Stepping out of the lift, Esme glanced around the rather nice place that appeared to be a waiting area, or...perhaps not. There seemed to be a few seating arrangements, but she had thought that the waiting area would have contained more.

Looking around, she took a few steps further, hoping to come across another employee so that she could ask just where she was supposed to be.

Isobel needed some fresh air. She'd come into work early this morning, and had been working for a good few hours now. So she was going to head out, and have a little wandered around diagon alley, before coming back into level 2. She wasn't really paying attention to where she was going, not until she got the foyer area anyway. That was when she looked up, noticing that someone was there.

Ooh. "Hello..." Isobel smiled, as she stopped by the woman. She looked a little lost, which wasn't really the best thing up here. "Are you okay?"

Oh, thank goodness someone had appeared. Esme had begun to wonder if she'd have to go back downstairs to ask how to get to the waiting room. How embarrassing that would have been?

"Hello." She greeted the woman with a grateful smile. "I will be as soon as I can find the reception area and waiting room. I was just hired recently, and there's supposed to be an orientation of some sort to be held?"

Isobel smiled at the woman. So she was new here. That was nice, she'd noticed that there were quite a few new employees around. "Got your Id?" Isobel asked, still smiling at the woman. She quickily thought that maybe she should add something though. So she didn't seem too rude. "I don't mean to appear rude, but you can never be too unsafe with the cult around." Because that will be fine.

She nodded next though. "Do you know which division you're working in?" Izzy asked, feeling quite interested. It would be nice to have some new faces in the offices. "I'm Isobel Montogue, I work in the Auror offices."

Esme glanced down at her blouse and jeans. She lifted one hip slightly to show the ID tag clipped to her pocket. "Of course, it's no problem..." Her voice trailed off. "Cult?" She repeated, her brow creased in askance. "What cult?"

She shifted her weight to her other leg and uncrossed her arms. "MLES." She held out a hand. "Esme Bass, Evidence Retrieval Officer." An Auror, hmm? Very cool. "You've got a pretty cool job." She remarked with a grin. "Been here for long?"

Aubrie walked unsteadly off the lift. Gosh those lifts made her a little motion sick. One thing she was for sure to ask was if there was anyway of getting around those lifts. Carefully she pulled a bottle of water out of her bag and took a big gulp. A bit better.

Aubrie looked around and finally saw a receptionist desk and waiting area. Taking a quick look around she walked over.

Isobel smiled as she glanced down at the woman's ID. "Perfect." She nodded. Well at least she knew she actually worked here. She didn't know about the cult? Isobel frowned. "The Cult of Walpurgis." She added with a bit of a scowl. "You will probably here about them more from Mr bole." Isobel nodded, not willing to talk about it any further. They had to be careful, there could be a lot of Cult Moles around, especially within their department.

"It's nice to meet you Esme." Izzy nodded with a smile, looking more relaxed now. She had a feeling that this Esme was good, which was a very good thing. "It is..." She nodded with a smile. "I've been here for about a year, but I worked on the international task force for 10 years before I came here."

Esme's face blossomed into a smile as Isobel voiced her satisfaction with the ID, though the expression turned into a frown when she spoke of the cult. Cult of Walpurgis? That...didn't sound good. "Of course...thanks for the heads-up though." At least she was aware of such a presence, but she was curious to know more. Who were they? And why were they here?

A recently shaped eyebrow arched. "10 years? Very, very impressive." She nodded slowly. "What sort of work did you do? I, myself, recently finished my training in forensic investigation...but I was a Healer before that."

"It's okay." Isobel nodded with a smile. She definetly wanted to make sure that all her collegues knew about the cult, that way they could put a united front on for facing them. "If nobody tells you about them though...come back to me." She nodded with another smile. It would be nice to get to know Esme...over a nice talk about the cult. Obviously.

"Yup." Isobel was very proud about her time abroad, but she was much more at home here. This was her life now. She loved it. "Just protecting the wizarding world abroad really. I enjoyed it, but I prefer working here." She used to be a healer? "Well...that should come in useful....having an ex-healer around."

Relief flickered across the woman's face as Isobel offered to share further details about the cult should no one else do that. After all, if this cult was something to be concerned about, then she should know about it. "Thanks, I really appreciate that." Esme replied.

A smile lifted her lips as she took note of the pride in Isobel's voice as she spoke of her time abroad. Same feeling that she had when speaking of her own job. Not enough people had pride in their achievements. "Must have had quite the adventure."

"Well, I certainly hope that I never have to use that training, but it is definitely an advantage." She remarked mildly.

