Face The Future ((Kael))

[India Nightingale]

India left her trunk in the luggage compartment whilst carrying Devil’s carry case with her as she roamed the mostly empty train compartments, trying her best to avoid Skye, who she knew was following her, her eyes trained on India’s every step. Irritated, India surveyed the choices, before entering one of the compartments and slamming the door shut behind her. Most of the students still hadn’t filed in yet; India was always early and quick to the train, securing herself a relatively lonesome compartment. She didn’t like to share. Flopping down on the seats, shifting herself next to the window, India placed Devil beside her carefully, before folding her arms across her chest and waiting for the train ride to begin. She couldn’t wait to get home, to see Duke again. A whole year of not being with him made India itch for that familiar castle, his reassuring smile.

Half an hour later, everyone had boarded and the train was already on its way. India leaned her head against the window as she stared blankly ahead of her, not really looking at the outside scenery, but focusing her gaze on the seat in front of her, where somebody else would normally sit. The train wobbled every now and again, forcing India’s forehead to bump a little against the pane of glass, but she didn’t really notice. From the sounds of it, there were some first years next door, shouting and screaming in excitement. When they returned in September, they would be in second year, and India her sixth. Six years… India almost sighed to herself. Where had the years gone? She could still remember being initiated into Slytherin on her first day at Hogwarts, the pride bursting in her chest knowing Duke would be pleased with her first feat. That had only seemed like yesterday, yet India had already taken her OWLs weeks before. Thinking back on them, India knew with no doubt she had passed her exams. They had been extremely easy, very straightforward stuff. She still hadn’t decided what to do for her NEWTs, because she didn’t know what she wanted to be when she was older, but India had no doubt she would make her mind up sooner or later. Her future wasn’t something she worried about. It was mainly her past that haunted her.

Thinking of the issue, India wondered what Skye would do… Not that she particularly cared, and India would certainly not let Skye know her choices, lest her twin copy her and end up with the same classes, which would be awful, but India was curious… Her twin had never revealed what she planned for her future, and it didn’t help India never gave her the chance. Scowling a little, India’s thoughts were interrupted when the carriage door opened to reveal a boy in her year. Eyes flickering to him, India recognised the brunette as Kael Collins, Hufflepuff who kept to himself. She didn’t know what type of blood he was, but India had never been the kind of Slytherin to judge on blood… Her connection with Skye helped her see that it didn’t matter. Blood could be forgotten, it was insignificant. India watched as Kael took a seat in the compartment, and slightly disgruntled with his presence, she began to speak. India preferred to keep to herself, and she could have left Kael alone, but she wanted to be alone, and with him around, she couldn’t relax. “What do you think you’re doing, Collins?” India asked quietly, only a trace of menace left in her voice. She really didn’t feel like a confrontation, but she could still muster it in herself.

[kael]

Time to go home. Kael stretched lazily, his left hand rising to cover his mouth as a yawn escaped. What type of twin sister would keep her only brother up all night talking, even though they were sitting cross-legged on the cold floor of an empty classroom? Especially when they could've talked in so much more comfortable settings if only she had ditched her friends for a few hours during the train ride. But that was just the way Lynnette was. Thoughtless and inconsiderate? His mind suggested darkly, provoking a rather guilty grin from him - which was, unfortunately enough, his usual reaction to bad thoughts concerning his sister. "Ready to go home, Pluto?" Kael questioned, bending down to pet the kitten twining between his legs and purring affectionately. "Stupid question. You can't wait to see Saturn again, right?" He rolled his eyes at the thought of the considerably vicious mother-cat, gathering the few things he had left to pack away and eyeing the already full trunk dubiously. "Don't think everything will fit..."

