Tonya walked into the office and looked around quietly scanning the room. She wandered over to her desk and fiddled with her picture before turning and sighing. She walked over the Rico's office door adjusted her lavender suit and tapped lightly on the door.

Rico hadn't actually been doing much of anything, besides talking to Susan, but he heard a knock at the door and was reminded that he had work to do.

He popped out of his swirly chair and answered the door promptly, smiling to see Tonya standing there.

"Hello Ms. Springs," he said politely, holding the door open for her. Come in, come in. What can I do for you?"

Tonya smiled as she stepped into the office, "Please call me Tonya." she said as she stepped further into the office. "The office has been a little quiet and I just came into to see if anything needs to be done." she said with a smile as she brushed a stray hair out of her eyes.

"Tonya, right," Rico replied, smiling. "The office has been quiet, this is true. I was just about to go check the department inb--" Enrico stopped suddenly in midsentence and turned his head, having just heard something that sounded like a herd of cattle romping around the office.

"Hang on just a sec....did you hear that?" Rico took a step out of his office, and then jogged out into the hallway where it was snowing. "Tonya, Susan, come here! It's snowing!" he shouted incredulously. "What in Merlin's beard is going on?!"

Without further ado, he headed down the hallway towards the Law offices, which seemed to be the source of all this commotion.

Esmeralda walked in she went up to her desk and sat down. She started fiddling around with stuff and began placing stuff on her desk.

The Office was quiet and Esmeralda had a quick look around the office 'Great' she thought 'no one I know is here' which meant that she had to make friends with people even though she didn't mind doing it.

Prudence walked onto the 5th floor, feeling relieved to be so close to her cubicle. "I wonder what the work is today..." she said, groggily. "Hope it's not too bad." She walked ahead to her cubicle which was on the right left side of the office. Once she had found her cubicle, she walked inside, plopping herself down her chair, taking off her glasses and setting them on her neatly organized desk.

Donia got off the lift and walked into the Department of International Magical Cooperation nervously Relax, Don. It's going to be fine. Just...calm down she thought to herself
She nervously twisted a strand of white-blond hair around her finger and clutched her purse in the other hand. She was unsure of what to do, this being her first official job. Then she saw some people, over by the Division Head's office. She walked over and gave a smile.

"Hi, I'm Donia Cailleac. I'm new and I thought I'd introduced myself," she said.

With the house-elf business sorta cleared up, Enrico headed back to his office to check on things and write a memo. Then he'd definitely need to check the inbox...and see if the Quibbler people had found out anything....so much to do.

With a sigh, he slipped into his office, smiling to see a few workers in their cubicles. At least they looked busy too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella_sutton

Donia got off the lift and walked into the Department of International Magical Cooperation nervously Relax, Don. It's going to be fine. Just...calm down she thought to herself
She nervously twisted a strand of white-blond hair around her finger and clutched her purse in the other hand. She was unsure of what to do, this being her first official job. Then she saw some people, over by the Division Head's office. She walked over and gave a smile.

"Hi, I'm Donia Cailleac. I'm new and I thought I'd introduced myself," she said.

But ah, he had someone new waiting in his office!

"Hello, Ms. Cailleac," Rico greeted her cheerfully, offering a handshake. "Welcome to the Ministry. I'm sure you'll like it here," he added, his eyes twinkling mischieviously.

Donia smirked back, giving an impish grin. She liked this person, her new division head. Quite a bit more personable than her supervisor last year, when she had been voluteering in Finland.

"Yes. Nothing makes my day better than solving international crises. Unless of course, something with chocolate is involved. That would naturally take precedent," Donia's smirk faded, and her blue eyes lost their wicked glint, "So. What exactly do we do here? This being my first day and all, I'm kind of clueless,"

Chuckling at her comment, Rico settled into his swirly desk chair, motioning for Donia to take the seat across from him.

"Ah, yes, chocolate. And coffee. They make the world a better place, don't you agree?" He winked and then responded to her second question. So she was.....kinda eager to start. Good.

"Well, you're in the Trading Standards Division," Rico answered slowly, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed behind his head. "And we, uh, check up on trade routes...and stuff....and make sure no illegal activity is going on. Which reminds me -"

He interrupted himself and sat up in his seat. "Right now, we're investigating this story in The Quibbler," Enrico continued, pushing a copy of the magazine towards her. "It involves alleged attacks by 'mixed-breed monsters' and we're looking into it to see if there's a purpose for the breeding.....and which countries are involved....and why...."

He trailed off, allowing her time to glance at the magazine. Perhaps she had some knowledge regarding the breeds involved, demiguises and lethifolds....

