#operation: first noel

[biblical-chronicles]

Locked out

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where you lock yourself out of your hotel room and end up in Noel's.

[18+ !!!] [enemies to lovers]

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The job had its perks. Traveling the world, working with some of the biggest gigs, free booze—Oasis had money to burn, after all. But there was one massive, massive downside.

Noel fucking Gallagher.

It wasn’t just that he was a sarcastic, self-important, grumpy bastard (which he absolutely was). It wasn’t even that he always had some smart-arse comment locked and loaded, ready to wind you up. It was the fact that he seemed to enjoy it, like taking the piss out of you was a personal hobby.

The lads had clocked it ages ago.

"How old are you two, seriously?" Guigs had said just the other night, shaking his head as you and Noel argued over god knows what. "You’re worse than me Nan and Grandad, swear down."

"Yeah, the sexual tension’s killin’ me," Bonehead had added, smirking as he took a drag from his cigarette.

Noel had scoffed, shaking his head. "Fucking hell, mate. I’d sooner shag the local nitty than deal with this one."

You flipped him off, unfazed. "Oh, yeah? I bet the nitty would be the one having to get tested after that, dickhead."

It was constant, this back-and-forth, from the moment you woke up to the second you clocked out. Noel loved to threaten to fire you at least once a day, always with the same lazy reasoning.

"Should’ve sacked you ages ago," he’d mutter, watching you tune his guitar before a gig. "Only reason you’re still ‘ere is ‘cause I can’t be arsed teachin’ some other muppet how I like it."

"Yeah, yeah," you’d reply, never looking up. "Don’t do me any favors, Gallagher."

And so it went.

Now, though, none of that mattered. Not the bickering, not the jabs. Because right now? You were stood in the dimly lit hotel lobby, staring at a handwritten sign that might as well have been a death sentence.

"LOBBY CLOSED. OPERATING HOURS: 6 AM - 12 PM."

"Fucking great," you muttered, running a hand down your face.

It had been a long day, and all you wanted was a shower, a bed, and maybe a few hours of peace before having to deal with Noel’s bullshit all over again tomorrow. But no, instead, you had to stand here like a mug because somehow, in your exhaustion, you’d managed to lock yourself out of your room.

Just as you were debating whether you could break into your own room with sheer willpower alone, the sound of footsteps echoed through the lobby.

And just like fucking clockwork—

"Eh?"

You knew that voice.

"Did you get lost, or what?"

You shut your eyes for a brief moment, praying for strength, then turned to see Noel strolling in through the revolving door.

He was still dressed from wherever the fuck he’d been; jeans, adidas trainers, a zip-up jacket with the collar popped just enough to make him look like he was about to sell you dodgy gear in a car park.

You gritted your teeth. "Fuck off, Noel."

His smirk widened, slow and knowing. "Ohh, someone’s touchy."

You turned back to the desk, hoping he’d get bored and leave. No such luck. He sauntered up beside you, eyes flicking to the sign before back to you.

Realization dawned, and then he just laughed.

"No." He pointed at you, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe his luck. "No fuckin’ way. You locked yourself out, didn’t you?"

You glared at him, crossing your arms. "No."

He raised an eyebrow, amused.

You exhaled sharply. "Okay, maybe, and no one is even here! How is a lobby not 24/7?"

"And you didn’t take your key, and you didn’t check the sign first," he said, as if reading from a list of your stupid decisions. "Jesus Christ, love. That’s incredible."

You scowled. "Piss off."

Noel, clearly enjoying himself, leaned against the counter, eyes twinkling with pure delight. "Me? Oh, nah. I think I’ll stick around, actually. This is too fuckin’ good."

You groaned. "Go to bed, Noel."

"Bed?" He feigned a yawn, stretching his arms dramatically. "Oh, yeah. That’s right. I can go to bed. Because I have access to me own fuckin’ room."

You clenched your fists. "I have a backstage pass. I’ll just sleep in the tour bus."

Noel snorted. "Yeah? Or on one of them couches over there?" He gestured vaguely to the dimly lit lobby seating area. "Might be comfy, if no one nicks your shite first."

You stilled.

He grinned. "Ohh, right. Didn’t think about that, did ya?"

You huffed. "Fuck."

Noel pressed a hand to his chest in mock sympathy. "Tragic, really." Then, after a beat, "... Guess you’re stuck here then."

You gave him a flat look. "Guess so."

He smirked, clearly waiting for you to crack.

Which is why it pained you—physically—when you exhaled and muttered, "Or… I could stay in yours. Just ‘til the desk opens."

Noel blinked. "Oh?"

You clenched your jaw. "So no one nicks me shite."

His smirk returned, slow and victorious. "Yeah, yeah. ‘Course. Wouldn’t want anyone robbin’ your precious little pass, would we?"

You resisted the urge to deck him.

"Alright then," he said, turning toward the lifts, his voice filled with pure satisfaction. "C’mon, roomie."

You glared at his back as you followed him down the corridors.

Noel shut the door behind him and turned to face you, arms crossed, an insufferable smirk plastered across his face.

"Well, well," he said, leaning back against the door. "Never thought I’d see the day you begged to stay in me room."

You scoffed, rolling your eyes as you dropped your bag by the chair. "Begged? Fuck off, Noel. I suggested it ‘cause I had no choice."

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Ahh, see, that’s where you’re wrong, love. You had a choice." He gestured vaguely toward the lobby. "Could’ve stayed down there, kept them couches company."

"And let some knobhead nick me pass? Yeah, right." You crossed your arms. "This is just survival, mate. Has nothing to do with you."

His smirk widened. "Yeah? Then why’re you lookin’ at me like that?"

You blinked. "Like what?"

Noel tilted his head, eyes sweeping over you, unreadable. "Like you wanna throttle me."

You huffed, exasperated. "That’s just me natural state when you’re around, Gallagher."

"Ahh." He grinned. "See, I knew you liked me."

You let out a sharp laugh. "Like you? Jesus, Noel, I wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire."

His grin didn’t falter. In fact, it only grew.

"Yeah? Funny," he mused, stepping closer, voice low, lazy. "‘Cause you’re still ‘ere, ain’t ya?"

You swallowed but held your ground. "I don’t have a room, Noel."

He hummed, nodding slowly. "Right, yeah. That’s why you’re ‘ere. Not ‘cause you wanna get me alone, see what all the fuss is about."

You scoffed, shaking your head. "You are so full of yourself."

He gave you a slow once-over, something dark and knowing flickering in his gaze. "Yeah?"

You inhaled sharply, blood running hot. "Fuck you."

Noel’s smirk twitched—almost like he’d been waiting for you to say that.

"Ohh, wouldn’t you like that?"

The air shifted.

You were on him before you could think, hands grabbing at his shirt, pulling him down, crashing your mouth against his.

Noel barely had a second to react before he was pushing back, hands gripping your waist, shoving you up against the nearest wall. The impact sent a lamp wobbling on the bedside table, the dull thud of your back against the wall swallowed by the sound of both your ragged breaths.

His lips were warm, rough, demanding. His fingers dug into your waist, like he needed to anchor himself.

You bit his bottom lip, hard, just to be a dickhead.

Noel groaned against your mouth, grip tightening. "Oh, you wanna play it like that, do ya?"

Before you could smirk, he grabbed your wrists and pinned them against the wall, pressing in, chest flush against yours.

You yanked a hand free, fingers tangling in his hair, tugging just to make him groan—and when he did, when his breath stuttered, you felt it everywhere.

"Jesus Christ," he muttered against your lips.

You smirked. "What’s wrong, Gallagher?" you breathed, voice teasing, drunk on the power shift. "Thought you could handle me?"

Noel laughed. "Oh, sweetheart," he murmured, lips grazing your jaw, "I could ruin you."

Your stomach dropped.

You clenched your jaw. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Your grip tightened in his hair again, yanking his head back just enough to make him hiss. His smirk didn’t falter, though—if anything, it widened, smug and infuriating.

"You arrogant twat," you breathed, dragging your nails down the back of his neck. "Think you’re some fuckin’ god, don’t ya?"

Noel chuckled—dark, low. "Please, love," he murmured, voice dripping with mockery. "You’ve been gaggin’ for this since the day we met. Don’t pretend otherwise."

Your teeth gritted. "You’re deluded."

"Yeah?" He stepped closer, the heat of him pressing against you, trapping you between his body and the wall. "Then why ain’t you pushin’ me away?"

Your fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt before you even realized it, and that was all it took.

One second, you were glaring up at him, seething, and the next—you were airborne.

A breathless gasp tore from your throat as he threw you onto the bed, the mattress dipping beneath the sudden force of your body. Before you could even scramble upright, he was on you—knees bracketing your hips, hands gripping your wrists, pressing them into the sheets.

"You bastard—"

A sharp smack landed on your thigh, jolting you, heat blooming where his palm connected.

You froze.

Noel grinned. "What was that, sweetheart?"

Your breathing was uneven, chest rising and falling rapidly beneath him. You hated the way your body betrayed you—the way your back arched, the way your thighs instinctively clenched together at the sting of his hand.

He noticed.

Of course he noticed.

His smirk deepened. "Ohhh, that’s what you like, is it?" Another sharp slap—same spot, same deliberate pressure, just enough to make you jolt. "That why you’ve been windin’ me up all this time? Hopin’ I’d do this?"

You bit back a gasp as his teeth grazed your jaw, lips teasing over the heated skin just below your ear, fingers tightening where he held you down.

"You gonna let me go, or you just gonna sit here runnin’ your gob all night?" you shot back, arching up slightly beneath him, trying to gain some kind of control back.

