#ada thorne headcanons

[peakypolly]

Hey Kat! Happy birthday and congrats on your milestone. For your celebration, could I have 🍹with Ada Shelby please? xx

Hey Alex! Thank you for being so kind and for your request!☺️❤️ I'm sorry it took me so long! Here are some random headcanons I've thought up for our lovely Ada!

Taglist: @shelbydelrey @raincoffeeandfandoms

Random Ada Thorne Headcanons

When Ada was a teenager she would babysit for the neighboring families

At first nobody would hire her due to her being a Shelby- they were worried about her name rubbing off on the children or they would be in danger by association under Ada’s watch

She understands them not wanting to be associated with a Shelby, so she doesnt tell her family members she was turned away.

When a new family moved into a home on Watery Lane Ada saw this as an opportunity to get a fresh start and goes over to introduce herself, and tell them if they ever needed help watching their children to get in touch with her.

The family accepts and Ada does such an amazing job

She gets the kids in bed without a fuss and the next morning all they can talk about is how much fun they had with Ada

So she’s asked to return again the next weekend

When the family finds out she’s a Shelby, they dont really care

The sitters they had in the past just could not compare to Ada’s care of and for the children 

This prompts the other neighbors to ask for Ada to come watch their children as well

Ada is a book worm

She loves romance novels

Ada and Polly even start somewhat of a secret book club together where they meet over tea and discuss the stories they’ve read

Nobody knows about it but them

Michael walked in on it once but was too pre-occupied to care so now they meet at Ada’s because Polly doesnt want anyone to know she reads anything other than the paper

Ada cannot bake- she tries but she ends up just burning it or undercooking it

She’s also terrible at measuring out ingredients- she eyeballs it

When Karl comes along she tries to bake him muffins and cookies but it ends in smoke

So she hires a baker to come teach her- she wants to be the one to do it for her son

[heavencanbeaprisontoo]

The Other Shelby Girl

Platonic!Shelby Siblings x reader

Headcanon/Imagine for a second Shelby Sister. Explores dynamics with each sibling based on of the reader were their older or younger sibling.

Warnings: Fluff, angst, mentions of war, violence, period-typical sexism, over-protective sibling drama.

Arthur

Older Sister:

You are the third most respected woman in Arthur’s life, which is greater than it sounds. First was Mum, then Polly. To be succeeded only by Polly in Arthur Shelby’s eyes is precious. He’s always looked up to you, but didn’t always show it. After the war, Arthur would come to rely on you heavily for emotional support. There were nights he would come to your home and no be able to speak. Where he would seem to turn back into a little boy, crying into your shoulder as he begs you not to speak of this to the others. When Arthur met Linda, you were one of the few to be supportive. You are Arthur’s greatest advocate, but his pride and Tommy’s influence make it hard to help him. When you have a family of your own, it’ll only make things harder. You often feel like you have to take sides. Still, you do what you think is best.

Younger Sister:

Depending on just how young you are, Arthur might try to put on like he’s your Dad. Arthur doesn’t always know how to talk to you. You’re just a young woman, he doesn’t feel like he can talk to you the way he does with John or Tommy. He wants to tease you and pick on you as he would with Finn, but he can’t. The moment you hit out your bottom lip and look like your feelings got hurt, Arthur is a flustered mess of a guilty brother. You might resist his attempts at being fatherly, or welcome them. Regardless, you can see that Arthur just wants you to know he’s a safe space for you. Maybe if you ask him nice enough, he’ll teach you how to draw horses like he used to. No matter how old you get, Arthur is the brother that still sees you as a little girl.

Thomas

Older Sister:

Before the war, Tommy only saw you as someone who nagged at him. The meddling older sister warning him away from throwing curses at people and fighting with the cops. After the war, you became something far more delicate than that. You became something like his conscience. That pleading voice that begged for peace and forgiveness that grows fainter every year. As adults, you swear sometimes he hates you. The way he disregards you and keeps you at arm’s length. In actuality, he’s only trying to avoid the shame your hopeful gaze gives him. It was you who tried to get the brothers to hide from the draft. It was you who told him getting involved in London affairs would be dangerous. You who told him not to accept anything from the Russians. You were always right. Always good. He also feels he must protect you because you know him when he was soft and weak. Aside from Polly, you’re the last person who ever heard him laugh.

Younger Sister:

He lumps you in with Ada without really meaning to. You and Ada are both younger, and are both girls. As such, you both have similar problems that have his head aching and his trigger finger itching. Two pretty girls tend to attract a lot of scummy men. You’re both so stubborn about not needing anything from him, which is bloody absurd. Of course you need his help. Whatever money you’re making doing legitimate work isn’t going to be enough to keep you safe. You have never gone on a single date without someone Peaky Blinder watching you. Arthur tries to give advice like he’s your dad, and Tommy drops rules on you like he’s your dad. He has absolutely said the phrase, “And where are you going dressed like that?” Tommy will kill your ex-boyfriends if asked, he already knows why you want them dead and he agrees. The only thing he likes more than you accepting his help is hearing you admit he was right.

John

Older Sister:

He is the little brother who reads your diary and eats your food after being told not to. As a kid, John was Hell on legs. As an adult, John is still Hell on legs but with children. Growing up, you spent a lot of time picking John up from police stations and headmaster offices. John stresses you out like he’s being bloody paid for it. But, he loves you dearly and you forgive him more often than you should. John has called you “Mum,” as a joke many times but it’s not quite a lie. As an adult, he is far more respectful towards you. He is one to bow his head when you lecture him about fatherhood and how his drinking is going to harm his children. John respects you enough to take his cap off when he enters your home. However, he’ll still gobble down any treats you’ve left out in the kitchen and have the audacity to say, “What?!” When you shout at him for it.

Younger Sister:

John will not only read your diary and eat your snacks, but he will loudly announce your crush the moment he finds out. Any reluctance Arthur has about picking on you is nonexistent in John. He is a fully grown man who is unafraid to tease you with schoolyard chants in public spaces. Has walked into your room while you were reading just to slap something off of your desk and run. John has spent so long as the younger brother, he has to get his kicks where he can. That said, nobody better say anything rude to you. Ever. One time, a mate of his simply repeated a mean name he had called you and John slugged him for it. Nobody is allowed to annoy you but him. John is obnoxious in an almost biblical sense, but he is the one to see you cry and ask: “Who did that to you.”

Ada

Older Sister:

Yet another sibling to boss her around. Excellent! Ada is one who would resist you trying to take care of her. She doesn’t want to hear your advice! She doesn’t need it! Until her first heartbreak and then she’s sobbing on your bed waiting for you to come home. Ada hates to feel dependent on others, but she does trust you. There’s something special about having a sister. You understand each other in a way your brothers never will. The fear that builds as a man walks a few yards behind you out in the streets at night. How every romance has that bitter taste as you think about all that you’ll lose if you were to get married. Ada gets her best advice from you, but you’re also her security. You were probably the one to start taking her to the movie theater. It’s likely that Ada imitates you subconsciously. When you got your hair bobbed, so did Ada. When you started wearing heels, so did Ada. She denies it, but it’s obvious that she follows your lead.

Younger Sister:

Might be a sad thing to say, but Ada didn’t think much of you until she had Karl. You were just this clinging little sister that everyone thought she was supposed to take care of. All you did was follow her about town and put your nose where it didn’t belong. Tommy probably found out about her and Freddie through you. You don’t mean to be annoying, you’re just lonely. Ada couldn’t see that until she had a child and a home away from Small Heath. The dynamic flips hard when Ada comes back to Small Heath. Ada is all about leading you in “the right direction,” and is very serious about your education. She essentially begs Tommy to set aside money for you to go to university when you express interest. You want to be in with the Peaky Blinders, though. Oh, God. You’re in your rebellious phase and Ada wants to shake you till you forget all about jazz and pretty boys with guns. You both adore each other, but you butt heads over where your life is going and who should have a say in what direction it goes.

