April 12, 2025 — Random Wellingtonshire Home, MC/UC event

Tycho tended to accept invitations to events at a whim. This one seemed to be some sort of garden party which was not his usual scene. There were also quite a few Ministry folk in attendance. There was a maze in the garden and Tycho felt like this seemed to be the trend lately. Still, he enjoyed a good turn about a maze so he had idly wandered into it, a drink in hand.

There were light orbs much like the ones in Padmore Park scattered around and reminding Tycho strongly of a will-o'-the-wisp. He turned a corner and found himself face to face with a visage he had seen a lot, very intimately, all without having ever spoken to the man. Fortitude Greengrass looked like an ethereal being by the light of the wispy light orbs.

Uncharacteristically, Tycho found himself tongue tied. "Good evening. Lovely lighting idea, isn't it?" He liked the spooky vibes of the wispy lights.

---

Fortitude Greengrass

  

---

The Greengrasses were not exactly doing society at the moment; Verity was married, Grace was working, and Clementine was a lost cause, so there was little cause to go parading around looking for bachelors — and much better uses for the money previously allocated for Clementine's season attire. This invitation had come from a colleague, though, and Ford determined that he could reasonably accept and leave the rest of the family at home without raising eyebrows.

He had gone off to explore the maze at the host's insistence, and as he walked was contemplating whether he would be obliged to produce some sort of opinion on it once he emerged. What could anyone possibly have to say about a hedge maze? Should he compliment the evenness of the shrubbery? Honestly, this seemed like a waste of space to Ford — but maybe that was half the purpose. It was opulent to have the luxury of wasting space, and perhaps they wanted everyone to see how well off they were, in one of the dullest fashions imaginable.

The maze walls were tall enough that although he could hear the noise of another person approaching, he couldn't tell who until they were abruptly face to face. Ford flushed immediately, though Ty apparently was intent on playing everything casual. Ford wondered at that, since they were alone in this section of the maze, but maybe he was concerned about being overheard through one of the walls? Still, he could probably have gotten by saying nothing at all.

"Yeah," Ford agreed, after working past the sudden lump in his throat. He had frozen where he was, unsure what to do next. A part of him wanted to hurry past to avoid having some kind of interaction that could make its way, somehow, back to Jemima — another part was barely holding back from blurting an apology.

---

  

---

Set by Lady!

The other man was not being very talkative which contrasted a bit with the version of him that plagued his dreams. He had to wonder why it was this mans visage in particular that he had these intense dreams about. Still, Tycho was not going to be deterred when they were so up close and personal. Who knew when another chance might occur? "My name is Tycho Dodonus, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he extended his hand for a handshake, his eyes lighting up a bit in tempered excitement at the thought of finally even brushing fingers briefly against the others.

---

  

---

Ty's expression was warm, and Ford didn't understand it. If Ty was just playing nice in case they were overheard through the hedge, that wasn't reason to force a smile. And his expression didn't look forced, either, which made no sense given the way that they had left things in December. Ford remembered very viscerally the look on Ty's face before he'd swept out of the room that night; remembered the sinking feeling in his stomach and the realization that settled on his shoulders like a weighted cloak: he'll hate me forever. And now here he was, pretending none of it had happened...

Ty introduced himself. Ford stiffened, staring at the proffered hand as though he didn't know what it was. What was Tycho playing at? This could not possibly be done for the benefit of anyone who might overhear, because everyone knew they were friends. Or had been friends — were maybe fighting, were maybe not speaking — didn't need to be re-introduced, anyway. That could only mean that this remark had been calculated for him, but Ford didn't understand to what end. Tycho would have been well within his rights to say something hurtful, but if he'd intended to drive a barb in Ford's heart he could have aimed it better; he knew Ford well enough that he should have been an expert shot. This was baffling, and left Ford with the very unpleasant sensation that he was missing some crucial piece of information — the same confused-but-wary feeling one had when bullies were sniggering and you hadn't yet figured out why.

He took a step backwards as his eyes darted from Tycho's hand to his face. His expression was giving nothing away. Ford felt like he was going crazy. "That's not funny," he said, quiet so that his voice wouldn't carry through the hedge.

