Wait a Minute - Willow || Erase Me - Kid Cudi || Blue Lights - Jorja Smith || This is America - Childish Gambino || Lazy Eye - Smashing Pumpkins
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H E I G H TXANDXB U I L D: 5â10â, fit
Damien never owned clothes that hadnât been worn by another first. Heâd mostly wear layers so that the patches of one garment would be covered by the layer underneath. Because he worked labor jobs for so long, he was often covered in grime or soot - whatever residue the job of the day would leave behind. It wasnât that he didnât shower - he did so frequently in fact, one of the only luxuries he was always allowed. He just went from one job to the other, always giving 110% leaving in a sweat. Though he didnât work out, a scarce diet and hard work sculpted what muscles he did have making him much stronger than he appeared at first glance. He never put much look into his appearance. His mom would cut his hair for him once every six weeks, always the same length all over because they didnât have time or luxury to worry about styling their hair. During the revolution when they sometimes had to defend their settlements from government raids, heâd acquired a collection of scars. Those on his face have mostly faded but some deeper wounds from bullets or blades still marr his torso. Since the revolution ended his Congregation have been granted some funding but he hasnât changed his lifestyle much, making sure every cent is spent on his people. Heâs still seen wearing clothes with holes in them, though he has made investment into a proper pair of boots during the revolution that he still wears to this day. The leather may be worn but they kept him grounded during the most desperate times, he considers them his good luck charm.
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For most people, Damien is more of an idea than a person. Itâs not something he cultivated, rather what circumstances generated. When he denounced the church after they turned their backs on the people during the revolution, many saw him as a prophet. All he wanted was; to preach ideas and actions, to empower people to no longer accept what they felt they could not change, to put their faith in themselves. His rhetoric took on a life of his own, many associating him with a god-like image.
Damien at first was angered by this turn of events, he felt that it contradicted everything that he meant to accomplish. However when he saw what it meant to people he realized that just because it began as his ideas did not mean that it belonged to him. If he wanted to share them he had to accept that they now belonged to the world. Humbled by this realization, he decided he would serve his Congregation as he wished his church had treated theirs. Instead of telling them how they had to believe, he allowed them to guide him in how to lead.
In reality, he made it very clear he didnât have the answers. In fact, the more he admitted he did not know the more wisdom they applied to him. It was self defeating to try to convince them otherwise. He stopped trying to speak and interpret - which was liberating all in itself. He spoke very deliberately, often laconic in his word choice. If someone chose to misinterpret him, he didnât see the need in explaining twice.
Powered by beliefs and values, Damien surrounds himself with like-minded people who place value in community. He genuinely cares for every member in his Congregation, and while he can be wary of outsiders intentions he does believe that most people are good if they are given the chance and humility. His communities are very close knit. He alternates between the clusters throughout the week, calling each one his home. While there are constantly new arrivals he still made it a point to learn everyoneâs name and having a personal hand in their transition to the Congregation.
Because his role has changed the dynamics of all his relationships, he has a hard time connecting to anyone as a peer. He knows that the perception around him can make his relationships inherently predatory if heâs not careful. Damien establishes firm boundaries, which can leave him feeling isolated but itâs a small price to pay to assure no lines are crossed. Outsiders mistake this as a technique to keep his followers believing he is some sort of guru, many still questioning his intentions even with his strict perimeters.
Truth was that people were drawn to Damien. He had a passion and a way with words that made people listen. When he spoke to the people he became larger than life. He considered himself just to be a mirror, reflecting the very same things theyâd all thought one time or another. There was an undeniable charisma that made people feel like he was someone they wanted to look to. He wasnât just some snake oil salesman, he wanted to help and protect them. Not for their glory, not for their donations but because they deserved it.
Q U I R K S
Often running between settlements, he keeps track of his schedule in a small notebook. He doesnât trust a lot of tech so he prefers to do things old school. Heâs often seen scribbling in his notebook, though if you were to flip through all pages are already written in, heâs begun rewriting on pages in the margins and between lines.
F E A R S
Damienâs biggest fear is that his people were to be targeted. While Scarmouth has begun to re-integrate since the end of the revolution, many of his people still remain within their compounds wishing to maintain sovereignty. This radical thinking is for a great reason but he knows could ruffle feathers. He does his best to subdue conflict but still worries.
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Damien had been the first born in his family. His parents were never perfect but they did try for the first couple kids. After the third it just got too hard. His parents worked 80 hour weeks, and struggled to pay the babysitter to watch them while they worked. Eventually it just became Damienâs job. Then in an accident at the steel mill his dad was mutilated, dying on the operating table after 16 hours of surgery. The steel mill offered to pay the medical bills but offered no support beyond that.
After that it just went downhill. His mom had four children, no partner and no support. Damien began working, passing down the role of babysitter to the next-oldest. He was able to work harder labor jobs than his mother for longer hours so he became the main breadwinner of the house. His mother turned to the church, theyâd always gone but after his father died she needed the faith. Sunday nights they always had a potluck in the basement of the church, everyone bringing dishes from home for a glorious feast. It was the biggest meal they ate all week. Then theyâd be sent home with a sack of flour, a sack of potatoes and some tinned veggies. It seemed to be a great set up, until Damien realized how much of his motherâs money was going to the church.
The church was encouraging those who already had so little to donate so that they could receive crumbs in return. Damien had explained that they could just use that money to buy even more food but his mother would say it wasnât just about the food - it was about the community. He didnât understand how it could be about community when they lived in a mold infested flat and the church remained gilded in gold.
Damien began writing down his ideas, hand making books to hand out in his community. He began exchanging ideas with others, hosting parlors for people to come together and discuss ideas. The church did not appreciate his rhetoric, reporting him to the government as a revolutionary. When the government came for people, he was among the first. Luckily heâd been able to get away but after that he became a Wanted man.
People began to talk about the man who had challenged the church to do more and had the government sent to kidnap him. It made them all the more wary of the church. People opened his doors to Damien. Heâd hop around couch to couch, never staying in one place too long in case it garnered heat.
While moving around he would speak with people. People enjoyed talking to Damien. He did so free of judgement, his eyes intent as you spoke clinging to every word. He made people feel seen. His reputation preceded him and his demeanor would not disappoint. Many would spend a night with him just discussing things and be left with revelations that would leave them in awe.
The more people he meant, the more that wanted to help him. His first community was just in an apartment complex where a collection of his followers happened to live. As things outside became worse they fortified the complex, those within all looking to each other for help. Damien being a natural leader he just seemed to default to the role. Word sort of traveled on itâs own, more people arriving every day. Eventually they had to fortify the complex nextdoor thus creating their first compound.
He wasnât one to stand still while people were in danger so when heâd learn about problem areas, Damien and some of the soldiers among his followers would set out to help establish a new settlement. Soon they were all over the city with hundreds of families he was helping. Because of his identity, his communities were often targeted by the government. They lost some lives defending their Congregation, but their communities never fell.
After the fall of the government, many of the Congregation wished to claim sovereignty. Damien has promised he would pursue it, but has warned that for the intention of peace may not be possible and that compromise requires sacrifice. He continues to maintain the Congregation, still establishing new communities across the city.
