#liam's star quality

[coolxconfused]

New interview the BBC did with The Real People after the reunion announcement and they're talking about Liam's star quality again:

It was the early hours of the morning, but the bar of the Columbia hotel in London's Lancaster Gate was packed with musicians who were in the capital for gigs, or just hanging out at what had become the go-to haunt for artists and performers in the early 1990s.

Then, like a scene from a western, the noise gave way to a hush, then a near silence, and all eyes turned towards the door.

Ian Prowse, who at that time was in the signed Liverpool band Pele, was among the drinkers, and he too angled his gaze to see who or what had brought everything to a standstill.

"This guy had walked in, and there was just something about him, an aura, some sort of magic," he says.

Behind the enigmatic young man swaggering his way into the bar was Tony Griffiths, one of the two brothers who were the creative engine of the Liverpool band The Real People.

Prowse caught up with The Real People's bass player and singer and asked him who the guy was, and was told it was "his mate Liam".

At this point, the name Liam Gallagher meant little to most people, but to Tony Griffiths, he and his band were going to be "the biggest thing ever".

"This was a few months before they had anything out," says Prowse. "They were unknown. But he was able to just walk into a packed bar at four o'clock in the morning and turn heads."

Liam Gallagher’s charisma had made an impression, but Prowse was yet to hear the fledgling band's sound. When he returned home to Liverpool, he asked his agent – whom his band shared with Oasis – to let him listen to something by this new group.

"He played me this track," he says, "and I just thought, 'Whatever we're doing, it's not this'. It just wasn't capturing the zeitgeist the way this was."

The recording he'd heard was Supersonic, which was written and recorded in one day in December 1993 at the Pink Museum Studio in Lark Lane, Liverpool, with The Real People's Tony Griffiths on backing vocals.

According to former Oasis drummer Tony McCarroll's 2010 book The Truth, Tony and his brother Chris were "integral" to the creation of the song, which would be released in April the following year to huge acclaim.

Oasis, which consisted of Noel and Liam Gallagher, McCarroll, Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs and Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan, were at that time as much a Liverpool band as a Manchester band, cutting their teeth at venues such as Le Bateau and The Krazy House, where they supported The Real People.

It was striking the relationship with The Real People that put Oasis on the road to stardom.

'Your kid's a star'

The Real People had been around since 1987, and by 1989 were signed to Columbia Records. Soon afterwards they sold 100,000 copies of their eponymous album, whose shuffling drums, overdriven guitars and Beatle-esque harmonies won them an international following.

By contrast, Liam Gallagher was still at school and Noel was yet to pen the soaring sentiments of Live Forever in the warehouse in which he had a decidedly un-rock 'n' roll job as a British Gas sub-contractor.

Chris and Tony would meet the Gallagher brothers in 1992, while The Real People were on tour with the Inspiral Carpets, for whom Noel was a roadie.

"I would always take my own Pot Noodles with me on tour and he'd come over and be after one, so that’s how we struck up conversation," says Chris Griffiths.

"But when we met Liam, we were saying to Noel, 'Your kid's a star, he is'. And this is before we'd even heard him sing.

[...]

For Griffiths, their success was as much down to Liam's star quality as the music or musicianship.

"Noel was a good musician, but he was no [Ocean Colour Scene lead guitarist] Steve Craddock. A lot of it was down to Liam, his attitude and his voice.

[...]

Read the full article to learn more about The Real People's involvement and the early days here

[brodygold]

The Decision Part 2

Part 1 here

Liam sat on the edge of the empty soccer field, the sun dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows over the grass. The events of the day played over and over in his mind—the confrontation with Kareem, the cold dismissal, the shunning from the Vanguard. He had given everything to that team, and in a moment, it was all gone.

He thought about the white and green jersey he had worn only yesterday. It no longer represented pride or honor. Now, it was just a painful reminder of what he had lost. With a heavy sigh, Liam put his shoulders on his knees, thinking about the team that had abandoned him.

The sound of footsteps behind him broke through his thoughts. Liam turned to see a familiar face—Brody, the rising star of the Golden Army, walking toward him with a calm, steady stride.

“Liam,” Brody called out, his voice warm, carrying none of the judgment or pity Liam had expected. “Mind if I join you?”

Liam shrugged, too tired to put up a front. “Sure. Not like I’ve got anywhere else to be.”

Brody stopped beside him, looking out over the field. For a moment, neither of them spoke, just standing in silence, watching the last rays of sunlight fade.

“I heard what happened,” Brody said finally. “It’s rough, man. Really rough. But I wanted to tell you that you don’t have to be alone.”

Liam scoffed softly, not turning to meet Brody’s gaze. “Don’t have much of a choice, do I? The Vanguard made sure of that.”

Brody shook his head. “That’s not true. You’ve still got options. We’ve been talking, and the Golden Army—we want you to join us.”

Liam blinked, finally turning to look at Brody, surprise evident in his eyes. “What? Why would you want me? I just got kicked out of the Vanguard like yesterday’s trash.”

Brody smiled slightly. “Everyone makes mistakes, Liam. What matters is how you move forward. You’re a good player—one of the best. And more than that, you deserve a team that has your back, not just when you’re winning, but when things get tough too.”

Liam hesitated, the offer both tempting and terrifying. “You really think I’d fit in with the Golden Army? After everything?”

“Absolutely,” Brody said, without missing a beat. “We’re about more than just rules and discipline. We’re about supporting each other, growing together. And yeah, we push each other to be better, but we don’t abandon our own.”

Liam felt something stir inside him, a flicker of hope he hadn’t felt since he was cast out of the Vanguard. But with it came a fear of the unknown. He had spent so long adhering to the Vanguard’s rigid structure—could he really start over with a new team?

Brody seemed to sense his hesitation. “Look, I know it’s a big change. But I think it’s exactly what you need right now. A fresh start, a new beginning with people who won’t judge you for one mistake. Give it a chance. If you don’t feel like it’s right for you, no hard feelings. But at least try.”

Liam looked back at the field, the place where he had once felt at home, now a source of pain. Slowly, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll give it a shot.”

Brody’s smile widened, and he reached out, placing a hand on Liam’s shoulder. “Welcome to the Golden Army, then.”

Liam couldn’t help but smile back, a small, tentative smile, but genuine. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“There’s one more thing,” Brody added, reaching into his bag and pulling out a golden jersey. He handed it to Liam, who took it with a sense of reverence. “When you join the Golden Army, you get a new name. A fresh start, like I said.”

Liam looked at the jersey, then back at Brody. “What’s the name?”

Brody’s eyes held a spark of excitement as he answered, “Griffin. It’s a symbol of strength, courage, and loyalty. Qualities we see in you, Liam. From now on, when you’re with us, you’ll be Griffin.”

Griffin. The name resonated with him, filling the empty space that had been growing inside since his departure from the Vanguard. It was more than just a new name; it was a promise of a new beginning, a chance to be part of something greater than himself.

Griffin felt a weight lift from his shoulders as he pulled on the golden jersey. It fit perfectly, like it was meant for him. The uniform changed him slightly too. His hair lightened to a light brown. His pecs grew out slightly with more muscle and his facial hair fell away, revealing a clean shaven face.

He also started looking at Brody in a new light. Before, he was into women, but looking at Brody's plush lips sure made him want to try guys for the first time. Griffin found he didn't mind the feeling at all either.

As they walked off the field together, Brody and Griffin talked about the upcoming season, strategies, the team’s dynamic, and their own dynamic now too. The more they talked, the more Griffin realized that he was no longer just a player who had lost his way. He was now part of something bigger, something that valued him not just for his skills on the field, but for who he was off it. And he had a new boyfriend to thank for everything.

The Vanguard had been his past, but the Golden Army was his future. And with his new name, Griffin knew that the future was bright.

[girliemattitude]

I hope you’re taking requests. If not I’m so sorry for springing this on you. But I was rewatching the “prank” Chris and Nick did on Matt. The one with the pictures of Liam Neeson. Where maybe after the prank is over (Y/N) and Matt are in the room by themselves. Things are getting heated with the little make-out sesh lol. But then (Y/N) is kinda like “ Matt I love you but… Liam Neeson is just not really doin it for me rn.” Or she’s like “it’s pretty creepy Matt.” Just something silly about the aftermath of the prank.

— - Liam Neeson is not really doing it for me right now - — M.S - —

A/N: I hope you like this 🫶🏼 A/N (2): This is my work please don’t steal it <3

………………………………………………………………………………….……………………

Matt’s brothers filled his room with a bunch of Liam Neeson’s pictures all over the walls, they bought him shirts, pillows and even a blanket with his favorite actor’s face on them,you may think Matt would hate this but to everyones surprise he loved every detail of the prank. Later than evening all three of them left to Boston, their hometown, for a couple of weeks leaving Matt no time to take out all the pictures off his wall.Right now, after weeks apart, you and Matt were finally spending some quality time together, all alone on the couch, since his brothers weren’t in the house.You were watching a movie for about 30 minutes, the next thing you know, Matt’s hands gently cupped your face as his lips moved against yours, the warmth and familiarity of his touch making your heart race. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer. The world outside seemed to fade away as you lost yourselves in each other.His lips were soft and insistent, sending shivers down your spine as they explored yours. Your fingers trailed through his hair, tugging slightly, which elicited a deep, satisfied groan from him. The intensity of the moment grew, and Matt’s hands traveled down your back, pulling you even closer until there was no space left between you. You felt his breath quicken against your skin as he moved his kisses from your lips to your jawline, then to the sensitive spot just below your ear. Your own breath hitched, and you arched into him, feeling the heat radiating from his body. Without breaking the kiss, Matt stood up, lifting you with him. You giggled into the kiss as he carried you towards his room, both of you stumbling slightly but too caught up in the moment to care. As you crossed the threshold into his room, you felt your back press against the doorframe, and Matt’s lips trailed down to your neck, his left hand squeezing your boob, you felt on fire. His other hand roamed your sides, exploring every inch of you, and you couldn’t help but let out a soft moan, fingers finding their way to his belt, and just as his lips found that perfect spot on your collarbone, something caught your eye. You pulled back, breathless, and looked around the room, your eyes widening in disbelief. Everywhere you looked, there were pictures of Liam Neeson staring back at you.

“Matt, I love you, but…” you said, trying to suppress a laugh, “Liam Neeson is just not really doing it for me right now.”

Matt sighed, glancing around at the wall of Neesons. “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to take those down,” he admitted, looking sheepish.

