#Thomas Capone

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

➖ Mature content, 18+ ➖ check the trigger tags each time ➖      

Chapter 38 - Wedding days. Episode 3.

------ Daniel's point of view------

Daniel: She looked cute there on the grass in her kitty dress and her hair in a side braid. I couldn't help but laugh softly at the song choice. Obviously she had chosen that one to make us all laugh. But the lyrics did actually fit with Congo and Andy's relationship. I had never thought about that before. Oohh is that ice cream Thomas is eating? I made my way to him and looked at his ice cream with eager eyes Hey man, where did you get that?

Thomas: Pointed at the dining table By the food?

Daniel: I looked at the table and felt my stomach growl Thanks man! I grabbed a plate and scooped some ice cream up on it, it was starting to melt, but still looked very delicious so I quickly started eating while Sparkle finished her song.

Sparkle: Where were you? She looked at me with a small smile and straightened my butterfly

Daniel: I pointed at the empty plate in my hand Was hungry!

Sparkle: I see that she chuckled softly did you save some for me at least? She pushed me behind a corner of the house and kissed me deeply.

Katherine: Sparkle?

Sparkle: Mmm she pulled away quickly I better go… I promised her to help her get the empty bottled inside and drag new ones outside.

Daniel: I nodded and reached her the plate take this one as well.

Sparkle: Daniel!

Daniel: I heard her loud and clear, but pretended I didn't as I walked through the garden fast, I was determined to figure what was going on between Congo and Evan. Yesterday I had found Evan's tshirt in the back of Andy's car, filled with some stains that could only be cum… and then this weird "incident" with Evan slipping in the shower… while… taking a shower with Congo? Things just didn't add up at all. And I was pretty sure they were fucking. I grinned at the thought and laughed to myself

Gizmo: Hey, what you laughing at?

Daniel: Who says I'm laughing? I grinned at him wide

Gizmo: You just did he looked at me with a small glare and chuckled softly

Daniel: I pointed at the sky UFO!

Gizmo: Kept looking at me Not gonna fall for that Daniel.

Daniel: Right I looked around the garden and tried to act casually Have you seen Lenny?

Gizmo: No, I think he went to the bathroom a couple of minutes ago. Why?

Daniel: He owes me something.

Gizmo: What could he possibly owe you?

Daniel: A blowjob.

Gizmo: Chuckled warmly Alright, I guess I should have anticipated that one? Why don't you have a drink with me?

Daniel: Sure! I smiled bright and followed him to the bar that had been sat up in a corner of the garden, observing him as he poured some drinks in two glasses. I frowned a bit at the weird brownish color it turned out to be

Gizmo: Looked contemplating at the glasses Guess I'm not the best at this? Seems I discovered a new species? What shall we call it?

Andy: Jefferson Starships?

Gizmo: He laughed at the Supernatural refferrence… yes even I saw that episode!

Andy: Chuckled hoarse Have you guys seen Evan?

Daniel: Dammit!! That's what I was doing!! Sneaky Gizmo! I glared at both of them suspiciously

Andy: Glared at me with a small chuckle What's your problem?

Daniel: I chuckled softly to myself and pulled my shoulders Nothing? Just in a good mood. I lit a cig and left them, heading fast towards the tv room to look for Evan.

-----Andy's point of view------

Andy: I chuckled hoarse as I looked after Daniel and grabbed the Jefferson Starship He forgot his drink?

Gizmo: Clearly starting to get tipsy was holding the glass of his Jefferson Starship up against the light and frowning as he observed it I'm not sure it's safe to drink them anyway?

Andy: I chuckled hoarse and raised my glass Bottoms up! I swallowed the glass in two big mouthfuls and cringed at the taste Oh god! What was that?!

Gizmo: Shook his head as he finished his Baileys, Kaluah, Rum, and some sort of green liquor I have never seen before!

Andy: Brrrr, there's a thing I never wanna do again!

Gizmo: You and me both! He grabbed a beer and opened it, chucking down about a quarter before handing the bottle to me You better wash your mouth before kissing Congo again… or Evan for that matter.

Andy: I nodded and grabbed the beer, washing half down in one go, burping lightly as I reached the beer back to him So where's Evan anyway I looked over my shoulders but couldn't spot him anywhere Thomas… have you seen Evan?

Thomas: Uh no… I can't say I have he smiled softly and looked around a bit Maybe he went to bed? He was pretty stoned… or maybe he was drunk? He looked a bit questioning and shook his head he was definitely on something when I spoke with him about 15 minutes ago?

Andy: I sighed softly Yeah, I figured. He's not doing too well. I know, even if he doesn't say it out loud. I smiled softly and Daniel as he walked in on the conversation He's pretty nervous about me and Congo leaving. Could I maybe ask you guys to check in on him during the weekend?

Thomas: Yeah, sure. No problem.

Gizmo: Burped softly Yeah man, no problem at all. Whatever you need man.

Daniel: Andy, I can just stay here… I mean, Robert is next door, and you guys are in the next city, it might be better for him if the house is not completely empty?

Andy: I smiled softly and nodded Thank you. That could be really nice.

Daniel: He nodded softly and smiled bright No problem! So where is he anyway?

Andy: I shook my head lightly and frowned I dunno… I'm starting to worry a bit. I guess he went to bed? Tommy says he was pretty stoned or something when he last saw him about 15 minutes ago. So maybe he went to bed?

Daniel: Nope he shook his head I just came from there.

Andy: I looked worried at all of them Could you guys help me find him?

Thomas: Sure, anything you need. But I'm sure he's fine.

Andy: I nodded at Gizmo and Daniel You two go in that direction, Tommy and I will head in this one

------Evan's point of view--------

Evan: I was laying on the grass, looking at the stars. I had no idea how I got here, how long I had been here, or how the hell I had become so high I could barely feel my legs.

Clover: Ahh there you are handsome. I have been looking for you… she was clearly drunk… and knowing Clover, pretty frisky by now. I was thinking… since you're in an open relationship, and clearly not gay, as I have noticed you stare at my boobs more than once today hiccups I thought… that maybe you and I could… I watched as she slowly crawled on top of me, planting a soft kiss on my lips maybe we could finally get to taste each other. We have know each other sooooo many years Evan she bend forwards and licked my sensitive left ear lope, sending chills down my spine Mmmmmm… you taste so good… and I bet you're just as hungry as I am… she ran a hand down my chest, slowly unbuttoning my pants ahhh yess… judging by this… she slipped her hand inside my pants and grabbed my by now half boner you definitely miss a woman I can feel…. and I'm alllll woman darling… so what do you say?

Gizmo: Holy awkward, this is weird!

Evan: I turned my head in almost slow motion and observed Gizmo starring at us with open mouth that spread to a cheeky grin

Gizmo: No I did not just see that! He laughed warmly and slapped his thighs this is good!

Daniel: Observed us with the most goofy grin I have ever seen

Lenny: Hey guys I was thinking he paused as he noticed me and Clover on the ground

Gizmo: Well… this should be great…. really great, and not awkward at all.

Lenny: Looked at him with a small chuckle

Gizmo: Alright… come on tipsy mama, let's go have a dance he grabbed Clovers arm and somehow managed to drag her up from the ground with his noodle arms

Lenny: He kept starring at me even after they had left, and I had already turned my head back to the stars

Daniel: So… Congo AND Clover…. waaaay to go Evan! He chuckled cheekily

Lenny: Suddenly regained his senses and slapped Daniels back head That's enough you goof ball… go find someone else to harass! He chuckled softly as Daniel left, and walked slowly towards me, sitting down next to me Do you have any cigs?

Evan: I grunted softly Right pocket

Lenny: He quickly reached into my pocket and dragged the cigs out Your zipper is open.

Evan: I sighed deeply and zipped my pants, letting my arms fall back into the grass

Lenny: So what's happening?

Evan: I grunted softly

Robert: Oh… I was just looking for you two, may I join you?

