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trulyhblue · 2 months

Note

Leah or lessi kid fic after they won the Conti cup!

Lilo’s Sparkle

Mum! Alessia Russo x Child! Reader

Warnings: fluff, mention of injury, very very short.

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You held your head up high, making sure your eyesight was level with the barricade of Alessia’s arms around you.

Your mummy was rocking you, holding you in a small confinement of blankets and an pink sweater. It was cold in Birmingham, but so was every other game your Mummy’s team played at. It was the same at Manchester, and London was no different. The only chance was the people. Auntie Ella only picked you up from your new preschool when she was down South, and you and Mummy would sometimes meet for orange juice at Auntie Ella’s favourite cafe when you were in Manchester.

But today you were in Birmingham, which was a often occurrence. London was your new home. You were accustomed to Manchester, and the weather in England was pretty standard across the country, so there wasn't much to adjust to.

“Do you want to go see Kyra with me, Lilo?”

You looked over at your Aunt Stina. She was perplexed, confronted with mixed emotions. You had teary eyes from the overstimulation, so you just wanted a cuddle.

“Is Stina okay, Mummy? Does she need a hug?”

There was cheering everywhere. Mummy had a very wide grin, and rosy cheeks similar to yours, except you were cold and she was exhausted. The 120-minute frenzy had left you feeling fatigued in your seat on the bench. It was a lot to ask a three-year-old to sit quietly without fuss without the company of her Mummy and her Aunties.

“How bout you ask to see if she wants one, sweets?”

You nodded.

With the comfort of Kyra in the first half, and Leah in the second, you were pretty much well-behaved. But after your favourite Auntie — though Stina Ballerina and Lee Lee never liked you saying that — Frida went down and stretched off the pitch, you instantly grew angsty and agitated. This was only exemplified with Mummy was subbed on in place of.

You ran over to Stina, yanking softly on the woman’s shorts.

“Do you need a cuddle, Auntie Stina?” You asked, fiddling with your zipper as you spoke. Your hood was up upon your Mummy’s discretion, the media attention on you the foremost of her worries.

“Oh, I always need a hug from you, Lilo, älskling.”

“Okay! Thank you!”

Stina knelt down at the feeling your body heat holding onto her calf, swiftly picking you up and cradling you in her grip. Vivi came up behind you, wearing a matching Arsenal jumper, fitting her medal over your neck.

“You scored the winner, Auntie.” You proclaimed, engulfing Stina’s jersey next to your cheek. “You are a superhero Stina. I think your a sparkle.”

Alessia’s giggles were heard not far from where you stood, the thought of you talking about people being a ‘sparkle’ endearing to her.

“Wow, Lilo darling, you think Stina did well?”

“Mummy, of course! She's a sparkle, remember?” You looked between Stina, Vivi, and Mummy. “Mummy and I were calling you a sparkle on the bus after you gave me a cookie, remember? Thank you, Auntie, you really are a star.”

It was considered your thing. To call someone a sparkle was your view of an utmost compliment. You are a star, superior in all ways, and for Stina, she hugged you a little tighter knowing you relished her hard work.

No amount of compliment could outshine a sparkle.

“You are too kind, Lilo,” Stina responded, her blush prominently painting across the bridge of her nose. “Thank you, but you are the biggest sparkle of all.”

You were now pressing your face against the woman’s cheeks, reaching out to play with Mummy’s collar. “Thank you!”

You eventually pushed away from all the celebratory chaos, waddling over to Lee Lee, and Kimmy, knowing they’d provide some serenity to your hyperness.

They were on their way to receiving the trophy, and when you found your way squelched between them, Lee picked you up, placing you inside the trophy with a plonk.

Everyone laughed and cheered as you were lifted into the air, celebrating flambountaly for their sparkle.

Not only as individuals, but as a club.

____________________

alessia

liked by stinablackstenius, fridamaanum, and 876,356 others

alessia — dressed in our sparkle attire 🩷🩷

tagged — stinablackstenius

Comments Are Limited:

Stinablackstenius — my absolute favourite compliment from my Äskling 💕

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maryangelex · 9 months

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Never Let Me Go

Captain John Price x f!Reader

Part 2 here

Summary: You worked at a coffeehouse, your life is filled with mundanity and you wouldn't change it for anything else. That is, until one crisp autumn morning, you meet the handsome Captain John Price and there’s an immediate, undoubted connection between the two of you.

WC: 3,352

Warnings: fluff, smut in other chapters, cheesy coffee shop au, inaccuracies, soft!price, barista!reader, some reader descriptions, slow romance, pet names, meet-cute.

