telling him the truth, but she kissed him like she was and that's all he needed to know. His hands came up around her, tightening and bringing her closer to him. The heat unfurled between them at once, even if Gabby's lips were still cold from the cool evening air.

They got lost in the kiss. So much so that Tom didn't even realized when the car stopped. It was only when the driver rapt, politely, on the window that Tom finally came up for air.

He opened the door for her, fixing the sleeve of her dress before following her out. "Woah," he couldn't help but say, glancing up at the mansion before them. It was certainly the biggest house Tom had ever been in. Much bigger than the party they'd just come from. And he thought that was a big house.

@gabrobichaux

When All Is Said and Done || Tomaddelip

“Can you tell me what happened?” Maddy said.

She didn’t want to read any more news articles or angry blog posts. She wanted to hear it right from Tom and Phil.

Contrary to what Tom and Phillip probably thought, Maddy hadn’t entirely been expecting this whole journey to be peachy-keen. She knew there’d be hiccups. That’s why she’d set out to find them, though. She knew she wasn’t ever going to write an amazing masterpiece if she spent her whole life in Silver Key. She needed to put herself out there, make mistakes, meet new people. This whole quest had been about pushing her own limits, discovering herself — and hey, if she ended up inspired to write a critically acclaimed memoir because of that, so be it.

She knew that the men who could be her father were pretty much assholes, given what little her mother had said.

She just hadn’t expected them to be part of a cult.

Phillip glanced at Tom, as if waiting for him to speak first, but then sighed and spoke instead.

“We were sent to Swynlake by the Order,” he began. “And they gave us a mission we couldn’t carry out. We realized what we were doing was wrong. Maybe it’s shitty of us to take 25 years or so to realize that.” He shrugged. “But … we did. And we left and they gave us hell for it. So we helped the authorities take them down. That’s the short of it really.”

Maddy’s brow furrowed. Phillip’s voice sounded so strained and tense, in a way she’d never heard from him before. Not that she’d known him for very long, but he was the sort of person who talked like he was sharing a joke with you, no matter what he was saying.

“We won’t ever hurt anyone again,” Phillip added. “I don’t think we ever really wanted to.”

@sailor--thomas

#swynmaddy #swynphil #tomaddy #tomlip #tomaddelip #when all is said and done #this made me eeeeeeeeeeemo #tom my boy

It was funny, hearing Phil tell the story, because the last few weeks, Tom felt like he'd told it a million times. But, now, he realized, that he hadn't actually heard Phil tell it.

For some reason, it felt different coming from him.

More true.

Maybe it was because hearing Phil say it made it real. Him saying it made Tom realize they had done all those things. Had lived through all of that. It wasn't just in Tom's head.

Maybe it was just because Phil was the storyteller out of the three of them. Maybe that meant Phil was Maddy's brother. After all, that was certainly something they shared. And something neither Tom nor John did. They didn't have a creative bone between the two of them. Phil was overflowing with it.

Something pinched at his heart to think it. Not that he really knew Maddy and wasn't even sure he wanted another sister...but, well, he had started coming around to it. Until this had blown up every part of his life.

He was so sick and tired of the Order taking his family from him.

"No, we didn't," Tom said. He remembered the first hunt his father had ever taken him on. The poor deer that they'd all stood around, arguing who had a right to its last breath. Tom had found the whole thing abhorrent. Even if he hadn't had the words for it at the time.

Tom never, really, had the words, but he tried now.

"We understand if you don't believe us...but we hope you do." Tom glanced at Phil and then back to Maddy. "The Order has taken so much from us...I--it would be a shame if it took you too."

@madellaine, @knightley--phillip

princess-ting-ting

A Good Man is Hard to Find || Tongs

princess-ting-ting

“Oh.”

Ting blinked. Her heart squeezed, so tight that it physically hurt. Without saying much else, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Tom.

She couldn’t imagine it, having her child taken from her. Tom was a good father. He was much better than Anastasia Tremaine, Ting knew for certain. To think that some random impersonal government agency decided that Annie was a better fit for Levi than Tom! Based on what? The fact that he’d escaped a cult?

If anything, that should prove to them just how brave and good Tom was.