“It’s kinda creepy, Matt,” you said, still giggling. “I mean, I feel like we’re being watched by a hundred Liam Neesons. A little of a mood killer.”

Matt laughed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, alright. How about we move this back to the couch?”

“Good idea,” you said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek before heading back to the living room. “And maybe next time, we can have a room free of movie star eyes.”

“Deal,” Matt grinned, following you out. You both laughed, the awkwardness forgotten, and settled back into each other’s arms on the couch.

………………………………………………………………………………….……………………

[justallihere]

I feel like, after posting some critical things about the new Xaden POV bonus chapter, I should be positive for a second and say that I did like it. The romance was fun, I love Xaden being a total obsessed lover boy, and anything with Liam gets 5 gold stars!

But I don’t think we should accept half-assed work that feels sloppy just because. We as fans spend lots of money, time, and energy supporting the author and creating the community we have. We do it because we love it, yes, but we are allowed to expect that the author and publisher respect us and our support by giving us quality work—especially when they’re making money from it.

I also think that criticism and discussion surrounding any sort of art is valid and necessary, so long as it’s done respectfully. I’ve jokingly said before that really I’m just a hater, but the time I spend engaging in discussion with other fans and thinking critically about a work (about this work, specifically) is what fuels me to create and be part of this fandom. My fanfic literally would not exist if I wasn’t critical of the Empyrean. It also wouldn’t exist if I didn’t love it. I promise both of those things are true all the time 🫶🏻

[blouisparadise]

Upon request, today we have a rec list of fics with roadtrips! This is the perfect summer rec list, so we hope you check out these incredible fics and show them some love. If you enjoy our rec lists, please be sure to like and reblog this post to help spread the word. Happy reading!

1) Enjoy The Ride | Not Rated | 11,103 words

“Stop sulking and get up. I have a proposition to make.” “Niall?” Louis questioned. “Do you think I should put glow in the dark stars on my ceiling?” He looked over and found Niall giving him an unimpressed look. “So, no?” Louis asked. “No stars?” “We’re going on a road trip,” Niall stated. Louis looked back at his starless ceiling and waved farewell to Niall. “Cool. Have fun!” “No, you idiot.” Niall let out a frustrated sigh. “You, me, Liam, and Harry.” Louis glanced over to Niall and back to the ceiling. “Who’s Harry?”

2) Kiss Me In Your Chevrolet | Explicit | 11,569 words

"Yes, Lou?" Harry asked, rubbing his tired eyes. A gust of wind came through the open windows, sending chills down Harry's arms as a light rain began falling outside. He closed his eyes again and let his head fall back to the couch arm rest. "Can we go there?" Louis asked, probably pointing somewhere. Harry opened his eyes and felt his heart jump in his chest, a magazine page a couple of inches away from his face. Startled, Harry closed his eyes and breathed heavily, trying to collect himself. Harry blinked a few times to focus his eyes on the page Louis still held in front of his nose. "You want to go to the Grand Canyon?" He furrowed his eyebrows, tilting his head to the left to look at Louis' face.

3) Love Is Like This; Not A Heartbeat, But A Moan | Explicit | 13,150 words

Note: This fic has been locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

"He hates this, more than anything in the world he hates this. His title, his rank, his DNA. Unchangeable. Fated. And then there’s Harry, born to be unobjectively superior to Louis and all other O’s. Unlike other A’s, Harry doesn’t wear his alpha-ness very well. He’s clumsy with it, like walking around in a pair of shoes a size too big. His life is defined by uncertainty and tentativeness, and those are definitely not qualities alphas should have. Sometimes, when Louis ponders it for too long, he thinks that maybe Harry resents being an A just as much as Louis resents being an O."

4) All I Want Is To Fall With You | Mature | 16,524 words

The pair looked at each other for a few moments before Harry moved forward and gathered Louis in an unexpected hug. It was nice, but why the fuck was an unknown alpha hugging him? Maybe an even better question would be why did Louis feel so secure in this stranger's arms? Harry quickly let go and Louis felt something pull at him. "Sorry," Harry said, holding his hands up in surrender. "Shit, um, that just seemed a natural response for some reason. I’m so sorry." Louis smiled up at the alpha. "It's okay. Thanks again, Harry." "You're welcome. I know it's horrible weather, and less than optimal circumstances, but this was a brilliant meet-cute." What the fuck was a meet-cute?

5) These Roads We Stumble Down | Explicit | 18,233 words

Harry picks up a hitchhiker in Oxford, and it's a long ride to Glasgow.

6) We’re Not Who We Used To Be | Explicit | 30,611 words

“Harry…” Louis’ voice catches in his throat, thick with tears threatening to fall out, so he coughs to clear it before trying again. “Harry is Liam’s best man?” “You didn’t know?” Harry is standing at the entrance of the garage, mouth slightly open and face pulled together. He sets his bag on the ground and puts his hands on his hips. When he does that, he looks just like the Harry that Louis remembers (and loves, he thinks with an aching heart). “I’m sure I mentioned it,” Liam says, but Louis can tell he’s lying by the way he chews on his lower lip and twists his fingers together. “You’re all a bunch of dick heads, I’m getting in the car.” Louis isn’t sure if he’s being unreasonable. He has no idea what the protocol is when your ex-boyfriend shows up after three years and nobody bothered to give you a heads up. He’s pretty sure he’s allowed to be upset about it, even if it’s only for a bit.

7) Take The Back Roads | Explicit | 31,333 words

Note: This fic has been locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

The one where Harry and Louis are roommates who are pining over each other and all they need is a road trip down the West Coast to bring them together.

8) Bluebird | Explicit | 39,046 words

The 2,789 miles between New York and Los Angeles is a long way to go alone.

9) From Dust To Lust | Explicit | 45,437 words

From the moment Louis set eyes on the gorgeous stranger across the airport terminal, he knew the guy was trouble, which was the last thing he wanted. He wouldn’t have thought spending two days cooped up in a car travelling from the Australian Outback to the East Coast would change his mind. It’s funny how things work out.

10) Made For Lovin' You | Explicit | 52,637 words

“I’m in,” is all Louis receives. He blinks a few times, making sure he’s reading this right. “For real?” he asks, just to be a hundred percent sure. “Yes,” pops up. “How do you wanna pursue?” The alpha adds, like he’s on a special mission or something. “I’m gonna call us a cab to go to mine. Once I know it’s here, I’ll leave and join you there,” Louis explains. “I’ll text you to go around five minutes before it arrives, so it doesn’t look suspicious, and our friends don’t notice us leaving together.” “Noted.” So Louis does, and ten minutes later, he’s sat in the backseat of a cab, next to Harry Styles, the person he hates the most but unfortunately still finds attractive. They’re on their way to fuck in Louis’ flat. Splendid.

11) Waiting For The Tides To Meet | Explicit | 59,877 words

Soulmate AU. Everyone is born with heterochromia — one eye is their own eye colour, while the other is the colour of their soulmate's. It's only when they meet their soulmate for the first time that their own eyes match properly. After a hazy night at a frat party, Louis wakes up to blue eyes and the shocking realization that he had met his soulmate, without any sober recollection. Seven years pass where Louis comes to terms with the fact that he'll never know who his soulmate is. Then one fated summer, a beautiful green-eyed photographer arrives at Louis' workplace, with promises of endless laughter and a familiar feeling in Louis' heart.

12) Ghost Note Symphony | Explicit | 96,426 words

Louis is on tour when he first hears about it. It’s all over the news – Harry Styles Attacked By Fan runs in headlines for days. It’s not even just the gossip rags, either. Actual journalists are covering the story. It would have been impossible to avoid hearing about it. Technically, Oli is the one who tells Louis about it, but it’s not exactly being covered up. Harry doesn’t answer Louis’ text asking if he’s alright, but that’s not really surprising. They haven’t spoken for months, and it’s been a lot longer than that since they’ve had a real conversation. The sting of the text going unanswered is still there, less painful than it might have been a few years ago. It’s not that it’s easy to forget about, exactly. Louis has a whole life outside of One Direction now, though. So Louis goes on with his life, figuring that if Harry was seriously hurt he would have heard about it by now. He might currently be in the same country as Harry, but being on opposite sides of it puts enough distance between them that putting it in the back of his mind is easy. There’s nothing Louis could do, even if he thought Harry might want him to. That’s why everything that happens next comes as a complete shock to him.

13) Nothing Worsens, Nothing Grows | Explicit | 102,528 words | Sequel

Another roadtrip AU featuring Harry as the misunderstood hipster, Louis as the bitter psych major, Liam as the one with the secret boyfriend, and Niall as the one who just wants everyone to be happy.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

[theficpusher]

They Just Don't Know You by mukeandziamgotmelike | nr | 1306 //So, oh, tell me, tell me you won't break my heart. That you won't tear my world apart. That you'll be there when I need, cause I wanna tell them they just don't know you, they just don't know you, they just don't know you, they don't know you like I do.// -OR- Liam has been dating Zayn for months, and still, for some reason, no one approves of him. It's annoying, and Liam wishes they would stop. He doesn't know why they don't trust Zayn, but he just wants to tell them that they just don't know him like he does.

Screaming But Daddy I Love Him by Wishingforloushair | E | 21873 Harry has always tried to be the perfect Christian boy his religiously fanatic mother demands him to be. At seventeen he's never eaten fast food, drunk coffee (unless it was decaffeinated) or touched himself. That is until he meets Louis, one of the church's youth musicians. With his 'I Heart Jesus' stickers on his beaten up guitar case, his band (The Redemption Riffs), and his taste for good quality coffee, Louis' relationship with God is entirely different to Harry's, and Harry is positive that Louis is either a divine vessel, or Heaven-sent. Prepared to worship at Louis' feet, Harry is ready to learn a whole different way of worship and devotion with Louis' help. “That’s coffee,” he remarked, pointing at the dark substance in the other boy’s cup. “Yes, it is,” Louis said, taking a sip from it, his eyes fixed on Harry. “Is it decaffeinated?” Louis raised an eyebrow, putting his mug down. “Will it make you feel better if I tell you it is?” “Lying is bad.” “Then, no, it’s not decaf. I don’t drink decaf coffee because it tastes awful.” “But,” Harry swallowed, glancing over his shoulder before leaning forwards. “Drugs are bad,” he whispered.