Lenny: He looked at me with questioning eyes

Evan: Sure… why not?

Robert: He sat down on the other side of me and stroke my hair gently What's up son?

Evan: Nothing.

Robert: You don't look too good? Did you get too much to drink?

Evan: No. I'm just allergic to the universe. My voice was deep and careless

Robert: He sighed softly Aren't you happy for Congo and Andy?

Evan: Of course I am! I glared at him and reached for my cigs, lighting one

Robert: Then what's wrong?

Evan: I'm in therapy, remember?

Robert: Yes. I know that very well. But you look worse than normal. So tell me, what's wrong. I'm still your dad. Maybe I could be a shoulder to lean on again?

Evan: I sighed deeply I'm sad okay?!

Robert: Yes, I can see that, but why?

Evan: Doesn't matter alright? My voice had switched to irritated

Lenny: Well, it matters to us, son.

Evan: I grunted and took a drag of the cig

Robert: You know, we're only here to help you. We're not trying to annoy you.

Evan: I'm aware of that. But you're fucking annoying anyway!

Robert: He sighed softly

Evan: I'm sorry okay! It's nice of you both you're trying to help, but you can't alright?! So can we just let it go?!

Robert: My guess is, you're happy for Andy and Congo, but at the same time sad they have something you and him never can have. Am I just remotely close?

Evan: 10 points to you.

Robert: Sighed softly Alright, now… please listen to me

Evan: I didn't mean to, I swear, but they bust out on their own. Tears. Followed by a soft sobbing

Robert: Sweetheart he started caressing my hair again, and Lenny quickly handed me a paper towel, I looked at him questioning

Lenny: He shook his head and chuckled softly Katherine cries at weddings.

Evan: I grabbed the towel and wiped my eyes, sighing deeply

Robert: I have been thinking… I know this guy… he used to do weddings… in Vegas. He owes me a couple of favors. Maybe I could convince him to marry you and Andy, even if he's already married?

Evan: No dad… the mate bond.

Robert: Right, but isn't is supposedly unbreakable now that they are already married? Or did I misunderstand?

Lenny: No no, you're definitely on to something there, Robert.

Evan: I sighed deep and took another drag of my cig Can we just please let it go?

Robert: I think it would be worth mentioning to Gaby's family, maybe they could look into..

Evan: DAD!

Robert: Alright alright…

Evan: I sighed deeply and dried my eyes Can you just please bring me some water dad?

Robert: Of course sweetheart he got up slowly and left

Lenny: He smiled softly and padded my shoulder The secret is safe with me. He got up slowly and reached me a hand also the one with Clover…

Evan: I frowned and grabbed his hand, letting him drag me up Yeah… right… I looked around a bit and brushed some dirt of my pants

Lenny: Let's go join the others.

Evan: I forced a small smile and nodded But I had no intention in joining anyone in anything. I was purely heading for the bar.

--------Andy's point of view---------

Andy: It was almost midnight and time to cut the cake. The mood was higher than the Empire state building, and the night was almost over for me and Congo. At the stroke of 12 the limo would be here to pick us up, and drive us to the next city over, to take us to our hotel for the weekend. No one knew. Only the two of us. Well, Evan knew we were gonna leave, but not exactly when. I felt a little bit bad we hadn't gotten to tell him, but he had fallen asleep about an hour ago, on a garden chair, and I just hadn't had the nerves to wake him up. He had been pretty drunk, and not really in the best mood, so I had agreed with myself it was probably for the better to let him sleep it off. I had fully intended to get him to bed, but in all the rush the detail had just been left out. And as we started cutting into the cake, it just simply escaped my mind completely. In the middle of our cake, Congo grabbed my hand and leaned close to my ear, whispering softly

Congo: It's time, my love.

Andy: I smiled happily and locked my fingers with his as we started laughing and running towards the limo, people quickly noticing what was happening, and started to cheer at us, laughing and clapping

Congo: He turned around and paused for a few seconds You're all welcome to stay! Have fun! Drink! Eat! He chuckled happily, and together we ran to the limo, making out and drinking champagne all the way to the hotel, starting the honeymoon the proper honeymoon way.

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

In order of most influence/most changed my life:

Tag the OC who has influenced you the most as their creator or changed your life in some way.

.

[64-jungle-planks]

Night at the Museum: Redesigning Characters 1/4(?)

Character profile: Frank "Noses" Capone

This character is based off of and takes inspiration from the historical Frank Capone.

Real Name: Salvatore "Frank" Capone

Nickname and Meaning: Noses - He got this nickname from being inquisitive and being unafraid to stick his nose into other people's business, even if it gets him into trouble.

Age: 28 (July 16, 1895)

Time Period: Frank is from America's Prohibition in the 1920s, to be exact, hes from April 1st, 1924 Chicago, just before he and a group of Mafioso's went to the polling station near the Western Electric Hawthorn plant.

Family: James "Jimmy" Vincenzo Capone, Raffaele "Ralph" James Capone, and Alphonse "Al" Gabriel Capone + Three younger brothers and one sister that wasn't brought back.

(Headcanons under the cut)

Based on/taken from History:

involved in the Five Points Gang with mobster John Torrio as a kid

Rumored to be queer because he never had an open interest in women/having sex with women like his brothers

Had a kid??? But then took it away from his fiancé??

Nickname was Noses?

Smartest of the eldest Capones

Killed when 70 plain clothes police officers arrived at W 22nd St & S Cicero Ave, Cicero, IL 60804 on April 1st, 1924. He didn’t have time to pull his gun out and was shot so many times, two other bystanders were killed/injured

described as mild-mannered, intelligent and immaculately-dressed

Thought to have ordered 500 deaths since joining the Chicago outfit (1919-1921 to 1924)

“you never get no talk back from a corpse”

+ Intelligent + Social + Hard-working - Quick to anger - Unstable moods

My own silly headcanons:

Can be level-headed, but usually his anger gets the best of him.

His presence calms Al down a lot. His brother really loves him and missed Frank. Frank reminds Al of simpler times when they’d run errands for their old boss Torrio… now Al’s boss.

Represented by clover/clubs. The club symbol represents the summer season and the earth element. The club suit in cards indicates youth, a phase when a person focuses on education, and recklessness.

Frank has matching pins with Al, Jimmy, and Ralph, each brother taking a playing card suit. The brothers made them together with old scrap metal they found in the Navy yard.

Sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong. He likes putting himself in the middle of gossip circles. When he’s not purposefully antagonizing Napoleon to get a reaction, they get along really well because of this.

Wiggles his nose when he thinks hard

Tallest of the Capone brothers (6’1)

Broken out of the museum in search of the closest liquor store out of pure boredom. They tried to pay with greyscale $50s and promptly got kicked out.

A little bit of a sadist.

Gets very violent when he’s upset and enjoys it. Frank doesn’t usually feel bad about his previous actions

Frank: My furby died in my arms when I was a child Ivan: I’m sorry to hear that..? Frank, grinning and joking slightly: Don’t be. I’ve never felt more like a god.

He’d be on Booktok

Like his brothers, Frank will flirt with anyone. Unlike his brothers, Frank is mostly doing it to tease and have fun.

Sucker for hallmark movies

Jerma vibes

His ears turn red when he lies (credit to @frombottlealleytotheharbor for this one)

Frank’s Tommy is a replica whereas his Smith & Wesson Model 10 is from a photo/cutout. His Tommy doesn’t work at all, but his handgun can- he just doesn’t have any bullets.

The Model 10 is named Peggy and the Tommy is Doll

….. don’t call him Frankie unless your family.

Jimmy Consentini belongs to @all-yn-oween. I had to draw him and Frank together because (I think) they both have two-piece suits.

Plain clothes Napoleon is inspired by this and something I have scheduled.

