guilty as sin

Thorfinn was surprised to receive an owl from Athena and more so that she was sat in his home wishing to have a conversation with him. He had not seen her since the time between his betrothals and how he was taken by Emmeline. Over the last few weeks he had grown some fondness for the witch that would be his wife and believed with time they could grow to love each other and have a worthwhile marriage. He sat down across from her, azure hues locked on her face, trying not to let any old feelings stir behind them. "Yes, it appears I am." A pause," again." He took a deep breath. "Emmeline and I are navigating through this. I think we match well."

Never would she have thought she'd be in this position, sitting across the room from him, congratulating him for his betrothal to another and trying to do so in the sincerest way she could. It wasn't much, to be honest, but she couldn't keep from seeing him ever again-- that would, in turn, be too much for her. "Well, I'm glad, she's good on papers and quite pretty." The witch conceded, not much else she could say as the two had never been particularly close. A moment of silence, though, as she waved her options. Had she said enough to leave now or should she say what she truly wanted to? Her own blue eyes focused on his, a pang of hurt in her chest as she realized that would never go away. "I'm a proud person, I can own up to that, and I've been avoiding you. I don't want to anymore, you're far too important to me-- I just don't know how not to be..." A very much needed pause, she took a deep breath and rephrased her word. "How to be your friend."

"You're welcome. There's no need to apologise, your company is a nice surprise." Getting the opinion of a woman who wasn't related to him or to Agatha might be beneficial. He knew Athena to be honest and she would tell him if his idea sucked. "I need to come up with a romantic proposal. I almost ruined my chances with Agatha the last time." His ego could not take another no, even if as she had told him she wanted to say yes. Being romantic or thoughtful wasn't his strong suit so he was floundering.

"Thank you darling, it's always nice seeing you." The brunette was quick to say back, having found a good friend in Emir, one that shared her values and take on life. Taking a sip of the glass he'd poured for her, she raised her brows the slightest bit in surprise. "It's a really good beverage, I must say." With that said, the witch took a seat, turning her attention to the wizard as he spoke, surprised to have such matter brought up to her. "I might not be the best one to ask about proposals, as I've turned one myself quite recently and believe me, it was one I terrribly wanted to accept." She offered, not feeling all too versed when it came to love or relationships. "But do tell, are you proposing for love or because you simply have to?"

A voice that cut through the crowd, still reaching his ears despite everything caused the wizard to turn around. No time was wasted before the smirk was in place; signature with a sense of something hidden underneath. “What if I told you, it was neither?” Amycus slid into the seat offered mere seconds before. “You could say I am testing some new things. And there is nothing more fun than testing it on people who shouldn’t even be here.” There were a few among the crowd that seemed out of place; for good reason.

An interesting mind, the one he had. Athena had always been fascinated by Amycus and his ways, finding him surprisingly useful when the two were out on a mission. The witch had nothing but respect for him, but also a profound curiosity, eager to learn just how wicked he could be. Her own particular desire to watch things burn down to the ground and be the one wrecking havoc, she couldn't have found a better company for what was previously a boring night. "Do join in, darling." She said as her hand waved to the barmaid, enough a hint for the other to bring another bottle to their table. Her wondering gaze settled upon the wizard, the electric blue of her eyes glinting as she allowed her thoughts to wander free. "I'd be very keen on seeing the effects of your little test, could give a helping hand in finding the right target."

A few months ago, they had barely been talking which had been bad for them as well as their quidditch team, so she was glad that they had moved past that by now. She supposed it made sense that they had a similar type in men and that the same men were interested in both of them, but Emma was still Emma and as she had gotten what, who, she had wanted, she was pleased. "I do love a gift." She smirked, stepping aside to let Athena enter. "You should have let me know you were coming. What if I hadn't been home?"

Glad that their relationship was back to normal, Athena felt she could put her trust back with her teammate and rely on her as the friend and confidant she'd always been. "I would've left them with your elf and came back another time, surely." The witch explained easily, a smile forming on her lips. "But since you're home and it's a festive time, care to share some eggnog or hot chocolate and talk for a bit? I could use your advice, Emms."

where: pandora's flat when: third of january who: @ggathena

While Athena had refrained from engaging with other people much in the last month, she couldn't avoid those she was really close to-- and in all honesty, she didn't want to. At Pandora's invitation for tea, the witch had charmed the circles under her eyes to vanish away and had gone over with plans to have a good time at last. "Can't say no to your biscuits ever, love. But yes, please do share, and don't spare me any details." She told the other, quickly grabbing a seat and raising her brows expectantly.