What Side Of Love Are You On? by FallingLikeThis | T | 25000 Ever since Harry finally made the decision to come out to his mother as bisexual, she’s been foisting women on him left and right, determined it’s just a phase. But when she puts out a personal ad to find the perfect partner for her son, things really get complicated. Suddenly, Harry’s heart is being pulled in two very different directions. On one side is the sweet, caring woman he has fun with, but doesn’t know his mother chose for him. On the other is a man who seems to be his mother’s worst nightmare, but makes Harry’s heart flutter in ways he’s never felt before. When all is said and done, maybe they’ll all learn that when there is no clear path to go down, the best option is to follow your heart. A Because I Said So Au with a bisexual twist.

but daddy i love him by wanderlou | nr | 28924 Someone cleared their throat and they all turned to the person; Charles. “I cannot and will not support this marriage.” “But Daddy…I love him,” Louis pouted. Or the one where Harry and Louis are getting married and Louis' dad hates Harry. Harry does everything to try and earn his respect during the wedding weekend.

adrenaline by reveries_passions | M | 38208 “Harry Styles,” Nameless Boy who now has a name says. Louis is too busy having an internal crisis to realize the boy has just introduced himself as Harry Styles. Harry Styles, only son of Des Styles, PhD, Dean of Harvard Medical School. Harry Styles, known by everyone and their grandmother. Harry Styles, star rower. Harry Styles, youngest enrolled student in graduate school at Harvard University. Oh my god, Louis thinks, mortified. I just slept with Harry Styles. As he reaches out tentatively to shake the boy’s hand, another thought hits him. Oh my god. Harry Styles is gay. ~ louis tomlinson, college dropout, up and coming dj, and gay activist, is the notorious owner of exclusive underground gay club, adrenaline. harry styles, med student by day, partier by night, child prodigy and seemingly heterosexual son of harvard professors, is the youngest and arguably the smartest student at harvard medical school. or: a one night stand wasn't supposed to become the greatest love story of the 21st century.

Counterbalance by YesIsAWorld | E | 44777 Harry Styles loves two things: teaching ballet and racing motorcycles. Those two worlds collide when his greatest rival on the track, Louis “Tommo” Tomlinson brings his tiny siblings to Harry’s class.

your memory over me by shimmeringevil | E | 64355 Three years have passed since Louis last saw him, but all it took was a few minutes in Harry’s presence for him to be relegated to the desperate twenty-one year old that was practically begging his boyfriend for an ounce of reassurance that he still cared about him. Harry shouldn’t be here. He’s brought too many unresolved feelings with him, that Louis thought he’d never have to face. It’s Harry’s apparent apathy that’s the most difficult to come to terms with. Anger, he could handle. Regret, he would welcome. But Harry’s amiability, and carefree demeanor can only be born from indifference. He’s moved on. He doesn’t care. And that is something Louis doesn’t think he’ll ever be strong enough to face. - OR - The worst heartbreak of Louis’ life walks right back into it when his parents invite their family friends on an all-expenses-paid trip for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Facing a past that he tried to bury long ago, Louis learns that some people have a way of sticking with you even when they’re gone.

Of Mates and Men by bananaheathen | E | 630460 In which, Louis and Harry meet as best men for their best friends' wedding... well... sort of. Or, the one where Harry's just moved back from New York and Louis doesn't believe in romance. Or, I guess... the one where Zayn and Liam are getting married.

[whump-place]

Adopted.

16-Things change.

Masterlist.

They are at it again. Ray rolls his eyes, and almost instantly flinches when he remembers someone might actually see him.

The screams can be heard from across the room, and it's worse when Master walks into the living room where he's at, with Star and Leo following him.

"Why don't we try something different this time?" Asks Master, holding Leo's leash and petting his head with his other hand.

"No, I don't want to, Master! I want to go with you, I have to go with you. I always go with you!"

Star has been yelling and complaining for a whole day since Master told them he won't be taking them with him to his office this year. And Ray knows Star's tantrum won't stop until the last second when Master finally steps out the house and takes one of his other Pets with him.

Every year, Master takes one of them to his job, and so do the other people that work for him. It's kind of a special day, Master had explained to them.

And Master takes Star with him almost every year, except when they are sick or have a doctor's appointment, in that case he takes Leo; he likes being pet and when people show him funny things on their phones.

On the other hand, Liam hates those reunions, he says common people have common Pets, and he usually doesn't mind where he is to spit out those comments; the first and last time Master took him with him, Liam almost throws up.

"Star, please. What if I let you invite your friends over next week? You're going to have a nice play date and-"

"No! No, I don't want to, I want to go with you!" All of Star's makeup is ruined by now, their hands are shaking and they look far far away from the 'Perfect Pet' mask they always put on when speaking to Master. Ray could almost pity them. "And why are you taking him with you?! He's stupid! He's ugly, and stupid, and... And... And he's going to embarrass you! He doesn't take anything serious, he doesn't care about this as much as I do, because he's just a stupid default of a Pet!"

Yeah... No. That little bitch can go and drown in their skincare products already if they want to.

Ray takes a look around to see if the others are as uncomfortable as he is. Liam is staring at Star with a grossed out face, typical of him; and the new Pet, Micah, seems to be having a mix of confusion and worry towards them.

"Star dear, please. Just this time, I promise I'm going to take you with me next year. Be good, please." Master assures Star and pets their head with a soft smile. He's always been too soft towards Star, probably because they were his first Pet, which made him spoil them rotten to this extent.

There's nothing Ray can do, though. Master is never going to love him like he does with the others, because he is not like them. The others are pretty, or smart, or fun to have around; things Ray is not.

Is okay. He is not meant to be soft. Nor smart. Nor fun. He is just meant to protect the Pets that do have those qualities.

And while Ray stares at the ceiling, wondering what Star is going to ask for after this, Master's voice rings in his ears.

"And I'm not taking Leo with me, I'm just preparing his leash for his evening stroll. The ones I'm taking with me are Ray and Micah."

Silent fills the room, and Ray wants nothing but to hide himself somewhere dark and alone.

Everyone's head has turned towards him, and Ray is pretty sure that if Star could kill him right now, they would.

"You know, Micah also needs to get to know more Pets. Make new friends, and maybe find a cute play partner. I think this is going to be a nice experience for him."

It doesn't matter how much Master talks about how Micah is going to enjoy himself at that meeting, Ray can't ignore the way Star's eyes are fixed on their back.

This is going to be a long week.

Taglist:

@sola-whumping

@octopus-reactivated

@otter-chaos-violence

@taterswhump

@paperprinxe

@risk606

@silly-scroimblo-skrunkl

@watermelons-dont-grow-on-trees

@starfields08000

[skekthesilly]

@spow-ed here is that butterfly liam content your heart desires.......

actually decent and proper butterfly liam design!!!!! (oh god im taking this joke au seriously now zats cray zay)

ourraggghh the quality..... oh the misery......

giant scar on his right side of face, right upper, and right lower wing is when he got struck by lightning. long scar in the middle is from the scooping room because i think the scooping room would be like the one from fnaf sister location, three circular scars on his left side of face is supposed to resemble bubbles when he drowned, the star-like scars are when he got shot by those aliens on the moon, and the leg is when he broke his leg. multiple times. stop breaking your leg bro its almost like you like it /j

if anyone wants to draw this godforsaken creature, know that the halo is optional

havent actually thought about how the au really works that much. liams just this emotionally distant butterfly creature trying to get bryce to move on from his death or some wacky thing idk

theyre all STRANDED ON THE PLANE. FOREVER. BECAUSE LIAM DIED and somehow its bryces fault ig ill figure something out trust me (trust me)

[tropinano]

A Descriptive List of Celtic Fiction Podcasts

Reminiscent of fiction podcasts like TMA, Jack of All Trades etc... If you enjoy anything horror-comedy, general horror or narrative podcasts check these out!

note: Thank you for the reccommendations! I've added them to the list.

Scottish

Middle:Below by Tin Can Audio - A horror-comedy about a fella called Taylor, he can travel inbetween the regular world and the 'middle' realm, and seems to be the only one...until!! He has banter with a charismatic ghost man called Gill and has a pet cat named Sans(?). Good sound quality and fun times.

The McIlwraith Statements by Ghostly Thistle - A monologue narrative about Sarah McIlwraith, recounting her mysterious involvement in the famous 'IPP' study. Dark academia vibes. The narrator has an absolutely lovely voice and accent!

Caledonian Gothic - Descriptive like HFTH, storytelling but the serious tone borderlines silly. If you like I Have Seen Niagara, you might like this! States it's true crime, true stories, but also promises magic and narratives aswell.

Irish

Neighbourly by Matthew O.K Smith - A horror anthology podcast about a creepy neighbourhood and the residents within. Stunnin' narration, with really good stories. I got pretty far in and it uploads every Monday. Great stuff.

The Switchboard by Hog and Dice Productions - A 'daily radio show' horror podcast set in a LIGHTHOUSE. HELL YEAH. It's got some funky sound design and some good stories. Both this and Neighbourly have lovely Dublin accents, and nice stories as usual.

Petrified by Peter Dunne and Liam Geraghty - An award-winning horror anthology podcast with very captivating and realistic dialogue. Unsettling and uneasy feeling it gives me. Main guy Teddy from the 'Dead Air' prologue is defo northern! I want to emphasize the realistic dialogue, it's great. Haven't heard him yet, but this podcast also has CECIL BALDWIN acting in it. Give it a shot!

In Darkness Vast by Hammergrin - A sci-fi podcast with some characters with funky names like Doombuggy, Earthfrank and Nervejump. Wolf 395 vibes, Nervejump is a silly AI lady up to shenanigans. Has some fun voices and sound design. Don't know much about it but it's made in Cork!

The Outside Tapes by Liam Brett and Evan Daly - Classic casette tape horror drama. Alfie Greaves is a journalist investigating a bizarre series of events that are all somehow connected. I love Alfie's voice because he has the same accent and inflection as me so it's very lovely to listen to! He is investigating deaths, so it seems to be a nice mix of Magnus Archives and Death by Dying.

Welsh

Seren by Robin Howell - A short sci-fi about Seren flying through the stars to terraform a new planet. Going by the trailer, it sounds great! Some Cymraeg right off the bat. Great stuff. Gives off some melancholy vibes, and has a funky spaceship AI voice.

Gather the Suspects by MadeUp Audio Productions - A groovy-opening theme mixed with a promising murder mystery. Set in Wales "during a very boring apocalypse". Promises relatable characters, procrastinators, mystery and humour.