The train would be the same as it was every year; a tangible sign that he was heading home, to the ridiculous insanity of his parents and weeks of being bothered even more by Lynne than he was at Hogwarts. Was it odd to dread and long for something at the same time? And then, of course, there was the strange mystery lingering around his parents and his mothers sister that Kael simply itched to find out about. It had to be something really important otherwise he would already know, but didn't that give him even more of a right to know? Kael sighed and shrugged, running a hand through his hair as he walked down to the train. Anything but sharing a compartment with Lynne and her weird, giggly friends again, Kael begged mentally. Curse him with anything but that, even the company of an unfriendly Slytherin who would sooner curse him than look at him.

A compartment! Kael's eyes lit up as he flopped into a seat and placed Pluto's cage by his feet, so utterly relieved to be away from the sparkly-eyed friend of his sister that had, ever-so nicely, assured him that he could sit with them for as long as he wanted, to notice that another person had already claimed the compartment for themselves until she spoke up. "Ah, hell," Kael sighed inaudibly, cursing his extremely bad luck. Well, he knew he'd begged for anything but Lynnettes friends - even a Slytherin - but did his wish have to be answered quite so fully? After losing so much sleep, he really wasn't up to arguing with a Slytherin, but anything was better than sparkly-eyed friends of his sister. Today just wasn't his day. "Well, if I make an educated guess then I'd have to presume that I was sitting in a mostly empty compartment in the Hogwarts Express because I want to go home. However, I could be wrong. Shall I get another persons opinion?" Kael inquired with bored politeness, slipping a treat to his kitten and wishing he had had the fortune to come across an empty compartment. Maybe he'd get lucky and she'd leave him in peace rather than striking up an argument?

((Slow reply and not a very good one, but next one will be quicker and better. Promise. ))

[India Nightingale]

India listened to Kael’s reply with a wavering eyebrow. She was dying to confront him properly and angrily, telling him to buzz off and leave her in peace. But part of her just wasn’t up to a disagreement, and she even felt the need to make peace with the boy. She didn’t have a personal vendetta against Kael; it was true he was a Hufflepuff, and most Slytherins had something against them, and looked down on the house in general, but India had never been that narrow minded. India hated everybody. Whether they be in her house Slytherin, Gryffindor, Slytherin’s greatest rivals, the clever but arrogant Ravenclaws, or apparently useless Hufflepuffs. India felt good knowing that if she did talk to Kael, they would hold an acceptable conversation in comparison to other people, judging from what India knew about the boy. He was quiet, reserved, very different to his extremely loud twin sister. He seemed to mind his own business, which India found agreeable, and he wasn’t one to pick fights either. Kael seemed the type India could probably have some sort of a conversation with anyway. If he would agree to one. And it wasn’t like India was going to ask. Did she want to talk in the first place? Most of her journeys on the Express were conducted in utter silence, whilst her mind floated away in daydreams. That suited India fine, but she supposed some conversation wouldn’t hurt. It had been a while since she had shared a compartment with anybody else. India knew she should be grateful it wasn’t a bunch of excited first years, or some high pitched annoying girls giggling their heads off.

“I wasn’t even asking for your opinion, never mind anyone else’s.” India spoke roughly but quietly, her eyes drawn to Kael’s kitten. He, or she, was cute. India had always preferred the company of animals rather than humans. They couldn’t hurt you in the same way, say the same painful words and abandon you because generally they were fiercely loyal creatures. Not like humans. Humans were different. Evil. India shook her head to herself as she turned away from the kitten. Humans were embedded with the need to hurt others. That’s why India detested them. Detested herself sometimes. The next time India spoke again, her voice was lax, calmer, almost wounded, like she had given up on her coldness in her voice that she usually never let go of. However, her visage still spoke of unfriendliness and dislike. “What NEWTs are you taking next year, Collins?” India asked, propping her hand against her chin and glaring out at the countryside with little interest. She wasn’t that bothered what Kael was doing for his NEWTs, but it seemed the best way forward in conversation. India couldn’t say she was sure of that though; she had never had much practice and experience with talking to others. The only person she could act herself with was Duke. That’s because India knew she could trust him. Duke wasn’t human; more like an angel, in India’s eyes.