Al, Ralph, Napoleon

[melanieexox]

GHOSTS (US) | Whodunnit: ‘1920s costumes in the flashbacks‘, requested by @the-princess-of-cats

[princessesaphi]

J'ai lancé ce challenge en avril... Et je l'ai fini en avril aussi, j'ai juste oublié de le poster... ^^"

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

In no particular order

tag the oc who loves chocolate

[mllenugget]

J'ai dit je ferais pas plus de contenu sur cet AU j'ai menti

Marcello, les maths ahah Comme disait mon père : les blagues les plus courtes sont les plus courtes

[spottys-rathole]

Cool ass animation made by cool ass friend please click on the liiiinnk

[forevercillianmurphy]

the sparkling capone x tommy shelby series.

part 1/ ?

beatrice 'bea' or 'bee' angelina capone, was born on november 30th, 1900 to gabriel and teresina copone, only one year after her older brother al capone was born. she grew up in new york majority of her life before al took his kid sister (and Irish twin) and himself to the second city, chicago where he begun his journey of dealings and life of crime.

my own storyline/timeline for actual capone history and peaky blinders. takes place between 1923 and 1924.

age gap series.

warnings: swearing.

word count: 4.2K

italicized is Italian.

a fact-paced story that takes place over a year, with time jumps.

faceclaims: young lily james as beatrice, dylan obrien as gio, zoey deutch as marissa and jacob eldori as marco.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

december, 1923.

beatrice looked at the port in this shit hole of place, birmingham her brother had asked her to go visit. apparently, he wanted to work with some folks over here and because he couldn't leave chicago at that very moment, he sent her. she was the second in command, and had more brains than he did; though he would never admit. joined by her cousin, gio and longtime friend of her and her brother, marco. she sighed looking down at the ground, heel propped and silently cursing her brother for this job. she'd somehow be undermining the current operations here in birmingham that were run by a group called, the peaky blinders. supposedly she'd get the guys they were working with to work with her brother instead, somehow someway he said. whatever it takes, and that even meant killing a person if it meant that he'd get the connections.

it was just a week ago when he sat beatrice down in his chicago office, letting her know the assignment her had for her. she quickly turned it down, but he held up one finger to let him finish. she sighed, rolling down further in the plush chair and continued to listen to what he had to say. she agreed, reluctantly. "who will be accompanying me?" she questioned, knowing he'd never want danger to come to her. how ironic that statement is. gio agreed the moment al had come to him, and then marco his longtime friend and confidant agreed quickly as well. marco had always looked out for the girl, maybe a little too much sometimes. they had shared some nights together when al was away tending to business, but it never led to anything else. she would not allow it, and she knew he'd be killed by the hands of her brother if he'd found out. either frank or al, it did not matter. the three of them boarded a boat in new york and sailed 9 days before arriving to london, and then drove to this dump beatrice called it. "remind me to kill al when i get back." she huffed, as the three walked back towards their rented car. marco chuckled while gio agreed, he couldn't believe al had tricked him this badly. the three drove into town just a bit, looking for their hotel. "lets stop there." she said pointing at a bar or pub. she was not sure what they called it here. gio nodded, pulling up across the street to a place called, 'the garrison.' marco got out first, placing a hand out for beatrice who took it. she stood up, and began to look around. brick lined streets, dirty walls of homes flooded her vision. she looked towards her right to see a man watching the three while smoking a cigarette. gio eyed the man as he got out, and marco led the girl over. she took in the smell of this city and could not wait to be back in chicago.

hopefully, sooner rather than later.

marco walked in first, looking around before signaling to beatrice that she could walk in. as if she was royalty or had notoriety. she swallowed hard before stepping into the place with confidence and swagger, as if she already owned the place. marco led her to table to the side, while gio walked behind them. as soon as she sat she for a moment before letting them know what she wanted, "just the usual." she said not thinking anything of it. however, the usual wasn't a drink here. she giggled, and asked for vodka instead. she watched as gio went to go fetch the three's drinks, and marco sat down still checking everybody out; nonchalantley. "marco...you can relax for a minute." she said touching his arm softly. "not when you have a group of people staring at you." he said and she shyly looked towards the bar and saw a group of people staring.

those must be them, she thought.

gio was walking towards the two when she looked away. she took the vodka and sipped it sparingly. gio lit a cigar, and she pushed his shoulder to give her a puff. he rolled his eyes as she took off her coat, and took it from him. thomas shelby had never seen anything more attractive, in his 33 years on this earth. the utmost power she held over those 2 was incredible. she took one last puff before giving it back to gio, and she sat back in her chair and closed her eyes for a few seconds. "ill be back, I'm going to make a phone call." marco said and she nodded. she knew he was going to make a phone call to london where the capones had a trusted business partner, who then would send word that the three had made it. beatrice clicked her tongue, taking another sip of her drink. her face scrunched with disgust, "they really need some better vodka here." she said and gio laughed heartedly. a blonde woman walked by asking if they wanted more and beatrice thought for a minute before gio began to hit on the woman. beatrice hit the back of his head, cleanly and sharply. causing arthur and michael to snicker. she took the cigar back and apologized to the barmaid, "i do apologize for my cousin. he clearly doesn't get any attention from the ladies." she said and the barmaid softly smiled at the girl. "but may i have something better than whatever this is." she said shoving the cup to the woman.

the woman took back what she had just thought, and sighed. another entitled girl she thought, but grace smiled and turned back to get the drinks. gio mumbled, and beatrice hit him once again in the head. "ow!" he whimpered, looking back at her. "don't make me shove you out of that chair giovanni!" she warned and he sighed turning around. she had had all the capone boys near and far wrapped around her finger for the last 2 decades. marco walked back into view, and Beatrice watched from the moment he did so. he walked across the bar, and he caught her eye. the two softly smiled at one another, blushing like fools. she breathed in the cigar once more before handing it back to gio. the barmaid came back with the drinks, and she stood there making sure they were fine. or rather, the snooty tastebuds the girl possessed. irish whiskey, she tasted. her blood boiled. marco and gio saw the look on her face, and chuckled. "irish. whiskey." the capone darkly seethed, before standing up. she took ahold of her jacket, threw it on and began her saunter out. the peaky blinders behind the bar were silently outraged at how disrespectful the three were being. well the one in particular.. the young capone. though, thomas found it somewhat amusing

"we'll be outside." gio said to marco who nodded, and she was outside taking in the cold air that hit her quickly. "irish fucking whiskey." she chastised causing gio to just laugh. "lets just get back, and get a long night rest." she said and he nodded, helping her into the bentley. marco walked out, and jogged over to the car after paying the bill. "all good?" she questioned as he sat next to her. he nodded, and gio started the ride to the other end of the city. back at the garrison, they shut it down and had a family meeting. they had no idea who these three were but from the looks of it (and sound) they were american, entitled and, had money. loads of it. marco threw down a 100 dollar bill and walked out. they were all curious on where they got that money from. - - "when she had the whiskey...it was like something snapped in her. like she was appalled and disgusted by it being Irish." grace said to the group who just nodded. "let me call my contact in london and see if he knows anything." tommy said thinking. "i don't know if that's a good thing or not since lover boy here has been transfixed since she took the cigar from the dude." john joked causing michael to his cousin. the two pushed each other a few times, "oi! we are not doing anything stupid lads. hear me?" tommy said with the utmost authority. everybody nodded and they dispanded for the evening.

