The music roars louder than anything she has ever heard. She is used to music that flutters softly over dry conversations but this music is full of life. She watches eagerly as everybody, young and old dances. It doesn't matter that the music is Irish either. For one night, they are all a big family. Everybody, no matter if they are from Ireland or Italy, or Russia, can feel the music in their soul. It is a completely different world down here - so full of excitement, joy, and hope for their new lives in America. Rose wishes that this life could have been hers.
Having a first class lady down in third class has brought on lots of stares. She was afraid that she would become a spectacle or an object of fun, but she is pleasantly surprised that people are excited to share their life with her. A few young Irish girls come and ask about her dress, eyes lit up as they examine the intricate beading. Of course, men young and old come to ask for a dance but Jack, charming as ever, whisks them away from her.
As much as she likes her new friend, Jack, who has been gracious enough to share this new world with her, she is interested in meeting people from different backgrounds. She wants to hear people's stories. She wants to know their hopes and dreams for their new lives. It is all extremely fascinating. So, she is glad that she is sat with Jack's friends, while he is off twirling a little girl, Cora, around the dance floor.
She speaks to Tommy Ryan, an Irishman who has bought her a fair few drinks. He is kind, polite, and proud of his heritage. He is going to America wanting to become a constable in a big city. Most of the men she grew up around had dreams of becoming bankers or politicians. How different these worlds are…
When Tommy goes to buy another round of drinks, she is left with a man who has been mostly quiet, though she has noticed him sneaking a few glances now and again. He is a fair man, with broad shoulders and looks distinctly Scandinavian - though, she could be wrong about that assumption.
She awkwardly turns to watch Jack and Cora once more, clapping along with the music. Jack would be a wonderful father, she decides. Perhaps, a pretty girl will come and claim such a wonderful man… if only…
Her thoughts are broken by the mysterious man beside her leaning over and asking her a question. She looks at her, slowing her clapping as she tries to decipher what he's said.
"What?" She repeats, leaning in closer.
"Talar fröken Svenska?" He repeats, bringing his hand to his mouth. She's never heard that language before. She is right, it must be Scandinavian of some sort.
She gestures to her ear. "I can't understand you!"
The man looks rather embarrassed and sips his drink to presumably nurse his wounded pride. Only a moment later, Tommy returns with a few more drinks. He hands one to Rose and another to the man who is gulping down the rest of the bottle.
"Tommy, it seems like there is a bit of a language barrier. Where is this man from?" Rose asks.
"Oh, Bjorn? He's from Sweden. Doesn't speak a lick of English but we've taught him a few basic things like… well, I guess some things that aren't polite for a lady's ear."
Rose raises an eyebrow. "Ah, yes. Basic things." She laughs. The poor man seems so nice, despite the fact she cannot understand him. Now, he has fallen victim to Jack and Tommy's antics.
A new song is being played by the band. It is such a beautiful, yet exciting melody. She stands up, deciding to give Bjorn a chance. "Bjorn, would you like to da-"
"Hey, Rose!" A hand grabs her wrist. It's Jack. "Come on, let's dance!"
Rose turns back to Bjorn, smiling apologetically as she is pulled onto the dance floor. Lots of people surround them, jigging and spinning drunkenly. Rose has never danced like this before. She doesn't even know how to dance to such music. "Jack," she says, nervously looking up at him. "I… I can't do this."
"We'll have to get a little closer," Jack takes her waist, pulling his sharply towards him. "Like this."
Rose gasps, her porcelain cheeks flushing his forwardness. He doesn't seem to notice as they, like everybody else, begin to spin around the dance floor. The footwork is complicated at first, but unlike what she is used to in high society, no one cares if she is clumsy. To her surprise, a lot of people stop to watch a first class girl like her dance to common folk music, clapping along with grand smiles on their faces. She feels like she is flying on the dance floor and soon, the movements come naturally.
She pouts when the song comes to an end, but she has become quite thirsty. Her head buzzes from the amount of alcohol she's had, and the spinning they've just done has only exacerbated it. They leave the dance floor hand in hand.
Back at the table, Tommy is trying to rile Bjorn up for an arm wrestle. Rose scans the table for her glass, but there are so many, she cannot tell which one is hers, so she opts for taking the first one she sees. She gulps it, chugging the dark stout with a shocking amount of ease. She bangs the empty glass back onto the table and meets eyes with a very surprised Bjorn.
