And now there was someone sitting on the corner of her desk. Genevieve tidied the file and slipped it back into her active case bin before glancing up at him. Young, eager-looking. Had that sort of new puppy thing going on that Lex was constantly exuding. She imagined the two of them in a room together would spontaneously combust... or the room would. Very dangerous.

"Sit in the chair. That corner has to be earned." She gestured at the chair by her desk with her ink pen before dropping it onto her desk. "Desks are earned too, so don't get any ideas. Now then... you're mine now, right? What's your name? Life story? Only the high points, please." Because her time was precious, and they had things to do.

And as for his question... Genevieve glanced in the direction of the conference room. "Cage match. Fight to the death. My money is on Carter. She's got a well of pent up aggression."

Touchy lot, these Auror's and their desks. Rhydian frowned, thinking that they should probably have laced the corners with some sort of 'caution' tape, if they were going to be so paranoid about someone merely sitting on the desk.

Yet, at the same time, he was intrigued. "What...does one have to do to earn perching rights? And how do I get front row seats to such an event?"

Because cage matches were not to be missed. And of course, given he was asking such a question, it meant he was moving himself as well. To the chair. As directed.

Though, he still wasn't sure who was directing him. She thought he was hers? That got an arched eyebrow. Maybe this one was his superior, but then why didn't Bossman, or her for that matter, say anything? He flopped into the chair with a grunt. "I'm my own. Unless the fine print on my contract said otherwise."

Something he never bothered to read.

A shrug of his shoulders. Didn't mean he couldn't answer her questions though. "Name's Rhydian Blackhold. Story is TLDR, but I transferred from a YATI at the Spanish ministry to here, half a year ago. I like hats and nice clothing. Not too fond of cats. And I've been told I have a hollow leg for a stomach, even though such a statement makes absolutely no sense."

Those were about all the high points he could think of.

Settling his arms on the armrests, he gave her an expectant look. "Now, what about you?" Because, it was only fair. The trade of information. Balance. What went out had to come back in. Right?

"When you earn it, you'll know. Mostly, it suggests a familiarity that doesn't exist between us yet. I don't even really like Legend to sit on my desk, but he rucks up the papers and doesn't even notice he's messed with my filing." And it wasn't like Genevieve was particularly fastidious to begin with, so it hurt her feelings to organize a thing twice.

She eyed him as he sat in the chair, noting that he carried himself with confidence. That was good, because he wouldn't be a doormat, but it was BAD because he might get killed. "No, you're mine. And you belong to everyone in this division until you get your papers that say you belong to you and you're a full Auror. It would do you well to remember that, not because I want you to feel like something under my shoe, but because I want you to listen up so you don't die on me. If you think you're yours, you walk into a trap with your head up. You're mine for now, savvy?"

And she'd get them both out alive. And Loppy and Lex and even Tyler, when Merlin knew he wanted to die.

So life story time? "Blackhold, is it? I'm Genevieve James, although the boss forgets I'm married now and calls me Branxton. My mother is Cassandra Rae-Branxton, but I don't expect to be treated differently for it and I earned my way to this desk just like you're doing." Not that she had a chip on her shoulders about it or anything. "I've been here nearly seven years, came up through YATI like you're doing. Married just over a year. I don't like hats, my clothing is suitable for work, I have a cat who hates me, and I also have a hollow leg for a stomach." There. All caught up.

Rhydian's face scrunched up a bit. Merlin these Auror's were a secretive bunch, weren't they? He didn't think it would hurt greatly to give just a little bit away. 'Your superior's got brown hair' or hey, 'To earn it you've got to not die'. Really, didn't seem that hard. It was starting to feel like he was wandering around a field with trip-wires and invisible barriers yet to be defined.

Uncomfortable.

Made only moreso by her next point. It had been in the fine print. Pity. More scrunching of his face.

"First off, I don't mess up papers." Should be a plus, yes? "And second off I listen, for the most part." See? He was sitting in the chair. As she had asked. Brownie points? He wasn't adverse to them. "But I can deal with not dying." To that effect the third point he would leave mute with a lift of his hat, ruffle of his hair and hat replacement.

Really, they were all mute points. Fine print won out, all the time. It was a fact of life.

Then she was onto her life story. He blinked at her a few times, a small smile working its way in place of the scrunchy look. "Got a short version of that?" Her name that was. As for her mother, didn't know, didn't bother him one way or another. As for the rest. "What's your official title? Would you recommend marriage? Hats are seldom appreciated until you find a good one. Why do you own a cat if it hates you?" Still a point of utter confusion for him. "And where's the best place to grab grub for a hollow leg around here?"

