Putting together a gift bag, Gretchen didn't bother looking up from her task at the sound of passing feet. She would socialize soon, make the rounds and speak with people. That's what she told herself, and then a newly familiar voice spoke up. Gretchen looked up at the man from the Leaky Cauldron with a sweet smile, "Hello Ryoma!" The young woman chuckled at the feline perched on his shoulder, putting the final touches on the bag and set it aside. "Look at you, handsome as ever Marshmallow. Was he the only one hoping to see me?"

Noticing Alexander slip over, Gretchen's expression brightened.
Gretchen smiled warmly to the two women whom stopped, curious of the gift bags. "Now that, I can't directly answer. It would ruin the surprise, but that" Brown eyes turning toward Alicia when the young woman asked if it was anything special, "I can answer, and agree to. Many neat, special things in honor of and relating to the party in some way."
"Of course," Gretchen answered, smiling once more. "Lord Borr values his employees and friends, and gift bags are a way to show appreciation and thanks for coming to a party when invited." Gretchen paused for a short moment, deciding whether or not to add another detail. She probably should. "And actually we're selling these, as souvenirs from the event. All the proceeds go to very important funds to lend help where it's needed-"
Gretchen nearly jumped out of her skin at the arrival of an unforgettable voice that could only belong to Charles D'Isigny. She didn't need to look to know, but the young woman did look, and managed to smile warmly. A faint flush to her face. "Hello Charles. Thank you, you look rather dashing yourself," Gretchen's voice softened. Hearing Alexander excusing himself and Ryoma from the table, her brown eyes moved on to the two men, holding back a frown.

Alex was leaving her with him, and taking Ryoma along?

Charles turned towards Alexander and with a little nod towards the man said, "O yes, likewise Alexander..." he said as the man walked off. Charles watched as Ryoma and Alexander headed elsewhere...he was sure Alexander was doing his part with today's festivities.

Charles smiled the woman's comment, "Well, I'd look even more dashing standing next to you..." he said with a little nod and small wink. He followed her gaze and watched as the men walked away headed elsewhere. "Gretchen, would you like me to come back and help you at the table..." he asked sincerely glancing at the line of people coming in the door carrying gifts...he knew this would be too much for just Gretchen to handle.

As he strolled into the general party area, Alexander happened to spot a few acquaintances standing around and chatting near what he assumed to be a gift bag table. More interested in the conversation than he was in the gift bags, Alexander placed his hands into his pockets and casually strolled over.

"Gretchen, Alexander, Charles," he greeted. His eyes flickered over toward a few unfamiliar party-goers also at the table, and although he was sure he didn't know any of them, he gave them a small smile and a nod anyway. A moment later, his attention was back on the first three he'd greeted. "...and how are the three of you today?"

Charles turned towards another familiar voice and smiled at the man, "I'm doing great especially now that we are all here to show support of the new Undersecretary..." he paused and glanced back at Gretchen again...he turned his attention back to the man just long enough to ask. "And you, Alexander? How are things for you?"

Alex shot Gretchen a Please forgive me glance as he began to lead Ryoma away... hopefully.

Alex gave Charles a little nod and went on his way a bit further until...

Ah. Smiling a bit of a crooked smile Alex said, "Well we couldn't have chosen a better day to celebrate Lord Borr, eh Greingoth? Things are going well thus far. How are you?" Yes, Greingoth was a supporter, they knew him well.

...

Come along Ryoma, Alex needs to talk to you about the Ministry, sir.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureBlood64

Anastasia smiled, everyone would like Marshmallow, because it was so cute! " I love all animals, I work in the department or Magical Creatures actually" She explained.

"Fascinating," Ryoma said with a genuine smile. He preferred muggle animals, like Marshmallow, to be totally honest. High maintenance things were not exactly on his list of things he liked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFeisty

Ali smiled, and felt her cheeks flush slightly just slightly as he kissed her hand. She wasn't used to that level of chivalry in the DIC but, it was nice when she found it. Still, she flushed more because it reminded her of the guy she met the other day. Oooh why wasn't he hear? She'd love to sit and talk with Jax some more.

"Yes, I do work for the Department of International Cooperation, I am on the british seats side one of the so-far-perminent workers for the DIC to stay in the London area." She liked that, the ability to stay in the London area it meant she was closer to her mom, dad, and Aure who was in the hospital still.

