love knows no bounds | thomas shelby

dressmaker to barmaid

before becoming a barmaid, eveline ward had a fulfilling career as a dressmaker in her aunts salon.

at the salon, eveline was responsible for creating custom garments that perfectly suited her clients needs. she spent her days measuring individuals, ensuring that the dresses and suits she crafted would fit them flawlessly. her ability to understand and meet the preferences of her clients made her one of the most trusted and sought-after dressmakers in birmingham.

however, despite her talent and love for her craft, eveline found herself getting bored of her occupation. she would often find herself venting to tommy, who noticed her growing dissatisfaction.

it was her best friend who eventually convinced her to work as a barmaid instead. thomas believed that by working as a barmaid, eveline could escape the confines of the pretentious world she had grown tired of.

in the salon, the afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow on the polished wooden floors. eveline sat at a small table in the corner, her fingers working diligently on a delicate lace trim. she was absorbed in her task.

across from her, thomas leaned back in his chair, and his oceanic eyes fixed on eveline's face. although the leader of the peaky blinders hasn't had much time in his schedule nowadays to do so, he loves to visit eveline whenever he can, even if that means showing up at the place she spends the most time: work. thomas then seized the opportunity to ask the question that had been on his mind for some time.

"eveline," he began, causing the dressmaker to look up from her sewing. "have you ever considered working as a barmaid?"

eveline's eyebrows furrowed in surprise as she withdrew her hand, briefly stopping her work. the suggestion caught her off guard, and she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her friends question.

thomas had always been the one who understood her, who saw her beyond the surface.

"a barmaid? i thought barmaids were whores who serve cavemen all day."

"don't be foolish," said tommy as he began to light a cigarette. after puffing out the smoke, he spoke again. "i hear there's a job opening up at the garrison. i think you would be a good fit."

the decision was daunting, but in that moment, eveline couldn't resist the pull that tommy's words evoked.

days later, as eveline stepped behind the bar at the garrison, she couldn't help but feel a sense of liberation. she found herself working in a lively and bustling atmosphere, surrounded by clinking glasses, laughter, and the animated conversations of customers. a lot of men looked at eveline in weird ways. she is a beautiful woman who is not too short but not too tall, she has dazzling brown eyes, and beautiful brown hair that was longer than most of the women's in birmingham. she was seen as some kind of trophy in the eyes of the men, especially ones who were shit-faced. though, the shelby brothers made it clear that eveline was tommy's. no one except tommy could touch her.

one of the highlights of eveline's new role was the chance to spend more time with her closest friends: thomas, arthur, and john. in the midst of her previous monotonous days as a dressmaker, eveline had longed for more moments shared with the people who truly understood her. now as a barmaid, she reveled in the joy of seeing their familiar faces at the garrison.

"oi! ev!" called arthur, sitting at one of the tables, cigarette in mouth.

eveline walked over to arthur who was holding a glass for her to take.

"why don't you get me another glass of whiskey, love?"

the barmaid laughed at the drunken arthur shelby in front of her.

taking the glass from his hand, eveline said, "another one? you look pissed arthur, like you're seeing double!"

"nonsense," the peaky blinder slurred. "you can never have too much whiskey."

"fucking hell arthur," said eveline as she poured him another glass of the amber drink.

"y'know eveline," arthur started to say while pointing at the woman. "our tommy is much happier now that you're working here."

eveline smiled to herself as she put down the glass in front of the shelby brother.

"he's seeing you almost everyday now. our tommy has never been happier," he said before pouring the irish whiskey down his throat.

eveline's face brightened, showing the genuine joy that arthur's words evoked. the bond she shares with tommy has deepened over the years, growing stronger and stronger. with each passing day, her love for him has blossomed, embracing both the cherished memories of their childhood and the present moments they share.

recollections of their shared childhood games, where she forced tommy to play dolls, and where they chased each other as cops and robbers, dance vividly in eveline's mind. despite her fears for tommy's safety as a peaky blinder, eveline's admiration for him is unchanged. 

but little did she know that the arrival of a blonde woman in search of a job would change things for eveline.