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last online Oct 5, 2023 2:09:17 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Oct 4, 2019 6:49:53 GMT -7
Post by Casimir Elias Karkaroff on Oct 4, 2019 6:49:53 GMT -7
April 18, 2025 Cas cautiously made his way into Horizon Alley, side-stepping people swiftly to avoid physical contact or potential muggers (one couldn’t exactly blame him, considering his place of employment). He walked with purpose, as this was not a social visit but a business inquiry and, he hoped, the beginning of a fruitful investment. Since assuming control of Borgin and Burke’s, he’d been searching for avenues to expand his store’s business (and therefore its influence). He couldn’t deny the intense interest he’d recently discovered for wands of historical significance – certainly an area that promised ‘unusual and ‘powerful’ products, as his store proudly declared, but that also possessed a certain sophisticated allure for hidden histories (which was entirely his style). He knew, however, that authentications would be required to avoid any questions about the legitimacy of the wands he hunted for, and naturally it would increase the price as well. Although his own wand was a Gregorovitch original, and had been passed down through generations of Karkaroffs, Cas had repeatedly heard that Ollivander’s stocked the best wands in Britain. He’d diligently done his research and had been ready to arrange an appointment with the current owner before he’d heard of an Ollivander who had branched off and now struggled to maintain their own wand shop. That presented an interesting possibility – if she was indeed as skilled as the Ollivanders were reputed, he could sell his wands with the certification ‘authenticated by an Ollivander’ but at a much lower cost. So he’d made a new plan. He had a recently acquired wand in his inventory that he would like examined, but he wasn’t ready to hand it off yet. Instead, Cas had prepared a little test with his own wand to ensure he would be receiving a high-quality consultation – or if he needed to write the store in Diagon Alley. He hadn’t contacted this woman yet, either – he didn’t want to give her the opportunity to prepare. Cas finally arrived at his intended destination, and carefully scrutinized the sign before walking in. He carried a thin box under his arm, just the right size for a wand. The room was empty of people, and Cas walked further in before clearing his throat. “Is anybody here?” eleanor gwendolen ollivander
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last online Mar 28, 2024 19:39:21 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Oct 5, 2019 22:00:02 GMT -7
Post by eleanor gwendolen ollivander on Oct 5, 2019 22:00:02 GMT -7
▲ A few weeks had passed since Nell had opened her store and there had been little to show for it. Not surprising, her furniture was selling better than her wands, but that was probably because she had very few in stock. The whole reason Ollivander’s had been a popular wand shop for centuries was because they had a virtually infinite amount – never ending and always had something for a needy witch or wizard. Her current lot was decent enough for what she was trying to do, but she also couldn’t make wands en masse like her sister could. There were special tools required for that, and Veronica’s way of mass producing wands that fit the family’s legacy meant she could get away with it. Nell was trying to do the opposite, of course, and coming by rare pieces of wood and materials for wand cores that were actually viable was infinitely more difficult that getting dragon heartstrings or phoenix feathers. They had those by the box at Ollivander’s. Nell had about half a dozen total between the two of them. Thankfully she had a steady amount of money coming in from enchanted chairs that would self-push the person sitting on it, in, and vice-versa, and from dressers that helped choose outfits for the owner. She didn’t like to devote her entire life to those charms, but they worked and people wanted them, so it was hard to say no when a new order came in. Eventually they would notice her little wall of wand boxes and become interested. There were a few customers like that already but she wanted her whole business to be that. Today was a Friday, so Nell was hard at work trying to get as many chairs made as possible in her workshop at the back of the store. The weekdays were for mass production and the weekends for selling. She had learned all about that from her years at Ollivander’s. People would wander in on the weekends even if they weren’t going to buy anything. She needed everything to be perfect and in order just in case, or at the least, to make a lasting impression. Being behind the counter the whole day was more important at that point anyways, because she had to sell, sell, sell! From her workshop, she heard a voice calling out at the front of the store. Of course she hadn’t noticed the bell on the door ringing out. She hadn’t heard it once since the store opened. Letting out a frustrating sigh at her inadequate bell, Nell swept at the front of her apron to knock any loose sawdust off of her before sliding it over her head. The last thing she needed was wood shavings sprinkled in her hair while talking to a customer. Even though they had to come to understand that her line of work meant being a little…disheveled from time to time. Pushing aside the curtain that separated store from workshop, Nell made eye contact with the man that was standing in her store, quickly putting a smile on as she stepped up to the counter. He couldn’t have been that much older than her, maybe around Frankie’s age, but it was so hard to tell the older she got. Everyone seemed to blend together once they broke twenty-five. “Hi. What can I do for you today?”MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
