Hello Atrium... Yeah, this was exciting. An big, empty room. With a coffee machine. Hm, sounded good. Mason made his way across the spacious room and poured a cup of coffee. He really didn't know why he was here. He was just wandering. Kind of because he didn't really know where he should go. Mason had read the letter, saying something about the Minister's office and something about a conference center on this floor. But he skimmed it. So he didn't really know what he was doing.

This was good coffee.

Jen was running later than she normally was, even though it was still quite early in the day she had went for an early morning run before she went back home and took a quick shower and grabbed a cup of coffee before she started her walk to the Ministry. As though it was every other day, Jen made her first stop at the coffee stand where she bought two large cups of coffee...both were intended for herself, she was a bit of a coffee junkie, Esteban swore her veins were filled with coffee instead of blood. Giving a cheery hello to a few other Ministry workers she knew, Jen was on her way to the lifts, but since she was running later than normal she was caught in the large throng of workers who had suddenly appeared at the "rush hour", all trying to get to their respective floors on time, and got confused as to where she was going; she stood there, and took a drink of coffee. Deciding she'd let some of the people leave so she could find her way to the lifts, Jen continued to drink her coffee as she stood in the middle of the atrium and people watched.

Esteban checked and doubled checked his pocket this morning before he left for work. Jen and himself rarely left together, just something they didn't. He smiled when he saw her in the lobby. "You left before me and I still beat you to work." He gave her a quick peck on the lips and smiled at her again. She still managed to make his heart thrum every time he saw her face. "I have some good news and some bad news." He told her. Wondering if she would guess either of them. He snagged her coffee and took a quick sip. "This stuff is horrible. I don't know how you drink it everyday." He teased her, but only with love of course.

Jen jumped slightly, she hadn't expected to see Esteban, but she was happy nonetheless. "Good morning to you to." She chuckled. "I went for a run this morning, a long one, had a lot of energy." Jen explained. She still had more than enough energy for the day. "Oh dear, let's start with the bad." She said as she took another drink of coffee. "Did that damn owl fly into the window again and shatter it like I guessed it would eventually do?" She asked him. Jen, not being one for animals, AT ALL, had finally broken down shortly after moving in with Esteban, and bought an owl. They were SUPPOSEDLY useful animals, but the one Jen had flew into things. She hadn't even named it, she just referred to it as "that owl". "It's an acquired taste." She smiled, "It's really not that horrible once you get used to." She told him in defense of the speechless coffee.

He smiled at her, "Bad new first? Okay..Andres is thinking about moving to London." He teased her, remebering their last encounter. "That owl, didn't break anything yet!" Esteban said sticking up for the owl. He liked it, and wished she would name it. But it was after all her owl. "Good news next ugh..." Esteban wasn't sure how to do this. He was so nervous, he had planned so many different things for them, but wasn't sure which was the best. If he took her out on some sort of grand adventure she was sure to see it coming. So at the Ministry then.

He pulled a ring box out of his coat pocket. "I got something for you...that's the good news." He handed her the ring box and waited for her to open it.

Jen stopped her bouncing on her feet for a second, "Andres is moving here?" She asked, to make sure. The first time Jen had met Andres it had gone a bit weird, but they kept in touch a bit, and they were on okay terms with each other. "Sounds great, why are you so worried?" She asked. "He's not living with us is he?" She asked with a giggle, she knew that might make Esteban a bit more nervous about Andres moving to London. She couldn't help but smile widely as she took another drink of coffee.

"I really don't like that owl." Jen added on, she had tried to shut the owl out of the apartment before but he kept flying into the windows that Jen couldn't take the racket any longer and was forced to let the owl back inside.

Back to the bouncing on the balls of her feet, Jen was giggling to herself, the "bad news" Esteban had, wasn't so bad after all. Or at least for the moment it wasn't. "What's this?" She asked slowly as she took the small box that resembled a jewelry box. "Esteban, you don't have to get me anything." She told him with a soft smile. She held the small box out to him, for him to take back.

Esteban smiled at her. "There is not a chance in hell that Andres would be moving in with us." He said teasing his brother who wasn't even there. He knew that Andres couldn't defend himself in Mexico. "But it probally means that he'll come around more often." He smiled at her.

Jen...open the box." He told her handing it back to her one last time. She didn't understand what was going on here. That made Esteban a little nervous....what if she said no. "I love you" He told her opening the box for her showing her a ring.

Lord Borr stepped into the Atrium after a long trip down from his office. The lifts made him SWEAT profusely. The HEAT made him SWEAT on top of his SWEAT.

"This MINISTRY is TOO HOT! Maintenance WORKERS not DOING their JOBS! How am I supposed to DO WORK when I'm having a heat stroke?!?!?"

He was yelling at EVERYONE in the vicinity, his cane waving wildly around with no regard of who may be standing nearby.

