52 — Bare Minimum

"Damien."

Calista had walked into my room sometime midday with a troubled expression.

"Cali?" I looked up from behind the laptop, my plagiarizing marathon briefly halted. "Anything the matter?"

She frowned.

I noticed right off the bat that her normal businesslike expression seemed forced. It had been a hectic few days for everyone. "You have mail."

I took my headphones off. "I do?"

"Well, through me." Calista added. "But yes."

"Really? From who?"

Calista remained standing in the middle of my room. "From many... a lot, actually."

"......"

I slid the headphones completely off and let them dangle on the neck of my chair. "Well, what are they?"

She leaned against the wall with a morose look of exhaustion. "I've gone through a few of them. There are letters, invitations, major labels wanting to sign you, even offers for TV appearances and such. A few other things as well, and I'm sure they'll keep coming."

"Oh... that's... that's good, isn't it?"

Calista scoffed. "It's good and bad, depending on your perspective."

"How so?"

"Well, it's good that you've reached this level of recognition, if that's what you were going for in the first place. I didn't think it would happen so quickly, to be honest. But the bad part is..." I was surprised she didn't light up a cigarette right then and there. "... well, you already know. You've gotten quite a bit of unwanted attention, I'm sure."

"Like a certain someone...?"

Calista nodded slowly, head slightly lowered as she stared at the floor. "I don't want anything bad happening to you."

"I don't either... it'd suck for anyone to get hurt because of me." I slightly wheeled back with my chair. "I really want this to get... going, you know? To be successful and make this whole world a little more worth living. If I can do that with singing, or music, or whatever, and inspire at least one person... at least save one life... then I think that would already be worth it." I wheeled a full one eighty until I was facing my laptop again. "Someone said that my song saved their life, Cali. I don't know whether that was the case, and I honestly wish we didn't even have the occasion where it needed saving... but, in a world where that happens, isn't it all the more important that more artists like me be given a platform for their voice to be heard?"

"Are you a born philanthropist, or?" Calista shook her head. "I don't really care about other women, Damien. You've not met these people. I'd rather they die than you putting yourself out there like that, risking your safety just for others. Who are they to you?"

"I wouldn't be human otherwise. No life should be discounted and deemed irrelevant..."

'Especially in a society that worships men the way these women did...'

I might not have cared, were the circumstances different, and I probably should just mind my own business. But here, I just wanted to follow the direction I had gone with my music—for it to go where it was supposed to, with me alongside it, and if by accident it happened to save some poor girl that didn't really enjoy her own life, well, that would incentivize what I was doing. That what I was doing was right. 

Destroy the perception around men's music, and rebuild it from scratch. In my own image. This is a revolutionary's path.

I hung my head low in contemplation. "I really wanna do this... but I'll also defer to your professional expertise, sis... I think it's the right thing to do, even if it might not seem like it right now. I just have this feeling, you know? That despite how crazy this might get, I've gotta go through with it."

"Why...?"

"Because I'm a man."

"......"

"And, what does that mean?"

I shrugged, bursting out laughing. Indeed, what did it mean, to be a man here? "No idea, but it feels right at the moment, so I'm just gonna follow my gut on this one. Even if I have to face the consequences one day. Just help me... and make sure that I don't end up hurting anyone else along the way with my stupid choices. Please."

Calista's lips pulled into a thin line. "You're hopeless. Stupid men, always so headstrong and reckless... and I can't stop you anyway. You'll do whatever you want. You're so willful." She groaned. "Since I know you're going to continue this no matter what I say, at least I'll take the time to do this with you, Damien, and make sure you're as protected and secure as possible. I'll vet every single request that comes through. I'll also be the one to set up any interview, performance, and meeting. You won't do anything without my permission. Understand?"

She was dead-serious.

I was grateful for it, and I had the intuition that she was perhaps the only one who could do it right as she was knees-deep in the industry and knew the ins and outs. "I understand."

Calista sighed and walked towards me. Her hands clapped on my shoulders and squeezed. "Good. And if there's ever a time when you feel it's getting too much, let me know. I don't want you to burn out or get hurt."

I nodded, a heavy sensation of deja-vu slapping the shit out of me. Might've been the eyes. It's always the eyes. "Thanks for looking after me, Cali."

"Ahuh. I always will, silly." She tweaked my cheeks lightly and smiled. "After all, you're family, you know? The only brother we girls can count on."

I didn't comment further on that, instead I opted to gently place my hand on her wrist. "About those mails, Cali. What do you think I should do?"

She didn't take her hand off my face. "What is it that you want to do?"

"Sail on this wave... go along with the stream. For now, at least. But maybe... do a few performances, like, out there in public. Do you think it's manageable? Or do I risk it too much, given, you know?"

Calista looked contemplative.

"The thing is that your information isn't exactly private, Damien. You're a registered male and a regular donor. The only point of connection between you and your online identity 'Silver' is SoundWave, but it wouldn't take that much to figure out it's you even without that. My name as your producer is out there. A bit of digging is all they need. So it doesn't really matter if you want to perform or not because you'll eventually be exposed, regardless."

"......"

"From my perspective, I think you'll do worse if you keep sitting still and not showing yourself. Building so much expectations and anticipation without giving people what they want is counterproductive in the long run, and can have serious ramifications if someone decides they can't take it anymore and snap."

"Hmm..." I rubbed my chin. "Would a TV appearance suffice, maybe? Maybe with some promotional visuals and other material on SoundWave. Something to show it's me and not some artificial, post-processed monstrosity. I think this would also have that stalker make her next move; she's been too quiet lately and I don't like it."

The last we've heard of her was that letter, and possibly that comment.

Calista looked worried. "Why do you want to provoke that madwoman?"

