It was midday, and Viola was grateful for a break. Her job wasn't really difficult, per se, at least not on an average day, but sometimes it also included filling up her entire day's quota for talking to people by the time she'd finished her first cup of tea. And talking to people was objectively Viola's favorite part of the job, so that was really saying something.

When she entered the break room around noon, Vi was at least pleased to see a friendly face already there. "Was your morning as tiresome as mine was?" she asked Effie in lieu of a proper greeting. "I'm starting to think something's in the water."

---

“I am one more support owl away from disconnecting Mrs. Stanley’s fireplace from the network forever,” Effie said vehemently, sure that everyone was as well familiar with that name from her office’s sagas as she and her colleagues were, these days. (Hopeless and yet persistent Mrs. Stanley, who seemed to have a new problem with her Floo everyday, and yet who never seemed to learn how to use it in her eighty-odd years of life.)

But she shot Viola a wearied grin, taking a bite of her turkey sandwich as she gave her friend a chance to join her. And she could be first to air her complaints today; Effie had plenty, but she was happy to take it in turns. “You must be right. Could it be the new year? It’s given everyone some new resolve to be –?” She waved her hand, looking for a word to encompass it. Obnoxious?

---

Oh, Mrs. Stanley. Viola wished that she could blame her problems on the woman's age, but according to some of her older colleagues, she'd been like that for a long time. There was just no helping some people, apparently. "I don't know," Vi replied, "but it would certainly explain things." She sighed. [b]"They've definitely resolved to cause a lot of paperwork,, if nothing else."

---

“A Ministry-wide epidemic,” Effie muttered, with a long-suffering shake of her head. Clearly Viola had not been safe from it, if she was complaining about the paperwork only a few days into the new year.

“Have you already exhausted all your holiday goodwill?” she asked, teasingly – though she hoped Viola had had some time away from her desk over the festive season, and had returned with a little more patience. Or did coming back after time away only make things that much more egregious? It was hard to say.

---

Viola snorted. "I think I might be getting there," she said. In fairness, she hadn't really expected anything less. Maybe if she dealt with fewer people on a daily basis, she could have extended the good will a little longer. Alas. "I hope every year that they'll be better this time, and it hasn't happened yet."

---

“Well, let’s hope they learn their lesson by next week,” Effie said, which was probably wishful thinking. Once the first few days of the year, when everyone had lost their minds and seemingly all common sense, had passed, they might yet settle down.

She had quite as little goodwill left as Viola did, although – Effie considered, with a small twitch at the corner of her mouth – really she ought to be in better spirits this year. She was trying not to get too ahead of herself – trying not to tell too many people, or to think about having an escape route from the Ministry at some stage in the future – but, however she tried to be sensible, she felt fit to bursting with it. “And speaking of hopes,” Effie said quietly, scooting a little nearer to have a more private conversation, “I have – some news.”

---

"Oh?" Viola sat up a little straighter--and then ruined the effect immediately by leaning in. "Good news, I hope?"

---

She might have laughed at Viola’s evident interest, only she bit her lip to steel herself from it: she did not want to seem too giddy at her own good luck. Best to spit it out, as matter-of-fact as she could.

“You know Mr. Watson, of the Department of Mysteries,” she began in a low, conspiratorial tone, though that was scarcely a question: she had certainly mentioned him here and there before, since they had been as good as courting, if not in society’s showy manner. “Well – we are engaged.” Matter-of-factness just didn’t cover it, when Effie could hardly believe it herself.

---

"Oh!" Viola clapped her hands. "Oh, congratulations!" That certainly was exciting--perhaps especially for women their age, though Vi didn't feel in a particular hurry herself. "Have you made any plans yet?"

---

“No, not really,” Effie admitted, sheepishly – better not mention her abortive attempt to go wedding dress shopping, when they hadn’t settled on anything. She was trying, now, not to get swept up in any excitement – it was a practical move, she had to remind herself, as much as anything else – but Viola’s excitement on her behalf was hard not to indulge, just a little.

“I don’t want to frighten him off now, and make him change his mind,” she joked. Not that she thought Brooks would have taken such a formal step, if he weren’t fully committed. (He had been down the aisle before... well, almost... after all.)

---

"I'm sure you couldn't do that," Viola assured, because she was a good friend. "Though if you're worried, it could always be a short engagement." She said this last part in a teasing tone.

---

A short engagement! Effie shook her head at her friend, with a half-murderous, half-amused look. “Please. You know what people think of short engagements, and I should think we will be in no danger of that,” Effie murmured – the only reason to rush down the aisle was whether they were prematurely and scandalously expecting. No, their courtship had been nothing if not restrained, and the consummation had certainly been saved for after their vows (and indeed, was the part of being married Effie was rather most concerned by). Effie was quite happy not to rush into anything, she thought – even if, once she was a wife, she might be able to do away with her Floo Network job entirely.

Better change the subject, in case Vi went digging for more non-existent gossip in her engagement. “What about you? Have you an eye on anyone yet?” Effie asked, a little teasing in turn. She didn’t know if Viola wanted to marry, seriously, but – when one had to work for their living, it had always been a worthwhile daydream.

---

Viola shrugged, though she did know what Effie meant. It wasn't a concern without merit--being on the wrong side of gossip was insufferable at best.

"Oh, no," Vi said, sighing. "I'm afraid not yet." She'd never been in a hurry, but now spinsterhood was creeping in anyway. As with most things, she didn't know where the time had gone. "Perhaps Mr. Watson has friends you can introduce me to," she added teasingly.

---