Stuck In A Story (Sanders Sides)

~Chapter One: A New Story Begins~

*triggers: mild swearing*

The Mind Palace wasn't normally quiet, and today was no exception. The Sides had just helped Thomas with another issue he had, so everyone was feeling pretty good. Everyone was in their own respective spaces, getting ready for movie night.

Logan was pacing the living room, clipboard in hand, seeming to check things off a list. "Mmhmm, yes, okay, did that.." he muttered to himself as he observed the list. "Sit down and chill for a second, will ya?" Roman asked, as he was lounging on the couch. Logan looked up. "Just making sure we have everything ready for an adequate movie night." he responded. "Patton? The snacks almost ready?"

A lighthearted "Yep!" could be heard from the kitchen, where Patton was. He had a whole tray prepared with candy, chips, popcorn, and other goodies everyone liked. Everyone had their own respective drink as well. Logan had some coffee in a thermos, Patton and Roman both had slushies, and Virgil had some tea. Carrying it all to the living room, Patton sat it down on the coffee table. "Virgil? You ready?"

"Hold on, I'm coming!" he yelled from the top of the stairs. Virgil came down in a black shirt and purple pajama pants. "Sorry, I was just getting comfortable." Patton smiled. "It's okay kiddo! I put your hoodie in the dryer earlier because I knew you'd want it for the movie." The anxious side smiled. "Thanks Padre." Logan sat on the opposite end of the couch, Patton by the coffee table, Roman in a beanbag, and Virgil huddled in the corner of the couch. "So," Logan started. "what movie is tonight?"

"Well, we did vote earlier.." Roman held up a hat and shook it. It wasn't Janus' hat this time. He had learned PLENTY from that experience. "No," Logan started. "last time you clearly rigged the vote, so I say we vote aloud." Virgil shrugged his shoulders. "Sure." Roman huffed. "You guys are no fun."

"Well it is obvious we will be watching a Disney film, so which one do you all want?" Logan offered. The creative side scratched his head. "There's so many to choose from.." "How about Aladdin? We haven't watched that one in a while!" Patton perked up. No one disagreed, so Roman grabbed the remote and started flipping through the movies they had to find Aladdin. Patton got up and went to the laundry room to get Virgil's hoodie and his cat onesie. He put on his comfy outfit and handed Virgil his hoodie. "There you go kiddo. All nice and warm, just for you." Virgil gratefully took it and smiled at the father figure. Everyone got their snacks, and Roman pressed play on the movie.

About thirty minutes in, everyone's full attention was on the movie. Roman and Logan were making commentary about the movie the whole time, Virgil was just huddled in his blanket and warm hoodie in the corner, and Patton was quietly humming the songs to himself. "How did he not get caught going into the castle? It makes no sense. He was obviously not supposed to be there." Logan said. Roman rolled his eyes. "It's a Disney movie Teach, it's not always supposed to make sense." At that moment, the lights flickered and the TV shut off, then followed by the lights. Patton let out a small yell. "Sorry! Don't like the dark." Logan stood up and found his way to the kitchen, and grabbed a candle and lit it with a match. "It's alright. Don't freak out. I'm sure it's just something wrong with the breaker box. I'll go check it out." Roman chuckled. "Thanks for the reassurance Specks, but I'm not scared." Logan looked coldly at Roman. "Good thing I wasn't addressing you then." he said before turning to the moral side. "It'll be fine, okay?" Patton nodded his head and smiled as Logan walked off.

Virgil just sat there and slipped on his tea. "Well that sure was something." Patton looked at Virgil. "What do you mean?" Roman chuckled. "Logan has never talked to Virgil or I like that before. Just you." Patton looked confused. "Okay and?" Virgil,shook his head. "You'll figure it out." Patton shrugged and turned away, hoping the other two couldn't see him blushing.

Logan came back up, flashlight in hand. "It's weird. The box is fine." Roman gave fake applause. "Nice observation Sherlock, but how do we turn the power back on?" Logan was on the verge of exploding into anger, but he kept his composure. "I'm trying to figure it out, but it would be great if I had some help." Then, all four sides heard thumping from the end of the hallway. Virgil stood up and Logan went closer to Patton, while Roman put his arm out in front of everyone. "SHIT." they heard from the other end.

"For the love of god Remus, can you just walk?"

"I don't know Janus, can I?!"

The four had already realized who it was before they emerged from the hallway. The Duke was in his regular outfit, mourning star slung over his shoulder and the crazy look in his eyes he always had. The snake-faced side however, had on black sweatpants and a yellow tee-shirt, though he still had his hat on. Virgil glared. "What do you want?" Janus put up his hands defensively. "We just came to see if the power was out over here too. No need to get feisty." Virgil made a small chuckle. "Oh I'll show you feisty-" Before Virgil could deck Janus in the face, Logan held him back. "Easy, Virgil. He's telling the truth anyway."

The anxious side slowly backed off, but never took his eyes off Janus. Remus smirked. "So, movie night? Never got the invitation." he said while shrugging his shoulders. Patton could tell the tension in the air was high, so he stepped in between everyone. "Okay, well, since we both have the same problem, let's see if there's something we can do about it, okay? Find something to do and hope the power comes on." He could tell Virgil and Roman weren't fond of the idea, but it was the only one he had. Roman sighed. "Fine. I'll go find something."

The rest of the group sat awkwardly around the living room, occasionally giving each other glances then looking back down at their laps. Finally, Remus broke the silence. "Well this is fun and all, but I am bored out of my mind. So unless my brother comes back soon-" he was interrupted by the fanciful side walking into the room with a big book in his hands. Janus rolled his eyes. "A book? I thought storytime was Thomas' thing." Roman glared at Janus and looked back at the dusty book in his hands. "It's an old storybook. It might be fun to read." Remus waved his hand in the air. "Well, start reading then!" 

Roman sat in his spot and opened the book to the first page. He read of all the classics: Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella. Stories like that. Everyone was very focused on Roman's storytelling. He was quite good at it. He used emotion when he read, so it felt as if you were actually in the story. He had gotten halfway through the book when Patton yawned and stretched his arms. Then he looked down at his hands and his eyes went wide. "Um..guys?" Remus chuckled. "What is it-HOLY SHIT!" That turned everyone's attention to Patton. Light blue smoke seemed to flow from his fingertips and went over to the book in Roman's hands. "Patton, what are you doing?!" Virgil sat up, wide-eyed. "I-I don't know!" He started panicking until he was surrounded by the smoke, and when it cleared, Patton was gone. 

Everyone just stared at where Patton previously sat, then the same thing happened to Janus and Logan. Smoke came from their hands and into the book, then they were gone. Roman threw the book across the room, but him and Remus had already started the smoke escapade. Finally, it was just Virgil left. He was freaking out, then he saw smoke coming from his hands. "When will we ever have a normal day, for once?" He said as the smoke surrounded him, and he was gone.