#and the department has got one new teacher shes so young

[iftitah]

my mom's college is sooo nostalgic 😭

[novalpha]

𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝐹𝑖𝑐 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑠

♡ Fluff || ୨୧ Angst || ★ Smut || ꗃ SMAU || ⌗ Series || ✿ Drabble || ♤ Mature (No smut) || ✹ Humor

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Buy A Boyfriend ♡★⌗ -> @sluttywoozi Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4

Summary: Being a professional boyfriend on SVTHub is great - all Vernon has to do is respond to a few texts, send out a couple selfies, do a stream every now and then, and he makes enough to cover tuition. Things get a little tricky when he finds himself wishing he actually was your boyfriend.

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ By hook or by cross ♡୨୧★ -> @kabira

summary — so you punched a guy, and now he wants you to teach him how to fight, because clearly, you know how to do it better. well, fine, you say. as long as he keeps his distance. (spoiler alert: he doesn’t.)

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ divorce child ♡★ -> @lovelyhan

summary: you like to think that your most recent breakup with vernon ended on relatively good terms. there’s only one issue left to sort out: who’s getting custody of the cat you got together?

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Cold hands, Warm hearts ♡ -> @duhnova

synopsis: this holiday season, your daughter decided the best present she could give to you was a new boyfriend, which is why she and her best friend yujin have taken it upon themselves to play matchmaker. their candidate? yujin’s father.

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Operation : Hot girl summer ♡✹★ -> @shuaflix

SUMMARY ▸ the summer you started putting more effort into your appearance also happens to be the summer where vernon chwe's piercing gaze leaves you feeling like you're floating high up in the clouds.

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Not a virgin ♡✹★ -> @ncteez

Vernon, a friend of your friend spills his spicy sex life and accidentally reveals to an entire group of near-strangers (including you) that he’s had sex one and a half times and that it was sick.

or the one where despite vernon not being a virgin, he is somehow more of a virgin than an actual virgin. 

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ High and fucked ★ -> @rubyreduji

summary: hansol is nothing to you but your ex-boyfriend's roommate, but you still find yourself alone with him while you get high together

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Risk it all ★ -> @sluttywoozi

Summary: Vernon's got a crush on his tutor, and everything gets harder when you start wearing thigh high socks. Everything.

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ The soulmate service ♡✹୨୧ -> @dkfile

the soulmate service has one purpose: to help those who drew the short end of the stick and ended up without a person to live their forever with. after the heart wrenching realization that the boy you’ve loved since you were thirteen isn’t the one meant for you, you put your love life in the hands of vernon chwe — which, now that you think about it, is probably a very bad idea.

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Work husband ♡✹ -> @wondernus

synopsis: falling for the young and flirty high school history teacher is inevitable especially when he pays for your groceries and calls himself your work husband

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Trillium ♡★ -> @beahae

Summary: Vernon is flying in to see his girlfriend. Oh shit, that’s… you. Being away from him for the past few months ago makes it hard for it to feel real, especially after two years of what you both convinced yourselves was a purely platonic friendship. Now that he’s here in the flesh, you are determined to make it feel real. And very non-platonic.

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Say you love me (i love you) ♡✹ -> @viastro

synopsis: three heavy words. you’re so used to saying this to the one person that’s always been by your side, because you know that he’s your other half; platonically. these words have always held some sort of meaning whenever you say it to vernon, in hopes that maybe one day he’ll say it back to you.

❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘ ⌕ Distraction ♡✹★ -> @minghaoyoudoin

summary: typically, when a person’s house smells like fire, you call the fire department. when your house smells like fire, you know it’s because Vernon is cooking.

[ More Vernon fic recs will be updated ]

Want more Seventeen fic recs? -> Click here

[stargaze5969]

❗️ANXIFEAR MINI FIC FROM MY NEW COLLEGE AU ❗️

So I got 6 hours of sleep last night because of this idea so APPRECIATE WHAT YA GETTING XD /j

This AU is still in the works, but all the info in this post is set information, send me your ideas in the comments or in asks, I'd be more then happy to hear them! ^^

I didn't get to draw anything for this sadly, but I picture them looking like @eechytooru 's humanizations of the two,

Now, narration mode on-

Warning for one f bomb I guess xD

It's the beginning of a new semester, Fear's a young college teacher in the mathematics faculty. He's been working there for about 3 years. Anxiety is a new teacher and this is her first semester teaching, she's a history teacher in the human science department.

Fear is just finishing up a lecture, when Anxiety barges in holding her material, her coffee and her notes. Her glasses are tilted and her hair's clipped up in it's usual messy style. When she looks up, she sees a full classroom of adults and a startled Fred looking straight at her.

Oh my bad, forgot to mention their human names hehe. Fear is Frederick Fitzgerald, because it's silly but trying to be serious, like him, and Anxiety is Anna-lee Tyson, just cuz I like how that sounds lol. Back to my narration,

She scrambles with her things and apologizes profusely to Mr. Fitzgerald. He urges her not to worry as he was just giving his ending speech and he dismisses the class. Anna awkwardly says goodbye to the students as they are leaving, while Fred starts packing his things. She approaches the front desk and sets her things down. They start up some small talk.

At this point, Fred has seen Anna around campus. He's found her little quirks fascinating; how she always carries too much in her arms, how she presses too hard on her PC's keys, how she supplements her coffee with energy drinks. It makes his stomach twist in a way that's farmiliar to him, but he denies putting any feelings forward to keep things professional. Anna rarely pays attention to her surroundings, she stays in her head much of the time, so this is her first time meeting him.

"I'm sorry again for the interruption," she repeats herself.

"Oh there's no need to apologize, Miss?"

"Tyson, Anna-Lee Tyson," she started to organize her supplies.

"Charmed, Frederick Fitzgerald. I've been interrupted by far worse. Students, other staff, KIDS EVEN!" He continued putting away his personal items.

"Kids?!"

"Yes, sadly, some single parents have to bring their children to class from lack of available childcare."

"Ugh, childcare should be more accessible to single parent students," she protested.

Fred shock his head in agreement.

"... Do you have any children M. Fitzgerald?"

He was taken aback by this question. Fred is a little ashamed he doesn't have kids at his age. He thinks if he had a partner by now, he probably would have-

Seeing his awkward reaction, she takes back the question:

"I'm sorry, you don't have to answer if you don't feel comfortable, I-"

Fred laughs it off, "No no, it's OK but... do I look that old to you?"

"No! I mean- of course not!" She assured him, although it seemed more as if she was reassuring herself.

And he laughs some more, "You would probably guess correctly to be frank."

"... Are you daring me to guess your age?"

"Yes, go on," he smiled, amused, and leaned on the desk.

So she tries to guess: "... 40?"

Fred jerked back and put his hand to his chest dramatically.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She apologized once more, shaking her hands nervously.

He chuckles, "No, you weren't too far off! I'm 37."

"Oh! OK, I got close!"

"Ya! May I try guessing your age?"

"Sure, go ahead," she smiled.

To this, he leans back on the desk and strikes a thinking pose dramatically, guessing 25 in a flirtatious manner.

She giggles, "You're kind M. Fitzgerald, but seriously though."

"Ok ok... 32?"

"Oh, so close, I'm 34!"

"Darn!" He says and they both laugh.

He looks at her laugh, it almost turns into a squeak. Something about her makes him feel like he could talk to her for hours and she'd listen. Her nose scrunches and it makes her round glasses tilt upwards; he pushes his own glasses up.

"And I love your smile..." he whispered under his breath mindlessly.

"Hm?"

"Oh hm, it was very nice meeting you Ms. Tyson!" He held out his hand to her, quickly responding to avoid suspicion.

"It was!" She agreed, shaking his hand firmly.

After an awkwardly long handshake, which she didn't register as such, he finished packing his things and headed out, wishing her a great start of the semester. She returned the gratitude. Leaving the lecture hall, he held his hand up to his face to hide the glow he felt on his cheeks.

Fuuuuuuck- he doesn't swear much, but this time called for it; she had a strong affect on him and he was going to have a difficult time trying to hide it for the rest of the semester-

-------

And ya that's it! Had to get this scene out of my mind and into the world or it would have consumed me a swear XD

[explosionkatsu]

"Age doesn't matter" 4

Dad!Bakugou x F!Babysitter!Teacher!Reader

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

After his shift, Eijirou headed towards his office and changed into his casual attire. It's an uneventful shift which Eijirou was glad about since it meant no one got hurt. But he couldn't stop thinking about Katsuki and his well-being.

Being a hero means helping as much as you can even if it costs you to offer up your life. So if it takes him eternally to find the person who caused this misery to his friend, he will.

Thinking about this made Eijirou's blood boil. It makes him think back to the day Katsuki introduced her to them. At first, he thought she was a fine woman who doesn't care about Katsuki's status, and wealth. But as the day goes by, he started noticing the changes in his friend. It even got to the point that Katsuki had to miss work just for him to buy her desires. Materialistic desires.

How dare she manipulate his best friend.

How dare she steal his wealth.

How dare she fool around while Katsuki's working his ass off.

How dare she leave him and their child behind.

Thinking about this made Eijirou desperate and arrest her right away. But that isn't logical thinking. He knew he needed to know her side first. He needed to know why she does that.

After Eijirou wrapped up, he put his suit where the agency will cleanse it. He bid everyone goodbye with a smile before departing the building. His smile suddenly slips as he fishes his phone from his pocket. Grasping it firmly, he doubled taps the screen seeing his phone lit up. His finger dances on the screen as he dials a familiar number before placing the phone near his ear and waiting for the other line to answer.

"Hello?"

"Ah hey! How are you doing?" Eijirou smiled as he began walking.

"Kirishima. I didn't expect you to call.”

"Haha, yeah. Today's uneventful so my shift ended quite early." Eijirou said scratching his head.

"So, what's up?"

Eijirou's smile disappears again, "I'll get frankly to the topic." He said with a serious voice, "I hope you have useful news."

The person at the other line raised an eyebrow before smiling. "Ah. Yes actually. You'll be shocked."

"What is it?" Eijirou asked making him stop walking.

"She's actually still in the city."

..

"Okay, class. It’s already 4 pm. That's all for today. You may only leave when your parents showed up to pick you up." Ms. Y/n smiled as she started assembling her items.

One by one, the parents show up greeting her before they took their child and leave. The only one left is Kazui who's busily sketching random stuff on a piece of paper.

The fact that Kazui knew someone would pick him up but probably late made Ms. Y/n feel sad. He’s too young to experience this kind of thing. That is also why she mentioned to Mr. Bakugou that she used to be a babysitter so that she can officially take care of Kazui.

Taking a huge breath, Ms. Y/n made her way to Kazui who hasn't noticed her yet. Once she reached his side, she knelt down and tap him on his shoulder trying to get his attention which worked.

“Ms. Y/n?” Kazuo looked at her curiously as he stopped doodling.

“Will anyone pick you up?” Ms. Y/n asked. She ought to know if someone will pick him up so that she’ll know if they had to wait or she’ll take him with her.

Kazuo looked down at his paper sadly. “Papa didn't mention he’ll pick me up, not grandma.” He mumbled.

His tone of voice causes Ms. Y/n’s heart to ache. So without further ado, she gathers her things, as well as Kazui’s, and motioned him to follow her.

“Ms. Y/n, where are we going?” Kazui asked as he watches his teacher locking their classroom door.

“I’ll take you to my apartment again. But I need to message your grandparents first, or your papa to let them know you’re with me.” Ms. Y/n smiled down at Kazui who smiled at her excitedly.

“Really!? Do I get to watch you cook again?!” Kazui beamed and followed Ms. Y/n way to the teacher’s office where she has her things.

“Of course.” Ms. Y/n giggled seeing Kazui's eyes sparkling.

Once Ms. Y/n finished packing the things she needed to work on her home and messaging Kazui’s guardian, she wave to her co-teachers, telling them she’ll take her leave.

Ms. Y/n felt Kazui’s hand grasp her skirt making her look down. This must be how Kazui is to Mr. Bakugou. So she took his hand and held it giving Kazui a gentle smile.

“What do you want for dinner, dear?” Ms. Y/n asked as they both headed to the exit door.

Kazui released a humming sound as if thinking, making Ms. Y/n chuckle as she watches him.

“Can we have Hamburger Steak?” Kazui looked up at her showing his beautiful velvet eyes as he waited for her to answer.

“Mhhmm.” Ms. Y/n pretended to think, placing her pointer finger on her pouting lips. “Alright.” She smiled.

“Yay!!”

..

It was now 6 pm in the evening and Katsuki just finished his shift. He's glad and pissed at the same time that today was slow. No villain attacks or what so ever.

As he made his way to his agency, Katsuki took this chance to check his phone. Seeing a lot of notifications from his old mentor, his parents, and Kazui’s school. Of course, he clicked the one concerning his child.

When the message showed on his screen, he reads it carefully. Although, the content of the message made him facepalm. He forgot to inform Kazui’s teacher he’ll pick him up late. Boy, he was glad Kazui’s teacher is considerate enough to look after Kazui while he was on duty.

