Chapter Text
This whole mess started because of Pure Vanilla.
“White Lily informed me that the Silver Tree Knights are now open to take up Silent Salt for mentorship.” Pure Vanilla mentioned, placing a warm cloth over Shadow Milk’s spasming cunt. “This caused a conversation among my friends about how to better integrate our other half into our kingdom. ”
Annoyed out of his post-climax clarity, Shadow Milk kicks Pure Vanilla to shut up.
Pure Vanilla swiftly avoids Shadow Milk’s attempts of kicking him off the bed, a pleasant smile remaining on his face. “I understand it is ultimately up to you to decide how to act in front of the Vanilla Kingdom,” he continues. “But I would appreciate it if you perhaps find a way to include yourself among the people.”
As he says that, Pure Vanilla purposely presses onto the sides of his cunt. That causes the kicks to stop.
I am going to murder him after this.
“Involve myself with those common cookies? Ha!” Shadow Milk jeered, biting his lip to stop a moan from leaving. “Unlike that traitor, I make your little minions adjust to me.”
“But it would help—”
“Help what? Your image in taming the beast?” Shadow Milk goaded. “I thought you wanted me to reform at my own pace. Going back on your words?”
Pure Vanilla's mouth slightly widened, then he pressed his lips together in a hard line. Even though their conversation had an abrupt end with silence, he could vividly sense Pure Vanilla's disappointment. A sense of dread filled his stomach.
Whatever, not his problem. Pure Vanilla will get over this.
It has only been an hour since his impulsive decision to return to the Vanilla Kingdom, and Shadow Milk was already regretting his actions.
He felt tempted to teleport back to his and Pure Vanilla’s room, but he had already left a letter stating he would not return to the Crème Republic. And around this time, Pure Vanilla must have already read the letter. This would mean not only will he be proving Pure Vanilla right, but he, the greatest actor on Earthbread, could not even carry out his own word. Despicable.
Deep down, Shadow Milk is aware of how much he is missing the Ancient. The pupils in his hair turning teary-eyed the moment he exited the portal. He had a brief moment of turning around, but the quiet frustration from Pure Vanilla after he apparently ruined another boring meeting finalized his decision to close the portal before he changed his mind.
It was not his fault that none of them could barely stomach seeing the former Beast of Deceit, much less have a decent sense of humor or fun with the complimentary entertainment he gave.
But of course, his order-loving partner agrees with those boring gnats.
If Pure Vanilla does not want him to cause disruptions anymore, Shadow Milk would gladly obey his dear, silly Nilly.
But with nothing noteworthy to do in this boring Kingdom, Shadow Milk was at a bit of a loss. He could summon his minions and let loose not-so-harmless rumors, but that would immediately bring Pure Vanilla back, and Shadow Milk was not in the mood to confront him yet.
Maybe he should stay in his Spire, but then even if his Spire is much more interesting and entertaining than the kingdom, he would soon also grow bored. The other Beasts were not an option, either disturbing their own Ancient or ignoring him. He thinks about his minions, but then he remembers that despite them swearing to do his bidding after he accepted Pure Vanilla’s offer, he made a promise to them and Pure Vanilla to let Black Sapphire and Candy Apple live out their own lives outside of him.
That half-baked fool really softened you, and now look what happened.
Shadow Milk groans, aimlessly floating around the corridors in the castle. The staff actively avoids his path as he goes through each corridor.
Eventually, he stops in an abandoned room found in a distant, desolate area of the castle. With a loud creak, Shadow Milk summons several floating candles and lamps inside the room.
The room was around the same size as the other ordinary rooms inside the castle. There were some empty bookshelves, a couch in between them, and at the very end, near the stained window, was a large desk.
Shadow Milk floats towards the empty bookshelves, grimacing as he swipes a finger to inspect the wood. Dusty, but the wood was still impressively strong. He then floats to the desk, lightly knocking it. There was a deep, bass sound echoing with each knock.
Shadow Milk can work with this inconspicuous room.
Summoning his puppets, they quickly went to work. Wiping each speck of dust away, adding more furniture, and redecorating the room to his taste.
Looking at the bookshelves again, Shadow Milk pondered what he could turn the room into. Distantly, he remembered writing scrolls upon scrolls, carefully binding them. Shadow Milk shook his head, grimacing.
Nope, not interested.
Perhaps find a way to include yourself among the people.
Master Shadow Milk, I promise to treasure all versions of you with my life!
Milk of Knowledge, thank you for this gift you’ve bestowed upon me.
Master Fount of Knowledge, I… love this.
See! Look how approachable the Fount of Knowledge is. He gave each one of his students a plushie! Now everyone wants to be in his class!
Unconsciously, a small, soft object fell onto his hand. Shadow Milk stared at its beady, mismatched button eyes. He wanted to tear it apart.
Instead, he places it on the desk.
“Of course, they liked a softer version of me.” Shadow Milk muttered. Even when he was at his “nicest,” his young students only started to truly participate in his class when he made those plushies of himself. They cuddled the plushies and played with them during his lectures. While he preferred his students pay attention to him, at least they didn’t feel like they had to hold themselves back in his class.
Frankly, he enjoyed making those plushies. Plushie making is arguably one of the very few hobbies he kept from his time as the Fount of Knowledge.
As if sensing their master’s mood, the puppets began bringing all the equipment and materials he needed for his plan. Soon, the formerly empty, abandoned room was filled with fabrics and threads of different colors, a sewing machine, and cotton. The desk contained cutting materials, measuring equipment, and everything else for his project.
Fine, if Pure Vanilla wants Shadow Milk to be more palatable to those common cookies he so loves, he might as well so graciously honor that request with the best of his abilities. He would include his not-friends too. The last time Shadow Milk bothered to make a plushie version of them was during April Fools’ Day for their little minions. They appeared happy, as much as they tried to hide it, upon receiving the gift. Except for Pavlova.
Making plushie versions of all the Beasts will soften their image to the cookies, thinking of them as cute and cuddly, eventually forgetting about the Beasts’ monstrous past. He would be doing all those half-baked fools a favor for their measly problem.
Free from charge, too! See how courteous he’s become.
With a snap of his fingers, images of his friends appeared to him from every angle. Taking a seat on the comfortable chair, he added, Shadow Milk is about to grace Earthbread with the greatest plushies ever known to cookiekind.
Maybe this is something Pure Vanilla would be happy about when he comes back next week.