Chapter Text
The cards felt heavy between Jesper’s fingers and for once, it wasn’t because he was nervous. His chest swarmed with a feeling of excitement as he looked at the cards in his hand and then on the dusty table of a rundown Southampton pub. He could almost feel the luck radiating around him. He’d only been playing poker for thirty minutes and had already won the past two rounds. If he played another round against his wrinkly opponent sitting across from him, maybe he could win again. A thrill went through him at the thought.
Judging from the old man’s attire, Jesper could tell he was rich, too rich. He wondered why old rich men came to play poker when they knew they could possibly lose it, or a no-good thief like Jesper could steal it.
The old man groaned, rising from his seat. “Alright, that’s it Fahey, you win. Now, I need to leave. I have to board a ship in forty minutes and I had to pay far too much for these tickets.”
Jesper eyed the gold name plate on the old man’s blazer. Per Haskell, it said. This guy had to be loaded with money. “What ship?”
Per Haskell cleared his throat, fixing the collar of his shirt. “The Titanic. She’s taking off today to New York. Me and my buddy have some business there, so I assume you must understand how urgent this is. It was a good game but I’m afraid I’ll have to leave.”
The Titanic. Jesper wondered. Headed to New York?
Jesper longed to go somewhere other than Southampton. As much as he loved the familiarity of the place, he was beginning to grow tired of the same sights. He needed something new, something exciting. And considering that he’d just moved out of his parents’ home, now was the perfect time for an adventure, or even just a change of scenery.
Matthias mumbled from beside him. “Jesper, whatever you’re thinking about doing, don’t do it.”
Jesper ignored him, turning his attention back to Per Haskell. “Hey! Don’t go.” He rose from his seat, now following Haskell as he turned to leave. “This has been really fun, hasn’t it?”
Per Haskell paused. “Well, yes. However, I don’t really like how I lost all my money.”
Jesper tugged him back to the table. “I have a deal for you. How about we play one last round of poker? If you win, you get to keep all the money that you lost.” Haskell’s face brightened at that. “However,” Jesper continued. “If I win, I get both your boarding tickets.”
“Jesper,” Matthias gritted through his teeth, and once again, Jesper ignored him.
Per Haskell looked to be in pain, but eventually nodded, and sat down. Jesper drummed his fingers excitedly on the table and hoped that luck would indeed be on his side today.
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Wylan handed his luggage to one of the crew members as he boarded the ship. They had called it the “Ship of Dreams” but Wylan couldn’t help but think that was the farthest thing from the truth. His dreams certainly weren’t coming true when his father forced him to get on this ship with his soon-to-be fiancée.
He wasn’t even sure why his father was forcing him to get married now. Sometimes, he thought that maybe his father just wanted to get rid of him, and the more Wylan thought about it, he realized that it might be true. His father had never failed to make him feel small and useless, so perhaps getting him married off would save his father from the shame of having an incapable son.
Or maybe an arranged marriage to a young girl was a way to punish Wylan from the time that his father had walked in on him kissing his male tutor. If the world found out that Jan Van Eck’s son was gay and illiterate, he wouldn’t be spared.
Wylan glanced at his fiancée. Her name was Inej Ghafa. She came from a wealthy family, just like him, and her parents were the owners of one of the most successful businesses in South Asia, and there is no doubt that Jan Van Eck wanted to benefit from something prosperous like that. What better way was there to secure a potential deal than a marriage? Wylan could think of several other ways but didn’t dare say them out loud.
Wylan sighed, placing his luggage in his room on the third deck that he would be sharing with his fiancée. He silently thanked whoever designed this room that there were two separate beds. Wylan wouldn’t come out of this ship alive if there was only one bed. Wylan watched as Inej gently placed her bags down by her bed. His foot was already on the entrance of their room, ready to start moving so he could get out as soon as possible. Inej’s eyes moving to look at him was the only sign that he needed to make his foot pivot.
“Bye!” Wylan blurted out stupidly, before leaving his fiancée in their room and walking down to the bottom deck. He sighed in relief when he saw his best friend dragging her luggage to her room.
“Nina!” He yelled, startling her. “You need to help me.”
Nina Zenik was the only friend that Wylan’s father had approved of him to have. Like Wylan, Nina was also from a rich family and since her father and Wylan’s father had been doing business for many years, Wylan had known Nina for quite some time.
Nina shook her head, handing her luggage to a man, who Wylan had seen multiple times patrolling the Zenik house. “You’re on your own for this one, Wy.” Nina peered behind his shoulder. “Unless your father and her father get into a quarrel and decide that their alliance isn’t working out.”
