(@remy-roleplays2 )
It's been...
Janus doesn't know how long it's been since he's seen daylight. He'd been filming with the others, then things got blurry, and he fell asleep at some point.
And then he woke up here. Head aching, body sore, feeling like he was almost freezing. He didn't know what happened or what he did wrong. He just knows nobody is looking for him.
Sometimes he'd see a bit of light. Hear a voice, but that was it.
What had happened was, Orange had taken control of Janus, and he'd attacked both Roman and Logan.
In the process, Janus had hurt himself. Given himself a concussion. He didn't understand why nobody was looking for him...he couldn't see much of anything. Sometimes the room would warm up.
He spent a lot of time sleeping off the horrible pain of his very slowly healing cracked skull.
Logan, Roman, Patton, Remus, Virgil...
Nobody was coming.
If he could just remember what had happened...
Virgil was busy trying to... find Janus, and remain calm. Fuck... it was so hard to remain calm! Breathe? Yeah... maybe try that... but quietly! Jeez, you're trying to sneak here...
He took another breath and looked around, before scaling the wall like a spider. "Wh-whoa, shit, I haven't done this in ages... okay... um". He placed his ear against the wall as he scampered, listening for any signs of life. "Come on... he's gotta be around here, hopefully...".
Janus heard something. He weakly asked "is anyone there...?" He was so exhausted, his head hurt so bad. He could hardly stay awake. He was so hungry..
Virgil had been told, that this was for everyone's safety. That Janus had been locked up on purpose, and that Janus was dangerous.
Janus had never been violent until orange possessed him. Janus managed to sit up in the dark room, finding a blanket folded at his feet. He quickly wrapped himself in it. "Anyone...?"
Knock. "Anyone?" asked Virgil, looking around again. "Well, anyone except Orange...". Shudder. Which... caused the smallest side to lose his grip and fall to the floor. "Ow... ouch, dammit" he grumbled, rubbing his head. "Fine, I won't scale anymore- jeez".
Another sigh. A quick brush down. More searching. He knew what he'd been told, but he also knew Janus- way better than the others. That snake had turned over a leaf, he wasn't a danger to anyone. Not anymore. "Jay?".
The knocked sounded a little down the hall. He and Virgil were equally as small as each other, it was why Janus stole Virgil's Grey jacket so much. "In here...!" He was so tired he could barely make any noise. His head was pounding. He wanted to eat, and sleep.
"Virgil?" He called, feeling hopeful.
Virgil pressed his ear to the wall again, carefully creeping. Knock. "Jay? Come on, dude, give me like- a signal or something...". Sigh. While it was true these two were small, Virge was just a tad smaller than Janus- something which the deceitful one loved to tease the other about.
Pause. "Janus!" he cried, covering his mouth straight after. Smooth...
Janus couldn't get out of this damned bed, his ankle was handcuffed to it. "I'm in here!" He cried out, trying to find something. He found a book nearby and grabbed it, starting to bang it against the wall.
"Virgil! I'm in here-!" The banging was weak, Janus barely had any strength left.
Virgil paused when he heard the banging, swallowing. That... sounded like someone who needed help, right? Or... it was a trap. "Um..." mumbled the small one, chewing his thumbnail as he finally reached Janus's room.
A wiggle of the handle. "J-Jay? It- it's Virgil... I- uh... I guess, I'm here to like- um, rescue you?".
Janus relaxed a little. "Its me! I'm in here!" He sounded so tired. The door started to open and Janus almost cried in relief. "In here!" He kept calling.
Something in Virgil told Virgil that Janus was scared. And Janus is never scared.
Shudder. Focus. "Jay! Oh my fuck- okay... um... so... uh, hi? And... um..." mumbled Virgil, heading over to the other trait. "How do I... uh... oh! You've got a head wound? Um, Lo would say- that's the most important thing, uh... oh" he uttered, grabbing the small blanket and ripping a piece off. "H-here, uh... round, and then... not too tight...". Done.
"Right, now that's wrapped, uh... how do I... get you out of that thing?".
Janus leaned into Virgil's gentle touch, sighing. "I don't even know why I'm in here." He admitted in a timid, quiet voice. "I don't remember what happened to get me here..."
Oh, Janus had no idea what he'd done to Roman and Logan. Oh that's not good.
"Do you know what happened...?" Janus looked at the handcuff, and at his ankle. "It should...hold on, I'm double jointed so.." he popped his ankle out of place, slipped the handcuff off, and put his ankle back in place. "There..."
"I... do and don't, um... I've been told thi-" Virgil started to say, pausing when Janus casually dislocated his ankle. "-ings... doesn't that hurt?". He found himself reaching towards the ankle before sharply pulling away. "Let's get the heck out of here, and then like- uh... we can talk and questions and all that, okay?".
