steakpieisnice

[steakpieisnice]

Headlines & Heartstrings

Part 2!! Sorry it took so long, I may or may not have forgotten I posted this :/// Also, just a reminder that sex work is real work, and any negativity around that is purely fictional and does not reflect my real views! Word Count: 1.4k

Warnings: Mentions of sex work

The Princess Victoria was a lively pub. Beautifully decorated, highly renowned food and a lovely landlord made it a popular choice with the locals. Unfortunately, it was also popular with the criminal underground of London, which was sometimes very bad for business. But Mickey paid the bills, and the rent, and that was enough to keep Bobby happy. It’s not that the customers were scared off by the pubs criminal customer base, but rather that the Princess Victoria was to be closed whenever Mickey says, at the drop of a hat.

Like it is right now.

“Feel free to talk.” Spoke the man that Coach and Eleanor were here to meet.

Raymond Smith. Consigliere to Micheal Pearson, his right hand man, known for his cunning ruthlessness, calculated manner and commitment to getting the job done. Always immaculately dressed, ever the image of a gentleman. But with that image comes an aura of danger, that prickly feeling at the back of your neck that makes everyone feel just a little bit uncomfortable.

He was attractive, Eleanor couldn’t deny that.

“I gather that you’re the consigliere of the outfit that my boys were stupid enough to fuck around with.” Coach said, addressing Raymond. “On that note, I’d like to extend my apologies on their behalf. My boys, they’re naïve, they’ve had hard lives and they’re just starting to come good, but they’re my lads, my responsibility. So it’s me that should be accountable for their actions. Now I can return your goods, but I can’t return the inconvenience, the time-“

“The headache.” Eleanor butted in, nodding solemnly.

“The fucking headache.” Coach confirmed. “And so I offer you my loyalty, my word, my time, until that debt it settled. I’ll make amends, but just leave my lads alone.”

Raymond took a deep breath in, before speaking. “First of all, I’m gonna need to know how your lads got the information about where our farm was sited, ‘cause that’s not common knowledge. Once we’ve overcome that little challenge, then we can talk. Secondly, I do not want you bringing company like that,” he said raising a finger towards Eleanor and her revealing outfit, “around here again. We, and this pub, have an image to uphold.”

“Believe me, I do not want to be dressed like a hooker any more than you want to see me like this. But unfortunately, it comes part and parcel with a little present we have for you Raymundo.” Eleanor grinned. Raymond raised his eyebrows at the cheek but stayed silent, allowing his curiosity to get the better of him.

The three of them headed outside, Eleanor tossing Coach the keys to her beat up Toyota Carolla. Coach opened up the boot to reveal Phuc squirming in the boot of the car, wrists and ankles tied with duct tape covering his mouth.

“Ta-da!” Eleanor said sarcastically as all three looked down on Phuc.

“His names Phuc, but its spelt with a Ph so its sounds like fu-uck.” Explained Coach.

Ray looked at Coach with a slack jaw. “So its Phu-uc?” he asked.

“What? Yeah yeah, something like that. Anyway, he’s the kid that gave us the skunk farm job. D’you know him?” said Coach.

“Yeah we’ve met before haven’t we Phu-uc… Phuc?” Ray said leaning in.

“That’s the one.” Coach quipped.

“Phu-uc?”

“Phu-uc.” Eleanor confirmed. Ray gestured at Coach to remove the tape off the Chinese mans mouth.

Coach muttered, “Don’t do anything stupid now son, right?”

Phuc gasped as the tape was removed, trying to inhale as much air as he could.

“How did you know the location?” Ray asked.

“I need my inhaler.” Phuc gasped.

“Yeah in a minute.” Ray continued. “I need to tell you how knew the location of our farm.” Eleanor watched, impressed at Rays cool, calm manner -  a huge difference to the way these mobsters usually tried to get information out of people. It was refreshing, she thought, and hot. She mentally scolded herself as the second thought crossed her mind, reminding herself that Raymond Smith was not the sort of man you could have those thoughts about.

“I’ve been trailing you for months. Dry Eye was given the address. I can’t breathe! I need it, please.” Phuc panted.

“All right Phuc calm the fu-uck down.” Coach said as he grabbed Phuc and pulled him out of the boot. Eleanor snorted at that little joke which earned her a disappointed look from Raymond.

Phuc stood from the boot, stumbling around before a few sharp slaps to the face from Coach calmed him down. He fell forward again, and Ray caught him and righted him. “Sort him out.” He muttered.

Coach leant down and cut the tape off of Phuc’s ankles, before checking in him.

“You alright? Come on, where’s your inhaler?” Coach asked. “Look at me.” Another sharp slap to the face. “Where’s your inhaler?”

“There.” Phuc answered, looking down at his right jacket pocket.

“Right, here, take a blim.” Phuc took a deep breath on the inhaler, before pushing through Ray and Coach and making a break for it. He ran around the corner of the Princess Victoria, Ray, Coach and Eleanor following close after, Eleanor chasing as well as she should given the too tall heels strapped to her feet. Phuc jumped a wall, which, very unfortunately, was actually a bridge over train tracks. He fell to the floor, straight in front of an incoming train. Eleanor, Coach and Ray all leaned over the bridge as the train hit him.

