Just when one might have thought things would be looking up for the MLE and the ministry in general...this happened. A lockout! See this is why Simon hated leaving work. Nobody supposed to be in the building just meant there was no security to make sure things didn't go haywire. Like everyone being kept from the hub of the British wizarding world and the government that kept things under control. Those issues before the break just had to be a precursor to what was happening now.

Just wait until the Daily Prophet got their hands on THIS story. They were going to have a field day.

Getting the information on the MLE's HOPEFULLY temporary home, Simon made his way to the abandoned station. Looking closely around in case of followers including muggles, he slipped past the barriers both muggle and magical and headed down the stairs. All the stairs. The auror offering a weak smile to the familiar receptionist as he walked past to cautiously explore the rest of the "offices"

At least somethings were the same.

Octavia had heard a lot about the British Ministry, good things that was but this was completely unexpected. Why on Earth were they made to walk down all these steps to get to a dark underground station in which they would be working? It was nothing like the other two ministries she had worked at but she was willing to give it a chance, she had so been looking forward to working here after all.

She was carrying her ID with her as she wandered down towards the reception, offering the lady a friendly nod. Straightening out her skirt she continued down the line, heading towards the main work area, or at least that was where she hoped she was heading. She could make out through the darkness someone walking in front of her and assumed that he must have been a fellow worker.

Needless to say Ludovicus wasn't impressed with the painting in this new place at all. Heck, there was no painting. This place had been deserted for ages, the polished concrete didn't fool him. Vic took down the stairs three steps at a time, a slight frown knotted his eyebrowstogether but he was in alright spirits otherwise.

Dear ole' Muriel received the usual hand kiss when he reached the underground's floor, and he turned to walk further on into the gloomy vampire-friendly place. Oh but he spotted another person here with him, the other one Mr. Bennett seemed to be walking towards his workplace already. She wasn't familiar but Vic picked up his pace to reach her, she could be one of the new employees here. They should have their own department-wide orientation. "Good day." He greeted her with a nod of the head and a smile, the greeting was also directed at Mr. Bennett slightly ahead of them if he was within earshot. "First day at work?" Back to the woman.

So. New place. Hopefully it was temporary. Jory wanted to be back at the Ministry but he supposed that as long as his training was continuing, it was no big deal where they were situated.

Jory headed down the obviously unfamiliar stairs, flashed the receptionist a broad grin and continued towards where he hoped the offices were. He could make out to persons ahead of him. Was one of them Simon?

As Josh walked down the stairs, he had an amused smile on his face. He had no idea why the whole ministry had to move to some...old and odd places yet he could not say that he was going to complain about it. Quite the opposite, he liked the place pretty much. Abandoned underground of which construction was not completed at all. Were there also rats running around.

The auror wanted to let out a laughter but laughing by himself while there was no one around could make him look like that lunatic. So he held it in and greeted the receptionist lady with a nod and a warm smile before walking towards the people in his way (Octavia, Vic and Jory) "Morning guys!" he said before smirking a bit "Cozy place to work, huh?"

Ewww, dirty. Genevieve skipped carefully around a pile of something odd and odoriferous as she made her way toward the barriers leading from the Muggle underground into the magical parts, a grimace wrinkling the tranquil expression she'd been trying to school all morning. She had to take an actual train to work today, since she wasn't sure of a safe spot to Apparate, and it had been a horror story. And now there was this, and she was just...

She was coping. That was all. Just coping. Genevieve made it past the barrier and hurried to catch up with those ahead of her. "Why'd I work so hard cleaning up the Ministry last term if they were just going to go and get us... locked out or whatever? D'you suppose it's a hostile takeover? Who is IN there keeping us out?"

Muggle transportation wasn't so bad. Sure, he didn't use as much as he used to when he was younger, but he still kept in touch with what used to be part of his muggle life. Damn. It felt like eons ago. Never mind that, it wasn't the highlight of today.

Today was his best mate's first day at the DMLE. As they walked down toward - what seemed to be - the reception area, Kennedy felt like a big brother. Of course, Johnathan was a older, but shhh, he'd savor the moment.

"What do you do think is going on, at the Ministry I mean?" he asked, glancing to the right at his brother-from-another-mother. "Could be a Godzilla thing again." Did he remember that movie? 'Cause he did. Ancient as heck, but how could he forget a giant killer lizard?

Okay well this was far different than what Johnathan expected. Needless to say he was pretty surprised about using muggle transportation, 'course he didn't mind. After all he loved driving his vintage car around. So far nothing was different from what he was accustom to.

Somehow he felt as if it was his first day of school, instead of being on his own he was with his trusted right-hand man, also known as his brother-from-another-mother. Kennedy was truly a form of serendipity for John, these two had a lot of history.

