Chapter Text
Pure Vanilla is exhausted. He greatly appreciates the amenities the air ship provided, and he loved spending time with the children, but he is ready to be home, to be in his bed. The day hasn’t even reached late yet, only the afternoon, but each second that passes is another weight added to his already tired shoulders.
His new clothes are thick and heavy, despite his newfound muscle mass, he is still unused to the weight of his soul jam and the hefty cloth that hangs from his body. His height is unusual and new, he’s never towered over anyone, always the shortest, and now he has found trouble trying not to run into things.
There is also the added factor of Shadow Milk Cookie hiding in his hat. His insisting opinions, though Pure Vanilla appreciates that he is still speaking to him, but Pure Vanilla just feels terrible that Shadow Milk can not sleep in a bed, nor can he eat meals. His shadow sits in his hat, his voice rings along his hair and into his ears. All things considered he is ready to be home, and so he walks swiftly after the airship has landed. He has no time to settle his feet after many hours in the air, he locks eyes with the palace gates.
It is only when he passes to the other side, does he realize he has visitors. Not many, but there are a few tents set up outside the castle doors. He recognizes the emblem, the Cacao kingdom. His eyes cast over a big tent in the middle of the few that are set up, Pure Vanilla can not help the exhausted sigh that falls out of his mouth. He knows who stands on the other side of those castle doors, and he is not prepared to speak with him after an exhausting many weeks. His newfound nightmares wait for him tonight in restless slumber, but he would rather that than have this conversation, at least for tonight.
Despite his deep reservations about speaking with Dark Cacao after everything that’s happened, he finds himself somehow managing to push through. He approaches the large double doors, warm palms placed against the cold metal of the handles. He sucks in a breath, enjoying the scent of vanilla, jellyberries, warm lemon tarts, and the faint coil of lilies that sway in the wind. He enjoys it for that brief second, allowing himself the moment of calm, before he’s pushing open the door to the throne room.
He is surprised to only see two people waiting for him. No staff, no civilians, just Black Raisin Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie. Pure Vanilla smiles, anyone else wouldn’t notice how strained it is, but out of everyone these two certainly can. They stare in a way that Pure Vanilla’s not sure he entirely recognizes, even as he crosses the cool marble floor with grace, as he approaches Dark Cacao, hand outstretched. They shake hands, and he feels the stress in his face soften ever-so-slightly as he looks up at his old friend.
“Dark Cacao, I was unaware you would be visiting,” Now that the words leave his mouth, as his brain processes the sight of him, he takes in all the changes. Still taller than him, but by more than before. He wears a large crown-like hat, and instead of armor, he wears long robes that bore the colors of the cacao kingdom. Still though, he carries his sword, now colorful in design, and his dark cloak still holds his signature shoulder accessories. He does not often see Dark Cacao without a suit of armor, but by the way he is staring, it seems Dark Cacao is surprised by the changes in Pure Vanilla as well.
“Yes, I wanted to discuss our adventures through beast yeast and our encounters with the other half of our soul jams,” he says tone still flat, but Pure Vanilla has long since learned to read between the lines of his words and not his tone, “I have exchanged letters with the other Ancients and they have given me briefs on their time and winnings. I had not heard back from you and began to grow worried. I waited a few days after to see how it went with you, and when I hadn’t heard of anything, we set out on our journey to your kingdom.”
His voice is stoic and deep as he speaks steady, Pure Vanilla is glad to know Dark Cacao can reassure himself so quickly after hearing that Pure Vanilla was arriving back. He feared he had kept Dark Cacao waiting for much too long, but luckily he answered, “I had only waited another week however, though I was beginning to think I would need to traverse back to beast yeast at that point.”
Dark Cacao cleared his throat and rested both hands on his sword, “How did your encounter go, Pure Vanilla, did you defeat the beast,” Pure Vanilla could swear he heard a snarl under his breath when he said the last word.
“Ah-” and that was the real question, how was he going to tell Dark Cacao exactly what had transpired, “I technically defeated him.”