She’s been taking care of his child for a while now since they both got closer and she even bring his child to her apartment, waiting for someone to pick him up. He was glad someone was giving him a helping hand.

When Katsuki reached his office, he kept reminding himself to bring a gift as a thank you to Ms. Y/n for taking care of his child.

..

After they both went to the supermarket to get the ingredients needed for their dinner, Ms. Y/n went to the beverage area and added a small bottle of sparkling grape juice for herself and a pair of orange juice boxes for Kazui. She paid everything to the cashier and walk their way to her apartment which isn't that far from the school.

When they entered her apartment, Kazui took the bags from Ms. Y/n, helping her to place them on the counter which he could barely reach.

Ms. Y/n giggled at this and thanked Kazui before going to her bedroom and changing into comfortable clothes. After changing, she made her way to her kitchen and started preparing.

“Ms. Y/n?” Kazuo called out while he sat on the counter top where he could watch Ms. Y/n cook. But of course, away from the stove.

“Yes, sweetie?” Ms. Y/n answered while she focuses on mixing the contents needed for the burger steak.

“Are you single?”

Ms. Y/n halt her movement, blinking confusedly before turning her head to look at Kazui. “Where did this come from?”

“Well, I don't see any other pictures in here. Only your picture and a family picture right there.” Kazui said raising his hand to point where he saw the picture.

Observant. The word that came up in Ms. Y/n's mind. She knew Kazui’s smart. She witnessed how he can effortlessly solve any problem written on the blackboard. Especially when it's a situational problem. No, she didn't teach these kinds of problems to her students. But when she saw Kazui’s ability, she decided to test it out. That's where she found out about Kazui’s sharp thinking. Maybe it was because he was the child of the number 2 hero? Was he teaching his child these things? She’ll never know.

“Haha. I am single. And why are you asking this, huh?” Ms. Y/n eyes Kazui suspiciously and is playful at the same time. “Are you going to ask me out?”

Kazui’s face turns red and seeing this reaction made Ms. Y/n laugh.

“I’m kidding.” Ms. Y/n said giggling and continue preparing their dinner.

“C-can I ask you a question?” Kazui was looking at his feet when he said this.

“Go ahead, sweetie.” Ms. Y/n spoke out gently as she started shaping the burger steak.

“Can you be my mama?”

[come-away-with-me87]

Modern Hearts Chapter 5

Chapter 4 here

******

"Well, Y/N, first thing on the agenda today will be for you to sit in at the faculty meeting.  You won't need to attend these often, this will just be a good opportunity to meet the teachers."  Nezu looked down at this watch, "which actually starts in five minutes.  Let's go, shall we?" And the three of you began your descent down the hallway to where they were going to hold the faculty meeting.  "Don't worry," Nezu said, "Toshinori will give you the full tour after the meeting so you know where everything is."

You made it into the room where the faculty meeting was being held, and your eyes went directly to the man in all black.  It was the man from the picture.  And the man from your dreams, you thought awkwardly.  Why did he look so familiar to you?  Nezu then spoke up, "ahem, everyone!  I wanted to introduce you to U.A. High's new librarian.  This is Y/N L/N."  As soon as Nezu said your name, the man in all black's eyes whipped towards you and just stared at you with...well, you couldn't exactly tell what kind of look it was.  Disgust?  Bewilderment?  Surprise?

Nezu then went around the room in the order of how everyone was sitting and introduced them by their names, "Y/N, you've already met Toshinori.  Please let me introduce you to Nemuri Kayama, Hizashi Yamada, Anan Kurose, Snipe, Sekijiro Kan, and last but not certainly least, Shouta Aizawa."  Shouta...Aizawa?  Your-best-friend-from-elementary-school-Shouta-Aizawa?  Suddenly, everything clicked; the reason he looked so familiar to you, the reason he stared at you when Nezu introduced you, and even the dream you had about him.  

You decided that right then and there was not the right time to try and catch up with your old friend, so instead, you politely said, "it's a pleasure to meet you all."  Shouta actually looked relieved when you said this, more than likely not wanting all of the attention on him.  Well, if that's how he still was like he was in your elementary school days.  You took a chair and sat down in between Toshinori and Nemuri.  Nemuri leaned over to you and whispered, "it'll be nice to have another pretty lady around here!"  You couldn't help but blush at her statement, and quietly whispered a thank you back to her, to which she winked.

This may have been bad, especially since it was your first day, but you didn't hear a single word that anyone was saying during the faculty meeting.  All you could think of was the fact that Shouta Aizawa also worked here.  What were the chances?  You truly thought that, after you left Japan in third grade, you would never see him again.  And yet, here he was, teaching at the same school you worked at.  All of a sudden, Nezu announced the end of the meeting, asking Toshinori to take you on a tour of the school.  Before leaving the room, you stole one more glance at Shouta, who was still staring at you.  You left the room, and just knew you were going to have to find a way to talk to him at some point today.

"That wasn't so bad was it?" Toshinori asked, breaking you out of your trance.  "Oh, ha no, that wasn't bad at all," you replied.  "Is everything okay, young Y/N?  You look like you've seen a ghost."  You couldn't help but burst out laughing at that statement, which made Toshinori even more worried-looking.  As you walked, you went on to explain to him that you and Shouta were childhood best friends, telling him how you even stayed in touch for a little while after you moved to America.  "Then the letters became fewer and fewer, and then they stopped altogether.  I guess life just got in the way, huh?"  Toshinori looked surprised, "wow, that's quite a story, Y/N.  You two are definitely going to have to catch up at some point!"  You looked up at him, "that's the hope."

You two continued on your tour of the school.  He showed you the four different departments, the teacher's lounge area, the cafeteria, and finally, the library.  "And this, my new friend, is where I leave you for now.  I have to get to class myself," he said with a smile.  You thanked him for everything, to which he bowed to you and made his way out of the library.  You made your way around the library, where they had all types of books: fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, history books, autobiographies, poetry; you name it, they had it.  You took the opportunity to flip through some of the books, absorbing all of their knowledge in one flick.  You eventually planned to do this with all the books in the library.  It would take a while, but it would be very beneficial for when a student needed a specific book; you would know exactly which one to help them pick.

The bell suddenly rang, which meant homeroom was over, and the students were on their way to their next classes.  You looked around, nobody was in the library at that moment.  This may be a brazen move for your first day, but you closed the library behind you, and made your way to the teacher's lounge in hopes of seeing Shouta to briefly catch up with him.  You went to the teacher's lounge; nope, he wasn't in there either.  You thought maybe he stayed behind in class after the bell rang, so you made your way over to class 1-A, internally thanking Toshinori for the tour he gave you earlier.  You made it to class 1-A, where you finally spotted Shouta at his desk, looking like he was grading papers.  You lightly knocked on the door, and stepped in saying "hello, Shouta..."

******

To be continued...

******

Tag list: @jaguarthecat - thank you for being the first person to ever ask to be tagged in one of my fics! I'm honored <3

[yestrday]

a little silly doodles of the academy's (literal) star student! i was thinking of what would their file have about them since i feel alot of the harem members especially those who are close to the staff members of the academy or helps around with that department of the school since im used to volunteering for stuff like that 😭 but anyway im pretty sure probably people like diluc(canonically has alot of connections), neuvillette(canon can go through files of fontaines citizens), scara(irminsul.....), zhongli (walking encyclopedia), Alhaitham(scribe), amd a few more but don't wanna squeeze my brain dry just to think! anyway these people has definitely have access to the school's files of students since they're needed for I.Ds and stuff!

the funny thing is... Asteria's origins is a little bit complicated... As I mention its not easy feat to enter the academy im guessing and they obviously had Alice's help and the reason for that is that they're... technically not a registered citizen in that world. They don't exactly have a birth certificate to prove they "exist"... They originated from a very low class home town and was literally in poverty. Their family wasn't exactly present so whenever the government would have free limited events of registering unregistered children when Asteria's was younger they didn't do it for Asteria which proved to be a problem. Later on in life Asteria surprisingly grew up wise and intelligent through threw away books of near by semi prestigious schools in their area which they picked up and learned from!! they had a passion for knowledge especially in the field of science and wished to be a famous astronomer! but of course being faced with the harsh reality they will probably never achieve that dream theyve accepted it but still enjoys learning ANYTHING new like they love learning and observing it's such... such a refreshing thing to see for passionate teachers that volunteers and teach in asteria's low class neighborhood it brings a tear in their eyes.

anyway let's say.. alice was one of these volunteers and noticed young Asteria's passion and was intrigued by this. A diamond in the rough! that's insane to Alice and so she took some years to observe Asteria by occasionally dropping by the grungy neighborhood and sees asteria sharing their learnings and be a bright kid whilst having that playful charm they had. So Alice decided to take it herself that she'll help Asteria study the proper education before establishing her grand plan offffffff.... enrolling Asteria to the academy that her daughter and niece is in LMAOO

And before all this. Asteria's real name isn't even Asteria Stellar... That was only a name that Alice created for them to describe their passion and their behavior, the stellar describing how out of this world their pursuit of knowledge was hence the stellar as their last name but their real name was Yvaine(meaning: north star) to represent as the light and guide for the kids in that neighborhood for helping the kids to learn atleast a bit and guided them through the shitty reality!!! asteria is a really nice kid back then huhu

anyway once asteria finally hits the age of entering the academy Alice got some connections to help her make a... semi legitimate birth certificate and some documents to make up some "normal" life that Asteria supposedly have so yeah baam thats when "Asteria Stellar" was created!

so basically what I'm saying if any of these harem maniacs even TRIES to check their history or origins they'll... probably have a major difficult time because it's so obscure thanks to Alice making sure that no one will figure out this because if this gets out then not only Asteria will get in alot of trouble so will Alice so ermmm... but yeah! other than this if they just get the courage and ask Asteria themselves to talk more about themselves then Asteria will gladly tell their tale! it's pretty easy to get information of them actually if you just approach them 😓 it's because of this stupid reputation and aura they exude makes them looks approachable and it doesn't help the fact they have long ass hair that makes them look those intimidating characters that's good in everything huhuuu doesn't matter tho

also them being filo is a bit important since they have a tiny bit of an accent when speaking in English if its not in an academic setting! They also their culture alot but not alot of people knows this because they all assume that Asteria isn't Filipino but another ethnicity because of the accent?? 😭 which makes asteria confuzzled (from experience)

FILO MENTIONED 📢📢📢 BAYANG MAGILIW PERLAS NG SILANGAN 📢📢 AKO AY PILIPINO BUONG KATAPATAN NANUNUMPA OR SMTH 📢📢📢📢

the filo accent has me awwing but then i remembered the filo accent is probably cute to foreigners but i just keel over laughing bc its just really funny (i have filo accent too)

also.... i think your babygirl n alice mightbe committed one or two crimes there...

her background is so sweet as well :')) i can imagine asteria teaching the other kids as well awhhh but this shit could be good now we can eliminate the possibilities of a yandere snooping around her background doing archon knows what

[loving-family-poll]

i fear we are departing from incest but i love to hear myself talk so i shall tell you about my sister's complex about me. first we have to establish some things: my sister is older than me (the oldest of us all, i'm second oldest, just mentioning it bc me not being the youngest feels important here), my sister has an inferiority complex that stems from me being the successful one (probably will come up later but i was a very smart kid and ended up skipping so many grades that i started college at 15), and that my sister has always had bad anxiety and is very very sensitive to rejection

so. let's start from the beginning. our father left us young, didn't pay child support, was generally an asshole, but most importantly he would visit for one reason: me. i was the favorite because, as i mentioned, i was a smart kid and he is very success-oriented so naturally he took to me (and off-topic but this happens so often. like very very success driven people have been weirdly into me since i was a little kid. weird shit but i've used it to my advantage cough cough getting a kid flunked and almost expelled) so anyway our father visits us just for me, even tells me about all the women he was cheating on my mom with before they got divorced. and my sister? my sister has bad anxiety, she's sensitive to being left out. and more than that she has very very strong rejection sensitivity. so how do you think it'd feel to be the oldest child and yet be ignored by our father (this did not affect my other siblings they were too young). so this puts me above her in her mind

she fails a lot in school and this wrecks her confidence, especially since i've always been greatly successful in school. she's pushed aside by her father for me, she's pushed away by her teachers for me (to the point that i would have a teacher for a short time before i'd test out and they'd still call her my name no matter how long she had them). she also has very poor social skills so she was never liked by her peers while i was funny and i was smart and i was such a goody-two-shoes brat but teachers adored me to the point that i could get away with anything i wanted (yes i was pulling shit i think i had a habit of attacking one of my teachers and everyone was cool with it) and she'd be scolded for any little issues because she wasn't as liked + she was more frustrating (she had untreated adhd for a hot minute). keep in mind that most of this was happening while we were both under 10/11

so. you'd think that she would have some deep-seated resentment against me. and you would be correct! now idk what you know about psychology and chances are it's bs anyway (<-psych major that does not trust the field in the slightest) but there's this nifty little concept called reaction formation. it's freudian so. take that as you will. but basically it's just when a strong emotion switches from one to another. for example: hate to love, love to hate… resentment to adoration?

