Chapter 15: Snakey Snakey Deceit
Deceit was going to go mad. Two years of joining the Cores Sides in Thomas's development though high school and Virgil was starting to get snarky and comparing the Dark Side with them. They weren't the Core Sides and Deceit didn't need to be reminded of that everyday. He wasn't Morality or Logic, and Remus wasn't Roman. The Snake Side, hissed in frustration as he waved his hand out to make the little yellow light to appear. He had master them over the years and was now able to shape the lights into any shape he wanted, but naturally he decided on a snake. It tired him out to make them but they were helpful and made it where he didn't have to leave his room and into the cold hallways of their mind. He could see everything through the little creatures eyes and tuck them away almost everywhere. Tiring to create and keep around, but so worth it if he could stay in his nice warm room and away from 'The Core Sides do this.' or 'The Cores Sides don't do this' and 'Why can't we just be like them?; From Virgil all the time.
And then there was Remus and Roman. The two Creative Sides, where proving to be more that just creativity, passion and Thomas's Ego. Roman seem to also show romantic tendencies, while Remus took on the sexual drive the accompanied the feeling. And boy was Remus making it know that he was sexual, he couldn't run into the Duke without something sexual leaving his grown in mustache lips. Patton and Logan too were growing into more than what they started out as as well. Virgil too, but Deceit wasn't in the mood to really think about the other Sides too much. Right now he needed to send another of his snake creation back to Remus's room, due to Deceits little creations not being able to live in the too cold room of the Duke, and then call the one from Logan's room back.
Tension had been running high in the mindscape as of lately and Logan has been taking a some heavy stress due to upcoming exams and homework, topped with Roman and Remus wanting to sneak out for a party and Virgil being against it. And Patton trying to placate everyone as well as keeping Thomas on the straight and narrow path. Deceit could practical cut the tension with a knife. He wanted to check up on Logan it wouldn't due to have Logic break. Logic was essential in this time.
He watch the little yellow snake meld into the wall as it went to Remus's room. Just as the one from Logan's room come back and into the Snake sides waiting gloved hands. "How is our Logic doing?" He asked it as the little creation relayed what it had observed. Through the little creatures eyes he seen that Logan was looking frantic despite his preference to not showing emotion. Which was all well and good if they wanted Thomas to be a robot. But if that little lie is what kept Logic working then Deceit wasn't going to stop him from proclaiming he felt nothing, not now at least. But with Logan overworking himself it was time for Deceit to make sure the Logical Side got some rest.
So Deceit got ready to put a self care plan together for Logan. Starting with taking his place for the rest of the day. Deceit took out a mini jar that was small enough to fit in his pocket, and held it up to his fangs, and milked a few drops of his venom into it. Thomas wasn't in school and was already planning on going to a party it only made since that Logic step away from the table while Thomas does something spontaneous and illogical. Letting the little snake deconstructed into little lights that floated back into Deceit, as he grabbed his hat off the stuffed mongoose as he stepped out of his room and fought the shiver that wanted to run down his spine.
As he left he wasn't stopped by Remus who was busy in the imagination with Roman while they tried to plan evening they were going to have at the party and Virgil in his room, coming up with a thousand reasons as to what could happen if Thomas so much as thought about sneaking out and going to that party. When he rose up into the Cores Sides kitchen taking on Logan's image.
"Oh Logan! I didn't hear you come down!" Patton greeted.
Deceit re-framed from smiling, taking on Logan's cool and calm logical like personality. "Greeting Patton. I came down in need of sustenance. To put in simpler terms, food and liquids." Deceit said.
"Well, gosh you came in at the right time, Lo." Patton beamed. "I just finished making chicken tacos!" The Moral showed off his tacos, as he quickly made a plate for Deceit, adding just a dash of hot sauce on the taco's, for just the right amount of spice.
"Thank you, Patton." Deceit said, taking the plate from the moral side. He made a glass of water, before he turned to leave and head up the stairs to the real Logan's room. "I will eat this in my room. Please let Roman know I do not want to be disturb for the night." He said, as he left.
"Okay, don't work too hard, kiddo!" Patton called.
"Working hard is the only way Thomas is going to make a living." Deceit threw over his shoulder. "Perhaps make some Mexican Corn Cake to go with these Patton, the dessert would compliment the meal adequately."
"Good idea, Logan!" Patton said, ecstatically, and Deceit could immediately hear the sound of more dishes being grabbed as the Moral Side prepped to make the dessert. "How do you make Mexican Corn Cakes?" The Moral Side asked, as Deceit disguised as the Logical Side started up the stairs.
"Research the recipe." Deceit answered, before he was fully out of view of the first floor. Once out of view Deceit slipped from Logan's image to Patton's as he walked up to the Logical Sides door. He pause to just take the little jar from his pocket to dump his venom on the tacos right on the hot sauce, so to fool the smartest Side in the brain. Once satisfied, Deceit put on Patton's blindingly happy smiles and took peppy and cheerful persona, before he knocked on the deep blue colored door. "Kiddo, you in there?" He called.
