#triting

[arista-the-musical]

Market Down as a Maybe || Triting

[sailor--thomas]

Lovely Bitter Water ~~ [Triting]

In which Tom tells Arista that he is going to be a father...[takes place: early October]

@arista-the-musical

[tw -- immense pining lmao]

THOMAS: There was another person that Tom needed to talk to about the shitshow his life had become: Arista.

Now, he hadn’t told Phil and John about his plan to talk to her, because he had a feeling at least one of them would tell him that he didn’t need to. And that would be all the permission that Tom needed to be a coward again and hide from this. But, all he had done since coming to Swynlake was be a coward and Tom didn’t want to do that. Arista deserved better than that. Better than him. 

Things had changed between them in the last few months and while they hadn’t...defined anything, Tom had been wanting to. (Ill-advised, on multiple levels, one night stand with Annie aside.) He just--had been dragging his feet because Arista was...perfect and wonderful and Tom didn’t deserve her. Tom didn’t deserve her, but Arista deserved to know about this. He had learned his lesson from Marie and Rose. Coming clean was the only way forward. This was a small town, even though Annie told him she hadn’t said anything, he didn’t know he could trust her and it wouldn’t be long before this was all over. Especially if that horrible gossip blog somehow found out. Not that he thought Arista paid attention to such things, but her sisters certainly did.

So, he had done the right thing for once. Even if it was going to end in heartbreak. He would rather break his heart doing the right thing than keep it intact just a little longer, because of a lie. 

Tom stood at the shore of the lake, a picnic blanket already set down. The weather was starting to turn a corner, the air growing colder and soon, picnics at the lake wouldn’t be possible. (And not just because of the weather.) He wanted to get at least one more in with Arista. He stood with his shoulders tense, looking out over the calm water and felt much the same as it. Calm on the surface, but churning beneath. 

When he heard footsteps behind him, his hunter’s ears still attuned, even if he never wanted to hunt anything, ever again, he turned and moved over toward the blanket he had set down away from the small crowd that was also soaking in the last days of summer. 

“Hullo,” he greeted Arista softly, holding his arms out for a hug. He held her tightly for just a moment, letting her warmth sink into him. Eventually, he let her go and ran a shaky hand through his hair. “Would you--would you like to sit?” He gestured awkwardly to the blanket and then folded himself down onto it after her, sitting across from her, but close enough that their knees touched. 

“How, uh--how are you?” 

ARISTA: Arista was happy that Thomas had wanted to spend time together again. Really, it was lovely spending time with him. She found that each time they spent time together she learned just more and more things about him. Things that made her see how kind and sweet and caring he truly was. Sure, he was tall and strong and worked as a firefighter, but there was a softness to him underneath all of that. In the way he held her hand or touched her hair or spoke to her. 

“Thomas!” She bounded forward towards him with a giggle as soon as she saw him, pushing herself into his arms and wrapping her own around his middle. She sighed softly, letting his warmth and his scent envelop her. She felt safe around him. It was a sort of calming presence to her constantly going mind. 

His hand was a bit shaky as it went through her hair, she figured that maybe he was a bit cold on the chilly day. She looked up at him with a grin, “Of course.” She leaned up and snuck a quick kiss to his cheek before settling herself onto the blanket. 

She breathed in the open air and then breathed out, tucking her legs beside herself as she sat close enough to Thomas to speak comfortably. But as she finally got a look at his face and the way he was posturing, she could tell something was off. Something was bothering him. She’d noticed ever since he’d come back to the play from the London family trip that something had been off but she never asked because she knew he would be uncomfortable. 

“I’ve been fairly well I would say. A lot more free time to myself again now that there’s no more rehearsals.” She smiled at him, “Even if I did enjoy my rehearsal time with you, it took up quite a lot of time.” 

She reached over to touch his hand gently, looking up into his eyes, her own warm and soft as her lips upturned into the most gentle of smiles, “What about you, Thomas? You seem like there’s something on your mind and well--I didn’t want to ask and upset you during rehearsal or the carnival but I am worried about you, you know. I hope there’s nothing too terrible going on. If there’s anything I can do to help, you know I would.”

