home away from home (2)
characters: luhan/xiumin, suho, and other exo members.
rating: pg
word count: 1297 w.
summary: What if each country still had a royal family in the modern day era? Though they act as figureheads in a world of democracy, royals still exist in a world of palace politics and drama. Minseok is the cousin and best friend to the Crown Prince. He gets sent out to help relations with China to a lonely place without his best friend by his side.
"Why are you telling me this?" Minseok whispers.
Joonmyeon knows that Minseok isn't running away from the assignment. He isn't scared of what is to come. But there is a reason Joonmyeon is there, relaying the message, because the Crown Prince doesn't merely visit the chambers of the second-in-line to give out assignments.
"I wanted to tell you I was sorry" Joonmyeon says with a sigh.
His eyes are downcast and Minseok can see the glossy black of Joonmyeon's eyelashes. They look soft, like the down feathers of Minseok's pet falcon. And little does Minseok know, Joonmyeon too hides sharp talons in his next words.
"I am to get married" Joonmyeon tells him, still unable to meet Minseok's eyes. "They say she's a commoner, but it's a promise our grandfather has made."
"What promise?"
"The late King's promise with his best friend. To marry his friend's granddaughter to the Crown Prince."
"And that's-"
Joonmyeon smiles, eyes crinkling into curved lines. Minseok cannot see Joonmyeon's pupils, cannot see the truth of his emotions reflected in his eyes.
"Yes, that's me, Minseok. I am to be married" he repeats. "Which is why the advisors need reassurance that our relations with China are still as strong as ever."
Minseok hangs his head. Ralph falls with his shifting movement and tumbles to the floor. It's no time for Minseok's childish selfishness. Joonmyeon has always been a wise friend, but at this moment, it is Minseok's turn to serve his Crown Prince.
"I accept, Your Highness" there is no mirth in Minseok's voice; none of the usual sarcasm that accompanies the title. "I will travel to China and make things right."
∆∆∆
The plane ride is uneventful, as Minseok takes a mere party of three other men. He travels knowing he will miss his sister's wedding. No one consoles him and no one dares mention that he will be missed. It's a voyage with the promise of friendship and yet, Minseok feels like he is being sold off as a slave. There had been a huge argument the night before his departure. His parents had whispered angrily into the night, his mother hurtling comments about how powerless his father was to be unable to stop this and his father stating coldly that his mother was being unpatriotic that it was Minseok's duty to serve the King and his country. His mother cries at the airway strip and his father remains grim, even as Minseok's plane takes off.
When he arrives at the airport in Shanghai, he is met with a respectable amount of celebration and there is a sizable entourage that follows him on his drive to the palace. Minseok sits in the sleek black limousine that takes him along the streets of Shanghai. When they arrive, it is a sight that is very different from the streets of Korea. The chambers of the Crown Prince are built in a modern architecture and Minseok stares in awe at the imposing glass windows and sleek steel columns. It is essentially a modern take on the traditional Chinese style of building.
"We have arrived at the guest house."
Minseok clutches at Ralph, stiff on his lap. Joonmyeon had gifted it to him when Minseok was packing. It was a pair to a one of a kind set made especially for the Crown Prince. Minseok had been reluctant to take it, but Joonmyeon had told him.
"Ralph is my dearest friend and he holds a part of me. I would like to to take him more than anything. Hopefully, he can be a comfort to you when I cannot."
Minseok exits the car and with his three guards, he enters the guest house. He braces himself, palms bearing half moon indents from anxiety. But the moment Minseok's been anticipating, never comes.
"His majesty will receive you in a week" one of the attendants inform Minseok's party. "You, Prince Minseok, will be educated on the formalities and etiquette in addressing the Prince of China."
Minseok's cheeks burn with anger. He was to be educated? Just to meet a the Prince who had been the one to summon him in the first place? But raised as a royal, the reaction only registers as pink spots on Minseok's cheeks and ears.
"Very well" he tells his attendant, Tao, who is to be apart of his temporary staff while in China. "I wish to rest now. The journey has been taxing."
In reality, it's been a few hours on the plane in the most comfortable craft there is to offer. But mentally, Minseok is shot. The crowning touch had been the fact that Minseok was to go through hoops and hurdles just to meet the Prince of China. Tao bows and turns to Minseok's three guards.
