"Okay."
Sapphira made her hair into a ponytail with that hairband that is always dangling on her wrist. A day I'll never forget, she thought. I wonder what's going to happen.

She followed Dacs to the Picket Line and braced for the worst.

Long time no see, Fountain of Magical Brethren. Actually, it had been almost no time at all since he had last been into work, the incident having occurred only a few days ago, but Wesley felt guilty all the same as he entered the Atrium. Perhaps it was his imagination, but the creatures at the fountain sure seemed to be giving him all sorts of dirty looks.

He kept his head down and hustled past it, intending to get to the nearest lift before it clanged shut. He quickened his pace in an attempt to catch it, but missed it by that much as the grate slammed closed and the thing whirled off.

Ah, well. Now he'd just spend a few MORE minutes by that guilt-inducing fountain, hoping he didn't look as squirrelly as he felt.

Sabel couldn't really agree with the statement that he had been outright avoiding people. Not really. At least not in his opinion. He had been keeping his head down and his attention on his feet or whatever happened to be in his hands so he wouldn't have to avoid anyone, but could simply chalk his lack of interaction up to being preoccupied with his own matters. It made things a little easier, or at least seemed to.

While he wasn't one-hundred percent ashamed of what had transpired in the office those few days ago, he definitely wasn't proud of it and walking among the others who had born witness to it was nothing short of awkward. Time was really the only thing that was going to take care of the matter; he just hoped it didn't take too much time.

Walking with one's head bowed could give one just as much of a complex as walking with one's nose high in the air. It also made it very difficult to discern to whom the shoes on the corner of his vision belonged to, which wouldn't have been so much of a problem if he hadn't been so preoccupied with his paper or so set on choosing this particular lift. It would have been less of a conundrum if those shoes didn't belong to the very man he had knocked heads with a short few days ago. A fact which he realized only when glancing up to see where the lift was.

And as much as he wanted to snap his paper up in front of his face and pretend he didn't exist, he hoped standing dead still would make him equally transparent.

While Wesley wasn't a T-rex, he sure hoped the man had somehow adopted the evolutionary trait of 'selective-seeing'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tazenhani

Sabel couldn't really agree with the statement that he had been outright avoiding people. Not really. At least not in his opinion. He had been keeping his head down and his attention on his feet or whatever happened to be in his hands so he wouldn't have to avoid anyone, but could simply chalk his lack of interaction up to being preoccupied with his own matters. It made things a little easier, or at least seemed to.

While he wasn't one-hundred percent ashamed of what had transpired in the office those few days ago, he definitely wasn't proud of it and walking among the others who had born witness to it was nothing short of awkward. Time was really the only thing that was going to take care of the matter; he just hoped it didn't take too much time.

Walking with one's head bowed could give one just as much of a complex as walking with one's nose high in the air. It also made it very difficult to discern to whom the shoes on the corner of his vision belonged to, which wouldn't have been so much of a problem if he hadn't been so preoccupied with his paper or so set on choosing this particular lift. It would have been less of a conundrum if those shoes didn't belong to the very man he had knocked heads with a short few days ago. A fact which he realized only when glancing up to see where the lift was.

And as much as he wanted to snap his paper up in front of his face and pretend he didn't exist, he hoped standing dead still would make him equally transparent.

While Wesley wasn't a T-rex, he sure hoped the man had somehow adopted the evolutionary trait of 'selective-seeing'.

While Wesley wasn't a T-rex, he sure had adopted the evolutionary trait of 'selective-hearing.' Unfortunately for Sabel Dakest, however, Wes had perfect vision, and what he was seeing right now was a scared little boy young YATI frozen in place, evidently at the sight of him.

"Dakest," he said softly, getting up from the fountain to approach the manboy. "Dakest," Wes repeated again, awkwardly tucking his hands into his pockets and clearing his throat.

Now what? They clearly saw each other, and he had even gone so far as too GREET the boy.... yeah, he'd just wait for the YATI to say something now. His turn.

The situation reminded him a little of the high school drama shows he had seen on TV when he was a child, where the best mechanism of survival for the smaller guy was to run as fast as little legs could carry him. And if both Wesley and him had been several years younger he might have employed that response: there was no denying that the other man's approach was intimidating.

