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novaacanee · 6 months

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To The Things I Can’t Control

AlucardxBlack!Reader

Warnings: Canon typical violence, cursing, swearing, religious trauma, death, unhealthy coping skills, trauma in general, romance, fluff, eventual smut, reader is named Verena for my convenience (you can refer to her an y/n),this is my first time writing on tumblr I apologize for any formatting issues lol. ( very unedited too…)

To The Things I Can’t Control

Pt.1 || Pt.2

“To the things I can’t control, I hope you’re having a good laugh at the circumstance you have placed upon me. I hope you are throughly entertained. These people’s kids are some of the most insufferable people I have ever met. I have finally managed to escaped their harsh words and physical assaults. I want to leave forever when I am near them. “

Verena wrote into the journal splayed on the desk in front of her. The rain pattered loudly against the windows of her manor. A soft knock at the door distracted her from her journal. A head poked through the door with a smile encompassing their features. “Verena dear, we have someone we would like you to meet.”

The smaller girl closed her journal quickly. “Mother! I’m tired of meeting the rest of the council’s kids. They’re mean and annoying.” The girl groaned, dragging her feet as she made her way over to her mother. “Why can’t we just say I’m sick or something? I’m half human so they might actually believe it.”

The older woman, Verena’s mother couldn’t help but laugh at that comment. “As right as you may be, we have a duty to at least keep up appearances plus, I think you will like who I’m introducing you to. He’s very similar to you.” Verena couldn’t help but raise a brow. “How so?” “You’re gonna have to follow me to find out.”

The groan that left Verena’s lips couldn’t help but earn her a pinch on the arm. “Be nice, he’s already nervous as is.” Her mother says, grabbing her by the shoulders and leading her down the grand staircase.

The stairs lead into a rather gothic looking foyer. The chandelier at the center of the room shined dimly as they made their way to the bottom of the staircase. “Pleasure to meet you both finally. My name is Raine Bishop.” The older woman says, curtsing at the couple before her. “Do excuse our lateness. Verena, please introduce yourself.

Verena sent a side glance to her mother before repeating her previous actions. “It’s an honor to meet you all, my name is Verena Bishop.” She curtsied. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a boy hiding behind the legs of his parents. “Hello Verena! I’m Lisa Tepes and this is my husband Dracula and our son Adrian.” She hummed, pulling the shy boy from behind her.

The boy was slightly smaller is stature, his blond and hair and golden eyes shined brilliantly under the chandelier lights. His long hair braided and tied off with a ribbon. “H-Hello.” He ushered out quickly, bowing and backing up closer to his parents. Raine couldn’t help but smile at the shy boy while Verena on the other hand looked at him with a bit of a raised brow. Her eyes glanced at his parents before glancing back at him again. “What does meeting him have to do with me?” She thought, her thought spun around like a whirlpool before finally settling upon a reasonable answer.

“Oh Mother! I finally understand.” She smiled, accidentally pointing at the poor boy. “He’s like me isn’t he? I can’t remember the word. Not vampire but uh..” Raine pushed her finger down. “Verena it’s rude to point. Adrian is a Dhampir just like you. His Mother is Human and his Father is a Vampire.” She crouched down to Verena’s height. “He’s a year older than you so make sure to be respectful.” Adrian peeked from behind his hands when he heard Verena’s deduction.

From this point forward, Adrian and Verena spent the majority of their childhoods extremely close to one another. Verena showed him even her most lucrative of diary entries over the years even the ones about potential love interests she had at the time. The pair were basically attached at the hip.

Verena sat behind Adrian, brushing his hair into a ponytail in his bedroom. Carefully sectioning his hair, she begins the braid it. “You need to take better care of your hair Adrian. Me and your mother cannot do it for you all the time you know. At this rate, you’re going to be balding by 18.” Verena hums.

Adrian laughed heartily. “I won’t be balding any time soon but you’re probably right, I need to learn how to maintain myself. I don’t need the women in my life scolding me about it any longer.” He teased, playing with the lace at the bottom of Verena’s dress. “Keep talking and you’ll be bald way before you’re 18.” She smirked, finishing his braid and stepping back to see her handy work. “Very handsome, you look right out of a painting.” She hummed, placing a finger on her chin.

Adrian couldn’t help the crimson glow crawling its way onto his delicate features. “Shush.” He grumbled, attempting to walk past the girl. “You forget I’m taller than you Adrian. I can beat you up very easily.” The younger girl smirked, sticking her arm out to reveal little to no muscle mass what so ever. “Pfft yeah right. Your arm is so skinny it’s would snap in half like a tree branch if I pinched it.”

Event like these were frequent in nature. The pair would have sleepovers and play date with each other until they got too old (Raine was scared they would start getting romantically involved too early. She was right but it took like 7 years LOL)

It wasn’t until Verena’s 18th birthday that things turned for the worst. A few weeks prior to Lisa Tepes’s unfortunate end, the Bishop family would be raided by church officials. Verena could hear the footsteps of Clergymen echoed deeply through the halls of the extensive manor. Verena could feel the blood within her veins freezing as she stayed hidden, clutching a small dagger.

The screams of her mother were the last thing she heard before making her way into the closet. Her mind was cluttered with a mix of fear, anger, and grief. The walls beginning to feel as though they are closing in. Oxygen becoming more scarce by the second. Bloody tears streamed down her face, staining the silky fabric of her nightgown.

Her parents were executed by the church for being ‘A Devil Worshipper and a Vampire’. To save Verena, both went with the church willingly. The church rallied around the couple in glee, antagonizing them as the clergyman ended their lives with little regard.

After a few short moments, the sound crackling of flames could be heard. The priest rose from his spot and stood in front of his fellow clergymen and followers. He raised his hands in holy victory “Rest assured my brothers and sisters of the holy Church! Those sinful beasts known as the Bishops are now no more! Completely eradicated by the grace of our holy God. It is God, our lord and savior who has prevailed once again. In Jesus name, Amen!” Shouted the pastor, as a flood of Amen’s followed suit.

Verena darted towards the closest window she could, this being her only means of escape from the roaring blaze that became her home. Glass crackles under the weight of her shoes as she runs. Droplets of crimson blood forms droplets which land onto the floor below her. In the whirlwind of emotions, she narrowly escapes with her life.

She runs through the forest as fast as she can, branches wounding her as she brushed past them; tearing and ripping her once luxurious night wear. Ragged breathes escaped her lips as she ran blindly into the forest. The Estate that Verena knew so well was burned to the ground; reduced to nothing more than piles of ash and Debris. It became nothing more than a distant and painful memory.

