Heath gave Cris a small nod. "Hey" he said in true guy form. Listening to the group talk about parties was amusing. He had gotten himself into a really wild crowd, and he loved it!

"Good work, Cris," Ian said once the owl had been sent off.

For once, he was at a loss for words....sort of. "How is everything supposed to work? Gee, I never really thought of that." He shifted his gaze to the ceiling and rubbed his chin. "Well, Theo, the department head, tells me what I need to do, and I relay that information to you. You get it done, and the games run smoothly. You don't, and...well...let's not get into that."

He smirked though, at the kid's comment to Luce. "We'll see what you can handle," he added mischievously.

"True, it is quite large and hectic." Ian nodded, noting the legitimate reasoning Luce presented him with.

Ian chuckled. "Luce, 'twas only a small joke. I have complete faith in the newbie's abilities." He folded his arms, sensing a need to defend himself soon.

"Okay, okay, I concede. It was actually Theo who started the tradition, but nevertheless, we still continue."

Ian smiled as Heath took notes on what to do for the day. So responsible. "Excellent note-taking, Heath," he said, adding, "You can come closer, you know. We don't bite....often."

"That's the spirit!" he said, pumping his fist and cheering.

"Oh, do we have parties. Let's just say that there is never a dull moment around this office." Ian winked to his newbie.

After this, Ian clapped his hands once and rubbed them together. "Alright team, you have your assignments for the day. If I have forgotten something, please don't hesitate to tell me. If I've covered everything, let's break and get to work! If you have questions, I'll be in my office." He paused a moment, waiting for a response from his employees.

Heath chuckled. "Sorry, just a bit nervous. I'll get right on the assignment." He flushed slightly and quickly escaped to his cubicle.

Shylo shuffled awkwardly. She hadn't been asigned to do anything. Once everyone was settlnig into their work, she stood up form her desk and quickly moved over to Ian.

"Um, Mr Ashby...Ian. I've owled te Kenmire captain, is there anyone else that needs contacting?"

Alina walked in, a pile of documents in her arms. It wasn't a massive pile, but it would take a while to read through, message the right people and file fully. That was probably why Theo had decided there were better things to do and had delegated it to Ian to sort out. It wouldn't surprise her if Ian passed it on too, it didn't look particularly exciting reading.

"Ian, I have some lovely looking Quidditch sponsorship stuff here that needs reading and sorting. Don't blame me...I tried to interest Theo with it first!" She laughed, Theo aways took all the interesting Quidditch stuff for himself first.

She also held out a small bag, containing cookies and couple of chunks of fudge. Homemade, of course. "And here is a little something to get you through this afternoon - but Theo doesn't know about the fudge yet, so keep it quiet!" She knew Ian loved her cooking, and she had loads of stuff around the house as Nia had taken to baking too, as long as she got all the mixture scrapings.

"Nothing to be sorry about," Ian said. "Or to worry about," he added hastily.

"Of course. I'm so sorry. Well, we have the Kenmare captain owled, and two possible officials owled. Umm, how about you...check the equipment to make sure it hasn't been tampered with. Then we can store them in mine or Theo's office." Otherwise, everything seemed to be covered. His employees needed to not be on top of everything!

"Why, hello, Alina," he said cheerfully. And then he spotted the stack of papers. "Not interesting enough for Theo, eh?" he chuckled.

"Sponsorship, huh? Well then, I'll just have to get right to it. I think I might ask a few employees to help me sort through this stuff, as well." He shrugged, and smiled as he saw the small package. "Fudge you say? How lovely! Thank you very much, Alina." Inside, Ian was jumping for joy, but in the office place, he had to keep it semi-professional. "I love your fudge," he whispered.

Shylo nodded and smiled to Alina, who had just entered. "Morning." She said quietly, but politely. She jumped up from her seat, and hurried past the other employees. She slipped her key into the Equipment cupboard and it swung open with a series of clicks.

Now. Where to start?

"Apparently not!" Alina laughed, before adding, "Though I think he was more interested in his parcel to be honest. He's been highly secretive in his office since I gave it to him after lunch." She was evidently very curious about the whole thing, especially since she hadn't recognised where the parcel was from, and she knew the packing of the major quidditch suppliers.

