I just realized that commenting “So cool. I want that on a t-shirt.” Is sort of the modern equivalent of saying “Wow. You’re prettier than Aphrodite.” Or “Neat! You weave even better than Athena.”
It’s a sweet sentiment, but it will only bring misfortune to the one you are trying to compliment should those words reach an ominous being (that is very likely going to see them).
I can’t decide if this is funny, terrifying, or sad, but it seems like a tumblr thought, so… yeah.
Warnings: MAJOR MENTIONS/BRIEF SCENE OF RAPE! Language, angst, alcohol, suggestive material, and this is just really sad.
Chpt. 2
Okay, PLEASE HEED THE WARNINGS! I don’t think the scene is graphic, however it’s there. If you feel that I should put a stronger warning, please don’t be afraid to dm me.
So, my first ficlet, where do I begin? This story was supposed to be a cute little scene with Thomas and an ex lover but omg, I went so off track but I hope yall like it. I did lots of scheming with this fic and @tinywhim I cannot thank you enough for all the help! Brainstorming with you gives me so much more motivation to actually finish writing stories ngl. But yeah, please be wary. Next part will be much lighter I promise. Let me know if you want to be tagged, I’m tagging my original tjeff taglist. Feedback is always appreciated! And....hope you guys continue this story with me! Enjoy!
Y/N didn’t believe in soulmates, even if she was surrounded by so many people who seemed to be destined to each other. Her parents were married for 27 years, never once betrayed each other, they even died together. Even though her mother would call them soulmates, she didn’t believe it, she just thought they were two people who found an undeniable love.
It was this phrase that was tossed around so much that it was starting to seem like a far off fantasy.
That changed when she met Thomas.
He was brilliant, charming, he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. He had little quirks about him that she knew was just for her to see. Y/N liked when he would tell a story and he would get this fond look in his eye, and start scrunching up his nose the faster he talked. To her it was adorable, to him it was stupid.
Thomas made her feel safe, she’s never felt like that before.
They met at an art exhibit, and the two spent the whole night talking about different pieces and ended up going to a small diner, looking ridiculously overdressed. She could see her mother gush about how romantic it was, how she could picture the wedding now.
Y/N still didn’t believe in soulmates, but she did start to imagine a future with the man.
Two years in, they were finally thinking about moving in together. Thomas found a nice place in Charlottesville, not too far from his family’s estate. It felt like a perfect dream. They were going to close on it at the end of summer.
It was all perfect timing. The Jefferson's always threw a big charity event in July, the house would be filled with hundreds of snobby, rich attendees. Trying to fill in a conversation with any of them bored her to death, but Y/N couldn’t complain because while they had no genuine personality, they did have money. The event usually does really well each year, and this year was no different.
Y/N spent that whole weekend at the Jefferson's estate, helping set up decorations and enjoying her time with him and his father. Ever since Thomas’s mother passed, Peter hasn’t been as social with outsiders.
And even though she had heard some stories from the past that gave her dreaded chills, the man seemed to mean well. Thomas had told her that it was all in the past, and that he still cares for his father, so she shouldn’t hold it against him if Thomas wasn’t.
The night after the fundraiser she learned more about Peter Jefferson. He liked to golf, he enjoyed telling awful jokes, and he liked to drink.
He drank a lot that night.
Y/N was in the study, reading the final chapter of her book on the couch. Thomas had gone out with James for the night, seeing that he would be leaving to go up to New York till the end of summer. It was peaceful; she was wrapped in a large blanket, feet on the table with a mug of coffee and a good book.
The characters were clashing, it was something she hadn’t expected. She leaned forward and focused more on the words, not noticing the door open and shut quietly behind her. She only lifted her head when she felt cold fingertips run up her backside.
Y/N turned around quickly, noticing Peter barely standing on his own.
“Peter, are you alright? You don’t look too good.” His eyes were foggy, there was a stain across his shirt and he hiccupped to himself as he laughed.
“Well, I think...you do, darling.”
“Do what?”
“You look..good, very-very good if I might add.” He staggered into the seat next to her and immediately put his hand on her thigh.
“What are you doing?!” She pushed his hand off and he chuckled again.
