#Fandom Discussions with Booky

[bookishtheaterlover7]

So, haven't ranted in a while, and I noticed that no one has actually posted about this and it's been three days(?)

Honestly, I'm glad y'all aren't giving the attention-seekers anymore attention. But my friend 👸 notified me so I know this is something fishy, so to speak.

Without further ado, let's look at the suspicious everything...

We all remember this photo. How it sparked another wave of outrage for the fandom. Knowing how old this photo really is, along with the weird caption in both photos this "fan" posted. Well, she changed the caption about three days ago, at least from the time 👸 told me about it.

So, the "fan" is living in the same building as Albitch? Because this makes it seem like Chris and Albitch have an apartment in PT.

A far cry from the caption saying it took her awhile to talk to him and recognize him...🤔

What's strange to me is why the hell, did she change her caption? Seems like someone wants this narrative to be a specific kind...

But that's just me seeing things, right?🙃

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Yes. Yes. And... Yes.

Everything on this is absolutely true, and the other side will dispute and try to reason out, but everyone's got eyes and ears. Y'all can't tell me that a guy who loves his wife, will take more time and detail to mention a lot about his current and past dogs, but barely mention the woman he's spending life with.

I might sound like someone who's expecting better, and I am. If I have a husband and become a newlywed in the future, I'd want him to talk about me, and the wedding. I want passion, and I want to see sparkle in his eye.

That's something noticeably missing from Chris, no passion or sparkle for his wife, Albitch. Dodger and his previous dog (sorry my brain forgot the name😅)had the passion and sparkle.

And those pics, come on! Some may look happy and healthy, but I swear a good chunk that was posted, makes me more concerned, for him and y'all.

Why nothing makes sense, part 8.

Comic Con and Wedding Ring Edition

So before I start this part of the Why Nothing Makes Sense series, I'd like to say that I'm not saying there wasn't a wedding or that this isn't real. However, I'm going to explain why things don't make sense to me and why I think this might not be real.

So before we jump into this amazing Comic Con weekend, I'd like to go back to the DM Boston airport sighting. So that picture of them coming back from Portugal happened (according to that "anon") after their honeymoon and wedding. So we could all see in that picture that Alba was wearing no ring. This was obviously very weird to a lot of people, since if you are newly married, why wouldn't you want to wear your ring? We got explanations from anons, like they wanted to keep the marriage private or that they only had a commitment ceremony. After the thousands of articles and the comic con, we can all agree that both of these explanations are bullshit. So why wasn't she wearing a ring? Where was hers? If this is real and they got married, then why didn't she have hers on?

People love to throw around "they are private" excuses, but they aren't. They never were, and they never will, because they want to sell this relationship. Since Alba stepped into his life, he has forgotten that he is a private person. And he is still pretty private about everything except her. If they were private, there wouldn't have been Instagram stories uploaded or articles about their wedding, or he wouldn't have worn his ring, or even if he had, he wouldn't have talked about their wedding. This whole shitshow is everything but not private.

After people started questioning this whole ring thing, he suddenly appeared to wear one at the Comic Con. I think he was showing the ring much more on the first day but appeared to hide it more on the second. The ring alone looks cheap and not very fitting. I'm not only saying this based on the pictures, but I talked to someone who's met him (yeah, I have evidence they met), and they said it looked rather yellowish than gold, and it was clearly too big for him. He looked unhealthy, and I don't really understand the "he looks the healthiest and happiest he's ever been" comments because I don't really see it.

Then we got that amazing interview. So the whole thing started with the lady saying that he's been working a lot in the past 2 years, and if there was a personal project he was working on right now, This question was clearly planted. I doubt that he or his team didn't know about the questions prior to the interview. Even if they didn't know about this question, he could've said anything else. Saying he's getting ready for fall and immediately changing the subject, or he could've started talking about Dodger. He needed to talk about her; he needed to talk about the wedding. He said it was really, really great. Now call me disputatious, but he always said how much he wants to settle down, get married, and start a family. So if she is the one, if she is the person who makes him happy, etc., I would assume he would've said something like, "It was the best day of my life" or "This was everything I've ever wanted, and I'm so happy" not that it was "really, really great". Then he continued that they "kinda had two ceremonies, one on the East Coast and one in Portugal". What does "kinda" mean? You either had two ceremonies or not. And why did he say East Coast and not MA? Everyone knows he lives in Massachusetts, and there were like a thousand articles about them getting married, so there isn't really anything to hide at this point. Then he mentioned his wife's Portuguese, which we've all also known, and I don't even want to mention the awkward "Go Portugal!" thing. He also said it was wonderful and beautiful, but a lot to organize. Then he said they've been enjoying life since then, and he mentioned autumn and seemed excited and happy to talk about it. He turned back to "their" life, and his face changed again. It seemed like he didn't even take himself seriously when he said that they were "reflecting". I think he only mentioned the last sentence so he could change the subject and start talking about something. It felt like he was trying to remember everything he had to say and share.

People said he looked happy talking about the wedding. I mean, he didn't look desperate or sad like every other time we saw them together. I care more about actions than words, and him smiling while talking about the wedding won't make me forget how he acted during the NYC pap walk, Disney, that awkward car kiss, or the Boston airport photo. I also think that you can see that as soon as he changed the subject, he looked happier. He looked way more excited to talk about autumn and Dodger than about his own wife and their kinda weddings. And he definitely talked much more about it.

He didn't share new information; everything he's said we already knew about the weddings. There wasn't a fan who asked him about her during the interview; they knew the questions prior, and even if they didn't, he didn't have to talk about her. So then why? People won't start liking her and shipping them just because he talks about her, and what if some people think they didn't get married? They seem to care so much about what people think about this, which I don't really get since if this is real and they are happier than ever, then why do they keep trying to convince people that it is? They are supposed to be private, yet they act like they are selling something. They keep trying to fill gaps and make this more authentic, but it's not and never will be. Those things that make this whole thing really fake for me and for a lot of people are already out there. You can't change what's done, and no matter how hard they try, those inconsistencies and bullshit are out there and will stay there. They can try to explain and fill the gaps by "randomly" mentioning it or publishing an article, but again, why would they do that? Why are they doing all of this if this is genuine and they have nothing to sell or prove?

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Wow!

First of all, I'd like to congratulate Chris' team for learning, for once. Y'all actually had a sighting that isn't blurry...👏

Now, let's once again prove how flimsy this whole thing is...

Special thanks to that very good friend for providing me pics, and keeping me in the loop, as well as pointing out things I wouldn't have noticed, otherwise 🫶

Let's examine the photos.

Now, honestly, this looks old. Chris looks healthier, he still has fat, and he doesn't look dead inside. Unlike during NYCC.

Let me just throw some shade, because he honestly looks happier in the new one, than in the photos from the V-Day dump🤭 Also, did him and Albitch decide to stick to only a handful of clothes from their wardrobe?

Because the guy might be wearing to similar of a jacket, to the NYCC one. Not to mention, he wore the same shirt to NYCC as that hilarious "get me away from here" pap walk through New York?

Also, the "fan" that posted those photos said that she spent time looking for them. Because Albitch told her where they were... I refer you to this post, for more shade.👇

And my friend pointed this out, not sure if it's true, but Chris' medallion has apparently been missing/edited out of photos. Kind of like Dodger's tail 🤭 I don't know if it's true. But if it is, what do they have against it?

