#loceitweek2024

[halfhissandwich]

@loceitweek Poor Logan got sick, but luckily Janus is really good at taking care of other sides!

[edupunkn00b]

Two Truths and All Lies

Photo by Javier Quiroga on Unsplash 

WC: 1692 - Rated: T - CW: alcohol, a wee bit of innuendo, Janus' defense mechanism on full display - [ AO3 ]

Remus set up his best friend Logan with his new friend Janus.

Written for Day 1 of @loceitweek 2024, off a prompt from @creativepromptsforwriting, #1101: "I am not the right person for you." "You're doing a bad job of convincing me of that."

-

Resisting the temptation to check his watch for the third time in half as many minutes, Logan closed his eyes and took a long draw of his wine. His blind date was over twenty minutes late.

And Logan had been waiting for thirty.

“Trust me, Lo Lo,” Remus had laughed when Logan had expressed uncertainty about the wisdom of going on a date with someone he’d never met. “When have I ever steered you wrong?”

Logan began to count on his fingers. “The first I recall was In the second grade when you suggested I write my corrections in our Rabbit Reader books. Next was later that same year when—”

“Alright, alright, alright,” Remus shook his head and laughed again. “This guy’s perfect for you. He’s hot, but not in a boring Ken doll way. He’s so smart he can talk circles around the judges down at the ninth circuit and he’s available. Unlike—”

“Ah!” One hand raised, Logan shook his head. “You pledged never to mention that again.”

“Sorry,” he said, a moment of sincerity from his mess of a friend.

Inclining his head, Logan dismissed the moment and returned to their earlier debate. “What I don’t understand is if this man is as wonderful as you are making him out to be, why aren’t you dating him?”

Hand pressed to his chest, Remus put on a mask of hurt outrage. “You think I’m so hard-up I wouldn’t want to introduce you first?”

Logan crossed his arms, both eyebrows raised.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he’d admitted with a sigh. “Ro dated him back in college. Bro code, I can’t touch him with a fifty foot pole.” Remus cackled. “Or a ten inch one.”

Shaking his head, Logan hadn’t been able to hold back a bark of laughter. “Especially with a ten inch one.”

A figure approached, walking between him and the setting sun. The movement cast a long shadow over the table and, backlit in soft pinks and gold, the new arrival appeared only as a silhouette.

It appeared his date had finally arrived.

Logan rose and offered his hand to shake when the man—the broad shoulders and low hum seemed right. “Good evening, I’m Logan Sanders. Are you Janus?”

He inclined his head, dipping his face into the candlelit centerpiece. The light made his features glow, calling attention to the heavy scarring over the left half of his face. “Janus Forrd,” he said, accepting Logan’s hand briefly before his eyes trailed up and down his form. “Well, I am relieved to see I am not underdressed.”

“Since when are french cuffs and a necktie casual wear?” Logan snapped before he could stop himself.

Janus chuckled. “Since I stopped buying my clothes off the rack at Penney’s.” His sleeves billowed elegantly as he took his seat, legs crossed under the table.

Biting back an additional indigent response, Logan straightened his tie and smoothed down the lapels of his jacket. Janus merely smirked up at him. “Are you planning on standing all evening? You must have more stamina than you look.”

The server saved him from saying something he might regret. “What can I start you gentlemen with tonight?”

Packaging up his frustration, Logan vowed to share it all with Remus later tonight. Of all the nights for him to play one of his pranks. He took a slow, measured breath and smiled up at the server. “Another glass, please,” he said, tapping the stem of his goblet. 

“Yes, sir.” The server made no mention of Janus’ tardiness, but did give Logan a small nod and a smile. “And what can I bring you, sir?” he said to Janus.

“Water for me,” he said, looking askance at Logan’s empty wine glass. “I never indulge on a first date.”

“Very good, sir,” the server said, glancing quickly at Logan before retreating to the sommelier station behind the bar.

When Logan turned back to his companion, he found Janus sitting forward, fingers threaded and supporting his chin. He smiled, eyes never budging from Logan’s face, a cat in front of an open bird cage. 

Logan was briefly tempted to leave then. But he’d been told more than once that he made a terrible first impression and he valued the friends who’d bothered to see past his own quirks. Perhaps this man, this friend of Remus’ even, deserved the same.

