#there's no belgium tour yet

[darkcreamz95]

Hear me out, what if Gustaph came to Joker Out's Amsterdam concert 👀👀👀

[thelostconsultant]

Midnight rain

pairing: Lando Norris x reader

summary: Lando wanted a family, but you weren’t ready. Three months after your breakup, he's still in love with you, and now it's your turn to decide whether or not to give him a second chance.

“You’re exhausting,” you groaned into the phone.

It was well into the morning when Lando’s name flashed on your screen, which wouldn’t have been so surprising if you were in the same time zone. But you were in Singapore, six hours ahead of Belgium, which meant it was around three in the morning over there. When he spoke, his speech was slurred, he was obviously struggling to form coherent sentences, but he sounded hell-bent on talking to you right now.

Since you were almost at the stadium for rehearsal before tonight's concert, you didn't feel like keeping up the conversation, but the way his voice broke made you listen. You knew he hadn't been in the best state of mind since the breakup, but the fact he still felt so miserable made you sad.

“We would have beautiful babies, you and me. Why don't you want to see them? A mini you, or a mini me, maybe a mini mix of us… So cute,” he said, at least that’s what you managed to understand from his mess of a speech.

And he giggled. You could imagine him lying on his back, one hand holding the phone while the other hugged a pillow to his chest. Rolling your eyes, you thought about what to say to this. It was always the same story, he would call you, tell you how much he missed you, how much he loved you, how he wished you would marry him, and how much he wanted to have a child with you.

The same things that made you break up with him in the first place. He told you about his vision; a big wedding somewhere remote, then the two of you would travel together, preferably with you coming to his races as a good luck charm, and soon you would welcome your first child who would be spoiled rotten.

That's not what you wanted. You wanted to focus on your career, you wanted to go on tours, you wanted to make more albums, you wanted to do so much before becoming a wife and a mother. Lando didn't seem to understand this, he kept telling you it would be okay, that there were many singers who could return to where they'd been before, but you didn't buy it.

“Go to sleep, Lando,” you told him calmly, hoping that gentle parenting would work.

“No, I won't sleep until you're back to me. I'll stay awake and–Don’t touch my phone, Osc!” he protested suddenly.

You heard some bickering in the background, which was followed by a long sigh. “Hey, it's Oscar. I'm sorry, we stayed with him and have been trying to keep him from calling you, but he somehow snatched his phone back from Max. You okay?”

At least he was in good hands and under supervision. “Yeah, sure, thanks for staying with him. Good race for you two by the way,” you said with a smile.

“You watched it?”

“Well, I checked the results and saw the highlights.”

There was a short break which made you wonder if he was still there, but then he spoke up again. “Listen, I don’t want to be involved in this, but I’m worried about Lando. You broke up three months ago and he’s still a mess. I get it, you don’t want marriage and kids yet, but maybe he would understand your reasons and agree to wait if you just sat down to discuss it.” You didn’t know what to say to that, but apparently Oscar was also a bit hesitant. “Do you still love him?”

“I don’t know if it’s love, but I care about him. We were together for over three years, it’s not gonna disappear from my life in a blink of an eye,” you explained. “But… I don’t know, I’m just afraid he would be back at it in a matter of weeks, once again trying to convince me to start a family with him.”

“And if we talked to him when he was sober? If we made sure he understands what you’ve been trying to tell him? Would you give him another chance?”

You took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. Would you? Would it be worth it? You were on tour right now, but after the next four concerts you would end the Asian leg and have a few weeks for yourself. You would have time to figure things out. “I would talk to him, and maybe I would be willing to try again. Once last time. The moment he’s back on his bullshit, I’m going to leave him for good,” you added.

You could hear the soft laugh from Oscar’s side, and you could see him glancing down at his teammate with a smile. “I’m sure he would like it. I’m not sure how long he’ll be knocked out once we convince him to sleep, but I’ll tell him to call you at a reasonable time when he’s finally sober again, okay?”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks for everything.”

He said goodbye and left you with your thoughts, wondering if you made the right call. Maybe there was a part of you that wanted to be with him, because the years you spent together meant a lot to you. He was one of the kindest people you’ve ever met, a ray of sunshine, really, in stark contrast with your sometimes gloomy personality.

But who knew, maybe his friends can talk some sense into him.

Lando knew he only had one chance at this. All his friends were very clear about this, Oscar especially, since he had been the one to talk to you. During that one phone call a week ago, you agreed to come to him in Monaco, visiting his apartment so you wouldn’t have this conversation at a public place. It was something between the two of you, there was no need for strangers hearing even snippets of it.

When you arrived and his eyes fell on you again, every single thought left his brain. He was just standing there in the door, utterly speechless, surprised that he didn’t start drooling at the sight. After all those months spent looking at photos of you at your concerts, seeming like you had the time of your life on the stage, it was so nice to see this you, the one without the sparkling dresses, the down-to-earth girl he loved so much it hurt.

“Can I come in?” you asked him hesitantly.

He blinked a few times before realizing he had been staring for a little too long. “Sure, sure, come in,” he said as he stepped out of the way. “Can I bring you anything?”

Shaking your head, you sat on the couch and patted the empty space next to you. Like a well-trained puppy, Lando sat down and turned to look at you, taking in every little detail as if this was the last time he saw you. Because maybe this was the last time, maybe you would end the conversation with the decision that this relationship couldn’t be revived.

After several painfully silent minutes later, you finally stopped fidgeting with your ring and let out a long sigh. “I don’t want to start a family yet, at least not the way you want it. Marriage is one thing, but… You expected me to spend my time following you around. I have my own career to nurture, Lan, you need to understand that. Sure, one day I’ll be ready for it, but not yet,” you explained kindly, your eyes examining his face for a reaction.

But Lando knew better than to let his disappointment be visible, he fought hard to keep it away from you. So, when he spoke up, his voice was also kept neutral. “But you wouldn’t be against it one day, right? Starting a family with me, I mean,” he said, deep down hoping there would be a dazzling smile on your face as you replied.

You smiled, but it was more of a polite, maybe little uncertain smile. “Yeah, one day, although I can’t tell you when, I can’t give you a deadline. Maybe in our early thirties, maybe sooner. You would have to wait and see. Do you think you can do that?”

He couldn’t hold back a sad laugh, mostly because you didn’t really give him the choice to negotiate. You told him what you had to offer, and it was a take it or leave it situation. And he wanted you back in his life, he wanted to be by your side every step of the way, he wanted to be your biggest fan, and he needed you to support him. “I can. For you,” he added seriously as he reached out to take your hand.

[samsm2mstories]

Halloween special:

The Mask of Alpha.

As you all know, recently, I have been searching for a new body for Halloween, just living their life for 24 hours, but something more serious has happened. I'd have figured it out, but I can't change things as somebody lured me into this program, and I am now trapped. Here is the Halloween special!

As you all know, my name is Sam, and I've recently come out to everyone, which was a huge relief, but I needed a holiday to enjoy some time in a community that is full of fetishes and everything gay-related. I decided to take a trip to Belgium as I'd heard there was a huge Halloween festival for everyone like us!!

I was lucky that one of my followers offered me to stay at his place for the night, and we instantly hit off when I landed at the airport. His name was Jax. I knew he had a pup/latex fetish, but that didn't bother me as I kind of was into this. The second I saw him, there was an exciting aurora around us, like we were meant to meet up. I felt relaxed around him, but I knew straight up he was one horny bottom pup.

You can see how I chose to meet up with him!

In his car, we were talking away about everything, how he loved my stories and how he wanted me to become him for Halloween. He won it purely because of his big taste in fetishes, but I haven't forgotten about all the other followers; I will use each one of them for Bonfire night, Christmas, and New Year's. A new experience every single time awaits me. Jax was a sexy guy, and I knew this would be a fun night with him. I wasn't sure what he had in plan, but it would be one hell of a night. Jax knew already about my tastes, and he sure was using that to his full potential. He was wearing shorts with white nike socks and his very worn Nike AF1s, fuck me, I was in heaven seeing how sexy he was driving in those!

We arrived at his place, and I was just admiring his sexy body; that ass of his was sure fucking delicious. The things I wanted to do to that body of his later on. Trust me, it will be so fucking amazing when I say this, but he will be walking out holding his ass the following morning after I'm done with him. Jax let us into his place, and it was a nice place; nothing stood out. I was shown around, and his bed was so comfortable, but again, I was admiring how sexy Jax was; he went into the bathroom and took a while.

I did have my hand down in my boxers as I needed to rub one quickly before he came out. I heard the door unlock.

Jax came out wearing only straps and the outfit that had me raging hard below. He knew what he was doing as he walked over to me like a pup, on all fours, acting like a lost puppy. I was amazed and confused at how he had suddenly gone from being a horny bottom bitch now to a horny pup. I played along with this was getting me so fucking horny. The jockstrap was tight; I saw an outline; it looked like he had a big cock behind that tight jockstrap of his. His ass was more perky than before, those pup socks, the dirty small AF1s. Pup tattoo on his left leg. He was everything I wanted for the night. He did not forget the collar straps on his chest so I could walk him like a puppy. That red pup mask showed how gorgeous his eyes were.

Jax took off his AF1s and started to show them off to me, sniffing them like a pup, rubbing them on his bulge just to show me how fucking sexy he was. He was giving me a tour of the pup's life. I called him beside the bed to give him ear scratches, which he purred and started wagging his tail. It felt like his essence was swapped out with a puppy. We spent a good hour or two having fun, but I didn't want to fuck him just yet.

I decided to call him Jaxxy now; he left as he needed to go outside to pee on the tree. I had hit the jackpot, only if I could possess him tonight.

I heard the door close, and he slowly sniffed around the door, and I noticed he had changed again!!! I had to call his name, and he slowly walked in, showing off his proper form. He was now wearing a complete latex pup outfit. You could tell it was so tight as it showed the outline of his body, every muscle bone; THAT ASS FUCKING HELL.

He was parading around like it was a dog show, showing me how amazing he looked. That tail of his was something else; I'm confident it was a pup butt plug as he was moaning softly while wagging it. I did approve of the black and red of this, as it matches up perfectly with Halloween. He was barking, howling like a pup, like he was telling me something.

I called him into the bed, and he kept pointing at his tail. I touched it, and he shivered in pleasure. I slowly played with it, but he wanted something else. I kind of knew as I pulled out the tail his ass was ready for me to breed him. I pulled him to the edge of the bed and bent him over. I grabbed my cock and slid in slowly. We both were moaning so much as I was going deeper, filling up as much as I could.

(A while ago, the company producing the pup masks planned to increase the amount of Alphas / Tops in the community.)

As my cock was deep inside of Jaxxy, I grabbed his hips and started to fuck him faster and harder. He was moaning, and it got louder; I heard him bark, growl, howling away as it was turning me on. I felt the heat coming from his latex body as we fucked more and more. I was enjoying his latex body as my hands were rubbing all over it. I was kissing his mask, biting his neck in pure pleasure. We both were enjoying the pleasure of each other, but I felt it again. That feeling from earlier it felt so intense now...

We carried on fucking and having fun, this was amazing. The sweat, heat, and musk filled the air as we both were in heaven bliss, but as I slid back into him, it all changed after I shot my final loads into him.

(The company planned that most pups had the energy that an Alpha/top should need to control the bottom population as there's more bottom and a shortage of tops.)

As I was fucking Jaxxy, I felt more closer to him than ever before. The bliss we were in was hiding the reality that was happening. If you were watching, you would of saw myself being slowly sucked into Jaxxy as the pup mask was glowing red due to the chemical reaction of us all mixing together.

I felt myself slowly feeling more and more like Jaxxy, memories penetrating me like my own; his tastes, feelings, and fetishes were flowing like my own memories. I learnt everything about him, but I'm sure I fantasised about being him. On the outside view, it was something like a horror film, my body shrinking and deforming as I was becoming Jaxxy.