But then again, India had always been blind to things in front of her eyes. Skye may have lost her ability of speech, and she seemed friendlier, nicer, more open to others and company, but it had always been India who trusted more, trusted so much she ended up being hurt badly over and over again. Why was she always the stupid one? The one that got involved so much? Why? Frowning hard, India reached over now and decided to let Devil out of his case, because she needed some reassurance. It didn’t show on her face, but her thoughts were starting to disturb her, take over her mind, and carefully she extracted her black cat from his case. Contentedly Devil gave a mewl of pleasure as he stretched himself after being encased in that carrier for so long, and prowled along India’s lap protectively. His eyes landed on Kael’s figure, and the cat sitting beside him, and stared at them awhile. India watched Devil’s reaction, but he didn’t seem to have anything against the other cat, because he circled her legs twice, before settling down on them. It appeared Devil held nothing against her companions, and that at least put India to rest. Devil always sensed things she couldn’t. The only thing she disagreed with him on was Duke. Always Duke. “Devil.” India’s slender finger gestured at her cat as the other hand stroked him softly on the head, earning a soft meow.

((Lol, no problem. Mine’s not so good either; India has always been a difficult one.))

[kael]

With a quiet sigh, Kael mourned for the quiet, solitary journey in which he could work on his latest story without having to feign interest in a conversation or be badgered about the contents of his notebook. People always seemed to be so nosy when it came to the contents of his notebook, and he had to wonder why. Was it just the attraction of the unknown, even though it was obviously meant to stay unknown since he didn't offer to show it to anyone? Lynnette was the absolute worst when it came to his notebook. She'd rifle through his room and search every drawer until she found it and then kidnap it for a few hours, returning it with notes scribbled all over the pages. Sometimes he had to wonder if she did that just because she knew it would annoy him more than anything else seemed to. Yeah, his sister was a brat and Kael marveled at the fact that she was the same age as him and yet so much more immature but she amused him and could drag him out of his thoughts better than anyone else so he supposed that he'd have to keep her around. Kael eyed the cat sitting in a cage by his companion - whether unwelcomed company or not - thoughtfully. "Do I need to fear for Pluto's life if I let him out of the cage?" Kael asked bluntly, petting the kitten sitting by his side and grinning lightly when he batted at the bars of his cage and mewed pitifully. Pluto always had hated being cooped up, much like Kael himself.

"Of course you did." Kael responded, his eyebrows furrowed slightly with confusion. "You did, after all, ask what I was doing here and I told you. That qualifies as asking for my opinion. Or shall I ask for someone elses opinion on that too?" This Slytherin girl was amusing, he decided after a few moments of thought. She didn't seem to have anything against him - and certainly Kael would know if she did, because he made it a point to keep an eye on anyone who disliked him for whatever reason - and yet she still tried to push him away for no reason other than that he was sitting in the same compartment as her. But what did it matter what she was like, or if she did have a problem with him, Kael thought dismissively. He had found a compartment away from his twins friends and that was enough for him because they seriously creeped him out. He could almost feel his sanity slipping away whenever he was within even three feet of them. So sitting with India was a good idea, Kael concluded, now determined not to move out of the compartment for any reason. Nothing he did seemed to discourage them, but he was so sure that they wouldn't have the courage to clash with a Slytherin, especially when they could just bother him over the summer. At least he'd have a few hours free of their giggling and sparkly eyes and general annoyingness.

"Arithmancy, Charms, Potions, Transfiguration. Maybe something else. Yourself?" Kael inquired carelessly. The only one he really needed was Arithmancy, since his plans for his future had nothing to do with using magic for more than practical or personal matters; nothing work-related. "My future has little to do with using magic," Kael added vaguely, his eyes drawn to the flashes of countryside he could see from his seat. It reminded him of home and suddenly Kael felt a sharp pang of longing for his home and the parents waiting for him and his sister to arrive. And the first thing Lynnette would do would be to dive toward the cats room - yes, they had a room just for the cats; his mother claimed it was better than having them wandering all over the house when they were in a fragile state - and check if her own cat and the kittens she had just delivered were perfectly okay. At least this litter couldn't be named after the planets. Kael grinned to himself, wondering what theme Lynnette would pick this time. Not colours, that was the only thing he knew for sure. His twin was still touchy about colours though she hid it so well that only he noticed the small tensing of her shoulders whenever she had to say a colour. He'd have to work with her on that at some time. If she let him. Later on in the summer though, because Lynnette would be distraught at the thought of selling the litter of kittens, even though she had sold two already. Maybe they'd convince their parents to let them keep them. It wasn't like they needed the money and they had enough space to keep them. It just needed a strong enough argument.

