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“Hey, Nilly? Wake up~!”
Pure Vanilla blinked awake, the shapes in his vision as blurry and unintelligible as ever without his staff, though he recognized Shadow Milk’s voice.
“Hey, Blue…” Pure Vanilla muttered, closing his eyes and attempting to burrow back into the pillows.
Shadow Milk snuggled in beside him, pulling him into a kiss.
“Darling, relax…”
“Aw, do you not enjoy my kisses~?”
“I do, but—”
Shadow Milk kissed him on the cheek, “but what?”
“But,” Pure Vanilla sat up, “you’re going to cover me in your lipstick.”
Shadow Milk pouted, “I didn’t get that much on you yet.”
He then kissed him again.
“Okay, okay!” Pure Vanilla chuckled, “I love you~.”
Shadow Milk grabbed a cloth, dragging it across Vanilla’s face.
“Anyway, I made breakfast!” Shadow Milk said, allowing Pure Vanilla to run a hand through his hair, leaning into the touch.
Pure Vanilla pulled him closer, taking in his blueberry scent.
“That’s nice,” Pure Vanilla muttered, nearly falling back asleep.
“Hey!” Shadow Milk shouted, pulling him out of bed, “You need to eat it! I made it for you, after all.”
Pure Vanilla leaned on Shadow Milk’s shoulder, still trying to rid himself of his drowsiness.
“Can’t I at least get my staff…”
Shadow Milk grabbed the staff, passing it to Pure Vanilla, still practically dragging him along until they reached the kitchen.
By then, Pure Vanilla was at the very least awake enough to stay on his feet himself while Shadow Milk grabbed his plate and a fork, placing it in front of Vanilla.
Pure Vanilla grabbed some syrup, pouring over the pancakes Shadow Milk had made.
Shadow Milk watched his reaction as he ate a piece of it.
Pure Vanilla’s face lit up, immediately eating another piece.
Shadow Milk leaned back as Pure Vanilla continued practically shoving it into his mouth.
“Heh. You like it?”
Pure Vanilla nodded, already half-finished, “It’s really good.”
“Mhm~ I’ve been doing this for a while, darling, of course it is,” He paused, “You know, Dark Cacao mentioned he wanted to do… something with you later. Can’t remember what.”
Pure Vanilla smiled, “Are you two finally getting along?”
“Aha… he said he’d tolerate me since it's your birthday today. Which! Is better than nothing, I suppose.”
…was it already his birthday again? He hadn’t really realized. He’d been more excited about the fact Crispia was at peace, and Shadow Milk staying with him, and White Lily being back, the five of them together again—
His thoughts were interrupted by Shadow Milk’s voice, “Nilly.”
“Hm?”
Shadow Milk blinked at him, his brow furrowed, “...Did you forget your own birthday?”
Pure Vanilla blushed, “Well, I— didn’t forget, I just wasn’t thinking about it, really with everything changing…”
“Mhm… of course I believe that.”
“I mean it! I— you cannot say what’s been happening isn’t a lot. I’m already immortal as well, so birthdays simply aren’t as important either way…”
Shadow Milk sighed, moving to wrap his arms around Pure Vanilla’s waist from behind, waiting for him to finish.
“Pure Vanilla, Shadow Milk Cookie.”
Shadow Milk jumped away from Pure Vanilla immediately at the voice, almost running into the window behind him.
“Oh, Dark Cacao!” Pure Vanilla exclaimed, rushing to hug him.
“I was— uhm—” Shadow Milk stammered, seemingly trying to excuse the position Dark Cacao had spotted the two in.
Dark Cacao ignored the jester, “I am glad to see you well, my friend. And… happy birthday” he said, patting Vanilla’s head.
Pure Vanilla chuckled, “Thank you, I am as well.”
Dark Cacao nodded toward Shadow Milk. Shadow Milk tensed, giving him a slight nod in return.
“Well, I’ll be taking my leave now!” Shadow Milk shouted, opening a portal to his other realm, “See ya later, Nilly~.”
Pure Vanilla waved as Shadow Milk ‘fell’ into the portal.
Dark Cacao turned back to Pure Vanilla, “Would you mind following me outside?”
Pure Vanilla nodded, taking his hand.
They ended up at the campgrounds in the gardens, Caramel Arrow pouring some tea. She passed two of the teacups to the two ancients, then took the third one herself.
