Open Doors. ONE

Alek tossed the paper ball he had made into the air, only to have it catch a breeze from the cracked window and fall to the bed cushion of Bovril's bed on the floor. He sighed, his lashes blurring his vision as Alek closed his eyes. Three days had past since Istanbul and the revolutionaries attack on the German's Tesla canon and over thrown the sultan, also chasing out the Germans from the Ottoman Empire.

A rap at the door to Alek's room took him away from his thoughts, without thinking he answered. "Come in." And in stepped the only airmen allowed within the boy's room. In stood Dylan Sharp, tall and lean with sandy hair and dark blue eyes, showing off his Scottish roots. "Morning you princeliness, breakfast." Smiled the boy as he stepped in and placed the tray of coffee, toast and boiled eggs on the small side table of Alek's bed.

Alek scratched the back of his head, guessing his red brown hair was all amess, as he rose up to begin his meal. Dylan took a step back, arms to his side like a solder. "Thank you Dylan." Alek picked up a piece of toast and began eating, gesturing to the empty space on his bed next to him as a seat for the boy. Dylan shook his head and stayed put. "Hows the food?" The boy muttered, his hands now behind his back.

Alek simply nodded and took a sip of his coffee watching Bovril crawl out of bed and onto Dylan's shoulder, perched like a parrot. "Mr.Sharp." Spoke the beastie, making Dylan sigh.

"Why you got to call me that, eh beastie?" Dylan asked, reaching up to scratch the loris' furry head. "Mr.Sharp." He let out again, followed by the usual giggle. "Maybe it means something." Alek looked up to Dylan, and was taken aback by the wide eye expression of his face. "Dylan?" Alek reached out a hand to the boy, no response. "Dylan? Are you alright?" Alek stood up and looked into Dylan's soft blue eyes, waving a hand in front of his face. "Dylan!" Alek snapped his fingers and the boy came to, shaking his head and letting out a light chuckle. "Oh, sure. but..." Dylan let the question trial on as he stepped back. "What do you think it means?" He looked to Alek, brows narrowed.

Alek thought for a moment, he never quite questioned Bovril's inflection of Mister when saying Dylan's last name. He simply took it as repeating what Volger had said to the bullfrog Eddie Malone had, back in Istanbul. He figured Volger was sneering and Bovril had picked it up. He looked to Dylan and saw the boy was awaiting an answer and said. "I think he's picked up on Volger nasty attitude."

The boys stayed silent, and broke out into a laugh. Dylan bend over and slapped his leg, trying to hold it back and wipe tears at his eyes. Alek tried to stifle his giggles. "Aye Aye, I agree. Barking beastie catches on fast." Dylan took a deep breath and smiled to Alek, holding out his hand. "Okay then, so Bovril knows Volger's attitude, put it at that?"

Alek let out one last chuckle and shook firmly with his friend, the two smiling from ear to ear. "Alright, we'll leave it at that." Alek took back his hand, but notice it suddenly felt empty in the room, even with Dylan and Bovril in. "Well, I gotta head back up, sending out a Huxley to scan for enemy ships." Alek sighed, knowing he was confined to the room. The captain knew he was the missing Prince of Hapsburg and had order he only be let out to fix and fly the engines on the side of the ship. He wasn't a prisoner of war, yet at least.

Alek must have made a discomfort face, because Dylan had put a reassuring arm around his shoulders and gave him a quick side hug. "It'll be alright, you can take Master Klopp's place tonight. Captain says the cold weather coming up won't be good for him, and says someone young should be at the controls." Dylan snorted, most likely from the Captain's idea of Klopp being too old for cold weather. Alek gave a short laugh himself and sat back on the bed. "Thank you Dylan, it helps." Alek looked at his hands, saw the oil and grease stuck under his nails and smiled. At least he'd be outside in the engines soon. He missed the feeling of mecaniks under his feet and the sound of pistons shooting. Being on the Darwinist airship was still home in a way, but nothing made Alek better then good old machines.

Dylan rubbed his nose and stated heading for the door, putting Bovril on the bed next to Alek. "Okay then, I'll bring you supper and walk you up to the port side engine when the sun starts to set." Alek smiled to his friend, and watched as he walked out the door. Now only 12 more hours of solitary confinement and he'd be at the port side engine soon enough.