The desk was finally perfect. Aisling had come in a little early to make sure she'd set everything up nicely, all the supplies and gifts arranged neatly on the desk that now bore the name of Abigail Reid. Then she attempted to return to her own desk and sort through paperwork, a process soon proved futile by her own impatience.

So she moved to waiting by the lift, tensing slightly in anticipation every time the noises of movement came and the doors opened, slumping almost imperceptibly every time it revealed someone else. Even with how many years it had been, Aisling still remembered her first days and months at the office. For Abigail, she would do what she could to make the adjustment easy and pleasant. Family was on her mind even more these days.

And then the door finally cracked open to reveal the face she'd been waiting for. One which prompted a wide smile from Aisling. "Abigail. It's so good to see you. You didn't have trouble with the floo, I hope?" She motioned broadly at the level before them. "Welcome to Accidents and Catastrophes. Do let me give you the tour."

Abby fiddled with the ID around her neck, winding the string around her finger and then letting it go. It looked too much like a visitor's badge - in fact, she was pretty sure it had been a visitor's badge, but this was what the folks at security had given her back in the fall when they'd debated over what to do about the wandless intern. It still worked! She'd gotten past the new welcome witch in the Atrium, so she really couldn't complain. Even if it did look dorky.

Memos fluttered up as the lift began to move down. The inane chatter filling the small space felt comfortable and familiar, distracting her from her happy, but nervous thoughts. Abby joined in, accepting compliments on her belt and wondering aloud if the weather was finally letting up today.

Her feet involuntarily moved forward when the lifts opened on level five, and she stepped back again with an apologetic smile. Once it reached level three, she exited, glancing at her watch in surprise as Mrs. Knight greeted her right away. Not late! Abby never thought she'd be grateful for her sister pestering her to hurry this morning, but she was.

"Hi!" Abby smiled just as widely at Aisling, wanting to give her a hug, but holding back in an effort to be professional.

"Yup! Used to the floo by now. It likes to leave behind a souvenir every time I travel," she demonstrated by brushing a pinch of soot off her clothes.

"A tour would be fun! I guess I won't just be making a beeline for your desk now," she nodded, thinking of the times she'd visited her before. "I'll be meandering around," she made a circular gesture in the air, "chattering to everyone - not chattering too much, of course. And then I'll arrive at your desk with tea or coffee or whatever you like," Abby grinned. Tea, most likely!

"It does that at times. Might be worth trying a different sort of floo powder if it's a regular occurrence." Aisling took a step back and waved her arm slowly across the department before them. "We can start with where you'll be working, unless you had somewhere else in mind. We do have a rather nice reference library."

Her tone was teasing, and it was easy to smile again. "I am supposed to be handling some of your training, so you will be seeing a bit of me. And tea, certainly. Something mild, these days. I've grown dull in my old age."

Though not so dull that she wasn't looking forward to how Abigail reacted to the sight of her new desk. That was half the joy of gift-giving, or at least a significant portion of it. "Your desk is just over this way, not far at all." She motioned towards a cluster of furniture to their left, then started towards it at a brisk pace.

Abby raised her eyebrows at her. "Old? Dull? Pshaw!"

Giggling, she shook her head. Abby knew old and dull - it looked like her grandpa's comb-over and smelled like her grandma's cloying perfume. Aisling was fun and nice, whatever age she was. Her older sister was the one who could be the fuddy duddy, Abby was convinced.

Following Mrs. Knight with her usual pep, Abby somehow managed to remain a few paces behind her, slowing to peer at the other employees and how they'd decorated their areas. She flicked a bobblehead in passing, stifling a smile when it reacted in a hyper, furious voice: "Obliviate! Obliviate!"

Abby kept her hands at her sides until she reached her desk, then picked up the teddy bear in excitement. "Awww!"

"Soooo cute! Did you do this?" She grinned at Aisling. "Wait, why am I asking. Of course you did! You know I'm a sucker for jelly beans. Aw, thank you!"

This time, she couldn't resist giving her a light hug. "You're going to spoil me. The flowers are pretty," Abby leaned over her desk to sniff them. "Smell good, too."

She set the bear down nicely by the jar of ink, flipping open the book with the pretty cover. Nope, it wasn't clear at all that Mrs. Knight had young daughters. But Abby loved it. Gifts and attention. Not bad for her first day!

