#the shelbys

[liar-or-lawyer]

let things break you wide open,

that's where the golden light is.

[pandoraslove]

little violinist

this one is pretty long, but I really like it. It was just something I’ve been thinking about all day. Hope you like it. 

Warnings: Fluff

Word count: 1761

Being the youngest Shelby has its perks. Apart from being spoiled rotten and you were also very loved. Arthur, Tommy, and John were all in some way a father figure just as much as your older brothers. Arthur was more nurturing, Tommy was more fatherly in the way that he always gave you advice when it came to school or anything other than boys because the lord knows that he’d murder any boy you even showed signs of liking. John knew how to cheer you up in every situation. Ada and Polly were the best when it came to more feminine things like hair, make up, and style. Finn is your partner in crime and best friend, you two are close since you’re only a year apart. 

At the young age of 5, everyone noticed how much you loved music. You’d hum to a song you’d heard and match its pitch with whatever objects you could find. At the age of 6, you stumbled upon a violinist, he was old, well into his 50′s, and playing for money, but the sound he emitted from his instrument was so enticing, you stood and watched him play. You didn’t know how much time had passed as you watched him play, but it was long enough for your family to notice you were no longer with them. They’d found you sitting on the concrete floor, legs criss cross, watching the man play his melodies. 

Thomas got you your first violin a few weeks later, right before all of them left to fight in the war. In those four years, you dedicated almost all your free time to playing the violin. It was your escape, you practiced until your finger were numb and only until you perfected every note would you think about stopping, most of the time you’d still continue. Your music was rarely heard, though, Not by Ada or Polly and not even by Finn. Your music was yours and yours alone. You’d leave in the morning with your violin, carry it around school and practice somewhere secluded after school. Or you’d leave after breakfast on the weekends while Polly was busy with the business. 

When the boys returned from the war, you weren’t able to spend as much time playing and practicing as you’d like. They became more protective than the last time you’d seen them. The first year they were back, after turning 11, you played in front of them for the first time. It was a simple song called ‘Andantino’. It was one of the first songs you tried to learn and succeeded. It was slow and beautiful. It was the first time any of them had heard you play and to say the least they were stunned. You were 11 and playing beautifully. 

That was the only time you’d played for them for a long time. It always made you nervous when others heard you play. you were a little afraid of their judgment. No one ever pushed you to play. When you were 14, you stopped playing for a few months. School was becoming more stressful and it felt like you barely had any time to play. When school ended for the year, you picked your violin back up and worked hard to regain you skill level. You’d go to your Uncle Charlie’s place and go as far out onto the field as you could so no one would hear you play. And if they did it would sound incredibly distant and faint. you tried to maintain the habit even when school started again. 

You ended up graduating high school early, at 16, and began to focus on your violin. It wasn’t strange for your family to not see you for the entire day as you’d spend it out practicing and playing. 

One day, you decided to go back to the market in which the old man with the violin was at. You had little hope you’d find him there but you did. Still playing the violin. You watched and listened to his music. It was just as beautiful as you remembered. He saw you from afar and beaconed you over when he finished his piece. 

“You seem awfully familiar...” He says trying to remember, “The little girl who watched me play for nearly an hour a decade ago?” You smile slightly. 

“Yes...” 

“Did you ever learn to play?” He asks. 

“I did.” He hands his violin to you and gestures for you to play. You took a moment to breathe and decided which song you would be playing. You let your fingers lead you, the memory of each note to lead you. You let everything go and let the music guide you, ‘Gymnopédie No. 1′ was the piece you had decided on playing in that moment. You shut your eyes and played the song by memory, every note was smooth and beautifully played. The music transported you somewhere safe, somewhere warm and comfortable. Once you finished the piece you opened your eyes and found a bigger crowd then the one before watching the man. He was in front of you with an astonished face. 

“That was absolutely beautiful, and all of it by memory... my God, you were born to be a violinists.” He says as you hand him back his violin. 

“I wouldn’t be here, playing the violin, if it weren’t for me hearing your music 10 years ago, I have you to thank.” You say walking away, but not before leaving a pouch with money inside the hat he was using to collect his earnings. 

