Posted by Cadet P’Mala Dawes (Doctor) in Side Sim: Holodeck 1 - Upstairs/Downstairs

Posted by Cadet Johnathan Baptiste (Doctor) in Side Sim: Holodeck 1 - Upstairs/Downstairs

Posted by Cadet P’Mala Dawes (Doctor) in Side Sim: Holodeck 1 - Upstairs/Downstairs
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It was 0400 hours, and P’Mala hoped most everyone would be asleep as she ducked out of her quarters in full costume, carrying a soft leather pouch. She took the turbolift to Deck 5 and entered her program into the computer.

=V= LATE VICTORIAN ENGLAND, BLAKEMOOR MANOR =V=

When P’Mala stepped through the Holodeck doors, she knew exactly where she’d last left the program: She was in the stone kitchen larder of Blakemoor Manor, 1889, near Hereford, England. The estate was a large farm, hunting ground, and a small pleasure lodge, part of the holdings of Lord Arthur Graham and his wife Jane.

P’Mala wore a plain blue linen dress, a white apron and scullery maid’s hat. Though the 6-foot tall half-Vulcan certainly would have been out of place here, the inhabitants of this program knew her as a Welsh girl, Hanna. P’Mala had been a part of this household off and on for five years, though only one had passed in the simulation. Hanna was a routine part of its inhabitants’ lives.

Quickly, methodically, P’Mala entered the scullery room from the larder and began scouring the dishes in the sink, using the hot water boiling on the fire–one of the other girls’ jobs was to prepare this for her.

A thin grey-haired woman with a severe bun and silver pince-nez glasses entered the space: Mrs. Lloyd, the head cook and part-time lady’s maid to the mistress of the house, Lady Graham.

“Hanna, dove! Back from your folks so soon?” Mrs. Lloyd asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” P’Mala said, scrubbing goose grease from a large pot. “I just returned. How are my lord and her ladyship?”

“Right blue, still yet,” the older woman sighed, her face downcast. “They both aren’t eating. He should be in London, or comforting a grieving mother, but instead, he trots away to the lodge and hunts, hunts, hunts.”

Mrs. Lloyd straightened herself. “At least that’s what I would say,” she said. “If it were my place to do so.”

Mrs. Lloyd was a bit of a busy-body, but she meant well. In fact, P’Mala was often surprised by how kind this program was–by her research, most real big houses were ran much more strictly than the Graham’s.

Their young son, Edgar, had recently died from scarlet fever. P’Mala had originally been interested in the funeral customs of this era, but ended up appreciating the family and staff. She wanted to see them do well.

“Mrs. Lloyd,” P’Mala said, “I’ll get the tea on for us and we can get upstairs’ breakfast together. You go on and get check on the rest.”

The older woman left. P’mala finished her dishes and put a kettle on. Then, she thought she heard the holodeck doors whoosh open.

“Snip“
“Computer, pause program,” she said.

Hmm, she thought. Must’ve been nothing.

“Computer, resume program,” she said.

On the big iron stove, the kettle began to sing. P’Mala took it off the heat. She grabbed some tea and a measure of cheesecloth from a nook and began to steep the tea.

The other downstairs girls, Truly and Ms. Price, had already made oatmeal, and P’Mala took a bowl. Today, the family was supposed to host some guests for a small shooting on the grounds, and she’d need some strength to keep up in the kitchen as they prepared and served breakfast then immediately prepared a full luncheon to a bunch of foppish Londoners, the Graham’s “friends” who the Lady despised

Mrs. Lloyd returned with a sour look on her face. “They’re in a mood, already,” she said. She took a cup of tea.

Mrs. Lloyd mentioned that the only other guests, the Lady’s younger brother, Charlie, and his friend Hubert, were already awake and clamoring for bread.

P’Mala finished her oatmeal, pushed her chair back, and wiped her hands on her apron.

“Well, Mrs. Lloyd, let’s get started.”

Then, she thought she heard the holodeck doors again.

