justrainandcoffee

[justrainandcoffee]

I'm very tempted to do a moodboard about the future in thg!au ... It was one of the very first things I thought about it, but it's a massive spoiler 😣.

And it happens in... 3 or 4 chapters from where I'm now.

Maybe I can resist the urge 🙂.

#i can #🙃

[justrainandcoffee]

New chapter!!

Jack and his nightmares, poor man! His biggest fears are about his family being hurt in a way or another 😭😭. And he dreamt about his sin!! Omg! It's adorable... Even if it was part of a vad dream. It was kind premonitory.

The rebel who didn't agree to be a rebel. Jack, please... From the moment you kissed Eva for the first time, when she was Luca's "property" you were a rebel 😌❤️.

This is absolutely disgusting:

Poor woman! I mean, it's really good if you consider that no one is going to touch her, but the capitol's behaviour is the worst 😒😒.

Baby Laurie!! Omg, yes!! I'm sure that the baby is absolutely precious 🤧❤️.

Gina, please... 🤦‍♀️.

I love it, July!!

They didn't know we were seeds

Chapter 11

Cw: nightmares, mentions of torture and mutilation

Taglist @emotionalcadaver @justrainandcoffee @peakyswritings @call-sign-shark

Lucy Winters belongs to @emotionalcadaver

He’s not had a good sleep since they talked.

If it's not him back in the arena with Juno and the girl from 5 trying to kill him, he’s watching Gina die in the rubble of a city or worse, being tortured to break him.

They’re all bad. He sees Eva be shot and pulled away by a cable from his arms as he reaches her farm. He sees her be tortured and having her tongue removed for her treason.

Those where he sees the people he loves be tortured are the worst.

Last night, he dreamt he’d gone to the farm and found his family all without tongues. He hadn’t known until he’d greeted Eva with a kiss and found her missing her tongue, as if she’d never had one. No one behaved out of the ordinary. They were just silent, using signs to communicate, and he was unable to understand them.

There’d been a baby crying soundlessly in Gina’s arms, an L for Laurie stitched in a yellow blanket and when Jack had picked up his imagined son, he’d found that they had all been made Avoxes.

It had been so unsettling that the victor had spent half an hour trying to get the images of it out of his head. He thinks the baby in the dream may have been caused by the dread he felt when Cecelia mentioned her baby back home and asked him how old Gina was.

It was barely dusk when he picked up the phone and dialed a number he’s known for a year, but only pretended to find out a month ago. The games had lasted nearly fifteen days this time, and while he’d been busy with his tributes, knowing they’d be mincemeat for Braun, he had avoided her in private.

“Couldn’t sleep either?” She sounds drowsy and yet alert enough to tell him she hadn’t been sleeping for as long as he had either. He doesn’t tell her about the nightmare. He didn’t want to burden her with it nor risk getting caught with information no one in 2 is supposed to know.

“I miss you.” There are few things he can say through a phone call, a few things he can freely say without arising suspicion from those spying on them. Beette had assumed he’d agreed to join them and confided that he was working on something that would allow them to communicate without interference.

Wiress, in her strange, odd way, had given him a stud earring that matched the pair she gave to Eva. Her husband had then explained what it did.

Jack never agreed to be a rebel, and yet most of them assumed he had. Oh, if the rest were like Nuts and Bolts they were fucked.

“Me too, felt so lonely back there. For a while, I thought we were over.” Eva admits her biggest fear.

“No, never.” Jack hides his fears of what could happen and instead tries his best to have the most innocuous talk with his girlfriend while setting a date for their secret weekend together.

When he gets to the farm, he makes sure Eva still has her tongue and that there is no chance in hell that she could get pregnant.

Their first anniversary is celebrated late, but to make up for it, he stays an entire week with her. The weather had been shit closing the farm and making the trek back dangerous for him, and neither had been happier to hear reports of bad weather that Friday.

He’d brought wine, chocolate, and with a cheeky grin presented a gift: skimpy lingerie he wanted her to wear for him.

Eva’s gift felt little compared to his, while she had more wealth than she could imagine, things were still hard to come by even in the main city. She paid through the nose for a cowhide leather jacket lined with fine wool that matched a pair of boots he had been given by his mom on his last birthday.

They’re lying in bed together, naked as the day they were born and enjoying the thunder outside when he tells her of what the Peacekeepers do to traitors.

“Have a recurring nightmare where they make you an Avox, not just you but a kid we have in the dream. Its not as horrific as the ones where they torture you and Gina and my folks, but somehow its just as bad.” He tries not to look at her as he speaks, as if he might see it come true the moment he looks at her. plays with her hair as he tries to push it out of his mind, and when that fails, she kisses him with a whole lot of tongue to remind him it isn’t real.

“That won’t happen. Whatever children we have won’t fear an arena nor losing their tongue. I feel it in my bones, Jack.”

Jack won’t come around until it’s personal for him, until he has no other choice but to join them. They can’t afford to wait until the 73rd game for him to see reason. There’s still five years to Gina’s 12th birthday.

What if the rebellion happens before then and he is stuck on the wrong side?

“Did you know Cece got removed from the roster because they don’t like how pregnancy changed her body?” Eva brings up after he helps her erase any trace of the man she was sold to for the evening in her shower.

Jack’s jealousy was adorable, hated when other people demanded her so much so that he’d fuck the memory of those encounters out of her head after she told her it . Likes leaving marks where only he and the clients can see it, as if too show them she doesn’t belong to them.

“Is this your way of saying you want a baby? I was hoping to be romanced into it, babe.” Jack jokes as if this will pass. Babies were serious things. Can’t return them when they come, and you can’t save them once they turn 12.

“I want you to make me fat and ugly so no one else can fuck me except you.” It’s not the best reason in the world, but it gives her a damn good reason for wanting to take the risk. She only has this month to try, they can’t afford to get pregnant before or after the games.

Game 68 wouldn’t last long. Most children had died in the first four days, but the careers had yet to find the boy from 6 while they succumbed to the new arena events made this year.

“I’m going to tell Cece you called her fat and ugly.” The career tries to change the topic, but still lets his hands wander on her wet and naked form. They were ravenous for each other, and both struggled to keep their hands off each other to pay attention to anything beyond them.

“We’ll only have to give it a try this month. If it doesn’t work, I won’t bring it up again.” She compromises knowing he’ll forget when she brings it up next year if it doesn’t take. “I want a baby, Jack. I want them to know I belong to you and only you, love.”

A month after the 69th Games, Eva finds their herself pregnant. The joy they should feel is completely smothered with terror.

“What if it fails?” Jack asks her quietly as they feel the baby kick on their second anniversary.

“It won’t, Laurie won’t ever be reaped. He will never suffer like we do.” Now she begins to comprehend why Cecelia is so hopeful because the reality is too horrible to even consider.

Laurie Smith is born in April, his paternity a mystery to everyone except those who won’t reveal their secret. He doesn’t meet his father until late May, once the coast is clear for his monthly visits.

It's the first week of June when Lucy Winters’ prediction comes true.

“I’m not gonna have a choice about this, aren’t I?” Jack is so distraught by what April brought about at home that he agrees to join them. Not just him, his mother too.

Some volunteer as young as twelve thanks to Finnick’s win years ago, and to ensure they have a fighting chance, training begins at eight years old for those who’s parents allow it. Carrie, her young mother, had been thrilled at the idea of Gina becoming a victor like her uncle.

His mother had been horrified at how excited Gina was at dinner that Lyme had no trouble recruiting them the next morning. Laurie’s birth had both Nelsons agreeing that the two children would be spared the arena at any cost.

“Bring your mother with you next time you visit, she should meet her grandson, Gina too, maybe we can wean her off the idea of the games.” Eva comforts him when his nightmares of the arena feature eight year old Gina fighting for her life while they watch from the mentor’s room.

“After the games, I need to convince her first.” He pressed a soft kiss on Laurie’s little head and kissed her goodbye. “See you in July.”

#jack nelson #eva x jack

[justrainandcoffee]

Today i saw this on Instagram and this is definitely Rose Alfie carrying Cyril everywhere 😂❤️❤️.

#Cyril #alfie x rose

[justrainandcoffee]

Aw, Ari!! This is beautiful (and sad at the same time). But it's really nice to read how Tommy comforts her... despite everything 💔.

They deserve to have their little oasis of peace. Everything around them it's really unfair 🤧💔.

The moodboard it's beautiful!! The horses, please! That little detail 🥺.

Lucy Winters Moodboard

Birthdays in Panem always weighed heavily on Lucy.

Her childhood bore this burden upon her shoulders as she counted down the years to her first reaping, akin to a condemned man awaiting execution. She watched her brothers risk being chosen as tribute, and then came her 12th birthday, where the true nightmare began.

Every passing year seemed to test her luck, each birthday marking another year of precarious freedom.

It was after her 18th birthday that everything changed. She had nearly made it, finally turning 18. To this day, she remains uncertain whether it was fortunate or unfortunate. She couldn't decide if the Games would have been worse than being married off to Matthews. But she knew that after that birthday, everything was different. Each year thereafter was celebrated as another year of survival, never one of festivity.

Tommy was the catalyst for change. He always found excuses to celebrate Lucy and her life.

In their first year together, he gave her Sin, a kindred spirit who, like her, bore the scars of trauma, offering a depth of understanding that surpassed any human empathy. Sin provided a support she had never known, one she couldn't have imagined finding after the Games.

The following year, they escaped to the embrace of nature, accompanied by their horses—a sanctuary away from the harshness of Panem, the relentless demands of the Games, and the turmoil of rebellion. It was a day where two wounded souls found solace in each other's presence, sharing moments of sweetness and respite amidst the cruelty of their world.

And so, she began to anticipate April 29th, yearning to see the love and warmth in Tommy's eyes as he celebrated her first thing in the morning. It became a day where she could revel in some semblance of life—a safe haven they had created for each other amidst the chaos.

Happy birthday, Lucy! And thank you, Lauren, for creating this amazing character. I did my best to do justice to the wonderful person she is. I can't wait to read the story you've prepared for her :) Sending you the biggest of hugs on this special day <3 @emotionalcadaver

#lucy winters #hunger games au

[justrainandcoffee]

Even if there are parts I don't understand (is it German?) The rest is very Lucy!!

And the moodboard for sure it's beautiful! The images! Especially the design of that knife!

I loved it!

