The Dessert Bar

Yes, your mother always told you not to spoil your appetite with sweets; but your mother isn't here, is she? The Ministry Food Court employees did well in the other parts of the food court, but it’s easy to see that they spent plenty of time planning and setting up the buffet-style table dedicated to the sweeter things in life...and really, who would deserve dessert more than you after a long shift of obliviating Muggles or sending out press releases to put an end to the most recent Ministry scandal? When you approach the table, you find a stack of plates and bowls at each end, and dishes of delicious-looking desserts lining both sides of the long expanse. Walk, don't rush, because there's plenty of pudding and pies for everyone!

Click the image for an enlarged version of the menu!

Menu made by sarahlooo

There were very few places Alexa could be once she was in the Ministry and not out on assignments. This was one of those places. Why? The sugar of course! It was nothing compared to the magnificence that was Sugarplums, nor did it compare to Honeyduke and its seemingly infinite stock but it had chocolate frogs and that was all she needed in life.

Sugar quills were good too--and jelly slugs she would pick up for Alice because her friend didn't go out of her way to buy candy which...was pretty sad when you thought about it.

Alexa picked up as many chocolate frogs as she could, stacking them high on her tray before she even began thinking about anything else. Money wasn't the issue, it was a matter of craving, which meant she would need some sugar quills afterall...

And the chocolate chip cookies...

And the chocolate cake...

And the cauldron cake.

Merlin where did she begin??

Beth wasn't really paying much attention. In her first few months at being at work she had not really been anywhere with in the ministry except her archives. She loved her job and keeping her secrets. But she really needed something sweet to snack on. She had to! So making her way with a coffee in her head she was her eyes set on one thing and one thing only. The counter with the cookies!

So with her staple of a black maxi skirt and simple pink T-Shirt on Beth bounced her way toward the counter. She was thinking of the recent looking glass she had gotten and needed to get the paper work straighten out for it.

And then there was also the awful incident with her mother to think about. Merlin's Beard, she wasn't even thinking straight and the next thing she knew she bumped right into someone and spilled her coffee all over. "Oh no!" Beth cried looking at the brown stained shirt now and the floor. She looked up to see who she had ran into and to see if they needed help. "I'm so sorry!" Elizabeth cried out.

Being this close to the cookies, Alexa felt she would grab a few and if she felt nice enough when she got back to the office, she would let Sabel have one...or half, he could have half because chocolate chips were a serious thing indeed.

Lex barely reached out to grab one when she felt someone crash right into her followed--hot hot HOT HOOOT!

She dropped the tray faster than she could even think about it, with all her attention turning to the burning sensation along her side and left arm. It wasn't even so much that it hurt--or well, it didn't hurt as much as the hex she'd gotten in training earlier--but it was the unexpected, the shock value of suddenly having coffee spilled on you. It wasn't something that happened everyday even with all the cups of the stuff that circulated around the MLE on a daily basis.

Lex shook the excess liquid off her then tergeo-ed the rest with her wand. The stain was still there but you found it was less visible against black fabric so she could deal. The dropped treats however...brought a scowl to her face. Dealing was hard in matters of sugar. "Thanks. A lot." She got on her knees and began picking up the sealed packs of chocolate frogs, sadly the chocolate cake she'd nicked was beyond saving. "You in the habit of running into people?" And ruining their day. Could she arrest her for that?

Oh no!! She had gotten her, ugh, face palm! This was day was horrible, for everyone that came even close to her. "I'm so sorry, I just wasn't paying attention. I can reimburse you for the shirt." Elizabeth said pointing toward the barely visible stain, compared to the completely ruined shirt of Beth's.

"I didn't mean to." Beth was blushing deep red by now, she wasn't even sure what else to say, frankly, Beth probably should just leave now. "I'll just .....go...." Beth made to turn slowly and walk away. She really didn't need the cookies anymore anyway.

Reimburse her for the shirt. Lex raised a brow at the woman, not sure how serious she should be taking her right now. "No need, Remy will take care of it." The house elf lived for that sort of thing if you asked her. "The shirt's not that big a deal." Clearly she was missing the fact that there was now wasted sugar on the floor. That was what bothered her more. Stains were stains, they came out if they wanted to and stayed if they didn't.

