"Come on, Alek!" Deryn exclaimed as she caught hold of Alek's hand, "Dinner starts soon! They're serving potatoes tonight!"

The Austrian prince stopped dead in his tracks, "Dylan…why are you holding my hand?"

"B-b…because it's manly, that's why." The cross dresser said with renewed confidence.

Eyes slit, the boy replied, "Since when is holding hands manly?"

"Barking spiders! You don't know? It's a rite of manhood!" Surprise bloomed in Deryn's eyes.

Alek crossed his arms across his chest and looked skeptically at Deryn across the hallway in the dull green lighting. "Alek! How could you not know that men holding each other's hands are manly?"

The two friends turned around in surprise as Dr. Barlow came down the corridor with Tazza by her side. "Dr. Barlow! Surely, Dylan is lying?"

The lady boffin shook her head, a smile playing at her lips. "Alek, I thought that a boy of your high caliber would know of this!"

"This…this is ridiculous! You Darwinists are godless!" The troubled prince burst out.

"Godless? Oh please, don't be a dummkopf! I hold hands with Captain Hobbes all the time!"

Alek stared at Deryn in shock, mouth agape, "Me? A dummkopf? You two are the ones being ninnies! Besides, I know that straight men don't hold hands in Austria. Not unless there is a good reason, such as hanging for your life."

"Alek, are you implying that I'm homosexual? Because I am not in any way!" Deryn exclaimed, voice rising in pitch. A cough resounded from the other end of the hall.

"Oh, dear. I was afraid that we would come to this earlier than I scheduled…" Count Volger muttered as he walked towards the group.

"Volger!" Alek cried out, "please tell these beast lovers that men do not hold hands!"

Volger looked at Alek sadly, "Alek, this hand holding information was the last piece to complete your education," he shot a glare at Deryn, "that your father planned out for you before his death. It is a valuable skill that must be displayed with diplomats and most importantly, in public. You cannot become the archduke without learning this skill, boy."

"Yes, because hand holding is my gateway to becoming the archduke." Alek said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Deryn nodded enthusiastically. "Aye, so you best start now, laddie!"

"But…but, men holding hands with men is ungodly…" The prince said, his voice faltering.

"Now Alek, I do not mean to demean you, but Dylan holds hands with that blasted man who calls himself the captain. Just look up to my cabin boy as an example, and you'll be the archduke in no time!" Dr. Barlow said pointedly. Alek looked at Deryn, who beamed back at the prince happily.

The group looked up as the other midshipman aboard the Leviathan emerged from the dining room. "Oi! The kitchen's fresh out of potatoes, Dylan. The crew descended on them like fabricated hawks! Maybe better luck next time." Newkirk said as he lumbered past the group and into his cabin.

"Blisters! Alek, you made me miss the potatoes!" And with that, Deryn stormed away from the hall and into her cabin.