Of course Lynley Purcell was NOT happy about this. She was devastated. Heartbroken. Bitter. A LOT of things had suddenly coursed through her, and she didn't know how to handle any of it. She merely shut her mouth and just...nodded.

"I--uh--it's great..." she said, looking back down at her unfinished paperwork. "Congratulations..."

Gabby was a hypocrite. A bloody hypocrite. Lynley...she thought she and Gabby were in this together. This...no having kids thing. This...EW, KIDS thing. And now...Gabby had Archer. And Gabby had a child. And where was Lynley? Certainly lower on the totem pole. Lynley hadn't even realized how much she cared about Gabby until this moment, either, and she KNEW she should be happy, but she wasn't.

She just wasn't.

Both of them, trying to make her feel guilty. Lynley didn't fell guilt all that much, and she didn't feel guilty now.

"I am...merely in shock." And upset, excuse us. "Not a week ago you said you didn't want children......." she cleared her throat and eyed Archer. She couldn't imagine holding their child and feeling anything but rage and jealousy, bitterness. Watching all of your friends start families was grating. Lynley didn't WANT a family. She just didn't. But it didn't make THIS any less hard. "We'll see." Was her only response to Archer.

"I assume this wasn't planned....?" Because..yeah. Shock. Much wow.

Archer just couldn't keep up his teasing attitude.

The woman was making him SAD or something!

He swallowed and looked at Gabby. "Do you two need a minute alone?" he asked her quietly. Because surely the things Lynley was saying were hurting Gabby, he was sure. That reaction was not what they had thought. But... he was sure deep down there was something Lynley wasn't saying. So, perhaps the friends needed time together?

Despite what Lynley was saying Gabby KNEW that her friend wasn't happy. "Lynley... you know this doesn't change our friendship, right?" If THAT was what the issue was. Just because the woman came across as cold didn't mean that she didn't have feelings. She was trying so hard to keep calm right now because she had hoped that the news would have gone over better than this.

As Archer asked if he should leave, Gabby shook her head. "No. Please don't go." She really wanted him here with her right now. "It wasn't," she said in reply to the question. Did that really matter?

Lynley would have loved a minute alone. Of course, Gabby wanted Archer there. The brunette just sighed and looked back down at her paperwork. She needed to sign these portkey approvals...

She felt slightly better know this wasn't PLANNED because then her thoughts about Gabby being a total hypocrite would be..heightened. But she just took a deep breath. "It's great...I'm glad you're happy." Lynley gritted her teeth. "Uh, we'll have to set up your maternity leave and everything..." Another thing Lynley wasn't thrilled about, to be honest.

She hated this.

"I know it won't..." lies. Lynley knew as soon as people had children they changed. She just didn't want a pregnant woman crying in her office. Or to push Gabby away. So...alas, she would just run through the lines. Say what was needed.

Archer was frowning slightly. This was not going the way they had hoped.

But he could sense something... deep down... wasn't... okay. But obviously whatever that was wasn't going to come out whilst he was there, and Gabby didn't want him to leave. And if Gabby didn't want him to leave, he wasn't about to. But, really... what could he do?

She was glad they were happy, but she wasn't happy for them. It just didn't make sense, but there was something there.

He just felt so out of his depth.

"We're actually moving into my house. Down in... London. More of a permanent residence. You should.. come over for dinner one night. See the place. If you want to, that is." He wasn't about to force her into it, but he was surprisingly finding himself hoping she would say yes. If she said no then... this man really had no idea what to say.

It was pretty clear that Lynley would have preferred if Archer left, but that didn't mean it was going to happen. She knew that he would always stay if she asked him to. She needed him right now because with everything that was going on lately, Gabby was having a harder time with her emotions. Obviously it was from hormones... Relieved, she put her arms around him for comfort and support.

She was upset right now because she knew that one of her best friends wasn't happy for her. Even though she hadn't expected Lynley to tackle them in a hug, she had expected a better reaction than THIS. Archer seemed to be just as taken aback as she was. Sigh. They would get through this... "We do, but I should be able to work for as long as possible."Even when she was fat she could get some stuff done. It all depended on when it came too much for her and Archer told her she should take the time off.

