the feelings got lost in my lungs;;
Poppy wasn’t sure why, in the wake of everything that had transpired in this her first rather successful season, she was so disappointed at seeing the back of a gentleman she was never destined to… have. It was a strange, frustrating sensation, to say the least. There wasn’t much in this world Poppy set her mind to that she couldn’t in some way gain if she wanted it badly enough. She was clever and much of the world was just a large puzzle that needed patience, strategy and a sweet smile to lull it into complacency. But Mr. Kristoffer Lestrange was never going to be anything more than a friend, a passing fancy that at this stage her heart was aching to realize (despite the brunette’s best efforts).
There was no rhyme or reason to it. Kristoffer Lestrange was objectively the worst choice for her to so hopelessly pin any kind of hope upon. He was too young, too controversial, too… dangerous. They were infinitely different with nothing in common. It didn’t matter that he saw past the glittering facade that Poppy charmed the rest of the world with. It didn’t matter that he’d singlehandedly managed to disarm her with his smile. She had a plan. She had requirements. And he was only an obstacle in the grand scheme of her ambitions.
As his blonde head popped out from around the trunk of a particularly large tree, Poppy couldn’t help but laugh, the twinkly little sound lost in the vastness of the forest around them. It was early afternoon yet and the snow that had blanketed Dashwood Estate overnight served to muffle the sound even as it bounced off each individual flake that continued to fall about the pair. They were meant to be promenading like proper society figures, even if she was once again evading her chaperone (and family) to do so. Instead Poppy found herself waving a delicate hand about her face, fur muffler mostly forgotten, as she laughed at Kristoffer’s expense. He’d been attempting to slide across an exposed patch of ice (like a showoff) and had skid just a little too far, landing in a heap.
“Are you alright?” The brunette giggled from behind her hand. “Have you bruised anything besides your pride after that display?”
To his credit Kristoffer still managed to look quite smugly pleased with himself and not in the least bit chagrined. He brushed some snow off his rump and cocked his head keenly. “My pride remains intact, but I’m sure there’s something you could do if you’re concerned for me.”
The smirk with which he spoke only drew a fond eye-roll from the brunette. “And what, pray tell, did you have in mind?” She asked, fully expecting a lewd proposition. Their easy banter while not under the spotlight of the ton’s curious gaze was comfortable, second nature even. Poppy found she quite liked how freely she could tease Kristoffer; he was something of a kindred spirit, even if he puffed with more bravado than she.
The gentleman closed the small space between them coming to stand by her side again. He raised a single eyebrow at her, blue eyes flashing with something that made Poppy’s heart skip a beat. “I’m sure you can think of something with that clever Ravenclaw intellect of yours,” he offered, tone low as he leaned into her personal space. Poppy laughed again, her breath coming out in a small, cold puff.
“And I’m quite sure anything I may suggest would not be enough to satisfy that Slytherin ambition of yours,” the girl quipped back. His face was impossibly close now, but the brunette did not back down. She stared evenly into those baby blues, daring him to contradict her. They both knew at this stage there was no hesitation between them to incite a moment that was dangerous to her reputation but Poppy was not inclined to appear easy. Or willing. Especially when he was so frustratingly unsuitable (and unattainable.)
Still.
Perhaps he saw something glimmering behind the challenge in her eyes, or perhaps he was just as opportunistic as his reputation implied but in the next moment Poppy found herself staring not into Kristoffer’s face but at the falling snow. A sharp shriek escaped her vocals and Poppy flailed, muffler flinging to the side as her cloak and skirts tangled around her feet. He’d pulled her down into the snowbank on top of himself, the cad!
From her new vantage point, Poppy found herself staring once more into the former Slytherin’s handsome face. A furious blush had blossomed across her cheeks, something of a cross little frown pulling a pout from her lips. “That wasn’t fair,” she mumbled, childishly. The blonde only smirked.
Snowflakes had long since started to collect in the red scarf wrapped around Krisoffer’s neck. Now, with her gloved hands practically tucked into it, Poppy couldn’t help but notice every little detail of the gentleman’s face. The smooth curve of his jawline, every last faint freckle that dotted his nose… It was enough to take her breath away and Poppy was going to blame every inkling of this moment on a dizzying lack of oxygen.
Especially as she ducked down to press a sweet little kiss against his lips.
It was chaste, quick, and entirely uncalled for, but everything inside of the brunette hummed to life in the brief interlude. It was like coming home to a place that she’d never visited, but implicitly recognized as safe. Small fingers curled unconsciously into the scarf, tugging the blonde closer, and then - abruptly - Poppy pulled away.
Oh goodness.
The flush across her cheeks deepened and Poppy ducked away from the repercussions of her actions. She released Mr. Lestrange entirely and moved to hoist herself into a seated position. The snow was cold on her rump even through all these skirts and petticoats. Beside her Kristoffer only pulled himself up into a seated position as well. He didn’t comment, but the smug look on his face was commentary enough. Poppy couldn’t help it then. Another laugh bubbled up against her will and the brunette grabbed a handful of snow to shove directly in his face. Then, she scrambled to her feet knowing full-well there would be retaliation, and scampered off back towards the house, heart fluttering like a hummingbird.
