#egg fic

So, short of it is, I do most things. I can and have written many naughty things, and will continue to. Most kinks I am a-okay with and those I haven't I will try my hand at. The few kinks I don't do, I will let the requester know in a private reply or just make a post about it, without going into detail. In a non exhaustive list, I will do:

“Remus, not that I don’t love your spontaneous ideas, but could I please go back to not sulking with Emile and Remy?”

Remus huffs and holds tighter to Janus’s hand, making sure the slippery snake doesn’t slip from his grasp. “No, you can not.”

Janus sighs and nods, letting Remus continue to drag him away. It was hard to tell if Remus was upset with him. His usual tell being well hidden as the side stares straight ahead, uncharacteristically quiet.

That was his only hint that something was bothering Remus as the duke refused to speak to him, save for the time he really had to...Which really wasn’t much.

He stays silent as Remus drags him to the edge. Roman in clear view with his arms crossed and looking to the side all broodily. He doesn’t seem to be happy about this either.

Janus won’t admit to it but he’d tried to subtly hide behind Remus once they arrived at the border. Watching Roman unhappily look at them.

“Are you going to tell me why you’ve demanded to meet now? And why you brought him with you.” Roman glares at Janus before looking back at his brother. Remus huffs and drags the snake side out in front of him. “I’m not talking to either of you until you get your shit together. Go do your little secret walk around the castle or something, anything! Don’t want to see either of you until your friends again.”

“What? I- Remus please, I understand what you’re trying to do but this won’t help.” Janus runs a hand down his face with a sigh. “It’s very sweet of you to try this dear but...I don’t think this is the best idea.”

Roman nods wrinkling his nose at Janus “Yeah, Re, sorry to burst your bubble but this ain’t happening.” the princely side turns to leave but he doesn’t get far as his brother takes his wrist in a vice-like grip.

“NO, waLK AnD TaLK noW!” Remus growls glaring at his brother. “I don’t care about the petty things either of you did, but you are making up and being friends again.”

Roman flinches but holds his ground, glaring back at the duke. He eventually gives in once it's clear his brother is not going to back down anytime soon. With a sigh, he bows his head and looks away “Fine...I will try.”

Remus lets him go with a bounce and a smile back on his face that doesn’t quite meet the eyes. “Great! Have fun!” He gives the two a wave before bowing and sinking out leaving the two sides awkwardly standing there with each other.

The two avoid looking at one another as Janus steps over to Roman’s side of the imagination, the creative side stiffly turning to leave and head back to his kingdom.

The imagination is usually a very lively-looking place, even when on Remus’s side, but...today it seems far from it. The sky is overcast in dark dreary clouds, with the occasionally chilling breeze that makes the sudden low temperature almost worse. Everything appears almost washed of its color with this desolate frost over most things.

Rather unusual for it all to look so gloomy.

Janus can’t help sighing as he follows after the prince a few feet behind, pulling his capulet a little tighter around himself...this...is going to be a long day.

Out of everyone, he’s screwed up with Roman the most, something that’s very evident with how the prince has changed his attitude towards him. From warm confused delight to cold and with clear disdain. He’s sure Remus has only good intentions with this plan of forcing them to talk but...He’s not sure how well that’s going to work out in this situation.

Roman doesn’t seem keen on talking and well Janus isn’t sure the prince would take too kindly if he tried speaking to the side. So he just silently follows, hands folded nervously behind as they travel into Roman’s kingdom.

It is...Strange to see the royal side so quiet like this, his shoulders tense as he forces himself to keep his back straight and walk on. Exchanging a soft word or two with the few imagination’s citizens that are around as they pass, a...almost forced smile taking up his expression whenever he catches a glance from a citizen.

The citizens ignore Janus for the most part, sparing him a simple glance before continuing on.

He supposes they would reflect Roman’s feelings towards him since this is his part of the realm after all. Or maybe they too were uncomfortable with his scaled half, seeing him as some villain following their hero.

“...I don’t hate you, you know.”

Janus lifts a brow glancing up at Roman whom he inadvertently moved closer to as he stopped in his tracks...there’s no lie...or at least not a strong one. “I hope you know you can’t lie to me,” he warns, giving a flick of his tongue for emphasis.

