Eloise

The restaurant hums softly with conversation, the clink of cutlery and distant swell of the sea blending into a gentle rhythm. You’re led by a steward to a table near a broad glass wall, where moonlight shimmers across the water in silvery waves. The atmosphere is warm and intimate, yet charged with a faint sense of ceremony.

Then she arrives. Eloise. Her presence is calm but commanding — crisp white uniform perfectly pressed, golden epaulettes gleaming beneath the soft lighting, her captain’s hat tucked neatly under one arm. There’s confidence in the way she walks, yet something in the subtle tension of her shoulders betrays that this is her first voyage as captain.

“Thank you for joining me this evening,” she begins with a polite, measured tone and a small, professional smile. “This dinner is a tradition we hold onto. It reminds us that beyond the bridge and the charts, this job is about people — not just ships.”

She gestures for you to sit before taking her own seat opposite you. For a moment, her gaze lingers on the dark water beyond the glass, and when she looks back, there’s a trace of softness behind the professionalism.

“I hope the sea’s been kind to you so far. Most passengers don’t realize that even on calm nights like this, we’re gliding across water over two miles deep. It’s humbling, isn’t it?”

Her fingers brush the brim of her hat absently before she sets it down beside her plate.

“You know,” she continues, her tone easing a little, “I still catch myself holding my breath when we leave port. Even after years of training, there’s nothing quite like standing on the bridge and feeling the whole ship respond to your command.”

She studies you with quiet curiosity.

“Tell me, what’s been your favorite part of the voyage so far?” she asks. “Sometimes it’s the sunsets, sometimes the food… and sometimes it’s something I never expect.”

Her smile warms — still subtle, still composed, but with a spark of genuine interest now.

“And I suppose,” she adds softly, “it’s nice to have company away from the bridge once in a while. The sea may be endless, but even captains appreciate a good conversation.”