A/N: Remember that Price series I mentioned? Here ya go!!! Each chapter will be the title of a song I feel is related to it or that I was listening to while writing it hehe so make sure to check that out ;) I'm planning for 6 chapters but there might be more. Smut will happen eventually, of course!

The song for Chapter 1 is I'm On Fire by Bruce Springsteen, but also the covers of it by Awolnation and Gus Dapperton.

Happy reading!!

Dawn was breaking through the clouds. The waking sun broke through grey clouds that poured a steady, incessant shower of rain; the contrast of the glimmering rays against the somber clouds painted a watercolor sky.

You walked down the cobblestone street, the heel of your shoes clinking with every stride as you walked into the coffeehouse at a speedy pace. It was the middle of autumn, the weather was tepid and chilly. You worked at Roasts & Poets, a hybrid of a cafe and a bookstore that your sweet aunt had left your favorite cousin, and she had been gracious enough to let you run it alongside her.

Every morning was the same, and you wouldn't change a thing about it. You arrived at the crack of dawn to open the cafe, you were alone until your cousin arrived much later; you had always been more diligent and work-oriented than her when it came to running the cafe. You went through the whole process of the opening shift: setting the chairs and tables, stocking the sugars and napkins, picking up your cousin's slack from yesterday's closing shift, and setting out the freshly baked pastries.

That's how you start your day every day. Your life was simple yet rewarding. Alone behind the counter, you took in the sight of the deserted shop, the smell of the books on their shelves collecting dust hitting your nostrils while sleep was still weighing down your eyes. The stillness and silence of the shop every morning made you content and warm.

About half an hour later, your cousin arrived. The energy in her contrasted your mellowness. The minute she walked through the door, the sound of her cheery greeting and of the edge of the door's swing knocking the bell atop it sparked you awake. You gave her a wide smile as she stormed in, the rays of sun being her spotlight.

"Morning, cuz," she beamed, you returned the greeting mid-yawn, followed by you letting out a loud sigh. She set her coat on the hooks next to the door beside yours -- you two had set those there as a cozy detail for your customers.

"I had the best night last night," she started, walking towards you behind the counter and tying an apron around her waist the same as you. "Remember that guy I told you about?"

"The Birmingham one?" you scoffed, remembering the drunken night when your cousin could not stop rambling about the bloke from Birmingham who stood her up.

"No," she rolled her eyes, "the hot one my friend set me up with!"

You vaguely recalled, giving her an affirmative nod as your eyes drifted up, trying to remember the details of her extensive, messy love life. The two of you had been close and very similar since you were kids, but what stood out between you was how much of a hopeless romantic she was. You were more reserved about it; even though you knew it sounded cliche, you had decided long ago that the right man for you would come to you one day. Your knight in shining armor, your prince charming, perhaps. So you'd rather wait passively for that moment rather than how your cousin approached men head-on.

You listened to her fawning over her most recent rendezvous with her new suitor, amused and enjoying her experience vicariously.

As the day progressed, you welcomed and attended more patrons. You and your cousin took turns between taking orders and ringing up anyone who purchased books. There were a few regulars who came in every morning for a quiet space to work in, and others who just liked to lounge and read a book they had purchased along with a coffee in the comfy sofas you and your cousin had picked out when setting up the shop -- you had lost count of how many years ago that had been.

When the shop was slowing down, you liked to prop your elbow on the counter, resting your chin on your hand as you people-watched. You loved the tranquility of it, thinking about each one's stories, reading them like books.

One of the regulars was a man who always came in a burgundy knitted sweater and sat down with his laptop and headphones. He was quiet and reserved but always left you gratuitous tips; you knew his order and routine like the back of your hand. Another one was an older lady who always wore something pink, no matter what the rest of her outfit consisted of or what the occasion was. She was kind as well, but when she was feeling chatty she would sit at the counter and talk your ear off; today was a quiet day for her as she sipped her chamomille and read her novellas.

As much as you enjoyed the peace of the shop, today was not a great day for silence for you. You hadn't gotten the best sleep last night, you had opted for binging the show you had been obsessing over and downed an entire bottle of wine by yourself. So, between your early start to the day and the light thumping of the headache you had medicated was making your eyes heavy with sleep. You couldn't wait for your shift to be over, maybe you would ask your cousin to let you lie down in the back.

The sound of the bell as the door swung open jolted you awake for the second time today. You stood upright, fixing your posture and glancing at the door to greet the incoming customer. Your eyes captured a man you hadn't seen before around the area. He was tall with a bearded face and had a burly physique, sporting a navy blue sweater and grey coat that matched the beanie he slid off his head. You gave him a welcoming smile, not paying him much mind because of the sleep that still crept into your eyes. He returned the gesture as he made his way across the store, disappearing from your vision.

