Orphanage

[Its Smiley]

The supermarket of children.

 

[Its Smiley]

Mayah Playah

"This is an ordinary orphanage, meaning only humans are in it," Nikolai explained as he stepped out of the car, looking at the drab building that reminded him more of a small elementary than home for countless children and teens. He pointed to an almost invisible mark at the bottom of the steps leading up to the front doors. "This place, like many others, is protected by a sigil. Nonhumans lose their abilities as soon as they step over the invisible barrier, so you and I will get a somewhat nostalgia of what it was once like to be human, I suppose." He smiled lazily at his husband before stepping inside, immediately greeted with the sound of children's laughter from several rooms.

 

[Mayah Playah]

Leon Court




Leon looked down at where the sigil was, taking a moment for his eyes to catch it, then stepped over. He immediately felt older and more weighed down. God, he needed to lose weight or something. As they stepped inside, he caught his breath. Wow, they were really doing this. They were adopting more. Oh God, they were going to be parents to more kids! And this time, it was going to be totally their choice. He loved Aysun, but the kid was definitely dumped on them. This time, both he and Nikolai were choosing to be parents. He was trying hard not to cry.
A little girl ran past them, laughing and waving before disappearing behind a door. "Nikolai," he whispered. "Let's adopt all of them." He was only partly kidding.

Coconut Coalition

 

[Its Smiley]

Mayah Playah

Hmm, even after passing the sigil he still felt exhausted and tired. It just felt more... unnecessary.
"In time, dearie," Nikolai answered, ready to smack Leon if he told any of the workers to get the papers for all the kids out. He may not have his snakes, but he could still give a good whack! One of the caretakers greeted them and motioned for them to follow her as she introduced the children.
Meanwhile, a group of kids excitedly talked among each other in the playground, with one child pulling away from the group to find a boy with black hair. "Ray!" the boy shouted while looking for his friend. "Ray!!"

 

[Mayah Playah]

Leon Court




Leon pouted, then stood upright and smiled maturely as the caretaker approached them. He nodded as they followed her, then reached for Nikolai's hand in an attempt to steady his. He waved a little to each kid he met, friendly and fatherly as usual. One of these kids was going to be his and Nikolai's. Oh! He was going to cry! "You're still sure about this, right?" he whispered to Sin before they got around to signing any papers.
On the playground, there sat a boy on one of the swings. He was quiet and frowning as he swung himself, briefly sticking his tongue out at the crying girl he'd pushed out of the way to get the swing. "Quit crying. It makes you look so ugly!" he sneered, then looked up as he heard his name called. He waved an arm to catch the other boy's attention. "Reggie! Over here!" he yelled.

Coconut Coalition

 

[Its Smiley]

Mayah Playah

Nikolai smiled as the caretaker showed them the inside of one room, where a couple volunteers played music games to entertained children. He paused when asked about whether or not he was serious and rolled his eyes. "Yes, of course I'm still serious. I'm not cruel enough to change my mind at a time like this," he hissed at his husband just as the caretaker lead them towards the playground.
Seeing the waving hand, Reggie ran towards the swing set, stopping suddenly at the sight of the crying girl. "Hey, what's wrong?" When the girl sniffled and angrily pointed at Ray, Reggie looked over and gave him a frown, but he couldn't scold him right now. Instead, he faced the two and spouted, "There's no need to be upset! There are two people here right now looking to adopt!"

 

[Mayah Playah]

Leon Court




He smiled nervously, tightly gripping Nikolai's hand as they passed by a few children. He wanted to adopt them all. All children deserved a home, and he wanted to provide that safe haven. They were all missing something important, just like he was. No, like they were. He glanced to his husband, nerves calming temporarily. "Have we decided on a boy or a girl yet?" he asked.
The girl immediately jumped excitedly, tears drying as she ran towards the crowd. Ray, however, didn't move. "They aren't gonna pick us, Reggie. They never do. Remember what Sister Jacobs said? You're too dark and I don't smile. What's the point in getting excited and get passed over again?" Nevertheless, he got off the swing and walked over to his friend, crossing his arms. He could at least be supportive. Of course he wanted to be adopted, but he needed to be realistic. Who would want a brat like him?

Coconut Coalition

 

[Its Smiley]

Mayah Playah

"Two boys. You said you wanted a household with three sons," Nikolai answered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Four children in his house. Never would he have even humored the idea.
Reggie hesitated but offered Ray a comforting smile. "We wouldn't have liked being with those people last time, anyway! They smelled like cats and were snooty." He pat his friend's back while they headed towards the doorway leading inside the house, where several children peered down the hallway to see who the newcomers were.

