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Tweak says, "Love me some pie!"

Viktor Krum (snitch_snatcher) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2015-02-14 22:21:00

Entry tags:

character: melinda bobbin, character: viktor krum

RP: Picking up Valentines
Who: Viktor and Melinda

What: Picking up Valentine’s things

Where: Sweet Nothings

When: Afternoon, Saturday, February 14

Rating: SFW

Viktor arrived at what he thought would be a time conducive to taking Melinda away from the bustle for a little while. It was after the general lunch rush, which even if it was a weekend he knew still happened during the day, but before things would get in a rush at the end of the day. He carried with him a card that Tsveta insisted on making before he left, and some flowers she also insisted on picking from his mother’s flower boxes.

His little girl certainly had her own ideas, sometimes. Viktor didn’t protest, though; after all, on this day, when everyone here was celebrating, and it couldn’t hurt to give a gift. Besides, Melinda was very nice and kind and he liked her. She was also very good to Tsveta and he could only be grateful for that.

He arrived at the shop and made sure Melinda saw him before he found an out of the way spot to lounge until she had a few minutes. He was in no hurry, and he had the time to wait while she saw to other customers and things she needed to do. He settled in a corner where he wouldn’t be in the way and flipped with split attention through a slim novel, keeping an eye on the activity so she wouldn’t have to wait on him when she got a moment.

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_melinda_
2015-02-15 02:50 pm UTC (link)

Six scheduled proposals today – all including wedding cake tasting and the complimentary bottle of champagne – four of them had already taken place, all of them without a hitch. Then there was the five proposal cakes she had made and prepared for pick-up during the day, and three of those proposals had taken place right here in the shop – rather than somewhere else, like she had expected. It was fine, though. She might have felt a little put on the spot for suddenly being in the middle of something as personal like this, but the other customers had loved it. Well, that is, except for that one that had turned out to be quite the disaster. Really? Melinda couldn’t even begin to blame the diabetic girlfriend for saying no and storming out when her boyfriend had found it appropriate to use a regular sugar-bomb as the vessel for his proposal, instead of taking that small extra step and ordering a sugar-free version. The pretty cake and a big box of red velvet truffles were immediately sent to the only place she could think of; Finnigan’s. Seamus was hosting something tonight, and she was certain that if they just did away with the proposal part of the cake, providing cake for the guests wouldn’t be unwelcome.

Then there was the champagne. If Melinda had accepted… no. If Melinda had drunk the glasses of champagne that had been offered to her today – and that common courtesy told her to at least accept – she would have been well on her way to being quite a bit past tipsy, and she was grateful for the bottle of ginger ale that had filled in to make it at least appear that she was toasting the newest step in these couples’ relationships in style. But aside from the proposals, the popping champagne corks, the “Congratulations!” and declarations of love, the day had been ridiculously busy.

Melinda was just servicing and elderly witch – who did not accept Melinda’s status as single, at least not without several follow-up questions and reassurances that she would be planning her wedding by the end of the year – when she spotted Viktor slipping into the shop. She sent him a smile, genuinely pleased to see him, and continued the slow process of getting the cakes selected with the older witch. Once she was out of the way, Melinda signalled to Viktor, catching his attention to signal that she was bringing over coffee or tea, and what would he like?

Two cups in hand, she could finally make it to the table in the corner, and sat down where she could still keep an eye on the shop, though she still sent him a smile. “Your timing’s impeccable.”

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snitch_snatcher
2015-02-15 05:15 pm UTC (link)

Viktor caught her gaze, and his novel flipped closed as he mouthed, "Coffee, please," to her. He was a bit tea-ed out on a personal level right now. It was growing on him but he'd likely never be a tea-o-phile like this whole country seemed to be.

He rose from his seat as she approached, and sat again as she did. He took the cup gratefully. "Ah, thank you," he said. "And I try. I knew the rush during the lunch hour vould likely be overwhelming." And he could honestly say he didn't want to get caught in a rush hour; it was insane the women (And occasionally men) who would throw themselves at him especially during a holiday like this; his publicity agent would be busy for days sorting mail that wasn't specially addressed or allowed through from a list of people he kept on file.

"Are you surviving the day so far?" he asked her after taking a long sip of coffee.

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_melinda_
2015-02-15 08:52 pm UTC (link)

Melinda chuckled softly, lowering her gaze to look at her tea. Viktor was a Seeker, he was bound to have impeccable timing, she realised. Not just on the Pitch, but in real life as well, no doubt about that, just like there was no doubt that his fame was more intense than Oliver’s had been, so of course he would know when would be the best time to go somewhere and avoid places being filled with people. “I was just about ready to head out back and hide for a minute or two,” she admitted, looking back up at him. “But now I’ve got…” she checked the watch on the wall behind the counter, “fifteen-twenty minutes before the next scheduled proposal disguised as a cake tasting, so really; your timing is impeccable.”