“You know, Thomas...my son he sure did pick out...a beautiful lady. And, heh, at least he did something right, he did something good in his life. But that boy, he still doesn't have the mindset yet...he doesn’t see that-” Peter drifted off as he looked like he was about to vomit all over himself.
It was an opportunity, it was the perfect time to leave.
“He’s so blinded by your wit that he doesn’t see that you’re taking as you please, and maybe not even to him alone, right huh?” He grabbed Y/N’s calf as he tucked himself into her neck.
“He doesn’t see the way you dress, the way you look, how you’re just asking for it! Is he not giving you enough attention, darling?”
His hands felt slimy and unfamiliar, and they were certainly unwanted.
But what was Y/N to do? She could’ve easily ran out the room. The man was drunk, she could’ve easily shoved him, hit him hard enough, and he would probably stumble and she could get out. She could call Thomas-
Thomas.
Thomas kept her safe, Thomas promised her that she was his and nobody else’s. Thomas left the house, Thomas brought her into an abuser’s house.
Thomas was going to be so upset.
And she could avoid this, Y/N could put an end to this hand running up her shorts.
But she was numb, she was lost. All she could see was Thomas, all she could think was Thomas. But that certainly wasn’t Thomas’s hands, not his soothing touch, not his caring praise. It was Peter’s, and it was disgusting. But if she ended this, what would he say to Thomas?
By the time she could feel her feet, it was already over.
Y/N sat up to her pants on the floor along with a spilled coffee and puke smears on the rug. Her bones were cold, but that blanket had a white stain that made her uncomfortable. She looked and found the door closed.
As if he never even came in.
Maybe it was seconds, maybe it was hours, but when she finally sat up her whole body weight caved in on her.
She had to clean up the mess, she needed to get rid of the evidence.
She had to clean herself, she felt like this wasn’t her body. She was violated, she was abused, she was used.
Y/N took the longest shower of her life, whether it be from her crying or trying to disinfect the feeling of hands crossing her torso.
She went to bed alone, and surprisingly, sleep caught her quick. When she woke up, she was still alone. No Thomas, no Peter.
Her emotions ran over her again and she sobbed gently into her pillow. She was too afraid to leave the bed, too afraid to go downstairs and see what broke her, is breaking her. It was too much.
When her tears finally ran dry, there was a knock on the door. Immediately, she pulled her knees up to her chest and felt her heart jump. She stopped breathing until she heard her boyfriend’s voice.
As he walked in, he had bloodshot eyes, wearing the same clothes as the night before.
“Sorry I didn’t come back home. I drank a little too much, crashed at James’s place.”
I drank a little too much.
“It’s okay,” Her voice cracked and she hoped he didn’t notice it. Y/N couldn’t bear with his overwhelming care right now, she wasn’t ready for questions.
“Hey, so, turns out I do have to go in tomorrow, and early at that. So, what do you say getting a head start on the drive back?” Raising a brow, Thomas had a soft look on his face. He looked so different all of a sudden.
“I would like that.” Y/N put on her best smile.
But she couldn’t hold it forever, she would eventually give herself away, and of course after being together for a couple of years, Thomas would know a difference. The lack of hugs, the uncharacteristic quiet, working, what she claimed, “overtime.”
They were signs.
The next few weeks, he made an effort to do better, try harder. Thomas booked reservations at the most expensive restaurants, he surprised her at work on Wednesday’s, he made sure to leave the office on time so he could cook dinner for Y/N, always asking how her day was.
He said those three words at every chance he got because he needed her to know, he needed her to understand that whatever was happening, whoever she was seeing, they wouldn’t love her like him.
It wasn’t enough.
“Is there someone else?”
Y/N turned to look at him, luggage in hand. She’s never seen him so broken, so lost. He had stopped crying, clinging to himself as if to hold him close to the ground. Those eyes, those deep brown eyes that she fell in love with...they were too similar.
It was like she was back on that couch, seeing those drunken orbs that ruined her forever.
Apparently, her silence was his answer. Thomas nodded his head sadly and walked back towards the bedroom, leaving Y/N stuck to the doorstep.
~~~
“It could turn out to be a blessing.”
Her jaw was shut tight, hand over her mouth, restricting even the tiniest sob from letting loose.
“No matter what happens, we’ll help you out….”