And to drive this home, people are saying the girl in the shades might be the witch herself. And let me just say...

She has clothes other than the boring browns and whites she's been wearing. That aren't the photos she uses to bait potential sugar daddies 👀😱

And why the hell didn't the "fan" take a pic with both of them, if SHE was with him. Is she not famous enough? Is she not pretty enough?

Points to her for not being near the bitch. And further proving a very tried and true thing, THEY'RE NEVER SEEN TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF PHOTO DUMP AND THE BLURRY "SIGHTINGS"

The fans from the comment section are definitely part of the MVP of the aftermath of this whole thing 😆

Credit to my good friend again 🥰

All of this to say, the strike is over, but this shitshow will keep going. They basically confirmed they ain't legal(at least from what y'all told me how American Citizenship involving a foreigner works. 90 DAYS PEOPLE!!! Why do you think the show is called 90 DAY FIANCE?!) And they're still not seen in the same photo. As well as, the timing of this photo mentioning the both of them when HE has an event coming up alongside other actors, and SHE has a movie that's going to showcase her lackluster skills 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

And just to stir shit up, apparently Albitch's mother has liked comments against Chris. Calling him a pedo...🤔🙃 Makes one think doesn't it?

And one last thing for me to nail another one of their coffins, mighty convenient that you can't see his left hand in this photo too 👀 it's conveniently behind the "fan".

Now that this mess is vented out, Imma head to bed. Feel free to comment and share more. Because God knows there's a lot more to attack ✌️

And once more for the trolls, and the ones STILL thinking that this is real true love🖕

Until next time, fellow fan boys and girls 😘

[mischievouslittlecreature]

Part 19: In the Bleak Midwinter

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Grace Burgess x OC

Summary: The other women in the family are unhappy with being left out of the loop, and Tommy sends Lucy on an errand in London.

Word Count: 3,701

Notes: Warnings for depictions of mild sexual content.

Previous Chapter • Series • Fic • Next Chapter

Chapter 12: Off Kilter

The car pulled to a stop unceremoniously at the side of the road, Lucy stepping out and following Tommy across the street to the shop. Though it wasn’t lost on her the way that he glanced over his shoulder at the car before heading inside where John and Arthur were already waiting for them. 

Looked like their morning fuck had actually made them a little late after all. Oops. 

“How was she, Tom?” John asked with a smug grin, and it took Lucy a moment to realize that he was talking about the previous night with Tatiana, and not broaching a rather inappropriate–and, knowing Tommy, potentially touchy–subject regarding her. While her relationship with Tommy was known amongst the family, it was also common knowledge that neither of them were particularly eager to discuss it with any of them.

“Talkative, yeah,” Tommy said.

“Hmm,” Arthur smirked. Tommy bristled.

“I was fucking working, all right?” he snapped, taking off his cap. Lucy patted his shoulder as she stepped around him, leaning her back against the wall and lighting a cigarette while he began to relay the information they’d gotten from Tatiana to the brothers. John rolled out blueprints of the house for them to all hunch over and examine. “Wait!” Tommy snapped loudly when their planning session was briefly interrupted by a knock on the door, finalizing their plans to get one of their men set up working in the Russians’ house so he could pass on information to them. At everyone’s nods to the plan, Tommy again raised his voice to whoever was on the other side of the door. “Come.”

The green door creaked open and Lizzie stepped in. “The executive committee of the union of bookies and allied trades will see you now, sir,” she said with a sly smile, stepping back into the kitchen. Lucy shot a look at Tommy, brow raised.

“What the fuck?”

He groaned, rubbing at his eyes. Arthur and John headed to the front door. Lucy followed Tommy dutifully into the kitchen, silently dreading having to hear just what damage Jessie Eden had done on the women when they’d stepped out on strike. Polly was laid up in a chair when they entered, her feet propped up on the table and a rag over her eyes. Lucy took one look at her and felt her eyes roll of their own regard, stepping past where Lizzie was sitting at the table on her way to the stove to pour herself a cup of tea. As she passed, she chanced a small, comradery squeeze to Lizzie’s shoulders, and was rewarded with a small, friendly smile from her. 

Lizzie was often hot or cold with her, and it was never easy to guess exactly what mood she’d be in until Lucy actually broached interaction with her. Today was a warm day, apparently. Had it been a cold day she would have been met with a glare and sharp turning of Lizzie’s head away from her. Those days made her sad; she had always very badly wanted to be friends with Lizzie.

But she’d take what she could get. Besides, she couldn’t entirely blame her; she knew Lizzie’s feelings regarding her were complicated and conflicted. Understandable, considering she had the heart of the man Lizzie had been infatuated with for years. Lucy hoped that maybe the relationship with Angel had meant Lizzie had finally moved on from the torch she carried for Tommy. But apparently not.   

Polly was moaning and mumbling something about giving speeches and breaking the capitalist system. She stood, pulling the rag off of her eyes and looking surprisingly alert for someone who had supposedly been smashed out of her mind the previous day. Lucy slipped past Esme, who greeted her with a much colder, biting scowl than the smile Lizzie had offered her. Lucy ignored it and plucked a teacup from the cupboard. 

As Tommy and the other women continued to talk about the strike and Jessie Eden, she spooned in tea leaves and grasped the heavy kettle already on the stove, pouring the steaming water into the cup. Adding a single spoonful of sugar and stirring with gentle clinks of the silver spoon against the delicate China, she blew on her tea to avoid burning herself as she went back to the table, sitting across from Lizzie and taking a sip.

“You have to tell me what it is that you want and then I’ll know,” Tommy set down the leaflet that Lizzie had handed to him. Esme stalked towards him. 

“Actually, we want to know about the robbery you’re planning. Not the factory robbery. The other one,” she said. Lucy froze with her teacup halfway to her lips, eyes darting panickly to Tommy. “The one you’re not telling the women about.” 

“He’s told me,” Lucy protested softly. Esme shot her a look that could have curdled fresh milk.

“You don’t count.”

“Hey!” her voice rose unintentionally in offense. Lizzie shot her a sympathetic look. 

“John has a big mouth,” Tommy mumbled. 

“No,” Esme rounded back on him. “Arthur’s got a big mouth. Arthur told Linda, Linda told me.”

Lucy groaned, putting her teacup down in its saucer and dropping her head into her hands. Fucking Arthur. Of course it was Arthur. 

She loved the man like a brother, and out of the entire family he was one of the few who had almost always been kind to her, but goddamn did she sometimes want to shake him. 

And telling Linda of all people. Linda wasn’t like the rest of them. Who knows who she could fucking blab to.

Sometimes she wondered if she was the only member of the gang who actually knew how to keep her fucking mouth closed. 

“Polly?” Tommy looked to his aunt from across the kitchen.

“Just read the leaflet, Tommy,” Lizzie half begged, clearly trying to diffuse the situation. Even pregnant, if she got angry enough Lucy wouldn’t be surprised if Esme tried to take a swing at Tommy. 

“Ladies, why don’t I talk to Tommy privately and then I’ll report back to you faithfully,” Polly suggested.

