haneda, yurika.

Politicians rarely ever speak plainly. They wrap their words with ribbons and euphemisms, incentives and misdirections. Politicans rarely ever say what they want, much less what they need, and they’ll use ever other word in the dictionary to communicate just that. Despite employing all those tricks, Terry sits with a thinly raised eyebrow and a degree of amusement pinching at the corners of his mouth, with press a smile that is neither friendly nor hostile. “Ms. Haneda, I appreciate you thinking of me in this particular matter,” He knows she knows, and he knows she probably doesn’t care as long as she got what she wanted, but for the sake of speaking plainly, Terry continues to explain the risks of what she’s asking him to do, “– but I’m obliged to tell you that pressuring forgien government processes is illegal, and counts as what we diplomats call interference.” 

Terry reaches into the recesses of his suit pocket to find his pack of cigarettes and pinches one in his mouth before lighting it. Thin plumes of smoke surround him, “That being said, hypothetically, if I were to have strong connections within a government that could potentially help you and your company establish itself in their country…” This back and forth is a customary dance they do, all culminating to the single question: “What would you be offering in return for such a favour?”

This meeting is strictly off-record, at least for Terry it is. A Reformist Member of the Wizengamot out with the British Wizarding Front’s campaign manager? Ms. Rita Skeeter would have a field day. While the Fountain of Fair Fortune supplies them adequate anonymity, still their political affiliations trickle down into the minutiae of everyday. And today is not different, “I have no interest in money.” Terry states, his eyes  are on caught Yurika’s, almost feline in their reflective quality, “Perhaps we can come to an arrangement of sorts.” 

A favour owed by Yurika Haneda was more valuable than a vault at Gringotts teeming with Galleons. As a close advisor and confidant to Theodore Nott, a favour owed by her is priceless, and Terry was going to collect. 

.

There is always one or two illegal things happening in business whether it be a backdoor deal like this one or an illegal operation of sorts. A corporate can never stay clean no matter how much they like to project the cleanest and most perfect of image. Haneda’s Beauty Potions is no exception. On the outside, it’s the most progressive potion company around, spouting catchy words such as sustainable and ethical to the masses. But inside? Yurika can tell you that this is hardly the first time she has attended such a discreet meeting. That and her own political affiliations mean that the company is dirtier than what most might assume.

She knows the consequences of meddling with foreign affairs and asking for favours such as this one, but at the end of the day, business must prevail. And her business has given back enough to its surrounding communities to at least make up for their backdoor dealings. It helps that she also has a retinue of lawyers at hand if the consequences of her actions ever come back to haunt her. “I know the consequences,” she cuts in, raising the corners of her mouth into a pleasant smile, “but I am a businesswoman. I am willing to take my risks.” The return will be worth the possible backlash. America is too lucrative a market to not tap into. It will be foolish of her to not take this one risk in favour of greater profits.

“I’d assumed as much,” she nods to him, having already guessed that money would not interest him even if it’s a vault’s worth. For a diplomat like Terry Boot, political favours would be worth much more and Yurika’s unique position within the British Wizarding Front has added more value to her proposition. If she was a mere company owner, he would hardly be interested in an arrangement, “I’ll assume that you’ll want something from my other occupation?” This is where everything gets treacherous, when the line of this conversation crosses into political. She runs through every recent and upcoming political events, from the appointment of Shacklebolt as Shadow Minister (The Shadow Minister is akin to an overbearing parent that cannot let go of their grown child, Yurika must confess) to the recent Muggle technology fair and the items stolen from it (A bad look for the Ministry and Auror Office to lose Muggle tech displayed in a Ministry-sanctioned event) to the upcoming trial of Emma Burgess (A Syndicate member, if Yurika remembers correctly). At the end, she comes to the conclusion that there are many possible favours to be asked.

As such, Yurika is quite intrigued by what Terry Boot might ask. “What kind of arrangement will you be in favour of?” She asks him, crossing her legs and taking a sip from her pumpkin juice, “Though do keep in mind that I will not undermine the Front’s recent efforts.” She looks at him pointedly before leaning back slightly in her chair.

