Epilogue: Remus's Sash
"Remussss! Let me go!" Janus hissed, grunting when the Duke dumped him on the couch. "I'm fine! I'm better now!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'm Fancypants Roman. You still need more rest. Like the dead. Oh, I can create a coffin and put you in it. It would be so nice and dark and I can fit it with heating, then I could bury you in it, and have you an actual funera-" Remus stopped his rambling when Janus flicked his wrist whilst balling up his fist, The Dukes own hand twitching at the Snake's motion, but not completing the action at which Janus was trying to complete; which was shutting Remus up and proving he was better and well rested. "Ah ha! I knew it! And you want to go and work. You can't even shut me up" Remus cackled.
Janus rolled his eyes and made to get off the couch and out the door again. Only for two of the Dukes tentacles wrapping around him and pulling him back. He hissed and wiggled in the slimy grip of the tentacles. "I can still do my job. I've been handling you just fine." He justified.
"Ha! Hahaha! Oh my wonderfully Evil Fiend. I haven't been trying to overwhelm you. But if you keep acting up that might change." Remus winked, tentacles bring his Snake Boi close to him and so they could rub noses. "Now, you sit here like a good snakey wakey, while I go and finish cleaning up my side of the Imagination." Remus said, waving his hands, with a wide grin. As a straitjacket manifested around Janus with a few straps shooting from the couch to keep Janus anchored to it.
"Remus! This is highly unnecessary, I am a grown man!" Janus protested. "What if I want to get something?"
Remus thought about it for a moment, before waving his hand in the directions of their room. A few minutes later, the octopus plushy came tumbling down the stairs. Standing up in its tentacles and coming to stand in front of the trapped Lying side. "It will also so some naughty stuff if you ask it to." The Duke said, with a wink, as he sauntered up the stairs. "Have fun Dee!"
"Remus!, Remus! Get back here and let me go!" Janus shouted after the Duke, before giving up and relaxing. The Straightjacket wasn't uncomfortable and was actually quite cozy. He moved his gaze to the stuff plushie that was waiting for orders. "Remove these straps." He ordered indicating to the straps that were holding him to the couch. The little stuffie gave a salute before following the order. Janus let himself slouch once he was able too. The octopus plushy coming to rest in his lap. Janus let out a frustrated sigh. It was sweet in a twisted kind of way in what Remus was doing, but it was entirely unnecessary. What type of manipulating, scheming, and villainy Side would Janus be if he took too long in getting back to work?!
The Snake Side glanced at the tv and hummed slightly delighted that Remus had fixed it where his favorite show was playing. "Go make snacks." He finally sighed. The plushy hopping off his lap and making its way to the kitchen. "And bring me a drink." He added. Settling in with the knowledge he wasn't going to be there until Remus returned.
(The Imagination)
Remus stood on his watch tower, moving the cabin he made Janus to a new location. He had promised his Scaly Fiend that the cabin was a safe place where no one would bother him, and while the Duke knew he wasn't good or romantic like Roman, he was going to keep every promise to Janus. He already fixed it defenses and made them better. He and Roman had already fixed the Dragonwitch, and now were both righting their castles and lands. Roman had been horrified at the touches the King had did to his side of the Imagination, the weather over there was so messed up that it touched the area in the Dark Imagination that had hid Janus's get away cabin. The King hadn't even bother to maintain Remus's side. The creatures had practically over run the place. A firework going off at the border of the two imagination caught his attention, signaling that Roman wanted to meet with him. Finishing with the placement of Janus's cabin first, he wanted to be gentle with it; after all it was not easy to make something that was quite literally, nice. Once satisfied did the Duke sink out and meet his brother.
"You know its very rare for you to want to see me, brother dear." He said, as he popped in front of Roman. "Want to test out the incest thing?" He cackled.
"No." Roman huffed, disgusted at the thought. "But I made you another crystal that you asked for." He said, presenting a green and red crystal, that Remus had placed in the cabin, that would turn the Dragonwitch into another form; to be more specific Roman's form.
"How thoughtful. Did you do anything else special to it. Like once used it will explode and impale whoever touched it-" Remus said, beginning to ramble.
Roman cleared his throat. "No, just that the Dragonwitch should have a more complete form and the sword more durable and sharper." He said, cutting off Remus's rambling. "So, how is he?" Roman asked, turning his head away from his brother, so he could hide the worry that had been bothering him ever since he noticed Deceit had been the trying his hardest to save them. Even helping Virgil and saving Patton. The thought of everything that had happen while he and Remus had been trapped in the King made him realize that his own behavior to the Darksides were not all bad.
Remus gave his brother a look at the question, Mornigstar already forming in his hand. One bad word about his Snake and he wouldn't hesitate to bash the Prince of Creativity in the head. Besides its not like the Imagination would let him kill Roman. No matter how much they tried to kill each other, they would only end up sore. "Oh, you know Double Dee. Always watching, always scheming." He said.
