It was a cold evening in the grimy streets of post-war Birmingham. Thomas Shelby, the leader of the notorious Peaky Blinders, found himself in an unusual setting - a University pub.

He sat in a corner alone, brooding over his whiskey, dark circles of exhaustion under his sharp, blue eyes. A young man took a seat across from him, breaking his solitude.

"I assumed no one would sit here," Thomas said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. The young man shrugged and extended his hand, "Nathan. Maths at York."

Thomas accepted the handshake before swirling his drink again. "I suppose it's a change from the usual company, Nathan." His gaze almost challenged the younger man.

Nathan didn't seem fazed. "I take it you're not here for the local ales, Mr. Shelby?" Thomas smirked, a subtle acknowledgement of his reputation.

"Not quite. More like for pondering life's absurdities." Thomas replied, staring into the depths of his glass. Nathan chuckled at this.

"Philosophy in a pot-house, how novel! What's your take then, Mr. Shelby? Are you an absurdist or a nihilist?" Nathan asked, leaning in with interest.

Thomas met Nathan's gaze, asking "You familiar with the two?" Nathan nodded, "I have a fondness for philosophy, though my primary study is mathematics."

"Well, I reckon I'm an absurdist," Thomas said. "Life's inherently meaningless, but instead of despair, one must create their own purpose, fight against the absurd."

Nathan took a moment to digest this. "Interesting. See, I'd more closely align with nihilism. I believe life lacks inherent purpose or value at all."

"That's a bleak worldview," Thomas mused. Nathan shrugged, "As a mathematician, I believe in absolutes. And the absence of innate meaning is one of them."

"Absurdism isn't much brighter, Thomas. You're essentially revolting against the very nature of existence," Nathan retorted, taking a sip of his ale.

Thomas acknowledged that. "True. But it's less about the revolt and more about embracing the chaos, knowing the odds and still choosing to roll the dice."

They spent the night delving into existential theories, perspectives clashing yet intellectually stimulating. It was a break from their realities, a cerebral respite.

As they parted ways, Nathan made one last comment. "You know, Mr. Shelby, in mathematics sometimes the most profound solutions lie within the problem itself."

"And in life, Nathan, sometimes the problem itself is the solution," Thomas replied with a distant gaze, leaving the young mathematician with a thought to ponder.

As the night turned into the early hours, Thomas Shelby walked back into his world of crime, chaos, and power, while Nathan took a piece of that world into his equations.

They were two contrasting figures, navigating through the absurdity of existence in their own unique ways - Thomas in his dark world of power and Nathan in his equations.

The conversation that started as a mild curiosity had delved into the depths of philosophy and existence, leaving them both enriched yet bewildered.

As the mundane university life engulfed Nathan, he was left contemplating the absurdity of life, the nihilistic tendencies in his equations, and the complexities of one Thomas Shelby.

Similarly, in the violent and unpredictable life of a gangster, Thomas found his theory of absurdism challenged. He found solace in Nathan's stark perspective, a reminder of life's unfathomable simplicity.

The unlikely duo had diverged back into their separate lives, their conversation resonating in the back of their minds. Through their dialogue, they had glimpsed the other's reality.

The world of equations and academia may never truly understand the streets of Birmingham, and the criminal underbelly would hardly grasp the conundrums of mathematical equations.

Yet, their conversation bridged this difference, if only for a fleeting moment. They had found common ground in questioning life's purpose, in the twilight of a university pub.

Their conversation continued to echo in their realities - Thomas in his fight against power and destiny; Nathan in his quest for answers amidst equations.

Thomas found an unexpected yet profound understanding of his own philosophy. He realized that regardless of life's apparent chaos, he'd continue his struggle against the absurd.

Nathan, on the other hand, started questioning his nihilistic beliefs. He wondered if equations could indeed hold all the answers, or if they too were part of life's absurdities.

Their brief encounter had prompted both to question, introspect, and perhaps even redefine their understanding of life's purpose and the philosophies they held dear.

Through their shared cynicism and existential debates, Thomas and Nathan had fostered an unlikely bond - a mathematician and a gang leader, engaging in an intellectual dance of ideas.

That fateful night in the pub had changed something for both of them, leaving them with thoughts to ponder, equations to solve, and life to question further.

And thus, in the grand scheme of their existence, the conversation that had started as the nihilist's equation became a paradoxical truth - not everything in life has a simple, calculable answer.