“Thank you, Caramel Arrow,” Pure Vanilla grinned, taking a sip of his tea.
“You’re welcome, Pure Vanilla Cookie.”
Dark Cacao placed a hand on Pure Vanilla’s shoulder, the two moving to take a seat in the gardens.
“I made the cup for you,” Dark Cacao stated, “you may keep it.”
Pure Vanilla glanced toward the cup. It was painted with a flower on the front.
“You’re rather good at painting,” Pure Vanilla said, looking in front of him him again.
The flowerbed in front of them was a mix of each of his friend’s favorite flowers — milkcrowns newly mixed in. He loved it, how it always reminded him of his friends.
Dark Cacao was staring at it as well.
“You’ve added some new flowers?”
“Mhm! Shadow Milk said he’d liked them, and so I added them in.”
“...You and him are friends, correct?”
“Hm? Oh yes, I’m… rather fond of him.” Pure Vanilla blushed slightly, though he attempted to hide it with a sip of his tea.
“Did you two fight back in Beast-Yeast?”
Pure Vanilla frowned, “Yes. He’s changed since then! I believe he just… wanted someone to stay with him, though he didn’t know that himself. He surely wasn’t kind, and he wasn’t trying to be my ‘friend,’ not in the typical sense, but… I could tell he was longing for something. Connection, I suppose.”
“How did you feel about it?”
“Ah—” Pure Vanilla paused. He hadn't thought too much about that. He tapped his fingers on his teacup, trying to figure out his thoughts and put them into words, “It was… terrible, really. Though, it taught me plenty. It may not have been Shadow Milk’s intent to teach me, but he’d truly shown me another side to myself. What was it like with Mystic Flour?”
“She’d attempted to convince me my warriors had crumbled to flour, and cause me to follow. For a while, I believed it, though I found my resolution. I understand what you mean, saying you’d learned from your beast. I suppose she’s begun to grow now, and the warriors are getting along with her quite well, despite everything.”
“Shadow Milk has been too! I mean, you’ve been around him, and he may not seem that different, but he’s truly been more vulnerable with me. I can tell he’s truly trying, he just… doesn’t want to show that softer side I know to everyone yet.”
Dark Cacao went silent for a moment.
Pure Vanilla tilted his head, “Is there something you’re thinking about?”
“Are you two… in a relationship?”
Pure Vanilla nearly spit out his tea, “I— why do you ask?”
“I’ve noticed the way you two act with each other. If you don’t wish to speak about it, I understand. I was simply curious.”
“I…” Pure Vanilla tapped his fingers on his teacup again, “suppose you could say that. I… know you don’t enjoy his presence that much, nor do you trust him, but—”
Dark Cacao interrupted him, “Are you truly happy with him?”
Pure Vanilla nodded.
“Then I… suppose I’ll attempt to tolerate him. Though if he does harm you, I—”
Pure Vanilla smiled, “I trust him not to do so.”
“...I see.”
Pure Vanilla continued, changing the subject “I’m truly… glad to have White Lily back.”
“I am as well. Though, I suppose you have a different relationship with her than I do.”
“Mhm… I’ve always admired her. She’s…” Pure Vanilla tilted his head, “clearly changed since we’d last seen her, right?”
Dark Cacao nodded in agreement.
“I’ve always looked up to her, really. Though, I think…” Pure Vanilla paused, “I think she’s really grown, even since a few months ago.”
“I… have not seen her since before the Dark Flour war, though it’s clear something changed.”
“Mhm! I’m quite proud of her. She’s—”
Pure Vanilla was interrupted by White Lily herself, “Hey Nilla. How’s your birthday been?”
She sat down beside him and Dark Cacao.
Pure Vanilla smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder, “Lily! It’s been great!”
White Lily set down a packet of seeds between them, “I… got these for you. You mentioned you wanted to add them, right?”
Pure Vanilla nodded, immediately standing out to grab tools out of the nearby shed.
Dark Cacao stood up as well, “Pure Vanilla, would you like some help?”
“Sure!”
“Where do you want to plant them?” White Lily asked, picking the seed pack back up.
Pure Vanilla finally finished pulling out the tools.
“Follow me.”
They came to an empty flowerbed, Pure Vanilla immediately bending down to dig out spots for the seeds, sticking his tongue out slightly.
Dark Cacao bent down across from Pure Vanilla, copying the distance between rows, while White Lily opened the seeds, placing them in the open holes.