Wylan let out a frustrated noise. “That will never happen!” Maybe Inej’s father could back away from the deal, but his father would never let an opportunity like this slip from his hands.
Nina lifted her skirts slightly to sit on the bench that had been attached to the side of the deck. “Or another handsome man boards this ship right now, falls in love with you, and rescues you from your loveless courtship.”
Wylan sat beside her, his eyes wandering to the entrance of the ship. The only people boarding now were old women and young children. He turned back to Nina. “If that ever happens, I’ll marry that man on the spot. And I won’t even care about what my father has to say.”
Nina gasped, rather dramatically. “The Van Eck heir finally defying his father? Now this is some real entertainment.”
Wylan laughed, shoving her. “Yeah, well you won’t ever get to see it because there will be no young man coming to rescue me.” Wylan looked in front of him and felt his mouth curl up into distaste when he saw his fiancée coming up onto the deck, with his father right beside her.
Nina certainly noticed Wylan’s expression and nudged him. “Oh, Wy. She’s beautiful.”
”Yeah, but not for me.”
Nina winced. “Do you think your father is just doing this in order to hide what happened with you and your tutor?”
Wylan shrugged. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he was.”
“That’s not fair, for both you and her. I wonder if her parents know that they’re just another pawn in your father’s game.”
Wylan exhaled, the bench feeling too hot beneath him. “I doubt that. If my father is good at one thing, it has to be his expertise in deception.” Wylan looked at the man holding Nina’s luggage. “Is that your bodyguard?”
Nina nodded. “My dad couldn’t be here so he hired someone to make sure that I stay in line, or whatever that means.”
Wylan eyed the bodyguard, who was wearing a black coat with a fedora, his gaze analyzing everyone that boarded the ship. He made eye contact with Wylan suddenly, and a chill went through him.
Nina laughed beside Wylan, presumably from his reaction to her bodyguard. “His name is Kaz Rietveld and according to my father, he has an immense amount of experience being a bodyguard.”
Wylan couldn’t help but look at Kaz again. “But he looks so young.”
Nina shrugged. “Yeah I suppose so. I’ve tried to talk to him before but he doesn’t really say anything except for one word responses. Trust me, if I had the choice, I wouldn’t be stuck with that guy. But my father’s conditions for my wish to go to New York was that I needed to have a bodyguard.” Nina rolled her eyes. “It’s unfair, I know.”
Wylan didn’t respond and found his gaze wandering around the ship. How had he managed to end up here? Maybe there was still time to escape…
Nina nudged him softly, bringing him out of his thoughts. “Hey, what if my bodyguard will be the one to rescue you?”
Wylan's eyes widened. “Absolutely not.” He leaned closer to Nina. “No offense but he’s a bit scary.”
Nina’s mouth broke out into a grin. “None taken.”
Wylan felt a figure looming behind and he instantly tensed up, gripping the edge of the bench with his clammy fingers and closing his eyes almost painfully. When the person behind him cleared his throat, Wylan instantly knew who it was. He opened his eyes and the sight of Nina’s strained smile confirmed his suspicions.
“Mr. Van Eck,” Nina gritted out. “It’s so wonderful to see you again.” There was no enthusiasm and in her voice and judging from his father’s fake smile, Wylan could tell that his father knew.
“Great to see you too, Nina. I’m not sure why your father let you on this ship without a chaperone and why he didn’t say anything about…your choice of clothing.”
Wylan followed his father’s gaze to Nina’s calves peeking out from beneath her lengthy skirt and saw his father’s mouth curl up into disapproval.
Nina cleared her throat, making no moves to cover her legs. “I’m not unchaperoned. Father hired a bodyguard for me.” She gestured to Kaz, who was now staring directly at the three of them. Despite the fact that Kaz was standing several feet away from them, Wylan had no doubts that he could hear every word that was being said.
His father squinted. “He looks rather young. I’m sorry but he doesn’t look very experienced.”
Nina rose from her seat. “Don’t worry about me, Mr. Van Eck. I’ll have all the protection that I need.” And then she left, but not before mouthing a “good luck” to Wylan.
Wylan began to mouth something back but his father pulled him by his bicep, blunt nails digging into his skin. “You idiot,” His father gritted out, his voice dripping with disdain. “I do something good for you and you’re not even grateful? Do you know how hard it would be for you to get married with your condition?”
He swallowed down the pain suddenly building up in his throat. “I know and I am grateful.”
The hand on his arm tightened as his father dragged him closer to where his fiancée was standing. “Then go over there and talk to Ms. Ghafa. I will not let this alliance go to waste just because you’re not willing to be a good husband.”
