ooc: banners to come

Modestly decorated, Christian Trumbull's office betrays his love of all things transportation. In the corner behind the desk, an old muggle train set lazily choo-choos around the track while model airplanes circle above the desk.

Picture frames are interspersed among his books, housing photos from his travels abroad. One, prominently displayed, shows a much younger Christian traveling by carpet.

An enchanted window displays a scenic view, complete with snow-capped mountains.

Have a question about your latest assignment? Just feel like stopping in for a chat? Just give a knock at the door and Christian will be right with you.

This all felt a bit weird. Ingrid had just gotten to know and gotten used to how Madison ran things and now she had left. And just as fast as Madison had left a new department head under the name Thurnball had been appointed. Ingrid was curious and not to mention eager to meet her new boss and therefore made her way to his door before going anywhere near her office. Lately Ingrid had found that if she went to her desk first then she could get stuck there for the mere part of the day solving problems and reading urgent memos. Raising a hand the dark haired woman knocked gently on the office door.

Christian stood on the chair behind his desk, attempting to rescue a model plane that had flown off course and lodged itself between the bookcase and the ceiling, when he heard a knock at the door.

Looking down at the chairs in front of his desk, he flicked his wand, sending his cloak and bag off the chairs and over to another corner of the room.

Turning back to the stuck plane, he called out in a warm voice, "Come in!"

Ingrid heard a voice coming from behind the door allowing her entrance. Fixing her robes and placing a few loose strands of hair back behind her ears she turned the door knob and walked into the newly decorated room. At the desk a bespectacled man about her fathers age or a little younger was sitting. Going up to the desk she said smiling warmly "Hello, I'm Ingrid Johansson. Division head of Apparition are you Mister Thurnball?"

Christian hopped down to the ground, rescued plane in hand as the young woman entered his office. Smiling warmly, he placed the model down on his desk.

"Lovely to meet you, Ms. Johansson," he said as he extended his hand and made a mental note of the woman's position in the Department. "It's Trumbull, actually, but it's no matter. Please, have a seat." He smiled kindly as he gestured to the newly cleared chairs in front of his desk.

"Can I offer you something to drink?"

Just perfect.. Way to go Ingrid you've just called your boss by the wrong name. And it was on your first meeting with him. It was Trumbull and not Thurnball. Hopefully though it didn't prove to Trumball that she was bad at remembering names and bad at getting to know her employees.

Ingrid gladly sat down in one of the directed seats saying a quietly "A cup of tea would be nice if it isn't too much trouble. I've become quite fond of it lately."

Christian smiled. "Tea it is." Christian turned to face a cabinet in the corner of the room, and, picking up his wand from his desk, opened the door and levitated a simple tea set to his desk. Setting it to brew, he turned back to the woman.

Lacing his fingers together, Christian leaned forward slightly. "What brings you to my office today, Ms. Johannson?" He spoke kindly. "Curiosity about your new boss?" He grinned, an almost grandfatherly glint in his eye. He was always a supervisor that had high expectations, to be sure, but he saw his relationships with his employees, in all fields, as one of mentorship. And perhaps a bit of paternal care, as well.

As the tea pot whistled, Christian unlaced his fingers and flicked his wand again, setting the pot to pouring out two cups.

Ingrid took a moment to calm her nerves. She had no idea that meeting her new boss would cause her to feel like this. It hadn't been like this the first time she had met Madison. Was that because it was woman to woman? Shrugging Ingrid watched as Trumbull put his tea kettle on. Moments later the obvious question was asked. Why was she there in his office.

Straightening up in her chair to look at Trumbull Ingrid said thinking "Curisoity of who you are I suppose and I also saw it as my duty to fill you in on what is currently going on in our department. From division head to department head."

Closing her hands her lap she added slowly but kindly "If it's not too much to ask sir then please call me Ingrid. Miss makes me feel as old as my mother." Englishmen had ever since she moved here surprised her with their way of always adressing someone formally and correctly something that swedes didn't do in the same lengths.

