A/N: Dedicated to my bros over at /ttg/ and that drawfriend who who did that cute pic of Goodsir/Silence.

Lessons

"Saipan. Saipan."

Harry Goodsir furrowed his brow. The word was easier than some others (trying to pronounce sanannguagaq still gave him nightmares), but the pronounciations of the Inuktitut language still puzzled him. Worse yet was the written form of it. Lady Silence had once scribbled the few letters she knew of her language down for him in his diary and even she seemed amused by both the complexity and simplicity of it. It occured to Goodsir the written letters were foreign even to her, as Captain Crozier had explained to him once.

"It was an Englishman who pretty much created it," he'd said, "ten years ago, was it, Blanky?"

The Icemaster hummed and answered, "More or less. God knows why he came up with all these triangles for letters, but it isn't the worst I've seen. The Esquimaux themselves aren't so used to them yet. I doubt our Lady knows much about writing so no chance of catching a secret letter detailing what is actually going on here."

So Goodsir was left trying to come up with his own system to record Inuktitut. Truthfully, he enjoyed the challenge. It kept his mind busy and lent a sense of normality to his and Lady Silence's meetings.

"Sapian. Seven. Good, good," he said, scribbling down the word as best he could. "I think we've had enough for today, Mr. Andrews must be getting peckish and I wouldn't want to keep him away from his dinner."

She couldn't understand him, of course, but she seemed to get the gist of what he'd said. That small smile he'd only ever seen directed towards him fell on her lips and for a fleeting moment Goodsir felt a gentle fluttering in his stomach. His throat suddenly felt dry and he struggled to swallow.

The moment was interrupted by Andrews peeking his head in the doorway. "You needn't worry about me, Doctor Goodsir. It's not too late, but," here he hesitated and glanced up towards the steps leading to the upper deck, "well, it won't do any harm leaving the two of you alone for a while. I can go catch a bite to eat and you can try some more to actually get some info out of the Esqui girl."

It alarmed Goodsir how annoyed he felt by Andrews' last comment. Did he think he was wasting his time trying to actually converce with the woman? He'd realised quickly a hard hand would not get anything out of the quiet, but steely woman and not even Crozier seemed to care much about making her feel welcome amongst their presence. But no need to let this slight against his efforts show to the man.

Smiling, Goodsir thanked Andrews and watched as he climed up the steps, leaving him alone with Silence. He let them moment of relative privacy wash over him. It was never quiet on a ship full of men (not to mention having said ship be stuck in ice which pressed against the wooden structure from every direction, making the vessel constantly groan), but this was as close as he'd get.

"Well, if you're up for it, we can try for a few more words today. Maybe finish up the numbers or clothes, that can be useful as well, " Goodsir said, pushing his spectacles higher up his nose and grabbing his pencil more firmly. Peeking at her, he noticed she seemed oddly... . He couldn't put it into words. Mischievous? He blinked and was curious about this new emotion she'd never even given a hint of having. She suprised him even more by scooting closer to him and leaning over to completely close the sliding door.

He would be lying if that action didn't send a completely unintentional wave of arousal down his body. Pull yourself together, man, he berated himself, this is certainly not the time for THOSE kind of reactions. Silence didn't seem to notice anything off about him, which was a relief, but when she leaned back, Goodsir couldn't help noticing how close she was to him. Their knees were barely touching and were covered by layers of clothing, but he still felt the heat from them. Slowly, her hand slid across her lap, inching closer to his own body.

"S-so, um, w-we were going to, what was it now, talk about- " his throat caught as her fingers reached his leg. He'd touched her before and she him, but never like this, never alone. Those fingers climbed higher up his thigh and he suddenly seemed to realise what she had in mind. Eyes widening, Goodsir grasped her hand in his.

Stuttering a bit, he tried to make her see sense. "No! I m-mean, no, it's fine, y-you owe me nothing, this is not necessary."

She just looked at him, raising her eyebrow. He noticed she had lovely eyes, so beautifully almond shaped and dark. Had their faces been this close before? Grabbing her hand must've pulled them closer together. Now she was just in the right distance for...

He didn't have time to let his mind try to catch up with the situation they were in. Closing the distance, Silence pressed her lips against his. For a few seconds, he could only stare at her blankly, his gaze slightly gross-eyed. But finally his brain managed to catch up with what was happening and Goodsir realised he had no idea what to do. Every part of his mind was screaming at him to push her back and apologize for, for, something. But his body was betraying him. Parting his lips, he caught her mouth more firmly to his and let his eyes close. He had thought Esquimaux people did not kiss with their lips, but apparently he (and every polar explorer who'd managed to live and write a book about them) got it wrong. Certainly, she was a tad inexperienced, as evidenced by their teeth clicking and noses pumping together, but it didn't matter. Nothing seemed to matter other than this woman's warm mouth.

Finally their lips seperated, only a thin line of spit still keeping them attached, and Goodsir managed to somewhat assess their situation. It was now certain to him she wanted to have intercourse and his mind started working out the logistics of it. The room was small, but they had enough space to lay down. It was cold in here, as it was everywhere else besides right next to the boiler, but perhaps the heat of the moment would be enough to sate them until they could dress again. Was she a virgin? He'd have to be careful then, not too forceful, make sure her body was ready for him. Dear Lord, he could get her pregnant, he'd have to make sure to pull out before the deed was done, though that might prove difficult. And what if Andrews came back too soon, he'd never be able to explain this to Commander Fitzjames (a humorous part of him felt Captain Crozier and Mr. Blanky would be more accepting of the situation).