"I'm glad you like it. And it's better for you to have the jellybeans than I, prevents me from eating them." Aisling leaned into the hug and smiled. "Thought someone should give you a proper welcome." She didn't expect her coworkers to raise too much of a fuss, but she still wished to make this as easy as possible for Abigail.

She slid one of the desk drawers open to reveal a stack of tabloids, topped with an issue of The Sun which screamed out some ridiculous headline in large letters over the front of it. "These will be your first assignment, but that can wait until we've finished the tour. They all have articles on the mess at the Bank, and it's best to keep up with what the Muggles are saying about it." Not the most exciting assignment perhaps, but rather a common sort for the new employees.

"I can show you my new office next, if you'd like. The paperwork isn't finished yet, but it should be soon. I am looking forward to having something resembling an actual wall." Some of that divination would be much easier to do with a bit more space, though she expected to have many other matters to attend to.

Abby was even excited about the tabloids. "Yes!" She exclaimed as her gaze landed on the outrageous heading. "These are always entertaining! At least the wizarding ones," she told her, lacking any shame. "I like to read them aloud in a dramatic voice. I'll just do that in my head while I'm here, obviously."

She didn't want to annoy her new coworkers too soon. Give her a few weeks!

"Ooo, fancy new office," she teased. "Sure, I'd like to see it. I've got to figure out what to get you to celebrate your promotion. I'll avoid jellybeans, but don't think you're off the hook."

If Abby seemed especially positive today, it was due to both excitement and nerves. She'd been so lucky with Muggle Affairs, surrounded by like-minded folks, but here, she'd really be the new squib in town. Mrs. Knight's influence would make a huge difference, of course, and Abby hoped the fresh, happy newness of this experience would last.

"They do call for a dramatic voice, don't they. I think Tarron would give me a very odd look if I tried that, or well, he would simply for my bringing them home." Aisling laughed softly, thinking of it. Even though it was something she would never do.

She motioned towards a door set back behind the various desks, and waited for Abigail to join her before she started walking. "There's no need for a celebration, it's hardly a huge shift. But if you wish to bake something again I could hardly turn it down. You did such a wonderful job with the cake." Food had been sounding better and better with each passing day, and Aisling had to admit that her current appetite could be described as ravenous.

"You'll have to give me some tips, one of these days. I haven't done much cooking for years, seems I've lost a bit of the knack for it."

She followed Mrs. Knight into her office, glancing around at the bare walls and clutter-free desk. Abby thought she'd get her something colorful like an animated calendar, or one of those flowering plants she liked. Not all of her things seemed to be here yet, but that'd make it feel more like a home away from home.

Abby giggled at the compliment on her baking until she realized Mrs. Knight might be serious. "Oh! Thanks! I would like to try baking something again. You'll have to let me know if you want cake or something else! Everyday should be a cake day," she nodded sagely.

"I got most of my tips from Professor Tappy, actually. Professor Trishna," she corrected herself just so Aisling would know who she was talking about. "Remember him from the dance! He's cool. I asked him about cooking stuff after he made dinner for everyone on Christmas Eve."

Distracted momentarily, her eyes lit up as she turned to Mrs. Knight, "Have you ever pressed buttons on a... oh, what is it. It's in the kitchen. It makes beepy sounds. But it's not a mobile. It's... a microscopic wave!" She snapped her fingers. "Heats things up like magic!"

"I'm sure Rowena and Sophia would be utterly thrilled if you ever made them a cake. I owl them more packages than I should already." Aisling laughed and pressed a hand against her stomach. "Fear that I'm past the stage where I could get away with making every day a cake day, though. It's the sort of time you should enjoy while you have it."

Tarron was already fussing over her diet, and he'd be right to worry over a large quantity of sweets. Merlin, he had enough cause to worry about her already.

"And yes, I remember Professor Trishna. He seems a very kind man. Has Aileen gotten to that book of his, yet?"  There was a smudge on one of the room's blank walls, and she frowned at it, then flicked her wand with a muttered scourgify. "The microwave, you mean? I've used one a little at my sister's, but she doesn't tend to let me cook while I'm there. Insists that I rest, instead."

"I'd be happy to make Rowena and Sophia something, too. It'll be a surprise."

Abby grinned at Mrs. Knight's question. "Yes she has. Intermittently, anyway. She'll pick it up, grumble about the terms, sigh at me when I laugh at her, and then start reading something else. But she always comes back to it." Usually with a glass of wine. "Kudos on the gift idea, by the way. I'm sad I didn't think of it!"

