Tam was merely wandering about when she caught a whiff of COFFEE. Yes! She needed it PRONTO. Marching toward the smell she heard... Someone talking? Hmmm. She would hate to interrupt.

Not really.

She went ahead with her SEARCH for caffeine, only to find there was ONE person at the cart. What the...

"Some may call you the crazy person seeing as you are talking to yourself," she said with a pursing of her lips. Stopping just shy of the cart she looked the man over unsure whether she should approach. Had he escaped from level two? Or three? Althea was sure to have mentally afflicted Wizards up there from time to time.

STRANGER DANGER!

Rex turned around at the sound of a female voice. He slowly stirred his coffee as he looked at the woman who addressed him.

"People usually call former Quidditch players crazy," he replied with a boyish grin on his face and there was a flirtatious sparkle in his green eyes.

Tam tapped the toe of her Manolo slightly as she weighed her options... coffee with a potentially crazy person or no coffee at all. HMMM.

Taking a step forward she gave him a wide smile and extended her hand. "Tamara Scamander," she said by way of greeting. "Some could argue that not only are former Quidditch players crazy, but they are also handsome. Or it could be just a special case here," she said with no hint of coyness in her tone. She was nothing if not direct. Heh.

"It appears my reputation precedes me," Rex said as he took two steps forward and switched his coffee mug to his left hand. He took Tamara's extended hand in his. "Rex Vindictus. It's a pleasure to meet such a beautiful colleague."

He brought her hand up to his lips and lightly kissed it, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on her.

"I like to make up my own mind, thank you very much." she said with a smirk. Reputations meant listening to other's opinions. Tam didn't get down like that. Hehehehe.

What was THIS? Eye contact, kissing of the hand... was he FLIRTING with her? How... cute! Two could play that game!

"Oh no, Rex, the pleasure is all mine, I assure you," she said as she batted her eyes at him playfully. Was he married? She was... by a technicality, but yeah... Jonah and she had been separated for AGES.

"You're the Head of Games and Sports, yes? I work for Al... the Minister. One of his advisors. I make it my business to know as many employees as possible." He was going to offer to make her a coffee, yes? Heh.

Rex straightened up and dropped her hand. "Would you care for some refreshment? Coffee, tea, or," he said as he motioned to array of beverages on the cart, "Perhaps something to nibble on?" Next to the beverage dispensers, there was a basket of fruit and a platter of muffins and danishes.

"Coffee. Cream and sugar, would be lovely. Of course I will indeed fix it myself." She stepped forward, MAYBE brushing against him slightly in the process. Heh.

"How long have these muffins been sitting here?" she asked as she inspected one from afar. HAD PEOPLE TOUCHED THEM? WERE THEY TAINTED? She had issues with community food as it were. "On second thought I do believe I will pass on those. Thank you for offering, though."

She went about fixing her coffee and gave the man a side eye... "If I may be so bold... are you married, Mister Vindictus?" Inquiring minds want to know, after all.

Rex raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Not at this time. In fact, I'm happily divorced. As for those muffins, I'm not so sure. I'm looking for a more reliable caterer." He scratched his chin for a moment. "It is my understanding that the new Ministry food court is opening today. Perhaps we could continue our conversation over lunch."

Wink.

Happily divorced. Heh. She could understand that notion. "Well it turns out I am happily separated... for a great many years now."

And yes... "I could give you a few names." For the caterer, that is.

Hmmm. Lunch with a handsome divorced man? Don't mind if I do! "Lead the way, then, Mister Vindictus. I would love to join you for lunch and a chat."

Yep. She sure would.

Separated. Excellent!

Rex walked past Tamara and held the door open. "After you, Ms. Scamander."

Arielle eagle-eyed the cart. This was her chance. She just needed a few minutes of peace and quiet and some deliciousness in a cup, and maybe a treat as well. "Ooooo a chocolate frog sounds good" she said more to herself. She picked the item up along with her cup and debated what to drink. She wanted something sweet and something...cold. Chocolate milk. Okay sounds childish, but she couldn't help herself. She poured the wonderful liquid in her cup and took a sip. It was her weakness.

As the lift doors opened and Jade stepped out on to level 7's floor-- she was amazed on how drastic the mood and energy of the place was compared to the Department of Mysteries.