Viktor has no intention of bringing up the wedding – or it not happening, to be exact. He makes a point to keep out of other people’ business unless they come to him wanting to talk and it’s a mindset that’s served him well for many years. It’s why he never asked Charlie about it; he just accepted that sometimes things simply didn’t work out and didn’t think more of it. Charlie didn’t ask about his divorce either and that’s more than fine with Viktor. He’s had enough people asking as it was.

But Yurika openly brings up the topic without any prompting and it leads Viktor to believe that maybe it’s not the sore subject he might have assumed it was. He still has no intention of prying, but it makes this whole exchange feel less like walking on eggshells.

“I think that was it, yes. How have you been doing since then?” Two years is, after all, plenty of time for a lot of things to change. He knows that well enough, he realises as she mirrors his question. “I’ve been well. Busy. Yes, with coaching and all. Even off-season there’s a lot of work to be done, but in the end, it’s worth it to see the kids having fun. I had to take a small break recently – an old injury – but things are back to normal now.” Immediately, he makes a face at the words. Normal is certainly not a word he would ideally use to describe the situation in the Wix World right now. “Well. As normal as can be, all things considered.”

.

“Old injuries flaring up are always awful but it is nice to hear to hear that you’ve been doing quite well.” Yurika smiles sympathetically at Viktor Krum. There’s a sense of good for you at the tail-end of her sentence, one that she offers compassionately. Though the two of them had never been particularly close during the time they spent frequenting the same circle, Yurika would never wish ill on someone like Viktor Krum. He’s a good person.

Yurika takes a sip out her drink and mulls over his question for a second before going on to answer it. She has been doing fine. Albeit the fact that her company does have its urgent problems and the British Wizarding Front has gotten yet another scathing article written up about it. “I’ve been doing well. As well as one can be,” she answers carefully, nodding slightly and mirroring the expression he displays when he says “normal”, only with a different sentiment to it, “I am still managing the company. A lot more hands-off than I was two years ago but I’m still overseeing the whole operations. I am also still very much involved with the British Wizarding Front.” The last sentence is utterly unnecessary Yurika knows but she throws it in there casually, simply as a warning of what her political affiliation has stayed to be and how that may impact him to be seen with her, especially now that she’s no longer so low on the ladder of power. She throws it in there because today, your political affiliation means a lot more than it did two years ago.

“Anyway, when does Quidditch season start again?” And just like that, she switches the topic back to more mundane things, steering away from politics just as abruptly as she mentions it, “I always forget when it starts when I’ve been meaning to catch a few matches.”

Haneda’s Beauty Potions

Established in 1967 by Sota Haneda, the beauty company first started off as a quaint little shop in Hogsmeade selling beauty potions imported from Japan from Sota’s cousin’s potions business. The shop was moderately successful and the young man was enjoying his new life in the UK. However, not three years after he started his business, the First Wizarding War officially started and the potion import was halted. Unable to obtain any more Japanese potions, Sota Haneda set out to concoct his own variations of beauty potions. With the help of two employees, he was able to come up with the Boom Berry line, utilizing the fruit’s restorative properties to restore skin to a healthier state. The line was a huge success and soon, Sota Haneda was meeting investors left and right.

Today, fifty three years after the quaint shop in Hogsmeade opened, Haneda’s Beauty Potions company is a giant in the Wixen UK’s beauty industry. Run by Sota’s eldest daughter, Yurika Haneda, the company currently has fifty seven shops worldwide: 29 in the UK, 11 in Ireland, 6 in France, 1 in Sweden, 7 in Japan, 2 in China, and 1 in South Africa. Its headquarters is located in Diagon Alley. The company operates three potion labs and five potion factories.

Known for its contribution to the potions making community by often funding non beauty related potion researches and offering generous internships to graduated Hogwarts students, the company is still growing. Recently, there has been talks of an expansion to America along with possible acquisitions of smaller beauty companies.

