the-light-of-truth

[the-light-of-truth]

Pure Vanilla turns the chair to face the eyes in the darkness, sitting down and politely crossing his ankles. He'd gesture for Shadow Milk to sit across from him, but, well...

"You absolutely have a voice here. Your safety and comfort are my priority."

He wanted to add that he was risking a lot to have him here, but decided against it. For now.

"As for your requests, well... I can help you fulfill one of three. A nap is certainly something you can do here, completely undisturbed. I'm not sure how long it typically takes for you, given your situation, but I can offer two days of solitude..? If you'd like, of course."

He thinks for a moment, idly playing with one of the leaves on his staff.

"Make that one and a half of a request. You collect pretty things? If that wasn't sarcasm, I can make some arrangements to bring you some trinkets to sort through. Perhaps you could decorate with them..?"

A wobbly smile crosses his lips, another offer at a truce that would likely be stomped out like the ones before it.

There were a few chairs that hadn’t been broken yet. Shadow Milk’s cane flicked and dragged it over, almost shoving it against Pure Vanilla. What? Did he expect him to be a kind and gracious host after this rude awakening?

Hah! Think again.

“I don’t think I have much say in that,” Shadow Milk said bluntly, retreating from the healer. “You made it very clear that I have no voice here. So. Do what you want, Pure Vanilla. What’s the big bag wolf going to do, hm?”

But – to answer the question. The Beast’s eyes gleamed from their spot in the shadows, shifting every so often as he contemplated the question: What would he do?

“Rebuild my Spire, one.” Shadow Milk said, “Two, maybe consider burning the Silver Kingdom down and pin the wings of every faerie on a board. I like to collect pretty things, what can I say?” a beat, “Three – maybe take a nap. It gets exhausting trying to come up with new schemes and plots, ya know? I’ve got time in spades, Nilly. You’re just another piece on the board that I’ll wipe away eventually.”

[the-light-of-truth]

Despite himself, Pure Vanilla almost feels angry. The suggestion that this was a punishment was absurd, at least to him. Yet, there was some truth to what Shadow Milk was saying. Something that only made him feel more afraid.

Still, he stood his ground, kept an even grip on his staff and a stern look on his face.

"As I said, merely a precaution. What exactly would you do if you were freed? Nothing good, I'm sure. I'd like more than anything to let you go, but first I need to ensure you won't hurt anyone. And I suppose... I have selfish reasons, as well. Not what you might think, but selfish nonetheless."

He glances around for a place to sit; his knees aren't what they used to be.

"Shall I send for tea? Perhaps we can talk it over."

“Comfortable?”

Shadow Milk flew into view, mis-matched blue eyes gleaming in the blue-black of the room. Teeth snapping uncomfortably close to Pure Vanilla’s face before the cookie pulled back. He floated above the former ruler with the air of someone on the verge of snapping.

So. Very. Close.

“Comfortable? You force me into a magically induced sleep, you kidnap me from my own, crumbled home – and ask if I’m comfortable?”

Oohhhh Shadow Milk wanted draw his claws out and clamp his fangs down. To tear the ancient’s dough apart and ( maybe ) enjoy the taste of fresh jam in his mouth. Did Pure Vanilla really think that the Beast hadn’t calculated this after waking up in this cesspit of a palace? Hadn’t already seen the writing on the wall, the magic that refused to bend to his will? Him?

He laughed – an ugly and unruly laugh. Guttural and almost a snarl as his visage for only a heartbeat; morphed into a Beast. “Don’t play coy with me Cookie.” Shadow Milk spat out, “You knew I dislike being trapped, and you went ahead and shoved me in another cage anyway. Go ahead, say it. This is revenge for all my actions in the Spire, isn’t it? You’re keeping me in this filth so you have a tamed little wolf at your. Beck. And. Call.”

[the-light-of-truth]

Shadow Milk was barely graced with a glance. Truthless Recluse was much too taken with wandering the ever more confusing halls of the Spire to attempt to bother with its master. The Spire didn't ask him to play Scrabble, after all.

Neither did its staff, for that matter. Sure, they chased him on occasion, babbled riddles and nonsense at him, but at least they left him alone if he avoided them for long enough. He greatly preferred their company.

