stories from the city; damon albarn

67-

Damon Albarn had seemed unusually peppy as he pounced around backstage after his latest Gorillaz show. He didn't even seem to mind the social media team for the band filming everyone in the room. Covered in sweat, the man watched as his daughter interacted with her friends calmly before having a few conversations with the various friends and family in the room.

When Chloe had pushed into the room, she'd still had her camera around her neck. She'd switched to a digital canon for this show- instead of her more traditional film based roots. But she'd wanted quick results, as the social media team for Gorillaz was always wanting fast and easy uploads.

"What's the Chloe Erlich process like?" An intern asked, meagerly getting content for the band's instagram or archives.

"I like getting down and gritty. I rarely do shoots. I prefer candid shots which is why I prefer doing band photography. And when you have a history with a performer like Damon, it's much easier to get the job done."

"What makes shooting Gorillaz shows so intriguing?"

"There's always so much to pay attention to. From the visuals on the screens to the physical band and performers, to the chance that special guests are going to pop out. It's a never ending fun hole."

"What's the most dangerous thing you've done for a shot?"

She pauses to think "I've climbed up the railing of stages before. Think Eddie Vedder in the 90's but one handed, with a camera in one hand."

"Not the barricade?"

"Everyone shoots down at the barricade these days." Damon says, sliding in gently and sitting down besides Chloe, his eyes moving over to the screen of her camera, as she pressed the smooth buttons and slid through the photos from the show.

"I like that one." He says motioning to a shot taken early on in the show, where he'd been jumping around.

"That's what I mean by a history with Damon, some people call him an eccentric performer- but I think I'm used to it." She says grinning "I've seen him do this since Blur. God bless his knees."

"For various reasons." He slides in with a cheeky smile.

The intern stalks off shortly after to grab a few quotes from Jamie Hewlett who'd been in attendance at the show tonight, leaving Damon and Chloe alone- surrounded by many.

"What'd you think?" He asks curiously

"You still know how to control a room."

"Control?" He says grinning

"You capture the rooms attention. That's all I meant. You know it."

"Course I do." He leans in and gives her a brief kiss before pulling away and pushing a few strands of her hair back.

"Calm down old man." She murmurs softly "I still have a job to do. I'm on the clock."

"I'll pay you double to get off."

"Cheeky bastard!" The duo hear a familiar voice say, the voice of course belonging to Jamie Hewlett, who had managed to escape the clutches of the videographer and social media intern once more.

"If you can't keep him in line, god save us." Jamie mutters, clapping a hand on Chloe's back before saying "He's been getting a little wild, don't you think?"

"The fans all like it." Damon says shrugging

"Even more when you hit their joints." Chloe teases

"Not sure if that's a good move."

"He looks fit when he does it though."

Jamie rolls his eyes "You two sound like children. Speaking of which, where are yours? I brought mine."

"Visiting their dad, Obi-Wan started filming."

Damon snickers "Think it'll be better than the prequels?"

"They weren't that bad. He's a good actor."

"I wasn't doubting his acting, I'm doubting his ability to find a good contract."

Chloe rolls her eyes this time, and then sighs "Where's your kin?" She asks

"Missy? She's off being Missy."

"Stellar answer." And with that, Jamie has walked off, beginning to talk up a different member of the room.

Damon's eyes linger on Chloe for a little longer before grabbing one of her hands and pressing a kiss to the top of her hand and then letting one of his hands glide all the way up. Her skin shivering.

"You know what I'm thinking?" He raises an eyebrow

"Aren't we supposed-"

"Fuck that."

His eyes run over in the direction of the dressing rooms. "We've got time. Plenty of it."

"Fine."

The two were off, dashing off like the children they acted like and into the dressing room. Locking the door, of course. They weren't complete animals. Yet.

Hoisting her up onto the counter, he pushes her back against the mirror, watching her back ache in reaction to the cold collision of flesh and glass. A hand moving from the thigh up to her waist. Legs crossing around his back.

And then there was rest.

As the pair pulled themselves out of the dressing room, Chloe had tried her best to put herself back together, placing effort into fixing and straightening her hair and clothes. Damon on the other end didn't care. His clothes could be as wrinkled as he wanted, his hair even more flustered. He just didn't give a fuck anymore.

"Someone could see." Chloe scolds

"So? Chloe, I think you forget that we've basically had a 20 year affair. Most people knew we fucked at some point anyways. What difference does it make now?"

"That page. I'm worried about that."

He squeezes her hand before rolling his eyes. "Ignore that. It's fucking stupid. Honestly, all of it it. I can't believe we use any of it."

"I don't know how you stay away."

"I do."

"Enlighten me then."

"I'm only attached to one woman. She gives me everything I need. Then I have my daughter, who I am attached to through blood. And I have my work."

"My work is tied to the internet, and the idea of celebrity as a whole."

"Tough luck." He says before pressing a kiss to her head. "Just don't worry about it. Worry about your ex husband going broke and him wanting alimony."

"Don't say that again."

"What? I was only joking. I don't think he'd ever-"

"Damon-"

"Fine. I'm sorry."

"Thank you."