Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinky

Yes. This would do as a place to watch people. Tamara did a quick check of her dress to make sure it was still in... place and then began to scope out the joint. Yeah. No Jonah, no children, no worries. She could totally perv from the buffet tables. TOTALLY.

Brushing her hair back out of her face she put on her best smile and stood in a tempting little pose. See she was as delectable as the food. Hehe. Perhaps Tamara could wrangle herself a man before the ball was done and her carriage turned into a pumpkin or something terrible as such.

If that wasn't a cry for attention, Chevron Wilkes didn't know what was. He'd been hanging out by the buffet most of the night, pleasantly just eating things as he passed by. No need for a plate.

His robes billowed and his bare ankles could be seen just under the hem as he made a pass by - this lovely lady.

He paused in front of her - looked - laughed, and walked on by. Were there cocktail weenies anywhere on this spread??

...

Had he just looked at her and LAUGHED? What in the name of all things Merlin was wrong with HIM? Had his mother not taught him any manners? HMMMM?

Clearing her throat slightly she gave the guy the stank eye and marched right up to him. "Pardon me, young man, but do I amuse you?" Probably a bad idea... but she was nothing if not blunt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinky

...

Had he just looked at her and LAUGHED? What in the name of all things Merlin was wrong with HIM? Had his mother not taught him any manners? HMMMM?

Clearing her throat slightly she gave the guy the stank eye and marched right up to him. "Pardon me, young man, but do I amuse you?" Probably a bad idea... but she was nothing if not blunt.

Chev pulled a fork from his inner sleeve, cast a glance around, then dipped his fork right into the potatoes. Then, of course, right into his mouth. They needed a bit of salt, but he couldn't complain TOO much. Free food was free food.

Oh - and right on cue! Ms. Thing.

Or Mrs?

Did it matter?

"Yyyyyy...... nnnnnoo...... yeee...... wait..... Nooooooo. Maybe." Chevron smiled amiably, young man that he was, then went back to looking for cocktail weenies. What sort of party didn't have those?

Oh dear goodness...he was a SLOB. He reminded her ever so much of Lucian with the fork and the food and being rude and all.

Ugh.

Pursing her lips she followed right after him and tapped him on the shoulder lightly. "Did your mother not teach you proper manners? You are being EVER so rude and not to mention that is QUITE unsanitary what you are doing there... do you happen to be a friend of Lucian Scamander's? Because I am telling you what the two of you would be two peas in a pod." A very dysfunctional pod, but a pod nonetheless. Yep indeed.

She resisted the urge to reach out and smack that filthy fork right out of his hand. BARELY.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinky

Oh dear goodness...he was a SLOB. He reminded her ever so much of Lucian with the fork and the food and being rude and all.

Ugh.

Pursing her lips she followed right after him and tapped him on the shoulder lightly. "Did your mother not teach you proper manners? You are being EVER so rude and not to mention that is QUITE unsanitary what you are doing there... do you happen to be a friend of Lucian Scamander's? Because I am telling you what the two of you would be two peas in a pod." A very dysfunctional pod, but a pod nonetheless. Yep indeed.

She resisted the urge to reach out and smack that filthy fork right out of his hand. BARELY.

"Ah, Mother. She taught me a great many things," Chev agreed, still with a jolliness that didn't match all the negativity coming his way. Water off a duck's back. He didn't explain any further, nor did he bother stopping.

Instead, he moved down the line to where the sticks were - the sticks for cake balls. He used one of those to help alleviate the woman's stress about sanitation.

"Can't blame our mothers for how we turn out though, right?" Chev's eye twinkled at her. "Scamander... Scamander.... hmm.. where have I heard that name before..."

Oh lamb kebabs? Those came on a stick. Chev helped himself to another and ate it right there in front of her.

O______o

Walven? What's a walven? Oh, wait! It was a compound word for Wally-Raven, wasn't it? Dean found the name amusing, thus chuckled upon hearing it. "Nice combo," he praised the lady, winking at her. Then, he turned to the table and began to fill his plate with lamb kebabs and... Oh! Chicken quesadilla! He loved those! Definitely taking more. "Exactly!" beamed Dean as Chelsea said how delicious the food looked.

"So, how was it in the pensieve review room?" enquired the young man as the couple walked side by side to a table. It might be a celebration for them taking the Cult down from the Ministry, but Dean was still worried with D'Isigny still hadn't been found.

Tonight was not exactly what Flynn would call a very good time.