You make me glow
But I cover up, won't let it show
So I'm putting my defenses up
'Cause I don't wanna fall in love
If I ever did that, I think I'd have a heart attack
Poppy wasn’t sure why, in the wake of everything that had transpired in this her first rather successful season, she was so disappointed at seeing the back of a gentleman she was never destined to… have. It was a strange, frustrating sensation, to say the least. There wasn’t much in this world Poppy set her mind to that she couldn’t in some way gain if she wanted it badly enough. She was clever and much of the world was just a large puzzle that needed patience, strategy and a sweet smile to lull it into complacency. But Mr. Kristoffer Lestrange was never going to be anything more than a friend, a passing fancy that at this stage her heart was aching to realize (despite the brunette’s best efforts). There was no rhyme or reason to it. Kristoffer Lestrange was objectively the worst choice for her to so hopelessly pin any kind of hope upon. He was too young, too controversial, too… dangerous. They were infinitely different with nothing in common. It didn’t matter that he saw past the glittering facade that Poppy charmed the rest of the world with. It didn’t matter that he’d singlehandedly managed to disarm her with his smile. She had a plan. She had requirements. And he was only an obstacle in the grand scheme of her ambitions.
As his blonde head popped out from around the trunk of a particularly large tree, Poppy couldn’t help but laugh, the twinkly little sound lost in the vastness of the forest around them. It was early afternoon yet and the snow that had blanketed Dashwood Estate overnight served to muffle the sound even as it bounced off each individual flake that continued to fall about the pair. They were meant to be promenading like proper society figures, even if she was once again evading her chaperone (and family) to do so. Instead Poppy found herself waving a delicate hand about her face, fur muffler mostly forgotten, as she laughed at Kristoffer’s expense. He’d been attempting to slide across an exposed patch of ice (like a showoff) and had skid just a little too far, landing in a heap.
“Are you alright?” The brunette giggled from behind her hand. “Have you bruised anything besides your pride after that display?”
To his credit Kristoffer still managed to look quite smugly pleased with himself and not in the least bit chagrined. He brushed some snow off his rump and cocked his head keenly. “My pride remains intact, but I’m sure there’s something you could do if you’re concerned for me.”
The smirk with which he spoke only drew a fond eye-roll from the brunette. “And what, pray tell, did you have in mind?” She asked, fully expecting a lewd proposition. Their easy banter while not under the spotlight of the ton’s curious gaze was comfortable, second nature even. Poppy found she quite liked how freely she could tease Kristoffer; he was something of a kindred spirit, even if he puffed with more bravado than she.
The gentleman closed the small space between them coming to stand by her side again. He raised a single eyebrow at her, blue eyes flashing with something that made Poppy’s heart skip a beat. “I’m sure you can think of something with that clever Ravenclaw intellect of yours,” he offered, tone low as he leaned into her personal space. Poppy laughed again, her breath coming out in a small, cold puff.
“And I’m quite sure anything I may suggest would not be enough to satisfy that Slytherin ambition of yours,” the girl quipped back. His face was impossibly close now, but the brunette did not back down. She stared evenly into those baby blues, daring him to contradict her. They both knew at this stage there was no hesitation between them to incite a moment that was dangerous to her reputation but Poppy was not inclined to appear easy. Or willing. Especially when he was so frustratingly unsuitable (and unattainable.)
Still.
Perhaps he saw something glimmering behind the challenge in her eyes, or perhaps he was just as opportunistic as his reputation implied but in the next moment Poppy found herself staring not into Kristoffer’s face but at the falling snow. A sharp shriek escaped her vocals and Poppy flailed, muffler flinging to the side as her cloak and skirts tangled around her feet. He’d pulled her down into the snowbank on top of himself, the cad!
From her new vantage point, Poppy found herself staring once more into the former Slytherin’s handsome face. A furious blush had blossomed across her cheeks, something of a cross little frown pulling a pout from her lips. “That wasn’t fair,” she mumbled, childishly. The blonde only smirked.
Snowflakes had long since started to collect in the red scarf wrapped around Krisoffer’s neck. Now, with her gloved hands practically tucked into it, Poppy couldn’t help but notice every little detail of the gentleman’s face. The smooth curve of his jawline, every last faint freckle that dotted his nose… It was enough to take her breath away and Poppy was going to blame every inkling of this moment on a dizzying lack of oxygen.
Especially as she ducked down to press a sweet little kiss against his lips.
It was chaste, quick, and entirely uncalled for, but everything inside of the brunette hummed to life in the brief interlude. It was like coming home to a place that she’d never visited, but implicitly recognized as safe. Small fingers curled unconsciously into the scarf, tugging the blonde closer, and then - abruptly - Poppy pulled away.
Oh goodness.
The flush across her cheeks deepened and Poppy ducked away from the repercussions of her actions. She released Mr. Lestrange entirely and moved to hoist herself into a seated position. The snow was cold on her rump even through all these skirts and petticoats. Beside her Kristoffer only pulled himself up into a seated position as well. He didn’t comment, but the smug look on his face was commentary enough. Poppy couldn’t help it then. Another laugh bubbled up against her will and the brunette grabbed a handful of snow to shove directly in his face. Then, she scrambled to her feet knowing full-well there would be retaliation, and scampered off back towards the house, heart fluttering like a hummingbird.
You make me glow
But I cover up, won't let it show
So I'm putting my defenses up
'Cause I don't wanna fall in love
If I ever did that, I think I'd have a heart attack
© Fox