Chapter Text
His staff lightly tapped against the floor as he walked.
One thing that people commonly think is that he needs his staff to see at all, something that hasn’t crossed his mind enough to debunk. But his eyesight isn’t that bad, just more on the really impaired side.
His long hair flowed behind him, gliding effortlessly with the wind as he approached the castle. He stepped down from the title of king a long while ago, though he still resided in the castle like before.
Pure Vanilla— throughout his long time of living—hundreds, thousands of years behind him. He never once thought of himself ending up here in the present. With him looking very different, his mindset being very different.
He found himself not only looking into the light, but also mingling with deceit.
Well, what's the truth without a little lie and vice versa?
Pure Vanilla sighed as he ran a hand through his now much longer hair, the bright aura that seemed to indefinitely surround him, momentarily dimmed. He looked to the door that he stopped beside, his eyes finally opening as he softly gazed upon the door. His hand going to rest upon his soul jam as he contemplated opening the door.
Of course he had too, eventually.
Hm, he wasn’t all too against it really, more about how the other cookie would feel about it.
One thing the kingdom didn’t know was the beast he was harboring in his own room, a room not a lot of people pass by simply because it’s his own. He upkeeps it himself.
Pure Vanilla gently pushed open the door as he stepped in, instinctively closing the door behind him as he made sure it didn't slam close.
And the scene before him was serene.
The beast sleeping in his own bed with his long hair spread out all around underneath him. His chest subtly rising up and down as the light from the sunset shined onto him through the window.
To say Pure Vanilla would describe the sight as serene would be an understatement actually.
He smiled softly as he walked to the side of the bed, placing his staff to lean against the wall so he got a full clearer view of the room. Despite a light replacing the eye of his new staff that he got when he awakened, he could still see out of it the same, even not clearer.
Pure Vanilla turned to look down at the unconscious beast on his bed.
He might have quickly changed his mind at that moment to open his eyes and look down at him on his own, but nobody was around to confirm it.
He sighed in content as he sat on the edge of the bed, making sure he didn’t accidentally sit on Shadow Milk’s hair. That would hurt him.
Speaking of hair..
Pure Vanilla’s eyes glanced down to the long hair that Shadow Milk had, he couldn’t lie and say it wasn’t majestic at time. How it flowed and moved as if it was its own being. He knew it took constant magic from Shadow Milk for it to flow on its own, his hair being more like tendrils instead of hair. He’s seen it in use before, especially in their last fight.
He twirled an end of it around his finger absentmindedly, the eyes that were usually in the beasts’ hair now being closed and dull, a stark contrast to the glow that it usually has.
Their last fight.
It was a rough one.
Not because he got really hurt, but because of how bad he felt for his counterpart.
His counterpart was in a coma in his bed right now.
He sadly glanced down to the soul jam that rested on the chest of Shadow Milk, he had taken off the ruffles so he could be comfortable and the soul jam had magically moved down further to the middle of his chest.
Pure Vanilla leaned forward towards him, his hair falling slightly over the other. He had brought Shadow Milk into the kingdom when had fallen unconscious before he could make it into a portal away from them. And Pure Vanilla couldn’t simply leave him to be crushed under the weight of his own collapsing spire.
“Do wake up soon..” He mumbled under his breath, his mismatched eyes lidded with sorrow the two shared.
A truth and deceit.
He had already used his own abilities to heal the other, what’s left to do is for the other to fight through his own mind and wake up.
And Pure Vanilla will be there beside him.
He shifted his position once again, now sitting further up on the bed as the sun continued to set, the light still pouring through and bouncing off them too.
He raised his hand, bringing it over Shadow Milk as he slowly let it rest on the others chest, right above where his soul jam resides. He placed his other hand on his own soul jam, he felt like he could feel a faint pulse that alternated between the two.
Like they were connected. Hm, he liked that thought, they very much were.
“At least, I feel connected. More connected to you.” Her whispered softly in response to his own thoughts, leaning down towards Shadow Milk slowly as his lowered his hand slightly. Now placing his hand directly on the cool material of his counterpart's soul-jam.
He closed his eyes as he was silent for a moment, a soft smile on his face as he felt another pulse throughout both of their soul jams. Multiple times.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
That was a particularly strong one.
He was content though.
“If you would let me,” Pure Vanilla closed his eyes as he laid his head down on Shadow Milk’s chest, his soft smile growing just a bit warmer. “I’d like to get to know you better, get connected more.” He raised up slightly as he opened his eyes a bit, his gaze locked onto the face of Shadow Milk.
“If you let me, I’d love to understand more of what you’re feeling, what’s in your mind.” He raised up further. “I would never rush you, I’m willing to wait.”
“You would hate me for saying this but,” He moved one hand to slowly grasp at one of the beast's hands, giving a gentle squeeze as he then looked back towards his face, his eyes being covered by his own hair. “It was never out of pity.”
Pure Vanilla leaned up as one of his hands reached to brush the long silver locs of hair that blocked his view of seeing the upper half of Shadow Milk's face.
He would be lying if he said he didn’t stare for a moment.
“Infact, maybe,” He pauses to think about his words for a moment. “I would say it was out of—“
He abruptly goes silent as he stares more intently at Shadow Milk’s face, and then he notices something.
Tears.
He was crying.
Shadow Milk was crying.
“Goodness..” He mumbled as he scanned the others face, the sadness being reflected right back at him as he frowned.
Pure Vanilla didn’t ask any questions, immediately going up and putting his hand on his cheek. Catching the tears in his hand and wiping them away with a newfound gentleness.
He thought back to his time of being Truthless Recluse, how mean and opposing he was to Shadow Milk. How, misunderstanding, he was. That wasn’t a good moment in time for him, not a very good look either. He wonders what could of been different had he known what he knows now, how lonely Shadow Milk was, what he truly wanted. No matter how much he tried to deny it.
A soft cry.
Pure Vanilla paused as his thoughts were interrupted again as he looked down.
A deep frown present on the beast below him as more tears were streaming down his face, his silver locs once again had fallen over his face. Pure Vanilla didn’t move them this time however.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” He reached to wipe the tears that continued to stream down Shadow Milk’s face, his thumb quickly swiping any wetness away. “I wasn’t paying attention.” He said with sadness in his voice, he was sad for Shadow Milk.
His heart broke at seeing the beast cry from whatever he was experiencing trapped in his own mind. It’s not something you would expect from someone like him.
But a part of him was happy to see that side of Shadow Milk, even if Shadow Milk himself wasn’t really aware he was seeing it.
It was a sort of unveiling to Pure Vanilla, how he finally gets to see unscripted forced emotions on the face of the beast and finally gets to see something real.
Something, personal.
Pure Vanilla wanted those moments, craved it.
He wiped another stray tear away from Shadow Milk’s face.
If this was how close he was going to get then he was going to take it. And he wasn't going to miss it if he could help it.
The sun was just about to disappear under the horizon.
He stood up from the bed, going over to the window as warm air softly blew in. He drew in a breath as he closed his eyes, feeling his hair slightly blow in the breeze as he leaned out the window.
He leaned down and let his head rest in his palm, his head tilted as he basked in the dimming sunlight. It was something truly delightful, how its light seemed to make pretty things even prettier.
