#if anyone wants i can explain why they are staying with almond btw. please send in asks i am begging

[voiceless-people]

Stilton cookie and Sunflower Cookie having a shower thought conversation. Literally. Stilton and Almond are weird about each other too I guess.

(I just vaugepost for 500 words. Yeag)

She had heard the door creak open, but heard no footsteps enter. Sunflower just assumed whoever was there meant to grab something and left, but there still were no footsteps or any noise for that matter. The door clicked closed.

"Can we talk?" Stilton spoke up, tapping one of his clawed fingers on the wall. He hovered in the doorway for a moment before sitting on the counter beside the sink.

She chuckled.

"There isn't a better time?" Hot water was running over Sunflowers body, soap being rinsed down the drain. She'd just put conditioner in her hair, the water weighing its petal-like shape into waterlogged flat yellow. She couldn't see him through the showers curtain, but the ghost sighed.

"... Probably." He kept tapping the counter. He paused. "Do you like it back here? In the city I meant. Well the apartment too."

"Not particularly. Cities are cold, and the buildings block the sun." Sunflower stares at the wall, letting the hot water wash away the rest of the soap. She stood in it for longer. "I don't think he wants me here, and I'm not inclined to stay either."

Stilton swished his tail- it phasing safely through any objects before curling in his lap. God it was annoying when he couldn't just down his physical opacity. Hm. Odd way to think of it. Annoying when he was alive. Sounds simpler, yeah?

"Well. I'd reckon if my wife ran off an' left me with our tot I wouldn't be too happy to see her either."

"Your wife?" His tapping stopped. She laughed again, finally turning the shower off.

"Hm. Well maybe I'd be upset for the ladder." The specter watched Sunflower peel her arm around the curtain, attempting to grab at a towel on the wall. Stilton leaned over to hand it to her.

"Yeah. Either way- you and I don't stay places long. I'm doing it for his daughter, but it's weird being near people I used to know." She wrung out her hair and wrapped the towel around her. "It's odd, seeing her all grown up after 19 or so years. But she doesn't seem to mind it, why?"

The curtain slid to the side and Sunflower stepped out. Stilton snorted, but covered his mouth. Now probably wasn't the time to laugh, but her hair was a complete mess, the long locks dampened and silly looking. She glared back playfully.

"Sorry- you look ridiculous, luv. I don't think that's gonna air dry." He's grinning, but his smile falters to look more sheepish.

"Like you're one to talk, can barely see your old dusty self in all this steam." Sunflower wipes the condensation off the mirror and flicks water at him. The specter swats at her and hops of the counter. She shoos him away, fluttering her hand. Stilton rolls his eyes and swiftly leaves the room.

He floats his way over to the apartments kitchen and looks around. Theres the pitter patter of feline footsteps behind him, and there stands the Constable and the little orange stray he liked bringing around. The cats hop up onto the counter, Constable Whiskers thick tail nearly knocking a cup straight off the edge. Stilton runs a hand over the cats back and moves away to dig through one of the cabinets.

He pulls out a tin of wet food, then digs through the utensils for a spoon. He takes Constables bowl alongside the spare for the stray and splits the can of cat food. Whiskers liked his with kibble, while little orange liked hers soupy from tap water.

Stilton doesn't hear the front door unlock, and misses the sound of keys jingling alongside something heavy being hung up. The ghost turns back around with the bowls and stops.

Almond walks by the kitchen, and the two look at eachother for a moment. The detective drops his gaze first, with a sigh he walks down the hall.

Stilton looks at the empty hall for a moment before setting down the cats food. Whiskers scarfs his down, but the little one only takes a few bites before starting at the ghost.

He let's his form become much more weighted, sliding down the side of the counter and onto the kitchen floor. The orange kitty follows him down, and sits inbetween his tail and leg. Constable joins them after a while.

[asavt]

Another cookie squad Headcanons

Featuring Sparkling, Vampire, cellphones and the Espresso and Madeleine Story of how they came together. Consider it an AU now baby!