[India Nightingale]

India gave a smirk at Kael’s question, and looked down at Devil, who was purring quietly at her ministrations as her hands ran lightly down his head of black fur. “I think not. Devil is not social butterfly, quite the opposite, but he thinks you’re… acceptable.” India declared, shrugging casually, her own blue-green eyes set on Devil’s emerald, all-seeing ones. ”Be my eyes and be my ears.” India sighed inside softly, fingertips scratching behind his ears, earning another soft, content meow. India smirked to herself, knowing well what riled and what pleasured her little kitten. Her best friend would always be this little guy; India didn’t want to think about life without him. She hated being reliant on other people and other things, but if she had to be, then relying on a cat, a creature, was always better than a human being. India felt she could trust animals more so than humans. “Why Pluto?” India suddenly asked, not displaying much curiosity, but she was inwardly. She supposed animals interested her quite a bit, and if she hadn’t been her antisocial, people-hating self, she’d have asked to pick Pluto up. Though a part of her knew that Devil would’ve been horrified and scratched the opposing cat (he was awfully overprotective and possessive, like Duke, plus he too was an unsociable thing), India concluded it probably would’ve been Kael who would be extremely shocked and reluctant at the idea of India Nightingale picking anything of his up. India had a reputation of… being unfriendly, as all Slytherins did. It would do no one, or nothing, any good in being touched by her tainted fingers.

“Whatever, Collins.” India shook her head with a menacing frown, trying to hide her facial expressions with a mass of long black hair. She didn’t want anyone penetrating her defences, or seeing through her; at times, she felt awfully transparent, and Kael seemed to draw that emotion out in her with his piercing gaze. He was a pretty sarcastic guy, she noted with approval, though she didn’t want to try it out with an argument right now and withdrew from any other commenting. India was usually not passive at all, but she felt like being so right now. Perhaps lack of food was drawing any mental will and strength out of her, and the thought of the trolley lady passing by with a tray loaded with so many sweets sickened India. Kael was putting up a good argument, but India couldn’t find it in herself to care for once. The last thing she needed was a brawl with this boy who she was vaguely getting on with (yes, this was getting on with others for India). This was probably the best conversation, most easy-flowing (phhf) one she had held in… years…? Not including Duke, of course.

India listened to Kael’s subjects silently, pondering about the fact that she’d have most of her lessons with him next year. She didn’t really mind… He wasn’t an enemy, nor was he someone who wanted to talk to her, and that suited her fine; honestly, his personality seemed to work for her best out of a lot of different types of people. If she wasn’t the way she was, India wondered with a small smirk whether or not they’d be friends, though the thought was rather disturbing in itself. “Arithmancy, Charms, Herbology, Potions and Transfiguration.” India spoke back in reply, her voice devoid of emotion as if trickling off a list of trivial things. She didn’t say aloud to Kael that they would indeed have all those lessons save for Herbology together next year, and wondered what he made of it. India didn’t mind so much, but would he? It would be pretty interesting, India decided with an inward smirk. She was going to be seeing a lot of this boy in the future. “You’re pretty sure of yourself and your future.” India remarked offhandishly, hand skimming over Devil’s fur again subconsciously. “Are you sure you won’t change your mind, Collins?” After a moment of silence, India picked up the conversation again, not bothering to wait for a reply from her companion. “My future doesn’t interest me much. I’m not bothered what I do.” It was the honest truth, the cold words spoken from her mouth. India had always dwelled more in the past than the present and future. To her the future didn’t mean anything right now. India took each day as it came, washing over her head unimportantly.