The invitation would probably be rejected but Gabby was pleased that he had offered it. That was Archer being his usual amazing self. "Yes, we really WOULD love it if you joined us!"

Alexa was all set to agree with Lynnie, believing for that second the woman could see things from her point of view...until she realized it was only sarcasm and she was suddenly being called a liability. Lex made a face. "I'd sleep when I got home. Just needed help being tired is all." And here they went again with the talk of things she didn't understand. The young man rolled her eyes playfully at the Department Head, happy this hadn't suddenly turned into a lecture on her health. "We've gone over this maybe a million times. My 'cuticles' or whatever are fine." Not that she would know. Honestly, who paid attention to these things?

And there she was, perfectly attentive to the explanation on venom and it's potency. Where had this stuff been all her natural life? "Right. Research. Of course." And a solemn nod to go with that. It wasn't lying, she actually did want it for research. It would be interesting to see just how this thing worked. "And that's funny 'cause one of my bestfriends and I were talking about our other lives. He thinks I might have been a dark witch which unfortunately means you didn't raise me right mummy dearest. Either that or you did a bang up job but then I died and here I am now." Perfectly wide grin too, displaying how obviously amused Alexa was by this whole topic.

"I'll be happy for the venom, yes. How long will you need to get some of the good stuff?" Not the low shelf ones, the proper potent ones.

But then Lynnie went and said that...."Complicated....but...doable...right? getting them hooked up in two places each won't be a problem...yeah?"

SPOILER!!: Garcher!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Archer was frowning slightly. This was not going the way they had hoped.

But he could sense something... deep down... wasn't... okay. But obviously whatever that was wasn't going to come out whilst he was there, and Gabby didn't want him to leave. And if Gabby didn't want him to leave, he wasn't about to. But, really... what could he do?

She was glad they were happy, but she wasn't happy for them. It just didn't make sense, but there was something there.

He just felt so out of his depth.

"We're actually moving into my house. Down in... London. More of a permanent residence. You should.. come over for dinner one night. See the place. If you want to, that is." He wasn't about to force her into it, but he was surprisingly finding himself hoping she would say yes. If she said no then... this man really had no idea what to say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

It was pretty clear that Lynley would have preferred if Archer left, but that didn't mean it was going to happen. She knew that he would always stay if she asked him to. She needed him right now because with everything that was going on lately, Gabby was having a harder time with her emotions. Obviously it was from hormones... Relieved, she put her arms around him for comfort and support.

She was upset right now because she knew that one of her best friends wasn't happy for her. Even though she hadn't expected Lynley to tackle them in a hug, she had expected a better reaction than THIS. Archer seemed to be just as taken aback as she was. Sigh. They would get through this... "We do, but I should be able to work for as long as possible."Even when she was fat she could get some stuff done. It all depended on when it came too much for her and Archer told her she should take the time off.

The invitation would probably be rejected but Gabby was pleased that he had offered it. That was Archer being his usual amazing self. "Yes, we really WOULD love it if you joined us!"

The last thing Lynley wanted to do, right now, was go EAT with them at their abode. She was supposed to go stay with them....this weekend. But she absolutely did not want to do that now. "We'll see. I'm quite busy." She said, managing to sign one of the papers right on top of the stack, and then moved aside to stick it in the filing cabinet under "Approved Portkeys."

"And that reminds me, Gabby--" she said quickly. "I don't think I'll be able to make it this weekend. To see...your Scottish house," or whatever, because Lynley was unaware they currently lived in a bloody tent. "I have to watch my brother's kids. He and his wife are going on a small getaway." Well, that wasn't true, but it WOULD be true when Lynley called her brother on her break to suggest it.

Because she didn't want to be alone this weekend.

SPOILER!!: Alexaaaaa

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Alexa was all set to agree with Lynnie, believing for that second the woman could see things from her point of view...until she realized it was only sarcasm and she was suddenly being called a liability. Lex made a face. "I'd sleep when I got home. Just needed help being tired is all." And here they went again with the talk of things she didn't understand. The young man rolled her eyes playfully at the Department Head, happy this hadn't suddenly turned into a lecture on her health. "We've gone over this maybe a million times. My 'cuticles' or whatever are fine." Not that she would know. Honestly, who paid attention to these things?