You let out a sigh as you rubbed your knuckles into your lids. You desperately need a coffee if you want to get through the day, you thought, turning on your heels to pull yourself two shots of espresso. You poured the shots into a cup of milk you had frothed, making yourself a latte to spark some energy into you.

As you turned back around to face the counter you were caught off guard by--

" 'Scuse me, miss?" a smokey voice startled you, making your body jump in place with a gasp escaping your lips. The latte in your hands splashed in your grasp at the sudden response of your body, its contents lightly spilling over your apron.

"Shit!" you hissed, setting the cup down on the work counter behind you and grabbing the nearest rag to wipe your hands clean from any coffee that got on them. You looked up to the man across the counter, laughing at yourself in a mix of embarrassment at your clumsiness and lighthearted amusement.

At that moment, your eyes caught onto the face of the mystery man who had recently walked in. His expression was genuinely concerned and apologetic, truly not knowing what to do with himself as he stood across the counter.

"I'm so sorry, love, didn't mean to startle you," he stumbled over his words, "you alright?"

His voice was raspy and deep, sultry even. You noted the details of his face: blue eyes stared back at you, surrounded by long lashes and bushy eyebrows, his pink, velvety lips slightly parted as if having more apologies to let out, his nose pointed and narrow, and his beard neat and full. He was handsome, truly, and you couldn't look away.

"No worries!" you finally let out, a large smile on your face. "That's what these things are for!" you let out an awkward laugh, too loud to not give away the fact that you were flustered by his looks. Your hands worked the knot of the apron that tied at your waist as you spoke.

The man let out a nervous chuckle as he watched you, still dumbfounded and itching to help in some way like he was uncomfortable with himself for just standing by.

"What can I help you with, sir?" You asked, tossing the apron in a bin under the counter, where you and your cousin kept any kitchen cloths and rags that needed to be washed after your shift. You didn't break eye contact with the man as you did, you found it impossible to when his blue eyes sucked you like the depth of an ocean.

The man cleared his throat and fixed his posture, a nervous smile pulling at his bearded cheeks, "I was just wonderin' if y'could help me pick out a book" he pointed his thumb over his shoulders to the shelves behind him, "Any recommendations? 'M not sure where to look."

You responded with an eager 'of course' as you circled the counter, leading him to the array of shelves. "Are you looking for anything in particular?"

"Erm, up to your suggestion, really," he stood behind you, letting you take the lead, his eyes weighted on you. You responded with a pensive hum as your eyes scanned the shelves, hand holding your chin. You mumbled something under your breath and moved on to a different shelf. You reached for one of the books and turned back to him, handing the selection over to him. He took it from your hands.

Large hands, you observed. You hadn't realized until now how much taller the man was compared to you. You weren't a petite girl, but, this man stood tall; the way he carried himself proudly made him look even larger.

He eyed the book, taking a moment to read the cover. He chuckled lightly to himself and glanced over to you.

"As You Like It," he read.

"You read it?" you asked a bit flustered, afraid you had made the wrong choice, "I recommend it to everyone."

"I haven't, actually," he looked over to it again, "Not very well versed in Shakespeare."

You chuckled a bit, "Well, this is a good one to get you into it."

"I trust you," he said, a smirk on his face that made your cheeks burn.

"It can be a bit hard to read but..." you shrugged, "It's one of my favorites."

"I'll come to you if I need help, then."

Your stomach fluttered at his words. Was he flirting? Maybe he's just a charming guy, nothing special.

"Would you like anything else?" you stuttered. His gaze made you shift and adjust yourself, making you feel vulnerable to have it on you.

"I'd like a tea to keep you company while you finish your coffee if that's alright," he flirted, his husky voice made the hairs on your arms stand up.

You simply nodded with a smile and he followed you back to the counter. He sat on one of the stools as you stood behind the bar, he had asked you for a black tea and you steeped it for him, setting down a creamer and cup of sugar for him to add to taste. You went back to the latte you had made yourself, pouring it into ice after having let it get cold, and observed the man as subtly as you could manage. You noted he liked his tea on the sweeter side, maybe you would use that information for the next time he came around. You hoped he would.

You watched as he took a sip from the cup, humming to himself and licking his lips as he set the cup back down. 'Good tea', he said softly as if to himself. You couldn't help but let a smile tug at the corners of your lips; something about him enjoying it was pleasant to you.

"I'm John, by the way," he spoke up, his arms crossed on the counter. His eyes were on you again, and they were amiable and warm as they held contact with yours. You responded by telling him your name.

"Are you new around here, John?" you reclined on the counter behind you, your coffee in one hand.

