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Shadow Milk was a liar.
A disgusting, rotten, no-good liar.
The inclination to manipulate was in his jam, rooted in his beast-liness, or whatever. He appreciated it greatly nonetheless, as he had the power to shamelessly bend the truth to his liking. He didn’t have to accept truth as reality - bland as it was - contrast to the multitude of meek, sniveling cookies that dared walk the ground he resided upon. Pathetic, really. The beast couldn’t imagine having as little control over reality as them.
“Shadow Milk.” A disgustingly warm voice interceded, harshly interrupting his train of thought.
“Can’t you see that I’m thinking? Geez Vanilla, don’t you know how rude it is to interrupt?” Shadow Milk sneered, sparing a glance to the cookie at his side.
Pure Vanilla appeared unbothered, continuing to water his milkflowers with a soft focus. The gentle afternoon breeze swayed his robes and disturbed his hilariously long hair. The beast couldn’t decide whether the motion made him appear ridiculous or majestic. “Oh, I apologize for the intrusion. Would you prefer we discuss this later?”
“Discuss what.” Shadow Milk spoke flatly, turning onto his stomach as he hovered above the garden bed with a disinterested expression. He almost scrunched his nose as he caught a waft of damp soil. Ugh, doesn’t the old geezer have gardeners for this kind of stuff? Why does he insist on tending to this glorified clump of weeds himself?
A nearly inaudible sigh escaped the other’s lips. But Shadow Milk heard, much to his enjoyment. Ooh, fun, he’s frustrated.. He smirked. “You know what I’m referring to.” The hero spoke simply as he shifted to water the orchids with an equal amount of care. “The situation in the markets.”
“You’re going to have to be a wee bit more specific than that, ‘Nilla.” The beast sniggered, floating to Vanilla’s other side with a grin. “You see, I’ve had many a-‘situation’ in the markets recently. Whoever that obnoxious shopkeeper is that sells those drab little scraps he calls clothing has been annoying me as of late.”
Pure Vanilla met Shadow Milk’s eyes with a pensive expression. He opened his mouth to speak before abruptly shutting it. Instead, he opted for averting his gaze in favor of the flowers as he gathered his thoughts. “You shouldn't play coy with me, Shadow Milk. You owe both I and Clotted Cream cookie an apology.”
Huh?
The accused cookie raised a brow, a flicker of confusion passing over his expression. That preppy snoozefest of a cookie and him hadn’t shared a word since their turbulent introduction where Shadow Milk had, inevitably, insulted him to his face (what did Pure Vanilla expect?)
But now that same cookie has the gall to accuse Shadow Milk of somehow wronging Clotted Cream in the markets? No, this is ridiculous. “What would I apologize for?” He inquired, tilting his head to the side as he observed the healer.
Pure Vanilla just pressed his lips together, lowering the watering can to direct his full attention to Shadow Milk. “You must return his belongings before evening time. He requires them for his upcoming venture home.” A tinge of exasperation colored his tone, serving to confuse the beast further.
“What belongings? Earthbread to Vanilla, I didn’t take anything from that incessant narcissist!” Shadow Milk rolled his eyes, crossing his arms with a grimace. “If you think I’d lay a finger on a single prissy possession of his, you’re truly more senile than I thought. He’s the type of cookie that probably perfumes his closet daily, which would explain why he smells so pungent..” He muttered bitterly, clearly irked.
Usually, Pure Vanilla would crack a smile at the beast’s mildly offensive jokes. But today? Nope. Nada. In fact, Shadow Milk could swear he saw the healer’s eyebrows knit tighter. That’s odd, this must be a serious situation for the old fogey.
“This is not a joking matter, Shadow Milk. Clotted Cream is staying here in the Vanilla Kingdom for business matters, he did not sign up to deal with your trickery.” Pure Vanilla emphasized his words with a small frown, a rare sight from the ancient these days. Buzzkill.
“Nilly, if I were to steal that brat’s junk, I wouldn’t be so obvious about it that he’d take notice.” Shadow Milk huffed, almost offended by the very notion.
“Well, perhaps you’re not as cunning as you believe yourself to be.” The healer responded, crossing his arms in a mirrored gesture. “I’m fully serious, Shadow Milk. You mustn’t attempt to jeopardize my ties with the Crème Republic.”
