Amelia noticed Nathan slide quietly into the office and into his chair and gave him a cheeky grin, glad he was back. "Welcome back! You've not missed much, but I think you got back at just the right moment. I think we are off to the pub. Work related of course! "


"Yeah, you are far too critical of yourself," Amelia praised him. "Two detained and everyone got out alive, sounds like a success to me, an excuse to celebrate at the pub if ever I heard one. It's a shame we are going whilst on duty, or else I would have bought you a drink to celebrate." She noticed he wasn't holding his arm in a normal way and thought to herself there was more to it than he was letting on, but it was his business and he would deal with it in the way he felt best, she thought.

"That sounds good enough to me," Amelia chirped, as if that settled it. "I suppose the more of us there are, it will look like it is just an 'after work outing' rather than anything else." It had only been the first day, but Amelia was really liking the signs that the MLES were going to be a tight knit group. And with Dmitry adding to the mix, the first mission was all set for a success!

“Thank you, Miss Grey.” Nathan said cheerfully with a smirk as she welcomed him back and re-enforced what Nicoli had said that the trip to the pub was ‘work related only’. Did Nate have the word ‘Alcoholic’ in great big neon lights above his head or something? As if he would actually drink whilst on an assignment. Well…maybe, but not on his first day at work. “How did the illegal potions arrests go?” he asked, trying to change the subject, noting Amelia was still dressed in those awful itchy looking wizard robes.

At Amelia’s next words he merely nodded. He wasn’t going to say what he was thinking. She and Nicoli had a good point. He was pleased that he had such positive colleagues – it certainly balanced out his own negativity. Amelia had also been very supportive before the young man was sent off with the Aurors. She had more faith in him than he did in himself. “Any excuse to celebrate.” He raised his empty coffee cup that was still sitting in his desk from first thing this morning. Yep, that’s why they think you’re an alchie, Nate. Just brilliant - not.

He smiled. “Good thinking.” He was a little worried about how Nicoli was going to blend into the pub, but in a larger group, he would look less conspicuous. Anyway, the man was an experienced officer of the law - he would surely know how to blend into any given situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amelie

Nathan shrugged -the man certainly had a fair point, but the very fact that one got away meant that the job had not been done properly. Maybe if Amelia had been sent along, or Clarissa had gone in place of Nathan, they would have captured all three. But these were all questions that no-one had the answers to. He knew better than to argue with his head of department. He merely nodded, “Cheers mate.” he replied with a nod, grateful for Nicoli’s optimistic view on things. He was an encouraging boss to have.

Nathan chuckled as Nicoli explained about Mr Flooing and his hybrid floo powder, “I take it that’s a pseudo name?” If not, what the hell were the chances of that? - to share a name with your line of work. Maybe it had been his name that had driven him batty and caused him to create the hybrid floo powder in the first place. …Maybe Nathan was thinking about this too much...

“With respect sir.” Sir…not again. “Do you not think the secure wing of St Mungos should be looking into this case rather than us… or do we have to bring him here first to have him sectioned?" Was being sectioned a muggle thing? Nathan was unsure of the procedure for the mentally unstable within the wizarding world - and it was obvious the poor old man was still completely and utterly bonkers. It would be terrible to send him off to Azkaban. “Do we have any idea what drove him loopy in the first place?”

Nathan nodded. “Raven’s Claw seems like a good starting place.” Nate would blend in just fine. He had already paid the place a visit... it had a nice atmosphere, was cosy and they did a very good pint of ale… but Nicoli really did not need to know this information. “Thank you. I would very much like to join you.” He had not hurt his wand arm after all… and he hoped to hell that this arrest would not come to resorting to use of wands. For some reason, Nathan felt empathy for this old Mr Flooing.

Nicoli smiled warmly, a perfectionist. "I suppose we'll find that out from Flooing himself," he said, having never thought about it before. "No, there seems to be no reason why he went off the rail, but still-he's been breaking the law, and put out an extremely dangerous product. So our job's to arrest, question and then hand him over to the Wizengamort. It'll really be their choice whether he should be in St.Mungos or not." His eyes glittered slightly, at least he wasn't lazy...even if it was a pub.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndebic

"Yeah, you are far too critical of yourself," Amelia praised him. "Two detained and everyone got out alive, sounds like a success to me, an excuse to celebrate at the pub if ever I heard one. It's a shame we are going whilst on duty, or else I would have bought you a drink to celebrate." She noticed he wasn't holding his arm in a normal way and thought to herself there was more to it than he was letting on, but it was his business and he would deal with it in the way he felt best, she thought.

