Chapter Text
"Coming!"
Mario couldn't remember having ordered anything, but honestly, it was those little things that made life so magical. Once, he had ordered a new dressing gown and totally forgotten about it. It was the nice fluffy one, the one he'd seen rave reviews for online. When it showed up, it was like a present from himself. See? It's the little things. It would be the delivery Toad now, too, Mario was sure.
Mario swung open the door. "Sorry ta-keep you-a-waiting’, I’m’a just c- Prince Peasley?"
So, no fluffy dressing gown then. This was certainly stranger.
"Mario! I'm so glad to see you," Peasley, looking extra well groomed, waved rather... Politely. It wasn't as though he had come incognito, but something about him was almost quieter than usual.
"Uh... Hello! Yeah, same’a here... Er, Luigi's not here right now? I'm’a surprised he didn't tell you, he's’a usually see Daisy at this time on Wednesdayses. They play tennis."
"Au contraire, I did know that, which is exactly why I came now! I wanted to talk to you, red s- Mario, good friend. It's of relative importance!"
"Oh?"
Mario chose to ignore the name thing. Something about this was clearly rather rehearsed.
"I also brought you a little something," Peasley beamed. Mario couldn't quite shake how Peasley was acting, as though somehow Mario was the one worthy of respect here, and Peasley were the subject, seeking to show his loyalty. "Pizza!"
"Oh!?"
"I was going to get you a Beanish speciality, but for conversations like these, familiarity is best. This is New York style, they told me."
Mamma mia, that sounded good. So good Mario didn't even feel like asking what "conversations like these" meant. A pizza had arrived, unexpectedly, which was really the sort of delivery Mario had hoped for to begin with. Not much else really needed clarification right now.
"Come in! Please! Let'sa eat!"
"Do you like it?" Peasley asked.
"Mmmhm," Mario nodded, chewing. Pizza like this was the ultimate comfort food, but he didn't get to have it very often. The restaurants here never did it quite right. Which reminded him...
"How did you manage’ta find this'a?"
Peasley straightened up a bit at that. Which was hard, actually - he was already sitting remarkably upright. "Oh, heh heh heh... I know some places... Really, no bother at all."
"Is it in the Beanbean Kingdom?"
"Er... Hahaha, never mind all that now. I needed to talk to you about something. It's about Luigi."
Mario tried not to roll his eyes, instead managing an attentive smile. Nobody was happier for Luigi and Peasley than Mario was, but it was always inherently awkward to talk to someone who saw your brother like that. And before they had actually become an item, Luigi had not shut up about Peasley, ever. That phase itself was enough to fulfill Mario's need to hear any more of that for several lifetimes. Especially since Peasley’s favourite topic of discussion appeared to also be himself.
"I don't'a think there's anything left I know about him that you don't," he replied casually, licking his fingers. "It's'a okay, Luigi likes you. You don't'a need my adviceses."
"Ah... Well, I do think we have quite the good relationship..." Peasley flipped his hair as he said this.
"How long has it been now?"
"Quite enough time, I believe."
Mario jumped. "Enough!? What are you trying-ta say!?"
Peasley, in turn, also jumped. "Huh? No! I meant nothing like that! Quite the opposite, Mario, friend!"
Mario glared at him. "What's that'a supposed-ta mean?"
At this, Peasley clamped his hands together and stared at his lap, a sight Mario was certain nobody had ever seen from him before. "Well, it is that..."
Silence.
"Ahem," Peasley raised his head again to look at Mario again. "I wish to ask your brother - with and only with your full support - to marry me."
"Oh!? Oh!"
Mario jumped once again, this time a little less violently. "OH!"
Peasley merely continued to stare at Mario unflinchingly. "Ahem... Please."
"Marry him?!"
"Yes!"
"Luigi? You would like to marry my bro? Luigi?"
"Well, yes!"
Mario was standing up now. He didn't remember that happening. "Do you’a mean that?"
"Yes!"
"Oh, mamma mia. Wowie zowie. Ohohohoho."
The first image that flashed into his mind was a smartly dressed Luigi with a bouquet of flowers. The very same one he had received "anonymously" at their house several years ago. The note had not included the customary royal signature - to avoid gossip, they had realised after the fact - but it did include the ever so subtle
Dearest Luigi
Life lacks without you, for you are a sight for sore hearts.
Should it so please you, I wish for your return, with a rose as you see fit.
Warmly
Nine of them were yellow, and one was red. It had been rather - goodness, what was the word? Excessive? - Mario had found, but it had made Luigi light up, twirling happily with the bouquet in his arms, singing to himself, “he likes me, he likes me!”.
Mario had wondered if he'd ever see any happiness quite like it in his bro after that.
"Do you think he'll say yes?"
Peasley blinked, clearly a little vexed by the question. "That is indeed the plan!"
"Then’a... You must! You have to!"
Peasley sprung up. "Truly? I have your blessing?"
Mario beamed and put his hand out to shake Peasley's. Peasley didn't move for a second, furrowing his brow at the gesture, before putting his open palm on top of Mario's hand and clasping it at an awkward angle.