Finn

Older Sister:

Between you, Polly and Ada, he’s almost got a mother. As a young boy, Finn has actually called for you as his mother by accident. It makes sense. You were often left in charge of him. To Finn, you are all that he knows. It’s often left to you to make sure he goes to school and stays out of trouble. You’ve spent many afternoons arguing with his teachers to give him a second chance. Finn needs that, someone to stick up for him. That doesn’t mean he always likes it though. Finn wants to be a gangster, like his older brothers. You want him to do literally anything but that. When Tommy, Arthur, and John, pick on him too much you are the one to back Finn up. He used to like it… until he was roughly twelve. What used to be you coming to his rescue has become you inadvertently humiliating him. You try to back off, but Finn makes poor choices for himself which require you to come save him. Therefore, the cycle continues.

Younger Sister:

You are the only one beneath him in the Shelby Family Pecking Order, and he lives for it. When Finn has a bad day, he takes it out on you. Why not? It isn’t like he had anyone else he can push around and be the boss of. So, he’ll cut your dolls’ hair, call you names, and make fun of the things you like. But only if there’s other boys who can see him do it. When he goes too far and you cry, he has to answer to all of your siblings and Polly. Finn picks on you to soothe his own ego. When it’s just you and Finn, he’s very quiet. You two can spend hours not talking but be perfectly happy. Finn likes to turn on the radio and just sit, listening to music or the results of a boxing match. Sometimes, he vents to you about how Tommy wouldn’t let him do this or do that. You always listen to him. Finn usually takes these quiet times to apologize for past pranks or insults. You always forgive him. It’s odd to you how your accepting of his apology seldom puts him in a better mood. Truth is, he’s very jealous of you.

[theshelbyclan]

A Sisterly Bond

Summary: Ada and Teddy don’t have much in common, but that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t make a good team

A/N: I just felt like writing again, and for Ada and Teddy in particular. I always imagine as getting on better and better as Teddy gets older. She’s still young in this one, so it’s a rocky relationship still 😂 anyways, hope you enjoy to whoever still is reading my stuff!

Words: 2630

*****

“Teddy, would you be so kind as to give me my coat?”

“No.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Ada sighed, “why do you always have to be difficult?”

“Am not,” Teddy grumbled.” I just don’t see why I have to be your lady’s maid, just because you’re my sister.”

“Ooh, there’s a big word!” the older sister replied sarcastically.

“Tommy says all fancy rich ladies have a lady’s maid.”

“ ‘Tommy says’…” Ada rolled her eyes and Teddy stuck out her tongue at her.

In many ways, Ada and Teddy were nothing alike. There was the age gap, of course, but they also just seemed to have very little in common. Ada didn’t care much for family business, while Teddy wanted to know everything about everything. Ada tried her best to live her own life without her brothers interfering at every turn, whereas Teddy wanted to be like her brothers in every way. Ada made an effort to never care too much, unlike Teddy, who cared almost too much and didn’t have a problem showing it. Also, Ada wanted to go out in her fancy coat and high heels, and Teddy wanted to run free in her brother’s trousers and shirt.

Polly watched the two sisters and followed Teddy with her eyes as she stormed out the door in a huff. She then turned to Ada and said, “Would it kill you to just say a kind word to her every now and then?”

Ada had her nose back in the papers and shrugged, “I don’t know, Pol. Would it kill her to practise some good manners?”

“You know what she’s like.”

“Oh, I do,” she sighed, “I remember when she was born and you told me how nice it would be for me to have another girl in the family. Instead we got… Teddy.”

———

Nine-year-old Teddy Shelby was walking through the muddy streets and pretended she was a pirate. With a stick in hand, she fought off the assailants only she could see and shouted out battle cries. But in the chaos of Small Heath, no one really noticed her. And if they did, they simply thought: there goes Teddy Shelby…

Her playing was suddenly interrupted though by her youngest brother. “Aunt Polly says she wants you to go with Ada!” Finn shouted out, as he ran towards her.

“Why?” she sighed, exasperated.

“I don’t know. She needs help carrying things from the market?”

Teddy kicked a rock, “Can’t you do it?”

Finn shrugged again, “It’s a woman’s job, isn’t it.”

“Oh fuck off!” As Finn pouted a little, she added, “Please can you go? Ada doesn’t even like me…”

If there was one thing Finn couldn’t stand, it was seeing his little sister upset, so he agreed. “You know, Arthur is always with John. Ada likes me, but you’re Tommy’s favourite.”

“I know.”

“So it’s not that bad, right?” Finn tried hopefully.

“I suppose not.” But Teddy couldn’t help but feel a little sadness over it.

———

“Aunt Pol says I’m to get you ready for church.”

“I am ready,” Teddy motioned to her dress, which she hated so intensely.

Ada sighed, “What have you done to your knees now? They look like you’ve become the chimney sweep’s latest apprentice.”

“Why do you always have to badger me?” Teddy called out, full of frustration.

“Just… clean your knees before Polly sees,” she waved a hand and put on a hat.

Teddy started scrubbing furiously as her legs. Ada watched her and decided that maybe she should make an effort. So she asked, “What do you think of this hat? Does is suit me?”

“I don’t know,” the little girl shrugged, “it stays on so I’m guessing it fits your head?”

“Bloody hell, I don’t know why I even bother. Let’s go.”

———

In the late afternoon sun, Tommy was talking to a man about a horse. Next to him, a small girl was following the conversation intensely, trying to learn as much from the interaction as she could.

“I’ll give you four for her, but no more.”

“Can’t do less than six, mister Shelby,” the man slapped her brother’s hand, “She’s a good horse, that one. Strong.”

“She’s no war horse and I could have fucking five of her for that price. Four and a half.”

“I have a family to feed, sir. Five?”

Tommy shook his hand and that was that.

After he’d left, Teddy looked up and, like she’d been in the business for twenty years, said, “She’s worth at least ten, Tommy.”

“Is she?” he took a drag on his cigarette, but inside felt like he could burst with pride. Then he lifted Teddy up and planted her up onto the horse, “Go on, tell me what she’s like.”

As Teddy rode around the yard, Ada joined her brother. With her usual air of indifference, she commented, “Well, if it isn’t the big brother and his pride and joy.”

“Hello, Ada…”

“Did she persuade you into spending more money once again?”

“Look at her,” Tommy pointed, “She might be the best rider in all of Small Heath.”

Ada raised her eyebrows and mumbled, “High praise…” In truth, Ada was impressed. She’d always been the odd one out in the family when it came to horses. She never much cared for them and riding them had always been more of a chore than a pleasure.

“Why don’t you tell her how good she looks up on that horse, eh?”

“Me? Why the hell would I tell her?”

Tommy locked eyes with Ada, “Because it’s you she wants to hear it from.”

She laughed a little at that, “No, Tommy, it’s you she wants to hear it from. Everything she wants to hear from you.”

As Ada walked off again, Tommy called after her, “She is your only sister, Ada.”

“And what a joy she is,” but it didn’t come out that sarcastic this time.

After a few more minutes or riding, Teddy hopped down from the horse again. Her brother asked her some questions about the horse and she answered to the best of her abilities. But in between, Teddy carefully asked, “Was that Ada?”

“Yes, just on her way home from the Bullring.”

“Did she watch me ride?” Teddy asked in a small voice.

Tommy observed her for a second, “Now, why do you ask that?”

She shrugged her shoulders and turned away to brush off the horse, “Just curious.”

———

Polly was a modern woman in many ways, but not in every way. She might’ve even been insulted if you called her that. So, when it was time for the spring cleaning of the house, she asked the girls to help. Well, she didn’t really ask.

“Ada, you start on sweeping and Teddy you can follow her with the bucket.”

Both girls rolled their eyes so hard it had to hurt and Polly couldn’t help but notice how in those few seconds, they looked exactly alike.

“I’ll be in the back with the washing,” their aunt continued, leaving no room for arguments.