Cyanide Love

You will get my cyanide love

Eins, zwei, drei, vier, ich habe nichts gesehen Ich habe nichts gehört, ich werde nicht reden

I know I'm running, but I'll get away, I'm like a ghost, I know you'll never find me I'll get you closer to my hide away, I'm like a ghost, and I'll arise behind you

Deep in the dark, that's when I make you pay, The fear of knowing, oh, it gets inside you These streets are mine, and this is where I reign, You look around, there's only hostile faces

Eins, zwei, drei, vier, ich habe nichts gesehen Ich habe nichts gehört, ich werde nicht reden

You'll take it, you'll break it, in seconds it will be done You'll bite it, can't fight it Your dead end, nowhere to run You turn around, you know you can't run away Sunflowers will be growing over your grave You'll take it, you'll face it The barrel of my smoking gun You will get my cyanide love

Eins, zwei, drei, vier, cyanide love Eins, zwei, drei, vier, cyanide love

Death and I look each other in the eye, We dance a while, and then we kiss goodbye I'll get you closer to my hide away, lead you astray I'm like a ghost, and I'll arise behind you

Eins, zwei, drei, vier, ich habe nichts gesehen Ich habe nichts gehört, ich werde nicht reden

You'll take it, you'll break it, in seconds it will be done You'll bite it, can't fight it Your dead end, nowhere to run You turn around, you know you can't run away Sunflowers will be growing over your grave You'll take it, you'll face it The barrel of my smoking gun You will get my cyanide love

Cyanide love Cyanide love Cyanide love You will get my cyanide love

Eins, zwei, drei, vier, ich habe nichts gesehen Ich habe nichts gehört, ich werde nicht reden

Cyanide love Cyanide love

Eins, zwei, drei, vier, ich habe nichts gesehen Ich habe nichts gehört, ich werde nicht reden

-Cyanide Love by Within Temptation

I feel like this song fits Lucy really well, so here's a little moodboard based around it!

Thank you for viewing! Please consider leaving a comment, reblog, or like. I always appreciate feedback and love getting the opportunity to interact with you and hear your thoughts!

Masterlists: Main • Series

#lucy winters #peaky blinders

[justrainandcoffee]

You wrote it! 🥺.

This is so nice! And the deep meaning behind it... ❤️❤️.

Her feelings about marriage are very valid. It was the norm. And especially if she grew up witnessing her parents marriage... Her own father was worst than a bad example and her mother just accepted. (And it'd be her own fate, too.)

It seems that Tommy REALLY wants to marry her... omg! The amount of times he said that he loves her 😭🤧❤️. They're adorable. I can't.

I know he suffered after Grace's death, but if anything happens to Lucy, Tommy definitely will exterminate every single one of them.

Their moment together after that, it's precious.

Lucy deserves that kind of love 🥺😭❤️❤️.

Part 9: Bound in Blood

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x OC

Summary: To some, the blood bond is as sacred as marriage.

Word Count: 1,979

Notes: Today (April 29) is Lucy's birthday! This might be the sappiest thing I've ever written. Also, I couldn't find much concrete information on blood bonds, so apologies if I got some of the details wrong or had to fudge any of the real-life aspects of these bonds to accomplish what I intended in this fic. Don't try this at home, kids; blood-born illnesses are a thing. Warnings for depictions of blood, self-inflicted injuries, and smut.

Masterlists: Main • Series

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The knife stung as it bit into the flesh of her left palm. Blood, like red pearls, beaded at the first prick, then rushed from the wound in a small gush as she increased pressure on the blade and it sliced deeper into her flesh. She dragged it across nearly the full length of her palm, leaving a diagonal, bleeding line from the base of her index finger to the heel of her palm opposite the side of her thumb in its wake. 

When Tommy had asked her what she thought about marriage, she had been honest with him. Her feelings were conflicted. All her life, marriage had seemed to be akin to a cage. She’d watched women–not just her mother, though she was certainly the most potent example–have their entire beings almost entirely stripped away, until nothing, not even their name, remained. Nothing but a maid, housekeeper, nanny, and whore all rolled into one.  

Perhaps she was being a bit harsh, but that was the example of marriage she had been exposed to for almost her entire life.

And it did not ultimately matter what Tommy wanted, either. She knew it was never his desire to cage or chain her. But it would not be up to him. Society had a very particular expectation for women who were married. And if he wanted to stand even a miniscule of a chance of being accepted into the circles he longed to be a part of, he could not have an unconventional wife. At least not now. 

Perhaps someday, with the changing times and more modern outlooks…if equal rights for women ever truly properly took off, then maybe. But not right now. 

And she would be a rubbish wife. Bored out of her mind. She detested cleaning, was an absolute disaster when it came to knitting and sewing, and she was certain that sitting at home with the knowledge that her husband and his boys were out enjoying all the action and thrills of the life without her, would eat away at her. 

She never had handled the feeling of being left out very well. 

She’d grow to resent it. Resent her life. Maybe even resent him. And that was not something she was willing to risk. 

He had been startlingly understanding, all things considered, when she explained her feelings to him. He knew her so well, he probably had half been expecting it. He’d just stroked her hair, kissing the top of her head. 

“I don’t need a ring and a certificate to know that I’m going to love you forever,” he’d told her. She’d locked her arms around his neck, stretching up on her toes to touch her forehead to his. 

“I plan to love you forever too,” she’d affirmed. And she meant it. Just because she could not say yes to being his wife, did not mean that they didn’t intend to be together for the rest of their lives.  

“But the door is always open. If you ever decide someday that you do want it,” Tommy had promised. Her brows raised, she’d looked at him with eyes that were only half joking. 

“Really? What if you end up marrying someone else?”

He’d scoffed at the mere suggestion, but must have caught the seriousness behind the teasing tone in her voice, because he’d pulled her closer, fondly kissing her nose. “Doesn’t matter. The promise still stands,”  he’d shrugged as if it were no big deal. “You decide you want me to marry you, and I’m already married, I’ll just get divorced.”

Laughing, she’d shook her head. “I don’t think you can ‘just get divorced,’ love. It would fuck your reputation.”

He shrugged again. “Would be worth it,” her laughter faded at the dead seriousness she saw in his eyes as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “I’d do anything for you.”

There was something about the way he’d said it, the complete and total certainty, that made her nearly want to cry. No one had ever loved her like this before. 

Completely. Passionately. Unconditionally. 

“There’s something else we could do. In the place of an official, legal marriage. If you’re interested,” he’d suggested, voice but a tempting purr in her ear. And when she looked at him, brow raised with intrigue, he smirked devilishly. 

And so here they were, kneeling in front of each other on the rug in the bedroom of her flat, each of them clutching a dagger in one hand, drawing it across their palms. Lucy watched the blood ooze from her cut, slightly flexing her fingers. She set the knife aside, looking from the warm, red gush to see Tommy doing the same, the dark red of his blood striking against the pale white of his skin.

He looked up, sky blue eyes glimmering in the low light of the candles they’d lit. Her eyes traced over the sharp lines of his jaw and cheeks, softened slightly by the freckles dotting his skin. Those eyes that could be as cold as ice or as warm as a sunny sky boring into her. Dark fringe falling over his forehead. When it was less styled, like it was now, he could have almost been described as a little boyish.  

The blood pooling in both of their palms dripped between their fingers. Sticky and warm.

Slowly, being careful so as to not jostle the cuts too much, they pressed their palms flush against each, then, just as slowly, interlaced their fingers.

Lucy gasped quietly at the feeling of his cut kissing hers. Their blood mixing together. Pouring into each other. Running through the other’s veins. 

If they had not already been one being simply split in two before, they certainly were now. Lucy shuddered, Tommy’s free hand going around her waist and pulling her a little closer, keeping their bleeding palms clasped tightly together. She tilted her head up, nose brushing along his neck and jaw as she did. He dipped his head to kiss her, deeply and open mouthed, the slow stroke of his tongue against hers making her moan softly against his plush lips. 

To some, the blood bond was as sacred as marriage. An unbreakable intermixing of the two bloods. The closest thing one could get to entwining their soul with another. Not only was it a symbol of the deepest possible love and trust, but also a silent promise of eternal devotion. A bond that would last as long as the scars remained present on their skin. A permanent mark tying them together for as long as they both lived. 

Of all the scars marking her flesh, faded but never truly to disappear, this was the only one she would ever truly be happy to have.     

His blood ran in her veins, now. He was a part of her. Forever.   

She’d have wanted it no other way.  

She kissed him back hard, the hand not clasped in his landing on his chest, feeling the steady rise of his breathing and the thump of his heart. Their palms squeezed impossibly tighter against each other, the blood coating them slick, smearing all across their palms, impossible to tell which belonged to whom. 

When they finally parted for air, foreheads resting against each other, they looked down together at their still clasped, bloody hands. 

It was done. 

Tommy’s arm around her waist tightened, somehow pulling her even closer to him, his lips on her forehead. Lucy closed her eyes. He was so impossibly warm, body large and strong and safe around her. She could have stayed like that forever. 

“I love you more than anything,” he said, and the words left tears brimming in her eyes. The weight of those words was not lost on her. 

“I love you too,” she said, angling her face up to his. “More than anything.” 

He smiled at her softly, head dipping to kiss her one last time before they parted, and his fingers flexed a little around hers. Their mixed blood was starting to run down both of their wrists. 

“We should get bandaged up. Before we both bleed everywhere,” he mumbled. 

“Mm,” she nuzzled at his chest. “Yeah.”

He reached for the gauze and bandages they’d set to the side in preparation. Some of the blood had congealed, half sticking their palms together, and it took a little bit of gentle fidgeting to pull them apart. Lucy hissed as Tommy poured a helping of alcohol over her cut, leaning into the kiss he brushed against her temple in apology. They cleaned and bandaged each other’s cuts with quick, practiced movements, examining their handiwork critically to ensure it was satisfactory and wouldn’t leave the other open to any complications or difficulty in healing.

Once that was done, Tommy was gathering her back up into his arms again, kissing her everywhere he would possibly reach. She giggled, overjoyed at the blatant display of affection, returning it as eagerly as she knew how. Strong arms scooping her up by the back of her thighs, he lifted her up onto his hips, standing in one fluid motion and carrying her towards the bed.  

Still kissing, they collapsed in an entanglement of limbs onto the mattress. Clothes were shed hastily, and then there was just the sounds of pleasure and utterances of love filling the room. Her fingers clenching in his hair as he kissed his way down her body, lips, tongue, and fingers working together once he’d reached his destination to make her cry out, back arching off the bed. 

And then he was over her again, wiping his mouth and looking far too pleased with himself. He grinned when she needily dragged his mouth back to hers, legs wrapping around his waist, eager. They both cried out when he sank into her in one deep thrust, the penetration serving as the second unioning of their bodies that evening. 

The bedframe creaked with the pace of their love making; thrusts steady, slow, and deep. Lucy clutched to him as tightly as she could, never wanting to let him go. Never wanting to have to spend another moment of her life without him. 

She’d given him her soul. And in exchange he’d gifted her his heart. And now, with their blood running through each other’s veins, it was as if the merging of their beings had finally completed. They were one now. No one and nothing could ever tear them apart. 

