ʰᵘᶰᵍʳʸ ᵈᵒᵍˢ ᵃʳᵉ ᶰᵉᵛᵉʳ ˡᵒʸᵃˡ

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟑. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

– “I MIGHT THINK HIGHLY OF MYSELF, BUT I CAN RECOGNIZE OTHERS TOO,” she says. “i definitely have no qualms about encouraging or looking up to others, there’s a lot of people here in this villa that i admire. it’s sort of a shame that you haven’t proven yourself to be one of them.” or at least, not one of the ones she’d admit to. over the past few weeks, it felt like a lot of people had proven themselves in different ways. but only time would tell. 

athena glowers as he laughs at her, hating the way it sounds. she does her best not to shift from discomfort, facial expression soft and unyielding. “oh, come on,” she scoffs, “that hardly qualifies as rejection. flaky, unreliable behavior, sure, but not rejection. you’re the one that asked me before you went running, remember?” it’s a petty argument and she knows it, but she’s not sure that he knows the weight it holds. if he does, she’s fucked. if he’s some idiot chasing other skirts, then sure, she’s been snubbed, but it’s much easier that way. “i don’t have to hate losing because i DON’T lose, although it’s pretty adorable that you think a dance with you is a valuable prize,” she laughs, shaking her head in disbelief. 

what she hates most is that he doesn’t back down – he won’t show his cards OR ask to see hers, he simply steps closer, rebuking any attempt she makes to read him. it’s like running at a wall. no one is getting anywhere and she has to shake out her hands after realizing she’s unconsciously had them clenched tightly into fists. she’s FRUSTRATED and god help her, why can’t she commit crimes in peace? can’t she roll around on money and diamonds without fending off wafting testosterone? 

“fine,” she says, stepping away from the door towards him. “if you know my weaknesses so well, why don’t you tell me about myself? don’t hold back,” athena challenges. 

ANY OTHER TIME, HER SNIDE REMARK MIGHT’VE MADE HIM REBUTTAL, but in this instance, he smiles to himself wondering if he hasn’t proven himself, then why would she be here, or wasting any time or energy on him? and sure, there’s always the reason for him being suspicious of her, but hercules has an inkling there’s more to it than that. “ that so? i haven’t proven myself to be one of them at all by your standards? ” he asks as he furrows his brows. 

“ so tell me, then. how many times have you dealt with flaky unreliable behavior versus some people who cancel everything in their day just to pathetically fall under your spell? ” he questions, admittedly leaving out that she’s right, he was the one who asked her, but he also caught himself before he too started acting pathetic. “ you know what i think? i think that’s bullshit. everyone loses at something. some of us are just better at hiding it than others. and i’ll admit, i’m not the best dancing partner, but it’s not about that. it’s the principle of who’s not the one left looking foolish, isn’t it? ”

he can’t help but notice they’ve shifted into the threshold of a much more tense and arguably serious arena of confrontation when she too takes a step closer closing the space between them out. “ cute, it’s not a surprise that you’re questioning to know about yourself. ” he rolls his eyes, hoping that buys him some time while he hums on his thoughts. 

“ fine. let’s get the basics out of the way, you’re only comfortable in dynamics you can control and pull the strings to your own accord, which tells me it’s because someone’s controlled you in the past. ” he narrows his eyes slightly as he takes another step closer. “ and you never want to be rejected, that’s easily sourced back to the control thing, you know. rejection is a reminder of being broken down mentally, not feeling deserving, someone making you feel like you need them. if you’re not powerful, on your own, you’re no better than they said. but this is just a shot in the dark, how am i doing so far? ” he has his doubts about being wrong, but his expression doesn’t falter. 

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟏. — 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚.

“Sure,” Hera said, with a shrug. As much as she didn’t like it, this would probably be the last time in a while they would get for any kind of relaxation, naps or meditation sessions alike. In her lap, her hands twisted around each other. She kept a composed facade up, but her mind was always working overtime, and the movement of hands was an outward display of her thought process. “Nice to know you aren’t busy,” she said, matching his jovial tone, even if the words rang a little coolly. “I wouldn’t be here if I thought it wouldn’t work. I’m not in the habit of backing the wrong horse,” she leaned back in her seat, surveying him with an interest that wasn’t there before. “If you’re not sure, why are you here? Seems a big risk to take if you don’t believe it could work.”

