What was that gurgling noise? Oh, it was the man? Cassie simply took another sip from her coffee as she watched him. She could practically see the wheels in his head turning. He was clearly way more apprehensive about the coffee than she was. It was understandable, she supposed. At least he seemed amused by her, she noted, judging by his small smile before he spoke. Cassie also definitely noticed his heavy German accent. Looked like they were both foreigners.

She just waved her hand dismissively. What would make the coffee dangerous? If something bad happened, she could just fix it. You know, with magic. Or, if it was too advanced, all she had to do was apparate to St. Mungo's. But, if he was that worried about it. With another wave of her wand, Cassie vanished the coffee, cup and all. After the initial sip, it hadn't tasted that good anyway. She didn't usually take her coffee just black.

"Hi," she greeted the man who was so concerned about her health. After having been in the country for so long, she was starting to pick up a hint of an english accent, but it was still very clearly American. "Do you work around here?" And by that she meant the level. Where were they, anyway?

The girl vanished her coffee and Adam came to two conclusions. A) It was a terrible tasting as it smelled. Or B) Adam had made her question the safety of the coffee. If it was B), he felt a little bad. But just a little, because as he leaned over the cauldron, he took a deep (brave) sniff of the coffee and definitely inhaled coffee laced with tincture of silkmoss. While not deadly, silkmoss could make you sprout butterfly wings around the temples if too much was imbibed. He didn’t want to worry the girl so he kept that knowledge to himself.

Even so, the girl was much braver than he to have tried the coffee in the first place. His stomach growled at him and he wished he had a better sense of direction in order to find someplace to eat around the Ministry. He was tired of the granola bars he kept in his desk drawer. He straightened as the girl asked him a question. “I do.” Pause. Why was it he could never remember what he was supposed to say when people asked him where he worked? Because you’re a terrible awful liar, he answered himself. “Research und records.” He inspected the next cauldron. “Und you?” This one looked to have been filled with a already steeped tea. Only with this one, the color was off. Nope. Adam wasn’t going to drink that either. Some potion ingredients (and poisons) had no smell, but did give off an odd tint.

He moved onto the third cauldron. Water. Clear and not stinky. This one might be ok to drink. Did he want to risk it? “Dat,” he said pointing to the slightly bubbly water. “Seems alright to drink.” He still wouldn’t, but he was a bit over analytical at times.

Was that his stomach making that growling noise? She couldn't be sure because it had been soft enough that she wasn't able to pinpoint exactly where it had come from. Also considering she was in the ministry of magic, she couldn't be sure that there wasn't a growling creature kept somewhere near here. She could never really be sure about anything.

"I'm in Internation Cooperation, down on level 5." Or...up? How could she have walked so much while still having absolutely no clue where she was going to end up. At least she knew she was still in the ministry, so she should be able to get back pretty easily when she was ready to do that. She watched as he inspected the other two pots. One appeared to hold...tea? And the other looked like regular water. At least that one was deemed safe by the man. But she didn't want just water. That was boring.

"I'm Cassie," she said, extending her hand toward the man. If they were going to stand there and hold a conversation it would be rude not to introduce herself. "I take it you're not from around here, originally?"

Adam straightened back up, officially done with inspecting the cauldrons of possible doom. He wiped his hand off on his trouser leg, uncertain if he had dust or other grim on it from the supply closet he had been organizing and then shook the woman’s proffered hand. “Ah-dahm,” he replied. “Nice to meet you,” he answered with a smile. “Und no, I am from Wittlich.” The girls’ accent herself was a bit off. “You are,” he paused trying to place it. He’d met a few tourists while he had been studying the culinary arts in Rome. “Ameri-kan-isch?” His second guess would have been Canadian…It would make sense that International Cooperation would employee witches and wizards from different backgrounds – it would help with the cooperation part, Adam would have imagined.

