[ It's a normal day at Casa de.... Who even knows what to call this apartment, really. It's quite an odd collection of people, of which Cole is undoubtedly the oddest. He's a very unintrusive presence in their apartment, and he'll often leave for an entire day without returning. Or at least, that's what Mary and Zara would think. Sometimes he was there, but simply didn't want to be seen, so he wasn't. That's just the way Cole was, but at least after a while, Mary and Zara are probably getting used to it.

Today, however, he's at least here and visible, though he's sitting on one of the chairs Indian style, and for once, he's taken his hat off. It shows that messy, matted blonde hair, so he's only taking it off to clean it, since the hat is important to him. It's an odd thing, especially on a tall, skinny young man like Cole, but it's clearly something he treasures. As always, he's quietly doing his own thing, but as Zara comes by, he pauses in his work, then looks up to Zara.

It's rare for Cole's eyes to meet Zara's, but this time, he does so without hesitation. His clear, blue eyes have a sort of unsettling quality to them, since they give the impression that he's looking much deeper, though it's also hard to tell where that impression comes from.

At least, until he speaks. ]

...She doesn't think you let her down, Zara. She knows you tried your best to keep her there instead of going somewhere else.

[ The one thing that you never quite get used to with Cole is this, though. ]