TRY AS HE MIGHT, he wouldn’t admit that he used being underestimated to his own advantage. everyone had something, and hell, he was good at making people think one thing about him while he was busy sussing them out. “ gotta kill time somehow until showtime, you know? ” he joked with a playful shrug. “ your confidence is surprisingly comforting. ” and hera’s question required hercules to give some considerate thought for a lingering moment. “ i mean, is it bad to say i’m doubtful of everything? not that i don’t believe in the cause, but i’m used to the rug being pulled out from under me, i guess in short. it doesn’t mean i don’t wanna be here. hope for the best and prepare for the worst, right? ”

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟑. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

– “I DID NOT SAY YOU WERE CLEVER,” SHE RESPONDS QUICKLY, “i just said that you were clever enough. there’s a difference.” although she does have a certain level of respect for him, and she definitely doesn’t think of him as unintelligent. she wouldn’t be worried about him if she thought he was truly an idiot. but he’s not, and therefore, he’s a threat – and she has to keep her guard up. she’s just too prideful and perhaps too petty to pay him a genuine compliment.

the moment he stands up, she wishes he’d sit back down. athena preferred the towering angle she held over him, and even more so, she’s worried the distance is necessary. “why be modest when there’s no need?” she says, a teasing smile playing on her lips. it’s easy to slip back into old banter.

the moment he says her name, she can feel her heart race, and she shuts the door behind her, holding on to the distance by leaning back against it. aside from zeus, no one on the team should know her real name and no one has called her by it. the sound of it is sobering, a reminder that she’s still the same person despite how much fun it is to be athena. “don’t flatter yourself,” she dismisses. “i get that you’ve probably been passed around enough in life to lack some basic communication skills, one moment you can’t stop talking to me, the next you’re avoiding me as if i’ve killed your cat. you want to grab drinks, then you can’t get away fast enough.”

she tilts her head upward to meet his eyes, seeking out an answer. she’s intent enough to stare him down, to not break eye contact. “what is it, spencer? you’re freaked because you can’t figure me out? get over yourself.”

“ DO YOU EVER GET TIRED OF THAT? of trying to seem like you don’t actually give a shit? ” he wonders, although the question could easily be reversed. still, he can’t help but smile due to how she went out of her way to over explain that the compliment, wasn’t actually one. in a way, he gets it. actually, in a lot of ways he gets it. whether or not hercules wants to admit it, they’re a lot alike. 

his lips tugs into a smile upon hearing her jest. “ hey, save some of that attitude for the rest of us who aren’t you. ” he remarks sarcastically, he wouldn’t actually feed her ego, but jeering never hurt anyone. he can’t help but notice her demeanor change when he utters her name, and he raises his brow as if he’s realizing that is the source of the power he might have over her. 

he’s guarded, but there’s a small part of him that felt the jab from her comment about being passed around. he just tries vigilantly not to let it show on his face. and there it is, she did get bothered by him leaving her hanging on the dance floor.

he starts to laugh as he wears the smirk he knows she hates. it’s easier than feeling as if he’s being backed into a corner to answer for what he’s done. “ you’ve really never been rejected before, have you? that’s the real issue. not that you wanted to have drinks and keep talking, or dance, or wherever the night went. i think you hate losing. ”

he doesn’t let up on this newly founded staring contest, the tension was already there, but now, it felt amplified at least ten times more. so stubbornly so, he takes a step closer to her. “ i don’t need to figure you out, to know your weaknesses. they’re all so obvious already. ” he says with now a deadpan expression, and an unwavering stubbornness in his voice. 

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟑. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

– “YOU HEARD ME,” SHE SNAPS BACK, and it’s impossible not to roll her eyes as she looks down at him. just hearing his voice reminds her of what it is about him that infuriates her, and he doesn’t have to say anything more to piss her off. but he DOES. “i know you’re not the brightest, but i’m aware you’re clever enough to know what i’m talking about.” she certainly doesn’t want to give him any power, but it’s hard when she’s devoted so much worry to it. 

he was present for a time in her past that she fears the most, and regardless of the ways she tries to outrun it, she feels lost and frustrated that she can’t. he might be hopelessly unaware, but that doesn’t change the ways that she’s never quite gotten over what she’s done, and it’s only manifested itself in his presence. and there’s perhaps further attachment, something she won’t admit to.

“i’ll try my best to control myself, thanks,” athena retorts with a tight-lipped smile. “i just think it’s clear that there’s an issue, and i highly doubt you want to go into the mint without me on your side,” she says, “honestly, it’s highly generous of me to give you the chance to explain yourself.” she leans her head against the doorframe, heart racing. “so, out with it. what’s your problem?”

AS MUCH AS HE TRIES TO PLAYS IT OFF, her tenacity amuses him. well that and, he has a hunch that he’s already getting under her skin with his evasive reluctancy. “ and i’m not disputing that. ” he continues to rebuttal. after all, his wisecracks are his guard, which is something he saw as necessary around athena, or at least... that’s what he told himself. the moment hercules hears her say ‘clever’ his expression lightens up. sure, it’s a backhanded compliment, but it’s a a compliment, nonetheless. “ you think i’m clever, nice. reaffirming what we already know, huh? ”

there’s a small part in hercules that’s telling him to stop bullshitting with her, and confront this head on. it’s not like he could put his own pride aside to do it himself. nope, he preferred to live with these things in denial. but just seeing her reminds him of the same lack of control feeling he tried to escape from, and it’s not exactly like he could run from it now. 

