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alex-procrastinates · 4 days

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Luigi the Bookworm 📚✨

Today, April 23rd, we celebrate Book Day in Spain with a beautiful tradition: gifting books and roses. In the past few months, I've started to see Luigi, my favorite Mario character, as a bookworm, thanks to some art pieces like this one, by Mikis_art94 on Instagram, and this one, a short comic by Sarahsketckesluigi, also on Instagram.

And, since I'm also a bookworm myself, I thought of celebrating this day by sharing with you my own take on Luigi's bookish side 🤭 Warning: this is gonna be LONG, so make sure to grab some drinks and snacks and make yourselves comfortable! 💖

(Also, I may go and turn some of these into actual fanfics at some point because, well... I got myself inspired ��🤭✨)

Please go and check this amazing post by @itsavee4117! It's a companion to this one and you can see many of my headcanons illustrated in his lovely art style!!! 📚💖

@bberetd @vulpixfairy1985 @peaches2217 @nuctoria @keakruiser @kelbreyworshipper @pepperycar and anyone else who might be interested: I hope you enjoy! Happy Book Day! 📚🥀✨

Part 1: Luigi's Bookish Side

Luigi is a person who tends to get excited easily, and when he does, he experiences those feelings with great intensity. This applies to all aspects of his life, and reading, one of his greatest passions, is no exception.

In terms of genres, Luigi is generally open to read anything. He enjoys realistic novels, historical novels, classic novels, mystery novels, sci-fi novels... And he also reads books about gardening, cooking, baking and mechanics from time to time. The only things he’s unable to consume are thrillers and horror. He's tried, but, with all the times he's had to face King Boo, he's had more than enough terror and frights to last him a lifetime, thank you very much.

His favorite genres are fantasy and romance. The former, because traveling to made-up worlds allows him to forget about his real-life problems and offers him an escape from his daily life, which can often be exhausting. The second, because he’s a complete romantic who loves to see people loving each other and living happily ever after. And also... because of something that has to do with Daisy.

Luigi lives every book he reads with the same intensity. For him, it's as if the characters really existed, as if they were his friends, people he can talk to, share common interests with, and also help to achieve their purposes in life (i.e. in the books they’re from).

And maybe... just maybe... he's fallen in love more than once while reading and now he has a loooong list of literary crushes thet only keeps growing.

So, when he’s reading, Luigi laughs with the characters, cries when one of them suffers or dies, his heart tearing in his chest, and is deeply moved every time a tender moment occurs, such as a kiss, a hug or a cute scene involving, for example, a baby or an animal.

His favorite stories are those about siblings. Not only because he enjoys reading family stories, but also because, without even thinking about it, he often finds it easy to put himself in the place of the younger sibling. For him, therefore, it’s as if he were reading a story starring himself and his beloved brother Mario, and he loves to imagine that they’re going on adventures together in an unknown world. Almost like when they first arrived in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Over the years, Luigi has gathered quite a collection of books, so Mario, the moment they move into the little house in the Mushroom Kingdom that Peach offered them, doesn't hesitate to suggest to his brother that he use the extra room to build himself a small library. Luigi is not too sure at first, thinking that maybe his brother would like to have an office, but Mario insists.

So Luigi has a small library in his new home, which he soon fills to the top with books, and it’s his pride and joy. He and Mario assembled the bookshelves together, which they brought all the way from Brooklyn, and now Luigi has a wonderful reading nook where he can isolate himself to let his imagination run wild for hours. It is, along with the bedroom he shares with Mario, his favorite room in the whole house.

For Luigi, reading is something so important, meaningful and almost sacred in his life, that he has a whole ritual that he performs every time he sits down to read. He has a rocking chair in his small library, a present from his brother when they moved to live in the Mushroom Kingdom, and he has it placed right next to the window and in front of the fireplace. He likes to be able to see the sky when he looks up from his reading, and he usually stares at the clouds or the stars while he daydreams about or reflects on what he has just read. During the summer, he usually keeps it open, as he loves to read in natural light while the gentle breeze from Peach's land cools him, and in winter he keeps it firmly closed while the fireplace warms him.

Luigi loves to light a scented candle to help him get in the perfect mood for reading. His favorite scent is vanilla, as it reminds him of his favorite princess, but he also loves lavender and cinnamon. He usually makes himself a hot drink, sometimes tea, sometimes chocolate, and brings a nice blanket to warm up, which is why his favorite time to read is the coldest time of the year, especially autumn. He also prepares his set of post-its to mark his favorite sentences and parts of the book, and he has a ritual for colors too: yellow for funny moments, blue for sentences that make him reflect on them, red or pink for romantic scenes…

Luigi knows that there are many people who write directly in their books, but, for him, that is unthinkable. He sees books as a valuable and precious object, a repository of stories that helps him disconnect from reality and let his imagination run wild. He respects what everyone does with their books, but he’s simply incapable. Especially if it’s a book he has been given as a gift.

His favorite copies are hardcover, even more so if they include a dust jacket. He treasures all his books with the same affection, but those are undoubtedly his weak point. The most precious of all is a hardcover, dust-jacketed edition of his favorite book, which was a present from Mario, and which also has painted edges.

Usually, when it's time to read, Mario is either napping, spending quality time with Peach, or doing something else around the house. Polterpup, on the other hand, takes the opportunity to approach his owner and, if it's summer, lie at his feet while he reads. If it's winter, however, Polterpup will jump into Luigi's lap without his permission and cuddle up and fall asleep immediately, before Luigi even has time to recover from the fright and resume reading. (Check out @pepperycar's funny addition to this!)

Luigi is a speed reader. Usually, when he starts reading, he doesn't intend to go too fast. It's just that, after so many years reading, his eyes have acquired an astonishing speed, and he’s able to retain every word in his head despite going through them very quickly. Also, if a book really hooks him, he’s unable to put it down until he finishes it, which has caused him to stay up late several nights and go to work half asleep the next day, but it's always totally worth it. Because of this ability, he can finish books of about 300-400 pages in just a few hours, and sometimes also 500 if he gets caught up completely.

Luigi LOVES to buy books. His favorite visits are to Sarasaland and the bookstore, and he also does a lot of online shopping to support small publishers. Every time a new book comes home, he gets excited as if it's the first time, and always asks Mario to please record him while he's unboxing it. Mario unhesitatingly stands on the other side of the camera and makes sure that every shot is perfect and that the book looks great, and Luigi, delighted and grateful, always gives him the tightest and most spontaneous hugs every time they finish filming.

And, of course, once he has the book in his hands, Luigi squeals and kicks, excited, as he waves it in the air like maracas before hugging it tightly to his chest. And, when the book is a present from someone dear to him, he acts exactly the same, only he ends up crying and thanking again and again the person who gave it to him while, again, he presses the book against himself as if his life depended on it.

Luigi is VERY much a fan of merchandising. He loves collecting bookmarks, he has such a huge collection that he's had to divide it into several drawers, and every time he’s going to start a new reading, he tends to spend more time deciding which bookmark will be the most suitable than choosing the book itself. He’s also bought a few literary stickers and some printed works of his favorite books, like fanarts of different scenes or characters illustrated by various artists, which he's hung on a corkboard. And, of course, since his books are the most precious thing he has, he’s also bought many literary covers from different small artists' stores, so that he can keep his books well protected when he carries them around.

Luigi is the kind of person who takes a book with him everywhere. A doctor's appointment? Book in backpack in case the wait gets longer. Public transport? He can't think of a better way to spend it than reading. He even takes them with him when he meets up with Mario, Peach and Toad, just in case his brother and the princess get lovey-dovey, and Toad falls asleep. And, if there's one thing Luigi likes better than sleeping in nature, it's reading in nature.

Part 2: The Reader Brother

Luigi has loved reading since he was very young. When he and Mario were babies, their parents used to tell them a bedtime story, sometimes Pio, sometimes Mia, and Luigi always listened very attentively. He would gawk listening to them and loved how they used to put voices and even recreate some scenes to make them laugh.

Mario also listened very interested, but being a more energetic baby, he used to fall asleep about halfway through the story, with his head resting on Luigi's shoulder and his arm firmly around his brother's waist. Their parents would drool, but they had to continue, for Luigi, even if he was struggling to keep his eyes open, wasn’t going to go to sleep without knowing the ending.

Only then, with a satisfied smile, he would hug his brother back, curl up next to him, close his eyes, and put his thumb in his mouth to get ready for sleep. By then, Mario was completely asleep, clinging to Luigi like a koala to a eucalyptus tree, and their parents had to make great efforts not to melt as they tucked them in and kissed them goodnight.

Since then, both brothers have grown up being great lovers of stories, only that, while Luigi loves books, Mario prefers to consume them in movies or video games. Even so, these are all hobbies that the brothers share, as they love to immerse themselves in a good story that helps them escape from reality for a while.