And there she was, perfectly attentive to the explanation on venom and it's potency. Where had this stuff been all her natural life? "Right. Research. Of course." And a solemn nod to go with that. It wasn't lying, she actually did want it for research. It would be interesting to see just how this thing worked. "And that's funny 'cause one of my bestfriends and I were talking about our other lives. He thinks I might have been a dark witch which unfortunately means you didn't raise me right mummy dearest. Either that or you did a bang up job but then I died and here I am now." Perfectly wide grin too, displaying how obviously amused Alexa was by this whole topic.

"I'll be happy for the venom, yes. How long will you need to get some of the good stuff?" Not the low shelf ones, the proper potent ones.

But then Lynnie went and said that...."Complicated....but...doable...right? getting them hooked up in two places each won't be a problem...yeah?"

Right. Because her cuticles were totally FINE. She had awful nails. Actually..."Alexa, after work one day this week..or next week, mind, I'm taking you to get your nails done." She said with a wiggle of her eyebrows. "You don't even nEED to choose a color. They can do clear. But you need it, love," she said. "My treat." Alexa was just so lucky.

HA! "It makes sense. I would raise a dark child. I was probably a dark witch, too." She could feel that. "And maybe I did an awesome job--but now we're both here, to relive the experience. Pack your bags, move in with me. My loft is big enough," she joked, starting on Alexa's left hand. "And...a few weeks for the venom, probably. I'm running low on my pinks." Which meant she needed to go procure some soon. "That's actually an adventure in itself...if you wanted to come." She smirked. Just inviting Alexa to do ALL the things today.

Was her loneliness showing? Oh, it would show later today when the unexpected Garcher visit happened.

"I can do it, yes. Complicated, but we can get it done. I'll have to send someone out as soon as we get through other ones first..." she would add Alexa to the list.

...

........

.............How did they get here? Alexa glanced down at the now polished nails on one hand and the other hand that had been taken captive. If she'd known her compliance would have eventually gone THIS FAR SOUTH and given Lynnie ideas....she'd have stayed at the door. "That sounds about as fun as getting my legs waxed." Serious, very very serious and it should have been taken as a 'no thanks' but then she got to thinking and well..."Unless I can take a friend." Two birds with one stone. If Cassia EVER found out she let someone take her to get her nails done, make no mistake, another appointment would be set and Lex would have to go through the torture a second time with her. "It...can be...one of those girls evening out type things my cousin keeps trying to take me on." Said only to help make the request more appealing. She would have to thoroughly wash her mouth out when she got home. Ugh.

"And I'm surprised you'd trust me near your house." Still amused, this whole line of conversation was amusing as was the woman when she stopped pretending to be the prim and proper rawr type that didn't know how to have fun. Such a shame for all the people that never got to see this side of her or did but thought it offensive. "We could get our old life back--or you could and I'd admire you but would have to do my job and bring you in at some point. I'm a changed woman now."

But wait, hang on, she could GO WITH HER?? "I do want to! Just tell me when!" Merlin it sounded like an adventure and Alexa was never one to pass on something like that...ever.

"I should give you the addresses then!" Or...you know...when she got her hand back. "Might have to escort them to the one in Belgium. It's...somewhere in the forest. I'm not quite sure how to direct them there. Just, again, let me know when." Getting anything involving her homes sorted always left her feeling so excited. Mhm.

SPOILER!!: Alexa

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

...

........

.............How did they get here? Alexa glanced down at the now polished nails on one hand and the other hand that had been taken captive. If she'd known her compliance would have eventually gone THIS FAR SOUTH and given Lynnie ideas....she'd have stayed at the door. "That sounds about as fun as getting my legs waxed." Serious, very very serious and it should have been taken as a 'no thanks' but then she got to thinking and well..."Unless I can take a friend." Two birds with one stone. If Cassia EVER found out she let someone take her to get her nails done, make no mistake, another appointment would be set and Lex would have to go through the torture a second time with her. "It...can be...one of those girls evening out type things my cousin keeps trying to take me on." Said only to help make the request more appealing. She would have to thoroughly wash her mouth out when she got home. Ugh.

