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sweetpinkpixie · 10-17-2017, 12:32 AM

Oval in shape, the office of the Department Head is, in one word, quite sterile. The walls are glistening white and the carpet resembles marble more so than fabric, giving off a ridiculously clean vibe. While he is not exactly obsessive compulsive about cleanliness, Department Head Airey Flamsteed highly values organization and keeps everything in a specific location. Needless to say, if one of his quills is at an odd angle ... he will notice. The cabinets above his desk are nearly invisible against the wall and are filled with all sorts of reference books and historical tomes collected himself. The surface of his desk is mostly empty except for some black screens whose use is unknown and a comfortable looking pillow where the man's pet rocks, Pebbles and Boulder, tend to rest. Beside this is a plant in a unique looking planter.

On the backside of the likewise pearly white door (the main door that is as there are many hidden along the walls here leading to the various Chambers and Rooms within the Department) are a few framed pieces of abstract line and paint splatter artwork that Professor Flamsteed has collected over the years along with a drawing given to him by a former student in a black frame just to the left of another drawing, this one signed, in another black frame. Above these two is yet another large gifted piece of artwork also in a black frame. There is a white sofa up against one of the walls with a pet bed on the floor beside it where Pebbles and Boulder sleep when not sharing the pillow on the desk. To the right of the white sofa and is a white closet where Professor Flamsteed keeps a few freshly pressed suits from his extensive collection, just in case, and to the left of this is a rather impressive looking tie display case. Located opposite of Flamsteed's desk is yet another clear display case, but this one is filled with all sorts of muggle science fiction models. Perhaps the most interesting feature this room boasts are the menagerie of floating magical holographic images - celestial bodies, numbers, equations, figures - whose gentle glow provide the room's lighting.

Access to this office is granted by speaking its name in the main circular rotating room serving as the Entry Chamber to the entire Department. While drop ins are always welcome, the Department Head is a very busy man and prefers that appointments be made prior.

Please read the thread description before posting here! This isn't strictly a public thread, but anyone is welcome to have their character knock on the door and assume they have passed through the Entry Chamber.

sweetpinkpixie · 01-18-2021, 08:22 AM

There was hardly a flicker of any sort of emotion across the man's face as he looked at the woman. Looking through her was a more accurate sentiment considering the almost glazed over look about his eyes. An almost foggy sort of blue. "Yes...but most wait on the other side of the door rather than step inside the office uninvited."

Lucky for her, there was not anything compromising left out that would force his hand.

"Yes. I know who you are." The department head had hired her, after all. "Take a seat and inform me what this appointment is about."

MadAlice · 01-18-2021, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

There was hardly a flicker of any sort of emotion across the man's face as he looked at the woman. Looking through her was a more accurate sentiment considering the almost glazed over look about his eyes. An almost foggy sort of blue. "Yes...but most wait on the other side of the door rather than step inside the office uninvited.""

Jane observed Flamsteed with growing concern--he did not seem at all like the man she'd seen at the beginning of the year in the Hall or Prophecy. For that matter, that Flamsteed hadn't seemed much like the man she'd heard others describe to her. This Flamsteed seemed to almost be in some sort of a trance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"Yes. I know who you are." The department head had hired her, after all. "Take a seat and inform me what this appointment is about."

"I beg your pardon if I violated protocol," Jane replied cautiously, still eyeing her boss out of the corner of her eye. "I suppose I was eager to get out of the Entry Hall, since it seems to have a tendency to deposit me anywhere else but your office," she went on, smiling slightly, trying to lighten the atmosphere. No. Very well, on to business.

"I wanted to speak to you about trying to reserve some devoted workspace in the department. To date, I've been sharing workspaces or using whatever space is temporarily unoccupied. But as I've mentioned in my weekly reports, I've reached a point in my alchemical experiments where I really need access to a full array of laboratory equipment and ... well, some degree of privacy. To avoid contaminating the experiments." Jane waited, alert and attempting to appear as pleasant and unthreatening as possible.

sweetpinkpixie · 01-19-2021, 01:48 AM

Was she not going to sit then? He certainly would not be keeping his hand out in offering for her to do so either, instead the man moved passed her and over to his desk where he sunk into the chair and smoothed his tie down. There was a quick survey of the documents laid out neatly on the desk and an unopened letter that had arrived from the Minister's Office that morning. He would need to examine those contents as soon as he was done with this Unspeakable.

