.....What? Derek observed as the woman took an exaggerated breath with closed eyes before entering the lift. She definitely had a phobia of sorts. Since she wasn't looking at him, he decided to keep watching and only looked away when she opened her eyes again.

Level 3. Oh. He was just being polite and he got an answer that made him look back at the woman. He tried to see if he could tell what kind of person she was to see if he could guess the area she'd be working in. ...No, he couldn't tell. Hopefully not Potions.

Then she verbalised what Department it was. Not that he needed that, having worked in the Ministry for so long now. Besisdes, taht was his own level/Department, so he was quite aware of which one it was. He could tel her he worked there too, but the woman was about to find out in a few anyway. Although, beacuse of her... 'problem', she might think he's stalking her once they both leave the lift at the same time. "I... work there. Too." Derek chose to answer. Awkward, but... precise? Shrug.

The fact there was only the two of them as the lift took them to their desired location didn't help his awkwardness one bit. The lab technician tried his best to make his face go back to its normal colour, but that was basically impossible. "'S fine..." ...Aron had pointed him out to her? "Why?"

ARGH, NO. He didn't intend to actually ask that out loud, but his brain must have gotten a red alert because that might mean something he wouldn't like very much. She probably needed to know who he was because she.............. might have ended up in his division. Hopefully that didn't mean his LAB.

The man confirmed what she already knew, that he worked on level 3 too. The statement caused Sophie to unconsciously take several steps closer to the man as the lift rocked on its hinges but continued on its way down into the ground. It made her pulse quicken slightly but not enough for her to reach out and grab the man’s hand just yet. If the lift stopped or started to rock more violently then she revise that notion even if they were practically strangers. It was just a matter of time before they were colleages.

"I'm going to be working in the Lab division as a member of the potions accident response team. And you will be my co-worker right? That's what I thought Aron implied when he pointed you out to me at the garden party." That's what Sophie had assumed at least, unless Aron had just pointed the man out because they worked in the same department.

"I'm Sophie Connolly by the way." She introduced herself, flashing the man a small beam as she stuck her hand out. "I like potions and plants and figuring out puzzles."

WHAT was she doing? Derek side-eyed her as she stepped closer and then stared straight ahead as he held his breath. Why was she stepping closer, WHY? He gulped but kept his stare on the lift door in front of him. Maybe she wouldn't notice he was sort of internally freaking out.

She would be working in the lab division?? In the. LAB. Division. His lab. Oh good Merlin, this woman who was way TOO close to him at the moment was going to be in his lab all the time, then. Probably way TOO close all the time.

It suddenly became very warm in that lift and Derek had to use all of his self-control to not act like the claustrophobic one. He didn't have the phobia, but this woman was-- !! MERLIN, help him. He'll be her co-worker. "Right." Was all Derek responded as he kept staring hard at the door in front of him.

Sophie Connolly. Derek would remember that name. Especially because they would be working in the same place for Merlin knew how long.

The lab technician wiped his forehead with his left hand before any drops of sweat could be too visible and used his right hand to awkwardly shake Sophie's hand. "Derek Meriwether." He said simply, glancing briefly at her before going back to staring at the door.

When was this lift going to get to level 3 already, he was melting!!!

Okay now this was a first. Sophie didn't know what to think. Most men found her attractive and didn't mind if she took a step closer to them for one reason or other. This man was however shooting out so strong signals of being uncomfortable and freaking out by her closeness that Sophie took one reluctant step backward and sideways.

Pushing her instinctive feeling of hurt by the man's reactions away Sophie remained where she was, rooted to the floor. She was not moving closer to the lift wall. She needed to stand where she was close to the man otherwise he wouldn't be the only one freaking out. Lifts clearly freaked her out couldn’t he tell?

And why couldn't he look at her? She had to be prettier to look at than a lift door? She had after all gone the length and put on makeup and pretty clothes to make a good impression on her official first day on her new job. As he shook her hand awkwardly Sophie flashed him the best sunny smile she could muster up in the circumstance. "I'm pleased to meet you Derek. What job do you hold in the lab division?"