"Det var mitt!" He yells, though looking by his smile and the glimmer in his clear grey eyes, he seems rather impressed.
She smiles prettily at him, playing coy as she has always done when she is caught doing something she isn't supposed to. Or at least, that is what she used to do before her father died…
"Come on, Bjorn! Are we doing this or not?!"
Rose's attention snaps to the table. The others have cleared the table and now, these men are fueled by testosterone. Jack somehow has managed to grab another pint for her while she was watching the Irishman and Swede prepare for the arm wrestle. People around them have seemed to take sides. A few other Irishmen and Jack's best friend, Fabrizio crowd around Tommy. A very tall man, who considering the similar features, she can only assume is Bjorn's brother, is talking frantically in Bjorn's ear as if coaching him. Olaf Dahl and a few others stand on Bjorn's side.
"Who do you think will win?" Jack asks.
"I'm not sure," Rose giggles. "But, I am sure whoever loses will probably need their wounded egos tended to."
"Nah, they are both decent losers. You should have seen the poker game we had yesterday afternoon."
Rose giggles again - the ale makes her feel giddy. "What did you bet with?"
"Bjorn was smart enough not to bet anything worthwhile like his brothers were. We all put cigarettes in the middle and the winner took the lot."
"Who won?" Rose asks.
"Who do you think?" Jack reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tin full of smokes.
She cheekily nabs a smoke and tucks it before her ear as they both turn back to watch Tommy and Bjorn.
"Whoever wins gets to go up against me!" Jack declares.
When the wrestle starts, Bjorn seems to have a slight advantage. Though slightly shorter than Tommy in height, Bjorn makes up for it in brawn. That doesn't seem to worry Tommy though, as even as his arm starts to lower to the table, he gives a big push to get back up again. They are evenly matched, it seems though not for long. Tommy's arm slips under again, and Bjorn follows through with slamming it to the table. Bjorn's brother and the others behind him cheer, while Fabrizio and the other behind Tommy pat the loser on the back.
"Your turn, Jack!" Tommy says. He moves from his chair and Jack replaces him.
Rose has sucked down her pint quite fast and is feeling rather bold. It is not often where she feels loose enough to rebel. This party makes her feel so distant from her reality that she doesn't even think of the consequences that she is going to face by her mother and fiancé in the morning.
She steps up to the table and declares, "Whoever wins this match will get a very special prize."
All of the men look at her eagerly, wondering what she could possibly offer. Rose smirks, feeling rather powerful that she has all of the men at attention. "The winner will get a kiss."
The group follows the announcement with a gaggle of wonder and excitement, while Bjorn's brother seems to translate what's she's said to Bjorn. Both competitors look as if they are going to war. Both look very serious.
The challenge begins, and even Rose feels as if she is on the edge of her seat. Jack has a surprising amount of strength, though she supposes there is a lot at stake. She reckons he would feel like a fool if the girl he brought to the party ended up kissing another man. Bjorn does not let Jack's determination falter him. The crowd watches them go back and forth as both men end up coming close to a loss but as quick as it started, it ends. Rose doesn't see who wins as the crowd had gotten so rowdy, people pushed in front of her to watch. She pushes through.
By the look on Jack's face, it is easy to tell that he's lost. There is a mixture of shock and frustration on his face, while Bjorn, on the other hand, looks rather smug.
Jack is visibly angry, turning away as Fabrizio and Tommy hands him a smoke and a drink. It seems that he does not want to be a witness to Bjorn's prize. She feels guilty now. It is no secret that Jack has become very fond of Rose - more than a friend should. He knows how unhappy she is with her engagement. He understands everything she says and he sympathizes with her in ways that no one ever has. But, at the end of the day, Bjorn has won the kiss fair and square. It would be unfair to him to deny him what he was promised.
She turns her face to Bjorn, smiling brightly at him. She can see him swallow and take a deep breath. The poor man is nervous. He is frozen in his chair. That's alright, she'll come to him.
Rose sits on his lap and meets his eyes. She is getting a closer look at him for the first time, and her breath is taken away. Her fingers clumsily trace his jaw as she studies his features.