It was great that the Cult had fallen, he certainly thought so. And celebration was nice as well. But it was so very... social. He'd had to go around and shake hands (which made him thoroughly anxious) with business colleagues, talk awkwardly to people he didn't know very well that would not let the conversation die, and even see everyone dancing with their dates. Flynn wasn't big on dancing, he'd never learned how, and physical contact terrified him, but it made him feel strangely alone. Of course he had always preferred to be alone, since he was uncomfortable with social interaction, but he felt as though it had been called to attention. He felt as though people thought he was even stranger than they already thought he was.

Thoroughly checking to make sure it was clean, Flynnigan stood rigidly at the buffet table, clutching a glass of punch in his hand, not knowing what to do with the other one.

The word to describe this night was amazing! And Laurel couldn't be any happier! This night was just overwhelming and she wasn't being phased by it at all. Everyone looked wonderful! Every dress or gown was more gorgeous than the other and each one caught her interest.

It wasn't long before she found herself over by the buffet table, in need of a drink. Now she wasn't entirely sure what there was to drink, but she was very intent on founding out what there was. Laurel looked down at her dress and thought she saw something on it and she gasped a little bit almost having a minor freak out thinking there was a stain on her gown. She then began brushing at it, but soon realized that it was nothing and she breathed a sigh of relief.

But what Laurel didn't realize that while she was doing all of this she wasn't exactly watching where she was going and had accidentally bumped into someone. She stumbled back a little bit and then gasped quickly say to whomever she bumped into,"Oh Merlin! I am terribly sorry sir! I didn't see yo-" then she stopped mid-sentence when that person had turned around. And Laurel could not believe who it was, that man who she had a recent altercation with at the City Park not too long ago. That man who had called her dogs, terrible filthy creatures! That man who had broken her wand and wasn't taken any responsibility for it. She was speechless at this point and didn't know what to do at this point exactly.

This night really wasn't getting any better, was it?

In fact, Flynnigan, tired of his uncomfortable, solo appearance at the ball, was ready to leave for the night and apparate home. Turning to leave, he collided with a young girl whose face he could not see. She began to apologize, and he was ready to excuse her, as she would have to be relatively clean enough to attend this event, and he didn't want to be rude. He felt terrible about how he'd yelled at the psycho dog woman in the park the following week, but she was a different story. A crazy girl who let their dogs attack you was different then a simple mistake at a ball, even if he did find it highly uncomfortable.

"Oh.. it's alright-" he began to lie, until the girl before him showed her face. No, this couldn't be possible! He had thought for a moment that this girl was they psycho dog lady... but he couldn't remember her face very well! Ugh! He couldn't tell. Playing it safe, he decided to study her face a bit before asking her, "Excuse me, but do I know you? You look terribly familiar.." Perhaps he'd just seen this girl on the way to, or even around work. The Ministry was big, you couldn't meet everyone who worked there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevensnared

O______o

Walven? What's a walven? Oh, wait! It was a compound word for Wally-Raven, wasn't it? Dean found the name amusing, thus chuckled upon hearing it. "Nice combo," he praised the lady, winking at her. Then, he turned to the table and began to fill his plate with lamb kebabs and... Oh! Chicken quesadilla! He loved those! Definitely taking more. "Exactly!" beamed Dean as Chelsea said how delicious the food looked.

"So, how was it in the pensieve review room?" enquired the young man as the couple walked side by side to a table. It might be a celebration for them taking the Cult down from the Ministry, but Dean was still worried with D'Isigny still hadn't been found.

Chelsea couldn't help but smile when she saw the excited look Dean had when he spotted the Quesadilla's. It was like a kid at Christmas and she loved that about him. Grabbing one herself she smiled. "Oh thanks...it was...I don't know...easier to say than Wally and Raven" and now she'd gone and said it. Ha.

Oh sillyness. "Oh, the pensive review room - its been mind boggelingly busy. I've got to review pensieve after pensieve - lately i've just been scanning as fast as I can or speeding through scenes because...I was there - I know that the person having the memory wanted all of us to look 'evil' when they had murdered innocent muggles and store keepers." She rolled her eyes. "Far better now that the cults down - the memories are less...manipulated than before."

"How are things going being a well, hit wizard now?" She asked smiling softly to him. "I do have to say be safe on that case of yours" she added softly under her breath as she dropped a spotted something she hadn't eaten since a trip with her family she just smiled. "Oh wicked! Oh god, now I sound like my university days...they have Poutine - the most artery clogging dish ever French Fries covered in Cheese curds and then in Gravy." she pointed to the mess of brown and fries - despite how oddly disgusting it looked. The taste was always spectacular.

