The smile is a nice response. It’s… non-threatening. Friendly. It makes her feel like less of a thing, a curiosity, and more like a person again. (This is not something she has ever had to contemplate before. She and her father tended to live apart from the rest of the Netsilik, but it never affected her sense of identity. But encountering these white men, who treat her as if she is somehow lesser, for no apparent reason… it has been an education, in many ways.)
It also makes her want to smile in return, as a reassurance. She appreciates the kindness. But Harry isn’t looking at her now, so she doesn’t. Instead, she swallows more of the tea.
Then, she says “Qujanaqqutit” again, quietly. Maybe repetition, in the same sort of circumstances, will help cement for him what it means.
Harry’s soft gaze returns to her when she repeats that word again - quja...qujanaqqutit - and he explores her face briefly. That must mean thank-you of sorts. (Or perhaps he’s projecting.) He cannot think of anything else the word could mean, however, so he settles on ‘thank you’. He will ask Captain Crozier for affirmation.
“You are most welcome.” He replies softly. Warmly. He wishes he could stay in this room with Silence for as long as he pleased, instead of feeling pressured under an unspoken time restraint.
After all, she treats him with more respect than he gets from most of the other men aboard. (Even without speaking much). She doesn’t look down at him like he’s lesser, like he’s a weakling, and worst yet: like he has no idea about that which he is speaking. He’d be hard-pressed to ever stand up for himself, but yet that last one...makes him ball his small fists behind his back and clench his teeth. (And still, the only thing that comes out of his mouth is sputtering attempts to reaffirm whatever point he’s making.) It’s an unbroken cycle.
Instead, she watches him and listens as if she can, in fact, understand, and perhaps she does...not the language, but the intent. Perhaps she understands him better than he realizes.
“I...have to return to my duties now.” He says, the hint of a small frown on his face. “I will return at dinner.”
