So, this takes place almost right after 'Gloves', but it isn't focused on what happened in that one.

And in this part, Remus is finally going to actually be there instead of just, like, mentioned. *yay*

XXX

Janus and Remus were playing a board game in the Light Sides' common room. Which was fine. Remus was his friend, and he could play board games with his friend just like anyone else. Besides, considering recent events, he was stressed, and it was just good self care to partake in relaxing activities. Like spending time with a friend. He certainly wasn't worried about what the other sides would think when they noticed Remus was there. No, he wasn't concerned at all that Patton had already noticed when he came to greet Janus, nor was he concerned about how often Patton was sticking his head into the room to check on them. Janus wasn't worried the slightest bit that Roman would freak out if he found his impulsive brother hanging out on this side of the mindscape. Or that Logan would be annoyed with him. Or that Virgil would be afraid or angry.

No, he was definitely as care-free as ever.

And there was no way he was hoping that the others would start to accept Remus too, even if Thomas didn't yet. He didn't think that maybe, just maybe, seeing Remus do something normal, and do it relatively calmly, would help them see that Remus was just another side, and that he wasn't as bad as they thought he was.

Because Remus wasn't really bad at all. He came up with gross ideas, disturbing ideas, and sometimes he got carried away with them, but he didn't ever (... Usually.) really mean to hurt anyone. Even knocking out Roman during his first appearance in front of Thomas was a bit of poorly-thought-through theatrics, and Remus did feel bad about it later, after he realized that Roman wasn't just playing along. Because Remus's problem wasn't that he was evil- it was that, with as many thoughts as he had, he didn't always know the difference between a thought that should be carried out and one that shouldn't. But still, all of his most horrifying antics were illusions. Of course they were illusions. They were imaginary, after all, so pretty much anything they did was an illusion.

Regardless, Remus was an aspect of Thomas's personality, no matter how much Thomas didn't want to face that part of himself. And maybe Thomas could get away with ignoring half of his creativity when he was younger, but Thomas was an adult now. He can and, perhaps, should have more mature thoughts, more mature ideas. And it wasn't as though Thomas never used any of Remus's ideas. He just wasn't ever aware of it, just as he wasn't aware of Janus's influence before he revealed himself. Remus had useful contributions; they just weren't listened to if their source was known.

"Hey, did you know that you have the word 'anus' in your name, J-anus?"

Which wasn't to say that everything Remus came up with was a good idea, or that Thomas should carry out most of Remus's suggestions. Hell, even Remus, once the moment was over, would probably be horrified if Thomas actually did half of what he told him to. It was just fact that Remus, in addition to being part of creativity, embodied intrusive thoughts. That didn't negate his actual contributions, just like everyone else's flaws didn't negate theirs.

"Only because you tell me that every time we have a chat."

Okay, really, Remus wasn't acting as intrusive thoughts most of the time. If he was, Thomas would certainly experience intrusive thoughts a hell of a lot more. No, his thoughts were dark and often morbid, but the vast majority of them were harmless.

And so, he and Janus were sitting in the living room playing a board game because they had every right to. And just maybe, recent events had shown Janus that the others wouldn't go back to hating him over any little thing he did. And maybe that gave him hope that they could extend that sentiment to Remus too, at least eventually.

He just had to show them that Remus wasn't a villain or a monster either.

"Oh. Well you do! You have a BUTT in you!"

They had been playing for a while before any other side besides Patton showed up. Logan came into the room with a book in his hand before stopping short at the sight of the two of them sitting at the coffee table. The momentary surprise, however, quickly faded back into the apathy Logan used when interacting with Remus.

"Oh. Hello, Janus. Remus," Logan greeted, his voice level. "I was going to read a book. Are you… playing CandyLand?"

Remus looked up from the game with a wide grin that, though it appeared scary, was really just a sign that Remus was enjoying himself.

"Yup! Wanna join?" Remus asked. "I'd totally be down for a threesome."

Ah. Well. Remus was Remus, after all. Even if he wasn't as scary as they thought, he still had his own particular sense of humor.

"I-er. No," Logan stumbled slightly. "I'm fine with my book."

"Your loss," Remus said with a shrug before picking up another card. "Ooooh, red. Like blood."