At that thought he turned around to Shadow Milk still lying motionless on his bed, the light from the sunset still on him.
He definitely stood by his previous thought.
“How much I can’t wait for you to wake up, so I can tell you all the things you deserve to hear.” Pure Vanilla turned back towards the window one last time as he closes the curtains before pulling away, making his way back towards Shadow Milk. He stayed at the bedside as he ran his fingers through the beast’s. His head tilted as he felt his soul jam pulse once again, though a lot softer this time.
“Things you should have heard much sooner.”
Pure Vanilla did think about using his healing ability on Shadow Milk again, though he didn’t know how much light magic would affect the other.
It could help however.
His healing magic possessed to ability to not only heal, but also offer a sense of ecstasy. It was sort of calming.
Pure Vanilla leans back over Shadow Milk, bending down to place his hand back over Shadow Milk as his other hand held his staff.
…
Maybe he was just really touchy and made excuses.
“I hope this helps you.” He let his power seep through as he lowered his head, his constant golden aura getting brighter as he pressed just a bit harder. He took note of how Shadow Milk seemed to stir in his state, his breaths seeming to get deeper and longer. Good, he liked that, it was a good sign.
Pure Vanilla glanced up to examine his face, while his hair was still drooping into his face, at least he was no longer crying.
He rose back up as he was silent for a moment. “I don’t know what’s in your mind, or what you’ve been silently fighting alone,” He sighed in content as he tilted his staff slightly downwards, finally looking through it once more and getting a much clearer view of the beast. “But I hope you eventually tell me, and we could fight it together.” He absentmindedly twirled an end of a piece of hair from the other.
The hair reacted to his touch.
Pure Vanilla froze as he looked down.
He knew Shadow Milk’s hair was like tendrils and could move at will like snakes, but was surprising was that they were moving at all.
Pure Vanilla watched as the tendril of hair slowly wrapped his hand, curling over and down to his wrist where it stopped. It wasn’t gripping him or pulling, simply just wrapped around him.
Maybe Shadow Milk was touchy too.
Pure Vanilla looked down at it in fascinating, quickly turning to see if the other was awake.
Not awake.
So this was a subconscious thing.
He smiled, this was interesting.
Pure Vanilla glanced out the window, the sun no longer visible as the sky finally now started to completely darken. The sky will be replaced with black and stars soon. He then looked down to Shadow Milk again, how the sunset light was now be replaced with moonlight.
And he looked even more serene.
He wasn’t surprised how the beast looked better in moonlight than sunlight.
His face changed to a more somber look as he realized he had to depart with him now. Pure Vanilla pulled away as the tendril fell away from his hand, flopping back down onto the bed where it remained.
He hesitated for a moment, he didn’t really want to leave, wanting to remain close where he could keep an eye on the condition of Shadow Milk. His soul jam seemed to also long to be closer to his counterpart as he felt an occasional pulling most days. But some things can’t be helped.
Pure Vanilla turned around, going towards the door and reaching to leave.
He stopped, feeing like there was another pull to turn around.
Pulse.
His soul jam flickered as he winced, resisting turning around as he took another step towards the door.
Pulse.
He flinched as he stopped momentarily, he ignored it, reaching the handle of the door and starting to pull it open to leave.
Stronger pulse.
He gasped slightly as he took a step back, he looked down at his soul jam as it now softly glowed, it even seemed to lightly vibrate against his chest as examined it.
Pure Vanilla turned around back towards Shadow milk as his eyes quickly darted to his similar soul jam.
His was also glowing.
He guesses it can be helped.
Whether his own emotions and thoughts activated something within his soul jam that then had a sort of domino effect towards Shadow Milk’s, he wouldn’t be able to tell. But he certainty wasn’t about to fight against it as he walked back towards the bed, his own feet didn’t even feel like he was controlling them, simply being on autopilot.
Pure Vanilla let his staff rest against the wall as he sighed, letting his cape fall to the floor as he sat down on the bed. His back resting against the headboard as his hand rested against Shadow Milk’s soul jam. He could feel the soft pulse coming from it as it synced to his own soul jam.
He leaned down as his head rested against the beast's chest, right under where the soul jam resided. It wasn’t the most comfortable position but Pure Vanilla didn’t really mind.
Shadow Milk would definitely hate him being in such a position though.
—
Grass.
That was what was under him.
What?
Pure Vanilla sat up quickly at the feeling of wind on his face and through his hair, looking down at where he was previously laying, on grass.
He stood up as he looked around, he wasn’t in his room anymore and Shadow Milk was nowhere to be seen. He was slightly panicking until he looked around more clearly at the landscape around him, how odd it looked and how–unreal, it looked.
It was grey, everything around him was grey. Either that or it was different shades. He looked down at himself as he was practically the only thing with color in this place as he glowed a soft yellow, not a lot to be blinding but enough where it was very noticeable. He was still wearing his clothes that he had when he fell asleep initially.
A dream. He was dreaming and he was aware he was dreaming.
That's different, he’s never experienced something like this before.
He exhaled in relief as he properly started to look around at the landscape. It looked like the kingdom but everything was greyscale. It looked, mellow, in a way. Something nostalgic and somber. Some things were out of place and different, and moved. He looked up towards the sky as the moon looked to be almost cut in half, he knew it was night because of the visible stars with the usually black sky just being a darker shade of grey.
Wait, no. Some things were different, he almost didn’t notice.
The castle that he was usually familiar with was different, it had a different structure, different–everything. It almost reminded him of Shadow Milk’s spire.
…
..Anyway.
Pure Vanilla started to walk throughout the kingdom, everything seemed desolate and abandoned. The grass under him was overgrown, a lot of the buildings around him looked to be almost about to crumble, and any buildings that were intact had lots of cracks through them. There market stands and random chairs everywhere, like the people that had resided here had scattered and left everything as they ran.
Essentially, everything was in ruins.
He turned around to glance at the castle again, it looked to be the only thing intact here, and even then it had pieces missing as well as cracks throughout it.
How concerning it all was.
Whether it was something his mind randomly conjured up or it was some type of omen or sign, Pure Vanilla didn’t know. He didn’t know if he even wanted to know.
Everything in Pure Vanilla was telling him to look around in the rubble to check for any cookies that could be injured or any sign of life. But he knows better, this place looked to be totally abandoned and left in ruins. Even if he were to look and find a cookie it wouldn’t matter as he knew this was all in his head. What use would it be to act as if this was real?
That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to explore this interesting place.
Pure Vanilla slowly walked through the grass, it was oddly calming in a sense as the slow wind blew past him. Despite the area being really mellow, he found himself being intrigued about it. How he walked across overgrown paths and broken down buildings. It felt apocalyptic, destopic. An opposite from what he was used to in his own kingdom, where everything was buzzing with life.
A part of it seemed magical. He could feel it in the air, it wasn’t strong enough to notice immediately but enough that if you were looking, you could sense it. And Pure Vanilla did sense it. He sensed it quite clearly and quickly actually as it was in the air. He felt like he could see a faint glimmer in the air, a little bit of sparkly light dust.
It looked like a trail that led further into the ruined kingdom.
