Macnair chuckled, but for one heart-pounding moment Ford wasn't sure if he was laughing in general or laughing at Ford. Had he seen through... whatever that was that Ford had just tried to put on? Of course he had, and now he was going to call him out on it and say something cruel and tell him to go away, and Ford would be too mortified to show his face in the club again for weeks.

Only he didn't. He did just the opposite, declaring that he liked him. Ford's face broke out in a too-wide grin, and he let himself relax just a tiny bit. Macnair's question caused a faint buzz of worry in the back of his mind, but mostly he was still riding the high of being told point-blank that this man liked him, so he decided to answer.

"Yeah, you caught me," he said, with a sheepish look to his eyes which contrasted a bit with his still too-wide smile. "I like ghosts."

The following 1 user Likes Fortitude Greengrass's post:1 user Likes Fortitude Greengrass's post
   Valerian Macnair

---

Set by Lady!

There were multiple trains of thought going through his head in that moment.

Greengrass' smile sent a jolt right to his chest, because it was wider than he would have guessed and it he looked genuinely happy, not like he was just smiling for the sake of it. He almost felt proud that he'd managed to put a smile on his face, because it was a nice smile, and Valerian's gaze lingered on his mouth for half a second too long that when he looked away he felt like Greengrass might see right through him. But that was absurd, because Greengrass was practically a stranger - or an acquaintance now, he guessed, since he was going to "stick around and find out", whatever that meant. Apparently it was much easier to befriend someone when they were easy enough to take to (which, he would insist, most weren't).

The other train of thought: Greengrass did like ghosts, which meant that his pursuit of a career in the Spirit Division came from a place of passion, which Valerian could relate to - except he'd never really thought much about ghosts since leaving Hogwarts, and it was an odd thing to like, though Valerian didn't think it was weird considering the things he was into. Not that he was about to share.

"Just ghosts? Or do you like ghouls, too? - I've got a nasty one somewhere in the attic in my home, but I've never been able to lure it out." He smiled as he said it, because he was mostly joking - mostly, because if Greengrass had any pointers as a Spirit Division employee he wasn't about to turn it down.

---

  

---

"Well, ghouls aren't half so pleasant to talk to," Ford joked easily. Macnair didn't seem to be teasing him, and he'd already said he liked him, so the nerves from a minute ago were starting to dissipate. He was feeling much more capable of talking about these sorts of things, now that he wasn't quite as worried how Macnair would react.

"What do you have hiding in your attic?" Ford asked, with interest. Most ghouls weren't actually under his division's authority, because most of them were considered beasts, but the classification lines had only been settled fairly recently (for some definition of recently; many of the spirits and beings the Ministry routinely worked with predated them). Ghouls were mostly corporeal, which meant they weren't his business, but chameleon ghouls were. Even if it was a more usual sort of ghoul, though, Ford was still interested. He'd taken a NEWT in Ghoul Studies, and he could've worked in the Beasts Division just as easily; he just thought spirits were more interesting.

People also tended to use the term ghoul as a catch-all for "creepy sorts of non-humans," too, many of which were his business. Boggarts were the most notable example. He was taking a drink as this occurred to him, but he made a little mm! noise to indicate he had something to say and sat up straighter in his chair. "Is it a boggart?" he asked eagerly. "I'm great with boggarts."

  

---

Set by Lady!

He wasn't sure whether to file away the first bit of information into the general knowledge for life or things to remember about Greengrass in his mental file folders, so he did both. Valerian was criminally uninformed about ghouls, ghosts, and anything else he would have learned about if he would have broadened his horizons at Hogwarts, where he'd spent most of his time treating his studies like pre-hospital training.

He took  sip of his drink at the same time Greengrass did, subconsciously mirroring his body language, and smiled from behind his glass when Greengrass launched into his questions about boggarts, as if he enjoyed them. Of course, a Ministry official who dealt in banishing ghosts (or talking to them?) probably had opinions on other sorts of creatures that lurked in homes, but to be "great" with boggarts seemed... well, if anything, it was particularly useful in this scenario.

