Oh St. Valentine, how you make my life hell.

On Valentine’s Day, supposedly the most romantic day of the year according to Witch Weekly columnist Unity Richmond, nothing could dampen the spirits of Hogwarts students in love; not even rain. As quickly as the puddles formed, the impact of shoe-clad feet disrupted them. The water reared from the collision, reaching up and winding around the bare legs of the more foolish women and the denim of the jeans worn by their less than formal lovers. From under the eaves of the post office, Athena watched as the rain tumbled from the clouds, showering couples of every age until their clothes were sodden and their flesh had risen in goose pimples. Wrapped up in her plum-coloured winter robes, Athena had managed to escape the rain with only the humidity being the cause of her hair gaining curls. She’d buried her face into the ermine fur that trimmed the robes, brushing her cheeks against it in order to keep them from pinking in the bitterly cold air that danced through the village. She knew some colour in her cheeks would not have gone amiss but it wasn’t necessary. She didn’t have to be the picture of good health; she could merely glare out at the world to her heart’s content. Her health really wasn’t something that needed to be forged until she found herself in company - not that she intended to.

This day, the fourteenth of February, was, as far as she was concerned, the most loathsome day of the year. She couldn’t think of anything worse. Though, she had a funny feeling that had she had someone to share it with, she wouldn’t have such a negative view on it. But then, she doubted that. It would be terrifically unlike her if she found she enjoyed the day if she had someone to enjoy it with. No, Athena would maintain her hatred for the day. After all, she couldn’t think of anything worse than having to deal with the company of some insufferable toad her step-mother had set her up with for the day. No, Athena would not resign herself to being a mere trophy for a man to boast about to his friends. No, she had her freedom now. She was going to enjoy it, even if it was only partial freedom. She had some money, certainly enough to get her by until she needed a job. Upon being cut off, she made sure to leave the house with just the right amount of drama, not forgetting to take everything she owned with her, either. There was plenty to sell, if it came down to it. But though she wouldn’t readily admit it, Athena would have rather gotten a job.

After watching a dozen or so couples get drenched in the downpour, Athena resigned herself to the fact that she too would have to get out of the rain. Most were heading either to Madam Puddifoot’s or to The Three Broomsticks. Athena didn’t want to be seen in either but she didn’t want to go there mostly because she didn’t want to have to watch simpering couples. So instead she drew her hood up over her hair, smiling involuntarily as the ermine tickled her temples, and wrapped her arms around herself before stepping out from under the eaves and into the rain which left her sopping before she’d even crossed the street. Athena picked up her pace, hurrying down the street, weaving between the couples that were running the opposite way to herself. With her robes swishing out behind her, she made quite the sight for any onlookers. She was, as far as they were concerned, a faceless example of Pureblood extravagance.

The Hog’s Head was Athena’s destination. It wasn’t conventional by any means and certainly would’ve been overlooked by the loved up couples further up the road. She slipped under the eaves of the jittery building and brandished her wand, casting drying spells over her robes. She exhaled gently when she began to warm once more and turned her back on the street to enter the dingy pub.

The warmth hit Athena almost immediately and she shed her robes, draping them over the back of an empty chair. She threw her arms up over her head, stretching, before letting them drop and brushing invisible lint off of the skirt of her dress. She then took some galleons from the pocket of her robes and made her way to the bar where a bearded old wizard made sidled over to her, wiping pint glasses. She ordered a Butterbeer, deciding not to start on anything else because a quick glance at her watch told her it had only just gone noon. The barman nodded, mumbling something about needing to go and change the barrels and promised to be back before trudging out of the door behind the bar. Athena sighed and slipped up onto the barstool, resigning herself to the fact that she’d have to wait; impatient as ever.

A trip to the hairdresser's and Kendall was good to go again. Not that he was never not good to go, but even perfection needed a grooming once in awhile. Today's late morning agenda, which was really also the first task for the day, was for a much needed trim. Typically, the salon at Hogsmeade would be Kendall's last resort. Being seen going in or coming out of the place was really not something he would have chosen should he even have other options. Unfortunately, vanity had the last say. After all, appearances articulated the worth of a person, no matter what people would say in their attempts to seem like they didn't subscribe to the superficiality of it all.

