Walking back through reception toward the conference room, Wes craned his neck a bit to see if he could spot the new guy. Maybe he had taken the shortcut after all....?

Eh, no matter. It appeared they had visitor. "Can I help you?" he boomed, coming up from behind the woman. Wes' eyes immediately flicked to the memo in her hand as he tried to read it upside-down. Well well, that handwriting looked familiar...

Jade swore that she jumped five feet off the ground as she heard a booming voice behind her.

Clutching her chest where her heart was beating fast, she span around and saw Mr. Ferguson standing there. "Oh god. Mr. Ferguson, you gave me a fright."

Holding up the memo in her hand, she continued. "I'm Jade Gemstone, a Reminisciator from Accidents and Catastrophes. I received a memo about a confunded Wizard casting spells in Muggle London. You wouldn't know who is the liaison from your department, would you?

Wes chuckled softly to himself at the way the Accidents & Catastrophes woman jumped. Hilarious. It was hilarious. "Sorry about that," he apologized with a grin, not actually sorry at all. He did enjoy terrorizing employees of the other levels every now and then. Sorry for not being sorry.

Anyway, the memo. Wes nodded and flicked his wand into his hand, sending off two wolf patronuses without another thought. "Yesss, we have two. Aubrie Hampson and Skander Beckett. I've summoned them for you."

He propped an arm up on the secretary's desk and made a show of staring at the memo again. "So, Accidents & Catastrophes, eh? How do you like working with Thea?"

Having gotten a patronus from the bossman Skander made his way into the Reception and Waiting area of the MLE. On his way there he walked into a few walls, and got a bit turned around every time he did so. But he managed to make it to the reception area in a prompt enough fashion, and immediately found himself walking into another wall right in front of his boss and a woman he didn't know. How embarrassing.

Pushing himself away from the wall he managed to walk over to the two in a more dignified fashion. "You sent for me?" he asked, giving his boss and the woman a small smile. Since he didn't recognise her he was going to assume that this had something to do with being a liaison and that it deserved his full attention, and politeness. He didn't want to be the one to damage the MLE's relationship with other levels after all.

Jade really didn't like it that Ferguson was chuckling at her expense. Normally she was never that excitable but then she hadn't been expecting him to walk up behind her and practically yell out her. She couldn't say that to his face though.

"It's alright, Sir. I wasn't expecting you to come up behind me. That's all." She managed to say in a clear and steady voice. She really didn't want him to think less of her just because he made her jump.

And so Ferguson was one of the more chatty department heads what with his question about Althea.

"She's wonderful to work with." She replied,"She has done wonders with the department overall." Jade had nothing to complain about. Not since she had received her promotion to Reminisciator.


Jade turned slightly to see a man walk up to her and Ferguson. He must be Skander Beckett, she was assuming if the other person Ferguson mentioned--one Aubrie Hampson--was a woman according to her name.

She smiled back at him as he came to a stop next to them. Suddenly she was unsure of herself--what now? Should she introduce herself before Ferguson had the chance to?!

To be on the safe side-- she waited for Ferguson to introduce him to her before introducing herself, "Nice to meet you. I'm Jade Gemstone from Accidents and Catastrophes. My head handed me this memo about a confunded Wizard who is casting spells around Muggle London--what can you tell me about him?"

"Nice to meet you too," Skander replied automatically, adding, "I'm Skander Beckett," as an afterthought. He would have held out his hand to shake but he was a bit too busy rubbing at his bloodshot eyes. They were slightly dry and itchy, but he had no idea why they were like this. Then again he'd been pretty much ignoring all other signs of illness too so he'd just add this to one of the list of things he'd simply have to put up with.

"Nothing really, except that he's apparently confunded and casting spells in muggle London," Skander replied with a shrug. "I'm a prosecutor so I don't really hear a lot about these things until the culprit has been caught. Aubrie might know more though." He was slightly apologetic as he explained this. Obviously he'd been called because he was one of their liaisons, unfortunately the case wasn't one he'd read up on. Although he had been going through his reports this, due to the fact that no-one had caught the wizard, would not have been on his desk.

Jade nodded in understanding, "Right. I understand--things are always crazy the first week back from holiday. Is Aubrie around by any chance? I just need to know if my reminisciating skills are needed."

Aubrie had gotten the patronus from Wes, but it wasn't like she minded at all or anything. After all she had sent one to him while he was on vacation. Unfortunately she was at the atrium when she got the message so she had to hurry up to level four and when she got there she saw that Skander, her fellow liason for level two. She saw that he seemed a bit off.