In a way, Jack and Bjorn share a lot of similar qualities. Their light grey eyes, messy blond hair, and thin lips cracked into a charming smile. Bjorn is different though in that he possesses a ruggedness that she cannot exactly describe. To her, Jack seems softer in a way, representing clean straight lines and absolute perfection. Bjorn is rougher in a way, like a boulder that has broken off of a steep mountain, while Jack is a rock that has been in a coursing stream for years. Bjorn is also clearly older. Jack is closer to twenty, while Bjorn must be closer to thirty, though his aging might be from years of working outdoors. She wonders what his life was before deciding to come to America.
"Come on!" She hears a shout. "Give him a kiss!"
She sucks a breath in, embarrassed that she's been caught in her own little world. She meets Bjorn's eyes again, and it seems that he too has been transfixed by the situation. Her heart begins to pound. It feels as if it is going to break through her chest. Her nerves begin to bundle in her stomach. If she doesn't do it now, she won't ever take a chance like this again. She leans forward and kisses him with parted lips.
The people around them cheer for Bjorn, patting him on the back but all of that echoes away as both Rose and Bjorn are lost in each other. The kiss is timid at first, both unsure of how far to push the kiss. Neither of them moves for the first few seconds. It is Bjorn, to Rose's surprise, who pushes it further, as he recaptures her kiss into something deeper. His eagerness is the push Rose needs to let go of everything that is holding her back from enjoying this moment. Besides, it is the first time they really understand each other. Rose may not speak Swedish, and Bjorn may not speak English, but kissing is a universal language that anybody can decipher.
They may not have gotten to dance to the music, so their lips make up for it as they move to their own rhythm. He tastes like beer and smells of cheap cologne and pine. While one hand rests on his jaw, the other lands on his burly chest. He is a gentleman, she notices. He seems to be reluctant to touch her, something that she decides she absolutely wants.
When the kiss breaks, they are both breathing heavily, looking at each other as if they both cannot believe they did that.
Rose is tempted to kiss him again, putting her reputation and propriety aside to feel such freedom just one time more. After all, after she is married to Caledon Hockley, she may as well be locked in the dungeons forever. She will never have the opportunity to rebel ever again.
Just as she leans in for a second kiss, she feels a firm hand grab her arm. She whisks her head around, narrowing her eyes. It's Jack. He looks to have wounded pride, but there is something more serious worrying him.
"Lovejoy." He warns, lowly. That is all he needed to say. Rose turns back to Bjorn.
"I have to go. I'm sorry. I-" Well, what does she say to a man who she cannot actually understand and vice versa? She kisses the corner of his mouth and slides off his lap. "Goodnight!"
Bjorn opens his mouth to say something but it is too late. Jack pulls her out of the room as they duck behind the crowds.
Rose knows she is going to get in trouble for going to the party. That much was certain from the very beginning. That last thing she wants is for Lovejoy to have seen her kissing Bjorn. Not only would hell break loose for her, but she is also afraid that Bjorn would get in trouble as well. Caledon plays nice in front of her mother, and even to her most times, but she sees easily behind the facade. He is cold, ruthless, and vengeful. Cal would enjoy stepping on Bjorn as if he were an insect.
The alcohol has gone to her head. It is evident as she runs down the hall. Jack opens a door, revealing a staircase that is meant for crew only.
"Quick! This will lead you up to your part of the ship. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Rose nods. "Yes," She says, quickly. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Alright, go straight to your room and try not to get caught."
Rose nods again and runs up the stairs. Her mind is whirling with all kinds of thoughts. She cannot believe the night she's hand. She has never felt so happy and free in her life. Jack and his friends made her feel like she was one of them. On top of that, the kiss… just the thought of it makes her blush deeply. It was the best kiss she has ever had. She didn't know what made it better - the feeling of doing something completely forbidden or letting all of her trouble fall away at that moment. She ultimately decides on a third option. It was wonderful because she got to share something special with someone who she had been struggling to relate to.
She makes it back to her room, and she is happy that Cal is still in the smoking room, doing whatever it is they do in there. Surely, he must know by now that she didn't go back to her room but she hopes that the kiss will always be a secret. One that she can dream about until she is free again.
A/N:
Welcome to "I ship really unconventional ships 101". I am your host, DarlingJP of ao3.
Started out by wanting to do a little "what if Rose had actually spoken to the nice swedish guy" one shot but then it transformed into a "should i make this into a whole love triangle multichapter saga?" Let me know if you decide to write a review. Any kind of feedback would be very much appreciated.
Shoutout to my homegirl, Lauren.
Right, let's do this.