“I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot,” Logan offered, consciously relaxing his shoulders from their position up at his ears.

“We may have,” Janus concurred with a slow nod of his head. “And how would you propose we find out way onto the right foot?”

“Perhaps you could tell me something about yourself?” Logan said, adjusting his glasses. “Remus tells me you also practice law.”

“Hmph,” he hummed as the server brought their drinks. “Most people in your position choose to ask me about my scar.” Janus watched him over his water glass, the refraction emphasizing the streaks of red surrounding his left eye and the tight, rough skin splashed over his jaw and his cheekbone.

“While I readily admit a certain curiosity, I trust you will share your personal history in accordance with your level of comfort.” He shrugged. “To do otherwise would be… crude.” Logan frowned, dissatisfied with his imprecision.

“Interesting,” Janus leaned back in his chair, one arm draped artfully over the back rest. “I find such vulnerable honesty refreshing…” He took a slow sip of his water. “Unusual, even.”

Logan hummed and fought another frown. “I find it to be most efficient to be honest and open when meeting a potential romantic partner.”

“Really?” He said, leaning forward and steepling his hands, elbows resting lightly on the table between them. He tapped his lower lip with his fingertips and stared at him for long enough for Logan to wonder if he had somehow missed a question. “I practice the opposite. In fact, this is one the few honest statements I’ve made all evening. On that note—” He signaled their server and gestured toward Logan’s half-empty glass.

“Please bring us a bottle of whatever my companion is drinking.”

“That’s absurd. You don’t even know if you’d like it.”

“You appear to be and I trust your taste.”

“What?” Logan snapped his jaw shut before anything further could come out while the server was still at their table. He waited, gaze focused on his lap for a slow count to four. When the server left with a curt bow of his head, Logan looked up and adjusted his eyeglasses before speaking again. “I do not know what precisely you hope to accomplish with this little stereotypical alpha male negging pick-up artist… thing,” he finished not with a bang but a fumbled whimper.

“You surprise me, dear Logan,” Janus said, reaching across the table and taking his glass. “I would expect someone of your intellect and observational skills to have already deduced I find this thing to be a more than effective dating strategy.”

Scoffing, Logan took out his wallet and signaled their server but Janus waved him off. Infuriatingly, the man listened to Janus. “Very well, then, the drinks are on you. I am leaving,” he said, pushing back his chair and pushing up to his feet. “It is clear to me that I am simply not the right man for you.”

"I disagree,” he said, that infernal smirk pulling up the unblemished side of his face. “Your wit has the sharpness to draw blood. As I said before, you have remarkable taste in wine.” He savored his wine before winking. “And in men.”

Janus’ eyes wandered over his face before trailing down over his shoulder and chest. “You are just this side of conventionally attractive, classically beautiful, even.”

Logan wished such empty praise was insufficient to heat his cheeks. He wished for world peace, as well.

“See?” Janus said, his smirk softening into a full smile. “Even your blush is fetching.”

Forcing his mouth into a scowl, Logan raised one eyebrow but Janus wasn’t done. “You are seemingly impervious to my undeniable charms and a stickler for accuracy and integrity. You were disarmingly prompt this evening, arriving a full ten minutes before our date was scheduled to begin.”

Logan’s eyes widened at Janus’ implicit admission that he had somehow arrived even earlier.

“I was over there,” he said, gesturing toward the darkened bar without breaking eye contact. “I watched you arrive and assess the venue before subtly slipping the maitre’d a folded bill and obtaining us the best table in the house.” Janus finished his glass and refilled first Logan’s, then his own from the bottle. “Impeccable view,” he said, staring straight ahead.

“I have a view of the water and the rest of the establishment,” Logan corrected. “You have a view of passable recreations of Degauss along a wall badly in need of updated wallpaper.”

“Au contraire,” he chuckled, contemplating the swirling dark liquid in his cup before fixing Logan with his gaze. “I have the best view in the restaurant.”

For all the doublespeak, Logan found himself believing him. At least, believing that Janus spoke the truth for him. He sat back down and picked up his glass. “I am not the right man for you,” he repeated, a crooked smile making its way to his face.

Janus shook his head and held up his glass as if to toast him. “You're doing a bad job of convincing me of that."

