He could hear footsteps as well.

At least he could before they stopped, and the brief flicker of questioning thoughts as to who it could be vanished briefly. Mostly his mind was on the vines he'd noted back at the entrance of the staircase from his end. Strays that weren't much harm now, but if they kept venturing others would follow and... well it wouldn't be too safe traveling this path if it got infested with his plants.

The brief moment of forgetting about the footsteps was gone however, when he came face to face with a unfamiliar woman. Unfamiliar to him at least, which instantly meant she wasn't one of his people. And he dared to venture not a creatures employee either, since he knew most their faces.

Especially the ones who knew this path.

"Hello." Could he help her? She was going his way after all.

Hello, was it? Althea stood there on her step, looking down at the man that appeared in front of her, and yes she was looking down, considering she had the advantage of a higher step, high-heeled shoes, and she was 5"10 in flat feet even without those things. She coolly raised one eyebrow.

"Hello." She echoed, with almost the same inflection, save from the fact that her tone was slightly more... distant. Perhaps even cautious. But she waited, owning the space. The man would have to talk to her properly, or push past. One or the other.

Well he wasn't going to push past her. Rafael wasn't that rude, though he was currently inclined to be rude enough to give such greetings and stare. And he could sense, he was going to have to carry this conversation, if there was to be one.

"I'm Rafael." He motioned to himself and then behind in a smooth movement, "And back there is my department. Something you need down there?" Rafa's tone was relaxed, mostly displaying how he was willing to carry this conversation, but she had to work with him.

Did she even know where she was heading? Dangerous plants were the only way out into his department from here. Not that he thought her incapable of handling herself, just that she looked like the kind to possibly damage a few in the process.

She relaxed somewhat at the introduction. HIS department? Well, she knew the name, and assumed that she was in fact speaking with Rafael Belmonte, Department Head of that new department. The Environment one.

"Althea Schirmer." She offered her own name. Surely he knew it? Unless he was the type to stay holed up in a room full of plants and didn't keep tabs on what else was going on in the Ministry? She'd help him out. She was nice like that. "I've just started today."

She pointed up.

"Up there." Obviously. It was the direction she was coming from after all. "I wouldn't say I need anything, I just did not remember this staircase, from when I was last here... and thought it prudent to investigate to decide whether it should remain open, or be closed off."

Because she so could make that call, if necessary.

Oh, this was Constance's replacement? Rafael did know of this woman. Even though he preferred to keep to himself at work, he did well to keep up with the on-goings of the ministry. And unfortunately some gossip when he walked in on chatter in the break room. "Well then, welcome to the ministry Ms. Schirmer." Did she prefer being addressed by her surname? Hm. He didn't mind either way.

"I can't say how long this staircase has been here, since I have been at least. Though closing it off..." He let his eyes drift around before settling back on her and all the.... white. Hm. "I don't think it's necessary. Occasionally I use this passage as do my employees. I can't speak for yours though. But it has proved useful for us in getting around in the past."

"You can call me Althea, if you like." She scrutinized him and then took a step closer, equalling their respective heights a little more. Just a little more.

She listened with interest though her expression remained cool. "I see, and you believe your employees often have cause to visit level 3, do you?" It wasn't that she minded exactly.... but she'd prefer any reasons to be work-related rather than social... and the lifts were actually faster if they were traversing through the levels or intending to pass on to levels 2 or 1. In fact she had plenty of ideas for inter-departmental interactions and a stronger work relationship, but a staircase wasn't the place to share such things really, was it?

"I prefer first names." Why was she moving closer? He was fine with their distance, and their height difference. Even if she was taller. Probably taller than a lot of women around here, who seemed to come in small deceiving packages. "You can call me Rafael."

He nodded his head, eyes careful on her. Rafael was gathering.... that she thought she could make this decision on her own. Right. Should he even have excepted anything different? "Of course. We do occasionally work with your department, but you don't seem to be worried over visitors... just the way the come." It was easier for him at least to pass through this way without worrying about being stopped. Honestly it probably did benefit his department more than hers since they knew how to easily pass through the plants. So really he didn't want to see this path gone.

"Well I'll take that under advisement, Rafael." Althea answered, both acknowledging the first names thing and replying to his comments regarding the staircase.

"And of course the way they come is important, security, you understand? It is much better for the good of my department, and for the Ministry and British Wizarding World as a whole if any visitors to level 3 are monitored. Of course I hardly mind use of a back entrance to Accidents and Catastrophes if its legitimate." She wasn't unREASONABLE.

She smiled slightly and her tone turned a little lighter. "And you were on your way there, were you?"

Rafael considered all she said. He wasn't going to be difficult with this, not intentionally at least. But it was easier with Constance heading the department, getting around 'undocumented'. And even when the other woman was running the level. Interesting how neither of them worried over security issues. "I understand. You want monitored visits. You're the first, but I can respect that." He wasn't insulting, just stating facts aloud.