"Is he up now?" Roman asked, knowing his brother was speaking around the answer.
"Why so interested in my Deedee?" Remus questioned, eyes narrowed.
"I'm not. Virgil is worried about him." Roman answered. It wasn't a total lie. Virgil was worried, so was Patton, Logan, and Thomas.
Remus let the Morning star disappear. "He's fine. Sleeping a lot, but he been moving about. I wasn't lying when I said he was watching and scheming. He's got to do something keep himself occupied in the absence of my presence." He cackled, mind going straight to Janus waiting for him on the couch. "By the way where did you find your sash?" He asked, becoming serious for a second time today. "I think the imagination ate mine."
Roman looked at his sash quickly then back to Remus, not wanting to take his eyes off his brother for too long. "Virgil kept it for me. If I remember correctly I believe Janus saved yours. Although its kind of fuzzy. But I do believe he had had with him when King MiniVillain came back."
"Oh, I was so busy clawing to get out. Who knew miniature me and you could handle some pulling on their spine. Wish I could have split with it in my hands I would make it into a nice flag pole for the tippytop of my tallest tower as a trophy!"
"Yes, well maybe he still has it." Roman looking ready to go. After all they both had work to do. And Remus usually tended to like to fight with the Prince of Creativity when they 'talked'.
"Good idea! Be back in two buttshakes."" He said, his imagination door appearing for him to leave.
Roman blinked as his watched his brother leave, and when the metal like door vanished he couldn't help but look suspicious at his surrounding, just in case Remus left a surprise monster behind to attack him. "I better go before I press my luck." He mumbled when nothing happened; for once.
(The Darkside Common Area)
Janus had to admit his day wasn't too bad being trapped on the couch. He was actually able to take a nap here and there when he couldn't hold his eyes open and the octopus plushy was turning out to be a great butler and pillow. Although the most surprising was when Patton and Virgil had came over for a visit while Janus was half awake. Patton had joyously called out to the Snake Side and startled him. The Octopus plushy had scurried over to the intruders faster than Janus could apologize for the threatening hisses, the little stuffy grabbing a kitchen knife from the counter and stabbing at the two sides.
Virgil had hissed in response to the killer plushy his eyes turning purple and had jumped up the nearest wall the shadows holding him there. Patton was between scared and 'awwed' at the cute plushy but in the end had climbed onto the nearest coffee table using the 'get well' gift as a shield. "Janus." Patton said, in a nervous chuckle. "We came to see how you were doing." He explained, as the little plushie started to try and climb up onto the coffee table.
"How despicable of you." Janus smirked, enjoying the entertainment Remus's enchanted plushy was giving him. He was trapped on the couch, with nothing else to do. Might as well enjoy what he was good at; Being the bad guy. Besides he wasn't going to let anything happen to them.
"Stop playing and call it off, already!" Virgil growled from up in his safe corner.
"I would dear Virgil, but I'm not so sure if it would listen to me." Janus hummed thoughtfully, know full well that the little stuffy would indeed listen.
"Try!" Virgil hissed.
Janus let out a disappointed sigh. "Fine. I guess I could see if it will work." After all, Patton was an easier target, and while he was enjoying the show, he couldn't very well let something happen to the bubbly Moral Side. "Their friends. Leave them be. For now." He droned, a little disappointed his fun was being taken away.
Much to his surprise the octopus plushy did not stop. Although it did pause in its attack, giving Patton the chance to make a jump for the couch that Janus was occupying. The Moral side scrambled for the back of the couch behind the Snake Side, while Virgil stayed stuck in his corner. The little octopus still chasing after Patton. "We brought you a basket." Patton said, offering up his gift as he hid behind the trapped Snake.
"If only I had the hands to take it." Janus said, with a roll of his eyes. Though he appreciated the thought.
A cackle from the stairs pulled their attention to a laughing Duke. The little octopus plushy collapsing now that Remus was back. "Well, look who stumbled in the wrong side of the mind, Double Dee." He said, coming all the way down his Morningstar resting against his shoulders. "Now you two wouldn't be here to bother my Snake would you. That would be just dirty of you, when you know he's not his strongest right now." He said, grin wide and showing more teeth than normal.
Janus rolled his eyes, but didn't stop Remus from his villainy rambling to the Light Sides. The more the chaotic let out some energy and the more calm he would be later. And since Janus wasn't in peek condition and Remus had been trying to be careful and caring with the Snake Side, Janus figured he could let him have this moment and be the hero for a moment.
"Such an unmoral thing to do, Daddy Pattonpants." Remus chuckled, as the Moral side whimper, and gasped at the accusations.
"Remus, thats enough." Virgil scoffed as his shadows disappeared and he was back standing on the floor. "Patton wanted to check up on him. That's all."
