#▷Dark Choco ♚ ❝Prince Of A Lost Kingdom.❞ ⟡ Self.◁

[tazmilyxfamily]

Continued from ??? // @electricea

~

Hearing the explanation enticed Dark Choco to step closer, taking one of the cups and lifting it so he could squint at the labels on it with his working eye. As embarassing as it was to make his impairment obvious, he wanted to know exactly what was so different about what Ryuji had tasted and what Ryuji had expected.

To his surprise, he recognized a lot more than he thought he did.

"I used to eat something similar to this, back in my homeland." He admitted, turning it and squinting even harder at the tiny instructions on its side. "But... Mm. They were never like this. Not in something colorful, and not with a packet of flavor and spices. ...And I've never seen noodles without licorice sea squid beside it."

He refrained from asking what a microwave was, instead returning the cup to Ryuji.

"I'd like to know what it tastes like."

[tazmilyxfamily]

"'Frame'...?"

As bad as it was to murder another, there was something about attempting to pin the deed on another that struck him as... worse. Why try to hide? If they'd done it, then that was their dishonor to bear...

"Did they ever get found? ...The fan."

"Mmhm... Granted, I keep my things locked away now if I can help it due to that incident...." And hopefully it would be an incident she didn't have to go through again with how the incident played out in the first place.

"Admittedly, that incident could have ended poorly, since that fan did try to kill someone and frame a cookie for the murder."

[tazmilyxfamily]

Carefully, Dark Choco took the offered soup.

“Ah, it’s been ages since I’ve had soup. Thank you...”

@lambfated​

[tazmilyxfamily]

He looked over the sparkling crystals she was handing him with mild interest. They bore a striking resemblence to oversized Star Jellies, though he knew better than to eat them himself. Aside from any potential side effects, there was also the hungry eyes of the Spark they’d assigned him to easily discourage that.

"These ‘star bits’ look nearly identical to a candy from home,” the prince mused, “I wonder if they’d have a similar effect...”

@booksinstarbits​

[tazmilyxfamily]

Moved from (x) // @lambfated

Ah, how long it’d been since his presence was last met with anything but fear, indifference, or mockery... An honor to meet them, indeed. Though there was... one thing they said that grabbed his attention in particular. It stood out from the rest like blood scattered over fresh white snow.

Heretics.

What he'd faced in his time here - in Anura - had been nothing more than beasts, feral and screaming and bloodthirsty, yet The Lamb considered them heretics. Dark Choco took a sip from the soup he’d been given as he contemplated this. What could it be that they were doing wrong? What holy rule were they working against by hunting and being hunted? He could only assume that it was their nature...

With the warm taste of vegetables and broth still lingering in his mouth, he 'hmm'ed his acknowledgement.

"Your efforts are more than respectable. I come from a land with beasts large and concerned with little more than their next meal, but even they find time to rest and play. What I see here has been aggressive to the point of recklessness."

A pause. His head lifted slightly, peering out into the dark swamps as if he expected his words to bring danger charging into their little safe space. Skill would not matter in the face of surprise. Dark Choco continued on as nothing happened.

"Regardless, I can survive on my own..." He finally turned his gaze back towards them, expression terribly indifferent. "But I also know better than to continue that way- not if I have the choice. I accept your help."

Dark Choco was well aware that he didn't need to narrate the thought process aloud to them... Yet he found that doing so made it easier to justify in his head, too. Not to mention that it was an easy way to communication that he wasn't about to run off on The Lamb.

He did find himself with one more question, however.

"...Do you yourself wander? Are you going somewhere?"

It was only natural to wonder, seeing as they were to travel together, but he also found that he was genuinely curious about The Lamb. To wander about lands like these alone - not to mention with resources to spare - spoke of a hardiness that rivaled the warriors from his snow-drenched homeland.

Surely they had somewhere to be...

[tazmilyxfamily]

@scale-tippers // Moved from (x)

Either way, Ghost wasn’t about to just up and leave before freeing this strange bug. They pressed against the glass a couple more times, testing its strength. They may not be as coordinated as they normally are, but they were sure that they had broken sturdier materials than this with their nail before. So, they could probably…

The Shade backed up from the window, perhaps seeming as though they were about to fly away. In reality, however, they were making space for them to whip out their nail. It was a little unsteady in their grip, their tendril quivering as it curled around the weapon. They held on, though, and shattered the window with one (admittedly clumsy) swipe, allowing them to enter the room.