He looked around the nook as his stomach complained about being hungry again. “I am still new to the Ministry…vould you know the vay to the…ah… – … –…food?” he gave up trying to remember the word ‘cafeteria.’ It was only noon and the language center of his brain was refusing to cooperate. Maybe food would convince it otherwise. He still needed to have that conversation with his boss about restocking (or perhaps increasing was a better way to put it) the potion supplies in the supply room. After all, one couldn’t be expected to experiment with love potions without basic ingredients like sneezewart, Herbaria, or butterscotch!

Wittlich. Cassie knew she'd heard that name before, but she had to think for a moment to remember where. Based on his accent and the vaguely familiar word she decided to guess, "Germany?" She asked aloud to confirm her suspicion. She might even be wrong, but that was the most logical guess she could give. In response to his question, she nodded. "Yep. I've been living and working here for a few years now, but I grew up in America and spent most of my life there."

Oh, he was new. "How long have you been working here?" Apparently not long enough to completely know his way around yet. Though Cassie was not sure where they were at the moment, she did know where the food was even if not how to get to it. "There's a food court in the atrium, do you know the way?" If not, she could help. She would be able to figure it out once they got to some stairs or the lift.

”Ja,” he said in affirmation as the lady asked if Wittlich was in Germany. He was glad to see his face in her international positions/status was not misplaced and that she may have heard of his home. However, it was more likely that she recognized his accent. His English was only slightly better than his Russian after all. “Vhat part of Amerika did you grow up?” he asked out of curiosity. It’d been a long time since he’d met an American and he was always curious about how different they could be from each other.

“I have been vorking here for…” how long had it been now? “Ay few month.” He didn’t really get out of his work area much. Cassie’s mention of a food court perked Adam’s interest. He wasn’t sure he could get back to the atrium, but he could get them back to a lift. “Zare ist a lift zat vay,” he said pointing back the way he had come. He’d passed it on his third (or was it his fourth?) turn. If they got lost, at least they’d get lost together right?

She was out of coffee but had already been by Level 3 to ogle Aron grab some of the coffee that put them on the Ministry map so returning there for a second cup was out of the question. Couldn't make it overly obvious afterall.

Diplomacy sucked.

Lex made her way through the hole in the wall, empty coffee mug in hand and a bag of chocolate frogs for dunking once she got a refill. It'd been a while since she'd been down here, mostly because of how much work she'd been doing lately so this was a refreshing little break in itself. For once, she was hoping nothing would go wrong in the Ministry--or this section anyway--because she was exhausted!

Oh look, someone already had a cauldron brewing. This would cut down on waiting time by looooads.

SPOILER!!: Alexa

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

She was out of coffee but had already been by Level 3 to ogle Aron grab some of the coffee that put them on the Ministry map so returning there for a second cup was out of the question. Couldn't make it overly obvious afterall.

Diplomacy sucked.

Lex made her way through the hole in the wall, empty coffee mug in hand and a bag of chocolate frogs for dunking once she got a refill. It'd been a while since she'd been down here, mostly because of how much work she'd been doing lately so this was a refreshing little break in itself. For once, she was hoping nothing would go wrong in the Ministry--or this section anyway--because she was exhausted!

Oh look, someone already had a cauldron brewing. This would cut down on waiting time by looooads.

Lynley had never been to this....thing ever. Ever ever. She'd heard of it, but had never ventured to find it exactly, or to...taste their coffee. She was very CHOOSY with her coffee, thank you very much. Most cafe's only displeased her.

There was hardly anyone in here. Well, good. Lynley was hoping she could have some peace. Quiet. Harmony. Relaxation. Was that possible here at the Ministry? Probably not. The department head got behind the tiny frame of none other than Miss Alexa Cambridge. Lynley smirked to herself.

"How many chocolate frogs do you eat on an average day, Cambridge?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she asked. Did Alexa's youthful glow come from eating so much chocolate? Maybe Lynley should take a page from her book. She was starting to get wrinkles....and she was only thirty-four or so, depending on when you asked.