"Oh yes. Coffee indeed. But with something else in it- can't stand it as straight black coffee," she pulled a face.
Donia then glanced the article, trying to keep an open mind, while also trying very hard not to laugh laughing at the boss=bad way to start, Donia she thought to herself.
She schooled her face into a politely blank mask before she replied, "Not to be rude and all, but you know that the Quibbler's a bunch of rubbish most of the time?"
Without waiting for him to reply, Donia continued, "Though sometimes it does have truth buried in there...lethifolds...when I was in Finland last year, those were very popular in children's stories. They've got a twisted sense of humor, the Finns," Donia went on, "I know that they're very much like dementors, except they prey on sleeping people, and well," here she looked a bit uncomfortable, "devour them whole. Without a trace, that's the scariest part..."
Donia then registered something and cocked her head slightly to the side as she looked at Enrico, "You're not from here, are you?"

Oh. She was another one of those 'must-have-creamer-or-sugar-or-something-to-take-out-the-bitterness!' women. Psssh. "Yeah well, I like it plain. And strong. As long as it's hot, I'm good." He nodded, grinning, as he thought of how almost every conversation these days somehow involved coffee. Maybe he was just a little addicted to the stuff...just a little....

His grin started to fade, however, when she seemd on the verge of either crying or laughing, for it was obvious she was holding one in. Odd reaction...but then she recovered and, naturally, scoffed at his magazine.

Well, I'm sure getting used to rejection....Rico thought, sighing inwardly. "You're right about the truth bit," he replied cooly, shuffling some papers. "We sent a team to Quibbler Headquarters to see if they could, uh...." He trailed off midsentence, wondering how to phrase the next bit. They were supposed to find anything, anything at all? To see if this was just a hoax or an actual concern...? "Anyways, they were supposed to get any additional information from the journalist who wrote this story...so..."

He cleared his throat a little nervously. Geez. She wasn't the only one new this job - maybe he should've just stayed at the American Ministry after all.

"Wa---what?" Rico blinked, wondering if Donia had just read his thoughts. "Yeah, I'm American, actually," he answered with a slight smile. "Is it that obvious?"

Donia gave a friendly smile, "Just a little bit. Though the accent does give it away. If you don't open your mouth, I think your good," she winked as she finished, just in case he was one of those I-don't-know-if-you're-joking-or-not types. People these days...
"But other than that, the fact that you took the Quibbler seriously also kind of gives it away. Old Xeno and his daughter Luna are..." Donia searched fora word that wouldn't get her in trouble, "Odd birds...to put it lightly. But I'm not sure about this story," Donia's alabaster brow creased, "Not that I'm not skeptical, but last year, the Finns had a story like this come out. Unfortunately, I left before anything could be uncovered."
Donia looked up at Enrico. He looked a little startled, and had seemed a little taken aback by her last question. Maybe you weren't supposed to ask your boss where he was from...oh well. Too late.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist about the whole American thing...my mother came here from Norway and started with the Ministry right away. Problem was, she couldn't speak English. You're WAY ahead of her curve at least," Donia said quickly, hoping to repair any damage she may have caused. What a wonderful first day I've been having, she thought dryly

Mumbling quick little "bonjours" and "saluts", Chad worked his way through another division. He dropped off the memorandum at each desk and merrily worked his way through:

After her comment about him being a foreigner, Enrico had stared Donia down, glaring almost - just to see how she responded. He was pleased to note, however, that she did have a sense of humor.

And he definitely laughed at her comments. "Right. I'll just have to work on developing a British accent then, eh? Cheerio. Ello. Pip pip hoorah." He laughed at himself, realizing how completely ridiculous he sounded.

"Anyways, you're not the first person to uh, doubt the legitimacy of this article. And you're certainly not the first to tell me about the Lovegoods," he said as he shook his head. "It can't hurt to investigate though, can it?"

"But what's this about Finland....and Norway?" He tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow. "You seem to know an awful lot about Scandinavia...."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tailzinator

Mumbling quick little "bonjours" and "saluts", Chad worked his way through another division. He dropped off the memorandum at each desk and merrily worked his way through:

And then a little note fluttered in to Rico's desk. "Oooh, a memo!" he said cheerfully, unfolding the parchment. He was easily fascinated by those flying pieces of paper.

After reading it, however, Rico was not as excited. "International Wizarding Conference," he muttered, his eyebrows wrinkling. More work. Fantastic.

He tossed the note on his desk and rubbed his temples, wondering when they were supposed to start on this assignment. And when were they ever going to investigate the Quibbler thing?! Maybe it was time he paid a visit to Big Boss Bass....