“Jeopardize- oh sure, because I’m so incredibly threatened by Clotted Cream’s presence that I feel the need to ruin whatever the Witches your ‘ties’ with the Crème Republic consists of.” The beast hissed, growing more irritated with the accusation. “I’d rather impale myself than share another word with that bumptious elitist.”
It was then that something shifted in Pure Vanilla’s expression, and Shadow Milk did not like it. “Well, it’s not incredibly difficult to believe that you would attempt to sabotage our business in some way.” Vanilla spoke too quickly, sounding almost accusatory. Shadow Milk caught the way the healer's eyes widened upon realizing his insinuation, but his own vision was already ablaze with anger.
“SABOTAGE?” The beast snarled, darkness beginning to creep into the crevices of the cobblestone path Pure Vanilla stood on. “Oh, right! Because I’m just the beast of deceit made into your little house pet! I nearly forgot! I must be so enamored of your glorious presence that I feel nothing but jealousy over any cookie that so much as converses with you, right? I hold you in such a high regard, that I’m blinded by fondness, thereby inhibiting my decision-making! Am I getting close?” He had floated much closer to the healer by now, having seized him by his obnoxiously bright collar and hoisted him a few inches off the ground.
“Ah, Shadow Milk..” Pure Vanilla’s milky eyes shone with a glimmer of remorse, his fingers coming to rest on Shadow Milk’s shoulders. It was a grounding, yet infuriating touch all in the same. “Forgive me, I did not mean to insult you. I suppose I just got carried away.” He sighed, yet this one didn’t satisfy the beast in the slightest. “I’d heard from Clotted Cream cookie that you’d taken his belongings, and I believed him. I.. hadn’t meant to understate the immense progress you’ve made. That was very wrong of me. I should’ve considered that he had fibbed before pinning the blame on you.” His cheeks tinged with an embarrassed flush, fingers still gently pressing against the other.
Shadow Milk had to bite back a sharp remark. Truth be told, the longer he stayed in the Vanilla Kingdom, the softer around the edges he had become. The amount of time he’d spent in the presence of a certain ‘light emanating’ cookie, especially, the more tame he became. It was almost repulsive to think about, yet oddly enough, the newfound sense of self control was gratifying.
So instead of spewing a mess of half-meant insults at the healer, he simply retracted, releasing the cookie from his grasp. He watched as Pure Vanilla struggled to find his footing momentarily before righting himself, and that satisfied him somewhat. “Yeah, yeah..” Shadow Milk mumbled bitterly. “Maybe you should talk to your precious Clotted Cream about lying, as that’s kind of my trademark.” And with that, the beast fizzled into darkness, his form slithering hastily back towards his wing of the castle like the shadow of an allusive serpent.
Pure Vanilla was suddenly left alone in the garden. Maybe the flowers have had enough water for the day.
———
The balcony was bathed in a cool light, the moon overriding the warm exterior of the castle from its perch overhead. It was there that Pure Vanilla found himself pondering the days’ questions most often. Something about the kingdom at rest made the healer’s mind most active.
He found himself in this position once more, looking over his kingdom with a contemplative expression. This day hadn’t ended up how he intended it to, and it was, quite frankly, the most stressful day he’d had since Shadow Milk’s arrival.
It had begun as it usually does, a cup of tea, a visit from a particular blue cookie, but it quickly soured when he was whisked into a meeting with the Crème Republic representatives. Usually these conferences proved to bore Pure Vanilla, yet today, to his surprise, he was met with a rather disgruntled Clotted Cream. That’s when things took an unpleasant turn.
Clotted Cream spoke of how Shadow Milk had been inhospitable, which was no surprise to the healer. Yet, he mentioned a number of ‘pranks’ the beast had played, each one more harmful than the last. What had taken Pure Vanilla by surprise, though, was the claim that Shadow Milk had stolen things from Clotted Cream in the markets. Items of clothing, food, yet most importantly, his traditional Crème Republic emblem; one that had been passed down from generations preceding.
“You need to control your beast.”