Clinking their glasses together, Logan cocked one eyebrow. “Then perhaps I should endeavor to make my point more adamantly.”

Janus raised his glass to his lips, half-obscuring his smile. “Then perhaps you should.”

Drinking their wine, the men stared at each other for a long while and, as the sun set, Logan’s eyes watched light and shadow from the surrounding candles caress Janus’ cheek. Hiding his own smile behind his goblet, he sat back in his chair. “It is abhorrent manners to arrive twenty minutes late to a first date.”

“Hmm? Really,” Janus replied, stretching his free hand across the table and brushing his fingers over Logan’s arm. “Tell me more.”

[loceitweek]

Hello! Hope you mods are doing well ^^ I was wondering if Loceit Week 2024 was still happening?

Ngl, mod a has been swamped with work lately and mod b (me) hasn’t really been in the fandom for a bit due to a lack of canon sanders sides content. It’s hard to be motivated and run a full event when it feels like the creator doesn’t even care about the creation anymore.

For these reasons, loceit week probably will not be happening. Feel free to create your own loceit works during the week though if you want and tags us- we’ll happily reblog even if there are no “set” prompts

[tsseventhub]

How to host an event — A GUIDE

(Written by Mod R ; @transfemlogan )

Hosting a fandom event is actually pretty simple. I am here to hold your hand and guide you through this, just in case you were a little lost.

BEFORE we start, hosting an event, while simple, still requires both effort and work! If you are unable to put the necessary energy into the event to set up a blog, interact with your participants, and moderate for any reason (school, parenting, just don't feel like it, etc) then you probably shouldn't run the event. Or you should wait until you feel able to run it! No one wants you to feel overwhelmed with your responsibilities and it's smarter to just hold off.

(Note: you can also run an event and decide you don't want to do it again! It doesn't have to be a monthly or yearly thing. You can also hand off the event to someone else who wants to run it.)

And while this is Sanders Sides focused, this will be helpful for any fandom you want to run an event for.

Now let's get into the steps.

— STEP 1: Where are you hosting?

Obviously, you have to figure out where you're hosting this event. Is it on Tumblr? Is it on Ao3? Is it on Instagram? Depending on where it's being hosted, the social media will affect the content being created.

For example, if you host on Instagram, all the content being created will have to be visual (art, edits, videos) since it's a visual-based app. If you host on Ao3, all the content being created will be primarily written (fanfiction, poetry) as that's Ao3's primary function.

Where it's being hosted also affects your ability to run it. If you're hosting on Ao3, you're going to need another social media (Tumblr, Twitter, etc) since Ao3 is only for posting written media, not for communicating.

Since this guide is on Tumblr, it'll be focused on hosting an event on Tumblr.

You're going to need to create a blog for the event, whether that be a sideblog or an entirely new Tumblr account. Create an icon, get a header, and make your blog look pretty!

TIP: If you're running a yearly event (or think you might) maybe don't add a year to the end of your URL!

For example, my event @transsidesweek does not end in a year, like how @loceitweek2023 does.

When you change your URL, it makes it harder for other people to tag and interact with your blog. If someone tags "LoceitWeek2023" in a post, and then the URL changes to "LoceitWeek2024", and someone clicks on the @ in the original post, there's a possibility Tumblr will act like the blog was deactivated. Even though it still exists!

It also makes links and read mores difficult to click on, as Tumblr will link to the old URL instead of the new one.

Of course, you don't have to! If you think you might not come back to this next year, or aren't worried about the potential accessibility issues, then feel free to add a year to the end.

This is completely optional. Do what you think works best for your blog and event.

— STEP 2: the Who, the What, and the When of the event

First, who's hosting the event?

Obviously, you, but do you have any friends who want to help out? Do you think you need mods to help manage the event? Or do you think you just want to run solo?

It's always useful to have friends or strangers help out — and fun!

If you want co-hosts, but don't have any friends to lend a hand (or don't want your friends to lend a hand), you can ask your followers or post in the Sanders Sides tag to see if anyone wants to help.

TIP: keep in mind that if you do this, these people are strangers! You don't know them and they don't know you. Remember to be respectful; you might get a friend out of this. And if you realize you can't run the event with this person, for whatever reason, don't be afraid to assert your boundaries and change your mind!

Second, what's the event?

