justice | cookie run: kingdom.

2 - blackout.

( a quick note for éclair before proceeding, he uses he/she pronouns. )

Oyster Cookie's hands rest on the shell-decorated railing. The silk of her gloves rubs against her skin — it's not uncomfortable.

Gazing overseas from the view of Manor Oyster was a privilege. A beauty like no other, even. Stood alone on the balcony. Only one's thoughts to disturb them.

Oyster treasured her Manor. She treasured her wealth. She treasured her house. It was like a grand relic to clutch on to nowadays, it had been for years upon end, even as the Captain came into power.
Chess pieces are expendable and the lady was more than aware. Power in the Créme Republic was like the desert sands for a cookie like her. A cookie could clasp it as tightly as they possibly could, and grains would still slowly slip out of their clutch.

But, she had no reason to worry about that right now. Oyster wishes silence like this would fall more often. Alas, it was Wednesday, council meetings called. What would it be today? The same song and dance as it always was? Would there be a tinge of uniqueness? It was Russian Roulette. Except no cookies actually died of course — unless figuratively from boredom.

Oyster doesn't flinch as the doors to behind the balcony open. She calmly turns around to face the cookie. Ah, her dear envoy! Moreso, her darling child. Oyster Pearl Cookie is fully uniformed, face pale against the morning breezes. Their platinum blonde hair, today, is not in its ponytail. It simply cascades in waves past their shoulders.

ㅤ “.. Hello, mother.”

The elder lady can't help but smile, approaching Oyster Pearl. She pulls them into a hugging embrace. They're not caught off guard at all — it's been this way for years! Pearl wraps their arms around Oyster, returning the notion. As frail as Oyster is, her hugs are full of warmth and love.

After a seemingly everlasting minute, the hug is split off. Oyster Pearl pulls up one of their gloves in an awkward fidget as the breezes continue to flow.

In which, it does not go unnoticed to the aged eyes of Oyster. Many things fail to slide discreetly beneath them.

ㅤ “What bothers you, dear?” she looks at the other, who twitches mildly at bring discovered so quickly.

ㅤ “Well..I was cleaning yesterday.. and..”

Oyster Pearl looked at Oyster with uncertainty. Oyster slowly nodded to indicate them to take their time. She avoids making eye contact as to not discomfort them. They, eventually, manage to claw the question out of their throat.

ㅤ “I found a storybook. Where did it come from?”

ㅤ “Hm? Which one?”

ㅤ “It had a section about these..star deities..” Pearl feels a little embarrassed bringing this up. They were practically confessing they'd read fairytales.

The image of the justice Goddess flashes in their mind. She who bore such similarity to Financier Cookie. It was stupid! The Goddess was an illustration and Financier was.. Financier! It was too early to think about this. And, Oyster has just responded.

ㅤ “That old thing?” she chuckles. “It was a book I'd had as a child.. I don't quite remember where it came from. My grandfather had it first, so yes, it is dated.”

She pauses, in thought.

ㅤ “You can keep it. If you'd like. Simply.. take care of it, it may be valuable.” Oyster concludes.

ㅤ“.. Thank you.” It would be a lie in that moment to say Oyster Pearl was not disappointed. Well, what did they expect? But something grated at them. They put on a slight smile, nodding. They turn their back to leave.