At the end of the long atrium stands a set of beautiful golden gates. Once you have your wand checked in with security, you can enter through the gates and head towards the lifts at the end of the hall!

OOC: All Ministry of Magic employees, regardless of their assigned department, are welcome to create their own roleplay in this thread.

All that coffee that Sam had didn't make him not sleepy anymore. He was still yawning every few seconds; he knew he should have gotten more sleep last night! After he had his wand checked by security, he had pulled out one of his Shakespeare books and opened it up to the page he had left off on. Maybe reading some would keep him awake until he got up to his Department.

While he was reading, he continued to walk away from the security place -- not paying attention to where he was going. Bad idea. He was coming up towards the golden gates he needed to walk through to get to the atrium, and, since he was reading his book, he didn't notice the gates AT ALL.

BAM!

He ran right into the golden gates, and he dropped his book on the ground in the process. Great. Hopefully nobody had seen him!

Wes was not looking forward to work today. Nope. The prospect of having to make sure that Dan sat at his desk all day and actually DID his work was...not very thrilling to him.

As he entered the Ministry and approached the gates, only to hear a loud BANG a few feet away from him. Jumping a bit (Wes was rather jumpy today) he turned to see Sam, who had evidentally just walked into the gate. Ouchhh. Maybe his vision was all messed up from being a guinea pig?! EEEP!

"Sam? You ok?" Wes asked in concern. ZOMG if Dan permanently messed him up...he was SO FIRED.

Sam rubbed his forehead a little bit as he took a step back and gazed up at the golden gate. Blehhh. Why didn't they have a gate that automatically opens? It couldn't be that hard to just charm the thing to open when someone walks up to it; the muggles had automatic doors... why couldn't they? HMM? He was sure that would save a lot of sleepy people from running into it on a daily basis! Yes, he was sure he hasn't been the only one to run into that gate.

He sighed a little bit when he heard someone say his name. His wishes of someone NOT seeing him run into that gate had just gotten flushed down the toilet. He was suppose to be the Department Head that knew what he was doing, NOT the Department Head that ran into golden gates. Turning around to see who was talking to him, he smiled a little bit when he noticed it was Wes. "Hey Wes!" He greeted the man. "Oh, I fine. I was just..." He looked down at the ground where his book was at. At least his book was still in fine condition. "...reading and not paying attention to where I was going."

He reached down to pick his book off the ground, and then he looked back at Wes. "So, what's up?" he asked. "Excited about another day of work?"

"Oh good!" Wes said with a smile and a sigh of relief. "Well, I mean...not good that you walked into the gate, but I thought for a second you might be messed up from...well, you know," he finished. Yeah, no need to bring anything else up. Sam knew very well what he was talking about, Wes didn't feel like repeating the words 'guinea' and 'pig' in the same sentence for a LONGGG time.

"Ehh, I suppose," he said with a small chuckle. Truth be told, he really was NOT looking forward to what was waiting for him on Level 3. "You'll be glad to know, though, that I've got your brother on virtual lockdown, basically," he added with a grin.

Sam had been trying to forget about the whole incident yesterday, but when Wes sorta mentioned it, he sighed. "I know," he replied. "Thank merlin that my brains weren't fried, though." He would have probably KILLED Dan if that incident had made him loose his brains or something along that line.

...virtual lockdown? Bwahaha. Served him RIGHT!

"I'm very glad to know that I probably won't have to see Daniel in my territory anytime soon," he responded. He was sure if Dan got anywhere on Level Two that people wouldn't be too happy, especially Ben since his desk was still magenta. "I'm also sorry that you all have to put up with my brother. But if you ever want to actually get rid of him, I can help you get him a one way ticket back to China." He didn't mind spending some money on getting Daniel away from him. Far far away. At least if he was in China, he could still talk to him if he wanted to.. but he WOULDN'T have to put up with everyday.

He stopped talking for a moment or two, and then he asked, "Do you have any siblings?" As far as he remember, his friend has never even mentioned having any brothers or sisters. If he has, then Sam really needed to work on remembering things.

Wes shook his head. "Nah, it's ok. He's got good brains, and he's a great worker...when he wants to be," he said with a small chuckle before shakng his head. "Wait, BACK to China? He was in China before?" Hmmm, that was intriguing. Then again, China was a much LARGER country...more opportunity for him to cause chaos. Best to keep him here, he concluded.

"Unfortunately, yes," Wes replied with a grin. "Three, actually, all guys and all younger than me. There's Paul, then Todd, and finally Andrew...Andrew would probably be the closest in personality to Dan," he explained with a smirk. Andrew was also, predictably, the one Wes talked to the least. He was off...doing his own thing and Wes was perfectly happy leaving it at that.

Wes was complementing his brother, and Daniel wasn't even here to gloat about it. Such a shame on his part. "I can't disagree that he isn't a great worker... he's just annoying. Really really reallyreallyreally annoying," Sam replied. Or maybe it was just him that got easily annoyed by Daniel. Maybe. Just maybe. "Yeah, he was in China before he came to London. He was actually born there, and then he moved away from London after graduation... just like all my other siblings did. Did he not tell you that?" Obviously Daniel did not.