One firm handshake later, they sit down together. Small talk is an art form the man is well-versed in, though he’s never learned to enjoy it. Time is of the essence for him, always. The Wizengamot wasn’t Terry’s only duty to the Ministry of Magic. The Department of International Magical Cooperation never lets him rest, and now neither does the spangling new Technomagical Initiative. Terrence has many luxuries and time isn’t one, he appreciates recognition of that. He allows a small smile to grace his lips, “I do appreciate your forwardness.” he nods, “Tell me, Ms Haneda, what is it I can do for you?” Or rather, what is it you can do for me? Terry takes another sip of his drink and brings his eyes up to meet Yurika’s with a glint of curiosity. 

He flips a coin in his head: is it business with the Front or more legitimate business? The opposing sides of the aisle got further and further from one another with each passing year, it felt. Cross-communication was rare, but Terry prides himself of being a proverbial bridge for the Wizarding Reformist Party with his many connections. But the British Ministry of Magic with all it’s politics is not the only place Terry holds value. He’s a Boot after all. 

And the coin lands tails: Haneda’s Beauty Potions. Terry stockpiles information on friends, foes, and everyone in between. Before their meeting he had done his research on her company, an expansion was in process. “Ah, I see…” Terry drawls, settling his half-full glass of whisky on the table. Terry served as Senior Legal Advisor to MACUSA for a number of years; and international trade was one of the topics under his purview. Many of MACUSA’s trade laws are built to protect their own magical industries, and beauty there was big. “MACUSA is known to be protective over it’s markets, it’s not unusual for foreign companies to be denied no matter how profitable they may be.” he explains with a small imperceptible shrug. Terry can smell a favour to be asked of him, “Is it legal advice you need? I would think a company like yours would have lawyers on retainer to handle the proceedings.” 

.

This is a bargain, Yurika can already sense as she takes a sip from her drink, letting the overly sweet pumpkin juice overwhelm her taste buds.

She has expected this bargain from the moment she told her assistant to send Terry Boot an owl. Everything with Boot is a bargain after all. It is not as if the British Wizarding Front had never done business with him. And she’d heard the few stories her acquaintances told her of their own bargains with the man. “My lawyers have briefed me on how MACUSA and their laws work,” they did not only brief her, they presented here with documents, each one detailing a specific trade law or a certain loophole that the Haneda’s Beauty Potions company might be able to bypass. She’d pored over each paper. Her assisstant kept a neat pile of the paper trail that their expansion has caused thus far. If she wanted more legal advice, she would have gone to her lawyer’s office with its fluorescent lights and earl grey teabags. Not to a pub on the very edge of the London magical community who serves subpar pumpkin juice.

“Surely, you must know that I am not in want of legal advice,” Tip toeing around matters could turn things sour and Yurika has never been one to tip toe. She takes and she gives. She’s generous in her bargains and she knows the price of each favour she asks. This one is sure to be expensive. “You worked at the MACUSA previously. I was wondering if perhaps you have a friend,” a connection, “that can help my company in this matter?” that can produce the legal papers right away without anymore fuss. She wonders what Terry Boot will want in return. Surely, he isn’t very interested in the business side of her occupation. A beauty company is hardly thrilling unless stocks and investments are brought to the table. And while Haneda’s Beauty Potions is extremely lucrative and profitable especially this quarter of the year, the process of transferring hefty amounts of stock to another person or entity would take months and she would have to go through the board of investors and directors first.

She presumes that if there is one thing she must give back in return to Terry Boot, it will be a political favour. One that she isn’t very sure she is willing to give. 

Terence lets out a surprised, warm laugh—and he’s surprised by her comment (both charming and a little bold) and by the very laugh itself. Sometimes it’s in the little, humble moments like these that he remembers his tendency to think he can predict everyone and everything is a detriment: and just plain wrong. Because he’d not anticipated this response from the woman. He’ll admit that he’d apparently already made a snap judgement about her cheery demeanour—not that it was malicious at all, but that it was artificial, whether she intended it to be or not. 

