Saudade | Titanic (Tommy Ryan)

I

Standing at the Southampton docks, the Dewitt Bukater family as well as their newfound accessories were set to embark on the biggest ship made by mankind, the Titanic.

It was to be the departure of the century, all of the papers were talking nonstop about it on every page, in every daily newspaper. Anyone who had managed to obtain a ticket for the journey was considered a celebrity, besides the passengers who were actually celebrities.

Lucinda Dewitt Bukater, the eldest of Ruth's two daughters, let out an unimpressed sigh when she'd finally gotten a good look at the ship. Her sister, Rose, shared an almost identical expression.

"I really don't see what all the fuss is about," Rose remarked snidely. "It doesn't look any bigger than the Mauritania."

Lucinda chuckled. "Ah, but this is the biggest ship of all time, Rose. I imagine we will have more space to sip ancient wine and a wider crowd to share banter with."

Rose giggled at her sister's sarcasm, it was a very useful trait seeing as no one perceived it as sarcasm except her. It was how she got away with being such a loudmouth.

"Now, now, ladies," Caledon Hockley, Rose's much older fiance started, clapping his gold ring-clad hands together. "You can be blase about some things, but not about Titanic. It's over a hundred feet longer than the Mauritania, and far more luxurious.

Lucinda rolled her eyes, careless of whether the aristocrat saw her. "You heard him, Rose. Maybe we will have an extra fork on the table at dinner."

Rose made it quite clear also when she disagreed with her fiance's comments. It was almost as if she was in shackles with the man, to be wed to someone almost twice her age for a mother's status.

Johnathan Bukater, before he died, was one of the most interesting businessmen the United Kingdom had ever known, and on top of that, he was trailing money wherever the man walked. That, of course, was why Ruth took such an interest to him, lynching herself and their children into the endless cycle of events and money.

Arm in arm, the sisters began the steep walk up the ramp onto the ship. Though they were walking themselves step by step, it felt like something was pushing them with great force against their will.

"Oh, Rose," Lucinda began, trying to make light of the situation somewhat when they had been given their room number by the stewards. "My pink coat seems to wash me out more than I'd appreciate, but it looks much better on you. Would you like to borrow it?"

Rose smiled, although it didn't fix the entire situation as a whole, she could always appreciate her sister's ability to distract her. "Thank you, Lucy, are you sure you don't mind?"

Lucinda loved when her sister called her Lucy, as she felt as though it suited her much better than her formal name. "Of course, I don't."

"Rose," a sharp spiteful voice interrupted from behind them. "Do stop calling your sister by that common name, it is atrocious."

Shooting a blank, irritated look at her sister, Lucy shook her head.

"I saw your unattractive scowl, Lucinda," Ruth continued, almost as if she wanted her daughter to turn around provoked.

Lucy could see Caledon's satisfied grin without even turning her head to look at him. He loved watching the girls spit upon and tossed into their puppet-like place, as he believed he would be able to do the same once he married Rose.

The cabins were built for royalty, so much so that it was disgusting to go through all that trouble for a few days worth of sailing. Lucy dropped her gloves and coat onto the bed in her single room, the embroidery along the ceiling so precise it made her nauseous.