#anti Tommy x grace

[sinnbaddie]

I’m currently watching Peaky Blinders and got to the part where Grace dies. It’s about time I was waiting for this !

[1doesnotsimplyhavejust1fandam]

Truly just paused in my tracks because my brain had A Thought, and that Thought is Marcus Sköld (from young royals) and Tommy Kinard (from 9-1-1) give off the same vibes. Granted, they both have very little screen time in their respective shows. They’re dismissive of their partner’s signals and verbal requests (Simon not wanting anything serious with ANYONE post-video/breakup with Wille, Buck talking about his struggle with Bobby’s near death experience while Tommy makes a daddy joke). They’re both so clearly plot devices for a different endgame ship (Wilmon, Buddie), but a few wild corners of each fandom started shipping them with their temporary love interests anyway. They don’t fit in with their partner’s inner circle (we barely ever see Marcus interact with anyone besides Simon, Tommy has bad blood with basically Buck’s entire family that knew him before the two of them met). They’re willing to take shots at their partner when they feel like they’ve been done dirty (Marcus during the ENTIRE breakup scene with Simon at the stables, Tommy making a closet joke and almost outing Buck to Eddie and Marisol bc Buck didn’t cop to being on a date the first chance he got). Neither are genuinely trying to connect to their partner, or if they are, it’s done with a marginal amount of effort (Marcus coming to the dance at Hillerska, but later berating Simon for not appreciating this effort taken enough, Tommy coming to the bachelor party for Chimney that Buck plans, but without an actual costume, and leaving as soon as everyone decides Chimney’s a no-show…unlike Eddie, who sticks by Buck’s side for literally the rest of the night).

[saintsir4n]

Can u do the scene with eden finding out about grace. Thank u and I am in love with ur writing, I've read Dark twisted fantasy about 3 times already and will read for a 4th time, I love how u write the black women in ur stories, how u show their emotions and how u portray them. ♥️♥️

love this and thank you.

BETRAYED

——

1919

“What is it? What’s wrong you had everythin’ fuckin’ planned.” Eden stressed, after being told they had been betrayed.

Ada had left the room, with baby Karl and an anxious Inara in tow, whilst Eden and Tommy stayed. The Dawkins woman watched as he paced, gulping and tugging at the roots of his hair, wanting to say something but couldn’t spit it out.

Black Star Day was their day. It was planned, everything was going according to plan, and Tommy said so. Prayers had been said, drinks had been poured, and Eden and her newfound friend Grace even chatted, buzzing about it all.

But it went to hell when Jeremiah informed Arthur that Billy Kimber was spotted, with an army full of fuckers rallying behind him. There was no God in Small Heath. With every War that ended, another started up.

“It was Grace,” Tommy finally blurted.

Eden froze, face full of confusion, “What was Grace?”

“We’ve been fuckin’ betrayed.”

Tommy had been so stuck on the why, he didn’t focus on the how, how the Irish Barmaid they befriended so quickly could accomplish all of this in such a small frame.

“No,” Eden, of course refused to believe it.

And just like that, she began to pace and he watched, observed with a pained expression as she struggled to come to terms with the truth.

“Eden,” Tommy exclaimed.

“No, she’s our friend remember,” Eden gesticulated. “She was in the Garrison, fuckin’ seconds ago, pouring pints, celebrating with us all.”

Tommy breathed out, more steadier than before, “She gave us away.”

His voice was calm but he was anything but. He had to keep it together, for her. For his Edie, who was on the verge of spiralling.

Eden gulped as her heels slammed against the floorboards, creaking and cracking.

“You said we could trust her,” she whispered, but he heard.

It was like shrapnel to his chest.

You were wrong Tom, was what she meant. You didn’t think.

“I know,” Tommy nodded, standing still, silently raging.

She turned to him, gritted her teeth, “You said we could trust her Thomas.”

He shut his eyes, “Don’t you think I don't fuckin’ know that.”

“You said we could fuckin’ trust her!”

Eden wrung out her numb hands as she choked back a sob. All that happened, all that has been going wrong since that fucking inspector came to their city, their town of Small Heath. She felt the work of a wretched soul at play but she didn’t expect to think it would come from such a nice girl like Grace.

Huh…

Nice, she certainly pulled the wool over their fucking eyes.

Eden had just felt so lonely, Tommy had returned home from the war and her best friends were either dead or in London. She needed someone other than her husband to speak to, preferably anyone without the last name Shelby. And there Grace was, singing her way into the Garrison with her soft and trusting voice.

Oh, how they were wrong.

Eden’s face scrunched up as Tommy’s eyes quickly opened having heard her shuddering breaths.

You said we could fuckin’ trust her. Tommy had his suspicions. He knew the barmaid lied about where she came from and why she moved. He didn’t trust her at first but his wife did. He too, missed the comfort of a friend. Freddie wasn’t one anymore, not after the war, they were on two different paths, racing like trains that wouldn’t come to a halt at any time soon. His other good friend was dead and had been for years. The war took more from him than he thought and his little ‘Nara was the light of his life, his Edie was his heart. But Grace… she was something new, something calm that settled both him and his wife. An outsider, a new friend.

Oh, how she played them for a fool.

“She’s the reason why ‘Nara was almost taken,” Eden’s glossy eyes darted to him, as he stood there in shock. “That fuckin’ inspector tried clawing our daughter out of our hands. For dirty dealin’ Moss said. He got the fuckin’ social on us, claimed that we were a pack of animals.” Eden remembered it all like it was just yesterday. “But they — they trashed our houses, turned it all into a tip, framin’ us like we did it all and they tried… oh Tom they scared us good they did. They scared our little girl even more.”

