 Bathes in Maple Syrup | Dancing Lobster | Moy Pomidor | Seneca's Beard | That Is So Fetch!
Coraline regarded her for a moment as the lift doors stood open, taking in the relief that had accompanied the stop and the curious determination behind the question. She supposed it was not common for Ministry employees to exchange an entire conversation without names ever entering the equation. Sometimes she had to remind herself that not everyone operated as they did in Mysteries.
"Paton," she supplied, the corner of her mouth lifting by the barest fraction. "Caroline Paton."
She shifted her satchel higher onto her shoulder, the motion accompanied by another muted clink from within. Her gaze, though, flicked briefly toward the lift corridor beyond the woman before returning to her.
"And you?"
There was no demand in the question, merely polite reciprocity. The sort of exchange one completed before two strangers disappeared back into their respective corners of the Ministry.
For a brief moment, the lift stood quiescent around them, its gears and enchantments waiting patiently as the conversation lingered a heartbeat longer than necessity required.
"Give my regards to Lady Grey," Caroline added, the dry humour returning for a fleeting moment as she knew the doors would not remain open indefinitely. "I would hate for her to think she'd been intentionally neglected."
__________________
 |