Vices and Maces

Chapter 1: Roman is Uncharacteristically Stoic, Remus is Remus

Content Warning: creepy guys harassing someone, blood, implied death (no one important)

Remus hummed as he walked down the street, taking his usual route. He smiled as the lyrics to the song played in his head, a song that his brother had begged him to no longer sing out loud anymore. It took a while for his whining to get old, but once it did, Remus complied.

He still bobbed his head lightly as he walked, his green mohawk bouncing since he didn't put much hair gel in. He could see the red and silver strands fly back and forth, only making him more hyper.

He had a small bag in his green hand, the strap long enough to hang from his shoulder and it would reach his hip. The only reason it wasn't there, was because he was swinging it around, spinning it to avoid hitting people or things, or doing the opposite, very much still in his control.

When he reached the usual shop that he went to for lunch, he threw the bag back onto his shoulder and went in, saving more people from his bag swinging torment. His green wings fluttered in excitement as the familiar scent hit him. It was a small bakery, one that was privately owned, and he was friends with the owner.

"Remus!" the woman behind the counter greeted, she was a small satyr with freckles dotting her face, and her golden eyes popping out from behind her dark hair.

"Hello Daisy! How are you on this fine day?" Remus asked.

"I'm doing quite well. I'm guessing you want your usual sandwich? With extra mayonnaise?"

"You know me so well! Now..." Remus leaned against the glass counter as Daisy got to work making the sandwich. "How have you really been?"

Daisy looked back up at him, and he noticed her hand shaking as she grabbed a butter knife. 'Extra mayonnaise' was a code. "Oh you know, I-I took a walk the other day and..." Her eyes flickered behind her. Remus looked up at some glass that was behind her, and he could make out a silhouette of a man standing across the street outside. "I saw some flowers."

Remus smiled sweetly. "Flowers are very nice. Did they need anything?"

"They looked a bit dried out, but I didn't give them any water. No matter how much they wanted some."

Remus turned around and leaned against the counter with his back. There wasn't anyone else in the bakery, but Daisy clearly was still too afraid to speak. His voice was low when he asked. "Were they poisonous flowers?"

"Deadly."

Remus held back a growl, pushing his tongue against one of his tusks. He got them from his mother, he took after her appearance wise since she was an orc, not much personality. His brother took after their father, a fire fae. "Were you hurt?"

"No, but some have popped up outside the shop. I-I would like to have them pulled out."

"Oh, it's no problem. I could do it for free, I have some supplies in my bag." Remus patted his purse. "I never liked those purple flowers. I'll also have some friends come over to make sure they don't grow back, is that alright with you?"

"It sounds perfect, thank you so much. Here's your sandwich, you don't need to pay anything." Daisy set the sandwich on the counter, wrapped in paper.

Remus turned around and pulled out some cash. "Oh it's no problem at all, trust me. Keep the change, dear."

Daisy gave him a serious look and moved a bit to the side so Remus was blocking her from the view of the street. "Be careful, they want you and your brother."

The halfling patted her hand. "Don't worry, doe, they're not going to get us. And you know that if you're in any danger you can't get out of, it'll be alright to give them a bit of 'water.' You won't put us in danger, and we won't be upset, as long as you're alright."