AN:
A song from album ZZTop Greatest Hits by ZZTop.
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Ero adapted to given role of big brother more quickly then Jack did when Aleksandrina was handed to them. Newly recovering Tekla 'persisted' her and North's daughter be care for by the boys, and not the Yetis. Giving the excuse allot of missed work had to be made up before Christmas came. Meant Tekla had to get back to her knitting and North needed had missed work to catch up on. Yetis were rushing to get toys made while elves just continued to goof off, and test toys.
Leaving mainly Ero with help Jack to take care of a week old baby girl with tongue twister of a name (they needed to practice pronouncing). Didn't stop the second cradle, crib, and rocker from being placed in each one of the boy's rooms. Crib to Jack's away from the window he always is able to open while rest was place to Ero's room. Changing table and supplies were also stored in Ero's room since he would assign one his maternal spirits. To take on the nanny position that had her handling the dirtier baby tasks.
"She's more like you then me." Ero stared down at Aleksandrina.
"Meaning?" Jack asked not getting the idea.
"Either she could be consisted your love child or baby sister from stepmother." Ero listed.
"We both know that you were my ..." Jack had his mouth covered by Ero while he reminded him about what they stood over.
"She's to young to find out how THAT led to her creation." Ero spoke through clenched teeth.
Jack ended up smirking under Ero's uncovered hand knowing he wasn't wearing his Snowflake Charm. Put his lips together and started too gently blow out chilly blast of air onto Ero's hand. That didn't get the results he wanted due slight shivering sensation that Jack witnessed from Ero's body. Had Jack further pushing the limit by leaning forward enough to stare at Ero in his eyes. While sticking his tongue a few inches out from his lips slowly licking upward direction in teasing matter.
"Jack...cut... It out!" Ero spoke with labored breathing.
"..." He would only beat his lashing at Ero.
Round in the sockets Ero's eyes rolled dismissing the way Jack was trying to openly seduce him. Knowing he had to remind Jack that this wasn't the time for them to engage in other physical activities. In a few minutes he had to leave to finish blanketing the Eastern Hemisphere in wintry weather. In no way could he come along since he had studying to do and child to play nanny too.
"You done?" Ero asked pulling his hand from Jack's mouth.
"Glad to know you made a point." Jack started to lick his lips slowly.
"You not letting this go," Ero sighed. "Are you? "
What he got was a grin form Jack that had Ero just staring through narrowed eyes like he was bored. In no way cared for seduction methods that Jack was trying to use against him hot and bothered. Since he would step out Jack's reach telling him where the door could be found crossing his arms.
"Later then?" Jack asked still not giving up.
"Mange your time and we'll see." Ero shrugged.
"My room or here?" Jack asked looking down.
"Your room since my spirit knows how to care for her." Ero looked down also.
Jack then turned his gazed back to Ero stepping toward him so he could steal a quick kiss from him. Spinning on heel of his bare foot taking his discarded staff into his arms winking at Ero. Before making his way out of Ero's room walking backwards with slight wave of his hand before turning face forward. Allowing the door to close slowly behind his retreating him leaving Ero alone.
"Just you and me." Ero walked back to Aleksandrina's crib.
He ended up accepting a wooden toy in the shape of a Polar Bear that was carved from white oak by North. From his spirit so he could hand over the toy to tiny hands wanting to cuddle with the item. That ended up being tightly grasped by now sleepy Aleksandrina drifting off to sleep. Allowing Ero to take in her slumbering form while his spirit hovered over the crib give off a soft glow. Agreeing with her master that small miracle under the two of them was going to be a hand full.
Led to the conversation about the small miniature building in this form of a house on Ero's desk. Only the base and most of the first floor was already done using materials North had given him to use. Chucks of left over wood, metal to plastic tubing, moldable clay, few nuts and screws, and building materials. Hand drawn blue prints down by Ero that planned every detail out lay beside the work in progress. Furniture and other furnishings for the inside weren't being made since Ero had different use.
"May I ask if it was a dollhouse?" Spirit looked the desktop.
"No since North already has that covered," Ero looked over his own shoulder. "More like something that involved structural related magic."
He wanted to go on to say the house he was infusing with magical symbol after finishing a room. Would become a residence through use of an alteration spell that would change this small house into actual one. On the plot of land he has been recently been approved to own after long waiting period. The hope after that was all solved out he could get Jack to move in with him to start a life together. That would become a problem since North's Workshop had become their new home.
"North is making a copy of the Workshop for her to place with," Ero corrected his spirit. "Tekla can't stop knitting their closed clothes for her."
"Have you crafted anything ?" This spirit asked pointing out how Ero was being left out.
"Well she sort of wears it around her neck." Ero points out the necklace she was wearing.
An ornate crib artwork could be found tied to the inside above girl's head for her to view whenever she was here. Embroider work were made form magical thread Ero's mother gathered from mythical creatures. Infused with spell that allowed the owner of the picture their heart's desire in form of moving images. Scene that was depicted on the main panel was her birth parents working in areas of the Workshop beside Yetis. Seeing her parents' faces brought a smile to the sleepy girl before she yawned and rolled onto her stomach, and fell asleep.
"You can watch her from here?" Ero asked knowing his spirit would.
"I always do." She started to take a more solid form.
"Good and I'll be carrying about my mirror if you need to get hold of me." Ero would walk from the crib.