Still, he knows that offering no response will earn him a dramatic rebuttal of some kind, so he spits out something cold and dismissive.

"I'm sure."

There, he thinks. Two words, nice and neat, that will surely bore him enough to leave me in peace... 

A moment of clarity is all a cookie needs to recognise that the playing field has tilted in one’s favour.

Shadow Milk watched the poor thing known as Truthless Recluse fumbled about his spire, stopping periodically to stare or otherwise run from the machinations of his minions. Gingeridiot and the rest of his crummy friends had been put in a polite little box and left outside the door to the Silver Kingdom – not his problem anymore!

No, his problem ( could the other cookie be considered a problem? Psssht! Wrong question to ask! Moving on! ) was trying to figure out how to tug the strings just right for the other cookie to stumble and fall on his face. Again. Not literally though – metaphorically.

Hm!

Instead of dwelling on it too much, Shadow Milk simply popped into the space just above Truthless Recluse; grinning. He was acting as though he was drifting on a cloud; propping his chin up in cupped hands. “Say, Nilly. Wanna play a game? Scrabble’s pretty fun, y’know~”

@the-light-of-truth

[the-light-of-truth]

Pure Vanilla attempted a gentle smile, something reassuring and kind, though it surely came off as anything but. He gently shut the door behind him, keeping his eyes on Shadow Milk, even if it was difficult to see in the low light (Vision problems aside...).

I thought I told you, he wanted to sigh. But he did not. 

"For many reasons," he started slowly, "First is the matter of safety. Yours and mine. Then comes comfort, and of course there's many conversations to be had."

As he speaks, he looks slowly around the room, eyes unfocused yet piercing as he regards every detail he can manage to pick up. His mouth thins into a line as he tries not to shoot a look of pity Shadow Milk's way. How he'd detest him for that. Instead, he lowers his head.

"It's never been my intention to humiliate you, not at all. Though I'm sure anyone would find your circumstances less than ideal...*

He feels like he's trying to disarm a bomb. He's always been a diplomat, choosing the right words had begun to come easy with time, but he felt himself tripping up in front of this cookie. No doubt due to everything at stake, but something else nagged at him, too. He brushes it aside, as he had many times before.

"Is there anything I can do to make you more... comfortable?"

Starter for @umbracrowned

As silent as the castle was, the calming quiet could not quell the storm in Pure Vanilla's mind. 

Maids and servants had been sent to other corners of the palace, guests relocated to keep them away from the West wing, where he was headed now. 

Though no longer a king, the little political power he still held was enough for him to uproot the whole of the kingdom with one decision: Bringing back a Beast.

Doing so had lost him the support of many of the New Vanilla Kingdom's denizens, and likely the trust of some of his closest friends. But, in his mind, it had to be done. He had made a vow to himself to help all cookies in need, and as much as he detested it, Shadow Milk was one of them.

He was trying, he really was. But the project had been slow going. It hurt to see any cookie trapped like a rat, but what else was he to do? Allow Shadow Milk to roam free? To hurt others, to build up a new spire where if Pure Vanilla were to approach again, he would likely be far less accommodating? (If one could call his time at the spire "accommodated")

His awakening, his victory, Shadow Milk's hesitant lean forward at the word "friend" before he had unceremoniously collapsed on the cool tiled floor. The journey back, with a slew of spells cast and maintained to keep him asleep, not to wake until he was secured within the New Vanilla Kingdom's walls. It all crackled and swirled in Pure Vanilla's head as his hand hovered over a door handle.

Each time he entered the modified guest suite, he was scared he would find the spell over the room broken, and Shadow Milk long gone to terrorize some other poor soul.

But, as he stepped through, the familiar warmth of magic washed away his troubles.

Some of them, at least.

[the-light-of-truth]

Starter for @umbracrowned

As silent as the castle was, the calming quiet could not quell the storm in Pure Vanilla's mind. 

Maids and servants had been sent to other corners of the palace, guests relocated to keep them away from the West wing, where he was headed now. 

Though no longer a king, the little political power he still held was enough for him to uproot the whole of the kingdom with one decision: Bringing back a Beast.