Jaxxy's essence was accepting me like I was meant to be him; no resistance at all as this was happening, but we both were still in the bliss of this fuck session. We had no clue what was happening.

(The company decided that when an Alpha fucks the bottom, if the chemicals from both were more than 90% matching, it would force the top into the bottom to create a perfect Alpha that has the energy of a bottom to fuck his group of bottoms, the mask was the device that activates this while releasing a toxin that puts both in a dream trance)

After talking to Jaxxy in a dream room, we agreed that if I could take him over for Halloween, he would accept it. That's where the dream world ended.

I woke up feeling fucking amazing but tight. Everything was off as I opened my eyes and saw I was wearing a mask. It was Jaxxy's mask. I panicked for a while as I was wearing a latex outfit. The very one he was wearing was turning me on, but I couldn't get hard??? Something was stopping me!!!!

It took me ages to get out of this latex suit, and I was sweating like a pig being roasted. I felt fucking amazing as my ass was sore as fuck while the testerones were flying through my new body. Wait a minute, this is not my body, but it was now? I was Jaxxy but felt like I was now Alpha Jaxxy; this was turning me fucking horny as I could not get this chaisty nub off my new cock. I remember that certain things happened to Jaxxy when he wore the mask. He was controlled into wearing this nub. It was like this mask was slowly preparing him.

I thought nothing of it as I was fucking raging with hormones as I needed to get this nub off my new cock. Everything around me was my own now: all these outfits, trainers (sneakers), his job, friends. It was amazing that I was wearing Jaxxy for Halloween, but how did it happen?

Something was urging me to take this body to the festival of Halloween pups this evening. I walked into the shower to wash my new body. I'm telling you now that being inside of Jaxxy was fucking amazing. The new sensation of rubbing his skin and bulge sent me crazy; I couldn't cum, but maybe being fucked might help.

I was testing my voice out, but I knew this cock of Jaxxy's was more prominent than before. Maybe it was the hormones that sent me these dirty ideas and thoughts. I grabbed the towel and dried myself off; I tried again to remember the key, but I couldn't.

Standing there in front of the mirror, I was admiring my new sexy body for Halloween as I looked at the outfit he was wearing earlier on with the AF1s; I could not believe he was a size 7.5 UK. This collection of his trainers was fucking awesome!!!

I was in fucking heaven, I was now Jaxxy, but I will slowly turn him into an Alpha Pup. This was my destiny, and I'm not giving up this body of his. It was perfect for me, and I was born to take him over.

(Once the integration has been completed, the alpha will have to be conditioned to adapt to the new energy that the bottom has; this will be channelled into the cock that has been locked to prevent any early premature ejaculation. This was due to the DNA being rewritten as it needs to be perfected as the chemicals in the semen will force further bottoms to worship their pack leader. This was how to control the amount of bottoms to an Alpha.) 

After deciding what to wear, I chose the Nike AF1s, pup socks, tight latex boxers and shorts, straps on my chest and a collar. Finally, I placed the pup mask over my head, and I felt a sense of dominant power rush through my body. I am standing in front of the mirror as an Alpha dog now; my body expands slightly as my strength merges into Jaxxy. I could tell this body was changing, still shaping my desires and needs. I’m certain Jaxxy knew about this but didn’t expect me to take him over for good and make this my own body and life.

Either way, I didn’t care. 

I was smirking in the mirror, rubbing my cock, but it was painful as I just couldn’t even precum; I knew this was locked on until the end of November, so I will just have to bottom until the end of the month. The thought of it was giving me mixed feelings. I just hope my cock grows in size to break the thing off!!!

(What I didn’t realise is that Jaxxy’s essence has now been transferred to my dirty AF1s, where he will now spend the rest of his time as my trainers)

Standing here, I felt like a top dog now; I had the urge to go and find some other bottom pups and make them my own, but they will need to fill my ass up with their cum. The idea of being cummed to the brim is sending me wild. It was part of Jaxxy’s trait that has become mine now. It felt natural, as I have been fucked many times.

I got into the car and drove to the local area where the big meet-up was. I looked in the mirror and knew this was when I found my pack of pups and became their master. I got out of the car and started walking towards the nightclub.

(The Mask of Alpha was designed for the new wearer to head straight to the local club; bottoms will instantly get turned on as there is a hidden scent coming from the alpha. This will lure roughly five guys to the alpha, and they will need to seed each other to be solely dedicated to that one Alpha. This was part of the conditioning of the new Alpha. It’s a process that takes a month, and we will aim for November as it’s part of the trend of nobody releasing their semen into anyone.

We will start the first major trials at the big gathering in Belgium on Halloween; each test subject will be controlled into luring an Alpha to their home to begin the process. The subject will wear a specially made chaisty that naturally glues onto the cock like a foreskin and will disappear once the DNA is fully merged.

We have used the power of the internet, especially TUMBLR users who love the idea of possession body swaps for the first trials. We found they were more willing to change and accept their faith.

We approached Sam about the idea, and he was interested; we gave him the choice of who he wanted to be for Halloween to see how the first official trial worked. He accepted our financial support and the chance to become someone new and better. He planned to use a pup called ‘Jax’ as his new body. If it doesn’t go well, we can transfer him into a new body of choice?

Here I am at the club. I must find the subjects I want in my pack; lots of guys here, all sexy as fuck! I must spread my scent to see how many guys will be lured. As I walked around, squeezing through all the hot and sweaty sexy bodies, I could see some of my desired bodies were checking me out and started to follow me. I can’t believe this is easy, but I needed to continue for the company to see how efficient this chemical was.

I knew the company was happy with the results as they saw me with my pack of pups or bottoms. They will never be fucked by anyone else apart from me from now on.

This was the company goal; they passed the trial and paid me well for an easy life. I always will be happy to help them out if I want something new.

It was a perfect partnership; I was known as Alpha JAX, the top dog of the company.

Did I forget to tell you that they are all under my control ;)

I will be the most powerful Alpha in no time!

This was my goal.

Alpha Jax.

Bye

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

Another one that I start with news of a terrorist attack. -_- This morning, a terrorist started shooting at several vehicles driving down the Jordan Valley, one of which was a school bus. The driver of this bus confirmed that the terrorist was wearing what looked like an IDF uniform. According to Magen David Adom (Red Star of David) there are at least 3 people injured, one is a 13 years old kid, another is in serious condition. The terrorist has not yet been neutralized.

After Amit Soussana's testimony about being raped by Hamas, we also have a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist admitting during an interrogation that he had raped a woman in her home in an Israeli kibbutz. It's not the first such testimony, but these are important enough that when they're published, they ALL must be heard.

The prosecution against the terrorists responsible for the massacre of October 7 has been expanded to include clauses which could end with the death penalty (I found a link to a journalistic source online, then I accidentally closed that tab, and can't find it again, but it's been reported on TV. The following tweet recounts the indictments, though the headline is misleading. A death sentence has not been approved, it's just now approved that it's a possible outcome of the trials, once they take place).

For those unfamiliar with the Eurovision Song Contest, it's an event that has been run since 1956, with the intent to help heal a post-war Europe, by allowing countries to have a friendly competition (instead of a bloody conflict), and also have a chance to get to know each other better through music. It's meant to be a unifying, and therefore also a-political fun music fest. This contest has since been expanded to include all countries that are members of the European Broadcasting Union, which means Israel also gets to compete since 1973, and has even won 4 times. I wrote this post about our entry this year, if anyone's curious. In recent years, the ESC has been used for annual anti-Israel propaganda, way before the war in Gaza. This year, a senior official in Israel's National Security Office had to issue a warning for any Israelis going to the competition in Sweden, to be careful and hide their identity as much as possible. I am passing along the warning, because wherever Israelis are in danger, so are Jews in general.

After Canada, Sweden, Australia and Finland, now France is also declaring that it will fund UNRWA again, proving that no amount of complicity in anti-Jewish terrorism will stop some European countries from passing along money to those who have raped, maimed, tortured and murdered us. But no worries! France promises it will ensure that their money won't go to terrorism. I will just remind everyone that France brokered a "deal" to pass along medications to Israeli hostages with chronic illnesses in Gaza, in exchange for an additional 1,000 packages of meds for Gazans. It then said they got reassurance that the meds got to those hostages (meaning, France quoted Qatar, which quoted Hamas, so this is the international diplomacy version of, "Trust me, bro. I'm a highly reliable antisemitic terrorist"). When Israeli soldiers got to a hospital in Gaza, they found some of the med packages for the Israeli hostages in its pharmacy, unopened and clearly not delivered to the rightful address. So... IDK about you, but I'm pretty sure even the French know their assurances about the UNRWA funding are just empty words.

This is 40 years old Mohammad Alatrash.

He's an Israeli Bedouin Muslim Arab, and father of 13, including a one month old baby. He was kidnapped on Oct 7, and has been held captive in Gaza since. Mohammad's uncle said the whole family's life has not been normal since he was taken hostage. Despite that, today several families of hostages had a tour of the attacked communities in the south, with Israel's and Belgium's Foreign Ministers, his brother Salem said that they're okay with Mohammad being released later, as long as Hamas frees the female hostages. "It's hell what they're made to go through there." Just a reminder that Mohammad is one of the Israeli Muslim hostages that Hamas could have and chose not to release even during the month holy to all muslims, Ramadan.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[operafantomet]

My friend and I have a wager; I say that there have been 20-25 complete Red Deaths (not just pieces) made for replica productions since 1986, she says there have to be many more than that. Can you weigh in?

I don't have any exact numbers, but immediately I feel that sounds a bit meagre? It does of course depend on what you mean by "complete", as many of the costumes tend to share pieces - say, cloak, maybe hat - while they have separate main costumes. Sometimes doublet and breeches are also mixed and matched. Would that count as one or two?

Trying to count the different costumes seen around the world, I do see a high degree of re-use. These costumes are expensive and takes forever to build, hence there's few of them, and they rarely go on display. It also means re-use is high.

I remember talking to the head of costumes for the previous World Tour, and he told me how they worked endless hours on one of the original Australia Red Death costume between each show, to keep it fit for yet another performance. But I think it was also sentimental reasons for it, because it was WILDLY well made, they simply don't make 'em like that anymore. Jonathan Roxmouth got a new Red Death costume for his last Phantom run, which was well made in all aspects but more theatrical than splendid compared to the old one. The old one was a class act in costume making:

But I'm digressing. One thing to have in mind is that each replica production needs to have at least two operative Red Death costumes at all times, because one is used by the principal when first decending the staircase, and one is used by the double appearing shortly afterwards. They simply cannot share a costume.

Seeing how the first couple of productions around the world ran simultaneously, in West End, on Broadway, in Tokyo, Vienna, Stockholm, Toronto, Hamburg, Scheveningen, Melbourne and Basel... As well as the early US sit-down productions as well as the US, Canadian and UK Tours. That means a minimum of 30 costumes alone. Likely some of these had more than one costume for their various principals, due to different size. So let's say 35. And that's an absolute minimum.

And then cases where we KNOW new costumes were made. They made one for Peter Jöback when he first joined the West End production, as per info and photos he shared:

We know they made a new one for Jonathan Roxmouth in the World Tour, as per info and photos shared both by him and UK costume maker Jane Grimshaw:

We know they made at least three brand new ones for the Las Vegas production, as shared by costume maker Lindsay Kleinmann. This is not her photo, but shows three of them together, along with an especially made dog costume for charity:

Eventually, many of the late 1990s and early 2000s production could inherit their costumes. It means Belgium got their from Switzerland, Denmark got their from Sweden, the German costumes got a lot of the Dutch ones etc. But whereas some costumes has traveled a lot, for example the Red Death costume used in Moscow, Madrid, Sao Paulo etc, it was at one point new. Its origin seem to be Mexico, where brand new UK costumes were made, and mixed and matched with inherited Canadian costumes. But one or two were made new for them when they opened 1999. There's also been new costumes made in Japan. And definitely in West End, even if they mix and match a lot from stock.