Oh, Merlin, please don't let him be a sulker. After crazy-pants Alexa and bad-attitude Tyler, it would be nice to have a YATI around who just did his job and didn't need to have his hand held. And who appreciated that they all had work to do, and that putting up a fight or making a fuss wasted her time.

"You're on a role, Blackhold. No paper mussing, listening skills. I might keep you around." And if he didn't die either... that was all the better. Genevieve slipped a few empty warrants from her file and stacked them in the center of her desk. "My family calls me Vi or Vivi. I suppose you can call me either of those if you prefer. Or James." Which was still taking some getting used to.

"My official title is Auror. I recommend marriage to the right person, otherwise stay as far from it as you can. And I own a cat who hates me because I love her. You ask a lot of questions." That was about all the paperwork she was willing to do today. "There's a cafe across the street, and the food is much better than in the cafeteria. I'll treat."

Of course he was on a role. He was, after all, Rhydian Blackhold. Did the name proud, if he had to say so himself. His grin, said just as much. As for being kept around, he supposed he could handle that. Especially if this was the desk where he was going to get that Gringott's warrant. He'd be checking. Every day. Probably twice a day. Constant vigilance and all that.

His grin only widened at the options for her name. "Auror James. Has a nice ring to it. I like it. I'm going to keep it." As in, keep it as her designated title coming from his lips. To him, it all made sense. Unlike cats. They made absolutely no sense, at any point in time. He was just...not going to touch that little admission of hers.

"Isn't that what new, greenhorns are supposed to do? Ask questions. All the time. Bother and pester till you're blue in the face and my head is bursting with the wealth of knowledge you oldies are supposed to possess?" And look. Another question. Apparently they weren't so bad that she needed a break from him though.

Hoping to his feet, Rhydian clapped his hands together and rubbed them quickly. "I'd never decline free food. Lead the way, Auror James."

Tyler was tired...super tired after his long shift. Was it even legal to have them work that many hours? He was sure it wasn't but he wouldn't complain. He liked pushing himself to the extreme but he liked napping even better.

Dropping down into the closest, chair he put his feet up and plopped a copy of the Prophet over his face. If anyone asked, he was reading...with the paper ridiculously close to his face.

Made for better reading.

Heh.

The day was dragging slowly. No threats down in security that might need looking into, Departments busy at work and not willing to be disturbed. Believe it or not, walking a sleeping Ministry up and down was not the best way to spend a shift. It was almost as painful as paperwork...or maybe it was on the same level. All that walking and no pay off. It's what prompted Lex back to the office. If she wasn't needed about the place then she might as well catch up on her mountain of paper in her decorated corner of the room.

Heading to her spot on the floor, she caught Tyler helping himself to someone else's desk. Again. You think he'd just conjure his own, make it impossible for anyone to come laying claim. As she walked by she took a moment to nudge at the chair with her foot, not hard enough to make him fall but he certainly wouldn't be comfortable anymore.

"Look alive, Bellaire. You're likely to get hexed any minute now for sponging on other people's property." In fact she was waiting for it.

Tyler was in the sweet part of the nap....just before a dream started...it was going to be an awesome dream too, he could tell. All that was ruined though when someone nudged his chair. He relaxed his wand when he heard the voice.

Cambridge....so annoying. He didn't even bother to open his eyes.

"Stunts like that will get you murdered Cambridge." Tyler replied lazily. "What was your idiot school's motto again? Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus? Maybe you should follow that advice." He opened one eye and looked at her. "And it's the property of the ministry so I can sit where ever I please."

Oh good, he was awake. Lex settled into her spot on the floor comfortably knowing her fellow trainee was a little more vigilant now--because he wasn't before, otherwise he might have been able to avoid the contact made with his chair. "A lot of things will get you murdered, it's life as an Auror." The life they would soon have.

"Suppose I should be touched you bothered to learn the motto of Hogwarts though I gotta say I've got a dragon somewhere along my back," Unless it moved again, "and another in Romania. You look nothing like either." So forgive her if he lost intimidation points for that.

The young woman made a face at the stack to her side, hardly ready to have her wrist and fingers cramping. "Hope you'll be singing the same tune when you get a desk next year and I help myself to it." Property of the Ministry, yeah? She should write it down for future reference.

"A lot of things will get you murdered if you went to Hogwarts." He replied casually. He also liked to think that six years of combat, three as the captain and three years of special ops trainer before landing this job would keep him from dying while living the life of an auror.