"Not sure. But by the looks of it, it doesn't look so good. Underground seriously? "Godzilla?" John chuckled. Only Kenny would suggest that. "Godzilla better not creep up on me, or best believe I will sock him." He chuckled. Though there was truth to that statement, don't creep up on this former Gryffindor or he will start swinging. "Then again it is a giant dinosaur so I'll just push you in front of it." John joked, letting out a laugh as he followed Kennedy.

Yeah, of course, Johnathan would go and attempt to fist fight a giant creature -- Wait, what?

"You're starting to sound like a Snake," he said with a chuckle. Really? Using him as a shield. Johnathan was lucky he was his godson's dad. He wouldn't mind taking a bullet for him. "Come on, wouldn't want to be late on our first day back."

Kennedy walked ahead, his eyes occasionally pausing on several areas. What was going on at the Ministry that they weren't allowed in? Only thinking about it made him more curious.

Oh nooooooooooo! Take that back Kennedy! Though to be honest John did have some "snake" like qualities, after all he does hang around with a family full of snakes.

Late? Okay well John did have a reputation for arriving late to family get-togethers.

"I'm never late. Everyone's just really early." John chuckled.

Seeing Kennedy walk ahead looking attentive, John's perception change. No fooling around, serious business. Time for serious face. John had the ability to seem really pleasant then seem serious in like two seconds.

John caught up to Kennedy, keeping eyes on everything around him. "What do you think is going on? He asked. "What do you really think?" Johnathan trusted Kennedy more than anyone to the point he's appointed the former Slytherin, not only godfather but legal guardian to his only son for incase anything would happen to him.

Using the map he received in the Owl, Jackson managed to find his way to the MLE's temporary office. In the Owl it said staff weren't allowed in the actual Ministry of Magic office but didn't say why. Jackson hoped that they would found out soon.

But first he was here to attend a meeting, although he knew that he was already running late. Who would have thought that the underground system would be so confusing here. It wasn't like he didn't use public transportation back home...he did...if the weather was bad and not safe for driving. But having just arrived after receiving his acceptance letter for hiring, he had been busy moving into his new apartment, he hadn't time yet to explore the underground system or worse yet, London itself.

He smiled at the receptionist in greeting and then walked over to where most of the people were gathering. He hoped to meet someone here who would be willing to show him around and help him familiarize with his new home. He saw some people talking but didn't want to interrupt their conversation....not until he managed to catch their eye.

....and so he moved a little closer....but just out of their listening area.

It was useless trying to catch up with Simon. Yep, Jory had determined it was indeed the Auror up ahead. Did the man have some kind of invisible wheels or something? Shaking his head, Jory slowed down a bit, watching the people around him.

So many of them...a few were familiar while of course others were not. One of the unfamiliars happened to be a guy around his age. Newbie, maybe? Jory remembered the feeling of being an outsider when he turned up at the Department last year. Obviously that had now changed but he decided to make the dude feel welcome. So, he sidled over so he was walking along side him.

"Hi. I'm guessing you're new here. I'm Jory Stonewall, by the way.'' And with that, introductions on his part were out of the way.

Jackson quickly turned around, immediately reaching for his wand when he heard movement next to him before belatedly realizing where he was. 'Relax Jackson, this isn't the real subway. This is the Ministry of Magic. He wouldn't dare show his face here.' Jackson told himself, discreetly moving his hand away from his wand.

He smiled apologetically at the younger man who was talking to him, "Sorry about that. Having a subway underground station as an office still takes some getting used to. I'm Jackson McQueen and yep! I'm new here...hard not to notice huh?" Jackson grinned at him.

"Nice to meet you, Jory." Jackson stuck out his hand to shake Jory's.

Woah! This guy was jumpy. Or over cautious. Jory knew he was reaching for his wand. Kind of made a good trait for working in MLE, which he suspected the guy was because he was here at the Underground.

"That's alright,'' Jory responded. He'd need to be cautious around this one. "Are you always like that?'' Yes, he was curious. Ever since joining the Department, his curiosity seemed to have increase tenfold.

Jory reached out and shook Jackson's hand. "Nice to meet you, Jackson. It does but it's temporary so don't get too comfortable.'' He grinned. He could hardly see how any of them could get comfortable here, anyway. "So, what job do you have here?''

"Actually not. I'm just very cautious when people come up behind me. Old habits die hard. When you work on the streets in a bad neighborhood like I did in the muggle world, you tend to be extra vigilant," Jackson explained and then shrugged as he looked around in his new office.