From where he stood, just outside the hairdresser's, Kendall could observe an early crowd that had decided to make Honeydukes their first agenda of the day. It was, after all, Valentine's Day. Kendall didn't understand the hype of it all. After all, it was, to him, a muggle tradition. Unlike most of his peers, though, the boy didn't loathe muggles. Why hate them when you could play with them? No, Kendall didn't hate. It was not his cup of tea. He was not angry, nor was he a bitter person. He was, instead, an opportunist. Like his father, life was meant to be a brilliant joke, and the world was meant to be a playground. Too bad for most, the sort of humour the Rookwoods possessed was a very ill one. It was never not at the expense of someone else's pain, whether one was even conscious of it or not.

You're looking very Kendall today. The boy smiled approvingly at himself through the reflection of the salon window, shortly after waving at a posse of younger girls from Hufflepuff, because obviously they were offering him a lot of attention when they spotted him from across the street at Honeydukes, and Kendall lived to please his fans. The hairdresser, who was delighted to see Kendall, had offered to style is hair for him right after the trim. Yes, it was much better to delude the people around you into going a mile further to serve you, worship you, and lavish their attention all over you.

The weather, however, was one of the few things that Kendall could never manipulate. The boy would have ordered a mild chill, or even light snow, over the persistent rain that promised to plague the day. Thankfully, the salon wasn't without magic, so his hair could stay more stubbornly in shape even with the antagonistic rain. His clothes, however, didn't enjoy the same fortune. Having ensured that his robes hid his clothes well under, Kendall stepped out from under the shelter of the salon's entrance, and began to stride to a place he could trust for some drink to settle his already very comfortable state of mind.

The Hog's Head was an easy choice. It was hardly the popular one for the type of crowd that Kendall wasn't anticipating on this day. The boy had no plans. He was used to making plans along the way. Whatever that would catch his eye would be his muse for the day. Of course, almost everytime, it would have to be some girl. Like his father, Kendall found great pleasure in watching other's suffer, and girls. Sometimes the two would mix. Oftentimes, though, Kendall would be contented with just the latter. He was still a little young to be fashioning consistent plans to fuse the two together. It was more the case of a lack of opportunities rather than insufficient ability to do so, though.

The warmth of the pub welcomed the boy, who really wasn't much fussed about temperature. Kendall liked the cold. As a little boy, he would attempt to go hours in just a shirt, outdoors in the garden in Winter, just to see how much his body could take. Sure, there were certainly times when the experiences made him ill. Nevertheless, it possibly made his body stronger against the cold. A habitual scan around the pub was done, where one lonesome but alluring sight caught Kendall's attention, and naturally made the figure of the girl the muse that his mind set out for, for the day. With a smirk of delight, Kendall took his time to stroll to Athena, removing his robes on the way and letting them rest from his forearm.

It was a rather odd relationship that he shared with Athena. The affection had grown between the two some time along the way of growing up at Hogwarts, but was continuously subjected to inconsistency. Perhaps the emotions didn't move in any lessening direction, but the expressions did fluctuate. Initially, Kendall could not understand the strange attachment he felt towards the girl. Soon enough, though, he coped with self-restraint and other distractions. After all, he was taught from an early age to never succumb his thoughts and emotions to anyone else bar his father. He could at least look and act the part, even if that had been, so far, a rather impossible job in his head. Of course, Kendall didn't even think about his heart. He believed he could only love one thing, his pleasure. Everything else was meant to serve that purpose.

Quickly enough, Kendall was positioned just behind the barstool that was next to the one Athena was on. He had concluded its comfortable distance, not too near and not too far, even as he made his way to the girl. "Well, I'm here now. You can begin to make your last wish." Chuckling at his daft attempt at being a knob to Athena, Kendall then turned to face her while still smirking in amusement. "Happy Valentine's Day, Miss Goyle. Waiting for someone?"

The bar was filled with a comfortable amount of people. From where she was sat, Athena lifted her eyes across the tables, taking in every face that grimaced, curled in laughter and tipped back to glug pints of beer. She turned her gaze to the bar and brushed her hand across the glossy mahogany, surprised at the smoothness of the texture. A small smile ghosted across her lips and Athena lifted her eyes up once more, dancing them around the bar in search of the barman who had long since disappeared. With a heavy sigh, she dropped her gaze and began to twirl the coins in her hand. Momentarily distracted by this, she did not notice the door open and certainly didn’t lift her head to see who it was that had entered. Goose flesh soon rose on her bare arms and legs and though she was distracted, that did not stop her from beginning to shiver.