But Esme wasn’t done, continuing to ramble, voice raising as she grew more frantic. “You’re not just going to take payment from the Russians, are you, Tommy? You’re going to clean them out, is that right?”

“Esme?” Lizzie tried again.

“So, what happens after, when they come for us?” Esme was getting right into Tommy’s face. “When I’m about to give birth?”

“Get out,” Tommy pointed to the door. Lucy breathed a sigh of relief. Had the complaining and hysterics gone on for much longer, she would have gotten a headache. Fucking people. “Get back to work.”

“Esme, come on,” Lizzie stood, prepared to shepherd her out of the room if necessary. Esme turned to Polly, arms crossed over her chest.

“Keep us posted, won’t you, sister?”

Lucy brows flew to her hairline at that. As far as she knew, Esme and Polly had never really gotten along all that well. Clearly she needed to be keeping a better watch over the wives. Things had begun to slip through the cracks a little, with Grace’s death throwing her so off kilter. She needed to get herself back to full form. Maybe have someone in the office bring her detailed reports of the women’s behavior for the time being.

Great. Yet another thing to keep track of. 

“I will,” Polly called after them. Tommy shook his head.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered under his breath. “So Arthur tells Linda everything, eh?”

“You tell Lucy everything,” Polly pointed out.

“Yeah, but I know how to keep my mouth shut,” Lucy muttered, taking a spiteful sip from her tea. “Besides. It’s part of my job. Linda knowing things is a problem.”

“Yeah, well. She’s stolen his soul and taken it to a better place: the suburbs. Where men are honest with their wives,” Polly sat down at the same time Tommy dropped into the chair next to Lucy. Under the table, she rubbed the toe of her shoe along his shin in comfort. “We can trust Lizzie.”

“Yeah, but I can’t trust Esme. I can’t trust the fucking Russians to pay me or the army, and I can’t trust my own brother to keep his fucking mouth shut,” Tommy’s irritation seemed to increase with every word, gesturing furiously with his cigarette. Lucy put a little more pressure on his leg with her shoe, fighting back the urge to scoot closer and press her side against his. 

“Did you make progress last night?” Polly asked. Lucy felt her hackles rise at the accusatory look in her dark eyes as she stared Tommy down. He clearly heard it somewhere in Polly’s voice too, his head lifting to stare at her.

“Yes.”

“John said the girl looks like Edna Purviance from the pictures,” Polly crooned, then tsked. “Be careful,” she turned that look onto Lucy. “Were you there too?”

“Leave her alone, Polly,” Tommy growled. 

“Yeah,” Lucy cleared her throat, setting down her teacup. “I was.”

“Hm,” Polly pursed her lips, expression disapproving.

“She’s an excellent source of information regarding the location of the merchandise,” Tommy defended.

“Here we go,” Polly muttered. 

Tommy was audibly grinding his teeth together. “You know, there is a general lack of discipline in this fucking company.”

“She stayed the night,” Polly wasn’t asking. 

“I’m working, Pol,” Tommy mumbled tiredly. Lucy made a sound of agreement. It was true. Tatiana was just business. Nothing more. “I am working for the good of the company.” 

“You’re grieving,” Polly looked to both of them, suddenly softening. Like she herself had just remembered that fact. “And when you grieve, you make bad choices. I know. I did it myself.”

Lucy stood abruptly from her seat, taking a final sip from her tea and carrying the cup and saucer over to the sink. Tommy and Polly continued to talk. 

“Did you tell Arthur about the priest?” Polly asked.

“I only told you and Lucy.”

Polly huffed. “Thanks for the burden.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow. She personally was quite looking forward to seeing Hughes’s head mounted on a stick.   

Polly exchanged a few more words with Tommy before heading out the door. Lucy listened to the sounds of her retreating footsteps while she rinsed off her teacup and set it aside, sniffing and running a hand through her hair. She heard Tommy mumble a curse, the chair he was sitting in scraping against the floor as he pushed it back and stood.

“We should get going.”

 “Yeah,” she wiped her hands down with a towel and turned to face him. When he looked up at her his brows pinched worriedly. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Lucy bit her lip. It was probably stupid. 

“How come everyone keeps saying that I don’t count as a woman? First Johnny, then Esme…” she glanced over at him in quiet alarm. “You don’t think that, do you?”

Tommy cocked his head, walking towards her with long measured strides. His hands landed on her cheeks, tilting her head up to look at him before sliding them down, along her shoulders, down her arms, clutching the swell of her hips for a moment before grazing them up her torso. She had to stifle a snort when he lightly cupped both her breasts, head tilted in mock contemplation.

“Hm. Don’t feel like a man to me.”

“You just wanted an excuse to touch my tits.”

He grinned at her wolfishly. “Maybe,” leaning forward, he brushed his nose against hers. “Don’t pay any mind to what the others say. You’re perfect.”

She reached up to take hold of his face, pulling him down an extra inch or two so she could kiss him. “Charming bastard,” she whispered affectionately against his lips. Tommy purred low in his chest, kissing her back warmly. His hands flexed where they were still cupping her breasts, groping her shamelessly while he pressed his body closer to hers. Lucy broke away from him with a laugh. 

“Last night and this morning weren’t enough for you?”

“You already know the answer to that,” he half growled, lips ghosting over her throat, hips pinning her to the counter.

“Mm,” her core fluttered, squeezing around nothing. Eyes darting over his shoulder, to the closed door leading to the rest of the betting shop, she swallowed. “Not here.”

Tommy made a sound of agreement, but didn’t move, instead sucking a mark into her skin just below the line of her collar. Lucy traced her hands along his strong shoulders, sliding them into his coat to more easily feel the heat of his body. 

“Okay, no,” she laughed, squirming away from him, and he let her go immediately, even though she could see the lust simmering in his eyes as he stared at her. Looking him up and down, she almost went back on her statement, the lust addled part of her brain trying very badly to convince her to just say fuck it and climb him like a tree.

He reached out to touch her cheek softly, practically looming over her. Tommy wasn’t actually that tall, but thanks to her–sometimes infuriatingly–short stature he had almost a foot on her. He licked his lips, looking her over appreciatively.

“I need to go speak with Linda,” he said, voice gravelly. Lucy swallowed hard and nodded. “And then, I’m going to go kill the priest.”

It probably indicated some rather concerning things about her that the mere mention of it was enough to have her aroused. 

“I need you to go take care of a few things at the office for me,” he pushed a stray curl behind her ear. Her eyelids fluttered from the touch. “And then I need you to go to London.”

Her eyes flew wide open. “London? Why?”

“Because Alfie likes you. And I need you to ask him if he’ll be willing to act as an appraiser when we select our jewels from the Russians.”

“Surely I could just ask him over the phone.”

“I don’t trust the phones.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Even if I leave for London right this minute, and Alfie can meet with me straight away, it’ll be too late by the time I’m done to catch the last train back. I’ll have to spend the night.”

“Ada said you could stay with her.”

Lucy pouted at him. “You just don’t want me around while you kill Hughes.”

Tommy closed his eyes, sighing. “Love…” he trailed off, rubbing at his brow before dropping his hand. “I need you to be safe.”

“Yeah, well I need you safe too!”

“Lucy,” he cupped her cheeks. “Please. Please, love. I’ll be fine. And…I really do need you to go see Alfie.”