This town wouldn’t let her live peacefully if she dared approach one of those buildings.
“Have you at least called the father?”
Peter gave her a check and a note two days ago.
“Why don’t you just come up here? We can figure this out together.”
Her phone dinged, and there was a ticket to New York staring at her.
“Whatever you need, whatever you decide, we’ll support you, Y/N.”
Warnings: Language, angst, suggestive material, misunderstandings and bad researched background of job titles.
Chpt. 1 ~ Chpt.3
Wow, I don't like how I wrote this part at all. But bare with me, I swear we’re getting somewhere...eventually. The plot line is there, it’s just...coming together slowly. I hope yall will continue to read this series, if you could call it that? So yeah, I apologize for the rusty chapter. Lemme know if you want to be tagged. Enjoy!
Three years later
Flying made him nervous. It was just a big box floating in the air, and it was unsettling to think there was nothing but clouds around him.
The stewardess was shooting him concerning looks as Thomas kept ordering alcohol. He doesn’t blame her, but it wasn’t like he was going to become a loose drunk, especially not when he’s so anxious to get on the ground.
New York was not his favorite place to be, especially not in the winter. Bustling traffic, tourists looking for a white Christmas, and Thomas was just trying to keep this branch under control. Washington said that they were still new, that the office needed someone who was ‘experienced.’
As if the years of keeping his office door shut, retorting quickly, and even making an employee cry was considered “experienced.”
Maybe he’s been a little more preoccupied with work than usual, but it’s been busy. There was a lot to do, always time to work. Call him a workaholic, but you could never call him lazy. Thomas was productive when it came to his job, never one to let anyone else step over how much dedication he put into his work.
But this is where he’d stay for now at least. His temporary penthouse was near a bar and a coffee shop, which he figured he would be spending a lot of time at both. As soon as he landed, he got a cab and moved his stuff in. Two hours later after a visit to the store, he was on the couch in his pajamas, eating and watching terrible tv dramas.
And that was pretty much the next two days. New York was just like any other city he’s visited, it was nothing special. He was perfectly fine with lounging around until he needed to go in for work.
That was until he ran out of his basic necessities, and was forced to throw on pants to go outside. There wasn’t a supermarket far from his place, and given it was late on a Sunday night, it was pretty quiet.
Thomas roamed the aisles slowly, and thought about how exhausting the next couple of months were going to be. He wasn’t one to volunteer to practically train an entire office floor, neither was he sure that he could do it patiently. Hence he had an enclosed office back in Virginia where he could keep to himself. If the workers back home could barely do their job, surely these people couldn’t either.
Lost in his thoughts, he turned the corner and almost knocked over a small child. His hand automatically reached out to stop her from falling. But she just looked up at him with wide eyes and smiled as if he didn’t almost run her over. Thomas was about to walk around, but she held her hand up, showing off a small rocket.
Thomas slowly took the toy from her, gesturing towards it and shrugging. “Very nice.”
She grinned at his approval, and Thomas didn’t even know if she could understand him.
There was a loud shout behind him, and before he could turn around-
“Sorry, she just got out of my sight for a second.”
Well, Thomas could recognize that voice anywhere.
Y/N still looked the same, but her hair was a bit shorter now. Those sharp eyes always made him catch his breath. But how she looked at him now, Thomas didn’t know what to think.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
They just stared at each other for what felt like hours. He didn’t mind it, because he didn’t know what he was going to say if he pulled his eyes away. However, there was some babbling and then something hit his leg. Thomas completely forgot about the toddler at his feet.
“Sorry,” Y/N walked around him and picked her up. And he could see it now.
The matching eyes, except hers were much brighter. They have the same mole just below their jaw, and their noses have the same little curve.
And how could he miss those curls?
His heart caught in his throat.
“She’s pretty fast...I can’t keep up with her sometimes,” Y/N sighs as she avoids his eyes.
“It’s fine…” Thomas can’t take his eyes off her.
“You’re staring?”
He blinked and looked between the two. Clearing his throat, he couldn’t help but point out the obvious. “You have a daughter.”
Perhaps he said it too excitedly, but Y/N looked almost sad. Like she didn’t have a gift, that they didn’t have a gift. Something Thomas only dreamed about when they were together.