ꕥ

bea woke up the next morning, groggy and itching to get out of the uncomfortable bed. she sighed, throwing on her silk robe and walked out into the tea room she stopped when she saw marco already sitting there with a newspaper and coffee. "coffee?" she questioned and he nodded, smirking as he knew her love and adoration for the dark drink. "i thought they only had tea here." she said remembering how worried she was of not getting caffeine overseas. "do you think your brother would send you some place without coffee? god bless that place if he did." he teased and she rolled her eyes, pulling up her feet to sit pretzel-styled. she sipped her coffee in peace, as she felt marco staring. "listen bud, you cant keep looking at me and not expect me to hit you." she teased, opening one eye and catching his. "does...does gio suspect anything?" macro asked after a minute had passed. she shrugged, "if he did, as ironic as it is he is too much of a gentleman to say a word. especially to al or frank." she said and he nodded. "he just wants me to be happy, that's all. i mean we've always seen each other as siblings so i trust him in that regards to not fuck up my life." she breathed. marco leaned across and took hold of one of her hands and brought it in his, and she smiled down at it. during her 23 years on this earth, al and frank had had a way with whom she liked. through small acts of behavior (not always violence), words that haunted the men she went out on dates with, and the promise that they'd ruin their lives if they hurt bea. she wanted this thing to be strong with marco before she went and told her brothers because she knew if she did not do it at the right moment; their relationship would be history and she'd be back in her ivory tower. never able to leave.

they unclasped their hands as they heard gio's door open, and bea eyed her cousin as he poured a cup of coffee for himself. "yknow if you all want privacy just tell me, i will sleep outside." he said and she nearly spit her coffee out. "excuse me?" she said eyeing her cousin, wide-eyed now. "if you want some time together, let me know so i don't have to blow my brains out." he said non chalantly. marco just laughed and bea rolled her eyes; cringing. "come on, i'm not an idiot." he paused as bea laughed loudly. "ok maybe i am just a bit but I've been with you two for what, 2 weeks now? i know y'all have a thing, just don't hurt her or i swear to god." he said turning to macro seriously. bea tried to hide her blushing and face behind her hands before macro pulled them away and kissed her proudly. "oh god." she said pushing him away, teasingly. "leave me alone!" she said hopping up and jogging away from marco. she left the two there and decided she might as well dress before going to the seamstress she'd planned to get information from. she put on her light purple dress, with her iconic black wool coat tied together with a gold bag. "boys, are you ready yet?" she asked as she walked into the tea room. the two nodded walking out, with marco smiling widely as he looked at her. "no no, we have to go." she said walking out of the large hotel suite with gio.

ꕥ

bea stood in the middle of the room with the seamstress, polly she had been told was her name. "so where does one yank like you, come from?" polly asked and bea smiled, "a far, far place from here." bea said not wanting to reveal too much. "you have a accent i cant quite decipher." polly said wanting to know more. bea knew what she was getting at, "i am originally from new york so you could say i picked up the accent there." she said acting as if she was dumb. cheeky girl, polly thought. "are you the only child?" polly asked looking up at bea. she sensed a change in the young blonde. "sometimes i feel as though i am, and other times i wish i were." bea said somewhat sadly before perking up again. she loved her brothers, but what they were doing was not for the faint of heart. her family had been torn apart when al took her and frank to chicago, and never allowed her to look back. he wanted to give her everything their parents could never give. he wanted to keep her safe from the hands of those that just wanted to take advantage of her and get even with her brothers. it had its obvious drawbacks, isolation, anxiety, and brothers who were gone more often than not. "so how did a flower like you end up here?" she questioned bea. bea cleared her throat, "a new beginning, a place to make a name for myself." and my family she did not say. after this 'operation' she'd have a bigger role back in chicago and that meant she could possibly start her new life and role in los angeles, like she'd always yearned for. bea eyed herself in the mirror, throwing the infamous capone glare through the mirror at herself.

awhile later, she was walking out of pollys shop. she thanked polly and told her that one of her two men would be around to get her outfits the following week. "have a wonderful afternoon." bea said respectfully before turning around to marco and gio. she heard some laughing coming from her right, and saw two guys she had seen last night. the one's that had laughed after she hit gio in the back of the head. "lets get going." marco said taking her hand and helping her in the car. michael and arthur eyed the three as they got in and drove off. they quickly walked into pol's to get information. "she didn't say much, i know there's more there." she said taking a long breathe of the cigarette. "you tellin tommy?" arthur asked and polly looked at him like he was dumb. "shes a peculiar yank sounds Italian- immigrated Italian." polly said and the two boys nodded. "and we all know where the italians went." she said referencing ellis island in new york. "well if she's Italian we ought to get rid of her right?"arthur said and polly shrugged. "she may not be a threat but tommy will make that decision." polly said walking towards the back.

ꕥ

marco walked in with bea as gio pushed them out the door, saying they needed a proper date. so the two walked into an upscale restaurant, and as soon as they did people look towards them speaking in hushed tones. the host walked them to their table which was conveniently located to the right of the shelbys table. with michael and tommy having a clear view of them. the waiter walked up with water and asked them for drinks, "may we have a bottle of your finest champagne?" marco asked. "any special occasion?" the waiter asked and the two looked at one another unsure of what to say, "first date." marco sheepishly said causing bea to blush. "congratulations, i will be right back!" the waiter said and bea tapped her hand against his, and he just laughed in response. she shrugged off her coat and the waiter came back in time to take it from her. "thankyou." she said and she took the champagne fluke in exchange, hitting hers with his. "here's to freedom!" he said softly, "here's to taking chances." she smiled and they sipped their bubbly drink. "what did the guy say in london?" she questioned and marco set his fluke down. "just said that he'd relay the message as soon as he could. apparently, your brother left the city." he said and her eyes widened. "seriously?" she questioned and he nodded. "didn't he i don't know just get it?" she whispered, referencing the position he just made on a situation on the northside of chicago. the irish land. she sighed, rolling her eyes. "he's gonna get himself killed, marco. fucking Irish are going to kill him." she said worrying. the tensions between the southside and northside at the moment were tense. everyday there was a threat that the Irish gang was going to storm their humble abode and shoot him in the night. al even feared it at times, though would then drown himself with alcohol and cigars. marco took hold of her hand and rubbed her thumb, "if anybody can escape death its your brother." he said knowingly, but it still didn't make her feel better. she turned to look to the right of her and saw the group from last night. as well as the woman from that afternoon.

she looked back towards marco and pulled her hand away from his, feeling nervous. "marco- I'm about to start speaking in Italian." she said and he was confused. "there's people listening to us." she said, and he knew who it was. "that woman i was with today is at their table." bea added and marco nodded. "is it true, he's sending more men this way from london?" she questioned marco and marco nodded. her brothers were sending trucks of men to help out this operation and keep her safe. she sat back in her seat, trying to figure out what to say next. she had a lot on her mind, like they had been since al pushed her into this operation. "he's going to be the death of me, marco. the death of me." she said in english, sighing as she did so. the two spent the rest of the evening talking about anything but al and the family business. marco also told her that he'd be visiting poland in the upcoming weeks after new years to talk to some vodka people out there. she did not like hearing that but she knew he had no choice, what al says; goes.

later on in the evening, as the two were just finishing their meals the waiter came over with two glasses of pure irish whiskey. their eyebrows knit in confusion until he pointed over towards the group of shelbys. tommy raised his glass of whiskey ever so slightly, staring at the young capone. she gave him her fake and famous beatrice capone smile. the one that dazzled everyone she came in contact with. tommy's heart raced. she chugged it down in one go, setting it back down and then looking towards the shelbys once more. she smiled, before standing back up and taking her coat from the waiter. "thankyou." she said before marco followed her out with a hand on her back.

"fucking italian scum." tommy thought, downing the rest of his whiskey.

ꕥ

it was two days later when anybody saw the young capone on the streets, after the trucks of men came through she would be able to start the operation. she had eyes and ears in factories, distillaries and pretty much all business across the city. beatrice and gio were walking down the street, minding their business as they were not too far from the cafe they had heard served coffee. just her luck, her hat flew off behind her as a huge gush of cold air hit the two midwesterners. she cursed loudly before turning around to come eye to eye with a blue eyed man. her blue eyes pierced into his soul, like he was made of glass. gio didn't like them staring at one another, so he snatched her hat from the hands of a peaky blinder. bea raised her hand and gio flinched. she snatched her hat back, and gio sighed walking a few feet away. she watched him until he was at a certain length and she turned back to the nicely dressed blue eyed man. "thankyou, for getting my hat. i apologize about my cousin. he's a menace to society." she said tucking some hair behind her ear. he waved him off, "the names michael gray." he said holding out his hand. she eyed him curiously before shaking his, "bee monroe." she said giving him a childhood nickname and her alias. "bee." he said almost mesmerized. she took her hand away and slipped her hat back on, "stay warm out here. you'll catch a cold." she said a matter of factly before smiling and walking towards her cousin. tommy stood there watching them walk into the cafe before heading off to pol's house.

