The Voyage of Titanic -

The dusk evening is as if lit by the embers of a giant fire. Her eyes are closed, letting the chill wind clear her head. When she opens them, she sees the moving water in front, drifting by like the landscape seen from the plane. If not for seeing the bow railing, she would have the perfect illusion of flying.

Sophia, a lone maiden of the Earth, daring to dream higher than her origins. She is alone here, except for the distant chatter of the passengers from other sections of the ship.

The golden hues of the far-reaching horizon, like Monet's impressionist paintings describe it. Trying to squint out distinct shapes in that ether, Sophia might make out the (very small) Statue of Liberty. But perhaps that is only her imagination.

Then at once she strokes her hair aside, and a rush flows in her heart. The momentary feeling of being celestial in so simple a gesture, and like that it disappears - leaving her only to close her eyes once more and try again to recall it.

edited 4th Jul '11 8:57:41 PM by QQQQQ

She's gone. Damn. Time for a meal, then. William finds an unoccupied table.

"Just get me a water, steak, and peas," he says, once a waiter notices him. The water comes within a minute, cold, and it helps greatly.

The fact that no one is playing the piano depresses him slightly. If he goes back and begins again, maybe he can catch Sophia later.

It's not a hearty portion, but it's certainly delectable. He digs in.

edited 4th Jul '11 9:47:58 PM by snowfoxofdeath

A massive shadow loomed over Sofia. "Lonely out here, isn't it," Edmund said, examining the lone woman with curiosity. He was dressed more conservatively than previously, in charcoal gray jacket and vest, but his tie was a gaudy golden color. Amazed, he noted the sun; was it sunset already? He'd been out longer than planned. Then, turning his attention back to the woman below, he asked, "so, what brings you out here staring into the ocean? If it's answers you're looking for, I wouldn't bother; she" he glanced at the ocean "ain't a talkative one." After a moment he added, "dreaming of a better country? Or about what you left behind?" Offering a gigantic hand, the one with his large wedding band, he added, "Edmund Clark. Eddie if you prefer. Care to introduce yourself?"

The young woman before him seemed, to Edmund's judgment a wispy individual, in mind and body; he always treated such people politely, and enjoyed their company, but they rarely left a significant mark on the world. For better or worse, their dreams joined them in the grave.

edited 4th Jul '11 9:43:20 PM by KillerClowns

A ways below decks, a man threaded his way through the crowd. He looked nondescript. Slim and fairly youthful. At a glance he looked to be in his late twenties to early thirties, which was convenient as a glance was the most others usually got of him if he could help it. He wore a brown patchwork duster that was belted at the waist, parted at the front from the waist down and with slits cut down from the thighs at the sides and back so as not to restrict the legs. It hung down like a robe in four pieces, flowing easily around his legs as he moved. On his back was an oilskin rucksack that hung from his shoulders. His posture was oddly relaxed, as if he was used to carrying what looked to be such a heavy load around with him.

The third class passenger area was packed with throngs of immigrants from all over Europe, seeking a better life in the Americas. Irish, Finnish, Swedish Belgian. All types were rubbing shoulders down below aboard this vessel. Down below the blue bloods in their gilded seats, sipping wine and smoking expensive cigars and pissedly holding court over some worldly extravagance or another. The ticket had been somewhat inexpensive- at least compared to the other two classes. Three to eight pounds sterling for most, depending on age. The man reached his room, located deep within the bowels of this iron giant. It was cramped, with a narrow aisle between the two double bunks crammed in to either side. He set down his pack, ran a hand through sweat-slicked hair and finally allowed himself to heave a sigh of relief. Good. He had made it, and with no trouble. Better than he had hoped. Shifting his bag onto the end of his bed, he lay down for a short nap.

He awoke a while later, after the ship had set out to sea. Now that he had settled in, he thought he’d go up to the main deck to get some air. He got up and shuffled his way out of the cramped passenger cabin, making his way upwards.

edited 5th Jul '11 12:57:34 AM by Gault

It is not in rashness that Edmund imagines these beautiful ideals as ineffectual upon the world. In a way, he is correct. That many who live fear such beauty, and the few who don't have scarcely convinced the many it is something to live for.