so that's my theory for the basis of this. she has an inferiority complex and a sensitivity to rejection and i was everything she wasn't and for whatever reason her kid brain said hey, why not love my sister instead. and honestly this wasn't that like. prevalent until we teenagers, because i became very neurotic and anxious and developed some disorders you know how it is. and now we see something new in my sister: she likes to take care of people. if i couldn't do something she would do it for me, if someone was pushing my boundaries she would enforce them. i basically spent all of middleschool hiding away in our home (i was homeschooled atp) with only her for company since i'd hide in our room. so she;s taken on the role of being my protector. probably because if she would never be better than me, at least she could be the one protecting me. it made her important. it made her necessary. it made her feel needed. and that is when i catch on. i encouraged her a bit, started praising her, thanking her for any little thing she did, calling for her anytime i needed help because she just loves to feel needed so badly. and yeah maybe that was manipulative and maybe it was wrong but i was also like. 14 or 15 when i started doing this

anyway so she has this whole complex about needing to protect me so that she can feel needed and it's all fueled by her inferiority complex that honestly drives so much of what she does. i find it highly amusing.

so yeah. she's basically a dog to me. tell her she's good and give her a treat and she'll do what you want. and if she does something that makes me upset she folds so fucking quickly it's wild. it's that fear of rejection. she could never stand for me of all people to drop her

and to the person who wanted us in the tournament together sorry but we are just weird about each other in a not-so-incesty way but the vibes are kinda there

The way I was glued to this ask reading SO intently. What you two have going on is so much weirder than if you'd just fucked (complimentary)

[novella-writers]

Hello everyone, and thank you so much for taking the time to read this! I hope you're having an amazing day. You can call me Leyre, I'm 22 — so I’m primarily looking for writing partners around that age. I’m looking for someone to roleplay an original story with me, preferably on Discord or email! If you’re interested in creating a compelling narrative together and agree with the following terms, I’d love to be friends and dive into our characters' world together!

#What I'm looking for:

I have a character named Delilah Scott, a young, hardworking History teacher juggling a complex family situation and the mysteries surrounding her brother's disappearance. She’s caught between the normalcy of everyday life and the shadows of a past that won’t leave her alone. I’m looking for a partner who might enjoy playing a character that complements or clashes with Delilah—whether that’s a detective, a criminal, a troubled local, or something else entirely! If you like building deep character connections, creating tension, or exploring darker, emotional, or even humorous scenarios, then this might be perfect for us!

I'll provide her template and some ideas in case you're interested!

Possible characters:

1. The Undercover Agent: Delilah's brother Daniel disappeared two years ago, but the shadow of his involvement with a dangerous crime syndicate has never left her family. One night, while serving tables at "The Hungry Spoon," Delilah notices a new customer who seems oddly interested in her. They're not like the usual tourists or locals; they've got an intense gaze and a way of observing people that puts her on edge. Little does she know, they're an undercover agent who’s been investigating the very organization that might have taken her brother. What they don'’t expect is to find themselves drawn to Delilah’s fiery spirit and determination to protect her family, despite being warned to keep their distance.

2. The Criminal with a Conscience: Delilah’s family is in deeper trouble than ever, thanks to her father’s debt to the same crime syndicate that got her brother Daniel hooked on drugs. One evening, a member of the syndicate shows up at the diner to "collect" the debt. They expect another frightened woman, but instead, he meets Delilah—a woman with a razor-sharp tongue and a fearless attitude. She’s determined not to let her father fall into the same trap her brother did. Something about her makes them hesitate to carry out their orders. Perhaps it's guilt, or perhaps there's something more…

3. The New Teacher in Town: After getting fired from her teaching job, Delilah is desperate to find a way back into the education system. Enter a new teacher at her old high school, a charming but mysterious person who's been hired to replace the History department head. They seem to have his own secrets and reasons for being in town, and they quickly take an interest in the tough, no-nonsense former History teacher who seems to be carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. As they clash and collide over their shared passion for education and their wildly different teaching styles, a deeper connection begins to form.

4. The Local Surfer and Troublemaker: With her brother’s surfboard gathering dust, Delilah rarely goes near the water anymore. But when a local surfer known for their reckless behavior and run-ins with the law starts hanging around the diner, she can’t help but be reminded of Daniel. At first, she writes them off as just another troublemaker. But when she catches them quietly fixing up her brother’s old surfboard one evening, she starts to wonder if there’s more to them than their reputation suggests. Maybe they know more about Daniel’s disappearance than they're letting on—or maybe they just need someone who understands what it’s like to lose someone.

5. The Wealthy Businessperson with a Secret: The Hungry Spoon has been struggling to stay afloat, but when a wealthy businessperson offers to invest in the diner, Delilah is skeptical. They seem too polished, too perfect, and far too interested in her family’s affairs. Despite their charm and good looks, she can’t shake the feeling that they have an ulterior motive. What she doesn’t know is that they're connected to the same syndicate that her father owes money to, and they've come to collect in a different way. However, they weren't expecting to fall for the stubborn, sharp-witted waitress who stands in their way.

#Requirements:

• Open to OOC chatting — I really enjoy getting to know my writing partners beyond the RP itself! Let’s chat about our day, share some headcanons, and make the experience fun. To me, a big part of roleplaying is creating friendships and sharing the excitement of building our story together.

• Semi-lit or literate writing — I write a minimum of 3000 characters (often more) and appreciate partners who put in a similar effort to craft replies that keep us both inspired. I understand life gets busy, so feel free to take your time replying, whether it’s a day, a few days, or even a week. I’d just appreciate replies that show as much effort and enthusiasm as mine.

• Character depth —  I’m mainly looking to explore Delilah’s story, ALONG with a character that has their own compelling background and motivations. If we choose to write together, I'd love to see a bit about your character—just a small presentation or template is great! I promise my templates are super detailed and thorough!

• Collaborative storytelling — While I’m flexible with different storylines, I value a collaborative approach where both of our characters get to shine equally. It’s important that we both feel invested in the plot and our characters’ journeys. Let’s keep things balanced and ensure that both our characters have meaningful development!

• Writing style — I typically write in third person, past tense and would love it if you do too! It keeps things consistent and immersive.

• Aesthetic and fun — I love keeping track of our story through aesthetic boards, playlists, or even sharing memes that remind us of our characters and plot. If you’re into that kind of thing too, then we’d be a perfect match!

Thank you so much for reading through this, and if you’re interested in creating a unique and gripping story together, please feel free to reach out! ♡ To make sure you’ve read the whole post, send me a food you like with an emoji. 🍓 Wishing you a great day/night!

Message if interested!

[shipcestuous]

Sin(s) by F. Sionil Jose (submission)

(Hello again! I’m glad that you–and hopefully some others–appreciated my post on the other blog about the Rosales saga. This time, I’ll talk about the other book I mentioned.)

Sin (first published in 1973, then reissued as Sins in 1996) is about the life of Don Carlos Cobello, a rich landowner and businessman of Spanish-Filipino (but more Spanish) descent. He’s already dying when the book starts; the events are his recollections. Before I proceed, let me warn you all that he’s a self-important jerk. He expresses regret several times in the narrative, but in the end he’s still -ist and -phobic. Anyway…

Growing up, Carlos was close to his sister Corito, who was four years older. When he felt afraid (ex. during thunderstorms) or alone, he’d jump into her bed and she’d hug him.

I felt so safe with her, reveling as I did in her warmth and that delicious fragrance she exuded.

It was during one such incident when Carlos was a teenager that they started having sex. I won’t mention how old he was (too young by American standards, but legal under Philippine law until recently) but based on the narrative, they were both into it. Carlos then discovers that he’s quite the massive horndog and spends World War II chasing skirt, from the new housemaid to some prostitutes at his father’s brothel.

After the war, Corito marries a man that Carlos believes (correctly) to be gay. While the husband’s passed out on their wedding night, the siblings have sex, which results in a baby girl named Angela. Unfortunately, she’s very frail, Corito almost dies giving birth to her, and even Carlos shows signs of disease a few years later. Remember the prostitutes I mentioned? One of them got syphilis from a customer and passed it to Carlos, who in turn passed it to Corito and Angela. So I guess the author gets partial credit for mentioning a real disease instead of letting the audience assume that incest=mutant babies 100% of the time…?

Fast forward to May 1963. Corito’s marriage to her husband has already been annulled, so she, her daughter, and Carlos basically act like a family now. Though he’s gotten annoyed at her jealousy and constant hunger for sex (not that he’s innocent in that department, lol), they try not to quarrel in front of Angela, whom they both dote on. While they’re having breakfast, they’re told that a young man, “about seventeen or eighteen years old,” wants to see Carlos. Remember the housemaid I mentioned in the last paragraph? She’s the mother of this young man, Delfin, who stays just long enough to confirm that yes, he is Carlos’ son. Then he leaves. Carlos, overwhelmed that he has a handsome, grown-up son, runs after him and demands to know about his life.

Delfin’s a bright kid (high school valedictorian, full scholarship at state university) who dreams of becoming a lawyer so he can defend the poor. Obviously, this puts him at odds with Carlos, but right now that isn’t the old guy’s concern. He offers to let Delfin stay with them. Angela pops up and asks,

“Why does he not want to stay with us? Then you don’t have to help me with my homework. I can ask him to do that.”

Delfin chooses not to stay with them, and also refuses much of his father’s efforts at charity (tailored suits, money, et cetera). He feels out of place with the family and their rich circles. But he does bond with Angela, helping her with homework as promised. Even Corito’s impressed by Delfin. She finds him attractive, much to Carlos’ dismay:

“Now, Corito, whatever is in your mind, just keep it there. He is my son, your nephew–don’t you forget that!”

“Your son, my nephew–and you, Carling–you are my brother!”

I mean…she’s not lying.

After graduating from university, Delfin goes to law school and starts working for an activist lawyer that Carlos passionately hates. He gets the latest news about Delfin from Angela, who brings food to his boardinghouse every week. She calls him “a very good teacher” and “fun to be with.” She clearly admires him and he’s friendly to her–she’s the only person he can confidently speak Spanish to, for one–but he doesn’t fully return her affections yet because she’s much younger and he has a girlfriend back home. Unfortunately for Delfin, his girl gives up waiting for him after eight years and marries the son of their provincial governor. Delfin wins a scholarship to Yale Law School but doesn’t take it, instead staying in the Philippines so he can defend ordinary people in court. One day, the law office he works for sues Carlos’ hacienda on behalf of 54 families (including some of Delfin’s relatives) that were going to be displaced by mechanization. The case goes all the way up to the Supreme Court. Thanks to Carlos’ efforts, the hacienda wins, much to Delfin’s sadness and disappointment. He distances himself much more from his father. Delfin even fails to show up at Angela’s graduation party, which reduces her to tears in the car on the way home.

“I love Delfin, Mama.”

“You are cousins, Angie dearest.”

“I couldn’t help myself, Mama. It just happened.”

“What does Delfin say?”

“He knows! He knows! He said I must stop my juvenile infatuation. I am too young–and like you said, he also repeated it, we are cousins. But I know he loves me, too. Once, he kissed me…but now I am not sure. He didn’t come and I wanted so much to introduce him to my friends. They know about my feelings.”

Carlos tries to comfort her (“It is me that Delfin did not want to see, not you”) but it doesn’t work. He and Corito plot to send her abroad so that she can study, find an eligible Spanish guy, and hopefully forget about Delfin. Again…it doesn’t work. While Carlos is recovering from a freak accident in his bathroom, he gets news that Angela’s disappeared. She shows up and tells him that she’s living with Delfin now:

“He loves me, Tito. The day before Mama and I left, I seduced him. I am pregnant and very happy.”

Of course, Carlos summons Delfin. They argue a little before the subject turns to Angela.

“Angela told you that she had seduced me. That is not true at all, sir. Since she was young, I had watched her, seen her grow, so sensitive, so frail. I thought I would protect her. With all that beauty, I did not want her to be like my mother–bearing an illegitimate child. But now…”

“Marry her. Neither Corito nor I will stand in the way. But in heaven’s name, don’t let her suffer. Let her live with some comfort, at least. I looked at her hands–they were bruised…”

“I told her not to wash my clothes…”

“But she did it just the same. Yes, a woman in love is capable of abnegation. But she is pregnant now and needs all the care in the world, sickly as she is.”

Alas, it is not to be. At the end of the book, Angela comes crying to Carlos, telling him that she’s caught Corito and Delfin “in a sexual embrace” and that Corito’s told her that she and Delfin are brother and sister, which means they can’t get married after all. We don’t know what happens to her and the baby after that.

I expected the sad ending. The novel’s supposed to illustrate that the country’s upper classes are horrible people who care only about wealth and power. As with most mainstream fiction, the incestuous tendencies are supposed to emphasize their evilness. And yet…wtf? That thing with Corito and Delfin shocked me. I agree with the other reviewer on Goodreads who was shocked because (s)he thought they genuinely adored Angela. The poor girl deserved a lot better.