"i got her name!" michael said walking into the house, not realizing tommy was there with arthur. tommy quirked an eyebrow, "her name is bee." michael said and arthur sighed. "first name, last name michael. we've been over this how many times?" arthur said as john laughed from the kitchen. tommy sat their drinking his earl grey tea. "no no arthur, bee is good. beatrice is her name." he said. "beatrice is her first name, shes called bea or bee though." tommy said confirming what he overheard at dinner the two nights before and at the bar. whoever she was with called her those three names. "she was with her cousin but she didn't say his name." michael added and tommy nodded. "are we gonna talk about this or the number of guys that just so happened to show up when she did?" arthur questioned and tommy sighed. "i was just getting to that." he said tensely. "apparently the woman you fancy, has an ulterior motive to being here and of course we are going to get to the bottom of it." arthur explained and tommy tensed softly. he had a sneaky suspicion on why she was here but there was seriously no way she'd be involved in something sketchy. "i know what your thinking michael, its true. my contact in london already confirming." tommy said setting his now empty tea cup down, trying to convince himself. "oi sit down and no more business talk!" polly said coming in and shoving her son towards the empty seat.

ꕥ

bea and gio sat across from each other in the cafe, laughing and chatting about life and childhood memories. the two hadn't had some time with each other in months, with all the running around gio was doing for her brothers. "please tell me that one day you'll get out." she said seriously swirling her coffee. he sighed, "gio please." she said leaning forward and grabbing his hand. "you know your mother would have wanted that for you. to make a life of your own, away from the capones." she said softly and he nodded. "i know i know, once this job is over I'm gone. i'm heading someplace warm." he smiled and that made bea happy. she took her hand away and looked down and that's when she heard shouting. but not directed towards her but a group of men were going in on one of her men that her brother hired. her head shot up, looking at gio. "lets go!"" gio" he said not wanting to be caught in the middle of this. gio took ahold of bea's hand and they ran off the way the way they had come from. shots rang out and that made bea stop in her tracks. "bea we have to go, they cant know." gio said grabbing and then pulling her further and further towards the hotel. the guys that shot her men walked out and shot twice into the air, causing bea and others to scream. the two continued to run, their hearts beating fast. the shelbys heard the gunshot down the road and they stood up. they came outside after the next two rang out. bea and gio continued to walk back towards the hotel along with other patrons, with bea panicking at the situation. gio had an arm around her middle back, pushing her to keep walking. tommy walked out in front of pol's residence and just as luck would have it, bea and gio walking past. bea held onto gio, shaken.

out of all the years she worked with her brothers, she'd never been remotely close to the scene of the crime after she witnessed one back on new york. they made very sure to keep her away. tommy caught eye of the girl and watched as she walked with her cousin. polly eyed him from behind, smirking just a little bit. tommy of course then going into cleanup mode. as soon as gio and bea made it back to the hotel, she clung to marco with gio explaining what had happened. marco and her laid in her bed, as he rubbed her back trying to soothe her thoughts as she stared at the dresser. gio sent word back through a trusted wales associate. bea could not fathom how her brothers could live this life and continue to go on like nothing happened. bea turned towards marco and cuddled into him, unsure if she could leave his side again in brimingham.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

i know i know, there was not a lot but this is just setting up the tension and high stakes !!!

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

In order of creation:

Which OCs were created over ten years ago?

[aunti-christ-ine]

92 years ago today 📰

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

Finally managed to get Thomas right, and what a mess he was before this! I am finally quite pleased with how he turned out, so I'm settling with this, though Thomas is a bit less pretty in my imagination of him. But oh well.

[thebutcher-5]

L'infernale Quinlan

Benvenuti o bentornati sul nostro blog. Nello scorso articolo abbiamo deciso di cambiare nuovamente argomento e passare al mondo della letteratura con un libro recente che mi ha profondamente sorpreso, Piranesi di Susanna Clarke. Piranesi è un uomo che vive nella Casa, un luogo immenso, composto da innumerevoli saloni, vestiboli e con un grande numero di Statue, tutte differenti tra loro. Lui…

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

In order of addiction degree.

tag the oc that has a caffeine addiction

[queenshelby]

Forbidden Desire (Part Eleven)

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x Reader (Female/Incestuous)

Warnings: Incest (at this stage accidental), Age Gap, PTSD, Domestic Abuse, Self-Harm, Fluff, Smut

After the earth-shattering revelation that Thomas Shelby was your long-lost uncle, your world was turned upside down. The truth weighed heavily upon your shoulders, casting a dark cloud of desire and forbidden love that enveloped your every thought.

Yearning for a real father figure and a sense of belonging, you found solace in Arthur's attempts to embrace you as his own. Yet, deep within, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions tugged at your heart. The news of Arthur being your father was a bitter pill to swallow, especially as you had already fallen under the spell of Thomas. Despite the twisted nature of your newfound familial ties, an undeniable thrill coursed through your veins at the mere thought of him.

Polly, ever perceptive, was aware of your forbidden desires. In due course, she orchestrated your induction into the Shelby Family, much to your mother's displeasure. In the midst of a family gathering, you were welcomed as an equal, officially cementing your place within the Shelby clan.

Within weeks, Polly took you under her wing, unveiling the intricacies of the Shelby name. She showed you how to navigate the treacherous waters of their empire, providing you with the tools to forge your own path. In her tutelage, you learned the art of negotiation and gained the confidence to command respect from those who once stood above you. Your transformation did not go unnoticed, as your newfound assertiveness radiated like a beacon.

Linda, resentful of Arthur for allowing your rise within the Shelby Company Limited, would often remark, "You truly are a Shelby." In the bustling office, you commanded attention with your sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude. Even the other Peaky Blinders marvelled at your ability to tackle any challenge that crossed your path. Your formidable uncle, Tommy, couldn't help but be drawn to this "new you."

"I see you've settled right in, taking charge like a true fucking Shelby," Tommy proclaimed proudly upon his return from the United States, where he had forged an alliance with Al Capone.

A mischievous twinkle danced in your eyes as you replied, "Indeed, Tommy," fully aware of the captivating presence you now possessed. Tommy's gaze lingered upon you, unable to tear himself away from the magnetic force you had become.

As such, his desire for you quickly resurfaced when he returned to the office after you had last seen him three weeks ago, and this desire was now becoming stronger with each day.

Your desire for your newfound uncle, however, had never really been extinguished even though, deep down, you knew that this forbidden infatuation could never be. The more you tried to fight it, the harder it seemed to resist.

Now that he was back in Birmingham, this was going to be problematic, and you could not help but tease him, making sure that he knew that you still did not care about the fact that he was your uncle.

Thus, one day, as you were engrossed in analysing some financial documents, you became aware of a pair of intense eyes fixed upon you. Raising your gaze, you caught Thomas giving you that infamous Shelby smirk, glimmering with a mixture of admiration and something darker.

"Enjoying the view, Tommy?" you quipped, unable to resist the temptation of toying with your uncle and letting him know that you knew he was watching you. After all, power breeds confidence, and confidence tempts fate.

Thomas leaned against the door frame, his voice dripping with the perfect blend of arrogance and desire. "The view is quite remarkable indeed, but it's not the scenery that has captured my attention, Love," he mused, and the air between you crackled with an intoxicating mix of tension and attraction.