Roman gives a frustrated sigh, a hand running through his usually perfectly kept hair...now that he’s actually looking, Janus can’t help noticing how the side's appearance is worn...like he’s been battered around too many times.

“I...I’m not lying, I...I really don’t hate you. Or at least don’t want to! I’m...I just...I…” the prince makes another frustrated sound.

Janus stays silent, allowing for Roman to gather his words and watch as the prince’s shoulders fall with a storm of emotions swirling in his green eyes.

Roman sighs again and waves for Janus to follow as he begins walking down the cobbled paths again. The two walking side by side in silence.

It’s eerie to see this side of the imagination almost barren. The closer they move to the center of the kingdom with its large fountain the fewer of the inhabitants they see...Janus takes note of it all ...the changes, all of it reflecting Roman's mood whether the side was doing it on purpose or subconsciously. It’s a helpful clue into how the side is feeling while he’s at a loss for words.

Janus watches Roman closely as they walk, and can tell he’s struggling with himself. Inturn he doesn’t want to stay out here, he can feel the cold slowly getting to him, his joints growing a little stiff. The thought of offering to pretend they had a conversation and the two of them just leaving is tempting but...they really do need to talk this out.

He will just have to stick it out and...offer his hand first...somehow.

“...Roman...you know our little...act we do for the cameras?”

Roman perks up hearing this and squints at Janus unsure “...Yeah? What about it?”

“Well...if...you...if you want we could...how you say...continue our act?” Janus tries for a nonchalant shrug and glances away to hide a shiver. “We are both men of theater are we not? And I do enjoy playing as a villain...of sorts. We don’t have to stop our show just because the script has been somewhat changed.”

Roman hums brows furrowing as they come to a stop in front of the marble fountain and he stares down at his reflection...Contemplating.

Janus tries to ignore how he stumbles, how things almost sway in his vision and clenches his teeth as he forces himself to stay upright. Roman surely wouldn’t let him freeze, and it’s only chilly. He can handle being out here.

He can’t leave, not yet, not when he’s this close.

“...If they...If the others are accepting you then you won’t be a villain anymore...there is no act to continue.” Roman states, finally looking to Janus.

Janus shakes his head “Roman...It’s...I may no longer be a villain off stage but I can still be onstage...an-an act for the cameras, for the videos but…” he tries to hide the shiver at the sudden breeze. “B-but we don’t have to be putting up that act while the cameras are off when we aren't filming. We can get along.” Surely it hadn’t been this cold earlier? He’s been out here too long.

Roman opens his mouth to respond, still seeming a bit confused if the furrow of his brow was anything to go by but…he pauses frowning almost worriedly at the snake side “Deceit are you alright? You’re shaki-Janus!!”

The snake side can’t respond when the ground is suddenly flying towards his face, his left side feeling almost heavy and useless.

Thankfully Roman managed to catch him right before he hits the stones.

Roman is immediately fretting over him, pulling the scales side close into his arms “Janus! What’s wrong?!”

Janus bites back an angry hiss shuddering and can’t stop from trying to curl up against Roman’s chest as the side holds him “I-it’s cold, I-I’m part snake, think you can f-figure it out.”

Roman’s eyes widen “Oh my-Why didn’t you say anything sooner!! You know I’m an idiot I-I wouldn’t realize-I- oh I’ll fix this. Don’t worry. I’ve got you.” he waves a hand shifting Janus’s capulet into a furred cloak and makes sure the side is properly wrapped up before he stands with him in his arms.

Janus does hiss this time at the side's words and wriggles an arm out, lightly papping Roman’s cheek. “Bad.”

That’s the last thing he has the strength for before he’s losing consciousness as his body starts shutting down.

Roman makes a worried noise quickly sinking himself out to his bedroom and setting the snake side carefully on the bed, shifting the blankets to be thicker. Tucking the side in and watching his chest weakly rise and fall.

He bites at his lip and starts pacing at the foot of the bed, hoping that it’s enough to help the cold-blooded side.

Roughly half an hour goes by before Janus starts to stir, warm and curled up in blankets as he wakes, blinking away the heavy drowsiness from his eyes. He peeks out of the blankets to get his bearings and find where Roman’s gone too. Such an annoyance it is for him to drop into a small comma when he gets cold. Honestly.

