He pressed one hand against the cold glass – at least to a layman it was as good as glass, although Edward had learned it was some sort of new metallic compound with the benefit of being translucent.
His warm breath created a mist on the surface, before gradually fading away. He had seen the city below from a hundred different angles already, but even a thousand more couldn't surely subdue the awe it filled him with. Here, over a mile and a half beneath the sea, sprawling across the seabed, was Rapture. A brand new city, its foundations barely a year old, Rapture looked excited to be alive.
The panoramic windows of the premier apartment, situated at the very peak of the Mercury Suites building, gave one of the most sought after views out across the submarine metropolis. The city was glowing magnificently, a shining beacon of hope for the future. Its art-deco buildings, modelled on the skyscrapers of Manhattan, rose proudly and boldly from the ocean floor, lit with neon signs that boasted only the first few of Rapture's new businesses, facilities and attractions. Not only had they built a city underwater, facing a plethora of trials and dangers considered impossible to overcome, but they had built a city that even in its infancy, overshadowed any other city on Earth with its scale, ingenuity and grandeur. The thousands of lights doused the ocean with soothing, beautiful shades of green and blue, all of which only seemed to enhance the elegance and extrovert architecture employed in Rapture's design.
Edward took a step away from the window, and turned to look around the lounge. It was massive, with stunning wooden floors and walls lined with mahogany and marble. A chandelier the size of a motor-car hung over the staircase. He caught sight of himself in a mirror that reflected him and the backdrop of Rapture behind him, his newly tailored suit and brogues. In that reflection, he saw a gentleman of promise. He saw a wealthy and confident young pioneer at the very forefront of human endeavour and progress. None of that could be called shabby, not for someone who was a mere footman three months ago, born from a couple of drunkards who ran a pub in a London backstreet, only to turn it into a brothel out of necessity once they'd consumed all the booze themselves rather than bothering to try and sell it at the bar.
He pushed those gut-wrenching memories to the back of his mind. They were history. That pub and his parents were history. Hell, even London would probably soon be history, if Andrew Ryan was to be believed, the visionary and founder of Rapture.
Edward had spent much of the voyage out from Southampton mulling over the promises Andrew Ryan had made about Rapture, about its advances in technology and philosophy, but moreover, the promise that Rapture not only accepted freedom of self-expression, but that it actively promoted it. It seemed such a giant leap forward, a philosophy that had always felt a thousand years away from 1946. If that was true, Rapture was going to be perhaps the only place on earth where Edward could from today, begin living as the person he felt, Edward Carson was supposed to be.
A door to the side of the lounge opened, and the honourable Lord Sheridan Fortesque appeared, the distinct knock of his cane against the wooden floor giving him away. He stood at nearly six foot, athletic and handsome. His thick blonde hair was usual cut very tidily, but since preparing to move to Rapture, he'd left it to grow longer – was a hidden, more artistic side to his lordship coming out already?
"I've arranged for the steamer trunk to be taken straight upstairs to the master bedroom, and the smaller ones have just been dropped off in the enterance hall." Edward started, the habit of reporting his management of Lord Fortesque's affairs withstanding.
Lord Fortesque – Sheridan, didn't bat an eye at the news of the luggage, but instead strode right up beside Edward, placing as little pressure as he could manage on his cane, and joined Edward in looking out over their new, deep-sea home.
"You don't need to worry about any of that anymore you know." He started, his eyes widening just as much as Edwards had done at the view through the window.
"Rapture has given us exactly what we never thought we'd get. A chance to throw off this façade and live out and proud!" He turned back to face Edward.
"You are no longer my valet, Edward. Down here, we are free to be just what we've dreamed off." He reached out then, and took Edwards hand. "We are equals, partners. Partners in whatever new businesses we can get ourselves into down here, and partners in life." Edward, born into poverty and filth, was now the lover and soon to be the new business partner of one of the world's wealthiest men, and for the first time in his life, he could say it out loud!" Sheridan leant forward and planted a soft but passionate kiss on Edwards's lips.
"Thank god for Rapture!" Edward chuckled.
"Don't let Andrew Ryan hear you say that! He built this city for us remember, and God's not invited to Rapture".