#penny abrams

[penny-abrams]

I have never been so wrong about a character, in my life.

Way to go, Silent Salt Cookie — the only Beast who shouldn't have the title. The Beasts were the craven whelps around you that abandoned hope, peace, and solidarity.

[penny-abrams]

Alright, so, I wanna talk about something involving Clair Obscure, but I cannot stress this enough — play the game before reading this post, as I will be spoiling a major event in the story, because I need to talk about it or I will cry again.

Gustave, being the first party member we get, is incredibly important to the 1st Act of Clair Obscure — the 33rd would not have been able to go on without him, and though it pains me to say it, we had all of the hints that this was coming.

Let's start with how Gustave interacts with the rest of the party, starting with Maelle —

From the very start of the game, it's clear that Gustave and Maelle have some sort of deep relationship. The writing of the game really shines in the early scenes in Lumiere —

We get a chance to experience this through how Gustave talks with Sophie and Maelle, the beautiful way that the game blends the tutorial with important mechanics like parrying and dodging, heartwarming scenes of closeness between Sophie and Gustave, and the way that everyone else is feeling.

From the very first moment that we start the game, from the first few lines of dialogue, we are aware that today is a sad day. Everyone seems to be dressing up, Gustave starring pensively at the sea, and waiting with a flower for a girl named Sophie.

We, as players, are given a dozen different signs that today is not a celebration — flowers being grown for each individual, and moreso, with their dwindling numbers only really becoming clear this year, as dozens of flowers are left to sit.

During this time, we are challenged by Maelle to not just one, but two separate duels — one at the beginning, and one after "the Gommage"; possibly the saddest fictional event anyone has ever thought of.

During these duels, you can use Gustave's special skill, Overcharge, which his whole kit relies on — every hit you make on an enemy results in Gustave getting a singular charge. For 4 AP, all of those blows can be dished back out, with the amount of charge giving different amounts of damage, and a change to the color of the electricity that comes out.

You all know where this is going —

Yellow Lightning is at a charge of 1 to 3.

Blue Lightning is at a charge of 4 to 6.

Purple Lightning is at a charge of 7 to 9.

Red Lightning is at a charge of 10.

And what happens when we finally see Gustave use it in a cutscene?

Red.

The game set it up for us ahead of time.

The devs were foreshadowing, from our very first fight, where it introduced the mechanic of Overcharge and Charges to us, that this was going to happen.

After all, we have seen how quickly The Continent tears apart Expeditioneers who are underprepared or overconfident.

The start of the game shows us that, and Gustave that. He has to watch the leader of their Expedition get his head cut off, sees Lucien get pulled off into the darkness, and loses sight of his adoptive daughter/sister amongst all of it.

And what is it that knocks Gustave out in the beginning?

Lightning.

Shortly after this, Gustave awakes, and has to fight for the first time, properly, on this continent.

Besting this enemy brings no joy, however. For Gustave, it is only shortly after that he finds what appears to be the entirety of Expedition 33 — dead and almost carbonized in appearance.

And what does he do? Well, he does what a lot of people likely would do;

He gets ready to shoot himself.

But, shortly, he's stopped by a familiar voice; Lune. And she tells him, plainly, "If you do that, we both die."

Gustave, pushed to the brink, was ready to give up. He had just lost his first love, he thought he lost his child, and all of the rest of their Expedition too.

But, as soon as he had Lune back, he had to keep going. Because Gustave isn't selfish. He isn't looking to spare himself. He is a deeply protective soul, who wants to ensure that others are safe.

After all, Gustave is constantly thinking of others.

From the beginning, he's unsure about bringing Maelle, because he wants her to be able to live a bit longer. He can tell how sad Lune is when he hears her play her guitar at the Gommage, and tries later to use it as a way to cheer her up instead of letting her fester in guilt. He even brings his journal with, with the idea in mind that his apprentices will wind up reading it all some day.

Gustave is hopeful. He wants things to work out. He wants the next generation to live, to be free, to not have to fear another Gommage.