It had never taken this long for a lift to get to level 3, Derek could swear. He was having trouble breathing but tried to keep his cool. No freaking out. Majorly, at least. He was okay.

Sophie stepping away again didn't go unnoticed and he tried taking a deep breath that ended up not being deep at all. It was just a breath. He inhaled and exhaled almost normally as he kept staring at the lift door. He was okay.

His new... co-worker was asking him yet another question and Derek used all his strength to answer it. "Lab technician." He said shortly, wiping his forehead once again as he kept staring at the door in front of him.

Awkward...... awkward......... AWKWARD!!!

Was there something wrong with this lift? Sophie wondered as she glanced from Derek to the walls of the lift around them and listened to the sounds it emanated. Was it malfunctioning or just slow? Taking another breath to not start freaking out she mumbled "So what does a lab technician do?" Help out here Derek please?

This was awkward, uncomfortable and if they had to spend many more minutes in this lift Sophie would mostly likely need to sit down or breath into a plastic bag trying to not sound too scared and worried Sophie asked. "Is it normal for the lifts to take this long between levels?" If that was the case than shed definitely take the stairs in the future.

Small talk? Derek wasn't sure he was up for that and kept staring straight ahead. What a lab technician did? Wasn't it obvious? Pretty much everything in the lab? In HIS lab, even. "All the um... um... a- uh... everything."

Great answer. Merlin.

No, it wasn't normal for the lifts to take that long at all!! Or maybe it was, but the awkwardness made it feel like it was taking ten times the amount of time for them to reach their destination. But just when he was thinking that, the lift's door opened and they were free.

He was about to get out of the lift, but then remembered what she had said about her own feelings with the lift and... he actually waited for her to get out first. Derek did not want her to panic if the lift's door closed while she was there or anything like that. He was socially awkward, but definitely not evil.

Seriously?

Derek was her new co-worker and colleague and judging from the little Aron had told her they’d be working closely together a lot. This was just perfect. Her new lab buddy didn’t like being close to other people it clearly made him uncomfortable and he was bad at making small talk.

Sophie would have rolled her eyes and sighed at the fates if she had been in another circumstance. When the lift finally came to stop and opened its doors to level 3 Sophie expected Derek to run out of it and away from her. But when he didn’t and actually showed that he wanted her to step out first she gratefully flashed him a smile. "Thank you..."

Stepping out of the lift Sophie glanced over her shoulder once back at him before she made her way further into the department to find the bathroom.

FIN!

Alexa was not lost, she was never lost for the most part. There were buttons on the lift asking where you wanted to go. Why then was she merely riding the lifts up and down? Well see that was a long story that had something to do with her sorta needing to do a patrol down in Level 3. She HAD meant to go DOWN but the people she'd found when the lift arrived pressed the first floor which meant up before down.

Funny how that worked.

It didn't bother her too much she supposed. The afternoon was still young and it was either this or plopping down on the floor in the offices why weren't they allowed their own desks? It's not their fault they were part time and watch the real Aurors get stuff done. That wasn't an option, not when she was bored out of her mind and itching for another training session.

'Sides, Rainey said they had to be productive. Patrols were productive.

Since his job required talking to every Department Heads from time to time he had to get familiar with the Ministry building and know the way. And although he wasn't signed to anything at the moment, he had made it his mission to find the MLE office from just his memory from having seen a map. And when he found it he would find the next department.

Anyways...he was...SO LOST! He actually felt like crying but he wasn't a little kid anymore. He worked at the Minister's office for crying out loud! But that still didn't change the fact that he looked absolutely lost.

Deciding to use the elevator, he pushed the button and when it arrived he stepped inside, not really paying attention and therefore didn't see someone else in the elevator as well.

Can he cry now?!

Constant vigilance, that was gonna have to be a thing for her. Someone in this very lift might be the next De Talone--yeah she'd heard about that--and Lex happened to be the only Auror in training in the lift so it would be up to her to apprehend the scum and haul them down to the holding cells for further questioning. Exciting wasn't it??

Only problem was all these people looked stuffy and self absorbed and possibly off to lunch but not very....criminal. Pity.

