#AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MAIREAD MEETING HER

[dwead-piwate-meggers]

Aaaaaand I just realized that Mairead was on the continent at the same time that Mary Read was possibly fighting disguised as a soldier and I just….

[bansheeoftheforest]

Let’s be fair, if Jekyll had brothers and sisters he tussle with both of them at least once. Are you really siblings if you haven’t fought but it becomes too serious and your like “no no please don’t cry hit me back.” I honestly do like the idea of Jekyll being the middle child (like he’s the youngest boy but sandwiched between two sets of girls) of a large-ish middle class family, his dad was a doctor as well but his mom was a midwife before having kids and went back to it when all her kids were grown.

No but also Imagine this statue-esque blonde women with blue eyes looking like if Hyde has grown a whole foot in half and wore his hair in plaits, and just smiling at Rachel like “hullo! I tried to call but he never responded, is Hendri..ahem Henry Jekyll here?”

“Yes, but if I may ask, who is asking for him?”

“Ah, yes, I’m his sister!” Shes obviously trying to temper her accent

(For something reason I think Rachel would be trying to tie her appearance to Hyde and doing mental math to realize that Jekyll has a sister pop out of nowhere. Also I like to think her name could be Katherine because Jekyll having a sister with the nickname kitty is cute to me. Mairead and Kitty)

Anon stop hc Henry's family better than me this is unfAIR- /lh

Ommm ok but now I'm imagining all kids being rowdy bastards so the family had to impose a rule that if they are fighting and want to start wrestling they have to do that in the garden. Mr. Jekyll being the classic rowdy dad who thinks his sons are all going to be big strong fighters but it ends up being the daughters who are out to tear each other's eyes out (even if they are all a loving family, they all just love to wrestle). Henry learning to fight because his brothers keep challenging him to wrestling fights after storms and when you are the youngest brother and have to keep yourself afloat in a battle on runny mud, you learn to be resilient. Henry will accept a challenge from his brothers any time of day but his little sisters? Ahaha no he would rather drink a gallon of cyanide. The Jekylls just have a whole bunch of energy and a whole lot of frustration to get out, ergo, play fights (maybe that's why Hyde loves fighting so much, because Henry can't do it anymore?).

Katherine my beloved <3 Her getting put in charge of finding Henry while the family rest/book some rooms in a hotel or something so she is just wandering around London to the Society (knowing the address and asking around, of course). The first one she meets is Rachel and she does her best to keep her accent at bay (either that, or just fucking balts out the thickest accent possible because she isn't ashamed of no Scottishness). Rachel is just... Incredibly confused, mesmerized by how close Katherine and Hyde looks until they hear the most excited gasp and a loud "KITTY!!!!". Henry found them and absolutely tackles Katherine in a hug, and Rachel realizes that either A, they are the exact same height (i.e Katherine is stupidly tall for a woman) or B, Katherine is actually taller. I love to imagine Henry being the runt of the family <3

[mairead-greum]

“I didn’t think it possible”

I didn’t think it was possible to feel well and truly content and happy again, but as I passed through the gates of Westguard, looking up at the sentries as they stood near the massive braziers that stood blazing against the icy wind and skin splitting temperatures; I felt whole.

Aidran had returned home three days past to attend to his men and other duties. Promises of bringing me back with him once he was finished. I smiled wistfully to myself, my eyes roving past a stable boy as he hauled a large cart of horse manure past, its wheels creaking and groaning in protest as they trudged over the damp earth.

It had been fourteen years since I’d set foot in his family’s home and I was nervous about meeting them again, but seeing the joy on his face when I had agreed, quelled any anxiety on my part. He rarely asked anything of me, and it was such a small thing to want. *He’s my future, my present, my past* I reminded myself, feeling warmth spread through my body at the memory of words spoke in the quiet just before the sun rose, nestled away from everything else.

A large group of traders trudged by, intent on reaching their destination and warm their numbed limbs. I stepped aside rather quickly to avoid being knocked into, watching as they filed into the tavern. I had my own plans to warm myself with a hot meal and ale before long, but there were a couple of items left I had yet to see to. Looking down at my pack, I adjusted the shoulder strap as I continued on my way toward the blacksmith’s workshop.

I didn’t think it possible that literally running headlong into a complete stranger could alter a person’s life so completely, but I was wrong.

