Take That Adorableness, and a Short Howard/Jason Pic Spam

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Last week, I ended up devouring Gary Barlow's autobiography in record time. (Yes, I've gone completely overboard on the Take That thing. Let's just accept that and move on.) Gary's story is a fascinating one - halotolerant has pointed out it's a perfect classical narrative, going from success and hubris to nemesis to redemption,- but what's even better for my money is the glimpses it offers of the emotional life of the band.

The moment in the book I keep coming back to, over and over, is one that takes place after their reunion press conference, and focuses on Howard and Jason, who seem to have become my fave Take That RPS pairing:

We came off stage, did a few one-to-one interviews and then went backstage to our room. Suddenly the security guys began clearing everyone out of our room – Howard was on his knees, crying, he was overwhelmed by it all. Jay sat hugging him, looking white as a ghost, and Mark, who had seemed the least fazed by the press, looked as worried as I felt.

Wow. I mean… just wow.

Three sentences, but there's so much there. Howard losing it, and Jay protecting him. Mark and Gary worrying over them. And the security guys, who've mostly been with them all from the start, since they were kids, instinctively acting to protect them all. Can I hear a big Awwwww.

Pretty much all of my slash pairings up until now have been stoic secret agent types. If I read, let alone wrote, a story with one of 'em weeping in his partner's arms, I'd consider it way over the top. But with these guys, it's actually happened. And it's incredibly sweet.

I don't think I'm going to lose my taste for the stoic ones, but I have to say, having guys be this out in the open about their emotions, and about looking after each other, is actually kind of refreshing.

In celebration of my discovery of Howard/Jason, here are a few pics of their awesomeness, roughly in order of increasing slashiness.

During the Beautiful World tour, clearly having a ball and enjoying being close to each other.


They just look like they're having too much fun here. And they're wonderfully scruffy, which is always a good thing, IMO. *g*


Jason hugging Howard backstage during the Beautiful World tour. This is during the period where Howard couldn't perform because he'd broken a rib on stage and given himself a pneumothorax, so he spends each concert making notes for the other blokes, and being all proud of Jason doing a solo song. (Real life h/c! How can I resist!)


I can't entirely explain why, but I just love this pic. I think it's the ease they clearly have around each other.


I'm trying to explain this without the slash. Trying, and failing I might add. Oh, boys. *g*


This is the pic I took my icon from, because it's just adorable. And as a bonus, it puts me in mind of Halo's utterly awesome story, The Insomnia Decades, where Jay falling asleep on Howard's shoulder is a key plot point.

Comments

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Have watched them all now, and nearly died from the loveliness.

The Italian interview is really nice, because you get good, thoughtful answers from both of them, and that doesn't usually happen so much with the other three around. (Okay, Jason almost always manages a thoughtful answer in there, but Howard doesn't so much.) I think Howard & Jason should always do interviews on their own. *g*

I have indeed seen the MSN interview before. Several times. But I took the chance to watch it again because it is adorable. And yeah, I bet Howard did give Rob a bit of a slap after that, of the "keep your mitts off my man" variety.

The Copenhagen press conference is full of interesting stuff, quite apart from Howard grooming Jay's beard. Definitely an old married couple. (I saw the gif of that moment on your LJ, but it's fun to see the whole thing.) I have to admit this also made me even more fond of Mark. He's so supportive of everyone in the interviews.

As for the last one, awwwwww. Jason wants to go back with Howard!

I've got an hour to myself and hope to spend some of it on the WW I fic. Wish me luck.

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Very happy to hear that! *g*

They most definetely should! In fact, I miss them a bit - it's usually Rob and Gary in focus these days, but, well, that's due to Rob being back, so - okay. What I especially love in this interview is Jason's "long winded answer" about Robbie being his hero - he gets so frustrated with himself and his long winded answer (bless him!), but Howard just sits there on the sofa with him and doesn't mind at all. *happy sigh*

Mark is especially lovable in that press conference! Well, he always is! Have you noticed how shattered he is when he walks in, he walks as if he had a bad back, but the moment Rob starts playing around, he lights up and joins him! And the whole press conference is another example of how polite and patient and decent they are - seriously, really they get the same question over and over again but they don't get tired of finding new ways to answer them.