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last online Oct 5, 2023 2:09:17 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Oct 12, 2019 3:12:59 GMT -7
Post by Casimir Elias Karkaroff on Oct 12, 2019 3:12:59 GMT -7
Since he was alone, Cas diverted his attention from the sales counter and did a slow circle as he took in the small shop. The clientele for his establishment was of a particular sort – mornings were very slow for the man, as were weekdays in general. Business always picked up when the sun began to set (or before it had begun to rise) so he’d been very particular about leaving his store on a Friday morning. It was the opportune moment to be absent, and he’d intended to visit the Ollivander when she was likely to have less business as well. He’d prefer to have her full attention. Still, he was mildly surprised at the sharp juxtaposition between the store filled to the brim with products and completely lacking customers. Wandwork was clearly not her only talent, as the area was littered with chairs and tables and other pieces of woodworking. He could see a small wall of wand boxes, hidden to one side, but little other evidence of her vocation. Cas gripped his own box tightly under his arm – he had transferred his wand from its usual hiding place to the box in an attempt to create some distance from the object. Although his wand was still in easy reach, his body revealed a shade of his uneasiness through his rigid back and tense set to his shoulders. Cas forced himself to assume a relaxed composure when the owner of the shop finally emerged from what was surely her workspace. He preferred to convey the tone of the meeting through actions and appearances rather than words – he was professionally dressed (in black, of course) and he’d tied his hair back. Casual competence was the goal here. The woman who’d emerged was younger than he’d expected, and looked as if she’d tried to clean up at the last minute. Cas knew very little about the wand trade as a whole, so he tabled his expectations until he could learn more. She greeted him with a smile, so Cas offered a mild smile in exchange (he was rather reserved and preferred crisp courtesy while they were still strangers). “Ms. Ollivander?” he inquired, although it was an obvious question, more to follow social norms than anything else. He didn’t wait for the obvious answer before continuing. “I have a wand in my possession that I am…rather curious to learn more about. Your shop came highly recommended.” He’d chosen his words carefully. Nothing was a lie, and there was a grain of truth to every word. Even if the way he’d chosen to arrange them suggested a different meaning entirely. He gingerly placed the wand box he’d brought on the counter between them and opened it to reveal his wand. Beech wood, dragon heartstring core, 10 inches, brittle. The wand itself was carved to create a sleek and sophisticated look -- only the best for an ancient pureblood family of elegance and strength. It had been in his family for generations, and had last belonged to his father before he had gone to Azkaban. Now it was his. Cas idly wondered sometimes how much the wand absorbed from its previous owners – how much anger, demons, darkness, and now his own unique flavor of controlled chaos. He wondered if his work with Ouroboros was enough to balance his profession, his family background, his life surrounded by Dark and cursed things. If he could be a good person, and if his wand knew. Those thoughts were more philosophical, anyway. Nothing this Ollivander would be able to tell him. Still, he was curious how much wands could absorb, and how much wandmakers could read. It was a mysterious trade. He was eager to dive into it. eleanor gwendolen ollivander
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last online Mar 28, 2024 19:39:21 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Oct 21, 2019 20:58:52 GMT -7
Post by eleanor gwendolen ollivander on Oct 21, 2019 20:58:52 GMT -7
▲ The man on the other side of the counter didn’t take long to jump right into his business for being in her store. She had taken note of the box that had been under his arm, and which was eventually placed in front of her, knowing full well that there was a wand inside it. The only other option would have been parts of a wand. Nell wasn’t averse to repairs but they were certainly trickier than making a new one from scratch. She always felt like she was stepping on the toes of other wandmakers by replicating and fixing their work, the only exception being one from her family’s shop. Those ones she obviously knew very well. Still, even with a broken Ollivander wand, Nell preferred the original maker to conduct repairs, and it wasn’t odd for her father, or even her great-grandfather, to step into the workshop to do so. If this was one of those instances, she was unfortunately going to have to turn the man away and point him in the direction of Ollivander’s. Except he quickly dashed that entire possibility by stating that he wanted to know more about the wand. That was a much easier task for her, and she nodded her head as he placed the box down and opened it up in front of her. “Ah,” she said quietly, hands gently reaching out for the wand. “May I?” Though her fingers were already curled around the hilt as she splayed it across her hands in order to get a better look at it. The most obvious detail was that it was beech, though anyone with decent knowledge on wood could tell that. It also wasn’t English made, an art of wandmaking that was distinct from others out there in the wood. At the same time, it wasn’t completely foreign to her. She had seen wands of this caliber, and it certainly was well crafted. “This is a Gregorovitch wand.” Nell said aloud as she ran two fingers down the length of the wand. The master wandmaker certainly had his own unique style, and the natural ruggedness were a signature of his. She had been raised on stories of her great-grandfather’s competitor, and not for nothing, had always been more fascinated by the other wandmaker’s craft than she had been with her own family’s. “Beech, of course. And…” she closed her eyes briefly in concentration, “Dragon heartstring. How’d you come by this? Gregorovitch wands are seen as collector pieces these days. This is probably only the fourth or fifth I’ve come across.”MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