Ryoma blinked as Ali spoke. Staying in the London area sounded fantastic. He wished his father was in one of those seats and had to stay in the Tokyo are. Glancing around again, he still didn't see his father, but he did see his boss to whom he bowed his head. "Good day, sir," he said as Marshmallow squeaked in greeting. Ryoma wasn't sure if Marshmallow liked Mr. Greingoth, or if he was petrified of him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Wrekin

Alexander listened to them drone about the Ministry... except the Ryoma character. Interesting. Listening to the ladies speak he simply nodded his head. "To each their own, I suppose." Is all he said in reply to them but gave Ryoma a LOOK.

"Excuse me, Mr. Shiradou, would you like to come with me for a drink at the buffet. Perhaps we could speak further about some things. Might find we have common... ideals," he said in a commanding tone, but his face was soft. Yes, come on Ryoma... let's go chat away from the Ministry lovers.

Ryoma frowned...slightly. He had to leave the three pretty blondes to go talk to this person? Still, the LOOK that the man gave him made him puff out his chest a bit feeling like he had just been offered some sort of silent compliment. "Only if I don't have to mix it," he said making a rather lame attempt at a joke related to his bartending at the Leaky Cauldron.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gretchen Montasio

Putting together a gift bag, Gretchen didn't bother looking up from her task at the sound of passing feet. She would socialize soon, make the rounds and speak with people. That's what she told herself, and then a newly familiar voice spoke up. Gretchen looked up at the man from the Leaky Cauldron with a sweet smile, "Hello Ryoma!" The young woman chuckled at the feline perched on his shoulder, putting the final touches on the bag and set it aside. "Look at you, handsome as ever Marshmallow. Was he the only one hoping to see me?"

Buuuuuuuuut, before following Alexander, he looked over his shoulder and flashed Gretchen one of his dashing and debonair smiles. "Not exactly," he said with a wink.

Alex smiled reassuringly at Ryoma and clapped him on the shoulder. "Oh no, we have the drinks mixed for us around here, my friend," he said with a bark of a chuckle.

Wrekin noticed the puffing of the chest. This one may be easier to convince than any before him. Heh.

While Charles spoke with several others standing around nearly, Alexander busied himself with taking casual glances around the area. Most of the people he knew from previous connections or from just stopping in for a drink in The Leaky Cauldron. He waved at someone coming in through the checkpoint and then turned his attention back to Charles.

He paused before answering how things had been for him as of late. He'd recently made some significant life changes, but none he was quite ready to talk about just yet. He assumed word would eventually get around in its own due time. "I'm good," he simply replied, deciding to keep things simple. "You're positioned at the Ministry now, I hear? How's that coming along?"

Seeing that Alexander Wrekin was in the midst of what seemed to be an important conversation, Alexander Greingoth kept his reply short and to the point. "Fine party, indeed," he commented, nodding at a few of the setups surrounding them. "I'm just fine, but I see that you're busy. I'll see you around, Wrekin."

"Now you're just saying that," Gretchen grinned, shaking her head lightly at him. She busied herself with organzing the gift bags, still listening intentively to the chatter around her. Including Charles. Come back and help her? Oh no.. no no.

For a moment, Gretchen paused, eyes looking back up at him. "Aw no, you don't have to do that. I'm sure there must be people you're looking forward to speaking with at the party, you should enjoy yourself." She said assuringly, "And it's no problem right now. Ren said he would come and help soon."
Silently hoping that Ren would make an appearance soon, as not to leave her alone with Charles too long, Gretchen smiled a bright, warm smile as Alexander Greingoth strolled over. He would never know how grateful she was for his wonderful timing.

"Alexander, it's good to see you." Gretchen greeted in return, slightly oblivious to the fact Charles had already asked how he was doing as she set about fixing a gift bag that had slipped off the edge of the table. "I'm doing rather well, and yourself?"
Gretchen caught the look Alexander sent her, but made no move of responding in any way as it would be too obvious and possibly draw unwanted attention. Instead, her gaze swiftly turned toward Ryoma as he spoke up.
Her smile grew, a look of amusement in her brown eyes and a small laugh escaping her lips. "Have fun," She called lightly after the two.

Well, it was a relief that they made it through security. Now it was to the strange beyond of decorum, etiquette and ... party bags?

Stopping in his tracks, Sabel blinked at the stand. "So...we don't bring gifts but we get gifts. Or is this the drop off area for the gifts that we were supposed to bring that we didn't bring?"

Really, was this a party or a birthday party. Confused, he cast his eyes about the tented area, expecting to see a large, five-tier cake pop up somewhere.

"The invitations didn't say anything about bringing gifts." She spoke slowly beside Sabel, not as confused as the older boy was. "And Tate or the other professors said nothing about them either. So....maybe these are for us." Maybe. Like the shirts with the man on them.

