The Game Room is a great place to take a break with your coworkers or meet up with your friends from other departments during some down time. The familiar billiards table and pinball machine are there in the spacious room, with several comfortable chairs scattered throughout.

A new mini gobstones areana has been set up in one corner for recreational play. A small table at one side of the room holds a wizard's chess set if you have the time or just want to practice your strategy.

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

Finishing up at the coffee cart Victoria pushed all thoughts of a quick break out of her head. No work was going to be done if she was outside. So she made her way to the game room and opened the door. Obviously no one had been in here yet and she sighed at the state of her. Hoping everything would work normally again she made her way around spraying the area.

As she finished the last bit that was in the bottle her brown eyes moved around the room. Pulling out her wand she began cleaning up the mess. Starting with the temperature charms and then moving to lighting charms. Once those were done Vic vacuumed out the smell and moved towards the tables. Cleaning up the fabric and making everything look new again.

Harmony was so excited and her orangey-red aura was simply pulsating as she sat perched on a wooden stool, brow furrowed. Her gaze was focused on a rather large paint-by-numbers portrait of what appeared to be fruit. The Creatures Department Head was having trouble deciding if one said item was an apple or an orange and the not knowing was driving her bananas. Perhaps she should go and see someone about this. A St. Mungo's healer, perhaps? Hehehehe.

No but really, this was going to be simply the most fun she'd had in ages! Perhaps she could treat her students to seaweed smoothies when class was over! Oh yes, this was a lovely plan.

Now where were all her eager artists, hm?

Where was the pool table? The gobstones set?

Most importantly, the pool table?! Adams eyes roved over the easels, wincing slighty at the dodge music in the background. It was hardly even music, just annoying sounds that reminded him vaguely of a programme he'd left McCartney and Lilah watching this morning. He turned a little, blanching at the sight of what looked like the billiards table, covered and with art supplies on top, before catching sight of the Department Head.

"Uh, what's going on here?" Adam only wanted to play on his lunch break, and now he was going to be roped in to some kind of creativity lesson? Unless it involved music, creatively, he wasn't interested. No way, José. So as soon as he got his explanation, he'd be going, thank you very much.

Oh look, her very first student! Harmony clapped her hands together excitedly and simply beamed at the man. "Why it's a lesson for the ministry employees, of course. Using art to help express your inner feelings is a lovely way to relieve stress!" The red head was already up off her stool and heading towards the smocks. She couldn't quite decide if the man in front of her wore a medium or a large.

"So are you a paint man or more of a pottery kind of guy?"

Saxon walked into the game room, expecting to see some ministry people here playing around and having a good chat until... erm. What? She stopped in her tracks and made a weirdly judging face. What was that unnecessary music? And those random stools? And who in the world was that lady that was talking to Adam?

"Ummm... What?" Muttered Saxon. She had come just in time to hear words such as 'ministry', 'art', and 'pottery'. Nothing that screamed out Ministry to the blonde.

Explanation please.

Working with the ministry has its perks, Louisa found into the second week of her internship. She'd started working at the IWC's office last week and was sent to the ministry twice so far, during her last visit she'd heard about this lesson and it drew her attention immediately. She was not an artist. At all. But she was interested in witches and wizards doing this "Art for Squibs" class, her thesis and soon-to-be book would benefit very much from this.

So she showed up, wearing what she thought modern, young artists would wear (with the red sunglasses) and walked in confidently. There was a spirited woman (Harmony) sitting on a wooden stool and was explaining what this was to someone else. Louisa gave that unknowing someone a look but didn't say anything. "I hope I'm not late for some muggle art!" Squib art, muggle art, it was all the same, wasn't it?

When even more artistic souls joined the party, the creatures department head lit up like a christmas tree. How lovely to see so many interested in freeing themselves from worry through artistic outlets. She was simply pleased that they were willing to experience such an enlightening thing with her. "Welcome, welcome! You're not late at all! One must be true to their internal clocks, after all! I'm Harmony Sklark, by the way!"

