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Chapter Text

It was a known fact of the Creme Republic that the Consul can handle a plethora of threats that come his way. From any diplomatic clashes to the foulest of criminals, Clotted Cream handles it all well. His smooth talking allows him to avoid any arguments, and his method of fighting lets him effectively get rid of any physical threats that may come his way. 

He has quite the unique way of fighting, many would say. Unlike the fists of the ruffians that comb through the city or the piercing swords of the paladins, Clotted Cream harnesses his own Light Magic abilities in the form of sparks and physical projections of objects like cages and handcuffs that are of infallible strength. Only with the help of the Cloak of Light, a product of technology and magic, of course. A special cloak that was given to him as a gift the day he became the Consul. 

Clotted Cream was born with natural affinities for Light Magic, yes, but it was never enough for him to use on its own. He was nothing like the mages of the academies who were born well-versed in the magic form, but learnt how to use it well nevertheless. With the cloak, it only made him stronger as it was tailored and engineered perfectly for himself. 

But amongst the most striking features of the cloak are the multiple tendril-like ribbons that follow Clotted Cream’s every move. Be it in their default defensive position in front of him, or from watching them shoot any potential enemies from afar, many assume that the ribbons have a mind of their own! That isn’t such a far reach from the truth, as the ribbons are almost like sentient beings of their own. They are enchanted to match the personality of the owner - Clotted Cream Cookie himself - and to be an extension of himself and his thoughts. 

Though, the Consul might say that they are quite the playful sort, if you asked. The ribbons won’t hesitate to hit Clotted Cream in the face when he thinks things that shouldn’t even be present in his mind - like wishing ill to an Elder outright or burning the Lyceum down - to make sure he keeps his image pristine. Of course, that isn’t to say that they hate him; in fact, the ribbons assist him as much as they can and often show affection towards him in their own ways. By brushing his hair out of his face to wordlessly praising his efforts with a pat on the head, they act like any other household pet to him.

Financier watches as Clotted Cream points his hand forward and a spark of light charges for the golems in front of them. The golems disintegrate at the contact of sharp light against the stony black of their bodies while her own sword cuts through the flesh of another smaller golem. She watches as he takes the least amount of effort to shoot light at the monsters, stabbing with force the body of another. 

Exactly what…, Financier wonders at the sight of the machine-gun-like gold ribbons, are those things made of?

Clotted Cream finishes the biggest golem off by entrapping it in a cage shining of pure light, watching as it tries to claw through the bars. The cage, however, simply burns its hands. He backs away from the cage, counting with whispers, until it disappears a few milliseconds before he reaches the number five. With the cage’s vanishing, the golem crumbles and perishes in a split second. 

Financier watches his back as four tendrils become two, and Clotted Cream makes a turn towards her. She realises why he’d stated that he is perfectly capable of defending himself. Initially, even Financier doubted the statement at the sight of his smaller, untrained body lacking any real muscle. But now, she’d seen his capabilities. And quite frankly, it was slightly short of terrifying. 

Clotted Cream returns to Financier’s side with his normal smile, something quite unnerving for someone who’d just obliterated an entire monster by himself. 

“Consul…” Financier averts her glance at him, slightly disturbed, “It pleases me greatly that you are safe…”

Chapter Text

Days fly by, and Financier does the same thing she does in her daily routines for Wednesday. After a long council meeting, Financier accompanies Clotted Cream as he sits at his desk scribbling out on paper after paper, helping him when he needs assistance.

Financier knocks on his room door, setting Clotted Cream out of his trance of stress. She holds out the plate of scones that she’d prepared for him out of her own concern. She remembered how he hadn’t eaten a single thing all day yet, and what better way to relieve a pressured Consul than surprising him with his favourite treat?

“Financier?” Clotted Cream turns to the door and asks, “Anything the matter?” 

Financier shakes her head in response, and sets down the plate on an empty space on the messy table. Clotted Cream’s eyes light up at the sight of his favourite snack as two more ribbons manifest with a flash to habitually grab the knife and fork that were also lying on the plate. 

“You haven’t eaten anything all day,” Financier places a hand on his shoulders, blocking away a ribbon holding one of his documents, “And I can’t cook, so this is all I can manage to bring you as quickly as I could.

The first two ribbons carrying the document and his glasses lower themselves, as Clotted Cream smiles brightly at the paladin. 

“Thank you, Financier,” The ribbon sets down his spectacles on the table to run itself against Financier’s arms endearingly, “Perhaps I should take a rest.”

Financier nods, as she feels warm at the gesture of the tendril against her arm. “I would be pleased if you did, sir.”

Financier blushes, albeit stoically, as she tries to look away from how Clotted Cream smiles gratefully when the buttery taste of the scone and the sweetness of the jam tantalises his taste buds with every bite. How the ribbons feed him as he writes, like a joyful child being fed as he sits and does his homework.

How…cute, Financier thinks, before an image of her beating herself up immediately festers in her mind.

Chapter Text

Rushing footsteps and the flapping of fabric run simultaneously as the crimson of the sky starts to dim its hue back to blue. As every monster slowly disintegrates into mere particles, Financier sheathes her sword and orders each paladin to scour the area to help any injured citizens. She stands in place to calm herself down between the crook of two crumbled houses that didn’t stand against the attacks. The darkness of the space lights up momentarily before dimming as Financier soothes the Light Magic that peaked with her adrenaline. 

The flapping sound slows down as it approaches the ruined houses.

“Financier!” 

The paladin turns to the sound of the yell, almost immediately being enveloped in a hug. A hug that seemed relieved and desperate at the same time. 

“Thank the Divines that you’re safe,” Clotted Cream’s formal tone diminishes, surprising Financier, “I was so scared when I couldn’t find you initially and I thought that you were lost and…”

Clotted Cream continues ranting through a shaky voice, almost as if he was…scared?

The ribbons wrap themselves around Financier, grasping her as Clotted Cream continues to talk, unknowingly to him. 

Financier’s initial shock of his change in composure relieves itself, as she slowly runs a hand against his back to comfort him. 

“Consul…” Financier looks down into his eyes. 

Clotted Cream looks up at her, hearing her voice. Her strained voice snaps him back to reality and his thoughts come back to him abruptly. He mentally orders his tendrils to retreat, as he also yanks his hands away from her in embarrassment. 

“I…” Clotted Cream stutters, ashamed, “My apologies, Ser Financier Cookie, that was quite unprofessional of me.”

Financier disregards his words and holds him gently, embracing him. 

“I’m happy you’re safe too.”

Stunned, Clotted Cream’s face reddens as he looks at her wide-eyed.

“I didn’t want to say it out loud,” Financier’s own face flares up in a dark rosy colour, “but I don’t know what I would do if I lost the person I loved most.”

Clotted Cream jerks in shock.

“Huh?!” Clotted Cream expresses with a shocked smile and agape mouth. 

Financier turns her head away in shame. 

“Perhaps I said it too abruptly. I apologise. Forget I said that.

The dark hole between the rubble starts to glow more, as a result of her wavering emotions conflicting. Realisation washes over Clotted Cream, and he laughs uncharacteristically. 

“Financier…” Clotted Cream sighed, his ribbon turning her gaze back to face him.

“I love you too.”

Clotted Cream watches as Financier’s eyes widen and her face goes completely crimson, almost like the sky a few minutes back. 

“Oh.”

One of Clotted Cream’s ribbons lifts his chin to help him kiss her properly, mocking his shorter height.