Kristoffer opened his mouth to retort to her claim of his insignificance – a sore spot for him, in this family, not that she would know it – but the words never made it to his mouth. Instead, some other phrases had come winding their way uninvited into his brain, inebriated sea lion and something about wrenching spines through navels amongst them. It took a prolonged moment to sink in. He had been very drunk that night – but of course the encounter had been far too memorable to ever forget it.
He wanted to laugh at the absurdity, dismiss it as a passing thought, but – the more he surveyed her, the more sure he was. It had to be. The psycho whore from the Ministry ball who’d threatened to maim him was Tiberius’ wife? A fucking Lestrange? It didn’t make any sense, but it all made sense... And she was looking at him too: did she know? Had she known then? Or was he really so insignificant in manner and voice that she couldn’t tell, even now? (It was probably safer if she didn’t, but Kristoffer chewed the inside of his cheek with a burst of disappointment at the idea –)
He didn’t say anything to tip the conversation either way... although he also didn’t say anything, so his abrupt silence had perhaps made this interaction odd, all the same. All he did was push himself off the wall and take a deliberate pace towards her, watching her experimentally. He’d straightened up, was standing closer and facing her directly, challengingly, just as they’d been the last time when they’d danced and she’d called him a coward and he’d called her insane. He didn’t know what she would do to him if she remembered – so maybe this was akin to putting his hand in the fire – but: Kris raised one eyebrow as if to say guess what? I know something you don’t.
He wanted to laugh at the absurdity, dismiss it as a passing thought, but – the more he surveyed her, the more sure he was. It had to be. The psycho whore from the Ministry ball who’d threatened to maim him was Tiberius’ wife? A fucking Lestrange? It didn’t make any sense, but it all made sense... And she was looking at him too: did she know? Had she known then? Or was he really so insignificant in manner and voice that she couldn’t tell, even now? (It was probably safer if she didn’t, but Kristoffer chewed the inside of his cheek with a burst of disappointment at the idea –)
He didn’t say anything to tip the conversation either way... although he also didn’t say anything, so his abrupt silence had perhaps made this interaction odd, all the same. All he did was push himself off the wall and take a deliberate pace towards her, watching her experimentally. He’d straightened up, was standing closer and facing her directly, challengingly, just as they’d been the last time when they’d danced and she’d called him a coward and he’d called her insane. He didn’t know what she would do to him if she remembered – so maybe this was akin to putting his hand in the fire – but: Kris raised one eyebrow as if to say guess what? I know something you don’t.
