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The orchestra atop the elevated stage at the end of the grand room began their wondrous concert, hundreds upon hundreds of cookies fully beginning to take part in the festivities. Sage looked on from the stage, having just finished his opening ceremony for the ball. Because he had offered to have the grand ball take place in his own spire, the cookies of his town insisted that he be the one to do the speeches and such.
How generous they were, but Sage’s offer was light work! His spire practically bent to his will, its own reality shifting with the power of his Soul Jam. All he had to do was stretch out his main room greatly, lift up a part of the floor to make a stage, and voila! The perfect room for a celebration!
Everything else was accommodated by the other townsfolk. As much as Sage requested that he be the one to also prepare those materials, they all remained awfully stubborn in that moment. He figured it was because of the celebration they were holding, however: it was the anniversary for the Town Square, of course!
They must’ve had that silly old ideal stuck in their minds; because they lived in the Town, they had to contribute in some way to show their gratitude. Silly, in Sage’s opinion, but he couldn’t deny that he understood the reasoning. And so, the ballroom was decorated and supplied in a way that just screamed ‘grand.’
Long, long tables stretched all across the left of the ballroom, filled to the brink with lavishly decorated desserts, appetizers, and drinks galore. Large round tables filled the room as well, also situated in a circular formation to leave the middle of the room open for dancing. The middle of the room had a different flooring; light oak wood that gave a nice ‘tap’ when heels landed on it. Above it all, however, was a huge chandelier, speckled with diamonds and other pearlescent gems that sparkled on the walls and floor below wonderfully.
Sage began moving off the stage, not even bothering to try and take the stairs when he saw a group of snobby-looking cookies blocking the path. He floated off the edge of the stage, lowering himself to the floor but not allowing his feet to touch. As expected, the moment the Sage of Truth had come down from the stage, cookies wasted no time in trying to greet and interact with him.
A few Sage could recognize right off the bat as wandering merchants who happened to stumble upon the Town previously, a whole lot more faring from areas as far as the ends of Crispia. And Sage loved to talk with cookies all over Earthbread! He could share and trade traditions, items, and knowledge with any and every cookie across the continent!
…As long as it didn’t have to be during a celebration.
Cookies, from Sage’s experience, are much better to tolerate when you’re not in a celebratory setting. They become prideful, like they’re owed something for simply attending a party, supposedly above receiving advice and information while they’re on a nice vacation. Otherwise, they’re all just hooked on berry juice and stuck on the verge of passing out in some dark corner of misery.
Sage could be as quick with his conversations as he wished, but it wouldn’t take long for another cookie to occupy his time once more. And that was why he was beginning to regret offering his humble abode as the area for this ball. Cookies weren’t even trying to engage in otherworldly topics with him; it was all just about his spire!
’You are just so kind for providing such a lovely place to celebrate!’
’It’s amazing how you just happen to have a room this large!!’
’Do you know where the restrooms would be..?’
Sage could’ve been saved all this trouble had the ball been located somewhere else. He silently exhaled, snapping his fingers behind his back to summon some small signs leading to the restrooms. At least he’d make some progress moving between conversations. He had just reached the perimeter of the dance floor now.
He swept his gaze around himself one more time before making his move once more. If he could just get a small snack before leaving this horrifically cramped area…
Sage quickly sidestepped a splash of red wine aimed right at him, turning to see a male cookie with a deeply flushed face swaying around in some pathetic attempt at dancing. They still held the glass lazily to their lips, not even noticing that the glass was empty, nor had it reached his lips.
Yeah, no, this wasn’t working.
Sage lifted himself high enough to sail over the sea of cookies around him. He gave small greetings overhead, sharing laughter and small brushes of his hand to those who playfully brought their own up. At last, he got to the end of the long table full of desserts. Even with almost all the cookies having taken their fill, there still seemed to be a vast amount of food left.
He scanned the area before actually placing his feet on the floor, taking a small plate and placing a small blueberry tart and chocolate mousse on top. Talk about perfect timing! There were basically zero cookies around here now that the main show was drinking and dancing!
Spinning on his heel, Sage turned towards the doorway right by the table, already looking forward to hearing as the loud crowd and music faded the more he walked away.
A small pause. Sage noticed a cookie sitting in a corner not far from the doorway he was about to walk through. How.. odd. Why would a cookie simply sit in some sad corner away from all the festivities?
