Talon barged his way through the narrow hallways of the ship, there were so many people on board, far from what he was used to. Back at home he was surrounded by only his Uncle and MADcat, not the most wonderful company you could have to be honest. It seemed third class was rather unpleasant, but he was just happy to be there regardless. The whole reason he wanted to come on this ship was for a break from his Uncle, just to be free of any pressures and be himself. He checked all the room numbers to make sure he went in the right one. "101..102..103, gotcha." He walked in only to be met with his roommates for the rest of the trip. Well he could at least be civil if he was going to be in the same living space, they didn't look like easily approachable guys. "Hey fellas, pleased to meet you, the names Claw, Talon claw." He held his hand out to shake the two acquaintances. One hesitated before shaking his hand. He nervously smiled before tossing his bag on the top bunk of one of the beds. He was glad he'd only be spending an evening in there, although he shuddered to think they might even murder him in his sleep.
Meanwhile, the HQ team had just arrived in their room for the trip. Plenty was going on inside, Penny was organising their belongings into piles and sticking up some notices for the day ahead, after all they were still on duty. The maids in the room were helping alongside her, folding clothes and organising them. It wasn't fair on the poor blonde, people relied on her a lot too much. Penny do this, Penny do that, it felt like she only existed when she was needed, not wanted. Nigel was sipping a glass of champagne while looking over the balcony, he felt all the more too entitled, like he was the own who owned the ship. It was petty and annoying. Gadget was checking out the facility in the event of perhaps a MAD plot, but the Chief had assured him nothing was wrong. The rest well they fought over who got which room. Especially Kayla, she wanted a kingsized bed all the same as the Professor did.
"I don't understand why we spent so much money on these fancy outfits, the profits could've gone towards one of my concerts y'know" a very annoyed Nigel would say, leaning on the doorframe and sipping with a look of disgust. Penny sighed with a heavy breath, she hated how ungrateful he could be
"Well I think they're wonderful dear, besides we barely spent a penny, the chief put his savings all into these clothes so the least we can do is be fortunate." She smiled and finished piling up her clothes. She lifted a rather elegant dress from the bed, it was the full length of her body "how does this look??? Will it be of your standards for this afternoon's meal with Mr Andrews??" She asked her uninterested fiancé, a hopeful smile on her face. Nigel barely even acknowledged her comment and shrugged, she wasn't even sure he'd looked at it properly
"I suppose it's alright, though it does make you look rather chubby dear. Try not to make a fool of me." He rolled his eyes as a servant came through with one of his cases "place that in the wardrobe please my good man." No respect at all, not for anyone. It made Penny utterly ashamed. Their maid by the name of Trudy walked in with some fresh bedsheets, a bright and friendly smile on her face. Carefully, she made the bed and took a smell of the sheets, they smelt like lavender
"It's like this was all made for us, just to think that when I crawl between the sheets, I'll be the fir-" she was cut off when Nigel interrupted her. He was giving Penny a rather suggestive look.
"And when I crawl between the sheets tonight I'll be the first." The comment made penny extremely uncomfortable, her eyes averted down before her whole body tensed. A pair of unwelcome arms snaked around her waist as Nigel rested his chin on her shoulder.
"N-Nigel- please stop..." she mumbled and trembled within his touch, his embrace made her nervous. It was possessive rather than loving. But he ignored her request completely and left a soft yet unwanted kiss on her neck. Trudy seemed to have quickly left the room in discomfort, of penny could she'd have joined her.
"Do not forget your place Penny. It will only make your time being my loving fiancé very difficult~" he whispered. It sent a chill up her spine. She was saved when the Chief cleared his throat, visibly wanting to make conversation
"Penny may I speak to you in private please??" He requested, he didn't seem to happy. She obliged and walked out of the room with him, tilting her head
"What is it Chief?? Is something wrong??" She'd ask. In return he gave her a small nod, handing her some papers. They appeared to be the results on her recent training exams, and the figures didn't look good. She wasn't on top of her game as much these days, that due to her engagement and pressure of her peers
"Penny this is deeply concerning for you, normally you're our top agent, but recent numbers have shown your downfall. I'm very disappointed. If this continues, we may have to remove your position as a full time agent." Hearing those words shattered Penny like glass, she'd worked so hard all those years just to get there, losing it would be a waste of time.
"I'm sorry Chief!! Ive just been so busy lately with the wedding arrangements and all the training and moving about, I promise you I still have what it takes!! Just give me another shot please!" She frowned, she could feel tears forming in her eyes, not visible ones however. The chief sighed and crossed his arms, taking back the papers
"I will be testing you as soon as we get back to HQ, but be warned, your job is on the line if you don't catch up with your training." And with that he walked back inside, leaving Penny absolutely torn. She felt pathetic and useless. And her heart ached.
Talon seemed to be getting much more out of this trip and she was. He was at the bow of the ship cheering to himself as he stood up on the railings. "Would you look at that, the only water I ever see is in Uncle Claw's lame shark tank. But this??? This is the real deal. He smiled. The captain was stood upon one of the balcony's, looking over at his ship in all its glory, it truly was magnificent. One of his associates by the name of Murdoch walked over, smiling. The captain turned to him with a proud smile in return
"Take her to sea Mr Murdoch, let's stretch her legs." And with that, the ship began to glide along the water smoothly, making Talon jump ever so slightly
"Woah" he exclaimed as he looked below, catching glimpse of a group of dolphins. He couldn't say that he'd ever seen dolphins in real life before, but they really were majestic and beautiful creatures. He was completely taken aback, to experience this was something out of the ordinary. His uncle never took him anywhere or spent time with him. At home all he ever got was insults, pressure and the feeling of being unwanted. But now all of that went away, his mind was clear, his life felt free at last, and he held his hands up in the air before yelling" WOOOOOO!!! IM KING OF THE WORLD!!" He called for all to hear. His voice echoed throughout the ship, it felt as though the whole world was in his hands. He breathed in the fresh air and closed his eyes, taking it all in. Free. Free he was.