They didn’t want to appear too threatening to the trapped bug, though! So, they sheathed their nail for the time being, small Void tendrils on their back keeping it secure, and then attempted a friendly wave. Hello!! They were here to help!!

~

Having relaxed again as the servant seemed to thankfully heed his words and drift off back to its sender, laying flat on the ground again, he couldn't help but jump to his feet as the glass between them shattered.

Stranger still was the strange, sword-like weapon it used, the thing quickly tucked behind its back. Though a handful of Licorice's other servants held swords, they were all obviously made of bones. This one seemed to be made of stone - steel? - from the brief glance he'd gotten, but perhaps there was more to it than there seemed.

Dark Choco supposed he'd get a closer look soon enough, seeing as it seemed intent on staying.

He moved towards the window with uneasy steps, white chain clanking loudly with each step and head tilted sideways at what looked to be a 'hello' of sorts. His servants were intelligent, capable of understanding and carrying out most single-step commands to varying degress of success, but this? The only way this could get any stranger was if it suddenly began to speak.

As if the same didn't apply to him when it came to those who were unaware of his true form.

The chain became taught as he came within several steps from the window, Dark Choco's eyes narrowing as he studied the creature closer. There was a chill in the air just around it, unnatural and completely unlike anything he'd felt at home. And, if he listened closely enough, there was also a faint... noise. It was barely there, only audible if one listened for it...

Or was it only something he could hear as a werehound? Regardless, he forced himself to tune it back out and move on.

"Can you... hear me?" asked the cakehound, hoping to whatever divinity would bother listening that the 'yes or no' questions wouldn't fly over its head. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Dark Choco shuffled back a little bit, suddenly aware of just how little room he'd have if it decided to do something less than friendly.

"Are you here to let me out, or are you to make sure I've stayed in?"

That one was considerably harder to answer with no words... but they'd figure it out if the ooze did turn out to be on his side.

[tazmilyxfamily]

Continued from here | @rxtroskull

~

Of course, Poison Mushroom wasn't actually any higher on their little chain of command than they were before Licorice's hooded form had disappeared around the corner and left them alone moments ago, but even the generally rather serious prince wanted to humor them a little bit.

Naturally dangerous- naturally poisonous- or not, they weren't even old enough to pick up a sword back at home...

"Bosses give orders. You make decisions for the group, but you can't recklessly put everyone else in danger." Something both Pomegranate and Dark Enchantress constantly failed to account for, making it difficult to imagine they'd understand what he meant... Yet he couldn't help but slip it in.

Overall it was a rather simplified answer, but anything more was unnecessary. In fact, it almost felt like he was explaining the rules to a children's game.

"What do you want to do?"

[tazmilyxfamily]

Continued from this ask // @mixed-up-multiverse​

~

Truth be told, Dark Choco Cookie wasn’t sure why he was outside himself. A nightmare - a repeat of the day he’d attacked his father with the accursed sword - had shaken him out of his slumber, yes, but why wander out into the darkness to escape it? Maybe it was the part of him that still insisted he stick to the shadows, deserving of any danger that lurked within.

No matter the reason, the prince refused to let his self-loathing stop him from approaching the younger Cookie. That other part of him - the one that wanted to be the Dark Cocao Kingdom’s hero - still lived somewhere inside him too, albeit buried under the rubble of who and what he’d tried to destroy. Dark Choco distantly wondered if it was because he’d left the Strawberry Jam sword at home, a much simpler blade hung in its place at his side. 

Or perhaps it was that he actually yearned to cut into something, even if that something ended up being some Cakes that fancied taking a bite out of Pumpkin Pie Cookie. The familiar rhythm of battle would certainly help distract him...

Either way, he knew what he had to do.

“I’ll escort you home, then.” Dark Choco Cookie asserted, a hand on the hilt of his sword to emphasize the promise. It was... strange, not feeling the eager tug of that dark power whenever he touched his sword. “Even if you can protect yourself, Cake Monsters can easily have the numbers to overwhelm you.”

He tried his best to pay the eerie whispering no mind. It was not Pomegranate Cookie. She couldn’t reach him anymore.

[tazmilyxfamily]

As the Cookie lead Dark Cacao towards his son, the recently awakened Dark Choco found himself desparately attempting to recall recent events.