That leaves us with at least 45 Red Death costumes. Probably more. Even with mix-and-match, and even with the hand-me-down practice. Which unfortuneately means your friend is right... Sorry!

Rarely photographed, here's the Red Death double costume in the World Tour, as a pendant to the first photo above:

(definitely not the same costume as the principal)

[bright-and-burning]

some highlights from this 2004 adam norris money marketing profile:

"There are few managing directors younger than Adam Norris of Pensions Direct, the pension arm of Hargreaves Lansdown. At 33, he has achieved a higher level in the industry than most do in their entire career." "Norris quips that early retirement would be readily available to him yet it is a very unattractive option. 'I do not believe in going to the office for the sake of it. I enjoy every day of my working life. I am lucky enough that my work is also my hobby. The day I stop enjoying it is the day I will retire.'" "He also takes his hobbies very seriously and, before entering financial services, spent a year in Europe pursuing a career as a tour cyclist. He trained in Belgium with the hope of becoming a serious competitor in the Tour de France. While not making it as a professional, he did come back to the UK with a new outlook and a wife." "Yet Norris maintains he still only works regular hours and prefers not to work later than 5.30pm if he can help it. He refuses to take work home. 'It is a matter of working smarter rather than harder, which is something we need a lot more of in the financial services world.'" "Comments like these demonstrate Norris's forthright pragmatism, that seems to stem from his structured, mathematical training as an engineer and his hard-work ethic, which he says is a result of growing up with dyslexia and needing to work things through. 'I have become very good at learning and observing the world through truly different eyes to everyone else. If you cannot spell, who cares? Working out solutions to difficult problems and understanding the world we live in is vastly more important.' This is a tenet he aims to pass on to his children through real-life experience. He has bought a small farm in the West Country where he has sheep and other animals. 'Real-life experience is most important for a good grounding in anything. I am always conscious that financial services is a world unto its own and, the more of the outside world you see, the saner and more balanced you are.'" "Education: BEng, University of Leicester Career: 1993-95 financial adviser, Acuma; 1995-98 IFA for small brokerages in Bath and Bristol; 1998-present managing director, Pensions Direct, the pension arm of Hargreaves Lansdown Career ambition: To be the biggest shareholder in Europe's biggest IFA Life ambition: To enjoy every day Hero: Doesn't have one Likes: Jam sandwiches Dislikes: Marmite Drives: Porsche 911 convertible"

[chrisevansonly]

Just To See You Smile (harry’s angel au)

pairing: harry styles x female reader (angel)

summary: harry’s only been gone a few hours and it’s proving to take a bigger toll on you than you thought

warnings: slight angst, some tears, harry being the fluffiest and sweetest<3

a/n: my life is literally so frustrating right now; i feel lost, alone and lately trying to throw myself into writing because it feels like the only thing i’m good at: even tho most of the time i h8 my writing lol this was written in my phone and not edited yet<3

The soft fabric of the cashmere duvet was your biggest comfort as you lay in bed, unmoving from the spot you usually shared with Harry. He’d left a few hours ago to continue his tour in Belgium and yes I suppose you could call yourself dramatic, but being as pregnant as you were, the sudden disruption to your routine was throwing you off kilter more than it usually would. Despite your pleas and begging, your doctor and midwives told you travelling for the next week and a bit was not recommended, they’d noticed some concerns at your last scan which had instilled panic between both you and Harry at the time.

It hadn’t been an easy pregnancy once you’d hit 5 months along, and now you were even more on edge and anxious, your brain spinning through every possibility and every scenario that could happen to you or your daughter. In a way having Harry with you and touring with him had grounded you and allowed you time to escape the nagging your brain had been doing to you. Of course Gemma and Anne were set to arrive in a few hours to spend the next week and a bit with you, that would help, but nothing could fill that spot Harry did when he was gone.

Your eyes were tired and bloodshot, nose stuffed from the tears you’d been shedding on and off all morning, baby bee not making life any easier with her sharp kicks and rolling around she was doing. It wasn’t until your phone went off that your eyes moved from the laundry basket in the corner of the room to the screen that lit up; a photo of you and Harry at your still secret maternity shoot your newest background. Swiping to answer the facetime call, your heart clenched seeing Harry’s face, a sad smile on his face when he saw you

“My angel…”

“H-Hi”

He frowned, tears slowly lining your eyes yet again, almost in an annoying way at this point

“I’m sorry this is so hard on you baby, breaks my heart to see you so sad…how are you feeling? She not causing you too much trouble I hope?”

“I just m-miss you…don’t like being a-away from you, even if it’s only b-been a few hours…”

Sniffling you paused to wipe your eyes

“Still not feeling very well, she’s been kicking and moving a lot, i’m too tired to move though…s’like she’s sucking the energy right out of me”

It wasn’t as if you were trying to make Harry feel guilty for needing to work but you knew he’d find out how you were really feeling eventually if you lied to him, so there was no point in beating around the bush

“I wish I could snap m’fingers and make you feel better, I know this is getting harder on you, fucking sucks I can’t still be home with you right now..”

“I know…but you’re working hard and so many people are so excited to see you, guess i’m just used to touring with you that I don’t k-know what to do when I’m not”

He nodded, listening to everything you had to say, little noises of agreements or soft praises escaping every so often, anything to try and see his angel smile, that was the goal of any facetime call the two of you shared

“Mum and Gem are coming over soon right? What are you ladies gonna get up too?”

Shrugging you thought about it

“I think we’re gonna plan the nursery together, look at furniture and paint colours and work on some wedding things which I think will be a good distraction”

“That sounds fun baby, I know whatever you come up with will be amazing, you’ve got a good eye for that stuff”

“Not as good as you”

“I beg to differ”

A small smile pulled at the edge of your lips, Harry’s eyes lighting up at the sight of that

“There’s my favourite smile, love seeing you smile darling, my favourite thing in the world”

“Hard when you’re not here sometimes”

He nodded

“I know but even if i’m a country or a timezone away I’ll always make sure to see that smile, even if I have to dance around ridiculously, making you happen is my goal you know that”

Allowing another smile to appear on your face, this time bigger than the last, was enough to have Harry cheering, loudly at that

“You’re so silly…s’just a smile H”

“Yes, but it’s my favourite smile…besides I was hoping to take you on a tour around Belgium with me…maybe that will keep that pretty smile on that beautiful face of yours”

“It might…”

Harry laughed shaking his head while he brought you with him as he changed, showing you the hotel room and the view from the balcony, your eyes catching the bright colours of the city below him. He kept notice of your mood shifting, your eyes brightening the more he showed you, honestly when Jeff asked why he wanted to wait to rehearse until later, he should have known it would have something to do with you.

“Want to go see the city a bit? I’ll show you some of the cute little tea and coffee shops we spotted earlier?”

“Yes please H…love you so much you know that?”

He nodded, bringing the phone to his lips so he could press a kiss to the camera, albeit very dramatically which earned a laugh from you

“I love you more m’angel, i’d do anything for you, always”

You may not have been able to attend the next few love on tour shows, but that wouldn’t stop Harry from calling tou in every city he visited until you’d be reunited, just so he could show you the sights, the sounds and make you feel like you were with him every step of the way, even if you were stuck in London, counting down the days until you’d be back together. One day at a time, he’d tell you, and you couldn’t wait until that day you were able to rejoin him and experience the world with your own eyes again…

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

"I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I HEARD WE SECURED THOSE EUROPEAN SUPPORT SLOTS WITH BLONDIE!"

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on BUZZCOCKS drummer John Maher (then age 18!) photographed with his arm around Debbie Harry of BLONDIE, whom BUZZCOCKS supported in Belgium on September 6, 1978. 📸: Chris Stein.

JOHN MAHER: "When I was 16 I had a Debbie Harry poster on my bedroom door. Two years later, we had our arms around each other!

Sharing those pics of Debbie and me hugging each other generated quite a reaction. I still find it hard to believe it actually happened. I was so excited when I heard we secured those European support slots with Blondie! I was eighteen. I’d never been outside the UK before.  The night before the first show, I was like a kid at Christmas. Despite the hours of travelling, I was absolutely wide awake when we arrived in Amsterdam. I remember going for a beer with our manager Richard Boon and tour manager Pete Monks. We sat outdoors, drinking foreign lager on a warm summer night. I was literally giddy with excitement. Richard and Pete were laughing at me. I asked them what was wrong. Richard told me I was experiencing "culture shock." I didn’t know what he meant. I was high on the whole experience of being somewhere other than Manchester, drinking lager outdoors in an exotic European city, knowing I would meet Debbie Harry and Clem Burke in less than 24 hours!"

-- LOUDER THAN WAR, "Nostalgia For An Age Yet To Come: ex-BUZZCOCKS current PENETRATION drummer John Maher interviewed by Ged Babey," published August 31, 2015

Source: https://louderthanwar.com/nostalgia-age-yet-come-ex-buzzcocks-current-penetration-drummer-john-maher-interviewed-ged-babey & X.

[noahher]

hey how r u?

what other language do you speak?

isn't noah finnce british and therefore also from europe?

Heyy

If been better but Im okay. Im from belgium so i speak dutch,i also learnt french and german in school but im not fluent in it.

And yea noah fincce is also from europe but he has only done american and uk tours yet :(

[taminoarticles]

— Tamino for ODDA Magazine, No. 23 / Fall/Winter 2022-23 / Spring 2023 (x)

TAMINO

"When the heart speaks, the mind finds it indecent to object," says Milan Kundera in his masterpiece, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," Tamino's favorite novel. And it is that the music of this young Belgian-Egyptian singer cannot come from anywhere other than a heart that harbors feelings as pure as longing or melancholy. At 25 years old, Tamino has turned into a musical reference due to his complex themes and his deep and emotional voice that became known for the acclaimed song "Habibi," instant success in 2018. His first album, "Amir," was not long in coming to confirm his undoubted talent, capable of conquering even musicians like Colin Greenwood, a member of Radiohead and Tamino's frequent collaborator. Now, after taking a break from all this whirlwind of emotions, he returns to the spotlight determined to move us with "Sahar," his sophomore album, released at the end of September 2022, that shows us a more vitalistic and tender side of the singer, who takes us by the hand to guide us through the boulevard of broken hearts. Could there be a better company?

In conversation with JUAN MARTÍ SERRANO Photographer JAIME CABRERA HUIDOBRO Fashion Editor ADRIAN BERNAL Casting Director CHOUAÏB ARIF Edited by EMMELEIA DALIWAN and ALBERTO CALABRESE Dog MOZAR

JUAN MARTI SERRANO. Hello Tamino, it is a pleasure to meet you! I'd like to talk a little about your past. You started in the music industry at a very young age, when you were only 14 years old, creating your own music band. Now, at 25, when you look back, how do you remember those years?

TAMINO. When I was 14, I started out playing in bands very locally in Belgium so I wouldn't call it "the music industry yet," we were performing but not making any money. That period of my life taught me a lot about band dynamics and sound checks, some stuff you have to learn. At 17, I went to study in Amsterdam and I started performing just by myself. Suddenly, when I created my first song in 2017, stuff started happening, I was 19-20 years old. Those years were quite crazy, a rollercoaster, a lot happened in a short amount of time. I was never home, touring all the time...

J.M.S. What was more fun, those old days or just now?

T. I couldn't say. There are aspects of it now that are more fun and there are aspects of before that are also more fun. The weird thing is that I've always taken this very seriously, in that sense nothing has really changed. If I would play in a small cafe show when I was 17 in Amsterdam I would take it as seriously as I am taking the show now. I don’t allow myself to go crazy like drinking the night before or whatever. I'm quite boring in that sense, I'm very dedicated to the shows and what I’m doing, I always want quality. I guess the scale is the only thing that has changed.

"I'm an introvert so that's where I get my energy, when I'm alone, I recharge my batteries." - Tamino

J.M.S. What lessons have you learned during all these years?