Athena slapped her hand down on the galleons, halting the twirling, and dragged her hands to her arms. She rubbed the skin, hoping to prompt some warmth in it. The door shut with a clang and once again, warmth filled the room. She dropped her hands into her lap, allowing the warmth of the room to slip into her skin once more. Of course, she wasn’t deaf to the sound of footsteps coming towards her. She turned a little, unsurprised (much to her surprise) to see Kendall stood there. Athena’s eyes narrowed immediately and turned her head away as he spoke, taking in his words but deciding against replying. She sniffed contemptuously in his direction and looked around in search of the bartender who, right on cue, had emerged from the back room and began to busy himself with making her a drink that definitely wasn’t Butterbeer. At this stage though, she didn’t mind.

“Don’t you know me well at all, Kendall?” Athena inquired, taking the glass offered to her by the barman. “I don’t appreciate being spoken to like one of your girls.” She slipped from her stool, gathering her coins from the side. “You can pay.” She told him with a self-satisfied smirk before sidling past him and heading back towards her table where she took her seat, sitting back in it and relishing in the feeling of the heat of the fire licking at the back of her neck.

Kendall's smirk of amusement began to fade, before it slipped into a mixed expression of curiosity and a milder sort of humour stirring in his head as he contemplated the possibilities of thoughts in Athena's head. Almost immediately, he abandoned the thoughts and merely observed the girl from where he stood. After all, he knew by now that the lack of interest and the cold attitude were just the way she was, and somehow, he should be used to it by now. Still, Kendall could not deny the minute disappointment in failing to impress Athena easily; and yet, he also could not deny the appeal of the challenge she presented.

Kendall was about to speak again, when he thought he was rudely interrupted by the barman. The boy stared at the drink that was set on the tabletop in front of Athena, yet another curious attempt of guessing. He knew better than to ask about it, though. Instead, Kendall eyed the barman and gestured for another one of the same. That was obviously the easiest way to find out what the girl was having, since he was obviously under the impression that Athena had ordered something out of the ordinary that promised to be interesting.

Athena had spoken just as Kendall asked for a drink, and he turned to express his attention to her words before raising an eyebrow to her assumption, before she made her way to a seat. Not one to be fussed about paying, chiefly because the money was all his father's anyway, Kendall shrugged and paid the barman accordingly for both of their drinks. Without waiting for a change, the boy turned and followed to where Athena had settled herself at.

With a mild hand gesture, Kendall made as if to ask if he could join Athena at her table. Really, though, it was a pointless act, because he didn't wait for her answer before settling himself in a seat opposite to where she sat at. Still, Kendall maintained a cheeky smirk on his face. Athena knew him, and he was comfortable with her, even though they shared moments like this when she would make herself a challenge; although the girl must have known, even though her actions were not deliberate in their intentions towards him, that Kendall was only going to keep trying.

Kendall lifted his drink, slightly, between them, and leaned a little over the table. "A Valentine's Day toast?" he chuckled, before bringing the glass to his lips to have his first taste of the odd drink. From the looks of it, the occasion wasn't very pleasing to Athena. Yet, it was precisely that conclusion that made his attempts at reminding her about the day more entertaining. Setting his drink back down on the table, Kendall eyed the girl before speaking again.

"You misunderstand my intentions, love. I didn't speak to you like that with the same intentions I have when I speak to my ... girls, or whatever you call them. What girls? You, surely, don't subscribe to school gossip, do you?" Kendall asked, as if questioning Athena's taste in believing rumours about him, despite already knowing his own reputation among other students, something the girl obviously knew well of too. "No, I was merely relying on a weak attempt at unsettling that glum look on your face." Kendall took another taste of the drink and continued to contemplate about it.

"Can't you say that I've tried, at least?" Kendall grinned, wondering where he was going to push their conversation to, or even which buttons to push, hoping to get a sort of rise from Athena.