"And I'm surprised you'd trust me near your house." Still amused, this whole line of conversation was amusing as was the woman when she stopped pretending to be the prim and proper rawr type that didn't know how to have fun. Such a shame for all the people that never got to see this side of her or did but thought it offensive. "We could get our old life back--or you could and I'd admire you but would have to do my job and bring you in at some point. I'm a changed woman now."

But wait, hang on, she could GO WITH HER?? "I do want to! Just tell me when!" Merlin it sounded like an adventure and Alexa was never one to pass on something like that...ever.

"I should give you the addresses then!" Or...you know...when she got her hand back. "Might have to escort them to the one in Belgium. It's...somewhere in the forest. I'm not quite sure how to direct them there. Just, again, let me know when." Getting anything involving her homes sorted always left her feeling so excited. Mhm.

Pfft. "Getting waxed sounds like...the worst muggle invention of all time." She said with a small, haughty laugh. "And sure..you can bring a.....friend." Ew. Lynley made a clear look of disgust. "As long as she...or he, I suppose...isn't annoying. Or weird. Or talks too much. Or acts more immaturely than you--" Another twenty-something year old? Lynley was thirty-four. She realized how lame that sounded PAH. Whatever.

Why shouldn't Lynley trust her? She was an AUROR. Aurors were the good guys, were they not? So the brunette woman merely rolled her eyes. "There's nothing at all THAT rare or breakable in my home. So." Even if Alexa did have sticky fingers or whatever......WHATEVER, so be it. She absolutely lost it when Alexa suggested LYNLEY go back to the party lifestyle. Uh, no. "I am thirty-four, do you know how utterly sad and pathetic that would be? Merlin, child," she said with a shake of her head, but laughing still. "No no, you party and I get stern when you disappear for three days and then call me from the top of the Eiffel Tower with 'Oh Lynnie, I dropped my wand and am STUCK on top of the Eiffel Tower--come saaaaave me--'" Lynley laughed some more. "That is not a true story at all--nope--not a true one. I don't even know WHERE it came from...."

Ahem.

"I think I'm due for more in like...I don't know. Two weeks maybe? I usually go on a Sunday." Just a heads up!

And all of that stuff could wait. Lynley just nodded and finished painting Alexa's nail. She had accidentally gotten a bit of on the very tip of her pointer finger, and it buuuuurned like the dickens, but Lynley just sucked on it slightly as she went to grab some essence. "Owowowow." She showed Alexa. It was red and looked a little burned, like a straightener burn or something. "Imagine the stronger stuff."

Archer resisted the urge to roll his eyes. They were all busy, weren't they?

But then when Lynley told Gabby that she wouldn't be able to visit them over the weekend he did. He rolled his eyes. "Unbelievable," he muttered. Because the woman couldn't just be happy for them? She couldn't just be happy for her friend? What was she getting her wand in a knot for? How coincidental that the very moment they announce their pregnancy, which she didn't seem happy about, was the moment that she remembered she was busy?

"Come on, Gabby, let's go." He pulled her away because he knew how much this would be hurting her. They had both thought Lynley would be happy for them. Well they had been fools, hadn't they? He didn't want Gabby to get upset or angry and say something she would later regret. He'd take her back home, set her on the lounge, make her a drink and give her a foot rub. Like her body wasn't going through enough as it was, growing a child, now she was going to be fixating on what was going on here with Lynley.

He had absolutely NO idea what to say to the woman, who appeared to not want him there. What was he supposed to do? Gabby didn't want him to leave without her, so he wouldn't. He would leave with her. And hope that it was time that Lynley needed, to come to terms with it.

But on a whim, just as he opened the door, his arm protectively around Gabby's shoulders, he turned around. "Lynley... I want us to be friends. I do. But me aside, your friendship with Gabby is important. To her, to me, to both of us. And hopefully to you as well. I just hope that this doesn't come between you and Gabby. Neither of us would want that."