This Foul Earth by John Tucker - A comedic, easygoing series (from what ive heard so far) in which everyday Welsh people describe a story they believe deserves to be archived for future generations. Clever writing and good vibes!

as always if youse have anything to add rb and pop it in the tags, these are all very underrated and theyre all quite good and high quality! have a good evening yall

[ratkingnezu]

The poll winner! I had fun writing this, and i’m really excited to share it with you guys.

Oh and, i may or may not also post the Drake one too lol

Late-Night Confessions

The low rumble of his car was filling the air, soft romance playing through his speakers as he focused on the dimly lit pavement ahead of him. He just wanted to get out of his house and do something, something more than trolling kids on roblox with henry or watching youtube in his bed all day. Go figure the moment he wanted to do something was at about 2am, where there quite literally was nothing else to do apart from taking in the stars and enjoying his stereo’s quality contrast to his headphones. He turned down a familiar road, shortly thereafter pulling over to make a quick call. Nights like these aren’t properly enjoyed without someone else. Henry was asleep, Jake went to bed earlier as well, who else did he know that also pulled frequent all nighters?

Ringing….

“Hello?”

“Hey Drew, are you up?”

“Yeah i’m totally asleep right now, dumbass.”

chuckle “I can tell you’re jolly, you busy?”

“Depends on what you say next I guess.”

“Wanna come for a drive? I’m kinda lonely and could totally use my Juliet”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Whaaat? I thought you found that bit funny.”

“….No. Not at all.”

snicker “alrighty, i’ll be there in a few minutes, sound good?”

“Whatever man, see you then.”

Beep.

He turned off the curb and drove a bit, wondering why he was always so… soggy? He couldn’t come up with a better description nor did he care to, he thought the mental image of a soggy Drew was humorous. Speak of the devil, in front of his bigger, more put together residence was the sog himself. He pulled up to the curb and allowed the purple haired boy to hop in the passengers seat, giving him a little wave.

“Hey Juliet, how’s it-“ A finger smushed against his lips.

“Don’t.”

“Alright alright,” he giggled, “i’ll stop. Any places in mind you’d want to hit up at this hour?”

“No, i thought you were the one taking me out?”

“Oh-ho, didn’t realize this was a date”

Drew pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, “Just bring us somewhere before I tuck and roll.”

“Aye aye, Captain.”

The car pulled out slowly as they drove out of the neighborhood, the empty roads lined with the runway of street lamps. Liam’s soft music continued to play as he drove, occasionally glancing over at Drew who had been staring out the window. Liam smiled, turning into the parking lot of a small cafe along a strip mall, hosting shops that needn’t be named.

He turned the key and shut off the ignition, pulling up the emergency brake. “Alright Captain, we’re here.”

Drew sighed, “Coffee? At this hour?”

“What? It sounded good to me? Don’t you try and act all innocent either, i know you’re popping monsters like they’re headache meds at ungodly hours of the night.”

“Whatever dude,” a small smile tugged at the edges of his lips, “let’s just get this over with.”

“Nothing more, captain.” Liam smiled back.

They stepped out of the car, shutting and locking it before walking inside the cozy cafe. The soft brown walls complimented with the somber notes of coffee in the air, lamps decorating the ceiling like the stars with old wooden seating below them. Both of the boys glanced over the menu. Drew went first, ordering a dirty chai latte with Liam following up with an iced caramel latte.

Drew gave the brown haired boy his card, heading to the bathroom to wash his hands. Liam slipped the card into his pocket and handed a $20 bill to the cashier, taking his change and finding them a seat. Drew walked to the table and sat across from Liam, receiving his card back and smiled a bit.

“You didn’t buy out the store, did you?”

“Oh of course not! I toooootally wouldn’t use your money to buy all the pastries and drinks i could ever ask for..” he chuckled

“Of course you would…” his smile grew slightly, resting his hands on the table.

Their drinks shortly came out thereafter, conversation being struck up about one thing or the other, laughter erupting from Liam whilst Drew was more soft spoken when listening to the brown haired boys quips he had used prior on little kids in Roblox. Drew heard these stories a thousand times over, all the same formula with different numbers. But he always found them to be intriguing, taking note of the insults they came up with, and more minute details in how Liam’s eyes lit up whenever he spoke about “owning” his “rivals”. He was taking notice of a lot of features on his friend, and as the store speakers started up with some soothing jazz, the next 30-or-so minutes became a blur. A lovely, relaxing blur.

Liam stretched upwards and looked at the magenta haired boy, who was leaning on his hand.

“So, you ready to get out of here?”

“Yeah, ready when you are”

Liam left a five at the table, got up with the other boy and walked back to the car, hopping back in and turning on the car.

“That was fun, i enjoyed that Drew.”

“Thanks, i had fun too.”

“Sadly though, i have to get you home now. I think that’s all we have time for tonight”

Drew’s smile faded. “Oh. Alright, i guess that’s chill.”

Liam raised his eyebrow, “What do you mean? Do you not want to go home?”

“Kinda yeah.. you think i can crash at your place tonight?”

“Yeah of course! My parents wouldn’t mind, their only rule is “No Girls Allowed” or whatever..”

Drew smiled. “Cool, thanks man..”

Liam tapped Drew’s shoulder with his fist, smiling back. “No problem man, i’m happy to help!”

The car ride back was about as eventful as the car ride to the shop, a partially lit road and low rumble of the wheels harmonizing with Liam’s liked songs, soft and romantic harmonies painting the sky as did the stars. Drew rolled down his window, letting the cool winds flow through his hair and the car, gazing at the beauty of the stars, reading the stories they told. Liam took notice of this and smiled, he was happy to see Drew, happy to just have him here, in his car, and soon in his house for the night. They’ve had countless sleepovers before, but rarely would they choose Liam’s house, due to Drew’s wealthy estate being far more eventful than Liam’s small home could ever hold a torch to.

They pulled into the driveway, the same parking sequence executed as they hopped out and snuck back into the house. Liam’s parents were asleep, so they had to tiptoe to his small, slightly messy room. As Liam shut the door, Drew knelt down.

“Hey Liam, you cool if i move some of this stuff off your floor?”

“Yeah of course, why do you ask though?”

“So i can sleep somewhere, duh. Thought you’d be a little smarter”

Liam frowned a bit as his heart broke a little.“Dude. You are not sleeping on the floor.”

“Then where should i sleep? On the couch?”

“No, that couch isn’t the best for sleeping. Trust me on this” Liam snapped his fingers and smiled at Drew, “Why don’t we just share a bed? Seems like the best course of action here to be honest”

Drew sighed “Alright man, whatever you want. Just don’t get pissed off at me if your parents shake you awake while screaming “oh you have a boyfriend now or what??””

He changed into his pajamas and handed Drew a spare set he had. “Psssh they wouldn’t, besides it’s not like they care enough to check on me in the mornings anyway.”

Drew begrudgingly took the clothes and changed into them, the smell of Liam faint on his body now. “Whatever, loser.”

Drew laid down on the bed, pulling out his phone and watching from his peripheral as Liam booted up his pc. “Yo dude, what are you doing?”

“Oh, i just gotta do a couple quick things on Genshin. I’ll probably forget to do them later so might as well get them done now.”

“Christ, alright.”

About 30 minutes passed, Drew fed up with doomscrolling through Instagram and being constantly reminded of what he lacked. He looked up, Liam locked in on some random side quest. “How much longer until you’re done dude?”

“Oh give me like, five more minutes?”

“Whatever.” The magenta boy pulled his phone out again, this time opening up youtube and watching the newest Pengiunz0 video.

The 20 minute video ended, Liam still as locked in as ever. Drew was fed up at this point and aimed a stuffie at the brown haired gamer.

“Hey dipshit, finish up so I can sleep.” He lobbed the poor stuffed bear at Liam, who was hit square in the back of the head and laughed.

“Woah dude, chill out! Since you’re so needy right now, i’ll put my very important quest on hold just for you princess.”

“Shut the fuck up before I hit you between the eyes next time.”

Liam shut down his computer, shortly after it powering off walking back to his now-shared mattress.

Both boys now laid on the bed, Liam yawning and stretching out while Drew cozied up under the covers, laying on his back. Drew felt safe here, safer than he would’ve felt alone at home anyway. He turned to face the brown haired boy, who had lifted the shared covers over his body.

“Hey Drew, you do realize this looks… like… really homiesexual right?”

“You’re the one who offered the bed, jackass..” He made a small pouting noise before flipping over and cozying up under the blanket.

“Honestly….” As he’d done before, Liam slipped his hand around Drew’s waist, spooning him and slowly pressing his chest to the purple haired boys back “I can’t complain” He said, softly chuckling.

“H-hey what-“ Drew didn’t expect this, making another noise, this time surprised as he felt his heart in his throat “What do you think you’re doing??” His face now warm and red

Liam lifted his free hand, placing it on Drew’s head, letting the silky strands coat his fingers as he started to play with it. “I gotta get into the stereotype somehow, right?”

“Fuck you…” After a few minutes of this, Drew couldn’t help but place his hand on top of Liam’s that was around his waist. He felt the boys hand turn and interlock his fingers between his own. Drew’s heart thumped louder now, he couldn’t handle this. But somehow… this felt right. Drew smiled a bit as he enjoyed this, Liam’s occasional shifting causing him to vocalize more.

After a while of this, Liam gently pressed his face into the back of the magenta-haired boys’ neck, smiling as he did so. “You’re so gay it actually hurts”

Drew reached around and smacked Liam’s head, laughing, “You’re the one that’s doing all this, dumbass! If anything, you’re the gay one!”

“Well you haven’t opposed to it, right?”

“Well…”

“So why not just say we’re both gay and call it a night, yeah?”

“Fuck off.” The smaller boy smiled, holding the hand of the big spoon, dozing off to the soft breaths that caressed his neck.

[theroamingtrashcan]

“And daylight doesn’t stop dragons, but one day someone will.” -Vex’ahlia, Kith and Kin

This quote is so beautifully poetic considering the events of campaign 1. If you haven’t read Kith and Kin yet, I highly recommend it. Wanna find out where Vex got to study dragons? Wanna find out how Vax got Simon, his living snake belt? Wanna learn who taught Vax to pickpocket? Or how actually awful their father was? I cannot recommend this book more. I listened to it while working, and between Liam and Laura reading their character lines so well, and Robbie’s excellent narration, it was quite the experience.