He took a few steps towards the cookie, now beginning to make out some of their defining features. They seemed quite young, a little too young, actually. Just barely past their twenties. Their light hair was combed in an attempt to be neat, the ends of their hair frayed and faintly crystallized with ice. Judging by their attire, they must’ve been from the Dark Cacaoian region. They even had a thick furred coat tied around their waist.
Sage could see how their expression remained strangely blank, despite how their eyes watched the cookies intently. They were sitting on a small bench, most likely placed down for the cookies to stay and have a break on while they were still setting the area up. In their lap was a slice of ice cream cake, half eaten with the fork stuck awkwardly on top.
“..Hello,” Sage spoke up softly, approaching the lone cookie.
They turned their head to look at Sage, and that was enough for him to notice something. Ah… Sage could recognize that gaze anywhere!
He quickly calmed whatever new expression came up on his face as the cookie seemed to tense at the implication. Instead, Sage took a few more steps towards them, deciding to play along for a bit.
“What’s a cookie like you doing in this miserable corner?” Sage tilted his head, eyeing them silently.
The cookie shifted himself slightly as Sage came closer, moving to make enough room for him to sit if he wished. Their gaze then returned back to the cookies converging towards the middle of the room.
“…Just accompanying my father on this trip,” They answered simply, their voice quiet and nearly teetering on a mumble.
Sage gave an amused huff. “And what, did he tell you to sit here alone? I’d say you’re grown enough to go out there yourself!” He moved and sat down on the space offered, placing his plate on his lap.
They remained silent as they continued to watch the cookies laugh and dance. “Just following along, that’s it.”
Sage’s smile softened slightly, seeing how they seemed to eye the cookies twirling and swinging themselves around. Their gaze practically screamed longing.
Oh, and how convenient! The lights above dimmed, colored spotlights turning on and dazzling the room through the chandelier’s gems. The change in lighting was enough for the cookie to look up at the lights in confusion.
A new tune arose from the orchestra, playing out a slow waltz. Cookies moving about the middle began to pair up, starting to slow dance along with the melody. Sage’s grin widened as a new idea came, standing up abruptly and placing his desserts on the bench. He turned to the cookie, still sitting down with a now expectant gaze.
“How about we go and join them, hm?” Sage tilted his head as he energetically held his hand out.
They simply stared at the hand Sage offered, hesitation clear. However, their hands slowly took the plate on their own lap and placed it besides Sage’s. The moment that plate touched the seat, Sage hooked the cookie’s arm and pulled them up, already moving towards the dance floor.
Of course, his sudden move startled the cookie quite a bit, a small yelp leaving their lips. They stumbled a bit as they tried to regain their footing, and once they finally balanced themselves, they were both already at the dance floor.
Just standing at the perimeter, Sage released the cookie’s arm to fully face them. He held his hand out again, this time much more slowly and gently than the previous time. He at least had the manners to ask permission to dance, though Sage knew he wanted to do this.
Luckily for Sage, he places his hand on his own, and allows him to pull them into the circle. Seems like someone’s feeling a little different..
Sage was seamless in their transition, placing his free hand below and behind the other’s arm and raising their intertwined hands up higher. A hesitant hand from the other places itself on his shoulder, arm lightly resting on his own. And with that, they melded with the other pairs of cookies slowly waltzing about.
A few steps to the left, a few steps to the right. Sage opted for the simplest form of slow dance he knew, watching the cookie in front of him carefully. He held a blank expression as per usual, eyes tilted downwards slightly to watch his feet presumably. Sage chuckled softly at the sight.
Slowly, he then began stepping at an angle, squeezing softly when the other seemed to tense at the change. He made sure to slow down his movements even more at the reaction, moving back to normal pace when the other seemed more comfortable.
They simply repeated that movement for a while longer until they had gone full circle. Sage gazed into the other’s eyes, noting how they seemed less tense, hesitant. Rather, he looked more deep in thought. Maybe even content.
The arm that rested on Sage slowly moved up, hand wrapping around the back of his neck as his other hand, still intertwined with Sage’s, gently unclasped to fully hold him. Sage’s movements and thoughts stuttered slightly at the new position, but he quickly recovered. A light hum escaped his lips as he moved his arms down to rest his hands on the other’s hips.
They were both much closer than before, that’s for sure. It must’ve seemed a little strange for the cookies around to see Sage so up close with some cacaoian. It didn’t pay him much mind anyway; everyone else was most likely too inebriated to truly notice, nor did the cookie he was dancing with actually stay the same.
It had started shortly after they got closer. His light hair had saturated slowly, crystallized ice falling and melting away from the ends. Dull dough lost its icy filter, tan dough taking its place. By the end of the second full circle, Sage had taken his partner’s hand and turned them about, and by then the cookie standing before him was no longer that same unknown cacaoian.