HA! "For your information, I've been told I'm very mature for my age and have been told that since I was 12." Granted, looking back she thought those people were either dreadful liars or had been in a worse place than herself but it didn't change the fact they'd said it. Ironically, no one said it anymore. Usually, now she was immature and needed to grow up and stop acting as spoiled and entitled as she did but that was life. "Cassia's cool though, promise and she's waaaaay more into this girly stuff than I'll ever be." While she casually ignored the fact her bestie was a TALKER. It was okay, she said interesting things. Lynnie would love her.

Alexa shook her head, far too amused by this whole conversation for it to be healthy. "No, what's sad and pathetic is deciding your life's over after your age has left the calendar. You can't just lay down and call it quits now, not when there's still so much you probably have to do." She was starting to sound like Gallow. The man was 35 and acting like he could pop his hipbone at any second. "We'll get stuck on the Eiffel Tower together, then we'll call someone else to get us down and we'll laugh about it the whole time." Because...this was now officially happening.....Did she know? Should she tell her? Surely it was implied. Mhmmm.

"There's nothing particularly special about my Sundays." She added, as an afterthought. "I wouldn't be opposed to giving one up--for research of course." Collecting venom when she otherwise had no plans? Why on earth would she turn that down?

And sweet Circe what was happening. Lex blinked and stared at the Department Head but it was only after seeing the end result that she realized the woman had gotten a little of the polish on her skin. The young woman continued staring on, clearly fascinated by the damage. "That.....is absolutely brilliant....." And more useful than she could think of right now to be honest but make no mistake, Alexa would put a thing like this to good use.

... Of COURSE Lynley couldn't make it to dinner OR their planned weekend.

Did Lynley think they were stupid? A two year old could figure out that they were being fed excuses by someone who didn't want anything to do with them... Quite frankly it hurt A LOT that one of her best friends wasn't in the least bit happy for her. Even if Lynley hated kids she could see how happy Gabby was and feel some pleasure in that. But nope. Clearly it wasn't happening and hormones were NOT making the situation any better. Now she was just going to fixate on this as soon as she got home. It was bloody annoying, but she couldn't help all the emotions that the baby was giving her.

Plus she cared a lot about Lynley.

The temptation to blurt out something she would later regret was real, but Archer was leading her away. Well, thank Merlin for THAT. Gabby didn't know what she would do without him; he could always make everything better no matter how bad she felt. Sighing, she leaned into him as he spoke to Lynley. There was nothing else to add and even if there WAS she didn't trust herself to speak right now. There would be tears, but only Archer was allowed to see those.

SPOILER!!: Garcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Archer resisted the urge to roll his eyes. They were all busy, weren't they?

But then when Lynley told Gabby that she wouldn't be able to visit them over the weekend he did. He rolled his eyes. "Unbelievable," he muttered. Because the woman couldn't just be happy for them? She couldn't just be happy for her friend? What was she getting her wand in a knot for? How coincidental that the very moment they announce their pregnancy, which she didn't seem happy about, was the moment that she remembered she was busy?

"Come on, Gabby, let's go." He pulled her away because he knew how much this would be hurting her. They had both thought Lynley would be happy for them. Well they had been fools, hadn't they? He didn't want Gabby to get upset or angry and say something she would later regret. He'd take her back home, set her on the lounge, make her a drink and give her a foot rub. Like her body wasn't going through enough as it was, growing a child, now she was going to be fixating on what was going on here with Lynley.

He had absolutely NO idea what to say to the woman, who appeared to not want him there. What was he supposed to do? Gabby didn't want him to leave without her, so he wouldn't. He would leave with her. And hope that it was time that Lynley needed, to come to terms with it.

But on a whim, just as he opened the door, his arm protectively around Gabby's shoulders, he turned around. "Lynley... I want us to be friends. I do. But me aside, your friendship with Gabby is important. To her, to me, to both of us. And hopefully to you as well. I just hope that this doesn't come between you and Gabby. Neither of us would want that."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

... Of COURSE Lynley couldn't make it to dinner OR their planned weekend.