"I am, I just moved in nearby," he took another sip from his cup.

"What made you pick this place, if I may ask?"

"Well, military accommodations, mainly," he cleared his throat.

Military, you thought. No wonder he was such a large and buff man. You noticed the flexed muscles that bulged under his sweater. That sweater did them no justice, you were sure.

"So you're a soldier?"

"Somethin' like that, yeah," he scoffed with a smirk. You gave him a small smile as well but chose not to press any further.

"What about the shop, what made you come in here?"

"Seemed like a cozy place to spend the day," he gave you a once over, not very conspicuously, "the pretty barista's a bonus."

You rolled your eyes at his comment but couldn't help the reddening of your cheeks or the growth of your smile that you tried but failed to suppress.

At that moment, your cousin walked through the door. John's eyes didn't budge to look at the door, though, they were glued on you. She passed behind him, giving you the most excited expression you had seen on her face thus far, and mouthed something along the lines of 'He is so fit!" as she made her way to the back of the store with bags of ingredients in her hands. You scoffed at her and returned to look at John.

"You flirt with all the baristas you find pretty, John?"

"Only the ones that look like you," the man quipped, chuckling lightly to himself as if acknowledging how cheesy he was being. His comment made you laugh wholeheartedly, shaking your head at it.

John finished his tea and fished into his pocket for his wallet, "I hate to leave, but... how much do I owe you, love?"

"It's on the house," you crossed your arms over your chest, giving him a cheeky look, "for being a first-time customer."

John gave you a smile with lightly flushed cheeks himself along with a grateful nod. He left his wallet in his pocket as he stood up from his seat and dressed his head with the beanie he had come in with.

"I'll come back 'round to tell you how the book's goin'," he signaled the book in his hand on the way out the door, "You make great company, love."

"Likewise, John," you bit your bottom lip to keep yourself from gushing at his words. You were using every atom in your body to not let yourself completely overflow with glee.

John gave you a final look and raised his hand goodbye before exiting the shop. You returned the gesture and watched him walk away down the street until he disappeared from your line of sight.

Once he was gone, you let out a deep breath you didn't know you were holding. You felt your heart skip a beat, maybe two, or even three beats as all the blood from your body surged to your face. Your cousin came skipping giddily from the back of the store, squealing like a schoolgirl as she embraced you. You couldn't help but join her in excitement. The two of you spoke in loud whispers behind the counter.

"That man is in love with you!"

"Oh, don't be ridiculous, he was just flirting!"

"Don't you be ridiculous! His eyes were devouring you, idiot! He might as well have fucked--"

You shushed her loudly and cupped your hand over her mouth, the two of you giggling. You two realized you were still on the clock, with some of the patrons shooting glances at you. It made you both adjust and compose yourselves as best you could, but shot each other knowing looks as you returned to work, cleaning dirty dishes and whatnot.

"So what's his name?" she asked.

"John, he just moved around here-- says he's in the military."

"Agh, hot!" she sang the last word. You rolled your eyes.

"What book did you give him?"

"As You Like It"

"Should've given him Lady Chatterley's Lover, maybe he would've taken the hint," she laughed as you pushed her with a hand playfully.

The rest of your shift went by uneventfully. You continued to serve more customers, tended to the regulars, and maintained the space. When it was closing time, the rays of the sun entered through the large windows, this time casting the golden glow of dusk. You mopped the floors of the shop and let yourself go deep into your thoughts.

You thought about John, of course, studying all the details you had taken note of. The way his lashes fanned over his deep, crystal blue eyes; how much care was put into maintaining his facial hair and how soft it looked; how chiseled his nose was; how the sweetness of his smile complimented the sweetness he liked in his tea. He looked much older than you, but you didn't mind the slightest, it was a minor detail to you, if anything. You recalled how he called you pretty, and it made you blush and gave you butterflies. You really hoped he'd come back, but didn't want to disappoint yourself if he didn't.

Once you two had finished closing, you stood outside the door with your cousin as she turned the key and locked the shop. She continued to tease you about John, making both of you laugh and making you blush with the innuendos and childish taunting she kept telling you. You bid each other farewells until tomorrow, walking your separate directions.

You lived just a couple of blocks away from the cafe in one of the many apartments nearby. A flat you had all to yourself and you enjoyed the solitude, you had learned to be with yourself from having been your only company, besides your cousin, throughout your life.

It made you think about the fact that it had been a while since you had liked someone. Did you like John? The question stood out in your mind. It was definitely too early to tell, you had just met the man quite literally today, hours ago even. But you would be lying if you didn't say you felt some sort of attraction, chemistry between the two of you. Those hopes for seeing him again only grew the more you suppressed them.