“I do...” Y/N brushed her daughter’s hair back. It looked so domestic, so loving, Thomas almost reached out and did the same.
“What...uh, what’s her nam-”
“Thomas, why are you in New York?”
Right, Thomas wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to be going to this branch, he wasn’t supposed to fly in on a Friday and he wasn’t supposed to be at the store right now. He shouldn’t be so giddy about this discovery.
“For work. I, uh, I have to visit a new branch in the city tomorrow.”
She nodded slowly, almost as if she was trying to sense if he was telling the truth.
“What about you? What are you doing here?”
“I live here.”
That was understandable; it’s a big city, he knew that she had some friends from college living in the city. Thomas also knew why she would want to get out of Virginia, out of the town.
“Cora.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Her name...it’s Cora,” Y/N didn’t look at him, instead looking at her daughter like she was the entire world. She now had her head tucked into Y/N’s neck and staring at him with tired eyes.
As Thomas repeated her name, the air seemed to thicken with tension. He had so many questions, he just wanted to know what Y/N was up to now, how this happened, when it happened? But he couldn’t ask in the middle of an aisle at the store.
“Do you think we could sit down somewhere? Maybe grab a coffee or something?”
“I, uh...I don’t think that’s a good idea, Thomas.” Her grip tightened on her shopping basket as her eyes grew wide.
“Wait, Y/N, please-”
“I gotta go.” And just like that, Thomas lost her again. The only thing remaining was the toy rocket in his hand.
~~~
“You’re back! You won’t believe the shit I just heard.”
Y/N put Cora down and watched her waddle towards the kitchen. She had been crying the whole car ride home; after an entire car search, Y/N couldn’t find her toy and she wasn’t going to go back to the store to see if she left it.
Y/N couldn’t let herself do that.
“Yeah, well you won’t believe what just happened either.”
Closing the door, she followed her daughter inside and set the bags down. She walked in to see her sitting on the counter, a popsicle already in her hand.
“Dude, seriously?” Y/N put a hand to her hip. “I was just about to start dinner.”
“Relax, she’s fine.” A hand swept through her hair as Y/N tried to stop the sticky mess running down Cora’s arm. “As I was saying, do you believe some stuck up southerner is going to sit in as management tomorrow? You believe that? As if he can waltz right in and make some changes. Who does he think he is?”
“I think you’re being a bit dramatic,” The amount of stories that Y/N had heard the last months of idiotic lawyers and disobedient clients were a bit overreacted.
“Believe me, I would never over exaggerate anything when it comes to my job.”
It made Y/N pause, for a second she even thought Cora could understand how ridiculous it sounded.
“Anyways, there is no way that I’m going to sit back and let him take over,” She was sure that her of course you won’t comment was ignored. “But I don’t know how it will affect my schedule.”
“Don’t stress, I’ll find someone to watch Cora when I’m out.”
“You know I would but-”
“It’s fine, Alexander.”
The man straightened at her tone, but nodded nevertheless. He moved around the counter to the fridge. “So, what was it you were going to say?”
Right.
“You won’t believe who I just saw…”
Alexander turned, wide eyed and careful to note her far off look. It could have been a list of people; there had been lots of promising moments ever since Y/N came to New York, lots of friends made, lots of sites seen. However, there were also a lot of complications, lots of threatening emails sent, lots of pressure she was under.
And as her whole mood seemed to stutter into a daze, Alexander could connect the dots easily.
After all, it was the same look she had months into her pregnancy. Months after she left. Months after she stopped getting phone calls. Months after she stopped caring about him.
Banger of the Week: The Holdouts - A Black Widow in the Zen Garden
Banger of the Week: The Holdouts - Black Widow in the Zen Garden
Melodic hardcore group's latest single is pure throat-ravaging punk fury
@CURSEDBLESSREC @LootersRadar #newmusic #punkrock #punk #melodichardcore #hardcore #TheHoldouts
Something I’ve found is that when a hardcore band decides to make a more melodic track, they usually knock it out of the park. Whether it’s Avail with “Simple Song” or Black Flag with “T.V. Party”, it feels like the bands are almost showing off how easy it is to write a catchy hook. Niagara, Ontario’s The Holdouts make it sound pretty easy.
The melodic hardcore group’s latest single is pure,…