"Thank you so kindly, Mario.”
He couldn't hold his curiosity. “How are you going to do it?”
Peasley flipped his hair again, causing Mario to wince as the waft of whatever flowery hair products he used reached his nose. “Well, you know me. Only the best of the best for Luigi.”
“That doesn't answer the question.” Peasley constantly patting himself on the back did Mario's head in sometimes.
“Patience, Red stache, patience. I'm thinking perhaps on a walk… In the gardens, the one he likes best. It mustn't be out in the open. He would find that embarrassing.”
Mario nodded quickly. It seemed, then, that Peasley had it all under control. Or at least that he wasn't going to do anything too crazy.
“And when are you going'a to ask him?”
“I wish I could say today, or tomorrow… but…”
Peasley went quiet and looked at Mario guiltily. When he didn't continue, Mario tilted his head and made a questioning noise.
“In truth… I lack the nerve. For all my boldness and bravery - you know how I am-”
Mario clicked his tongue dismissively.
“- I find the prospect so… scary.”
Hm… Mario stood up straighter.
“I know exactly what you mean,” he said.
Peasley glanced at Mario with a nervous smile. “Maybe…”
Mario nodded resolutely. “I do, I do! It’s'a… strange. I understand.”
“I'll simply have to make it happen,” Peasley shook his head. What Mario had said hadn't appeared to sink in all that much. “Thank you, Mario. I must be leaving you now… Much to do!”
And before Mario could even respond, he was gone.
-
“Luigi, come eat!”
No response. Mario called louder. “LUIGI! DINNER!”
“In a second! I'm finishing this chapter!”
“Well! Be quick!”
“Are you going out somewhere soon or something?” Luigi responded, his head poking out from the loft.
“No, but it's good to have dinner together, isn't it?”
“Uh, I guess. But there's no rush, you know… you're not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere…”
Mario sighed. What he wanted to say was “how can you be so sure,” but it was probably poor practice to inform somebody they were about to be proposed to. Instead, he bit his tongue, simply answering, “well, just come down and eat, will ya?”
He heard the sound of a book slamming shut. “Fine fine,” Luigi's voice called, the echo plateauing as he jumped down the stairs with a slight thud. “The usual, right?”
Normally Luigi would be the one making something, but when he went out for the day it became Mario's job. “Yuhuh. I've served you already, just come and sit.”
Luigi obliged, remarking again, “you do seem to be in a rush. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, obviously. Can't I just want to have dinner with my brother?”
Luigi laughed. “We do that every night. Except for when you run off chasing Peach.”
Mario simply nodded. “And you never know when you - I mean, I, might not come back! So let's enjoy it while we can.”
“Uhm,” Luigi furrowed his eyebrows, “geez, okay.”
“I mean,” Mario stuttered, “I'll always come back, but, you know.”
Mercifully, Luigi decided not to press the suddenly dark matter. “Mhm. Oh, Daisy says hi.”
“Aw yeah, when's she going to come by and visit properly?”
“I told her you've been pressing for that. She said that she's super busy but maybe during the holidays.”
Mario nodded. Maybe that'd be too far away. Luigi might be married by then. Even thinking that made his stomach ache a little. He pushed his bowl towards Luigi.
“You eat the rest of this, I don't want it.”
Luigi gaped back at Mario. “What? Seriously?”
“Yes, yes, it's fine. I don't feel well.”
“You don't? Bro.” Luigi’s face fell. “Why didn't you tell me you were sick? You should go to bed.”
“No! No, it's not that. It's important that we have dinner together.”
Luigi looked confused. “You keep saying that. We don't have to have dinner together every single night if you're feeling sick.”
Mario almost jumped in repulsion at the thought. “It's fine. How are things with you and Peasley?”
“I didn't see him today, actually. Sorry, I mustn't have told you. It's hard to fit a trip in on Wednesdays, which is why I get to see Daisy.” He grinned.
“Oh, I knew that. I just meant, y'know, in general.”
“Oh! Er… good, I suppose. He's well. As charming as ever,” Luigi giggled slightly, “but no news to report there.”
“You still like him?”
“Hahaha… yes?” Luigi rubbed the back of his head, blushing. “Very much.”
“Do you think he's, well…” Mario racked his brain for the best way to say this without arousing suspicion. For all of Luigi's quirks, he was actually remarkably on the ball - he tended to figure secrets out, definitely faster than Mario ever did, making being elusive about what Mario knew difficult. “...someone you could see yourself liking… forever?”
“Oh!” Luigi leaned backwards, turning as red as Mario himself. “I- I mean…!”
“I'm just asking,” Mario said. “You don't need to give a deep answer.”
Luigi placed a hand on his mouth, not quite covering his embarrassed smile. After a few seconds, he nodded profusely.
Mario chuckled. “Right.”
“I think about- about it a lot,” Luigi stammered. “It's been quite a long time, you know? Which is almost unbelievable, I mean, how did I get so lucky? But it's just, as time goes on, I just become happier and happier, and - I want it to always be that way.”
