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Shadow Milk's eyes fluttered. Naturally, his hand outstretched to the other side of the bed, but instead of the cookie that usually lay there, there were tousled blankets and sheets. He sat up, holding his head as he groaned.
He left the bed begrudgingly, trudging out of their room. He shielded his eyes with his hand as the early sun broke through the windows. "Mmm... where did that cookie go?..."
The front door was left ajar, enough of a clue to let the beast know where the other was. He lifted himself off the ground and glided through the air as he circled their house, eventually finding Pure Vanilla tending to a couple of flowers.
The beast approached, resting his hands on the ancient's shoulders and his words drawn out due to lingering sleepiness. "'Nilly~ What are you doing out here so earlyy? You left me all alone..."
Pure Vanilla was busy cutting spent flowers from a recent bloom of cosmos, using careful precision as he snipped the stems with his shears. "I had to tend to the cosmos."
He set a few aside, his attention directed to another cluster. "Unfortunately for me, I had to deadhead and deep water them on the same day. My, I didn't realize how late it was until I had a look at the clock."
Shadow Milk tilted his head in confusion, his voice more puzzled than his usual playful tone. "Late? The sky just recently turned bright blue! How messed up is time for you, hmm~?"
"My bluebird, it takes several hours for the soil to get properly watered, I couldn't risk having turning it off near midnight." Pure Vanilla faced towards the beast, his methodical pattern taking an abrupt stop.
Shadow Milk scoffed, placing a hand on his chest. "And do you plan to spend all day outside?" He shifted to the ancient's side, lying down in mid-air and throwing a dramatic arm over his forehead. "You might as well, seeing as how you were so eager to leave me..."
Pure Vanilla resumed snipping the flowers, his movements continuing as if he had never faltered. "No, but I must focus while I cut these. You're more than welcome to watch."
Shadow Milk gasped, as if he had suggested something nearly impossible. "Watch? But where's the fun in thatt?" He turned over, grabbing onto the ancient's arm, and a grin spread across his face. "I would much rather mess with you."
"Blue, please—"
With a sudden puff of violet smoke, the beast had transformed into a cat, already pawing at the ancient's clothes. Pure Vanilla flinched, but caught a glimpse of those cerulean eyes. "Ah, hello."
The cat crawled on him, flopping down on his lap. The ancient strained to reach over, still attempting to do his work. "You can lie there for a bit, I suppose, but you'll have to move when I have to turn the water on."
Even when he neared the end of his work, the cat continuously rubbed its head against his leg, letting out many frustrated meows and hisses. Eventually, Pure Vanilla allowed one of his hands to pet the beast, its meows ceasing and turning into satisfied purrs.
The ancient put down his shears, followed by him grabbing the snipped flowers and setting them aside. He tapped the cat, though it barely moved in response. "It's time for you to move, my dear."
Though instead of jumping to the side, its claws dug into the fabric of Pure Vanilla's robes as it climbed up. He quickly grabbed it, trying to pull it away. "Shadow Milk, I have to turn the water on."
A few moments of struggle passed, and then another cloud of smoke appeared, the cat turning into a raven and perching itself on the ancient's shoulder.
"Ah, I suppose that works..." His eyes lingered on the bird for a moment before standing and heading to the spigot connected to their house. "While you're right there, it's only right to let you know what I'm doing."
He leaned over as he reached for the spigot, turning the valve and keeping an ear out for the rushing water. "The hose running through our garden is going to be running very slowly so it thoroughly waters the soil... for about ten hours or so."
He stood back up straight, walking back towards the flowers once he could hear the water running. "These flowers must get enough water, but they also need enough time to dry out afterwards. So this process is only needed once a week."
He turned towards the raven, a smile gracing his facial features. "Which means I only have to leave bed early once a week, so you do not need to worry."
Despite the reassurance, he could still feel the uncomfortable scratches of the bird's claws, even through his robes.
He sat back down, folding both hands on his lap. While he admired them, he noticed a significant lack of fight coming from the beast, and decided to make it humor him. "Are you staying around to enjoy the smell of the cosmos? These are of the chocolate variety."
He leaned close, taking a deep sniff of the petals, their pleasant fragrance filling his nose. He exhaled, his expression perfectly content. "They get their name because of their scent."
Pure Vanilla froze as the sensation of sharp claws melted into the smooth, cool scales of a serpent. Its head weaved gracefully toward the flowers, forked tongue flicking rapidly to taste their chocolate scent in the air.
The ancient slowly straightened his posture, a shiver running through him as he watched the snake's muscular body wind deliberately around his torso. Each coil settled with precise pressure—not enough to harm, but certainly enough to command attention.
Pure Vanilla's voice trembled slightly as he tried to reason with the beast. "Blue... It's time you stop that, please."
The snake swirled around his body a bit more before loosening, lunging into another cloud of smoke. Out the other side was a fox, which quickly turned to look towards him, crouching down and its ears flattening against its head.
Pure Vanilla looked down at it in relief, but quickly shifted to the same tone he always used when calling out his behavior. I know you're not really upset. If you wanted attention, you could've just waited until I was done, my dear."
The fox whimpered, rolling onto its back and exposing its belly. The ancient playfully rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm done now, so I suppose I may tend to you instead." He reached over and rubbed the beast's belly, wagging its tail at the touch.
Amid the ancient's own giggles, a final violet cloud appeared around the fox, revealing the original cookie it had once been. Before Pure Vanilla could react, he grabbed him by the face and pulled him in, kissing him on the lips.
Pure Vanilla relaxed at the touch, his hands moving to press against the grass to hold himself up.
Once he pulled away, the ancient sighed, though he remained warm. "Do you want me to come inside and make you breakfast?"
Shadow Milk gave him a peck on the cheek, finally fulfilled. "Yes, please."