"I see," he nodded, his expression still an eerie sort of neutral. "And what about your research warrants such special treatment?" There were plenty of alchemists within the department doing important work and research that was sensitive in one way or another and none of them had come in requesting special perks. He lifted his hand in a premature gesture to silence her protest. "And I am not referring to the reasons you have already provided. What is this research hoping to contribute to wizarding kind? What are the benefits?"

MadAlice · 01-19-2021, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Was she not going to sit then? He certainly would not be keeping his hand out in offering for her to do so either, instead the man moved passed her and over to his desk where he sunk into the chair and smoothed his tie down. ...

"I see," he nodded, his expression still an eerie sort of neutral. "And what about your research warrants such special treatment?" ... He lifted his hand in a premature gesture to silence her protest. "And I am not referring to the reasons you have already provided. What is this research hoping to contribute to wizarding kind? What are the benefits?"

Oh wait, was that obscure gesture an invitation for her to sit? Since Flamsteed seated himself, Jane decided it was and ventured to perch herself on the edge of one of the visitor chairs facing the desk. She was so preoccupied with observing the rather vacant expression on his face, that she nearly missed what he was saying. Special treatment? Really, did they expect their alchemists to set up their equipment and experiment in the corridors? Certainly the Death Chamber was unsuitable to any sort of long-term work. Jane was beginning to wonder if anyone here really understood alchemy at all. Or were all those other alchemists so thoroughly cowed that they didn't dare make even a simple, and, Jane felt, rather reasonable request.

"I didn't realize I was requesting special treatment, I just needed a workspace--the Death Chamber is not suited to a person setting up shop in there, of course. But as to what I'm working on..." Jane continued, leaning forward a little as she talked about her work, "...I have reached a point where I believe I might be close to developing a universal panacea--a powerful healing potion that could offer a cure, or at least antidote, to a multitude of conditions."

sweetpinkpixie · 01-27-2021, 09:51 AM

Appeasing the needs of Unspeakables was not something seated high on the list of instructions the man had been given. In fact, it was no where to be found on the list and use of the Love Chamber's supplies should be more than satisfactory. And yet something she said did strike a chord with him and he dipped into the wealth of knowledge intertwined in his head.

"So what you think you may be on the verge of discovery is a companion to the Elixir of Life," he stated flatly. "Which, in and of itself is already considered to be a success in the creation of a panacea." The Philosopher's Stone may have been destroyed years ago but those secrets of its creation had now and there were still masters, mostly in Egypt, who knew the recipe and were bound by a strict creed in revealing it to those deemed less than worthy of the knowledge. The man had a former pupil who had earned this privilege, though the thought was currently lost in the fog that had settled in him. "A potion extends life if drunk for eternity and can bring a disembodied soul back to a physical form."

MadAlice · 01-28-2021, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"So what you think you may be on the verge of discovery is a companion to the Elixir of Life," he stated flatly. "Which, in and of itself is already considered to be a success in the creation of a panacea. A potion extends life if drunk for eternity and can bring a disembodied soul back to a physical form."

"No, this is not quite the same thing as the Elixir of Life, the effects are not quite so far-reaching." Jane of course knew of the elixir gained from the successful creation of a Philosopher's Stone, but she was not interested in providing the means for bringing disembodied souls back to life to the general wizarding public any time soon. "This is a lesser type of panacea, one more in the line of a universal healing potion. But it promises to be effective in the treatment of some of the harder to treat diseases."

Jane looked hard at Flamsteed--this man looked like he could use a healing potion himself, she couldn't believe how he seemed to have changed over the past year--and not for the better. She reached into an inner pocket, drew out a very small vial filled with a dark green liquid, and set it on his desk. "This is a sample of the first stage of the potion--it's more of a general enhancer to health and vigor. You're welcome to try it, it you like--I have myself. I think it would make you feel--more like yourself."

MadAlice · 04-08-2021, 02:37 AM

Jane hadn't been in Airey Flamsteed's office since long before the war, and from what she'd heard, the man she'd been talking to hadn't been quite himself at the time. In fact, she wasn't sure she had really had much contact with the real Flamsteed and felt nearly as nervous as the first day she'd arrived at the Ministry. But the man had accepted her request to schedule a meeting, so here she was, knocking on his door.

sweetpinkpixie · 04-09-2021, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadAlice

Jane hadn't been in Airey Flamsteed's office since long before the war, and from what she'd heard, the man she'd been talking to hadn't been quite himself at the time. In fact, she wasn't sure she had really had much contact with the real Flamsteed and felt nearly as nervous as the first day she'd arrived at the Ministry. But the man had accepted her request to schedule a meeting, so here she was, knocking on his door.