It doesn’t take much looking to realize he’s in the prince’s room and the royal side very determined to create a rut in the floor with his pacing and yanking at his hair.

He sits up further furrowing his brows “...Roman?”

Roman doesn’t respond, continuing to pace and mumble under his breath. Janus is almost surprised Virgil hasn’t come yet to figure out where all that anxious energy is coming from.

Janus furrows his brows further and shakily climbs out from under the blankets, his legs like jelly as he carefully walks himself over to Roman, thankful for the fur cloak still around his shoulders. “Roman?”

Roman jumps with a startled shout and spinning around to look at Janus. He blushes a little and steps back, clearing his throat before he speaks. “A-ah...I didn’t realize you were awake…”

Janus hums “I could tell...are you alright?”

“A-am I-! I should be asking you that! You just collapsed!” Roman exclaims while quickly pushing Janus back over to the bed and trying to tuck him under the blankets. “You should be resting! I-you should have told me that it was too cold for you!”

Oh yes, let him tell the very side that was angry at him that he was cold. That would have gone wonderfully.

Janus huffs swatting away Roman’s hands, he doesn’t need all the fussing about! “I’m fine, I thought our conversation was more pertinent...And you were upset with me, I wouldn’t want to tell you of my discomforts.”

Roman shakes his head “No-no it wasn’t! You could have gotten hurt if I didn’t catch you or-or sick from being out there. I should have realized-I-I’m sorry!” he uses a hand to yank at his hair, a similar distressed sign that Remus tends to do “Just another stupid thing I’ve done! I should have know-” he cuts himself off when Janus paps his cheek softly

“Shoosh, none of that, this apologizing won’t get you anywhere, you didn’t know, I didn’t tell you, you didn’t notice, but you took care of me after. That’s what matters Roman.”

The princely side shakes his head moving away from Janus’s hand “It’s another mistake to add to the list of many I make, I can’t seem to do anything right as of late.-”

“Ro-”

“I’m serious! It’s just mistake after mistake with everything I do nowadays! I’m no good! I sent Thomas to a wedding none of us wanted to go to, I-I have insulted Logan to the point of him pushing away from us, made fun of you when you revealed your name, was a jerk to the other more times than I can count, tried to force my own dreams on Thomas just because I wanted him to live the great theatrical life of an actor! And now I haven’t even been able to provide him with one good idea! I just desperately tried to follow along with everyone else hoping it would be enough but it only led to hurting Thomas, I’ve just caused more problems than even my own brother!”

He pauses solemnly staring down to the ground “...Maybe you were right to compare us.”

Janus bites his lip looking over the defeated side’s face, “Roman...I-I should never have compared you. It was not fair to either of you even if you had tried attacking me while I was vulnerable. We were all hurting.” He scoots closer to Roman, very softly putting a hand under the sides chin to make the other look into his eyes “Everyone makes mistakes, trust me I’ve made my fair share long ago too...I-...You can’t blame all of this on yourself. You’re not the only one that should be held accountable for anything that’s happened.” He drops his hand to pull Roman close and rub circles into the prince’s back, the two clinging together in a form of a hug.

“Yes you’ve hurt Logan with your insults but you know that they hurt, so you know to stop. You tried pushing Thomas into a life he couldn’t have but you learned and have adapted. Smaller goals that are more attainable...You are learning just as he and the rest of us learn. You don’t have to be perfect, Roman...Being perfect is a fruitless goal…”

Janus feels Roman’s grip on him tighten and the first shudder runs through the princely side before he hears the small sob “It’s going to be ok, I’ve got you, hun.” He tightens his hold around the prince, rubbing circles once more into the sides back. “...I’ve got you.”

It takes some time to calm the creative side back down. Having to gently shoosh him every time he starts apologizing or mumbling some self-deprecating thoughts again. Slowly but surely easing the princely side until he runs out of tears as the two sit together in one another's arms.

Janus idly runs a hand through Roman’s hair, having been absentmindedly humming a tune he can’t recall where from.

“...Thank you.”

Janus pauses, looking down at Roman with a partially raised brow. “...What for?”

“...For this, I suppose.”