Noel laughed, a little breathless. "Oh, you love this, don’t ya?" His hands shifted, releasing your wrists just to drag down your arms, over your waist, gripping your hips hard. "All that fight, all that fuckin’ attitude—"

"You love it," you shot back, daring.

Something snapped behind his eyes.

Before you could say another word, his mouth crashed against yours again.

It was all teeth, all tension, years of resentment and frustration and something else entirely spilling out between you.

You clawed at him in return, nails dragging up his back, yanking at his hair, swallowing the groan that tore from his throat.

"Still wanna tell me to fuck off, love?" Noel rasped against your lips, breath uneven.

Your fingers fisted in his shirt, pulling him back down. "Shut up." you muttered, crashing your mouth against his again.

He barely hesitated before paying you back, fisting a hand into your hair and pulling your head back, exposing the curve of your throat. His mouth was on you in an instant, hot and open, biting down just enough to make you gasp.

"Fuckin’ knew it," he muttered, voice thick with something triumphant. "Knew you’d be like this—mouthy little thing until you’re under me."

"And yet again, shut it." you snapped, even as your back arched, chasing the feel of him.

He laughed, breathless and sharp, his free hand sliding down to your thigh, gripping hard. Without warning, he flipped you onto your stomach, pressing you down against the mattress with the weight of him. You let out a sound somewhere between frustration and something else entirely, but any protest died in your throat when his hand slapped against your arse, the sting shooting straight through you.

"That shut you up quick, didn’t it?" he murmured, lips ghosting over the shell of your ear.

You tried to glare at him over your shoulder, but the effect was ruined by the way your breath hitched when he did it again, the sharp slap sending heat curling low in your stomach.

"Say it," he taunted, his grip tightening on your hip. "Say you want me."

You clenched your jaw, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

But Noel was nothing if not persistent. His hand slid lower, teasing, just enough to make you squirm beneath him. His teeth grazed your shoulder, his breath warm against your skin. "C’mon, sweetheart. We both know you do."

Your pride was a stubborn thing, but your body was a traitor.

You turned your head just enough to meet his gaze, eyes dark with something heady and reckless. "Go on, then," you breathed. "Do your worst."

His fingers dug into your hips as he dragged you back against him, his grip bruising, possessive. You barely had a moment to catch your breath before his teeth found your shoulder again, biting down just enough to make you jolt beneath him. He groaned at the way you twitched, how your body betrayed that last shred of resistance you were so desperately clinging to.

"That’s more like it," he muttered against your skin, his voice thick with amusement. "Knew you just needed someone to put you in your place."

You scoffed, even as your breath came quicker. "You think that’s you?"

He laughed. "Oh, love," he murmured, dragging his mouth up the side of your neck, "I know it is."

His hands slid lower, mapping the shape of you, fingers pressing into every curve like he wanted to commit it to memory. He moved with a slow, deliberate kind of cruelty, reveling in every shudder, every little sound you didn’t mean to make. You clenched your jaw, still stubborn, but it only made him smirk against your skin.

"Still holding out on me?" he whispered, lips brushing your ear. "Let’s see how long that lasts."

Then his hands gripped tighter, and he moved—a slow, devastating roll of his hips that had you sucking in a sharp breath. You felt the shape of him pressed firmly against you, the sheer heat of him burning through the layers between you both.

And then, just to be cruel, he stilled.

You let out an involuntary sound of frustration, which only made his grin widen. "Oh, what’s that?" he teased, rolling his hips just slightly, barely giving you anything. "Getting impatient, are we?"

You gritted your teeth, refusing to play into it.

His breath ghosted over your ear, smug and infuriating. "You wanna try that again, sweetheart?" His hand slid down, teasing at the edge of your waistband, making heat curl low in your stomach. "Or am I gonna have to make you say it?"

You swallowed hard, every nerve in your body alive, burning with the heat of him. Your pride screamed at you to hold out just a little longer, to refuse him one last time.

But then he rocked against you again, the friction sending sparks up your spine, and every ounce of stubbornness melted right out of you.

"Fuck," you muttered, barely more than a breath. "Please."

Noel chuckled, dragging his lips over your shoulder. "There she is."

The moment that single word fell from your lips, his control snapped. His fingers curled into the waistband of your clothes, yanking them down with a rough impatience that sent a shiver racing through you. His trousers quickly followed, ending up in a pile on the floor.

A sharp gasp tore from your throat as he pressed against you again, now with nothing between you. The heat of him, how hard he already was, it made your stomach twist in anticipation. But instead of giving you what you were desperate for, he dragged the moment out, hands roaming over your bare skin, taking his time.

"You feel that?" he murmured, rolling his hips just enough for you to feel the full length of him pressing against you, the slow friction making your breath catch. "That’s what you’ve been fighting, sweetheart. Tell me—was it worth it?"

You barely had time to shudder before he reached back, guiding himself against you, teasing, just barely pressing in before retreating again.

You shifted, pushing back against him, but his grip tightened immediately, holding you in place. "Ah, ah," he taunted, fingers still digging into your hips. "You finally beg for it, and now you think you’re in charge?"

You opened your mouth to snap something back—maybe something sharp, maybe something desperate, you weren’t even sure—but before you could, he thrust inside you in one smooth, deep motion.

The air left your lungs in a sharp, broken gasp.

"There you go." he muttered, his voice a little rougher now.

He barely gave you a moment to adjust before he set a brutal pace, dragging out only to slam back in, the force of it driving you further into the mattress. The sounds of skin against skin, breathless, ragged gasps, and the creak of the bed quickly were the only things filling the space between you.

You fisted the sheets, struggling to hold onto even a shred of composure, but Noel was relentless. His fingers curled around your jaw, tilting your head back slightly. "Listen to yourself" he murmured, lips brushing your ear. "Tried so hard to act like you didn’t want this. And now you’re dripping for me."

The humiliation only made the heat in your belly coil tighter.

As if sensing it, Noel let out a low chuckle. "You like that, don’t you?" He drove into you harder, just to hear the little choked noise that escaped your throat. "Fuck, you’re taking me so well."

His other hand slid between your bodies, fingers finding that sensitive spot between your legs. The second he touched you, you clenched harder around him, and Noel groaned, sending a fresh wave of arousal crashing through you.

"Shit," Noel rasped, his pace stuttering for half a second before he caught himself. "Filthy fuckin’ thing, aren’t you?"

His grip on your hips was bruising, each snap of his hips knocking you further into the mattress, dragging another broken sound from your throat. You couldn’t even think, couldn’t do anything but take it, your body molded to his will, wrecked under the sheer force of him.

And he knew it.

"Where’s all that attitude now, huh?" His voice was tinged with mockery, as his hand smoothed up the curve of your spine, just for a moment, just long enough to make you think he might show some mercy.

Then he fisted his hand into your hair and yanked.

A sharp gasp ripped from your lips as your head was wrenched back, the burn at your scalp sending a jolt straight through you. Your back arched instinctively, pressing you closer against him, the new angle making you whimper.

"That’s more like it," Noel murmured, his grip in your hair tightening as he used it to pull you back against him, making you feel every inch of him sinking even deeper.

His other hand slid up your throat, fingers pressing just enough to make your pulse hammer under his touch.

"You like when I handle you like this, don’t you?" he muttered, voice a low rasp against your ear.

He loosened his grip on your throat just enough for you to speak, but your words failed you. All you could do was let out a broken, pleading sound.

Noel groaned, his fingers flexing around your throat like he felt the way you clenched around him. "Fuck, you’re gonna make me come just with these sweet desperate moans love."

He wrenched your head back a bit further, forcing your spine into a deeper arch, forcing you to take him exactly how he wanted. Every thrust was rough, deliberate, his hips slamming against you hard enough to bruise. Your body had no choice but to follow, every nerve ending alight, a coil of unbearable tension winding tighter and tighter in your core.

"No more remarks? No more telling me to fuck off?" he taunted, breath hot against your cheek.

Your fingers scrambled for purchase against the sheets, your mind a haze of pleasure and frustration. You wanted to say something, wanted to bite back just to spite him, but he was wrecking you, and you could barely form a single coherent thought.

So instead, you just whimpered his name.

"Fuck, that’s it," he rasped, voice wrecked. "You gonna come for me, sweetheart? You gonna fall apart just like this, with my cock buried inside you?"

His fingers dipped lower again, rubbing against your clit in tight, unrelenting circles, the pace of his thrusts turning ragged, desperate. The coil inside you twisted tighter, pleasure crashing over you in waves until you could barely breathe.

"You close?" he taunted, yanking your head back again, making sure you felt every single inch of him. "I can feel it, sweetheart, feel you gripping me so fuckin’ tight. Just let go. Come for me."

Your body locked up, pleasure blinding, white-hot and overwhelming as it crashed over you in wave after wave. You were dimly aware of your own broken cries, of the way your walls clenched around him like a vice, but nothing existed beyond the pure bliss of it.

Noel groaned, voice strangled, as he fucked you through it, dragging out every last shudder, his pace turning frantic. His grip on your hair tightened, his hips slamming against yours one last time before he buried himself deep with a low, wrecked curse.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the sharp, uneven rhythm of your breathing.

Noel was still draped over you, his weight grounding, his skin hot where it pressed against yours. Neither of you moved. Neither of you spoke. It was like neither of you wanted to be the first to break whatever fragile thing had settled between you.

Eventually, he exhaled, a deep, satisfied sound, before rolling onto his side, taking you with him. His arm hooked around your waist, pulling you flush against him, his chest rising and falling against your back.

