Kingdom Lomond; Prince Lay's Castle

@♥ Queen Ren ((a week and three days later and it's still a little red, fml i'm so pale -.- true, but i want some epic geometric design across my shoulders and upper back))

Yixing paused in gathering the dogs when he noticed Ren crying. He spoke softly, saying, "Ren? If you want to tell me, just say something, okay?" He smiled and slowly continued moving the dogs outside, allowing Ren to have a moment with the puppies by himself.

@❁ Prince Lay (Oh, no. T_T That . And, that confuses me XD Hair is a lot easier to change than skin, to mee. Cx)

Ren held back his squeals and picked up a puppy. "They're so cute," he squeaked. He nuzzled one against his cheek and pecked its head before setting it down and picking up another one. "Why are they so p-perfect?!" He smiled and knelt down, and played with the puppies. He grinned, but he didn't realize that he was crying and tears were rolling down his cheeks. Something about the puppies triggered something in his subconscious past.

@♥ Queen Ren ((lol it just started peeling today, i peeled off so much skin -.- dyeing my hair isn't something i've really ever had an urge to do? i pierced my ears more than once, and i want tattoos, but i don't think i'll dye my hair huhu))

Yixing laughed at Ren's reaction and opened the door to the pen. The puppies ran out and pawed at their feet. "Go on, pick one up, they love being held." He whistled for the rest of the dogs and began herding the puppies outside. "Follow me~"

@❁ Prince Lay (oooh, ow... Hope that goes away soon. :P And it's very high maintenance.)

Ren blinked a few times before widening his eyes and squealing. "OH MY GOODNESS, FREAKING ADORABLE," he squeaked. He bounced up and down in place and looked at Lay as he squished his own cheeks with his hands.

@♥ Queen Ren ((it's on my shoulder; i can only wear a strapless bra -.- ah, gotcha, i have a friend who has had her hair red for like 3 years now, she re-dyes maybe once a month))

Yixing and Ren reached the door to the barn. "They're in here, just follow me." Opening the door, Yixing walked down a few steps and over to a pen in the corner, and waved Ren over. "They're in here so they don't run off at night, we leave the other dogs out in the barn." He looked down at the 3-week-old puppies and grinned.

@❁ Prince Lay (Oh, dear xD Good luck getting over that... And I colored it once, then recolored it again a few weeks later..))

Ren grinned and nodded. "What a kind hyung~" He bounced behind Lay and tugged his sleeve. "I'm so excited, hyung!" He hummed and nearly vibrated with adrenaline. "I haven't seen a puppy in a long time... Other than Tao.."

@♥ Queen Ren ((yeah it's still pretty bad otl... lol how often do you re-dye your hair?))

Yixing smiled and shrugged. "I guess I'd make a great mother? I just like looking after my friends." He led Ren down another hallway, grinning as he walked. The puppies got everyone excited, and he couldn't wait to show Ren. "Yup, just wait until you see them, they're the cutest."

@❁ Prince Lay ((Oh, no. ToT Get better!!!! I went to the somewhat beach we have here.. Didn't get burnt, but since my hair is neon red, the leaking dye made it look like I did. XD))

Ren smiled and nodded. "Thank you, hyung." He continued to bounce alongside Lay. "I'm really okay now," he insisted. "You don't have to always watch me..." He grinned and looked ahead and then gasped. "Are those your puppies," he squealed as he heard puppies barking.

@♥ Queen Ren ((lol went to the beach today and because i'm so pale i got burned ALL over, even my scalp is burnt))

Yixing turned to Ren and looked him straight in the eyes. "Go ahead and tell me anything you remember, it'll help to keep it in your head." Chewing on his lip, he observed Ren closely in case he saw anything.

@❁ Prince Lay () I know xD

Ren smiled and followed Lay. "Thank you, hyung." He bounced behind him and grabbed his sleeve to hold it. "I think.." He squinted his eyes and began to think. "I think I'm trying to remember something." He smiled up at Lay cheesily.

@♥ Queen Ren ((lol the struggle is real))

Yixing nodded and stood. "Yeah, let's go grab the dogs first, there are some puppies that would enjoy a nap." He motioned towards the door and chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, it's not too far away, you'll be sleeping in no time."

@❁ Prince Lay ((Oooh, yeah. ._. And my phone is a Balckderpy- I mean a Derpberry- I mean, Blackberry. :P))

Ren smiled softly and hummed. "So was mine," he blurted. He tilted his head and questioned what he had just said. "Nevermind that," he dismissed. "Can we nap outside? I did that by accident the first day I got home," he said with a laugh as he stood up. "I got overly-excited and fell on my face in the grass. I was so comfy that I stayed!"

@♥ Queen Ren ((that is... unfortunate...))

Yixing chuckled. "Good, because my dogs can be a little much sometimes." He glanced over and noticed that Ren was half asleep, and giggled quietly. "Ren? We can sleep a little longer if you want."

@❁ Prince Lay ((Awwh, good!! ^^ Congrats! If so use mine for longer than five minutes, it derps.))

Ren smiled. "That's very smart, hyung," he admitted with a laugh. "I really love animals." He grinned, then sighed out of habit. He stretched as well, then began to stare into space. He was perfectly content and somewhat sleepy, so he began to doze, even if they had just woken up minutes before.

@♥ Queen Ren ((ah, gotcha~ my laptop is finally ready to use, i'm so happy ;;))

Yixing grinned sheepishly. "Well if we're going to take a basket with us, we need to pack it now?" He waved to a servant to take their plates, and thanked him, stretching in his seat. "The dogs are cute, you'll like them a lot."

@❁ Prince Lay ((Yeeeep. Well, on vacation anyway..))

Ren blushed softly, then continued to eat. "Okqy..." He cleared his plate and left it spotless. He then chuckled and turned to Yixing. "We literally just ate and you're already thinking about lunch?" He laughed some more before finishing his drink.

@♥ Queen Ren ((are you in high school rn??))

Yixing paused while eating a piece of egg. "Aish, that's not necessary. It's goodwill between friends, okay? I enjoy helping you." He finished his eggs and suddenly brightened. "Do you want to have a picnic for lunch? There's a great spot near the beach that's perfect for picnics."

@❁ Prince Lay ((All the specifics past high school.. :P))

Ren looked in awe at the food before him and his lips as his stomach roared. He hit himself in the stomach to cease its noise, then grabbed a plate with eggs and toast, and a glass of milk. "Thank you, hyung.." He smiled softly. "I promise, when I get back to my palace, I'll send you reimbursement for everything."

@♥ Queen Ren ((decided what, classes?))

Yixing took Ren down the stairs and into the dining hall to eat. "We've got a lot of food to feed everyone in the castle, go ahead and eat whatever you want." He grabbed some eggs and toast and sat down to eat.

@❁ Prince Lay ((Aaah, I completely understand. @_@ I haven't decided, yet. ^^))

Yixing's smile nearly smothered Ren with 'feels' as he beamed right back at him. He enjoy dimples very much, and on his best friend, it made it better. He bowed slightly and hummed softly. "Thank you, hyung." He then followed Yixing to where he intended to take him.

@♥ Queen Ren ((lol same ^^ i couldn't handle that many classes though...))

"Of course." Lay opened the door to his room, and led Ren down the hall. "They need to be fed, anyway, and they're loads of fun to play with." He gave him a dimpled smile. "Don't worry, you're not anywhere near annoying."

@❁ Prince Lay ((Moooosik!! :3))

Ren barely caught the robe after fumbling it, but quickly slipped it on. He looked up at Lay as he followed him and shrugged. "Really? I mean... If you want to," he said, timidly. "If that's not a bother to you."

@♥ Queen Ren ((yup~ i've heard some people say 22, i don't think that's possible -.- they're music majors though, so it might be different))

Lay nodded in return slowly. There had to be a way to get Ren used to people again, but slowly... "Yeah, follow me, we'll go to the kitchen." He tossed Ren a robe and slipped his own on. "Hey, we have a lot of dogs that hang around our stable, would you like to play with them after breakfast? It might help with your people problems, since they're so friendly."

@❁ Prince Lay ((Wooow!! That's not bad! ^^))

Ren hugged Lay back comfortably, but as soon as he pulled away he felt anxious again. "Okay..." He chewed his lip and nodded. "That sounds great." He smiled a bit before looking up. He blushed as they made eye contact and shuffled his feet. "I'm sorry, hyung... I just.. It's been so long since I saw another person. I still feel strange around other people." He looked up again and attempted to smile brightly. "I'd love to go eat.."

@♥ Queen Ren ((i'm taking 16 hours this semester, i think?))

Lay gave Ren a soft smile and pulled him into a hug. "Shh, don't worry." He pulled back to look Ren in the eyes, trying to ascertain how he was feeling. Lay wasn't trying to make him uncomfortable, but he could see his efforts weren't quite working. Smiling again, he said, "How about we go and get breakfast now?"

@❁ Prince Lay ((Ooooh, I see. @_@ Good luck, lovely.))

Ren looked up at Lay and blinked once or twice. "O... Okay," he said, timidly, as he tried to smile. He used Lay's help to pull himself to his own feet before rubbing his arms awkwardly. "I really appreciate it.." He looked down at his feet again not knowing what else to do.

@♥ Queen Ren ((ah, really? you'd think it'd be cooler there... but it was still cool today. i haven't really been busy, just getting ready for uni~))

Lay shook his head and knelt down next to Ren. "It's fine, don't worry about it. You didn't offend me at all." He reached a hand out to rub his back. "I can understand your situation, just relax here, okay?" Standing slowly, he offered a hand to Ren to stand.

@❁ Prince Lay ((Idaho CX Blegh. And, they are. @_@ Have you been busy, dear??))

Ren nods quickly and holds his hands up defensively. "I-I didn't mean--" He blushes and looks down as he feels he had insulted Lay. "I meant, we--" He paused. "I.. Don't hire servants. Mainly because I've been away so long, but also because there isn't work in the castle to be done. I haven't been to the village in... A long, long time, so I don't know how things are running, there. I hope it's okay," he muttered. "S-Sorry if I said somethig wrong." He chewed his lip and stood up on the floor, then knelt and bowed. "I-I didn't mean to offend you, really."

@♥ Queen Ren ((ah, where do live that it's so hot? i live in illinois, it's actually been pretty cool O.o are the kids that evil??))

Sitting up, Lay yawed as well. He propped himself up with an arm and rubbed at his eyes. "Yeah, they make food. I don't mind making food, but having servants is a good way to employ people... I would rather they have jobs." He moved so he was sitting cross-legged and shrugged. "But hey, whatever you want to do. Your kingdom is different than mine, and I respect that."

@❁ Prince Lay (( My love! *Glomps* I've been so hot lately-- saaave me from the evil kids? =w= ... What about you???))

Ren yawned and nodded. "Yes, please, hyung..." He stretched his arms above his head, causing his nightgown to slip off his shoulder again. He merely pulled it up again. "Do your... 'servants' fix food? Mine don't... I like to fix my own food." He eyesmiled, though he didn't like the word 'servant.' He patted Lay's head.