banner by sweetpinkpixie

The large office reserved for the Department Head, has been stripped wall to wall and ceiling to floor, and extensively laden with security charms creating a net of impenetrability. These charms, hexes, jinxes, curses and a multitude of advanced spells cross over and intertwine in numerous places making it impossible to get into and impossible to eavesdrop upon. Anyone who has tried have found themselves permanently without ears - how unfortunate for them.

The office contains a distinguished mahogany interior, and there are two large wall-to-wall shelves spanning the back and side of the room occupied by thick tomes of various colours and sizes. The focal point of the room, is the large desk and leather chair which is reserved for the Department Head, though it is usually unoccupied, and there are two chairs opposite for anyone who wanted to make themselves comfortable.

The handsome fireplace on one of the walls has only a few direct floo links, and these are password protected – restricting those coming in and going out. The password changes every week but the links are always active. If anyone were to try to floo their way in or out without the correct password, they would find themselves in one of the holding cells on Level Two.

Elliot Rainey is seldom in his office, so his door is always locked and well secured, so unless you know the password of the hour, and are exceptionally skilled in the art of survival, you could, avoid dismemberment and spontaneous combustion, and get in.

The office can be used, with permission from the Department Head, for division meetings if the conference room is in use, or if a smaller, more intimate setting is required.

You are here.

Please read the thread description before posting here! This is not a public thread, but anyone is welcome to have their character knock on the door, assuming they have come through reception first. Elliot probably isn't in, though, but feel free to take a chance or PM us to book an appointment.

It didn't take them long to get to the Law Enforcement offices and Rainey's door. Sabel combed his fingers through his hair again to try and get the remaining dust out, as he rapped on the man's door with his free hand.

His attention skipped to the redhead. "I appreciate you doing this, Sander." Hopefully, they could use it. Somehow. "Do you have any questions before we go in?"

Aha, they were here at last. Fantastic. Sander attempted to not smirk or smile, though inwardly he was just about fit to burst with self-appointed importance. He was visiting the Head of the London Division right now. That was pretty dang close to the Minister himself!

"No questions," he replied to Sabel with a small shake of his long red hair. "I'll just follow your lead like we did in the Alley." Good plan, yeah? He wouldn't want Dakest to make anything but the very best impression on his boss.

Sander reminded him of a kid in Willie Wonka's candy factory, and it worried him a little.

He definitely got an eye for his comment, though it came with a reserved smirk. "Would that be the Diagon Alley where you followed my lead, or the Knocturn Alley?"

It was difficult not to wiggle or fidget like he wanted to, with his hands in his pockets like they were. But Sander glanced over at Sabel almost cheerfully upon hearing his question.

"Yes." Heh heh heh. He'd meant the Knockturn Alley where Sander had realized Sabel was the lesser of two threats, but he deliberately didn't clarify. Sander would follow Sabel's lead in here, but he also wasn't afraid to speak up for himself if he needed to. Rainey wouldn't be scary or suspicious or try to intimidate an innocent American citizen like him, right?

Rainey was frowning. The lines in his brows incredibly defined as his attention remained focused on the single document sitting on his desk - never mind the other stacks around the place, ignoring them was easier than you'd think.

Quill tapping on the desk, leaving splotch marks in its wake, Rainey glared at the document some more.

...

Seven down....... singer of Wicked Love, the first ballad in a century to be top-ranked for that nation for three consecutive weeks.

What even was that 'ballad'?

BLAH!

He had burned through the questions he was able to answer, and now he was on the verge of torching the paper itself. Stupid ruddy thing. How did they expect people to finish these bloody things?!

A knock at the door distracted him from his... desire to purge the world of this heinous publication. But visitors, what did they want?!

Rianey motioned for his door to open, and so it did. His gaze was still locked on the crossword puzzle before him, and he continued tapping his qual rhythmically on his desk.

People were welcome to enter and state their case.

With the meeting all done, and it being close-ish to noon, Annabelle had already gotten Rainey his lunch. While she was out, the woman had also gotten herself another latte. This time it was decaf though, and only a teaspoon of sugar. That way it wasn't as sweet as the first one, and didn't have as much calories either. Annabelle didn't want people thinking she was a coffee addict. Which she wasn't...she just liked to have some sort of drink on her at all times...which tended to be coffee...but she still wasn't a coffee addict!