Did Lynley think they were stupid? A two year old could figure out that they were being fed excuses by someone who didn't want anything to do with them... Quite frankly it hurt A LOT that one of her best friends wasn't in the least bit happy for her. Even if Lynley hated kids she could see how happy Gabby was and feel some pleasure in that. But nope. Clearly it wasn't happening and hormones were NOT making the situation any better. Now she was just going to fixate on this as soon as she got home. It was bloody annoying, but she couldn't help all the emotions that the baby was giving her.

Plus she cared a lot about Lynley.

The temptation to blurt out something she would later regret was real, but Archer was leading her away. Well, thank Merlin for THAT. Gabby didn't know what she would do without him; he could always make everything better no matter how bad she felt. Sighing, she leaned into him as he spoke to Lynley. There was nothing else to add and even if there WAS she didn't trust herself to speak right now. There would be tears, but only Archer was allowed to see those.

Lynley was already unsure of Archer. That mumble under his breath made her furrow her eyebrows, and when he foolishly opened his mouth again, she was sold on her dislike for the man.

It was official. Lynley Purcell did not like Archer whatever the heck his surname was. Stark? Sounded right? Ish.

But Lynley did not appreciate being spoken to like a child. She was fairly certain the man was older than she was, but still. She found it increasingly disrespectful, and had the man not been in any way attached to Gaby, Lynley would have not so nicely asked him to leave her office. Alas, he was important to Gabby. She bit her tongue.

She didn't even know what to say. Well, she KNEW what she wanted to say..but none of them appropriate aloud.

"I would never let a small person come between me and a friend," she said softy, and that was that. "I have a lot of to do. If you would...kindly...allow me to get back to it."

Lynley had never felt so PAINED before in her life. She wanted to throw things at them.

SPOILER!!: Alexa

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

HA! "For your information, I've been told I'm very mature for my age and have been told that since I was 12." Granted, looking back she thought those people were either dreadful liars or had been in a worse place than herself but it didn't change the fact they'd said it. Ironically, no one said it anymore. Usually, now she was immature and needed to grow up and stop acting as spoiled and entitled as she did but that was life. "Cassia's cool though, promise and she's waaaaay more into this girly stuff than I'll ever be." While she casually ignored the fact her bestie was a TALKER. It was okay, she said interesting things. Lynnie would love her.

Alexa shook her head, far too amused by this whole conversation for it to be healthy. "No, what's sad and pathetic is deciding your life's over after your age has left the calendar. You can't just lay down and call it quits now, not when there's still so much you probably have to do." She was starting to sound like Gallow. The man was 35 and acting like he could pop his hipbone at any second. "We'll get stuck on the Eiffel Tower together, then we'll call someone else to get us down and we'll laugh about it the whole time." Because...this was now officially happening.....Did she know? Should she tell her? Surely it was implied. Mhmmm.

"There's nothing particularly special about my Sundays." She added, as an afterthought. "I wouldn't be opposed to giving one up--for research of course." Collecting venom when she otherwise had no plans? Why on earth would she turn that down?

And sweet Circe what was happening. Lex blinked and stared at the Department Head but it was only after seeing the end result that she realized the woman had gotten a little of the polish on her skin. The young woman continued staring on, clearly fascinated by the damage. "That.....is absolutely brilliant....." And more useful than she could think of right now to be honest but make no mistake, Alexa would put a thing like this to good use.

Cassie. Lynley milled the name over in her head and decided to resist judging the faceless person based on name alone; you judged someone off their PERSONALITY obviously. And if she chattered TOO much, Lynley would NOT like her, Alexa Cambridge.

Pfffft. "Alexa, I will not get stuck on the Eiffel Tower again." She laughed a little, clutching her stomach as she leaned back in her chair. "My brother was displeased with me." Her younger brother...luuulz. Not happy at all to come save her from that her last semester of University. HAHA.