So…to sum up! Carlos and Corito are not moral paragons at all, but at least it wasn’t familial abuse or neglect that drove them into each other’s arms. Angela and Delfin’s dynamic reminded me of Luis and Trining from My Brother, My Executioner, only Delfin didn’t succumb to the temptations of landlord life the way Luis did. It’s a general dynamic I find cute, age difference aside. But that ending. Jesus Christ. People elsewhere on the Internet have said that Sin is not the most popular of F. Sionil Jose’s novels, and I think I understand why.

Once again, thank you for anyone who’s made it this far!

(The quoted lines are from the book. All rights go to the author.)

——

Three for the price of one, wow. The author really embraced the incest with this one. 

Thank you so much for the detailed summary of these relationships. What a book! So much sadness but a lot of good stuff too. Poor Angela, though. 

[beardedmrbean]

The Supreme Court ruled against President Joe Biden’s one-time student debt forgiveness plan to cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for more than 40 million borrowers.

The news has distraught borrowers across the country who have benefited from the Covid-era debt payment pause for the past three years.

Among the most upset about the Supreme Court’s decision are the nearly 20 million people, according to the Biden administration, like Joy Morales-Bartlett who stood to have their debts fully canceled.

“It’s disheartening,” said Morales-Bartlett. “We’ve done the right things this whole time, and we are being punished for it.”

With a remaining balance of $19,000, the 47-year-old former teacher was looking forward to seeing her decadeslong journey toward repaying $89,000 in student loan debt finally come to an end.

The payment pause made the public "come on board to the concept of debt cancellation," Natalia Abrams, president and founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center, said, "because people got to see what their lives would be like without student debt."

While Biden's debt forgiveness plan was not designed to fully wipe out all student loans, millions of borrowers hoped it would ease some of the financial burden they will face in October, when the Covid-era debt payment pause is set to end.

Paul Berlet, who graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania last year with a degree in secondary English education, is now a sixth grade English teacher in Delaware. During his time in school, Berlet accumulated about $20,000 in federal student loans.

"You should not need to be in debt to be able to start your life," Berlet said. "That is not a good way to start your adult life."

Following multiple student debt payment pause extensions since 2020, Congress recently passed a law preventing further extensions. The payment pause allowed people to focus on other basic needs such as child care, health care, rent costs or, for some, the accumulation of savings for the first time, Abrams said, citing surveys conducted by the Student Debt Crisis Center.

This was the case with Esther Jean-Marie, 30. As the Connecticut resident saw her rent and living expenses increase over the past three years, not having to worry about her student loan allowed her to keep up with rising costs.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, student loan interest will resume Sept. 1 and payments will be due starting in October.

“Taking on that extra bill now is even more stressful than I think it was during the pandemic, because everything is so expensive now,” Jean-Marie said.

Shaniece Conyers, 33, is also in a similar situation. An organizer for the Student Loan Fund, which helps predominantly Black and Latino borrowers in Connecticut navigate debt, Conyers has been reworking her budget spreadsheet ahead of October.

Abrams said she's "very concerned" about having millions of payments "be turned on all at once."

"There’s a lot of concern that there will be confusion from the student loan borrowers and confusion with student loan servicers," Abrams said.

Worried about falling short

The confusion may be more noticeable among young people who have not had to make any payments toward their students loans because they graduated college while the Covid-era debt payment pause was still in place.

Berlet and Erika Guevara, of New York City, are among them.

Guevara, 24, graduated from City College of New York last year with a degree in environmental science. During her time in school, she accumulated about $20,000 in federal student loans.

Though Guevara works two jobs, at a restaurant and at a membership club, she said she still struggles to afford rent costs and living expenses, often taking on credit card debt to make ends meet.

Going to college in the era of social distancing and remote learning deprived Guevara of on-the-field experiences necessary for her to get a job in her field of study, she said.

Guevara wishes to return to school and pursue a master’s in urban design with a specialization in green infrastructure, sustainability and environmental systems to expand her job prospects, “but I’m concerned about taking out more loans,” she said.

“It’s like having a cloud over you, when you’re consistently thinking about your debt,” Guevara said.

According to a 2021 Pew Research Center analysis, first-generation college graduates like Guevara tend to have lower incomes and accumulate less wealth, on average, compared to those with a parent who has a bachelor’s or higher degree, complicating their ability to repay loans.

With her first student debt payment due in October, Guevara said she can only wish that she'll be able to make it. "I don’t think anyone is prepared."

Berlet said he was able to save up some money during the payment pause and is currently working a summer job.

“All that money is going to get put away to help me pay down the loans,” he said.

Berlet still worries that despite his best efforts he may still fall short on his upcoming monthly payments toward his student loans while also paying rent, buying school supplies needed to equip his classroom and affording the monthly payments on a car loan he recently took out to replace his old car.

"It’s kind of like forced debt," Berlet said. "If I want to be a teacher — and I do want to be a teacher, I love my job — there’s no other way for me to be a teacher but to take on that debt."

[eggtwobroes]

quick post for the hlvrai oc ideas (based on existing concepts of characters) i had in an epiphany during my math class

MS KITTLE: originally on the black mesa cams (one ones you can go look at in hl blue shift). wine lady w a new jersey accent. shes sillayyy.. wants to be (or previously was?) a teacher, probably fluent in french

unnamed: original owner of the cybernetics departmenr. prototype in the same way bubby is, but newer. younger than bubby but not like YOUNG young. hes still pretty old. after his division was shut down by osha due to the ill fated cybermutt project he took to living in the radioactive sewers so he was hit by the male pattern balding even harder! very sickly and gross someone get him out of there

ADRIAN SHEPHARD: u kno him u luv him. adrian shephard was turned into a self aware ai. he speaks minimally but when he does its either smart or nonsense noo inbetween. we think he has majick powers too. ALTERNATIVE i make a hlvrai oc group where shephard is actaully a real player in vr like hordon and he meets up qith voxer (already existing oc) and kittle and unnamed cybernetics dude. most likely going with this cuz its more fun and i can actually find ways to include real hlvr charactwrs like darnold and forzen and bubby and benrey SOOOOO FUN

while writing this i got an idea for a biology department head researcher but i dont have anything else beyond that so watcg out. updating later..

[pickledpascal]

Sweet Nothing

Chapter One: The Loneliest Time

Summary: Doctor Blake Adler is new at the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Department. She's to be a part of the team and get as comfortable as possible before being thrown in the field by Jack Crawford. Beforehand, though, she must meet everyone.... A certain curly haired man catches her attention.

Warnings: Light ableism (?)

Word Count: 2.2k

Sweet Nothing Masterlist

Next Chapter

Being in the FBI was not for everyone. During time at Quantico, you could see dead bodies cut up a hundred different ways after just one class. There’s a reason not everyone becomes an agent, seeing bodies bloodied or drained or eaten doesn’t get easier. Certainly not for someone who’s squeamish. The select few trainees that make it fully into the Bureau don’t last long. Sometimes they die on the job, others quit with their sanity intact. For some, though, the job is perfect for them. They don’t have time to be doing anything else so they choose to save lives. Some even find it rewarding because of that. Or the secret, fourth, thing. The FBI could make a perfect cover if you’re a murderer….

Thankfully, for Jack Crawford, Doctor Blake Adler is not. She’s a highly decorated young woman, with two PhDs–one in Psychiatry and the other in Criminology–and passed her FBI training with flying colors. Which meant she was perfect to fill a missing spot in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Sure, Jack had Doctor Bloom and Doctor Lecter on call for anything he may need but Doctor Adler would be easier to get to and may even understand the people they’re going after much easier than them.

“Thank you for the position, Mr. Crawford.” Blake smiled, hands behind her back in a kind gesture. She wasn’t exactly looking at his eyes, Jack could tell. But the effort was appreciated. 

Jack let out a small huff of air as a light laugh, “Just call me Jack, Doctor Adler.”

“Then you can call me, Blake.” The young woman countered with a light laugh of her own. As she adjusted her glasses on her face, she asked, “I must admit, I still feel like a trainee. I have no real world experience. So why me? The Behavioral Unit is…. Very tricky to get into.”

Jack shook his head as he opened the door for Blake, “You’ve helped me more than you know, Doctor. While small, every bit helps when trying to catch a killer.” He admitted, guiding the young woman inside. “First, I’d like you to get acquainted with the team. At the moment, there’s nothing big happening so your first real day won’t be until tomorrow. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.” Blake winked, waving lightly as Jack retreated into his office. The sealed glass work stations were pretty much empty besides one that had a few people working on a body. “Slow day indeed, huh.” She whispered to herself before looking down at the papers in her hand. Jack, being the head of the Behavioral Unit, compiled a list of those Blake would work best with. 

4. Brain Zeller – Seems arrogant, Doctor Adler hates the type to believe they’re smarter than they are. Will treat Doctor Adler too harshly.

True, Blake pushed back against a lot of her teachers in the Bureau and outside it because of this.

3. Jimmy Price – Smart, but almost too kind. Doctor Adler hates those who are too kind for no reason. Or more specifically, will try to tiptoe around her. 

Blake pursed her lips from the smile that threatened to form. Jack got it right again. He did have her profile which told him all the nitty gritty details that she didn’t want to think about.

2. Beverley Katz – Similarly to Goldilocks, these two would make a great fit and are ‘just right.’ Will not treat Doctor Adler too harshly but won’t treat her as if she’s too fragile either. Personalities match almost 95%.

Blake cocked her head a little at the words in front of her eyes. She was only number two? Then who was number one if Beverley was supposedly ‘just right’ for her. 

1. Will Graham – Will has a special insight to crime scenes that it seems Doctor Adler and him share. However, Will Graham does not necessarily like working with others. Especially those who may try to get inside his head. May take some time before they truly start to mesh together but they should be a perfect match after initial bonding takes place.

The doctor studied the words for a moment. “Looks like I need to find Will Graham….” She murmured, mostly to herself.

“Will Graham isn’t usually here unless the Chesapeake Ripper has decided to show up.” A voice piped up. Said voice was attached to a woman with black wavy hair and dark eyes. Has she ever taken that leather jacket off? Seemed like it was well loved.

Blake gave her a courtesy smile, “You must be Beverley Katz. I’m Doctor Blake Adler, a new addition to the team. I guess.” She explained.

Beverley hummed softly and nodded at Blake, “Will is usually in one of the lecture halls. Not sure which one, never visited him myself but I’m sure you could ask one of the students roaming around the halls.” Well, thank god for Beverley Katz. Not one to mince words.

“Thank you, Ms. Katz. I look forward to working with you.” Blake turned, her face dropping a bit as she adjusted the weight on her shoulders and began walking towards the lecture halls. 

Sure, Blake has heard of Will Graham before but she’d never had the opportunity to take one of his classes. The seats always filled up, though she’s not sure if it’s because he was a good teacher or because plenty of his students found him attractive. Either way, she’s never met Will Graham but it felt like years in the making. Classmates in other classes talked about him non-stop. His way of commanding a classroom by his movements or by his voice or simply by the pictures he decided to put on his slides.

Just in time for the end of class, Blake entered Will’s lecture hall as students were exiting. The young woman huffed softly as a few men bumped into her, rolling her eyes as she kept treading forward. She knew what she looked like. Blake was a trainee fresh out of Quantico and now she was running errands for the Behavioral Unit. At least, her 6 foot tall height made her intimidating to most or else she would have been trampled out of the classroom. 

Jealousy really is a disease. 

"Class just ended." The man at the desk stated, voice monotone. His resting voice seemed careless but also…. Careful. And tired. So, so tired. 

Blake narrowed her eyes at the shorter man, pursing her lips. That had to be Will Graham, the name matched his appearance well. His hair was a deep brown, curled on his head and unkept as if it was begging to be touched, eyes were blue and held a certain sadness in the skin around it. And his unkept stubble. All in all, Will Graham was attractive like the rumors said but he also looked…. Sad. Like maybe he was beaten down by seeing so much in his life. Perhaps that's why he became a teacher instead. Except, he certainly wasn't just a teacher anymore.

"I know I look it but I'm actually here on behalf of Jack Crawford. I'm new in the Behavioral Unit." Blake explained after all the students left, walking closer to the desk Will was perched on. "He believes we would make a fine crime solving pair." She joked softly, avoiding straight on eye contact.

Will noticed immediately what she was trying to do. "You don't have to…. Try to not act normal." He smiled lightly, almost pained. "Did Jack tell you?"

"No. But I don't like eye contact much either, it's very…. Taxing. Don't know exactly where to look or for how long." Blake shrugged, looking away from Will to her hands for a moment. Something about her jacket seemed to be much more interesting to look at. "Doctor Blake Adler." 

Will hummed in response, "The famous trainee that helped Jack Crawford himself on a few cases." He joked, cocking an eyebrow as he finally looked up fully to take in Blake's appearance. 