Cigarette in hand, Ada started sweeping the floors at her own leisurely pace.

“Hurry up, will you?” Teddy grumbled, “I have to wait on you to mop and I do have other things to do, you know.”

“Oh? And what important appointments might you have, you strange little idiot?”

“Don’t call me an idiot!” Teddy stomped down het foot, “and hurry the fuck up!”

“Swear again and I’ll give you a slap!”

“Go on then!”

Ada huffed and swung her broom, aiming for her annoying sister. Teddy ducked and laughed, “You’re too slow.”

“Teddy…” she sighed, “I don’t want to do this either and I don’t have the energy to fight you as well. Just shut up and get this done.”

“Fine. Go on then, work, unless you’re afraid you’ll break a fucking nail or something.”

That earned Teddy a firm smack around the head. Angrily, she picked up her bucket and threw its contents in Ada’s direction, instantly soaking her sister.

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE?!”

Aunt Polly came barging in the house after hearing Ada scream. Inside, she found a furious Teddy with one red cheek and an even more furious Ada, completely wet and dripping.

“I left you two alone for five fucking minutes,” she glared daggers, “and you can’t even behave for that long?”

Ada seemed to have found her composure again and grabbed another, dry, cigarette. “That’s what happens when you leave me with an actual fucking savage, Pol.”

“It’s not my fault! She started it!” Teddy fumed, “She called me an idiot and she does that all the time because she hates me!”

“Jesus Christ,” Polly lit a cigarette of her own, “Ada, go get changed and then you can continue the work outside. Teddy, you take over the sweeping. Probably my own fucking fault for thinking you could get along for half a day…”

With all the dignity she could muster in a soaked dress, Ada stalked off. Teddy picked up the broom and tried to avoid Polly’s eyes.

“I’ll have a word with her,” Polly said eventually, not without sympathy.

“Which is more than I’ll ever fucking have again,” Teddy spit.

“God,” Polly whispered to herself, “Why did you have to make them both so fucking stubborn?”

———

It was the evening after pay day, so all the pubs in Small Heath were filled to the brim. Normally, they didn’t serve women on their own, but Ada Shelby was the exception to the rule. Harry wouldn’t dare to refuse her.

“Here you go, Miss Shelby,” he said, as he handed her a drink.

She took it gratefully and went to sit down. The truth was, she was hoping to catch a glimpse of Freddie Thorne, but he hadn’t been in yet.

After fifteen minutes, she wanted another one and made her way over to the bar again. But the place was packed and it took too long for her liking. So, Ada went behind the bar and poured her own drink. Teddy watched her and smirked slightly. Deep down, she did admire her sister, simply because she wasn’t impressed by anything or anyone really.

At the same time, an older gentlemen strolled into the Garrison. He was dressed differently, looked like money, and had the confidence to match. Short as he was, he made up for it in attitude. Teddy didn’t know him and eyed him carefully.

Then he spotted Ada and made his way over. Leaning on the bar, he started talking to her, but Teddy couldn’t hear. She stood up and walked a little closer, while remaining invisible in the crowd.

“Come on, sweetheart, pretty girl like you all alone without a man?”

“Who says I am?” Ada shrugged, and Teddy could tell she was uncomfortable.

He smiled at her without humour, “How about I take you for a good time. You don’t want to be difficult, do you?”

Teddy frowned and felt the urge to spit at him. But instead she noticed how he was standing up on the little ledge of the bar, just a few inches off the ground. Cockily, he balanced on one leg, presumably to make up for the inches he lacked.

So the little girl grinned and just as he was telling Ada about all the things he had and could offer her, Teddy walked up to him and kicked him in the back of his knees. At once, he lost his balance and his legs buckled. And in one swift motion, he collapsed onto the bar and then fell flat on his arse.

The pub erupted in laughter.

Teddy joined in, but only got to celebrate her triumph for a few seconds. The man became furious and grabbed her, raising his hand to strike her. But before he could, Ada had grabbed a bottle and smashed it over his head. Afterwards, she calmly brushed the glass off her own coat and bit, “Now, piss off.”

“Yeah!” Teddy added, “Piss off!”

Ada looked down at her and grabbed her hand. She didn’t feel like waiting for what was to happen next, so she marched her little sister out of the pub.

Outside, neither said a word for a long time. Eventually, Ada was the first one to speak, “Would you mind explain what the bloody hell that was?”

Teddy shrugged, a little winded from having to run after Ada in her four inch heels, “I thought he was a bad man, so I didn’t want him to talk to you.”

Ada looked down at her strange little sister and felt a sudden surge of love for her, “He was a bad man. And I didn’t want him to talk to me.”

“Why?”

“Teddy… there are some good men out there…”

“Are there?”

“…but most of them are just bastards.”

Teddy pondered on that for a second, “How do you know which one is the not-bastard?”

Ada smiled, “Well, apparently, you already do. This one was not one of them.”

“So, you’re not mad at me for kicking him?” She tried carefully.

“Mad?” She laughed, “I thought it was bloody brilliant!”

Teddy smiled back up at Ada, beaming with pride.

“Thank you, Teddy, because for a moment, I did get scared.”

“I can come with you all the time, if you like!” her little sister quipped happily, “Keep watch for you?”

“That won’t be necessary, sweetheart, but I appreciate the offer.”

Casting her eyes down again, “Yeah, I know you don’t want me around…”

And quite abruptly, Ada stopped her in the streets, “Now wait a second, you strange little…” she quickly swallowed her words, “Teddy. Just because I don’t always like you, doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Do you understand?”

“No. That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Maybe not,” Ada marched on again and Teddy once again struggled to keep up, “but it will as soon as you find your own not-bastard!”

Teddy looked a little too pensive for Ada’s liking, so she said in her version of being comforting, “I’ll look out for you too and kick any man that gets to close, don’t worry.”

“What happened to you two?” Polly demanded, as her two nieces walked through the door.

“Nothing,” they both replied in unison.

Thomas looked from one to the other, “Tell me what happened.”

“We told you, Thomas, nothing happened,” Ada replied airily, while taking off her gloves.

“Teddy, you fucking tell me now.”

But even Teddy didn’t crumble under her brother’s piercing eyes this time. Instead, she looked up to Ada and said, “It’s nothing, Tommy. Just women’s business. Nothing for you to worry about.” She was now directly quoting her other female role model and Polly had no choice but to bend her head to hide her smile.

Ada smiled back at Teddy and left the room, with her little sister in tow.

“What the fuck was that?” Tommy sighed.

Polly replied, not without some smugness, “I believe that was a sisterly bond in action.”

“Should I be worried?”

“Yes.”

“Fucking hell,” he breathed, as he lit another cigarette.

Polly turned around to continue her work, “You’re outnumbered now, Thomas!”

Tommy tried to make a dismissive hand gesture, “There’s four of us, only two of them.”

“Yes, but they’re women, sweetheart, and women count for at least two men. Besides, they’re together now.”

This was all too much for the great leader of the Peaky Blinders to understand. There were some things, ‘women’s business’ as Teddy so elegantly had put it, that he tried to steer clear of. Still, he felt a pang of sadness over his little sister growing up. Maybe he was losing her.

“You won’t,” his aunt read his mind, “but you can’t protect her forever either.”

“If I can’t, who will?”

Polly smiled gently, “We will.”

*****

Masterlist

[peaky1wh0re]

Finn Shelby × reader fanfic on Wattpad coming soon!!

Hey, I'm gonna be writing a Finn Shelby × reader fanfic on Wattpad since he's very underrated and I wanted to write something hahaha

My user is Hermione1500 (cringe I know haha)

[notyour-valentine]

Peaky Blinders ~ Skiing Headcanons

[Masterlist] [Taglist]

This is just for fun and a little holiday card from me to you guys. Happy Easter!