When Luigi gets emotional about a book he’s reading or has just read, Mario immediately comes to his side to hug and comfort him. He knows that, even if it's fiction, his brother has lived through it all in such a way that his feelings, of sadness, joy or emptiness at having finished a great story, are real and intense. And Mario would never judge him for it.

Luigi is deeply grateful not only that his brother comforts him, but that he listens to him talk endlessly about what has just happened in the book he’s reading, and even catches his emotions. Mario may not cry, but he feels his brother's sadness as if it were his own. Fortunately, the same thing happens when Luigi is happy or excited because of a book, and even on the few occasions when Luigi has gotten angry with a character, Mario has giggled under his breath before calming him down, because he finds it extremely tender.

Luigi usually goes to the bookstore at least once a week, and Mario, since they were teenagers, has almost always accompanied him. The only exceptions were when Mario was dating Pauline, and Luigi had no problem paying his weekly visit to the bookstore by himself, but, deep down, he missed Mario.

His brother also loves to accompany him, because, despite not being as much of a reader as Luigi, he enjoys watching him go back and forth from one shelf to another, pointing out the books he’s already read and the ones he wants to read. Also, when he gets the chance to buy a new one, Mario is amused to see Luigi picking up one book after another and trying to load them all and then deciding which one to take home.

Of course, Mario immediately offers to help him carry the books so that Luigi can keep picking up more if he wants to, and Luigi appreciates it from the bottom of his heart. And also that, again, Mario listens to him chatting incessantly about why each book has caught his attention and why he has such a hard time making up his mind.

Mario always tries to guide him in the best possible way: "What do you feel like reading more right now?" "Is it part of a series or is it a standalone?" "Is the sequel already out or would you have to wait?" "Did you like this or that author better?"

And Luigi thanks him deeply for his advice and questions because, that way, he manages to discern which book he really wants to buy that time.

The best way to surprise Luigi, the best birthday and Christmas present, will always be a book. Mario knows this, and that's why he doesn't hesitate to ask his brother to show him his long and endless lists of books he wants to purchase, as well as discreetly taking notes every time he goes to the bookstore with him. Luigi cherishes every book his brother has gifted him like the priceless treasures they are to him.

Sometimes Luigi runs into space problems. Even though his bookshelf is large and spacious, there’s a limit to everything. In those moments when he’s overwhelmed because he doesn't know where to place his new acquisitions, Mario always comes to the rescue: he immediately offers to hang a new shelf on the wall, or to look for another bookshelf to place in some free space in the room, or, directly, he stares at Luigi's shelf with a frown and his hand on his chin for a few moments, before taking the new books from his brother's arms and, displaying his skills playing Tetris, manages to find room to place them.

He loves to do it not only because he enjoys applying in real life what he has learned playing video games, but above all because of the relieved smile that blooms on Luigi's lips when he sees that Mario has found the perfect solution.

Luigi loves going to literary events where he can meet his favorite authors and have his books signed, but he tends to get so nervous that he always gets stuck for words and sweats a lot, which embarrasses him deeply.

The first time, in fact, Luigi was so shocked to have his favorite author in front of him that he fainted. When he woke up in the ambulance, he was so embarrassed that nothing Mario, who, of course, always accompanies him, said succeeded in comforting him.

He only calmed down a bit at home, when, alone with Mario, he began to silently cry without even realizing it, and his brother, not uttering a word, sat down in front of him, worried, and wrapped him gently in his arms. He pressed the back of Luigi's neck softly to make him rest his head on his shoulder and stroked his back gently, his heart aching at each new sob that escaped his brother's throat.

It took him many, many years to convince Luigi to go to an event again, for Luigi feared the same thing would happen to him again. He didn't want to make a fool of himself like that ever again, especially not in front of writers he deeply admires.

So Mario decided that they would practice: he dressed as much as he could like Luigi's favorite author, watched as many videos as he could on the internet to soak up his personality and find out what kind of books they wrote, and pretended to be them again and again, relentlessly, until Luigi, little by little, managed to exchange a few words with him.

It took them many attempts, because, despite knowing it was his brother, Luigi had no trouble getting into the situation due to his overflowing imagination. Mario had to step out of character several times to try to calm him down and help him regulate his breathing.

Luckily, thanks to Mario's efforts, eventually it worked, and Luigi, a few years later, found himself back at an event and able to chat for a few minutes with the writers he read, even though his heart was beating frantically in his chest and excitement was flooding his insides.

He will never be able to thank his brother for his infinite patience, but Mario always plays it down tenderly. He keeps assuring him that it was not patience, but his deep and sincere love for his younger brother and his eagerness to help him fulfill his wishes.

Part 3: Royalty + Luaisy

Ever since the brothers met Princess Peach, she and Luigi have been, little by little, building up a beautiful friendship that grows every day, just like the sweet romantic relationship between her and Mario.

It didn't take long for Peach to discover Luigi's bookish side, and it made her eager and excited, as she has always enjoyed reading and loves to comment on the books she reads in great detail.

So she didn't hesitate to take Luigi to the huge library of her castle, and she smiled, touched, as she saw the amazement with which Luigi observed its towering shelves, turning on himself in the center of the room as he tried to take it all in.

Since then, Peach and Luigi have become reading buddies. The two of them love to immerse themselves in a good story, read together in the castle library while comfortably sipping tea and, of course, comment on what they have just read and exchange views. Luigi even ends up causing Peach to also take a liking to collecting bookmarks and literary merchandising.

They often do joint readings: they discover a book they both feel like reading and set a series of goals to try to read it at the same pace, so they can discuss it as they go along. Sometimes, however, Luigi discovers that Peach hasn't read one of his favorite books, so he doesn't hesitate to read it with her so he can see her reactions, and vice versa. They love to share their anger, their cries and their joys, for it fills their hearts with bliss and emotion that they have someone by their side who understands perfectly well what they’re feeling and why.

They enjoy hearing what this or that scene has made the other feel, or what they think of this or that character, because it helps them to see things from a point of view that, perhaps, they had not considered before. Reading enriches them, but their literary conversations enrich them even more.

And Mario, of course, is delighted that the two most important people in his life have forged such a strong, deep bond and spend so much quality time together, sharing one of their greatest passions. Often, unbeknownst to them, he stands watching them as they read in the library and gets a silly grin on his face when he sees them laughing together after chatting a bit about their readings.

When it comes to Prince Peasley, on the other hand, Luigi is the one who watches him while smiling, mesmerized, as the prince, always so elegant and sophisticated, has an exquisite oratory and knows how to strike the perfect tone every time a character intervenes, and also to confer the right emotion when it comes to the narrator. And Luigi, besides staring at him, enraptured by the fabulousness of his figure, also listens to him spellbound. He would almost say that he enjoys reading more when his beloved prince is the one who narrates, and plays, the stories.

Princess Daisy, due to her energetic nature, is not much prone to reading. She prefers more dynamic activities where she can unleash not only her endless energy, but also her competitive side. Even so, she knows and respects the value of books, having grown up well aware of their importance in safeguarding and protecting the history of her kingdom.

But when she meets Luigi, she begins to show a slight interest in reading, something that at first was only born so that she could have something to talk to him about. Fortunately, Luigi, despite his initial shyness, doesn't need more than a mention of literature to start talking nonstop about his favorite stories and how much they make him feel. And Daisy, not even realizing it, finds herself listening to him entranced, very attentive to his every word and genuinely understanding why there are people, like Luigi, who find reading so exciting.

Over time, she starts asking him for book recommendations, which he happily obliges, and Daisy discovers that she actually enjoys reading, especially stories with tons of action. Still, what she likes the most about this is Luigi's thrilled and moved expression when he finds out she's actually listened to him, read the book he recommended and, therefore, now they can fangirl together. She falls even harder for him because of the cute little face he makes.

Sensing that her interest in him is growing and that it may be mutual, Daisy decides to invite Luigi to Sarasaland Castle to show him her library. At first she doesn't tell him what she has invited him for, which makes Luigi VERY nervous, as he doesn't know if this is a date or not. She playfully takes him by the hands, leads him to the library doors and asks him to close his eyes. Luigi hesitates a little, unsure, but ends up obeying so as not to disappoint her.

Daisy then opens the library and guides Luigi carefully inside. He almost trips, which makes her laugh, causing him, in turn, to relax a bit. And when she finally tells him to open his eyes, Luigi gasps and his jaw drops, his heart pounding in his chest, not only because that library is even a bit larger than Peach's, but also because, slowly, his mind understands and assimilates that Daisy had prepared this to surprise him.