---

  

---

Set by Lady!

Tychos lips formed into a sort of frown. The other was acting very odd. And kind of rude considering he was still pretty sure they had never met? Except maybe they had? Greengrass was sure acting as if Tycho was being the weird one. Then again, he was used to that. He had a reputation as an eccentric seer after all. There was a tinge of something different here though and it was niggling at him. Like trying to think of a word and having it on the tip of your tongue.

"I don't see why introducing ones self would be. Unless... have we met?"

---

  

---

The phrase have we met made the other shoe drop. Ford's face crumpled with hurt. His body curled in on itself slightly, protectively, before he'd had a chance to think he ought to make some effort not to look as dismayed as he felt. Pretending not to know him. Tycho could have said any number of cruel things after the way they'd left things in December, but as it turned out he didn't need to; with this remark he'd sent Ford spiraling and now Ford was providing them all himself. Guess I never really knew you at all. Thought I loved you but now I'm not sure we've ever even met. Who are you under all these secrets you apparently kept from me?

He opened his mouth to respond, but his body wasn't cooperating. His mouth was dry and his throat was tight. He swallowed and blinked rapidly at Tycho as though holding back tears. He wanted to go home. He couldn't imagine trying to stay at a party with Tycho under these circumstances. In one way it was a bit of a blessing that this had happened in the hedge maze, because at least he didn't have to worry about someone witnessing his reaction and he'd have a minute or two to school his features before he had to rejoin the party and find a way to say his goodbyes. But first — he had to get out of this interaction with Tycho.

"I — I'm sorry," he sputtered. His voice audibly wavered; Ford hated how much it betrayed about his feelings at the moment. Rather than addressing that with some thin pretense like clearing his throat or coughing, he bowed his head and tried to push past Ty to hurry onward into the maze.

---

  

---

Set by Lady!

The expressions now swimming across the other mans face felt like a punch to the gut. If they had never met... why would Greengrass make such expressions? Even the most emotional soul was unlikely to look like they wanted to weep when asked such a simple question by someone who was not known to them.

Tycho was unsure how to react as the other blinked rapidly at him. The other tried retreating but Tycho grabbed the other by the wrist before he could stop to think about it. "Have we met?" Tycho asked more urgently, every word that dropped from his lips a desperate plea. "Please. I need to know."

He didn't know what was real anymore but he did know that something in him could not let Fortitude Greengrass leave his presence looking like that.

---

  

---

Tycho grabbed his wrist. Ford wrenched his arm back reflexively, but Ty was holding more tightly than he'd expected and the gesture only succeeded in bringing Tycho half a step closer to him. Ford felt like a corner animal. He wanted out of this moment, and a thousand ways to extricate himself flashed through his mind in an instant. He wanted to swear at Tycho; he wanted to shove him into a bush; he wanted to throw himself at the other man and kiss him; he wanted to apparate to the garden behind his house and lie face down in the dirt for half an hour.

"Let go," he hissed, quiet but forceful. "You made your point, Tycho." His expression was angry now. He might have deserved Tycho's vitriol, and certainly didn't deserve his forgiveness, but it didn't feel fair that Ty could hold him here and draw his suffering out longer. Particularly not when he was already feeling like a potion that had become unstable and might explode any second.

---

  

---

Set by Lady!

The half step closer had the others scent washing over him. And Oh God was it intoxicating and excruciatingly familiar in a way that made his heart and groin ache.

"What point?! I am telling you, I genuinely don't fully remember you," Tycho said, exasperated and holding onto the other man even tighter now. "I thought you were but a wondrous dream."

---

  

---

Still under the assumption that this was a ploy designed to hurt him, the phrase wondrous dream caught him entirely off guard. "That's —" he started, but found himself at a loss for words, mouth hanging open. Tycho wasn't making sense at all by this point. The strict adherence to the I don't know you charade was overplayed if it was intended to just be a jab, and the rest of it... something wasn't adding up. Ford's face flushed while his mind whirled. He couldn't land on anything that worked. He still had the feeling that he was missing something, possibly because Tycho was intentionally withholding some crucial information, but to what end?