But something about her comment—or perhaps it’s the look in her eyes—strikes him almost offensively genuine. The kind of person who’d make friends with a stranger at a train station. The kind of person Terence simultaneously didn’t understand, and yet quietly admired from afar. Celeste had been that kind of person—and he thinks that maybe it was both the reason he loved her, and the reason they didn’t work out. But of all the things Avery could have inherited from their mother, Terence was glad to see that was one of them—in their own, calculated and quiet way, they were as authentic and affectionate as Celeste had been. Is, he supposes. 

“Tell that to my kid,” he replies. “I can only hope Avery has as much faith in me as you do.” But he sighs a little at her question, blowing a breath through his lips and running a hand up the back of his trimmed-short hairline. “I don’t… exactly know, to be honest. Which I realize is utterly unhelpful, I apologize.” He shoots her an apologetic grin. “But Avery has talked a lot about skin care… maybe just tell me a bit about your best sellers for thirteen year olds.” He smiles, then offers his hand with a slight shake of his head, as if remembering his manners. “Terence, by the way.” 

“Yurika.” she takes his hand and shakes it, noticing the fact that he omits his last name from their conversation. It’s not an entirely uncommon thing to encounter in the Wix community these days. People not giving up their last name the first time they introduce themselves to someone. Even so, Yurika decides to return the gesture, omitting her own last name as she shifts her gaze to the product displays that have her last name written all over them. He doesn’t have to know that she’s the owner of the shop he’s in.

“I’m sure they have enough faith in you,” Yurika smiles, picking up a Sun Glow sunscreen from a shelf, “Beauty potions and the world of skincare are not hard to understand once you learn the basic.” She recalls what her old potion mentor back when she first started to work the labs of the company told her, that beauty potions are essentially potions meant to nourish one in a delicate way, that it’s not that different from understanding the way medical potions work. “They’re not all that different from medical potions, you know? If you break your bones, you take Skele-Gro and the Skele-Gro heals your broken bones. It’s the same principle.” She shows Terence the sun glow sunscreen in her hand. “You get sun burnt or you want to avoid sun burn then it’s only natural to use the sunscreen potion. Your skin is dry and crackling. You find a potion to fix it.”

“Your child is thirteen?” There aren’t many things to fix when it comes to a thirteen year old’s skin. They’re basically still babies with perfect skin at that age. “Then all they really need is something to protect their skin so that it stays soft.” She picks up two more products, showing them to Terence before flipping to the ingredients list. “These two are day cream and night cream. They’re what we call skin moisturizing potions. You put the day cream on in the morning and the night cream before you go to bed. They have Muggle and magical ingredients in them and are designed to nourish the skin and keep them hydrated.”

Character Development Task #1         [have a listen]

“ neda nada - a contemporary playlist ”

A song that encompasses your character’s essence in while they were attending Hogwarts // prom dress - mxmtoon

Hogwarts Yurika is oceans apart from present day Yurika. Whereas present day Yurika does not particularly care for what people say and societal expectations, Hogwarts Yurika was always desperate to fit in. She was an anxious child trying to navigate the social scene and it was often that she found herself struggling with keeping her friends happy and her confidence intact. There were days in which she’d find herself tearing up in the comfort of her own company.

Their feelings towards the Battle of Hogwarts, or its aftermath // Things I Imagined - Solange

Yurika was in her third year when the Battle of Hogwarts happened and just as the lyrics of the song say, she saw things she had only imagined before. Who knew that a battle could actually break out in Hogwarts? Who knew Harry Potter could actually win against Voldemort? She had certainly imagined these things in her head but seeing everything play out in front of her was different. In some ways, she never really processes nor makes sense of her feelings towards the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts. It was something that happened and she shielded herself by simply placing herself as a bystander or a passerby to the war, not an active participant.