"This place ain't really that bad. Like I said, I've been in worse. Now I get to check off the subway station as one of the places I worked in," he chuckled to Jory.

"Me? I'm the new Security Patrol Officer. What about yourself? You look kinda young for that job," Jackson asked in return. He always liked knowing what his fellow co-workers did. In the muggle world, it was usually one and the same, but in the Wizarding world, there were many different positions in Magical Law Enforcement.

Jory's was probably drunk on interest about Jackson's life right now. Bad neighbourhood? and he had connections to the Muggle world, too. Something they had in common. "Sorry for being so nosy but are you Muggle born? And I'm very curious about your previous job.''

Jory grinned. "Sounds like you might have worked in a few places.'' If that were true, just how many jobs did this guy have?

Ah. Security Patrol Officer. "That's cool. Welcome to the best Department in the Ministry. "I'm second year YATI member,'' Jory added. Not one to talk much about himself, he continued. "There are a few other YATI members too but you'll meet two of the coolest Aurors. Simon and Joshua. Of course there's the Boss Lady, Emily. Don't want to mess around with her but she's okay.'' So Jackson knew a bit about his co-workers now.

Jackson laughed. He was getting used to people asking whether he was firstly Muggleborn and then secondly, what job he previously worked at before coming here. So Jory's questions didn't surprise him one bit.

"Believe it or not, I'm actually Pureblood. But I know how easy it is for people to be confused. Growing up I hung out with both Muggles and Wizarding folk. In fact one of my closest friends, whom I've known ever since I was a kid, just graduated from Hogwarts last term. Maybe you know him. Wade Potter? His dad, Charely works here but is currently on Sabbatical?" Jackson asked Jory.

"Work? Well when I was growing up I worked in a grocery store and that's where I met Charely. Then when I graduated from Wizarding University I signed up with the Boston Police Department. I was a beat cop patrolling the streets until about a year ago, when I was promoted to detective. What about you? Is this your first job?[/b]" Jackson asked Jory in return.

He listened as Jory told him a little more about the people he would be working with and nodded,"Well I look forward to meeting up with all of them. I'm sure I'll get to work with all of you in my time here at the Ministry," he told Jory.

And he really was looking forward to meeting new people. New faces, new workplace. Jackson couldn't wait to get started.

That raise you thought you deserved Tori? NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. NEVER.

DID SHE SEE WHERE SHE WAS MAKING HIM GO? FOR A COCKY REPORTER WHO HAD FINALLY GOT HIS EGO CAUGHT IN THE COOKIE JAR OF LIFE?! THIS PLACE WAS DISGUSTING. DIIIIIIIIIIIISGUSTING.

Conjuring rubber gloves out of the air and slipping them on his hands, he seriously thought about performing a Bubble Head Charm on himself as well. UNDERGROUND. DIRT. TOXINS. RATS. DISGUSTING.

Needless to say, the Editor-in-Chief was not moving. Just standing there at the top of the stairs looking down into the pit of despair and filth.

Apparition zones needed to happen yesterday. Muggle transportation was inconvenient enough when she wasn't in an urgent rush and today it was even more necessary. She was tempted to just apparate anyway, but given the current situation, she thought it essential to follow the strict letter of the law.

Her mood certainly wasn't the best, but after taking care of what she needed, Mariel made her way into the Underground headquarters of the MLE. Though she was a bit curious as to what the makeshift location of this department was like, the brunette did not really pause to take a look around. She became acutely aware of the steep declining staircase in front of her, figuring she was meant to head that way, and the man basically blocking her path.

Letting out a quiet but frustrated sigh, Mariel edged her way around him. "Pardon me," she said, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice as she made her way past, then headed down the stairs. Of course she was still in her heels so she took the extra few seconds to grasp the handrail, steadying herself on the way down. Once at the bottom, the brunette found her way to the reception desk where she explained her identity along with her request to see Emily to the receptionist.

Tori wasn't exactly.... a fan of dirty places either. But she wasn't OCD and going to stare down the stairs at them. "You have a wand. You can light it if you're afraid of the dark and damp." She was tempted to give the editor a little..... push.

But instead she simply brushed past him and let her hair float out behind her as she trounced down the stairs. "Come dowwwwwwwwwwn, Basil... it's simply lovely down here."

It wasn't, of course. It was far from lovely down at the bottom of the stairs. Something smelled like pee, Tori could see faint bits of mold everywhere, and she was positive she could hear the pitter patter of rat feet. Ewwww. The ginger crinkled her nose and tapped her foot, waiting for Basil to man up before she approached the "reception" desk.

She raised an eyebrow as Jorge's girlfriend passed them --- so much for checking out procedures for her first --- and then looked up the stairs again. "Come ON, Basil, we haven't got ALL DAY!"

