Fitness and Weight Room
 

Because many of the employees of Level Seven are former athletes or were once professional Quidditch players themselves, it should come as no surprise that fitness is a primary concern or that they like to find ways to remain in shape. A fitness and weight room was instated near the entrance of the lifts to address the needs of the Games and Sports employees, but is open for use by anyone in the Ministry.

Featuring state of the art exercise machines powered by magic, the fitness room is equipped with treadmills, stationary and recumbent bikes, and elliptical cross-trainers. Free weights of graduated sizes are located along one of the mirrored walls.


OOC- This thread is open for all Ministry employees, both G&S and other employees. Feel free to start a roleplay here with your friends.

Dressed in her cute yoga pants and intent on changing into a business-appropriate dress once she was finished with her workout, Mariel started up her treadmill slowly to gradually work up to a faster pace. And she hadn't been walking on the machine long when she noticed another person in the room with her. "Oh, hello," she said, smiling at her friend as she fell into step next to her. "How are you feeling this morning?" Hopefully she was taking her potion and felt alright. Mariel remembered those days all too well, not that it had been all that long ago.

"I'm glad you stopped in," she said, stepping up the pace. "I was just thinking it was a little too quiet." Maybe music was needed, though she wondered if that would get too distracting on her level once more people started using this room. But conversation with her best friend was welcome today, or at least until she was exercising too hard to talk comfortably.

Victoria smiled over at Mariel's greeting, "Hi" She was glad she hadn't scared her friend coming in. Sometimes the mind could wonder when you were busy on the treadmill, she knew from the many times she let this happen to her. "Actually I'm feeling really good this morning. The potion does seem to be helping. The healer said a little exercise was always good, so since I was feeling pretty good I thought I'd tryout the new facility. It's great to see it up and running." It seemed like it was a couple years since they first had talked about it. "You know when I was going around meeting with Department Heads, Harmony had mentioned wished we had something like this. I bet she is excited to learn it's open." She still had that notebook of ideas that she had mentioned she'd give to whomever was minister. Maybe once she didn't feel as stupid for losing she'd make her way to set up a meeting with him.

"Too quiet? Well we need to change that." She chuckled, at times she didn't mind the quiet, but she knew that it could drive her crazy at other times. "Maybe a magazine rack for people to find somethings to read could help with the quiet. We could put Quidditch Weekly, Gobstone Times, WSPM, and some others not sports related just for some variety." Didn't have to be a big section just a small rack for anyone wanting to read while walking or using one of the other pieces of equipment.

Keeping a steady, slightly faster pace, Mariel walked on the treadmill, glancing at Victoria as she spoke. "Well, that's good." That anti-nausea potion she took while she was pregnant was a life-saver most days, even if there were certain foods and smells that still could turn her stomach. She was glad she could eat tomatoes again. Mariel smiled a little bigger as Victoria seemed just as happy as she was to have this fitness room. "I thought so too. Kind of wish we had it a year ago, it would have made it that much easier to work off the baby weight, but better late than never." Plus if she had another, it would be here. Not to mention she thought it just good to stay in shape. "Oh did she?" she said lightly as she increased the speed a little. As long as she didn't try to bring in meditation incense or some other nonsense, then she didn't mind someone else using it. But who knew with those free spirit types.

Still walking, she glanced over at Victoria and smiled widely though she was starting to breath a little heavier. "Oh, that's a great idea," she nodded. She of course loved all those magazines, but she was especially proud of her husband's contribution with WSPM, knowing it was on its way to be even bigger than just for the Ministry. It had so much potential even if she knew he didn't want to relegate himself to being exclusively a sports writer. "I was thinking some music too, though maybe personal devices might be an option as well." Or else everyone would be subjected to one person's taste and that could be a bad thing depending on who that person was.