She cried out his name when his cock hit the spot inside her that made her see stars, his thumb rubbing circles into her clit. Her head tipped back against the pillows, babbling nonsense about how good he always was to her. How he always took care of her. How he knew her more deeply and intimately than anyone else ever could. 

When her walls squeezed around him, Tommy moaned her name like it was a prayer. Like it was the most precious thing in the entire world. And then his lips were at her ear, whispering over and over again how much he loved her. That she felt so good. That he promised to love her for as long as he breathed. Maybe even after that. 

She came with a sob of his name against his lips as he kissed her, felt it as he came with her at the exact same moment, filling her with a groan, hips rolling to a stop to rest inside of her as he emptied while she tightened around him like a vice. For hours, or maybe only minutes, neither of them moved, just laying there, holding each other as tight as they could. 

Later, Tommy laid reclined against the pillows, with Lucy cuddled securely in her spot on his chest. And there, in the dark and quiet of night, they traced each other’s bandaged cuts, and whispered promises of eternal love.

Thank you for reading! Please consider leaving a comment, reblog, or like. I always appreciate feedback and love getting the opportunity to interact with you and hear your thoughts!

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Masterlists: Main • Series

#tommy shelby x oc #lucy x tommy

[justrainandcoffee]

I was so afraid of screw up with Nina 🙈

I don't think she's a little shit. She's angry with everything and everyone, she has every right to be angry. Poor girl... 😔. Rose just tried to show her that she's not alone.

Both, the dream and the rain are signals that something is happening, something that never happened before... but neither Alfie or Rose know about this 🤭. Alfie suffered a lot with all those kids he lost, it's about time to give him something good. Apart from his wife 🥺❤️... He really loves her.

I had to include the sack of flour because it awful 😂😂. The stylist before Rose was incarcerated because of his thoughts against the Capitol, but it should be for fashion crimes as well 😂. Poor Alfie and the ones before him.

No one knows what she's planning! Nor Alfie nor you, the readers 🤭, that's something between Rose and I... For now.

Hopefully, Aberama will be able to help her.

Thanks for reading, Reb!! ❤️❤️

Against all odds (Alfie Solomons x fem!oc) Part 6.

Crossover Peaky Blinders - Hunger Games

Masterlist . Parts: One - Two - Three - Four - Five

Summary: The new tributes from district 9 are here. The last name of one of them are, sadly, familiar to both Alfie and Rose. || Something is starting to change around Panem. Voices louder a soft whisper are around the country, barely audible, but they are there "Rebellion" the voices say. || Rose asks for Alfie's help for the first time. And Nina learns that she's not the only who doesn't want to be there.

Warnings: None here.

Words: 3.1 k || Nina belongs to @peakyswritings and Eva to @evita-shelby

District 9.

All Panem was celebrating the beginning of a new edition of the Hunger Games. Or at least, the Capitol was celebrating. The districts had nothing to celebrate. As usual, the last few days Alfie barely see any kid on the streets, except the youngest ones. Those above 12, were inside with their families.

The day before of the reaping day, he watched on TV how Caesar Flickerman, was interviewing the stylists. And she was there, of course. His wife.

How strange it sounded and how beautiful it was, too. He proposed to her just months ago. Even if she was still married, both of them knew that her marriage was faker than theirs. At least the love between Alfie and Rose was pure. The screen showed the name "Rosebeth Evert." Alfie couldn't help but smile. Rosebeth Evert didn't exist, but Rose Solomons did. His Rosie was real as the sun was.

While he was having dinner, he listened to her. Any other person probably could think she was brainless as many other people involved in the superfluous side meof the games. But she wasn't.

She was wearing a gold brooch with the form of a wheat ear. Alfie couldn't help but smile.

In two days, luckily, he'd be able to see her again. Even if with him were going to be two new tributes. Probably corpses in less than two weeks.

If after 16 years as mentor, no one of his kids survived why this year was going to be different?

When Caesar left Rose and started to interview the one from district 10, Alfie turned the tv off and went to sleep.

He woke up early, it was near 7am when he opened his eyes but he remained in bed a bit more. Outside the warm summer wind was blowing, making the curtains move with it.

Alfie had a dream that he barely remembered now but it was about a girl with dark hair and he felt happiness. A happiness he didn't experience before, but he couldn't say why.

She won the games.

He decided to ignore the dream and by the time he was having breakfast he had forgotten completely about it. Besides, he had duties to fulfill.

The mayor of district 9 was a woman in her 60s. Way before he became mentor, that woman lost her only daughter in the games. That was the day that more than one understood that no one could avoid the horrible fate, not even the richest ones. The girl had her name only four times in the bowl, and yet…

The mayor was a good woman, not very talkative but kind and knew how to play her role. Praising the President and the Capitol, was enough to keep them away from her district. She hated them, but who cared? It was only a couple of minutes once a year.

Despite the time zone, all the reapings were at the same time and there, in district 9, was at midday.

He was already on the stage. Alissa, too. Both of them greeted each other and then he turned his attention to the kids that were arriving.

The scared faces on the youngest ones, hope on those who were already eighteen. That was their last time. Death wasn't inevitable, but at least it wasn't going to be televised for millions of people.

The sun was shining all over the square. The thousands of people were contemplating the event. Alissa welcomed everyone and not longer after, she picked up a paper from the girls names.

"Nina Ferrante!"

His heart dropped when he heard the new name: Ferrante. Another one.

Years ago Vittorio, one of her brothers, was reaped. Alfie remembered well the way the kid died. Probably one of the worst death that his tributes suffered. And he was the youngest for now, too. From the very beginning Alfie and Rose knew that there wasn't any hopes for him. Not when in front of him there was tributes that trained for years for killing kids like him. Alfie did his best and tried to help him, but…

Nina was older than Vittorio. And yet, she was still a kid. Even when she was taller than her brother, she was thin. Any other girl from the powerful districts could weight at least 10 kilogrammes more than her and that was always an advantage.

But not always.

The boy was 15 years old, named Silas Ferguson.

"May the odds be ever in your favour, Nina and Silas!" Alissa said before turning around.

A new reaping day has gone and not even an hour later, the train was already going to the Capitol.

Silas was eating the food that was on the train. But Nina wasn't. Her serious expression barely changed from the moment she was reaped.

"You should eat these meat rolls, Nina!" said Alissa "the best meat from district 10. You're just bones, girl."

"I wonder why," she responded.

"It's okay, Alissa. Leave her, she'll eat when she feels it," Alfie spoke.

"I'm just saying."

Silas was more outgoing so Alissa started to talk to the boy who was willing to know about the Capitol.

Sitting in front of her, Alfie look through the window. The yellow fields of their district were still there.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Sorry for what?"

"For not being capable of saving your brother. Him and the rest of the tributes I lost, frequently visit my dreams but I'm used to it. I already apologize with your parents but you were just a little kid back then, so I'm apologizing now."

"It's not like you killed him, right?"

"Maybe I'd have done better."

Nina remained in silence for few minutes. She didn't recognise the landscape now. It was still district 9, but the most distant part of it.

"What are my chances of winning?"

"What are you good at, apart from being a grumpy girl?"

"Grumpy girl? Probably it's because I'm about to die. I hate this! I hate that tomorrow night I'm going to be a fucking puppet wearing a stupid dress…"

"Stop right there," Alissa interrupted "say whatever you want but don't talk shit about the dresses because Alfie is Rosebeth biggest fan. She's our stylist."

"What that's mean?" Silas talked this time.

"It means…" started Alissa but Alfie stopped her.

"It means we're in the same boat. At least you don't have to wear a fucking sack of flour like I had to. Rosebeth, probably designed something outstanding for both of you."

Nina snorted, pretty dress or not, every single one of those were celebrating the games even when 23 new kids were about to die.

.

Two spiders.

That's what Rose bought the last past weeks. Not the ones you could find under a cupboard or in the gardens. High advanced technology in form of spiders. In the black market, of course.

People in the auctions talked easily after a couple of drinks and Rose had learnt to take advantage of them. Some bought abortive pills, others illegal drugs. Guns. Everything you could imagine it'd be yours if you had money to pay and money was the only thing that Lawrence had.

The spiders were like the spying flies were in past centuries, the only difference was the quality. The flies sooner or later caught up the attention of the victims, the spiders remained still in a corner of the wall, undetected and filming everything. Including the ability of decrypt softwares.

Another thing she learnt during the last month was that there was a man in the shadows of the Capitol. His name appeared once and once again: Aberama Gold. She didn't know who he was, but apparently Mr. Gold was a man of honour with a corrupted soul. A man rich enough to live where she was living, but one who decided to live in the darkness. No matter how many times Rose visited the suburbs, never, not even once, she saw him. And yet, his name was there if you listened carefully.

.

It was raining in the Capitol. She didn't remember another rain during the presentation of the tributes, at least since she was working there.

Rain is a blessing, her mother use to say.

She already had met the new tributes. Silas was quite amicable, but the girl… Rose didn't blame her either. Her life was about to change forever. Call it because she could die or a very hypothetical situation in which she could win.

A lightening crossed the sky and all the windows vibrated. That was a fucking big storm.

Could the games or at least the presentation be suspended? Very unlikely. But the horses could scare and the public looking the parade could be upset. Not to mention the makeup and the wigs ruined by the rain. The whole imaginary situation made her laugh. Fortunately, she was alone.

By the time the parade was to begin, the rain was so intense that they received orders to wait.

Alissa was with the kids under a big umbrella. If Nina was upset before the rain, now she was angry. Alone, far away from her home and forced to be under a ridiculous colourful umbrella.

At least, as far as she let her know, Nina liked the dress. Good, because Rose sewed every single golden sequin using nothing but her hands. Same as the vest Silas was wearing.

"Great job again, Mrs. Solomons."

Rose was trying to hear something new about the parade, when Alfie's voice whispering from behind made her smile. They greeted eachother earlier than day but they didn't have the chance to be alone. As usual the first day was so chaotic that they barely had time to talk.

"You're soaking wet, Al."

"I don't have the privileges of owning an umbrella, luv."

"There are plenty of them there," she said pointing at a table where the Capitol had disposed them for tributes, escorts, mentors and any other involved with the games. "Don't say Mr. Snow doesn't think of you."

"Maybe I want to be sick so you can take care of me."

"Sorry Al, but it won't be possible. I don't have time. Besides, doctors here can cure you after your second sneeze."

"Can I pretend at least?"

Rose couldn't help but laugh "you're an idiot."

"Yeah, I know." Alfie looked around them and when he confirmed that no one was paying attention to them, he leaned in and kissed her. She tried to warn him that anyone can see them, but it was also true that thanks to the rain, everyone seemed distracted. It wasn't a long kiss but enough for them to be reunited during other games. "I love you."