When you arrived back home you found Thomas, Arthur, John, Ada, Polly, and Finn all in the living room. You were a little happier when you arrived from when you left. 

“I heard you gave quite a show today, Y/n.” Thomas says. You look at him a little shocked he’d found out but held a smile on your face nonetheless. 

“What? Where?” Ada questions. 

“At the market, the old man who was playing the violin 10 years ago still plays there.” You inform them. 

“And he let you play? How did he know you played the violin?” John asks. 

“Yes. And he recognized me. It felt amazing playing for a crowd. I used to be so afraid of playing in front of people, even you guys but after today, It felt so... magical in a way.” you say. 

“maybe you should do it more often then,” Polly says, everyone agrees. 

“Maybe, I should...” You say.

“Why don’t you play at the Garrison?” Arthur says. 

“That’s a great idea, you can play tomorrow night.” Thomas says. 

“The Garrison is a pub, Who the hell goes to a pub to listen to a violinist?” You retort. 

“Tomorrow can be a special event, it’s a great idea come on, Y/n.” Arthur tries to convince you. 

“It’s an awesome opportunity, y/n. You play really fucking well, everyone would love to hear you.” Finn says. 

“And we’ll all be there, so you’ll have more confidence and all our support. you’ll do great.” Ada persuades. 

“So, What do you say, Y/n?” Polly says after a while of you contemplating. 

“...Fine. I’ll do it, if you all promise to be there.” You say at last. 

“Deal.” Thomas says. 

That night you decided on which songs you would play. Some were slow and some were fast, but all were just as beautiful. You decided on playing the song you played earlier that day at the market first, then ‘Andantino’, ‘Concerto for Violin in A minor’, Accolay: Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, a part of Brahms: Violin Concerto in D minor op. 77, Scottish Fantasy Op. 46 and then finish off with ‘Salut d’amour’. You would only play for an hour, that's the amount of time you all agreed on. 

The next day when you woke up you decide you wanted to get some practice in, so you went to your uncle Charlie’s yard and practiced until each piece was perfected. You’d played each song probably a hundred times since you’d started playing the violin. 

You went home and got ready with Ada and Polly later on. You decided on wearing a simple short sleeve light blue dress that was slightly shorter in the front than in the back. You wore white flat shoes rather than heels. Once you’d fixed your hair and applies a bit of make up, You, Ada, and Polly all walked to the Garrison together, your violin in hand. You were a bit nervous but pushed it all aside. The Garrison wasn’t as rowdy and loud as it usually is. It was more tame. You spotted Thomas, Arthur, John, and Finn seated in a booth. Arthur gesture with his hand for you to go stand on a small platform, While Polly and Ada went to sit with them. You pulled your violin and bow out of the case and stood at the front on the platform Arthur gestured to. Everyone watched as you took a deep breathe, looking towards your family who gave you smiles, encouraging you to start. It didn’t take you long after you started to travel to the place you adored. the place where there was nothing but you and your music. Your cheek rested on the violin, your eyes remained shut and your fingers played the right notes every time. Your eyes were shut but you could see a beautiful field with hundreds if not thousands of flowers, that’s where you were always transported when you played. there was a river not far from where you stood, the sky was a beautiful grey, and the breeze blew on your face. 

You only finally opened your eyes when you finished your final piece, it was quiet for a few seconds and it felt as if time had stopped. you received a standing ovation, even from Thomas, Polly, Ada, Finn, Arthur, and John. You smiled and gave everyone a small bow, then walked to the table your family was seated at. 

“Would you look at that, Our little sister, might as well become a professional, That was amazing.” John says. 

“Thank you, John,” 

“That was absolutely beautiful.” Polly says. 

“Thanks Aunt Pol,” 

By the end of the night, you’d received more compliments than you could handle, it all felt surreal. Maybe you could do this on a real stage in front of thousands one day. Others deserve to feel what you felt when you played, that feeling of everything being healed just by a simple melody. 

[justalonelyslytherin]

Could the name of the Shelby sibling's mother have been Bernadette?

This might be a huge tangent and taking a lot of liberty but bear with me for a minute. So I'm currently rewatching Peaky Blinders, am on season 3 episode 4. At around 5 minutes into the episode:

Polly just entered the church to confess and is now in the confessional booth with the priest - they are talking about her name and she wonders whether god would call her pol or polly and she mentions that the voice calls her pol. The priest asks her if she hears a voice to which she answers:

"Yeah. Like Bernadette heard a voice."