And then she was walking away, just like that. What was Lex meant to do about that? It was all the same to her if she left or not and she didn't have the slightest inclination to stop her...

But then...

In all her patrolling, Alexa had never run into this one. Which meant one of two things. She was either an Unspeakable that they kept locked away OR a stow away that shouldn't EVEN be in the Ministry and didn't have official ministry clearance WHICH MEANT SHE COULD PROBABLY ARREST HER FOR REAL.

"Hang on." Having picked up the last of the chocolate frogs, Lex got to her feet again giving completely serious looks. "D'you work here?" Interrogation mode, yup.

Okay, so she didn't want money for the shirt. Then why was she was surely about the whole situation. Okay yes it was an accident but Dear Merlin, never cry over spilled milk....or dropped sugar for the matter. Beth thought looking down at the mess on the floor. She really hadn't meant any harm by that.

She had turned away, but then was called back. "What can I do for you?" Beth asked when she was summoned back, and then the question about working popped. Well OF COURSE she worked here. Who in the world hang out at the ministry if they didn't work here. After all her job was exciting, but as for the ministry building itself? Why that was boring beyond belief. "Of course I work here." Beth added thinking who the heck was this woman to question her as well. "Do YOU work here." There, ha ha. Beth could turn it right around the woman. Beth was definitely getting on the defensive.

That was utterly and truly disappointing, the fact the woman worked here--if it was true. There was always an 'if' wasn't there? An element of deception. It might have been the months on the job already but that MLE suspicion was working its way into her, much like it did most all her colleagues back on Level 2. So yeah...if she was telling the truth then it sucked.

There might have been some ego inflation when the question was turned around at her because YES she DID work here and it was the absolute most epic job on the market. With very little delay, Lex fished the MLE badge from her back pocket and held it out authoritatively despite it fact it said YATI and not full blown Auror. Ahem. "As a matter of fact I do ma'am and I'll need to see your official identification before we can clear this up otherwise I'll have to take you in for questioning."

And it would be totally legit too. Rainey had them doing patrols for a reason. Never seeing this woman on a patrol, Lex could only assume she stumbled in--or deliberately crashed--and was a danger to herself and others. Currently the holding cells weren't all that full. According to the boss man, they weren't doing their jobs right.

"Well?" She wouldn't wait all day before detaining her. It'd be the most action the 18 year old saw since getting here.

Dear Merlin, this 'child' of a sense was being awfully bossy and very pushy. Elizabeth certainly did NOT care in the slightest that this youngster held a badge. Magical Law Enforcement didn't scare here one bit, nor did she think that their job was any more important that hers. Elizabeth kept their records for Pete's sake. Beth knew about things that this 'little girl' could only dream of.

Beth brining herself up to full height looked down upon her. "I simply don't have to answer to you Ms....." Beth squinted at the badge that was presented before her. "Cambridge" In fact now that Beth thought about it she hadn't been properly introduced to this very bossy and most unlike able person she had ever met. How did she always get involved in situations like this. "If you have a problem you can take it up with my Head of Department."

She...she didn't have to answer to her?

Had this woman been given too large a dose of some potion she should know about? Was she soft in the head? Alexa noticed the way the lady's shoulders squared as she tried looking taller and it only made her straighten too. Nothing intimidated Alexa Cambridge but a lot irritated her; this woman was starting to irritate her and that wouldn't work in her favour at all.

"But that's where you're wrong. You do answer to me. I'm Law Enforcement, the one that makes sure everyone follows the rules, the one who keeps everyone safe and the one that can and WILL haul your butt down to a holding cell for your lack of cooperation." In case that hadn't all been obvious. Merlin, you think this would have clicked in her head by now. Rainey said they needed to make the necessary arrests. If this wasn't necessary, nothing was.

Spill coffee on her? Sure. Spill her candy--well she was on the way to forgiveness...but then you throw in all this disrespect for her badge and her Department and it made perfect sense why Alexa immediately moved forward and forcefully attached a charmed set of handcuffs to the woman's hands.