The Recluse now stood before Sage, silently moving back into his embrace as he was pulled back into it. Gone were the heavy yet fluffy-appearing gear and garments, now replaced with flowy dark robes that stretched all the way to the floor.
It was tempting. So incredibly tempting for Sage to just repeat this whole dance and experience the whole thing with the true Recluse in his eyes. It would be great and wonderful, showing off to the alcohol-dazed world what kind of relationship he held with the hermit.
But it would most likely be better to end it off while he could.
With a flourish, Sage pulled them both out of the circle once they had shied far enough away from the multitude of other people. He still held onto Recluse’s hand as they weaved through tables and wandering cookies, taking their plates off the bench they had left them on and moving towards the doorway.
“Where are we going?” Recluse questioned, that being the first thing he ever said since his detransformation.
“Just a nice and quieter space. It’d be best if we left before everyone gets a bit too inebriated,” Sage reasoned.
They reached the doorway, walking through and moving down the hallway that was meant to guide others to where the restrooms were. There weren’t any other passages or exits along the way, but the way Sage walked implied there actually was.
They walked a bit longer before Sage finally slowed down and glanced around the area. Once he was sure they were in the right place and no suspecting cookies were around, Sage pulled Recluse behind one of the pillars, walking through what was actually an intangible illusion. He gave a satisfied sigh, sauntering over to a lounge chair and sitting down with Recluse in tow.
Sage plucked the tart from his plate at last, taking a small bite before looking over at Recluse. “You had an awfully flimsy excuse this time around,” he teased lightly.
He received a small glare at the jab, which only served to make him more amused. “It was still reasonable,” Recluse replied.
“Maybe in your mind, but imagine if there was truly a father just like how you described. They’d get ripped to shreds had anyone figured out what they left their son to do!” Sage laughed at the thought of seeing a cookie get berated relentlessly for such a trick.
Recluse hummed at the Sage’s words, taking a bite out of his pretty melted ice cream cake at this point. They sat in silence for a moment, simply taking in the other’s presence as they ate peacefully.
“You weren’t exactly inexperienced on the dance floor,” Sage finally remarked, setting his empty plate aside.
“I’m still rusty.” Recluse set his own plate down.
“Rusty?” Sage echoed.
“What? You think I didn’t partake in a ball or two?”
“Ah, right. I remember now.” Sage gave a small hum as he imagined how Recluse’s previous balls must’ve been.
Back when Recluse was still known as Pure Vanilla… He must’ve had his fair share of balls and celebrations of the sort. It’s only natural that he’d still retain some memories of his dances. It left the Sage wondering a bit. Has Pure Vanilla also disliked these balls in some way? Maybe not due to the time he could spend with friends and acquaintances, but because of the self-centered cookies and their carelessness that followed along?
Perhaps that’s why Recluse came to this ball. He’d be able to experience such an event without such a huge title hanging over his head, and enjoy it to its fullest. It must’ve been such a great curiosity to him…
Recluse eventually stood up from the couch, pulling Sage from his thoughts immediately. He must’ve been getting ready to leave. He made his way onto his feet as well at the thought, moving over to Recluse’s side.
“Leaving already?” Sage chuckled fondly, giving a small kiss to the top of Recluse’s head. “I sure hoped you enjoyed this evening.”
Recluse stood beside Sage silently, not moving one bit. He had stood there for so long that Sage had actually begun to think that he had stunned Recluse greatly with his act.
Then, completely out of nowhere, Sage felt soft lips plant on his cheek before immediately pulling away. The sudden feeling left him completely bewildered, barely even processing the small “I did,” that came from Recluse.
The shadows in the room darkened for a moment, curling around the edges of furniture and pillars before moving towards and out an open window nearby. The Truthless Recluse’s presence was no longer felt nearby. Sage couldn’t even think about that.
For what felt like years, Sage simply just stood there. Slowly and hesitantly, he lifted a hand up and lightly rested his fingers on his cheek, right where he felt the small peck. There was no way. Did he actually..?
He had. Sage knew he had. And that would mean..
That would’ve been the first time Recluse had ever kissed Sage back.
The reality hit Sage greatly. His face flushed a deep blue, the stars in his hair sparkling so bright he was basically illuminating the room himself. He didn’t even know how to react to this.. he just knew he was so, so, so happy!
…Maybe this celebration wasn’t as bad as he was expecting.