Yet Edmund is wrong on a deeper consideration; it was that beauty which lead Man to venture away from his guttural self. All were born of risen apes, not fallen angels, and the apes were armed killers besides. And so what shall they wonder at? Their murders and massacres and missiles and their irreconcilable regiments? For their treaties, whatever they may be worth; their symphonies, however seldom they may be played; their peaceful acres, however frequently they may be converted into battlefields; their dreams, however rarely they may be accomplished. The miracle of man is not how far he has sunk but how magnificently he has risen. Among the stars Man is known not by his corpses, but by his poems.

She slowly turns around to face his looming shadow - the squared face of an ambitious businessman, who like her seeks out the opportunities surrounding him. Not for simple appreciation, but shrewd exploitation for selfish profit.

"I'm Sophia," she says.

Good night.

edited 4th Jul '11 9:55:46 PM by QQQQQ

Edmund stared into Sophia's eyes, experience born of countless heated meetings and debates dissecting her mind. A romantic, to judge by how she had been gazing out into the sea. Perhaps easily exploitable, prone to trite sentimentality and foolish daydreaming. Perhaps a font of inspiration and wisdom, worth listening to, a mind that stood out from the thoughtless masses who noticed nothing but what was shoved in their faces. A wanderer, by her dress. Irritably, Edmund wondered if she'd ever done a hard day's labor in her life.

Then he shooed the thought from his mind. He was being too judgmental. She seemed young: if she was a woman of character, she'd find a place that needed her in time. Some romantics, the shallow ones, broke when faced with the true horror of the world. They became idle cynics instead, as useless after as before, and far less pleasant to speak to, wallowing in their own self-pity and bemoaning the omnipresent cruelty of the world. Others simply fled, drifting off to some new location like cottonwood seeds rather than stay and come to grips with the fact that beauty was not idly given, but born of sweat, toil, and tears. But a few became the greatest and most passionate crusaders for what was good and right, spreading the goodness they had once only idly noted.

"There's something you're not saying," Edmund said, confidently. "You might as well speak your mind, lass; I've been called every name under the sun, so you need not worry about offending or angering me."

edited 4th Jul '11 10:24:08 PM by KillerClowns

Marla finished her apple slices and eagerly wandered around the cafe, looking at the ivy climbing up the trellises that adorned the room. She stopped at the lady who was eating her muffin.

"Hi," she said, holding Erin so the stuffed seal could see.

In the meantime, her parents quietly enjoyed their afternoon tea.

"You've been awfully quiet," Adrian said.

Sophia looked up from her teacup into her husband's green eyes.

"What, you still can't believe we're here together?" He smiled kindly, like always.

"Oh, you've heard me say this a thousand times before-"

"You feel like you're in a fairy tale."

Sophia blinked. "One thousand and one." She sipped her tea, pausing for a moment. "You're probably expecting reality to finally strike me when we see our stateroom."

"How could I have ever guessed...?"

She laughed to herself, followed by the clink of her empty teacup on her saucer.

Good night.

edited 5th Jul '11 3:38:52 PM by CrystalGlacia

Flinn was on deck again; His seating for dinner wasn't for a fair while yet - he had managed, with typical luck, to get allocated the latest one. The cabin is too stuffy to stay in, not to mention boring. And who would want to miss such a glorious sunset?

He stands at the side, one foot perched up on the lowest railing, to watch the sun sinking in a vibrant orange glow under the horizon. Ah, the sea. Strange that on this ship it seemed to be so far away, down below that huge shiny expanse of metal, and yet it seemed so close as well, surrounding you, in every breath you took.

Idly, he looks around, and takes notice of a pair of people also at the railing, somewhat further along than he is. A very large male figure looms over a waifish female one. Nothing, probably, the distance between them is reasonable. But he keeps the corner of one eye on them, just in case the girl should start to look uncomfortable with his attention.

edited 5th Jul '11 12:03:11 AM by LoniJay

Eating her muffin, Gabriel retreated into her mind. So far, she had witnessed a crazy man's outburst, helped a woman find Gabe's least favorite room on the ship, and nearly verbally ripping a man's head off. She smiled to herself. "To think, just a month ago I was locked in my workshop for the longest time."

Snapping back to reality after hearing a voice next her, looking down to see a young child greeting her. Smiling at the child, Gabe's sour mood seemed to melt away. "Why hello there. What are you doing here?"

edited 5th Jul '11 11:10:07 AM by GIG

The first thing the man noticed as he ascended the stairs to the main deck was the sky. It was tinged with fiery twilight. A warm blazing orange stretching across the horizon. Night had begun to fall on the Titanic.

