"What exactly is it that you find funny, Miss Whitehall? The fact that you are a hair away from losing your job? Does that humor you? This is not a place to lounge about in others desks and chit chat and gossip. A few lovely introductions and whatnot are fine. Toss around ideas, get to know one another that way, but THIS is you W-O-R-K area. NOW WORK," Antigone shouted at the woman.

Xena smiled, as Antigone went into crazy boss mode. Xena could get used to working under this woman. "Antigone it is then." She ran her tongue along her top lip slowly, as she listened to Antigone and the woman who seemed to be Briony have it out. How forceful she was.

"Nice to meet you Miss Whitehall. I do not wish with leisurely introductions. You know my name. Now I wish to work." Yeah. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

"I said I was sorry." Geesh have a laugh every once and a while. Sure Antigone may be having a bad day but it didn't mean she was to bring it out on everyone else. It was the first time in a while Briony wasn't in some sort of misery. She listened to her threaten of her losing her job. She was one who did take her work seriously and didn't flirt with other employees. "Whatever you say Ms. Mcardle," she agreed, walking past the woman without a second glance. God, she wished her old Department Head was here.

"As you wish. I'm here for questions though," she said with a raised eyebrow. She walked to her desk and opened a drawer taking out a letter from her father saying things weren't going well. Ugh. Life stunk at the minute.

Antigone smiled indulgantly at the woman and nodded her head in agreement about her getting to work, although she was talking to Briony. Oh yes, the two of them would get along just fine.

Antigone flared her nostrils and fought the urge to shout some more. She had had about enough of her employees insolence. Perhaps she needed to have a meeting with them about proper work place behavior and RESPECT. Her personal life had no reasoning on her attitude with Briony. Not at all. She felt disrespected and so she reprimanded the woman, plain and simple.

After a moment she turned and stomped out of the office without another word.

Chloe immediately stopped smiling at Antigone as she went into boss mode. Oh for the love of Merlin! Why were the Division Heads always getting in trouble? Instead of watching the argument, Chloe went back to her work, trying her best to ignore it, hoping that she was not one of the people Antigone was referring to as needing to straighten up their act around the department. Chloe always came to work to work. Always. The only time she had deviated from that was the Ryan incident. She brushed her hair out of her face, her sparkly new engagement ring glistening in the lights, and despite what was going on around her, a little smile twitched at the corner of her lips, but Chloe just kept working, not looking up at anyone, and not saying a word.

Ryan smirked at the woman as he thought how it was fun to see the tough woman inside Calla's decent looks. ''I have been busy out the office'' the man replied as an answer for his lacking of information about his new co-workers. And though he was surprised to hear that Calla was his new employee, he tried to hide it and smiled widely instead ''Good. Welcome to the department and Inspection Committee then, there...'' he indicated the cubicles for his division ''...you can choose one for you and decorate it with purple however before you start i need to warn you about...''

He stopped when he heard the familiar voice and without losing any time she started again ''...this.'' Ryan whispered to Calla and turned around to face the boss lady with a formal expression ''Yes, Ms. McArdle. Thank you for reminding. I forgot to put my nametag back on it while i was cleaning my desk'' well...he did not want Calla to be introuble at her very first day, did he? No.


Then he glanced at the other person who came along with Antigone. Another new employee. Apparently a new employee. Ryan nodded when Antigone introduced him and smiled, of course. ''I am pleased, Xena'' and he tried his best not to do something that might seem odd to the woman while McArdle glared at him.

Xena eyed the man. "Nice to meet you Mr Chambers. I would rather you called me Ms Segway. Xena is for my friends." Like Antigone. She knew they would already be friends. "I look foward to working in this department with you all. I have many years experience in the field."