Doing so had lost him the support of many of the New Vanilla Kingdom's denizens, and likely the trust of some of his closest friends. But, in his mind, it had to be done. He had made a vow to himself to help all cookies in need, and as much as he detested it, Shadow Milk was one of them.

He was trying, he really was. But the project had been slow going. It hurt to see any cookie trapped like a rat, but what else was he to do? Allow Shadow Milk to roam free? To hurt others, to build up a new spire where if Pure Vanilla were to approach again, he would likely be far less accommodating? (If one could call his time at the spire "accommodated")

His awakening, his victory, Shadow Milk's hesitant lean forward at the word "friend" before he had unceremoniously collapsed on the cool tiled floor. The journey back, with a slew of spells cast and maintained to keep him asleep, not to wake until he was secured within the New Vanilla Kingdom's walls. It all crackled and swirled in Pure Vanilla's head as his hand hovered over a door handle.

Each time he entered the modified guest suite, he was scared he would find the spell over the room broken, and Shadow Milk long gone to terrorize some other poor soul.

But, as he stepped through, the familiar warmth of magic washed away his troubles.

Some of them, at least.

[the-light-of-truth]

If you haven't already and we aren't actively writing together (but you'd like to), please fill out my interest checker form so I can start writing up some starters!

[the-light-of-truth]

// PV I miss you PV

[the-light-of-truth]

"Thank you so much! I'm deeply honored by your support, and this victory means the world to me!"

[the-light-of-truth]

"Quite alright, my friend!"

He sets the tray on the desk, taking his own cup and stepping  back to give him some space.

"No need to apologize, I shouldn't have pried. Though, I hope you'll forgive me for asking how things have been for you? Are you settling in okay?"

"nnOOOO you may NOT"

He slammed the book shut, glaring at Pure Vanilla from over his shoulder. Ough. Right, he's supposed to be nice now. Euck. He murmured something, probably some sorta apology. "Er. Thanks for the tea- Oh, huh. It is blue."

[the-light-of-truth]

"He lost? Oh, poor thing. It'll be quite the blow to his ego. But to tell the truth, he could use some humbling..."

[the-light-of-truth]

All caution forgotten, Pure Vanilla rushes forward to pry the puppet off Shadow Milk. For being made of cardboard, it was rather difficult to wrestle it away. Or, perhaps Pure Vanilla was just afraid of hurting it. Either way, he's able to push the thing to the side to fuss over Shadow Milk.

"Oh goodness, are you alright?" he crouches, attempting to guide him to his feet. He wasn't sure just how much not having his powers would affect him just yet.

"You don't know anything about them. Or me, for that matter! Of course I can see in the dark! Who do you think I am?"

Shadow Milk wasn't even facing the right way when speaking to Pure Vanilla.

"They're just puppets. I may not have control over them, but there's no way they could be organized enough to- ack!" His sentence was cut off by the marionette from earlier pouncing on him, doing its best to try to hurt him despite being made of cardboard. "Get off!"

Shadow Milk finds himself back on the ground again after unsuccessfully trying to pry a very insistent puppet off of him.

[the-light-of-truth]

They're able to open the door with their elbow, nudging the door open and entering with a smile.

"Pea flower," he explains, nodding to the tray with the tea, "It's... very blue. Oh, what are you writing?"

Excitement getting the better of him, he moves to lean over Shadow Milk's shoulder to look, but pauses at the last second.

"May I?"

Shadow Milk wasn't up to anything in particular. He'd been scribbling in a journal, something he'd been encouraged to pick up for his... Big Feelings. Euck. He still found it awkward, never writing much outside of basic observations and dumb doodles.

He startled at the knock, sitting upright at the desk and looking over his shoulder.

"Oh. Uh. Enter?"

[the-light-of-truth]

"No, no, I mean it! I... overstepped in a big way. Recently, with the gift. My comments were unnecessary, and I realize they may have made you uncomfortable. Of course, I meant what I said, but many of the implications behind my words were..."

He trails off, unsure. He was still having trouble saying it out loud, what he wanted, no, needed to get off his chest. But the risks were great, and even greater was his fear.

"Stupid," he settles on. "They were stupid, wishful thoughts, better left unsaid."