"Now you can either come quietly, or find out what those cuffs do to people who don't listen." Her choice but they were leaving.

o.................O

Dear Merlin! What in the name of Sam's Hill is going on here! Beth didn't even have a chance to say anything. She hadn't done anything other than simply spill coffee on this woman. Since when was that a crime. Blinking down at the cuff on her wrist. "Dear Merlin, are you so hard up for action that you are attempting to arrest me for spilling coffee." Okay, not that probably wasn't the best option. Beth should really have thought before she just opened her mouth.

But for Merlin's beard, she was a adult in a black maxi skirt with a cuff on her wrist. How did the turn of events of today lead her to this moment. "I'll come quietly, but I think your head of Department will laugh themselves stupid when they find out why I'm being hauled in for questioning about coffee and cake." Beth attempting to gesture toward the spill on the floor and looked up. "Lead the way then 'little girl'" Ugh, again Beth don't be rude! She's tried to control her temper but really, this was ridiculous.

Without a doubt, this was one of the places she missed over the break. Her boss might have let her work through the holiday but the people in the food court apparently didn't share the same zeal for their occupation and opted to take the break offered to them. Shame really. The Ministry had felt quite empty for a long while. It was almost weird seeing everyone back again.

Deciding she would have her lunch inside the food court today, Alexa drifted first for the dessert bar. Real food would come after, if she could still fit anything onto her tray when she was done here.

Chocolate frogs were the first priority. She'd finished up the last of them on her round of patrols earlier and was in dire need of restocking.

6...7...8....10...12...This might have been enough for now. The young woman stacked them on her tray then waited for the guy in front of her to MOVE so she could grab one--two....two of those yummy looking chocolate muffins. Three? Three worked too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Without a doubt, this was one of the places she missed over the break. Her boss might have let her work through the holiday but the people in the food court apparently didn't share the same zeal for their occupation and opted to take the break offered to them. Shame really. The Ministry had felt quite empty for a long while. It was almost weird seeing everyone back again.

Deciding she would have her lunch inside the food court today, Alexa drifted first for the dessert bar. Real food would come after, if she could still fit anything onto her tray when she was done here.

Chocolate frogs were the first priority. She'd finished up the last of them on her round of patrols earlier and was in dire need of restocking.

6...7...8....10...12...This might have been enough for now. The young woman stacked them on her tray then waited for the guy in front of her to MOVE so she could grab one--two....two of those yummy looking chocolate muffins. Three? Three worked too.

Exploring the now populated ministry was going...interestingly for Lynley. She had finished her lunch already...and was now taking the time to give herself a personal tour.

And here....was the food court.

Lynley was certain the food here was mediocre at best. Not a bad place to actually EAT in, certainly, but would she EVER buy food here? Chances were...no. She had her dark hair tied back into an elegant bun, to keep her face clear, and tutted at the loose strand she felt. Well. She tucked that behind her ear and squinted up at the dessert menu.

Desserts were safer than the food. It was hard to mess up desserts. But did Lynley want anything, was the question. While she pondered this, she noticed the young woman she had...sassed with at the orientation. She...could not recall her name, but it would come to her, she knew it would..."I wonder how such a tiny body could possibly fit all that," she remarked snidely, still looking up at the menu.

Lex was two twitches of a muscle away from shoving the guy and insisting it was an accident. The indecision was clear in his expression as he gazed from the chocolate to the banana nut muffins then back again. Why was it this hard? Didn't he know what he liked??

The young woman jutted her jaw, clearly not impressed and clearly giving in to that....assertive voice in her head but the sudden intrusion of a voice brought her back.

Tiny body? Fit it all? Oh she meant her! And wasn't that the Department Head lady who'd be helping her out personally with her international apparition license? Or had she made that up...? Huh. Whatever the case, Lex grinned widely. "You'd be surprised, Lynnie." Because OBVIOUSLY they were close to BFFs now. "I've got a bottomless pit for a stomach. Should'a seen me back in my school days. Us Gryffindors could eat down the kitchen if the elves let us."

Lex noted her empty hands almost immediately. "Are you getting something?"

SPOILER!!: Alexa!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Lex was two twitches of a muscle away from shoving the guy and insisting it was an accident. The indecision was clear in his expression as he gazed from the chocolate to the banana nut muffins then back again. Why was it this hard? Didn't he know what he liked??