Nursing her tea cup in both hands, she rested her elbows on the table as she drank from it slowly. Viktor’s question had that uncomfortable clenching feeling in her stomach return. “Am I surviving one of the most important holidays for patisseries in the western world?” she asked, and glanced towards the customer who was currently placing an order to a dozen cupcakes. Hopefully Viktor would understand, that right now, right here, she couldn’t very well tell him exactly how she felt, how today felt like a mockery, that she was really just faking it to make it through and pasting on a smile as she became a player in other people’s romantic lives. “Officially we always survive here in Sweet Nothings. Providing the customers the products and services we’re known for, and that little bit extra that makes us the go-to place for holidays and special occasions.” She paused for a moment, a small smirk appearing on her lips behind her cup. “But I’ve plans with a friend from Hogwarts tonight that I’m hoping will make me question whether I’ll survive tomorrow or not.”

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snitch_snatcher
2015-02-16 01:58 pm UTC (link)

"Vell, do not let me keep you from hiding," Viktor told her sincerely, though he would appreciate her company more than simply picking up what he had ordered. "Though your company is most velcome." He listened to her and nodded. "I did not realize you all did those, but I can see how it would be a good business practice." Though how old would that get, he thought, to constantly be helping others try to find their happiness in such a fashion? He did not think he could do it, but then, she was a much kinder, more personable person than he.

Viktor noticed how tense she seemed and he wished he could help. It could not be easy, he thought as she glanced around and spoke crypitcally. His lips quirked at her sympathetically, and he made a small, understanding hand motion. He had asked a poor question, he realized belatedly, but she had answered quite skillfully. "That sounds like a good plan for the end of a long day," he said sympathetically. He wondered if this friend was someone special to her, or just that, a friend. He knew he shouldn't really wonder, but she was kind and pretty, and he couldn't help it. "I haff done much the same in the past, though I admit not in quite a vhile."

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_melinda_
2015-02-16 09:00 pm UTC (link)

With a small smile, Melinda shook her head. “I would much rather take my break out here with you than hiding in the back,” she assured him. Not only did she enjoy Viktor’s company, but when she was sitting with him, at least she would appear to be busy and most people would – hopefully – assume she was busy with a customer. “We do consultations, where the couple comes in for a series of sessions to plan their wedding cake, the first one being a tasting. They get to taste the different cakes we have combined with the different fillings and icings and we serve a glass of champagne with that to give them a better idea of how it’ll be for the wedding. Of course that has to do with setting a mood, but it’s a pretty important part because having water with your cake makes it taste quite differently from when you have wine or champagne with it, and it is usually champagne that’s served during that part of the wedding,” she explained, gesturing as she spoke. “A couple of years ago, a man asked if he could book a consultation on Valentine’s Day as a surprise to his girlfriend as an indirect proposal, and it seemed like a charming idea, so why not? And it was so much fun, such an experience to see her surprise and how much they enjoyed it, and it became a real celebration, and somehow the word spread about it, so the next year we had three bookings for the same thing. This year, we have six. The couples still enjoy it, but I have to admit that it’s lost its originality a bit. Then there are the proposal cakes,” she gestured to the next in line that had been put in the display and was ready for the customer to come in with his girlfriend. “The more elaborate like that one, and there are the smaller, more personal ones where the couple comes in on a date, buys a cake and hides a ring in it and the whole shop cheers and toasts when it happens.” She chuckled softly. “I’ve toasted so many times in ginger ale this morning, that I won’t be motion sick for the next decade.”

Melinda drew in a deep breath when she realised how much she had just more or less thrown at Viktor. “I’m blathering here, my apologies. Bottom line is, that it’s always been fun this year is just…” she made a small gesture with her hand and let it come to rest on the handle of her cup. “How about you? Do you have any interesting plans this weekend?”

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snitch_snatcher
2015-02-16 10:33 pm UTC (link)

"Just promise not to completely abandon me if someone pounces on me in here," Viktor said. He didn't slide farther down in his seat, though the thought was tempting; such behavior he had found tended to prompt more notice and not less when he was trying not to catch the attention of the masses. It helped though that he was dressed completely Muggle today, a style comfortable for him but not as easily recognizable to most fans in the UK. He still found that there was the chronic assumption that he was a pureblood and lived as purebloods here did, when it wasn't true.