Tommy’s jaw clenched, recalling the day, hearing his daughter’s screeches and his wife’s wails… Christ, they were louder than the shovels against the wall. Pat. Pat. Pat. He almost wasn't there to stop it. They claimed that Eden was too erratic, too primitive to look after a child like theirs. Daddy! Inara’s shaken voice will always stay with them.

Being dragged and kicked back to that day, neither parent saw or heard Polly enter the room, full of grief and torment.

The Shelby Matriarch's stomach dropped once more, it scarred her brain just like it did when her children were taken from her.

Eden rasped, “I need to see her.”

“No, no you won’t.” Polly shook her head, “I'll deal with Grace. If either one of you set eyes on her again, you might kill her.”

Eden hung onto that blissful thought.

When Polly left, Tommy turned to his wife, sighing when she gripped her Black Madonna.

“I thought we could trust her,” Eden wanted to cry.

She wanted to scream, stab, shoot, fuck anything.

“I know love. I know,” Tommy slowly nodded.

The two exchanged a dark look, one that read, that they’ll talk later.

“Tommy?”

“Yeah.”

“Please be safe.”

And with that Tommy raced out of the house, needing to end this all one and for all.

——

a/n:

If I ever wrote the canon plot, Tommy wouldn’t cheat on Eden, but because of who he is he would do other things to fuck up their relationship.

In this though both trusted Grace as a friend because of how they lost friends in my headcanon

[tommygrace]

mrkvidal1989 is back. Take care of yourself :(

Aww don't worry, that creep doesn't scare us. But thanks for letting me know!

[tommygrace]

I know every Lizzie fan makes up their own story that never happened on the show, but seriously? Grace didn't even accept his personality? 🤣🤣 She saved his life, not once, but twice, she fell in love with him when he was a simple gangster, without money, she saw him brutally kill someone and she accepted him and loved him with his darkness. She knew when to push him to talk and when not to. She made him a better person, he was the best version of himself with her.

Lizzie constantly complained about him, not only to him, but to Linda and Ada. She was frustrated because he wasn't a normal man, and Tommy was never normal, since S1, she made him feel guilty all the time, for the decisions she made, and she didn't like the result. She manipulated him with Ruby, tried to kick him out of his own house, and the most disgusting thing she did was throw bullets at him and tell him to try again and call him a coward, the second he tried to commit suicide. She even threw dirt on him when he was lying down and she came up to throw the bullets at him. The bullets that Arthur took out of the gun, precisely so that he wouldn't shoot himself. So no, she doesn't deserve all that.

I am not sure I will have the energy to write a decent post on this later, so here is this: Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Stark reserved so much better. She deserved to know what her husband is up to. She deserved to know that he is grieving, too. She deserved to know that he DID love her and was not saying this for whatever reason. She deserved to be trusted and loved the way the show portrayed he always wanted Grace which is an absolute nonsense. Lizzie deserved to have her husband by her size when their daughter was dying. She deserved to carry all his secrets and not be cheated on—again, for whatever reason. If he claimed to love her, there was no such reason to cheat on her. Lizzie deserved to feel safe, well cared for, LOVED. At some point it was Ada who cared about Lizzie much more & I even started wishing that it was Ada and Lizzie who shared the same house and the same bed and were supporting each other through every battle. Even Charles saying Lizzie is more of his mom than Thomas is his dad. I don't understand why they needed to create such drama for s6 where the plot weren't moving at all & they wasted all the opportunity (Ruby was supposed to be a Hollywood star! Like Polly predicted!), but I know that Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Stark deserved so so sooo much better. I loved her and I loved their couple with Tommy that I am really sad and disappointed about what the writers did to her and to them. Portraying as if Grace was his tribe soulmate, hunting him everywhere, when she wasn't even accepting him and his life and his personality. While Lizzie has to sit through every one of his nonsense and be by his side. Say goodbye to their dying daughter and making excuses for why Daddy isn't there. I can't say s6 was good & I can't fully feel for the finale. As glad as I am that Thomas is okay, as much as he can be with his ptsd & hallucinations, the creators completely ruined that part that I loved very much and cheered for. Thomas and Lizzie were so soft, so in love, and in the end?? Like, I shipped Tommy and Alfie a little, but I wanted for my canonical couple to be happy together. We couldn't even get that.

Well, at least Lizzie said that she would blow up the house and Thomas did it. And he was wearing the wedding ring till the very beginning which, you know, kinds shows that Lizzie DID mean something to him. Still, it wasn't nearly enough. The grief and disappointment I feel about the writers ruining Lizzie and Tommy's potential as a couple and their future... It is kind of unbelievable. Not to mention what Lizzie succumbed to be as a character for the couple of last seasons. God, she was so cool. I loved her so much. Now it's just empty and numb. Will forever love and miss my girl.

[emmatgc]

The Heart Wants what it Wants.

Tommy x Grace ❤️

A million faces. A million versions.

Her versions.

It doesn't matter.

Whether she was a barmaid. A spy. An undercover agent. An enemy of his and their kind.

It doesn't make a difference.

Whether she became posh. Said goodbye to her old life. A stay at home wife. A Part of the cavalry.

He could have killed her upon knowing. Instead, he bid her goodbye. She said "I love You" to him and he could have said "I don't love you" but instead he said "Away it goes" not because he doesn't feel the same but he knew she deserved better so he added "We can say it as much as we like but there is no chance". He always knew. After all, he was already in love with her.

Garrison clothes. New York Fashion. Married or unmarried. Grace is Grace. That part is clear to Tommy. No negotiations. No considerations. No buts, no what Ifs, no filter. It is what it is.

Grace was not any less when she kissed her old life goodbye. Nothing changed esp for Tommy. The respect, adoration and devotion of him for her never wavered.