Her jaw clenched, silently hating herself for being unable to say no to him. “I don’t like it.”

“I know,” he stroked her hair thankfully. “But it’ll be okay.”

“I’ll call you from Ada’s after I’ve met with Alfie.”

“Right.”

Her palms flattened on his chest, forehead resting against his. “You be careful.”

“Of course.”

“I was looking forward to watching him die,” she huffed.

“I know,” he chuckled, hands circling her wrists, thumbs stroking tenderly along the exposed skin. 

“Our jobs have reversed,” she observed. “I’m supposed to be the one going off killing people while you strike business deals.”

“Yes, well…I’ve been looking forward to this for a good while, love.”

“I know,” she stretched up on her toes and kissed him. “I mean it, though. Be careful.”

“I will,” he breathed against her lips. “I promise.”

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“Hello, Ollie.”

The kid looked up at her from the ledger he was making marks in, wide-eyed. “Miss. Winters. Hello.”

“Sorry for the short notice. Where is he?”

“In the back. Follow me.”

She followed him through Alfie’s bakery towards the back office, Ollie knocking nervously at the door until an affirming grunt could be heard from the other side. He poked his head in.

“Miss. Winters is here, sir.”

“Yes, yes, let her in.”

Lucy stepped past Ollie with a small smile. From the other side of the desk, Alfie set down his pencil and paper and stood.

“Been a moment since we’d heard from you, little demon, we was beginning to think that you and Thomas up and left to run around in caravans in the mountains,” he stepped around his desk, then shot a look at Ollie who was still hovering by the door. “The fuck you think you’re doing? Get out.”

“Mr. Solomons, I was just…” Ollie glanced nervously at Lucy. She rolled her eyes.

“If I was here to kill Alfie, Ollie, I wouldn’t do it with a small army of his men milling about.”

“Go on,” Alfie shooed him out the door, waiting until it had clicked shut behind him before he turned back to Lucy. She gave him a weak smile. “Hey,” he took a step forward, and gave her a hug. “How you been?”

“I’ve been better,” she sighed. Alfie patted her on the back and let her go, gesturing to a seat across from him at the desk. 

“Thomas get my condolences?” he asked as he sat back down.

“Yes. Thank you,” she cleared her throat, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Such a shame he and his bride didn’t even get to celebrate their first anniversary. Didn’t even make it half a year, did they?”

“No,” Lucy mumbled weakly, looking down. Alfie softened. 

“How’s the boy?”

“Charlie? He’s…he misses her. He still asks for her a lot.”

“And Tommy?”

Lucy shrugged. “As you can imagine.”

“And I imagine you have been a great comfort to him in his time of mourning,” Alfie leaned back in his seat. Lucy flinched, trying to remind herself that Alfie didn’t know the entire ins and outs of her and Tommy’s relationship.

“That’s not funny.”

“No. I imagine it isn’t. You were close to her after all, yes? To his wife.”

“Yes,” she nodded, realizing that she had begun unconsciously picking at the nail polish decorating her fingernails and hastily folded her hands over one another. “Very close.”

“Mm,” Alfie grunted, lips twitching, and the expression on his face told her that he understood. “Then I am very sorry for your loss as well, Lucy.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, adjusting herself in her seat.

“So,” he spread his hands wide. “What’s brought you all the way here to Camden Town, my dear?”

“We have a favor to ask of you.”

“Ooo. A favor? Favors aren’t cheap, love.”

“I thought that maybe you would do it out of the kindness of your heart considering our house’s state of mourning.”

“Ah, fuck off.”

She grinned. “We’ll pay you, of course.”

“Atta girl. Where is Tommy, anyway?”

“He had some family business to take care of,” growing more comfortable, she leaned back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other and pulling a cigarette from her case. Alfie tossed her a lighter that she caught with one hand, holding the flame over the cigarette until it lit and then tossing it back to him. “And then he has to go kill a priest.”

“A priest, eh? I thought that killing was your department.”

“In light of what happened to his wife, Tommy has since transformed into an overprotective fool.”

Alfie tilted his head back and let out a bellow of laughter. Lucy took a drag from her cigarette, grinning around it.

“It’ll pass,” she leaned forward to tap the ash out into the ashtray at the corner of the desk. “But until then I have to humor him or else he’ll get all cross and pouty with me.”

“Hm,” Alfie was still chuckling to himself. “The devil off to kill a priest. How fitting. Christian or Catholic?”

“Catholic. He has it coming.”

“Most Catholic priests do, I’ve learned.”

She shared a knowing look with him.

“So. What is this favor that you’ve come to ask me for?”

“We need you to appraise some jewels.”

“Jewels…” she could tell he was turning the thought over in his head. “What kind of jewels?”

“The jewels of royals.”

“You aren’t being all that specific, love.”

“When the time comes, we’ll call you to the house and give you more detailed instructions. Tommy doesn’t trust the phones anymore. I just need to know now if you can and are willing to do it.”

“Why me?”

“We trust you.”

He scoffed and gave her a disapproving look.

“We trust you on this,” she corrected, and he nodded. 

“How much do I get?”

“Um…” she reached into her pocket, pulling out the slip of paper Tommy had scribbled a ballpark number on and given to her before she got on the train to London. “That would be the starting rate,” she said after she handed it to Alfie. “We could be convinced to go a little higher depending on circumstances.”

Alfie looked at the slip of paper, then back up at her, assessing. “You two aren’t fucking around with this.”

“Will you do it or not, Alfie?” it had already been almost dark when she’d arrived at the bakery, and she wanted to get back to Ada’s as soon as possible. She needed to call Tommy and check that everything had gone okay.  

Alfie swung from side to side in his chair, fiddling with his pencil as he thought it all over. “Ah, what the hell? Why not, eh?” he spat on his hand, she did the same, and they shook their saliva covered palms.

“Thank you,” she stood.

“You staying with Tommy’s sister?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll have two of my boys walk you. It’s already dark out.”

“Oh, no. That’s okay–”

“Look, if something happens to you in my neck of the woods I’ll never hear the fucking end of it. Take the escort, Winters,” he said sternly, and had she not known any better she almost would have thought he was concerned for her.

“Thanks, Alfie.”

He nodded, scooping up the paper he’d been working on when she came in. Taking that as her cue, she went to the door, then hesitated.

“Hey, Alfie?”

“Mm?”

“Do you still know how to speak Russian?” 

Previous Chapter • Series • Fic • Next Chapter

Thank you for reading! Please consider leaving a comment, reblog, or like. I always appreciate feedback and love getting the opportunity to interact with you and hear your thoughts!

[viscountessevie]

(Villainisation anon here)

[Ohh you have such an efficient way of tagging and maintaining different discussions! I am very much involved in another fandom and receive lots of asks about discourse but I somehow always manage to make a mess of tags, lol]

As for the name, I think I’ll go with 📖 anon or whatever tag you want to use. I am assuming you get a lot of anons regarding discourse so I don’t want to club myself with them.

I can totally understand your frustration regarding the lack of knowledge the general audience may have about The Sharmas. It’s frustrating when you know so much about something but cannot let it all out, especially to strangers on the internet. I have been in similar situations, and I am sorry if my ask ever made you feel that way.