"Well," he murmured, voice hoarse, teasing, but softer than before. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

You huffed a breath, still too dazed to formulate a proper response. He felt the way you relaxed against him, how you didn’t immediately shove him away.

A quiet beat passed before he spoke again, voice low but sincere.

"Didn’t think you’d actually let me touch you like that."

You hesitated, your fingers idly tracing over his forearm where it rested against your stomach. "Didn’t think I’d want you to," you admitted.

He made a sound—half amusement, half something thoughtful. "And now?"

You swallowed, feeling the weight of the question.

There was no point in denying it, not now.

"I do want you to now, but you’re still a mug." you muttered.

Noel chuckled, low and lazy, nuzzling his nose against the curve of your shoulder.

You turned slightly in his hold, just enough to meet his gaze. He was already watching you, eyes half-lidded.

"Maybe we should stop pretending we hate each other," you said, voice softer now, more thoughtful.

Noel’s lips twitched, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Oh, love," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from your face, fingers lingering at your cheek. "I never hated you."

Your heart stumbled.

He let the words settle, his thumb grazing the curve of your jaw, before he smirked. "Just really, really wanted to shut you up."

You rolled your eyes, but the bite was gone, replaced by something warm. "And what do you want now?"

His expression turned serious—just for a second. Then, he tugged you closer, pressing his mouth against yours, slow and lingering.

"You," he murmured against your lips. "Think I always have."

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oh who doesn't love some slight enemies to lovers, thanks to whoever suggested this xx

[oacest]

for someone whos about to have a lot of time on their hands what would you recommend as top oasis gigs to watch (excluding knebworth, corestates, the whiskey, wembley as obvious ones) as you guys seem to have seen a lot of them

YESSSS what a glorious request! we've been training our whole lives 13 months for this moment. gonna take this opportunity to make a general rec list for anyone who might be interested, so pls forgive the inclusion of ones you've already mentioned.

(DISCLAIMER btw that some of these shows were filmed by an audience member with a heinous 90s camcorder, so prepare yourself to endure and eventually enjoy some potato quality recordings. the proshot ones aren't usually much better tbh. accept it, embrace it, love it.)

VITAL OASIS GIG WATCHING (an inexhaustive primer)

knebworth [night one] [night two]. self explanatory. if you haven't seen knebworth idek what to tell you. god tier. they weren't just sipping the good juice this weekend they were chugging it in a competitive keg stand. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend watching both nights ofc but if you only watch one, make it the second. they pop off juuuust a little harder, the vibes are flawless, and also liam's wearing patsy's huge white sweater because he's a fashion queen he supposedly forgot to pack enough clothes for the weekend <3 <3 <3

g-mex, 1997. this is the show that made me fall crazy in love with bhn. it's the sweatiest liam's ever been and that's saying a LOT. contains this classic moment of liam tenderly toweling the sweat from noel's face between songs. liam's vocals on don't go away literally drove bal to tears.

wembley night one, 2000. let's not speak of night two, but night one was unbelievably good, they both looked the hottest they've ever looked, and noel was flirting haaaardcore with someone (sara???) sidestage/in the audience between songs the whole time.

maine road night one, 1996. both nights are superb and should definitely be watched, but if we're narrowing it down to one or the other, night one contains liam teasing noel about dedicating wonderwall to meg and noel retorting that liam's just peeved bc it's not for him. which could mean nothing.

earl's court, 1995. of "we had sex last night" + afterparty kissing fame. also liam does (for, as far as we know, the first and only time ever) octopus's garden during whatever, which is sooooo important.

corestates, 1996, aka drunk philly. theeee gig of all time in our opinion. an absolute disaster from start to finish 😍. they roll onstage so drunk they can barely walk, much less remember how any of the songs go, and it only gets better from there. not necessarily recommending this one for beginners bc it's more fun if you're familiar with all the songs/interpreting mancunian slurring/their normal onstage behaviour so that the true insanity of what transpires can hit you in full. you may already be familiar with liam getting scared by noel's woos, giving noel a kiss between songs, or noel playing guitar on his knees to liam's utter delight, but every single minute of this show contains something equally as ridiculous, hilarious, and endearing. best viewed with friends imo. and very important to remember that it took place a mere three weeks after knebworth lmao.

radio city music hall, 2000. this one's solid in general but it's included here largely bc noel is high as absolute fuck and basically having sex with his guitar the entire show. particularly during gas panic.

the white room, 1995. competes with g-mex for liam sweatiness factor. everyone here is thirsty beyond belief, most of all the camera operator and editing team. from the general aura it seems likely liam and noel were in the middle of a furious fucking fight immediately beforehand. liam's entire existence in this one defies description. it's less than half an hour, so well worth a quick watch.

glastonbury, 1994. can only find this incomplete version online, so it's also less than half an hour. classic for a reason! liam is so cute in his preppy little sweater with the buttondown collar underneath that andy, who was there with ride at the time, imprinted on it immediately and recalled it years later. mood.

jools holland, 2000. absolute thirst trap of a show. features liam reminding everyone to wear a condom. 👍

nyc hammerstein, 1997. fun fact, any proshot film release of fade in-out from this era features the dubbed audio from this gig, because it's just that fucking good. plus liam's wearing a very silly newsboy cap.

lille, 1997. aka drunk france. very charming, very fun, less chaotic than drunk philly but contains some excellent groping, and liam falling over 🥰.

barrowlands, 2001. really fucking great. noel looks like this. (can't find the full show on youtube but bilibili.com is your best friend when it comes to locating slightly obscure gigs and interviews. let's all say thank you to chinese fans, who work harder than god.)

nippon budokan, 1998. noel does the most astonishing acoustic set you've ever heard in your life, including this unbelievable setting sun/fade in-out combo that will change your brain chemistry fundamentally.

manchester, 2005. despite liam's truly hideous ensemble and the generally evil vibes, this is a solid one. one of the few later years ones we've been able to bring ourselves to watch tbh. contains An Incident that compelled me to make this.

live by the sea, 1995. excellent all around and it feels unreal to have such good footage from so early. liam is unspeakably beautiful, and they get the football score delivered to them halfway through the gig bc they're embarrassing nerds.

Rock in Rio 2001. extremely solid gig, with an absolutely stunning noel solo during gas panic that builds and builds and builds...

this is only a small handful of the amazing shows out there that can and should be watched, but quite honestly you can't miss with oasis gigs. we have yet to find a single one that doesn't contain some kind of weird horniness, particularly exquisite song performance, or mindshatteringly cute moment. it's well worth just looking up "oasis live [year]" and choosing one at random. (tread carefully with anything after 2002 though lol, shit tends to get miserable.)

godspeed, happy watching!

[leaawrites]

Pretty Little Liar

Noel Gallagher x fem!actress!reader

Summary: in which, a picture makes insecurities rise from the depth.

Warnings: age gap, fluff, bit of angst

Wordcount: 0.8k

Part 2, Masterlist

“And what about this picture?”

Her co-star shifted over the photo, which had been all over the news for the last two weeks, of her and Noel Gallagher leaving a restaurant almost at the same time. Walking closely behind the other. They climbed into the same car as well, though the press didn’t catch that moment.

Feeling her pulse quicken, she hoped the lie-detector wasn’t catching up. It was good publicity, her management told her as they proposed the idea of them going out and being seen for the first time since they started seeing each other.

“Just having dinner with a music legend,” she answered, looking calmly down at the picture while pinching her skin to stop her face from heating up and her heartbeat from racing in fear and the feeling of love she felt every time she saw him. “Nothing romantically.”

What a fucking liar she was.

“She’s telling the truth,” the woman operating the machine said, making Y/n visibly relax into her seat again.

Her shoulders relaxing and a deep breath falling out of her mouth, escaping her lings where it was previously held hostage.

“That’s right, haters. Nothing going on between them, stop saying nasty shit now.” Y/n laughed gratefully as her co-star looked straight at the camera, with a serious tone and a death stare on his face.

The publicity was good, though it wasn’t exactly one that could be controlled. The moment the picture was released, people started commenting on everything. The age difference, the problematic of it all and, of course, on it being nothing more than a make pretend and that she was only after him for the fame.

If only they knew.

Slumping down on the sofa in London two weeks later, after the press tour was finally over and the video released, the comments stopped flooding in at a mass. They were still there sometimes, but nothing too serious.

“I can’t believe they believed you that,” Noel called from the kitchen, the video still playing on his phone as he was preparing tea for the two of them.

“What can I say? I’m just such an amazing actress,” Y/n said, smirking as she heard his laughter echo from the other room.

His feet gently padding on the floor as he walked over to her again, two cups in his hands. Putting them down on the table, he leaned over to her, pressing his lips on her forehead before moving down. Travelling over her cheek, over her jaw and neck until they finally landed on her lips.

Pulling her closer with his hand on her cheek, he could feel the smile spreading on her face from the familiar contact she craved for too long now. The hasted goodbye or good morning pecks weren’t enough for either, both feeling more contempt with the slow, raw emotions lingering between their lips.

“I missed you so much, darling,” Noel whispered, his lips still close to hers, but leaving space to breath.

“I missed you too,” she answered, her hand moving through his hair.

She knew this was problematic and nothing she saw herself being tangled in two years prior, but it happened and nothing could make her regret it. Noel was sweet and gentle, he was funny, making her feel secure in a world so cruel and unpredictable.

He made her feel loved.

Watching him closely, she saw the familiar look of awareness flash through his pupils, though now it seemed threatening. Like the realisation that with every calm there would be a storm following.