"That sounds good enough to me," Amelia chirped, as if that settled it. "I suppose the more of us there are, it will look like it is just an 'after work outing' rather than anything else." It had only been the first day, but Amelia was really liking the signs that the MLES were going to be a tight knit group. And with Dmitry adding to the mix, the first mission was all set for a success!

Nicoli grinned sheepishly. Maybe he'll take them out later...if he felt comfortable at the pub of course. He nodded, that's what he was hoping for, though an odd bunch they were. He just had to keep his nerves under control. Act like your there to drink a few.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amelie

“How did the illegal potions arrests go?” he asked, trying to change the subject, noting Amelia was still dressed in those awful itchy looking wizard robes.



He smiled. “Good thinking.” He was a little worried about how Nicoli was going to blend into the pub, but in a larger group, he would look less conspicuous. Anyway, the man was an experienced officer of the law - he would surely know how to blend into any given situation.

"It....didn't." Nicoli ruffled his hair guiltily, "We were just about to set off before we got this mission." Well it was true. And just like how it was first thing in the morning. It couldn't be helped. He was getting down to things now. Nicoli checked that his hair was still black and robes were still worn and grinned. "Let's go then!"

"Brilliant, let's get started then" Amelia replied as she stood up, getting ready to go to the Raven's Claw. She rearranged her robes again, trying not to fidget, and then made for the door.


(OOC - Next post here)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linda Hagrid

Nicoli smiled warmly, a perfectionist. "I suppose we'll find that out from Flooing himself," he said, having never thought about it before. "No, there seems to be no reason why he went off the rail, but still-he's been breaking the law, and put out an extremely dangerous product. So our job's to arrest, question and then hand him over to the Wizengamort. It'll really be their choice whether he should be in St.Mungos or not." His eyes glittered slightly, at least he wasn't lazy...even if it was a pub.

Nicoli grinned sheepishly. Maybe he'll take them out later...if he felt comfortable at the pub of course. He nodded, that's what he was hoping for, though an odd bunch they were. He just had to keep his nerves under control. Act like your there to drink a few.

"It....didn't." Nicoli ruffled his hair guiltily, "We were just about to set off before we got this mission." Well it was true. And just like how it was first thing in the morning. It couldn't be helped. He was getting down to things now. Nicoli checked that his hair was still black and robes were still worn and grinned. "Let's go then!"

He smiled back “I suppose we will.” he replied brightly, pleased that the team were getting to work together on a case… and that Nicoli trusted him enough to take along. He nodded as Nicoli answered his other question, feeling slightly foolish for asking it in the first place - Of course. It was always up to the courts to decide whether a criminal was of sound mind and, therefore, deserved to be sent to prison… or not. It was exactly the same with the muggle justice system as far as he was aware.

“Oh.” Nathan replied and grinned sheepishly. Looked like Nicoli really had had a tough morning. “Well… you have to prioritise.” He looked over at Amelia as Nicoli gave them the all clear to leave for the Raven’s Claw. It was going to be very interesting to see just how they would work together as a team. He stood up and gestured for her to go first. “Ladies first.” he smirked before following her out the door.

Samantha walked to the desk of the Magical Lew Enforcement Squad office, she had already met the young woman, Amelia, who worked here and knew that this matter was one which would need to be referred here, that it was out of the hands of the Department of Magical Education to do anything about it. "Hello, Amelia," she said. I brought Cloe here with me, we are both here to tell you about a student whose life is being threatened at Hogwarts. Her parents have been killed already, and lately she herself has received very threatening notes and is in fear for her life. She needs your protection and help." Samantha waited for Cloe to join her so they could continue.

Somewhat disgruntled after the start of the day, and the fact her housemates had decided to hide her stuff as a celebration of the job meaning she hadn't left when she'd hoped to, Apha cautiously made her way towards the desks she could see. Making her way to one not far from where she was stood, she balanced a tea in her left hand and the Prophet in her right. Carefully setting them down on a desk, she combed her fingers through her long, blonde hair.

So this was where she'd be working. As her green eyes took it in, she slipped off her jacket, revealing the blouse she was wearing underneath and the green scarf she wore around her neck. Placing the jacket neatly next to the Prophet, she took a seat. The twenty three year old placed her head in her hands for a moment, trying to wake herself up, momentarily forgetting about the tea. Stupid girls, she thought in reference to her housemates as she lifted her head again.

Picking up the cup, she took a sip before putting it back down, her eyes once again scanning her surroundings.

Nathan wandered back into the MLES office in search of Nicoli and the evidence they were supposed to be looking through. He was surprised to find someone in here. He wondered just exactly how long she had been there waiting for assistance. The team had gone out on a mission ages ago and had been stuck in the detention centre ever since questioning poor old Mr Flooing. All in all it was a very depressing case.