 

[Mayah Playah]

Leon Court




"Aww, you listened!" Leon stopped himself from crying. The idea of three boys had originated in his childhood. He himself was one out of three boys, the middle child who looked up happily to his big brother and worked hard to do well for his younger brother. Jared and Levi were his favorite people in the world, and their death had almost killed him. However, he was finally going to make up for it. He was going to be a father to three boys and this time, he was going to protect them. They weren't going to have what Jared and Levi did. He clung tightly to Nikolai, taking a deep breath.
The boy walked alongside his friend, hands in his pockets. He didn't try to look at the couple, not caring what they looked like either way. They wouldn't pick him anyway. They might pick Reggie, though. Reggie was funny and nice, a good kid. Ray was always a little amazed that he hadn't been adopted yet. At least, until Sister Jacobs said ti was because of his skin color. He didn't like Sister Jacobs.

Coconut Coalition

 

[Its Smiley]

Mayah Playah

Nikolai scowled and smacked his husband. "Stop holding me so tightly, dearie. You're all sweaty," he remarked. It was like taking a child to a candy store.
Reggie gaped as he saw the two approach the hallway. "They're two boys! Like us!" he informed Ray while keeping his gaze on the two. Did that mean both of them would adopt kids each? "One of them is really big with purple hair!
And the other has gray hair! Ah! They're coming!" Grabbing Ray's arm, Reggie ran to the center of the playground, the rest of the kids following so they wouldn't be caught staring down the hallway.
But they were, and the caretaker laughed as they reached the doorway,
introducing the playground and listing the names of the children playing around.

 

[Mayah Playah]

Leon Court




Leon pouted. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to be sweet to me." Nevertheless, he released Nikolai and stepped lightly as they walked over to the doorway and peered out onto the playground. He smiled down at the nearby children, looking out as each were pointed out. His eyes surveyed each child carefully, until they finally landed on two young boys in the center of the playground. There was a dark-haired, light-skinned boy with glasses, clearly unhappy to be here, but beside him was the cheeriest kid he'd ever seen. His heart thumped twice, swelling in his chest.
"That boy, right there. You said his name's Reggie?" he asked.
The caretaker nodded.
"Can we talk to him?" he asked.
The caretaker nodded again, then called out to the child.

Ray crossed his arms as the majority of the kids tried to look cute. "none of this is gonna work!" he insisted, then stiffened when he heard Reggie's name called. Of course.

Coconut Coalition

 

[Its Smiley]

Mayah Playah

"That's okay. The less it works for them, the better it'll be for us!" Reggie insisted, hesitating when he heard his name called out. He looked over to see the two man looking at him, then looked at Ray with a gaping mouth. Th-They were gonna pick him?! He'd finally get a home?! He paused as he looked at his upset friend, his own expression softening before breaking into a smile. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna go if they don't take you with me either. We promised each other we'd be brothers," he assured and lightly pat Ray's shoulder before bounding off towards the adults. There had been times when he had been requested for adoption, but he always turned the guardians down, telling them that he wouldn't go unless Ray came with him. He'd rather stay with his best friend than with strangers.

 

[Mayah Playah]

Leon Court




The boy was quiet as he was reassured, watching his friend race off towards the two men who were probably going to adopt him. If they already liked him from his appearance, they were gonna love his personality. He watched the men speak to Reggie, tears coming to his eyes despite him trying to will them not to. He was gonna be the reason why Reggie didn't get adopted again. "Stupid," he hissed, telling himself that from now on, he was going to be mean to Reggie so he'd find a home soon instead of being dragged down by him.

Leon smiled gently as the boy approached them, kneeling to the ground to be at eye level with the child. "Hi, Reggie. My name is Leon, and this is my husband, Nikolai," he introduced, reaching to take Nikolai's hand. "It's very nice to meet you."

Coconut Coalition

 

[Its Smiley]

Mayah Playah

"Hello," Reggie nodded, looking between the two. Husband? So these two were like a mom and dad, only two dads instead? He'd never seen a couple like such before, but he remembered when the caretakers told them about it.
There was a silence between the two. It might've been awkward on their end, but Reggie was used to it. He instead smiled brightly at Leon. "Do you play football? 'Cause I wanna be the most famous football player ever!"

 

[Mayah Playah]

Leon Court




Leon nodded. "I play every now and then, but I'm sure you're better than I am." He looked aroudn and stood, reaching over to a ball cart and grabbing a football. "Can you show me how you throw?" he asked, holding the football out to the boy.

Coconut Coalition