Still holding the vial but no longer looking at it, Derek's gaze went from one woman to the other as the one further away addressed him. He gave her a short nod and waited for the two questions. Quick, please. He had things to do that didn't involve talking to people.

...She was repeating exactly what the other said. Derek looked at the wall uneasily and wished she would get on with it so it would be done sooner. Oh, there. The questions. The former Gryffindor looked back at her.

Wha? "Um..." Derek scratched his right cheek while frowning a bit and looked around. "I uh..." Environmentally friendly...? "I recycle?" He sounded uncertain, though he did do it. "Um, I mean, my ingredients and... and um... some solutions and mixtures..." Derek scratched the side of his head now. "I don't go around discarding things after they've been used." The young man shrugged. He supposed that was... an answer. He didn't know whether it was a good one of not, but it was an answer, so that was going to be it.

"I suppose... I could get rid of unnecessary fumes of certain Potions...?" He... guessed? That way the 'air' wouldn't be 'polluted'? Or something? He supposed? Derek's face might as well look like a big question mark at the moment. He really didn't know what else he could do, to be honest, and it wasn't like he cared that much either...

Thankfully she wasn't going to be holed up in her office all day, rather, she had business elsewhere. With this in mind, Emily had taken the stairs down the level three - seeing as the lifts were terribly unreliable. She wasn't even perturbed by the memo situation as she made her way to reception... it was becoming a familiar sight.

"Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Ashburry-Hawthorne," Emily announced upon approaching the receptionist, flashing her badge and employee card. She didn't have time to waste, so hopefully the pretty little thing was also efficient. Emily loathed being kept waiting - as a result of that the aptly named waiting area irked her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

Thankfully she wasn't going to be holed up in her office all day, rather, she had business elsewhere. With this in mind, Emily had taken the stairs down the level three - seeing as the lifts were terribly unreliable. She wasn't even perturbed by the memo situation as she made her way to reception... it was becoming a familiar sight.

"Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Ashburry-Hawthorne," Emily announced upon approaching the receptionist, flashing her badge and employee card. She didn't have time to waste, so hopefully the pretty little thing was also efficient. Emily loathed being kept waiting - as a result of that the aptly named waiting area irked her.

Grumbling to himself as he made his way out of his office and to the reception area, Aron was DREADING having to walk to Transportation to discuss WHY it was that his fireplace was not working AGAIN. Hadn't the floo JUST been fixed recently? This was just...no. NOPE.

"Fluttering Fluxweed," he cursed under his breath as he stomped through the area, almost missing Emily being there entirely until he heard the tail end of his name. "Oh, Emily. What can I do for you?" he asked in as pleasant a tone as he could muster at the moment.

She was beginning to think the receptionist was going to be a headache and a half, only it seemed as though she wouldn't have that misfortune. The man in question didn't seem to be in the best of moods, so this would be interesting, and she was about to call for his attention when he noticed her. Convenient.

"More what I can do for you," she replied, stepping away from receptionist lady. She picked up on his tone, distracted and displeased at best, "figured I'd clue you in on what we found during the sweep of the research lab," the term being used loosely. "Mind if I walk with you?" to save them time, seeing as he seemed to be going places, and she too would be going places.

Is it getting RIDICULOUSLY hot in here are are the two ridiculously attractive Department Heads just too hot to handle in one space? Feels like if you cracked an egg on the desk there you might be able to fry it. Someone should bring in some bacon to go with it.

And maybe move all the plants. They are starting to wilt and wither away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

She was beginning to think the receptionist was going to be a headache and a half, only it seemed as though she wouldn't have that misfortune. The man in question didn't seem to be in the best of moods, so this would be interesting, and she was about to call for his attention when he noticed her. Convenient.

"More what I can do for you," she replied, stepping away from receptionist lady. She picked up on his tone, distracted and displeased at best, "figured I'd clue you in on what we found during the sweep of the research lab," the term being used loosely. "Mind if I walk with you?" to save them time, seeing as he seemed to be going places, and she too would be going places.

