Penny gladly shook Ella's hand, a bit flustered to realize she had just been talking to the department head and hadn't really known. She wondered if she should be apologizing for not knowing, and felt quite awkward, before deciding on holding her tongue. After all, apologies made people feel uncomfortable for the most part.

"Oh, yes. I am signed up for the tour. And about to go on the tour later today, in fact." Penny smiled, relieved that she was at least able to get to the right floor. Not wanting to waste a DEPARTMENT HEAD's time, Penny got straight to the point. If the department head wanted to continue conversation, it would be up to her, not someone who hadn't even figured out where everything was yet. "Would you mind pointing me in the direction of the office area?" Penny asked politely. OH. Do I even have an office or office area or something? Penny was doubtful of course, but mostly just wanted to find out where she could work. Still, she smiled, if a bit nervously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashfig

Penny gladly shook Ella's hand, a bit flustered to realize she had just been talking to the department head and hadn't really known. She wondered if she should be apologizing for not knowing, and felt quite awkward, before deciding on holding her tongue. After all, apologies made people feel uncomfortable for the most part.

"Oh, yes. I am signed up for the tour. And about to go on the tour later today, in fact." Penny smiled, relieved that she was at least able to get to the right floor. Not wanting to waste a DEPARTMENT HEAD's time, Penny got straight to the point. If the department head wanted to continue conversation, it would be up to her, not someone who hadn't even figured out where everything was yet. "Would you mind pointing me in the direction of the office area?" Penny asked politely. OH. Do I even have an office or office area or something? Penny was doubtful of course, but mostly just wanted to find out where she could work. Still, she smiled, if a bit nervously.

"Oh, excellent. I'm sure that will help a lot." It would have helped Ella if someone gave her a tour when she first started working there, but she had to figure it out on her own. It wasn't too bad once you got used to it, though. Ella smiled at her employee, offering a bit of encouragement.

Office area? Possibly she meant the work area? Ella turned and pointed across the level to all the work cubicles where the other employees were working. "Right over there, you can find your cubicle in the Creatures area, but don't go too far because the Environment Department is near the back." If she didn't know they shared a level, she would find out soon enough. "And you can find your current assignments on the board by my office," she said, pointing to the far left wall where the board was. "Anymore questions?"

Jasmine was walking into her first day of work. She was quite nervous. She did not know what to do. This was her first job after all. Belle was looking for the head of the department to tell her what to do. She was observing the ministry. She was dressed in her best today. She loved her outfit. She hoped she put on a good presentation.

Jade prayed as the lift moved on its way hopefully to level four. To her delight, the lift opened on level four which was characterized by the strong sterilizing cleaning agent the maintenance people used but you could smell the smell of creatures underneath it. They could not get rid of that smell completely.

She turned to the women who had their hands slightly covering their noses. "Yes, I know about the smell." She said anticipating the first question. "This is the department of magical creatures as well as the department of Environmental Regulation and Protection. As you can obviously guess for yourselves--the department of magical creatures deal with the various magical creatures that exist in Britain and the world such as pixies and werewolves. As for the Environmental regulations and protection department--I honestly don't really know what they do but it probably has to do with the environment." She shrugged.

"Any questions?"

So there were two departments on this level? Whoa! Were those two really that small, or was level four just sooooo big it could hold two? Probably the latter, since they dealt with animals and plants, and she was pretty sure there were some pretty big animals out there. Probably plants too. She couldn't really say what any of those were since she'd never been really good with the subjects that had to do with them in school, but still.

"Do they actually have animals on the level here?" Cora was veeeery curious, yep. Not so much about the plants though.

Jade nodded at Cora's question. "Yes, they do actually keep some animals here. There is an expansion charm on the department. Although, I am not sure if it is permanent meaning that they probably find the animals other homes and they don't remain here for good."

She smiled and stepped back into the lift and waited for the two women to get in before pressing the button for level six. "We will go to level six next before heading to the Magical Law Enforcement and the Minister's Office."

Ohhh. Well that made sense. Especially the expansion charm thing. That was probably why they could fit two departments on just one floor too since it would seem strange if one floor was bigger than all the others, especially one that was in the middle.