Your character’s most major or pivotal life event // The Love Club - Lorde

The most pivotal moment in Yurika’s life happened when she was twenty five. Her father had finally given her full control of the Haneda’s Beauty Potions company. She had just signed the last of the paper works and her new office was waiting for her. Suddenly, she’s one of the richest and most powerful person in business in the British Wix community. At the same time, her political career was also going well. She had just gotten promoted to a new role within the BWF, it’s not the campaign manager role yet but she knew she’d get there. Suddenly, she’s entered the club at the young age of 25.

A song that encompasses your character’s essence in the present // Writer In The Dark - Lorde 

“Oooh,” Lavender said excitingly, “A nice blue for Christmas? Bold and I love it!” She said, beaming. 

Lavender matched Yurika’s serious tone and nodded along side with her, effortlessly. “Yes pleasee don’t show us anything that looks boring or overplayed, we want something new okay?” She glanced at Yurika before at looking at Noltie, “Yes do you have anything that seems like it would be in a dreamy that’s also blue?” she asked, still sold on that idea depending on what was available. “Maybe we can pick a third color from what flowers he can show us,” she said, directed at Yurika, gesturing. 

Noltie looked between both of them, trying to remember everything that was just told to him. “Oh yes- I’m sure we can figure out something,” he said, chuckling nervously. “This… actually is a Mammoth Touch-me-not-” he said gesturing towards the red leaves and big bulb, “The leaves look a little like tusks and the name is from the way it can make you a little itchy- not too dangerous surely…” he reassured. 

Lavender looked at the plant he was holding curiously, “I’m sure some people going to our party would enjoy that… and interesting idea- instead of a dream- it would be a nightmare!” she said chuckling. 

Noltie looked between them nodding, “Well I do have this blue flower that has a- well” he went back into the backroom and came back with a smaller plant which he was correct had a big bright blue bulb. “This might do the trick. It’s called  Ouflerry and if you-” he poked it and the bulb seemed to pulse and shoot out some white smoke like a cough. Noltie looked pleased and looked between the two girls for a reading. 

Lavender looked impressed but waited for Yurika to make a comment. 

“It will be good to pick a third colour from the flower’s colour palette,” Yurika nods to Lavender before averting her gaze to the plant that Noltie had brought with him. She squints her eyes at the Mammoth Touch-me-not, reaching out to touch the leaves but stopping mid-air at Noltie’s mention of the plant causing itchiness. “Don’t know about this one, Lavender. Could be a hazard especially if we do invite fellow politicians and public figures to the party, and they bring their children.” She moves away from the plant, as if physically repelled by it. “BWF’s Christmas Party’s Guests Gifted with Mild Itchiness on Christmas Day doesn’t sound like a good headline.” Yurika crinkles her nose. It would be a nightmare indeed, a PR nightmare to be specific. And an economical nightmare too she’d assume, the British Wizarding Party would probably have to cover hospital expenses for their itchy guests and perhaps even provide compensation for failing to make sure that their Christmas decorations aren’t health hazards.

“Let’s go for something a bit more...” she tries to find the right word, “people friendly?” She watches as Noltie disappears again and this time, comes back with a more promising looking flower. Its blue bulb already looking better than the itchy red leaves of the Mammoth whatever. “It looks better than the last one already,” Yurika exclaims, “This one doesn’t cause itchiness?”

Lavender has already looked impressed by the flower so if the flora doesn’t cause any possibly hazardous side effects, there is no reason why they won’t go with it. After all, there is still much planning to do. They haven’t even looked at Christmas trees yet.

It’s not as though Viktor has any business in Hogsmeade, but if he only ever went to places he strictly had to, he would hardly get to leave his apartment at all these days. He knows, because it’s what he used to do. Keep to himself, go to work, go to events whenever people went out of their way to invite him, go home, repeat. It’s good to have a routine, certainly, but it’s not enough, especially in light of everything that’s been happening as of late. So he tries to put himself more out there. Perhaps not to the extremes of taking casual strolls down Diagon Alley, but Hogsmeade feels safe enough to begin with.