He reached his bed room door in stained and work clothes he wore were replaced by something more suitable. Out the door of his own room he would go noticing the lack of life from Jack's room being empty to Yetis. Didn't stop him from walking out the hallways and toward main corridor where he took a left toward the lift. Using the long period of waiting to get to upper floors after pulling the lever allowed him to think. He could turn to his mother to help furnish his house since she had LOTS of furniture she collected from over the years (in storage). Didn't mean he would turn down North's generosity for what he could craft by hand. Tekla would instance on teaching him and Jack how to run their household from cleaning tips to budgets.
To only be drawn from his line of thought when clanging of chains and boots stomping on floor. Had him looking to the green hair ponytail-wearing girl in ripped denim shorts with thin strap shirt over fishnet halter-top. Her boots were covered in buckles and metallic loop or two connected by leather strips. A few thinned link chains hung from her shorts making the clanging sounds. Pink coral colored gloss covered pulp lips and a few odd places pierces in her ears, nostrils, and lips.
"Lady Luck?" Ero took the sight of her.
"Prefer to be called Yoshi." She corrects him.
"Still don't like the song Frank Sinatra wrote about you." Ero joked.
"Only that song just not the NAME." She smiled a little.
She ended up blowing a large bubble made of the gum she been chewing allowing it to pop within seconds. Before she sucked the sugary substance back into her mouth shifting her hips while lifting a hand. Pointing at the empty where lift would be making a popping sound with her lips. Brought the lift before them seconds after her shift to her other hip while lowering her hand.
"Still have Magic Touch." Ero joked with her.
"Funny." She pulled something from her cleavage and tossed her way, "Souvenir from Vegas."
"Thanks." He caught the item.
She just gave him a smile before fading form his ling of sight whispering he sound drop in and visit her some time. Winking at him suggestively with twinkle of her eye being only action left from her dissipating form. He would answer with someday while stepping into the lift making sure to secure the latch of the door. Before deciding which lever to push knowing he would he taken to certain part of the Workshop depending one he used.
Where he was heading was the floor that had North's private office instead of being dropped off at main floor was Yeti work. In no way was he going to be dropped off on the floor where elves run around trial running toys. Maybe he would stop off by area where the kitchen and dining areas were to see what Tekla was up to. Knowing she sit him down on a chair and make him taste test all kinds of foods she was cooking or baking. Off her would be sent when his time with her was over with serving trey filled all types of treats. Going by the library was getting boring and then he could go to the stables to visit North's reindeer and Rudolph.
"Supply Area." He chose pushed the lever.
Against the railing he would lean when the lift started to move through the shaft giving Ero a scenic view of the shop. This time around with out his nose stuck in a book, making out with Jack, getting lectured or chatted up by North or Tekla, Yeti was in his way, or something else. Had his relaxing instead of tensing up at all the sights that passed before his eyes like a flipbook his mother owned. Not paying attention to the stops the lift made or Yetis that stepped on/ off. Not caring how crowded the lift got when it got higher in the floors since he stayed near the back of the lift. Waving at a few Yetis that greeted him when they joined him for a short time before getting off.
Not telling them where he was going since they would further ask him what he was working on. Since he would end up getting off at the busiest area of the Workshop heading straight for far end of the area. Where a large wooden bin where all kinds of material scraps were thrown. He made sure to being a bag to throw all his approved items in while wearing gloves he also brought.
Not once did the passing Yetis he sorted through the stacks or piles of discard stuff bother him. He pulled out chuck wood of all types putting items into his bag while looking for something else. What he found were pieces of fabric or bagged clay among other items that caught his eyes. Bits of crystal and rhinestones he also picked up using his fingers to put into a small container. If full he would out in to his bag pulling out another one to fill with more he would fill. Moving on to bits of string or rope that were braided or rolled up in coil formation he thought is good to use.
Lasted for good while since someone ended up joining him wearing a familiar apron asking what he was doing. When he look up he found Tekla with her hair pinned in double bun staring down at him. Her dough and flour covered apron told him of what she been doing since last seeing her. Bagging whatever items he currently found to properly speak with her about whatever she wanted. Knowing he had to answer why he was found rummaging through discard bin.
"You know..." She tried too not to sound disconcerting. "If you..."
"Please don't," Ero secured top of his bag. "You and North had so much for me."
"Fine, but after this..." She pointed to him and then the bin "STOPS!"
She went to say he would getting proper supplies from now on that hadn't been put in here to be thrown away. Before looking him over while she walked toward him asking if he had eaten anything-other then breakfast. He couldn't answer her since she placed him back in the lift insisting he return to his room and wait for her. Where she would send a Yeti with trey of food whole he was to make a list of materials he needed while he waited for her.
"No worry," Tekla shuts the lift door. "I'll not tell North a thing."
She had chosen the lever that would send the lift where Ero had come from just hours ago not taking an answer from him. Leaving him to once more the position he had before when he rode the lift in shock over Tekla. Guessing when he got nearer to his floor one of the Yetis or someone told on him to her.
"Jack is going to hear about this." Ero ended up sighing.
When he lift stopped by his floor he would step off and take the same path he took to return to his room and found a touching scene. His spirit was singing the baby in his care to sleep after bottle feeding the child. Success she was having the settling the child was way better then how he and Jack handled the child whole week before. Both were kept up all night in shifts with her crying about everything. They had trouble feeding her since refused to suckle from a bottle of milk. Sometimes she wanted to play with them at all hours of the night using crying to gain their attention.
"Sent back so soon." Spirit wasn't excepting him back so soon.
"Got caught." Ero removed his bag.
His spirit took the bag from his hands so she could place filled sack on the desk the half-done dollhouse sat. Knowing she didn't have to open his bag that held all kinds of materials her master was going to use. Instead she returned to the crib's side to further watch over a child she was becoming attached to.