Airey continued to struggle with settling back into his old routine. A man who thrived on consistency and schedules, it was unnerving to find little solace in the predictability of daily life. Something he would no doubt be addressing with his healer during their next appointment in the coming days. While there was a common ground between all given they had all been apart of something monumental, the department head found himself even less able to relate to the average person...and he had always struggled with his social interactions for his entire life. There were only a handful of people who could perhaps truly understand the burden he shouldered having survived all that time in the mirror prison, but he was reluctant to divulge in these things.

...there had been...disputes between himself and Medea, which had resulted in turning the living room into their own Neutral Zone where it all had to be hung up and conflict prohibited. It was helping, a little.

These thoughts plagued him as he spun the now empty phial on his desk, waiting for Jane to arrive for their scheduled meeting. He could remember her being hired, her first day here at the Ministry, every conversation had with her...but all of it was as though he were experiencing it while underwater. It hadn't been him, and there had been soft echoes in conversation that reached him while tucked away in his, er, his captor's pocket. It was all a lot to process.

Rising as he hears he knock upon his door, Airey gave his wand a firm flick to release the enchantments on his door to permit her entry and then summoned his tea set and charming it to prepare the water. "Enter!"

MadAlice · 04-10-2021, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Rising as he hears he knock upon his door, Airey gave his wand a firm flick to release the enchantments on his door to permit her entry and then summoned his tea set and charming it to prepare the water. "Enter!"

Jane gave her jacket a final tug to make sure it was in place and then entered the office, wondering what sort of man she would find this time. What she was a man who looked perhaps a bit too thin and had a haunted look lurking in the back of his eyes. And who had set out a rather unusual tea-set on the table. Well, from what she'd been able to learn of Airey Flamsteed (the real Airey Flamsteed, he was nothing if not eccentric.

"Good day, Mr. Flamsteed," she said, deciding to forego attempting a handshake, "It's good to see you again." (or for the first time, perhaps)

OOC: Augh, didn't even see Airey had responded the other day!

sweetpinkpixie · 04-11-2021, 08:34 AM

Regardless of which, er, Airey Flamsteed she may be meeting...foregoing the handshake was probably for the best. Though at least today he lacked the sweaty palms that typically accompanied meeting new people, especially those of the female disposition. "Ms. Howard, the pleasure is all mine," he greeted with a sincere hand across his chest and mild bow of the head. Really, the Unspeakable did not know the depths with which the man felt the need to show his appreciation. He had a small something set aside inside his desk drawer, which he would get to in a bit, but for the time being he simply gestured to the seat opposite his. "Please. Take a seat but keep within this office...and tell me how you take your tea."

MadAlice · 04-11-2021, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"Ms. Howard, the pleasure is all mine," he greeted with a sincere hand across his chest and mild bow of the head. ... "Please. Take a seat but keep within this office...and tell me how you take your tea."

Keep within this office? Jane was slightly thrown by this, and a little amused--where did the man expect her to try to sit? She chose a seat near, but not too near, her boss's desk and responded, "Black, with lemon if you have it." (or none if he didn't, but either way, Jane did appreciate a strong cup of tea)

She was here partly, she had to admit to herself, to get a sense of just what Mr. Flamsteed was really like when he wasn't being impersonated by a polyjuiced wizard or controlled by a dark spell, but mainly to ask permission to send some of her elixir over to St. Mungo's. It was finally ready to try on humans, she felt.

Particularly one human--Jane had heard about Horatio Blackthorne's spell damage during the battle at Hogwarts and felt her new invention might be just the thing for him. Besides, she owed it to her former pupil to try to do something for her favorite uncle, especially since she had been so late arriving to the big battle.

But for now, she perched erectly on her seat and waited for Flamsteed to make the opening move.

sweetpinkpixie · 04-13-2021, 09:37 AM

Lemon. Did he have any lemon? He might have some lemon juice packets kept in his well organized by size and alphabetical order condiment drawer from the various fish and chips take out he brought back to his office over the years to eat while he worked. That counted for something, yes? He supposed he was about to find out.

Nodding his head in acknowledgement, he gave his wand another flick to levitate the loose leaf tea into the pot to steep and then set that aside for a few minutes while he opened the drawer for the little packet of lemon juice.

And he appreciated her keeping the chair in here. Sometimes they had the tendency to wander off. Much like his rock pillows, as it turned out. He was still quietly throwing a fit about there not being a perfect 42 in the Decompression Chamber. He would have to find more when he took the boys out for their back-to-school shopping later in the summer.