Outside. He'd been outside, alone, marching outwards with a spare sword he'd picked up from the remains of the Watchers' battle with the Licorice Ooze - he hadn't dared to stop and consider whether its owner had died or simply left it behind - and looking to stop by a village.

Then, whether it be by distraction or his survival skills simply having grown rusty, he'd been attacked. He'd fallen into the snow, and...

Dark Choco almost tried to parse what it was right then and there before he'd processed that he was indoors, sitting upright in a vaguely familiar bed and the smell of bitter herbs catching in his nose. The Citadel. He was in the infirmary hall of the Black Citadel. The faint groans and mutters of others made that especially obvious.

...Not to mention the way his shoulder throbbed under the pressure of what he guessed was an unholy chimera of gauze and bandages. His ankle hurt too, but it was thankfully faint compared to the other wound.

The prince grit his teeth as his ankle smarted.

Nevermind.

Yet he couldn't help but immediately forget any and all pain plaguing him as soon as he heard the door down the hall open, Dark Choco's working eye widening and a chill running down his spine as he caught sight of the man he couldn't imagine seeing again- not so soon.

King Dark Cacao Cookie.

"...Father."

The comment was quiet and hesitant, unsure whether the man would react to the title now as he had before. He felt like a child again. Then, speaking ever quieter, Dark Choco added,

"...I'm sorry. I'd meant to leave."

Dark Cacao silently paced his room, away from prying eyes. he combed thru his hair as a self-soothing gesture. He would still be working, at least trying to get the paperwork done if his hands weren't so unbelievably shaky.

He doubted he could even pick up a pen let alone write with it like this. He felt as if time was going excruciatingly slow. He made sure to tell them to update him! so what was taking so damn long?!

Dark Cacao heard a knock on the door and quickly made himself presentable, combing thru his hair one last time. No shaking, no pacing, he reminded himself silently.

"Yes?"

"Your majesty Dark Choco Cookie is awake."

@tazmilyxfamily

[tazmilyxfamily]

@devoidofsweetness​: (x)

he never thought he'd hear those words. not from someone so important to him, deep inside.

grip tightening on the blade holstered on his side, his eyes sharpened and narrowed on his son. "unless you give me reason to," he sighs, the warmth of the breath visible in the colder air. "i was not planning on it."

"what are you doing out here?" the gruffness of his voice stood out. he remembered their last encounter, after the most recent incident of those slimy licorice monsters attacking the wall.

he keeps his hand steady on the hilt of his weapon. he did not wish to hurt the other, but he has reason to believe his son could plan otherwise.

~

Dark Choco, wrapped in a ragged hooded cloak that barely contained his wide frame and dark armor, stayed extremely still under his father’s gaze... Almost... paralyzed...

The chaos of that day felt as if it nipped at his heels now, almost hearing the monsters’ screeches in the harsh winds that howled around them, their dark and gooey bodies staining the usually white snow with their filth as they dragged themselves out and up towards the Black Citadel at Licorice’s whim, barely slowing at the onslaught of arrows, swords, and magic alike. 

The Strawberry Jam sword had fed well that day, only to be abandoned as he found himself understanding the true worth of power, Dark Choco marching out on his own to fully untangle himself from its influence...

Yet... Here he was, stood before his father once again. Dark Choco was unsure how to feel knowing that Dark Cacao was not completely sure of his son’s redemption.

“I haven’t returned to attack you, father. Nor have I come to once again attempt to claim your Soul Jam for my own.” It was then that a strong gust blew his cloak aside, briefly revealing a regular, traditional Dark Cacao greatsword at his side. It was stained with nothing but the blood of beasts- no men. “I’ve done... enough damage. To you. To the Dark Cacao Kingdom.”

Dark Choco moved to pull his cover back around him, more ashamed to be seen than truly cold. In fact, a small part of him was glad to be out in this weather, somehow preferring it to the milder temperatures of the Kingdom down south. But he digressed.

“I’ve been traveling between the villages... Wearing this cloak to hide my identity.“ His voice was quiet, fearing that his father would strike out with every word. He didn’t think he’d be able to force himself to fight back in that case... "As ridiculous as it is now, after all I’ve done, I just wanted to see how they were recovering.”