And that was the end of poor Phuc.

Eleanor broke the stunned silence with a shake of the head, “They always do something stupid.”

“Yeah they do.” Ray agreed. “Right, shall we talk business?”

Coach and Eleanor followed Ray back towards the Princess Victoria – with Eleanor stopping to collect a duffel bag from her car, and locking the boot as she left. This was London after all.

“Bunny,” Ray spoke addressing the tall, quiet man that had been stood at the door, “There’s a little mess on the train tracks that you and Dave could do with sorting. I’ll give you the number for Network Rail and the Cleaners.”

Bunny nodded a “Yes Boss.” before reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a phone.

Ray stopped Eleanor as she walked into the pub.

“I’m assuming you have a change of clothes.” He spoke lowly.

Eleanor gestured to the duffel bag on her shoulder, “Give me five minutes and a bathroom.” She smiled.

“Past the bar, first door on your left.” Ray said with a glance down at his watch.

“Coach, pint of Madri and a pack of salt and vinegar Walkers please.” She said with a wink, heading off towards the bathrooms.

------

Ray had to admit, when he had taken the meeting with the people who had stolen his boss’ bush, he was expecting it to get messy. He was expecting some young dumb boys, too proud to admit they did wrong, and too stubborn to come to any sort of agreement. He was expecting having to use a bit more persuasion, the violent kind.

What he wasn’t expecting was a small Irish man dressed head to toe in a plaid tracksuit and a hooker. He was not expecting them to practically beg him to not interfere with the dumb boys (he was right about one thing he supposes, it’s always dumb boys who do stuff like this). He was not expecting them to have bought the source of the leak, Phuc, directly to him. He was also not expecting Phuc to jump onto an active rail line and die, but that was somehow the least surprising thing to happen. It was bound to get a little bit messy after all.

What he certainly wasn’t expecting was to be drawn to the hooker who accompanied Coach. He wasn’t expecting to notice the way she limped slightly after rolling her ankle in those heels that were far to tall, proving that she was not in fact a real hooker. Why she was dressed like one Ray has no idea, but he supposes the answer to that question will come with time. He wasn’t expecting to be drawn to her quick wit and casual charm. He wasn’t expecting to come out of this meeting wanting to know everything about a woman whom he’d met for 10 minutes.

He certainly wasn’t expecting her to look that good when she left the bathroom. Gone was the over the top hair and makeup, gone was the top that barely covered her tits and the skirt that barely covered her arse. Gone were the too tall heels.

In it’s place was a simple, yet elegant makeup look and sleek pony tail. She wore a one shouldered black dress, with some heeled boots (in a heel height she could actually walk in) and she looked gorgeous. Unbelievably gorgeous.

Ray checked his watch, four and half minutes. Impressive.

[steakpieisnice]

Headlines & Heartstrings - Chapter 1

It's here! Super excited to share this with you guys! Also there is no Ray in this chapter (sorry) but he's coming next chapter. Any and all feedback is appreciated, this is my first work so I need all the help I can get <3

Word count: 1.1k

Warnings: mentions of sex work and men being generally a bit creepy

Eleanor was startled to hear a knock at the door at this hour. She was usually the only one in the office who stayed for overtime, let alone overtime that carried on for this long.

“Come in.” She called out, without looking up from her desk.

“Hey Nora.” a voice timidly said.

Eleanor froze in her seat at the voice. “Get out.” She said coldly, still not looking up from her work.

“I just need to talk to you-“

“I said. Get. Out.”

“Nora please.”

She finally looked up at him, acknowledging the man that stood in front of her.

“Don’t call me that.” She snapped.

“I just need to ask you a favour Eleanor.”

“You don’t get to ask for favours.” She stared at him icily.

“Please, it’s just one thing.” He was near begging now.

“Like I said, you don’t get to ask for favours.” She turned away from him, starting to pack up. It was getting late anyway.

“It’s not for me. It’s for Coach.” She paused at the mention of the name of the man who basically raised her.

She turned, regarding Ernie with disdain. “Then why isn’t he here? Why are you the one knocking on my door at,” she checked her watch, “near midnight? Why isn’t Coach the one asking for my help if he needs it? Because I know damn well he hasn’t sent you here, so why are you fucking here Ernie?”

“He wouldn’t ask for your help, he’s too proud. He wants to deal with this on his own, but he can’t and he needs your help. Its bad.”

She stood still for a moment, contemplating it. “What did you do?” She sighed.

“What?” Ernie looked confused. “How do you know I did something?”

“Because you’re stupid Ernie.” Ernie began to protest, but she continued anyway. “And Coach is not stupid. And if you’re coming here asking for my help that means it is really bad. So you’re going to take me to that 24 hour ice cream shop down the road, buy me a vanilla fudge sundae, and you’re going to explain what you did and how you think I can possibly help get you out of the mess you’ve made.” She said, picking up her bag from under her desk and putting her coat on.

“Yes boss.” Ernie muttered, before following her out of the door. He was going to have to do a lot of grovelling.