But you kept telling yourself 'Don't get too excited,' because you might not see him again, after all. For now, let's simply call it a crush, it's all it was, really. Just a man you found attractive, a kind stranger you made you feel pretty and flattered momentarily, after so long of not hearing any men do so or having their attention.

John certainly gave you a lot of his attention, you thought. Those blue eyes of his. He entrapped you with them. An act as simple as being looked at by him made you feel undressed and vulnerable.

You shook your head when you were in your flat, just standing there in a trance deep in thought. You sighed and cursed at yourself under your breath.

You practiced your nightly routine of eating dinner by yourself, showering, dressing in your coziest pajamas, and sitting on your couch alone with either a book or a movie, and maybe a glass of something, maybe wine or a soothing tea.

And for once in your life, you hated being alone.

For once you wished there was someone to keep you company. A company as nice as John had kept you today even if it was brief. You sulked a bit on your sofa as you let that forlorn feeling take over just a little bit.

And though as much as you loved mundanity, the feeling of having someone new and exciting disrupt your routine sparked a warmth in you.

God, you hoped you'd see John again.

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houseofpurplestars · 3 months

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March 6th,

from Palestine Online

t.me/pal_Online9

9 massacres were committed by occupation troops against families in Gaza, claiming the lives of 86 Palestinians and injuring 113 others during the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian activists blocked Bristol weapons fair at which Elbit and BAE systems exhibited.

Activists and students demonstrated against a BBC event at Joseph Chamberlain College in Birmingham.

People of Durham in North Carolina mobilized and took to the streets to protest the visit of the vice president Kamala Harris.

A French performer along with other activists entered Starbucks cafe with Palestinian flags, playing popular song 'Dammi Falastini'.

In a creative act, displaced Palestinians in Rafah attached a mobile to a kite to film aerial footage of the sheltering camp.

#free palestine #free gaza #i stand with palestine #palestine #gaza #solidarity #resistance #palestine online #palestine news #rafah #uk #us politics

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lotstradamus · 1 month

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inspired by the manchester anon haha but do you have any tips and suggestions for visiting leeds? 🩷

I've lived here for 2 years now (!!!) but somehow I still don't really know my way around and just go to the same 5 places and use google maps to get anywhere else. it's sad. but here's some shit I love:

Grindhouse - cheap drinks, loads and loads of seats, never too full, music a reasonable volume, and they project 80s movies on the back wall. we once sat in here for 2 hours cos Stand By Me was on. one time we watched the bar staff earnestly tell a group of women on a hen do that the bar was closed and they weren't serving any more drinks, at 7:45pm. 10/10.

Rudy's - only 9 cities* in this fair nation have a Rudy's, so I'm going to keep reccing it for everyone else. perfect Neapolitan pizza. *Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Nottingham, Durham, London, York, Liverpool - if you live in one of these places and haven't been to Rudy's yet, sort it out.

Neon Cactus - go here on a Wednesday and order wings, and you'll get half price margs. lots of great Mexican scran. don't take anyone too picky or over 50, because the price for the great food and vibes is that at least one thing you order will be incorrect. but roll with it. half price margs, man.

Empire Cafe - book in advance if you want to sample the delights of Empire Cafe, cos there's like 6 tables max. everything is seasonal, changes on the daily, and is insanely delicious. if you want to experience heaven, order the steak and chips with salsa verde. there is NOTHING like it.

Stuzzi - another seasonal, small plate sort of place, but Italian. amazing food and a gorgeous restaurant. go with a big group and order one of everything.

Eat Your Greens - ANOTHER seasonal restaurant! this one is farm-to-fork and organic. I can’t speak to the quality as I haven’t actually been, but I am a frequenter of their GREENGROCER, which is MEGA. last time I think I left with natty wine, pâté, some insane tinned fish, a jar of harissa and a bag of sunset potatoes. if you like food, go here.

SARTO - fresh, handmade pasta and picky bits. another great place to go with a group and order all the starters. I had a celeriac pasta there last year that I think about on a fairly regular basis; I picked it cos it was the weirdest sounding thing on the menu and it was fucking mouthwatering. good quality and good people! and it's next door to The Wardrobe, so perfect for a pre-gig tea.

Santiago Bar - like Grindhouse (alternative, casual) but the music is louder and you'll find yourself doing tequila shots at 1am and screaming along to, like, Don Broco. it's the best.

