A new Business Partner [Casimir]

[Deleted]

July 3, 2025
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

It had been many, many, months since Bjorn had stopped by Borgin and Burke's. The shop was a good place to sell some of the stolen goods/find buyers. In particular, it was because of Casimir Karkaroff. THey'd gone to Durmstrang together, and Casimir was someone that Bjorn trusted wholeheartedly. A rare thing in his line of work. Bjorn hadn't been a fan of the previous owner, so he'd only sold goods when he knew Casimir was in, and he'd withheld some of his more.... exotic wares. While Bjorn trusted Casimir, he hadn't trusted the previous owner. Now though, things were different. Casimir was in charge. It meant that they could take their... business arrangement to the next level. Really start benefitting to the fullest extent. Bjorn could supply a wide variety of goods that Casimir's clientele wanted. 

Bjorn was dressed casually, hands deep in jean pockets as he traversed Knockturn alley. The place was just as he remembered it, down to the smell. Knockturn Alley was essentially Bjorn's second home whenever his crew was in the area. It provided a number of services they benefited from. 

Bjorn approached and entered the shop, the familiar bell above the door ringing to announce his presence. Removing his hands from his pockets, he ran his fingers through his hair to pull any stray strands away from his face. and approached the counter. He didn't see a shop keeper yet. Leaning against the counter he spoke, his voice booming in what was often called his "Captain voice". He used it when he wanted attention. "Karkaroff." He wasn't trying to be intimidating, just ensuring that Casimir knew exactly who had walked n the door, as it would most likely warrant a different reaction. Bjorn wasn't a customer, after all.

[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

It was dark, and at that time of night when most people were safe at home and most of society had shut down for the day. But that was exactly when Knockturn Alley came alive. Borgin and Burke’s had irregular business hours. They certainly operated as a legal storefront, and the store that specialized in the trade of antiques and artifacts was a well-established presence in Knockturn. There was never any official reason to be shut down or to justify a Ministry raid. But Borgin and Burke’s operated on so many more levels than a simple antiques shop, and it was there that Cas’s expertise and connections had given him the ability to be useful to a wide variety of people.

So mornings and weekdays? Sure, there was enough clientele to get by and stay in business. But the true value of Borgin and Burke’s was in their operations after traditional business hours. Cas had sent his assistants home for the day, and he minded the store himself for the more delicate transactions that were common in the dead of night. He wasn’t in the front room, however. He’d settled in his office, door open, to give himself that split-second advantage over the client. That moment where he could identify them (usually through their voice) before they ever saw him. One second might not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but the things that could make or break a deal were usually minute details. Cas liked to be prepared.

He’d been examining a cursed mirror (which was proving difficult to sell) when he heard a deep voice echo from the main room. His lip curled upward into a half-smile as he set the mirror down and slowly walked to the front. Cas’s most valuable business contacts tended to be his old friends from school, and Bjorn didn’t disappoint in that regard. Their relationship was peculiar – school friends, business partners in the untraditional (slightly less legal) sense, and the occasional exchange of other goods and favors unrelated to work. In that sense, Bjorn often reminded Cas of Titus, although with key differences of course. An obvious one being that Bjorn had left the door on its hinges.

Their business relationship had always been somewhat limited as long as Cas had only been an employee of the store. Doubtlessly it would change with his new position as owner, and that prospect for expansion excited the businessman in Cas. “Look what the tide brought in,” Cas observed languidly, body language shifting into his traditional business-oriented demeanor, although with an edge of sharp humor. “London must seem so different since your last visit. I’ve heard certain storefronts have come under new management.”

@bjorn

[Deleted]

July 3, 2025
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

It wasn't long until Bjorn heard foot steps. Shortly after, Casimir Karkaroff appeared. It always brought back memories, seeing his old school friends. He didn't bother to stop the broad grin, teeth flashing behind his thick bear. Cas spoke first, and Bjorn bellowed a laugh. Pirates puns were always welcome, considering he was, you know, technically a pirate. A modern pirate. Bjorn leaned against the counter. "You know me. Have to answer the sea's call, wherever she may be." Bjorn wasn't exactly know for staying in one place long. Perks of owning an enchanted ship. You weren't tied down to any single location. "I've heard a little rumor about you. Moving up in the world, Cas? A respectable business owner now." Of course, it was more than just rumor. Bjorn had many trustworthy resources. When he heard "rumors" they were always confirmed.

"This quarantine is pretty impressive. It's not often I have to use that French forger. Cost her weight in gold just to get through the barrier." The forger he was referring to was one of the best in the business. Worth her costs, whatever they may be. But like anyone in the underworld knew, you didn't go to her unless you needed something so full proof that it'd even fool your own mother. Her rates would make most criminals gawk. "But I figured. With your new.... promotion. Her rates are well worth it."

He pushed away from the counter, grinning again. "Formallities aside. Old friend, how's life?"

[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

In Cas’s line of work, friends were in short supply. It was the nature of the job – whether personal connections were possible or not, they were certainly not preferable to one who had to be as cautious as Cas. He had a long memory, and many incriminating secrets, and that combination led to a rather purposeful distancing from anybody he might encounter semi-regularly. It was difficult to remember at times that he did have allies, and moreover he had friends. He couldn’t say he was ever fully relaxed, but it was more possible in circumstances where the other party had proven themselves trustworthy.