T. That I don’t really like traveling! [laughs.] I mean, I love being in other places, I love meeting new people and cultures but I don't like traveling itself. I know some people like flying, but I really hate it, I hate all the waiting around it. At the same time, when you are on tour with the same people all the time, sometimes in close spaces, I concluded, "Yes, I’m an introvert." I need time for myself, I need to read, to have space. That's the main thing that I have learned.

J.M.S. Have you ever thought about a life not linked to music? Have you ever contemplated a future detached from your role as a singer?

T. First, I really loved acting and directing. I was always making these little theater plays and forcing my little brother to participate in them. That was actually my first passion, I really, really loved it. I took it very seriously as well even though I was fucking eight years old or whatever. I acted until I was 15 or 16 along with the music but music eventually took over. The funny thing is that now my brother is an actor and a director. That was basically the only other aspiration I ever had.

J.M.S. Have you ever thought of revisiting your acting passion?

T. If I do anything with it I would really need to take it as seriously as music. It couldn't be a part-time thing, it would require a lot of my time and effort. I should just be able to give it my everything.

J.M.S. You consider yourself a composer before a musician. I would like to know what inspires you the most when creating your sound and your lyrics.

T. I really don’t know! [laughs] I think that’s the beauty of songwriting, you simply don’t know where it comes from. If I think about books or other music, yes. I can tell you about several people that inspire me the most. I really love reading a lot because it’s sort of this in-depth perspective of someone else’s life or whatever which is super inspiring for me. Something about reading a book makes me want to write a song as well. But the biggest thing of course is just living. The main thing behind my songwriting has always been finding a sort of inner world, also to work through things. I don't want to call it therapy because it is an art form and not every song must be autobiographical, it is just a place where I can let my emotions be and refine them in a way.

J.M.S. Now I am very curious to know what your favorite book is...

T. I really love "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera.

J.M.S. And tell me, when it comes to composing the narrative of your music, I would like to know if they are based on your own experiences or on the experiences of others. Do you find more inspiration in your life or in the lives of others?

T. I guess it's always a combination. You go through life experiencing whatever comes across your path but you are also an observer. It is always a little bit of both. I have to say that when something impactful happens to me there is of course an inner tension that wants to get out of me. That's the most natural state of being when wanting to create something. If that isn't there, life can be sometimes very still or dynamic, then it’s more a craftsmanship thing. I couldn't say if one stage is better than the other. I don't necessarily think that the best song comes from this struggle and tense state of being or maybe of the observer state of being. Both influence each other, it's like a dance.

J.M.S. Don't you think that many times writing music forces you to constantly immerse yourself in your memories and experiences as if it were an eternal and exhausting spiral of introspection?

T. It's the other way around [laughs.] It's not being a musician that makes me think about all those things all the time; it is just the fact that I always think about those things that probably made me into a musician. That it's just how I am and how I've always been. There is this beautiful song called "I Watched The Film The Song Remains The Same" by Sun Kil Moon. In this song, the singer thinks about his childhood and compares his friends to himself and how he always was drawn to the melancholic aspects of things and how things never leave him. He once had a fight at school and how that event is going to haunt him forever. I really relate to that emotion, to that song. That's probably the main reason why I make stuff.

J.M.S. Being a melancholic and nostalgic person but at the same time young and sensitive, have you ever stopped to think about what the hell you really know about life?

T. Of course! [laughs.] When you are a bit younger you think you know everything, you think you are invincible but of course, that grows out of you quickly normally when you grow into adulthood. I don't think being a songwriter is about knowing things, it’s more about exploring them and accepting the fact that you don’t know anything and you are just figuring it all out. I think that figures out all-out aspects of it that people relate to in a way because at the end if you look at songs from whatever era, you find similar things. Human experiences are not very different from each other.

J.M.S. Are you hoping to figure things out?

T. Yeah! You are always trying to figure things out I guess.

J.M.S. Your single "Habibi" made you reach fame back in 2018, a song that was highly applauded by the public and critics. How do you feel when you listen to that song? Do you still recognize yourself in those lyrics?

T. I recognize the boy who wrote it at the time. I was 18 so I have a lot of love for that younger self. It was a very courageous song to release especially at that age. I'm super happy that I did that at the end. It is still a song that I love performing. The beautiful thing about songs is that they evolve with you. When I'm singing it now,the feeling I get from the  song is different. There are so many memories attached to the song that come back and give me a similar feeling as it did back then, but the song changes a bit with you. It keeps on surprising me.

J.M.S. The same year [2018] you released your first album, "Amir." How do you remember the moment of releasing that first great work?

T. I was definitely nervous but at the same time, I was feeling like I had made something you really believe in and you are fully behind it. You feel that whatever happens to this, whatever opinions it can receive, this is what you wanted to make so it doesn't really matter. Well, it matters but at the same time it doesn't [laughs.] Let’s say hypothetically if I would have made an album that I wasn't proud of and I would release it feeling that it wasn't what I wanted to do, the bad opinions would have made me feel broken because I would be thinking "I knew it wasn’t good!" If I really like the work and someone doesn't like it it’s fine, I'm still going to like it. The curse of writing albums is that the moment you finish it a couple of months later you totally like hearing all the flaws and it’s very motivational because it drives you to start writing again and to try to make a follow-up with fewer flaws [laughs.]

"Right now I'm super focused on music, I really want to make a third album. I want to write a lot of songs in the next few months even though I know that's going to be super busy." - Tamino

J.M.S. But the reception of your album was really great!

T. I know [laughs.] But I can hear all the things I could have done better or just differently. One work drives the other.

J.M.S. In one of her songs, Spanish singer, Rosalia, mentions that fame is a bad lover. Nowadays, being famous entails enduring an intrusion into private life and overexposure to social media. How has your experience with fame been after gaining attention through your songs?

T. Fame is a very subjective term. In some sorts of bubbles, you can be famous, but in others, people don’t know you at all. Before social media, if you were famous, you were really famous. But now it’s like a big group of people know you but then a bigger group of people have never heard anything about you, so I wouldn't be able to call myself “famous.” I have experienced aspects of fame when I’m performing, because a lot of people who know my music have come together and maybe want to meet me in person after the show. And it can be overwhelming because suddenly there are a lot of people who have heard your music and want to express their love. But if I’m just walking on the street there are not enough people who really know me, rather it would be annoying. I feel really happy with my level of fame or whatever you want to call it, because it is really spread or very concentrated when I’m performing. Otherwise, I have a very normal life.

J.M.S. Look, I think if you have your own Wikipedia page, you're famous!

T. Oh, man! Then a lot of people can be considered famous! [laughs]

J.M.S. Singer, Lykke Li, declared that “sadness is a blessing.” Do you think that for artists it is totally true when it comes to finding inspiration?

T. Definitely. I've found many emotions inspirational. I guess sadness and joy are quite connected, they can’t be without each other. You can only be joyful because you know what sadness is like. The same thing goes for sadness. I like the yin-yang of that. That's basically everything. Everything comes down to that.

J.M.S. You say that you don’t like to explain your own songs, you prefer that everyone interprets them. So if we go by that idea there is not just one Tamino, but many versions of you for every person who listens to your songs, right?

T. Yes! I think people do that anyway. Life happens inside our consciousness so everyone has their own perspective. There are many versions of you because in everybody's mind you are somehow a bit different. There would never be one singular vision of a person.

J.M.S. This makes me think a bit about the mystery and how overexposed artists are today because of social media. You have managed to stay out of all that madness and remain very enigmatic. Do you think it’s important for an artist to be somehow untouchable and unreachable?

T. I do like some mystery [laughs.] In the first place as a fan of other artists I like it when they are not too revealing because I don’t want to know everything about them, I just want to experience their work. At the same time, I read for example a biography about Leonard Cohen because I was interested in his life. I do like some mystery and I think it is important for people to be able to experience the work as pure as possible.

J.M.S. After having listened to “Sahar,” I am left with the feeling that one of the main themes is loneliness. I would like to ask you, do you usually feel lonely or do you consider yourself a solitary person? Or otherwise, have you learned how to embrace loneliness and be comfortable with it?

T. Rather a solitary person than lonely. I don’t really feel lonely because I have really good friends. Loneliness is more about a state of being that you can feel from time to time and when you feel it you can dwell in it or call a friend and hang out. I do that when I feel lonely but I'm also very ok with being alone because it’s the only way I'm able to create. I’m an introvert so that’s where I get my energy, when I'm alone, I recharge my batteries.

J.M.S. One of my favorite songs on the album, “The Longing,” talks about letting go. Do you think you are someone who holds on to people or even memories or is it easy for you to let go?

T. I'm still figuring that out. I don’t know yet if I’m a super sentimental person who is very nostalgic and dwells in the past or someone who is quite always moving forward. Maybe I’m someone in between.

J.M.S. In “Sahar” through songs like “The First Disciple,” you talk about love and desire. At 25 years old, do you think our generation correctly understands what love is about?

T. I wouldn't be able to say what love is about, I don’t even know. That's a difficult question to answer. There is something about the whole dating app era that is a bit weird but at the same time, I have a lot of friends who found love, even myself. I would never say that we are a lost generation, we are very capable of love, finding it, and maintaining it. It just takes some work.

J.M.S. In both records, “Sahar” and “Amir,” you can perceive that the great influence of bands like Radiohead is prominent. Actually, a component of the band participated in a single of your first album, “Indigo Night.” I would like to know your personal and musical connection with the band led by Thom Yorke.

T. Colin Greenwood, the bassist of Radiohead, was the one who played with us in that song, then we started touring together a bit, and then I asked him to play again in the new album so he plays in seven songs! We spent a lot of time in the studio and we already did a big concert in Istanbul in June. He is super.

“I guess sadness and joy are quite connected, they can’t be without each other. You can only be joyful because you know what sadness is like. The same thing goes for sadness.” - Tamino

J.M.S. Ok, we spoke about music, your “personality” as an artist… Tell us more about who Tamino is.

T. Well I can tell you that my favorite movie is “Phantom Thread.”

J.M.S. That movie in which the fashion designer lets himself be poisoned by his girlfriend in a kind of psycho-emotional game?

T. Yes! Love that movie! When I was a kid my favorite movies were “The Lord of the Rings” and they still sort of are.

J.M.S. Love “Lord of the Rings”, so homoerotic!

T. Which character makes you think those movies are homoerotic?

J.M.S. Most of them. All those sweaty and dirty men sleeping together in those dark and mysterious forests with voyeuristic trees with eyes spying on them...

T. Maybe I should rewatch them!

J.M.S. And Frodo and Sam, of course! Something between them was going on!

T. Oh yes! I can understand that!

J.M.S. And favorite musician?

T. So many! Anouar Brahem’s “Blue Maqams” has really inspired me for this album. The typical ones I have mentioned so many times like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, Fairuz... I think when I really like something I always go back to it, that’s probably something that is very present in my personality. I have loyalty to those kinds of things. I rarely have anything like this new thing that I’m super into. I like a lot of things but I don’t love a lot of things. If I love something, it is with me forever in a way. There are a couple of books and movies that I would always go back to and I probably always talk about.

J.M.S. Any TV shows?

T. “Better Call Saul!” Just brilliant!

J.M.S. Let's talk about fashion, an industry that has been seduced by you since we all got to discover your music. Some houses such as Missoni included you in their advertising campaign and many others requested your presence in their shows. What is the meaning of fashion for Tamino and how do you go through your style?

T. I like just wearing clothes that make me feel I would say “I like myself,” but it depends on the day. Sometimes I like to wear a suit, sometimes I like to wear a t-shirt. What I'm wearing needs to make me feel aligned with the mood I'm in because then I feel that my interactions with people are better. I think that wearing what makes you feel comfortable that day makes you more connected to yourself.

J.M.S. Do you pay attention to the clothes you wear?

