Quote:

Originally Posted by Harmonizer

"Certainly not," Cris quipped, on the topic of a crooked nose.

And now, she was introducing herself. Not that there was anything wrong with that. In fact, it was kind of nice that he was able to meet someone else from a different department. "Nice to meet you, Bella," he said, shaking her hand gently. "I'm Cristoph Witte, but preferrably, Cris." He didn't really mind what he was called, as long as he wasn't addressed by his last name. He didn't exactly expect anyone to pronounce his last name correctly. The spelling was way off from the pronunciation.

"Say, you aren't looking for a gift for the Minister's wedding, are you? Coz that's what I'm doing, and I'd really like it if I got a second opinion on what I'm about to buy. Or maybe a third," he added the last sentence as he acknowledged the clerk.

Christoph what? She didn't catch the last name properly. Ah well, Cris will have to do. "Pleased to meet you." She replied with a smile. She was pleased to meet him. She was always delighted to meet new people and that was something she could do in her job. From meeting the kitchen staff to world famous tailors flourists and ministers from other countries. A variety.

When he asked her whenther she was here for the Minister's wedding gift, she nodded. "Well, I am going to on a shopping trip today. Or tomorrow." She explained. There was no need for her to explain this to a complete stranger, but that didn't mean she wouldn't. "But I thought that if there was something I could get them from here, it would save me the trouble."

Oh. Opinions. Sure thing. "Of course." She said, glancing around the shop. "What did you have in mind?"

Oh, good. So Cris wasn't alone in looking for a gift in the nearest gift shop because he was kind of too lazy to do that. "Yeah, that's what I thought, too. I'm not really into shopping for gifts, considering I never bothered giveing much people anything." And it was true! Sure, he was invited to parties, but they never bothered reminding him to bring a gift, and never complained if they never got anything from him. Seemingly rude, but Cris really didn't mean it. He was trying to be nice, but not nice at the same time. Huh?

"So anyway, that's the trouble. I still have no idea what to get them. And maybe starting here would be a good idea. And I'm really hoping I can find something here. Besides, I bet a lot of people will be giving them better gifts anyway." He didn't need to tell her that. Ah well.

"Maybe you can suggest something. What're you getting them?"

Bella shrugged. "I was thinking I might get them something like a vase." She actually hadn't thought about that, she was just making it up. Now that she said it, it wasn't such a bad idea. "Or some kind of a show piece." She was going to get some for her house, why not grab one for the Minister and Ms. Belle as well?

"Or something they could use, but I guess a lot of people will be getting them stuff like that." This was so ... weird. Her parentls usually get all the presents and stuff for people since they had always attended weddings Bella attended. She knew exactly what her school friends had wanted for their weddings. Well, only two, since only two of them were married. But the minister was another matter altogether.

"Hmm. A vase isn't a bad idea, actually. But since you've already thought it up, I guess I can't use it anymore," Cris said with a slight chuckle. Hm. Something practical. Of course! What would a Minister and his bride need? Maybe some office supplies. Or house appliances. There was a wide variety of those around, probably.

"You're right. It has to be something original." He then scratched his chin. "Eh, but I can't be bothered thinking about it too much. So I think I'll stick to office supplies. A paperweight or something," he muttered as he browsed the shelves. Of course, he wasn't serious, but if he couldn't find anything more decent than that, a paperweight would just have to do.

"You could gift a vase too." Bella told him. "I mean, it isn't like we'll be gifting her the same vase? And even if we do, it'll probably look like a good set and maybe it can be placed somewhere together." She shrugged.

Bella laughed when Cris said he couldn't be bothered thinking about the girl being original. "Or maybe you could ift them a scapbook?" Bella snorted at her own idea. A scarpbook? It would do well if it came with a camera. "Or maybe ... a toaster or a ... erm ... sandwich maker?" She said, watching the man browse the shelves.

As she watched him, she couldn't help but giggle at the situation. What a way to meet someone. And even have a first conversation -- what to gift the minister for his wedding.

"Eh, I guess so. But there are other gifts out there, I'm sure," Cris said, shrugging, then getting his hands on a couple of picture frames. "You've sure got a lot of ideas on you. Maybe These'll do. Or I'll use one of your suggestions, if you don't mind. No, not a scrapbook. Too tacky. Maybe a sandwich maker. Or a coffee maker. Or an anything maker, if there is such a thing. I'm sure the Minister would appreciate that. He's a busy man."

Blah blah blah. His chatter wasn't helping.

"Maybe I'll hire a maid for them," he suggested to himself with a snigger.

Bella shook her head. "I don't mind." She giggled, then noticed his hands on a few picture frames. Not a bad idea. A thousand times better than a scrapbook anyways. "Thank you." She said, when he commented on her ideas. They are lame, but whatever you say!

She browsed throught the shop once more. Maybe it wasn't as unhelpful as she had once thought. There were a couple of vases sitting there. She went to take a closer look, but she just shrugged and moved on. If she couldn't find something good and reasonable on her shopping trip, she'll come back here again.

