Saxon began to laugh quietly when Victoria mentioned that Saxon bumping into her seemed like nothing compared to her child. " Ohhh. Hyper kids . Both good fun but stressful as well. Your son has never seriously injured you, though?" She would be quite impressed and worried if a young kid could easily knock an adult down. Hmmm. So Victoria hadn't been brought to muggle things such. Saxon smiled when she heard this, " Perhaps if you are not opposed to muggle things I could be your muggle teacher. Introduce you to some of our things. " she said with another laugh. Sometimes it was good fun to see people figure out the logistics of muggle things. " Play a little longer and you make get skilled. Practice makes perfect. Cheesy right?

Ohhh. The young blonde had kept to herself and in a shell for most of her work at the ministry. Just work. No wonder she hadn't made many friends. " Ummm. Maybe a year to a year and a half." She couldn't quite put her finger on it. And alas! Someone in her department, a different though, but still in her department. " That's quite the lucky division! Have you meet any famous quidditch players?" What was better than working in Games and Sports. Being and working as a supervisor in Australia. That must of been great fun."" Ohh. Australia! How exciting! Was it stressful being supervisor? Especially in a completely different country."

Victoria chuckled, "No not seriously, he set my couch on fire a few months ago, and has placed endless amounts of frogs into my bed and random places of the house, but no serious injuries thank heavens." Goodness she was afraid that he would hurt someone by accident from his impulse issues, but he was a good kid. Vic turned towards Saxon and smiled, "You would do that? You would teach me muggle things. That would be wonderful, it's about time I learn. I don't want my son growing up as dumb about it as I've been." She knew he had a little friend teaching him, but she wanted to show him more. Looking back to the pinball game she felt she was done with it now and just shrugged. "It's fun, but I might give it a rest for a bit."

"It's a surprise we haven't bumped into each other sooner. I've been here two years now." She couldn't believe she had been here that long. It only seemed like months really. "Well I'm glad to finally meet you none the less. I feel like I am not social enough around here. You will have to meet Mariel as well. She works with me in the quidditch offices." She shook her head, "I work with more of the coaches, managers, and office staff of the teams, but I do work alongside a retired player. Mariel the one I said works in my department played professionally." Now what was that team she played for again...


She then chuckled, "I was harder at first, but I got married and we moved there because of my ex's work. I loved it though, the country is beautiful and supervising the local wizarding school and a few clubs was fun really. It got me out and meeting people." She sighed a bit, she did miss it at times, but she was glad to be back home. "So what did you do before the ministry, Uni anywhere, or did you start right out of graduation? Did you go to Hogwarts? " She wasn't sure of the girls age, but she looked young, so it was just a guess.

Hearing someone else com in Victoria turned her brown eyes turned to see another young lady walk into the room. She couldn't help but chuckle the women were taking over the game room. Watching a few moment she gave the girl a smile as she made eye contact. "Hello, have you played that before?" She pointed to the pool table and then glanced at Saxon with a look of what is it called...

Looking up Skylic returned the other girls smile Yes, I had a Muggle friend growing up we did play several of these games. Not that I am any good at them. Laughing at the memories it brought Have you played before? By the way I am Skylic, its nice to meet you. she said extending her hand.

Victoria nodded was she the only one with zero muggle experience around here. She felt so awkward in her own environment. She really needed to change that, but Saxon said said she would help. That would a great start Victoria was sure of. "Well that's nice. It seems like an interesting game. I should try and learn some day, but maybe one game per day." She chuckled and patted the pinball machine. That seemed to be enough for now.

Shaking her head Victoria laughed a bit, "No I haven't. First time I've been near these games actually." sad really when they seemed so much fun. Oh and she was shaking hands again. Wonderful, she liked meeting new people. "Skylic what a unique name. I'm Victoria. Please to meet you." She figured she would ask a few more questions since the ladies were just there on a break, "Are you new here Skylic? What department are you in?" She was on the seventh so maybe she was part of Victoria's, but Vic didn't want to come to any conclusions, she hadn't been here long enough to see if nongames people came to play her.

Seeming amazed Skylic looked at Victoria "Please forgive my amazement. I forget sometimes that not everyone grew up around this stuff. One game at a time is a good way to learn." She picked up the rack and started to put the balls in it, taking care to make sure they are nice and snug she lifts the rack. She gives an approving nod as the set stays put. "I am new, in Games and Sports. Very happy to be here. I cant wait to start work. I am part of the Pitch Administration." Laughing a bit. "I was named after a joke in my family. I hand a Great grandparent named Sky and one day when it was raining he made the comment when he was a kid that he was going to lick the sky so there became his nickname of Skylic and to preserve his memory I was named it. Even knowing where it came from I don't mind, its always a fun time telling the story when people ask."

