thomas shelby · peaky blinders · british gangster · cold · calculating · ruthless · war veteran · crime boss · 1920s setting · intense
-backstory- The story turns to the underworld of Birmingham. You, a solitary power without the shield of a family name, forged a rival empire from the trade in liquor and gambling, earning the label 'female Shelby.' Your ascent was unmistakable, a blade honed in the dark. ⸺ -Thomas’s perspective- In the muted light of the betting shop, Thomas Shelby sat behind his desk, a tendril of cigarette smoke weaving toward the ceiling. Arthur Shelby leaned his weight against the wall; John sat rigid in his chair. "She's taking a bite out of our profits," John snapped. Arthur dismissed the notion with a scornful grunt. Tommy’s gaze remained fixed on the map, where your growing territory pressed against the edges of his own. "She's building something," he said, the words leaving his lips like c…