His arm was free now, but the pain still lingered as he walked towards Inej, whose back was currently facing him.
“Hey,” Wylan said to Inej, looking out to the crowd of people waving goodbye as the ship prepared to embark. His hands gripped the metal railing, knuckles turning into white spots from how tight his grip was. For a brief moment, he thought about how easy it would be to jump off the railing and run through these streets; but when he saw his father’s stern face, he knew the possibility was improbable.
_________________
“Are you in or not?”
Haskell’s friend groaned, throwing his cards on the table. “I’m out.” Then he pointed an accusing finger right at Haskell’s face. “But if you lose this, consider our deal over. I wonder what your wife will say when she finds out you’ve been playing games with a man almost half your age.”
Jesper chewed his lip, the soft skin getting stuck between his teeth. “What about you, Haskell? In or out?”
Per Haskell set his cards on the table, looking at Jesper with determination. “I’m all in. You better start emptying those pockets, Fahey.”
Jesper looked at his cards and then the ones on the table. “A two pair? How fortunate.” He shook his head, feigning defeat, and then turned to Matthias. “I’m sorry, Matty.”
“Jesper, how many times have I told you to not call me that? You know I’m star—”
Jesper cut him off, unable to contain his excitement. “I’m sorry, Matty,” He said, refusing to correct himself. “But you won’t be able to see your parents for a while.” He threw his cards down on the table. “Because we’re going to New York, my friend!” He jumped out of his seat and Matthias rose too, looking at the cards on the table with wide eyes.
Per Haskell closed the distance between him and Jesper, gripping the Zemeni boy’s collar, but before he could say or do anything, a punch came flying across Haskell’s face. Jesper laughed, scooping the money off the table and into his bag. He snatched the tickets from the table, the dust getting caught in his fingers.
Jesper ran out of the pub, resting his bag on his shoulder while his fingers closed around the thick strap of the bag. He dragged Matthias along with him, ignoring his protests.
“Come on, Matthias,” Jesper huffed as he sprinted through the streets. “Our dreams are finally coming true. Haven’t you ever thought about leaving this place?” He glanced at Matthias who was beside him now, his breaths coming out in small pants.
“Well, yes,” Matthias said, seeming to be pondering about something. “But I still don’t think it’s right for us to just go like this. Have you even told your father?”
Jesper hadn’t but there was always time to fix his mistakes. He pulled out an envelope and a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, along with a pencil. “I’ll let him know.” He scribbled a few words hastily and called over a mailman walking along the docks. “Can you get this to the right person? Thanks!” Jesper shoved the letter into the mailman’s chest, barely giving him time to respond.
Matthias shook his head. “How do you just have an envelope in your pocket?”
“A wise man once said that you should always be prepared for the unexpected.”
Matthias squinted at him. “If the wise man is you, then I wouldn’t believe him.”
He picked up his pace again, shoving past the families on the dock bidding goodbye to the people already on the ship. He started shouting, pushing to get through the crowd and once he caught sight of the entrance, he picked up his pace, practically sprinting now.
“Wait!” He yelled and ran up the stairs to the entrance with Matthias right behind him. “You forgot two gentlemen.”
The sailor at the entrance eyed them. “Have you done the bag check?”
“Of course!” Jesper exclaimed, speaking for both him and Matthias.
The sailor hesitated but moved aside. “Alright, get in.”
Jesper ducked to get in and the warm air of the ship instantly occupied his senses. He breathed in the fumes that could be smelt from the engines, disregarding the burning sensation that he felt from deep inside his nose. Climbing up to the second deck, Jesper searched for his rooms, sneaking looks at both his and Matthias’s tickets.
“Here’s room 223!” Jesper pulled Matthias inside with him, who had given up on his protests now. The room was colder than the air outside, making Jesper shiver and rows of goosebumps lined his arms. He began moving his hands up and down his arms in order to restore the warmth that was once there.
Matthias dropped his bags, which landed with a loud thud. “This isn’t too bad.” His eyes turned pensive as he looked around.
Jesper grinned. “See?” He dropped his bags beside where Matthias’s were. “I call top bunk!” He removed his shoes in a hurry, climbing up the wooden ladder attached to the bunk bed. As soon as his head met the softness of the pillow below him, his eyes suddenly grew weary and his body felt as if he’d just finished carrying the weight of this entire ship.
He heard Matthias speak from beneath him. “I suppose we could stay here for a little while.”
Jesper sighed, his eyes drooping shut. “Yeah.” He had never felt more free than he did when he was on this ship.