Shhhhhh.

Going past the reception area, and up to the door, Annabelle noticed two of her fellow co-workers there. Rainey must have just answered the door from the looks of it. Another thing the brunette noticed was he didn't seem to be in that great of a mood. Giving the two people a nod of her head, her gaze was directed at her boss.

This was one of the very few times you'd catch her without her charmed notebook and quill following her or in her hand. Since Annabelle's hand were full after all. She didn't tend to have them flying behind her in public either. For rather, somewhat obvious reasons.

Taking a sip from her latte, the Metamorphmagus gave a smile towards Rainey. Offering the take-out box with her left hand she said "Here is your lunch, as asked. Nothing with tuna in it as well." The woman's voice was very soft, but it still had a firm tone to it. Though, the former claw's light and petite French accent made it harder to notice to firmness to it.

Yes. Simple, ambigious, troublesome. Sounded like exactly the sort of thing that would come from the redhead. Rolling his eyes Sabel gave the man a half smile. "Of course you would say that."

Hopefully it was the last questionable answer he gave. There was no more time to debrief or clarify statements as the door to the office swung open. Sabel let out a small breath, glanced at Sander and caught sight of Rainey's .... lunch-fetcher coming towards them from over the redhead's shoulder. Taking a step back to let her enter the room first, he offered her a returned nod before following her in, motioning Sander to join him.

The office was spacious, but already with four bodies in it, it was beginning to feel a little bit crowded. Or perhaps that was simply due to the persona behind the desk. He was neither Emily nor Van, and Sabel couldn't help but feel a prick of disappointment at that fact. It was going to take a while to remember who he was working for. And that would only start once he figured out who exactly Rainey was. As it stood now, he had no idea how the man would react to the sight of their dishevelled states, let alone the news.

Taking up position in the back center of the room, behind the lavish chairs, Sabel clasped his hands behind his back and waited for their turn of address. If there was one thing he did know, it was to never interrupt a man when he was receiving his meal.

The door was opening....it was swinging open...gasp!...and....some woman was breezing by both Sander and Sabel with the boss's lunch. Oh. Apparently, he was important enough to have his food delivered by hand to him. Awesome! But also, disappointing because now the guy would be eating instead of talking to them.

Well, there was nothing to do but quietly follow Sabel into the room. So Sander did that, standing slightly behind the guy who had kept him out of trouble thus far.

Honestly he has wondered who would be disrupting his down time, but since it was food that was arriving, he could hardly object to the visit. "Aha! Wonderful, thank you," he beamed as he accepted the feed and opening the box top. It smelled better than he had anticipated, but that was likely the hunger talking.

Excellent.

And... was there anything else?

He had been about to ask when he noticed another pair had followed her in.

Okay then. Party in his office, and it was BYO, in case they had other hopes. Darkest, he was certain that one was after his food.



Rainey had stuffed a portion of his lunch into his mouth and so he sat, chewing... watching, for a moment.

...

Who was the redhead? Because the only job he was willing to fill at the minute was one to do his house keeping, hardly glamorous even if it was for him.

Wiping his mouth and sticking his fork up-right in the box, Rainey cleared his throat. "Can I help you gentlemen?"

There were three things that were a bad combination, and they were all in this room at this exact moment. An Auror, a recent bout of physical activity and really good smelling food. There was no denying it. For a moment, despite the circumstances, Sabel was thoroughly distracted by Rainey's lunch. The look and smell of it reminded him that he hadn't eaten since early that morning, and the time between had been no help to his appetite.

No matter how this conversation went down, he was going to find food right after this.

Shifting his weight, in hopes that he could discourage his stomach from emitting any tell-tale noises, Sabel refocused his attention on the matter at hand. On his department head, who was speaking to them.

His eyes skipped to the woman in the room and immediately back to Rainey. If he had wanted to dismiss her, he would have. They all worked in the MLE, so news would eventually get around.

