As you step into another section of the stadium you will see tables lining the four walls. On these decorated tables you will find different gift baskets filled with various goodies. Each basket has been donated by a person or company. Some of the baskets include the following: a basket filled with makeup and the beauty supplies and a gift card that has been donated from Primpernelle's; a basket with many different potions as well as a gift card from Slug and Jiggers; a basket with some music goodies and a gift card to Atticus's Attic First & Secondhand Music Shop is also in the mix; and many more.

Tickets are sold in packs of 10 tickets for 2 galleons, so buy some tickets and place your name on them pronto! Slip them in the cauldron next to the basket you are interested in and at the end of the evening, we will be announcing the lucky winners. Good luck, everyone!

Orientation. That was a weird way to start the work year. Weren’t orientations things children were subjected to at school? Not exactly the way Marya had expected to start her time at the British Ministry of Magic but there was a small consolation to be had in the fact that at least this was something she was used to. Formal events where she was expected to be gracious, mingle and network were in her blood, after all. Nevermind that she rarely did any of those things.

That also meant she knew exactly what she was supposed to do at a fundraiser and so, minutes after arriving, Marya Kovac could be seen determinedly making her way to the auction section, the black cocktail dress she wore hitting her leg with every step. Callous or not, they wanted her money; she might as well spend some time properly assessing what it was she was getting in return, after all. The hand that wasn’t holding her clutch wiped back her big mass of curly hair and she stopped in front of the nearest table, the heel of one shoe (the pair that would earn her a pointed look from Mother if she were there) tapping the floor. Potions. Yeah, hard pass on that.

Willow hadn't found Luke yet but was hoping he was able to get away as planned. She'd agreed to meet him here, so she moved to the gift baskets to see what was up for auction. Spotting another woman near the baskets she smiled at her but didn't recognize her anymore than she recognized anyone else in orientation.

Stopping outside the Twickenham Stadium, Luke gave himself a look over before going inside. He didn't want to accidentally make a fool of Willow on her first night at her new job for dressing wrong or having a weird hairdo. Satisfied the blond professional quidditch player entered the stadium to find his girlfriend.

Finding Willow by the auction tables Luke sauntered up next to her and slipped his left hand into one of hers as he gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "Hi, Will is anything nice up for auction tonight? Any qudditch memorabilia or is it just about squibs?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crayola

Orientation. That was a weird way to start the work year. Weren’t orientations things children were subjected to at school? Not exactly the way Marya had expected to start her time at the British Ministry of Magic but there was a small consolation to be had in the fact that at least this was something she was used to. Formal events where she was expected to be gracious, mingle and network were in her blood, after all. Nevermind that she rarely did any of those things.

That also meant she knew exactly what she was supposed to do at a fundraiser and so, minutes after arriving, Marya Kovac could be seen determinedly making her way to the auction section, the black cocktail dress she wore hitting her leg with every step. Callous or not, they wanted her money; she might as well spend some time properly assessing what it was she was getting in return, after all. The hand that wasn’t holding her clutch wiped back her big mass of curly hair and she stopped in front of the nearest table, the heel of one shoe (the pair that would earn her a pointed look from Mother if she were there) tapping the floor. Potions. Yeah, hard pass on that.

As a department head, and a damn good one at that, Lynley Purcell decided to bid on some baskets. She didn't care for anything in them; she just wanted to support the cause, so to speak. Leaving her son behind was always difficult on this night; the orientation was hard this year as it was last year for Wyatt to let his mother go. The kid was six, now, and his anxiety with her leaving was still so strong. She supposed that's what happened when you adopted a child from an orphanage at an age where they could still remember what it was like not to have their parent in their life.

But she was here, and once again, acutely aware she had not brought a plus one. Her heart was far from lonely, but she could hardly look at couples here and there without a slight twinge of....well, something within her. A father for Wyatt would have been nice....but for now, she had little to complain about with her family of two.

She sighed as she eyed the basket with the beauty supplies.

Lewis felt somewhat strange, he had only just been excepted into the ministry. He hadn't even talked to his department head yet. He smiled to himself, he was going to work with werwolves in the department of magical creatures, at least that was what his exceptance letter stated. He walked over to the stands and put seven galleons into the donation box. He looked in the baskets. He wondered why they called it an auction when it was more of a givaway. He looked around and saw that everyone was talking and mingling with the other ministry employees. Unfortunatly, he didn't know anyone who was there.

This was an interesting way to kick of the start to the ministry, but in her 10+ years Victoria had seen many different ways they had done it and this way was one of the better in her opinion. Doing something important and giving back to ones community showed the public that the ministry was backing them and helping them. It was good for everyone involved. Though she felt her time would have been better spent with quidditch things, Victoria made her way around the orientation and to the baskets.

Cossy wouldn't mind her spending a bit of money, it was to a good cause and for her daughter's benefit so she would be buying double the tickets and maybe even giving a donation towards the funding. This was all about Alana in her eyes, a way to bring the worlds together and make her daughter feel like she belonged again.

Looking around she noticed someone who seemed out of place or lost so putting her thoughts about tickets aside she moved closer to the man, "excuse me but do you need help with anything?"

"Um, not really." he really didn't need any help on anything. he continued to be polite. "Um, I'm Lewis, how are you?" although he felt uncomfortable as always, he thought it would be rude not to talk to the woman.

Maybe the musical basket would be a good joke bid. She could buy a handful of packs in her uncle’s name and just give them a wedding gift, even if she didn’t get the basket. ‘There you go, now people think you are charitable and caring. You’re welcome.’ The music theme wasn’t ideal, though, what Marya really needed to find was a gift basket that included swimming lessons. Or some kind of boat ride.

