milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Bright and early again, the bar's resident dining car is behind the bar, setting out juice, sugar, sauces, all the things one needs for a good breakfast at the end of the Universe, the specials already written up on the chalk board:

Breakfast Specials
Breakfast Wellington
Apple And Raisin Oven Pancakes
Half a grapefruit

"What'll you have?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A curious expression that Dinah entirely fails to interpret correctly.

"Can I get you anything else, Indy?"

"Mmmm... what am I in the mood for? Let's see..." He muses over his appetite for a little bit. Something seems wrong with a choice of fried foods or pancakes, but he can't quite put his finger on why. His tastebuds just aren't yelling out for such things.

"I really don't know," he proclaims blankly.

Dinah sighs sympathetically.

"Ain't that always the way?" she asks. "You're hungry but you don't know what for?

"Why don't I get you a sample of all three specials, and you can decide when they're in front of you?"

He beams appreciatively. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you."

He makes a note to try something similar with the drinks specials on Mondays.

She nods and zooms off to the kitchen, returning very soon with three small plates, which she sets in fornt of him.

"There you go. Breakfast Wellington, Apple and Cinnamon pancakes, and half a grapefruit."

The grapefruit is ignored for now with a certain amount of eying. He tries the pancakes instead.

"Mmmm.... very good."

And then the mushroom dish. "Hmm... also good. Now I just can't decide between the two." he scratches his head helplessly. "You pick."

Dinah throws her hands up.

"I just serve them. I think they're both good.

"How about the Wellington, then? You seem in a better mood about it than you were when you first came down."

"That'd be the caffeine," he says with a sleepy grin. "You make a fine brew."

"Sure, hit me with the Wellington, and tell me all about yourself."

"Why, thank you," Dinah says, removing the sample plates and returning with a full plate of the Wellington.

"Well, there ain't much to say about myself. I'm just a dining car."

He takes a forkful and looks quizzical as he chews. "Like, from a train?"

Indy likes trains a great deal. He becamse something of a specialist during the years he worked as a coal shoveler in his youth.

"Absolutely from a train," she says lightly. "The Union Pacific. My man's the engine."

Indy grins and inclines his head in amusement. "A personification. Well, I guess that explains the wheels."

"I worked on steam trains when I was a kid. Heisler Arithmetics and the bigger Artfuls mostly. You look to be a bit after my time though, so I'm guessing you're from a diesel UP."

"I sure am," Dinah beams. "Fastest diesel locomotive in history. You're a steam fan?"

Dinah has nothing against steam. At least it's not electricity.

"Steam maker is probably more accurate. I was the coal boy. But I got pretty knowledgeable about locos in my time with them. Then I went to war, came back and became the archeologist and adventurer that people know me better for."

"So I guess you must have derailed to get here. Or was it the light at the end of a long tunnel?"

She laughs.

"The first one is right. Right in the middle of a race."

He wrinkles his nose. "I've never heard of racing trains."

"You haven't? Must be after your time, then. There's a world championship every year."

She preens. "Greaseball usually wins. He's mine."

Indy grins at her. "There was only ever one track when I was working the trains. So racing wasn't really possible. Sometimes one in each direction, in the cities."

"How long have you been here?"

"Just over a month now," she replies. "This is only my second week serving, though. How about yourself?"

"Almost a year. Seven months Bound."

"I've got a suite upstairs with the other bartender you met."

"Oh really?" she asks. "Live and work together?"

"Yeah. It's pretty handy. He's a great chef as well, and I'm sure he made you laugh plenty if you've already met him."

"He sure did," Dinah says. "He's a great guy."

"Did he mention the elephant?" Indy asks idly.

"Why no, I don't believe he did." She looks at him, waiting for the rest of the story.