Smiling as a rouge snitch came flying around their heads, she turned to Gia and Cora and said "This is the Department of Games and Sports. Here is where they arrange all the Quidditch games as well as the British Gobstone games. If you're a huge fan of Quidditch then just know that from time to time some of the players are known to pop in to the department. Usually," She gestured to herself and Gia, "We have a lot to do with this department especially during the season since muggles sometimes come across the games despite all the precautions taken. Any questions?"

Tyler entered the refreshments area of the Games and Sports department, it was a good place to take food samples and such as well as question the people here for their investigation.

He turned to Melissa "Alright now where do you think we should start?" he asked as he looked around to see if he could see any likely persons that looked like they would give the information they wanted.

Melissa looked around. Anything or anybody could have transmitted the illness in this place. She shrugged when she heard Tyler's question. "I don't know. Why don't we first walk around and try to spot anybody else who might be exhibiting the same kind of symptoms. The boss said to do it discreetly, so I guess that means try to blend in and not make it obvious right?" Melissa asked Tyler as she continued to subtly look around.

Ooooo, this was cool too! Not as mysterious as the Mysteries department for obvious reasons, but still cool. They even had a refreshments cart thing! That was really nice.

Seemed this department had a lot to do with Quidditch and Gobstones? She didn't really play either, though her sister Cadence was a pretty big Quidditch fan. So she'd probably like this department, especially with that little golden ball that flew by. It was used for Quidditch, right?

Question? Yes! "Do they do anything with Quodpot?" Cora asked. "I know it's more popular in America than here, but some people do still play Quidditch over there." So it wasn't totally unreasonable to think they played it here too, yeah? Even if it wasn't as popular though it should be since it was way more fun than Quidditch.

At Cora's question, Jade frowned in throught. After a few seconds she shook her head and replied. "Honestly I have no idea. I would say sure normally but there are no Quodpot teams in England so I can't be sure. What I am positive of is that they probably do have connections to the Quodpot league in the States so if you do ever want to attend a game there then you possibly could get tickets here or at the very least they would put you in touch with the right people in the States."

Looking around her, Jade felt like she was forgetting something important. And then it dawned on her-- she had forgotten to mention the Patents Research Office. Good thing that she had remembered because she was fairly certain that Cora if not Gia would be working with them as well.

"Um before we move on-- I almost forgot to say that Level Seven houses the Patent Research office as well. It is there that MoM employees of that office monitor and test out the various inventions that Wizards and Witches come up with. I do want to apologize for forgetting to mention it earlier. I usually come down here for the Games and Sports related business. Any questions about this office?"

There she thought that she had summerized everything on this floor. Jade smiled, "Now we will move on to level six which is the level that houses the Department of Magical Transportation."

She turned back to the lifts and waited for Cora and Gia to come in before she pressed the button for Level Six.

Victoria was feeling unfocused. Yes that was the best way to explain how she was feeling. The new job was not horrible, but just confusing for the first week. She was trying to figure everything out, not get lost, find out exactly everything she was suppose to do, and do a good job. Then the meeting she attended was there really stuff going on. She just had many things going through her mind.

Seeing the coffee cart, Victoria decided that maybe she could use a cup and went to order one. Should she order just a plain or should she try and get something different. Standing there she tried to decide. Not many people were around, so it gave her time to think, but she really didn't know many people yet, so it wasn't hard to have time for thoughts either.

Tyler looked around as she answered his question, he nodded "Ok yeah lets do that" he looked around and nodded "Yeah just act like you are here to buy something and pretend to look at a few things as well as keeping an eye on everyone around here." he said giving a quick glance around to see if there was anyone that he could immediately see that seemed to be acting weird. "You ready? think you can do this?" he asked her as she seemed a bit nervous for this task, whereas him having worked in muggle law enforcement he knew what it meant to blend in, afterall he had done some undercover work as well.

Melissa listened and then gave Tyler a thumbs up sign. "Yep I'm ready to do this." She was eager to start the investigation. It had been a long time since she had been out in the field investigating. Even though they weren't technically out in the field but indoors in the Ministry.

"Okay blending in now" she whispered out of the side of her mouth as she walked past him and headed for the coffee cart.

Victoria was still trying to decide what to get and to clear her head from all that she was trying to figure out this past week when she felt someone come up and get in line behind her. Turning she smiled, oh she had met her at the meet and greet. What was her name again, oh it was right there. Victoria smiled at her still trying to figure out the name.. Yes, Melissa that was it.