"Patton, I very busy right now. Thomas has two exams coming up next week, an essay that need research, and homework that is due on Monday." Logan called from inside his room.
"Come Lo, I brought you something to eat." He tried again, this time not waiting for Logan to answer as he opened the door and went right in.
"Patton, please I have too much work to do." Logan said, swiveling around in his chair to face Deceit. "I will find nourishment later."
Deceit put on one the looks Patton like to use to that showed how openly worried he was, throwing in the puppydog eyes along with it; not even Logan could resist. "But aren't you the one always talking about making sure we have enough nourishment through the day on a schedule time to sustain a healthy and function life?" He asked, already knowing that Logan had recite said, words over a hundred times by now.
Logan adjusted his glasses. "Will you let me work once I satisfy your need to cater to me?" He asked.
Keeping up with Patton's persona, Deceit put on a bright smile. "Sure thing, kiddo!"
Logan took the plate from the fake Patton before him, to placate the Heart. Deceit watched him take a bite and gagged as the venom and hot sauce hit his palate. Deceit handed the Logical side the glass of water. "A little spicy today Patton." Logan commented, downing the water. Deceit let him calm down a little before his snapped his fingers ans Logan's posture went lax.
"Logan?" Deceit asked, letting Patton's image melt from him and back as himself. The lying Side waved a yellow gloved hand in front of the Logical Sides face. "Can you hear me?"
Logan nodded, his brown eyes turning blue for a moment before taking on a yellow glow, faint yellow veins began appearing on the right half the Sides face and down his neck.
"Wonderful." He praised. "I want you to go to bed and go to sleep." He ordered and moved out of the way as Logan got up and promptly went to lay down.
Deceit went to Logan's desk and began looking at all the work Logan had been doing. The Logical side was so overworked. And too much work even for some someone as smart as Logan. Deceit knew he could get most of this work done, but it wasn't going to be as well versed and knowledgeable as Logan. Sitting at the Logical Sides desk, Deceit picked up one of Logan's pens and began working. Once he was sure no one would come bargain into the Logical Sides room, he would pack up some of the work and take it home with him while Logan rested.
"Hey, Nerd!" Roman's voice came from the other side of the door. "We're about to get Thomas ready for the party tonight. Are you coming?"
Deceit cleared his throat to take on Logan clinical tone. "I rather busy tonight Roman, someone has to make sure Thomas retains the knowledge he has learned."
"Suit yourself, Einstein." Roman voice said, fading away from the door. Thankfully, not going to bother the Logical side and therefore Deceit anymore. Deceit waited a few moments to make sure the Princely Side was gone, before getting back to work.
However the moment Thomas went to go a sneak out, shouting could be heard from out in the hall and down the stairs. So loud it had Deceit getting up and switching back into Logan's form; just in case and crept down out of the room, bringing some of Logan's work with him.
"This is unsafe! He could get hurt! Or worse!" Deceit paused at the top of the stairs at Virgil's voice. The Anxious Side was standing outside the Core Sides door, with Princey standing in front of it not letting the young Emo in.
"Go back to the subconscious Morbid moron. He's not going to get hurt going to a party." Roman scoffed, blocking the hoodie wearing teen from attempting to enter. "Thomas doesn't need you here right now. You would just have him hide under the covers and never live out his hopes and dreams!"
"Now Roman just cal-" Patton tried to soothe.
"And what are his hopes and dreams you Royal pain in my ass! To get kidnapped?! To get hurt?!" Virgil snapped, interrupting the Moral side.
"Thats not going to happen! This is a party and your dampening the mood with your negative energy! So why don't you do up all a favor and get out, because Thomas doesn't need someone like you holding him back Anxiety!" Roman snapped.
Deceit could see the small flinch Virgil did as Roman's words struck home. And then decided to go back to Logan's room, when he noticed Virgil's eyes go purple. "Favor huh? Here's a favor!" He heard Virgil's tempest tongue slip and rumble through the mind. Deceit let Logan's image drop as he re-enter the sleeping sides room, and began packing up the work. He would be sure to return the work before the weekend was over. "Here's your favor! THOMAS ISN'T SNEAKING OUT!" Virgil shouted. Deceit could see some of the shadows, slipping a little underneath Logan's door, but not entering. Virgil being in the Core Sides room meant the Anxious side would be able to influence Thomas. "HE IS NOT GOING! ITS TOO DANGEROUS!"