There's a lot of different type of events. Ship weeks, prompt months, gift exchanges, etc.

One of the most popular fandom events are ship weeks! Ship weeks are week-long events dedicated to a specific ship, like @intrulogicalweek or @dukexietyweek.

You can create whatever event you want. Keep in mind that there are many fandom events, so you should make sure your idea isn't already planned by another person. You should also keep in mind how many people would be interested in your event and how it'd work logically.

For example, if you want to host a Sanders Sides Poetry Week, where fans create poetry surrounding the sides, you should ask yourself these questions:

"How many people write poetry within this fandom?"

"How many people are interested in poetry within this fandom?"

"Is a week long poetry event plausible?"

In this case, a week long poetry week could definitely be plausible! And there are quite a few fans who would be interested in poetry, whether that's writing or reading it.

It's totally okay if not that many fanders will be interested in creating for your event! It's just important to keep that in mind; you should know your audience. Don't get too upset that your month-long catboy Picani event only got a few participants— not everyone is a catboy Picani fan or is able to create content for every 31 days of the month for just catboy Picani (sorry to burst your bubble).

And third, when's the event?

Think about when your event will start. If you've just thought about your event and the next week you want your event to start, maybe step back a little. No one even knows about your event! Give yourself enough time to set up your blog, get attention for your event, and for your participants to create! Don't rush into everything.

TIP: I recommend waiting at least 2-3 months before your event starts. This gives people enough time to create and get excited for your event, while also not being too long for people to get bored or forget about it!

Make sure your event isn't placed directly on top of another event! It's considered rude and just plain silly. You don't want to force your participants to have to choose between your event and another person's. Check what dates are free and plan accordingly.

— STEP 3: plan out your event

Create a tag for your event. For example, @transsidesweek's tag is simply "TransSidesWeek2023". This is so people (and yourself) can easily access the content being created for your event.

Most events involve some sort of prompts. Prompts are themes or situations to get people's creative juices flowing! They are often vague and broad, without being restrictive. They can be optional or mandatory.

That being said, your event doesn't have to have any prompts! Whatever works best for you!

TIP: ask your participants and watchers for prompts! Create a google form or open an ask box to get some ideas.

– OPTIONAL:

Creating an Ao3 Collection, though not mandatory, is common if your event will involve fanfiction.

Rules and/or an FAQ are not technically needed, but it is helpful in understanding how your event works and what is and isn't allowed.

Creating a Tagging system is also useful! This can be tagging the prompt used (for example, "#prompt: date night"), the content created (for example, "#fanfiction"), or the year of the submissions if your event is yearly (for example, "#2023submission").

— STEP 4: what now?

You've got the blog, you know what your event is, you know when your event is, you have your co-hosts, and your prompts, and your tags, and rules— what now?

Now, you're ready! Tag @tsseventhub in your posts and start creating attention for your event. Post often in tags and reblog posts to remind your followers of your event. Post on other social media. Get excited.

Good luck and have fun!

Have any more questions? Send an ask! (link)

[edupunkn00b]

Guardian ad Liber, Ch. 5: Masking

Photo by Matt Tulos, CC 4.0. Edited by author. n.b. Liber can mean book or child.

Prev - Masking - Final - Masterpost - [ AO3 ]

WC: 3100 - Rated: G - CW: Angst, minor injuries, comfort - Written for @loceit-week a continuation of last year's story -

Breath caught in his throat and with Remus and Janus’ hands clutched to his chest, Logan looked between them, searching their eyes for any hint of their reaction. They were both quiet, looking back at him with varied expressions of shock. 

They’d never discussed anything like this before. Beyond Remus’ childcare and preschool work, and his and Janus’ work in family law, children simply weren’t a part of their lives. None of them had come from healthy homes and, with the exception of Remus, none of them had living siblings who could give them a glimpse of another kind of parenting.

And Roman? Roman and his husband had never expressed the tiniest of interest in adopting children.

For that matter, though, neither had Logan. And now? Now he found himself called to something he’d never before considered, reaching for something he’d never even thought he might want.

Logan didn’t know—he didn’t even want to have to think about—what he might do if Janus and Remus didn’t want this, too.

