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[jugglery]

WELL, HELLOOOO THERE! Say the words at the thing!
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[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? )

[jugglery]

[why is he relaxed after hearing this??]

Complicated, perhaps! Though, I wonder what the purpose of having those numbers there is? Like, who cares, you know? Unless they boost our stats, or something...

[..........................oh]

[ancientlight]

... Our bonds as our strength? ( Their friends are their powers, huh... )

It's normal that those who gets along well can fight together side-by-side far better, but... What drew you to that conclusion?

[jugglery]

Because, fool! What else would those numbers be used for? Puzzle-solving? Obviously, I'm meant to see everyone else's, but not my own. And it's the same with you. Also, you mentioned that fighting in pairs is possible. I think that's the real clue.

[ancientlight]

I can see why you would come to that conclusion, and yet --

( He's rather upset. And knowing the other: )

Are you thinking that we must strengthen our bond?

( If 10 is the maximum, then... 5 and 6 half-way there, isn't it? He isn't fond of forcing any sort of friendship unnaturally. )

We still have time to see how our powers respond against the shadows now.

[jugglery]

It's not like we can force ourselves to get along...

[still, he wants to try something. for science. Shadow Milk slowly approaches Pure Vanilla, then reaches up and grips the other Cookie's cheeks in between his hands. stare]

[ancientlight]

( Before he can react, he feels hands on his face. Shadow Milk will find that he’s naturally warm to the touch, and Pure Vanilla looks on with a rather confused, curious look. His cheeks flush vaguely. He can’t really help it. It’s rather forward of the his other half!

What was he thinking? )

… S-Shadow Milk Cookie?

[jugglery]

[he's staring! canting his head one way, then the other, like he's really thinking. of course, Shadow Milk Cookie is not going to tell Pure Vanilla Cookie what he's thinking about. yet.

a way to get stronger, faster, huh? maybe...

his fingers curl a bit, not pressing roughly, but definitely there's some pressure in his hold as he pulls Pure Vanilla's face down and leans in. and then he licks him on the corner of his mouth. he feels it, too, a tingle in his Soul Jam. a resonating even though he is experimenting.

hnnn.]