“ well, since you’re being mindful of that, ” he says with a sigh before standing up, but still keeps a safe distance away from her. but hearing her, god. that got a chuckle out of him, so much so, he forgets to eye roll at it. “ wow, just when i thought you were holding back on modesty. ” he quips as he crosses his arms. “ i’m so gracious for this opportunity, you know? ” taking a step closer, he narrows his gaze. “ you really wanna do this? fine, we’ll do it. but what makes you think i’m the one with the problem? is it because i’m not falling all over you, luc? or is it because you can’t figure out how to manipulate me? ” 

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟑. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

starter for @spencersaville​

– SHE HASN’T SPOKEN TO HIM SINCE and it’s on purpose, but she can’t stop thinking about him. whether it’s fear, obsession, or a bit of both, she can’t shake how fast he fled and how suspicious it was. whatever peace treaty that might have existed between them is gone, and in the fleeting moments that they do meet eyes, hers are narrowed. she doesn’t trust him not to fuck her over. with the heist impending, the tension is getting unhealthy.

it’s when she’s about to go to bed that she decides to take some sort of high ground, OR simply get to the bottom of what he knows – and what his fucking problem is. so, she finds herself at his doorway for the first time, costumeless in her t-shirt and silk shorts, hair loosely pulled back. the lack of makeup reveals circles under her eyes. however, she is anything but vulnerable right now. 

athena clears her throat to get hercules’ attention, folding her arms over her chest. “evening,” she greets cooly, and it’s certainly more ‘nighttime’ than ‘evening.’ “we should probably clear the air before tomorrow.” at least she’s mature enough to say it. 

HE HADN’T MADE AN EFFORT, to address what had happened with athena at the club to her, let alone with himself. it could’ve easily been labeled avoidance, at least while he still struggles to make sense of it all. but he’s not blind to the tension in the air since it happened, and how it really only escalates. he wants to go back to how he thought of her before he got to know her, because if he’s playing it smart, which he should, isn’t that who she probably really is anyways?

at first, he was lost in thought, but quickly he’s pulled out of it by the clearing of her throat. admittedly, he’s surprised she’s the one reaching out first, but as he eyes her, he sits up. “ evening. ” he retorts in a tone as if he’s fighting not to say it in a mockingly way. then he furrows his brows, he hadn’t realized his disappearance really rubbed her that badly, maybe he had more power over this than he accredited himself for. 

“ clear the air? ” he asks, playing coy. “ i mean, come on in. although i should warn you, i don’t have a mask to distract you from my good looks while we discuss whatever it is out. ” only he’s aware of what she wants to discuss, he just doesn’t know how to confront a situation head on.  

[spencersaville]

what's going on with you and athena?

“ simple. she’s a suspicious snake, and she’s annoying me by existing, so i’m just trying to return the favor. ”

@counterfcit

[spencersaville]

Do you believe in the extraterrestrial?

“ i mean, yeah? you’d have to be dumb to think we’re the only ones in the universe. ”

[spencersaville]

are you religious?

“ no. they take the centric themes of spirituality and add into it some ‘higher power’ for control and to profit off of poor suckers who think putting money in a basket is gonna make them feel better for whatever they did through the week. it’s the same format cults have been using for years. besides, all of that should be personal, if you believe in it, i guess. ”

[spencersaville]

𝐢’𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬.

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟏. — 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚.

“Mediatating? Is that what you’re calling it?” Hera said, lightly. Her disapproval was obvious in the slight narrowing of her eyes, despite the fact her voice remained evenly casual, if a little on the cold side. However, she still entered the room fully, taking a seat opposite him and placing her hands on her lap. It was almost like there wasn’t a million and one things to be done. Still, he had requested her company, and she wasn’t going to deny him. “I suppose I can do that, though I would hate to disturb your meditation,” she said, lips curling upwards at the word. “What is it in particular you wanted to know?” 