"That will take just a moment," he reassured her while patting the pot as though it were a well behaved dog sitting upon command. His forget-me-not blue eyes shifted back to the Unspeakable which a pleasant, but a bit awkward, smile upon his face. "I...erm...I..." he stammered, pausing here to loosen his tie just a bit and clear his through. Hopefully doing so would lodge the awkwardness out of his throat and he could get the words out more easily. "...I wanted to thank you for the phial. I believe, in full confidence, that it is the only reason I am able to sit here with you today."

MadAlice · 04-13-2021, 08:18 PM

Jane almost immediately regretted mentioning the lemon, as she sensed that might put a strain on Airey's hospitality (and, really, she didn't care that much). But fortunately, he came up with a packet of lemon in his drawer, so crisis averted. And...keeping the chair in the office? There was obviously a lot about Mr. Flamsteed and his furniture that Jane was unaware of.

But when he mentioned the vial--yes, he must be talking about her elixir--she sat even more attentively and leaned forward ever so slightly. "So you took it? I didn't know if you would be able to. I had a feeling it might be just the thing for...for what I thought might be wrong. So....what did it feel like? Do you remember any sensations you may have experienced? How long did it take to work?" Jane could have gone on and on, in a burst of experimental fervor, but she suddenly checked herself. She was coming on too strong for this man, particularly after his recent experiences.

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Flamsteed, you don't really need to answer all those questions. I've just been testing that elixir this year and of course am eager to learn more about it. But that would really require a more controlled environment--like St. Mungo's. In fact, that's what I wanted to speak to you about. I believe the elixir is ready for testing in the field and I'd like permission to send some samples to St. Mungo's and let the healers try it on suitable patients." Especially one patient in particular. Jane was fully aware by now of Horatio Blackthorne's presence at St. Mungo's and of his condition--still unconscious after being hit with some sort of unusual stunning spell, or curse. Jane thought her elixir could help the man, who was really the nicest of her former employer's sons.

sweetpinkpixie · 04-17-2021, 12:27 PM

Her curiosity was unsurprising. Airey would have been disappointed if she had not immediately launched into a series of questions regarding the elixir she had given him in this very office. "Please, there is no pardon to be had and no need to apologize for a mind keen on the scientific method. I asked you to make this appointment specifically to discuss your elixir." Meaning she was free to make her inquiries. He would even personally recommend that she pull out something to take notes with. He imagined that this would be a lengthy conversation. Which was good for him. It prolonged the inevitable awkwardness that came with gift giving. Airey was perfectly comfortable giving gifts to people he knew, he had even been bold enough to present Headmistress Truebridge with a gift during one opening feast many moons and rotations around the sun ago. He, unfortunately, was truly only meeting Jane for the first time as himself in this moment...which made her essentially a stranger to him. A stranger who had saved his life and therefore was not to much of a stranger after all. Polyjuice and the Imperius Curse certainly added to his social awkwardness.

Speaking of awkward, thinking about the departed former Headmistress was...awkward. And heart wrenching. He...owed David Truebridge a meeting as well.

"It was only after the Imperius Curse had been lifted off myself that I was able to take it." An event, he heard later, that had been made possible by Alphonsine being incapacitated in the Minister's office. She had been the one to place him under the enchantment, after all. There were a very finite number of ways to lift that Unforgiveable. "The..." He paused to clear his throat, hoping it would help the words flow a little more freely. It was not common for him to divulge into his personal affairs with anyone, even healers had to pull teeth with him the majority of the time. It required a certain kind of detachment from the situation to be able to speak to any length. "...the Imperius Curse was not something I could overcome on my will alone and I cannot speak to any effects the elixir had on its influence. I can confirm that it had immediate and powerful effects on the physical injuries created by the Cruciatus Curse and other forms of Dark enchantment." There was another pause, one laced in painfilled silence as his mind tortured him with memory. "...only the physical...but immensely effective."

He took another pause, leaning back in his chair a bit while glancing at the artwork on the wall he had received over the years, before returning his attention back to Jane.

"I would like to allocate more of our department's resources to your research. Properly, allocate this time. Perform a couple more controlled experiments here in the department to finesse the formula and then we can revisit Mungo's. I'll be expecting a list of the things you require by the end of the day."