That was a good question. An equally good question was why someone of such...delicate taste would find herself in a place like this getting coffee that no one had bothered to question the source of. "Lynnie!" Because despite the woman's earlier reprimands, Lex hadn't considered not calling her that. "Fancy seeing you down here. Did'ja get lost on the way to the Food Court?" Being a fancy almost Auror such as herself, she would be more than happy to escort her there for her own safety--after she had her coffee but to answer her question.

"I'd say 10...12. A good amount more on a bad day and only slightly more if I didn't sleep the night before." Snacking was a given if you were going to be awake at all hours of the night, restlessly wandering the town because sleep was the one luxury you couldn't afford.

"Of course I have other things in the interim. I don't carry about a bag of candy for nothing." Or did she think the bag currently slung across Lex's shoulder actually contained important documents and weapons. It wouldn't be far-fetched...if she was someone else. "But really, quite an honour having you mingle with the little people." Sarcasm? Yes, but not the unfriendly kind.

SPOILER!!: So much eye rolling omg

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

That was a good question. An equally good question was why someone of such...delicate taste would find herself in a place like this getting coffee that no one had bothered to question the source of. "Lynnie!" Because despite the woman's earlier reprimands, Lex hadn't considered not calling her that. "Fancy seeing you down here. Did'ja get lost on the way to the Food Court?" Being a fancy almost Auror such as herself, she would be more than happy to escort her there for her own safety--after she had her coffee but to answer her question.

"I'd say 10...12. A good amount more on a bad day and only slightly more if I didn't sleep the night before." Snacking was a given if you were going to be awake at all hours of the night, restlessly wandering the town because sleep was the one luxury you couldn't afford.

"Of course I have other things in the interim. I don't carry about a bag of candy for nothing." Or did she think the bag currently slung across Lex's shoulder actually contained important documents and weapons. It wouldn't be far-fetched...if she was someone else. "But really, quite an honour having you mingle with the little people." Sarcasm? Yes, but not the unfriendly kind.

Lynley perked at eyebrow. "The food court? NO, no. I came to try this most probably mediocre beverage passing as coffee." She examined her nails, painted a golden yellow today, and seemed generally unimpressed with everything."Call me Lynnie ever again and you will lose the function of your tongue, Cambridge." That was a Lynley Purcell joke.

She would never de-tongue a coworker.


"Merlin, child." She glanced up at the younger woman. "Do you know chocolate is bad for the skin? No wonder you have so many black-heads...." the thirty-four year old smirked, twisted a lock of her brown hair in one finger, and had to keep too much amusement from showing on her face. Did Alexa had blackheads? Lynley didn't know. She wasn't examining the girl's face enough to notice, pfft. But it was still fun....

OH PFFFFT.

Lynley snorted with laughter. "You're so right--I came here, also, to honor you all with my presence. You should feel specially regarded, today, Lexi." Since they were going by annoying nicknames. "You put in an application for an international apparition license, did you not?" she had the finished paperwork in her office. "Things are all set. You're ready to go...the official permit is in my office, though." The young MLE person should be quite pleased to hear this.

Alexa openly snorted at that threat, both because there was nothing quite as satisfying as seeing the woman rattled and because she'd heard that threat so often that it didn't faze her. "Get in line. I've got a bunch of people who'd rather I was mute." But here she was, as provocative and opinionated as ever. Funny how that worked. "I wouldn't call the coffee mediocre though. It's actually almost as good as the stuff they have on Level 3. No one knows how or why but we don't question it." Which said a lot. Everyone knew Level 3 had the best coffee and Level 6 had the best chairs. Comfy little buggers they were.

It was all fun and jokes til the woman went and said THAT. Now Lex was just staring. "Chocolate....is life.........." One did not go around carelessly saying it was not good for you. What sort of inhumane person did that? Rip her heart out while you're at it. "I...don't...blackheads....?" Did she have those? Was she meant to care if she did? What was the function of a blackhead?

