Escape [PSL]

[wicked_west]

Elphie had been asleep without Ford or the Chistery. Once she'd disappeared from him that one day, she stayed away. But today of all days, he was banging on her door. Him and the monkey. And he was hollering something about a ship and if she wasn't the witch anymore to follow him.

Elphie threw on the nearest dress... her flowered one... and grabbed all her scarves. She left the broom behind.

"What do you mean a ship?" the former witch asked as she opened the door.

Comments

[got_his_towel]

"Monkeys have a long history of being funny," Ford said sagely, hitting the combination that would take them out of the dock. "That has to be a useful skill."

[wicked_west]

"You keep telling me that," she says with a smile.

Chistery climbed into her arms and babbled incoherently. Elphie didn't listen though. She was too busy watching Ford hit the different buttons and her ears were perked for any signs that they weren't going to get away with what they were doing.

[got_his_towel]

Ford typed in a fake authorization code and took off. He knew how long it would take them to realize. He'd done this before.

They soon cruised out into free space.

"Wheeeeeeee!" he cried as they passed the range of the station's tractor beam.

[wicked_west]

Elphie hugged Chistery closer to herself, determined not to scream or show just how scared she actually was. But Chistery was looking pretty freaked out too. The two of them were hiding their heads with their eyes tight shut while Ford seemed to be having the time of his life. It wasn't like the cars back at the Hotel. And it wasn't like the broom.

[got_his_towel]

Still laughing, Ford glanced over at Elphie to see her clinging to the monkey. He frowned slightly.

"What's wrong? We're free now."

[wicked_west]

"Nothing's wrong!" she called, her voice muffled in Chistery's fur. "It's all good. Chistery's just scared is all."

[got_his_towel]

He looked at the monkey for a moment, then, in a slow and deliberate tone said "Monkey. WE. ARE. FREE. NOW."

[wicked_west]

Chistery looked over at him for a moment and then glared. "Free fray froo!!" he chittered before pushing himself out of Elphie's arms and perching on the back of the chair.

Having nothing to hold now, Elphie pretended to be perfectly fine with what was happening. It was actually easier now that they were out in open space. Ford also tended to not notice subtleties which made hiding the fear better.

"You're very good at flying," she offered finally.

[got_his_towel]

Ford grinned and did a few little swoops to celebrate. And maybe show off a little.

"Now we find a beach!" he declared.

[wicked_west]

Well, he had stopped asking questions. Elphie turned a darker shade of green and clutched the arms of her chair, agreeing with him.

"Yes, a beach. I'm sure it'll be lovely."

[got_his_towel]

He glanced over at her, frowning again.

"Are you sure you're all right?" he asked. Ford often came across as oblivious and, on occasion, stupid. But he was neither. "You don't look well."

[wicked_west]

"Well, it is rather different than the cars or a broomstick."

And to be honest, she always did have trouble with the broomstick...

[got_his_towel]

"It's true, cars weren't nearly as exciting, even though they were a lot more dangerous," Ford agreed.

[wicked_west]

"Cars weren't as exciting? I liked them."

[got_his_towel]

"But they can only move in two dimensions. This can move in three." He zoomed around in a quick loop. "It's much more versatile and you can go more places."

[wicked_west]

"Yes YES I've noticed. And it's all very fascinating except for the fact I'm going to lose my lunch if you keep doing that."

[got_his_towel]

Ford looked at her, a little confused. "You packed a lunch?" He wondered when she managed to do that. "You can put it in storage, you know. So it won't fall out of your pocket."

[wicked_west]

And now it's Elphie's turn to look confused at him. Until it clicks. "Not a lunch I packed you daft alien! The lunch you fed me. Vomiting. I'm going to vomit!"

[got_his_towel]

Ford gave her a mildly horrified glance. "What would you want to do that for?"

[wicked_west]

"Want has nothing to do with it! Just... just fly... smoothly."

[got_his_towel]

Ford nodded and flicked some switches. Then flicked them again because he liked the noise they made.

"This ship has great buttons. Buttons and switches. Did you hear the sound they made?" He did it again. "What a great ship."

[wicked_west]

Elphie looked at the switches, and then watched Ford. He was so fascinating to her. So interested in the little things: switches, buttons, sounds. She wondered how one became like that.

“I’m glad you found it. The ship. It’s very… very hoopy.”

[got_his_towel]

"You should try the switches," Ford advised. He quickly pointed at one in particular. "Not that one!" He gestured to the console in front of them. "Try a few of these ones." Like he was offering her a selection of chocolates.

[wicked_west]

Elphie was learning that this was Ford being sweet. This was exactly what he though she would like. And in the grand scheme of things, switches were much better than gigantic ballgowns.

She leaned forward and flipped one or two, ooing and ahhing to make him feel OK. Chistery decided it was a great game and started flipping every switch he could find. All good until an alarm started sounding.

"Chistery!"

[got_his_towel]

"Umm..." Ford started reaching for switches, flicking off the ones on the 'do not touch' side with a nervous glance at the monkey. "Not that one," he said firmly, pointing. He pushed some buttons and the alarm stopped. Because if they were going to depressurize or explode, at least it would be quiet beforehand.