Shifting his weight a little, Sabel folded the paper and cleared his throat attempting to look at the man respectfully while avoiding direct eye contact. "Wesley...." He cleared his throat again and glanced to the side briefly, wondering if he should repeat the man's name as he had repeated his. Probably not a wise idea.

His hesitant gaze shifted back to the man as he tucked the newspaper under his arm and self-consciously forced himself to stand a little straighter. "You..........look well."

Wesley idly wondered if Sabel was ever going to grow any taller, though he had to admit that at least men who were shorter than him always kept a youthful appearance. Dakest, though, was still young. He just LOOKED young, and intimidated, and definitely avoiding eye contact.

"Better," he agreed, shifting his weight from one food to the other awkwardly. "You look well too." Yep, that was pleasant. They were being pleasant to each other, Isobel, look.

How long would that last though?

"So, listen," Wes cut to the chase, staring Sabel directly in the eye, or at least where his eye would be if the boy would just make eye contact. "I've got to get back to the office and put my officers and hit wizards to work. We're not going to have any problems in there, are we?"

Problems with respect and argumentation or otherwise?

Better. Sabel couldn't help but wince internally at the implications of that simple word. Better as in 'now'. As in 'hadn't been before'. As in 'not so angry I could tear you limb for limb'. So, better was better, but it wasn't perfect. It probably wouldn't be perfect.

A slight nod left Sabel at Wesley's comment towards his own appearance. He wasn't really sure if he should thank the man or not for the civil words, but the hit wizard seemed to be a man of action and punctuality: he certainly didn't waste time beating around the bush.

Sabel was dead silent for a moment in an attempt to work the knot out of his stomach and the immediate response to one that was more calculated and composed: he had to learn to think before he spoke. Slowly, he turned his eyes back to Wesley, finding the man staring at him rather intently. Now, it was hard to look anywhere else.

"I don't know." So much for minding his tongue: at least the admittance was sincerely honest, rather than purposefully spiteful. At least, he dearly hoped that's how it sounded. "Is that a command from my superior, or a question from man to man?"

Wes mused over that question for a few moments, resisting the urge to hostilely cross his arms as he tried to decide on an answer. At least the lad sounded honest and not entirely.... antagonistic, for once.

"How about a question from me, to you, man to man, coworker to coworker, person to person." He didn't seem to blink in all his staring at the younger MLEr. Look, Sabel, and listen. "I'm trying here, Sabel." Can a man catch a break? Could Wes hold in his temper?

Merlin knew he was TRYING to give the boy a break in return.

He was about as surprised at Wesley's response as he had been to learn that the shoes at the corner of his vision had belonged to the man. However, this time his surprise let itself known in a slight sigh of relief rather than tensing up like a stiff board.

A slight nod left Sabel as he considered the other man's words and his own thoughts once again. Finally, his eyes turned away and some of his posture failed him. "I'm not proud of how I acted towards you, Wesley. I...maintain much of what I said, but that doesn't mean I should have said it, or said it how I did." He really needed to buy a Dummies Guide on apologies.

There were so many things he wanted to say, explanations he wanted to give and clarifications he felt needed to be made, but he didn't want to get in another debate with the man. Wesley was trying, and he deserved the same from him. So he did the only real thing that made sense and bowed slightly. "I am sorry."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tazenhani

He was about as surprised at Wesley's response as he had been to learn that the shoes at the corner of his vision had belonged to the man. However, this time his surprise let itself known in a slight sigh of relief rather than tensing up like a stiff board.

A slight nod left Sabel as he considered the other man's words and his own thoughts once again. Finally, his eyes turned away and some of his posture failed him. "I'm not proud of how I acted towards you, Wesley. I...maintain much of what I said, but that doesn't mean I should have said it, or said it how I did." He really needed to buy a Dummies Guide on apologies.

There were so many things he wanted to say, explanations he wanted to give and clarifications he felt needed to be made, but he didn't want to get in another debate with the man. Wesley was trying, and he deserved the same from him. So he did the only real thing that made sense and bowed slightly. "I am sorry."

"I'm not proud of my conduct either, Sabel." A thirty-something grown man had no reason to shout and stomp around a workplace in front of fresh-out-of-Hogwarts children. Er. Boys. Young men. Aurors in training. Whatever.