“Can I help you, love?” he asked the young woman.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slytherin Fox

Samantha walked to the desk of the Magical Lew Enforcement Squad office, she had already met the young woman, Amelia, who worked here and knew that this matter was one which would need to be referred here, that it was out of the hands of the Department of Magical Education to do anything about it. "Hello, Amelia," she said. I brought Cloe here with me, we are both here to tell you about a student whose life is being threatened at Hogwarts. Her parents have been killed already, and lately she herself has received very threatening notes and is in fear for her life. She needs your protection and help." Samantha waited for Cloe to join her so they could continue.

Arriving back at the office, Nicoli noticed the woman from Magical Education standing inside it. "I'm sorry about my absence, Ms..?" Nicoli said his midnight blue robes swishing around his feet as he entered the room. "We were all on a capture mission. My name is Nicoli Vanhatck, I'm the head of this division." He offered her a seat opposite his desk and sat down himself.

"I suppose this is regarding the students that have become animals?" he asked taking a not so wild guess, placing the evidence in one of the many drawers of the desk and sealing it magically.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DominaFortuna

Somewhat disgruntled after the start of the day, and the fact her housemates had decided to hide her stuff as a celebration of the job meaning she hadn't left when she'd hoped to, Apha cautiously made her way towards the desks she could see. Making her way to one not far from where she was stood, she balanced a tea in her left hand and the Prophet in her right. Carefully setting them down on a desk, she combed her fingers through her long, blonde hair.

So this was where she'd be working. As her green eyes took it in, she slipped off her jacket, revealing the blouse she was wearing underneath and the green scarf she wore around her neck. Placing the jacket neatly next to the Prophet, she took a seat. The twenty three year old placed her head in her hands for a moment, trying to wake herself up, momentarily forgetting about the tea. Stupid girls, she thought in reference to her housemates as she lifted her head again.

Picking up the cup, she took a sip before putting it back down, her eyes once again scanning her surroundings.

As she walked into the office, Nicoli eyed the woman who seemed to have no reason to give an explanation of her presence. Well, she didn't seem to be with the Magical Education Head, so he decided to leave her for the moment. His mind was still on Flooing, and his eyes, somewhat dull and strained reflected that. The evidence would only worsen that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amelie

Nathan wandered back into the MLES office in search of Nicoli and the evidence they were supposed to be looking through. He was surprised to find someone in here. He wondered just exactly how long she had been there waiting for assistance. The team had gone out on a mission ages ago and had been stuck in the detention centre ever since questioning poor old Mr Flooing. All in all it was a very depressing case.

“Can I help you, love?” he asked the young woman.

Nicoli smiled at Nathan as he walked into the office. Thank goodness, maybe he can find out about the other woman while he met with the other head.

At the sound of somebody walking in, Apha looked up, smiling. Pushing her hair behind her ear, she stood up. 'Hello,' she said, in her slight French accent. 'You might be able to help me. I am Aphrodite Ajuila, and I just got a job here. Zis is ze Magical Law Enforcement Squad, yes?'

She hoped she'd found the right office. If not, she'd have to go through all this again, and the girls - well, she didn't want to think about the girls. Taking her mind off the matter, she pulled at one of her three necklaces nervously.

Watching the other man walk into the office, Apha couldn't help but hear when he said "Divison Head". She bit her lip, wondering if she had to talk to him when she was free, as she'd done in Germany. But he was busy now, so she decided to leave it until the other woman had finished. She turned back to the man who'd come in first.

He smiled warmly hearing the woman’s accent. Nathan loved the French. He had spent an extended period in the bohemian quarter of Paris on his world travels - he could have happily settled there forever. “It is indeed.” He replied in his soft Scottish brogue.

“This is wonderful. We can certainly use and extra pair of hands around here.” She seemed a little nervous and looked almost as prepared for the job as Nate had been first thing this morning. He wanted to make her feel at ease - the MLES were a pretty laid back bunch mostly. “Pleased to meet you, Aphrodite. I’m Nathan" he extended his hand in welcoming, "and this is Nicoli.” --he gestured to the smarter, professional looking wizard -- “Our head of department. …Why don’t you choose a desk and Nicoli will be with you soon.” He looked over at Nicoli who was still busy with the woman from Magical Education. He wondered where Amelia had got to. Perhaps he better go and check on her and Mr Flooing. “Can I get you a cuppa while you wait, love?”

Relieved that she had indeed found the correct place, Apha relaxed slightly. 'An extra pair of hands?' she asked, raising en eyebrow. 'Is it just ze two of you, or are zere others?' She looked around, as if expecting to see more people sat at the desks, before looking back at Nathan.