Wha... What was that? Was the floor shaking? ZOMG, EARTHQUA-

Oh. It was just Borr. -_________________________________-

Mason had to refrain from covering ears when the large man's voice boomed through the atrium. It was only when he almost got knocked in the head with the man's cane that he realized that HE was a Maintenance worker. Apparently not doing his job.

Uh-oh. Did Borr know what department Mason was in? Covering his face with a few papers, Mason attempted to sneak away. He needed to go find a charm to cool things down.

Lord Borr walloped the Ministry work in the HEAD with his cane. "Name yourself. Name your Department! What are these papers? FAN ME. I am the MINISTER and you will FAN ME RIGHT NOW."

THWACK! "GWAAHH!" Mason yelled as Big Borr's cane smacked him in the head. "What the bloody hell was that for?!" He demanded. Er, crap. "Sir!" He added quickly.

Fan him? FAN HIM?! You have got to be kidding me. Mason thought to himself. "Sir, I was actually about to, er... Go fix the heat problem. So, I better go do that." He said, edging away slowly, still rubbing the side of his head where the man's cane had smacked him.

The racket that Borr was causing could not be ignored by anyone--Nolan was just coming back from his lunch break and could hear the noise all the way from the entrance! As junior undersecretary, he was sure he needed to go...er...assist Borr. Somehow. In whatever way he could. At least, that was what was going to be expected of him, he was certain.

"Lord Borr! Erm, I mean...Minister Borr," he said as he approached the walrus-like man. Which one would he prefer?! He'd find out soon enough. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nolan Reynolds, Junior Undersecretary," he said. Should he hold out a hand? He did so.

"There isn't any trouble going on here, I hope?" he asked, raising a dark brow at the scene he had just walked in on. Honestly he was sure it was just Borr making a racket but, this was his job. He had to care. And do something about it. If Alexander wasn't around to care/do something about it first.

Helena needed some coffee. Or something with Caffeine in it. Honestly, sleep deprivation wasn't a good thing. No... especially not when you're working in the upper levels of the Ministry. Even moreso when you're going to be working WITH Lord Borr.

...


Talk of the Devil.

Helena heard him before she saw him, which in its own right was quite the accomplishment. The groggy, tired looking woman decided that she would take a detour to Level One... just to avoid the man. Helena did NOT want to be one of the people having to fan the big man down. Ew. Now she just had to hope that he wouldn't see her.

Unprofessional, much? ... Probably. But Helena didn't care much right now. She disliked Borr a lot.

"Nolan! NOLAN! I got to ask you --"

Sam stopped running after his cousin when he noticed him. Of all the people in the atrium right now, it had to be the MINISTER. Okay, true, it made sense for the Minister of Magic to be in the Ministry but... why Lord Borr? WHY? Wasn't it enough torture for him to have to put up with Mr. I'm Going to Take Your Orange Desk Away Until You Know What You're Doing Greingoth? Apparently not. Apparently, he had to put up with Lord Borr as well.

Whyyyyy couldn't the oh-so amazing Allie still be Minister?

*sigh*

He slowly began to start towards the Minister because, from what he heard, you could get seriously injured by him if you stand there doing nothing. And he was NOT planning on getting squished by Borr anytime soon. "Good afternoon, Minister Borr," he greeted the man. "I'm Samuel McDean. Human Resource Officer." He offered the man his hand to shake.

He was coming up to the bright age of 30 REALLY quickly and still, this man scared him. Maybe it was his intimidating face? Or maybe it was the cane that could easily cause a bump on your head? Or maybe it was the fact he could just sit on you and you'd be a dead man? Whatever it is, at least he wasn't alone with the Minister. If Borr tried to swing his cane at him, he was pulling his cousin in front of his as a shield.

Lord Borr HIT the man AGAIN. AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

"You watch your mouth when you're addressing the MINISTER! Or I will watch it for you! You should have already BEEN DOING YOUR JOB! Now I demand that you FAN ME!"

WHACK WHACK WHACK.


"I know who you are!" Lord Borr tried to shrug out of his cloak. IT WAS SO BLOODY HOT. "Get me out of this cloak and there will be less trouble. NOW!"

The cloak was nearly as saturated with sweat as Lord Borr's under clothes.

"Ah, is that ANOTHER SLACKER from my Department? What are you SUPPOSED to be DOING? Grab some paper and FAN ME. RIGHT NOW."


"Don't you call him by his name! THIS MAN," Lord Borr was shoving his cloak at Nolan, "has a TITLE and you will show RESPECT where it is due! I'll not have MY EMPLOYEES be disrespectful! DROP and DO 300 pushups! RIGHT NOW! RIGHT. NOW!"

Alicia had been on her way to pickup some lunch when she stopped, in the middle of the atrium. There was the new acting minister, absent mindedly she rubbed the back of her hand where he had thwaked her.

Was he the reason she was now shuffled to a new department like a piece on a chess board? She thought putting on the most forced smile of the century when she spotted him. Her eyes still as frightened as a deer in the headlight's.

