#marline

Big City, Mario and Luigi's home. Their only home as far as they knew.

"Here is where you'll be safe." Said Mama.

"You gotta think about the long run." Said Papa. "Don't ever look back."

Luigi took it to heart, and though Mario did too, he remained ever curious.

Now on their own, the bros stick together as they scrape by. Luckily, Mario found work as a carpenter. It was a demanding job, but not only was it stable, it was also his chance to go to many places within the city such as the local amusement park, where he would meet an up-and-coming singer.

Pauline had such a presence that could turn the rundown stage into a great music hall. Yet, she was down to Earth, thanking Mario for his renovations compared to others who treated him and his fellow co-workers as a nuisance. They started to chat while eating cheaply made (and possibly code breaking) park food.

To avoid Luigi's constant teasing, Mario worked up the courage to ask her out ("To HANG out, Lu. To hang out. It's not a date!). Soon enough, the pair would sneak into the construction site during their breaks to view the dusking skyline.

"You ever wonder what you'd do if given the chance?" asked Pauline.

"Mamma mia, where would I start?" Mario laughed. "I've thought about becoming a doctor. Maybe an athlete. Oh! I've never tried racing before. That'd be fun. Luigi said that with my driving, I'd be a natural, haha! Or how about- ..." He stopped, glanced away, and tipped his hat. "Sorry, got a bit carried away there. What about you?"

"Don't worry! I'm glad you got some ideas. As for me...Well..." She then sighed. "I enjoy singing. I think it helps people forget about their troubles for a while. It's just...I don't know. The park's not that great. They keep promising some big spectacle coming soon, but nothing has happened. I want to do something more, but what's out there?"

"We could go explore the world. Who said we have to stay here for the rest of our lives? After all, what's wrong with a little change? We could save up. My bro could come along! We'll never look back!"

"That would be nice..." Pauline smiled, resting her head on his shoulder.