He so desperately wants to say this, it's adorable! And I just love the way Rob is supportive here, noticing he wants to say something and immediately trying to supply him with a microphone, awwww!

Now I hope you had a wonderful hour to yourself - and I really mean I hope you had a good hour, regardless whether you wrote fic or not! *g*

If you have a little spare time, you reallyreally need to watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJOa0JWpAVc
They're in Japan supporting BW and this is not just an example of how much fun they have together, a wonderful random Jason-moment ("heated toilet seats" is all I'm saying) and Gary doing something very nasty. ;) And it shows what kind of weird things they have to do - they sit in this glass cubicle, watched from all sides, a hectical Japanese DJ - I'd have gone insane there, but they stay calm and carry on. You can only imagine the fun they're having later on, all together in a hotel room, laughing and giggling....

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Jason's long-winded answer about Rob is a really wonderful moment. And it's also very interesting, given the way the two of them very much didn't get along back in the day. (I think it's in For the Record where Rob talks about how much he enjoyed winding up Jay back in the day. And that Jay would always take the bait.) It's really kind of nice that now, as adults, they can appreciate each other.

I hadn't noticed how shattered Mark looks at the start of the Copenhagen footage, but you're right, he does. And more than usual. I've noticed in general that lately when he's not "on", not performing whether for an audience or an interviewer, Mark's posture is really turned in on itself, with his shoulders hunched in. (This is really noticeable in parts of LBDS, especially in the studio bits.) What I most adore about him here, though, is how he charges the press to look after the X Factor winners, and stands up to Robbie's flippant "Unless they're shit" response.

I did get some more writing done, mostly futzing with Rob's POV. (In the two stories I've written, it's always Rob's POV that I find the hardest to get.) I've just got one scene, from Jason's POV left to go, but I'm going to have to do a bit of research to pull it off.

That Japanese interview is...nutty! There is no other word for it. Howard is clearly having a grand time waving at fans. And they do just take it all with remarkable good grace.

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It's really kind of nice that now, as adults, they can appreciate each other. Amen! I have just read "You Know Me" and as Rob puts it, part of it was, that he felt Jason didn't take him seriously, treated him like a little brother and he wanted to be a big boy. There's a picture of him after he's shaved his head and he comments that Jason afterwards said "I never noticed what a pretty face you have" and Rob says he absolutely HATED that, he didn't want to be "pretty", and that Jason knew it was the worst he could say. (Little bit of revenge there, obviously.) There's lots and lots of this stuff, don't get me started or I'll go on forever... ;) Actually for me their relationship is the most interesting one, not so much slash-wise, but I find all this repressed stuff more interesting than the obvious Gary/Robbie-who's-more-succesful-duel.

And Mark - I wasn't surprised to see him like this in LBDS. Especially after his rehab...I thought it must be so hard for him to step out into the public again - regardless of what he's done, and that he has to deal with the consequences, it still must be so scary to step out there again and face the world and the press. It was very very obvious during the tour-announcement-press-conference where he was literally trying to hide behing the microphone and looking so very tired and edgy. What I most adore about him here, though, is how he charges the press to look after the X Factor winners, and stands up to Robbie's flippant "Unless they're shit" response. Awwww, bless him! I completely second that!

Rob's POV. *sighs* Difficult, isn't it? Even more difficult than Jay's POVs. *g* With Jason you only have 300 different angles of approaching a thought - with Rob you've got those but they're on uppers. ;D

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Oh, I hadn't heard about You Know Me. Would you recommend it?

Based on For the Record, it's obvious the glee Robbie took in winding up Jason. It's only fair that Jason got back his own once in a while. Though it is nice they've got beyond that now.