[kael]

"It's always an honour to be thought of as acceptable by an animal. They seem to have higher standards than the majority of humans. And they're much better company too." Kael shrugged, unlocking the door to Pluto's cage without worrying if India had been lying about Devil accepting them. If she cared for her cat - which he could see she did, if the way she instinctively knew how to evoke a contented purr from him - then he couldn't see her causing harm to his own. Pluto seemed to be in agreement with him, if the way he only paused to rub against Kael's arm before leaping over to the other side of the compartment smoothly was any indication. It was with interest that Kael watched his black kitten meow at the older cat in an open invitation to play with him after sniffing at India curiously. It wasn't unusual to see Pluto act with such little caution, despite the many scratches he had received from other cats for bothering them while they were relaxing. "Why Pluto?" Kael repeated the question thoughtfully before forming a reply. "We have a lot of cats and kittens at our house, though not for long since we put the kittens up for sale to people whom we know will take care of them. None of our kittens will ever end up in the hands of someone who will mistreat them. We have four cats, and therefore litters of kittens come along quite frequently. My sister generally names them according to themes, such as constellations or muses, which is her plan for our current litter, I believe. Pluto's litter is the only one which doesn't follow that order, because his mother was a pregnant stray that we took in last winter. Lynne named her Saturn and then broke pattern by naming the kittens after the remaining planets because there was the correct number of kittens."

"Pluto's taken a liking to you," Kael remarked with amusement. "I'm not sure whether to feel slightly offended since he's abandoned me." It was a mystery as to how such a curious and friendly little kitten was related to Saturn, who was vicious to people and animals - including her own litters, but only after they grew up - who bothered her and who would never purr at anyone except Kael's father - which Kael believed only happened because his father had rescued her from the dogs who had tried to attack her. Speaking of litters, muses was actually a really good idea for the latest litters names. And then his twin would have to think up a different idea for naimg them because she was running out of themes and had only thought up that one because Kael had deliberately brought up the subject while she had been keeping him from his sleep last night. Which had been a brilliant plan worthy of a pat on the back because it had meant that she had gotten so caught up in the idea that she had left him alone and let him go back to his dorm.

"We're going to be seeing a lot of each other for the next two years then. I bet you're just so excited at the thought of spending so much time with me." Kael deadpanned mockingly, not really bothered at the thought of so many classes with India. He'd already established that he had nothing against her and they got on fairly well so even if they were partnered up in a class, Kael wouldn't have any complaints. She wasn't one of the scarily hyper friend sof his sisters and that was enough for him. Besides, she was quiet and hadn't hexed him yet. Yep. He didn't care if she was in the majority of his classes. "I've been sure of my future since I was twelve. I doubt I'll change my mind any time soon unless something drastic happens. And if something drastic does happen then I'll deal with it when it comes. There's no point worrying about what could happen tomorrow when today isn't over yet." Kael replied quietly, feeling almost uneasy without the warmth of Pluto curled up against his side or on his lap. Which was ridiculous because he had never felt dependent upon the kitten before. But then Pluto pounced at Devil playfully and his unease was instantly replaced with amusement and a slight bit of worry. "You'll have to excuse him," Kael apologised, gesturing at Pluto resignedly and fighting the urge to cover his face in exasperation. "He seems to see Devil as a new play friend and that won't change until he gets scratched. I'd thought he'd learned his lesson since he'd been attacked by other cats for disturbing their peace but apparently not."