The red head ignored the confused look from the first woman, swaying a bit to the music as she picked up two smocks and handed them out to the new arrivals. "Now we've got two creative outlets today. For those that like a bit of a guide when creating art, we've got paint by numbers! There are three different options to choose from so choose an easel that has the picture that speaks to you most and feel free to get started! The oil paints refill themselves so don't be afraid of using too much!"

"For anyone wishing to be a bit more spontaneous, the pottery station is located on top of the billiards table! The clay is a bit hard but the water there should help you soften it up as you work! There are various paints and stains for decoration purposes once you've finished your creation!"

No. There was no room for beaming and smiles around here. Although Adam did force what was probably supposed to be a polite smile, it came out more like a grimace. "A... Lesson?" He repeated, eyebrows raising as he came to focus on the department head in front of him. Art. He didn't need this in his life right now. "I'm... not stressed." And even if he was, art wouldn't be the way to fix it. Table football, or pool would have been. That was why there was a games room. Or why there had been one, rather. This was making him bloody stressed!

A paint or pottery guy? "Well, I guess I - wait. No! I'm neither. I'm here to play pool!" Okay? So was she going to let him, or was this malarkey compulsory? Heads were going to rolllllllllll if it was.

Turning a little as he heard people enter, Adam raised his eyes at Saxon, wordlessly expressing his own exasperation at the situation. And the other woman! She actually seemed excited for this. Maybe she hadn't known what the games room had looked like before. Or maybe she did need one of these 'Health Evaluations'.

And that was the pool table under the cloth. Adam groaned internally as the woman spoke. It wasn't made for Pottery!!!!!!!!

My, my, this fellow was mighty unpleasant. Harmony's brow furrowed for only a second before the serence smile returned to her face. She was a pro at keeping calm in stressful situations and perhaps if this guy was, he wouldn't be so up in arms over a billiards table.

"I'm terribly sorry but this room is now being used for an art lesson at the request of the Ministry in conjunction with St. Mungo's. Now your aura is currently pulsating a nasty shade of muddied red. I think this suggests you really would benefit from a bit of art."

Harmony Skylark was so excited for this lesson, as obvious by the high-pitched voice tone. Louisa enjoyed watching someone having this fun in what they did. She took the smock with a thank-you nod and slid it over her head. The idea of getting into something messy today was very appealing, the former Ravenclaw had infinite energy (mostly negative) she needed to let out and this was better than smashing beer bottles into a bonfire!

Although number coloring was for kids. Even kids don't do it these days, she bet, so she moved to the billiards table to get her hands dirty and smack that wet clay around. "Are we going to take the... masterpieces we make with us or are you going to keep them?" She asked, raising her hand like she used to in school, already standing at one of the pottery stations.

Saxon listened to this Harmony person talking about the two art options they had. Coloring or pottery. Although pottery sounded more fun and interesting to do, with Saxon's clumsiness the pottery materials might start flying away or something.

So, slowly, very slowly Saxon chose that paint by numbers art. Sure it was simple, but maybe the end product, with the entire picture being made up of a mixture of colors it may turn out to be something nice. Though Saxon had her materials on her now she didn't start. It made her feel somewhat childish doing something like this. The blonde glanced at everyone else, doing her best to slow down the process of starting.

.......... So St. Mungos was a part of this. Interesting.

Now that was a good question! Harmony wandered over to the billiards table and leaned against it casually, arms resting by her sides. "You'll be able to take your work home! I was thinking the ministry might benefit from those pieces that artists are willing to donate, though. Perhaps a few paintings could brighten the place up a bit!" And art could be inspirational to the many employees in the building, not to mention soothing. She so hoped some of those in attendance might be willing to part with their works for such a cause.



A reluctant participator, hm? Harmony gave the woman a reassuring smile and watched as she moved towards an easel. "This is meant to be fun!" And really, there was no wrong way to paint. "Just pick up a brush and let yourself go. I promise no one will judge what you create here. This is an accepting and open enviornment!"

What was one to do when looped up on the juice that a crazy Healer gave you? Well, Ember thought she miiiiiight need some YOGA in her life, and she was TRYING to find a nice empty room to do it in, too--but she had stumbled upon this INSTEAD. Heh! What a nice-looking group of people! She smiled in a lazy way at Harmony and hugged her boss, so out of it that she actually put an arm around her.