MadAlice · 04-17-2021, 11:06 PM

Jane was pleased and encouraged to find someone was interested in her work, at last--this kind of intellectual interchange was what she had hoped for when she came to work at the Ministry. She assumed her best understanding-governess manner to put Flamsteed at ease and encourage him to talk further (for really the man seemed almost nervous to be talking with her, which was curious, seeing that he was her superior). She looked and listened attentively, while she unobtrusively pulled out the small notebook and pencil she always carried with her and began taking notes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"...the Imperius Curse was not something I could overcome on my will alone and I cannot speak to any effects the elixir had on its influence. I can confirm that it had immediate and powerful effects on the physical injuries created by the Cruciatus Curse and other forms of Dark enchantment." There was another pause, one laced in painfilled silence as his mind tortured him with memory. "...only the physical...but immensely effective."

Hmm, interesting--Jane had hoped for broader effects from her potion, but this information was in keeping with what her experiments so far had revealed to her--and, of course, the effects of the Imperious Curse on the whole interaction had to be taken into account. "I was in the Minister's Office when Ms. Rosier was...incapacitated. Before that, she was affecting almost every man in the office--she was a powerful enchantress, obviously." She paused a minute to collect her thoughts. "But what you say seems to fit in with what I have been discovering with my experiments. The elixir seems to have a balancing effect on the subject. So far, I've mainly been able to observe only physical effects, but I have hopes it might have psychological effects as well. It's becoming obvious that it's not what I initially hoped for--a universal panacea, but it does seem to work on a wide-ranging number of ills. And, of course, unlike the great elixir derived from the Philosopher's Stone, it does not bestow unlimited life, which is just as well, for that substance can be dangerous in the wrong hands."

Jane could have gone on, but was distracted by the prospect of actually getting the resources she'd been trying to wrangle out of the Ministry for over a year.

sweetpinkpixie · 04-20-2021, 02:12 AM

Airey could hardly recall his interactions with Rosier prior to her collecting the mirror off Grimmson. The department head could tell you more about that man than Rosier, but that information was taking it's time coming to the surface and it would be some time before he could sit down with anyone from the Reminisciator Unit to delve through his mind and see what layers they could peel back. So, for the time being, Airey simply nodded as Jane spoke.

"Agreed," he nodded once again, sagely, regarding the potential of another Elixir of Life. "While I can attest to the disappointment you may feel in not achieving your ultimate goal, your research and experimentation has produced something that will change the face of magical medicine when it comes to the treatment of injuries received from Dark magic and, specifically, from Unforgiveable Curses. It is really...outstanding work, Jane, and the entire wizarding world will be in your debt." Especially once they fine tuned and presented St. Mungo's with a more refined elixir. "Which is why...I humbly offer you this as a start," he continued while clearing his throat and reaching into his desk for a poorly wrapped white box with a lopsided gold bow on top. "...a...tiny token of my appreciation."

When in doubt, the man would novelty mug it up. It was kind of his niche.

He had more to say as well, but one thing at a time. Giving gifts was always an awkward exchange and required a bit of pause.

MadAlice · 04-20-2021, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"Agreed," he nodded once again, sagely, regarding the potential of another Elixir of Life. "While I can attest to the disappointment you may feel in not achieving your ultimate goal, your research and experimentation has produced something that will change the face of magical medicine when it comes to the treatment of injuries received from Dark magic and, specifically, from Unforgiveable Curses. It is really...outstanding work, Jane, and the entire wizarding world will be in your debt." Especially once they fine tuned and presented St. Mungo's with a more refined elixir. "Which is why...I humbly offer you this as a start," he continued while clearing his throat and reaching into his desk for a poorly wrapped white box with a lopsided gold bow on top. "...a...tiny token of my appreciation."

Jane was astonished at this speech--she had not really thought of what she was doing as putting the entire wizarding world in her debt! But she was most astonished of all at the unexpected gift Flamsteed presented her with. This was really quite a change from her previous employer, who never seemed to appreciate anything she did, and Jane was touched.

She smiled at Airey as she opened the gift (which was not very hard, as it was about to come apart on its own) and drew out a...a rather wildly decorated mug. Not quite her style, but the thought was very kind. And after all, she had been trying to get a quiet cup of coffee at the Ministry for nearly two years now, perhaps this would bring her luck. "Thank you so much, Mr. Flamsteed, I--this was really unnecessary, but very much appreciated. I do enjoy a strong cup of coffee when I'm working."

sweetpinkpixie · 04-25-2021, 01:27 AM

He had found this mug to be the classiest of the options available. There had been one more he had been drawn to, a cauldron with the symbols of the planets painted on it...but he had taken mild offense to Pluto being included in the line up rather than being included in a plethora of alchemy symbols. Labels and precise language were always important. In any case, it pleased him that she seemed to take to it.

Another successful exchange of novelty mugs in the books.