THOMAS: Tom wanted to enjoy these last few moments. He wanted to pretend like everything was normal and sink into that tingling feeling his whole body had gotten when she’d kissed his cheek. It was funny, because Arista had been Tom’s friend. One the first ones he’d made in town. All by himself too. And for a long time, that was all they were: friends. While he ran around, acting like a bloody idiot with Rose and Marie and, even, Tallulah. Arista had always been there with a smile for him. Her presence more comforting than all the others. 

For a long time, Tom had thought that romance was supposed to be exciting. He had looked at the others in the Order and seen how miserable they were. It had been the opposite of what he had wanted. That small smile and dead-eyed stare most couples he knew had. Arranged marriages and forced marriages. That was why he’d stayed single for as long as he had--in terms of proper courtship. The idea of marrying someone like that was uncomfortable. But, maybe that was why, at first, he’d overlooked Arista.

Rose had been exactly that horrible Order future. Marie had been a respite from that, dangerous--literally flirting with the enemy. Tallulah, honestly, had happened to him more than anything. 

Arista was like a calm sea. Not boring at all. Just easy.

And Tom never felt easy.

He didn’t feel easy now, but he wanted to pretend. Except, Arista looked at him and he could tell that he’d done a shit job of hiding things. 

“I know,” he told her softly, reaching out to squeeze her knee gently. He didn’t quite look at her though. “It’s just--my family. I--don’t know if you know this but my family has a seat--proper old British. And I...well, after my dad died I technically became an Earl. My family is very old fashioned. And they’ve--not approved of some of the choices I’ve made and so...they disowned me.” 

That was the easiest way to explain his angst. He hated the lie. It felt hollow. It made his heart squeeze, but he couldn’t tell her the truth. What was he supposed to say? That he was a murderer and a liar and didn’t know what was good or right anymore? 

“That’s--that’s not why I brought you here, though. I need to tell you something and I--don’t know how to do it without you...seeing me differently afterwards.” Tom glanced up at her and pressed his lips into a little smile. “And I don’t want that. I don’t want to hurt you but--I feel like it’ll be worse if I don’t say anything.” 

ARISTA: The blonde paid close attention to Thomas as he spoke. Truly focused because well, she needed to do that to make sure she got the whole story straight and wasn’t letting her thoughts wander, but also because she cared and would do anything to help him out if possible.

She gently placed her hand on the one that squeezed her knee, keeping it there. She’d gotten quite comfortable with Tom’s touch in the recent weeks. It was comforting and safe. 

She frowned at the news of his family, “Oh Thomas, that’s terrible. I’m so sorry you’ve been put through that. At least you have the support of John and Phillip right? That’s certainly something. Many people find family in friends. And perhaps while you enjoy that family, yours will come around.” She spoke softly, trying to convey that glimmer of hope and optimism in her voice for him.

Arista tilted her head at Thomas’ next words though, “I do value honesty above most things. I don’t really know what it could be that changes things so much. It’s sort of hard to pick something out when you’re just so very much Thomas to me.” She gave a small smile. “If it’s something that changes us, that’s okay, you know? Change can be good. Growth can come from the craziest of situations, right?”

THOMAS: Tom blinked and suddenly there were tears in his eyes. He ducked his head and let out a breath of a chuckle at himself, feeling like a tosser. As Arista talked, it was as if Tom saw a future he could’ve had laid out before him. One where he was not the person he was. Who had made too many mistakes. Who had done horrible things. He could have rejected his family so much earlier, if he was not so soft. He could have said no to Tallulah, to Rose, if he was not so weak and worried about hurting someone. 

And, maybe, he could have had Arista. 

It felt like a cruel joke that he only realized now how much he wanted her. All of the confusion cleared away, just enough for him to see all of the terrible choices that had led to this moment. 

How he wished it was different. 

