Date: Easter Break
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Interaction: @Archer Duncan

Howard had a tough time with big cities. It wasn't some form of social anxiety or anything like that. In fact, he rather enjoy the big crowds, diverse culture and many attraction that a metropolis like Edinburgh had to offer. However, his rather unique appearance often drew unwanted attention. The life of a dhampir was often a struggle in the wizarding world, but out in muggle society it was damn near impossible. The crimson eyes, the lifeless skin. Sharpened teeth and dark, elongated claws. Some may think him just some freak at first glance. A goth or weirdo, but anyone that looked close enough would realize there was something very different about Howard and that put the statute of secrecy at risk. So, Howard did his best to hide his appearance. He wore gloves, sunglasses and a cap. Dark clothing covered his arms and legs and making sure he stayed out of sight as possible took care of the rest.

That answered the how, but still left the why. Most of Howard's work took him out into the wilderness as he tracked various animals for various reasons. Anything from escaped pets to dangerous creatures that had wondered into the wrong habitat. He preferred that line of work as he felt most at home out in the forests and other wildlands of the UK, but often enough his tracking services were used to locate humans as well. Mostly concerned spouses wondering where their partners were spending so much time away from home at. It wasn't what he had spent years training for, but the pay was good and he had a business to grow. This time however the bounty was a bit more interesting.

Last summer Howard had been involved in the pursuit and capture of a poaching ring that had set up operations in the Forest of Dean. With the help of allies he had been able to dismantle them, but only a couple of the low level grunts had been prosecuted for the crimes. For now the case had been closed as there wasn't much evidence to pursue anyone else, but one of the ledgers recovered had left Howard with a singular name. Jakowski. It was almost impossible to track by name alone. So, how could he possibly find a lead? A few potion bottles would turn out to be the break that he needed. The simple emblem of the potioneer that had brewed the concoctions would point Howard towards Edinburgh. Maybe there he could find a full name for this Jakowski.

The dhampir looked one way and then another before rounding a corner. Howard would be back in the wizarding part of Edinburgh soon, but when he took his steps he realized he had not clocked the person coming towards him. No big deal. Keep your head down and avoid eye contact, but this person's scent was oddly familiar. Howard peeked over his sunglasses, those crimson eyes catching the boy's gaze. "Archer?"

“Archer?”

The head of the boy in question snapped up. Years of following his mother on expeditions had taught him to be alert, vigilant, yet he had been too lost in his own world as he paced the streets of his new home, a city he was still not familiar in, a strange world of bustling traffic and hurried people. Although he indulged himself in keeping tabs on everyone, the monotony of Edinburgh’s streets was worth no interest to him, and instead, he walked, head lowered, steps shuffling, keeping more attention on his boots than his surroundings.

“Who is it?”

In a foreign city, the least he would expect was a familiar face.

Yet, when he raised his head, that was exactly what he found. From the sickly pale skin to the enigmatically dark sunglasses, one person he least expected to find in the urban city centre of Edinburgh was him. The conversation struck him again — dhampirism, cartography, and his mother. He had sought him ought to claim back the remnants of a woman long gone, yet now he had moved on from the passing of his mother, Howard himself intrigued him more, from his vampire heritage to his explorations of the world.

“Mister White!” Archer exclaimed, answering himself before a reintroduction would embarrass the both of them. “What brings you to…Edinburgh?” He said the name of his city with disdain, and after a long pause of consideration, yet his sentiment was genuine, and his curiosity sincere. Archer had envisioned Howard exploring the wild Scottish Highlands or faraway English islands, and suddenly, him out of his element, without maps on his walls or mountains beneath his feet, it was difficult to believe he was just yet another pedestrian. Just yet another human being, with his own life.

Archer’s life in Edinburgh, however, was not a glorious one. The confines of his home was one he sought to break, with the strong scent of alcohol and personal failure. The family roads of his city was one he sought to leave, with its overcrowded streets and craning tourists. He avoided his house on holiday’s back, avoided the busiest of routes, and instead occupied himself with a new pastime: urban exploration. However deterred he was from trying it alone, he found an odd sense of peace in the abandoned buildings and graffitied walls.

In any case, it seemed as if he was alone no more. 


He tipped his head towards Howard, and asked good-naturedly, “Walk with me?”

@Howard White | banner by Adeline Spinks

@Archer Duncan

"Hey!" Howard flashed a pointy smile, a bit relieved to have somehow found another wizard in this muggle capital. The memory of their last meeting had been tinged with a shade a blue having learned that his mother, one of Howard's role models, had passed away. At least they were able to agree on the return of one of her maps, so that it may stay in the family. As much as Howard didn't want to let it go he could not argue that its rightful place was with Archer. No time to dwell on past encounters though as the city continued to bustle around them.

"Oh, I'm working actually." An odd admission from a tracker, but he had no reason to lie to the boy. "Here following up on a case. Need to get back to our part of town, if you catch my drift?" No one would pay him any mind if Howard had dropped any of the trigger words like wizard or magic. Probably just assume him an even weirder person than he already looked, but best to be as safe as he could. Howard was already feeling rather exposed. "What're you doin' here? Shouldn't you be in school? Or back home?" He gave on to just how out of touch he had become with the life of a Hogwarts student, but he was sure that Archer lived elsewhere.

The invitation to accompany Archer gave Howard a moment's pause. He was in no immediate danger, but the nature of the assignment did not come without risk. Anytime you pursue dangerous people you might end up in harm's way. This was however only just a bit of information gathering. No need for worry. "Yeah, sure. Maybe you can point me in the right direction as we go?" Howard looked this way and that before leaning in and lowering his voice. "I need to find a potion shop. Should have this emblem." He reached a gloved hand into his pocket and withdrew a piece of parchment. On it was a sketching of a simple square with the initials D.D. Howard assumed they belonged to the shop keeper. Or at least he was hoping.