It didn’t take them too long, considering how few seeds they had.
Pure Vanilla threw himself toward White Lily, giving her a hug, despite both of them being covered in dirt.
White Lily smiled, “I’m glad you’re happy, Vanilla.”
Pure Vanilla smiled back, “I’m… also happy you’re here.”
“It’s just a short visit…” White Lily muttered.
Pure Vanilla continued smiling, though it shifted to something sadder, “Well, I was… honestly scared you wouldn’t be here at all. I’m glad nothing… happened to you, during the war.”
White Lily paused, “I didn’t even know if I would either. I’m… glad as well,” she said, finally sitting up.
Dark Cacao placed a hand on White Lily’s shoulder, “All of us are.”
White Lily nodded.
Golden Cheese interrupted, landing beside the three of them.
“You all look a mess,” Golden Cheese chuckled, brushing some dirt off White Lily’s face.
White Lily leaned into the touch.
“We were just planting flowers,” Pure Vanilla stated, dusting dirt off his robes as he stood up.
Golden Cheese nodded, pulling out a small gold choker, passing it to him, “Here, I thought you’d like this. Happy birthday.”
Pure Vanilla took it, running his hand over the engraving. It was a sunflower in the front, a couple of vines along the sides. It reflected the sunlight nicely.
He undid the latch, struggling to put it on before White Lily offered to help, stepping behind him to put it on.
Pure Vanilla moved over to the nearby fountain, looking at his reflection in the water.
“It looks beautiful, Golden Cheese. I love it.”
Golden Cheese smirked, “Of course. I knew you would.”
Pure Vanilla continued to stare at his reflection, then glanced at his hand specifically, “I should probably go clean myself up, right?”
“You all should,” Golden Cheese declared, still trying to wipe dirt off White Lily’s face, “Especially you two,” she glanced between Dark Cacao and Pure Vanilla.
“Alright, I will,” Pure Vanilla said, beginning to walk away.
“Oh, Hollyberry wanted me to ask you if the five of us could have dinner together?”
Pure Vanilla smiled, “Of course, I would love that.”
“I’ll let her know. Now go clean yourself up! All of you,” she said, pulling along with her.
“I’m going…”
- ☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•————•☆•
“Happy birthday!” Hollyberry hopped out of her chair, hugging Pure Vanilla
“Hey Holly,” Pure Vanilla smiled, “I’m glad to see you…”
Pure Vanilla sat down between White Lily and Dark Cacao, everyone greeting him immediately.
He picked at the food on his plate, placing small bits in his mouth.
Shadow Milk showed up behind him through a portal, hugging him from behind.
“Hey Nilly~.” He said, placing his head on his shoulder.
Pure Vanilla kissed him on the cheek, “Hey Bluebird!”
Shadow Milk blushed, “Aha… I didn’t think you’d…”
White Lily chimed in, “Are you two dating?”
Shadow Milk nodded.
“Aw, that’s adorable!” Hollyberry said with a smile.
Golden Cheese glared at Shadow Milk, “As long as you’re happy, I suppose.”
Pure Vanilla smiled, “I am.”
She looked away, “Alright then.”
The night continued without an issue. Shadow Milk and his friends even started to get along.
Eventually, all of them finished, and Pure Vanilla excused himself, Shadow Milk following close behind.
Pure Vanilla shut his room door behind them, sliding down it.
“You alright, Nilly?” Shadow Milk asked, landing in front of him, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders.
“I’m fine, just… tired,” he muttered, blinking at the blanket, “What is—”
“A blanket! I made it for you. I just… thought you’d like it?”
Pure Vanilla wrapped it further around himself, laying his head on Shadow Milk’s shoulder, “mhm… I do.”
Shadow Milk picked Pure Vanilla up, “Darling, you’re not staying on the floor, you’re going to whine about your back hurting in the morning.”
“I don’t do that.”
“You’re right, you’d still be hurt and you wouldn’t say a word… and that’s worse,” He said, setting Pure Vanilla down on the bed, wrapping himself around him.
Pure Vanilla reciprocated, latching onto his other-half, “I love you…” he muttered, pulling Shadow Milk under the blanket.
Shadow Milk ran his hands through Pure Vanilla’s hair. Usually, Pure Vanilla would do that to him, but it was quite comforting for Shadow Milk to be the one doing it instead…
Pure Vanilla let Shadow Milk continue, drifting off to sleep.
“I love you too, Nilly.”