Deceit paused again when Virgil's final shout, the shadows, while still not coming in from under the door. Had stretched and reach in further than ever for a split second, seeming to get darker. Still disguised as Logan, he made sure the Logical Side was still in a deep sleep, before slipping out again. He made sure to lock the door on his way out, after all he was the master key to all of their rooms, besides maybe Remus; if he ever let Remus get away with a very intrusive act. Straightening the blue tie around his neck as he descended down the stairs, he schooled his face into the stoic mask that Logan always wore. His bag hanging off his shoulder, just behind him and hidden from sight.
The sight that met him at the bottom was something he expected. Virgil had somehow pushed his way in and was now in a deadly stare down with Roman, who had his sword summoned and pointed at the Emo. Patton was pushed behind Roman and behind the couch, shaking with absolute terror as the shadows of the mind all came rushing around their common room and around Virgil who was closest to the t.v., eyes glowing a deadly purple with one hand touching the Core Sides television screen and the other held out slightly in front of him as if to keep the shadows flying around centered around him. "You're not going Thomas!" He growled out, and through the screen, through Thomas's eyes, and by a horrifying pinching feeling through the Deceit's very being, he knew then that Thomas wasn't going anywhere, and would likely enter into a panic state if he let Virgil continue to run rampant tonight.
"You veil creature. How dare you threaten our Thomas! Get your filthy evil hand off that screen!" Roman snarled, creeping forward sword at the ready.
Deceit would not let the sides fight like this. He was to protect them all. And maybe Logic was needed now. But Logan needed rest, so it was Deceit who would have to be the voice of common sense tonight. "May I ask what all this commotion is all about. I cannot focus to help retain the knowledge Thomas has learned if you all keep causing distractions. Oh, Salutations Anxiety." Deceit greeted, and took a moment to analyze the situation a little more.
"He broke into our home and is now threatening Thomas." Roman clarified.
"I tried to get them to calm down Lo. I told them we could work this out, but-" Patton piped up from his spot behind the couch.
"He attacked us. Look at this witchcraft!" Roman cut in.
Virgil hissed, at the Prince, his shadows lashing out lightly to push Roman back until his legs hit the back of the couch, before backing off again to continue swirling around the Anxious Side.
"Hmph. I see. And may I ask why you decided to barge into our home Anxiety. If you need help with some of the homework that was given today at school-" Deceit started to say.
"This has nothing to do with school. This has to do with this imbecile putting Thomas in danger for a stupid party!" Virgil hissed and made eye contact with Deceit. The hidden Snake Side let a small yellow glint from his reptilian eye glow minutely before melding back to brown again, before anyone but Virgil noticed. Virgil eyes widen only by a fraction at the realization that Logan was Deceit.
"While I see your point of view Anxiety, I do believe you could have found a more civil way to convey to us you disagreement." He said, carefully, although Virgil looked ready to scream in anger. "However, Roman I do believe Anxiety is right about Thomas staying home. He has a lot of work to do this weekend and should use this free-time for optimal study time."
"What?! How can agree with him?!"
"A more civil way to – I told you all this morning!" Roman and Virgil both shouted at the same time. Thankfully, Virgil tempest tongue vanishing.
"I did not say I agreed with him Roman." Deceit said, deciding that Logan would address Roman first before Virgil. "Anxiety surely you could find a better way of communication. As you can see you both, mind you, now have Thomas in distress." He pointed out eyes locked on the screen, where Thomas was now in the process of taking calming breathes and trying to talk himself up to going or not going."This fighting will have to stop. Especially, if I am going to help Thomas with all the school work he has this weekend. And once again I will remind you that he needs knowledge to follow his hopes and dreams Roman and so should not be sneaking out when he could be doing something more productive. Besides are we sure that Thomas even wants to go to this party?" Deceit asked, looking to Roman and Patton who had now come out of hiding.
Virgil had now calmed down enough that the shadows of the mind had dissipated and everything in the room was back to normal. The Anxious Sides eyes were no longer glowing purple. Now Deceit had to handle this accordingly, without hurt Roman's ego and without setting Virgil and Patton off. "Well, of course he wants to go to the party!" Roman answered voice rising to a disparate level. "All the popular kids are going to be there. The In-Crowd Logan! The In-Crowd!"
"Will the In-Crowd care if Thomas got hurt climbing out f his window?" Virgil scoffed.
"Fall out of his window?! Roman!" Patton gasped horrified.
"He's won't fall out of his window." Roman said, to try and comfort the Moral Side, while sending an accusing look to Virgil.
"Nevertheless, he does have to study this weekend, and since you all cannot come to a decision yourselves I will make for all of us. Thomas may ask his parents if he can go to the party, so they will know where he is and when he will be home. If they say no, then Thomas will stay home and study like he should be doing in the first place." Deceit said, crossing his arms and staring the other sides down with that cold and calculated stare that Logan was known for and took the time to gauge the other sides reactions.