It made Ting upset. Mad, even. Ting didn’t get mad a lot. She tried to turn anger into something more useful, though often times it just turned to sadness and she had to deal with that.

But now she was properly angry and she squeezed Tom tighter.

“I’m so sorry. That must be so hard. For what it’s worth,” she said, pulling away and giving Tom’s shoulder another squeeze. “You’re one of the best fathers I know.”

@sailor--thomas

#swyntingting #tongs #a good man is hard to find #anya characters 2/3 making tom cry

Tom stiffened when Ting-Ting hugged him. He hadn't expected it. He still had his arms crossed protectively over his chest. But Ting-Ting pressed against him anyway, wrapping her arms around him. It was the first time that anyone, really, had hugged him since this had all started. Phil had squeezed his neck, his arm--had pat his chest and slung an arm around his shoulders--but they hadn't been raised to be the kind of men that hugged first.

It was bizarre, almost, how quickly everything in his chest unraveled.

His arms dropped. Ting-Ting just pressed closer. Her arms around his shoulders pushing them down. His head fell onto her shoulder. Her words whispered passed his ear.

He didn't cry. He felt far too empty to cry. Like Ting-Ting's hug had pulled the plug on all the feeling inside of him. It was a whirlpool, now, that he was trying not to get sucked into.

Tom hugged her back. His eyes were heavy with tears, but they were also closed as he listened to her sympathy and felt somehow both pathetic and soothed by it.

"Thank ye," Tom said and when he spoke, his voice cracked--thick with emotion. "I-I don't know if...if I'll get him back."

And then, despite him telling himself that everything had drained away, Tom began to cry. The tears slipped down his face and tangled in his beard. "I--I don't know what I'll do. If..." I don't get him back.

@princess-ting-ting

the devils helm | two tides

Jasper watched him—really watched him—for a long, silent beat. That shrug. That voice. That tone. He’d seen it before. In the mirror. In bunkmates. In the eyes of men who’d stared down hell and decided it was easier to sit in the ashes than claw their way out.

He didn’t speak right away.

Then, calmly, quietly:

“That’s not a truth, Tom. That’s a choice.”

He leaned back again, arms folding, jaw tight with something colder than anger but heavier than apathy. “You want to lie down, fine. But don’t piss on the floor and tell me it’s rainin’. You didn’t get dragged into this. You walked. For all the right reasons—or so you thought—and now the fire came back ‘round.”

Another pause. His voice didn’t rise, but the edge sharpened.

“You think you’re the only man who’s tried to do the right thing and got shot for it? I’ve buried mates who had more heart than sense, and I’ve worked beside bastards who’ll never see a consequence in their life. The system’s a rigged table. Always has been. You still play the game.”

He sat forward then, elbows on knees, finally locking eyes with him.

“You want to disappear? You want to give up? Do it. But don’t sit here talkin’ like that’s all fate had lined up for you. That’s cowardice dressed as defeat.”

Then—softer, almost like a peace offering, but not quite:

“I’ve got space. Could find a role. Nothing public. Quiet. Stable. Maybe not what you had in mind, but it’s work. And a way to keep your hands busy ‘til your head catches up.”

His brow twitched, the only visible crack in his composure.

“But I’m not gonna beg you to take it. You’re a grown man, Tom...and I hate to see ya diggin your own grave here mate." @sailor--thomas

#swynjasper #jasmas #the devils helm

"No," Tom said to the offer as soon as Jasper gave it.

He should, probably, take it. But there was still a flicker, a scrap of pride inside of him. And it didn't want to take hand outs from someone. Even if that person was a friend. Tom knew that Jasper's business hired plenty of vets way more down on their luck than Tom but...

Something about it smarted anyway.

"No, thank ye. I appreciate it but...I will find my own way." He tipped the whiskey glass that had only dregs left, staring at it with a little frown. "Or I'll drown at the bottom of the bottle." He lifted his glass and tossed the rest of it back.

"Time will tell, I suppose."

@goodeveningjasper

Letters from the Western Front [Valentine's Day AU] ~~ [Tabby]

gabrobichaux

There was a moment where she knew this could've been bad. Oh how easy it would've been for him to run to someone and tell them what she'd said and offered, and added one more stain to her reputation.