Janus hums, going back to running a hand through the sides hair “I would thank your brother, he’s the one that forced us to talk...are you feeling better?” He carefully pulls Roman closer, adjusting themselves so they could lay back against the way too many pillows in the bed and get Roman comfortably partly under the blankets with him.

Roman nods ducking his head to hide in Janus’s shoulder clearly drained from his good cry.

The two silently enjoy cuddling together, taking in each other’s warmth and comforting presence.

There is one thing they haven't addressed yet that should also be talked about.

“...You know...My flirting wasn’t all a lie.” Janus speaks up moments later, twirling a strand of Roman’s hair.

Roman looks up at him with a hum, eyes drooping just a tad, getting sleepy no doubt.

“I was yes being playful and trying to win you over to my decisions...but...I was also flirting to flirt.” wow...that really clears things up, doesn’t it.

Roman stares up at him with his sleepy eyes, quiet for far too long for Janus’s liking.

He opens his mouth to better explain only to make a startled hiss as the sides of his face are suddenly grabbed, soft lips pressing against his, tasting of vanilla and peaches.

He blinks as Roman’s face comes back into view as the prince pulls back, blushing and looking embarrassed.

Janus can’t help smile and dive back in for more.

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"Matre," he interjects. "With your leave, and his Highness I can take Straid to see the genetrix apartments."

The Matre glances to the Highblood, who glances to his moirail. "You think you're up for that?"

Straid shrugs. "You said it's safe boss. What about the kids?"

"They'll be along directly,"the Highblood says gently.

So Karkat end up giving Straid a tour. He decides to avoid the genitor and admittance hive suites. He does talk about them as he and Kanaya guide Straid down a service corridor. "Admittance is where the petitioners wait to see if they make it through the lottery," Karkat says. "Genitor quarters are where --"

"The breeders go, I'm kind of familiar with that," Straid interrupts. "I've had more than fifty clutches, thanks." At the same time he flinches as if he expects a blow.

Karkat steps abruptly in front of Straid, glaring up at the older troll. The other troll is brought up short. "Genetrix," he says sharply. "We are direct heirs of the Last Mother. We ensure future generations and deserve the veneration once given our Mother."

"That's easy to say all protected and cloistered but it's a whole different thing out there in the real world."

"That's pretty clear," Karkat says in return. "From what I'm hearing from your ignorance shaft. Genitor quarters are where Genetrices interact with their chosen genitors. Sex might happen. Movie night might also happen. Genetrices also have their own private quarters, that's where we're going." With that said he continues down the corridor.

"The caverns are very different from what you've known," Kanaya says gently. She continues to explain day to day life on the caverns and the various duties shared by the jade and scarlet castes.

"So what are these people who've taken vows?" Straid asks eventually. "Who aren't ever allowed to leave." His voice turns annoyingly suggestive.

"That's something of wishful fairytale," Kanaya says.

"And just about as fake as fairies," Karkat interjects.

"Genitors who've taken vows are quadranted to a genetrix. The vow involves fidelity and service," Kanaya says.

"Those who've quadranted are allowed to leave, usually if they have some skill useful outside the cavern or as couriers." "There are no orgies," Karkat says. "Among other stupid shit you might have heard."

"How do you know?" Straid asks. "Maybe you just weren't invited."

Karkat rolls his eyes. "Yes that must be why exactly," he says.

Straid grins, a minimal expression but surprisingly sweet.

"Kanaya we should probably tell the section commitee about housing," Karkat says.

"Let's stop at a cafeteria," Kanaya suggests. "Have you had lunch Mr. Straid?"

The older genetrix looks like he's missed a lot of lunches. "Rattlebones" is an accurate description for the tall, skinny troll. Straid nods. "I could eat." They take him to a cafeteria on the genetrice levels. Karkat immediately sets out to feed the other genetrix, pointing out all the high calorie items that will also be easy on the stomach. "The cafeteria is always open, though the apartments all have kitchens. You aren't always going to want to cook."

"I can't," Straid says, as if admitting to a personal failing. "You'd think that such a rare commodity would be multi functional but you'd be wrong."

Karkat gives the the older troll a mildly suspicious look. "And maybe didn't want you near knives."