But Merlin, Lynnie was on a roll today. Alexa deadpanned at the name, unsure exactly how she was meant to respond. "New rule; I don't call you 'Lynnie' to your face and you never call me 'Lexi' again." Like ever. Did they have a deal?

Oh hang on! Smile back in place, in fact it was an all out grin now. "It's been approved???? When can I pick it up? Man, my dad will be happy to know I'm legally travelling the world now." No more lectures about how 'unwise' it was and being in law enforcement not making it alright to skirt the law. A dumb law if you asked her. If she was capable, why did she need some stiffs locked up in an office to tell her where she could and couldn't apparate? Lex did what she wanted. She'd have to take it to his office during her lunch break.

SPOILER!!: LEXIIIIIII

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Alexa openly snorted at that threat, both because there was nothing quite as satisfying as seeing the woman rattled and because she'd heard that threat so often that it didn't faze her. "Get in line. I've got a bunch of people who'd rather I was mute." But here she was, as provocative and opinionated as ever. Funny how that worked. "I wouldn't call the coffee mediocre though. It's actually almost as good as the stuff they have on Level 3. No one knows how or why but we don't question it." Which said a lot. Everyone knew Level 3 had the best coffee and Level 6 had the best chairs. Comfy little buggers they were.

It was all fun and jokes til the woman went and said THAT. Now Lex was just staring. "Chocolate....is life.........." One did not go around carelessly saying it was not good for you. What sort of inhumane person did that? Rip her heart out while you're at it. "I...don't...blackheads....?" Did she have those? Was she meant to care if she did? What was the function of a blackhead?

But Merlin, Lynnie was on a roll today. Alexa deadpanned at the name, unsure exactly how she was meant to respond. "New rule; I don't call you 'Lynnie' to your face and you never call me 'Lexi' again." Like ever. Did they have a deal?

Oh hang on! Smile back in place, in fact it was an all out grin now. "It's been approved???? When can I pick it up? Man, my dad will be happy to know I'm legally travelling the world now." No more lectures about how 'unwise' it was and being in law enforcement not making it alright to skirt the law. A dumb law if you asked her. If she was capable, why did she need some stiffs locked up in an office to tell her where she could and couldn't apparate? Lex did what she wanted. She'd have to take it to his office during her lunch break.

"You being mute would do the world a great favor." She said, straight-faced, but again, it was meant as a joke. She squinted up at the menu of this...coffee place and rolled her eyes a little. "I'll be the judge of that. And ARON has the best coffee? Pfffft. Come have some coffee on level SIX."

Did Alexa not know what blackheads were? Hehehehe. "They are caused from chocolate...DIRECTLY, Alexa...little black dots that form all over your nose--and around your nose--" Pffft. "But a nice trip to the spa will pop those babies right out of your skin. It doesn't hurt too much." More smirking, more evil eye glinting.

HAHAHAHA

Lynley almost DIED OF LAUGHTER at that reaction. "Awww...deal." She wiggled her eyebrows at the other woman before looking back up at the menu. "Stop by whenever you have a chance to pick up the appropriate paperwork. It's all waiting for you." She shrugged. "Ha...your dad? I forget coworkers have families sometimes...." she commented. The work relationships with people made knowing their personal lives...something weird. Lynley hardly shared anything about her family with her coworkers.

Lex might have responded to that comment on her going silent but she was too busy feeling scandalized by Lynnie's MERE SUGGESTION. "Of course Aron has the best coffee. Just ask anyone and they'll tell you. Merlin we've gotta fix this." Pause. "Yours is alright too I suppose if I don't have the time to make it back to Level 3 but there's really no comparison. I should get you a cup." The woman had been here for practically forever now. HOW did she NOT know that Aron's coffee was the best??? Circe.