Startled, I’d gasped and backpeddled from the person I’d nearly mowed over. “I am so sorry,” I blurted out, nearly losing my balance, looking up into the startlingly handsome face of a man. His skin was tanned, his hair dark and styles with vibrant burgandy streaked through raven black. His eyes were what caught my attention the most. Slanted, almost feline, and a brilliant shade of gold.

He chuckles, catching me by the shoulder, steadying me. “No harm done,” he assured me, smiling. His smile reminded me of someone with a secret, something that amused him in its knowing while others did not. “There, can’t have you falling and hurting yourself,” he said calmly, smoothing some invisible wrinkle on my shoulders. “Where are you off to in such a distracted hurry?” He asked me, crossing his arms, his hands coming to rest at his elbows.

“I’m sorry, I should have been paying attention,” I apologized one more, “I was trying to find something I needed repaired at the smiths.” I told him, offering him an embarrassed half smile.

“Ah, then don’t let me keep you,” he said, lifting on hand to brush a short lock of hair out of his face, “I heard he’s closing short early today. If you hurry you may catch him still.”

“Oh thank you, I came all this way specifically for this,” I reached out a hand, “I’m Mairead, Mairead Greum,” i introduced myself.

His smile kicked up a notch, a glimmer of a hidden joke sparkling in the gold. “Silas Grey, at your service, Miss Greum,” he said in kind, reaching out to take my hand.

I didn’t think it was possible to hate someone so completely for simply existing. But the moment Silas Grey took my hand, and the world fell away with a shuddering breath, I hated him.

Not for anything he had done to me. Not because I had heard his name in relation to vile and evil deeds. No. I hated this wonderful man because he would take my husband away from me.

It came in flashes. Like snapshots into the life that would be mine, until it became his.

First they were in the kitchen and, bare chested, he was cooking. Aidran standing behind him, his arms wrapped low around his waist, trailing feather light kisses over the other man’s shoulder. Second, I could see Aidran’s family. His mother and father, his sisters. There was a little girl dancing and weaving between the adults, singing Christmas carols in an adorable off key way. Garland and lights everywhere, and the most beautiful Christmas tree I’d ever seen. They were there, standing off to the side of the gathered family. Silas was gazing up at Aidran, on hand clasped in both of his, slipping a ring onto his third finger. The third Aidran was in the kitchen, alone with the same little girl who’d sung Christmas carols. He was helping her to cut out shapes for cookies. Then Silas walked in. “This is where my two favorite people got off to. I should have know,” he laughed, dropping to a knee and the child jumped down from her stool and ran to him “daddy!” “And what are you and you father doing, bumpkin?” “We’re making mommies cookies!” She exclaimed happily.

I drew in a sharp breath and the world righted itself around me, the puzzled face of Silas Grey staring at me. I snatched my hand back too quickly. “S-sorry, I should hurry. Thanks again,” and before anything else could be said, I walked as quickly as my feet would carry my to the Smithy.

No. I will not lose my husband!

@a-phoenixfire

[kanekuran]

ღ ━ favorite canon ships for your muse(s). are there any you dislike? and ◈ ━ share some headcanons that you have for a muse of your choosing

ღ favourite canon ships for your muse(s). are there any you dislike?

Hrm... Favourite canon ships for Kane... would have to be

Kane/Aeviara ship. [ @aeviaras ] - Kane just absolutely adores her, the moment he first met her. Although their meeting wasn’t exactly normal. He did steal her cupcake, and they had a foam sword duel. Which he lost. But, it’s been a canon ship that I’ve loved. It’s nice to see that calm, shy, gentle side of Kane every once in a while.

Kane/Mairead ship. [ @mairead-greum ] - This ship... omg. I’ve loved since day one. Kane literally walked her into a light post and treats her like any other person despite her disability. Which is what I think moulded their friendship because he never treated her like she had one. He adores her, he has a crush on her. Which he lets slip out every once in a while with how shy and nervous he gets. But he gets scared and just like... recoils? He’ll be like “Okay I need to be an ass.” just so she wouldn’t catch on. But he’s pretty sure she is. Kane is also able to be himself. He doesn’t always have to be this hardass around her because she just shuts him down. So their ship... is just... I love it.

Kane/Vyanli ship. [ @void-dancer ] - Okay... this one. This one is a new favourite. It’s so new, but it’s fresh, it’s amusing. Like, they make these faces at each other, and she’s the only girl or person to get Kane to genuinely smile after all he’s gone through. And he owes her so much for that, he likes her as a friend, and he’s beginning to cherish her. Despite their constant teasing. He for sure enjoys her presence.