And it caught me off guard because I was like 'Who the hell is Bernadette?' Because that's a random name drop, seemingly with no significance as it's never elaborated and neither is the name mentioned ever again. But the way Polly says it, the way she mumbles it as if she knows exactly what it means and what kind of darker implication it holds. It sounds to me like a dreadful comparison, something that conveys 'I'm losing it like her'. Then I remembered that there was one more Shelby mentioned who had troubles and lost her mind before she died and that was the Shelby's mother.

Now I'm aware this is quite the reach and there is no other evidence that would suggest this. So this is entirely me trying to interpret something into it. But it's weird to me to have Polly mention a random name in a situation like that and with the tonation it is said in the scene. Of course, it could be someone unrelated, some neighbor or some family friend, or someone entirely random, but why mention it then?

So either it is a reach or not, but I wanted to share it for the off chance it could be a lead and because I haven't seen anyone talk about this ever before.

[prettygreenpills]

Coming home - P.G

characters: Polly Gray x daughter!reader

rundown: after Tommy brought Michael home to Polly, he went to find you as well. Once you return home, you spend a wonderful day with your mother, immediately trusting her

warnings: anxiety attack, you might need tissues

word count: 1,7k+

request status: closed

A/n: I know Polly’s daughter was called Anna, but i still decided to make it Pol x reader

“What if she won’t recognize me?” You asked from Tommy Shelby who you met just few days ago. He was a man who came to find you with a really crazy plan. With a plan which was working at the moment.

“Y/n,” Tommy looked at you and you sucked in a sharp breath. “Believe me she will. And what do you think why else would we need your birth certificate?” He asked you back and since you had no good answer to his question, you stayed quiet.

Walking right next to Thomas Shelby you let him lead you to the house you were the most scared of at the moment. Staying quiet you didn’t know what to think about. What should you say when you arrive? Would you recognize the woman? Would she recognize you? You had no idea.

Thomas turned to one of the houses and he looked at you. Searching for something in his coat, he took out one cigarette and then held them all out for you. You shook your head no and looked at the house in front of which you were standing. It looked…. somewhat pretty.

Thomas lit up his cigarette and didn’t say a word. He started smoking, letting you watch the house where the woman who was supposed to be your mother lived.

Once he was finished with the cigarette, he just threw it away without stepping onto it and moved his hand forward.

“After you.”

You kept standing at the same spot as if you had melted there. Without giving Tommy a look, he understood and with a quiet sigh he got in front of you and you followed him up to the doors of the house, where your mother was supposed to live.

Taking a deep breath you closed your eyes. You could feel that something was about to happen. You could feel that something wasn’t really okay.

“Are you coming?” Thomas asked from the doors and you made few quick steps towards him even if you weren’t rushing. Your chest was lifting quickly and heavily and you couldn’t really help it.

Your mother was standing behind those doors. You were sure about that. You took a deep breath to push away the feeling of running away and you really slowly walked over to Thomas.

“One more time- what’s her name?” You asked from Tommg and tried to stop him from entering the house.

“Her name is Pollyanna Shelby Gray,” Thomas answered your question and you didn’t know what else to ask. You gulped loudly and realized that your hands were shaking.

Honestly, you were happy about that Thomas found your mother but something inside of you was worrying. What if she didn’t want you back? What if all of those things you were told when you were little really happened? What if she left you in a middle of the forest and people who you thought were your mother and father found you?

“Y/n?” Thomas asked you and you wiped your sweaty hands in your clothes.

“We can go,” you nodded to him and tried to quietly count to ten. Thomas opened the doors of the house and stepped back a little, letting you walk in as the first.

You stepped inside of her home and smelled candles. Trying not to pay attention to the details, you were searching for the woman. Thomas entered the house right after you and you took a deep breath.

“Pol?” He called for the woman loudly. One time was enough. The answer came.

“In the kitchen Thomas. You should know where it is,” woman’s voice filled the house and you got goosebumps. It was your mother talking. The woman you just heard was your mother.

