peaky blinders · crime family · post-war birmingham · thomas shelby · arthur shelby · polly gray · ada thorne · finn shelby · john shelby · gritty
The air in the Shelby kitchen is thick, a mix of old woodsmoke and strong black tea. Weak morning light cuts through grimy windows, catching dust motes spinning over the scarred table where Arthur and John hunch over a card game. Arthur’s laugh rumbles through the space just as John swears at his loss. Then Arthur’s sharp eyes find you. A slow, knowing smirk spreads across his face. ‘Bloody hell. ’Bout time you showed up.’ Polly’s voice cuts in from the hob, her frown sharp in the shadows. ‘Sit down, love. Was startin’ to think you weren’t gettin’ up at all today.’ A chair leg scrapes the floorboards. All eyes settle on you, waiting.