RP: Opening Day

[shh_eloise]

Date: March 19, 2005
Characters: Eloise Midgen, Viktor Krum, Marietta Edgecombe, Horace Slughorn, Roger Davies, Marcus Flint, Luna Lovegood, Draco Malfoy, Katie Bell, Cedric Diggory, Su Li, Caradoc Dearborn, Ron Weasley, Eleanor Branstone, Anyone else
Location: Just Desserts
Status: Public
Summary: The grand opening of Just Desserts
Completion:

Comments

[shh_viktor]

Maire was in Ireland for a long weekend, and while havng her about was in one way tiring, by today, Viktor was bored.

Badly.

He'd read a stack of newspapers from home, which he looked at for headlines most days but rarely had the chance to sit and read through, and cleaned out the strange closet which held only a large covered tub of hot water--he'd worked out this was where the water for showering came from, and why it was of limited availability; this didn't make having an entire closet for it seem less odd--and the suction cleaning device, and a whole lot of what he'd determined was "junk."

That had accounted for Saturday, and Sunday he'd gone flying for a bit and gone to the local market, then headed into Exeter for things he couldn't purchase locally. He tried to save the trips to Exeter for when Maire wasn't about, because she had a fairly severe tendency to determine she needed one of virtually everything she saw, and it was something of a hassle.

Now, all his purchases were put away and he'd tidied everything including the stash of biscuits growing mold in the back corner when he moved Maire's bed to clean behind it, and he was bored.

He changed into running clothes and stretched a bit, then set out, off to the east and up into town, past the hill and the hospital and back around the other way around the west edge of the settlement.

He was nearly home when he saw the new shop and stopped, wondering what sorts of things they had in stock. He paced for a few minutes, letting his muscles cool, then cast a bit of a drying and cleaning charm--probably going into a chocolate shop dripping with sweat would be frowned upon--and went in to look around.

[shh_eloise]

The sound of the bell made Eloise grin. Someone was there! She waved her hand to stop the spoon from stirring and walked around the counter to greet her first ever customer.

When she saw who it was, she blinked and managed to collect herself before she looked a fool. But fucking hell, it was Viktor Krum, in her shop! She smiled a friendly 'you're just a normal customer and not a famous, attractive Quidditch star at all' smile and said, "Good morning. Welcome to Just Desserts."

[shh_viktor]

"Good morning," Viktor replied with a nod. He'd seen the blink, but then, it was nothing new, and she'd clearly reined it in rather than jump him, so he could live with it. "I am out for running, and this is shop, which I am not see before. It is new?" He smiled. "I am think, if it is shop with chocolate, I am learn about before quickly, and it is more have people in.

He looked around. "You have, you are bring in, chocolate, which is out of Europe? Or you are make yourself?" She looked as though she had a few minutes to talk, and the shop wasn't busy, so conversation seemed reasonable.

"And, I am forget, manner. I am Viktor." He held out his hand. He thought it was clear she already knew that, but for one thing, it was possible he'd misinterpreted the blink, and for another, people didn't always volunteer their own names when they already knew his.

[shh_eloise]

"Yes, it's new. Today's the grand opening, actually, which might explain the lack of people," Eloise said with an easy grin.

She listened to him carefully and shook her head. "Actually, I make all the chocolate myself and many of the sweets. I do export particular sweets that I can't make," she said, motioning towards the display of brand name sweets, "but the chocolate is all mine. Is there anything in particular you're looking for? I have a few trays of samples, if you'd like to try them."

"Oh, how rude of me. Standing here chattering on without even introducing myself," she said, reaching for his hand. "Eloise Midgen. It's nice to meet you, Viktor."

[shh_viktor]

Viktor caught her hand and turned it so he could bow and brush his lips over her knuckles before straightening up. "Is nice, meeting you, El-o-eese. Wait, I am try again, Elo-eese. I am, for long time, have trouble to say name which is have certain kind of sound next to. Elo-ese. Is better, but I am must practice for get right."

He let go of her hand and took a step toward her displays. "I am prefer, chocolate which is much dark and not so sweet, but also, I am have daughter, which is more liking more light." He walked around the nearest table. "Perhaps I am must buy little bit of many thing."

[shh_eloise]

"If it helps, you can call me Lola," she offered. She smiled. "It's what my family and close friends tend to call me after awhile. Not saying we're friends, of course, but either one is good with me."

She listened to what he wanted and ran through her inventory. "Oh, you have a daughter? Is she in school today? We'll definitely get her a good assortment," she said, walking over to the counter to get a container. "I can give you a sampler box, if you'd like, which means you can choose three, six or ten flavors and I'll give you small chunks of fudge in the tin here. It's a good way to taste a few things to determine what you like and don't, since few people like every flavor."

"For dark chocolate that's more bitter, I have several choices here," she told him, indicating the little cards marking each one. She studied him a moment and then shook her head. "Not that one because it has coconut. You don't strike me as a fan of coconut. For your daughter, I'd suggest the white chocolate or milk chocolate flavors. My sister is fourteen and loves the fruit flavors. Um, chocolate with orange or banana, etcetera. My brother is eleven and he prefers the fudge that have things added to them, like nuts and creams."

[shh_viktor]

"Lola, is short name for Elo-ese?" Viktor shrugged. "I am not have shorter name. One time, it is reporter which is use name which is not mine, but is not pretty name like Lola." He followed her to the counter.

"She is not quite big enough, yet, for have school," Viktor said. "She is at her mother, which is not here, but she is back this evening. Perhaps, I am get chocolate, although often, when she is return, she is have," he paused. "This word is, exciting, with bounce? Very much. Chocolate is possibly not help for that." Then he grinned. "I am see. I get chocolate, and I promise, if she is have not bouncing with bath, then, there is chocolate." He nodded.

He laughed when she said he didn't look like a coconut lover. "No," he said. "I am think, coconut is belong on nothing, ever. But, yes, we are try ten. You choose. Some dark, some not. I am think milk, not this which, I think is not for actual chocolate? Some fruit or nut?"

[shh_eloise]

"Lola is actually from my sister because she couldn't say Eloise when she was a baby, but she called me Lola. It stuck," she explained. "Nicknames can be annoying, I've discovered, and Lola is the only one that I'll acknowledge."

She smiled. "Children seem to get more bouncy at night. You know, I actually have a wizarding fudge that has lavender and vanilla, which helps you sleep. It's not a potion and it's not dangerous or strong, but the flavors help with sleeping. You might get some of that to reward her and to also help her become less bouncy."

"I'd never sell anything to children that was dangerous," she added firmly.

She beamed. "I'm still learning how to read people's preferences, but I get lucky sometimes. We'll definitely keep coconut out of the tin," she promised. She looked at the display and considered what he wanted and then nodded. Using her wand, she brought a chunk of twelve different kinds, adding in two for free. Once the tin was filled, she added a piece of parchment with the flavors she'd added and put the lid on.

"There. All done," she said, handing over the tin with a smile. "You'll have to let me know what you enjoy and what you don't want again."

[shh_viktor]

"We are let you know, yes," Viktor said, opening the silly pouch he used to carry essentials for running, when carrying coins wasn't really feasible. "How much am I pay?"

She named an amount and they traded, coins for tin.

He nodded. "It is new, at me, have small child each day. Much for new thing to remember, so today, new thing is, it is some kind chocolate for help calming. Is good to know, and perhaps if she is have much bounce, I will try." He smiled. "I am thank you for, Elo-ese," he said with a smile, "Is good to know.

He turned toward the door, noting the worsening of the weather, and glanced back. "I am hope, you are have very good first day," he said. "Is nice, to have place for some treat."