#kinda dukeceit

[quackkaz]

Remus : *glaring at Virgil for being mean to Janus*

Virgil : Don’t look at me like that.

Remus : *grins and bites bottom lip*

Virgil : Don’t look at me like that either.

#its so them I can’t #incorrect quote #sanders sides #sanders sides incorrect quotes #virgil sanders #remus sanders #janus sanders #the dark sides being a chaotic family because yes. #the dark sides #kinda intruceit #kinda trashnoodle #kinda demus #kinda receit #kinda dukeceit #kinda dukexiety

[naminethewriter]

How It All Began

Chapter Four: A New Deal

Masterpost | First | Previous | Next | Ao3

Story Summary: Remus, son of a simple fisherman, had worked hard to become the captain of his own pirate ship. And in his humble opinion, it was going great! His crew was small but reliable and they had just stolen something that could them some nice cash from a military vessel they happened to cross on the open sea. They just needed to hide it somewhere until it was safe to sell. How lucky for them that they come across a nice, uninhabited island.

Little did Remus know just who he would find on that little piece of land and how it would change his life entirely.

Content Warning: Clay Construct that fails to emulate human anatomy, References to past Abuse, Riddles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logan was quite nervous. Janus had returned a few days after their last conversation to inform him that his patron wanted to speak to him in person about the request he made for Remus. She would arrive on the island the next day when the sun was at its apex to speak to him. It was just about time and Logan was pacing up and down his campsite. He was confident in Remus’ sincerity when making the request, he was unsure of whether he could properly convey as much to his patron.

Yes, he had talked with Lady Ala many times before but that still didn’t change her intimidating presence when he did. She was on the Council of Elemental Spirits for Nature’s sake! He could never meet her completely relaxed.

A rumble shook him out of his thoughts. No more time for worrying. She was here.

The ground under him vibrated as a mound of earth formed on the other side of the fire pit. It grew taller and taller, about seven feet before it formed humanoid features, a head with long hair and kind eyes on a slender body, smooth as the clay it was formed from. The limbs were just a bit too long and didn’t bend quite right which, along with the sheer height, made for an unsettling sight.

“Logan,” a melodic voice spilled past freshly formed lips that moved but didn’t have a mouth to conceal. “I hope you have been well.” Logan shook himself from his stupor and bowed. He had seen this process a few times before already, but it never failed to stun him.

“Yes, Your Grace. I haven’t been lacking.”

“Good. Good.” She smiled, her lips stretching too far along her face to seem human. “I am pleased to hear you make a request of us. I am always willing to hear you out, you know?”

“Yes, of course.” Logan did know that. Lady Ala had made it clear early on in their partnership that she wanted him to be comfortable in his new life since he had proven himself worthy of it. Still, Logan struggled with asking for more than the bare minimum he needed. His moss bed was something he had only been comfortable asking for after around fifty years of serving her.

“Though, this request isn’t technically for you, correct?”

“Indeed. It is for a… friend of mine.”

“You do not sound sure of using that title for him.” Her voice was as serene as before, but Logan felt like there was an edge to it. It must just be his nerves talking.

“We only briefly met but I do believe he is sincere. He spent a lot of time asking me questions about my… situation and was very forthcoming with personal information.”

“You spend such brief time together and yet he asked something so important of you?”

“It was a rare opportunity. There are few like me out there and there was no guarantee that we would meet again.”

“Is that what he told you or what you simple believe to be truth?”

Logan faltered. “He… did not tell me so outright but he implied as much before. And I do believe his intentions to be sincere. He does not wish to exploit you.”

“How are you so sure, my dear Logan? In such short time it is hard to find a person’s true character.”

“With all due respect, Lady Ala, but I am well acquainted with the sort of man who would seek you out solely to satisfy their greed.” Logan looked up at the clay construct that his patron had chosen to speak through. “I spent three years as their prisoner, unable to leave their ship. I know their eyes, the words they speak, the way they twist their words to present themselves in a better light. I know the ones that try to act like they pity me, that try to fool me into trusting them to get what they want. I spend three long years suffering under their hands. Remus is not like them. He is honest in his curiosity. He does not hide his blemishes. He has embraced who he is and forges his own path no matter what others say. He does not wish you harm or seek to exploit you. He is simply curious.”

Lady Ala was silent for a long moment, watching him from her high vantage point but Logan didn’t shrink under her gaze.

“You speak very highly of this person.”

“Yes, he is one of the most impressive people I have ever met. I think he deserves a chance to prove himself to you as well.”

“Very well. I will grant him a chance.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“How could I not be intrigued by a man that you chose to put your trust into, my dear Logan? I was worried you were growing lonely recently.” She watched him attentively. Logan knew she saw him as one of her ‘children’ and that she cared about him more than his research, even if not everyone on the Council shared that sentiment. But he couldn’t see her in that light at all. She was superior to him, a being higher than himself, he couldn’t familiarize himself with her in that way. And she respected that, thankfully.

“I am very satisfied with my living conditions here, Your Grace. Janus and Virgil are companionship enough for me.”

“If you say so, I shall believe it.” She nodded her head and straightened her posture, towing at her full height over him. “Now then. In regard to the trial the human you call Remus shall face, along with those he travels with, I will leave it to Janus to deliver the quest. He will be his last judge. You will relocate as planned. You are not to provide aid to this human.”

“How could I aid him if I am away from here? I will be gone before he returns.”

“Indeed. However, I shall share with you the details of his quest. You are not to leave aid for him here when you leave.”

Logan frowned slightly but nodded. “Understood.”

“Good. Then listen.”

~~~

Two hours later, Logan walked across the island, following along the creek upstream. From what Lady Ala had told him, the trial Remus had to overcome to prove his worth wasn’t all that complicated, even if he knew that the instructions themselves would be presented in a riddle. Still, Remus was an intelligent man, Logan had no doubt that he would be able to figure out what he was meant to do. But there was one part of the trial that he supposed Remus could use some advice on. Lady Ala had forbidden him from aiding Remus in his quest, but Logan was sure he could leave a simple book recommendation behind for the pirate to find, right? He arrived at a familiar cliff and stuffed a ripped page from his notebook into his pocket and started climbing.

Once he returned to camp it was time to start packing. His time here was up. He just hoped he would encounter Remus again on another island somewhere out there.

~~~

Almost half a year. Remus hated that it took them almost half a year to return to Logan’s island. The damned navy wouldn’t give up controlling ships entering harbors in order to find the seal until last month. Being a pirate in general during those months had kinda been a pain, but they managed just fine. And now the whole thing had passed, and they should be able to smuggle the seal to a good buyer without much problem. Not that Remus cared that much about it anymore, he just wanted to see Logan again. The man had been haunting his dreams and maybe not just because he was an Immortal.

Maybe Remus just thought his eyes were pretty.

He was gay, fucking sue him.

Anyway, they were approaching their destination at a steady pace and should arrive there before noon the next day. Remus was so excited he considered not sleeping for the whole night. Which was a stupid plan, especially since he had already been sleeping less these past few days due to being too excited. He suspected that his crew knew they weren’t only returning to grab the seal but none of them had asked him any questions. He and Patton hadn’t told them anything about Logan so far and Remus didn’t want to share with them more until he was sure they would actually get the chance to prove themselves to the Elemental Spirits themselves.

A knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Come in!”

His door opened but a crack before Patton’s voice floated over to him, “You’re decent, right, Captain?”

Remus snorted. “Yes, Pat. I got all my clothes on, don’t worry.” The cook peeked inside, only stepping across the threshold when he saw that Remus hadn’t lied.

“We’ll be at our destination about two hours after sunrise according to Corbin,” Patton reported with a small smile.

“Good.”

“The others are wondering how long we’re going to be docking there this time.”

“I have no idea, Pat. I guess it depends on what Logan’s got for us. If it’s just a straight up ‘no’ then I guess we would stay for like a day or two to chat, maybe introduce him to the rest of the crew if he’s chill with it. If it’s a ‘yes’ though… Well, then there’s no telling where it will lead us. As Logan said, we’ll have to prove ourselves worthy to meet the Council and whatever we have to do to do so? We’ll do it.”

“I understand. So, I’m telling the others to be ready to take off again whenever?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Okay, got it.” Patton nodded while fiddling with his sleeves. “Are you really sure about this, Remus?” He asked quietly, almost too quiet for Remus to hear. He knew Patton had his doubts – well, he still had his doubts about their whole profession, but this was another other level of danger. Him using his name instead of his title just stressed how much it was on his mind.

“I’m super certain, Pat. If you don’t want to come along then I understand, of course. We’ll set you off at a good harbor.”

Immediately, Patton shook his head. “No, I promised I would stick with you, no matter what and I meant it! You saved my life, I’m staying.”

“Patton, I…”

“No, I know. You don’t see it as a debt and neither do I, I just want to help you.”

Remus sighed. “Yeah, I know. I just don’t want you to force yourself into danger for my sake.”

“I’m not. I want to meet the Spirits, too. I’m just worried what will happen if things go wrong.”

“Oh, I’m sure they will!” Remus laughed, winking at Patton. “But whatever happens, I’m sure we can handle it. We always managed before, haven’t we?”

“I wish I had your confidence,” Patton chuckled weakly. “But okay, I’ll give your orders to the crew. Try to sleep, Captain. Tomorrow is going to be a lot.”

“Yeah, I know. I promise, I’ll try to sleep. Goodnight, Pat.”

