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Licorice was a well versed conjurer, capable of creating any number of beastly little minions to assist in his evildoing. However, he was quite lacking in power when compared to other Cookies of Darkness. He didn't want to be a burden, especially not a burden weaker than a youngster like Poison Mushroom. It frustrated him to no end, so he was more than eager to prove himself. Unfortunately this meant that he had begun to delve into magic way above his capability level. Licorice could've lived with the embarrassment of blowing up a room at the headquarters or turning his head into a pumpkin. There was no way he was gonna recover from this. Pomegranate Cookie had simply turned her nose up at this while Poison Mushroom Cookie had hovered around his nubs, asking where his legs had gone. Licorice had started trembling with rage, unwilling to part with the obvious information that he had managed to char and effectively crumble his own legs.
"What do you think it looks like, you little - " Jabbed in the back of the head by the pommel of a sword, Licorice took a hint and resigned himself to angrily grumbling, massaging the back of his noggin. Dark Choco was usually the least present and least caring of any of the Cookies of Darkness, too wrapped up in his family issues to see past his nose, but he didn't take kindly to swearing at young crumbs. However, now he gazed down at Licorice somewhat strangely. That angry fire wasn't present behind his eye - not that Licorice could see as the wizard cookie continued to wallow in self pity and snap at the two others still joking at his misfortune. Dark Choco continued to gaze at the misfortunate cookie, a strange feeling stirring at the bottom of his chest. The ruby red gem of his sword's hilt glowed menacingly and he felt a certain darkness overtake him, just a little, before he bit down on his tongue and fought it off.
When Pomegranate and Poison Mushroom Cookie walked off to inform Dark Enchantress of the event, Dark Choco was the only one to stay behind and grab the back of Licorice's robes, tossing him over his shoulder. Licorice Cookie yelped in surprise, hands scrabbling for purchase before knotting in Dark Choco's cloak. "Warn a guy before you manhandle them! Jerk," he grumbled, kicking his leg stumps as much as he could without pain shooting up them. Dark Choco simply looked blankly ahead, lugging Licorice toward his room. The wizard cookie quieted down until he was plopped onto his bed, still miffed at the roughness he was handled with. His captor simply watched him with a slightly amused face, hand limply propped on the pommel of his sword. Licorice stared back with his arms frossed over his chest, face in an unamused pout.
"So what are you gonna - " "You're weak."
A pillow nearly met Dark Choco's face before he ducked, letting it sail over his head. "YOU ASSHOLE, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!" Licorice huffed, sucking his teeth at the able cookie across from him. He was a refined and intelligent wizard, thank you very much. He wasn't some idiot that zapped his own legs off on PURPOSE. It had been in the heat of scholarly breakthrough - you can't fault an academic for being eager about their passion. Flopping back against the other pillows on the bed, Licorice flipped onto his side, not wishing to look at that annoyingly handsome face any longer. Dark Choco didn't say anything, hell, he hardly moved. A cold sweat broke on Licorice's forehead, wondering when that weirdo was going to move. The tension broke with a small exhale of air, Dark Choco slightly rolling his shoulders as he glanced down at Licorice.
"You need to keep your strength up." And he walked out, leaving Licorice to look after him in confusion. The dark cookie simply sighed to himself and scooted down to rest his head on the pillows to nap. What a weirdo.
Licorice was awoken to the sound of the bedroom door opening roughly, Dark Choco muscling his way in with a large platter in hand. Licorice looked over blearily, grumbling unintelligible words as he surveyed the dark red platter. There wasn't much on it, a single bowl, but the bowl was large. Dark Choco set the oversized platter on the bedside table before jerking Licorice into a sitting position by the back of his robe. It choked the wizard cookie, him gagging and glaring at Dark Choco accusingly, but he couldn't send a rude comment his way. Dark Choco had pulled a small stool from seemingly nowhere and sat himself right there at Licorice's bedside. The wizard simply stared at the warrior, blinking as he tried to figure out what Dark Choco was doing. The warrior didn't speak, instead pulling the bowl off the platter and picking up the soup spoon that lay beside the bowl on the platter. Licorice's cheeks burned - if Dark Choco's actions meant what he thought they meant, the two were going to have a problem because there was nO WAY -
"Open up." Licorice clamped his mouth shut, shaking his head speedily.