Vic gave the young lady a shrug. She knew it sounded odd to most, more than she realized it seemed, but she just didn't know that much. "Yeah, just never had the chance I guess, but that will change soon." It needed to change. She wanted to learn more about everything. Watching carefully Victoria wasn't sure what she was doing with the balls. There were a lot of them, she watched in interest at what the lady was going to do next. "So.. now what do you do?" She was getting interested in how this game was played. Well maybe two games a day then...

Victoria's brown eyes lifted at the ladies words. "Well welcome to the department. I am in the public relations side of things for Quidditch." It ws nice to be meeting people in her own department. Saxon seemed really nice, glancing at her again, she had been quiet. Anyway, "Have you worked with quidditch things before?" Maybe at a different ministry or something, but she seemed young so maybe this was her first job.


Listening to Skylic's name Victoria couldn't help but be shocked. A joke.. you would name your child after a joke. Well it was a nice name, but still she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Well at least you like telling the story and it is an entertaining one."

Laughing at the thought of her story being entertaining Skylic eyes the pool cues testing them for weight. "Thanks! I am glad to be here in the department. I am sure it will be a blast. Outside of playing in school I have not worked with much quidditch stuff. I recently graduated so this is my first job. I am excited tho I am sure it will keep me active and going and turn out to be a lot of fun."
Selecting her cue she puts the cue ball at the other end of the table. "Now you break the balls apart by using this stick to hit the all white ball at the other ones." Skylic explained. Pulling the stick back she took careful aim and hit just to the side of the one. The balls scattered and the 5 went in. "Well looks like I am solids. You want to give it a try?" she asked giving Victoria a curious look.

Victoria was taken back, so many young adults working here. Did the ministry not encourage uni anymore. She couldn't figure it out, but that wasn't her place so she wasn't worrying about it. "Well I hope you enjoy it and if you need anything I'm right in the public relations area." Just because they didn't work in the same exact area didn't mean she couldn't help out.

Vic watched as Skylic did something with a stick and the balls scattered. That looked interesting and not to hard. She watched with interest as she talked about the game. "Oh.. sure, I can try. I have the two color ones?" Is that what they were called. Now was she suppose to get one of those stick things. She walked to the walk and picked one up, "Is this right?" She had no clue and walked to the table. Holding it the wrong way she leaned down and smacked the white ball that went flying off the table. She cringed, "So that wasn't as easy as I thought it would be." Ooops that was really bad wasn't it.

"Thanks! I appreciate that. I am sure it will be great! I will come find you if I need anything." She replied smiling.

"Exactly the two color ones! They are known as stripes in this game. Here I will let you try again but lets get you holding the cue right first." She said as she walked across the room after the ball. "Firstly turn it around so that the big end is pointing away from the table. You always hit with the smaller end." returning the ball to where it had been Skylic explained a little more. " You do not get do overs in a regular game. Missing, or not hitting any balls or knocking it off like that is called a scratch. What you want to do is aim carefully at the ball you want to hit. First lets work on moving the cue. When you hold it you want to hold it in a way that all you have to do is move your back arm. Your front arm should be used as a guide to where you want to hit. it gives a little more suitability and control over where you hit the ball. once you have that down you can hit the ball. You want to try to not hit it so hard that it flys off the table." Looking at Victoria with a confidant look. "Don't worry about the first one. It will take some time but you are doing great! You should have seen me the first time, I completely missed the cue ball for a week!" She laughed at the memory. "Ok I think you are ready to try again!"

“Oh no problem at all. I’m glad to meet and help new people in the department.” She was excited to finally be getting to know some of the other employees. She had spent too much time at her desk and not enough time learning other parts of the department, but that was going to change. “Have you met anyone else from the department?” She could introduce the girl to at least Mariel, “What about Miss Black? She is a very easy to talk to boss if you ever need anything.” Victoria felt lucky to be working at such a welcoming part of the ministry.

