Lucius, when he appears, has been notably if subtly changed by his time in Baedal and in Bête Noire before that. His clothing seems to be midway between robes and tailored muggle dress, and his manner is more cautious than condescending at first. He's a man who has been thrust into a world he's no longer the master of, and he's been forced to adjust.

Since speaking with Sebastian, he's been trying to sort out how he feels about Snape's presence in the city. While he can understand staying private, he doubts Narcissa will be as willing to consider reasons behind it.

Lucius, for his part, is more worried about their political footing; it's not home, but his relationship with Severus there wasn't much of one in public beyond his being a friend of Lucius' wife's. It was something new to navigate.

He's prompt, when he arrives. It seems a bit dramatic to him, coming out of the dark to see the glowing tip of Severus' cigarette - he can't help thinking I didn't know he smoked absently - but they had spent a lot of time in the dark, they and their compatriots.

"Severus," he says, not a question.