'Call me Apha, please. Everyone does,' she chuckled softly, hating the name her mother had picked out for her when she was younger. Stretching out her hand to shake his, she glanced over at the man he'd said was named Nicoli. He didn't look that much older than Apha herself - neither did Nathan. Again, Apha relaxed. The last job she'd had in the German Ministry, she'd been the youngest by a good five years, if not more.

Picking up her cup of tea, she smiled at Nathan. 'My friends sent me prepared,' she told him. 'But thank you for ze offer.'

“There’s only three of us… well four now, including your good self. Amelia is busy taking a suspect down to the cells.” he explained. “We’re all pretty new to the job so you’ll have to forgive us if we seem a bit disorganised.” He went over to sit at his own dark desk in the corner. Nate was now way past exhaustion and seemed to be functioning on autopilot - but had consumed so much caffeine today that he was sure he wouldn’t be able sleep tonight.

“Very well, Apha.” He replied and smiled as she picked up her cup, “Good friends you must have.” He sat back in his comfortable chair and studied the young woman, “That’s a lovely accent you have there. What part of France are you from?” he asked trying to make conversation while they waited for Nicoli to finish with the other woman.

Apha took a seat at the desk she'd put her things down on again, watching him. 'Just ze four of us now? How many cases do you normally get?' she asked, curious as to how the three of them had managed to take on cases. 'And disorganised? It can't be too bad.'

She picked up the cup of tea and took a sip. Once she'd swallowed it, she resisted the temptation to laugh. 'Good friends? Well, zey are sometimes.' When they weren't hiding things in the mornings. 'Err . . . Northern France. I was born in Paris, and lived zere until I was seventeen.' She shrugged casually.

'What about you? You have a slight accent. Not French, but . . . Scottish?' she asked, trying to pick out the soft accent.

“I’m afraid so.” he replied. “It’s actually only my first day here too… and Amelia’s. But we’ve been rushed off our feet. I was sent to assist the Auror’s this morning and we’ve been dealing with a case involving hybrid floo powder this afternoon. There’s probably more on the assignments board. I haven’t had a chance to look.” He chuckled at her next words. Good job she hadn’t been around earlier to witness this chaos first hand. “A bit disorganised is an understatement, love.” He said in a hushed voice and glanced over at Nicoli before looking back at Aphi.

“Ah Le Paris.” He said in a rubbish attempt at a French accent. “I’ve spent a good few months there. Wonderful place.” From what he could remember - the firewhiskey seemed to be in full flow the whole time he was there.

“Yes. I grew up in a wizarding town near Edinburgh.” He told her. “But I moved away four years ago and haven’t been back since.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Have you worked in law before?”

'Only your first day?' Apha was genuinely shocked. 'Your first day and zey already have you helping out ze Auror's and a case on hybrid floo powder?' She leant back in her chair, amazed at the fact it was only his first day and he'd already had to do that. And more assignments: she could tell that Nathan probably wouldn't be up to too many more today, after that.

Understatement? Noticing how he threw a glance at Nicoli, Apha didn't want to press the matter, but she was mildly curious as to why. That'd be something to find out later, possibly even witness it firsthand.

His attempt at a French accent made Apha laugh softly. 'Yes, it is a wonderful place,' she agreed, remembering the good times she'd had whilst living there. 'What was your favourite part of Paris?' she asked, curious.

'Worked in law before? Yes,' she replied. 'I lived in Germany for a few years, and zere I worked in ze Ministry.' She shrugged it off. 'How about you? Have you worked in law before?'

“That’s what I thought.” He replied. “But the Aurors, it seems, are understaffed too.” They must have been desperate for help to have taken Nathan of all people along with them. “I admire what they do, but I can safely say that it’s definitely not a job for me.” Taking full advantage of this break from work, he propped his feet up on the desk in front of him and sank into his comfortable chair.

He looked over at Nicoli and grinned. He hadn’t meant anything by his statement. It was just that the poor man had had a lot to deal with earlier on.

“Hmm.. that’s a tough question.” He said thinking for a moment. “I lived in the Quartier Latin. It holds a lot of memories for me. What about yourself?”

“Impressive stuff. No never. Before this I was working in a muggle bar in Australia.” He still wondered if there had been a mix up over his application, but he wasn’t going to bring the subject up with anyone. The pay here was a darn sight better than what the Hit Wizards got. And he had a bigger desk. ...and a comfier chair.

