Titanic Bound by Destiny

Chapter 7: A New Bond

April 12th, 1912. (8:35 AM)

The morning after the night before was significantly different. Nicholas awakened feeling more confident than before, boosted by last night's conversation with Sebastian. His step had an unusual lightness as he dressed for the day, his thoughts replaying the intimate moments and heartfelt stories shared with Sebastian the night before. It wasn't just the budding romance that lifted his spirits but also the deeper connection they had forged, built on mutual trust and understanding. There was still the question of immorality, and whether Sebastian even felt the same, but for once, Nicholas was in control of his own emotions and pushed those aside instead of the option to embrace the positive feelings last night had bestowed him. He washed his face in the sink, then looked in the mirror and, for the first time in a long time, smiled at his reflection, a sign of the effect his time on Titanic was having.

As he made his way to breakfast, Nicholas greeted other passengers and crew members with a bright, genuine smile, making the most of his newfound confidence. The usual morning chatter and clatter of the dining saloon seemed more vibrant than before as if he were hearing it all for the first time with clearer ears. Before, he had felt worried about coming in here, fearing that people would look at him and make comments, fearing that he would somehow annoy someone. But for this moment, those worries seemed to evaporate, and he felt a surge of triumph and empowerment. He chose a seat at a communal table, engaging in light conversation with fellow second-class passengers about their plans for the day and the sights they hoped to see from the deck. It was the first time Nicholas had engaged adequately in conversation in the second-class dining saloon. To his surprise, the people he conversed with were more sociable than anticipated.

After breakfast, Nicholas walked the decks with a notable bounce in his step, pausing to appreciate the endless blue horizon stretching out for miles and miles with no ending in sight; it was as if the ocean swallowed all the land around them. He stood by the ship's railing for a brief moment, looking out over the water and thinking about his next meeting with Sebastian. The anticipation of seeing him again added an extra thrill to his day, filling him with a warm sense of expectancy. There still was the chance that this was nothing but friendship, and he was amplifying what he thought were signs of something more, but he had connected with Sebastian. Friend or more, he was happy for whatever was to come and what had already passed. After walking the deck for some time, he returned to his favourite place on the ship: the second-class library.

As Nicholas settled into his favourite seat in the library, he took in the room's wonder again. If he ever made it in the world as a lawyer, he would love to recreate this room in his future house. He made eye contact with Sebastian, who was serving someone else and smiled. His heart skipped a beat as he did. Nicholas knew he could not expect to converse with Sebastian well as he worked, so he found a book that interested him and began to read it. He soon became absorbed into the book as he appreciated the quiet solitude only rows of books could offer. He had loved to read before, but this was new; he had never seen so many books. To him, this was like heaven. The peaceful atmosphere was momentarily interrupted by Sebastian's arrival, who approached with a tray bearing a steaming pot of tea and a warm smile. Nicholas swore this man could mind reading as the coldness of his morning stroll had left him chilled.

"Thought you might enjoy something warm," Sebastian said, gracefully setting the tray beside Nicholas. "Thank you, Sebastian," Nicholas replied, his smile reflecting his appreciation not just for the tea but for the thoughtful gesture from someone quickly becoming special to him. The smell of ginger wafted out from the cup. "It's ginger tea, brewed to your liking, sir", Sebastian explained. Nicholas noted that the crew on Titanic, Sebastian and beyond, were all dedicated to their craft; once they knew something about you, they kept it in mind. Nicholas enjoyed ginger, so Sebastian kept that in mind. All of the stewards he had interacted with seemed to remember these things. He watched as Sebastian nodded and left; he smiled again. He could not have asked for a better voyage.

Just as Nicholas went to take a sip of his ginger tea, the library door swung open with a bit more force than necessary. A young man stumbled in, tripping over his feet and landing on the carpeted floor with a thud. Nicholas couldn't help but let out a laugh, more out of surprise than amusement, as he set his cup down and extended a hand to the fallen newcomer. He had no idea who this man was, but he could not lie; it was the most amusing entrance he had seen. He placed his cup on the table and looked down at the man. "Seems you caught a rogue wave on your way in," Nicholas joked, helping the man to his feet. The man, dusting himself off and chuckling at his clumsiness, gratefully took the offered hand. "You could say that! I'm Connor, by the way." Nicholas looked the man up and down and noted he did not look like a typical second-class passenger, not any he had seen.