Blue Collar Boys - as a rule I hate 'vintage' clothes shops (overpriced, ugly, everything is XXS), but this place seems to specialise solely in American t-shirts and sweatshirts from the 90s in exactly my size, and everything is £10. this is amazing and a huge bargain if you find something like vintage Wranglers and a Playboy bomber jacket (£20, my wife) but not so amazing or a bargain if you find 3 t-shirts with holes in (£30, me). we've never been without finding shit we love. they only open on random weekends, and they always seem to have more stuff than they could possibly ever sell. it's a freaky vintage alternate universe.

The Corn Exchange - a big gorgeous ol' building full of little businesses. vintage, handmade, tattoos, coffee, jewellery, independent brands, yarn, shoes, a barbers, a bookshop, they've got it all. very easy to spend £100 and 6 hours. every so often they have a market on the bottom floor. perfect tiny representation of Leeds: quirky, independent, delicious, cool.

Silver's Deli - this is a 9-minute train ride away in Bramley (my ends!) but has become THEE buzzy foodie spot recently. go on a sunny saturday morning (cos you will probably have to sit outside) and order the everything sandwich. thank me later. if they have scotch eggs or sausage rolls on, I beseech you, order both. and if you want the sunday special prepare to get there at 11 and fight.

Against the Grain - if you've come to Bramley for Silver's, you may as well trundle 10 minutes up the road and visit the best bar in Leeds. cosy, casual, full of locals, hidden in Swinnow Mills. it's a sit-around-and-chat-to-people sort of place, with bonus charcuterie boards AND a pizza van on weekends. we are here A LOT, because Gray's Salon and Rose and Thorn Tattoo are both in the Mill, and we give them all our money. oh! and dog friendly. sooo many dogs.

Project House/Galleria - if you've gotten the train out to Bramley for Silver's and ATG, jump on the 72 back to town and get off at Project House to eat MORE food. Galleria is a great place to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Project House has EVERYTHING (depending on the day). yoga! gigs! vintage fairs! a bi-annual tattoo convention meets makers market with food vendors called Hand of Glory! check what's on and head on down to support local!

Kirkstall Bridge Inn - another one local(ish) to me, but worth travelling out of town for; a PROPER pub (i.e. no tv, no sports, no shite) that does roasts upstairs and lets dogs in downstairs. outdoor seating right by the canal, and every so often they put something on and the car park turns into a tiny festival. Kirkstallpalooza is a highlight. great place to finish a nice canal walk (who am I?!).

tl;dr sorry that this is obnoxiously long, I love Leeds

#BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH #answered #oh let’s add Belgrave to this too. great pizza and vibes

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hotdilfs11 · 9 months

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Mafia Boss-Thomas Shelby x Reader pt5

✩summary: The Shelby knew this girl when she was very little. However, when her mother passed away (at 16) everything changed and everyone drifted away from each other. Now after seven years Veronica is a mafia boss in her fathers business. Her father sent her to Birmingham on business, will this play off well?

✩pairings:girl named Veronica(POC) x Thomas Shelby

✩warnings: Alcohol, lots of cursing

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I was sitting in a cafe, drinking coffee, and having a meeting with the known leader of the Peaky Blinders, Thomas Shelby. The cafe had a dark, cozy vibe to it. It had dark brown chairs and off-white floors. The cafe had a little green color to it while keeping that cozy and mysterious feeling. I was sitting at one of the tables by the window while I observed the people going by outside as the cars and buses passed us at a speedy pace. I had my legs crossed as the dark-colored, bitter liquid slid down my throat in a medium-sized white mug. I was wearing an all-black fitted suit with black basic heels. After I was done sipping my bittersweet coffee, I placed it down on a glossy wooden table, looking up at Tommy in a dominant way. "Did you do what I asked of you, Mr. Shelby?" I say as I fasten my hands together, patiently waiting for his answer. He looked at me with a cold, somber expression, looking into my deep hazel eyes for a minute. Butterflies started to flutter in my stomach as I felt his piercing blue eyes run up and down my body.

"Yes, I did, Miss Hawthorn," he said while making eye contact with me.

I broke the unbearable eye contact as I took a sip of my coffee; however, I still felt his desirable and desperate eyes waiting for me. I looked up at him. "Well, okay, Mr. Shelby, you're free to leave," I said in a nonchalant tone.

"No," he demanded as he started to lean on the table, getting closer to me. "I still want my answer, love."

I look at him in disbelief, and I let out a chuckle. "Now, Thomas, you know what I said," I say with a smirk on my face. I looked at him while he started nodding his head, breaking eye contact with me. He rubbed his face in frustration while staring out the window. We were in silence for a second, and all I hear is people chattering and laughing inside the cafe.

Tommy looked at me after a second of silence. "Okay, Miss Hawthorn, see you at the party." He said this while standing up as he was about to leave, and I blurted out, "Are you mad?"