'Understaffing is a problem everywhere at ze moment, I guess?' she asked, remembering the conversation with one of her housemates saying her department was far too quiet. She laughed at his comment about the job the aurors did not being the job for him, and him putting his feet up only made her laugh for longer before she got a grip on herself. 'Sorry,' she apologised.

'The Quartier Latin? Nice.' Apha knew the place, though not very well. 'For me, it would have to be ze Île de la Cité. Expecially ze Pont Neuf.' She smiled at the thought of the bridge she'd come to know so well.

'A muggle bar in Australia? You travelled from Australia back to Britain and got yourself a job in ze law department? You must be good zen.' She laughed again.

“It seems to be.” He replied and then smirked as she started laughing at what appeared to be him. Nathan seemed to be a great source of amusement for some people. “Is there something funny about me?” he asked with a boyish grin, but he was starting to paranoid.

“With a few stops along the way.” He chuckled. “Not so sure about that. I think they’re so desperate for staff that they would have taken anyone.” He raised his eyebrows. “I’m sure that doesn’t apply to you though, love.” Or Amelia for that matter. ...So just Nathan then.

'Not directly you,' Apha assured him. 'Just ze way you are relaxing. I haven't seen many do zat before, but it is often amusing.' She didn't mean to sound rude, but the amount of time she'd seen people put their feet on their desk before losing control of their chair and toppling over. Anytime she saw anyone do it, the others had quickly learnt after they'd landed - rather painfully - on the floor.

'Zey are desperate, but I doubt zey would take just anyone. You must have been what zey were looking for in some aspects if not others, otherwise zey wouldn't have taken you on, would zey?' she reasoned. 'Like zis . . . Amelia you mentioned earlier. I bet, if zey put you two together and you iron out each others faults. You balance ze other out.' It was the way she always worked, anyway.

He grinned at her. “Yes, well it’s nice to get a chance to relax.” But he was coffeeless at the moment. A trip to the breakroom would be in order soon to top up his caffeine levels once more; even if it was the foulest stuff he'd ever tasted. He was going to start twitching soon.. but that was better than falling asleep on the job.

He took his feet off the desk and plonked them firmly on the floor under his desk as he listened to her. Her reasoning was good. He did actually think the same. “So you’re the logical type then? We could do with some more of that around here. …Was it the German Law Enforcement Squad you worked for before? I mean, was it the same job?”

Agreeing with him, Apha nodded. 'Relaxing is good.' She preferred to relax with a book and a cup of tea, but she knew the closest to that she would get whislt at work would be the Prophet and the tea from the breakroom.

'Logical? You could say zat, sometimes,' she replied, noticing him taking his feet of the desk. 'You can relax, you know. I don't have anything against ze way you were sat, it was just amusing, remembering ze others.'

She cocked her head to the side. 'Yes and no. I started in ze Magical Co-operation, zen was moved to the Law Enforcement Squad for ze last nine months I was in Germany.' They'd moved her, not knowing she'd already got intentions to leave and live with some of her friends. They hadn't been best pleased when they'd found out. 'Why do you ask?'

He cocked an eyebrow, “Remembering the others?” he asked slightly confused and trying his best not to mimic her accent. She may take it to be rude, and not in the light hearted way it would be intended.

He nodded as he listened to her, “No reason, love. But it’ll be good to have someone with a bit of experience around here.” He smiled. “Amelia worked for International Magical Office of Law in Italy, but she’s never done this sort of thing either.”

'Erm . . . in Germany, I worked with some older people who liked to do zat. Zey would always fall of zeir chairs and land on ze floor, rather heavily,' Apha explained to Nathan, unable to keep a smirk from her face. 'One of zem always fell, but never learnt. You just reminded me, but you can stay on your chair.' She felt as if she was babbling, and quickly shut up, biting her bottom lip.

She perked up at the word "Italy". 'She hasn't done zis sort of zing either? Well, we can all learn from each other, can't we?' She brushed through her long hair with her hand, tugging at the knots at the bottom. It would be useful, if they were all on similar levels and could teach each other things.

He chuckled as she explained about people falling off their chairs. “I’ll try and remember that.” He could really do without yet another blow to the head. “I’m pretty good at balancing though.” Not.

“We can indeed.” Nathan still had a lot to learn. “The only experience I’ve had of law was being arrested by muggle police for driving a car without a licence and on the wrong side of the road." ...and crashing it into a tree ..after several large firewhiskeys – but best leave that bit of the story out. How was Nate supposed to know that you needed a licence for driving a car? It was five years ago when he experienced the muggle world for the first time. “I was forced to apparate when they weren’t looking.” He chuckled lightly. Why was he telling her this!? He looked at her sheepishly and promplty zipped it. A change of subject was in order.

“Where abouts do you live now?”