#adrian tepes x reader #castlevania black!reader #alucard x reader #alucardxblack!reader #castlevania alucard x reader #castlevania netflix #castlevania nocturne #netflix original #the the things I can’t control

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sl-newsie · 3 months

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American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 3: Admiring Power

The family goes on chatting while I ladle soup into more bowls and pass them out, earning compliments as they dig in. I’m glad to see that they’re starting to accept me, but it’s still limiting since I’m the only one here who’s not a Shelby. I clean up what I can and then sneak off to my room, knowing that I have no reason to invade their family dinner. First I go to do some reading, but remember my only book is still in Finn’s room. All I have left is my Bible and a small embroidery project-

Huff!

I freeze at the new noise coming from outside the window. Cautiously, I creep over and stick my head out. What on Earth…? Oh. There’s a horse outside. But not just any horse. One of the most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen. Tall, black, and sleek.

“Well hello there,” I greet the animal. “Are you alone too? Want some company?” The horse tosses its head. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Sneaking out the window on my first night of employment might not be my best call, but I have better chances of making friends with this horse right now than I do with my employers. The window’s big enough to slide through, and the alley’s empty so I don’t have to worry about being seen. After I’m out and standing next to the grand animal, I hold out my hand for him to smell.

“You’re magnificent. I bet you’re one of the Shelby’s horses. But I’m a bit surprised to find a horse like you being kept in this dodgy place. You deserve a wide, green pasture.”

“He has one.”

I nearly jump out of my skin when I hear Thomas’ voice, spinning to find him standing by a door a few feet away.

“Having a midnight rendezvous, are we?”

“N-No, Mr. Shelby. I was settling into my room when this creature asked to chat.”

Thomas raises an eyebrow. “He said that?”

“Well, no… But he does seem awfully friendly. When you’ve grown up in the city your whole life you don’t really get to interact with horses. Is this your horse?”

“Yes,” he states plainly.

“He’s beautiful.”

Thomas looks to see if I’m joking, but is surprised when I’m not. “Thank you. His name is Monaghan Boy, races at Kempton next week. Yesterday I arranged a bit of a magic trick to help him win.”

This surprises me, considering that Thomas seems to be the most bland of the group. “I didn’t take you for a man who believes in magic,” I say as I lean against the alley wall.

“You call it magic, I call it a publicity stunt. When Monaghan Boy wins he’ll gain more popularity and then everyone will bet on ‘im.”

“All profiting towards your business, I’m sure. You seem awfully young to run a bookkeeping business.”

Thomas cocks his head. “And you seem awfully young to be alone. What’s your story, love?”

At first my mind warns me to keep things simple and not to go into detail. No one needs to know my deep family roots, so I’ll keep it simple.

“My name is Verena Nora Steenstra. My father’s Dutch, and my mother’s Irish. All my life I’ve lived in Brooklyn, New York, and of course with my luck the first time we decide to take a vacation is when I get left behind.”

This gives Thomas an intrigued look. “That’s different. I’m sorry to hear that. Will your family come looking for you?”

I chuckle and give a halfhearted shrug. “Who knows. I’m the youngest of five brothers, and they’re always lecturing about how I need to ‘toughen up’ and ‘see the world.’ Maybe they left me here on purpose.”

“Seems harsh.”

“They’re family, I still love them.” I give Thomas a grin. “You’ve very good at interrogating, Mr. Shelby. A real gentleman, letting a woman do all the talking. But if you’re looking for any vital information I can’t help you. My father runs his business water-tight.”

Once again Thomas is fazed by my reaction. “Are all Americans this sassy? You’re much more sophisticated than I pinned you for.”

“Well thank you! I do admit I’m more reserved than some but when the time comes I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. But enough of me. Could you tell me a bit about how your family business works?”

Thomas suddenly goes stiff and looks around to make sure we’re alone. I don’t know why, but I’m finding myself opening up more to this strange character. He seems lost. Almost as if he can’t seem to figure out what to do with his life. He beckons me closer and I notice he smells faintly of mint, ash, and cigarettes.

“I’ll tell you the basics, but you need to keep this to yourself. No blabbing to the coppers, is that clear?” He warns.

I nod stiffly. “Crystal.” I’ve known my fair share of keeping family secrets.

“Good. Arthur and Nipper work the books. Nipper’s not as important, Aurthur runs the show.”

“He seems… Nice.”

Thomas chuckles. “If you think that’s nice just wait ‘till you see him drunk.”

“I don’t plan to. And what is it you do, Mr. Shelby?”

Thomas gets a cocky look and steps closer, towering over me as his icy blue eyes seem to peer straight through me. “I think, so they don’t have to. I’m the one who drums up new money and keeps things in order. Such as discovering if new pretty faces like you are a threat.”

I stifle a laugh. “The closest I’d ever get to a threat is if you forced me to. My suggestion: keep your own business out of mine.”

This seems to please Thomas, because he gets a satisfied smile and leans in to whisper: “Good, then we understand each other.” He leans away, leaving me slightly dazed from him being so close. “Someone else you need to stay away from is Freddie Thorne. He’s the BSA union covener, and a communist.”

My eyebrows rise. “Better for me not to even meet him. If my father hears I’ve been involved with a commie he’ll disown me.”

“Yeah, well, he didn’t used to be like that. If we have anything in common, we both give false hope to the poor. Freddie with his speeches, me with my horses,” Thomas remarks as he strokes Monaghan Boy.

“I can tell you’re very proud of your horses, as you should be. Seeing that black beauty of a beast trot through the street is enough to chill your blood.”

Thomas turns to me with a devilish grin. “You admire my horse?”

“I admire many things, Mr. Shelby.” Such as your suave demeanor and effective use of authority.

Something in Thomas’ eyes seems to flicker, a quick sign of vulnerability. “You know, normally I require that all employees call me that. However, since you’ve been hired to specifically help my brother and not to run the business, you can call me Thomas.”

Alright, what is this man’s angle? Butter me up and get me to spill my family’s secrets? Because I won’t. But that doesn’t mean his charm is going unnoticed. Never once has a man made my heart this light before and I’m hoping it doesn’t show.

“Very well, Thomas. Thank you for trusting me. I know that’s very important coming from you.”

“Sure is, love. Now I think we’d better get back inside before people start looking for you.” Thomas puts a surprisingly gentle hand on my shoulder and guides me to the back door, where I give one last wave to Monaghan Boy before he leads me back to my room.

“My room’s directly next to yours, so keep that in mind the next time you plan on sneaking out,” he warns lightly.

