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Penelope Clearwater ([info]hurryup_andwait) wrote in [info]rejuvenated,
@ 2008-03-27 09:07:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Who : Penny Clearwater and Open
What : Lunch time for Penny at the Ministry
Where : Ministry of Magic's Cafeteria
When : Thursday Afternoon
Status : Incomplete.
Rating : n/a


Penny sat in the cafeteria at the Ministry picking at her salad. It wasn't very good, but when was cafeteria food ever any good? Plus she'd waited until the lunch rush was over and that meant less to choose from, but also meant she got to sit by herself and not with a bunch of natter head co-workers who wanted to talk about asinine things she wasn't interested in. There were plenty of tables around her and she assumed that anybody who was also taking a late lunch would take one of those tables and leave her alone.

She crossed her legs under the table and once again lifted her fork again up to her face, to look at it's contents and then turned it over letting them fall back on to her plate. She had her head siting on her hand, looking rather boredly around her. She was content to spend her hour by herself but today she'd forgotten to bring a book with her so she had nothing to read. She knew that if she didn't take her lunch break that her boss would be riding her ass all afternoon to make sure she did. Something about how she worked too many overtime hours and human resources was complaining. Like she expected to be paid for her working lunches...

Thinking about all the work she had to do when she got back up to her desk made her happy though. So much to do to keep her busy, she'd have no problem with this boredom thing once her hour was up. Hour. Who needed an hour for lunch. Surely not her. Sensing somebody approaching her from the left she hoped that they were merely going to pass her. No such luck.

"Seat taken?" they asked. She looked up at them.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-03-30 06:42 am UTC (link)
Michael had been working fairly hard himself, though still likely not up to par with the usual work load Penny managed to get through. He was still willing enough to take his lunch hour and not complain about it. Yes, it was a bit later than usual, but then he had been working on a rather large file. It was easier just to get it done before going to lunch than try to come back and remember what his trail of thought had been at the time. Besides it was almost easier to get things done when you had a motivation to finish and he could file it away.

He wasn't much interested in actually getting something to eat as much as just getting away from his desk. Michael was completely in love with his job, but there were times it was nice just to get up and walk, but then he could go to the cafeteria and see what activity was going on. A slight smile came to his face though and the sight of the Hit Witch sitting there by herself. "Seat taken?" He could certainly make an hour out of just talking to Penny or at least annoying the hell out of her. Yes, they were co-workers, but then they were also vying for the same job in a matter of months.

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-03-30 07:27 am UTC (link)
Penny almost groaned. Michael Corner drove her mad. If it wasn't for the fact that Penny didn't want him to know that he drove her mad, she'd have probably told him to bugger off. But she didn't, because she wasn't going to let him get the best of her like that. Not by a long shot. "It is now?" she said smiling saccharinely sweet at him. Pushing her plate away from her she sat back, forcing her body to relax. She could make general conversation for a while couldn't she?

"So finish that Norton file? I heard that Parish was looking for it three days ago." Okay she hadn't heard that three days ago, it was just three hours ago, but still he was looking for it. "Bloody madness that was. Stealing from the goblins...I don't know how he's going to plead that charge away. The Goblins take nothing for an answer when one steals. They'll want his head." she commented idly. Sometimes, Penny had hard times not just talking about work, it was basically all she knew.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-03-30 03:23 pm UTC (link)
"Well I was just wondering. You seemed so alone over here, but then there are plenty of other seats at this table if they still want to come sit by you." Considering how well their last conversation had gone, it was likely going to turn rather interesting just exchanging quips with her until she had to go back to work. At the very least she kept his wit as sharp as it had ever been. Unfortunately for her because he was only barely keeping up in that department as it was, any less from him and she could easily make him look like a laughing stock. He went and sat down next to her.

Michael had to bite the inside of his cheek though to keep back the smallest bit of a smirk. "Had the full report in... a little over two hours ago. He'd likely be far better off in Azkaban for however long they decide to give to him. Which, of course, will be less if he pleads guilty to all charges. They'll just be waiting for him when he gets out though." Probably cut off his hands if the goblins did get a hold of him. "Then he also says that the goblins are mad for thinking he was stealing it at all when it was "a wizard artifact"... But then I'm also wondering when Parish started going after you about my files. Because I only heard about it while I was polishing it off."