Sunday was good for the young auror. Oh, good. Lynley looked behind her in the cabinet for some Dittany, quickly pulling out the bottle to dab a cotton swab on and then dab at her finger. "Yes...it is pretty cool, I suppose. Also a secret weapon if I ever paint my nails and they're still wet and someone TRIES something with me." Pfft. "I'll let you know when we can go."

This was NEW! Eva had only gotten lost like 4 times as she was trying to make her way around this place. MACUSA was MUCH more organized. HMPH! Okay, no... not really. She had consistently gotten lost there everyday for a month when she started work there. Heh. But YEAH OKAY! Her new Department Head's office door... that meant she had to knock... KNOCK.

Okay. She could do this.

Lifting a hand she took a deep breath and knocked... probably too hard, but she was nervous and hard of hearing so she couldn't judge. NOT TO MENTION SHE DIDN'T KNOW HER OWN STRENGTH MOST DAYS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eriin

This was NEW! Eva had only gotten lost like 4 times as she was trying to make her way around this place. MACUSA was MUCH more organized. HMPH! Okay, no... not really. She had consistently gotten lost there everyday for a month when she started work there. Heh. But YEAH OKAY! Her new Department Head's office door... that meant she had to knock... KNOCK.

Okay. She could do this.

Lifting a hand she took a deep breath and knocked... probably too hard, but she was nervous and hard of hearing so she couldn't judge. NOT TO MENTION SHE DIDN'T KNOW HER OWN STRENGTH MOST DAYS!

Luckily for the newest employee, Lynley was in a charitable mood today. And by charitable, it meant that she wasn't going to grab whoever knocked on her door's throat. And she also wouldn't yell or be TOO snappy today. Just mildy snappy.

"Come in," she said blankly, setting down her quill to prepare for whatever nonsense this was.

Well... Eva was not sure if the person on the other side of the door had said Come in or Not Yet... which to Eva sounded similar... so she just stood there for a bit. HARD OF HEARING YA KNOW. Maybe the Department head would just open the door when she was ready to receive guests?

Hmmm. Look at that! Eva had a hangnail. Which was stupid annoying and needed to be taken care of! So with no hesitation, the woman began to chew on her finger rather aggressively. MHM. Only way to take care of that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eriin

Well... Eva was not sure if the person on the other side of the door had said Come in or Not Yet... which to Eva sounded similar... so she just stood there for a bit. HARD OF HEARING YA KNOW. Maybe the Department head would just open the door when she was ready to receive guests?

Hmmm. Look at that! Eva had a hangnail. Which was stupid annoying and needed to be taken care of! So with no hesitation, the woman began to chew on her finger rather aggressively. MHM. Only way to take care of that.

....time elapsed. Like, actual minutes before Lynley realized the PERSON had never come in. Leaning back in her chair, she stared at the door. "..COME IN!" she said more loudly, this time with a slight tone.

Merlin.

Was the person hard of hearing?

Sooooo the time had come where Gabby needed to talk to Lynley about maternity leave. Even though she wasn't ready to stop working just yet, she knew how important it was to have everything sorted out in advance. The only thing was that she didn't WANT to do this.

Beyond the fact that she wasn't ready to give up working until she had no choice there was the awkwardness between her and her friend. Gabby was trying really hard not to shut Lynley out but things weren't exactly getting back to normal. It made her sad because she didn't want things to change. Lynley was one of the people that she actually CARED about and a baby shouldn't change their friendship.

Sighing, she knocked on the door.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Sooooo the time had come where Gabby needed to talk to Lynley about maternity leave. Even though she wasn't ready to stop working just yet, she knew how important it was to have everything sorted out in advance. The only thing was that she didn't WANT to do this.

Beyond the fact that she wasn't ready to give up working until she had no choice there was the awkwardness between her and her friend. Gabby was trying really hard not to shut Lynley out but things weren't exactly getting back to normal. It made her sad because she didn't want things to change. Lynley was one of the people that she actually CARED about and a baby shouldn't change their friendship.

Sighing, she knocked on the door.

It was actually a pretty low-stress day for Lynley. Paperwork was light, and she was enjoying her second cup of coffee, stirring it lightly. Her mood wasn't terrible, and she'd slept well.