“I didn’t think it was, uncle,” you teased and little did you realise just how deeply Tommy still desired you, his thoughts consumed by the forbidden possibilities.

***

As days turned into weeks, though, the flirtation between you and your uncle escalated. The stolen glances, lingering touches, and suggestive banter left a trail of electric anticipation in the air.

However, Tommy, consumed by his position and familial responsibilities, fought tooth and nail to keep the burgeoning attraction at bay. He knew all too well the dangers of allowing desires to steer his course, especially when they involved his own flesh and blood.

Reminding yourself of the bond you shared as a family, you tried to suppress the growing feelings within you as well. This was a line that should never be crossed again, no matter how tempting it may be.

One evening, though, as the sun dipped below the Birmingham skyline, you found yourself alone with your uncle in his dimly lit office. The cogs of desire turned ceaselessly in both of your minds, threatening to break free from their self-imposed restraints.

"You know damn well what you're doing to me, don't you Love?" Tommy whispered his voice a low growl that sent shivers down your spine.

“I do, Thomas and I am enjoying it. You were the first man I have ever slept with, and I most certainly don’t have any regrets, even after finding out that we are related,” you smirked before a moment of tense silence hung heavy in the air like a thick fog, the unspoken truth lingering between you. The forbidden fruit was tantalisingly close, the taste both bitter and alluring.

“But, I respect your decision. I know how important the elections are for the company, and I also know how important you are to this family of which I am now part. So, I won’t stand in your way,” you reassured your uncle, your voice filled with a mixture of admiration and apprehension. The weight of the upcoming elections for the company and the significance of your role as a member of this esteemed family was not lost on you. You knew that your uncle's leadership was crucial, and you didn't want to impede his progress.

As he stepped closer, his presence enveloped you, and you could feel the warmth of his breath against your skin. It sent shivers down your spine, igniting a desire that surged through your veins. The intensity of your emotions was almost overwhelming, but you managed to maintain your composure.

His response was immediate, his voice dripping with an intoxicating blend of passion and confidence. "You could never stand in my way, Love," Tommy declared, his gaze locked with yours. It was as if time stood still at that moment, and you couldn't help but feel a wave of vulnerability wash over you.

A shy smile played on your lips as you absorbed his words. "No?" you whispered, your voice barely audible. Tommy's hand gently caressed your face, his touch both tender and possessive.

"No, never," he assured you, his smile radiant as he pulled away slightly. He seemed to savour the tension between you, revelling in the unspoken connection that bound you together. "I have a gift for you," he revealed, his voice filled with anticipation.

With a delicate flourish, he presented you with a beautifully wrapped parcel. The vibrant green satin dress nestled within shimmered in the soft glow of the room. Its luxurious fabric seemed to come alive, whispering promises of elegance and allure. It was a testament to the exquisite taste and attention to detail that Tommy possessed.

You couldn't help but be captivated by the dress, its beauty mirroring the complexity of your emotions. It symbolised the delicate balance between duty and desire, representing the choices you were faced with in this intricate dance of power and love.

"Before I knew that you were my niece, I had something special planned for your birthday. This no longer seems appropriate now as it involved a date at the pictures and several hours of fucking. But I wanted you to have this dress anyway, as it was custom-made for you. It should fit you perfectly, and perhaps you could wear it at your birthday party next week,” Tommy exclaimed, hearted.

The beauty of the dress filled you with conflicted emotions - gratitude, desire, and a tinge of sadness. You couldn't ignore the fact that Thomas had desired you before discovering your blood connection. It was a bittersweet gift, a reminder of the love that could never be.

***

The day of your birthday had finally arrived, and Polly spared no expense in hosting a lavish celebration for their newest member. Arrow House was adorned with twinkling lights and fragrant roses, the grandeur of the occasion evident in every glittering detail.

As you walked down the sweeping staircase adorned in the green satin dress gifted to you by your own uncle, the room fell silent. All eyes were on you, the long-lost daughter of Arthur Shelby, now officially welcomed into the Shelby Family.

The dress clung to your curves, accentuating every tantalising inch of you. Thomas, unable to resist the sight before him, felt his desire for you intensify with each step you took. It was as if the very air around him crackled with a forbidden energy.

He couldn't tear his gaze away, mesmerised by your beauty. He cursed himself for the wicked thoughts that danced through his mind, yearning to touch and taste what he knew he could never have again.

The music swirled through the room, a melody of voices and laughter, yet all Thomas could hear was the pounding of his own heart, a wild beat that threatened to expose his desires to the world.

In a quiet corner of Arrow House, beneath a veil of shadows, you mustered the courage to approach Tommy to thank him for his generous gift. The ache within you had become unbearable, the desire to kiss him consuming your every thought.

“Thank you for the dress,” you told him almost shyly as his penetrating gaze met yours, and you could see the struggle in his eyes.

“You are welcome, Love,” Tommy responded as he looked at you, desire mixed with guilt, creating a tempestuous storm within his troubled soul.

"You look stunning in it, just as I had anticipated,” he whispered, his voice tinged with need. It was a dangerous game he was playing, his words a tantalising invitation into the forbidden depths of his desires.

Lizzie Stark, who had harboured affection for Thomas for years and who was carrying his child, watched your interaction with a mix of envy and resentment. The rivalry between you and Lizzie had always existed, but now it had become intertwined with the complex tapestry of desire and blood that bound Thomas to you.

She knew about past intimacy between you and Tommy and thought that all of this was in the past now that you were part of the family.

“Lizzie is clearly still worried about you and me,” you smirked, causing Tommy to chuckle as you both noticed her eyes on you.

“Well, Lizzie has always had a dislike for women I am associating myself with, and you are clearly no exception,” Tommy acknowledged, causing you to laugh.

“But you are not associating yourself with me anymore. She, of all persons, should know that now that she reminds me of our family bond every day, referring to you as my fucking uncle,” you said with some annoyance in your voice, causing Tommy to chuckle.

“Does she now?” Tommy chuckled, causing you to nod.

“Yes, Uncle Tommy. She does. And perhaps you should have a word with her about it and tell her to stop being so pitiful,” you told Tommy before you beckoned him with a mischievous smile.

“Now come, I need to show you something,” you then told your uncle before leading him upstairs to one of the guestrooms in Arrow House, and as Tommy followed you silently, desire burned hot between you, pulsating with a fierce urgency.

“Show me what, Love?” Tommy ought to enquire as, confidently, you pulled him into the empty room before, in the dimly lit corner, you pressed your lips against his with a passionate fervour, your hands exploring his body with a mixture of longing and desperation.

It was a kiss laden with desperation, a passionate struggle against the convictions that threatened to tear you apart. For a fleeting moment, nothing else mattered, and the world outside that room ceased to exist.

But just as quickly as it had begun, Thomas pulled away, his face a maelstrom of regret and self-reproach. "No," he said, his voice ragged and filled with torment.

His grip on your shoulders tightened as he tried to find the words. "Y/N, I am your fucking uncle,” he said, his voice thick with anguish. It was a reminder that echoed through your mind, a harsh reality that threatened to shatter the fragile illusion of forbidden love.

“Yes, I know, but it is also my birthday, and I am already drunk on the champagne,” you told him, realising once again how much you still loved him as, in your eyes, disappointment mingled with frustration.

Thomas looked torn, his resolve waning under the weight of his desires. But his sense of duty fought fiercely against the raw passion that had entwined your souls. It was a battle for his moral compass, and he knew it would forever change the dynamic of the family if he surrendered to temptation.

"I can't Love. It's not just about us. It's about my fucking reputation, the elections, and everything that holds our family together, and you fucking know that, don’t you, eh" he repeated again, using the same words that he used on you two weeks ago. His voice was heavy with self-restraint. His eyes bore into yours, an unspoken promise of love and longing, even as he denied himself the pleasure of surrendering.

