A/N : I'm so sorry for the lack of updates and the shortness of this story. I've been really busy with work and preparations for an upcoming convention that I barely had time for writing. I seriously hope to update regularly again after August.
Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and new followers! And to those who wrote they found my stories and read them all at once, wow, you people make my day! :D
Now, guess who watched "Jurassic World" and loved it. XD
„I want a velociraptor."
For the first time in the last half-hour North looked up from the ice-sculpture he was working on and glanced at the winter spirit, who was busy with his own one, at the other side of the room.
„What?"
„A velociraptor." Jack repeated. „They're cool."
The Russian Santa stared at the young man, whose back was facing him since his attention was still focused on the task of shaping the toy prototype, and waited for further explanation.
„I can honestly say I have no idea what you are talking about."
„You don't know what it is?" the frost teen asked and finally turned around.
„Not a clue."
„Well, pretty much like this." he said and moved aside so North could see what exactly he had been creating.
It wasn't fully completed yet and while it might have been called 'done' by most people, the Guardian of Wonder was well aware of the amount of details the frost teen always adorned his sculptures with. But it was already more than obvious what it was supposed to be. A dinosaur, standing on two legs with a prominent big claw on both of its three-toed feet, smaller but equally muscular arms and a slender head with sharp protruding teeth.
„Uhm, okay." the Cossack muttered as he examined the less than friendly looking beast.
Eventually it dawned on him. One day ago Jack had visited Jamie and sneaked into a cinema with him. Well, not really 'sneaked', he had merely walked in there because no one else could see him anyway. When he had returned to the North Pole all he talked about were dinosaurs and a movie called „Jurassic World", if he recalled right.
„I bet it would be a great new toy for christmas. Much bigger than this, of course. Though probably not life-size because that would be a little too big." Jack suggested while refining the fangs in the ice dinosaur's mouth.
„Maybe like those animatronic toys, you know, those who can walk around on their own and make specific sounds."
North glanced at the blue shimmering figurine once more and how sharp the teeth had gotten in the meantime.
„I'm not sure if toy that could eat kids is such a good idea. Parents might complain."
Jack chuckled at the mental image of miniature raptors chasing children and felt slightly evil for actually finding it amusing. Maybe it would be an appropriate gift for those on the naughty list? While pondering about it he noticed the older man looking at him quizzically, most likely because of the mischievous expression written all over his face.
„Well, you don't have to make it deadly...although it reduces their badassness."
The Guardian of Wonder still didn't seem convinced.
„No lethal toys, Jack. Kind of ruins the Christmas spirit."
„Guess so...then just make them able to walk, snatch and snarl. You know, like grrrrrrrr!" the frost teen made growling sounds and raised his hands, acting like he had claws.
At this very moment North seriously doubted that watching movies together with Jamie had been such a decent pastime for the white-haired immortal. Especially the ones with PG-13 ratings or worse.
„...What?" Jack inquired innocently when he became aware of the puzzled look North watched him with.
„Ah, nothing. But we better stick to more harmless toys. How about a plush dinosaur?"
Now it was the Guardian of Fun's turn to definitely not be convinced.
„You want to turn the fiercest predator of all into a plushie?" he repeated to make sure he had understood him right, raising an eyebrow to emphasize how much he disapproved of this idea.
„Yes. Children love cuddly toys. And they love animals."
„They would also love a toy which could bite schoolmates who mock them."
„No, Jack."
„But-"
„No. Sorry, but that's my last word." the Russian Santa concluded with a strict voice and turned back to his own half-finished ice sculpture which was waiting for completion on his desk.
Shortly he glimpsed at the youth in the corner of the room, being well aware of his pouty mood and his stolidity taking a hold of him as he continued to apply the finishing touches on his icey velociraptor, no matter if it would be turned into a toy or not.
During the next weeks North kept reflecting about the idea of creating a dinosaur toy. Jack had calmed down after only a few hours and was satisfied to place his self-made ice-raptor on a shelf in his room. And still, the Christmas guardian had to admit that it looked promising. Maybe not for very young children but especially boys would adore auch a gift.
One day, when Jack was busy spreading blizzards over Siberia, North sneaked into his room and took the prototype to the yetis. They worked feverishly and had completed their job before the winter spirit returned. When he came back to his room the sculpture was right were it belonged.
Just as he pondered what to do next a knock on the door alerted him. Before he could utter a reply it was flung open and a yeti stood there, gesturing for him to follow it. With aroused curiosity the young man walked next to the gigantic furry creature.
„What's the matter?" he asked impatiently but only got the usual animalistic gibberish for an answer.
A Yeti-English dictionary surely would have been helpful. Though judging from its expression and the sound of its voice it sounded like :
„Shut up, you'll find out soon enough."
Their way led to North's office. By now Jack seriously wondered what was going on and if there was anything he had messed up again. As exertedly as he thought about it, there was nothing he could recall. The yeti pointed at the ancient mahagony door and went back to wherever it was needed, leaving the teen standing there dumbfounded. Not longer able to withstand the desire to finally get to the bottom of this mysterious behaviour Jack opened the door and peeked in curiously.
„Ah, Jack, there you are! Come in!" North exclaimed cheerfully and waved him nearer.
The frost teen did as he was told and approached the older man who was building himself up in front of his desk.
„Why did you want to see me? Has anything happened?"
„Nah, don't worry, it's nothing bad. Quite the opposite. I have a suprise for you." Father Christmas beamed with pleasant anticipation.
„Oh?" was all that Jack could say in his astonishment.
He briefly glanced around the room to maybe spot the suprise but didn't notice anything unusual, just the common blocks of ice and half-finished prototypes.
„What is it?"
„I thought about your suggestion and made a decision." North stated and moved aside to clear the view for the items on the table behind him.
Jack's cerulean eyes widened at the sight of two finely crafted velociraptor toys. One had distinctly sharper teeth and claws and a fiercer expression than the other one, whose appearance seemed less dangerous in general. And yet both versions displayed the primeval predator pretty well.
The Guardian of Wonder let out a hearty chuckle at the youth who stared at the dinosaurs with mouth agape.
„This is yours."
He carefully grabbed the more dangerous looking raptor and shoved it into Jack's hands.
„It's animatronic. You press the little button on its back and, well, have a go..."
The winter spirit did as he was told and set the toy on the floor. It took him a moment to find the aforementioned button because it was hardly recognizable between the scales. Once again his eyes shone with wonder as the little dino started walking while moving its arms and additionally opening its mouth. Impressively realistic growls rang through the room as it wandered in a random direction. Jack was still at a loss for words. After North had rejected his idea he had never expected him to change his mind.
„It is unique copy. The other one here is the version for children. We don't want them to hurt themselves on too sharp teeth." the Russian Santa explained.
When the artificial dinosaur came to a halt Jack picked it up and examined the details of the colouring on its surface. It seriously could have passed as a real but small velociraptor.
„Do you like it?" North eventually asked with mild surprise about the teen's silence.
„This is...the BEST toy ever!" Jack finally blurted out, grinning from ear to ear.
„Haha, I hoped you would say that. And it's all yours."
„Thank you so much! I love it! And I already know how to call it."
„Oh?"
„Bob."
The older guardian stared at him blankly for a second.
„Is strange name for a raptor."
„Yes, he's special." the white-haired boy nodded, eliciting another chuckle from the Cossack.
„Well, then Bob the Raptor it is."
A/N : Why Bob? Because of the best scene of "Titan A.E." ( for those who know the movie ) *lol*
Blue was my favourite raptor in "Jurassic World", but Bob is a much funnier name. XD
Reviews are extremely appreciated as usual! ^_^
