Ford had expected him to say something, but he hadn't expected that. Another soft pang of guilt hit his stomach. He supposed this was his penance for calling himself Cash's friend, having to bluff his way through a conversation about him. On the other hand, what else could they possibly have talked about? They'd been not-terribly-far-off in Hogwarts but Ford didn't know that they'd ever had an actual conversation there. Quidditch had never been his scene, even as a child. The time they'd played chess they'd just talked about Cash too, hadn't they? It was probably the only thing they had in common. So on the one hand, this was normal; the only logical question that could have followed, really. On the other hand — there was something to it that was different. A beseeching undercurrent that separated the question from casual small talk — or was he projecting again?
Well, one thing Ford couldn't have been imagining was the setting for this conversation. They were both here, outside the bounds of the party while it was still in full swing. Something had driven Gallivan out here, and that same something might have been what Ford was sensing in his body language when he'd first leaned against the wall, or in his tone when he'd asked the question. Was it the same thing that had lead Ford out here? Was he avoiding Cash, too? No, that was stupid. What reason could Gallivan have had to care about the wedding?
On the other hand, the question and the way in which it was asked left little room for doubt in Ford's mind that Gallivan cared about Cash. A friend as well as a professional connection, then? Had they had a falling out as well, over something else? This thought caused Ford's brow to crease with worry. Cash being trapped in a sham marriage was bad, and he'd had no qualms telling him that. Cash being trapped in a sham marriage alone, after he'd been isolated from all his friends, was much worse.
Ford let out a long breath as something Cash had said a long time ago popped back into his mind unbidden. Ford had asked if he was okay, in the Muggle hotel room with the fledgling dementor lurking in the corner, and Cash had replied I don't suppose you'd believe me if I said yes.
He still had not answered Gallivan's question, and didn't know how to. Ford didn't really know, but was beginning to suspect that the both of them being out here and not inside was partly an answer in and of itself. But this was all conjecture, and it would have been a betrayal of his friendship to Cash — dead though it might be now — to share his suspicions with someone on the outside.
"As well as he ever is," Ford responded, which was to say not well at all. He watched Gallivan's expression, trying to see if he picked up on the subtext or not, then asked, "You haven't talked to him lately?"
They worked together; fight or no, that would at least made it harder to entirely avoid each other.
Well, one thing Ford couldn't have been imagining was the setting for this conversation. They were both here, outside the bounds of the party while it was still in full swing. Something had driven Gallivan out here, and that same something might have been what Ford was sensing in his body language when he'd first leaned against the wall, or in his tone when he'd asked the question. Was it the same thing that had lead Ford out here? Was he avoiding Cash, too? No, that was stupid. What reason could Gallivan have had to care about the wedding?
On the other hand, the question and the way in which it was asked left little room for doubt in Ford's mind that Gallivan cared about Cash. A friend as well as a professional connection, then? Had they had a falling out as well, over something else? This thought caused Ford's brow to crease with worry. Cash being trapped in a sham marriage was bad, and he'd had no qualms telling him that. Cash being trapped in a sham marriage alone, after he'd been isolated from all his friends, was much worse.
Ford let out a long breath as something Cash had said a long time ago popped back into his mind unbidden. Ford had asked if he was okay, in the Muggle hotel room with the fledgling dementor lurking in the corner, and Cash had replied I don't suppose you'd believe me if I said yes.
He still had not answered Gallivan's question, and didn't know how to. Ford didn't really know, but was beginning to suspect that the both of them being out here and not inside was partly an answer in and of itself. But this was all conjecture, and it would have been a betrayal of his friendship to Cash — dead though it might be now — to share his suspicions with someone on the outside.
"As well as he ever is," Ford responded, which was to say not well at all. He watched Gallivan's expression, trying to see if he picked up on the subtext or not, then asked, "You haven't talked to him lately?"
They worked together; fight or no, that would at least made it harder to entirely avoid each other.
Set by Lady!