Chapter Text
The walk around the port of Southampton was chillier than both Joseph and Caesar anticipated it would really be. Caesar was wearing quite the thin jacket.
The two had just gotten off a different ship all the way from Italy.
Joseph had recently gotten a divorce about two months ago, and he's been staying in Italy with his best friend Caesar Acceta for the time being.
The newspaper articles screamed everywhere, all of them saying:
‘Joseph Jo Clifton, recently divorced from his beautiful wife, Susie Gadling.’
Nobody really knew why, but there was a section in the newspaper with an interview with Susie herself.
Joseph and Caesar were walking down the streets with their bags, occasionally stopping to look at things, since their other ship wasn't planned to set till lunch.
The two were running off to New York, since that's where Joseph originally lived and had his remarkably successful real estate business. The two stopped for a second as Joseph grabbed Caesars' arm before he could continue to walk. Caesar looked over, confused.
“Joseph? What's the issue-?”
Caesar started, turning his body over fully to face the other man, still gripping his arm and he sighed, seeing what Joseph was looking straight at. It was a newspaper stand, with his face plastered straight on a page. Caesar groaned and tugged his arm away from Josephs tight grip.
“Do not listen to the press, you know they're only looking for answers from you!”
Caesar grunted, and walked closer to Joseph, standing beside him as they both looked down at the tacky newspaper stand.
“I know that...!! But just look at it! Where did they even get that... unflattering picture of me anyways?!”
Joseph whined, and Caesar looked up at him, now irritated. He hits Joseph on his back and snarls to him.
“Are you serious Clifton?? Here I thought you were sulking about your divorce!”
Caesars eyebrow raised as Joseph started to walk away again huffing to himself,
Caesar followed close behind him, grabbing a bag Joseph had forgotten behind at the newspaper stand.
God, he’s like a child!!
Caesar, growled in his mind, trying to shove the bag back into Joseph’s hand.
This sucks! I can't even enjoy my trip with Caesar without seeing stuff about my ex-wife everywhere. I honestly just want to forget about her!
Joseph sulked, also in his mind.
Caesar kept trying to talk about Susie and how much he should ignore the press. If Caesar wanted Joseph to ignore it, why is he still talking about it?
Caesar was in the middle of talking, and noticed Joseph’s fists clenched at his side, he narrowed his eyes and sighed, realizing his was pushing Joseph way too much. He runs his hand down his face.
“You should just forget about it, sorry for talking about it too much. I'm only worried about you. I don't wish for the news to get to your head; it affects people, divorce.” Caesar said softly now.
His free hand finally gave Joseph back the bag he had forgotten. Caesar nudged Joseph’s side, and they eventually smiled at each other.
“It's all right. I guess I can understand being curious about it.” Joseph chuckled, adjusting his collar with his right hand, his left dragging his bag behind him.
They continued to walk around for a long time again.
Joseph occasionally stopped at a shop.
“Caesar!! Come look at this!”
Joseph prodded Caesar over, tapping his shoulder with a grin on his face. He was standing at a booth. Dumb.. shit.
Caesar looked over, not interested at first.
”This better not be some dumb newspaper you found again…” Caesar groans, and peaks barely over Joseph’s shoulder.
“JoJo- what the hell is-?”
“Eggs!”
“Joseph, why the fuck are you showing me this.”
Joseph frowned.
“You obviously don’t understand…”
“No you- of course I don’t!”
This has to be a joke. He’s trying to pass time. Caesar snarled and hit Joseph hard on the back again.
Joseph yelped.
“S-Stop doing that!”
“Stop trying to avoid everything by trying to talk to me about eggs!”
What time even was it??
Caesar sighed in his mind, and grumbled something. He yelped suddenly and stared at the watch that Joseph had bought him read 11:46am.
Caesar tapped Joseph’s arm, and showed Joseph his watch. The two looked over at each other and started to run the opposite way they came, dragging and pulling their bags behind them.
After a long 10 minutes of running, they approached the port. The boat was bigger than they had ever seen before, at least 200ft tall! There were already plenty of people on board, a few gathering against the port, some ascending the stairs.
“Damn...” Joseph grunted, adjusting his collar again. Caesar, while still huffing trying to catch his breath, stands beside him.
“Mamma Mia!... that boat.” Caesar sighed breathlessly, pulling his bag up.
“There it is. The titanic.”
“You think we could push through everyone? Make it in line earlier?”
Joseph suggested with a dumb grin while he looked down at Caesar.
Joseph nudges him again, jabbing his elbow into Caesars' shoulder, and he looks back up at him.
“You’re one of the biggest guys I've probably ever seen, Joseph. We have a chance, but I want to get to New York, without any trips to jail.”
Caesar looks back up at him, a slight annoyance in his eyes. He ended up agreeing anyways, after plenty of convincing from Joseph. He quickly grabbed Caesars' arm, and he yelped again, suddenly getting pulled to the large stairs.
Joseph started by pushing past a poor old couple, and Caesar apologized; the old people only scoffed. Caesar had later heard complaints from the old people, and he started to regret letting Joseph do this.
There were only more people pushing with Joseph’s tall frame, and more apologizing. They finally reached the port’s front, Joseph and Caesars’ suit disheveled.
Their bags were quickly taken from them, and they got their keys. They looked at each other, and Joseph gave Caesar his key, since he didn't trust him.
Caesar hesitated suddenly; Joseph looked back, confused.
“Ceasar, hurry! Those old guys are going to catch up with us quickly...!” Joseph beckoned him, and Caesar slowly stepped forward again, looking back nervously before following Joseph up to the boat.
“Yeah.. shut up JoJo. I know.”
There were at least 200 people already on it, an overwhelming number of people for Caesar. The small city of Italy he had grown up in had far less people just in one place, he looked over to Joseph who looked like he had stars in his eyes.
Moving to New York when he was 17, and living there for the rest of his life, probably changed how he saw people in substantial amounts.