He hated the hope that her words gave him. That change could be good. That he would always be Thomas to her. No one, really, called him Thomas. Not the way that she did, her voice soft and lilting, like his name was the call of a songbird. He wanted to take it back, to pretend that the rest wasn’t going to come fast towards him. The threat of the Order. The baby. He just wanted to let Arista tell him it was all going to be alright. 

She didn’t deserve that. She deserved the truth. Only the truth would, perhaps, save them. 

“I slept with someone,” Tom said, keeping his hand still on her knee. He felt like he should remove it, but he didn’t want to. His gaze was out on the water. “A few months ago, before the--the carnival. It was right after everything happened with my family. It didn’t mean anything,” he told her quickly, looking towards her, as if this unhesitant declaration would mean something. “It was...stupid because, well, I--who I really wanted was you.” Tom’s gaze softened, refusing to look away from her, even if his cowardly heart wanted to. 

He let out a shuddering breath and finally dropped his head. “We--well, we--” Tom tried to get the rest out, but his tongue felt tied. “She came to me a few days ago. She’s pregnant.” As he said it, Tom felt scared. Not just because, well, he knew that this was how he lost Arista, but because he was going to be a father. With every person he told, it felt more real. He wasn’t ready. He didn’t--he didn’t want to be a father. He wanted to--be able to fall in love with Arista properly and have a proper, uncomplicated relationship. 

ARISTA: Whatever it was she was certain it would be alright, she couldn’t imagine Thomas doing anything upsetting or truly bad or criminal. He was just so lovely. 

I slept with someone.

She had known of Thomas’ past through various gossip things and her sisters but it had all quieted down in the last few months. At least, she thought that maybe she had been sort of who he had kept his eyes on, that’s what it had felt like. Through the musical they’d grown closer, they’d kissed both on and off stage and while they had never established a relationship, part of her felt that maybe they were headed towards something after all this time.

But sleeping with someone was never something she would hold against any other person, they were not monogamous and they weren’t really anything. But deep down, very deep down behind the rays of sun that shone, was a cloudy dark feeling of: When will that girl be me? When will I be the first choice?

So the first bit of news was manageable, Arista would probably look past it again and they’d continue. As she looked at Thomas with softness in her eyes, and a little bit of hurt, she saw a man who was truly sorry for something she didn’t think he had to be sorry for. It was just something that had happened… again. But her heart had lifted ever so slightly as he told her that he really wanted her. A small smile crept into her eyes but at the next few words it welled up into a ball in the tear that formed. She couldn’t help it.

She’s pregnant. 

She wiped her eye before it fell and she just let out a breath, “You’re going to be a dad.” She replied softly, like her brain was processing all of this. “Thomas… I assume you’re planning on being there for the baby. Because that’s just the kind of man you are, you know. You’re so caring.” She said softly as her heart wrenched at what she felt she needed to do. For him. For her. For this child. 

“I’ll admit, I was surprised that you’d slept with someone but I shouldn’t have. I mean I wasn’t exactly waiting around--I just, when was it going to be me, Thomas? Now?” She pressed her lips together, “We’ve just circled around each other for the last year and I’ve listened to more stories about you being in the middle of various women but I thought--” 

The blonde shook her head, trying to keep her tears back, “I’m not mad at you Thomas, you know. I could never be. You’re lovely, you really are.” She took a deep breath, running a hand through her hair, “But, I cannot be in the middle of you and your child. I would never forgive myself for coming between you and the process of becoming a father and please don’t resent him or her for it. Please, please. That child deserves all of you.” 

She moved closer to him and put her arms on his shoulders, looking up into his eyes, “This isn’t goodbye. I’ll still be your friend as I always have. I’ll support you as best I can through your life changes but I can’t continue to wait and I can’t pull focus from what should be most important to you right now.” She pressed a soft kiss to his lips, “You deserve happiness and a family, Thomas.”

THOMAS: Tom expected several different outcomes from his announcement. There would be tears. That he expected the most. Not that Arista was particularly weepy, but—he felt like he was going to bloody cry, so he couldn’t imagine how she felt. And he expected her to be angry. To slap him, even if that didn’t sound like Arista at all. It was just what he assumed because it was what he thought that he deserved.

