AN: Bovril is probably one of my favorite characters in the series. Most definitely. These drabbles and such may not always feature it, but here's hoping it'll make plenty of appearances.

"Mr. Sharp."

The perspicacious loris chuckled, staring at the blonde midshipman. Or, should it say, blonde midshipwoman.

Her friend, a reddish-haired barking prince, gave the loris an amused glance. "Why does Bovril like saying that so much?"

"Say that," Bovril mimicked.

"I have no barking idea, Alek," the blonde-girl-disguised-as-a-boy said, "I think that crash when it was an egg scrambled its attic."

"Maybe, Dylan," Alek replied, reaching up to scratch behind Bovril's ear, "It seems pretty smart to me."

"Smart!" the loris squeaked delightedly. Like that word!

"I hope it is," 'Dylan' murmured, joining Alek in his petting. Bovril made an almost purring noise with pleasure, sounding like the engines of the ship. "Then it won't reveal things it wasn't supposed to hear." That last bit was delivered with a pointed look.

Bovril thought for a moment before giggling and saying its favorite phrase, "Mr. Sharp!"

Alek sighed, shaking his head. He and 'Dylan' were quiet for a moment, petting Bovril. Eventually, 'Dylan' said, "Hey Alek?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you going to do when we reach Japan?"

New word! Bovril excitedly repeated it, "Japan!"

Alek, Bovril's assumed mother, told him, "Very good. I really don't know… the Japanese are Darwinists, but… I think Volger's going to want to make a run for it."

'Dylan' nodded, understanding the barking prince. "Aye. You're thinking that it'll be safest here."

"Yeah…"

"Bovril's been awfully chatty lately," 'Dylan' said to Dr. Barlow.

She gave the loris a faintly curious look. "I wonder why that is…"

"I've got no ideas."

"Perspicacious," Bovril said. It liked the sound of that word- it flowed well.

"Keen mental judgment." Bovril's egg-hatch-mate recited the definition.

Dr. Barlow gave him a slight smile. "Correct."

'Dylan' was watching the loris. A look in her eyes suggested that something had just occurred to her when she said, "Ma'am? I don't think I ever learned if Bovril was male or female."

The mother of the egg-hatch-mate frowned slightly. Clicking her tongue, she called, "Bovril, come here."

Ear perking up, the loris scampered over to her. She scooped it up and held it high. Bovril waved its tail happily, squeaking, "Fly! Fly! Fly!"

"Yes, Bovril," the boffin responded, setting it down, "Very good. She is oddly chatty today."

"She, ma'am?"

"Yes. Bovril is a female," the boffin said, sighing in exasperation.

"Female," Bovril chirped.

Bovril watched the weird-mustache-man shake his head slowly, chuckling. "You're telling me that this creature is female like yourself?" he said.

'Dylan' made a flailing motion with 'his' hands, trying to quiet the Count. "Shh! Blisters, not so loud!"

Bovril joined the barking count in his chuckles. He gave the loris an almost approving look. "Do you think she realizes that you're like her?"

'Dylan' shrugged. "I have no idea. She's quite smart, though. And she keeps repeating what you said, so maybe she's figured it out before Alek."

Volger raised an eyebrow. "Exactly what does she keep repeating, Mr. Sharp?" He said the last part with a slight grin, amused.

"Mr. Sharp," Bovril corrected.

He smirked. "I see."

"It's not funny," 'Dylan' growled, "Alek might figure it out if she keeps saying that."

"Ah. Yes. Alek."

"What about him?"

Volger's smirk grew wider. "Your feelings on him?"

She blushed, glaring at the count. "That's none of your business!"

He actually laughed at this, very amused. Bovril thought that he bloody well knew from another excellent observation that 'Dylan' liked Alek. "Yes it is," he replied, "and I thought you'd be interested to know that it's a possibility that he might not be able to be Archduke."

'Dylan' stiffened. "What do you mean by that?"

Volger's face darkened as swiftly as the mountains when the Leviathan flew over. "The Holy Father is dead. He won't be able to vouch for Alek's letter anymore. Someone tipped the Germans off to the letter in the first place, and we don't know whether they have an influence on the new Pope."

'Dylan' sat back in her chair, contemplating this. "So you're saying that all your efforts to keep him alive and attempting to get him on the throne might've been barking worthless?"

"No. Not worthless, so I hope." Volger shot 'him' a sharp look. "Don't get any ideas."

"Of course not, Count."

AN: Yup. Bovril was actually never given a defined gender in Behemoth, so… I made it a her. Eheheh.

Her thought process consists of phrases and speech patterns of the people she's been around a lot- Deryn, Alek, Lilit, etc. I hope you like it. I'll update whenever I can/whenever I get a good idea. Suggestions are welcome :)