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Blueberry Milk never had the chance to celebrate Valentine's Day.
He's never been in a romantic relationship before, so he really had no reason to celebrate. He'd always be touched, though, when the townsfolk gifted him chocolates and flowers. Along with that, watching some cookies go on dates always brought him happiness. Their joy is contagious!
Candy Apple and Black Sapphire would usually craft him something (Candy Apple does all of the work), and that would be it.
Blueberry Milk would feel a little bit bad, as the cookies would always put in so much effort to bring him a gift while he'd just be sitting back, doing endless research.
Gifting the truth to cookiekind is a huge responsibility after all!
So, menial capitalist holidays don't mean much to someone like Blueberry Milk.
This year, though, he's almost hyper-aware of it.
Now that he has a partner, he feels that he should do something, anything for his beloved!
But what is it..?
The Recluse probably doesn't even know the date, and if he did, he probably wouldn't care! He doesn't want some cheap gift that Blueberry Milk can just buy at the store!
And Blueberry Milk doesn't want to give something like that to him anyways. So, he'll just treat it like another day.
That's probably what the Recluse wants.. Right?
----
The Recluse sits atop his Peak, panicking.
What the hell is he supposed to give Blueberry Milk for Valentine's Day!?
He never really celebrated. Even in his past he didn't really care.
It was just another holiday for the mortal cookies while they refused to acknowledge the work he did for them, carrying the burden of truth while they frolicked along.
But now, he feels he should do something, anything for his beloved Blueberry Milk! He always wants to do something for him in return, for he's had to endure the strange ways of the Truthless Recluse, and today is the perfect time, he thinks.
The Recluse had honestly forgotten it was today until he looked down at the Azure Village and saw a bit more red than usual, and he prayed that it wasn't jam or something.
Luckily it was just hearts.
He has no idea of what to do for his beloved! Would he appreciate a gift? A box of chocolates? A kiss or two?
Well, the Recluse has come to learn how much Blueberry Milk loves physical affection. The amount of it he requires is honestly astonishing to the Recluse (he likes it though).
The Recluse is at a complete dead end. Who in their right mind would enjoy a box of bad tasting chocolate?
Maybe mortal cookies do.
He does have one other solution, but he really didn't want to resort to it..
The Recluse checks his clock.
Blueberry Milk is most likely lecturing right now. His last lecture of the day. If he just.. Avoids the crowd, maybe he'd be able to get him a gift?
Begrudgingly, the Recluse leaves his Peak.
----
Once down in the village, he makes sure that he does not step anywhere close to the Spire or the town square.
Sure, he could be wearing his Healer Cookie disguise right now, but.. It's a little hard to see out of. Along with that he hates using it.
As he wanders about the streets of the Azure Village, he takes the time to look around.
This village, after all, is Blueberry Milk's creation. The cobblestone floors, the signature blue roofs, the layout.. Everything was designed by him.
Due to the fact it's Valentine's Day, though, the town is looking more pink than azure.
As he wanders, some of the townsfolk mutter and murmur about him, but it's not the time to be focusing on them.
That is until he runs into a familiar red cookie.
Absentmindedly, and the fact that his staff was not pointed towards her, he bumps into Candy Apple. "Ow! You doughbrai- Oh. It's you." She says.
"Hush, child. I do not want your master to know I'm here." The Recluse bitterly replies. He was never really too fond of Candy Apple; she's far too energetic for his taste. "And I apologize for bumping into you."
It seems that she, too, isn't too fond of the Recluse either. She used to hate how much time Blueberry Milk would spend with him instead of her.
But she likes him a little more now. Maybe it's because she realized that he brings her beloved Sage happiness.
Still, though, the two do not like each other.
"Why don't you want him to know you're here? Are you buying him Valentines or something? I didn't even get anything from him this year.. I never get anything from him!!" She pouts.
"It is hard work preaching the truth to all of cookiekind.. I too would know.." The Recluse replies a little bit softer this time.
"He doesn't even have time to buy me chocolates or something?!" Candy Apple whines once more.
"..Do you want me to buy you chocolates..?" He asks.
"You'd be my Valentine..?" Her face scrunches up. "Ew! No! Not after you took Blueberry Milk from me!"
"Child, that's not what I said."
"Whatever!" She storms off.
The Recluse sighs at the absurdity of it all. How was Pure Vanilla able to handle children so well?
Maybe he just had better social skills back then.
Along with that, his time is running out. He needs to think quickly.
As he continues looking around the village streets, passing by all of the cheap flowers and chocolates, he stumbles upon an old looking shop in a very secluded alleyway.
It is then when he finds something perfect.
----
Blueberry Milk finishes his last lecture of the day, and the crowd begins to dissipate.
As he packs up his books, out of the corner of his eye, in one of the village's various alleyways, he sees an all too familiar pointy hat.
