Chapter Text
White Lily Cookie has been working at a juice bar far from larger cities of Cookies for a couple months now, noticing the strange looks she normally got in public. All she needed was some cash to pay for her small apartment back in the countryside. After all, White Lily Cookie was admittedly too scared of reentering society after returning to Crispia.
A ring of the door to the juice bar caught White Lily Cookie's attention, a new face. This strange Cookie was noticeably shorter than the average Cookie, yet walked proudly with a confident strut. Their hair was blonde with some orange stripes and curled tightly around their face, but grew less compact further down. They wore a large hat with a square base, decorated with a couple clock-like trinkets, as well as a white jabot that had a black button in the middle which was decorated in the same clock inspired fashion. White Lily Cookie noticed how the Cookie wore a black and yellow eyepatch over one eye and grew curious, and she was admittedly a bit confused about the giant, golden scissor-shaped staff they carried inside with them. The color of the clothing the Cookie was near impossible to distinguish in the dim light of the juice bar, but White Lily Cookie could see their bright white sleeves.
"Welcome! What can I get you?" White Lily Cookie asked them, keeping her regularly forced smile. The strange Cookie only ignored her, not even glancing at the increasingly anxious White Lily Cookie as they sat down. White Lily Cookie chewed on her fingers nervously. What if they had heard of how she was before and that was why they ignored her, just how Golden Cheese Cookie had? Millions of thoughts swarmed her mind until she finally heard the Cookie answer.
"Ooh! So many different drinks, so hard to decide!" they exclaimed. The Cookie's had a slightly French accent, along with a glitchy, radio-like voice. "Ahh... hmmm, I'll get that lemonade one with the orange on the rim!"
White Lily Cookie nodded shyly. "The orange-aid?" she asked, writing the Cookie's order down.
The strange Cookie laughed, "Yes, yes! That one! I was unsure as to how to pronounce it, hence why I described it instead."
White Lily Cookie smiled—a genuine smile for once—and headed to the back to make the Cookie's drink. She already liked this Cookie and enjoyed how energetic they were, mixing well with her own shy nature. She had to rush back out to the Cookie, having forgotten to ask whether they wanted ice or not.
"I'm so sorry! I forgot to ask, would you like some ice?" White Lily Cookie rushed, slightly panicked. The Cookie laughed again—were they laughing at her...?—and smiled.
"No worries! I prefer without ice, too watery with," the Cookie replied, the same gleeful expression on their face. White Lily Cookie only wished she could be so happy all the time, but alas, her past trauma prevented her.
White Lily Cookie headed back to make the strange Cookie's drink, their strange accent stuck in her head like a catchy song. She didn't know why, but something about their voice was oddly comforting. Maybe it was the way they seemed to be so carefree? White Lily Cookie didn't dwell on the thought too much, just finishing up with creating the Cookie's order and bringing it out to them.
"Thank you, thank you!" The Cookie quickly began to slurp at their drink as if they hadn't had anything for days. "Mmmm! This is the best juice I've ever had! And trust me, it's quite difficult to impress me!"
White Lily Cookie felt her face warm up at the compliment. She'd only heard such enthusiasm from Hollyberry Cookie, so hearing the same glee in another Cookie's voice felt like the praise she could never receive. "T-thank you!"
The strange Cookie laughed. "No problem! By the way, what's your name? You seem so kind! My name's Timekeeper Cookie!"
Timekeeper Cookie. Something about that name felt odd. White Lily Cookie nervously responded. "My name's White Lily Cookie... and I'm really not that kind I don't think..." she hesitated, not exactly willing to accept any compliments.
A strange, loud ringing noise filled the air around them. White Lily Cookie covered her ears and winced at how loud and high-pitched it was.
"Oops, gotta go! I should return soon, White Lily Cookie!" Timekeeper Cookie waved goodbye before disappearing through a large hole that distorted the space around it very slightly.
White Lily Cookie stared in disbelief at what she had just witnessed. A couple dollars and a note sat on the table which Timekeeper Cookie had been just a moment ago. She carefully opened the note and read it.
' ' Thank you for the wonderfully made juice! Meet me again on Sunday at exactly 5 o'clock PM. I'll be waiting for you at the public park not too far from here!
~ Timekeeper Cookie! ' '