In the (K)Night

Watching from the Edge of an Afterparty

The end of the week, and I finally head to one of the Intern afterparties at the Principle Mysticists Convention. I heard from Magister Parades and Kenneth about how much fun these parties could be, if you found your own ways to enjoy them. But quite frankly, they seem like basically any sort of party I could go to back home. Sure, the variety of people is a lot bigger, and there are way more languages being used casually, but the feeling of the party is essentially the same

J. Joseph

Jul 178 min read

Jase's Rooftop Smoking Break with an Old Friend

As I make it to the roof of the office, something seems odd. Tingly. A familiar feeling, but one I haven’t felt in a couple years. I let the door close behind me before I say, “So, who’re you here to kill, Therese?” From the shadows beside the door’s housing, my college friend walks out, holding a brown paper bag. “Rude,” she jokes with a straight face, “I rarely need to kill anyone these days.” I can’t help but laugh. For all her many, many faults, she can be quite funny i

J. Joseph

Jun 198 min read

Evaluation Day in the Middle of Finals Week

Administering a Final is exhausting, I can’t help but think as I make my way out. If I had more than three of these a year, I’m not sure how I’d manage. I make my way off campus, to a small restaurant that I lunch at most days I’m not working, just teaching. I have to get my lunch in rather quickly, as I set my evaluations meeting with my advisees for the two hour period between the eleven o’clock and the late afternoon finals. Josh and Zoe, who are my only two advisees that

J. Joseph

May 158 min read

Marshall Prepares for a Week of Administering Exams

Waking up in my lovely house, overlooking the Aegean, is a wonderful ritual every single day. I head on out to the balcony as I steep my tea, and stare out over the water. It helps relax me for the inevitable stress of having to deal with dumb and or terrible people all day. I breathe in the fresh sea air, and exhale. The egg timer back in my relatively small but seafront house’s kitchen goes off. It’s an old mechanical one. I trust the classics more than new stuff, in most c

J. Joseph

Apr 178 min read

Micah Being Confronted By Advisees

I wrap up my Observation 115 class early. They should be working on their projects this weekend, and it’s not like giving them more time will help much. One of my advisees, a freshman named Julio, pauses and raises a finger to garner my attention. I nod in acknowledgement. “A yes or no?” he asks. He has a question, though he thinks it’s a simple one at least. He’s wondering if I have time to answer. I don’t have anywhere urgent to be. “Go ahead,” I reply as I gather up my n

J. Joseph

Mar 208 min read

A Secret-Filled Argument between Qasim Ahmad and Paris Williams

I can’t stand my friends sometimes. Paris is sitting across from me, staring me down as Magister Holt is wrapping up our Principles of Mystic Theory: Metamystic seminar. “For Tuesday, remember to read the next chapter, and there are four articles on the site to read this weekend. And next Thursday, the sources for your final are due, so for those of you that are behind.” He looks intently at a couple of the other apprentices around the circle, “You don’t have time to goof off

J. Joseph

Feb 208 min read

Ali Meeting with her First Year Advisees after Winter Break

Jase has already left for work and I’m dressed, dined, and ready for the day by the time Nat rolls herself out of bed. She can’t complain this time, I scheduled my meetings at a reasonable hour. Albeit the day prior to classes actually starting back up, but she was already planning on being on campus today. She has some last minute prep things to do, and a meeting about some theory nonsense with one of her advisees. As Nat makes her way to our living room, I offer up the rema

J. Joseph

Jan 168 min read

Therese's Winter Break Investigation

It’s nine at night back at my Villa. And at Maestro Leyten’s. Things are happening that I am almost certainly missing. I am not a fan of missing things. But, this is far more important. He won’t let anything slip unless he’s unsettled. That’s, in theory, a part of his training these last two years. The best way to unsettle him is to be in person. Unfortunately, he lives in a warded dorm, which means I do not get to bring anything with me. Backdooring a vacancy in the wards to

J. Joseph

Dec 19, 20258 min read

What Lies Behind the Prickly Itch

I shouldn’t be here. Something is wrong. I can’t sleep. It’s three in the morning. There is this itch, just at the base of my neck, that won’t go away. Not in my apartment. Not on the campus. Always watching. Someone is always watching. Can’t sleep. I’ve tried talking to people. But my advisor doesn’t particularly like me, I don’t think. He sees me as irritating. As a bit dimwitted. Because I’m not an asshole about other people’s time. Speaking of, Heather also knows somethi

J. Joseph

Nov 21, 20258 min read

Greg and Elodie Compare a Year of Notes on the Situation

Waking up is always a slow process. Waking up after a long evening, that’s frequently even more sluggish. On days like today, where I don’t have to deal with the Basilica, normally I don’t really bother pushing myself, but I’ve got a meeting. And a meeting with someone who would realize such subtle details as me wearing the same clothes as yesterday. So, still half asleep, I force myself up and out of the semi-familiar apartment and back across the courtyard to my own. I do m

J. Joseph

Oct 17, 20258 min read

An MT215 Study Session

“Shit, I just noticed the time,” Magister Musaev says, as he hastily rushes back to his desk. “Next week, we will be moving into the...

J. Joseph

Sep 19, 20258 min read

Sierra Officially Entering into Maestrohood

It’s warmer than I expected it to be up here, I muse to myself as I finish the drive north and pull into the gravel parking lot. The...

J. Joseph

Aug 15, 20258 min read

Qasim Ahmad's Introduction to Magisterial Politics

Slowly, I walk into the large, central hall of the convention center. On my phone, I have the list I got of the different people who I am...

J. Joseph

Jul 18, 20258 min read

Quinton and His Study Group on a Road Trip

I sigh. Maybe accepting Jules’s offer of a road trip wasn’t the smartest idea. Benjamin Lee, Juliet Norris, Paula Prieto, and I all...

J. Joseph

Jun 20, 20258 min read

Waking Up for Evaluations

The alarm blares. It’s my second one. That means it’s really time to get up. I roll out of bed and hit the floor. My shoulder hurts a...

J. Joseph

May 16, 20258 min read

Greg and Kassidy Planning a Group Project

The lights are brighter here than my usual place, but I don’t really trust Kass. Not like that. Still, this place is good enough to meet...

J. Joseph

Apr 18, 20258 min read

Micah's Midterm Malaise

I settle into my office in the Villa’s administration building. Wednesday afternoon, which means after picking up my lunch from the...

J. Joseph

Mar 21, 20258 min read

Therese's Meetings After Office Hours

As the clock on my office wall ticks over to five in the afternoon, I stand up out of my chair. Office hours for today are officially...

J. Joseph

Feb 21, 20258 min read

Bloodied on the Beach

Pain. Blood across the sand. The warmth of the beach and soft sand slamming hard into my body. But that’s getting ahead of myself. It all...

J. Joseph

Jan 31, 20258 min read

Sierra's Final Start of Spring Semester Meetings as a Magister

Morning comes. My alarm goes off earlier than it normally does. Eyes, half closed, I slam down on the snooze as I look at the time. Way...

J. Joseph

Jan 17, 20258 min read