"Why? Tired of good angel Thomathy spouting little lies to help strengthen Deceit. Afraid, he might become too strong." Remus chuckled, stalking closer to where Janus was sitting on the couch, where Patton was literally burrowing behind the Snake Side for protection.
"I wouldn't- I -I But – We, - I-Deceit?" Patton scrambled, settling on asking the Snake Side for help.
"I think you played with your food long enough, Dukey." Janus said, deciding that Patton at least couldn't take Remus's teasing anymore. They probably though the Duke was being serious; Not that he could blame them, Remus could be a very good actor just like Roman at the best of times. "They couldn't handle you anyway."
And just like that Remus's vicious grin turned more goofy than anything. "Oh poo. SO boring. What do you want anyway, your stopping me and Dee from having fun."
"Deceit trapped in a straitjacket equals fun?" Virgil asked, while Patton crawled out form behind Deceit and over to Virgil, leaving his 'Get Well' gift sitting beside Deceit o n the couch.
"The most fun." Remus said clapping. "Now get out!" He smiled, eyes going wide with promise.
Patton and Virgil looked at Deceit who was merely gave them a blank face, looking to Remus, who's eyes were glowing green first before answering. "Yeah, he means it this time. Shoo." He finally shrugged.
Once the Light Sides were gone, did the straitjacket vanish and Janus was able to stretch his arms, although they weren't stiff or anything. Remus really had made sure he's stayed comfortable the entire time. "Finally!" The Duke said, letting himself fall onto the couch, head in Janus's lap.
"Killer toy?" Janus asked, placing a yellow glove in the Duke's hair, playing with the pieces that were silver in color.
"I was in a Chucky mood." Remus smiled enjoying the petting.
"How horrible." Janus said, a tiny smile forming before he started yawning again.
Remus reached up and pulled the tired Snake Sides face down and ran a hand over the scales on the one side of his face, knowing Janus loved having the scales touched, since Remus's hands were so warm and felt so good to him. The serpentine eye drooped even more at the touch. Remus stared into the tired brown and serpentine eyes, the eye contact never failing to slow his many, many thoughts that were always flying around in his head. "Jan?" He asked, letting the Snake Side pull away, and back to staring at the moving pictured on the tv. "Did you keep my sash?"
Janus blinked, and found himself wake up slightly. It was time for another nap, since he was still low on energy. "No. I certainly didn't keep it in my pocket the whole time for comfort." H admitted, hand reaching to pull out the folded green sash. A light blush forming on the human half of his face.
"Ew, I didn't know you cared that deeply my Scaly Fiend." Remus giggled.
"Don't call me sentimental." Janus huffed, letting his upper half fold over onto Remus's stomach and folded his arms to cradle his head there. Deciding the Duke was his chosen pillow till he awoke again. Remus let him, setting his sash to the side as he grabbed for the 'Get Well' basket the Light Sides had brought, ripping into the basket and to the baked goodies inside.
"I think Virgil snitched on what our favorite treats are Jannie." The Duke said, finding some flavored deodorant, muffin, cake, and cookies.
Janus hummed sleepily. "Don't eat them all, sweetie. I wouldn't be upset if I didn't get any." How often could they say Patton baked something for them.
Remus said, something with his mouthful, that was something close to an 'Okay.' not that Janus heard any of it as he had already fell asleep.
(Light Sides Common Room)
"You okay Pat?" Virgil asked, once they settled on the couch. Logan was reading and Roman was still gone in the imagination. Thomas was there waiting on them.
"How did it go?" Thomas asked.
"We got attacked by the cute Octopus plushie." Patton said, cheerily. "And then Deceit saved us."
"Saving us isn't how I would phrase it."Virgil mumbled.
"Did he like the gift?" Logan asked.
"Hard to say." Patton admitted, disappointingly "I mostly hid behind him."
Virgil rolled his eyes. "I know it can be hard to tell, Pat, but he was happy to see us. Deceit and Remus have a specially way they show their appreciation." He assured. "Trust me, I think we gave more fun than he's had since he started moving around a little more this past week. I think Remus has been keeping him from leaving the Darkside too soon."
"Remus is keeping him in the Darkside?" Thomas asked. "Do we need to help him."
"No, It is much too soon for Deceit to start moving about. A few more day of you lying here and ther should speed up his recovery. But the Duke while his methods could be questionable s not in the wrong. You yourself Virgil has indicated that Deceit is laible to overwork himself."
Virgil nodded. "Yeah, He only has fun whenever Remus makes him."
"Oh, so that was them having fun?" Patton asked, with a hopeful smile.
Virgil nodded.
"Well, I'm glad I could help brighten up their day!" The Dad Side Cheered. "This calls for cookies! Who wants some?" He asked running into the kitchen.
Their was a choirous of 'Me's' and 'I would' from the couch that followed him
"And don't forget meee!~" Roman shouted from upstairs, the sound of running feet thumping on the floor above signaling him running to come down the stairs for the delicious treats after his venture to the imagination.
The End