Chuckling, Sabel patted the top of his desk. "Go ahead and put your feet up, or feel to explore the drawers."

They were empty anyways. Had been since the article came out. It had been a precaution he had taken, just because it was a simple one to make. Now, it meant something a little different.

He watched her for a moment, glad she didn't argue against his request. His smile grew a bit as she made herself right at home. Good. No protests, no questions. It was one of the things he liked about her. She didn't over-complicate things, didn't over-think. A curse for a lot of the staff of the MLE.

"I'm glad you find it comfortable. The location is nice too. No draft, but a good view. Doesn't get too cold in the winter, despite being near the windows. And it's a good vantage point for the rest of the office. Out of the way, but within earshot of pretty much all the going on's."

Rapping his knuckles on the desk, he drew back in his chair. "Been my desk since I was a first year YATI, like yourself." He gave her a grin. "Yes, we got desks in those days."

At the invitation, Lex attempted to kick her feet up but the motion was slowed by the cramping legs that seemed to only move at their pace. Finally, with much effort, she got her feet up and shuffled around until she was comfy enough. "It's a nice seat, I'll give you that, Dakest but what's that got to do with me?"

For real, for real. Hazel eyes wandered about the office, considering all he'd said before landing on her decorated little patch of floor in the corner. "I don't have much of a draft over there." Not really. It was low down there.

Alexa leaned back in the chair some, swivelling in it from right to left and back again. With much discomfort, she pulled her bag into her lap and fished for a chocolate frog. "Want something?" Other than a chocolate frog? She had lollipops, jelly slugs, sugar quills--okay maybe he couldn't have those....fizzing whizbees, cauldron cak--maybe not those either....oh Merlin.

He almost made a move to help Alexa get her feet up on the desk, but refrained knowing that he would just as likely get a kick in the head as a thank-you. He still wasn't sure he was safe from that, however, not with what he had to tell her.

What it had to do with her?

His hesitation in answering right away was awarded by a most generous offer. She was letting him have something from her goodie bag? Truth be told, he was touched. And a might bit guilty. "I'd love something. Not picky though."

The last bit was tagged on upon seeing what looked like a delima of choice on her expression. He remembered how hard it was for her to part with such things. So no, he wasn't going to be picky.

While she chose something for him, his attention wandered back to her corner. What his desk had to do with her. "Have you ever wanted a desk?"

He wasn't picky about what she had to offer. Well that was good. Not like some people that got big ideas the moment they heard they had options. That was the worst kind and they were usually overly ambitious to boot. Wanting chocolate frogs, demanding MORE THAN ONE. It was more than her heart could take in truth so hearing him not being picky was music to her ears.

"You can have these." She said, sliding a pack of jelly slugs over to him. They were Alice's favourite last she'd bothered to inquire but not a true favourite of hers so the loss was minimal.

Lex ripped at her own packet of chocolate frog, eager to get some sugar in after all that work but somehow she managed to have a pause at his question. Did she want a desk? The young woman looked down at the one she had her feet kicked up on, then over at the others in the room before resting her gaze on her special corner.

"Not particularly." Lex admitted with a small shrug. She bit at the head contemplatively before continuing. "A desk is too real and too confining for my taste. It concretes the fact I have a proper job and that's not what YATI life is for me. It's not a job, it's fun, it's thrilling, it's exciting; all things a desk is not."

"Jelly slugs." Sabel mused, taking the treat. Not his favorite, but he wasn't about to complain. It was a gift after all. And from Alexa's goodie-bag, that was saying a lot. "Thanks very much."

He copied her, tearing into the packet and pulling out one of the slugs. Plopping one into his mouth, he chewed slowly, curious as to Alexa's answer.

And...he was disappointed. It was sure to show on his expression to, as his eyes went to his desk and then back to Alexa. He wanted to ask if she was one-hundred percent positive, but this was Alexa. The girl who knew what she wanted.

For a moment he was quiet, finishing off the slug and gathering his thoughts. "You won't be a YATI for forever, though. And, that thrilling fun may start to look more like work. It's helpful to have your own space. Better than writing reports in the hallways." He spared her a small smile.