Being a Star Wars fan I’m used to kinda bad books that LucasFilm hired some uninterested writer to write that mischaracterizes most of the characters and has a plot that couldn’t be more pointless, this book is such a nice refresher. I guess I have to remember that Critical Role still makes quality content, as most of my interests have fallen to capitalism driven laziness.

Anyways read Kith and Kin! It’s so good!

[magmythedevil]

Hi There! So, I'm the one who made the ask about the criticisms Murder Drones has been getting lately and I wanted to make one more ask to follow up on it. I hope you don't mind and that this doesn't bother you at all, feel free to answer if you want and if you feel comfortable. 💙

So, I've seen the hate for MD get worse and worse (Some people have even made fun of others for loving the show and calling it Mid Or Awful) at least when it comes to over on Twitter..I've even seen someone say that the show is going the HB route when it comes to a show going downhill. If you don't know what I mean, basically Helluva Boss (another webseries on YT) started to slowly go downhill back in S1 sometime around episode 4 of the first season which is where I myself actually started to see a drop in quality and saw just how flawed it was, it's especially worse when you find out nothing was planned out. But, things got REALLY BAD for the show when S2 arrived and more and more critical videos and posts started to come out for Helluva..although with that show, I don't see anything being improved and getting better, especially since the creator herself sees herself as untouchable and sees no flaws with her shows and just absolutely refuses to take criticism.

But with Murder Drones, as I've mentioned..I'm kinda worried and concerned that this show could end up not improving on the issues people have had with the series and more people being thrown off and pushed away from it, some have already called it a drop in quality from Glitch Productions and it's weakest show or just not giving it a chance at all. Of course, there's absolutely nothing wrong with criticism and it's important to hear criticism as it can help you improve and some fans have pointed out and agreed with the criticisms, at least when it comes to it's pacing problem + adding too many mysteries and not answering others we need answers too. Someone also pointed out about the teasers Glitch throws at us when hinting at the next episode drop, some have called it a copout and just there to get us hyped and just false advertising and a cheap way to get fans to watch the show. As I've mentioned, some fans pointed out that telling by the thumbnails and teasers for the recent episode, everyone thought this was gonna be the darkest one yet for the show and a turning point but it ended up disappointing some in the end, ect. I kinda do fear this show going down the drain and even losing interest in the show myself and how people may view it. I'm even worried about the show being rushed, I fear that the reason both 4 and 5 have been struggling with it's pacing + some other issues is because the show is probably trying to rush to the finale, afterall we only have 3 episodes left before the season ends (S1 is supposed to have about 8 Episodes) and we aren't sure where the show goes from here, honestly.

But, back to the criticisms, most criticisms I've seen for MD is that the comedy is pretty bad (or not being funny enough for adults, or something like that) and ruins scenes that do not need them, mostly the intense moments, the shipping and hinting at romance, (Someone on Twitter literally called Nuzi another version of Starco (Star Vs.) I'm not joking!) the direction for the show, since many have mentioned that the story is all over the place and it seems like such a mess and doesn't know where it wants to go and that's kinda understandable..although I don't know much about Liam and how he does his storytelling, so maybe I'm missing something. For anyone who's familiar with Liam please let me know, because most people have pointed out they see the writing as lazy and rushed, but others have said that Liam has a unique and interesting way of telling stories and that's why the show leaves people confused, but idk..as I've said, maybe I'm missing something. I didn't know much about Liam Vickers and what he did beforehand before making MD, I did know a bit about Cliffside, but nothing before that.

Sorry for this post being super long and too detailed, but I wanted to add onto my ask from the other day and see if anybody else has been worried and feeling the same way, I know MD has a huge fandom, but I wonder how others feel when it comes to criticism. I know some fans understand that it's okay for others to dislike the show, but I've noticed the criticisms have gotten a little harsher, at least from what I've seen from people. But, I honestly want to know yours and even everybody else's answers, for anyone who want to give their opinions on this issue that's going around for Murder Drones lately. Are any of you worried and concerned for the future of the show and does it make you sad that the show has been bashed and shit on lately? Is anyone (especially if you're a huge fan of the show) worried about losing interest and the future of the show, or no?

As for myself and how I see things, I'll always love and adore the show and I'm enjoying where we're heading for the show and after that cliffhanger of Episode 5, it left me both excited and invested to see where we go from here, I want MORE of this show and wanna see where we go next and how this season could end. Although, I certainly do hope that Liam and the team do listen to some of the criticisms the show's been having lately and improve on that in the future, especially if we get more seasons of the series. Murder Drones really does mean a lot to me and I think it definitely deserves more love and appreciation, sure it's popular and has a fandom, but not many really talk and discuss about it when it comes to a webseries like Helluva Boss, you know? I remember discovering MD for the first time and it was during a hard time in my life and when I was struggling with my issues, it really helped me happy and smile during hard times and it's just so comforting and I just don't think I'll ever stop being hyperfixating on it. :3

I myself havent see any criticism at all, Just the fandom making memes, fanarts being happy and making theories. The only one i saw was sarcastic chorus's review where he says that episode 5 was the weakest one because the episode felt more like a a set up episode for next one.

And i have nothing more to say than what i alredy said before; I trust the creator and i believe things are going great and when the right time comes everything will make sense.

So If you want a very "scientifical"review analysing everything to say If things really are going bad or are going great im the worst person for It lolll, im just a guy who is in love with everything about the show so im unable to see things in an negative way

Also, comparing murder drones with Helluva Boss doesn't make sense.

These are two completly different shows that are being made in completly different ways, Just because hb is a big indie show doesn't mean all of the other indie shows are being influenced by It c'mom.

Its the first time Liam has gone this far with one of his stories, All of his other projects are unfinished (because you know, animation is hard and expensive) So please give the guy a chance before making those weird "things are going downwhill :/" assumptions

Idk what you guys are so afraid of, the story is going great for me, just because some episodes weren't as good for you as the others ones it doesn't mean that its a "helluva boss situation"

Also, the "It has to much comedy, It should be more serious" thing doesn't make sense for me, murder drones was never meant to be that serious, at least, not when its ins't needed, some people saw how dark episode 3 was and thought all of the other ones would be similiar to It and thats why some guys get disappointed every new episode.

Also on the Topic of the teasers, i agree that the teasers really make things seem like things are going to be more serious when they acctually arent, but saying glitch is doing It on purpose to get views is very.....they just like to make suspense, theyre not clickbaiting you and its very weird that you think that,

theyre just artist doing their best to give a good show. Theyre not a another "evil viviziepop" playing dumb with their viewers, you guys are traumatized JEEZZZ

maybe you just got anxious because you see way to much negativity, try to calm yourself. this is one of Liam's biggest projects, i can assure you this story and Its characters are in great hands.

[lonely-soul-02]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/noel-gallagher-interview-oasis-reunion-high-flying-birds-l02r389l

Noel Gallagher: ‘Oasis reunion? Liam hasn’t called, but I’m free the back end of 2024’

Aweek or so before Noel Gallagher meets me at his studio in King’s Cross, the Oasis reunion rumour mill went into overdrive. In March, Gallagher’s younger brother Liam wrote on Twitter of returning to his frontman duties: “It’s happening.” In a radio interview in May, the rhythm guitarist Paul “Bonehead’’ Arthurs said: “I’m ready.” Then came reports that Knebworth had been booked for four nights in 2025. So I begin our interview by asking Noel: “What’s happening?”

“Liam ain’t called,” the band’s 56-year-old leader, songwriter and guitarist says, sitting deep in a sofa, an unmoving, authoritative presence with cropped grey-black hair, wearing Levi’s. “I’m not expecting him to, because he’s full of shit and very disingenuous with his beloved Oasis fans. I say to him, ‘Get somebody to call somebody my end. Let’s see what you’ve got to say.’ Guess what? My phone has not twitched once.”

According to him, there is a simple reason why his problem child of a brother will not pick up the phone. “He knows for a fact that should someone call me, and I go, ‘You know what? F*** it. Let’s do it,’ then he has to actually stand in the same room as me. Then it will be, ‘All right, dickhead, how you doing? Before we go any further, there’s a few things I have to say to you.’ That’s when the arse will fall out of his trousers.”

On top of that unhygienic scenario, an Oasis reunion would have to be off the scale in brilliance to not be a massive let-down. The end came in April 2009 when Liam threw a plum — and then, more dangerously, a guitar — at his brother before a concert in Paris, and that was 14 years ago.

“If it’s going to happen, Liam has to pull it off. It’s got to be the best it has ever been. But he’s one of these guys and they’re ten a penny, particularly up in Manchester, the bully, who when you put it on ’em and say, ‘Come on then, let’s see what you’ve got,’ start doing a lot of harrumphing.

“Liam is like a violent version of Arthur Fonzarelli. So I’ll say it again: I’m free, back end of 2024. He could even video himself calling me. That would be good for his little f***ing Twitter feed. But since then he’s gone quiet. Funny, innit?”

All of this feels particularly relevant because the new album by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds is the older, wiser, sadder cousin of Oasis’s world-changing 1994 debut, Definitely Maybe. Council Skies has a reflective mood that draws not just on memories of Gallagher’s childhood in northern Manchester, but also his situation as a multimillionaire rock star dealing, for the first time in his adult life, with things going very wrong indeed.

There has been a divorce, health issues, and the psychological aftermath of a global pandemic and ensuing lockdown. Perhaps that’s why a handful of the songs, Dead to the World and I’m Not Giving Up Tonight in particular, have that hymnal, bittersweet quality of the Oasis classics Live Forever and Don’t Look Back in Anger. Oasis meant so much to people because they offered defiance against the everyday grind. Council Skies harks back to that feeling.

“I always thought there had to be a price to pay for happiness,” Gallagher says of his situation. “I’ve had over 20 years of absolutely no turbulence in my life whatsoever and I kept thinking, ‘It cannot be this great, all the time, until it comes to the end and I go, may as well die now and end up in Heaven.’ It turns out I was right. Luckily, as an artist you get to write about it.”

Dead to the World is one of those songs that Gallagher has a special knack for, which don’t do anything hugely different from what has gone before yet capture a universal feeling in a signature melancholic, soaring fashion. You wonder if the best material comes out of the most difficult times in his life.

