A short chapter...

Chapter Two

Frankenstein looked around the bedroom he had prepared for the new members of the house to share. He was going to give them private rooms, but the younger Raizel had gravitated to his younger self's side the moment they had returned. Not even the offer of tea and biscuits could keep them separate. It would be much simpler to let them share a room. Now to name those two, Master had already started trying.

XOX

Entering the lounge room, Frankenstein was slightly baffled to find his Master dejected. How could have the naming process brought out that response? The younger Raizel spotted him and immediately smiled. He left the couch and went up to Frankenstein, a request in his eyes. Frankenstein picked him up and carried him to the couch. He noted that the child was too light for his size. Returning him to the couch with a hug, Frankenstein then proceeded to the kitchen to fetch water for the four of them.

"That is your will." A purse, a sigh, "Very well," Master concluded.

The older Raizel turned to Frankenstein as his bonded returned to the lounge; Raizel accepted the cup of water with his usual grace. The children were equally graceful when they accepted theirs, in the manners of their older counterparts. Not like children at all, Frankenstein thought, with a flash of concern. He had hoped…

"They have chosen their names for now," Raizel informed him, snapping Frankenstein's train of thought. Oh? "They wish to be called Cadis and Victor." The children smiled as they were called by their chosen names, looking to Frankenstein for approval.

"It is a pleasure to have you with us," Frankenstein said, smiling back. He could understand Cadis' name as one of the many possible short forms or nicknames derived from Cadis Etrama di Raizel. Victor? Frankenstein had never been associated with that name; even Frank would be more likely. Did the meaning of the name appeal to his younger self...but why? Had Victor succeeded in something thought so impossible, that he thought the victory of success was defining? Frankenstein glanced at Raizel; it may take a while to get answers.

The children had no trouble just sitting on the couch sipping water; perhaps this was normal for noble children. While Victor's form was made as human as possible it was still a noble's creation, and yet… he had expected something else.

Play, he realized. Across most species, the young naturally participated in such activities. It was an important part of development. He would need to dedicate a room to it, Frankenstein noted, since young children could create a great deal of mess in any game of make-pretend. Stopping such play wouldn't be right, no matter how much he liked things in their place. Sending them outside should work sometimes, but he would need to make it clear the garden beds were off-limits.

Master placed his cup on the table, the water finished, no comment made on the lack of tea.

It was just like Master to trust his judgment in such matters even if Frankenstein had not explained; he had given everyone water because he did not know how the children would react to hot liquids.

XOX

Raizel brought the soul fragments to the room Frankenstein had prepared and stopped short at the sight of two beds. They would not like that; it would be good for them as individuals. They would become children, they must. He was too weak to have any in the traditional manner and yet this opportunity, these soul fragments, had been given to him. A result of the very same event that had almost made him leave Frankenstein alone. His bonded should never be alone.

Victor chose the bed with sky blue sheets, which left Cadis with the primrose yellow sheets. The colours were the only difference between the beds, comforters and pillows matching. Raizel could not help but smile, even if they remained fragments they would be a source of much joy and learning.

He left them alone to practice their speaking; motor skills were natural for nobles but using words for communication was something learnt from humans. They would know of language, having existed as the bonds remnants for over several centuries, but knowing of something and putting it into practice were very different things.

XOX

Frankenstein didn't like using search engines; it made things far too easy. Still, as more and more things were made digital, he found himself using them more often than he liked. Searching what were 'normal' children's toys now was not what he would have preferred to do. Buying dozens of toys to test before giving it to the children would not work; it would require a child to test them in the first place. So he looked through popular toys and noted the ones he could make himself. Nothing electronic, while he could make them they were noisy and structured play however unintentionally.

Looking at the list brought up another dilemma making these things himself would guarantee the quality, in what quantity should children have toys? Too many would be impractical if Cadis had Raizel's difficulty making choices, yet too few would limit the options for play. A large toy box, yes, he would only make enough to fill a toy box for each.

He would start with just one boxful and make more toys when he knew what they would enjoy.

Also, he should investigate the man that Master met with the human children. It was only, he looked at the time, yesterday morning when Master had walked into his office.

Just some edits, and breaks between perspective changes.