Self Destruction (open)

[Indigo Grace]

Class, eat, study. Class, eat, study. Class eat study... That was the constant repetative schedule that Indigo had thrown herself into. What possesses her to do a rather self destructive thing like that, she didn't even know. But once she was focused, once she was just the slightly bit behind in a class, she kicked it up to the top knotch. Convientely, and unfortunately all at the same time, sleeping had been shoved off the list. Indigo had been "squeezing" it into her schedule until this past week, where it was causing too much of a disturbance to her learning. Yes, her obsessive complusiveness could be just a little too much. Now she sat in the library, her once perfect posture against the high backed wooden chair was slumped over her bookwork. Dark brown and out of place flitting eyes searched the words on the page.

Indi was just a little behind in Dinvination, curse that bloody subject. She hated it with every fiber in her being, but had taken it on the fact that she was naturally good at it....until now. Her wavy brown hair was pulled up into a curly messy bun on top of her head, making it easy to get out of the way. It was getting late, and there were only a few people in the library besides herself and the librarian. Most of them were Ravenclaws, naturally. She sighed dramatically, there were a million other things this girl would like to have been doing. One would be having fun. Another would be relaxing, and yet another would Regulus. One of the only boys she wanted to be around right now, seeing as she was on shaky ground with several. Actually the brown-haired beauty was on shaky ground with people alike. This was just another to add to her 'fix-it list'.

She shifted her papers and scanned them over, being sure to etch her name at the top right corner of the parchment. Flipping randomly through pages now, her forhead slowly touched the tips of her fingers as her normally alert drooped and blinked several times. Suddenly, her eyes shot open and she sat straight up. How dare it try to make her do something she didn't want to! Indigo refused to try and go to sleep, one of the reasons because she couldn't hardly anyway. She woke up several times in the night, and at least studying would be mildly productive. Looking over at one of the clocks she popped a piece of gum into her mouth and leaned back in her chair. The librarian eyed Indigo supiciously, even gum was off limits. The girl shrugged and rested her head against the table, she was just going to rest. Five minutes, that's all.

[brett]

Regulus had been laying in his bed, staring straight up at the cloth that hung maybe six feet above his head. He was getting used to the limited amounts of sleep he allowed himself, finding quick naps during the day were quite welcome. He had drifted into sleep for what felt like hours, but according to the laws of time had only been ten minutes. Regulus spent much of his day in the dungeon commonroom that belonged to the Slytherins, leaving only for meals and a short stroll around the vast area under the castle, that few had ever cared to explore.

Still he figured it must be getting late, he could here more voices coming from the commonroom suggesting that his hypothesis was correct. Eyes still staring unfocused, he contemplated trying to sleep again and hope he could make it till morning. He allowed his eyelids to slide closed and almost immediately was met by a smiling mental image of Indigo Grace. It had only been days, but it felt like months since that blissful encounter. If only he could sneak into the Gryffindor commonroom.

Distracted by his thoughts Reg knew sleep would now be impossible, but that didn't mean he couldn't be productive. He crawled out from beneath the comfort of his sheets and grabbed a new t-shirt as he had already discarded the one he was wearing earlier. He slipped on his sneakers, not bothering to untie or retie the laces. It wore away at the shoe to jam his foot in this way, but it was worth it to save that minute and a half it would have taken to retie them.

Once again fully clothed Regulus ran a hand through his stylishly messy dark hair as he headed out through the commonroom. No one questioned him as to where he was going, they were all in there own conversations and even if they had asked Reg probably wouldn't have stopped to answer. So, wordlessly he left the commonroom and trudged out of the dungeons heading for the library.

Pushing open the door he realized the library may not be staying open much longer considering the hour. Still the librarian didn't question his late arrival as he strolled toward the tables that were sparsely occupied. One person caught his attention, even with her head layed against the desk Indigo Grace was unmistakable in Regulus' eyes. He made his way over to her quietly sliding into the chair across from her. She looked so angelic, it would almost be a shame to wake her. The desire to talk to Indi won out though and Reg reached out gently grabbing her arm and shaking it lightly, "Indi wake up your gonna be late for class," he joked a broad smile crossing his features.