“ one person’s nap, another person’s meditative session. ” hercules reasoned with a jovial undertone. really the lack of taking things seriously other than in the moment is what truly acted like a barrier between what he probably should’ve been doing all along. working on bonds, or whatever superficial things they had to do for the actual endgame. moving to sit back in his chair, he shrugged his shoulders, for a small moment he wore a smile to keep from chuckling. “ don’t worry, i still have time for that later. -- tough one, i guess i’m still going back and forth on if this is actually gonna work. i just wanted to pick someone else’s brain about it. you think it is? ” 

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟐. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

– HER EYEBROWS RISE ON HER FOREHEAD and she flashes him an incredulous smile. “that’s your goal?” she says, “to have a drink with me?” she pauses for a moment, sighs slightly. “damn, i guess i was right – you really are into me.” and once again, she’s teasing to get a rise out of him, because it never ends, really. if he gets on her nerves, she’ll do it right back. it’s always been her way. 

athena pauses, ruminating on his question. “neither,” she says. “i don’t need it.” she tosses her hair back over her shoulder, somewhat defiantly. “i’d rather people estimate my abilities accurately, i don’t need some sort of false advantage to win.” unfortunately, she usually has it – small and effeminate, most people don’t take her seriously. and she’s done some unsavory things to be included on teams, which zeus is well aware of. zeus is the first person to recruit her who seems to know what she’s capable of, and for that, she’s incredibly grateful. she feels like she’s truly part of this. “so, i hope you know EXACTLY what you’re getting into.” 

there’s a slight waver in his voice, but she doesn’t acknowledge it – that’s where things become dangerous. teeth sink into her bottom lip as she attempts not to smile to herself and she carries on, and she has to actively pretend it doesn’t affect her. she’s only teasing – she’s not trying to get involved with anyone. so, she doesn’t press. 

she laughs at his reservations, shaking her head. “i guess you ARE smarter than i give you credit for, then,” she jokes, drumming her fingertips on the countertop. “you know the rules. no killing, no relationships, no identities, no ditching the plan,” she says, “i’ll start there.” granted, those are ALL rules she’s broken in the past. but here, things are different. 

he diffuses the moment and athena’s actually a little grateful for it, because she certainly doesn’t want to grow close to him. “right, the perfect way to stay lowkey and not be recognize is to harass civilians,” she says with a roll of her eyes, “no thanks.” he can be a fucking idiot on his own time. “something dumb? i have a feeling you’re not a very good dancer,” she suggests. athena, on the other hand, went through numerous lessons as a child. it seemed like every girl with enough money had. athena knows that he probably grew up in a trailer park or something equally as egregious. “but if you’ve got confidence you can sweep me off my feet, then lead the way, casanova,” she teases. 

IF HE HADN’T KNOWN that attesting to her words is exactly what she probably wanted, he would’ve revolted immediately. and god, he really wanted to. instead, he pays her miffed half smile as he furrows his brows. “ you know that’s not what i mean. if anything, it’s proving my point that anything you’ve said about your distaste with me is just utter bullshit, and i’m learning more about you, so win win, for me, that is. ” hercules combats as if he’s trying to cover up her teasing point more for himself than her. 

“ uh huh. ” he eyes athena carefully, even he can admit to taking any advantage he can get, but he can’t help but wonder if he’s stumbled over a sore spot, and it admittedly makes him more curious. “ so are you saying you don’t use it when it falls in your lap? seems like a waste otherwise. ” he summarizes as he shrugs. “ i never do, where’s the fun in it? anyways, i think i’m capable. ” 

it’s easy for him to bounce back from missteps, even one that felt as detrimental as perceiving his own reaction as weak. but maybe he can just blame it on being buzzed. “ glad you’ve noticed. “ he teases back. raising his brows, he shoots her a glance and studies her face for a moment. “ i gotta be honest, the more i find out about you, the more i’m thinking you’re a total square. not that i’m judging. ” he puts his hands up in a playful surrender. “ i’m not. i think i just had you pegged way differently. ” 

“ i mean... even if i wasn’t half kidding, there is ways to harass civilians while staying lowkey. ” his tone remains taunting. but he has to actually try and not laugh when hearing her response. it’s true, he doesn’t actually have the range of experience in dancing, but that could’ve easily been applied to anything in his life that he threw himself into just to use for his own personal gain. “ maybe that’s why it’s something dumb. ” he continues to tease, realizing dumb may have been putting it lightly.

lackadaisically, he reaches out to take one of her hands with his. and he begins to lead her toward the dance floor,  but just as he does, it suddenly occurs to him, that somewhere between the back and forth contempt, and the pressing inquiries from one another, that maybe he’s lost sight that this is nothing more than a game. it takes him aback at how he’s allowed himself to get caught up and invested for the next moments to follow. so as he mentally scolds himself to cover up the panic, and he snaps into a new demeanor, tugging his mask up again with his freehand before leaning in closer to her to whisper by her ear. “ you know what? i actually just remembered i have something more important to take care of. but uh, raincheck? you know, if the circumstances allow for it. ” his tone is different as if it eradicated his last moments. and just as he pulls back, he drops her hand, and turns on his heel to refasten his mask.

