Rhyden's Bonbon Scramble

Rhyden was humming to himself as he walked up the gangplank and boarded his ship the Wild Desire, he was pleased himself today. He had ordered the finest chocolates from all the different bakeries and candy shops around Burrowgatory and had been smart enough to do it well in advance of Matentines, all he had to do was wait to receive them.  He passed by the various members of his ship-crew, giving the usual friendly greeting as he passes by but one's ears perked up after passing by. "Oi, Cap'n! You had a delivery earlier! I set the package in your quarters for you!" Rhyden's ears perked up. "Eh? What's that you say? Already? That was earlier than expected! Wait, did you say you put them in my quarters?" The crewmember nodded and had opened their mouth to say something when suddenly Rhyden pushed past them and made a mad dash towards his quarters.

"No, no, no, no!" The faux-pirate captains chanted as he made his way through the ship. "Please don't be too late!" He muttered to himself as he jumped over a passing crew member and leaping off another's shoulders. "Make way! Chocolate emergency!" He cried out as he turned another corner and rushed up the stairs leading to his quarters. There he practically tackled the door and with a loud thunk...it held steadfast and he went tumbling backwards. "Ow. Ooh, okay...why did I invest in such a heavy door?" He picked himself up and walked over to the bun-size part of the door and placed a hand on the door handle. "Please be there, please be there." He prayed, he hoped but when he opened the door all he saw was despair. Despair and chocolate flavored destruction.

His room was a mess, chocolate stained mess. The bed, floors and parts of the walls were splattered with remnants of chocolate, cherry and cream fillings and at the center of this sweet hurricane of destruction...was a chocolate coated-harpup, who was still wearing a cover to one of the heart-shaped containers atop his head. The harpup was laying on it's back but it lifted it's head and looked up at Rhyden pitifully from beneath the shadow of his new hat. He grumbled and groaned before flopping his head back down, his fins held close to his belly. "Oh, does your stomach hurt, Marlowe? Well, good! You shouldn't have eaten that! Those chocolates are for my treasure! Not you! Bad Harpup!" Marlowe didn't seem to react to Rhyden's scolding, instead he just groaned and rolled over causing him to flop out of the bed he was situated on.  "Ah, bugger me! How am I going to get chocolates this late into the season? Before our date tonight!" Rhyden tugged on his ears as he stormed out of the room and began to rush to the exit of his ship. "No! No way am I disappointing my treasures! I'm Rhyden! Captain! I do -not- disappoint a lady!"

Rhyden spent hours going from bakery to bakery, candy shop to candy shop but most places were either sold out or in the process of making more. Finally though he found one that didn’t look too busy and still had well-stocked shelves, granted it was mostly with cakes and breads but what place isn’t selling chocolates right now? Hopefully, they still had some left.





Cassander was manning the counter of the bakery today, humming to themself as they put more pastries onto the display racks. Their ears perked up as they heard a ring of a bell; a customer has arrived! “H-hey there! Welcome to the Bakery! What can I get for y-you tod-” They were cut off by the larger bun sprinting up to the counter and slamming his hands on the counter eliciting a surprised squeak from them.

“Bonbons! I need Bonbons and a lot of them! Hurry mate or I’ll be late for my date!” Cassander sputtered for a moment as they struggled to regain their composure. “I-I think we still have some left, I-Is there a particular kind you’re looking for?”  The Pirate bun shook his head. “Nay, Any will do! I cannot show up empty handed, my treasures deserve the best but I’ll have to make do with whatever you have!”

Cassander gave a nervous nod and in the contagious panic spread by Rhyden hurried off to gather the bonbons, “I-I’m sorry sir, I can only sell you a couple! So there will be some left for other last minute buyers! I-I hope that won’t be a problem and uh, what kind would you like?”

Rhyden sighed and nodded. “Aye, Aye…I suppose I wouldn’t be the only poor sod who would need some last minute.” Despite having said that he pouted a little, he hoped to impress Tsuzu by giving her piles of chocolates but Marlowe had other plans. “As for the kind, I think Suzu likes white chocolates and fruit filled ones the best. She’s got a sweet tooth that one does.. Ah, and add some milk chocolate ones!” He grinned when Cassander placed the completed boxes on the counter. “Alright sir, t-that’ll be u-ack!” The nervous bun jumped as Rhyden slammed the money on the table, grabbed the boxes and began rushing out of the bakery. Cassander looked at the money, their eyes widening . “S-sir this is too much for…oh, he’s gone.” Their ears drooped as they looked at the money, what were they supposed to do if a customer overpaid? They weren’t sure.

Rhyden hurried back to the docks of the beach, dodging and weaving past the foot traffic and hopping over some folks carrying some crates. “Make way, make way for Captain Rhyden!” He exclaimed proudly. “Hey, we’re working here!” Called back an angry porter. Rhyden did not care, he had a lady to woo, a treasure to impress A Suzu to protect…and there she was, standing at the edge of the dock beside his ship. Waiting for him.

Suzu was looking around nervously, she was practically shaking with anxiety. He said he would be here, where is he? Then she saw him and she felt the anxiety abate, she gave a sigh of relief as he ran up to her. “Rhyden! I’m so happy to see you!”

Rhyden gave a big grin. “Sorry for being late, I had a bit o’ emergency to handle. Which is well-handled now. Here you go, my treasure! For you!” He held out the boxes of bonbons which were gently taken from his hands by the smaller bun. “For me? Oh, Um, thank you!”




When Suzu opened the box, Rhyden could practically see the sparkles in her eyes and when she let out those happy little meeps and smiled up at him, he felt the ruckus of the world around them fade and all was right. “White chocolates! They look so um, Delicious and they smell so good. these ones are cherry filled aren’t they? W-we should share them…maybe in your room? Or ah, not here?”  Rhyden laughed. “Aye, aye of course. To my quarters!”


Just then though he remembered the mess his Harpup had made of his room and he couldn’t let her see it in such a state. What would she think? “Oooor we could find a nice quiet spot on the beach, eh? Doesn’t that sound romantic?” Suzu looked up at him and tilted her head. “Oh Uh, I suppose. Whatever sounds better to you! So long as I’m with you I feel like I can go just about ah, anywhere! W-well, almost.”  She smiled up to Rhyden, hugging the boxes of bonbons close to her chest.

Rhyden could feel his heart melting from that smile and yet her words made it feel like he was soaring. He couldn’t resist, he moved to lift and hug his Suzu and nuzzle her cheek. “Ah, How I adore you my sweet treasure. Happy Matentines!”  Suzu was surprised by the sudden lifting and hugging but was quick to return the nuzzling. “Happy Matentine, Rhyden!”