"I love you, too. But we should go with Silas and Nina before the parade. Sooner or later the rain will stop."

"I had the hope it'd be suspended."

"Me too, but…"

If the rain did something was to ruin the mood of several politicians, investors and some mentors and tributes but not the public. As soon as the stars started to shine again and the first chariot started to run, people started to yell victors' names and to clap.

The rain didn't ruin Nina's dress but it gave her the illusion of a golden field covered by dew. And the little silver gems in her hair, simulating the stars, helped with it.

.

That was the first time, after 11 years, that Rose asked for help. Rumours were too loud to ignore.

A name here. A last name there. A number. A district. Incarcerated people. Murders.

People around Panem were starting to get tired of Snow and his dictatorship. And the Capitol wasn't the exception, especially during the Games.

"Maybe not directly," Rose had said that night while she was in his arms "but I know she knows."

"She lives far away, luv."

"But some people around her, don't. Just an address. The rest is up to me. I waited that long, I can wait a bit more."

"When are you going to tell me what the hell are you doing?"

"When I consider that it's safe, Al."

They were talking about one victor in particular. Alfie knew her, of course. She won the games not longer after him. The long haired mentor from district 10: Eva Smith. One of the few that never judged him and one the very few that could manage to stop Aveline.

Nina was trying to climb the wall, she was good at it but Alfie couldn't help but think that she was being too hard with herself. Later that day, he was planning to talk with Nina, although the past few days Alfie discovered that Nina was, by far, the most stubborn of all the tributes he had. But at the same time, she had a determination he hadn't seen in years. The only one who showed that level of determination was Philip, the boy with only one arm, who was part of the 60th games and was really close to win his games.

Maybe this time…

Alfie rejected the idea. He wasn't naive anymore and he had learnt that having hopes only bring more pain.

Eva's tributes were practicing with knives, when Alfie approached her.

"Your boy seems to be good at it."

"We," she said refering to the people of her district "are to used to handle knives. You know, meat. At the end of the day there's no difference between a cow and another tribute. The difference comes later, in your nightmares. But I'm not going to tell them that. Not yet, at least."

Alfie nodded. He thought the same, if they were going to die, at least they had the right to enter the Arena, believing that the life after the games were good. A fucking lie, but a lie that was hurting no one.

"How's the baby?" he asked changing the subject.

Eva couldn't help but smile "he's fine. He's does nothing but sleep all day."

"Lucky him," Alfie replied. "And I'm glad to hear that."

Some knew that she became mother a year ago. Very few knew who the father of the baby was. And probably no one but the couple knew when and how it happened. But as sure as the sky was blue, Eva was a mother and Laurie was her son.

"I'm very tempted to ask you about your girlfriend, but I saw you two during the presentation the first night. I was standing right after your chariot." Eva chuckled "Honestly, Alfie, if you want to keep your relationship in secret, you're doing an awful job."

"Fucking hell… yeah, well. She's fine. We're fine."

"Good to know," she replied sincerely. Then she saw him in the eye and knew he wanted to say something else, "spit it out, Alfie."

It was then when he lent in and whispered something in her ear. The only thing that Rose really wanted to know:

"Where she can find Aberama Gold."

Eva looked at him and then nodded "I heard that name. But me personally, don't know where the man is. But I know a person who probably knows. Give me few days."

.

After three days, Nina and Silas finally made their presentation in front of the gamemakers. She scored five and Silas six. It was an average number and Alfie was going to need all his strategies to get them sponsors. Their tv presentation was going that night the next one, after the scores.

'Maybe you can try with these heels," Rose tried to convince Nina. "They aren't that high but they help to show your dress."

"This is a nightmare and it's useless!"

"No, it's not. If you want to survive the arena, you need sponsors. Being strong, fast, clever isn't enough if you don't have water, food or medicine. Infection can kill you in hours. After two days without water is over. After three days without food you can't move anymore. And if you want those sponsors, you need to buy their sympathy."

"I can't! I don't want to! I hate this! This fucking show! Flickeman, the presentation, these stupid heels! I hate everything!!"

"I hate this, too, Nina. And here I am."

"And what do you know about this? You're surrounded by gold and fucking money and you don't know what hung…"

"I don't know what hunger is? Maybe I know a bit about it. Maybe I do know what it feels to be in front of the stage waiting for your name to be picked it up. I wasn't born here. I'm from eight. When I was 18, my name was inside that fucking bowl 185 times. I was lucky, very lucky. And then I started to work here,once again, because I was lucky. I'm here to help, Nina. I'm not Snow. Alfie isn't Snow. Do you know about his nightmares? His trauma? No, you don't. We're not the enemy. Hope you can remember that."

"I'm sorry. I didn't... I didn't know. I'm overwhelmed. I know Alfie isn't the enemy, I know he did his best to help Vittorio and I also know that my brother had any chance. Not with those monsters in from of him."

"Those monsters are also kids forced to kill. They brainwashed their minds but later they can see the truth and the truth is horrible. Just victims, like Alfie, like your brother, like you…" Rose sat in a couch and Nina sat next to her "I remember your brother. It was one of the first years after I started to work here. He was small but fierce. 'I am a Ferrante' he said. It was very hard what happened."

"It destroyed our family. In more ways than one. I don't think it can be repaired."

"That's what Snow wants. He wants to create damage beyond the reparable."

Nina frowned "If you hate him, then why are you working for him?"

"Who says that I'm working for him?" Rose said winking at her. "So, the heels…"

When later, Alfie arrived with Silas already dressed to be in front of Caesar, he found Nina talking with his wife and to his own surprise, she was smiling at her.

Maybe the girl wasn't the person she wanted to show. Or maybe she was, but also was a poor teenager girl about to face the death. Who could blame her?

Rose couldn't stay behind the scenes with Nina, Silas and Alfie, so she went to the place of honour that stylists had. Three minutes per tribute was all the time that they have to show themselves. After exactly 48 minutes, Nina finally showed up.

Her light blue and white dress followed her movements. Rose knew she wasn't a bad kid, but a very unhappy one, and those were valid feelings. Even if Nina couldn't get any sponsors, Rose could help Alfie to get one or two, as always. As long as she was there no tributes of his will be alone.

But Rose got distracted when a little paper fell over her lap, out of the corner of her eye, she could she a thin woman walking away from her. She recognized Tigris.

The paper had an adress on it.

She hid the paper in her own dress and looked at Caesar again, but Nina wasn't there anymore. At least, her presentation and all her anxiety was over.

And finally, she had an address too.

#alfie x rose #hunger games au

[justrainandcoffee]

Rose @ Lawrence Evert.

In one of my film classes last semester we had to tell a story in 3 pictures for a mini assignment so my friend and I did this

#soon 😌

[justrainandcoffee]

As she deserves!!!

It is officially Lucy's birthday in my timezone!

I have a little fic (not exactly birthday themed, but still cute and sweet) written up that I'll be posting later today in celebration. In the meantime, she will be enjoying lots of chocolate cake and cuddles from Tommy and their multiple fur babies 🥰

#lucy winters

[justrainandcoffee]

Rest of the taglist

@emotionalcadaver @lunarubra

Against all odds (Alfie Solomons x fem!oc) Part 6.

Crossover Peaky Blinders - Hunger Games

Masterlist . Parts: One - Two - Three - Four - Five

Summary: The new tributes from district 9 are here. The last name of one of them are, sadly, familiar to both Alfie and Rose. || Something is starting to change around Panem. Voices louder a soft whisper are around the country, barely audible, but they are there "Rebellion" the voices say. || Rose asks for Alfie's help for the first time. And Nina learns that she's not the only who doesn't want to be there.

Warnings: None here.

Words: 3.1 k || Nina belongs to @peakyswritings and Eva to @evita-shelby

District 9.

All Panem was celebrating the beginning of a new edition of the Hunger Games. Or at least, the Capitol was celebrating. The districts had nothing to celebrate. As usual, the last few days Alfie barely see any kid on the streets, except the youngest ones. Those above 12, were inside with their families.

The day before of the reaping day, he watched on TV how Caesar Flickerman, was interviewing the stylists. And she was there, of course. His wife.

How strange it sounded and how beautiful it was, too. He proposed to her just months ago. Even if she was still married, both of them knew that her marriage was faker than theirs. At least the love between Alfie and Rose was pure. The screen showed the name "Rosebeth Evert." Alfie couldn't help but smile. Rosebeth Evert didn't exist, but Rose Solomons did. His Rosie was real as the sun was.

While he was having dinner, he listened to her. Any other person probably could think she was brainless as many other people involved in the superfluous side meof the games. But she wasn't.

She was wearing a gold brooch with the form of a wheat ear. Alfie couldn't help but smile.

In two days, luckily, he'd be able to see her again. Even if with him were going to be two new tributes. Probably corpses in less than two weeks.

If after 16 years as mentor, no one of his kids survived why this year was going to be different?

When Caesar left Rose and started to interview the one from district 10, Alfie turned the tv off and went to sleep.

He woke up early, it was near 7am when he opened his eyes but he remained in bed a bit more. Outside the warm summer wind was blowing, making the curtains move with it.

Alfie had a dream that he barely remembered now but it was about a girl with dark hair and he felt happiness. A happiness he didn't experience before, but he couldn't say why.

She won the games.

He decided to ignore the dream and by the time he was having breakfast he had forgotten completely about it. Besides, he had duties to fulfill.

The mayor of district 9 was a woman in her 60s. Way before he became mentor, that woman lost her only daughter in the games. That was the day that more than one understood that no one could avoid the horrible fate, not even the richest ones. The girl had her name only four times in the bowl, and yet…

The mayor was a good woman, not very talkative but kind and knew how to play her role. Praising the President and the Capitol, was enough to keep them away from her district. She hated them, but who cared? It was only a couple of minutes once a year.

Despite the time zone, all the reapings were at the same time and there, in district 9, was at midday.

He was already on the stage. Alissa, too. Both of them greeted each other and then he turned his attention to the kids that were arriving.

The scared faces on the youngest ones, hope on those who were already eighteen. That was their last time. Death wasn't inevitable, but at least it wasn't going to be televised for millions of people.

The sun was shining all over the square. The thousands of people were contemplating the event. Alissa welcomed everyone and not longer after, she picked up a paper from the girls names.

"Nina Ferrante!"

His heart dropped when he heard the new name: Ferrante. Another one.

Years ago Vittorio, one of her brothers, was reaped. Alfie remembered well the way the kid died. Probably one of the worst death that his tributes suffered. And he was the youngest for now, too. From the very beginning Alfie and Rose knew that there wasn't any hopes for him. Not when in front of him there was tributes that trained for years for killing kids like him. Alfie did his best and tried to help him, but…

Nina was older than Vittorio. And yet, she was still a kid. Even when she was taller than her brother, she was thin. Any other girl from the powerful districts could weight at least 10 kilogrammes more than her and that was always an advantage.