So, whether she betrayed him. Did her duty for the crown and broke his heart. It still doesn't matter. He understood.

Grace said it herself "it was all just uniforms". Circumstances.

Whether she is married and somebody's wife. Even in somebody's bed not his own. She made him the other guy yet he wanted her all the more the way she was, she is and whatever she is to become.

What difference doest it make? One might ask. Others may ask esp Anti Grace but Tommy..oh Tommy doesn't care...at all.

Grace could have come back with a baby from her 1st husband and he would take it as his own.

See, Tommy lied. Grace is not in the past, she never were. Tommy lied to protect himself. Can't blame him, Grace wounded him so. But that is the beauty of it all, she chose a side and saved him 2x, she chose him. She never went back. She was all in despite of everything.

Tommy never surrendered his love and longing. He hoped for her. But he was contented from afar it seems. Given the fateful 2nd chance, he took it and took it decisively. Never returned her.

When some screamed "Grace doesn't deserve Tommy", Tommy couldn't care less. It is Grace or nothing. It is her words against everybody. He would always choose her.

They used to be across each other in a river yet as time passes by, they chose to come back to each other, side by side.

It doesn't matter. The heart wants what it wants. You can change who you are, but you can never change what you want. Come what may, Grace was always Grace in Tommy's eyes. There were bound to be together and they will always find each other. ❤️

[argisthebulwark]

Is it possible to see your Skyrim playlists 👀 particularly the Miraak one (I understand if not!)

oh hell yeah. sorry for liking edgy music. These are the playlists I use for writing these characters so the lyrics aren't always specific to them, they just get me in the right headspace to write my favorite fellas. some of these are loud, maybe lower your volume just in case. A lot of them are love songs because that's what i write!

Miraak

Snow - Ricky Montgomery The Night We Met - Lord Huron The Worst In Me - Bad Omens Never Think - Robert Pattinson I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab For Cutie Arcade - Duncan Laurence As The World Caves In - Sarah Cothran Let's Talk About Your Hair - Have Mercy Such Small Hands - La Dispute In The End - Black Veil Brides Love Like Ghosts - Lord Huron This Loneliness Won't Be The Death Of Me - Being As An Ocean Always Attract - You Me At Six Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't - Brand New Weak At The Knees - Have Mercy MANTRA - Bring Me The Horizon Sad Prayers For Guilty Bodies - La Dispute Sex With A Ghost - Teddy Hyde Ivy - The Amity Affliction

Brynjolf

Hold Onto Me - Mayday Parade If I Tremble - Front Porch Step Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez Ashes - Stellar Stay - Mayday Parade I Love You Like An Alcoholic - The Taxpayers Jesus Christ - Brand New How Do I Tell A Girl That I Want To Kiss Her? - Modern Baseball Talk To You - Ricky Montgomery Come Alive - Jackson Wang The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit - La Dispute Red Lights - Stray Kids I Can Wait Forever - Simple Plan Yellow - Coldplay Hell's Comin' With Me - Poor Man's Poison A Shitty Love Song - JYE You Had Me At Hello - A Day to Remember Caraphernelia - Pierce the Veil

Vilkas

Peach - The Front Bottoms Anti-Romantic - Tomorrow x Together Die First - Nessa Barrett I Hear A Symphony - Cody Fry Art School Wannabe - Sorority Noise Set Me Free - The Amity Affliction Taste - Stray Kids Monsters - Matchbook Romance Oh Well, Oh Well - Mayday Parade Until The Day I Die - Story of the Year Sleep - Citizen No One Does It Better - You Me At Six If I Should Go Before You - City and Colour Bloom - The Paper Kites I Don't Mind - Defeater A Lovely Mess - Front Porch Step I Swear This Time I Mean It - Mayday Parade If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn - Sleeping With Sirens and obviously Animal I Have Become - Three Days Grace

[heeahheeya]

Ohhhhhh I love to read this analysis about Grace and Lizzie. They are interesting women both!

Tommy x Grace - Tommy x Lizzie Anti-Parallels

I wanted to make a breakdown post about how both relationships have the same things happen (baby, marriage, May, working for Tommy) but have totally different outcomes. This is really long. Just warning you.

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[mischievouslittlecreature]

Part 13: Dance of Darkness

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Grace Burgess x OC

Summary: Tommy and Lucy spend a little more time with May.

Word Count: 3,445

Notes: Warnings for references to violence.

Previous Chapter • Series • Fic • Next Chapter

Chapter 8: Temptation

“What happened here?” Lucy asked, brushing her fingers along the scrape that marked Tommy’s right temple.

“I went to the Digbeth Kid’s grave site to give his mother the first payment from the fund,” he said glumly.

“She hit you?”

“Only a few times. It was the ring that scratched me.”

“Mm,” she ghosted her fingers along the red markings once more before dropping them. “How was the meeting with Campbell?”

Tommy let out a bitter chuckle, leaning back in his chair. “You remember those Irish people who blew up the Garrison? The ones I had you look into?”

“Irene O’Donnell and Donal Henry?”

“Mhm. They’re working with Campbell.”

She straightened. “Irish working for the King?”

“Funny, isn’t it?”

“What did they want?”

He reached into a drawer, and pulled out a file, handing it to her. “For me to kill this man.”

Thumbing through the pages, she frowned. “Why?”

“They weren’t particularly forthcoming with that information.”

“Hm…” she rested the knuckles of one hand against her lips as she scanned over the papers. “You tell Campbell about how Henry meets with anti-treaty Paddies in the backroom of the Mother Red Cap in Saltley?”

“Yeah. I also told him that he needs to take care of Henry first before I even think of taking on the assignment.”