He paused for a moment as he debated deciding on what he wanted to do next. He started to walk forward after he took a second, what did he have to lose in his own mind?
He supposed he was going to end up walking this way anyway, now he just has a reason to also walk this way.
Pure Vanilla took this moment to look more around at the area, it seemed the more he walked through the kingdom the more ruined it became, the buildings now fully knocked down with the grass also just a bit longer. He started to become more careful with where he walked, random bits of stone being on the ground which he could very well trip on and hurt himself. He wasn’t sure on how capable he was of actually getting hurt in this dream-world of his, but he didn’t really want to find out.
Further.
Further.
This path stretches quite far.
There’s no intact buildings here anymore, what being left of them was just piles of stone. It looked more like a clearing now instead of a part of the kingdom that housed cookies.
But one thing easily caught his eye, something was in the middle of the clearing. The magic invisible trail that was in the air seeming to lead directly to them.
Something Pure Vanilla just noticed was how he could see perfectly even though he didn’t have his staff with him.
He slowly walked closer to the thing, at first he thought it was perhaps a large rock, or maybe a different object that was emitting a magical aura. However, after taking a few more steps closer he could see the thing more clearly, it wasn’t a mere rock or object It was a cookie.
A cookie that looked eerily similar to Shadow Milk.
That's strange. Did his mind conjure up Shadow Milk in this dream as well?
The cookie didn’t turn around him as he took a few more steps closer, hesitant on if he should actually keep approaching them or not. The cookie was showing obvious signs of life as they did sutble small movements while sitting in the grass.
“Hello?” He softly called out as he took another step closer, he didn’t want to startle the cookie from simply approaching them as he made his present clear.
The cookie looked up, stiffening for a moment as they finally turned around to Pure Vanilla.
Shadow Milk Cookie.
But he looked so different, so calming and inviting. Nothing like the usual beast of deceit. He observed how his hair seemed to sparkle like the stars in the sky, with his hair being devoid of the many eyes he usually has. His clothes were also different, a soft blue waist trench coat that flowed down to the floor, under it being a darker blue robe that was quite similar to his own. Around his neck a large basically popped collar that had a keyhole on the front.
Is this really Shadow Milk Cookie?
“Oh, I thought I sensed another cookie here, how unusual.” Shadow Milk spoke just loud enough so he could hear, his eyes gleaming as he tilted his head as he examined Pure Vanilla.
And Pure Vanilla was absolutely enamored.
He couldn’t help but stare at the different version of Shadow Milk, how different he looked—how calm he looked. It was such a stark contrast that he absolutely adored silently in his head. He couldn’t help as he examined how the moonlight bounced off his body, similarly how it was in the real world when he was observing him, but here, it was so different.
Everything was so, beautiful, about him, from his attire, to the little fang poking out of his mouth. He took it all in. He would remember this for when he woke up from this dream.
“How, curious..” He felt Shadow Milk’s eyes scan him up and down as he spoke, he wouldn’t admit it, but he felt a little nervous under the others' gaze. He couldn’t explain why, this was simply a dream, everything here was just in his head. He didn’t feel like dwelling on whatever those feelings were right now though. “There hasn’t been anyone here in.. witches—I don’t even know how long.” Shadow Milk chuckled as he smiled, Pure Vanilla immediately took note of the small little gap at the front of his teeth. Very endearing.
Pure Vanilla remained silent as he continued to stare, he didn’t know what to say as this was a new thing to him.
Shadow Milk tilted his head in confusion, an eyebrow raised as he slightly frowned. “Well? Are you going to stand there or are you going to approach, I mean, you can—no rush of course, but preferably I’d like for you to approach.” Shadow Milk offered a small smile as he gestured for him to come closer.
Pure Vanilla didn’t hesitate this time.
His steps were slow as he walked the remaining steps to Shadow Milk, sitting down beside him in the grass as he folded his legs. He took quick notice how the grass in this specific area was a lot more clean and lively compared to the rest of this place. He assumed it was from the magic produced from Shadow Milk.
Pure Vanilla cleared his throat as he looked down, “Sorry, I was just surprised.” He chuckled lightly as he closed his eyes, a habit he developed a long time ago. “I didn’t expect you to be here Shadow Milk, especially since you look so different.”
Shadow Milk was silent as he stared in confusion and curiosity.
“..Are you perhaps confusing me for a different cookie?” Shadow Milk tilted his head slightly once again, a small frown on his face as he looked at Pure Vanilla.
Pure Vanilla paused as he looked at Shadow Milk, his own face now equally expressing his own confusion. Despite there being many differences that he has compared to in reality, he knew this was Shadow Milk without a doubt.
“You’re Shadow Milk, albeit you do look very different here.” Pure Vanilla said slowly and carefully as he opened his eyes, glancing over to Shadow Milk.
Shadow Milk was silent again as he turned to look ahead of him, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked to be heavily in thought. A moment passed before he turned back towards him.
“I don’t know any cookie by that name. Sounds ominous.” He chuckled as he shook his head.
Pure Vanilla stared in confusion as it was his turn to be confused. If this wasn’t Shadow Milk, then who was beside him?
“Light of truth?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“White Lily? Dark Cacao?”
“Unfamiliar to me.”
“Beast of deceit?”
“Oh sounds very dreadful..”
Pure Vanilla placed a finger on his chin, a frown on his face remained as he thought about the possibility of generating a Shadow Milk in his head that doesn’t have any memory of him being Shadow Milk. He paused that train of thought as he started thinking more into it.
Shadow Milk.. could he even call him that still? This doesn’t seem like Shadow Milk before him.
“What is your name?” Pure Vanilla asked quickly, he didn’t want to keep referring to the other as Shadow Milk if he didn’t recall himself being Shadow Milk for whatever reason.
Shadow Milk smiled proudly as he closed his eyes and looked away with his hands folding in his lap. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen anyone so I would expect you to not know who I am.” He placed a hand on his chest as his smile faltered to something more nonchalant. “Blueberry Milk Cookie, also known as the Fount of Knowledge.” He did a small mock bow as he opened his eyes half way, gazing towards Pure Vanilla without turning his head. And Pure Vanilla’s body felt heavy under his gaze.
“Blueberry Milk Cookie.” Pure Vanilla tested the name on his tongue, even his name sounds calmer compared to reality. “Well, you can call me Pure Vanilla Cookie.” He smiled softly at Blueberry Milk Cookie as he introduced himself.
“Pure Vanilla Cookie..” Blueberry Milk nodded in approval as he smiled, his eyes closed as he also tested the name. If Pure Vanilla’s heart started to beat just a bit faster as him saying his name, only he would know. “Hm, pleased to meet you.” His eyes opened to turn towards Pure Vanilla once again. “At your service then.”
Blueberry Milk paused as he thought for a moment. “Earlier you confused me for someone,” He hesitated as he looked up towards the stars. “Shadow Milk Cookie.” He whispered out, like the name was a curse on his lips. “Who is that? They sound like they have a similar name to me.”
Pure Vanilla nervously looked down at his hands, a frown on his face as he hesitated on if he really wanted to tell that information.
..
“A friend of mine.” Pure Vanilla started, choosing his words carefully. “I apologize, you just reminded me of them.”