“What is it?” She asked, hooking her leg around his waist and moving him closer towards her.

His lips falling on her collarbone before answering hesitantly, “If you ever wanna stop I won’t blame you.”

His words made her eyes open wide in shock, though before she could answer, Noel continued speaking. “I know this isn’t exactly what you expected it to become after that party and I understand if you find someone else. Someone your age.”

“Noel,” she warned him to stop speaking.

“I know that you deserve better.”

“No,” she said, putting her hands on either side of his face and moving his head up for him to look at her directly. His eyes holding emotions as deep as oceans. “I want you, okay? I decided that this would be alright and that we would happen, you were the one wanting to distance yourself at the beginning and now you’re doing it again, why?”

“The people-”

“The people? That’s all you’re worried about? You, fucking Noel Gallagher, who doesn’t give a fuck about anyone’s opinion is fearing someone else’s opinion all of a sudden?” It felt like she laughed right at him, laughing in his face out of shock at his stupidity.

“This isn’t about me, alright? This is about you. If this comes out, your name will be all over every headline and I know how much stuff like this can pull you down. I don’t do this out of selfishness, I do this because I love you.”

Rolling her eyes, she threw her head back in annoyance at his words. “God, I love you too, that’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m telling you to stop being so stupid and just let things go their way. We can’t change how they perceive this, but I know that I can handle anything as long as you’re there, alright?” She asked, watching him nod his head before he sat down next her and pulled her into his chest now.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Judd Legum, Rebecca Crosby, and Noel Sims at Popular Information:

On March 15, President Trump signed a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The proclamation claimed that the Alien Enemies Act gave Trump the authority to summarily deport alleged members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a gang based in Venezuela, without due process. At 5:26 and 5:42 PM Eastern, shortly after the proclamation was posted to the White House website, two planes loaded with purported TdA members took off from an airport in Harlingen, Texas bound for San Salvador, El Salvador. A third plane of accused TdA members took off from the same airport at 7:36 PM Eastern. In all, about 200 people were on the planes. There are a few big problems with these flights. First, the Alien Enemies Act does not authorize the president to deport alleged gang members without due process. The law is "a wartime authority that allows the president to detain or deport the natives and citizens of an enemy nation." It can be invoked only in the context of a "declared war" or "invasion" by "any foreign nation or government." The United States is not at war with Venezuela and the 200 people, whether or not they are gang members, did not "invade" the United States on behalf of Venezuela. Second, before any of the flights landed — and before one flight even took off — a federal judge ordered the flights not to proceed. "You shall inform your clients of this immediately, and that any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States," a federal judge told lawyers representing the Trump administration at 6:48 PM. The ACLU and Democracy Forward had sued the administration on behalf of the accused migrants. The Trump administration ignored the judge's order, did not turn the planes in the air around, and directed a third flight to take off. Once in San Salvador, the detainees were transported to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), a notorious mega-prison that can house over 40,000 people. The inmates are confined to cells for 23.5 hours a day, sleep on metal bunks with no sheets, pillows, or mattresses, and relieve themselves in an open toilet. Upon arrival from the United States, the detainees were "forced to kneel while prison guards shaved their hair and shouted commands." Beyond the legalities, there is another fundamental problem with the deportation operation: many of the alleged gang members sent to CECOT do not appear to be gang members at all. The Trump administration appears to be linking some of the migrants to TdA through tattoos. But, according to experts, TdA affiliates do not “have any particular signs that identify their membership."

A significant share of those alleged to be members of Tren de Aragua sent to the infamous CECOT prison in El Salvador as a result of Donald Trump’s lawless Alien Enemies Act declaration do not have any gang ties at all.

See Also:

The Parnas Perspective (Aaron Parnas): BREAKING: ICE Admits To Deporting Migrants With No Criminal History To El Salvador

The Guardian: What to know about the El Salvador mega-prison where Trump sent deported Venezuelans

[ciceroprofacto]

SOA supplementals

Primary Sources / Letters

Papers of George Washington RevWar Series volume 11 (all)

The Army Correspondence of Colonel John Laurens in the Years 1777-1778 compiled by William Gilmore Simms (p.145-162)

The Papers of Henry Laurens volume 13 (p.33-140)

The Political Writings of Alexander Hamilton by Holloway and Wilson (p.7-117)

Backstory / additional context

The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch (all)

The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution by Benjamin Carp (all)

Kidnapping the Enemy by Christian M. McBurney (all)

Strategy, Politics, Staff

Fatal Sunday by Lender and Stone (p.xi-122)

Washington's Secret War by Thomas Fleming (all: p.223-244)

To Starve the Army at Pleasure by E. Wayne Carp (various)

The Valley Forge Winter by Wayne Bodle (all: p.163-220)

George Washington's Indispensable Men by Arthur Leftkowitz (p.15, 45-157)

John Laurens and the American Revolution by Gregory Massey (p.86-106)

Washington's General: Nathaniel Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution by Terry Galloway (p.165-171)

Wives / Women of the Army

Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts (various)

The General & Mrs Washington by Bruce Chadwick (p.209-222)

Martha Washington: An American Life by Patricia Brady (p.118-126)

Caty: A Biography of Catherine Littlefield Greene by John & Janet Stegeman (p.48-59)

Pox Americana by Elizabeth Fenn (p.98-103)

Spies

Revolutionary Spies Intelligence and Espionage in America's First War by Tim McNeese (p.99-209)

General Washington's Spies on Long Island and in New York by Morton Pennypacker (p.1-119)

Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose (all)

Spies in the Continental Capital by John Nagy (all)

George Washington's Secret Spy War: The Making of America's First Spymaster by John Nagy (all)

Allies / foreign officers / special forces

Unlikely Allies: How a Merchant, a Playwright, and a Spy Saved the American Revolution by Joe Richard Paul (all)

Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations by Craig Nelson (p.99-145)

Special Operations During the American Revolution by Robert Tonsetic (p.7-149)

Light Horse Harry: A Biography of Washington's Great Cavalryman by Noel B. Gerson (p.1-60)

John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy by Evan Thomas (p.97-133)

The Admiral and the Ambassador by Scott Martelle (p.49-54)

Tadeusz Kościuszko and Casimir Pulaski: The Lives of the Revolutionary War's Most Famous Polish Officers by Charles River Editors (Pulaski section)

Pulaski: A Portrait of Freedom by R.D. Jamro (p.85-99)

Steuben / Drill

The Drillmaster of Valley Forge by Paul Lockhart (p.105-113)

The Life of Von Steuben by Frederich Kapp (p.120-136)

Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition (all)

Lafayette

For Liberty and Glory: Washington, Lafayette and Their Revolutions by James R. Gaines (p.98-106)

Adopted Son by David Clary (p.154-179)

Lafayette by Harlow Giles Unger (p.65-71)

The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered by Laura Auricchio (p.59-64)

[soundslivemagazine]

In Defence Of Oasis

Exploring the hype behind one of Britain’s most loved and raucous rock n roll bands.

Unless you’ve been living under the most soundproof of rocks this week, you will have heard the news. After a decade and a half of the alluring ‘will-they-won’t-they’ drama, the Gallagher brothers Noel and Liam have rekindled just as suddenly as they’d ended it all backstage at a gig in Paris in 2009.

The rumours abound on social media suddenly began to feel a lot less like fantasies when Oasis, Noel and Liam’s accounts all teased an announcement last Saturday. Oasis had made announcements since their split, usually about anniversaries, merchandise and documentaries, this wasn’t out of the ordinary. In fact, the band would soon be marking 30 years since their era-defining debut album Definitely Maybe came out in August 1994. Singer Liam Gallagher had also threatened to reunite the band on plenty of occasions in the ensuing decade, but never made good on his word. Why should this time have felt different?

In theory, it shouldn’t have. The village eventually loses interest in the boy crying wolf. And yet, when Liam Gallagher stepped onto the Main Stage at Reading festival to perform a headlining set on Sunday and opened with nostalgic on-screen visuals of Oasis, any doubt left in fans’ minds quickly evaporated.

The following Tuesday, the band confirmed what we already knew: Oasis, the biggest Britpop band of the 1990s, were back in action.

The avalanche of articles followed like they hadn’t in over 20 years: Oasis had undoubtedly reignited the fantasies of music magazines and publications that were otherwise scaling down in the face of rising operational costs. We’ve now seen over 20 NME articles, news on the BBC website, a revived radio documentary on BBC 6 Music, countless Rolling Stone thinkpieces, news in SPIN Magazine, the Manchester Evening News, gossip in the rags of the Sun, Mail, Metro. The mural in Manchester. The millions of people that tried to get tickets for the reunion dates that sold out in hours. It’s easy to be sick of it all, to think there wasn’t a band more overrated, overhyped or beloved than Oasis.

But let’s forget the hymns for a moment. Let us re-examine the appeal of the band before the myth: five boys from Manchester who believed in nothing more than the rock ‘n’ roll dream. And certainly, nothing less.

Cast your mind back to 1994, before the success and idolatry, before their songs would be turned into design-for-life anthems, before the band would be permanently woven into the fabric of British music history. Strip all that away and try to imagine hearing a then-relatively unknown Oasis for the first time. Imagine being told that half the band was not yet 22 years old, that they were a new band, releasing their third-ever single? Can you imagine, however simple it may have been lyrically, hearing Live Forever for the first time? In particular, just 4 months after Kurt Cobain’s suicide, after many fans were left feeling like they were staring at the definitive end of an era of honest independent music?

