Beautiful Lies

Chapter Six: The Invitation

Hello again one and all with yet another chapter, this one being extra long ✨for kicks!✨. Enjoy my dreadfully odd updating schedule!-😈

"We can't stop now!" Roman argued, pacing. Remus sighed exhaustedly.

"We've been looking for almost a month Roman. We've scoured the entire hamlet, he was nowhere to be found!" Remus snapped. "Let's face it Ro, Janus is dead." Roman stops pacing, and stares at Remus, betrayed.

"How could you say that!" Roman hissed, his pain lashing out like venom. "He IS alive. And if you won't help me, I'll keep looking until I do." Remus placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, who slapped him away, glaring at him.

"Roman, I'm sorry. I know this hurts you. But it's time to accept the truth. Janus is dead, and you saying otherwise is just hurting you more." Roman hunch over the table, screaming into his arms as heartbroken tears poured down his face, the dusty table being cleansed.

"He can't be dead," Roman sobbed. "He isn't. He promised!"

Remus watched, letting Roman face the pain he had been hiding from for so long. He knew very little about emotions, but he did know it was necessary to face your pain rather than hide from it.

When Roman's sobs quieted, Remus approached him.

"Hey, want to visit Clover's Inn? I'll pay for whatever you want." Roman sniffed, looking up at him, face still red.

"Aren't you broke?" Remus laughed.

"Not for long."

Roman had to admit, it was hilarious to see his brother both simoutasely flirt and steal from unsuspecting bar patrons.

"Alright."

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Remus scanned the inn for his first target, looking for an unsuspecting drunk, or even better, a cute person. Finally he spotted someone, a boy in the corner of the inn, who seemed to be endlessly drinking.

"Excellent," He whispered. Remus sauntered up to the boy, face covered by a too large hat, and a worn leather jacket. He leaned on the table beside him. "What brings you here this evening? An enticing bed partner?" Remus offers, wiggling his eyebrows. The person takes a sip of their drink, rolling their eyes in the shadow of their hat.

"A drink," the person comments. Remus is not deterred by the quick shutdown.

"Oh, that can't be true. Why don't you show me that beautiful face of yours?"

"And outshine yours?" The person teased back. "Not a chance." Remus smirks, enjoying this. Most don't flirt back.

"Oh I doubt that's possible. Besides, we can all tell you would rather see something a bit more," Remus whispers in the person's ear, smirking again. The person laughs, taking off their hat.

"Alright, I'll play." The boy's brown eyes sparkle with mischief, as a matching smirk grows on his face. Remus is speechless. "Like what you see? Or don't see, I suppose." Remus recovers quickly.

"My mind already sees for me," Remus smirks. "And I do like it." Slowly as he talks, his hand inches to the boy's pocket.

"Imagination can do no one justice. Are you sure?"

"Oh yes," Remus says, licking his lips.

"It's a pity then, you'd never see," The boy mocks.

"I could take you where you stand," Remus counters, leaning closer across the table. "And you wouldn't know what to do with yourself." The boy rolls his eyes, inches from Remus's face. Remus's hand slips into his pocket, and his hand clenches around the money.

"You do sound like you like to play tough, don't you? But we both know who wins at the end of the night," The boy whispers breath lightly crossing Remus's ear. Remus freezes, beaten. Surprised to be beaten in this round of flirting, Remus bumps into the fabric's pocket.

The boy's smile fades, glancing down at the pocket, then looks up, his smile returning.
"Thief." Remus doesn't respond, the money still his grasp, but the boy's hand closed around his wrist. "But you are a pretty one." To his surprise, the boy lets him go, smiling. "Lets see how long it will take for them to catch you pretty boy." Remus doesn't wait for the boy to continue, taking off like a shot, money in hand.

Roman sits at the table, waiting for him.

"You got the money?" Remus looks at him, frazzled.

"Yeah."

A little later into the night, Remus and Roman are sitting, drinking and eating more than they ever get to do, the boy's money providing for them.

"Good haul Re," Roman comments, downing another glass of ale. "Normally you get less than that." Roman hasn't forgotten Janus, persae, but pain is easier to deal with a drink or two. Remus glances over at his brother, and orders him water.

"No more ale for you," Remus says. "But thanks. Think the kid was some rich guy, with lots of money." Curious, Remus scans the inn for the boy, but he is no longer there. He sighs, looking at Roman who is now moping at the table. "Cheer up Ro, it could be worse."

With a sudden bang, the Inn's door flies open and the boy from before is there.

"Hey bitches, there's a message for the whole village." As the crowd murmurs, Remus and Roman exchange a look, before looking back at the boy, who reads off a message. "Lord Patton Hart would like to invite the whole hamlet and village to attend a party celebrating the engagement of his son, Sir Logan Hart, with a Mr. Janus Lyre. Congratulations to the happy couple, etc., etc.," The Messenger says sarcastically, leaving the room buzzing with questions. Remus turns to Roman, who has dropped his mug, the drink spilling everywhere.

"Ro? Ro? Roman?" Remus asks, waving his hands in front of his dazed brother's face. Roman turns to him, oddly calm.

"It could be worse, huh?"