The corner was filled with unspoken words, thick with regret and longing. The world faded away, leaving only the two of you caught in a web of desire and familial ties. The room buzzed with excitement, oblivious to the intricate dance of passion being performed in that secluded space.

Frustration coiled within you, growing with each passing second. The truth of your blood connection was like a spectre haunting your every thought. The intensity and complexity of your feelings made it difficult to see beyond the throbbing ache in your heart.

Thomas abruptly stepped back, creating distance between you as he battled conflicting emotions. He turned away, his jaw clenching with determination. "I'm sorry. I should've never allowed it to go this far," he said, his voice heavy with self-loathing, not even realising that you both were being watched.

Without another word, Thomas walked away, leaving you standing there, trembling with a potent mix of desire, frustration, and heartbreak. He walked toward the door, his footsteps weighted with regret.

As he turned the doorknob, you couldn't hold back the desperation in your voice. "Thomas, please... don't leave me here. Not like this, on my fucking birthday,” you begged, and Thomas froze at the threshold, his resolve wavering for a precious moment. His eyes were lost in a tempest of conflicting emotions. But then, with a final sigh, he stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, leaving you alone in the room, your heart shattered.

Tears streamed down your face as you collapsed onto the bed, the weight of the forbidden desire crushing you. You wondered if you could ever find a way to navigate this treacherous path, one that defied both morality and convention.

Unbeknownst to you, as you lay broken and defeated, Thomas stood at the end of the hallway. His fists clenched, his features twisted in anguish. The battle within him waged on, torn between the love he knew was wrong and the restraint he knew was correct.

Lying there, adrift in a sea of despair, you wondered how it had come to this. How had fate forged such an intricate web, weaving together desire, longing, and the damning truth of your shared blood?

You felt like you had been short-changed by life, and after wiping away your tears, you, too, put on a solid face to return to the party downstairs.

Lizzie Stark, her eyes filled with triumph and pity, brushed past you on your way down to the ballroom, her voice barely concealing her smug satisfaction. "Tommy will never truly be yours. Blood is thicker than desire,” she barked, and you resisted the urge to confront Lizzie, unable to find the words to refute her taunts.

The weight of Thomas's rejection bore down on you, suffocating your spirit and casting a dark cloud over the extravagant celebration that had once held so much promise.

As you meandered through the festivities, your mind raced with thoughts of escape. Perhaps leaving Birmingham was the only way to mend your shattered heart. But even as you entertained the notion, a part of you clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, love could conquer all in the end until, somewhat suddenly, you were approached by a man you had not met before. His name was Liam O’Connor, and he was the newest member of the Peaky Blinders. Handsome, tall and dangerous.

[sl-newsie]

American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 27: All In The Same Basket

Masterlist: https://www.tumblr.com/sl-newsie/739551758747090944/american-woman-thomas-shelby-x-american-oc?source=share

Thud.

The door shuts and footsteps approach me. Thomas hasn’t been home all night and I don’t think twice about what happened. That bloody bastard. Of course he slept with her! May isn’t enough so he’s desperate enough to have a married woman! Perdition surely waits for him now.

“Morning,” I greet lightly when he walks in, bitterness hidden beneath. “Have some eggs.”

He looks even happier now. If I feel awful it’s my fault alone. I’m the one chaining myself to this, not him. 

“Do you plan to tell May?”

It’s asked so simply yet held with so much emotion. Thomas doesn’t ask how I know. 

“I do. I won’t string her hopes out.”

“At least you have the decency to do that,” I mutter.

“Grace mentioned New York,” Thomas says and I can tell what he’s thinking. “Said something about the people in Brooklyn being less friendly than the others. Know anything about that?”

I huff and all but throw the frying pan into the dish water. “No offense Thomas, but I do not bring my work home with me. I do not want your problems following me to my home. I simply requested that she stayed away.”

Instead of yelling Thomas stays calm. “Grace doesn’t mean any harm.”

“I know. She’s a nice person. But after the lies she told, I don’t want that in my life. The only way I will let this business into my life is if you agree to partner with my father.”

Have a taste of your own medicine, Thomas Shelby. How do you like it when someone pretends to care only for profit? Only instead of extracting sexual pleasures I am acquiring benefits for my family.

“I see.” Now his voice changes to the cold tone I remember. “He needs business just as much as I.”

I shake my head. “Prohibition hasn’t done well for my family. Capone only trades with the Italians and hates the Irish with a passion. If you partner with my family it would help a lot.”

“He’ll do it.”

We both look to see Polly standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

“Oh really, Pol?”

“You make a deal with her or Verena gets a 20% cut,” his aunt orders.

My eyes widen and I wave my hands. “No. No. We don’t accept handouts. We just want to sell whiskey. Even if it’s slightly illegal.”

“So you shall,” Thomas announces, looking between both of us with annoyment. “When do we draw the contract, eh?”

“After the race,” Polly says.

Right. The race. Another derby day full of crowds, gambling, and drinking. Just like the stories of the Sheepshead races Uncle Steenstra talks about. If John plays his cards right then Arthur will be joining us.

I finish putting the finishing touches on my makeup and yell out the door. “Ready, Finn?” 

A scampering noise gets closer and closer and Finn all but crashes into my room. He hastily adjusts his coat and stands to attention.

“As always,” he pants. “Maybe this time you can actually see the race. Nice hat.”

A lovely addition, if I do say so myself. Who knew Polly had such nice hats hidden in her closet? “I thought I’d dress for the occasion. Where’s this race?”

“In Epsom. I promised John I’d escort you to the meeting so you know the plan.”

“Is Ada coming?” I ask as I follow him to the door.

“Yeah, but Tommy’s meeting with her. Said it’s private.”

Don’t be mad. She’s his sister. You just work here. Forget all about Thomas and enjoy yourself for once.

Out in the street we see the cavalry has arrived and is waiting next to a covered truck. Along with John.

“Is Arthur meeting us there?” I ask.

“You tell me!” Arthur walks out from behind the truck, arms spread triumphantly.

My face breaks into a smile. “Arthur! You son-of-a-gun! How was prison?”

“Fucking Hell.”

Another man walks up and I recognize him from the horse sale Thomas took me to. A member of the Lees, I think. An odd man, wearing a patterned ascot.

“Johnny Doggs.” He tips his hat. “Ms. Steenstra. The boys and I must apologize for the last time you met us. Let it be known that today we’re all on the same side.”

Some of the Lees remove their hats while others give me friendly waves.

I give John a cheeky grin. “You told them to say that, didn’t you?”

The Shelby brother rolls his eyes. “They wanted to say sorry. Can we move on?”

“Here comes the boss,” Johnny points to someone behind me.

The handsome gangster struts towards us, cigarette in hand. Being surrounded by the Shelby brothers and Lees really helps distract from any previous emotions for him. It’s time to get my head in the game and be a valuable part of this team.

“There he is.” Thomas opens his arms and embraces his freed brother.

Arthur huffs. “You’re late.”

“I had business.”

“How the fuck did you get me out-a that?”

Thomas claps his shoulder. “I need you today, brother. Pulled some strings. You alright?”

Arthur’s frown is replaced with a grateful smirk. “I am now.”

“So he’s in charge now?” John asks.

“That’s right. And you two are in charge of him,” Thomas clarifies. Finn starts to object but gets cut off. “Finn, you don’t obey orders, you don’t come.” He turns to Johnny Doggs. “Will the Lees be there?”

“The Lees will be there, captain.”

Thomas squints. “Captain?”

“Aye, we promoted you. The boys decided you’re no longer like a sergeant major, fucking them fancy women and using those fancy words.”

I hide my laugh along with the rest of the men. This is hilarious! Thomas is getting joked on and I’m allowed to find it funny!

“Fine, but I’ll take it as a compliment,” Thomas complies. “Just don’t shoot me. Let’s go to the Derby, boys!”

He waves for them to jump in the truck but hesitates when he sees Finn helping me up.