In 1994, Oasis were ’77’s punk all over again. Entering a landscape of artists (a term Liam Gallagher has derided) who internalised their music and recoiled at the notion of explicit success, Oasis were a brash rejection of shoegaze and indie’s philosophies, even going as far as to instruct the presenters of BBC Radio 1’s Evening Sessions to tell the world that Oasis were not an indie band. They were a rock ‘n’ roll band, and a band that dared to aim high, openly and with no apologies (all apologies for the pun). 

That was a philosophy they would live by until the bitter end, for better or worse. In a world of falling ambition and no hope, as Britain emerged ravaged by the Thatcher years to find there was nowhere left for its young to go, Oasis were determined to write their own destiny, largely for themselves, but invariably, for their entire generation. 

Keep reading

[usafphantom2]

50 years ago today.

On Sep. 1, 1974, Maj. James V. Sullivan and Maj. Noel Widdifield set a new world speed record from New York to London, as our friend Linda Sheffield Miller (Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield’s daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) on her Facebook Page Habubrats. It took less than two hours.

This mission might’ve been the ‘gateway plan’ to have SR-71 stationed in England. The United States was fortunate to be able to house two SR-71s at RAF Mildenhall years later. This was a huge help to have SR-71 in Europe [SR-71 Reconnaissance Operations at RAF Mildenhall was from April 1976 to 1990. Prior to Det 4 being established, UK permission was required for each sortie flown. According to the SR-71 Blackbirds website, the SR-71’s stay would be no longer than 20 days for each visit.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced that Det 4 would be a permanent SR-71 Detachment with two aircraft assigned. The UK remained in control of the more sensitive missions. The two aircraft Detachments ceased operations on Nov. 22, 1989. The last aircraft departed the UK on Jan. 18, 1990.

The US Government has given the United Kingdom an SR-71 #962 for public display at Duxford Imperial War Museum for its contribution to ending the Cold War.]. Blackbirds based at Mildenhall could fly around the Baltic Sea and take pictures of potential targets in the Soviet Union using their side-looking cameras [without crossing the Soviet border].

On September 1, 1974 Major James V. Sullivan, 37 (pilot) and Noel F. Widdifield, 33 (reconnaissance systems officer) flashed across the starting line (radar gates in New York) at approximately 80,000 feet and speed in excess of 2,000 miles per hour. Exactly 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds later, they had set a new world speed record from New York to London England.

The average speed was 1,807 statute mph over the 3,461 statute mile course, slowing to refuel one time from a specially modified KC-135 refueling tanker. The aircraft was placed on static display at Farnborough Air Show for 1 week. It marked the first time the secret plane had been on public display outside of the United States. ”Kelly” Johnson, the aircraft designer, was on hand for the event. He remarked, “It (the SR-71) has exceeded all my expectations.”

Another historic speed record was set on the return trip to the United States. Captain Harold B. Adams, 31 (pilot), and Major William Machorek, 32 (reconnaissance systems operator), set a speed record from London to Los Angeles. They returned the Blackbird 5,447 statute miles in 3 hours 47 minutes and 39 seconds for an average speed of 1,435 miles per hour. The difference in the two speed records was due to refueling requirements and having to slow over major US cities.’

Even so a large number of people in Los Angeles reported broken windows due to the sonic boom. One of those people was actress, Zaza’s Gabor, who complained bitterly about her broken windows. To appease her Captain Adams and Major Machorek went to Zazas Home to apologize. They brought their wives with them. Zaza only allowed the SR-71 Crew to come into her home! The wives had to sit in the car. Very bad manners on the movie stars part.

The trip from New York to London 50 years ago became a beautiful friendship between allies, the United States and Great Britain .

We both worked hard to win the Cold War.

This article was originally in the aviationgeek club written by Linda Sheffield. published by Dario Leone

Artwork by Force Graham

@Habubrats71 via X

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Fairyland by Catherynne Valente

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

Beyonders by Brandon Mull

Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

The Missing by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Thirteen-year-old Jonah has always known that he was adopted, and he's never thought it was any big deal. Then he and a new friend, Chip, who's also adopted, begin receiving mysterious letters. The first one says, "You are one of the missing." The second one says, "Beware! They're coming back to get you."

Jonah, Chip, and Jonah's sister, Katherine, are plunged into a mystery that involves the FBI, a vast smuggling operation, an airplane that appeared out of nowhere - and people who seem to appear and disappear at will. The kids discover they are caught in a battle between two opposing forces that want very different things for Jonah and Chip's lives.

Do Jonah and Chip have any choice in the matter? And what should they choose when both alternatives are horrifying?

The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

Pongo and Missis had a lovely life. With their human owners, the Dearlys, to look after them, they lived in a comfortable home in London with their 15 adorable Dalmatian puppies, loved and admired by all. Especially the Dearlys' neighbor Cruella de Vil, a fur-fancying fashion plate with designs on the Dalmatians' spotted coats! So, when the puppies are stolen from the Dearly home, and even Scotland Yard is unable to find them, Pongo and Missis know they must take matters into their own paws!

Tales of Magic by Edward Eager

Four children wish on a Half Magic coin that gets their mother Alison half-way home, rescued by Mr Smith. Mark's wish zaps them to a desert without island, where half-talking cat Carrie gabbles to a camel. Romantic Katherine battles Launcelot. Eldest Jane rejects siblings for another family. Stubborn youngest, Martha, causes a riot downtown.

Bambi by Felix Salten

Bambi's life in the woods begins happily. There are forest animals to play with -- Friend Hare, the chattery squirrel, the noisy screech owl, and Bambi's twin cousins, frail Gobo and beautiful Faline.

But winter comes, and Bambi learns that the woods hold danger -- and things he doesn't understand. The first snowfall makes food hard to find. Bambi's father, a handsome stag, roams the forest, but leaves Bambi and his mother alone.

Then there is Man. He comes to the forest with weapons that can wound an animal. He does terrible things to Gobo, to Bambi's mother, and even to Bambi. But He can't keep Bambi from growing into a handsome stag himself, and becoming...the Prince of the Forest.

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield

Pauline, Petrova and Posy are orphans determined to help out their family by attending the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. But when they vow to make a name for themselves, they have no idea it's going to be such hard work! They launch themselves into the world of show business, complete with working papers, the glare of the spotlight, and practice, practice, practice! Pauline is destined for the movies. Posy is a born dancer. But practical Petrova finds she'd rather pilot a plane than perform a pirouette. Each girl must find the courage to follow her dream.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin

Rebecca’s father had died three years before and the family farm had become heavily indebted. In order to ease the burden on her widowed mother, Rebecca is sent to live with her lonely aunts at their farm and there she spends the next seven years till she becomes an adult. Rebecca brings her youthful enthusiasm and imagination to their quiet life and often clashes with her stern Aunt Miranda. Yet, Rebecca finds love and acceptance with her Aunt Jane and she grows up to be a proper and intelligent young lady who never loses her sunny outlook and kind heart.

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Being a princess isn't all that...

You've heard the fairy tale: a glass slipper, Prince Charming, happily ever after...

Welcome to reality: royal genealogy lessons, needlepoint, acting like "a proper lady," and—worst of all—a prince who is not the least bit interesting, and certainly not charming.

As soon-to-be princess Ella deals with her new-found status, she comes to realize she is not "your majesty" material. But breaking off a royal engagement is no easy feat, especially when you're crushing on another boy in the palace... For Ella to escape, it will take intelligence, determination, and spunk—and no ladylike behavior allowed.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly

Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones. With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger.

As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.

[imjustsocute]

[Call of Duty MW] OC: Liisa ‘Kettu’ Korhenen

Old versions [1], [2]

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Liisa Korhenen

Alias(es): Kettu, Little psycho, Crazy fox of KorTac

Date of birth: December 2nd, 1997

Blood Type: B+

Nationality: Finnish

Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland

Languages Spoken: Finnish (native), Swedish, English, German

PHYSICAL INFORMATION

Gender: Female

Eye color: Sky blue

Hair color: Light blonde

Build: Slim

Height: 5’2 / 157 cm.

Weight: 103 Ibs / 47 kg.

Marks: Freckles on face and arms

Face claim: Elle Fanning

FAMILY

Parents: Osto Korhenen (father), Elsa Korhenen (Mother)

Sibling(s): Noel Korhenen (older brother)

Grandparents: Onni Korhenen (grandfather), Phila Korhenen (Grandmother)

Relative(s): Olivia Nieminen (Aunt, Osto’s sister), Leevi Nieminen (Uncle, Olivia’s husband), Tapio Nieminen (Cousin, Olivia and Leevi’s son)

AFFILIATIONS

Finnish Defence Forces (formerly)

Karelia Brigade (formerly)

Shadow Company (formerly)

KorTac (currently)

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Helsinki, Finland, with a silver spoon in one's mouth. She had everything others had wished, whether wealth, elegance, or intelligence. She already has it all like a princess. At school, she was a popular kid. Beloved by many friends, she was at the top 1 of the class, and she was the cheerleading team leader. She was perfect in many ways. Even though she had a happy school life, A family who always supported her, and a wealthy but, what she actually needed was something which she couldn’t explain. It was a ‘challenge’.