"Ahhh, I see. Ve did not do that, vhen I married Ruxandra. But she insisted on planning everything." It had been hastily planned and executed, but nicely enough. She had not wished for his input in pretty much anything to do with the wedding, though, and he'd respected her wishes. He listened intently as she spoke, interested in what she was saying. "That vas a very sweet thing he did," he commented. "This does seem the holiday vhen proposals abound. I vould think, maybe a little more originality vould be wanted?" He shrugged. It wasn't on him to judge. He chuckled appreciatively at her mention of ginger ale.

He grinned and waved a hand lightly. "It is fine," he said. "I do not mind this 'blather' you call it at all." He nodded sagely. "It wears a little, I am sure." His voice was soft and understanding. His lips quirked faintly again and he shook his head slightly. "No, nothing big. I vill spend it vith the children, and doing some training. Amiri -- my elf -- she will spend the evening grumbling that I am not going out, and if my mother is there, she vill probably grumble as vell." But he had few to go out with, especially on a holiday like this; he'd found himself more reclusive than he cared to be these last months.

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_melinda_
2015-02-17 10:02 pm UTC (link)

“Not to worry, I’m sure I can get you out of the back,” Melinda said with a small smile as she swallowed back a sigh; she had a feeling that Viktor would rather be pounced out here than have to explain to his publicist why he or she had to deal with concerned fans wanting to warn him about her and her supposed willingness to use Potions to land a desirable man.

The unwanted concern and flashback to the accusations of her having Potioned Oliver ought to have been enough to make her draw away. She knew that, and yet, hearing about his wife… His wife? How could she have been so stupid? He had two children and she had stupidly assumed that he was a single father, but apparently not. “Not everybody does it,” she assured him, doing her best to swallow back the disappointment she hadn’t expected to this degree. “And not every cake shop offers it, but we do, because…” her smile faltered a little, before she managed to save it to what she hoped could pass for a shy smile, “because that’s how I prefer to do it?”

Her concern, however turned to confusion when Viktor talked of his plans – or non-plans – for tonight. “You don’t have plans with your wife tonight?”

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snitch_snatcher
2015-02-18 04:52 am UTC (link)

"You vould be my savior," he told her. He worried about it happening; it could be quite embarrassing to him on a personal level.

Viktor wondered about her faint shift in expression. He wasn't great with people, he would admit it, but he knew something was a bit off. "Vell, you are running it vonderfully, and I think it is a good thing."

What was wrong, he realized a moment later. He made negative motions with his hands. "No, no, nyet," he said. "Ve are no longer married. Ve haff been divorced for over a year now, and it vas over before that." He did not want her thinking he was some sort of cad who came around looking for something while married, and he already found he liked her and wanted to get to know her better. "She is out of the picture, except for the supervised visits with Misha that my mother oversees." He closed his lips on the fact he really never wanted to see his ex-wife ever again. "It is just me and the children, and sometimes my mother." He hadn't realized she hadn't known; he was so used to the rest of the world knowing his business.

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_melinda_
2015-02-18 11:41 pm UTC (link)

“I’m sorry,” Melinda apologised. She genuinely was sorry for things having obviously gone wrong between Viktor and his wife and for bringing it up now because she hadn’t known. But she was also relieved, relieved that she hadn’t just been fooling herself about him, even if she still didn’t know what or even if there was something there. All she knew was that she liked talking to him, that his son Misha was entirely too adorable and his daughter was a sweetheart that she enjoyed hearing about. “My apologies, I didn’t know, and contrary to popular belief I’ve never followed Quidditch either.” Might as well get that out there.

She sent him a smile when he mentioned it just being him and the children. “Well, from what I’ve seen of Misha and heard of Tsveta you’re doing brilliant with them.” Of course, she was curious about why his ex-wife only saw Misha and not Tsveta, but Valentine’s Day, with an incoming proposal due shortly and her already being in an odd mood about the day in general just didn’t seem the right combination for asking in to what that was all about. Which reminded her.

“I uhm,” she glanced to the clock on the wall again. “I don’t mean to rush you, but you should know that in five-ten minutes’ time there’ll be a bigger group showing up here,” she said, her regret evident in her voice. But Viktor obviously didn’t like crowds like that, and she didn’t want him inadvertently hung out in a potential rush of gossip involving Potioning or replacing or her having an eye for Quidditch players.

