[ 80th consult | action | first class dinner / deck at night ]

[dr_conscience]

first class dinner

[The dining area for first class passengers certainly doesn't suffer any shortage of atmosphere - lush tablecloths, gleaming fine silverware with just the proper amount of forks to test the propriety of one's upbringing, chandeliers and candlesticks, ornate china and, naturally, five-star cuisine to complete the picture of perfection. The only thing more polished than the decor would, perhaps, be the guests. Sitting with his party is one Doctor James Wilson, an American returning from both a consultation (which required the expertise of his specialization, still a young and underdeveloped field) and a conference abroad. He keeps good company, both in the form of his charges and his colleagues, and is a warm and animate presence at the table. Certainly, any others who may be inclined to pause by him to become acquainted or to speak would be most welcome; his demeanor hardly suggests that he'd turn anyone away looking for a good conversation.]

deck - after dinner

[After the excellent dinner service, Doctor Wilson decides to spend some time on the deck of the magnificent ship, enjoying the brisk night air, the rush of the water as the ship slices through it, and a bit of quiet - as much as one can get, of course, since the deck is hardly devoid of other passengers. Still, he's staked out a spot along the railing, leaning comfortably forward on it and enjoying a moment outside of societal obligations and expectations.]



[ooc: Open for action wherever, just let me know where you're hitting him up. <3]

Comments

deck - after dinner

[anunluckypenny]

[The upper deck is cold but Penny, dressed in a plain, out-of-fashion calico dress that clearly marks her as someone who should not be wandering this particular deck, is too enchanted by the boat and the night and the people to make her way back to her third-class cabin. What began as a simple case of misplacement on a massive ship has turned into something of an adventure--and what an adventure! Everything is so fine on the ship, and the people on this level are grander than the vessel. The women are elegant in furs and silks and gossamer fabrics that Penny can't name; the men are all neat lines, lined lapels, and wool overcoats.

While she's admiring the fashions, Penny catches sight of a familiar face. It's the doctor--Doctor Wilson--who saw to her great-aunt, she's sure of it.

A general lack of propriety (or, as Great-Aunt Doris would have said, American manners) encourages her to go and greet the man.]

Doctor Wilson?

Deck - after dinner

[dr_conscience]

[Luckily, Wilson is one of the last people in first class who would tell her she's not where she should be, or cast judgement on any "lack of propriety". He simply looks up from his position against the railing and greets her with a smile, same as he would for any first class acquaintance.]

Penny - I hadn't realized you were on board. How are you doing?

Deck - after dinner

[anunluckypenny]

[She's not surprised that he acknowledges her--he was very nice during the very, very brief amount of time she was around him before--but it's amazing that he remembers her name. Penny all but beams.]

I didn't know you were, either, Doctor Wilson. I'm good--how about you? Are you going home?

Deck - after dinner

[dr_conscience]

[He nods in response, his smile warming a bit as he does.]

I am, yes - and I'm doing quite well, thank you.

And you, are you on your way home as well?

Deck - after dinner

[anunluckypenny]

Good to hear. But you're a doctor; I guess if anyone's going to be healthy...

Yes, eventually. California is still a long way off.

Deck - after dinner

[dr_conscience]

Well, we are as susceptible to illnesses as anyone else. Though, I can't deny we would have easier access to care than most.

[He leans back slightly, frowning.]

That's quite the journey still ahead of you, then. Proceeding by train once we reach land?

first class dinner → action;

[cametolife]

[ traveling alone with only one's maid for company means having little to no say in seating arrangements. not that miss elizabeth parker of the recently annexed new mexico had any preferences. she longed for the orange-colored dust that blew across the ranch her family owned, missed the west more than words were capable of describing. she wanted to go home and continuing to participate in the social games of europe on a ship of all things was low on her list of priorities. she'd had enough of that in boarding school, but rules were rules and if she didn't want to be a complete outcast, she needed to abide by them. especially as a woman; a rebellious boy could be forgiven. a girl would just be looked down upon. ]

Thank you. [ she caught the frown the woman across the table her gave her for offering the member of the wait staff who'd shown her to her seat. not proper, not excepted, not really caring about breaking formalities for a smile of all things. ] I'm famished.

[ whether she was speaking to the woman across from her or the man she'd been seated next to was up in the air. conversation was conversation, and it was better than eating in awkward silence, that was for sure. ]

first class dinner → action;

[dr_conscience]

[Unlike some frowning people, James saw no issue with the young lady's extension of politeness towards the staff. Frankly, he saw far more issues with refusing to extend even the most basic of manners to anyone who had been deemed below one's station. So, when the young lady speaks, he responds with a smile.]

I think that goes for quite a few of us; to be honest, I've been able to smell whatever the chefs are toiling over for hours from my cabin, and it hardly helped the matter.

first class dinner → action;

[cametolife]

[ oh thank the lord, someone's willing to talk to her. she was perfectly capable of eating in polite silence, but conversation - especially the friendly sort - went well with a meal and made the journey a little less dull. ]

I'm unsure as to whether I should envy you or pity you for having a cabin close enough to the dining areas to be able to smell our dinners before the rest of us.

first class dinner → action;

[dr_conscience]

[He offers a small, polite laugh at that - friendly, of course, and restrained enough to not earn the ire of too many of the stuffier passengers.]

I would be more than happy to help you decide that if I'd come to any conclusion on the matter myself.