Kane/Lissa ship. [ @noblehorseman-death ] - This ship... It’s sort of like... Kane confides in Lissa a lot of the time. Even though she supplies him with endless cupcakes which makes him fat but that’s beyond the point. Kane is able to open up to her without judgement, I think it’s because he understands where she comes from and I guess she understands where he’s coming from. So their dynamics can be filled with awkwardness, sympathy or even heartfelt situations.

There’s no platonic/romantic ships or anything of the sort that I’ve disliked so far on Kane.

◈ ━ share some headcanons that you have for a muse of your choosing

Kane! Because he’s a dork and because he’s my most developed character.

He loves cupcakes.

He will eat them all in one sitting. He’s a fatty.

He has fat attacks.

And they’re hilarious.

And they make him real.

Also, fuck that bird.

He HATES the cold. 

He is immobile when it comes to the cold. He just sits, huddles his knees, shakes and his teeth chatter.

He’s an avid drinker, possibly a drunk.

Literally. But he’s trying to better himself.

He’s apparently a horrible map drawer when drunk.

You can ask Vyanli [ @void-dancer ]

Kane knows how to cook.

In fact, he’s cooked for a majority of his friends, even implementing their tastes into his foods.

Despite how much of an ass he is. He’s a romantic when he’s in love.

He has a whack load of insecurities and fears, and they’re all manifested from when he killed his father and younger brother, as well as his ex-fiance cheating on him.

He has four kids, and he’s a grandfather.

Yes... really.

Three of them are dead though. :( 

He’s usually an angry bean.

He’s rarely nice.

Only if you’re one of the exceptions.

His mood fluctuates, and it all depends on how he’s feeling that day.

He can be happy one minute then the next he can full on snap and on the verge of killing someone. Yeah, he’s that bad.

But he’s a squish ball I swear.

He’s a businessman. 

He invests in business,’ but he will not deal with slavery.

That’s one business he will not delve into and if any business’ he invests in deals with slavery, he’ll either kill them to make an example or make their life a living hell.

I can’t find the prompt or the story, or journal. Or whatever it was. I forgot which it was. BUT IT’S THERE SOMEWHERE.

Kane has a butler that’s bound to him.

They’re bound by blood, if Kane dies, he dies. 

His name is Jackson, and his moniker is the Demonic Butler.

I think that’s enough right? Yeah... that should be enough.

Thanks for the ask @stonestridernerd & for all the spam likes!!!! You’re a peach. ♥♥♥♥♥♥

[suffrageinstitchesnz]

Makers’ names: Mairead de Roiste, Deb Maxwell, Polly Stupples, and Clare Lukens

Petition sheet number: 96

Person honouring: E. M. Hocken

Relationship to makers: None

Elizabeth Mary Buckland, known as Bessie, was born in Auckland in 1848.

She married Dr Thomas Morland Hocken in Invercargill in 1883. Thomas’ biography described Bessie as “the very cultivated Elizabeth (Bessie) Mary Buckland, daughter of a wealthy Auckland merchant.” 

Thomas was the Dunedin surgeon, coroner, and Vice-Chancellor of Otago University. Their only child, Gladys, was born in 1884. 

Bessie supported and aided her husband’s work at a time when women were unable to have their own academic careers. She helped Thomas translate the text of Abel Tasman’s 1642 journey – from Dutch to English. In 1882, while in England, Dr Hocken had purchased a transcript of the portion of Tasman’s journal that relates to his ‘discovery’ of New Zealand.

In early 1894, he hinted to colleagues at the Otago Institute about his forthcoming project: to put the Dutch portion ‘in English dress.’ His unnamed but ‘valuable co-adjutor’ was his wife Bessie, who did the translations while holidaying in the Glenorchy-Kinloch region. Hocken never acknowledged Bessie’s role in this and took the credit for providing the translation himself. It was eventually published in volume 28 of the Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 1895.

Bessie was also a superb host. She was well-travelled, a linguist (Italian, German, French , and Dutch) and knew te reo Māori. She was musical, a more-than-competent photographer, and sketched in oils and watercolour.

Bessie was living in Moray Place when she signed the 1893 suffrage petition (possibly twice – sheets 96 and 125). On the following electoral rolls her occupation was ‘housekeeper’, or ‘married’.

Thomas did make good to Bessie in 1898 with a dedication: ‘To My Wife To Whose Counsel and Help I Owe So Much.’ She was his true help-meet; a worthy and loved companion.

