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 Cadet Johnathan Baptiste (Doctor) in Side Sim: Holodeck 1 - Upstairs/Downstairs
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
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Posted by… suppressed (1) 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.

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.”

Snip

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

Snip
“This holonovel is called “Blakemoor Manor,” and I’ve been accessing it off and on since before Starfleet Medical,” P’mala 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.”

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
Snip

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.”
Snip
“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?”

Big Snip

“That’s up to you,” P’Mala said. “Your character gets to lead a hunt soon. I get to stay here with Mrs. Lloyd, unless she sends me off to do something.”

P’Mala thought for a moment. “To tell you the truth, Hanna isn’t even the main character of the holonovel. The real protagonist is the Lady Graham. But I’ve been working in this kitchen in my spare time for a long while. I’ve come to like it here.”

She tried to change the subject, “You could always try a winter sports program instead!”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

“Well then I suppose I need to go check on them dogs, and prepare for a hunt. I haven’t been pheasant in a few years, and I am pretty sure the shotguns in this time period are nowhere near what I am used to so I best do a thorough examination and familiarize myself with them.” Johnathan said with a warm smile “Besides this will be a good outdoor activity, or as good as one can get in deep space.”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, Medical

“I’m not really good help on guns, myself,” P’Mala said. “But the dogs are real working animals.”

She took a couple sausages that hadn’t made their way upstairs, tied them in a cloth napkin, and handed the bundle to Johnathan.

“If they’re proving to be unmotivated, a snack always works for me. I might need one after cleaning up this kitchen and preparing for dinner.”

• Cadet P’Mala Dawes

Snip

Johnathan took the small bundle of sausages Cadet handed him “Thanks, well off to find the kennels, then off to find the lord of the manor and lead a hunt.” he chuckled as he made his way to the outer door.
The morning was cool and there was dew on the lawn. Johnathan took in a deep breath of air and exhaled, Wow almost like the real thing he thought to himself. Never was one to get into the holodeck thing because I had the actual outdoors to play in. Guess I am going to have to get used to holodecks from now on, being out here in deep space. With that he began to look around, well where would I put the kennels if I lived here? he thought, just then he heard a bark off to his left. Smiling he turned and made his way to the kennels, whistling a little ditty as he did so.

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

After Johnathan left in his character as the gamesman also named Johnathan, P’Mala Dawes picked back up her kitchen duties as the kitchen maid, Hanna.

The other downstairs staff were buzzing around, and Mrs. Lloyd instructed two girls from the village who they’d brought in for extra help.

P’Mala usually loved being a fly on the wall in this kitchen–it was usually meditative for her–but she wondered how Johnathan was getting on, it being his first time in the program.

*If only I could think of a reason to get out of this kitchen,” she thought. Then an idea struck.

“Mrs. Lloyd!” P’Mala said. “I just realized that we’re running low on milk. I’m going to pop down to the dairy and fetch us a jug. Do you need anything?

The older woman looked up from the pie crust she was instructing one of the local girls to knead.”

“Butter for the table,” she said dismissively. “Thank you, child.”

With that, P’Mala grabbed a basket and shawl and headed out of the kitchens.

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

Albert came running into the kitchen and nearly collided with Hanna, as Cadet Dawes was known in the holonovel.

“Albert!” P’Mala exclaimed. “Skow down, child. What in Heaven’s name is going on!”

The boy was out of breath and heaving heavily but managed to gasp out “There has been an accident.” After a few more deep breaths he said “We need a cart for one of his Lordship’s friends.”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

“Oh goodness.” P’Mala muttered. “Let me get my shawl and the first aid kit, and we will get going immediately.”

She retrieved the large metal Johnson & Johnson case from the pantry and wrapped her shawl over her shoulders.

“We can use the dairy cart. It should still be outside, and we can hitch it to Daisy. Are you set to go?”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

“Mr. Jonathan said someone needs to go and fetch the doctor, miss.” Replied Albert. “Can we at least get one of the other servants to go and fetch the doctor? Then I will lead you to them.” He inquired.

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

Inwardly, P’Mala grumbled. Her and Johnathan were 10 times the doctor that the old quack in town was, and they’d probably have the Lord’s friend stable far before the man even made it to the Manor, but she remembered her propriety.

“Of course. Mercy!” she shouted at one of the village girls who mopped the floor. “Run to town as fast as you can and get Dr. Bradshaw here at once. He will give you a ride back up. Tell him Mrs. Lloyd has sent you. Tell him one of the Lord’s friends has been in an accident.”

Startled, the girl stammered a yes and ran off at once.

“Let’s go to the dairy cart and get going! Can you drive a cart?”

• Cadet P’Mala Dawes

Ooc: if you want to rp P’mala following you and crosspost to the other thread, that’s cool with me, for the sake of continuancy :)