Patton had calmed down enough to where he was now moving away from behind Roman and more out in the open and toward Virgil, who out of all of them still look upset, but Deceit knew that was a normal look for the Anxious teen, especially after an episode like what happened a few minutes ago. Although, this was as calm as Virgil was going to get until he was back in the comfort of his room. Roman seemed satisfied with the compromise Deceit had offered. "Are we on agreeable terms Roman?" He asked, wanting a verbal confirmation.
"Okay." Roman nodded, although he still seemed a bit pouty about it. Patton was already nodding his head in agreement.
"Good. Well, then Anxiety as you can see, we have now established a way as to make it safe for Thomas to go to the party and if not then to use his time productively." Deceit said, eyes going back to Virgil who let out a disgruntle huff.
"Whatever..." The Anxious teen grunted, turning his back on them as he flipped his hood on his head and left. Most likely going back to his room.
"Thanks Lo." Patton smiled, walking up to Deceit and wrapping his arms around him. Deceit stiffened slightly in the hold, call him a hypocrite or whatever, but it was unnatural for Patton to hug him. Although Deceit's reaction could be read as Logan not wanting to exhibit emotion.
"Yeah, Sherlock, you vanquished our foe with words alone." Roman smiled, going over to the t.v. and turning to it, directing Thomas to go and tell his parents about the party.
"Sorry we disturbed you. I know you said you didn't want to be disturbed." Patton said, smile disappearing seeing Deceits bag full of paperwork.
"It is quite alright, Patton. But I will be leaving to a quieter part of the mind to continue my work without further interruption." He said, going for the door. "I may be late coming back. Try to keep out of trouble until then Roman." He threw over his shoulder letting the door close, before letting himself sink back into the subconscious.
Once safe in his room, Deceit let a violent shiver run through his body as the heating lamps snapped on and practically clasped in his desk chair letting Logan's image melt away from him. Everything was so exhausting, he took a moment to take a deep breath to get himself ready to take on Logan's job. "Deceit!" Virgil shouted, from outside the Snake Sides door. Dashing any hope that the Anxious side would stay in his own room away. "I know you're in there! Open up!"
Deceit didn't answer. Merely laid his head on his desk as after spreading Logan's work pile in front of him. He didn't have the time or energy to get in an argument with Virgil. A sharp pain sliced in his head as the snake in Remus's room died again. Either from the cold or Remus accidentally killed it again. Either way, Deceit wasn't going to be able make another one for a bit. He made sure his door was locked that not even Remus could intrude on him as he set himself up to continue to work.
(Remus's Room)
The Duke stared as the yellow snake his dagger had pinned to the wall disappeared into tiny little yellow lights. He had been seeing them all over the mind lately and every time he caught one it would disappear into tiny yellow lights that floated away into the mind. He wanted to catch them so he could give them to Deceit. After all, Deceit was half snake so surely he had to like snakes. And these were yellow just like the Snake Side. However, Remus also wanted to know where they came from. As well constructed as they were he almost suspected Roman was the creator but then Roman was a big fan of snakes. And Remus knew he himself didn't create them. They weren't cool and gross like the rest of his creations. Plus, he doubted they were Roman's. His twins creation stuck to the normal fantasy scripts, including Remus's creations. These little creatures acted like they could think on their own. Could leave the imagination and enter it anytime they wanted and that included a sides room, if them being in the Dukes bedroom was any example.
This one in particular was hiding under the bed, next to an old rusted ax. When the Duke had tried to grab for it, the little yellow thing had melded into his wall and the Creative spent the better part of his day waiting it out and taking note on where it would pop up to distinguish a pattern in its movements. Everything had a pattern. He had not thrown the dagger to kill the little thing, in fact he was sure he didn't even hit any vital organs, but the thing had withered in pain before exploding into lights just like the other ones.
"Hmmm…." Remus hummed, rolling the end of his mustache in thought. "I'm going to have to try some boring methods it seems." He nodded to himself. Especially if he was going to show the little things off to Dee."
(The Next Day)
Deceit yawned as he descended the stairs. He hadn't gotten any sleep and hadn't long returned from slipping into the Core Sides part of the mind to return Logan's work before the Logical Side awoke. He still had his own work to finish, but not before getting status reports from his little creations. And recreating another one for Remus's room. He pointedly ignore the glare Virgil was giving him from the counter as he started breakfast; Raisin Brand today. He made sure to put the glue on the side for when Remus came down. The Creative Side liked pouring his own chemicals. For himself, he made a nice hot cup of coffee, well, took the mug from Virgil who was about to drink out of his freshly made cup.
"Hey!" Virgil growled, trying to snatch his cup back. "Give it back."
"You know coffee has bad side affects for you. Thomas has already had a cup today. Therefore you do not need one. You know this Virgil" He mumbled, closing his eyes with a small smile as the caffeine started doing it job.
"So, are we not going to talk about it or what?" Virgil snapped, clearly still mad about what happened yesterday.