Doctor Adler was six feet tall, which was more accentuated whenever she wore heels, deep forest green eyes, short brown hair with blue at the ends that was styled to be slicked back and away from the eyes. The blue dye in her hair was faded which insinuated she hadn’t redyed it in a few months. Will also noticed a light dusting of freckles on her nose as well as black ink ever so slightly peeking from under one of her sleeves. Blake was…. Astonishing. And Will doesn't describe just anyone like that.

"How does it feel?" Will asked, smirking slightly. "To be famous even before you became a real agent?"

Blake shrugged, leaning against the desk next to Will. "Weird. I don't think I helped that much but then Jack keeps saying it really helped him and I don't know why." She admitted, looking off to a fixed point in the paneled walls.

"We think differently." Will could tell. It took a few seconds, Blake was harder to read than most others but he could tell why Jack wanted Blake to meet him. They were similar. Very similar. "And sometimes Jack hasn't thought about things the way we do." The man pursed his lips, letting his eyes fall to his lap.

Blake let out a light laugh, shaking her head. "Jack is smart but he can only do so much." She agreed, running a hand through her hair as she felt a few strands come out of place.

Will watched this from the corner of his eyes, admiring the way her hand glided through her hair. He noticed her nails were painted black and that there was a small tattoo on her right thumb. A small crescent moon, filled with black ink.

This moment was cut off by the lecture hall door opening. A woman in a long sleeved floral dress stood in the doorway. 

"Doctor Bloom." Will's gaze hardened lightly, standing from the desk. After all, Will knew he was unstable but Alana couldn't give him another reason….

Alana's gaze traveled from Will to the taller woman next to him. "You must be Doctor Adler." She smiled politely, though not that authentically.

Tension was all Blake could feel in that moment. Time to back out. "Yes, and you must be Doctor Bloom as Will said." She nodded, "Unfortunately, I believe Jack wants me in his office so I can't properly say hello. We'll probably see each other again soon though." With that, Blake gave Alana a light smile and high-tailed it out of there.

Once back at Jack's office, Blake let out a breath after closing the glass door. She shook off the weirdness from earlier and rolled her neck to release some tension.

"Work drama already? On your first day?" Jack asked with an amused chuckle from behind Blake.

The doctor rolled her eyes as she turned towards him. "Not my drama. Will Graham and Alana Bloom drama. I sensed some…. Unresolved tension." Blake's lips upturned in disgust.

"Not a fan of kissing then, Doctor?" Jack's eyes held an amused glare.

Blake shrugged as she sat by his desk. "Not exactly. Never kissed anyone before. Not one that counted anyway." She shook her head, "Enough of that. Do I get my own office? Or is that reserved for special agents?"

Jack rolled his eyes and closed the folder he was working on. "Since you're a special case and you requested an isolated office, yes you do get one." He explained.

Doctor Adler, while possibly the most promising agent to be added to the Bureau, could be the most unpredictable as well. Sure, Will Graham–who has self-diagnosed himself on the autism spectrum–has worked for the FBI since…. Well, forever, the Bureau has not had someone clinically diagnosed on the autism spectrum in the field and working of the Behavioral Unit full time. Blake Adler is sort of a test run, to see if people like her can handle it long term. 

Knowing this, of course, Blake had some requests. Sometimes, she likes to isolate herself. It can help her to think or simply, if she gets overstimulated, it gives her some place to go. While at work, there aren't many places to go when having a nervous breakdown because something happened that she didn't want besides the bathroom. But then people might hear Blake crying. That is something she doesn't need. So a private office was a must have. The Bureau didn't want Blake's talent to go to waste, so they obliged enthusiastically.

A start to a wonderful relationship always starts with boundary setting. 

Doctor Blake Adler – PhD in Physcology and Criminology

Height: 6’0

Eye Color: Green

Hair Color: Brown

Profile: Psych Eval makes it evident Doctor Adler is on the autism spectrum but this knowledge isn’t new to the Bureau. Has shown she’s an asset to the Bureau and seems to not pose a threat to herself or others. Stable enough to be considered for a position. Although her particular but subtle hate of authority may make it difficult for her to take orders. As well as her appearance may be intimidating when questioning witnesses, unfortunately there is no way to rectify this.

[rphunter]

Hello everyone, and thank you so much for taking the time to read this! I hope you're having an amazing day. You can call me Leyre, I'm 22 — so I’m primarily looking for writing partners around that age. I’m looking for someone to roleplay an original story with me, preferably on Discord or email! If you’re interested in creating a compelling narrative together and agree with the following terms, I’d love to be friends and dive into our characters' world together!

#What I'm looking for:

I have a character named Delilah Scott, a young, hardworking History teacher juggling a complex family situation and the mysteries surrounding her brother's disappearance. She’s caught between the normalcy of everyday life and the shadows of a past that won’t leave her alone. I’m looking for a partner who might enjoy playing a character that complements or clashes with Delilah—whether that’s a detective, a criminal, a troubled local, or something else entirely! If you like building deep character connections, creating tension, or exploring darker, emotional, or even humorous scenarios, then this might be perfect for us!

I'll provide her template and some ideas in case you're interested!

Possible characters:

1. The Undercover Agent: Delilah's brother Daniel disappeared two years ago, but the shadow of his involvement with a dangerous crime syndicate has never left her family. One night, while serving tables at "The Hungry Spoon," Delilah notices a new customer who seems oddly interested in her. They're not like the usual tourists or locals; they've got an intense gaze and a way of observing people that puts her on edge. Little does she know, they're an undercover agent who’s been investigating the very organization that might have taken her brother. What they don'’t expect is to find themselves drawn to Delilah’s fiery spirit and determination to protect her family, despite being warned to keep their distance.

2. The Criminal with a Conscience: Delilah’s family is in deeper trouble than ever, thanks to her father’s debt to the same crime syndicate that got her brother Daniel hooked on drugs. One evening, a member of the syndicate shows up at the diner to "collect" the debt. They expect another frightened woman, but instead, he meets Delilah—a woman with a razor-sharp tongue and a fearless attitude. She’s determined not to let her father fall into the same trap her brother did. Something about her makes them hesitate to carry out their orders. Perhaps it's guilt, or perhaps there's something more…

3. The New Teacher in Town: After getting fired from her teaching job, Delilah is desperate to find a way back into the education system. Enter a new teacher at her old high school, a charming but mysterious person who's been hired to replace the History department head. They seem to have his own secrets and reasons for being in town, and they quickly take an interest in the tough, no-nonsense former History teacher who seems to be carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. As they clash and collide over their shared passion for education and their wildly different teaching styles, a deeper connection begins to form.

4. The Local Surfer and Troublemaker: With her brother’s surfboard gathering dust, Delilah rarely goes near the water anymore. But when a local surfer known for their reckless behavior and run-ins with the law starts hanging around the diner, she can’t help but be reminded of Daniel. At first, she writes them off as just another troublemaker. But when she catches them quietly fixing up her brother’s old surfboard one evening, she starts to wonder if there’s more to them than their reputation suggests. Maybe they know more about Daniel’s disappearance than they're letting on—or maybe they just need someone who understands what it’s like to lose someone.

5. The Wealthy Businessperson with a Secret: The Hungry Spoon has been struggling to stay afloat, but when a wealthy businessperson offers to invest in the diner, Delilah is skeptical. They seem too polished, too perfect, and far too interested in her family’s affairs. Despite their charm and good looks, she can’t shake the feeling that they have an ulterior motive. What she doesn’t know is that they're connected to the same syndicate that her father owes money to, and they've come to collect in a different way. However, they weren't expecting to fall for the stubborn, sharp-witted waitress who stands in their way.

#Requirements:

• Open to OOC chatting — I really enjoy getting to know my writing partners beyond the RP itself! Let’s chat about our day, share some headcanons, and make the experience fun. To me, a big part of roleplaying is creating friendships and sharing the excitement of building our story together.

• Semi-lit or literate writing — I write a minimum of 3000 characters (often more) and appreciate partners who put in a similar effort to craft replies that keep us both inspired. I understand life gets busy, so feel free to take your time replying, whether it’s a day, a few days, or even a week. I’d just appreciate replies that show as much effort and enthusiasm as mine.

• Character depth —  I’m mainly looking to explore Delilah’s story, ALONG with a character that has their own compelling background and motivations. If we choose to write together, I'd love to see a bit about your character—just a small presentation or template is great! I promise my templates are super detailed and thorough!

• Collaborative storytelling — While I’m flexible with different storylines, I value a collaborative approach where both of our characters get to shine equally. It’s important that we both feel invested in the plot and our characters’ journeys. Let’s keep things balanced and ensure that both our characters have meaningful development!

• Writing style — I typically write in third person, past tense and would love it if you do too! It keeps things consistent and immersive.

• Aesthetic and fun — I love keeping track of our story through aesthetic boards, playlists, or even sharing memes that remind us of our characters and plot. If you’re into that kind of thing too, then we’d be a perfect match!

Thank you so much for reading through this, and if you’re interested in creating a unique and gripping story together, please feel free to reach out! ♡ To make sure you’ve read the whole post, send me a food you like with an emoji. 🍓 Wishing you a great day/night!

,

[jpbjazz]

LÉGENDES DU JAZZ

GERALD WILSON, ‘’SKY IS THE LIMIT !’’

‘’If I were to watch a silent film of Gerald conducting, I would still able to experience the swing of the music, his presence is that powerful.’’

- Renee Rosnes

Né le 4 septembre 1918 à Shelby, au Mississippi, Gerald Wilson était issu d’une famille musicale. Son père était forgeron et jouait de la clarinette et du trombone. Sa mère Lillian était professeure de musique et avait enseigné à la Shelby Grammar School durant quarante ans. La soeur de Wilson, Mildred, était une excellente pianiste classique. Son frère aîné Shelby James était pianiste de jazz et avait étudié au célèbre Tuskegee Institute avec Teddy Wilson (sans lien de parenté).

Wilson avait commencé à étudier le piano avec sa mère à partir de l’âge de six ans. Wilson, qui admirait énormément sa mère, avait expliqué:

‘’My mother was educated and she graduated from Jackson College, which is now Jackson State University. She was also a musician. She played piano. She taught some of the early classes in music in Shelby. And then she also played in the church. So I got my beginning in music with my mother, who started all of us. The Wilson kids, my brother and sister - we all got a start in music very young. So being around music all my life, it was easy for me to pick up on it and begin to like it.’’

Wilson avait aussi d’excellents souvenirs de sa soeur Mildred. Il précisait: ‘’My sister was a fine classical pianist. I had already heard her play compositions by Mendelssohn, Paderewski, Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Beethhoven. In my early days I knew of these composers, besides being interested in the music of the day, which was jazz coming out of New Orleans.’’

Très impressionné par les groupes de dixieland qui passaient par Shelby pour se rendre à La Nouvelle-Orléans, Wilson avait expliqué comment il était entré en contact avec le jazz: ‘’When I was a child around five or six, I was already hearing Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver and Papa Celestin. Before I left Shelby I already knew of Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines and Duke Ellington and Jimmie Lunceford. I was already listening to jazz before I left Mississippi.’’

Wilson avait commandé sa première trompette à l’âge de onze ans, pour la somme de 9,95$ dans le catalogue de Sears Roebuck. Puisqu’il n’existait pas de high school pour les Noirs à Shelby, Wilson avait dû s’exiler avec sa famille à Memphis, au Tennessee, à l’âge de quatorze ans. Décrivant son séjour à Memphis, Wilson avait commenté:

‘’I left Mississippi at the end of the eighth grade because there was no other place to go there. So I went to Memphis. I attended Manassas High School, where Jimmie Lunceford had once been a teacher. I started trumpet lessons there with Mr. Love, who was one of the pioneer music teachers of Memphis. But I had started playing trumpet before I left Shelby, only because it was a shiny instrument, I guess. I really should have stayed on the piano. It is the master instrument to my mind, becaise it has everything there.’’

Désireux de s’installer dans le nord depuis qu’il avait assisté à l’Exposition internationale de Chicago avec sa mère en 1933, Wilson était allé vivre avec des amis de sa famille à Detroit, où il avait étudié au prestigieux Cass Technical High School. Parmi ses camarades de classe, on remarquait le futur saxophoniste ténor Wardell Gray. Au Cass Technical High School, Wilson avait étudié la théorie et l’orchestration avec Clarence Byrne, le père du tromboniste et chef d’orchestre Bobby Byrne. Se remémorant son séjour à Detroit, Wilson avait expliqué:

‘’Then my mother arranged for me to study in Detroit - had friends there from Shelby. When I started attending school in Detroit in 1934, mostly all of the schools were integrated. And besides, they had such a great music department where I attended, Cass Technical High School, which is one of the greatest music schools in the world even to this day. So I enrolled there, and I stayed in Detroit for five years, where I studied.’’