But not always.

The boy was 15 years old, named Silas Ferguson.

"May the odds be ever in your favour, Nina and Silas!" Alissa said before turning around.

A new reaping day has gone and not even an hour later, the train was already going to the Capitol.

Silas was eating the food that was on the train. But Nina wasn't. Her serious expression barely changed from the moment she was reaped.

"You should eat these meat rolls, Nina!" said Alissa "the best meat from district 10. You're just bones, girl."

"I wonder why," she responded.

"It's okay, Alissa. Leave her, she'll eat when she feels it," Alfie spoke.

"I'm just saying."

Silas was more outgoing so Alissa started to talk to the boy who was willing to know about the Capitol.

Sitting in front of her, Alfie look through the window. The yellow fields of their district were still there.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Sorry for what?"

"For not being capable of saving your brother. Him and the rest of the tributes I lost, frequently visit my dreams but I'm used to it. I already apologize with your parents but you were just a little kid back then, so I'm apologizing now."

"It's not like you killed him, right?"

"Maybe I'd have done better."

Nina remained in silence for few minutes. She didn't recognise the landscape now. It was still district 9, but the most distant part of it.

"What are my chances of winning?"

"What are you good at, apart from being a grumpy girl?"

"Grumpy girl? Probably it's because I'm about to die. I hate this! I hate that tomorrow night I'm going to be a fucking puppet wearing a stupid dress…"

"Stop right there," Alissa interrupted "say whatever you want but don't talk shit about the dresses because Alfie is Rosebeth biggest fan. She's our stylist."

"What that's mean?" Silas talked this time.

"It means…" started Alissa but Alfie stopped her.

"It means we're in the same boat. At least you don't have to wear a fucking sack of flour like I had to. Rosebeth, probably designed something outstanding for both of you."

Nina snorted, pretty dress or not, every single one of those were celebrating the games even when 23 new kids were about to die.

.

Two spiders.

That's what Rose bought the last past weeks. Not the ones you could find under a cupboard or in the gardens. High advanced technology in form of spiders. In the black market, of course.

People in the auctions talked easily after a couple of drinks and Rose had learnt to take advantage of them. Some bought abortive pills, others illegal drugs. Guns. Everything you could imagine it'd be yours if you had money to pay and money was the only thing that Lawrence had.

The spiders were like the spying flies were in past centuries, the only difference was the quality. The flies sooner or later caught up the attention of the victims, the spiders remained still in a corner of the wall, undetected and filming everything. Including the ability of decrypt softwares.

Another thing she learnt during the last month was that there was a man in the shadows of the Capitol. His name appeared once and once again: Aberama Gold. She didn't know who he was, but apparently Mr. Gold was a man of honour with a corrupted soul. A man rich enough to live where she was living, but one who decided to live in the darkness. No matter how many times Rose visited the suburbs, never, not even once, she saw him. And yet, his name was there if you listened carefully.

.

It was raining in the Capitol. She didn't remember another rain during the presentation of the tributes, at least since she was working there.

Rain is a blessing, her mother use to say.

She already had met the new tributes. Silas was quite amicable, but the girl… Rose didn't blame her either. Her life was about to change forever. Call it because she could die or a very hypothetical situation in which she could win.

A lightening crossed the sky and all the windows vibrated. That was a fucking big storm.

Could the games or at least the presentation be suspended? Very unlikely. But the horses could scare and the public looking the parade could be upset. Not to mention the makeup and the wigs ruined by the rain. The whole imaginary situation made her laugh. Fortunately, she was alone.

By the time the parade was to begin, the rain was so intense that they received orders to wait.

Alissa was with the kids under a big umbrella. If Nina was upset before the rain, now she was angry. Alone, far away from her home and forced to be under a ridiculous colourful umbrella.

At least, as far as she let her know, Nina liked the dress. Good, because Rose sewed every single golden sequin using nothing but her hands. Same as the vest Silas was wearing.

"Great job again, Mrs. Solomons."

Rose was trying to hear something new about the parade, when Alfie's voice whispering from behind made her smile. They greeted eachother earlier than day but they didn't have the chance to be alone. As usual the first day was so chaotic that they barely had time to talk.

"You're soaking wet, Al."

"I don't have the privileges of owning an umbrella, luv."

"There are plenty of them there," she said pointing at a table where the Capitol had disposed them for tributes, escorts, mentors and any other involved with the games. "Don't say Mr. Snow doesn't think of you."

"Maybe I want to be sick so you can take care of me."

"Sorry Al, but it won't be possible. I don't have time. Besides, doctors here can cure you after your second sneeze."

"Can I pretend at least?"

Rose couldn't help but laugh "you're an idiot."

"Yeah, I know." Alfie looked around them and when he confirmed that no one was paying attention to them, he leaned in and kissed her. She tried to warn him that anyone can see them, but it was also true that thanks to the rain, everyone seemed distracted. It wasn't a long kiss but enough for them to be reunited during other games. "I love you."

"I love you, too. But we should go with Silas and Nina before the parade. Sooner or later the rain will stop."

"I had the hope it'd be suspended."

"Me too, but…"

If the rain did something was to ruin the mood of several politicians, investors and some mentors and tributes but not the public. As soon as the stars started to shine again and the first chariot started to run, people started to yell victors' names and to clap.

The rain didn't ruin Nina's dress but it gave her the illusion of a golden field covered by dew. And the little silver gems in her hair, simulating the stars, helped with it.

.

That was the first time, after 11 years, that Rose asked for help. Rumours were too loud to ignore.

A name here. A last name there. A number. A district. Incarcerated people. Murders.

People around Panem were starting to get tired of Snow and his dictatorship. And the Capitol wasn't the exception, especially during the Games.

"Maybe not directly," Rose had said that night while she was in his arms "but I know she knows."

"She lives far away, luv."

"But some people around her, don't. Just an address. The rest is up to me. I waited that long, I can wait a bit more."

"When are you going to tell me what the hell are you doing?"

"When I consider that it's safe, Al."

They were talking about one victor in particular. Alfie knew her, of course. She won the games not longer after him. The long haired mentor from district 10: Eva Smith. One of the few that never judged him and one the very few that could manage to stop Aveline.

Nina was trying to climb the wall, she was good at it but Alfie couldn't help but think that she was being too hard with herself. Later that day, he was planning to talk with Nina, although the past few days Alfie discovered that Nina was, by far, the most stubborn of all the tributes he had. But at the same time, she had a determination he hadn't seen in years. The only one who showed that level of determination was Philip, the boy with only one arm, who was part of the 60th games and was really close to win his games.

Maybe this time…

Alfie rejected the idea. He wasn't naive anymore and he had learnt that having hopes only bring more pain.

Eva's tributes were practicing with knives, when Alfie approached her.

"Your boy seems to be good at it."

"We," she said refering to the people of her district "are to used to handle knives. You know, meat. At the end of the day there's no difference between a cow and another tribute. The difference comes later, in your nightmares. But I'm not going to tell them that. Not yet, at least."

Alfie nodded. He thought the same, if they were going to die, at least they had the right to enter the Arena, believing that the life after the games were good. A fucking lie, but a lie that was hurting no one.

"How's the baby?" he asked changing the subject.

Eva couldn't help but smile "he's fine. He's does nothing but sleep all day."

"Lucky him," Alfie replied. "And I'm glad to hear that."

Some knew that she became mother a year ago. Very few knew who the father of the baby was. And probably no one but the couple knew when and how it happened. But as sure as the sky was blue, Eva was a mother and Laurie was her son.

"I'm very tempted to ask you about your girlfriend, but I saw you two during the presentation the first night. I was standing right after your chariot." Eva chuckled "Honestly, Alfie, if you want to keep your relationship in secret, you're doing an awful job."

"Fucking hell… yeah, well. She's fine. We're fine."

"Good to know," she replied sincerely. Then she saw him in the eye and knew he wanted to say something else, "spit it out, Alfie."

It was then when he lent in and whispered something in her ear. The only thing that Rose really wanted to know:

"Where she can find Aberama Gold."

Eva looked at him and then nodded "I heard that name. But me personally, don't know where the man is. But I know a person who probably knows. Give me few days."

.

After three days, Nina and Silas finally made their presentation in front of the gamemakers. She scored five and Silas six. It was an average number and Alfie was going to need all his strategies to get them sponsors. Their tv presentation was going that night the next one, after the scores.

'Maybe you can try with these heels," Rose tried to convince Nina. "They aren't that high but they help to show your dress."

"This is a nightmare and it's useless!"

"No, it's not. If you want to survive the arena, you need sponsors. Being strong, fast, clever isn't enough if you don't have water, food or medicine. Infection can kill you in hours. After two days without water is over. After three days without food you can't move anymore. And if you want those sponsors, you need to buy their sympathy."

"I can't! I don't want to! I hate this! This fucking show! Flickeman, the presentation, these stupid heels! I hate everything!!"

"I hate this, too, Nina. And here I am."

"And what do you know about this? You're surrounded by gold and fucking money and you don't know what hung…"

"I don't know what hunger is? Maybe I know a bit about it. Maybe I do know what it feels to be in front of the stage waiting for your name to be picked it up. I wasn't born here. I'm from eight. When I was 18, my name was inside that fucking bowl 185 times. I was lucky, very lucky. And then I started to work here,once again, because I was lucky. I'm here to help, Nina. I'm not Snow. Alfie isn't Snow. Do you know about his nightmares? His trauma? No, you don't. We're not the enemy. Hope you can remember that."

"I'm sorry. I didn't... I didn't know. I'm overwhelmed. I know Alfie isn't the enemy, I know he did his best to help Vittorio and I also know that my brother had any chance. Not with those monsters in from of him."

"Those monsters are also kids forced to kill. They brainwashed their minds but later they can see the truth and the truth is horrible. Just victims, like Alfie, like your brother, like you…" Rose sat in a couch and Nina sat next to her "I remember your brother. It was one of the first years after I started to work here. He was small but fierce. 'I am a Ferrante' he said. It was very hard what happened."

"It destroyed our family. In more ways than one. I don't think it can be repaired."

"That's what Snow wants. He wants to create damage beyond the reparable."

Nina frowned "If you hate him, then why are you working for him?"

"Who says that I'm working for him?" Rose said winking at her. "So, the heels…"

When later, Alfie arrived with Silas already dressed to be in front of Caesar, he found Nina talking with his wife and to his own surprise, she was smiling at her.

Maybe the girl wasn't the person she wanted to show. Or maybe she was, but also was a poor teenager girl about to face the death. Who could blame her?