Taking her time on the treadmill, Victoria didn’t want to start off too strong, not after weeks of feeling so ill. She wanted to stay active, but she didn’t want to push it too far. Still worried about issues and remembering the troubles she had with the twins. Though she hadn’t told Bart yet, so no problems with that stress yet. Victoria had to laugh, she looked over at her friend next to her, “What baby weight? You carried Regina so well, you were all baby.” Her friend was very pretty and she was one of those pregnant women that all women wanted to be. “Hopefully I won’t look like a house like I did last time since there is only one this time.” That was a plus about this pregnancy already. Though being her third she was already feeling her clothes getting tight. “Yeah, she had mentioned it. Very nice woman actually. Some of the Department Heads were down right jerks, but she was very open and welcoming. So at least even if it wasn’t me that did it as minister, at least something she was hoping for did happen.” Victoria couldn’t help the little sigh and defeated feel. It had been a few months now, but only a few weeks since being back after break, the wound was still open a bit.

Thinking about moving it up a bit, she moved her wand and let the machine force her to walk a bit faster. That was about as fast as she would go though, it was nice to get moving. “Maybe I’ll do that today so that people have things to read.” Her meeting load was a little light today, so she should be able to get to it. She thought a moment about the suggestion and had to admit she agreed. [b] “I think a low sounding maybe even just instrumental for people that might not want their own, but own if very much something they could bring in. I was also thinking, maybe we could offer some fitness classes?”[/]b She had been thinking about all this stuff when she was thinking of different ministry things. “I was also thinking the ministry might benefit with a wellness committee, something to promote activity. We’ve been talking about rec leagues, but maybe some friendly department competitions, such as a walking competition.” Possibly just something small to motivate even the most lazy to get up and go.

Aunt Stella had Harper today, and Chris was working late. The house was just to quite. She had to do something. So Mercedes was taking a little time to do some exercise. Normally her and Harper took a walk in the park near their house. With no baby and not waiting to walk at the park alone the blonde ended up here. Back at work. She knew they had a fitness center so that's why she ended up here.

Hearing the music already on she headed in. Looking around she seen Victoria there. Mercedes grabbed a towel and hopped on a treadmill next to her manager. "Didn't expect to see you here" She set out on a brisk walk, kind of like she was in the park.

Her thought were already off and running with all that was going to be going in her department. End of the season, championship event, celebration memorabilia, some new photoshoots, summer camps, U17 league, and then their was tryouts and draft days to set up already. How as the end of March already here and she was thinking about the fall. The life of a manager it seemed.

Hearing a sound she turned her head and gave Mercedes a smile, her breathing was heavy and her words were staggered from her job, "Hello" She chuckled a bit as she heard her words. "Twins are with their dad and Helena is with her grandparents. Mommy's late night to get some me time." Which was great she really appreciated that she got it.

"I could say the same for you." Mercedes had a little one at home as well.

Victoria made her way into the fitness room. She needed to work off some stress and it was one of her mornings she had gotten to come in early. She loved those days. The twins were off at school and Helena was at the daycare. Her mind went to her youngest for a moment as she headed in. She always relied on her parents, but with her father ill she couldn't anymore. It was a hard adjustment she was making.

Turning the corner she realized she wasn't alone. Nodding to the women who seemed to be doing push ups before turning on a treadmill and hopping on. Moving the pace to a brisk jog she let her mind wonder back to her parents and her youngest daughter and how much they would miss if she couldn't go there like the twins did. She had always hated they didn't get that time with Bart, but at least they were in the same country.

Turning her eyes on the person in the room she gave a smile. "Do you mind if I turn the music on?"

Emily glanced up to see another person coming in before going back to her pushups. When the other person asked if she minded music, Emily shook her head and answered in between grunts."Not at all, please do." Music didn't distract her, but talking while doing push ups did. Still, no big deal.

Ten.

Eleven.

Twelve.

Thirteen.

Fourteen.

Okay. That was all the push ups she planned to do for now. Standing up she began doing stretches and let her attention wander to her companion on the treadmill. Since she wasn't doing push ups anymore she could talk, and it seemed polite to introduce herself. "I'm Emily Valentine, from the Department of International Magical Cooperation. What department are you from?"