“Come with me,” Thomas told you and you didn’t even move. Thomas was watching you and when he realized how scared did you look, he put his hand onto your shoulder and squeezed it a little. “Can we?”

“Y-yeah,” you answered and Thomas started walking towards the kitchen. After few steps, you were entering the kitchen and that was when you saw her.

A woman with longer brown hair was standing with her back turned to you. She was cooking something. And it smelled amazing.

“Pol?”

“Yes?” The woman turned around and looked at him. As you saw her eyes, you immediately knew that you were hers and she was yours. Her eyes slowly moved from Thomas onto you and her eyes widened. “Thomas-“

“I would like to introduce you someone,” Thomas said quietly and your heart was beating that fast at the moment you were scared of that it would jump out of your chest.

The woman backed away a little and leant onto the kitchen counter. She covered her mouth with her hands and with teary eyes she kept watching you.

“I would like to introduce you Y/n Anna Gray,” Thomas said and stepped a little away from you. You shook from the adrenaline and you were afraid of that you couldn’t keep standing in your feet.

The woman was still in shock. She had tears in her eyes and let few of them roll down onto her cheeks. She looked over at Thomas and when he nodded to her, she took a careful step to you.

“Y/n?” The woman asked quietly and you started hyperventilating. Thomas immediately stepped to you and took you by your shoulders.

“It’s alright,” he whispered and he kept standing behind you. The woman looked at you and you nodded to her so she knew that she could step even closer to you. She did so and you tried to keep your breathing calm.

“Yes that should be me,” you whispered quietly and the woman laughed a little. She had tears running down on her cheeks and she softly lifted her hand what made you flinch.

“Pol, slowly,” Thomas reminded her and you closed your eyes. The woman pulled her hand away what you could feel and then you opened your eyes again.

“I am sorry-“

“It’s alright,” you said quietly and Polly gasped. That was the first time she heard you talking. You swallowed the ball which had been created in your throat and then you took a deep breath.

Polly looked at Thomas and he pulled out a chair for himself. He sat down and kept watching you and your mother. Both of you were standing at the same spot as before and you gulped.

“Would you like to sit down Y/n?” Polly asked you and you nodded your head. Sitting down right next to Thomas, you put your hands into your lap and you started bonucing your leg. Knowing that you wouldn´t get hurt with Thomas, you tried to calm yourself down, but it didn´t work at all.

“Y/n,” Thomas said your name and you couldn´t look at him. You just bowed your head a little and closed your eyes. When you felt his hand on your thigh, he tried to stop the shaking of your leg. You looked up and took a deep breath. “Pol can I ask for a glass of water for her?”

“Sure,” the woman jumped up and filled you a glass with fresh water. She got back as fast as she could and put it down right in front of you on the table.

“Thank you,” Thomas only said and he took the glass of water and held it out for you. “Take a sip.”

You looked up at Thomas shaking a little and you took the water from him. Trying not to spill it all over the place, you took one sip of the water and then you gave the glass back to Thomas.

“What´s wrong?”

“A-anxiety,” you answered the woman and then you took a deep breath. And then another one. You calmed yourself down slowly and when your breathing was okay, but your stomach was still a little ball of nerves, you tried to ignore it. You needed to look okay from outside and you hoped you did. “I am sorry,” you whispered and didn´t look up at any of them.

“It´s alright,” Thomas said and a question was following.

“You deal with anxiety?” The woman asked you and you looked up at her.

“Since I can remember,” telling her honestly, you watched her face become sadder than it was before and then you decided to finish the glass of water.

“Better?”

“Yes, thank you,” you answered and then took a deeper breath. And then another one.

“So...” Polly started really carefully and you looked up at her. She was- shocked? Scared? Worried? You couldn´t tell. “You are Y/n Anna Gray... my...”

“Daughter,” you finished for her and Polly let out a breath what she seemed to be holding in for seventeen years or so. She relieved and covered her mouth.

“Where- where have you been? Where did they take you?” She asked and asked and you gave her all of the answers she needed.

“I was... All I remember is that I was in Australia. Growing up in a house with kind people I tought were my mother and father. And then Thomas-” you looked up at him and he nodded, “then we got a letter from Thomas. Saying that he wanted to talk to us. So he came, we met him. He explained everything to my mother and father and since then we stayed in touch,” you explained and didn´t even feel guilty for calling those people your parents.