À Detroit, Wilson avait appris son métier ‘’sur le tas’’ en se produisant avec de nombreux musiciens de jazz. Il poursuivait:

‘’I played in the area with different orchestras and different musicians. I learned so much playing with members of McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, members of bands that had been led by Don Redman and Benny Carter. And many of the fine bands they had in Detroit: Stutz Sanderson’s band, Gloster Current, Harold Green, Bob Perkins - these were all bands that were very musical. It was a place to really learn about music.’’

DÉBUTS DE CARRIÈRE

Après avoir commencé à jouer avec des groupes locaux au Plantation Club Orchestra de Los Angeles en 1936-37 et fait une tournée avec Chic Carter, Wilson avait assuré la relève de Sy Oliver (qui avait quitté pour se joindre au groupe de Tommy Dorsey) dans l’orchestre de Jimmie Lunceford en 1939. À l’époque, Lunceford se produisait régulièrement au  Cass Technical High School, et c’est là qu’il avait fait la rencontre de Wilson. Groupe de couleur le plus populaire de l’époque, l’orchestre de Lunceford comprenait d’excellents arrangeurs comme Edwin Wilcox et Eddie Durham ainsi que de grands noms du jazz comme Eddie Tomkins, Paul Webster, Willie Smith, Joe Thomas, Earl Carruthers et Dan Grissom.

Racontant son arrivée avec l’orchestre de Lunceford, Wilson avait expliqué: ‘’I received a wire asking me if I would like to join the Jimmie Lunceford band. I said yes. I just went down the next morning, picked up my ticket, some money, on the train, and I went to New York. Then, from that time on, I was on top because they were on top. They were not a struggling band. They were on the very top. June of 1939. They were at the height of their face. But the Lunceford band went higher after Snooky Young and I joined the band. He came six months after I did. We stayed there almost three years.’’ Dans une autre entrevue, Wilson avait ajouté: ‘’When I got a chance to join them, I was thrilled to death. The Jimmie Lunceford band was at the top of the heap at the time and theu could outdraw everyone. They had such creative arrangements by Edwin Cox, Sy Oliver and Eddie Durham, and their musicians were very good. I made my first arrangements for them, ‘’Yard Dog Mazurka’’ and ‘’Hi Spook.’’

Avec le groupe de Lunceford, Wilson avait également fait une apparition dans le film ‘’Blues in the Night’’ en 1940 aux côtés de Lloyd Nolan, Richard Whorf, Rosemary Lane et Elia Kazan.

C’est sous l’encouragement de Lunceford que Wilson s’était développé comme soliste et avait commencé à composer. Même s’il n’avait que vingt et un ans, Wilson connaissait déjà très bien son métier. Il précisait: ‘’I could aldready read music. I was already into the modern things going around at that time in jazz because I was an aficionado besides. I had already met Dizzy Gillespie in 1938. I already knew Lester Young and Count Basie. So this gives you an idea of what we had to draw on as young musicians. You’re right there with people that are doing it, and they’re doing the very best.’’

Wilson avait composé son premier arrangement sur une version du standard “Sometimes I’m Happy” en 1939. La composition de Wilson ‘’Yard Dog Mazurka’’ avait remporté un grand succès et avait été reprise éventuellement dans la pièce de Stan Kenton ‘’Intermission Riff’’ (1946), qui utilisait la séquence harmonique élaborée par Wilson, même si n’en avait pas obtenu formellement le crédit. Wilson avait également connu un grand succès avec la pièce "Hi Spook" qui était basée sur la composition ‘’Caravan’’ de Duke Ellington.

Enthousiasmé par sa collaboration avec Lunceford, Wilson avait expliqué plus tard: "We threw the trumpets high in the air, we twirled them high up there. We had all kinds of moves and put on a big show–but we played great music. Listen to it. We were the avant-garde then, and we would have two or three hits going on the jukebox at the same time."

En 1942, Wilson avait quitté le groupe de Lunceford et s’était installé à Los Angeles, en Californie, où il avait travaillé comme trompettiste avec les groupes de Benny Carter, Phil Moore et Les Hite, avant de faire un séjour dans la Marine dans le cadre de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Après avoir été envoyé au Great Lakes Naval Training Station à Chicago, Wilson était entré dans le groupe du saxophoniste Willie Smith, une formation entièrement de couleur qui comprenait les trompettistes  Clark Terry, Ernie Royal et Jimmy Nottingham. Comme Wilson l’avait expliqué en entrevue, "All I had to do was write music and play in the band. It was a time to hone your craft." Finalement, Wilson n’avait passé qu’un an dans la Marine. Atteint d’une infection aux sinus, il avait été exempté pour des raisons médicales. Vers 2005, le groupe avec qui Wilson avait joué dans la Marine s’était réuni dans le cadre du Great Lakes Experience Big Band. Dirigé par Wilson, le groupe comprenait également Ernie Andrews comme artiste invité.

Après sa démobilisation à la fin de 1944, Wilson était retourné à Los Angeles et avait formé un premier big band, avant de partir en tournée avec l’ancien chanteur de Duke Ellington, Herb Jeffries. Le big band de Wilson avait même remplacé l’orchestre de Duke Ellington au Théâtre Apollo de Harlem. Impressionné, un journaliste du Daily News écrivait: ‘’A young band from California opened at the Apollo today, and you wouldn’t know that Duke Ellington had closed.’’

Parmi les membres du groupe de Wilson à cette époque, on remarquait la tromboniste de couleur Melba Liston, le pianiste Jimmy Bunn et le trompettiste Snooky Young. Très impressionné par Liston, Wilson avait déclaré à son sujet:

‘’Melba was a fine trombone player. She was such a good trombone player, she could play it all. She could play lead, she could play solos, too - usually play it better than the guys. She joined my band in 1944, so she was maybe about seventeen. She was with my band when it disbanded, and she was with all of my other bands at that time. Really a fine musician. Still a fine musician. She’s one of the finest writers that I’ve ever heard. In fact, I recorded a couple of her arrangements in 1945.’’

Une autre musicienne avait également fait partie du groupe de Wilson: Vivian Fears, une pianiste de St. Louis qui avait joué avec l’orchestre de Fletcher Henderson.

Lorsque le trompettiste Snooky Young avait quitté l‘orchestre de Count Basie pour se joindre au groupe de Wilson, à peu près tout le monde croyait qu’il avait perdu la raison. Mais pour Young, il s’agissait avant tout d’une histoire d’amitié. Comme Young l’avait expliqué plus tard: ‘’Everybody thought I was crazy for leaving Basie to go with Gerald, but it was a friendship thing. I wasn’t aware of doing anything crazy and I didn’t, because it was very good for me to play with Gerald’s first band. We went on to New York and played the Apollo Theater, and for a young, new band, we did a lot of big things.’’

Même si Young avait pris un pari risqué en misant le tout pour le tout avec Wilson, il n’avait pas sauté pour autant dans le vide, car il connaissait très bien ses qualités de musicien et de compositeur-arrangeur. Lui-même un grand admirateur de Wilson, le pianiste Horace Silver avait confirmé: ‘’There were two tunes that Gerald Wilson wrote for that band that just laid me out. They were on the same record, flip sides. One was called in SPOOK. The other was called YARD DOG MAZURKA. The arrangements and the melodies knocked me out.’’

Lorsque Jeffries avait laissé tomber le groupe à la dernière minute, Wilson avait pris les choses en mains et était parti en tournée avec le big band, se produisant dans les meilleurs clubs et théâtres du circuit de couleur, souvent avec les plus grandes vedettes de l’heure, tout en enregistrant avec des compagnies de disques comme Excelsior et Black and White. Fasciné par les perpectives offertes par le bebop, Wilson avait toujours été fier que son groupe ait enregistré le standard ‘’Groovin' High’’ en 1945, bien avant que Dizzy Gillespie ne l’enregistre avec son big band. Comme Wilson l’avait expliqué plus tard dans le cadre de sa participation à un projet d’histoire orale à la fin de sa carrière, son groupe n’avait rien à envier aux plus grands musiciens bop de l’époque. Wilson avait déclaré:

‘’My record of Groovin’ High (1945) proved that we were the most adventurous orchestra of the year. My pianist, Jimmy Bunn, was on Charlie Parker’s Lover Man session. We had an arrangement of Out of This World that I reharmonized the structure for - I sed all alternate chords. If the {original} chord was B-flat minor, I used the alternative, D-flat major. About everything was alternate. Also, I used a couple of tempo changes.’’

À l’époque, le groupe de Wilson, qui avait remporté un succès immédiat, avait déjà enregistré une cinquantaine de pièces. Le chanteur Joe Williams s’était même brièvement produit avec le groupe en 1946. L’orchestre avait également joué à Los Angeles, St. Louis et Chicago avec des vedettes comme Ella Fitzgerald et Sammy Davis, Jr. Le groupe avait aussi fait une tournée de quinze semaines avec le populaire chanteur et saxophoniste Louis Jordan.

Même s’il était parvenu au sommet et avait battu un record d’assistance à St. Louis avec Ella Fitzgerald, Wilson croyait qu’il n’était pas suffisamment prêt et qu’il avait besoin d’étudier encore plus. Il avait donc démantelé son big band. Il expliquait: ‘’I decided when I closed with Ella that I was going to be able to have to study some more. I wanted to be able to write anything.’’ Wilson avait ajouté: "There was still so much more to learn.’’ Persuadé qu’il n’avait pas encore développé tout son potentiel, Wilson avait commenté: ‘’I wanted to be able to write for the symphony orchestra; I wanted to write for the movies; I wanted to write for television. I wanted to be able to do it with great speed, great accuracy, and that’s what I did. But I didn’t stop playing.’’

Essentiellement autodidacte, Wilson avait précisé au cours d’une entrevue accordée au Boston Globe: "We had over $100,000 worth of contracts. But I realized I had just started and that this was not what I was looking for musically. I had to study some more." Dans une autre entrevue, Wilson avait précisé : “Nobody can say they have taught me how to write or orchestrate—I haven’t studied with or under anyone—but that is not to say I haven’t studied long and hard on my own. I don’t feel that my lack of formal training means that I am in any way limited in my approach to the job.”

Après avoir démantelé son groupe en 1948, Wilson avait passé six mois à étudier les grands compositeurs classiques modernes comme Stravinsky, Debussy, Falla, Ravel, Kabalevsky, Khatchaturian et Bartok. C’est alors que Wilson avait reçu un appel de Duke Ellington, qui l’avait invité à orchestrer certaines de ses compositions. Très proche de l’arrangeur Billy Strayhorn, Wilson avait écrit ses premiers arrangements pour Ellington sur les pièces ‘’You’ve Got to Crawl Before You Walk’’ et ‘’You’re just an Old antidisestablishmentarianismist’’ en 1947.

Considérant Strayhorn comme son mentor, Wilson avait déclaré à son sujet: ‘’Billy Strayhorn and I were great friends. He’s one of my - I should say, a mentor, because he is one of the few people that actually helped me. That was way back in the early forties. You know, showing me things, how to do some things. Anyway, that started an association with Duke for me.’’

Mais même si Ellington l’avait invité à se joindre à son groupe après qu’il ait démantelé son orchestre en 1948, Wilson avait insisté pour demeurer seul maître à bord. Wilson avait également assisté Duke Ellington dans l’écriture de la bande sonore du film d’Otto Preminger ‘’Anatomy of a Murder’’ (1959). Il avait aussi été directeur musical pour l’émission de variétés du comédien Redd Foxx diffusée sur le réseau ABC.

Par la suite, Wilson était retourné à Los Angeles, où il avait travaillé comme arrangeur et musicien à temps partiel avec Count Basie. Wilson expliquait: "They needed a trumpeter, and I wanted to sit in that band and play and learn. This was the All-American rhythm section– Walter Page, Jo Jones, Freddie Green, and Count. What school could have been better than to sit right there and watch them and listen?" Avec l’orchestre de Basie, Wilson avait composé la balade ‘’Katy’’ et co-écrit la pièce ‘’St. Louis Baby.’’

À l’époque, l’industrie des big bands était en crise à la suite de l’émergence du bebop et des chanteurs de charme. Lorsque Basie avait finalement démantelé son orchestre, Wilson s’était joint au big band de Dizzy Gillespie comme trompettiste et compositeur. Après que Gillespie ait démantelé son big band à son tour, Wilson avait reçu un appel du gérant de Billie Holiday qui l’avait invité à former un autre big band afin d’accompagner la chanteuse dans le cadre d’une tournée dans les États du Sud. Parmi les membres du groupe, on remarquait de grands noms du jazz comme les trompettistes Johnny Coles et Willie Cook, la tromboniste Melba Liston et le batteur Philly Joe Jones. Malgré le calibre élevé de la formation, la tournée avait été un échec, en grande partie en raison de la ségrégation qui prévalait dans le Sud. Wilson expliquait: ‘’We were out on the road not making any money and Melba and I wound up feeding the guys and paying their rent and we went broke.’’