Blueberry Milk looked at him through his peripheral vision curiously. “Is that a good thing?”
Pure Vanilla froze for a moment, his eyes remaining down at his hands as he compared to too. He felt just a bit guilty at how he thought about this version of Shadow Milk, he liked them both. But this version of him, there was something about it, something natural that he wouldn’t see from Shadow Milk Cookie, but something that was right here as Blueberry Milk Cookie.
For a second he was questioning if this was actually a dream, his dream. Maybe it wasn’t.
Perhaps, maybe it was actually—
“Yes, it is.” Pure Vanilla interrupted his own thoughts as he answered, nodding to himself as he smiled. He didn’t look up to glance over at Blueberry Milk, he knew if he did he wouldn’t be able to look away.
Blueberry Milk nodded, “I see, good.”
Pure Vanilla continued. “You do have similar features, but you are also very different.”
Blueberry’s eyes widened in curiosity, a sparkle in his eyes as he was instantly intrigued, “Please, do go on.”
Okay, progress, Pure Vanilla thought.
Vanilla examined him again up and down, his eyes trailing a lot slower this time. “You’re a lot, calmer. Softer around the edges. More understanding.” Pure Vanilla paused at Blueberry, leaned back, turning to look at him as if giving him permission to examine him with his eyes a lot more clearly. And Pure Vanilla took the opportunity.
“A lot, brighter, more content.” Vanilla smiled at the comparison, thinking about obvious differences. “You even appear slightly visibly younger. Not really big on that part however.”
Blueberry hummed in approval, thinking about Vanilla’s words more intently as processed it. “How curious.. It seems as if this friend of yours that you are being reminded of is pretty gloomy. And quite sad.” Blueberry muttered as he leaned back, letting his weight be supported by his arms.
Vanilla’s smile shifted to something a bit more sad, reminiscing his last fight with Shadow Milk at beast yeast. How his time as truthless recluse allowed him to feel the emotions that Shadow Milk hid.
His pain, his anger, his sadness.
His loneliness.
Pure Vanilla felt it all, he remembered it all.
All the emotions Shadow Milk kept locked away.
Locked away.
Pure Vanilla’s eyes drifted to the keyhole design on the big collar that adorned Blueberry Milk.
Locked away.
Maybe he’s partially overthinking things, but he’ll remember that for later.
“Maybe, but he’s just misunderstood. He just needs a little caring for that’s long over do.” Pure Vanilla finally answered his tone becoming something more positive.
Blueberry Milk glanced at him again, his eyebrow raised once again. “What a caring soul you are, Pure Vanilla cookie.”
Pure Vanilla smiled nervously, looking away as he laughed. “Ah, it’s nothing too complicated.”
Blueberry Milk rolled his eyes playfully, his smile growing a bit bigger. “Don’t be so modest now! Rehabilitation is no easy task.”
Pure Vanilla perked up at that. “Rehabilitation?” His attention was immediately drawn.
Blueberry Milk nodded as he talked with his hands, an absentminded thing that Pure Vanilla took note of. “It sounds as if your friend is quite troubled internally, given from the minor context you’ve given me. Though it seems as if you are giving them a chance and going down that path.”
No wonder he was called the Fount of Knowledge, he was smart to piece all of that together without much information needed.
“I see..” Pure Vanilla thought for a moment, rehabilitation did cross his mind sometimes, but he never knew what would work on Shadow Milk.
“If I was going to rehabilitate him, what action would I take that would be effective?” Pure Vanilla questioned, a thoughtful look on his face.
Blueberry Milk hummed, also in thought as he tried to think of an answer. “Well I don’t really know how to answer that one as I personally don’t know your friend, but what usually calms me down is going to the great library to read some books. Of course I’ve basically written most of them in there and read them many times now, but it calms me nonetheless.”
Pure Vanilla nodded attentively taking in the information for later. “I see, reading.” Shadow Milk does seem like a person who would read books, he never thought of that idea. Pure Vanilla himself wouldn’t mind trying that idea as he loves to read and take information as well. That’s pleasing to think about. “Thank you Blueberry Milk Cookie.” He expressed his gratitude as he smiled in thought.
Blueberry Milk paused as he giggled, “Please, just call me Blueberry Milk, adding the suffix is too formal for my liking now.” He waved his hand dismissively as he closed his eyes looking away.
Pure Vanilla nodded, remembering that detail for later.
Blueberry cracked open one eye to look at Pure Vanilla, his expression comically in a pout.
“Well, what other differences do you see between me and your dear friend?” Blueberry Milk asked, it seems his curiosity was never ending.
Pure Vanilla liked that.
He snickered quietly as he turned away, “For one, you’re shorter. Quite a bit too.” Pure Vanilla said endearingly.
Blueberry Milk gasped as he put a hand to his chest, “Whaaatt!—I’m offended, friend! Being short is nothing to be ashamed of.” He folded his arms in mock offense as he forced a frown on his face. “Besides, you’re just a particularly tall cookie.”
Pure Vanilla laughed softly, he couldn’t argue against that, he was told a long while ago by some that he was quite above average. “Maybe, but the friend that you remind me of is only just a bit shorter than me, not by a lot like you are. Is that not a huge difference like you asked for?” Pure Vanilla smiled as he indulged in the playful teasing. He took note of how he already felt very close with the other despite only just meeting him.
Sadly this is just a dream in his head, when he wakes up he likely won’t have it again.
Unless.. It wasn't a dream. It could be th—
“I suppose so, but at least my vast knowledge makes up for it doesn’t it?” Blueberry Milk interrupted his thoughts—thankfully—as he looked up at the stars again, observing the constant comets and endless constellations. It seemed to be eternally night here forever as the moon hasn’t once changed its position in the sky.
“I suppose it does, Blueberry Milk.” Pure Vanilla quietly replied.
Silence fell between them, but it wasn’t anything awkward or uncomfortable. He found it nice to bask in, he took the moment to cast small glances at Blueberry Milk, taking in all the features to remember again when he woke up from this dream.
What if it wasn’t a dream though?
..
Anyway,
He committed the design of the other to memory, he doesn’t usually forget things so he wasn’t all too worried.
A soft laugh startled him out of his thoughts.
“Friend.. Do you usually stare at all the new cookies you meet? Though I don’t mind, I’m quite flattered and used to it as the Fount of Knowledge. By all means you can continue as you please, but don’t be surprised if I stare back sometimes.” Another chuckle as Blueberry Milk waved his hand. “I am quite the observer after all.”
Pure Vanilla glanced away, slightly embarrassed at being caught. “How..” His voice trailed off as he tried to ask.
Blueberry Milk perked up as he finally fully turned his head to look at Pure Vanilla, amusement in his eyes as he clasped his hands together.
“How I knew you were staring while I wasn’t looking? Well, besides the obvious feeling of it, I do have multiple eyes.” Blueberry Milk turned towards him again, showing his face as he now had four eyes instead of two, with the lower smaller two eyes now being the two main ones. But then Pure Vanilla’s eyes glanced further behind Blueberry Milk, multiple blue floating eyes all around him with glowing white pupils all on him.
It was fascinating.