“Believe me, Thomas, you have no fear of me running off in the night. I don’t know where I’d go and probably wouldn’t be able to last one night without getting beaten to a pulp.”

Thomas tips his hat just before he goes to shut my door. “Goodnight, Verena.”

“Goodnight, Thomas.”

Once I’m alone again I quickly dress into my nightgown and turn off the lights, climb into bed and say a grateful prayer for all the help I’ve received today. Just before my heavy eyelids close, my last thought is of the unexpected feelings that Thomas Shelby has awoken inside me…

#peaky blinders #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinder imagine #peaky fucking blinders #peaky fookin blinders #thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby #arthur shelby #john shelby #finn shelby #polly gray #grace burgess

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thatscarletflycatcher · 3 months

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I have said good things about Verena in the Midst, by E.V. Lucas. His Advisory Ben is EVEN BETTER. I read it today in about two sittings (had doctor's waiting room time to burn) and I finished it with a smile and that sweet glow that finishing a satisfying book gives.

Ben is short for Benita, an efficient, level headed young woman of 22, whose father, a very fussy man, has just remarried. Ben sees this as the moment to leave home and get a job. During a visit to a country family desperate to find a shaker in the middle of nowhere, Ben conceives the idea of setting up an agency to run errands for country people, and generally orient and advice. She leases a place on top of a used books shop, just recently set up by two WWI veterans (the novel is set in the 1920s), gets herself an assistant and an errand boy, and sets up to work.

Like Verena in the Midst, this is another solid light short novel, but this one has much more of a plot. It's also funnier. It has a love triangle that didn't make me cringe. Ben's work is so interesting, and the people that come to her for help and her relatives are also fun and quirky in their own ways. It has a proposal scene that lands.

Verena in the Midst made me want a radio drama. This one made me want a movie.

Maybe producing companies should just hire someone to peruse public domain works instead of so many remakes and sequels.

Anyways, neither will change your life, but I do think the public here would enjoy either or both.

#Historical literature #Book recs #Books and Libraries #Advisory Ben #both would be also excellent entry points for people trying to get into historical lit

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haydenigmatic · 4 months

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Can we have the first impressions the ROs had of both or either F!MC and M!MC.

I can’t quite scope the level of “perfect” high level attractiveness MC will hold so if possible pls mention our isekai looks 😏

well first impressions are somewhat tricky, I mean it's up to you guys how that goes... and what it is known of MC.

For the Lavone siblings depends on how you behave towards them, an example here with Odette, she can "hate" you whilst crushing on you since the beginning (hate as in you are kids, and mc and she can be the couple of bickering kids that you just know that when they grow up will be a thing) so for this one I'll go with their first impressions on a older MC.

so let's focus on the ethereal beauty of MC.

Odette:

A rush of memories and emotions floods her senses. MC presence, now heightened by the regality of adulthood, leaves her momentarily breathless. Her exterior remains composed, a portrait of courtly grace, yet beneath the surface, a torrent of nerves swirls. The childhood crush, ever-present, now evolves into an enchantment that transcends time. Their beauty, renowned throughout the realm, casts a radiant spell on her, and Odette, ever the idealist, finds herself caught in the delicate dance between longing and the anticipation of what rekindled connection might unveil.

Damon:

For a Female MC: Damon's eyes widen subtly, catching the adult version of MC for the first time. The once-familiar features have transformed into an undeniable beauty that momentarily leaves him speechless. He can't help but appreciate her allure, and a smug grin creeps onto his face, impressed and intrigued by the unexpected transformation.

For a Male MC: Damon's confident facade wavers imperceptibly as he meets the adult version of MC. The realization strikes that this isn't the same companion from his youth; there's a newfound charisma and handsomeness that subtly challenges Damon's own confidence. Despite his usual bravado, he can't help but acknowledge the striking presence of a now-adult MC.

Hanniel:

For a Female MC: As he laid eyes on a grown-up MC, a stunned realization dawned upon him. The girl he once knew had transformed into a woman of captivating beauty. Struggling to reconcile the image of the woman before him with the memory of the girl from his past, he found himself mesmerized by her allure. The profound shift in his perception left him grappling with newfound feelings, a mix of surprise, attraction, and an undercurrent of unexplored emotions.

For a Male MC: Upon laying eyes on the grown-up version of MC, he is momentarily struck by the impressive handsomeness of the man before him. A subtle recognition plays on his features, appreciating the transformation from the boy he once knew. The memories between them echo, but he can't help but acknowledge the striking presence of the man standing in front of him.

Verena:

A a fleeting intrigue sparked within her smoky gaze. MC's beauty, like a captivating enigma, momentarily caught her attention. A subtle smirk played on her lips—an acknowledgment of allure, but also a silent declaration of her own rules. Though she didn't typically involve herself with those of the same age, a mischievous thought crossed her mind—a temptation to toy with the enigmatic character, to unravel the secrets hidden behind those captivating eyes.

Jasira:

For the female MC: She recognizes her beauty but remains sceptical, suspecting her to be just another courtly figure in pursuit of a suitable marriage. Her initial impression is guarded, wary of the intricacies of courtly relationships.

For a male MC: she acknowledges the handsomeness but can't shake the impression of vanity and an almost ethereal beauty that might be more suited to the courtly aesthetics than the harsh realities Jasira has come to know.

Nesrin:

Upon their first meeting, Nesrin, with her perceptive and calculating nature, keenly observes:

A female MC: While acknowledging her beauty, she also sees her as a potential rival for court attention, noting the allure that could captivate others.

For the male MC, she appreciates his handsomeness but maintains a sceptical view, suspecting he might be nothing more than a pretty face lacking substance underneath.

Doria/n:

Doria/n takes a glance at MC and can't help but acknowledge their looks. Yet, in his eyes, they're just another one of those silly nobles at court, wrapped up in the same shallow pursuits.

Aurelia/n:

Despite her/his reserved nature, Aurelia/n finds themselves captivated by the unique beauty that radiates from MC, a beauty that transcends mere physicality. There's a certain magnetic quality to MC's presence that hints at depths yet unexplored, leaving her/him intrigued and eager to unravel the layers beneath the surface.

Sorin:

As her eyes capture the beauty that initially strikes her, she's quick to shift her focus to the more captivating question — the essence of who MC is and the mystery that surrounds them. The allure of their appearance is acknowledged but swiftly overshadowed by Sorin's curiosity about the person beneath the surface, yearning to unravel the enigma that for her is MC.

