To the right of the passage way into the work stations in the department's conference room. This charmed room is expandable, allowing the room to adjust to the size that is needed to accomondate the meeting taking the place. At the centre of the room is a mahogany table, which is surrounded by comfortable chairs. As with the rest of the department, and the department head's office this room is heavily secured with various spells, similar to those that are used up on the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. These spells prevent any eavesdropping occuring, allowing meetings to be as private as possible. The conference room can be used by any employee's if needed, as long as they get permission from the department head before hand.




OOC: Only Dept of Mysteries employees and authorized guests can RP in this thread

Isobel felt nervous. When she had been up on level 2 she wasn't in this position, she could sit back and let Evander, and then Wesley do the work. But she was the department head now, and mysteries was a very different department to what she was used to. Izzy was looking forward to the change, and making mysteries successful. Hopefully that would be aided by getting to know her employees more. The blonde entered the conference room, and placed the tray onto the table. No she hadn't been baking, Isobel wasn't that fantastic at baking, but she had brought some cakes and cookies for everyone to nibble on. That would be fun. As long as people turned up.

Izzy settled down into one of the chairs, hoping that her nerves might settle a little. She was an ex-auror for merlin sake, meeting a bunch of people shouldn't have scared her. Iz was sure she'd be fine when people got here.

Oh Merlin...

Pausing just in the doorway, Evelyn raised an eyebrow and stared around for a moment before glancing down to her watch, tapping it. She was the first one here, besides that woman sitting down. Her watch was busted no doubt. Sure, she liked to be early to things, but this was beyond early. It was like...twilight zone early for her. Either that or she was extremely late.

Lightly clearing her throat, she slowly moved into the room, semi-smiling and nodded slightly to the woman who...she...did not...know, while choosing her seat. Was SHE the new department head? Quite frankly, Evelyn was just starting to like the other guy. Despite the fact she couldn't remember his name...

Then again, who's name DID she remember?

Another Mysteries Head?! Sherman had barely gotten used to Corin. And Sakura. And now there was a new one? The elderly man had heard that this one was going to be a lady. Ladies scared him. As he wheeled his chair into the Conference Room, taking extra precaution not to step on anyone's toes, he caught a glimpse of the new Head. He wheeled to the end of the room farthest from her and adjusted his chair, so that as little of it as possible was visible. He remebered what Corin Vanderbuilt had acted like when he noticed one of his employees was a crippled, elderly man. Sherman did not need more sympathy. His narcolepsy should have been the least of the Head's worries.

Before seating himself, he slipped a cookie off of the tray in the center of the table. He liked cookies. Yum. He stared intently at the new Head, and wondered how much worse work could get. But there were cookies. She had to be nice if she had brought cookies, right?

Marcos loved the "meet and greet" portion of the job. He was a people person and could deal with almost every personality. He was curious as to who was the new department head. Most of all he was excited to see a new face. He liked being the first person to everything, but he was running a tad behind so he seriously doubted that he would be.

He was close to the door when a strong wave of baked treats reached his nostrils. He breathed in deep and closed his eyes. He suddenly hoped that the new department head was a woman and that she personally baked the goods. He walked into the room and was glad to see that not too many people have made it there yet. He hated being last. He looked around, but didn't see any familiar faces, but that was to be expected. He gave each person a warm smile. Should he approach them and strike up a conversation?

Again.

In the course of...a year, Maggie has had three different Department Heads, if you counted this new one as well. Ironically, she'd liked Mr. Sakura the best.

Her blue eyes landed on the blonde that she suspected will be taking Corin's job and gave her one nod and a smile. That was greeting enough. Then she stepped inside for real and took the seat next to...Evelyn. She liked that girl, perhaps the fact that she'd been a Slytherin too had something to do with it, but we're not telling.

Now, Maggie will continue working in the Thought Chamber, correct? Because she quite liked it there. Unless the new boss had a different plan...

At this point, Jade didn't even think another change of department head fazed her as much as before. In her some odd seven years there, wait had it really been that long? Seven years and she had seen four Heads come through the department. Seriously, she wasn't all too sure how she felt about how it almost felt like a revolving door the Head position was. She hardly had too much time to get accustom to their last Head before this new change came about.

Shrugging it off, she continued on to the conference room. She wasn't all that early, seeing that a few people were already there; but she wasn't late at least. Seeing an unfamiliar face, she offered a polite nod. That must be their new Head, she could only assume. Not one to judge before knowing a few facts, Jade held judgement for another time as she headed for an empty chair.

Spotting one near Maggie and Evelyn, she sat down and waited. The last time they had all be called together for a meet & greet, they were asked about possibly switching divisions and all. She wasn't completely sure she wanted to leave her work in the Thought Chamber. There was much she still wanted to do there, but there was room for growth in knowledge in the other divisions too. Not wanting to worry too much about it, she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind. Maybe this meet & greet wouldn't be like the last one.