Perhaps it was best just to cut through it. Shifting his weight a little, Sabel fussed with the next slug in the package. "Why I ask, Alexa, is because I would like you to have my desk. You have a lot of promise as an Auror, and I'd like someone to make use of it." He didn't know what else he could pass on to her. A wand had crossed his mind, but he'd discarded that pretty quickly. He was rather attached to both of his, and wouldn't feel comfortable without them.

It was perhaps four bites into her chocolate frog before Lex realized that this really WAS one of those life lesson talks from Sabel. Won't be a YATI forever, one day it'll feel like work. Merlin she didn't even DO anything this time! Why in Merlin's beard was she getting lectured?? It was that time of the week wasn't it?

SIGH.

What was the best course of action? Nodding along?--No, too obvious, he'd know she wasn't listening.....eeehhh....think Lex, think.

Whoa but then he was GIVING her his desk and telling her she had potential?

"Circe, you're not dying are you?" This fell into some real sentimental stuff. The kind you said when you knew the end was near but Sabel was careful. No one could out him in the field and he didn't act poisoned...his face wasn't changing colour, he wasn't staggering, his hair wasn't falling out. Strange. "If I take your desk, where will you sit? I don't think Rainey will appreciate me stealing something from an actual Auror."

She was doing that staring thing. Sabel blinked at her a few times, lowering the candy package. He wanted to ask 'what', just because he had no idea what was going on in her complicated brain.

And then she went and said that, and Sabel couldn't retain the laughter. It took him a moment to settle, and he shook his head. "Sweet Circe, no. I'd die much more dramatically than this."

Although this dancing around the bush thing was turning out to be quite dramatic, wasn't it?

Clearing his throat, Sabel sobered himself into a smile, tinged with regret. Merlin he was going to miss this place and these people. Even the troublesome ones. "Alexa, I...I don't need my desk anymore. I'm..." Words, they were suddenly difficult. "I've received a job offer at Hogwarts, as the DADA Professor and I'm going to accept. I have accepted."

It was a good thing this one wasn't an overtly, emotional crier. More likely she'd try to hex his face off, take back the candy, not talk to him or maybe she would even be happy.

Oh well that was a relief and the young woman actually found herself laughing along too. If he was dying it'd be more dramatic. "Good. I'd hate to think you'd be selfish enough to drop dead and leave me here with all these people." Penelope was good, and Legend was getting there but she'd either not spent enough time with the others or didn't want to as was the case with most of her YATI colleagues.

Lex shoved the remaining chocolate frog in her mouth then went back to rummaging while Sabel got to what he was really saying--since dying was thankfully off the table.

It was kinda odd he didn't need a desk anymore but maybe he was going out into the field, like one of those undercover missions! HE WOULD LET HER CHARM HIS HAIR BLONDE LIKE HE PROMISED, RIGHT???? The dress hadn't been sorted yet and of course this was all short notice but she was sure she could whi--

...

..........

Dammit Truebridge.

Lex deadpanned at him, dropping the new chocolate frog back into the bag in the process. Job? DADA? Hogwarts? What happened to Romanos? How would Airey take it--forget them, what about HER??? Alexa stared at him, having too many thoughts running through her mind for her to actually SAY anything. It was a joke of course, just like when he said he was an ex-convict. This was his way of keeping her on her toes...surely...

Sweet Merlin he had broke her. Officially.

There was nothing. No reaction, at all. This was worse than any reaction he had ever suspected, and his stomach did a bit of a twist. Especially given her last words. Selfish enough to leave her here with these people. Merlin, how many people were going to guilt-trip him for this?

Perching on the edge of his chair, Sabel chanced leaning a little closer. "Alexa..." He scrambled for something to say. Not serious. Alexa didn't like serious. So, out came the first non-serious thing he could think of. "I could see if you can fit in my suitcase."

He was leaving...just like that...gone...to teach...Hogwarts...Sabel.

It didn't make sense while making all the sense in the world. Sabel liked children...he actually tolerated them and that said a lot.....but he was leaving her, just like Lottie was leaving her and like Cassia was leaving her too. Why did everyone have to leave at the same time? The young woman completely deflated in her seat, appearing smaller somehow. It was like her first year when everyone decided to graduate and leave her behind--granted the years had made her blame them LESS after spending so long in the castle herself but that was besides the point; he was leaving and suddenly she wasn't so sure what she'd do with her free time in MLE. He wouldn't be a few feet away at his own desk for her to bother and he wouldn't help her with reports anymore.