"Are you trying to start a fight or are you trying to seduce me?" he asked in an urgent low tone.

---

  

---

Set by Lady!

Tycho bit his lower lip as the others face flushed. He was startled into a laugh though at the others words. "Are those the only two options?" He couldn't resist asking. This felt like too public a place and Tycho reluctantly let the other go when he remembered where they were. "In my memory, I have never met you. But when I sleep, I have these... dreams of you. I know none of this makes sense."

---

  

---

No, absolutely none of it made sense. Ford could only assume that Tycho was lying — probably maliciously, though he hadn't guessed at his reasons yet or what his exact aims were — but at the same time... Ford knew Tycho better than he knew almost anyone else in the world, and Ty didn't seem like he was lying. There was no sarcasm or malice he could detect beneath the words, and while Ty had always been performative Ford wasn't sure he was this good of an actor. Still — it was rather an incredible position to be taking. For a moment Ford could only stare at him, brow furrowed in confusion.

"Are you being serious?" he eventually asked, incredulous.

---

  

---

Set by Lady!

"Quite so," he replied when the man asked if he was being serious. "Are you telling me all these dreams have been a reality? They were quite... something." Explicit. He was having a hard time wrapping his head around it and he had to press the heel of his free hand to his forehead because he was getting a splitting headache.

---

  

---

Ford kept staring. He couldn't wrap his mind around Tycho's answer. He still couldn't believe that it was possible Ty was serious, despite all evidence and insistence to the contrary. They had been lovers for years, and friends for longer than that. It was impossible that Tycho didn't remember meeting him. It was almost more believable to think that Tycho had a twin somewhere and Ford really hadn't ever met this version, except for the bit about the dreams.

"It was real." His voice sounded distant to his own ears. Something about the word real stung, because was it? If it ended the way it had, if all it took was a single lie kept too long to drive Tycho away from him irreparably, how real could it have been? And if Tycho really didn't remember it, then did it matter? "It's — history," he said, having to work past a lump in his throat to get the second word out. Maybe history was a more accurate term than real, at this point. Because if Tycho didn't remember their relationship, then what was Ford supposed to do about it? He couldn't grab his hand and pull him off somewhere private and try to work through this, or ambush him at his home and get to the bottom of it — not with a pregnant wife at home.

"Maybe it's better you just forget about it," he said, crossing his arms over his chest as his shoulders bowed in: defeat in a single posture.

---

  

---

Set by Lady!

Tycho couldn't really wrap his head around what the other was saying. His skin flushed, probably deeper than the other had ever seen it. "Then what happened to my memories?" Ty asked, partially to himself and not without a slight tremor of fear in his voice. He missed around some with magics and such all the time but something like this had never happened to him before. For a whole block of memories to keep itself from his recollection.

"I don't think I can do that. Not when I've literally published a book for you," Ty murmured with a dry laugh. "Besides, again, I have no idea what or who did this to me." Though the other seemed to not be thinking about that very much.

---

  

---

That was a hell of a good question, but not one Ford thought he could possibly help solve. Not here, not now, but also not anywhere or anytime when word could get back to Jemima about it. He still didn't fully believe this himself, so there was no way at all he was going to be able to convince her that he was spending so much time with his former lover for medical reasons. Tycho was an adult, with friends and a mother who cared about him, and plenty of money. He would get it figured out without Ford's help. He would have to, because as difficult as it was to consider, Ford had to recognize that Tycho's life was no longer his responsibility. It couldn't be, with a baby on the way. The baby deserved more than that.

Then Tycho mentioned a book, and Ford's breath caught. "You —" he started, drifting off immediately. Tycho had written about him before, but not a book. This was such a drastic departure from what Ford had imagined Tycho had been occupying himself with since their last meeting that it made his head spin. He actually felt he might faint.

"I'll meet you at yours," he said in a rush, in spite of his previous determination that he couldn't involve himself here at all. He couldn't leave Tycho like this, though, and they couldn't keep having this conversation here.

---

  

---

Set by Lady!