"Aren't the chairs heavy?" Marryanne questioned, carrying a box full of props.
"Not that much." Soren replied.
The orphanage yard was significantly large and it was covered with snow now. This time of the year a festival known as winter festival takes place in the orphanage. And each year a play from various groups of orphans are played out. These plays are a symbol of their creative minds.
"Really?" Marryanne tilted her head. She then chuckled, "expected for our prince charming."
"You flatter me…" Soren chuckled.
On the other side of the stage. Cyrus gently wrapped a scarf around Levi's neck.
"You have been coughing since this morning." Cyrus gently scolded, adjusting the red scarf on Levi's neck.
"Mn?" Levi stared at Cyrus with those big doe eyes. Black hair curling at the top of his ears.
"Don't 'mn' me." Cyrus sighed, "what am I gonna do with you?"
At the top of the stage, Fallon was setting up the lighting system and decorations.
"Damn it," he sighs, "I need big bro, Soren's help." He stood on his tip-toes. "Why in the world am I so short?"
Fallon finally reaches and pins the decorations and he sits back on the stage with a heavy sigh. He is not built for this. His powers are healing. Not heavy work.
"Having difficulties?" Ray approached Fallon.
"You could have asked us for help." Jay added, carrying enchanted candles.
Fallon chucked, red hair peaking out of his hood, "and," he leaned to their level, "what are you two gonna do, small fries?"
Ray rolls his eyes and glances over at his twin brother and shrugs, "Guess with your height we won't be much help either."
"Oh?" Fallon chucked, irritated, "what did you even mean by that?"
"You know exactly what it meant, big bro Fallon." Jay puts down the box of candles.
"No, I don't." Fallon grinned, trying to hide his irritation, "what do you mean by that?"
"Okay, okay." Ray called out, "let's make a truce." He waves his hands in surrender.
"Truce?" Fallon tilted his head.
"Yes, truce." Ray nodded. "Starting with a handshake."
"Come on, Jay." Ray winked at his brother.
Jay rolled his eyes, "whatever." He held out his hand for Fallon to shake it.
Fallon sighed, "fine." He held Jay's hand only to momentarily get zapped.
"Ow, what the hell!!!" Fallon retracted his hand back.
"Hah!" Ray started running.
"Got him!" Jay started running after him.
"Why you little–"
And so the kids were busy decorating for the evening's play for each of the small groups of the orphans in the orphanage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The kids sat lining the chairs in front of the stage. The matron stood beside Eldric on top of the stage looming over the sea of children. Which were twenty-nine in number cause one was missing.
Every kid was in their costumes for the little plays they were gonna perform. Well everyone except Cyrus.
Soren in his princely costume with maximum charm leaned in and whispered to Marryanne who is playing the stepmother, "where is our Cinderella?"
Marryanne shrugged, "he will come out when it's time… he said that he needs more time before we piss on his dignity."
Soren chuckled. "His dignity, huh?" He tilts his head. Now he is excited to see Cyrus in a dress.
One by one all the other groups perform their little plays. Then it comes for Marryanne's group's turn.
All of Marryanne's members are in the dressing room.
"Awe look at you all." Marryanne cooed, "you all look so darn adorable."
Ray and Jay are the two stepsisters.
Fallon's the fairy godmother.
Levi and Maelis are the helper mice.
Soren's the prince.
Marryanne's the stepmother and narrator.
And Cyrus is the princess, Cinderella. Who hasn't come out of the fitting room yet.
"Come out, Sunshine." Soren called out.
"Come on let us see." Marryanne said, she sighed.
Cyrus was quiet. He doesn't want anyone to see him like this. He is wearing a fucking dress.
Soren chuckled, "If you come out now. I will do anything you say for an entire week."
Cyrus thought about the offer, "make it two weeks."
Everyone in the room chuckled.
"Fine," Soren sighed, "two weeks. Deal?"
Cyrus thought for a bit while longer, "deal!"
He slowly stepped out from behind the curtain. Every eye turned to look at him. Soren's cheek turned a little bit red.
Cyrus sighed, "quit staring." He looked at Marryanne. "Is this good, you little devil?"
"Perfect." Marryanne grinned. A grin that sent shivers down Cyrus's spine.
Well… he would have survive the younger kids' stares and glares. There would probably be a lot of new rumors. And he would have to deal with it.