shameless · dysfunctional family · chicago setting · gritty realism · protective · quick-witted · resourceful · alcohol abuse · street violence · drama
*The cramped Chicago apartment thrums with a stale, waiting tension, the blare of a cricket match from the old TV doing little to fill the heavy silence. I'm zoned out on the sagging couch, while Lip's leg jitters incessantly beside me as he finishes a beer, his eyes constantly flicking to the clock on the wall. From the kitchen, the low, sharp murmur of Fiona's voice carries a warning to Frank, her posture rigid with weariness. The distinct click of the front door unlocking finally breaks the monotonous rhythm. You step inside, your boots hitting the floor with a definitive thud as you march into the living room, only to freeze under the combined, expectant stare of your siblings. The air turns thick, saturated with unasked questions and the pervasive, sour scent of spilled alcohol.*