He shook his head and said "no" in a cheery tone as he walked away from me and out the door.

2 DAYS LATER

It was the night of Tommy's ball, and I just finished getting ready for tonight. I was wearing a long, elegant, promiscuous burgundy dress that hugged tight around all of my curves. It was a v-neck, cross-back satin dress. I had black high-heeled pumps on, and I put on one of my diamond rings, which my father bought for me, as I grabbed my black clutch.

I walked downstairs, got into my car, and went off to Tommy's party. I was nervous and frustrated, but I was also excited in a way. I kind of wanted to see Tommy, even though I promised myself I shouldn’t date him, but I couldn’t contain my feelings in this forbidden safe anymore. I wanted Tommy so badly, and I don’t know how to control myself around him, but then I start to realize how this can affect everything that's going on in my life. I try to push these thoughts out of my mind, but I can’t.

I was at Thomas Shelby's house. The door swung open, revealing Dante in a suit and tie, reaching out his hand. I took his hand and stepped out of the car in a sharp motion. I looked at Dante and told him thank you as I started walking towards the door with him by my side. I walked proudly and confidently with my head held high, and each step I took inside this house made a thunderous roar that echoed down the hallways.

I got to the ballroom, and it was classy, lively, and gloriously gorgeous. I walked in and got offered a glass of champagne from a waiter in a tux. I nodded my head at him and moved on, trying to find Tommy. I started scanning the room and walking around, and then I saw him. I got excited and tense; I felt like a teenage girl all over again, with butterflies in their stomachs and forever blushing. As I started inching towards him, I noticed that he was with someone in a blush pink dress and a white fluffy shaw over her shoulders. She had blond hair and a petite build. I looked down at where Tommy's hand was, and it was on the small of her back. They were laughing, talking, and looking into each other's eyes like some cringy high school couple. My eyebrows furrowed as I started to regret my choice. But right now I was envious of how he looked at her; I was insecure about how I dressed, but then I felt possessive over Tommy. I wanted him more than ever now, and I craved him deeply.

I stood there frozen, unable to move, until I saw the open bar and marched right up to it, not feeling as confident or as proud, but I had to keep a good look. I started to sit down on the slightly comfortable chair while asking the bartender for a bourbon. I basically started drinking my jealousy away and all the problems I had leading up to now. I didn’t want to think or feel; I just wanted to not care about anything or anyone.

As I sat there at the bar, I felt a familiar presence creep up on me. I turn around to see that John has a serious look on his face. "Veronica, what the bloody hell are you doing?" he said in an aggressive tone. I looked at him in a cold, stubborn way, not caring about anyone.

"Oh, look at it, John!" I said it in a happy tone as a big, drunken smile appeared on my face.

"Veronica, are you fucking drunk?" he said as he squinted his eyes in confusion.

I remained in eye contact with him and still had a big smile on my face. "No, John, I’m not fucking drunk. I’m okay, your okay, and Tommy is doing more than okay," I pointed to Tommy, and then I stopped making eye contact with John as I looked into my sad, bitter drink. I tried to take a sip of the fiery liquid until John snatched it right out of my hand.

"What the fuck, John?" I say this in fury, but he didn’t care how I was feeling; he just didn’t want to see me like this.

"Is this because of Grace and Tommy?" He pointed at them in anger.

I kept my head up, unable to look John in the eye. I was scared to show emotion around him or anyone at all. I felt weak.

"Veronica, look at me," John said as he inched closer to my face.

I slurred my words. "What do you want me to say, John? I feel fucking horrible." I paused for a moment, trying to collect my useless thoughts together. "And then Tommy wants to bring this

fucking blond bitch as his fucking date, so now what, John, what the fuck do you want me to do about it, huh?" I stared at him as I felt heartless.

"You look amazing, V, honest."

I brushed off his compliment as I looked down at the table again until I felt John's strong yet soft hands pick up my chin to look at him. "Let's make him jealous, shall we?".

I smirked as I toyed with the idea for a second. I can already see Tommy getting so jealous and angry that it makes me excited. I told John, Okay, as I started to stand up from the stool. I was kind of tipsy, but not tipsy enough for anyone to notice. I stood up beside John as he wrapped his rough hand around my waist, pulling me close to him. I was surprised that John was so gentle with his hands. I sink into him as we start walking in the crowd towards Tommy. Me and John had our heads held high and were proudly walking through the ballroom until we reached Tommy. He was talking to someone with his date strapped to his side.

Tommy's eyes widened when he saw me say, "Veronica!"

He sounded so excited to see me. He introduced me and John to one of his old friends. I greeted them with a hello, and John shook his hand roughly.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, Ronnie, this is my date, Grace," he said as he pointed to her. I painted a fake smile on my face. "Hello, Grace," I said kindly.