T. I definitely pay attention to what I wear. I love well-made clothes and good fabrics and designs. I really appreciate the quality. There are some brands that I'm really into like Yohji Yamamoto.

J.M.S. Would you like to participate actively and frequently in the world of fashion?

T. It’s funny because it was never an ambition when I was younger. It was something that just happened. It’s super cool but I’m very sober in fashion. It’s not like I’ve ever had a deep desire to make it in fashion, if something comes along and feels right like I really want to do it, then for sure!

J.M.S. Now that you have a well-grounded career in music and the support of specialized critics and your fans, what is the next step for Tamino?

T. First, we have the tour coming so I hope I will be able to enjoy it more this time, to be more at the moment. Right now I’m super focused on music, I really want to make a third album. I want to write a lot of songs in the next few months even though I know that’s going to be super busy. I want to spend some time in New York or anywhere else that can feel inspired. It’s time for something new.

Grooming by BASTIEN ZORZETTO using REDKEN Set Designer PIERGIO GEREMIA Retoucher ALBERTO MARO Fashion Assistant MARTIN BARRÉ Special Thanks to JAOVEN RICOEUR, CLAUDIA MATE, ANDREW SMITH and EMMA BOESCH at VIRGIN RECORDS

[fratboykate]

Man, your bodyguard/celebrity AU have me hooked. Show us more of what it looked like earlier in the relationship.

Okay, this isn't exactly EARLY but it's early enough. They're not even engaged yet. It's 4k-ish words.

---

A firm knock booms through Kate's hotel room, signaling it's time to be whisked away to another whirlwind day of press events. As the door yanks her from her thoughts, she realizes she's momentarily forgotten which European country she's even in. Belgium, maybe? The constant disorientation from hopping from one place to the next is easily her least favorite part of being on the road.

This leg of the tour has been particularly wild ever since she and Yelena were thrust into the spotlight due to their relationship forcibly made public a week ago. Paparazzi seem to be lurking around every corner now, and every journalist she’s sat with since is fixated on prying into her personal life, leaving little room for discussions about her music or her upcoming television series.

But amidst the chaos, there's always a silver lining in the shape of a petite grumpy Russian. Every morning, it's Yelena who arrives at Kate’s suite to collect her. It's a small, stolen moment that Kate treasures, a chance to be alone with her love at the start of each day. It grounds her and sets the tone for anything the day might throw at her. While protocol dictates that security should wait outside her door and escort Kate down, ever since they started sleeping together, Yelena usually knocks once then enters using the spare key card Kate always makes sure she has.

Today, however, there's an unexpected second knock on the door.

"Baby, just come in.”

Kate calls out to the door as she hurriedly tosses the last of whatever she thinks she'll need for the day into her oversized purse. She pauses, expecting Yelena to enter the room. But seconds tick by, and still, there’s no sign of her. Huh?

"Yel, get in here! I need your help with this zipper thing. It's stuck...I think you pulled on it too hard last night."

A smirk tugs at the corner of Kate’s lips as memories of clothes being peeled off her body the night before jump to the forefront of her mind.

But still...nothing. The room remains silent, and confusion furrows Kate's brow. Kate briskly walks to the door and swings it open, only to be met with the unexpected sight of a tall, black man standing on the other side.

"Johnson?" Kate questions, her voice laced with surprise.

"Mornin', Miss Bishop. The car's ready for you downstairs." Johnson replies in a calm and professional tone.

"Where's Yelena?"

Johnson shifts uncomfortably on his feet, a hint of hesitation in his response.

"She's no longer on your detail."

A chuckle escapes Kate’s lips, assuming it’s a prank.

"Funny. Tell her to come up here. I need her."

However, Johnson's expression remains stoic as he reveals the truth.

"Miss Belova is no longer employed at Shield Security. I've been assigned to be your new Head of Security.”

Kate’s amusement evaporates. Offering no further comment, Kate abruptly turns away and unceremoniously closes the door in his face. She rushes to her bed and the phone that rests atop it. She dials Yelena. No answer. She calls again and leaves a voicemail this time.

"I'm really hoping you're running late and Johnson is in on the joke. Call me, please."

Growing anxious, Kate sends a text message as well. It reads: "Where are you?" Nothing. The silence only heightens her unease.

Kate rushes back to the entrance, nabbing her purse on the way. She opens the door.

"Take me to where you guys stay."

When they're not on duty, the permanent security team that travels with Kate usually lodges at a modest hotel, far from the lavish and ultra-expensive accommodations she gets in every city.

"Miss Bishop, we..."

"It wasn't a question. It was an order."

Johnson hesitates for a moment, but understanding the urgency in her tone, he acquiesces. Kate hovers by the door, allowing him to lead the way.

---

During the entire twenty-three-minute ride to the other hotel, Kate tirelessly taps away at her phone, sending one text after another to Yelena. Frustration mounts with every unanswered message, fueling both Kate’s vexation and her determination to find her. The car finally reaches the parking lot of the modest hotel, and Johnson promptly steps out, opening the door for Kate.

"What room is she in?"

"I don't have that information, ma'am."

"Find out for me then." Kate insists, her impatience palpable.

"I'll need a moment."

Johnson closes the door and steps away from the vehicle. Through the tinted window, Kate keeps a watchful eye on the man as he makes a phone call. The suspense builds. Moments later, he returns.

"Room 307, ma'am."

"Thank you." Kate mutters as she steps out of the car, her frustration evident.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kate sees Johnson trailing after her. She turns sharply and glares.

"Stay here." Kate asserts firmly.

"No problem, ma'am." Johnson responds, yielding to her command.

---

Kate climbs up the weathered stairs, each step creaking beneath her weight, and makes her way down the dimly lit hallway of the roadside hotel. The worn-out carpeting and faded wallpaper tell a story of countless travelers passing through. The air carries a faint smell of disinfectant and the soft hum of air conditioning units lingers in the background. This is the kind of place where business travelers and budget-conscious individuals seek respite, a far cry from the luxurious five-star housing Kate is accustomed to.

Kate steps in front of room 307, raises her hand, and knocks on the door. The sound echoes through the corridor, and after a moment, she hears shuffling and hurried movements from within.

"I told you I needed some time. I'll check out when I chec…” Yelena's voice trails off abruptly as she swings the door open, her words dying on her lips. Kate's gaze falls upon the two giant suitcases, half-packed and scattered on the bed and floor. Confusion and concern fill Kate's eyes as she takes in the disarray before her.

"What the hell is happening?” Kate asks with a mix of urgency and disbelief.

“Shouldn’t you be on the radio right now?”

"Fuck press. Why haven’t you been answering my calls or texts? And why is Johnson babysitting me now?...I hate Johnson."

Yelena steps away from the door and resumes methodically folding and packing clothes.

"I got fired."

"What?! You're MY security. Who fired you?"

“In case you forgot, you hire a security company who hires me. They aren’t big fans of the whole 'me sleeping with one of their most high-profile clients' situation. Got a call this morning. They're putting me on a plane back to the States in six hours."

Kate’s eyes widen in disbelief and anger.

"Bullshit." Kate grabs her phone from her bag. "Who do I call? Give me your boss’s number. How do I fix this?"

Yelena shakes her head, her voice filled with resignation.

"It's in my contract. We're not supposed to have personal relationships with clients or their staff. I breached it. It's done."

"I don't trust anyone else but you." Kate insists, her voice firm.

"Johnson may be a bit of a prick, but he’s a decorated SEAL. He's the next best thing...I actually suggested him for the job. He can keep you safe, so I'm glad they at least listened to that.”

"No. It's either you or no one."

Yelena's expression softens, her eyes meeting Kate's.

"Kate, don't be ridiculous. You need protection and I'm no longer in a position to provide it. Give Johnson a shot. He might grow on you."

"Did he ever grow on you?"

"No." Yelena's response is swift and straightforward.

"Exactly."

Kate approaches Yelena, resolve etched on her face.

"I need you, babe. YOU. No one else. I don't care how many medals they have or what they are. You're who I want."

Yelena’s expression softens, but a hint of sadness lingers in her eyes.

"Sometimes reality and what we want don't line up."

"Then we make it line up." Kate declares with conviction.

"Kate..."

Unwilling to back down, Kate gazes around the room, taking in the scattered bags and belongings. Her voice trembles with concern as she speaks next.

"Were you going to leave without telling me?"

"You have a hectic day, packed schedule. More important things for you to focus on. I would've texted you before the plane took off.”

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice you weren't with me until six hours from now?"

A hint of regret accompanies Yelena's admission.

"No. But I hoped you'd be too busy to come digging. Clearly, I was wrong.”

Irritation builds within Kate as Yelena continues to move around the room, putting the last of her things in the bag.

"Will you stop packing?! You're not going anywhere."

"The company pays for this room. They paid it because I was your Head Of Security. I no longer hold that position, so I have to vacate the premises regardless.”

Kate paces back and forth, her mind racing. Suddenly, an idea flashes across her face, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"What if you were?" Kate asks eagerly.

"What if I were what?" Yelena looks at her with a mix of confusion and caution.

"My head of security again."

"We just went over why that's not possible.”

Kate grows more insistent.

"If the problem is that the company I hired fired you, then I’m firing them and hiring you directly. I'll pay whatever Shield was paying you. Double it if you want. Plus, whatever else you need.”

Yelena shakes her head.

"Kate, don't be insane."

"Why not? Let's cut out the middleman. You'll be fully in charge, making all the decisions. Everything goes through you. Everything."

"I'm not taking your money." Yelena tells her firmly.

"You were already working for me anyway!"

"I was working for them. They assigned me to you. It's not the same."

“But it is! It is the same. Tell me what you need. We'll make it happen.”

“Kate, this isn't a game. You need security. Take Johnson. Let it be."

"M'kay, well, they're fired anyway. So, you either take the job, or I’ll have no security at all.”

"You can't threaten to ignore all protocols every time you don't get your way."

"I just did. I'll drive myself to the venue, open my own car doors, do my own security sweeps..."

Kate plays it up, fully aware that Yelena's patience is wearing thin. She continues to test the boundaries, hoping to elicit a change of heart.

"It's not as simple as me taking the job. I would need people..."

Yelena tries to explain, but Kate interrupts her, speaking over her.

"Hire them. Whatever you need."

"...but I don't have money to pay people..."

"I just told you to name the price. It's taken care of."

"...and even if I did, I would need to have a company to run payroll..."

"I can have my lawyers on it today."

Yelena groans, evidently piqued.

"In your world, you may be able to snap a finger and make things happen, but things are different for the rest of us. It's not just about money. There are licenses, background checks, insurance, and a million other things involved in running a security company. Stick with Shield. I can talk with Johnson, explain how you like things. Give him time. You'll get used to each other."

"I told you, it's you or no one. Shield is already fired. They're done. They made major changes to my team without consulting me. I don't trust them anymore."

"Your team has changed dozens of times while I've been with you and you've never been consulted. We get assigned to different places for different reasons. It's the way it is."

"Never my head of security!"

"Did they consult you when they brought me in, or did they just introduce us?” Kate has no retort to that because they didn't. Checkmate from Yelena. "Exactly."

"Doesn't matter."

"It does matter! It does!"

"Okay, I guess I'm driving myself around the city today."

Kate grabs her bag and heads for the door, deliberately walking down the hallway at a slow pace, giving Yelena time to react. She hears a loud groan and grumbling from inside the room. Finally, the door flies open, and Yelena pokes her head out.

"Get back in here," Yelena grits through her teeth with exasperation.

Kate smirks briefly before putting on a stoic expression, turning to face Yelena, and walking back into the room.

"Look, having money can be a good thing. You need guys? Poach whoever you want from Shield. Double their salaries. I don't care. We'll figure out payroll and whatever other boring legal things need to happen. My business manager and lawyer will have solutions for you. I just need you to say 'yes'. You're amazing at this. Why wouldn't you be your boss?"

Yelena sighs and sits on the bed, contemplating the offer for a long beat.