Lex's eyes flashed to the door when it slid open again, ready to make another assessment but that hope was dashed when she saw who it was. Daichi the duck lover. He wasn't a criminal, just a little nutty was all. Nutty and down on his luck maybe? What was with the look? Lex side eyed him as he stepped in next to her but didn't so much as acknowledge her. Talk about unaware--either that or he was ignoring her which was just plain rude.

"Who slipped glumbumble treacle in your coffee?" Seriously, what was with the look?

Grabbing a small map that he had drawn , Daichi kept turning it over and over as he couldn't decide which way was up. He should have marked something. As he was looking for the MLE office, he heard a woman's voice asking a question and he figured it was directed towards him since she stood next to her.

"Me? i don't drink coffee..." why was she asking about coffee. And what were glummy treats or whatever she said. Care of Magical creatures had never been his best subject. After a while, he sighed and pocketed the little drawn map in his back pocket and decided to pay some attention to the person next to him. And when he did, he literally gasped out loud. "Wait! Alexa?! how did you get in the Ministry?! shouldn't you be at school?" He had seen her during the party but he had figured she had been with her family or something...

Did this mean she was even more lost than he was?!??!?

Oh Merlin, he was really out of it wasn't he? "It wasn't meant to be literal--" What?

Lex blinked up at him, not sure how serious she was meant to be taking him right now. What did he mean how she got into the Ministry? Why would she still be at Hogwarts of all places?....He was joking. Yes, she would tell herself he was joking. How long ago did he think he left the school? Did he think people stayed there forever???

Still, she couldn't fight the idea that the dude was being completely legit and REALLY thought she was still school aged and bound by the education system. Just in case...

"I work here...sorta. I'm a YATI so part time and I don't really do work but training and odd jobs sometimes but yeah, I'm in MLE now." Did he NOT see the badge?? Would she need to shine it before people started recognizing it for what it was? "On patrol right now, gonna check out Level 3." But back to him. "Why do you look like your Department got robbed after your boss stepped out and left you in charge? I can arrest people if you know who did it." Not technically but SHHHH, they didn't need to know that.

…………She worked here? Wait WHAT?! How long had he been away from Hogwarts?! Only five years, so that meant that…..she graduated last year “wow” he breathed after finally seeing the badge. He knew that YATI’s were trainee aurors and in his mind he thought it was so cool. But nothing for him. Too dangerous… But for Alexa… “It suits you, congrats” he smiled

Wait…she worked in MLE!

Daichi looked at her with wide eyes and suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders. “which floor is the MLE department?” he HAD to know and she could tell him, this was amazing! He smiled brightly and let go of her.

Did he look like his department got robbed after his boss…wait what? Raising an eyebrow, Daichi shook his head no. “Nah, I’m stressing myself out” he said. “Because of my job I have to talk to the department heads so I’m learning the routes to their offices….and I got lost looking for MLE…” even with a hand drawn map. “But now that you’re here you can show me right? Part of patrol is showing people the way right?” please?

Lex was all grins when he said the job suited her, mostly because it really did and was the only thing she could see herself being happy with. "Thanks! Been wanting this for a long time." Pause. "Didn't reckon you'd wanna work up in the stuffy Minister's Office though. What's it like up there? Does everyone wear the same expression, talk in monotones and pass bills every hour?" Believe it or not, these was a serious questions. What did one even DO up there?

The sudden shock on his face and the SHOULDER GRABBING got her a little concerned and had her taking a step back, landing her right in the side of a man that only scowled. Well hello to you too, Sir. Back to the shocked Ex-Duck Boy turned Minister lackey. "It's on Level 2, right next to yours. I hardly think you could get lost." You know, neighbours and all.

But then he said THAT and her face showed that she'd obviously taken offense. "What'd you take me for? A bloody tour guide? Patrols are for making sure the place is safe, not for showing people around." Honestly, where did this guy get his ideas from? "I can show you where it is, only because we have to pass it on my way down again but my job is a lot more than holding people's hands so they don't get lost." In fact that was maybe Security's job. She was an Auror, they were eventually trained to kill--though Rainey seemed opposed to the idea.

"What is your job anyway?" And why did he need to speak with Department Heads?

