On this day in 2015, I created a few random gameplay sims - Liam, Clarissa and their siblings without any idea what would ensue, originally without the intention to play a legacy with them, but eventually I got pretty attached and in the end decided to use Liam and Clary as founders for it. They became my very first sims legacy that spanned out for many generations (my legacy experience was very sparse at the time, I've only ever played a few 3-generation ones in ts2 as a preteen and didn't really classify them as legacies), and also the first legacy where I've tried some storytelling and became truly attached to the characters.
But they became so much more than just a sims legacy for me eventually. I technically finished the 10-generation run but there was so much to be said and explored - I was indeed rushing the original gameplay a bit for the 10-generation accomplishment and completed it in about a year and a half, but the real deep dive into these guys came later, especially with certain generations (6-7-8 I'm looking at you). So I couldn't stop thinking about them, expanding their stories, giving them makeovers and revamps, experimenting, trying different things, learning more about myself and the world through them. They helped me practice my storytelling and tremendously improve it over the years, and I value them so much for that.
I've had other legacies and stories that ended up becoming very dear to me, but the Fletchers have started it all and are the backbone of everything. These guys brought me so much joy and still continue doing so. Planning their stories over the years has been a highlight of my creative life, and I love how they grew together with me and will continue growing. I'm certain, at this point, they're with me for life and I don't think I will ever run out of the stories I tell about them and things to do with them.
Happy 10 years and here's to another 10 and more❤️
A/N: So I guess we were gonna wait and write more for this but I am a menace (sorry guys) and @writer-wednesday inspired me yet again. So behind scenes I’ve been collabing with the most incredible @acrossthesestars and @a-bang-for-your-bucky while we bond over our love of anything Peaky Blinders. The three of us came up with the idea writing some OCs into the series and honestly it’s all just taken off in the most glorious way.
Introductions:
Sarah Shelby (OFC): sister to the Peaky boys and Ada, she doesn’t take any shit and yet has a certain vulnerability about her that will have your heart breaking. She looks up to Tommy possibly a little too much, residing in his shadow until someone makes her see she doesn’t have to live like that anymore.
Katherine Fletcher (OFC): a trained nurse who swiftly became the Peaky’s personal medical professional, yearning for a Mr Thomas Shelby and yet never seeming to catch his eye….or so she thinks.
Delia Flanagan (OFC): an Irish firecracker who decided her life back home wasn’t worth living anymore and came to Birmingham. She certainly found her hands full of Arthur Shelby as the two spiral into a wild romance until her past catches her up.
Warnings: I will tag the fic as 18+ NSFW. MDNI. This blurb is fairly harmless though, just a touch of yearning and angst mixed with sibling ribbing and all the joys of the fair. Also a hint of things to come. I don’t condone smoking and honestly the amount Tommy and Sarah light one up, turns my stomach a little, but it’s 1919.
Summary: Taking place just after the first scene of episode 2 season 1, Tommy promised his sister a day at the fair. No spoilers if you haven’t seen Peaky Blinders though.
Word Count: 1445
Tagging: @strangunddurm @writer-wednesday
Dividers by: @firefly-graphics
The ride to the fair was slightly somber after what had just happened with the Lees, but Tommy had promised and Sarah could feel the budding excitement in her chest once more. She glanced down at her youngest brother Finn and he smiled up at her, pulling a smile to her own face as they bounced over the field to park the car.
As they got out, Tommy offered his arm to Sarah and she leaned easily into him. They were going to meet Delia and Kat and hopefully just enjoy the day. Sarah breathed deeply, tilting her face back and letting the sun hit her skin for the first time in what felt like months. Tommy checked his watch, sliding it back into the pocket of his waistcoat as the path cleared for them. People moved out of their way between the rides and stalls, casting wary glances in their direction but Sarah didn’t care. It was moments like this she relished being a Shelby. John hit Finn round the head, antagonising him and they both zoomed away into the crowd, Arthur closed the gap against Sarah and she linked her arm through his.
“What do you want to do first, princess?” Tommy asked quietly.
“En’t we meeting the ladies?” Arthur looked around as though he could see them and Sarah grinned.
“Yes, they'll be waiting for us at the Ferris Wheel. I told them we had family business first.”
“Alright!” Arthur rubbed his hands together gleefully as they headed for the tallest ride at the fair.
Sarah skipped away from her brothers when she saw her friends. She didn’t get to be just a girl very often, so it was days like this she took full advantage. Almost immediately Delia and Arthur drifted off to do their own thing with waves and shouts of meeting up later and Tommy trailed after his sister and her friend.
Kat expressed a wish to ride the wheel so Tommy paid for them both. He helped Sarah in first letting her get settled before he helped Katherine in, his hand gripping hers tightly when the cart swung a little and she tried to catch her balance. He put a foot out to steady the basket, his cap covering his face as he watched Kat step in carefully and finally sit down.
“Thank you, Thomas,” she breathed with a quick smile.