Really, her dress was too delicate for the splintered wood of the chair she’d decided to sit upon. The ermine that trimmed her cloak tickled the backs of her arms as she sat there, tracing the rim of her glass. She knew that Kendall would follow. He was predictable, though not because what he did was necessarily clichéd. It was, of course, but it wasn’t because of that that he was predictable. No, she just knew him too well. She counted her galleons now, knowing that she needed to save what she had. She’d received her last instalment weeks ago. Her father had been explicit - no more money until she found herself ‘someone’. He wasn’t particular anymore. He knew not to put her up for bidding - she’d never forgive him - but he was at a loss as to what to do with her. He was a fool, really, for thinking her very existence depended on his money. She was doing well enough without his help, thank you very much. If she needed money, there was always Satan’s.

As it was, money wasn’t going to be an issue. Athena hadn’t been frivolous since Christmas, purposely splurging on items such as the ermine-trimmed robes just so her father had a hefty bill. She’d been taking lessons from a pair of giddy Ravenclaws, eager to teach her ways to change the colours of her clothes and other useful cosmetic spells. Not that Athena needed to know any cosmetic spells, mind you. She settled for the glamour spells that took the edge off of her thinness. She was skinny, always had been, but there was a fine line between her being skinny and her being quite dangerously underweight. She was nearing towards the latter and despite eating more than enough, the stress was beginning to get to her. It was something she perhaps would have considered talking to Mira about but the girl would have brushed her off or proceeded to gush about Elijah.

That wasn’t what she wanted or needed. Still, Mira’s company would have been appreciated. Pricilla’s would have been good too but like Mira, she wouldn’t have given Athena any useful advice. She’d gush about someone, everyone or Elijah. Typical.

Athena broke from her reverie when a Kendall shaped blur danced in her peripheral vision. She turned her body slightly, her eyes floating over to rest on him in a glare. Her fingers curled around the glass, their pallor seeming even whiter against the red of the liquid inside. Athena moved as if to meet Kendall’s toast but changed course, bringing the glass to her lips instead. She smirked at him over the rim, her eyes lowering to the table as she drank before placing the glass back down. It was oddly sweet but not sickly so. He was however; he was ridiculously sickly sweet.

“Don’t you have someone else to harass?” Athena asked impatiently, her eyes narrowing at Kendall again.

Athena laughed coldly and leaned forward, an odd glint of mirth in her gaze. Absent-mindedly, she ran her index finger around the rim of the glass, watching his face for a reaction as she did so. “Do they really count as rumours if there is more than just a little bit of truth involved? I’d say they’re more like exaggerated tales, especially where you’re concerned.” Athena smirked but wrinkled her nose at his next words. “Glum? Me? Who do you think I am?” Yet, despite her accusing tone, her eyes still sparkled with amusement. “Yes, dear.” She intoned. “You tried. Not nearly hard enough, though. It was a pitiful attempt. Try again. Where’s all that Rookwood charm gone?”

After his third taste of the mysterious drink, Kendall decided that he didn't like it. Still under the impression that Athena had picked the drink on her own accord, he began to wonder about her taste, or rather, her mood behind the choice. Regardless, he was going to finish his drink, before ordering a Quintin Black, his usual during times at Hog's Head. Kendall licked his lips before turning his attention back to Athena, his eyes gleaming with cheeky interest.

"Athena, love, I can't be asked to command my attention anywhere else, really. Won't you say that it'll be an offence of sorts?" Kendall, obviously, made that rhetorical and didn't wait for Athena's reply before he continued. "Well, a man's got to have his toys. I'm sure you understand that. Haven't you got a couple of play-things on your own too?" Kendall ran his hand through his hair, an attempt to mask nonchalance to a question he had contemplated about all the time whenever he thought about the girl, before he realised that his hair today was a lot different than usual -- the hairdresser had put things in it, and it wasn't fluffy. Kendall dealt with the awkward dislodging of his habit with a soft clearance of his throat.

"Exaggerated tales, you say?" Kendall picked out on what Athena possibly implied. He shrugged indifferently. "What can I say? They came for some Kendall, and they left happy." A smug grin appeared on the boy's face, before he reached for his drink again, this time finishing it before he set the glass down again and waved for a bar staff without considering if the other guy was even meant to wait on customers. Fortunately for Kendall, the gangly guy set away the glasses that he was clearing, and proceeded almost too obediently to their table.

Kendall muttered his order to the bloke before shooting a smirk at Athena, as if already pleased with what he was going to say, having it lined up in his head. "The Rookwood charm is going to buy you another drink." Without much thought, he produced more galleons than needed, and placed them on the table. With a dismissive wave of his hand, Kendall gestured for all to be taken, before setting his elbows back down on the table to eye Athena in an unnerving manner.