She didn't mind the music Victoria was very glad about that. She liked having it on during the day, but especially for her own workouts. Flipping through the channels she found the one she liked the most and smiled, "This okay?" Even though she really liked it she wasn't going to make someone listen to something they didn't want to.

Oh and she was introducing herself. This was nice, "Victoria Culloden. I'm the Quidditch manager here on level seven. I'm glad you come and use the fitness center. It is a great gem on our floor." She wasn't sure may used it, but she hoped they would all come and try it out.

"The International Cooperation. We will be working with you pretty closely for the Junior games." Was she one of them that was on the project? It would be nice to meet people now instead of when she was barking orders or trying to get last minute things done.

"That's fine," replied Emily to her question about the music. It wasn't as strange as her daughter's music, and even that she didn't really mind.

"Well it's nice to meet you Victoria. Yes, I would say we will be working very closely in the coming months. I have been tasked with having all equipment and other needed items ready for the games, and I will be looking for vendors."

Which prompted her to ask a question. "I am actually new to the Ministry, having been a reporter before. I'm curious as to whether you know many of the people in my department." There was one in particular that she was interested in...

Starting to jog on the treadmill Victoria's mind tried to start going away to think of other things like she always did when she was alone, but today she wasn't alone. She tried to stay focused on the room. "Do you come here often?" Her words coming out breathless with each step.

Her next words made Victoria whip her head around a bit and stare at her. "I'm not sure what your department head is thinking putting your department in charge of equipment, but I am the division manager for Quidditch if I'm not mistaken. I think our department clearly has all the equipment we will need." What tasks did he have them doing? She thought that department was to help with immigrational things and makes sure everything went alright. Anyone would know the quidditch department would be in charge of all the quidditch items.

"I'm afraid I don't, I know some, but with a ministry this big it's hard to know everyone. I ran for Minister back a few years ago so I got to know your department head a bit. Welcome to the ministry though, it is a great place to work."

"Yes, I come here at this time every morning to do push ups and stretches. And you?"

Victoria's next words caught her by surprise. "Are you serious? There must be some great misunderstanding if both our department heads gave us the same job and did not tell us to coordinate with each other. Specifically, I was asked to partner with Regina from our department to get this done. We are halfway there and were not informed that anyone else was also gathering equipment." There was a serious lack of communication happening at the Ministry if what Victoria said was true. Why, it would have been like if when Emily was working for the media if she and another reporter had been tasked to the same story without being told about it.

She kept her jogging as she listened to the music and her company next to her. "Always good to have a routine. With the kids I struggle at times to keep one, but I try as hard as I can to get here at least three times a week. " It was a difficult task, but she loved her gym time too. The motivation to stay fit was all she needed to push to come in early.

"I'm not sure what the misunderstanding was, but clearly it had to have been a misread for level five, since the quidditch division would obviously have all the equipment. We do hold all the games throughout the seasons for the professional as well as camps and the U17 league. I'm really not sure why anyone would think another department would have or need to get equipment we already supply for a normal year." It was very strange really and she would get a little snippy on the though of Mariel being the person that would misinform.

"I'm really not sure what to say. Where have you even been getting the equipment from? " Wouldn't they have had to come ask someone in this department for equipment? Maybe they had went to someone other than her for it?

Drama XD
 

"Regina has been more in charge of the equipment than I have been, I have been mostly collecting vendors. But I have created several portkeys to be used for getting to the games, and I suppose you could consider that to within our departments jurisdiction." They were the Department of Magical International Cooperation, after all.

"I will admit that anything beyond portkeys would be fairly odd to give to our department," continued Emily as she bent back down to do more push ups. "My partner Regina is very unprofessional and may have something to do with that misunderstanding. Don't tell her I said that. I will talk to her later."

Emily still hadn't gotten over how Regina seemingly flirted with the boss at their first meeting. Maybe she had distracted him.