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By the manor’s balcony, watching the fireworks display after solving a difficult case filled with peril and destruction, the lone cookie stands watching with stars in his eyes. Crunchy Chip sits at a nearby bench to take a good look at the view ahead of him. The staff worked relentlessly to ensure that the display would exceed the visitors’ expectations. Either way, they would still be wonderstruck by it.
“I wish Buddy and Wildberry will see this… Wildberry would be peacefully smiling at the sky and Buddy… he would be scared but happy to be here…”, Crunchy Chip ponders as his visit to the manor was a solo job, and is roped into a murder case. Now that the case is resolved, Crunchy Chip hopes to continue his visit in Parfaedia, with Dark Cacao encouraging him to go. He has no idea why… just obeying royal orders.
“Oh? Is it our esteemed Dark Cacaoian?”, a cookie lays at the railing beside Crunchy Chip.
“Oh! You must be one of the Golden Cheese Denizens… What was your name again?”.
“... Smoked Cheese Cookie… and I AM her majesty’s right hand… well… used too”, Smoked Cheese responds in distaste.
“Hmph… look at you posing like that… I guess bareness is the norm in the kingdom?”.
“I will not tolerate any disrespect to my kingdom! It holds significant cultural symbolism to the denizens!”, Smoked Cheese responds in anger.
“Okay fine… I’m joking… Sorry about that… Jeez…”.
“Hmph… You won’t be like that when I insult your ruler!”, Smoked Cheese changes the conversation after Crunchy Chip’s death stare, “Anyways, did your ruler tasked you to go alone here? It is the first time I’ve seen a Dark Cacaoian…”.
“His majesty told me to come here because I am capable of handling the job…Though, I’m not exactly sure what he means by, ‘Find your truth…’, he’s starting to sound like White Lily Cookie now… I guess her reuniting with the ancients changed them…”.
“‘Your truth…’, well, I hope your… expedition will heed great results…”.
Suddenly, the two cookies went silent. There was a tense feeling in the air like a gap separating the two. Crunchy Chip could feel that intensity just by being beside him. Though, he did take a peek at Smoked Cheese Cookie staring at the stars. Come to think of it, he’s quite well-built and fit, he also has a deep voice that compliments his features well, his dark dough seems soft like it is pampered relentlessly, and his eyes… exactly like him but more tantalizing, with the Horus mark on both of his eyes.
“...”, Crunchy Chip couldn’t help but stare at him. He may be a douchebag but he has quite the visual and the skills. It is no surprise that he was chosen as Golden Cheese Cookie’s bodyguard. He also has a way of dealing with issues similar to Wildberry Cookie and takes care of Walnut Cookie for her detective work… Would he be a good caretaker for the cream wolves?
“...”, Crunchy Chip suddenly starts to observe his actions. He stares at the night sky like he’s focusing on stars. He could imagine him just falling asleep at any moment, then… Crunchy Chip may have gotten himself into a feeling problem… He started to blush and feel more numb than before. He already has Wildberry in his grasp and is waiting for his letter of approval to come visit him, but something about Smoked Cheese Cookie makes him feel… like he wants to teach him the Dark Cacaoian ways. He would also admit that he’s a bit rough but there are some redeeming qualities.
…Maybe he wants to be friends with him… but there’s this indescribable feeling within him just catching up to him.
“What the– are you staring at me?”, Smoked Cheese is surprised at Crunchy Chip’s behavior and feels uncomfortable.
“Uhh! You reminded me about my BOYFRIEND that I have… because you, on the other hand, is still single, presumably looking for a girlfriend perhaps?”, Crunchy Chip tries to change the story.
“... I’m not interested in any relationships… plus, Almond Cookie would forbid me from doing so…”, Smoked Cheese then realizes, “Also, a boyfriend? I thought warriors aren’t allowed for a relationship, and… you have gladiator’s touch?”.
“Huh? Gladiator’s touch? What’s that?”.
“... It’s when two male cookies set themselves into a relationship… It is quite uncommon in the Golden Cheese Kingdom, but that’s what they’re called. Most denizens say that high officials and warriors have those and want to be around male cookies more…”.
“Oh, so being gay I presume?”, Crunchy Chip wonders, “Eh… that’s not a big deal here… do you have ‘Gladiator’s touch’?”.
“Well… I guess I do…”, says Smoked Cheese with a flustered look on his face.
“Really? Then, you must have been tantalized by someone when you are busy fighting alongside or with him?”.
“Correct… but I don’t want to talk about him…”, Smoked Cheese’s face gets a bit dim.
“Trauma from a relationship I guess…?”.
“No… he doesn’t want to see me after my betrayal…”, Smoked Cheese holds himself together but Crunchy Chip nudges him.
“That’s alright! I used to believe that second chances are for losers who are stupid to believe… but then after White Lily Cookie’s return… I… started to have a brighter outlook…”.
“White Lily Cookie was ready to face the other four ancients after everything that happened. As for me… I’m not ready to face her majesty…”.’
“Then that’s okay! Maybe you need this fresh start to get going!”, Crunchy Chip smiles at him.
“We turn from beefing with each other to giving advice huh?”.
“Well, I guess we’re on good terms! I’ll visit you sometime back at the Almond HQ!”.
“My pleasure!.
Crunchy Chip and Smoked Cheese continued to stand there until they both leave for their duties. Smoked Cheese still needs to take care of Walnut Cookie and head back to HQ, while Crunchy Chip still has to tour around… Until then, they’ll meet each other again…