Chapter Text
“...How am I going to face Brie Cheese Cookie now?” Camembert mumbled to himself, his brows furrowed.
He glanced around his room hoping to ease himself before the storm but there was nothing, he ultimately succumbs to his worries and lays down on the bed.
He stared at the ceiling thinking of who could've stolen the Sacchar Pearl, how did they manage to get their hands on the family treasure? He analyzes each cookie from each district, trying to remember everyone's distinct personality. Until it clicked.
“That filthy bastard!”
He stood up and threw some punches in the air, yelling to all his might. He's lucky enough to have soundproof walls. He walked towards the window and glanced outside, fixed on the Meat District.
“These dirty meat cookies can't get a load of themselves,” His eyes fuming at the sight of the district, he quickly knows who to blame for this trouble.
“I’ll reclaim what's mine—ack... for 'our' family.” Camembert grumbled in anger, he looked away from the window and quickly stormed out of his room.
String Cheese Cookie who was dusting the floor heard a loud slam coming from the right hall, she turned her head to see Camembert Cookie dashing towards her direction.
“Young Master, what are you doing?” she yelled, grabbing his attention.
Camembert slowed down his pace, stopping in front of String Cheese. “I'm getting the pearl back, don't tell this to anyone, not even the boss.” Camembert pleaded, his voice begging for her answer.
String Cheese responded back with gestures of nodding in agreement, her answer firm to her statement.
Camembert can also nod in approval, continuing to run towards the exit.
He bursts out from the door and dashes through the streets of Platter City, he swiftly avoids the cookies that are in the way.
He decelerated his pace as he arrived in front of the Meat District. The stench of fresh meat made him gag under his breath, he was raised by a rich family of cheese you know.
The sound of people chattering all around him, some are selling toys others are selling food. Camembert just glanced at them with slight disgust in his face, he wasn't fond of meeting people of a lower class.
He walked into the streets and started asking people where Black Pudding Cookie was. All the cookies shared the same answer, “Meat Boulevard…” Camembert mumbled to himself.
He stared at the road sign ahead of him, looking for the street name and he found it. “There you are, coward.” He whispered to himself, his face showing a crooked smile.
Black Pudding Cookie on the other hand was training Jerky Cookie with her talisman, teaching her how to control it properly.
“Hiyaa…!” She spoke softly, Black Pudding slashed them quickly. “Are you getting tired? We can take a break for now.” Black Pudding Cookie suggested, Jerky Cookie nodded all together.
She fixes her hat and walks back inside the Siheyuan, Black Pudding stays behind, fixing his katana back in place.
He took a box of toothpicks and grabbed one, lighting it up and resting it on his mouth. Going outside of the house to feel the wind breeze through him, the dazzling streets below him always accompanied him while he smoked.
While he exhales his breath he notices a cookie coming towards his house with a faster pace than the other cookies, his appearance shows him in a formal yellow suit and from what he can tell has slick back hair.
Black Pudding Cookie immediately alarmed his house, putting it with a protection spell and he dashed into the alleyways.
Camembert rushes towards Meat Boulevard, his fist clenched and eyes fixed towards the building. He failed to realize a dark figure in the alleyway and slashed towards him, luckily he was swift enough to dodge.
“Yuu imbecile! I'm in the middle of—” His words stopped stirring, the fog from the slashes earlier clears up, revealing Black Pudding Cookies appearance to Camembert Cookie.
“You!-”
“Do you need something?”
Black Pudding abruptly interrupts him, his katana aimed towards his neck. “What's a lactose member doing at the outskirts of town? Even crazier, the young master.” Hints of mockery were obvious in his voice, his smile smug.
“Where is it?” Camembert demanded his feet ready for an attack, Black Pudding tilted his head slightly. Showing confusion.
“I don't know what you're talking about, young master.” Black Pudding raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on the lactose.
Camembert's eyebrow twitched, maybe gaining a nerve. “Don't play dumb, where's the Sacchar Pearl.” He demanded once more, trying to show authority.
“This is my city, cheese boy. You don't get to show dominance when you're in my—” A smash from the ground from Camembert, sending a small shockwave from the area. Black Pudding swiftly jumps back and avoids the attack, Camembert however wasn't tired from that singular punch.
He quickly dashes and throws in another punch, directly hitting him in the stomach.
“DAMMIT!-” Black Pudding yelled, spitting out jam, crashing into a wall behind him. Dropping to the ground with his arm supporting him.
Cookies around the area all scattered away from all directions, none of them wanting to be near an arra that could crumble them if not alert.
Camembert slowly walked towards Black Pudding, his fist ready to punch again. He raised his arm ready to swing until Black Pudding held up the pearl, abruptly stopping him hesitantly.
“You want this right? I don't give things without something in return,” Black Pudding exclaims, his breath shaken from the impact.
Camembert stared at the pearl, extending his right arm to reach for it. Black Pudding pulled away, slowly rising to his feet.
“Again, I don’t give things up for free. That’s unfair—” he coughed, “you know.”
“Stand down, I know what you're trying to do.” Camembert scoffed, his voice firm.
Black Pudding grinned weakly, “Really? I'm only asking one huge favor, young master.”
Camembert glares towards Black Pudding, his goal is right there, in his hands. If he can just grab it his reputation wouldn't be damaged before she finds out.
“Don't waste my time, what do you want?” Camembert asked, his voice hesitant to answer but it was still straightforward.
Black Pudding hummed, he took out the toothpick out of his mouth and dropped it. “You’re not like your family, correct?” Stomping the toothpick in the ground, “I know you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You were always seen as an outsider, I don't know how you managed to still be loyal to your boss even after the relentless abuse you're going through.” Black Pudding spoke, his hand resting on his hip.
“How did you know—”
“That's not up for discussion, young prince.”
“My point is, you can be free from that and join me, our group. That's my only need from you.”
“Will you do it?”
Camembert froze in place, pondering on what he should say next. Is this cookie crazy? Asking an affluent individual to join some… ‘Filthy meat group’, What is wrong with him?!
“You think I'm joining you Grinders? You wretched vermin!” Camembert hissed, his fist clenched like it's about to bleed.
“Calm your horses, you cheesy cookie.” Black Pudding assured, “You have enough time to think about this decision,” he said calmly, hiding the pearl back into his pockets.
“Would you rather spend your life following someone's shadow?”
“Or have the freedom you wished to acquire.”
Without hesitation Camembert threw in another punch out of frustration, Black Pudding jumped up onto a nearby roof.
“That's what I thought.”
“You might as well just go back to the spoiled rich hell where you came from, I don't want you storming back into Meat Boulevard again.”
Black Pudding dashes back to his Siheyuan from the roofs of the buildings, not wanting to continue this conversation.
“Join the Grinders…? What does he take me for, some fool?” He muttered under his breath, Camembert ultimately gave up on getting the pearl today.
He roams around the streets of the Meat District then goes back to the Lactose district, a feeling of dread washed over him the moment he stepped foot.
What was that? Why did he ask to join his team? They have been sworn enemies since the birth of each district, so why the change of heart?
All these questions filled up Camembert's head, but
he had a much larger problem in front of him. He had no time to process any of this, so he walked into the mansion, disappointed in himself.