Skiing, to Tommy, is something he is desperate to try it out for himself and his family as soon as he comes into some money. Especially when he realises that practically every other MP goes skiing at least once a year, he knows he has to go and has to learn

So he packs in the family and up the mountain they go

Esme

Why start with Esme, you ask? Well, because she is an excellent skier. She has been skiing with her brothers and sisters since she could remember, not on the slopes in some ski resort, no. They’d climb up the mountains, camp there and then ski down with some old pair of skies through forests and terrain, so it’s backcountry for her always

So she has a huge advantage on all of her family members and enjoys it a lot.

It takes her a while to get to the grip with carving skies and she doesn’t like the lifts. Climbing up is half the fun, to her at least. She repeats that every time the lift slows down or stops for a moment

Normal pistes are too boring for her, and she always dodges out the sides

Her ski gear is a mix and match of state of the art equipment and age old gloves and hats that look like they’ve been in use forever. 

Refuses to wear a helmet. 

John

Straightlines until he absolutely has to break, reaching dangerous speeds

Otherwise  no technique or rhythm. But he has great fun doing it. 

Usually tries to follow Esme into the unsecured terrain and does shockingly well for his skill level

Is often seen in and around the fun parks because while he can’t really ski, he loves jumping and trying out tricks with the children, who all ski better than him

Falls a lot, but always gets up

Arthur

Tries

He tries so hard and does his best. 

Is often skiing with his arms spread out, legs too wide apart and poles clutched as he repeats all the instructions to himself. 

While he manages to turn and go slow, he isn’t good at stopping, usually crashing into other people, poles, fences, trees, piles of snow or landing on his arse, while loudly apologising to everyone in area

He has a proper ski jacket and gloves, wears a helmet and goggles, but an old fashioned scarf that flatters behind him and so he gets both a runny nose and a sunburn

Looks a bit silly, but all the kids love him because he is the one who pulls their sledges up the slopes once the lifts are closed for some after hours fun

He also lets them bombard him with snow balls

Also always tries to take pictures of everyone on the slopes and ends up with freezing hands

Has dropped gloves or poles on ski lifts at least a dozen times

Finn

The best skier of the brothers

Was young enough when they started to go skiing to learn it properly, and so is actually technically quite good

Considers switching to snowboard for the longest time

Likes the fun parks and the race tracks 

Michael

Went on a skiing school trip once and had already learned the basics

Switches to snowboard with Finn in their late teens and they learn together

Both get good quick and go off on their own (often with Isaiah)

Is less fond of the tricks but really likes starting at the highest possible point to get the longest runs

They are the most likely to fall out of lifts because they mess about

Linda

Is a decent skier

Sometimes, she skies in curves on the cat tracks/ connection trails and those places that are completely flat and makes it everyone else’s problem

Snaps at everyone for slaloming in lifts, or not placing their skies on the bars in others

Scorns the idea of going off piste, jumping, spraying snow on purpose etc

Ada

Went on a work trip to an indoor ski center with the library colleagues once and so she knew some things

Gets herself her own instructor and gets pretty decent, but doesn’t go beyond red runs, and never goes off piste or jumps

Has matching clothes with Polly

Usually skies for about an hour/an hour and a half in the morning, then goes to join Polly, and then for another hour or two in the afternoon

Polly

Doesn’t ski

Instead, she stays at the most expensive ski restaurant on the slopes modelling the most luxurious winter outfits, complete with sunglasses as she lounges in the sun and watches the others ski

Looks absolutely stunning while doing so

She also goes through Aperol Spritz by the liter as she watches the others

Later, when the kids are around, she makes them show up at the restaurant at 11:00 sharp, for hot chocolate and a refreshment of sunscreen, as well as a change of balaclava and scarves, then at 13:00 for lunch, at 15:00 for final check up before the run

If any of the kids falls or gets tired, they know they can stay with Aunt Pol

Grace

Proclaims she is an excellent skier

Chooses the ski resort for Tommy, and refuses to borrow skies, poles and shoes and so he buys her ones matching her (rumoured even more expensive than Polly’s) ski jacket. Under it she wears a cashmere turtleneck

Is actually a capable skier. Unfortunately she falls on the first day and demands to be taken down in the ski lift

Is never seen on the slopes again

Lizzie

Has never skied before, and because she starts at a later age, she is a little more fearful

However she is eager to learn and so she signs up for an adult group beginners class and likes the group atmosphere

She isn’t a natural but she tries and is receptive to feedback so after a week she is pretty decent and can get down the blue and reds safely, all be it slowly

Needs help in the lifts but is so grateful the lifties all know her by sight and are eager to help her out

On the following holiday, she signs up again, and this time Arthur joins too

She stops when she gets exhausted as she doesn’t want to injure herself, and avoids the steeper parts, as well as the bad weather

She loves being out in the fresh air though and often takes walks in the area surrounding it

Later in life, she picks up cross-country skiing and sticks with it for as long as she can

Charlie and Ruby

Both learn as young children, looking adorable in their little ski suits and helmets

Since they are so young and fearless, they become great skiers

At 10, Ruby announces that she wants to learn snowboarding, but has to wait until she is 13 and then is only allowed after at least a day or two of skiing to make sure she is still good at it

She absolutely loves it and also likes a bit of back.country snowboarding

Charlie is sometimes jealous, but he prefers skis and often goes slower than he can to make sure everyone in the family can keep up

Tries to help Arthur with his technique 

And of course…

Tommy

He buys expensive set of pitch black ski clothes, trousers, jacket, underwear, gloves etc. The only thing he forgoes are the ski goggles - because he claims he doesn’t need them. The snow proves him wrong and so he has to go buy one at the local store, which he feels is humiliating

Of course, Tommy Shelby can’t embassass himself on the slopes and so he hires a private teacher for lessons far away from the rest of the family, although he is fairly certain he can do well since he’s researched it

Well, research only goes so far

Lets just say he is not a natural at all. He lacks the patience, he lacks the resistance against the cold and truth be told he lacks the desire to put some wood on his feet and go down a snowed up mountain. 

He doesn’t understand anyone’s fascination with it

If he does ski, once he has the basics under his belt, he tries to do it away from the rest of his family because he knows he will never live it down

At first, only Ada knows how poor a skier her brother really is (and that he usually only goes and sits in one of the smaller ski huts and works as long as the wifi holds)

Later, Lizzie sometimes skies with him. If they are far behind everyone else, she takes the blame for it but by then they all know that she’s a decent skier

He hates it, he hates the cold and the fact that he can’t open his eyes without sunglasses or ski goggles. He hates the wind and the fact that his knees and his back hurt

But by the time he has to admit defeat before the mountain, he has to admit that his family loves their annual skiing trips and so, to his regret, he has to pencil in the next one

He ends up joining Lizzie in cross country for a day or two per holiday, although his bad lungs make it tricky for him to keep up but she slows down for him.

Since he likes the quiet and the nature, he soon looks forward to the cross country trips with Lizzie

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed and as always I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Taglist

Overall

@lilyrachelcassidy @jyessaminereads @chlorrox @watercolorskyy @books-livre @quarterpastmidnight  @lilyevanswhore  @polishcrazyone  @zablife  @just-a-harmless-patato  @stevie75 @flyingjosephine-blog @runnning-outof-time @cillmequick @babayaga67 @butterfly-skinnylegend @shelbydelrey @mrkdvidal1989 @raincoffeeandfandoms @midnightmagpiemama @adaydreamaway08 @trixie23

Tommy

@knowledgefulbutterfly @babayaga67 @signorellisantichrist @lespendy @geeksareunique @look-at-the-soul @lothbrokcore @rangerelik @elenavampire21 @evanore @dandelionprints

[ideas-and-shit]

ok wait here's another idea lol: so how about being the peaky blinders character's fave author?

imagine being ada, finn, and tommy's fave author

you being one of the first authors finn has ever read from, he heavily related to a lot of your main characters, he's shipped a lot of characters too (whatever shipping was called back then) and also tried to make fan work/writing (aka fanfiction) but stopped cus he thought his writing was crap.

