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Shadow Milk was surrounded by a field. The air smelled divine, fresh air he basked in. He sat down grazing his hands at the nearby White Roses. His fascination with plants had only grown since his soul jam was tainted. Flowers felt like a beautiful escape from the chaos of the world. Deep down he’s always had a fascination with them but never truly appreciated the meaning of each one.
“My. You’re beautiful,”
Shadow Milk was startled by the familiar voice and looked up. It was Pure Vanilla Cookie.
But not his usual dreams of his awakened form comforting him. No, it was the twisted version he was now. The one he kissed.
He was in his new suit, which Shadow Milk must regrettably admit that he looks absolutely stunning in. Must this man be beautiful in everything he wears? It shows every curve, every feature. The Light of Deceit must have made him more…seductive. He noticed that these past days Pure Vanilla had been extremely flamboyant and very very flirtatious towards Shadow Milk. He doesn’t recall this happening to himself though, however, with the newfound ego trip he’s having he probably wants to do things he’s secretly desired.
Wait, he secretly desires to flirt with Shadow Milk!? Or has secretly wanted to be a temptress!?
Pure Vanilla notices Shadow Milk's nervous face and giggles at him.
“Don’t worry, I don’t bite, yet,”
He lifted Shadow Milk's chin to meet the others' eyes. Shadow Milk gazes at the noticeably sharp eyes which used to be comforting. Now having piercing slits, still the same color but weirdly unnerving or…luring.
What is Shadow Milk thinking? This whole situation is bad, Pure Vanilla with the Light of Deceit is a bad situation not a fantasy!! Sure the old him would probably devour the man right in front of him BUT HE’S DIFFERENT! He knows Pure Vanilla isn’t himself.
Or is he? A question Shadow Milk was so afraid to ask himself. The soul jams are only bringing to light their deepest desires, the ones they’ve tried to bury in obscurity. The faintest good in Shadow Milk now finally being shown by the Light of Truth. So is this just a personification of Pure Vanilla’s darkest desires? A way to let go and do whatever he wants?
With all this questioning he didn’t even realize Pure Vanilla inching closer to his body. Which shook him out of his thoughts.
“I’ve wanted to do this…for so long,” Pure Vanilla inched even closer. Shadow Milk was breathing heavy, yet did not move.
“Nights I’ve ached for you. I foolishly tried to only think of the pathetic holy day dreaming bull. Just cuttles and oh my a little peck! No. No, I was an idiot. I want MORE,”
Shadow Milk blushes perfiously, he liked the idea too much.
“M-More?”
Pure Vanilla smirked, straining his cheeks.
“Oh come on Shades don’t play dumb, it’s your dream. You want me. You want me more than that stupid other Vanilla,”
Shadow Milk was about to reach out, but stopped.
When he had the Light of Deceit, he was able to manipulate dreams.
“Pure Vanilla…are you in my mind right now?”
Pure Vanilla’s smile faded abruptly.
“Did ya really have to ruin this?”
The beautiful flowers rotted away as Pure Vanilla backed away with his arms crossed. Shadow Milk was completely terrified. It had only been a few days and he learned to enter people’s dreams? How much does he know?
“I-I ruined this!? You’ve controlled my dream!”
Pure Vanilla side eyed him,
“Didn’t you do the same thing to me? At least I’m not torturing you,”
He’s right, but it’s still wrong.
“You shouldn’t be learning from me. I was terrible, I was terrible to you,”
Pure Vanilla groaned, not accepting the voice of reason.
“I don’t careeeee. Witches it’s like talking to myself,”
Shadow Milk clenched his fists in irritation.
“You’re acting like a child!” He sighed, “Look, there’s gotta be a hint of you still in there. A part of you knows that this is wrong. Where’s the guy that offered me friendship? The guy who loved his friends? The-,”
Pure Vanilla interrupted, “The guy who was weak? The guy who refused to fight back? The guy who suffered endless torment because it was the kind thing to do? Let’s get real Shades, the people who miss the old me just miss a guy they can play with,”
Shadow Milk muttered something to himself,
“…Bluebird,”
Pure Vanilla stared at his nails, clearly irritated,
“Excuse me? Couldn’t quite hear that,”
Shadow Milk sighed, “You used to call me Bluebird, not Shades,”
Pure Vanilla tsked, “Whatever, have fun in your fantasy world,”
Pure Vanilla snapped his fingers and Shadow Milk woke up in a panic.
It seems like Vanilla was not nice enough to give him a peaceful awakening.
That whole day Shadow Milk avoided Pure Vanilla, because he was afraid.
He’s never been afraid of him before.
That night he had a nightmare.
He doesn’t know if it was his own mind or Pure Vanilla.
What he does know is that the nightmares suddenly stopped when he was talking with Pure Vanilla again.
Then he kept having dreams of the temptress. What’s more vile is he never wanted it to end. He was beautiful, attractive, his new massive hair would wrap around him. Vanilla’s new eyes in his hair showed hearts every time they interacted in the dream.
Sometimes a selfish part of himself wants to stay forever.
But eventually you have to wake up.
This obviously isn’t Pure Vanilla being a saint, it’s manipulation. A paradise to try to convince Shadow Milk to give up on fixing their soul jams. Maybe something even crueler, maybe he wants Shadow Milk to sleep eternally. No wonder Sugar corrupted, sloth is so tempting. Especially when a beautiful man deceives you into believing about an eternity of bliss.
When he stares at you with intense eyes, caresses with cold skin that makes you shiver, holds you like you’re going to die without him, tempting. He’s so tempting.
But it’s not real, it’s all a game. Temptation for a goal, he always mentions in these dreams manipulating words.
“See? Isn’t this great? We could have more of this,”
“Aren’t I better this way? Forget all about the past between us,”
“Oh Shadow Milk~ isn’t deceit so alluring on me? I think we should’ve tried this years ago,”
“Forget about a cure, we’re already saved,”
Such sickly sweet words. When Shadow Milk lied, it was cold and heartless to try and weaken the person. Shadow Milk would argue that Pure Vanilla’s tactic is more disturbing. Using closeness, feelings, friendship, love, to manipulate his victims. Its not torture, unless the person makes him upset. It’s a “paradise” as long as you believe in his lies.
As long as you bite into the sugary coated apple he gives.
The dreams still happen, and Shadow Milk still loves them. Even knowing the manipulation, he still loves them.
But he won’t stop finding a cure, and he will make everything go back to normal.
Everything will be…fine.
He knows it will.
But…one more dream can’t hurt, right?