It's-a-me, Mario!

((Normally I’d answer this in-character, but I always need an excuse to post this tbh))

Aww, how sweet of them! For someone who didn’t know much about Valentine’s Day, the card was quite nice, cheesy hat pun notwithstanding.

It felt like it took Mario almost an entire lifetime to answer the door. After having not seen her boyfriend in what felt like such a long time - the princess was getting antsy to know that he was ok… and was quite relieved when he answered the door in one piece.

Or… mostly one piece. She couldn’t help the concerned look that came over her at the sound of his sniffling.

“…you’re sick?” She repeated gently. Now she felt bad. If she had known he wasn’t feeling well she would have brought him soup, or medicine, or something. As it was, the princess had only brought herself, and she wasn’t sure how much of a help that was going to be if Mario was under the weather… but, she would have to work with it.

“You should be in bed!” She said suddenly. “Why did you get up–” Oh, to answer the door. Right. She changed the direction of her rant even as he was heading for a nearby chair– “you need to sit back down, please.” It was a good thing Peach was here now - at the very least, she could make sure he got the amount of rest that he needed!

“When was the last time you ate something?” She asked then, making sure the door was shut tight behind her so there wouldn’t be any drafts getting in and making the plumber any more sick than he already was. “And where is Luigi? Do you have any groceries?” She could always make him something to eat if he did. Food would be the first step in getting better, after all - so Peach was going to make sure he got something in his system, regardless of how she had to do it!

As Mario continued to make his way to some place to sit down, his mind was in two places. On one hand, it sure was nice to see his girlfriend again. Perhaps the cold was affecting his perception of time, but if there was anything that could make things better, having her here practically topped the list. On the other hand, Mario could hear the worry in her voice, and that just made him feel bad. She didn’t have to worry so much - it was just a cold!

Mario slumped down into the nearest seat he could find - luckily, a soft recliner. “Don’t-a-worry, Mario’s-a-sitting down.” He gave a small thumbs up and a cheery grin, but recoiled with the onset of a sudden chill.

Perhaps “just a cold” was selling his case short.

  A lesson she learned from her ghostly BFF, stealing hats. The girl was almost proud of herself, beaming with pride and releasing a satisfied ’ hmph! ’ Mustsached fiends should never be armed with hats. That’d just lead to more trouble. She wanted to pat herself on the back ! Good work, H. Excellent, excellent work ! She was so wrapped up in her pride that she didn’t even notice that the plumber charging right back at her.

  She froze a moment when she finally noticed the bright blue and red blur heading for her and squinted her eyes tight shut to embrace for impact. Only instead to feel something else leave her body entirely. When she opened them, she made a note about the lighter feeling on her head. Her head turned to search for what was lost. Looking he left and to the right, spinning herself around in place looking at the groud before making eye contact again with the plumber.

  “ HEY ! ” She pointed at her hat on his head. Her baby ! Her pride ! Her everything ! On some villain’s head ! She wanted to dash and get it, but she also took the other wearing her hat as a challenge. An imaginary friendship meter depleting into the negatives. To spite the red plumber, she motioned to put on the hate she stole. Once secured on her head, she then did the only taunting thing she knew.

  Blowing a great big sloppy raspberry at him.

  The realization that she probably wasn’t going to get it back though less she compromise with him settled in though. She folded her arms over, sat down and simply pouted. Most other days she’d be running with victory and no loss of class. She shut her eyes and looked away from him. “ You’re a bully,” She continued with an annoyed tone, huffing out an equally annoyed sigh. “ A big, big butt face! ”

Now the kid was wearing Mario’s hat! And she was blowing strawberries at him! Mario glared at her. This was getting ridiculous, and Mario was all but ready to rush back and get his hat back from the little thief.

...but as the plumber watched her pout, his expression softened. She was just a child! And in his rush to get back his precious cap, look what ended up happening. The plumber shook his head. It was true that Mario was acting just as ridiculously as she was, even though he was the adult. But Mario was no bully. And he was going to prove it.

