Another instalment of the Jonelias Magic AU!

Much, much love to the Jonelias discord server, and to everyone who reblogs this thing with comments in the tags. It’s incredibly motivating, thank you! <3

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

***

There were other jobs he could be applying for. The current arrangement kept him afloat but it did not pay very well, and tended to be dull, repetitive, and irritating. And, selfishly, Jon wanted a career, an opportunity to prove himself, and a chance to learn. He knew that about himself, at least.

“What about Gertrude Robinson?” Sasha asked.

“The Judiciary?” Jon grimaced. They were out drinking in a quiet part of town, away from the droves of tourists who plagued the city centre. “No. I have seen the way she runs the archives—”

“Not this again,” Tim said, with an exasperated groan. “You really have to let that go, Jon.”

Jon scoffed. He wanted a challenge, but he wasn’t a masochist. Or suicidal.  

“There are other opportunities though,” Sasha said. “The Lukases are offering an internship—”

“In Svalbard.”

“You could wear a warm coat,” Tim suggested. Jon had to fight a childish urge to throw a peanut at his head.

“No, he has a point,” Sasha said drily. “We don’t want Jon to die in a blizzard, Tim.”

“We don’t?” This time, Jon did throw that peanut. It bounced off Tim’s shoulder and fell down onto the table. “I’m joking, I’m joking. I know you’d rather stay cooped up in a laboratory or a library somewhere and never talk to anyone ever.”

“I’m here right now, aren’t I?” Jon said. He swirled the beer in his glass, momentarily mesmerized by the spiralling pattern of foam. “And you are not helping.”

“Well, forgive us for not spending enough of our time solving your problems—”

“Tim,” Sasha said.

“What?” Tim flashed her one of his infuriatingly charming smiles. “What did I say?”

Jon listened to their bickering for a while before his thought began to stray. Back in the arena, Master Bouchard had said Jon had been going backwards about his magic – what did he mean? Jon followed the instructions in the book to the letter. Still, he couldn’t get his magic to behave. And it wasn’t as if he could track down the man – it was bad enough that he had showed up to several of his lectures. Bad enough that Bouchard would notice his presence there, that their eyes would inevitably meet for a moment or two. They hadn’t spoken since that first time, though. They had nothing to say to one another. Well, not quite – Jon had questions. Master Bouchard just didn’t feel inclined to answer them.

“Jon?”

“Hmm?”

Sasha looked at him worriedly. “Are you all right?”

“You keep zoning out,” Tim added. “And you look like you haven’t slept in a week.”

“I sleep just fine, thank you kindly,” Jon said. “And I would appreciate it if you stopped commenting on my appearance. We can’t all be as lucky as you are.”

“By the Powers, Jonathan Sims is flirting with me,” Tim said. “Sasha! Sasha, did you hear that?”

“What—I wasn’t—” Jon spluttered out. He could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks. “I—I was—I was making an observation, that is all.”

“Yes, Tim. Don’t let it go to your head,” Sasha said, with mock seriousness.

“Much too late for that,” Jon muttered under his breath.

Tim was physically attractive. There was no denying it. He damn well knew he was. But he and Jon constantly got on each other’s nerves, and if it weren’t for Sasha’s mitigating presence, they’d quickly drop this pretence at friendship.

“Yes. Well,” Jon said. “I really should be going by now. Thanks—thank you. For inviting me.”

God it was awkward. He knew he was being awkward. He wished he knew how not to be.

“Another session in the training arena?” Sasha asked.

Jon paused, and narrowed his eyes. “How did you know?”

“I have my ways,” she said haughtily.

“Sure you do,” Tim snorted. “Actually, a friend of mine works there. He told me.”

“Why do you train in the middle of the night?” Sasha asked.

“Because it’s fully booked during the day and the private arenas are expensive,” Jon said. He didn’t want any witnesses to his embarrassing attempts at magic, thank you very much. It was bad enough that Master Bouchard had seen him.

“Shouldn’t you practice with a teacher though?” Sasha could be unbelievably stubborn when something piqued her curiosity; it was most inconvenient at times.

“Yes. He should,” Tim said. “He doesn’t have a licence.”

“I have a student licence,” Jon said.

“Didn’t it expire once you graduated?” Sasha asked.

“It did.” Tim snorted.

Jon slammed his empty glass on the table and rose to his feet, grabbing the bag and coat as he did. 

“Are you going to report me?” he asked sharply. “If not, then this conversation is over.”

“Relax, will you?” Tim said. 

“Yes, Jon,” Sasha said. “No one is thinking of snitching on you. But we are a little worried - isn’t it dangerous?”

“No. I know what I’m doing,” Jon lied.

“Nonetheless, I still think you should find a master,” Sasha mused. “Bouchard is looking for an apprentice, isn’t he?”

“He doesn’t take apprentices,” Jon said. Only interns, for a few months’ rotation in the Research Department, and a chance for a full time contract afterwards. And he had already rejected Jon. He didn’t need reminders of that.

“I heard he changed his mind,” Tim said.

“Good lord, Tim, will you stop repeating inane gossip?” Jon snapped. “I’m getting sick of hearing it sometimes.”

“I’m offering you valuable intel, mate,” Tim said. “You could stop being a dick about it.”

“Yes. You could,” Sasha added coolly.

“I—“ Jon paused, and sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

It wasn’t that outlandish, after all. You could not achieve the rank of Grandmaster without promoting another adept. If Bouchard was aiming for that title, if he wanted to stand amongst the likes of Fairchild and Reynart as an equal, he’d have to take someone on eventually. But—it seemed like such a hassle. And he was still comparatively young…

An apprentice. 

Why didn’t Jon know?

“Who did he choose?” he asked.

“No idea,” Tim said. “Would you like me to ask around, or have you had enough gossip?”

Jon glared down at him. For once, he had the height advantage on Tim; it was a rather enjoyable feeling.

“Please do,” he said.

Tim blinked. Slowly. Then his lips stretched into a smile, and he leaned back in his seat, giving Jon a thorough once-over.

“That bad, huh?”

“What?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Tim waved his hand dismissively. He looked like he was trying not to laugh. “Go do your exercises, Jon. I’m sure everything will be fine.”