"Hiya boss! You're looking sooooOOOoooOOOOOooooo chipper today!" she said, her speech clearly off a little. The stuff that Healer had given her was clearly running its course. And not to mention, Ember was a tiny, tiny person. Anything like that could be DRASTIC on her. She glanced around the room and waved at everyone, but her motions were slower, and the smile on her face was so airy. "Oh--Harmony--are you doing yoga--" she asked, and she closed her eyes, let go of Harmony, and began to make the OOOOM noise, breathing in and out and being very...calm about it, though. She hoped they were doing yoga...though, she felt fuzzy and mellow enough already. "Those Healers...they relaxed me...." she said, opening her eyes and then spotted the paaaaints and the pottery and GIGGGGGGLED a ton. "Oh my--this is art--ART I TELL YOU!" she said, and she just laaaaughed and looked around at all of these...lovely people.

"I want to art. Let's art. " She said to Harmony, smiling, still. All sunshines and roses here, love.

Yeah. Fun. A twenty four year old painting at work. At the ministry. At a government work place. Ministry just screamed 'let's paint and make a possible mess' doesn't it? And, no, Saxon wasn't worried of being judged. It seemed like some people were already judging the idea.

So, sighing, Saxon emptied one of the oil paints, dipping the brush inside and then putting the blue oil into any of the number one spots she could detect on the paper. There. She was doing something for once. Would the lady be pleased? The blonde sure hoped so, it wasn't every day someone saw something like this happening at the ministry.

Also, why were the numbers printed onto the drawing so tiny? Were they trying to make her go blind with all the squinting and looking around for the right numbers?

"Do you do this in your free time?" The blonde said to the instructor, trying to make some small chat. Well, Saxon didn't want to be thought of as rude. "You seem very erm... connected with the arts." Saxon added with a nod.

Oh dear, something was definitely off with Ember. Harmony was eager for hugs as arms were for hugging and she had two but still, the lovely girl's aura was terribly altered. Fuzzy, even. How strange. The department head did smile at the mention of yoga, though. Despite the odd situation, she still hoped that a yoga club might gain some following.

"Not yoga, I'm afraid." But it seemed the newer creatures team member had figured that much out on her own. "Art too can lighten the burden on your soul. Maybe you should take a seat and join us for a while." Because whatever those lovely healers from St. Mungo's had given her, it appeared to have been strong and doing a ridiculously good job relaxing her employee. Best to keep an eye on her, the red head thought.

"Yes, let's. Just come on over here with me, Ember. I'll get you set up." And the department head lead the woman carefully over to an empty stool before grabbing her a smock.



See? That wasn't so hard now was it? If people would just open up themselves to new hobbies, they might just find they have a knack for them!

"I'm more into making hemp bracelets but I do dabble in drawing occasionally!" The red head beamed, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I've always felt a very deep connection to the visual arts. I find that it inspires me to live a fuller life." A happy sigh was given and then the department head sauntered back to her stool, perching there.

"How is everyone doing so far?"

Mariel officially hated today. She kept hoping that it was some horrible nightmare from which she would soon wake up and forget over her morning cup of coffee. She had been pushed to her limits over her frustration with these quack healers and the ease with which the Ministry seemed to just let them invade. Perhaps she'd take a half day if it wasn't for the fact that she felt the need to protect her employees and make sure nothing went wrong.

And now there were loud bird noises and some weird melody coming from somewhere in the department. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. But she needed to find out.

The Game Room, was it? It certainly seemed to be coming from there, the closer she got. What was going on? She did think it was rather odd, but her thoughts had been nothing compared to what she found once she arrived. Mariel stood in shock as she looked around the room. Where were her games? Her pool table, pinball machine.. mini gobstone arena?? And WHAT were they doing? Paint.. clay.. did they not understand the mess that it all would make??