"There was an incident in Knocturn Alley." No sense in retelling the game of cat-and-mouse that had brought them there. He didn't see the point or the purpose in bringing it up. "We had a bit of a run-in with Peverell. Seems like he had a bit of a bee in his bonnet and was interested in putting some bodies into the daily news."

Turning slightly, he motioned to the man hiding behind his shoulder. "This is Aleksander Bunbury. He helped me out, and has agreed to go on record as a witness for the incident. I thought it was best to bring him up for a debrief with you."

Wow, foooood. The food smelled great, and Sander's mouth watered in deep appreciation of it. He wanted an assistant to bring him food... though that was sorta what sisters were for, so...

He let Sabel do the talking, only chiming in by nodding slightly at the end of his friend's story. "Anything I can do to help," he piped up helpfully, at the part where he was sort of introduced.

It didn't escape him that the men were eyeing off his lunch. Did they like the savoury aroma? The mouth-watering vapours emanating from his take-away box. Well they were welcome to appreciate it, but he wasn't one for sharing. It was a man eat dog world out there, and he wasn't about to give up his position at the head of the food chain.

But good, conversations were happening. Rainey listened with feigned interest.

Incidents in Knockturn were not out of the ordinary, and if Peverell was involved well, it was only fitting. As for the man having a bee in his bonnet he couldn't imagine any other outcome if Dakest had been in the man's Alley. Ha!

"Fantastic," he replied before tucking back into his food. "You know where the paperwork is," he added, unless, was there something else? Was Dakest expecting something else? And this Bunbury... helped out a qualified and trained Auror? Hilarious. "How do you feel about testifying, should it come to that, Mister Bunbury?"

....so he'd waited all this time to meet this guy, this big, important guy with a VERY savory lunch, and now he was being dismissed to do some PAPERWORK?!?!! Sander had come a long way, okay, across a whole ocean and everything for this.

Well, not for ONLY this exact meeting, but he'd come ALL THIS WAY for some ACTION! Action which he was NOT finding in CALIFORNIA. Action which he HAD found in Knockturn Alley. And action which he was NOW REALIZING.... was very run-of-the-mill for men like Elliot Rainey.

Sigh! Sander couldn't help the small, but just loud enough to be heard, disappointed exhale that escaped him. "Yeah, I feel fine about testifying," he shrugged nonchalantly. "What's the worst that could happen?" He could be dismissed by another wave of Rainey's fork? Oooooooh so scary. Not. Dude wasn't at all as fearsome as Sabel had built him up to be. Ish.

Fantastic? Paperwork? That was it?

Sabel sort of just stared at the man for a very long moment, trying to keep his sudden flare of a temper in check.

It had been a long day, his back was in excruciating pain and to top it all off, they'd just had a killing curse blasted in their faces. None of those things put him in a good mood. Least of all the nonchalant concern of the department head. Paperwork was necessary, and he would do it, but he also knew the MLE was waiting on, and looking for, legitimate dirt on Peverell. From where he stood, this counted. From where he stood, this deserved more than a simple dismissal.

It didn't help when the conversation, if it could be called such a thing, went on to if there was a trial? Why the hell would there not be?

And Sander. Just...Sander. He got a look at his rather simple question. Really? Did the red-head so quickly forget what had just happened. And that was before Peverell had decided he really, really didn't like them.

Turning his attention back to Rainey, Sabel fought with himself for a moment before he was able to speak in a firm, but even-keeled manner. "Sir, are we intending to put Peverell behind bars, or within a filing cabinet?"

Honest, but perhaps, stupid question. "The man used a killing curse against Mr. Bunbury and myself, and unless the law has changed, that's attempted murder." Legal grounds for arrest. Real, useful dirt. "He wanted to make a point of it in the media, in retaliation for some review they publicized of his character." Attempted murder and advertising it. And what was the MLE going to do about it? File paperwork.

Even if further clarification hadn't been needed, he wanted Rainey to at least know some of the details. That way they were out in the open. That way the department couldn't say they didn't know or hadn't had time to read or that the files had been lost.

Simon needed to speak with Rainey.