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last online Oct 5, 2023 2:09:17 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Jan 2, 2020 5:10:35 GMT -7
Post by Casimir Elias Karkaroff on Jan 2, 2020 5:10:35 GMT -7
Cas undeniably detested having to pretend interest in truly uninteresting things, but he’d long since accepted the necessity of charisma and persuasion in his craft. And while he disliked having to play the devoted shopkeeper, he admittedly enjoyed seeing the reaction he elicited from people. Still, it was undeniably refreshing to cut straight through to business, with neither party dissembling as to why they were there. Cas had only given the wandmaker a cursory overview, and his attention had quickly been drawn back to his own wand as if pulled by a magnetic force. The Ollivander had requested permission to handle the wand, but just as he had done earlier she did not wait for an answer before beginning her examination. His eyes were glued to her hands as she carefully looked over it, and his eyes were dark with both concern and intense focus. He hadn’t been sure how long this would take, having never been present at a session himself. He’d wondered if she would take the wand to another room, request a day or a week to examine it, and he’d planned for every possible scenario. So he was rather surprised when she began speaking much sooner than anticipated, and his gaze shot up to hers before returning to his wand. As expected, the woman knew what she was doing. Cas’s face didn’t change and stayed carefully blank at her observation that his wand was Gregorovitch made, and she almost immediately after identified its wood and core. It was enough to confirm her talents, as could be expected from any Ollivander, and that she was at least as competent as he’d hoped. But talent wasn’t the only quality he was looking for in a potential business partner. Her question was predictable enough, and Cas had entertained handling it in a number of various scenarios. He wasn’t much for spontaneity and had settled on his strategy long before entering the store. He still didn’t answer immediately as he considered the wand she still held in her hands. Cas was undoubtedly attached to his wand, as it was well-suited for him and had been his only constant companion since starting school. But he couldn’t forget its long history before his ownership, and the circumstances in which it became his. It was difficult to use at times, wondering how much of his father and ancestors were still in the wand. And if their dark history would ever prevent him from using the wand to its full abilities. So he sidestepped the question. “It is a Gregorovitch piece,” he confirmed, resisting the temptation to take it back into his hands. “And it has a long and somewhat tragic history. Its current owner is undoubtedly using the wand for a different purpose than its original owner likely intended.” He folded his hands behind his back to avoid letting her see them twitch, and his gaze rose from the wand to lock eyes with the wandmaker. “I’ve always wondered about the enduring relationship between wand and wizard. About how much a wand retains of its previous owners and their…inclinations.” eleanor gwendolen ollivander
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last online Mar 28, 2024 19:39:21 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 23, 2020 21:50:03 GMT -7
Post by eleanor gwendolen ollivander on Feb 23, 2020 21:50:03 GMT -7
▲ The man quickly confirmed her suspicions that the wand was indeed of Gregorovitch make, and her interest in the piece sky-rocketed. As she already mentioned, she had only handled less than half a dozen in her time working, and this was the first she had evaluated on her own. The family had a few of Gregorovitch’s wands stashed away for a rainy day, in the off chance they needed inspiration from the deceased wandmaker’s art. Her sister would never use them, but Nell would if they were bequeathed to her. There were already a few rare wands in her possession than would look splendid with a couple Gregorovitch ones sitting next to them in a sealed display case, if anything just to flaunt their beauty. The wand the man had brought in was no different from those she had seen in the past, and the wandmaker’s signature crafting style had given away his expertise immediately. From her own knowledge, even the simplest of his wands were made with great care, and the one in her hands was definitely not the exception to that rule. Simple wood and core materials made to look like a work of art. If there was any wandmaking to aspire to, it was this right here. Turning the wand over in her hands so that she marvel at every inch of it, the man continued, giving a brief, albeit vague, history of it, and his thoughts on a wand that had been utilized by unsavory people in the past. That was certainly a worry she had heard on occasion from older witches and wizards that had inherited their parents wands. To dispose of or rehabilitate them? Her great-grandfather still had a habit of rambling on about the wand choosing the wizard, which Nell had seen occur a few times (as opposed to simply fitting for the time being). But at what point did that apply