Log; Completed.

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

When; Monday 3/31/08
Rating; PG-13
Characters; Zaphod Beeblebrox (comesinsixpacks) and Toshiko Sato (warped_inside)
Summary; A Close Encounter of the Three Armed Kind
Log;

It was by the fountain, where Zaphod stood. His jacket was garish and blaring,as was the rest of his outfit. People would stop and stare, and Zaphod ate up every moment of it. He was the center of attention, that meant all was right with the universe.

Comments

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

Tosh was carrying her laptop satchel over her shoulder, because she took it everywhere. As she approached the fountain, she absently fidgeted with the strap as she scanned the people in the crowd.

Well, there was definitely a man with two heads and three arms. So she had to cross the possibility of a particularly elaborate prank off her list. Tosh smiled and headed in the man's direction.

"I've got to assume that you're Mr. Beeblebrox."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"No need to assume, babe," Zaphod said. "I'm the real deal. Give me warning if you're going to swoon, got it?"

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

God, it was like meeting another Captain John Hart. Or if someone had taken Jack and John and merged them together.

What a frightening thought. "I'll be sure to do that," Tosh replied, holding out her hand. "Toshiko Sato."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Ohhhh yeah," Zaphod said, snapping his fingers. "We talked earlier."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"We actually arranged earlier to meet here," Tosh pointed out, wondering if he'd forgotten that fact, or if he was just having her on. And trying to decide whether or not to feel put out if he had forgotten.

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"Yes we did," Zaphod said. "I put on my best suit."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that was nice of you!" Tosh exclaimed, giving him a big smile and deciding she was definitely not going to feel put out. "It's very...intriguing."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"All eyes are on me, and that's exactly how I like it," Zaphod said. "Of course, right now, my eyes are all on you."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

Tosh's cheeks turned a little pink, but she was still smiling. "Coming from someone with two heads, that's quite a compliment. So how long have you been here, Mr. Beeblebrox?"

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"Two weeks, give or take," Zaphod said. "The lack of really great parties means I've had time to actually pay attention to the calendar."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"You could always throw your own parties if you don't think there's enough entertainment," Tosh suggested. "I've been here a little over a week myself, but I do have to admit that I haven't really put much thought into parties. Mostly just figuring out what was going on, getting some kind of work lined up, that kind of thing."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Work," Zaphod said with a half shudder. "What a horrible word, yeah?"

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"Oh, I like working! I'd be bored stiff if I didn't have a job to do," Tosh insisted. "But you said you were in government, didn't you? That must be a lot of work."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Oh, you put in the appearances, sign the papers they ask you to," Zaphod said. "It's not too bad at all. You have to keep it real hoopy, otherwise who'd want the job?"

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"So it's more of a figurehead position?" Tosh asked. "And what's 'hoopy'?"

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"I'm an elected official. Figurehead maybe, but I earned that spot," Zaphod said. "And again with having to explain myself. Hoopy means 'Really together', got it?"

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I didn't mean to suggest you hadn't," Tosh said quickly. "I'm sure you must have worked hard to get the position. And all right, I've got it. I'll try not to ask too many more questions. Although that is going to make it a little harder to get to know you."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no, the questions are fine," Zaphod said. "I'm just getting sick of explaining hoopy, that's all. It's like I'm the only frood in the city."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

It was right on the tip of Tosh's tongue to ask what a 'frood' was, but she bit back the question.

"Well, you are kind of unique."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Of course I'm unique," Zaphod said. "I'm Zaphod Beeblebrox. Eccentrica Gallumbit's favorite client. Inventor of the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. President of the Galaxy."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

Tosh ducked her head to hide a grin at all the capital letters just screaming out at her from that speech.

"Which galaxy is that, exactly?"

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"This one," Zaphod said. "Who cares about any else, yeah?"

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

Tosh crossed her arms and cocked her head. "'This one' meaning the Milky Way? The one Earth is located in. Or are you looking at the question from the angle of imagining the City is located in some other galaxy, which would be 'this' galaxy to you, because that's where you'd have come from?"

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"As in 'the one I'm currently in, at any time'," Zaphod said. "I rule over wherever I am."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"Right." Tosh nodded her head slowly, and began to think that maybe this guy was a teeny bit delusional. "If your position is an elected one, how can you rule over a place that hasn't ever held elections for President of the Galaxy?"

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Well, like you said... figurehead," Zaphod said. "You want to know what my real job is, as president?"

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Tosh agreed, looking blatantly curious.

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Make sure no one thinks about who the hell is actually running everything," Zaphod said.

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

Tosh grinned slowly at that. "I see. Don't suppose if I asked who exactly that is, you'd tell me?"

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Boring old man with a cat," Zaphod said. "Real disappointment."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"Oh," Tosh said, making a disappointed face. "Yeah, I suppose that's not as exciting as I'd hoped for."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Apparently he doesn't even know what he is," Zaphod said. "Really one zarking weird situation."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"So...you have a man serving as President of the Galaxy who doesn't know he's President of the Galaxy? How does he do his job, if he doesn't even know what that job is?"

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Oh no," Zaphod said. "He runs everything."

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

Tosh looked confused. "But you said he doesn't know what he is. I don't quite understand what you mean."

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"People come to him, ask him questions about how to run things, and he answers them," Zaphod says. "He never sees anyone but the officials that visit him and bring him food and supplies. Rather crazy, but he's about the only impartial judge in the universe, yeah?"

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"I suppose so," Tosh mused, with a little frown. "Although I'm not sure I believe that anyone can ever really be impartial. And it seems a little cruel to keep a person locked up like that, never allowed to see anyone but his keepers."

Actually, she knew firsthand how cruel it could be, and felt immediately sorry for this man with the cat, whoever he was.

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Who said anything about locked up?" Zaphod said.

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"But you said the only people he sees are the people who bring his food and come to ask him questions. Unless...I guess you might mean he lives that way by choice..." Tosh answered hesitantly.

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"He's on a planet, where no one else knows where," Zaphod said. "He seemed happy. Though a bit too philosophical for my taste."

He sighed. "Are we going to keep yammering or are we going to go get a drink?"

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

"So long as he's happy, then, I guess that's good," Tosh admitted. The she tilted her head at Zaphod and smiled. "I didn't know that we were going for drinks, but that sounds nice to me. Is there a good place nearby?"

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"Nearby, no," Zaphod said. "What do you say, Tosh? Want to go underground with Zaphod Beeblebrox?"

[warped-inside.livejournal.com]

Tosh studied him for a moment, and then nodded. "All right, why not. How do we get there?"

[ooc: Back to the margin!]

[comesinsixpacks.livejournal.com]

"You follow me," Zaphod said. He snapped his fingers. "This way."