"I guess you could say I didn't always look so presentable" he pointed to his own hair "I started growing it while I was in Hogwarts. Drove my mom crazy" he chuckled "This is the longest it ever was, after this photo was taken I cut it all off. This was taken after 1 year deep within the Schleswig-Holstein forest in Germany" he gazed at the photo, remembering that year. Merlin, it felt like it had been a life time ago.

"This particular image was taken after an encounter with a very aggressive pack of Graphorns. We were searching of very rare breed of Fanged Geranium, you know?" beast attack was her department, she would probably find that detail interesting. It had been a hell of a fight, but they ended up killing most of the offenders and kept their horns for potion making.

He poked her hand playfully with his index finger "As long as you don't decide to be a Gallowglass Agent next, I'm fine with it" he winked and put the photo back on his wallet, rubbing his hands together afterwards "Now it's your turn, tell me something about you, a story, an adventure, anything!" How long had they been down here? So much for a little fifteen minute break..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jojogali

"I guess you could say I didn't always look so presentable" he pointed to his own hair "I started growing it while I was in Hogwarts. Drove my mom crazy" he chuckled "This is the longest it ever was, after this photo was taken I cut it all off. This was taken after 1 year deep within the Schleswig-Holstein forest in Germany" he gazed at the photo, remembering that year. Merlin, it felt like it had been a life time ago.

"This particular image was taken after an encounter with a very aggressive pack of Graphorns. We were searching of very rare breed of Fanged Geranium, you know?" beast attack was her department, she would probably find that detail interesting. It had been a hell of a fight, but they ended up killing most of the offenders and kept their horns for potion making.

He poked her hand playfully with his index finger "As long as you don't decide to be a Gallowglass Agent next, I'm fine with it" he winked and put the photo back on his wallet, rubbing his hands together afterwards "Now it's your turn, tell me something about you, a story, an adventure, anything!" How long had they been down here? So much for a little fifteen minute break..

Meredith just snorted when he said he didn’t always look presentable. “Honestly it looked like you downed a bottle of Manegro potion for the photo” she grinned for a moment until it faltered briefly. “A pack of Graphorns?” She asked and for a moment her face was torn between glaring at the guy and staring in shock.

“Y-you…” she paused “you are lucky to be alive!” she finally stammered out “Graphorns are toughers than hags you know that right? You are seriously lucky – were…did you see mountain trolls in the region as well?” She asked, as that would have made the man far luckier than he already seemed to be. “So…how did you exactly survive that? I mean…their skin is tougher than dragon skin” she chewed her lip. “Did you make any good potions with the horns?” She asked curious as to what they made out of the collected ingredients.

Meredith grinned as he poked her hand, “and what pray tell would a Gallowglass agent be?” She asked grinning over to him. “Oh…an adventure” she chewed her lip momentarily, “well…honestly I lived quite a sheltered life for a bit there…it…it kind of makes things feel a little stifled when your parents run the school you go to” she laughed and then leaning back on her bean bag nodded more to herself then to him.

“I…went on a school trip once to Peru” she grinned, “this was when I was till deciding what type of creature to work with” she admitted, “we had fun…that is, until we stumbled upon a zombie colony” she glanced up at him. “We ran for it actually so we weren’t in a location that more could appear in and then aparated back to our worksite” she nodded. “Really…that’s about it other than the fact that I absolutely love hiking and well…I took Ballet as a kid for a bit there until my parents realized I wasn’t that great at it” she chuckled.

Gallowglass let out a heartily laugh, throwing his head back "Well, thank you very much!" he choked out between laughs, stopping abruptly when he spotted the grave look on Merediths face. "This isn't a tale of bravery, I'm not going to tell you it was easy.. I know how lucky I was, I've got a few scars to prove it." again, he scratched his left arm without even noticing it "Yeah, we saw mountain trolls, but from a safe distance. We mostly heard them at night doing whatever trolls do in the night..grunting, having fun, whatever" he leaned back, looking into the distance, remembering "I'm not sure how we survived, there were around 15 of us at the time? And we were entering a particularly secluded area of the forest when they appeared and we were completely surrounded. We couldn't apparate because we had too much stuff with us.. then all hell broke loose, spells were being fired in every direction. It was such a mess" he took a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It took us a while to calm down enough to understand that we had to act together in order to defeat them, because our spells weren't even penetrating their skin. We managed to stun two, kill 3, but.." he got silent for a moment "one of my colleagues got badly hurt in the process.. The rest of the Graphorns just lost interest." he sighed again, and dropped his gaze to Meredith's eyes once more. "Not really heroic tale is it?" a small, sad smile pulled the corner of his mouth "oh, we sold most of the Horns to the local apothecary, used some for ourselves making some Antidote to Uncommon Poisons" he was sure she was familiarized with what that was.

