stories from the city; damon albarn

33-

Four people and their respective teams were flying out of London today. All on the same day. All trying to avoid one another. Even if they were flying out of the same airport.

Damon and his team were flying out via his labels plane.

Ewan and Chloe were using Maxis' Erlich's plane.

And Hans Erlich had his own.

All of their teams were under strict instruction to not let them see one another or interact yet. Not until the show, and even then, they needed to keep them as far away as possible.

They weren't looking for bad press, or a potential lawsuit from another client. There were rumors that Damon had his nose insured for a decent amount. And no one wanted to have to pay for someone's nose job.

So, as they were all in the lot, waiting to board their own planes. They could specks of one another, even though they were all hundreds of feet away from another.

Hans, with his hat, briefcase in hand, talking to his new PA. Chloe and Ewan hastily discussing which tapes they'd brought to listen to. Damon peering over at the two other groups, ignoring what Graham was saying to him.

Finally, the steps went down, and each individual and their party climbed up and onto their plane.

Hans was reading up on Blur. He had all their records with him, a few tabloids, and now his PA was going to tell him everything she'd learned and researched. Good.

"So, they're heavily anti-American media. Anti-America in general. However, they apparently don't like Oasis more. They're in some big feud. The Gallagher's talk shit and they respond." She says

"With Oasis becoming bigger in America, that would explain the motivation for them to come out here and talk with you. Besides the obvious reasons." She says shrugging

"The obvious?" He asks distastefully.

"That Damon is clearly feuding with your sister. They used to go out all the time. In a group or not, with and without his girlfriend. It's all British tabloids were talking about for awhile."

"And?"

"They stopped. All of a sudden it's Damon and Justine again. They're on vacation. And Chloe Erlich started going out with that actor."

"Ewan McGregor." He says softly

"Yep. And now they won't talk to each other. Something happened there. And the speculation is that he's really only doing this show for some revenge fantasy."

"Good thing we have Ewan McGregor coming on.." Hans says

The PA frowns "Doesn't that mean that Chloe would be coming?"

"Not necessarily."

"Well what if she does?"

He hadn't thought about that. The thought of anyone in his family being near him made him squirm. That was the last thing he wanted. He hated all of them. They'd kicked him to the curb because he'd refused the shitty help they'd offered.

They'd banded together and against him, just like they always did. And fuck that. Sure, they shared some blood. But now he could perhaps get some sort of revenge. Maybe he could make her skin squirm the same way she made his.

"I don't care if she does. Just stick her in the front row. Let her see how far gone I am." He mutters, waving the PA off.

He bent over to his journal, beginning to write down what he wanted to say in his show, a few jokes and everything of the sort.

Meanwhile, in Damon's own flight he was dealing with Graham.

"I don't get why Blur had to be pulled into this." He says irritatedly "I don't want to go to fucking America. Or be on the Hans Erlich show. It's stupid Damon."

"Graham, only you wouldn't be able to understand. This helps us get a leg up."

"In what? Because this screams that you're desperate for fucking attention." He says loudly

"How am I desperate for attention? I'm going on a show and talking about us to American viewers." Damon says scoffing

"All of this! This Oasis bullshit, and now you're going on the Hans Erlich show because you'd actually mad someone doesn't want to fuck you!"

"This isn't about sex."

"Of course it isn't. You're just acting like a fucking priss because that's who Damon Albarn is these days."

"Like you aren't? You complain when I tell you to tone down your stupid shit."

"Fuck off. I'm just trying to tell you this is going to look poorly on you."

"Yeah, well. At least I've got Justine."

Graham squints "Until she finally has enough of you. And believe me, that day is going to come."

Damon rolls his eyes.

Sure, he and Justine had their problems, but they were small and easily resolved. They were in love and had been for years. He couldn't think of anyone else he wanted to be with. She was his dream. Well- when it came to the emotional aspects of relationships. His sexual nature was fluid and he drifted from everyone to the next. So he wasn't ever just satisfied with one.

"That's not going to happen." He said slowly "I love Justine. She loves me." He says it sullenly and then adds "Where's your lover Graham? I see you alone all the time."

Graham pushes his glasses up and starts ignoring Damon.

"Come on Coxon, where's your lucky lady at? Because you've got a mouth to run with no one to back you up."

"Shut up."

"Do you store her in your locket? Spool her out? Come on Graham, if you're going to talk about me, take it right back."

Graham laughs "You just sound like a prick now. But yeah, sure."

Perhaps Chloe and Ewan were having the most calm flight compared to everyone else. She was reading, he was listening to music. It was silent. Almost in an eerie way.

"Are you scared?" He asked, pushing words out into the air.

"Maybe." She said "I haven't seen my brother this close in years."

He nods his head, pulling his headphones off. "That's understandable."

"I wish we were in a normal plane." She says out of the blue. "Then we'd be next to one another. Not a row apart."

He snickers a little. "We had regular plane tickets. But thanks to this mess, now we're here."

She rolls her eyes, closing her book and turning to him "Are you nervous? You're doing a lot of press this week."

He shrugs "A little. I think American media is pretty new to me. And you know, my team trying to prepare me for it was a little much."

"You'll do fine."

"Are you sure? This Hans shit seems serious."

Chloe sighs "I don't know what he's going to say or do. I can't say he won't feel bad and lay low. But I'll be watching you, okay? I'll go. And I'll sit there."

"You don't have to-"

"I want to. And let me finish. Just be honest in your interviews. Americans love honesty and good television."

"That's what everyone keeps saying."

"You'll do fine."

"Everyone keeps saying that too."

"Because it's true Ewan. Swear to god."

And with that, the two returned to their own individual activities, waiting for the inevitable end of the flight and for the plane to land, which would leave them trying to navigate New York and the press in front of them.