Emir was surprised to have Athena visit him, not having expected her tonight, but tasking his elf to welcome her in. They were friends and he had manners, he would not turn her away. "You look gorgeous as always." He greeted her, taking the seat opposite to her. "What drink would you like? I got an excellent scotch recently. You would enjoy it. Now tell me, what's new with you?"

It wasn't an habit of hers to show up invited but it'd been a particularly difficult day for her and the two of them had always got along quite nicely. When she thought of someone to share a drink with, Emir easily popped into her mind. "Thank you, my love." Athena nodded her head at the compliment and smiled at the offer. "Well, I can't really say no to excellent scotch, so please do pour me a glass. I am sorry to come unanounced, terribly unpolite of me, but I did need a friend-- rought week and all. What about you, love?"

Ludo was often in the Three Broomsticks for once reason or another, tonight was simply because he was feeling like a drink and some snacks. But when a voice next to him spoke, he turned his head and grinned. Maybe there could be a better reason now. "I don't recall ever getting my ass kick so I suppose we'll have to go with options number two. Though I wouldn't be surprised if it was more of you missing my own pretty face."

A fun dynamic, Athena had certainly enjoyed the time shared with Ludo over the years, a somewhat friendly banter that extended beyond the quidditch pitch. The brunette chuckled at his reply, gesturing for the bartender to get her a drink before turning to the wizard and offering a lopsided smile. "Didn't figure you'd have such lousy memory." The witch joked, pondering his words in feigned thoughtfulness. "Only one part of that sentence can be true, whether it's that I missed your face or that your face is pretty is up to you, darling."

Athena Greengrass. Quite the dangerous territory if the woman knew about the decision that Cressida had made and seeing it seemed to go around pretty quickly… The chances would be big that she knew. But still she was going to try and act as normal as possible. “Hi Athena. I take it that is the main reason why people turn up here out of the blue, if that is the first thing you think of.” The worst thing was… It had been a reason for why she had turned up there as well. Or maybe the hope that she would be able to get Tib into training or something to watch. She would already be happy with that. But to get started on that right away, didn’t really feel like the right way to go. “How have you been?”

She'd been all too busy training, focused on work rather than anything else, not wanting to even think about failed relationships or new betrothals. To be fair, she hadn't been expecting any company, but tried nonetheless to be friendly or at least sociable. Not exactly in the mood but certainly one to remain respectful of those who belonged to the pureblood society. "Well, some of them do, I got a couple of crazy fans who like to sneak in and watch me fly around too." The brunette admitted, putting down her broom and tying up her hair. "I'm good, why do you ask?" Athena wondered, hoping Cressida hadn't hear about Thorfinn's news just yet. "How about you, darling?"

"You think I put myself in a position where he bosses me around?" Alecto may work for Dumbledore at Hogwarts, she still took to doing things her own way. The old man had no questioned it and she was able to move freely around the castle to learn any secrets that may be hidden within the stone walls. "There is a reason I am here." Her charms pulsed around the room, others unable to overhear her conversation with Athena at the moment. "Is anyone ever ready?" This was still a concept she was navigating with Rabastan. "This is what is required of purebloods. Your time will come."

Chuckling, the witch shook her head. “I know you too well, you’d never bend your arm, love.” It was true, Alecto was not someone to mess with and she wouldn’t be one to take orders from anyone, not even Dumbledore himself. “Is he too annoying, though?” Athena wondered, tapping her fingers on the desk before leaning backwards on her chair and shaking her head. “Oh Merlin, no. I’m not going to get married, there was only one and now there’s none– so no babies for me.”

Nothing was ever easy with them, but given the circumstances it was wiser for both to avoid any personal matter. They weren't here by choice, the dark lord had his reasons and neither would argue them nor go against what he had planned. Athena held back a sigh, nodding her head slowly and setting her mind on getting through with the mission, her anger could be unloaded on the peeping eyes of the stranger outside. "Good thing I'm in the mood to get my hands dirty, then." The witch stated, a very familiar smile growing on her lips as her most unhinged side took over, the one reason why it was her the dark lord might have wanted in on the mission. "Come now, love." She told him as she turned towards the door.

From what Thorfinn gathered, having the chance to move around the potential new safe house, it seemed it would benefit the Dark Lord. It was discrete enough that one would not seem to look a it for anything other than an old worn house by the river, but inside they could fit it up to what they would need. All that was left was to deal with the intruder the best way the two of them knew how to do, leaving all personal manner behind him and he could return home. "After you," the blonde followed after the witch out of the abondon home.