Chapter Text
Ivy smiled as she stepped into her new office and worked on setting up her desk before her assistants arrived. Once they arrived she would have a meeting with them about organizing the Archives, however before then she would need to have her office set up.
She began to unpack the bag she brought with her, setting two framed photos on her desk. One of the photos is of Ivy and her partner Ashes sitting on their couch with their cat, The Quartermaster, or Quarter for short, on Ivy's lap. Ivy is wearing a nice long sleeved red dress while Ashes is wearing a black button up paired with a black vest with intricate red designs on it as well as black dress pants. Ivy is smiling warmly, while Ashes has a small smile on their face, though it is obvious to those that know them well that they’re quite happy.
The second photo is of a group of people all sitting on the same couch and seems to have been taken just moments after the first photo. On Ivy’s left are two women, each with an arm around the other. The woman closest to Ivy, Aurora, has curly hair that is almost white with light blue and light purple highlights throughout it. She’s wearing a nice long sleeved purple dress and there is a bright smile on her face. Next to Aurora is her wife Nastya wearing a nice blue button up paired with a blue vest with intricate dark blue designs and a pair of black dress pants, there is a small smile on her face. On Ashes’ right are two people with their arms around each other. The closest to Ashes is Nastya’s brother Jonny, who is wearing a white button up with the first button left unbuttoned paired with a brown vest and brown dress pants, he has a small smile on his face. To his right is his partner Lyfrasssir or Lyf whose hair is an almost gold color with brilliant rainbow highlights and is styled in intricate braids. They’re wearing a white light up button up paired with a white vest with intricate rainbow designs along with a skirt with similar designs on a white base. Lyf has a bright smile on their face.
The photos are from a small celebration that the group had that weekend for Ivy to celebrate her promotion to Head Archivist. After setting up the photos Ivy fished out a coaster from her bag and set it on her desk. She retrieved a mug that Aurora had bought for her as a gift and brought it with her out of her office, setting it in the Archives break room. The mug was a nice red color with books on it, the title of one read, “Head Archivist Ivy Alexandria”. Smiling Ivy returned back to her office before fetching a small gold plaque that Ashes had gotten engraved with her title and name on it before securing it to her office door.
Satisfied with her progress Ivy left the Archives and walked up to the first floor where she saw Aurora and Nastya chatting at the front desk as the pair usually did before work officially started.
Ivy smiled and greeted her friends, who each responded with their own greetings before Aurora smirked and began telling Nastya and Ivy what she had heard so far that morning.
“I was looking through the memos that Elias wants me to give out today and I’ve figured out who he’s assigned as Ivy’s assistants in the Archives.”
Ivy raised an eyebrow at Aurora, a silent go on gesture, curious as to who she would be working with.
“Ivy’s got three assistants from what I can tell. One is Brian from the IT department, another is Marius from research, and finally, Raphaella.”
As soon as the name left Aurora’s mouth Nastya frowned.
“Raphaella? As in Raphaella La Cognizi? One of my best workers in Artifact Storage?”
“The very same.”
“Eliass couldn’t even tell me ahead of time about the transfer? That rat bastard.”
Ivy nodded before speaking, a realization dawning on her.
“I have Raphaella and Marius? I thought that it was agreed they would never work in the same department together after what happened last time and he’s given me both of them?”
Aurora gives Ivy a small smile and a nod while Nastya chuckles at her for a moment before speaking.
“Good luck with both of them, if you need to get rid of one of them for a few hours send Raphaella over to me will you?”
Ivy chuckled slightly before agreeing.
The trio spoke for a few more moments before Nastya and Ivy returned to their departments, Nastya with a notice for Raphaella to grab Marius and head to the Archives and Ivy to double trouble proof her Archives and to begin organizing them.
About half an hour later while she was organizing boxes that were left in her office by her predecessor Ivy heard a knock on the door and looked up to see Brian, who she had met a few times as he had fixed a few computers in the library before, smiling with her mug in his hand. She smiled and nodded towards her desk, where he set the mug on her coaster before speaking.
“Hey Ivy, sorry I took so long to get down here, I wasn’t notified that I was transferred down here until Aurora told me when I came in this morning.”
“You’re quite alright Brian, I already spoke to Aurora this morning and was notified both of who my assistants are and that they didn’t get any warning before today of the transfer. Feel free to set up your desk while we wait for the other two to get down here. Raphaella and Marius should likely be down shortly.”
Brian began to nod before pausing.
“Raphaella La Cognizi and Marius Von Raum? Weren’t they banned from working in the same department?”
“They were, yes.”
“And now they’re both going to be working in the Archives?”
“Correct.”
“Stars help us, alright. Can I move the desks around in the bullpen?”
Ivy chuckled a small bit before nodding.