"I keep to photo to remind myself of how lucky I was in fact.."

He shook the feeling out of his body and leaned forward again, listening to Meredith's tales.
Her parents ran the school? Back in America? That's interesting. He listened to her story with interest "I've never been to Peru, sounds amazing - minus the zombies of course." he chuckled and grinned at her "Running was probably the wisest thing to do Meredith, I would have done the same if I could really.". He then tried to imagine her doing ballet. She would most definitely look like a princess. "We should go hiking someday, we could even pick up some plants!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jojogali

Gallowglass let out a heartily laugh, throwing his head back "Well, thank you very much!" he choked out between laughs, stopping abruptly when he spotted the grave look on Merediths face. "This isn't a tale of bravery, I'm not going to tell you it was easy.. I know how lucky I was, I've got a few scars to prove it." again, he scratched his left arm without even noticing it "Yeah, we saw mountain trolls, but from a safe distance. We mostly heard them at night doing whatever trolls do in the night..grunting, having fun, whatever" he leaned back, looking into the distance, remembering "I'm not sure how we survived, there were around 15 of us at the time? And we were entering a particularly secluded area of the forest when they appeared and we were completely surrounded. We couldn't apparate because we had too much stuff with us.. then all hell broke loose, spells were being fired in every direction. It was such a mess" he took a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It took us a while to calm down enough to understand that we had to act together in order to defeat them, because our spells weren't even penetrating their skin. We managed to stun two, kill 3, but.." he got silent for a moment "one of my colleagues got badly hurt in the process.. The rest of the Graphorns just lost interest." he sighed again, and dropped his gaze to Meredith's eyes once more. "Not really heroic tale is it?" a small, sad smile pulled the corner of his mouth "oh, we sold most of the Horns to the local apothecary, used some for ourselves making some Antidote to Uncommon Poisons" he was sure she was familiarized with what that was.

"I keep to photo to remind myself of how lucky I was in fact.."

He shook the feeling out of his body and leaned forward again, listening to Meredith's tales.
Her parents ran the school? Back in America? That's interesting. He listened to her story with interest "I've never been to Peru, sounds amazing - minus the zombies of course." he chuckled and grinned at her "Running was probably the wisest thing to do Meredith, I would have done the same if I could really.". He then tried to imagine her doing ballet. She would most definitely look like a princess. "We should go hiking someday, we could even pick up some plants!"

His laugh was nice while it lasted but it was clear of course that he had caught the look she had dawned at the mention of the Graphorns. “Well, I’m glad you survived otherwise I’d be having a very awkward conversation with a ghost right now” she chewed her lip slightly, “I’m glad that you all were safe,” she admitted with a nod.

Really, it would have been rather sad if something bad had happened wouldn’t it? Meredith grinned, “Its far more reckless and heroic than most of mine…I don’t exactly have many heroic tales myself mainly battles with staples” she admitted with a laugh and grinned over to him.

“well I am glad you used the ingredients and sold them – the locals must have felt slightly safer without some of them in the area” yes, there were times that creatures were a danger. Graphorns were one of them. “Well, I’m glad you were able to keep it,” she smiled over to him glancing up when he mentioned going to Peru. “Ooh where in Peru did you go?” She asked excitedly, “I was…we were actually heading to a Dragon Reserve when we stumbled upon the zombies” she admitted, “well, you had friends that needed to be safe as well…besides zombies are far slower and more lumbersome than Graphorns” she grinned.

When he mentioned hiking she couldn’t help but grin, a small little one that almost seemed as if she were smiling more to herself then for any other reason. “That sounds absolutely perfect honestly,” she grinned.

