Graphics credit goes to lazykitty


Seating Area

In the east corner of the ballroom there are a number of tables set up. Each table is covered with a white tablecloth and is covered in sparkly silver and black rose petals. If your feet are killing you from all that dancing, you're looking for a place to sit and eat, or you just want to chat to your fellow employees, this is the place to do it!

Armand found himself an empty table and rested at it. He really wanted to be at home. His kids were probably there, playing their games, and getting better by the minute. He was not going to be beaten out by three nine-year-olds at a racing game. After all, he could actually drive, and they couldn't. He should always have the advantage. Maybe he was lucky and they were just playing on their computers. Some free game they all played with each other. He was tempted to take a peek, but had promised them he wouldn't spy on them while he was away. However, he was bored. He remembered how much Slade shuddered every time he uttered those words and chuckled to himself.

Slade, what have you done to me?

I've done to you? I should think it would be the other way around.

Perhaps.

"I'm not mean!" he said with mock surprise. Okay only to Charles but that was because he'd discovered the guy had rigged his office last year! He had every right to be irritated! Right? Right. HMPH! "I'll be back love." he said after leading her to a chair in the corner of the seating area, "Would you like food as well?"

"Yeah, whatever." she shook her head. "You're always mean to me." she pulled a face at him. "Okay. No, not unless it's ice cream." she murmured, leaning her head against the wall. "Or I could get my own drink and you could go be mean to people."

Wait, what? Could he burst into derisive laughter at that statement? Merlin, it was usually the other way around! "Okay I promise I won't be long. I want to see if I can find at least my two new employees before we leave." And actually get a normal night of sleep. Err....ice cream? Looking over towards the buffet, "I....erm I think the closest upt there is cheesecake tartlets. But there is fudge brownie bites and chocolate cannolis." Chocolate? HAH, wait mean...there was that word again! "If you wish, I don't mind either way."

Narrowing her eyes at the change in his face, she let out a small, low growl. "You, old man, just got yourself into trouble." she told him, standing up and looking him dead in the eye. "Do you think I don't know when you're laughing at me?" Pfft, she was totally in a bad mood. Maybe she should actually get some sleep? "Sorry, just tired. Torie woke me up last night and then Jay came out because he was gone and long story short, I had to make them all hot chocolate and then once I'd gotten the boys to bed, Emma woke up and you," she prodded him in the chest gently, "Slept through everything." Next time, she was going to wake him up and make him deal with the kids. It wasn't just her job to do it.

Glancing toward the food, Becca shook her head. "No, I'm okay. I made us something for later because the food is never any good at these things." When he said he didn't mind, she rolled her eyes. "Go on, I'll get a drink and then stay out of your way unless you need me to scare someone for you." Yeah, she was pretty good at that.

"No, I'm not laughing at you! I swear I'm not!" he said his eyes widening, and shaking his head "Normally it's the other way around that's all, it's a bit amusing to think I'm actually being mean." That was all, really! Nothing more! His face fell when she said about Jay and Torie both came in. "How did I miss that with the boys?" he murmured. He normally would have woken. usually Merlin, she should have woken him...or something. "I swear if that happens again just err....push me out of bed or something if I don't wake." Yeah that'll make him wake up. Or it should anyway!

A bit of a grin appeared at her words of making something for later, "I look forward to it." he replied, "Heh, I'll keep that in mind. Maybe I could send Charles your way. He seems to kind of try to avoid you, since he'd met you that one time."

Did she need to be here? Was it a necessity for her to be here with new people that she probably wasn't going to interact with without eating yet? Haley didn't mind people. She didn't mind new people. She did mind an empty stomach though. She also minded the whole dressing up thing, but that was a whole different story. She'd fallen into a routine of dressing as casual as she could get away with recently.

Never matter.

She had food now, though, and she headed in the direction of somewhere to sit. Walky, walky walk. She needed somewhere to eat, and somewhere to list things also. Huzzah lists!

"Liar." She knew when he was lying too! "Excuse me? I'm not mean to you... I'm..." she trailed off, looking for the word. "Okay, I'm mean." Darnit. When he looked upset about the boys, her eyes went to the ceiling. Nope, she was not going to feel bad about making him feel bad. That wasn't how this worked. "You were sleeping. AND snoring." Yep. Well... maybe only a little bit, but this was a guilt trip! "Don't worry, I will. Or I could turn over and 'accidentally' hit you again." she gave him a sweet smile.

"Good, it's your favourite. I figured you'd need something to take your mind off all those department heads you scared away." Smiiiirk. "Go ahead. I've got a few things to say to him if he's brave enough to come close to me."