"Yes, I take this way more than my employees I think. At least I used to." His reason for visiting had long gone though. Hm. "And you were heading down. I should warn that the entrance to my department through here is into the greenhouses. It's a bit of a challenge to get through if you don't know what to expect." And... if you were wearing all white and heels.

She had both.

She smiled.

Harmless sort of smile, really.

"Well and I'd hazard that that has a direct correlation with the productivity levels in Accidents and Catastrophes for the past few years." There'd be a lot of changes in store. And improvements.

Used to? Althea raised one eyebrow but didn't inquire further. Who was she to judge illicit workplace romances? Which of course was the natural assumption when someone was using a practically secret stairwell in order to visit someone, rather than take the lifts like normal people.

"Oh I'm sure it is. Perhaps you'll do me the favour of escorting me, Raphael? I wouldn't mind a tour, assuming you have the time." She gave him a disarming sort of smile and waited for a response.

He shrugged indifferently. Was it really his main concern how productive Accidents and Catastrophes was? No. Not until it started to affect how they assisted his people. Who were his main concern.

Rafael noted the raised eyebrow, but he chose not to think on it too much. So long as whatever she was thinking, stayed a thought, he wasn't going to trouble himself with it. He did analyze her attire more closely this time at her request. "I have the time. So long as you don't mind a little dirt...."

He took a half step down, motioning for her to follow, but waiting all the same. In case she did want to do something about her attire.

"Not in the slightest." Althea followed, and in fact passed him on the stairs as she descended.

There was this little thing called the Impervius charm to start with, and then other charms to keep her ensemble bright white and clean, and not a hair out of place either.

And too, she could likely run a marathon in heels. Lets see Mr. Environment manage that.

She DID stop when she reached the entrance to his level though, and stepped aside with a pleasant smile on her face.

After you.

After the Ministry Orientation Natasha had headed back to level 3 to inspect how much work had piled up during vacation. It had been a LOT. Unfortunatley for her other organizations and ministries for that matter hadn't had vacation and as thus there had even been some howlers on her desk since some people were just impatient by nature.

Slightly weary and with her head full of howling voices the blond strolled out of the work areas and aimlessly ended up on the spiral staircase. Looking down up and down she wondered where the staircase led, to another level or somewhere creepy?

Taking the stairs downwards she wondered where she'd end up.

Okay, it was official. Reading on the move meant getting lost. Confused, Charles looked around to see if there were any signs as to where he was, but found nothing. Clearing his throat, he folded up the parchment he'd been reading from, turned around and started climbing the stairs once more in the hope that re-tracing his steps would take him back to level five. That was when he heard the unmistakable sound of someone coming in the opposite direction. He stepped back to let the person pass, but when he realised who she was, Charles greeted her with a polite bow of the head. "Ms. Warrington."

So Ash really didn't have any idea where she was. Sure she'd worked at the ministry for a while now but she'd left the meet and greet and without knowing how, ended up on this spiral staircase. She'd been climbing for a while and hadn't come across anyone or anything helpful and what was worse, the spiraling was making the blonde's head spin...

Stopping, the woman closed her eyes for a moment and that's when she heard footsteps on the stairs. O___O So...there weren't like ghosts in the Ministry, were there? Not that she was afraid or anything, it was just this spiral staircase was kind of creepy.

Ashley breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a familiar face walking towards her. "Merlin, I thought you were a ghost." She said sheepishly, hand over her heart.

Getting out of the office to stretch her legs and clear her head from all the howling voices that kept playing on repeat in her head Natasha walked on downwards. At the moment she didn’t care where she ended up as long as she didn’t end up somewhere creepy like the courtrooms or a broom closet. Shiver. Walking in her own little bubble Tasha didn’t see Charles until she had almost past him and he addressed her. Spinning around she plastered on a smile. "Oh, hello Sir Taylor…Are you out on a sightseeing trip?" she enquired.

Why else walk around with a parchment in hand outside the office if it wasn’t a map?



Walking a little past Charles to the nearest landing on the staircase she goggled left and right. How far down had she walked on the staircase? Was this just level 4 or was she close to her sister’s level? Tasha was about to turn to walk back to Charles when a familiar looking blond came towards her from the other direction looking slightly flustered. "Hi Ashley, are you all right?" she asked her fellow level 3 employee with a raised brow. The younger woman looked white as a sheet in the face as if she’d seen a ghost.

Did the ministry have ghosts just like other old buildings?

Ashley let out a shaky breath before smiling sheepishly at Natasha, feeling a bit embarrassed for having gotten scared. "I'm fine, really. Just...well I'd been walking on the staircase and didn't hear you coming until you were quite close." And that had totally freaked her out, obviously. "I thought you might have been a ghost or something." And she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in amusement. "Merlin, I'm such a baby. It's not like I've never seen a ghost before..." So why she'd freaked out at the thought of meeting one was beyond her. "Anyway, sorry about that." Smile. "I'm actually not even sure how I ended up on this staircase...Where exactly does it go?" Hopefully her coworker was a little more familiar with the layout of the building and could help her finger things out, as Ashley had never fully explored the place.