"Don't..." he paused, gazing at her with a concentrated frown "...chew your lip." he murmured, looking away. This was getting out of hand, he had to get up and go to work or something. He coughed clearing his throat and leaned back putting some distance between the two of them.

He coughed again, chocking out a laugh "Battles with staples, I hear they're ferocious!" and with that he found himself grinning with ease back at her, but he still had to go. "I've never been to Peru, that's what I meant, but I wouldn't mind going there someday" he smiled softly when something caught his attention "Who did you went with?" he asked innocently.

His grin was as wide as it could get, she found the idea of hiking with him an appealing idea and that thought alone made his day " We shall make plans for it then" he winked and slapped his legs a few times before getting up.

"I think I should get going, walk me to the entrance?" he asked, stretching his hand out for her take.

“Don’t chew my lip?” She muttered before the blush creeped up in her cheeks again. “Sorry…it’s something I do when nervous or trying to remember things awful habit really” she muttered almost considering apologizing for doing it until she heard the cough. Oh…did it make him nervous?

“They are quite ferocious” she laughed herself and felt the ease returning to the conversation. “Oh…you’d love it I’m sure” she smiled only pausing when he asked whom she had traveled with. “Oh…it…um it was a small group from class and I actually made quite good friends with one of the other students, Finn…he was great we’ve kept in contact and everything and he’s told me all about his girlfriend” she admitted and grinned. “Still have yet to meet the girl,” she admitted with a grin.

“Oh right, work…I’ve got to get back to that as well” she smiled as she started to stand and even took his. “Thank you, you know for the chat it was rather fun” and for the date and all of that it was well…sweet. "I do hope you have fun with the rest of work today," she smiled.

Yes, it did make him very nervous - not that he was about to tell her but... She then referred to him as being sweet, and that put a smile on his face. That and the fact that she didn't went on traveling with some ex lover. Somehow that notion relaxed him.

"No need to thank my really, I was and will be all my pleasure to spend some time with you - really!" he leaned forward and planted a kiss on her cheek before gesturing a goodbye and swiftly moving out of the door.

It wasn't yet lunch time and if it was Gabby would be with Archer. As it was she had decided to give herself a bit of a break.

So far today she had accomplished quite a lot so she deserved it. Lynley wouldn't have a problem with it and even if she DID Gabby was more than capable of handling whatever her boss threw at her. And people thought Lynley was rude. Pfft. Both women had similar personalities and they were utterly delightful to be around.

Taking her copy of Witch Weekly out of her bag, Gabby set about reading up on all the the new happenings in the wizarding world. She would take this over The Daily Prophet any day of the week. Who cared about boring news? Not her, that's for sure.

Miah headed to the food court and grabbed himself something to drink and to find a spot to sit. Why was it so busy in the middle of the morning? Had his watch gone wonky and he just hadn't realized it? Or was just everyone deciding to take and get food and drink midmorning today?

He was walking past one of the booths when he tripped over someone's bag that was on the floor, and fell head first into a table his glass going flying. Oh merlin!

O_O

...

Gabby was shocked as some IDIOT had the audacity to bump into her purse and spill the contents all over the floor. "REALLY NOW. Are you blind? Could you not SEE that my bag was on the floor?" She was surrounded by incompetent people and sometimes it was too much to deal with. "Clean up this mess right now." Or suffer the consequences.

Looking up, she saw that the culprit was lying on the table. There was a broken glass nearby and his drink had gotten everywhere. With a sigh she used her wand to take care of the mess before reaching out to help him up. "You really need to be more careful."

Honestly.

"I...I beg your...pardon?" he asked blinking as he struggled to get up. Clean up what? Merlin, where was... He squeaked as he saw the drink spilled everywhere and suddenly it was cleaned up by her. "I...I'm sorry" he squeaked as he managed to get to his feet with her help. Oh merlin! "I'm really sorry!" he said his eyes wide. Please don't yell at him again!

Could he just escape? He didn't need a drink. He'd just uhh drink water and hide in the greenhouses. "I normally don't come down here." he murmured more to his shoes now though too rather than looking at her face. She might look mad or yell again if he did that!

Gooooooosh, did this guy have no spine?