Passing a cup to Ingrid, Christian laughed lightly. He had to be at least as old as, if not older than, her mother. "Of course. Ingrid it is." Raising his own cup, he took a sip, closing his eyes. "Mm." Placing it back down, he continued. "I do hope you'll be comfortable enough to call me Christian in settings like this. Mr. Trumbull is terribly formal for what I hope will be frequent conversations. Though, in public, work settings like meetings and your division office for example, Mr. Trumbull is my preference."

Christian raised his cup again to take a sip, observing the young woman. He thought he could see some nerves, which saddened him a bit. He certainly hoped he wasn't an intimidating person. Holding the cup mid-air, he leaned back.

"I appreciate your initiative in coming to me about the goings-on around here before I had to ask. Anything immediate I should know?"

He took a long sip. "And if there's anything you want to know, just ask."

Antigone smoothed down the front of her robes and tried to flatten out her hair before raising her hand to knock on the door. Sighing she rapped on it three times and waited for an invitation to enter. She was new to the Ministry and just back in town and needed the transportation dudes to help her out a bit.

As Christian set down his teacup and looked to Ingrid, he was distracted by a knock at the door. Perhaps another employee coming to see him? "Excuse me a moment, Ingrid." He certainly wanted to hear what she had to say, but he couldn't very well leave whoever it was outside. Perhaps they wanted tea, too?

"Come in," he called cheerily from his desk.

Antigone opened the door and stepped inside. She was in shock at how light anf un the room was. She couldn't help but smile widely as she looked at the man behind the desk. Awww he reminded her of her father!

"Hello. I am Antigone McArdle the new Education Department Head. I um, just moved back to London and was wondering what I need to do to have my flat hooked up to the Floo network," she said to the man. She looked around and saw that he was currently in a meeting, blushing slightly she said, "If this isn't a good time I can come back."

Christian smiled, eyes twinkling, as the woman introduced herself. "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. McArdle. I'm Christian Trumbull, also new." He gave a small tinkling laugh.

"I suppose I'm probably supposed to send you over to the Floo office, but I have the form around here somewhere..." Christian rummaged through a desk drawer, offering Ingrid an apologetic smile as he did so. "Please, have a seat." Bent low behind his desk, Christian gestured in the direction of a chair near a side table along the wall.

"A ha!" Christian pulled out the form and stuck it to a clipboard before handing it to the woman. "Just fill this out and I'll make sure it gets all set up. Would you like some tea? It's freshly brewed." He pointed to the pot, ready to pour if she gave any indication of being interested.

Antigone was instantly put at ease by the sweet old man's demeanor. He was so precious she just wanted to hug him... but she wouldn't. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Trumbull and welcome to the Ministry as well," she said as she gave him a tight smile.

"Oh I hope I am not too much trouble, sir. But a cuppa would be lovely and thanks for this," she said as she took the clipboard from him and took the seat that he had indicated. She then dug in her bag for a self inking quill and began to scratch out the necessary information on the form.

Looking up at him she giggled and said, "Let me ask you, have you been in the Ministry before? Do you find it easy to navigate through here?" Eyes went back to the form as she wrote and waited for his response.

Ingrid accepted the cup of tea from Christian and immediatly raised it to take a sip but held off as her boss agreed to call her Ingrid. Feeling her nervousness ebb away Ingrid inclined her head a little to respond smiling "Of course, Christian. I will show you the same courtesy in here and out there." Taking the first few sips of her tea she mused "Mmm. Very nice taste."

As the topic changed to the inner going ons of level 6 Ingrid placed her cup on the nearby table to look over at Chritian "The most immediate is the new years party that I and the other division heads Craig, Jordan and Armen are preparing in the breakroom. We would love your assistance if you have time. "

"And there is the issue of too few employees but that's rather a fact than something that needs to be delt with. All the divisions are coping at the moment quite well."

Remembering the toilets Ingrid sighed saying "Lastly there is the issue with the toilets. Someone has clogged up the pipes or something causing a huge over flow of water. Just yeasterday the water from the toilets had poured out and into my office. Destroying a new pair of shoes."It was a real pity too since they hadn't been expensive but ver comfortable.