Bypassing the overcrowded entrance hall Natasha entered the ball room. It had been an impossible feat trying to spot her sister amongst all the Ministry employees and guests. The entrance hall looked more like a giant zoo of people than anything else. Feeling her stomach grumble loudly Natasha made her way over the buffeet tables passing around some dancing couples. If only she had a man to dance with on this triumphant night. *sigh*

Grabbing a plate she browsed the delicious looking foods before deciding to try some chicken quesadilla. If she had learned something over the years it was that at big functions like balls you had to go with food you know was eadible.

"You look a little lost" Isobel mused as she came to a stand still by her sister. Iz hadn't seen the woman has she had obviously arrived, but then the entrance hall had been very full, and she had been a little distracted. But she'd found Tash now, and that was pretty good. Her sister had just started working at the ministry, so it was probably a good idea to find her, maybe she could introduce her to a few of her co-workers. That would be nice.

But. Mm. Food was here, and that was a good concern first. "I didn't see you outside..." She mused with a smile, as she picked up a plate. Noww. What to have. There was lots of choice. Leaning forward, she put some potato salad onto her plate.

Natasha was just about to help herself to some chicken when a familiar voice beside her commented on her body language. Glancing sideways at her sister Tasha rolled her eyes and the admitted "This place is gigantic. Who wouldn't be lost?"

Pointing towards the chicken and the table in general she asked "Think it's safe to eat everything on the table? Because that ravioli looks a bit grey in color." Growing up with five-star cooking and big dips had made her cautious about what she ate.

Frowning Tasha replied "How could you, the entrance hall looks like a zoo. Or didn't you notice?" She doubted Isobel had considering that her sister had Wesley to lead her through the throng of people.

Tamara was convinced that this... manchild needed to be beaten with a wire hanger for the way he was behaving in front of an ELDER. How very RUDE indeed.

She did, however, give an approving nod when she noticed he was not using the filthy fork anymore... but the approval ended swiftly. Was that a hit at HER? Her parenting skills? "No but some children should remember to thank their mothers for all of the positive influence in their lives once in a while."

"And can I get you a napkin perhaps..." Which was code for you are a filthy little slob and you should chew with your mouth SHUT so as not to deposit food all over your chin. Hmph.

Now she would TRY to make nice... "So do you work here at the Ministry... I never caught your name," she trailed off for him to insert his name.

Laurie didn't seem like she wanted to talk about her painting, which amused Dorian a little. He didn't show that, however, even if it was pleasant knowing that at least both of them had topics that they would rather not discuss. Although that seemed to be the case with most people. Everyone had one secret or another that they preferred not talking about. "Hobbies are important as well," he replied idly, picking up another canapé simply to give him something else to do.

Especially as she called him on his evasion, and he looked at her with a blank expression. "A good characteristic of a prosecutor," he replied, the slightest of smiles creeping onto his face. Especially as she conceded, but the amusement shut down again as she took another route for the conversation. From one sticky topic to another, it seemed, and he glanced away and watched Isobel speaking with another blonde for a moment before answering. It gave him time to formulate an answer, anyhow. "That's another one of those things...," he replied, starting to shut down again before he remembered that she'd keep poking. "I don't really look. And in fact, People haven't really asked, either." Not that he was against getting into another relationship, but ther was always that fear that whoever he got involved with would end up on the radar of certain people, and situations would repeat. Even if he was fairly certain that Gabriel wasn't getting out of Italian Wizarding prison any time soon. "Not to mention recent events precluded actually leaving the office very often." Except for when he was on the search for D'Isigny. There weren't too many opportunities when he hadn't left the office longer than to go home and shower before returning to the job. He had a feeling things were going to be different again, though.

[color="Red"]"I think so," Laurie said amused. Yeah she saw that smile, however small it was, it was still a smile. And just like that it was gone. Hmm. At least he wasn't stupid as he knew she wouldn't take that for an answer and went on to explain. "I'm of the opinion that MLE people spend too much time in their own head," she said eying him pointedly.