----------

“So you’re telling me you filmed yourself breaking into one of Micheal Pearsons farms, stealing thousands of pounds worth of bush and then posted it online for millions of people to see?” Eleanor stared at Ernie, dumbfounded. “Look, I knew you were stupid, but this is actually impressive.”

Ernie looked offended for a second, but then seemed to remember that this whole thing was actually his fault, so didn’t say anything.

“And Coach is taking the fall for you?”

Ernie nodded earnestly.

“God that man is too good for this world.” She muttered under her breath, shaking her head. She leaned forward, lacing her fingers together, staring at Ernie so intently he thought her eyes would burn holes through his head. “How can I help?” She smiled, never breaking eye contact.

“Erm,” Ernie stalled, looking away and scratching his head nervously. “I was hoping, erm, you would figure that out?” He asked cautiously.

Her smile dropped. “Ernie, are you kidding me? You showed up to my office, begged for my help and now I’m here you really want me to do the rest of the work on my own? You are unbelievable.”

“Erm… Sorry?”

“You owe me. Big time.” ----------

It didn’t take much time to find Phuc, the guy who gave the Toddlers the location of the farm. You’d think these criminal types would be better at hiding where they lived, but clearly not. Phuc lived in a grimy flat above a takeaway in a backstreet in the posh part of Croydon. She leaned against the wall of an alleyway in Phuc’s street, taking one final drag of her cigarette before readjusting her outfit, pulling her top down to reveal more cleavage. She tried not to let the disgust on her face show as yet another man leered at her. Ernie better be prepared to go to hell and back to pay her back for this.

Eleanor spotted Phuc coming down the road and took a deep breath in, retousling her hair.

“Hey Hun.” She leaned towards him as he neared her. “You look like you’ve had a long day, looks like you could do with relieving some tension.” Eleanor reached towards him, running one finger down his chest.

 “How much?” He asked her. She panicked. She wasn’t expecting him to ask her that now.

“Fifty.” She purred. Shit. That was too low. He’s never going to believe she’s real with prices like that.

His eyes widened in excitement. Nevermind.

“My apartment is just down the road, let’s take this there.” He grabbed her hand, pulling her towards his door.

She pulled him back into the alley, whispering into his ear, “What’s wrong with right here right now?”

He seemed to have no complaints with that proposal as he pushed her against the wall, beginning to kiss down her neck. She held his head in place allowing a plaid clad arm to reach around and cover his nose and mouth with a rag. He struggled against the hand, but Eleanor held him in place, until he eventually stopped struggling and slumped forwards onto her.

She pushed him away, his body hitting the ground in front of her to reveal Primetime stood with a rag in hand.

“That was a sight I never wish to see again.” He said, still looking at her disturbed.

“How do you think I feel?” She muttered, righting her clothing, and trying to make herself look generally more presentable. “Right boys, let’s get him tied up and in the van.”

The rest of the Toddlers emerged from out of the shadows, before binding his arms and wrists with duct tape and throwing him into the van.

---------

“Fuck me.” A thick Irish accent groaned. “Do I need to bring you back to the gym to teach you some fucking self-respect?” Coach regarded Eleanor in disdain as she walked through the doors to his gym.

“I have self-respect I’ll have you know!” Eleanor said indignantly.

“Sure looks like it.” Coach said, giving her an incredibly pointed look as she yanked her skirt down to try and cover more than it was.

She turned and walked towards the office, rolling her eyes at him.

“I saw that, 20 press ups.” Coach said.

She threw her head back in a groan as she dropped to the floor in press up position.

“And ten more for the attitude.” Coach smirked. Ernie started to snicker before a glare from Eleanor shut him up.

She began her press-ups counting them under her breath.

“..and that’s 30. Right can we go now?” Eleanor panted as she got up from the ground and dusted her hands off. “Christ, I’m so unfit.”

“Go where?” asked Coach.

“The Princess Victoria of course. We have some grovelling to do.”

------------

Hope you enjoyed <3

[steakpieisnice]

Raymond Smith (The Gentlemen) xfemOC coming out 6/10!!

Headlines & Heartstrings is my first fanfic I've ever written and it releases tomorrow!

Chapter one and two are done and chapter three is already in the works ;)

[steakpieisnice]

Welcome!!

Hi! Welcome to my blog! I'm Lauren (she/her). I've been a long time lurker on tumblr, but this is my first time actually starting a blog and I'm super excited!

I've loved reading fanfics for as long as I can remember, however I've never actually stuck to writing them, and that changes today.

This is probably going to be a multi fandom account - with a large focus on poly!au and dynamics.

Fandoms I love include Scream (1996), The Gentlemen (movie and TV), Hannibal, Sherlock, WWE, Formula One, Harry Potter and so much more.

I'm currently working on a Raymond Smith x femOC, and I'm aiming to get the first chapter out as soon as I can name my character lol, so stay tuned!

If you prefer to read on Wattpad or Ao3, my user is the same across all three platforms, and I'm sure I'll figure out links and stuff at some point soon!

Thank you for reading my little intro and I look forward to interacting with you all soon <3