“from your neglect,” Dark Choco could’ve said, but didn’t. The time for accusations had long passed, left behind just as the accursed sword and the path it had lead him down were.

[tazmilyxfamily]

A heavy silence surrounded Dark Choco Cookie where he kneeled, his broad figure ominous in the darkness of the Roll Cake Forest. The Strawberry Jam sword sat planted in the ground nearby. The gem in its hilt cast a sinister red glow onto its surroundings, outshone only by purple light that flickered and shifted with the air on the rare occasions that it moved.

The source? A brazier, built in the traditional Dark Cacao Kingdom style.

Dark Choco’s home. The very one he’d destroyed in his attempts to save it.

He didn’t move in the other’s presence. It was hard to tell what he was doing. Praying? Thinking? Sleeping? Not only that, but how had he gotten his hands on one of their braziers...? 

Whatever it was and however he’d gotten it, it seemed that his guard was completely down despite the dangerous place he’d planted himself.

[tazmilyxfamily]

Assuming that was the end of it, Dark Choco found himself relaxing slightly, allowing him to focus on the sounds of nature and the fading sunset. It was too late to hunt a replacement meal, as he knew better than to try and hunt in the encroaching darkness, but he-

A slightly louder, heavier sound cut through the thought before it could finish.

The dragon was back.

Dark Choco stood, mentally noting where his sword was, but didn't get the chance to actually grab it before another rabbit - dead, judging by the blood staining its snow white coat - was dropped at his feet.

Fine, then.

The dragon was back, but not to sink its teeth into him.

"You had to hunt fast if you caught them before they returned to their burrows..." He mused, accepting and beginning to prepare the prey, his working eye definitely not on the monster in front of him. "Mm... Surprising that you bothered, instead of just begging for more. Not that I'd have anything to give you."

Only a few months ago, Dark Choco imagined he would've been cutting into the dragon instead, the accursed sword absorbing its lifeforce with every swing. Even years before that, when he was a young prince in white armor and riding atop a Cream Wolf, he couldn't see it going well.

It was only through mutual luck that the dragon had appeared to him now, when he was no longer interested in neither heroics nor villainy- when he just wanted to be.

... ... ...

Within minutes, the rabbit was on the fire, though not before Dark Choco fed the blaze a branch he'd broken earlier.

"You're going to have to be patient." He told the dragon, though he wasn't sure why, saying regardless of how impatient it actually seemed. Perhaps he'd just become far too used to companions who couldn't wait to save their lives...

Perking up , he blinked at the offer that the man has given him . Is it for him ? The dragon takes it as an opportunity to grab the food from the stranger , his attempts to get the food worked but he's in a playful mood . When the dragon successfully took the food that the man tossed at him, he quickly gobbled it down & looked for anything that will save the man in return from hunger .

Spotting some rabbits nearby , he took it as an opportunity to return the favor as he hunted one to bring it back to the very person who gave him some nourishment .

Returning to the same area where he was camping for the night , he was interested on his next effort to see if he will fend off from his next hunt . With the dead rabbit on Toothless's mouth , he gently plopped it on the ground . He looks at him expectantly & nudged the dead animal to him for him to cook it again as if to say 'it's for you .'

[tazmilyxfamily]

"...Mm." He grunted his confirmation as Ryuji pointed, and leaned down to get a closer look at the dog in question.

Though she was wolf-like in shape, she was also adorned in red markings that contrasted sharply with her snow-white fur. It reminded him of the Cream Wolves of his homeland, save for one thing-

the disc-like object at her back.

"There are hounds like her back home. They're large. Large enough to carry a fully grown man in armor." His face expression softened a bit. "Some live with us. I rode one myself when I was younger. But I was foolish, and we were seperated after she refused to follow me into... Somewhere I shouldn't have gone."

He leaned a little further, squinting his good eye.

"...Where did you find her? Her markings look familiar..."

@tazmilyxfamily sent - "...I've never seen a dog like that before." from Dark Choco in the thing where he's in Ryuji's universe :]

"Ah, her...?" His finger hovers over the snow white canine pictured in his phone - an impromptu selfie taken of the two - the Ryuji in the picture beaming widely with an arm wrapped around her as even she seems to smile for the camera - or how he imagined a dog would look if they could smile.

"That's my good friend, Ammy! Do you have a dog, yourself?"

