cast no shadow

[DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF]

14 January 2027

Damian leaned against the brick wall of Obscurus Books, a half drunk coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other. His face was tilted downwards, his brows knitted together as if he were deep in thought. He had just emerged from the publishing house after having arranged a meeting regarding a deal. He'd requested it - he'd always dabbled in the idea of writing an autobiography. His life had been interesting enough, but how would people feel to know all of the things he'd seen and heard? Best put it off a few years, even if the meeting itself had been fruitful. The publishers had been impressed with the quality of his portfolio, especially some of the pieces he had written recently for the Prophet.

Taking a long drag of the cigarette, Damian looked up. The day was grey and cold, as could be expected from Britain in January. Five years he'd been here, and Damian was only just growing accustomed to it. He glanced down the deserted alleyway, wondering idly where the rest of the wizarding world was. It was just after lunch time, and yet he saw no one. No young mothers toting their squirming babies in prams, no overexcited children begging their fathers to go back to Quality Quidditch Supplies to buy a new pair of keeper gloves. Damian tilted his head back, resting it against the brickwork once more.

Damian was so close to Cas' shop, he ought to go in and visit. He hadn't seen his brother in a few weeks, having avoided him for absolutely no reason at all. Damian was the sort to drop off the face of the planet without a moment's notice. This time, he'd wandered off to St Petersburg for a long weekend with his guitar and quill, and indulged in the many pleasures the city bore. But instead of moving in the direction of Borgin and Burke's, Damian instead finished off his cigarette, took a final sip of his coffee, and disposed of both. He shoved his hands into his pockets and started off back towards the Leaky Cauldron and subsequently muggle London, where he thought he might visit a music shop when he noticed someone drop a package. With decorum instilled in him from conception, Damian was picking up the package and tapping the stranger on the shoulder in an instant. "You dropped this," said Damian, his voice low.



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[Deleted]

January 14. 2027
DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF

Noah was very grateful for how slow the alley was today. Sometimes, when it was busy it could be a bit… nauseating to be honest. It would give him headaches because of the visual overstimulation. Most days he just kept his head down and went about his business, just not looking at anyone unless necessary. Today though? Today there weren’t they many people around. He’d dared to look up more then usual, pleasantly surprised by the afternoon lull. It was like a breath of fresh air.

And so, Noah went about his errands with much less issues then usual. His mother had asked him to pick up a few things for her while here, so his arms were fuller then normal.

Basically done with his mother’s errands now, he started to head out, wondering if he should stop for a cup of coffee before heading to his mother’s place, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned, raising his downward cast gaze to look at the stranger. Immediately his gaze flickered to the word… before forcing himself to focus on the man. ”Oh. Thanks.” he answered slowly, having taken a moment to register what was said. He shifted the other packages to one hand and reached for the package he dropped.

[DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF]

Damian was driven by the instincts instilled in him from a young age. As soon as the parcel fell from the precarious pile in his arms, Damian was at his size, offering it back to him. The young man gave Damian a strange sort of look, almost as if he was looking through him rather than at him. That he was seeing something beyond him. Damian frowned, and held the package just out of his reach.

"Why don't I help you with some of these," said Damian instead, plucking a further two parcels from the man. "You look like you can use help. And I am in need of an aimless walk," he added, offering a faint smile. "Where are you off to anyways? Toy drive? Soup kitchen? Santa's sleigh?" Damian chuckled at his own joke.

@noah

[Deleted]

January 14. 2027
DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF

Most people it was difficult to figure out what they were feeling based off the words Noah saw. It wasn’t always a word that actually explained the emotion, but rather words the person was associating with their current mood. There were some people that were pretty straightforward, and they associated reasonable words with their emotions. But others? Well, it was a bit difficult to know when you didn’t know the person. This stranger… well if Noah had to guess he’d probably say the man was bored or something, since what other emotions could you link the word “disinterest” to? Noah, gaze flickered to it again, before back to the man.

Noah’s eyebrows raised in surprise as the man held the package back and instead offering to help him. He opened his mouth to protest but in that same moment the man had already plucked off the top wrapped packages. He should refuse. He didn’t know this stranger at all. But maybe this man was the type to help a stranger..? Noah looked away, shifting the remaining parcels into a more comfortable position in his arms. ”I appreciate it,” he answered quietly, his gaze returning to the man and his own smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ”Nothing that exciting. It’s errands for my mother. Just the Leaky Cauldron.” stopping for coffee didn’t seem like a good idea when someone was helping you, after all. Alas. He’d have to go another time.

[DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF]

Thinking quickly, Damian held the parcel just out of the man's reach, offering instead to help him. He had been bored today, and it hadn't been very difficult to hitch that blank, resolute look on his face. The disinterest had been taught to him from a young age, to conceal rather than feel. And so Damian had accepted it with gusto, becoming harder and harder to read. Once or twice, he had considered learning Occlumency - but then what? He already excelled at hiding his thoughts and emotions, always feeding false information or leads to those who tried. Then again, thought Damian, that sort of power was stronger even than him.

"Not a problem," said Damian offhandedly, plucking a few more parcels from the pile. He was quiet, and seemed rather shy. Damian asked where he was going, and as it turned out they would be passing through the same place. "We ought to stop for a drink then," said Damian, his eyes lingering on the man's face, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It is a Sunday after all, isn't it?" asked Damian, the corner of his lip twitching upwards into a smile. As a matter of fact, Damian wasn't entirely sure what day of the week it was. Was it even Sunday? Did it actually matter? Damian had deadlines for the paper, but usually he was left to settle his own details.

"I'm Damian," he added after a long moment, not bothering to extend his hand and follow his fellow's lead by dropping his parcels.

@noah

[Deleted]

January 14. 2027
DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF

Noah wasn't used to random acts of kindness like this. THough... was it kindness? Or just the man having nothing better to do? It was hard to gauge. With ease, the man was able to snatch up a few more parcels from his arms, evenly distributing the work load between them. FInally Noah smiled. Though, he looked surprised by the offer, it wasn't a bad surprise. It was almost as if the man had read Noah's mind. "Sure, yeah."

Though, at the mention of the day, Noah couldn't help but smile a little wider. "It's Thursday, actually." He corrected, though that seemed to have finally settle Noah's shy reaction to meeting a stranger and put an end to his more subdued responses and expressions. "I'm Noah, it's nice to meet you, Damian."

[DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF]

Damian blinked in confusion as the man - who shortly later introduced himself as Noah - informed him that the day was in fact Thursday. "Blimey, already? Where's the time gone," he muttered, mostly to himself. He did notice Noah's smile though, and Damian wondered how long it would take for him to sneak his way into the young man's secrets. If he even had any worthwhile. Maybe he should learn legilimency.

"Well, Noah. What's your poison? If you say cider I am actually going to burn these packages," said Damian, glancing over at Noah as they settled themselves at the bar of the Leaky Cauldron. Damian dropped the parcels more carefully than he usually would, then turned to the bartender. "A Stella for me and... whatever this chap wants. As long as it's not cider or white wine. If it's either of those, it's not going on my tab."

@noah