Ryan made a short, silent ''Ooo!'' and smirked as the woman spoke. She was another 'i am tough and i can kick you' woman for him now that she put a certain border at the very beginning. It was strange how women were scared of the possibility that he might behave them in a friendly way. ''That was so sweet'' he murmured to himself then faced the woman with a huge smirk on his face. ''Welcome to the department then Xena, ah sorry, Ms Segway. Of course i will make sure not to call you Xena from now on Ms Xena Segway, forgive me for hearing it that way when your friend introduced you'' he smirked again and comfortabley sat on his desk. ''Experience is indeed valuable. I'm sure Ms Whitehall will enjoy your presence for you seem to be a hardworking and ambitious woman. Good qualities but over ambititon is bad for a healthy stomach''

"Well I am sure you already know of that Mr Chambers. Ms McArdle seems to already have issues with you, and she is your senior. You should know well to learn your place," Xena smiled. "I am hard-working but I do not intend to rise above my position. Not before my time."

"What is your experience in the field of child's education?"

Ronan walked into the work areas of the Department of Magical Education a little nervous for the reception he would receive from other employees there. He didn't know a soul in there except for Antigone McArdle and she all but hated him and his wife.

Sighing he looked around at the various employees talking in groups or working at their desks. Looking to one certain man (Lara_the_Firelady) who seemed to know what he was talking about in regards to the lay of the land.

"Excuse me." he said looking from her to the blonde woman he was speaking to. "Sorry to interrupt you two but I believe I'm your new employee, Ronan Cavanaugh."

The young man smiled gently to show that he was friendly enough and was not looking for a fight.

More of that ''Oooo!'' Ryan fought the urge to openly voice it as he listened to the woman with his usual smirk. Since the man liked confrontation and challenge, he liked this new woman as well. ''You are right Ms Xena Segway'' he began happily tapping on his desk ''However i prefer to take advices from my friends. And about the words you remarked about yourself i have to confess that i quite disagree with yourself. You are definitely an ambitious lady and this does not always mean that you have your eyes on the chairs of your seniors''

Standing up he walked to the drawers again, checked something in them and looked up back at the woman ''Ah, sorry.'' he stood straight to answer her question. ''Originally i am a Psychologist and Pedagogy along with Developmental Psychology are among my fields of profession.''

This was a sarcastic smile challenge with that woman and Ryan liked it a lot yet he needed to stop smirking at her in order to not to seem stupid and quirky, well he was actually quirky, to this new man. ''Ah, Hello Mr. Cavanaugh!'' he exclaimed warmly ''Welcome to the Education Department. I am Ryan Chambers the leader of the Inspections Committee. I am pleased to meet you'' and pleased to see a man in this department he thought as he offered the man his hand. Everywhere was full of 'I'll kick you' looking women.

Briony couldn't stand Ryan talking to all these new woman employees. It was seroiusly getting on her nerves. But no need to explode right? She shuffled through work on the desk of hers and looked up to see yet another new arrival to the Education Department. How many new employees were going to appear? Anyway, she needed to finish reading through some things. Well obviously this one was Ryan's new employee.

Xena watched the man. She wasn't sure how to take him. He hadn't tried to force himself on her yet, which he seemed like something he would do. Maybe he was just sizing her up too. She chuckled, "I am not giving you advice. I am giving you a warning. Ms McArdle will not take that for too long. You may find yourself out the door, without a job." She smirked. She wasn't going to take anything off this guy. She gave her hair a sensual, corrective flick.

"So you have no idea about Education itself. You know about psychology?" she frowned. What use was psychology, when you were talking about the education of children? They weren't about teaching them, they were about exams and things like that. Sure he knew how to be a teacher, but had he ever been one?

As she spoke Ryan fixed his blue eyes at the woman's and once she had finished her speech the man laughed. ''Excuse me? But exactly what have you attempted to warn me for? Plus, to inform you again, i have to tell you that i, currently, only pay attention to the warnings which are directly voiced by Ms McArdle. I guess you have tried to say that she'd kick me out my position, if i failed to make you like me. Well...isn't this, on the other hand, disrecpecting Ms McArdle's decision? I believe there's a reason i was promoted to this position and there's no way it can be less important than you not liking me, i guess.''

