A Dining Experience

Posted on Thu Feb 13th, 2025 @ 3:11pm by Captain Mikoto Misaka & Commander Eila Juutilainen 'Illu' & Lieutenant JG Feeva Drylo & Lieutenant Aleksandra Litvyak 'Sanya'

1,232 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Atlantic Trouble
Location: RMS Olympic,First Class Dining Room

It was early evening on the RMS Olympic. Dinner service was provided for all passengers. However there was a noticeable difference in what was served. First Class had more options and even had the option of eating at the A la Carte restaurant on B Deck or the first class dining room. However the A la Carte was not included in the ticket price. Second and Third Class passengers had their own separate dining rooms lower in the ship.

The food on the Olympic was exquisite for the time, especially in First Class which could have upto eleven courses.

[First Class Dining Room]

The Captain's table was an honour to sit at. Tonight was no exception as Misaka had organised for the staff to join her in this immersion first class experience. Luckily the holodeck actually replicated the food, so it wasn't holographic but was actually real.

With dinner being called, Misaka had been joined by Touma at the Captain's table. She sipped on fine red wine as she waited for the others to join her before the appetisers would be served.

"I mean, she really is a fine ship you've built, Mrs. Andrews." Eila remarked as she and Sanya entered the First Class dining room.

"Thank you, Mrs. Murdoch." Sanya nodded. "Though I have been busy making notes with Mr. Ismay about what we can improve for Titanic."

"I can imagine the only place to go is up with Titanic." Eila chuckled as the two women approached the Captain's table.

"Captain, have you had the chance to make acquaintance with the builder of Olympic?" Eila asked, indicating Sanya.

"I can't say that I have," Misaka replied as she stood and offered her hand to Sanya. "Mrs Andrews, its a pleasure to have you aboard. A remarkable vessel you have built here."

"Thank you." Sanya returned the handshake. "Wouldn't want White Star Line to take possession of their new vessel if it wasn't up to Harland & Wolff's high standards."

"Of course," Misaka said in response. "I trust you will be joining us for dinner this evening?"

In a far table, the junior doctor sat with some of the rest of the crew. She was dressed more formally-she disliked it. The Vissian was normally very casual off the clock-jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers. She was also very plain, and unused to the "girly" things that dressing formally required. Her mother had left her family-and Vissia-when she was very young and she'd had no one to teach her how to do makeup, or dress, or anything like that.

"Ooh, looks good!" She said, to her tablemates.

"Of course." Sanya smiled. "The Irish food that Mrs. Murdoch had sent to my room earlier today has certainly gotten me back into a social mood."

"Indeed, only the best here at the Captains Table." Misaka said with a smile. The first course was being served up. Misaka checked the menu and there was an assortment of options to choose from in First Class.

A waiter approached the table, he was dressed smartly in a full suit and tie. "Captain, May I take your table order sir?" he asked politely.

"Of course," Misaka replied. "We'll start off with our first course. I will be having Salmon Mousseline Sauce with Cucumber."

The waiter scribbled it down on a small waitering pad. "And for you Mrs Andrews?"

"Yes, I think I will start off with the roast duckling with applesauce." Sanya responded after picking up and perusing the menu.

The waiter scribbled it down on his waitering pad. "And for you Mrs. Murdoch?"

"Sauté chicken Lyonnaise please." Eila ordered.

The waiter scribbled it down along with the rest of the order.

Feeva smiled. "Can I order from the second class menu instead?" She asked, batting her eyelashes. She once read that in a holonovel and it had worked for the heroine. "If not, I suppose the roast duckling," she said. How...gross. She had done her best to hide the protrubances on her face with makeup, but in the end, the Vissian had had to tell people that it was a result of a burn injury.

The waiter raised an eyebrow. "I believe that is possible miss," he replied with a smile. "Please bear with me a moment to fetch you the menu you requested."

"I didn't realise you were a person of simpler tastes." Misaka smirked at the doctor. "Even second class food on these old Liners were still vary lavish."

"Reviews of the day compared second class on the Olympic-class to first class on other liners..." Eila added.

Feeva tossed her head. "I didn't grow up on fancy things," she said. She nearly said "fancy starships" but had caught it in time. Vissians were a poor people, but proud. "The roast turkey, please," she said, when the waiter returned. "I appreciate you making an exception. I am sure my father will, too," she said. Hopefully he didn't ask who her father WAS but she was prepared with an entire background story if necessary.

"Is your father on board tonight?" The waiter asked.

Feeva shook her head no. "Unfortunately, he was unable to join us. He's at Parliament, trying to work out some kind of Magna Carta for the Alliances," she said. She was surprisingly a good liar, but she didn't like it. She wished she hadn't said anything, but she'd panicked and it was the first thing she'd thought of. Oh no.

"Perhaps you should consider sending him a telegram." Eila suggested. "The Marconi wireless system truly is a modern marvel. It'll save lives one day, mark my words."

Feeva smiled. "Maybe I will. That's a good idea!" she said. "So anyway. The roast turkey, please," she said, feeling like she'd moved far enough away from her faux pas.

[90 minutes later]

Dinner on these old ships was not just a class affair, but was often followed by certain pleasantries. Most of the men would retire to the men's smoking room to discuss politics and business over a few cigars, whilst the women would retire to either their smoking room or the promenade.

Misaka stood up and bowed to the table. "It's been a pleasure dining with you all tonight. I however should return to my duties as Captain," she said as she reached out and lifted her white star line officers hat from the table.

After Misaka left, Eila pulled out her pocket chronometer to glance at.

"Well, seeing as I've got a few hours before my watch begins, anyone care to join me for a round of cigars?" She offered. "And maybe a friendly card game or two?"

"I'll play cards, but no cigars for me," Feeva said. "And really, you shouldn't, either. It's bad for indigestion," she said. She stood up and carefully adjusted her clothing.

"Oh, I don't usually;" Eila stated. "But, I find it helps to get into the mood of the time period better if you partake in the social norms of the era:"

Feeva nodded. "I see," she said. She didn't say anything more. When they returned to thier timeline, she could undo whatever damage to her lungs that Eila was about to do.

Posting by:

Captain Mikoto Misaka
Commanding Officer

Commander Eila Juutilainen 'Illu'
Executive Officer

Lieutenant JG Feeva Drylo
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Aleksandra Litvyak 'Sanya'
Medical Officer

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