Janus nodded, slowly sliding off the bed and wobbling for a moment because of the amount of pain killers he's currently on. He gently grabbed Virgil's hand, taking a moment to breathe. "Okay."
Virgil gasped and pulled his hand away, before covering it with his sleeve and then grabbing Janus. "Come on, and like- be quiet, okay? We can't sink out until out of this room, something's stopping it".
Janus nodded, frowning when Virgil didn't want to hold hands. He followed Virgil out of the room, being as quiet as he can, and staying silent for the moment. He was so confused.
As soon as they got outside, Virgil shut the door and nodded, before sinking out with Janus- and appearing in his own room. Naww, look at all of the Halloween decor, cute. "Right, um... sit- uh, sit" he said, gently pushing the other down onto his bed.
"Drink, and... some food- and... uh, yes" he mumbled, summoning the needed items and handing them to Janus. "Slowly, cause like- you might get sick? I dunno, I'm just trying... to... do this".
Janus looked around the decorated room quietly and smiled a little, just holding the drink and snack Virgil gave him. "You decorated." He said softly, looking at Virgil for a moment before looking around again. Then he noticed it. His eyes widened and he smiled more. "You hung up the post I made of you as Jack Skellington."
Virgil chewed his lip as he looked around again, pausing when Janus spoke up. "Huh? Oh... well, it... tied in with the decorating so, um...". Finger gun. "How's your head?".
"Fuzzy..." he said quietly, looking down at his hands. He started to open the bottle of tea Virgil handed him, unsure if Virgil had grabbed Janus's favorite snapple on purpose. He took a sip of the mango tea and smiled. "It does look nice. Is your spider still alive?"
"That's... good? I dunno, I'm making this up as I go along" shrugged Virgil, sighing as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Hmm? Oh, Susan? Yeah, she's all good- I kinda let her roam around freely, so... she could be anywhere- just be careful where you're stepping".
Janus took another sip of his tea and hummed slightly. He looked over at Virgil and nodded softly, not saying anything. He continued to drink his tea for a moment before asking. "Why was I tied up, Vee?"
Virgil perched on the foot of his bed and sighed, chewing his thumb some more. "I... what do you actually remember? Like- the very last thing".
"Uh. Arguing with Logan actually." He sighed. "And Roman, that's about it." He mumbled softly and rocked himself a little bit. He liked to look around the room, Virgil's room was pleasant.
"Yeah... kinda? Uh... look, I- um, okay- here goes" said Virgil, taking a breath. "OrangetookcontrolofyouandusedyoutohurtLoandRomanoandthentheylockedyouupbecausetheywouldn'tbelievemewhenIsaidyouweren'tyousothenIwaiteduntilIwasfinallyaloneandIsnuckouttosaveyouandthenIbroughtyouhere".
Janus went pale in the face, and dropped the bottle of tea. He was shaking a little bit at the time, unable to really breathe right. "Orange got out?" He asked softly, his breathing faltering a little more. "Orange got out!?"
"... yes? Well, I think so? Only cause- he's the only other person that could've done this, cause I know you didn't do this- and and- um, oh shit- hey, hey J?" remarked Virgil, snapping his fingers. "Uh, deep breath in for four seconds- okay?".
Janus was panicking. He'd been the one to lock Orange away, at Patton's request, He'd been the one that told Orange he was too dangerous to keep around, He'd told Orange that he wasn't wanted. He began to hyperventilate as he just kept repeating "he got out." Over and over again.
"Shit, um... okay- so... uh, here-" declared Virgil, handing Janus a small cat plush. "She's... soft, uh- and then, can you like... tell me 5 things you can see?".
Janus could only managed to hold the plush for a minute or two before he was going back to squeezing himself to try and calm down, forcing himself to breathe. "You..." he mumbled. "Uh...the p-poster..." he struggled, head starting to hurt now as the pain killers wore off.
"That's two, good- this is working, but you've gotta carry on... and hold the plush, she'll help you".
Janus shakes his head, hugging himself tighter. "No. Can't. Cant." He whispers softly. "I cant." He whispered again. "Can't see." He started rocking himself gently.
"Yes you can, you can do this Janus" informed Virgil, crawling over to the other. "You can do this, 3 more things".
Janus continued to rock himself. He used to get like this after a bad dream, and then he'd spend the night curled up in Virgil's bed, head on Virgil's chest, trying to sleep. He started sobbing, unable to hold himself back any longer. "Its all my fault! If I had- if I had just been smarter or used stronger chains or even just double checked the warding, none of this would've happened!"