He did not know Wesley was an older siblings as well. It was true that you learn new things everyday! "It's nice being the older brother, isn't it?" He asked, there was a hint of sarcasm is his voice since he would have much rather preferred to be the younger siblings; the younger siblings always seemed to get the better treatment from the parents. "Oh... really? How so? Is Andrew just highly insulting and wants to make your life miserable?" Because that is Dan's personality in a nut shell.

Dan hadn't been bothering to come into work since Wes had decided to be a jerk and assign him paperwork. Did the man honestly think that he could get Dan McDean to do paperwork? The man was obviously stupider than Dan had previously thought.

But for now he needed to sneak in to the office to get something he had left behind. And then he would be gone again without Wes noticing. Hopefully.

"Nah, we haven't really had a chance to talk about anything personal," Wes said with a shrug. Too much chaos had occurred since Dan showed up, did he really want to get to know the guy who was causing him to get WRINKLES on his face? Nooooot likely.

As he was speaking, he felt something behind him, almost like a breeze. EEP! Had he ripped his pants or something?! Turning around rapidly,he saw that it was just the movement of someone walking behind them. That was a relief!

Ahhh, and speak of the devil!

"Oi! Where are you sneaking to?" he asked Dan with a smirk. HEHE. The man had obviously been trying to slip past him, but he'd been caught! Cause, obviously, Wes had the ears of a HAWK.

Or he just happened to sense something behind him at that moment.

Sam's eyes diverted towards the man walking behind Wes; he had to do a double take until he realized it was no one other than Daniel McDean. He wasn't going to say anything because if he did, Wes would say something to bring him into this conversation... and it was just best to keep Daniel doing whatever he was doing and leaving him and Wes to be.

He looked right back towards Wes, nodding his head acting like he had heard what was said previously when he actually hadn't. It was something to do about Dan living in China previously, he knew that. He opened his mouth to start another conversation until Wes turned around and noticed Dan. Darrrrn it. So much for letting Daniel do whatever he was doing and not communicating with him because it wasn't like NOT communicating with him was such a bad idea since he wasn't bothering anyone.

"I think he was sneaking off towards the lifts," he pointed out. "He was heading in that direction." It was just an observation.

After a rather interesting and ... friendly ... meeting with his Division Head, Jaxton had given into his craving for some boiling hot black coffee, and a sugar fix. He had a very sweet tooth, and he hadn't had anything since his breakfast earlier that morning. Not. Good.

So, here he was, fighting the crowds on the way to the staff cafeteria. Apparently it was a long here somewhere... So he was trying to find it. What, with being a male and having almost twenty years of experience under his belt, there was no way he was going to ask for directions.

Nope, he would find it on his own thank you very much.

Akasha heaved a deep breath once she reached the Golden Gates, traffic behind her was horrible, but she made it through, and made it through in once piece... Now if she can reach the elevators so she could report to duty.

Out of habit and years of training she studied everything around her, even people, especially people. And there was this one person that stood out as very familiar.. the prominent and distinctive line of his jaw, his well toned body, and his hair! It all screamed... Auror. Aurors tended to point each other out, perhaps it was out of habit or because they faced each other all day long. But an Auror always figured a fellow Auror.. well this man was even more familiar...

"Jaxton?" she called out his name once she was a few steps closer to him, of all people. What was Jaxton Tanner doing at the Ministry of Magic, no no, what is he doing in ENGLAND?

Blinking as he waited for the crowd to disperse so that he could actually use the elevator to try and locate some coffee and... hmmm... Cake? Sweets? Savoury? Sweet? Hmm... Definitely something sweet, biscuits perhaps? Or sweets. Definitely.

Jaxton was spaced out, thinking about the amazingly sweet things he could find in the cafeteria and bring back to the office, when he heard his name. He shook his head, apart from this Department and Division Heads (and Wyatt) no-one knew him here. In Britian, let alone at the Ministry... Yet, he was sure that a female had just called his name.

Wrinkling his forehead slightly his eyes did a quick scan of the area he could see, before he moved one way and then the other to check the rest of the area. Nothing. Hold on... he moved back to look left and blinked as he looked at a girl woman from his past. "Bala..." He said as a soft genuine, smile curved his lips and made his face seem less threatening. "What are you doing here?" He asked her, as he moved backwards in the queue, losing his place in the line.

Hicupping a giggle at his momentary confusion, she grinned up at her tall friend when he caught her. "Tan.." she smiled up at him, "I live here remember?" she joked, "I think your question would sound more appropriate when asked 'What are you doing in England Tan?"

She narrowed her eyes studiously and suspiciously, now Mr. Tanner here had a huge experience in all sorts of fields, on a few occasions she interacted with him but for the rest he remained a mystery... so what could possibly bring him here, to the Ministry of Magic of all places?

And he rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes. I know that you live in Britain, Bala." Jaxton said as he stood looking at her. His eyes carefully took in her face, her eyes and her overall appearance; he told himself that he was simply making sure an old colleague was still in one piece. A small part of himself didn't believe it.