[Indigo Grace]

This was much more comfortable than she would have first admitted. Indigo thought she heard someone else enter the library, either that or left it. She wasn't sure what time it was closing because she had no idea of the time. Indi was starting to lose track of things, and was no longer bothering to find them out. Her eyes stayed closed and her body immediately felt a sense of relief. For the first time this week she was finally relaxed and not concentrating on anything in particular. Two minutes left. Her plan, didn't work quite the way she had originally intended. Anyone thinking properly would have known that before, but she was beyond having a normal train of thought. Indigo slipped into a half awake/half asleep state of mind, her head resting against the crook of her dark arm.

Indi, wake up you're gonna be late for class. Someone shook her arm lightly and she jerked. Her head shot straight up, way too fast for comfort and her eyes looked around, dazed and wide. "Damn it." Indigo shot up from her chair and grabbed her purse, taking her actual first step away from the table when she suddenly realized what was going on. Her sharp eyes narrowed and she turned around to look at Regulus, pulling a face. "Regulus Black." She scolded softly, raising her eyebrows in mild irritation. A smile would normally send her even more over the edge, but when she looked at him, it made her calm down and she smiled just a little in return.

Dropping her purse back down on the ground she sat down in her chair again, staring at him from across the table. "What time is it?" It was late, she knew that much. And the library was open, so she couldn't have been asleep for very long. "Very funny." She clung onto the word very, drawling it out. "But I forgive you." She grinned. Somehow, even in her moodiness of moods, she couldn't stay mad at him, especially over trivial matters. And, truth be told, she was completely at fault for letting herself fall asleep in the first place. Instictively she moved her hands up to her hair and tried to straighten it, having no idea what it looked like. Indi hated looked tired and groggy when she was around Regulus, and anyone for that matter.

[brett]

Regulus tried to hold back his smile as Indi scolded him, but found it simply impossible. Thankfully though she had given him a small smile back rather than admonishing him further. After all was it really his fault that he had been given a perfect set up, that not even a first year could pass up? Honestly though he would have been on his knees apologizing if it had really upset Indi. Of course he really only did it because he knew, or at least figured she could take the joke.

"Good," Regulus smiled as Indi informed him that he had been forgiven. "Not sure what time it is, exactly, getting late though," he said, this being the best estimate he could get. "You know it's rare that you find a girl that can pull of the sleep deprived look the way you do," Reg smiled halfway joking. Truly though, there was no way Indi could ever look less than perfect in his eyes, so perhaps he was an impartial judge. But so what if he was?

"What is it that's got you taking naps in the library anyway?" Regulus asked curious to know what it was that was keep the brown haired beauty from getting sleep. Schoolwork most likely, that seemed to be what led most students into their undesirable states of sleep derivation. Unlike Regulus who never seemed to have much trouble with his school work, though he wasn't quite as lax as his brother, he did get better results for the little effort he put in.

[Indigo Grace]

"Don't get used to it, I'm spoiled and unforgiving" She snooted, and even though it came out as a joke, she found it to be quite true. Indi had completely cleared the table of books now; her own were nestled in her hand bag and the others were placed neatly on the floor beside the leg of her chair. She normally would have put them in their rightful places, but she wasn't sure she could remember where they belonged this late at night. Blowing at another loose strand she Indigo reached her polished hand across the now clean table and grabbed Regulus's, almost as if to keep him from going anywhere.

The librarian cleared her throat, but Indi continued to ignore her, reaching the assumption that the library was now officially closed. "It's getting late? Nooo. How very observant of you Mr. Black." She winked. "Now I'm not exactly sure how to take that. Do you mean that I've miraciously pulled off looking unbelievely beautiful with my lack of sleep, or you've never seen a girl looked quite as exhausted and hopeless as me?" She stuck out the very tip of her tongue. "Choose your words carefully" Indigo teased him. She looked consistantly at him for several moments before looking away and finally breaking the stare.