My first day of work here at the ministry, how grand. I wonder what will happen now, Hmm, Demetrius thought. He wonder how many other people actually worked in the Department of Mysteries. He was happy with were he was placed.

He was put as a Death Specialist. He knew a lot about the dead since the dead can not tell lies. He walked over to the nearest open chair and sat. Now he would have to introduce himself. "Hello, I'm Demetrius Clay, nice to meet everybody here". He had to be nice on the first day because otherwise everybody would hate his usually sarcastic self.

So it was official. Alex had officially become an employee of the Ministry of Magic. But what she did there, was something she was not inclined to tell. Or so her letter had told her when she found out she had been hired. It also told her where she would be working and to head to the conference room first. So they can talk to each other, but not others?

Smoothing her blouse over her skirt, she had meandered slowly down the long corridor that led to her new place of employment, feeling somewhat like this was a walk of shame. Or perhaps precluding her death. Tucking a hair behind her ear, she glanced to the sides for some sort of sliver of a reflection she could grasp at. Nothing, of course. Vanity wasn't common in this department, obviously.

And of course, there were already faces in the conference room, which made Alex wonder two things: 1) how many were new like herself and 2) was she late? A quick glance around the room told her she wasn't late though, to which she nodded politely to those around the room and took an empty seat. She wasn't about to introduce herself unless called upon, even if they were all in the same department. Vigilance. Secrets. She got this.

People had turned up. That was good. It also made Isobel's nerves calm a little. At least people had bothered to turn up. The blonde smiled, glancing down at the piece of parchment she'd brought down with her. Instead of bringing down all the profiles of the unspeakables across from her office she had just wrote their names down on a piece of parchment. She was planning on getting everyone to introduce their selves, and she would cross their names of the list. Later on when she was back in her office Isobel was going to go through the profiles in detail, so that she would know all of her employees.

Hmm. She quickled counted how many people were in the room, before making a quick decision. Hopefuly some more people would show up. "Hi everyone." She smiled, quickly looking at them all in turn. "We'll just wait a few moments to see if anyone else shows up before we start."

Oh, Magnolia. She remembered her name.

Mostly because it was of a flower. Not at all bothered by the older woman sitting next to her, Evelyn smiled somewhat before going back to tapping the table quietly with one hand and watching the others arrive. Nope, didn't mind Magnolia at all. She was quiet. Quiet was good. Well, at least there had yet to be a long conversation that changed Evelyn's mind.

There were a few others she recognized who arrived, like that one woman who worked in the Thought Chamber who's name was a little fuzzy in her memory, and the old man who she avoided, but nevertheless, the only person she did not like right now was the new guy. Disturbing the amazing silence with his greeting. He recieved a STARE from Evelyn. Even that lady who just entered was quiet! Whom...looked familiar for some reason...

Now, she recieved a stare from Evelyn too. Not an accusing one like Mr. Talks A Lot got, but a curious one.

Demetrius was just sitting down in his surprisingly comfortable chair thinking about his new job he will be starting soon. When he turns and sees a women staring at him. He could not think of a thing he would have done to merit it but whatever. He turns towards her and says "Do you see something you like". Yes, now he would have to get a response Demetrius thought

See? Mr. Talks A Lot.

Although, she sincerely hoped he didn't turn into Mr. Asks Too Many Questions.

Evelyn raised a brow, her finger tapping on the table momentarily pausing as she turned her attention back to the man. Yes, she raised an eyebrow at that question. Even gave him the 'once over' for dramatic effect. "Not...really." she muttered as if bored. Hmmmm, smirk. Back to tapping the table now.

A slight nod was given off as the new Department Head decided to wait for a few more before starting. Sounded as good to her as it surely did to any. It's not like her work was going anywhere, right? Er...on second thought...

Her mind didn't have a chance of finishing that sentence, because now she was trying hard not to see the only two people talking on the room. Evelyn...and...did he say his name was Demetrius? Maggie was smirking, keeping her eyes busy somewhere else.

But...there was someone else she didn't know. Another woman. Most likely new. Introductions will happen later.

"Who dares disturb my work?" Peeling back his hood as he entered, Nero scanned the room, his gray pup nipping at his heels. The doctor jabbed the tip of his octopus topped cane against the floor, causing his dog to sit at attention. Such an adorable creature to belong to so cranky an old man.

