Love me some cookies y'all

Concepts/Headcanons

OG post

COD related posts:

-Post 1

-Post 2

-Post 3

Dark Cacao Kingdom posts:

-Post 1

-Post 2

Lore

The Dark Dream

"Patient Zero"

Lore related asks:

-Post 1

-

Licorice Tribe

- Survivors

Licorice Sea/Living Abyss

Storyline

Precursor events:

The Licorice Sea Expedition

OCs 1

OCs 2

The Dreaming Plague

Waking Nightmares

Darkest Days

Art

Licorice Twist Cookie:

The current leader of whatever tribe members survived their village's collapse. He led the remaining cookies into the mountains and turned completely to banditry to care for the wounded and sick members of their tribe. A bit reckless, but quite strong, he once dreamed of becoming a warrior.

Relationship w/ Licorice Cookie:

(Past) Dislike. He often felt jealous of Licorice for getting attention from his grandmother, Elder Licorice Cookie.

(Current) Indifferent/concerned. He'd welcome Licorice back to the tribe, but that doesn't mean he won't have some choice words for the guy. After all, he disappeared without a word for years to study magic.

Elder Licorice Cookie:

A stern older cookie who aids her grandson in leading the tribe. She manages their camp and tends to the wounded, often lamenting the missing and crumbled. With her guidance, the tribe has remained hidden in their shelter using their common scare tactics to ward off curious cookies. If she ever gets to meet Dark Cacao again, she has some colorful words for him.

Relationship w/ Licorice Cookie:

(Past) A bit maternal. Since he had no family, she often looked out for him when she wasn't busy with aiding the rest of the tribe.

(Current) Concerned. She hasn't seen him in years and worries if he's even still alive.

Licorice Cream Cookie:

Y'all have probably seen her already so I'll be quick. A marine biology student from the Licorice Tribe who thought being able to study and understand the Licorice Oozelings would be able to lead them to better containment and help change the negative opinions other tribes have of her. Unfortunately, she returns to an empty, ruined village.

Relationship w/ Licorice Cookie:

(Past) Dislike. She found him a bit rude and scary as a child. It didn't help that he tried to claim ownership of her bones if she crumbled.

(Current) Mixed. On one hand, she's so happy to know he's alive and well, but he does trick her to access important information.

Salmiakk (Cookie form):

A felled priestess from the Licorice Tribe. Despite her wounds, she's still alive... In a way. Salmiakk Cookie sacrificed her own crumbling self in exchange for the power to defend her people. Though she couldn't save them all, she allowed the rest to escape. Now she acts as a vengeful entity, using her cookie form to draw out those who wronged her and her kin. The arrows in her back are still there from the day she lost her life, though it's only because they were too hard to reach!

Relationship w/ Licorice Cookie:

(Past) Familiar. They weren't super close, but he was often fascinated by the magical aspect of their rituals so she would let him watch her work.

I imagine it probably looked like this:

Jokes aside, this is Licorice's first encounter with a member of his clan in a long time even if they weren't super close. I'd imagine he'd probably be uncomfortable and try to weasel away at first, but when he can't and he realizes he can get info from her as she's part of the team. Well, he is an opportunist.

Mind you, he might end up getting a bit hostile towards her since Licorice Cream probably seems to be living the life he craves. Like, Licorice craves attention and validation. He wants recognition and respect. And he feels he didn't get that.

Enter Licorice Cream Cookie, a girl who comes from the same hometown, and is the same type of cookie. He only remembers her as "that shy, quiet girl always hiding behind her sister". The most notable thing about her to him would probably have been Rice Roll Oozeling. She's so unassuming, and she's still timid and a bit skittish.

And yet, she has a mentor (Vanilla Drop) who cares for her and acknowledges not only success, but her efforts to reach that success. Someone who doesn't look down on her mistakes or failures but tries to teach her to do better. Her superior (Dragon Moray) values her knowledge on the Licorice Sea and actively seeks her input. Not all of the crew likes her, sure, but they can't deny that she's competent since she was specifically chosen for this excursion. She is getting what he always wanted.

And I know Licorice would hate it. I can get magine he'd be jealous. Because how is that fair? They're from the same town. They're both licorice cookies. So why does she have people looking to her for guidance? For answers? Why are her efforts acknowledged? Her opinions respected enough to have actual weight?

It would drive him nuts I think.

But also, Licorice Cream and Licorice weren't close by any means, but she does remember him. And she knows he was curious about the magical aspect of the oozelings and the sea, unlike her who went for a more straightforward and scientific route. She would probably value his input in this situation. Maybe even offer to see if they can get him a place on the team if he had learned more about the monsters in the sea.

