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On his giant LoveSac crimson pillow, sprawled out in his Calvin Klein boxer briefs, Damon had his left arm over his eyes in defeat. His unreasonably large master closet that sported the colors of black, white, and red, was the primary home for his large collection of sunglasses and sneakers. He had to get away from the attached room of his closet, where his clothes resided in. His clothes that once were neatly folded or on a hanger in a specific place, color coordinated, was now completely on the floor, and looked like vomit. 

What had he done?  

Originally, his goal was to find a decent disguise for the town hall meeting, so no one would jump him, but it was turning out to be quite the chore. The downside of fame and not being the most liked in a beautiful city, amiright? Sighing to himself, he tuned out the [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxuFnyjKISI]rap song[/url] to focus on the matter at hand. The sooner he solved this dilemma, the better off he'd be. Unfortunately, he was useless without his [url=https://imgur.com/Ha35Qjh]publicist[/url], Sylvester "Sly" Sullivan, who also took care of his wardrobe and make up. That fucker went on vacation, like it was OKAY to take a break from HIM. On top of that, he took Damon's ageless [s]nanny[/s] [url=https://imgur.com/w3GJpmV]mentor[/url], Rocco Gray (or just Mr. Gray), with him! They've been gone for almost a month now and he was absolutely [i]hopeless[/i] without them. 

It's all [url=https://imgur.com/5wwRkIw]Creed[/url]'s fault for allowing them some downtime, like how Damon's been allowed some downtime to produce material he cares about. So far, six months of downtime. Like, who did Creed think he was? Calling all the shots? It was like he was his manager or something! (He was). Scoffing to himself, Damon turned to his side and stared at his large wall of shoes. His eyes zoned in on his [url=https://list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/oregon-ducks.jpg]Air Jordan 5 Oregon Ducks[/url]. He hadn't worn those in awhile. Actually, the last time he wore those was when he met... 

Lily. 
[hr][right][sup]Collab with [@The Muse][/sup][/right][indent][color=lightgray]Having slipped away from the trio of DOOM, the ones that kept tabs on him for his father — Sly, Gray, and worst of all, Creed — DDay, with a fitted cap on, a hoodie over his head, aviators on his face, and a cool 'I'm normal' demeanor, found himself in a place of unrestrained joy. They were only passing by, since Damon had a concert the next day in Portland. His tour bus was on the outskirts somewhere and his excuse was: [color=B42020][i]I need to stretch my legs.[/i][/color] Surprisingly, they bought it, when really, he was just bored.  

Where were they again? He turned to see a large banner hanging from the balcony of the town hall, [b]Emerald-festopia! Welcome to Emerald City![/b] His feet had a mind of their own, as he walked through a crowd of people in costume that reminded him of a summer garden. Was it...? It was October, wasn't it? On top of this town being a gardener's paradise, with the most gorgeous and well taken care of plants, the people were spirited and full of revelry, like this was their world, away from everything else. Their little nook within this place we called America. While yes, this festival had Halloween themes, it was more focused on the culture and the people. There were flickering candles, a market dedicated to local businesses and spices, children with elaborate face paints as woodland sprites, nymphs, and other fantastical creatures, and a wave of music that reminded him of a street party, with performers of every type. Jugglers, magicians, and even artisans. 

To say the celebrity was a child discovering cake for the first time was an understatement. His life was flashy and one would think he would've seen something just as beautiful as this, but he hadn't. With intrigue and excitement, he strode toward the stand where there was an old lady yelling, [b]"Marionberry pie! Free Marionberry pie! Berries straight from Oakley ranch!"[/b]

[color=B42020]"Free?"[/color] The concept of free pie being offered at an event that looked like it could make a lot of money off their townspeople baffled the idol. 

[b]"Of course, boy! We always give out free pie."[/b] The stranger welcomed him with a gleaming, warm smile and started cutting him two slices, knowing very well he wasn't from here, [b]"Sweetie, you need to eat more. Doesn't your mother feed you? Too much muscle, not enough fat!"[/b]

[color=B42020]"...my mother?"[/color] Before he knew it, he had a paper plate in his hand and a plastic spork. People stepped in front of him to get some pie for themselves, and in response, he stepped back, to give them space. Turning on his heel to see a cellist go on the platform stage to perform, he giddily stabbed the pie and shoved a piece in his trap. 

This was fucking delicious.  

[color=IndianRed]"Logan, NO! Don’t you DARE! NO!"[/color] 

Like a flash of lightning, a petite raven haired girl sprinted from her group of friends and into the crowd. She weaved and bobbed around people, trying desperately to get away from her pursuer; a young blue haired boy holding out a piece of Marionberry pie. 