The shock was only negated at the mention of chocolate. Chocolate? She LOVED chocolate. What's this? They caused black heads? "My cousin drags me there often enough." To the spa that is. "I'm sure whatever 'blackheads' the love of my life brings on have already been taken care of." She didn't know. "You've got some too." Sure, Lex didn't know what she was looking for but she was pointing anyway because this seemed like the thing to do in this conversation.

With the coffee in the cauldron coming to the end of its brewing, Lex helped herself to a mug of it and poured another for her company. Never being called 'Lexi' ever again worked wonderfully.

She nodded them toward one of the mismatched couches close by. "Oh yeah, my dad, he's amazing. I don't live with him anymore but I visit often enough." Now where did she put that chocolate frog? "Everyone's got family." She let on, distractedly rummaging through her candy bag. "Don't you?"

SPOILER!!: Alexa

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Lex might have responded to that comment on her going silent but she was too busy feeling scandalized by Lynnie's MERE SUGGESTION. "Of course Aron has the best coffee. Just ask anyone and they'll tell you. Merlin we've gotta fix this." Pause. "Yours is alright too I suppose if I don't have the time to make it back to Level 3 but there's really no comparison. I should get you a cup." The woman had been here for practically forever now. HOW did she NOT know that Aron's coffee was the best??? Circe.

The shock was only negated at the mention of chocolate. Chocolate? She LOVED chocolate. What's this? They caused black heads? "My cousin drags me there often enough." To the spa that is. "I'm sure whatever 'blackheads' the love of my life brings on have already been taken care of." She didn't know. "You've got some too." Sure, Lex didn't know what she was looking for but she was pointing anyway because this seemed like the thing to do in this conversation.

With the coffee in the cauldron coming to the end of its brewing, Lex helped herself to a mug of it and poured another for her company. Never being called 'Lexi' ever again worked wonderfully.

She nodded them toward one of the mismatched couches close by. "Oh yeah, my dad, he's amazing. I don't live with him anymore but I visit often enough." Now where did she put that chocolate frog? "Everyone's got family." She let on, distractedly rummaging through her candy bag. "Don't you?"

...Right.

Aron had the best coffee. What an award. Lynley had to roll her eyes at the younger employee. She was spunky...but not in a hyper way...she couldn't describe Alexa all that well. She had the spunk of like...a half grown Rottweiler puppy. That was a good one, yes.

Lynley shook her head. "I don't have blackheads, Alexa. You must be going blind. Have you had your eyes checked recently? Might want to. Don't want a bloody auror who can't see--" her lips curled into a smirk as she took the steaming cup of coffee, putting her desired sugar and creamer into it. Black coffee simply would not do.

Everyone does have family, yes. "I KNOW I know--I just forget that we all exist outside of work--we all have problems, families, hobbies--some people's lives don't revolve around here--" she took a seat and crossed her ankles. "And yes, I do--parents and two brothers. Who both have little families and children that I happen to not despise as I do with most other children." She sipped her coffee. There. Alexa got a brief look into Lynley's family.

"No worries about that one. I've got 20/20 vision. My Healer says my sight's fantastic." And a firm nod while she watched Lynnie fix the coffee to her liking. By the looks of it, Lex could have done it for her because those were all things that had gone into her own cup but you just never knew when you'd meet someone less enthused about sweet things so she wouldn't risk it. "But what's so bad about blackheads anyway?" If you had to squint to see them half the time then what harm could they really do?

Ah here we go. Lex nicked the chocolate frog from her bag, levitating her cup of coffee so she could be free to unwrap it. "It doesn't surprise me that you don't like children." Just saying. "Are you the youngest of the lot of them?"

Chocolate frog unwrapped, she held the squirming thing firmly and proceeded to pop off it's leg. Into the cup of coffee it went. "Some of my friends are doing that baby making thing and I babysit Aron's kid and my little sister. Outside of them, little people aren't my thing." Like at all. Just look how much they had in common.

"So why don't you have any?" Or was that too forward?