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snitch_snatcher
2015-02-20 01:28 pm UTC (link)

"Do not worry. It is in the past." At least for the most part. Roxy still came after him at times; she was a plotter, and she hated him now quite keenly. "I am used to people knowing, but it is no big matter to worry over." It was actually quite refreshing to meet someone who didn't know all about him right off the bat. He could actually confide in someone who didn't think they knew every detail about him.

"Thank you. I do not know if I am or not, but I try. They are the most important things in the vorld for me." It was simple honesty; as much as he craved more adult life, and more friends and social things, it meant nothing if he didn't have his happy children.

"No vorries, I do not vant to put a rush on you. I can collect my things and slip out so I vill not be underfoot." He smiled at her. "Though I am not as good at doing that as a toddler, that I can guarantee." Sometimes he thought he was bound to trip over Misha and brain himself on something. "But I vould love to hear more about your shop and such another time."

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_melinda_
2015-02-24 10:23 pm UTC (link)

“All right, I won’t worry then,” Melinda agreed with a small smile, fairly relieved that it was all in the past and Viktor wasn’t a player off the Pitch too. She heard gossip, of course she did – it would be impossible to work in a shop and be free of that – but unless it involved people she considered friends, she simply didn’t pay attention to it. So maybe she had heard about Viktor’s ex-wife, but it wasn’t until recently that he had become someone that she considered at least a potential friend, and given that it would have been Quidditch related… Well, he was someone whose name she would notice if it came up anywhere now.

There was something about him, something about the look on his face that changed when he talked about his children, and not even for a moment had Melinda ever doubted that those two were the most important parts of his world. It had her smiling, because it looked good on him, as if that was what he was meant to do.

“You’re not putting any rush on me,” she assured him, holding up a disarming hand. “And you’re more than welcome to stay, of course. I’m not doing this to get rid of you. Things can just get rather loud and emotional when a group like that shows up…” She smiled back at him, the image of him tripping over Misha regretful but also a bit amusing. “Please stay safe and upright, because I would love to hear more about you... and such.”

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snitch_snatcher
2015-02-26 02:13 pm UTC (link)

"Hm, you are probably right that I should not linger with such a group. As nice as it vould be to see people find their happiness, I do not vish to be a distraction to them." And a person with some fame could be a distraction at times, if not to the couple than to anyone else accompanying them, potentially.

"And I you," he said, inclining his head to her and smiling warmly. He liked her, and he definitely wanted to get to know her better. She was the type of person he wanted more in his life -- caring and nice and genuine. "I vill try, I promise. Let me get those things, before you get very busy again."

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_melinda_
2015-03-01 06:18 pm UTC (link)

Melinda smiled back at Viktor; his warm smile making her incapable of not doing so. He really ought to smile more, she thought to himself when she noted the way it reached his eyes. She really wished that he could stay, and sure, she could ask him to, but like he had said; he’d rather be free of a mob descending on him and she was already in an odd headspace today, so all in all she figured it was for the best. Then hopefully they could meet up sometime when she wasn’t so fed up with the world in general that she just couldn’t relax completely around him.

“I have them all ready and packed behind the counter,” she said, the hint of regret evident in her tone, before she levitated their cups out back to the sink. Once she had washed her hands, she retrieved the packed up treats. “So that’s one Raspberry Kiss and on Black Forest Cupcake,” she said, checking the order from Viktor, before she added another box to the top. “And a pack of tea samplers for my newest taste tester.” Her smile widened at the thought of how Tsveta seemed to like being involved in this. “There’s the Orange Flower, the Ginger Bread, the Vanilla, the Floral Rose, the Green Tea & Peppermint, and the classic Afternoon Tea. The Vanilla tea is the usual favourite for girls her age, but I think that the Floral Rose may be a flavour that’s pleasing to that age group as well.” She paused for a moment, looking at the boxes, then quickly packed up a JoJo cake as well. “For Misha,” she told Viktor. “I don’t have any siblings myself, but I can’t imagine having to share is always all that easy.”

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snitch_snatcher
2015-03-05 01:14 pm UTC (link)

His eyes held his own regret, but he respected her shop and really didn't want to create a disruption, apart from his own dislike of too much overt attention from the public. "Ah, quite the variety. Ve vill have much fun giving them all a try, I'm sure." For goodness knew his daughter would rope him into the tasting as well, and in reality, he really didn't mind.

"You are really too kind!" he exlaimed softly when she added a Jojo cake for his son. "Thank you, many times over," he said sincerely. "He will love having his very own cake." There wasn't much rivalry between the two, at least not yet, though of course there were moments at times. He had to remind himself sometimes to pave the way now to a better relationship for them later, and this would definitely help.

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