right place, wrong time

[FITZWILLIAM GARDNER]

Moving three thousand miles away, or across the pond as most say, was not something Fitzwilliam ever thought he'd do. He ever thought he'd step foot on American soil at all in his life, even though traveling is much easier with magic. Still, he never had any desire to leave his home. That is until he knew he needed to get his shit together.

He hadn’t taken the decision lightly, though it was surprisingly easier to make than he thought. A colleague of his at the British Ministry told him that there were a few positions open and that the change would do him good. As much as he hated to admit it, Will had to agree. he needed to do something, or he was at risk of losing the last thing he had in his life, his job.

He got the job and immediately began preparing to pack up his life and move to America. Magic made it much easier than if he'd been a Muggle, and he was glad. He secured a small place not too far from the main branch of the Magical Congress in New York City. Before starting his post, he gave himself some time to get familiar with his new 'home'.

He had an appointment with the president and the head of his new department. That way, they could all get to know one another and get things started off on the right foot. Will knew he needed to make a good impression since he was sure there were a few black marks when they inquired to his previous boss. Thankfully, Will had enough years of impeccable service to make up for his more recent rough spots.

He walked into the building that would be his new 'home', and he paused for a moment. It was much different than what he was used to, and he took this moment to take in everything he was looking at. Barely a moment later, however, he felt someone crash right into the back of him. Will turned around faster than intended and found himself staring slightly downward at a striking woman who looked less than pleased to see him.

Will blinked for a moment and righted himself before opening his mouth to speak. "Were you never taught to watch where you were going?" he said in a rather dismissive tone. Perhaps he was being a bit hard on the woman, but he didn't care. He was in a new place and knew nothing of his new workplace. He was in a foreign world and he felt beyond uncomfortable.

MACHA O'KEEFFE - nudge for changes ♥

[MACHA O'KEEFFE]

A lot on Macha's plate needed to be taken care of. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. It seemed like she could be drowning in work, but as always, Macha was able to keep her head above the water. There was no choice, and Macha was there to lead her team and her people. There was no room for failure in Macha's eyes.

At her desk, she worked on the paperwork due for the day. Some of it is interesting some of it is dual. Some papers she wrote with her quill in hand, refusing some of the ideas that could hurt the community.

"Madam President?" A voice at the door said. Macha peered her head up to look at the door. "Just a reminder your meeting with the Head of the Department of International Magical Co-operation and the new hire in 30mins." Macha nodded her head. "Ok, I'll head down there shortly." At least no one would have to escort her there. It was the one good thing about staying in at the office. No one had to tail behind her.

Grabbing a few folders, her quill, and a notebook, she starts her journey to the Department of International Magical Co-operation. The head had many nice things to say about the new hire and asked her to see if she could meet them. To get off on the right foot, she remembered the head saying.

As she walked, she looked over the files inside. Even on the move, Macha was always working. She had to drop off a file at another department nearby and thought it would be best to do it before her meeting. Macha mumbled as she walked and read them over. Before she knew it, she had bumped into someone dropping her files not happy about what just happened.

"I'm so...." She paused, shaking her head in disbelief. There was an understanding to be upset, but no need to be this rude about it. "Excuse me?" Macha's tone was decisive. She knew it had been her fault, but as for apology, now that was out the door.

FITZWILLIAM GARDNER // Notes:

[FITZWILLIAM GARDNER]

He probably could have been a bit nicer about the entire thing, given the fact that he was sure it had been an accident. But he was already nervous enough to be meeting with his new boss and the new president of the Magical Congress. But how could she have been so blind as to not see him? He wasn't exactly a small man – not that he was large or anything, but had she always been that close to him?

The tone of voice she used when she finally spoke to him gave away that she wasn't pleased with the way he spoke to her. Still, that couldn't be helped now. She had walked right into him and he was certain that she owed him an apology. He had no idea who this woman was or what her position was within the Ministry – probably some secretary or something – and he didn't have time to deal with it.

"I should probably be saying that to you, Madame. You're the one who walked right into me as if I wasn't standing here," he said with a slight huff. Did she not realize she was the one at fault here? Why was she acting as if he had barreled into her?

MACHA O'KEEFFE - nudge for changes ♥

[MACHA O'KEEFFE]

Was this man serious? It wasn't like she had done this on purpose. No one just did that. Did they? Anyway, she shook her head. Who was this man? He for sure did not work for Congress. Either a visitor from the U.K. Ministry or a disgruntled citizen.

Macha let out a laugh of disbelief. This guy seemed to be something else. Even though she should have apologized but his attitude had driven her crazy. "Oh well, maybe you shouldn't be standing in a busy hallway when people are trying to get things done." She said, placing her hand on her hip and the files she had on her other side in hand. "After all, this isn't a museum." Her tone was sharp, making it very clear she would not give the man before her an apology.