"I don't see anything to talk about. I wasn't doing my job after all." Deceit said, casting a side glance at the stairs as Remus came running down them and straight to the bowl of cereal and glue that was waiting for him. Deceit watched only for a moment as the Creative Side dumped the whole bottle onto the cereal, before turning to go back up the stairs and to his room to finish his own work.
"I could have told them." Virgil said, lowly. Stopping Deceit in his track. And causing Remus to look up from his breakfast, mouth full glue dripping from his mouth and mustaches, as his eyes bounced between Virgil and Deceit.
"I wouldn't have let you." Deceit countered, not turning to look at Virgil.
"Let me! So now you let me do things." Virgil growled.
"You know that is ...not... what I meant." Deceit said, fighting against the urge to slip into lying. He didn't want to slip into his backwards talk while arguing with Virgil.
"Oh, and what did you mean? What were you going to do? Shut my mouth up? Force me back into my room?" Virgil shouted, jumping from his seat to stand at the bottom of the stairs, staring a hole in Deceit's back.
"Virgil, please not right now." Deceit said, taking another step up the stairs.
"You took their side!" Virgil hissed.
"I did not!" Deceit hissed back, looking over his shoulder at the Anxious side. "I did my job. Now if you will excuse me. I have important matters that require my attention." He said, continuing up the stairs.
"Damn Virgil!" Remus cackled, from downstairs.
"Shut up, Remus!" Virgil snapped, running up the stairs and into his own room.
The Duke sat alone downstairs watching his two roommates leave him alone after yelling at each other. Well, Virgil yelled, Deceit hissed. He was his Hissy Snakey Fiend. The nicknames had a big grin on his face. Speaking of his Snakey Fiend, why was he holding himself up in his room to do work. Work didn't take all night and day. Finishing his breakfast and tossing the glass bowl in the sink with a satisfying crash sounding after it, before the Duke had made up his mind. Deceit was always working. Today was going to be the day that the Snake Side was going to have fun. Whether he wanted to or not. Deceit was going to spend the day with Remus in the imagination. But how was he going to lure the Snake teen from his room to do that was the question. Remus was sure he could think of something.
(Deceit's Room)
The Snake teen glared at the papers and journals and the little snake creation before him tiredly. He had gotten behind in his own work by doing Logan's and doing another sides job pulled more energy out of him than he would like to admit. He could probably sustain a little more energy if he got rid of his little creations, but then how was he going to be able to keep an eye on all the sides at once. He waved his hand sending the little snakes back to their job. He then went to pick up his pen to write updates in his journal on the other sides. Before dropping it again with a sigh at the feeling of something curling around his ankle under his desk.
"Remus, I though I told you to never sneak into my room." He said, kicking what was obviously a tentacle wrapped around his ankle causing it to let go, so he was able to push himself out from his desk and watched as the Duke crawled out from underneath it, with a severed arm draped around his shoulders like a one would a scarf.
"If I had knocked would you have let me in?" Remus grinned, as he stood up, the hole that he had crawled out of under Deceits desk vanishing.
Deceit busied himself by putting up his journals. The ones with everyone's name on them. "Yes" Deceit answered, once done.
"See, so I crawled in." The Duke smiled, spinning around and taking in the Snake sides room. He didn't get a lot of opportunities to see the Snake Sides room and always found something new and wonderfully telling about his friend whenever he did. Like how the lamps kept getting bigger and hotter making the room almost seem hot enough to cook someone. Remus briefly wondered if that was Deceits plan to make the room hot enough it would cook any other side but himself.
Deceit listened as Remus mumbled to himself gleefully getting lost by and distracted by his own thoughts. "Remus was there something you wanted?" He asked, getting the Creative Sides attention again.
"Oh, yeah! I want you to come with me." The Duke said, opening Deceit bedroom door and snapping his fingers to reveal a rope latter hanging outside the room from the ceiling.
"I don't really have the time right now Remus." Deceit shook his head.
"Oh come on! I created something new and I want a second opinion!" The Duke ushered grabbing Deceit by the arm and pulling him closer to the latter, before letting the other Side go to climb up.
Deceit tilted his head trying to sense a lie form the Duke but there was none, like always Remus never lied to Deceit. But still, this felt planned. "I'm sorry Remus but I have to decline." Deceit said, starting to back away. As tired as he was and with how much energy he had been using the past few days, Deceit didn't think he could take the cold of the Dark Side of the Imagination. He didn't get far though as Remus had his tentacles out again wrapping around the Snake Sides waist and hauling him up the latter anyway, before the other Side could even make a run for it.
"Remus let me go! Put me down!" Deceit hissed, kicking air and struggling in the tentacles as the Duke climbed the rope latter that apparently led to nothing but darkness.
"Your going to love this Deedee! I made it just for us to explore!" Remus was babbling ignoring the Snake Sides hisses and threats.
