Credence finds Graves the next day at the part of the deck inhabited by the lower class passengers. He is lounging on a bench, looking more relaxed than Credence has ever felt before. He is scribbling away in a leather bound book, fully absorbed in whatever he is doing.

Credence feels horribly out of place as he makes his way toward Graves. He can feel others watching him, wondering what this polished little rich boy is doing on the wrong side of the ship.

Percival notices him right quickly, pulling himself up and tucking his notebook away. He smiles at Credence as he approaches, expression warm and open. "Why hello again, Credence," he greets, making it seem as though they are old friends.

Blushing at Grave's greeting, Credence casts his eyes down. “Could we speak for a moment?” He asks quietly, forcing himself to look the man in the eyes.

“Of course,” Percival agrees quickly, pushing himself off the bench. He offers one arm to Credence with a charming smile, “Let's go for a stroll,” he suggests.

Credence flushes as he loops his arm through Percival's. “Lead the way.”

They walk right past Tina, who is leaning against the railing with a freshly rolled cigarette. She nearly drops it as she stares at her friend in shock. Who is this rich boy and what is Graves up to? Percival just winks at her as they walk past, which doesn't answer any questions.





As they walk along the deck of the ship, lazily looping through the benches and passengers, Credence is tense and tight lipped. He had many words piled up in his mind, all trying to get out, but instead he stays silent. Graves, in an attempt to make the young man feel at ease, fills the silences with his own chatter. Credence does seem to relax as Grave's talks, filling him in on all the details of his life.

“And after ma passed, there didn't seem to be much reason to stick around. The homestead wasn't worth too much but I took all I could and split. It wasn't long after that when I met Tina. She had her sister with her at the time, Queenie.” Credence seems to be hanging on every word so he keeps going. “She met a baker a while back and they went off to America. It was hard on the twins, but we promised to follow as soon as we could. Between you and me, I've been trying like hell to get these tickets for months now.”

“Is Tina your, um,” Credence begins. Its the first thing he's said in sometime.

Graves laughs at that, shaking his head. “Tina is my best, and often only, friend. The closet I have to family these days. Besides, I don't usually go for women.”

“Oh,” Credence colors, sure he's never blushed more than during this conversation.

“You either, if I'm not mistaken,” graves comments mildly. “That was your fiance late night, right?”

Credence nods, expression unreadable. “Yes.”

“Listen, kid. We've been walking all across this boat, you've heard a lot of my personal history which I can't imagine it's what you've come to talk to me about.”

“No, it's not,” Credence admits quietly. “I just wanted to thank you for last night. Not just for pulling me back but for your discretion.” He says in a rush. He can't imagine if Gellert or his mother found out what happened.

“Don't mention it, kid. I only did what I had to.”

Credence lets out a little sigh, fidgeting with his hands. “You're probably thinking ‘poor little rich boy, what does he know about misery.’”

“No, no,” Percival assures,”I'm thinking, what happened to this boy to make him think he has no other way out?”

Credence lets out a defeated huff, looking graves fully in the eyes, his own a bit watery. “I-” he starts, voice breaking. “Everything. My whole life. Everything had been decided and planned and no one ever asked me what I wanted. I'm hurdling toward something I'm powerless to stop it...” he trails off, showing his ring as way of explanation.

Graves whistles, grabbing his hand to inspect the ring better. “Wow. You would have sunk right to the bottom wearing that thing.”

Credence flushes, pulling his hand back. “Yes, well…”

“So… If you don't love him, why are you marrying him?” Graves asks, casual as can be.

“Excuse me?” Credence looks scandalized by the question, eyes going wide. He wasn't expecting it, people very rarely ask him directly about his feelings.

“If you don't love him, why are you marrying him?” Percival repeats, as though it is the easiest, most obvious question in the world.

“I… you can't-” Credence stammers. “We do not know each other. You can not just ask me things like that. That is highly personal and a completely inappropriate question, ” he deflects. “And anyway, I never said I didn't love him.”