"I will show Prince Minseok's attendants to their quarters."
"We wish to reside near Prince Minseok" Guard Chanyeol tells him.
"We will sleep where ever necessary" agrees Secretary Baekhyun.
"It is our duty to be with Prince Minseok at all times" comes the quiet voice of Jongdae, the translator.
The attendant Tao curls the ends of his lips in an understanding way.
"Very well. Please come with me, Prince Minseok."
The whole guest house has been prepared for Minseok. His room, the largest, is situated on the top floor with a view of the cityscape. Chanyeol takes the adjacent room while Baekhyun and Jongdae take up rooms across the hall. Chinese guards also line the entryways as well as the perimeter of the guest house. And though Minseok feels safe with the sturdy protection, he wonders if the guards are there to keep intruders out or to keep Minseok in.
It's midday when Minseok retires, having informed through Baekhyun, the necessary people back in Korea.
"Is there a message for the Crown Prince?"
Minseok had hesitated. There was nothing to tell. In a week, his sister would be married. And in the following months after that, Joonmyeon would be bound to another as well. Slowly, but surely, the people around him were slipping away. Inevitable and imminent, there was nothing to be done about the events that were unfurling. Minseok had nothing to do but accept it.
"No" Minseok had answered. "Nothing in particular for the Crown Prince. Please inform everyone that we have safely arrived."
Baekhyun had raised a brow at that. He had not been by Minseok's side more than a year, but still he knew that the relationship between Minseok and the Crown Prince was above special. But like the trained professional he was, Baekhyun had merely bowed and taken his leave. It was not his place to pry in matters that did not concern the state of country. And Prince Minseok's private affairs did not affect the country of Korea as did this very special voyage to China.
"Please call for me when you need it, my Prince" Chanyeol had said before closing the door.
The door softly shuts with a certain scrape of wood on wood. And even with the many staff hovering outside the door, Minseok for the first time since his arrival to China, feels that he can breath just a little lighter.
1:: 3
++++
so, yeah.
everything about royals and such is being made up
by yours truly. pls take with a grain of salt.
pretend like this takes place in another planet
that only seems like earth.
rating: pg
word count: 1297 w.
summary: What if each country still had a royal family in the modern day era? Though they act as figureheads in a world of democracy, royals still exist in a world of palace politics and drama. Minseok is the cousin and best friend to the Crown Prince. He gets sent out to help relations with China to a lonely place without his best friend by his side.
"Why are you telling me this?" Minseok whispers.
Joonmyeon knows that Minseok isn't running away from the assignment. He isn't scared of what is to come. But there is a reason Joonmyeon is there, relaying the message, because the Crown Prince doesn't merely visit the chambers of the second-in-line to give out assignments.
"I wanted to tell you I was sorry" Joonmyeon says with a sigh.
His eyes are downcast and Minseok can see the glossy black of Joonmyeon's eyelashes. They look soft, like the down feathers of Minseok's pet falcon. And little does Minseok know, Joonmyeon too hides sharp talons in his next words.
"I am to get married" Joonmyeon tells him, still unable to meet Minseok's eyes. "They say she's a commoner, but it's a promise our grandfather has made."
"What promise?"
"The late King's promise with his best friend. To marry his friend's granddaughter to the Crown Prince."
"And that's-"
Joonmyeon smiles, eyes crinkling into curved lines. Minseok cannot see Joonmyeon's pupils, cannot see the truth of his emotions reflected in his eyes.
"Yes, that's me, Minseok. I am to be married" he repeats. "Which is why the advisors need reassurance that our relations with China are still as strong as ever."
Minseok hangs his head. Ralph falls with his shifting movement and tumbles to the floor. It's no time for Minseok's childish selfishness. Joonmyeon has always been a wise friend, but at this moment, it is Minseok's turn to serve his Crown Prince.
"I accept, Your Highness" there is no mirth in Minseok's voice; none of the usual sarcasm that accompanies the title. "I will travel to China and make things right."