SPOILER!!: LEXI

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

"No worries about that one. I've got 20/20 vision. My Healer says my sight's fantastic." And a firm nod while she watched Lynnie fix the coffee to her liking. By the looks of it, Lex could have done it for her because those were all things that had gone into her own cup but you just never knew when you'd meet someone less enthused about sweet things so she wouldn't risk it. "But what's so bad about blackheads anyway?" If you had to squint to see them half the time then what harm could they really do?

Ah here we go. Lex nicked the chocolate frog from her bag, levitating her cup of coffee so she could be free to unwrap it. "It doesn't surprise me that you don't like children." Just saying. "Are you the youngest of the lot of them?"

Chocolate frog unwrapped, she held the squirming thing firmly and proceeded to pop off it's leg. Into the cup of coffee it went. "Some of my friends are doing that baby making thing and I babysit Aron's kid and my little sister. Outside of them, little people aren't my thing." Like at all. Just look how much they had in common.

"So why don't you have any?" Or was that too forward?

Lynley scoffed. "Blackheads...DIRT. They are DIRT in the pores on your FACE." She brushed some hair from her forehead back behind her ear. "I get my blackheads pinched about once a month, though. So." She knew she didn't have any, thank you very MUCH, Alexa Cambridge.

And more QUESTIONS about her family. Well, Lynley wasn't used to such attention, so she humored Alexa for now. "I am the oldest..." she said with a quirk of her eyebrow. "My younger brother, Eric, is...twenty-nine now? Yeah...he has three kids." She grinned. "They're peppers. I love them quite a bit--but other children--no no--other children are not my thing." She didn't feel bad for feeling that way. Kids just weren't her thing. She didn't even want children...like, ever.

...ah. Personal questions were continuing. All right then, Alexa. "Well firstly--I am not married and do not have a...boyfriend or...anything remotely resembling a spouse. SO there's that. I also don't enjoy children...or having to take care of them for an extended period of time." She cleared her throat and sipped her coffee. "I don't even watch my brother's kids. Nope NOPE." Not that his wife would even be okay with that...the witch woman was a bit INSUFFERABLE about her children.

So then.............................................. .............."Your face gets dirty and you get it clean once a month?" Lex was just...gonna stare at her...for an extended period of time. Showers made you clean, and she liked to think the woman took them more than once a month but if she was being honest, not many things would surprise her these days. "My face is clean. Usually clean--unless I've just come from training but that's understandable." Did she completely miss the concept of a 'blackhead'? YUP.

Just like she could tell that Lynnie wasn't much of a 'kid person', she could have guessed that the woman was also the oldest. It was just something about the way she carried herself. The ankle biters though. "THREE?? All of three?" Who did that? Why would anyone do that? "Was he struck with a unlucky bout of triplets?" Yeah...yeah, that had to be it. Why would ANYONE go another two times??? ONE was already an excessive amount. Merlin.

Lex plucked another limb from the chocolate frog and dipped it in her floating cup of coffee as well. She was still listening, of course she was. That was what accounted for the strange looks she was giving the Department Head. "What does being married or having a boyfriend have to do with having little devil spawns?" If there was a relation, she was missing it completely. In her book, the two did not translate to prerequisites.

SPOILER!!: Alexa

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

So then.............................................. .............."Your face gets dirty and you get it clean once a month?" Lex was just...gonna stare at her...for an extended period of time. Showers made you clean, and she liked to think the woman took them more than once a month but if she was being honest, not many things would surprise her these days. "My face is clean. Usually clean--unless I've just come from training but that's understandable." Did she completely miss the concept of a 'blackhead'? YUP.

Just like she could tell that Lynnie wasn't much of a 'kid person', she could have guessed that the woman was also the oldest. It was just something about the way she carried herself. The ankle biters though. "THREE?? All of three?" Who did that? Why would anyone do that? "Was he struck with a unlucky bout of triplets?" Yeah...yeah, that had to be it. Why would ANYONE go another two times??? ONE was already an excessive amount. Merlin.