It was going to be one of those days it seemed, and while she had no objections to being kept busy, this was not usual for the MLE. This drama, was not desirable. Her pocket notebook grew warm too many times for her liking, and Muriel's notes to her was enough to tell her she was needed at reception urgently. Merlin help her, she'd need all the sugar in the world once the day was over. Ice cream was an acceptable dinner, no? Zeke would appreciate it.

As she stepped into the well lit reception hall thing they'd been making do with, Emily first spied Mariel before in turn eye-cballing the red head... and that was when she glimpsed the hobbit man Skeeter. Perfect. Excellent. Her day was getting better. Was he wearing gloves? ....

"Mariel, you made it..." through the labyrinth that is muggle transportation. It was a shame there was no way to apparate into their part of the tunnel, but she was thankful for her emergency portkeys, they made life that little bit easier. "And Mr. Skeeter... I assume you're also here for Mr. De La Garza?" Was he here to bail him out too? Or was he here to fire him? It was clear now that the redhead was not representing De La Garza, merely being another nuisance. Did Skeeter want two reporter/cronies in holed up in cells?

OH MERLIN SOMETHING WAS TOUCHING HIM!

Arms flailing to the left as he panicked and tried to move out of the way of whatever it was, he found that he could breath again when it wasn't some rodent of unusual size but a person. A woman. A tall one.

Two actually since Tori had brushed passed him too.

COULD NO ONE PLEASE TOUCH HIM RIGHT NOW?!

"Oh yes, could it be any more lovely?" he shouted back, his words laced with nothing less than sarcasm.

And then he nearly wet himself when Browne showed up. WET HIMSELF.

"That will depend on what you mean by here for," he grumbled in reply. "But yes. I am here to see him. To start." Whatever happened after that was sort of up in the air.

Air. Merlin. AIR! WHAT WAS THE AIR DOWN THERE LIKE ANYWAY?! PROBABLY RANCID AND FILLED WITH DISEASE.

Which was why precisely that moment he did administer a Bubble Head Charm on himself. Now was Browne going to lead the way?

He took a timid step forward down a single step.

Mariel wasn't at the receptionist desk long when a shape emerging from the dimly lit area made herself more visible at the desk as well. Miss Bunbury? Had she only gotten as far as the reception desk in the time she had left? She shot her a rather questioning glance, about to open her mouth to speak to her, when she spoke first.. to the man blocking the top of the stairs.

She didn't have any time to dwell on that as her attention was soon diverted by the presence of the MLE head. "I'm here," she confirmed, managing a tight smile. "Got here as soon as I could." No thanks to Transportation though, and honestly, they had the same challenges as the rest of them. What was taking so long?

And, what? Green eyes wandered to the top of the stairs to the man still standing there before flicking to Miss Bunbury. Skeeter was Jorge's boss, was he not? Mariel quickly connected the dots realizing the redhead went for him instead of letting her take care of things. She wasn't sure this was such a good idea, especially given the man's demeanor, and she shot the girl an unimpressed look. Hopefully she hadn't made a bigger mess of things.

Turning her attention back to Emily, she resumed her small smile. "Now.. what can we do to resolve all of this?" Of course the other woman was well-versed in the procedures. She could tell her what happened next and do it rationally.

.....

Emily looked between Mareil and... Skeeter - and the redhead was not forgotten, she got looks too. But Skeeter, now he looked uptight.. and and...

.....

Bubble head charm? Really? She very much wanted to burst that bubble, it was utterly ridiculous, the look she gave him said as much. Emily was not one for diplomatic relations, despite Gavin's insistence that she'd do well in the Minister's Office, and for this reason she awkwardly proceeded with what was her attempt at peaceful negotiations.

"What exactly is your business here?" she asked Skeeter flatly, requiring more detail than simply wanting to see him. "If this is a social call the I'm afraid I can't let you see him until he's released." Because she wasn't going to allow the Prophet to traipse through her tunnels simply to say hello to the idiot with the big mouth that got himself into a cauldron of hot water. The man brought it upon himself.

Her attention was quickly redirected to Mariel, a faintest trace of a smile on her lips. Talk about awkward situations, at least her fellow Department Head had enough grace not to make this an issue, unlike drama queen De La Garza for getting into the mess in the first place. What did the woman see in him?
"We're in the process of taking statements, once the paperwork is finalised bail will be set and once it's paid he's yours..." and no, they didn't do refunds, he'd be hers or theirs or whatever to keep. No take-backs. "In fact, I'll need your statement too if that's alright, you're a key witness in the event." Heck, the was at the very heart of it - sucked to be her.