...But now that she was lost it seemed like a really good idea to do that the next time she had a break.

It seemed Natasha was lost in her own little world. An apologetic expression crossed his face as she span around, but it soon changed to one of disbelief. Had she just called him Sir Taylor? Amused, impressed and a little proud, Charles studied her. "I'm not, actually. I was reading some information and it seems I got lost." He definitely wasn't going to correct her on Sir Taylor, he liked it! Even if it was factually incorrect - he didn't have a muggle knighthood. Yet.

Natasha returned Ashley’s smile with a smile of her own. "Oh okay, sorry I scared you Ashley. I didn’t intend to scare anyone." Ashley thought she were a ghost! It was a new one. She had never been taken for a ghost before. Raising a brow at the younger woman she asked in disbelief "Really, you've never seen a ghost? Where did you go to school?" If Ashley had gone to Hogwarts like herself then she must have met the house ghosts living in the school they were usually floating around and easy to encounter especially at feasts.

Shrugging Tasha said. "I don’t know where this staircase leads. I was going to attempt to find out when I ran into you and Charles. Want to tag along?" she offered.

Natasha eyed the parchment Charles had been reading for a moment before she raised her gaze to look at him "Haven't anyone told you that walking around without looking where you are going is dangerous; you could have hurt yourself." She pointed out almost fuming. Why couldn’t people especially older men take a little more care to their surroundings? They were on a spiral staircase after all.

Ash shrugged, feeling pretty silly for getting frightened in the first place. "It's no problem, really." The blonde didn't mind the occasional scare here and there. As for her never seeing a ghost before, Ashley shook her head. "Oh no, I only meant that it's not as if I've never seen one. I went to Hogwarts so I should be used to it, yeah?" Though since Hogwarts the blonde had had little interaction with the ghostly sort. "I guess being a little lost made me a bit jumpy. Silly really, me thinking you were a ghost." Natasha looked nothing like a ghost in truth, she was much more...alive looking.

At the offer to tag along with Natasha and Charles, Ashley nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that. It'll be good to figure out where this leads anyway...for future reference and all." That way she wouldn't be so freaked out next time.

Brown eyes observed the two blondes stood on the staircase as they spoke. He bowed his head at the mention of his name, though he was a little disappointed he was just 'Charles' again. When Natasha basically told him off, he raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't reply because the immediate response he had was quite short and snappy. He took a moment or two to think through a nicer response. "My mother tried to teach me, to no avail, it seems." He put the parchment into his pocket lest he be told off once more. Was he out of trouble now?

The only thing that Roxanne could figure out by following the stairs so far was that she was headed to the upper levels of the Ministry. Which department was still a mystery, though. She did have it narrowed down. Between Accidents and Catastrophes and MLE. That thought confused her. If it lead to the MLE, wouldn't she have heard of it by now? Unless no one up there knew about it. Which she found hard to believe. If there was a secret passage leading to his department, wouldn't Wes know about it? So maybe it was A&C she was headed to. Hopefully that wasn't the case because there were a couple of people up there that she would rather not run into.

That had been...what....had just....what?

Alysson was still completely taken aback by what had just happened with that Healer. Or "Healer". Somehow she doubted she was a real one. She couldn't be. Else St. Mungo's had a serious problem. Or the administration was under some sort of spell. Which was also a problem, obviously. It just...she was tempted to go back inside but then again that wouldn't be useful. She wouldn't even know what to say.

With a sigh, Alysson moved down a few steps and then leaned against the wall. She conjured a mirror and held it up in order to see her face. And cheeks. Which were still slightly red, by the way. And certainly not because she had some sort of illness. Or not only. That was for sure. Seeing as that Healer had SLAPPED her.

Vic didn't get annoyed very easily, and he sure as hell never showed it, prosecutor skills were near-perfect. But today, yeah, he was properly annoyed as he escaped that health inspection. This was one experience he did not need in his memory records. At least he'd escaped the awful, green liquid syringe without getting injected and probably losing all his law knowledge. Whew.

As he headed out and back home to his level to talk to Emily about this serious St. Mungo's Gone Rogue stunt, he spotted a colleague... fixing her makeup? "Alysson." Coming to stop next to her and noticing there was no makeup on her face, she did look flushed though. "You alright?" He was so tempted to grab the mirror and check himself out, just to see if that crazy Healer had cursed his face with some mojo only taught to lunatics.

Really, her cheeks DID look a bit more flushed than usual but that was only because of the-

Someone was coming. Alysson whipped her head around. What if it was the Healer who had followed her because she'd decided that she had to be admitted. Or to kill her right then and there only to diagnose her with 'death'. Okay, that last one was quite unlikely but the recent encounter had made her feel rather paranoid.

Vic.

Good. It wasn't the Healer. She looked relieved. Lowering the mirror from her face, she pushed her hair back. "A little shaken after that health examination just now." There was an uncharacteristical frown on her face as she considered her coworker for a moment of silence. "How was yours?" Had he had his appointment already?