-As a note, when I say the squad I'm mostly referring to the adults, so no worries about Walnut or Creampuff useless I mention them too

-Each one of the squad has been in Sparkling's bar at last once. There's no need to say who has been there the most. Sparkling has a time every time someone besides Roguefort comes, because to him it's mostly like "Oh I'll finally know the continuation to the burnt toast accident or maybe the cat catastrophe? Maybe a new POV of the--"

He practically knows a lot of what happens in between the squad.

-As another note, Sparkling's bar is called Milabo (You know, like the song from Zutomayo of the same name, which, btw, I relate a lot to Latte)

-*A great part of this “AU” is kind of inspired by the song. Part of its lyrics and vibe.

-Vampire is there most of the time when the squad visits the bar (it's almost as if he never leaves the bar and this is definitely not me low-key putting sparkvamp in this oh no--) Sometimes the fakes his sleep to listen to the things others say (Which is how he knows most of Rogue's pan-ic).

-Walnut has been in Sparkling's bar too, but at day and for case-solving purposes only. Sparkling will give her some alcohol-free drink for free sometimes (mostly because he gets along pretty well with the nut family and because Almond usually pays him whatever he serves her).

-If the squad had cellphones (and probably an app like discord because.), their group chat would initially be called "Coffee mage appreciation group" and then be changed to "Coffee bean appreciation group"

Coffee Bean: Can we please change the group name and mine?

Guided by the Devine: No <3

Coffee Bean: Fuck you.

-*And they all would dedicate half their time to make fun of Almond but with love.

-Espresso has been mistaken for a dark mage before by Almond. It was how they meet actually. Almond had pulled him to interrogate him and got a long lecture on the differences between black magic and coffee magic.

-Madeleine gets along rather well with Roguefort. Rogue seems impressed by Maddie’s acting skills.

-Madeleine is currently living with Espresso. Out of his armor most of the time. He usually takes care of keeping the house clean and preparing meals (He never really had to cook before but the first dish he made wasn’t bad at all). Sometimes he will tag along Almond in the detective’s work, or Almond will ask for his help.

-I’m still unsure if I want the Almond/Roguefort/Latte to be romantic or platonic. But honestly? Both are good. Latte is pretty close to Almond and Roguefort but not in the way she is with Espresso (that makes them look like siblings jkashduawhu). Perhaps I’ll keep it platonic.

-The Espresseleine/Madespresso story of how they came together, because I seem to not be able to write it down JSHALDHUIWADWA-

--It happens after the Puppet Show mini quest. Madeleine starts to ask for Espresso's "assistance" in different mission that are given to him. Angel is there too, of course.

--During these missions is that Essy clarifies that no, they are not friends, no, he does not like Madeleine. Bringing up the knight begin too prideful and self-centered if not all then most of the time.

--Is not until one of their missions goes wrong, were Angel is knocked out and Espresso (seeing and knowing that if Madeleine is knocked down too they might not be able to go back to the kingdom ever) pretty much receives a rather big attack for Madeleine is that he kind realizes the facts given by espresso true. All while he is carrying Essy and Angel back to the kingdom, running and exhausted too.

--Clover begin kind of a mediator between the two (I want to see more of my son--)

--"Devine, protect us" Should happen too after this. An scenario like, Madeleine coming to think something like "I'm the shield, the one who goes on the front line and receives the blows for those who can't, always looking straight ahead... but if I am doing that then who watches my back? Who do I rely on and trust to take care of most enemies so the damage received is not overwhelming...?"

Power of team work baby!!!

--As a note to this, Maddie getting his cape damaged as well as his hair. So, you get short hair Maddie~

(I've been drawing him with short hair in secret now I have an excuse to show)

-- "You...cut your hair..." *Madeleine touches the points of it with one of his hands, pensive* "...pft it'll grow back!"

--There's also this "Search for your own light" thing between Angel and Maddie. Angel encouraging Madeleine to do so. Maybe Madeleine giving his best wishes to them for their wish to fly before they decide to part ways.