There's lots and lots of this stuff, don't get me started or I'll go on forever... ;)

I don't think I'd complain. *g*

You're right that Jason and Robbie is an extremely interesting relationship, though, yeah, not slash-wise. But then, TT is honestly just full of interesting relationships and extremely interesting history. That is a good chunk of why I've fallen for them so hard, so fast.

I thought it must be so hard for him to step out into the public again - regardless of what he's done, and that he has to deal with the consequences, it still must be so scary to step out there again and face the world and the press.

Absolutely. I remember hitting the articles about him going into rehab and the revelations about him cheating on Emma, and thinking that it must be horrible to have the sort of life where you have to have a press conference to reveal that sort of stuff. But he also seems such a likable person, in general, that it seems the press are at least a bit more respectful of him than they might be.

As for POV, I actually kind of enjoy writing Jason's POV. Him and Howard seem to come easiest to me. (Hmmm, what does that say about me. *g*)

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Would I recommend it? Yes and no - *g* - yes, because it contains lots of pretty pictures and lots of Rob's wisdom (and all of it after making it up with the lads!). If you can't stand a whole book of Rob alone, I wouldn't recommend it. ;) And me personally, I love hearing the stories from "behind the pics" (I also love and highly recommend the 2009-TT-books). But I know some people hate to have their favourite pictures spoilt by too much information (you know, you think "ooooh, he looks soooooo happy and healthy in that pic" and then the pictured person reveals "I was so hang-overed that day I felt like puking all the time"?)

Jason and Robbie - a long story of misunderstanding. I love how they are now genuinely surprised by how much they've got in common. Have you seen this interview on Italian radio? "We both haven't slept since 1993"? Very revealing and absolutely adorable! And their little banter about chicken soup and cigarettes?
I've just recently re-watched LBDS again and there's this part where they are talking about how they saw each other during the wilderness years. Jason explains how he was always wondering whether Rob really had developed this huge ego, or if he was just "playing" biggest popstar ever and enjoyed getting away with it. And they remember a time where they met and Rob says "you've got an ego too, you know?" I think Jason was pretty surprised by that, he'd never think he might ever be worthy of anyone's envy. But in fact, he was - Gary says so in his book, and there's a part in "Feel", a conversation between Mark and Rob (when they met in Knebworth), where they remember that all the "little" girls fancied them, but the "real" women never took any notice of them, but only had eyes for Jason. Understandably, back then, if you were a 25-year-old model/actress/TV-presenter, it's unlikely you'd have been interested in one of the kids, would you? *g* See? You got me started...*sighs*

But he also seems such a likable person, in general, that it seems the press are at least a bit more respectful of him than they might be.
Most definitely! Around the same time a couple of English footballers were in the news for very much the same reasons, and they didn't get the same kind of "treatment". Have to say, though, that Mark's move to take responsibility for his actions and and put all his energy into going into rehab instead of trying to deny everything or cover it up in silly lies, will also have helped him. I remember my sister saying around that time "now he can prove that he's not just a dumb asshole but the really good person we all assume he is". I like to think he's on his way! :)

Him and Howard seem to come easiest to me. (Hmmm, what does that say about me.
Same for me, so I'm guessing it says only good things about you! *g*

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Sounds like I'd probably enjoy You Know Me, but I think I'll make the 2009 books my next priority, but look at getting Rob's book some time later.

That Italian interview sounds intriguing. I know Jason talked about his insomnia in For the Record. (I adore Halo's insomnia story.) He you got a link to it?

Rob and Jason getting to know each other as adults really is quite lovely.

there's a part in "Feel", a conversation between Mark and Rob (when they met in Knebworth), where they remember that all the "little" girls fancied them, but the "real" women never took any notice of them,

I think it's taken them all being a bit older for me to be at all interested in them. I've always liked men with a bit more mileage on them. Back in the day, I think I would have found them all a bit young. Mind you, I saw Robbie in '98 the one time he played Toronto, and he was definitely not too young for me then. *g*

See? You got me started...*sighs*

And that's a good thing!

And yes, in spite of Mark's bad behaviour, he did have the decency to own up to it. And you'd hope he would. He does just seem like an honestly nice person, and working at being better.