During World War 1 Bessie lived in England before travelling to South Africa with her daughter. Gladys had married Alan Le Francois, a merchant marine officer, in Yokohama in 1911.

Bessie died in South Africa in 1933. Thomas had died in 1910; he was buried with his first wife in Dunedin.

As a group of female geography academics, we wanted to acknowledge Bessie and her involvement in the suffrage movement, which then paved the way for us to have the careers we currently do.

Panel materials: Recycled materials or preowned materials. Beads, embroidery thread, stuffing from a repurposed cushion, cotton, and scraps of other cloth.

Unique ID number: VRS.2019.49

[tearsofrohingya]

Nobel laureates urge Suu Kyi to stop genocide of Rohingya

Three Nobel Peace Prize winners urged fellow laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to speak out about violence against the Rohingya minority, warning she otherwise risks prosecution for “genocide”. The trio — Tawakkol Karman, Shirin Ebadi and Mairead Maguire — implored the embattled Myanmar leader to “wake up” to the atrocities after visiting squalid camps in Bangladesh home to nearly one million Rohingya refugees. “This is clearly, clearly, clearly genocide that is going on by the Burmese government and military against the Rohingya people,” Maguire said Monday, using another name for Myanmar. “We refuse this genocide policy of the Burmese government. They will be taken to the ICC (International Criminal Court) and those who are committing genocide will be held responsible.”

The UN has described the systematic violence by Myanmar against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state as possible genocide and ethnic cleansing, but has stopped short of outright accusing the army of war crimes. Suu Kyi, once a global rights icon, has witnessed her reputation among the international community crumble over her handling of the Rohingya crisis. Critics have called for the Nobel prize she won under house arrest in 1991 to be revoked. Her fellow three female laureates issued a personal appeal to the beleaguered leader as they toured the overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar district on Sunday and Monday, hearing firsthand stories of rape and murder against the Muslim minority. Karman, a Yemeni rights activist, warned Suu Kyi that she risked being hauled to the ICC if she did not intervene.

“If she will continue her silence, she will be one of them,” said Karman, fighting back tears, after meeting Rohingya refugees. “It’s an appeal to our sister Aung San Suu Kyi to wake up, otherwise she will be betrayed (as) one of the perpetrators of this crime.” Myanmar has staunchly denied the charges and blocked UN investigators from the conflict zone in Rakhine state, souring relations with a host of western allies. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have sought sanctuary in Cox’s Bazar after fleeing a Myanmar army crackdown launched last August, sparking a humanitarian emergency in the Bangladesh border district. Critics have accused Suu Kyi of adopting a siege mentality as global condemnation has mounted. Myanmar considers the Rohingya illegal “Bengali” immigrants but has signed an agreement with Bangladesh to repatriate some 750,000 refugees back across the border.

The process has stalled, as the UN warns any returns must be voluntary and rights groups warn Rohingya could be forced into ghettoes once in Myanmar. Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to prepare sanctions against Myanmar generals over the killings of Rohingya Muslims and to strengthen the EU arms embargo, accusing state security forces of grave human rights abuses. As reported by Reuters last week, foreign ministers meeting in Brussels asked the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, to draw up a list of names to be hit with EU travel bans and asset freezes. In a statement, ministers called for “targeted restrictive measures against senior military officers of the Myanmar armed forces responsible for serious and systematic human rights violations without delay”. The measures would be the EU’s toughest yet to try to hold the Myanmar military accountable for the abuses, likely joining US and Canadian sanctions already in place. — Agencies

[lotsofdogs]

Fall in Vermont and Learning About Organic Farming

Today I am sharing a recap of my trip to Burlington, Vermont with Stonyfield Organic. It was a short trip but an informative one! Thank you so much to Stonyfield for inviting me to learn more about organic farming and for sponsoring this post. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for three months of free organic yogurt at the bottom of this post!

Almost exactly a month after my trip to Burlington, Vermont, I finally combed through all of my pictures and narrowed them down to a select few. And now it’s recap tiiiime!

I left for Burlington, Vermont early Sunday morning on October 8 and by 10:30 a.m. the following Tuesday, I was back in Charlotte. It was a quick trip, but a gorgeous one!

Visiting Vermont in the fall is a dream. The foliage is stunning and pops of the most vibrant reds, oranges and yellows made me wish Charlotte would hurry up and realize it was fall already when I returned home. (Thankfully Charlotte got the memo last weekend.)

