Once you’ve gotten all the food you can fit onto a plate, have a seat and enjoy your food while socializing with your colleagues! Each table seats eight, and there are place settings that include all the needed utensils; no need to search for them at the buffet! The seating is located right next to the dance floor, so technically, there’s dinner and entertainment, eh? Maybe after you finish your food you’ll join your colleagues on the dance floor? Or go for seconds? Whatever the options, feel free to take a load off and get comfy at your table!

While Alex would have loved to have been on the dance floor, her swollen stomach and feet were not having it at all, so instead she was seated at the tables and now waiting for her husband to show up with her food!

She had been starving and now just wanting to stuff her face and get out of her shoes!

Her love for heels had made her shove her feet into her favorite pair, but after five minutes of standing her feet had swelled to the size of cantaloupes and there was no telling when they'd go back down..

Merlin help her!

And where was Jordan? She felt like she could eat a hippogriff right now!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FwooperOnYourLeft

While Alex would have loved to have been on the dance floor, her swollen stomach and feet were not having it at all, so instead she was seated at the tables and now waiting for her husband to show up with her food!

She had been starving and now just wanting to stuff her face and get out of her shoes!

Her love for heels had made her shove her feet into her favorite pair, but after five minutes of standing her feet had swelled to the size of cantaloupes and there was no telling when they'd go back down..

Merlin help her!

And where was Jordan? She felt like she could eat a hippogriff right now!

Her baby had not let go of her leg when she dropped him off at her parents, and she felt awwwwwwful. She didn't even enjoy these things all THAT much. It wasn't like her Giuseppe; that had been enjoyable. Hmph. She was interested in meeting new employees...particular, her Becca Parker one. If she could find the woman >.>

She went to sit for a few minutes, not feeling hungry much right, when she saw a familiar A&C face. She didn't remember her name, but she got a nod from Lynley. "Enjoying yourself so far?" she asked politely. Just casual conversation here.

Katja was not at all happy to be here! In fact, were this not a job requirement, she would've stayed home with her precious persian cats. Her dance partner brother had refused to accompany her this year, and it looked sad and pathetic to show up alone. Did Aleinn not know that etiquette rule? Either that or he just didn't care about it! One thing was certain; her older brother was getting a stern tongue-lashing the next time she saw him!

The blonde Danish woman sighed as she took a seat. There was absolutely no way she would set foot on that dance floor without a partner, and the finger foods served weren't her taste at all! She could chip a nail or ruin her lipstick!If she was going to dine, she required suitable cutlery. She took out her compact and scrutinized her reflection. Well, at least her outfit was perfect!

Alex was still looking around for Jordan and her food when she spotted someone else coming to sit.. She recognized the Head.. of something, but couldn't quite place her name. "For the most part, you? " The half veela said with a warm smile..

Now if she could only get her shoes off and pad around barefoot for the next few hours that would be great..

She looked down at her feet and sighed before rubbing her stomach and trying to calm the little kicker inside. Ughhh.. she wanted to sleep! And ice cream.. she really wanted ice cream.

After grabbing some food from the buffet, Daichi moved towards the seating area to sit somewhere at the table to eat his food. He spotted an empty seat and after making sure that no one was sitting their, he sat down.

He ate quietly, not talking to anyone. It wasn't often he could eat in peace. His son usually demanded attention during dinner and wouldn't stop until Dorian's grandfather told him to. He still had a lot to learn but that was what made parenting fun, he thought. His father said he just needed to be more firm. He smiled a little as he thought of breakfast this morning before he continued to eat.

If she had been to one Ministry orientation, then she'd been to them all. Of course, they used to have more formal balls, but even they began to grow old, and Mariel was fine with just the standard. It wasn't as if she would stay all that long other than to make an appearance and make sure her newest employees began to get acclimated anyway.

Once she filled her plate at the buffet, she began picking at some of the food as she made her way towards the seating area. The department head supposed she should look around for her newest additions to make them feel welcome, but there weren't all that many seated just yet. She was familiar enough with Aaron and Isobel to recognize them and she had seen Javier's photo attached to his file. Perhaps she could pick him out of a crowd.

But until she came across them, she should find a table and eat. Or maybe they'd come find her. As she looked around, she noticed a woman sitting alone who didn't appear all that enthused about being there. Hm, she knew that feeling well at times, but it was professional to appear at required work functions. "Are you having a good time?" she asked lightly as she came across her table before taking a bite of a strawberry. It would be impolite to assume otherwise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FwooperOnYourLeft

Alex was still looking around for Jordan and her food when she spotted someone else coming to sit.. She recognized the Head.. of something, but couldn't quite place her name. "For the most part, you? " The half veela said with a warm smile..