"Anything on the Athena Agenda today, love?" Kendall chuckled and licked his lips, obviously in a good mood. It was actually rather typical to find the boy in a decent mood. Even as he found himself among people, he lived a lot in his head, mostly getting a kick out of the nasty thoughts produced by his brain about people, taking joy in a secret joke about what his eyes had picked up on. "Waiting for your Valentine?" Again, he brought the subject up, hoping to get an irritated retort from it, but also really wondering about her answer should it be a positive one.

The barman had been cheeky in his choice of drink. Athena had said to herself that she wasn’t going to start until absolutely necessary. She wasn’t that dismayed by the whole charade of Valentine’s Day, she wasn’t dead set on getting blind drunk. No, she was feeling rather calm considering it was a day high up on her list of worst days of the year. The alcohol was certainly taking the edge off. Needlessly, she might add, but still, it left her feeling quite a bit better than Butterbeer would have done. Kendall didn’t seem to like the drink. In truthfulness, Athena wasn’t keen on it either but she drank it all the same, keeping her tongue plastered to the roof of her mouth as she processed each sip, hoping to maybe coax her taste buds into enjoying it. It was for the most part, to no avail but she was reluctantly warming to it; and if Kendall asked, it was because it helped block out his presence.

Kendall was trying at times but Athena couldn’t believably deny that she didn’t enjoy his company. No, she enjoyed the banter that the rest had an irritating habit of falling short on. She didn’t know why it always went back to his habit of, within reason, bedding everything that moved. His phrasing was crude as ever. Athena hid her amusement behind the glass and set it down when she assumed it was her turn to speak. She had the decency to look appalled at his suggestion but she wasn’t quick to deny anything. In fact, Athena merely quirked an eyebrow upwards at his words and openly smirked at him.

“That’s unfair,” she told him, her smirk widening across her face. “To call them play-things is insulting. I don’t mess around.” Athena shook her head and lifted the glass to her lips again. Yes, begrudgingly she was warming to it, similarly to the way she was warming to Kendall - begrudgingly. “Besides, there are only so many to go through before it gets terribly boring. You become something of a veteran to the whole affair, bored of it. Still,” Athena took another sip of her drink and brushed a few curls away from her face. “You can’t deny that there are plenty more fish in the sea, so to speak.”

Athena snorted in a rather unladylike but Athenalike fashion. Kendall was an idiot, not to mention deluded. That didn’t mean he wasn’t completely lacking in the charm department. There was much left to be desired about Kendall Rookwood but much was in jest as he proved to possess more of what Purebloods aspired to than the Malfoys who had long since fallen from favour. It was the smaller families like the Rookwoods, the Macnairs and even the Goyles that had become favourites both because of the economy of their families and also because of what they had to offer. “I’m sure they did,” She retorted, sarcasm heavy in her tone.

The barman didn’t seem at all impressed at being ordered around in such a careless fashion but he trudged over all the same, taking away the glasses. Athena wasn’t disappointed to see the bizarre drink go. Seeing it slosh around in the glass though, she finally clicked what it was. “Elf-made wine!” She exclaimed with a look of delight on her face. Once it registered though, Athena made a face. “Tasty.” She added with a slight laugh. “Oh. That was horrible. The elves must have had quite a bit of Butterbeer before making that. Yuck!”

Athena opened her eyes, her face straightening out from the cringe. She jumped in her seat upon seeing Kendall so close and she reached forward to flick him on the nose. “Personal space, Mr. Rookwood.” She told him with a smile. “The Athena Agenda is quite open actually. Once the rain eases off and the idiots take to the streets again after unwittingly drinking Madam Puddifoot’s love potion tea, I thought I’d go back to the castle. Unless you could suggest something better of course?” Athena raised her eyebrows at him before furrowing them and scowling at Kendall. “What about you? Surely you have a date for today?”

Kendall cocked an eyebrow before he shook his head and grinned at Athena, amused at the connotations behind her claim of getting tired of the motions of messing around. "Spoken like a true veteran." And if there was a glass for him on the table, Kendall would have raised it in a mock performance of a toast, as if to a worthy equivalent in a game. That was not far from the truth, really. Kendall was never too expressive about the elitism in his beliefs. Like the other Pureblood Slytherins, he was hardly partial in his thoughts about people. Unlike them, he didn't often reveal the truth in his opinions. Kendall was actually liked, believing that he was having the last laugh about it all at the end. With Athena, though, the boy had recognised a certain sort of respect she commanded, even from him. That was, therefore, really not far from the truth.