[India Nightingale]

India nodded in agreement with Kael, though didn’t voice her absolute belief in what he said. She’d have sounded way too enthusiastic, but it was true she completely thought the same. Animals were much better company, and India liked hitting their standards rather than the indecent ones humans set. Like looking good, or being the best at everything, or having the most boy/girlfriends. To India, she didn’t care what others thought of all; it was all too superficial. She was who she was. And she was happy like that. Right? Wrong. India was always trying to change herself because of Skye… Always striving to become “her”, not the duplicate of her annoying, pathetic twin sister. India wanted to be original, special, not the clone of somebody else, which was what a lot of people saw her as. If you were an identical twin, people naturally expected you to act the same because you look the same, but that couldn’t be more untrue with the Nightingale twins. India felt herself tense up slightly when Pluto landed on her side of the compartment, but relaxed after a moment or two; she found animals more tolerable than humans, and India was known not to be cruel against them. She didn’t warm to them much either, because she preferred Devil to anyone else, but India accepted other creatures readily. Stretching out a hesitant hand, India gently stroked Pluto’s smaller head with some emotion in her eyes, fingers running lightly through his soft fur. It seemed he enjoyed the same treatment as Devil, and India’s constant attention to her own kitty had paid off.

Devil decided to intervene by leaping off India’s lap to join Pluto, meowing in greeting as India’s hand understood her cat’s warning and withdrew. Leaving Pluto in Devils’ capable paws, India turned back to Kael, listening to his reply. She hoped within that Devil wouldn’t be too harsh on Pluto; he seemed to be in a good mood, and was generally nicer to younger cats, but Devil had been known as quite antisocial, like India, and wasn’t the friendliest of creatures. However, it appeared that Devil was accepting Pluto enough by being rough with him, a paw hitting the side of the kitten’s face, but not being outright violent. India was glad, because otherwise she would’ve stopped any confrontation. It may appear on the outside she was up for fights, but generally India stayed away from it smartly. She took in Kael’s explanation silently, before realising she knew who this sister he spoke of was. India was sure Kael himself had a twin, one by the name of Lynne, as he had mentioned, in the same year as them, of course. However, unlike Kael, India’s intuition of her was not very high in comparison. This Lynne seemed too giggly and happy… and India absolutely couldn’t stand those people, more than her own house mates, because they reminded her too much of overconfident happiness and of course, Skye. India wondered if that was perhaps what endeared herself more to Kael instinctively… However, she guessed he was probably closer to his sister than she was to hers. India was known for not acknowledging her own twin’s existence.

“Hm.” India grunted quietly in reply to Kael’s remark, not sure of what to make of it as she watched the two cats communicate. “I prefer animals to people.” She shrugged casually after a moment’s of silence. “I don’t get along with people. Perhaps you’ve noticed that though. Everybody knows. People don’t gossip for nothing.” India gave a frustrated snort, rolling her eyes and propping her hand on her chin with a scowl. However, she replaced this with a smirk at Kael’s next sentence, and looked up at him with a spark of a challenge in her eyes. “Extremely.” She remarked sarcastically, before tossing a strand of black behind her ear. India wondered how good Kael was at his subjects, but wasn’t about to engage herself in any rivalry. India knew her own strengths; she excelled in… everything, really. She was sure her OWL results would prove that soon enough. A confident look on her face, India returned Kael’s words. “It’s good to see someone who isn’t so obsessed with their future,” India commented with a smirk, refraining a roll of her eyes again. There were too many people out there who were too worried about what could happen, planned too far ahead. She supposed Kael having a goal in mind was acceptable, but there were some who had their entire life mapped out. Now that was outrageous. India waved away Kael’s apology dismissively, her eyes straying back to the cats together. “Whatever. I don’t mind what my cat gets up to. Devil has a mind of his own… But he won’t do Pluto any harm just yet. Devil sees younger kittens as… something to take under his wing.” India smirked with a shrug, her gaze wandering back to Kael’s face. “I won’t apologise if Devil does something wrong though. Like I said… He has a mind of his own. I can’t control him. I am not his mistress… We are… equals.” India stated firmly, shuffling her feet into a comfortable position.