“Goodnight, Captain.”

~~~

True to Corbin’s word, they anchored by Logan’s island a little over two hours after sunrise. Remus and Patton were the only ones to set off towards land this time and the captain was determined to meet Logan on his own for now. Patton respected his choice and waited on the beach. Remus entered the jungle alone and thankfully he had a good memory and a trusty compass that guided him in the right direction towards Logan’s camp quickly.

He found the path he had traversed with Logan back then, but it was different than before. More overgrown. As if nobody had walked along it for a while. A bad feeling spread through Remus’ chest and he quickened his steps. Maybe he was just imagining it. Maybe Logan just hadn’t had a reason to come this way recently. Yeah, he was sure the nerd was fine. He had to be.

Still, the sense of dread wouldn’t leave him alone the entire way to Logan’s camp. His eyes flitted around without rest, hyperaware of every movement around him, though it was mostly leaves being swayed by the rather strong winds of the day. Remus tried to take deep breaths to calm himself down but that was kinda hard to do while powerwalking along an uneven path.

Ten minutes later he broke through the line of trees into the clearing that contained Logan’s camp.

And his heart sank.

There was nothing there.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. The indent of the fireplace was still there but it was empty. As was the space under the stone awning that had previously held Logan’s bed and belongings.

No trace of the Immortal was left.

Remus gripped the locket on his chest through his shirt as his heartbeat picked up.

He panicked.

He began to run, calling out Logan’s name in the hopes that he was mistaken. He had to be on the island somewhere, right? Maybe he had just moved his camp for some reason. That was the only explanation Remus could think of.

Well, that wasn’t true, but it was the only positive explanation he could think of.

He forced himself to not think about the possibility that his request could have led to Logan suffering the consequences. That the Council had rescinded their blessing because he had been too greedy.

Remus ran, calling and calling, but he didn’t receive an answer.

He ran around like a headless chicken for about ten minutes until he broke through the tree line again onto a beach. Not the beach where Patton was waiting with the rowboat but a small bay that was quite hidden between two cliffsides. There, Remus stopped, gasping for breath. He leaned on his knees, staring at the sand beneath him as he tried to force air back into his lungs.

“You’re quite a loud one,” a voice commented. It wasn’t one Remus had heard before, but he was sure it was just in his head, after all, no one else but him and Patton were here. And Logan. Hopefully.

“I gotta…” He heaved for air. “I gotta find him.” Why was he talking to a voice in his head? Because he needed to sort his thoughts and talking out loud helped him with that.

“Why?”

“Because I told him I’d come back.”

“Well, he’s not here.”

“He has to be. If he’s not here then… where is he?”

“If this is about your meeting with the Council, I am here to speak with you about that.” Remus head snapped up. Maybe this wasn’t a voice in his head after all.

His green eyes met gleaming gold. A Siren sat on a stone jutting out of the sea in front of him, the tail disappearing under the waves lapping at the rock. The sun caused his scales to sparkle, and his long hair flowed in the wind like some sort of goddess paintings he had seen in the few temples he had visited.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” Remus breathed. Apparently loud enough for the siren to hear because he raised a brow. “Sorry, you caught me off guard.”

“Yes, I noticed. So, the deal.” The siren opened his mouth to continue but Remus cut him off.

“Wait, what about Logan?”

“Why do you care? I’ll give you your task, that’s what you want, right?” His voice was cold, and Remus remembered Logan mentioning that both of the siren’s he made regular contact with weren’t fond of humans. This was probably one of them.

“I mean, I can’t say I don’t want it but I also wanna know if Logie’s okay. He’s my friend and if my asking him for an audience with the Council got him in trouble, I don’t want to meet them.” The siren looked at him skeptically, taking his time deliberating his words.

He seemed to deem him sincere after a few moments because he reassured him, “Logan’s fine. He just moved to another isle.”

“Why? Did I do something?” Again, the siren looked surprised.

“No. His relocation was decided long before you came here. It just happened to coincide with your appearance and request.”

“So I can go see him then? Wherever he is now? You know, right?”

“I do. But I’m not going to tell you.” The siren said it with a grin, showing off his sharp teeth. Remus scowled.

“Why not?”

“Because it would make this thing rather pointless, wouldn’t it?” From behind his back, the mer pulled a glass bottle into view. From the distance Remus could see it contained a role of paper. “This holds your instructions to prove yourself worthy of being considered for an audience, as you call it.” Remus watched as he played with the bottle, suspicious of the siren’s intentions.

“What’s the catch? And what does it have to do with me meeting Logan again?”

“If you do this correctly, then it will lead you to Logan’s new home and if you make it there in one piece, you will be allowed to take on the real tests to prove your honest intentions towards the Council. A trial run, I believe you humans call it.”

“Then give it here.” Remus held out his hand, ready to catch the bottle if thrown but the siren just smiled coyly and placed it back behind him.

“Not yet, I think.”

“Why?” The pirate grit his teeth in irritation. The mer was burning daylight, he wanted to get going, to figure out where Logan went.

“Because I’m not willing to acknowledge you as a candidate yet. Logan says he trusts you, but I don’t buy it. You two met three times and one of those you killed him. And yet he wants to give you a chance to meet the entities he has sworn to protect and serve? It doesn’t add up.” The siren stared at him with piercing eyes full of mistrust. Fine, he wanted to play this game? Remus would oblige.

“What do you want me to do then? To earn your trust?”

“I have questions for you. Answer them and I might give you the bottle. And don’t try to lie to me, I can tell when you do.”

With a sign, Remus let himself fall on his butt in the sand. “Shoot.”

~~~

Remus let himself be interrogated for hours. He answered the siren’s questions, no matter how private. At least the ones about himself. The mer also tried to get detail about his crew but Remus refused to offer up their information without their consent. He figured he did the right thing there when the siren didn’t push him further. Eventually the questions stopped and they simply stared at each other for a while. Remus didn’t speak up, daring the siren to continue badgering him.

“Fine. I have to admit, Logan’s seems like a better judge of character than I thought,” the mer sighed and threw the bottle in Remus’ direction. It landed a few feet to his left with a dull thud. Remus didn’t reach for it right away, watching the siren. “What are you waiting for, pirate?”

“What’s your name?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“I just want to know. Logan told me about two sirens that visit him and I think I know which one you are.”

“Oh, really?” the other asked, brows raised again. “Enlighten me then.”

“Janus, right?”

“Correct.” The siren looked like he had bit into something bitter as his name left Remus’ lips. “You have quite the memory.”

“I tend to remember things I find interesting. And I’ve always wanted to meet a siren.”

“You didn’t look so happy to meet me a few hours ago.”

“Yeah, ‘cause I was worried about Logan more. You promise he’s alright?”

“Yes. He is fine and doing his research like he’s supposed to.” Remus glanced at the bottle before meeting Janus’ gaze again.

“And if I manage to clear your trial, I can see him again.”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” Remus got up, shaking the sand off his pants before finally going over to grab the glass container and looking inside. It indeed was a rolled-up piece of paper. He put the bottle in his satchel to look at when he was back on the ship. “Thank you,” he said to the siren that looked surprised at his words.

“Why thank me? I kept you here and made you humor me.”

“Yeah, and that was kinda a dick move, but you also gave me a way to meet my friend again, so I’ll take it.”

“You’re strange, human.”