Honestly Gabby was rather amused as she watched him sputter about. Well, she was still TICKED OFF that he had been a buffoon and spilled the contents of her purse over the floor... but she was being nice and helping him up. She wasn't a monster or anything; on the contrary she was a wonderful person. Just ask Archer because he had nothing but amazing things to say about her. This guy was no Archer, however. No one else was like him.

"It's okay. Just... clean it all up and not do that again. Purses are sacred things and women don't like their contents out there for the world to see." JUST SAYING. There were personal things in there. ...And why wasn't he looking at her face? "Do you find me repulsive?" Because people should look at her when she was talking to them.

Fate hadn't really been hungry lately.. Not after her and Seb's talk a few months ago.. The only thing she stuffed down her face was chocolate cake.. That was about the extent of her diet..

Such a pity seeing as she actually had money now and could afford food. Instead she headed into the hangout and settled down in a chair.. She pulled out a book and started to read it.. Though after a few minutes of reading the same line over and over again..

She shut it and bit her lip a little as she put it back in her purse.. And pulled out a paper and pen.. Her small fingers started to sketch out what was in her heart.

A small classroom with students.. Her own art class.

She wanted to be a teacher.. That's what she wanted to do.. Why was she event here at the ministry?

Why was he here again? The last time he'd come down to the food court he'd been yelled at by an older woman! Or maybe she was his age...he couldn't remember! UGH! He found himself a drink and soup and turned around and took a seat at what he had thought was an empty booth and moved to reach for his drink he'd set down when he let out an audible gasp when he realized there was already someone sitting there too. Oh merlin! "I'm sorry....so sorry...." he murmured moving to run away get up.

Why had he left the greenhouses? Or even why had he left his school? He'd had his own office there where he could eat and not see anyone!?

Fate looked up from her sketching, which had gotten a bit more elaborate now. She had found some colored pencils in her purse and now her sketch was turning into a bit more of an art piece.

Her silvery green eyes looked up at the man who had sat down next to her and she gave him as warm of a smile as she could muster at the moment.

"Please, it's okay.. Feel free to sit." She said with a nod as she motioned to the seat. "I'll be quiet I promise. " The light brown hair girl smiled as she looked back down st her drawing..

She needed red..

Eeeeeeeerm...This place was too comfortable. Keane came down from his Department to give himself his own tour of the Ministry. He came to the food court and grabbed a meal

...then he ate it...

Now that he was full he moved on to this interesting place. He wasn't a fan with how cushion-y it all felt. It felt Schway, but it it could keep him off his game if he relaxed to much.

He adjusted in the seat and and again. He was trying to find a good position that made him feel uncomfortable but it wasn't working. There had to be a spot that just made him hate sitting here, but he couldn't find it.

So he sunk into the seat some more and just relaxed.

So Schway.

Carrigan was trying very hard to keep close to her floor, if only because she had some concerns that someone would want her just about the time that she got brave enough to venture back to the atrium and the food court. Eventually, though, she got hungry, didn't bring a meal with her...

And there were donuts. That was the rumor. So here she was.

But she got distracted by the man trying way too hard to get comfortable in one of the seats. "Maybe it isn't ergonomically suited to your butt."

The YATI looked up from his comfortable position on the sofa when someone spoke up to him. "Like you don't even know. Chair is going to put me to sleep with how comfy it is." He sat up just a little and leaned forward. A-HA! There it was. so long has his back wasn't to the back of the chair. "Don't want to be caught sleeping at work, you know?"

Was he... telling the truth? Or trying to cover up his discomfort? Carrigan crossed her arms and just considered the young man. He looked completely uncomfortable, but it might be the ridiculous chair he was sitting in.

Or maybe she didn't know anything. Wouldn't be the first time.

"Well. Enjoy your nap-not-nap, then. Sorry to bother you."

He stayed in his leaned forward a bit position. This was good. Keane eyed the young woman as she eyed him. He could tell.
It wasn't the first time anyone had crossed their arms at him.

Then she was leaving? Wait, why? Was it because he was being rude? When was he rude? Was he taking up the whole space with his uncomfortableness. Did he have something in his teeth?!

"You weren't bothering me at all. You can stick around." He moved his arm out and from one side to the other he showed her all the open spaces. Clearly she could stay.