Lex was legitimately at a loss for words...until that last bit. Somehow she managed to laugh, it wasn't a proper one but it was a start. "Hah. No thanks. I just escaped that prison, I have no intentions of going back, least of all inside a trunk." She had waited long and hard for her freedom thank you.

She thought to get up after that, to find a corridor and patrol it rigorously but realized it would never work. Like all the other times she would need to put on a brave face about the whole thing. "Congratulations then...I guess. Give the Whomping Willow my regards, we're best mates you know." Just as light as he had been. She could do this except not really and she wanted to go home and hug Lottie before SHE was proper gone too and today completely sucked now.

Sabel let out a breath at her laughter. It was a reaction, something other than the dead-panned look she had fixed him with before. That had been terrifying. This, was manageable. Sort of.

Except that now, instead of a deadpan look, she had a tinge of sadness. And that hurt. He didn't like seeing any of them sad or hurting. He wanted to try and protect them all. But he couldn't.

Letting out a breath, Sabel scooted forward a bit more and pulled Alexa into a hug. "Not like this is goodbye. I'm only an owl or floo away, alright?" Good grief, it would have been easier if she had stayed hating him.

Maybe he should have stolen a chocolate frog from her first. Would have made this a lot easier on the both of them.

One minute Alexa was steeling herself and the next she was being pulled into a hug. This...this was hardly conducive to her keeping up appearances like she'd been trying to, did he know? In fact she had half a mind to shove him away immediately with the excuse her joints said 'no' but for some reason it didn't happen. There was no pushing him away or grumbling for him to get off her...no hugging back either, sorry.

"It's not gonna be that simple. Hogwarts is a full time job in case you've forgotten. Kids will always be in danger, someone's always gonna want you clarifying things. You're gonna be too busy, always--it'll be even worse when the term winds down and all that can go wrong does because then it's all hands on deck, can't spare anyone for a second, we're all gonna die, that kind of thing." Lex was aware she'd been rambling but it was suddenly something she had to get off her chest.

"And Professors die there. Two were eaten by a plan, one sucked by a dementor, if something happens to you I'll never ever EVER forgive you for it because we had something great here and you were alive."

Ironically, this was all a pep talk when it was still in her head. Whoops.

Sabel wished she would hug back. It would help, at least he thought it would. But then, Alexa did work in different ways than he thought, so maybe it would have just made matters worse. For that reason, he didn't drag it on longer than needed and pulled back when she started talking. Rambling really.

And he shouldn't have been smiling, but he was. Bit by bit, it was creeping up. Not because he thought what she was saying was foolish, because it was true, but because it meant she cared. Even if for her own reasons, for how things impacted herself, she still cared.

"I will be busy, and it won't be all puppies and rainbows." She didn't like those anyways. "But you have my word that I will make time for you. To answer letters. To visit when I can." He'd be busy, but he wouldn't suddenly just disappear from the lives of his friends. And even if she didn't consider him a friend, he did.

Shaking his head, he drew back. "I'm not going to die, Alexa. I'm going to teach. But, I'll hold you to never forgiving me. It'll give me good incentive to make sure that I don't die." Not that he didn't have enough incentive already. " Plus, I want to see you graduate to Auror. Or Head Auror, if you can convince Legend."

Did she get it? He wasn't going that far away. He wasn't unreachable. He wasn't giving up on her. Ever. Why else did she think he was giving her his desk?

Well look at that, at least one of them could be smiling like that. Not a completely terrible conversation. Sabel was winning completely. Good on him. For her part, Lex listened to what he had to say about making time and how he'd owl and visit. Just like that, he'd leave but she should be consoled by the fact he would keep in touch and the world would be fine.

"What if I don't owl back? What if I never decide to meet when you're free. What if I'm extremely selfish and thought all or nothing? We'd never see each other again, I'd easily make sure of that much." Just something for him to think about. Lottie said she would come back every other weekend, what could he promise? Every other holiday? It just didn't have the same reassuring ring to it.

Not that she was saying all this but WHAT IF?? Would he have had a solution then?

" And I won't be convincing Legend." He of all people should have known this. Lex wasn't about to repeat in case Legend was lurking like he had a tendency to do but there would be many things involved in getting Head Auror, convincing was not one of them. Shame too cause she was actually starting to think she'd miss him if he was dead.