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-03-30 06:15 pm UTC (link)
Penny casually crossed her arms when he sat down and let her fake smile slide in to one that was a little more real. Their last conversation had been amusing, but still the two of them were so back and forth with each other that Penny never really knew where they stood. She didn't like that really. She wanted to know always where she stood with people and with Michael she knew he was fierce competition for the job she wanted. Then again Penny tended to keep any sort of competition closer then she probably should.

"The Goblins never were satisfied with the Wizarding Justice system. They have their own ways of doing things." She commented placing her elbow on the table and resting her chin on her hand, looking over Michael, studying him openly as she did with many people. His hair. Ugh, it was such...pretty hair. She didn't generally hold young or pretty in high regard. "Just overheard it at the water cooler." She said brushing it off with a wave of her hand. Office gossip and all." Brushing some hair off her forehead she continued to have a neutral look on her face, "So how's your broom? Ever get it polished?" She said, suddenly remembering their conversation on the silly journals.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-03-30 09:38 pm UTC (link)
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Then it was rather hard to have friends other than those at work when they kept the hours they did. Unless you wanted to make friends with the barflies and people who they might very well be arresting the next day. Plus it wouldn't look very good to be associating with such people when he had rather lofty goals, so Penny would have to do.

"And would probably prefer that we just let them exercise that particular brand of justice." He ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh though. He was rather fond of his hair as well, but then he took good enough care of it for a male. "I'm sure though. What else did you hear around the water cooler three days ago?" He was still amused on how much she seemed to be paying attention to this office gossip if it was seemingly nothing. "And my broom is still in need of a good polishing, but then I can still do that myself. Ever find someone willing to get yours done properly?" He was trying not to smirk, but then it was far easier over the journals where she couldn't see his facial expression.

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-03-31 05:51 am UTC (link)
No, Penny although having a fair few interoffice relations managed to keep clear of anybody that would be considered unsavory or somebody she'd have to arrest the next day. She wasn't always particular about who she took home but she knew most of the known criminals just from working so much. Staring in to their angry eyes of mug shots tended to focus her when she was writing reports. Her annoyance for their petty crimes making her feel good about putting them away.

"I don't know if I disagree with that to be honest. They have their own customs and all, and they let the centaurs deal with their own when they transgress. Why not with the goblins? There's far more wizarding interaction with goblins then there is with centaurs. If one could regulate the Goblin system perhaps they should be allowed to do what they wanted" It was hard to decide that really. Goblins weren't the same as most magical beings in that they had a monopoly over a lot of wizarding money.

"Well Robard's getting a divorce. Though that's just Winchester talking out of his arse. He's a tendency to do that." She said once again idly. She paid attention because it helped her stay on top. To know information was to be able to use information. "Can't seem to find a good date to do it then?" She asked, not at all hiding her smirk. She didn't care how dirty the were could be, and if he knew it. "I haven't, but then again, you know where I've been spending all my time." She flicked her eyes upwards as if to signify her desk.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-04-01 04:36 am UTC (link)
"Well mostly because Goblins don't consider themselves "beasts" and didn't want to be considered such like the centaurs, mermaids and otherwise. But then it's also a wizard in question and they know what the goblins might do to him. I don't say that I agree that some species in this world get to decide for everyone. Might be more agreeable to it if goblins were working with wizards to decide punishment both would find fair. But they should be able to handle problems between each other reasonably without our interference." He was trying to be diplomatic about things, but then wasn't that supposed to be a good trait in a leader? And he still had plans of becoming a very good leader one day in the future. He was still a bit young to be Minister of Magic, but Head of all the Hit Wizards and Witches or even Magical Law Enforcement would suit him just fine.

