Ford had, in fact, come to see Tycho. Who else would he have been expecting to see when he knocked on Dodonus' door? To the best of his knowledge there was only one person who lived here (and one spirit, but a spirit could not properly be said to live here, and neither could they physically open the door once he'd knocked on it). Of course Ford knew that Dodonus had a staff — a house like this was already far too big for one person, and could not have been maintained without one — but this fellow didn't look like staff. He didn't have the right mannerisms and attitude, nor the livery (though if Dodonus could answer the door in a housecoat, who was to say that his butler had a uniform at all?) Staff also probably wouldn't have referred to the owner of the house as Tycho — though if anyone would have such impertinent staff members, it would have been Tycho.
But no, this wasn't a butler. When he'd moved past the initial shock of seeing someone unexpected at the door, Ford realized he recognized him from Hogwarts. Broadmoor. Definitely not a servant, but also not a relation of Dodonus unless it was through some obscure connection Ford wasn't aware of. What was he doing here? They might have just been friends, of course, but this seemed a strange hour for friends to be visiting (Ford thought from his friend's doorstep, entirely unaware of the hypocrisy of this observation). It was too early for him to be a dinner guest. Maybe he was staying here.
The idea stung slightly, though Ford wouldn't have been able to say why. Dodonus had this huge house all to himself, and he could invite anyone over that he pleased. There was no reason he ought to make Ford aware of his plans for his guest rooms.If he was even using a guest room. How long had he been here? How long was he staying? Not that it was any of Ford's business one way or another, but now he was morbidly curious. Perhaps he could find a way to bring it up in conversation naturally and figure out the answer, but for that he would first have to start the conversation.
"Yeah, I did," he agreed. He entered the house, but a little warily; his shoulders were held higher than they typically were when Dodonus welcomed him in. "Is he here?"
But no, this wasn't a butler. When he'd moved past the initial shock of seeing someone unexpected at the door, Ford realized he recognized him from Hogwarts. Broadmoor. Definitely not a servant, but also not a relation of Dodonus unless it was through some obscure connection Ford wasn't aware of. What was he doing here? They might have just been friends, of course, but this seemed a strange hour for friends to be visiting (Ford thought from his friend's doorstep, entirely unaware of the hypocrisy of this observation). It was too early for him to be a dinner guest. Maybe he was staying here.
The idea stung slightly, though Ford wouldn't have been able to say why. Dodonus had this huge house all to himself, and he could invite anyone over that he pleased. There was no reason he ought to make Ford aware of his plans for his guest rooms.
"Yeah, I did," he agreed. He entered the house, but a little warily; his shoulders were held higher than they typically were when Dodonus welcomed him in. "Is he here?"
Set by Lady!