But he didn't. He just kept proving himself to be such a gentleman through and through.

When he entered the car, she smiled, and the driver set off.

"Well aren't you just the sweetest," she said, placing a hand on his face. "They're going to talk about me anyway, they always do. So we might as well give an interesting story. Besides," she slid closer, her hand going to the back of his neck, "you are well worth the rumors."

She ran her fingers against his neck, feeling his pulse. Be still my unbeating heart, she thought to herself as she felt the thrumming of his so clearly. "I hope you don't think anything of me bringing you home. This isn't something I do all the time, you know." Her eyes traveled over every detail of his face. "I'm not being too forward with you, am I?"

@sailor--thomas

#swyngabby #tabby #letters from the western front #playing tom as some like #bumpkin from the country who made it big in hollywood #very funny to me

Gabby touched his face.

She'd done it before, of course. As her character in the movie. And she was a wonderful actress, of course, so he had believed it even as they acted. It had been easy to pretend to be in love with her.

And now, he couldn't resist her either. Her soft, powdery perfume. Her red lips and dark hair. The way her touch made him shiver--even through her gloves. Her fingers trailed along his neck and Tom wondered if she could feel his heartbeat against her hand and if he should be embarrassed by it.

When she spoke her final question, his eyes moved up from where they'd been staring at her lips.

"No ma'am, you be as forward with me as you'd like," he said. It was slightly out of character for him and he blushed as soon as he said it. But...he meant it too.

It did occur to him that maybe she was just toying with him. That she'd use him for a night and then toss him aside. He figured he'd be alright with that, though. It was how Hollywood worked in all the stories anyway.

@gabrobichaux

It Wasn't Meant to End Like This ~~ [Toxim]

trackedbymaximus

If Tom had been able to explain any of his own story to Maximus, it would have made a difference.

Because every account that existed currently was focused on the worst the Order had offered. Those who had hunted people who lived within communities and who trained others to do the same. People who lived public lives embedded deeply in their culture and in their trust, and whose subsequent arrests shook the foundation of their entire political system.

When it had happened, the conversation had been everywhere. Maximus hadn't been involved in any of those arrests, but they had been all that was talked about at the station for months. It hadn't taken long to pick out the sympathizers to the Order on the Force. He'd had to live with the knowledge that he worked alongside them and would continue to do so. Their words weren't considered crimes.

He'd lost the ability to take anything on faith a long time ago. He'd seen too much of humanity to simply believe on so little.

"I don't know what to believe. But this conversation seems to be going nowhere."

@sailor--thomas

#swynmaximus #toxim #it wasn't meant to end like this #tom is just Tired #and not emotionally available #to help max process his feelings lmaooo #tom is one of the most #homoerotic heterosexuals

"You could believe me," Tom said with a shrug.

It wasn't a plea. It was simply a statement. Simply a truth. Maximus had the choice to do that. Or not. He could believe the more than a year they'd spent at each other's sides. Hundreds of hours, probably. Too many to count.

Tom had always held brothers-in-arms to high esteem. Whether a Prince, a naval sailor, a fellow soldier, or a police officer--his life had been built around the bond of brotherhood. Maybe if he was on Maximus' side of things, he would be just as confused...but he would also want to believe whoever it was.

He would want to believe him--and so, he probably would.

Maybe that made him a fool.

Maybe that was how he'd gotten into this mess. (After all, someone had exposed him. The answer to that question would probably haunt him for years to come...) Maybe he was too trusting. Maybe even, after everything, he wanted to believe people.

But he also wanted to believe. Without having to fight for it. Tom had spent the last five years trying to hold his head above the water. To try and come to terms with all the things he'd done. And a way forward, to a better, more satisfying life.

This whole scandal had been like something wrapping around his ankle and dragging him into the depths.

@trackedbymaximus

The Not-Really In-Laws ~~ [Tomzella]

ugly-drizella

“Oh yeah,” said Drizella.

Admittedly, she’d been a little lazier about meals than Annie. Once she’d run out of leftovers, a lot of it had been takeaway. And maybe the kids could’ve been eating more vegetables… but hey, if she was gonna take the olives off her pizza, she couldn’t force the kids to do so, right?