"I'm legless, not invalid, gimme the damn spo - URK?!" The spoon, laden with a thick and meaty, but unfortunately quite bland and unseasoned, stew, was unceremoniously shoved in Licorice's mouth, Dark Choco towering over the wizard even as they both sat. His one eye gleamed a deep red, scarily so, as he leered at the leaner cookie.
"Eat. It." A shiver shot up the injured cookie's spine as he took the food in his mouth, chewing nervously before swallowing thickly. The glow in Dark Choco's eyes dampened slightly, but that eerie gleam didn't leave completely. It made Licorice deeply uncomfortable, but he didn't want to fight against a cookie that could dig his throat out with the soup spoon currently in his grasp. It would be better to simply do as he was told for now, even if the sheer size of the bowl was daunting. Better than ending up as mere crumbs on the sheets. Licorice obediently accepted the next bite of stew, the tension in Dark Choco's shoulders releasing minutely when he realized Licorice wasn't going to fight. Things went swimmingly, Licorice getting a bit more comfortable with the routine and Dark Choco staying as stoic as always, at least until Licorice got full.
"Ugh, I'm done," the wizard grumbled, pursing his lips tightly. He wasn't even halfway finished with the food Dark Choco had brought, but the stew sat heavy in his stomach and made him feel tight as a drum. He laid a tentative hand over his taut belly, slightly rounded out with the subsequent food baby and rubbed out a small burp to make himself feel the tiniest smidge more comfortable. Dark Choco watched Licorice's jilted movements, his jaw setting firmly. He poured the bite of stew that was in the spoon back into the bowl before setting the spoon back onto the platter. Licorice hoped this meant that they were done - his stomach was cramping a little from how much he'd eaten. However, that wasn't what Dark Choco had in mind. Instead of picking up the platter and leaving the room, the warrior instead climbed onto the bed, pinning Licorice to the bed as he straddled his legs stumps.
"Finish it," he growled, voice gravelly and threatening. Licorice gulped, eyes wide as dinner plates, shaking his head indignantly. He couldn't eat anymore - he was full! Did that mean nothing?! Apparently not, as Dark Choco pressed the lip of the bowl to the seam of Licorice's pursed lips, pinching his nose closed. The warm liquid danced over the soft of Licorice's lips and, as much as he wanted to put up some sort of fight, it didn't work. He gasped the moment the liquid of the stew graced his skin and suddenly there was no fight left for him to put up. It was either swallow obediently or choke and drown. And Licorice hadn't gotten himself in this position by trying his damndest to die. He gulped the broth down quickly so he'd be able to breathe, although some did overflow from the corners of his lips. No worries though, Dark Choco used the collar of Licorice's robes to clean his face.
When the last of the broth had finally been sucked down, Licorice felt like a water balloon full of warm soup, unable to do anything but take in deep gulps of air and lean back with glazed over eyes. Dark Choco seemed satisfied, even if Licorice hadn't touched much of the meat. It didn't matter much, as he used Licorice's side as leverage to push himself up. The slightest hint of give was present, which meant the food was working as it should. He got off of Licorice and stood, a small smile on his face as he watched the poor wizard struggle and fight against the oncoming food coma.
"I'll be back with more for lunch," was all he said before gathering up the platter and leaving. Licorice's replacement legs from Dark Enchantress weren't going to be ready for some time, so Dark Choco had plenty of time to work. But there was no harm in expediting the process a little. Maybe he could pawn the excess meat off to Red Velvet. He wasn't as picky as Licorice thankfully. He chuckled briefly to himself at the thought, the bright red gem of his sword's hilt glittering strangely. Not picky at all.