When he stopped he could not help being surprised at her next words, when she had remarked that he had no idea about education itself. ''Sorry? I guess you did not hear i said Pedagogy, which is the study of being a teacher, and Developmental Psychology are among my fields of profession. As Inspections Committee, we determine the standards for a good education progress and we inspect if teachers can match those standards.''

Xena smirked, "Oh I heard you say pedagogy. But the study of being a teacher is not the same as being one. You can study to be a healer, that doesn't make you a healer." This man was far too up himself for her ever to like him. "You don't know if teachers can match those standards if you don't know how teaching works. It is all on a case by case basis. Everyone takes a different approach. With different outcomes. I know that much."

She was so glad she wasn't in his division. "I don't have to like you Mr Chambers. I just have to cope with you being around. And I have been told if I have any trouble from you, to tell Ms McArdle. And you are gone."

Antigone swept into the office after standing just outside listening for a few moments. Long enough to have caught the gist of the conversation. "Sonorus," she said as she entered the room.

"THAT IS ENOUGH! I HAVE BEEN STANDING OUT THERE LISTENING TO YOU TWO HAVE A GO AT EACHOTHER. THAT IS ENOUGH!" she said in her magically magnified voice. She then did the counterspell nonverbally and glared around the room at her employees.

Sighing she hopped atop one of the desks and said, "What can I do to fix this problem? Huh? I do not wish to have you all at eachother's throats of uncomfortable with one another. Something has got to give, guys." She looked ragged and worn down and just wanted to crap to stop.

Xena shuddered as Antigone raised her voice at them. How forceful. "Umm Ms McArdle, I was merely stating to Mr Chambers here, how he shouldn't act in such a crass manner. I apologise if I came off as brash and disrespectful to you. But I do not expect to be treated like I am unworthy in the workplace. He was telling me how I was overambitious." She bowed her head to the lady, "Again I apologise."

''Well...i assure you that i have enough experience of...'' Ryan began but he was cut by Antigone's yelled warning. This woman really knew how to use that sonorus charm and she used it well enough. He fell silent once Antigone warned them and looked back at Xena when she spoke. ''I'm sorry. I did not mean that you are unworthy or overly ambititous, i said ambititous and i said it as a good personal trait. Nevertheless if my words were offending to you in any way i do apologise''

Antigone smiled slightly at Xena. It seemed she was in fact a forceful woman like herself, she couldn't fault her for that. "I appreciate the apology. I will ask that in the future any and all issues within the Department be brought to me. Especially if it involves an Division Head," she said kindly.

She actually cracked a smile when Ryan apologized. "Now, was that so difficult? I think not. Now in the future I will try and implement some sort of seminar or classes to teach you all how to mesh better together and the PROPER workplace attitude to have. Despite popular belief, my door is open for you ALL to speak to me. I simply will not tolerate infighting or disrespect from any of you. Now with that being said, Ms. Segway, welcome and you too Mr. Cavanaugh. Decorate as you wish in your personal space. I feel it makes everyone happier if they put their own personal touches on things. Now are there anymore questions or concerns I can address while I am in here?" she said to the two then to the room at large. She still had the smile up on her face and her wheels were spinning with new ways to educate the group. Oh happy day!

Xena eyed Ryan. Was this man being sincere or did he just want to get with her? "I forgive you." She could forgive him after all. But she wasn't going to be that easy.

Xena nodded, "Of course Ms McArdle. I will not hesitate to inform you straight away of any altercations." Would give her time to spend with her boss, and she was liking her more by the minute. They would be great friends.

"Thank you. I intend to stay here a while," she smiled. She peered back at her empty cubicle. She needed to find things to decorate it with. She wasn't one for sentimental pictures. Maybe a poster would be a good idea. Not that she had a partner to put pictures up of.