She listened to the instructions. Oh she as holding the stick thing the wrong way. How stupid she was feeling that was just dumb of her. Turning it around she hoped she had it right now. Oh so she figured the ball wasn’t suppose to fly off the table like that, giving Skylic a smile, “I’ll have to remember that.” This was a little trickier then she first thought. She listened to all the instructions, this made her a bit nervous. It just seemed harder than what she thought it would be. She didn’t want to be so embarrassed for being dumb about it. Leaning on the table a bit she lined up to hit the cue ball was it. Whatever the white ball was called, she pulled back and hit it so light that it didn’t even seem to move. “Well too hard then not hard enough.. This is so tricky.” Maybe she should have just watched and not try.

"I am glad there are people like you in this department! I have not met anyone else yet. I have not been around too many places. I'm a game person so this room kinda caught my attention." she giggled. "I think once I get to know more people around here I will really like this department. It seems to be rather large."

Noticing the nerves of the other girl "Just relax, you are doing great for your first time! It takes time to get just the right amount of force. I know you will be playing like a pro in no time."

Adam sauntered into the Games Room after his lunch (but still during his break, promise!) and took a glance 'round. No one he really knew at first sight, but that was okay. Wasn't like he was one of those people who needed company all of the time.

But it did mean that he couldn't play some of the games.

Unless he bewitched something to play against him.

Not sure how his boss and colleagues would feel about that, though, and so he pondered it as he made his way to the classing pinball machine and slotted a knut in. How would he do it, he contemplated charms as he played the game.

Honestly.. she would probably lose her head if it wasn't attached. What was wrong with her lately? Mariel was feeling so unfocused lately and she wasn't completely sure why. Since before they came back from their annual holiday, really.. but even more so with something on her mind. No.. it couldn't be that.. She had to admit the man she met had turned out to be quite charming, but he was a complete mental case.. she couldn't be thinking about him.

Pushing those thoughts faaaaar out of her mind, Mariel stepped into the game room to see if she left her paperwork in here. It was unlikely as this was a place she hardly ever ventured in, but as she hadn't located it as of yet she figured she'd at least rule this location out. As she entered, green eyes landed on one of her coworkers and she allowed a faint, cordial smile to form on her lips. "Hello.. Adam, isn't it?" She vaguely remembered the man from her school days, not that they ever had much conversation then or now. It wasn't as if she didn't like him.. they just hadn't traveled in the same circles and she never found the chance at work. "You didn't happen to notice a leather-covered folder in here, did you?" Her own eyes scanned the immediate vicinity to catch a hopeful glimpse.

Rightttt. So bewitching something to play against him at like, Air Hockey, was probably a bit adventurous. Pinball pushed the thoughts from his mind, and as he won two games, he became unfocused.

Until he heard a voice say his name. Pulling out of his mode, and emitting a silent wooop because he won, Adam finished the game and turned to the woman. "Oh, hey... erm, Mariel?" He prayed he was right. Not because Adam Stemp was full of manners or anything, but because she'd knew his name, which was nice and stuff. He nodded that she'd gotten his name right, and then surveyed the area around him quickly. "Can't say I've seen it..." he began apologetically. "But I can help you look, if you want?"

You know, Adam to the rescue.

Green eyes wandered from the.. what was it called? Penball machine? Well, whatever it was over to Adam as he turned to look at her. Mariel smiled a bit and had to suppress a chuckle as he seemed to have to question her name as well. Funny how they were in the same house and she was fairly certain the same year in school and even then neither of them were completely sure.. but she nodded the confirmation of her name with a hint of amusement.

The small smile faded, however, when he said he hadn't seen her folder with the work she needed to complete. She had suspected that he wouldn't have as she didn't think it would have been in here anyway, but it needed to be found and as soon as possible.. it was kind of important. "Oh, that's alright.. I wasn't sure it was here to be honest, just being hopeful. I don't visit the game room often." She gave him a grateful smile at the offer. "Well.. if you have a few minutes, I'd appreciate it.. as long as you can be discreet," she lowered her voice. Not that it was such a big deal, but she didn't really want to be seen as incompetent, especially after just receiving a promotion.

YES. Although he'd been SURREEE he'd got her name right, Adam was inwardly congratulating himself. Wouldn't want to be thought of as rude, or forgetful, or... well, anything less than amazing in every way.

