Rico was a bit surprised that she was so perceptive and able to tell that he was new. Then again, it was a bit obvious that he wasn't British....

"I'm Rico Serio, head of International Trading Standards," he replied proudly, smiling. The people here sure are friendly, Rico thought, amazed at the number of people he'd met just this morning.


And then he felt a better when Susan was able to give her directions, thank Merlin.

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Hannah Granger," Rico said, offering a handshake. "Which department do you work in, by the way...?"

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Serio. I work in the Law Enforcment Department, at the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts division. It's exciting but nothing's going on at the moment. You should see some of the things that the poor Muggles have to endure..." And there she was, blabbing again to this super-hot Rico person.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fire_faerie

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Serio. I work in the Law Enforcment Department, at the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts division. It's exciting but nothing's going on at the moment. You should see some of the things that the poor Muggles have to endure..." And there she was, blabbing again to this super-hot Rico person.

"Yes, some wizards just don't know where to draw the line especially when it comes to playing pranks. The poor muggles don't know what hits them!" she said, feeling genuinely sad for the muggles. "I remember once when I was walking towards the Leaky Couldren in London, I saw this bewitched dustbin on the road that was throwing garbage at the Muggles." she said, making a face. "Some of them were dressed up in their best muggle costumes and it was all getting covered with scraps and banana peels! It was ... ew" she chuckled. "But then when I came out of the Leaky Couldren, the dustbin was gone so I guess the Ministry officials must've taken it away"

"Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, eh?" Rico raised an eyebrow, listening to Hannah's and Susan's stories about poor Muggles. Being a pureblood, he didn't really have much expertise in dealing with Muggles…but he did have a story of his own.

"When I used to work at the American Ministry, in the Department of Transportation, we had to deal with an enchanted….what's it called? Aeroplanes? Arplanes? One of our employees had tinkered with one and it confused the poor Muggles in New Mexico," he chuckled at the memory. "No one was hurt, but we had to do quite a bit of explaining….and a cover-up involving UFOS…" Rico smiled. "I don't suppose you have that problem here though, do you?" he asked Hannah with a smile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DumbledoRO

"Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, eh?" Rico raised an eyebrow, listening to Hannah's and Susan's stories about poor Muggles. Being a pureblood, he didn't really have much expertise in dealing with Muggles…but he did have a story of his own.

"When I used to work at the American Ministry, in the Department of Transportation, we had to deal with an enchanted….what's it called? Aeroplanes? Arplanes? One of our employees had tinkered with one and it confused the poor Muggles in New Mexico," he chuckled at the memory. "No one was hurt, but we had to do quite a bit of explaining….and a cover-up involving UFOS…" Rico smiled. "I don't suppose you have that problem here though, do you?" he asked Hannah with a smile.

Susan giggled. She was really happy to have a co-worker who was both funny and good looking! "I don't know what they're called." she shrugged. "You could say I've had little or no experience with muggles in my life." she nodded. "Except for this one time that I dashed a muggle while walking on the roa. He was quite rude to me," she said, suddenly remembering that day.

"They are called aeroplanes," Hannah giggled, "And no, we don't really have that problem over here!" she said to Rico. And usually muggles aren't that rude, they just don't understand what's happening and they get frustrated! Trust me, I'm muggle-born so I kind of know everything to do with muggles!" She just realised that maybe she said the wrong thing. After all, there were still witches and wizards who are still prejudiced against Muggles and muggleborns. Maybe in wherever Mr. Serion is from, they haven't cancelled out that attitude! "Um, Mr. Serio, at wherever you come from, have they heard all about Voldemort and his ideas?" she asked timidly, trying to convey her real question with her eyes (What is your attitude?).

"Rude? How so?" Rico frowned. He didn't like hearing that one of his coworkers had been troubled...particulary a kind lady like Susan.

Then Hannah explained a little more about Muggles and Rico relaxed. "You're muggleborn? That's amazing!" He beamed at her. "I must admit to being fascinated with Muggle transportation, like their aeroplanes and motorbicycles? Motorbikes? Motorcycles? I just bought one, actually, to figure out how it works." Rico laughed at himself. "Muggles are just so brilliant, you know, the way they keep inventing teckyknowlgee but they still use brooms for sweeping! Isn't that funny?!" He grinned again, as he was sure that he didn't know what he was talking about when it came to Muggles.