"Ah Johnny... He does seem to have lost his brain in the middle of some fight in the past." Michael grinned a bit at that. Some of their co-workers could be rather ridiculous when it came to gossip. Plus there had to be some people that were rather bad to make the rest of them look rather extraordinary. "Well I'm sure Terry would if I asked him to. Just not sure it would be up to Ministry regulations and all. I can just do it myself if I ever get the free time. Could do yours too if you just asked." He probably should have gotten some coffee, but right now he was in the middle of a conversation.

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-04-01 04:18 pm UTC (link)
Penny could see him as a good Minister of Magic, at least in her opinion but she'd probably never admit that to him. Mostly because she knew it would go to his pretty little head. Penny wasn't one to give away compliments freely. However she still knew she wanted head of the department. She didn't aspire to more because she knew she could do what she was doing, better in that position, and really that's all she wanted. She listened to him though and nodded her head, not adding to that conversation.

"He's not so bad, he's good to have in a non-magical fight, strong and all." Penny shrugged. Penny wasn't all that built so when fights got physical she tended to not do so well. The conversation sounded so dirty in her mind she couldn't help but blush just a bit. Imagining Terry and Michael polishing their brooms. Oh god she couldn't..."That's nice of you to offer. I'm hoping that Morag will do a fairly good job on mine." She said hoping that it sounded just as dirty as what he'd just said. She was talking about her actual BROOM though.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-04-03 12:07 am UTC (link)
Yes, Michael Corner already had an ego that could possibly dwarf Russia some days. It was harder to exercise it though when she was around, and it wasn't just that she was far from free-wheeling with the complements toward anyone. She was completely better at the job than he was and could likely beat him at getting the promotion, but that was already a topic that shouldn't bring up when either of them was around.

"Well perhaps, but then you need brains as well as brawn to outsmart some of these guys." Which was one place he could at least beat her. The strength department was somewhere he was good, though surely not the strongest. He wouldn't dare challenge Winchester to a physical fight. "Or you could still just do it yourself since you should know it better than anyone. Every curve, knot and right where to put the polish to make it glow." He could very well have been talking about her actual broom as well, but it was more fun to try and at least prove her mind could be dirtier than his... Even if he was the one that said it.

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-04-03 05:56 am UTC (link)
Penny's ego wasn't so big, but then again most people didn't seem to understand Penny's high drive for excellence, especially when it came to herself. She'd admit it to anybody that she was good at what she did, but possibly because she was a woman, it wasn't considered to be an ego. Narcissism perhaps. A power female suit. She wasn't one to sit around and wait for something to happen, she'd do it herself. And she wanted that promotion, so yes, it was a good topic to avoid when the two of them were head to head for the exact same thing.

"Yes you do. I tried bulking up a few years ago, but I'm just not meant for it. I keep exercising though. Pays to be able to be fast sometimes." she said with a shrug. She was sure that Michael probably wasn't interested at all in how she kept fit, but idle chit chat kept them busy, and kept Penny from becoming too engrossed in a conversation about broomsticks masking as some pretty heavy sexual innuendo. "There's a great private muggle club just around where I live that has everything. Pool, work out room...it's handy to have in the winter months."

His conversation about her curves, knots and where to polish it to make it glow though...she tried so very hard not to blush but couldn't manage and just a hint of pink spread across her cheeks and neck. She hated that this tell tale sign was a give away, she rarely got flustered, she was usually so calm and cool. Most men, at least, from her experience wouldn't notice this change in her skin, but she was almost certain Michael would notice. He was too keen an eye for that. She finally came up with a suitable answer, "Perhaps I'll go up to my desk after lunch and take an hour and just give it a really good rub down." she said with a small smirk.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-04-03 05:08 pm UTC (link)
"Well much better to be able to chase someone than make it about half a block in London and be completely winded." He really preferred the broomstick talking, but then that was likely because he was sure he was winning the war of wits in that department. And he was just trying to keep from asking where exactly this club was just to see if Penny was more the sort for a one or two piece bathing suit. Of course he could probably ask, but that could be taken as sexual harassment and he was only doing that under the guise of talking about broomsticks.