--Madeleine trying other ways to befriend Essy. Which at first Espresso mistaken as the knight usual attempts to befriend anyone he sees out of habit and attention seeking, but once they realize the feeling is completely genuine, Espresso is rather perplexed.

--"You can't just befriend people by buying them gifts (although I do appreciate them)" "Then what?" "hmm..."

--Said gifts used to be rather expensive things, simple though. Eventually Madeleine settles to just pass by Espresso's place, give him any food he had bought that day (which usually is glazed donuts), ask if he needs any help with something (getting a vase, materials, moving things), and if not then he just says his good byes, best wishes and silently leaves. (A note on the "silently leaves": Madeleine is pretty much used to speak loudly and enter loudly anywhere, he still does this at this point, but when it's about Espresso he is a bit more quiet, a bit showy over his entrances still, but less loud, and he actually knocks the door)

--Madeleine eventually manages to go out with Espresso to other places that aren't some place in the forest full of enemies. Probably after some more visits to his place and more calm talks between the two, Madeleine brings up that Espresso tends to act a bit cold or distant towards a lot of people, and that, although he understands his discomfort at begin in public spaces or too long out of his work, he should try and open up a bit. This reminds Essy of a certain friend he hasn't seen in some time, and from whom he keeps getting letters.

--Shenanigans.

--There's still some bickering between the two, always with a playful undertone though.

--Espresso explains Madeleine, one time the knight has gotten Espresso wrapped in a blanket burrito again and got him to bed, that sometimes, no matter how tired he might feel, he is simply unable to sleep. Part of a headcanon of mine that coffee magic has this side effect on it's users, prolonged usage of this kind of magic will induce a high caffeine kind of state, which on the long run can fuck up the user's sleep schedule. Madeleine understands this, but remains stubborn about keeping Espresso in the bed so at last he can get some rest from his work and clear his mind a little, the idiot falls asleep in the process and Espresso doesn't try to wake him up.

--This happens several times after, neither of them thinking of the implications of not begin bothered by the sudden closeness they share until it's too late.

--Espresso realizes first that he has slowly, yet nicely, fallen for Madeleine. I think I talked about this before but I'll do it again: Is in one of the times Madeleine has gotten Espresso to bed to get some rest, Espresso not begin able to fall asleep and Madeleine doing again. Is while he thinks of how he has gotten to know Madeleine for real, not the Knight Commander from a noble family or the Chosen by the Devine, but as he is, that he comes to think that "Ah.... I love him" and he remains calm about it.

--Espresso doesn't overthink it, just thinks that, if Madeleine ever got an interest in him, he would surely show it. So he waits. Even if in the end his feelings aren't mutual he knows he'll do just fine remaining friends.

--Madeleine realizes not many days after. And the realization hits him like a truck. Alone in his place and probably in bed looking at the ceiling thinking about Espresso. Once he realizes and thinks about it a bit more his face gets all red and chooses to scream in the pillow.

--He would think about telling Espresso as soon as he can, after all, he doesn't want his feelings to make their friendship weird. He values it, a lot. Maybe because his friendship with Espresso it's the first one where he genuinely wanted to become friends with someone.

--Espresso takes the confession calmly, gets all flustered after they kiss for the first time.

--As a few extras of this: Madeleine goes back to the Republic, asked to be seen by his family and Espresso goes to Parfedia, where a few students have applied to his class to his surprise. When they see each other again is at Parfedia (Madeleine sending a message to Espresso beforehand about his arrival) -there was this one drawing I did once of Maddie running to hug Espresso, something like that happens-. Madeleine gets very clingy for some reason, which they speak later and comes out as “Home doesn’t quite feel like home…” “Why is that?” “I don’t know… maybe I’ve become used to be around you”

--Espresso lets ends up letting Madeleine stay with him until he either feels like returning to the Republic or is called back, whatever happens first (though none will happen for maybe a year or a little more).

--Ends with Madeleine meeting Latte and Almond.