He didn't admit to being at fault nor apologizing for the plain threats he'd made; however, Wesley did slowly nod at Sabel's addressing of them. He blinked as the YATI bowed and scratched the back of his head, then suddenly held out his hand to the younger man in a handshake formation.

"Me too." There. Sorry. He'd said it. Done. Whew.

Was this really happening? Were they really acting like civilized, grown men?

Sabel blinked a little in surprise as he straightened slightly, his eyes flicking from the man's proffered hand, to his face and then back again. No good would come of thinking too hard or too much on it, so he took Wesley's hand and gave it a firm, brief shake.

It was awkward, but it was done. And he would not fall into the trap of messing up the peace they now had, however fragile it was, with trying to explain things or set perceptions in order as he had done with Isobel. No, this required the approach of keeping quiet. It was hard, but it was possible.

He tried for a small smile to hide the purse of his lips that kept those words at bay. Hopefully, it didn't appear like a grimace.

Was the kid wincing, grimacing, or both? Maybe his face was just messed up, but Wes had been sure to not squeeze his hand too hard when they shook. He offered the YATI a thin-lipped smile of his own and then nudged his head toward the lifts.

"You headed up to level two as well?"

Sabel blinked at Wesley in slight surprise, shifting his hands to his pockets. "I...yeah I suppose I am." He had to get to work after all, and well, this was one of the only ways to do so.

Were they going to be 'lift buddies' now too? It seemed strange how quickly misgivings could be forgiven and forgotten. Strange, but nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tazenhani

Sabel blinked at Wesley in slight surprise, shifting his hands to his pockets. "I...yeah I suppose I am." He had to get to work after all, and well, this was one of the only ways to do so.

Were they going to be 'lift buddies' now too? It seemed strange how quickly misgivings could be forgiven and forgotten. Strange, but nice.

Great. Wes nodded and led the way toward the lifts, pushing the button for level two and holding open the door for Sabel to catch it.

"Don't suppose I've missed much in the office, have I." It was more a statement than a question, as Wesley wasn't expecting Sabel to be able to tell him much anyway.

Brad wondered slowly through the atrium of the Ministry of Magic, at a normal I-don't-know-what-to-do type of pace. Before he k new it he found himself by the fountain, hm he'd not been here in a while. Biting his bottom lip he tried to think back to the last time he was here, and found none. Hm. With a sigh he wondered over and peeked over the edge of the fountain and into the waters below.

Iridesca wondered aimlessly towards the fountain in the atrium. She had always loved fountains and she found this one beautiful and the sound of the water seemed extra calming...someone must have put a charm on it or something. She made a mental note to ask someone about that. She walked to the edge of the fountain and stared down into the water and reached into the blue purse at her side and pulled out a penny. She flipped the penny around in her hand and with a little girlish grin tossed the penny into the fountain with a simple wish....quickly looking around to make sure that no one had seen her indulging in her childish pastime.

If he'd ever start counting the times he was early for work... well, he probably couldn't count them. Yes, yes, he knew how absurdly early he was almost all the time, but he simply hated the thought of someone waiting for him, or just showing up late. This time, however, he seemed to be even earlier than usual at the ministry, which gave him more than enough time to explore the large building; something he didn't really do. Ehh, he had his desk on level one, so what could he possibly do somewhere else?

Spotting the slightly familiar fountain, he walked closer to see someone whom he recognized... sort of. All he knew was that they worked in the same department, but that was pretty much it. He couldn't help but chuckle, though, as he noticed that she threw a coin into the fountain. "Making wishes, are you?" He asked, grinning.

Now, let's just hope that he didn't scare her to death, showing up out of nowhere like that.

With a little jump, she turned towards the voice with a startled look. Her look melted into a smile when she realized that voice came from not only a very handsome face, but a familiar face. She tried to read his face to see if he was making fun of her for making wishes...yes very childish. She started to talk a little bit embarrassed feeling her cheeks become a little bit red, "Well...ummm...yes I figured this was the best place to ask for a little bit of help in the world..." she said with a shrug of her shoulders and a little giggle...and then a thought went through her head, "Are you the fountain police and am I under arrest for throwing in a coin?" she asked with a little wink as she held out her wrists for the handcuffs to go on.

Ohhh. He did scare her. She smiled, however, which was the only thing that stopped him from apologizing for scaring her. He knew it never turned out well when he kept apologizing to certain people so, yes, he learned his lesson, and it was now on his list of unwritten rules.

