Yunho opens his eyes that morning with a throbbing headache at the back of his skull. It's how he's been waking up lately as his body isn't yet used to being in this human realm. The blinds in his room have been drawn, blocking out the harsh sunrise humans often have to deal with first thing in the morning.

Yunho sighs, and slowly sits up on the springy, wide bed. Even with its spacious size, Yunho's legs still dangle off the edge, so he has to curl a bit to get the most out of the thick covers.

His moon-touched elven blood allows him to see well even in the darkest of areas, and his eyes soon fall on the ring on the wooden table beside his bed (Gia called it a 'nightstand'). It shines a bit, its olive gem casting a gentle halo in the dark. This ring, named after his birth star Star 1117, is what connects him to the royal relatives of his kingdom. And whenever it shines gold instead of green, it means he's being searched after.

Its consistent olive hue means neither his father nor his brother have bothered trying to spiritually contact him.

Yunho isn't one to care a lot about what people think of him, preferring to utilize what little freedom he has as much as possible because it's what keeps him sane. His mother had loved that part of him that dared to oppose the restrictions placed on him, that part of him that wanted to live for himself.

But, she's gone now, and he's never going to see her in person or hug her ever again.

Yunho attempts brushing his fingers through his hair -- a nervous habit of his that his father had always reprimanded -- only to realize his hair's been styled in place, pulled into what Gia called a 'ponytail' when she'd done it for him yesterday evening after he'd bathed (showered).

He'd been quite nervous asking her for help ever since the fiasco on Tuesday, but Gia always assured him that whenever he needed her help with his hair, she would gladly be at his service.

Yunho doubts she'll be available now, probably still sleeping in her room or out doing the very same tasks that led him here.

Getting up, he puts on his slippers and stands upright, not at all used to how small the area is. He's slept in much bigger and grander rooms all his life, surrounded by the finest furnishings and the most colourful of fabrics. But here, everything is of a similar hue, a dull beige that's almost void of life.

He doesn't want to stay in this room any longer, lest he succumbs further to his worries and ever-present loneliness.

Yunho, figuring Gia's relative Mingi and his smaller friend San are most likely awake as well, tries pushing a few wayward strands into place as he's quite an active sleeper. He doesn't think he looks any more presentable than before, but he figures this will have to do.

Why do you care what they think of you? The voice in Yunho's head questions as he rams his ring up his finger, but the truth of the matter's that he just wants someone to talk to, they both look about his age, and San seemed interested in getting closer to him as well.

Mingi, on the other hand...

Yunho sighs, disliking how the male's face lingers on his mind like a hoard of bees to honey, as stubborn and persistent as the person himself.

Mingi kept avoiding him the entire week since what happened on Tuesday, and Yunho would be lying if he said his behaviour didn't bother him a whole lot. In fact, it still bothers him, just like the other moments where Mingi treats him terribly or pretends he isn't even there when they do encounter each other.

And it drives Yunho crazy, because he's never met anyone who dislikes him so much before. Yes, him being the heir to the northern kingdom's throne makes him a target of judgement and such, but never has anyone made their hatred of him so open before.

Yunho wants nothing more than to change that. He is a prince after all, and being a prince requires being able to successfully charm his way into the hearts of others, whether it be loyal subjects or teenage boys with a lot of attitude.

A new-found determination pumping through his veins, Yunho exits his bedroom and goes to the bathing room. He doesn't bathe (as he now prefers doing that at night), but flicks the faucet before the mirror open to douse his face with some cold water. This is something else about this realm he isn't used to: the way he has to do most things by himself because his magic isn't as strong here.

So imagine how surprised he'd been when he discovered he could still heal when he'd closed up Mingi's wound on Tuesday. He usually used this power on himself as he'd been forbidden to perform it on anyone else, as the magic in his blood was deemed 'special'.

Drying his face, Yunho notes his features on the mirror. Predictably, his hair is a little messier now, the long braided end curling down a broad shoulder. His eyes are round and they sparkle, a lush jade that reminds him of the enchanted plants his mother used to tend to when she'd still been alive. His bone structure's gentle yet striking, the graceful arch of his nose and the soft curve of his lips portraying elegance.

Yunho has always been regarded as handsome, a combination of boyish and ethereal that he'd gotten from both his mother and father. But now, as he continues to observe himself in the quiet space and smooths down the large white tshirt he's wearing, he can't help but find fault in himself for having Mingi react to him so severely.

"...kinda hungry. What about pancakes?" A voice reverberates through the air that second, and Yunho tenses up. It sounds like San.

"Sounds great. Hopefully we've got some batter." This voice is definitely Mingi's, a distinctive low and slightly gruff drawl that has Yunho on alert each time he hears it. He can never not pay attention whenever the other male's concerned, which makes it sting all the more when he gets all standoffish.

Yunho decides he should make his presence known now to make the morning a little easier on him.

His long legs quickly get him to the living room, and it's San that notices him first, the guy's eyes wide behind these two large circles perched on his nose that look like glass. While it's very entertaining how awestruck San seems to be every time they meet each other, Yunho hopes that soon enough the shorter can treat him a little less like a royal elf and more like a...friend?

Yunho isn't all too familiar with having acquaintances, as his title often put him in a position where others wanted to use him instead, but he would really like one nonetheless.

"Good morning, you two," he greets, and San hurriedly blinks, snapping out of his daze. "Did you sleep well?"

"Uh, hey, Yunho," San answers with a clear of the throat. He smiles soon after, a gentle, dimpled sight. It reminds him of his mother. "I did, thanks for asking. And you?"

"I slept alright," Yunho says, subconsciously staring Mingi's way. He doesn't look angry, but he isn't smiling either.

In fact, he looks totally unfazed, his eyes deep and brooding, and for a second Yunho forgets whatever he wanted to say next.

"Wanna join us both?" San speaks, his voice dragging Yunho back into the present. "We're gonna make some pancakes."

"Pan...cakes?" Yunho questions, puzzled.

"They're as sweet as the elven ginger rolls you guys eat during Ynita's spiritual holidays. They even look similar too. See?" San types into the strange rectangular object in his hand and shows a series of images to him.

"They look quite similar," Yunho agrees, nodding his head. "But...how do you know all of this?"

At this, San adjusts the glass circles on his face and ducks his head, looking shy. "Um, I just like reading up about stuff like that."

"We should get started on those pancakes," Mingi abruptly cuts in, not looking Yunho's way again. It makes the elf's stomach sink.

"Yep, we should," San smiles, pushing the rectangular thing back into his pocket.

Not wanting to be left out, Yunho takes a step forward. "How can I help make these...pancakes?"

Mingi grimaces. "We don't need your hel -- "

San elbows Mingi's rib, earning a sharp glare. "You're from the northern elven kingdom, right?" At Yunho's nod, he continues. "Which means you're vegetarian. I think we have strawberries around that you can help us cut."

With that, San opens up the refrigerator, bringing out a clear container with red fruit in it.

"Ruby berries," Yunho states, remembering these particular berries often being used as a spread on the freshly baked loaves of bread he likes eating. Well, liked.

San chuckles. "Yeah, and we gotta wash them first. Minnie, can you take out the batter mix?"

Minnie? Yunho never expected Mingi to be referred to in such a childlike, cute way, but it oddly fits. He watches as the guy grumbles beneath his breath as he gets whatever San asked for, and wonders how long they've known each other for.

"Yunho?" San beckons, and Yunho trails after him, a little lost on what to do.

San's efficient at cleaning the 'strawberries', and then he's placing the berries on a board, two small blades in hand. He carefully passes one to Yunho.

"Just try to copy what I do," San gently instructs, and while he's extremely nice about it, Yunho still feels like a child taking its first steps.

Good at absorbing new information, Yunho gets the hang of it in no time. It's such a simple task, but he finds himself preening with pride on the inside when San leaves the rest of the strawberries for him to cut, adding a pleased 'good job' in the process.

Mingi's on the other side of the kitchen, mixing what Yunho figures is the batter while San takes out the pans. Yunho, like before, finds himself looking at the human once more, noting the way his dark brows knit in concentration and how he bites his bottom lip.

It's something Yunho realized the moment they met: how much Mingi reminds him of the elves from the southern kingdom. His features are sharp, with sculpted cheekbones, intense eyes and a set of lips one can't help but stare at.

Someone clears their throat right then. It's San, the shorter looking straight at him.

"Are you done?" He asks, and Yunho freezes, internally short-circuiting.

He blinks. "What?"

"Done with the strawberries, I mean." San's smiling and still friendly with him, which means he probably didn't see anything.

"Y-Yes, of course," Yunho responds, subconsciously shifting strands of his hair aside. "What else can I help with?"

"Do you want a new braid? Mingi's good at that stuff," San says, and the aforementioned male coughs.

"No way" "It's okay". Mingi and Yunho talk at the same time, and Yunho keeps his face cool and unchanged while Mingi frowns at him, not wanting to back down.

San's eyes shift between the two of them, looking awkward. He then clasps his hands, earning their attention. "Yunho, you can go sit down. The pancakes are practically almost done, anyway."

Yunho wants to protest, wants to prove himself even more so Mingi will no longer think he's just leeching off his home, but he figures that if he's further needed, he will be called.

So, he cleans his hands and plops himself down on the couch. Knowing how to navigate a TV this time around, he settles on a movie to watch because a character on it kind of looks like him.

Before he knows it, Yunho's totally involved in the story displayed before him, on the edge of his seat as the show characters have to now deal with a war.

He then hears a giggle to his right, San's dimpled face appearing in his field of vision. The male sits beside him, placing two plates of those pancakes on the small table before them. The appetizing sugary smell alone distracts Yunho from his movie watching, and his mouth waters.

"Normally we eat at the dining table over there, but you looked so into the movie that we decided to join you," San explains, cross-legged as he takes his own plate.

Mingi's seated on an another chair with his food off to the side, looking all sorts of vexed.

"Don't worry, he's just being moody again," San tells Yunho. At that, Mingi glares at him, a certain hard look in his eyes, and San promptly clears his throat, seeming a bit remorseful. Yunho doesn't understand what's going on in the slightest.

Nothing much happens as they eat the pancakes that do taste somewhat of the elven ginger rolls, but Yunho likes it either way. It brings him back home, makes him think of his mum. And although he's in a strange world with people who can't be any more different than him, at that moment he doesn't bother him as much as it should, because he doesn't feel alone right now.

And that makes him believe that things might turn out alright after all.

• • •

a/n: thoughts?