Carrigan hesitated before uncrossing her arms. It was easier crossing them, because then she knew what to do with her hands. They always seemed so THERE when she met new people. All feet and hands and unruly curls of hair falling into her eyes. Did other people feel like this?

She opted to sit, just to be safe.

"Thanks. I mean... not because you're letting me sit, but... you know." She huffed out an impatient puff of air. "I'm Carrigan. Howard. You can call me either, honestly."

Jenny was here!

She was in a fairly good mood today. Work was great - she still had a half day to go since it was only lunch but what could go wrong - and she was meeting one of her bestest ministry/London/life friend. Ever since their faithful encounter years ago, she and Logan had gotten close. That tend to happen when someone approaches you while you're bawling your heart out. They actually had lunches together often and would visit each other at their respective departments during breaks just to chitchat.

But today was a special day. One worthy of commemorating.

So here she was now, plopping into one of the comfy seats in the corner right next to a wall. After a few beats, she placed her bag on the table in front of her and began pulling out several lunch boxes full of food. She arranged them on the table but kept them unopened as she placed her elbow on the edge of the table, her chin on her upturned palm and the side of her head against the wall.

Logan was in an all right mood today. He wasn't super chipper but he wasn't grumpy either. He was just all right. So far the cases he had been sent out to by Rusty to deal with in the muggle community had been pretty straightforward and uncomplicated. Logan had made it back to the ministry in amble time to leave his report to Rusty, before he took the lifts down to the specialty area for his lunch with his best friend Jenny.

They had developed a close friendship over the years since he had given Jenny that shoulder to cry out against and a listening ear. A courtesy he usually didn't give to strangers but it had been something about Jenny that had made him take a chance.

Entering the food court area Logan spotted his friend right away, sitting at their favourite table with lunch boxes full of food waiting to be devoured. Going over to her he called out as he neared, considering her position with her face against the wall. "Hi Jenny, are you having a lousy day at the office?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

Logan was in an all right mood today. He wasn't super chipper but he wasn't grumpy either. He was just all right. So far the cases he had been sent out to by Rusty to deal with in the muggle community had been pretty straightforward and uncomplicated. Logan had made it back to the ministry in amble time to leave his report to Rusty, before he took the lifts down to the specialty area for his lunch with his best friend Jenny.

They had developed a close friendship over the years since he had given Jenny that shoulder to cry out against and a listening ear. A courtesy he usually didn't give to strangers but it had been something about Jenny that had made him take a chance.

Entering the food court area Logan spotted his friend right away, sitting at their favourite table with lunch boxes full of food waiting to be devoured. Going over to her he called out as he neared, considering her position with her face against the wall. "Hi Jenny, are you having a lousy day at the office?"

She was just people-watching as she waited for him, still leaning against the wall. She didn't mind waiting for him because most of the time, she was the one who made him wait. When she finally spied him entering the foodcourt, the blonde smiled a bit to herself but didn't move from her current position.

"Hello, Logan." She purred, grinning up at him. "Kind of. But don't tell anyone I said that." Jenny finally removed herself from against the wall and sat up straight as she gestured for him to also do the same. She began to uncover the lunch boxes, most of which were filled with Logan's favorites, then handed him a spoon and fork. "You, on the other hand, look like you could really use this break. So go on then, have at it." She knew good food always made his mood a lot better.

Eat first, chitchat later.

It was a bit surprising Logan thought to himself as he took a seat in the chair across from Jenny, that Jenny had been early for once. It didn't happen often. It was rare. 95% of the time he waited for her and she usually arrived late or just right on the clock turn out of breath from running. The conclusion he silently drew from that was that she needed BFF time. Which he needed to. So he got comfortable at the table.

Grabbing the nearest lunch box Logan pulled out some fish fingers and french fries onto his plate and eyed his BFF as he poured up some apple juice from a pitcher and held it up over her glass too asking "Do you want some or are you getting ice tea as usual?"

It was no use pretending with Jenny. She had always been able to read him like an open book just like he could read her. "It was just a very early call out. You know how I get if I don't get enough sleep and the right breakfast." Meaning a bit on the grumpy side but it passed eventually, most of the time.

Focusing on eating Logan waited Jenny out. She'd tell him what was wrong. If she didn't he'd drag it out of her. He knew how.