I was invited to Vermont by Stonyfield Organic to learn more about the importance of organics and organic farming and after a quick flight to Washington, D.C. and another to Burlington, I found myself in Vermont a little after lunchtime on Sunday. I was greeted by sunny skies and cool breezes, colorful leaves and rolling hills.  Unfortunately Sunday’s sun was the only sun I’d see during my visit, but it was a beautiful welcome to the state and sneaking peeks at Lake Champlain as the sun was setting was nothing short of breathtaking.

The trip officially began about 20 minutes after I checked into my hotel room at Hotel Vermont, so I had just enough time to throw on a sweater and check in with Ryan before heading down to the lobby. We were greeted by the two-person PR team for Stonyfield (yep, only two of them – Stonyfield employs around 350 people and I definitely thought the company was much bigger) and after emailing with Kristina and Mairead for so long (years!), it was so nice to finally meet them in person. They planned a meet-and-greet event at Dedalus, a local wine and cheese shop, and the space was warmly lit and incredibly cozy.

Our group spent a solid two hours introducing ourselves to each other and learning more about our blogging pasts, ambitions, families and more. It was such a relaxed, laidback way to ease into the trip which was wonderful. So often blogging trips are go, go, go from the minute you step off the plane, so this informal kickoff was such a treat! I had plenty of time to meet the six additional bloggers on the trip and loved learning more about all of them. Blogging for a living can feel like a strange job in my day-to-day life and I cannot overstate how nice it is to connect with people who do what I do (or something very similar) in real life.

After our mini cocktail hour, we boarded the bus back to the hotel and got ready for dinner at Juniper, a farm-to-plate inspired restaurant that focuses on local ingredients. Our private room overlooked Lake Champlain and we couldn’t resist sipping our drinks out on the terrace before our meal.

(Our group from left to right: Claire of The Kitchy Kitchen / Bev of Bev Cooks / Sonja of A Couple Cooks / Me / Emily of Small Fry Blog / Erika of Essentially Erika / Gabby of Design Mom)

Over a three-course meal served family style that included the creamiest pumpkin soup, pillowy gnocchi, fork-tender chicken and perfectly sweet apple tarts, we learned more about organic farming practices, the benefits of choosing organic and the initiatives Stonyfield takes to help conventional dairy farmers switch to organic dairy farming. While I knew about the issue of pesticides, synthetic hormones and chemicals in conventional farming, I didn’t realize that organic foods are much higher in antioxidants (20-40 percent higher!) and other nutrients. Additionally, scientists have found that soil from organic farms is better at sequestering carbon (a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change) than conventional farms because organic soil has higher concentrations of humic acids. (These are substances in the soil that give soil its brown color and binds to the soil, making it more fertile and allowing it to retain water while assisting plants in nutrient absorption.)

Since we had a very full day ahead of us on Monday, after dinner and dessert, we all said our goodbyes and headed back to our hotel rooms where I tossed and turned but eventually fell asleep a little after midnight.

Monday

Our group was up and ready for the day a little after 7 a.m., decked out in rain jackets and wellies since the forecast told us to expect nothing but rain and clouds all day long. Unfortunately the forecast proved correct and we spent all day Monday with our hoods up and our cameras protected under ponchos and layers.

A one-hour drive northwest from Burlington brought us to Green Wind Farm, one of the family farms that supplies organic milk to Stonyfield.

We met Julie who owns the organic farm with her husband and right away we could see the passion she has for farming, her cows and cultivating high-quality pasture for her animals to graze. Because her cows are organic, they’re required to graze on pasture at least 120 days per year in addition to having year-round access to the outdoors. As part of this, her cows rotate through different grazing areas (paddocks) every day, each one saturated with lush grasses and plants. This method of farming allows the cows to feed themselves and fertilize their pastures naturally, resulting in less fossil-fuel consumption, less erosion, less air and water pollution and greater soil fertility. I was absolutely fascinated to learn more about the pasture the cows eat and on Green Wind Farm, the pasture is saturated with a myriad of plants. While the cows have preferences (they love dandelion which is a great source of vitamin C and stimulates liver activity), they will often gravitate toward different plants in the pasture depending on how they are feeling.