“We had pizza tonight,” she added, just in case Tom was gonna start drilling her. “Half plain cheese, half with every topping.” She’d let Jaxson and Harlynne take whatever slice they wanted and keep whatever toppings they wanted and ditch the rest. Seemed easier that way, yeah?

“And don’t worry. No soda. Annie was very clear about that.”

… she’d snuck a Coke Zero in her water bottle but no one needed to know about that.

@sailor--thomas

#swyndrizella #tomzella #the not really in laws

Pizza...well, it wasn't like Phil and Tom had never ordered pizza for dinner. But they did it far more rarely these days, considering it wasn't exactly nutritious for a two, almost three, year old. And Tom wasn't some clean eating control freak like some parents, but he also was careful about Levi's diet.

"Levi didn't eat any of the meat, did he? We haven't introduced that into his diet yet and it could make him sick," he said, trying to keep his temper in check. He couldn't blame Drizella if Annie hadn't mentioned it.

Though, he'd sure as hell like to.

@ugly-drizella

the devils helm | two tides

Jasper let the rant roll. Didn’t interrupt. Just sat there with that same unreadable look, fingers idly turning the ring on his thumb like it was a valve he could open or close depending on what the moment needed.

When Tom finally stopped, Jasper leaned back—slow —and let out a breath that wasn’t quite a sigh.

“World’s always crashin’ down, mate. That’s the secret no one says out loud. Just changes names, changes faces. One day it’s the brass, next day it’s the papers. Next week, it’ll be something else entirely.”

He picked up his mug and took a slow sip. Just casual as ever talking to his old friend.

“I know what it’s like to want to disappear, Tom. Trust me. But you don’t get that luxury. Not with a kid. Not with your name. You don’t get to drown. You swim through it, head high, even if every stroke burns.”

There was so much truth in that. You should really follow your own advice mate. The smoke circled around his collar bones like a snake. Only slightly interested in this little interaction.

“People hate you? Fine. Let ‘em. But you want redemption, you don’t earn it in a bottle. You build it. Brick by bloody brick.”

Jasper eyes flicked back to his friends with a gentle nod -

“You helped the wrong people. Now help the right ones. And start with yourself.”

@sailor--thomas

#swynjasper #jasmas #the devils helm

This speech did not stir Tom.

If anything, he just felt like a turtle, withdrawing further into himself. He didn't feel capable of doing anything at all. He'd already tried redemption. His job as sheriff had been redemption. Leaving the Order had been his redemption.

But these were also the things that people hated him for.

His redemption had already burned to ash. There was none, really, left for him. All he wanted was to raise his son in peace. To fade away from the public eye. He felt it best to just retire his heart. There was no point in trying to help people who did not want to be helped.

That referred to the town of Swynlake, just as much as it referred to Tom himself in that moment.

He just shrugged a little at Jasper.

"I appreciate it, mate," he said, but his voice sounded hollow. Even to Tom. "It's just a shit show and isn't nothin' I can do to change that so--it just is what it is. Sorry, but I don't see a way around or through that."

@goodeveningjasper

When All Is Said and Done || Tomaddelip

“She didn’t,” said Maddy.

Though — well, she didn't know for sure, now did she? But she doubted that these three strange men, who’d slept with a cocktail waitress who was basically a stranger, would tell said cocktail waitress about this.

Maddy shifted her weight from one foot to another, twirling a strand of her hair around one finger.

“She told me — well, she told me they were assholes, to put it bluntly,” she said. “I mean. She was, like, 20 and they were married and when she found out and tried to call one of them — well, she didn’t tell me all the details. I heard that from my Auntie Tammy-Mae.” She took a deep breath. “I’m just saying… I was under no impression that they’d want to see me or meet me or even be, like, chill about it. I just wanted… well, I wanted to find you guys.”

She looked up at them, gaze drifting from Phillip to Tom and back again.

Phillip sighed.

“Well. Then I’m sorry if this has ruined any expectations about us.” His voice sounded more tired than she’d ever heard it and there wasn’t even a trace of a smile on his face.

