Hey everyone! The mods conferred and have come to the conclusion that instead of making a new Ao3 collection for this year's week, it would be easier to continue using the one from last year since it ended up pretty empty anyway. And if we just keep using the same one it's a nice place to find a variety of Intruloceit stories in general!
So the collection has been re-named to Intruloceit Week (intruloceit_week) without being specific to years.
We're looking forward to any submissions to come! 💛💙💚
The car ride there wasn't long— it took around an hour— but it was the longest hour in Logan's life.
They had agreed that Remus would drive there and Janus would drive back. Logan had heard rumors of how Remus drove, but most of the complaining was from Roman, who he knew to exaggerate the truth.
This was no exaggeration.
Once they were all in the car, Remus tore out of the driveway, not waiting for anyone to buckle up. He consistently drove 10 miles over the speed limit and never slowed down for turns, effectively tossing the passengers around the car.
On top of the motion sickness, Remus started blasting music, drums and screaming that would occasionally be replaced with obscene lyrics and electronic melodies. But that wasn't the worst bit.
The worst part was that he didn't turn it down, even when talking to them. Logan couldn't hear him over all the noise, let alone tell him to turn it down.
Janus didn't seem to mind any of it. It was the result of living Remus for so long, surely. In fact, he had planned for this. Logan could see from the back seat that he was wearing earplugs. For most of the trip, Janus stared ahead, preventing most of the motion sickness that Remus' driving caused.
About halfway through the trip, Remus pulled into a gas station.
"Janny, could you get my usual while I fill up the car?" Remus looked over at Janus, smiling brightly.
Janus rolled his eyes. "Of course. How could I forget your classic road trip snack that makes the car smell for months?" He exited the car, followed by Logan.
"Thank you, love!" Remus shouted, watching them go into the gas station.
Once inside, Janus turned to Logan.
"I suggest you go find earplugs while I make this monstrosity that Remus calls a road trip snack."
"Thank you for the suggestion. I wish you luck in executing your task."
Logan walked up and down the aisles, running into Janus a few times. The ingredients in his arms gradually got more and more concerning. Chips, cookies, jalapenos, energy drinks.
Eventually, Logan found a box of foam earplugs.
When he next saw Janus, his arms were full, seemingly random snacks towering over him.
"What is all of that for?" Logan reached for something, hoping to help Janus.
"Some of it's for all of us, but the rest is for this snack— really a meal— that Remus insists on getting when we take a long road trip." He shuffled the things in his hands. "I don't even know how to describe the horror that is tuna and corn chips with…" He shuddered.
Logan eyed the other items. "How do you stand the smell of that?"
"You get used to it after 5 years of living with him."
"I meant… nevermind. Speaking of which, could you ask him to turn the music down when we get back? I didn't realize he would play it so loudly."
"I can ask, but I hardly think he'll turn it down."
They walked up to the counter to check out.
"Do you know why he asked us to go with him to an amusement park?"
"Why do you think I would know?"
"You have known him for a longer time than I have."
"So I obviously know his motives behind everything."
"…Is that a yes?"
"No, I have no clue why he's doing this, though I fear it might have something to do with this infernal day."
"Valentines' D- oh. Oh! You think- Really?"
"Just because I fear doesn't mean I'm right, but I do have my speculations."
Janus handed over Remus' card to pay, scooped up the bags, and left with Logan in tow.
"Mus, could you please turn down the music for the next leg of the trip? Some of us are not accustomed to your eccentric tastes."
Remus looked at Logan, something more than sympathy in his eyes.
"Okay! Will do!"
The three of them got back in the car. Remus turned the music down for the second leg of the trip, though the smell of tuna fish salad with candied jalapenos permeated through the car. It was somewhat pleasant, and Logan was happy he got to spend the day with two of his best friends.
To Woo the Losers Finale! (Probably) (Might write an epilogue)
Day 4 prompt: Theatrics
The trio continued their path to the main attraction, occasionally getting sidetracked by other rides. Remus thought his friends were walking impossibly slow, but he wouldn't say it. He wanted them to have a great day too. His grand finale could wait.
At some point, they stopped for lunch. That is to say they found a bench to share and ate the granola bars Janus had sneaked in.
The sun warmed them unlike the cold February air. Remus sat next to Janus, almost sitting on top him, trying to steal his warmth. Janus, in turn, slid away, which trapped Logan between him and the arm of the bench.
It was cozy, squishing his crushes into a bench so they couldn't leave.
"Remus, while this is delightful, could you please move over?" Janus pushed against Remus' side. Remus pushed right back.
"The other direction!" Janus shoved him. Remus dramatically fell off the bench.
"Oh! To be betrayed by my best friend! How dare such a tragedy occur!" He covered his eyes.
"Please get off the ground. It's dirty." Logan proffered his hand. Remus accepted it, standing up. If his heart beat faster, he wouldn't say, not yet.
They finished their snack and headed off.
Eventually, the trio reached the end of the path, marked by a tall red roller coaster, temporarily named "Heartstopper."
Remus sprinted to join the line, though the park was so empty that he didn't have to run. The others trailed him.
He hoped to have front row seats, the perfect place to execute his plan. Thankfully, the lack of a line meant his plan would go quite smoothly on that front.