"Pfttt- that's rich, especially coming from you. What do you really want?"

He didn't sound fully convinced. The only part in this act that wasn't a full on lie. Although, even half truths still count as deceit.

[the-light-of-truth]

Closed Starter for @blackandwhitelies

"Ah, Shadow Milk-?"

He knocks softly on the door to his chambers, balancing a tray of tea in his free hand. Despite everything, he was incredibly nervous. Shadow Milk had been doing very well in his reformation, yes, but he couldn't help but still feel rather anxious about the whole situation. It was his idea, and seemed to be a good one so far, but there was always the chance he would simply change his mind about cooperating.

He shakes off the thought, shifting the tray to be held with both hands.

"Are you alright? I've brought tea."

[the-light-of-truth]

🐝  *  ―  𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑭𝑬𝑺𝑺𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺.

❛  but i do care about you ... a lot.  ❜ ❛  do you really need me to say it? fine, i love you. happy now?  ❜ ❛  i didn't think you'd feel the same way.  ❜ ❛  the truth is, i don't want just anyone. i want you.  ❜ ❛  you know i love you, right?  ❜ ❛  i want to spend the rest of my life with you.  ❜ ❛  you're the only person who has ever made me feel this way.  ❜ ❛  can't you see how much i care about you?  ❜ ❛  i did all of this for you. because ... because i love you.  ❜ ❛  please don't make me say it. saying it is gonna make it real and i'm not sure i'm ready for that yet.  ❜ ❛  somewhere along the way, you became more than just a friend.  ❜ ❛  i can't keep pretending like i don't love you.  ❜ ❛  well, i like you. i really, really like you.  ❜ ❛  i like you a lot more than i ever thought i would.  ❜ ❛  you're an idiot ... but you are my idiot and i wouldn't have it any other way.  ❜ ❛  when we first met, i didn't think you'd ever mean so much to me.  ❜ ❛  i could do this on my own but i don't want to. i want you right by my side every step of the way.  ❜ ❛  for once, i'm gonna make the selfish choice and be with whoever i want to be. and that person is you.  ❜ ❛  you've made me so incredibly happy.  ❜ ❛  i wasn't planning on telling you like this but now is better than never.  ❜ ❛  believe it or not, i do enjoy spending time with you.  ❜ ❛  i still don't understand what i ever did to deserve someone like you in my life.  ❜ ❛  i love you. i'm in love with you.  ❜ ❛  just being with you is enough ... you are enough.  ❜ ❛  i love everything about you. even the things i don't like, i love.  ❜ ❛  i have been trying so hard not to say anything, to just ignore it, but i cannot do that any longer.  ❜ ❛  when i wake up, you're the first person i think about.  ❜ ❛  i've never felt a connection like this with anyone else ever before.  ❜ ❛  there's something i've been meaning to tell you for a while ... i love you.  ❜ ❛  don't ever do something like this again! i thought i'd lost you ... and i can't ever lose you.  ❜ ❛  i don't hate you. i actually like you. a lot.  ❜ ❛  you don't have to say anything, i understand. and i want you to know that i feel the same way.  ❜ ❛  what's not to love about you? you're beautiful and kind and you're overall the most amazing person i have ever met.  ❜ ❛  i have no idea how i ever managed to fall in love with someone as infuriating as you.  ❜ ❛  i just want you to know how i feel ... in case one of us won't make it.  ❜ ❛  i can't believe it's taken me this long to realize but i love you.  ❜ ❛  whenever you're around, i can feel the butterflies in my stomach.  ❜ ❛  but most of all, i hate how much i don't hate you.  ❜ ❛  you are the most important person in my life.  ❜ ❛  i love you more than words can express.  ❜

[the-light-of-truth]

Send “⚠️” plus a warning label for my muse.

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[the-light-of-truth]

"Ah, alright..."

Truthfully, Pure Vanilla was thankful they were speaking through the door. He didn't want to look at Shadow Milk, afraid of seeing his expression, the disgust on his face as he explained himself.

"I, um... Wanted to apologize.

It takes him a moment to respond. Strictly speaking, no, he wasn't busy. However, the alternative would be to open up the door and face him, which he didn't want to do.

"Hmm... I guess not. Make it quick though."