Hopefully they would be BETTER than the shirts they'd received. Taking a step closer, she carefully leaned towards the table to sneak a peek inside the closest bag.

Unable to restrain his curiosity, Sabel moved up beside Arya, hooking his index finger over the lip of one of the bags and drawing it open a crack wider so he could peer in. "Maybe they're hats? And those sound-makers you blow in celebration?"

With everything he had heard of Borr, he wouldn't put it past the man. And with the t-shirts and gift-bag ideas, it really was looking like an over sized birthday party. What were the bags called again, given out at the end? Treat bags? Goody bags?

Ah, there were Hogwarts children. The same ones from the security checkpoint, infact. Happy to see their young faces, Gretchen smiled up at the pair. "These are for you lot, as well as others," but especially the children, atleast in her mind. "Please, both of you take one."

Setting aside the gift bag she had been fixing, Gretchen folded her hands on the table. "You two are with the Hogwarts group, right?" Best to ask and make sure. They could be children of Ministry employees, but Gretchen doubted that with these two. She was almost certain they had come in with a school staff member.

Sabel seemed to be fueling the young badger's curiosity, as she soon found herself sliding one of the bags closer so she could too take a peek inside. "A hat to match the shirts we got?" And sound makers to complete the ensemble? Arya hadn't been expecting ANY gifts, so she really didn't know what to expect.

No sooner had they started snooping had a somewhat familiar voice spoke up, causing her eyes to flick up to the woman sheepishly. "Oh, thank you." She straightened back up, sliding the bag she'd been peeking in off the table and over her hand. Smiling at the woman, she nodded her head. "Yes ma'am. I'm Arya Lovegoods, fourth year and this is Sabel Dakest, seventh year."

Sabel was about to flash a grin and eyebrow wiggle over to Arya when another voice joined their conversation, causing him to jump slightly. He vaguely recognized the woman from the front entrance, offering a bow of his head when Arya introduced them.

He wasn't too sure about taking one of the gift bags, and for the moment left the one he had been peering into on the table.

Charles focused his attention on Aelxander glancing occasionally out into the crowd and then over his shoulder to sneak a look at Gretchen. "Well, that's good to hear..." he paused and thought about the question that Alexander had asked...he wasn't sure how to answer it..."Yes, I took a position in the Department of Accidents and Catastrophes. It has been rather enjoyable meeting so many new people and being able to represent and spread our ideals and future..." yes that was a good answer....quick and simple...truthful but didn't really talk about his decision that was weighing on his mind tonite...


Charles smiled at the woman...she was even more beautiful when she got flustered with her words, "O trust me I'll enjoy myself much more helping you than I would elsewhere..." he said giving her his best smile and his most handsome glance. "Well, I'll atleast stay until some help returns...I mean I don't want you to get too covered up over here..." he said watching the crowds entering the place getting larger.

He turned and grabbed a few bags and started helping handing them out. As he did this he smiled and welcomed people glancing back at Gretchen when he could. Finally there was a lull in the crowd, and he turned towards her, "So, what have you been up to lately?" he was trying so hard to not overwhelm her but still show he was VERY interested in her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lovegoods and Mister Dakest. My name is Gretchen Montasio," the young woman introduced herself, "And please, just call me Gretchen. No need to add ma'am, unless of course I'm getting you into trouble with your professor escorts." Gretchen didn't see why that would be the case, but just to be sure. For all she knew, the children had been told to be on their best behavior.

"Fourth and seventh years, you said?" Looking from the young girl to her companion, Gretchen smiled once more. "Have you two been enjoying your school year?"
Would he? Gretchen had no idea why.. Charles was a social being, not that she wasn't too, but he was always talking to someone, business related or not. Instead of respond to that, the young woman merely nodded as he insisted on helping her. Just until Ren arrives.. "Charles, this is Arya Lovegoods and Sabel Dakest; They're two of the students from Hogwarts," She informed him, introducing the man to the young couple as it was very rude not to.

"The usual," Gretchen said, casting her brown eyes up toward him, only briefly though. "Meeting new people, helping where I'm needed, doing some research on enviromental issues." That was about as much as she could say at the moment, he should know why. "And you? Anything interesting going on in the office lately?" Or.. elsewhere?