“So I’ve heard. Can I go now?” The siren waved his arm as if to shoo him off and with an eye roll, Remus walked back into the jungle. Behind him he heard the splash of Janus diving back into the water. He really hoped that one day he could bombard the siren with his own questions, but for now he had a seal to collect, a crew to return to and a piece of paper to pull out of a bottle and decipher. He pulled out his compass. Time to find his way back to the creek.

~~~

Around two hours later, Remus pulled Patton into his quarters. He had told his crew to set sail towards the harbor where he hoped to sell the seal. Meanwhile, he and Patton would see what was given to them by Janus.

“And you’re sure Logan’s fine?” Patton asked for the third time after Remus pulled the door shut behind him.

“I think we can trust the siren’s words, yeah.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Me neither, but there’s nothing else we can do. This—“ He held up the glass bottle. “—is the only clue we have, so let’s concentrate on that.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I just worry,” Patton sighed, sitting down in a chair in front of Remus’ desk while the captain sat behind it.

“I know, Pat. Let’s get you distracted.” With a grin, Remus held up the bottle, fully intending to smash it against the desk to break it open.

“STOP!” Patton all but screamed, eyes wide. “Captain, that’s a horrible idea! The shards would be everywhere. They will hit us!”

“Oh, right. Oops?” The other glared at Remus but didn’t say more. Instead, he took the bottle from Remus and inspected the neck and contents.

“I think the paper is wrapped tightly enough that it will just slip out if we pull the cork.”

“Boring!”

“Want me to get Emile so he can lecture you about safety procedures again?”

“Don’t threaten me, Pat, this is my fucking ship.” Despite his words, Remus’ tone was more akin to a whine than actual annoyance.

“Then don’t put yourself in harm’s way over a stupid message in a bottle.” Patton pulled out a corkscrew out of his pocket – he really carried that around with him? – and gently shook the paper out. It fell into his hands, and he handed it over to Remus who eagerly pulled away the piece of twine keeping it rolled up. It wasn’t very big and only a few lines were written on it. He read it out:

“To find where you need to go, visit the roaring mountain lying between the Mouth of the Ocean and the Ever-Frozen Isle. Offer your precious to the heart of the temple standing on the mountain’s side and then the stars shall guide you to your destiny.”

Both of them were quiet for a moment, trying to process the words. Remus read the note over and over while Patton stared at the ceiling in thought.

“I think I know what they mean by ‘Ever-Frozen Isle’,” Remus muttered, squinting at the paper in his hand, “but what the hell is a ‘roaring mountain’ supposed to be?”

“Couldn’t that mean a volcano?” Patton questioned. “I don’t know a lot about sea legends apart from what you told me since they weren’t common where I come from, but we did have some about volcano outbreaks. And in those there would be verses like ‘the mountains roared and the flames followed’ or something along those lines.”

“Hm, makes sense, I guess,” Remus hummed. “Then what is the ‘Mouth of the Ocean’?”

“I never heard of it. What do you think the ‘Ever-Frozen Isle’ is?”

“It’s a common legend about an Island in the south seas where it’s always winter. It’s supposed to be super beautiful but getting there requires sailing through quite a few hazards, not to mention that you need to be prepared for the freezing temperatures once there, so there aren’t many records about it.”

“Fascinating!” Patton was on the edge of his seat listening to Remus. “I would love to see it; I’ve never even seen snow!”

Remus laughed. “Maybe someday we’ll go there if we can find some stuff to protect us from the cold.” The other beamed. “Anyway, this will require research, I think. We’ll ask the others if they can think what any of this means but even if they do, we’ll likely need more precise coordinates and maps.” They’d most likely need to visit a library. Remus hated places that forced quietness. Patton looked at him empathetically.

“Maybe it won’t be so bad. Let’s see what the others think first? How much are we telling them anyway?”

“Just that we got something interesting going on and that they’ll get the details later. I don’t want to get their hopes up.”

“I understand,” Patton smiled weakly. He didn’t like secrets, but those were his captain’s orders, so he would stay quiet on the subject. He was about to stand and make his way to the door to gather the crew but suddenly stopped short. “Did you get the seal?”

Oh right. Over all of Patton’s worrying over Logan, he had forgotten to check the box he had retrieved from the hiding place the Immortal had shown them. He pulled the wooden container out of the satchel and placed it on the desk in front of him. Patton leaned closer to peek inside. Remus opened the lid to find the seal where he had left it, as well as a piece of paper that hadn’t been there before. He pulled it out, unfolded it and began to read.

Dear Remus (and Patton),

I apologize that I am not there to greet you, but I must to continue my research elsewhere.

This has been planned for a while and I cannot stall it any longer, nor do I truly want to.

If you are serious about your request, I am sure we will meet again soon.

Speaking of which, I was told not to aid you and I shall refrain from doing so, however, I wanted to share with you a rumor I heard while still at court before my time with the Spirits.

Back then there was talk of a book, written by a rather well-known researcher on the subject of Sirens and their culture. The man, Frederick van Woodsworth was his name, I believe, had been believed to been lost at sea for many years before he miraculously returned one day. He spoke of having been saved by a siren and living alongside them for a long period of time. Of course, he was deemed insane for his claims, after all, it was widely believed back then that Sirens are nothing but bloodthirsty creatures out to kill humans. Woodsworth was ridiculed and cast out.

He wrote his experiences down in a book and attempted to publish it but was detained for treason. The copies of his book should still exist, however. I heard of one of them being kept in the library of Marblerock Port, not far from here. It’s probably not accessible to the public, however.

I hope you find use in this tale.

Until we meet again,

Logan

Remus stared at the letter with a raised brow.

“What the fuck is he trying to say with this?!”

“I’m not sure,” Patton hummed, suddenly standing behind him and reading over his shoulder. “Maybe he just thought you might find it interesting since you told him you’d like to meet a siren one day?”

“I don’t know. I feel like he’s trying to tell me something, but I have no clue what.” Remus squinted at the letters, trying to will them to reveal their secrets to him. Nothing happened, sadly. “I don’t have the patience for riddles! And now I have two!” he groaned. Patton pat him on the shoulder.

“Let’s look on the bright side! You and I already have some leads on two parts of the riddle and I’m sure the others have something to contribute, too. And if we need to do some research anyway, going to this specific library works just as well as going to any other, right?”

“Yeah, I guess. Let’s see if the others can prove to me that it’s beneficial to keep them around.”

“That’s not nice!” Patton protested, but Remus was already moving past him.

“Relax, Pat. It’s just a joke. They could all break a leg tomorrow and I would let them stay, you know that. Hell, they can haunt me if they want, I still wouldn’t want to get rid of them.”

“Yes, I know,” Patton giggled, following his captain out of the room and up on deck.

“Okay, chucklefucks!” Remus called out loudly. “I’ve got a riddle for you and if you can help me figure it out, we can go on the adventure of our lifetime!”

#namiswriting #How It All Began #Chapter Four: A New Deal #platonic logan & OC #platonic intruality #kinda platonic dukeceit #ts logan #logan sanders #lady ala - oc #ts remus #remus sanders #ts patton #patton sanders #ts janus #janus sanders #pirates & sirens au #failed attempt at human emulation from a clay construct #references to past abuse #riddles #multichapter fic #sanders sides #fanfiction #reblogs are appreciated

[virgil-my-emo-son]

Lavender and Rosemary

Dukeceit Week 2024 Day 3, Cats!

Dukeceit Week 2024 is run by @imnotgrimimjustagrumpyreaper ! Also tagging @dukeceitweek ! Day three!!!

This one is a bit heavier than yesterday, trigger warning, Remus is just coming out of a hypomanic episode. Nothing serious has happened except for him impulsively jumping in a river which I imagine to be the Ohio River because I grew up by the Ohio River and it scares me lol. Remus's experiences are heavily based on my own experiences with hypomania.

However it is still quite fluffy, more hurt comfort than anything focused on the actual hypomanic experience! Their dynamic is once again very heavily inspired by TMDORG by Grim!

Ao3

Remus hit Janus’s doorbell and shifted his weight from one foot to the other, hyper aware of the water dripping off of him and pooling by his feet.

Janus opened the door and looked him up and down. “It’s March.”

“Yeah.”

“You went swimming?”

Remus shrugged. “Yeah.”

Janus opened the door. “Come in.”

Remus came in. He’d never actually been to Janus’s apartment. While they’d been hanging out in the same small circle of six people since high school, Remus had never been as close with Janus as he had with the others.

Which is exactly why he’d tracked him down on the Find My iPhone app.

Remus had already made a promise in some manner or another to all their other friends that he’d tell them if he was having a hypomanic episode, no matter how brief. And he was scared to tell them that it had been four days, four days that he hadn’t talked to them, and he was finally beginning to crash.

Remus had been so immersed in his thoughts that didn’t even realize Janus had walked out of the room until he was walking back in with a towel and a matching fluffy robe.

“Here.” Janus held them out to him.

“Thanks.” Remus gave a small smile, then glanced around for the bathroom.

“That way.” Janus motioned his head to the left. Remus nodded and walked over to the door, which did indeed lead to a bathroom.

“Do you mind if I take a shower?”

“Not at all.” Janus offered a small smile.

“Thank you, Jan.”

“Of course.”

As Remus stood under the water he’d turned on so hot it was nearly burning his skin, he was thinking about what he’d say to Janus when he went back out. He ran through a few things in his mind before he decided he didn’t like any of them and that he’d just vibe it.

He looked for a moment at Janus’s assortment of colorful bottles on the corner ledge. He saw at least three which looked like some version of body wash, so he opened the top of each one and smelled them. He decided on a rosemary and lavender scented gel in an appropriately purple bottle.

He closed his eyes as he tilted his head back into the water, letting it wash the bubbles off his skin.

Remus slipped on the robe once he’d dried off. It was deep grey and soft, with a small snake emblem embroidered on the left breast.

Janus raised his eyebrows when Remus walked back out. “You look like a cooked lobster.”

“Do I?” Remus waggled his own eyebrows. “Good enough to eat?”

Janus rolled his eyes. “Sure.” He patted the couch beside him. “Sit.”

Remus climbed over the arm of the couch to sit where Janus had indicated, hugging his knees against his chest.

 “Uncurl.”

Remus fixed him with a suspicious look. “Why should I?”

“Because I made you hot chocolate, and I’ll only give it to you if you open up and tell me what’s going on.”

Remus sighed, eyeing the black mug in Janus’s hand. He made a grabbing motion, and Janus handed it to him as he let his feet fall to the floor. He held it between his palms, looking down at the mini marshmallows.

“I had an episode. That’s why I was all wet, I had this impulsive thought to jump in the river.”

“The river?” Janus’s eyes widened. “The river’s gross. How did you not get eaten by a giant catfish or something?”

Remus shrugged. “Beats me. The water was so cold, though… it kinda snapped me out of my head. I was like, ‘what am I doing?’ Usually, I don’t have those sorta self-aware moments, but today… I guess it was just different.”

Janus only nodded, encouraging Remus to continue, so Remus continued.

“I don’t know, I told everyone I’d tell them if I needed anything, or if I got manic, or I suppose hypomanic. And I didn’t. And I was worried they’d get all mad at me, so I figured I’d go to the one person I hadn’t made that deal with.”

Janus nodded again. “I see. I’m really glad you came, Remus.” He gave a gentle smile. “I’m glad a catfish didn’t get you.”

Remus laughed. “I am too, Janus.”

“Do you want to talk more, or do you want to do something else?”

Remus considered for a moment. “I’m really tired… can I just have a pillow or something for the couch?”

“My bed’s a queen.” Janus tilted his head. “That’s definitely big enough for two.”

“Jan, I don’t want to encroach—”

“You’re not encroaching. I’m offering.”

Remus examined his face for a moment, looking for a hint of hesitation he couldn’t find. “Then, yes. I accept your offer.”

Janus smiled. “Come on.”

Remus trailed behind him into his bedroom, which was neat and tidy and yellow and black. It looked exactly like what Remus expected Janus’s bedroom to look like.

“Here, let me get you a T-shirt and some shorts, and I’ll brush my teeth, and we can get to sleep.”

Remus changed in the bedroom as Janus was in the bathroom. It all felt so domestic, getting changed from a robe into pajamas. Getting ready to sleep in a bed together.

Remus felt like he could get used to this.

Janus walked back in, pulling his long hair back into a ponytail and looking past him to the bed. “Get out of there, Python.”

Remus turned to see a dark grey cat leap off the bed, looking at him with wide yellow eyes before disappearing.

“Python? Like the snake?”

“Like the programming language.” Janus grinned. “You know I’m a STEM guy.”

“God, you are such a nerd.” Remus pulled back the grey striped comforter, getting into the left side of the bed while Janus climbed into the right.

“Can… how do you want to do this?” Janus asked.

“Um… I…” Remus swallowed. “Do you mind holding my hand?”

“All night?”

“You don’t have to.”

Janus’s hand found his, warm, stable, comforting. “Anything that will make you feel better.”

“Thank you.” Remus whispered as Janus’s other hand clicked off the bedside table light.

“Of course, Remus.” Janus whispered back into the darkness. “Do I smell… did you use my body wash? The lavender rosemary?”

“I did. I hope that’s—”

“Oh, it’s fine.” Janus squeezed his hand. “I don’t mind. Just was wondering.”

“Okay.” Remus squeezed back. “You always smell nice, I wanted to smell nice, too.”

“I smell nice, do I?”

“You do.” Remus scooted infinitesimally closer to him.

“Mm. Thank you.” Janus hummed, and Remus could’ve sworn he shifted a bit towards him, too.

#tw hypomanic episode #hypomanic #remus sanders #janus sanders #dukeceit fic #dukeceit #dukeceit week 2024 #dukeceitweek2024 #sanders sides #sanders sides fic #fic #hurt comfort

[tulipanthousa]

So Tumblr is being weird and not letting me send an ask from my nsfw blog for some reason. I was wondering, for any of your verses, what are some terms that characters in relationships use for each other that don't leave the bedroom (if you know what I mean)?

-Kytia

you cant send an ask from sideblogs, only your main, an issue we've been complaining about for ten years

Pieces verse

Logicality - theyre very switchy and they do this kind of teasing, sweetly condescending brand of degradation. Logan's not a slut he's PATTON'S adorable slut who he loves very much, and vice versa. however Logan would absolutely never use or enjoy these outside the bedroom (even if patton wouldnt care, he cares about logans boundaries)

prinxiety - okay so Roman does get in bratty moods for Virgil sometimes but its so aksjhaskjdh just precious kinda of bratting. pouty boy. feet stomper. the worst he ever gets is a "brat" dripping with fondness, and its saved for when theyre alone.

Dukeceit - most of them lol. they both talk a big game about exhibitionism but Janus is mortified by the actual vulnerability of it, so they are always at least mostly alone/at most will be overheard.

LAOFT

okay so the thing about dirty talk in laoft is that roleplay and degradation are a bit difficult for virgil and logan, who cant lie. Virgil first heard most deragatory names used during sex by humans in the context of people flinging it in slur form at greta, which pretty much irrevocably stored them in the "insults" part of his brain, so he's a no-go Logan is a little more complicated, because he knows they dont have to be insults, but he could still never manage to say them because he believes they're insult, mostly do his own hang-ups about being polyamourous leftover from when they were teenagers.

however i do have like 15% of an idea where io and remus (who have none of the above stated hangups) joking call each other whores all the time (because the entire reason io exists is because me and remus have the same sense of humor lol) and logan and virgil are Scandalized but it makes them re-examine their positions

and also so i can write the silver foxes fucking nasty

#ask #Anonymous

[a-small-batch-of-dragons]

Space Heaters

Prompts: so your fic "grounded" reminded me of one of my favorite headcanons - that janus is coldblooded and remus a living space heater, means perfect for cuddling - and also of the fact that in some of your writings remus switches into soft clothes when he comforts someone - so i really would love to read something like that with dukeceit being soft? only if you wanna of course and your writing is always amazing no matter what you write 💛💛💛 - anon