Not only did he feel that the new orders for the other divisions to do rounds was stepping on his division's toes, especially when they risked crossing paths and doing double duty. But he had been hearing stuff about the rounds that didn't please him. It did no good in his mind to alienate the other ministry employees and treating them all suspiciously. That was as bad as thinking every member of the wizarding world was a dark wizard in disguise.

You waste time going after unnecessary matters and overlook the important stuff.

Like who was looking outside the walls of the ministry?

That didn't mean he didn't have to take this upcoming conversation lightly. The current department head was nowhere near the ones who had proceeded him. And not necessarily in a positive way. Who was he kidding...he kinda wished Emily was there in his place.But she wasn't, and he was currently standing behind the man's office, knocking politely on the door to see if he was in seeing as he had been spotted nowhere else.

There was nothing quite as nice as a stroll through the ministry, observing the goings on around the place and making notes to check into an individual or two... or three. However, even he had better things to do than that. With a mental note to check in with his divisions, Rainey took a detour first to his office - apparently he wasn't the only one to do so.

"You have terrible timing Bennett, is there something you need?" he asked on approach.

One thing he needed, was for Bennett to step aside.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

There was nothing quite as nice as a stroll through the ministry, observing the goings on around the place and making notes to check into an individual or two... or three. However, even he had better things to do than that. With a mental note to check in with his divisions, Rainey took a detour first to his office - apparently he wasn't the only one to do so.

"You have terrible timing Bennett, is there something you need?" he asked on approach.

One thing he needed, was for Bennett to step aside.

Simon heard the footsteps coming his way before the man he had been looking for spoke to announce his presence. The security man stepped back from the door, turning to face Rainey as his purpose to be there was questioned. Terrible timing? Why did he suspect that meant this might be harder than he thought? Not that he could really go back now unless the man was going to insist they do this chat another time.

"My appologies..." he replied truthfully, haven't exactly been fully aware of the man's schedule and he hadn't found the man's assistant. "I wondered if I could speak to you about a couple of things. Um...concerns that have come to my attention."

Yes, his apologies indeed. Rainey sighed, moving to the door to disarm it and pushed it open for them to enter. Bennett may as well tag along. "I'll have to ask you to keep it brief, I'm a busy man, only a couple of minutes to spare." Very busy, so very busy. But, they were here, so... what did he want?

"Your concerns?" he prompted whilst rifling in his draw for something. Of course, if Bennett didn't feel he could speak freely, he was welcome to close the door, but Rainey wasn't at all concerned.

He patiently awaited the man handling his office door, well aware of the various securities every department head chose to place around their office. Not that he was ever in the position to need to challenge said boundaries. When the door was opened, Simon followed along, nodding as Rainey asked him to keep it short. He would try but he wasn't making any promises. "Of course...." the former auror assured the older man.

"...and the concerns of others," Simon clarified. He wasn't naming names but he also wasn't the only one who had spoken about it. Sapphira for one had the most constant eye on the atrium and various comings and goings. And Jackson and Mila dealt with stuff on rounds like himself.

"First I want to assure you, there's nothing against your requests made at the meeting." He wasn't wishing to butt heads with the man or challenge his authority. "We appreciate the assistance that the other divisions have been giving." It helped make up for the fact that the members of security were often stretched with their limited number. "However while the security division tries to keep in some sort of contact with each other to assure we're not duplicating the work of others, its not the same elsewhere."

Simon paused as he considered his words, doing his best not to sound negative. "Members of the other divisions have been repeating the paths of security, and the paths of themselves, making a much larger presence on the various levels. This is not only having the other departments feel something is wrong, but risks leaving other parts untouched." They didn't need a ton checking of Mysteries when technically he himself was at least allowed there regularly.

"I wondered if perhaps there was a better way to organize rounds, at least from the Level 2 perspective, to allow for the best productivity."

Concerns of... others?

Oh great mother of Circe, this wasn't going to be a whinge fest was it?

Rainey had paused in his search, but continued after a moment of considering Bennett's brief and underwhelming statement.

He nodded with raised eyebrows and something of a smirk as the security officer started whatever spiel this was going to be. Nothing against his directives, of course not, why would it be? Hmm?