And then she mentioned something about You-Know-Who. "In America, we have heard of Voldemort, and Voldemortist too," he said, shaking his head. "I've never witnessed or had to deal with the sort of anti-Muggle behavior they exhibit," Rico said seriously, "but I think it's morally wrong."

Hannah visibly relaxed. "Yeah, I think it's horrible too. Anyway, I'd better go and leave you two to get on with your meeting." She hesitated for a bit then said, "Will you be in the cafeteria sometime? We could have lunch together, the 3 of us, and talk. That is," she added quickly, "if you want to, of course."

Enrico smiled at Hannah as she turned to leave. "Sure, sure, lunch sometime," he replied with a wink at her. "I'll probably be in the cafeteria later on. You'll probably see me there…enjoying my burrito…" he trailed off in thought. "See you around then."

"See you!" Hannah said brightly and walked off.
ooc: I posted in the cafeteria

Rico waved goodbye to Hannah, watching her walk away, and then turned back to Susan.

"Well then, I guess it's back to work for us, finally," Rico said cheerfully. "I've just got a few things to read over, but no specific assignments for you or anything," he chuckled. "So you can set up your desk, take a break....or whatever." He nodded politely to Susan and then wandered back to his desk.

"Yes, ofcourse." Susan smiled. She was disappointed that she couldn't talk to Rico a little more, but there would be plenty of time for that later. "I'll just set up my desk and get aquainted with everything and everyone" she said. She chose a desk next to the window. It was currently overlooking what looked like a lovely British countryside. She sat down and started taking out things from her bag which looked small but could hold everything under the sun! She rummaged for a few things and set up. After a little while, her desk was set up. She was glad it looked neat and tidy. She felt something was missing. She remembered what it was - photo of her family! She took out a frame with a photograph of her with her family. They were waving at her, smiling lovingly. She smiled at them and then got up.

Well then, she thought. I should just walk around and meet people if I can. She took a glance at Rico office. He was apparently busy with some work. She didn't want to disturb him. She walked towards and door and our into the corridor.

Rico smiled at Susan as she left, and couldn't help but wonder if they should have chatted longer. Ah, well, you still have this article to read, Mr. Suave, he thought, turning back to the magazine on his desk. It was a interesting read, a well-researched report on illegal trading of some half-breeded magical creatures. Rico was going to have to take this to his department head, as it seemed to be of his division's concern....but first he would have to finish reading it first. And maybe doing some research about the animal breeding would help.....

He sighed to himself and flipped a page of The Quibbler.

Emma had gotten off the lift and had searched for the right door to the Standards division's office. Eventually she found it and opened the door quietly, entering the nearly silent office. She hear some far off noises in the back, but stared blankly at the rows upon rows of dull grey cubicles.

'Well, that makes me feel really unique.' she thought with humour. She had not seen so many cubicles since she had tried her hand as a clerk in a muggle office building. Deciding to follow the sounds that she heard, she walked slowly toward the back of the large room, inspecting every cublicle as she went along, trying to find some other worker that could give her some directions.

She eventually found an office with a neatly stenciled name upon the door. She read the name in a low voice, 'Mr Enrico Antonio Serio'. This was as good a place to start her search for her new boss. She knocked briskly on the door and awaited to see if anyone was in.

Rico was just finishing jotting down a few notes regarding classification of lethifolds when he heard a knock on the door.

“Come in!” Rico said clearly, looking up from his desk. Maybe that's another employee! he thought hopefully.

Emma came in and took a few steps to stand before the man's desk. She presented him with the letter she had gotten from the Head of International magical cooperation. She grinned at him.

"Good day, sir... Mr Serio i believe? My name is Emma Brown and I was asked to report here to meet my superior, which I assume is you... sir." She said in a clear voice, having learnt that much from her stint in a muggle office. Be clear and concise, Miss Brown, Mr Pinenut had said with a smug expression.

