gooseberryhigh | SLEEP UNDER THE STARS

SLEEP UNDER THE STARS

Ms. Whittle and Mr. Thorn are waiting outside of Coppertale for students to show up for the outdoor sleepover. Everyone checks in with both their prefects as well as staff, and if Ms. Whittle's a bit lax, Mr. Thorn is definitely not.

The sky is clear, and with each passing minute the stars get more and more impressive. Almost hypnotizing. It's a warm, pleasant night, perfect for camping. You should feel plenty safe, considering how many Aurors and teachers are out looking after you. In fact, it seems like even Anon is present, although his appearance seems to upset the Aurors. It's only thanks to Mrs. O'Hare that they agree not to chase him away.

Riley Stamper stays up into the early hours of the morning having an intimate conversation with Chloe Shepherd. However, the next day learns that their conversation partner was either not in attendance, or asleep the whole time.

Hazel Keating is up very late watching the stars, their friends having long since fallen asleep, when movement in the nearby forest catches their eye. It's a group of what must be people, three or four of them, but they're moving oddly, and their proportions are hard to make out in the shadows. They giggle and whisper, and when they see someone watching them, they gesture for the student to join them. "Look what we found," one says in the voice of Micah St. Clair. "Come on. Look. We found something really interesting. You'll like it." There's the sound of crunching leaves, and the figures freeze unnaturally. Too still. Through the trees, the bright white shape of a moose approaches, lowering its antlers meaningfully. The figures waste no time scattering into the woods noiselessly.

The student feels a wash of Anon's petulant annoyance with the mimics, like he's a young prefect on duty, before he returns to his patrol.

RULES

Everyone will check in at 10:00 PM in the flower fields outside of Coppertale. They must also check in with their prefect. If you fail to check in with both in a gambit to sneak off somewhere else, you'll be in trouble.

There will be June constellations visible. Astronomy students can point them out with ease.

There will be hot chocolate or lemonade available, and some light snacks, but everyone is assumed to have eaten dinner earlier.

You may sleep near anyone you like. There are also tents available if you don't want to be exposed to the elements, in which case those sleep up to four.

Ms. Whittle has convinced Mr. Thorn to not stop young couples who are clearly just here to make out under the stars. Don't get frisky, though!

Attendance is optional, but Astronomy students can earn extra credit for attending.

Everyone will be woken up early at 9:30 at the latest, and breakfast will be served in the lodge.

» STARGAZING: Before going to sleep enjoy the beautiful stars and look for some constellations. Alternatively, tell a cutie that the brightest stars are the ones you see in their eyes. ♥

» ANON'S APPEARANCE: There are so many more Aurors around than there used to be, and it's the same case tonight. This would be fine, ordinarily, but tension grows when the shape of a slim, white moose is seen wandering through the trees around midnight. Mrs. O'Hare gets into a hushed argument with the highest ranking Auror, demanding they leave Anon alone.

» GOODNIGHT: Quiet time is at 12:00 AM, so settle down in your sleeping bag or grab a tent. You may sleep near whoever you wish, but tents only sleep four at a time.

» OOC: QUESTIONS, COMMENTS & CONCERNS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nature has always relaxed Lachlan, helped him to pause and take a breath and stop thinking so much, and tonight is no exception. Half-dozing and looking up at the stars with one hand hooked behind his head, he glances over when Yancey speaks and smiles brightly. His eyes shift briefly in the direction of the teachers before he returns his attention to the other boy and whispers, teasing right back, "You should know better than to ask that."

Mimicking the maneuver he hadn't seen Yancey use, he rolls onto his side and drops his head onto his pillow, further closing the distance between them. Then he adds, "What're you thinkin' about, then? If not Hermetical formulas."

His gaze tracks upward, to the sky, and he tilts his chin up just a bit to get a better look. "Mmm, y'know, stars," he mumbles, noncommittally, letting his chin fall back against his hands. His tone softens, goes a little careful. "Finals." A breath, like a sigh. "Everything that comes after finals."

Yancey laughs, a little sheepish. "Maybe I could stand to think a little more about the actual classwork, eh?"

Edited (the icon browser hates me) 2018-06-14 00:36 (UTC)

As beautiful as the stars are tonight, Lachlan doesn't believe Yancey's initial claim for a minute and he waits quietly until the other boy continues, his own features softening a little with the weight of the words that follow. Classwork and finals are definitely worth worrying about and he won't fail to give either the necessary attention until it's all done for good. But after...that's the part it's still hard to wrap his head around.

"I thought we came out here to unwind," he chides softly, "You're as bad as me." After a pause, he reaches for the other boy's hand, considers diverting the conversation back to after, then asks instead, "What've you got left? Only two days of class now. It cannae be much."

Yancey moves his arm out from under him, finding Lachlan's fingers with his own to twine them together. "Just the hard stuff left," he says, only lightly whiny and half-joking. "Transfiguration and Potions." A crooked smile cracks his expression. "You're right, you're right. It'll be fine, though."

He shifts around, evidently having trouble getting comfortable. "So, you're in astronomy, yeah? What're the stars saying tonight?"

"Aye. I am. But we can work on it together if you want?" Lachlan offers, hoping to lighten the other boy's mood a bit, "Transfiguration isnae my best subject either but I know Potions. And I just had three hours workin' with Addy, so some of her brilliance may still be hangin' around."

At the question, he pauses and his light eyes flit upward briefly before produces a sheepish smile, "I'm in Astronomy, not Astrology." Then he's quiet for a moment, stealing another glance up at the stars. Each in its proper place. Each bright. He's not the poetic type, but it's not hard to find some reassurance in that. "But...somethin' good. I think."

This is embarrassing as soon as he hears himself say it aloud and turns his face a bit more into his pillow.

Not that it would be too loud to begin with, but Yancey tucks his face into the crook of his elbow to muffle a laugh at Lachlan's embarrassed reaction. "You're adorable," he says against his arm. The way his eyes wrinkle at the corners give away his smile.

"Can always use a study buddy," Yancey goes on. "Hopefully there are good things in the future. Studying'll probably help with that. Especially, ah, if it's with you, yeah?"

Lachlan groans quietly and momentarily buries his (adorable??) face completely against his pillow, staying that way while heat rises in his cheeks. He knows the other boy is teasing him. But still. The talk of studying prompts him to look up again, though. "You should be nice to your study buddy, you know," he warns softly and without any hint of genuine menace, "I might lead you astray otherwise."

Another laugh, this one a little louder and covered up by a fake cough, escapes Yancey. He moves his arms so his wide grin is visible, mischievous. "Oh yeah, huh? Where, exactly, do we plan on going if you decide to lead me astray?"

Edited (all of my characters are embarrassing) 2018-06-15 15:16 (UTC)

While Yancey's laugh nearly prompts Lachlan to follow suit, he still flinches and reaches to cover the other boy's mouth with his hand. There are teachers here and they're supposed to be asleep and he's a hopeless teacher's pet, after all. Still, he's smiling when he sheepishly draws back his hand and moves a bit closer to answer quietly, "Cannae tell you that, can I? Then you'll see it comin'."

SLEEP UNDER THE STARS

Yancey & Lachlan

Yancey & Lachlan

Yancey & Lachlan

Yancey & Lachlan

Yancey & Lachlan

Yancey & Lachlan

Yancey & Lachlan

Yancey & Lachlan

Yancey & Lachlan