In the first class dining hall, HQ were sat around a table with the founder of the ship Mr Andrews and headline seeker Mr Ismay.
"And our master shipbuilder, Mr Andrews here, designed her from the keel plates up." Ismay would say, sipping his drink and gesturing towards Andrews. Mr Andrews seemed rather uncomfortable with the sudden attention and immediately denied all that was said
"Well I may have knocked her together, but the idea itself was all thanks to Mr Ismay here, without him none of this would have become a reality." He chuckled and crossed his arms. Gadget seemed to be very confused by the whole 'she' term towards the ship, hence the question
"Why do they always call ships by she?? And also why is it called a ship in the first place?? Go go gadget ship name generator" but of course his gadgets backfired and burnt the table cloth. Everyone around him burst into laughter, all except Penny, who was awfully quiet. Instead she pulled out her codex and looked through her my spy place account, but was soon met with the angry eyes of the chief.
"Penny. You know I don't like that. Please don't be anti social." He glared and crossed his arms. Nigel intervened and nodded, taking her gloves from her and stuffing them in his pockets
"She knows. And she should learn to be respectful." He'd glare coldly as she shot him a secret dirty look. He soon turned away and looked up at one of the waiter's who'd come to take his order "we'll both have the lamb, with a little mince sauce" he'd say before turning to her "you like lamb don't you sweetpea~?" He'd ask, almost like she had no choice but to say yes. She forced on her most fake smile and nodded, she felt like she was going to throw up. Kayla gave Nigel a playfully nudge along with a smirk
"You gonna cut her meat up for her too there Nigel???" She asked teasingly before turning back to the others "so like, who even came up with the name titanic?? Seems totes original considering the ship is huge." Mr Ismay nodded and leant back in his seat
"This young Kayla is rather observant isn't she??? Yes it was I, I wanted to convert the ship's size. And size means ability, luxury, and safety. Penny was growing tired of the conversation, she had no interest whatsoever
"So does size also match the ego you are so desperately trying to keep up, that would be understandable if so." She mumbled, making Mr Andrews snicker in response. The chief whipped his head around in a flash, if looks could kill she'd have been burnt into the ground
"Penny Ruth Gadget I'm not sure what has gotten into you but I won't have it at all." But before he could finish disciplining her she got up from her seat and tucked it in
"Please do excuse me for a moment." She'd say as politely as she could, heading out of the room towards the balcony to clear her mind. The chief turned back to the two men with a look of guilt
"I do apologise for her behaviour, it must be being out at sea that's making her so nervous." Gadget nodded in response
"Penny's never been fond of the idea of being out at sea, but she can be challenging sometimes, sure you can handle her Nigel??" Gadget laughed jokingly, though Nigel took it a rather different route
"Well I'll just have to advise what she reads from now on won't I??" He tapped his fingers down on the table with gritted teeth.
Back down on the third class deck, Talon was observing a father and his daughter looking over the ship at the dolphins below, just like he had been earlier. He was making a very detailed sketch of them both in his large drawing book, a look of concentration in his eyes. Talon had never used to like the idea of art and realism, but recently he'd taken it up as a hobby. He hadn't noticed a fellow third class member observing his work, he was very clearly taken aback and mesmerised by it. A few dogs passed by his legs, springing up some conversation
"That's typical. First class dogs come down here just to take a shite." He rolled his eyes. Talon looked up with a slight chuckle, nodding
"Yep, that's how we know where we rank in the scheme of things." The man gave a laugh of agreement in response to his remark
"Like we could forget, the name's Tommy" he'd say, shaking his hand with a friendly smile as he puffed his cigar. Talon took his hand and shook it willingly
"Talon claw." He responded, closing his sketchbook momentarily. Tommy noticed and brought up a question he'd been thinking about
"Do you make money with your drawings Mr claw??" He'd ask. Talon was ready to respond when something caught his eye. It felt like all of time had frozen. Was that the same girl he'd met and fell in love with all those years ago??? He watched as penny walked up to the edge of the balcony, her arms resting on it as she stared aimlessly over the third class deck. She looked so different, she was dressed all posh like, her hair was in a neat curly bun, so much different to how he was used to seeing her. Before he'd have just made a flirty comment or chuckled as she got all flustered by him, but this was a look of confusion and deep love and affection. One thing Talon had never been able to admit, was that he was in love with Penny. He really was. Penny seemed to be distracted and lost in thought before her peripheral vision caught sight of someone watching her. She glanced over and went wide eyed when she saw who her gaze met with. It was Talon, normally she'd have scoffed or groaned in annoyance at the sight of him. But the way he was looking at her made her all fuzzy on the inside, it made her question a lot. He looked so different in this light, he looked genuine. She just wished he'd take that goddamn hair gel out of his hair. Then it would be even more perfect. She wasn't even sure if he was here as a result of a MAD plot, but her heart was telling her he wasn't. He was here for something more.
Tommy caught on and glanced behind him, catching sight of the fair Penny he had his eyes upon. He chuckled and shook his head "ah forget it boyo, you may as well have angels flying outta y' arse trying to get to the likes of her." Of course He didn't know the situation the two enemies were in, nor how disgusting that remark was. But to put it in simpler terms it was impossible for Talon to ever be with her and vice versa. Their gaze was interrupted when Nigel came back out, calling upon Penny and sending her back into the dining room.