"I've just been behind a little lately. Dinvination actually has me very nearly stumped you see. I've been preoccupied, and I guess I just forgot to study for the last test we had. If I don't get my grade up, well, it just wouldn't be for the best." Never mind that Indi was a natural over-achiever and a perfectionist, her father would have a stroke if he knew she was recieving less than perfect scores in a class she was meant to be good at. "And you just came into the library late at night as a sort of, spur of the moment thing?" Indigo commented, it was really a question.

[brett]

Reg looked down at his hand as if to confirm that it actually was Indi who had grabbed, before looking back up at her and smiling. "Two traits greatly admired by the most noble house of Black," Regulus smirked once again flirting with the line between joking and serious. It was no secret that the Black family had a long and prestigious history, which included a sizable amount of wealth, so spoiled was really the kindest term for it. Perhaps what the Blacks were most famous for however was there unforgiving manner, especially when it came to the disowning of family members. Yep, Indi would fit in fine with the rest of the Blacks.

"You look pretty," Regulus said correcting his earlier mistakes. "Careful enough?" he smiled teasingly. Hopefully this new sentence would stand up better to scrutiny. And though he knew Indi was only joking he did see her point. As beautiful as Indi was, it was the teasing each other like first years that Reg had missed most about her.

"I guess you could say that," Reg said though spur of the moment wasn't exactly how he would have put it, it was an accurate description. "I couldn't sleep, so I figured I might as well do something productive," he smiled. It was a bit ironic, Reg was in the library because he couldn't sleep, and Indi was so tired that she was falling asleep in the library.

"What'd you say we get out of here?" Regulus suggested taking a quick look to confirm that they were the only two left, save the librarian of course who was staring daggers into the back of Regulus's skull. "We could go to the lake if your up for it," He offered. "Or if you prefer I could just carry you up to your commonroom," he added smiling though he was hoping for the first choice.

[Indigo Grace]

Oh joy, she had so many things in common with the Black family. Cheers. Indigo didn't say anything, only a half smile crept up the side of her face, stewing that one over. She hinted what she thought of that one with her face, teasing him in return. She certainly had nothing against Regulus, anyone could see that, but his family was not a role model for her. Only a few years ago, she'd been tossed into a whole new world of fancy clothes, high class manners, and money. The young woman still wasn't sure what to do with it. Indigo's universe was completely turned upside down. Lucky for her, Indi had been born with poise and a lot of pride, which matched perfectly with her new family. Not that it was what she was going for, it still made it easier to blend.

"That'll do...though I expect something better later" She smiled. "Talking to me, this is what you call being productive?" Her laughter was very soft tonight and almost as dreary as she felt. Indi was very aware of the librarian's presence and how she must feel right about now. The old woman would be wanting to get some sleep, and two noisy and restless teenagers were keeping her from doing so. Well phooey, life isn't fair. Indigo almost thought to stay a little longer to prove it. She was about to suggest it, when she caught on to her own moodiness. The cause, undoubtly, had to be her sleepless nights. Pulling her common trademark, Indi flipped what loose hair was down on her shoulders back. Standing up, she looked at Reg when he gave her the suggestions he had.

Immediately the word lake struck a cord. Usually she was very talented at hiding any and all emotion she had when she wanted to. Indigo was sort of like a metal detector; anything that she didn't want to be expressed on her face beeped and she held it back. This wasn't one of those moments, and a flicker of fear flashed in her eyes. There was no way Indi wanted to go back to her common room now that she had met up with Regulus, no matter how utterly exhuasted she had become. Still, the lake, was out of the question. He wouldn't understand why, nobody but her would. "Hmmm...." She pretended to ponder it over, walking behind him to wrap her arms all the way around his shoulders. Seemed perfectly ok to her, but the librarian fidgeted disapprovingly. "How about we take a walk around the school grounds, it's perfectly lovely at night." She thought of an alternative, quick. "I mean, if you really have this strong desire to go to the lake and see the giant squid" She smirked. "We can go, but I'm not going to get wet, it's freezing."

