Chapter Text
Shadow Milk was never good at sitting still. Understimulation clawed at him from the moment he sat down until the moment he rose and sought entertainment again. As such, it surprised him how long he had spent in the library. Truly, he had missed out on a lot of history while trapped in that damned tree, and pouring over the events and technology that had occurred while he was gone had managed to keep his attention for a good while.
The textbooks and diagrams were exciting enough, drawing out a long dormant love of learning, back when he was a scholar himself and knowing everything there is to know was an ambition rather than a curse, but what drew him in most were the journals. Published firsthand accounts of countless historical events, and Shadow Milk found himself contentedly occupied with comparing the information between two volumes, drawing facts from objective judgements and biases- it was like a puzzle, and Shadow Milk had nearly forgotten how much he loved puzzles.
By the time he rose his head from a particularly impressive conclusion, the library had become empty. Pure Vanilla had left, and though he understood why in his own sense of the idea, Shadow Milk still found it unacceptable that the one who brought him here not be available for bothering.
And so, with the cane Pure Vanilla had given him in hand, he wandered off to go find him.
It took Shadow Milk a short while to find the exit, the winding halls of the castle proving to be far more confusing than they ought to be. If he were just a bit more self reflective, Shadow Milk might have wondered if he was losing his touch.
Still, the thought perished in the sunlight, and Shadow Milk squinted into the bright square. Townsfolk wandered about in a lively manner, adults chattering warmly while children squealed and played, young footsteps pattering across the ancient tile.
Shadow Milk had only just adjusted to the light when he noticed another child, apart from the group, staring at him from her perch upon the bench.
“Need something, kid?” Shadow Milk raised a brow.
“Ah! S-Sorry, it's just…” The young girl floundered for words. “Are you okay, mister?”
Shadow Milk blinked in surprise, trying to fathom what exactly she was referring to.
“Your clothes…”
Shadow Milk looked down, suddenly reminded of his still tattered costume, and the change of clothes he had refused out of pride.
When he looked up to respond, the girl had already darted off and returned, approaching with a set of clothing dyed in warm gray.
“My mommy used to make clothes in the old village. She doesn't need to anymore, but she still does it sometimes for fun.” The girl explained, holding his staff for him while he slipped the set over his torn clothing.
The outfit was loose and comfortable, and Shadow Milk always enjoyed a good dramatic sleeve.
“Woah,” The girl’s eyes sparkled. “You look like a bard!”
“A bard?” Shadow Milk had been called a lot of things, but ‘bard’ certainly wasn't one of them.
“Yeah! Sometimes the other kids don't like me playing with them, so I go to the library to read stories instead! My favorites are the plays, and the plays always have narrators that are bards! And they all dress kind of normal but they're still fancy and dramatic and cool!”
Something echoed within him, a memory of a lonely child with a book clutched in his arms, daydreaming of being a scholar so great no cookie would ever pick on him- Shadow Milk perished the thought.
“Well,” Shadow Milk cleared his throat, “you've come to the right cookie! I just so happen to have plentiful experience when it comes to theatre, so I suppose it's only right to finally be called a bard!~” The theatrical display ended with his eyes fallen shut in lament, only to crack one open with a grin- “How's that for dramatic?”
The girl giggled in delight, hopping on her feet. “You should show Pure Vanilla Cookie! He likes plays too, he told me!” She raised an arm to point up a small terrace path. “He's visiting Strawberry Crepe Cookie right now, but you can go see him!”
“Mm, perhaps I shall!” Shadow Milk nearly set off up the path already when the girl grabbed his hand.
“My name is Grapeseed Cookie. Will you do more bard things again soon?” The girl looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
“I’m sure I can find the time.” Shadow Milk answered before he could stop himself, something about the sincere child drew affection from him. Maybe it was because she reminded him of himself, or perhaps it was simply because Candy Apple used to look at him that way, but he couldn't bring himself to deny her. “Tell your mom I said thank you for the clothing, okay?”
“Okay!” With that, Grapeseed let go of his hand and ran off to pass the message to her mother.
Shadow Milk, meanwhile, set his sights back on the warehouse on the terrace. Glancing down at his cane, he was suddenly struck with the understanding that this would be a long walk.
Finally, he reached the warehouse, and leaned against the nearest cone to catch his breath.
Cone?
Shadow Milk stumbled backwards in a panic as the object he was resting on began to move, legs trembling as he pointed his cane at the automaton like a weapon.
The machine lunged towards him in a frenzy, and then stopped- it had all of a sudden clattered to the ground uselessly. Standing behind it was something that seemed to be half machine, giant robotic arms held out, still in position from incapacitating the rouge automaton. Between those gigantic arms, however, stood a cookie with sizeable headphones nestled amongst soft pink curls, and a remarkable scowl.
“Don’t you know not to lean on defense bots? It's pretty basic, even for non-engineers! Honestly-” The cookie’s tirade was cut short by a gentle voice exiting the warehouse.
“Strawberry Crepe Cookie, I’m sure he didn't mean to set off the defenses.” Pure Vanilla smiled warmly at them, following the discordant noise.
“Hmph!” Strawberry Crepe crossed their arms and huffed, but set away their robotic arms. They appeared much smaller, at the very least, and it suddenly grew evident that this was nothing more than a child.
“Shadow Milk Cookie.” Pure Vanilla greeted him. “Taking a break from reading, I presume?” His tone was light, but with slight laughter- was he teasing him?
“Something like that. You were gone when I finished.” Shadow Milk frowned, expert to ignoring the stir in his chest.
“Right, sorry. I had some things to take care of, and I didn't want to disturb you.”
Shadow Milk only grumbled in response.
“So is this the guy you mentioned?” Strawberry Crepe looked Shadow Milk over, though their tone was noticeably lighter when addressing Pure Vanilla.
“Yes, this is Shadow Milk Cookie. Shadow Milk Cookie, this is Strawberry Crepe Cookie. They're a very talented engineer.”
“So you want me to make a better cane for this guy?” Strawberry Crepe hissed. “I get he's using something temporary, but-” They paused when looking back up at Pure Vanilla’s gentle smile. “… Fine. But only because you're the one requesting it. I’m not doing it for him.”
“Thank you Strawberry Crepe Cookie! I trust he'll be well equipped in your hands.” Pure Vanilla patted their head affectionately.
“Y-Yeah yeah. You come with me.” Strawberry Crepe pointed to Shadow Milk. “I need to take some measurements.”
“Hey, don't I get a-” Shadow Milk didn't bother finishing his sentence in the end, as the two were already ushering him inside.
The measuring process was near rigorous, but a part of Shadow Milk found both respect and pity for the budding perfectionist.
When a brief respite finally came for the process(Strawberry Crepe had to retrieve a tool from another room, griping that their ‘good for nothing caffeinated assistant’ was nowhere to be found), Pure Vanilla handed him a cup.
“Here. I’m not sure when you last had anything to drink.”
“I don't need to drink. I’m a Beast.” Shadow Milk frowned.
“Former.” Pure Vanilla’s tone was no longer as lighthearted. “You don't have to be like that here.”
“Who said I didn't want to?” Shadow Milk shot back, an edge to his voice. “Maybe I don't wanna be a hero.”
“I’m not trying to make you one.” Pure Vanilla frowned. “I just don't want you to doubt yourself. Besides, you do need to look after your health now. Without the Soul Jam-”
“I don't need you to lecture me.” Shadow Milk nearly growled. “I don't want to hear it. Especially not from you.”
Shadow Milk didn't wait for an answer, grabbing his cane off the table and getting himself out of the warehouse, as quickly as he could move.