|
Office of the Senior Undersecretary Once you've gotten by the office of the Junior Undersecretary you will find yourself in the office of the current Senior Undersecretary himself (DaniDiNardo). The door isn't usually locked however you must check in with the front desk before stopping by for a visit. By-passing this important rule will have you sent right back to the fron desk The furniture within the room reflects Mr. Isaacs desire for comfort, his chair as well as the others around the room attesting to this. There can usually be a seen a stack of papers to the left corner of his desk, along with pictures of two little girls, a young woman with bright green eyes and a german shepherd. Once you've been invited inside, feel free to have a seat as you discuss whatever business you've brought to the Senior Undersecretary. Or you could stand. It's all the same to him. |
__Through the standard means and secure delivery postage channels, a very important piece of owl mail is placed on the Senior Undersecretary's desk. The missive is on special letterhead and sealed with a lime green wax seal.
|
Quote:
Curious enough, when he got to his desk there was an owl he didn't remember leaving there at all....The Senior Undersecretary had half a mind call in a secretary to ask about it but....no harm in simply reading it. Gavin plopped down in his chair, taking a moment to get comfortable before ripping the seal and taking a look. St. Mungo's....a meeting...? Was he missing something here? The official seal was there, and it sounded pressing enough but hours in a meeting? He scowled but conjured a patronus with a message to his PA to clear his schedule. Who knew how long this could take or when they'd arrive. |
When a response had been sent back almost immediately, including intel that the Senior Undersecretary had cleared his schedule for the day, Wandastian attempted not to be too impressed. This was serious business and the fact that the Ministry seemed to be meeting his tedious appointment time constraints spoke of professionalism...to him, at least. Perhaps getting the Ministry on board would be less strenuous than his staff originally anticipated. Upon arriving, arms laden with legal-sized envelopes and manila color-coded folders, he took a seat and waited to be invited back. |
Quote:
While he waited, he took to signing off on a few of the smaller documents that wouldn't need too much follow up. Some of the others he would ask his PA to go through and give her opinions on. Haflway through his stack he was informed of the arrival of the person from St. Mungo's. A glance at the clock across the room told him it hadn't taken that long and the man began clearing his desk as he asked that the man be seen inside. |
It wasn't long before a lady came to collect the Healer, directing him into an office he assumed belonged to the Senior Undersecretary. Wandastian had expected something a bit more severe in taste for someone so steadfast with his response...but he was instead met with a rather comfortable looking room...And a rather young looking man. He refrained from pursing his lips. "Mr. Isaacs, I presume." Wandastian juggled his envelopes and folders, extending a hand towards the man. They were here for resolutions today; some possibly more difficult to swallow than others. That was always the way with discoveries and new information. Sometimes, it could be well received. Other times....Well, he just hoped it wasn't going to be one of those other times. "Thank you for responding with haste. I'm Wandastian Epitaph." His name had been on the correspondence, but it was still polite to introduce ones self. |
SPOILER!!: Healer Guy Gavin affixed his signature to the last of his documents when the door opened again and the man he assumed to be the Representative sent from the Hospital entered. That....was quite a lot of envelopes and documents he had and the Senior Undersecretary was starting to understand why he'd said this would take a few hours. Were he any less composed the man may have seen the hint of a grimace but instead Gavin waved toward the seat on the opposite side of his desk. "You presume, right. Please, have a seat. Feel free to place those on my desk, here." He pulled the his own parchments together and rested them all in the drawer of the desk, leaving the table open for business. It wasn't until his gaze fell on the man again that he saw the extended hand...right there...waiting to be shaken....yeah....For a few moments Gavin just stared. He'd been through this Merlin knows how many times since taking seat in this office but...man from hospital. How sanitary was that? In the end his formality took precedence and he rose, giving the briefest of shakes, almost seeming to thrust his hand away when he withdrew his own to take his seat again. "What can I do for you Mr. Epitaph?" |