"It's okay." Iosbel smiled at the woman. "I didn't know much about them until I began working here, so it's okay that you don't know too much." She'd only learn more, which would be a very good thing. "Our desks will probably be in the same area so you can feel free to ask me anything." Because she was totally up for helping the new employees.

"Yes....I loved it." But had had to get back. "I had to come back though....I missed home a lot." And she'd couldn't stay no where near her ex-husband. So all in all it was a good thing. "I'd hope not..." But you never knew in this kind of job.

Well, at least she wasn't the only one who was completely clueless about this so-called cult. "Thanks..." She said. "Makes me feel a little better considering that I"m pretty much clueless. I'll be sure to keep an eye out regardless." Esme glanced down the hall to where she assumed the desks lay. "Great! Looking forward to working together. It'll definitely be a learning experience."

Something flickered in the woman's eyes as Isobel mentioned home. "I can understand that..." She said, her voice trailing off. "Better to be prepared though." And it was. She had a feeling that the experience would pay dividends in the future.

Lights gave the foyer and especially the portraits on the wall a sunny smile as she walked through. Some portraits smiled back at her, a few even waved, but many just stared at her sternly. Lights suppressed a shiver. Even in painting form, Magical Law Enforcement officials were so intimidating ...

And now to Level 2. Ethan stepped off of the lift and onto the new level, his blue robes swirling around his ankles. A quick scan of the room showed that this was the Magical Law Enforcement department. Ethan decided to move off to the side of the room and look like he needed something to do. This part of his plan was easy because, well, he needed something to do. It was his first day on Maintenance, and he had just been pretty much rejected on Level 3, as apparently Magical Accidents and Catastrophes had everything under control. Which makes sense, considering that's their job... he thought as he recounted this, a critical look on his face. Ethan soon became aware of how silly he looked, however, and promptly returned to looking as important as he possibly could. This proved impossible, though, because Ethan, as a 19-year-old Maintenance worker, wasn't very important-looking. He began to rock back an forth, and scanned back and forth around the room, waiting for someone to spill something, or for something to break, or anything, really, that would give the Ministry a real reason to pay Ethan for his 'work'.

Lights walked out of the lifts - and right into a young man standing there. Her coffee - which was already congealing, proving how bad it was - spilt right over him and onto the floor. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" said Lights, turning pink. To be truthful, the guy looked a little lost. She didn't think he was a Law Enforcement employee - he just didn't look the type somehow. "I'm Lights Salamander, Security Officer. Anyone you want to see?"

And his wish was answered! Upon being marauded with thick, boiling coffee (which felt more like syrup on his robes), Ethan turned quickly on his heel to see who had ran into him. He wanted to thank them for making a mess. Then, right as he turned, the girl introduced herself. Lights... Interesting name. he thought as he tried to come up with an official-sounding answer. He didn't want to be kicked out for some reason or another. "That's fine, really." Ethan bought himself more time by casting a few Scourgify charms and cleaning the coffee syrup off of the floor, the girl, and himself. "I'm Ethan Lennox. Maintenance. Nice to meet you, Lights," he said, "Anyone I want to see? Well, I'm not sure if I have to see anyone or not. We were told to patrol the levels and see if anyone needed something, erm, maintained." Here, Ethan paused and looked down a little. "It's my first day, and I feel really lost."

Lights smiled at Ethan. "Nice to meet you too. It's my first day on the job as well - I've met my co-workers, and one seems a bit ... frosty." Lights sighed. "Do you think being cheerful is the same as being childish?" Because she had really only been cheerful ... really. "People have described me as a lot of things, but not childish." She smiled ruefully. "What about you, do you like your co-workers at Maintenance?"

Ethan shook his head. "No, to both questions. Being cheerful is good, not many people are capable of it. And, inevitably, they're usually bitter towards those who are capable of it. And no, I don't really know anybody. I kind of, went off alone to see if anything was broken, or messy, or something, and you made that cone true. I want to give them a reason to pay me, you know? Maybe it comes from having been a Ravenclaw, maybe it's a little pureblood pride showing through. But something makes me want to prove myself to anyone and everyone, and I usually make a fool of myself first," he said. Ethan gestured over towards the seats, and took a small step that direction. "Want to sit down?" he offered.

Lights made a noise of sympathy. "Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate." She smiled at Ethan. "I was a Ravenclaw in Hogwarts too, and it was a lot to live up to. It's like everyone expects you to be perfect because of your house, huh? But you don't have to be worried about proving yourself, Ethan - you're a nice guy, and that's what matters." Lights sat down on the seats, patting the one next to her. "I can tell that without even knowing them. Tell me about yourself. Family, friends?"