He then surveyed the main deck. It was a public area, unlike the lounges and smoke rooms which were restricted by class. He smiled. That relationship reminded him of a great many things in the life of this age. Difference in socioeconomic class were put in no starker relief than they were aboard this ship. He didn’t need to have taken a third class room, but truth be told he somewhat fancied himself a man of the people. As such he really wouldn’t have it any other way.

Not many people were around at this hour, and most who were stayed only to watch the sunset. Among the various romancing couples on the deck, there was one odd pair that caught his eye. A slight young woman was leaning against a railing near the fore of the ship. Dwarfing her was a massive man in a gray jacket and of a slightly tanned complexion. He approached and spoke with a voice that lacked any accent.

“Quite a sight, isn’t it?”

QQQQQ, I've also been to the movies. Transformers 3 was an abomination.

edited 5th Jul '11 6:26:34 AM by Gault

Finally tracking down his cabin, and beyond happy to deposit his luggage Jesse stretched as much as the ceiling allowed, practically purring in pleasure as his back cracked.

Still, he was happy to be alone for a bit. The two men he'd spoken two would have made his mother's skin crawl, the thought brought another smile to his mouth and he hastily remembered to put his wallet into his pocket, making sure he had enough for more than just himself. His few forays into lower class areas suggested that buying as many drinks for as many people as possible was an excellent way of avoiding a beating.

With that he left his cramped little cabinm resolving to either find someone to escort him later or try and fumble his way there himself after supper. Unsure of how to get to the dinning room proper he opted to return to the deck.

Outside he immediately recognized Edmund, talking with a slim young woman, and a young man watching them.

Walking up to the disjointed group slowly his gaze was drawn to the sunset. "Beautiful, is it not?" he asked the young man in a hushed tone, hoping he wasn't interrupting.

Sophia blinks, breaking gaze with the businessman. It was overwhelming to see that tenacious glimmer in his eyes. Already she can imagine him keeping his feet firmly rooted to the ground.

"Can you see the American coast from here?" she says, staring out ahead. "People say it's a land where dreams come true. I don't know what to picture. Is it a place where you endlessly wish for riches and romance, sort of like a fairy-tale? I keep on thinking, it might be so bright I can catch a glimpse of its bright glamour."

Then she turns to fully face him - waiting for his answer, if it ever comes. To admit, seeing his stout frame arouses something in her. Is it admiration for a certain strength she wishes she can have?

Sometimes she forgets why she feels the things she does.

Deep Wang!! Deep.. WANG! I enjoyed T3, if you remember it is Michael Bay taking jabs at the audience and himself. The climactic battle is awe-inspiring for me, no doubt. By the way Gault - your writing style, I recommend for you some of Clive Cussler's adventure novels. Try reading 'Raise the Titanic' by him.

edited 5th Jul '11 8:56:28 AM by QQQQQ

With a scoff, Edmund said, "to be honest, all I see is a whole lot of blue ocean. Sunset's nice, sure. Perhaps an artist's brush could reveal something a cynic like me is blind to. But no matter."

He sighed and said, "America? Oh, America. Ever hear a sailor wax poetic about the ocean, that old, whimsical bitch that one cannot help but love and hate in equal measure? America is very much a sister to her; as beautiful as she is merciless. Capable of unspeakable cruelty and unimaginable tenderness in equal measures. Learn to play her game and you'll live a life of wonder. Fail... and God help your soul." A tear had formed in his left eye as he recalled just how cruel his homeland had once been, and the injustices that were still tolerated as the status quo, but he rapidly blinked it away.

He then noticed something in Sophia's attentions that bothered him, an interest that he, a happily married man, had no intentions of returning. Looking around, he spotted Jesse and, with a grin, gave him a gentle push in Sophia's direction. "Jesse, this is Sophia. Sophia, meet Jesse."

edited 5th Jul '11 9:14:52 AM by KillerClowns

The man nodded to the newcomer Jesse then turned back to the man-mountain, not in the least bit perturbed. He cracked a smile. “The new world sounds like a lot of other places then. Don’t suppose you would mind giving me your names messere and madonna?”

edited 5th Jul '11 9:37:50 AM by Gault

Stuffed, William sets down the fork and knife.