Daichi smiled. He knew he had always said he didn’t want to be working in an office but people change and he was one of them. He laughed at her questions though because one would think that they ARE all having the same expressions and talk in monotones. “Don’t tell further but I too thought it would be like that but it’s surprisingly okay. The junior undersecretary is cool, I expected to see someone stuffy as well but he’s pretty relaxed. I haven’t really met anyone else though..which was weird.”

“Level 2…?” With a loud groan Daichi grabbed his self-made map and checked it. “Are you serious? I wrote down level 5 …WHY did I write down level 5? No wonder I was lost” He grabbed a pen from his suit pocket and scratched the number and wrote the correct one. He was about to say thanks when she went on in to a rant.

His eyes widened and he waved his hands for her to calm down. “I didn’t mean it like that” he had “I’m sorry!” he pleaded because he kind of knew how Alexa was and he didn’t want to get on her bad side. “I got the message okay, I won’t ask again” geez , she was going to have a hard time with her training with that temper of hers. Aurors were supposed to be calm and collected. Good thing she was a YATI .

“My job?” oh right, now that he thought about it he never mentioned it. “Top secret” he grinned. “Nah it’s not. I’m in the media liaison.” The tone in his voice suddenly changed and he looked more like an adult now. “I’m responsible for keeping up to date with the Ministry happenings and report information. Have contact with the Wizarding world and attend all press conferences ……….but mostly I’m just getting lost” that…that was a joke

Lex was going along with his story at first, willing to amend what she'd thought about Level 1 but then Daichi went and said THAT and it had her making a face. "If you haven't met anyone else...how do you know I'm not right and he was just an exception along with yourself?" Serious question. She wasn't trying to poke holes or anything, it just got her curious. If he hadn't met anyone he couldn't speak for anyone else and might still be in danger of going brain dead from his job; something to think about in his spare time.

In all honesty, the young woman hadn't expected him to take the news so hard. Level 2 was right by his, which made things easier didn't it? It wasn't until he went on in his self pity that she snorted, now understanding. "Nah, Level 5 is that place for foreigners...or something like that that..." She wasn't that familiar with the place okay? Knowing what her level did was enough, thanks.

And a very solemn nod as he promised he was sorry and wouldn't make such petty assumptions again. "Well good. I'm in charge of keeping you alive in this place you know. I heard things happen here all the time and zombies and nutty Healers and basically you need me--but just not to show you places." Ah the life of a YATI, soon to be the life of an Auror which would be far more amazing with far better than anything she was currently doing as a part time recruit.

Lex deadpanned when she heard his job was top secret. She didn't know places outside of Level 9 had those and it was annoying enough without hearing there was a whole nother level too--oh he was joking. Well then, that was different and she wouldn't end up accidentally punching him and calling it self defense. Good stuff--WAIT. "Does that mean you find out what the Departments Head do and plan? Like they have to tell you?" If so...this could prove VERY useful.

It was early, and Cassie was tired. She had opened her cupboard that morning and found that she was out of coffee. Hopefully that would not be an indication as to how her entire day would be, but she was not necessarily an optimistic person. Not that she was pessimistic either. The point was that she was not off to a good start. She had arrived at the ministry a little earlier than usual so she would have ample time to get herself a cup of coffee before starting on the paperwork she just knew was waiting on her desk.

Stairs? No, it was too early for that. So Cassie made her way to the lift and pressed the down arrow. The doors did not open right away, telling her that someone else had taken the lift to a lower level. Which meant she would have to wait until it arrived to take her to level five.

Gid was heading back to the lifts and hoped that now he'd be able to go up to his department and sleep? finish up and finally go home and sleep. He'd been running up and down and backwards all night and now hopefully was on the last bit of work to get done. Usually he took the stairs everywhere he went but not this time. He was just too exhausted! He was supposed to pick up Emma from Kat's shop within the hour and take her Aurora's and then blissful sleep. Maybe he'd nap in his office before working on the last bit of work!

He stepped into the lobby with the lifts and moved to press a button but saw it was already pressed by Cassie, "Oh hello" he said greeting her stifling a yawn.