Except putting yourself out there is much easier said than done and once he’s actually there, Viktor has no idea what is it he’s supposed to do. Which, he guesses, is the entire point – he doesn’t have to do anything. Even so, walking around without any sort of purpose feels odd and it’s in hopes of remedying that that he heads towards the Three Broomsticks. He gets a pumpkin juice at the bar, ignoring the way the bartender looks at him as though they’re not sure how to act around him and manages a small smile when they ask for his autograph. (He would never say this, but he prefers the other bartender he catches here sometimes, the one who just scowls at him all the time, but at least never tries to engage Viktor in small talk as this one seems to be doing.)

“I’m sorry, my friend is waiting for me,” he says, tone appropriately apologetic, and immediately has to stifle the urge to wince at his own words. Why would he say that? There’s no friend waiting for him, and he’ll just look rude for the blatant lie if he goes to sit at the lone table he’s been eyeing since walking in. But he keeps his face impassive, even as he turns around, and lets his eyes scan the crowd. It’s too much to hope for a friendly face, but as he spots Yurika Haneda, Viktor figures it’s as close as he’s going to get.

And he likes Yurika well-enough, from what he’s seen of her so far, so really, this is actually a stroke of luck, finding her here and alone at that; he would feel especially bad if he was intruding on her private affairs. Mind made, he heads towards her table.

“Hello.” He smiles once again, though this time his smile comes easier than it did at the bar. “It’s good to see you.” Then he glances at one of the empty seats. “May I join you?”

.

There’s a shadow that has fallen over her table, Yurika Haneda notices as she snaps herself out of her daydream, looking up to find probably the last person she has ever expected to come across in Hogsmeade. Viktor Krum. The illustrious Quidditch player--and arguably someone that she’d known quite well once upon a time ago. She pushes her chair back slightly, gesturing to the chair to her left. “Of course, join me.” she answers, slightly perplexed. It has been so long since the last time Yurika had met Viktor, and the last piece of correspondence they’s had if she recalled correctly was when she and Charlie Caron, her Quidditch player ex-fiancee, sent him and everyone on their wedding guest list a letter announcing the cancellation of their wedding. So it is quite a surprise to come across Viktor in this way. Not that they haven’t briefly bumped into each other, what with the British Wixen community being quite small.

“It’s been so long,” she comments, “The last time we met was at the engagement party almost two years ago?” Yurika remembers Viktor to be a good friend of Charlie, the two had known each other through playing opposite on another on several occasions. She herself had only been acquainted with Viktor through Charlie. He was more Charlie’s friend and guest rather than hers but they had previously eaten dinner and talked to each other so she guesses this situation isn’t the most awkward.

“I guess it’s only proper of me to ask you how have you been doing?” She straightens her back, “You are still coaching here in Britain, right?” 

CLOSED STARTER FOR @yurikahaneda​

{ LEGITIMATE BUSINESS }

Date: November 15th, 2020

Setting: The Fountain of Fair Fortune, a bar on the outskirts of Wixen London. Terry meets @yurikahaneda​ for a business meeting, away from the prying eyes of their colleagues at the Ministry of Magic. 

Politics is messy and complicated; sometimes you have to shake hands those who you’d rather not. Yurika Haneda is a formidable campaign manager whom Terry has had the pleasure of working both with and against. The British Wizarding Front and the Wizarding Reformist Party are typically at odds with each other, but when their interests align (and they do, surprisingly more than you’d think) Terry has the unique self-imposed responsibility of ensuring a temporary partnership between the two. His acquaintanceship with her is friendly but not friendly enough to discuss business; so when he received an owl asking to meet Terry was very intrigued about the subject matter. Business can mean so many things, and Terry isn’t one to assume but rather make informed judgements - so he did his homework on Yurika’s beauty potion company, as well as another other outstanding situations the British Wizarding Front needed dealing with. 