And even though he’s fascinated by all the books before him, he ends up, without realizing it, looking at Daisy, with a blushing smile on his flushed face and his hands over his heart, while she explains to him that all those volumes belonged to his ancestors and that he has her permission to come whenever he wants to get them. "They're yours!" she says at last, turning to him, and Luigi's heart grows larger at the offer, causing a tear to escape his eyes as the princess, full of tenderness, smiles at him.

Over the next few days, Luigi goes to the library, encouraged by Daisy, who insists again and again that he come to Sarasaland. Her library has a huge ladder to reach the highest shelves, and Daisy uses it without a second thought to glide across the room, to the terrified gaze of Luigi, who dares not even climb the first rung.

As soon as she notices this, Daisy gets down, walks over to Luigi and takes him by the hand to guide him to the ladder. He almost cringes when she places his hand on the wood and freezes when Daisy encourages him to climb up. "It's completely safe!" she assures him. "And, besides, I'll be right here. You can hold my hand as you climb up. I promise I won't slide you down too fast the first time!"

Very slowly and clinging to Daisy's hand, Luigi climbs up the steps. She doesn't let go and keeps repeating phrases to encourage him, which makes Luigi feel almost as safe as when he is with Mario, though in a different way. Once he reaches the top of the first shelf, however, Luigi is unable to climb any higher, so Daisy doesn't pressure him any further. She gently grasps the lower end of the ladder and, after warning him, moves it a little, very slowly as she promised, to make him feel secure.

The next day, however, Daisy goes up right after Luigi and, leaning into the next bookshelf, pushes as hard as she can to propel the ladder to the opposite side at breakneck speed. Her laughter mingles with Luigi’s screams, but however, once they stop, he discovers that, despite his initial panic, he’s had fun with what Daisy has just done.

This then becomes a regular occurrence between them, until it gets to the point where Luigi feels comfortable and confident enough to climb the ladder by himself and propel himself across the library in true “Beauty and the Beast” style.

In the kingdom of Sarasaland there’s a tradition to honor books, as they’re not only a source of entertainment, but also the sacred objects that preserve their history. Daisy has grown up with these values and does not hesitate to tell Luigi about this tradition soon after they start dating.

On Book Day, it is customary for the man to give the woman a rose and the woman to give the man a book. This originated many centuries ago, before everything related to gender and relationships evolved, so nowadays, simply put, the members of a romantic relationship give each other both a book and a rose.

Luigi shows up in Sarasaland on the appointed date very nervously, dressed in a smart green suit, his favorite color, and carrying a wrapped book for Daisy, as well as a purple rose, very rare and hard to come by, which he has grown himself in his garden with Peach's help. Daisy greets him in a lovely purple dress, with a vaporous skirt, matching elbow-length gloves and her delicate shoulders bare. She holds out her gift to him almost before he reaches the castle gates and can recover from the amazement of seeing her so dazzling and beautiful.

He’s delighted when, upon opening it, he discovers that it is one of those special editions he’s been looking for for so long. Only Mario knew he wanted it, so he understands, without needing Daisy to tell him, that his brother has given his girlfriend a hand to surprise him. And that makes his heart fill with love and his eyes with tears, and the book even more precious to him.

Daisy excitedly opens her present and, to Luigi's surprise, squeals when she discovers that he’s gifted her a fantasy adventure novel that caught her eye when he first took her to his favorite Brooklyn bookstore. Daisy drags him into the library, invites him to sit down with some drinks (tea for him, a smoothie for her), and asks him to please start reading.

And so they spend their first Book Day together: settled on Daisy's fluffy library couch, she sat on his lap, the skirt of her purple dress spread over his legs, almost hiding them, and her arms around his neck, depositing light kisses here and there as he struggles to read aloud the book he’s just given her. This was the first time they gave each other a book, but of course it would not be the last, as reading together, visiting the Brooklyn bookstore and Sarasaland and Mushroom Kingdom libraries, and continuing to celebrate Book Day would soon become habit for them.

Daisy often stares at Luigi as he reads, amused by his reactions and the faces he makes, and, when their relationship is more established, she has no qualms about peeping over his shoulder. And Luigi, far from getting angry, what he did the first time and has continued to do ever since is to read aloud, so that she also finds herself immersed in the story without realizing it. (This may sound familiar!)

But what Luigi enjoys the most is that Daisy, whenever the characters in the book share some intimate gesture, instantly replicates it with him. If they hold hands, Daisy immediately reaches for Luigi's hand. If there’s a hug, Daisy wraps her arms around Luigi and holds him tightly, which leaves him breathless, but also makes him laugh and fills his heart with tenderness.

And, of course, if there are kisses, Daisy won't hesitate to start showering Luigi with them. First on his hand, on the tips of his fingers and on his palm. Then on the forehead, with a delicacy that always melts Luigi. His cheeks color every time Daisy places her lips on them, but what drives him absolutely crazy is when she seeks his mouth. It's the only thing that makes him put down the book and postpone reading for another time. (Check out @bberetd's wonderful art for this!)

Often, before they fall asleep, Daisy cuddles up to Luigi in bed, wearing his green shirt, and buries her face in the crook of his neck. Luigi absentmindedly begins to fiddle with her hair, delighted to have her so close, and, with his other hand, reaches for his book to read aloud a few more pages before they fall asleep. It's part of their routine and they both love sharing stories that way.

Part 4: The gang

The visit to the bookstore and libraries has now become a regular occurrence for everyone. As soon as he started talking about books with Peach and she showed him her library, Luigi immediately invited her to come with him and Mario the next time they went to their regular Brooklyn bookstore, and she gladly accepted.

On that first visit by the princess, Peach was as thrilled as Luigi and the two of them went back and forth in the bookstore, she eagerly looking at everything, he endlessly talking about the store and the many books he’s bought there. Soon they found themselves going often to acquire new books, not without first spending a good while in the place accumulating stories in their arms to, again, decide in the end.

Again Luigi was looking for Mario, who, unconsciously, had been staring at them with an amused smile and his eyes full of affection. Blushing, Mario would hurry to come to his side to help him, and Luigi, even though he’d caught him gazing at the princess in rapt attention, wouldn’t comment anything so as not to make him uncomfortable or put any pressure on him.

Many times, however, Peach would intervene and take two of the books Luigi had chosen. That's how she also started giving him books as presents, and Luigi couldn't be more grateful that his beloved friend pampers him that way. Her gesture makes her even more attractive and sweet in the eyes of Mario, who melts at seeing her displaying such adoration towards his beloved little brother.

Daisy, always eager to learn more about the place where her dearest hero in green grew up, also joins in, but, to her surprise, she finds herself next to Mario, fondly watching Peach and Luigi, especially the latter. They, however, are so excited talking about books that they never notice the goofy smiles with which Daisy and Mario look at them, delighted to see their two favorite people indulging in their greatest passion.

Despite this, both Mario and Daisy make sure to pay attention to the books that Luigi and Peach point out with the intention of acquiring them in the future, and then make plans with each other to decide which ones to give them on future birthdays, Christmases and, of course, regular days. Any time is a good time to surprise their favorite people with a new literary gift.

Sometimes, on their dates, Luigi and Daisy also go to the bookstore, and she, as always, listens to him talk very attentively. When it comes to advising him on which book to acquire, however, she’s much more practical: she thinks Luigi should pick the book he wants to read the most… or the one with the most romance in it.

And Luigi blushes violently because he perfectly understands the implications of such a suggestion.

Literary events also end up being a regular thing they all do together. Luigi, thanks to Mario, already manages to control his nerves and chat a bit with the authors when they sign his books. Peach, of course, is all sweetness and always tells them how much their stories have made her feel and dream. Mario just smiles and listens, delighted to be able to accompany them and to see them enjoying themselves so much, right up their alley. He always takes pictures of them with the authors, both together and separately, something he already did when it was just him and Luigi.

Daisy, on the other hand, is so spontaneous and genuine that she doesn't hold back when it comes to treating the writers with too much familiarity, which only embarrasses the others, especially Luigi. If it's the author of a romance book, Daisy doesn't hesitate to cheerfully tell them how much she and her boyfriend enjoyed the sensual and intimate scenes, or that she lost count of how many times she kissed her sweetie during the reading because of the sheer number of times the characters kissed.

In those moments, Luigi can only think of crawling under a rock. He has to resort to all the training with Mario to manage to keep his composure and not faint again or run away to hide so no one sees him turning red as a tomato.

However, then Daisy intertwines her arm with his and kisses him on the cheek, and he feels that his blush, this time, is due to being close to her and to her tokens of affection. After all, Luigi adores everything about his princess, all her sides and her personality, and besides, to other authors, fortunately, Daisy tells them how much fun she and her boyfriend had with their novel, and Luigi can only adore her.

At these events, both Mario and Daisy go out of their way to get lots of bookmarks and merch for Luigi and Peach, as they know they both love to collect stuff related to their favorite books. And also, again, they take mental notes of all the books they can buy as future presents for them.