She closed the file and handed it back to him. “Good. Donal Henry’s an ass.”

“You’ve never even met him.”

“I know what you’ve told me about him. And I’ve heard the reports from our men who have followed him. That’s more than enough to convince me.”

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“Donal Henry’s dead,” she told Tommy as soon as the doors to the office were shut behind her. “They just found the body and confirmed it.”

Looking up from his desk, Tommy’s eyes darted away, nodding.

“So, shall we start planning the murder, then?”

“I suppose so.”

They began to pour over the file Campbell had given Tommy in earnest. Lucy kept chancing glances up at Tommy as she leaned back in one of the chairs in front of his desk, a leg crossed over the other. He was hunched over his papers, sighing and pressing his fingers to his temples, massaging circles into them while he cleared his throat. It was unsettling to see him looking so anguished and stressed, to the point that she considered suggesting to him that he just let her take the whole assassination on by herself.

Brows furrowing, Tommy pulled his hands back, staring at the bloodied smear that stained his fingertips. The rubbing had torn open the scabs on his temple from where the Digbeth Kid’s mother had struck him. He stared at his hand for several long moments, before closing the file and putting it in a drawer, clearing his throat as he stood to get a drink from the shelf, wiping a rag over his fingers.

There was a knock at the door, Lizzie poking her head in to tell them that there was someone here about the accounts clerk position they’d put an advertisement for in the paper. There was mumbling outside the office as Lizzie ushered the man in, and then approaching footsteps, the door closing.

“Michael?”

Lucy looked over her shoulder to see the boy smiling, and grinned to herself, turning back to face Tommy’s desk as she shook her head fondly. Good to know that the incident back at the auction hadn’t scared him off, she supposed. 

He was a stubborn one, not dissuaded by Tommy’s attempts to tell him that the position was already filled, listing off his qualifications after setting his application down and taking the empty seat next to Lucy in front of the desk. 

When he was done, Tommy put his glass of whiskey down and picked up the phone, setting it down in front of Michael.

“You phone your mother,” he gestured to Lucy and she stood, following him as he headed to the door. “Good luck.”

Lucy snorted. “Poor kid,” she said, once the doors were closed. Tommy chuckled.

“He did make a compelling argument for himself, though.”

“Mhm. And it would be nice to have the vacancy finally filled. The work’s starting to pile up. You think Polly will actually agree to it?”

Tommy sighed as they headed for the doors leading outside, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Maybe. She’s been better, since he got back, but she’s still…”

“Unpredictable?”

“She’s very protective of him.”

“Understandable.”

He hummed in agreement. “But could cause issues. And not just regarding this. You heard him in there. He’ll be eighteen by the end of the week. I think she still sees him as a little boy, in a lot of ways.”

“Not exactly the way that a young man wants to be treated,” Lucy huffed, pulling on her cap as they stepped out onto the street. “Only so much we can do, though.”

“Mm. I’ll try talking to her. Give her some assurances.”

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“May!” Lucy rushed through the kitchen into the main part of the betting shop, heading straight for the brunette standing in the middle of it all, wide eyed and looking a little lost. John was standing in front of her, incredibly close. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Hello, Lucy,” May greeted, looking relieved at the presence of a familiar face. 

“Sorry that I’m late,” Tommy cleared his throat as he came in behind her. “There was a family matter. Esme, keep it locked up for a minute.”

“Yes, Thomas,” Esme said.

“I’ll show you around,” Tommy told May. John didn’t move, continuing to stare at Tommy with a mischievous look on his face.

“John, scram,” Lucy said. He snorted, but spun on his heel and headed to his office.

May began to wander about curiously, eyes still wide as Tommy explained where the offices were and how they conducted business.

“When I drove into Small Heath I thought I was going to get murdered. Then I mentioned your name. It was like being escorted to see a king,” May leaned against the desk across from them.

“You came here to get my girl, right?” Tommy asked. Lucy bit her lip at the potential double entendre that was there, elbowing him just lightly enough to be subtle. He shot her an amused look for a fraction of a second.

“Right,” May said.

“Come with us, then,” Lucy beckoned with her head, and May followed them outside and down the road to Charlie’s yard, where the horse was being kept.

“This is Charlie. Charlie, this is May Carleton,” Lucy introduced them. “And Curly.”

Curly waved excitedly at May while Charlie gave her a respectful nod. 

“Go get her, Curly. Go on,” Tommy said. The stableboy rushed off, returning a moment later leading the gorgeous gray filly by the reins. 

“She looks in very good condition considering she’s not been out on the gallops,” May began to approach the horse, assessing her. Tommy stroked the horse’s snout. Lucy gave her a little kiss between the eyes. 

“So what time is your box van coming?” Tommy asked.

“Midday.”  

“You’ve got time to take the lady to the Garrison. Show her the spa and the tearooms,” Charlie said.

“Very funny,” Lucy glowered at him playfully.

“I’d like that. Why not?” May interjected. Lucy shot Tommy a look. He shrugged.

“All right, then.”

“Do you keep other horses at the yard?” May asked, as they began the walk to the pub.

“Tommy has a stallion. I have a chestnut filly. We take them out riding, whenever we get the chance,” Lucy said. May nodded.

It was quiet in the Garrison, when they stepped in. Empty.

“I just had it done up. There was a fire,” Tommy went behind the bar, asking May what she would like to drink. 

“It’s so early, but gin.”

Lucy hopped into a chair at the bar. May slid into the space next to her. Close enough that Lucy could smell the flowery scent of her perfume. Tommy grabbed a bottle and a glass, placing it in front of May and pouring the clear booze until it nearly touched the rim. May looked somewhat horrified.

“Goodness. With something?”