Rose couldn't stay behind the scenes with Nina, Silas and Alfie, so she went to the place of honour that stylists had. Three minutes per tribute was all the time that they have to show themselves. After exactly 48 minutes, Nina finally showed up.

Her light blue and white dress followed her movements. Rose knew she wasn't a bad kid, but a very unhappy one, and those were valid feelings. Even if Nina couldn't get any sponsors, Rose could help Alfie to get one or two, as always. As long as she was there no tributes of his will be alone.

But Rose got distracted when a little paper fell over her lap, out of the corner of her eye, she could she a thin woman walking away from her. She recognized Tigris.

The paper had an adress on it.

She hid the paper in her own dress and looked at Caesar again, but Nina wasn't there anymore. At least, her presentation and all her anxiety was over.

And finally, she had an address too.

#alfie solomons #alfie solomons x ofc #alfie solomons x oc #alfie x rose #hunger games au #peaky blinders

[justrainandcoffee]

Against all odds (Alfie Solomons x fem!oc) Part 6.

Crossover Peaky Blinders - Hunger Games

Masterlist . Parts: One - Two - Three - Four - Five

Summary: The new tributes from district 9 are here. The last name of one of them are, sadly, familiar to both Alfie and Rose. || Something is starting to change around Panem. Voices louder a soft whisper are around the country, barely audible, but they are there "Rebellion" the voices say. || Rose asks for Alfie's help for the first time. And Nina learns that she's not the only who doesn't want to be there.

Warnings: None here.

Words: 3.1 k || Nina belongs to @peakyswritings and Eva to @evita-shelby

District 9.

All Panem was celebrating the beginning of a new edition of the Hunger Games. Or at least, the Capitol was celebrating. The districts had nothing to celebrate. As usual, the last few days Alfie barely see any kid on the streets, except the youngest ones. Those above 12, were inside with their families.

The day before of the reaping day, he watched on TV how Caesar Flickerman, was interviewing the stylists. And she was there, of course. His wife.

How strange it sounded and how beautiful it was, too. He proposed to her just months ago. Even if she was still married, both of them knew that her marriage was faker than theirs. At least the love between Alfie and Rose was pure. The screen showed the name "Rosebeth Evert." Alfie couldn't help but smile. Rosebeth Evert didn't exist, but Rose Solomons did. His Rosie was real as the sun was.

While he was having dinner, he listened to her. Any other person probably could think she was brainless as many other people involved in the superfluous side meof the games. But she wasn't.

She was wearing a gold brooch with the form of a wheat ear. Alfie couldn't help but smile.

In two days, luckily, he'd be able to see her again. Even if with him were going to be two new tributes. Probably corpses in less than two weeks.

If after 16 years as mentor, no one of his kids survived why this year was going to be different?

When Caesar left Rose and started to interview the one from district 10, Alfie turned the tv off and went to sleep.

He woke up early, it was near 7am when he opened his eyes but he remained in bed a bit more. Outside the warm summer wind was blowing, making the curtains move with it.

Alfie had a dream that he barely remembered now but it was about a girl with dark hair and he felt happiness. A happiness he didn't experience before, but he couldn't say why.

She won the games.

He decided to ignore the dream and by the time he was having breakfast he had forgotten completely about it. Besides, he had duties to fulfill.

The mayor of district 9 was a woman in her 60s. Way before he became mentor, that woman lost her only daughter in the games. That was the day that more than one understood that no one could avoid the horrible fate, not even the richest ones. The girl had her name only four times in the bowl, and yet…

The mayor was a good woman, not very talkative but kind and knew how to play her role. Praising the President and the Capitol, was enough to keep them away from her district. She hated them, but who cared? It was only a couple of minutes once a year.

Despite the time zone, all the reapings were at the same time and there, in district 9, was at midday.

He was already on the stage. Alissa, too. Both of them greeted each other and then he turned his attention to the kids that were arriving.

The scared faces on the youngest ones, hope on those who were already eighteen. That was their last time. Death wasn't inevitable, but at least it wasn't going to be televised for millions of people.

The sun was shining all over the square. The thousands of people were contemplating the event. Alissa welcomed everyone and not longer after, she picked up a paper from the girls names.

"Nina Ferrante!"

His heart dropped when he heard the new name: Ferrante. Another one.

Years ago Vittorio, one of her brothers, was reaped. Alfie remembered well the way the kid died. Probably one of the worst death that his tributes suffered. And he was the youngest for now, too. From the very beginning Alfie and Rose knew that there wasn't any hopes for him. Not when in front of him there was tributes that trained for years for killing kids like him. Alfie did his best and tried to help him, but…

Nina was older than Vittorio. And yet, she was still a kid. Even when she was taller than her brother, she was thin. Any other girl from the powerful districts could weight at least 10 kilogrammes more than her and that was always an advantage.

But not always.

The boy was 15 years old, named Silas Ferguson.

"May the odds be ever in your favour, Nina and Silas!" Alissa said before turning around.

A new reaping day has gone and not even an hour later, the train was already going to the Capitol.

Silas was eating the food that was on the train. But Nina wasn't. Her serious expression barely changed from the moment she was reaped.

"You should eat these meat rolls, Nina!" said Alissa "the best meat from district 10. You're just bones, girl."

"I wonder why," she responded.

"It's okay, Alissa. Leave her, she'll eat when she feels it," Alfie spoke.

"I'm just saying."

Silas was more outgoing so Alissa started to talk to the boy who was willing to know about the Capitol.

Sitting in front of her, Alfie look through the window. The yellow fields of their district were still there.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Sorry for what?"

"For not being capable of saving your brother. Him and the rest of the tributes I lost, frequently visit my dreams but I'm used to it. I already apologize with your parents but you were just a little kid back then, so I'm apologizing now."

"It's not like you killed him, right?"

"Maybe I'd have done better."

Nina remained in silence for few minutes. She didn't recognise the landscape now. It was still district 9, but the most distant part of it.

"What are my chances of winning?"

"What are you good at, apart from being a grumpy girl?"

"Grumpy girl? Probably it's because I'm about to die. I hate this! I hate that tomorrow night I'm going to be a fucking puppet wearing a stupid dress…"

"Stop right there," Alissa interrupted "say whatever you want but don't talk shit about the dresses because Alfie is Rosebeth biggest fan. She's our stylist."

"What that's mean?" Silas talked this time.

"It means…" started Alissa but Alfie stopped her.

"It means we're in the same boat. At least you don't have to wear a fucking sack of flour like I had to. Rosebeth, probably designed something outstanding for both of you."

Nina snorted, pretty dress or not, every single one of those were celebrating the games even when 23 new kids were about to die.

.

Two spiders.

That's what Rose bought the last past weeks. Not the ones you could find under a cupboard or in the gardens. High advanced technology in form of spiders. In the black market, of course.

People in the auctions talked easily after a couple of drinks and Rose had learnt to take advantage of them. Some bought abortive pills, others illegal drugs. Guns. Everything you could imagine it'd be yours if you had money to pay and money was the only thing that Lawrence had.

The spiders were like the spying flies were in past centuries, the only difference was the quality. The flies sooner or later caught up the attention of the victims, the spiders remained still in a corner of the wall, undetected and filming everything. Including the ability of decrypt softwares.

Another thing she learnt during the last month was that there was a man in the shadows of the Capitol. His name appeared once and once again: Aberama Gold. She didn't know who he was, but apparently Mr. Gold was a man of honour with a corrupted soul. A man rich enough to live where she was living, but one who decided to live in the darkness. No matter how many times Rose visited the suburbs, never, not even once, she saw him. And yet, his name was there if you listened carefully.

.

It was raining in the Capitol. She didn't remember another rain during the presentation of the tributes, at least since she was working there.

Rain is a blessing, her mother use to say.

She already had met the new tributes. Silas was quite amicable, but the girl… Rose didn't blame her either. Her life was about to change forever. Call it because she could die or a very hypothetical situation in which she could win.

A lightening crossed the sky and all the windows vibrated. That was a fucking big storm.

Could the games or at least the presentation be suspended? Very unlikely. But the horses could scare and the public looking the parade could be upset. Not to mention the makeup and the wigs ruined by the rain. The whole imaginary situation made her laugh. Fortunately, she was alone.

By the time the parade was to begin, the rain was so intense that they received orders to wait.

Alissa was with the kids under a big umbrella. If Nina was upset before the rain, now she was angry. Alone, far away from her home and forced to be under a ridiculous colourful umbrella.

At least, as far as she let her know, Nina liked the dress. Good, because Rose sewed every single golden sequin using nothing but her hands. Same as the vest Silas was wearing.

"Great job again, Mrs. Solomons."

Rose was trying to hear something new about the parade, when Alfie's voice whispering from behind made her smile. They greeted eachother earlier than day but they didn't have the chance to be alone. As usual the first day was so chaotic that they barely had time to talk.

"You're soaking wet, Al."

"I don't have the privileges of owning an umbrella, luv."

"There are plenty of them there," she said pointing at a table where the Capitol had disposed them for tributes, escorts, mentors and any other involved with the games. "Don't say Mr. Snow doesn't think of you."

"Maybe I want to be sick so you can take care of me."

"Sorry Al, but it won't be possible. I don't have time. Besides, doctors here can cure you after your second sneeze."

"Can I pretend at least?"

Rose couldn't help but laugh "you're an idiot."

"Yeah, I know." Alfie looked around them and when he confirmed that no one was paying attention to them, he leaned in and kissed her. She tried to warn him that anyone can see them, but it was also true that thanks to the rain, everyone seemed distracted. It wasn't a long kiss but enough for them to be reunited during other games. "I love you."

"I love you, too. But we should go with Silas and Nina before the parade. Sooner or later the rain will stop."

"I had the hope it'd be suspended."

"Me too, but…"

If the rain did something was to ruin the mood of several politicians, investors and some mentors and tributes but not the public. As soon as the stars started to shine again and the first chariot started to run, people started to yell victors' names and to clap.

The rain didn't ruin Nina's dress but it gave her the illusion of a golden field covered by dew. And the little silver gems in her hair, simulating the stars, helped with it.

.

That was the first time, after 11 years, that Rose asked for help. Rumours were too loud to ignore.

A name here. A last name there. A number. A district. Incarcerated people. Murders.

People around Panem were starting to get tired of Snow and his dictatorship. And the Capitol wasn't the exception, especially during the Games.

"Maybe not directly," Rose had said that night while she was in his arms "but I know she knows."

"She lives far away, luv."

"But some people around her, don't. Just an address. The rest is up to me. I waited that long, I can wait a bit more."

"When are you going to tell me what the hell are you doing?"

"When I consider that it's safe, Al."

They were talking about one victor in particular. Alfie knew her, of course. She won the games not longer after him. The long haired mentor from district 10: Eva Smith. One of the few that never judged him and one the very few that could manage to stop Aveline.