“I don’t see why not.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course Brian. Please do inform me when Marius and Raphaella arrive. I wish to have a meeting with the three of you.”
“Will do.”
With that Brian left and Ivy was once again alone in her office to sort through the mess that Carmilla left behind.
Ivy looked at the time and noticed a text from Jonny.
Jonny to Ivy
Jonny: Good luck on your first day Ivy
Ivy: If Carmilla is alive I’m gonna kill her.
Jonny: She probably isn’t, she went missing a while ago, though you never know
Jonny: Why are you murdering her?
Ivy: The Archives are an absolute mess!
Ivy: I can’t work with these conditions and Elias expects me to start digitizing today?
Ivy: No, he can wait until the Archives are organized correctly.
Jonny: Good luck Ivy
Ivy: Thanks Jonny
Ivy: Have fun at work
Ivy: Don’t forget you have lunch with Nastya today
Jonny: Yep! Ashes taking you for lunch?
Ivy: They are, yes.
Jonny: Have fun
Ivy: Don’t die
Jonny: I won’t
Ivy smiled slightly as she set her phone down to see Brian stood in the doorway of her office.
“Raphaella and Marius have arrived, please come out here before they live up to their title of double trouble.”
Ivy chuckled before nodding and following Brian to the assistant bullpen where Raphaella and Marius were chatting, Marius trying to set up his desk while Raphaella sat on her own desk a few feet away, chatting away happily. Brian’s desk was as far away from Raphaella and Marius’ desks as possible, which Ivy almost chuckled at.
Ivy cleared her throat before speaking.
“Hello, I’m Ivy Alexandria, the new Head Archivist.. We’ve been asked by Elias to digitize the Archives, and while we will do that eventually, I would like to start by organizing the mess that is the Archives first. Statements are not to be stapled together, in fact if I find a stapler down here I will send it up to Aurora, as hers always tend to go missing. No staples. I will be ordering paper clips, which we will use instead. The statements will be organized by date, any artifacts with the statements shall be photographed and then sent up to Nastya in Artifact Storage. We will have staggered lunch breaks so that there is always someone at the Archives during work hours. Raphaella and Marius, you both will take your lunch breaks from noon until 12:30, as I assume you will wish to have them together at least every once in a while. Brian and I will take ours from 12:30 until 1. If anyone wishes to trade times for a day, do ask someone in the opposite time slot and notify me of the change. Feel free to set up your desks until lunch. After your desk is set up please join me in document storage. If you must set alarms for when your break starts feel free to do so, however please only have one of your devices with an alarm set at a low volume and please warn Brian if you have an alarm set so you don’t startle him, thank you. Any questions?”
It was Marius who spoke first.
“Are we able to play music while we organize, or would you prefer we use headphones?”
Ivy stopped for a moment and thought before taking a sticky note out of her pocket and scribbling her phone number on it, handing it to Brian for him to do the same. Once he had done so she handed the post-it to Raphaella, because she trusted Raphaella more than she did Marius.
“Those are Brian and I’s numbers, please do create a group chat for more efficient communication. I will start a playlist and send the link to the chat so we all can have songs we enjoy on it for cleaning. If the music gets too much, please speak up and we can either turn on classical music or turn it off for a bit.”
Marius smiled at her before speaking.
“Thanks boss.”
“Of course, I quite enjoy music and see no problems in having it played during the organization process. Are there any other questions?”
It was Raphaella who spoke next.
“Why is Brian’s desk so far away from Marius and I?”
Ivy looked at Brian, who shook his head at her before speaking.
“You both are lovely in your own right, however I am terrified of you when you’re in the same room.”
Raphaella and Marius both burst into laughter before Marius spoke.
“Okay, that’s fair.”
Ivy nodded before speaking.
“If that’s all I will be heading to my office.”
There were no other questions, so Ivy returned to her office and began working on a playlist for her and her assistants. A few moments later she received a text.
Archives more like Gaychives
Marius: :3
Brian: I’m regretting this already /lh/j
Raphaella: Hehehehe
Ivy: Please don’t use this chat too often during work hours after lunch today, though I don’t expect us to get any work done before lunch today.
Ivy has sent a spotify link
Ivy: I can and will veto songs by the way.
Brian: Sounds fair
Raphaella: :3
Marius: Sounds good!
Ivy continued to sort through the things Carmilla left behind. Brian came to join her while Marius and Raphaella left to pick up their lunch, promising Brian to bring something back for him, the three of them planning to eat together in the break room for the day. The pair had offered to pick up something for Ivy, however she politely declined, informing them that she had plans to have lunch with her partner.
At around 12:30 Ivy was interrupted from her cleaning by Aurora knocking on her opened office door.