Kendall chuckled along with Athena's reaction to his cocky statements about himself. Of course, a part of him wanted to prove it all and make sure that the girl was going to agree with him at the end of it all. Yet, he knew her well enough to quell that desire, distracting himself with trailing his eyes from her eyes to her neck, obviously lingering cheekily there before cruising lower. It was meant for her to notice, his leering attempt. Sure, she should have been subjected to these by now. Still, he enjoyed being like this if only to effect a rise in her. Typically, Kendall acted a lot more decently around the other girls. After all, girls bought into romance, and he performed accordingly. Athena, on the other hand, he knew, didn't seem to care too much about that. Rather, she was a lot more fun to toy with in this fashion.

"They did, love. They did. Didn't you?" Kendall teased dangerously. "Or would you like some reminders?" Then, adopting a contemplative look in jest, he continued. "Ah, happy times." Chuckling to himself, Kendall licked his lips and continued to watch Athena, raising his eyebrows at her announcement about the mystery drink. At that, he made a face. He was not impressed, and evidently, so was Athena. Kendall leaned back in his seat once again, comfortably scanning the place even as he had his attention on her.

"I can always suggest something better, of course." Kendall smirked. "And your confidence in that warms the depths of my heart, Thea." Athena had began to warm to him again, even with the rather lengthy hiatus between the both of them where both rarely spoke to each other, and Kendall wasted no time scattering reminders of their familiarity in what he said, and how he said them to her. "I am something better. And the Athena Agenda could do with it." Kendall paused and lightly tapped a finger against his chin before he continued. "I can't be asked, again, to entertain dates today ... especially not when the Athena Agenda is now taken into consideration. No, that would be offensive, too. Thoughts?" Kendall reached up with the intention to ruffle his hair, before he remembered why he couldn't again, then proceeded to touch it slightly before letting his hand fall. "The Kendall will fix that scowl, you think?" The boy smirked suggestively before he asked, "what does going back to the Castle entail, love?"

Slytherins were cocky and arrogant by nature but none quite as cocky and arrogant as Kendall Rookwood. It wasn’t as if he was cocky and arrogant for no reason, though. Much to Athena’s dismay he wasn’t totally lacking in the qualities that gave him the right to be cocky and arrogant. Still, it didn’t hurt to knock him off his self-imposed pedestal once in a while. Sometimes though, Athena felt as if she was alone in desiring to do this. But then, she thought, where was the satisfaction in seeing the expression on his face contort in embarrassment and frustration if she knew it happened more often than not and not because of her barbed wit. Today though, Athena wasn’t entirely sure whether Kendall deserved some ill-treatment - courtesy of yours truly, Athena added mentally. The Slytherin was asking for some sort of rise out of her, that she could tell, but she wasn’t prepared just yet to act on his baiting. She’d give him a little bit of time to rethink his actions; a little bit. But of course, he pushed it.

Athena inclined her head upwards, setting her jaw stubbornly as she glared over at him. Her hand came to rest on the table and her nails, a feminine shade of pale pink, began to drum against the chipped wood. She’d clearly not dressed herself that morning, allowing instead for the girls to flock around and dress her as they’d been doing with everyone in their dorm. Athena hadn’t the energy to complete her morning routine and they had been more than willing so she’d taken up their offer, now wondering whether she’d made the correct choice. It was a pretty enough dress but it did make her seem a little less threatening than usual. Still, the mane of curls set on her shoulder still had their sinister, ivy-like quality about them. She was thankful for at least that. He was still pushing his luck though and until she decided which course of action was the best to pursue, Athena would remain ignorant.

Continuing to scowl, Athena rose from her seat. “Butterbeer,” She scoffed, rolling her eyes. With that said, Athena made her way back to the bar where she picked up the glasses the bartender had only just filled, instructing him to bring the bottles. Athena placed the glasses down on the table upon returning and took her seat again, gesturing to Kendall’s glass. “Something better than Butterbeer,” she told him as she picked her glass up off of the table and brought it to her lips. He continued without seemingly taking a breath, his teasing ceasing not even for a moment. Athena managed to keep her cool though, glad that her temper had cooled to something of a simmer since entering the pub. Still, Kendall was determined to rile her and she wondered how far he would go to spring a reaction from her - or how long it would take, for that matter.