to a wand like this? “It depends on the wand, honestly. I know that’s a horrible answer, but it’s hard to determine when you don’t know everything it’s been through,” she responded, before placing the wand back down on the counter. “Gregorovitch made wands of such a high caliber than even a simple combination such as this, beech and dragon heartstring, could have a different disposition to my own version of it.” Nell paused briefly, her eyes still trained on the wand as she tried to ascertain the best way to put her thoughts into words. “But knowing, and having made hundreds of wands with both materials, this is a wand that was, and will be, loyal to its current wielder once they have won it over. I don’t think past influence will matter much to it unless the owner lets that eat away at them to the point where the wand can’t trust them anymore.” Though it would never be as volatile as one of her recent creations, one that would blow up in the wrong user’s hands if they attempted anything too crazy with it. Any wand of Gregorovitch make wouldn’t do that though. At most it probably would put up a fight when trying to cast. A temper-tantrum of sorts. MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
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last online Oct 5, 2023 2:09:17 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Feb 28, 2020 6:58:37 GMT -7
Post by Casimir Elias Karkaroff on Feb 28, 2020 6:58:37 GMT -7
Cas’s eyes narrowed as he continued to contemplate his wand. The vagueness of the Ollivander’s answer didn't surprise him, but it irked him that she was only one of many wandmakers that spoke of the personality or disposition of a wand. He couldn’t claim to understand what was meant by that, or how a wand could accept or reject its owner. He saw no reason to hide the confusion or warring emotions and so something of it might have played out on his face. The second part of her answer hit him more soundly in his vulnerabilities. I don’t think past influence will matter much to it unless the owner lets that eat away at them to the point where the wand can’t trust them anymore. He mulled that thought over in his mind. Cas had never had any complaints with his wand, but he recognized the deep-seated fear within him that it would never serve him the way it had his ancestors. Or that it might implant the darkness and weakness of the Karkaroff line into him. An emotion was bubbling in his chest that he didn’t recognize, and his hands (still folded behind his back) were clenched tightly to the point that his knuckles turned white. He forced himself to push all that down and recollect himself. “An illuminating answer, thank you,” he responded, keeping his voice calm and tight. “Although I do not yet fully understand how the differences among wandmakers can manifest in wands of the same wood with different temperaments. I always understood the power of a spell to depend on the power of the wizard.” His gaze had been locked on his wand and he continued to resist the desperate desire to stow it safely away. His dark eyes instead moved to the shopkeeper’s face to study her. “You seem knowledgeable about wands. But you are not at your family’s store and this one seems...empty.” He kept his voice neutral but his inflection revealed the underlying question behind his statements. Her skill was evident enough, but Cas needed more information and he had not risen to the top of his shop's hierarchy without learning how to ask penetrating questions. Chances were he had already crossed a line, so he continued mercilessly. “My business is quite selective in choosing partnerships or outsourcing work. Are your wands worth my time? Would I receive a similar diagnostic if I were to travel to Diagon Alley next?” eleanor gwendolen ollivander
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last online Mar 28, 2024 19:39:21 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Mar 2, 2020 20:55:07 GMT -7
Post by eleanor gwendolen ollivander on Mar 2, 2020 20:55:07 GMT -7
▲ Having her response to his question called illuminating was certainly a different take than what was playing out on his face. Something somewhere in her explanation didn’t make sense – Nell had seen that look before on a customer’s face. She tended to get carried away with her details and history of wandmaking. It was hard for her to put things in layman’s terms when she was used to operating within just her family. And they knew literally everything and then some about wands. The follow-up statement from the man gave her a little more insight on what may have been causing him issue, and she had a simple enough answer to fulfill it, even if it wasn’t a question. “It is, but channeling that spell requires both your own prowess and a wand as the conduit. The average witch or wizard needs help with that, so weaving woods with magical essence together with cores fills that gap. An Ollivander wand will be crafted similarly over the generations, which has been key to their consistency, as opposed to Gregorovitch’s more artistic take on his pieces.” Or her own, for that matter. Everything she currently had in stock was so far flung from the Ollivander norm that it would make her ancestors hide their faces in shame. The man went on to point out that she seemed knowledgeable on wands, and she nodded her head. Obviously she was. She was an Ollivander! But then it happened. He compared her store to that of Veronica’s. Its emptiness was quite jarring, even to her. Ollivander’s had stacks upon stacks of wands, some made more than a century ago and still waiting for the right witch or wizard to show up. Nell had exactly twenty wands on her shelf, in which one was reserved and another locked so tightly in a charmed box that she didn’t dare let it out except for the right person. Her stock was less than