Donia laughed at Rico's ludicrous British accent and shrugged, "My mother's a muggle from Norway, so I go back there a lot. All of her family's there. My dad's from Finland- Helsinki to be exact. He went to Durmstrang and then worked in the Finnish Ministry for a few years before he moved here, and then last year, I volunteered with their Ministry...as I might have already said. But my grandparents used to tell my sister and I stories when we'd visit- and if you ever want to hear truly creepy stories, you should hear Finnish bedtime stories. Especially the ones they tell wizard children. That's how I know about those things- lethifolds, I mean. There was more than one story with them in it,"
Donia looked up as a memo fluttered in. She looked out of the Division Head's office and noticed the memos falling into each cubicle. Figuring that now was just a good a time as ever to excuse herself, she did just that.
"I'll leave you alone now," Donia said with smile, "You probably don't want blabbersome newbies bothering you all day. But if you do need info about the Finnish Ministry, I'm your girl,"
Did I really just say that? she though as she walked to her desk, mortified. Eurgh.
Donia set down her purse in her decor-less cublicle Definately need some spicing up... she thought. She read the memo that had plopped down her desk. Apparently the British Ministry was hosting some sort of International Wizarding Confrence, with various people from other country's Ministries. Sounds like a lot of work she thought, Wonder if anybody I know will be there. Then another though occurred to her- would she be needed if the Finnish minister came?

At least she laughs at my jokes, Rico thought, grinning too. And she likes to talk too...not a bad thing. Learning about her Scandinavian background was interesting for Rico, especially since this International Wizarding Conference was coming up.

"Oh, okay!" he called after her as she left suddenly. While their conversation was nice, he was supposed to put work first, after all....and that would mean doing a little research.

Rico swirled his desk chair around to the shelf on his left and pulled out a hefty book - an atlas, it was. A very useful atlas too...

Evaline walked into the last division, now she was glad there was only three. It was too painful to do this. Going to the board she posted the last memo, a tear dripping down her cheek.

Quote:

I am regretfully here to tell you we have just lost an important member of this department. Moments ago I received a phone call informing me Costanza Murdoch, the division head of International Magical Cooperation, has been in a freak accident and unfortuntely passed on. If you would all please join me the Break Room (RIP Party thread)to mourn this great loss togther with the whole department.

I am deeply sorry.
Evaline Bass

(Ooc: everyone can attend the party)

Rico had just finished putting the atlas away when he heard someone...sniffling? right outside his office. Stepping out of his cubicle, he noticed right away that there was a new notice on the bulletin board and Evaline was almost gone from his division.

His dark brown eyes scanned the paper quickly, widening in shock as his brain digested the information. "Whaaaaat? Constanza?!" he murmured, running a hand through his hair. So many questions were running through his mind as this was just unbelievable.

Sighing deeply, Rico turned away from the board and headed out to the breakroom. There was nothing else to do at the moment....and despite how little he'd known her, Ms. Murdoch had seemed pretty nice....

Donia walked back into the office after lunch, humming under her breath. She sawa someone standingover by the massage board and walked over, wondering what was going on. She looked at the nessage from the Department Head and gasped. She didn't actually know who Constanza Murdoch was, but it was still shocking. She sighed and walked over to her desk. Maybe she'd stop by the RIP party later...

Strolling back into the office after a nice long lunch break, a fresh cup of coffee clenched in his hand, Rico nodded to his few employees and then took a seat back at his desk.

With Evaline gone on her little trip thingy, he really needed to focus and have everything prepared for the August convention before she returned. Er, if she made it back in time...

Heaving a slight sigh, Rico picked up his brown quill and a bit of parchment. Making a list was always a good first step...

A memo floated into the division offices:

Quote:

Everyone is to report to the Conference Room IMMEDIATELY. Thank you.

Sincerly,
Chad Stryker

Rico looked up from his scribbles very important work as a memo floated onto his desk.

A conference? Now? he thought curiously. Okay....

Sighing lightly, he stood up and shuffled his papers into a neater pile before heading off to the conference room. This had to be something important.

Emma pushed the door open with her elbow, keeping an eye on her coffee cup, trying to avoid to spill anything on the floor. She walked carefully to her cubicle, setting her cup and purse on her desk. She then went to the small library at the back, picking up the three books she had seen about magical carpets. With a swish of her wand, the books followed her back to her cubicle, before she let them rest on her desk, next to her coffee cup.

She took a seat, grabbing the first book on the top of the pile.
"Magical transportation and its legal implications" she read the title with a low voice. She scrunched her nose as she settle the book on her lap and started to read the first chapter of the rather thick tome.

Tonya Anne walked into the office and immediately started cleaning out her desk. Once she had everything collected she smiled and turned to the door.