Green eyes soon found Adam who looked as bemused as she was, then Saxon.. who was participating in this absurdity? And several others she did not know.. before she turned accusing eyes on one Ms. Harmony Skylark who seemed to be in charge of this mess. "What the hell is going on here?" she snapped, feeling the anger rising in her chest. Whose idea was it to transform a room on her level without so much as asking her? "Explain."

So this wasn't yoga. BUT. It was painting and pottery. Ember was soooo down with that! Especially in her extremely mellow state. Ember followed Harmony towards the stool, her body seemed to floooooat and glide because Ember was humming away in her own little world. How long would this stuff last? The Healer had given her a whole syringe-full. Well then. She took a seat on the little stool, almost fell off, but grabbed Harmony's arm to steady herself and siiiiiighed. "So-so cluuuumsy--oops--" she said and giggggggled a lot. Well then!

She wrapped the smock around her body in such a weird way, the ties were ALL wrong, but Ember didn't care. She just smiled and waaaaited for Harmony to get her started.

Until that obnoxiously rude woman pummeled into the room. And ruined the vibe. She stared so wide-eyed at the Games Head and eventually she just stood up. "You need a hug--and some of those Healer juices--they will mellow you out--like me---" she said and she suddenly hugged Mariel, so tightly, that she was sure to squeeze ANY stress out of her. YEP. STRESS BE GONE OKAY.

Normally, when Ember hadn't been prodded by the Healer's syringe, she would have been FURIOUS at someone talking so rudely to head. But right now...Ember wasn't getting angry with anyone.

When one of Harmony's fellow department heads stormed into the room demanding to know what was happening, the red head simply frowned at her. Merlin knew that wasn't a way to speak to someone you worked with and really, perhaps this woman should have gotten herself a checkup as she seemed to be in need of some anger management.

"I don't appreciate the way you're speaking to me, Mariel." Harmony's voice was as airy as ever but there was a slight change to her posture. She looked stronger, somehow. Offended also. You didn't treat fellow humans like this for no reason. It simply wasn't nice. The red head's vibe was seriously mellowed. "And if you would speak to me with kindness and respect, I'd be more than willing to discuss this with you. I'm merely doing what was asked of me by the ministry and St. Mungo's." So yeah, check your harsh vibes and then they could chat, mmkay?

But then Ember happened and though the woman's department head was concerned about the way she was acting, she did appreciate the hugging gesture she was extending to the unkind games and sports head.

Yes, maybe hugs would help.

Still fuming about what her precious game room had been turned into without so much as notice from anyone, Mariel simply raised an eyebrow as Harmony spoke. She probably would have let out a short laugh as well if she had not already been pushed past the point of frustration today. "To be perfectly honest, I don't really care if you appreciate it or not," she began, her tone annoyed yet even. "Would you like to know what I don't appreciate? I don't appreciate a room on my level being completely overtaken and this.. mess brought in without my permission or even simply informing me." She wanted to be treated with respect? Where was the respect shown to her?

"I doubt very much that you'd be happy if I decided to claim a room on level four to smack a few bludgers around and invite some employees to come blow off some steam. Would you be eager for a kind discussion then?" Who knew though. She'd probably find some new age mumbo jumbo thing to say to her and call the holes made in the walls from the bludgers an interesting way to redecorate. And to be honest, she didn't care if this was something that St. Mungo's told her to do. Who claimed another person's room like that? She felt it as something of a betrayal. "Was there really no place on your own level to hold your arts and crafts lessons?" She really didn't know what she expected as an answer here, but gave Harmony an incredulous look. If she wanted to hold finger painting sessions, she should have found her own place.

"No, there will be no discussion. There will-- " Mariel had been too angry and appalled by the state of her room that she hadn't noticed much else until someone who did not understand the meaning of personal space happened to the brunette. The Department Head stiffened, her annoyance growing to a peak, as she felt very tight arms around her. Taking a deep breath through her nose, her voice came out calm and calculated as her fingers tightened around her wand. "You have exactly three seconds to remove your arms from my person before I remove them for you."

Ember just nuzzled Mariel a bit. Because yeah. She was loopy as could be. Had she NOT been loopy, she would have been quite snappy with the Games' Head. But right now...hmph. She didn't really detect any threat in the woman's voice.