Nodding his head to his receptionist, Aron led Emily slightly away from the desk with a simple inclination of the head. Not that he did not trust his own employees, it was more of a matter of preventing gossip from spreading like wildfire through the Ministry. "Oh," he said while rubbing his chin with his hand. He caught the tone she used on the term research lab and could already begin to piece together the information she was about to deliver. "I was just on my way to Transportation, but we can take the extra long way there. Lifts still aren't functioning anyway."

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Announcer

Is it getting RIDICULOUSLY hot in here are are the two ridiculously attractive Department Heads just too hot to handle in one space? Feels like if you cracked an egg on the desk there you might be able to fry it. Someone should bring in some bacon to go with it.

And maybe move all the plants. They are starting to wilt and wither away.

Sweet sweet peas.

Aron tugged on his shirt collar and rolled up his left sleeve as he began to walk towards the exit as beads of sweat began to run down his brow. Had he really not been exercising THAT much that he was exhausted and sweating from a walk from his office to the stairs? Seren was going to kill him. Then he caught a glimpse of some of the plants out of the corner of his eye and his jaw suddenly hung open like a Venus Flytrap. HIS POOR BABIES! If any of them died, the galleons were coming out of a certain new employee's paycheck!

"Looks like someone forgot to water the vegetation," he grumbled as he lifted his shirt up a bit at his waist to fan himself. "I better take care of that before we go."

"Sounds good to me," and she much preferred the stairs, less crowded -- though not so much recently, it was good exercise considering she was trapped in her office more than she had been as Head Auror, and of course the lifts were hazardous. If she didn't know better she'd have thought the Ministry was a living organism that was slowly reaching the end of its life. Decrepit.

She didn't much like discussing matters in public areas, so she was happy to hold off their conversation until they were somewhere other than a bloomin' waiting room. Emily rubbed a point on her neck, was it just her? Or was it actually quite warm in here? Hot even? It seemed as though she wasn't the only one to be feeling the heat.
"Errr...." was this another climate control thing? Becasue she much preferred the rain to the heat, in which case she would happily migrate to the food court or the Ministers office.

The vegation? "Okayyyy..." they were stopping for the vegetation, things that could easily be replaced. Emily wasn't distracted by Aron's skin flashing, not at all.. rather she was inspecting the plants intently, that's what she was doing, he just so happened to get in the way a bit. "You sure they just weren't watered?" she asked, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. Ew. She didn't sweat like this, this was not her. Emily unbuttoned the top of her blouse, air circulation was required, and for once she was wishing she'd worn a skirt or dress instead of pants. "Because it's a little bit hot in here..."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

"Sounds good to me," and she much preferred the stairs, less crowded -- though not so much recently, it was good exercise considering she was trapped in her office more than she had been as Head Auror, and of course the lifts were hazardous. If she didn't know better she'd have thought the Ministry was a living organism that was slowly reaching the end of its life. Decrepit.

She didn't much like discussing matters in public areas, so she was happy to hold off their conversation until they were somewhere other than a bloomin' waiting room. Emily rubbed a point on her neck, was it just her? Or was it actually quite warm in here? Hot even? It seemed as though she wasn't the only one to be feeling the heat.
"Errr...." was this another climate control thing? Becasue she much preferred the rain to the heat, in which case she would happily migrate to the food court or the Ministers office.

The vegation? "Okayyyy..." they were stopping for the vegetation, things that could easily be replaced. Emily wasn't distracted by Aron's skin flashing, not at all.. rather she was inspecting the plants intently, that's what she was doing, he just so happened to get in the way a bit. "You sure they just weren't watered?" she asked, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. Ew. She didn't sweat like this, this was not her. Emily unbuttoned the top of her blouse, air circulation was required, and for once she was wishing she'd worn a skirt or dress instead of pants. "Because it's a little bit hot in here..."

