There are more scrambling noises from the circle. Gabriel's head vanishes behind the protection patterns. Blankenship ignores him, instead wandering towards your study area. Dr. Smith, the director of your fellowship, advised you to set up a good study area in your lab since your office is where you meet with students, discuss department business with other faculty, and in general do everything but work on pattern theory.
Some practitioners swear they can work anywhere. However, you've learned that you work best in a dedicated space. Before the school year, you set up a very traditional Victorian study. The Practicum formed in England during the early Victorian age, and traditional practitioners' styles haven't evolved much past that. Luckily for you, you're very comfortable surrounded by dark wood and richly colored rugs. You picked up a burr walnut pedestal desk, a captain's chair, a Tiffany-style stained glass table lamp, and a Persian rug.
You're still extremely pleased with how the various pieces of furniture work together. It's an excellent place to consider theoretical matters.
Blankenship nods at it. "You have a nice setup. But if we compress it, perhaps remove an item or two of furniture, then we can free up more space for my research."
Dr. Ellison eyes the lab space. It's not a large lab, and while you did your best to keep your setup compact, it still fills the room. "Upon reassessing the space, I am not sure it's suitable for sharing."
"Nonsense. That ring of protection patterns is surely larger than is strictly necessary."