He’d selected the Fountain of Fair Fortune for it’s discreet nature; a barkeep who kept his mouth shut for a Galleon or two, and no Ministry official, except for him, in sight. Terry settles into his usual spot, a table in the shadows away from the windows. He’s always ten minutes too early. Terry reads today’s Quibbler and nurses his single-malt waiting for his company to show; the scathing profile on the rise of right-wing and the British Wizarding Front is an enjoyable read. He finds himself agreeing with the writer, Pactum Sanguis does still live at it’s core, at least in his experience. When he sees Yurika enter the establishment, he casts the paper to the side and stands to greet her properly - arm outstretched for a firm handshake, “Ms. Haneda.” Terry says with a small smile, inviting her to join him at his table, “– I hope this place wasn’t too hard to find.”

.

Like all projects at the Haneda’s Beauty Potions company, it all started with an idea. A mindless one, in fact. One that no one was supposed to even take seriously, just a casual comment thrown around during an executives-only meeting. An expansion to America sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Everyone was supposed to laugh and agree. No one would follow up on the idea and it would simply sit atop the “Coherent Ideas from Brainstorming Sessions” list the company has for years.

Except this time, everyone took the idea seriously. 

And now here the company and Yurika are, having sunk too many Galleons than she’s comfortable disclosing into developing a more modern brand identity suited for the American market. With about three new lines of genderless skin products made with consideration towards the weather over at New York and two on-going researches on natural magical American plants that are safe for human use, a new headquarter already purchased over at the states, and a firm letter from the MACUSA telling her that no, you and your company cannot export and sell your products here. All of this means that Haneda’s Beauty Potions is in way over its head and their investments might be all for naught. The financial analysts of Haneda’s Beauty Potions have crunched up the numbers. Budgets have been revised. She already told her team to find a way to sell the new headquarter. Even so, she’s not ready to give up the American Dream just yet. So she sent an owl to the one person she knows has actual useful connections on the other side of the ocean, Terry Boot. Wizarding Reformist Party Terry Boot. Terry Boot with ties to the Calderon-Boot family.

Yurika knows Terry Boot, has been in contact with him before politically. They’re not friends. At most, they occupy the grey area between acquaintances and people who so happen to work in the same field. The man takes enough backdoor meetings for her to be friendly with him though. And she is well aware that he is not an ideal connection to contact but desperate times truly call for desperate measures. She’d rather socialise with the opposition than lose her investments. Besides, the British Wizarding Party does have some things they might need help with and Boot seems the perfect person for it.

So she enters the bar he’s chosen for their meeting,The Fountain of Fair Fortune, a rather seedy joint but with its own charms of course. The place is magical enough for them to be away from the prying eyes of Muggles but at the same time shady enough for them to be away from the sharp ears of the Wixen community. She quickly spots him at his table, noticing the new edition of The Quibbler he has with him. She is sure it’s the one with the nightmare of an article of British Wizarding Front but she choose to ignore it, plastering on a cordial smile instead as she reaches his table.

She takes his outstretched hand and shakes it. “Pleased to see you, Mr. Boot,” she greets him, “Wouldn’t have expected a place any less obscure from you.” She takes her seat at the table, flagging down the bartender and ordering a pumpkin juice of her own before turning back to Terry. “Well, I assume that rather than beating around the bush and exchanging pleasantries I should just tell you why I ask to meet you?”

Yurika leans back in her chair, counting to five in her head to mentally prepare herself to explain the situation. “My company, Haneda’s Beauty Potions, we’re looking to expand,” she pauses for a beat, “to America. We’ve hit a snag on the legal side of things. I assume that you might know a thing or two about MACUSA and their trade regulations?” She quirks an eyebrow.

Lavender smiled warmly, hugging Yurika. “You too!” she replied. 

She followed Yurika eyes, nodding disappointingly. “Yes quiet strange, we did call ahead and you think he’d know to be on time for us, his favorite customers,” she said with a little chuckling. 

“Did you get the owl of some of my ideas? It’s so hard deciding if we go all red/green or just silver/gold or maybe a tasteful silver/gold with just a splash of red, hmmm choices,” she mused. 

