April 12, 1912
Ororo had invited him for morning coffee in the Café Parisien on B Deck, which he gladly accepted. She took notice of his improved mood, even now as he appeared to be distracted. "You look a bit better than two nights ago. Life on the ship seems to agree with you, Max." Ororo commented.
He looked up at her and raised a brow. "I did not realize my mood was so sour when we first boarded."
She sipped from her cup of tea. "You know what I mean. You seem…less melancholic."
The corners of his mouth twitched as he tried not to smile and failed. "I suppose I am."
"Care to tell me why?"
He paused. "Let's just say I've made a new friend who…is very fascinating to me."
Ororo, to her credit, could pick up on the subtleties of his vague statement.
"Do I get to meet this new friend?"
"I was thinking of inviting her to dinner tonight."
"I think that would be an excellent idea." Ororo smiled.
She wondered if he would be in the same place she saw him yesterday, sitting in a lounge chair with his sketchbook in hand. She thought about their conversation, this well to-do man who seemed so different from every other first class passenger onboard. She went to the place they had sat together the day before, halfway hoping to find him there. When the seat was found empty, she shook herself.
For heaven's sake, girl. Stop it. He's probably got more important things to do than talk to you all day.
"Anna Marie?" She heard his deep voice behind her as she turned around, almost forgetting how tall he was.
"Max….hello." She greeted him with genuine surprise in her tone.
Did he come lookin' for me too?
"Might I join you for a stroll?" He asked.
The surprise gave way to a smile as she accepted his offer, and they spent what felt like hours walking along the deck, talking about anything and everything. She found he preferred to hear about her than to talk about himself, which was just another thing that differentiated him from those of his class.
She was unused to speaking her mind so freely, especially around someone of his status, and caught herself rambling, and when she thought she should stop, she noticed him hanging on every word, as if his very existence depended on the next words that came from her lips.
"Anna Marie." He spoke her name with that German inflection.
"Yes?"
"I would like to invite you to dinner with me tonight."
His statement surprised her. "You mean….in first class?"
"Precisely."
She hesitated. "Ah….ah appreciate the offer, Max, but ah'll stick out like a sore thumb, don't cha think?"
"Perhaps….I can be of assistance in that regard."
Now she was very intrigued.
"Come with me." He held out his hand to her.
"Where are we goin'?" She asked, even as she took his hand without question.
"You will see."
The woman standing before Anna Marie was one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. She had dark skin and white hair, which contrasted beautifully. She was impeccably dressed, and her accent was one that spoke of a far-off land she had never been to before.
"Luckily, I think you and I are the same size, Anna Marie. Most of my gowns will fit you perfectly."
She proceeded to pull a beautiful gown from her wardrobe made of baby blue satin, with a purple sheer fabric overlaying it.
"Here….this one will suit you beautifully."
Anna Marie's eyes widened at the beautiful and expensive looking dress.
"Oh, Ororo, ah couldn't-"
"Yes, you can, and you will. Now get dressed. If you're going to walk into a room full of vultures, we need to make sure you look like you belong."
Ororo had worked her magic, and allowed her to borrow not only this gorgeous dress, but a beautiful necklace and matching earrings, and had styled her curls into an updo. She looked almost unrecognizable in the new clothes, and Ororo was quite pleased with how it had all turned out.
Anna Marie followed Ororo to the top of the grand staircase, and the older woman descended first. Anna Marie took a deep breath, and descended the stairs,
praying to God that she didn't mess this up.
Max had seen Ororo descend the staircase, looking as lovely as ever in a dark blue gown. She gave him a subtle wink before heading towards the dining room, leaving him at the foot of the stairs as-
He felt his breath catch in his throat.
Anna Marie, a vision in baby blue silk and purple chiffon, descended the stairs. She looked the epitome of elegance, her curls appearing angelic around her face, and he couldn't tear his eyes away from her.
She got halfway down the stairs before she realized he was waiting there for her. He was watching her make her way down the stairs as if she was a work of art herself, and she was trying very hard to focus on descending the stairs without making a fool of herself.
Once she got to the bottom, he held out his hand for her to take, and she slipped her fingers into his waiting palm.
"Good evening, Miss D'Ancanto." He murmured.
"Good evening, Mister Eisenhardt." She countered softly.
The both of them smiled as if they had just exchanged some inside joke, and he escorted her into the dining room. It wasn't until she was inside that she remembered what Ororo had said about first class being like vultures. She felt several pairs of eyes on her at once, all no doubt wondering who she was.
