Own nothing. Barking Spiders!
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Does Your Mother Know
Lilit sighed, this was really too easy. One day Deryn would thank her for making her disguise seem more real. But in the meantime, the Scottish girl just seemed so ridiculously awkward. If she kept this up, Alek would think his friend was a homosexual. Boys are such idiots! And yet they think that women are docile child machines! No, she shouldn't get angry right now. Just take her hand, and- Dammit! She pulled it away. It's much easier to manipulate people when they're male.
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Lay All Your Love On Me
Deryn knew it was wrong, but she had an urge to tear Lili's throat out. She was nice, but she's engaged to Alek! And for that, she would never forgive her. Just tell him, just tell him, just tell him... No, she can't. She steals a glance at the happy couple. It's awful, they're holding hands. How can he do this to her? How can he not love her, because Deryn loves him so much it hurts? She can't bear it! Can't bear it at all!
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Take A Chance On Me
The count is tying a letter to the leg of a messenger pigeon. Nora takes a deep breath and gathers her courage.
"Sir, prisoners of war are not permitted correspondence. Who are you even writing to?"
Her creation giggles, and Volger glares at it. Ask him to tea. Simply as friends. Yes, that's right, friends.
"My wife." He says simply. The words hit her like a slap.
"You have- you're married?"
"Yes."
"W-well. Congratulations." She walks away, trying to look like she doesn't care the slightest, but inside she's shattering.
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Our Last Summer
Alek sits alone on the spine. The air is balmy, and he remembers his fifteenth birthday. His mother was wearing her favorite dress, blue cotton. She had put a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, darling. You're so tall, taller than your mummy. Franz, do you remember, when he was just so tiny... Oh I'm crying. I mustn't cry on your birthday." And she had embraced him like he was still a little boy. His father had clapped a hand on his shoulder, and told him that he was a man now.
Soaring over the Pacific Ocean, he could almost feel their pride. Dylan cautiously approached him and placed a hand on his arm.
"You okay? You look like you're going to cry."
"N-no. I'm f-fine."
"Don't give me that. No shame in crying."
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Slipping Through My Fingers
Mary Sharp can hear her daughter crying in her room. Oh, she's a terrible, terrible, mother. But how can Deryn say such things to her face? I hate you, I wish I was never born, Da would never let you do this to me, you don't love me like you love Jaspert. How did her little girl become so hateful? Doesn't she understand, everyone she's ever loved has gone to the air and never come back? Her father, her husband, her brothers, all dead because they wanted to fly. Every day, she reads the list of names in the paper, praying with all her heart. Please, Lord, not my son, not my son, anyone but my son.
Mary softly knocks on Deryn's door.
"Can I come in?"
"Suit yourself." Her daughter has burrowed into her comforter and her eyes are puffy and red.
"I'm really, really, sorry about what I said earlier. I'm just so scared that-"
"I'll die? You're so scared, you won't let me live!"
"H-how can you... how can y-you say such things to your mother?"
"Ma, Ma, don't cry." She says it in a tired way, no compassion in her voice. This sets her off even more.
"Oh, m-m-my little Deryn..."
"Please don't call me that." Can't she see how much she's hurting her? Can't she just embrace her, a little girl again?
Deryn starts crying, too.
"It's in my blood... I can take care of myself."
"T-that's what Thomas said..."