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_katie]

Katie had noticed the sweet shop when she'd been out earlier for her run, but hadn't stopped in, knowing that she shouldn't. But hours later, and a shower in between, she found herself back in front of Just Desserts, giving into temptation. It was hardly just the fact it was chocolate and ridiculously unhealthy, it was that she'd spent a good portion of the remainder of what muggle money she had left on Saturday with Cedric, and a quick trip to the market the next day. But, it wasn't like she was contemplating buying a diamond necklace - and she was sure she'd enjoy the chocolate a lot more anyway for a fraction of the price.

Besides, opening the cinema would refill her pockets - she was sure of it. Katie was learning the art of thinking positively, although sometimes it was a bit of a challenge still. She kept picturing herself being the only one in the cinema when it opened.

Entering the shop Katie didn't see anyone she recognized, and ended the shielding spell she'd put up to protect her from the drizzle outside.

[shh_eloise]

After finishing with the two children who were fascinated at seeing the shop, Eloise smiled as she watched them leave. Marian would be home from school soon, which was good because she needed to go check on the fudge she had cooking so the trays could be replenished. Marcus was helping a lot, but she didn't want to use him too much.

She smiled at a young woman that entered the shop. "Good afternoon. Welcome to Just Desserts."

[shh_katie]

"Hello," Katie told her with a smile, stepping aside as the children the owner had been helping headed out the door. The Weird Sisters were playing in the background - it was been far too long since she'd heard music by them. "Merlin, I'm getting a sugar overload just from the smell."

Glancing around, Katie pondered exactly what she wanted. The store seemed to have a wide selection of everything. "I'm pretty much a chocoholic," she said with a laugh, "but I don't suppose you have any truffles?"

[shh_eloise]

"You've come to the right place then," Eloise said. "And of course I have truffles. Right this way. I'm Eloise Midgen, by the way. This is my shop."

She led the woman to the appropriate display case and indicated the variety she had made. "I have simple chocolate, chocolate and honey, chocolate and creams, liquers, and these are dried fruit, and those are the varieties of nuts." She smiled. "Sorry, it's probably overwhelming. Do you have a particular favorite?"

"This is milk chocolate, butter, and rum, which is quite good. Or there's white chocolate and coconut or dark chocolate, raspberry and brandy here. If you prefer fruits, this is a favorite. It's white chocolate and rum soaked apricots," she said, pointing out various options. "And, of course, a simple English toffee."

[shh_katie]

"Katie Bell," she introduced herself as she followed the other woman towards the display case, peering in.

She laughed, glancing at the selection before straightening, "Overwhelming? Well, not so much. Mouth-watering certainly. You've got a great place here Eloise. I'm going to have to resist the urge to come in very often - this stuff can be more addictive than drugs."

"And, like I pointed out - my favourite flavour is 'chocolate'," Gesturing towards a few in the case, she added, "but since I can't take them all, as much as I would like too, maybe a few rum ones? And milk chocolate? Oh, and brandy? Maybe one or two english toffees...." Katie broke off, shaking her head, "And yes, I must stop now before I go too far."

Katie glanced at the other woman, "Are you doing anything with chocolate frog cards?" She'd actually been rather curious about that - whether someone would glorify war heroes and such that way, or just go back to printing more historical figures - if at all.

[shh_eloise]

"Nice to meet you, Katie."

She laughed. "It's better than drugs, at least, because you exercise to wear off the effects of chocolate but drugs can ruin you in many more ways." She patted her hips. "Or, I should say, you can exercise if you want to stay trim and slender."

"I actually have an assortment tin available that holds ten truffles," she said. "It's actually valued less than getting them individually, though it's mostly trade right now, it seems. Still, you've selected seven, so why not go for three more?"

"I have a supplier from Germany that sends me chocolate frog cards, but I'm not making any myself. It's far too involved and, quite honestly, I prefer working with fudge and experimenting there."

[shh_katie]

Katie laughed at Eloise's assessment, rolling her eyes. "Hey, if I worked in a place like this - you'd struggle to push me out the door. It would take a few good transfigurations of the frame for it to be possible."

"And yes," she continued, nodding at the suggestion, "I'll go with the tin then. I'm flexible on what the last three are." Shaking her head at the other woman, she added, "You are just like a dealer, you know that? Even if the product is different. And no," Katie clarified, "I'm not speaking from personal eperience."

Letting her hand fiddle with her coin purse in her pocket, she asked, "So, for the unpleasant part of the exchange, how much for this tin I've been talked into? I'm not sure I've got anything worthy of trade."

[shh_eloise]

"If that were the case, I'd be even bigger. Fortunately, wizarding chocolate is better but not as fattening as Muggle chocolate," she said with a wink.

"All right, I'll choose three, then." Eloise considered the other selections and added three to balance what had already been chosen. She laughed. "I'm not entirely sure that I like being compared to a drug dealer, but I'll assume it was a compliment in a twisted sort of way."

She looked at Katie for a moment and shook her head. "I'm sure you'd have something to trade, but if you prefer paying, I'll say to just give me what you have to spare. Chocolate should be an indulgence and an enjoyment, not a stress on the pocketbook. I'd rather you not eat your truffles and remember having to spend far too much on them, after all," she said. "I'll accept galleons, if you have them. I know they're not worth anything right now, but they will be eventually."

[shh_katie]

Laughing, Katie watched while the other woman filled the tin. "Perhaps we could find a way to spell the fat and sugar right out of it entirely while maintaining taste? There has to be someone willing to undertake that research. I know I'd be more than willing to sit as a taste test subject. And yes, it was a backhanded compliment, I assure you - complimenting your busniess acumen."

Raising her eyebrows she pulled out her coin purse, counting out what she was sure was actual fair value for the chocolates. She had no desire to rip Eloise off. "And just when I was complimenting your business skills," she winked, handing over the muggle coins and bills. She had galleons, too many to count, but hadn't been in the habit of carrying them since there seemed to be nowhere to use them.

"I may be back - especially with you taking galleons," Katie told her, accepting the tin, "but I can assure you, if these are half as good as the kinds I've had before - I won't be worried if I spend my monthly budget on them."

[shh_eloise]

"Treating your customers well is good business sense," she pointed out. "After all, you'll not have a successful business if people don't want to come back. Repeat customers are business."

"Oh, I definitely take galleons. And, hopefully, the truffles will be better," she said with a grin. She took the Muggle money and tucked it away. "Have a good day, Katie. It was nice meeting you."

[shh_katie]

"Have a good day - and good luck with the rest of your opening, not that you seem to need it," Katie told her sincerely as she turned to head out of the store, "It was nice to meet you."