Aubrie was getting there when she saw another woman she didn't know was there asking if she was around. "Hello," Aubrie said with a smile. "Sorry I was a bit late, I made my way up as quickly as possible. Aubrie Hampson." Aubrie put out her hand for the woman to shake.

Taking Aubrie's hand, Jade shook it. "It's okay. I'm Jade Gemstone- I'm the Reminisciator assigned to the 'Confunded Wizard in Muggle London' case. The one who is busy casting spells around the muggles."

Hoping that Aubrie would know more details, Jade repeated her question, "What can you tell me about the case? I've only got the basics--that he is confunded and there are muggles involved."

Wonderful to work with? Really? Were they talking about the same Thea here? Wes' eyebrows went up a bit but he didn't say much else, as Skander ... appeared, then, looking somewhat unsteady on his feet but at least performing his liaison duties well.

Wes was about to slip away, seeing that Jade and Skander seemed to have a handle on things, when he noticed something about his liaison... bloodshot eyes, bumping in to walls... was he going to start drooling too?

"You all right there, Skander?" he interjected the group conversation loudly as Aubrie walked up. Wes nodded to her and put a hand on Skander's shoulder, steering him off to the side for a moment. "I need a word with you, if you could, Beckett."

"Of course, excuse me ladies," Skander said as he allowed himself to be pulled away by his boss. It was kind of rude Skander thought, to pull him away while he was being all liaisony.

"I'm fine boss. Its probably just the flu or something. Some pepper-up and I'll be fine," Skander told him, trying to sound convincing, but not really sure he was succeeding at it. It probably would have been more convincing if he wasn't displaying the same symptoms that they were currently investigating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saiai

"Of course, excuse me ladies," Skander said as he allowed himself to be pulled away by his boss. It was kind of rude Skander thought, to pull him away while he was being all liaisony.

"I'm fine boss. Its probably just the flu or something. Some pepper-up and I'll be fine," Skander told him, trying to sound convincing, but not really sure he was succeeding at it. It probably would have been more convincing if he wasn't displaying the same symptoms that they were currently investigating.

"Have you tried any pepper-up... yet? I mean, it's not every day that you walk into three walls in a row..." Wes pointed out, half out of concern and half out of curiosity. He needed to know how long Skander had been sick, see, and then he needed to get Aron over here to collect a drool (DNA?) sample from the liaison.

Wes wasn't convinced by his excuse either way, so he went ahead and sent another patronus, this one for Aron.

Aron had been in the middle of some lab work with Derek on level 3 when the silvery wolf had made its appearance and called him back to level 2. Holy holly couldn't he just run tests on his drool and vomit samples in peace? Derek wasn't a honking daffodil like most of the women in the MLE, so this was a breath of much needed fresh air. HEAD CABBAGE WAS CRAMPING ON HIS PHOTOSYNTHESIS, YO!

Entering the waiting area, the Australian made his way over to Wes. "You rang?"

"Well not today. I did have some yesterday though," never mind the fact that it really hadn't helped him. If he mentioned that they'd probably make him give a DNA sample like they were doing with the people they suspected of being zombies. Or whatever term they were giving them. He hadn't been paying much attention at that point.

Skander sighed and bit his lip in resignation as Wes called for Aron. Looked like he'd be giving up his DNA no matter what he said or did. Maybe he could try to apparate away? But then, that wouldn't really get him anywhere. It'd probably just land him in hot water.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saiai

"Well not today. I did have some yesterday though," never mind the fact that it really hadn't helped him. If he mentioned that they'd probably make him give a DNA sample like they were doing with the people they suspected of being zombies. Or whatever term they were giving them. He hadn't been paying much attention at that point.

Skander sighed and bit his lip in resignation as Wes called for Aron. Looked like he'd be giving up his DNA no matter what he said or did. Maybe he could try to apparate away? But then, that wouldn't really get him anywhere. It'd probably just land him in hot water.

"And just how long have you been feeling ill for, Skander?" Wes was actually playing good cop in this... mini-interrogation, being all friendly-like with his liaison. He didn't want the man to quit, after all, and especially not while he was infected with whatever he had.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilblackdoxy

Aron had been in the middle of some lab work with Derek on level 3 when the silvery wolf had made its appearance and called him back to level 2. Holy holly couldn't he just run tests on his drool and vomit samples in peace? Derek wasn't a honking daffodil like most of the women in the MLE, so this was a breath of much needed fresh air. HEAD CABBAGE WAS CRAMPING ON HIS PHOTOSYNTHESIS, YO!

Entering the waiting area, the Australian made his way over to Wes. "You rang?"