Graves lets out a small chuckle at that. “You just told me you nearly jumped of the back of a ship to get out of your marriage. It's not a big leap to assume you don't love him.”

Credence stares at him, eyes wide and apprehensive. “That's not what I said.”

“It kind of was, actually,” Graves says, keeping his tone light and teasing. “It's a simple question.”

“No,” Credence corrects. “It's not.”

“Well, if you say so, kid.” he doesn't sound at all convinced.

Credence groans, suddenly very annoyed with the path of this conversation. “I do and stop calling me kid. You are very rude, do you know that?”

“I've heard it before,” he says with a grin. “Though, I'm not sure it applies here.”

“Well, I think it does.  You are rude and uncouth and -” Credence lets out a little frustrated noise. “I sought you out to thank you, and I've done that.”

“And you insulted me,” Graves adds with a grin.

“Well, you deserved it,” Credence snaps. “So good day, Mr. Graves,” He emphasizes the use of his last name. Credence turns on his heel before stopping and wiping back around. “Wait a second, I don't have to leave. This is my side of the ship. You should leave.” He says defiantly.

Graves laughs loudly at that. “Oh, is that right? Now who's being rude?” He seems amused by Credence's outburst, which only serves to make him angrier.

“Yes,” he insists with a glower. Graves just smiles, folding his arms, that leather book still clutched in one hands. Credence's eyes fly down to it. He is feeling defiant and strangely bold. “What is that, anyway?” he says, snatching the book from Percival's hand. He looks up at him before opening it however, suddenly regretting his actions. Graves just gives him a cocky, challenging smile and Credence can't help but open the journal after that.

His eyes drop down to the sketches contained in the pages and his stance immediately changes, hostility falling away to curiosity as he looks at the images before him. “Oh,” He mumbles quietly, seeking out the nearest bench and plopping down on it. He looks back up at Grave's, dark hair framing his face perfectly as he offers a shy smile. “These are quiet good,” he says before dropping his eyes back to the pages. Graves chuckles appreciatively as he settles on the bench beside Credence.

“The folks in Paris didn't seem to think so,” he comments as he watches Credence flip through the pages.

Credence looks up at him, a mixture of surprise and admiration on his face, “Paris?” He asks softly, flipping to the next page. Graves chuckles, almost seeming self conscious. “You certainly seem to get around, for a poor – ah,” Credence breaks off, blushing deeply, “I mean -”

Graves laughs, waving it off, “A poor guy,” he finishes for Credence with a wink. “Don't worry about it. I've never been very good at staying in one place for too long,” he says with a shrug. “So I just go where the world leads me. Some times are harder than others. Not knowing where you are going to sleep at night or when your next meal will be. But usually, things seem to work out however they are supposed to.”

Credence studies his face carefully before turning his attention back toward the sketch book. He flips through the pages, stilling as he comes to a collection of sketches of various naked young men. He stills, eyes flicking back toward Graves as he face colors. “And these were drawn from life?” he asks quietly, glancing around to make sure no one else can see what he is looking at.

Graves chuckles warmly. “That's the good thing about Paris. Plenty of boys willing to take their clothes off.”

That startles an embarrassed laugh out of Credence, who covers his mouth as he giggles. When his laughter dies down, he lets out a small sigh before flipping to another page. “It doesn't matter that I don't love him,” he says very quietly, keeping his eyes trained down on the drawings. He can feel Graves' eyes on him.

“Of course it does,” Graves says when Credence doesn't continue.

“I don't think so, actually,” he mumbles. He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to look back up at Graves with a hallow smile. “I wish I could be more like you. Jetting off whenever I want, not a care in the world.”

Graves regards him seriously for a minute before gently pulling the book from his hands and rising to his feet. He holds his hand out for Credence, pulling him up. “Come on, kid,” he says, looping their arms back together. Credence blinks in confusion but follows along wordlessly, a strange thrill running through him.