Nina was trying to climb the wall, she was good at it but Alfie couldn't help but think that she was being too hard with herself. Later that day, he was planning to talk with Nina, although the past few days Alfie discovered that Nina was, by far, the most stubborn of all the tributes he had. But at the same time, she had a determination he hadn't seen in years. The only one who showed that level of determination was Philip, the boy with only one arm, who was part of the 60th games and was really close to win his games.

Maybe this time…

Alfie rejected the idea. He wasn't naive anymore and he had learnt that having hopes only bring more pain.

Eva's tributes were practicing with knives, when Alfie approached her.

"Your boy seems to be good at it."

"We," she said refering to the people of her district "are to used to handle knives. You know, meat. At the end of the day there's no difference between a cow and another tribute. The difference comes later, in your nightmares. But I'm not going to tell them that. Not yet, at least."

Alfie nodded. He thought the same, if they were going to die, at least they had the right to enter the Arena, believing that the life after the games were good. A fucking lie, but a lie that was hurting no one.

"How's the baby?" he asked changing the subject.

Eva couldn't help but smile "he's fine. He's does nothing but sleep all day."

"Lucky him," Alfie replied. "And I'm glad to hear that."

Some knew that she became mother a year ago. Very few knew who the father of the baby was. And probably no one but the couple knew when and how it happened. But as sure as the sky was blue, Eva was a mother and Laurie was her son.

"I'm very tempted to ask you about your girlfriend, but I saw you two during the presentation the first night. I was standing right after your chariot." Eva chuckled "Honestly, Alfie, if you want to keep your relationship in secret, you're doing an awful job."

"Fucking hell… yeah, well. She's fine. We're fine."

"Good to know," she replied sincerely. Then she saw him in the eye and knew he wanted to say something else, "spit it out, Alfie."

It was then when he lent in and whispered something in her ear. The only thing that Rose really wanted to know:

"Where she can find Aberama Gold."

Eva looked at him and then nodded "I heard that name. But me personally, don't know where the man is. But I know a person who probably knows. Give me few days."

.

After three days, Nina and Silas finally made their presentation in front of the gamemakers. She scored five and Silas six. It was an average number and Alfie was going to need all his strategies to get them sponsors. Their tv presentation was going that night the next one, after the scores.

'Maybe you can try with these heels," Rose tried to convince Nina. "They aren't that high but they help to show your dress."

"This is a nightmare and it's useless!"

"No, it's not. If you want to survive the arena, you need sponsors. Being strong, fast, clever isn't enough if you don't have water, food or medicine. Infection can kill you in hours. After two days without water is over. After three days without food you can't move anymore. And if you want those sponsors, you need to buy their sympathy."

"I can't! I don't want to! I hate this! This fucking show! Flickeman, the presentation, these stupid heels! I hate everything!!"

"I hate this, too, Nina. And here I am."

"And what do you know about this? You're surrounded by gold and fucking money and you don't know what hung…"

"I don't know what hunger is? Maybe I know a bit about it. Maybe I do know what it feels to be in front of the stage waiting for your name to be picked it up. I wasn't born here. I'm from eight. When I was 18, my name was inside that fucking bowl 185 times. I was lucky, very lucky. And then I started to work here,once again, because I was lucky. I'm here to help, Nina. I'm not Snow. Alfie isn't Snow. Do you know about his nightmares? His trauma? No, you don't. We're not the enemy. Hope you can remember that."

"I'm sorry. I didn't... I didn't know. I'm overwhelmed. I know Alfie isn't the enemy, I know he did his best to help Vittorio and I also know that my brother had any chance. Not with those monsters in from of him."

"Those monsters are also kids forced to kill. They brainwashed their minds but later they can see the truth and the truth is horrible. Just victims, like Alfie, like your brother, like you…" Rose sat in a couch and Nina sat next to her "I remember your brother. It was one of the first years after I started to work here. He was small but fierce. 'I am a Ferrante' he said. It was very hard what happened."

"It destroyed our family. In more ways than one. I don't think it can be repaired."

"That's what Snow wants. He wants to create damage beyond the reparable."

Nina frowned "If you hate him, then why are you working for him?"

"Who says that I'm working for him?" Rose said winking at her. "So, the heels…"

When later, Alfie arrived with Silas already dressed to be in front of Caesar, he found Nina talking with his wife and to his own surprise, she was smiling at her.

Maybe the girl wasn't the person she wanted to show. Or maybe she was, but also was a poor teenager girl about to face the death. Who could blame her?

Rose couldn't stay behind the scenes with Nina, Silas and Alfie, so she went to the place of honour that stylists had. Three minutes per tribute was all the time that they have to show themselves. After exactly 48 minutes, Nina finally showed up.

Her light blue and white dress followed her movements. Rose knew she wasn't a bad kid, but a very unhappy one, and those were valid feelings. Even if Nina couldn't get any sponsors, Rose could help Alfie to get one or two, as always. As long as she was there no tributes of his will be alone.

But Rose got distracted when a little paper fell over her lap, out of the corner of her eye, she could she a thin woman walking away from her. She recognized Tigris.

The paper had an adress on it.

She hid the paper in her own dress and looked at Caesar again, but Nina wasn't there anymore. At least, her presentation and all her anxiety was over.

And finally, she had an address too.

#alfie solomons #alfie solomons x ofc #alfie solomons x oc #alfie x rose #hunger games au #peaky blinders

[justrainandcoffee]

🥺

I'm so happy that you liked it!!

Lucy deserves moments of peace... Poor girl, even if she didn't suffer the same as Tommy, it doesn't mean she's not suffering, too. And the trauma...

I wanted to add the fox and when the idea crossed ny mind 🤧❤️. She needs hope.

I want to believe that after the rebellion she saw it, again.

Happy birthday, Lucy!

The forest gave her peace, if peace is something you can experience when you're part of Panem. When you survived the Games.

But at least in the forest hearing the birds and the wind trough the trees, she could think about other things.

Her horse is eating next to her. Lucy is watching the fish in the streaming, when she heard something new.

On the other side of the stream there's a red fox staring at her. Its fur was red as Lucy's hair. The animal wasn't afraid of her nor the horse, but it seemed curious.

Lucy couldn't help but think that maybe he or she is hungry, but she didn't have anything there for the fox.

But the fox wasn't hungry, it wanted to know who that woman was.

For the next weeks Lucy and the fox saw each other. And one day, after two months, she saw it on the same side of the stream as she was. Lucy never said a word and that was something the fox appreciated it. Lucy, too, she never liked loud sounds.

It was like a ritual. Every afternoon Lucy went to the forest and the fox was there, for few years nothing changed.

"This year the tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

Lucy was crying. Not again... And not with Tommy. Not just that, the idea of her friends being killed... Fuck Snow! Fuck the Capitol.

With her head hid in her arms, she didn't see the fox next to her until the animal rested its head on Lucy's lap. Its amber eyes looking at her, trying to say to her that everything will be fine. For the first time, after all that time, it let her pet it.

Lucy looked at the fox and touched its soft and fluffy fur. It gave her a new feeling, even if she was still crying.

It was hope.

Hope that everything it will be fine. She knew that and for a moment she let herself to smile.

Lucy belongs to @emotionalcadaver ❤️ .

Tommy Shelby x Lucy Winters

#lucy winters #the hunger games au

[justrainandcoffee]

One of my absolute favorite tropes is

“We have taken the one you love most!”

“Oh, have you? Good fukken luck lmao”

*distant screams of kidnappers as loved one escapes*

or the flipside:

“We’ve kidnapped you!”

“You are in so much trouble. You are in so much fucking trouble. You are in the most trouble ever, oh my god.”

*DOOR EXPLODES INWARDS AS LOVED ONE ARRIVES*

and the alternate:

*vehicle pulls up, door opens, person is shoved out, door slams, vehicle screeches away*

“Did you get kidnapped??”

“For a minute yeah”

#😂 #these have a lot of Rolfie vibes #and my mutuals' oc and their partners as well 🤭

[justrainandcoffee]

The Wandering Jew (Alfie Solomons x fem!OC)

"Welcome to end of the World", Alfie said.

Alfie x Rose Masterlist

Summary: It was like an apocalyptic movie. First it wasn't that bad, or that was people thought, until it was that bad. Rose landed in London with the idea of returning home a week and a half later, but few days after that, the PM decided to close everything. His flight was cancelled and getting a new one was an impossible mission. The world is facing a new era and she's there trapped in an Inn, in a distant city with a complete stranger and his dog.

Warnings: Just topics related to covid-19.

Words: 2K. || I'm rewriting the first chapters I posted last year. I changed several things and I'm happier now. You can find the rest of their modern story here.

Series masterlist.

18th March 2020.

The world was starting to panic because of the new virus created in China. Or maybe it was a sick bat that, like a domino effect, caused thousands of deaths already. China was closed, countries around it, too. Italy was collapsing slowly and the WHO already declared that this new virus, called COVID-19, was a pandemic.

Yet, millions of people continued with their lives as always. Working, going to classes, visiting friends or relatives and others, like Rose, were travelling.

Born in London in 1988, Rose Coldwell was returning to her city after eight years living in New York where she moved with her mother and two brothers. She received an important job offer back then and the money was beneficial for the four of them. Louis, her youngest brother went to high school and Samuel, the second brother, begun to study law in a good college there. Now the youngest was studying architecture and Samuel was part of a law firm in Manhattan.

Rose, on the other hand, ran her own fashion blog and had a small business. Nothing too extraordinary, but something that made her happy. After several years of sending mails and filling out forms to be part of any international fashion event and equal numbers of rejections, she sent a mail to be part of an international convention there in London and she was accepted. 2020, it was going to be an unforgettable year, she thought.

And she was right… but the reasons were going to be quite different.

The plane landed and she felt she was returning home like the prodigal son, or daughter. Not even once since she left the country she returned there and it was a pleasant feeling to be back on her land.

Some people around her in the airport were walking fast avoiding the multitude. Some were wearing masks, some not. A woman wearing one was offering alcohol to sanitize people's hands. An old man sneezed and caused several disgusted faces from people around him.

'Probably he's just allergic,' she thought.

While she was waiting for her baggage, she checked her phone. Her mother called her several times and also one of her brothers. She ignored them for now, once she was in her bedroom, she'd be able to call them.

"I think he needs to close everything."

Rose heard two men talking near her, one already had his suitcase, but the other not.

"Johnson already denied that, Luke. We're safe, he said."

"And you believe him?" the one named Luke, asked. "Give the virus a couple of days and we're doom, Fred."

Rose's heart started to beat fast. The fact that she was on the other side of the ocean away from her family, suddenly terrified her. But she shooed those thoughts from her mind. The UK under a strict lockdown sounded ridiculous.

