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Janus didn’t care that there wasn’t a plushy of himself. No really. It would do numbers on his reputation anyways. It was annoying anyways having to wait on the others as they set up that silly plushy video anyways. Honestly. Of course, Remus had to insert himself in for that split second of messing with Roman. He was a gremlin like that. Janus sighed to himself. Why did it have to take so long? It’s not like he needed their company or anything. He was a lone snake. But still, it was annoying. Getting so caught up in a video product to promote soft and squishy mini versions of themselves. And they call him selfish. It felt very egotistical to him. Not that he would advocate against that, just that it was hypocrisy for some of them.
So it was a mystery he was still thinking about this of course. He understood why it was the core sides and Thomas for the plushies. It didn’t matter that the others hadn’t said anything. Not that they’d need to, of course, nothing was wrong. And he knew they were caught up in their own things, even if not all of them would even admit to it. Nothing wrong with that. He wouldn’t be silly about this. It didn’t make sense he was still thinking about this. The others had already gone to bed right after filming. He didn’t need soft things, but he wasn’t against the concept of course. Self-care and all that. He wouldn’t be surprised if his self-care routine was like Roman’s unfortunately. Janus just didn’t feel guilty about it.
And if he was reading up more on the psychology concepts addressed in today’s video? Well, he was simply educating himself more out of curiosity. It makes sense to keep up with recently discussed studies in this mindscape after all. He liked to be well informed, no matter what. No real reflection on himself for doing so, of course. Ah, he lost his place. Janus sighed again and squinted his eyes to skim the lines for the last words he read.
A thunk on his door startled Janus. His fingers flinched and wrinkled the pages in the process. Janus wasn’t even given a chance to respond when the door slammed open to reveal a very proud-looking Remus. His arms were behind his back as he sauntered in. The star that he had taken from Roman’s room balanced on his nose in a way that resembled a seal with a ball. He would likely be unable to do that otherwise if he wasn't a side of the imagination. Janus gave him an unimpressed look.
“What have I said about entering my room like that?”
“That it was a very me thing to do and not even surprising anymore?”
“I was more referring to the part where I threatened you were you to do so again?”
Remus shrugged. “Not the deterrent you think it is.”
Janus slumped in exasperation before he willed the door to close. Remus was loud enough without the door open to the rest of the mindscape.
“I’ll get back to that in a moment then. Why are you here?”
Remus bobbed his head up throwing the star into the air. As it fell past his face he blew on it, turning it green. Then he caught it by a point with his fingertip before spinning his finger and making it disappear. His other arm was still behind his back during the whole thing. He must have transported the star somewhere else. After his little demonstration, Remus stepped closer and wiggled his shoulders.
“I got something for you.”
“Oh great.”
There were many things Remus could bring to Janus at this point. Most of which were things Janus did not want to deal with at this hour of the night.
“I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess you haven’t considered whether this is something I would even want? Or for that matter, would it inspire another creative threat from me?”
Remus pouted for a moment before he snickered.
“Nah, you’ll like this one.”
“Oh really?”
“I’m sure of it.”
Janus hmmed. He still doubted it, but unfortunately, Remus had piqued his curiosity.
“Very well.” He turned to Remus and waved him on. “What is it?”
Remus giggled before flinging something forward. Janus fumbled to catch it before he got a look at what he was holding. It was plush of himself?
Snake scales covered what would be the left side of the plushie’s face. There was some pink/red coloring around the eye that would be his snake eye. It even came with a little bowler hat and a black cape sewn into it. The hands were yellow like it was wearing Janus’s gloves. Janus raised his eyebrow at Remus.
“Since we weren’t part of their plushy package, I thought I’d make some that are better just for us.” Remus was now holding a plushy of himself. The Remus plushy had a similar style to Roman’s, at least in structure. Except of course with Remus’s outfit instead. It even included a white/gray streak in the hair. There was a red around the eyes though. Remus wiggled the plushy in his grasp with his middle finger.
“Ah. While I fear to say this out loud, that is unusually tame for your creations. Why did you think I would want one?”