From time to time, Toad and Peasley also join in on their visits to the bookstore, libraries or events. Toad is a big fan of fantasy and adventure comics, as they nurture his enthusiastic and adventurous spirit, and Peasley loves to talk endlessly with his favorite authors about the various subjects they cover in their books, thus unconsciously displaying, once again, his impeccable eloquence.

I really hope you liked this! I had a blast writing all of this and imagining my favorite characters in the many situations I've experienced myself as a bookworm, as well as adding others I came up with 🥰

Plase feel free to add your comments and feedback, and also headcanons if you have a few of your own! And if by any chance this inspires you to create your own stuff, I'd be more than honored 😭 All I ask is to please give credit! 🙏💖

Before I leave, please remember to check @itsavee4117's blog today! You won't regret it 🤩📚✨

#omg whattt this is so cute!!#he's just like me fr #super mario bros #luigi #mario #princess peach #princess daisy #luaisy #mario headcanons #reblogs

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alex-procrastinates · 4 days

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God there's something about the idea that Hector was wearing Achilles's old armor when he faced him to die. when Achilles saw Hector he saw a mirror of himself, and he knew exactly where to aim

#oughhh i need to read the iliad #the iliad #greek mythology #achilles #hector #trojan war #reblogs

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alex-procrastinates · 4 days

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*GASP* My Dears! I Have A SMB Epiphany!!!

Okay. Please hear me out…you may have seen a previous post on how my son and I are so obsessed with “Wonka” during Easter and how I used one of their beautiful songs to create my first Luaisy story “A Moment Together”…

Well I’m thinking about mixing some of this sweet movie elements from Wonka with the Super Mario Bros…by making Luigi as an aspiring and amazing chocolatier with Mario as his supplier and biggest supporter ever! My headcanon is that Luigi is wonderful at cooking so why not add in chocolate? Oh the possibilities! I’m so excited about this that I even started jotting down ideas and to include more characters in how they can fit in this AU universe and make some lore posts just like I did with my current Super Mario Bros/Wreck It Ralph universe (which I must get around to finish Bowser and Junior’s character lore posts at the very least).

@keakruiser @itsavee4117 @peaches2217 @silenzahra @pepperycar @bberetd @kelbreyworshipper @sourour-rl @ketchumnite @supergay-64 @coffeecat1983 @alex-procrastinates @stripetkattelalala54 @luigitime83 @luigiismyspiritanimal @nuctoria

What do you think? Should I pursue it after I get some of the story backlogs and my character lore posts for my SMB/WIR AU out of the way? I’ve never felt this excited before!

Please let me know, my dears!

#oh yes please!!#that sounds awesome :DD #super mario bros #wonka #wonka 2023 #luigi #mario #mario au #reblogs

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alex-procrastinates · 5 days

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But never let me die without a struggle and without acclaim

#AAAAAAH THIS IS SO COOL #and the prince of egypt musicccc #and the movements and the emotions and achilles' EYES #ajsbabsjsakds #the iliad #greek mythology #achilles #hector #trojan war #animation #cool art #cw blood #cw violence #cw death #reblogs

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alex-procrastinates · 5 days

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thank you so much!! i'm so glad you like my ideas :D

i agree, that's an interesting question to think about. i feel like to answer it we'd have to know more about the way druids actually work magic, in order to understand the purpose of all the ingredients and find substitutes that serve the same purposes. like what connects rock oil and beetroot juice?? is it some type of vitamin or nutrient? earth magic properties bc they both come out of the ground? a specific connection to certain gods? we don't know. i might have to try and do some research on this, it's a very intriguing topic :)

my thoughts on the magic potion

HELLO i am so sorry i havent done any finished art in ages. school is kicking my ass and probably will continue to kick my ass for a while yet, but i promise i am working on things! and i am very excited to get them finished! im just swamped with homework and kinda suck at time management lol

but in the meantime, i have a 17 page google doc where i put all my asterix headcanons when i think of them, so i thought i would share my ideas about how the magic potion works :D

The potion is said to increase someone’s strength tenfold. That means it only builds on the strength they already have.

This means the potion will work differently for different people, based on their original level of strength.

For most people, they have about the same average strength, so the potion will appear to have the same effect on them. This is also due to the fact that the potion is simply so powerful that everyone who drinks it is insanely strong relative to non-potion drinkers. However, in some cases, the differences are noticeable.

For example, Fulliautomatix would have more brute strength than, say, Cacofonix, when on the potion. Or Asterix would be able to run faster than Geriatrix when on the potion.

The potion builds on strengths the person already has - for Asterix, it makes him extremely fast, as he is already agile and a fast runner without it. For Cacofonix, it allows his voice to create more powerful soundwaves, which can even have physical effects.

(Edit: As pointed out by @elkaos, this actually conflicts with some of the books, where the potion is shown to have the same effect on everyone, and that's relevant to the plot in some cases. I did sort of know this, but it slipped my mind somewhat while I was writing this post. So I guess I'll have to retcon either this idea or the events of books 3 and 12 from my headcanon. These headcanons are based on my own interpretation of Asterix, which is inspired by a lot of fanfics and other creators' ideas as well as the books. Personally I find the idea of the potion's effects varying from person to person more logical, as it's described as multiplying the drinker's strength tenfold. Although maybe the effect being the same has something to do with how it was developed? I've seen a fic where the secret ingredient of the potion is Vercingetorix's ashes - maybe it's something like that where the essence of a person is used in the potion and its effect is equivalent to that person's strength multiplied tenfold.)

The potion also increases a person’s durability - their bones, ligaments, tendons, organs and muscles are stronger and more resistant to damage. This is necessary to make sure that they don’t injure themselves by doing things like punching solid rock.

Even if they do get injured, which can happen when they are faced with sharp blades, the potion also fills their system with adrenaline, which means they usually don’t feel and are not really affected by most injuries until after the potion wears off.

The potion also increases the drinker’s stamina and speed, although this also varies depending on the drinker’s non-potion-enhanced abilities.

Obelix is a special case. But why exactly did drinking a whole cauldron of potion make it have a permanent effect on him? The potion’s effects can’t be stacked by drinking more potion while you’re already under the effects.

I suppose the quantity of potion does matter when determining how long the effects will last - the more potion is flowing through the drinker’s bloodstream, the longer it will take to dilute enough to not have an effect anymore.

Wait. If the potion flows through the drinker’s bloodstream, then how does it have an immediate effect? Digesting it would take at least a few hours.

I guess it might have some magical property that lets it sort of phase into any blood vessels it encounters? So maybe it just radiates out from the stomach, gets to the heart really quickly and starts being pumped around the body almost immediately.

So if Obelix drinks, like, his entire body weight in potion, it’s probably going to last long enough in a large enough quantity to spread and be infused into practically every part of his body, so that then his bone marrow actually starts to make potion-infused blood.

Therefore, every cell that blood flows to, which is basically every cell in his body, is enhanced by the potion, so it becomes an actual part of his biological composition. His blood, muscles, organs, bone marrow, fat, saliva, even his stomach acid is infused with magic potion. The only things that aren’t are his hair and nails.

This is why the permanent effects of the potion are so important to his survival. There would have been a couple of years where they could have gotten it to wear off, but that would probably have involved bloodletting or something, and obviously they’re not going to do that to a six-year-old kid. It doesn’t cause him any adverse effects, anyway, so it’s not something that needs to be reversed. He’ll just have to learn to control his strength.

He wasn’t the strongest before he fell into the potion, but because of how the potion became an actual part of his muscle tissue, he was still able to grow his muscles like a normal person would - just with much heavier weights, like menhirs. Which he has probably been lifting and carrying nearly every day since about his mid-teens. Also because the potion is part of his bone marrow and the blood his body makes is naturally infused with the potion, it creates a sort of positive feedback loop where the effects of the potion, and therefore his strength, keep increasing. This is why he seems to be stronger than the other villagers on the potion, and why his feats of strength increase in magnitude across the series, until Chariot Race when he’s able to catch the huge lump of volcanic rock that explodes out of Mt Vesuvius.

The potion also increased his durability to a very high level. His bones are as hard as granite, and his skin is also quite thick and resistant to cuts. He can still get hurt, but it takes a lot, and almost never happens. This is also why he is so mobile and flexible despite being obese.

Obelix is a bit of an extreme case, but for everyone who drinks the potion regularly (mostly just Asterix and maybe some of the other warriors, hunters or guards), it speeds up their metabolism considerably in order to provide them with the large quantities of energy they need to function while on the potion. This is how Asterix is able to eat most of a boar nearly twice his size. (Although that was pushing it and he usually doesn’t need that much energy.)