"Oh... shit, I didn't- um... there there? I don't- I need Patt... he's all cuddles and dad stuff and- um... n-no, no- it wasn't your fault, he just- look, I dunno how he got out- but I know it wasn't cause of you". Pat. "I... um, I have this?" he wondered, pulling out a weighted blanket from his bedside drawer and draping it over Janus.
"Breathe... breathe, Jay".
Janus just continued to cry, eventually setting the plush aside and just throwing himself into Virgil's lap essentially. He curled up, hiding his face in Virgil's jacket, his crying was quieter right now and he was just clearly needing to let it out.
"Um... okay... I'll just- uh...". Pat. Was this helping? What would Patton do... he'd... probably tickle. Ew, yeah- no. "I...m here for you?". Pat pat. "There there".
After a while of crying, Janus just laid in Virgil's lap, curled into a little ball and not saying much of anything. He sniffles softly and quietly, hiccuping gently. He didn't know what else to do other than lie there.
Virgil didn't know what to do either, he wasn't equipped to deal with this sort of thing- but he knew he had no choice, the others certainly wouldn't want to help... so, he'll just stay here until Janus is ready. Pat. "Feeling, um, better? Uh...".
Janus nodded gently. "Yeah, a little." He mumbled softly and slowly sits up, not saying anything after that as he looked for a blanket. He was really cold.
"Cool... um... here- cause like, you're gonna be dehydrated from that crying" remarked Virgil, handing Janus another drink and his weighted blanket that had fallen on the floor.
Janus slowly drank the second bottle of tea that Virgil handed him, and wrapped himself in the weighted blanket. "So...what happened? Why was I tied up?"
"I told you... you attacked- well, your body attacked Lo and Romano".
Janus frowned. "Oh right. Uhm." He sighed, cursing himself under his breath. This could really only mean one thing.
Orange escaped.
Shrug. "Yep, I think they're okay though? A slight headache and... like- Romano's ego is bruised, but yeah... it's all good, well, not good- it- um... I... don't know what I'm saying" mumbled Virgil, chewing his thumbnail again. "I'm like- the worst person for all this...".
Janus nodded. "I get it. Believe me, I do. I'm sorry you had to see me like that, Vee." He said honestly, and quietly. "I really am."
"It's... chill, we just- at some point, I need to like- break the news to the others, and like- get them to understand what actually happened..." said Virgil, fiddling with the bed sheet. "Fuck...".
Janus stopped him, gently. "Vee..." he looked at Virgil, regret and guilt on his face. "Maybe it's better if you don't tell them..." he sighed. "You can say I uhm...went insane, and that you had to send me off..."
"N-no... cause like- that's not fair or whatever... and and- it wasn't you that did those things, so if I say it was- then they're not gonna like- realise the real trouble and that could make things even worse cause then Orange is free to roam around and cause chaos and and-". Panic.
Janus sighed. "Virgil. Breathe. Take a moment and breathe. Everything will be okay, and I will do my best to make sure that it is." He hugged Virgil, squeezing him gently.
Virgil tensed up at the hug, shutting his eyes and focusing on his breathing exercises, eventually calming back down and wriggling free. "... let's try... um, Lo first. I know, I know... you attacked- well, you know, but like- well, if... we can get Lo to listen? Maybe it'll help the others to understand? I dunno...". Fidget.
Janus slowly let go of Virgil. "Maybe. Logan has had a run in with orange before, so Logan should be able to understand." He hummed softly, looking around. "The question is, will Logan be willing to hear us out?"
"I... don't know... um, I'm legit just- what would Lo do? He'd... speak to Lo, and and- um, oh..." mumbled Virgil, hiding his face in his hands. "I'm so the wrong person for all this bullshit...".
Janus gently moved Virgil's hands from his face and placed a container of sparkling yellow thinking putty into his hands. "Don't hide. Play with the putty, squeeze it, stretch it, whatever. It'll help."
He then looked around, and took a breath. "You'll have to summon Logan."
"What are you-" started Virgil, blinking when Janus handed him putty. "I... um... th-thanks? I don't, whoa- this is actually... well softer than it looks... cool".
He played with the putty for a small while, before swallowing and taking a breath. "Okay... let's do this..." he uttered, chewing his lip as he waved his hand.
Janus nodded and waited calmly. He played with his own putty, a golden color with little honeycomb shaped sparkles. He watched as Virgil summoned Logan.
Logan slowly came up, wearing a dark blue hoodie and some sweatpants. He was taking a nap, after he'd been attacked he'd started to struggle with his fatigue again. "Yes...?" He glanced at Janus. "Ah. You're awake."
Virgil moved to chew his thumbnail as Logan rose up, swallowing when he spoke. "I- I- um, so... um, sup? And uh... b-basically, I... rescued Janus... and and- um, there's something you n-need to know... and and- I thought you'd be the best person to tell cause you're you, and and".