At the face Dark Cacao made in response, Pure Vanilla opted to continue, “While yes, I did manage to get my soul jam back and- awaken, I did not truly fight him, not really,” this news did not seem to be surprising to Dark Cacao, though that fact would probably make the most sense out of what he was about to say, “I offered my friendship.”
Pure Vanilla could see that honest look in his eyes transform into something stronger, his face hardened into an expression that Pure Vanilla could not quite grasp the essence of, “There are- a lot of details that could thoroughly explain how I did such a thing, but those must be saved for a more in depth conversation that we may have tomorrow,” Dark Cacao nodded, “The important thing is that he did not accept, unfortunately.”
Dark Cacao did not seem at all surprised by this fact, leaning on the side of unamused more than anything else. When Pure Vanilla did not continue, that is when Dark Cacao finally spoke, “So he is not with you?”
His question immediately explained the look that he had given him at the beginning of his explanation, and oh- if only he could truly answer his question. But things were better left unspoken, truth and deceit may be inseparable afterall- “No, I’m afraid he isn’t.”
Dark Cacao nodded with a solace that seemed to try and hide the relief that washed over his face for half a second, “Alright,” but he continued on, “I understand your need to be forgiving of everyone that you can, Pure Vanilla, no matter what they do to you. But I just need you to promise me something.”
He spoke solid, and concrete. Pure Vanilla replied, voice lilt with something joyful, “what is it?”
“Please, if he does one day decide to join you, do not fall for him. I care for you, you are my friend after all, and no matter what you think, a beast like that will always hurt you,” His face was solid, but his words held his intentions aloft. He did not believe the beasts could be redeemed, he did not believe they were truly cookies just like the two of them.
Pure Vanilla did not expect to feel a tinge of pain, not over Dark Cacao’s worry for him, but that he truly could not see what Pure Vanilla saw. He understood why, he didn’t feel the loneliness that Pure Vanilla felt from Shadow Milk, but maybe during their conversations that will follow, he would be able to change his perspective on such matters.
Nonetheless, “Alright, I promise.”
A familiar sinister laugh chimes in his ears, Dark Cacao does not hear it.
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The walk to his sleeping quarters feels as if it’s the longest walk he’s ever taken. His eyes look longingly at his bedroom door as he passes by it, instead approaching the guest room door down the hall. He steps inside, quick to shut the door behind him. Almost as soon as it clicks shut, the room floods with darkness and the shape of a cookie forms in front of him. He knows who it is.
“Oh! Vanniiilllyyy!! You shouldn’t have!” Shadow Milk twists in the air, shadows swirling around him to form his lanky body, he turns to look at the vanilla room before him.
“You would lie to such a close friend? All for me!” He giggles under his breath, Pure Vanilla does not say anything, he still is filing through the guilt of speaking such a hefty lie like that. It doesn’t matter, Shadow Milk clearly does not care about what he would have to say either way. Shadow Milk’s staff is suddenly in his hand, waving in the air.
Pure Vanilla watches the room transform before him, cream whites and soft browns, deep reds and warm oranges, they all transform sharply, like a broken femur. Deep midnight blues, pitch blackness, iridescent cyans, they rain over the walls, the curtains, the bed sheets and the chandelier that hangs hauntingly over it all. Curtains swing closed, each thing turns sick and twisted, and yet, and yet-
It’s beautiful.
“I’m glad you’re making yourself at home,” he has to stifle a smile at the scoff he gets in return.
“I’m only doing this out of necessity, not because I want to. The moment I get the chance, I’m getting my soul jam back, and I’m leaving, taking your kingdom with me,” Shadow Milk growls, throwing his body onto the mattress off to the side of the room.
Pure Vanilla watches with curious interest, eyes scanning over him, “I have a small favor to ask, if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind, actually,” Shadow Milk responds with a snap, but he falls silent like he’s waiting for his proposition. They both know what it is, but Pure Vanilla still asks it.