Mario removed the top hat from his head. He then walked up to the pouting child. He lifted his cap off of her head, gently placing the top hat there in its place.

“Yes, who is it?” The normally lively hero of the Mushroom Kingdom greeted his guest with muted enthusiasm. Never mind the slow pace he took in even answering the door. Once he got a good look at who was there, however, he managed to perk up.

“Oh! Princess! It’s-a-so good to...to-ah-CHOO!”

Another sneeze....Mario thanked the stars that he was able to raise his arm up in time. The last thing he needed was for Peach to get sick too. Mario groaned, sniffling up any excess mucus. “Please, come in,” he said, shuffling indoors and towards the nearest chair.

Munday Meme: Send 👎 for an unpopular opinion I hold about the franchise my muse belongs to!

((Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is almost universally considered better in every way to the original. And I mostly agree. However, a part of me prefers the first one in tone and art style.))

Munday Meme: Send 👍 for a popular opinion I hold about the franchise my muse belongs to!

    The girl watched the back flipping plumber, taken aback by it. He could jump ! But to command yourself like that on a whim? That took so much effort ! If the other wouldn’t mind her after the plot  ( and the little attack ) she was scheming up, she’d have to ask him to teach her that. There were many, many things she could have done here. Switching hats.. using her umbrella again.. the distance between them sparking an idea.

     Alien legs prepare as she starts to run for him head on. She leaps up into the air, and another one for good measure! The girl then dives her entire presence towards the plumber, more specifically his head. Her arms reaching out for it, that shiny red cap. She wanted it. Her dive getting closer.. until .. she snags it ! The girl lands planted on the ground behind the plumber, turning around to view the face that’d be on the plumber when he saw the scene, spinning the hat by it’s brim on her finger.

   “ Thanks ! ”

Mario was ready for any attack the kid could throw at him. Umbrella swings, jumps, he’d seen plenty of it from other foes in the past! She dived toward him, and the plumber put his guard up...only to feel no contact. He just stood for a moment, wondering what just happened.

...but something felt off. Like an important part of him was suddenly snatched away. But then he heard her. Mario let out a small gasp, and he turned around. There it was - Mario’s precious cap spinning on her finger. How dare her!

“Hey! Give that back!” Immediately, Mario lept into the air - no double jumps needed here. He briefly rotated in the air before diving down toward the kid’s position. Soaring over her, he reached out and grabbed what felt like his cap, landing and rolling onto the ground. With a grin, he placed the newly-grabbed hat onto his head, a grin spreading across his face...one that quickly faded just a few moment after he put it on.

“….it’s going to be swollen,” he said after a moment of still-irritated silence. “I’ve got arthritis.” Mario should know that - probably did know that, since he was the one who had first suggested the possibility. Robin let out a little sigh, then pulled back his sleeves a few inches and did as he had been asked. 

As he had said, the skin around both wrists was slightly puffy, and might be slightly painful to the touch, but Robin determined that he wasn’t going to react if the doctor did make any moves to do so. He wasn’t going to give the other the satisfaction, since he was only doing this so he could get out of here already.

“Do you need to see my ankles, too?” He asked, this time making no attempt to hide the edge of annoyance in his tone. “They look exactly the same.”

...well, that was easier than the doctor expected. Mario glanced at the tactician’s wrists, and all signs seemed to confirm his suspicions.

“No, but-a-knowing that you have-a-swelling there too is-a-very helpful,” Mario replied, having not a drop of impatience in his voice. He nodded to himself - at this rate, a blood test would probably not be necessary. Robin’s (presumed) age ruled out osteoarthritis, and it also could mean that they caught it early enough to provide effective treatment.

“So, I heard-a-lots of people are pretty excited over rumors for an upcoming Nintendo Direct! Just-a-check out Twitter! Nintendo’s got-a-people’s attention! So, if you’re wondering if-a-Mario’s gonna reveal the news...”

I can’t play as anyone else, even if I wanted to now. I’m so used to Peach’s floaty dress.