“Computer, pause program,” she said. “Is someone else here?”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

(OOC: Feel free to jump in and do with the holocharacters what you will! All I know is Mrs. Lloyd, the two kitchen helpers, Lord and Lady Graham, and the brother and friends for now but add others if you’d like! An estate of this size would also at least have a butler and 4-6 other servants, too. -Shaun)

Cadet Baptiste was dressed for a workout session in his Star Fleet T-shirt, shorts, and running shoes heading to the gymnasium prior to his having to report for duty. He spotted Cadet Dawes going down the corridor dressed in what appeared to be a blue linen dress with a white apron and scullery maids hat reminiscence of the Victorian era of Earth, if he recalled his history correctly. Now what is this most peculiar Vulcan up to? he thought. Well as they say, only one way to find out. with that thought he followed her to Holodeck 1. He equivocated for a minute before hitting the button and entering the archway to the Holodeck; he was shocked to find Cadet Dawes getting up from a table speaking with another thin, grey haired woman in pince-nez glasses. He heard Cadet Dawes state “Computer, pause program. Is someone there.” With a deep breath he said in French “Bonjour, la curiosité a tué le chat.” Then realizing she may not speak French stated rather sheepishly “Hello, my curiosity got the best of me, and as they say curiosity killed the cat.”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

“Bonne journée, Johnathan,” P’Mala said, her college French a little rusty. “I’m afraid I turned off the gym program to spend a little time with my holonovel.”

Mrs. Lloyd was frozen in-program, her oatmeal spoon just inches from her open mouth, a pinkie pointed out like a wax figure.

“I hate to be in the kitchen when the poor old thing is stuck in this state. Would you care to follow me to the scullery to talk?” P’Mala said.

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

(OOC: Hey there! Thanks for joining in with this side sim! Since this is my first time creating a side Sim, I just wanted to give you my thoughts: My goals for P’Mala are for her to explore “friendship” outside of holonovels, while using a holonovel as a backdrop. I wanted to take some time and explore how she, as a half-Vulcan grows to connect with others like she’s grown to have affection for these rounded characters.

What are your goals for Johnathan in this side sim? Do you want to have him play a role in the holoworld too? Ideas for what you’d like to tell Mrs. Lloyd if we resume the program, etc? Or do you just want to play it by ear IC? Just let me know! -Shaun)

Cadet Baptiste smiled and stated “Your French is extremely rusty. Sure you may lead the way to the scullery. I am just dying to find out why a Vulcan would be running an Earth Victorian era holonovel. It seems out of character from what I have observed of most Vulcans.”
-Cadert Johnathan Baptiste, Medical

OCC: My goals with Johnathan in this side sim is to learn more about my fellow Doctor who is a Vulcan but displays very unVulcan behaviors, as I do not yet know you are a half-Vulcan. Also he is seeking friends as this is his first excursion off of Earth and he is finding himself a little off balance with his life in Star Fleet as a Doctor. Jonathan is usually most at home in emergency medical situations, performing surgery on trauma patients, or participating in outdoor activities that generally are solo in nature, like skiing or fishing.

-Chris Huskins

P’Mala opened the plain-looking side door into the scullery where the dishes she’d washed earlier were drying over cloth. The room was still humid and the stone walls glinted in the lamplight.

“Come this way,” P’Mala motioned.

“This holonovel is called “Blakemoor Manor,” and I’ve been accessing it off and on since before Starfleet Medical,” she said. “The household has lost a child, recently. They’re… my friends.”

P’Mala thought for a second. “Would you like to join in? We can program you in as a fellow downstairs person–the fisheries manager or a hunting guide–or as one of the upstairs guests for today’s hunting luncheon? I can program you a role in a snap.”