“Ivy, there is someone waiting for you upstairs, I was planning to send them to fetch you, however Bouchard is hovering around the front desk today.”
Ivy stood, smiling as she followed Aurora, telling Brian on her way out that she was taking her lunch before following Aurora to the lobby where Ashes is stood next to Aurora’s desk.
On her way to Ashes Ivy is interrupted, as Elias steps in front of her with a cold smile on his face.
“Miss Alexandria, may I speak with you for a few moments?”
“Apologies Mr. Bouchard, however you have caught me on my way to my lunch break. I can meet with you after my lunch break is over and my assistants have been given their next task. Until then I am unable to meet with you.”
“It will only take a few moments-”
“As will you scheduling an appointment and having Aurora put it on my schedule. Goodbye Mr. Bouchard, I am currently on my lunch break and would like to spend it eating instead of chatting, thank you.”
With that Ivy turned and began to walk out of the Institute, smiling as she felt Ashes’ arm wrap around her waist as they appeared beside her, a smirk on their face.
“Good job dearest, now, let's head out to lunch, shall we?”
“We shall.”
Ivy and Ashes walked to their car, Ashes opening the door and motioning for Ivy to get in first before ordering the driver to drive them to a nearby cafe that Ashes knew Ivy enjoyed.
Ivy smiled at her love, answering a question they had yet to ask.
“I’ve gotten to meet my assistants today.”
“You did? How many?”
“Three of them. Raphaella La Cognizi- yes Nastya’s Raphaella, no Elias didn’t tell her before today. Marius Von Raum- yes I have both halves of double trouble, no I do not know why. And Brian Drumbot, he’s nice, brought me a lovely cup of tea as a greeting this morning.”
“Three? I heard from Jonny that you were complaining about the state of your Archive.”
“I was. It’s horrendous! Carmilla did not organize anything!”
“If it’s that out of shape shouldn’t Elias give you more assistants?”
“He should, however he is a stingy man. It’s quite alright though, we’ll spend the first week or two organizing before we start digitizing everything.”
“If you need any extra help, give me a call, I’ll have a word with your boss and see if at the very least he’ll allow me and a few others to help you organize your archive. You know I have strings I can pull if needed.”
“I will.”
“I’d love to meet your assistants, maybe dinner at the end of the week? We can go to that pub that you and Jonny enjoy.”
“Ashes are you planning this as a way to meet my co-workers in a friendly way or an overprotective way?”
“Yes.”
Ivy sighed, she didn’t know what else she expected from Ashes.
“I’ll have to ask them if they have plans.”
“Lovely! I’ll-”
“However, I do have a request.”
“Of course dearest.”
“No security, I do not want you intimidating my assistants.”
“How about two security guards?”
“Ashes.”
“Alright, what about Jonny and Nastya?”
Ivy thought for a second before responding.
“Lyf and Nastya.”
Ashes paused for a moment, and seemed like they were about to counter offer once more before responding.
“Deal.”
“Lovely! I’ll be sure to inform them later today.”
Ashes smiled at Ivy for a moment as the car slowed to a stop outside of their destination. The pair entered the cafe to find Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere, three of Ashes’ most trusted security team members, standing around a table with two glasses on it already, a waitress on her way to the table with Ivy and Ashes’ favorite meals in hand.
Ivy walked besides Ashes, ignoring the glances and stares that always came her way, especially when she was in public with Ashes. Ashes waved the trio off and they went to sit at a table in a corner where they could easily see and get to them if needed.
Their lunch was a quiet one, they spoke about things they had read recently and things that their friends had done while they ate. After they were finished Ashes paid for their food and returned to their car to return to the Institute so that Ivy could continue her shift.
Archives more like Gaychives
Ivy: Hello, apologies to disturb you three, however my partner has asked if you three would like to come to dinner this Friday to meet them, as they are quite interested in meeting my assistants. Nastya and Lyfrassair (a good friend of ours) will also be in attendance. I was planning to wait to ask until I returned, however they are being impatient.
Marius: Raph and I can go, we don’t have any plans Friday night :)
Raphaella: It’ll be nice to see Nastya outside of work!
Brian: I should be able to attend :)
Ivy: Lovely!
Ivy: Transportation will be provided, because Ashes insists upon 1) doing this at a (nice) pub and 2) that any pub outing is easier with one car, as it ensures everyone gets home safely
Marius: Sounds good!
Raphaella: Alright :3
Brian: Smart.
Ivy returned to the Institute shortly after texting her Assistants and the four of them spent the rest of the work day listening to music and organizing the Archives, a task that would take them a few more days to weeks to complete.
Ivy and her assistants all packed up to leave a little after 5pm, Ivy smiling as she entered the car where Ashes sat, a smile on their face.