Upon his downfall, Shadow Milk Cookie had the time to think and reflect deeply about his actions, about how he really feels. Really, he’s starting to think that his blinded but hidden rage could’ve been caused by suppressed loneliness. Upon realizing just how lonely he was, he’s begun to have a deep, deep fear of abandonment, closing himself off more recently to think in-depth and hoping Pure Vanilla Cookie wouldn’t notice. He knew he shouldn’t have declined the monarch’s proposal about becoming his friend— he really, really should have, but he didn’t— because he was chin-deep in the abyss called his rage. Fearful & having severe anxiety about being left alone, he’s started having panic attacks. And while these panic attacks have been slipping under Pure Vanilla’s radar and Shadow Milk’s panic attacks almost always end in him losing consciousness, perhaps this specific occurrence will vary from the others...

Current time.

The dim light in the midst of nighttime cast a partially comforting light over Shadow Milk Cookie’s quarters, his trembling silhouette against the wall behind him allowing for anyone to see just HOW badly his state had declined.

“It’s okay, calm… it’s okay, calm down…!” …Was the only thing running through the jester’s head as he found himself deep in a spiral of anxiety, wading his way through an ocean of the regrets that have plagued him for centuries, both hands over his mouth as tears flowed down his face like a never-ending waterfall, stinging his throat as his bottom lip trembles, his attempts to calm down turning voiceless & into nothing. He was so deep in his panic, throat feeling like it’s closing up as he struggles to intake any air, that he didn’t notice Pure Vanilla come in until he suddenly realized he was in someone’s oh-so-warm & comforting embrace, the warmth of such an embrace being soothing, albeit barely. He reclines against the healer upon the realization that it’s him. “…!”

Pure Vanilla could pinpoint someone’s panic from across the Vanilla Castle— it was so poignant in the air that he couldn’t help but be concerned. He had no idea it was Shadow Milk, though. Realizing it was from the jester’s quarters [He had so generously let the Beast of Deceit stay in his castle despite everything], he became even more apprehensive, being greeted with the sight of a frightened Shadow Milk Cookie when he had opened the door that was left partially ajar. Realizing just how perturbed the other was, he had rushed to his side to soothe his worries. Being a healer, he knew precisely what to do. He wrapped his arms around Shadow Milk in a type of embrace that could bring a dim light of serenity & tranquility into his world of panic, pulling him against himself as he runs a hand through his hair, his sympathy for the Cookie in his embrace apparent. “Sh… Shh, it’ll all be … alright.”