Janus recovered first. “You’re serious,” he murmured, eyes dancing in the low light. “I thought… I thought you didn’t like children. I mean…” He brushed back the hair that had fallen into Logan's eyes, his morning gel long since lost its efficacy. “I’ve watched you fight for children of all ages. Watched you defend them from crooked cops and lousy parents and… horrific abuse. But… " He shook his head, tightening his grip on both Logan’s and Remus’ hands, eyes wet and bright. “I never thought you hated children, just…”

“I…” Fear gripped Logan’s throat. Unable to read the emotions flitting across Janus’ face and just barely grappling with his own realization, he struggled to find his words. Remus sat quietly next to them, his unusual calm both a welcome balm and another question mark in Logan’s mind. They’d been together for nearly a decade and Logan had genuinely been convinced they’d already figured each other—and themselves—out. This was… This was new. 

He took another slow breath, holding their hands tight, an anchor in the uncertain storm in which he'd sailed them. But even in his sleep, Patton’s tenacious grip on his sleeve propelled him forward.

Honesty. Honesty was all he had, All they had. This, too, they would figure out. Together.

“I didn’t realize this… desire myself,” he said. “It just…” He looked over his shoulder, Patton’s face smooth and peaceful in sleep. “I… I feel it here,” he whispered, pressing their hands to his chest.

“I… I believe you,” Janus nodded then fell quiet, a faraway look in his eyes as he seemed to consider Logan’s words. His silence was unnerving, even as his steady grip and Logan’s own logic reminded him that it was hardly realistic that Janus would instantaneously leap up in complete agreement. Yes, of course, let's become parents right now!

Remus broke the silence, the twitch in his mustache their only clue he barely contained a stronger reaction. “Well, what about you, Jannie?”

“I’d never considered it,” he began slowly, slipping one hand from their shared grip to gently raise Logan’s chin. “And I don’t simply mean because we haven’t discussed the possibility of parenthood. Haven’t had cause to discuss it. I…” 

He stared down at their hands for a long moment, the glint of his and Remus’ rings a beacon. “None of us grew up with any sort of model for what a good father should be. Wha—” His voice cracked and Remus reached for him, nearly pulling him onto Logan’s lap. “What if I do something wrong again? Like I did with your coat?”

It had been a long time since Logan had heard Janus sound so small.

“Oh, Jan,” Logan whispered into his hair, relieved tears pricking his eyes. This was what gave Janus pause? Not a lack of desire to be parent. A fear of doing it wrong?

Moving carefully so as not to dislodge Patton’s hand from his arm, he helped Remus pull Janus between them and pivoted. All three could now see Patton sleep, hugging the stuffie Remus had bought him, Janus' yellow scarf twisted in his little hand. “I suppose you will need to invest in more scarves, then,” he said. 

Someone must have filled Remus in while he was brushing Patton’s teeth because he chuckled. “Don’t worry Jannie, we’re all gonna fuck up,” he said, pulling a wet laugh from him. “We’ll just fuck up in much better ways than our loser fathers did.”

“That can’t be where the bar is,” Janus shook his head, still smiling.

Soaking in the warmth of Janus and Remus close in his arms and the tiny hand still holding on to him, Logan smiled. “You of all people know it’s not.”

Remus dried one side of Janus’ face and Logan the other and they sat quietly tangled together on the floor for a long while before Logan suddenly looked up and caught Remus’ eyes. “Wait, you didn’t say what you thought about any of this. If… We all know it doesn’t really matter whose name is on the paperwork,” he held them both close. “We do this together or we don’t—”

“Are you kidding?” He grinned. “I thought I’d hafta wait another decade for you two to figure out you’d be great with kids.”

“What?” Logan looked up, eyes wide. Shaking his head, Janus chuckled as though he knew precisely what made Remus so certain of his assessment. Logan was unconvinced. “Re, we're not like you. While you have demonstrated a profound proclivity for caring for children, there is nothing in either of Janus’ nor my histories that would indicate a predilection for child rearing.”

“Aw come on, Lo Lo…” Grinning, he swept one arm over their office. The wall closest to them was covered with embossed certificates of appreciation for QLaw’s pro bono work with Seattle Children’s Society and the Juvenile Rights Defense League. Framed newspaper clippings about the marriage equality petition they’d so carefully crafted to pass judicial scrutiny along with dozens of pictures of smiling new adoptees lined the other. “You really can’t see it?” he whispered.