Dans les années 1950, Wilson avait continué de diriger ses propres groupes. Il avait également perfectionné ses talents d’arrangeur en écrivant pour la télévision et le cinéma avec les studios de NBC et MGM. En 1950, Wilson avait même écrit une comédie musicale intitulée ‘’California Frolics Revue.’’ La même année, Wilson avait été directeur musical d’une émission de télévision à Los Angeles. Même si Wilson écrivait les arrangements et dirigeait le groupe de l’émission, on ne le voyait jamais à l’écran en raison de la politique des réseaux de télévision de l’époque concernant l’utilisation des musiciens de couleur.

Comme arrangeur à son compte, Wilson avait également écrit des arrangements pour d’autres grands orchestres ou pour des albums de musique pop mettant en vedette des artistes comme Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London et Bobby Darin. Décrivant son travail au cours de cette période, Wilson avait précisé: "I wanted to equip myself so that whatever kind of music my client wanted to hear, I was capable of making it.’’ Certains des arrangements qu’on entendait sur les premiers albums de Charles avaient d’ailleurs été écrits par Wilson.

En 1951, Wilson et son épouse Josefina s’étaient installés à San Francisco. Le groupe de Wilson comprenait à l’époque le tromboniste Bob Collins, le pianiste Cedric Haywood et les saxophonistes Jerry Dodgion et Jerome Richardson.

De retour à Los Angeles en 1954, Wilson avait formé un autre big band. C’était le début de ce que Wilson avait appelé sa ‘’période commerciale’’ qui s’était poursuivie jusqu’à la fin des années 1950. Wilson poursuivait: ‘’I was doing a lot of writing in those days for shows, at the Moulin Rouge in Las Vegas and other places, and for rhythm and blues artists, Jackie Davis among other. My deal in those days was mostly writing and orchestrating. The big band worked whenever we had an engagement.’’ Parmi les membres du groupe de Wilson à l’époque, on remarquait le flûtiste Bill Green, le trompettiste Clark Terry, le tromboniste Britt Woodman, les saxophonistes ténor Paul Gonsalves et Teddy Edwards, et le saxophoniste alto Jerry Dodgion.

Le 2 septembtre 1956, le groupe de Wilson s’était produit dans le cadre de la 12e édition de la Cavalcade du Jazz tenue au stade Wrigley Field de Los Angeles. Produit par Leon Hefflin, Sr., le concert  mettait aussi en vedette Dinah Washington, The Mel Williams Dots, Julie Stevens, Little Richard, Chuck Higgin's Orchestra, Willie Hayden & Five Black Birds, The Premiers, Bo Rhambo et Jerry Gray and his Orchestra. En 1958-59, Wilson avait également joué avec le quintet de Buddy Collette au club Jazz City. Les autres membres du groupe étaient Al Viola à la guitare, Wilfred Middlebrooks à la contrebasse et Earl Palmer à la batterie.

En 1959, Wilson avait également fait une apparition sur l’émission de télévision The Lineup.

En 1960, Wilson avait inauguré une collaboration fructueuse avec la compagnie de disques Pacific Jazz. La compagnie qui se spécialisait dans le Cool Jazz n’ayant pas de big band à son service, le président Richard Bock avait décidé de contacter Wilson. Wilson expliquait comment sa collaboration avec Pacific Jazz avait débuté: ‘’I knew Dick Bock and had followed his work. The first time I approached him about recording, in 1953, was at a Billy Eckstine record date I was visiting. And there were other occasions through the ‘50s when I ran into him and brought it up. He explained that, for various reasons, it was hard to record a big band. But in 1960, he called me. He had set up a deal through Albert Marx to record me.’’

Dans le cadre de sa collaboration avec Pacific Jazz, Wilson avait mis sur pied des big bands tout-étoile et enregistré une série d’excellents albums qui figuraient parmi ses plus importantes réalisations. Les talents d’arrangeur de Wilson lui avaient également permis de s’assurer les services des meilleurs musiciens de l’époque: Al Porcino, Conte Candoli et Carmell Jones à la trompette, Bob Edmondson et Les Robertson au trombone, Teddy Edwards, Harold Land, Jack Nimitz et Bud Shank aux saxophones,  Joe Pass et Laurindo Almeida à la guitare, Bobby Hutcherson au vibraphone et Mel Lewis à la batterie.

Ces albums avaient également témoigné du talent d’innovateur de Wilson et de son approche unique de l’harmonie. Comme Wilson l’avait expliqué en 2005:  "I write whole ensembles with eight-part harmony. I call it 'the Diminished Triangle'. That's my legacy. I'm the first one to use it. I've given to jazz the best I have." 

Les enregistrements de Wilson avec Pacific Jazz ont été réédités en 2001 dans un coffret de cinq CD sous le titre de ‘’The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings of Gerald Wilson and His Orchestra.’’ Rendant hommage à Wilson, le président de la compagnie Richard Bock avait commenté: ‘’Gerald has an uncanny harmonic sense which produces quite an emotional experience.’’

En 1963, Wilson avait fait une apparition au Festival de jazz de Monterey qui avait contribué à le faire mieux connaître auprès du grand public.

En 1968, Wilson avait enregistré l’album ‘’California Soul.’’ En plus de la pièce-titre écrite par le duo Ashford & Simpson, l’album comprenait une version du succès des Doors "Light My Fire". Parmi les membres du groupe de Wilson à cette époque, on remarquait les trompettistes Snooky Young et Carmell Jones, les saxophonistes Bud Shank, Joe Maini, Harold Land, Teddy Edwards et Don Raffell, le guitariste Joe Pass, l’organiste Richard Holmes, les vibraphonistes Roy Ayers et Bobby Hutcherson et les batteurs Mel Lewis et Mel Lee. 

Wilson, qui avait toujours rêvé de composer pour un orchestre symphonique, avait vu son désir devenir réalité en 1972 lorsqu’il avait reçu une commande du chef d’orchestre du Los Angeles Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta. Décrivant l’impact de sa collaboration avec Mehta, Wilson avait ajouté: “That was the day I realized I could compose anything I wanted.”

Wilson avait aussi joué comme musicien invité dans le cadre de plusieurs émissions de radio. De 1969 à 1976, Wilson avait également animé sa propre émission de radio sur les ondes de la station KBCA-FM.

DERNIÈRES ANNÉES

En 1988, Wilson s’était rendu à New York pour diriger l’American Jazz Orchestra. C’était la première fois depuis vingt-cinq ans que Wilson se produisait dans le Big Apple. Enthousiasmé par le concert, le gérant de l’orchestre, Loren Schoenberg, avait déclaré au critique du New York Times, Peter Watrous: “Gerald’s concept is completely modern. The music he’s writing here doesn’t have much to do with the Lunceford style… Gerald’s pieces are all extended. They’re almost hypnotic… Only a master can keep the interest going that long, and he does.”

Sous l’influence de son épouse d’origine mexicaine Josefina Villasenor, Wilson avait composé plusieures pièces inspirées de la culture espagnole. Wilson avait d’ailleurs écrit plusieurs oeuvres qui témoignaient de cet intérêt, dont "Viva Tirado" (1962), une composition en hommage au torrero Jose Ramon Tirado, qui était devenue par la suite un grand succès du groupe de rock latin El Chicano.

Tout au long de sa carrière, Wilson avait continué d’écrire et d’enregistrer des pièces influencées par la culture espagnole. En 1966, Wilson avait enregistré l’album ‘’Torero Impressions in Jazz: The Golden Sword’’, qui comprenait plusieurs pièces en hommage à la culture hispanique, dont ‘’Carlos’’, composée en l’honneur du matador mexicain Carlos Arruza, ainsi que trois morceaux qui faisaient partie d’une oeuvre de plus grande envergure intitulée “Teotihuacan Suite.” Passionné de torrémachie, Wilson avait également rendu hommage à un autre matador, Antonio Lomelin, sur sa composition "Lomelin". Wilson, qui s’intéressait également au jazz modal, avait notamment enregistré des versions de compositions de Miles Davis comme ‘’Milestones’’ et ‘’So What.’’

À la fin de sa vie, Wilson avait continué d’enregistrer et de diriger ses propres formations. Parmi les musiciens qui avaient fait partie des derniers groupes de Wilson, on remarquait Luis Bonilla, Rick Baptist, Randall Willis, son gendre Shuggie Otis et son fils Anthony Wilson, qui étaient tous deux guitaristes. Le petit-fils de Wilson, Eric Otis, avait aussi joué sur certains enregistrements. En 1994, Wilson avait enregistré l’album ‘’State Street Sweet.’’ Trois ans plus tard, il s’était produit au Festival de jazz de Monterey.

À l’été 1997, Wilson avait présenté une version élargie de la composition ‘’Summertime’’ de Gershwin qui avait remporté un grand succès au Kennedy Center de Washington, D. C. Quelques années plus tard, Wilson était parti en tournée aux États-Unis et en Europe avec son big band, se produisant notamment à Londres avec le big band de la BBC en 2005.

En 2005, Wilson avait enregistré l’album ‘’New York, New Sound’’ avec une formation tout-étoile qui comprenait Jimmy Owens à la trompette, Luis Bonilla au trombone, Jesse Davis au saxophone alto, Jimmy Heath au saxophone ténor et Kenny Barron au piano. Toujours en 2005, Wilson était retourné à Manhattan pour diriger son big band dans le cadre de l’album ‘’For In My Time.’’ Curiosité à noter, même si Wilson avait dirigé plusieurs big bands, il avait rarement enregistré avec de grandes formations, sauf dans le cadre de sa collaboration avec Pacific Jazz.

À la même époque, Wilson avait formé des orchestres tant sur la Côte est que sur la Côte ouest avec des musiciens locaux de grande réputation. Wilson avait également fait des apparitions comme chef d’orchestre invité avec le Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (maintenant devenu le Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra), le Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, le Chicago Jazz Ensemble ainsi qu’avec des orchestres de radio européens. En février 2006, Wynton Marsalis et Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra avaient interprété la musique de Wilson sous sa direction.

En juin 2007, Wilson était retourné en studio avec le producteur Al Pryor et un big band tout-étoile pour enregistrer un album spécial de compositions commandé par le Festival de jazz de Monterey. Le répertoire de l’album avait été présenté en grande première dans le cadre de la 50e édition du festival la même année. L’album avait été publié sous le titre de Monterey Moods en septembre 2007. Le guitariste Kenny Burrell avait commenté l’album en ces termes: ‘’Gerald Wilson is one of the greatest composers and arrangers living today. Monterey Moods, is another example of his genius.’’

Saluant la longue association de Wilson avec le festival de Monterey, le directeur général de l’événement, Tim Jackson, avait déclaré:

‘’The legacy of Gerald Wilson and the Monterey Jazz Festival are closely linked. From his first visits to Monterey in the early 1960’s playing and hanging out with Diz and Monk to his commission pieces for our 25th, 40th and now 50th anniversary, Gerald’s spirit has infused the festival with his unique brand of artistry, humanity and pure, swingin’ fun. Gerald Wilson and the Monterey Jazz Festival have helped create a vibrant and long-lasting west coast musical spirit. It’s a great partnership and we are honored to be associated with him !’’

En septembre 2009, le jour de son 91e anniversaire de naissance, Wilson avait également dirigé le huitième mouvement de sa suite "Detroit", qui lui avait été commandée par le Festival de jazz de Detroit de le cadre de son 30e anniversaire. L’oeuvre comprenait un mouvement intitulé "Cass Tech" en hommage à l’école du même nom que Wilson avait fréquenté durant ses études secondaires.

Également professeur, Wilson avait donné un cours d’histoire du jazz au San Fernando Valley State College (aujourd’hui devenu la California State University de Northridge) de 1970 à 1991. Depuis 1991, Wilson avait également été professeur à l’Université de Californie à Los Angeles (UCLA). Il avait aussi enseigné à la Cal Arts de Los Angeles. Wilson avait d’ailleurs remporté un prix de professeur de l’année pour la qualité de son enseignement.

Très populaire comme professeur, Wilson attirait parfois des centaines d’étudiants à ses cours. Il expliquait: “I have a big class, about 550 students, and I have fun with them. I cover ragtime through swing in one section, bebop up through today in the other. It’s really a kick.” 

La dernière collaboration de Wilson avec la compagnie de disques Mack Avenue avait donné lieu à la publication d’une série de suites orchestrales rendant hommage aux villes de New York, Chicago, Detroit et Monterey.

Gerald Wilson est mort d’une pneumonie le 8 septembre 2014 à sa résidence de Los Angles quatre jours avant son 96e anniversaire de naissance. Wilson laissait dans le deuil son épouse Josefina, ses filles Jeri et Nancy Jo, son fils Anthony, qui était guitariste de jazz (il avait joué notamment avec le groupe de Diana Krall), et quatre petits-enfants. Très attaché à sa famille, Wilson avait d’ailleurs écrit plusieurs pièces inspirés par son entourage.

