Words: 319
Happy New Years, everybody. :)
Zen & the Art
Of Playing Lookout
"I see them," said Arthur as he peered around the doorframe into the main dining room. "Trillian and Zaphod, I mean. I don't see either of us… Didn't she say we'd get here a little while before we left?"
Ford, leaning with his back against the gaudily decorated wall, shrugged. "Consider the source. But you wouldn't anyway. That's how these sorts of places are always set up, or visiting more than once would be overcrowded and prohibitively confusing."
He tapped his foot while Arthur continued playing lookout anyway. Then he started fiddling with the strap of his bag, because his hands felt oddly restless. A waiter carrying a tray laden with drinks went past, just out of reach, and Ford ground his teeth together. He glanced at Arthur.
"This would go a lot faster," he said impatiently, "if we just go and find out if we're in the right place or not."
"But what if we aren't?" Arthur fussed. "You weren't there for the worst part, last time."
"So what if we aren't? There's not much we can do about it now," Ford pointed out. "As long as we haven't ended up in a Universe without alcohol, it's nothing we won't be able to adjust to."
Arthur gave this due consideration, then sighed.
Ford recognized this as a sign that the human would, if not agree with him, probably not protest.
"All right, we're going then," said Ford, pushing away from the wall and starting into the main dining room.
Three steps later, he paused and turned back around to face Arthur.
"Wait," said Ford, grabbing the front of Arthur's dressing gown and hauling him close for a kiss.
Arthur made a small noise of surprise, but, on the whole, didn't feel he had anything to complain about.
"Okay," said Ford, nipping at Arthur's lips as they parted and looking, if nothing else, considerably more relaxed. "Now we're going."
Not the end yet. I'm really, really going to try for forty-two chapters. ;P