He remembered those words, how they stung. Maybe he was too quick to defend Shadow Milk. Was it unfair to his allies, even his kingdom, to be selfish with the other and give him too many chances?
After escaping that dreadfully long Crème Republic conference, Pure Vanilla felt the need to clear his mind, so he decided to venture to the gardens. It was a habit of his, much like the rest of his routine. Though, as he was filling his watering can, he felt a familiar presence creep up behind him, lighting the nerves on the back of his neck.
Things in the garden had gone south after a short while, when the healer felt his exhaustion get the better of him. He lost his composure and took an accusatory tone towards Shadow Milk, which was a rare occurrence for him. It felt terrible, watching the haze of betrayal and anger overtake the other, knowing he was the cause of the beast’s outburst. He really should’ve known better.
And of course, the rest of the evening had been uncomfortably quiet. Pure Vanilla ended up passing the time by reading and writing letters to his friends (his mood did get a bit lighter upon reading Hollyberry’s invitation to drinks), and he eventually found himself on his balcony, pondering ways he could make amends.
The healer let out a soft hum, allowing the chilly wind to bite his dough as he rested against the ledge. The cold reminded him of someone, a presence he had grown to appreciate, and oddly enough, expect. His fingers traced over his sleeve absentmindedly as he regarded the view with vacant eyes, not that he could see particularly well anyway.
Shadow Milk had become someone dear to him. That much was obvious to any average cookie. The healer discovered he was growing increasingly fond of the beast with every passing day, so much so that it no longer felt daunting to converse with him. In fact, he found himself seeking the same quips and tricks that used to make him uneasy, delighting in a bit of innocent mischief. It was pleasant, having a counterpart to lighten the mood whenever things felt monotonous.
He certainly took it for granted.
Pure Vanilla frowned, stepping back from the ledge with one final, sweeping glance over his moonlit kingdom.
As he turned to enter his quarters, he caught a glimpse of something shadow-like near his writing desk, yet it slinked behind the bed before he could see it properly. A small, knowing smile graced his lips. “Shadow Milk.”
A shuffle under the covers, then a small form emerging from the sheets. Dark paws pressed against the healer’s pillow as a familiar set of cyan and sapphire eyes met his. Pure Vanilla had to bite back a gasp.
The slim cat smoothly jumped onto the headboard, gliding over the waffle cone pattern with an effortless gait. Its tail swayed easily, eyes still locked on the healer. Pure Vanilla watched as it leapt down and prowled through the room, eventually finding a perch on the windowsill near the balcony.
His fingers twitched, gaze still locked on the animal in admiration. After a moment of careful evaluation, he took a step forward, extending his arm towards the cat. To his surprise, the other’s eyes flicked down to his hand briefly before it gently nuzzled against him. Its fur was surprisingly slick in his grasp, almost allusive. It slid through his fingers like satin.
Pure Vanilla felt his cheeks warm, a quiet, disbelieving laugh leaving his mouth as he caressed one of the cat’s ears. It was extremely docile, which was a bit out of character for the beast, but it’s not like he was complaining. He appreciated being able to get closer to the animal, as he was capable of seeing its details, like the blue undertones in its dark fur, or the slightly crooked structure of its tail.
His smile grew as his fingers brushed down on the fur once more, but his expression quickly shifted to one of surprise when the cat suddenly lurched. Its head swiveled and it dug its sharp fangs into the healer’s hand. Pure Vanilla jolted as an unpleasant stinging sensation shot up his arm.
The form of the cat then began to waver. An inky aura swallowed its body as it stretched and pulled, before slinking back, revealing a smirking Shadow Milk. He grinned wider, teeth still sunk in Pure Vanilla’s hand, eyes full of mirth.
“Will you release my dough, please?” The healer requested, milky eyes locked on the beast’s.
“Mmnh” Shadow Milk’s eyebrows lifted in amusement. For a moment, his jaw tightened around Pure Vanilla’s hand, resulting in a dribble of jam from the puncture, but he eventually let go.
The ancient let out a sigh as the uncomfortable pressure was relieved. “I suppose I deserved that, didn’t I?” He smiled, tone tinged with a hint of deprecation.