Sherman, after licking his fingers for the last traces of the delicious cookies Ms. New Head had made, looked around the room to see which other employees had arrived. There were some he recognized, such as the serious Magnolia, and the outgoing Evelyn. And of course, the scary Dr. Nero Nykto and his loud cane, the only elderly in Mysteries besides himself. But there were some new faces, such as the talkative boy who seemed to be getting on Evelyn's nerves. And a young lady who was busy smoothing her blouse and trying to look at her reflection in the table even though she was pretty enough, as is. Though after taking in the appearance of all the newcomers, the crippled man found his eyes drifting back toward the Department Head.

The old man's piercing stare took in her blonde hair and kind eyes. She had laugh lines and she looked more nervous than scary. Sherman wouldn't have been cowering, not even a bit, if she wasn't a woman. But, he had to admit, the food had won him over. Not completely, but it was definitely a better start than Sakura and Corin had achieved.

For some reason, Alex felt oddly self-conscious. Like the others recognized her as 'the new person'. Perhaps she should have spoken out like that other new guy did and introduced herself, but ... no, a look from that blond over there told her to just sit tight. She did say they would start in a few moments, anyway. Whatever that meant. Introductions possibly?

Giving her a brief smile, her eyes then made their way around the room. Starting with the young woman who chattered briefly to the new guy; mostly complaining about breaking the silence from what she could tell. But no, that wasn't all. The young woman - and she WAS young looking - stared at her too. Not in a bad way, but a curious way. A ... familiar way, almost. Huh? She'd never seen the woman before, unless she attended the Australian Wizarding Academy.

But unlike the woman, she wasn't going to break the silence and ask if she could help her. No. She'd just have to talk to her LATER; like after the meeting.

Oh and then there was an older gentlemen over there, licking his fingers from the cookies. Really? She raised an eyebrow briefly at him curiously, before moving onto her next colleague.

A shady man. Hooded. Who seemed demented, almost? Disturbing his work? Did he forget that he was in the conference room, not in his work laboratory?

And then another woman. Who seemed nice enough; well actually she didn't know, but the brunette over there seemed to be evaluating and judging everyone silently, as she was.

Katherine entered the room and her eyes immediately fell on the mahogany table in the center of the room. There were some people standing around it, and some sitting on the chairs placed around it. It was a conference room, it wasn't very cosy, she was sure it was a very secure place to deal with secretive matters. Someone had placed a tray with cookies and things to nibble on [I]"that's nice"[/I] she thought to herself, as she took a few steps towards the middle of the room.

All the faces were new there, at least to her. Some not really young - she eyed the finger licking man - but new nevertheless. She approached him, reaching over his arm and taking a cookie to herself. Before eating it, she took a moment to look everyone in the face, or at least try, some were looking rather serious for what was meant to be such a relaxed meeting.

"Hi, I'm Katherine!" she said, looking over to the man, but not really exclusively to him, she greeted the room. Then the took a small bite of the cookie. Hmmmmm...

Leaving his cane to stand on it's own, the ornamental cephalopod staring coldly. Nero knew how uncomfortable he made people, he wasn't that oblivious. Such fresh, young faces. They had their whole lives ahead of him, while the clocks of the man in the wheelchair and doctor Nykto were winding down. But they lacked the experience, the triumphs and mistakes of a lifetime.

Standing near the handicapped man for whom he felt a slight kinship to, Nero reached around to grab a cookie. Looking as if he were going to enjoy a baked good like a normal person, the old doctor scoffed, and tossed it over his shoulder. The gray pup of indeterminate breeding snatched the cookie from the air, happily chomping it down before going about his doggy business of sniffing around the floor for more fallen treasure.

"Anything said here does not leave this room." Nero reminded the crowd, taking hold of his cane once more. "We are the keepers of the worlds greatest secrets. Trust is a rare commodity in our line of work." The doctor wondered if they could shoulder such a heavy burden. They were the best of the best, but would that be enough to keep the department from burning again?

Still in the process on chewing her cookie down, she saw a puppy... A PUPPY!! She immediately fell into her knees and called the puppy with those irritating sounds people usually do around animals, smacking her lips in kissing sounds and talking in a baby voice " here doggie , come here come here " the pup looked suspicious at first but as any young age animal, came swinging it's tail in happiness. She petted it behind it's ears and hugged it, making it fall when she release it.

At the same time, the man, the one with a cane, let out some wise and dark words that sent chills down her spine. She knew the weight that job had and how important and secretive it was, but hearing it like that made her shiver.

"He's adorable!" she exclaimed to who she assumed to be the owner, shaking off the feeling and putting on a more pleasant face " is it a she or a he ?" she asked with curiosity, pulling herself from the kneeling position into a more adulte and human one.

Isobel glanced at her watch one last time. Okay. She had given them enough time. Now she would be begin speaking. Or she would have any way, because the way that Nero was speaking, and that was no way to speak to anyone. "Excuse me Mr Nykto. I would suggest that you hold your tongue and learn some manners. Or you may find yourself no longer employed within my department." And he had better listen to her. Isobel was in no mood to take any nonsense from anyone. Even a man that had clearly worked within the department for a while.