Wandastian reviewed the way he handled simply courtesies, the hesitation and the slight handshake for example. The manner was peculiar, but perhaps to be expected. His owl had been urgent and in his urgency, the Healer struggled with a level of subtlety. Mr. Isaacs would have been justified if he were tense. There was nothing to be done for it, though. This was urgent business. Clearing his throat, feeling the moment pass, Wandastian laid his many envelopes and color-coded folders out on Mr. Isaacs desk. How lovely of him to offer... "We've recently been doing studies concerning the psyche at St. Mungo's, hoping to gain some perspective in the way of progress. In doing so, our team discovered some alarming patterns...and things that could very well be affecting the current Ministry of Magic employees." He paused and sorted through the stack, pulling a brilliant yellow folder. After looking through it a moment, it was handed over. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't your employees relocated for a period lasting longer than three months this past year?" No, he wasn't wrong...but it was polite to ask. |
.... BROW. Correct him if he was being insensitive or for lack of a better word, unimpressed by the plight of others, but what did a bunch of mentally ill individuals have to do with the Minister's Office--or as it seemed, the Ministry itself? Gavin might have interrupted but he wasn't quite given the chance as the man went on. Alarming patterns? His brow rose even higher. Did they have surveillance in the Ministry? Somehow he didn't think Emily would have appreciated extra eyes on her level. Then he brought that up and the Senior Undersecretary's expression fell into a slight scowl. "You're correct. During an infestation that was well handled." Yes, well handled considering they all got back inside. "The employees have since then fallen back into the regular groove of things and I daresay the productivity hasn't suffered by much of anything, significant enough to garner the concern of St. Mungo's." The last thing he needed was MOAR people around this place, if that's where this was going. More people who liked sliding unidentified foreign objects toward him. Riddled with germs it was. Did personal space mean nothing anymore? Gavin slid the folder to his side but kept his gaze on the man. He rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward by a fraction of a centimetre. "Alarming patterns? I'm afraid you've lost me there entirely." Explain yourself, Sir. |
While the Healer had missed the various stages of 'arched brow' the Senior Undersecretary had been putting out, mainly due to his riffling through the contents of one of the legal envelopes, he did not miss the slight scowl. There was another pause as Wandastian considered whether or not he'd offended the man. He'd proceed with some caution, then. "While I'm sure it was handled with the utmost care, we're more concerned about the environments and specific locations they were expected to perform their duties in." It hadn't been overlooked that Mr. Isaacs hadn't picked up the folder...but shifted it to the side. Wandastian understood in that moment that the Senior Undersecretary had a germ phobia, as he'd seen behavior like this before. As if to make a point, he pulled a small bottle of hand sanitizer from his pocket and applied it generously. "That folder is detailed notes on the circumstances surrounding a faction of our previous test subjects. They worked in one location...and after a time, they were moved to another, expected to conduct business as they normally would. Of course, after a determined amount of time, they were switched back to their previous work environments...but did not exhibit their usual level of exuberance for the job they were expected to do." It was curious that the basis of testing matched with the Ministry's previous plight, but Wandastian was a man of science and the coincidence was lost on him. "Trauma is an interesting entity, and a gradation was found among this specific group." Now holding a peculiar piece of parchment with many stamps and official seals, Wandastian pulled his monocle and brought it to his right eye. No, he had no troubles seeing, but this was more for authenticating purposes. The parchment, ink, and seals were legitimate. "This is their official findings." |
The sentence would be a contradiction, he could hear it coming even before Mr. Epitaph could get to the end of it and there it was. They were sure the Ministry was capable but they questioned the environment. Gavin nearly pursed his lips at this. What was there to say when you let people work in an old, decrepit, condemned building? "I'll have you know, many of the locations settled upon where in areas that were both out of the way and condusive to work. In a few cases there may have been...unkind conditions but even then the welfare of the employees was always taken into consideration." Was this a blame game he'd come to play? Had someone suffered a mental lapse and decided to sue the Ministry? Notes would have to be sent to his Media Liaison later, just in case thise thing spiraled. Also. Squint. Was he mocking him with the hand sanitizer? There was hardly time to think about this before the folder