BUUUT back to the subject at hand. After another glance around and an apologetic shrug, he smiled down at Mariel. On hearing that she didn't come into the Games Room often, he was shocked, and mock gasped. "But this is the best room on the floor!" he nodded enthusiastically. "You know, after the Laboratory." he added, meaning fully, in case someone was gonna tell higher ups that he didn't like his room. BECAUSE HE DIDDD. "What's the folder for?" he asked, curiously, as she lowered her voice. You know, because he was nosey, and she was asking him to be discreet... but he was still nosey. IF she didn't want to tell him, though, that was obviously fine, because it was her folder and her business and stuff. "Of course, I'm on a break now. More than happy to help." He grinned again, and ducked down to check underneath the pool and Air Hockey tables.

No joy.

"What office do you work in?" He didn't think it was the lab, though.

Mariel watched Adam carefully as he glanced around the room for her, then raised a surprised eyebrow at his sudden exclamation. "Best room..?" she repeated lightly as her green eyes fell on the billiards table. "Oh.. I guess I've never been as much into the Muggle games as the Wizarding ones.." No, Quidditch was where it was at.. who had time for other sports? Then her eyes snapped back to her coworker as she brightened considerably. "Oh you work with potions? I studied experimental potions at University.. even did an apprenticeship," she mused aloud, her thoughts growing distant. It was such a struggle to chose between her love of the game and of the lab, but here she was.

Oh. And of course, he wanted to know about her folder. Though she was acting all secretive about it so she shouldn't be surprised. "Just some files about the new employees," she shrugged as she wandered over to a table and chairs. It wasn't so much what was in it than her reputation, really. "Not a terribly big deal, but I do need them.." Hmm.. no.. not there either. Green eyes wandered back to him at the question. "Quidditch Regulations." Rules and such..

Laura was getting the hang of this whole surveying thing. Hopefully, the process would continue smoothly today. Roxanne had assigned the Environment employees to go forth out and about the Ministry to survey anyone they could get their hands on, if they had the time and were gracious enough to answer just a few simple questions. Well, perhaps to a witch or wizard outside of the Environmental department wouldn't think them so simple. Laura had to remind herself that although it was her job to know about all that stuff about being "green," most everyone else was busy being the cream of the crop of their own fields and much too busy to think extensively about how they were impacting the environment.

With the clipboard she had tucked under her arm, a click-pen peeking out from behind her ear, and a stack of 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' fliers bulging from her work bag, Laura stepped into the Level 7 game room. She scanned the room silently with her blue eyes. It seemed it was rather slow in here at the moment, but she wasn't about to parade through the cubicles, waving her clipboard of survey questions under everyone's noses.

Instead, Laura set her things down on a chair and paced the room slowly, examining collection of board games and wondering why she had never stopped by with a couple of mates during breaks to take advantage of this room before. Hopefully, some unsuspecting employees would wander in sometime soon and she could snag them for her survey.

This was different. A different place. Charlotte Kettleburn wasn't properly even sure how she was in the different place to the place that she was meant to be but here she was and-- ooh! toys!-- the not-quite-seven year old ran at full tilt at the table that had balls on it and reached up, grabbing two, one red one yellow, and examined them closely, pulling them to eye level and holding them there. They were heavy ones. Could they bounce? She dropped one, taking care not to drop it on her foot. It let off a resounding bang but didn't bounce much. Just a bit and not proper bouncing. Charlotte frowned at it for a moment then crouched down and scooped it up again. She could ROLL them instead then. Balls that didn't bounce could still roll!

She'd forgotten about where her mummy was too. She'd run off ahead and gone in the lift all by herself and ended up in this place that was different. But that was okay, her mummy would find her and she could see her granddad and she could play with the toys in here in the meantime.

Saxon was off work and didn't have much to do. But, rather than going home immediately, something she usually did, she decided to head on over to the game room. Maybe socialize a bit, get to know more people. It wasn't a bad thing to do, you know. Upon entering she realized she didn't recognize anyone here. Or at least that's what she thought.

For the time being the blonde milled about the room looking at all the games to play and such until something caught the corner of her eye. WHAT WAS THAT LITTLE CHILD DOING CREATING DESTRUCTION? Ok, no, she wasn't creating destruction, but she was exactly behaving. And was she alone? "Have you lost a relative, family member?" Saxon asked the girl, coming up to her. She was quite young to be randomly going through the ministry.

Distracted. That was probably a good word for the way Mariel was feeling today. And she wouldn't exactly call it a good distraction, though she had hoped that at least trying to focus on her work would help with some of that. And maybe it was a little.

But the paperwork on her desk was tedious and she needed a break, a walk maybe, to clear her head. Though as soon as she started down the corridor, she thought that maybe it was a mistake. Her thoughts were getting the better of her and she needed them out. Now.