Ah, microwaves. She'd almost gotten it right.

"Rest?" Abby looked at her curiously. The microwave was just pushing buttons, right? She had little understanding of the real work muggle cooking could involve.

"Because you're always on the run, being awesome?" She couldn't help but tease.

"Precisely!" Edwin replied to the Department's latest addition. "But now that you're here, Reid, she can run around less, and let you do that for her."

He filled the doorway of Aisling's new office, hands clasped behind his back and a gentle smile upon his features. His voice filled the space rather amply, perhaps a little too loudly, and his face was ever so slightly ruddy. He'd just spent a little while ticking off some obliviators who had done half a job.

Edwin straightened his tie, and took a step forward, shaking hands though they had already been introduced a couple of times before.
"Welcome to Level 3. Don't be scurrying back to Level 5 now. I have my spies." He fixed Abigail with a very serious look, though he was pulling her leg. He did have spies on Level 5, but not for where his interns spent their lunchtimes gassing.

"Once you've completed your jobs for Knight we have plenty of filing for you." He added, looking down his nose. His mouth twitched, filing was nobody's idea of fun, which was why many of them were nicely charmed to arrange themselves these days.

"I'm sure you'll have plenty to do before you get that desperate. Good to have you on board." He gave nod and retreated to Aisling's door, letting them get on, but paused, turning back, one hand on the door frame.

"There wasn't anything you needed to ask me, was there?"

"She's far better at running around than I am, already." Aisling gave Edwin a brief smile. He hardly had to come greet every new intern on Three, and it was encouraging to see him do so for Abigail.

And of course he was aware of just how little running about Aisling would be able to engage in within a few months. "I've already assigned her to help with the followup on the situation at the Bank. But I expect she'll be able to get to some filing soon, it's tradition after all." It seemed that there had to be some sort of menial task to test the newest members of the Department, even if it was not as trying as it once had been.

"I have no questions, yet. Though I fear that my office may prove temporarily in disarray until everything's settled." She inclined her head towards Abigail. If the intern had any inquiries to make, this would be the time to ask.

Abby shook Mr. Glass’ hand, recognizing the color in his cheeks as a trait she’d seen during the chaos of the opera. His booming voice she had yet to get used to, but at least it’d keep her on her toes and less prone to dawdling over the tabloids Aisling had given her.

“Filing! Can’t wait,” she replied cheekily, hoping she hadn’t misread the department head’s humor. “And don’t worry. I don’t scurry anywhere. I much prefer skipping.”

She held back a giggle, attempting a straight face.

As he turned back toward the door, she glanced at Aisling, trying to come up with a smart, work-related question. He had taken a few minutes out of his day to greet her, after all.

“Favorite type of jelly bean, Mr. Glass?”

No such luck. She paused, then grinned. “Mrs. Knight gave me a bunch. I’m not stingy.”

"Favourite type of jelly bean?" Edwin repeated, eyebrows raising and large brow furrowing above them. "Well, I can't say I've really given it much thought until you posed the question." But given he didn't immediately want to dismiss her on her first day for ridiculous questions like this - he had invited such he regretted - he thought about it.

"I've always been partial to raspberry. Trouble is there's very rarely any in a jelly bean pack, so I much prefer the real thing." His frown faded away into the creases of his ageing face and the smile returned.

"Now if you're conforming to an intern outlook you'll know the tea routine of this corner of the office within a week. Especially, Knight's." He pointed over towards Aisling in a non-threatening way beyond Abigail and slid a watch from his pocket which he consulted.

"I'll leave you two to it, I have to get on. Department to run, Ministry to take care of." He folded his arms behind him again and gave them both a nod, sure he would catch up with them again in the next day or two.

"I think he's fond of strawberry as well, given how mine seem to mysteriously disappear." Aisling smirked a little at Edwin. This was a good day so far, and she would let herself enjoy it, just this once. "But yes, I'm sure you're terribly busy. I'll let you know if there's anything we need."

She turned to smile at Abigail. "And I promise I'm not too particular on my tea. It should be easy enough to remember. I'm just grateful that I need not make it myself."

In a few months she expected that she wouldn't want to stand up for anything that wasn't necessary. Even now just staying at her desk a bit longer sounded reassuring. "If we're getting low on any supplies just make sure to let someone know, people do tend to get irritable if they run out."