So all in all, it had been a good day.

Plus...

The search for a kneazle had begun. And Lynley found herself EXCITED to get a pet. And for some reason, she wanted to adopt a kneazle; an old, mean kneazle, hopefully. She'd have someone around like herself. It'd be nice.

"Come in," she said quickly.

Immediately Gabby picked up that Lynley was in a good mood. That was a plus though she didn't know how long that would last. Usually she didn't care if fights started, but she didn't want to have one with her boss.

After a moment of hesitation, she opened the door. "Hello," she said with a small smile. Hopefully this wouldn't be as awkward as she was imagining in her head but she would deal with things however they ended up happening. "I thought that now was a good time to discuss my maternity leave," she added as she took a seat. How long did these things usually take?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Immediately Gabby picked up that Lynley was in a good mood. That was a plus though she didn't know how long that would last. Usually she didn't care if fights started, but she didn't want to have one with her boss.

After a moment of hesitation, she opened the door. "Hello," she said with a small smile. Hopefully this wouldn't be as awkward as she was imagining in her head but she would deal with things however they ended up happening. "I thought that now was a good time to discuss my maternity leave," she added as she took a seat. How long did these things usually take?

Lynley resisted the urge to roll her eyes as soon as Gabby came in. Well. This HAD been a good day. But she took the professional approach and merely nodded at Gabby as the woman took a seay.

"Right. You're still going through with that," she said, most casually, and swiveled around in her chair to open the filing cabinet behind her. She pulled out a small packet of paperwork and pushed it over to Gabby. "When are you due?" Due.

DUE.

It was all disgusting. Lynley's vendetta' side wanted to deny the woman maternity leave but A. That was against the law and B. She would be a horrible boss and person if she did that. The ring on Gabby's finger did not go unnoticed, either. Lynley eyed it for a second and tutted softly.

Eyebrow raise.

What was THAT supposed to mean?

Gabby resisted the urge to sigh in frustration over the other woman's silliness because above the fact that they were friends, Lynley was her boss. Obviously she would be going on maternity leave; as if that would ever change. As much as she wanted to stay at work until she had the baby, she knew that it was a bad idea.

Instead, she looked at the paperwork. "In mid March." And no, she wasn't hiding the ring. Why should she do that when she was happy? Clearly Lynley wasn't from her reaction, but what was the problem when she had been perfectly fine with Gabby's previous marriage? Was it Archer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Eyebrow raise.

What was THAT supposed to mean?

Gabby resisted the urge to sigh in frustration over the other woman's silliness because above the fact that they were friends, Lynley was her boss. Obviously she would be going on maternity leave; as if that would ever change. As much as she wanted to stay at work until she had the baby, she knew that it was a bad idea.

Instead, she looked at the paperwork. "In mid March." And no, she wasn't hiding the ring. Why should she do that when she was happy? Clearly Lynley wasn't from her reaction, but what was the problem when she was perfectly fine with her previous marriage? Was it Archer?

Lynley nodded. "March. That's still awhile away," she said blankly. "Ordinary maternity leave is six months, but you can take the additional one if you feel necessary, or none at all if you want to get back to work. The minimum I have to make you take is two weeks," Sigh. Six months was a long time to go without one of her hardest working employees.

"Six months is a long time," she commented dryly. AKA, please don't stay away for six whole months.

"And I'll need to temporarily fill in your liaison position..." Obviously.

Shifting in her seat slightly, Gabby put one of her hands on her stomach. She was barely showing at this point but she was excited. Even though she didn't want to get fat, she liked seeing the baby grow inside her. "It isn't," she agreed. "I didn't think it hurt to sort it out now though." Even if she didn't want to do this with someone who clearly wasn't happy for her. That still hurt but she was trying not to think about it.

"I'm not ready to stop working just yet, but I figure I can work until I'm about seven months along and stay off until the baby is a couple months old." So that would be four months in total. In the end she wouldn't want to leave their daughter and go back to work, but she would have things to do and there would be a nanny. "Of course," she added at the mention of someone taking over the liaison position while she was on leave; that was to be expected.