The young woman jutted her jaw, clearly not impressed and clearly giving in to that....assertive voice in her head but the sudden intrusion of a voice brought her back.

Tiny body? Fit it all? Oh she meant her! And wasn't that the Department Head lady who'd be helping her out personally with her international apparition license? Or had she made that up...? Huh. Whatever the case, Lex grinned widely. "You'd be surprised, Lynnie." Because OBVIOUSLY they were close to BFFs now. "I've got a bottomless pit for a stomach. Should'a seen me back in my school days. Us Gryffindors could eat down the kitchen if the elves let us."

Lex noted her empty hands almost immediately. "Are you getting something?"

....

What.

Had the young girl just called her 'Lynnie?' She was so unamused that she flicked and eyebrow upwards, staring at Alexa Cambridge as if she had grown a third rather repulsive and crusty eye. "....Lynley will do." She said coldly before looking back towards the menu thing.

Sigh. What to get..what to get. "I'm not quite sure what I want yet. Not sure what I'm in the mood for." she sighed and looked back at Alexa when she mentioned the word 'Gryffindor.' Sigh. How obvious and predictable. "You seem like a Gryffindor." It was not a compliment.

"You should guess what house I was in." Because Lynley wanted the girl to be quiet and let her order in peace. Maybe the bit of thinking would overload the former Gryffindor's brain a bit.

It had been worth a shot, trying out nicknames in case she'd let it stick though as it turned out the woman was not a fan. Lex might have been discouraged were it not for the fact that she offered up her first name instead of insisting it was strictly last names and titles.

There was some hope, yeah?

Lex grinned wide, absolutely wide and with a glimmer of new pride. This would be her second year away from the castle and people still thought she was very Gryffindor. It was an accomplishment to be sure, one she never wanted to lose. "Thanks! Used to try being the best Gryffindor I could be, y'know, and if you can't decide on something then I recommend the chocolate cake, or maybe the chocolatey chocolate cookies?"

So long as she had chocolate at all. Best thing ever invented if you asked her. Once invited to take a guess as to the older woman's house, her lips parted with immediacy and very little thought. "Slytherin." And it wasn't a compliment.

SPOILER!!: Lex

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

It had been worth a shot, trying out nicknames in case she'd let it stick though as it turned out the woman was not a fan. Lex might have been discouraged were it not for the fact that she offered up her first name instead of insisting it was strictly last names and titles.

There was some hope, yeah?

Lex grinned wide, absolutely wide and with a glimmer of new pride. This would be her second year away from the castle and people still thought she was very Gryffindor. It was an accomplishment to be sure, one she never wanted to lose. "Thanks! Used to try being the best Gryffindor I could be, y'know, and if you can't decide on something then I recommend the chocolate cake, or maybe the chocolatey chocolate cookies?"

So long as she had chocolate at all. Best thing ever invented if you asked her. Once invited to take a guess as to the older woman's age, her lips parted with immediacy and very little thought. "Slytherin." And it wasn't a compliment.

Lynley was reading over the different things...hmm. "Well..." she said and looked over at Alexa once more. "Being a Gryffindor can certainly be an advantage, sometimes. Especially since you're...." she raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you in MLE?" Gryffindors, the LOT of them, she was sure. It was a very house-ist thought.

A smirk curled across her lips as she nodded. "BINGO. Very good...would you like a treat, girl?" she asked, in a tone that she would use with her cat...and suddenly, she burst into laughter at her own joke.

Lynley Purcell thought herself just so hilarious.

Of course Alexa Cambridge wasn't a dog, but Lynley just...ugh. "Oh, you're cute." She said with an after-laugh sigh and stepped to the counter. "I'll have the fudgey pudding, please and thank you." She pulled out the correct money to pay. "

"But yes. Slytherin indeed. I've been out of Hogwarts for...what, twelve years now? Thirteen?" her eyes rolled upward in thought.

Well she wasn't wrong about that. In certain Divisions within the MLE it helped to be a Gryffindor, helped to not be afraid and actually willing to jump without thinking though she couldn't say she appreciated where the tone of all this was going....especially not after that....