"I am officially working here." He said, with a small grin and a firm nod of his head. It had been a good few years since they had seen each other, when he had still simply been a Hit Wizard; a lot had changed since then. However, he was sure that many things had changed with her as well. Perhaps he would be able to find such things out.

"I have accepted a job to work in the Ministry Security." He moved his shoulders a little (a motion she would recognise as a shrug) and smirked a little. "Change of pace, change of job." He paused, and accompanied it with a look that said 'You know what I mean.' She looked good. Icy, cool, contained, on-guard. Oh yes, she had been an amazing Auror.

Akasha kept her genuine smile in check as she studied her old friend, "Mhmmm" she nodded, "I completely understand" Hit Wizards had their own lingo that not all could understand. "That's great Tan, really great! I'm glad you decided Britain is the place for your new pace" she winked at him. Based on the history of their competitive nature, she never thought he'd even leave the US to come work in Britain. That alone piqued her interest. And to help rub it in his nose later.

"I would congratulate you if I wouldn't be reporting to duty myself this morning" she mused tilting her head to one side, "please tell me this is a coincidence Tan" she hoped it was because if that's not the case she wasn't sure what to make of it, and would have to stalk him around for the majority of time and she didn't have time for that. She needed to focus on research.

Jaxton sighed as the constant throng of people pushed him closer to hie brunette companion and he shook his head, looking at her. "Is everyone always in such a hurry?" He wasn't used to it, but he knew that he would get used to it. Who wouldn't, after all. "Well, it is until I realised just how idiotic I was, and move back to the State's." Although it sounded good when said aloud, they both knew that he wouldn't simply up and quit a job; Jaxton Tanner simply didn't have it in him.

"Which department are you in?" He asked her, a large hand running over his short hair a few times, as he waited for her reply. "Yes, Ma'am." He winked at her, and laughed lowly for a few seconds before he stopped and grinned at her. "New pace." He repeated, nodding his head. Oh, this would be interesting.

Bala and Tan; together again. ...... Look out Ministry.

"Oh don't worry" she laughed, "You'll get used to traffic on this floor" she watched him reposition himself then carried on with her conversation "I'll make sure to be around when that happens" she shot him that wicked challenging smile she did before they competed in missions.

"Well I'm at the Department of Mysteries, that's on level nine i believe" she pointed towards the elevators. She knew where they are because she had come to the Ministry occasionally get paperwork done. But not to report to duty, that was her first time. "I've decided to pick on the scientific end of things so that's why I'm here instead of out in the field, not chance of pace as you call it but more like, additional pace" she wanted so desperately to stick her tongue out at him. But, she's a grown up now. So she smiled.

That grin. That challenging grin, was well known to the American ex-soldier. It graced her lips when she knew that it wasn't likely to happen;; but wanted it too. And no matter what either of them said aloud, they both knew that Jaxton wouldn't admit that he was wrong. Not when it was wrong with himself at any rate; he was too proud. If the time came that he didn't like being in Britain any longer, he would quote 'a chance of pace' and move on.

That was Jaxton Tanner's way.

"Good luck on your first day." Jaxton said as they finally made it to the front of the queue. "I would say, hope I haven't made you late, but you couldn't get to the lifts before now anyway." He made that little movement with his shoulders again that was a Tanner Shrug, and smirked slightly at the fact he had met Bala again.

"Thanks Tan!" Akasha shot him a ginger smile, "though you know I always do" heavens it was fun to tease that man! Well, in her free time and given he wasn't distracting her from her duties. "Right..." she stepped into the elevator, "so I'll see you around then?" she asked in complete amusement knowing she would. Now why would she go on and ask him that out loud?

"Welcome, Bala." He said as he followed her into the elevator. With a smirk he hit the '4' that was lit up, as she hit the '9'. "Coffee." He told her, with that small shrug of his. "Of course you will." He said, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Oh no, he wasn't losing touch with Bala. AGAIN. Nope.

Akasha raised a brow at his direction at the mention of Coffee, now that was her problem with Tan. He messed too much with her head, and he loved it, enjoyed it. Why mention coffee to a coffee lover, right when she said good bye to him? Mhmm?

She would be late for job, definitely late if she followed him. And no she won't follow him. Tan had danger written all over him, and he was up to something. But first she must report to duty. MUST.

"You should quit Coffee! It's bad for you" she told him, now if he quit she wouldn't have to share coffee breaks with him. There, problem solved.

Laughter filled the elevator as it moved steadily to level nine. Tanner simply looked at her as if she had grown three more heads AND was talking a different language. The look, also said 'we both know that is never going to happen.' They both loved coffee too much. Sure, they probably drank too much of it, but heck... it tasted amazing. "Really? You should then." There, she wouldn't quit; so he wouldn't have too either.

Men!

Sigh.

She wasn't sure how to react to his suggestion, but she thought he was mad at first. Too many hexes come to his head, but then again she sort of deserved it. Since she suggested it first. Mhmmm, "I'll give it a try" she smiled up at him with her usual full confidence, there, a friendly answer with no invitations what so ever.