"You are most welcome," he nodded with a bit more of a smile. It truly was the least he could do. Well...that and this one other thing that was within the department's budget. Quite frankly, he was surprised she had not requested it already. Or perhaps she had just not to him while he was, er, himself. "I believe I know the answer to this query but..." Transitions in conversation? What were those? Airey simply had a checklist that he was making his way through it. "You are currently at an E - Base paygrade...so what would you say to a C-base raise?" Yes, it was not the top top but, in his experience, when people were given the top position without further opportunity for growth it tended to weaken motivations and productivity. "That's a 20% increase in salary."

MadAlice · 04-26-2021, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"You are most welcome," he nodded with a bit more of a smile. ... "I believe I know the answer to this query but..." Transitions in conversation? What were those? Airey simply had a checklist that he was making his way through it. "You are currently at an E - Base paygrade...so what would you say to a C-base raise?" Yes, it was not the top top but, in his experience, when people were given the top position without further opportunity for growth it tended to weaken motivations and productivity. "That's a 20% increase in salary."

Jane sat stock still a minute, utterly flabbergasted--this was not what she had been expecting at all, nor what she had been prepared to ask for. Though not unwelcome. "I...uh...I don't know what to say, I hadn't expected this at all, after the short time I've worked here," she finally responded. "And I'm grateful--deeply grateful--for your appreciation of my work. But that's actually not what I had intended to ask for," she went on, feeling a little nervous now--on top of this generous raise, asking for more now seemed a little greedy. But her work was important to her and she'd been wanting this for some time now. "Actually, what I had wanted to say--what we discussed before, actually, when...well, when you were not yourself--I had wanted to see if I could get some private lab space--just a bit of one, an unused cupboard or corner of a room. You see, I'm arriving at a point in some of my work where I need to keep the experiment isolated from any outside influences, and where I've been working, the Love Chamber--well, it's been quite adequate, but is not exactly ideal for this next step, because there's all that...well, Love floating around and those vibrations are not appropriate at all for this. And of course, the Death Chamber isn't a place where you can do any labwork." The Death Chamber was filled with the most potent vibrations in the Department, as far as Jane was concerned, and they were best taken in small doses.

She waited and watched Flamsteed to see what his reaction would be to this--hopefully at least not any worse than the last time.

sweetpinkpixie · 04-29-2021, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadAlice

Jane sat stock still a minute, utterly flabbergasted--this was not what she had been expecting at all, nor what she had been prepared to ask for. Though not unwelcome. "I...uh...I don't know what to say, I hadn't expected this at all, after the short time I've worked here," she finally responded. "And I'm grateful--deeply grateful--for your appreciation of my work. But that's actually not what I had intended to ask for," she went on, feeling a little nervous now--on top of this generous raise, asking for more now seemed a little greedy. But her work was important to her and she'd been wanting this for some time now. "Actually, what I had wanted to say--what we discussed before, actually, when...well, when you were not yourself--I had wanted to see if I could get some private lab space--just a bit of one, an unused cupboard or corner of a room. You see, I'm arriving at a point in some of my work where I need to keep the experiment isolated from any outside influences, and where I've been working, the Love Chamber--well, it's been quite adequate, but is not exactly ideal for this next step, because there's all that...well, Love floating around and those vibrations are not appropriate at all for this. And of course, the Death Chamber isn't a place where you can do any labwork." The Death Chamber was filled with the most potent vibrations in the Department, as far as Jane was concerned, and they were best taken in small doses.

She waited and watched Flamsteed to see what his reaction would be to this--hopefully at least not any worse than the last time.

Airey was having a moment of déjà vu. Likely because he had not been more clear earlier...or perhaps he had simply not entirely grasped the depths of the situation. There were vague traces of the conversation she spoke of, though what he could recall was more him fighting to regain control in an intimate setting with the Unspeakable and provide something that was a warning. Unfortunately Jane did not know the real Airey and any telling signs would have been all to easily missed.

Speaking to him in vibrations sounded entirely too much like astrology talk, but the department head could easily put it into more of a scientific perspective. The environment in the Love Chamber was not sterile enough to her needs with containments everywhere despite the necessary equipment present. The Death Chamber with its own set of containments. "Hence my request for a list of your requests by the end of the day," he reminded her with a quick tap to his ~~enormous~~ forehead. "Though I am curious as to your proposed solution to this predicament. I cannot simply create an entirely new chamber for just one Unspeakable, no matter how important the research. Though a new sterile portion within an existing chamber is much more plausible. It would be far too much a liability to suggest you utilize either the labs on level two or three. Such sensitive and dangerous research must be contained to Mysteries."