Aaaand it looked like they were off to another level! Back down to level six? Cool!

Penny nodded enthusiastically, making mental notes of everything she was told. Having to ask something twice was one of the things she tried to avoid the most. She looked towards the cubicles, wondering which one was hers.

Knowing that she would have an assignment to work on, Penny was eager to get started. She wondered what she would be doing first. Eager as always, she smiled. "Thank you so much for all your help. You have been most informative. I think I can find my way now." And in response to the last question, she replied, "You've answered all of my questions." Her smile was friendly, but she tried not to seem overly excited. This was her first day of work EVER, but not everyone needed to know.

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Originally Posted by ashfig

Penny nodded enthusiastically, making mental notes of everything she was told. Having to ask something twice was one of the things she tried to avoid the most. She looked towards the cubicles, wondering which one was hers.

Knowing that she would have an assignment to work on, Penny was eager to get started. She wondered what she would be doing first. Eager as always, she smiled. "Thank you so much for all your help. You have been most informative. I think I can find my way now." And in response to the last question, she replied, "You've answered all of my questions." Her smile was friendly, but she tried not to seem overly excited. This was her first day of work EVER, but not everyone needed to know.

Ella smiled encouragingly, glad that she was able to help. She was the young woman's boss, anyway. That's what she was there for. Well, that and telling her what to do. "I am very glad to hear that. You can go ahead and find yourself a free cubicle over there." Ella nodded again in the direction of the cubicles. "Good luck! And don't forget to come see me if you have questions, or just need anything!"'

Wes didn't wait around for Elinor. She would catch up or she wouldn't. He was tired of waiting around for people and things, tired of waiting for inconclusive lab results and half-answers.

He needed a cure, and he needed one now. His wife was in there. That was reason enough.

Like a tornado from Kansas, Wes stormed into the level 4 reception area and then halted abruptly. Uh. He hated this floor. He'd only been up here once, and that had been... an unfortunate formality. At least he was looking for the plant-y side of the office this time, right?

He cleared his throat and tucked his hands in his pockets, so no one would see that they were balled into fists. "Hello?"

Jack was taking a break from his paper work and decided to go see what was going on in the reception area. Sometimes he got assigned to help and was able to escape his paperwork for a bit. But this visit was odd. He had never seen a time when any Ministry employee decided to bypass the lines to get help. Oh well, he would help anyway, "Hello sir, would you like my assistance. My main field is Magical Creatures but I am quite good at Herbology as well. "My name is Jack Berusen by the way", he hoped by taking care of this clear violation in a calm manner that perhaps no one would get in trouble and the problem could be solved.

Elinor had almost happily left the conference room. Almost. It just wasn't a good day, hm? Of course, with the pace Wes was moving at, it was hard to catch up with him, but once she was with him, she kept up. He said nothing to her, and she was okay with that. The lab worker just clutched her collection of papers tighter to her. Answers. Oh, sweet answers.

The woman said nothing, as she suppossed Mr. Ferguson preferred at the moment, especially since she wasn't entirely sure what she would say anyway. He had taken her here for a reason, so Elinor let him do the talking. Nevertheless, she greeted Jack with a nod and hoped, for the stranger's sake, that Mr. Ferguson wouldn't do too much damage. Mentally or physically. Her eyes darted over everthing breakable in the room for just a second.

It looked like a women was following the man the way she was at his side just secconds after the rude man's arrival. He looked toward the woman and said, "Hi, I'm Jack Berusen, a COMC specialist. I am guessing you are with him. So would either of you like to tell me you're names and what I can help you with?". Jack was trying to stay calm, he did not want a scene to come from all this. He wanted to help but he would not hesitate to remove both of them if either raised their voices or caused any other kind of scene.

Right, who was this little twerp and why was he in Wes' way? The department head scowled and almost reached a hand out to brush the guy aside, since he was sure he could find Rafael's office on his own. But on second thought, instead of punching people perhaps he should be using his words to find a diplomatic solution here. The MLE did need the Environment people's help and no one liked to help people who punched them. So, logic.

Wesley was clearly a Gryffindor.

