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[jugglery]

WELL, HELLOOOO THERE! Say the words at the thing!
[ text ⦿ voice ⦿ video ⦿ action ]

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[ancientlight]

( Pure Vanilla is about to answer but is taken aback by the appearance of a familiar looking faculty member. How could he not recognize them? The days when he was in the academy were so very precious to him...

His grip on his staff tightens a little, blue and golden eyes looking to the persona. Bittersweet feelings are surfacing. How could they not be? )

If our personas are a manifestation of what is inside...

Shadow Milk Cookie... How is it that you could have been involved with Blueberry Academy?

( He can't help but look to him as he speaks. Shadow Milk Cookie was sealed away at that time. Even though he had said that he had been watching him the entire time, just-- how closely could it have been? And even with the both of them being so connected at one point in time, it was difficult to know the difference between turth and lies then. )

[jugglery]

Really? That's what you're focusing on? Oooohhhhh, dear. As disappointing as always!

[he waves a dismissive hand]

Never mind that! Show me yours!

[ancientlight]

( As mysterious as ever. He pauses for a moment. Behind him, a rather colorful looking, bird-human hybrid appears. It's nothing as flashy or as bright when he had first confronted Shadow Milk Cookie, but she's a part of him all the same. )

I do not believe it is anything I recognize, and yet... She is a part of me all the same.

( He looks to him thoughtfully, cupping his chin with a free hand. )

It may be in our best interests to work together! I have heard that the shadows here have only become far more aggressive over time.

[jugglery]

[his eyes flick up to the other creature. a part of Pure Vanilla, huh? for some reason, a feeling wells up inside Shadow Milk. jealousy? heehee... no way. certainly not that. unless]

You always talk about working together, but you clearly don't need my help, now, right? Just like I don't need yours!

[his voice is a sharp hiss, cutting through like a knife. Shadow Milk snaps his fingers, and her creature rushes towards Pure Vanilla]

[ancientlight]

( His own persona acts then, rushing forward. Lightning strike, albeit it's not a powerful attack. Even so, there's a chance that it'll paralyze the other persona. )

Shadow Milk Cookie! I do not wish to fight!

I cannot help but think that the both of us have come into this world for a reason. Please, have we not helped one another up until this point?

( Why does it always end like this? What is it that he had said that set him off? Why is it that... even now, he can't understand him as he wishes to? )

[jugglery]

[the paralyze attack works, but there's something else that Pure Vanilla might be thinking. much like Shadow Milk's illusion attacks, there is doubt creeping into his mind. voices whispering "you never knew Shadow Milk as well as you thought you did, and you never will."

Shadow Milk brushes back his bangs, composing himself. once again, his grin is manic, sharp, angry about something or another]

Ohhh! You silly old fool! You crack me up!

...Look, sweetie. It's the same as it's always been, isn't it? I have been using you to get information. But now, look at me! I have tremendous power! Why would I need your assistance?

[ancientlight]

( A hand goes to his head, looking to him in surprise. Was this another effect of the persona? Was it capable of such manipulation...? He needed to be careful, to attempt to keep his thoughts focused. )

We can be stronger together! Please, what reason is there for us to confront each other like this?

( Their circumstances here are far different from what they were before back on Earthbread. )

I may not understand you completely, but please... I want to try.

[jugglery]

[something about Pure Vanilla struggling under his powers again makes Shadow Milk feel... so great. he's hated being without his powers for all these months, and now he feels like he's almost reached where he was before, again.

no more playing nice!

he barks out a laugh, wild and free]

Try? Try to understand me?! You? Do you wish to know what it's like to truly suffer? Day in, and day out, knowing that if you make one wrong move, say something even a little controversial, the mindless sheep will tear you apart?!

[ancientlight]

( It reminds him of his goals. A world, where no cookie had to suffer... When he was a child, that was the reason he had formed a close relationship with White Lily to begin with. They both had the same goal in mind, and yet... )

Please, all I want is to share that burden with you! You don't have handle it alone anymore!

