Chapter Text
The party was nearly full swing and people were dressed to the nines in their costumes. The entrance opened up to a staircase leading toward a dance floor. The band played on the other side. Food and drink were laid out on the tables near the walls of the room. While there were chandeliers brightly lighting up the floor, the tall windows let in the light from the moon and stars. These lights caught every sparkle and shine that the guests’ costumes had to offer. lieutenant Thomas Jopson looked over the crowd from the top of the stairs in his own shining outfit. The greatcoat he wore was a bright red, every button was shaped as a golden heart, and the back of the coat had the pattern of great white wings. He wore a top hat that had an arrow tucked inside instead of a feather. His mask just covered his eyes and gave him cherub cheeks.
It was difficult to identify most of the crew in the crowd but it was easy to spot Mr Goodsir. He always stood within arms reach of Silna, Lady of Silence. She always stood out amongst the crew and tonight was no exception. She wore a costume unlike the rest. Her pants were made of a white fur and her boots were black and thick. Her gloves and blouse were black and silk like, but her forearms had the same short fur as the pants. Her mask looked as if it was made of ice. Mr. Goodsir’s costume was less intense. Many were dressed as clowns, romans, kings and queens, but what Mr. Goodsir was hard to pin down. It was a dress of some sort made mostly of a short fur-like material. The fur had a white, black and brown pattern to it. The dress made him look much rounder and his gloves were white. His mask was painted and it gave him two large front teeth and a small rabbit-like nose.
Jopson made his way over to talk to Mr. Goodsir.
“Good evening Mister Goodsir. Your costume is impressive, what is it meant to be?”
“Oh thank you Lieutenant Jopson! Silna made this for me and I can’t say I know what it is. She’s very proud of it.” He answered.
Silna looked over to Goodsir and gave him a small, kind smile. To Jopson she gave a nod of acknowledgement with her usual neutral face. They speak for a few moments more before more party goers start to talk to Goodsir. They were all very interested in him and his costume. One finally persuaded him to dance, so he left very reluctantly for the dance floor. Before he left, he gave one last look over to Silna and she gave him a nod of encouragement. Jopson watched Silna from the corner of his eye as she stared at Goodsir.
“So Lady Silence,” Jopson started, “does Mr. Goodsir know you love him yet?” She glanced at him and had a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her attention went back to Goodsir moving awkwardly to the music.
“Ah still in denial is he?” She let out a small huff that could be interpreted as a laugh. Jopson liked Goodsir and Silna. Goodsir had helped Jopson a lot when he took care of Captain Crozier. He was also good company for casual conversation. When he asked how you are, it never felt hollow like it normally did with others. While Silna still refuses to talk much to people other than Goodsir, it was so much fun to gossip with her. Most of her contributions were just head nods and glances toward certain people, he feels like he has learned a wealth of dramatic information from her. He’s pretty sure she’s holding back the juiciest tidbits, but he was glad to have her company during parties.
“I could help a bit if you’d like.” She gave him a look of doubt and he gave her a reassuring smile. “I think I can. If I have your blessing to try.” The song was reaching its end and Silna looked to Goodsir then back at Jopson. Without saying a word she left to the nearest dessert table and didn’t look back.
Goodsir made his way to Jopson and asked a little breathless “Silna grabbing some sweets?”
Jopson smiled wide at him and said, “Yes and I have a question for you, does Silna know you’re in love with her yet?”
“What!? Why-why would you come to that conclusion?” His eyes widened and seemed to go completely still. Jopson feels like he is closer to knowing what creature he was dressed as.
“Oh my mistake. The way you look at her it’s like she created the north star itself. You melt when she gives you a smile. There’s still a slight tremble in your movements when she corrects the way you speak with your hands. Your face when she whispers to you is-”
“Okay! Okay maybe I am but I wouldn’t want to burden her with my feelings.”
“What do you mean?”
“She couldn’t possibly feel the same. I’m far too plain.” Jopson looked at this man with disbelief. All the things this man had done and he thinks he’s plain?
“You taught her our language while she taught you hers, and together you learned a new one! Or am I wrong?”
“No, that's correct.”
“There is a strong bond made with that. While some may remain friends in that bond others grow to be something more. You and Silna have something more Goodsir.”
He was silent for a moment before turning to Jopson and saying, “If you’re going to speak to me about love, at least use my Christian name.”
“So long as you use mine Harry” He smiled at him. There was a small pause,
“She gives you the fondest looks, terrorizes anyone that speaks ill of you. She made you a whole costume by hand. You really don’t think she could return those feelings?”
“I see your point Thomas. Silna cares for me but what if- if it changes everything in the worst of ways?”
“What is a life with her worth to you?”
“What?”
“A life with Silna, would you give up sweets? Alcohol? Would you give up the royalties from your books?”
“Of course I would. Those are physical things and life wouldn’t be horrid without it.”
“Would you give up being a surgeon? Live with her in the arctic if she asked you to?”
Goodsir looked at Silna walking around a different sweets table across the room. She looked up to his gaze and gave him a smirk, raising a small crescent shaped cake. He gave her a nod, turned to Jopson and said “Yes, yes I would. I would follow her anywhere if she wanted me by her side.”
“Then tell her so.” Jopson patted his back to encourage him to get a move on and he did. Jopson watched Goodsir and Silna talk near the dessert table and smiled as they walked off to one of the balconies.
From the corner of his eye, a shine caught his attention, but by the time he looked there was nothing but people in their rather plain costumes. He would have sworn with that shine were the weight of eyes, but he didn’t give it much more thought as Mr. and Mrs. Blanky walked up to him in their royal costumes. Mr. Blanky was dressed as a fine king and his wife a queen. They congratulated him on his promotion and started up a conversation.