It wasn't until Remus pulled them out of a hole in the ground, that closed up as soon as Deceit's feet hit the earth, did the tentacle release the Snake Side and meld back into Remus's back. Leaving Deceit to look around their surrounding. Remus had brought them to a swamp and very dark and misty swamp with several growling like sounds around them. "Remus, where-?" He asked, hand coming to fix his hat to try and hide how nervous he was getting.
"Here Dee. You're going to want to take this." Remus grinned, snapping his fingers having a shield materialize on Deceits left arm. The Duke already holding his morningstar, the severed arm now gone.
"Now see here!" Deceit hissed, already bringing the shield up to protect himself in case Remus started swinging. There was no way he'd win in a fight with the Creative Side. "I thought I told you I refuse to fight!"
The Duke tilted his head at the Snake Sides reaction. "I didn't bring you here to fight you." He smiled. "I brought you here to go on an adventure with me!" He cheered.
"What?" Deceit lowered the shield slightly, but not all the way.
"I created an adventure for us." Remus repeated.
Deceit looked around one more time. "As thoughtful as this is Remus, I'm afraid I don't feel up to it." Deceit said, noticing the growling getting closer. "I don't think I will be much of a monster hunter." The Snake Side wasn't going to mention that the wetness of their swampy surroundings was also soaking into his shoes and socks and therefore, not only was he tired, cold, but now also wet. But he wasn't going to out his weakness like that. Not here. Not ever. He could hold it together as he talked Remus into cutting their adventure short.
"Heads up!" Remus warned, as a creature from the dark of the swamp pounce from its hiding spot. Deceit hid behind his shield as Remus engaged the creature in a short scuffle, before he lift the heart of the creature in the air in victory. Deceit stood off to the side with his back against a tree, relaxing his arm with the shield attached to it.
"Wonderfully, done Remus." He congratulated, but not moving forward in case anymore monster decided to attack.
"It was wasn't it!" Remus grinned. "Now, onward!" He crowed, the morningstar spikes catching on the edge of the shield jerking Deceit to start walking and following him.
Deceit kept close to the Duke and not for protection but for his warmth that was radiating from him. He tried not to get too close, not wanting to cause suspicion as to why he was walk almost touching the Creative side as they walked, he was just so tire and cold, but if this little adventure appeased the Dukes every creating and loud thoughts than Deceit suppose he could suffer a little adventure with the active Creative Side. As they trekked through the misty swamp Remus took care of the monsters that jumped out at them. Usually, taking the creatures down in one hit.
"This is fun right?" Remus finally asked taking out another dark creature of the mind, by ripping its throat out with his teeth. The Duke turned to face his companion who had been quiet during their walk, only using the shield to keep the blood of the attacking monsters from getting on him. Remus wouldn't let the creatures touch Deceit. He hadn't forgotten that Deceit at age ten had not liked the idea of fighting and had ran from Remus or at least had tried to run away. Remus wasn't dumb, he knew Deceit worked. Even as kids Deceit did nothing but work. The Creative side couldn't even remember a time where he had seen Deceit even act as anything other than a workaholic. Maybe the more they spent time with each other the more Remus would finally learn about Deceit and get the Snake Side to stop hiding in his room all the time. He was however, enjoying how close Deceit was up against him. And he wasn't going to say anything about it, he didn't want to break whatever spell was keeping his Snakey Fiend near him.
"Thrilling." Deceit answered. Trying very hard to not think about how cold Remus's side of the imagination was. How cold his whole body felt, he just had to stay near Remus. Stay near the heater that was the Duke.
"Good." Remus smiled. "Because we are very close to leaving the swamp and then the real battles begin!"
Deceit didn't bother asking what, knowing Remus it was probably something that was sure to rival anything any of the sides could think of. Beside so far Remus hadn't had Deceit fight anything so that was something. Maybe all Deceit had to do was to watch. Hopefully he would only have to watch.
"Get ready." Remus warned as soon as they stepped form the swamp and onto volcanic rock like ground.
A loud roar had Deceit looking up at the one creature in the imagination he had witness the birth of. The one creation that Roman and Remus both created. "The Dragonwitch!" Deceit hissed, ducking behind his shield as the beast flew above their heads. He missed the creature diving toward them and almost felt what soul he had leave him when the creature grabbed hold of his shield and drag him into the air too. "Remusssss!" He called.
The Duke watched as the Dragonwitch took Deceit into the air. He hadn't wanted that, but hey now he got the chance to save Deedee too. "Fun right?" He shouted out to the Snake Side who was being flown in the air.
"Don't get me down!" Deceit shouted back, trying to wedge his left arm from the shield. Because that was what the claws were gripping. He was just dangling.