I have definitely seen the word racist be thrown around quite carelessly with unclear implications, with the most recent instance being yesterday. I won’t go into the details of what was said, because maybe the person is your mutual and I don’t wish to involve you in any drama. (You may have, perhaps already seen something about it on your dash). But the words were hurtful and they invalidated my experience as a desi person watching the show. I know people can be quite vitriolic on both sides of the discourse, and it’s sad. But that’s the truth of fandom spaces - discourse is inevitable and I don’t have any ideas on what to do about it, lol.

Anyway, I hope you have a lovely day/night (if you live in India, it must be past midnight for you! It’s dinnertime for me, so I must dash. But thank you for such a healthy and respectful discussion).

Here are Bookie 📖 Anon's previous asks!

Hello again 📖 Anon - I think I shall call you Bookie for short ahahha if you're okay with that! While Villianisation/Villain Anon sounds cool af I didn't want to make you sound like a hater lol. So I dub thee Bookie 📖 Anon!

Anyways thank you for the compliment, it means a lot. Also there's no right or wrong way to tag or run a discourse blog so don't worry about yours - do what feels right for you!

Funny thing is, I never use to tag things AT ALL before I start running this blog. Hell I wouldn't even link previous posts but then I started getting more related asks and it seemed logical to give context. The Emojis started recently though and they are so fun! I think only Jett and Ring Anon have come back to my asks a few times lol. I think its cool to know where they all stand on different topics instead of me assuming every anon is a different person because Uhhh that's like over 140 (I think that's how many asks I've answered since March?) people who have been talking to me and that's a daunting thought oop.

That was a fun tangent but let's get into the meat of this post!

Thank you for being so understanding, Bookie! But I'll survive and stick to my friends' fics for wholesome Sharmas ahahah. And oh, if I could I would scream about the Book Sharmas all day but I'm not that unhinged lmao. Instead I will passive aggressively hype them and their book scenes up (I did it here also wanna make some edits with the book scene quotes tacked onto S2's scenes at some point) Also want to reassure you that you did not make me feel that way at all! It was nice to have people who like flawed Sharmas' fics to be civil and open to discussion - it was a good change from the usual drama on my dash ahahah.

That being said ohmygod Bookie, spill the tea and call them out!! Who was that?? I saw another post vagueposting Mimi and I but they weren't being 'racist', just fucking rude.

But the words were hurtful and they invalidated my experience as a desi person watching the show. I know people can be quite vitriolic on both sides of the discourse, and it’s sad. But that’s the truth of fandom spaces - discourse is inevitable and I don’t have any ideas on what to do about it, lol.

Tell me about it, the invalidation in this fandom is INSANE sometimes, I mean I'll admit sometimes I am a little guilty of it but its in the name of invalidating bigots who should be drowned out because we do not need this energy here. I do hope you're feeling better now and the words didn't get to you <3 I know I said spill the tea but if you don't want to give yourself away and get involved in the drama, I totally understand! That being said if you do want to vent about that situation, my DMs and off anon asks (I can respond to you privately!) are always open if you need them.

Take care Bookie, and yes it was ard 1am (I'm in Asia, GMT+8 btw) when I posted your second ask and fell asleep soon after ahhaha. Hope you had a good dinner and can't wait to hear from you in the future!!

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Reason # 528 as to why I don't get why AA gets the hate in mainstream that it does...

It's actually pretty good. But you can ignore Season 5😆☕

iron man suit up: marvel cinematic universe vs avengers assemble

[psycheswritings]

Nothing’s Fair in Love and War - Six

Title: Nothing’s Fair in Love and War

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x Daphne Scott (OFC)

Warnings: Swearing.

Word Count: 4022

Author's Note: Hello, people! Here we are with a brand new chapter. A few warnings before we begin (or after, because is basically information about somethings mentioned during this chapter and it could be interpreted as spoilers, so it's up to you): 1. I know that according to the audio of "The Ballad of Tommy Shelby" the boys enlisted in 1915, but as @andtherewerefireworks​ pointed out, this doesn't fit with the historical facts and informations given by the show (as a lot of other thing's don't, but apparently Steven doesn't give a fuck about it - don't let me get started) so I ignored this piece of information - the boys enlisted in 1914 instead and the world makes sense again; 2. I did some research to know more about military nurses and took a poetic license to ignore the age that was permited for women to enlist at the time; 3. Kugel really is a Jewish dish and I am shamelessly entertaining my headcanon that Alfie does, in fact, cook/bake. Sorry, not sorry. 4. Have I mentioned that sometimes I hate Steven? Because I do. There were somethings that took me a lot of time to figure out between episodes 04 and 05 of the third season and I am still not sure about somethings, so if you feel confused about something you're more than welcome to come talk to me and I can explain it.

Fair warning, as always, if you find any mistakes feel more than free to report back to me; warnings are expecific for each chapter; and your feedback is always appreciated (given the fact that this is a sideblog, answers always are in the name of my main one thanks to dumb Tumblr - @myplaceofheavenorhell​). Also, if you haven't read my "BIG ANNOUNCEMENT" post (I really don't blame you), please, start following me on @amysteryspot​.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Summary: Alfie and Sabini make amends and join forces to get rid of the Peaky Blinders. Daphne and Polly have a very pleasing evening and Tommy goes visit May to ensure that things are going according to his plan, only to be met with a question he doesn't want to answer.

Masterlist

Six

Alfie Solomons was never known for a man who has a lot of patience, no, people tend to think that he actually has none at all but that is far from the truth. God knows that he had to have a lot of fucking patience to get where he is now, Alfie is a man who is always waiting for the right moment to do the things that would benefit him the most. And that was what he was doing right now - waiting to see if the decision he has made would, in fact, bring him any good.

The doors of the bakery were opened by two of his men and Sabini came into view - the italian flag on his hands, three of his men behind him and his second in command, Matteo, with a white flag by his side. They approached each other, the Jew gave the Italian the basket of bread that was immediately passed over to Matteo, before he stepped closer to Alfie giving him the standard three kisses on the checks as a form of greeting.

“I can’t help but notice that there is a presence in absence here today. Isn’t Miss Scott joining us?” Alfie was kinda expecting that since the Italian seemed to have a soft spot for the young woman, but the question almost made him frown for entirely different reasons. Daphne had left hours before to go to Birmingham and meet with Polly Gray, she didn’t knew about the meeting or his plans but somehow that didn’t make Alfie worry less about her like he thought it would.

“Daphne is out in another appointment. Just us today, so let's talk, eh?” Sabini shared a look with Matteo before nodding to Alfie guide them through the bakery. The Jew sat on one side of the table with Ollie by his side, cane propped up in front of him, his hands resting on top of it, while Sabini and Matteo did the same at the other side, their men behind them and a menacing silence filling the room until the Italian leader spoke.

“Did you know they was going to take the Eden club?”

“I know about the Eden club, yes.”

“Did you know they were going to do it before they did it? Because that's the one who's in charge, isn't it? The one who knows before it happens.”

“I know what I know, you know. If you don't know, then you don't fucking know, do you?”

“Did you know they was going to take Wimbledon dogs? Harringay? The trotting tracks?”

“Talk, all right? I genuinely want to hear you.”

“You've lost control, Alfie.” Matteo was the one to talk, making Alfie look at him in concealed anger.

“Have I?”

“Everybody knows.” The Italian added.