Lex plucked another limb from the chocolate frog and dipped it in her floating cup of coffee as well. She was still listening, of course she was. That was what accounted for the strange looks she was giving the Department Head. "What does being married or having a boyfriend have to do with having little devil spawns?" If there was a relation, she was missing it completely. In her book, the two did not translate to prerequisites.

...dear God. Lynley almost facepalmed at her words....because she just...!!!! The brunette merely rolled her eyes. "Yes, I only clean my face once a month, Cambridge." Super sarcastic tone. She sipped her coffee, though, and nodded..."Right. Because you're trying to become an Auror, correct?" she asked with an eyebrow raise. Merlin help them all.

Though, to be frank, Alexa seemed like she took herself very seriously at least. AND she seemed able to handle herself, certainly. So maybe it wasn't all that strange.

HAHAHAHAH!

Lynley choked on her coffee.

"HA! Oh, Alexa, no--he had three DIFFERENTLY aged children." She would tell her brother that, though. About this little conversation...he would get a kick out of it, really. "My sister-in-law wanted THREE kids and so there we have it--THREE--" she smirked. "Two, five, and eight. The eight-year-old thinks she's older, though, and I like to have very adult conversations with her." She also liked that her niece could accept the fact that Lynley was happy being single...because you know, eight year old girls are very independent 'I DON'T NEED NO MAN' creatures. So for now, she was pleased with the little person her niece was.

Lynley wasn't sure what the next...well how to even answer that. "Well..you know. It's socially frowned upon to...reproduce without being with someone. Or married. But you know...to each their own." Lynley smirked.

Victoria had taken up exercise again and knowing she did have a fitness room on her level she still like to get out and walk around the ministry. It kept her up on current happenings in other departments and it made her feel part of the bigger picture not just in one little department. No she enjoyed making her rounds and today the rounds brought her to a place she hadn't been in awhile.

Going into the underground coffee place she decided to stop in for a cup. Usually she always went to level seven to the best coffee cart in the ministry. There was no way any other coffee place could top her own levels, but she was here so she would get some coffee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

Victoria had taken up exercise again and knowing she did have a fitness room on her level she still like to get out and walk around the ministry. It kept her up on current happenings in other departments and it made her feel part of the bigger picture not just in one little department. No she enjoyed making her rounds and today the rounds brought her to a place she hadn't been in awhile.

Going into the underground coffee place she decided to stop in for a cup. Usually she always went to level seven to the best coffee cart in the ministry. There was no way any other coffee place could top her own levels, but she was here so she would get some coffee.

Addison always brought her own coffee cups to work - save the planet and everything, you know? And it was time for her first refill of the day! She had a lot of paperwork to file today up on Level 4 so it was likely the first of MANY refills today. It wasn't even lunch time yet. Oy vey.

There was only one person in front of her, someone she felt like she SHOULD know but didn't. Then again, she saw so many people in her job as a receptionist that she felt that way about pretty much everyone. And unable to sit in silence for more than a millisecond, she smiled at the woman. "Mondays, huh?" she said with a small chuckle.

Oh geez Addi. Just stop talking.

She got her coffee and quickly lifted it to her nose to take in the smells. Hearing someone Victoria turned coming out of her own thoughts. "Oh yes Mondays are the worst." She usually had very nice weekends, so Mondays were extra hard to get back to the routine and actually be away from her family.

Sitting back and relaxing a bit she blew on her coffee hoping it would cool off enough to get a sip. "I take it Monday is being as nice to you as it is to me?" She chuckled, though Vic had come purely for the exercise and movement, she still could understand needing one, two, even twenty cups of coffee to get through a day.

"I feel like most days I need an IV that runs straight into me with this stuff. Especially during the quidditch seasons."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

She got her coffee and quickly lifted it to her nose to take in the smells. Hearing someone Victoria turned coming out of her own thoughts. "Oh yes Mondays are the worst." She usually had very nice weekends, so Mondays were extra hard to get back to the routine and actually be away from her family.