It reminded him of the eyes that were in Shadow Milk’s hair, but less menacing.
“I don’t always have them visible since it gets quite overwhelming, but know they are always there.” He waved them away as the eyes closed and disappeared one by one, with the extra two eyes on his face also closing and vanishing.
Pure Vanilla nodded with a sense of awe, “I’ll remember.” He whispered.
Blueberry stared at him with an unreadable expression as the last floating eye closed. His gaze not looking at his face but, down.
“Friend, question for you.” Blueberry started.
Pure Vanilla hummed in acknowledgment as he signaled to go on, curious on whatever he was going to ask.
“My soul jam, how do you have it?” Blueberry Milk tilted his head, now obviously and intently staring at his upper chest now, where his soul jam was. “I actually noticed it much earlier as well as felt it coming from you much earlier, I wanted to ask then but I got a little, distracted.” Blueberry Milk laughed softly before returning to being serious again.
Ah, that would explain why he hadn’t asked him earlier, Infact, he was wondering why the other hadn’t asked him about it.
..That was starting to confirm his small thought that this wasn’t actually—
“Well, long story short.” Pure Vanilla paused, how exactly was he to explain this to Blueberry Milk in a way that actually made sense?
Blueberry looked at him in expectancy, his eyes half lidded as he leaned slightly further in the direction of Pure Vanilla. “Go on.” Blueberry Milk swiftly leaned forward to him, now being inches apart now as his gaze remained locked on the soul jam that was on his chest. It reminded him of Shadow Milk, but instead of being interested in stealing it, he was just interested in it itself. Pure Vanilla instantly turned away, holding his hand over his face as a way to hide how his face started to burn at the closeness. He was for sure going to think about his feelings on this later.
“It even looks a bit brighter than the one I have, it’s not all that noticeable, but I can see it if I look closely.” Blueberry never once went to actually touch the soul jam, only choosing to examine it very very closely. From how close he was, Pure Vanilla could see all the very faint freckles that Blueberry Milk had, something he would only see if he was very close.
Pure Vanilla frowned as he remained silent, he was lost. He didn’t know what to say, or how Blueberry Milk was going to react to hearing such information. Even if the other was just a part of his mind in whatever realistic dream this was, he still couldn’t find it in him to explain it. If this was supposed to be Shadow Milk before he turned to deceit, then who knows how the other was going to react.
Blueberry Milk stared at him with obvious confusion for his hesitance. “What? Are you like, from the future or something? Did I end up giving it to you?” Blueberry playfully asked, a small snicker leaving his mouth.
Pure Vanilla was silent for a moment.
“You didn’t give it to me.” Vanilla quietly answered.
Blueberry Milk was quiet.
“I suppose that’s all I need to know.” Blueberry responded as he looked down, bringing one of his hands to rest in his lap.
“..You do look familiar to me though.” Blueberry Milk didn’t look at Pure Vanilla as he spoke. “I don’t know why though, I know I only just met you now.” He paused, side eyeing Pure Vanilla as he tapped his fingers in his lap. “But I feel like I’ve known you for much longer.” Blueberry’s voice trailed off.
Pure Vanilla laughed softly. “Maybe you know me then, deep down.”
Blueberry Milk froze as he processed the words, his eyes seemed to have a new gleam in them that appeared for a split second, disappearing quickly. You’d have to be quick to notice something like it.
Pure Vanilla noticed of course.
Blueberry shrugged as he smiled back. “Perhaps I do.”
Pure Vanilla smiled wider before he sighed softly.
..
..His soul jam..
Pure Vanilla glanced at Blueberry as he scanned him once again.
Where is his soul jam?
He looked up to his chest, not seeing the soul jam there. Then he glanced up at his neck, in the place where it would usually rest on his ruffles. Both of which were missing.
“Where is your soul jam? I don’t see it on you.” Pure Vanilla still continued to look at the attire of Blueberry Milk, mainly his neck, but it just seemed like he didn’t have it.
Blueberry looked at him bemused, catching on that Pure Vanilla was scanning his attire trying to find it. “Why would I directly wear it on me?” He chuckled faintly as he shook his head. “No disrespect to you, it just doesn’t seem all that practical.” Blueberry inhaled deeply as he sat up straight, raising one of his hands up as he opened his palm. “Though if you are ever so curious.”
Poof.
Pure Vanilla's eyes widened slightly as he looked at the staff Blueberry was holding, it was way different from the scepter that Shadow Milk had. Of course, Pure Vanilla found it pretty.
Blueberry extended it so Vanilla could get a good view of it, the soul jam resting at the end of it clearly visible as it glowed. It was just like the one he had, except it had an eye in the middle, a similar aspect shared with Shadow Milk once again.
Vanilla out of curiosity immediately reached out to the staff, with Blueberry pulling back in hesitance. Only then did it register that of course Blueberry would be opposed to letting the other simply grab at the staff, anyone would.
“Apologies, I was just fascinated.” Pure Vanilla bowed his head silently as he dropped his arm, looking away as his eyes looked down at his own soul jam.
Blueberry Milk eyed him for a moment before he looted the staff out of existence, wherever he sent the staff he had no idea, but he was curious about that too.
He wanted to voice his question.
Until he suddenly felt very sleepy all of a sudden.
..
He shook his head, brushing the sudden sleepiness off as he sat up straighter.
Vanilla deeply inhaled and exhaled as he looked forward looking at the constellations once more, finally gaining courage to voice his next statement. “Well, humor me for a second with this.” Pure Vanilla paused. “You mentioned having a great library here, correct?” Vanilla let his vision stay locked on the stars above, but he felt Blueberry Milk have his eyes on him.
Blueberry hummed in confirmation. “I do, what about it?”
Vanilla stayed silent for a moment as he leaned forward to rest his head in his palm. “When I leave, can you place a note in there? Towards the back in the corner, where the oldest books lie.”
A test.
“I.. suppose? May I ask why?”
Pure Vanilla suddenly felt very sleepy again, his eyes being much heavier than before. “Just humor me for this.”
Blueberry Milk sighed. “I was planning on going there anyway, consider it done”
Good.
Pure Vanilla clutched his head with one of his hands, feeling himself falling forward until something caught him.
Blueberry Milk, he was holding him.
He likely would of mentally panicked had he not found it so hard to stay awake all of a sudden. He didn’t even know it was possible to fall asleep in a dream.
Oh, maybe he was waking up.
He hazily glanced up at Blueberry Milk, his vision spinning as his eyes were half lidding, the only thing remaining constant in his view being Blueberry Milk. He quickly pieced together that he was not laying on the grass before him, but directly being held in his lap.
Yeah he would have for sure mentally panicked had he had the energy.
“—ou alright friend?”
He didn’t respond, he didn’t have energy to, only continuing to stare up at Blueberry Milk. How gorgeous he was from this angle.
.. Such thoughts he never used to have for the jes—er.. scholar? This wasn’t Shadow Milk after all.
Or maybe it was?
“Friend?” Blueberry Milk softly talked down to him, his eyes gazing down at him in concern.
Pure Vanilla wished he could stay here for longer, so calming, so relaxing.
And he was so, nice like this. So.. gorgeous. So beautiful.