Ingrid had just stopped her brief run thorugh of what was happening on level 6 when the door to Christians office was opened and a dark haired woman came in. Standing up as the other woman introduced herself as Antigone McArdale, Department head of Education Ingrid inclined her head in greeting but let Trumbull take the lead. He was both her boss and owner of this office.

Sitting back down Ingrid let the other too converse. It was not her place really to say anything unless she was spoken to.

Christian nodded as Ingrid spoke. "A party sounds wonderful. I will be down to help set up as soon as I am able." Christian glanced as the pile of paperwork that had awaited him. Surely that could wait...

Turning back to her, he frowned. "Too few? Now that won't do. I will see about getting our office better staffed." Christian drummed his fingers on his desk. Were people not wanting to work at the ministry? Or just not in transportation? Either way, it was a problem.

And overflowing toilets? "Maintenance should be able to take care of that. I trust you to go sort it with them." He paused. "Was anything else damaged?"



Turning back to the other Head as she looked up from her form, Christian smiled and floated a teacup over to her. "More than forty years ago, I'm afraid. Things have changed quite dramatically." Christian's eyes went wide as if he'd suddenly been struck by inspiration.

Which he had.

Rummaging through his desk again, he looked over his shoulder at the woman. "Around... here... somewhere.... AHA!" Christian sat up, a folded, rumpled piece of parchment in his hand.

"I found a map in my desk when I got here." Tapping it with his wand, Christian made a duplicate copy. "Here..." He held it up to her, indicating that it was hers to take, before setting it on the edge of his desk for her to grab when she stood, later.

When Laura got the memo about the new department head, she was a little stunned. Mrs. Masterson had barely been department head for long, and now there was a new one again. Since things at the Portkey Office were going pretty slow at the moment, and Laura's curiosity was beginning to get pretty big, she decided that she would take a break and go meet the new department head.

Laura knocked on the door a few times before opening the door and peeking in. Seeing that there were already two women in there, her face flushed slightly. Was she interrupting anything? Her eyes flickered over to the new department head. Thomas... Trunby... Trumbull! That was his name.

Well, no sense in looking like a lost and confused woman and awkwardly leaving without saying anything. So, she walked in and nodded to Ingrid and the other woman, whom she didn't recognize. "Er, hi," she said with a short wave and a small smile. "I'm not... interrupting anything. Am I?"

Ah... so he had been with the Ministry previously. Interesting. Grabbing the tea as it floated to her she smiled widely and said, "Thank you so much. And I would assume the Ministry has changed quite a bit, eh. Nothing around here stays the same for too awful long, does it?" She then brought the cup to her lips and took a dainty little sip. "Is this Lemon and Ginger? Could I trouble you for a bit of honey if you have any," she asked quietly. She felt rude to ask for more than she was given, felt it was bad manners and all.

Setting the cup down Antigone clapped her hands together. "A map, good Merlin! I am glad you found this! Are you certain you don't mind me having a copy? It woudl be dead helpful though" she exclaimed, her Irish lilt coming out stronger than before. Clearing her throat she laughed at herself and picked up the teacup again. As long as she was sipping tea she couldn't say anything else stupid. Doo doo doo.

Joy, Christian was going to come and help out with the preparations then Ingrid's dream of the party actually becoming a success might become a reality. Catching his glance over at the waiting pile of work Ingrid knew that her own wouldn't sort itself out either. Sighing inwardly she knew that sooner or later she would need to end the meeting and start with her duties. No matter how untempting they flet just this particular morning.

Maybe bringing up the employee issue hadn't been the most wisest thing in a first meeting with her new boss but Christian seemed to be taking it all with tact. Glancing over at him she nodded "Yes, too few. I've only got two employees in my division at the moment and i'm guessing it's not much better in portkey, broom control or floo."

Yes, let the maintenance people solve the overflowing toilet issue. Ingrid wasn't herself very psyched about going head to head with pipes and toilets so she nodded "Sure, I can handle that. Do you want to see the maintenance employees before they get to work?"

Thinking Ingrid sighed a little saying "Yes, I'm afraid several paintings of esteemed past transportation employees have been water damaged but i'm sure that they can be restored quite easily."

