STALKERS TANGO | SPARKVAMP

"if you think i couldn't hold my own
believe me, i can."
- Breathe Deeper | Tale Impala

ANOTHER DAY IN THE HOLLYBERRY KINGDOM,
another day of being lazy for Vampire. Sure, he has moments where he goes on adventures to help some cookies in the kingdom and such, being an honorary knight of the kingdom doesn't seem so obvious.

One wouldn't assume someone lethargic and lazy would be someone powerful, Vampire would often hide his abilities so that his friends wouldn't be afraid of him at all.

With that comes a price of a sense of loneliness whenever he's around them, or is it the fact that his eyes have landed on a certain bartender?

Vampire was in denial that he'd fallen in love with his best friend, often finding himself daydreaming of the bartender. In hopes to forget he makes his way to visit the Hollyberry Mansion to meet one of his friends, Hollyberry.

"Vampire Cookie! What's with the long face?" Hollyberry grinned at her friend, patting him on the back with her gloved hands.

"Nothing much honestly, I'm just... looking for a way to distract myself." He chuckled nervously.

Hollyberry tilted her head with a confused stare, "Anything bad happened today good friend?"

Vampire shrugged, "Have you ever fallen in love with a cookie? But you're not sure whether you should confess to them or not?"

Hollyberry howled in laughter at his sullen explanation, "Ah the battle with love. Of course I have! You see when I met my husband he was surprised to see me stutter and become flustered, he admitted that he himself couldn't believe that I, Hollyberry cookie, would confess to such a cookie like him."

Vampire chuckled nervously, "What do you mean by that Holly?"

"You are worthy to love, If that cookie doesn't accept your confession then you can simply take a breather and come to the Hollyberry Mansion again to drink some Juice with me!" She grinned and patted the back of the sullen Vampire who simply winced at the action.

"Thanks Holly." He smiled, and looked at the pink tiles of the mansion.

"You are always welcome, my good friend!"

Hollyberry left to bring two large jars filled with the kingdom's signature Berry Juice and happily poured a glass for her and Vampire.

It has been months since he fled to the kingdom, he has gotten used to the bustling colorful crowd. The carriages wheeling through the roads, pompous and prideful songs heard across the kingdom. As jolly and happy as this kingdom seemed, he knew that a horrible thing happened when he first came here.

A roar of a dragon was heard, Vampire couldn't help but to take notice. Instead of running away he ran into the kingdom, with his heightened smell as he flew over the river, he was able to smell... burning dough.

He should run. He could have ran away, but something within him told him to save the cookies.

The screams of distressed cookies, the wind blowing by his ears, he spots a mansion with a broken window, a mansion with smoke coming out of it.

Before him, he saw cookies struggling against the dragon, one before the dragon, holding a shield. How could this cookie withstand such heat? But he could feel like the cookie was about to be burnt to a crisp, he felt that they were struggling.

All he could ever remember afterwards was that he was atop the very dragon, with... dragon fruit juice that was splattered across his face. Everything else was a blur, and thus he fainted.

Vampire hummed, fiddling the Hollyberrian brooch that was on his uniform. Despite its bulky design, it was light on his cape.

Recently the weather has been growing colder, despite the sunny skies that the Hollyberry Kingdom was known for, seasons do change, as the many cookies home to this kingdom started to wear coats more often.

"The Winter Ball is quite close, no? Do you have any plans Vampire?" It seems like Hollyberry has taken notice of how the cookie has become silent.

Vampire, who was lost in thought, was shocked by Hollyberry's question.

"I don't know honestly, never been to a ball before." Vampire swirled his glass, staring absentmindedly at the juice.

Hollyberry gasped at his words, "Never? My, my... Well then, I formally invite you to the Hollyberryian Winter Ball! Not only that but it's a celebration of your efforts in helping the kingdom!"

She grinned at Vampire, who pursed his lips at the idea of a ball. Isn't a ball just a fancier way to have a party? He sighed, "Why in the name of Earthbread did I think of him, it's just a ball. Just.. a fancy party."

"You know, it's never too late to tell that cookie. I'll be honest, you've been thinking about that cookie of yours lately, mind spilling some juice about this cookie that you love so much?"