meager, and didn’t really show what she was capable of. Even she knew that. “My sister’s store,” Nell corrected him. The name was Ollivander’s, but it was only owned and operated by one at a time. Veronica had made that much clear to her over the last couple of years. “I doubt she would give you the time of day if you weren’t there to buy a wand from her. Ollivander’s is too busy making wands for the average person. I make what I want to make, and what might be a little different from the norm.” She had a stupid idea pop into her head at that moment, and she turned from the man, holding up a finger to tell him to wait for a second. He seemed like he was a purveyor of strange things, if he was walking around Horizon Alley with a Gregorovitch wand. The wand locked up in the box in the next room certainly beat weird when it came to wands. Retrieving it, Nell set it down on her counter as she returned, quickly popping the sealing charms off with her own wand, and presented the wand within. “Blackthorn with dragon heartstring and 1/8 chimera scale, stiff. The handle is made of human bone. I had it tested to confirm that. Dual-core wands are incredibly rare to begin with, and chimera scale is one of the most sought after materials in the business,” she pulled the wand out from its velvet lined box, but held onto it tightly as she held it up so the man could see it. “If your business is handling rare wands like this or that Gregorovitch, I have no problem with that. My sister won’t do business with you if that’s the case, because she simply doesn’t have the time.” Nell swallowed hard, as she did her best game-face on. She didn’t even know what sort of business this guy was posing her, but it seemed serious enough if he could jump right into threatening her by going to Ollivander’s. The joke was on him though, because Veronica would send him out the door before he could even ask his questions. MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
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last online Oct 5, 2023 2:09:17 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Mar 3, 2020 11:36:40 GMT -7
Post by Casimir Elias Karkaroff on Mar 3, 2020 11:36:40 GMT -7
As they were still the only two people in the store, Cas was less reserved than if there had been an audience. As it was, he'd come with specific questions to get specific answers and he searched her answers for the key words he was looking for. Her clarifying explanation was thorough, and although Cas had immediate follow-up questions, he let the subject go. It was an intensely interesting subject and he was dying to hear more about it, but diving into the mystery of wandlore wasn't the reason he'd come today. And he finally, finally heard what he'd been looking for - something that few people seemed to understand or also possess: a curiosity for the unusual. Those magic words, 'different from the norm.' Cas had been politely listening, but his gaze sharpened and a spark of interest finally lit inside him. He kept his body as relaxed as it always was, but he waited tensely for her to return with whatever she'd gone to fetch from the back. She kept a tight grip on the wand, so his eyes absorbed all the information he could get without touching it. "It's beautifully well-crafted. Clean, smooth lines," Cas murmured. He didn't outright compliment her for having acquired such a beautiful wand – with him, the compliment was always implied. But his inner collector couldn't help how he scrutinized the wand or his admiration for its high quality. He had only managed to acquire one wand of unusual historical origin thus far, and he hadn't shared its discovery with anybody, but he had similarly pored over the wand for an extended time. Her last sentence to him was particularly shrewd, and he gave a crooked half-smile. "My business deals with items of historical significance and unusual properties. I've had an interest in expanding to wands for some time. It would be helpful to contract a wand specialist to assist in acquisition and authentication." At this point, it was impractical to hide his identity any longer, so he sighed internally. "Cas Karkaroff," he introduced himself, although without holding out a hand to shake. And it was in that moment that he heard his own weakness and internally winced. He had had a lifetime of introducing himself, and yet, every time, there was that telling pause between his first and last names. As if he wanted to leave it at Cas, but felt obligated to include his family name as well. In some circles, being a Karkaroff could be a commodity, but for most it was a liability. Perhaps a small part of him wished someday he could just be 'Cas' but...he knew he was tied to his family. Willingly. So, he waited for the usual reaction that accompanied the name Karkaroff in a locale such as this. The narrowing of the eyes, the tense straightening of the spine. In the meantime, he pushed on with achievements he was considerably prouder of than his family lineage. "I own Borgin and Burke's." He watched her carefully. "If you would prefer to end this conversation here, we can. But it seems we share a mutual interest and, of course, the potential for a mutually beneficial business relationship." Cas shrugged, although the set of his shoulders was rigid. "I've seen enough to know you have a passion for wandlore. That this isn't only a job to you. That's enough for me." eleanor gwendolen ollivander
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last online Mar 28, 2024 19:39:21 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Mar 3, 2020 20:52:42 GMT -7
Post by eleanor gwendolen ollivander on Mar 3, 2020 20:52:42 GMT -7