And when he dies, he does it right after using Overcharge to save Maelle, his daughter, the only one of the 33rd who would have "come after" them (as she is 16, and not 31/32 like the rest of the 33rd).

And what, might Gustave say, when he uses a fully charged Overcharge?

"For Those Who Come After".

Gustave deserves love, because love is what he did. He loved Sophie, so much it killed him to know he didn't have more time with her. He loved Maelle, despite their adoptive relationship. He loved his family in the 33rd, enough to do anything to protect them. And when it came time, he gave literally every bit of energy he had. Such was his love, such was his fate, such was Gustave.

Thank you for reading, I hope that you feel my pain now.

[penny-abrams]

I haven't finished it yet, but to everyone on the Clair Obscure side of Tumblr —

I had better not see anybody saying anything bad about our man, Gustave.

In fact, if you want to, say something you like about Gustave under #we love Gustave on this blog - I'll start;

Gustave uses one of my favorite weapons (Sword and Gunblade), all of his skills are cool and well balanced, and he has probably some of the most personality of a main character in an RPG in literally years.

So, yeah — we love Gustave.

[penny-abrams]

*Paid for by The Burning Spice Swarm in Favor of Golden Cheese for Cremé de la Cremé 2025

When approached for comment, all they had to say was the repeated chanting of

"Vote for Cheese Wife, or Face the Tide of Change."

[penny-abrams]

Everyone is talking about how sad it is that Pavlova and Sugarfly lost each other, but I don't think anyone has pointed out that Pavlova, the cookie who was obsessed with love, finally found his own, and in doing so had to do something different — for the sake of the one he loved, he had to let her go, and in letting go of her, he knew love better than ever before.

Anyways —

[penny-abrams]

Title - Hard Baked: Cold Case

A Short Story

Baked with Love, by Penny "AbyssalPen" Abrams

Please, Enjoy.

Story Below Read More Line.

[penny-abrams]

I made yet more propaganda. This time, I made a matching set of GoldenSpice ones.

Golden Cheese Propaganda Poster

And

Cheese Wife or Else Poster

Please use responsibly.

[penny-abrams]

COOKIE KINGDOM WEDDINGS #1 — The Main Stage

Just a couple of Cookie Wedding Photos that I am writing little tidbits for — check below the Read Line for stories and photos of the happy couples!

First and Foremost

Burning Spice and Golden Cheese — GoldenSpice

I'll probably retake these ones later, but y'all should know that this wasn't gonna happen without me taking a pic of these two;

After many heated arguments, and many more hushed apologies for raised voices, Golden Cheese is able to convince Burning Spice that, if he truly sees her as his only equal, then they will stand side by side, through whatever Tides of Change might come, be they of Abundance or Destruction, and face them together.

Unable to argue for long against her silver tongue and golden radiance, Burning Spice simply laughs, before making it clear—

"I'm not wearing a suit."

She wasn't complaining about that part at all.

Vanilla, on the other hand, could have dealt without having her husband show up to the altar in just his sash...

Next Up, we have a rare pair, but one that just makes too much sense, given the new update.

Dark Cacao and Caramel Arrow — Dark Arrow

Caramel Arrow had lived her whole life for duty. From the first day of her service to her kingdom, to even now, in front of the altar, she never felt nervous.

Even when the Licorice Sea threatened them with monsters unspeakable to cookiekind. Even as Dark Choco turned his back on them all and left. Even as treacherous eyes dwelled behind their backs.

Through it all, she never felt nervous. Because just like now, the most beautiful man in the world, worthy of everything and so much more, was right beside her. Even as he had asked her the question, sword in hand and head bowed to her, in stark contrast to before, she felt no nerves pluck at her.

Because Marriage is an oath, just like any other. A sacred vow between two, that should be protected. And any oath in the world, she would swear by, with him by her side.

With such Resolution before her, even Mystic Flour come say nothing to argue with their union.

And there we are! The first two wedding photos! I will be making more, and they may have more of these story segments if you folks feel like it.

If you want me to give a particular pair a wedding, just let me know in the replies who the two lucky cookies are, and who you want to officiate. Can't promise everyone will make the cut, but I love to do what I can to see a smile!