Logan looked around the office before nodding slowly. His whole world lay in this room. He smiled when a soft sleepy sigh from Patton added one more bit to his metaphorical pile of good things.

“Yes, I suppose you have made your case, Meus.”

~

As the evening wore on, the three of them—the four of them—remained close. Logan, Janus, and Remus talked through formal living arrangements and how they would finally have a use for the decadently empty half of their duplex. “Our procrastination on renovating appears to have become an asset for our future selves,” Logan murmured, one hand curled through Remus’ hair as Janus lounged over both their laps. “As a society we’ve made strides but—”

“But too many judges would look unfavorably on our true family composition,” Janus murmured, fatigue fuzzing his voice. “We’ll need to be careful.”  

Logan nodded, smiling as Remus sleepily stroked Janus’ hair. “I shall endeavor to reinforce my independent status in court.”

Janus’ brow crinkled as he reached for Logan’s other hand and pressed it to his lips. “Only for the show,” he whispered. “Only for the show.”

Humming his agreement, Remus drew Logan closer and tucked his head in the crook of his neck. He mumbled something, his full exhaustion finally slipping past his energetic mask as his eyes closed. 

Head heavy on Logan’s shoulder, it wasn't long before Remus drifted off to sleep. Though this has been his day off, he'd been up before dawn, glazing his latest piece in the basement studio. The morning would bring an early shift at the childcare center and Logan did not begrudge him his easy sleep.

Janus looked close to sleep as well, the lips pressed to his hand growing slack with each soft exhalation. “Good night, Lo,” he murmured and grew still.

Though also more tired than he’d felt in a long time, Logan’s thoughts raced, a quick succession of logic trees and what-ifs fueling his mind even as his body rested in the comfort of his loves.

He had served as a GAL or prosecuting attorney in enough foster cases to know what came next. He would need to apply and be formally certified as an emergency placement, and then would need a full home study to be approved as a long term foster parent for Patton. 

Holding Remus and Janus close, he pushed away the prickle of worry he’d never quite been able to shake since he’d first come out. Well, since he’d first realized he… had something to come out about. It was gradually getting better and they lived in a progressive city. In even the six short years he’d practiced law, he’d watched most judges drift from a strict, heteronormative view of family into one that put the child’s needs above all other considerations, political or otherwise.

Wrapped in the quiet, steady breathing of his loves and his… charge? His ward? Logan would’ve laughed at his own thoughts if it wouldn’t risk waking them all. Was he Batman now in his fantasies?

After a long, long while, Patton’s sudden movement and a sharp gasp behind him pulled him from his mental strategizing. Logan looked over his shoulder to find Patton sitting up, stuffed owl and scarf held tight. Too-wide eyes darted around the room until they landed on the three of them and the little boy smiled.

“You’re safe, Patton,” he whispered. “There’s—” Logan squinted at his watch. Was it really nearly six? “Well, there’s a bit more time to sleep if you’re still tired,” he said. “Though Remus is likely to wake soon, as well.”

Chewing his lip, Patton looked longingly at the tangled pile on the floor. Logan sat mostly as he had to read the bedtime story, back leaning against the front of the sofa. Remus was tucked under Logan’s far arm, legs hooked over his. Janus had made a pillow of their thighs, laying perpendicularly across them and the plush carpet underneath.

A sudden grin blooming over his face, Patton wiggled out from under the covers and landing with a soft thud on Logan’s other side. Still holding his treasures, he sat on the floor next to Logan, looking up at him, eyes a question.

“That is quite alright,” he said, smiling as Patton snuggled close. “More than alright.”

A few short minutes later, Remus’ alarm sounded, just as Patton had begun to fidget. Janus woke with a low groan, pouting slightly when Remus slid away to turn off his phone. It wasn’t until Patton giggled at his still-sleepy expression that he opened his eyes.

“'Morning. Aren’t you up with the—” He frowned at the still-dark windows, his voice low and rough with sleep. “Well, with what passes for dawn this time of year.”

Patton grinned back at him, brow pinched. They all turned at Remus’ lion-like yawn. “Fun sleepover, but I need to grab a shower back home before I head in.” He made a show of sniffing under his own arm and gagged, eliciting a peal of laughter from Patton who immediately copied him. “See? He knows what I'm talkin' about,” he laughed, leaning over to kiss Janus’ temple.