Tommy’s eyes darted to the glass of liquor, up to May, then back again. Lucy pressed her knuckles to her lips to try to hide her smile. He looked so utterly confused. Like the idea of a mixed drink was an entirely new concept to him.

“Like what?”

“Tonic water or…”

Lucy giggled. Tommy turned back around to stare at the shelf of booze behind him. “Uh…” he cleared his throat. “We have, um…cordial,” he snatched up the bottle, went back to May, nodding to her glass. “There’s not much room in there, but…” he poured the cordial in, stopping just when she was worried that the glass might overflow. He gave Lucy a glass of whiskey, before pouring one for himself.

“Do you want to fuck me, Mrs. Carleton?” he asked, turning to face her, leaning against the bar in front of May, who looked like she’d been dangerously close to choking on her drink. Lucy raised her eyebrows. Wouldn’t exactly have been the approach she personally would have taken in regards to them all getting into bed together. But she couldn’t deny Tommy’s success rate, so she’d let him work without interjection. “Perhaps because I…perhaps because I represent something to you?” he pulled out a cigarette. “We should have this conversation before the booze starts talking for us,” he explained at May’s perplexed expression, striking a match.

May looked to Lucy, eyes wide. Lucy just smiled at her, shrugging. Betting that the woman was smart enough to be able to figure out the whole arrangement on her own without needing it spelled out for her. May’s eyes darted between them. Yes, definitely smart enough.

She spoke slowly, clearly choosing her words carefully, as she explained that she was there purely because of the horse. And the money Tommy was paying her to train her. 

Lucy eyed her carefully, not entirely sure she believed her. But certainly not willing to push the subject anymore, should she be wrong. Tommy let it go as well, simply raising his glass in a toast to their horse and the Derby. Lucy clinked her glass with his before drinking.

“So is that what you say to women?” May asked.

“Sometimes,” Lucy volunteered. Tommy shot her a look. She just grinned around another sip of her drink.

“Only if I don’t know what they want,” he said.

“And what if they don’t want to fuck?” it sounded funny, to hear such a seemingly posh woman curse like that.

“Then life is simpler.”

“You want a simple life?”

Tommy scoffed, placed both hands against the bar. “Do I look like a man who wants a simple life, eh?”

“So what do you want?”

“For what I’m paying you, Mrs. Carleon,” Tommy leaned forward. “I want a horse that will pay out at Epsom on an each-way bet.”

May reached out and pulled the cigarette box Tommy had left on the bar and pulled it closer to her, fumbling with it as she began to talk about the background checks she had done on him. He had no credit record, but she had heard about the medals he’d won for his time in France.  

Tommy looked down, face contorting for a moment, just a moment. Like it almost always did whenever someone brought up his medals. “Does that really impress you, Mrs. Carleton?”

“Call me May.”

Lucy felt one side of her lips pull up in a smile. Aha. Progress.

“And you…” May turned those big doe-eyes onto Lucy. “I heard quite the shocking stories about you when I made some enquiries about you in London.”

Lucy bit her lip, setting her glass down and fingers almost immediately starting to fidget with her rings. “Yes, I’m sure you have.”

May frowned. “We need not discuss it any further, if you’d prefer. You hardly know me, but…” she straightened up in her seat. “I am sorry for what happened to you.”

Lucy blinked. So few people had actually said that to her. She wetted her lips. “Thank you,” she was not quite sure what else to say. 

“You seem to have done quite well for yourself, though…”

“Mm. Yes, I suppose you could say that,” Lucy looked to Tommy, who was leaning against the bar in front of her, watching the interaction shrewdly. One side of his lips pulled up when he caught her glancing at him.

“When I saw you two at the auction I was certain that you had to be married,” May was looking between them curiously. 

“We’re not.”

She raised an eyebrow, looking half amused. “Yes, you said that before,” her eyes danced in a way that made it clear her words were not intended to be malicious or even prying. “And yet it still seems to me that you are married, in just about everything but in name.”

“You didn’t seem shocked when I asked you about fucking,” Tommy pointed out.

May chuckled. “I think you’ll find, Mr. Shelby, that the posh can be just as debauched as the poor. In that we are the same. The scandals I could tell you about…”

“Well, we need to arrange a time to talk that,” Lucy grinned. “I’m always eager to collect good blackmail material should I ever need it.”

May laughed. “I would enjoy that, I think, so long as you’re willing to tell me tales of life as a gangster,” she looked them both over. “I think that this partnership will be quite informative and educational for all of us.”

The door opened, and Finn stepped in to inform them that the box van had arrived. Tommy dismissed him.  

“You know, I still don’t know what you’re going to call your horse,” May commented.

Tommy hesitated, thinking it over. “The horse will be called Grace’s Secret.”

Lucy almost dropped her glass, jerking with the name, eyes widening as she stared at Tommy, heart suddenly aching with the reminder of the woman that they both missed so much.

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“Well, don’t you both look fancy,” Lucy grinned as she stepped out of her flat, locking the door behind her. 

Polly smiled, smoothing down the material of her dress, tightening her fur coat around herself. “Thank you, Lucy.”

Tommy had gone by to pick up Polly before Michael’s birthday party, and to talk about the possibility of employment for Michael. “I see that no one is sulking or has a black eye, so I’m assuming talks went well?” she asked, as all three of them began to walk towards the Garrison.

“We had to bump up the rate to four bob,” Tommy, said flashing Polly a good natured smile. “And I promised to keep him away from the old business.”

“Fair enough.”

As she walked past him when he held the door open to the pub, he whispered into her ear. “You look nice.”

She felt herself blush. She wasn’t even wearing anything all that exciting. Just a somewhat nicer, more form fitting suit than the ones she wore normally. “Thanks.”