Alexa kinda...just....deadpanned as the lady took on a more condescending tone and laughed at what she could only imagine the woman had found funny.

Right then....this one belonged in the nuthouse, same floor that Bunz belonged on in fact. For a moment Lex stood, unsure of what to say in response. She wasn't a pet and this lady sounded like her when she was talking to her kneazle. It simply wouldn't do however the young woman was never one to turn down an offer from someone who was well paid. Time to put those feelings aside. Ahem. "I'd love a treat, I accept those in any form of chocolate really whether it's the chocolate cookies, chocolatey chocolate cookies, chocolate frogs, cauldron cakes, fudge, chocolate cupcake, chocolate cupcake--sugar quill would be nice I reckon." She rattled on wistfully.

Lex leaned against the counter, considering it all and giving the woman some time to consider what she'd get her too before continuing on. "Years won't change much. My family hasn't been at Hogwarts for years and years and they all still act like a newly sorted Slytherin clones."

SPOILER!!: Alexa

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Well she wasn't wrong about that. In certain Divisions within the MLE it helped to be a Gryffindor, helped to not be afraid and actually willing to jump without thinking though she couldn't say she appreciated where the tone of all this was going....especially not after that....

Alexa kinda...just....deadpanned as the lady took on a more condescending tone and laughed at what she could only imagine the woman had found funny.

Right then....this one belonged in the nuthouse, same floor that Bunz belonged on in fact. For a moment Lex stood, unsure of what to say in response. She wasn't a pet and this lady sounded like her when she was talking to her kneazle. It simply wouldn't do however the young woman was never one to turn down an offer from someone who was well paid. Time to put those feelings aside. Ahem. "I'd love a treat, I accept those in any form of chocolate really whether it's the chocolate cookies, chocolatey chocolate cookies, chocolate frogs, cauldron cakes, fudge, chocolate cupcake, chocolate cupcake--sugar quill would be nice I reckon." She rattled on wistfully.

Lex leaned against the counter, considering it all and giving the woman some time to consider what she'd get her too before continuing on. "Years won't change much. My family hasn't been at Hogwarts for years and years and they all still act like a newly sorted Slytherin clones."

Lynley actually chuckled, yeah. Rare. She ordered another chocolate frog and then handed to Alexa. "For amusing me." She said simply. Amusing Lynley was hard to do, and if Alexa had managed it, Lynley thought the girl deserved a "treat." Heh.

Oh, no, she made a face. An 'ew' face. "Sugar quills? No--not a fan, no--" she shook her head an accepted her fudgey pudding and the little spoon that went along with the dessert. It smelled divine. Lynley honestly couldn't wait to dig in.

"Ooooh. Your family...all Slytherins, you say?" she asked curiously as she turned to face the tables in the food court. "Come sit with me." Her tone was slightly commanding. But really, Lynley had smiled like, what, twice with Miss Cambridge? She liked Alexa. How odd, and rare, an just...ugh. So WEIRD. Lynley wanted to see where this would go.

She also didn't mind that her rude remarks were brushed off by the girl. Showed spine. Lynley admired spine.

Lunch time meant lunch, but today Victoria decided she was going to skip lunch and grab some dessert. After the long night with Helena screaming and the screaming of course waking the twins up she was exhausted and coffee just wasn't getting her through. Now that Mariel was on maternity leave she was fully trying to step it up and help out around the office more. She had been in the department long enough to fully be able to help run it. Having two other awesome manager friends in the same department helped too.

Usually Vic tried to eat healthy, but today she wasn't holding back. She was fully going to get a huge piece of chocolate cake and a huge scoop of ice cream. It just sounded like the best plan ever. Why hadn't she done this before?

He still didn't know where he was going. It had been what? A few months now that he's been working at the Ministry if Magic and he was still getting lost. This was sad. He never got lost when he went to Hogwarts. Not even as a first year. What was this? Was he losing his sense of direction? He wasn't even thirty yet so this should not be happening at all right now. He knew that he was on his break but he wasn't hungry. Archer looked around and he managed to make his way towards food? Was his brain hungry then? He might need a good book to satisfy his hungry brain more than food.