“Alright,” he mumbled. After closing the gate he stepped back to lean casually against the fence, running a cigarette along his lips and lighting it. Both women clutched hands when the ride started to move, excitement lighting their faces, but Sarah didn’t miss the way Kat’s green eyes were drawn to one lone figure, who patiently waited for them to return.
“Oh!” Sarah exclaimed when they were high enough to get an uninterrupted view of the countryside. Birmingham wasn’t too far in the distance, black clouds from the factories marked the sky, tapering off slightly as they hit the high breeze. Green fields stretched for miles in all directions, the river carving a path through the slight hills, each field separated by rows of neat hedges and Sarah suddenly pointed. “There’s the Lees camp! When we go home we have to pick up this new grey that Tommy got off ‘em.” She leaned over the railing only for Kat to grip her shoulder and pull her back, their little cart swinging with the movement.
“Sarah, love, you gave me a fright. Can’t imagine your brother would be too happy if I let anything happen to you.”
“Tommy could never be mad at you,” commented Sarah absently. She kept looking all around as though she couldn’t get enough of the view, a beaming expression on her face as she breathed in deeply. Kat was slightly pensive for the rest of the ride, only managing a soft smile when they finally tumbled out of the ride. “Tommy, you should have seen it! How far the green fields stretched and the city looked like it were in touching distance!”
“Sounds great, princess,” he said, offering his arm to his sister before offering the other to Katherine.
Slowly she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, her breath hitching slightly at his closeness. Sarah almost squealed at the sight of the merry go round, leaving her brother and Kat as she jumped on the spot. John appeared from nowhere. He and Finn barreled into Sarah but she was ready for them. Knocking Finn over and managing to grab John in a headlock, tossing his cap at Kat who went to catch it. Tommy’s hand snatched it out of the air. “Watch yourself,” he muttered around the cigarette in his mouth.
“Sharp.” Kat just nodded, not really sure what to say as she eyed the cap in his grip.
“Kat, you coming?” Sarah called.
“John!” Tommy yelled, making his brother turn around suddenly. “Pay for the ladies.” Kat shot Tommy a grateful look before heading over to the ride and letting John help her up. Finn was already on his chosen horse, crowing loudly and swinging his hat round even after Sarah told him to pipe down. Tommy leaned on the fence, tossing the butt into the grass as he watched John help Kat sit on a horse, making sure she was settled before he found his own.
“Oi, where’s my help?” Demanded Sarah.
“I only help ladies,” he retorted, earning himself a loud smack on his arm.
“I am a bloody lady! Fookin’ cheek!” Tommy allowed himself a smirk at his sister's sullen face before he found himself watching Kat again. Her green eyes danced when the ride started, her rich laugh floated through the bustling crowd and he hung his head as she disappeared from view.
“Alright brother,” Arthur appeared at his shoulder and Tommy greeted him and Delia.
“They’re on the merry go round.”
“I bet John’s going to come off feeling sick,” guessed Arthur happily. “Yeah, look at him going all pale.”
“Arthur Shelby, you won’t be so happy when he goes off being sick everywhere,” scolded Delia, tucking herself into his side as he draped an arm across her shoulders.
“Nah, not my problem.”
“Will be if he’s sick in my fuckin’ car,” grumbled Tommy as he lit a new cigarette.
Sarah was the first one off the ride, her expression rosey from laughing and she wrapped her arms around her abdomen as John wobbled off the ride, clearly suffering.
“I’ll be alright in a minute,” he gasped, leaning heavily on the fence.
“It will pass,” Kat told him, her hand gently rubbing his back as he bent over.
“I don’t feel so good,” he muttered.
“Bloody hell, John. You’re a fuckin’ Shelby. Man up,” crowed Arthur, slapping his younger brother on the shoulder as he walked past with Delia still tucked against him. Sarah wrapped an arm around Finn, looking at the way he pointed when he saw the stalls and expressing a wish to play one of the games. Glancing back at Tommy, he nodded his permission and she guided Finn to the nearest one. She handed over some shillings and they got a handful of balls that they piled on the floor. She crouched down to his level telling him he needed to knock the coconut off the post. Straightening she moved away, giving him room.
As she watched an uneasy feeling spread through her.
Glancing behind her, all she could see was her oldest brother ribbing John for being taken out by a single ride. Lowering her head she looked the other side and her heart pounded as she glimpsed a flash of red hair.
“Sarah, did you see that?” Asked Finn, distracting her for a second, and she smiled. Her expression fell as she searched the crowd for the stranger, only to find him watching her intently. He was in a tweed three piece suit, shiny black boots on his feet and Sarah watched as he lazily sucked on a cigarette, his eyes never leaving her face. She stared him down, noting everything she could about his appearance. His bright hair was the most noticeable thing about him, as well as his ruggedly handsome face. If it wasn’t for Finn she’d have walked over there and demanded to know what his problem was.
“Sarah!” She wheeled round at the sound of her name, Tommy beckoning them to where John was still hunched over. She looked back but the ginger stranger had gone, even as Finn dragged her away she still searched the crowd. She’d seen him three times now, and that meant it wasn’t a coincidence, someone was following her.