"I know that was selfish, but I need to eat, you know."

Bianca stubbornly holds the deformed baby to him.

"No. Keep him."

It frightens him, the not-baby that can only twitch and twitch, eyes closed. Bianca holds it to her breast and sways back and forth, a smile on her face, and William shivers.

"You want me to play the piano again?"

Bianca nods.

"Or should I look for her?"

She tilts her head to one side.

"I just need to apologize."

She nods, but stares at the floor.

edited 5th Jul '11 9:56:52 AM by snowfoxofdeath

Pointing at the others in turn, Edmund said, "those two are Sophia and Jesse. And I am Edmund Clark. And trust me: America is like no place you've ever been before." He offered the newcomer his hand and said, "and you would be?" Something about the man made Edmund wary — he was another wanderer, but one who'd seen a bit more dirt and blood in his time than the woman. Such people were potentially dangerous, and rarely intimidated by something as simple as Edmund's size.

edited 5th Jul '11 10:01:57 AM by KillerClowns

The man said nothing for a moment, as if contemplating Edmund’s request. It was a simple question, one that oughtn’t take this long to answer. He inhaled. “… Adler von Niemand.” He said, taking the hand and shaking it casually twice. “And I can only hope you’re wrong on that count Edmund.” He then turned to the other two, extending his own hand to them in greeting. "So, what brings the likes of you aboard a vessel such as the Titanic?"

edited 5th Jul '11 9:57:53 AM by Gault

Sophia turns to Von Niemand and lightly shakes his hand. For a moment, she contemplates what to say. She goes, "To dream."

That would sum her life's purpose in these two words. Clear and simple— she needn't go off on tangents, remembering all the events which culminated in her taking a second-class ticket aboard Titanic. Besides, they've only just met.

edited 5th Jul '11 10:30:32 AM by QQQQQ

Knife, pistol, poisons - they were all there. Mel hid them all away in different spots in his room, to be used at some undetermined point in the future. Smuggling them aboard was so pathetically easy it made Mel laugh with glee, just as he did when he came up with his fictional backstory, of a rich, aloof young man heading to America to seek a different path in life from his father and brothers. He scoffed. He had no true brothers, no true father. However, he thought, sitting down comfortably on the posh first class bed, they were only three of exactly two hundred and nine people he had to kill. And the two hundred and six others involved with his torment were on this very ship. That was why he boarded.

But for now, it would be nice to go back to the main deck and enjoy some fresh air.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have Mel find the guy jumping off the ship in my next post.

“Well then,” he said with a practiced smile lighting his features, “may they never be nightmares.” Adler then took a second to properly notice the lady. “And such a beauty too. Dare I say that I’ve wandered into a fantasy myself.” He said without pretension, giving a small bow.

I'll be sleeping for the next few hours. Curse these timezones. Please don't get too ahead of me?

edited 5th Jul '11 10:32:19 AM by Gault

Jesse accepted the push toward Sophia, offering her a smile. "Pleasure to meet you lady Sophia," he said brightly, "and you, sir," he said turning back to the man he'd originally intended to speak to, "I would introduce myself but Edmund has beat me to it." He offered the young man his hand, "to expand, though, I'm Jesse Calthrope. At your service."

If an angel had to fly, she would go to where she can get to the sky. The deck, of course.

Holy shit.

A man, stout and freakishly tall, looms over Sophia. A few other men are there as well.

Awkward interruptions. William is all too familiar with those. He pushes his way towards the group.

Hearing the tread of feet on the deck Jesse glanced over his shoulder, offering another bright grin to the man joining them. "You just missed introductions," he said by way of apology, "but I am Jesse. Jesse Calthrope."

"Very nice to meet you sir, but I just have a little thing to take care of."

William takes a deep breah and inclines his head slightly towards Sophia.

"I think we've had a slight misunderstanding. You have not openly expressed your disappointment, but I can feel it, and I'm sorry."

Jesse blinked at the brush off. Hmm, being rude to apologize for being rude to someone else, novel idea, he mused to himself before shrugging. "I don't suppose any of you lovely people would like to give me directions to the third class lounge once supper is done?"

edited 5th Jul '11 11:28:17 AM by AwayLaughing