he started reading your stories when he was like 13 and coincidentally, those were the first few works you published, and you only started writing short stories that centered around your fictional universe. he was obsessed, he just couldn't get enough of your characters😭 everytime you would have something published he would go to the store and ask for money to buy them immediately. he really admired you; and you were basically polly's hero (in terms of gratefulness). she noticed how finn suddenly took an interest in books, language, grammar, all that (lol he was trying to get good at writing so he could make fan work and finally do your stories some justice, im talking about his teenage years btw, like 13-16) and she was curious in what sparked this sudden interest, maybe he was trying to impress a girl or something? she talked to him, and Finn talked about these stories he was reading and how he had been wanting to create stories of his own recently. polly was in a good mood for the rest of the week. she thanked whoever was up there for leading finn to this author he was talking about. when people would notice, she would just shrug and give a smile. finally, finn had someone else to admire other than his big brothers. finally, finn had somehing else he wanted to do with his life other than join the peaky blinders.

currently he's not as into the idea as he was when he was younger but he was still into your works.

idk about this au, cus it isnt exactly a romantic finn x reader? but it is a finn x reader in terms of like, pairing yk? mentor x student found family type stories. i also dont know how finn would turn out in this au, whether he'd turn out to be an author just like y/n or lose interest in writing or something cus i just thought of a plotline for this au

--- what if finn loses interest in writing over the years and also stops keeping up with y/n's stories. the same thing happens to y/n, and although at one point, their stories were popular, only a few ppl only read their stories. y/n uses writing as their fulltime job and so writing wasnt enough to support them anymore. they had to get another job and stop publishing.

one day, finn sees a book by his once favorite author being read by a kid (13 years old, like the age he was when he started reading) and he asks the kid where they bought the book. he thought it would be good to check out the author again, just for nostalgia's sake yk? but the kid says it was the last one sold in bookstores, cus the author retired --- thats all i have for it😭

anyway this is kinda getting long ill just link ada and tommy's ver. here

edit: ALSO ALSO LOOK WHAT I FOUND ON TWT LMAOO

imagine finn stealing money, only to use it to buy y/n's new published books💀💀

[cheekypeakyblinder]

Guys I made a tiktok lol to boost my storys and because I want to make those y/n tiktoks 😂

So heres my first one 😂🙈

[blahblahblahhhhhsworld]

Peaky blinder fam fix writers should watch this…

[zablife]

Dear Lee, once more congratulations on your milestone. I love the variety and creativity in your celebration and I can't wait to participate.

📚First of all, I'd like to announce a book return, but I have brush up on some old knowledge because I want to do it justice but the title stands: "Aristos Achaiōn" and I hope you will like it.

☎️ at the reference desk, I'd ask for what subjects you'd think each of the Shelbys would have studied at University

Then I'd also like to register for a library card, but I'll leave it to you if you want to give me one now or when I publish my story

✨🤍

Tysm for the ask, Val! I loved writing these! I hope you enjoy reading them! I look forward to your submission as well! I'll probably issue your library card then since I'm still thinking about your tag.

What the Shelby Siblings Study at Uni

Arthur never cared for school and was never there. When he was present, he only drew pictures of horses. It wasn’t possible for him to go to university as he never sat for his exams. When the time came, he decided to go to trade school instead and opened a successful garage.

Tommy attended one of the best universities money could buy on scholarship. He’d always been good at maths so it made sense that he would go into business or accounting. However, once he was at school, his classes couldn’t hold his attention. He was far too ambitious. He didn’t understand why he should be stuck in a lecture hall when there was money to be made so he left after a year and began a company of his own. 

John never gave university much thought until Esme wanted to go. She wanted to become a veterinarian and studied hard to make her dream a reality. One day out of boredom, John picked up one of her textbooks and began reading. “Esme, you’re going to have to put your whole arm up a cow’s….”

“Give me back my bloody book,” she interrupted as he laughed.  However, after his laughter subsided, John began asking her serious questions and night after night they discussed her studies. John entered school the next semester with her and they eventually opened a clinic together on a large farm. 

Ada knew she wanted to study political science from the time she met Freddie. Much like John, her partner encouraged her in her studies. “You’re brilliant mind is going to change the world, love,” he would often tell her. She was the darling of all her professors even though she argued with them vigorously in class. After one particularly long session, a professor convinced her to join the debate team and she became a legend at her university, winning every tournament she entered. 

Finn is much like Tommy when it comes to school, never going to class. However, he wastes the Shelby family money in doing so and never works to pay them back. He is reluctant to work, claiming nothing suits him. The reality is, he is lazy and wants to spend his days in the gym with Isiah and Bonnie and his nights out in pubs drinking and finding pretty girls. Ada tries to get through to him, but it’s Tommy and Polly who end up threatening to cut off his allowance for good if he doesn’t work full time for the Shelby Co. Limited. He’s really nothing more than a glorified errand boy though.

[divinekangaroo]

Loved that you gave Lizzie backstory in your fics. Do you reckon she will be alright with how S6 ended? I'm truly heartbroken for her and need closure

My opinion/headcanon on how she is after S6 depends on what we think happens after Tommy disappears. Like, if he simply disappeared, then he reappears at some point...I mean, I do imagine they divorce, this is not a marriage, but I also think Lizzie would probably find her feet? And that she and Tommy would be relatively amicable if not necessarily friends/in a relationship? She's got a significant position in the company now and there's every sign she would continue, especially if she becomes Charlie's primary parent figure.

But if we imagine Tommy's disappearance was reported as a death, and Lizzie hears and believes he died - and given the circumstances, even if Arthur tells Lizzie that Tommy was sick, it's still *clearly* a suicide - I think Lizzie takes it much, much harder. She was his carer in the end, in that broken way they had, and when she couldn't take his self-harm and the way it fell on her in the end, she left him - triggering his son to leave him - only to find out a few weeks, maybe months after her “abandonment” (1) of a man that she knew was unstable, had been suicidal, was taking extreme inexplicable murderous/sexual actions, was having seizures - that Tommy then committed suicide all on his own? I do not imagine she copes well *at all*, especially with how she'd adopted that job/role/mantle of his carer/calmer/safety line. (<- This second/worse scenario is more what I like to play in with fic, and I have bits and pieces of story planned. No matter her past pragmatism about the impact of his behaviours, this is the first time she walks away from Tommy ever — and he kills himself? Fffff the rage and hurt and despair and *rage*…and when he reappears, my goodness, times it all by 1000)

Generally, though, I don't know if the show ever intends to gives closure. I sort of like that? In some ways it feels a bit more realistic, yanno? Closure's a bit of a fabrication in the real world.

I do like to speculate that in either scenario, Lizzie takes all of Tommy's money and legal authority and businesses, and changes her name back to Stark; Charlie decides to go by Charles Burgess and reverts the name of the foundation to the Grace Burgess Foundation; Duke never changes his surname from his mother's surname; when Ada hits politics she of course goes by Ada Thorne. (And Linda returns herself and Billy to her maiden name, and Shelby Co has no more Shelbys on the board ->) So the name Shelby lives and dies with Tommy and Arthur alone. (And the gin distillery goes bankrupt probably)

So I suppose we could speculate Lizzie gets something out if it? CEO/Queen at last. But not closure…

((1) Note the self blame I talk about above is how I imagine Lizzie might react and isn’t a comment on suicide contributing factors)

[peakypolly]

Hello to each and everyone of you who stumbles upon this blog! My name is Kat, I'm 21 years old from the U.S and I love Peaky Blinders!

I want to use this blog to make friends with similar interests, establish a better writing technique, and talk about all things Peaky related.

Some rules:

No fighting, nasty comments, or bullying/harassment are allowed on this page!