Okay. So I don't know if this is where you're supposed to submit prompts or not, but since reading one of your latest Sander's Sides ficcs, I MUST have one about Roman being Janus's space heater, and I refuse to believe I'm the only one. - lifezvictory

Read on Ao3

Warnings: kinda hypothermia, not really, just cold snek

Pairings: roceit, dukexeit, kinda, can be platonic or romantic I don't care

Word Count: 2984

Creativity runs warm. 

It’s getting colder outside and the Mindscape isn’t exactly season-proof. 

Even Logan would agree that this is a logical choice of action.

Janus stifles a noise, curling further in on himself as the blankets rustle around him. He grits his teeth against the draft that threatens to slim under the top layers and tugs them closer, ignoring the way his arms protest the movement. 

It’s getting colder outside and the Mindscape isn’t exactly season-proof. 

The cover of blankets makes his breaths double back and hit him in the face. It’s an awful feeling, he decides, and he doesn’t want to feel it anymore but as soon as he pokes his head out from under the blankets, the cold rushes in and he whines, burying his head back underneath. 

It’s cold. It’s so cold. 

“Jan-Jan,” comes Remus’s voice from somewhere too far away, “we were supposed to do the thing today, where are you?”

Janus just sighs and resigns himself to suffering in his inadequate blanket nest. What he really needs are a lot of sweaters with people’s body heat trapped in them, but Virgil’s gone who knows where and Remus…well, Janus doesn’t exactly trust Remus to keep his sweaters clean. The blankets will have to do. 

“Snakey, where are you?” Remus is getting closer. “I have plans, and you said you would—oh.”

The way Remus suddenly stops talking and then stays silent tells Janus all he needs to know about what Remus is thinking. 

Sure enough, a few seconds later, the outer layers of the blanket nest start to shift and then he’s hissing as the chill hits his scales. 

“Snakey?” Remus’s face peeks in over the mound of blankets. “You okay in there?”

“Put it back,” Janus snarls, aiming for intimidating and missing by half a mile, “it’s cold.”

“Are you cold?”

“That’s what I just said. Now put it back.”

“Snakey, did you—how long have you been here?”

Grunting, Janus reaches out and tugs the blankets away from Remus, curling back up in his huddle. “I don’t know, Remus, now stop stealing my warmth.”

“Janus, you’re going to hurt yourself.”

Oh. Oh, shit, Remus just used his full name. Oh, dear.

“…Remus, I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not.” Remus’s voice is even and serious and part of Janus is glad he’s already hiding so he doesn’t have to see his face. “If you’re cold and you’re not moving, your limbs are going to freeze up and you might seriously injure them. We need to get you warm.”

“What do you think,” Janus says through gritted teeth, “I’ve been trying to do?”

Remus sighs, almost too quiet to hear, before there’s a slight rocking of the blanket bundle. “Can I pick you up, Snakey?”

“Can you?”

“Don’t correct my grammar,” Remus warns, still speaking in his serious voice, “are you alright with being picked up or not?”

Janus huffs, breath doubling back on him. “I was asking if it were possible for you to—hey!”

Remus scoops him up like he weighs nothing, carrying him off down the hall in a wriggling pile of blanket and cold snake. Resigning himself to one, being carried, and two, not knowing where they’re going, Janus curls as much as he can into the blankets and—and—

“Easy,” Remus murmurs as Janus shudders with the sudden feeling of warmth radiating through the blankets, “easy, Snakey, it’s okay, we’re almost there.”

The sudden reemergence of the pet name shouldn’t make him feel warm either, but here they are. 

There’s a pause and the creak of a door opening before Remus sets him down on something soft, reaching for the blanket layers again. 

“I need to get these off of you,” he says quietly, “we need to see how you are.”

“But it’s cold.”

“Shh, shh, I know, Snakey, I know, but these—“ Remus tugs the blankets— “aren’t helping.  Clearly.”

“It’s better than nothing,” Janus whines, clinging to one of them as Remus begins to shift the blankets away, “and nothing else will keep me warm.”

“I’ll keep you warm.”

Wait, what?

But before Janus can ask what exactly that means and why it didn’t sound like an innuendo at all, Remus pulls away all of the blankets but one and Janus whimpers, the cold striking his scales and trying to burrow under them. 

“Shh, shh, shh,” Remus murmurs, hands landing like irons on Janus’s shoulders, “hang on, Snakey, just hang on a minute for me. Just let me look at you for a second and then we’ll get you warm.”

“Hurry,” Janus croaks, “hurry, please, please, it hurts—“

“I know, Snakey, I know.”

He doesn’t know what Remus does or what it means, he only knows that staying still while the chill rushes over him is hurting and he’s doing this for Remus and he wants to be warm so badly but if Remus doesn’t hurry up and finish he’s going to cry. 

“Thank god,” Remus mumbles, “okay, you’re okay. Let’s get you warm now.”

About damn time, Janus wants to hiss, but only a burbled noise makes it out of his throat. He hears the sound of Remus snapping his fingers and then his hands are being picked up and rested on something warm and soft. 

“C’mon, Snakey, come steal my body heat.” Remus—it’s Remus he’s touching, how is he so warm— “that’s it, Snakey, you c’mere.”

Warmth under his hands turns into warm arms around him, scooping him up again like he weighs nothing and lying down. Different blankets are pulled over him, thick and warm, pressing down on him with a substantial weight this time. There’s a high-pitched noise coming from somewhere and he only realizes it’s him when the chest under him chuckles and Remus’s voice is calling him a little noisemaker. 

“It’s okay, Snakey,” he says after Janus buries his mortified face in the crook of Remus’s neck, “you don’t have to be embarrassed, you’re cold. It’s okay.”

“’S stupid.”

“No, you’re you and you get cold and you need cuddles to warm you up.” The warmth around him squeezes. “That’s okay.”

“You’re soft.”

“Mhm. You like soft things, so I’m soft now.”

“You’re warm.”

“Like a space heater. Which means there’s more than enough for you to snatch and hide away under all your scales.”

Janus shifts, hooking his chin over Remus’s shoulder and closing his eyes, letting the scaled side of his face rest against the warmth radiating from Remus’s nick. He wasn’t exaggerating, he really is a space heater. Janus can feel itself sinking further and further into Remus’s embrace. It’s almost like he’s lying on a sun-warmed rock, that’s how warm it is.

“Aw, thanks,” Remus chuckles when Janus makes to voice the thought out loud, squeezing him a little tighter and rubbing his cheek against the scales, “now, are you gonna need to stay here for a while?”

“I might not get up ever again,” comes the threat that’s only about half-empty. 

Remus chuckles. “Oh, Snakey, how long have you needed this?”

“Told you,” Janus manages, his voice beginning to slur from the onset of exhaustion, “dunno. Been…been cold.”

Remus is quiet for a moment. Then the arms around him move and shift and his head is being pulled back enough to look at his face. 

“Anytime you need to be cuddled,” he says, voice all serious again, “you come and you find me, okay? I don’t care what’s going on, if you need to get warmed up, you tell me.”

Janus just stares at him before nodding slowly. Remus nods back and pulls him in. 

“Now you go to sleep, Snakey, I can tell you want to.”

The last things he notices are the blankets pulled tighter around them, the shifting of  so Janus is fully on top of him, and the kiss pressed to his scales.

He could get used to this. 

————

It is winter and he is cold and he is hungry. 

Janus’s skin itches now when he accidentally brushes his arms against his sides. He wears his sleeves longer and thicker, his cape wrapped around him, folds his arms and his hands and remembers to keep them to himself. A barrier is better than nothing and those whom he would touch, has touched, he knows better now. 

He will not be needy, not when he has to keep his head. 

When the distance is there, he can hold it. But when it isn’t, oh, he wants, to drown himself in it until his ears fill and his eyes wither and his tongue turns black and falls out of his head. But that would be greedy and he will not be his worst self in the face of that greed. 

As you might be able to tell, Janus gets dramatic when he’s cold. 

He wouldn’t normally object to stealing body heat, no, he’s pressed himself up against Remus and Virgil and shamelessly stolen it, flirted with Logan and Patton to make them all warm and flustered, but he’s trying to be better about respecting boundaries and they—

They don’t trust him yet. 

That’s okay, he understands. 

So when he begins to sniffle at the end of the week, he ignores the aching burn in his hands by stuffing them into ticker gloves and hunching his shoulders against the mass of shoulder pats and hand clasps that surround him as he sinks out. He burns all the way to the Dark Sides’ living room, trembling hands excused with a weak smile about how cold it is outside. He can’t quite get his fingers around the door knob, fumbling with the handle, and shivers as he runs into the walls trying to find the light switch in the dark. 

By the time he struggles out of his coat and gloves, he is nothing more than tremors. His nose is raw from tissues, blistered from the cold, protesting even as he swallows the pills in his cabinet. 

His stomach turns at the thought of food so he doesn’t. His arms ache, his skin burns as he slumps against the walls. He has to get out of his work clothes, they’ll be such a hassle to clean if he ruins them. Softer clothes, easier clothes, clothes that can be ruined. Clothes that can be destroyed with a touch and no one would look. 

A sniffling and trembling mess huddles on his bed, blankets piled high until he feels that he can hardly breathe, but it’s not enough. The cold is young, yet older than he can name, lingering just under his skin where the blankets can’t reach it. It’s not enough, either, to fill the well of loneliness as he shifts, the sound of the blankets too loud in the room. His body is tired. He aches. The best he can manage is a low whine as he tries, tries, tries to get warm. 

The next tissue is filled with tears. 

His imagination is cruel as he tries to fall asleep, taunting him with the memories of seeing carefree touches and casual affection. A ruffle of someone’s hair, clapping them on the shoulder, linking arms as they walk. What does that feel like, it whispers, do you even remember?

Do you hate the process of asking for touch, it continues, undaunted by the whine that escapes his throat, because you know that they would never understand how much it means for you?

Is that why you refuse to allow yourself the permission for casual touch, because you know it means much more for you than it does for them?

He wants Remus but Remus isn’t here. 

As if it can hear his unspoken answer, or if it takes pity on the whine that emerges despondent from his throat, his closed eyes well up again as the phantom sensations of fingers carding though his hair makes him shudder. But the empty promise of someone being here, someone running their hand through his hair is enough to soothe the worst of the tremors. 

Perhaps he’s got a better control of the Imagination than he thought. 

His sleep-slack brain keeps going, imagining the hand brushing his hair back from his forehead. He imagines it lying there for a moment, the back of it resting against damp skin, checking is he has a fever. It lingers there for another minute before smoothing a few stray hairs out of the way. He mumbles, scrunching his eyes tighter to cling to whatever figure his longing has conjured. 

The hand pauses, and for a moment, he’s afraid it will disappear entirely, but then it moves again, somehow more carefully than before. It moves with purpose now, the pads of their fingers pressing gently against his scalp. 

“Janus?”

He must be exhausted, it sounds like someone is calling his name. The hand in his hair doesn’t stop, but it feels…warmer, now, somehow, as if there’s a weight to it. 

“Janus,” the imaginary voice calls again, “are you awake?”

“I thought I told you not to wake him up,” says another voice—what’s—what—

“You’re the one who’s yelling.” The voice softens, the hand passing over his forehead again. “You can open your eyes now, you can stop pretending.”

His eyes don’t want to. He wants them to be real. But…but…but…

“Hello, little snake” Roman says softly, his hand still brushing his hair back from his forehead, “you’re not well, are you?”

Janus blinks at him. Why…why is he here? Why is he touching him? He’s going to get sick—he tries to pull away but only succeeds in rucking up the covers a little. 

“Don’t move too much,” as the hand slides up to cup the back of his head, fingers tangled in the hair there, “you need to rest.”

“Which is why—“ Remus, that’s Remus— “he wasn’t supposed to wake you up.”

The hand on him is warm. It’s warm and it makes his head feel fuzzy and that means it was real. There was a hand that carded through his hair, there was a hand that carefully checked if he had a fever, there was a hand that stroked his head and oh, oh—it was real and—and—

“Does it hurt,” comes the voice, worried now, as a thumb swipes a tear from his cheek, “are you in pain?”

It burns. The memory of the touch on his face is almost more than he can bear. The hand pulls away and he whimpers, trying to chase it. 

He hears a rush of breath from above him and a rustle of fabric, then the hand returns, a thumb gently caressing his cheek. 

“You can have it,” Roman murmurs, “if touch is what you need, you can have it.”

If he were slightly more awake, slightly less unwell, or slightly less drunk on simple touch, he might question why he’s here, why Remus is here, why they’re in his room, or why Roman sounds sweet and worried. But he isn’t, and he can feel the questions leaving his mind the longer the hand stays on his face. 

“Hey, hey,” and now Roman sounds like he’s speaking to something precious, “don’t cry, little snake, it’s alright.”

He’s…crying? Roman’s other hand comes up to cup his face and yes, yes, he’s crying. 

“Shh, shh,” Roman whispers, leaning down to murmur the words right up against his forehead, “you’re alright, little snake. It’s okay.”

“Ro, if you get sick, I swear to god—“

“You and I both know we run way too hot for that.”

Janus whimpers. It’s not fair. The two of them have so much body heat and he has none. It’s not fair. It’s not fair. 

“Oh, sweetheart,” Roman sighs, sliding one hand up to card through his hair, “you want to steal some body heat? Is that it?”

But Remus is busy. Remus is doing things and not here and Janus is still crying. 

“You can steal mine, little snake.”

What? 

Roman—Roman is letting him what?

“R-Roman?”

“Yeah?” Roman smiles at him. “You want to cuddle, little snake?”

A wounded noise leaves his throat before he can stop it and Roman chuckles, snapping his fingers and changing into a soft shirt and boxers. 

“Roman runs hotter than I do,” Remus’s voice says, “steal all of his so he doesn’t inflict it on me.”

Janus is not listening anymore because Roman is settling into bed next to him and it’s like having a furnace he can cuddle and Roman is not allowed to leave anymore. 

“Am I just an oversized teddy bear?” 

Remus chuckles at Roman’s bewilderment. “Oh, did I not mention that he gets a little…snuggly?”

“A little snuggly? Remus, I don’t think I could move if I tried.”

“That’s how you know you’re being cuddled right.”

“This explains so many things.”

“You might as well get comfy and go to sleep, you’re not getting up until he lets you out of there.”

“Oh, no,” Roman murmurs, sarcasm drawing sweetly over them like another blanket as warmsafecomfortable arms wrap around Janus, “what a tragedy, however will I survive?”

Janus would love to come up with a retort but his brain is currently sending out very strong warm good, sleep now signals and he just hums. 

He could get used to this. 

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#dragonbabbles #sanders sides #fic #roman sanders #remus sanders #janus sanders #deceit sanders #sympathetic deceit #sympathetic remus

[rose-coloured-prince]

hello! i’m also a big sanders sides nerd <3

what’s your opinion on the more vanilla ships, like logicality, prinxiety, and dukeceit? i used to be super into those, but i think i eventually started to find them kinda boring??? have you experienced that or is it just me?

also do you see logince as soft or snarky? i cant décide

I wouldnt call them vanilla... just popular lol

Theyre good! I like dukeceit the most out of those three. I enjoy prinxiety quite alot too. I really only enjoy logicality queerplatonically but im trying to get back into it.

Theyre all cute and soft.

And I see logince as BOTH! They can be soft and help each other and praise each other on their skills and be a good team AND they can be so snarky and just throw insults and be so competitive! I think they would start competitions over anything just because theyre so prideful and think they know best.

I love them!

#errigetsasks

[uh-e-rinnie]

I know you said you aren't a shipper, but is there any sides ship dynamic you really enjoy?

Okay, imma be a bit biased cause these are the ships my friends feed me the most ngl

(1) Parents Moceit and third-wheel, man in the middle, dear god save him, parented Virgil

(2) Analogical that kinda just went "huh I guess we're dating now"

(3) Besties Prinxiety, either they stay besties or besties that are also dating; its good with me.

+ (4) Dukeceit/Demus, but like, as my token comedy ship. Idk they're just hilarious together man

#there you go #ty for ask #moceit #analogical #prinxiety #dukeceit #demus #??? which one is it

[i-am-bitterly-jittery]

Day 2: Birthday/Surprise

For @moxiety-week

Word Count: 825

Rating: Teen

Pairings: Moxiety 💙💜 implied Logince and Dukeceit

Warnings: mildly suggestive flirting, a generous amount of Pokémon puns

~~~START~~~

Patton told Roman that he shouldn’t be the one to keep Virgil away from his surprise party, he told him that he was no good at keeping secrets and that Virgil would see right through him in two seconds flat, but Roman had insisted. Roman and logan couldn’t do it because they had to set up the party — Roman in charge of the festive stuff and Logan in charge of the logistical stuff; Remus couldn’t do it because he would either tell Virgil about the party without trying to hide it, or skip the party entirely for shits and giggles; Janus couldn’t do it because Virgil would accuse him of trying to kidnap him as soon as Janus tried to get him to go to the party; Remy couldn’t do it because he would get Virgil too jacked up on caffeine; and Emile couldn’t do it because he wouldn’t get off work until right before the party. 

Besides, Patton was Virgil’s boyfriend, it would look weird if Patton was avoiding him on his birthday. 

So far keeping Virgil out of their apartment was going pretty smoothly, he’d put up a little bit of a fuss when Patton had begged to go to the mall, but he’d given in once he was assured that they’d go to Hot Topic. Normally, Patton would just follow Virgil around the store and let him look at things at his leisure, but today he pointed out every little thing he saw in the hopes of keeping them in the store longer. 

“Oh! Look at this!” Patton said, grabbing a Poké ball necklace off the wall and showing it to Virgil. He pressed a small button and the Poké ball snapped open, revealing a small pikachu inside. “It’s a pika-boo!” 

Virgil smirked at the joke. “That was bad, Pat.” 

“You’re right, I should have just kept my meowth shut!” 

That elicited a snort. 

“Are you a-mew-sed?” Patton grinned. “Did my pun tickle your cubone?” 

“Call me cubone cuz I want to c u bone,” Virgil whispered just loud enough for Patton to hear him. 

Patton was struck dumb by the pun as he felt his face heat up. 

Flirting? With puns? As if he couldn’t love Virgil more. 