Konrad smiled back, but he was also surprised to see her cheeks turning red. Was it something he said? Eeeek. "Oh. Maybe I could help with something?" If, you know, the fountain decided to ignore her wishes. As she went on, though, his eyes widened. Fountain police? "Sadly, I'm not even an auror, so I won't arrest you," he chuckled. "You have a rich imagination, though," which he happened to like. It was one of the things that never failed to make him smile. His imagination, on the other hand... not so creative all the time.

She let out a little bit of a nervous giggle...maybe he could help her...yes cheeks were going to get full red with that comment...was he psychic and could tell what her wish had to do with...her eyes widened but she kept the smile on her face as she pushed a stray piece of hair behind her left ear...it was a small stalling tactic...but who was really paying attention.

"O really...well I'm not sure if you could solve that mystery so quickly..." she said as she motioned towards the direction she had tossed the penny. "I think I might be the only person that can make that wish come true..." she finished with a little snap of her right hand. "And since it hasn't happened so far..then I may be in trouble..." Iridesca said with her usual up beat voice.

"Well I'm glad you're not the fountain police...I really had bigger plans than spending the day in jail for tossing money around...plus that might put e big damper in my plans to become a fountain policeman in the future..." she said with a little laugh, "So if you aren't an Auror or a Fountain Policeman, what do you do?" she asked finally turning to face him. She was just about to sit when she realized that she hadn't even introduced herself.

She held out her right hand to him, "Since you aren't going to be arresting me then I guess it's okay for me to give you my name...Iridesca MacMillan." She said with a little cock of her head.

Oh, dear. What was it that he kept saying to make her cheeks turning into deeper shades of red? Trying not to chuckle at her reaction, which was quite amusing to him, although he'd never make fun of it, Konrad focused more on what she told him. Hmmm... she was the only one that could make that wish come true... "I guess you are not going to tell me what it is about?" He asked hopefully with a tiny grin on his face. Yes, he was curious, but also knew he had to cross a line somewhere, since he couldn't just go around and ask about people's wishes. But maybe she felt like sharing.

He couldn't help but laugh at her next statement. She wanted to become a fountain police...woman? Heh. "I am a secretary," he smiled. Maybe some would consider it a dull job, but it was perfect for him. "How about you, future employee in the fountain law enforcement department?" Two could play this game.

And... ohh. Manners. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said as he gently shook her hand. He wasn't that fond of shaking hands with women, since he always did it so carefully, as if he expected them to break into pieces at the contact. Well, given his LARGE size and HUGE hands... who could blame him? "I'm Konrad Scherfig." And, since he sometimes seemed to forget to introduce himself, he felt awful. Like his parents have wasted their time, trying to teach him about manners.

She turned towards him with a little smile and cocked her left eyebrow up at his probing about her secret...she looked at his face and studied to make sure that he wasn't making fun of her...and then she decided to turn on the charm a little bit...I mean who wouldn't with such a handsome man... "Well, there's only one way to find out..." she said with a pause as she leaned into him a little closer and then continued in a little whisper as she reached into her blue purse, "You could always make a wish for me to tell you..." she said teasingly as she held out her hand which held a shiny penny in it and leaned back out.

"A secretary..." she said repeating his answer with a little bit of surprise...she looked at his size and then asked, "Well, you seem to be full of surprises...I pegged you for a member of MLE...." she said with a wink..."So what level would I be able to find you...if I ever needed some secretarial help..." she said sitting down on the edge of the fountain....she recognized his face but there were just so many people in the Ministry to keep up with.

With a giggle, she answered him, "I have to admit that I've already done the whole Law Enforcement gig around here...but I know work as an Event Planning Specialist in the Minster's Office." she said excitedly...talking about her newest position always made her perk up...it was her dream job and she hoped she was doing a good job.

She echoed his words, "It is a pleasure to meet you as well Konrad."...yes the name was very familiar to her as well...where had she heard it or seen it...

What... in the name of... Merlin's... sparkly... hat?

It was only when Iridesca started with the whispering and leaned a bit closer to him that he noticed that she was FLIRTING. Or... was she? Maybe... maybe he was terribly wrong, since he always found it difficult to know what women were thinking about. But... what if she was?! He couldn't! It was wrong on so many levels... and he simply couldn't. Not NOW. But he would also be rude if he said anything yet, and they seemed like they could get along very well. Just... not THAT way, if that's what was on her mind. Oh, dear...