The potion does not actively heal wounds except in the very short term, when it can exacerbate the effect of adrenaline to such an extent that it will completely heal minor to moderately serious wounds if taken within about a minute after sustaining the injury. However, it does give the body more energy, enabling it to heal faster. It also helps the immune system fight infection and the body to remake lost blood.

It won’t cure concussions, but it does get rid of them faster and reduces long-term damage. (This is how Asterix can have had no less than six concussions in the space of a few years and not feel any lasting effects.)

Chronic illnesses and fatigue can be treated, but not cured by the potion. It unfortunately doesn't help with nerve pain, because there's no wound for it to help heal or inflammation/ bacteria/ etc. for it to fight.

Over time, this will cause regular potion drinkers to have stronger immune systems and heal more quickly. (Cacofonix still gets sick easily, but without the potion he’d probably have been dealing with asthma or an autoimmune disease. Obelix still gets hay fever in spring, but I guess maybe the potion doesn’t help with allergies. He does sometimes get mild colds and stuff, but the potion protects him from a lot of more serious diseases.)

The potion also increases a drinker’s core body temperature slightly and makes it easier to maintain, which is how all the Gauls can walk around in the snow either in sleeveless tops or just straight up shirtless, with only maybe a scarf or gloves to keep them warm. This effect also lingers over time if you drink the potion regularly. (Or if you’re Obelix. He’s like a walking heater.)

In Asterix the Gaul, we see the Gauls take potion regularly and use their strength for everyday tasks. This is because they used to take potion in shifts, so that some people would always be ready to go fight the Romans if they attacked. Doing chores while on the potion was just an added convenience. (As I speculated earlier, the potion lasts longer if you drink more of it, so maybe they used to drink more potion with each dose to make it last longer - maybe half or even a full day.)

This seemed like a great strategy until one day, a new centurion decided to attack the village at an unexpected time. The people who were on the potion went out to fight, but Asterix's potion wore off mid-battle. Not realising in time, he got into a fight with the centurion and ended up getting pretty badly hurt. (Inspired by this post - I came up with this idea while I was thinking about what might have happened in that scenario)

After that, they decided to just take the potion when needed to prevent something like it happening again. This also enabled Getafix to spend more time experimenting with new potions because he wasn’t making the strength potion every day.

so yeah! that's all i got. thanks so much if you read this whole thing. hopefully i'll have time to finish something else soon :D

#asterix #asterix headcanons #getafix #alex's rambles #reblogs

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alex-procrastinates · 5 days

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rb this and tell me what ur accent is. this has no purpose except the fact i just realized i could have like... mutuals with cockney accents or newfoundland accents or something and thats just wild

#australian :D #although i've been slightly americanised by watching too much youtube #not fandom #reblogs #accents

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alex-procrastinates · 5 days

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thanks for the tag!

oh no!! i just thought this cathedral looked really cool, i didn't know i wasn't allowed to take photos of it!

this is fun lol

@asagisnobody and anyone else who wants to :)

Found this on Twitter, so I thought, why not posting it here and doing a tag game 😊

Ok, I’ll go first

If he is the reason, I’d go to prison gladly 🥰❤️‍🔥

Tagging: @killerqueen-ofwillowgreen @nic-214 @milkyway-ashes @dr-radiation @whitequeen-ofwillowgreen @sunsetdaydreamer @therockywhorerpictureshow @delicatelyfantasticninja and everyone 😊

Sorry if I forgot to tag some of you!

#not fandom #reblog games #reblogs

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alex-procrastinates · 6 days

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another random headcanon about how tintin sounds! he has a soft high pitched voice and sometimes gets mistaken for a woman over the phone (this never happens in canon but in adaptations he often has a higher pitched voice as he's a younger character. i like to think he keeps his voice even after he enters adulthood)

i did a comic about accents over here

#lol you're so right #headcanon accepted #tintin #tintin headcanons #reblogs

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alex-procrastinates · 6 days

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There’s a door on the right wall of Peach and Mario’s bedroom, just a few meters from the entryway. It’s an entirely unremarkable door, really; it matches the doors to both the private chambers and the restroom, white with gold trimmings and a polished brass doorknob. Such a door normally wouldn’t give Peach any pause whatsoever.

There is, however, one strange thing about this door in particular: it wasn’t there this morning.

She repeatedly looks from the door to her husband, who’s casually unlacing his boots by the dresser. The door to her husband, who’s rummaging through the third drawer down. The door back to her husband, who’s unhooking his overalls and kicking them onto the plush carpet floor. If he’s aware of this anomaly in an otherwise familiar setting, he’s not showing it.

“Mario.”

Mario hums lazily, not even looking at her as he pulls on his softest, most worn nightshirt, its red cotton faded and fraying. Peach is almost certain she’s dreaming right now. She was so certain she had been awake just minutes ago, laughing with friends and family over dinner, cheerfully accompanying her husband to bed after a long and eventful day of baby shopping with her best friend (though it's still a bit early to be buying any clothes, she’d tried saying a few times, statements that Daisy had immediately brushed off). But everything suddenly feels far too… off.

“What is that?” she finally chances, gesturing to the alien door. Mario finishes peeling off his socks and gloves before looking to where she’s gesturing, regarding it with all the mundanity he might regard any other door.

“It’s a door,” he answers easily, giving her a patented I have no clue what you’re getting at but I love you and cherish the words that come from your mouth anyway grin.

Peach sucks in an uneasy breath. Maybe this is that Pregnancy Brain thing she’s read about? Perhaps her memories are being rearranged, her senses tricked? Toadessa did warn her that she might become increasingly forgetful as the months progressed. It’s a more logical explanation than any other she can conjure up. If something were truly amiss, then surely Mario would notice too. Right?

“I… don’t remember it being there this morning,” she confesses, a blush creeping into her cheeks. She remembers, or at least thinks she remembers, that there was once a small storage unit just behind that door, filled with old broken halberds and spears and other assorted equipment that was too valuable to trash but too broken to repair. Yes, she remembers it now with greater confidence; she had been terrified of that dark, cluttered room, unable to sleep for fear of whatever monsters might be lurking within, and so Toadsworth had ordered it sealed when she was age seven or so.

Or maybe he hadn’t?

Mario chuckles, and though the corners of his eyes crease in good humor and his smile is filled with warmth, her face burns hotter still. “Fog’s already setting in, huh?” He taps a finger to his temple to hammer home what he’s implying, and though Peach knows his words hold no malice, the teasing still fans an unpleasant flame in her chest; she can’t help but cross arms in front of her and huff, half in hopes of exhaling that flame, half to make her displeasure known.

Suddenly Mario’s face reads a bit less amused and a bit more ashamed, and that just makes her feel even worse.

“No,” he croons, approaching her with his hands loosely extended, “tesoro mio, I’m so sorry. That was mean.” His tone doesn’t quite match his words. He’s clearly sorry to have provoked such a reaction, Peach doesn’t doubt his sincerity there, but there’s nevertheless a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, like there’s still something terribly amusing about her predicament.

So this is the thanks I get for carrying your child, she considers pouting, but something in Mario’s eyes sparkles so brightly that she feels her annoyance melting away, like an icicle brought into the sunlight. Damn him. She sighs and unfolds her arms to take his hands; for her silent pardon, he brings her knuckles to his lips and kisses them one by one, and suddenly she’s overcome with the urge to giggle like a lovestruck schoolgirl.

She resists, if only to spite him one last time, then she lets the grudge slide from her shoulders.

“You know,” Mario says once he’s done with his ministrations, his thumbs rubbing little circles into the backs of her hands, “I don’t have any right to poke fun. I don’t even remember what’s behind that door, either.”

Peach blinks. No, okay, now she knows she’s dreaming. This entire scenario is making less and less sense by the moment.

But before she can pinch herself awake, Mario’s guiding her towards the unfamiliar door, letting go of her hands and drifting behind her. Almost like he’s pushing her forward, she feels.

“Maybe we should check it out,” he suggests all too innocently, and if not for the way he lingers behind her, she might not find the suggestion too strange. But Mario always insists on taking the lead any time there’s unfamiliar terrain to be trekked. He would never let her be the first in the line of fire, no matter how mundane said terrain might appear on the surface, especially not in her present condition.

Unless, of course, he knows what she's stepping into.

Staring at the white and gold door, reason begins to resettle in Peach’s head. How had he known she was referring specifically to the door itself? If she were to gesture to the bathroom door and say "What is that?", he wouldn’t say “That’s a door,” he would say “That’s the bathroom.”

She’s not dreaming, nor is she going crazy. There is definitely something going on. Some sort of conspiracy that he’s in on and she’s not.

Unaccustomed to being left in the dark by her own husband, she grasps the doorknob, takes a breath, opens the door… and gasps.

The room behind the door is, in fact, the room she remembers, or is at least roughly the same size. But where she remembers dingy hardwood, there’s now carpet, luxuriously plush like the carpet in the bedroom. The sterile gray walls that once spooked her are now a soft and lovely blue, decorated with empty floating shelves and cheerful paintings of Biddybuds and Fire Flowers and scenes from familiar mushroom forests.