[brett]

"It's the best kind of productive," Reg smiled not exactly sure if that made sense. It certainly wasn't the same kind of productive as reading books, which was his original plan. But talking to Indi was socially and, at least he liked to think, romantically productive. The first comment suck with him come up with something better for later. He would have to find the perfect words to properly voice how beautiful she was to him. Stunning didn't quite cover it amazing seemed to broad...this was going to take quite a bit of thinking.

So now that was two Gryffindors who seemed to think he was having some sort of affair with the giant squid. Reg really needed to stop spending so much time down at the lakes shore. "A walk sounds nice too," he smiled deciding to refrain from commenting about the squid. "The lawns would probably be much better for stargazing anyway," he added thoughtfully. Now that he really thought about it the lake was far less of a nice place to be a night, and the water would be freezing. Though Reg had never really intended on going in anyway.

It was strange when Reg mentioned the lake something happened to Indi's eyes, they had looked...well afraid. But why? Something told Regulus it was more than just anxiety about being dragged below the surface by the squid...who typically stayed at the oceans bottom and was talked about far more than he had ever been seen. Still what else was there to fear at the lake? Reg would have to ask later, right now he was content to enjoy her touch around his shoulders.

[Indigo Grace]

Best kind of productive....she certainly didn't think so, but she wasn't about to express another opinion of self loathing out loud. The best kind of productive to her, was either studying and learning more, or, being around boys. Hey, look at that. She'd managed both today already. Leaning back away from Regulus and letting her hands slide off of his shoulders, she shouldered her bag once more. Indi decided not to push the librarian's buttons too far in just one night. Save it for another day, when there was nothing fun to do.

"Stargazing?" She asked, walking through the front door, she saw in the reflection the elderly woman's face. A mixture of relief and annoyance that she could finally go back to her room for the night. Indi smiled to herself and turned around, walking backwards to face Reg. "Why, aren't you just the romantic" She teased, sticking out the very tip of her tongue between her pearly white teeth. She did think it was a perfect idea, and there really wasn't anything else to do at night. Indigo had vast knowledge about the stars from her life history, and could probably tell you pretty much anything about them if you asked. That was the one thing she truely did miss. Sleeping out on the grass while looking up at the vast sky, eventually falling asleep underneath them. The one perfect memory.

Indigo figured Regulus might know a bit as well, considering his family was obviously named after stars and constellations. She noted his suspicion when she erased the idea of the lake away from their minds, but she paid no notice. Indi wasn't the least bit interested in sharing even more of her past, with anyone. Although she was utterly spent, she kept pretty well upon her feet; swaying ever so slighty to the side. "Come on Regulus, you wouldn't want a girl to beat you, especially one as tired as me." Indigo smirked, some sort of challenge in her voice as her pace quickened to the front doors; watching out for any perfects and/or professors along the way.

[brett]

Regulus smiled feeling his cheeks blush slightly. "That was the trade-off. Sirius gets to be the attractive one, I get to be the romantic," he joked, though this wasn't far from the truth. It seemed to be popular opinion that Sirius was the more attractive of the Black brothers, the more outgoing, obnoxious one that girls seemed so attracted too. Whilst Regulus was more reserved, relying more on his sense of romance and personality than on his looks. The one think the two shared though was the innocently guilty smile that seemed to make girls melt and make teachers believe they could do know wrong. Indeed the charm of his smile alone had gotten Regulus out of some tight spots, and into some more comfortable ones.

"That sounds like a challenge," Reg smirked quickening his pace so that he broke even with Indi. He wondered if she was the type of girl who would want him to let her win. From what he knew of her probably not, though she would most likely want to beat him out without any help, so that she could gain bragging rights. So if Reg was going to let her win he would need to make sure she wouldn't know...or at least wouldn't call him on it. Then again maybe he was getting ahead of himself and wouldn't have to let her win. In any case Reg decided to quicken his pace more moving as fast as he could while still 'walking' he couldn't help, but chuckle lightly at how ridiculous he must look.