No racism, homophobia, antisemitism, or anything hateful towards any members of any community or you will be blocked

Right now I do not write smut because I'm just not comfortable in my ability to do so but I might in the future

My requests are open! Here are the characters I write for:

Tommy Shelby

Arthur Shelby

John Shelby

Finn Shelby

Ada Thorne

Polly Gray

Michael Gray

Alfie Solomons

Bonnie Gold

Isaiah Jesus

Newly added:

Aberama Gold

I can do Headcanons, One-Shots, Preferences, and Imagines

I will not write incest, and all characters must be 18+ (Finn seasons 4-6 scenarios only) I will also not write any r@pe or S/A content (really abuse of any kind unless it is only eluded to as a past event)!! It makes me uncomfortable and I want this blog to be a safe space for all!

I will take requests for characters not listed but they may not be granted if I feel I don't know how the character would respond to the scenario in the request/ don't know how to write them!

I am new to writing fan fiction so please bare with me as I learn, I hope to be able to bring justice to how your favorite character is written!

Thank you for reading and have a lovely day!

[murswrites]

🌸3 Years of MURSWRITES Event 🌸

🌸 I’ve Aged Three Years On This Blog 🌸

I started this blog (originally @peakymarvelworld) in March of 2020 at age 15. I’ve just turned 18 and this blog has changed a lot over the course of the last 2 years. I’m titling this 3 years of MURSWRITES since it technically has been for me personally but in actuality, it’s only been 2 years and some months. This event is going to be very similar to my Spring Break Speed-Run Event.

The sleepover options are all little tidbits that make me, me :) I thought it’d be cute to customize the name lol, sending just the emoji is fine by me! I also think it’s really clever that the timeline equals 18 and I did 18 character LOL

🌸 Important Info 🌸

Timeline: July 6, 2022 - July 12, 2022 Types of requests: Headcanons, blurbs, even drabbles if I am inspired* What is this event celebrating? My 18th birthday and 2,500 followers!  What kind of activities are included? A sleepover event & mini fics again!

🌸 What Does The Sleepover Entail? 🌸

🌞 Cancer Sun: i’ll answer any burning questions y’all have for me

🌝 Pisces Moon: random headcanons for any of the characters listed below! send me an idea or just send “pisces moon w/character name”

⭐️ Virgo Rising: no context ships, send your name, sexuality,  your gender & pronouns, fandom &  3 things about you ---- (ex: ⭐️, rowan, bisexual, nonbinary, he/they, stranger things, i’m sarcastic, i like cats, pink is my favorite color!) MUTUALS ONLY

🌸 Chaotic Evil: fuck, marry, kill with any 3 characters from any of my fandoms or those listed below :)

🌈 INTP: vibe check - see if i pass your vibe check by sending something you like, dislike (whatever) and ill give my opinion on whatever it is!

🌸 Who can I request for? 🌸

Ada Thorne-Shelby (Peaky Blinders, S1-S6 minus the series finale )

Adrian Chase (Vigilante, DCECU)

Alina Starkov (The Sun Summoner, Grishaverse)

Benedict Bridgerton (Bridgerton S1-S2)

Bonnie Gold (Peaky Blinders, S1-S6 minus the series finale )

Bruce Wayne (Batman, The Batman 2022)

Connor RK800 (Detroit: Become Human)

Diego Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy, S1-S3)

Eddie Munson (Stranger Things S1-S4)

Joel Miller (The Last of Us)

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games, Books & Movies)

Matthias Helvar (Grishaverse)

Matthew Murdock (Daredevil, Daredevil)

Malyen Oretsev (Grishaverse)

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things S1-S4)

Tobias Eaton (Divergent, all Movies, his book, books 1 & 2)

Thomas Shelby (Peaky Blinders, S1-S6 minus the series finale)

Yennefer of Vengerberg (The Witcher 3 & Netflix S1 & S2)

🌸 Prompt Lists 🌸

Angst, Terror, & Anger

Dramatic / Worried

Fluff Alphabet

Hugging / Kissing

Peaky Blinders

Sassy / Humor

Bliss / Fluff

Random / Misc

Songs

🌸 Specific Rules 🌸

* The type of request written will be decided by me, so if you send a request asking for a headcanon, it will be deleted. I will write your scenario, idea, etc. as I see fit.

🌸 Mutuals🌸

@musicallisto

@imaginesbymk

@sinfulshelbys

@peak-a-blinder

@smallheathgangsters

@anthonysharmaa

@irishwhiskeys

@sleepypeaky

@vostokovasmelina

@bitchroyy

@amysteryspot

@myriadimagines

@bonniesgoldengirl

@retromafia

@starkeysslut

@theowritesstuff

@retvenkos

@noesapphic

@flysafepapi

@swanimagines

@moonlit-imagines

@druiigg

@murderousginger

@peakyswift

@3xc3lsior

@peakyblcnders

@peakywitch

@the-radio-star

@staygold-bebold

@tommydoesntpayforsuits

@promenadewithme

@brokenandheadoverheels

@danihow

@thereagles

@raccoon-is-my-spirit-animal

@royaltywhxre

@writeroutoftime​

@writersmacchiato

[corpsekiller]

asking them if you can come over (modern!au)

𝖢𝖧𝖠𝖱𝖠𝖢𝖳𝖤𝖱𝖲. thomas shelby, ada shelby, john shelby

𝖶𝖠𝖱𝖭𝖨𝖭𝖦𝖲. fluff, crack, language

MASTERLIST

THOMAS SHELBY

ADA SHELBY

JOHN SHELBY

© 2021 all rights reserved— gunpowder-and-smoke. do not modify, repost, plagiarize, or claim my work as your own without permission.

[notyour-valentine]

Oh I did not realize that, apologies. Maybe a headcanon about what the family thinks about Mrs Hales and Tommy's relationship? 🦇🦇

🍷Join me for a Drink 🍷 - TBITW: What the family thinks

[Celebration] [Celebration Masterlist] [Masterlist]

This was written as part of my Series The Boy in the Window and contains spoilers

Ada: 

Ada remembered her fondly from her childhood, even if she thought her rather boring in her teenage years. But she knows she is a trustworthy, caring person and perhaps just the kind Tommy needs 

Even though they are still very different people, she is incredibly supportive of their relationship and appreciates the stability and softness she could provide.

Arthur: 

Arthur has more memories of her brother than her but if Tommy is happy, he is happy. So his support is almost like a blank check and goes beyond the dislike Linda tries to plant. 

It takes time for him to truly get to know her but then he begins to value her beyond what she means to Tommy, as a sense of stability for the whole family. 

Charlie Strong & Curly

They both grew to appreciate her when she brings them food while visiting with the children during the vendetta. 

She is a softer, perhaps less vocal women than the others in Tommy's life which Curly instinctively likes, but Charlie was a bit worried that she wasn't cut out for this life and that Tommy would end up hurting her. He is glad that she is in Tommy's, and especially little Charlie's life, but his eyes are always open and on the lookout for trouble.

Finn: 

Finn doesn't really care. He thinks she's nice enough but she is age wise and aesthetically not at all what he would choose and not what he thought Tommy would pick, when he could have showgirls or models by the scores. 

He thinks her unremarkable, but accepts her as part of the family

Linda: 

Linda doesn't like her. She thinks she is an opportunistic gold digger and sees her as a rival for influence, not knowing that she doesn't care for the business nor wants power in the same way she does. 

Her dislike for Tommy spreads to disliking her. 

She also thinks she's not a good Christian for sleeping with Tommy before marriage and plants talk about it. 

I see a lot of disagreement for disagreement's sake coming from Linda, which peaks after a possible wedding but after a year or two she realises that she is not interested in that sort of thing and the women, while never becoming friends, become cordial. The way it is in families sometimes. 

Lizzie: 

Lizzie knew her from the war years. It was hard for them all, but compared to the rest, Ada was still rather sheltered. There is this unspoken understanding between them. 

They also used to work at the church together

She is a bit hurt because she still had some remaining feelings for Tommy but doesn't harbour any ill will against her. 

The two become allies, and work together a lot in regards to the foundation with Lizzie taking the lead

She thinks Tommy and her make a decent pair and wants the best for them and the family they've created.

Michael: 

Doesn't care. 