There's no trace of the broken weapons that once littered the room. There's instead a dresser flush to the wall, and a tall table of some sort, and a small chest in the opposite corner... and in the center of the room, on a round and ornate rug, are two pieces of furniture on smooth, curved rockers. One is a chair, adult human-sized; the other is much smaller, a horizontal hollow contained within smooth, round bars. A crib.

“Oh yeah,” Mario chimes in somewhere behind her, “now I remember! I knew there was a reason I asked Daisy to keep you out of the castle today.”

His words slowly sink in as Peach approaches the rocking chair, reaching out to brush her fingers over the dark red wood. Cedar. The whole room is filled with the dry and resinous aroma of fresh cedar, a scent she typically associates with the workshop in the castle's western wing. The workshop where Mario tinkers with metal and wood whenever he tires of royal monotony and needs to keep his hands occupied.

The workshop that's been suspiciously locked every time she's approached it the past couple of months, even when she could hear saws cutting through raw materials and the tap-tap-tap of chisels in experienced hands within.

All pretense is gone. When she turns back to Mario, she finds him bristling with pride, that teasing smile wider than before.

"You did this?" She looks back to the chair, fastened with fluffy pink silk cushions, and the crib, a matching cushion tied to its bars and emblazoned with the royal mushroom emblem on its headboard, an emblem that's been carved into the chest a few steps away as well. Something in her throat feels impossibly tight. "All of this?"

Mario finally leaves the doorway, his hand brushing against her back as he steps past her. "Well, not all of it, no. Just the furniture." He taps his right foot a few times against the statement rug beneath their feet. "Weeg handled the layout and the decorations and the swatches and all that fancy stuff. He's got a better eye for that sorta thing! Then he helped me get everything moved in and set up and the door re-installed while you and Daisy were out shopping. Of course Toadsworth's the one who told me about this little room in the first place, so he helped us get it unsealed, and Daisy—" He laughs now, scratching the back of his neck. “Actually, she wasn’t even part of it originally! She just barged in one day — I had the door locked, Peachy, but she just waltzed right on in! I don’t know if she had a key or if she just forced it open with her bare hands — and she said the only way she’d keep quiet was if she got to be involved and take credit for her part in the whole ordeal, so that’s how that happened, and—”

His face grows darker as he prattles on, until at last he’s forced to take in a sharp gasp, his color returning to normal as oxygen once more fills his lungs. “But! The rest of it! Yeah, that was all me! Looky here—” His fingers curl around the bars of the crib, giving it a few demonstrative rocks. “Remember that night you called me into the bathroom and I thought you were hurt and I panicked but actually you were just excited because you could finally see a little baby bump in the mirror? I couldn’t sleep at all that night because suddenly it all felt so real, so I spent the whole next day making this!

“And then I thought, ‘Well, we’ve got a place for them to sleep, but where are we gonna change their diapers? And where are we gonna put all the diapers and wipes and all that good stuff anyway?’ And that’s how I got started on that one!” He darts now to the table against the wall, gesticulating around it with the enthusiasm of a used kart salesman. “Perfect little platform, plenty of storage space, I’ve been thinking about making a mobile to put over it too in case she gets fussy, because the last thing we need is a dirty diaper and a fussy baby, right? And then—”

And this continues on for a good few minutes, Mario darting around the room to show off each hand-crafted piece of their new nursery. The dresser to store non-diapers, things like blankets and onesies and a few changes of clothes for both of them because babies are messy and ruined clothes are inevitable, and the chest to store everything else, like toys — he throws the lid open and shows Peach a few delicately carved wooden blocks and dolls, because what's a toy chest without any toys?

The information comes at Peach too quickly to absorb any of it, because an excitable Mario is a Mario at full steam that won’t stop for anything or anyone, so she blindly follows him, brushing her fingers against each piece’s cool cedar, examining the smooth-gliding drawers, dragging her thumb nail over the ridges in each toy she’s handed.

“And then the bookshelf! I’m… still working on that one.” He scratches his neck again with a nervous chuckle. “But I couldn’t wait any longer! Gimme a few days and it’ll go in that corner right over there. Weegee’s already got a whole library lined up for her, so we should have enough books to last us a while at least. And then I was thinking we could put some flowers and vases on the shelves, maybe? So they look sad and empty now, but pretty soon they’ll…”

Peach dutifully admires one such shelf on the wall, right next to a painting of a Fire Flower field in full bloom. Yes, a live Fire Flower on the adjacent shelf to compliment the painting. It’s certainly a good idea. She’s so caught up in the automatic thought process that, as soon as it runs its course, she turns to take on whatever bit of information Mario throws at her next, effortless and thoughtless.

Only then does she realize he’s gone silent.

“...You okay, Peachy?” Suddenly there’s no bravado in his voice. It’s softer, gentler, quieter. He closes their distance and takes her hands in his, warm and strong. “Sorry, I… I know this is a lot. Of course, if there’s any part of it you don’t like, you can tell me! You know I won’t take it personally. Well, not too personally.” He couples this statement with a playful wink.

Another automatic thought crosses Peach’s mind: how could she ever criticize any of this? He’s made an entire nursery with his own two hands for their child. She could never…

And for the first time since she opened that strange new door, it hits Peach. Not in words, but in images: Mario in his workshop, wiping sweat and sawdust from his forehead as he consults his blueprints, making certain his vision is coming to life exactly as he’s planned. Mario crammed into a booth at Tayce T.’s with his brother, thick brows knit in confusion as Luigi gives him a crash course on color theory and interior design. Mario in a football-style huddle with Peach’s steward and brother-in-law and best friend, giving everyone their roles sometime late last night or early this morning while she still lay blissfully unaware in bed.

Mario kneeling beside the completed crib, rocking it a few times with a peaceful smile, staring down at the plush pink cushion and imagining a little blonde or brunette bundle of blankets sleeping soundly within.

The stagnant tightness in Peach’s throat erupts in the form of a sob, induced by a rush of hormones heightening her every emotion until it almost hurts, and once she starts, it’s impossible to stop.

“Ah— Peachy—!” She hears Mario offer a few uncertain words of comfort beneath her shrill breathing, and he starts to pull her in some equally uncertain direction (uncertain to her, anyway, because her tears are falling too hard and too fast to make out anything other than abstract shapes). She lets him guide her steps, until suddenly he hoists her into his arms and lowers both of them. He’s settled in the rocking chair, she realizes from the way they both jolt as he adjusts her in his lap.

Her belly is larger now than it was the night she called him into the bathroom, though not so large that she can’t wrap her arms around him and hold him tightly, burying her face into the crown of his head. Even his hair smells of cedar, a fine dust that tickles her nose, and laughter bubbles in her chest alongside the tears.

“You’re amazing,” she manages to choke out. Her Mario, her thoughtful Mario, her hard-working and mind-bendingly devoted Mario. He cradles her, his left hand against her outer thigh, his opposite arm supporting her back, his right hand stroking the side of her belly ever so gently.

“So,” he says into her chest, and she can feel him smile against her, “does this, uh, does this make up for the teasing earlier?”

Peach sniffles and laughs again, drawing him in closer. Even if she hasn’t forgiven him (which she has, she’d like to believe she’s not that petty), she supposes drenching his hair with tears and mucus is payback enough. Maybe they can shower together tonight. Maybe she can wash his hair, and he’ll press kisses to her sternum the whole time, like he always does.

Though for now, she’s equally content to remain right where she’s at, secure in his arms in this cozy little nursery, their baby nestled safely between their bodies. It’ll still be a few more months before this space is put to proper use, after all. What’s the rush?

#AAAAAAHDBAJDSJ WHAT THJS IS CRIMINALLY ADORABLE #i LIVE for parent mareach and carpenter mario content #mario is the sweetest human being ever i swear #i love him so much #super mario bros #mario #princess peach #mareach #luigi #princess daisy #fanfic #reblogs

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alex-procrastinates · 6 days

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I present to you…

The Second Chapter of “Of Solace and Comfort in Weathering Rain”

Wow! I never thought I get such an overwhelming reception to my newest story, my dears. I am so amazed by how kind and supportive all of your feedback are and I truly appreciate all of your comments, kudos, bookmarks, tags, likes and/or reblogs you all done.

Here is the link to the second chapter in Archive of our Own of which I’ll update in my pinned post:

ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN: CHAPTER TWO

I’d like to specifically thank you, dears, for leaving my lovely feedback and helping to bring awareness to my latest story: @coffeecat1983 @keakruiser @sourour-rl @akiiame-blog @luigitime83 @canela2001 @jell-o101 @silenzahra @bberetd @pepperycar @stripetkattelalala54 @stripetkattelalala54-gf @mrs-luigi-vargas @roscolate @alex-procrastinates @mariobroslover @zocchini37 @this-potato

Do spread the word if anyone would like some reading of angst, fluff, hurt/comfort and brotherly love between Mario and Luigi.