Grabbing a strawberry she bit into it carefully as she thought. "I do believe the man is supposed to ask the woman out," she teased with a wink as she took a sip of her champagne. "But considering you are at the office about as much as I am...I can understand that." It'd been...awhile since she was on a proper date herself the workaholic she was. "Well, Mr. Escort, care to take me out on the dance floor? It's been awhile but I promise not to squish your toes too badly." She set down her glass and the stem of the strawberry on a clean plate and smiled up at him. "Us workholics have to stick together after all."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinky

Tamara was convinced that this... manchild needed to be beaten with a wire hanger for the way he was behaving in front of an ELDER. How very RUDE indeed.

She did, however, give an approving nod when she noticed he was not using the filthy fork anymore... but the approval ended swiftly. Was that a hit at HER? Her parenting skills? "No but some children should remember to thank their mothers for all of the positive influence in their lives once in a while."

"And can I get you a napkin perhaps..." Which was code for you are a filthy little slob and you should chew with your mouth SHUT so as not to deposit food all over your chin. Hmph.

Now she would TRY to make nice... "So do you work here at the Ministry... I never caught your name," she trailed off for him to insert his name.

"I'll try to remember to send mine a card," Chev solemnly vowed with a chunk of kebab in his mouth. He grabbed another kebab off the bar and put one into the deep, enchanted pockets of his long, billowy robes. THAT was for later. THOSE were too good not to have leftovers.

In fact, Chevron just went ahead and took the rest and dumped them into his pockets. Lamb kebabs for breakfast, too!


Oh she was still around? Chevron smiled warmly at the Mrs. Whoever. She was a mother, he could tell. If she wanted to wipe his face with a napkin, he was fine with that. "Have at it," Chev leaned forward and offered his chin to her.

"Of course I work here. Games and Sports. Best Department in the whole Ministry!" Here here! "And I, of course, am Chevron Wilkes. Friends call me Chev." His fingers made two little L-shapes at her, and after he said his name, two little ker-POW sound effects followed.

Chevron Wilkes. Ker-POW ker-POW!

DEAR MOTHER OF ALL THINGS MAGICAL WHAT THE HECK WAS THIS DUDE DOING?! Tamara was EMBARRASSED to be seen even standing near this man as he dumped the platter of kebab's in his robes. Oh dear...

She couldn't help the bit of a blush that colored her cheeks as she watched this... display. And then with the face thing. Leaning toward her. Clearly he needed a mother figure in his life. Without even flinching she grabbed up a napkin and spit on it before wiping at his face with it.

"Well... it's interesting having met you, Chevron. I am Tamara Scamander. I am one of the new Ministry Advisors," she said with a small smile. You know. Of THE Scamander's. Yes. THOSE. And yeah. YEAH.

She, unfortunately, had no sound effects to go along with her name. Perhaps she would look into getting a full theme song soon though... Way to go Chevron Wilkes. WAY. TO. GO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinky

DEAR MOTHER OF ALL THINGS MAGICAL WHAT THE HECK WAS THIS DUDE DOING?! Tamara was EMBARRASSED to be seen even standing near this man as he dumped the platter of kebab's in his robes. Oh dear...

She couldn't help the bit of a blush that colored her cheeks as she watched this... display. And then with the face thing. Leaning toward her. Clearly he needed a mother figure in his life. Without even flinching she grabbed up a napkin and spit on it before wiping at his face with it.

"Well... it's interesting having met you, Chevron. I am Tamara Scamander. I am one of the new Ministry Advisors," she said with a small smile. You know. Of THE Scamander's. Yes. THOSE. And yeah. YEAH.

She, unfortunately, had no sound effects to go along with her name. Perhaps she would look into getting a full theme song soon though... Way to go Chevron Wilkes. WAY. TO. GO.

Chev didn't even blink an eye at his spitty face cleaning. "Thank you," was all he said when she was finished. Did that make her feel better? Yes? He nudged towards her, going back to the bar. What else could easily go into his pockets for leftovers? Hmm.

He'd been in America for most of his adult life, but Chev was vaguely familiar with the name. She kind of WANTED him to be familiar, didn't she? He obliged, "A fitting title, for someone as worthy as you, I'm sure. You can advise me at the Ministry anytime you want."

Ker-POW.

It'd beat actually working, which Chev already did minimally.

He glanced back at the buffet table as Inez pointed out the desserts she liked "Good choice." he nodded smiling "Would like to try out that creme brulee myself"

But it was her next words that got his head turning back towards her. "You're the new Transportation Head?" he blinked startled, but quickly rolled out a smooth smile to mask his surprise. "Yes... yes I was with the Department of Transportation... but there was an opening in Mysteries and with my previous experience I just went for it." This was surreal. He looked forward to working with Armen's replacement, but at the same time he couldnt help feeling bad for his old boss. No matter what he has heard or what has been written about him, Corin couldnt help thinking that there is some other undisclosed reason why a man like Armen fell in with the crowd like the Cult.