Hearing Deceit request Remus did a running jump to launch himself into the air, and since he was in the imagination his jump was quite high that he was able to land on the Dragonwitches back when she did another dive. "Okie dokie! Hang on to your scales!" He called, as he brought his morningstar down against the beasts skull. Taking hold of the horns Remus steered their reptilian ride to fly over his side of the imagination, this would give Deceit a chance to take in the wonderful view from a bird eyes. The thought drew a gleeful giggle from the Duke at the thought of Deceit actually seeing through a birds eye. And briefly wondered what it would be like to have a birds vision. If he was able to really take a birds eye and replace his own.
Deceit on the other hand was still trying to free his arm from the straps that kept it attached to the shield. His gloved hand fumbled over the straps trying to find the buckles to release his arm and thus freeing himself from the Dragonwitch. The cold wind rushing past him was doing nothing for his predicament and when he was done running around the imagination with Remus he was going to lock himself in his room and curl up under his heating lamp.
"We're heading over water now!" Remus informed.
And that made Deceit freeze in his actions. He did not think about what he was going to do once his arm was free. Up in the air. Dangling up in the air. "Remus." He called. "Don't get me down now!" He demanded.
"I'll get her closer to the water, then you can drop." Remus said, the Dragonwitch diving even lower.
Deceit arched his body close to the shield and away from the freezing cold water that was getting closer to him. "Can't you not tell her to land?" He asked.
"We haven't tamed her yet." Remus answered. "Drop Dee."
Deceit bit his lip as he looked at the water underneath him. He really didn't want to drop into the water., but that was the only option that was given to him at this moment. Taking a deep breath Deceit released the buckle on his arm and dropped into the water. It was so cold water took his breath away and it took him a few minute to try and kick his legs to try and make his way to the surface. He was a swimmer and had never had a reason to learn. The waters were always too cold, even his shower water couldn't get warm enough to where he could take even a more than a five minute shower. And now here he was trying to swim his way through a lake of water in the imagination, and he couldn't swim.
A dark frilly sleeved arm come reached into the water, reaching and grabbing Deceits out reached gloved hands that were clawing through the water trying to breach it. That dark sleeved arm pulled The Snake Side out of the water and Deceit clawed his way up that arm and used his free hand to pull himself close to the body that arm belonged to, taking deep breaths of air. Something else was wrapping around his torso and helped pulled him out of the water. It took a moment ot realize it was Remus and that the Creative Side was talking to him.
"I got you Double Dee. See you didn't go splat." Remus was rambling, as he pulled Deceit up on the bank with him, to where they were no where near the water. Deceit let the Remus hold him and soak up the warmth that was being offered. "Instead you went splash! Not as thrilling as splat! No blood!"
Deceit was well verse to know this was Remus trying to be comforting, that the adrenaline and the thrill made it easy for his thoughts to run rapid and made it hard for the Duke to filter what came out of his mouth. Although, Deceit wasn't in the state to where he cared right now. He couldn't get warn. He couldn't get warm. Remus's heat wasn't enough. Deceit tried burrowing closer into the Dark Creative Side as he tried to rob as much heat as he could but he couldn't stop shivering. And if he couldn't stop shivering he was going to become a snake. A literal snake. And he did not want to turn into a snake in front of another side. He didn't want his weaknesses broadcast to the other sides.
"You didn't go splat! You went splash! Splash! You should have seen me after you fell. I sent her diving head first in the volcano and swan dived with a superhero landing and pulled your damsel in distress ass out of the water! Hahaha! Isn't that fantastic!"
"Ccccc-Cooo-Rrrr-Rem- Rroo-..." Deceit tried talking but his teeth were chattering now. He was going to shift. He was too cold. Too cold.
He tried pushing himself away from the Duke so he could sink out to his room. Had to get to his room! Couldn't let anyone see! As he turned into a defenseless snake. But Remus wasn't letting go. The Duke had pulled him even closer. "No, no. Dee, we got to get you warm. Your shivering like a corpse full of worms." Remus said, squeezing himself close to the Snake Side, who was trying to push away. Deceit was trying to make his limbs listen but it was hard when he was so painfully cold. He couldn't even sink out now. He could feel his creations disappearing the more weaker he was getting as he tried to make himself not shift.
"Dee?" Remus called, forcing Deceits face toward him, when the Snake Side wasn't responding. The Duke was met with a glassy mismatched gaze and dull scales. "Double Deedee….?"
"Re-Rem…." Deceit mumbled and before the Side was physically shrinking in his hands. And the Duke was holding a yellow scaled cobra, that was now wrapping itself around his arm.
Remus eyes widen and immediately hugged the snake close to try and cradle it, because he just watched Deceit turn into a snake. A literal snake! And that was so awesome and cool and sexy and now what was he going to do? Dee knows what to do, but Dee was a snake. Dee couldn't talk. He could hiss. And Remus could hiss back. They could talk in snake language! Remus could make himself turn into an octopus, but he wasn't sure if that was the same thing. It didn't look like Deceit had control over his shifting into a snake. The Duke looked at the snake that look like it was trying to burrowing into the Creative Sides skin and Remus wondered if he should help the literal Snake side to burrow into his skin. Would that mean they would be fused? Or would they be one?