P’Mala paused, unsure. “If you’d rather go to the gym, I understand too.”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

(OOC: Okay, cool! I’m fine with however you want to play this side-sim–just thought it would be cool if we both kinda planned what we wanted to do within it. Any thoughts? -Shaun)

Cadet Baptiste thought about it for a moment “Sure, why not. Perhaps playing a hunting guide or fisheries manager would be fun. I do have experience in both hunting and fishing.” This also will help me get a better understanding of you and why you are so atypical of the stoic Vulcans I have meet during my time at the Star Fleet Academy. “So what do you recommend I roleplay as?” he asked with a warm smile. “After all you said these were your friends?”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

OCC: I am game for anything, I am still learning the ropes to this type of roleplaying. I have played multiple “traditional” tabletop roleplaying games, but this is my first time with sim. I am still trying to figure out how to snip and what a bump is.

-Chris Huskins

P’Mala brightened up. “So, our game warden is already “Jonathan,” without the H, so that would be an easy switch,” she said.

“You’d still be approximately the same age, and the folks here would know you as a newish hire. He’s only been at the Manor for a couple months.”

“Computer, arch, please,” P’Mala said. The entrance and console appeared. “Just tell me what you’d like and I’ll program it in. And then we can replicate some period-appropriate attire.”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

snip

Cadet Baptiste paused and thought for a moment “To be honest I am not fully up on the Victorian Era of Earth’s history. I will trust in your judgement as to what to wear, also I am unsure of the duties of a game warden in this era of time. While I have spent extensive time in the outdoors of British Columbia hunting, fishing, hiking and camping I have never ran afoul of the local game warden. With that said I am your guest and willing to assist with this roleplaying.” He smiled “Also what is the relationship and standing between my character, the old woman frozen mid bite, and you?”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

OCC: Okay quick question, exactly how does one go about Snipping in the game?

P’Mala considered this question for a moment. “It would take a while to explain late Victorian English culture in its entirety, but as a new player, the holonovel will certainly lead you along. If you talk about your time in British Columbia, the game will acknowledge that as truthful to your character’s background. As for our relationship and Mrs. Lloyd, she’s… my commanding officer in the kitchen. You’re slightly more highly ranked and serve under the Lord of the Manor as the gamesman. Mrs. Lloyd would see you as fellow high-ranking help.”

P’Mala paused. “They know ‘Jonathan’ and will likely speak to you somewhat familiarly.”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

OOC: You can feel comfortable in “autoing” any of the holonovel characters or add any as you see fit!

When you’re replying to a comment, you just delete and replace chunks of text with “snip.” I’ll start by doing it above, just a little, to my last OOC comment. keeping the parts that have important context. I usually cut when things get too long (for me, that’s things that aren’t vital including ooc stuff and comments with over 6 “>” symbols -Shaun

“Very well then,” Cadet Baptiste stated, he walked over to the computer =^= Computer please record the following information for the holonovel, all based of my experiences as an outdoors enthusiast.=^= He then proceeded to give a quick rundown of his activities in British Columbia. After he was done with his quick rundown to the computer he then asked it =^= Please ensure it conforms to the holonovel and the correct time frame of the holonovel. Also please replicate the appropriate clothing for me. =^= With a smile he turned back to Cadet Dawes “Well then shall we resume the holonovel, of course once I change into the appropriate attire?”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

“Of couse,” P’Mala said. “A huntsman in this era would have worn a hunting coat in the mayor’s colors–light blue, here–as well as riding breeches and a hat, of course. You should be able to replicate them and we’ll go from there.”

She hadn’t played this holonovel with anyone else before and was interested to see how the characters would react to this “Johnathan.” According to everything she knew, they would likely just accept him as a part of the staff.

“You can feel free to help yourself to the oatmeal as well, like poor Mrs. Lloyd,” she added. “Oh, and they will call me Hanna. Anything else you’d like to know?”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

“Alright then.” Cadet Baptiste said =^= Computer please replicate me the appropriate clothing for me of a Victorian era game warden, ensure the hunting coat is in light blue. =^= Upon the computer replicating the appropriate clothing, Cadet Baptiste turned and with a smile “Well I need to change my clothing if we are going to proceed. Mind giving me a moments privacy?” This will be well worth it. I get to observe a Vulcan actually roleplaying, who would ever believe this. thought Cadet Baptiste

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste