↤P A R A D I G M↦

二十六

UwU 

I did NOT mean to starve y'all (FORGIVE MEEE)

RMBR TO SHEESH

(STAY HEALTHY, EAT EVERYTHING, STAY HYDRATED)

-Scarlet/Rain<33

Hallowtide had passed uneventfully, with Seonghwa and Wooyoung too busy rewriting the Book Of Lanarian Law (yes Seonghwa had changed the name because it sounds better this way) to attend the festivities, and since Britney had fallen ill, subsequently getting Jiwoon and Stacy sick before they could finally quarantine her, the Community Home couldn't partake either, much to Jiwoon's dismay.

Hongjoong hated isolating the poor kids, but he couldn't let them roam without the worry of the sickness spreading or getting worse, so he stuck them in the shared bedroom till he could get a doctor to come down.

And since then, he'd still been unable to persuade anyone to come down, they all either insisted he bring them to their clinic, or they just outright refused. 

Hongjoong was hitting blanks left and right everywhere he turned, and he had no choice but to pay a (well-earned and much wanted) visit to Seonghwa. His pride obviously kept him away for a while, refusing to ask the king of Lanaria, who he momentarily forgotten had been his friend, for highly needed help.

But, he successfully got there, breaking into Seonghwa's office and snooping around until he waited for Seonghwa to come in and catch him.

Stupid idea of course, what if someone else came in?

Never crossed Hongjoong's mind really, till someone actually came in.

A woman, who's height was barely taller than Hongjoong's, opened the door, seeming to be doing errands for the king. 

She spotted Hongjoong (who was sitting in Seonghwa's chair) instantaneously and let out a high pitched scream. Hongjoong jumped up and rushed to cover her mouth, but it was far too late, as the sounds of footsteps could be heard from in the hallway.

"Fuck," Hongjoong sighed, the woman scampering out of the room to go inform the person, or people, who was inside. 

Much to Hongjoong's surprise, a bark of laughter was the only response and the sound of the footsteps drawing increasingly near. Hongjoong sat back down in the chair and waited, smiling as Seonghwa entered the room and shot him a curious grin.

"What're you doing here Captain?" Seonghwa chuckled and leaned on the desk, hovering over Hongjoong with his head tilted curiously like a cat.

"I came for help," Hongjoong sighed, Seonghwa's smile fading into a look of concern as Hongjoong went on, "Britney, Jiwoon, and Stacy have fallen ill and I don't know what it is. They've been quarantined inside their bedroom but, no doctors will come and help because of me."

Seonghwa sighed, "Most people in power or with importance are bigots, I'll get the RD to come down and check them out."

"RD?" Hongjoong tilted his head inquisitively and leaned forward, a faint blush adorning Seonghwa's cheeks as the taller took a step away.

"Royal Doctor," Seonghwa crossed his arms as he spoke, "want for her to come now or?"

Hongjoong shook his head and smiled softly, "Nah, it's getting quite late. Tomorrow?"

Seonghwa nodded and rounded the table, pulling Hongjoong out of his chair and setting the twink aside as he took his rightful place on said chair, "You going to stay any longer? Wooyoung's in the drawing room, drawing."

"What's a drawing room?" Hongjoong asked as he headed to the door, Seonghwa shrugging and waving him off.

┉┈◈♛◈┈┉

(Oopsies FNF got me sidetracked)

After extensive exploration of the castle, Hongjoong finally stumbled upon the drawing room, which indeed did have Wooyoung and Yunho, scribbling away on plain white parchment. Wooyoung was drawing a fox, while Yunho was drawing a puppy, quite fitting don't you think?

"Wooyoung, Yunho," Hongjoong called out softly, Yunho and Wooyoung instantly hopping up to go greet Hongjoong. Wooyoung hugged Hongjoong while Yunho allowed his head to get patted by the shorty.

"Why're you here?" Wooyoung asked curiously, his chin leaning against Hongjoong's shoulder as he looked at him with half lidded eyes, probably from the child's bedtime nearing. 

"Had to ask Seonghwa something, but I'm going now and just wanted to say hi," Hongjoong patted Wooyoung's head affectionately while Yunho sighed and nudged Hongjoong's shoulder.

"I have to talk to you about something," the knight pulled Hongjoong out of the drawing room and leaned against the stone wall beside the door, "it's about that prick, Wade."

Hongjoong perked up, his eyes shining with irritation and intrigue as he muttered, "Go on."

"He's been popping up everywhere, along with his posters of you. He's got most of the barracks convinced you're evil and have brainwashed Seonghwa," Yunho fiddled with the hilt of his sword while Hongjoong began pacing.

Finally, Hongjoong spoke, "Me and Wade stopped being friends years ago...but only now has he started warranting for my arrest and hanging. How odd."

"I bet he's being paid," a small voice, Wooyoung, squeaked from under the door, causing Yunho to kick the door and snap, "Prince Wooyoung, get to bed!"

Wooyoung left the drawing room and headed to his bedroom with a pout, while Hongjoong chuckled, "Little eavesdropper. He does have a point though, what if Wade's being paid to do this?"

Yunho shook his head and crossed his arms, while Hongjoong continued pondering and resumed his pacing.

"Stop pacing, you're going to wear the carpet down," Yunho pulled Hongjoong off the carpet and to a standstill, the shorter guy nodding and leaning on the wall beside him.

"It's making me think though..." Hongjoong trailed off as he tapped his foot, Yunho nodding in agreement.

"We should look into it more," Yunho pushed himself off the wall and waved, bidding Hongjoong goodnight and going back to his guard quarters. Hongjoong waved and returned to Seonghwa's office, which was now sadly devoid of human life.

Hongjoong kicked Seonghwa's chair down before leaving with a smirk, navigating his way home through the markets and ripping all of his wanted posters off the wall. He dumped the paper at Yoojung's stall, the old man would definitely use it to wrap up his wares.

He attracted a few stares, but they all went unnoticed by him as he clambered onto the rooftops and hopped home, unaware of the glint of a silver blade and the pair of yellow eyes watching him from below.

LUV Y'ALL

SCHOOL CAMP

STILL HYPING IT UP 

BUT

I'LL HAVE CHAPTERS FOR AFTER SCHL CAMP AS WELLL