[color=PowderBlue]"Come on, Lil! I think the red will match your skin tone!”[/color]

[color=IndianRed]"NOOO! eeEEEEEE!!!!"[/color] She squealed in a high pitched tone as he got closer to smashing the pie in her face and decided to take a sharp right turn, carelessly. 

[i]SMACK.[/i]

The girl crashed right into a man wearing a hoodie and aviators. 

[color=IndianRed]"Oh Shit-"[/color] Before she could do anything, the plate the man was holding went flying and landed partially on his seemingly brand new shoes. 

The blue haired kid froze in his tracks, mouth agape for a brief moment before he burst out laughing and took off, wanting nothing to do with the situation. The raven haired girl had been left to die.  

[color=IndianRed]"I-”[/color] Her face flushed as she examined the strangers face for any sort of anger, [color=IndianRed]"I am SO sorry, sir."[/color] She frantically turned to gather napkins from the nearby pie stand. Quickly, she bent down and began wiping off his shoes, though it didn’t seem to help the red stain very much. The berries had already done their damage… 

She looked up at him, her blue-green eyes finally taking a moment to notice whether or not she knew this person. With a sinking feeling, she recognized exactly who this person was. Damon-Fucking-DAY!!! What was he doing in Emerald City?! And why was he, not so successfully, trying to hide his beautiful face? 

Luckily she had always been quick on her feet, and figured she shouldn’t make a big deal out of it. Clearly, he did not want to be recognized here. Instead of fan-girling out over him, she flashed him her classic charismatic smile. 

[color=IndianRed]"You know, I don’t usually get on my knees on the first date. Consider yourself lucky.”[/color] She winked, hoping to god that this would lighten up the situation. Please, PLEASE don’t let Damon Day be as big of a diva as he seemed from the outside…

Stunned. These shoes were… eight thousand dollars. It wasn’t like he shat out money! He had to EARN it. Still, everything happened so fast. From the little dude running around with good-fucking pie in his hands, aiming to waste it (SIN), to the [i]aesthetically pleasing[/i] woman bending to clean his Jordans. Should he be upset? Or should he just chill? Like it wasn’t a big deal? 

Damon stared at her and then his shoes then back at her…. she was hella’ pretty and as much as he loved being extra, she didn’t deserve his petty wrath (keep in mind, his shoes were his life). Even so, DDay was more upset his pie was no longer edible. Like, why? Why did it have to go and fall? Money could clean his shoes later. Maybe. Those were some deep stains, though. But to reverse the fall of his first pie from Emerald City? That was unsalvageable. 

Forfeiting the issue, deciding to be a grown man about the situation, his mismatched gaze examined her fair face, before smirking, [color=B42020]"Yeah, you right. I am lucky, ‘cuz I didn’t think angels could get so low.”[/color] The idol was [i]obviously[/i] in a playful mode, even if he was trying to be ‘mature’. What could he say! He enjoyed this small flirt banter they had going on... [color=B42020]"But you know what isn’t lucky? Not finishing my pie!”[/color] Priorities, man. Even celebrities had them. So much for flirting.  

She giggled at his response, a wave of relief passed through her entire body. [color=IndianRed]"Wow, aren’t you Mr. Smooth?”[/color] She stood and tossed the napkins before meeting his gaze again. 

[color=IndianRed]"I’m really sorry.”[/color] Her bottom lip pouted, [color=IndianRed]"How about this? I’ll buy you a new one, on the house! Oh no, don’t get out your wallet. This one is on me, for sure.”[/color] She grinned at him, knowing full well that the pies were handed out for free every year. [color=IndianRed]"Maggie,”[/color] She turned to address the old woman who was handing out the pies, [color=IndianRed]"One more pie for my friend here, pretty please.”[/color]

Maggie, of course, had been gracious and handed them both plates. [color=IndianRed]"There we go! All better?”[/color] She avoided looking at his shoes. Hopefully he had chosen his… least favorite for the day? He had to have more than just this pair… what were the odds? 

[color=IndianRed]"I’m sorry for being such a clutz… thanks for being cool. I’m Lily,”[/color] She reached out a hand to shake his, [color=IndianRed]"... and you are?”[/color] She had decided that playing dumb was best for now. Plus, Lillian was curious if he had a backup “name” for cases like this. Would he be honest or lie to her? 

Damon wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box and if he didn’t have a pep talk with Creed prior, which he didn’t, he would’ve been more prepared! In addition, he’d been traveling all day, so his brain was [i]fried[/i]. Never one to be able to sleep in a moving vehicle. Anyways, it seemed [i]safe[/i] to say his name. She didn’t [i]seem[/i] to know him. Maybe he should give his middle name? No one of insignificance knew his middle name. Why was he even worried about this? She was the only one listening to him. So what if she did know him? What would she do? Jump on him like all his other fangirls? Yes… probably. He felt like he was between a rock and a hard place and he didn’t have his voice of reason telling him exactly what to do. He was a music genius! Not a people genius! Deciding the best route was honesty, he smiled wildly, cheesing and showing his pearly whites, all the while grabbing her dainty hand,  [color=B42020]"Damon. My name is Damon. Actually, I’m, uh…”[/color] Words. WORDS.  [color=B42020]"A big deal.”[/color] Clever. He released her hand and as an anxious tick, he adjusted his cap. 