Alina nodded. "Its not as pressing as the Kenmare game, but as soon as possible would be good. I know how tedious all those regulatory bits can get." Even Alina herself hadn't managed to read further than one page into that stuff. It seemed pretty heavy going to her.

Ian's reaction amused Alina, since she knew exactly how much he loved her fudge. "You're very welcome - and any new requests, please say. Nia has become addicted to baking sweet stuff and I really don't want all the calories!" She laughed, and touched her stomach lightly. Alina had a slim figure, and she wanted it to stay that way. "Chocolate rice crispy cakes are her favourite, since I let her make those on her own, but I'm sure she'd give anything a try, especially if it involves making a mess!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dracos_Lady

Shylo nodded and smiled to Alina, who had just entered. "Morning." She said quietly, but politely. She jumped up from her seat, and hurried past the other employees. She slipped her key into the Equipment cupboard and it swung open with a series of clicks.

Now. Where to start?

Alina nodded in reply. "Heya!" she said, before watching her hurry off to the cupboard.

Cris grinned at Heath as greeted him back. Hm. At least it was good that everyone here seemed to be friendly, amiable, and approachable. The last thing he needed now was a bossy boss and a bunch of snobby co-workers. No thank you!

He then grinned gratefully at Ian when he was praised.

Then, he did realize that he must have said something wrong, or probably asked the wrong question. Maybe he asked the wrong person. Eh, Ian didn't seem to be to keen on answering, but he'd settle for his answer anyway. He'd get to talk to Theo one of these days, when he got the time. "I see," he muttered, nodding his head. "That all sounds simple enough."

"...And yeah, I guess we will see," he remarked, a hint of challenge in his voice. He was, of course, confident enough to do this. Why'd you think he signed up for this job in the first place?
"Hehe. Then I guess I was put in the right department," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Cris if you like to party then you are DEFINITELY in the right place. Our division has the best parties and everyone in the ministry envies us because we're so loose." Luce smirked as Ian mentioned what would happen if they didn't do their jobs. "Cris let's just put it this way. The last person that didn't do their job got sent to Azkaban." Luce winked and stretched back once again.

Ian smirked. He thought he had an idea what could be in the packaging, but he wasn't sure. "Well, you know how Theo can get when he receives something to his liking." Ian chuckled, thinking about the last time he got something special in the mail.

"Well, I'll be sure to get through it all once that game is finished being planned." He nodded, signifying his understanding.

"Will do!" he added. "You know, those chocolate rice crispy cakes sound pretty delicious." He sure did love their cooking.

"Oho! The boy's got spunk! I like that in a person." He smirked at the boy. This one was certainly going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

"Well, off to work with you," he added, cheerily.

Ian simply nodded the whole time. He chuckled at the proper times, but, to be truthful, he was getting tiresome of all the chit chat.

"We are a bit looser, but we still need to remember to do our work. Now, seeing as the other employees have gone off to their respective jobs for the day, I suggest we all follow their suit. If you have questions, you know where to find me."

With that, he bid them all adieu with a short bow, and turned and walked into his office. He had a few things to sort out.

Alina grinned. "I sure do, though I think he is actually reading some of the files I left on his desk as well...shock horror!" She laughed, her eyes twinkling.

"I'll let Nia know. I'll tell her you requested them especially...she'll like that. And it'll keep her quiet for the evening, which is always a good thing." She was glad Nia was more forthcoming and showed more savvy than Theo Junior, but sometimes it was a tad too much - almost like having a teenager in the house. But that teenager and her twin didnt mix well at all.

"Yes, I better go check for any visitors, and look through my filing again." She laughed, her job sounded far more boring than everyone made it feel. She loved the atmosphere in this department. "I'll catch you guys later." She smiled, and headed towards Theo's office.

Rosabella Russo hurried as fast as her high-heeled navy blue shoes would allow. A small and stylish leather bag was slung over her shoulder and a lip-stick stained cup of coffee was held carefully in her right hand.

Bella entered the Quidditch Division room to find it fluttering with lots of activity. Spotting her own cubicle in the corner, Rosebella hurried over to it and dropped her bag down. She placed her coffee next to her bag and pushed up the matching sleeves of her navy work robes.