“Could you please not make yourself known to Dark Cacao, I wasn’t aware he would be here when we arrived, and I’d really like for you to get more comfortable in the palace before you have to meet all my friends,” Pure Vanilla holds his staff aloft, still using it to glance around the room while he speaks.
Shadow Milk groans and rolls onto his side to fully face Pure Vanilla, “You think I’m scared of him? I could strike him down where he stands. Mystic Flour’s illusions are nothing compared to me.”
“I’m sure but… I’m more worried about what will happen to him, what he’ll.. Think of me,” Pure Vanilla sighs, a shameful shake in his voice, he resists the urge to lean against a wall as he speaks.
Shadow Milk stares, examining Pure Vanilla’s face with a strange kind of reverence, “Don’t want your friends to know you’re a liar, silly vanilly?” Shadow Milk juts his lip out in a mocking pout, but then eventually flips back onto his back and growls into the heavy air, smoke almost appearing to flow out of the sides of his lips, “Fine! But don’t think it’s because I’ve come to like you.”
Pure Vanilla looks up, quite surprised by how easily Shadow Milk gave in, “I’m only doing it as a sort of prize, for lying to your friends for me!”
Pure Vanilla watches, brows furrowed, “Friend. Just one.”
“Dark Cacao, and Black Raisin, already forgotten who all was waiting for your return?” He tsks and waves his finger in the air, “And what happens when it’s time to tell all your other friends? Will you lie to them too?” He grins, sharp and toothy, much too wide.
“I’ll be telling Black Raisin the truth after Dark Cacao is gone, and… I will tell my other friends when the time comes. I can not lie forever,” Pure Vanilla watches Shadow Milk stick a forked tongue out at him. Pure Vanilla stares, hoping for a response, yet the room falls silent. He sighs and moves away from the wall, walking towards the door, “I will be going to bed now, goodnight Shadow Milk Cookie.”
He doesn’t hear a response as he steps out into the hallway, gently shutting the door behind him. He tries not to seem too eager as he approaches his bedroom, but the relief that washes over him when he opens his door is a feeling he’s waited for since he left for beast-yeast.
The scent of the plants in his room are a calming feeling he welcomes, but there is a part of him that is also comforted by Shadow Milk’s immediate choice to settle into the room. Of course he’s worried about the chance that Shadow Milk may be lying about agreeing to stay away from Dark Cacao, but he tries his best to not think about it, just for tonight. Instead, he remains joyful that he could get him an actual place to sleep.
He pulls his cloak and soul jam off, carelessly draping the cloak over his vanity chair and setting his soul jam softly into its designated place. He walks to the vanity, rummaging through the drawers looking for his barely used brush. He finds it, in a drawer that holds his tissues and witch’s razors. He ignores it for the time being, instead opting to grab the brush and finally brush through his extremely long hair.
Brushing his own hair is already very tiring, he can barely stay awake already and so the pull of the muscles in his arms as he does it right now makes him feel quite like a snail. The sunset shining in through his bedroom window warms his back, eyes already closed, feels as though he might as well just fall asleep here. 5 minutes of relentless brushing and he finally manages to get it untangled completely.
He goes to put the brush back into the drawer and sees the razors again, glinting in the warm light of the sun. He sets the brush on his vanity instead and without any grace that one would expect from a cookie like him, he rips the drawer out of the vanity, dumping the entirety of the contents into the trash that sits in his room. He doesn’t even care to check and see if there was an item inside that he may have missed. Once finished, he shuffles back over to where the drawer was supposed to be and with much more gentleness, slides it back into place. He throws the brush back into the drawer, closing it for the night.
He desperately wants to flop onto his bed with his outfit still on, but he manages to barely convince himself to change into his night clothes, then of which he finally allows himself to fall back into the plush blankets, squirming until they cover him enough, and it's sleep that claims him almost immediately. Surprisingly, it is this night that he does not experience a single nightmare, for the first time in weeks.