"To expose her, obviously. Then she'll get locked up and stay locked up. I just hate this limbo... if you can give me a good plan and sufficient security, Cali, I'd do it. I'll sing at a local television show or whatever."

Calista slowly nodded. "We need to talk this out with mom and aunt Freya, if they approve, I can look into the process and make sure we get the best possible conditions for your public appearance."

There was no escaping the tongue-lashing, was it?

I had to notify Valeria, as well. "Should I give you Val's number as well so you can talk?"

Calista's face was quite odd. "You know, I don't quite like it, Damien."

"What?"

"That you keep meeting that woman. You're calling her Val, too. That's informal."

Calista tilted her head.

"I mean, isn't she trying to catch a stalker that wants to harm me...? You also get to be informal with her, Cali, she's a very nice person if you actually met her. She's always been nice to me, too."

Except for last night. Last night she was quite intense.

"Yeah, I wonder why that is."

Ah, sarcasm. I preferred that over murderous intent.

"She still ought to be notified of this development. That we're planning to do a television performance soon. Let her make the necessary preparations. Give her a call, Calista. Trust me, she's good."

"Good." She humphed. "There's nothing good about that woman, Damien. You're still too naive." She pushed a strand of stray blonde hair behind an ear, slightly annoyed. "Fine, I'll give that woman a call to let her know, but you'll be sleeping in my room tonight. Got it?"

That sounded awfully sus—sister-like.

"I just can't have a strange woman sneaking around and causing trouble, knowing there's a helpless, vulnerable little boy sleeping in an unsecure space."

"What a load of—"

A pillow was thrown at my face.

xXx

Freya massagged my shoulders as Willow was having a hilarious meltdown while pacing around, throwing her arms in the air and lamenting her plight with so much woe and misery that Iris had to brew her a mug of chamomile tea, just to try and calm her down.

It was a valid overreaction, in my opinion. One that I never faulted, because I, in her place, wouldn't want a deranged lunatic having her sights set on the child under your care.

However, with the collective help of everyone, Willow was finally convinced enough to stop wailing for the time being and instead give serious thought to it. Calista expertly played the devil's advocate, with me being the devil in this situation. Freya didn't intervene as much as she usually did during emergency meetings, but then again, she was too busy unraveling the stress off of my shoulders.

Quite good at it, too.

Goddammit.

"Damien, can't we convince you not to do it...?" Willow, facing a 1 v 5 situation was not equipped with enough skill to clutch the game.

"You can. If you adamantly refuse, then I have no choice but to remain an introverted potato for the rest of my days. But wouldn't it be better to resolve this issue now, so no one has to live their life constantly wondering and watching their backs?"

"Potato."

Iris stifled a laugh.

"Mom, there should be no reason for concern." Calista interjected. "The production for this show has very competent security. They're not some fly-by-night crew. With Valeria involved, it will be much safer for him. We should expect her presence, and utilize it effectively. The amount of security involved, in and out of the premises would be overwhelming for anyone having any bold ideas. We'll all be present, too. If that helps."

Willow hesitated for a moment, before capitalizing on one of her recurring insecurities. "Valeria has a strange obsession towards Damien. Have we ever talked about that? No. Well, now's the time to mention it. That woman cannot be trusted." Her nose wrinkled as she said it. "She's more of a loose cannon than we give her credit for. How can we trust Damien's safety—"

"Mom, now's not the time for that, please?" I weakly waved, having already dealt with an absurd amount of family drama and conspiracies these past few days. "Everything'll be fine, okay? I promise. Now, can you please give us a go for this performance? Your son will be on the big screen! Isn't that a great achievement?"

Willow didn’t look overjoyed, yet she slumped on the couch, staring at me with conflicted feelings.

"He won't show his face, Mom." Calista added helpfully. "It will be one of those anonymous appearances with the masked singer motifs, except he'll perform behind a screen, so only his shadow will be projected."

"So there won't even be an opportunity for anyone to ogle at him?" Freya asked.

Calista looked like she was caught in the spotlight and gave a sheepish nod. "Yes. Only the staff and crew, and those nearby will be privy to that. To the viewers, his face will be obscured. His voice will be the same."

"Sounds good." Willow had mellowed down, at the very least.

"More importantly, this can put to rest a lot of rumors and confirm his authenticity, Mom. Isn't it a good move publicity and management wise?"

"... yes, it is..."

"Furthermore, I intend to reach out to a popular television producer as well. The broadcast, and my role as his sister, might allow me more resources and influence to pull off what this should be: a complete lockdown with no risks to Damien's life."

Calista sold it well. I smiled at her, silently grateful she's able to handle all the 'businessy' details of this entire situation.

Willow buried her head in her hands. "Are we sure about this, Damien?"

She probably could no longer convince me not to.

"I'm sorry, Mom. But yes... I want to do it."

She inhaled and closed her eyes for the longest second possible. "Alright... okay... okay..." She exhaled. "Let's do it. If you trust it, and Damien, too... then... we can do it. Yes. I've got some pull myself, especially among the city councilors, I can pressure a few names. This way, you won't need to rely on an unknown quantity. Damien won't have to feel scared even for a second, is that a good compromise?"

It was, and I heaved a sigh of relief.

Willow had always been the most obstinate obstacle in doing things the 'proper' way. When she agrees, the rest, ironically, is far easier.

Not that I didn't know why she was opposing me so much, but in my mind, the sooner this crazy stalker problem is dealt with, the sooner everything's over.

"Also, Damien...?"

There was a gleam in Willow's eyes, and a soft coloration on her cheeks.

"You'll be sleeping in my room today. It’s the bare minimum for this outrageous request, don’t you think?”

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