sit down at the typewriter and bleed

-shakes her head with a somber expression on her face- I couldn’t imagine working at the Prophet like you do. I mean, it’s hard enough for me, watching the cases come through and then just… -clears her throat- go cold. But, well, to have the information and the stories on your desk and then to be told you aren’t allowed to publish them? They’re actively forcing you to withhold the truth, it’s—it’s—well, I just couldn’t handle it. You must have more patience than me… -shrugs and sighs a bit, sitting down? on a couch? near them? (where are they???) with a frown- Yes, you remembered correctly. -smiles at him for a moment as if to say thank you for being thoughtful enough to remember that information- It’s just exhausting, you know, dealing with all of that negativity all of the time, with everything going on. And, well, I’m only a mere secretary after two years, and so there isn’t much I can do to help anything either—no, I guess it really isn’t what I was expecting, is all. I thought that I might actually be making some sort of difference, like my father did. -sighs softly and shrugs again, trying to perk up a bit- I’m grateful to be there, though. It’ll end up getting me where I’m meant to go, I’m sure. -laughs at his expression and blushes a bit because it was her bad joke that he’s now kindly trying to continue- I’m sure everyone in your office would love that. -grins and looks down, pushing her hair out of her face again, because she’s just embarrassed at this point-

It's -- definitely proven to be a test of my patience, but I've a feeling that that patience may break if I'm told to push aside another report on a series of mysterious deaths in-- in Dorset, or some place, and work on an article about the captain of a Quidditch team a few more times. -they can be at the ministry someplace within its walls bc fionn could be visiting his only bff jake and u kno sits next to her, a little fidgety b4 forcin himself to stop- I'm-- uh, good at remembering things. In fact, I've a harder time forgetting things than recalling them. -nods as she's talking- I-- Yes, I understand. I've... always assumed that Ministry work is rather, er, grueling and exhausting. But, um, it's-- it's like you said earlier, about things taking time before they... end up the way you wish them to. And you're a very, uh, smart and capable woman. I'm sure you'll find yourself making a difference, in time. Besides, even a secretary could make an impact. It seems that it's a lot of the higher-ups that have a problem with change. -nods more quickly- Yeah, exactly. Er-- that. Yes. -laughs breathily- It would certainly earn me a few more looks than I'm used to. -clears throat and looks around quickly- I'm not-- keeping you from anything, am I?

-nods emphatically as he speaks, responding right away in that enthusiastic way people do- And the sad thing is that they’re not even afraid of the right things… Everyone is so concerned with diplomacy that they’ve all completely ignored the real threat, and so the people—the regular wizards and witches, you know, who don’t have connections to the Prophet or the Ministry—they know nothing about what’s really happening. It’s…it’s honestly so morally wrong, the way they cover things up. I can’t stand it. -huffs and then sighs deeply, trying to calm herself down, and says more quietly and with a slight guilty expression- You’re not the only one who isn’t exactly in love with their job. -smiles and then gets kind of startled by the mention of her father again, but just looks down, still smiling- Oh, thank you. He…yeah, he really was. -looks back up to see him mess with his sweater and smiles in that ‘aw he’s so endearingly adorable’ kind of way- Well, good. Maybe I’ll get you a particularly fashionable yet questionable jumper for Christmas, and you can wear that on your more professional days.

-noddin p fervently bc y e s someone who gets it- Yes, yes, exactly. Not that I'm, you know, completely and thoroughly informed on everything that is happening, but we do see the stories coming through the office, so I'd like to think that I've enough, er, knowledge to grasp the danger. It's-- frustrating; having things held back from you or watching things get held back from others without the power to-- to help or without the power to help all the much. -frowns a little, opening his mouth then closin it- Um. Are things... not what you hoped they'd be? At the Ministry. Department of Magical Law Enforcement, if I remember correctly. -eyes widen a lil bit and clears his throat again, cheeks turnin a lil pink before realizin that she's joking and laughing a little shakily- Ah, right. Yes. Perhaps, um... one with Father Christmas on it. That's rather professional, yes?

-smiles at him as he talks, listening to him and just watching as he gets more excited, which makes her smile more- I think it’d be wonderful work for you, honestly. I mean, my father, he really loved getting to the truth of the matter—he couldn’t stand working at the Prophet because everything is on a leash—that’s what he used to say—you couldn’t just write the honest truth because of all the politics of it. -she’s talking faster now too- He just found what he loved to write about and then dedicated his life’s work to it, and honestly, I don’t think he had any regrets in the end. I’m not sure what your passion in the writing field is, of course, but if you write what you love…people can see that, it’s clear on the page, you know? And once you’re well-known in that area, you’re always going to have work, because people will know that you’ve got something inside of you that a lot of writers have forgotten all about. -stops and takes a deep breath, kind of wide-eyed because she didn’t mean to say so much and hardly ever talks for that long- Sorry, got a bit…carried away there. -chuckles softly- Well, actually, I was going to tell you that it was rather refreshing, not seeing such a professionally dressed person for once. Although I’m sure that would be the sensible thing to do. -smiles at him kind of playfully-

-blinks and outright smiles- That-- -lets out a sharp breath and still grinnin u know- That sounds fantastic. Really. I mean, everything is so-- so-- Everyone's afraid. At the Prophet, at the Ministry, everywhere you, uh, go. So many people're afraid of the truth and of saying or hearing it, but this-- it needs to be said and heard; talked about and widely known and Plum is just... He refuses to put it on the front page and sticks it in some obscure corner in the middle of the paper that people're likely to bypass on their way to the cartoons or the sports section. It's ridiculous. -takes a breath because ramblin and all flushes and still smilin- Oh, no, you haven't got to apologize. I, er, have the tendency to get carried away quite often, so I can't hold it against you. But your father-- He sounds like a brilliant man. -looks down at the sweater again, picks at a loose thread then drops his hand and clears his throat- Well, er, bollocks to the sensible thing, yeah? -looks back over at her and smiles a little more hesitantly- The, um, questionable jumpers'll stay, as long as they remain... refreshing.

-smiles sympathetically at him- You just have to work your way to the place you want to be, Fionn. Takes a bit of patience and determination, but I’m sure you’ll get to a position that makes you happy, even if it isn’t at the Prophet. Though—what exactly would you do at the Ministry? I was thinking more along the lines of a free-lance writer. I could see you doing that, sort of like my father did. -smiles at him very genuinely, because talking about her father and his work makes her very happy- Oh, you’re welcome… -chuckles softly- Well, we can’t always make our hair do what we want it to—at least our wardrobe we have full control over, hm? And yours suits you nicely.

I-- don't know, really. Possibly the Department of Magical Education or the, um, research committee. Something... sensible. -grimaces- My parents've sort of... embedded this-- -huffs, smilin a lil humorlessly- this need to do the sensible thing, over whatever else there is. Or, well, programmed a voice that constantly reminds me to be logical and weigh out my choices; do what guarantees a more positive and financially stable outcome. -opens mouth then closes it- Do you think so? -starts grinnin more genuinely and talks a lil quickly- I mean, it's something I'd-- I'd absolutely love to do, you know? Just... bin all the fluff pieces I've got to work on, forget the so-called "sensible" choices, and just-- just write. -flushes bc wow lookin p cray- I mean, in an ideal world, that'd be... I'd do that. I'd love to do that. -laughs and fights the urge to tug at the neck of his jumper tbh- Um, thank you. Again. I suppose I ought to, er, take on more of a professional look, though.