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The sun had long past set under the horizon, and the stars had just begun to shine. You’d expect silence, peace in the quiet solitude of night.
“You prick!”
But with this group, silence was never an option.
Shadow Milk cackled as he chucked another hastily made snowball over the wall he made, snickering as it made a dull thunk against something.
His excitement was quickly smothered, quite literally, by a pile of snow dumped unceremoniously over his head. He snapped his head upward, glaring at the faint wisps of light moon magic above him.
Shadow Milk grinned, “Oh, we’re playing that game now, are we Nilly?”
He grabbed an armful of snow, opening a portal to the Other Realm and dropping the snow through.
“Shadow Milk!”
The jester giggled at the screech of his other half. He leaned his head slightly back against his wall of snow, calling, “It was my other realm first, Nilly! Can’t use it again me-“
He was cut off by a new portal opening in front of him with snowballs pelting him in the face like artillery fire.
The jester could only get one word through the rapid fire, “Nilly!“
Shadow Milk was promptly whacked in the face by a snowball, and there was a soft voice on the other side of the portal, “Alright, alright, he’s had enough.”
Pure Vanilla poked his head on the other side of the portal, concern on his face as he gave Shadow Milk a once-over. The only thing he could see was the jester’s hair poking out from under the snow pile.
The healer surrounded the jester in light magic, melting the snow around Shadow Milk so he could see his face.
He was shivering from being under the snow, so Pure Vanilla stepped out of the portal, shaking his head at the jester, “You forgot to wear your jacket, silly.”
Pure Vanilla wrapped his arms around Shadow Milk, pulling the jester up.
“You suck.” Shadow Milk grumbled.
“I think,” Pure Vanilla’s voice had a teasing edge to it, “You are a sore loser who needs to wear the appropriate winter attire before agreeing to a snowball fight.”
The jester paused, burying his face in Pure Vanilla’s chest before muttering, “It wasn’t this cold earlier.”
Pure Vanilla chuckled softly, “Whatever you say.”
They sat together for a few moments before snowballs began to sail over their heads. Pure Vanilla poked his head over the wall, nearly getting smacked in the face with a snowball from Black Sapphire, who joined the brave trio on the opposite side of the field with Candy Apple.
Shadow Milk glanced up, shaking his head, “The betrayal! You joined the enemy, Sapphire?”
The radio host smirked, “You weren’t throwing enough, they had the fighting chance.”
There was a beat where no one moved.
Shadow Milk snapped, now equipped with a thick winter coat and gloves.
“The insults from my own minions, Pure Vanilla, will we take that?”
The healer already had a snowball in his hand, a smile on his face, “This calls for war!”
Two twin portals to the other realm opened, one dark blue and black, the other white and gold. Within seconds, snowballs were flying through, whacking the opposition with an aggressive fury.
“Master Shadow Milk Cookie!” Candy Apple screeched.
“Pure Vanilla, we’re sorry!” Gingerbread yelled through his laughter.
“Call mercy!” Shadow Milk called back, a bright grin on his face as he lifted a mass of snowballs with his magic, sending them flying through the portal.
The five voices called out in slightly disjointed unison, “Mercy!”
Pure Vanilla closed his portal, stifling giggles as Shadow Milk sent one last snowball.
The brave trio stumbled out of their fort, completely covered in snow.
“That was terrifying.” Strawberry Cookie muttered softly.
Wizard Cookie muttered an agreeance as they walked over to Pure Vanilla, who shook his head, smiling, “Why don’t we go inside? I’ll make hot chocolate while you three warm up by the fire, Sapphire, Candy, that goes for you two as well.”
The five walked back inside, chatting among themselves as Shadow Milk leaned against Pure Vanilla, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
Pure Vanilla yelped as something freezing cold was dumped down his jacket. Shadow Milk beamed at him, only to be tackled into the snow by Pure Vanilla, who pushed his face into the snow, muttering, “I helped you!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Mercy, witches, Nilla, MERCY!”
Pure Vanilla got up off of the jester, shaking his head, “Go inside with the other children, then.”
Shadow Milk huffed, sulkily walking back into the castle. Pure Vanilla shook his head fondly, opening a portal to his kitchen.
He poured milk and cream into one of his pots, grabbing some chocolate that had been already chopped up from another batch of hot chocolate, and he added it in. Humming softly, Pure Vanilla picked out the cups for everyone, occasionally stirring the pot. After pulling out his container of homemade whipped cream and pouring out the hot chocolate, he added a dollop of whipped cream on top of everyone’s drink, using magic to carry them all out to his personal section of the castle, the small living room where the deceit trio and the brave trio had gathered. Shadow Milk was overseeing a competitive game of go fish.
“No, Candy, I don’t have an ace.” Wizard Cookie grumbled.
“Liar, you just put some down!”
“Yeah, because I got two!” Wizard Cookie glared at her, and Shadow Milk snorted, “Candy, appreciate the dedication to deceit, but he put the cards down, he’s not going to have more, unless he’s dumb.”
She groaned, grabbing a new card from the pile, “Fine!”
Pure Vanilla set their mugs down on the table, earning a chorus of thanks from the group.
He settled down next to Shadow Milk, offering him a mug matching his own. Shadow Milk took it from him, taking a small sip, “For annoying as you are, you are good at making hot chocolate, Nilla.”
“Thank you!” Pure Vanilla grinned at Shadow Milk, leaning back against the couch as he watched the game in front of him.
Shadow Milk leaned against the healer, letting the others' warmth seep into his dough.
Pure Vanilla giggled, “Cold?”
“It’s freezing.” Shadow Milk mumbled as the healer pulled a blanket over the two of them with his magic.
“Love you, Shadow Milk.” Pure Vanilla whispered.
The jester sighed softly, “Love you too, Nilly.”
Even though more snow was falling outside, the whipping winds sending chills through the air that would certainly cause frostbite if you stood outside too long, the seven sat in the warm Vanillian castle, their laughter filling the previously silent halls with energy and chaos.
After the games had reached the level of screaming matches, Pure Vanilla sent everyone to bed, including Shadow Milk, who scoffed at him.
“You sleep with me?!”
“Then I’m putting myself to bed too, it’s late, Shadow Milk.”
“Whatever, don’t take too long, sap.”
“I won’t, I know you get cold without me.”
“Yeah, you are like a furnace, Nilly.”
⋆꙳•❅*‧ ‧*❆ ₊⋆
Shadow Milk had long since crawled into bed, not-so-patiently waiting for the healer.
After a few agonizing minutes, Pure Vanilla opened the door, a soft smile on his face as his robes shifted into his pajamas with Shadow Milk’s face all over that he had gotten as a gag gift.
“C’mon Nilly! I’m cold!” Shadow Milk sighed dramatically.
The healer slid into bed next to him, “I’m sorry, the kids wanted to tell me stories.”
“They can tell you later, then. After all, I was waiting!”
Pure Vanilla shook his head, pressing a chaste kiss on the jester’s forehead, “Yes, yes, I’m here now, though.”
Shadow Milk wrapped his arms around Pure Vanilla, “Finally.” As the two settled under the sheets, Shadow Milk gave Pure Vanilla a look, “Hey, why don’t you heat your room, Nilly?”
The healer hung his head, mumbling, “I usually overheat.”
“OVERHEAT?!?!?”