"Frankenstein."

His master's soft voice interrupted the blond's quiet contemplation during tea. Blinking, Frankenstein looked up at the other man. "Yes, Master?" he asked, wondering what could be so important that Raizel would actually speak during teatime.

Crimson eyes met his, and Frankenstein could see the other man's curiosity even before he asked his question. "What is a Christmas tree?" Frankenstein froze, his eyes widening.

"Master?" he asked weakly, not sure he liked where this was going. His master couldn't possibly be thinking what he thought he was, could he? Just thinking about the mess that a live tree would make in his house was giving him a headache.

Rai was seemingly ignoring him. "The children spoke of it today. They mentioned picking out a Christmas tree and then decorating it with…baubles and tinsel," he said, the words as unfamiliar to him as the holiday tradition itself. "And they put gifts under it," he added as an afterthought. Frankenstein suppressed his groan ruthlessly. The next time he saw those children, he was going to have a long and serious talk with them.

His master eyed him reproachfully, and Frankenstein dropped that thought as quickly as it had come. Of course, he'd be happy to have the children over for Christmas. Perhaps he'd even buy them gifts. Bibs for the two boys, for example. He'd pick out something a little nicer for the girls, since they at least tried to be careful when they ate.

Smiling brightly, Frankenstein answers his master. "Of course I've heard of a Christmas tree, master. You would like one to use in our celebrations?" he asked. Raizel nodded, and that was it. There was no way to avoid the mess now. The Noble went back to drinking his tea, warm waves of affection and contentment coming across their bond.

Frankenstein thought while they finished their tea, and as soon as his master had left, he pressed the intercom button. "Tao, please report to my office," he ordered brusquely. He got an immediate confirmation and switched it off, sitting back and linking his hands on the desk in front of him, waiting.

Less than two minutes later, the door opened, and Tao sauntered in, followed more cautiously by Takeo and M-21. Frankenstein just smiled; good, that would make things easier. "You needed to see us for something, Boss?" the youngest one asked, grinning at him. Frankenstein hadn't specified that he wanted to see all three of them, but Tao seemed to know when to bring the other two along. He really was quite suited for society.

Leaning forward, he stared at them for a moment, and then offered them a slow smile. Takeo and M-21 tensed, looking ready to bolt, and even Tao fidgeted uncomfortably. "Ah, yes. I would like to request your help on a small project," he said at last.

The three men looked at each other uncertainly. Takeo shrugged, and M-21 looked indifferent. "Sure, boss. What do you need us to do?" Tao asked, always the spokesperson for his quieter companions.

"My master would like to celebrate Christmas with the children this year," he stated bluntly. "As such, we will require suitable decorations. A tree, and presents as well," he added pointedly. The other three men looked confused, and Frankenstein nodded to himself. If any of them had every properly celebrated Christmas, they certainly didn't remember it now. "I trust you to find the information you need and to make the appropriate arrangements." He very nearly purred the last words, and watched in amusement as the three enhanced humans tried to hide their anxiety. If he was going to have to suffer, then they would share in the suffering with him.

M-21 surprised them all when he smiled. "All right," he agreed. The other three men stared at him, and he raised an eyebrow. "What? I've celebrated Christmas before. It might not have been much, and we couldn't really get each other anything, but I am aware of the holiday itself, and some of its traditions. M-24 and I were going to have a proper Christmas last year," he admitted in a low voice, and Frankenstein could see the barely concealed pain those memories evoked.

Standing, he tapped his hand on the desk, giving them a welcome distraction from M-21's morose thoughts. "Good. Then you should have some idea of what would be appropriate. I trust Tao to figure out the rest," he said. The computer hacker gave him a salute, then the three of them turned to leave. "Oh, and Tao?" Frankenstein called out, just before the other man left the office. When Tao turned back to look at him, he gave his scariest smile. "My master would also like tinsel on the tree." Tao gulped, but nodded, and Frankenstein finally let him go.

Sitting back down in his chair, Frankenstein turned to stare out the window where the first snowflakes of the season were flurrying down, assured that the three men would guarantee that his master would have a wonderful Christmas with the children. And that they'd find a way to prevent it from making a mess.

Frankenstein smiled and leaned back. A wonderful Christmas, indeed.