Done with one draw, Rainey closed it, looking up as Bennett continued about the plight of security as everyone did as he asked. Fascinating, truly. After patting down his pockets, Rainey rose from his seat and crossed the room to his robes rack and inspected his other garments too. It had to be somewhere.

"So what do you suggest, Mr Bennett?" he asked casually, turning to face his employee."A sign-up sheet? A roster? By all means it can be arranged, and in fact, if it concerns you so much, you're welcome to show some initiative and prepare it yourself." Was he going to stop him? No. Was he going to sit down and do it for them? No. He had better things to do with his time.

Speaking of time, his search was fruitless, it wasn't here. Later then... later.

Was there anything else? Surely Bennett wouldn't fight him tooth and nail.

It didn't take Simon's training to notice that the department head's attention wasn't fully on him as he spoke of his concerns. That the other man was apparently searching for something of uncertain identity to the security man. He supposed it wasn't that big a deal as Rainey registered what he was saying and didn't answer to the negative on his idea. Nor did he step up to take control of it as the leader of the department and the one who had caused the snaffu with his directive.

Alas if there was one thing Simon was sure of the older man was he was more the delegating kind than the hands on kind ala Emily.

"Then I shall do just that," he replied, accepting the challenge. They would see whether or not it was respected. But at least he now had Rainey's approval to back up anything he might do. So part one of his purpose had been complete...on to part two.

Merlin help him.

"Also...there have been comments from other departments on younger or newer members of the department, seemingly acting out...around the ministry." Jasper hadn't been a bad reaction, at first, even if suddenly someone other than he himself had been trying to do rounds on Level 9. But that wasn't the only one.

With his search over, his attention was all Bennett's, be that a good thing or a bad thing for the man. Though it was a good thing that he was taking him up on the delegation of his own offer. Rosters it would be. "I'd like to see those when you're done with them, make sure that everyone gets the message loud and clear." Because what was the point in any of his staff doing anything if he wasn't telling them to actually do it. No initiative, no respect, this is what he was contending with.

As for complaints, about behaviour?

"What is this, prep school? Must I give you all detention for bad behaviour?" he sighed, perching himself at the end of his desk. It was a problem he supposed. And again, it was a problem that only he could deal with. "Leave it with me, I'll see to it they're set on the right path." Or if not....

All at once Rainey seemed to either lose interest in what he had been looking for or satisfied that it wasn't where he had already looked. The man now apparently given his full attention to Simon...and made another request for the work the security man was now in charge of. "I'll be sure to get them to you as soon as I can organize them." He was already wondering of he should just include everyone or poll who was actually interested in or free for doing the project Rainey had directed them to.

He'd decide en-route to him finishing it.

"Of course," he assured the man, knowing what was his place and what wasn't. And disciplining wasn't one of them when technically he was simply a member of his own division with no one under him. So hopefully it will be straightened out and any ruffled feathers will resettle in time.

"One final thing..."

And then he would gladly be out of the man's hair. "A recent conversation of Jasper Miterbill of Level 9 reminded me of a prophecy he had given to me to pass onto Emily a few years ago...about the deTalone case." Surely the most important and well-known case of recent years. "He had some thoughts on a follow-up and I offered to pass the presence of such on to you and whoever might still be dealing with the case." He himself was likely off given his full switch to security and not being an auror or hit wizard. "At the very least, I wished to inform you of the situation in case it wasn't passed on."

Who knew what Emily had shared with her replacement.

Compliance was nice, and Bennett was ticking that box - he supposed he could see the appeal of this employee where that was concerned. Not to mention he seemed rather malleable too, could adapt to various positions. Useful.

But good, they were done, because he did have other pressing issues to attend to.


... One more thing?

"Mmmm," he encouraged, wishing this to be over.

At the mention of Mitterbill, Rainey's brows shot up. Prophecies, huh? Yes, he recalled something about that, though de Talone was such an old case, and really it was one that labelled MLE as a failure, at least as far as he was concerned he didn't have much of a legacy to live up to. "Excellent, sure, I'll take it," he nodded. It was a thing to be taken, was it not? Because he wasn't sure if he was ready to willingly subject himself to meetings or discussions around the thing. Parchment worked fine.