“For sure, and right now it is the most uncertain time I’ve ever had,” he says. “It seems I peaked in my forties, because the moment I hit 50 it’s been one thing after another: personal issues, health issues, the city we love [London] going down the toilet. Definitely Maybe was born out of anxiety, thinking, this is the one shot we’ve got, we can’t f*** it up. There’s something similar here. Uncertainty is at the heart of it.”

Oasis took that uncertainty and made people feel, for one small moment, like they really might live for ever. “People will never forget the way you made them feel. I’ll never forget how the La’s or the Stone Roses made me feel. You can’t go back to 1995 because things cannot be the same — parents grow old, your cat dies, things rust — but the feeling remains and there is something beautiful in that. That’s why Dead to the World is up there with Live Forever. It’s just a different version of it.”

Gallagher grew up, by his own description, as a loner, estranged from his frequently violent father, Tommy, after his Irish parents’ divorce and taking solace in his bedroom in the Manchester suburb of Burnage, where he taught himself guitar and learnt to write songs by listening to the Beatles, Slade and T. Rex. While Liam was busy being the good-looking lad about town, the carefree kid who never second-guessed himself, Noel worked on an escape route via rock’n’roll.

“I didn’t invent anything,” he confesses. “I had good taste in music, a cool record collection, I could write a melody simple enough to make it work and it was 50 per cent inspiration and 50 per cent copying. It was a Tuesday night, raining, when I went into the rehearsal room and said, ‘I’ve just written the greatest tune of all time.’ We started Cigarettes & Alcohol and Bonehead went, ‘You can’t get away with that.’ ”

Bonehead was referring to the fact that Cigarettes & Alcohol is essentially Get It On by T. Rex after a trip to the off-licence, of which Gallagher says: “It’s not like I was expecting nobody to notice.” The genius of the song was in its celebration of working-class hedonism; the idea that you may as well live for the moment in the absence of any deeper meaning or nobler purpose. “That’s why Oasis were the modern-day Slade. They didn’t give a f*** either.”

Oasis’s take-no-prisoners assault targeted a few victims along the way, the most frequent being Phil Collins. What did Gallagher have against the balding king of 1980s smooth pop? “He kept the Jam off No 1 with You Can’t Hurry Love,” he reveals.

“I thought, ‘Once I get there, I’m not going to let him get away with that.’ The best thing about the Phil Collins thing is that Liam got accosted by his children one day because they thought he was me. They had a pop at him, saying, ‘Why are you always having a fing go at our dad?’ When I heard about it I thought, ‘I really hope someone filmed it.’ Anyway, f Liam. And f*** Phil Collins and all.”

As for Oasis becoming the biggest guitar band since the Beatles, Gallagher thinks it was down to a lack of artifice. “Oasis had a laddish, yobbo image, built in the image of the singer, but look at footage of Knebworth [two nights, 1996, two and a half million ticket applications] and you’ll see loads of girls down the front.

“Melodically it spoke to the masses, lyrically it spoke to people our age, and everyone looked at Bonehead and went, ‘If he can do it, any f***er can.’ My guitar rig at Knebworth was a piece of plywood, an on-off switch, and a tuner. It keeps going now because kids recognise the real deal. Oasis will never make another record, but if we put a tour on sale it would destroy everything.”

It makes you wonder if a band like Oasis, who summed up both the meritocratic possibilities of the New Labour 1990s and the black-humoured cynicism of Britpop, could happen today. Gallagher is adamant they could not.

“We would be killed before we even started,” he says with a sigh. “What made Oasis great was that we were moody c***s, a bit wild, and back then labels were run by amazing characters like Alan McGee of Creation and Jeff Barrett of Heavenly who loved the chaos.

“On the ferry to Amsterdam, when everyone got nicked [1994, first European tour, too much champagne and Jack Daniels, fights break out, Liam Gallagher goes on a Benny Hill-like rampage through the casino] I called McGee to tell him what happened and he went, ‘Brilliant.’ Nowadays, the label would wait to see what the public perception was before throwing you under the bus. And the word ‘career’ was never mentioned once. You were in a band. That was enough. And we could pull it off when we went on stage.”

Not always, though: In 1994 Oasis played the legendary Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, shortly after taking what they thought was cocaine but which turned out to be crystal meth. It resulted in the band members playing different songs at the same time before attacking each other. “Ringo Starr was there that night,” Gallagher remembers. “He walked out. One of the Beatles comes to see the new Beatles — and it’s shit.”

Gallagher thinks the music industry no longer has faith in itself, with labels monitoring how well an artist is doing with the public on TikTok and YouTube before taking a punt. “Can you imagine going up to someone in 1993, when [jokey indie duo] Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine were smashing it, and saying, ‘Got this idea for a band. Couple of gobshite brothers from Manchester, bang into cocaine, lager and shagging birds, ripping off the Beatles and T. Rex.’ ‘Oh no, thank you. I’d rather have Fruitbat and Dickhead from Carter, jumping about in shorts.’ Don’t focus-group anything! People are stupid! That’s how we ended up with Brexit. Now they will usher in AI. There is no hope for the world.”

How could we not mention AIsis, a virtual band with a “lost” Oasis album, conceived by some thirtysomething musicians who took Noel’s tunes and Liam’s elongation of the word “sunshiiiine” and got artificial intelligence to do its stuff? Needless to say, it hasn’t gone down well with the real-life human at the heart of it all.

“AI: made by robots, listened to by shitheads,” he summarises, before saying in comically pathetic tones: “ ‘Have you heard Ringo Starr singing She’s Electric?’ You’re all f***ing idiots! AI did a cover of Morning Glory and it sounded like shit indie music to me, but I can guarantee you the record companies are already buying up the technology.

“The label doesn’t want the artists to write the songs because they want to employ songwriters. Now the songwriters will be out of business because they’ll employ a robot to do it. You know what? I’m 55 and I don’t give a f***. AI is not going to put me out of the game. It is just going to make your life a little bit shitter.”

Whether Oasis or AIsis will be the first to fill the public’s desire for that much-talked-of reunion, Gallagher has the sanctity of his studio, the reassurance that his children, Anais, 22, Donovan, 15, and Sonny, 12, share his opinion on modern music (“The 1975 wear a guitar and get voted best rock band at the Brits. I’m going to the kids, ‘Is it me or is this shit?’ And they’re going, ‘Dad, it’s f***ing awful’ ”) and the creative satisfaction of making the best solo album of his career. Easy Now, a lonely ballad about strangers passing on the way to work and wondering about each other’s lives, has a mix of grandeur, hope and longing similar to the Oasis favourite The Masterplan.

“I can already picture a sea of lads in Scotland with their tops off, having it to Easy Now,” Gallagher says. “Usually, when a song starts sounding like Oasis I’ll go, ‘This is just a shit version of Supersonic.’ Now I’ve written a song that is a bit Oasisy but it is actually up there with them.”

Gallagher sounds like he has made his peace with Oasis, having made a solo album that doesn’t shy away from the quality that made people fall in love with his old band in the first place. Now he just needs to make peace with Liam and the next chapter in the Gallagher saga will begin.

“A new generation recognises how Oasis wasn’t manufactured,” Gallagher concludes, before heading off because Manchester City have a Premier League game. “It was chaotic, and flawed, and not technically brilliant. Blur did it all with a nod and a wink, but we were rough and ready guys from a rehearsal room and people recognised it. If we did go out and tour again, playing not just to blokes in their fifties but to the kids . . . We’d blow their f***ing minds.”

Interview behind a paywall. Anon, thank you SO much for sharing the content of the interivew.

Noel really wants to fend off any divorce claims on an Oasis reunion, or he really wants to see Liam lose it on Twitter again.

*sigh* Here we go. Isolated quotes:

“Liam ain’t called."

“I’m not expecting him to, because he’s full of shit and very disingenuous with his beloved Oasis fans. I say to him, ‘Get somebody to call somebody my end. Let’s see what you’ve got to say.’ Guess what? My phone has not twitched once.”

“He knows for a fact that should someone call me, and I go, ‘You know what? F*** it. Let’s do it,’ then he has to actually stand in the same room as me. Then it will be, ‘All right, dickhead, how you doing? Before we go any further, there’s a few things I have to say to you.’ That’s when the arse will fall out of his trousers.”

“If it’s going to happen, Liam has to pull it off. It’s got to be the best it has ever been. But he’s one of these guys and they’re ten a penny, particularly up in Manchester, the bully, who when you put it on ’em and say, ‘Come on then, let’s see what you’ve got,’ start doing a lot of harrumphing.

“Liam is like a violent version of Arthur Fonzarelli. So I’ll say it again: I’m free, back end of 2024. He could even video himself calling me. That would be good for his little f***ing Twitter feed. But since then he’s gone quiet. Funny, innit?”

"Anyway, f Liam. And f*** Phil Collins and all."

And finally we get to the core of it all:

“I always thought there had to be a price to pay for happiness...”

Fic writers are going to have a field day with that last one.

With my Oasis conspiracy theory hat off, It certainly does seem as if Noel is deliberately sabotaging any chance of reconciliation. But then he might say Liam did the sabotaging with his uncomplimentary tweets that began with the 'meet him or fuck him off' tweet that came from out of the blue, kickstarting the media spat.

He's using the strongest language to date in this interview, but he's also contradicting himself as usual. Liam is apparently a violent bully but he is also afraid of standing in the same room as Noel.

I also sense a lot of projection. The implication that Liam would somehow not be match fit, or not be able to 'pull off' an Oasis reunion is completely laughable when he's pulled off two nights at Knebworth on his own. This is all Noel's insecurity. Noel is afraid of not being able to pull it off. Because Noel would have to pick up his guitar, assume his old role and solo again. Over the years, he has become self-conscious about his guitar playing. He said that he left behind his ability to play guitar solos in Paris the night of the fight. It wouldn't matter that the songs are old and all he has to do is rehearse them. Noel is afraid of not measuring up. Noel is the one afraid to stand in the same room as Liam.

To be honest, I think they'd both be afraid of meeting each other and that's entirely normal. After 14 years, of course they'd be apprehensive, anyone would be. This is why I wish there were a mutual friend of both, who loves them both equally, and has both their best interests at heart to help them through a reconciliation process. Debbie has said it's not her place to intervene, but that's a hard disagree from me. If people continue to leave them to their own devices instead of trying to support them, the estrangement and conflict will drag on.

Update:

Not taking any bait today, good on you Liam!