Regulus had indeed picked a good night to head to the library. Coincidence was a marvelous thing, and really that marked the second time he had run into Indi accidentally. Was it possible that it was more than coinsidence bringing them together? Perhaps fate had played a hand in there accidental rendezvous. Nonsense. It wasn't even all that much of a coincidence. Lots of people were interested in the mystery behind the shrieking shack and Reg doubted there wasn't a student in the school who hadn't been to the library at least once.

It would have only been a matter of time before they ran into each other anyway. Yet, it wasn't just anytime, it was night, when they would have the grounds to themselves. Just as they had the Shrieking Shack to themselves. Tonight was to be another blissful meeting of solidarity without the distractions of other students, and this time there would be no collapsing staircases, no boggarts. Just Regulus, Indi, the night sky littered with stairs and the lush grass of the grounds.

[Indigo Grace]

"Psh." She waved her small hand in front of his face. "That is in fact, all a matter of opinion. Since when did Sirius become all high and mighty?" Indigo once had a very strong crush on the boy, but she moved on, just like she always did. "Honestly Regulus, where's your self esteem?" She chastised with a smirk. "Of course it was a challenge, what else would it be?" Indigo picked up her pace even quicker, her shoes clicked loudly across the wooden floor but she had no fear they'd be caught. Even if they were, she was sure she could weasle their way out of it. Any moment now she felt as if she was going to trip and fall face first on the ground. This did not stop Indi, especially when she was all of a sudden competitive.

Glancing to the side to see how Regulus was fairing her little smile grew wicked and she broke out into a run. Indigo never said she was going to play fair, or what the rules exactly were. Reaching the door in no time she waited for him and swung it open, glancing down the hallways for the clear. She never got detention, it would be a blemish to get one now. Watching for any reaction of his her smug look spread across her delicate face. "Awww, should I have let you win?" Everything she said to him was coming out as a question tonight oddly enough. Slipping through the crack in the door the cold night air hit her across the face. Something as natural as that was to Indigo, one of the greastest feelings in the world.

Getting tired with it, she let her hair hang down about her shoulders, taking the clip out and shaking the locks. "Much better than some muggy old library." Indigo bent down to reach her feet and kicked one shoe off and then the other, casting them aside by the door. It seemed like a sin not to let her feet breath on a night such as this. It was really rather odd that she had run into Regulus again the way she did, but she wouldn't admit anything of the sort that had to do with fate. She insisted on being realistic, even though deep down fate and all that jazz was embedded into her. She held out her hand for him to take, a really natural gesture now. Stepping off of the gravel and into the grass instantly, she held her face up towards the sky.

[brett]

"Self esteem is over-rated," Regulus smiled. Growing up as the 'perfect' child Regulus never developed high self esteem. All his esteem came from the approval of his parents. That's not to say that Reg did learn to take some pride in his accomplishments, it's just that his lack of independence kept him modest. All this led to Reg developing a knack for self deprecating humor. Of course even he had his moments of arrogance, he wouldn't truly be a Black if he didn't.

Regulus pulled up next to Indi gracefully accepting his second place finish. "Well it would have been the gentlemanly thing to do," Regulus teased. "But I'll get over it," he added smiling. Reg found no shame in losing to a girl...especially when she had to cheat to win. After all Indi was fast, but he could probably take her in an all out sprint. In any case he was in no hurry to find out...at least not tonight.

"I agree," Regulus smiled taking the hand Indi was offering to him. It felt comfortable, having her hand in his. Reg ran his thumb softly across the back of her hand. Indi's skin was so soft, he absolutely loved it. "So, what have you been up to?" he asked interested in the Gryffindor beauty's activities since there last encounter at the shrieking shack. It was beautiful night for a walk through the grounds.

[Indigo Grace]

Self esteem is over-rated. What an interesting way to look at it. Indigo thought quite the opposite actually; that having self esteem was one of the most vital ways of survival, and therefore something Indigo pined for and wished she truely had. "That's....interesting." She looked slyly and Regulus, hiding the laugh that was in her own dark eyes. "Oh yes, sorry Reg. It's a shame I'm not a man, otherwise I'd have let you win." She poked fun with a teasing smile, obviously being able to get by without being a gentleman.