"Berusen..." Wes kept his fists balled up in his pockets, for now. "I'm Wesley Ferguson, Department Head of Magical Law Enforcement and Security. This is Elinor Danvers, Laboratory Supervisor for the Office of Counterfeit Magic and Equipment Control. We need to see the Head of the Department of Environmental Regulation and Protection." He took an intimidating step closer to the Berusen guy. Spitting out all those titles had taken too much time already, and time was something Wes was short of.

"Now."

Oh this Guy was a piece of work. "Well, I have no authority there. You'll have to wait in line like everyone else or settle for me. Also, if you continue to make a scene of yourself then I will have to escort you and you're assistant out.". This was his last chance. Jack was really starting to get a bit angry at this point.

What. A. Waste. Of. TIME. WHO HAD SENT THIS GUY OUT HERE? WHY WAS HE EVEN SPEAKING TO HIM?! WAS THIS A JOKE?! The imbecile... the nerve... the... the... LINE??!?!!

"LINE? WHAT LINE?" Wes finally snapped, pulling his hands out of his pockets and making a frustrated and very rude gesture with his hands. He shoved past the Beridiot and stormed through the reception area, pausing when the reception room turned into a desk area.

Then he had to storm back to the reception desk, pacing aimlessly and angrily until he found a notice board and floorplan on the wall. THERE. A MAP. "THIS WALL IS MORE HELPFUL THAN YOU ARE!" Wes shouted back at the Creatures guy for good measure.

See, he hadn't been mad when he had come up here. Just impatient. He'd gotten mad when the Beridiot had accused him of making a scene (which he hadn't even gotten started doing, yet) and then called Elinor his mere 'assistant.' HE HAD JUST INTRODUCED HER AS A LABORATORY SUPERVISOR. REALLY. Was Beridiot deaf?!

"Idiot!" he grumbled under his breath to himself. He straightened up and cleared his throat, deciding that he had made enough of a scene... for now. "Rafael's this way, Elinor," Wesley called back to her. "Come on." They could get there FINE without Unhelpful from Magical Creatures over there.

Idiot. Anyone who did not work in his department and maybe Izzy's, and maybe A&C was an honest-to-Merlin idiot, Wes was sure of it now.

Jack sighed, this guy was a piece of work. He waltched him storm to the back area and then have to come right back. He chuckled but then saw him find the back wall map and then pretty much call him inept, "O REALLY, GOOD LUCK, THERE ARE REASONS THAT WE ONLY ALLOW EMPLOYEES IN THE BACK THERE, BUT GO AHEAD, I KNOW YOU WILL ANYWAY!!!", this Guy was certainly not likely to have SN easy time back there, good. He better find his friend fast.

Elinor was surprised at herself. She didn't even bat an eyelash when Mr. Ferguson started shouting. She had never been there for one of his famous tantrums, but she could sometimes hear muffled yelling while she was in the lab, or the sound of his bellowing down the corridor. She followed swiftly behind him once he'd decided to just GO, and couldn't help but shoot the level four employee a pitying look of apology.

Although, she was just a tad miffed. Not over being called an assistant, but for not recognizing a superior when he saw one. Because that's what Department Heads were. Elinor certainly wouldn't be caught dead speaking to Mr. Ferguson that way. Ever. Or any Department Head, for the sake of professionalism.

All the same, Elinor felt a little sorry for Mr. Berusen. He had caught both of them on a very, very, very bad day. The lab worker followed her boss along to Rafael's office, hoping and praying that no one would get in his way in the process.

Derek made his way to level 4 by himself. Yeah, yeah, he knew there were some other people from his Department going as well, but they were taking forever and Derek didn't like being late because everyone stared at him when he was.

With his enchanted backpack filled with things he judged important hanging behind him, the former Gryffindor arrived in the reception area of the Department of Environmental Regulation and Protection and quickly glanced around. He was the first one there??

.....He wasn't entirely sure he liked that either. That meant that every single person to arrive after him - that is, everyone - was going to greet him and possibly even try to start a conversation or something.

Urgh... no, Merlin, please. He just wanted to see the plants... no making new friends, please. He did not sign up for that.

The 26 year-old sat down in one of the chairs there and... well. He waited.