[noisymusicjellyfish]

Hot take, but I think the murder drones ending is bad/that it fell off at the end somehow, the first episode is the only one where I feel like it has proper world building and a story line with all sorts of possibilities, where I am anticipating what comes next and the memes mash well with the seriousness that it sometimes has. The further it goes, the less the story makes sense - things just happen unexplained and partially even without the viewer being shown anything has happened, and the dichotomy between the comedical and real parts of the show just keeps growing. You cannot go to great lengths to acquire something apparently integral to the plot yet then simply throw it at someone when they bother you, burn the murder drones when they touch sun due to heat yet be perfectly untouched while set ablaze falling (which would not happen so quickly anyway since there is not enough pressure created due to velocity but that can fall under being pedantic) and have drones be absolutely uncaring about everything yet terrified of being hurt, casually kill others for fun while also shielding some rando from harm. and doll, who was supposedly hurt and traumatized by her past, turning into palpatine and somehow returning, existing in a shrödinger's state of alive and dead at the same time and being super sorry for Uzi's affliction while killing worker drones literally cuz she can during the prom...this feels like the writing of a child. and I do not mean the type of story a kid concocts where you know it is flawed because they are young, or the cringe of tumblr where we are simply free - it feels like the equivalent of family guy or the simpsons falling off the longer it goes, except it happens episode by episode rather than season by season, and even then there were more good seasons of both than there were episodes that made me actually happy in the end, the animation quality is superb and some of the memes did make me laugh out lout, but I just- I cannot get what people love so much about the show. I feel bad for shitting on the writing which could be described as the live's work of Liam Vickers and think that if I wrote this in the subreddit or discord I would get banned, but it legit feels like an awesome idea with the budget of a Disney film written by the dumbest people imaginable, like an animation equivalent of star citizen where there is nobody to reign anyone in, with nobody actually able to function without that someone telling them no on occasion. this is like my first tumblr post, so I do not really know how this works. still love the designs of the drones, but I think I will have the most fun looking at the NSFW subreddits of MD or making up my own lore and headcanon, cuz I ain't accepting whatever that ending is

[feeisamarshmallow]

I've seen a lot of talk since Liam died about the comfort of multiple dimensions. About how Stephen Hawking, in the wake of Zayn leaving the band, talked about how there may well be a dimension in which Zayn stayed and was happy. About how, then, there may well be dimensions where Liam is still alive, where the trajectory of the band went a different way, where the boys were better taken care of.

Strangely, or maybe not, in this time I've turned to my own fic, which explored the idea of multiple dimensions for One Direction. It seems a bit weird to find solace in a fic that is very much about a fictional representation of Liam Payne, while the very real Liam Payne has died and that has had very real impacts on the people who loved him. But on the other hand, my relationship to One Direction has always been that of a fan, mediated and understood through fan creation. So maybe it makes sense that I'm processing his death through my own art as well.

The penultimate scene in my fic, Don't Forget Where You Belong, features of meeting of the two dimensions explored in the story--one where One Direction exists and another where it doesn't. I chose to write that section from Liam's perspective, so when their other-dimension selves appear to them during their last concert, it's Liam who we see have an interaction with his other-self, with the self who was from the world where One Direction existed, and who presumably has been sent to the world where it didn't in the mix-up. (Like how Liam found himself dropped into a new dimension where On Direction existed, plucked from the one where it didn't).

When I wrote that scene in 2022, I didn't know that Liam would die two years later. And yet it seems so fitting that I got to write him making peace with his decisions and with the paths life took him down, through the vessel of this fic. It's something I've really been holding onto lately <3

The audience has taken out their cellphones, dotting the arena with pinpricks of light. They look like stars, swaying slowly against a black sky. None of the audience knows the lyrics, and so they're much quieter than usual. As Liam starts singing the second verse, the atmosphere grows even quieter. Too quiet for it to be real. His voice takes on an ethereal quality, like he's singing in a tunnel or a stairwell. The stars are growing bigger now, raising themselves up until they're sprinkled all across the sky. He cranes his head up to take it all in. Maybe it should feel scary, but instead Liam feels at peace. He's still singing, and as he gets to the chorus, he can hear his bandmates join in with him. When he looks back beside him, his bandmates are there, but something seems different about them. He turns to the other side, and realizes with a start he's looking into his own eyes. His doppleganger is standing beside him. And suddenly, Liam knows that he's seeing some sort of hologram of the real Liam. The one who belongs in this dimension. And he's sure that each of his band members are having a similar experience. He wishes he could talk to the other Liam, but he has to keep singing their song. Above them, the stars keep circling and twinkling. As they approach the final choruses, the other Liam makes eye contact with him and smiles kindly. It's not nearly as creepy as it should be. Then, the other Liam joins in with singing. This is not the end, they sing in unison. Thank you, Liam hears his own voice reverberate through his brain, although he knows it's not him who's saying it. Welcome home, Liam replies without speaking. The other Liam reaches out to embrace him as they sing the final line of the song. As his fingertips touch Liam's shoulders, he breaks apart into a million bits of light. Slowly, the sound returns. A roar of applause and cheering. When Liam looks out off the stage again, it's returned to normal. He can make out the faces of some of the nearby fans again . He stands there, looking out into the audience, trying to commit it to memory. This thing he'll never do again. Louis comes over to him then, puts his hand around his shoulder and guides him to the rest of the group. They all embrace in a tight group hug. Liam can feel Harry's hand around the small of his back and Niall's around his neck, with Zayn's head resting on his shoulder. It's not the end. But it is, all the same.

[abbatoirablaze]

Shameless, Chapter 1, The Pilot

Word Count: 2.9k

Warnings:  mentions of being gay, sexual tension. 

“Nobody’s saying our neighborhood’s the Garden of Eden.  Hell, some people say that god avoids this place altogether.  But it’s been a good home to me and my kids who I’m proud of…because every single one of them reminds me a little bit of me!”

“Oh yeah, that so?” Kermit asked politely, trying to ignore the drunk of a man who was at the bar stool.

“Fiona,” he mused, “my rock.  Huge help!  Has all the best qualities of her mother…except she’s not a raging psycho bitch.  And Lip, smart as a whip. Straight A’s and the honor roll. Boy’s definitely going somewhere.  Ian.  Industrious, conscientious, ambitious, incredible work ethic.  Don’t have a clue where he got that from.  Wants to be a paratrooper.  Knows how to disembowel an enemy with a roll of dimes and an old gym sock.”

“Good for you, Frank!” another of the patrons laughed. 

You shook your head, “please don’t encourage him, guys!”

“Carl!” your father smiled happily before frowning, “uhm, you know.  I don’t really know that much about Carl.  OH!  He loves animals.  He’s always dragging home some poor stray he found, taking them up to his room!  And Debbie.  Ah, Debbie.  Sent by god!  Total angel. Raises money for UNICEF year round.  Some of which, she actually turns in.  Liam!  Gonna be a star!  I’m no biologist, but he looks a little bit like my first sponsor.  He and the ex were a little close!”

“No shit Frank!”

“Hey!” you growled, pointing at one of the old men who was drinking in the corner, “watch your next words or their’ll be something more than booze in your drink, assholes!”

“And then there’s you!” my father smiled, reaching out over the bar top.  He grabbed your hand and tapped it, “my Sofia…my sweet girl.  Keeping me in line longer than any of my other woman ever has and ever will!  She’s Fiona’s twin you know.  My swimmer’s shot straight with those two.  Fi Fi is the first Gallagher girl here to go to college!  Fi, keeps the house running and Fi Fi keeps the kids doing good in school!  I lucked out with them, I really did!”

“Dad, you’re way too loaded for how early it is!” you warned, “I’m gonna have to cut you off for a bit so you can sober off!”

Your father groaned and rolled his eyes at you, “are you serious, Fi Fi?  I just paid you a compliment.  You’re supposed to be grateful and give me another! Say I'm a great dad and pass me a boilermaker, like a good kid would!"

“Dad…my shift ended five minutes ago, and I’m supposed to pick up Carl and Debbie from school and help them with their homework before I head to my shift at the club!”

“Hey, sorry I’m late!” Kev called as he burst through the door, “V had me tied up with-“

“Don’t want to know!” you laughed, cutting your friend off, “Gotta pick up the kids!”

“Yeah, go, go!  Fiona told me to tell you that they’re down to fourteen minutes so she needs you to pick up another card on your way back from picking Deb, Carl, and Liam up!”

“Liam?”

“Deb took him to school for show and tell!”

“Jesus!” you sighed, reaching under the bar to grab your hoodie and purse.

“Hey…wait…Fi Fi…get me another, before you go!”

“Oh, fuck off Frank,” you growled at your father.  You barely looked over your shoulder as you called out to Kev, “he’s broke and beyond plastered, Kev.  Don’t give him any more tonight!”

“FUCK YOU, FI FI!”

“What do you mean, she told you to take Liam?”

“She picked up a shift at the arena...she told me to take him in for show and tell because of that birthmark on his back,” Debbie shrugged as you finished adjusting Liam on your hip, “want me to push?”

“Yes!” you agreed, handing the cart over to your little sister, “Fi said we’re out of milk and I need to get another card for hers and Lip’s phone.  Do you and Carl need anything for school?”

“I want more markers…I want to run for class president and I need markers for posters. The old ones run out of stuff and I keep having to hold em in a cup of water to get the color out.”

“Can I get a candy bar?”

“What’d you get on your math test?”

“D!” he frowned. 

You sighed and nodded your  head, “we’re studying before I go to work…Deb, we’ll grab markers, paper, and tape and make a million posters while I’m quizzing Carl…you’ll be class president! I promise!”

“Really?” she asked lighting up.

“Wait, I can get a candy bar?”

“Yeah, but you’re studying with me when we get home!  And you’re helping us make posters for Deb!”

“Deal!” he grinned, running off towards the registers.

“Fi doesn’t let him get a candy bar when she takes us Fi Fi…”

“Fi is doin’ the best she can…me and Ian don’t go through that many minutes, so I got a little extra cash for here and the squirrel fund…do you want a candy bar too?”

She smiled and nodded, “yes please…”

You leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple, “I’ll take the cart.  You make sure Carl ain’t stealin’ shit.  Take Liam and grab him a sucker…and get me and Fi a bag of gummies.  I gotta grab something in the back.”

“Okay!” she smiled, taking hold of Liam once again while you took the cart and headed to the back of the store.  Looking up and down the aisle to make sure that neither of the kids were trailing after you, you knocked on the stock room door. 

It opened and one of the stock kids nodded at you before closing the door, only to return with a brown paper bag a few seconds later.