#ro's #if game #if wip #interactive fiction #tbotd #the blood of the dragon

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ginevrastilinski-ocs · 24 days

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Narnia OCs Time!!

It's the my Narnia's babies time! Since it seems like we're all in this mood, I thought it was a good moment to introduce them! (Special thanks to @andromedalestrange and @randomestfandoms-ocs for some fcs, I was getting crazy so thank you darlings!)

Also two little things I feel the need to tell: it's been a while since the last time I read the Chronicles (so don't yell at me pls) and! My ocs are going to be a "fusion" of the books and the movies (Like, taking my favourite things from both and changing what I don't like... Susan not returning at all for example lmao) And! It's me finding a different way to make almost all of them immortal/ageless/slow-aging bc I want them being in more than one movie/book lmao

Last thing, I'm gonna to explain so little about their plot/vibes/actual things so if you wanna know more about some specific ocs feel free to send an ask, I can't wait to talk about them more 🥺

Tagging my Narnia besties @daughter-of-melpomene @come-along-pond @dancingsunflowers-ocs bc I think they would enjoy this (tell me if I didn't have to 🥺)

Nevan Dair - basically Powerful Boy so The White Witch kidnapped recruted him as her little puppet right-hand man (yep, he's a child and there's a lot of manipulation here); meets Edmund and goes on full "I'm going to murder for you" so betrays Jadis; basically immortal (but not really, it's complicated) for the spark inside him; looks like they would kill you is actually a cinnamon roll vibe; Edmund Pevensie ship FC: Kit Young

Margaret "Magpie" Kirke - Digory Kirke's granddaughter; lives with her grandpa bc oopsie dead parents; enters in Narnia with the Pevensie sibs (and becomes a Queen of Narnia actually); will come back once again with them (and the third time she'll stay in Narnia lol); Peter Pevensie & Prince Caspian ship FC: Florence Pugh

Elizabeth "Liz" Pevensie - Edmund's twin sister; one of the ruler of Narnia along side her sibilings; will also be the Last Queen before the destruction of Narnia alongside Aine; Aine Meraxes ship FC: Maisie Williams

Verena Mars - Narnian noble, fights against the White Witch, meets the Pevensie sibs, during their reign her and Susan fall in love; when they come back to the Human World Aslan doesn't let her follow them so she finds a way to become "ethereal"/ageless to wait Susan's come back (is ready to kill Aslan anyone that comes in her way of having her happy ending); basically I'm all we supports women rights and wrongs; Susan Pevensie ship ovb FC: Hailee Steinfeld

Arjuna - The White Witch descendant, semi immortal due the Silver Apple her mother ate; will eventually bretray her mother for saving the kids she befriended; Peter Pevensie ship FC: Freya Allan

Avaluna Lohan Kirke - baby born under the Golden Age; wants to visit the Human World so searches the Door the Pevensie arrived with; basically finds it when they found the Lamp-post so she leaves with them and is now stuck in the Human World; gets adopted by Digory Kirke bc how do you explain it to anyone else?; Lucy ship FC: Elle Fanning

Aine Meraxes - princess of a little independent reign on a Isle on the borders of Narnia; they have dragons lol; the Long Winter didn't get there bc a Coven protects it; gets called for help against the White Witch; is a witch herself; uses a similar spell the White Witch used on Charn after the Golden Age ends; will eventually be the Last Queen of Narnia alongside Liz; Liz Pevensie ship FC: Milly Alcock

Killian Evada - leader of a secret organization that plots against the White Witch; turns out that is actually a human that found Narnia; comes back on Earth with the Pevensie sibs; Edmund Pevensie ship FC: Thomas Brodie Sangster

Shivani - world traveller (basically is born with the power of yellow and geen rings); comes from a world that was destroyed before Narnia was born and has lived for non-specified time in the Wood Between The Worlds; the time there made them kind of immortal; ship TBD FC: Jessie Mei Li

Amaranta Ira - High Witch of Narnia (at least she should be); her ancestors used to be the Second In Command of Narnia's Army before the Age of Winter; became basically the Narnian version of a vigilante during the White Witch's reign lmao; (will probably be with the Pevensie when they come back so she is stuck in England for a long time); Caspian and/or Edmund ship FC: Amita Suman

Leocadius Thorne - comes from a family of librarians basically; actually, keepers of the list of every Narnian Ruler since the beginning of everything; no plot just vibes ship TBD FC: Isaac Hempstead Wright

Merletta of Narnia - Aslan's priestess; just a little bit of plot, mainly vibes; ship TBD (but maybe Lucy Pevensie) FC: Ceara Coveney

Neera Merwyna - siren and pirate (sort of); no plot just vibes; Prince Caspian ship FC: Halle Bailey

Fitzroy Mahogany - Narnian noble? this is literally "I just vibe with this fc but I have no plot, might scrap them but until then..."; ship TBD (Peter?) FC: Douglas Booth

#i got a little bit carried away... might scrap some of them but until then here I am!#greta's ocs madness era #nevan dair #magpie kirke #liz pevensie #verena mars #arjuna #avaluna lohan #avaluna kirke #aine meraxes #killian evada #shivani #amaranta ira #leocadius thorne #merletta of narnia #neera merwyna #fitzroy mahogany

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krynkle · 4 months

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I just finished my first play through of SLARPG and, like, it was SO good!! Like, the combat was easy to understand, but also challenging enough to actually be fun (I beat the last three bossfights on my first attempt though so I'll probably use the exp sponge on my next save or avoid using the best gear). But also the writing?? like the (scarily relatable) way Harmony messes with Melody and convinces her that everyone pities her and are just waiting for her to give up, Allison blaming herself for the argument at the beach, the way that Vinnia and Verena both assume that the other must hate them for what they've done mirroring the way Allison and Melody feel about eachother after their argument... Also Javis and his boys were just amazing!!! Killer Ray and Roy are my faves but also I love the way Javis is just a dick like, all the time. The soundtrack is also amazing! Especially the track for Amber Woods, something about it is nostalgic in a way i can't quite place... The whole game is just SO SO GOOOOD i love it to much!! There's just so much that i love about this game I feel like I could talk about it for hours!!!