∆∆∆
The plane ride is uneventful, as Minseok takes a mere party of three other men. He travels knowing he will miss his sister's wedding. No one consoles him and no one dares mention that he will be missed. It's a voyage with the promise of friendship and yet, Minseok feels like he is being sold off as a slave. There had been a huge argument the night before his departure. His parents had whispered angrily into the night, his mother hurtling comments about how powerless his father was to be unable to stop this and his father stating coldly that his mother was being unpatriotic that it was Minseok's duty to serve the King and his country. His mother cries at the airway strip and his father remains grim, even as Minseok's plane takes off.
When he arrives at the airport in Shanghai, he is met with a respectable amount of celebration and there is a sizable entourage that follows him on his drive to the palace. Minseok sits in the sleek black limousine that takes him along the streets of Shanghai. When they arrive, it is a sight that is very different from the streets of Korea. The chambers of the Crown Prince are built in a modern architecture and Minseok stares in awe at the imposing glass windows and sleek steel columns. It is essentially a modern take on the traditional Chinese style of building.
"We have arrived at the guest house."
Minseok clutches at Ralph, stiff on his lap. Joonmyeon had gifted it to him when Minseok was packing. It was a pair to a one of a kind set made especially for the Crown Prince. Minseok had been reluctant to take it, but Joonmyeon had told him.
"Ralph is my dearest friend and he holds a part of me. I would like to to take him more than anything. Hopefully, he can be a comfort to you when I cannot."
Minseok exits the car and with his three guards, he enters the guest house. He braces himself, palms bearing half moon indents from anxiety. But the moment Minseok's been anticipating, never comes.
"His majesty will receive you in a week" one of the attendants inform Minseok's party. "You, Prince Minseok, will be educated on the formalities and etiquette in addressing the Prince of China."
Minseok's cheeks burn with anger. He was to be educated? Just to meet a the Prince who had been the one to summon him in the first place? But raised as a royal, the reaction only registers as pink spots on Minseok's cheeks and ears.
"Very well" he tells his attendant, Tao, who is to be apart of his temporary staff while in China. "I wish to rest now. The journey has been taxing."
In reality, it's been a few hours on the plane in the most comfortable craft there is to offer. But mentally, Minseok is shot. The crowning touch had been the fact that Minseok was to go through hoops and hurdles just to meet the Prince of China. Tao bows and turns to Minseok's three guards.
"I will show Prince Minseok's attendants to their quarters."
"We wish to reside near Prince Minseok" Guard Chanyeol tells him.
"We will sleep where ever necessary" agrees Secretary Baekhyun.
"It is our duty to be with Prince Minseok at all times" comes the quiet voice of Jongdae, the translator.
The attendant Tao curls the ends of his lips in an understanding way.
"Very well. Please come with me, Prince Minseok."
The whole guest house has been prepared for Minseok. His room, the largest, is situated on the top floor with a view of the cityscape. Chanyeol takes the adjacent room while Baekhyun and Jongdae take up rooms across the hall. Chinese guards also line the entryways as well as the perimeter of the guest house. And though Minseok feels safe with the sturdy protection, he wonders if the guards are there to keep intruders out or to keep Minseok in.
It's midday when Minseok retires, having informed through Baekhyun, the necessary people back in Korea.
"Is there a message for the Crown Prince?"
Minseok had hesitated. There was nothing to tell. In a week, his sister would be married. And in the following months after that, Joonmyeon would be bound to another as well. Slowly, but surely, the people around him were slipping away. Inevitable and imminent, there was nothing to be done about the events that were unfurling. Minseok had nothing to do but accept it.
"No" Minseok had answered. "Nothing in particular for the Crown Prince. Please inform everyone that we have safely arrived."
Baekhyun had raised a brow at that. He had not been by Minseok's side more than a year, but still he knew that the relationship between Minseok and the Crown Prince was above special. But like the trained professional he was, Baekhyun had merely bowed and taken his leave. It was not his place to pry in matters that did not concern the state of country. And Prince Minseok's private affairs did not affect the country of Korea as did this very special voyage to China.
"Please call for me when you need it, my Prince" Chanyeol had said before closing the door.
The door softly shuts with a certain scrape of wood on wood. And even with the many staff hovering outside the door, Minseok for the first time since his arrival to China, feels that he can breath just a little lighter.
1:: 3
++++
so, yeah.
everything about royals and such is being made up
by yours truly. pls take with a grain of salt.
pretend like this takes place in another planet
that only seems like earth.