Virgil, shifting uncomfortably in the ever-expanding silence, opened his mouth to apologize, but Patton cut him off. 

“Are you a ninetales? Because you’re hot and foxy.” 

Both of them lost it at that, giggling up a storm in the middle of the Hot Topic. 

“Pat, why?” Virgil wheezed, tears streaming down his face. 

“Wynaut?” Patton giggled, setting Virgil off again. 

It was a while before they left the Hot Topic. 

“What should we do now?” Patton asked once they were back in the busy walkway of the mall. He had a few more hours before the others would be ready for him to bring Virgil back, he would have to fill the time doing more birthday activities with Virgil. 

“I kinda just want to go home,” Virgil shrugged. “Maybe cuddle for a few hours.” 

Literally any other time, Patton would love nothing more than to cuddle with Virgil in their home, but today he had a job to do. 

“We’re already out,” he insisted. “We should do things!” 

“Like?” Virgil asked expectantly, the faintest traces of a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. 

“Like… like… get lunch! We should get lunch! At that Thai place you like!” 

“We could just get takeout,” Virgil pointed out. “Eat it at home in front of the tv.” 

“But then it’s not special!” Patton pouted, hoping that would be enough to convince his boyfriend to stay out a while longer. 

“Well, what if,” Virgil started, a smirk that Patton did not trust creeping across his face. “What if we get takeout and go to Ro and Lo’s? We haven’t hung out all four of us in weeks!” 

“Well, um…” Patton floundered. “They’re– uh, they’re busy today.” 

“They are?” 

“Y-yeah, Logan has that thing today. That, uh, engineering thing.” 

“Oh, right,” Virgil laughed. “‘That engineering thing’. Maybe we should see what Remus and Janus are doing then.” 

Patton opened his mouth to stutter through another excuse when he noticed the twinkle in Virgil’s eyes. 

“You’re messing with me!” He accused, pouting. 

“Maybe a little bit,” Virgil chuckled. “I couldn’t help it, you’re cute when you’re trying to be sneaky.” 

Patton pouted even more. “I thought I was doing a good job at distracting you.” 

“You were,” Virgil assured him, kissing his pout away. “But I saw the texts on Princey’s phone when I was over there last weekend. Don’t worry, I’ll still act surprised when we get to the party.” 

“You promise it wasn’t me who gave it away?” 

“I promise. Now, if I'm not mistaken, someone promised me Thai food, and I’m guessing we’ve got a few more hours to fill.” 