FITZWILLIAM GARDNER // Notes:

[FITZWILLIAM GARDNER]

Will stared at her in disbelief when she looked at him with that face. Why was she implying that he had caused this purposely or even at all? He had just been walking through the doorway into an entirely different world than he was used to. He needed a brief moment to collect himself. It's not as if they had all been moving at a stallion's pace, and he slammed on the brakes.

Before he could say anything in return, she added that they weren't in a museum, her tone daring him to say something back. Will took a deep breath and then straightened out his coat. "I beg your pardon, Madame," he said to her just as sharply, his accent making it sound even sterner than it was said, "I hadn't realized a brief pause would result in being accosted by some secretary on a power trip," he added before he could stop himself.

He'd said the wrong thing there. He could tell that the moment the words were out of his mouth, but he couldn't take them back now. And he was sure she'd never forget that comment. He only had to hope he didn't see her much after this moment.

MACHA O'KEEFFE - nudge for changes ♥

[MACHA O'KEEFFE]

"Secretary on a power trip!?" Macha's voice almost yelled at the man in front of her. Was this guy serious? Was he living under a rock or a giant misogynist pig? So many thoughts ran through his head, and all Macha knew was she wanted to take an old fashion swing at him.

"Ha, very bold of you to assume that." Her arms were now folded across with a firm stance. Her voice back in control. Macha would not let this man have an ounce of pleasure in making her hot-headed. "And what if I was?" Macha inched herself closer to him. "What would you do?" Her head tilted, waiting for him to bite. If there was something about Macha, she never stood down from a fight.

FITZWILLIAM GARDNER // Notes:

[FITZWILLIAM GARDNER]

He didn't have time for this. Not even a few extra seconds. He had a meeting and didn't want this… woman getting in his way. Who did she think she was anyway- the bloody Queen of England? They weren't in Britain right now, so that didn't mean much anyway. But he still had somewhere that he needed to be, and he needed to end this quickly.

She didn't seem to take well to him calling her a secretary on a power trip. He was out of line when he said that; he knew, but he was too annoyed to care or to apologize. He'd regret this later, but hindsight was always 20-20. She told him that he was bold to assume that she was as he called her. Her arms were now crossed over her chest, and Fitz knew she wouldn't let him go as quickly as he'd like.

She then asked him what he would do if she were, as he said, a secretary on a power trip. She was challenging him, h knew it, but he didn't have time to engage her now. "Naturally, I'd inform your direct superior of your misgivings and then let him or her deal with it as swiftly as possible," he told her. What had she thought he'd do? Did they do things that much differently here than back home? "However, if it is done differently here, please, allow me to defer to your expert knowledge of the matter," he added unnecessarily.

MACHA O'KEEFFE - nudge for changes ♥

[MACHA O'KEEFFE]

Who was this guy? Well, it didn't matter. It was probably some pompous Brit who was on business here. Macha could stay and fight all day with him if she could, but time was running out. It was best she let this guy get his business done and get out. As Macha got ready to say something, she saw the large clock behind him. "Crap." She was going to be late. "Well, why I love to stay and argue with you more, I have to go to something actually important. Consider yourself lucky." She smirked and walked next to him. "I never back down from a fight." She gave him a tap on his shoulder and walked away from him.

With each step, Macha rushed faster to the room she was meant to be in. After all, she was on a schedule and other meetings after this one. "Sorry for my delay." She walked into the room, placed papers on the desk, and looked them over not noticing anything else.

FITZWILLIAM GARDNER // Notes:

[FITZWILLIAM GARDNER]

He did not have time for this nonsense. He was already over America and wanted to go back home, but then he was reminded of why he was leaving Britain in the first place and gave his full attention back to this annoying woman. All he wanted to do was leave this ridiculous conversation.

And, as it would seem, he was being given that out. She mentioned having something important to do and called him lucky because she never backed down from a fight. He arched an eyebrow at her, but said nothing as he began to walk in a different direction from her.

He found where he was supposed to be slightly late, but he admitted to getting turned around in the unknown corridors of M.A.C.U.S.A. he was shown to a room and he walked in. it was modestly decorated, a desk took up part of the room. No sooner had he sat down that the door opened and a female voice was heard. He stood immediately, his eyes moving to the entryway to see none other than the woman from earlier walking in, apologizing for her delay.

"It's not possible," was all he could say as he stared at her, his mind racing with many questions.

MACHA O'KEEFFE - nudge for changes ♥

[MACHA O'KEEFFE]

Moving the papers, she heard the new Magical Congress member say something odd. "What's not poss-" Looking up at her surprised was the man she had quilled with. What a small world she thought. Macha almost wanted to laugh but kept in.