Aron lifted up one of the leaves on the nearest wilted plant and found himself flabbergasted not only by the texture, but by the scorch in the veins. His eyes drifted to the rest of the plants, noticing how nearly all of them had rolled up and/or showed the same sort of discoloration. And then he felt something wet drip off his chin and on to his shirt. Several wet somethings actually and he instinctively rubbed his eyes thinking that they were tears.

Only he never really got this emotional over non-aquatic plants. The stubby purple coral, yes. These office plants...not so much.

Only he wasn't crying. Not at all. In the next moment another drop dripped off his nose. He tugged on the collar of his tshirt once again, only to find that it was having an even harder time moving because, for lack of a better description, it was sticking to his skin due to sweat.

"It's A LOT hot in here," he said while rubbing his forehead with his arm to remove some more sweat before it got in his eyes. "Don't suppose you would mind my taking my shirt off?" He said this with an obvious joking tone. But he was also a little serious. It was VERY hot. "I thought Environmental had a handle on this problem."

So much for it's honking daffodil of a Department Head being on top of things.

While Aron did his thing with plants, Emily stood idly, adjusting her clothes, pulling at them and twisting them and untwisting them. It was definitely getting to warm, her clothes were quite literally sticking to her. Sticking! She could feel the sweat running down her back, her face felt wet and puffy in the heat, and her hair was beginning to frizz. Merlin.

She wasn't a vain woman, but she could hardly tolerate this.

Without hesitating, Emily unbuttoned the rest of her blouse, her white undershirt streaked with sweat marks. Delightful.
"No,go for it... I mind that I can't take mine off," she let out, almost gasping in the heat. Now would be a good time for a dolphin sarong, just saying.

"Oh gosh no," Emily all but exclaimed, "whatever it is, they're taking thier sweet time resolving it." Go figure, could you see any Enviro's here setting things right? No?
"You might want to report this," she added as an after thought, heat could be devastating, it led to dehydration and that would have a significant impact on work ethic ad performance. At least this was only the reception area, but still... it mattered.

The heat has only intensified in the few minutes the two of you have been speaking. The area feels as dry and hot as dragon's breath in the middle of the Sahara. The plant nearest the hopefully soon to be shirtless A&C Department Head suddenly erupts into flames. The flames seem to jump from plant to plant and will soon threaten ignite the entire room.

Uh oh. This situation may be too hot to handle!

A new Patronus kept coming into the Environmental department with news about the climate, and Penwyn could tell it was starting to get on Alex's nerves. So that was when she decided to check out the levels that HADN'T sent a patronus asking for help, she could help Alex that way. Penwyn was willing to bet ALL departments were being affected and she was going to test that idea.

With that in mind, Penwyn jogged over to the third level, ready for a cold blast. Instead it was burning hot! "ECK!" She turned to the two department heads. "I'm here to help with the climate." She smirked confidently and aimed her wand at...um...where? Climate charms were not what she was in control of, that was Alex's job. Now what?! Taking a guess based on something she saw Alex doing by the food court, she shouted ""Meteolojinx Recanto!" No idea what that meant or if it would work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

While Aron did his thing with plants, Emily stood idly, adjusting her clothes, pulling at them and twisting them and untwisting them. It was definitely getting to warm, her clothes were quite literally sticking to her. Sticking! She could feel the sweat running down her back, her face felt wet and puffy in the heat, and her hair was beginning to frizz. Merlin.

She wasn't a vain woman, but she could hardly tolerate this.

Without hesitating, Emily unbuttoned the rest of her blouse, her white undershirt streaked with sweat marks. Delightful.
"No,go for it... I mind that I can't take mine off," she let out, almost gasping in the heat. Now would be a good time for a dolphin sarong, just saying.