“Anything for the birthday boy!” Patton grinned, dragging Virgil out towards the Thai place. 

~~~END~~~

General taglist:

@royalty-of-all-things-snuggly @pixelated-pineapple @arsonic-knight @misunderstood-shadowling

#Moxiety week 2022 #Moxiety week #Moxiety #virgil sanders #patton sanders #sanders sides #ts sanders sides #logince #dukeceit #thursday writes #my writing #sanders sides fanfiction

[prince-rowan-of-the-forest]

Across Land And Water, Now and Forever

1: The River Runs Dry

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This is my @sanderssidesgiftxchange gift for @nandysparadox !! I used the prompt "LAMP as an adventuring party in a fantasy AU ' and I kinda took it and ran. I know you asked for a fic, but I hope you dont mind a lot of reading, I went overboard.

A big thank you also to @sandersarefamily for beta reading this, you are amazing and I really appreciate your help (if you want to see that art I did, it's mixed up with the chapters :) )

I'm going to post the first three chapters now, threw more tomorrow and then three more on the 25th.

I know you didn't ask for it, but I've also done a fair bit of art, I got so obsessed with this au that I couldn't help myself, so the first five (at least) chapters also come with illustrations :)

I really hope you (and anyone else who reads this) enjoy!

----

| Ao3 |

| Next Chapter -> |

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Summary:

After Patton and Logan are selected to attend the annual meeting between merkingdoms, they expect an easy enough swim up the river to their destination. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, the river no longer flows as strongly as it did and because of it they can't make the journey in the traditional way.

Together, along with two other magic folk who they… may have accidentally roped into their journey… must now find their way overland to complete their journey instead, little did they know that this particular adventure would change their lives in ways they could never expect.

----

Warnings: Discrimination (against magic-folk). A character gets drunk, Remus being remus for like three lines throughout the entire fic.

Pairings: LAMP, very background Dukeceit.

Word count:

This chapter: 2919

The Whole Fic: 23,452

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----

"Patton please hurry or we will lose the tide before we make it anywhere near land," Logan said, after doubling back to pull his best friend and travelling partner for the migration away from yet another school of fish.

"Oh but they were just telling me about -" Patton said, waving goodbye to the fish enthusiastically, before turning to Logan with a sigh, "Cmon Lo, we're on this adventure together! We should enjoy it!" 

"We won't be enjoying anything if we don't arrive to the freshwater before the tide starts pulling in," Logan said, his smooth tail flicking through the water with annoyance, though he let none of that show on his face. Patton didn't respond well to anger, Logan had learnt this well over the years. 

"Fineee," Patton said, rolling his eyes so dramatically his head moved and Logan couldn't help a chuckle, "but if we're going fast I'm holding your hand, those are my terms." 

"Perfectly reasonable terms, I am objectively faster than you are, considering my dolphin ancestry," Logan said, nodding, “it would not be beneficial for me to accidentally leave you behind.”

"Well… yeah," Patton said, before smiling, "But it's mainly because I like holding your hand." 

Logan sighed, fondly shaking his head before offering Patton his hand with a small smile. 

The rest of the night was spent speeding across the ocean floor, Logan guided them, with superior knowledge of the currents- which to follow, which were dangerous, which went the wrong direction- and his ability to avoid things he knew would distract his travelling partner that made him the more apt member of the pair to lead. 

—-

"Something seems… off," Logan said, looking around. They were nearing the estuary now, but the flow of water wasn't as strong as it should be.

"What's that?" Patton asked, looking around, "I don't think I sea what you're talking about." 

Logan glared at the intonation in Patton's voice, he had been suffering at the mercy of Patton's puns all the way here. Patton just giggled, smiling innocently as though Logan hadn't just caught him punning.

"Anyway, something feels strange, the tide should be going out at this time, tell me Patton, do you feel the tide?" Logan said. Patton looked confused for a moment, but he closed his eyes and let himself float in the water a little, tail barely swaying with the ambient movement of the water. When he opened them again he looked much more concerned.

"You're right… aren't the tides supposed to be stronger here? Just before they go into the river?" Patton asked, swimming back and forth, "Do you think something is wrong with the river?"

“I… don't know," Logan said. He hated to admit that he didn't have an answer to anything, but in this case it was the only answer he could give, "I suppose we shall find out, let's go more slowly from here."

"Good call," Patton smiled, shoulders drooping with relief. 

—--

When they arrived at the river itself, they found the stream of water to be much shallower and weaker than they had expected, as though it had been blocked off further up. Whatever blockage there could be stopping the water from flowing as it should. 

"We can't swim here," Patton said slowly after they had floated, staring into the oncoming barely-current, for much longer than Logan would have liked.

"No, we cannot," Logan nodded, "it's much too shallow, we would run too high a risk of being seen by landfolk, and besides we can't swim upriver without the boost from the tide regardless." 

"What now, then?" Patton asked quietly, turning to Logan with a strange expression on his face.

"I suppose we will turn back?" Logan suggested, "Go home, tell the kingdom that we couldn't make the journey."

"We can't!" Patton gasped, “They're all counting on us to get to the meeting in the oversea! If we don't go… Logan we have to go!" 

"There could be war between the merkingdoms if representatives don't attend the council meeting," Logan sighed with a nod, "You are correct, unfortunately, we must find a way."

"Is there another way around?" 

"It would take us months, by the time we arrived it would be time for the next journey to begin." 

"What if we got legs?" Patton asked, Logan stared at him as though he had grown a second head, "It would work! We could just travel over the land like the landfolk do, we could follow the river the whole way!”

"And how do you propose we 'get legs', Patton?" Logan asked, "Neither of us have human heritage, we cannot just grow legs." 

"We could find a witch!" Patton grinned, "I'm sure a witch would be able to whip us up something perfect to turn us into land folk so that we can get across the land." 

"And do you know where we might hope to find this theoretical witch?” Logan asked, raising an eyebrow. The idea of finding a Witch seemed silly to him, where on earth would they find someone willing to help them in the short timeframe that they had? It couldn’t be that easy, right? Though Patton seemed to know something he didn’t, because he grinned.

“I heard rumours,” Patton smiled, “From the fish, there's a witch who only lives along the coast, they say the witch is friendly to non-human folk.”

“And you learned all that… from the fish?” Logan asked, staring at Patton, who smiled.

“Yeah! They’re really talkative you know,” Patton grinned, “And- well you know I can speak with animals.”

“I am aware, thank you Patton,” Logan nodded, “Did the fish tell you where we could find this witch by any chance?”

Patton nodded, before pausing, though he remained smiling, “Kinda? I mean- fish are good at rumours, but not so much at directions, they just said along the shore near here… somewhere… I think in that direction- ish?”

“‘That direction- ish?’” Logan repeated, sounding skeptical as Patton gestured, “That sounds very decisive.”

“Quit it with your sarcasm, mister!” Patton said, elbowing his arm, “We just need to look for a tower on a cliff, ok?”

“Got it,” Logan nodded, “Let's begin our search now, I don’t want to waste any more time.”

—-

It was nearing sundown by the time the pair actually spotted the tower on the cliff. Being above the sea in general was strange, even if it was only to search. The pair was glad that this area was secluded enough that no people were around to see them, but breaking the waves was daunting- especially to a merperson who’s never done it before.

“You’ve really never come up here Logan?” Patton asked, voice thick with disbelief as they swam together into the shallower waters near the beach, “Really? You’re not kidding me?”

“Of course not, why would I?” Logan asked, genuinely confused as to why this was such a big deal.

“I just thought you would have, with your infinite curiosity and everything, there’s a whole new world up here! Did you never even think about it?” Patton asked, turning to Logan as the waters became too shallow to swim properly.

“I suppose it simply didn’t occur to me,” Logan said, “Just as it didn’t occur to you that we would not be able to get to the witch’s tower to ask them for help.”

“Well I guess we could just- wait? There’s a path up the cliff, look! So maybe they come down here?” Patton suggested, tilting his head. Logan sighed, before ducking down instinctively as he saw someone race across the beach. Patton had no such qualms. Raising his hand, Patton called out as loud as he could, hoping to catch their attention. It seemed to work as his direction changed, now he was running towards them. 

"JAN" The figure yelled to someone over his shoulder as he ran over, hearing Patton’s shouts, "I found a fish person!" 

The land dweller ran straight into the waves, kicking up water, Patton faltered a little when he kept running, seeming to lunge towards them. His arms shot into the water and suddenly Patton found himself being hoisted from the surf by the stranger, he cried out in surprise as the stranger grinned, his teeth were sharp, "Can I eat this one! He looks so pretty!" 

Patton cried out again, this time even more panicked as Logan attempted to pull him back, though he wasn't able to get a firm grip without hurting Patton. He tried to struggle from the stranger’s grasp, smacking at his legs with his tail, but the stranger held firm- until, that is, another voice joined the fray. 

"Remus!" the other voice yelled from further away, "Put the merman down and apologise! Now!"

The now named Remus sighed dramatically, mumbled a sorry that was barely even intelligible and put Patton back down in the water. Immediately he swam to hide behind Logan as the new stranger approached.

"What did we talk about threatening to eat people?" the stranger said firmly, Remus seemed to wilt.

"Not to- do that?" Remus asked sadly.

"Exactly, go inside now, I'm sure you can find something else to do?" they said. Remus lit up, before immediately darting off back up the cliffside path towards the tower on the cliff. The stranger turned to the pair of merfolk still shifting awkwardly in the shallows. 

The stranger wore a large witch’s hat that by all accounts should have been too large for their head, though somehow they made the drooping brim look like the peak of elegance, the black hat was accentuated by the thick yellow ribbon tied around the base. They wore a black capelet with yellow lining that only reached their elbows but matched the hat perfectly and a dark blue tunic, accented with yellow and tied with a golden length of shimmering rope around the waist. From the rope hung charms of all shapes and colours, tied on with string, that clinked together as they moved. 

"My sincerest apologies for my companion's ill manners," the stranger said, voice smooth, "I hope he didn't startle you too much," 

“He just- he just threatened to eat me,” Patton whispered. 

“It’s how he shows affection,” the witch brushed him off, “Think nothing of it, now, what brings you both to my humble shore?”

Logan took a deep breath, pulling his shoulders back and curling his tail beneath him so that he could sit back, “You are a witch, correct?”

“That depends, who’s asking?” They said, leaning down, Logan huffed.

“Um, us, we’re asking,” Logan said, confused, “Is that not- clear from the fact I just asked?”

“I suppose I should have been more literal, I wish to know your intentions,” the witch told them 

Logan huffed. “We need help,” he told them, “We have a situation and we’d like some assistance, are you able to help us?”

“Well that really depends on the situation, honey, but let’s not stand here in the surf, hm? You may be comfortable, but my boots are getting wet,” they said. Logan looked down to find that their statement was true, their… boots… were covered in water. Though Logan was puzzled for a moment, how were he and Patton supposed to go elsewhere?

“How are we supposed to be somewhere else?” Patton asked, from behind Logan’s shoulder.

“You’re able to sit on rocks, are you not? It can be used as a common ground between land and sea,” the witch said, pointing towards the smooth rocks that lined the beach, jutting out into the sea, Logan nodded slowly, “Meet me there in a moment, if you will allow me to retrieve a few items.”

“That seems agreeable,” Logan nodded. The stranger smiled- though it looked almost sly- and turned away. As they turned, Logan noticed the setting sun glint off of scales unlike his own that had been hidden under their hat.

—-

Hours later, after the sun had set, Patton and Logan had searched the coastline for a cave in which they could sleep. The witch- who had identified themself as Janus during their earlier conversations- had given them both a vial of potion to drink when morning came that they had been told would give them the legs they needed to make their way across the land.

“Logan?” Patton asked into the darkness, Logan sighed- he had just been dozing off, “Are you asleep?”

“Not anymore,” Logan huffed, turning around to face the other.

“Sorry… I just… are we sure we can trust Janus?” Patton asked, “I know we don’t exactly have much of a choice in the matter, but I just- I’m worried we’re getting into something we don’t want to…”

“I’m sure it will be alright,” Logan said, “Janus wouldn’t risk the business for a faulty potion.”

“And their, um… friend?” Patton asked, voice small. They had only seen Remus again once after he’d rushed away the first time and that was to deliver Janus a tray of food that looked absolutely horrific, and that was being nice. For some reason the witch had still been happy to eat it, they said it tasted better than it looked and smelled. 

“Patton, please just try to sleep, we shall deal with whatever troubles come our way after we take the potion in the morning, alright?” Logan asked.

For a moment there was silence, but eventually Patton gave in, “Alright, ok, this’ll be fine, we can worry about everything later.”

“Exactly, there is a time and place for worrying about things, but this is neither,” Logan said firmly, before sighing and letting his shoulders relax, “Goodnight, Patton.”

“Goodnight, Lo,” Patton mumbled back, though he was already half asleep before he even finished speaking.

—-

In the morning the pair found themselves back on the beach, this time having pulled themselves up onto the sand, tails facing the water. Janus had met them there and sat down on a nearby rock. Finally, after they had been sitting in silence for a fair while, the witch spoke.

“When you drink the potions, the transformation will take roughly half an hour.” Janus told them, “During that time you may not want to move.”

“Why not?” Patton asked, tilting his head.

“It may hurt a little,” he warned.

“O-oh-! …Ok then…” Patton looked back down at the vial.

“I would also like to give you both a few things,” Janus told them, “You can consider it a free bonus.”

“What kind of things?” Logan asked, leaning forward and watching Janus closely as he pulled something that definitely hadn’t been there before from his cloak. 

“First of all, clothes,” Janus told them, throwing the first bundle to Logan before pulling out the other and tossing it to Patton. “I tried to match your colour schemes and sizes as best I could, not doing so would be a crime to fashion, after all.”