Same for me

You are clearly a woman of discernment. *g*

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The 2009 books are definitely a must-have! And I'm not just saying that because there are more pictures than text in these, no no! *fails at faking firm serious facial expression*

Here's the link to the Italian interview, I think I've been responsible for 80 % of the hits. :)
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViTEBeOzXds
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hs6ZGP6ZI&feature=related
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UraAcQDpw6U&feature=related
What I especially love are the little moments the camera captures one of them and they seem to kind of forgotten that there's a camera there. Is it very sick to squee because Rob yawns his heart out? (I'm there with you! I ADORE The Insomnia Years! It's one of the stories I wish I had written. Or I wish I was ABLE to have written.)

Back in the day, I think I would have found them all a bit young.
:) Back in the day I basically thought they were seriously uncool. All that synchronized dancing and the cheesy music - I never really took a look at them until shortly before they broke up. (It was only then my friends and I realized that we really should have liked them, since they were going to be the last boyband older than us (Rob is "our" age, he's 3 months younger than me). But we were too busy being cool and loving Radiohead, Blur and The Smashing Pumpkins, silly us! ;) That's the nice thing about ageing: I can love whatever band I want to.

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I was just thinking of ordering the books when I heard there's likely going to be a mail strike in the next few days. Nooooo! (And I've got the Greatest Day and How the Mighty Fall CDs on the way to me right now!)

I've only had time to watch the first bit of the Italian interview, but it's brilliant. I love Jason and Robbie snarking over the soup and cigs.

I ADORE The Insomnia Years! It's one of the stories I wish I had written. Or I wish I was ABLE to have written.

I'm with you there. It's also the story, along with Still Waters, that convinced me I really wanted to write TT, even if I didn't have a hope of being as good as Halo. (BTW, your Our Lives Would Have Meaning is another story I come back to again and again, so bravo!)

If I'd even heard of them back in the day, I would have found them uncool as well. I was also doing the BritPop thing back then: Pulp and Blur and Oasis, not to mention Nick Cave and Nirvana. Plus, I'm older than them all-three years older than Howard!--so they would have been babies to me back then. But I can now appreciate that they have a lot in common with the over-produced pop and new wave I adored as a teenager--Duran Duran and a-ha chief amongst them--and can embrace them fully. And while I never really gave a rat's arse what anyone thought of my musical taste (which even as a teenager was full of odd bands and enthusiasms) now that I'm older I really don't care what anyone else thinks.

That's the nice thing about ageing: I can love whatever band I want to.

Yes!

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Oh noes! Why are they always on strike when you're expecting important stuff?!? *crosses fingers for safe delivery* And you are going to LOVE both albums! *g*

BTW, your Our Lives Would Have Meaning is another story I come back to again and again, so bravo!
Like seriously?? You've got no idea, how happy that makes me! *does happy dance and shakes hips sillily*

which even as a teenager was full of odd bands and enthusiasms
Hehe! I have three older sisters, so my muscial influences were a veeeeeery strange mix of Bruce Springsteen and Queen (sis #1), Duran Duran, Wham! and Spandau Ballett (sis #3) and The Police, Fischer Z, The Smiths, Adam Ant, Madness and Leonard Cohen from sis #3. I added Chicago (Peter Cetera was my first celebrity crush, would you believe?) to that when I was 12 and a-ha when I was 13 or 14. If you add all that - Take That are not a choice I've taken but the sum of all the weirdness in my musical education! I can't be blamed! *g*

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Greatest Day arrived this morning, so at least I've got that. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that How the Mighty Fall arrives before the strike kicks off.

Like seriously?? You've got no idea, how happy that makes me!

Seriously! And my next project, after the convention I'm going to next week, is to collect all the parts and turn it into a file my iPod will like so I can read it whenever I like.

Clearly, I would have got on fine with your sisters. I loved a lot of those bands, especially The Police. Add in The Who and Yes, and you've got my high school years. And yes, add all that lovely stuff together, and an affection for Take That was inevitable. For both of us! *g*