Arthur, John, Finn, and Esme were all already crowded into the snug. Plopping down in a chair next to Tommy, Lucy nudged Arthur with the toe of her shoe.

“How’s London treating you?”

“Oh, it’s the best, Luce. You’ve got to come down, sometime. See the club now, eh? Now that we’re in charge,” he grinned at her from over his glass. She nodded politely. Arthur and the Black Country boys had taken Sabini’s club, the same one that they’d visited when leaving their message to Alfie. Arthur was technically in charge of running it. Considering the man’s new proclivity for snow, she wasn’t entirely sure how long that arrangement would be able to go on.

The door opened. “There he is. Look,” Arthur straightened as Polly came in with Michael. Everyone stood, cheering in congratulations, wishing Michael a happy birthday. Tommy handed him a leather case, inside of which Michael found a golden pocket watch, and when he informed that his employment had been accepted, his face broke into a massive grin. Tommy raised a toast, and they all clinked their glasses together. 

Lucy leaned subtly into Tommy’s side, smiling as everyone at the table started to play a round of cards.

“If I find out you’re cozying up to me to sneak a look at my cards, I’ll be very cross with you,” Tommy threatened into her ear, even as his thigh pushed against hers under the table.

“Pfft. I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s just a little cramped with so many people in the snug, that’s all.”

“Mhm,” he snorted. She beamed at him, looking him up and down. She couldn’t wait to get him in the privacy of their own home later, where she could snuggle up to him openly without fear of anyone noticing. 

When she looked across the table, it was to find Polly staring at them, eyes narrowed. Lucy shifted, her warm mood cooled somewhat at having those dark eyes staring at her, somehow accusingly, though Lucy couldn’t possibly imagine what for.

Polly was too smart not to have some notion of what was going on between them. While they were not open about their relationship, they also weren’t always the most restrained when it came to certain things–touching specifically. They were constantly struggling–and more often than not failing–to not hold hands, brush against each other, link arms as they walked…and they’d admittedly gotten even sloppier with it as the years went by.

No, certainly Polly had to know what was going on between them. There was no way she didn’t, even if none of them actually acknowledged it.

And yet, for some reason, the thought of it finally being made official just how much Polly knew about their relationship terrified her.

∗ ∗ ∗ 

He watched as the men around him unloaded the crates from the boats, giving a vague, noncommittal answer as Johnny Dogs asked him how his life had been.

“But Tom, really, come on. How is it? You know I hate to see you not even married yet,” Johnny crowded in closer, grinning. “I have a fine looking cousin, she would make your life hell. You deserve her. We haven’t had a good old wedding in a long time,” he chuckled. Tommy smiled, eyes glancing over to where Lucy was helping to coordinate the unpacking, running a hand through her auburn hair. “Surprised that you haven’t hitched yourself to your lovely Red Demon yet. Pretty and wild as she is.”

Tommy shot him a look. Johnny laughed. “Not as subtle as you think you are, Tom. I see things,” he pointed to his eyes, still smiling gleefully.

“Lucy isn’t interested in marriage, Johnny,” Tommy said. And it wasn’t like he was ever going to push the issue on her. And he couldn’t argue with her reasoning; the expectations and duties that came with being a wife certainly were not the type of things that Lucy would enjoy. Sitting at home all night, cooking, cleaning…no. His Lucy needed to be a part of the action. Running about with them men. Or else she would lose her mind from boredom. It wasn’t something he was in any rush to do, either. They loved each other. They were together. That was all that really mattered to him. Though she knew that the offer was open, should she ever want it. 

“Too wild to truly be tamed, eh? Nothing wrong with that,” Johnny laughed good naturedly.

“Have you had a look inside these boxes, Johnny?” Tommy asked, eager to steer the conversation in a less personal direction.

“Why do I want to look at car parts, Tommy, when I haven’t even got a car?”

He put an arm around Johnny’s shoulders, explaining in a low voice how he wouldn’t mind should one piece of merchandise go, ahem, missing, every now and then. But no more than that. That would be tax. And they didn’t pay tax. Johnny mumbled his understanding. 

“Good man,” he patted him on the back, stretching up until he caught Lucy’s eye and beckoned for her to follow him. She jogged over to him, and he began to make his way up the stairs, where Billy Kitchen met him halfway.

“I put an iron door on. We’ve got bars on the windows and across the skylights,” Billy reported.

“Good.”

“So what will you be keeping in here, Tommy?”

“Temptation, Billy,” was all he answered, vaguely. “Temptation.”

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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!

[evita-shelby]

Peaky Blinders - 5,8,13(Tommy) Thank you! :)

5)Has fandom ever ruined a pairing for you?

A pairing and a character. You can guess who but if you can't

Grace x Tommy

8)Have you received anon hate? What about?

Oh for all the Grace stans on this site bitch about fandom being hostile to them, i think it mught actually be deserved.

You cannot express a realistic or bad opinion about her or laud Lizzie or Natasha O'Keefe because they will get on your ass like a fly on cow shit.

Recently the same grace stan who bothers everyone and has bothered me since i came here sent an essay to me on ao3 im which she gatekeeps Charlie, claims Grace was 3 to 4 months pregnant in the s2 finale and used anti mexican dogwhistles saying i could use Charlie's names as he is my mexican ocs son.

Unpopular opinion about XXX character?

Tommy:

He deserved to die in s6. He is such an asshole by then that honestly i don't want a peaky movie because i am tired of his ass.

[lucien-calore]

Welcome to my blog!! My name is Amanda, my pronouns are she/her and I'm a proud Brazilian. I'm a huge extrovert, so i love talking to people!!