.

The Wandering Jew was an Inn that opened its doors in 2017. The most popular in all Candem Town and its surroundings. Rated by its guests with five stars in websites like booking.com and full of positive feedback.

The Wandering Jew had over 60 rooms and five of them were almost a suite. Not like a the ones you would find in the most expensive hotels, but still quite elegant.

But most of all, The Wandering Jew had a man named Alfie Solomons, the owner.

Alfie bought the building, that was about to be demolished, in 2016 and hired people to reconstruct it. From engineers and architects to construction workers. One and a half years later, it was finished it. It costed him several thousands pounds but it was worth and he was happy with it.

His apartment was above the Inn, so he never really left that place, except to walk his dog and closest friend: Cyril. Every late afternoon it was common to see both of them walking out the Inn to go to a park and spend an hour or two there.

During the day, while Alfie was behind the reception counter, Cyril usually was sleeping next to his feet or greeting some guests.

And that was exactly what Cyril did that 18th of March.

The reception was empty in that moment, most of the guests were out visiting some places and few others were sleeping or at least they were in their bedrooms. Cyril had been chewing his favourite tennis ball, when he heard a taxi and he stood up quickly. The dog ran towards the glass door and spied from there. Alfie barely paid attention to him.

Cyril was excited. He didn't know her, but the dog was still happy. He could smell her as soon as she left the taxi and now that he could see her, his tail was wagging faster than before. His excitement caused to Alfie to finally raise his eyes from the newspaper and put attention to Cyril who was now hopping.

Alfie saw Rose for the first time while she was pushing the glass door with her body. In one hand she had her baggage and in the other her phone. She was speaking with someone and was clearly upset. And had every reason to be mad. The one on the other side of the line, was a bastard whose only purpose in his life was to harass her. No matter how many times she blocked him, he always get a new number to call her.

"Go and fuck yourself, dickhead!"

Alfie was amused, without no doubts that was the best entrance ever. And a very pretty one.

He saw her sliding her phone in her pocket and then watching at Cyril who seemed to be more than happy after she petted him gently. Cyril ran towards Alfie and barked at him.

"Did you see her? Did you?" He seemed to say.

"Calm down, boy," Alfie said to the animal and then he looked at her who was already in front of him at the reception counter. "I'm sorry, he's usually quieter."

"Don't worry, he's nice! And I love dogs." Rose smiled at him and he did the same. "I booked for a room online, two weeks ago. Coldwell is my last name," she told him.

After giving him her ID, and while he was checking the information she paid attention to the place. She had already seen several photos online and she liked it but the Inn was really nice. The paintings on the walls were warm and several represented the sea. A plant over the counter called Wandering Jew, like the Inn itself, captured her attention. Her mother used to have that kind of plans when they lived in London. She asked herself if the Inn's name was because of those plants or there was another reason.

"Everything is okay, Ms. Coldwell," he said giving her ID back and also a key "Room 44. Welcome and I hope you enjoy your days here."

"Thanks! I will!"

"Every room has a phone that communicates directly with this one," he said pointing at a black one over the counter, "if you need anything you can call me... us. Call us."

Rose chuckled and nodded "Thanks…"

"Alfred. Alfie."

"Thanks, Alfie."

_

Two days later, the 20th of March, it was obvious that things were out of control. Hospitals were saturated, the numbers of sick people were increasing, flights become to be a necessity and there weren't enough planes. Countries like Italy, Greece and France were collapsing under the virus. And several of them closed their frontiers. Boris Johnson had already a rope around his neck but he refused to start a quarantine yet.

"No, I'm not admitting new guests," Alfie said to the person who called the Inn "I'm sorry."

His right hand, Ollie, was next to him. Both of them were waiting news from the government but there was nothing except empty words and promises about a bright future.

The convention were Rose had to go was cancelled because the organisers were sick and it was suspended. And in top of that she received an email saying that her original flight to return home was cancelled. The company gave her the money back but they didn't say anything about a reschedule.

She returned to the Inn that afternoon only to see in the TV that was in the reception, that there were riots everywhere. Demanding a lockdown, demanding more medical assistance and some demanded Johnson's and the Queen's heads.

Both men, Rose and an old woman were paying attention to the BBC journalist who was in front of one of the hospitals.

"Welcome to the end of the world," Alfie commented.

He wasn't that wrong.

The night of the 22th of March, it was chaotic. Finally the lockdown was imminent and some people was already leaving the Inn. Ollie, who worked the night shift, was giving them their money back for the days that they couldn't stay. That night Rose didn't sleep. She tried to get a flight and she could hear her mother's voice in her head "you should listen to me."

And yes, Mary Coldwell was right but it was too late now for any regrets. Rose needed to return with her family, the thing was how.

The next morning it was officially confirmed the beginning of the quarantine. Alfie again behind the counter, was attending the remaining guests who were living the Inn. Including those who refused to leave. One particular woman was complaining about the lockdown and she was basically blaming Alfie because of that.

Alfie was trying to remain calmed but this Karen wasn't making things easy.

"You can't expelled me like that. I paid for my bedroom for three weeks and I've been here for only one. I want to stay here for three weeks!"

"But you can't. You can go to 10 Downing Street and talk with the Prime Minister about your holidays, if you want. I'm just a citizen following these new rules, ma'am. Pick up your belongings and get in your car and return home. Stay there until the Quarantine is over."

Rose was sitting on one of the armchairs at the reception. Phone in hand, refreshing the airlines website every two seconds, but not avail. Everything was collapsed and there wasn't any flights. The news showed people sleeping on floors and she knew that was her fate and she was really upset. So hearing that woman was ending with her patience.

"I'm going to sue you, you'll see! And you're going to regret it! This is a complete nonsense! There's no such thing as a virus!! It's the media! And the left and…"

"Shut the fuck up, for once! Fuck!"

Both Alfie and the woman stared at Rose who was frowning. The first one smiled, but the woman seemed offended.

"I didn't pay to be insultated!"

"I'm doing this for free," Rose replied.

Gasping, the woman warned Alfie with a lawyer one last time and left the Inn, according to her, to search a better place to stay. She found none.

The rest of the guests left the Inn without drama and by 4pm only Rose remained there. From all the guests that The Wandering Jew had there at the moment, she was the only one living in United States, the rest were all over Britain. In consequence, the only one having problems was Rose.

"Any luck?" Alfie asked watching her with her phone still in hand.

"No. Not really. My brother is trying to help from his home but he's not having luck either."

"You can stay here for tonight if you want," Alfie said.

"I was planning to go to the airport and stay there."

"Sleeping on the cold tiles in middle of a pandemic? I'm sorry but it sounds risky."

"But…"

"I hanged the sign. For everyone here, the Inn is closed. Don't worry."

"Just for tonight, I promise," she said.

Alfie agreed.

"Just tonight."

How wrong both of them were.

#alfie solomons #alfie solomons x oc #alfie x rose #modern au #the wandering jew

[justrainandcoffee]

Happy birthday, Lucy!

The forest gave her peace, if peace is something you can experience when you're part of Panem. When you survived the Games.

But at least in the forest hearing the birds and the wind trough the trees, she could think about other things.

Her horse is eating next to her. Lucy is watching the fish in the streaming, when she heard something new.

On the other side of the stream there's a red fox staring at her. Its fur was red as Lucy's hair. The animal wasn't afraid of her nor the horse, but it seemed curious.

Lucy couldn't help but think that maybe he or she is hungry, but she didn't have anything there for the fox.

But the fox wasn't hungry, it wanted to know who that woman was.

For the next weeks Lucy and the fox saw each other. And one day, after two months, she saw it on the same side of the stream as she was. Lucy never said a word and that was something the fox appreciated it. Lucy, too, she never liked loud sounds.

It was like a ritual. Every afternoon Lucy went to the forest and the fox was there, for few years nothing changed.

"This year the tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

Lucy was crying. Not again... And not with Tommy. Not just that, the idea of her friends being killed... Fuck Snow! Fuck the Capitol.

With her head hid in her arms, she didn't see the fox next to her until the animal rested its head on Lucy's lap. Its amber eyes looking at her, trying to say to her that everything will be fine. For the first time, after all that time, it let her pet it.

Lucy looked at the fox and touched its soft and fluffy fur. It gave her a new feeling, even if she was still crying.

It was hope.

Hope that everything it will be fine. She knew that and for a moment she let herself to smile.

Lucy belongs to @emotionalcadaver ❤️ .

Tommy Shelby x Lucy Winters

#lucy winters #lucy x tommy #moodboard #tommy shelby x oc #yes i know it's 28th and her birthday is tomorrow but 💁‍♀️

[justrainandcoffee]

Happy birthday, Lucy!

The forest gave her peace, if peace is something you can experience when you're part of Panem. When you survived the Games.

But at least in the forest hearing the birds and the wind trough the trees, she could think about other things.

Her horse is eating next to her. Lucy is watching the fish in the streaming, when she heard something new.

On the other side of the stream there's a red fox staring at her. Its fur was red as Lucy's hair. The animal wasn't afraid of her nor the horse, but it seemed curious.

Lucy couldn't help but think that maybe he or she is hungry, but she didn't have anything there for the fox.

But the fox wasn't hungry, it wanted to know who that woman was.

For the next weeks Lucy and the fox saw each other. And one day, after two months, she saw it on the same side of the stream as she was. Lucy never said a word and that was something the fox appreciated it. Lucy, too, she never liked loud sounds.

It was like a ritual. Every afternoon Lucy went to the forest and the fox was there, for few years nothing changed.

"This year the tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

Lucy was crying. Not again... And not with Tommy. Not just that, the idea of her friends being killed... Fuck Snow! Fuck the Capitol.

With her head hid in her arms, she didn't see the fox next to her until the animal rested its head on Lucy's lap. Its amber eyes looking at her, trying to say to her that everything will be fine. For the first time, after all that time, it let her pet it.

Lucy looked at the fox and touched its soft and fluffy fur. It gave her a new feeling, even if she was still crying.

It was hope.

Hope that everything it will be fine. She knew that and for a moment she let herself to smile.

Lucy belongs to @emotionalcadaver ❤️ .

Tommy Shelby x Lucy Winters

#lucy winters #lucy x tommy #tommy shelby x oc #moodboard #hunger games au #yes i know it's 28th and her birthday is tomorrow but 💁‍♀️

[justrainandcoffee]

They look very similar!! Their eyes! Omg!! I approve this!

I shouldn't have named Jack's mother Atia in the hunger games au now i can only picture Polly Walker as his mom anyways do they look related

Tagging the thg gang for thsi lol @justrainandcoffee @emotionalcadaver @call-sign-shark @peakyswritings and @thegreatdragonfruta

#jack nelson #Hunger games au