We do not have a timeline for the Licorice Sea changing (yet). Just a few references to it happening. Dark Cacao, at some point, even mentions the Oozelings tainting the Licorice Sea. Most likely they probably assume they came from Beast Yeast. But everything about his kingdom makes it sound like they suffered from the Licorice Oozelings long before he got his Soul Jam.

The best way to work this out is to establish the following:

1) When did Licorice Oozelings first appear? So far the only thing that seems even slightly established is that they're probably about as old if not older than the Ancients. Does Shadow Milk know about them? Were they even around at the time of the Beasts? Were they there pre-corruption? Are they older than the beasts? As old as the dragons? (This last one seems unlikely to me unless a dragon IS involved somehow, but for now, we're uncertain)

2) Where are they from? Are they really from Beast Yeast? Or are they from somewhere else and assumed to be from BY? Why the Licorice Sea? Because they share an ingredient? Because it just happened to be closest? They can clearly leave the Licorice Sea, why don't they travel to other waters more often if at all? It's definitely odd that they're very concentrated on that one specific area.

3) What are they exactly? How did they come to be? They're clearly destructive, but it doesn't seem like they've caused that much damage outside the Dark Cacao Kingdom and Licorice Sea, besides when Licorice has summoned them. "Gelatinous licorice monsters" aren't exactly explaining much given their somewhat mysterious existence. Personally, I'm fond of them becoming somewhat aware on their own by trapping life powder/energy but that's entirely me.

Now as for why the limited info makes a good red herring? Because it could change the way they plan to deal with it. The way the entire thing is perceived. The sheer magnitude. It's also why I hope they don't tie the Living Abyss to any existing, major player besides Licorice (like the Beasts somehow).

Like, if everyone assumes they come from BY, they would likely overlook other options (like the sea itself). If anything, it could potentially be an entire arc on its own (which Darkest Days does have enough stuff to be an actual in game arc. Don't look at me pls, I know it's unhinged).

There's plenty of way to take the limited info in canon and use it to lead an audience the entire wrong way. I feel like the mysterious circumstances around the Living Abyss, Licorice Cookie, the Licorice Sea, the Licorice Tribe, and the Dark Cacao kingdom is already interesting enough to deserve its own plotline. And that's partly what Darkest Days is for since I doubt we will get to it any time soon.

They're living rent free in my head rn but like. I love them. Dragon Moray Cookie is a bit jealous of a licorice oozeling bc Licorice Cream Cookie will cuddle Rice Roll all day if allowed to.

I was thinking about which elements would each of the CoD member have and I am stuck between Earth and Water for Licorice! The main thing : I want him to move the death!

(btw I was thinking about Dark Choco doing Blood Blending,Poison Mushroom as an Airbeneder and Pomegranate either Air or Fire (because those might be able to like control the electrons in the brain or smth)

I have! And honestly? I'd probably pick water bender for Licorice purely bc he seems like he'd be a Blood Bender to me, particularly one who doesn't need a full moon to blood bend. Idk, it just feels like it'd fit his necromancer thing in canon. Also, Licorice trying to study his own blood bending and see what exactly it can be used for besides making people into puppets seems very possible. I'd assume it would be the equivalent of his fascination with magic in canon. Hell, just Licorice trying to push the limits of what counts as water bending seems entirely possible to me. Not just what Hama did, but things like "does mercury count as water if it's in liquid form?" "Can I bend alcohol based solutions if it's technically in liquid form? Is magma a liquid? Can I bend lava if there's enough water in it?" "Can I give people instant blood clots and cause a fatal stroke? And if so, can I stop a fatal stroke if it's caused by a blocked artery?"... Unfortunately, most of his questions are either life threatening to himself or others. I can see him being the type to be super interested by the spirit world too.

I agree Air fits PM, but I also think of Earth just bc the little guy would absolutely use Earth Bending to bring home all of the Shroomies they can find but just... Picking up the Earth they're growing on. But also, PM being like a second gen Bumi (Aang's son) as an air bender is also very fitting imo.

Dark Choco always struck me more as an Earth or Fire Bender tbh, but I can see water bending being a thing and blood bending being added after he got his cursed sword. But I like Fire bc Zuko has that whole thing about needing to learn a new way to fuel his fire bending that isn't tied to his anger. And I can see Young Prince Dark Choco having struggled as a fire bender, then found his cursed sword which amplified his negative emotions including anger at his father which seems to make his bending stronger, then when he leaves, having to struggle with his bending not being as powerful as before until he finally learns to use it again without his cursed sword amplifying it.

I agree Pomegranate is the hardest to pick bc she's fairly well rounded imo, but if I had to, I think I'd say Air simply because it feels like a fighting style that would fit her most. Though Fire Bending with a fighting style more like an Airbender makes sense to me.