“Talk to me, Alfie.” Sabini said, interrupting the argument and making Alfie’s attention go back to him again.

“Talk to you?” The Jew paused for emphasis. “All right, I'll talk to you. I'll fucking tell you how it was, right? What happened was this. All the time you were talking about dirty fucking Jews. All the fucking time - dirty fucking Jews, dirty Kikes, dirty dustbin lids…” The Italian leader shared a look with Matteo again.

“Everyone makes jokes.”

“You want to talk about not getting into places?”

“Everybody makes fucking jokes. I didn't know you had no sense of humour!”

“And I ain't going to FUCKING mention, right, the great big fuck off elephant in the room.” Sabini closes his eyes for a brief moment before talking again.

“Look, Alfie…”

“How many of my bookies worked Epsom this last May? None. None. Not one.”

“So, for a few fucking jokes and Epsom, you fucking invite a tribe of savages into the city and just fucking unlock the fucking gates!” While Sabini is yeeling and gesticulating frantically with his hands Alfie is just sitting there, not even bored by it.

“I'm sorry, what are you saying, mate?”

“I'm saying I'm sorry about the Jew thing.” To say that Sabini seemed bothered by his own words would be an understatement because he was completely put off by it, to Alfie’s deepest contentment.

“Are you saying you're sorry?” Patience, patience always paid back in kind.

“Yeah.”

“You're sorry about the Jew thing?”

“Yeah.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“I want that in writing.” He turned to Ollie. Write that down. He said, ‘I'm sorry’.” Looking at Sabini again he continued. “And also write down that all our bookies can go back to Epsom.”

“He didn't say that.” Matteo barged in.

“Who's asking you?”

“No. Write it down. It's all right. Come on. Alfie's an old friend.”

“My friend.” The Jew gangster says while staring at Matteo and pointing at Sabini.

“Now, admit it, the Peaky Blinders is out of control.”

“Yeah, they're out of fucking control, mate. They come down the canal, they spread like the fucking clap.” Although the kind of problem that the Blinders have gotten to the Jew were ones fairly different, the Italian didn’t needed to know.

“Right. So now they're everybody's problem.”

“Yeah.”

“Alfie.”

“Mm.”

“You and me, we've been fighting since we was at school.”

“Yeah.”

“All right? Now, also, we've been friends.”

“Mm, yeah.”

“You know, it goes backwards and forwards. How much better is it when we're friends?”

“Oh, it's much better, mate, yeah.”

“You write that down.” Ollie looks at Alfie that just nods at the younger man.

“So what we're doing here, right, is we're writing down some kind of a deal thing, right?”

“Yeah, a written deal.” 

“Written deal, good. Well, why don't we discuss the border between the Italians and the Jews going back to Farringdon Road.”

“Farringdon Road”

“Yeah, Farringdon Road.”

“Fuck! That's ancient history.”

“Write down Farringdon Road.”

“No, no, no, write down Camden Road.”

“Farringdon Road.”

“Camden Road.”

“Write down Farringdon.”

“Camden.”

“Farringdon.”

“Camden. Write down Camden Road.”

“Just write down ‘peace’. Just write down ‘peace’, right, between the Jews and the Italians.”

“And war against the gypsies.” Alfie just grumbles to the statement, thinking to himself about how Daphne will react when she discovers his plans. It certainly won’t be pretty and for the first time in a long while the Jew gangster starts to rethink his actions.

  *******************************************************************************************

Daphne was waiting at the parlour in the Shelby family home on Watery Lane, the youngest Shelby was the one who guided her there saying that his aunt was coming in a minute and then leaving her alone since Josiah had chosen to wait for her outside, in the car. The young woman took off her coat and hang it on the coat rack on the wall just beside the front door, deciding to take a look around instead of sitting down.

There were a lot of photographs hanging on the walls and on top of the furniture, most of them were of the Shelby’s children growing up. Daphne recognized a young Ada and a little Finn in one of them, just beside the fireplace there was a photograph of each one of the Shelby siblings but what caught her attention almost immediately was the portrait of the three eldest Shelby boys in their uniforms. Her fingers automatically went to her locket, caressing the metal as a way to soothe her own thoughts.

“They were taken just before they left.” She must have been really distracted because she only noticed that her hostess arrived when she was already closing the door, taking off her own coat and approaching her. The gipsy woman noticed that Daphne was yet again playing with the necklace hanging from her neck. They shook hands before the both of them turned to look at the images again. “I’m sorry for making you wait, there were things that needed my attention.”

“Don’t bother, I’ve had only been here for minute.” Silence filled the room but unlike what Daphne expected it wasn’t a discomfortable one.

“It feels like it was a lifetime ago.” There was this hint of sadness that Daphne knew too well when people who had loved ones on the war usually had when talking about that period.

“And at the same time it seems like it was yesterday.” Polly looked at her then, surprise in her features.

“You’ve been there.” Daphne took a deep breath, not looking at the woman beside her when she spoke.

“Yeah. Whole four years of it.”

“My God, you must have been only a child when it started.” The young woman felt quite amused by the motherly concern in Polly’s voice.

“Eighteen.”

“You’re almost John’s age then. He was nineteen when he left. Arthur was twenty seven and Thomas twenty four.” When Daphne looked at her still observing the pictures there was a hint of a smile on her face. “They were so different, so full of life.”

“None of us came back the same. We all left a part of ourselves there.” As her hand rested in her chest, feeling the all too familiar form of her locket through the fabric Daphne thought that she certainly had lost a part of herself there, a part of her that she would never recover.

“You sound like Tommy.” Daphne smiled at that, shaking her head briefly while Polly observed her with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.

“It’s not the first time that I hear it.”

“Come, I will make us some tea.” They headed themselves to the kitchen were Daphne sat at the table while Polly walked around preparing things for the tea. When the pot was ready she served them both a cup and sat down.

“You’ve caused quite the impression on the boys.” Daphne quietly sipped on her tea. She didn’t know what to expect of the encounter, what she did knew was that Polly was baiting at her, getting her out of her comfort zone to see how she reacted and further analyze her especially now that Alfie wasn’t around. But one thing that Daphne have learned from experience was that people involuntary let their guard down at home and even knowing that Polly had another house to call her own now, this was the one she passed most part of the time in still, the one where she lived most part of the last years and the one she still called home.

“A good impression, I hope.” The gipsy woman looked at her, smirking slightly, the action a little warmer than the cold demeanor that she had showed on the party.

“Ah, it was good just alright! I think Arthur is still teasing John for trying to flirt with you.”

“He had it coming.” Polly laughed, really laughed and Daphne couldn’t help but smile too.

“He sure did, but I gotta say that he is not used at being rejected. None of them are, really.” The young woman choose not to answer that, just smiling and sipping at her tea again and Polly decided to change the subject. “You and Ada know each other for long?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while. Before Freddie fell ill.”

“You’ve met him?” Polly was surprised that the two women knew each other for that long.

“Once or twice, he was more running from the coopers than at home.” Polly scoffed at that, getting up to take the food and put it on the table. “You didn’t approved of them.” It wasn’t a question but Polly answered anyway.

