Open For science

[Jupiter Ascot]

Technically, Jupiter knew that he could get into a lot of trouble for being out just after curfew had started. But, on the other hand, this was for scientific study, so the Professors surely couldn't get too mad at him. There was supposed to be a meteor passing close by to Earth that night, and that was just one thing he was not going to pass up seeing for himself. Even if it meant he got detention or lost a few house points. And besides, if he got caught, he could always say he just lost track of time, it was not like he had wandered too far away from the castle. Just far enough to get enough distance to set up his telescope and open up his star chart to make some recordings of the event. And now all he had to do was wait and hope that a Professor or prefect didn't come along before he got the chance to see what he had come out here for in the first place.

 

[Mercury Hela]

Mercury had been spending more and more time outside, usually laying on the grass and staring at the sky. She found it kept her her imagination at bay; she could see more of what she wanted rather than what felt like against her will. Unfortunately, this particular day, she had fallen asleep, and when she awoke, Mercury was alarmed by how dark it was. She pushed herself up quickly and looked around. It was nearly empty except for one person. The Ravenclaw gathered her things and started walking up the hill, getting close to the boy. "Do you know what time it is?" she asked, very much out of sorts.

 

[Jupiter Ascot]

Jupiter very nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a voice, too busy looking through his telescope and making some last-minute adjustments to try and get the best view of the event. He hadn't expected anyone to be outside this late, not anyone who wasn't a prefect or a Professor on a patrol, anyhow. But the girl in front of him didn't look old enough to be a prefect, so he decided to relax his shoulders for the time being. "Uh, I don't really know exactly," he responded rather lamely, "I know it's past curfew." For the first years, anyway. He wasn't sure about curfew for some of the older students. "What are you doing out here? Are you here to see the meteor as well?"

 

[Mercury Hela]

Mercury felt very alarmed by the fact that she was out past curfew, but it wasn't her fault. Anyone mad at her had to understand that. She gave a quick nod and was about to run up the hill until the boy continued speaking to her. "The... the meteor?" she asked. Was he out here for Astronomy?

 

[Jupiter Ascot]

It appeared as though he had made the wrong assumption and the other girl was not here to watch the event. But Jupiter nodded his head at the question, moving a little to the side so she could see the telescope he had set up on the grass. "There's a meteor that's going to be passing very close to Earth tonight, so I came out here to watch and document it. It should be here any moment now." Just in case he did glance upward, but there was still no sign, so he turned his eyes back to the girl. "You can, um, stay and watch it with me if you want."

 

[Mercury Hela]

Mercury looked up at the sky and then back at the boy nervously. He wasn't out here for class, which meant he was also breaking the rules, being out past curfew. She really didn't enjoy breaking the rules, but she also was intrigued by things in the sky. "What?" Mercury replied, confused for a moment before realizing he said she could watch. "Umm, okay?" she said, feeling a little awkward as she crossed her arm across her body, looking out at the sky and keeping a safe distance from the boy.