"Oh gosh no," Emily all but exclaimed, "whatever it is, they're taking thier sweet time resolving it." Go figure, could you see any Enviro's here setting things right? No?
"You might want to report this," she added as an after thought, heat could be devastating, it led to dehydration and that would have a significant impact on work ethic ad performance. At least this was only the reception area, but still... it mattered.

Aron had to chuckle - and not because the thought of Emily taking anything off was comical - but more along the lines of he was pretty sure that he would not only lose his job were such circumstances to arise and Seren would make sure to sever more than just his bouncing bulbs.

And it really was becoming more and more tempting to just take his off with how hot things were in here, but he needed to keep some air of professionalism. Even if he was lifted it up a bit to allow some fresh air in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Announcer

The heat has only intensified in the few minutes the two of you have been speaking. The area feels as dry and hot as dragon's breath in the middle of the Sahara. The plant nearest the hopefully soon to be shirtless A&C Department Head suddenly erupts into flames. The flames seem to jump from plant to plant and will soon threaten ignite the entire room.

Uh oh. This situation may be too hot to handle!

HOLY HOLLY WHAT IN MERLIN'S VEGETABLE GARDEN WAS GOING ON?!

His hands were still on his shirt when the flames erupted, so his sudden and slightly maniac movements cause him to tear at the fabric and rendering the shirt pretty much the equivalent of a rag. A rag that he then used to try and put out the nearest flames with by smothering them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goblinfrog

A new Patronus kept coming into the Environmental department with news about the climate, and Penwyn could tell it was starting to get on Alex's nerves. So that was when she decided to check out the levels that HADN'T sent a patronus asking for help, she could help Alex that way. Penwyn was willing to bet ALL departments were being affected and she was going to test that idea.

With that in mind, Penwyn jogged over to the third level, ready for a cold blast. Instead it was burning hot! "ECK!" She turned to the two department heads. "I'm here to help with the climate." She smirked confidently and aimed her wand at...um...where? Climate charms were not what she was in control of, that was Alex's job. Now what?! Taking a guess based on something she saw Alex doing by the food court, she shouted ""Meteolojinx Recanto!" No idea what that meant or if it would work.

Aron's eyes flicked to Emily as his hands burned just a little from his reckless actions, and just as he was about to state the obvious to her about helping him put out the flames...

....someone claiming to be their savior from Environmental appeared.

"No offense, but the climate isn't my primary concern at the moment," he grunted through gritted teeth as he unholstered his wand and pointed it at the next blazing plant. But hey, if the woman's spell happened to work and things cooled down, he wouldn't complain either. With a flick of his wand, a jet of water sprouted from it and doused the plant.

Seriously? First a lab explosion with mutants and now his entire level was threatened to go up in flames?

Her body was still rejecting the heat, and in doing so expelling every last drop from her body... she needed a drink, and a shower too. So gross. If the heat hadn't been enough of a hurdle to contend with, there was a singeing smell, and sparks, and flames... oh, there were flames? "ARON!" she yelled in warning, though, she was certain he was aware of it before her.

She reacted instantly by swiftly summoning her wand from its holster, but paused as what appeared to be an Enviro employee found them. Well, that was convenient, kudos for them. But.. FIRE! She'd have said so as much, but Aron had said so himself in no uncertain terms, so instead she doused the nearest flaming plant with water before proceeding to the next.

There was no doubt about it, this climate stuff, was hazardous...

The water helps in extinguishing the flames, but the Meteolojinx Recanto has no effect on the excruciating heat. Seems like something else is at work here than a few malfunctioning Weather-Modifying Charms.

Claire walked into the office and dropped her coffee... she had to look twice to make sure she saw correctly. Yup she was definitely sure her boss shirtless and smoke coming from the plants.
Then she noticed it was incredibly hot in here. She undid her top button and turned to her boss, "Sir, I'm not sure what's going on but should I go get someone?" She asked as she started fanning herself with the file she had in her hand.