Sabel bobbed his head in a small, respectful nod as the woman introduced herself, nodding again when she confirmed their years. His eyes flicked to Arya briefly, considering his words before glancing back at the woman organizing the bags. "It's...been an interesting year, as every year at Hogwarts tends to be." He didn't dare mention the new security detail; after all Gevrik was supposed to be attending and the last thing he needed was the man walking up behind them while his tone was less than impressed. So he settled for a polite smile and relaxed tone.

And sooner than he could bat his eyes, she was introducing them to a man that had taken up the task of assisting her. Extending his hand to the man in greeting, he gave him a small nod of respect. "Sir. Pleasure to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Miss Gretchen." And then the woman went and said that. Did she not want to be refereed to as miss either? Arya wasn't sure and decided to wait for the woman's response. Smiling, she shook her head. "We won't get in trouble with them. It's just a hard habit to break." At least she didn't THINK they would get into trouble. Maybe with Lafay...

Nodding her head, her eyes flicked to Sabel's, lingering at his response before she nodded her head again. "Yes, it's been a very interesting term. Quiet, which is good I guess..." But very very interesting. Her eyes flicked to the woman as she introduced them to the man that seemed to be helping her with the booth. A polite smile crossing her face as she wiggled her fingers at him in greeting. "Hello, Mr. Charles." And now she had questions for the both of them. "Do you two work at the ministry or are you just here to help out?"

Alexander's attention wandered over to a couple of student-aged children who'd approached the table. He hadn't realized children were also invited. Had he, he'd have looked into bringing along his own offspring. The party would have been good for them. He gave the children a polite nod before turning back to Gretchen.

"...and it's good to see you," he remarked. His eyes strayed to the gift bags she was tending to, and he raised an eyebrow in slight wonder. "Those gifts for the man of the hour?" he asked.

As Alexander turned back toward Charles, he caught on to the fact that the man was peering out into the crowd. Thinking maybe the speeches or introductions were finally getting underway, Alexander glanced over his shoulder, as well.

Nothing. Hmm...

"Ahh, yes. Accidents and Catastrophes," Alexander commented, bringing his attention back to the conversation. "I'm glad to hear it's going well for you." He didn't say much more. The pleasantries were out of the way, and Charles seemed a bit preoccupied with Gretchen. Alexander hadn't planned on standing around for long anyway. He, too, was also preoccupied--with looking for some one else, though.

Charles smiled at Gretchen. "Well those people are surely lucky to have met you." he said as he grabbed another bag and handed it out. "Well nothing too exciting on my end either. Just getting used to a new Department and getting everything in order." he said half way avoiding the true answer to that question.

He turned towards the two Hogwarts students with a dashing smile.

He was instantly impressed by the manners of the young man....glad to see there were students at Hogwarts that had been raised with manners. He reached out and met the young man's hand and shook it firmly. "Well it is nice to meet you as well. I'm Charles D'Isigny. I must admit that I am very impressed by your manners." he said with a nod and a smile.

Now the girl on the other hand should take some lessons from the young man and learn a proper greeting, but he knew it was always awkward for girls..."It's nice to meet you as well. You have a beautiful name...very eclectic." he said with his right eyebrow cocked up.

At the girl's last question, he glanced over his shoulder back at Gretchen and then turned towards the two students, "Well I work with the Accidents & Catastrophes Department at the Ministry." he said with a little nod up and down.

Finally feeling brave enough to explore now, Kurumi made her way to the gift bag table carrying her box of cookies she had made for Lord Borr. Seemed like the first place to try since it had the word gift in the name at least.

Arriving at the table, Kurumi saw a few familiar faces, but mostly were older people that she did not know and really had know way of knowing them since they were all, most likely, Ministry officials. "E-E-Excuse me," she said timidly almost using the box to hide her face.

Anastasia knew that of course the girl was not talking to her, but she loved kids, and hearing the voice of a child was magical, Anastasia turned around and smiled down at her, "Hello" She said with a voice like silk.

Kurumi turned around to see one of those official looking people speaking to her. The constant lecturing of her mother filled her head. Make sure you bow at a 45 degree angle, bow first before introducing yourself, introduce yourself without looking her directly in the eye, bow again AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE!

Kurumi sure hoped that the paniced expression wasn't as obvious on her face as it was internally. "H-H-Hello," she stammered then wanting to slap herself across the face as she bowed. Hello wasn't nearly formal enough, was it?

Anastasia smiled as she saw the girl bow, "I'm Anastasia Riddle, its a pleasure to meet you" She said stretching her hand out to shake, of course she didn't have to shake her hand, but it seemed that thats how they say hello here in London, and in a lot of other countries, but then again, she looked like she was from Japan, and thats how they said hello there.