And Bjorn was certainly that. He knew more of Cas’s activities than the average denizen of the black markets, and he could be trusted to keep a secret. Not to mention the more exotic wares he could always be counted on to pass through Borgin and Burke’s. Bjorn’s reference to the French forger elicited a hum of (sympathetic) understanding from Cas. “She’s not often worth the trouble. But you seem to have navigated her demands if you’ve arrived with more than simply the clothes on your back.” The quarantine had been troublesome for business – several supply flows he relied on from abroad had been cut-off, and Cas had had to resort to other measures to meet his clients’ demands. But he managed.

Cas matched Bjorn’s grin with one of his own. It had been half a year already, but he’d fought hard for the rights to the store and it had required a nasty encounter with the Burke family. After all the trouble, he was ready to reap the rewards of such a stable and powerful position. Still, even without speaking, it would have been easy for his friend to see how tired Cas looked. Ouroboros’ atmosphere had been tense before the Quidditch match, but now everybody was on high-alert – and that meant more work for him. “Never a dull day in Britain,” Cas responded finally. Since he was speaking with a friend, he allowed himself to divulge more. “It’s been chaos since the Quidditch final last month. Ministry’s still dealing with the aftermath, and of course the public doesn’t know anything or there’d be a mass panic.” It was exhausting to dwell on it, so… “Better news from abroad, I hope. Has life on the high seas been good to you?”

@bjorn

[Deleted]

July 3, 2025
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

Bjorn was already thinking of where their business might go, now that Casimir owned the shop. The opportunities that had now opened. It meant Bjorn wouldn't have to travel as far to sell some of his more... exotic and troublesome wares. For Casimir though, it meant new and interesting merchandise for his clientele. New money. Though, it also brought risks. But, Bjorn and Casimir understood those risks already. Bjorn nodded as Cas mentioned the forger not being worth the trouble often. "You only go to the best when you need the best, and the cost is worth it." Plus... his sister. Tove, alone made it worth it. The ship and crew were added bonuses. "No doubt your services will make hers even more worth it." He did, after all, always have wares to sell, if Cas was interested.

Casimir's exhaustion wasn't lost on Bjorn. He could tell something was wearing his old friend down, but honestly? He immediately thought about the events of late. No doubt they'd been bad for business. Something that Casimir proved to be right as he elaborated. "I heard about the match. A shame." Bjorn had, for a few years after graduation, played professionally after all. While he didn't play now, Quidditch always had a place in his heart. "Everything is the same abroad. Places to be, business to take care of." He wouldn't outright say "steal", but Cas knew what he'd meant. "Have you seen Tove recently?" Tove, his adorable but oh so innocent youngest sister. The "white sheep" of the family, who'd moved to the country and gotten trapped in the quarantine. Until Lotten, Tove had chosen not to go into the family business. She was why Bjorn and his crew kept lawbreaking to a minimum in the country, to ensure she didn't get any heat from her brother and sister's actions.

(I... forgot about this thread... >.>)

[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

In the end, Cas had to think about what would be good for business. His work with Ouroboros aside, and all the extra anxiety that had generated, the outbreak of Hag’s Fever and subsequent Ministry explosion had proven to be pesky obstacles. The Ministry was always on high-alert after an attack like that, which made navigating loopholes or evading customs officials more of a headache than usual. It also tended to slow down business – avoiding regular meeting places, postponing sensitive sales until the Ministry would be sure to look the other way. Yes, it had been a slow time for Borgin and Burke’s, which was not a problem Cas had wanted to confront after less than a year since ownership had been transferred to him. But Bjorn’s presence was promising, both in the potential goods he had brought and his ways of evading the nation-wide quarantine. Cas could begin to reach out to his network again with the lucrative promise of new and exotic wares.

“It is a shame. The Ministry has been exceedingly paranoid lately. Random sweeps of Knockturn,” Cas observed in a dismissive tone. Really, they should know better by now – he had his ways of finding out about the Ministry’s upcoming searches before their arrival, and they had never found anything remotely illegal or out-of-place in his store. “We had some Aurors last week, although I’m not expecting any further attention until September.” It was that sort of assurance that made Cas a more lucrative option as a fence than other, smaller operations. Borgin and Burke’s had earned a name for itself over the years, but he had an air of legitimacy that many didn’t. Counter-intuitively, it helped evade Ministry attention.

He leaned against the counter. “I trust you’ve brought something worth this meeting. The most interesting thing to pass through all week was a box of cursed Sneakoscopes.” Derivative, in his opinion, but it was those sorts of obvious and easy sales that kept the lights on. Still, Cas couldn’t deny he was bored. He was an expert in magical artifacts, and his time was worth more than small trinkets. He shook his head slightly at Bjorn’s mention of his youngest sister. “I haven’t. Ana must have, she should know more.” Their younger sisters were about the same age, and incidentally it was Ana’s position at the Ministry that kept Cas well-informed about potential threats to his business. Not a bad reminder for Bjorn – his friend, yes, but at the moment a business partner.