Athena’s eyes snapped up to Kendall, darkening rapidly as the endearment her father had given her as a child rippled from his lips. Her grasp tightened on the glass, her nails turning from the pale pink to a deep red from the excess magic bubbling around her and form in cosmetic spells. “Don’t you dare call me that, Kendall Rookwood.” She hissed, her voice dangerous and hot with her fury. Her next movements were coming together without much thought put into them. She slammed the glass down on the table, thankful that the drink did not slosh around the sides, and rose from her seat, responding to him as she grappled for her coat. “There is no Athena Agenda and you’re certainly not part of it!” But still he kept talking, his tone becoming increasingly suggestive and further laden with innuendo. Finally, Athena tore her wand from her pocket and brought it down on his form, the end beginning to spark. “Do you want to be lacking in a testicle or do you want to retain it?” She questioned, hoping to have effectively silenced him with her threat. “I’m leaving,” She announced before whirling around and stalking towards the door.

Thea.

Her mind burned with the word as it replayed her father’s sweet way of saying her nickname. Not anymore, it hastened to add. No, now she was just Athena. Never had she been just Athena. But then again, never was an absolute and the Gods adored toying with those that used them.

Kendall had a penchant for pain. He didn't entirely recognise that inclination about himself, and he was sure it was something no one else recognised, let alone comprehended, too. Certainly, Augustus would have an idea of it, but only just as much as his son. After all, it was the older Rookwood that made the younger one this way. Certainly, Kendall enjoyed the pain of others. He was, however, only beginning to realise his sick pleasure from having it fall on himself too. The boy didn't mind it so much, he merely saw it as a strength. After all, what can really scare him, if he took pleasure in what scares him? Of course, that was not to say that Athena prompted all these thoughts about Kendall. Rather, he took delight in her attempts to torment him, especially with her words. There was a reason, after all, to why he seemed to keep going back to her for more. Even so, he still had to lure her to do so. Kendall was not complaining, however. There was no one who could do it better than her; no one he was sufficiently interested in, at least.

When Athena got up from her seat, Kendall thought she was leaving. As much as he wanted to make the move to prevent her from doing so, he kept his composure and watched her, relieved to see her head to bar to get drinks for them before returning. The boy smirked, as though smug from the thought that she was really enjoying her time with him, despite the supposed façade. Kendall watched Athena began to drink from her glass, admiring her neck, yet again. It was as if he had some fond memories there that almost made him look at the place with nostalgia. He then picked up his glass and followed suit. Even so, Kendall had continued with his ceaseless attempts to push the girl closer and closer to the edge of her patience, deriving pleasure from watching her move towards the end of it, as he ignored the first warnings of her rage.

And then, it seemed, Kendall had played the trump card. He stopped abruptly, however, upon finding himself staring at the end of Athena's wand. Kendall managed, only as much as he possibly could, to stare back at it nonchalantly. The position of potential vulnerability, however, thrilled him. Watching Athena leave, however, did not. By this time, some heads had turned in the pub to the scene that was made. Slightly embarrassed, Kendall assumed a look of composure, but reached for his drink and be done with it. Once that was settled, he stood up, threw some galleons on the table for the drinks, and walked briskly towards the door. Once outside, however, he rushed to locate the girl with his eyes, before almost running towards her back as she walked on away from him. Given the head start Athena was allowed because of his composure of delay, Kendall took awhile before getting near enough to adopt her pace as he began to walk with, assuming that he could.

"There's not need for that, Thea-thena." He made a quick save at what was, this time, an honest slip of the tongue. "Glad to still be walking with both my testicles. They're the only part in my body that still works." The boy chuckled, on his own. And then, Kendall slipped into one of those rare times where he did not speak, as if he realised that it was time to put an end to the teasing. Instead, he walked in silence, but not for long. "Bad day?" Kendall licked his lips as he thought. "You know how I am, Thena. I don't mean it, not with you." That was possibly as far an apology as the boy could offer. Kendall could hardly be counted on to feel sorry. Even this was done only because it seemed warranted, and he probably knew better.