Walking into the food court Archer looked around to see if he knew anyone that was in his department. Maybe they could help him get back to the floor that he needed to be on. His medium brown eyes kept looking and fell upon some he knew, he didn't know the woman very well but he knew her face and her name. Archer walked up to the woman and tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me." He said to her. "Um...do you know the best way to get back to the department from here? I...got lost...again." he didn't want to admit that he was lost but he felt like he needed to.

She had been deep in through over her ice cream and cake, so when Archer came up she hadn't noticed until he spoke. Jumping from her own distractions she dropped the cake and the ice cream onto the floor. Looking at it with a sad dismay she turned her brown eyes on Archer, "So sorry for that. I don't know where my mind was just at." She hoped she didn't get any on him.

Ordering another cake with ice cream on top she vanished the one on the floor. "Our department? " She thought for a moment, maybe he hadn't been here yet in the three months of work. Either way she smile, "Of course, if you go right over there you can either take the lift or go up one level on the stairs." The ministry floors could be confusing to anyone who wasn't use to them.

"How is your day going? I noticed some violations come through my desk. You might need to visit a few teams soon." She had hopes that he was going to be a good regulations member, it had been one of the most important jobs to fill.

The man jumped a little when he scared her. He saw the food fall to the floor took a step back. "No need to apologize. I'm sorry that I startled you." He gave her a warm smile because smiles made everything better. "There isn't anything on me. Let me help you clean that up." Then she mentioned about some directions, Archer rubbed the back of his neck. He felt like he might have sounded like an idiot for still getting lost. "I think I need a map of this place. I try to look around on my breaks but I think it does more harm than good because I end up needing to ask someone for directions." Archer nodded and gave the woman a smile. "Thank you so much and I promise I won't ask again." That would be very embarrassing.

"My day has been very productive." He smiled. He tried not to take so many breaks but he needed one for today. It had been a very busy half of the day for him. "I had a feeling I would have to but I don't mind it at all." That didn't bother him. He thought it would be fun to do for some strange reason.

Good she didn't get anything on him, that was all she needed was to get cake and ice cream on one of her employees. She could see it now Quidditch Manager makes regulations employee quit three months in. Ugh, that would be awful especially when the season was so busy an the end was just a month away. "I shouldn't be so caught up in my own thoughts. Just a busy time for our department so my head is never fully focused." She was always thinking about work no matter where she was. She smiled as he helped her clean up her mess and then turned back to pay for her treats.

"Oh you'll figure it out. It took me some time, but now it's just like being home." She knew the ministry like the back of her hand after being here for eight years. "It's good to take walks during your break. It's how I figured things out, plus I like to just have a change once in awhile." She knew many people at the ministry because she made herself present in the other areas, which she always felt was a good thing. "No need for apologies, I don't mind helping." She actually enjoyed it.

"Productive is good. I've been doing many of the regulations myself so having help is a good thing. It's a very important part of our department. Mariel actually started out there when her and I first came to the ministry." That seemed so long ago now. "Before you go to any we can sit down and sort through the paperwork and get all the fines together. The only place I'd try to avoid unless you fully have to go right away is the Catapults. I don't think they actually have anything at the moment, which is impressive." She knew Rebecca was one not to follow the rules, but this seemed extra quiet of her.

Tala had decided to skip lunch and go straight for a dessert. She was craving chocolate like crazy, and if she didn't get any she would not be able to focus on her work which at the moment was, ugh, more paperwork, so much of it that her head was full of nothing but inky words and the smell of parchment. Merlin's mud pie sounded pretty good, but so did the brownie and the cauldron cakes... Would it be mad if she grabbed one of each? probably.

She reached out and grabbed one of each, filling her little tray, beaming more to herself than anyone else. Food, food made Taladona a happy girl, especially baked goods. Now, the big question was where to sit. There were a lot of people around, but none that Tala was on talking terms with just yet and the young woman was weary of joining a table with entirely new people. She spotted a table to the side, one that was empty and fairly clean and made a beeline for it, taking the seat and sitting up camp.

Eating lunch alone, she hadn't done that since back when she'd first gone to St. Barts... sigh.