Suddenly they heard a clatter and out from the closed door in the back carrying a huge potted plant was Noltie. He was round and joyful looking and seemed confused for a moment when he spotted them. Then regonizing came onto his face, “Oh! Yes! I was expecting you two yes!” he said, putting the potted plant down, “…Now what exactly is this party going to be?” 

Yurika laughs alongside Lavender, her eyes already wandering around to the nearest display of fresh flowers, noting the many varieties that Noltie seems to have in store today. She spots thistles and the usual roses. A row of daisies at the back. Freesias and gardenias inside one huge vase. There are even some poinsettias that might work as decoration for the centre of the table. Choosing the right flower pairings will surely be a delight for her and Lavender. 

“Exactly. Shouldn’t he welcome us?” she jokes with Lavender and raises her brow, “At this point, we are loyal customers of the shop and we bring him so many Galleons every time we visit. So rude of him to not be here when we come!” Picking up a light blue candle from an elaborate display, Yurika takes a sniff of the scent, noting that it smells faintly of vanilla and amber.

“And I did read your letter,” she looks back at Lavender, “I like the silver idea but I’m not sure about the red. Are you thinking more blood red or maroon?” Yurika cocks her head to the side slightly, putting down the candle. She and Lavender have been planning parties together for so many times that at this point, they’re bound to always have at least three disagreements over decor and twelve disagreements over catering choices. “I saw this really lovely blue a few days. It’s very soft and slightly dreamy, it can really soften any room. I was thinking of pairing silver with that and maybe one more colour?”

Terence would consider himself a rather friendly sort. Certainly a lot more so than plenty of those who’d been in his circle growing up, at least. In Slytherin, that was hardly a surprise. 

But this woman’s chirpiness is the kind Terence had never quite gotten accustomed to. He knows from experience that some people genuinely are just like that, but being that she’s already got a little shopping basket in hand, he’d say it’s fair to assume this is just part of the package deal or customer service. Still, he’ll give credit where credit is due—he couldn’t never enthuse quite that hard, he’s fairly certain. 

Not to say her warm welcome isn’t appreciated—it just reinforces Terence’s feeling of being rather blatantly out of his element. Nonetheless, he slides her an openly humble smile. “Not only am I terribly unfamiliar, I confess I also have no idea what I’m looking for. My kid is a huge fan though… I was in the area, thought I’d pop in and see what they were always going on about, at least.” He grins. “The efforts of a terribly uncool father,” he teases with a hand on his chest and a playful hook in his brow.

And it shouldn’t surprise him, probably, that the woman is stunning. He’s not sure in what capacity she works here—if she’s staff or management or even the owner, but she certainly suits the environment. Hers is a face that’s hard to look away from. 

Haneda’s Beauty Potions’ customer demographic looks a lot like this: middle-aged witches who come in because they are looking for a potent anti-aging spell, awkward teenagers with common skin problems such as acne and pimples, new mothers who just desperately need the company’s pick-me-up potions after many a sleepless night tending to their newborns, people buying last minute birthday or Christmas gifts for their family and friends, and the occasional Wix who are actually interested in skincare and are here to splurge.

Stepping into the store at the behest of their kid is definitely a new category. Not unwelcome, just completely new. Yurika must admit that even the notion that a father can take interest in their child’s interests is a completely new territory for her. Not that she has daddy issues of course, her father is very much present in her life thank you very much. He just never gives a damn about her hobbies and likes, preferring to only know her as heir to his company rather than an actual child with actual wants and needs that he can’t throw money and expensive items at all the time. In short, he’s a cool dad who lets her do whatever she wants. In long, he’s a lousy dad who wishes problems away with Galleons and Sickles. When she was younger, she would wish for her father to be uncool.

“There are benefits to being uncool,” Yurika offers, her smile turning more genuine because inside, Yurika Haneda is a sappy human being who loves the picture of a perfect happy family, “You can only level up from being uncool, right? You can only get cool.”

She then nods at the row of products in front of them. “And I can help you get familiar with our products. I assume you’re looking to buy your child something? If you know what they might like, I can show and explain the potions to you.”