Georgiana was outside walking. She wasn't really sure why, only that if she'd spent any longer in that office of hers, in the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects she was going to go crazy. And it wasn't because her dad was there, she actually quite enjoyed working with her dad, seeing another side to him than she'd usually see. No, it was just one of those days where she just had to get out of the office before she picked up one of her colleagues and threw them out the window.
With a sigh, she decided lunch would be the best place to distract herself and shoving her hands in her pockets, she started off, bumping into someone as she went.
Someone bumped into Ruth Ann, and she stumbled (never that difficult for her to manage), catching the side of a building. "Oops, sorry," she replied automatically, though she certainly hadn't been the one to bump into the other woman (for once).
Hello, what was this? One of the lovely people from the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects, possibly one of Ruth Ann's most favorite places in the entire Ministry (after the room with the brains, of course)! "Hi!" she said brightly. "Where are you off to? I'm going to lunch, since they've decided that the grimoires simply just aren't ready for the Dewey Decimal system yet and I've been declared a menace to society for the third time today." The menace bit was, in her opinion, a great insult - she actually was on medication these days, after all. And she watched her sugar intake. It wasn't like when she was in school
Georgie only mumbled an apology and it was barely audible at best. She'd not really gotten better at manners since she'd left Hogwarts, and it was probably only the fact that she knew Ruth Ann that she got any sort of apology at all. Georgie was having a Very Bad Day after all. Still, she did manage some sort of a smile, because if working at the Ministry had taught her anything, it was that politeness went a long way. And she did like Ruth Ann, the girl was everything Georgie was not, and she really did have to admire her confidence. Plus, she was hard to shake, so it was either like her or go insane and Georgie liked being (marginally) sane, thank you very much.
"I'm going to lunch too," Georgie added, "Doesn't much feel like a day to be in the office, really." She chuckled at Ruth Ann's almost tirade.
"Don't I know it," Ruth Ann grumped. "You try to be helpful and people get all upset and explode at you and you can't just hex 'em or throw 'em out a window 'cause, of course there are no windows." Stomping along beside Georgie, she glared at the world at large, as if to blame it for the lack of windows on the ninth floor of the Ministry. "I tell you, there are few things that can solve one's troubles in this world like a good old fashioned defenestration. Bad days are made for windows, really. Or is it the other way around...?" She slowed her pace some, considering this deep, philosophical question.
Ooo, a guilty look! Well did Ruth Ann recall the looks of guilt she had inspired in the past, and with them in mind, she decided that this one was one to go on the books - she hadn't even been forced to resort to the puppy dog eyes! Or the Patented Bishoujo Stare, but then she'd never been particularly good at that, for the simple reason that she just wasn't a bishoujo.
"They're not telling you anything?" Ruth Ann asked. "Yeah, they never tell me anything, supposedly because I'm just an intern still, but I think it's really because they suspect me of not being entirely there, i.e., they think I'm off my rocker. Silly, really, but that's where one or two practical jokes will get you sometimes, I suppose."
Georgie nodded, because it mostly was the truth. She just had a feeling if she told Ruth Ann about the mysterious man, it would not end well. As in losing job not ending well, and Georgiana did like her job, interest in mystery men and secrets aside.
"I don't think you're off your rocker." Georgie supplied, hoping to divert the conversation away from what she did and didn't know. "A bit over excited, yes, but not crazy."
"Well, damn. There goes my plot to convince the entire Ministry of my insanity, slowly taking it over from the inside while they search for a culprit capable of rational thought and logic," Ruth Ann said cheerfully. "Unless, of course, you want in on those plans of Ministry, and later world, domination?"
She toyed with her fork for a minute, humming quietly to herself before suddenly looking up and fixing the other woman with a piercing stare. "Seriously though, Georgie. If you need someone to talk to, you can vent at me. I know I don't always come across as the most... together of people, but I know when to keep my lips sealed." Her eyes flicked out to take in the room for a second before returning to Georgie, and Ruth Ann gave a rueful grin. "Not that I'd recommend you venting here, of all places."
Georgie's sigh was not particularly violent, or very noticable, but it was there all the same. Not that she'd ever admit this outloud (or be particularly surprised if people didn't know this) but she didn't really have people to talk to, not properly, not unless she wanted to talk about the report that was due this week, or what was going on with Smith and Jenkins down in HR. It was nice to have the offer. Definitely it was.