Tyler snorted and eventually opened both eyes and put the paper down. "I spent a whole year there, I've never been a slow learner." Tyler shuffled the chair back so he could get into a more relaxed position while folding his arms at the back of his head. "Hmm, looks can be deceiving Cambridge."

"Do I look like I care if you want to sit at my desk? It's a desk and chair Cambridge. I don't expect to spend much time in the office when I'm officially an auror anyways." He would be needing his chair for naps though.

That...was actually very true, completely true, undeniably true. Hogwarts left you predisposed to dying early if you didn't know what you were doing. Was there ever a year that nothing happened? Not even a small problem? None she could remember so she would let him have it.

"Oh yeah, forgot about that. Durmstrang did a good job knocking the Puffer right out of you." If he hadn't insisted he was sorted into Hufflepuff by the hat then she'd never have guessed it, not with the way he was. Said a lot about that school up there in the north and left her wondering how her cousin coped. He...wasn't the most manly....or tough...or anything really. "Think I'd like to stay deceived on this one. Scales wouldn't do you justice at all."

Scales, claws, fangs; he'd look too much like his mother.

Lex straightened a little, eyebrows raised now. "You mean it? No hexes the moment I take a load off?" He might have just been saying, just for a laugh but she was no one's entertainment piece. "You should sneak me on missions with you when you do get the fancy badge. I'd be great help."

"Why don't you just yell that I was sorted into the yellow house on the top of your voice next time. Make it a public service announcement." He flashed a glare in her direction. Being sorted into HufflePuff was the biggest stain on his life...at least that was what his mother thought. It did ruin Rhea after all and Sophia would not have let her only son go out like her daughter did, hence Tyler's move to Durmstrang.

"Let's not talk about it."

There was a slight smirk on his lips when she said scales wouldn't suit him. "Tomorrow I'll wear my dragon hyde jacket and we'll see about that." If nothing else, Tyler could rock the hell out of jackets...well he could rock anything really..."And...." He got up and turned his back to her the pulled his shirt right up, showing off the massive Durmstrang crest that covered his entire back, weaving in and out of the crest though was a small dragon..."I'd say dragons suit me just fine." He reclaimed his seat and put his feet back up.

"I mean it in this moment, but who knows how I'll feel when I have my 'own desk....and no..you talk too much."

Well wasn't someone touchy about the subject? Lex watched him carefully for a moment, thinking he was being more dramatic than he ought. "There's nothing wrong with being a Hufflepuff. They were some of the best people at Hogwarts." With much better personalities than the one he sported too so perhaps in the end it was a shame he transferred before he could get some Puffer pride and principle seeping into him. Go figure.

Since they weren't talking about it though she could focus on his....jacket? Lex made a face. How anyone wore anything that used to be worn by a creature was beyond her. Bet the dragon didn't too much appreciate giving up its skin. Her curiosity rose at the sight of the small dragon between the crest.

"My dragon's bigger than yours." Fact.

Know what would happen when he got his own desk? Absolutely nothing. Tyler hadn't changed by a large degree since she'd met him, there was no way he'd suddenly be a new man the moment they handed him a badge. An indignant look crept onto her face at his final words. "I do not talk too much and I'm a great asset to have on any mission. Just ask Rainey." Probably the only person who'd blindly vouch for her right now. Vivi too unless she was feeling particularly motherly and insisted she stay to be safe.

"Yes well whatever." He waved her off. She was starting to sound like Rhea. She was stupidly obsessed over her yellow house but he didn't care for it and no amount of enthusiasm from his sister or Alexa Cambridge would change that. He was from the Wolverine House. "Some of the best people get railroaded. I have ample proof of that."

Tyler laughed. "I'm not sure that's something you should brag about Cambridge...but I suppose it might be. My whole tattoo is bigger than you though. There is no denying that."

"You do." He reaffirmed quietly. "And I don't think Rainey is playing with a full deck of cards really so I wouldn't take his word for it."

Auror James? That was pretty cute and didn't seem like it would get old very quickly. Genevieve gave him a swift nod of approval before shoving out from behind her desk. Food, then, and lots of good coffee, and if the kid was lucky, she might take him on a surveillance mission.

"You can ask questions, but I'm going to draw a line at some point and make you figure out the answers yourself. So use them wisely, okay?" Like it would really stink if he ran out of questions around the time he needed to know where the nearest loo was located. "And don't call me an oldie or I'll hex you bald. I'm great at that one."

He was buying. Did he know that already?

There he went being completely wrong again. At this point she was actually shaking her head. "Most of the best people know how to railroad before being railroaded. They're the ones that know what they're doing and how to make things work for them." Pansies got railroaded, there was a huge difference. Lottie had only technically been a Hufflepuff and there wasn't a person alive that could use her for a doormat.