“Are you off at three today?” Logan asked, eyes falling shut and leaning in when Remus briefly cupped his cheek.

“Yep.” A worried shadow passed over his eyes before he grinned again. “I’ll check in and see where you all are, yeah?”

Logan swallowed hard at the double meaning but nodded. “Have a good day at work,” he said, voice not as steady as he would have liked.

Janus silently squeezed his hand as Remus reached over to ruffle Patton’s hair. “I’ll see you later, Bud, alright?”

Lips drawn into a straight line, Patton blinked up at him with big eyes before nodding.

“I’ll let you out,” Janus said, pushing up to his feet with a pained grunt. “We’re getting too old to sleep on the floor.”

Remus just laughed, “Maybe you two are, old man.” With one more wave at Patton and Logan, he followed Janus down the hall and through reception.

Heart a little lighter, Logan smiled down at Patton. “Bathroom and teeth first, then let’s fold up your blanket, shall we?”

~

As the sun rose and the rest of the QLaw staff trickled in, those who’d seen Patton the day before expressed no surprise at his continued presence. Two attorneys, in fact, were pleased he was still there as one had brought a backpack and three new picture books; another carried a nephew’s newly outgrown winter coat. Not that it was all that unusual to see a foster child in the office, even that early in the day. 

What was unusual was Logan’s behavior. Gazes lingered on their ordinarily stoic and fastidious co-attorney-in-charge, unbothered by the marker scribbled on his arms, the heavy shadows under his eyes, or his rumpled tie and shirt. Instead, Logan read animatedly to the little boy in his office, silly voices and all. A glance from Janus was all it took for them to keep private counsel for now.

Shortly after a conference room breakfast of bagels and fruit, reception buzzed to tell them Patton’s social worker, Grace, had returned to the office.

Forcing a smile to remain on his face, Logan nodded and stayed with Patton as Janus left to brief her on Logan’s intentions. Janus would serve as Patton’s GAL in court and, as the need arose, they’d arranged for a colleague at the UW Law Clinic to represent Logan.

Only if needed.

Logan and Patton were on their second reading of A Color of His Own when Grace knocked on his open office door, Janus positioned in the hall behind her. He carried Patton’s new-to-him coat and backback, along with the boots Remus had picked up with the pajamas. He’d carved a small smile on his face, the same he’d wear on his worst days at court.

“Hello, Patton,” Grace said, addressing Logan more than the child. “It’s time to go now.”

Patton looked up at Logan and, when he closed the book and began to stand, wrapped tiny arms around his neck, moving with him off the sofa. Logan steadied him, retrieving his dropped owl and scarf. Keeping on arm circled over Logan’s shoulders, Patton gripped the stuffie and scarf close to his face. He peeked out at Grace from behind them, eyes wide.

“Mr. Sand—”

“Logan,” he corrected quietly.

“Mr. Logan’s not coming with us today, Patton,” she continued, stepping closer and opening her arms. “You have a check-up and then we’re going to talk to a—”

The little boy was already shaking his head, fingers digging into Logan’s shoulder. He locked his legs around Logan’s waist, a high whine pushing up from the back of his throat.

Logan breathed deeply and slowly nodded his head as moved closer so she could take him. “Ms Grace will take good care of you and I’ll see you—”

Openly crying now, Patton continued to shake his head, fighting to stay in Logan’s arms with as much vehemence as he’d fought his hold less than twenty-four hours ago in the courthouse. Fists flailing, he kicked his feet, striking both Logan and Grace.

“Patton, this is no way to behave!” she said, reaching for him with one hand and fending off his blows with the other.

“No no no no no no!” he screamed, whacking her with the stuffie. Logan’s cotton shirt was no match for his grip, threads popping as he push-pulled away from her.

“Patton,” Logan began, stopping when his voice shook. He closed his eyed for a long moment, Patton’s cries cutting through his chest. His arms trembled with the effort to not simply hold him closer until he was soothed.

They had to do this the right way.

“Patton, it is time to go with Ms. Grace now.” he said, looking back unflinchingly into big blue eyes, wide with terror. “You are safe, and I will see you soon,” he pledged, hesitating to make such a large promise, but unable to truly stop himself. Would he? Would he see him soon? 

