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With his pristine cream-colored coat and combed nut-brown hair, Almond Cookie is one diligent cookie. He truly does take pride in assisting the citizens of Parfaedia, no matter how vastly ridiculous the magical accidents he had to deal with sometimes were, like when he had to arrive at a scene where a magical cauldron kept spewing Jellies without fail or pause. No matter what, he always solves cases with great precision.
However, full-time shifts can take quite a toll on your mental state and physical energy. As for that, his solution to this–and his co-workers’ in the Magical Emergency Handling department, where he works–was to drink an uncanny amount of coffee. It has saved him throughout his countless amount of hours working. But earlier today (unfortunately for him), the lovely coffee machine at the M.E.H department was proved to be nonfunctional.
After making important phone calls and gathering and analyzing information about magical mishaps, he moved about the corridors to have his daily coffee break with Constable Whiskers at his side, the M.E.H’s pet cat that has taken a particular liking towards Almond Cookie. Constable Whiskers is no regular-looking cat. With its black bat-like ears and tail resembling a fox’s tail, it looked at Almond Cookie through its curious, golden eyes.
Almond arrived at the minimalistic-looking break room with its familiar dark wooden counters and cabinets and its array of tables and plastic chairs. There on one of the smooth marble countertops lay the coffee machine accompanying the coffee condiment station that sits at its side.
Almond grabbed a coffee cup from the condiment station, which contains an assortment of all things for coffee such as small packets of sugar, stir sticks, small creamer cups, coffee cups, cardboard sleeves for the coffee cups, as well as black lids. He set down a coffee cup under the coffee dispenser, uninformed about what was to happen.
The small fountain of coffee poured down to his coffee cup as per usual as he gripped the rough cardboard sleeve that he placed around the cup, patiently waiting for it to fill. But he noticed that the machine behaved rather strangely, and one thing led to the other. The machine smoked with coffee overflowing, spilling everywhere. Surprised about what happened, he dropped his cup of coffee, which made a soft thud on the gray carpet below.
He quickly backed his hand away, stunned by the pain and how his baked dough was softened from the liquid. This was grave and dangerous, as he certainly didn’t want his cookie hand to crumble off. He noticed the coffee cup lying, and the spilled brown liquid over the carpet.
“Just my luck.. how would that get off?” He grumbled. He had always known that the carpet wouldn't pair well with the kitchen area of the break room and thought that a coworker would surely mess up the carpet. Ironically, he became just that coworker.
He ended up without coffee and instead with a bandaged hand, much to his dismay. This wasn't his first time going without coffee, of course, sometimes he did, unfortunately, go without coffee. But this time it wasn't due to the interruption of a magical mishap happening somewhere in the city of Parfaedia, instead it was due to a mishap of a broken coffee machine.
So now he arrives home after his shift, exhausted. Every bit of his baked body is screaming at him to rest, to sleep through the night finally carelessly.
He turns the knob of the door and is greeted by the sight of his daughter, Walnut Cookie, lying down on the living room floor with a few drawings and of course, detective novels. She is already dressed in her pajamas and accompanied by her assistant and pet, Ted. She scribbles on one of the papers with crayons, then lifts her head and smiles at her father. She grabs another drawing next to her, stands up, and excitedly walks to Almond Cookie. Her caramel ponytail slightly bounces as she moves.
“Look what I drew while you were gone!” Walnut Cookie exclaims, lifting the paper high so her father can view it better.
Almond Cookie tilts his head down and immediately recognizes that the drawing is a drawing of Phantom Bleu, a notorious criminal that they hadn’t yet caught, much to Almond’s dislike. What an unpredictable trickster they are, stealing Jewel Jellies as if they have the right!
In his daughter's drawing, they are holding a jewel in one hand and the staff Almond Cookie has seen them hold in their other hand. They're wearing their usual outfit; a ridiculous-looking beige and blue hat and cape, as well as the familiar gray suit with the black tie underneath. Not to mention, their monocle. To the right of Phantom Bleu, is a drawing of his daughter stopping the criminal. Phantom Bleu’s face is in a state of shock as if they were caught doing a devious act but couldn't do anything to escape this time. Walnut Cookie always swore that she would take down her rival, Phantom Bleu.
Almond Cookie smiles tiredly and ruffles Walnut Cookie’s hair with his hand, messing up her ponytail. Walnut grins, no doubt proud of herself. She has always been drawn to being a detective and helping those in need, and would even occasionally solve cases herself. Of course, she is still a child, so they weren't serious cases. But still, it was like father, like daughter.
“It looks excellent, dear daughter. There is no doubt that they'll be punished and confined for their offenses one day.” He manages to string out.
As if sensing that he's exhausted, Walnut Cookie’s eyebrows furrow out of worry. Her gaze drops, but her eyes widen as she notices and catches sight of her father's bandaged hand.
Almond Cookie quickly hid his hand away, but the damage was already done.
“What happened?..” The little one asks her father worryingly.
Almond hesitates but then realizes that it's best if he just tells her what happened. What else would he tell her anyway, other than the obvious truth that his bandaged-wrapped hand suggests?
“An accident happened. Some coffee spilled on my hand and it got soggy to a slight extent. My hand is fine and is all in one piece as it should be, it merely stings.”
Walnut looks at him with deep concern.
“I promise,” he insists, “I’m alright. It's already dry and it's the same way as it was before, with no deterioration to the dough. It will heal soon enough.”
Silence is between the two for a few seconds.
“You should be careful, Dad.. and you should also sleep. My detective senses are telling me you should. You look like you got hit by a truck, no offense.” A smile slowly appears on her face again at the joke she made.
Almond hangs his coat using his good hand on the coat rack beside him, placing it beside his daughter's beloved brown cape and cabbie hat.
He turns to Walnut Cookie. “You're right, but you should rest too. Detectives need sleep to continue with their duties.”
Walnut nods at her father as he wraps his arms around Walnut Cookie and picks her up, careful not to further injure his bandaged hand.
"You do know that I can walk to my room myself, right?" Walnut says, although her tone is cheery.
Almond smiles as he walks towards her room to her bed and gently tucks her in. Walnut smiles sleepily at her father, slowly and peacefully closing her eyes.
“Sweet dreams, my lovely daughter.” He crouches slightly before leaning to peck her on the forehead.
“Love you, Dad.” She whispers.
Almond stands up and serenely walks to the door. Before exiting through the doorway, he looks back.
“I love you too.” He gives her a gentle smile with his tired eyes, before turning off the lights and exiting the room, quietly shutting the wooden door from behind.
No doubt thinking how fortunate he is to have a wonderful daughter like Walnut.