( How many times can he reach out to someone, and their words not reach them? Though, no matter how many times he may fail -

He won't give up. )

[jugglery]

[Pure Vanilla always gets through to Shadow Milk, in one way or another. maybe he didn't back at home, but here? things are different, they've been doing everything together. Shadow Milk wouldn't go as far to say they were friends, but were they still enemies at this point?

he continues to laugh, but calls off his monster. shadow. persona. whatever it is. he's still feeling incredibly uninhibited in this moment. perhaps, that is why he walks over to Pure Vanilla, a smug smirk on his face]

I think it'd be a waste of time, sharing my past with you. Why do you care to understand? I just told you I've been using you, but you still believe we can work together.

[ancientlight]

( Shadow Milk's persona is called back, and Pure Vanilla can feel himself relax a bit more. Phew... It seems like he's calmed down a little. )

Even if that truly is the case, I have enjoyed our time together.

The two of us... we are bound together in the most intimate way possible. There is no telling what we can do if we ally ourselves to escape this maze.

( Their relationship is... complicated, to say the least. He isn't sure if that would change any time soon. )

[jugglery]

[his eyebrow twitches in a reaction to something Pure Vanilla says, but he's more or less calmer now]

Hmhmhm. Who says I want to escape the maze?

[ancientlight]

I have heard that there is a shadow that one cannot defeat alone if we remain in this maze for too long... You and I may not be able to protect ourselves, should we run into it alone.

( Is staying here alone what he truly wants? He can't imagine that that's the case after knowing that much. )

[jugglery]

[how does Pure Vanilla know all these things? what kinds of connections does he have??]

Hmph! Well, if you want to work with me, you'll have to keep up.

[ancientlight]

( Oh? He lights up a bit. )

Of course! I shall do my best!

( DW about it Shamil. PV can be resourceful when he wants to be. Maybe not as much as White Lily, but enough to feel more prepared to venture Mementos. )

[jugglery]

[there's something weird going on, Shadow Milk thinks. they're here, in this mirror world, and he feels like letting himself get closer to Pure Vanilla, despite the fact that he had wanted to throttle him earlier. his eyes flick back to the blond, then forward once more as they start walking]

Sooo... what else have you heard about this place?

[ancientlight]

I am afraid that I have shared much of what I have come to learn.

( He looks upwards for a moment, above Shadow Milk's head as they walk together. )

Have you noticed those numbers? I have yet to learn what they mean, however... there is not a single dreamer without them.

[jugglery]

[right, the numbers. there is a nice, neutral 5 above Shadow Milk's head]

I figured they were power numbers. Or rankings.

[he shrugs]

So far, I haven't seen a number larger than a ten. So, maybe, you can't go higher than that.

[ancientlight]

I am not certain. If that was the case, then a power much larger for yourself would be visible.

( For Pure Vanilla, there's a 6 that Shadow Milk may very well see. )

I see a five when I look at you, and yet... your power is one that is nearly unmatched. Even that newfound power you hold seemed to hold a great strength.

[jugglery]

[Shadow Milk blinks and whirls around]

A five? No... That can't be! How come you're a six, then?! There's no way you're stronger than me! Even with your stupid healing powers!

[Shadow Milk, you did get caught by flowers when you first arrived. and then a wolf bit you]

[ancientlight]

A five?

( He stops in his steps. )

No, it does not have to do with power at all! I was a one to those who I had only just met.

And yet... with you, it is far different.

[jugglery]

[Shadow Milk's brain is working now, as he's trying to piece together these clues. he also saw mostly ones around him, but to people he knew, it is different.

he finally pauses, and makes a very sour expression]

Oh, Witches. You've gotta be kidding me.

[ancientlight]

( He's not surprised that he may have figured it out far more quickly than he did. Pure Vanilla is still coming up with theories of his own, but there's nothing solid enough to speak of. )

Shadow Milk Cookie?

( What exactly was it? He looks... rather unhappy. )

[jugglery]

[how can he test this theory? he doesn't have a clue. he'd need Tenna or Catra to help him, but he only has Pure Vanilla here]

It. Doesn't have to do with power or abilities. Or even rankings. I think it's... got to do with familiarity. How we feel about one another.

[ancientlight]

( Pure Vanilla pauses then before looking to Shadow Milk with a more relaxed expression. )

I see! This may be a little more complicated than we had anticipated, but... this is something the both of us were familiar with, isn't it?

( So, was there any need to be upset? )