Michael was trained to notice those sort of things though, deciding not to call her out on it and just smirking the slightest. Not that he was trying to watch Penny like he was interrogating her like a suspect, but watching people and trying to predict what they would do next was key. "I hear you can get a better angle on top of the desks. I've never actually tried it. A whole hour though?" His eyebrows raised a bit as he looked at her. "Are you trying to get sap out of it?

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-04-03 11:40 pm UTC (link)
"For an hour every other morning. It's how I get to work so alert and ready." she said with another smile. It was true, she ran more often then not, but she sometimes just couldn't drag herself out of bed. Those were the mornings when, if anybody noticed, she'd have an extra cup or two of coffee. Sometimes her evenings ran late, her eyes a little more tired then usual. She would stay up late in to the night reading or doing things around her flat, which was in constant mini-renovation if not sitting right upstairs at her desk doing work. She was constantly being told her overtime hours were getting to be madness.

They were both trained to notice those sorts of things, so Michael noticing didn't surprise her. "I like to make sure I'm very thorough. It's possible I might end up finishing and then starting all over, several times over just to make sure I'm completely satisfied." she said raising an eyebrow and studying him, unable to hold in her own smirk.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-04-04 04:39 am UTC (link)
If they had been on the subject of brooms, Michael would have about balked wondering why she would get up early just to do... That. "Well as long as something is keeping you fit. Not that you really need to worry about job security around here. They keep around people that might make you question as to how they got in in the first place." Though he rarely kept track of her coffee drinking on a day to day basis. He had plenty of his own work to do without counting how much she was taking.

"Well it's usually better for your broom to just do it right the first time, wouldn't you think?" This actually was getting easier to just toss back and forth without it sounding completely dirty unless you caught what they were actually talking about. "You might end up using too much polish and dry out your wood. Or have it changing colours to things it really shouldn't be."

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-04-04 04:53 am UTC (link)
She wasn't talking about her broom though, and so there was no reason to get in to a fluster about anything. "That's true. I think they need to stop selling junk food here in the cafeteria so that perhaps a few of those boys might not be so tempted. Or place in an exercise program." She commented thinking that, that might be a good idea when she became head of the department.

The conversation about the broom's was becoming a bit much for Penny. She shrugged. "I like it the way I do it. If anybody has a problem with it, they don't need to be anywhere near my broom is all." She said simply, crunching the napkin that had been on her lap and placing it on top of her plate. "So Michael, seeing anybody knew?" she asked slightly out of curiosity and a little because she wanted a topic change. She could only talk about masturbation for so long without it getting a bit old.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-04-05 09:57 pm UTC (link)
"Junk food is sadly cheaper than anything healthy. So the best choice is about to bring something from home or don't eat at all." Then there was a whole hour as long as you could apparate and get back in time. His mum had made him lunch when he was in training, but now he was far too old for that. "If you really put together a program though, how many people would actually show up for it?" And could she really require something like that? What would they do if you didn't want to?

Michael was just fairly sure he had won that one when she was running out of things to say. "Well as long as it makes you happy and you get a good ride out of it." There was just so much more that could be said about that though about tail hairs getting all kinky and in the way and that you didn't want to pull too many out while you were polishing... But keeping them clipped was usually a good idea. But if she wanted to drop it, then he was dropping it. Though it took a second to decide what to say that wasn't 'Oh no one for at least the last four-five months... Longer than that since I've shagged something other than my hand.' "Oh... No one special. You?"

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-04-06 06:17 am UTC (link)
"A head of lettuce, a tomato and a carrot to make a salad costs less then a meal at one of those horrible fast food restaurants. It's not cheaper, that's just people being lazy. Plus a head of lettuce, a tomato and a carrot will feed four people and one of those muggle meals feeds one." She despised that excuse that eating healthy was too expensive. It wasn't in the least. "I wonder if one to could make it mandatory to participate. If it was rewarded with something." She pondered out loud.