“The new issue?” He nodded and you handed him two twenties, “good, you keep your mouth shut!”

“Same time next month when the next issue drops?”

"I guess...can you do any better than 40 though?"

"I only charge you $40 for a whole year of this gay shit...I'd be losing money if it was mine to lose," he groaned.

"I'll tell Colin to lay off hittin' the store up..."

"I'll give you a twenty back if you send me a pic of your tits..."

"Deal!" You nodded. He smirked and handed a twenty back, and he closed the door.  Opening the paper bag, you looked in long enough to see the magazine you usually grabbed for Ian, and then you slipped the whole thing into your purse. 

“FI FI?”

Turning down another aisle you saw your little sister, struggling with Liam and her art supplies, while Carl had his arms full of candy.

“Carl, what are you doing?”

“I couldn’t choose!” he shrugged.

“One, Carl…”

“But-“

“If you can’t decide you won’t get anything, and you’ll end up sharing gummies with me and Fi again…do you want that?”

“Fiona always eats all the gummies though!”

“Exactly!” you laughed, walking up and ruffling his hair, “I’ll tell you what…you get your candy bar, and you can  pick one other thing…if you and me get your studying done, and we help Deb get all of her posters finished before I go to work, I’ll count it as my snack, and you can have it!”

“What about me?” Deb frowned.

“You get class president I’ll buy you that pair of sunglasses you’ve been eyeing up every week when we come in!”

“Really?”

“Really…now come on, guys.  We only have three hours and I need to make sure that your homework is done, and dinner is started before Fiona gets back from that shift she picked up!”

“Alright!”

“FUCK YOU FI!”

“Hey…what the fuck is wrong?” she asked, eyes going wide as you burst through the door and threw your bag in the entry way, “why you screaming at me?”

“I fucking got canned because my boss said you and some asshole you were with fucking decked my bouncer!”

“Hey, he was being a dick!”

“She got robbed at that club!” V said quickly, a man between her legs while she cleaned a small wound on his head, “and when we called him out on not letting us back in after chasing the guy, he called Fi a junkie and a skank.  Our boy Steve here, decked him.”

You stood stock still for a moment.  The kids all eyed you guys down.  Kev stepped to your side, “he decked Jimmy Clifton, Fi Fi…come on.”

“Come on, it’s after midnight,” you said firmly, ushering the kids upstairs while you gave up on the unwinnable argument that was brewing if you picked a fight with the new guy, “we got stuff to do tomorrow!  You guys have school!”

“Fi Fi…”

“Sofia’s right!” your twin said, giving you a soft look before closing in on the kids from the other side, “you guys have stuff to do and it’s after midnight.  Go. Move, move move!”

“Love you Fi!”

“Love you Fi Fi!”

The kids chorused as they walked up the stairs leaving you and your sister with V, Kev, and Steve.

“You really lost the gig at the club?”

You nodded at your sister and bit your lip, “that was a really good gig, Fi…made great tips…and tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday are big money nights! Those weekend tips kept us afloat when I could get the hours.”

“I’m sorry Fi Fi!” she sighed, hugging you, “we’ll figure something out though.  We always do!”

“Fuck…” you sighed, relaxing into her arms, “I thought we were about to finally get ahead on this shit.”

“Never…”

“I’ll go tuck the kids in…you take care of your…friend…”

She smiled at you and let go.  You gave her another smile, as you herded the kids back up the stairs and to their rooms.

“Deb…I’ll be in your room in a second.  Lip, get Carl tucked in.  Ian, I got the phone.  Come to my room and we’ll trade off.”

He stopped up the hall and turned, following you back to your room.  Closing the door behind you, you reached under the mattress and grabbed the thin paper bag.  His eyes shot to the door for a moment before he grabbed it and slipped it under his shirt. 

“Lip knows…”

You raised your brow, “you told him?”

He shook his head, “found the folder…”

“I told you that hiding it behind your dresser was a stupid idea…should have hid it under your mattress.”

“I think he’s okay with it…”

“Of course he is, Ian…you’re our brother…”

“I-I still don’t want to tell Fi…”

“Hey…” you sighed, cupping your little brother’s face in your hands, “no one is forcing you to tell anyone, I…”

He sighed, and pulled you into his arms, hugging you tightly, “thank you Fi Fi…”

“Of course…” you sighed, holding onto him for another minute.  When he let go, you gently smacked him on the ass and he laughed, “alright tiger.  Time for bed.  Say goodnight to your brothers and I’ll be in to check on Carl in a sec.”

“Thanks Fi Fi.”

You followed him out into the hall, and made your way to Deb’s room. She was waiting patiently in her bed for you to tuck her in.

“Sorry Fiona got you fired.”

“It’s okay,” you shrugged, making your way in, “I didn’t like that job anyways.”

“Liar,” she laughed.  You looked down on a sleeping Liam and stroked his head, before making your way to your little sister.  She crawled out from under the covers and into your lap, wrapping her arms around your neck, “you’ll find something else.  You always do.”

“I know…”

“A-are we going to be okay?”

“We always are, Debs…” you reminded her, “me and Fi won’t let you down.”

“You never do!”

“Get into bed, munchkin,” you sighed, rubbing your little sister’s back.  She mirrored your actions and crawled out of your arms and back into bed.  Tucking her in, you pressed a kiss to her forehead, “love you, Debs.”

“Love you Fi Fi.”

You turned off the lights and made your way towards the boys room.  Frowning to yourself you sighed when you heard noise downstairs.

No doubts, Fiona was fucking the guy she brought home. 

You shook your head as you found your way into the boys room.  Carl had already put his headphones on and was out like a light.  You looked between your two other younger brothers, “you guys good?”

Lip nodded, “yeah…”

“Yeah.”

You nodded at both of them and leaned down to Carl’s bed.  Pulling the covers up to his chin, you placed a kiss to his temple. 

“Sorry about your job Fi Fi…”

“It’s okay, Lip…”

“I can kick in more if-“

“We’ll be fine! You two need to worry about school,” you said firmly, looking to your brother.  You reached up to Lip’s bunk and ruffled his hair, “it’s your junior year, Lip…I want you focused and ready to graduate…”

“What about me?”

You smiled over your shoulder to Ian, “well you have to graduate…that’s not even a question.  If me and Lip do it, so do you!”

He smiled, “Fi dropped out junior year!”

“And I know she regrets it!” you reminded him, “we’re working hard so that down the road you guys don’t have to.  Even I’m continuing my education by being in college when I’m not working!”

“Online college doesn’t count!”

“I go to campus two days a week, mister!” you reminded your little brother as you playfully slapped him, “and when you graduate you better be joining me!”

“I will!” he promised, “SAT prep later?  Think I got a few ways I can chip in!”

“Tomorrow after breakfast I have some time!” you agreed.  He leaned down and you gave him a kiss on the cheek, before moving to Ian and doing the same thing to him, “pancakes or French toast?”

Ian smiled, “French toast!”

“Good choice!”

“SHIT SHIT SHIT!”

You raised a brow and looked once more between your brothers as Fiona appeared running up the stairs and bolting into your shared room.

“What the fuck was that?”

“I’ll figure it out.  You two get to bed!” you confirmed, leaving the boy’s room and closing the door behind you. 

“Oh…uh, hi!” Steve said awkwardly as you and your sister came to a head at him, “cops looking for you two?”

“Stay here!” you both sighed in unison.  You followed your sister down the stairs. When you got to the bottom, you saw Tony and another officer dragging him into the house. 

Your heart felt like it stopped. 

Your father’s incoherent words seemed like they were falling on deaf ears as you tried to think of something to say.  Tony didn’t even see you until they put Frank against the dish washer, “I wouldn’t put him near a carpet til his pants dry a bit-oh…Sofia…you’re home…I thought you normally worked at the club…Usually I drive you home after-“

“Got canned!” you frowned, “Fi’s new boy toy decked Clifton for calling her a skank.”

“Thanks Tony!” your sister frowned, giving you a glare, “You really gonna tell everyone that?”

“He usually gives me a ride home!” you said, pointing out the obvious, “would be awkward if he showed up and expected me to walk out at three AM and I’m nowhere to be seen.”

“Sorry about the job, Sofia…”

“Thanks…let me walk you back to your car…I think Fi and Steve were in the middle of a…conversation.”

Your sister flipped you off as Tony handed him Frank’s other shoe.  You pulled Tony out the door and his partner chuckled at you, “I’ll leave you two alone for a second.”

“It’s fine, Ran-“

“Thanks!” you said firmly, cutting off your best friend.  He gave you a faux glare, but it instantly turned into a smile when you pushed yourself against his chest, needing the comfort of his hugs.

“You okay?”

“Today’s been a shit day!” you admitted as you held him, “Fi let Debs take Liam to school as show and tell and Carl almost got to see you today when he tried to hide a pack of baseball cards in his pockets while we were shopping.  And you know Frank…he was at the Alibi Room earlier, but I’m guessing Kev ignored me and gave him more anyways.  And you know about the whole club thing now…And right before you walked in, while I was re-tucking the kids in, Fi was fucking that guy in the kitchen.”

“Hey…it’s okay,” he sighed, holding you tight, “things will get easier…and if you want to pick up some hours, I know that the chief loves when you stop by with some baked goods…and we just lost Janet to maternity leave…you could do some administrative work if you play your cards right.”

“And see your ugly mug every day?” you teased.

“I know for a fact you love this ugly mug!” he smirked, “otherwise you wouldn’t have fake married it when we were in head start.”

"And then you went behind my back and married Fiona when we were five."

"Come on you can't still be mad at that!" he teased.

“You were cuter when we were younger!” you pouted, "I forgave the five year old you, but not adult you!"

“Well I may not be cuter than when I was five, but you’ve definitely gotten cuter…”

A blush rose to your cheeks and you pulled away, “Tony…”

“Markovich!”

The two of you nearly jumped away from one another at the sound of his partner’s voice.  He frowned, “so I-I’ll see you around sometime?”

“Well, I’m done at the club so I’ll be free tomorrow and Sunday night,” you offered, “do you work?”

“No…I’m off…come over Sunday night?” he asked, “mom misses seeing you around…sure she’d pull out all the stops.”

“Okay…” you agreed, wanting nothing more than to see him, “Sunday night!”

“Great!  I’ll let her know.  See you then!” he grinned.  He leaned down and kissed your cheek, and you felt yourself swooning as he walked away.

Chapter 2