Ah, there he was now, man of the moment. The never-late, always great drool collector, Aron Somethinberry-Hashtag. Or whatever his last name(s) was.

"I did ring," Wes' eyes twinkled as he looked toward his evidence collector. "Aron, it is my suspicion that Skander has some of the same symptoms our friend," cough, not, "Whitworth was having. I'd like you to test a DNA sample just to be sure."

His eyes flicked toward Skander somewhat sympathetically. "Just a standard procedure, Beckett. We want you feeling well." So that he could do his job properly and all that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RabidBatGirl

Ah, there he was now, man of the moment. The never-late, always great drool collector, Aron Somethinberry-Hashtag. Or whatever his last name(s) was.

"I did ring," Wes' eyes twinkled as he looked toward his evidence collector. "Aron, it is my suspicion that Skander has some of the same symptoms our friend," cough, not, "Whitworth was having. I'd like you to test a DNA sample just to be sure."

His eyes flicked toward Skander somewhat sympathetically. "Just a standard procedure, Beckett. We want you feeling well." So that he could do his job properly and all that.

Friend? Aron arched an eyebrow and his smug smirk faltered for just a moment as he tried to read into what Wes was talking about. That is until he said that honking daffodil of a woman's name. Seriously, were ALL the women in this department like that? Most of them seemed to just talk his ear off and make him want to slam his head against his desk. Well, Cade wasn't like that AND she baked. She was alright.

"Got it," he nodded as he opened up his bag and pulled out his collection supplies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saiai

Skander sighed and bit his lip in resignation as Wes called for Aron. Looked like he'd be giving up his DNA no matter what he said or did. Maybe he could try to apparate away? But then, that wouldn't really get him anywhere. It'd probably just land him in hot water.

Long cotton swab in hand, Aron turned his attention towards the other man and sort of waved it eagerly in the man's direction. "Just open your mouth and say aaaaaaaah," Aron instructed. You know, just like what you did when you went to see the Healer.

Come drool...come to my cotton swab...

"I'm not really sure," Skander admitted as he tried to think back on when he'd started feeling off. He'd definitely been feeling a bit strange before the break, what with the vomiting but he hadn't thought anything of it back then. Not really, at least.

"Maybe, before the break? I felt really off then, but I just thought I'd gotten food poisoning after eating the cookies that the International Co-operation Head gave me, don't really remember his name...nice enough bloke though, good for a chat in the Hangout," Skander mused before looking back at Wes. But surely, the way he'd felt then wasn't connected to now! Just because he still had some of the symptoms he knew walking into walls wasn't one of them.

Skander gave Wes a suspicious glance as he said it was all part of procedure. That was obviously a blatant lie. He'd been sick before and never had to give a sample of anything. Then again they hadn't been researching a virus before...

Skander took an involuntary step back from his fellow Australian as the man waved the swab enthusiastically in his direction. Aron seemed much too eager in his opinion and he wasn't sure he really wanted the man to have his DNA. Who knew what he'd do with it?

Nevertheless Skander opened his mouth slightly, allowing Aron to not only gather his drool, but also to get a good look at his sharp teeth. If he tried anything Skander wasn't afraid to bite him. Except, he was pretty sure the bossman wouldn't appreciate him doing that. So maybe he'd refrain...Besides, biting showed a lack of decorum, and if he had anything he had decorum.

So the symptoms were nothing new, really, especially not if they were connected to some tainted food given to him by the International Cooperation Department Head... Gavin, that was his name... Wes nodded along as Skander talked, jotting all this town in the blue notebook he always had with him.

"I see," was all he murmured while Aron took the drool sample. "And have you felt any weakness or inability to perform magic in addition to these other sicknesses?" Merlin, he sounded like a Healer... Wes nodded his thanks to the CMEC specialist, which was also a nod that he was free to go while he grilled the liaison.

"I suppose so. Apparating has been a bit difficult the past week," Skander admitted grudgingly, all the while eyeing the notebook that Wes was now writing in. It seemed to him as if he was now just an interesting specimen. Were they going to ask him about all his symptoms now? If they were they should just send him to a healer or something. At least that way any medical information would be accurate. And a healer would know all the right questions to ask.

He so wasn't going to admit that casting a simple lumos the other night had made him feel weak and in need of a lie down. He was just lucky that his job didn't require the use of magic much. If it did he'd have probably been seeing someone for exhaustion. Either that or someone else would have already questioned him. One of those teams that had been put together to look for the people that were displaying any signs of 'zombieness', or at least Skander thinks they were dubbing the people as zombies. He hadn't been paying much attention, he'd been more focused on reducing the paperwork on his desk.