"Have you two already met?" Asked the Head of the Department of International Magical Co-operation bewildered. "No...well, in quick passing but not officially." Macha leaned back in her chair with a smug smile.

"Well, I guess we can get started this is Fitzwilliam Gardener. He will be taking over the UK seat for us. Why don't you continue on Fitz? You can tell President O'Keeffe your story." Macha was dying to hear it. "Yes, please Mr. Gardener I love to hear more about you, oh wait, maybe I should get my secretary to write down some notes." Macha leaned forward filled her hands and smirked at Fitz.

FITZWILLIAM GARDNER // Notes:

[FITZWILLIAM GARDNER]

It felt as if the world tilted on its axis when she walked into the room. How on earth could the woman he'd run into earlier be the same person he now would be calling his boss? What were the odds? He barely heard the International Magical Cooperation head ask if they had met before – he couldn't keep his eyes off her, and he didn't like that one bit.

He blinked when she answered the question, and he forced himself to keep his mouth closed when she offered a smug smile as she sat herself down. He then turned to the thankful third person in the room as he got this meeting started. You can do this, Fitz, he told himself as he listened to his full name and the reason why he was here in the States being stated. He needed this and he wasn't going to let this infuriating woman muck it up for him.

But then he heard the prompt to tell his story and he suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Before he could even open his mouth, she was speaking and his entire body felt like it was going to explode. He knew he deserved the backhanded comment about getting her secretary – he had been in the wrong when he said that earlier, he was just having a bad day. He could have easily responded to her with sarcasm and contempt, but he knew that he couldn't start a new job already at odds with his new boss.

However, there was a third party in the room and he was not going to make a scene. He would have to seek her out afterwards to properly apologize for his misbehavior. "It was, in fact unfortunate, that we met unofficially before now, but it is a pleasure all the same, Madame President," he started with; that much, he could say in front of another person. "And as for my story, I'm sorry to say that there isn't much to tell," he then added, shifting in his seat to make himself even just a bit more comfortable for this.

"I found myself needing to leave England unexpectedly, and this opportunity presented itself at just the right moment," he told her. There was so much more to it than that, of course, but he was not about to divulge all of that to two strangers; granted, the department head knew a bit more than he would like, but he was still not going to talk about that right now. He barely knew her and he was sure she'd throw it in his face somehow, and he was in no mood for such teasing.

MACHA O'KEEFFE - nudge for changes ♥

[MACHA O'KEEFFE]

What a mysterious fellow. Short to the-point answers. The man in front of her was a completely different person now. I guess being the president did that. Many people did change how they acted when she was around or like in this case found out who she was. It came with the job title, no surprise. But she did hate it. She wanted to be treated like everyone else she never felt like she was above anyone else. At least her VP Bilbus Fittleworth didn't treat her any differently, he was quite honest with her. That's why she picked him for her VP.

Dating of course was off the table. Many people were put off or just liked that she had 'power'. It was too dangerous and after all, she was more concerned about making the lives of the magical people of the US better. It was the reason why she lost her only boyfriend.

Unexpectedly leaving England? That was odd she thought, well maybe not too odd after all she could see why the UK Ministry would want to push him out with that attitude he gave her earlier. "Unexpectedly?" Macha questioned him. "Anything that we should know about? I'm weary of the team I build here. I need people I trust and I don't want to have to worry about a spy in our midst." Macha didn't get the vibe from him but after their meeting, he did leave a bad taste in her mouth. "You can tell me some of your background work-wise?" She was just grilling him at this point usually these meetings were much friendlier and quite short.

FITZWILLIAM GARDNER // Notes:

[FITZWILLIAM GARDNER]

He had no idea if she would accept his response. He wouldn't give her his life story, not without earning the information. Though, given their first encounter, he was sure she'd never want to know more about it. Still, he wasn't going to divulge too much. When questioned if his unexpected departure from his homeland should cause for concern, he merely sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could understand why she was asking. He would've been concerned, too.

"I can assure you that there is nothing to worry about as far as me doing my job," he said, his tone having more of an edge than he would have liked. "And if my quality of work was that terrible, I wouldn't be sitting here defending it," he added as if that much was obvious. "It was determined that I needed a change in scenery. This post offered the perfect opportunity," he said.

"As for my work experience, I've been with the I.M.C. for thirty years. I've worked on four continents and in over seventy different countries, though the last five or so years I've been more stationary," he began, but then stopped as a sense of sadness began to take hold. The last few years had been hard for him, and he didn't want to go right now. "So, I thank you for the opportunity, and I promise I won't let you down," he told her, hoping she believed him.

MACHA O'KEEFFE - nudge for changes ♥