"Me?" She asked the question, though his own was so clearly directed at her. Indi took a moment to think about how to answer, what she really had been doing in their time away from one another. "Besides brutally torturing myself...." She was referring of course to her rigid studying schedule. Come to think of it, that was the test she was going to study for after she left the shrieking shack with Regulus. It still came as a surprise that she had such a terrible time focusing, even if he was a cute boy. She'd gone home over the weekend, considering it was so near to the hidden relm of Hogwarts. That in itself was an adventure, but definitely not something she felt the need to even mention.

Indigo had ran into Ethan, but that wasn't going to fascinate Regulus at all. Probably Marlene, two very different people. "Not much considering, dancing mostly." Her father shoved her into that, so much it ALMOST took the joy out of it. "I planted a tree yesterday." She smiled proudly. That was the small bit about Indigo that completely yanked her away from the norm and made people find her peculiar. Most people wouldn't find boasting about a tree interesting in any way, shape, or form. "And what about you sir Black?" She smiled, and suddenly dropped herself into the grass, deciding this was as good a place to stop as any.

[brett]

Regulus watched Indi giving a short laugh after her comment. It seemed perhaps she disagreed with Regulus views on self esteem. Reg certainly wouldn't be holding that against her seeing as even he wasn't sure he completely agreed with his theory. "I don't think it's a shame, I rather like you as a girl," Reg smiled. He would much prefer to lose to a female Indi then win against a male version of her...especially considering the fact they were about to go for a walk at night among the grounds and were holding hands.

Reg nodded giving Indi a slight 'who else would I be talking to' look when she tried clarifying where he had directed the question. "Well torture is always a good option," Reg smiled as if Indi had said she went for ice cream. Of course he was joking, very few serious words seemed to come out of his mouth when he was around Indigo. And it seemed she was usually the same way.

"I didn't know you were a dancer...or a tree planter for that matter. I'd say we should go dancing sometime, but I thing we'd be better off planting trees," Reg smiled. Regulus wasn't exactly Captain Planet, but he did love trees...at least he loved hanging out in the forest...which mostly consisted of trees. As for dancing however, he was not so gifted. He could however nod his head and shoulders to a beat with the best of them.

"Me? Well, nothing of great interest really. Spent time at the lake, in the forest, mostly been in the commonroom I guess...read a little wrote a little," Reg shrugged. Wow that was a pretty boring span of time, even by his standards. He had been thinking about Indi a lot and about their next meeting...this meeting. Hopefully it would go as well as he dreamed it would the night after there first encounter. That had been his last solid night of sleep...and the last pleasant dream he had before his sleep once again became haunted by nightmares.

[Indigo Grace]

"That's good, because I don't think I'm planning switching genders anytime soon, I rather like myself this way as well." It wasn't as if Indigo could be anything but; she was much too girly and feminine for that. She laughed out loud at his good option bit, eying him suspiciously. "Not to myself. Do you do that sort of thing often Regulus?" She questioned, not doubting at all that Bellatrix did, but never being able to see him that way. It was almost comical to imagine.

"Yes, well....it's mainly my father's idea." He personally thought it was the only talent he possessed, and wanted her to maintain it. If she couldn't dance, what else did she have? Indigo soon developed the same thinking. "I truely love it. It's just a little..frusrating after awhile." After three hours of practice, that is. "Next time I go tree planting, I'll be sure to invite you along." She smiled, but said it with all seriousness. Never tease Indigo about her weird anti-global warming obsessions. "And are you saying you have two left feet?" Indi smirked, most guys felt self conscious about that sort of thing.


"Sounds like you've been around." Indigo blinked and shook her head. "And that totally came out different then I meant it" She laughed lightly, running the cold grass through her fingers. She stood up gracefully and held out her hands to him. "Alright. dancing is really not that hard, and I'll show you. You just move to the beat, and if there is none, pretend like you know what you're doing." Even if you were an awful dancer, you always looked better if you showed confidence. But she was going to show him how, it wasn't difficult, at least to her. The moon was shining directly through the trees, and it was giving off plenty of light.