"Hello Melissa, how are you today?" She was excited to actually see someone that she had met. She hadn't really seen anyone she had met at the meet and greet yet this week. "I hope your week has been going well." Victoria turned back to the cart and stepped forward as it was close to being her turn. Turning back towards Melissa she was oblivious that maybe Melissa was doing something for her job and not just getting coffee.

"Okay we're blending in." Melissa thought to herself, looking around as she approached the coffee cart. As she took a step forward in the line, she thought to herself, "Hmmm... Should I be wearing gloves? They never did say whether it was something the victims ate or something they touched." Melissa was debating whether she should slip on some gloves without making it obvious when the lady standing in front of her in the line turned and smiled at her.

Melissa inmediately recognized her as the lady she had met at the Employee Orientation. Victoria. Yes that was her name. Melissa smiled back in greeting.

"Oh hey there, Victoria. Fancy meeting you here. My week? It's been going great. How about yours? How have you been feeling lately?" Melissa asked trying to be as subtle as possible. She would have asked if Victoria had a desire to drool or had accidentally walked into walls lately but she didn't think want Victoria suspecting that she was on the "job".

Victoria smiled, oh good she got the name right. That was one of her biggest fears to forget someones name. Well that was great that her week was going well. Then Victoria tried to think of her week, it really felt like a blur. "Well, honestly I've gotten lost in this building twice, I am still trying to figure out my project, and it's just a bit overwhelming." She laughed a bit at herself, but that is the price for being new I guess. Other then that I have really enjoyed it. I think I'm going to like it here."

Oh she was asking how Victoria was feeling, hmm she tired to think about that for a second, "Well tired to be honest, but that's just because I have been working so hard to try to do a good job my first week, then I get home and my seven year old needs this and that, and he has been such a handful since moving here without his dad." She knew that was why he was acting out, but she didn't know how to calm him down at the moment.

Melissa listened politely as Victoria told her how her week had been goingand then proceeded to tell her about how hard it was for her at home having to tend to her seven year old son's needs after her move to London.

"You'll finally figure out where everything is. To be honest, I've been here two years and I still signed up for the tour. I don't even know where everything is yet or who everybody is. Having that employee orientation meet and greet was definitely helpful." Melissa confided in Victoria.

"At least I now know more people than I did in the last two years I have been here." Melissa whispered to the younger lady.

Hmmm...she WAS feeling tired. Melissa ears perked up when she heard the magic word, but then she realized why Victoria was tired, and she had to quell her excitement. "Looks like we're all clear with this subject. There's no sign or symptoms indicating that she has the affliction like the other one did in her department." Melissa thought to herself, mentally shelving Victoria into the not "sick" category in her mind.

"Yes seven year olds can be handful. With five children of my own, I've been through that phase many times. Of course it does get difficult when your husband isn't here to help you out." Melissa nodded clearly understanding Victoria's predicament. She tried to remember whether Victoria had mentioned why her husband hadn't joined both of them.

"Will it sound intrusive if I asked?" Melissa thought to herself as she continued to smile at Victoria. "Maybe I can phrase my question another way so that it doesn't sound like am."

"So...I'm sure that you and your son must be looking forward to seeing your husband soon. I'm sure that your husband must miss both of you too." Melissa figured that was the best way of asking her question.

He smiled and nodded as she gave him the thumbs "Good!" he said as she said that she was ready to start the investigation. This was like any other investigation to blend in and act like they were supposed to be here just for a bit of coffee or something.

He gave her a simple nod as she walked past him and headed for the coffee cart, he then looked around to see if he could see anyone acting strangely when he looked back at Melissa and noticed her talking to a woman he had seen at the meet and greet thing. He watched her closely as she talked to Melissa.. well she seemed to be acting normal enough so she didnt seem to be infected. He then walked past Melissa to check out the other end of the room.. giving a smile to the woman that Melissa was talking to.. not nice to be rude to someone that Melissa knew.. he would probably get to know her too if he got the opportunity.

Oh. Hmmm, that was disappointing. Maybe she could suggest it to the department head or something and get some teams going. They were all missing out on a really fun sport by excluding it for the sake of only one popular sport. Really should be more inclusive and stuff, yeah?

Cora nodded her thanks for the answer though and- oh, there was something else here they needed to know about? Patents Research. For inventions and stuff. Neat! She shook her head and grinned though at the question about having questions. "Nah, no questions about that." Seemed pretty straightforward, really. So she followed Jade onto the lifts again.