READ MY DNIF (DO NOT INTERACT IF) LIST BEFORE FOLLOWING

JUST SCROLL DOWN AND I PROMISE YOU'LL FIND IT

My fandoms:

Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard

Throne of Glass series by Nehemia Ytger

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Lucien Vanserra

Harry Potter series by Emma Watson

The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo

The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black

The Riordanverse in general

Top Gun: Maverick

Peaky Blinders

Monster High

Ever After High

My Favorite Characters

Red Queen

Tiberias "Cal" Calore VII

Kilorn Warren

Lucas Samos

Evangeline Samos

Elane Haven

Iris Cygnet

Throne of Glass:

Chaol Westfall

Dorian Havilliard

Manon Blackbeak

Elide Lochan

Yrene Towers

Nesryn Faliq

Lorcan Salvaterre

Aedion Ashryver

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Lucien Vanserra

Azriel

Elain Archeron

Gwynneth Berdara

Nesta Archeron

Eris Vanserra

Helion

Lady of Autumn

Harry Potter

Draco Malfoy

Theodore Nott

Blaise Zabini

Luna Lovegood

Ginny Weasley

Narcissa Malfoy

James Potter

Regulus Black

Sirius Black

Remus Lupin

Dorcas Meadowes

Marlene McKinnon

The Grishaverse:

Kaz Brekker

Inej Ghafa

Jesper Fahey

Wylan Van Eck

Nina Zenik

Matthias Helvar

Zoya Nazyalensky

Nikolai Lantsov

Genya Safin

David Kostyk

Alina Starkov

Tolya Yul-Bataar

Tamar Kir-Bataar

The Riordanverse

Jason Grace

Percy Jackson

Piper McLean

Nico Di Angelo

Will Solace

The Folk of The Air

The Ghost

Cardan Greenbriar

Jude Duarte

Top Gun: Maverick

Jake "Hangman" Seresin

Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

Natasha "Phoenix" Trace

Peaky Blinders

Esme Shelby-Lee

John Shelby-Lee

Finn Shelby

Thomas "Tommy" Shelby

Ada Thorne née Shelby

Elizabeth "Polly" Gray née Shelby

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Shelby née Stark

Arthur Shelby

Gina Gray née Nelson

My Favorite Ships:

Red Queen

Calorn (Cal x Kilorn)

Marecas (Mare x Lucas)

Evane (Elane x Evangeline)

Evare (Evangeline x Mare)

Sharley (Shade x Farley)

Throne of Glass

Chaorian (Chaol x Dorian)

Malide (Manon x Elide)

Nesrene (Nesryn x Yrene)

Rowcan (Rowan x Lorcan)

Fenaedion (Fenrys x Aedion)

Sorchahemia (Sorcha x Nehemia)

Celehemia (Celaena x Nehemia)

Herrin (Hollin Havilliard x Terrin Westfall)

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Luzriel (Lucien x Azriel)

Gwynlain (Gwyn x Elain)

Neris (Nesta x Eris)

Helloa (Helion x LOA)

The Folk of The Air

Ghardan (The Ghost x Cardan)

Jucasia (Jude x Nicasia)

Harry Potter

Dreo/Dragonott (Draco x Theo)

Drastoria (Draco x Astoria)

Drarry (Draco x Harry)

Linny (Luna x Ginny)

Jegulus (James x Regulus)

Wolfstar (Remus x Sirius)

Dorlene (Dorcas x Marlene)

Pandalily (Pandora x Lily)

Narlily (Narcissa x Lily)

Nobleflower (Narcissa x Alice)

The Grishaverse

Helnik (Matthias x Nina)

Wesper (Jesper x Wylan)

Tolnej (Tolya x Inej)

Kazper (Kaz x Jesper)

Zoyalai (Zoya x Nilolai)

Gevid (Genya x David)

Genyalina (Genya x Alina)

Zoyalina (Zoya x Alina)

Zonya (Zoya x Genya)

Darkolai (The Darkling x Nikolai)

The Riordanverse

Jercy (Jason x Percy)

Pipabeth (Piper x Annabeth)

Valdangelo (Leo x Nico)

Reynalia (Reyna x Thalia)

Frazel (Frank x Hazel)

Top Gun: Maverick

Sereshaw/Hangster (Hangman x Rooster)

Payboy (Payback x Fanboy)

Peaky Blinders

Jesme (John Shelby x Esme Shelby)

Pollyrama (Polly x Aberama)

Finnsiah (Finn Shelby x Isaiah Jesus)

DO NOT INTERACT IF:

• you are a manorian shipper

• you are a maven calore fan/stan/defender/apologist

• you are pro the inner circle

• you are anti any of my favorite characters and/or ships (specifically chaol, chaorian, malide, nesrene, cal, calorn, draco, jason and/or jercy)

• you are pro sjm and/or jkr

• ANTI ZIONISTS

i hope you enjoy your time here and feel free to message me and/or send me an ask anytime!!

[nyarnamaitar]

Grace’s character and her relationship with Tommy are the least interesting parts of Peaky Blinders and that’s on that. 🤷‍♀️

[amysteryspot]

I think of grace doesn’t get pregnant and tommy does explain himself like you said I think daphne could understand because while they do both love each other they aren’t together in a committed relationship so maybe it could slide (I never liked grace I tried my hardest but just couldn’t like her )

That’s very likely that Daphne would be more understanding in case Grace doesn’t end up pregnant. Tommy and her never really discussed the terms of their relationship after all and she is very rational about most things.

As for you not liking Grace, same thing happened with me. I tried so hard to like her (@internalmess3 is living proof of it) but I just couldn’t. I’m actually pretty sure that most part of it has to do with the way she was written and the fact that I don’t really believe in the goodness of her relationship with Tommy. But I’m rambling, sorry. Just know that you’re not alone in disliking Grace.