Choco Werehound Brute hits me as either an Earth Bender or a non-bender.

Red Velvet probably a Fire Bender. Maybe a non-bender.

Matcha... Water or Earth, I'd guess.

Butter Roll seems like a non-bender but he's morbidly curious about how bending actually works on like, a biological level.

Affogato is a water bender purely because of his stupid fish line in game. Also bc using it with liquid poisons seems neat.

Chess Choco would be non-benders imo.

Earl Grey is also probably a non-bender but he'd be a Chi Blocker on the side.

Look, this fits in your darkest days au. But before the Arc 1

Reposting the link for others to see.

Also, credit to the artist is @poppyflavour! I love seeing their art a tone, especially for the COD. 💖

Now then, YES this is a big part of the COD before and during the first arc of Darkest Days. Pomegranate and Agar Agar basically got adopted into an established group (Licorice and his minions lol) and that's gonna be a weird adjustment on top of the whole coming to terms with DE's death. Pomegranate would also probably try to keep DE's dream of spreading darkness alive too, but that's not the point (though she's with the right people to do it)

I'd imagine she'd probably butt heads with Licorice a lot more, especially if she wants to order him or "his" people around. But the fact that he and his group were the ones to support her despite all their differences, somewhere deep down she's touched. Considering how often they argued, I wouldn't be shocked if even she thought he'd leave her behind. (He totally blames PM for deciding to stay lbr)

-Pomegranate originally was going to raise PM after they found them, but she was not ready for all the extra stress and responsibilities of motherhood on top of running the mess that is the COD.

-Conveniently, she had the perfect caretaker in mind.

-And by that I mean she noticed Licorice was alright at cooking, cleaning, and generally taking care of domestic things so obviously that means he'd be a perfect father figure.

-Hoo boy was he not ready or willing to do that. He did try to pass the kid back off on Pomegranate, but she pulled out the DE card on him and he begrudgingly went with it.

-Complained loudly every time she was in earshot about it, often while wearing an apron and trying to make sure PM ate something other than lethal doses of hallucinogenic mushrooms.

-"I'M WAAAYY TOO YOUNG TO BE A SINGLE DAD TAKE IT BACK!!"

-Secretly taught PM to call him brother for a while, when he was inevitably caught, he brushed it off as, "Well, I said I'm way too young to be a parent. Siblings do this sometimes, don't they?" Followed by more complaints about how difficult they could be.

-Surprisingly a good parent? For a villain wannabe with a faux ego and a mountain of insecurities, he's pretty proud he was able to keep them alive for so long.

-PM once called him dad and it made him irrationally happy. So much so that it was commented on.

-Licorice once made a snide remark along the lines of, "Well if someone didn't decide to make me a single teenage father, maybe things would be different," in front of a newly joined Dark Choco. To make the poor guy's confusion worse, Pomegranate actually responded to this with, "And I will do it again if you don't shut up and do as you're told."

-Licorice has been threatened more times than he'd like with the responsibility of parenthood than he'd ever like to admit.

-Honestly, he's not exactly a good caretaker by any reasonable standards. Like, he made sure PM was fed and cleaned, but he's not what you'd call emotionally available, at least not in public which wasn't always good for PM. And He was definitely a bit neglectful and would let PM wander wherever. Also most wouldn't consider teaching a 3yo to use Black magic as good parenting. I do think he would try, and he definitely tried to drill it in their head that he does care even if he doesn't always act like it. Get this man some parenting lessons.

-Pomegranate would often come along to fill in the gaps of Licorice's parenting tho. Like their basic education, bc I can see Licorice trying to avoid the things he's not good at. Or acting as a more emotionally stable option to turn to.

-Ironically, I do think Dark Choco was probably the most consistent role model PM had since Licorice seems like he'd be "all over the place but doing his best" and Pomegranate is probably more "aloof and distant but probably spoils them and is also trying her best".

-I guess probably the best way to put it would be Dark Choco would've been the best emotional support, trying to do the opposite of what his dad did for him emotionally. Licorice would be supportive but lacks understanding and instead provides better domestic care and affection. Pomegranate would be their stability and education, and also another support. DE is obviously gonna be the grandma who spoils them every time she sees them.

Licorice Cream Cookie has recently discovered her tribe is in ruins. Dragon Moray wants to cheer her up a bit. (RRO is also making an attempt to comfort her)

Licorice Cream Cookie:

Y'all have seen her already. The diver and a marine biology student on the Licorice Sea Expedition Team with an oozeling companion. (Based on the actual licorice cream candies)

- used to be scared of Licorice when they were younger after he tried to claim legal rights to her bones if she crumbled, but was very happy to see him when he was investigating the Republic's preparations for the LSE project.