▲ The brief commentary that the man provided on the wand in her hands was exactly how Nell had reacted when she first encountered it in Rome a few years earlier. The wand was a complete mystery to her still, only knowing that the previous owner of it certainly didn’t use it because it was presented to her in the exact same locked box. She simultaneously wanted to know who crafted it, but also didn’t; that had a chance of depreciating the value if it was some bit-rate Italian wandmaker that happened to shove two different cores together in the hopes of creating something useable. If it was a subpar maker, this was their magnum opus. For someone like Gregorovitch, maybe one of his better wands tailored for a specific user. All Nell knew was that it was the oldest wand she had ever handled personally, and also worth the most with its mysterious history. The man went on to finally explain what his purpose for coming into the store was: to acquire a wand specialist. Nell could feel a slight bubble of excitement start to well up inside her, knowing that she had done the right thing by bringing out her most prized possession. He continued by introducing himself, Cas Karkaroff, and Nell nodded her head as she waited to see if he would hold his hand out for a shake. Apparently not. He was definitely the type of businessman that only shook on finalized deals. Exactly like the guy she had bought the building from. “Eleanor Ollivander,” she responded. Hearing her first name roll out of her so easily these days killed her on the inside. So many years had been spent under her sister’s tutelage, hearing Eleanor used as a power move over her. And now she was formally introducing herself to customers and prospective business partners with it. The irony wasn’t lost on her. “Haven’t been there in ages,” Nell mused. At least since she had been in school, when it was sort of edgy to dare friends to go in there and try and find the most messed up artifact possible. She had little interest in cursed objects and books on Dark Arts, most of her time over the last couple of years being dedicated to wandmaking, but it was certainly an interesting proposition being made by Cas Karkaroff. “If there are more wands involved like that Gregorovitch one, then you can count me in. You know how rent can be around here, consulting on wands and verifying their origins will only help with my own business.” She really didn’t need to think about this too hard – it was a decision that was begging her to be made then and there. Making and collecting weird wands would bring in more customers looking to get away from the normal makers in Diagon Alley. Being a sideshow of curiosities suited her just fine. “So I’m in. There are plenty of wands out there that I know of that could suit your store more than mine anyways.” And probably plenty more that deserved to be locked up and never shown the light of day again. The ones that came before laws and restrictions were few now, but terrifying. The kind that would pop up in a shop like Borgin and Burke’s. Having an idea of where and what they were about would help her immensely. Maybe even learn a thing or two on how to improve her own craft. MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
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last online Oct 5, 2023 2:09:17 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Mar 6, 2020 4:25:11 GMT -7
Post by Casimir Elias Karkaroff on Mar 6, 2020 4:25:11 GMT -7
He couldn’t help it – Cas’s half-smile turned into a full one and his posture finally relaxed until it resembled his usual form (he preferred to call it casually elegant but the word arrogant probably needed to be fit in there somewhere…). Their conversation had been solid negotiation, whether it was ever explicitly said or not, and they’d finally come to a point in the conversation he was closely familiar with. She’d shown what she could do, and he had put his offer on the table. That she didn’t even blink at his name or place of employment told him he’d made the right choice, and the possibility of a deal and a new direction to follow was thrilling. He might seem overly reserved, but he had a craving for the unknown as much as anyone, and perhaps more than most. It had first drawn him to curse-breaking, and then relic acquisition in the private sector. He preferred to view his scant knowledge of wands as less of an obstacle and more of a challenging opportunity. It also admittedly helped that it was apparently as painful for her to introduce herself as it had been for him. His eyes flicked back down to consider his wand as she mentioned the Gregorovitch-made piece and her rationale for accepting. He made a small hum of agreement – some wands were unsuitable for daily use and their dangerous make or history meant they were better-suited for a collection. That suited him. “This particular wand is not for sale,” Cas began, picking up his wand and considering it one last time before slipping it up his sleeve to its normal resting place. He couldn’t deny the attachment he felt for his wand and his relief that it was finally back in his hands. That she now knew it was his personal wand was a minor admission – surely she couldn’t uncover anything private about him through his wand. “But I have another in my possession that, if it is what I think it is, will be infinitely more fascinating to you. Certainly, as a magical historian, I am eager to learn more about it.” He stopped to consider the logistics more carefully – he would prefer to have Eleanor Ollivander examine the wand in his store, where he had established a stronghold of protections, but the odds of that were low and it would perhaps be more prudent to bring it here. He admitted, “It was a chance situation that led to the discovery of that wand. I am tracking the historical accounts of two others that are particularly interesting to me, but I am not an expert and the search has proven difficult. Your services would be required first to