Making sure the cotton swab was sterile with a quick spell, Aron furrowed his brow when the man barely opened his mouth. Honestly, was Aron going to have to force it open with a spell? Merlin people WORK with him here. It was like he needed to cut off an arm or take blood or something. It was just some saliva.

Grumbling to himself, Aron flicked his wand again to force the man's mouth open a little more and then promptly stuck the cotton swamp inside and swished it around to get the sample he needed. Once that was done, he summoned a container from his bag and inserted the swab and corked it. Yet another sample for the lab. Brilliant.

But then something caught his attention. "Not something from the cafeteria?" he asked, eyes glancing at Wes for a moment. He returned his attention to Skander again, eyebrow raised, and figured he ought to clarify. "I just ask because everyone else I've taken some DNA samples from has been feeling a bit off after eating in the cafeteria before the break."

And why in the name of Gurdyroot hadn't anyone said something before? That had been months ago!

Oh! Head Cabbage was using one of those nifty stationary sets. He had one of those from training. In fact... Whipping out his own spiffy stationary set, Aron used it to make a label for his new vial and then tucked it away in his bag. "If there is nothing else...I should probably get back to the lab."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saiai

"I suppose so. Apparating has been a bit difficult the past week," Skander admitted grudgingly, all the while eyeing the notebook that Wes was now writing in. It seemed to him as if he was now just an interesting specimen. Were they going to ask him about all his symptoms now? If they were they should just send him to a healer or something. At least that way any medical information would be accurate. And a healer would know all the right questions to ask.

He so wasn't going to admit that casting a simple lumos the other night had made him feel weak and in need of a lie down. He was just lucky that his job didn't require the use of magic much. If it did he'd have probably been seeing someone for exhaustion. Either that or someone else would have already questioned him. One of those teams that had been put together to look for the people that were displaying any signs of 'zombieness', or at least Skander thinks they were dubbing the people as zombies. He hadn't been paying much attention, he'd been more focused on reducing the paperwork on his desk.

Apparating...difficult... Wes made note of that, as well as jotting down how reluctant his liaison seemed to be to share news of any of his symptoms. "We're just trying to get to the bottom of this, Skander," he reminded the man in a low, level tone. "Just trying to help." All right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilblackdoxy

Making sure the cotton swab was sterile with a quick spell, Aron furrowed his brow when the man barely opened his mouth. Honestly, was Aron going to have to force it open with a spell? Merlin people WORK with him here. It was like he needed to cut off an arm or take blood or something. It was just some saliva.

Grumbling to himself, Aron flicked his wand again to force the man's mouth open a little more and then promptly stuck the cotton swamp inside and swished it around to get the sample he needed. Once that was done, he summoned a container from his bag and inserted the swab and corked it. Yet another sample for the lab. Brilliant.

But then something caught his attention. "Not something from the cafeteria?" he asked, eyes glancing at Wes for a moment. He returned his attention to Skander again, eyebrow raised, and figured he ought to clarify. "I just ask because everyone else I've taken some DNA samples from has been feeling a bit off after eating in the cafeteria before the break."

And why in the name of Gurdyroot hadn't anyone said something before? That had been months ago!

Oh! Head Cabbage was using one of those nifty stationary sets. He had one of those from training. In fact... Whipping out his own spiffy stationary set, Aron used it to make a label for his new vial and then tucked it away in his bag. "If there is nothing else...I should probably get back to the lab."

Wes caught the glance from Aron and his own eyebrows went up. "There has to be a connection there," he muttered, adding that to his notes before he shut and stored away the notebook entirely. "Thanks for your help," he nodded to Aron and looked back at Skander again.

"If there's nothing else you think we should know...." he hinted, "then you can get back to work too."

"Well since the Hangout area is in the cafeteria I'm thinking he got the cookies from there. I can't be sure since I was already sitting down when he came over and he had the cookies with him at that point. But it's possible," Skander responded, feeling much more open to talking about where and from whom he got the cookies. That was a nice safe topic after all.

That and now that his DNA was collected he supposed that there was no real point in being so cagey. He might have even be more willing to talk if they weren't in a public place where everyone could hear what was going on.
"Well, the department head, he was eating the cookies too. He actually ate a lot of them, and I think he was taking the extra ones back up to share with his employees," because that was important right? Other people could be having the same symptoms if that was really the case. And the MLE would need to know about that when it came to their investigation.

Skander went to walk away in order to get back to work before pausing and looking back at Wes. "I...you don't think this is a normal sickness do you? You think I've got the same symptoms as the others?" Skander asked, in an even tone. They didn't need to know that he was slightly freaked out at the moment. Maybe he should be just a little more honest in his answering of the questions. What did he really have to lose? Making his decision Skander took a calming breath before looking Wes dead in the eye and beginning to speak.