He would have reached up to him but he was just so tired. Pure Vanilla didn’t have the energy.
Deep down he felt guilty for thinking that, he didn’t like Shadow Milk any less, but there was something about Blueberry Milk that was more vulnerable to him.
He faintly felt something touch his cheek, it was cool on his warm skin. He didn’t shy away from it, instead choosing to lean into it. It took him a second to learn it was Blueberry Milk’s hand.
“I’ve——re, how odd.”
Pure Vanilla couldn’t even register the words of the other.
“I don’t want this dream to end.” Pure Vanilla weakly called, he didn’t even know if Blueberry Milk could hear him.
He felt the thumb of Blueberry Milk slowly caressing his cheek, if it was in comfort or something else, he wouldn’t know. But he did enjoy it.
“A dream? Hm.” Blueberry Milk responded, Pure Vanilla could see him lost in thought through his swirling vision.
Pure Vanilla closed his eyes, not resisting how heavy they were feeling.
Such a pity. He didn’t want to leave, not so soon. He likely was not to have such a dream again.
What were the odds of having a dream twice?
“—ou can sleep. —ally important.”
Such a lovely dream. At least he has more information to work with.
Pure Vanilla let the the sounds of the dream world fade away in his ears slowly.
He would remember.
“I hope we do meet again, Blueberry Milk Cookie.”
He almost missed what the others response was
“..Yes, that would be nice, Pure Vanilla Cookie.”
—
He awoke quickly by being met with the floor. Shadow Milk’s voice yelling at him in the background as his head spun.
Wait, Shadow Milk?
Pure Vanilla instantly shot up with wide eyes as he sat up, looking up from the floor as his mismatched eyes met blue angry dilated ones.
He was awake, Shadow Milk was awake.
Pure Vanilla quickly composed himself as he stood up, momentarily ignoring how Shadow Milk was yelling at him. He turned around to find his staff on the floor as he picked it up, making sure it rested properly on the wall.
Okay, he was awake now. He still remembered the dream, and this isn’t Blueberry Milk Cookie now, this is Shadow Milk Cookie, the real deal.
Reality.
This is reality.
He sighed, at least now he had a task to deal with.
“—re you even listening to me? Shadow Milk called, getting him out of his thoughts as Pure Vanilla realized he was awake now.
He turned around, a soft smile on his face as approached where Shadow Milk was laying on the bed. His expression was angry as he turned his head away from Pure Vanilla as he pretended to be non-interested.
“Shadow Milk..” Pure Vanilla kept his voice gentle and soft as he sat on the edge of the bed, similar to how he was earlier before he had gone to sleep. Shadow Milk had been in a coma for a while, convenient how he woke up right after that dream. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up for a while now.” Pure Vanilla subtly scooted closer.
“Yeah, well.” Shadow Milk turned to look at him, his arms folded as he flexed his claws. “Is there a reason you brought me here? I don’t know if you know how this usual, ‘hero-villain’ thing works, but usually you wouldn’t bring the villain to your bed.” He muttered, a scowl on his face.
Pure Vanilla shook his head. “Shadow Milk, I don’t see you as a villain at all.” He slowly moved his hand to rest over the claws of the beast, he took notice of how the beast didn't immediately flinch away from his touch like he expected. “Far from it.”
Shadow Milk narrowed his eyes at him as he pulled away, his eyes furrowed as suddenly sat up quickly, his hand flying up to his neck as he felt around. Pure Vanilla immediately realized he was looking for his soul jam and making sure he still had it, he figured the initial panic stemmed from the fact he was no longer in his original bodysuit and instead having a grey colored shirt and pants, with a dark blue-purplish robe.
Only when Shadow Milk realized it had been lower in his chest did he relax, his fingers brushing against the front of it as he ran a finger down it. Pure Vanilla’s eyes followed every moment.
Pure Vanilla exhaled as he shuffled closer. “Shadow Milk,” He started as he laid a hand on Shadow Milk’s chest, pushing him down slowly to the bed as he got closer. He didn’t notice how Shadow Milk’s breath hitched on contact, a gleam of something familiar in his eyes as Pure Vanilla made direct contact with him. Though he did notice how he stiffened and yet he let Pure Vanilla push him down.
“Please, you’ve been in a coma for a long white now, you need to be calm.” Pure Vanilla gazed down at him carefully, taking in his features quickly.
Hm, faint freckles on his face. He never noticed.
Shadow Milk rolled his eyes as he waved his hand dismissively. “Wow, I just feel so cared for.” He said with mock enthusiasm.
He quickly found it interesting how Shadow Milk was lacking the usual bite in his tone, Pure Vanilla considered it progress.
Progress.
Pure Vanilla looked to the nightstand by the bed, grabbing the glass of water he prepared the night before as he picked it up. He carefully held the water up to Shadow Milk, glad to have placed the water there earlier.
“Can you drink this? I know you don’t need subsistence like normal cookies to function, but this could help you.” Pure Vanilla offered a small smile, constantly reminding himself mentally to make sure to keep his tone light and inviting.
Shadow Milk frowned at the glass of water. “You said it yourself ‘Nilla. I have no need for such things.” He snickered As he tilted himself away. “I’m not like those other cookies.” He smirked as he looked away.
Pure Vanilla frowned at the statement but he didn’t back down. “Shadow Milk, I want you get better.” He pushed the cup of water closer to the beast as a sort of encouragement. “Please do drink it.”
Shadow Milk side eyed him as he huffed in frustration. “Why? Did you poison it or something?” Shadow Milk scoffed as he pushed the cup away with the back of his hand. “Even if you did I’ll have you know poison only minorly inconveniences me.
Pure Vanilla leaned back slightly as he held the cup to his mouth. “Is that what you’re worried about?” He lifted the cup as he drank only a little out out of it before lowering it and offering it again. “Well?”
Shadow Milk’s smirk faltered as he rolled his eyes. “You’re so pushy.”
Shadow Milk reached out to the cup of water, Pure Vanilla’s eyes drifted to the beast’s hand, how the blue faded into black fingertips with sharp claws. Shadow Milk’s hand rested over Pure Vanilla’s as he forced the glass closer to his lips, gulping the water down hastily. He hadn’t even bothered to take the glass fully from Oure Vanilla as he was still holding onto it.
Interesting.
Shadow Milk pushed the glass away as he looked down, water dripping down his chin as he sighed. “Happy now? That sure did a whhoolleee lot of something, did it ‘Nilly?”
Pure Vanilla tried not to stare.
Don’t stare.
He was staring.
“Very, I’m very happy.” He quickly placed the cup down on the nightstand as he leaned back to fully stand, stretching his limbs which had remained almost too inactive for so long.
“Well, I appreciate the hospitality, I will be going now!” Shadow Milk quickly gestured infront of him, sparkles forming in the air before fully dissipating. He saw Shadow Milk frowned heavily as he tried again, sparkles forming in the air before once again fading away. The next sound being a frustrated groan from and a sigh from Shadow Milk as he slammed his hands down on the bed.
“Don’t strain yourself, Shadow Milk. You’ll exhaust yourself again.” Pure Vanilla leaned back further, not liking how the other was already trying to use magic he didn’t have the energy for at all.