Lillian giggled again, fighting an eye-roll. [color=IndianRed]"I’m impressed, Mr. Smooth. I didn’t think you would be honest with me. Props, even though I’m not so sure about how smooth you are anymore after that.”[/color] She nudged him with her elbow playfully, as if they had been friends for ages. 

[color=IndianRed]"I suppose it’s my turn to be honest.”[/color] She leaned in close to his face and lowered her voice to a whisper, [color=IndianRed]”I knew it was you aaaalll along.”[/color] She giggled again and pulled back, smiling at him in triumph. [color=IndianRed]"Well… not... [i]all[/i] along… I mean, I didn’t .. run into you on purpose…nothing like that!”[/color] Great, now she too had lost her charisma and even managed to make herself sound like a stalker fan. “[i]Distract, Lily! Distract![/i]” Her father's coaching on public speaking came to mind. While it was a last ditch effort, she knew that moving on to the next topic was best when she stuttered or said something incorrect.

[color=IndianRed]"I hope you’re enjoying Emerald City. It’s a beautiful place to be and I’m really glad you’re here, Damon.”[/color] 

Just like she wanted, Damon overlooked her fangirl moment, actually appreciating the fact that she treated him like a normal person. If he noticed one thing about this hidden gem, it really was a beautiful place where everyone seemed so accepting on the surface, especially Lily, [color=B42020]"Me too, Angel. It’s a nice change of pace and honestly? I’d rather be here than LA.”[/color] His “home” back in Cali was barren and empty. His father was rarely home, he never knew his mother, and he had three men, not related by blood, raise him most of his life. LA was… different than this city. Or maybe, it was more him than anything. 

For the first time, in a long time, he felt a fuzzy feeling. He was dazzled by the city and although he wasn’t aware of it this exact moment, when he looked at the festival and the hope in Lily’s eyes, he could feel himself being drawn in, like a bug attracted to a lamp.[/color]
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[hr]
Jumping off the LoveSac, Damon came to the decision of what he should wear. He’d be damned if he couldn’t get in the town hall meeting! Lily was his first friend and the main reason he decided to take a much needed break for his creativity. Knowing what could've happen to her was his only agenda of the day. His music could wait. How could he live with himself if he went on without finding out more? She gave him hope for a better tomorrow, a less lonely tomorrow, so he had to believe she was okay. He had to do whatever he could, anything in his power, to make sure she was safe. She had to be safe. She had to be alive.  Quickly, he ran into his clothing room, disappearing into the jungle, feeling the sting of fear from losing one of the main female figures in his life. He didn't have many. 

Ten minutes later, Creed knocked on the door and welcomed himself in Damon's closet, [color=778899]"You need to eat, Atlas."[/color] In Damon's home, he had his staff call him by his middle name because it helped bring him back down to Earth. It made him feel normal, like he wasn't made into a money making musician as a child. Part of why he kept it a secret to the public was to keep it special. He could tell who he trusted and they could choose to call him that, or the name everyone knows him by. 

[color=B42020]"I know, I know, I know. But more importantly, how do I [url=https://imgur.com/SOZcJJ0]look[/url]???"[/color]

DDay's agent silently observed his responsibility, who wore an outfit straight out of Gray's wardrobe. [color=778899]"He's going to kill you."[/color]

[color=B42020]"That doesn't answer my question!"[/color] Rolling his eyes, the idol continued to fix his sleeves. 

Crossing his arms, leaning his body on a pillar, Creed nodded, actually surprised that Damon's disguise wasn't a complete give away, [color=778899]"Different."[/color] The sleeked hair was a nice touch, since DDay never did anything with his unruly hair. 

[color=B42020]"And one last thing!"[/color] He grabbed his Ray Ban sunglasses, nice and black, with a noticeable reflective feature, and smoothly put it on. [color=B42020]"Killen' it! Wait, I need sneaks..."[/color]

Swiftly and with intimidating ease, Creed swiped the idol's hand from reaching for one of his obnoxiously bright sneaks, [color=778899]"Glasses, sure."[/color] Though he thought those particular glasses made the young man peculiar, Creed wasn't going to kill all his joy (yet),  [color=778899]"Your shoes, however? Formal."[/color]

Damon scoffed and grumbled. [color=B42020]"Fine. For Angel. I will. [sub]I hate these shoes.[/sub]"[/color]