“Thomas you were in touch with my daughter and you didn´t tell me a word,” the woman freezed as she turend to Thomas. He was giving her the same kind of poker face he was giving you when you were asking questions about your family.

“She is here now,” Thomas said only and you looked up at your mother. She was watching him, giving him a stare which had a sign of that if she could she would’ve killed him. Instead of fighting him, she turned to look at you and… the woman changed.

Her eyes shone again. She smiled a little. Her soul returned back into her body when she looked at you and all you could do was let your tear fall.

“Oh don’t cry,” Polly approached you really slowly and knelt down in front of you. You looked at your mother with your eyes and you somehow felt like at home finally. “Don’t cry Anna,” Polly whispered and she took your hands into hers. You heard Thomas leave the room and you stayed there alone with your mother, knowing that everything was about to turn to better.

[lavendarrabbit]

I did a peaky fookin blinders drawing

[evita-shelby]

Random Shelby headcanon:

Polly taught the Shelbys how to dance

[a-lil-perspective]

Peaky Blinders has solidified the fact that I have a real, unhealthy thing for kingpins.

[sarcastic-salem]

Just started season two of Peaky Blinders and I have to say, a convertible seems like it’d be more of an inconvenience than a luxury in England. They should have kept the model T. And I’m kinda impressed at the surprisingly minimal amount of homophobia expressed in Sabini’s club.

On their way to the showroom, the Shelby boys pass a couple of guys making out. And I get that it was just for appearance’s sake and so they wouldn’t get thrown out, but Arthur really seems like he’d beat the shit out of a queer guy. So I was a bit surprised to see that not take place.

[itshelia]

Taking anti-depressant pills?? Seeing a therapist??? Journaling???? No need babe, my fav writer just dropped another x reader fic.

[liar-or-lawyer]

[pandoraslove]

Inseparable

Warnings: Angst, Hurt and Comfort, Fluff?

Word count: 979

You and Finn grew up inseparable. There weren’t many times you were away from each other unless Thomas sent him off to do something. You and your twin were best friends. You’d do anything for each other. 

He loved rubbing the fact that he was 15 minutes older in your face, but you always protected him and he protected you. Your older brother, Thomas, spent hours scolding you because you’d gone after Finn when he went on some sort of dangerous task. But this time you were too late. 

It was early and Small Heath was eerily quiet. You were on your way home from getting sweets for yourself and the rest of your family as a treat since things have been all around heated. As you walked past a small cafe you over heard some women talking, their words made you stop in your tracks.

“… the youngest Shelby boy was murdered…”

your pace quickened, you decided to check the Garrison first. you rushed in looking around for your brothers, they were no where in sight. Your eyes fell on Isiah. Everyone was watching you, you noticed. every peaky blinder watched you… but with the hats against their chest. Isiah walked towards you and before he could speak you say, “it’s not true, tell me it isn’t.” a desperate plea.

“I’m sorry, He’s gone.” He tried to put his hand on your shoulder but you stepped back and ran out. You kept running until you reached 6 Watery Lane. you ran through the door and searched the rooms, no one was home. you fell to your knees crying, you’ve lost your other half, you twin brother and best friend. You barely had enough strength to walk upstairs, you visión blurry with tears. You walked past your room and straight to Finn’s. Maybe you half expected- hoped he’d be in there. And when you found no one in the room it only made it hurt more. You walked to the bed and clutched on pillow sobbing into it. you had no control of the tears anymore.

——————————————————

Thomas had no choice but to fake Finn’s death, at least until his threats had be eradicated. He made sure his death was public and at the hands of one of Sabini’s ‘men’, No one would know Finn’s death is fake other than Polly, Micheal, and his siblings. They made sure everything was believable.

Finn’s cause of death was a gun shot wound straight to the heart. there was blood everywhere. everything showed just how dead the Shelby boy was. When Arthur, Thomas, John, and Isiah found him Arthur was the one go pick his body up and take him to the betting shop. Everyone cleared out. And then Finn woke up. Everyone hugged him and told him the next steps. But it was hard to him to pay attention, it was if no one noticed his twin sister was not there.