Shadow Milk glared at him as he scowled. “Don’t tell me what to do.” He quickly moved across the bed, swinging his legs over the side as he swiftly stood to his feet. He began to float as he—
Thud.
Shadow Milk immediately stumbled back down to the floor as he wasn’t able to float for long.
Pure Vanilla knew where this was about to go as he took a small step forward.
“Shadow Milk.” Pure Vanilla muttered as he held out a hand.
Shadow Milk flinched away from him, as he took a step forward—
Pure Vanilla simply opened his arms as Shadow Milk fell right into them.
Pure Vanilla softly smiled as he sighed, since the other wanted to be stubborn he was going to indulge just a bit.
He swiftly turned them both around with Shadow Milk still in his arms, with his back now facing the bed he let himself fall onto the bed while he held Shadow Milk to his chest,
Shadow Milk wasn’t fighting against the embrace, and Pure Vanilla knew the other was already exhausted. He knew the beast would never admit such a thing however.
“Let go of me.” Shadow Milk’s voice was muffled as he remained face down on Pure Vanilla’s chest.
“Push yourself off.” Pure Vanilla responded lightly.
Shadow Milk didn’t move. He was exhausted.
Shadow groaned, his claws digging into the sheets as he gripped them between his fingers.
“I hate you.”
“That’s alright.”
“Like, a lot. I despise you.”
“Mmh.”
Pure Vanilla’s smile never wavered, he slowly stroked the back of Shadow Milk as he used his other hand to bring it up to his blue hair. He twirled the silver-blue strands around his finger as he spoke. “I brought you here for a reason Shadow Milk. I might not be Truthless Recluse anymore, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand you all the same.” Vanilla’s eyes looked down at him endearingly.
“All I ask is for you to open your heart just a little to me.”
Pulse.
His soul jam flickered as it vibrated slightly, he knew Shadow Milk felt it as he felt him jolt lightly while still in his arms.
Pulse.
Oh, well that was interesting.
Shadow Milk’s soul jam pulsed and vibrated in response to his own.
Very interesting.
Shadow Milk’s mumbles were inaudible as he was still face down on his chest, however Pure Vanilla saw the eyes in his hair very much looking at him. Unsettling.
“I’m not saying it has to be right now, i’m willing to wait for you. It’s okay to take your time.” Pure Vanilla slowly ran his hand down Shadow Milk’s hair slowly, a gesture that was meant to be comforting to the other.
“Whatever.”
Progress.
Vanilla glanced out the window, it was still very early into the day, a lot of cookies would not be up at this time.
He looked back down to Shadow Milk, an idea forming in his mind now that the cookie was awake. “You like, reading, yes?” Vanilla asked carefully, he thought back to his dream.
Shadow stiffened at the mention of books, his head raising slightly to look at Vanilla through his bangs. “Why are you asking?” His voice was accusatory as his eyes narrowed.
He thought of something on the spot.
“Well, I was thinking of going to the library later, would you like to come with me?” Vanilla asked softly, trying to sound more welcoming.
Shadow was silent as he looked away, a frown on his face as he sighed. It was either being in this room, or the library. It was an easy choice.
“I’ll go to the library.”
Pure Vanilla smiled, his eyes lighting up.
Progress.
—
“Ugh, this is humiliating.” Shadow Milk stumbled forward, a limp in his walk as he clutched Pure Vanilla’s arm. Vanilla was grateful the specific spot he was grabbing was just his loose clothing and not his arm, otherwise those claws would definitely be hurting him right now from how tight his grip looked. He was even getting slightly nervous.
“You wanted to come.”
“You offered! Who am I to refuse an activity from my host? It’s almost as if you want me to be rude.” Shadow Milk huffed as his hand gripped on Pure Vanilla robes even more.
Vanilla stifled his laugh as his staff tapped against the floor as they walked along the path. “Not at all, I’m happy you came with me, Shadow Milk. You seem like a cookie who would love to read.”
Shadow Milk didn’t spare him a glance, choosing to focus on making sure he didn’t tumble. Especially out here. “Yeah well, who wouldn’t.”
Pure Vanilla perkee up at that. “Yes, who wouldn’t want just a bit more knowledge.”
Shadow Milk didn’t respond to that, his expression flashing with something Pure Vanilla was too slow to catch.
“What will this little kingdom think of you when they see you treating the beast of deceit with such compassion? I’m sure they wouldn’t take kindly to their king doing that.” Shadow Milk smirked as he adjusted his long silver blue bangs out of his eyes.
Pure Vanilla shook his head. “I’ve had meetings, most of the kingdom knows you are here by now, and they should leave you alone as you are my guest.” Pure Vanilla sighed briefly as offered a tired smile to the other. “And again, I am not king anymore.”
Shadow Milk snickered as he rolled his eyes. “Well you sure do still act like it.”
Pure Vanilla ignored that, they had just reached the steps of the library anyway.
Vanilla made sure the other didn’t trip on the stairs, going slowly up it while he continued to mumble about, ‘How humiliating this was’ and ‘What If I fall down these steps and take you down with me?’ Both of which he didn’t entertain.
He moved his fingers down to Shadow Milk’s waist to properly steady him, he didn’t miss the way the other flinched against his touch like it burned. Of course he immediately asked if he was hurt there only for Vanilla to instantly get shut down on asking any other questions.
Vanilla pushed open the big doors effortlessly, as they stepped inside, immediately greeting Eclair Cookie by the front desk where he was reading a history book. The Library doubled as a museum so it was no surprise you would see him working here very often, especially up at such very early hours like this.
He breathed a small sigh of relief at how the cookie didn’t react to seeing Shadow Milk by his side.
“It is very early so there aren’t many cookies aren’t up yet, you have most of the library to yourself.” Eclair Cookie smiled, he did a short bow as he gestured to the rest of the quiet library.
Pure Vanilla smiled back, this was the main reason he had decided to come early.
He ignored how Shadow Milk struggled against him, keeping his hand over his mouth to make sure he didn’t say anything rude as he walked back. Also ignoring how Eclair nervously looked at the interaction.
Shadow Milk pushed him away as Pure Vanilla finally let him go. “Okay pal, you didn’t have to practically strangle me.”
Pure Vanilla noticed how much more quietly Shadow Milk was speaking now they were in the library.
He smiled at that.
Vanilla turned away from him as he looked around the shelves of books, grabbing a random one as he sat down. He wasn’t particularly in a rush so he would take this time to actually read something interesting. “Apologies Shadow Milk, I just had a feeling you would say something.”
“You’re lucky I’m too exhausted to fight with you right now.”
Pure Vanilla hummed, pointing to the plush chair beside him without looking up from his book. “Maybe you should sit then.”
Shadow Milk didn’t move, only staring at him like he had two heads.
..
Shadow groaned in annoyance and he ran a hand down his face.
He dramatically plopped down on the chair spread out, his arm draped over his face as he gritted his teeth.
Vanilla hummed in approval, he spoke without looking up. “Why don’t you go and read something, find something you like?”
“Everything this library has to offer I most definitely already know about.”
Pure Vanilla frowned. “You don’t have to necessarily read for knowledge, you can always read for enjoyment as well.”