"This has never been about your money or what you can or can't do for me."

"Oh my god! Not this again. You've never asked me for a single thing. You won't even let me pay for food if it's only us. I know. I know. You're not using me. I don't feel used. Never have. You're the only person I trust. You're doing it for me, not the other way around."

Yelena ponders for a long beat, considering the implications.

"Whatever this costs...legal fees, your business manager's time, state and federal costs to set up the company, anything...I'll reimburse you."

"You're so annoying." Kate smirks and rolls her eyes.

"I'm not with you for your money or status or...whatever." Yelena assures her.

"I've never doubted that."

"I don't want your team to think I'm taking advantage of you."

"They won't."

"All of a sudden, you'd be bankrolling my life, making a company for me...it's..."

"Their priority is to keep me safe. They can't make money if I'm dead, so it's in their best interest to get behind things that guarantee I stay intact. We all know the best person to make sure that happens is you."

"It looks shady from the outside, Kate. I need you to acknowledge that. People talk and I don't want them thinking I'm trying to exploit you or steal from you."

"It's not like I'm throwing money at you for nothing. I'm paying for a service and your expertise. It's business."

"Business and pleasure shouldn't be mixed. "

"We crossed that bridge a LONG time ago."

"And look at where it got us."

"What? Me being happier than I've ever been, you getting the opportunity to start a company, and us being able to finally sleep in the same bed together...all night...without one of us having to sneak out? Sounds like it got us something good.” Kate counters with a grin.

"You always oversimplify things."

"And you always over complicate them."

Yelena's phone receives a text message, causing her to glance at the screen.

"Sam wants to know if I know where you are. I can't believe you blew your press day. Emily is going to be furious."

"Oh, she was calling me the entire ride here." Kate responds nonchalantly.

"Why would you piss off your publicist? That's almost rule number one of things you should never do."

"I had bigger things to worry about."

Kate approaches Yelena and swings her leg over the blonde’s lap. As Kate straddles Yelena, pressing kisses to her pulse point, Yelena's body responds involuntarily. Her head tilts back, granting Kate greater access to her neck. In the midst of their intimate moment, Yelena's eyes flicker open, and she glances at the clock on the bedside table.

"I can still probably get you to your 11:00 AM on time. You might need to do your makeup in the car so you're camera ready by the time we get to the studio, but I think we can make it."

"You don't even want to celebrate that you're a fancy, super important CEO with her own firm now?”

Yelena chuckles, her lips tantalizingly close to Kate's as she replies.

"I'm none of those things."

Kate's lips ghost over Yelena's teasingly.

"But you are. And since you're the Big Boss now, you probably need practice with disciplining people. A lot of bad employees out there. It'd be irresponsible of me to let you do something like this without knowing you're REALLY ready to take control."

As Kate grinds on Yelena's lap, Yelena's fingers instinctively dig into the younger woman’s thighs, leaving marks.

"Have I ever given you any doubts that I can take control?"

Yelena raises an eyebrow. Kate shrugs like the brat she is, and a playful smirk appears on her face.

"Probably. Can't really remember now. I've got a terrible memory that needs constant refreshing, or I forget things."

"Hmmm...I see."

Yelena's eyes lock with Kate's as they study each other intently. In this close proximity, Yelena can count even the most minuscule flecks in Kate's blue eyes. The intensity and underlying lust she reads in them cause Yelena's facade to crack, revealing a genuine smile.

"What am I supposed to do with you?" Yelena wonders aloud. Just as Kate is about to respond, a mischievous smirk already forming on her face, Yelena interjects. "Not in the dirty way, Kate Bishop. In general."

Kate pouts playfully.

"Always ruining my fun."

Yelena chuckles.

"Am I?"

Kate nods, leaning in to press her lips against Yelena's. The electricity in the room grows more charged, the space now filled with desire and unspoken words.

"Show me what you want to do...in the dirty way...first and I'll tell you what to do with me in general after." Kate whispers teasingly.

"You're impossible." Yelena shakes her head, filled with amusement and exasperation.

"I think that means you need to get me under control, no?" Kate challenges, her eyes sparkling.

"I guess it does."

Yelena concedes, leaning forward and pushing Kate's back onto the sliver of open mattress next to her half-packed suitcase.

"Still kind of weak for a CEO." Kate teases some more, poking at Yelena's pride.

A low growl escapes Yelena's throat. Kate is in trouble now, and she knows it. The thought of making it to the 11 AM interview quickly fades from both of their minds.

---

Yelena steps into the sprawling mansion she once called home. It has been weeks since she was last here, ever since she made it clear to Kate that her requests for a divorce were genuine and non-negotiable. The familiar space now feels foreign and strange to her.

"Kate." No answer. "Kate."

Nothing. Yelena calls out a few more times, but there is no response. She moves further into the house, searching for her estranged partner. Eventually, she finds Kate sitting in the office, gazing at the view.

"Kate."

Kate's head turns towards the entrance, their eyes meeting in a moment of silence. Neither of them speaks, but the apprehension hangs heavily in the air. After a brief pause, Yelena shifts her shoulders, a sign of her trepidation and stress.

"You came."

"You didn't really seem to give me a choice...What? What is it? What's so important that you couldn't talk to me about it over the phone?" Yelena asks, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration.

Kate looks at her desk and picks up a document, reading its contents with a furrowed brow.

"'Notice of Termination of Services: Your client is hereby formally notified that, within a maximum period of 30 days, Belova Security will cease to provide its services. We kindly request that you promptly identify and establish contact with an alternative security company to ensure a seamless and efficient transfer of responsibilities.' What the hell is this, Yelena?" Kate's tone is laced with a mix of confusion and frustration.

"Official notice that you should find new security."

"Why would you do that?"

Yelena looks at her, perplexed.

"Are you being serious?"

"You don't need to be involved. I get it if you don't want to be. But I still want to keep using your company for my security."

"That's absurd."

"I don't trust anyone else."

"You just said I wouldn't have to be involved, so what difference does it make."

"It makes a difference to me. I know how you run things and I know that even if it's not you personally overseeing this, your team is still the best. I can simply be another one of your clients. I don't expect special treatment. I don't expect you to deal with the day-to-day stuff. I still want to be on your roster regardless.”

"I'm not going to argue with you, Kate."

"Then don't. Let me do this. It's not some excuse to get you back into my life. I understand that you want nothing to do with me. I respect that. This is purely business."

Yelena pauses for a moment, contemplating the situation. After a long beat, she lets out a sigh. Yelena would never admit it, but she wouldn't trust Kate's security to anyone else either. No one knows her as she does. So even though she will take a step back, it's comforting to know that she’d still be in charge if anything were to happen.

"Strictly business."

"Understood."

"I'll keep Alexei as your lead, then. But I'll make sure they run any significant personnel changes by you first."

"Thank you."

"Yeah."

Yelena starts to leave, her steps heavy with unresolved emotions. Kate hesitates, a mix of concern and regret swirling within her. She wants to say something, to offer some semblance of comfort, even if it may not be enough.

"Yel..." Yelena reluctantly turns, the sound of her nickname sending a shiver down her spine. "Are you okay?"

"Let's keep things professional, Kate."

Kate's heart sinks at the distant tone in Yelena's voice. She desperately wants to bridge the gap between them, to mend what has been broken, but Yelena has made it more than clear that reconciliation is off the table.

"I'm sorry. I truly am." Kate whispers, her voice filled with sincerity.

"You've said that." Her pain lingers right beneath the surface.

"I want you to hear it regardless." Kate continues, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

Yelena offers a slight nod, a subtle acknowledgment of Kate's apology, though the wounds between them remain raw and unresolved. With a somber air, she reaches for her sunglasses, slipping them on to cover her eyes, not just from the scorching hot day, but also to conceal any traces of vulnerability that might surface. It's a defense mechanism, a way to protect herself from further pain. And with that, she turns and walks away, leaving Kate behind.

As the reality of the situation settles upon her, Kate's composure crumbles like fragile glass. Tears stream down her face; each drop a testament to the depth of Kate’s remorse for the pain she has inflicted. With every sob that escapes her lips, the echoes fill the empty space Yelena left behind, reverberating through the void that now exists between them. The sound of her heartbreak intertwines with the emptiness, creating a haunting tune of sorrow and regret. At that moment, Kate is left to confront the magnitude of her actions and the profound loss she feels without Yelena by her side.

[kanerallels]

I promised @laughingphoenixleader that I would post this, so have a little story, beloved friend! Featuring a new OC that my girl @accidental-spice came up with!

“Kyle, DARLING!”

Kyle managed, shockingly, not to flinch at the ominously familiar, sing-song voice. Looking up briefly from his paperwork, his worst suspicions were confirmed at the sight of a tall woman, elegantly dressed, her hair dyed in vibrant streaks of blue and pink.

“Gloria,” he said evenly. “How was Belgium?”

Gloria Bartlett— undercover agent extraordinaire when she wasn’t Kyle’s partner— took a seat on the corner of Kyle’s desk, smiling widely. “Fabulous. Tried some waffles, took a tour of a few churches, and shot some people. How’s home been?”

“It’s been fine,” Kyle said, redirecting his attention to the paperwork in front of him. 

“Really? Just fine? Honestly, Kyle, you never give me any proper descriptions of things. What all happened? Is Andersen eating properly? Did Maryeme’s youngest get that part in the play? And what’s Ivan been up to?”

Without looking up, Kyle said, “More or less, yes, and he’s still single.”

“Rude,” Gloria huffed with annoyance. Kyle ignored it— everyone knew that Gloria and Ivan were head over heels for each other. With, of course, the exception of Gloria and Ivan. Kyle had long since elected to stay out of it. “Well, are there any cases I should know about?”

Kyle opened his mouth to tell her no— and then stopped. Because she was one of Andersen’s top agents, and his partner. So, technically, if anyone should know about this, it was her.

But he really, really didn’t want to tell her about it. And by it, he meant Kate.

Unfortunately, Gloria caught his hesitation, and arched an eyebrow at him. “Something you’d like to share?”

“We found an informant on Alban.”

Gloria’s eyes widened.

She’d been there, right next to him, when Andersen had found his family dead by Derek Alban’s hand. His wife and two daughters, killed brutally. Kyle shuddered internally at the memory. They both knew what catching Alban meant to Andersen.

“Okay,” she said slowly. “Tell me as much as you can.”

Kyle paused, collecting his thoughts. “Kate Davis. She’s a thief who was in a relationship with him. But he abandoned her after we caught her robbing one of the local senators.”

Nodding, Gloria said, “Good for her.”

“Not exactly,” Kyle said, “but I’m not going to argue that point with you right now. She’s given us a lot of intel on some of his previous crimes, and his hideouts. It’s turned out pretty well for us. We haven’t caught him yet, but we’ve brought in several of his men, caught a mole in the department, and we’re close to catching up with him.”

Gloria grinned. “That’s fabulous news. Then why so hesitant?”

She would notice that. “Um. It’s complicated. Kate is— that is, I—”

“Good afternoon, Gloria.”

Andersen’s mild voice cut through Kyle’s stammering, and they both looked up to see their boss holding a mug of tea. “I take it Kyle’s giving you his news?”

“He’s trying to,” Gloria said, side-eyeing Kyle.

Chuckling, Andersen said, “Cut him some slack. Telling you he got married while you were gone can’t be easy.”

Oh boy. Kyle winced as Gloria’s jaw dropped.

“You did WHAT? Wait— oh, wow. Oh, stars. Kyle, did you fall in love with a criminal?”

“No,” Kyle said, his voice sharper than it should have been. “It��s not like that, she needed help.”

“So you married her?” Gloria said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “So logical.”

“It’s not—” Kyle cut himself off, taking a deep breath. “Okay. I’m going to explain this to you in three sentences, and then you’re going to go away and let me finish my paperwork.”

“I will make no such promise. But give it a shot.”