While Aron continued to dose the flames with water from his wand, a look of relief fell over his face when he saw that it was working. At least one thing was going his way. Seemed like Accidents and Catastrophes was just one big accident and catastrophe itself this year.

"Claire! Help Emily with putting the flames out," he barked as he gave his shirt another tug. Oh, wait, would Emily have rather he been formal in this setting? He personally preferred a first name basis in the work place, but the people over in MLE were different. His eyes then darted to the Enviromental employee. "Is there any way to just turn the charms off?" Because it was clear that the usual repair proceedures were not going to work.

"I'll get right on it. " Claire said, as she walked over to the Flaming plants. "Aguamenti" She muttered and hoard the plants down and dowsing the flames in the process.

Even with the putting out of the fires, it was still too hot in here. Emily grimaced as she continued putting out the flares to one side of the waiting room, thankful there was an extra set of hands. She gave the woman, Claire, a small nod of acknowledgement, but she was still focused on the flames, and heat.

She liked the way Aron thought, turning them off seemed a good way to go. Because really, it couldn't get worse than this. "Yes! Can you?" she reiterated, wondering if anyone had thought to do that in the other effected areas.

Good that the fire was put out, but the charm was the thing that was malfunctioning. Hmmm... An idea came into her head. "I think I know how to do this!" She shouted back at the Department head. "REVEALIO!!!!" She shouted with a flick of her wand. Then once she knew what to aim at she would do the spell "Aeneas Summanus". Was worth a shot.

Just like all the other charms before it, this one quickly reveals itself. Hole and all.

Flames all out in his immediate area, Aron began to inspect the leaves, soil, and roots to see if they were salvageable or heading for the compost when the DERP employee attempted another spell and...."Is that...a HOLE?!" Dur, of course it was. Everyone around here wasn't blind, man. "Can you fix that?"

His attention went back to his plants. "Claire, help me uproot the ones that are not too far gone," he ordered as he conjured a box and set it on the front desk. "Put the ones we can save in here and the rest we'll just leave for now."

He then ventured a glance towards Emily who he knew had been at the mercy of these defective charms before. "Was it the same the last time?"

Everything gone to the compost pile once those mutants had entered the Ministry. Bleh.

Once the fire had been dealt with, Emily stood back and observed, grabbing at her clothes and trying to fan herself in the process. She was just too hot. It was unbearable.

As the charm was revealed, Emily wasn't surprised to see a hole in it. Darn holy things... it was beyond ridiculous. What could possibly have done that? It wasn't the mutants... surely. Unless their acidic drool somehow emitted fumes which ate away at their charms like carbon dioxide to the ozone layer? Who knew. It was a bit of a pest really.
"Yeah, it's the same," she replied to Aron, eyes on the charm, and then on him, and on the plants and his attempt to salvage them. Why bother? Just get new ones.

Yes! It looked like Penwyn had been right in her guess about the charm being hidden. What could have caused that hole? Was it the same thing in all the places that were affected?

Well no matter, what was important now was that she knew what to do. With a flick of her wand and careful pronunciation, she shouted "Aeneas Summanus!!!!" Take that!

That seemed to do the trick! WELL DONE! The hole in the malfunctioning Climate Charm was instantly repaired in a flash of bright blue light and slowly but surely the temperature begins to return to normal.

Pity, now there is no need for the Accidents & Catastrophes' Head to take off his shirt like initially suggested.

Aeneas Summanus???? .... she'd be sure to remember that one in future.

It was a relief to feel the climate stabilise, the heat had been ridiculous, and despite being on the level for only a short time, she needed to re-hydrate now. So that's what she would do. "Aron, I've got to dash... I'll send you the brief on the findings from the testing facility, but it's been taken care of," she announced to her fellow department head.

But yeah. They seemed to have some plant recovering and... things to do.

"I'll catch you later." Aron got a small wave, the others got a respectful nod, then she was off to take the stairs to level two. She was certain she had an appointment to prep for too.