MadAlice · 04-29-2021, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"Hence my request for a list of your requests by the end of the day," he reminded her with a quick tap to his ~~enormous~~ forehead. "Though I am curious as to your proposed solution to this predicament. I cannot simply create an entirely new chamber for just one Unspeakable, no matter how important the research. Though a new sterile portion within an existing chamber is much more plausible. It would be far too much a liability to suggest you utilize either the labs on level two or three. Such sensitive and dangerous research must be contained to Mysteries."

Right, he had said something about a list of requirements, hadn't he...Jane had been uncharacteristically shocked at his offer of a raise in salary and the gift and had forgotten. And yes, how to solve the problem was an issue--she had been thinking about it off and on for most of the year, though after her last conversation with him, she hadn't put much faith in getting anything. Now with the prospect more realistic, she started thinking of possibilities again.

"Yes, of course I hadn't expected an entire laboratory to myself," she assured him. "I wasn't sure what possibilities existed in the Department, so wasn't sure what to propose specifically. And of course, we would want to keep this within the Dept. of Mysteries." Which was why Jane had not taken any of this home with her to try to work on it there. "I had been trying to find a little-used cupboard or small storeroom somewhere that might be used, but creating a sterile section in an existing chamber is a definite possibility, one I hadn't thought of. And you see," she went on, "it's not just the risk of other environments contaminating the next stage of my work I'm worried about. The results of these next experiments might interfere with other people's work as well. And the Love Chamber, in particular, would be sensitive to contamination." For the next stage of her experiments would lead into the Black Stage of alchemy, and the Dark Night of the Soul.

sweetpinkpixie · 05-01-2021, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadAlice

Right, he had said something about a list of requirements, hadn't he...Jane had been uncharacteristically shocked at his offer of a raise in salary and the gift and had forgotten. And yes, how to solve the problem was an issue--she had been thinking about it off and on for most of the year, though after her last conversation with him, she hadn't put much faith in getting anything. Now with the prospect more realistic, she started thinking of possibilities again.

"Yes, of course I hadn't expected an entire laboratory to myself," she assured him. "I wasn't sure what possibilities existed in the Department, so wasn't sure what to propose specifically. And of course, we would want to keep this within the Dept. of Mysteries." Which was why Jane had not taken any of this home with her to try to work on it there. "I had been trying to find a little-used cupboard or small storeroom somewhere that might be used, but creating a sterile section in an existing chamber is a definite possibility, one I hadn't thought of. And you see," she went on, "it's not just the risk of other environments contaminating the next stage of my work I'm worried about. The results of these next experiments might interfere with other people's work as well. And the Love Chamber, in particular, would be sensitive to contamination." For the next stage of her experiments would lead into the Black Stage of alchemy, and the Dark Night of the Soul.

And while she dealt with her own shock, he was relearning how to navigate social situations and pleasantries. Which likewise reminded him that he needed to have a chat with the muggle Minister to, uh, try and reclaim his title of Astronomer Royal considering the impostor had made sure to strip the astrophysicist of the title. And there may be a body count attached to all that as well. Airey was trying not to think too much on it.

Pursing his lips while stroking his smooth chin, he nodded while Jane spoke and tried to take a mental inventory of possible resources. "So the Love Chamber is out of the question," he took note of. Alchemy truly seemed the most fitted for the Death Chamber, considering current assignments, and something could be done with the top of the amphitheater there. That may be the simplest of solutions. The Chamber of Codes was no place for experimentation, the Time Chamber another that risked certain containments. The Thought Chamber would likely drive Jane made with the encephalons...unless she was well trained or gifted in Occlumency. "Ideally speaking then ... where would you see as being the best fitted for your needs?"

MadAlice · 05-02-2021, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Pursing his lips while stroking his smooth chin, he nodded while Jane spoke and tried to take a mental inventory of possible resources. "So the Love Chamber is out of the question," he took note of. Alchemy truly seemed the most fitted for the Death Chamber, considering current assignments, and something could be done with the top of the amphitheater there. That may be the simplest of solutions. The Chamber of Codes was no place for experimentation, the Time Chamber another that risked certain containments. The Thought Chamber would likely drive Jane made with the encephalons...unless she was well trained or gifted in Occlumency. "Ideally speaking then ... where would you see as being the best fitted for your needs?"

Jane had of course been thinking about all this ever since her first attempt at speaking with Airey. Or not-Airey, as it turned out. But she hadn't really arrived at a good solution. The Love Chamber had really seemed the best alternative, and it had indeed worked well for creating the elixir born out of the Conjunction phase. But the next stage she wanted to start on really required an atmosphere with minimal stimulation--ideally, with only the thoughts and feelings of the alchemist herself working on it.