As Patton clawed at his shoulder and his face in a desperate attempt to remain in his arms, Logan continued to nod. “This is just for a while,” he said, promising both the child and himself. “You’re safe,” he said again, to himself just as much as to Patton. "You're safe."

Patton kicked him again and Grace used that as her chance to scoop him up into arms and flee from the office. Patton howled as they left, his voice fading as she hurried down the hall past the small crowd of lawyers and other staff drawn by the commotion.

His screams cut out as the main door closed behind them.

Janus pressed Patton’s belongings into the closest paralegal’s hands. “Go with them and stay with her. Keep me notified if anything changes. I will join you at the courthouse shortly.”

“But—” she argued.

“Go now," he insisted. "Please.”

Casting a quick glance at Logan in the office, she nodded and raced to follow Grace and Patton out of the offices and into the elevator.

“No calls.” Janus said to the receptionist who’d stood watching from the other end of the hall. "Only for this case, understood?"

“Of course,” the receptionist nodded and returned to his post. Janus didn’t address the remaining onlookers and simply closed the door behind him.

Logan stood alone in the center of their office, shaking and staring at the floor. Tiny red streaks striped his skin and his shirt was torn, partially untucked. It took a moment for Janus to find his glasses under a side table where they'd been knocked off and kicked away—unbroken—in the struggle.

Tangled in a heap near Logan's feet lay Patton’s owl and borrowed scarf. Logan stooped to pick them up. “Patton will miss these,” he said, voice breaking. He started to stand but dropped to his knees instead. “I should…” He looked up at Janus, eyes burning.

“You can give them to him when we see him next,” Janus said, setting down his folded glasses on the table and kneeling with him.

Head bowed, Logan brought the little bundle close to his heart. His shoulders shook as the first tears fell, wetting the yellow silk. “Your scarf… “ he said, more sob than speech.

Janus pulled him close, his own voice thin and tremulous. “It’ll be okay, Lo,” he whispered near his ear. Janus rubbed his back as he cried against his shoulder. “We will make it okay.”

[edupunkn00b]

LoceitWeek 2024 Stories

[edupunkn00b]

Just in time for AO3 to go down for the night. Tumblr post incoming :D

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Sanders Sides (Web Series) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Deceit | Janus Sanders/Logic | Logan Sanders Characters: Logic | Logan Sanders, Dark Creativity | Remus "The Duke" Sanders, Deceit | Janus Sanders, Creativity | Roman "Princey" Sanders, (only mentioned) - Character Additional Tags: Loceitweek 2024, Loceit - Freeform, Human AU, lawyer AU, blind dates, sometimes blind dates don't go so well, and sometimes they do, no beta‚ we die like Logan's alcohol intolerance, bits of innuendo from Remus, is that really a surprise, what's the surprise is I didn't turn this into intruloceit Summary:

Remus set up his best friend Logan with his new friend Janus.

Wow.

[loceitweek]

Awh YES I love it so much 🥺🥺🥺💙💛

@loceitweek Poor Logan got sick, but luckily Janus is really good at taking care of other sides!

[edupunkn00b]

I’m still writing for this… who wants to join me?

Hello! Hope you mods are doing well ^^ I was wondering if Loceit Week 2024 was still happening?

Ngl, mod a has been swamped with work lately and mod b (me) hasn’t really been in the fandom for a bit due to a lack of canon sanders sides content. It’s hard to be motivated and run a full event when it feels like the creator doesn’t even care about the creation anymore.

For these reasons, loceit week probably will not be happening. Feel free to create your own loceit works during the week though if you want and tags us- we’ll happily reblog even if there are no “set” prompts

[loceitweek]

👀👀👀👀💛💙

Hello! Hope you mods are doing well ^^ I was wondering if Loceit Week 2024 was still happening?

Ngl, mod a has been swamped with work lately and mod b (me) hasn’t really been in the fandom for a bit due to a lack of canon sanders sides content. It’s hard to be motivated and run a full event when it feels like the creator doesn’t even care about the creation anymore.

For these reasons, loceit week probably will not be happening. Feel free to create your own loceit works during the week though if you want and tags us- we’ll happily reblog even if there are no “set” prompts