Arista did not cry. Well, her eyes got glassy, but she didn’t start crying properly. Not the way he had thought. And she didn’t get angry. Instead, she got so soft that Tom didn’t know what to do with it. He felt like if he touched her, she’d be water in his hands, flowing straight through them. And as she spoke, he felt all that bruising love he felt for her straining through his heart too. It rushed like a river, and he wanted to stop it up. Wanted to stop her.

Several times he thought of opening his mouth to do just that, but with each statement she made, he only grew more confused about what he wanted. About what she wanted. Was she saying she felt the same? Was she saying that they’d be friends? But how could they be friends? That wasn’t what he wanted.

And all that about getting in the middle of him and the baby...he didn’t know what that meant. How could she possibly when he felt so differently for both of them? Tom could hold them both, but surely—that wasn’t what she wanted. What woman wanted to be with someone who had a child with another woman? Who had been too afraid to court her properly?

When her arms slipped around him, Tom didn’t move. He just raised his eyes to hers, all that unsureness and regret swimming plain in the blue of them. Through the tears tangled in his own eyelashes, he tried to decipher what was swimming in hers, but all he saw was the pain that he had put there.

Arista kissed him and Tom closed his eyes. It was not a long kiss, but long enough for Tom to remember the softness of her lips and the floral scent of her shampoo. His hand came up and to cover her bicep, rubbing down her arm—her skin soft and warm under his touch. His other loose on her waist. When she pulled away, Tom kept his hand on her arm, resisting the urge to pull her back again, closer, and kiss her again and beg her to forgive his trespasses.

Tom had been a coward and a fool and now, his protests died on his lips. Not because he was scared, but because he didn’t want to pull Arista into the messy tides of his life. She didn’t deserve that. She deserved to be happy, not him. She deserved a family, not him.

He blinked and let out a short breath. A tear fell from his eye onto the picnic blanket beneath their knees. Tom grit his jaw, his hand still running up and down Arista’s arm lightly, but then he sighed and pulled away a little more, so her hands fell from his shoulders, though he caught the one he’d been holding. His palm kissed hers and he lifted her delicate hand, soft, except for the callouses on her fingers he assumed she had gotten from playing her various instruments. He kissed the back of her hand gently.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured against her skin and then looked back up at her, gently settling her hand in her own lap. “I didn’t mean—to do any of this. I didn’t mean to hurt you. These last few years have been the hardest of my life for—a multitude of reasons. But you—” Tom lifted his hand to touch a lock of her hair, pushing it gently back behind her ear, his thumb stroking her cheek. “You have been the brightest spot in all the dark. Like a lighthouse.” He dropped his hand and let out the softest snort, his cheeks burning.

“That sounds daft, but—it’s true.” And it was. She had been so removed from the Order. One of the first people he had met, all on his own, in this funny little town. She had made him feel confident enough to sing in front of a whole bloody crowd and she had made it fun. It had felt like she understood a side of him that no one in the Order ever had, even Phil. Even John.

“So, uhm, thank you and I am sorry.” 

ARISTA: Arista felt the cold almost immediately when he pulled back from her, though her hand was kept warm in his. Her lips could feel the softest imprint still on them from the kiss. A kiss she wished they could continue. But she didn’t want to get in the middle of Thomas and a family. A family that he could have all his own. That wouldn’t disown or judge him or anything. A real chance at love. The unconditional kind from a child. She knew more than anything how the absence of a parent could affect someone. 

“It doesn’t sound daft at all, Thomas. You never do.” She took the hand that he wasn’t holding and cupped his cheek softly offering him a small little smile though her eyes were still a bit sad, “And like a lighthouse, I’ll always be here to help you find your way.” She tilted her head slightly as her mind picked out the metaphor she was going for, “And although I’ve been a lighthouse, you really don’t need to thank me, you know. You’re still a brave, handsome, wonderful sailor who sometimes gets a little lost and guided to paths that he never thought he’d be on but his heart is always in the right place. And, you know, that’s the compass to guide you back.” She nodded with an air of finality like she really believed it. “Your heart will show you the way. I know it will.” 