#slarpg spoilers #slarpg #my post

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sleepythug · 5 months

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2023 shit to catch up on

the boy and heron (hayao miyazaki)

ferrari (michael mann)

pacifiction (albert serra)

anatomy of a fall (justine triet)

afire (christian petzold)

evil does not exist (ryusuke hamaguchi)

godzilla minus one (takashi yamazaki)

the zone of interest (jonathan glazer)

poor things (yorgos lanthimos)

remembering every night (yui kiyohara)

past lives (celine song)

fallen leaves (aki kaurismaki)

shin kamen rider (hideaki anno)

john wick 4 (chad stahelski)

de human corporis fabrica (lucien castaing-taylor, verena paravel)

dream scenario (kristoffer borgli)

showing up (kelly reichardt)

how to blow up a pipeline (daniel goldhaber)

the holdovers (alexander payne)

master gardener (paul schrader)

#idk what else

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rena-sims · 6 months

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Verena and Marcus welcomed another boy - August

#ts2 #sims 2 #sims 2 gameplay

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thranduilswifesblog · 1 year

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Tales of the Heart

love story and the beginning of everything. Thranduil, and his nameless wife, but remain in his heart forever. the reason he decided to go to war against the dwarves.

Genre : fanfiction, romance, angst

Prolog :

For him, she is everything. His reason lives on, his first love, his queen, his wife and his world.

For her, he was a friend, a husband, and a partner who understood everything about her. Something she didn't expect to get. Something she had never asked for in her life, but the Valar gave it to her.

A fanfict dedicated for Thranduil and his nameless wife's love story. He is my favorite elves, and I feel sad that his story never really clear, especially about his wife. And I really grateful that Peter Jackson teased us about his wife in the hobbit, even if that only a second. But gave me a very big inspiration and imagination to write this story. Their love story from the beginning till the end....

Chapter 1 : naughty elfing

Words : 733 words

Verena was playing alone in the middle of the forest, she was running, singing, smelling flowers and picking fruit.

At that time Greenwood was still known as a forest that was green, beautiful and not dangerous at all. That's why many elves and even humans often enter the forest just to play.

Verena was sitting on the green grass eating the red apple she had just picked.

"Hey what are you doing?" A boy's voice sounded, snapping at her a bit

Startled, Verena dropped her apple on the ground "oh my, my apple!" She picked up the apple and wiped it on her dress, Verena looked at the boy annoyed "look what you have done! I had to clean it with my white dress, and now my dress is full of dirt!"

The boy raised an eyebrow "You're already sitting on the ground, I'm sure your buttocks are dirty with the ground too. A little stain on the other part is fine."

Verena looked at him annoyed "what do you want?!" "Nothing, it's just that I saw you earlier, and I was just curious"

"I like being here, the air is so fresh, the smell of wet grass, I like that kind of smell"

"Eww... Wet grass? How good is that smell?" The boy said in disgust

"You don't like it? I really like it. It smells so fresh" "

Eww... It smells like deer's poop." the boy said

"If you smell grass near a lot of animals, it will definitely smell of their poop, you silly" Verena laughed "try to sit here with me"

The boy looked hesitant to sit on the ground

"Come on! Don't hesitate!" Verena took the boy's hand and sat him down.

Verena then opened a bag and took a fresh apple in it "would you like some?" She offered

The boy took it hesitantly

"Come on! It's not poisonious!"

Verena forced the boy to take it, and finally the boy took her apple.

He took a bite of the apple, and his eyes widened "it's so sweet!" he said in surprise

Verena smiled broadly "what did I say!"

The boy looked at her "what's your name?" he asked

"Me? My name is Verena" Verena answered

"Verena? What a unique name. What does it mean?"

"My mother says it means fairness, and shy. And you? What's your name?" Verena asked back

"Oh my name is Th-"

"Thranduil!" He heard someone calling him

"That looks like my father"

Verena glared "Thranduil?! You're the prince!?" She said in surprise

"Eh.... Yeah..." He smiled

"Thranduil. There you are." A tall, silver-haired elf with a very firm and fair face walked up to them. That figure was the King, Oropher. Young Prince Thranduil's father

They both stood up quickly

"Adar!" Thranduil called out to his father enthusiastically

Verena was shocked, and a little scared. She quickly curtsyed in front of King Oropher

"Your Majesty " she said nervously

Oropher looked at her "and who is this little girl? What's your name my child?" Oropher asked, his voice resounding, firm, but gentle at the same time

"Ve- Verena, my king" Verena answered nervously

Oropher is bending down and aligning himself with Verena "Where are your parents, my child?" Oropher asked Verena scratched her hands

"I- I think at home"

Oropher smiled "don't be scared, my child. Let me take you to your house" Oropher offered his hand, Verena hesitantly took Oropher's hand.

And the three of them walked, Thranduil holding Oropher's left hand, Verena holding his right.

When they reached the palace area, Verena saw her father and mother "Naneth" Verena running towards her mother

"Verena. It's been so late, why are you just coming home!?"

"forgive me, nana" Verena smiled

"Lord Algar, Lady Andis. So this little Verena is your daughter?" King Oropher asked kindly

"Your majesty" They both bowed "Did our daughter do something naughty and provoke your anger, my king?" Lord Algar asked fearfully

"Don't worry. I found her on the forest while chatting with my son. So I intend to take her home. Your daughter is very polite and beautiful."

"Thank you, my king for the compliment" Lady Andis said

Oropher nods "excuse me then" Oropher then leaves taking young Thranduil with him.

While walking with his father, Thranduil turned to Verena, the girl was hiding at her father's feet. Thranduil waved his hand and the girl waved back with a smile.

@lazymeriadoc @starlady66 @sotwk @lady-of-imladris @laneynoir @jordie-your-local-halfling @justanauthor17 @estel-elrondion

Hope you like it everyone 💞

#thranduil #fanfiction #the hobbit #the lord of the rings #tolkien

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freedomsofdream · 2 years

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Richard "Dick" Grayson

Life between sister and brother

"Master Wayne, I bought tickets to the circus that came into town for you and Madam Verena"

An older male's voice echoed down in the batcave. Bruce looked up from watching his daughter who was trainning. Her knuckles split open at each harder hit. She knew not to whince out in pain. She only stopped when she felt a cold Hand on her shoulder. Turning around she sees the kind and gentle face of Alfred Pennyworth. Verena cringed slightly by the kind touch. Pulling herself away from him as she stood straight and looked at Bruce.

"We are trainning for the night Alfred. No time for that silly thing."

Bruce answered Alfred while setting up a target for Verena to practice knife throwing. Alfred continued to stare at the older man until Bruce caved.

"Okay...one night of fun"

Verena walked behind Bruce while they made there way around the circus. Her Blueish green eyes scan the circus until she spots a woman in a white dress. Stopping in her tracks as she looks at her. The woman's eyes never left the person in front of her. Verena followed the light of sight and saw that she was looking at Bruce. Looking back Verena sees the woman was gone.