Family? Ugh, Ethan didn't like to think about his family. But, alas, he had just met this girl and it was only nice to oblige. "I'm an only child, pureblood, from pureblood parents. They were both avid Muggle-bashers. Ever since I was a kid I didn't agree with it. I moved out once I finished Hogwarts; I didn't want to hear it anymore! They tried to shape me to be like them, and I didn't want that," he said, sounding rather bitter, but softening his tone as he spoke. The bitterness picked up again, though, as he added, "I've vowed that if I ever have children, I'm not naming any of then Jacob or Catherine." Ethan looked back up at Lights, scowling at te memory of his hateful, and thus hated, parents. His eyes, though, showed vulnerability. "Sorry, I don't like to get like that..." he trailed off.

Lights smiled. "It's okay. You obviously don't like your parents, and you're obviously nothing like them. I don't like my dad - didn't like him." Lights looked down. "He ... until I was ten, there was almost no end to him hitting me. All the time, for the slightest thing. My mum tried to stop him, but ... She was strong, but not that strong. He left when I was ten, just before my brothers were born. Two years later he died in a car crash. I always remember him, though." Lights pulled back her left sleeve to expose a long scar running the inside of her arm, following the veins. "Just before he left ... it was like he couldn't help leaving a mark." Although she'd always have a bigger mark, but she didn't tell Ethan about that. It could wait. "My mum died when I was seventeen," mumbled Lights, still not looking at Ethan. "She was the best mum anyone could wish for ... but she died. She was into extreme sports, see, and she went to this one place often. Cliffs, overlooking the sea and really dangerous rocks. But that was what Mum liked about it - she loved the danger, the adrenaline rush. She was an experienced rock climber, it shouldn't have happened ... her rope snapped, and she fell. I saw the police photos of Mum lying over the rocks, her back broken ..." Lights swallowed, images flashing through her mind. She wiped away the tears, and then looked up at Ethan, her eyes flashing. "They found out it wasn't an accident, though. It was murder. Someone cut my mum's ropes, knowing she'd fall and die! And I just want to know who did it." Lights felt her momentary anger ebb away, and she slumped back on her chair, her head in her hands. "I don't know why I'm telling you this. I've never talked about it before, except with my older sister." Lights didn't know why, but telling Ethan made her feel better.

Did she say murder? thought Ethan, his jaw dropping open in shock. "Yeah, why are you telling me this?" he asked seriously, but not in a way to suggest that it was a mistake. "It's alright, Lights, everything's fine. You'll be able to find your Mum's killer now that you're part of Magical Law Enforcement. And you know what?" he said, moving over and hugging her as she buried her face in her hands, "I'll help you do it. It's not like I have anything else to do anyways." He pulled back from the hug, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. "What do you say?"

"Thank you," said Lights. She smiled at Ethan gratefully. "I don't know how we'll do it, though. We don't know anything about the murderer except that they were a witch or wizard, because the cut was so exact it had to have been made by a Severing Charm." Lights frowned. "If my dad was still alive, I would have suspected him, but other than that ..." She was silent for a moment. "This is actually why I joined Magical Law Enforcement," she admitted softly. "I wanted to be an Auror, so I'd have access to the murder file on Mum's death. Unfortunately, that didn't happen." Lights was starting to feel her great mood slipping away, so she grinned at Ethan. "Hey, I've got to go. Want to meet after work, at the Muggle pizza parlour outside or something? The pizza is awesome!"

Did she just ask me out? Ethan thought quizzically. That was odd for him: he was usually the one doing the asking out. But Ethan wasn't about to pass up an opportunity. "That sounds great!" he said, "I love pizza. Want to meet there around, oh, four thirty?" He wanted to carry out the conversation they were having. And, of course, there was pizza in it for him... Ethan stood up, extending a hand to help Lights out of her seat as well. "We do have to go back to work. I'll see you at four thirty?" he asked. He wanted to be reassured that she would show.

Lights smiled, accepting Ethan's help up. "Four thirty's great." She didn't let it show that her mind was whirling. Did I just ask a guy I've barely known for five minutes out? She grinned to herself. Ethan was a nice person - it wouldn't hurt to meet with him. Lights herself had dated a few times in the past, but never seriously. And she'd never been the one to do the asking ...
Lights grinned at Ethan over her shoulder as she walked away in the general direction of the conference room. "See you soon!"