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟐. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

– “RIGHT. NAME ONE THING YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED WITH ME SO FAR, THEN,” SHE CHALLENGES. she doubts that there’s an answer because she doesn’t believe he’s done much of anything, but if there is, it brings her a step closer to understanding his goals. honestly, this is the most they’ve talked in years – as a teenager, they would exchange furtive, judgmental glances at galas, and maybe she’d pay him a snide remark. years later, after she was single and making headway into a life of crime, she did everything she could to avoid conversation. “perhaps,” she says with a wicked grin, “i just don’t know what it is that you’re not getting.” 

“i don’t know,” she muses, but her voice sounds exactly like she DOES know. fingertips brush over the lapel of his jacket as she eyes him carefully up and down, finally matching her gaze with his. “i think it’s working. just a little,” she says softly before stepping back out of reach. if he won’t admit he wants her, she’ll make it obvious – it’s a game, and she’s always been good at distracting people from the truth, whether it’s with innocence, sex, or both. one might worry about getting too caught up in it, but athena believes herself too experienced for such worries. she’s made mistakes before, after all, and doesn’t consider herself doomed to repeat them.

“everyone has a little bit of a moral code, even the worst of them,” she says. “after all, why do you think dahmer was murdered in prison? even criminals have a moral code, limits.” she leans her head on her hand over the bar, looking at him closely, as if she’s studying him, and in a way, she is. athena can’t help the way she wants to know more about him, the boy that sticks out like a sore thumb in a ballroom, who lies just as easily as he breathes. “i have them. you do too, i’m sure. like yes, i want this. but there ARE things i won’t do to get it.” she looks up at him, innocent eyes, “i’m not ruthless, you know.” 

she does have limits. they’re just made up of grey areas. 

athena glances over at him with a smile, “i’d like to think you’re being yourself, too.” before he pulls his mask back down, she catches his face out of the corner of her eye. alarms go off in her head because god, he is dangerous. she doesn’t want to think that she might be in trouble. she takes a breath, quickly, reminds herself that she has this and everything she feels under control. “what now?” she laughs, head light. “still thirsty?”

“ YOU’RE HAVING A DRINK WITH ME, AREN’T YOU? ” HE ASKS TAUNTINGLY IMPERIOUS. that’s technically not a cop out answer, it’s not like they’d ever socialized much before outside of shared glares that maybe went on a bit too long. although even he has to admire the way she toys with her answers given to him. he wouldn’t dare tell her as much, but he knows compelling and ratiocinative baiting when he hears it. 

he shoots her a knowing glance as if he’s attempting to cut through bullshit with it. but in reality, he’s just stumped about what he’s not getting about her. “ just answer me this, do you like to be underestimated, or overestimated by people? ” he knew in his own standing either could work in someone’s favor, and hopefully, it’d at least give him some sense of her if she answered honestly. 

hercules tries ardently not to allow her see the affects she has on his demeanor, or gaze. even when he scoffs, it sounds halfhearted like her enticement might’ve been working him over. but he ignores the way his heart pounds by the time she steps back. “ keep telling yourself that, princess. ” he tries to quip confidently, but there’s a slight waver in his voice that risked being noticed. 

he just hopes she didn’t. 

raising his brows, it’s not exactly like he could contend with her point. but stubbornly, he wants to. by the time he opens his mouth to do just that, he catches sight of her eying him, and it’s as if his mind’s gone blank. shit. what the hell was happening? he has to keep reminding himself it’s a game, and if he wanted to win, he couldn’t fall for any of it. “ i mean, may have some. but i have reservations about you not being ruthless. ” he jokes in attempt to regain some sort of audacity back. “ so, are you gonna elaborate on what you wouldn’t do? ” he appears enticed as he looks at her to cover up him trying to understand her actual intent. 

it’s eery how much her sentiment sounds like it’s genuine, is that how he sounds to people he’s bullshitting, or there’s a worse theory. she’s actually being genuine. and he for one, doesn’t wanna ruminate too long on that possibility. “ good to know we’re rooting for me to not be a phony. ” he plays off as if the moment didn’t sound like some sort of sentiment exchange. “ i think i’m satiated on jager bombs for now. ” he allows for a passing moment before he idly taps against the bar top. “ i mean we could always fuck with a seemingly innocent individual for sport, or we could do something dumb, like dance. ” he proposes with a shrug. 

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟏. — 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚.