Just as he shouldn't have been smiling, he probably shouldn't have laughed at her next words. He tried to catch it with the back of his hand, but most of the noise made it out unimpeded. And it took a moment to settle himself.

"Then you don't. That would be your choice." His smile was kind, nonjudgmental. She really was infuriatingly frustrating, but he couldn't bring himself to feel any irritation towards her. Least of all right now. "But I'll keep owling. I'll keep going to wherever it is I tell you I will meet you. Even if you don't show up. Because that's my choice."

He wanted to apologize to her for not staying, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. As guilty as he felt for leaving, he could not say sorry for a decision that he knew was right, regardless of the disappointment it brought her.

As for Legend, he shook his head with a grin. "Whatever you would like to call it, then, with Chosen." Of course he knew what she meant, he had been right there for the conversation, but he wasn't about to condone her killing his friend. Hence, convincing.

...

Why was he laughing when she was being so completely seriously? Alexa deadpanned once more at his reaction, finding it hard to believe he'd be amused at a time like this when she was actually bothered--and not many things did that. Decidedly no longer interested in this line of conversation, Lex eased out of the chair and prepared to find somewhere else to be. Anywhere would do, really, just not here.

Just as she turned to leave, he finally started using his words and that...actually had her stopping in her tracks. Sabel was persistent, that was for sure but this time she didn't mind it so much, in fact there was a little smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she turned to face him again. "Reckon I'll have to come after a while to tell you to give up." Or so she would tell herself but she was happy he wouldn't give up because losing him completely would be worse.

"Legend and I have 3 years to work something out...I don't have as long with you, let's go get lunch. Your treat." It would be one of the last times...

One thing was for sure, the two of them operated on completely different levels of communication. When she was happy and unbothered, he was the opposite. When he was laughing and amused, she was irritated. While it made things a little bit difficult, and had him wondering at times such as this, it was also welcome. It was their thing, in a way. Something they shared.

And truth be told, he couldn't well blame her for getting up and starting to walk away. He was just glad when she didn't follow through. When she opened up, if even just a little, to him.

Lowering his hand, Sabel nodded and tried to put on a serious face. "I reckon you will."

Seriousness didn't last long though, and he was smiling again shortly. "Alright, I'll bite on that one." It didn't even bother him that his wallet was being offered up. This was a chance to make sure they parted on good terms, and he wasn't going to pass it up.

Standing, Sabel tucked one hand in his pocket, and despite her earlier lack of interest in hugs, he put one brotherly, arm around her shoulders and started them out of the offices. "Where to?"

So these were the offices of the great, infamous British MLE officers. So this, was where the magic happened. The cases were built. The criminals were tried and put away. This, was where it all happened.

To be honest, it was a bit underwhelming.

Rhydian stood in the center of the room, turning about slowly as he chewed on his bottom lip and tapped his fingers on his hips. Very underwhelming. It looked just like an....well an office space. Where was the flare? The intrigue? The drama?

One corner had it right. It was decorated with some personality, and he took a moment to saunter over and check it out. Hands in pockets, he leaned forward and eyed the wall pinnings, the pillows on the floor. Why this person sat on the floor was beyond him. Perhaps a reject? Or a constant trouble-maker?

Straightening, he looked about again, humming to himself with displeasure. Not what he had imagined at all. Not what --- Oh hello!

Now wasn't that just the nicest chair in the space? Someone had gone a little overboard, but it was muchly appreciated. With a grin, Rhydian moseyed on over to the (Legend's) desk. He was about three feet from it when a violent shiver racked through him, halting his footsteps and having him shake his head.

He felt weird. So weird. What was that buzzing noise? One hand went up and swatted at the air. Did someone keep pet misquitoes in here? Seriously. He swatted again, staggering slightly to the side. Whoa. Feet. He looked down. He had those? Feet?

A silly grin overcame him and he wiggled his toes in his shoes. Nice shoes. Would they fit on his hands, he wondered. Bending over to untie his laces proved just as difficult as swatting at things and he teetered this way and that, trying to snag his laces. Pretty shoes. A bubbling giggle. Here shoes.

Simon was busy looking over a few things at his desk, the paperwork that always seemed to develop even when nothing big was going down. Everything down level seemed to be running smoothly and the YATI hadn't been kicking up too much drama lately so he supposed to was a calm enough moment to be content with the simple work. There was the sound of the door to the office being opened and the security man watched the movement out of the corner of his eye before he looked up at the newcomer in earnest.