Georgie just had to wonder if she knew how to share anymore. "It's like you said," She said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "Here is not exactly the best place in the world to vent."
Was it bad that Georgiana felt her stomach sink at this? That she'd given her good ideas to Ruth Ann and now she was going to just go back to doing whatever it was she did everyday (live through total and utter boredom) while the younger woman advanced through the ranks? WOAH, hello unmitigated anger. Georgiana had to put her hands on her lap under the table, so Ruth Ann would not be able to see her clenched fists.
"Sounds good!" She tried to sound light and jokey, as if she thought it was the best plan in the world, but it was getting increasingly difficult. Should have kust stuck to the no work talk plan.
"...only I don't want anyone looking too closely into where the rubber chickens have been coming from," Ruth Ann mused, oblivious to Georgie's false cheer, "which will be sure to happen if I make a full report of the problem to the higher-ups. They would probably try to zing me with inappropriate charming of Muggle objects, or something, and that's no good."
She smiled brightly at the other woman. "So, Georgie. Want an old glue trap? Guaranteed to catch rats and other vermin! Still pretty sticky and only has a few flies caught in it!"
Georgiana was too busy trying to concentrate on not being so angry that she really didn't follow what Ruth Ann was trying to imply. No, she was off in fairy land yelling at things and having one mother of a tantrum.
Being offered a pre-loved glue trap didn't do much to lift her spirits.
"I'm sorry, what?" She tried very hard not to snap, she honestly did. Georgie had excellent self-control most of the time, but when it was gone, it was gone.
"You need a promotion more than me," Ruth Ann said, trying not to shrink back at Georgie's harsh tone. Instead, she hid her nervousness by drinking down the rest of her soda. "If you want my glue trap, I mean."
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With a sigh, she decided lunch would be the best place to distract herself and shoving her hands in her pockets, she started off, bumping into someone as she went.
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Hello, what was this? One of the lovely people from the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects, possibly one of Ruth Ann's most favorite places in the entire Ministry (after the room with the brains, of course)! "Hi!" she said brightly. "Where are you off to? I'm going to lunch, since they've decided that the grimoires simply just aren't ready for the Dewey Decimal system yet and I've been declared a menace to society for the third time today." The menace bit was, in her opinion, a great insult - she actually was on medication these days, after all. And she watched her sugar intake. It wasn't like when she was in school
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"I'm going to lunch too," Georgie added, "Doesn't much feel like a day to be in the office, really." She chuckled at Ruth Ann's almost tirade.
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"They're not telling you anything?" Ruth Ann asked. "Yeah, they never tell me anything, supposedly because I'm just an intern still, but I think it's really because they suspect me of not being entirely there, i.e., they think I'm off my rocker. Silly, really, but that's where one or two practical jokes will get you sometimes, I suppose."
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"I don't think you're off your rocker." Georgie supplied, hoping to divert the conversation away from what she did and didn't know. "A bit over excited, yes, but not crazy."
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She toyed with her fork for a minute, humming quietly to herself before suddenly looking up and fixing the other woman with a piercing stare. "Seriously though, Georgie. If you need someone to talk to, you can vent at me. I know I don't always come across as the most... together of people, but I know when to keep my lips sealed." Her eyes flicked out to take in the room for a second before returning to Georgie, and Ruth Ann gave a rueful grin. "Not that I'd recommend you venting here, of all places."
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Georgie just had to wonder if she knew how to share anymore. "It's like you said," She said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "Here is not exactly the best place in the world to vent."
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"Sounds good!" She tried to sound light and jokey, as if she thought it was the best plan in the world, but it was getting increasingly difficult. Should have kust stuck to the no work talk plan.
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She smiled brightly at the other woman. "So, Georgie. Want an old glue trap? Guaranteed to catch rats and other vermin! Still pretty sticky and only has a few flies caught in it!"
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Being offered a pre-loved glue trap didn't do much to lift her spirits.
"I'm sorry, what?" She tried very hard not to snap, she honestly did. Georgie had excellent self-control most of the time, but when it was gone, it was gone.
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