Hera had been awake all night, though you wouldn’t know it to look at her. Her hair was artfully styled, there wasn’t a hint of dark circles around her eyes, and she was as alert as ever. She had been meticulous in her preparations for leaving the villa, but that didn’t guarantee things would go smoothly. With so many involved, it was far too easy to overlook things. They couldn’t have that. She moved from room to room, opening cupboards and crouching on the floor to look under furniture, going over everything with a fine tooth comb. She was a few down, but there was still plenty to go. Bumping the door open with her hip, she entered the next room on her list, and quirked an eyebrow upon finding it already occupied. “How’s it going?” she greeted them, leaning against the door frame and crossing her arms. “Need a hand with anything? I’ve got some spare time,” she offered. She wasn’t being helpful out of the goodness of her heart, but to calm any worries she had about things going utterly wrong. 

IT HADN’T GONE UNNOTICED that nearly everyone was paying much (necessary) attention in preparing to leave the villa. and while it may not have appeared that he was doing much bracing for it externally, each conversation with anyone in the villa acted as a mental game of sorts. he couldn’t fall short on being able to con people, could he? and hercules wasn’t worried about any sort of fighting, he was more than confident he had that portion covered. at least, that was his excuse if anyone walked in on him trying to nap. but upon hearing the door open and seeing hera, he sat up from his leaned back position in a chair. “ it’s going, great. i was just... you know, meditating... ” he trailed off, he didn’t do any of that stuff, but who could really say what it was defined as? “ well, if you’re insisting, i wouldn’t mind some company. you know, in the productive, talking about plans sort of way.”

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟐. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

– “WELL, IF YOU ENJOY AMBLING ABOUT WITH NO ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHMENT…then it seems you’ve got the right strategy,” she muses. she used to think she had a good handle on what he wanted to know from her, and it had terrified her. now, he scares her for another reason: sometimes, it seems as if he’s antagonizing her with no real goal at all, and the idea that she can’t figure it out is frustrating. it didn’t seem possible that he’d be doing it just because, even if she does like to tease him about an obsession. “i guess that’s just something you’ll never know then, isn’t it?” she says, “though i’m a lot more agreeable than you make me out to be.” 

“no, no,” she shakes her head. “you’re the one that approached ME, remember?” honestly, athena’s a little astonished by how bold he is for someone that isn’t getting anywhere, and for someone that so vehemently claims he isn’t interested, well…she’s certainly getting a different read. “in your dreams, ese,” she remarks, scoffing at him, but she can’t say that she DOESN’T enjoy the attention. but isn’t that always how it starts? she’s played this game enough times to be wary. “your wishful thinking is pretty unbecoming, i’d say.” 

athena knows what she’s doing. she wants to captivate him, to reel him in with half-truths and glimpses of herself, enough to persuade him to trust her. if she can build on that, she can escape this unscathed, and hopefully avoid future unpleasant run-ins. “and miss out on the greatest you-know-what france has ever seen?” she shakes her head, “not a chance. maybe on some level, i need this, but i want it too.” athena can already hear the thrum of the presses in her head, smell the fresh bills. nothing makes her feel so alive.

“people not liking you? i can’t imagine,” she teases, voice laced with sarcasm. but it’s not full of venom this time. “sounds like it’s been a long time since you’ve been yourself,” she says, and there’s nothing caustic about it. just an observation. she can imagine he’s lived a lot of lives between now and then, but she won’t admit that she’s curious to know more. athena takes the drinks from the bartender and holds her shot over the glass, “cheers,” she offers cordially, clinking her glass with his before she drops in the shot and knocks it back, the rush filling her head and burning her throat. maybe it’s not very ladylike to be good at that, but she doesn’t mind.

“ ARE YOU KIDDING? I HAVE PLENTY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. ” granted, hercules doesn’t actually know how well his strategy so far was working out for him, it’s been touch and go. at first, he did want more proof, now, he thinks he wants that, and to just understand. really asking his own self what he’s doing just throws him into discombobulation. he quickly has to remind himself he’s just wanting what can serve him, and what he can control. even if athena has a point, she has technically been more agreeable than maybe he’s given her credit for. letting out a drawn out sigh, he debates on dropping his stubbornness, just for the moment. “ so, if i asked you to help me understand rather than figure you out, you would...? ” 

“ don’t act like you haven’t antagonized in our last couple of run ins. that doesn’t work on me. ” he lulls his head to one side as if he’s trying to call her out on her allure factor yet again. really, it’s only distracting from how all of the teasing and back and forth is admittedly making him slightly curious. “ i’ll meet you there. ” he quips obnoxiously unable to help biting back on his own fortitude. “ wishful thinking is actually wishing for it to happen, no? yeah, that’s not what i’m doing. ” he alludes as he shakes his head. 