"Good Afternoon Minister Borr," she lightened the smile, it wasn't forced anymore. Something about forcing a smile always made her actually smile. "I believe we've met before" no she KNEW that they had. Hand smacking man. Grrr. She kept her little anger about that down, looking as peaceful as a hummingbird when she walked closer. Outstretching her hand so as if he wanted to shake it he could. "If I am mistaken, I'm Alicia Devereaux, the new Ministry Jurisprudent within Wizengamot - if you ever have any files you need me to look over please feel free to let me know" she smiled still. Yes she was saying she was willing for more work.

Well, she was pretty much the only Wizengamot person here besides the one who gave her the large stack of paper to work on - and they were almost half way threw it. Getting more done might mean she'd actually learn her new title faster and get to go from department to department helping out as Jurisprudent were supposed to do.

*Snort*

The Creatures Department Head scoffed as she walked past the poor employees being beaten up with a cane or being shouted at, or being ordered about by Lord Borr. She was on her way back up to her department after a short break from them. She was proud of her dept there was no doubt about that, but the Blonde appreciated a short break once in a while.

"Good day Minister Borr" she wandered past, bowing her head down at the man before rasing an eyebrow at the others with him, resisting the urge to smirk. Being a cultist certainly had their advantages, it made her feel more powerful and certainly boosted up her confidence a lot. No need to introduce herself, she'd met him before.

OW. OW. OW. GOOD GOD, the Minister was insane! Refusing to make eye contanct withe the giant man, he looked around as he continued to get after him for not foing his job. Blah blah blah.

OW. OW. OOOWWW. With a scowl on his face, Mason used his papers to fan the Man's large face. "Yes, sir." He muttered.

"If you're not mistaken?" Lord Minister Borr could hardly believe his ears! "You don't know your OWN NAME? SECURITY! SECURITY! Remove this from my Ministry! Straight to Mungo's! SECURITY!!"


"Can you believe this? It's a CIRCUS in this Atrium! A CIRCUS, I tell you! Just bring all your animals down here and let them loose with the rest of these HOODALUMS!"


"Ahhh. Now that's better. Better. FASTER. Fan faster." Ahhhhhh.

300 PUSH UPS?

Was this man insane?!

Sam did not have weight training to do 300 push ups right here and now. He was NOT a macho man! He could, however, do probably 20 or so if he felt like it. Which, no, he didn't feel like doing it. "Sir," said he. "This young man is my cousin. We're blood related. Don't you think I have to right to call him by his first name since I've known him since birth?"

He was NOT doing 300 push ups. End of story.

Alright he misunderstood her as usual. Speak slowly, and stupidly then maybe he'll get that. "Sir, I know my own name it is Alicia Colette Devereaux daughter of Jean Paul Devereaux of France." She smiled softly, trying to proove it at first. "I meant to say that I wasn't sure if I actually had already met you or not, and I was asking if you needed any files looked over for the Department of Law Enforcement" she stood firmly. Not caring he had told her to go to Mungo's.

It was he who needed to de-wax his ears. Right he was going to send her own department after her. Pfft. They knew her. And she'd introduced herself to her own Department head already.

Erica couldn't help but smirk at his comment, her eyes glanced over at the 'circus' of employees, they didn't look exactly impressed, nor did they look like they had done anything exactly wrong, in fact they were probably being forced to act as Borr's person slaves. "Well, they're creatures to be perfectly honest, not animals, and I wouldn't want to ruin the Atrium Minister, or cause havoc in your perfect Ministry" the Blonde bowed her head once again. "Are they not doing as they are expected Minister Borr? The employees, not the animals I mean" she asked him.

So what? She acted as she was supposed to. She was respectful, he WAS Minister after all. "I'm sure there is plenty room up in the Holding Room for Hoodalums" she raised her eyebrow, good word actually, she might use that one again.

"I don't care if he is your UNCLE, YOU MONKEY! Where are those push ups?! Dallying and disrespect won't be tolerated in MY MINISTRY!"

"You are brown nosing and WASTING my TIME. Can't you see I'm busy? I AM YOUR MINISTER. I am BUSY! If you were doing YOUR job then MAYBE, just MAYBE, I could be doing mine!"



"What a marvelous idea," Lord Borr rubbed his massive chins, all twenty six sweaty folds of skin. He actually had areas set aside in the Courtrooms for hoodalums, but the Creatures Department was MUCH closer, and therefore convenient, to Lord Borr.

"Next person to disobey will find themselves in detention in the Holding Room!"

"Well, good day sir" Alicia smiled over to him after all she had been distracted on a mission to go get some supplies for work. Apparently the department's supply closet was out of ruddy quills. And you needed those for Law Enforcement.

Yeah, and the person who found themselves in detention would be let out by the Law Enforcement team most likely but she didn't say that. It wasn't long before she was out of sight after all she was wasting her lunch break being nice. AND she was not brown nosing. She was asking for more work.

Thats called being efficient.