[arista-the-musical]

Mistlewoe || Triting

Arista was yet again making sure Elliot ate something at the fire station because really sometimes he was so unreliable in feeding himself. She had finished up with her music classes for the day and just trotted on over, takeout from Chippamunka in hand and hand delivered it over to him. The firehouse was decorated from the floor to the ceiling by the firefighters and some volunteers and right in the archway was a big sprig of mistletoe (which she had cheekily kissed Elliot’s cheek under when she’d arrived).

After staying for a bit, he had to go on his way and she felt it was time to go do something else, would she go drop in on a sister? Sit in the snow? Who was to say, but if anything it would be a lovely day.

Just as she was coming through the main archway under that mistletoe, she rounded the corner right into a very solid chest, a familiar one, one she’d rested her head on countless times. She looked up at the face of Thomas Harrington, under the mistletoe. 

“Oh, um, mistletoe.” She managed to get out, pointing up to the ceiling.

@prince--thomas

[arista-the-musical]

It’s Been a While || Triting

Arista was at the fire station, she’d brought Elliot some extra cookies she’d made and figured he’d appreciate the extra sugar during his shift. She needed to get out of the house for a bit so the walk to the station seemed like the perfect excuse. 

After dropping them off, she said her goodbyes, the guys at the station all pretty much knew her be it her growing up here, Elliot or for the time she used to come and visit Thomas. Who, come to think of it, hadn’t been around the station much lately or else she would’ve probably had a run in with him. 

Things were... well, not describable at the moment because she didn’t know. She’d given Thomas his space with his newly created family and in the process just kept to herself and out of the same circles. It wasn’t as if he was seen around town a lot with the new baby anyways. He probably had his hands full. 

She processed through her thoughts as she left the station, probably on her way to the park when a familiar figure appeared just on the edge of the property. Thomas. And he was coming straight for her. Ignore him? No she couldn’t possibly do that. Immediately say hi as if they were still great friends? No, she supposed she didn’t feel like doing that either. Her brain was going a mile a minute until she blurted out a sentence with a small polite smile. 

“It’s been a while.”

@prince--thomas

[arista-the-musical]

All I’ve Learned Has Overturned || Triting

So, things were a little tense lately with her and Tom. It was probably just like performance nerves and things with the rehearsal being so close but she sensed that they were just kind of gearing up to having to play these iconic roles. Really, the wedding was the crux of the whole musical and they had to be believable. 

In any case, they’d just finished most of the Lay All Your Love On Me rehearsal for the day and people were packing up. Arista however, was attempting to practice the staging they’d just gone over, humming the song to herself and trying to follow the marks on the floor, because well, she didn’t want to make Tom stay late because she couldn’t remember the right combination of stage directions. She’d get it eventually. There was just so much going on all the time with the singing and acting and staging and then the dance moves. It was a lot for her to pay attention to and she didn’t want to take up Simba’s time.

She turned her self around a couple times, still singing to herself in her head, feet shuffling and then spotted Tom offstage looking at her, “Oh hi, Thomas.” She smiled at him, “I just was trying to get the blocking down. It’s a lot to not confuse it with the other numbers.”

[something like this outfit]

@prince--thomas​

[sailor--thomas]

I Feel a Kind of Fear ~~ [Triting]

@arista-the-musical

Movie nights with Arista and Tom had become more or less a normal occurrence. Not exactly every week, because Tom’s work schedule changed up to much for that, but often enough for Tom to come to expect an almost weekly text from Arista, asking him what the movie for that movie night was going to be. They switched off houses too. Usually, they went to Tom’s, just because John and Phil could make themselves scarce on the weekends, and Arista’s house had a ton of people in and out the whole time. 

Which Tom didn’t really mind. He liked Arista’s family. They were all very different, but he’d managed to learn everyone’s names at this point and they all knew him, which made him more comfortable. 