That could be a problem.

"You need some art in your life, Miss Grouchy-Face--" she said, and she let go of Mariel, giggling still, and grabbed a pot of paint and some brushes and shoved the supplies in front of her face. "Just relaaaaax and paint and get ALLLLL that anger out of you, love!" she said, her voice floating along. She just laughed at the whole...arm-removing thing. "Oh silly--you wouldn't...DISARM ME!" she then lost it, cracking up in laughter and leaning on Harmony again...feeling...woozy.

BUT DISARMED THOUGH.

IT WAS FUNNY.

Ember was so busy laughing at herself that she just...didn't understand how angry Mariel really was. OOPS? She grabbed her wand and poked Mariel with it, in the head, turning the woman's hair PINK. "LOOK! You have PINK hair! Can you be MELLOW now? PInk is such a PRETTY COLOR! BE MELLOW." She giggled and then turned it YELLOW.

"MELLOW YELLOW."

She glanced at Harmony again. "She also needs some...yoooogaaaaa...." she nodded a lot. Yep. That woman needed yoga and pretty hair colors and paint.

The game room was finally back in order, the way it first was when she had become Head of the Department and reorganized the room. Though every time she came into the room, she always seemed to find a spot of paint somewhere that she had missed before. Like today. Mariel sat at the mini gobstones arena, green eyes falling on the spot of pink paint splashed onto the leg of the chair across from her.

Ugh, a constant reminder of how her game room was turned into an arts and crafts center. Though she'd admit it to no one, the brunette did feel slightly bad for taking her annoyance out on a fellow Department Head after she realized the misunderstanding, but she had to know the injustice she had felt. Wouldn't she if the situation had been reversed? Well, she wasn't going to dwell on that now. She needed to keep her stress down, which she thought taking a break from her workload would help. She waved her wand to clear the paint off the chair leg, then glanced down at the gobstones. Maybe she should have taken a break at home.

Benji stepped into the lounge, his eyes needed a moment away from all the paperwork. He spotted Mariel there and decided to take the opportunity to be friendly. He hadn't spent too much time with the office's head honcho so why not change that? He took a seat near her and smiled. "Hey, break time?" He asked let the back of his mind drift toward Carrie, she'd be starting her new job soon. He missed his girlfriend working at the ministry, all he had to do then was pop down to her department for a visit. But Carrie loved to travel and her new job would let her do that so Benji was happy for her.

He looked around the space, it did look recently redone. Hmm. He actually hadn't spent much time in this room.

Deep in thought as she looked over the mini gobstones arena, Mariel didn't immediately notice anyone enter the room. She was still going over the ideas in her head, the ones that she discussed with Saxon regarding that division. But really, she knew that if she was to take a break that she should clear her mind of work things, at least temporarily. She didn't want her blood pressure too high again.

It wasn't until she heard a voice did her green eyes snap up from the gobstones to see an employee from her department sitting next to her. "Benji.. hello," she greeted him with a smile. "Yes, I suppose I am taking a bit of a break.." And she'd assume that he was as well or else he'd probably not be in here. Her eyes found a little gobstone off to the side of the arena and she picked it up, balancing it on the edge. "Care to join me in a game?" She glanced up expectantly. Maybe that would relax her some.

Orsino seated at the Wizards Chess set looking down intently as the White Bishop took down his King in just 5 turns. He smiled for it was a new record in his book. in just 5 games until now He had lost in 3-4 turns. The pieces reset, but the massive former Groundskeeper did not move continue on to a new game. Instead he just relaxed a bit in the chair and closed his eyes. Perhaps it was time for brunch?

It had been good working here so far, no issues with his fellow co-workers. He had yet to speak up about his division head being a decade younger than him, but only looking like he just reached the legal age to drink. WHICH was an accomplishment, really. But, it made it awkward around the ludocris patents office. The last thing on his mind was the Culloden who was in the Quidditch Department. It crossed his mind once during the meeting, but had ceased to resurfice since then. Why would Kirby even think about a Culloden?