[tommygrace]

I'm a fan of grace and tommy x grace who was harassed by the user mrkdvidal and his followers. I didn't even get into arguments, but there he was, harassing us and sending his friends to us. It will sound ridiculous, but now I'm a little afraid to show my love for Grace and her union with Tommy after that experience. Reminded me of that whole anti-grace tag incident 🤣😭

Aww yes, most of us Grace fans went through that. I did have a fight with him, to defend Grace, because he started insulting her, and calling her a bitch, and the actress, and he tagged her, then I saw it, and I defended her, he became completely aggressive, he went to my blog and started insulting everything I wrote on my blog. There I realized that this person is completely sick in the head, it was clear that he was not normal. But that didn't stop me from continuing with my blog, and from continuing to love Grace, and I love her much more after that, and I love being on this Team. I began to analyze Tommy and Grace, and the two marriages, and Lizzie's fans began to attack me anonymously, insulting, or threatening, things like that. So my advice is to ignore them and continue loving this great couple Tommy and Grace, and our queen Grace.

[vole-mon-amour]

When you look at literally any picture of a character and think: 'Die already.' Except that the character is already dead but still haunts another character.

When will this annoying speaking nonsense finally leave Thomas alone? When will the writers stop milking this? It's been annoying since s1, but now this is just... piss off already maybe?

[youth-rights]

 Youth Rights Masterpost

This list compiles a variety of youth rights and youth liberation perspectives and resources. I do not condone or endorse every single item on this list. Read broadly, think critically.

Every effort is made to locate websites with free access to each resource. When a free version has not been located, resources are listed in bold.

This list is continually updated. Please send an ask or message if you know of a resource that could be included or if a link is broken.

Organizations and Websites:

National Youth Rights Association - A U.S. youth civil rights organization.

Freechild Institute - A U.S. youth engagement organization.

Youth Liberation Now! - An anarchist youth liberation zine.

Global Partnership and Fund to End Violence Against Children - A global platform for anti-child abuse advocacy.

End Corporal Punishment Initiative - An initiative of the Global Partnership and Fund to End Violence Against Children focused on ending corporal punishment.

The YP Foundation - An Indian youth development organization focused on empowering youth to lead social change.

Breaking Code Silence - A U.S. anti-troubled teen industry campaign.

We Warned Them Campaign - A U.S. anti-troubled teen industry campaign.

Unsilenced - A U.S. anti-troubled teen industry advocacy group.

Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor (defunct) Archive - The archived print materials of Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor, a U.S. youth liberation group that existed from 1970-1979.

Child USAdvocacy - A U.S. organization focused on legislative reform of child abuse law.

National Juvenile Justice Network - A U.S. community of state juvenile justice policy reform organizations.

Children’s Voting Colloquium - A global organization focused on eliminating the minimum voting age.

Articles:

“What are Youth Rights,” NYRA

“‘Young and Oppressed,’” NYRA

“Youth Liberation,” Freechild Institute

“Top Ten Reasons to Lower the Voting Age,” NYRA

“A Brief Overview of the Problems with Teen Brain Science,” NYRA

“The ‘Troubled Teen’ Industry,” NYRA

“The Rights of Kids in the Digital Age,” WIRED

“The Child and its Enemies,” Emma Goldman

“‘Missing’ Teenager, Tommy Crow

"Now I Am Free," Tommy Crow

“Youth Rights & The Libertarian Party,” Brianna Coyle

“The Young Person's Bill of Rights,” Dr. Robert Epstein

“Youth Liberation 15-point Program - Platform of Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor,” Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor

“Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor,” The History Search

"Children's Freedom: A Human Rights Perspective," Peter Gray

“Against Adult Supremacy,” Vyvian Raoul

Books:

No! Against Adult Supremacy, 2016 (x)

Escape from Childhood, John C. Holt, 1974 (x) (x) (x)

Raising Free People: Unschooling as Liberation and Healing Work, Akilah S. Richards, 2020 (x)

The Teenage Liberation Handbook, Grace Llewellyn, 1998 (x)

Schools on Trial by Nikhil Goyal, 2016 (x)

Thank You For Being Young, Andrew Lerner, 2011 (x)

Birthrights, Richard Farson, 1974 (x)

The Children’s Rights Movement, Beatrice and Ronald Gross, 1977 (x)

Help at Any Cost, Maia Szalavitz, 2006 (x)

For Your Own Good, Alice Miller, 1983 (x)

Growing Up Absurd, Paul Goodman, 1960 (x) (x)

The New Handbook of Children's Rights, Bob Franklin, 2001 (x)

Framing Youth, Mike A. Males, 1998 (x) (x)

The Scapegoat Generation, Mike A. Males, 1996 (x) (x) (x) (x)

FPS Magazine, 1970-1979 (x)

Children’s Rights Handbook, FPS, 1979 (x)

And Justice For All: The Legal Rights Of Young People, Sandra Nunez, Trish Marx, 1997 (x)

The Struggle for Student Rights: Tinker v. Des Moines and the 1960s, John W. Johnson, 1997 (x)

As Soon as You're Born They Make You Feel Small: Self Determination for Children, Wendy Ayotte, 1986 (x) (x)

Raised in Captivity: Why Does America Fail its Children?, Lucia Hodgson, 1997 (x)  

We Fight To Win: Inequality and the Politics of Youth Activism, Hava Rachel Gordon, 2009 (x)

Act Your Age!: A Cultural Construction of Adolescence, Nancy Lesko, 2012 (x)

Other Resources:

ACLU and ACLU Affiliates - The Know Your Rights pages of each ACLU Affiliate provides information on students’ rights and occasionally on youth rights in general.