As always, please leave feedback on Tumblr and/or Archive of our Own as I love connecting with you all and hope that my writing has met your expectations for this second chapter.

Trigger warnings: mentions of torture and poison

Please read on below the line, my dears.

Chapter Two: The Flashback

Peach led Mario outside the castle into the gardens and sat down on the rim of one of the decorative fountains. The soothing rhythm of splashing water wasn’t enough to calm Mario down as she noticed that his posture had grown tense and he had hardly said a word since they left Luigi in the hospital wing…she laid her hand on top of his, hoping that the touch would comfort him. His hand flinched briefly upon contact before relaxing, allowing her to softly stroke the back of it. Then he upturned his palm so that he could grip her hand more firmly, clearly accepting her gentle touch with gratitude. She then looked into his eyes…the once vibrant blue irises now dulled with guilt, anguish and torment which made her heart twist and ache…

“Mario…what happened to you and Luigi? Was the sighting of the stray Koopas true as we discussed earlier?”

At this, Mario frowned and shook his head, “We were caught in an ambush…the sighting report you told me and Luigi about was a trap to catch us off guard…Kamek was there to personally lead the attack…”

This drew a horrified gasp from the princess, “Kamek was there?”

“We were able to repel most of the army…it wasn’t big to begin with and we had our super power ups just in case this happened…but then…Luigi…he…”

Mario withdrew his hand from hers…now clenched in a tightening fist. She looked at his face now twisted with self-loathing, sadness and anger…

“Mario…”

“It’s my fault Luigi became this way…he’s hurt because of me…”

——

“MARIO! LOOK OUT!”

Mario felt himself roughly pushed out of the way followed by a sizzling sound. There was tarry purple liquid on the ground, separating him and Luigi. They turned their attention back to the aged Magikoopa on his broomstick, his grin menacing and gesturing to the gigantic monstrosity next to him…

“I am impressed by you and your brother’s tenacity and teamwork. You’ve defeated most of my little army. But I see that you have yet met the ace up my sleeve. Behold!”

A mega piranha plant was towering over the brothers …except it was glowing purple before spewing out more poison. A much bigger threat than the standard variant he and his brother were used to. Mario glanced at his brother and gestured towards the plant. Fear briefly flickered in his brother’s eyes but it was immediately replaced with resolve as he nodded back. Their strategy was clear: Mario would distract the plant while Luigi would make his way up so that he could pound it from above. The older plumber felt more assured that his brother would at least be out of danger. He watched the younger man start to climb and bounce on the mushrooms surrounding their makeshift arena before getting to his self-assigned task.

It was easy distracting the massive piranha plant as it was very aggressive and spewed poison every chance it got when it saw Mario while Kamek was gloating from the sidelines. However a fallen rock caught its attention and it turned to Luigi who was scrambling up a cliff edge as fast as he could. Mario panicked when he heard the scared yelp when the piranha plant was growling and started to turn purple. He had to stop it from lobbing poison at his brother fast!

Picking up the biggest rock nearest to him, he threw it as hard as he could to the plant. It cracked against its skull, successfully recapturing its attention. He then hurled a bigger rock whereupon it caught it in its jaws…and promptly choked on it for a short while before crunching it and spitting out the fragments…that’s it! He glanced up at the cliff face where his brother had finally scaled up successfully…he had watched everything and they shared a knowing look with each other.

Luigi readied himself and waited while Mario heaved a large boulder that his super power-up would allow. He glared at the poison piranha plant who was starting to glow purple again. With a loud shout, he tossed it as hard as it could to its gaping maw. Seeing the giant plant choke again, he shouted up to Luigi.

“NOW, LUIGI! STOMP ON ITS HEAD AS HARD AS YOU CAN!”

Luigi steeled himself and hurriedly followed through hjs brother’s command as he made a running start and jumped off the cliff. Feeling the rush of adrenaline overriding his fear, the younger man could feel the satisfying thump of his feet pounding the mega plant hard and fast into oblivion. He landed on solid ground with shaky legs, his knees definitely having been pushed to the limit even with the power-up. He feels himself hoisted by strong arms, holding him steadily.

“How did I do, bro?” Luigi asked as he tried to get his thumping heart under control.

“Really well, Lu. See for yourself,” Mario gestured to the now motionless plant. But the triumphant moment between then was broken when it started to twitch and turn purple. The older plumber gasped in horrified realisation, “Luigi! Get behind me!”

Mario barely had time to shield his little brother as the poison piranha plant exploded, purple tarry liquid spraying in all directions. He hissed in pain as he felt some sizeable blobs splash onto his torso and forearms, soaking through the red fabric of his shirt and denim overalls and into his skin. It was like being stabbed by multiple pocket knives which also unfortunately caused him to lose his super power-up. But it didn’t matter…so long as Luigi was unharmed…

“Mario!” Luigi exclaimed worriedly, his taller frame towering over his brother, “Y-You’re hurt! The poison!”

“I’m okay…I’m okay…” Mario huffed, ignoring the burning pain fizzing through his body, “This is nothing.”

“Not so fast…have you forgotten about me?”

Suddenly the two brothers were frozen in place and pulled away from each other. The Magikoopa glided forward between them, his face serious and his wand glowing.

“You may have defeated my little army and the Mega poison piranha plant…a minor setback to rescue my imprisoned king…no matter…” Kamek’s glasses glinted menacingly as he turned to the green clad plumber, “Luigi…”

Luigi tried everything he could to not panic…not again…the body binding spell brought back traumatic memories of him being interrogated by Bowser. Cold sweat beaded along his hairline and hairs stood up at the back of his neck. He whimpered with fear and tried in vain to move away from Kamek.

Mario growled furiously despite being restrained by the body binding spell, “Touch my brother and I will make you pay!”

“Oh? I don’t intend to fight him…I’d like to see how far this coward will go for you, his beloved elder brother of whom he loves and cares for so much…”

The Magikoopa materialised a mushroom and levitated it to Luigi. It looked similar to the super mushrooms they ate many occasions before…except this mushroom seemed to scream danger with its bright purple hue and pink spots and its sickly sweet aroma…

“What makes you so special and remarkable that Mario would go through such lengths to rescue you back then? I’d like to know why…”

Kamek smirked at Luigi who gulped in trepidation and escalating fear, not knowing what the Magikoopa was up to.

“How willing are you to save your brother, Luigi? He must have been quite a hero to you, always swooping in to help you, protect you and save you in every way he can…I wonder if you’d do the same for him…” Kamek disabled the binding spell on Luigi who stumbled a bit upon landing. The mushroom hovered close to him, “Eat that poison mushroom and I’ll release the both of you as long as I’m allowed to have a safe retreat and I won’t bother you both and the kingdom for the time being…refuse and I’ll make your brother suffer as a consequence…”

“Don’t do it, Luigi! Don’t put yourself at risk because of me!” Mario shouted, still imprisoned in Kamek’s spell.

“Silence!” Kamek shouted and slammed the red clad plumber against a nearby cliff face through his levitation spell, causing some of the rocky shards to pierce his skin through his clothes.

“Mario!” Luigi shrieked, his heart pounding at his brother’s further injured state.

The older plumber hissed in pain but sending his little brother a determined and loving look to him, “Get him while you still can! Don’t worry about me!”

“I SAID SILENCE!”

Mario was cut short when Kamek pointed his wand back at him, its jewel glowing more brightly. Crackling sounds filled the air and the older plumber was groaning and grunting in pain as lightning bolts zapped all over him. Luigi gasped with horror.

“Stop! Stop! What’re you doing?! Stop!”

Kamek paused the torture spell, causing the older plumber to breathe heavily in exertion, “I’m not very patient or merciful at this moment. I’ll torture Mario in front of your eyes until you make a decision. Eat that mushroom to save his life or watch him die to save your own…”

“Lu…save yourself…please…you matter too…”

“M-Mario…”

“What’s it going to be?”

And with that, Kamek reactivated the spell. But this time, it appeared to be more powerful than ever as Mario was now shrieking in pain as the light bolts were flashing brighter and pulsing more frequently. The older plumber was seizing up, feeling more pain circling around his neck and chest area. Kamek looked on sadistically, relishing the troubling spectacle.

“NO! MARIO!”

Luigi tried to reach out for his brother. But to his horror and dismay, the lightning bolts repelled him from coming closer and painfully shocked his gloved hands where he tried to touch Mario. Luigi shrunk back to normal size, his super power-up dispelled. Then he glanced at the golden glint around his brother’s neck and-

“STOP! PLEASE!”