"And I think we all know about the secrets of this department. You do not need to remind everyone." And that was her job thank you very much. Isobel's attention was then taken by one of her new hires who was now finding herself on the floor. Isobel could tell that she was going to have her work cut out in this department. "Miss Lewis. Will you please remove yourself from the floor, and a take a seat. This is a meeting not a free for all." Oh dear me.

Okay. She was done with that. Hopefully now they could move on. "I think we shall start now..." She paused, taking a glance at everyone. "Most of you probably don't know who I am. My name is Isobel Montague, and I've transferred down from Level 2 where I was head auror." She missed that quite a lot, but she was ready for a new adventure. Isobel also considered that maybe she should inform them about her up and coming nuptials? She would be changing her surname in only a month after all.

"I think....it would be a start if we could go round, and each introduce our selves. It will help me put names to faces."

Her gaze snapped to the door as the other old person that worked in this department came in being all disruptive, and then to the new girl that was also loud like the new guy, and then back to the old man again. Much like one watching a tennis match!

Snort.

That was kinda unexpected, but Evelyn cleared her throat in hopes of trying to cover it up as a cough, or a really weird sneeze. Besides, the department head woman was talking. Talking about things that made the girl start to like her just a bit more already. She'd just turn a blind eye to the baked goods in the room. Eying the people their department head was talking to, the smirk on the younger woman's face was quite noticeable until she saw...The dog.

LSKDjfskldfj! What in Merlin's beard?

Evelyn was going first. "Well, I'm Evelyn Flores. Been in the department of mysteries for almost two years now, and would, if I may, also like to raise concerns about...creatures being down here." Yes, she was talking about the DOG. The slobbery drool monster that smelled bad.

Katherine, who had just pulled herself from the ground, felt her cheeks turn slightly pinkish as she directed her boss a polite smile " I was just getting to know the members, getting on their level " she added with grace as she pulled a chair to the left of the head of the table and sat, her legs crossed and her hands placed on her knees, like a lady.

Katherine did not understand what was the problem of the woman that spoke first, Evelyn Flores, with the dog. But she didn't know what the rules for bringing pets to work on the department either, so she kept herself silent and introduced herself next " I'm Katherine Lewis " she searched the table for smiles and waited for someone else to introduce themselves.

In all honesty, Maggie would've preferred if Nykto remained prisoner in whatever part of the Department he worked.

Disrupting his work? Was he even for real? Didn't he see they were at a meeting right now? And while she'd much rather get back to business, she'd want a whole lot more to see that man upset again.

So, as usual, she tried her best not to listen to whatever he had to say, which were quite possibly more complaints or reminders of how their secret-keepers and such. Secrets. Right. Well, one couldn't know them all, and they were mighty hard to keep track of. Yet she was doing a good job at it.

Once their new Head spoke up, Maggie's face lit up with a smirk. Instant like.

And she was coming right after Evelyn...except her turn came after the one who'd been on the floor. "Magnolia Wisteria," she said, pointing to herself, "And I've been working here for over two years. Thought Chamber. And I'd like to keep it that way." If she was going to ask them if they wanted to keep their current work placement, like Corin had, then the answer was right there.

Very up to the point, really.

She said nothing of the dog because... truthfully, she didn't mind the dog at all, not as much as the owner.

Threats already? Had to be a new record for him. Nero mustered a half hearted smile before speaking. "I am doctor Nero Nykto. Order of Merlin first class. The little pup does not have a name yet, but get used to having her around. I am placing her in the department as our official guard dog. After seeing our work area engulfed in flames, I have severe doubts about the ministry's ability to keep us safe."

Rounding on the department head, Nero looked Isobel over, his weight shifting towards his cane. "I left the ministry, and my title of doctor of death, a hundred years ago so that I could live a quiet life breeding magical mutts with my wife. But, no matter what elixir, or philosophers stone you may get your hands on, no one lives forever. When my wife passed, I knew my time was short.." It was a relief to be able to give some method to his madness, but he still looked visibly angry at himself for letting this get personal. "The death chamber is not just my workplace, it is my home, and eventual tomb."

Doctor Nykto had been gripping his cane so tight that his knuckles had turned white, and his stance became a little uneven. "I hear you are getting married soon. Does he understand that there will be things that keep you up at night that he will never be able to know about?."Though it came out in his usual tone, one could observe the features of his face softening. Maybe, somewhere deep down, he was happy for her. Nero wanted a department head that would choose the job over love, but knew better than to expect such from Izzy. He had deserted the ministry for over a century because he was in love, and never regretted a second of it.