Still intent on taking that reprieve from work, the 28 year old glanced up to see the Game Room up ahead. Maybe that was an option. As she neared the door, she became acutely aware of bang. Now what was that? There were enough annoyingly strange things going on, she did not need one more.

The brunette peeked around the door, then stood in the doorway a moment. A child at play. Now that was not a regular occurrence to Level Seven and Mariel wondered for a moment if she was an escapee from the daycare. She watched the little girl play with the billiards ball for a moment, noting that the child looked remotely familiar, which struck her as odd not knowing many people with daughters that age.

Keeping her eyes on the girl, Mariel walked into the room. "Hello there." She gave the girl what she hoped would be a non-intimidating smile as she approached. "Want to play?" She racked up the balls on the table then peered down at the child. Though maybe it would be a better idea to find out where the kid had come from and where she belonged.

Oh.. was she Saxon's daughter? Mariel looked up to see her coworker in the room as well and gave her a nod. She didn't know she had kids. "Bring your daughter to work day?"

Charlotte looked up and blinked prettily, quite the picture of artful innocence.

"Oh no, I didn't lose anybody." That was true, she knew exactly where her people were: in the Ministry of Magic. She could even say that properly without getting mixed up over the words. "I found these balls! They're pretty colours. This one is gold, her name is Junebug, and this one is red and her name is Jeff." She said with utter seriousness, holding the pair of billiards balls out for the lady to look at.

Oh another new friend!

"Hi!" She piped up cheerfully. "I am playing. What are you doing?" She peeped up over the edge of the table with pure curiosity, big blue eyes so like her father's peering with intelligent interest at the racked up balls. "Do they live in a triangle?"

Saxon nodded at the girl when she had mentioned she wasn't lost or hadn't lost anybody. That was good then. That didn't mean that the girl could get lost. But Saxon wouldn't worry over that.

And more curious looking at the girl. She had named them. That was different, but Saxon supposed that was something little people did. In fact, Saxon had probably done her own variation of that when she had been small herself. "Interesting. Do the rest have any names?"Saxon asked, simply to give the girl some attention, if that's what she wanted.

Also, didn't she know she was not supposed to talk to strangers? Shrug.

0_____________0

And the question Mariel had asked Saxon. Her eyes literally, ok, not literally, but they did bug out a bit. Saxon was far too young to have a kid. She may even drop her by accident with her klutziness. "What? No, I don't have any children. I just saw her here." Saxon said shaking her head, still surprised over the question.

Mariel couldn't help but to smile at the child as she held up two of the billiard balls for Saxon, informing her of their names. A dose of cute was exactly what she needed today. The balls sufficiently racked, Mariel removed the triangle and hung it back where it belonged. "No.." she said to the little girl. "The triangle just helps them all get ready to go home. See how ordered they are? They are ready to go now." She nodded towards the perfect triangle shape of balls (minus two) at one end of the table.

Grabbing one of the cue sticks, she used it to point to a couple of the holes at the corner of the table. "They live in the holes. See this ball?" She picked up the white ball with her other hand and leaned down a bit to show the girl. "His name is.. James and it's his job to help everyone get home." She set the cue ball down on the table, hitting it with the stick and breaking the organized cluster of balls, sending them rolling in different directions. She glanced over at the girl, then walked over to the side of the room, pushing a chair to the edge of the table so the girl might better reach. "Want to give it a go?" She held out the cue stick to offer it to her.

Oh.. not Saxon's kid? Green eyes snapped to her co-worker as she informed the brunette exactly that and she couldn't help the faint smirk at seeing her facial expression. Oops? "My mistake," she said simply, chuckling at the error and shrugging it off. Looking at the child again, Mariel realized that she didn't much look like Saxon anyway.. no she looked more like.. "What's your name dear?"

"I don't know, they haven't told me their names. Only these ones." Nod. Charlotte was matter-of-fact about this.

And now the ladies were talking about her like she wasn't even there, but that was okay, grown up people did that a lot, Charlotte had noticed. "Do you live here?" It would be fun to live here!"

Ready to go home. Charlotte absorbed this and nodded. Okay. In the holes and the white ball was called James. She watched with great interest at how James barged into the other balls and sent them rolling places on the funny table.

Blink. A go? She nodded enthusiastically and got up on the chair. "Where do I put Junebug and Jeff?" Because she couldn't hold the stick and the balls together.

She smiled at the stick lady. "My name is Charlotte Kettleburn! What are your names?"