Severus + James
Severus didn't miss a beat — almost as if he were expecting James to speak to him, which was halfway to the truth. "I could say the same. How did you escape the clutches of two small children?" When he glanced at the man, it was with a neutral expression. He'd run into James enough times at school staff meetings over the years, so he knew the score by now. The man would attempt to rile him, Severus would offer a few sarcastic comments, and they'd part ways again until the next social event forced them together. Then the whole thing would begin again.
It was getting a little tiring, actually, if he were being honest with himself. But he didn't quite know how to go about diffusing the situation before they inevitably began sniping at each other. You look like a Doxy mated with a Fire Crab was what Severus had wanted to say, but he bit his tongue and considered his options. It was possible he could be polite and shock James all in one evening. But would it work?
"Your attire is marginally less stress-inducing than what I've seen so far," he said, turning his gaze out on the crowd to emphasize his point. "The pattern is interesting. Did you choose it yourself?"