examine the wand I have acquired.” His smile turned more reservedly amused as he shrugged. “And perhaps then to correct my unfortunate ignorance of wandlore.” Cas wasn’t going to bring up the subject of payment or schedule. He was extremely detail-oriented and it had not slipped his mind, but that was for her to address. He certainly wasn’t going to bring it up first. So, he allowed himself to enjoy the success of the conversation – he had found a wandmaker, a talented one, and after less than a year of owning the store he was making the first big decision for Borgin and Burke’s new direction. One that would pay off or, if it was meant to, fail. It was a nerve-wracking position to be in at times, but it was much less dangerous than the risk he took as an agent for Ouroboros (and what would certainly happen to him if he was ever revealed as such). He wasn’t sure he could trust Eleanor Ollivander, and he certainly had a multitude of secrets that she would not be privy to in this business venture. But that’s all this would be, at any rate. She didn’t need to know anything about him that wasn’t strictly related to this new partnership they were forming. eleanor gwendolen ollivander
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last online Mar 28, 2024 19:39:21 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Apr 11, 2020 9:18:30 GMT -7
Post by eleanor gwendolen ollivander on Apr 11, 2020 9:18:30 GMT -7
▲ She didn’t think that the Gregorovitch wand would ever be for sale, and eve when Karkaroff said so himself, she wasn’t surprised. The only way she would ever end up with a wand of that scale in her hands would be if she purchased through an auction or someone gave her a deal she couldn’t refuse. The ones that still existed within their original families were heirlooms at this point – she understood that. Acquiring a piece like that, while great, was a pipe dream from where she was currently at in terms of the store and finances. Even if Karkaroff had put a price on it, she probably didn’t have the funds to comfortably buy it. But that would never happen, because the wand didn’t return to the box where it was when he presented it to her. A flicker of confusion in her face turned to realization when she determined that this had been his wand. Not some mantel piece like the ones she was expecting to start showing up if their deal went through. She started to wonder if he had even thought of approaching her sister, who surely wouldn’t have given him a second of her time and absolutely would have refused inspecting the wand. That was trivial when she had starter wands to mass produce. Fortunately, Karkaroff said that he had another wand, one that was, as he put it, infinitely more fascinating. What on earth could that mean? If it was a Gregorovitch, she could definitely stare at it all day without moving, but there had been very few wands that were more impressive than that. She didn’t even think her rarest in the shop came close to standing up to Gregorovitch quality, so his words had her even more interested in this mystery wand now. “I’m assuming you’re tracking previous owners?” she asked, though admittedly she wasn’t an expert on historical tracking for wands. The one unknown wand she had was her extent on tracking and research, which was the age and make-up of it. Having Karkaroff do the heavy lifting when it came to the wand history would definitely help her with figuring out the rest of it, and then the value of it, if that was even possible to determine. “Just give me enough advance notice on when you want me to look into this wand that you do have. It’s just me in the shop so I’d have to lock up for however long it takes to look it over.” MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
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last online Oct 5, 2023 2:09:17 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Jul 20, 2020 10:58:01 GMT -7
Post by Casimir Elias Karkaroff on Jul 20, 2020 10:58:01 GMT -7
Most of Cas’s previous experience with tracking artifacts had come from the process of following the leads on-the-ground, traveling when necessary and speaking to whoever might have a shred of information. Consulting the archives on the history of wand owners was a different beast entirely to tackle, and he’d made slow progress. There was no way to reliably outsource the work, but Cas didn’t have the hours needed to peruse old historical accounts and written testimonies. He’d had this wand locked up in his store for some time, and at this point he was eager to authenticate and quickly sell it to the highest bidder. If he planned to pursue this business venture, his system of tracking wands would first require significant restructuring. But that was a problem for another day. Cas nodded at the assumption that he was tracking previous owners. “The wand has a rather convoluted history, and has weaved in and out of historical memory for some time. I’ve had the most success with tracking inheritances.” He shrugged. “Assuming, of course, that this wand is legitimate and not counterfeit. I’ve been led to understand the wand is much older than the records I’ve found and that it has a rather exotic core. Your insights would help clarify the issue of its validity.” That was the hope, at least – that its unique characteristics would make it more easily identifiable. Otherwise he only had a simple collector’s piece to sell. Her request to provide advance warning was reasonable enough, so Cas confirmed, “I’ll send an owl beforehand. I have one more visit abroad first.” Not that he much relished the thought of a long trip to Japan away from his work, but it seemed necessary to gain some insight into why the wand had seemingly disappeared several hundred years ago. As their business had temporarily concluded, Cas politely dismissed himself. “Until next time, then. It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ollivander.” ~ Several weeks later, early May ~ Yes, Cas was ready to sell this wand and move on to the next one. He’d sent an owl from abroad to provide advance notice as requested so as to not waste any time once he returned to Britain. He’d spent far too long on this one acquisition, although he was hopeful he could fetch a high price. Now the path through Horizon Alley was more familiar and Cas didn’t hesitate before entering the store. Tucked under his arm was the wand in question, safely enclosed in every protective enchantment he could think of. He couldn’t see any Ollivanders in the front, but they had an appointment so he didn’t call out. Instead he took the time to quizzically study a self-rocking chair nearby. eleanor gwendolen ollivander