"Cluesy?! What are you doing here?"
The Recluse is startled, as he was trying his best not to be seen by him. Blueberry Milk also notices him hiding something behind his back.
"...Nothing." He quietly replies, as he slowly approaches.
"Aww! Don't try lying to me, Cluesy... You never come down from your Peak, so something really special has had to have happened for you to pay me a visit for once." Blueberry Milk teases as he floats closer to the Recluse, trying to get a glimpse of what he's hiding.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Blueberry Milk Cookie..." He reveals that he was hiding a small box behind his back, and hands it to him.
Blueberry Milk looks shocked. "You.. Remembered?"
"I just noticed the mortals celebrating and assumed that it was today."
"Oh." Blueberry Milk slowly opens the box. Inside, he finds an ornate looking teacup, painted blue and gold.
"The shopkeeper told me she handmade it. It reminded me of you."
Carefully, Blueberry Milk sets the box and teacup down onto the floor, and hugs the Recluse.
"Cluesy.. You didn't have to! I didn't even get you anything today.. It's a really beautiful teacup too.."
The Recluse hugs him back. "It's fine.. But there is a certain someone who wants a gift from you. Desperately."
----
Candy Apple returns to the Spire a little later than usual.
She had been out all day, looking at all of the pink and red decor the shops had put out.
It makes her mad.
Blueberry Milk has someone, Witches, even Black Sapphire has someone! That wimpy faerie kid!
And Candy Apple is all alone.
She storms off into her and Black Sapphire's bedroom, only to be greeted by a familiar blue scholar.
"Blueberry Milk? What are you.."
He pulls out a small heart shaped box of chocolates. "Happy Valentine's Day, Candy Apple." Blueberry Milk smiles as he sees Candy Apple's face light up.
She immediately hugs his leg, almost yanking him down onto the floor.
"Thank you Blueberry Milk!! I didn't think you'd get me anything!"
"Ah!" He yelps as he's suddenly dragged down. "You're welcome, dearest." He pats her head.
After a minute or two, she lets him go.
"Now now, dear, you better get ready for bed." He smiles once more, before slowly floating out of the room.
"Good night, Blueberry Milk!!!" She excitedly says.
"And don't eat all of those chocolates in one sitting!" Blueberry Milk yells back.
"I won't!" She replies.
Blueberry Milk closes the door, and is greeted by the Recluse.
"Thank you for telling me.. I didn't realize that me not buying her anything affected her." Blueberry Milk sheepishly admits.
"Hm.. I thought it would be obvious." The Recluse coldly replies.
"Well! What's done is done!" A mischievous smirk then covers the blue cookie's face.
In one swift movement, he picks up the Recluse, and floats him up to his bedroom.
The Recluse isn't even surprised anymore. He's so used to Blueberry Milk picking him up that all he does is make sure he doesn't drop his staff.
"I really should be going back to my Peak, Blueberry Milk Cookie.."
"Can't you stay the night? It's been a while since you've left your tower.." He pouts a bit. "And it's Valentine's Day!"
The Recluse huffs. "Fine.."
Blueberry Milk excitedly sets him down on his bed, before he leaves to get ready to sleep himself.
It's been a while since the Recluse has stayed over, and he had almost forgotten how comfortable Blueberry Milk's bed is compared to his own. He can basically sink into it.
Along with that, he comes to realize how warm his room is. It is the middle of winter, but the Recluse keeps himself warm by wearing a billion layers of robes, not by using a heater or anything.
He knows he'll have to take some of them off.
And by some he means basically all because he stripped all the way down to his body suit. Along with that, the bandages and scars on his arms are now visible.
"Oh Cluesy, I'm-" Blueberry Milk barges back in, now wearing just his pajamas. He took off his hat and monocle too.
He stops talking once he sees the Recluse in his outfit, and blushes. Gosh, is he incredibly flustered. Blueberry Milk never thought he'd see the Recluse wearing something so revealing!
"O-oh.. Wow... Hehe.." His face turns an even brighter shade of blue as he floats closer to the Recluse.
The Recluse sighs at Blueberry Milk's reaction, once more giggling over him like a teenage girl. Witches, he acts just like Candy Apple sometimes.
He joins the Recluse on the bed, leaning on his shoulder. Even though the Recluse feels incredibly warm right now, somehow, Blueberry Milk is even warmer.
Slowly but surely, Blueberry Milk's arms wrap around the Recluse, and he eventually drags him down on top of him as they lie on the soft, pillowy mattress. He drops his staff in the process, leaving him now completely sightless.
"How immature must you be.." The Recluse scoffs.
He hears Blueberry Milk giggle, as he presses a kiss on the Recluse's lips before pushing him off his chest.
The Recluse sighs as he feels Blueberry Milk snuggle up next to him.
"I love you, Cluesy.. Happy Valentine's Day!"