The Snake coils tightening pulled Remus from his thoughts. Oh, right Deceit was a snakey snake now and the Duke couldn't just sit at the edge of the lake in the dark forest of the dark side of the imagination. "So," He started, getting to his feet and bringing his arm up to better look at the snake coiled around his arm. Glassy serpentine eyes stared lazily back at him, the serpent flicking its tongue out slowly. "You can turn into a real yellow noodle, huh." He smiled at the serpent on his arm, the coils tightening even more, as the Creative Side marveled at the serpent on his arm. Marveling at how much more interesting and beautiful at the same time. And Remus prided himself in finding the beauty where his brother and the other sides couldn't. Deceit was a type of beauty that he didn't think he would ever find. One that complemented himself so well. One that understood him. He began humming a little happy tune as he summoned his door to the imagination. Walking in a steady gait so not to jostle the serpent on his arm. Even when the creatures tried to run up on him from behind as he casually walked to his door. The Duke turned fluidly and let out a demonic scream that scared the dark creatures of the mind to run away from their ruler, as he lovingly turned back around and cradle the seemingly frozen snake wrapped around his arm.
Once in his room, Remus waved his hand conjuring forth a large terrarium in the middle of his room with a nice mossy bottom. "Okay my Snakey noodle. In you get!" He smiled, placing the arm Deceit was coiled on into the terrarium. The Snake Side did not loosen, in fact he seemed be trying to tighten his coils, refusing to let go. "You're going to cut m circulation off Deedee, and then my arm will fall off. I would love to find out what would happen if you squeezed with all your strength, but I don't think your strong enough right now to even stop my from stretching your coils apart. Your bones could break, and snap apart like twigs in my hands if I wanted to right now." Remus said, bring his face to level with the defenseless Side.
Deceit blinked tiredly and loosened himself from the Dukes arm. "Good. Here!" Remus offered conjuring a handful of dead mice up and putting it in the terrarium with Deceit. "Eat up! I'll be back!"
Deceit lazily watch the Duke leave, behind the glass of the cold terrarium that the Creative side conjured for him. So this was his life now. Remus was going to keep him as a pet. Ironic really, if the lying Side thought about it. He was suppose to be Remus's jailer. He muffler. Instead he had let himself shift into his weakness for and was now a prisoner of the Side he was suppose to control. And it was still so cold with no heat anywhere in sight that he wasn't sure what would happen if it he didn't get warm soon. He didn't even want to think about. He was too tired to think about it. And so rather than be awake to find out what Remus was going to do to him, Deceit let his eyes close and went to sleep.
(Remus)
Remus ran out into the hallway and began banging on Virgil's door and he didn't stop until the Emo angrily yanked the door open. "What?!" He demanded.
Taking a breath and willing his thoughts to stay on track Remus grabbed the emo teen by the hoodie. "DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF SNAKES?" He asked in a rush.
"What?" Virgil asked, pushing the Creative Sides hands away from him.
"I'm trying to take care of Dee, we went into the imagination and-"
Virgil cut the Duke off. "Yeah. Sure you are. Deceit doesn't let anyone take care of him. If you hadn't notice he stays in his room. If you want to take care of Deceit just leave him alone." Virgil scoffed, slamming the door in Remus's face.
"You better be glad your under Deedee's protection or I would have disemboweled you for that!" Remus shouted so the Anxious Side could hear him.
The Duke made sure to kick the Emo's door before sinking out into the mindscape to find someone who could help him. Because as nice as it was to know his yellow slinky could change shape now, the problem now was that Deceit's control had slipped as in Remus knew he was free to roam without something holding him back. That something being Dee. That snake in the terrarium wasn't Dee, at least not fully, and Dee didn't just let go of his control like that. It was un-Deceit like. And Remus did not like his Deceit not acting like Deceit.
The Duke stomped back into his room and looked into the terrarium where the snake in his care was now sleeping and the mice un-eaten. Remus narrowed his eyes as his took in the habit he made Deceit. Maybe if the Lying Side slept a bit, and then ate the mice, then maybe he would turn back to normal and then Remus could finally get some answers. "You're okay, right Deedee?" He asked, the sleeping snake. "This is a sneaky thing to hide." He mumble going to sit on his bed and watch the snake in the terrarium. He would give Deceit a three hour nap before waking him back up to make him eat and change back. And Remus was not going to take his eyes off him until then.
TBC
A/N: So, Deceit has shifted for the first time in front of Remus. Remus doesn't know how to take care of Deceit in this form and Virgil is upset about what happened with the Core Sides. So, who's going to help Remus take care of a snake Deceit? Going to be honest not even I know. Let me know what you think!