"I'm Nicholas. Please, have a seat," Nicholas gestured to the chair across from him, still smiling from the unexpected entrance. Connor, still slightly red-faced but with a good-natured grin, sat down. He was quick to make light of his mishap, and as they exchanged stories, Nicholas found Connor's humour infectious. It was clear from the start that Connor was the kind of person who filled a room with laughter without even trying. It was certain this man was not second class; he attempted to put on a posh voice, but that only made Nicholas laugh harder. He had to cover his mouth to stop his laughter from disrupting the room's peace.

"So you're not first or second class; you must be third", Nicholas pointed out as he sipped his tea. Conner turned bright red again. "No, No, I am first class. I tell you, good sir," he declared. He mimicked being rich by grabbing the Lapels of his coat. Nicholas could tell that this was not the case as the different quality of his clothing compared to most second-class passengers stood out. Nicholas laughed into his Conner. Conner slumped into his chair in defeat, expecting Nicholas to escort him out of the room. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone; I don't want to lose the company", Nicholas said to reassure him. Conner shot up in his chair, his smile returning as he thanked Nicholas for his discretion in keeping his presence in the library a secret.

"I am quite thirsty", Conner declared as he stood up and began to roam the room. Nicholas watched as Conner went to fetch a glass of water but mistakenly picked up a milk pitcher. As He returned to the table, Nicholas pointed out the error. "You know that's milk. Conner looked at the jug and shrugged as he quipped. "Nothing like a bit of white water to refresh oneself!" This sent both of them into another round of laughter. This man was either insane or simply had zero cares; whatever it was, Nicholas enjoyed it immensely. Another day on Titanic and another meeting with someone interesting. He wondered if it would ever stop, and part of him wished it wouldn't. Meeting and interacting with new people made the days go by faster. That was a blessing and a curse, for part of him never wanted this to end.

"To the future," Connor raised his milk-filled glass, his eyes twinkling with hope. "To new friends," Nicholas echoed, clinking his teacup against Connor's glass. Across the room, Nicholas caught Sebastian's gaze. The steward observed them with a soft smile, clearly pleased to see Nicholas relaxed and happy. Nicholas's heart warmed at the sight, feeling a profound contentment. In just a couple of days aboard the Titanic, so much had shifted—new friendships were forming, and something deeper was blossoming with Sebastian. As he raised his cup in a silent toast to Sebastian, Nicholas felt a surge of happiness. Being on the Titanic, once a daunting journey into the unknown, quickly became one of his life's most pivotal and joyful adventures.

"Say Conner, you should attend the Gala tonight, here in this room", Nicholas said, hoping his new acquittance would join him. Conner looked up from his milk, a Mustache forming on his face. "I can lend you a suit if you would like," Nicholas added as he rose from his seat. The notion of attending a gala seemed to overwhelm Connor momentarily, but the genuine enthusiasm in Nicholas's offer was too compelling to resist. He followed Nicholas out of the library, their steps quickening as they made their way through the corridors to Nicholas's cabin.

On the way to his cabin, Nicholas noted a steward with a broom intensely cleaning the floor. Nicholas watched him as he walked by, like the man was hiding a great secret. He held the broom so tight that Nicholas could swear he looked like he was about ready to jump into a fight at any moment. Nicholas ignored him; he had to help Conner find a suit. It was an odd turn of events, not one he had ever anticipated, but the ship seemed to have that effect. Everything was changing, and tonight, the Gala would offer new chances. Connor's nervous excitement was palpable; Nicholas could feel it as he felt a deep satisfaction in helping his friend step into a world that had seemed so out of reach. It was proof to him that he was heading in the right direction.