If you gave me a fresh carnation I would only crush its tender petals.
About
1988. Burnage, Manchester. Music. Drugs. Rough Trade. Money. It seems like everything in Noel's life is wrapped up in all these things, ever which way. Every person, too. Noel and his baby sister were dead in the water before they ever had a chance. Question is, is this a love story or a tragedy?
Characters
5'8 Brit-Irish man, thin build, skinny, hairy, thick dark eyebrows, dark brown shaggy shoulder length hair with fringe, tired blue eyes, hooked nose, forever pout, stoic, emotionally closed off, can be charming, sociable, uses people, drinker/smoker/drug user, works as a roadie/dealer/hooligan diplomat, plays guitar/writes music, loves classic Brit-Rock, bisexual, queer, slag, sleeps around, ex-rentboy, rude, blunt, egotistical, self serving, territorial, used to be beaten by estranged father, generally nonviolent, scrappy, manages/pimps Lyla, unhealthily attached to his younger sister, raising younger sister, deeply envious of Lyla's beauty, controlling, vers switch, dysfunctional, has a secret understanding/physical relationship with Lyla, in love with Lyla but in denial, Man City FC fan, 21
Paul Arthur 'Bonehead' - 5'7 Brit-Irish man, Manc, average build, thick eyebrows dark thin hair, kind eyes, lad's lad, voice of reason when not off his head, empathetic, good mates with both the Gallagher kids but best mates with Lyla as they were in the same class, Manchester United fan, classic brit-rock enjoyer, plays guitar for local bands sometimes, drinker/smoker, does some drugs casually, on the dole, keeps an eye out/checks in on Lyla when she's working, works under Noel, better brother figure for Lyla than Noel, 18
6'0 Brit man, 32, brown eyes, shaggy long brown hair, scruffy, slim fit build, used to have a local band in Manchester, excellent guitar player, works as a higher up in drug trade this side of Manchester, used to mentor/is idolized by Noel, cares for Noel, is deeply loathed by a jealous Lyla, apathetic towards Lyla but attracted to her, sees Damon like a son, disconnected from but runs street life, lives in nice house in the city with young wife and babies, is often used for advice, arrogant, antagonistic if provoked, deeply intimidating to enemies, father figure kinda
6'0" British man, shaggy dirty blond hair, average fit build, bright blue eyes, pretty boy, handsome, musician, dramatic, odd, stylish, artistic, creative, posh, confident, intelligent, egotistical, soft spoken, energetic, flirty, promiscuous, amorous, thoughtful, drinker/smoker, pompous, socially/politically aware, Londoner, open minded, probably bisexual, empathetic, depressive, disgrace of rich family, living on his own in Manchester with allowance from parents after a stint in rehab, relapsing, heroin/pill user, only child, struggles with substance abuse and mental health troubles, uses parents money to sponsor Weller's trade, thinks Noel Gallagher could be an intellectual equal but he's not worth the time of day, quite enamored with Lyla and considers her a kindred spirit, hooks up with Lyla, 20
Intro
Life in the scruffier parts of Manchester is pretty rubbish. Anyone who lived there knew so. Especially the youth. Living under grey council skies with nowt to do but work some labor job or rot on the dole kills the spirit. That's why every young person turned to the vices available. Drink, drugs, music, shags, whatever. Only thing was, the way things were, most of them cost money. And nearly nobody around wanted to break their backs like their folks in a 9-5. So, some people found shadier alternatives.
People knew Noel Gallagher as a dealer. Knew him not for his physical power or nowt. But his connections. Diplomacy. Selling quality. Noel could sell anyone anything. Noel could ease tensions with one conversation. Noel could get into people's heads and make them do what work needed doing without lifting a finger. These skills made him a valuable asset to his local scene, his side of Manchester. And as such, kept him paid and protected. Which was good, seeing as he needed the money. Needing it to upkeep himself, as well as his younger sister Lyla.
Their father, a mean old heavy handed drunk, was an absent father even before he left them for Ireland. That said, most of the time they were skint for necessities and cash often. Noel, being the big brother 'Man of the house' picked up the slack much younger than he should've ever. And since no honest jobs like hiring scrawny teenagers, he naturally turned to the streets. Plain dealing, at first. Being a drug runner for older blokes, a young face likely not to get stopped by a cop. Trustworthy, silk tongued. A booster and bootlegger at times. And sometimes when the times were desperate enough, he moonlighted as a rentboy. This to say, Noel knew the ins and out of crime living. And he taught it all to Lyla when he felt she was ready.
They were all the other had, really. Absent father, dead mam, rest her soul. Noel had to bring up Lyla on his own from 17 on. Hard work for a droupout lad with low hiring skill nor experience, and a bad attitude. They had little money back then. Till he got into this street business. And, until he got Lyla into it, in her own way, when he thought she was old enough. Just a way to make ends meet, he'd say. Keep them afloat. When really, his motivation was to have another pawn in the game. A pretty, high selling pawn. Noel Gallagher's little sister. Noel Gallagher with a pretty face. Noel Gallagher's.
Mad it was, all of it. Noel weren't a kingpin, but he was a valued cog in the machine. And that value took care of him and Lyla alike.
Release Date 2026.07.28 / Last Updated 2026.08.16