it’s the times like this he’s trying to tread lightly, any false steps, and he’s accidentally invested in her in the wrong way. and he could think of a lot of other things he’d rather be than that. “ well, shit. ” he says as he can’t exactly argue with her answer, it’s not like he’s in the same position. “ makes you wonder how people can have a moral code, doesn’t it? ” with all the people he’s stepped on to get where he’s been, that’s all he views most of his encounters, including athena. more or less his motive is what can he find out to throw them under the bus with someone, he’s just never felt like it’s been all that challenging until well, now.

hearing her sarcasm, a chuckle slips out. “ go figure, right? ” although, she’s right. hercules can’t actually recall a time he’s felt authentically himself for years. but he supposes that’s just a survival feature life gives you sometimes. “ well, i’d like to think i’m being me right now, but who can really tell? sure the fuck not me. ” he teases, not wanting to give any indication that he might actually be. once he has the drink in hand, he nudges his mask up with his shoulder, once again, exposing his face in a reckless fashion, but in his defense he did need to use his mouth. clinking the glass into hers, he nods. “ bottoms up. ” then he drops in his shot, and he takes a long swig from his drink. but even though he’s focused on gulping, he can’t help eye over to athena drinking hers, and before a surprised dazed look reads on his face, he tries to quickly finish the drink just so he can pull the mask down over his expression. 

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟐. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

– “SO, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO TELL ME WHAT YOU’RE REALLY AFTER?” she asks with a tilt of her head. she’s able to act like she isn’t scared of the answer, but it’s hard, because few things have every terrified her this much. for a moment, she has to wonder if it’s all in her head, if manuel is only winning because he’s psyching her out – but she also knows that she can’t afford to get comfortable. “how do you expect to get what you want if you don’t ask for it?” she inquires, a coy smile on her lips. how do you entice the boy that tells lies for a living? well, she’s doing her BEST. 

“shut up,” she says with a roll of her eyes, and while it’s not her most clever retort, it’s full of contempt, probably enough to make up for it. “you’re spending an awful lot of time antagonizing me, that’s all i’m saying,” she replies, “so if you’re waiting around for me to jump you, maybe you should get drinks with someone else.” there IS an odd sort of comfort as he pulls the mask over his face, and maybe it does protect her a bit from what she could be getting into. but more so, she’d say that it’s for the safety of the mission. 

“this is fun for me,” she says, recalling that he knows most of why she’s really here. “i know i haven’t got many options, but i do like this. learning the ins and outs of the plan, putting every possibility to the test.” athena can find a textbook as much fun as dancing, given the right challenge, and perhaps that’s a place that she subverts expectations. “and i have fun with a few drinks. there’s multiple ways to have fun, you know,” she adds, ordering the shots. “when’s the last time you weren’t pretending?”

“ I COULD, BUT WHERE’S THE FUN IN THAT? ” more like, where’s the fun in him no longer being able to toy with her not knowing exactly what he’s up to by hoping to piece things together. even if he forgets the task at hand every now and again. but she has a good point, just like their previous encounter at the villa. despite that, he’s reluctant to admit it. albeit, he is however tempted. “ something tells me you wouldn’t even if i asked, not that i’m asking. ” he adds as if that applies some sort of twist when he couldn’t be more transparent than ever. 

the way she says ‘shut up’ only leaves him to smile wide beneath his mask. “ you realize i could say the same thing about you, right? ” which is currently acting as his own saving grace as explaining himself to her, and well, to him. “ and risk not getting to know you? besides, i’m not waiting. ” he pauses before giving a shrug. “ i know it’ll happen when it happens. ” he couldn’t show his expression now, but it might as well have been evident in his contemptuous tone. at least how much he’s enjoying this is concealed, maybe even to himself. 

even though he’s perplexed at her statement, he remains quiet long enough to listen to her. hercules hates how he’s seemingly more and more surprised by everything he finds out about athena, but then again, in his experience if people were smart enough they knew to keep up a guard about who they really are. “ really? even if you could do anything else, be anywhere else? ” he can’t help but inquire, although he does understand the appeal to some extent. “ such as? ” nearly taken aback by her question, he finds his mask is once again acting as his own safe guard. 

distractedly, he watches the bartender fill up the glasses because actually takes him some time to think of a real thought out answer. but the moment he does know his answer, he debates for a long moment to even say it. “ when i was twelve, i guess. believe it or not i wasn’t that popular before i moved in with my dad, i know, i know. it’s impossible not to take to this charismatic personality of mine. ” he says more out of bitter sarcasm than actual arrogance for once to try and make it easier for him to say. 

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟐. — 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚.