[kael]

Animals had a simpler code to live by. They forgave easier than humans could even comprehend and they behaved better than the majority of humans. They could be themselves, but people always had to adhere to some form of trend to fit in or they were always changing themselves to be thought of as more unique. And, of course, they accepted death a lot quicker than humans could. But that wasn't always a good thing. Kael's eyes strayed over to Pluto for a second, watching him purr contentedly under India's gentle hand. If humans accepted death as easily as animals could then he wouldn't have fought so hard to save Pluto and he wouldn't have stayed up all night for nights on end to watch over him like some kind of guardian angel watching over his favourite charge. Even Lynnette had accepted the inevitablity of the small kitten dying but it had been an unthinkable event for Kael. But look at Pluto now, a shinier and sleeker coat than any of his littermates and a lot more fearless and curious. So Pluto was a lot better company for humans than other kittens - though he did like older cats, for some reason - because he was more used to their company. It didn't handicap him in any way and he still enjoyed playful fights with the other kittens that roaming around the house before getting sold or given as presents some of his sisters friends. The only redeeming feature about them, in Kael's eyes, was their kindness to animals.

It was amusing to see the two cats interact, and Devils protective manner towards India merely confirmed what Kael had already guessed about the Slytherin sitting opposite him. She might not be too fond of humans in general - which Kael had gathered by their conversation so far - but animals had both her respect and affection, Devil most of all. Which was, Kael thought approvingly, as it should be. His amusement was echoed in his eyes at the thought of his sisters reaction when he told her that they shared their love for animals with a Slytherin. He couldn't say that she would not horrified, because Lynnette did try to see the best in people, b ut she'd probably be unsettled. Her opinion of Slytherins had dropped after the few she had approached had flat-out refused to be friends with her. And, of course, her house-mates dislike of Slytherins in general hadn't helped either. Pluto's playful growl brought Kael out of his thoughts in time to see his kitten bat at Devil without extending his claws. It seemed his kittens liking for India extended to her cat as well. Or was it the other way around since the black kitten seemed more interested in making friends with the cat than his owner? Then again, if Pluto could speak then Kael guessed he knew his kitten well enough to know what he'd say. I'll play with the cat, now you make friends with his pet human.

"You won't get any arguments from me on this subject. Animals make much better company than humans because humans are a lot more faithless than animals could ever be, in my opinion at least. Eh," Kael wrinkled his nose in distaste, his left hand lifting to run through his hair and brush his fringe back. Hmm, it seemed he'd picked up his sisters habit of using the hand he didn't write with to do mostly everything else, with the only difference of her being left-handed to his right-handed."People who gossip don't deserve to be taken notice of. But there'll always be fools who listen to gossip and continue to spread it. It's so much more interesting to get to know people rather than heed the rumours about them." It was interesting to see the amount of people who listened to rumours and actually believed them though. Like watching a flock of mindless sheep follow a figure-head to the river. "I don't see the point in planning every little part of my life. Is there even a point in it when things could change at any moment and ruin the plan that you spent years perfecting? I know what I want to do with my life and I have the means to do it, but I don't have everything about it planned out. It's too soon to do something like that because things could change and I'd let people down and disappoint myself. I take it that you're also not a big fan of planning the future before it happens." Kael commented, having already guessed that from India's own statements on the subject. Kael nodded neutrally, silently relieved to find someone who didn't think of their cat as a pet but as a companion. People always seemed to expect him to apologise after Pluto tried to make friends with their cat and he'd just gotten into the habit of doing so because he didn't see the point in arguing with them when they meant nothing to him. He just wasn't the type to argue when he could walk away, especially since that left his opponents angrier than if he had fought with them. "You're one of the few who see animals as an equal rather than a pet or a plaything, Nightingale. Who would've thought a day would come when I'd have something in common with a Slytherin."