Seriously he just doesn't. 

He has seen her like twice before his exile and when he comes back, he tries to use her and the family as an argument for Tommy to step back, but she might as well have been anyone else. 

Polly

Polly and her, just like Ada, are two very different characters that don't really get along. I think for a long time Polly considered her weak and maybe a bit opportunistic too.

When she thinks she would take Charlie away she hates her, as it brings up her own bad memories. 

However the aftermath and Tommy's detox really brings Ada, Polly and her together in a sisterhood probably neither would have ever seen coming. 

Polly begins to recognise that strength had many facets and starts to appreciate her despite the fact that they are so different. She is glad that Tommy has found stability and emotional security in his life and by the time it comes, is absolutely supportive of their relationship, even if she wasn't the type of woman she expected Tommy would choose.

Thank you so much for participating in my celebration - I hope you like it.

Taglist

Overall

@lilyrachelcassidy @jyessaminereads @chlorrox @watercolorskyy @books-livre @quarterpastmidnight  @lilyevanswhore  @polishcrazyone  @zablife  @just-a-harmless-patato  @stevie75 @flyingjosephine-blog @runnning-outof-time @babayaga67

Tommy

@knowledgefulbutterfly  @signorellisantichrist 

@lespendy @geeksareunique @look-at-the-soul

[val-made-a-mistake]

❝the garrison rat❞ CHP 3

CHAPTER THREE

previous / next

summary: torn apart by an unexpected loss, you find yourself unable to leave birmingham. you’re aware that people notice you drinking in the garrison every other night, you’re aware they call you nicknames, but you don’t care about any of it— at least, not until you start speaking to john shelby. he’s looking for a wife and you vowed to never love again, which makes things a bit complicated.

warnings: this is a peaky blinders fic, you should already know what this entails. an abundance of swearing, sexual themes, (not quite smut, not yet) smoking, alcohol, mentions of cocaine, blood and violence, fluff and angst particularly pertaining grief, period misogyny, very vaguely set in season one, etc etc

word count: 2.3k

tag list: @datewithgianni @1950schick @clementinesjourney @cbouvier23 @smailaway @cedricscoffin

a/n: sorry for the extended wait on this chapter, thanksgiving weekend has been wild for me! blame mercury, idk. we pick up the pace a lot in this one <3

//////

When John woke up, the sun was streaming in through the room in slivers thanks to Polly’s thick, linen curtains. With how naturally disoriented he was because of the night before, it nearly blinded him, he almost stumbled out of bed on reflex.

He felt warm though, comfortingly warm, so he closed his eyes for a long second and tried to relax. His thoughts of the night before were muddy, he couldn’t quite discern what had gone on after the Garrison rat had showed up.

John inhaled, deep like his mother taught him.

The first thing that anchored him was the overpowering smell of Polly’s perfume, hung around the room like tinsel on Christmas Eve. Considering he’d been absent for so long during the war, the whole house had adopted the sweet, market-bought vanilla usually associated with Polly’s presence, and for the most part it was a pleasant change from the natural Small Heath smells of tobacco, gunpowder, and dirt.

God, his head felt like someone had forced a machete into the back of it.

John exhaled, trying to understand why his heart was beating so goddamn fast. It was because he’d never be able to escape this fucking town, wasn’t it?

Suddenly, there was a small CREAK near his bedroom door and his eyes flew open on instinct. He turned to see the disturbance, and--

He couldn’t help it, his mouth fell open. “What the fuck?”

You leapt backward as though electrocuted and nearly gagged on the toothbrush in your mouth. “What the fuck!”

John scrambled up, panicking. “How’d the fuck you get in here?”

“I don’t know!”

“Why are you-” he fumbled with his bedsheets, desperately trying to spot a nearby shirt. “I - fucking hell - are you hungover?”

“Horribly.” You took the toothbrush out of your mouth. “Your aunt was nice enough to give me this shirt and a toothbrush, I was gonna get going...”

A grin was shamelessly pulling at John’s lips now, just imagining the conversation he was going to have with Arthur later that afternoon. “You have to work on the weekend?”

You seemed to choke on words and gestured wildly to the air in front of you. “I - you know how Campbell is, he’s got everybody working weird hours.”

He didn’t believe this in the slightest, and gave you a pointed look. An awkward silence ensued.

“Do you remember what happened last night?” he asked finally, getting up to search for clothes without a hint of shame at his nakedness.

You shrugged, pointedly gazing at your fingernails now. “Bits and pieces.”

Vaguely, John remembered. He remembered the rainwater pouring down and the card games and Finn snoring softly, and he remembered the look on your face when he’d answered the door-- fucking needy, and just like that, he was a little needy in return.

By the state of his coat on the floor, you’d probably messily ventured down Watery Lane together-- on a date? -- and if he concentrated hard enough, he might’ve remembered the ghost of your body on his, or his tongue rolling against yours. So much for a night without snow or drinks.

“I should get going,” you repeated firmly, turning on your heel to leave.

“Wait,” said John rather stupidly, and he bent down to grab his coat. “People are gonna ask if they see you runnin’ down the Lane in that. Make sure you aren’t seen leaving the Parlour, ‘kay?”

You raised a flirtatious eyebrow and took the coat. “Yes, sir.”

Something purred happily deep inside of him, but John strangled it. “I’ll see you at the Garrison?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

You winked at him and turned to leave.

//////

Polly was in the kitchen when he came down, smoking one of her black cigarettes and reading the morning paper.

There was a laugh in her voice when she spoke. “Fun night?”

John stalled, chewing on his toothpick wearily. “You’re makin’ fun of me.”

She tried and failed to smother her smirk. “I’m not, I just know the others would get a kick out of the look on your face when you opened the door and saw her standing there.”

He winced in spite of himself, and the words were tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop them. “Did - did I look like an idiot?”

Polly gave him a long look and he changed tack. “What time did she wake up?”

“About twenty minutes ago, I don’t think she knew I was here. Poor girl had the same look on her face as you did when you were younger and your mother asked about maths.”

John remembered that incident, he’d stopped going to school shortly after that. He was good at math up until the alphabet started getting involved.

“Eh,” he said when he found there was nothing to say. “You know where Arthur is?”

“He came home ‘round five o’clock this morning. Don’t wake him.”

He nodded, moving forward to the kitchen with an intent to poach an egg. “And Tom?”

“Antagonizing Campbell, probably.” Polly smirked and exhaled a plume of smoke. “Do you have any plans for today?”

“Not much,” John admitted as he cracked an egg. “Katie needs a new blouse for school, I was gonna see if I could pick that up for her...”

The inevitable came round again. The kids. Or, more specifically, what he was going to do with them.

“Have you told Y/N about the kids?” Polly asked softly, pressing her cigarette into the ashtray.

John strained his memory of last night, trying to remember.

“She...she told me last night that she - that she’d been to the country to help take care of somebody’s kids, so that’s why I didn’t see her at the Garrison,” he replied uncertainly. “I - I assumed the kids she took care of were in good shape.”

Polly raised her eyebrows expectantly and John resisted the urge to run out of the room.

“Pol...”

“I’m not implying anything!” she exclaimed, holding her hands up as though confronted by coppers, but she was grinning, ruining the effect. “You need to decide what’s best for your kids, not me. The only thing we’re all asking you to do is to do it soon.”

“‘Ello,” Arthur said from the doorway, shirtless and gripping a bottle of tequila by the neck. “You makin’ eggs?”

//////

The Garrison was quieter tonight, but like always, there was still singing. Grace was standing up on a stool, oblivious to the men gazing up at her admiringly as she sang.

“You’d think she was queen of the land,” she sang, and no doubt about it, she was looking over at you. “And her hair fell over her shoulder, tied up with a black velvet band...”

You smirked, fingering the velvet hairtie you’d indeed used to tie up your hair tonight.

“She’s singin’ about you, eh?” someone asked, and you jumped a little.