he'd been handed came in as the topic for further discussion. Uh-huh.....Gavin finally pried open the document and began skimming the first page or two while he explained. "Yes...trauma has been known to take its toll..." The words on the page soon ran into each other. All things that didn't concern them here at the Ministry. "And you must note that not everyone will succumb to trauma the way these people in your folder did. We do what we can to keep things steady and smooth. There's no reason the people here should suffer from what I can only imagine you're assuming to be a psychotic break." Even as he said it, he couldn't help but think how ridiculous it sounded. "Official findings on whom may I ask. The people here in the Ministry?" If not, we can assure you, the Senior Undersecretary wasn't interested. |
Wandastian did purse his lips at hearing the provided excuse. This matter wasn't something to be taken lightly. It was downright dangerous, in fact. "While they might have been conducive to productivity, the affects could have been long-lasting." The official document he'd been inspecting moments before was then handed over. "Anger, fear, depression, insecurity, stress.....These things can cause even the most level-headed individuals to snap under the slightest pressure; lash out, exhibit behaviors that are far from their personal norm." The information Mr. Isaacs would find on that document wasn't for the faint of heart. It had the potential to be highly disturbing and alarming, actually. As it should be. "While I can appreciate that you look out for your employees, sometimes the things we think are harmless do the most harm. This isn't your fault, personally." No, after some review, the British branch of the Ministry faced the most accidents, blunders, and disasters. He'd read all about the chizpurfle infestation in the prophet. Wandastian could only image the damage that might have done to the employee's mentally. "The people in that folder didn't face nearly as much as your employees have." He indicted further down on one of the documents. "...as you can see." "Tinworth, Cornwall residences." |
Gavin rubbed at his temples lightly while the man went on. Of course, draw for the shrink talk, why not? Might as well while they were on this topic of loons. He would maintain his composure and let Mr. Epitaph have his moment of 'I clearly know more than you even though I'm only repeating common knowledge' then finally, "I understand all that, believe me I do and there haven't been any complaints or passing remarks about employees acting out of the norm. I don't know what you slipped into these individuals' water," He said, poking at the folder, "but that's not what happens around here." If people started acting strange, Gavin would be the first to notice, mostly because everyone was under scrutiny after learning they were drinking coffee from a hole that no one knew who put there. Nevertheless, he took the new documents in hand and began scanning through them. His jaw clenched as he got further down into the report and for several moments he just sat there reading before flopping it all to his desk again and leaning back into his chair with his arms crossed. "Disturbing I'll agree but here's where I must disagree more. We haven't noted that behaviour, none of it." If THAT was happening, for sure someone would notice. His expression slipped into that of someone who was not impressed. He spoke as if their employees had been dragged through the seven levels of hell then asked to resurface and act like the sun shone no hotter above ground than in that dark underworld. Circe sake. Was there even a response to something like that? Gavin began collecting the man's documents and folders together then slid them all back across the table. "I'm sorry to inform you but this is not Tinworth, Cornwall residences Mr. Epitaph. If there is something St. Mungo's would like I'll thank you to get to this part in the discussion. I don't mean to be rude," formalities often dictated you lie about these things apparently, "but I do have other matters to attend to and simply can't sit here listening to horror stories all day. What can I do for you today?" You know, other than have him removed from the building. |
"It's smarter to catch an issue before there's been an incident."...Unless the Ministry was prepared to deal with even MORE backlash. Bad publicity wasn't good publicity, anymore. It was also becoming clear that Mr. Isaacs was in a severe state of denial; considering his continued defense. There was no easing into the proposition; Wandastian seen this now. "We're proposing that a team of Healers, possibly in conjunction with your currently staffed Healers, do a series of health checks on your employees. Effective immediately." He remained standing, as he had this entire visit. |
Quote:
Everyone was allowed to right to give propositions and at the end of the Day Gavin was allowed to turn them down if they messed with Productivity. "I'm sorry you had to waste your time," and his for that matter...on second though, he wasn't sorry, "but it won't be possible. Would you like me to have my secretary see you out?" |