That her uncle could appreciate.

The twenty-one year old quietly surveyed the tables and their contents, wondering if maybe she shouldn’t just buy a ticket for each one and be done with it. After all, people were starting to arrive which left the door open for … conversation. Now, Marya didn’t mind conversation per se, but she would just rather not talk to any random stranger. Which is why she did her research and memorised the faces of the Department and Division heads. Like the woman next to her. Stopping near her, she eyed the basket from Primpernelle’s curiously. “That Elsberry foundation is outstanding. It’s worth bidding on the basket for that alone.” She commented matter of factly, before turning to look at the woman, one hand extended. “Marya Kovac.”

SPOILER!!: Marya

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crayola

Maybe the musical basket would be a good joke bid. She could buy a handful of packs in her uncle’s name and just give them a wedding gift, even if she didn’t get the basket. ‘There you go, now people think you are charitable and caring. You’re welcome.’ The music theme wasn’t ideal, though, what Marya really needed to find was a gift basket that included swimming lessons. Or some kind of boat ride.

That her uncle could appreciate.

The twenty-one year old quietly surveyed the tables and their contents, wondering if maybe she shouldn’t just buy a ticket for each one and be done with it. After all, people were starting to arrive which left the door open for … conversation. Now, Marya didn’t mind conversation per se, but she would just rather not talk to any random stranger. Which is why she did her research and memorised the faces of the Department and Division heads. Like the woman next to her. Stopping near her, she eyed the basket from Primpernelle’s curiously. “That Elsberry foundation is outstanding. It’s worth bidding on the basket for that alone.” She commented matter of factly, before turning to look at the woman, one hand extended. “Marya Kovac.”

It was rare to find a new employee that didn't push Lynley's buttons, or that mirrored how one should ACT at a new employee orientation, so this young person surprised Lynley in that regard. And yes, she did notice when a face didn't look familiar. "Is it? I'll have to try it. I've been thinking of upping my makeup game lately," she said with a slight squinted look at the basket.

She took the girl's hand and nodded. "Lynley Purcell, Transportation Department Head. I take it you're new, and you're clearly not mine. What level have you been hired onto, then?" she asked as she straightened the necklace on her neck. The clasp had done that annoying thing and rolled around to the front; Lynley quickly straightened it out, feeling irritated that necklaces DARE do this so often to her. Her nails had a fresh coat of plum paint, the color more vibrant than typical ones. Her special ingredient was, indeed, doing one of its jobs. The other job could only be done when the paint was still wet.

Usually, Marya would've agreed. Eyeing the woman's face as conspicuously as she could, it wasn't hard to agree with her; she did need to up her make up game. However, that probably wasn't the right thing to say to a fellow employee and one with more power inside the workplace than her. For now, anyway. Even if she didn't have to work for the woman, there was no doubt in her head that Department heads probably shared information on their employees -- that was to be expected, anyway.

So, Marya silently shook the woman's hands, the hint of a smile appearing on her lips but never really materialising.

"It's very nice to meet you." An exaggeration, but a necessary one. The woman removed her hand from her companion's and ran it through her curls momentarily. There was also no need to tell her that she had already known who she was. "Level 5, International Cooperation." She shifted her weight to her other foot, trying to keep her heels, even if magically enhanced, to hurt her feet at the end of the night and eyed the woman's nails. "Your nail polish game is good." Her grey eyes travelled the room briefly before settling back on her companion's face. "I haven't met my Department Head yet." Or anyone from the department, if she was being honest. "Do you have any pearls of wisdom to share with the -- fresh meat?"

Oh, well maybe she had been wrong and he wasn't one of the new employees, though they weren't at the ministry at the moment so even regular employees could be having a hard time finding things. So she shouldn't have just assumed.

"I thought maybe you were possibly a new employee and was just needing some help with things. My apologies." Taking her turn at the table she bought twenty tickets and then handed the money for the donation to the lady. Saying no that she didn't need to be recognized for the donation feeling it wasn't big enough for that type of publicity she turned and smiled at the man once more.

"I'm Victoria Culloden, it's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you Victoria, I'm Lewis Tuft. Um, yeah, I'm a new employee, I just don't know anyone here and…" He paused for a second, not exactly sure how to start a conversation. "Um, how are you?" He knew it was a dreadfull start, but decided not to rephrase.

Willow smiled softly as she felt Luke's hand slip into hers. "Hi" she beamed at him, not feeling so alone and out of place now. Ugh she hated starting new positions as she felt so out of place! "I was sort of looking at Slug & Jiggers potions they have." she said nodding at a basket not far away. "Was there anything you were hoping to see?"

Now she could at least relax with Luke there to support her!

Oh so he was new, well at last her radar for new employees hadn't been slipping. "It's nice to meet you, Lewis. What department are you going to be in?"

Looking around at the bags she placed a few tickets in. "I'm well, not sure I'm ready for the ministry to open again, but I don't really get a break either with quidditch being in full swing. This event has hit close to home as well, so I'm happy to see so many donating towards this museum."

Silently he squeezed Willow's hand supportively. He was there for her. Luke knew how his girlfriend felt about starting a new job position and he had been there himself a few times. It was never easy and definitely nerve-wracking. He wowed silently to do his bit to make this orientation night worth attending. Focusing on what Willow was saying his eyes immediately flickered over to the potions basket. "Of course, but you'll leave bidding on the love potions to someone else Will. You've already got me and I love you.."

Eyes flicking over the baskets Luke asked "Have you seen an quidditch memorabilia or books even?"