He'd thought of himself quite highly and had taken it upon himself to be her teacher... or so she had understood. He had been her boss back then, until he tried something funny that had displeased her immensely. He ended up in a pond with some frogs and a lot of explaining to be done about his whereabouts for the past week to his wife and superiors.

Coming out of her reveries, she smiled again to Mr Serio, awaiting his response.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Brown," Rico said with a charming smile. He stood up from his desk and took her letter, skimming it briefly, and noting that it was indeed from Evaline Bass. "You're in the right place, that's for sure." He beamed and offered her a handshake. "And please, call me Rico. I'm not old enough to be a 'Mr. Serio.'"

"The pleasure is mine, Rico." Emma replied with a big smile and a nod of her head. He would be a good boss to work with if he wasn't tied to traditional titles and such. "Do call me Emma if that is fine with you."

She put her hand into a side pocket of her robe and pulled out a memo pad with matching muggle pen. Looking back at him, she asked brightly,
"I'm happy to be here, Rico, and I'm dying to know what I need to do. Unless the ministry has already done a point by point schedule for the position I'm supposed to fill, maybe you could tell me what I need to do around here?
I'll jot down whatever you tell me." She gazed expectantly at him, hoping to get the information.

"Okay, Emma then," Rico smiled, pleased by her professional, polite manner. Obviously, she was all business, as evidenced by the Muggle notepad already in her hand.

Too bad the office was so quiet.

Rico cleared his throat, trying to think of some task for her. "Well, Emma, we don't have any specific assignments, uh…..yet," he said, tidying the papers on his desk. "I was just about to speak to our Department Head, however, as I think I've come across something of concern," he continued, a slight frown clouding his handsome face. "Perhaps you could set up your desk, and then I'm sure I'll have something for you to do after I meet with Eva--I mean, Miss Bass." He nodded politely and gathered The Quibbler and some of his research to show to the boss.

Emma frowned a little, feeling a little unsettled. She had been sure that there would be plenty of work to go around. Slightly disappointed, but not wanting to show it, she smiled brightly to her boss. It wasn't his fault that the departement lacked work at the moment.

"That's fine, Rico. I'll await your instructions upon your return." she said as she put back her memo pad and pen in her pocket. She straightened her robe with a quick flick of her lapels.

"Just another question though... which cublicle should I be taking? There are quite a few out there." she added with a nod toward the outer office. "I wouldn't want to take one that belongs to another employee that has more seniority." She smiled again, hoping that he would indicate in which section she should be establishing herself. Should it be closer to the entrance or near his office? She wasn't certain in what capacity she would be employed for the moment. Though she enjoyed searching for facts and information, she would be happy with simple clerical tasks if that was demanded of her.

Rico walked Emma to the door of his office, pondering her latest question. "Well, as the department is fairly empty thus far, feel free to take any cubicle," he said with a smile. "Ms. Susan Peters is another new employee, and I believe there are some free cubicles over by hers," he added, tilting his head towards the right side of the office. "Make yourself at home!"

As they got to the office door, she headed out first and stepped toward the direction that Rico had indicated. She turned her head before leaving his side, "Thank you, Rico. I'll set up my desk as you asked and have a poke around the office to see where everything is. See you later? She asked as she began to rummage through her cloak pocket to get a few things out. She pulled out a small, deep blue, cloth bag and a plain white box. She had come prepared with a bunch of things that she hoped would help with her job.

Tonya Anne walked into the office and looked for the division heads office. She spotted it and walked over to the door. She straightened her violet skirt suit and tucked a peice of blonde hair behind her ear before knocking lightly on the door. She stood there fidgeting with her hem as she waited for the division head to answer. After waiting a few minutes she turned to head out of the office.

"See you around then, Emma," Rico nodded, opening the door. As she left, he noticed the approach of another woman. An employee, perhaps?

Rico heard someone knock on the door as he opened it, and wondered what was going on as she seemed to walk away. "Uh, miss? Miss?" he called after her. "Can I help you with something??"

Tonya turned startled when she heard someone open the door.She turned and pushed the stray hair out of her eyes again and smiled. "Oh, Hello. I'm Tonya Anne Springs. I was told to come here. I thought Iwould introduce myself." she said smiling brightly and extending her hand.