Luigi gasped in ominous realisation. The golden dog tags he had gifted Mario were further electrocuting him and causing him to suffer even more! He hyperventilated with growing fear and panic. He couldn’t bear to see his big brother continuing to writhe and spasm in anguish under Kamek’s spell any longer. Snatching the poison mushroom from midair, he turned to the Magikoopa, screaming to him at the top of his lungs.

“STOP, KAMEK! I’LL DO IT! I’LL EAT IT! STOP HURTING HIM! LET MY BIG BROTHER GO!”

Kamek disabled the torture spell, leaving Mario gasping while still being immobilised. Mario fought the nauseating dizziness in his head and the sharp throbbing pain around his neck…his body…everywhere…and immediately felt his breath leave him at seeing his little brother holding the poison mushroom with trembling hands, his face determined. Kamek smirked and inched closer.

“Do it…show me your conviction…how much does your brother mean to you…”

“You’d better keep your word, Kamek…”

“I promise…on my honour…”

“NO! Don’t you dare do it! Lu! Please! No!”

“I have to, Mario…it’s the only way you’ll be safe…” Luigi‘s smile was sad yet accepting, “Consider this my punishment for not helping you sooner, big brother…”

Taking a deep breath, Luigi gulped down the mushroom. To Mario’s horror, Luigi keeled over onto his knees as he turned pale, his breaths becoming soft and hoarse. Kamek smiled mockingly as he dispelled the binding spell on the older plumber. Mario wasted no time in rushing to gather his fallen brother in his arms despite the residual pain stabbing his body and the ringing in his ears.

“Luigi! Why did you do it?! Why?!” Mario exclaimed in disbelief and heartache at the state Luigi was in, “I’m…I’m not worth this!”

“W-Worth….everything…M-Mario…” Luigi was cut off as he let out a sharp cry and clutched his heart, tears springing into his eyes, “…it…it hurts…it hurts!”

“LU!”

“I suggest that you tend to your brother quickly…the poison is starting to drain away his life force as we speak…” Kamek leered, “You wouldn’t want your brother’s bravery to save your life to be in vain…”

“Kamek…” Mario seethed as he clutched Luigi close to him…torn between punching the Magikoopa in the face and needing to help his poisoned brother.

“We had a deal…I’ll leave you two be and retreat. We shall meet again…”

And with that, Kamek disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Mario with an ailing and distressed Luigi. The younger man looked like he was in turmoil as he writhed and gasped in Mario’s embrace, his pained tearful eyes boring into his. The older plumber sprung into action and reached into his front pocket where he stashed his last emergency power-up. Crushing the Super Leaf in his fist to activate his tanooki power-up, he carried his brother bridal style as close as he could against his furry body before taking off into the air. Willing and praying for his aching body and arms to give him strength, he concentrated in flying as fast as he could back towards the Mushroom Kingdom.

It seemed like an eternity when he could finally make out the ornate structure of Peach’s castle in the horizon. Mario felt his vitality waning, his arms starting to spasm and ache increasingly and his vision starting to blur...

“M-Mario…” Luigi’s soft whisper was loud despite the ringing in his ears. He felt a dark pit in his stomach when he sensed his brother’s grip on his shoulders gradually waning.

“Lu! Lu!” Mario pressed Luigi’s head harder against his shoulder, “Stay strong! We’re almost back!”

Mario panted and willed himself to go faster despite the pain striking his exhausted body in increasingly strong waves.

‘Please…please…please…let me make it in time! I can’t lose my little brother…I can’t lose my Lu!’

Before he knew it, he found himself crashing into the courtyard of the castle…but not before turning his body to cushion his brother from the harsh impact of the landing, causing his tanooki power up to disappear. Uncaring of his additional injuries, Mario shouted in desperation while cradling his brother close to him…

“Help! Please! Luigi is poisoned! I need help! HELP LUIGI! PLEASE! HELP!”

Finally, he heard the grand doors crash open…and felt a relieved daze as he saw Peach, Toad and some royal guards rushing to him and a near unconscious Luigi…

——

“And that’s when you and Toad found me and Luigi in that state, Peach…if you hadn’t helped me bring him to the hospital wing, Luigi would’ve been…” Mario felt his throat tighten and he stopped speaking for a bit, not wanting to think what would’ve happened…

Peach was left momentarily speechless after Mario finished his harrowing account. The red clad plumber’s pain, sorrow and guilt was plain and intense to see on his weary face.

“I would rather have died than to see him eat that poison mushroom to save me…because of me…I nearly lost my Lu…” Mario whispered brokenly, “I’m a horrible brother…the worst one of all…”

With soft sadness in her eyes, Peach shook her head and pulled Mario in for a hug. She gently cupped his face and nuzzled her cheek against the top of his cap covered head. Mario sagged in her embrace and his hands clasped against her back, gripping her close. They sat in silence for a while until Peach decided to break it.

“That is not true, Mario! You two have been through so much for my sake. The Doctor Toad told me the extent of you and your brother’s ailments…oh God…I…I’m so sorry…this is an oversight on my part. I should’ve been more thorough in the initial scout reports. I never thought that Kamek would actually get personally involved in one of these attacks to get Bowser back…I thoroughly underestimated him. And because of this, I’ve put you both in grave danger…” Peach lowered her eyes, feeling the painful guilt burn deep in her heart and translate into regretful tears, “I should’ve been there for the both of you….especially you, Mario…”

Despite his own overwhelming sadness and guilt over his brother’s predicament, Mario pulled back momentarily and gently clasped one of her hands back in his. His heart softened upon seeing the tears trickle down her cheeks in silvery rivers. He hugged her, pulling her to his level and allowing her to cry against his shoulder. Gently combing her soft luscious golden locks, he rocked her back and forth, not minding the hot tears raining on him. The princess suffered as much as they did…

“Please don’t be hard on yourself, Peach…you’re trying hard to protect your kingdom from these threats…your Toads need you to be here to give them strength and hope. You’re a great leader. We’d be honoured to volunteer helping you any way we can because you helped me reunite with Luigi and you did so much for us to settle here…” Mario reached up to cup one of her cheeks and tenderly thumbed away some of the tears away, “My brother is safe because of you…”

Peach looked up at Mario, her skin dusted pink as he continued to cup her cheek gently. She closed her eyes momentarily, allowing his sweet, affirming words to wash over her…he really was a pure soul. She savoured the warmth radiating from his white gloved hand, her confidence rebuilding and the guilt swept away for now. His eyes though still dulled with his own pain and guilt held a tender understanding gaze and his small smile radiated nothing but kindness to her.

“Thank you, Mustache…” she whispered, allowing a small smile of her own to grace her face.

“Anytime, Princess…”

Mario’s smile grew just a bit, his thumb still caressing her cheek in circles. After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, Mario withdrew his hand, allowing the princess to compose herself as she wiped away the rest of her tears.

The tender moment was broken when they heard thunder rumbling above them. She could see the dark stormy clouds slowly permeating the once clear sky.

“Oh dear…I think it’s going to rain…shall we head back inside?” she looked back when she realised that Mario was still sitting on the fountain rim, “Mario?”

“Actually…I might go and take a walk…”

Peach looked at Mario standing up and straightening his cap. Her heart ached to see how truly worn and battered he looked even after he had been treated. She touched his shoulder.

“Are you sure? There might be a big storm coming…”

“I just…I just need some time alone to process this…” Mario reassured her as he patted the smaller hand softly.

“Mustache…what about Luigi?”

“Just let him know that I’m out walking…he knows about this…I’ll come back to the castle after I’m done…otherwise I’ll go home if I walk too far…hopefully…”

Peach somehow felt a bit uncomfortable at the way Mario said “hopefully” but she didn’t say anything as he turned to look up at her and gently kissed the back of her hand.

“I’ll be fine…please…go back into the castle before you get caught in the rain…will you send me a message about Luigi at our cottage if I’m not back at the castle by then?”

“Of course I will…the moment he’s awake, I’ll let you know. I’m sure Toad will be more than happy to personally deliver the news to you.”

“Thank you, Peach…and…please thank Toad again for watching over Luigi for me…”

With the soft reply, Mario released her hand and turned to walk towards the warp pipe. She watched his retreating back, wanting to chase after him. But she didn’t push it, having heard in his weary and tense tone that he truly needed to be alone. That didn’t stop her from wondering whether he was truly okay while she saw him jump into the green pipe, the warping sounds loud and echoing in the vicinity. She sighed tiredly, a lingering weight of worry for Mario still present within her.

‘I might as well check up on Luigi to see how he’s doing…’

It’s the least she could do to pass her time and to keep to her promise to Mario. As the first raindrops started to fall, she sprinted back to the castle as fast as her heeled shoes allowed her, making her way back to the hospital wing…

To be continued…

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