– SHE CAN TELL HE’S TRYING TO PUSH HER BUTTONS, and in a way, it’s working; because it always does. she can remember the first time she ran into him on a job and the way he looked her over with the same, sly smirk on his face. if she knew how to throw a punch, she would’ve wanted to, just to wipe the expression off of his face. how is it that he always looks at her like he knows her? and for a few moments, she always believes it? “you probably already are,” there’s a teasing tone to her voice, “and you definitely will be if you keep trying to figure me out.” 

athena walks a lot of lines with hercules – between truth and lies, between flirting and contempt. even she isn’t sure what side she falls on sometimes; what side she wants to be on. all she knows is that she’ll do anything to hide the truth, not just because of legal repercussions, but because she knows she won’t be able to stand the way people perceive her. 

“your loss. you just better hope that no one remembers what you look like,” she says with a nonchalant shrug and a cursory glance. he doesn’t bite as she antagonizes him, and that frustrates her, but she tries not to let it show on her face. “call my bluff when i’ve actually done something to indicate it,” she says, “for now, i maintain that i like your face better when i don’t have to see it.” 

athena laughs at his question and flashes him a smile, genuine this time, because despite how tightly strung she is, there is still the same girl who’s desperate to cut loose and act recklessly. to have fun, to forget. athena just forgets about her sometimes, behind all of the calculation. “i hardly think tonight calls for casual,” she says with a little wink. “all or nothing, hercules.” 

TECHNICALLY, SHE ISN’T WRONG. he’s confused about who has the upper hand between the two of them in their exchanges, he’s confused about his actual endgame, but more so, he’s confused about athena actually being more human than he’s accredited her for. at least, for now. “ yeah, right. ” he scoffs lightheartedly as if he hadn’t been called out. “ is that a threat or warning? not that i’m actually gonna stop. ” he adds.

hercules is used to manipulating and smooth talking people, it’s what usually gets him by as far as attributes, but although he’d never admit it, sometimes athena makes him feel as if he’s met his mental match. it only fuels his inquisitiveness, which could easily explain how he’s wound up out of all places, here with her at the bar.

 “ wow, you know what that says to me? you just desperately want me to cover up my face so you don’t try and jump me, it’s cool. -- i mean, haven’t you? ” he continues to tease, “ for now. ” he reiterates annoyingly before winking once, finally slipping his mask back over his head. he’s reckless but keeping it off when ordering drinks just seemed stupid. 

but just as he repositions the mask over his face, to look at her, he catches sight of her smile, noting that its sorta nice. much different from the many resentful ones he’s received before. unable to keep a laugh in, he nods. “ now, that’s the spirit. ” resting a palm on the bar top, he gestures one of the bartenders over. “ so, when’s the last time you actually allowed yourself to have you know, fun? ” he asks, genuinely intrigued instead of trying to sniff out something in between the lines. 

[spencersaville]

𝟎𝟎𝟏. — 𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐬𝐮𝐬.

– OH GOD, THIS COULD BECOME DUMB AND DANGEROUS QUICKLY but that was dio’s sweet spot. she’d been on such good behavior since coming to the villa, it was time to let loose a little and maybe that meant taking some unnecessary risks but it didn’t seem like that much of a bad idea. who would catch them? maybe that was youthful naïveté but dio was itching to get started already. “we could trade of.” her voice was low causing her to step in a little closer so he could hear her over the music but hopefully no one else could. “i can start with distracting, should be easy enough, and once people start to get a little too interested in what we’re doing, we switch.”

with this new development, she was happy to hear he’d been enjoying himself somewhat but she knew they would both be having a lot more fun soon enough. dio ducks down slightly to catch a glimpse of his features knowing it was risky to show their faces at all. “drinks spilt on pretentious assholes? how did you know that was one of my favorite things to do.” the girl chuckled, shaking her head in amusement as she stood up straight again. “i feel you on the numbers thing, i’ve just been avoiding giving mine out but some people don’t like that so i just give them a fake and run away.”

HE WAS CONVINCED that it was the perfect environment to dabble in some light petty theft. people were under the influence, not to mention the low lighting made it feel impossible to really keep eyes on someone for too long combined with the occupants. at the very least it’d be easy to slip out of being caught with the already provided concealed identity. the second he heard dio, he nodded his head. “ good idea, and if they’re coherent enough to notice, should we dip into the crowd? ” although, it didn’t actually seem like a likely possibility with how the booze seemed to be flowing, but it was good to cover all bases. “ would you like to do the honors in picking our first target? 

although the place was loud, he caught her words and broke into a laugh. “ i didn’t, but damn, are we the same person? ” he jokes before continuing, “although, if i’d have known, i’d have invited you along for those festivities too. ” he technically never has had a partner in crime per se, but dio was a lot cooler to hang out with than just going solo into these reckless endeavors. “ imagine being so entitled that you expect a number when you ask, sounds like some more potential assholes that needs a drink poured on them. fake numbers is what they deserve, or you know. a number of someone you hate. that’s equally as good... i’ve heard. ” he playfully says as if he hasn’t done it time and time again.