Shadow Milk crossed his arms, seating himself on Pure Vanilla’s bed with practiced ease. “Oh, I don’t know, Vanilla.. did you?” He rolled his eyes, falling back on the warm toned sheets with a huff. “It’s not like you did anything wrong.. oh wait! I mean, honestly, I hadn’t taken you for an accuser before, but I guess even the Great Fount of Knowledge has more to learn.” He spoke humorlessly.
The healer bit his lip guiltily, shame bubbling up in his stomach. After a moment, he took a seat by Shadow Milk, simply resting his hands in his lap. He took a second to observe the fresh punctures decorating his dough before merely placing his other hand over the injury. “I didn’t intend on accusing you. I’ve just had a bit of a strenuous day, and I ended up misplacing my frustration.” He carefully ordered his words.
Shadow Milk let out a short scoff. “Ah, right. A strenuous day filled with gossiping alongside conceited snobs. I’m sure that was oh so very stressful for you.” He sneered, glowering at Pure Vanilla. “What, did you find yourself in need of water after all that chitchat? Or maybe it was the mention of my name that exhausted you beyond belief. Tell me, what did they say? Did they claim I set their luggage ablaze too, for good measure? Witches, Vanilla you’ve just got me on the edge of my seat, I’m crumbling to know!”
The healer pressed his lips together, his guilt-ridden frown only deepening. “I apologize, Shadow Milk, for this whole debacle. But I can assure you that no such gossip took place. Clotted Cream simply informed me of things he believed you had done, though I think he may have disproportionately portrayed-“
“He lied to you, ‘Nilla.” Shadow Milk interjected. He sat up, eyes boring into the healers with a sudden intensity. “Can you not tell? The little braggart feels intimidated by my presence in the castle, so he’s trying to villainize me. He just wants me gone.”
Pure Vanilla’s eyes widened a bit upon hearing Shadow Milk’s hypothesis. It didn’t seem like a stretch, in all honesty. “I suppose.. Well, Clotted Cream has always been the type to prefer traditionality and order. It wouldn’t be terribly surprising to learn he disapproved of the addition of a beast in the castle. It probably didn’t help that you two got off to a rocky start upon meeting..”
“Hey, that was not my fault. I don’t know what you expect if you think I’ll act civil with a complete snoot, but it’s clearly unrealistic.” The beast interrupted once more, crossing his legs with a scowl.
“I’m not claiming it was your fault, it’s just the truth, is all.”
“Pfft, yeah. The truth.”
“I’m not done.”
“Sure.”
“But, at the end of the day, it is my kingdom.” Pure Vanilla began, his eyes fluttering closed as he spoke resolutely. “So if the Crème Republic has an issue with my way of running it, that’s not my responsibility. It’s more of a.. ‘skill issue’, you’d call it?”
A sharp snort came from beside the healer, followed by a string of giggles. “Oh- ohohoh-“ Shadow Milk covered his mouth, collapsing onto the sheets once more. “You really are ancient! I never thought I’d hear a cookie sound so uncomfortable when pronouncing simple slang!”
Pure Vanilla felt his cheeks flush a bit, embarrassment creeping up his neck. “Ah, my apologies, should I have phrased it differently?”
“Oh nonono, keep doing whatever that was! In fact, I almost want to start making you say more slang because of it.” The beast snickered, nudging the healer’s back with a clawed finger.
“Oh dear.” Pure Vanilla sighed, a sheepish smile settling on his lips. “Well, I suppose I have no room to oppose. I am indebted to you, after all.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Shadow Milk grinned, crossing his arms behind his head for a moment as he seemed to ponder something. “Humor me, Vanilla. How large is this debt? I can think of a few ways you could pay me back.”
The healer’s eyebrows knit together as he thought, lightly tapping his chin. “Hmm, I suppose whatever you have in mind would be alright with me. As long as it’s not too humiliating at least.”
“You let me completely wreck Clotted Cream’s room.” The beast suggested easily, eyed alight with that all too familiar mischievous glint.
The healer considered his words for a moment, as if weighing the options. “Fine, but-” He began, yet before he could finish his sentence, Shadow Milk had fizzled into the shadows and slipped out of the room.
Great. The ancient thought to himself, an exasperated smile pulling at his lips. Just what chaos will ensue now..