"It is," he said, trying not to look too pleased with the turn of events. Would it be odd to ask him if he could assist him in ridding of it? His mind began to jump to other thoughts, too - namely Greengrass standing in the middle of the attic, looking all-too focused on his task and giving Valerian the opportunity to let his eyes linger a little longer. And below him, his bedroom -

He cast the thought out of his head, because it was a ridiculous one to be having but unfortunately not an uncommon one for him.

"And if you'll help me rid of it I'll owe you a favor," he offered, his brows raising in expectantly.

---

  

---

Ford grinned. There wasn't much that he was really good at, when it came to practical magic, but this was one area that he did excel in (probably more due to practice than any natural talent). If he had the opportunity to show off his skills a little, that could only be a good thing. Being able to handle a boggart wasn't exactly on the same level as being Assistant Head, but it was something.

"Sure. I'd love to," he said earnestly. With a lightly teasing tone, he added, "Can we handle it on a work day, so I can get paid for it, too?" He didn't mind trading favors, but this was actually his job; might as well handle it during working hours if that was acceptable to Macnair. That wasn't exactly a favor, though, and he did like the idea of Macnair owing him a favor — it made it seem like they were friends — so he added, "I can put a rush on the paperwork, if you like."

  

---

Set by Lady!

"Sure," Valerian replied, already trying to remember which weekdays he had off in the upcoming two weeks. The next week would be pretty booked - lots of afternoon morning shifts, but he thought he had a night shift in there that would allow Greengrass to visit during Ministry hours. He wanted to have as much time as possible; he rarely had people over at the Inverness-shire manor for his own purposes, so he liked to give a tour when he did. "Perhaps in the evening. Say... the 27th?" That was a Wednesday; he was always out by 3 o'clock on Wednesdays, so that should be adequate time to push paperwork through without Greengrass having to go through extra work for his sake.

---

The following 1 user Likes Valerian Macnair's post:1 user Likes Valerian Macnair's post
   Fortitude Greengrass

---

Evening wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind, but what was he going to do? Refuse? Unthinkable. Ford wasn't in a mindset to refuse anything at the moment. Even if he had been, Verity probably would have killed him if she heard he had a chance to go hang around at Macnair's home (as a favor no less) and had turned it down.

The 27th was plenty of time to get the appropriate paperwork pushed through for some field work, though if he wanted to get paid for this he'd have to get some special permissions to do it after hours. He could make that work, though, if he claimed Macnair was only available in the evening. He didn't even know that it was a lie, so it didn't even really count as one.

"Sure, that's prefect," he agreed. "Write down the address for me, and I'll see you then."

The following 1 user Likes Fortitude Greengrass's post:1 user Likes Fortitude Greengrass's post
   Valerian Macnair

---

Set by Lady!

Good. He'd make sure to jot it down in his notes for the 27th, making appropriate arrangements to not be disturbed by anyone else at the time (namely his mother, because none of his brothers nor his father usually bothered in after work).

"I will see you next week," he said, pulling out his wand. He conjured a piece of parchment and pulled a self-inking quill (something he'd gotten used to carrying as a healer) out of his pocket. He scribbled down his address and signed the note with a V. Macnair so he wouldn't forget what it was later. Pulling himself into a straighter sitting position, Valerian slid the parchment across the table, allowing his hand to linger long enough for his fingertips to brush against Greengrass' when he took it from his hand. He met his eyes, but did not hesitate to pull back, not wanting to seem like he'd done it purposefully.

"But until then." He grinned and downed the rest of his glass in one, long gulp, and let out a sigh as he clinked the glass down against the table.

---

  

---

Ford leaned forward to take the note without thinking anything of it, until the other man's hand brushed his. He looked up instinctively, and his heartrate picked up. It was less the contact itself, which could have been innocent enough, and more the look in Macnair's eyes. Ford couldn't have articulated what it was about it, but there was something there. Something that made him feel vulnerable, but in a way that was a little exhilarating.

He didn't respond — it didn't seem to need a response — but then Macnair was draining his glass. Well, then. They still had a bottle between them, and apparently the tone of the night was about to shift. Ford glanced down at his own wine and hesitated only a moment before following suit, not wanting to be left behind.

  

---

Set by Lady!