“Freddie was a good man, I just wish that he knew how to prioritize his family instead of the cause.” Daphne nodded in understanding, since she befriended Ada she had had quite some debates with herself about the way the Thorne’s lived. It was hard for Daphne to understand how Ada accepted living on the run because of love, her parents were not exactly the image of true love - an arranged marriage, like the one she was supposed to have if she hadn’t gone to France - even though she believed that her mother had loved her father at some point, the other way around was definitely not true.

“I never really understood how Ada accepted living like that but I don’t have much to compare so I tried not to judge her for it.”

“No lad caught your attention after you came back?” The gipsy woman took a sip of her tea before continuing. “Or during your time in France?” Daphne had a pretty good guess that she must be talking about William since she had seen them together at the party.

“No. Not that way.” The older woman just nodded, eyes trained on the other woman’s reactions.

“Not even Solomons? He is not hard on the eyes and you two seemed quite close.” Daphne laughed at the statement - people seemed to never give up on the subject of her and Alfie being a couple.

“Alfie is family.” The way she said it, so naturally, so devoid of doubt made Polly think that their bound was deeper than she first predicted. Polly was certain that there was more to their relationship than what they let people know - Alfie Solomons wasn’t a man known for his honesty or loyalty, nevertheless, the woman in front of her had been by his side since the end of the war.

It was obvious to her too that the man who was observing her and Tommy from the mezzanine during the party felt more than just friendship towards her but it seemed that Daphne didn’t reciprocate it - which, apparently, left the way clear for Tommy and that’s where the lived the danger. Then she decided to make a bold move.

“Let me read your leaves.” Daphne was quite taken aback by the request, she blinked twice before answering the gipsy woman.

“Why not.” Polly was surprised that she accepted the request so easily - maybe more surprised by that than by the fact that she had requested to read the girl’s leaves in the first place.

“Pour some tea into the cup and swirl it.” The young woman did what she was told. “Now put the tea back into the teapot.” Polly extended her hand for Daphne to give her the cup, after taking it she gave one last glance towards the young woman before starting to analyze the cup.

“There’s happiness in your future but there is also a lot of pain.” Silence filled the room while the older woman swirled the teacup in her hands. “You will be betrayed and have your heart broken. You will also find something that you thought was lost.” Polly rested the cup into the table and looked up to meet Daphne’s hazel eyes in silence for a long time before she finally spoke again. “You seem like a good girl, Daphne, and if I didn’t thought that I wouldn’t say to you what I’m gonna say now: be careful. Love is a good thing but sometimes it can blind us and that’s when we get hurt.”

*******************************************************************************************

When Tommy arrived home at the end of the day one of the first things that he noticed was the teacup resting on the kitchen table. He picked it up, looking at the leaves inside it and directing his gaze to his aunt who was observing him, sipping her own cup of tea while leaning onto the kitchen counter.

“Lizzie’s been here for you to read her leaves again, Poll? You still leading her own…”

“It wasn’t Lizzie.” He recognized the smug look on his aunt’s face - she was leading him to something, the teacup left onto the table was a bait for him to talk to her, it was all part of her plan. He put the cup back where he found it and turned around to pour himself a drink.

“Then who was the poor soul that was believing in your predictions?”

“Daphne. She left just some minutes ago.” He stopped for a brief moment but it was enough for Polly to notice. Daphne had been here? How he didn’t know that?

“Didn’t think that she would be one for these kind of stuff.” He turned around, glass of whisky in his hand and her aunt’s gaze still on him and his curiosity got the best of him. “What did you find out?” By the smile on his aunt’s face he knew that this is what she wanted all along.

“That she is a good girl - too good for you.” Tommy huffed at the statement taking a sip of his drink - he didn’t need any tea leaves to know that. “She will have her heart broken by the man that she loves.” Polly walked to her nephew, stopping right in front of him and holding his gaze. “Will you be that man, Tommy?” He just stood there nursing his drink, long before the woman had left. He had vowed to himself to never let another woman into his heart again, not after Grace, but it was difficult to remember that when he was around Daphne. She was constantly proving him wrong, challenging him, sneaking into his family’s good graces. Would he be the one to break her heart or would it be the other way around?

*******************************************************************************************

Alfie was waiting for her when she arrived home - sitting on his usual chair in the balcony of the drawing room, humming something to himself. Daphne approached him and called his name but he didn’t seemed to notice, to lost on his thoughts.

“Everything alright?” He looked at her then, his attention caught by the hand she gently placed on his shoulder, the woman could tell that he seemed a little off just by the expression on his face.

“Yeah, yeah.” The Jew got up from his chair to stand in front of her. “How was tea with the gypsies?”

“It was just Polly. Everything went fine, she is actually very hospitable.”

“Hum. Good.” He didn’t seemed less tense after her answer. “I’ve made you some kugel for dessert, I know it is your favorite.” Daphne frowned at that.

“There is some special occasion that I’m forgetting? You haven’t cooked in ages.” He stared at her in silence for a long moment before answering.

“No, just appreciating the company, love.”

“Well, thank you, kind sir. I’m just going to take a bath and we can have dinner then.” Alfie nodded at her, letting her go upstairs while he just observed as she disappeared. He really hoped that at least for one time in his life he was doing the right thing.

*******************************************************************************************

As Tommy drove to the Carleton’s property he thought about his next steps. May had showed her interest in him and he was going to play his cards to ensure that his horse would be able to run the Epsom. She had also mentioned having contacts at the War Office and that could grant them information on Daphne. He just wasn’t expecting the extent of the Carleton’s wealthiness.

“Mr. Thomas Shelby, madam.” One of the maids announced him and Tommy entered the room without a second glance at the girl.

“Nice house.” He says as he looks around and approaches May, who is looking at him a little unsure. It was more than nice house, probably the most expensive fucking place he had put his foot on during his entire life.

“Would you like a whisky? Scotch or Irish?”

“Irish.” She turns her back to him to serve the drink and he takes the time to look out the window, taking a cigarette from his case. “Sorry for the short notice. I was passing.”

“We're not quite on the Birmingham road.”

“It was a small diversion.”

“Sixty miles, I checked.”

“That's a small diversion these days.” He says, approaching her and lightening the cigarette that is already between his lips.

“So, I'm a small diversion. Good.” She hands him the whiskey before taking a sip of hers. “Your horse is still out on the gallops, but I had Mickey prepare this report. You can read it now if you'd like, then we can go see her.” May hands him the file with the reports and he rests it on the table, starting to scan the pages as he clears his throat. “Is there enough light for you to read?”

“Yes, it's fine.”

“It's getting quite late.” She sits down on the couch, Tommy doesn’t react to her words and continues to read the report but he notices that she is nervous. “Mickey says she has the lungs of an elephant. She's nimble in the heavy going, but bounces a little on the hard ground. Sorry, I'll let you read.”

“So, he thinks she'll favor good to soft ground, eh?” Tommy closes the file while talking.

“A little juice in the grass.”

“Mm. Well, that's good for Epsom.” He pauses, looking at her and placing his empty glass on the table. “Does he think she's not good enough for Epsom?”

“She needs a lot of work.” May observes as he takes a drag from the cigarette. “The race board will need convincing.”

“I imagine you have some influence.” She doesn’t answer him directly.

“Mm. That's the suggested program for the next two months.” As Tommy goes back to looking at the report, May gets up from her seat. “Your glass is empty.”

