you want it darker { tommy shelby }

seventeen: fried my little brains

"only got ten minutes,
better get me good
pull out my little milk teeth,
pull good"

                      ——

They drove all night, with Thomas filling Iris in about everything she missed. Ada had been attacked; he bought Polly and Ada a house so they could launder money through it; Arthur had an animalistic episode and beat a boy to death; Tommy had wrote a letter to Churchill in order to acquire the export license he had gone to collect that night. More excitingly, Polly's long lost son Michael had been found and was currently staying with them.

"Well, it all seems abuzz with drama while I'm gone doesn't it." She commented after he finished his report.

"It does indeed." He let his free arm drape around Iris' shoulder and pulled her next to his chest while he drove. "Get some sleep love. I need you and our baby well rested for all the shit that's coming our way."
                     ——
For the next few days, life was good. Iris reacquainted herself with Michael, who was now 17 and had grown into a promising young man. She also had the news of her child put in the local newspaper. A small party was thrown for her at The Garrison. She went shopping, drank tea, she even read a book. But Iris' small holiday only lasted a few days, for her and the other Blinders were off to a horse auction to purchase a horse Thomas seemed desperate to buy.

On their way to the auction, Iris was squeezed in the back of a van between Michael and John, and it was safe to say she wasn't pleased. She was the only woman on the trip and the incessant talk of how many women each of the men had shagged was wearing thin on her hormonal self.

But as they reached the balcony and Tommy began bidding on the filly, Iris' attention was caught by a woman who was also bidding on the horse. Judging by the curious expression on her face, she was only doing it to find out more about the rough looking group of men Iris was stood with. "Tom, keep an eye on her."

So he did. The two had a tense bidding war and eventually the rich woman backed down. But Iris' interest was anything but diminished. They all began to leave the auctioneering area and Thomas hurried off to speak to the appropriate person in order to secure his payment. With Tom gone, she took the opportunity to go and find out more about the mystery woman.

Iris found her hovering outside the door of the office Thomas had gone into. "Hello."

"Your husband is the man who just bought the filly, no?"

"He is indeed. You were interested in it?"

The woman nodded and extended her hand. "I was. I'm May Carleton, and you are?"

"Iris Shelby. If you like I could speak to Thomas about making arrangements for the horses." Iris shook May's hand with a grin.

"I should like that very much. This may sound very abrupt, but would you like to get a drink? It saves us waiting for the paperwork to be filled out by the men."

Iris nodded. "Sure, why not?"
                      ——
Thomas found Iris at a bar with a woman he didn't recognise, seemingly deep in conversation. With a sigh, he made his way over to his wife. Once she got talking to someone, it was always difficult to drag her away. "Iris! Come on, we've got to get the kid home."

"Polly will be fine if he's a bit late. Come meet my new friend, Tom. Miss May Carleton!" Iris said, her eyebrows raised expectantly.

He gritted his teeth. "Iris, now."

With a frown, Iris turned to May. "I'll get in touch with you about the horses. It was nice to meet you."

The couple walked away and began to walk through the display ring, where the rest of the Blinders were boisterously making their way towards the exit. But suddenly, a voice rung out: "Thomas Shelby!"