And so, Logan settled onto the couch, book in hand and reading slightly slower than he usually would. Janus pretended he didn't notice the way he glanced up from the book every time he flipped the page.

Virgil was the next one to come into the room. He was looking for Patton and noticed there were people sitting in the living room. Janus saw his shoulders tense up, but they lowered with a few deep breaths.

"Hey," Virgil greeted. "What are you guys up to?"

"CANDYLAND!"

"Hm. Well, I'm going to help Patton in the kitchen," Virgil told them.

Before he turned around to leave, he met Janus's eyes, giving him a small, brief smile. Janus froze for just the slightest moment, and then a bit of relief flowed through him. Okay, Virgil, at least, was more-or-less fine with Remus being here. Janus hadn't really been sure because, though Virgil had been friends with Remus before, that didn't necessarily indicate what his feelings were now (and he saw the Dealing with Intrusive Thoughts video- Virgil hadn't seemed very happy to see Remus then). Janus of all sides knew that. And even though they were friends, Remus did still scare Virgil during his more unpredictable moments. But it was fine. Virgil hadn't freaked out or gotten angry. He just smiled and accepted it. Maybe he could tell that Janus was anxious about what they thought and wanted to reassure him. Everything was fine. He and Remus just had to keep playing.

But Roman was the last one to show up, and he didn't do so until it was just about time for dinner. By then, the two of them had switched to playing cards, and Remus was starting to get more jittery.

"Hello, everyone!" Roman called as he waltzed into the room.

And then he stopped.

"...Why is my brother here?"

"HI, ROMAN!" Remus greeted instead of answering. "You wanna see me fold this card into a throwing star?"

"Wh-!"

"Remus, if you do that, we will definitely be able to continue playing," Janus spoke quickly.

"Oh. Yeah," Remus agreed, twirling his mustache. "But I could just make a new card to replace the one I use for origami!"

"H-"

"Don't you have enough origami throwing stars?" Janus asked, continuing to deflect the conversation. "Maybe try something else this time?"

He didn't want to start another fight. Maybe if he just kept pretending this was normal, Roman would give up on questioning it.

"Like what?"

"A dragon maybe?" Janus suggested. "Regardless, it wouldn't be easier to just use origami paper."

"Aaaah, but dragons are so boring!"

"How is a fire-breathing beast boring?"

"Sto-"

"Ooooh, I bet I could make it actually breathe fire!"

"Yes, because making a flammable object breathe fire is a great idea."

"See! I knew you'd get it!"

Janus was about to respond, but he got cut off before he could start by Roman.

"Would you stop ignoring me?!" he shouted. "Why is Remus here?!"

And with that, Janus's fears spiked back up. He knew this would happen. He knew Roman would get angry.

"Oh, you mean little old me?"

"Of course I mean you, you fiend! Do I have another brother?!"

Oh, this was a mistake. He shouldn't have done this. He should have just played with Remus in his room. Maybe he was wrong in thinking that recent events would help them accept Remus too. Maybe this was just going to make Roman go back to hating him again.

"He and Janus are just hanging out," said Virgil.

When did Virgil come out of the kitchen?

"But why is he here?"

"They're just playing a game, Roman."

"Now, maybe, but Remus-"

"Remus has been fine this entire time!" Janus blurted out suddenly. "We've been playing for over two hours, and he hasn't broken anything or hurt anyone!"

And now Roman's attention was on him. Crap. Even if Roman wasn't mad before, he sure would be now.

"Yeah! I haven't done anything! Yet."

"See! He-"

"Roman, why don't you see if Patton needs help setting the table?" Logan requested with a sigh, obviously trying to avoid an argument as well.

"But-!"

"Roman," Virgil hissed quietly. "Not now."

He looked like he wanted to keep arguing, but instead, he just sputtered and sighed before spinning around to go into the kitchen. Virgil gave Janus another look and followed him. It only took a minute before he could hear hushed arguing from the other room, making Janus's skin crawl. He suddenly wished he was alone so he could take off his gloves.

"Hmph! That butthole!" Remus huffed. "And here I am, being perfectly polite!"

The other man crossed his arms, appearing angry for a moment. But then he shifted and picked up his cards again.

"Anyway, you have any fives, Dee?"

"Oh. Uh. No," Deceit responded, handing Remus a card.

"Nice!"

XXX