Wilson avait fait son dernier enregistrement en 2011. L’album publié sous le titre de ‘’Legacy’’ comprenait une composition de son fils Anthony et avait été mis en nomination aux prix Grammy. L’album avait été enregistré avec un groupe tout-étoile composé de Sean Jones, Jeremy Pelt, Tony Lujan et Mike Rodriguez à la trompette, de Dennis Wilson, Douglas Purviance, Luis Bonilla et Alan Ferber au trombone, d’Antonio Hart Dick Oatts, Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake, Jay Brandford et Gary Smulyan au saxophone, de Renee Rosnes au piano, d’Anthony Wilson à la guitare, de Peter Washington à la contrebasse et de Lewis Nash à la batterie. Très satisfait de l’enregistrement, Wilson avait commenté: "The musicians in the band were really into the music and they are brilliant players. They are at home everywhere they are, in every bar of music."

Wilson avcait remporté de nombreux prix au cours de sa carrière. En 1963, Wilson avait d’abord décroché le prix du meilleur big band dans le cadre d’un sondage des critiques du magazine Down Beat. En 1990, Wilson avait été reconnu ‘’Jazz Master’’ par la National Endowment for the Arts. Wilson était également lauréat d’un Paul Robeson Award et de deux American Jazz Awards. La Los Angeles Jazz Society avait aussi reconnu la contribution exceptionnelle de Wilson au monde du jazz en 2001. Wilson a également été admis au Mississippi Jazz Hall of Fame. Il a été mis en nomination pour six prix Grammy, dont un pour l’album ‘’New York, New Sound’’ en 2002. Chef d’orchestre très apprécié, Wilson aurait même été consulté par Igor Stravinsky et Giacomo Puccini.

Wilson avait aussi reçu plusieurs commandes. En 1997, le Festival de jazz de Monterey avait commandé à Wilson une composition originale intitulée "Theme for Monterey", qui avait été interprétée le 21 septembre de la même année dans le cadre du festival. La pièce avait d’ailleurs été mise en nomination pour deux prix Grammy. En 1982, Wilson avait également été récipiendaire d’une bourse de 20 000$ de la National Endowment for the Arts.

D’aussi loin qu’il se souvienne, Wilson avait toujours désiré devenir chef d’orchestre. Comme il l’avait expliqué avec humour: "To tell you the truth, I don't know if I had the talent for it or not. Maybe I just had the will and that got me in." Dans une autre entrevue, Wilson avait précisé: ‘’From the time that I was ten years old, I knew that I was going to be a bandleader. I knew that. And I knew that I was going to be a bandleader that wrote for my band to play, because I was already a great admirer of Duke Ellington. And listening to their records and listening to them on the radio, I knew that I was going to be a bandleader and I was going to be an orchestrator, an arranger, composer.’’

Comme chef d’orchestre, Wilson était doté d’un style tout à fait unique. Décrivant le style de Wilson comme arrangeur, le chef d’orchestre et vibraphoniste Terry Gibbs avait commenté: ‘’You can always tell a Gerald Wilson arrangement. He has his own style.’’ Doté d’une culture musicale impressionnante, Wilson avait étudié les oeuvres de compositeurs classiques modernes comme Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, Manuel de Falla, Maurice Ravel, Dmitri Kabalevsky, Aram Khatchaturian, Bela Bartok et Joaquin Rodrigo. Il avait aussi intégré dans ses compositions les influences de la musique rock, du R & B et du jazz-fusion.

Lorsqu’on avait demandé à Wilson de décrire son style en 2006, Wilson s’était présenté un peu comme un chorégraphe et avait rétorqué: "It's different from any style you've ever seen before. I move. I choreograph the music as I conduct. You see, I point it out, everything you're to listen to." Qualifiant à son tour le style de Wilson, le chef d’orchestre et arrangeur John Clayton avait précisé: “There’s no way you can sit in Gerald’s band and sit on the back of your chair. He handles the orchestra in a very wise and experienced craftsman sort of way. The combination of the heart and the craft is in perfect balance.”

Un peu comme Duke Ellington, Wilson considérait son orchestre comme son principal instrument (il avait cessé de jouer de la trompette au milieu des années 1970 à la suite de problèmes de dentition).

Comme chef d’orchestre, Wilson n’avait jamais beaucoup pratiqué. Il expliquait:

‘’I don’t have any pep talks with my men at all. We hardly release, unless we’re going to make a recording date. Maybe we’ll run it over once or twice, not like these bands that rehearse every week. The music’s there and it’s always going ti be a certain quality. I don’t get angry at the guys when they miss a note. It doesn’t bother me. Jazz, to me, has to be loose. You can’t be tight. When you get too tight in jazz, it isn’t making it. Same thing with Duke Ellington. He let his band be relaxed, be loose, take it easy. Nobody gets excited there. You’re late ? Okay, so you’re late. Let’s play.’’

Wilson avait toujours composé avec une facilité déconcertante. Il expliquait: ‘’Writing is easy for me now. Writing is just a memory anyway - you just remember everything you learned and just put it down.’’

Commentant les compositions de Wilson, le saxophoniste et historien du jazz Loren Schoenberg avait déclaré: “His pieces are all extended, with long solos and long backgrounds. They’re almost hypnotic. Most are seven to 10 minutes long. Only a master can keep the interest going that long, and he does.”

Dans les années 1990, Wilson avait raconté ses souvenirs dans le cadre de deux CD d’histoire orale publiés sous le titre de ‘’Suite Memories: Reflections on a Jazz Journey.’’ En 1996, la Bibliothèque nationale du Congrès avait acquis les archives de Wilson pour la postérité.

Le trompettiste Bobby Rodriguez, qui avait collaboré avec Wilson à la fin de sa carrière, avait décrit ainsi sa réaction après avoir vu le chef d’orchestre diriger pour la première fois: ‘’The way he moved his hands, the way he grouped the guys together, his ability to talk, his ability to laugh, make the audience have fun. It was his whole impact, not just the 18-piece orchestra, but his person.’’

Refusant de se reposer sur ses lauriers, Wilson avait continué d’expérimenter et de s’améliorer jusqu’à sa mort. Il précisait: ‘’I’m constantly learning, stretching out where I’ve never been before. I’m always figuring out new directions where to go.’’

Résumant la contribution de Wilson au monde du jazz, Mark C. Gridley écrivait dans son ouvrage ‘’Jazz Styles: History and Analysis’’ publié en 1999: ‘’By comparison with all other big bands, the Wilson band achieved a groove that more closely resembles hard bop. The moods were funky and earthy, as though Wilson had created a big-band equivalent to the organ/tenor sax combos that were common at inner city taverns during the 1950’s and 1960’s.’’ Décrivant Wilson comme un chef d’orchestre complet, l’acteur et scénariste Les Carter avait commenté: ‘’Gerald does all things well. He is a craftsman in every way. He hand picks the musicians carefully, he selects the material, and then he bolsters the band and the audience with his own enthusiasm and exuberance. Gerald is a total musician. He touches all bases, and like a good director he is the man in charge.’’

Wilson avait travaillé avec de nombreux artistes au cours de sa carrière, dont Ray Charles, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Carter, Johnny Hartman, Julie London, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Darin, Harry Belafonte, B.B. King, Les McCann, Dizzy Gillespie et Ella Fitzgerald. Parmi les membres de ses groupes, on remarquait de grands noms du jazz comme les saxophonistes Harold Land, Teddy Edwards, Bud Shank, Ernie Watts,  Jimmy Woods, Jack Nimitz, Walter Benton, Joe Maini et Buddy Collette, le clarinettiste Anthony Ortega, le guitariste Joe Pass, les trombonistes Melba Liston et Luis Bonilla, les trompettistes Snooky Young, Al Porcino, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Owens, Carmell Jones, Sean Jones et Charles Tolliver, les pianistes Jimmy Rowles, Renee Rosnes, Kenny Barron et Jack Wilson, l’organiste Richard ‘’Groove’’ Holmes, les contrebassistes Leroy Vinnegar, Jimmy Bond et Herbie Lewis, les vibraphonistes Bobby Hutcherson et Roy Ayers, le percussionniste Conte Candoli et les batteurs Frank Butler et Mel Lewis.

Adoré de ses musiciens, Wilson avait inspiré le commentaire suivant au trompettiste Jon Faddis: ‘’Playing with Gerald Wilson is always such a joy and an inspiration, as is hearing the results {...}. You’ll also discover Gerald Wilson the person... intelligent, wise, full of joy and classy, just like his compositions.’’ De son côté, le flûtiste Hubert Laws avait ajouté: ‘’Gerald Wilson’s longevity with his creativity alone gives testimony to his value as an international treasure.’’

Les arrangements de Wilson avaient influencé de nombreux musiciens de jazz, dont le multi-instrumentiste Eric Dolphy, qui lui avait rendu hommage en 1960 dans sa composition ‘’G.W.’’ tirée de son album ‘’Outward Bound.’’

Décrivant son travail d’arrangeur, Wilson avait déclaré au cours d’une entrevue accordée au Los Angeles Sentinel: ‘’I may have done more numbers and orchestrations than any other black jazz artists in the world. I did 60 - something for Ray Charles. I did his first and second country-westerm album. I wrote a lot of music for Count Basie, eight numbers for his first Carnegie Hall concert.’’

Wilson, qui gagnait très bien sa vie comme chef d’orchestre, pouvait se montrer satisfait du travail accompli. Il précisait: ‘’I made a good living. I made a living so now I don’t have to go hustling any jobs. I have written for the movies, and I have written for television. I arrange anything. I wanted to do all these things. I’ve done that. Now I’m doing exactky what I want, musically, and I do it when I please. I’m a musician, but first and foremost, a jazz musician.’’

La pianiste canadienne Renee Rosnes avait sans doute fait le plus grand compliment que l’on pouvait adresser à Wilson lorsqu’elle avait déclaré: ‘’If I were to watch a silent film of Gerald conducting, I would still be able to experience the swing of the music, his presence is so powerful.’’

©-2024, tous droits réservés, Les Productions de l’Imaginaire historique

[elxctrics]

"say, i'm thinking 'bout her every second, every hour do my singing in the shower, picking petals off the flowers like do she love me, do she love me not? i ain't a player, i just crush a lot."

(—) ★ spotted!! SEBASTIAN 'SEBBY' DAVIS on the cover of this week’s most recent tabloid! many say that the 27 year old looks like MASON GOODING, but i don’t really see it. while  the COMEDIAN/ACTOR is known for being QUICK WITTED my inside sources say that they have a tendency to be IMPULSIVE i swear, every time i think of them, i hear the song the way by ariana grande feat mac miller  { he/him / cismale }

  ˗ˏˋ ＊ ‣ 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬    :  

connections || musings || instagram || headcanons

𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓼

name: sebastian 'sebby' davis

age: twenty seven

nicknames: sebby

date of birth: may 12th, 1996

astrological sign: taurus

place of birth: brooklyn, new york

occupation:comedian/actor

label: the sweetheart

positive traits: quick witted, polite, loving, hilarious

negative traits: impulsive, fleety, moody, indecisive

characters/celebrities he’s like: pete davidson, joey tribiani from friends, nick miller from new girl, donkey from shrek, matt rife,

𝓫𝓲𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓱𝔂

sebastian was born in brooklyn, new york to an average, working class family - his mom being a teacher at the local public high school and his dad being in the new york city fire department.

when he was just a few years old, his dad died in a tragic fire and because of that, it was just him and his mom against the world.

they moved in with his grandparents and although he lacked a father figure, he never lacked love and attention.

his mother taught him to be strong, taught him to always see the glass half full instead of half empty and truly was his rock throughout his entire life.

because of this, sebastian made it his mission to be a good man - to always sit with the kid who was eating lunch by themselves, to stand up for those getting picked on and bullied and to make sure his peers were respectful, especially towards girls.

but, that didn't mean he didn't have his days - days where the sadness of loosing his father so young and never getting to know him really got to him, days where life became overwhelming when people asked him what he wanted to do with his life or what he wanted to be when he got older and he had no idea, so he turned to humor as a defense mechanism.

in his high school talent show, he did his very first stand up act and won first place and his career only grew from there.

skipping out on college, he began playing comedy clubs all over new york city - some nights to a packed crowd, other nights to just one person sitting at the bar, and he truly loved being able to bring a smile to people's faces. but as much as he loved it, it didn't pay the bills.

still living in his grandparent's basement, and not having had good enough grades to get into a good college, he knew that being funny was the one thing he was always good at, as well as being charming and using those two skills, he snuck his way into snl studios one day, snuck past security and walked right into the writers room, asking them for five minutes of their time before they called security on him.

and in those five minutes, sebby wowed them that they decided to take a chance on the kid from brooklyn and that next saturday, he premiered on his first episode of snl at just eighteen years old.

for the past nine years, he's remained a staple in the cast, as well as doing his own stand up tours and netflix specials but has especially become more known for his dating life.

he's always been a sucker for love and the fairytale and would never consider himself a player, he's just someone who unfortunately finds himself falling in love all the time and has racked up a list of notorious hollywood exes, including an ex fiancée.

however, not a single one of them would ever have anything bad to say about him. because unlike most guys in hollywood, his mother raised him right.

his star is only rising as of lately, having had spent the past couple of years starring as joey on the sitcom 'friends.'