"About the same really." She replied. She hadn't really seen anybody seriously since the professor mind you, but Michael didn't need to know that. She was content with how her life was, and how complicated free it could be without any strings to anybody. She had to look out for herself and nobody else and that was...easy.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-04-06 07:18 am UTC (link)
"And I suppose the rumours of you having a cot here is completely false and you have plenty of time to make things like that salad in front of you?" He knew the cheap packaging anywhere though, but he was trying to make a point. They were all busily working people who didn't have much time to cook if they were capable of even doing it. Besides it would make a rather boring salad if that's all that was on it. What about dressing and all the toppings if not some other vegetables involved? Cucumbers? Red cabbage? All this seemed to be falling on deaf ears. "You'd about have to hold back their cheques to make half of them do anything slightly productive." He wanted a case though rather than just doing paperwork almost all of the time.

"You asking me out for drink there, Penelope?" He almost knew better, but since she had gone and asked and he wasn't doing anything currently. It might even be fun if she said yes.

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-04-07 12:25 am UTC (link)
Penny shrugged, "I still chose the salad when I could have chosen something not so good for me is the point. The choice is always available. Some people just use the money thing as an excuse. Or the time thing." She said making a point out of his point. "There's no excuse for abusing yourself by consuming that pre-packaged crap that people seem to love to put in to their body." She said with a shrug. Penny was pretty set in her ways on thinking like this. She wasn't going to concede to a point she didn't agree with.

Penny looked slightly surprised, that hadn't been her intention. She just knew he seemed to be, like her, perpetually single, not that, that bothered her. "If I was, would that be a shock?" she asked, amused.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-04-07 06:05 am UTC (link)
Michael decided against arguing with her. Whatever they were serving in the cafeteria, even if they did call it a salad, it couldn't actually be healthy. Somehow arguing next that the lettuce and everything else had probably been sprayed with every chemical known to muggle and wizard probably still wouldn't convince her... Because those were far from pre-packaged crap... It was easier just to smile though and just shrug a bit. Just let her think that she had won for now.

"I think it would be. Then you do seem the sort that would ask people out after work for a drink..." Michael looked over at her, almost studying her as if she was trying to figure out what her motive might be behind it. There had to be a motive after all, right?

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-04-07 06:46 am UTC (link)
"I seem the sort? What sort is that?" she asked, her eyebrows raised slightly. She wasn't sure she was a sort of anything to be honest. Well, she knew what sort she could be, but if he was thinking something negative, who was he to pass judgment on her?

Penny knew that she had a reputation and that didn't bother her, mostly. She had brought it on herself and she knew what sort of repercussions it had, but then again she was also known to be a ball buster that didn't take any sort of shit and she was good at putting people in their place and keeping them there. "And asking you out actually wasn't on my mind when I asked." She said after another moment. She didn't want him to flatter himself.

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[info]saintmichael
2008-04-07 11:16 am UTC (link)
"Well there are many reasons to be the sort to ask co-workers out for a drink. One would be to actually get to know them on more than just a professional level." Michael smiled at her at that, keeping it a clean smile as he didn't mean anything dirty by it. "Or there's the sort looking to see how well the others can hold their alcohol in hopes of eventually using that against them. Which could come in handy if you ever went to some of the Ministry events." In which case it could be used to drink the competition under the table as long as you didn't look like a fool while you were there. "Or the third, which is not the sort I was implying, that just want to get them into bed for any number of reasons." He had to almost bite his lip from adding in something else about broomsticks.

He offered up another smile at that though. "Ah, good then. I don't have to worry about you getting drunk trying to find my limit for you own personal gain."

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[info]hurryup_andwait
2008-04-07 06:24 pm UTC (link)
"I wouldn't try and find things like that out to use against you Michael..." she said with a shake of her head, toying with her hair curling it around her fingers slowly, thinking. "And as for getting to know you better, I wouldn't mind, but I know how busy we both seem to be working..." she said looking over at him and studying him carefully. She wasn't sure that Michael would make the time for something like that, with her anyway.

"I guess you don't have to worry about it then." She said with a shrug and a smile. She glanced at the time, "I should probably think about heading back up to my desk though, lots of work to do and all."

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