Sitting back and relaxing a bit she blew on her coffee hoping it would cool off enough to get a sip. "I take it Monday is being as nice to you as it is to me?" She chuckled, though Vic had come purely for the exercise and movement, she still could understand needing one, two, even twenty cups of coffee to get through a day.

"I feel like most days I need an IV that runs straight into me with this stuff. Especially during the quidditch seasons."

"Oh Mondays are always the worst - all the paperwork from the weekend is piled up so I'm just shuffling through stuff all day. Not that I mind - I like busy work," Addi explained to the woman. She KNEW she had seen her somewhere before and she could not remember for the life of her where. Probably at one of the new hire events they had at the start of the new year.

"Oh, quidditch? Do you work in Games and Sports, then?" she asked with a smile. "I'm in Magical Creatures - although I kind of work for Environment too since I'm the receptionist. I'm Addi, by the way," she added when she realized she hadn't introduced herself yet!

Yes she could agree, there were always paperwork when she came back on Monday, "The weekends I don't have my twins I usually will spend a few hours here to keep up to be honest. Especailly during the season." She felt bad leaving Cossy with the three children so weekends the girls went to Charely's was her time to come in and work a bit more. "If we weren't busy we wouldn't have jobs, so it's good to look at the positive side of things." She gave the lady a smile before sipping her coffee.

"Yes, I'm the manager of the Quidditch Division. Victoria Culloden." She lifted a hand to the woman since the were doing introductions. "Oh yes, I should have known that. I've come into the department a time or two so I've had to have met you. Have you been with the ministry long?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

Yes she could agree, there were always paperwork when she came back on Monday, "The weekends I don't have my twins I usually will spend a few hours here to keep up to be honest. Especailly during the season." She felt bad leaving Cossy with the three children so weekends the girls went to Charely's was her time to come in and work a bit more. "If we weren't busy we wouldn't have jobs, so it's good to look at the positive side of things." She gave the lady a smile before sipping her coffee.

"Yes, I'm the manager of the Quidditch Division. Victoria Culloden." She lifted a hand to the woman since the were doing introductions. "Oh yes, I should have known that. I've come into the department a time or two so I've had to have met you. Have you been with the ministry long?"

"Oh, yeah, I can imagine that would keep you on your toes," Addi said in reply with a polite smile. She obviously couldn't relate - she didn't even have a boyfriend, let alone children. Her weekends were usually filled with baking cookies and eating them by herself, playing with her pets, and visiting her brother's flat and hanging out with him and his friends. Which usually ended in board games because they were terribly nerdy. She really needed to find her own friends...

"Ah yes, that's where I know you from!" she said with a smile. She didn't do sports - but good to this woman for being interested in it! Ladies always had to represent themselves in Qudditch, she believed. "I'm Addison Longbottom...and no, only about a year," she explained as she took a sip of her coffee. "Hoping to move up from the receptionist's desk at some point but I've quite happy where I am right now," she added.

WAIT, that name...it rang a bell. Suddenly, she remembered where she'd heard that name before and a grin lit up her face. "Culloden?? You aren't by any chance related to Professor Culloden, the potions master at Hogwarts, are you?? I studied in his classes!" she told her excitedly. She always liked potions, and he taught them SO MANY cool recipes - and they were actually USEFUL in real life too. The potions teacher in Salem hadn't been nearly as fun or creative.

Fate was wandering around the ministry, part of her was trying to see if she could find Seb, because she missed him really. She really wanted to see his face! She had thought with them working in the same place she might see him more often!

She sighed as she moved into the coffee place and she poured herself a cup and then put in two sugars and three creamers.

She stirred it around before taking a sip..

Yech! The coffee of her level was much better! She sat down and pushed the cup away..

Gah! Why was she waiting for Seb? She needed to move on.. No matter what her heart told her.