"I'm not!" he exclaimed shaking his head faster. Merlin, okay he was supposed to be a 'big bad auror' and he was cowering at his wife! Smirking a little when she finally conceded about being mean. "I don't..." Forget it, not going to say he didn't snore it'd just keep her going. Pulling a face he shook his head again, "Like the last time? Saying I'd gotten you pregnant and saying that I had been happy about it a minute before, when I'd been fast asleep the minute before?" he asked amusement showing in his face. Heh, that'd been months before they'd actually gotten pregnant, but it had been a mixture of amusement and sadness when they'd realized it was a dream.

"Ohh, even better!" he said with a grin, it'd be a nice evening once they got out of there! Smirking a little "Then I most definitely will find Charles and tell him you'd like a word with him."

"Do not lie to me." She stepped closer to him, daring him to step back. "You know that I will make you regret it." She always did, and he always apologised in the end. When he started to argue, she raised an eyebrow at him and nodded when he trailed off instead. Clever boy. "Well I was very upset. We'd decided we weren't going to have children at the time and I genuinely believed it wasn't a dream!" If he dared to take that any further, she was going to drag him out of there by his tie.

"Yep. You're washing up." Ha, sucker. "I'm sure you would." Becca shook her head at him and then looked over toward the drinks. "Shall we? Then I can let you get back to scaring Department Heads away." Oh, yeah, could he scare away the Mysteries head or the Law Enforcement head? Maybe she could take over from them! She missed her old job. She missed it a lot. "Actually, on second thoughts... you just go ahead."

Armand eyed one of the newcomers who was sitting alone. "You look as thrilled to be here as I am." He smirked, inwardly chuckling. "Are you here alone tonight?"

Nope not. stepping. back. Nope, not doing. He just didn't respond to the do not lie to her. Nope not responding. No apologies! He hadn't lied! "I know you were" he said softly. "I was too, once I realized what had happened. "But we have Emma now and that's what matters. The past is the past." Merlin nightmares could be irritatingly annoying!

"Awww..." Merlin, and she always left LOTS of washing up to do! "Well it's way worth it." he said with a shrug. Snorting at the scaring the department heads away comment, "I'm positive I'm not doing anything there." Though it was unusual that everyone was pretty much new besides him except for like two or three! "I'm positive the minister just wants fresh blood new faces in the ministry." Tilting his head a little "If you're sure. I'll be back as soon as I can."

She eyed him when he stood his ground and then, right at the moment she was about to kiss him, he spoke again and got all soft voiced and made her feel bad. "Yeah, sorry about that." She tilted her head.

"Stop whining. You know all that's left is the plates, as always." Her eyes were fixed on him. "You're meant to help your employees, not send them into a situation where they might come out crying." Her eyes scanned the room to see if she could see Charles. "Sure you're not. Mhmm, so why'd he pick your handsome face? It's not new, it's old." Snicker. "Yeah, just go ahead. I'll be here." She wasn't going to look sad, or like she was jealous of him, though she totally was. As much as she liked to say she hated the Ministry, she didn't. She still adored it and everything it had been to her.

Alright...he was free.

Simon's thoughts were spinning both with the news of Emily's surprise promotion and Wes's sudden departure. Not to mention the feelings surrounding how he felt like he was in the shadows at one point. Maybe it was best if he stuck to random fellow employees rather than superiors. Less awkwardness and therefore stress and trouble. And the seating area appeared to be the best place at the moment. The auror took a seat at a nearly empty table to take a moment.

Goodness, there had to be several lots of new employees! Or so, it felt to the young Mae girl. Thankfully, she wasn't afraid of crowds or anything.

Chelsea was, however, feeling just the tiniest bit overwhelmed. This was her first official job that didn't involve re-stocking shelves during the summer, or hanging out around dragons, so it was understandable really. Once again smoothing the front of her dress, possibly because she wasn't use to wearing dresses very often, the nineteen-year-old approached the tables which were filling up fast.. and to be honest, she was one girl, and didn't want to take a whole table to herself. Where was the fun in that?

"Hi there," The brunette spoke casually, as she walked up to the currently lone man. "Do you mind if I join you? Or are you waiting for someone?" He could be, it was possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.A Forever

Goodness, there had to be several lots of new employees! Or so, it felt to the young Mae girl. Thankfully, she wasn't afraid of crowds or anything.

Chelsea was, however, feeling just the tiniest bit overwhelmed. This was her first official job that didn't involve re-stocking shelves during the summer, or hanging out around dragons, so it was understandable really. Once again smoothing the front of her dress, possibly because she wasn't use to wearing dresses very often, the nineteen-year-old approached the tables which were filling up fast.. and to be honest, she was one girl, and didn't want to take a whole table to herself. Where was the fun in that?