“She’s pregnant with Derek Alban’s child.” Kyle saw Gloria’s eyes go wide, and continued. “She didn’t want him to find out and use the baby as leverage, so I offered to pretend to be the baby’s father, and marrying her is what I would do if it was real. Now please go away.”

Gloria stared at him, her mouth open, for a long moment. Then, hopping to her feet, she said, “I see where this is going. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go ask Ivan and Maryeme for the tea about this situation. Later.”

“Gloria—” Kyle groaned as she sailed away, looking delighted. Well, that can’t possibly go badly.

[kulturegroupie]

Every single Jimmy Page quote from the 1980 European Tour

“Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Nice, right, well we’re here aren’t we? OK, We got a little number now. It’s called, in a bit of a rough translation ah, Schwarz Hund.”

— Dortmund, Germany, June 17

“Good evening. Good evening. Nice, well a little ditty from the past. Not so far back, but still from the past, and it’s called, no it’s Schwarz Hund.”

— Cologne, Germany, June 18

“Aye, bon soir. Merci. Ah Hello, hello, OK, Chien Noir.”

~~~

“Hey hold on. Listen. I tell you what, we came here because we really loved you. We really wanted to play to you. The trouble is, at the moment, I can’t even hear meself play. So if you could keep it just a little quiet for a moment. Thank you very much.”

— Brussels, Belgium, June 20

“Good evening. Good evening. That’s right don’t get out of your seat yet, we’ve got a bit more time left. Ok, we’ve got another number coming if I can remember what it is. Yeah, it’s called ah, it comes off one of the earlier albums, if you can remember those, and it’s called, it’s called Black Dog.”

— Rotterdam, Holland, June 21

“Good evening. Good evening. Well I know you wonder why you’re all here tonight, but we’re gonna find out, and we got a number coming up now, a really old one, well not that old, it’s called Black Dog.”

— Bremen, Germany, June 23

“Good evening. I said good evening. Yeah, yeah. How bout that then? I thought I’d take me glasses off. Might be able to see the fret board better. Well we got a number now. An old one ah, hasn’t been put out to pasture yet, but it’s old and it’s called Black Dog.”

— Hannover, Germany, June 24

“Good evening. How are you? Good evening. Good evening. Well with you with you. OK. Right. We got a number, a nice little number about 36-23-36, and it’s called well what’s it called in German, Schwarz Hund, Black Dog.”

~~~

“Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Hold it. We haven’t been here for seven years you know, and ah, sure we’ll play Rock and Roll, but we haven’t been sitting around on our asses for seven years. We got a lot of new songs to play too. Would you like to hear those? We’re gonna do that and we’re gonna play Rock and Roll too, Ok?”

— Vienna, Austria, June 26

“Good evening. Good evening. That’s better. Right, well there’s two of us tonight that aren’t feeling at all well. We got a bit of stomach trouble, so we’re gonna do our best whatever as usual, and ah, the next number sort of reflects how I’m feeling, and possibly the other member. It’s called Black Dog.”

— Nuremberg, Germany, June 27

“Good evening. I said good evening. Right, right, right, right, right. Well if you’ve noticed, I just took me glasses off so I can see the guitar a bit better and see you a bit better too. Right, right. Ok, we got an old one. I hope you can remember it cause it’s quite an old one. It’s called Black Dog.”

~~~

“Thanks very much.”

— Zurich, Switzerland, June 29

“Good evening. Good evening. One and all. Yes, well it’s good to see ya, and it’s good to be seen. So hey I’ve seen you before haven’t I? Yeah. Sorry about that strip just now but it’s probably as hot up here as it is down there. Ah next number is an old one, so old I hope I can remember. It’s called Black Dog.”

— Frankfurt, Germany, June 30

“Good evening. Good evening. That’s better. Right, yes, yes. I can hear all that . Right, we’re gonna do a number. It’s called ah, strangers in the night. Black Dog.”

~~~

“Right, ready? Are you ready? The worst bloody noise. I don’t think they’re ready for it, do you?”

— Mannheim, Germany, July 3

“Good evening. Good evening. Right, a happy gathering yes. Well we got a little number now from the annals of rock history, and it’s called Black Dog.”

— Munich, Germany, July 5

“Good evening all. I said good evening. Right, well it’s nice to see you and it’s nice to be seen, I can tell you that. We got a number ah, from the annals of Rock History. It’s not called Black Dog Jimmy. It’s just called Schwarz Hund.”

— Berlin, Germany, July 7

[justforbooks]

Although there was never any such phenomenon as Whittakermania, Roger Whittaker, who has died aged 87, built a huge international following in a career that spanned six decades. As the Boston Globe noted of his stage performances: “No one gets high. No one gets hysterical with excitement. And yet Roger Whittaker is one of the most popular entertainers in the world.”

Whittaker’s smooth baritone voice and songs of love, loss and yearning endeared him to audiences worldwide. His best known songs, where his voice was invariably accompanied by keening strings, included 1969’s Durham Town (the Leavin’), I Don’t Believe in If Anymore (1970), which reached No 8 in the UK, The Last Farewell (1971, reissued in 1975 to become a Top 20 hit in the US and a chart-topper in 11 countries), and Wind Beneath My Wings (1982).

He also had a trademark whistling ability, which he used to perform The Skye Boat Song in a duet with Des O’Connor, reaching the UK Top 10 in 1986.

Though he did not rack up chart hits as prolifically as the Beatles or Abba, his frequent TV and live appearances made him a household name in many countries. In the mid-1980s, he was acknowledged as Germany’s most successful recording artist. He made several recordings in German, singing the lyrics phonetically since he could not speak the language.

He was never fashionable, but never out of fashion with his audience. When he recorded a song such as Green, Green Grass of Home, it lacked the drama of Tom Jones’s version and his treatment of Song Sung Blue was homelier and more avuncular than Neil Diamond’s original, but it all became Whittaker music.

He liked to say he represented the “silent majority”. He defined this as “the kind of person who when he marries becomes a parent and a taxpayer and devotes himself to bringing up his children properly – all in all, a pretty straight-down-the-line guy”.

In the 70s, when rock music was dominating the record industry, Whittaker was dropped by his label, RCA, despite the fact that he had sold several million discs. He decided to market his 1977 album, All My Best, on TV. “I was the first act to go on TV with records,” he said. All My Best sold nearly 1m copies.

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, he was the son of Vi (nee Showan) and Edward Whittaker, who had owned a grocery shop in Staffordshire, but moved to a farm near Thika after Edward sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle accident and had been advised that a hot, dry climate would aid his recuperation.

Edward developed a new grocery business, while Vi worked as a teacher. Roger, who could speak Swahili before he learned English, attended the Prince of Wales school (now Nairobi school). He had begun learning the guitar at seven.

After school, where he had sung in the choir, he was called up for national service. He was posted to the Kenya Regiment, and for two years was involved in fighting the anti-colonial Mau Mau rebels. He subsequently attended the University of Cape Town to study medicine, but after 18 months he left and trained to be a teacher.

In 1959 he moved to Britain and enrolled at Bangor University in north Wales, where he studied zoology, biochemistry and marine biology. He also began to make his first moves into music, playing gigs to earn some cash and recording songs on flexi discs distributed with the university newspaper.

These provoked interest from Fontana records, and in 1962 his first single releases were The Charge of the Light Brigade and Steel Men.

He played concerts in Northern Ireland and appeared on the Ulster TV show This and That, and his career developed with constant touring around Britain.

“I learned how to entertain in the clubs of the north-east of England, the working men’s clubs where the miners go,” he said. In 1964 he married Natalie O’Brien.

By 1968 he was touring internationally and even had a TV showcase in the Soviet Union. At the 1968 Knokke song contest in Belgium, Whittaker performed If I Were a Rich Man, from the musical Fiddler on the Roof, and his own whistling composition, Mexican Whistler, helping Britain to win the competition, and both tunes were hits in France, the Netherlands and Belgium. In 1969 he scored his first UK Top 20 hit with Durham Town (the Leavin’), which reached No 12. Its easy-listening mixture of sentimentality and nostalgia, with its mournful references to war and bereavement, was typical of Whittaker’s work.

He revisited his African background in the documentary film Roger Whittaker in Kenya: A Musical Safari (1982), and in 1986 he published his autobiography (written with his wife), So Far, So Good. Three years later, he received the news that his parents had been attacked by a gang of robbers in Kenya, leaving his father dead and his mother brutally beaten. She subsequently moved back to Britain.

Outside music, Whittaker had a shrewd eye for antiques. His collection of paintings, furniture and works of art was auctioned by Sotheby’s in 1999 for more than £1m, at the same time as he sold his Herefordshire home and moved to Essex. Latterly he lived in the south of France.

He is survived by Natalie and by their five children, Emily, Lauren, Jessica, Guy and Alexander, 12 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and his sister, Betty.

🔔 Roger Henry Brough Whittaker, singer and songwriter, born 22 March 1936; died 13 September 2023

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[culmaer]

I really wanted to go to the musical instrument museum in Brussels but I didn't have time :( the house of European history is also really interesting as long as you don't get one of the noon tours

oh that does look like an interesting museum too, definitely adding it to the list !! yet another reason to go back to Belgium !

y'know whenever I get a recommendation or learn about something new to do/visit in Belgium, it reminds me of an article I read back in the '00s. apparently Belgium is consistently voted as the most boring country in Europe — and honestly I found that intriguing ! like, I'm not a particularly excitable or high-energy person, so a "boring" place actually sounds idyllic !! for a time, this was the main reason I wanted to visit the country lol (of course after studying French and Dutch/Flemish, and after joining langblr and meeting some wonderful Belgians, those became the primary motivations for wanting to visit)

but now every time I learn something interesting about Belgium, my first reaction is "well, that's not boring at all !" and I can't help but wonder what the methodology or criteria are for decided a country is boring ?

[sleekervae]

So Good [0.5]

Masterlist

A/N: Happy Monday! How we all holding up before the holidays?

Warnings: none, spoilers for Yoü & I

Two weeks into the tour, Catch the Caper had already blitzed through the western part of Europe, gracing audiences night after night in packed venues. Whether it was intimate smaller settings or grand arenas, the days seemed to never end, and the nights even more so. Prior to this, the band had spent nearly four years as opening acts for other groups, but looking back, they now chuckled at how comparatively relaxed those times felt. Sleep remained elusive, with hours scattered between late nights and the constant struggle of jet lag. Just as they started to settle into one time zone, it was time to hop on another flight within Europe. The relentless schedule was undeniably challenging, yet this time, the band members were seasoned veterans of the tour, and their camaraderie had grown even stronger.

Their hotel in Belgium had a beautiful breakfast spread in the dining hall; scrambled eggs, sausages, fresh cut fruits and -- of course, some of the most spectacular waffles the girls had ever had. However, Kimberly didn't feel very hungry this morning. She attributed it to jet lag, possibly exacerbated by the mere three or four hours of sleep she managed to get earlier, not to mention the drinks the girls had enjoyed before. Nevertheless, it was hard to ignore the subtle trembling of her leg as it rested against the side of her chair, or how her eyes darted occasionally to her phone screen whenever it flickered beside her plate.

She glanced ahead at Chloe, endeared to watch the drummer wolf down what was likely her third waffle of the morning. Beside her Maria was half asleep in her chair while Charlotte had her pen and notebook out, scribbling furiously as though she was cramming for a school term paper. The last time she saw Charlotte so immersed in that notebook, she had been piecing together the words that would eventually lead to their current platinum album.

Pretty much done with her plate, Kimberly called out to the drummer, "Hey, Chloe..." she held up her plate for her, offering her what was left, "Here,"

Chloe glanced up between bites, scrambling as she too lifted up her plate and clinked the edge with Kimberly's. The other two girls watched the pair with curiosity while the bassist glowered at her friend.

"What're you doing?" she asked.

"Cheers," Chloe replied.

Kimberly nearly burst out laughing, "Girl, take the bacon," she simpered. Charlotte snorted and Maria shook her head as Chloe laughed sheepishly.