"A mother love is powerful..even beyond the grave"

A voice spoke behind Verena, the young girl looked back and saw a beautiful woman with traditional Romi clothes on. The woman looked back down at the child and her eyes widen.

"Your family will be heros among many. Honor, Duty and Loyalty flows through each children's veins. You my child shall work in the dark, you will be a hero to few and unknown to even fewer. While they fight monsters in human body and human brain. You will hunt the real monsters. Keep calm my child, your destiny will show in a normal day. Read steadly and keep an open mind. You will save the world."

A harsh tug of her upper arm broke the trance both woman had. Bruce glared at the older woman before tugging his daughter along.

"I gave you a direct order to stay behind me."

His gruff voice made her body tense up looking down at her feet as he dragged them both into the tent. She only looked up when the show started. A soft smile appears on her face as she watches the acrobats jump around. Even the small child within the routine. That was until two body's fall from a big height.

While the while tent went into a frenzy, Verena never got the kid out of sight. Getting up and rushed to him as he got on the ground level. He rushed to his parents body, but was meet with a body. Hiding his face from the gruesome sight. He fought against her body.

"Hey hey hey look at me!"

The younger boy looked up at the slightly older girl. His blue eyes clash with her mixed colored ones. Tears and snot falling from his redded face.

"I got you. I got you"

She didn't say it was going to be okay, or tell him how to feel. She simply said that she had him. This caused the young boy to break more. He held onto her tightly as he broke down. Verena felt a shadow over them and saw that it was batman hiding both of them, she didn't know how long she was holding him but it was long enough for police and reporters to show up.

It had been a month into Richard being at the Wayne Manor. He was Verena's shadow, Alfred could always find both of them together. Or mostly where Verena wanted to go for the day.

"Why are you fighting like me?"

Her voice echoed within the batcave as she trained Dick. Dick stood up straighter from his spot and felt nervous.

"I want to be like you..."

He said while rubbing the back of his neck. Alfred could see a smile on the females face.

"That's nice, but you cant."

A broken face appeared on Dicks face. Making the young girl panic.

"NOT LIKE THAT!! Ment because you are more flexible then me. My moves are for my body and my own flexibility. You would get hurt even more trying to move like me when you can't."

Dick paused to think for a bit. Then he turned around and did the move she was showing him, in his own way. He landed the move and grew excited, hugging Verena tightly as she was shocked.

Through many nightmares and many bruises from being Batgirl and Robin. The two siblings never stopped being close. On a plan day, Alfred opened the door after a knock on it. He saw an older gentleman with a baseball cap.

"I'm looking for Verena Fitzgerald?"

Alfred raised his eyebrow in a questioning look.

"Balls i mean Wayne, Verena Wayne"

Verena appears behind Alfred and looks at the older man whom also seen her. A tear falls down his face as he sees her.

"My you look just like her, Sam Fitzgerald! I am your grandfather. Your mother wanted me to give this to you on your 20th birthday. Here you go. I can't stay long.. my number is in their..please call"

After handing the book over to the girl the old man rushed away. Bringing in the book she went up to her room. The day of the circus played in her mind as she opens the book. A letter falls out, reading the letter whom was from her mother. Verena knew what she needed to do.

"You what?!"

Bruce shouted at Verena as she seals the Batgirl uniform away.

"I retire from being a Vigilante. You have dick now. No need for me, I got more important things to do"

Verena stood infront of dick as he stood behind her. It had been years later now and he stood close to her shoulders.

"What is more important then protecting this city"

"What more important then actually giving children a good childhood."

Bruce kept quiet after that, he turned away and looked at the bat computer. Verena walked passed him and up to her room, Dick followed after her.

"Are you leaving?"

Verena looked back at her brother, with a sad smile she nodded.

"I am, I need more training for what I want to do. I need to be stronger to face my own villains. To protect you and all those who need it. I can't just protect Gotham and its people. They have you and Bruce for that. Please promise me that when this city feels to small or that you don't feel respected. Go and live your life."

Dick slammed into his sister and hugged her tightly. They didn't say anything but both understood the promise was accepted.

Dick at the Titan Tower

"Intruder Alert...Intruder Alert"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!"

Dick rushed to the living room part of the tower as the alarm went. Of course the team followed after him with a rush also. When they got there they all saw a tall female with blue jeans and brown heeled boots. A green flannel was semi tucked in her pants. Her hands on her hips as she shouts at the alarm. Turning around as she heard the pounding of feet. Dick looked at her wided eyed before Jason rushed past him and tackled her onto the floor.

"Balls!"

She groaned out as she fell to the floor. Dick rushed over to the both figures. Helping them both up, dick then pushed Jason away and hugged the female tightly. Verena laughed and hugged him back just as tightly. Looking behind him she saw the others standing around awkwardly.

"Hey I'm Verena Wayne. Dick and Jason's Older sister."

#bruce wayne #richard grayson #older sister #younger brother #batman #teen titans #batfam x batsis #batfam imagine

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lonesomedotmp3 · 8 months

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they're just boys verena not communists....

#but they are to HER... because she's insane... and a homosexual

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sl-newsie · 2 months

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American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 10: Equality vs Justice

Later that night we hold dinner for two hours before I finally decide to stop waiting for the Shelby brothers to return. Finn left to help about an hour ago and it’s just been Polly and me preparing Shepherd’s pies. When I tell her about Ada’s behavior she gets a funny look in her eye.

“I’ve got some suspicions. For now I’ll wait for Ada to come to me but my patience is wearing thin. She’s been avoiding me.”

A few more minutes go by and I check the clock. “Do you always wait for them to come back this late? If I were to stay out unaccompanied like this my mother would personally kill me.”

Polly laughs as she stirs the filling. “With those boys nothing is ever normal. Between John worrying about his family, Arthur wanting to be smarter than he is, and Thomas thinking he knows everything, I sometimes wonder how they can even function.”

“And Finn?”

She sighs heavily. “I hope he’ll turn out straight. He tries so hard to be like his brothers that sometimes we forget he’s still just a kid. How’s his lessons been going?”

I wipe my flower-covered hands on a towel. “No complaints at all, ma’am. Finn’s a prime student. He definitely has potential and dedication, though I’m glad to say he does not share his brother’s lack of resilience. Finn always has an open mind, which I think is inspired by his sister.”

We hear the front door open and all four Shelby brothers crowd into the room, all taking their places at the kitchen table. I can tell they’ve been drinking due to the smell of liquor but they seem to be level-headed enough. I just hope Finn hasn’t drank too much.