“She’s coming too. I promised she could see a race,” John says.

He thinks for a second. “Very well. Stay in the back while we rally the others.”

Screw you, Thomas Shelby. I’m not waiting around for you to permit me to help. This American can’t be tamed by your charm.

“My God, this place is huge!” I marvel at the elaborate racetrack. “Where are the horses?”

“Over there.” Thomas points to a series of white tents. “You can come with me to see her, if you’d like.”

“Won’t say no to that!”

I don’t wait for him to catch up. This is what a real horse race is like? No wonder Thomas loves horses so much. He shows me to a tent and I spot May waiting inside next to a very sturdy speckled horse.

Thomas wastes no time and begins inspecting the animal. Brushing her coat and checking her eyes.

“Looks in fine shape. Hello hello hello. Kushti bok. Kushti bok, eh?” He murmurs to the horse. “Any troubles?” 

May, still with her arms crossed, shakes her head. “Not at all. Go, drink and enjoy the race. I’ll join later. It's fine, I’ll stay down here in the mud.”

Her words draw out a dose of sympathy from me. Oh, May. You got caught in this too. Unfortunately none of us will be the last to fall for him. We just need to pick up the pieces and move on-

Just then Thomas leans in and presses a kiss on her surprised lips. I take the time to wander off to the corner and inspect the other horses. After everything he still shows affection to any woman but me. And he- He left. He forgot I was even here.

“Sorry about that.” May walks over showing no hostility. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

I try to stay positive. “Hello, May. Lovely to see you again. Good news about the horse, I hope?”

She nods at the magnificent beast. “Grace’s Secret has done a wonderful job. She’s a very sturdy animal.”

Her words cause me to stop stroking her mane. “What’s the horse’s name?”

“Grace’s Secret.”

He’s still thinking about her. I can’t just say nothing. May deserves sympathy, rich or not.

“I’m sorry about…”

“About Thomas breaking off?” she fills in.

Quite witty. No wonder Thomas took to her. “Yes.”

May looks at me with an expression I can’t quite place. “I can see he treats you well. But you’re smart enough to keep him tamed. Keep up with that. You best get back to your party. I’ll be fine here.”

She waits for me to leave but I see no reason to. “No. They have their own business. I can stay here for company, if you wish.”

Her eyes soften at my kind gesture. “That’s gracious of you. Thanks.”

The announcer’s voice overhead says the race is about to begin. Where is the best spot to watch?  I look out and see Thomas standing on the steps with- With Grace. She came here. Of course she did. Wearing a nice pink dress with a matching hat. Looking how any woman wants to be with the man all women want.

“You alright?” May asks when she sees my pale face. “Thomas must be waiting-”

“He’s perfectly fine,” I grit my teeth. “He has plenty to occupy himself with.”

She sees where I’m looking. “It’s the other woman, isn’t it? The one sailing away?”

“One would think.”

Thomas leaves Grace at the bottom of the stairs and I spot Jerimiah sending Lizzie up to Thomas. That son-of-a-! He deals with literally any other woman. Anyone but me.

“He mentioned you once.”

May’s words shake me from my angry thoughts. “For what reasons?”

“Said you made him change his mind about Americans. About educated women. Personally I believe he thinks you’re too innocent for his business. Why stay?”

I keep watching Thomas until he disappears into a bar. “My father once said to me ‘Verena, life is too short to never take chances. With a little luck and the love of God, set your mind to do anything.’ After everything I’ve done here I can’t think of a place that would offer anything so… adventurous.”

May chuckles. “That’s Thomas, alright.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, the race will begin in four minutes. Please be upstanding for the pledge.”

Oh, alright. I’ll respect the pledge of the people who dominated my own country. Why is May not watching?

“You don’t want to watch the race?”

May sits down on a haybale and avoids my gaze. “She’ll do fine.”

“And they’re off!”

There they go! What powerful beasts. So graceful and yet they can decapitate you with one kick.

“Come on, girl. You can do it,” May mutters.

Something else catches my eye. It’s Lizzie again. Leading a stranger away to the barn. Why is she going with…? I thought she gave up being- That man is armed. Oh no.

I keep my eyes on her and start walking out of the tent. “May, I have to go stop something.”

Walking. Jogging. Sprinting! Have to get through this crowd! Where’s Thomas? Arthur? Anyone?

“John!” Thank God! “Have a spare gun?”

He gives me a funny look. “You know guns aren’t allowed. Who says I’ve got one?”

“Please!” I ask urgently.

He takes off his hat and pulls out a small pistol. “Use it wisely.”

I snatch the weapon and weave back into the sea of people. Lord, help me find her! I know we don't always see eye-to-eye but she can be a good person! Don’t let me be too late-!

“Get the fuck off me!” Lizzie shrieks.

I turn the corner and find the uniformed man shoving her against the wall, the wood slicing into her skin.

I cock the pistol. “Step aside. Now!”

A hand from behind pushes me aside and Thomas steps up with his own gun. “Russel!”

The gun clicks but no bullet fires. The man groping Lizzie ducks down and barrels into Thomas, knocking my gun away in the process. I rush to Lizzie’s side and help her stand. She’s reaching for something- 

“It’s ok, Lizzie,” I whisper. “Give me the gun-!”

She shoves me over and tries to fire it herself. It misfires again.

“Tommy!” Lizzie screeches when the man tries to push his own gun against Thomas’ head.

Bang!

But it’s not Thomas who drops dead. It’s the man called Russel. His brains are painted everywhere.

“Where were you?! Where the fuck were you?!” Lizzie rages hysterically and points the defective gun at Thomas.

Death. I just saw someone get murdered. Life taken. I know it’s not my fault but why do I still feel a fraction of the blame? Could I have stopped it, or did he deserve to die? 

“Just go. Go!” 

Lizzie pushes away and storms back to the bleachers. 

“You too, Verena!”

Thomas grabs my hand but I don’t budge right away. How can I? There’s a fresh corpse right across from me.

“Verena.” He kneels in front of me and makes me look at him. “Darling, it’s alright now. You’re safe-”

“It’s not my safety I’m concerned about. It’s him.” I point to the corpse. “I could’ve stopped him, and now he’s dead.”

“I killed him. Not you.” He rips the gun from my limp hand. “What the fuck were you thinking, Verena?!”

“I thought I was helping! I’m sorry my feeble reaction is too soft for you but I’m not a bloody criminal!”

“You’ve kept above water this long! What happened?”

I gawk at his arrogant face. “Oh, like you’ve never made a mistake! You don’t see me rubbing your bad choices in your face.”

We both know what I’m referring to. 

“Get back to the others,” Thomas orders, still glaring straight at me.

Fine. Very well. Fine! I’ll leave you to get killed or whatever bloody plan you’ve got!

I pivot and march through the muddy stalls back to the roaring crowd. By now the coppers have caught on to the gun violence and are swarming everywhere.

I hurry past the group of Peaky Blinders and Arthur leans in to whisper: “Better duck, Steentra. ‘S about to get messy. Tommy’s about to meet with Sabini.”

Someone walks up behind and I see it’s May, now wearing a beautiful red dress. She seems distracted and points to someone in the crowd. “Who is that?”

John looks over and recognizes who she’s pointing at. “Grace. Tommy’s old flame.”

“I see. Have you known her, Verena?”

My eyes sharpen. “Briefly. She’s the one I saw with him earlier.”

“So we are all part of Tom’s basket of women, are we?” May comments.

I nod towards the table where Lizzie’s hunched over. “Lizzie’s in it too.”

More cops brush past and in the chaos I hear May whisper: “At least he hasn’t broken your heart yet.”

The mention of it makes my blood run cold. “Don’t speak too soon.”

May considers something and gets past me. “I’m going to go talk with her.”

“You’ll play nice?” I joke.

“No hostilities, just an introduction.”

“She may not be so gentle.”

@meadows5