"At first my vision went really blurry, but it got better after a few days, then there's the excessive drooling," as if to prove his point he had to get out his handkerchief to wipe at his mouth. "There was of course vomiting, which is why I'd assumed food poisoning was a possibility, but that's lingered on slightly. The walking into walls you've already seen, as well as the bloodshot eyes. I'm not sure if it's my imagination but my teeth seem to be sharper," he opened his mouth slightly wider so as to let his boss see,"And the weakness kind of extends to all magic, not just apparition," he mumbled the last bit as he didn't really want anyone else to hear him. Bad enough that he felt guilted into being completely honest with his boss.

Erick Ebony strode into the Reception area with his arms crossed. As usual, he was wearing his gothic bare-chested jacket and had a scowl on his face.

This was the first time he had ever entered the Ministry of Magic, this was also his first year OUT of Hogwarts, even though he looked at least 21 because of how he was held back a few years for cheating.

SPOILER!!: the Drooler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saiai

"Well since the Hangout area is in the cafeteria I'm thinking he got the cookies from there. I can't be sure since I was already sitting down when he came over and he had the cookies with him at that point. But it's possible," Skander responded, feeling much more open to talking about where and from whom he got the cookies. That was a nice safe topic after all.

That and now that his DNA was collected he supposed that there was no real point in being so cagey. He might have even be more willing to talk if they weren't in a public place where everyone could hear what was going on.

"Well, the department head, he was eating the cookies too. He actually ate a lot of them, and I think he was taking the extra ones back up to share with his employees," because that was important right? Other people could be having the same symptoms if that was really the case. And the MLE would need to know about that when it came to their investigation.

Skander went to walk away in order to get back to work before pausing and looking back at Wes. "I...you don't think this is a normal sickness do you? You think I've got the same symptoms as the others?" Skander asked, in an even tone. They didn't need to know that he was slightly freaked out at the moment. Maybe he should be just a little more honest in his answering of the questions. What did he really have to lose? Making his decision Skander took a calming breath before looking Wes dead in the eye and beginning to speak.

"At first my vision went really blurry, but it got better after a few days, then there's the excessive drooling," as if to prove his point he had to get out his handkerchief to wipe at his mouth. "There was of course vomiting, which is why I'd assumed food poisoning was a possibility, but that's lingered on slightly. The walking into walls you've already seen, as well as the bloodshot eyes. I'm not sure if it's my imagination but my teeth seem to be sharper," he opened his mouth slightly wider so as to let his boss see,"And the weakness kind of extends to all magic, not just apparition," he mumbled the last bit as he didn't really want anyone else to hear him. Bad enough that he felt guilted into being completely honest with his boss.

Hmmm...so cookies could have been from the cafeteria but there was no way of knowing this unless the Head of...whatever department the Drooler had just mentioned confirmed with them. Cue a quick glance from Aron to Wes on that one. Aron needed to head back to the lab with this sample before doing anything else, and he didn't trust want to leave Derek alone with HIS samples for too long. "I see," he nodded, jotting down a few notes on his notepad before he set to rearranging his things for his departure. "Thanks for the drool, mate." And Aron gave the man a nice firm pat on the back.

As for the rest, Aron nodded and listened. Head Cabbage could answer and deal with all that. He had his drool and needed to go poke at it.

SPOILER!!: the Head Cabbage

Quote:

Originally Posted by RabidBatGirl

Apparating...difficult... Wes made note of that, as well as jotting down how reluctant his liaison seemed to be to share news of any of his symptoms. "We're just trying to get to the bottom of this, Skander," he reminded the man in a low, level tone. "Just trying to help." All right?

Wes caught the glance from Aron and his own eyebrows went up. "There has to be a connection there," he muttered, adding that to his notes before he shut and stored away the notebook entirely. "Thanks for your help," he nodded to Aron and looked back at Skander again.

"If there's nothing else you think we should know...." he hinted, "then you can get back to work too."

Nodding, Aron turned to go back to Accidents & Catastrophes but paused for a moment to lower his voice so that only Wes could hear him. "I'll know once I get the lab results in if he is the same as the others....but it might be a good idea to administer the entire department, maybe even Ministry, to have to give DNA samples. It would be a lot of work studying them all...but there is no telling how far this has spread." Just something to think over. For all they knew now this infection or whatever it was had become airborne and they were all infected.

Erick tapped his foot impatiently. Where was everyone???? "Excuse me!" He shouted out. "I am here to see someone!"