“How was the bonfire?” I ask lightly as I pass out a tray of slightly-cold pies.

“Affective.”

Thomas is the only one to reply as they all dig into the simple meal. No doubt they’re tired. Finn is the only one that still shows any hint of ignorance. In these insane times a touch of ignorance might not be so bad.

“I got to leave early,” John says after he swallows. “Kids’ll be wanting their dad to tuck ‘em in.”

“Ever considered a sitter?” I ask.

Arthur slurs a laugh. “Ha! Yeah, so we can pay you double? Watch his tykes and teach Finn, ey?”

I shake my head and try to defend his accusation but John waves it off.

“‘S alright, Steenstra. I don’t expect you to. You’ve got enough on your plate as it is. I need a more stable solution.”

Thomas speaks up. “You need a wife, John.” He gets up and comes over to search through the cupboard. “Polly, where are those biscuits-?”

“In the refrigerator,” John says. “Though there may not be many left. Verena’s a damn good baker.”

“All the more reason why my decision to hire her has paid off well,” Polly comments. “Which is why you lot should treat her as the proper Peaky Blinders employee she is, Arthur.” She points a warning finger at the eldest Shelby brother, who just rolls his eyes.

“Respect is earned,” I reply. “Since my position is temporary I don’t expect to gain anything before-”

“Before you go back,” Finn grunts. “You’ve mentioned it once or twice.”

Thomas ruffles his brother’s hair. “Hear that, Verena? Someone’s gonna miss you.”

Finn swats his hand away. “I will not!”

“I will,” John says as he chews another cookie. “Without her there’s no biscuits.”

The brothers go on chatting about other Blinders business and I take the chance to finish cleaning part of the kitchen before slipping off to bed. It’s already midnight and my eyes are starting to droop. I don’t even bother thinking about reading as I dim the lights and slip under the covers…

“Clocking out early?” Thomas’ voice stirs me from my thoughts. He’s standing in the doorway.

“It’s midnight, Mr. Shelby. If I did have an established work schedule my shift would have ended hours ago.”

The man simply nods his head and walks over to look out my window. “Dinner was nice. And I know John’s exaggerated this already but your biscuits are to die for.”

In the dark I stand up to face him better. “Trying to butter me up with a compliment before delivering unpleasant news?”

Thomas’ reaction is covered by the shadows. “Only giving a compliment, Ms. Steenstra. I must say I’m surprised at how much you’ve changed around here.”

I tilt my head. “I haven’t changed much in the house besides my cooking-”

“I mean us,” Thomas gestures towards the kitchen. “You might not see it but you do more than what you think, Verena. And Finn will miss you, by the way.” He pauses. “Most all of us will miss you.”

“Most?”

“Well… Arthur’s still undecided about me hiring you.”

I nod respectfully. “I’m still grateful for your trust. In my family it’s a high honor for younger members to be part of something this big.”

Something I say doesn’t sit well with Thomas. His laid-back expression shifts to one of curiosity.

“Members? What kind of family are you part of, Steenstra?”

I slipped up. He suspects my involvement with the mob.

“Like I said before. I’m half Dutch, half Irish. My father runs a chain of breweries.”

“And are there any business deals made under the table away from federal eyes?” Thomas inquires.

I keep a steady expression. “Do not accuse my father of bootlegging, Mr. Shelby. All his transactions are thoroughly legal.”

It’s not a lie. Father’s refused several proposals from Uncle Colon about selling his products to the Irish mobs. Thankfully my answer persuades Thomas to drop the subject.

“Your father seems like a good man. He raised a bright and resourceful daughter.” Thomas steps closer and I can smell the mint cologne and ash on him. “Good night, Ms. Steenstra.”

“Good night, Thomas. Prayers be with you.”

The gangster nods and exits the room, taking the chill of the conversation with him. That was close. At this point I’ve gone too far to confess to my family connections. The Shelbys trust me as myself, not as a mob asset. As I lay down once again to catch some sleep I can’t help but wonder if my family’s noticed I’m missing…

I open my eyes to a brand-new day and quickly get dressed. Now that I have my own clothing with English fashion I don’t feel like an oddball. It’s already 10:00. Much later than I wanted to start but there’s no use crying about it. I walk into the kitchen and am not surprised to find out that Thomas and his brothers have already left.

“Morning, love,” Polly greets from the table. “Finn’s running an errand and then you can do a lesson. He seemed eager to get back so you should expect him soon. The only other one who’s here is Ada.”

As if on cue, the Shelby sister walks into the room and slumps into the chair next to Polly.

“Good of you to join us.” Polly remarks as Ada pours some tea. “Where have you been all day?”

“In bed,” the brunette replies, sharing knowing glances with me. Sure. ‘Bed.’ “Couldn’t sleep. Then I couldn’t wake up.”

She goes on to ramble about dreams while Polly chats about recent bad news. It’s not until I hear Polly abruptly say “stand up” that I look up from the novel I’m reading. Ada does as she’s told and Polly walks around examining her, then suddenly feels up her chest.

“Polly what are you doing?” Ada shouts.

“Ada. How late are you?”

Her words take a moment to drift in the air, then it clicks in my head. You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. It was only a matter of time before Ada’s affair would catch up with her. She’s pregnant.

“One week- 5 weeks- seven weeks, but it must be a lack of iron…” Ada desperately tries to patch up an excuse.

But Polly won’t have it. “I’m taking you to the doctor.” She gives Ada a stern look to quiet her then glances over at me. “Verena, love, it’s best you not tell a soul if you know what’s good for you. You can wait here for Finn while I take her.”

Hiding my face behind my book cover, I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”

Polly nods and drags Ada out of the room. Ada gives me one last panicked look before the pair walks through the front door. Don’t expect sympathy from me. You know what you were getting yourself into. I sit quietly at the table and continue reading until the door opens again and Finn walks in.

“Where’s Aunt Polly?”

Not a word about Ada. “She had something come up. Didn’t say when she’d be back.” I try to reroute the conversation. “What do you want to learn about today?”

Finn joins me at the table and sets down a new book. “I found this at the library. Before you say anything-” He points a finger at me. “No, I don’t agree with Tommy about using public resources. I like the library.” He holds the book up for me to see. “I found this today and was hoping you might know about it?”

The book is one I’ve never heard of before but the topic looks enticing. “You want to learn about equality and justice?”

“Yeah. We deal with social concepts like them all the time in the family business.”

“That you do, Finn. If only others would share your willingness to learn.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Thomas’ voice asks from behind.