At the age of 18, she joined the military, Finnish Defence Forces. With her small physical size and not quite good at close combat with a large fighter or muscle fighter, she was her unsuitable candidate for a tactical assault unit. Later, she joined the Karelia Brigade as a marksman to back up the team. But it looks like Kettu didn't like her job in marksmanship much. She wanted something to stimulate adrenaline and be more exciting. So she began to roleplay as a ''marksman'' in her way. Just switch from a sniper rifle to a little more dangerous and deadly weapons like LMGs, C4, RPGs, Claymores, Dynamites, Grenades, etc. Told you that she was the trusty marksman. Every mission that she was put in mostly ended up with the whole place being set on fire or turned to ashes. Thus, with a unique individual and work style so she had been called 'Pretty little psycho' while in the army.

Once Kettu was on a mission to capture a drug lord, she accidentally breathed some chemical gas, and this is the beginning of the great disaster. The gas made her even more insane, less moral, and yearn for violence. She used every bullet and bomb to create the chaos festival. The drug lord ended up a dynamite exploded on his mouth, and his head popped up like a balloon. After that massacre, she was admitted to the asylum for 5 months. After that, she was released and back to serving the military with more reckless and disruptive behavior

In 2019, Kettu joined Shadow Company due to she was getting bored with army life for some reason. So she decided to contact Phillip Graves (But she prefers to call him 'Gravy'), A childhood friend/cousin (His father and her grandfather have known each other for a long time. He always brought Kettu with him when he visited his old friend. That made them meet each other. Graves will always be a babysitter for Kettu while the adults are busy with their own business. Kettu liked to play with him, but even 90 percent she liked to annoy him. They're very close like siblings.) He's her commander now, but she still teased him like an old friend. At first, the other operators were surprised by Kettu's behavior, but the time passed, they got used to her weird habits. For Graves, Kettu is a psycho, annoying, reckless, disrespectful, and the most mind-numbingly brain-dead ding-dong operator he has ever met. Graves liked to send her on operations which simple, like invading the enemy's bases, bombing, or extracting the HVT (more colorful and exciting). Kettu really didn't care what Shadow Company had planned; ideals, or using ruthless tactics to take down civilians in cold blood, just don't get in her way, the only reason she was here, she just wanted to have some fun!!!

In 2022, Kettu was discharged from Shadow Company and joined KorTac because she didn't get along well with General Shepherd. She was almost discharged many times because her unacceptable behavior made the entire operation unnecessarily risky, but Graves convinced him to keep her for the useful resource, but he couldn't hold the Kettu excuses any longer. So General Shepherd ordered her to be discharged, finally. She left the note to Shepherd, she wrote bullied him and called him "Bald-Prick" and left Shadow Company.

At the new group, KorTac, she was assigned to back up the insertion specialist team. But Kettu is still Kettu, loves to create chaos and destruction. And that’s how Kettu and König met for the first time. The first impression between them was that Kettu shot RPG at the enemies that almost hit him. He surprised him with the inferno raging, burning the whole place because she snuck away while under fire and placed C4 all over the place. First, König didn't want to mess with her much cause she was really a wild fire and crazy if he got involved with her in some way, he's gonna be killed someday, not by an enemy's gun but her toys instead. By a twist of fate, no matter how hard he tried to avoid her in many ways but in the end, the Lord brought them together on every mission. Till he got used to her crazy ideals after going through many operations together and became her babysitter completely, how strange that he's the one who successfully keeps her in line for some reason. But positively, it's not that bad to let Kettu be beside him. Even she might be pain in ass for sometimes but cannot denied that she make König's life more brighter, colorful and more comfortable from anxiety and stresses when she near him. It looks like they both have a good time together during a mission.

Currently, Kettu has become a contractor for the KorTac private military company, pairing with König.

SKILLS AND ABIILIT

Fighting style(s): Krav Maga, Sambo, Brazilian Jiujitsu, Kick boxing (Mostly use machine guns and grenades)

Weapon(s): M4, M16, LMG, RPG, M32 MGL

Distinct Weapon: m1911, Ka-bar Becker BK9, M26 grenade, MK2 grenade, C4

Special Skills: Bomb specializes, tactical adapting, setting the trap(Claymore, C4, Dynamites), Quick reflexes and high speed, sharp shooting

Shortcomings: Cannot confront a larger fighter directly because of her physical size

PERSONALITY

Myers-Briggs Type: ESFP-A

Very joyful:  Kettu has a certain energy and enthusiasm that can be a bit overwhelming at times.

Optimism: No matter how situations are getting worse, Kettu always has a positive outlook, more than you expected. Or even how much sarcasm or swear words were spilled at her, she's just like, so what. If you want to see any fury from her. Then you have the wrong idea of making her angry, my friend, because she never feels any of those words, but she really likes them.

Easy-going: She’s not serious about her life as much; she just wants to have some fun. 'No plans, no reasons, and no logic.' This is her motto.

NEGATIVE TRAITS

Reckless and Disrespectful: Kettu is not a fan of having been under the wings or following the commander's orders (Especially Shreperd). She always likes to break the rules or brief all the time, and do it her own way. So many high-ranking not prefer her to be reckless and unconventional.

Trolling teammates: Especially those who look like to be stern, stoic, strict, firm, or even hot-headed. She loves to prank and tease them because she wants to see how they would react beneath their straight face.

Lack of sympathy: The effects of inhaling excessive chemical gas substances. It changed her to be a less moral, more disruptive person, and set the fire of chaos as much as she could. Don't get her wrong, she didn't enjoy torturing people or taking down innocent civilians, she doesn't care how they are or didn't kill them. The only one she cares about exploding stuff up, that's all.

FAVORITE

Food: Lohikeitto

Drink: Hot cocoa

Color: Pastel Pink

Song: MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix- BTS), APT. (ROSÉ & Bruno Mars), Dynamite (BTS), RUN (BTS), Supershy (New jeans), Ice cream (Blackpink ft. Selena Gomez), Nice type (Kira ft. monii)

TRIVIA

Kettu means 'Fox' in Finnish.

Kettu is a BTS fan girl who never misses a new single album

She dreamed of being a pop star when she was 14 years old.

Kettu hates to read and has a problem with writing reports

She hates cooking. Once she burned the kitchen when she made an omelette.

Kettu loves to spend time teasing with König. She always likes to stick with him all the time. Till there are rumors that these two are dating.

[sillyname30]

2025 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD NOMINATIONS

Outstanding New Broadway Musical

Boop! The Musical Death Becomes Her Maybe Happy Ending Operation Mincemeat Real Women Have Curves

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical

Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins Audra McDonald, Gypsy Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop! The Musical Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat Daniel Lazour and Patrick Lazour, We Live in Cairo Bob Martin, Boop! The Musical Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat David Foster and Susan Birkenhead, Boop! The Musical Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, Real Women Have Curves Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Orchestrations (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending Doug Besterman, Death Becomes Her Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters, Pirates! The Penzance Musical Daniel Lazour and Michael Starobin, We Live in Cairo Andrew Resnick, Just in Time

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her Robert Hastie, Operation Mincemeat Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball Jerry Mitchell, Boop! The Musical

Outstanding Scenic Design

Miriam Buether, Jamie Harrison, and Chris Fisher, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Rachel Hauck, Swept Away Rob Howell, The Hills of California Dane Laffrey, Maybe Happy Ending Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Lighting Design

Kevin Adams, Swept Away Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Sound Design

Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard Peter Hylenski, Death Becomes Her Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending John Shivers, Swept Away

Shows with Multiple Nominations 9 - Maybe Happy Ending

[cosmichorrorsarestillnicerthanme]

Enjoy The Ride-Noel Vermillion X Reader

A little idea that popped in my head while thinking on another ask.

Noel nervously fidgeted as the train rattled along the tracks.

“Take a breath Second Lieutenant Vermillion.” you muttered as you flipped through the magazine that was on the table.

“But… First Lieutenant-” Noel began to speak before she was cut off.

“There are fifty N.O.L. Operatives on this train, none of which are below the rank of Sergeant. Of those fifty, five are first lieutenants, Yayoi and myself included, ten are second lieutenants like yourself, and there is also Major Kisaragi on board as well. The likelihood of them even getting this far is slim, getting past us is even slimmer, and even if they do manage that they’ll have the Major to contend with.” you stated before setting the magazine on the table and reaching down for the glass of water on the table.

“In other words, enjoy the free first class ride.” you stated before taking a sip out of your glass and looking out the window.

Said window was promptly smashed through by a Ninja Of Ikaruga.

“Not. A. Word. Vermillion.” you told the blonde who had thrown her arms in front of her face to protect herself whilst you glared at the shards of glass that was now in your water.

You then stood up and faced the Ninja as you poured the water out of your glass and onto the floor.

You tossed the glass to the Ninja who easily caught it and looked at the glass in confusion.

Using his distraction to your advantage, you spun around and kicked the glass out of his hand with the heel of your foot and into his face, shattering it and blinding him in one fell swoop.

“I CAN’T SEE!!!” The Ninja shouted before you grabbed him by the back of the head and slammed his head into one of the tables and grabbed an ashtray with your other hand.

Next, you pulled him upright and then smashed him across the face with the ashtray, shattering it before grabbing him by the collar and swinging him around, tossing him out of the window he came in from and into a tree that caused a sickening crunch to ring out before both him and the tree disappeared in a blur.

Then, the rest of the windows on the train car shattered, Ninja’s coming in through each one.

“Sigh and I was hoping to have a nice relaxing trip with my crush.” you thought to yourself as you grabbed a glass bottle from off one of the tables and approached the Ninja’s whilst Noel began to scramble to her feet, Bolverk already in her hands.

“Right then Vermillion, I’ll handle the ones in front of me. You handle the ones behind me.” you told Noel as you walked forwards, and past her.

“Loud and clear, First Lieutenant.” Noel responded as she walked forwards and past you.