“Because you’re a petty bitch and would want one at least out of spite among other reasons. You get to see a mini version of yourself too, which you of course deserve as the badass you are.”
Janus’s lips twitched into a smile. “Alright.” And because this was Remus, “Is there anything else you wish to show me about them?” He knew there had to be more to them.
Remus got that mischievous twinkle in his eye again. “Ours make sounds unlike theirs! Much better.” He said as he flung his arms up. “Here, squeeze his squishy middle.”
Janus pursed his lips and squeezed plushy Janus's middle.
“Ssssuck-”
Janus glared at Remus. Remus of course still smiled.
“What? It cuts off there. I leave it up to the imagination. It could be you continuing on to call someone a suck-up, like you said about Patton in the court scene.”
Janus sighed. “I suppose that is the best I could expect from you.”
Remus nodded. “Oh yeah. Do you wanna hear what sounds mine will make?”
Janus held up a hand before Remus could squeeze the Remus plushy. “No thank you.”
Remus snickered again.
“Well, you’ll probably learn eventually.”
Remus twirled a wrist so he was now holding a Janus plush in his other hand. “Because we’re the only ones who get both if we want because I say so.”
A Remus one popped into Janus’s lap too.
“And why would I want a plushy of you as well?” After all, he was the side Janus saw the most.
Remus smirked at him. “Are you saying you wouldn’t want something to cuddle with that reminds you of me?” He asked as he waggled his eyebrows. Janus opened his mouth to respond then paused. That was definitely a trap if he heard one. After a moment of Janus not responding Remus laughed and shrugged.
“We might also want to play with them in some way, cause screw social expectations.” Remus pressed their plushes’ faces against each other, and they made a kiss sound. Janus grimaced.
“Why is that necessary? They are cute plushies.”
Remus raised an eyebrow at Janus and winked. “Cute is overrated. We have to add our own flavor to them since they are ours.”
Janus supposed he and Remus weren’t exactly known for just being cute. Except by some fans of course. And Patton who had “Dad” blinders on.
Remus spun the Remus plush on his finger. “So, I’m taking more creative liberty with other copies of my plushies to prank the other sides. Any suggestions on what I could do with them?”
Janus chuckled at the thought of how Remus could use his plushies to prank the other sides.
“I will leave that up to you. I trust it will be very interesting.”
Janus didn’t want Remus to wake all the sides at this time with his shenanigans, but he doubted he could have really stopped Remus from doing so anyways though.
Remus snickered. “So anyways, what do you think?”
“Hm?”
“Of the plushies.”
Janus looked back down at them.
“Well…I’m certainly not going to play with them the way you just demonstrated.”
“You can do whatever you want with them, Jan. They’re your plushies.”
“I would not have asked for them. But I see nothing wrong with holding onto them though. Even for the mere sake of being special and having something not everyone has.”
Remus smiled and gave Janus a knowing look. “Sure Jan. Anyways, g’night!” With that, he slunk out.
Janus stepped over the book he had dropped earlier and sat on his bed, looking over the new plushies more. Something felt settled now that he was seeing plushy versions of himself and Remus. He couldn’t quite place it, but he didn’t feel the need to think of it too much at that time. They certainly had better outfits than the other plushies. Even if Janus had a bias towards his and Remus’s aesthetic, he didn’t really care if that was the case though. He also suddenly felt a tiredness he hadn’t mere moments ago. No matter. Janus set the plushies down on either side of his pillow before getting ready for bed.
He slipped into bed in his comfy pajamas, plushy Remus and Janus on either side of him. Maybe eventually Janus can have more Sanders Sides plushies. Once things had settled down. It wouldn’t do any harm if the sides weren’t aware of it. Nobody needed to know.
Yet, a few moments later, two loud sounds and a flashing red light jolted him awake. Janus blinked several times and then looked down at the plushies he hadn’t realized he had grabbed.
Plushy Janus was still hissing. Plushy Remus was screeching demonically with his eyes flashing red lights. They faded at the same time. Janus groaned and threw himself back against his pillow. He would have to discuss a nighttime mode for the plushies with Remus. Even so, the plushies stayed beside him on the bed.