[And, nodding with a genial smile,]

Ah, but forgive my manners; Doctor James Wilson. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss?

first class dinner → action;

[cametolife]

Parker. Elizabeth Parker.

first class dinner

[as_damaged]

She's not even late enough for it to be fashionable, just a few moments to wait out the worst of the rush and bustle as people find their seats. Careful timing-- or maybe just luck-- lets her cross the room to her table without interference from the attentive staff and slip into her seat at the doctor's table.

first class dinner

[dr_conscience]

Doctor Wilson can't help the hint of a smirk that creeps onto his face as she takes her seat on her own, managing to outmaneuver any member of the help that might have pulled the chair out for her. He's neither fast enough nor particularly inclined to get up and pull it out for her, knowing by now her insistence towards a certain degree of independence. As unusual as it is for a lady, he must admit a degree of respect for it.

"Good evening, Miss Cameron." Though most of those around them would accept this as a perfectly acceptable way to address a young woman, the formality in his voice is overdone in such a way that she can likely pick up on the facetiousness in his tone - aimed not at her, of course, but at the room at large, "How are you finding your voyage, thus far?"

first class dinner

[as_damaged]

There's only so much attention one can take before it becomes cloying; being a little less than ladylike at least keeps her in good spirits. It's one of the many reasons she chooses to travel with the doctor; he's respectable enough to legitimize her wandering to those who might otherwise gossip, but enough of a kindred spirit to let her get away with having her fun. Within reason, of course.

"It's lovely, of course, Doctor. So luxurious." She smiles back at him with no outward hint of impropriety. "I hope you're enjoying yourself?"

first class dinner

[dr_conscience]

He's more than happy to have the company; she's among the handful of like-minded friends he keeps, people who he can turn to when he tires of keeping up the proper social airs.

"How could I not be?" He glances around, even allowing himself a small gesture with his hand to indicate their surroundings. "They certainly spared no expense in their attempts to make the ship every bit as lavish as their most discerning passengers would expect."

first class dinner

[as_damaged]

"I'm sure their efforts will be properly rewarded." She's all too aware that traveling on the Gargantuan-- on its maiden voyage, in first class, no less-- is for many of their neighbors a luxury undertaken for luxury's sake, a privilege for which they have all paid handsomely. Not everyone aboard cares about their destination; and certainly, given the attention the ship has already commanded, there's due cause for celebration. But it seems strange to her, to travel so far merely to be able to say one had.

"I wonder whether they'll have trouble, convincing the passengers to leave when we dock..."

Deck - After Dinner...

[skintoskin]

[A young man is leaning against the wall near the dining hall, trying to ignore his growling stomach. He's in the shadows, behind the deck chairs, trying not to be noticed by any of the staff. He's not supposed to be here. Third Class passengers don't have the privileges of the upper classes. There isn't much food to go around 'down below', and the air smells stale and it's boring. Also, no cigarettes. He's managed to get this far by being fast, thin, and able to climb like a monkey. That's all helped him elude discovery. He waits to see if the man is going to move away from the railing or not. In his flat cap, shirt, trousers, socks and shoes, mostly brown, hand-woven or hand-made in the village, in the case of the shoes, he knows he doesn't look like he belongs.]

Deck - After Dinner...

[dr_conscience]

[He does, eventually, shift back from the railing, taking a step away. The air is brisk and the cold is starting to permeate a bit. He turns, and when he does, he's on an angle that would enable him to spot the young man - assuming he doesn't react before that.]

Deck - After Dinner...

[skintoskin]

[The man turns toward him and Neil thinks it likely that the jig is up. He holds still and wonders if he should say anything - and which one of them was going to blink first.]

Deck - After Dinner...

[dr_conscience]

[Wilson blinks after only a moment, not making any move toward Neil. He certainly does look out of place on the upper deck, but the doctor is one of a small subset of those in first class who doesn't see a problem with that, or with the fact that he's up here. He does look hungry, though.]

Evening.

[It's a simple greeting, but he hopes the friendliness is conveyed clearly enough that the young man understands he means him no ill.]

Deck - After Dinner...

[skintoskin]

[He nods to the man, who seems unconcerned that one from 'below' is on this particular deck.]

Good evening, sir.

[Though it comes out as 'Gid evenin', sair' due to his Scottish accent...]

deck-after dinner

[vicodincrutch]

[Hobbling is a challenge on deck somehow he manages. There's a familiar fellow.]

Have you had your fill of pageantry yet?

[This finery, while appreciated, is not the norm for Doctor Gregory House. He speaks in his frank, American dialect with utmost comfort even while walking with the fat cats himself.]

deck-after dinner

[dr_conscience]

[There's a familiar face indeed, and one that he's happy to see hobbling over. Especially after the social expectations and conventions that came attached to the fine dinner service, Wilson is happy for company in which he can relax and stop worrying about keeping up appearances.]

Quite a while ago, actually. I think it was at some point between the second and third round of hors d'oeuvres.

deck-after dinner

[vicodincrutch]

You carried on with the utmost dignity.

[As though it is truly a compliment. Well, playful jest among colleagues, what can one do?]

I'll be more than glad to get off of this tugboat. I thought there would be a limit on luggage.

[Says the man with a rather large ego himself.]

Don't think I didn't notice your oh so helpful hand with the widow.

deck-after dinner

[dr_conscience]

And yet, it stays afloat despite the weight of our collective pride. Not bad, for a tugboat.

[He arches a brow at that.]

Allison? She's a friend - and my responsibility, until we return safely.