Ronan smiled back as he shook the hand of what appeared to be the only other man in the entire department. "A pleasure to work with you Mr Chambers." he replied, glancing towards the young woman that the other man had been talking to and then back to Mr Chambers.

As Antigone came into the room and furrowed his brow wondering if this sort of bickering happened a lot in the department. That's one thing that Ronan couldn't stand was petty fighting over little things. "Thank you Ms McArdle." he said as she welcomed him and the other woman into the department. The young man decided to take her advice and decorate his new cubicle.

Setting his briefcase down on the desk, he unlatched it magically, and took out a few pictures to remind him of home.



Smiling down at the pictures, the young man busied himself with tidying up his desk to stay out of the reprimanding and whatnot going on in the main area. He sighed, content with his new job, and ready to start work.

Chloe managed to keep her head down and her tongue silent through all the bickering. This was not how a workplace should run. If people had a problem with Ryan and couldn't discuss it civilly in here, then they should have done what she had done and meet outside of the office to discuss it. And once she and Ryan had done that, things had greatly improved between them. Ryan now knew where she stood and that she wouldn't tolerate his attitude, and since then he had made no remarks to her. The bickering was getting them all in trouble with Antigone, and Chloe knew that in trouble with Antigone was not a good place to be.

When a new man came and took the cubicle next to her she smiled at him politely and then walked over to his cubicle. She held out her hand to him as she introduced herself. "Hello! I'm Chloe Everhart! Welcome to the team!" And then she lowered her voice a bit as she continued. "Things aren't normally like this, just so you know. Unfortunately you've arrived in the thick of some departmental tension, but it'll go away soon... I hope." After this last part she gave a small quiet laugh. Truthfully, the Antigone/Ryan conflict had been going on for quite a few weeks now, but Chloe could hope it would go away soon, right?

Ronan turned at the sound of a young woman's voice. She greeted him enthusiastically which only caused him to smile wide and he took her hand and shook it firmly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms Everhart, I'm Ronan Cavanaugh." the young man replied a small twinkle in his eye.

"Oh, well it should make for an interesting beginning for me then." he said with a small chuckle. "I don't mind so much as I'm not the one getting yelled at."

''Thank you'' Ryan replied kindly still facing Xena and after giving her a little smile he turned to Antigone the Boss Lady when she began to speak. ''Not much hard and that seminar sounded like a good idea Ms McArdle. I guess, i will be happy to participate'' He gave another smile to this woman too.

Then once Calla left his desk, he sat at his respective place looking around as Antigone welcomed the new employees. He turned back to Ronan trying to guess what could he be thinking about the current state of the offices. Hopefully those problems would not last for too long. ''Same goes for you, Mr. Cavanaugh'' he exeggeratedly waved at the man and just looked at Chloe as she spoke to the new man before turning back to dealing with his drawers

Chloe smiled politely at the man as she said, "The pleasure is mine Mr. Cavanaugh." She liked this guy already. Respectful and nice. This department needed a man like that around. Chloe glanced around the room and noticed Ryan staring at her. She raised her eyebrows at him in a, "Take a picture, it'll last longer," kind of way before turning back to Ronan. "Yes, very interesting indeed. And I would advice you to not ever be the one getting yelled at by Ms. McArdle. Though, you don't seem like the sort who will get under her skin," she replied quietly.

Chloe took a quick inventory of the pictures on his walls. Obviously he had a girlfriend or wife or maybe, like herself, he was engaged? Now was not the time to ask, however. "Well, I'm going to get back to work, but if you need anything, just let me know! I'm right next door!" she said with a small laugh, gesturing to the cubicle next to his. Her engagement ring caught the light with a sparkle, a sensation that still made her grin from ear to ear. And then she turned and walked back over to her desk, sitting down, hoping that things were going to settle down soon as she went back to her work.