Ash was all packed and ready for the excursion. She thanked her lucky stars for undetectable extension charms because the blonde was pretty certain she'd over packed. One had to be prepared for anything though, yeah?

Making her way into the Level 4 Reception Area, the 28 year old noted that not many people had arrived yet. Oh well, early was much better than late. It appeared she wasn't the only one that felt that way and her gaze fell on Derek, sitting all by his lonesome.

Hm.

"You all ready to go?" The answer was fairly obvious but Ashley felt it was only polite to make small talk. Even if she was fairly certain the guy wasn't a fan of such things.

As Roxanne entered level four, carrying a duffelbag and dragging a suitcase behind her, to await her department plus whoever Althea and Wes had sent, she noticed that two people had beat her over, neither of which she recognized. "Hello, you must be from A&C, correct? I'm Roxanne Carter, Head of the Enviro. Department and the one that organized this trip." Yep, yep. And she was glad that these two had the courtesy of showing up early. Made her job a lot easier, as it meant two less people that she had to owl and nag out of bed. Actually, she wished her department was this efficient. Hmm. "We'll wait a little longer for stragglers, then we'll be on our way." And her department better show up too, or some heads were going to roll. And she didn't mean at the bowling alley.

Jade didn't know why she was so late. She had thought that she had plenty of time especially since she had packed the night before. But noooo...before she knew it--she had to be at MoM in 20 minutes.

She rushed into the reception area of level 4 and patted her pants pocket to make sure that she still had her shrunken duffle bag and suitcase.

Jade opened her mouth to apologize profusely for her being late before realizing that there were only three people waiting. It seemed that her fellow A&Cer's were better at scheduling then she was as there they were together with Roxanne Carter whom she knew from the Zombie case a few months ago. There was noone else besides them.

"Oh, hello!" She said, "I thought that I was late. I see now that I wasn't."

Derek looked around the reception area as he waited for others to show up, taking in every detail of the place almost unintentionally. He now did this observing thing without even realising it.

He then heard someone coming and immediately felt nervous. What if it was someone he didn't know? Would the unknown person talk to him? Would he have to introduce himself? Why? No! All he wanted was to do his job! He hoped people would leave him alone.

Oh, it was Ashley. He pursed his lips in an odd way of acknowledging her and his gaze dropped to the ground. She had spoken to him. As expected. Derek just nodded in response, still eyeing the floor.

When a new voice spoke up, the young man was a bit startled and looked up at once to see the woman who introduced herself as the Head of Department of the level. He immediately got up and blinked. "I'm Derek Meriwether." It was all he said, since fortunately she knew where he worked. Good. He didn't have to go into details then. Good.

And another person joined them. Jade. It was odd, but Derek actually felt a bit relieved there was going to be people he knew and sort of worked with going to this trip. Not that he was looking forward to spending time with them and 'getting to know each other better' or whatever, but he felt a bit more comfortable with people from his Department there.

He didn't greet her, though. Not properly, at least. Unless eyeing was considered a kind of greeting, then yes, he had greeted her in that case.

Well this would be Liz's time to shine now that she gets to go on a "field" trip. Though it's more of a buisness trip. It was still a trip that she'd be able to see more of the world. Her trek around America wasn't enough for her. She wanted to go all around the world before she died. From the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Pantheon in Greece then to the bamboo forests in Japan. So she'd have at least a weeks worth journal entries to put in going to Scotland. Walking towards the office she saw her department head, and two other faces that she never saw.

As she got closer she set he bag down on the ground, and said "Hello Mrs. Carter." Then Liz turned to the toher people there and said to them "Hello. I'm Elizibeth Jones." Extending her hand. "I'm one of the Enviro workers." Well they'd have some more people to join them which would be good.

Jade winked and grinned at Derek eyeing her. She was going to have a little fun with Mister "Leave me Alone!" on the trip--she would still be professional but there was nothing written about not having a little fun with a fellow department employee.

Turning to Roxanne, Jade asked, "Are you now the head of Environment Protection? Well then congrats! I didn't know that you asked for a transfer from MLE."

As another person joined their little group, a Elizibeth Jones, Jade smiled and greeted her with a pleasant, "Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Jade." Extending her hand as well to shake Liz's hand.