You approached the group of Ninja’s, tossing the glass into the air and catching it by the spout, holding it like a club as the sharp retort of gunfire sounded through the carriage.

“So, who’s first?” you asked with a grin.

In an instant, the first one was upon you, his knife ready to cut into you.

You stepped past the knife, smashing the bottle over his head, disorienting him before you grabbed him by the head, pulled him into the air and then slammed him down, causing the wooden floor to snap and buckle from the force. You then picked him up by the collar and threw him back into the group.

“Next.” was all you said as you began to walk forward.

This time, two of their numbers came at you.

Like the first, they were dealt with quickly.

The second had several of his tendons cut by a broken glass bottle, his head slammed through a table, cracking his skull and breaking his nose, occipital bone, jaw, and several teeth.

The third had his jaw shattered, ribs cracked, and knee kicked in before being thrown into the wall of the train.

You continued forward, undeterred,

The fourth rushed in with the fifth, sixth, and seventh.

The fourth had his forearm snapped like a twig followed by an elbow to the temple.

The fifth was sent into the sixth with a kick to the chest followed by a left hook across the face, a right hook, a left, and then being grabbed by the head with both hands and having your knee slammed into his face before being tossed to the side.

Next the sixth who was still off balance from having the fifth kicked into him.

You capitalized on this by grabbing him by the collar and hitting him with a powerful strike to the face, sending him back from the force before you pulled him back towards yourself and punched him again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

Finally, you sent him flying with one last blow, leaving only the seventh standing, sword in hand.

He looked to be the leader.

He pointed the blade at you, ready to attack, only looking for an opening.

You continued to move towards him.

He continued to move back.

Then, with a flash of seither and in the blink of an eye, you had him by the throat. His sword arm broken, ribs shattered, leg destroyed, and jaw fractured in half a dozen different places.

You then unceremoniously dropped him on the ground as Noel fired her last shot, subduing the enemy in this car.

“Now then, back to enjoying the ride.” You declared as you turned on your heel to return to your seat.

“But First Lieutenant-” Noel began to exclaim before the temperature dropped to frigid levels and light began to explode out of the car behind the one you were in.

“Trust me, Major Kisaragi and First Lieutenant Yayoi have it covered.” you answered the question Noel was unable to finish as you sat down before gesturing to the seat across from you while you swiped the glass off the table and into the floor.

Noel sat down in her seat, clearly not quite used to all of this.

“Now then, seeing as your time in first class was ruined, how about the next time you are off I’ll take you on a First Class ride, free of charge?” You offered with a smile as you picked the magazine back up.

“…First Lieutenant, are you asking me out?” Noel asked, confused.

“Why of course. I happen to find you quite interesting Miss Vermillion.” you answered without a hint of embarrassment in your voice and a slight grin on your face.

[exchangestudentnova]

𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝑮𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒊 13 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 (𝑩𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉) 𝒑𝒕 1

Features: The blue lock characters (including the manga characters) in an AU where they are members in the organization called Gotei 13 present in the anime Bleach.

IMPORTANT: I DO NOT OWN THE ART, credits go to the original owner (the original artist: @/fun1_fn on Twitter). This post is inspired by the art work above! I found these and thought it'll be fun to write about a cross over of my two favourite anime!

[ 1st DIVISION ] COMMAND

Role: Dealing with Soul Society law and monitoring the other divisions. Even subordinate members of the First Division are considered model Shinigami.

Characters: Noel Noa, Lavinho, Chris Prince, Marc Snuffy, Julian Loki

Explanation: All members of division 1 have great strength and power. They hold authority over the other divisions. As these characters have enough knowledge and experience to serve as coach/masters and guide the other players, they would definitely be first division members.

[ 2nd DIVISION ] SPECIAL FORCES / ASSASSINATION AND UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS

Role: They handle all undercover operations regarding Seireitei security. Members are tasked with assassination, policing, detention and message couriers.

Characters: Chigiri Hyoma, Asahi Naruhaya, Eita Otoya, Tabito Karasu

Explanation: These characters are known for their skills which will be benefit them to carry out assassinations.

[ 3rd DIVISION ] INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION

Role: Responsible of the act of sending out shinigami to gather information. They are also the ones that sort all outgoing and incoming information.

Characters: Meguru Bachira, Jyubei Aryu, Alexis Ness

Explanation: Bachira and Aryu are energetic characters that would love to go out to gather information while Ness seems the type of guy to gather info convertly.

[ 4th DIVISION ] MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPLY

Role: They are responsible for both treating the injured and doing most of the manual labor, such as cleaning the Seireitei. The 4th Division administers emergency first aid to injured division members.

Characters: Okuhito Iemon, Nijiro Nanase, Yo Hiori

Explanation: These characters have a gentle nature, which is best suited for the 4th division.

[ 5th DIVISION ] KIDOU CORPS / KIDOU TACTICS AND CONTROL

Role: They are responsible for all sealing and magical workings inside Soul Society, as well as recording and storing any new kidou.

Characters: Reo Mikage, Rin Itoshi

Explanation: Being a member of this squad requires an in depth knowledge of Kido. High level Kido is something not everyone can perform, so these characters are well suited because of their academic level.

[ 6th DIVISION ] INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Role: They handle all of Gotei 13's internal affairs, such as monitoring shinigami activity and handling any disturbances. They are responsible for apprehending shinigami that breaks Soul Society laws and detaining criminal offenders until they are judged.

Characters: Kenyu Yukimiya, Sae Itoshi

Explanation: These characters have a good head on their shoulders, they will do well in this division.

[ 7th DIVISION ] SEIREITEI-RUKONGAI DIPLOMACY

Role: The 7th Division maintains peace between Seireitei and Rukongai. When souls have complaints/suggestions/questions, they sent to the 7th Division where it is read, ignored, taken into consideration and decided upon.

Characters: Zantetsu Tsurugi, Ranze Kurona

Explanation: They are smart enough to handle diplomacy issues.

P.S : Ahhh I so happy I wrote this! This was on my mind for quite a while now and I finally wrote it down! All the above information was taken from the blue lock/ bleach wiki pages as well as some other sources as well. Btw did you guys know that in bleach, only the 6th Division members play actual football? Toshiro did play once but only in the beginning.

Part 2

[oacest]

Noel on being a father, XFM Radio, July 2000

TL: Alright, first of all, I've been reading a lot of interviews about you; no-one asks you how your baby's doing, baby Anais...how is she?

NG: She's bald, fat, smelly and rowdy like all good babies should be. Sick and stuff. She's great. She's giving Meg a hard time.

TL: Is it good fun being a dad, do you enjoy it?

NG: Er, not at quarter-to-six in the morning I don't, no. When it gets to about midday it can be a good laugh, but half-five every morning's a bit of a pain but these things get better as they get older, I'm told.

TL: So what are you going to do, are you going to have loads of kids now, is that your plan? A big family?

NG: You can never plan these things, can you? But if...[pause]...yeah...if they come along, yeah.

TL: I was just thinking about this earlier on today, actually, that, because of your background and everything, how are you going to bring her up? Are you going to send her to one of those showbiz schools?

NG: Not showbiz schools, no chance.

TL: Are you scared of her becoming on of those showbiz kids which we see...

NG: She's going to be a lawyer. That's where all the money is. Seriously, [to Anais] if you're listening to a tape of this and it's like 2026... you're going to be a lawyer.

TL: Would you be really hurt if she became one of those 'It' kids...round London?

NG: I don't know, I suppose you've just got to let kids take their own path, haven't ya? As long as her mates aren't knobheads I don't mind what she does, really. She'll go to the local posh school but it won't be grooming her for stardom or anything, she'll be a lawyer. She has to be a lawyer. Or, hopefully, she'll be a lawyer who doubles as a doctor.

TL: That would be a good career move.

NG: Then she can then fuck up operations and not be arsed about getting sued...take peoples kidneys out and stuff like that.

TL: Has it changed you at all, being a dad?

NG: Erm, yeah because when you're pottering round the house and the baby starts crying everything comes to a complete and utter standstill. But I have to say I haven't been a dad in the football season yet and she's about to learn who actually is the governor in that house. Because it's been fine, no football; now it's the new football season and we're back in the Premiership it's gonna be like 'You can cry all you want. You can cry all you want - we've got a corner.' I get this vision of a Sunday, things coming out of all orifices and me going, 'Just hang on a minute, love...get it...oh. you beauty! No, not you!'

TL: So what takes priority now in your life - the band or the kid?

NG: It's gotta be the kid, really. I've given eight, nine years to the band, it's like...I've said before, when you're 26 and you're not married and you're single and you're living in London and you've not got a girlfriend and you're in the biggest band in England that is the time to enjoy stuff like that, and we did. And then, as you get older, you wanna - I wouldn't say 'settle down', but I don't want my kids, or any member of my family for that, getting up at two in the morning and seeing their dad there drunk. I'll leave that to their Uncle Liam.