-adored Salmiak and misses her dearly. Has been worried about why she hasn't responded to her letters in so long, but can't find enough time to leave and visit. (Is devastated to find the tribe in ruin later and is terrified for her sister's safety.)

-always found Elder Licorice intimidating, but is confident her studies would prove useful. Not so confident that the old woman would hear her out.

-always scared by Black Vine because of his dislike towards her as kids. Thinks he'd only have gotten more intimidating now.

Black Vine Cookie:

A somewhat prominent thief/bandit trying to survive the harsh conditions of the Dark Cacao kingdom while caring for his grandmother, Elder Licorice and a handful of other tribe members. (Based on the usual twisted licorice candies)

-knew of Licorice, didn't get along on the rare occasions they interacted. Wanted to be a warrior, thought Licorice's interest in magic was dumb and kinda useless.

-though he loves his grandmother, he often felt she cared more for the cookies like Licorice who had no family, or Salmiak, who she taught personally. They rarely had time together when the tribe still stood and she felt responsible for everyone else's safety. They've gotten closer but it's still bittersweet.

-Saw Salmiak as a rival for his grandmother's attention and constantly tried to compete against her.

-didn't care much for Licorice Cream, but didn't like her either because of her relation to Salmiak.

Elder Licorice Cookie:

An elderly cookie who oversees their small survivor group after their village fell to ruin. She suffered a terrible injury and now has a permanent limp, but tends to push herself. Quite ruthless towards outsiders. Often wonders about the fates of those tribe members she hasn't seen.

-Tried to look out for Licorice when he was still in the village but often was too busy and brushed him aside. Secretly snuck him the most basic funds needed to leave the village to pursue magic after he made a case for using it to their benefit once he learned. Very concerned about him like she is for the rest of the tribe who are unaccounted for.

-often aided Salmiak in her studies. Mentor/teacher type of relationship.

-enjoyed Licorice Cream's company, but they didn't interact much without Salmiak as a bridge.

Salmiak/Abyssal Priestess:

Once a priestess in training, she made a desperate move to save herself and can no longer be called a cookie.

-a strict older sister type before the incident. She did care for the cookies younger than her but her harshness may have come off as dislike. She was the one always on Licorice's case for being disruptive and causing trouble.

-close to Elder Licorice with her position as a priestess in training. Often helped manage the younger kids.

-Licorice Cream Cookie's older sister. One of the only cookies Salmiak couldn't be strict with.

The real issue is something like this:

Someone in the cemetery Licorice frequents: "I just miss my Mom so much, I wish I could speak to her one more time."

-Love the idea that appeasement rituals for the Licorice Sea/Licorice monsters originated in the Licorice Tribe. To add to this, the most effective version is the Licorice Tribe version.

-The Licorice Tribe is much safer around Licorice Oozelings than any other cookie. But they are not immune to attacks from the creatures. Oozelings think they're also Oozelings and to some degree know the tribe can stop them with their magic. In whatever thoughts might exist in a Licorice Oozeling's mind, the licorice cookies are simply not usually worth the effort of fighting and they get benefits (free food) if they help the tribe.

-on the above, they're not domesticated, but they're able to understand the concept that the Licorice Tribe isn't trying to hurt them and can work beside them.

-Music was a big part of the tribe and as a result... Oozelings fuckin love a good song. This has good and bad potential imo. Good bc if you start playing a tune or singing a song, they will not immediately kill you. Bad bc if you play anywhere near the Licorice Sea, you will attract every oozeling in the area.

-oozelings tend to retain behaviors and characteristics of the first living thing they consume. Usually this is fish or a smaller oozeling, maybe an animal. This is why Rice Roll Oozeling in the Darkest Days AU acts like a dog btw.

-turns out oozelings little hoarders. They will steal things they like and pile them up at the bottom of the Licorice Sea. Many of these items came from the Licorice Tribe.

-if an oozeling decides it likes a tribe member, it'll be their best friend. Most are avoidant like cats tho

MOST LIKELY Dark Choco makes sense to me. While under the influence of the Dark Dream he winds up sleepwalking right to the Citadel gates where he's then taken in. (It is very awkward but Dark Cacao is very happy to have his son back.)

Maybe in an attempt to prove himself useful, and since he was planning to pass on this info anyway, Dark Choco shares what he knows about Licorice controlling the Oozelings and how he suspects they are related to the Dark Dream.

HOWEVER Affogato is also a choice here. Mind you, he's also on a collision course with his old kingdom. He doesn't receive as warm a welcome as Dark Choco would, but he would definitely barter his knowledge of Licorice's power over the Oozelings for better conditions, treatment, and safety if at all possible.