Cassie was usually very aware of her surroundings, but in her current state of exhaustion she was just not up to par. So when she heard the greeting, it startled her. She managed not to jump, but did turn much faster than she would have thought possible at the moment. Cassie immediately relaxed again when she saw it was just Gid, most likely also heading to the office. She smiled in greeting.

"Hello," she remembered to say. "Long day?" He had even more work than she did, considering he was the department head. Words were not favoring her at the moment so she left it at that. There wasn't a need to say more anyway, because she heard the ding that meant the lift had arrived at their floor. Sure enough, the doors opened almost immediately afterward. Cassie entered, fully expecting Gid to be just being her.

He just wanted to go to sleep now. Merlin he was exhausted. Coffee, he definitely needed coffee and if he was lucky he'd get to his office and put the last paperwork away, go get Emma and then head home. He smiled back at her "Long night." he said stifling another yawn. He wouldn't mind a nap if someone offered it. He stepped into the lift with her when the doors opened.

"How are you?" he asked conversationally looking her way as he moved to the side of the lift.

How long had he been up? Cassie was no doctor, but she knew that staying up for too many hours in a row was not exactly good for your health. She surveyed him briefly, sure that he was approaching some sort of dangerous point. But she did not even attempt to wager a guess as to how long it had been since he'd last slept.

She answered his question with a mere shrug. She was not feeling much one way or another. Tired, mainly. Sluggish, maybe. But those were expressed through her outward appearance, they needed no verbal confirmation. She would have spoken aloud just to make sure she did not come across as rude if not for the hour and her lack of care for such social conventions. Cassie simply followed Gid into the lift and waited until it slowly began to rise. And then stop. Cassie made a move to get out but the doors didn't open. So she waited, but they still did not open.

Cassie made a small noise of discontent and pressed her finger into the open door button. Still, nothing happened. She glared up at the screen where there was not actually a glowing red five where there should be. Which meant they were not on level five. She turned back to look at Gid helplessly.

"I don't suppose you're any sort of expert on getting lifts unstuck?"

He leaned against the side of the lifts, which was very unlike him. He was just really tired now. He was looking forward to going home and getting some much needed sleep. He saw her shrug and wondered if something was wrong or if she was just neither good or bad, just in the middle. He just gave her a kind smile and nodded "I totally understand" he said gently. Both the good and the bad, or in the middle. At the moment beyond tired, he was about in the middle. Not super great nor horrible.

His eyes closed as he felt the lift move upward and just waited for it to get to their floor, and when it stopped opened his eyes and looked towards the doors expectantly. Then looked up at the numbers. "Uh...no, not particularly" he said eyeing the doors and moved to them "I've, never had them break down on me either."

Oh great. This was just perfect. Exactly what Cassie needed. If this was how the day was going to go she might as well just go home now and not come back. Unfortunately the only person who had seen her was her boss so, uh, that plan was out. Not that it was ever really in but not the point. She glanced back at the screen, hoping it would show that they had actually arrived at their destination and she had just been having some horrible nightmare. No such luck. Great.

Cassie suddenly was not as tired as she had been before. It was like a bucket of cold water being dumped on her head. Apparently being trapped could do that to you. Make you feel like you were able to spring into action even when you had been only half coherent a moment before. It could be a substitute for coffee, not that Cassie would ever want to give up coffee.

"There has to be something we can do. We're wizards." She took out her wand, even though she did not yet have a plan. In her experience, there were not many problems that magic could not fix. A few things began running through her mind, but she wanted the simplest solution possible. No destruction of ministry property. No life-risking. "Any ideas?" She asked Gid.

Gid looked around them and then up at the top of the lift. There wasn't really anything there, usually these had doors or something right? Well muggle ones did anyway. Where were they? Were they in the up and down shaft or heading towards the level door? "I think we need to figure out where we're at in the lift shaft." he said chewing his lip. "If it's in the vertical one we can't get to the doors, but if we're in the horizontal spot we might be close to the doors..."

He had no idea how to fix a lift... "We could always try reparo but I think we need to know the basics of how a lift works, and honestly I have no idea." Maybe she did?! "Do you know the basics at all by chance?" Merlin that might help to an extent. If not, send for help? Somehow?