[India Nightingale]

((Gyah, I am sooo sorry I made you wait so long! Nine days, to be exact! Ack! ))

India tilted her head to one side as she absorbed Kael’s declaration, a hint of a smile quirking at her lips. She wouldn’t say she admired fellow animal-loving people, but India had certain respect for them. It wasn’t every day you encountered a human who shared her view on treating animals as equals. Many people, India was aware of, saw animals as below them, and even though it was true they did not possess the intellect a human being did, India felt that that didn’t make them any less important. There were many stupid humans in this world; that didn’t make them below others, though India had to admit that sometimes you couldn’t help but give a snooty glance at someone who had failed a test. Animals were like humans in almost every aspect; they ate and slept, felt emotion and pain, and strove to stay alive, competing and outdoing one another. This was human… or living nature. Everyone shared it. India didn’t believe anyone in the world could understand her, but she was aware that humans were all one and the same at the end of the day; made up of the same substances and materials, with identical selfish desires and needs. Sometimes, India wondered if perhaps having human intellect was a blessing or a curse though. Endowed with knowledge could only put one in more pain and under increasing pressure. Maybe it would be better if humans acted like animals, not knowing the consequences of their rash actions and therefore striving to change their destinies by thinking it through cunningly.

“I agree with you.” India approved quietly, eyes looking away from Kael as though ashamed to admit to something she had in common with this Hufflepuff. There was something about Kael’s conviction, India thought, the silent blaze in his eyes at his dedication, that kept drawing her into them, curious for more, but she had to stop herself before she fell completely. India didn’t like to feel attracted to anyone, didn’t like to feel like she liked somebody and could be understood, because getting to know a fellow person would only end in heartache. Friends were out of the question. Completely, utterly. “Humans will always break their promise to you.” India added softly, folding her hands gingerly over her lap as her eyes wandered back to Devil and Pluto, the two cats sparring gently. It wasn’t often that Devil was kind to others save for herself, but perhaps he felt something towards younger kittens. India thought inwardly how she was perhaps a little more lenient towards very young children… babies. Something clenched in her heart tightly whenever her gaze laid on youngsters so new to the world they could barely speak or act independently. The vulnerability and defencelessness they exuded caused India to need to turn away, to stop her heart from crying out, her brain screaming for her to pick them up and run away as far as possible with them, to save them from the future pain they would no doubt feel one day. India secretly wished that someone had saved her when she was a child. She secretly wished she had had a guardian angel, a protector that loved and cherished her. But India didn’t need, or want, love, anymore.

India’s lips curled into a smirk as Kael continued to speak. “I don’t take notice of anyone.” She stated almost proudly, though her expression was one of indifference. “I am alone. I don’t want anyone to get to know me.” India couldn’t stop the sneer that threatened in her voice, a little bitterness filtering through her sarcastic tone. “I am not interesting to get to know, Collins. Yet I wouldn’t heed a word to those that gossip about me either. Although it is true some rumours hold some truths, though I’m not stupid enough to be drawn in either way. I really couldn’t care less about other people’s lives, true or false.” India contented herself with letting her gaze be attracted out of the window again, afraid to meet Kael’s eyes. There was something about him that India found unnerving, yet that made his presence a little more accepting than most to her. Calming herself, India found herself listening to Kael again. “Am I that transparent?” India smirked at Kael’s question-like statement. “I don’t believe in fate, but I do not believe in forcing my future by myself either. I will guide myself to where I feel I am meant to be for, and plan only a little ahead. Like you said, Collins, things could change in a second. I know that better than anyone else. Life throws things at you that you don’t expect, and you have to adapt. I don’t set things out permanently, because I am an adapter, always waiting for life to strike me down again.” India gave a nonchalant shrug at this, not sure if this revealed a bit too much about herself. It sounded innocent enough, though she thought that Kael perhaps saw her as some depressed freak. That was probably what she was though, India admitted with a dark bark of laughter within her mind. Suddenly, Kael drew them back to the topic of pets, and her eyes automatically flickered over to the cats, still communicating with one another through quiet noises and occasional paws to the head. Lips quirking up in a genuine smile at Kael’s comment, India found her eyes meeting his through the compartment atmosphere, and spoke coolly. “Who would’ve thought I’d have anything in common with a Hufflepuff?” She rebuffed playfully. “We are not so unlike, you and I. We will never be the same, Collins, but at the end of the day, we are humans. All of us. Too many things bind us together.” India gave a dark scowl at this. The truth bites.