Andie McPhee dresses Pacey in what he can only assume to be one of her father's finest suits. It's a bit loose on him, but it fits well enough. She slicks back his crop of matted brown hair with oil and he thinks that he must look awful, but Andie whistles at him, showing her approval.
They separate once Pacey is dressed, Andie stating that she herself needs to put on a new dress for the evening. She sends him out of her room and he thanks her once more before heading out to A deck. He's walking with much more confidence then he normally does, worried that someone will be able to tell that he isn't a first class man. But once he steps towards the door to the first class entrance and a steward greets him with a "Good evening, sir," he thinks that he must be playing his role smoothly enough.
The grand staircase is perhaps one of the most luxurious places he's ever been before. Overhead is a glass dome with a crystal chandelier hanging down at its center. When he looks down, he sees that this staircase sweeps down six stories. The people passing Pacey by are also dressed quite extragavently, women in their floor length dresses and abundant accessories, gentleman wearing the same thing as he, but somehow they manage to look better. Pacey takes a deep breath and he doesn't know why he's so nervous – he hardly ever gets nervous. He's good at talking his way through awkward social situations, which he's almost positive is what tonight is going to be. A bit painful, he's sure, but at least he'll get to spend more time with Joey.
He descends to A deck and several men nod a greeting towards him and he does the same in return. Pacey watches the way that these people act, the way that the men chat quietly and the women stay at their sides silently. It's so different from what he's used to. He turns his head and sees two familiar faces, Dawson Leery along with his mother on his arm. They both walk past him, neither one seeming to recognize him and Pacey can't tell whether or not he should take that as a compliment or not.
He doesn't have much time to consider it however because on the stairs behind them, stands Joey, truly a vision in her dinner dress. Pacey can feel his lips forming a smile and his eyes don't leave her as she ascends down the staircase, hypnotized by her beauty. Joey seems impressed with him, but when she gets down to his level, she touches his hair with her hand. "I must say, Pacey, I think I prefer the way your hair normally looks,"
He laughs. "You and me both. Do I really look that bad?"
Joey examines him and she flushes, beaming noticeably. "No, not at all. You look – you look very nice,"
Pacey takes her hand and brings it to his lips. He grins when he pulls away and Joey looks as if she's going to begin giggling girlishly, but she does no such thing. Pacey offers her his arm, the two of them walking to Dawson and Mrs. Leery who are chatting amongst themselves. Joey taps Dawson on the shoulder. "Dawson, surely you remember Mr. Witter,"
Dawson does a double take and stammers out an awkward laugh. "Witter? Forgive me, I didn't recognize you," he holds out his hand and Pacey shakes it. "You could pass for a gentleman,"
He doesn't seem like he realizes the possible offense that Pacey could take to the statement so Pacey doesn't hold it against him. He nods simply, not entirely sure what to say to that. Dawson makes it perfectly clear that he wants to escort Joey into the reception room and holds his arm out for her with a smile that is most likely supposed to be charming. Joey curtsies to him and takes his arm, giving Pacey a final glance before walking ahead. Pacey wonders whether or not he should offer to escort Mrs. Leery in, but it seems that her husband has arrived and they're already heading into the reception room together. It's a good thing too, because the woman had been scowling at him quite obviously and he doesn't think he would've enjoyed her company for too long. Thankfully, he isn't left alone for too long. Andie McPhee approaches him, on the arm of another young man. "Pacey," she says. "May I introduce my brother Jack?"
Jack shakes Pacey's hand. "So you're the one who rescued Joey yesterday?"
"I wouldn't really call it that," he says. It sounds far too prideful to grant himself with a title without Joey being there to claim it for him.