“Following up on a case, no?” Archer repeated, his eyes glimmering with interest. “Well you must tell me all about it, or the reasonable amounts that won’t get me killed!” He offered Howard a wink, and in the playfulness of the way his body slipped into a fluid walk, he carried all the evidence he needed to know that he had broken free from the devilish grips of grief, and while wisps of the melancholy still clung onto him at odd times, he had stepped foot on a road towards recovery. The jest rang out through the Edinburgh streets, and in that moment he did not quite care if his comment turned heads.

“Our part of town. Oh of course.” It took Archer a mere few seconds to understand the implications behind Howard’s words, and as he glanced around him conspiratorially, if only to play the part, he leaned closer to him and beckoned the uncharacteristically lost tracker to follow. Between the unbearable honking of Muggle vehicles and the imposing high-rise of their apartments, Archer managed to meander through the crowds with deft stealth, Howard in his trail. Almost reaching the disguised entrance that marked Wizarding Edinburgh, a convenience store sparked his attention, and before his acquaintance could question, the shop doors dinged as he stepped inside. Turning towards Howard, he provided a simple explanation, repeating his idiom back at him: “Ah, but before we go, I must purchase something — it’s for a special friend, if you catch my drift?”

The subtle blush that now crept across his nose and cheeks was enough for anyone to catch his drift.

Asking for Howard to wait for his return outside, Archer’s shopping trip was swift, and completed with a few bills he had acquired wandering on the street side. Picking up the three bags of goldfish crackers from the counter he stuffed them into his bag as if their contents were of the utmost secrecy. He winked at Howard as he slung the pack over his shoulder, gesturing that they should continue their endeavour, eyes promising with a glitter that he would not waste any more of his time.

When Howard produced intel, Archer leaned over with curiosity, intent to be of some use to the man of his aspired profession. Upon a piece of parchment was sketched a simple square, and within it initials, flourishing in cursive that could have been a shop emblem. Archer nodded slowly, and as they continued their walk, he mulled over where he might have last seen the symbol. The mind of a navigator overtook the one of a disorderly teenage boy, and soon, they resumed their stride with Howard following Archer, who led him proudly through the twisting streets.

It may have not been in the tracker’s best interest to follow a boy in his adolescent whose mind was more set on courting his classmate or how he would manage dinner, yet as they entered the sprawling, low-rising section of Edinburgh’s hidden away Wizarding district, it must have been the magic that urged Archer to speak words he never thought he would utter. “Remember last time, when we talked about what lays ahead? Truthfully, I now think it’s all quite asinine when you’re only fourteen. After all, you only get to be a teenager once, I think I should spend more time enjoying it than worrying about my future.”

@Howard White | banner by Adeline Spinks

@Archer Duncan

"Yeah." Howard nodded along, a small smile forming on his lips as he picked up on that spark in the younger boy's eyes. "Poachers. Nasty business, but we've got the busted up for the most part. I can answer some questions if you got 'em, but no names for now." Archer may joke, but Howard really didn't want to give him too much information. Once the case was fully closed and the ringleader behind bars, then he'd feel comfortable giving him all the details. It was nice to see a bit of playfulness in the boy though and Howard was happy that he showed interest in his field. Surely a ferry from the last time they had met, but given the circumstance he couldn't blame Archer for that.

"Thanks, mate." Howard offered with a playful slug on the arm. Put him out in the forests and the man could find his way around no problem. He felt comfortable there and had enough survival skills to traverse almost any territory, but cities like Edinburgh? Perhaps he was just overstimulated. The constant honking and stench of muggle cars. Everywhere was concrete and the buildings threatened to block out the sun entirely. He should have been used to it coming up in Manchester, but his time at Hogwarts must have turned the once city boy into a more rural man. He thanked Merlin his office building in London was directly connected to the Floo network. Howard followed along as Archer made his way through the busy side walks and when they stopped he was thankful that they might be back among the wizarding world soon. However...

"Alright, boyo. Go on then." Goodness, Howard remembered those days fondly. Dating as an adult was much less glamorous than he thought it would be. The few girls that had captured his heart at school still filled his mind during the quiet times. He mused about where they were now or what profession they had gotten into. Who knew it would seem easier then than it was now, but that was just the ease of young love he supposed. Howard was tempted to follow Archer into the store. It had been quite a while since he'd indulged in his favorite Muggle treats, but the younger boy needed his space.

Once that business was sorted they quickly moved on to the more official matters and thankfully made their way into the magical part of town. Once through the barrier, Howard would immediately feel more at ease. No need for any type of disguise now even though his dhampirism still drew some harsh gazes, but he had long ago stopped letting that bother him. Archer would still lead the way and while Howard was eager to follow this lead, there was no particular rush. "You aren't wrong there, lad. I wish I had slowed down a bit and enjoyed my schooling years to their fullest. Being your own man is nice, but damn don't I miss Hogwarts from time to time. What I wouldn't give to eat at one more feast. Live it up while you can, mate."

Easier said than done sometimes as the life of a teenager was filled with ups and downs, but Archer seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. The loss of a parent early in life can age you. It was good he wasn't content to grow up yet. "The potion shop shouldn't take too long once we get there. Is there any other good shops along the way? Maybe something I can take back to my roommates. They always look after my old pygmy puff when I'm out of town. I oughta get them something to say thanks."