The Love Chamber had been proving too distracting, and of the other choices--Jane had contemplated the Thought Chamber, but rejected it because of the presence of all those brains, all those other thoughts. If there were going to be distractions, love was better than a lot of random thoughts. Really, the Death Chamber would be ideal, if only there were a place to work--but right now, the only available surface seemed to be the platform containing the Veil, and that, while it was an atmosphere more conducive to her work right now, was a bit too intense.

"I have been thinking about it, sir, and I haven't come up with a good solution. The Love Chamber had seemed the best alternative, and it worked for a while--it works very well for creating and refining the elixir, but for the next thing I want to work on, it's not quite right." Jane paused for a moment, trying to gauge Flamsteed's reaction to this, and then continued. "The Death Chamber would really be the best place, except that there's no place to work there--and I definitely don't want to try this next phase too close to the Veil."

sweetpinkpixie · 05-16-2021, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadAlice

Jane had of course been thinking about all this ever since her first attempt at speaking with Airey. Or not-Airey, as it turned out. But she hadn't really arrived at a good solution. The Love Chamber had really seemed the best alternative, and it had indeed worked well for creating the elixir born out of the Conjunction phase. But the next stage she wanted to start on really required an atmosphere with minimal stimulation--ideally, with only the thoughts and feelings of the alchemist herself working on it.

The Love Chamber had been proving too distracting, and of the other choices--Jane had contemplated the Thought Chamber, but rejected it because of the presence of all those brains, all those other thoughts. If there were going to be distractions, love was better than a lot of random thoughts. Really, the Death Chamber would be ideal, if only there were a place to work--but right now, the only available surface seemed to be the platform containing the Veil, and that, while it was an atmosphere more conducive to her work right now, was a bit too intense.

"I have been thinking about it, sir, and I haven't come up with a good solution. The Love Chamber had seemed the best alternative, and it worked for a while--it works very well for creating and refining the elixir, but for the next thing I want to work on, it's not quite right." Jane paused for a moment, trying to gauge Flamsteed's reaction to this, and then continued. "The Death Chamber would really be the best place, except that there's no place to work there--and I definitely don't want to try this next phase too close to the Veil."

Nodding lightly, the department head felt as though they were on the same page with how best to move forward. While he was not one to hand out favors, there was truly no denying the leaps that Jane's elixir would add to wizarding medicine. It was a rarity, to be sure, but something Airey was very certain of.

"How would some space set up at the top of the amphitheater sound?" he asked casually while grabbing a bit of scrap graphing paper from his desk and drawing a very basic sketch of the Death Chamber. "The space is not terribly wide, but there is plenty of space for tables and equipment near the wall and rather than a square space it would be possible for curved laboratory." He drew some more and then passed the sketch over to her. "The circle here is obviously where The Veil ... which would leave plenty of distance between the work space and it's influence. Add some magical barriers and magiglass, and it would be its own isolated environment." He leaned back, eyes glancing between the sketch and then Jane. "With your confirmation, I can get a team to begin the altercations to the Chamber."

MadAlice · 05-16-2021, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"How would some space set up at the top of the amphitheater sound?" he asked casually while grabbing a bit of scrap graphing paper from his desk and drawing a very basic sketch of the Death Chamber. ...

He leaned back, eyes glancing between the sketch and then Jane. "With your confirmation, I can get a team to begin the altercations to the Chamber."

Jane looked carefully at the specs as Flamsteed was sketching them out and nodded as he went along. "Yes, yes, I think that would work. And now that I think of it, the Death Chamber might just be the best place to work on the next phase."

She stood up, as she felt the interview was coming to an end--and surely Mr. Flamsteed must have a lot of other matters to attend to. Besides, she didn't want to tire him too much after what he'd gone through during the recent war. She sensed her chair wanting to wander off behind her and gave it a sharp glance of warning.

"Thank you so much for considering my request for this," she remarked, turning back to Flamsteed. "No need to hurry, I have a few minor touches yet to add to the elixir, which are best done in the space I've been using in the Love Chamber, and by the time I'm ready to go on, the new space should be ready." She gave a professional nod to him and waited to be dismissed, but then suddenly added something she'd been thinking of since the very beginning of their conversation. "You will update me on the status of the elixir? You see, one of the sons of my former employer has been unconscious in St. Mungo's since the battle at Hogwarts and I really think the elixir might be able to help him. At least...I owe it to my former pupil to try. He's her favorite uncle."

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