@sailor--thomas

#swynmaddy #tomaddelip #when all is said and done #tomaddy #tomlip #sorry tom is bad at this stuff lmfao

Despite that Tom knew all of this about his father. Their fathers. That they were not good people. That they had ruined so many people's lives. That they had broken every vow they'd ever taken--

It still hurt to hear that they had been so cruel to Maddy's mother. Something about it felt like a curse. Like deep down in Tom's DNA, this was who he was. That he was a bad person, clean down to the bone. There was no changing it. The more he desperately fought against it, the worse it was gonna be for him at the end of the day.

After all, hadn't Tom cheated on partners before?

Though, he supposed, he would never have turned away a woman who called him and told him that she was pregnant with his child. Or even the child of one of his best friends. He liked to think, in that way, he and his father were different.

He didn't know what to say to Maddy now. It felt like there was nothing to say. They were disappointments. That much wasn't a shock to Tom at all, but he did feel bad. He hadn't known what she might be looking for in a trio of big brothers but...it probably wasn't this.

"Yeah, erm, sorry."

@madellaine

The Winds Have Blown Over the Ocean ~~ [Tonnie]

ugly-anastasia

Annie still didn't feel unlucky. Sure, she wished it had all been a lot easier, but kids never were. There was something kind of nice, anyway, being able to look back at a difficult time in your life and see that something good had come of it. Or someone. It was the same reason Annie couldn't really regret Charlie— she still wouldn't have had Harlynne and Jaxson if not for that time in her life.

And she didn't think Tom was a bad parent. If she did, she would have said so in court, because she would have felt the need to protect Levi from him. But Annie didn't, because Tom was a good parent, even if Annie wished she got a little more time with Levi.

That was the important part of this conversation, the thing he was asking her to put in that letter. So Annie didn't really have much choice.

"Okay. Got it," Annie said. She glanced toward the living room. "That all you wanted to talk about?"

@sailor--thomas

#swynannie #tonnie #the winds have blown over the ocean

Was there anything else he wanted to talk about?

No.

Well, yes. There were a million things.

Just not with Annie.

They were not the kind of people to talk. They kept the conversation to their son. And, if forced to be in each other's company for too long, they occasionally discussed the weather. Besides those two things, they had nothing at all in common.

Tom did regret sleeping with her. He regretted the mess his life had become after that moment. It wasn't her fault. He didn't blame her for it. (Well, except the parts that were her fault.) It was just shit.

Levi was the shining light through it all, but right now, even that was dim for Tom. The light was so far on the other side of the tunnel that it was just a pinprick. Hardly enough to see by. But it still lit his way.

"Er, thanks, I guess. Uh--thank you for writing a recommendation. I will give you the address to send it." Tom gave her a little nod.

@ugly-anastasia

oswaldxmarks

It's Not You, It's... Well-- || Tozzy

oswaldxmarks

So he did have some bite left, that was good. Wasn't a complete lost cause.

Why hire him if that was a concern? Because my other half is a fucking idiot. But that wasn't an answer he could actually give. Maybe if Oswald had thought about the consequences of his actions they wouldn't be firing him right now. And, sure, they'd probably argue that having an ex-cop on their payroll gave them someone somewhat trustworthy who would vouch for them if shit hit the fan, but Ozzy didn't like those odds.

"Well, it wasn't a concern when you were hired," Ozzy explained like he was talking to a child. "I had no problem with it, really. I believe in second chances after all. But when I've been told you make people feel unsafe when it's kinda your job to do the opposite, that's when concern rises. It's nothing you did, Tom, and I tried to talk to these people, but between this and the protests... I have to go with the decision that's better for everyone in the long run. And that's, unfortunately, parting ways with you."

He put on his best consolation smile, "And, hey, I mean, you've got loads of talents, right? They were kinda wasted here, huh? I'll give ya a glowing recommendation to your next employer if you need it but I just think this isn't the place for you. Not right now." Not ever, really, Ozzy would literally kick him out on his ass if he could without that being 'a crime'. "You can finish out this week's shifts if you'd like, and you'll get a little bit of severance pay, but... yeah, i don't think this is workin' for either of us."

@sailor--thomas