His eyebrows shot up in surprise when she handed him a coin, to wish for her to tell him, she said. Uh... was it really wise to play along? He thought not. "I'm sure you'll tell me if you feel like sharing," he smiled. There. That was reasonable, wasn't it?

Hmmm. Surprised that he was a secretary? Eh, she wasn't the first one, and probably won't be the last one. "Magical Law Enforcement?" His eyebrows were up up up, almost to his hairline. "No, no, no. That would be wrong for me." Such a coward, he was. "I'd rather deal with paperwork." Not much effort either... and even though he had no problems with charms and stuff, he was better... on the theoretical part of things. He chuckled at her next question. "We work on the same level, if I am not mistaken." You know, he had access to the employee files and all. Shhh. "Level one?" He knew he'd seen her around. He just didn't have a name in mind, up until moments ago.

Ohhh. She WORKED in the Magical Law Enforcement department? Whoa. And now she was an event planner? He grinned at that, thinking that it was wise to choose a woman for this. They always knew everything about any detail for any sort of event. "I'm sure you enjoy it." If the job description wasn't anything to go by, the delighted look on her face was.

She smiled at him as she tossed the penny into the fountain for him, "Well it really isn't anything exciting...I'm a pretty boring person most days..." she said as she wiped her hand on her pants from the splash the penny had made...and tried to read his body language a little bit...maybe she had put on the charm a little bit too much...she wasn't really meaning to be too flirty but she was afraid she had crossed that line...not a good start at an introduction Gemma...she mentally smacked her forehead...and then she smiled up at the man...time to share to smooth things over almost like a friendship offering... "Honestly, the wish has already come true...when you walked up..." o, wow that didn't sound any better, "I haven't really met many people at the Ministry over the past few years so it kind of makes coming to work a little less exciting each day." maybe that was too much sharing...did that make her sound like she was mean or weird or something...probably since she just shared that with a pretty much stranger. She shrugged her shoulders a little bit.

His face instantly appeared behind a desk in her head...uh duh...yes of course she knew him..."Of course, I'm so dull sometimes...That's why you look so familiar. We work on the same level and it's not like it's a humongous level so I'm sure we've seen each other quite often..." was she rambling...maybe a little bit...but she still felt awkward because she was afraid she had smooshed his toes earlier...but you couldn't blame a girl for trying a little bit...he was handsome and she had learned a while back that most men were more flattered that way.

"It is a very different job that those I've had in the past...less stressful and you get to meet some of the most interesting people." she said with a smile. "How bout you, have you always worked on Level One?"

Ah, she tossed the coin, anyway. Maybe her wish would come true, now that she threw a couple of coins, and not only one. Hehe. But... she said she was boring? "If you say so, I honestly don't know what to say about myself," he laughed. Well, truth be told, she didn't seem boring at all, even though Konrad didn't really know anything about her. He, on the other hand, was the boring one there. He really was.

And then she said it.

...

Her wish came true... when HE walked up?! His eyes instantly widened as he heard that part, but he was more than glad to listen to the second part of her answer, which only made his face soften. "I'm not Mr Popular either, if that helps." It probably didn't. "But I'm sure you'll meet amazing people through this new job of yours." Planning events surely involved a large team, he at least knew that much.

He smiled when she actually remembered him. It's not like someone passing through the front desk area could miss him... since he worked there... and that six foot four frame of his didn't really help him go unnoticed either, as much as he didn't like it. "Yes, I'm sure I've seen you around," he said with a smile. The least he could do was know some of the employees working on the same level, even though he hadn't officially met all of them.

"I don't think it wouldn't be stressful for me." He was organized, neat and all, but when if it came to planning events... he knew he'd have awful headaches. That's why women were so good at this. "What exactly did you do before, if you don't mind my asking?" She probably figured by now what a curious creature Konrad was. Eh, everyone got used to it... eventually. "Yes, I worked here for the last... four years, I think. I used to travel a lot before moving here." And he missed those days... but he also wanted to settle down and maybe one day have a family of his own. Not that he didn't have a spoiled baby already.

... his feline companion, that is.