The fact his entire tattoo was bigger than her didn't bother her much either. "No denying at all and you can keep it that way. 'm not a colouring book and need there to be skin left over." Kinda why she didn't even want it coloured in the first place.

Lex might have gone straight into eyerolling at his insistence that she spoke too much if she didn't suddenly find herself intrigued by his statment. "And just what's that supposed to mean?" Not a full deck of cards?

A limit on questions? Well, that was a new one. Usually people just resorted to a 'stop talking' or 'shut-up' tactic. This, was different. Like strikes, but a bit more dangerous.

Questions were essential. Did she not know this? Look. Another question.

Pushing himself up from the chair, Rhydian nodded in understanding. There would be a way to approach this. A way to decide how to tip-toe about and make sure that he never hit the no-more-questions wall. But, he needed to think on it.

"I don't look good without hair, so it's noted." No oldie here. Nope. Nadda.

And with that, he followed her out towards the cafe. Hopefully, it didn't have those glaring, colored umbrellas.

The office was pretty quiet at this point in the morning, but Genevieve really preferred it that way. Everyone out and about their business, and she was free to get their files in order, work on warrants, and fill out the interdepartmental notification slips to let everyone else in the Ministry know what they were up to. It was so much easier to get work done with everyone else out of the office.

Except Legend. Genevieve was hoping she'd see the Head Auror today, since she needed to have a word with him. She reached for her cup of coffee and took a sip, wrinkling her nose when she remembered that it was actually tea... only once it hit her lips. Not nearly as good.

After working out of the security office for the most part the past few days between rounds, Simon made his way to his normal desk. Hopefully things hadn't gotten too crazy and out of control in his absence. Like the YATIs hadn't overridden the others or at the very least driven them insane. The security man himself had already had enough of one young woman in particular and couldn't hopefully avoid her as much as he could manage much like he did with her aunt.

Slipping into the relatively quiet office he raised an eyebrow at the atmosphere. Maybe today was okay, he mused to himself as he crossed to his desk and removed the charms on it so sit down at his chair with ease. Genevieve seemed to be the only one around at the moment and she Simon was fine with. Most days anyway when he hadn't seemed to annoy her.

Legend was always in the office. Always. And when he wasn't he was most likely doing something else work related. Uncover business. Talking to people who needed to be spoken to. Research. Training. There was very little time in his day that Legend actually left for personal use.

Making his way into the office with a cup of coffee in hand, Legend was ready to walk by the other desks and take a seat at his own, when someone caught his attention. "Vivi?" The blond blinked. "You're in early!"

And there was the man himself. "Not early, really, but I don't always sit here at my desk and wait for you to notice me." She slipped the completed file into her outbox and folded her hands on her desk. Simon was in this early as well, did he get the third degree?

Genevieve eyed her tea with distaste, especially now that she could smell Legend's coffee. "I wanted to speak with you, actually. Do you have... a few minutes?" She gestured toward her extra chair. Generous of her, really.

He actually did notice Simon. Perhaps right after. Or perhaps he was just used to seeing Simon there? "Go on you. My attention is sort of a rare thing. You have to be special for me to notice you." Jooking. Only joking of course.

Nodding just slightly, he took the seat. "Is something wrong?" It was always what his mind went to first. Something being wrong. He wasn't pessimistic but...that's what happened when you worked in their field.

As a matter of opinion, Genevieve was pretty special, and she wasn't surprised at all to be the center of his attention. She grinned as Legend took a seat, even if the grin was tight around the edges from nerves. He could say no.

"Nothing is wrong. I was hoping... wondering, really... well, hoping isn't the wrong word so much as really underselling..." Words, James. Use them correctly. "I'd like you to consider me for a more active role in training the YATI here in the building, and I'd like to be taken off active field work for the next six and a half months."

She took a shaky breath and dropped a perhaps-too-significant look at her belly. "And then I'll need a few months off for maternity leave starting in November or so."

Wondering? Hoping?

Wait.

WAAAAAIt WAAAAAAIIIIT WAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIT

HOLD THE HIPPOGRIFFS.

Legend stared, his bulged as he continued to start at one of the view people in the office that he actually trusted with his life. Breathing out through his nose, the blond gave a slight curt nod. "Yes. Yes to both Vivi I-" He didn't know what to say??? "Congrats?? I mean of course you can have less of an active role. We wouldn't want you to be rushed into anything dangerous. And PLUS with some of these YATI's in their last year, they really really need some shaping up." But also BABY.

And she was gonna LEAVE him.

Sad.