His mind whirled with all the positives and negatives of their upcoming sexual act that he failed to notice Silence unbuttoning his trousers. Only when her fingers wrapped around his semi-hard penis did he jerk and almost fall off his perch.

"O-oh, Gods, yes,", Goodsir groaned and let his body go limp against the wall. This was one way of taking charge and he couldn't help but be pleased by that. Her hand hadn't moved yet and looking at her face, he realised despite her gung ho action, she was uncertain how to proceed. A great feeling of fondness washed over him and he placed his right hand on the hand clutching his penis.

"Gently, at first. Or rather, I don't know the word, but let's go slowly. Sukkaittuq." She understood him and slowly and with his encouragement, started stroking her hand up his now almost completely hard cock. Groaning, Goodsir felt almost embarrassed how sensitive he was and how close he already felt to release. She had barely been touching him! Swallowing, he tried to concentrate on anything else. Realising they were still sitting separately, he stopped her hand for a moment and resituated himself on the mattress, pulling her down next to him.

Smiling, he placed her fingers around their original place again. "Much better this way. Much, much better. " Silence just hushed him and said something in Inuktitut he didn't quite catch. Combined with the look she gave him, he presumed he was told to stop talking.

Snuggled to his left side, her right arm working up and down his now almost purple shaft, he let himself be taken over by his base emotions. Raking his eyes over her, he had to admit being disappointed they were still dressed. What he wouldn't give to gaze upon her breasts and let their warmth seep into his hands. Moaning softly, he let his left hand sit on her inner thigh, very close to her private area. Lifting her head at that action, they faced each other and she kissed him again, letting her tongue lick his lips and encouraging him to reciprocate. The sensation of her slick tongue against his made him even harder. All thoughts of anyone interrupting them flew out of his head and all that remained was a desire to mate with this woman – his woman. Maybe it was a reaction to their heated kisses or just instinct, but her hand stopped moving along his shaft and rested near the head of his cock. The tip was leaking precum and when she rubbed her thumb along the slit, his body jerked almost painfully into her hand.

Silence broke their kiss and whispered something in his ear. Any attempt at translation was lost on him.

"What was that? " he managed to groan out, feeling so close to ejaculating.

She seemed to understand his mind was barely functioning, so she simplified herself. "Angijuq, Harry, " she said, looking at him meaningfully. Blinking slowly, he just started at her back. Huffing, she pointed at his penis and stated, with more force, "Goodsir, Angijuq! " She let go of him – a loss that was keenly felt – and held her hands apart a great distance.

Blushing, Goodsir suddenly understood her perfectly. "Oh. Thank you. Qujannamiik. " Satisfied, she took his penis in her hand again and resumed her stroking. The tip of her fingernail grazed the vein situated under his cock and his eyes almost bulged out of his head from the intensity of that sensation. She was masterful at this, he thought. The hand helping her along earlier was laying next to him now, completely unneeded. Instinct and trial-and-error were much better teachers. What pleased him the most was how willing she was to experiment and adapt to new things. As such, when she reached her left hand over to help her along, they moved lower on his body, gently rolling along his scrotum. Needing no further words of instructions, she grasped his ballsack – at first a touch too painfully, which made him let out a hiss of discomfort and her to softly mutter an apology – and massaged them.

It was too much. The previous action combined with her hand on his cock, slick with his precum and learning new tricks by the second pushes him over the edge and he squeezes her closer in his arms and, without a warning yell, promptly comes all over her arm. He could feel Silence startle, but she settles down to watch those white ropes leave the hole she had stroked so erotically just moments before. His entire body is tense, the lower half raised off the mattress and still he cannot ease down from the magnificent high he cannot remember last feeling. But finally, he relaxes and slumps onto her body. Softly cooing at him, Silence rocks him and he feels calm enough to fall asleep then and there.

Goodsir might've dozed off for a few minutes, because when he wakes up he sees Silence curiously examining her hand. He feels himself blushing when he realises it's covered in his semen. He's prepared to offer a handkerchief to clean it up, but is stunned stupid when she brings her hand up to her mouth, sniffs it and licks a long line of his cum off it. He can only stare at her in complete shock. He doubts there is a English woman alive who would do this.

That thought pleases him.

He's yanked out of his musings by Silence laughing. The sound from her is completely new and he hopes it's not a mocking one. But when she stops and smiles lovingly at him, he's relieved. Lifting his hand to her chin, he leans in and gives her a chaste kiss. Salty, he thinks, but no worse than what we've been eating this trip. Chuckling, he presses their foreheads together and sits with her.

Later, when they hear Andrews coming back and hastily get decent again – Silence tucking him back inside his trousers and buttoning them up – some traces of guilt start nagging at him. She was still a lady, a woman to be treated respectfully and he had crossed a line he would never have in England. He tries to imagine what he would do if they were in England. Probably marry her, make sure there'd be no doubt of her virtue. Introduce her to his brother first, get some encouragment to face his parents. The meeting would be odd at first of course, she couldn't speak their language, but they'd learn to love her and when their babe came they'd love her even more and-

Snapping out of his daydreams – when did marriage enter the equation? – he puts up a front in front of Andrews and bids farewell to Silence. She only nods at him and Goodsir wonders if she regrets what just happened between them. But when Andrews turns to his perch, momentarily showing his back to them, Silence bites her lip and gives him an alluring little smirk. Relieved, he smiles back and leaves to get some dinner.

Maybe next time they'd manage to take their clothes off.

Some Inuktitut words I took off a website:

Saipan - seven

Sanannguagaq - carving

Sukkaittuq - slow

Angijuq - big

Qujannamiik - thank you