"I thought you wanted to cheers plates!" she said.

"The last time we cheered plates we were in the tenth grade, celebrating our passing the regents exams," Kimberly replied.

"Yeah, we couldn't cheers with soda because they took away the vending machines," Charlotte reminisced.

"Because Max Popkin was dumb enough to think tying a string to a coin and yanking it out like a yo-yo was fool-proof," Chloe chuckled.

Kimberly shook her head, "Certainly wasn't laughing when they had to call EMTs when the gears caught the string,"

Charlotte grimaced, "And he nearly lost his finger from lack of blood flow... I know," she groaned.

"It always takes one idiot to ruin it for the rest of us," Chloe replied, glancing over at the guitarist, "Right Maria?" she nudged her when she noticed how quiet she'd been, "Maria?" she glowered however when she realized Maria had fallen asleep, "What -- is she serious?"

"Oh, leave her alone," Charlotte replied, nudging her under the table, "She's jet lagged,"

"She's not jet lagged, she's just never been a morning person," Kimberly chuckled, reaching over to jostle her, "Maria, c'mon. You can sleep on the plane,"

Maria gave a semblance of a grumble back, a least the girls knew she was on the brink of consciousness.

Out of nowhere, Kimberly's phone vibrated, and her gaze swiftly shifted to the screen. Her heart sank, though, as she realized it was just a Twitter notification.

"You expecting a call?" Charlotte asked.

"Darius was supposed to call before his shift at the club," Kimberly replied, her tone laced with dejection.

"Maybe he forgot?" Chloe suggested, "Is that a forgivable offence? Absolutely not, which is why when he remembers to call you give him the whole 'oh that's okay dear' schpiel and post the sexiest thirst trap you can muster,"

Charlotte glowered at her, "And what exactly does that achieve?" she asked.

"A little thing I like to call long-distance guilt," Chloe replied smugly.

Between them Maria suddenly grumbled, "Que pendejo," she didn't make haste to move from her seat nor open her eyes.

"Oh, so she is awake!" Chloe gawked.

Maria popped an eye open, "Well, how am I supposed to sleep with you three bullshitting about yo-yos and slacker boyfriends?"

Kimberly rolled her eyes, "C'mon, Maria. You know he's not a slacker," she replied.

"Not in all departments, just in the department where he suddenly forgets to call you four nights in a row after he promised he would. You've only been gone two weeks, and he's slipping already?" she pointed out, crossing her arms and shutting her eyes and she tried to tuck in again. One thing that bothered Kimberly was Maria's knack for delivering the truth in a way that could be a bit too blunt to swallow. Nonetheless, more often than not, Maria's bluntness carried a valid point, and it was no different this time.

Charlotte shook her arm, "No -- c'mon! You can sleep on the plane!" she urged, much to Maria's chagrin. She then turned to Kimberly, "Kim, why don't you just call Darius?"

"I did yesterday. We had a five minute conversation before he had to rush off to his class and all we talked about was meal prep planning," she huffed, "And he promised he'd call me later before his shift, which if you reverse eight hours should've been about fifteen minutes ago!"

Chloe scoffed, "Shall I grab a collar and bone to match his dog house?" she asked.

"Maybe he really is just swamped?" Charlotte interjected, trying to play devil's advocate, "I mean, he works two jobs and he's putting himself through college! He's not exactly whacking stones with sticks,"

Maria glanced knowingly at the mousy brunette, "And two summers ago, Melody Catana wasn't meddling in our band's private dynamics; do I have that correct?"

Charlotte glowered back, "Okay, that's not the same thing,"

"The hell it wasn't: there was a massive breach of trust," Maria said.

"Maria," Kimberly finally called out, "It's fine. I know how busy Darius was even before we left, I shouldn't be expecting so much out of him,"

Chloe raised a brow, "Girl, you're starting to sound as wimpy as 2015-Charlotte,"

"Hey!" Charlotte snapped back.

"She has a point, Lottie," Maria interjected, "We wouldn't dare let you accept Ben's complacency for standards, so why shouldn't we do the same for Kimberly?" she was referring to Charlotte's previous boyfriend from three years ago, a period in which none of them looked fondly upon.

"It's okay, you guys," Kimberly assured them, deciding to tuck her phone into her pocket, "I'll try calling him when we get to Vienna,"

"No, don't," Charlotte decided then, "They're right. You called him yesterday, he blew you off. So, if he said he would, then he should be calling you back,"

Chloe beamed from across the table, "I knew we did a bang-up job on you," she said. Charlotte simpered back as she sipped her tea.

Maria reached across the table for Kimberly's hand, giving her a gentle squeeze, "You know we're not saying this to make you feel bad, right? We know you deserve to be treated like the queen you fucking are," she assured her, "And I hate seeing you tie yourself into knots every time that phone goes off,"

Kimberly nodded back, the concern in her friends' eyes so clear, but she knew they didn't need to be worried. Or so... that was what she told herself in the moment, "It's okay. I promise you guys, I'm fine. I'd probably feel better if I got more than four hours of sleep, but you know..."

"We can sleep on the plane," Charlotte assured them.

"Are we sure we should be?" Chloe asked, continuing to cut her waffle into pieces, "Apparently forcing yourself to stay awake on long flights helps you readjust to the new time zone,"

"We're not flying to Tanzania," Charlotte replied, "Vienna's a puddle jump away. Where did you get that?"

"I read it somewhere," Chloe replied simply.

Kimberly glowered at the drummer, "You read it somewhere? Was it the same author of all your phony phrase books that we ended up burning?" she asked.

Maria chuckled as she sipped her coffee "Oh, come on, Kim! Those phrase books were friggin' gold! Remember how 'Hello, how are you?' translated to 'Watch out for the dancing moles' in Italy?"

Charlotte grinned, nodding in agreement, "Yeah, and 'Where is the restroom?' somehow became 'Your aunt rides a unicycle' in German,"

Kimberly snorted back, "My favourite is still 'Thank you for the delicious shirts' in Japanese,"

The other two laughed in unison as Chloe slumped in her seat, shaking her head begrudgingly as she at her waffles, "Shaddup..."

Namjoon sat with his back to the cold wood of the bench, the soft breeze cascading across his as he listened to the speakers in his ears. He stayed relatively anonymous all bundled up in his coat and hat, small groups of people passing by without so much as giving him a second glance. Seoul was cloudy and fairly cold that morning and work load was relatively light today, so when his phone rang just as he grabbed his breakfast he didn't hesitate to answer it. They'd been on the phone for about half an hour now.

He hummed as he crumpled the wrapper from his egg sandwich, hearing Kimberly's simper ring in his ears, "Was that good?"

"Friggin' delicious," he nodded, feeling a little ridiculous because of course she couldn't see him, "What did you have for dinner?"

Kimberly meanwhile was sitting on the small terrace of her Viennese hotel room, the nightlife echoing close beneath her as the time approached 1am. The show tonight had gone by in a blur, and despite her fatigue, she still found it difficult to fall asleep.

"Veal schnitzel with mashed potatoes and veggies. It's funny, I don't ever really eat veal when I'm home, but when I'm in Europe... " she replied with a laugh.

"That sounds amazing," he awed, "Yeah, I don't know what it is about the meat in Europe but it just... it tastes better,"

"Probably all those deep rolling hills... and butter and salt," she yawned back. The show tonight had gone by in a blur, and despite her fatigue, Kimberly still found it difficult to fall asleep. There was no problem for Maria of course as she slept as soundly as a log in the room.

Namjoon grinned to himself, "Do you wanna' go to sleep?"

"No, no! I'm okay," she assured him, "I wanna' hear about your day,"

"My day hasn't started yet," he chuckled. His voice was soft and quiet and she could pick out the faint blares of passing traffic and external conversations mixed with the hollering of the night's horizon.

"Okay then, tell me what you plan to do today," she decided.

Namjoon counted off the list of to-dos he had to look forward to, studio time, dance rehearsals, an evening workout to blow off some steam and hoping to have some personal time to focus on his album, "The mixing's almost done, and I'm meeting with my artist tomorrow for the final draft of the cover," she could hear his nails tapping across his screen, probably flitting through his schedule.

Her curiosity wandered further as she could only imagine what he could've been spinning in his studio, "Am I still on the mailing list?" she asked, her voice teetering jokingly.

"Are you kidding? You're top of the list, Kimberly," he replied, dimples poking into the sides of his cheeks as he smiled.

"I'm honoured," she awed.

"You're coming to Korea in April, right?"

"End of April, yeah,"

"Well, maybe I'll have enough finished to give you a little preview?"

She laughed bashfully, the sound erupting through his headphones in a way that made Namjoon's heart flutter, "You don't have to do that, Joon,"

"Why? You're no good at keeping secrets?" he cocked a brow as he teased her.

She scoffed back, "On the contrary: I'm very secretive. I used to massacre the others whenever we played Mafia,"

"Mafia?"

"Yeah, you know the party game...?" she tried to muster the words to explain coherently, "One or two people are the quote-on-quote Mafia who kill the villagers at night, and the villagers have to figure out who the Mafia is before they're all killed,"

"Oh, right, right! Well in that case, we have nothing to worry about," he chuckled back.

"Speaking of April, are you still coming to our show?" she asked.

Namjoon tsked back, "You haven't invited me,"

"What?" she chuckled with bemusement.

"You said you were coming to Seoul, that was all," he replied.

"I thought my manager forwarded the details to yours?"

"She did. But you never explicitly invited me,"

Kimberly smiled at his teasing tone, shaking her head to herself as the realization dawned on her, "Kim Namjoon, you are cordially invited to Catch the Caper's show in Seoul this April," she announced, already able to picture his pursing lips as he smirked.

"I'll check my calendar," he replied.

"Well, don't let me twist your arm or anything," she simpered.

He laughed off her comment, shivering and pulling his jacket tighter as the breeze drifted over the river. Namjoon couldn't wait for the seasons to change, longing for the weather's warmth to arrive and unveil the delicate hues of cherry blossoms in vibrant pinks and reds. Spring symbolized the prospect of reuniting with Kimberly—an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, savor moments together, bask in her contagious energy and intellect. He was ready to embrace the idea that if friendship was the extent of what he could have, he would cherish it wholeheartedly.

Kimberly yawned into her fist, the trail of her waining voice floated through the speaker, "You want to go to bed?" Namjoon asked her.

"I guess I should," she sighed, "Amsterdam's tomorrow, and I can't be looking like a demon that crawled out from under the pits of hell,"

"What're you talking about, Kim?" he chuckled back, "You look great without even trying," She could tell he was being genuine in his words but nevertheless, his comment made her laugh.

"You might disagree if you saw me right now," she simpered back.

"I highly doubt that," he replied, his tone confident and soothing.

"I'll talk to you later, Joon," she hummed, "Have a good day,"

"And you get a good sleep. I'll talk to you later,"

With a grin, Namjoon concluded the call with a brief yet sweet goodbye, his heart pulsating with anticipation as April drew closer. He pondered whether he'd be ready to meet her again, if he could resist dissecting every intricate detail about her, and if he could prevent himself from falling even deeper for her.

Separately, Kimberly lingered on the terrace after the call had ended, hesitating to retreat indoors. Uncertainty lingered about, her deep, dark eyes fixed on the empty expanse of the horizon, her heart heavy. She had long acknowledged her fondness for talking with Namjoon, relishing every fragment of him that remained hidden from the world's prying gaze. However, amidst this connection, doubts crept in; she questioned whether she was exploiting him as a captivating distraction, compensating for the attention lacking in her relationship with Darius. Waves of guilt crashed over her, reminding her she should have known better — acknowledging the challenges of long distance and erratic schedules in any relationship she pursued within her rock-n-roll lifestyle. Yet, did that imply being disregarded altogether? And why was someone from an entirely different continent displaying more enthusiasm to converse with her than her own boyfriend?