[tazmilyxfamily]

For several moments now, Dark Choco thought he'd heard a second set of tiny footsteps, pattering after him just under his larger, heavier ones that crunched the snow beneath.

At first, he'd brushed it off as the movement of critters in the forest- that the sound was only reaching his ears just now, his thoughts clear enough of voices that weren't his own for him to catch them.

But the more he thought about it, the less sense his initial assumption made. They were too consistent, having begun just after he'd rested near a half-frozen pond. The prince distantly wondered if it was a monster, stalking after any who'd dared take a drink... Perhaps a forest ent.

While Dark Choco gave the thought little merit - few monsters had the intelligence, let alone the patience, to stalk for so long - he peered over his shoulder just to assuage any leftover anxiety that Red Velvet had sent Cake Monsters to drag him back to Dark Enchantress.

Only for him to spot something that was neither cake nor monster.

Perhaps if he was aware of the leaf resting on his head, this encounter would make a bit more sense... But as it currently stood he could only be wary of the tiny creature. It certainly looked to be natural, at least, yet it stared at him too expectantly- too intelligently- to just be another aggressive monster.

"...Step back." Dark Choco ordered slowly, standing stiff as if he expected his words to set it off somehow.

the blue pikmin is staring at the reader ( you ! ) ... following after them expectantly .

[tazmilyxfamily]

Dark Choco could do nothing but remain still - so terribly, terribly still - as she began to cry.

He'd seen Poison Mushroom cry before, but never for long, often soothed by (false) promises to accept their "gift" or go along with whatever they'd been attempting to get Licorice or Pomegranate to do moments before. They'd immediately seem to forget and just move on, as if it had never happened in the first place.

But the prince could not sooth her; he could not give any more comfort than he already had just by speaking what he felt was true. Regardless, it felt like he was supposed to say more-- offer something better than just a reminder of Edge's condition.

Yet Rosa was... happy.

Tension dropped from his own shoulders at her acceptance of the offer, and a return smile tugged at the corner of his lips. The nagging feeling that the interaction wasn't quite complete yet still sat at the back of Dark Choco's mind, but he figured it would be best not to dwell as he began walking.

His pace was deliberately slower than his usual march-like walk, wanting to make sure he didn't leave his companion struggling to keep up. There was a passing thought that picking her up would make it easier on both of them - another thing the Watchers had done for him what felt like another lifetime ago - but it was hard to gauge her reaction.

...No, he'd definitely manage to mess that up.

"I'd like that." Dark Choco replied instead, not sparing her even a glance for both their sakes. "I can't remember the last time I read a book. I had too much energy for it when I was younger, believe it or not, and I... Mm. Have too little energy for it now."

A strange concept for sure, especially said so casually, but it made perfect sense with the context that most books weren't in his homeland's language. Doubly so here, as far from home he was.

"We can ask Edge when we reach her room."

@tazmilyxfamily Cont.

Rosa waited with bated breath, her little paws picking at Kaboomer’s seams with anxiety. When he came down to her level, she found herself staring at the bridge of his nose, avoiding eye contact, much like Dark Choco himself.

Tears welled in her eyes upon his initial response, and she dropped Kaboomer. “I don’t know.” It made a pit in her stomach… However, when he continued, it was as if all tension had been released from her, and the tears spilled down her cheeks. There was a chance…! Her paws rubbed at her face, failing to keep the waterfall at bay.

“Thank,” she wept, voice trembling, “Thank goodness…” It seemed as though she had been waiting for even the slightest of chances, the tiniest of hopes, that Edge could be saved. “I'm�� I’m so glad…!” she gulped, now burying her face in her paws. Her tiny frame shook like a leaf as she finally allowed herself to cry.

After a moment or two, Rosa finally managed to collect herself, drying her eyes with her sleeves. A few more sniffles later, and after scooping Kaboomer back into one arm, she looked back up to the towering Dark Choco with a weak little smile.

“Yes, please,” she squeaked. 

It was tempting to reach up and grab his hand, and although she managed to resist the urge, she wound up grabbing the hem of his cape with her free paw, “Do you… Think…” she whispered, quickly silencing herself as she lost all confidence. She bit her lower lip.

However, as Dark Choco would start to lead her to the quarters that held Edge, she managed to regain some steam and asked nervously, “D-do you think… Maybe…” she paused, still unsure of herself, “That I could read a book aloud to both you and Edge…?”