If asked, he wouldn't have guessed that making someone feel safe would be such a pleasing feeling. But Jopson says it, and it curls warm inside of him. Proud and content. Curious, and unusual; it hasn't quite been his aim, for Jopson is not a princess in need of saving, nor defending— but if they can't be careless with each other, then perhaps there's a bit of that. Safety is a foreign thing in his life, be it on sea or land. Knowing he can give some phantasmal measure of it to Jopson is surprisingly satisfying.
"It is dangerous," he muses, as he flexes his fingers, gently teasing Jopson's affectionate hold. "But I can't see myself anywhere else. It never mattered, I suppose. Even the danger here," and he curls his fingers back, connecting them, "doesn't frighten me. Where might I be? In a solicitor's office in Ireland?"
He shrugs.
"Better to have this voyage, and you, and all else."
Perhaps safety isn't the word - maybe it's consistency, company, reliability. There's little guessing where Francis Crozier is involved and that brings him an immeasurable sense of comfort. The routine of it pleasing and calming, different from his life at home which changed daily and brought with it different stressors. Here, the problems are predictable or expected. Most of the time.
"Jamie believes you were born in the sea for how you like it so well," he snorts softly, remembering the quiet evening they spent curled up together.
He pets Crozier's hand then pulls away, rising from his place at the table. His fingers skirt over his shoulder as he passes and he moves to start making tea for the man. It's afternoon and they have a little while longer before dinner, so something to tide him over. Also creates a little distance so he can deal with the fluttering thing in his chest - better to have this voyage, and you. He wants to ask what will become of them when they reach harbor, when England is their horizon, but he doesn't.
Instead he makes the man's perfect cuppa and returns, delivering it to him. But something to express even a part of what he's feeling:
"I look forward to dancing with you on the Islands, sir."
"Jamie wants to catch a selkie," Crozier snorts, and he thinks of Ann. A bright young girl, who he fancies he's been wooing. It's the other way around, and though a part of him dreads it, he knows full well that Miss Coulman will deftly capture herself a captain's seal-skin and take him home as her husband, and Jamie will be a happy prize.
Tea, then. He smiles up at Thomas, reserved but sincere.
"Soon enough we'll see the ball, and we'll have an awful headache about it. But there will be that, too. I look forward to it as well, Jopson."
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"It is dangerous," he muses, as he flexes his fingers, gently teasing Jopson's affectionate hold. "But I can't see myself anywhere else. It never mattered, I suppose. Even the danger here," and he curls his fingers back, connecting them, "doesn't frighten me. Where might I be? In a solicitor's office in Ireland?"
He shrugs.
"Better to have this voyage, and you, and all else."
no subject
"Jamie believes you were born in the sea for how you like it so well," he snorts softly, remembering the quiet evening they spent curled up together.
He pets Crozier's hand then pulls away, rising from his place at the table. His fingers skirt over his shoulder as he passes and he moves to start making tea for the man. It's afternoon and they have a little while longer before dinner, so something to tide him over. Also creates a little distance so he can deal with the fluttering thing in his chest - better to have this voyage, and you. He wants to ask what will become of them when they reach harbor, when England is their horizon, but he doesn't.
Instead he makes the man's perfect cuppa and returns, delivering it to him. But something to express even a part of what he's feeling:
"I look forward to dancing with you on the Islands, sir."
no subject
Tea, then. He smiles up at Thomas, reserved but sincere.
"Soon enough we'll see the ball, and we'll have an awful headache about it. But there will be that, too. I look forward to it as well, Jopson."