“It's fine.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Yes, a bit.”

“I can prepare something.”

“Do you have engine oil?” There’s a hint of surprise in her features as she looks at him. “Before I set off for Birmingham, the car needs oil.”

“I'm sure my husband kept some in the garage. I can get someone to do it.”

“This evening or tomorrow?” They stare at each other for a moment, he waits for her next step.

“Well, we're so far from anywhere, people usually stay over.” She is clearly nervous as she takes a set at the couch again, sipping her whisky. “Especially before cars, when it was just carriages, people used to stay over all the time.”

“But I have a car.”

“Yes.”

“And you have engine oil.”

“Probably.” Her words are all but a whisper before she pauses, nervously looking at the other way. “But it would be very usual.”

“What would?” His eyebrows raising as he waits for the answer, making her admit it out loud.

“For a guest to stay. We have a whole wing called the guest wing.”

“Oh, you…” He almost smirked at the information. “You have a guest wing. Well...” Then Tommy notices that she is crying, silently, trying to hide her tears by facing the opposite wall. He walks to her, calling her name softly and resting a hand on her shoulder, trying to soothe her. Thomas never liked when woman cried, most part of the time it put him off because he didn’t exactly know how to react and, in this particularly scenario, it wasn’t something that he had predicted. “Have a smoke.”

“Thank you.” She accepts the cigarette from his hands and observes as he takes a step back to light another, taking a sit at the other end of the couch. “Ignore this. It's actually all right. I put all his photos in a drawer and locked it, as if that was going to make a difference. I'm like a fucking lighthouse keeper, out here on my own, keeping his flame burning. But, of course, when anyone sees a lighthouse they stay clear, don't they?” May observes as he seems to take a moment to think.

“Now, do you have a map? Of the house. Do you have a map? Because I'm not going to be able to find my way in the dark. You see, at midnight, I'm going to leave my wing and I'm going to come find you. And I'm going to turn the handle of your bedroom door without making a sound and none of the maids will know.”

“You don't know maids.” She scoffed at him.

“They hear a pin drop?”

“If there's a man in the house, they listen. They take turns.”

“So, let them listen.” Things were going according to his plan but Tommy couldn’t help remembering his aunt’s words that would keep echoing inside his head for the whole night.

Taglist: @stressedandbandobessed7771​

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Tony finds out via survalance area

Tony:Friday ....bleach the entire house ......

Bucky:lucky punk *drinks his beer and not drunk so he pets alpine softly*

Sam:they go rough. Wonder if they broke anything

Nat:feels like reading a steamy novel

*Later that day at the gym*

*Steve is sparring with Y/N, and getting pinned by her*

*the team, one by one, makes their way into the gym and sees*

Bucky: Hey, Steve! Just remember to wrap it before you tap it. Okay? *places a packet of condoms on the bench where Steve's bag is*

Nat: Oh no. Tony's going to have a fit about this!

Bruce: he still thinks I'm that kind of doctor. So, he told me about throwing out that hand woven rug from the safe house, and let me just say, I never wanna know who's been doing what, with who, where, and how ever again.

Tony: GUYS! I WILL GO BROKE IF Y'ALL KEEP GOING AT IT IN THE WORST PLACES🫣

*At some point, Y/N and Steve find out why the team is acting weird when they're seen together in rather suspicious positions, and how...*

*Let's just say Steve learned to limit certain activities anywhere that involved work, questioned Tony on why there was even a camera in the bathroom to begin with, and still making it up to Y/N, because his kinky ass just couldn't help himself*

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Andy barber x Divorce lawyer y/n

Andy doing her

https://www.tumblr.com/fukyourmind/729087784147648512?source=share

Andy is also her client in divorcing Laurie heheh

So, this is Daddy Andy's reward to divorce lawyer!Y/N for handling his messy divorce, as well as incentivize her🤭🥵

Y'all are really dragging me into Kinktober, huh?😅

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Oh Hot Damn...🫠🔥

Seriously though saw the trailer, and this'll be one I'll definitely need to read😍😁

Avengers: Twilight #1 (2024) by Chip Zdarsky & Daniel Acuña

Cover: Daniel Acuña (variant)

[bookishtheaterlover7]

While super soildier reader is on a mission and steve is on recovery from his previous one . Theres a part hes well enough and TEASED y/n with this

https://www.tumblr.com/myhairymanfetish/729889488088809472?source=share

Nomand BEARDY steve is BACK !!!

Oh, good Lord! Steve will absolutely be a little shit to Y/n, about this.

Especially when she hasn't been home and the mission is almost done😅

Thank you, N🫶nnie! This was both fun and a challenge simultaneously. If y'all want more, I'll do my best to do more❤️

Asks are still open, if y'all wanna suggest some more fics or imagines, and the Masterlist will get updated soon ✋

Love y'all!

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Listening to trolls and haters do nothing good . Sides they are Unhappy with life , Broke , ugly even pathetic lol

Absolutely right, An🫶n!

But unfortunately, Albitch is so desperate to be seen, she sells whatever story to get the clout she was expecting, the second she signed on to play the "role of a lifetime".

Everything that's been happening ever since the Dodger post literally proves what we already know, and that hole will only get bigger and bigger. Until she won't be able to stop the one thing that she and the team have been trying to avoid, with all of the cleanups, wipes, and coverups, the truth.

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Ransom drysdale x Posh reader Enemies to lovers

Ransom*got pissed *DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM ?!

Reader*whos a countess*oh my Did you forget your name*smirk*

Ransom:im warning you ...you

Y/n:countess, y/f/n

Ransom: >:( *pout is out ranked*

Y/n:aw someones red fufufu

Ransom*walks away

This is golden!!!

Biggest thing in my head, is that they used to go to the same boarding school. That's how they met. And that means, their rivalry stemed from there😁😍

Oh, I'm excited to write this!

Thank you, An🫶n💕

Although, is there a rule against posting fluff and angst on Kinktober?😅 Again, I need to know the rules of Kinktober 😆

[bookishtheaterlover7]

It's true though!!!

Do I need to break out the tea set? 👀☕

(anon I agree with your last part but you give too many ideas)

Ah Tom and Zawe, isn't it funny that people spotted them and there are pictures of them together (even though Tom didn't say her name in the last interview)

Oh look, a blurry picture but we can still recognize Tom and Zawe.😂

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Mornings with Steve x super soildier reader

https://www.tumblr.com/bodyguard27/725689628160573440?source=share

Can you imagine this happens after Steve decides to be all cute and sappy, and it just ends up in a steamy and playful morning romp?

Which, to be honest, might last longer than normal, because Y/N can definitely keep up with Steve's stamina 🤭

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Wonder if in Defending jacob Andy cheats on his shitty wife lorey with his firm coworker y/n another fellow lawyer

I have a feeling he would.

But my headcanon is that it'll be an enemies to lovers type thing... Andy, who's marriage isn't in the best or right place, doesn't like the idea of falling for anyone. Because he feels like he can't trust himself to make a good judgement on that.

Meanwhile, Y/N would just be trying to do her job, unfortunately she didn't expect to have feelings for Andy, Who is unfortunately an asshole😅

At some point, the sexual tension would make itself known, and there would come a time when it would boil over. And it would feel right, despite how wrong their situation might seem...