METHOD OF MADNESS ━ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 ¹ (Under editing)

𝒾. 𝒯𝒽𝓇𝑒𝑒: news from belfast

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : anything - catfish and the bottleman

⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

i. three: ❝news from belfast❞

✵✵✵

Small Heath, Birmingham

Not long after the tumultuous events of that midday, Harry urged Marianna to compile a list of the damage caused by Danny, grumbling about having to clean up the pub himself for fear of being "cut" by the Peaky Blinders. Marianna wasn't naive; she understood the implications of Thomas's intervention, even though it seemed ironic coming from him.

Once she had finished tallying the tab, Marianna gathered her belongings in her small bag and bid farewell to Harry, who responded with a groan.

"Don't worry, Harry. I'll make sure to include the cost of our overtime compensation. We'll be kissing Thomas's shillings." she assured him.

"I expect nothing less from you, love," Harry chuckled as he hurried her out the door, knowing a certain Shelby was waiting for the gypsy lass.

And then off she go as she trudged leisurely down the sidewalks, retrieving a cigarette from her bag and taking a puff before entering the chaotic mess that was Shelby's Betting Shop.

Drunken patrons and laborers shouted at each other across the alleys, their voices mingling with the laughter and banter of children speaking in the distinctive Brummie vernacular that reminded Marianna of her own youth.

After a few moments of navigating the murky streets, she found herself approaching the block of flats where she and the Shelbys resided.

Each lungful of nicotine from her cigarette was savored, hoping it would quiet the storm of voices raging within her mind. Over the years, she had learned how and when to suppress the whispers, considering it a blessing passed down from her grandmother to her mother and then to herself. Yet, amidst her musings, numerous unanswered questions swirled in her mind. What would it have been like if she had her own child? Did her brother also hear the voices? And was there a gypsy remedy to break the curse of her ancestors?

Mar came to a halt in front of Shelby's residence, crushing the butt of her cigarette beneath her foot. As she entered the house, she silently prayed for the voices to fall silent.

Despite being Thomas Shelby's home, the house exuded a comforting atmosphere. Her racing heart found solace in the familiar wallpaper as she surveyed the room, half-expecting to hear voices but finding only silence.

"Are Polly and Ada also at the betting shop?" she whispered to herself as she made her way slowly towards the other room, separated from the living area by a drape.

Her cautious steps came to a halt when she spotted young Finn Shelby lingering by the entrance of the betting shop, peering inside.

"Finn," Mar said gently, causing the boy to turn and offer her a small grin. "Where's everybody, mate?"