But Anna Marie, not one to shrink away from a challenge, walked proudly on Max's arm as he led her to their table, grateful that she was being seated between Max and Ororo, flanked on either side by allies.
The eyes that were on her were scrutinizing her, looking for any flaw they could. She certainly looked the part, and her heart was pounding in her chest as she sat under their judgment.
Charles Xavier, who had been shocked by the appearance of this woman on Max's arm, was immediately suspicious. It was clear that this woman was not first class, as he would have met her already if she was. But he also took notice of how Max couldn't take his eyes off this woman, how his entire demeanor was different from when they first boarded.
Who was this woman, and what kind of spell had she cast on Max?
Max introduced Anna Marie to those at the table she had not met: Emma Frost, a thin blonde woman who did little to hide her haughty privilege; Sebastian Shaw, her escort and fellow member of nobility; Warren Worthington III, a New York millionaire; and, of course-
"Charles Xavier, Ms. D'Ancanto. It's….a pleasure." He tried his best to hide his suspicions of this woman.
"Likewise." She replied, not buying his facade.
"Forgive me for asking, miss, but I don't think we've met before." Warren spoke up, his blonde hair slicked back. "Are you traveling first class?" He asked curiously.
"No, Mister Worthington, ah'm not. Ah'm a third class passenger." Her admission had looks of surprise and scrutiny alike from those at the table.
"And how are the accommodations in steerage? Hopefully the rats aren't too big." Emma's condescending comments got a few chuckles.
Anna Marie didn't see the cold stare Max shot Emma's direction, but rather responded confidently.
"Ah actually haven't seen any, ma'am. Perhaps they didn't get their tickets in time."
The chuckles were a little louder at her wit, and even Max had a small smirk at her comeback.
The first course was soon served, and she looked down at several sets of silverware, and had a moment of panic. She leaned towards Ororo and murmured.
"Are these all for me?"
"Start from the outside. Work your way in." Ororo advised quietly.
She nodded and resumed the part she was playing, trying her best to behave ladylike in front of the many pairs of eyes that were on her.
Max, however, was the one set of eyes that was watching her with reverence. An encouraging smile from him was all the signal she needed to know that she was doing just fine.
The conversation she was idly listening to as she made her way through the courses.
"...think you will like the skyline of New York, Max. Lots of inspiration for an artist such as yourself." Warren commented.
"Don't be giving him ideas, Worthington. Max's idea of art and mine are vastly different." Charles remarked with slight annoyance.
"Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right, Mister Worthington?" Anna Marie piped up, catching them all off guard.
"Well said, my dear." Ororo agreed.
There seemed to be those at the table who were impressed with this young woman, while there were those, like Xavier and Miss Frost, who were not. But she paid them no mind. She was not here to impress them. She was here because Max had invited her, and that was all the reason she needed to be at this table.
The conversation, and the dinner, continued mostly without a hitch.
"So, Miss D'Ancanto….what exactly do you do for a living?" Emma asked curiously.
"Ah've worked a few odd jobs in offices mostly. Whatever work ah could get my hands on." Anna Marie replied.
"Do you have something lined up for when we dock?" Warren's question came next.
"Unfortunately, no. My brother and I boarded the Titanic due to a lucky hand at poker. We are at the mercy of God's good humor when we get to New York."
"Life is but a game of luck, they say." Sebastian Shaw sounded almost bored as he spoke before sipping his drink.
"A rootless existence isn't luck. It's rash and irresponsible." Charles Xavier chided.
"Charles." Max warned.
"No, it's quite alright, Ma-...Mister Eisenhardt." She caught herself, and addressed Charles directly.
"Mister Xavier, my life may appear rash and irresponsible to someone like yourself, and that's fine. But ah have not lived the life you live. Ah became an orphan at the age of ten, and since then, until a couple years ago, ah wasn't in control of my life. But now that ah have control of my life, ah choose to live every day like it's a gift, which it is. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, so ah don't intend to take the time we have for granted." Her response had everyone at the table nodding.
"I like her. You should invite her to dinner every night, Max." Warren chimed in, which earned chuckles all around the table except from Charles, who was sipping his champagne.
Once the ladies began to adjourn for tea, she bade everyone good night and stated she was going back to her cabin. Emma seemed to have warmed to her slightly, and most of the table bade her a warm good night.
She was making her way out of the dining hall when she heard Max following her.
"Allow me to escort you below."
"No, Max, it's alright-"
"Anna Marie, I insist."
She turned and looked up at him and let out a soft sigh.
"Can ah ask you somethin'?"
"Anything."
"You wanna go to a real party?"