@bjorn

[Deleted]

July 3, 2025
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

Ah, the Ministry and their delusion belief that they had any control over Knockturn alley. Bjorn, like Casimir, knew better. Random sweeps did sound quite problematic... to the unprepared. The way Casimir had spoken though made it sound like it was only a mild nuisance instead of an actual problem. "When hasn't the Ministry been a paranoid lot?" he asked with a smirk. "But also quite oblivious to what is actually under their noses." Yes, he was mocking the Ministry a bit... but could you blame him? He was a criminal who made a living out of breaking their silly laws and not getting caught. Though, again, he tended not to mess with the British Ministry too often, for Tove's sake.

Bjorn slowly grinned as Casimir finally seemed to get down to business. They'd have plenty of time to catch up. Of course Bjorn knew that Casimir would want something of interest. He immediately reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small brown paper wrapped packet and set it on the counter in front of Casimir. It was no bigger then a large coin. "Happened to get my hands on something you might have a buyer for." He lowered he voice out of habit, leaning closer into the counter. "I believe they called it 'Death's Kiss'." Bjorn, like Casimir, was very invested in magical artifacts. This particular one, Death's Kiss, was not unknown to him, and he likewise assumed Casimir would be familiar with it. Extremely rare, as most of them had been destroyed, the amulets had been a popular tool of witches in medieval times. They'd gift the necklaces to their rivals, only for the necklace to slowly drain the life out of the fool that dared to wear it. They'd grown out of popularity when counter curses had been developed to detect and and deter the curse. While it had little practicality in modern days, the rarity of the find made it a particularly precious artifact. No doubt a great many collectors would pay quite the handsome price to add an authentic Death's Kiss to their collection.

Ah, Ana. Such a complicated relationship that was. Bjorn chuckled shaking his he ad. "I would rather stay clear of that potential problem. She might be your sister but we both know the price on my head is always a little too tempting for her." The pair had, of course, had a number of run ins over the years. She'd never arrested him, he knew it wasn't because he'd out played her. He didn't doubt she could arrest him if she was determined enough. Bjorn knew for a fact that, while he was no push over, Ana would beat him in a duel without breaking a sweat. That, and he didn't know when his luck with Ana might finally run out.

[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

With the complicated juggling act Cas was playing these days, he rarely spoke in a straightforward manner anymore. It was just too risky – the wrong person might overhear, or react in the wrong way, and then he had a headache on his hands. Cas wasn’t unskilled when it came to disposing of potential problems – although he preferred not to get his hands dirty himself, he knew how to arrange the silencing of a potential problem. Still, it was always better to avoid it if possible. Even the dolts at the Ministry would start to ask questions after a while, and there were only so many incidents that could be covered up before he made a mistake and something slipped out. No, better to avoid the possibility entirely and speak in tongues.

But Bjorn wasn’t simply another face from his past, nor was he like any other business partner. So Cas didn’t mind a little good-natured ribbing when it came to government incompetence, although his interest immediately shifted to the little parcel. Cas had worked with Dark artifacts for too many years to risk touching something unknown with his hand, so he used his wand instead to gently prod open the brown wrapping and get a glimpse at the artifact inside. It only took a few moments of a cursory examination to get a sense of what Bjorn had brought him and – well, he was already proving his worth as a smuggler who could get his hands on very rare and valuable artifacts. “Been spending time in Spain, have you?” Cas asked idly as he studied the amulet closely. He recognized the shape of the amulet, as well as some of the carvings etched around the outer ring. He still occasionally sold jewelry that held similar properties, although these amulets were their ancient ancestors. They hadn’t gone out of fashion all at once, instead fading in and out of use in different magical circles. Spain and certain Mediterranean areas had been some of the last to continue regular use of the Death’s Kiss until they had eventually fallen out of favor there too. So Cas took an educated guess as to where his friend had been anchoring his ship.

“I can think of a client or two who might be interested in expanding their private collections,” Cas confirmed, although he quickly diverted his attention from the amulet back to Bjorn. He gave his friend a shrewd smile before he continued, “But the Death’s Kiss is very familiar in these sorts of markets. It might be difficult to move without drawing notice. Certainly it will take a great deal of effort from me to avoid the wrong sort of attention.” Cas made his suggestions lightly, a negotiating tool he typically utilized in an attempt to increase his cut before he offered to fence it. It required a delicate balance – a recognizable artifact offered an opportunity for haggling if he could make the case that it was a lot of trouble to move it, but Cas still had to establish his superior talent in being able to complete the transaction without trouble. If he went too far, or not far enough, then he risked losing the sale entirely. But Bjorn would know all that – he was as shrewd a negotiator as Cas, and he had certainly been in the business long enough to recognize what his old school friend was doing. But it was all part of the game, and Cas was certain they would reach a profitable agreement. As for the comment about Ana, Cas gave a light shrug of his shoulders. “I can’t pretend our interests always align,” he said casually, “but she knows better than to contradict me. Ministry or not, at the end of the day she’s a Karkaroff first. You know how it is for our type.”

@bjorn