Now if she could only get her shoes off and pad around barefoot for the next few hours that would be great..

She looked down at her feet and sighed before rubbing her stomach and trying to calm the little kicker inside. Ughhh.. she wanted to sleep! And ice cream.. she really wanted ice cream.

Lynley nodded. Casual banter was a relief, sometimes. if only for the fact that it wasn't stressful. Typically, she didn't partake in it, but tonight...it was safe. It was relaxing. "I feel...similarly." She grinned a little. "These things wear me out. I come because am obligated," no need to lie, eh?

She saw the tummy rubbing. But as much as Lynley could assume, she could NEVER ask. NEVER. So she took a safe route. "I'm Lynley--Purcell, from Transportation?" and soon she would ask if the woman had kids. Then maybe they could breach that subject.

Alex smiled warmly at the other womans comments, "Usually they are all right, I like dancing with my husband and a night out is always fun.. but meeting so many new people is tiring." She said with a soft smile. She never was much for attention, usually she was trying to get away from it due to her blood.. but it always seemed to attract people to her..

"It's nice to meet you Lynley. " The white haired woman said with another warm easy grin. "I'm Alexandrina Stevens from Accidents and Catastrophes.." Goodness that was a mouthful, yeah? "I'm sure I've seen you around a few times. " Lifts and what not..

Katja was still distracted by her compact when a voice made her jump slightly. She snapped her compact shut and stuffed it back into her purse as she looked up. She saw another woman had joined her and gave her a polite smile, grateful for her company. At least small talk would give her something to do besides reapply her lipstick for probably the twentieth time!

She was slightly taken aback by the question, though she was careful not to let it show on her face. Was that a trick question? Was this person a department head looking to fire anyone who seemed unenthusiastic to be here? "Not entirely," she confessed with a slightly nervous chuckle. There, short sweet and to-the-point. There seemed no need to go into the hows or the whys at the moment. "And you? Are you enjoying yourself?" she asked the other woman.

The blonde Danish witch suddenly remembered she hadn't yet introduced herself. Good gracious, where were her manners? "I'm Katja Westergaard, Scandinavian consultant," she quickly added.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FwooperOnYourLeft

Alex smiled warmly at the other womans comments, "Usually they are all right, I like dancing with my husband and a night out is always fun.. but meeting so many new people is tiring." She said with a soft smile. She never was much for attention, usually she was trying to get away from it due to her blood.. but it always seemed to attract people to her..

"It's nice to meet you Lynley. " The white haired woman said with another warm easy grin. "I'm Alexandrina Stevens from Accidents and Catastrophes.." Goodness that was a mouthful, yeah? "I'm sure I've seen you around a few times. " Lifts and what not..

Lynley could certainly agree with that. People were exhausting in general, not just NEW ones. It was probably because Lynley got so irritated to easily, but people were just...the worst. Honestly. It was a miracle Lynley wasn't annoyed with THIS woman, but there was something charming about her that had Lynley feeling quite pleasant at the moment. "Oh? You're not dancing yet?" she asked with a grin. "I...do not dance. Not at all. I like to watch." And silently judge.

"I'm sure you have. I feel like I'm always bloody here. WELL not here...at the Ministry, I mean. So most people should know me by sight." Hmph. "Ahh, I THOUGHT you were Level Three. Well, it's nice to meet you, too, Alexandrina," she held out her hand for the woman to shake.

Mariel casually watched the people near the entrance as she stood next the seated woman and nibbled some of the pieces of fruit that she had gotten. And it seemed like utter chaos. Grown adults acting like children.. and a lion? She was pretty sure that Victoria's husband was right in the middle of it too. How dreadfully embarrassing for her. She made a face of mild disdain at the nonsense before turning to the woman as she spoke to her.

"No?" Mariel raised an eyebrow. "Drama and histrionics not your cup of tea?" She made a very subtle gesture towards the check in area. "Can't say it's mine either," she added dryly. Not when people were meant to be professionals. Her children were better behaved.

Katja, right. Mariel nodded, sparing the woman a small but pleasant smile. "You must be one of Erec's then." She didn't feel the need to add the familial connection but she would introduce herself just in case the woman did not recognize her. "Mariel De La Garza. Department Head for Magical Games and Sports."