Jack leans in to him. "Yes, well, just be sure to speak of yourself highly as often as possible and you'll earn their respect,"
Pacey laughs because Jack smiles, showing that he's making fun of his crowd. Andie nods, "Yes, and act like you've got a lot of money. They respect that,"
He smiles in agreement and looks for Joey from the corner of his eye and finds her – she's standing with the Leerys and a few elder men, who seem to be admiring Joey and he can't blame them. "She's a nice girl," Jack says, noticing who Pacey is looking at. He begins to question Jack as to who he is speaking of but Jack answers that quickly. "Joey. She's lovely,"
He can only agree. "Yes, she is,"
Just then, Joey looks to him and motions for him to join her. Pacey bows politely to Jack and Andie and heads off towards her. The group she's standing with doesn't seem to find anything out of the ordinary with Pacey, and he appreciates this. Joey pats Pacey on the arm lightly and gestures towards a middle aged man and a young woman who can't be much older then them. "J.J, Madeleine, I'd like you to meet Pacey Witter,"
The man who Joey calls JJ takes Pacey's hand and shakes it. "Good to meet you Pacey. Are you of the Philadelphia Witters?"
"No, the Boston Witters actually," he corrects the man, who nods as if he's heard of them, and then looks puzzled. Dawson, who is on Joey's arm, gives Pacey a look that he can't quite read and then makes a noise, indicating that he wants the subject changed. The two begin walking towards the dinner table, J.J's wife chasing after him to get a hold on his arm. Joey and Pacey are alone again.
"That was John Jacob Astor, the richest man on the ship. Madeleine's my age and in delicate condition. Did you notice how she tried to hide it?" Joey tilts her head in so that she can whisper to him. She points towards a man and a woman who are chatting with the Leerys. "And that's Benjamin Guggenheim and his mistress, Madame Aubert. Mrs. Guggenheim is at home with the children of course,"
Joey motions towards Andie and Jack. "That's Andie and Jack McPhee, siblings. There's word that their father is stepping out on their fragile mother,"
Pacey doesn't tell Joey that he already knew both Andie and Jack. He just wants to keep listening to her speak but unfortunately for him, they're called for to sit down for supper.
Joey has in awe of Pacey Witter, now more than ever. For one thing, she couldn't keep her eyes off of him. He looked so handsome in his suit, like an old English gentleman. She wasn't a particular fan of the way his hair looked like this, preferring the way it had looked earlier, rustling in the wind but she could get over it. He was sitting a few seats down from her, between Jack McPhee and Margaret Brown, while she herself was wedged between Dawson and Thomas Andrews. The conversation had not yet reached Pacey, it mostly all just small talk. Joey was glad for it, it would be much more comfortable for their peers to assume that Pacey was a member of the club.
Dawson, of course, could always be counted on.
"Tell us of the accommodations in steerage, Mr. Witter. I hear they're quite good on this ship," Joey could've sworn she saw Jack's face scrunch up at her fiancé's crass comment.
Pacey was good with awkward situations though and simply just smiled across the table at Dawson. "The best I've seen, Mr. Leery. Hardly any rats,"
Dawson turned to the table. "Mr. Witter here is joining us from third class. He was of some assistance to my fiancée yesterday,"
She didn't think that Dawson was trying to seem rude; he wasn't all that good at speaking with people about subjects other than himself in any case. But still, Joey was watching him from the corner of her eye like a hawk, waiting for the slightest falter in his smile to tell her how he really felt about Pacey. Dawson's comment about Pacey receives many a whisper and Joey hears a particular one from across the table from Guggenheim, who whispers to John Jacob Astor, "What could Leery possibly be thinking? Bringing this bohemian up here?"
Joey's eyes close in worry, hoping that Pacey isn't nervous. But if he was, his kind eyes and charm hid it. A waiter approaches him. "How do you take your caviar, sir?"
"No caviar for me, thanks. Never did like it much," he explains and this elicits a small grin from Joey. Pacey seems pleased with himself when he sees her face.
"And where exactly do you live, Mr. Witter?" asked Mrs. Leery.
