January 28th, 1890 — Department for the Regulation & Control of Magical Creatures; Breakroom

She was not surprised, per se, at the difference between heading a bureau and heading a division, but Elinor Goyle had certainly jumped in the deep end where getting her feet wet was concerned. Mr. Adlard, the outgoing division head (and her new superior, too) had been kind enough to leave a great deal of notes, which Nora was slowly working her way through in amongst meetings, one-on-ones with her new employees, and the regular day-to-day of her new position.

But there came a time for at least a few moments' rest, and so the mid-afternoon saw the witch fixing herself a cup of tea in the breakroom—to be consumed quickly, of course. She was still not used to the solitude of her new office; her former, she had shared with two underlings.

"You don't mind if I sit, do you?" she asked, smiling kindly as she stood near the only occupied table in the room.

— Open to 1-2 other employee(s) in the DRCMC (or anyone else with reason to be there)! —

  

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— MJ never ceases to impress ♡ —

Believe it not, Bragi Holm, a Danish national, had a job interview at the British Ministry of Magic. He had prepared well. He knew the background of the role he was applying for, he knew the questions most likely to be put to him; he even knew the exact reasons why he wanted the job.

What he didn't know was that he was waiting in the wrong place.

Having been vaguely directed to this modest room by an assistant in a rush, Bragi had sat down politely as instructed, only to be shortly joined by a pleasant-looking lady holding a steaming cup of tea. "Please", he accepted her presence graciously, voice hushed with nerves and respect. "I'd be glad of the company." Distraction, more like.

  

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His was not a face that Nora recognized, nor was his accent that of an Englishman. Curious, the witch thought, but then, the Ministry of Magic was home to all sorts of curious folk, and it was more than possible that some employee of the Spirit Division had escaped her notice entirely during her time in the Pest Advisory Bureau.

Raised distinctly not to be nosy, Elinor made smalltalk instead.

"I shall be happy, I think, when the days grow longer," the witch offered. "Time seems to move too quickly when the sun sets early—even with our take on 'windows' down here in the Ministry offices."

  

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— MJ never ceases to impress ♡ —

Bragi was all too content to engage in pleasantries, keen to pass the time swiftly so he could get to his interview and that would be that.

He nodded with a smile when the lady mentioned the enchanted windows — Bragi had learned all about those on his previous visit. Too much darkness could be rather miserable... but it depended how you look at it.

"Quite right", he responded with chirpy politeness. "Although sometimes there's more to be done with the darker evenings than one thinks. I like to take my horse out in the dark. I suppose that's... a little irresponsible of me", he admitted sheepishly.

  

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Even if his attire had not done so, the mention of his horse was enough to assure Elinor that she was speaking with someone from her old world. She was out of practice, in that regard, but the witch thought she could manage nonetheless.

"I daresay you would not be the first gentleman to do so," she reassured with a smile. "After all, as a means of transportation, horses would be quite redundant in winter if they only left their stabling during the daylight hours. So long as one is aware of his surroundings, I think there is little to worry about—and even if not, well, horses are rather intelligent, as non-magical beasts go."

  

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— MJ never ceases to impress ♡ —

Despite this upcoming interview meaning the world to him, so much so that he'd barely thought of anything else for days, Bragi felt an inkling of pleasant distraction as the lady proved herself to be a fellow fan of horses. "They are rather intelligent, aren't they!", he agreed enthusiastically.

"Why, my Galahad can sense when I don't truly feel like going home for the day. He'll resist the reins, and take us somewhere else."

This Ministry person looked like she'd suit a palomino; or maybe even a buckskin. "Have you one of your own?"

  

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Her smile faltered, but not so much that he would notice unless truly paying attention.

"Not at present, no," Elinor answered a bit stiffly before adding, "but I did learn to ride as a girl. My cousins lived in the countryside, and I often spent my summers with them."

This was more of her background than Nora had shared with much of anyone in some time. What a strange common thread horses were proving to be!

  

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— MJ never ceases to impress ♡ —

Bragi had been hoping their shared interest in horses might provoke a cascade of amusing anecdotes and horsey facts that would tide him over until his interview, but he noticed a slight shift in the atmosphere. Perhaps it was something he'd said; or perhaps it was his unabashed enthusiasm, which was more suited to a young girl than a young man. They were in a professional environment, after all.

He didn't know for sure whether he'd imagined the shift in atmosphere or not, but he fidgeted slightly, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "That sounds wonderful", he said nonetheless, and he meant it earnestly, paired with a slightly timid smile.

"I... I wonder how much longer Mr Crouch will be", he muttered awkwardly, glancing over his shoulder.

Bragi remained unaware that he was not in the Department of International Cooperation at all.

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   Elinor Goyle

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"Mr. Crouch?" Elinor asked, thinking the statement rather out of place, given their present setting. "Do you mean Mr. Roman Crouch, Sir, or Mr. Aldous Crouch? Regardless, I don't fancy either particularly likely to appear here."

Was he addled, or important enough to have arranged a meeting with one of the senior members of the Ministry in a departmental lunchroom?

  

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— MJ never ceases to impress ♡ —

Bragi felt his heartbeat turn from drum solo to full-on marching band, and it settled unpleasantly in his throat. With little room to worry that his manners were slipping, he stared at the young lady with his eyes as wide as saucers. "Mr Aldous Crouch. Department of International..." he trailed off, looking back through the open door again. "The assistant fellow told me to come here and wait. Along the hallway, up the stairs... turn right..."

Or had it been left?

  

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"I am terribly sorry, but it appears as though you've been quite turned around," Elinor explained, offering a sympathetic smile. "It can be painfully easy to do if you're unfamiliar with the building. You'll want to go one further floor down, level five."

— Bragi Holm —
So sorry for the delay! <3

  

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— MJ never ceases to impress ♡ —

OOC: That's quite OK! :) Wrap here?

Despite his best efforts to remain composed, Bragi felt his heart erupt in a fiery volcano of panic. He went pale, and stood up stiffly as if his legs were at this point too anxious to work. He turned to leave, distracted and flustered, but remembered himself at the last second and uttered; "thank you!!" before dashing out of the door.

If he managed to make the interview fewer than ten minutes late, he'd have this lady to thank. He just hoped beyond hope that he would manage to find his way, as all remaining optimism for today's interview fluttered away like a dying moth.

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   Elinor Goyle

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