Wondering why you had an uncanny ability to attract Shelbys in this godforsaken pub, you took a sip from your drink and nodded. “I suppose so. Didn’t tell her to.”

A lazy smirk hung round Tommy Shelby’s lips. “What brings you here tonight, Y/N?”

You gave him a weird look. “I wanted a fucking drink. You?”

He shrugged apathetically. “Technically I’m supposed to be covering for John boy, he’s pissing his pants. He should be here in a few minutes or so.”

You chewed on your lip in an effort to hide your grin. “Mhm.”

Silence fell, and you stared down into the depths of your drink, wondering if you should say it.

Fuck it.

“Can you thank Polly Gray for me?” you asked hesitantly. “I’m not sure if I thanked her, when I - I mean, when I woke up this morning.”

Tommy nodded at the barmaid for another drink. “At the rate things are going, I’m sure you’ll be able to thank her yourself.”

The cold Sam feeling doused your chest again, and you found yourself unable to breathe.

BANG!

The oak doors of the Garrison jumped open, Grace’s song abruptly broke off, mostly out of surprise, and half the pub looked up.

Unsurprisingly, John Shelby was standing there, in a cap and three piece suit like always, chewing on a fresh toothpick.

Quite hurriedly, Grace resumed her song like nothing had happened.

“Y/N!” John called with surprising warmth, hurrying over to the bar like half the pub wasn’t staring at him. “You good?”

“I’m fine,” you replied suspiciously, your head swiveling between Tommy and John as though you were watching a ping pong match, trying to figure out what was going on. “You?”

“Fucking grand, fucking grand.”

Tommy seemed to sense his heavy-handed approach, cringed, and stood up from the bar on instinct. “Right, I better clear out...”

“You can stay,” you interjected quickly, a bit too sharply. “Really, I don’t mind.”

“No, I should go, I have a lady to give a job to,” he replied, very obviously eyeing Grace.

“Oh, well, alright then...”

“What’s that about?” you asked John as soon as he’d left.

“My sister,” he responded warily, downing Tommy’s drink. “She’s not speakin’ to us.”

You raised your eyebrows, not wanting to get into it. “Ah.”

“She’ll be alright,” he replied gruffly, rubbing his nose. You could tell that was more of a prayer than a promise, but decided not to comment on it.

“What brings you here tonight, John Shelby?” you asked instead, mimicking Tommy.

He looked at you, a ghost of a smirk on his lips. “I think you already know.”

“Well, I’m gonna need a lot more whiskey if you plan on taking me to the races,” you shot back flirtatiously, raising your glass to your lips. “Think I need a lot more whiskey in general, honestly...”

He laughed and you handed your glass off to the barmaid in exchange for another one.

“I’ll pay for it,” he offered, rifling through his wallet, and you didn’t object.

Instead, you looked over at the merry Garrison, at the men dancing and drunkenly carrying on Grace’s singing, and your eyes found Tommy, whispering in Grace’s ear. She’d since gotten off the stool.

You felt your eyebrows raise.

“How much whiskey does it take to get you drunk?” you asked suddenly, turning back to him.

John raised his eyebrows in return. “A bit.”

“Same. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

There was a long silence. He surveyed you intently.

“Fuck yeah.”

//////

When John stomped into the betting shop the next morning, the Shelbys were in a family meeting.

“Where were you, John boy?” Tommy asked, wiping a fresh cigarette on his lips as the rest stared at him suspiciously.

“Doesn’t matter,” he replied gruffly, grabbing a chair and twisting it backward to sit down. “What are we-”

“I would say it matters, considering the topic of our meeting,” Polly cut in sharply.

John looked blankly from her, to Arthur, to Tommy, then to Johnny Dogs-- shit, if Johnny Dogs was in on a meeting, this couldn’t be good.

“Is this about Ada?” he asked weakly.

“Sort of,” Polly replied gently. “Sit down, love.”

“Campbell?” John suggested wildly, already going to stomp out of the door. “I swear to God, if he’s overstepping his territory again, I’ll cut him a smile so big his head’ll-”

“John,” Tommy cut in, irritated now, gesturing to the seat he’d pulled out. “Sit down, this is about the girl you’ve been fucking, yeah?”

“Use her fuckin’ name,” he replied bitterly as he sat back down.

“Tom wants you and Y/N to be married,” Arthur said awkwardly, shoving his hands in his pockets.

John turned to him. “Fucking what?”

“We'll give you money to buy the ring,” Polly added, her voice noticeably less gentle now, and he suddenly got the idea that they were going to force him into this if he didn’t comply. “It’ll be a nice one, you can take the train to London and be back by tomorrow morning. You want to have her over?”

“I want to slow down!” he shot back wildly, taking off his cap to smooth his hair back. “Fucking hell, you said you’d give me a few weeks-”

“Well, John boy, it has been a few weeks,” Tommy replied, shooting Arthur a knowing look. “You’ve been fucking her, yeah? That’s gotta count for something.”

“That doesn’t have to count for anything!” he exclaimed, face reddening.

Polly tried and failed to smother her laugh. “I’ll bet it counted for something when you were with Lizzie.”

“DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT WOMAN!” John shouted, bounding up and sending the chair tumbling to the floor. “Fucking hell, you’re all outta your fucking minds, you know that?”

Arthur shrugged, careless. “You’re not wrong.”

Polly drew back to glare at him.

“I’ve talked to George Lee, he said it should be fine,” Tommy continued, apparently not giving the slightest iota of a fuck. “And I got Grace to go seek Ada out wherever she’s hiding. We’ll have a nice engagement party in a week’s time, and if everything goes well, if we’re not all fuckin’ dead by the end of this, we’ll be able to have a nice wedding once Billy Kimber and Inspector Campbell are dealt with."

He gestured to Johnny Dogs. “Johnny should be able to officiate it.”

Johnny held up a hand. “Aye.”

“This is mental,” John muttered under his breath, fumbling around for a new toothpick, “But it’s fine, then. I guess I’ll go to London.”

He met Tommy’s strikingly blue gaze head-on. “But if it doesn’t go well, don’t fucking blame me, alright?”

Tommy raised an eyebrow-- the same apathetic look he’d given his superiors back in France when they told him he wouldn’t do well in the tunnels. John hated that look. It meant he knew he was going to get what he wanted in the end.

“She’ll make a good wife, John boy,” Arthur said when no one would say anything. “And if she doesn’t, you got Zhang’s down the street.”

“Go on now,” Polly added, waving a hand. “The sooner you start, the sooner it’s over.”

“Good luck!” Johnny Dogs called as John stomped out of the room.

[ideas-and-shit]

anyway, here's an idea: peaky blinders oneshot (or hc, whatever ya want) where y/n is just an innocent civilian who lives in small heath, currently studying in college, wanting to graduate school and stuff and they are friends w finn. they're close but like not too close, close enough to be fond of each other but not close enough to know what they think of each other.

y/n doesnt have to worry about what finn thinks of them, really; since y/n knows finn as a friendly person and if he likes them, he likes them and if otherwise he would just say it. now, finn has a crush on y/n, and he is secretly always getting anxious about his thoughts of "what if y/n actually thinks im an asshole", "what if they secretly look down on me when i talk to them" (bc of his education and all), "what if y/n doesnt even think im good enough for them". y/n constantly talks about their opinions on people, who they like, who they dont (assholes, mean ppl, shit like that) and finn starts to think that they might talking about him and might be saying this to him to hint at them hating him when really, they were just talking about themself and their thoughts like normal. finn, was starting to get insecure about his name (being a shelby) and reputation (again, being a shelby) and he worries that y/n might not like him bc of it so he sends a mutual friend of theirs to ask y/n "would you date a shelby?"

thats all i got, folks. idk maybe one of finns brothers overhears this and suspects that finn was the one who did this and stuff and maybe they confront him thinking y/n said something mean to him??? idk this is not part of the idea but you can most definitely include it if you want

edit: what if instead of his friends, he asks his brothers to ask y/n and they think that they're being threatened so they say no.