"Ah." Home appliences. She'd have thought they'd get a lot of those. Once she decided it would be better to just go outside and have a look, Bella returned to the counter. She was still clutching the cute little key ring. "Maybe this'll do." She played with it, laughing. She placed it on the counter and paid for it. Then slid it into her pocket.

"So, have you decided yet?" She asked him.

Cris collected the frames, then set them on the counter, just as Bella set a keyring on the counter as well. "Is that all you're gonna get them, or are you planning to get something with that?" He asked, a bit surprised. She had a couple of brilliant ideas, so he couldn't see why she didn't use any of those.

"Well, it's an impromptu decision, but these picture frames will have to do. Simple, nothing original, not a paperweight, and relatively useable," he noted, kind of proud of himself. Hahaha.

When she heard Cristoph ask her whether that was all she'll be getting for her gift, Bella looked at him with raised eyebrows, clearly questioning his sanity. She realised soon enough that it may look rude and composed her face. "No." She told him, giggling. "I got this for myself because I love collecting key rings and other such things." She shrugged. "This is not for the minister."

Bella nodded. "Nice idea." She said glancing at them once more. She doubted many others will think of photoframe. She grinned back at him. "It was very nice meeting you." Yeah. Nice to meet someone normal for a change. She couldn't exactly call herself normal, but still. "I hope we'll see each other soon." Well, since he worked here and he was going to be there at the wedding, it'll be no problem at all. "Have fun at the wedding." While I work. It bothered her a little. But it was her job. She extended her hand to shake his once more.

Miley walked into the gift shop and looked around.She loved coming in here,it was so quiet and relaxing.And,it was also a time to look for some gifts for her family and friends.

James hardly had tiime for much out side of work which is why he had stoppedinthe gift shop his Aunt's birthday was soon.

Miley saw this beautiful pink ring on a shelf not too far away from her.She started towards it when...no...she ran right into somebody.Gesh.Nice going,Miley."Sorry,"Miley said."I didn't mean to..."She looked up and saw James."Oh,hey."

out of reaction he grabbed the person that ran into him to make sure they didn'tfallover. " Oof, Whoa, Oh Hey." he said with asmilewhen he saw her.

"Hey,"Miley said."Um,what are you doing here?"

Richard walked over to the gift shop. He smiled at the gift shop worker, "do you have any Daily Prophet's by chance?" he asked looking around. He spotted them and picked one up. He pulled 5 knuts out of his pocket, handed it to the employee and said "thanks, see you later". He left reading the front page as he approached the familiar security desk.

Piper was beaming as she walked into the shop, she walked behind the counter and waited for someone to buy something

Cambell walked in the Ministry Gift Shop and looked around for a short while. She grabbed 2 large stacks of Ministry stanionary, a very nice feather quill, and a Ministry coffee mug off the shelves of the gift shop.
She went up to the counter and set them on the counter. "How much for these?" She asked, digging in her money bag.

Piper looked up and grinned "9 Galleons 3 Sickles and 5 knuts please" Piper smiled warmly "presents?" she asked jokingly nodding towards the piles of stuff

Jessica walked into the giftshop and started putting the items Egypt told her to on the shelves.She put the special chop sticks, the new fortune cookies with the talking fortunes,and quite a few sorts of American candy and gum. She arranged everything neatly on the shelves and labelled them. Then she took out the miniature Peruvian, Norwegian,the Bulgarian dragon figures and summoned each one to their spot,after opening the showcase. She put the porcelain figures of wizards from other countries like India and China on the empty shelves and labelled each one.Another job finished successfully.She walked out of the giftshop and walked into Magical Maintenance and Security Offices for her next task.

Piper looked up as Jessica wawlked in and put things up "Convention" she muttered to herslf as she bagged the two piles of stuff that Cambell wanted to pay for, Piper heard everything these days, since she moved to maintenancce she picked up bits of conversations.

Dan entered the gift shop and was wowed by the new look of it... He looked around for a gift for his father but decided to leave because his breaktime is nearly over

Piper smiled at Dan and sadly watched him walk out

Still levitating the various boxes from level one, Lorraine carefully entered the gift shop. She would need to make this fast as the ministers were waiting, but couldn't possibly see Angelina without a gift in hand. That would so wrong! Sighing, she gazed around the quaint gift shop, searching for something the woman would appreciate.

Jewelry... yes..

Approaching the shopkeeper, Lorraine smiled slightly to get her attention. "Excuse me?" she asked kindly, but was in a hurry, so she got straight to the point. "I'd like to purchase either a necklace or bracelet for someone. As a gift, of course. Perhaps the letter 'M' for Ministry? Can you help me?" The woman better be able to...

"What you got for sale?" Bao Li asked in a loud, boisterous voice as he entered the Gift Shop. "Post card? Spoon? Ooh, look! A t-shirt. Where this stuff made?"

Lorraine was standing there waiting for the shopkeeper to attend to her request when a rather loud male entered the shop. Chinese - from the looks of him. Oh! The ministers have started arriving already!? Yipes! She needed to get these boxes down to level 10...

Throwing a rather annoyed look at the male, she couldn't believe he was asking where it was made!? Honestly. Chinese people. Shaking her head at him, the department head accidentally spoke her thoughts out loud, "Where do you think? Britain!" She snorted.