However, for movie watching, it was best not to have a ton of distractions for people like Tom and Arista, who would start chatting with someone walking by and miss half the movie either. Tom didn’t mind that so much either, because it meant that they could rewind it and just spend more time together.

At the fundraiser yesterday, Tom and Arista had chatted. Arista, upon realizing Tom had never seen the movie or the musical, and who realized that she, herself, hadn’t seen it in a while--

Had declared they would be having a movie night the next night to watch it. 

Tom wasn’t going to protest. He was off for the weekend, which was a rather rare occurrence and he felt he should take advantage of it. Plus, Arista was leaving for her sister’s wedding and was going to be gone. 

So, Arista had come by, waving the DVD and flopping onto their couch. Tom, who had been making popcorn, brought it over. Gilly and Fly followed at his feet, looking for him to drop pieces. He didn’t, instead, he plopped onto the couch.

“Gotta be honest, I’ve no idea what this is about. I only auditioned because Philly was complaining he couldn’t do it alone. Which was a lie but--” I’m a pushover. He shrugged good-naturedly. 

[sailor--thomas]

Caught in the Storm ~~ [Triting]

@arista-the-musical​

Tom’s Instagram hadn’t been an exaggeration. He was still staggered by the amount of people who’d come to his party and given him well wishes. On his assignments, he never really expected much from the people he surrounded himself with. And he was also used to big celebrations. Lindisfarne always threw a party for him if he was home. John and Phil always threw him parties at uni. 

It wasn’t that Tom wasn’t used to being popular (even if it always sat a bit awkwardly on his shoulders), but--it had felt so genuine. And he had friends that wanted to celebrate with him. Marie, who he’d gone riding with yesterday. Ting-Ting who had brought him cupcakes. And Arista, who had arranged a very lovely picnic outing for them in one of Enchantra’s many meadows. 

They’d trekked through the woods and were now finally settling in on the lovely knitted quilt that Arista had brought along to lay down in the damp grass. It had been rainy these last few days, which had pushed their outing back, considering his birthday had been the last non-rainy day for a few days, and he’d spent that day with Marie. Arista had been jovial about it, as was her nature and Tom was grateful, because he hadn’t wanted to miss out on this. 

“I still can’t thank you enough,” Tom was saying as he helped Arista pull items out of the basket and spread them out between them. “This is absolutely smashing, really. Even this blanket is lovely.” He fingered the corner of it before snapping a grape off one of the vines in front of him and popped it in his mouth. 

[outfit bc why not (though probs a navy coloured shirt, not white)]

[arista-the-musical]

Mind Movies  || Triting

Arista had come over to Thomas’ place for a movie night. Honestly, she just needed a little quiet and some popcorn and a very good, very kind friend. The dream had been not exactly Arista’s favorite. Her parents had died. Her sisters had all run off and she was on a pirate ship. She used to think that perhaps sailing on a ship like that would be fun, but there was just so much violence everywhere she turned.

The one thing she did like was that she got to see Jane and talk to her again. If only in the dream, and if only for the few moments. Honestly, it had been nice to see Jane in her element and seen her happy even if her happiness had been with dream!John Smith.

Speaking of John, he had opened the door as she knocked and called back out into the house, “Oi, Tommy, Arista’s here.” He had never been mean to her, nor had she seen why Jane disliked him so much, but she did feel a bit sad that he had been Jane’s love interest in all of this. Because she didn’t feel jealous, she just felt disappointed? She didn’t know how she felt and honestly, she didn’t quite know how to handle both her feelings and Jane’s at the same time. 

She evidently was pondering on John Smith for too long because he just quirked a brow at her. “You alright there, Arista? Spaced off?”

“Oh yes, you know me. Head’s just everywhere.” She just smiled at him and waltzed into the house without a second glance and headed towards the living room to set her bag of snacks down. 

John just shrugged because that seemed about right in his book. He saw Tom as he walked towards his room. With slight smirk and a shake of his head, he uttered as he patted him on the shoulder and ruffled his hair, “There’s a handsome lad,” and went off to go grade some more papers.

@prince--thomas