Logan tried to inspect the items Janus had thrown to him, but the witch started speaking again and he guessed it would be beneficial to listen, he could figure out the clothes later.

“Second,” Janus said before stepping forward and dropping a small pile of silver and copper disks into his waiting hand, “This is the equivalent of the extra I charged you, whilst I will accept your currency, the human kingdom will not be so lenient, if you attempt to use your own money in the kingdom you’ll likely be arrested.”

“Speaking of,” Janus continued, “Try to blend in as you move through the kingdom, they do not welcome magic folk like you both.”

"Understood," Logan said with a firm nod, before turning his attention to the potion. 

"Thank you so much for this, Janus…" Patton said, and Logan could already hear him getting teary eyed. 

"Just my duty to help fellow magic folk," Janus said with an awkward but still elegant half bow. "Take the potions now, but don't forget, contact with water will turn you back to your true selves, be careful." 

—-

It turned out that using human legs was much more difficult than Logan had first anticipated. It was an odd feeling, first of all, to have all of your weight pressing downwards and both of them had buckled and fallen numerous times for this very reason. 

Grasping the ability to move two legs instead of one tail had been another issue, and the coordination was horrendous to understand. After a long while of trying, they had agreed together that they weren't going to be perfect any time soon. Besides, it was afternoon already and they couldn't waste much more time dawdling if they wanted to arrive in good time.

So together they clamberd up the path on the hill and looked back in the direction they had swan the day before just to see spires piercing the sky in the distance, buildings dotting the vast green landscape in small clusters that got closer together the further away they were. They could see the stream that had once been river in the distance, glittering in the sunlight. It wound up and around straight through the heart of the city.

So finally, with well-wishes from Janus and Remus, Patton and Logan started down the other side of the hill hand in hand.

And as they moved through the green world they had never known before, as they got further and further away from the familiarity and safety of the sea, as they looked towards the unknown–

Logan could only think that this was where the real adventure began.

| Next Chapter -> |

#sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #sanders sides gift exchange #LAMP #sanders sides ships #fanfic #fanfiction #sanders sides fanart

[shsl-fander]

HAPPY DUKECEIT WEEK DAY 1

Prompt: Truth/Dare

Pairing: Janus x Remus

Tw: Sexual inuendos

Au:Human, college

@dukeceitweek

@spacedouterri

Janus Castillo was a complicated guy. He typically kept to himself, despite being a typical view at a college party. Rumors spread like fire, light whispurs shushed as he sulked by nose buried in a book. He was mysterious, yet edgy always paired with his slick leather jacket. A jacket he fit so perfectly into it just highlighted his figure.

Which meant Remus found him incredibly intriguing. His sharp piercing stare, eyes narrow, darkening as he spoke.His voice itself, a confident racous sound. Yet it almost seemed soft as well, barely above a whisper though that didn't mean it wasn't able to send a chill down ones spine. An unknown mystery, was he a top honors student, was he a rebel, somehow both? Either way Remus yearned to know more. Not only did it peak his curiousity and creativity ; he was extremely attractive.

So when Remus found himself dazing off at a Friday night party, gaze focussed ahead at the chatting chucking Janus, he just knew he had to go up to him.

He sauntered himself over towards Janus, "hey! Janus is it right?" he greeted with a grin, eyes shimmering with hope. "A group over theres playing truth or dare, care to join?" He took a quick glance around, "I mean its kinda just you not playing sooo It'd be weird if you said no-" he pointed out.

Janus froze, he raised an eyebrow before slowly gazing up towards Remus, eyeing him up and down for a moment (which was enough for Remus's heartbeat to rapidly increase). "Hm, sure why not," he replies, "I like your jacket by the way," he adds after a moment of walking with him.

Remus couldn't help but smile, gripping onto his jacket tight. His eyes grew wide, blush rising to the apples of his cheeks. "You should see me without it, and the rest of my clothes to be honest," he coos, clicking his tounge as he spoke.

He bounced on the balls of his feet eagerly, as he continued to fidget with his hands, extremely jittery.

Janus huffed, his head tilting upwards towards Remus. He narrowed his eyes meeting his gaze with the other. "Oh really?" he quipped, almost in a whisper. Janus chuckled, stifling back a smile of his own. "Can't believe you won't even tell me your name first I mean isn't that a bit rude?" he jabs teasingly.

Remus stumbled, blush darkening to more of a crimson shade, "Remus!" he exclaimed in response, "Remus Adelio," he added quickly. Oh my god, he was actually talking to Janus and it was absolutely amazing.

Yeahh Remus had a huge crush on him if it wasn't already a crush it was definitely one now.

The truth or dare game had gone as expected, mostly casual though a few interesting things until finally it was Remus's turn.

His face lit up as he turned towards Janus next to him, "truth or dare!"

Janus sighed, rolling his eyes at the othee before he spoke up,"dare, why not," he hissed. Janus tapped his fingers on his arm mindlessly, waiting for Remus.

Remus's scooted himself closer, glancing down to Janus's lips before his eyes darted at his eyes again. "Kiss me," he smirked, "unless you're too scared or something because I get it I'm just too intimidating," he cackled, trying to ignore his obnoxiously loud heart beat. Remus could feel his face heat up, anxiously waiting for Janus's answer.

Though, before he could muster another word he was yanked forward, lips smashed into Janus's. Remus's eyes blinked closed as he leaned himself forward, his hands running up and down Janus's sides. Remus's lungs ached and yet he absolutely loved it, every short shared breath between them, the way Janus's lips would gently puff against his own.The connection, the spark that hit once their lips met. Remus melted into Janus's tight embrace, captured by his soft lips. Remus only paused for a moment to mumble small sayings.

Janus hummed contently, cuping the others face ever so gently.

That kiss was only the first of many.

Word Count:688

#janus sanders #remus sanders #dukeceit #demus #ts demus #romantic demus #dukeceit ts #dukeceit week #dukeceit fanfic #dukeceit fanfiction #demus fanfic #demus fanfiction #sanders sides fanfic #sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #janus sanders fanfic #remus sanders fanfic #janus x remus

[quackkaz]

Janus : I love murder mysteries.

Remus, trying to impress Janus : I've been a suspect in four murder cases :3

#tw mentions of murder #this is probs how they became close /hj #incorrect quote #sanders sides #sanders sides incorrect quotes #remus sanders #janus sanders #dukeceit #demus #receit #trashnoodle #intruceit #posting this during dukeceit week. kinda my contribution cause I can’t do art that well

[emoprincey]

dukeceit and prinxiety for the ask game?

Ty for the ask!!

Dukeceit - ship it

1. What made you ship it?

They're literally husbands, what more do I have to say /j. No but fr tho, I think it was just... their potential dynamic??? The fact that they're both over-the-top villains and I thought they'd be really good together right from the start. Also fan content, there's so much amazing dukeceit content in this fandom XD

2. What are your favorite things about the ship?

So many things... they just have an unparalleled aesthetic, I kinda see them as having a Gomez and Morticia vibe.

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Speaking of the Gomez and Morticia vibe, I like to think they give compliments in the same kinda weird way. In the kind of "you look like death" "aw thanks babe" kinda way (this goes for anxceitmus too btw).

The unpopular opinion part of this has to do with the evil twin comment. I think Janus and Remus call themselves evil and such things as a joke, so I don't think he'd be too bothered about it really.

Prinxiety - Ship it

1. What made you ship it?

Prinxiety was the first Sanders Sides ship that I actually shipped, and I was really into it for all of one week lol (I do still like them now, there r just other ships I prefer). I think it's because Roman and Virgil had the most fun dynamic right from the start. Roman was the first character Virgil interacted with (unless you count C!Thomas) and I do love enemies to lovers!

2. What are your favorite things about the ship?

I think mostly how far they've come from where the used to be. They used to despise each other, but now they're besties and they helped set Thomas up with Nico together.

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Idk if this counts as unpopular, but I kinda prefer their platonic dynamic to actually shipping them?? If I think of them being in a relationship, it's more like best friends who make out sometimes

#sanders sides #prinxiety #dukeceit

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

dukeceit blanketverse? my comfort ship and my comfort series? in one place??

that one went on a back burner because the idea was that remus felt left out by the party in Life of the Party and made one for Janus and him to go to that was suitably macabre

the downside being that i kinda don't want to bog down the series with too much plot tbh. like.... the way that i wrote blanketverse as it was (including the vague references to how virgil feels about deceit) doesn't really mesh with how i view janus and remus now, or how i prefer to portray their relationship with the rest of the sides

so thats why there hasnt been any blanketverse in a hot minute alskjlasd i wrote like a paragraph of this and went grrrrrrrrr and havent looked at it since lol

#ask #anonymous

[virgil-my-emo-son]

Me when I got busy with school and didn't finish Dukeceit week 😭 I also just had NO ideas for the day 5 prompt and I kinda got stuck which didn't help either :(

@imnotgrimimjustagrumpyreaper I am sorry :(

I might do the rest of the prompts (6-8... we'll see if I can come up with something for 5) within the next few days though! I got some very kind comments on the fic on my Ao3 that have kind of made me more motivated!

#remus sanders #janus sanders #dukeceit #dukeceit week 2024 #dukeceitweek2024

[threecrowsinatrenchcoat]

I’ve Sunshine Enough to Spread

Dukeceit Week 2022 Day 4: Wild/Control

Janus' next exam wasn’t for another two hours, which was exactly the amount of time he needed to drive off campus, buy himself a coffee, and cry in his car for an hour and fifteen minutes, and then be back in time for that exam.  

(or: Janus is having a terrible day, but he's holding it together pretty well, he thinks. The cute guy at the Starbucks, however, disagrees.)

AO3 Link: [here]

Word Count: 865

Warnings: n/a

@dukeceitweek

Janus was done with today.

He was used to it, the finals week gauntlet. Test after test after test, plus all the practical exams. Professors cramming a full semesters’ worth of knowledge into three hours. It was ludicrous. How could students learn effectively when their entire grade depended on their ability to just regurgitate information they learned four months ago? 

Ok so maybe Janus was just a little bit salty about the last exam he’d taken, riddled with trick questions and misleading wording. 

And ok, so maybe all the stress and the lack of sleep was starting to get to him.

His next exam wasn’t for another two hours, which was exactly the amount of time he needed to drive off campus, buy himself a coffee, and cry in his car for an hour and fifteen minutes, and then be back in time for that exam.   

“I can’t believe you picked Starbucks, what can I get for you?” the voice over the drive-through intercom said. 

“Um.” Janus’ voice wavered slightly, because he was holding it together by a damn thread right now. “Can I just get an iced latte with caramel?” 

“Sure can, my dude. Anything else?” 

“N-no, that’s ok,” Janus said. 

“Sweet, see you at the window.” 

Janus pulled around to the drive thru window. The window slid open, and a young man with bright green hair and snakebite piercings leaned out. 

“Okay, that will be- Um. Are you alright?” 

Janus blinked. “Um. Y-yeah?” 

The man tilted his head slightly. He glanced at his computer, then at Janus. Then back at the computer. Then he pushed a button aggressively and looked back to Janus. 

“It’s on me today,” he said. “You, uh. You kinda look like you need it.” 

Janus couldn’t help it. He burst into tears. 

-

Janus was mortified. 

The poor Starbucks guy had stammered out some comforting words and handed him his coffee- the coffee was free because this guy was fucking nice and had taken one look and Janus and just knew somehow- and Janus had thanked him as best he could through the flood of tears. 

And then he’d pulled into the parking lot and cried some more. 

He still had about forty minutes before his exam, which meant he had about twenty-five minutes still allotted for crying, when there was a tap on his window. He startled, and looked over, and that’s when the mortification hit. 

That same Starbucks employee was standing next to his car, tapping gently on his driver side window. Janus hastily wiped his face and then rolled down the window. 

“Um. Hi,” the guy said, giving Janus a gentle smile. 

“Hi,” Janus answered. “Sorry for having a breakdown in your drive thru.” 

The guy shrugged. “Nah, you’re all good. I was just checking on you.” 

Janus swallowed back some more tears. “Oh, that’s sweet. Thank you,” he said. “I really am fine, it’s just. Final exams, you know?” 

“Oof.” The man made a face, and Janus couldn’t help a small giggle. “That sucks man.”

“Thank you for the coffee,” Janus said. “That was very nice of you.”

“I, uh. I brought you a sandwich, too,” the man said, looking a little sheepish as he held up a paper bag with the Starbucks logo on it. “I saw your car in the parking lot still, and I just.” He didn’t finish the sentence, he just shrugged. 

Janus couldn’t hold back the next round of tears as they overflowed from his eyes. He sniffled pathetically, and reached for the bag. 

“Thank you,” he managed. “Really. You’re too kind.” 

The man gave him another smile. “I gotta get back to work, but um. Good luck on your finals.”

“I appreciate it,” Janus replied. The man waved, and then turned to head back into the shop. 

Janus was actually starving, he realized, so he unwrapped the sandwich. A napkin came fluttering out and landed in his lap. He reached for it, then froze. There was a note written on the napkin.

‘Sorry I made you cry. I’ll make it up to you. -Remus’ Followed by a phone number. 

Janus looked around, wide-eyed, but the man- Remus- had already disappeared back into the shop. 

-

“Ok Jan, you got everything you need? Phone, wallet, keys?” 

“Yes, yes, I’ll be fine,” Janus laughed. Remus handed him his backpack with a flourish, and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “Thank you, Remus.” 

“You got this, babe,” Remus said with a grin. “Go kick them exam’s asses. Oh, wait, there’s something in the fridge for you first.” 

Janus gave him a suspicious look, then turned back into the kitchen. He opened the fridge. There, sitting on the middle shelf, was an iced latte in a Starbucks cup. An entire box of tissues sat next to it. 

“You absolute menace!” Janus shrieked, rounding on Remus, but he was laughing too hard for there to be any heat to his words. Remus swept him up in a hug and peppered kisses along his jaw. 

And ok, so maybe Janus cried a little bit before this semester’s exams too. But this time, they were the tears that came from a bout of wild, hysterical laughter. 

#dukeceitweek2022 #dukeceit #janus sanders #remus sanders #kye writes

[tulipanthousa]

I feel like one long piece would work for them because that's kinda how their relationship came about. They really are the slow burn to sudden inferno of the group.

it WOULD be very funny of me to keep giving dukeceit all the multichapters in pieces verse alskdjalkjd they are simply The Most Blorbo To Me