Looking around and seeing the Head of the division exiting the room, Bella sat down in her chair and decided to wait until he came back to introduce herself.

With a box stuffed high enough so that Pete's brown eyes could barely see, he walked into his new department with a proud smile not many could really see. He loved this. Working for the ministry! Not only that, working with sports, an ongoing every day thing. It was like a dream come true. He didn't know how, but found the cubicle he had been assigned to, and set the box down on the desk.

He beamed as he looked around. His box was stuffed full of little things to make his space his own, pictures and memorable things. He'd unpack those later. First, to meet new people.

He had a brunette girl next to him, to which he happily walked over and extended his hand out. "Hello! I'm Peter. I'm new! Pretty cool job, huh? I can't believe I actually made it in. I've always wanted a job like this. And right in the Ministry of Magic! Such and honor...It's pretty exciting!"

Rosabella tucked her brown hair behind her shoulders and licked her lips, looking around the small and cramped cubicle.

First off, organization. Bella thought to herself, already trying to sort through stacks of papers left on the desk. The sloppy mess was making her go crazy.

Turning to her right she noticed a young man walk in rather bouncily and ended up in the cubicle next to her. Rosabella smiled at him, "Hello Peter. I'm Rosabella. Bella, Rosa, whatever for short." She shook his hand and grinned. "I know what you mean. I just transferred to England recently, I can't believe I actually got the job here though." Well, it was nice to know that there were some friendly co-workers here already.

Peter smiled brightly as she introduced herself. "That's a lovely name. You know I actually only found out recently that Bella means beautiful in Italian. I'm rather silly not to know that," he chuckled lightly. It must be nice to be named Beautiful. Or, beautiful rose if he had translated the name correctly.

"New to England?" he repeated, surprised, but nonetheless pleased. "Well, welcome! I've lived in London all of my life. I'm sure you'll enjoy it here. Have you settled in nicely?"

Rosabella smiled slightly as he mentioned the literal translation of her name. Of course this was what most people thought when they first met Bella. Beautiful. But she wasn't really. Just average looking.

"Well, its not really a commonly known fact so I don't blame you. Of course I'd tell you what Peter means but I haven't the faintest idea." Rosebella admitted with a grin, hoping Peter would take that as a joke.

"Oh yes thank you." She replied, thinking of the lovely cozy apartment she'd rented right near the Ministry actually. "I'm sure I'll love it. I already do actually." Bella told him.

Peter laughed as she said she might've informed him of his name's meaning, but she didn't know it. "Oh man, I don't believe I know my own name's meaning either. Someone once told me it meant beans, but that's just odd," he snickered. Who would name another person 'Beans'? "I should look that up later..."

"That's wonderful," he smiled at her brightly. "New place, brand new start, in the ministry! Still really hard to believe for me. I've always only been an announcer for Quidditch at school, but, working here! It's simply amazing, isn't it?"

"Of course he is," Ian chuckled. Truth be told, Ian didn't actually think Theo was reading. It just wasn't really his style.

"Splendid!" Ian clapped his hands together in excitement as he said this. "I can't wait to see what little Nia cooks up for me. I have no doubts that it will be absolutely delicious." He was on the verge of jumping up and down, but decided not to, seeing as this was a work place and all.

He waved to Alina as she exited his division. "Thank you, Alina. I'll get on these papers as soon as I can. Have a good day."

Even from his office, Ian could clearly hear the clickety clacking of heels. He liked to think he had the hearing of a hawk or something. Sure enough, a rather posh-looking woman entered the division. This woman, Ian did not recognize.

He pushed himself out of his chair and squeezed himself out of the doorway to greet this new employee. He approached her, arm outstetched for a shake, and said, "Greetings. I'm Ian Ashby, your division head. It's a pleasure to meet you." He smiled warmly before remembering to add something else. "Oh, and call me Ian. Only first names are to be used around here, unless the Minister himself is around, of course."

"So...Miss...Wears-A-Lotta-Navy-Blue, might I ask how and or why you find yourself here in the quidditch division?"

Alas! More employees! Wonderful! And the best part was that he didn't even have to remove himself from a chair. Prime timing.

