Not in a practical it could happen sense, I guess. He mostly wanted terrible things to stop happening, I think. And maybe a cup of tea.
Anya: It's lovely! I wish it was mine! Oh like you weren't all thinking the same thing. Giles: I'm fairly certain I wasn't.
'The Killer In Me'
Natter 68: Bork Bork Bork
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
-t - Apr 11, 2011 4:31:37 pm PDT #2820 of 30001
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
tommyrot - Apr 11, 2011 4:39:47 pm PDT #2821 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Also, he wanted what's-her-name.
Jesse - Apr 11, 2011 4:42:17 pm PDT #2822 of 30001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
I once got a truly spectacular bruise from an elevator door that slammed closed on me (it started closing as I was getting on the elevator and I put my arm up and, after hitting me really hard, it opened again).
Me too. I'm now just scared of that one elevator.
DebetEsse - Apr 11, 2011 4:48:17 pm PDT #2823 of 30001
Woe to the fucking wicked.
He spent a lot of time wanting a cup of tea.
Tommy, Fenchurch?
I think "To not die" was often his primary desire.
§ ita § - Apr 11, 2011 4:49:10 pm PDT #2824 of 30001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
he wanted what's-her-name
How can you not remember Trillian's name?
It wasn't a very big motivator for him. And neither was wanting stuff to stop happening. I mean, he doesn't try to make stuff stop happening, does he? Once Earth gets destroyed (SPOILERS!) what does he try to achieve?
tommyrot - Apr 11, 2011 4:54:31 pm PDT #2825 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
How can you not remember Trillian's name?
I dunno. I was asking myself the same question. (Except not with "Trilliian" in the question.)
Liese S. - Apr 11, 2011 4:57:12 pm PDT #2826 of 30001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
What did Arthur Dent want?
Yeah, I think mostly a nice cuppa. Maybe a sandwich.
Amy - Apr 11, 2011 4:57:18 pm PDT #2827 of 30001
Because books.
I think "To not die" was often his primary desire.
Negative desires are hard to work, though. They're not uncommon in real life, but they don't usually make a great story.
Ginger - Apr 11, 2011 4:59:10 pm PDT #2828 of 30001
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
I think Arthur wanted to go home. I don't know that the protagonist has to want something that's possible.
DavidS - Apr 11, 2011 5:01:09 pm PDT #2829 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
What did Arthur Dent want?
He wanted a cozy, unexceptional British middle-age. It was actually a pretty strong urge on his part, but life, the universe and everything conspired against it.