Certainly a new face yet unaccompanied by a guide. He moved to respond as the younger man approached the auror side of the office, about to speech and make his aware of his presence before the stranger reacted to something. Had he tried something with Legend's desk? MLEr's were known to spell their personal space to keep others, even coworkers, away.

"Um...may I help you?" Simon asked, watching as the other man seemed to be paying a lot of attention to his shoes and feet.

What was this now? An angel to help him with his problems?

Rhydian turned his head to glance up at the man. He was so very tall from here. With a foolish grin, he pointed at his shoes. What could he help him with? There had been something, but....

Buzzing. More buzzing. He shook his head and tried again, pointing at his shoe. "Wanna untie that for me?" Cause, he had the other one to deal with, and the laces were proving problematic.

Another shake of the head. What was .... that? Was that the man? Surely men didn't...buzz. Especially men with shoes that were hardly as nice as his. Another foolish grin.

Simon watched as the younger man turned to him before pointing to his shoes. The security man raised an eyebrow as he tried to think on what was up with his new companion. Said stranger seemed confused as well as he didn't answer, didn't speak. Only shake his head and point to his shoes again. The former Gryffindor was about to responde when a request of help was finally made.

He wanted him to untie his shoe?!

"Not really," Simon answered at first. It seemed just a bit like a prank ready and waiting for him to do something. "What's wrong with it?" he questioned, opting not to help at the moment as he simply stood there with his hands in his pockets.

Well wasn't this guy just a right bummer? Weren't the MLE employees supposed to be helpful and all that jazz? Speaking of the MLE....

Rhydian paused in untying his shoe, glancing about the unfamiliar-familiar room, his vision grazing across a nearby desk and chair. Wasn't there something he wss supposed to....

He shook his head again. "Nothing wrong with them, 'cept where they are." He went back to untying. "Have this theory..they'd look better on my hands than my feet."

Victorious with one shoe at last, Rhydian fused with getting it off and then promptly slipped it on his hand. He held it up for the man and himself to admire. "See?"

Nothing wrong with them, 'cept where they are

And where they were weren't on his hands.

Now that set off a yellow flag in Simon's suspecions. Something was off and he was debating just what. He then watched as the man proceeded to untie his own shoe and replace it on his hand, acting as if it was the most normal thing to do. "Very nice," he commented neutrally as he looked between the relative stranger and the surrounding area. To see if there was a cause or someone waiting around to see Simon do something.

There wasn't any of the latter unless they were disillusioned. But the former auror registered whose desk they were near by. Legend's. A man who learned under some of the wilder members of the department and had the more crazy of the spells enchanted upon it. Simon should know, seeing as he had bypassed them to get the rotten garbage on there for his collegue.

Now which charm or hex was the most likely culprit?

A confundus charm could cause it. He cast a quiet "Finite" on the man, hoping it worked.

The staff meeting ended, and Genevieve was happy to return to her desk and back to the paperwork there. Not that she enjoyed paperwork by any stretch of the imagination, but anything was better than a meeting. Even paperwork.

Besides, she was waiting for her new baby Auror to drop by for some hazing. Or training. Rainey hadn't been particularly clear on that point. And perhaps Legend would be by, too... Genevieve had some words for him as well. She sipped her coffee and worked on her warrants as she waited.

So, he was confused.

Confused because he was still trying to figure out who his superior, besides the obvious Bossman and graduated Aurors and seniors and so forth, was. A bit of a troubling point given he didn't know much about his co-workers. That might have helped a smudge.

But wanting something one didn't have, only meant that one had to change things to have it. Simple enough. At least seemingly so. People were much more complicated than hats. Especially 'superior' people.

Speaking of which, there was one already back at her desk. Which meant the desk was uncharmed. Which meant he could make contact with it. Which meant he did, perching on the corner so as not to impede the woman's work.

"Sooooo," His eyes flicked back towards the conference room. "What sort of 'bonding' activity do you think Bossman's going to deposit on those two?" Office gossip. Always a good way to get to know someone. Plus, maybe he could use the opportunity to see what was on her desk. Files that passed over desks were often the same, over and over and over again. Maybe that would be his clue.