It was Wandastian's turn to arch his brow...as he considered the man sitting behind the desk with new perspective. This hadn't been as smooth a conversation as he'd have hoped. In fact, this man had been nothing but rude and the Healer had half a mind to speak to the Minister directly. The simple disregard was pure negligence. Why couldn't he see that? "Is it not the Ministry's job to protect the public?" He indicated the folders that had been so carelessly shoved to the side. "Do you know how long it took those issues to present themselves? It wasn't as if they simply began occurring overnight." Wandastian's cheeks flushed as he thought about what could possibly be let loose on the public if this singular man didn't let them do what needed to be done. "I'm not concerned about your employees, Senior Undersecretary. I'm concerned about the people they may lash out at and harm. As a public office that is sworn to do what it can to protect those very people, I had hoped we could share that common interest." Taking a few breathes, and clearing his throat, he began collecting the many documents. When he spoke again, it was all practiced calm and clinical efficiency, once more. "If you cannot see the seriousness of this matter, please allow me to speak with the Minister...So, that I may present my evidence to him. Or perhaps I'll speak with Prophet." Mr. Isaacs could decide, of course. Wandastian hadn't wanted to resort to this type of negotiation...but wasn't above such things, either. |
Truthfully, Gavin stopped listening after he'd dismissed the man. He didn't think Cresswell would want his employees pulled from their actual jobs to help with unproven research as far as this building was concerned and Gavin was hardly concerned about the workers here 'lashing out' as Mr. Epitaph put it so exaggeratedly. He supposed he could have sent him through those doors to have a word with the Minister himself but then the man spoke of the Prophet and Gavin was reminded of the hounds that would eat up this story and create a scandal within the hour. "I don't appreciate the threat," Gavin stated, giving the man a pointed look with his pause, "however if you must, then keep out of the way. Let me make it very clear that you will not be disrupting the work of the employees while you conduct you're little checks and you will have need to speak with Mr. Cresswell before soliciting his Healers for this....whatever this is." Could he tell how absurd Gavin thought he and his research were? Merlin's beard. "Get it done, then kindly leave the Ministry of Magic to get back to it's operations in peace." Now would he leave? Please? How often would he have to tell him to get out? |
"I will send immediate correspondence to Mr. Cresswell in regard to his Healer staff." Wandastian would do that through owls. He'd had enough with meetings for the day. Merlin, the Senior Undersecretary had seen to that. Picking up the pace in collecting his materials, the Healer pursed his lips. "This has been very enlightening, Mr. Isaacs. I will make the necessary arrangements and begin within the next few days." Not offering much else, Wandastian bowed his head and left the office, a slight grin gracing his features. |
His trip up from the eighth floor had only given Anthony Cresswell time to stew...and stewing, he was. What was this Wandastian person? Touched? As if there wasn't enough to deal with these days...without them sticking there noses where it wasn't wanted. Sweet, Merlin. Nearing Gavin Isaacs office, he paused only to knock once....and then once more...before opening the door. Making no moves to actually step into the space, Anthony fixed his eyes on Gavin. "What..." The owl message still clutched in his hand got a harsh jerk. "...is this?" PAUSE. "Is this a publicity stunt?" |
Was it possible to receive a headache as a result of interaction? Gavin had always known he had a certain distaste for humanity and the people that made it up but today was an exceptional sort of dislike inducing and the Senior Undersecretary could only sit and go through other documents that had floated onto his desk. But then...Knock knock knock. OH NO. Was it not sufficiently clear by the weary look on his face that he'd had his quota of people? In that one meeting, he'd had his fill of interaction but there was another knock at his door and he didn't think he wanted to see anyone else. No choice in the matter though he supposed as the door swung open and Mr Cresswell stood there, owl out and tolerance almost as non-existent as his own. Again his fingers were rubbing at his temples. "It's whatever Mr. Epitaph says it is." Surely he'd spoken to him yes? Gavin didn't want to go over it all again. |
__Through the standard means and secure delivery postage channels, a very important piece of owl mail is placed on the Senior Undersecretary's desk. The missive is on special letterhead and sealed with a lime green wax seal.
