Surprisingly not a witch reader (though you can make the reader a witch admirer if you want to. That would be awesome!)
If you don't do requests with Shadow Milk's Sage Of Truth Costume, that's completely fine and you can ignore this!
Also this is based on the theory that Shadow milk's costume is his redeemed form.
If you do requests with SOT Shmilk, could I request Shadow Milk (Sage Of Truth) x reader dating headcanons, where reader was friends with Shadow Milk before his descend into madness, so they go to see his downfall and live through it. But now that its over, they're both feeling awkward in the relationship? :3
[How interesting~ As delightful as Witch inspired cookie would’ve been, I’m afraid he wouldn’t take too kindly to such a thought]
Shadow Milk Cookie (Sage Of Truth) x Reader
[Note/warnings- I do use the title Fount of Knowledge in the beginning]
You always were something special; a detail, seemingly lost to the seas of time. You knew The Beasts long before they earned their tumultuous titles, though you always were particularly close with The Fount of Knowledge. The two of you hit it off—ever fast friends. Despite your position, you never seemed to view him as the others did; something to be worshiped, but never adored. Fount was just another cookie, If not a powerful cookie. You weren’t naïve, you understood that him—such as the other Virtues—were capable, but that didn’t mean they were without feelings. Though Knowledge seemed content on allowing this to perpetuate itself, challenging cookies question their own perception of him and learn the truth.
You on the other hand? You had far less patience for cookies that never seemed to really want the truth; only ever willing to hear what easiest their minds and pleases their hearts. You were quick to defend his honor whenever you caught wind of a snide remark that had no business leaving their lips—to the slight dismay of The Fount of Knowledge. After every quarrel, he had made it a habit to ease your mind; commenting on the futility of forcing one’s knowledge on another so unwilling, you would always sigh, but still acknowledge your friend’s words—despite you both knowing you would never truly heed such advice.
Despite your stubbornness often getting in your way, Fount never seem to take much offense; it was this unapologetic persistence that allowed the two of you to pave the way for your friendship. You had gifted him something hard to come by; your earnest and undivided attention, you took the truth on the chin and worked through any riddle designed to leave your head reeling wholeheartedly. You were never perfect, but that wasn’t what you were striving for—and by your words, it seemed that you believed the same for him. You seem to content with him as he was, regardless of his knowledge.
His decline was slow, hardly noticeable at first; a small crack here and there. At first you assumed stress, the students had been particularly pushy and the other Virtues seemed troubled as well… but then it worsened. The Fount of Knowledge started to drown himself in his work, almost desperate in his pursuit to gain answers. Though the only thing he gained in return was the absolute dread of watching the start of the end. Soon, Fount became much more disgruntled; frazzled even, not quite losing that sharpness—instead, his aim muddled. He tried his best not to lash out at you. You were not to blame for this seemingly endless string of disaster; and yet, he continued to grow bitter. You saw the truth, accepted it for what it was… why couldn’t everyone else be more like you?
Everything you tried only made things worse; not because of you, but because of what it told him. Your help only exacerbated the problem, and had inadvertently showed The Fount of Knowledge the lengths you would go to understand and learn more; something that he would only dream of others doing? Why should he help when all had turned their backs from the truth?
The day he finally fell was one met with gleeful eyes that didn’t seem to quite match.
The Witches were far less understanding, and while you ached, you couldn’t fully blame them; it was nothing less than the massacre, one that would cling to the very dough of your being long after the dust settled. And yet, you couldn’t bring yourself to watch as the Beasts were locked away.
When The Ancients arrived to the scene, you kept your distance. It would be unwise to grow attached to Cookies that could possibly fall to the same fate as their predecessors; you especially avoided Pure Vanilla. He was a painful reminder of what you had lost and what could’ve been; one glance at him felt like a knife being lodged in your chest, and the worst part was, he knew that and kept his distance out of respect for you—only twisting it.
Though in a cruel twist of events, it was him who approached you for assistance after news of the Beasts had escaped the Silver Tree. Conflicted didn’t even begin to describe the rush emotions that went through you, how is that possible? Why, why now just when you had finally started to heal? And why would Pure Vanilla ask you… despite everything…
Seeing Shadow Milk Cookie was… surreal, he seemed all too keen on tormenting your ragtag group; and yet, time seem to still the moment you look at each other.
It was awkward, Having to learn each other’s shape all over again, but the two of you tried your best to make it work—you had seen the depths of his loneliness. Shadow Milk wasn’t the cookie that you knew before, redemption or not; occasionally though, you’d get glimpses of what was. But soon you realized that your relationship would never be the same, and that you would have to be content with that; lest you keep your distance.
Though you couldn’t bring yourself to actually distance, you grappled with it before ultimately accepting it—change would come if you liked it or not, only fools disillusioned themselves to such a truth. His progress was slow and tedious, but you were proud of him regardless; cheering him on every step of the way, and giving him a patience that you had lacked before—perhaps you had changed as well.
There was never any particular point that marked the shift of your relationship; instead, it naturally evolved. Yes, it wasn’t your intention to fall in love with The Sage Of Truth, but it felt so natural. Like it was always met to be.
The two of you only continue to understand each other better by the day; though the awkwardness hasn’t completely vanished yet, merely settles—You’re not there yet, but you will one day. For now, you both take in each day, one step at a time.