This just reiterated in my mind the power of the foods we eat and the way they can help and heal our bodies. During our visit to Green Wind Farm, we talked a lot about the health of organic dairy cows versus conventional dairy cows and I was shocked to learn that organic cows live twice as long and rarely seem to get sick. Organic cows cannot be treated with synthetic hormones and antibiotics which are both frequently given to non-organic farm animals to change their reproductive cycles and speed up their growth. It was really interesting for me to hear from multiple dairy farmers about the dramatic shift in their cow’s health when they switched to organic farming and pasture grazing.

Once we were officially too wet to keep trudging through the mud, Julie invited us inside her home for the most incredible homemade brunch.

Julie and her husband live in a farmhouse that was built in the 1800s and served a comforting spread of hot coffee with the best creamer I’ve ever had, fresh-from-the-oven bread with a thick slab of butter, cheesy egg casserole and a pickled beet salad. I don’t think I was the only one who couldn’t resist filling my plate more than once and loved everything. With our stomachs full and caffeine kicking in, we were ready for our next adventure and headed off to Windy Hill Farm, another family-owned organic farm that supplies milk to Stonyfield. Windy Hill is a larger farm with a herd of approximately 100 beautiful Holstein cows and even though it was pouring during our visit to Windy Hill, somehow we still had a good time!

We made it back to our hotel with just enough time to shower and change before we were off to a farm-to-table dinner featuring a spread of delicious organic produce from Philo Ridge Farm. The farm is owned by husband-wife duo Peter and Diana who purchased a run-down conventional dairy farm to save it from ruin. They transformed the farm into a fully-functioning organic farm complete with a stunning farmhouse they are currently using for organic farming education and community events. Diana was once a student of Gary Hirshberg, the founder of Stonyfield and shares his passion for organic farming. Gary actually joined us for dinner which was really amazing. (For my fellow NPR podcast lovers, you may recognize his name from his recent feature on How I Built This.) Gary was really interested in our thoughts on organic farming and choosing organic products; what information surprised us about organic farming after our farm tours, what roadblocks stand in our way from purchasing organics (the resounding answer here was price) and more. I felt honored to be included in such a lively, honest and informative discussion.

We arrived back at our hotel just before midnight and I’m pretty sure all of us crashed hard, especially since a number of us at pre-5 a.m. wakeup calls the next day. It was a whirlwind trip, but a wonderful one! Thank you so much to Stonyfield for including me!

Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Giveaway

And now for a giveaway!! I’m partnering with Stonyfield to give away three months of FREE yogurt! One PBF reader will receive coupons to stock up on a wide variety of Stonyfield yogurt, whether you prefer their organic whole milk Greek yogurt, 100% Grassfed yogurt, soy yogurt, YoBaby or YoKids yogurts (Chase is still 100 percent obsessed with the mango YoBaby yogurt) or want to try their double cream yogurt (it truly tastes like dessert)! To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite kind of Stonyfield yogurt or one reason why you believe it is important to choose organic food when possible.

I will randomly select a winner next Friday, November 17 at 7 a.m. (EST), when the giveaway closes. (U.S. entries only, please.) Good luck!

[Read More ...] https://www.pbfingers.com/fall-in-vermont/

[luxche]

The journey from the station to the Garrison (with detours, of course- she wasn’t so daft as to think she wouldn’t be followed, or that people wouldn’t notice) was more than familiar by now, as much as Mairead wished otherwise. The Irish boys in town had her going to and fro for them, even though they knew plenty well she had her own work to do- Work I’m actually being paid for, she thought, though she never voiced these thoughts to them- and that she wasn’t to answer to them. 

By this point in time, she was familiar with the pub where the Blinders ran their business, and she hoped she stuck out less, though it was doubtful. She didn’t look like the sort of woman she saw hanging around there, when there were women in there at all, and for that she was glad. Still, she had become more comfortable in that setting, more assured of herself. 

It threw her for a loop then, when a young man (much younger than herself, perhaps not even nineteen) approached her as she was leaving the police station and gave her a folded note, upon which was written an address, followed by a signature she figured was “T. Shelby.” After a quick thank you to the young man, she set off in search of the address, thinking better than to ask anyone for directions (if she did, she figured she would create some elaborate story about visiting a colleague who lived on that street, nothing more), and, in the back of her mind, aware of the passage of time and the possibility of being late to the meeting if she didn’t find the address in time. 

Once she finally reached the address, she was stunned to find a bustling premise, the exact business of which she didn’t think to determine, as she was wary of running late. She made her way through the main room, dark eyes searching for Thomas Shelby, and upon failing to find him, she wondered if she was, in fact, early. 

@substanceandclass