He looked up to the stage to hear the lady from the American Ministry of Magic take the stage. Her song speech was pretty good. Then he saw Minister Greingoth make his way up the stage, followed by other Department Heads. He turned to Inez and said "I think that's our cue to join them up there." he said angling his head then made his way through the crowd towards the stage.

Oh dear he was really in NEED of a motherly figure even though he was CLEARLY almost FIFTY. Probably. He hadn't aged well either way. That was CLEAR. Tamara stuffed the napkin into her pocket and sighed as he pushed past her. He was like a child. And Tam had a good mind to knock him upside his head for behaving as SUCH.

And then... he complimented her and was slightly creeperish. Awwwwwwww! YES. She was starved for attention sometimes.

Smiling slightly she looked away as she cough!laughed. "Thank you Mister Wilkes. You are certainly... an interesting fellow. Here. Let me give you some advice on stealing from a buffet," she was a WOMAN after all, "Be sure to get the bread products LAST. They will get soggy otherwise. Oily products first." She gave him a nod and a little wink before smoothing down her hair.

"I must say it was nice to meet you," although that was yet to be determined.

Well.

Well... That was a good question. Given the thought, maybe it was.. to show of his money? He could buy anything and not have to worry about it making a dent in his pocket? No, not quite. "To-" he paused. "To remind you of me. Not that i'm forgettable or anything. Just to reinforce the thought of me, i suppose." Now it just sounded like he liked her or something.. Fail, Holden.

The man shrugged, sliding his free hand into his pocket. "I suppose you're right." Not like he'd care if she wore it or not. "Texas, eh? Why Texas? Doesn't sound like a nice place, honestly." But wait. Was that an invitation? A smirk appeared on the young man's face.

Ophelia just laughed at that. He didn't even know where he was going anymore, did he? He was only digging himself deeper into a hole he was going to have a lot of trouble getting back out of.

It was amusing, anyway. "Do you want me to remember you?" HUH? What was he even going for?

"Texas is home." Phe shrugged too, "It's time for me to go back home, and I think my dad will like it." In fact, she KNEW he would. It would be good for him, for his health especially, being back home and away from the gloomy London weather.

More laughing. "I suppose that's a no on the visiting." HIS LOSS.

Oh, she had just arrived? That must be why he hadn't noticed her earlier in the Entrance Hall. That, or the crowd, which was also likely. There were quite a number of people here after all. Plus she said she loved celebrations, so she had likely been or would likely be spending her time socialising and mingling amongst the people, while he stood off to the side and admired the decorations. Hm.

Introductions? "Ah, I knew I must have seen you around Level Four," Atticus said when she mentioned she worked in the Environment Department. He knew he'd recognized her from somewhere - and he was right. How often did that happen? Accepting her offered hand, he shook it and replied with a smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Stewart. I'm Atticus Aldredge, Head of the Magical Creatures Department."

Holden sighed and shook his head slowly, clearly not happy with himself. What was he doing? This- this wasn't like him. He was normally a GOOD liar. And.. he wasn't even sure why he need to prove himself to this woman. What was the point in all of this anyway?

He shrugged. "I suppose. Although, i don't think i have to give you anything to make you remember me. It was just.. a nice gesture? Well, not completely a 'nice' gesture. But you get it, don't you?" She had to. He'd made the little finger quotes around nice and everything. "It's more of a reward, i suppose. Afterall, i rarely hold company this long." Yeah, and he liked it like that. But.. he didn't completely mind Phe's company. She wasn't quite as annoying as most of the other females he knew. Not quite.

"Home?" He questioned. "Sounds like a strange place for a home, honestly." From what he'd heard, Texas was a strange place indeed. And now she was on about her father, and it made him feel slightly uncomfortable. He never did well with the elderly. They all seemed so frail and near death and from the few things Phe had told him about her dad, he was sick. In Holden's mind, that meant he was almost gone for good. "I suppose," he said simply, not sure what else to comment on the subject.

Again, the dark-haired man shrugged. "I didn't know that was an invitation." Maybe he would have said yes. MAYBE. But then again, he kinda did have to take her skiing, right? He always liked taking new people. Only because new skiers and snowboarders often fell, and it was an enjoyable source of entertainment.