Pacey cleared his throat. "Well, currently my address is the RMS Titanic. After that, I'm on God's good humor,"
Their salad is served. Pacey reaches for the fish fork. Andie clears her throat and points out the salad fork. Joey silently thanks her.
"How is that you have means to travel, Mr. Witter?" asks Mr. Leery.
"I work my way from place to place. I won my ticket on Titanic here in a lucky game of poker. A very lucky hand,"
"All life is a game of luck," says Colonel Gracie.
"A real man makes his own luck," Dawson states and Joey sees in his eyes a bit of resentment.
Joey quickly tries to turn the attention to her. "It turns out that Mr. Witter is quite a fine artist. He was kind enough to show me some of his work today,"
"Really?" asks Andie.
Pacey nods. "I draw here and there. It's an easy way to meet beautiful women,"
The men at the table laugh. Mrs. Leery, however, does not. "You find that sort of rootless existence appealing, do you?"
The comment doesn't phase Pacey but once more, Joey sees looks of shock at the crassness from Jack and Margaret Brown. "We live in a big world, ma'am and I intend to see all of it. When I was a kid, I never left my hometown but I left home at fifteen and I've been on the road since. I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's gonna happen or who I'm gonna meet, where I'm gonna wind up. You have to learn to take life as it comes at you, to make each day count."
Joey stares at him in fascination, in wonder.
"Well said, Pacey," said Margaret.
"Here, here," said Mr. McPhee, raising his glass. The rest of the table does the same.
"To making it count," said Joey and she and Pacey exchange smiles. Mrs. Leery is clearly annoyed by this, as if upset that Pacey has gained a point with Joey.
The rest of the meal goes by without much attention being drawn to Pacey. He's speaking quietly with Jack and Andie, who have fallen victim to his undeniable charm. A few times, when Margaret Brown tells a joke, she turns to Pacey and places a hand on his back as if to make him feel more comfortable. Joey is silent, she spends the rest of the meal watching Pacey, except for a quick conversation that she has with Thomas Andrews. She's fascinated by the architecture of the ship and Mr. Andrews is a kind man who is more than happy to answer any questions she has.
It's when a waiter arrives with cigars in a humidor on a wheeled cart that signals the end of that dinner has come to an end. The men start clipping ends and lighting. Joey leans across the table to say in a hushed whisper, "This is the part where they retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being masters of the universe,"
Colonel Gracie touches the lapel of his coat. "Join me for a brandy, gentleman?"
Dawson, Mr. Leery, Mr. McPhee, Mr. Andrews and John Jacob Astor stand to accompany him. Jack, however, stays seated. His father whispers something to him and it must convince him to stand, because he does. "Joining us, Witter?" asks Jack.
"No thanks. I'm heading back,"
Joey hopes the disappointment on her face isn't too evident.
"Probably best," says Dawson. "It'll all be business and politics. Wouldn't interest you. Good of you to come,"
He shakes Pacey's hand once more and exits with the other gentleman.
Pacey stands and walks to the right of Joey. "Must you go?" she asks him.
"Time to go row with other slaves," This makes her laugh and that giant smile erupts on her face like it had earlier in the day. Pacey takes her hand and inserts a tiny note into it. He kisses her hand, winks at her and turns to exit. "Good night, Joey," he says and he's looking at Mrs. Leery when he says it. The woman had obviously been glaring at him.
Joey watches him walk away until Mrs. Leery's attention is back on the women and their talk of fashion. She surreptitiously opens the note below the table. It reads, "Make it count. Meet me at the clock."
She waits about fifteen minutes so as not to draw attention to the fact that she's going with Pacey and then excuses herself from the table, claiming that she's tired. She crosses the A deck foyer, sighting Pacey at the landing above. His back is to her and he's studying the ornate clock. It strikes the hour.
Joey goes up the sweeping staircase towards him and almost as if he senses her he turns and smiles. "So you want to go to a real party?"