They sat in the cart, a giant unit of seats in rows. Remus was in the middle with Janus on his right and Logan on his left. The conductor came around to check their harnesses before going back to the control booth to start the ride.
The cart climbed the metal track, higher and higher. The excitement sent electricity through Remus' body. He had one chance to get this right, 3 seconds of baited breath to confess. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Janus, smiling nervously, and Logan, his eyes closed to face the wind. Remus struggled against the restraints, taking their hands in his as they crested at the top.
The ride froze, dangling them 300 feet in the air.
"Logan, Janus, I love you!"
Logan had just enough time to say "Wha-" before they plummeted, g-forces pushing against their bodies. The wind was so loud that anything said was drowned out, though no one said anything, adrenaline silencing any thoughts.
Somehow, Remus kept hold of his friends' hands. Whatever they had to say after this was future Remus' problem. Right now, he could bask in the feeling of being honest, free from the secret he'd been keeping.
Roller coasters loomed over them as they got closer. Remus was absolutely giddy, pulling them along like a kid. Janus and Logan, seemingly taking the roll of already exhausted parents, trailed behind him.
"Lo, I can't wait to show you my favorite coasters! Jan has already seen them, but now I can show you. Hope you're not a scaredy cat like my brother is. Last time we were here, he blacked out on the best ride. I still have the pictures."
Remus then searched for his phone, ungracefully pulling up the photos (how did he get these?) of him and his brother, their hair pushed back by the wind, Roman's head lulled to the side.
"That's quite unsafe. How were you even able to hold up your arm to take the photo?" Logan questioned.
"It's not that hard, especially when the moment presents itself!"
They came to a crossroad in the park.
"Where shall we go first?" Logan looked over the map he had taken from the front.
"The big red one! It's my fav! Ooh! or the blue one; it's just as good, just less so!" Remus started rambling about the different rides he enjoyed.
"I believe it would be best if we started with something… less exciting. Besides, those rides are all the way in the back. We could ride whatever catches our eyes before we get there." Janus had given this talk before; it was a compromise that Remus usually took when they went together.
Remus huffed. "Fine! The nerd gets to pick first though."
Logan pointed to himself, eyes wide.
"Yeah, you! I bet you secretly have great taste in adrenaline-seeking fun!"
"Alright, then. I suggest we take this right; it'll take us past something I want to ride and it's the shortest route to your ride."
The trio started down the road, admiring the few decorations the park had for Valentines day. The lampposts were wrapped in pink and red tinsel. Hearts were sprinkled on buildings. Some of the rides had even been renamed for the day.
The one Logan had picked was now called "Picnic", but was really a teacup ride with a much more ridiculous name.
When it was their turn to ride, they picked a cup with stars on it. Logan practically ran when he saw it (which looked like a speed walk to anyone else). It was cute, how excited he could get over the smallest things.
Remus grabbed the wheel with both hands and tried to spin them before the ride started. As it did, Logan joined in the spinning, and Janus eventually joined too. Their arms crossed and hands touched while pulling the wheel.
Logan got dizzy quickly. Remus did too, but he kept up his insistent spinning. Janus' head was also spinning, though he held up a facade of being completely unaffected by the vestibular motion.
The teacup slowed to a stop. Remus bounded out, followed by Logan, who was trembling and clinging to Remus, and then Janus.
Remus shifted to hold Logan under his arms before taking Janus' hand.
For Intruloceit week, I’m writing a thing… hopefully.
Here’s part one.
Title: To Woo The Losers
Ship: Intruloceit
Tags: Valentines, Amusement Parks
Summary: Remus wakes the two dorks for their adventure
Valentines day was important for all of the sides, though each of them had different reasons for its significance.
Patton loved the day, fully dedicated to sharing the love he felt for his famILY. Roman was completely in his element, which meant Virgil was dragged into doing whatever he wanted to do. Janus and Logan normally didn't like the holiday but silently appreciated the things the others did to celebrate.
This was not a normal year.
This year, Remus had somehow convinced Janus and Logan to go an amusement with him to celebrate Valentines day.
The trio had gotten up early to go. Remus had decided the best way to wake up his unwilling victims was to join them bed, slowly crushing them in a hug until they had to wake for breath.
Logan had been more upset about the wake up call, his personal space invaded.
"Remus? Could you- please let go?" He asked, intrupted by short breaths.
"LoLo! Good morning! Are you ready for our adventure?" Remus was far too excited this early.
"I will be- once you- Stop- hugging me!" Logan struggled to break from Remus' constrictive grasp.
"Alright, alright." Remus rolled away, removing his arms from Logan. Now that his hands were free…
Remus continued rolling onto the floor, grabbed the blanket covering Logan, and preceeded to roll out of his room.
"Remus!" He could hear him cackling as he rolled down the hall to his next victim.
After he untangled himself from the blanket, Remus snuck into Janus' room. Slowly, so he didn't wake him too soon, he crept up to the bed. Only for Janus to bolt upright and slide away when Remus sat on the bed.
"Good morning, Mus," Janus drawled sleepily.
"You ruined my surprise!" Remus huffed.
"I believe you ruined your own surprise, but I digress." Janus stood up, rushing to get ready and out of Remus' reach.
"Fine, but I bet I'll surprise you! I will, even if it's the last thing I do!" And Remus ran out of the room, dashing to his own to prepare for an amazing day.