|
From the break room ^^ With the Break Room back in normal order, the Senior Underscretary was able to breathe a little more easily.One less problem to concern himself with. His only other concern now was the woman that had slipped onto their Level virtually unnoticed. Emily had insisted on security for this level and he'd conceded yet there was no one to prevent this breech? He'd have to speak with her about it. "Have a seat Miss." He said, gesturing to the chair opposite his own at the desk before he himself sat. With some luck they could have this sorted in no time and he could get back to the stack of papers piled high on his desk. All he needed was her motive and her agenda. Was she the distraction for a wider conspiracy? Sweet Merlin, why them? Why NOW? |
Ember followed the silent man into his office----and she caught notice of his, ahem, TITLE.. SWEET METLIN'S SOGGY SOCKS. She almost panicked. And freaked out. THIS WAS THE SENIOR UNDERSECRETARY? So basically--like---ALMOST TOP DOG. Ember could have died right there. OOOOOPS. Did OOPS even COVER it? Ember just stayed quiet for now--and slipped into his office. And the chair--Ember eyed the chair before plopping down, suddenly feeling very nervous--and like she might vomit. She wouldn't, of course--but like.................GAH. She sat all straight and tried to keep smiling--but she was smiling VERY nervously. "So you're the...Senior Undersecretary..." she said as she wriggled her hands in her lap. Well. Was she about to get FIIIIRED? Oh dear MERLIN. PLEASE NO. She had been trying to bring a POSITIVE VIBE to his level! |
It didn't take any great amount of intelligence to note the shift in the woman's demeanor. Where she was once a bubbling ball of threat to his Department, she was now just...was she nervous? Was that it? It'd taken him having her in his office before she realized that this was more serious than a hug could fix? Merlin help her if she'd actually hugged him. Security would have been on call in no time. "Yes. I am. Gavin Isaacs for your benefit." As she seemed to not have been clued in on a LOT of things today, like the fact that you did NOT enter a Level's Break Room with your own plans at redecorating. Consider him severely unamused. "You understand that your earlier actions can't be condone, yes?" And an eyebrow raised as he waited for her response. "I have a selected team that runs the designs on this level and their work was already approved. What you've done, is certainly not what this level needs." Gavin leaned back in his chair, beginning a memo to be sent down to Law Enforcement. "Tell me, who are you working with? Who sent you? What was their agenda?" If Terrorists thought they could simply send in a form of diversion while they made their big slight on the Ministry they had another think coming. "Was it St. Mungo's?" Had to be sure. Even with the Healers gone, there was still a lingering distrust that they were really gone. "You're aware you could get some real jail time in for this? We're talking maximum security lock down where lights don't shine often." Did she get the picture? His memo was almost done. |
Gavin Isaacs. Riiiiight. She would have to remember his name. And then..he was being very fatherly in his sternness--she even detected the same "I'm giving you a talk" voice that her father used to use when Ember would come home after curfew...when she WAS at home and not at Hogwarts. She just bit her lip...and remained very...still. And for once, quiet. Ahem. "Well...none of it was permanent..I would never...do anything permanent, sir." She said softly. Ember was trying her BEST to stay positive. MHMM. At his next..firing of questions, she definitely had a confused look on her face. "I--I'm from Level Four--Creatures Department?" She crossed her ankles and for once remembered to sit in a proper way like Gran would always tell her. And also. She was remembering about being POLITE yeah? And she had was smiling. Nervously--but at least she wasn't CRYING. "And..no one SENT me--" she raised an eyebrow. "I just want everyone to be...happy." THere. Was that SOOO wrong--MISTER GRUMPY PANTS? He was grumpier than the Aron fellow. Accidents' head. Yeah. She hadn't thought anyone could possibly be grumpier than THAT man--but she was WRONG. No matter. Even grumpy people deserved kindness! Wait--"No--I'm not from-------" And then he said JAIL. Ember's eyes WIDENED. "JAIL?" She suddenly furrowed her brows. "For sprinkling glitter in your break room?" NO CRYING, EMBER. But still. She thought it sounded ridiculous! He was sooo serious though! "I--well--I can honestly say I've never been threatened arrest before." It was something to add to her list of.....list of ridiculous things to have happened to her. |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 04:20 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.3.2 © 2009, Crawlability, Inc.
Site designed by Richard Harris Design