More people seemed interested in getting to know the new level 6 department head. Ingrid this time didn't trouble herself with standing up since there was no need to. As the newest arrival came into sight Ingrid smiled welcoming saying "Morning, Laura!" before turning back to her half full cup of tea.

Christian looked up with a start at the knock on his door... which then OPENED. Merlin, it's Grand Central Station in here. Christian paused, chuckling to himself for the unintentional transportation reference in his head.

"Come in, come in, nothing interrupted." He smiled at the young woman before raising an eyebrow. "This time..." He would have to speak with her once there wasn't an office full of people. No sense in embarrassing her, but what if it had been something to not be interrupted?

"Take a seat. Can I interest you in a cup of tea?" Christian held up the pot, grateful he'd made more than enough.

Turning then, back to the other Head as she spoke, Christian smiled. "I was here a very short time as an intern and even in that small span, I do believe the walls moved at least twice."

At her request for honey, Christian grabbed his wand from his desk. "Yes, of course, how rude of me." Flicking his wand in the direction of the open cupboard, a jar of honey floated out and bobbed through the air on it's way to Antigone. "Keep the map. Make copies of the map. I'm sure we all could use a little help around here." Christian smiled kindly at her, his eyes glancing back down to the form.

Christian nodded solemnly. They would have to advertise! "We'll get that employee business sorted," he said, sipping his own tea. And as for the toilets... "No need. They know what they're doing. Though, if they'd like some tea when they're done..." Christian chuckled. Maybe he would leave his door open sometimes, just for people to come in. Was that too casual? He wasn't sure.

"I can take care of the paintings being restored. Just have them brought down to my office." He sipped his tea again, closing his eyes briefly. When he opened them, he rested the cup down. "Is that all for today, Ms. Johansson?" There were others here now... another Head, an employee, and as far as Christian was concerned, that meant it was back to a bit of formality.

Oh, Merlin's beard, she was interrupting something. He just didn't want to be rude. Nevertheless, she entered and took a seat. "Oh, yes thank you," she said, accepting his offer for tea. It wasn't something she drank often, but she had grown fond of it over the years. Then she sat back, waiting patiently as he continued his conversations with the other two women.

Antigone smiled and nodded as the man spoke. Leaning in a bit closer she said, "I swear the walls are moving around on me... I get turned around quite frequently." She let out a small chuckle and shook her head.

Reaching out Antigone grabbed the honey and poured some into her tea, usholstering her wand she used it to magically stir the tea. Sighing happily she took a dainty little sip and smiled. "Great, now it's perfect," she said.

Looking down at her watch as Mr. Trumbull conversed with an employee she frowned. "I really should be off. Thank you so much for the tea and especially the map, it will surely prove useful. I look forward to meeting with you again as well. If you ever need anything from me, come visit me on the first level, my door is always open," she said to him with a daughterly smile.

Rising from her chair she took the map in one hand, reholstered her wand, and set the teacup down. She wasn't sure if she should vanish it or not, so she left it where it was. "Excuse my parting so quickly, but you of course understand the demanding schedule we keep," she said with a wink as she made her way to the door and out into the corridor.

Christian turned back to the other Head and smiled. "And mine, as well," he said nodding, before glancing back down at the form. "Bring that back whenever you've finished with it and we'll get you connected."

Flicking his wand, he summoned the teacup to him and set it aside to be cleaned. "Have a wonderful day," he called out after her as she made her way out of the office.

Turning back to his employee, he smiled. "What brings you in today, Miss...? She hadn't said her name and Christian hadn't made his way through all the files yet.

Pouring her tea out, he smiled, waiting for her response as he handed her the cup.

Theron was a bit overwhelmed at the Ministry, especially coming from a world where he lived his life practically a muggle. The Single father kept his resume in hand as he made his way to the six floor and to the Department Head office. He took a brief moment outside the door, and straightened his suit and cleared his throat. "Here goes nothing," he said to himself as he knocked on the door.

A large wizard carrying a live potted plant in his arm walked up to the office door. He could see as he did so that there was another wizard also awaiting a turn.

"Hi." He greeted the other wizard at the door. "Did you knock already?" He did not want to follow up with another lest it sound as though they were just being impatient here.