As I was saying hi to Grace, John started to move his hand up and down my back, sending a chill through my body.

"Is this your date, Veronica?" Grace said it innocently.

"Yes, it is. This is Tommy's brother, John Shelby," I say with a smirk on my face.

John generously greeted her as he grew more touchy with me, trying to get Tommy a little bit more angrier than he already is.

He saw John's hand slide up and down my back in a playful motion. Tommy grew furious, and you can tell it on his face. John pulled me closer to him as I took in his earthy and sweet, comforting scent while feeling his warm body up against mine while I started to sink into John's body. Tommy's body starts to tense up while he's witnessing what's happening right in front of his eyes. I looked up and down Tommy's body, pleased by his reaction towards me and John.

"Oh wow, I didn’t know you guys were dating; you should’ve told me Thomas”, Grace announced with her cheeky and irritating voice. She looked at Tommy and playfully hit him on the chest. Tommy shrugged his shoulders, not even catching a glimpse of Grace; however, he remained his eyes on me and John. Being witty, I looked up at John. He looked down at me in a flirtatious way as he started to gently wrap his arm around my neck, trying to piss Tommy off a

lot more. As he was wrapping his arm around me, I grabbed his hand and started to lock fingers with him.

In a cold manner, Thomas said, "Ronnie, can I speak to you for a moment, please?"

"Of course, Mr. Shelby." I smiled. John let go of me, and I looked at him and said, "I’ll be back, love."

He nodded and gave me a half-grin as I started to walk with Tommy. He was walking on the side of me as we both walked out of the ballroom and away from all of these people. After we were out of people's sight, Tommy grabbed my arm and started to walk me to his office. I could see a tint of red forming on his cheeks and his ears from anger. I was thrilled that I got a reaction from him; however, I was worried about how he was going to react to me. I gasped, trying to slip out of his hold, but his grip got tighter and tighter as he pulled me into his office. "What the fuck, Tommy?" I quietly yelled, knowing there were a lot of people outside that could hear me. Tommy started walking towards his desk while I was still standing by the door. He turned around, facing me, and stopped in his steps. "What are you playing at?" he asked while making heavy eye contact with me.

"I don’t know what you're talking about." I said it with an innocent tone.

"Why were you all over John?"

"Maybe because you brought a girl as your fucking date even though you were the one who invited me here," I said, folding my arms tightly.

"But that's my fucking brother Veronica, are you serious?" The room echoed from his voice as he started to yell louder.

I scoffed in frustration, then I looked away from Tommy in anger. We stood in silence as I gathered my thoughts.

I uncrossed my arms and looked back at Tommy, but he turned away from me, unable to look at me.

"Why does it matter anyway?"Your brother has his own life, and so do I just worry about your own and Grace, okay?" I urged as I stepped towards him.

He looked at me in disbelief, unable to even process what just came out of my mouth.

"BECAUSE I WANT YOU, VERONICA, I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS!" he shouted.

My eyes widened. "IF YOU WANT ME TOMMY, THEN FUCKING SAY IT AND STOP BLOODY TOYING WITH ME." I exclaimed in uncertainty. I noticed that we were too loud, so I tried to calm myself down by taking a deep breath. I was tired of emotion, and I couldn’t handle any of this.

Tommy sighed in frustration. "Your the one whos fucking toying with me, Ronnie... You are the one who said it was bad for business." Tommy lowered his voice, but you can still hear the anger and bass in his voice.

"Ronnie, I love you. Not Grace, not anyone, only you," he said as his voice softened up. He stared, inching closer and closer to him.

I scoffed harshly. "No, you don't." I stepped back from him and crossed my arms. "This is exactly why... fuck”, I muttered under my breath.

"Why what, Veronica?" he asks as he gets closer to me, urging to know my next words. I went silent, not wanting to answer him, but he just kept getting closer to me, knowing that was my weakness. I felt his body heat jump off of him when he got closer to me. I can smell his comforting scent as he starts to cup my face gently. I looked into his eyes, and he seemed sincere and desperate.

I tried not to sink into his touch or get lost in his eyes. "No, Tommy! I fucking can't." I pushed away from him harshly. He tumbled back a little, but he still wanted me more and more.

A single tear fell down my cheek, but I whipped it away quickly as I tried to leave. When I grabbed the door knob, Tommy's rough hand grabbed me, but I yanked it away quickly.

"Tommy… I can’t keep waiting for you anymore. I have things to do, and I cannot wait for you to show these feelings. I just can’t." I said it in a cold yet demanding voice as I walked out the door.

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