Logan nodded. "That makes sense. Do not worry, I won't tattle." He hummed, gently checking on Janus's scar. "This looks healed well. Good job."
Janus was embarrassed by how easily Logan scooped him up and made a quiet hissing noise.
Virgil watched Logan and Janus, chewing his lip and smirking ever so slightly when the snake was picked up. "How... is everyone? How- how are you?".
Logan set Janus down and hummed. "I am alright. Mostly struggling with fatigue again, but I am mostly alright." He said softly. "So...what did you want to tell me?"
Janus sighed. "Orange got out."
"Cool... um". Fiddle. "Basically... Janus wasn't- uh, yeah- that" voiced Virgil, still chewing his lip. "J- Janus didn't attack you guys...".
"Mhm..." Logan watched Virgil chew his nails. "Virgil, don't chew your nails. You have putty right there."
Janus was quiet.
"Can't help it... I'm anxious" replied Virgil, fidgeting some more. "So... now that you know the truth, please tell me you have like- a plan or something...".
Logan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, I don't have a plan yet." He said softly, quietly. "As I have only just been informed." He muttered quietly, sighing again. "Whatever."
Janus yawned.
"You two get some sleep."
"Oh... this isn't good" worried Virgil, climbing off the bed and beginning to pace. "So, here's what we know... Orange somehow got out, impersonated Janus and beat up you and Romano, and then Janus got tied up cause you guys thought he was the problem, but now you know he's not but there's no plan and no- oh... Thomas! What about Thomas, how is he? He- Orange... is quite- sleep?". Scoff. "Yeah... nah, that's not gonna happen...". Pace pace. "He could be anywhere". Chew chew. "This is bad, this is very bad".
Logan sighed and gently scooped Virgil up, holding him. "Thomas is asleep. You can relax, okay? I'll watch over Janus."
"I don't need a babysitter!"
"Okay, relax."
"Ah!" yelped Virgil, tensing up as he was suddenly scooped. "I- I really can't, he's out there! And and- he's probably up to no good and he's just-" he remarked, wriggling free so he could continue to pace. "We need to formulate a plan or whatever, or something! We- how are you so calm?!". Panic.
Logan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Virgil, it is the middle of the night. If it calms you down, I will let you hold onto me, but you must sleep so that you do not worsen your state. And look, you're making Janus worry."
Janus didn't think Logan would point it out. But yeah, he was very worried about Virgil. To the point he'd started nervously picking his scales.
"I can't! How can you even think of sleeping?! He- he's out there! Doing things!" cried Virgil, his eye shadow starting to darken. "He's out there, plotting... and scheming and just- I can't sleep, Lo...". Pace.
Although, he did pause when he heard about Janus- though that didn’t last long. "Fuck... that- um, it's my room... you need to leave, and and- um, he's out there". He moved his hands to his hair as he paced, muttering away.
Logan sighed. "My room is safe from him, I have it warded. Now will you please come with me? I'll take Janus with me, and all three of us can huddle under a big warm blanket." He offered gently.
Janus slowly walked over to Logan, and allowed Logan to pick him up.
Virgil continued to babble and pace, his panic starting to block everything else out. Up and down and up and down. "He's out there, out there somewhere, doing- doing- doing things! And and-".
Logan gently scooped Virgil up and held him, humming softly, not saying anything to anyone else. He brought Virgil to his room and sat down with Janus and Virgil in his bed. He put a blanket over all three of them, and held Janus and Virgil close.
Janus tried to calm Virgil down.
Virgil squeaked when he was scooped again, trying to wriggle free. "N-no, we can't just- relax! He- he's out there... he- he's coming... he- we need a plan!".
Logan held Virgil, combing his fingers through Virgil's hair gently and carefully. "Ssssh..." he soothed. "Its okay. It will be okay. Get some rest."
Janus laid across both Logan and Virgil
"But he- he's- Logan... he's out there, Orange is out there... and and-" repeated Virgil, his body starting to relax due to the gentle touches. "He- he's out there... he- nnngh".
"You're right." He soothed, continuing to comb through Virgil's hair, pulling the small side closer as Janus also cuddled up. "But that's something we can't change. And instead of dwelling on that, we need to rest." Logan yawned.
Janus yawned too.
"We can handle him better when we are well rested."
"But we can't rest... we- nngh" mumbled Virgil, the soothing motion starting to put him to sleep. He couldn't help it, he turned to mush whenever his hair was played with, it just felt so damn nice.
Logan hummed. "Its okay." He assured, his gentle hands continuing to comb through Virgil's hair. "Take a deep breath, Vee." He did softly.
Janus had already fallen asleep.