"Now, now, we musn't have such uncertainties in this division. You were very confident you'd make it here, weren't you? I was very confident you might." Ian smiled at his other new employee. "Oh, and by the way, I'm Ian Ashby, division head. Call me Ian. First names only in this division unless Minister Cooper is around. And you might be?" He stuck his hand out for yet another hand shake (which he was getting quite a few of today, and he was loving it).

Peter turned around from his chat with the beautiful Rose to come upon his division head. Oh goodness, such an honor. He shook the man's hand with pride and smiled brightly. "I'm Peter, sir! I mean Ian. It sounds weird calling you by a first name basis. But I'll try," he assured his boss.

He beamed at the very idea that he belonged in this department. "Why thank you. I hate to sound conceited but I did have a pretty strong feeling I'd end up here. Long time dream! It's very exciting. Very honorable too, under the same roof as the minister himself! It's great," he smiled proudly.

Rosabella laughed. Beans? That was a tad bit odd. But of course you couldn't have any control over what your name was. That was up to your parents. Which, Rosabella thought, was quite unfair. They wouldn't have to be stuck with an unusual and odd name for the rest of their life. She was mulling this over when suddenly the division head appeared.

"Hello Ian. Very pleased to meet you." Rosabella said politely, "I'm Rosabella, nicknames are fine. Whatever floats your boat." She told him with a grin. "And I happen to find myself here today because I was informed by owl that I had been employed to this position by the head of this whole department." Bella answered him, a small part of her brain worrying she was in the wrong place.

Shylo was checking every ball for the match, making sure that each one was in perfect condition. She reached a bludger, and waved her wand over it. BANG. The tampered bludger shot up in the air, narrowly missing her face. She shrieked, and fell backwards out of the cupboard, landing on her behind.

The bludger whizzed out of the small room and into the main office, causing havock. "TAMPERED BLUDGER!" Shylo yelled. "WATCH OUT!"

"Well it's great to meet you, Peter. A pleasure." He shook the man's hand vigorously and smiled widely in the process. "You'll get used to it. I promise everyone does eventually."

He chuckled at the good sir's response and said, "Now that's the spirit!"

"Hmm. Rosabella. I'll have to think about a good nickname with you. Rosa and Bella are too obvious. I'll let you know when I think of a good one, though. Anyway, welcome to the fast, fun, and intense world behind the scenes of all the quidditch matches." He made his voice deep, like an announcer's. "Are you up for the challenge?"

Ian screamed like a small child and immediately dropped to the ground. "fjdklajsdkldja AHHHH!!!! (that's his small child scream) HIT THE DECK, KIDS!" Where's a beater when you need one? "LOOSE BLUDGER, LOOSE BLUDGER! RUNNN!!!!!!" He screamed some more and crawled to the closet, dodging the rogue bludger as it pounded the ground around him. He closed the door, fumbling for his wand. But he couldn't find it! Where was it? He frantically searched for a beater's bat, and when he found one, he burst out of the closet, holding the club like a wand toward the bludger. "You're going down!" he shouted. Letting out a war cry, Ian rushed at the bludger, which sped toward him. He wound up, and SMACKED the bludger with all his out-of-shape might his arms could muster.

WHACK! He smacked the bludger, which flew off (into his office of all places)...but when it would return, if at all, he couldn't be sure....DUN DUN DUN.

Shylo's jaw dropped as Mr Ashby squeeled like a young girl whose balloon had been popped. "Don't panic sir!" She called, ducking as the bludger sped straight towards her. Her eyes widened in shock as the bludger went whizzing into his office. She groaned as there was a sickening crunch of a splitting desk. Pulling her wand out and grabbing a beater's bat, she ran bravely into the office.

The bludger shot straight towards her and narrowly missed her head. It did, however, catch her wand, which splintered.

Bella grinned, "Well be sure to tell me when you do think of one, Ian." She said, folding her arms across her chest. This would be interesting. No one yet had been able to come up with a creative enough nickname that didn't follow the names of Bella and Rosa.

Bella had just opened her mouth to respond that she was up for any challenge when she heard the squawk of a fellow co-worker and saw Ian scream. Bella let our her own shriek of suprise and upon instinct covered her head and crouched down underneath her desk.