Shadow Milk scoffed. “What’s there to enjoy about it if I’m not learning anything new?”
Hm, that’s interesting. Despite being a beast, he’s always still looking to learn something new.
Now he wonders.. what was Shadow Milk like before his path to corruption.
“You aren’t even going to try to look for something?”
“Nope.”
“So, you know everything?”
“Likely.”
Pure Vanilla hummed in thought, placing the random book he picked up before turning to scan the shelves, looking for a specific boo—
Here we go.
He reached up to pull a black book littered with white dots, a book about stars and various constellations. Shadow Milk seemed like a person who would enjoy things space related, it was worth a try.
Pure Vanilla held up the book in his hand so Shadow Milk could see the cover. “What about a book about stars?”
Shadow Milk perked up, lifting his head as his face peeked from behind his arm that he draped across it.
Perfect. He’ll remember that detail later.
Shadow Milk sat upright, his eyes narrowed as he avoided looking at Pure Vanilla directly. “I’ve lived for a long time ‘Nilla, I’ve seen every star you could think of.”
Pure Vanilla played into the bluff, even he knew that was a lie. From the time of Shadow Milk getting sealed to now, he knew there were new stars he hadn't seen.
“There’s been new stars since the time you’re familiar with.” Pure Vanilla shrugged as he turned around to hide his smile, raising his hand to put the book back. “But, if you aren’t interested—“
“I didn’t say that!” Shadow Milk shot up, snatching the book as he immediately opened to the first page.
Progress.
Pure Vanilla happily let Shadow Milk snatch the book as he sat back down, moving his chair to scoot closer to Shadow Milk while he was distracted with flipping through the book.
He returned to his own book as he flipped through the pages, truthfully he wasn’t paying attention to it as he was watching Shadow Milk in his peripheral vision.
He sighed in content as he held the book close to see it through his blurry vision, it seemed reading about new things calmed Shadow Milk and it pleased him to finally see the beast relaxed while doing something.
He looked up as he felt a tap on his shoulder, turning to look at Shadow as he was looking down at a page.
“What is this one? I’ve never seen it before.” Shadow pointed to the page, circling his claw over a picture of stars. Vanilla leaned over him as he made sure his long hair didn’t get in the way of seeing the page.
“Ah, that’s a recent one, appeared only a few hundred years ago.” Vanilla looked away as he recalled further into his memory, he remembered seeing it in the sky many years ago, it was a magnificent sight to be remembered.
Shadow Milk’s face dropped at the news, his eyes dilating as he looked to Pure Vanilla and back to the book. “You mean, I missed it?” Shadow Milk sighed in disappointment.
Pure Vanilla laid a hand on his back as chuckled. “It’s okay, there will be others.”
Shadow Milk didn’t respond as he continued to flip through the book really quickly, flipping past pages of pictures he’s likely already seen before.
While Shadow Milk looked at the book while Pure Vanilla looked at Shadow Milk.
He looked beautiful like this too.
Interested about things he doesn’t know, striving to learn more as he was heavily invested in the book, flipping back and forth between the pages.
Pure Vanilla found him so fascinating.
And perhaps he was a bit greedy, he wanted to know even more.
“What was it like in your time?” Pure Vanilla kept his voice low, giving Shadow Milk the power to direct the conversation.
Shadow hesitated as he sat up straighter, letting the book fall flat on the desk in front of them as he cleared his throat. “It was much different from today to say the least. It shocked me when I first saw it.”
“What did you do in your time?” Pure Vanilla was pushing it. He knew he was.
Shadow Milk was silent, a slight frown on his face.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” He muttered.
Okay, he wasn’t ready for that yet of course, noted.
Pure Vanilla glanced at his long hair, the eyes being closed as opposed to being open. “The eyes in your hair, how do you manage with that? Isn't it quite overstimulating processing information from so many?” Vanilla tried a different approach, asking about him directly instead of his past.
Shadow Milk smirked as he leaned up, letting a tendril of hair wrap around his own wrist; a single eye opening to stare at Vanilla.
“Well if you’re ever so curious, I actually don’t see out of them like you would think.” Shadow let multiple eyes open slowly one by one as he spoke. “They allow me to see the area surrounding me, as well as wherever I magically place them of course. I don't directly use them though.”
Shadow Milk paused before he continued. “Imagine there is a cookie in front of you, but you aren’t directly looking at them, but you make out their features without actually looking at them.” Shadow Milk waved his hand as he leaned forward again to look down at the book, his head in his arms as he flipped it closed.
Vanilla smiled as he processed the information. “Interesting.”
Very interesting.
He’s more likely to get info if he asks about Shadow Milk himself, but not about his past or anything personal.
At least, not yet.
He was interrupted from his thoughts by a light snoring, he quickly looked to Shadow Milk with his head in his arms, falling asleep in such a short amount of time.
It was a cute sight honestly.
He reached forward to pluck the book from his hand.
“Mmh.. no, mine.” Shadow didn't even open his eyes or move his head to look up at him, his voice basically in mumbles as the book was out of his grasp.
“Shh, you can sleep, it’s alright.” Vanilla patted his head, sliding the book back into its place on the shelf. He wasn’t surprised the jester quickly fell asleep, he had just awoken from a coma not too long ago from overusing magic. The poor beast couldn’t even magically maintain his hair or have his many eyes open like usual, never mind floating. He would be cruel to force him to stay awake.
He suspected he was going to be very tired usually now, that’s just the effects of overusing magic.
At least now he can handle his own thing.
He decided to leave his staff leaning on the shelf by the desk where Shadow Milk was sleeping, he wanted to keep an eyes on him even while he wasn’t here.
He quickly and silently made his way towards the back of library, the light not even managing to properly reach back here as the books became older and dustier.
Vanilla wasn’t looking for a book though.
His eyes shot to a book that almost looked like it was disintegrating, the cover chipped and worn as the old leather wrinkled. His eyes scanned the title as he gasped, bending down to look at it closely on the lower shelf.
The Downfall Of The Originals
The originals..
He opened to the first page clearing a layer of dust, coughing as he fanned the air.
On the first page he recognized a really grainy photo of the beasts he knows today, but they looked so.. different. So friendly and innocent. Not anything you would expect to see today.. But something easily caught his eye in the middle.
Wait is that Blue—
He can’t believe he almost walked past this.
Judging by how old it looked, it had to be an only copy. An only copy that he’s sure no one is going to notice is missing.
He tucked it into a pocket hidden in his robes as he continued walking further towards the back, albeit much slower this time. He practically found something that could be very helpful for him, he wasn’t about to walk by anything else.
Here we go, it should be around here.
In the far dark dusty corner of the library a small circle of desks, he almost wouldn’t have been able to see the neatly folded note laying on it if it hadn’t been for his constant glowing yellow aura that seemed to ‘turn on’ every time he entered anything remotely dark. An aura that was always so present after his awakening.
Was he correct?
Pure Vanilla slowly approached the note on the desk as he carefully unfolded it, not much was written on it aside for just a few words, the signature on the bottom causing his eyes to go wide as he stared at it. All his thoughts being confirmed from the dream he had earlier.
‘For you, Pure Vanilla Cookie.’
-Blueberry Milk Cookie