Of course he’s here. I turn around to find the blue-eyed gangster leaning against the counter with an amused smirk.

“Good morning, Thomas. Care to join us?”

“Depends. Will I like what I hear?”

I raise a brow. “Depends. Does talk of justice bother you? You Shelbys seem to admire it.”

Thomas doesn’t answer verbally. Instead he slowly walks over to sit next to Finn. I take that as my cue to begin.

“Equality is the state of being equal, regardless of background or social status.��

“So socialism, then,” Thomas says.

“Please hold all comments for after the lesson, Mr. Shelby. As I was saying, justice is the concept of what is fair. What is right and what is deserved.”

“That sounds like the same thing as equality,” Finn says, confused.

“Think of it like this, Finn. Imagine two people watching a horse race from behind a fence. They’re each too short to see over the top. In a scenario when equality is involved, each person is given a crate to stand on. However one person is still too short to see over. In a scenario with justice, the fence would be removed to allow both people to see.”

Both Shelbys take in my words with consideration. However our lesson is interrupted when Arthur bursts through the door.

“Tommy, where’ve you been? Been looking for you in the Bull Ring and you’re here being lectured by the American?”

I suppress the urge to argue. Thankfully I don’t have to because Thomas does the work for me.

“She’s got a name, Arthur. Verena’s a Peaky Blinders employee so she’ll be treated as such. We were just finishing a lesson with Finn.”

The oldest Shelby brother takes little notice to apologize and motions for Thomas to follow him. Probably more urgent business than a lecture.

“That’s enough for today, Finn.”

He gives a disappointed sigh. “Thanks, Verena.”

The rest of the day ticks by and I do my best to make the time pass faster while I wait for Ada and Polly to return. The sound of the door opening alerts me to look up from my book and see the two sit down on the couch across from me, both holding cigarettes.

“You’re pregnant, and you’re smoking?! What is wrong with you?”

“Quiet!” Polly hisses. “I’ll talk to Tommy about it later but for now no one knows. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She nods. “Good. How was Finn today?”

How can she expect me to ignore this blessing? “Ambitious as usual. Is the baby healthy?”

“So far so good,” Ada assures me. “Have you been stuck inside all day? You should get some fresh air.”

Come to think of it, I am getting a little antsy. Some time outdoors would do me some good. Polly and Ada probably need to discuss the situation more thoroughly with privacy.

“Good idea, Ada. I think I’ll step out back and take a stroll in the alley. I won’t stray far.”

After picking out a hat to block out what little sun there is I see Polly approach me with a pistol.

“For protection.”

I take it graciously and slip it into my skirt pocket. “How did you know I know how to shoot one?”

She gives me a subtle wink. “Intuition.”

The moment I open the back door I’m welcomed by a gust of ash and dirt. Today’s much windier than normal and is not in my favor. But beggars can’t be choosers. I should stretch my legs before I develop cabin fever. The pistol's weight pressing against my leg serves as a reminder that I can defend against any unwanted violence.

Just as I step into the alley and wander into the nearby street the sound of hooves signals for me to peek around the corner. Thomas is back, and he’s riding his new white horse. The horse almost looks out of place here, with the whole ‘gloom and doom’ atmosphere. Thomas halts the horse and dismounts, gently stroking the animal’s nose.

“Seems to me like you treat horses like people and people like snakes.”

Thomas rolls his eyes but takes the comment all in good fun. “Yeah, yeah. The humanity in me is dead.” He pats the horse and ties him to a nearby hitching post. “On another note, I just talked with Grace. I’m taking her to the races later this week.”

My thoughts come to an abrupt stop, like a freight train tumbling off a twisted track. Why? Why do I feel so… disappointed? It only makes sense that Thomas would ask her out. Grace is pretty and kind. He’ll only ever think of me as an employee, so at least he trusts me enough with his family’s business.

“Oh. That sounds fun,” I try to sound encouraging. “Are the races here exciting?”

“They never disappoint, love. Ever been to one?”

I shake my head and stroke the horse’s mane. “My father never lets me go to the races. Says it’s not ladylike.” Another thought surfaces. “What did you think of today’s lesson?”

The gangster scoffs and takes off his cap to run a hand through his hair. “I think part of that lecture was directed at me.”

“Oh really?”

“Really. You want me to reconsider my mindset of establishing justice, eh?”

Honestly I didn’t plan for the topic to hint at Thomas’ mindset but he makes a good point. “You have heart, Thomas. But you can’t act as life’s judge, jury, and executioner. It’s not always about what people deserve. It can be about what they need. No, they may not always want what they need. But God’s plans aren’t spelled out for everyone.”

Thomas looks over at me with a happy smile. “Keep that hope alive, Verena. We all need it.”

His praise causes me to smile too. Besides being a teacher I’m also on the good side of one of the fiercest gangsters in England all because I speak my mind.

But the moment is gone when Thomas reaches for a cigarette and I see something fall out of his pocket. I bend down to pick it up and dust off the ash to reveal a gleaming silver and bronze bullet with the markings Tommy etched into it.

“Thomas, what is this?”

My boss takes a puff of his cigarette. “Oh. That. ‘S just a gift from the Lee family.”

This is no gift, this is a threat! I’ve heard of threats like this from Uncle Colon and they are no light matter. How is he so calm?

“They’ve signed your death warrant, Thomas. The bullet literally has your name on it!”

But Thomas doesn’t share my worry. Instead he chuckles and puts both hands on my shoulders. “No need to worry, love. I’ll handle it.’S not the first time I’ve gotten a death threat. Now,” he rubs his hands together and starts walking towards the Shelby house. “Where’s Polly? I’ve got a few questions for her.”

Oh. Right. And he doesn’t know about Ada yet.

“Last I saw she was in the living room.” Lord, I do not want to hear this!

I follow him inside and briskly walk back to hide in the kitchen, where Finn has settled to do some reading. He is also smoking a cigarette!

“Finn! Not you too!” I throw my arms up in defeat. “Am I the only one who thinks smoking is a death wish?”

He just shrugs and continues reading. I don’t hear a reaction from the other room but after a few minutes Polly walks in with a determined look.

“I just told Tommy.”

“About Ada?” I ask softly.

“Yes.”

“What’d he say?”

Polly sets out the kettle and begins brewing tea. “Nothing. He just stormed out to find her. The instant Ada spills his name, he’s a dead man. Thomas won’t stand for it.”

I don’t blame him. If I were to ever try something like that my brothers would kill any man who looks at me in cold blood. All I can hope is that Thomas goes easy on the poor bloke.

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