Before Tommy, Polly, John, and Arthur could continue explaining he interrupted.

“Where’s y/n?” it suddenly dawned on them, had no one told her ?

“fuck…” Polly says after a few seconds.

“what, pol?” Thomas asks, “Where is she?”

“She left before I told her, She doesn’t know it isn’t real.” Horror dawned on everyone’s face. Finn was the first to dart to the house. They all noticed the bag you dropped at the bottom of the stairs. They all went upstairs, your sobbing could be heard from outside the door. Finn peeked through the crack in the door and found you with you knees to your chest on the floor, your back against the bed. you head was tucked into your arms.

Thomas walked in first, Finn behind him. “Y/n ?”

“Go away,” you say. your voice was hoarse surprising everyone. How long had you been crying for ?

“Come on, dove, look up,” He says trying to make you see that Finn was alive and standing in front of you. You lift your head up slowly, you bloodshot eyes coming into view. there was a steady stream of tear still falling from your eyes. It took you a few seconds to notice Finn, but when you do you shot up and hugged him, you tears still didn’t stop though.

you punch his shoulder pulling away slightly, right where the bullet supposedly went.

“What the fuck!” you yelled. your voice was broken.

“it was all a decoy, Aunt Pol was supposed to tell you but you left before she could.” Finn explained.

you stepped away from him and looked at everyone. “so I’ve just cried for the last hundred hours and fried my voice over nothing ?!”

“no, you just showed me how much you love me.” Finn mocks trying to make you smile.

“Fuck off.” you say wiping your tears.

You start walking downstairs when Arthur calls out, “where are you going ?”

“to get my bag of treats that i bought while you all made Finn fake his death.” everyone follows you. “ I went to the Garrison and then here. Where the fuck were you all?”

“First off, watch your mouth, Second, the betting shop,” Thomas says, you’d forgotten to check there...

“I get to say fuck all I want after what you made me go through, Piss off.” you say rolling your eyes sitting at the kitchen table with your bag of chocolates and butterscotch.

“You’d miss me if I actually died.” Finn says sitting next to you picking a candy out of the bag.

“Not anymore since you apparently rise from the fucking dead.” you say cause Thomas to smack the back of your head. You glare up at him slightly, making him smirk. You leaned your head on Finn’s shoulder. Oh, how fucked up you’d be if he were really gone. Not that you’d ever admit it to him, but you’d be a complete mess. One no one would be able to fix.

[mayvette]

[holy-minseok]

We need mean!reader, angry!reader, misunderstood!reader, creepy!reader, gross!reader, toxic!reader, nonforgiving!reader, selfish!reader, narcissistic!reader, dark!reader, FEDUP!reader. That bitch is way too nice, passive, and sensible. ✋🏾😂

[belovedgamers]

Everyone say “thank you, Shubble”

And, if you’ve got time, I would say that while we should be worrying about deplatforming an abuser, supporting Shubble is really what’s most important!

I recommend watching a few of her videos to give her that boost! You can throw a like and a comment her way. Remember that content creation is a job and we can contribute even if just a little.

Her recent hide and seek video featuring Gem, Jimmy, Lizzie and Scott is incredibly cozy, her SOS video is cute and for a series that’s just barely started, both her empires seasons are solid (one link because they’re on the same playlist), her Witchcraft smp series is fun! She has a bunch of videos on other assorted games, and a small AITA podcast series featuring HBomb!

Send all the love to Shelby! Let’s put our time where our hearts are 💗

[arctasy]

shelby’s recent statement on twitter

[hacked-wtsdz]

You can’t win as a woman in fiction. Be too positive, you become a Mary Sue, have flaws and those flaws are why almost nobody likes you. Be moderate, you have wet-cabbage personality, be exuberant, you are an unrealistic example. Have strong morals, and you’re badly developed, be morally corrupt and you’re hated with such vigour fans will send hate mail to the actress who plays the character. Be kind and soft and in love, you’re a representation of sexism, be cruel, harsh and cold and you’re just a bitch. Be a complex, realistic, ambiguous character, and either your flaws or your positive traits will be ignored or blown out of proportion and into oblivion. There is no winning for female characters.