My Name is Lucifer, Please Take my Hand | Vel & open

The smile Lucius received in return for his own cruel sneer was most galling. Whomever this other man was, he was not showing the proper respect – or even fear – that was owed to a Malfoy. Lucius deserved the unquestioning deference of his social inferiors. He did not deserve glib comments from half-witted nobodies. His nostrils flared in a display of aggravation. His fingers coiled tighter around the head of his cane, itching to draw out the wand concealed within – but he knew better than to start things off prematurely. He could not afford to begin the fight until all the pieces were in place upon the board. No, he would be patient and only use this slight to fuel his furor later this evening. He had no sooner talked himself down, however, when the stranger went from obtusely offensive to outright insulting. He blew his cigarette smoke right into his face, and Lucius went livid.

His icy grey eyes burned with cold fury. Such disrespect could not be allowed to stand; he could not permit such an outrage against his person. In a flash, his wand was out and pointed at the man's heart. Through bared teeth, he snarled, "How dare you! You –" But the insult that was meant to follow was stopped short as the older man explained infuriatingly that he was himself a Pureblood. And he furthermore claimed to be a Lestrange. Malfoy thought he knew the only living Lestranges, but the claim was enough to make him pause. He scrutinized the man's features. As someone who made a point to study physiognomy, Lucius knew what to look for in the face to distinguish his own kind from lesser men. There was something in the brow, the bearing of the head, and most certainly that twisted smile that backed up the stranger's claims. He was at the very least Pureblood, that much could be ascertained from his looks, but a rogue Lestrange, hmm? That changed things. With an annoyed twitch of the lips, Lucius curtly sheathed his wand.

He smoothed out his features, flipped back his hair, and adopted a cool, drawling tone once more. "I do not apologize for putting my inferiors in their proper place. If I was mistaken counting you among them, then perhaps I will make amends. But you say you are a Lestrange... So how come this is the first I'm hearing of you, sir? I know for a fact that Rabastan and Rodolphus have no older brothers. Just how exactly are you related?" He was not going to let the man get off just by dropping the name and looking the part.