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last online Mar 28, 2024 19:39:21 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Jul 20, 2020 22:36:08 GMT -7
Post by eleanor gwendolen ollivander on Jul 20, 2020 22:36:08 GMT -7
▲ Nell had almost forgotten about the business venture she had agreed to with the owner of Borgin and Burkes, Casimir Karkaroff. In her defense, April had been her first full month running the shop and it had become excruciatingly exhausting as it went on. She already learned about putting limits on how many pieces of furniture she could sell in a month, because the rocking chairs and self-cleaning dining room tables took forever to do, even with magic running them constantly. As much as she was fine with mostly dealing in furniture, hence her store name including woodworking, her wand sales had been…slow. They were normally slow sellers during this time of the year anyways, the summer months bringing in gaggles of soon to be first years and older students whose wands met their untimely demise during the spring term. But this was more stagnant than she had ever seen Ollivanders. Name did mean something, apparently. To say it was a surprise when a letter arrived one day, reminding her about the agreement and when Karkaroff would show up with the previously discussed mystery wand, would be an understatement. She recalled that he wanted help deciphering whether or not it was an original or an attempt at passing it off as the real deal. Regardless, she was interested. A wand that had existed in the backroom of Borgin and Burkes unbeknownst to her was simply intriguing. Karkaroff made it sound like the second coming of the Elder wand. Clearly it was an older wand, whatever it may be, and that alone made her slightly giddy about getting the chance to study it. She was in the process carving a handle into a new wand at the back of her workshop when she heard the bell above the shop door jingle. Knowing the bell, it was either a customer or a strong breeze. It had a habit of only altering her when it felt like it. Quickly brushing saw dust off of her work apron and slinging it over its hook as she entered the shop portion, her eyes locked onto Karkaroff. More importantly, they found their way to the object under his arm. That had to be the wand. “Welcome back,” she nodded her head down at the thing between his arms, “Is that it?”MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
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last online Oct 5, 2023 2:09:17 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Jul 21, 2020 9:35:39 GMT -7
Post by Casimir Elias Karkaroff on Jul 21, 2020 9:35:39 GMT -7
Borgin and Burke’s only dealt in items that could claim to be ‘unusual’ or ‘powerful.’ Cas didn’t waste his time with anything more common, even if there were some types of artifacts or antiques that could fetch a high price. His clientele was very particular, and he catered to that specific niche of society. Wands in Asia were less common than in Europe, but they had been in use for centuries and the vast difference in culture had worked to Cas’s advantages. Wands usually stayed in their families, and meticulous record-keeping for the last thousand years meant there was too much information to sort through (and not the more common problem of not enough). Eleanor Ollivander didn’t leave him waiting long, and his eyes shifted from the magical chair to meet her gaze. She looked interested enough, and Cas didn’t see any point in wasting time on pleasantries – the wand was more interesting than anything that could be said, at any rate. “This is it,” he confirmed, an undercurrent of excitement in his voice. He wanted to reserve judgment – or he might be very disappointed – but if this wand was legitimate then he had a high-value sale fast approaching. Cas set the case down on the counter and cleanly slid out his wand to remove his protective enchantments. Once that was done, he gingerly opened the box. “This wand has supposedly been wielded by various members of the Yamato Dynasty for quite some time,” Cas mentioned as his eyes traced the outline of the wand. “But there’s a large gap in the historical narrative from the 13th to 19th century. Likely due to the rampant piracy at the time. Any details you can provide about its composition and age would be helpful in determining its authenticity.” He could trace the history of this particular wand very clearly from the 1860s until present, but he was more curious about its more ancient whereabouts. As with their last meeting, he didn’t mention any more specific details about the wand. Truly, he didn’t know if the wand had the right wood or core to match the historical accounts, and he’d rather she reached an independent conclusion about it. eleanor gwendolen ollivander [Wand details: Cherry wood, acromantula web core, 8 inches, very brittle. Should be at least 800-1500 years old, but up to you exactly.]
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