(full transcript here)

[frankendykes-monster]

The largest consumer conglomerates are cutting their financial forecasts for the year, predicting lower sales and profits than before. That includes Pepsi (which also owns Frito-Lay and Quaker Oats), Kimberly-Clark (which makes Kleenex, Huggies and Scott toilet paper) and Procter & Gamble (which makes Tide, Pampers and Charmin). This is the first wave of corporate earnings reports since President Trump imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods and a 10% tariff on all global imports earlier this month. A 25% tariff on imported aluminum also affects companies that need a lot of cans or foils. Until recently, most consumer giants stuck to the word "uncertainty" to describe the future. Now, they've begun offering more specifics. Kimberly-Clark estimates that the trade war will add $300 million in new costs for the company. Procter & Gamble warned it may raise prices to offset new expenses. Chipotle saw anxious shoppers cut back on burrito bowls. "In February, we began to see that the elevated level of uncertainty felt by consumers was starting to impact their spending habits," Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright told investors on Wednesday. "We could see this in our visitation study, where saving money because of concerns around the economy was the overwhelming reason consumers were reducing the frequency of restaurant visits." Many consumer giants rely on China for packaging, materials and other parts of their supply chain. Those who make products in the U.S. now face reciprocal tariffs on American goods imposed by foreign government in retaliation. "Uncertainty creates a pensive and anxious consumer," Colgate-Palmolive CEO Noel Wallace said on Friday's earnings call. "And when you have uncertainty in terms of macroeconomics and everything surrounding that, consumers tend to hunker down and they're very cautious about the outlook."

Obligatory "it's funny that whoever was president just had the sole ability to nuke the economy this entire time and it was never a problem because we were operating on the honor system of the president not wanting to do that."

[noelcollection]

An American Voice

Since the events of 2020, we have attempted to be more active and reach out to LSU Shreveport campus. This action of outreach is meant to help student, faculty, and campus personnel be aware of a rare and unique resource that is available to them, and any visiting persons to the campus. We have just started our 2024 J.S. Noel Collection Pop-up Exhibits, we aim to highlight a vary small section of the James Smith Noel Collection that might interest various research. This time we focused on one person, Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in June in 1872 after the United States’ Civil War, his parents were former slaves. He was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio; and started writing from a young age. He wrote is first poem at the age of 6 and read it aloud at the age of nine for a local church congregation, “An Easter Ode.” Dunbar was 16 when he published two poems in the Dayton’s newspaper The Herald; “Our Martyred Soldiers” and “On the River” in 1888. A few years later he would write and edit Dayton’s first weekly African-American newspaper, The Tattler. Paul L. Dunbar worked with two brothers that were his high-school acquaintances to print the paper that lasted six weeks. Those brothers were Wilbur and Orville Wright, the fathers of American aviation. Dunbar was the only African-American student at Central High School in Dayton.

Dunbar’s parents had been slaves in Kentucky, following the emancipation, his mother moved to Ohio, and his father escaped before the Civil War ended. Joshua Dunbar went to Massachusetts and volunteered with the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. His parents, Matilda and Joshua, were married on Christmas Eve and Paul L. Dunbar arrived six months later. His parents had a troubled union, they separated after the birth on Paul’s sister; but his father would pass away in August in 1885 when Paul was only 13 years old. His mother played a key role in his education, she hoped her son would become a minister. He was elected president of his high school’s literary society which lead to him to become editor of the school newspaper and debate club member.

Paul Laurence Dunbar finished school in 1891 and took a job as an elevator operator to earn money for college where he hoped to study law. Dunbar had continued to write and soon a collection of poems he wanted to publish. He revisited the Wright brothers, but they no longer had a printing faculty and lead his to the United Brethren Publishing House in 1893. Oak and Ivy was soon published and he busied himself selling copies as he operated the elevator. The book contained two sections, Oak with its traditional verse; and Ivy was written in dialect.

His literary talents were recognized and Attorney Charles A. Thatcher offered to pay for college; however, his interest in law had shift to his writing. Dunbar had been encouraged by the sell of his poetry, and Thatcher helped by arranging for Dunbar to do readings in a nearby city. Psychiatrist Henry A. Tobey also took an interest and assisted in distributing Dunbar’s first book. The two contained to support Dunbar through the publication of his second collection of verse, Major and Minors, in 1896. While he was consistent at publishing, he was a reckless spender resulting in debt. He was a traditional struggling artist as he tried to support himself and his mother.

There was hope in the summer of 1896 when his second book received a positive review in Harper’s Weekly, William Dean Howells brought national attention to his poems; calling them “honest thinking and true feeling” and praising his dialectic poems. There was a growing appreciation for folk culture and black dialect. His popular works were written in the “Negro dialect” that is commonly associated with the antebellum South; though he also wrote in the Midwestern dialect that he grew-up hearing. Dunbar would write in various styles, including conversational English in poetry and novels. He is considered to be the first important African American sonnet writer. His use of the “Black dialect” in writing has been criticized as pan-handling to readers.

Dunbar was a diverse writer, he experimented with poetry, short stories, novels, plays, and a musical. He even ventured beyond the lens of the lives of African Americans and attempted to explore the struggles of a white minister. The Uncalled, Dunbar’s first novel, held similar names and themes of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and was not well favored. It was with his venture into novel writing that he dared to cross the “color line” with his first novel which focused solely on white society. He continued to try to capture white culture but the critics found them lacking.

He moved past novel writing and began to work with two composers, Dunbar wrote the lyrics for the first musical that would be preformed by an all African-American cast on Broadway; In Dahomey. Beyond his writing career, Dunbar was also active the early civil rights movements happening in 1897. He married after a trip to the United Kingdom in 1898, Alice Ruth Moore was also a poet and teacher from New Orleans. She also published a collection of short stories, and they wrote companion poems together. There was a play in 2001 based on their relationship.

Dunbar had taken a traditional job with the Library of Congress in D.C. and with his wife in tow they moved there. However, with his wife’s urging, he left his job to focus on his writings and his public readings. This also allowed him to attend Howard University for a time. However, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1900 and his doctors suggested that drinking whisky would alleviate the symptoms. They also moved to the cold dry mountains of Colorado for his health. This resulted in trouble in Paul and Alice’s marriage, they separated in 1902 but never formally divorced.

Dunbar returned to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio in 1904 to be with his mother, his health continued to decline and depression consumed his mind. Paul Laurence Dunbar died from tuberculosis at age 33 on February 9, 1906 and was interred in Dayton.

Dunbar did not become one of the forgotten poets of literature, his use of dialect in his poetry allowed for his works to remain relevant and important in poetic criticism. We of the James Smith Noel Collection at LSU Shreveport are proud to retain and maintain a small collection of his works and show case their importance.

[goatalicious]

Have been watching alot of House MD and thinking about Claymore (though that's a constant) and had the most absurd crossover dream in my life.

Teresa was House, Irene was Cuddy, Priscilla was Cameron, Noel was Chase, Sophia was Foreman, and Sid was Wilson.

It was kind of structured like the first part of an average House episode

Teresa (House) and Sid (Wilson) go to the cafeteria. And yes, Teresa does trick Sid into paying for her food. The only table with 2 chairs left has Prisilla (Cameron) and Olivia Wilde.

Sid(Wilson) tries to hit on the new doctor, Olivia Wilde. Teresa (House) tells Olivia not to do it because Sid (Wilson) is a married (to Galk) gay man and it would be homophobic of her to break up a gay married couple and they have just barely gotten the right to marry (I guess the time line is right after it got legalized?) Sid (Wilson) clarifies that he and Galk are bisexual swinger's.

Mind you all I haven't even gotten to her character but my friend who got me into House keeps telling me that I'm gonna love the crazy bitch Olivia Wilde plays. So she's there. Except Olivia decides she doesn't care about Sid and tries to hit on Teresa (House). She tries to hand Teresa her phone number written on a piece of paper but Teresa pretends to get a pager (making the beeping noises with her mouth)

In general Teresa made alot of homophobic (whilst being a lesbian) and sexist ( mostly against men) remarks the whole episode. I guess my brains equivalent to House being the way he is? Teresa says she already has to work with "a whole rotten fruit basket" and skedaddles to her office. By the way she does have a cane but not a limp? The cane is silver with a lion head as the handle.

Teresa heads back to her office which is the same as Houses but the walls were filled with swords and Renaissance paintings of women. Not nudes or anything but vaguely suggestive stuff.

Irene(Cuddy) shows up to her office and throws an apple at her, which Teresa catches. Irene remarks that having apples chucked at you isn't great, isn't it? So why did Teresa throw an apple at patient. Teresa says "you should be asking why the patient at the clinic didn't catch it." And start talking about the patients muscle weakness and lack of muscle control yadda yadda she made the right diagnosis

Olivia Wilde comes in and drops her phone number on Teresa desk and leaves without a word. Irene rolls her eyes and does various exasperated Cuddy motions.

Then Sophia (Foreman) and Noel (Chase). Yes Noel did have a strong Australian accent. Sophia puts a bunch of x rays up on the light box thing and asks Teresa to look. Teresa states she's on lunch. Irene and Noel start looking and are both shocked.

Teresa begrudgingly gets up and looks at the scans and is also shocked. "What kind of little kid ends up with THAT." Sophia states the patient is in a coma.

Irene asks about the parents and Noel says the child is a ward of the state whose parents were killed in a fire the other day, but the kid was found miles away.

It cuts to the patient who is young Clare in a hospital bed with social worker and police officer in the room. Teresa comes in herself and starts talking to Clare even though she's asleep. The cop and social work are weird out and Teresa sasses back that "sorry I'm just crazy, comes with the cane." I'd like to reiterate that Teresa does not at all walk with a limp just has a cool cane.

Irene and Priscilla are doing the lurking thing everyone always does to watch Teresa examine Clare. Irene let's Priscilla know that Teresa has a soft spot for kids, especially orphans.

Teresa starts examining Clare and asks the social worker about her medical history, specifically surgeries. The social workersays she doesn't have anything on record. Then the camera pans to show that Clares chest has fresh operations scars/staples and purple skin.

Then, of all things, the dreams cuts to a Domino's advertisement, which I wake up partway through.