"Hi there," The brunette spoke casually, as she walked up to the currently lone man. "Do you mind if I join you? Or are you waiting for someone?" He could be, it was possible.

Maybe he should have grabbed a drink in his travels, Simon thought to himself as he idly tapped his fingers lightly on the clothed tabletop. Nursing it would have given him something to do as he sat there on his own. Simon kept his gaze off in the distance absently as he wondered on his next move...or lack of moves.

Hi there...

Simon heard the greeting and looked up, greeted by a young brunette woman whose attention on him clearly meant it was he who she was saying hello to. "Hi..." he returned before motioning to another empty seat that she could take. "Feel free. I'm not waiting for anyone." Well unless there was someone else planning on surprising him with a rescue.

Chelsea smiled as he gestured toward the other chair, and took that as enough invitation as one needed to politely join another. "Thanks," She added, before seating herself opposite him. "I'm Chelsea, by the way. Chelsea Winnington-Mae."

Absently, her hand reached up to touch the feathered hair piece in her hair and make sure it was still firmly in place. Of course, it was. "I'm one of the new incoming creature employees." Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, to be exact. But that should be obvious enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.A Forever

Chelsea smiled as he gestured toward the other chair, and took that as enough invitation as one needed to politely join another. "Thanks," She added, before seating herself opposite him. "I'm Chelsea, by the way. Chelsea Winnington-Mae."

Absently, her hand reached up to touch the feathered hair piece in her hair and make sure it was still firmly in place. Of course, it was. "I'm one of the new incoming creature employees." Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, to be exact. But that should be obvious enough.

Simon absently nodded in acceptance of her thanks. It wasn't as if he had any power to keep her from baring her from the table. His auror authority only went so far. "You're welcome," he said as she sat down before him. The new angle giving him a better look at his new companion. "Nice to meet you Chelsea, I'm Simon Bennett," the former Gryffindor greeted more properly, a polite smile on his face.

No need to be rude to an innocent.

"An old law employee," he added to the introduction. What had it been...seven years? "I guess a welcome is in order. But then that's technically the purpose of the orientation, isn't it?"

Claire made her way to an empty table, hoping the others had made it through the crowd, and set her plate down she looked around and found a try with some champagne and took a glass before sitting down and taking a bite of crab puff.

Sooo... there was a dance floor. Kade stood to the side of it for a moment before continuing on to the chairs beside it. He didn't come with a date, of course, so he had no one to dance with. But he was confident that he'd find someone if he wanted. For now, he'd sit on a comfy chair and observe things.

That's exactly what he did.

He leaned back in the chair and undid one of the buttons on his suit coat to be slightly more comfortable. And watched. Not creepy. Just... interested.

She had only been there for a little while and was still deciding what she wanted to do first, when she spotted a familiar face by himself in the seating area. Absently smoothing over her blue dress, January found herself walking over to him.

"Kaden," she greeted with a nod, holding her hands in front of her. "Is this seat taken?" she asked, gesturing to the one next to him. She figured it wasn't, but she was being polite.

Having been watching the dance floor, Kaden was surprised when he heard his name. He jumped slightly and looked up to see who it was. His embarrassment only heightened when he realized that it was January. Of course it was. That woman was everywhere.

"Not at all," he replied politely and with a smile. He nodded to the seat. "You look nice. Having a good time?"

January refrained from laughing, but did smile when she noticed him jump. She stepped past him and took a seat, being careful not to wrinkle her dress. Aw, look. A compliment. "Thank you. You clean up quite well yourself," she replied. An indirect way of saying he also looked good. She figured he didn't need her to tell him that.

She nodded at him. "I suppose so," she began, in reply to his question. "I just got here, so I haven't done anything yet." She was thinking of saying hello to her new department head or maybe seeing what there was to drink. "What about you?" she asked, looking at him again. "A charming, handsome young man like yourself didn't bring a date?" How sarcastic odd.

Dodge around lady in sparkles. Step around upset man....The food smells good....Claire. Where did Claire go? With a plate full heaping with food from the buffet table, GinaMarie attempted to keep up with Claire as they headed to find a seat at a table. "I didn't realize how many people had arrived after I did." She commented as she very carefully sat her plate down on the table...she didn't want to spill food and have to throw it away...and she certainly wasn't going to it off the table...not here with people she met.

"So, tell me Claire. Are you a new hire or are you a returning employee?" GinaMarie asked, she was sincerely interested in what the woman had to say...but she was also hungry. The coconut shrimp were good. Mhmm... "I myself am a new hire." She added on, no use in beating around the bush. Another shrimp seemed good about then.