˗ˏˋ꒰ 💰 ꒱ ━ ☐ Thomas Shelby never thought he would fall in love with a whore. In the bustling streets of 1920s Birmingham, Alicent, a prostitute since her teenage years, with her irresistible charm, had only one goal : to make money. Every encounte...
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SHE DOESN'T EXPECT HIM TO KEEP HIS WORD. When she arrives at the bar that night, the familiar smell of disinfectant mixed with alcohol hits her. Her eyes catch Thomas's silhouette, standing and talking to her boss. He looks calm, determined, but something in his gaze betrays an underlying tension.
She approaches, her heart pounding in her chest, a knot of anxiety forming in her stomach. When she sees him hand over a stack of bills to her boss, for a moment, she thinks she's dreaming. Her eyes widen, and she hesitates to take another step.
The room seems to shrink to that precise moment, to that silent transaction between the two men. She doesn't understand right away. She stays frozen, watching their hands, the quick exchange. Then, a shiver of dread runs through her. He's paying off her debts to her boss.
The realization hits her like a punch to the gut. He hadn't just promised to take her away, he was ready to risk his own money, his own safety, for her.
Suddenly, he turns, and their eyes meet. He gestures for her to come, and she obeys, her heart racing as she moves closer. When she reaches them, her boss gives her a look she can't decipher.
"That's a lot of money. You shouldn't have..." she begins, unsure how to finish.
"This is what I do."
What did that mean for him ? And for her ? She had always thought everything around her was fleeting, but he seemed ready to fight to create something real, something lasting. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to escape this world.
Her boss, with a smug grin, turns to Thomas, a smile that promises nothing good. "You can have your little 'house whore' now, Thomas," he sneers mockingly.
Anger rises in her, hot and sharp. "Don't call me that," she snaps, unable to hold back. "I'm not a whore, and I'm not for sale ! I'm nothing like what you think !"
Her boss's grin widens. "Oh, but that's exactly what you are, darling. And don't forget, you're here because of me."
Alicent's heart pounds as she backs away from them, her steps echoing in the room. She needs to escape this place, to flee the mocking stares and the degrading situation that paralyzes her. Thomas, confused, follows her.
"Alicent, wait !" he calls, his voice soft but urgent. "What are you doing ?"
She spins around abruptly, her face etched with cold fury. "I'm not going to your house. I'm not some trophy you can parade around !"
He shrugs, clearly bewildered. "But you're free now. There are no more debts. You can come with me if you want. I want to help you."
She shakes her head, frustration and disappointment swirling inside her. "Do you really think it's that simple ? You make it seem like I'm just a problem you need to solve."
"No, that's not it. I don't want to control you. I'm just offering a way out."
"A way out ?" she echoes, her voice trembling with emotion. "And go where ? To a golden mansion, to live under your fancy roof and at your mercy ? I don't want your pity !"
He freezes, startled by the intensity of her reaction. "It's not pity. I just want you to be safe."
"You don't understand," she says, her breath short. "I'm tired of being at someone else's mercy. I want to make my own decisions, even if it means coming back here, to this hell."
"Staying here means staying a prisoner."
"And going with you means accepting being controlled again, becoming an object. I can't do that. Not after everything."
"I don't see you as a whore, far from it. I see you as someone... special."
She narrows her eyes, anger bubbling inside her. "And what am I supposed to be at your place ? What role am I supposed to play in your life ?"
He hesitates, his gaze faltering for a moment. "Well, you'd be... you'd just be yourself. I don't want you to change who you are."
Her heart tightens, but confusion and rage overpower everything else. "So what am I, then ? A companion for a rich man ? Is that all you're offering ?"
He stammers, searching for words. "No, I mean... it's not that ! I want you to be free, to live how you want. But I also want to be there for you. I want... I want to help you."
"Help ? Help me do what, exactly ? Live in a mansion, be your little plaything, your decoration in your life ?"
"That's not what I want !"
"Then what, Thomas? What am I supposed to be in your world ? A pretty face to show off at parties ? I don't want that life !"
He presses his lips together. "I want you to be yourself. I don't want to control you or force you into anything. I'm just... I'm worried about you."
"You don't get it. This isn't just about freedom or... love. It's about identity. I don't know who I am outside of this place. I'm not ready to live by your terms. I'm sorry, but I'd rather face the pain here than put myself in your hands."
He freezes, his gaze troubled. "Alicent..."
"No," she interrupts, her voice trembling but firm. "Don't follow me. I need to think, and I can't do that with you here."
Unable to let her leave like this, he steps forward. "Alicent, wait !" he calls.
"Don't touch me, Thomas !"
"I don't want you to leave like this, without even trying to understand," he says, his voice shaking with emotion. "I just want you to realize that there's another option, one that could be better."
"And you really think you're that better option ?" she snaps, turning to face him.
He steps closer, trying to convince her with his eyes. "I know it's not simple, but I want you to be happy. Not staying here is already a step in the right direction."
"You don't get it! I'm not a doll you can move around as you please."
He throws his arms up, visibly frustrated. "I'm not promising happiness, I'm just offering a choice. I can't force you to come with me, but I won't stand by and do nothing."
"And you think chaining me to your 'mansion' is the solution ? You're just as toxic as this world. I don't want your pity disguised as love."
He takes a deep breath, his eyes pleading for her attention. "I'm not pitying you. I care about you. I want to show you that you can have more. That you don't have to fight alone."
"I'm not alone. I know what I'm doing here. I'm tired of having to explain myself, of having to choose between your world and mine," she says, her tone bitter.
"I know I can't convince you in one conversation, but at least let me prove that I'm sincere."
"And what if I say no ?" she fires back, tears threatening to fall.
When he doesn't respond, with one last glance, she turns away, her rage mixing with a crushing sadness. Each step leads her back to the familiarity of hell, but she prefers that pain over the uncertainty waiting elsewhere.
