Dinner aboard a sinking ship -- a good beginning?

Posted on Wed Nov 23rd, 2011 @ 3:22pm by Lieutenant JG Ronnie Wolfe & Lieutenant Commander Damion Wolfe
Edited on on Thu Nov 24th, 2011 @ 5:46pm

1,195 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shades of Gray
Location: Holodeck 1
Timeline: After the wormhole

ON

Ronnie reserved a holodeck, sent a message to Damion and then set about finding the right period dress. If they were going to have dinner aboard the Titanic they might as well dress the part. She had to admit, she was curious to see how he looked in a formal suit.

She checked the fastenings on her formal gown, make sure no hair was out of place, and headed for the holodeck.

Damion walked into the holodeck. He wore an old fashion black suit with buttons, a vest, pocket watch, red tie, and a top hat. He smiled in his small and round shades as he walked along the deck with a cane that had a silver wolf at the top. "Lovely night for a dinner on the main, wouldn't you say?" His voice smiled as came up behind her. He placed his cane onto the deck and leaned against it. He smiled devilishly as it wasn't hard to find her since she was the only one nervous.

She turned and smiled when she saw Damion. "It is indeed. You look quite dashing, sir."

"Thank you. It's the cane that makes the whole think work? Don't you think?" He laughed as he held his hands out. "Might I escort, my lady, to the dining room?" Damion smiled as he tilted his head a bit.

She gave a small curtsy. "I would be honored, sir." She slipped her arm through his. She led the way inside and down the grand staircase, telling him about the chandeliers, the decor and the stories behind them. "There was a movie made around the turn of the century. The director, John Cameron, went to a lot of effort -- at a large cost -- to make the ship look as authentic as possible. He even got the same type of carpet and chandeliers. That's one reason this program is so accurate. It was easier to recreate from a movie than still photographs."

As they walked into the dining room she pointed out a gentleman. "That's John Jacob Astor. A multi-millionaire. He refused to get into a lifeboat. He sent the women and children first. It was said he went back to his stateroom to dress in his best clothes so he could die like a gentleman." She pointed to a lady. "That's Molly Brown."

She pointed out a few others as they were led to their table and seated. "Sorry. This is a fascinating time in earth's history. It's the same period as the musical Oklahoma. They made a musical of the Titanic as well." She grinned. "Okay, changing the subject. If you want, I can show you a stateroom after dinner. They were incredibly opulent."

"You have really put yourself into this program, haven't you?" He said softly as he pulled out her chair and pushed it in for her. Damion walked around as he sat down and then pulled his chair in. "I bet I could point anyone out in here and you could tell me everything around them, huh?"

"Well, not everyone, but some of the major figures, yes. I don't know why it interests me. There were so many failures. The telegraph was brand new, so a telegraphed message warning of icebergs in the area went unnoticed. The Captain wanted to make the crossing in record time so was going faster than was strictly safe. There weren't enough lifeboats. The passengers below decks were locked in so they couldn't bother the rich clientle, The few life boats they had left before they were full." She shook her head. "And yet, I still find the ship itself fascinating."

The waiter brought their oysters and slipped away.

Damion looked around and then down at the oysters. He picked one up, looked at it, and then back to Ronnie. "So did you base these characters on the movie or the actual people?" He said leaned back in the chair and then smiled.

"The people, of course. The movie was used in conjunction with photographs and other records to help in the recreation." She looked at the oysters. "You don't have to eat them if you don't want. Soup comes next."

As if on cue, the waiter returned and set bowls of Consumme Olga in front of each of them.

"There are ten courses. We can skip to the Fillet Mignon and then get dessert elsewhere, if you like. Dessert here is Waldorf pudding and peaches in a chartreuse jelly." And she didn't want to drive Damion away by making him eat the entire meal. She had yet to manage that feat herself.

He laughed and then smiled. "There is more? No wonder everyone around here is so... so big." Damion laughed as he looked around and then back to her. "So what makes all of this so interesting to you?" He said softly as he started to eat. "A ship that sank so long ago."

"it's more the people and their stories. You have a series of missed opportunities, heroes, villains." She grinned. "far more interesting than the bare facts. And it was an interesting time in US History. It's the Industrial Revolution. It's followed by the Great War, the Roaring 20s and the Great Depression."

She sat back as the waiter brought the fourth course: Filet Mignons Lili. She deliberately skipped the second -- and everything after the fourth -- because it was far too much food. Damion was right. They did eat a LOT.

Ronnie pointed out a few of the people while they ate and told Damion who they were and why she found them interesting. Before she knew it, the waiter came to remove their plates. "I hope you don't mind, but that's more than enough food for me. Would you like to see more of the ship or go somewhere else for some ice cream or something?"

Damion smiled as he got up and held his hand out. "How about a dance?" He said softly and then winked. "Lets have ourselves a great night before the boat sinks. What do you say?"

Ronnie grinned and took his hand. "I would be honored to dance with you."

Damion and Ronnie danced the entire night. Dancing slowly to the music as everyone around them celebrated and laughed. It wasn't long before it seemed to flow for them. It was like they were actually there. Damion could feel a nice and comfortable feeling coming from her and for once, since he got here, he didn't feel his past hanging over his head. No ghosts and demons haunting him. He felt like a normal officer. Soon as the ship hit the iceberg, everyone began to panic. Everyone except Ronnie and Damion, who just walked along the corridor. Smiling and laughing like the chaos around them weren't even happening.

In spite of the chaos around them and the impending doom, her attention was focused on Damion. To her it was a magical night. One she was loath to see end.

OFF

Lieutenant JG Damion Wolfe
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant JG Ronnie Lancaster
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Calypso

 

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