Mario nodded. Frankly, the answer wasn't a surprise. He hadn't even needed to ask. But he felt compelled to, somehow. In case he had accidentally sent Peasley on a doomed quest.
“That's good, bro. You deserve that,” is all Mario could find to say.
“Hehehe… thank you, bro. Why do you ask?”
Dang it.
“Uh…” Mario fiddled with the button on his apron. “Like you said, it's been a while. I was kind of curious.”
Luigi appeared to accept this non-answer, thank God. “It has. Can you believe it's been even longer since we went to the Beanbean Kingdom?”
Something in Mario’s heart twinged, like irritating a toothache. “Let’s go on adventures together forever, okay? Don’t… run off and leave me by myself.”
Luigi dropped his fork, scoffing. “Huh? Why would I ever do that?”
“Oh, you know… the times they are'a changin’...”
“Mario, are you sure you’re feeling alright?” Luigi reached out and patted the back of Mario’s hand. “You’ve been acting really… anxious.”
Mario sighed deeply. “You’re right. I suppose I just get worried about the future sometimes. You and Peasley are getting serious, is all.”
“Awh, Mario,” Luigi’s features softened as he relaxed into his chair. “Is that what you’re worried about? He’s not stealing me away! He knows me too well to forget something as important as that.”
“Yeah, well…!” Mario gestured vaguely but grandly with his hands, as though it would magically convey his concerns without actually saying what he knew he couldn’t say.
“As if I would just up and leave!” Luigi spoke louder, with greater enthusiasm. “You’re my brother ! I don’t think anything would even change.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. One hundred and ten percent. Nothing changes. You have my word.” Luigi paused, before pointing his fork back at Mario. “And you’d better promise that too, bro! You don’t get to run off either! And like always, when you’re done saving the Princess you come straight back!”
Mario wrinkled his nose sarcastically. “Yeah, obviously.” He turned the words over in his mind, a paperweight on his thoughts. “Mhm. Nothing changes.” He smiled to himself. This was going to be fine.
-
All was quiet for another week. Luigi already spent each Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Peasley as it were, and then Peasley would come home with him to visit the Mushroom Kingdom on Sunday, his de facto “day off”. When Peasley dropped by on Sunday, the pregnant glances he and Mario kept shooting at each other were undeniable, but beyond that, Mario hadn’t been able to get much insight into Peasley’s progress. Of which there was not much , Mario could surmise.
“Did Peasley say anything strange this week?”
Luigi had merely responded, dreamily, “he always says strange things.”
You have that much right , Mario rolled his eyes. But that definitely wasn’t the sort of answer he was looking for.
The suspense hung over Mario’s head, unobtrusively, but observably, until Wednesday.
“Mario! It’s me! Please open the door!”
Peasley!?
The anonymising restraint he had exercised last week was markedly gone, which, for reasons Mario couldn’t quite articulate to himself, made it even more surprising.
“Prince Peasley! Hello! Are you okay?”
“Oh Mario, anything but . It’s a disaster ,” Peasley fell onto Mario’s shoulder ungracefully, causing Mario to yelp, despite himself.
Peasley was impossibly light, but a grief hung at his wrists. Mario’s stomach twisted. It had seemed impossible, but…
“Luigi - Luigi didn’t’a say no , did’a he?”
Peasley instantly stood up at this, as though expressly and exclusively to show his offense at the question. “What? No.”
“Geez, so-rree. You just seemed-ta be in… angoscy.”
“In what?”
“Angoscy. You know, like… the worst’a pain in the world.”
“Do you mean anguish ?”
Mario stood on his toes and crossed his arms. “Oh, you’a know what I meant.”
Peasley shook his head, standing, too, on the ends of his toes, so that his eyes barely rose above Mario’s. “Well, never mind that. I come to you humbly today-” Mario coughed “- because this is truly a dire situation I find myself in. I just can’t do it! ”
Mario let his feet slacken, his arms fall. Let him come thus, then. “How do’ya mean?”
Peasley sat himself down at the bottom of the loft stairs, dramatically. “It’s all ready, I prepared some special flowers some ten months ago. But I have to take him there, to our secret garden, and when he visited this week, I just… avoided the area. Even thinking about it, I became so nervous! He even wanted to go, to spend some time together, and I lied and said, I’m just starving, let’s have lunch first! And I was not hungry in the slightest, so I had to feed my lunch to Polterpup when Luigi wasn’t looking.”
Mario listened intently and, at Peasley’s grand conclusion, he burst into laughter. “To Polterpup ! Hahahaha!”
“Mario, this is serious! At this rate I will not marry your brother until the next decade!”
Mario covered his smile with his right hand. “Hm, yes, very serious. Mhm. Okay.” He rest his chin in his hand and hummed. “Ta-be honest, It’s a shame you can’t just ask Luigi… He’s’a better at having ideases than me…”
Peasley flipped his hair. “Isn’t he just? He’s so smart. And, what’s more, a quick thinker. He blows me away, that man. You know, once he-”
“That’s’a very nice, but let’sa focus.”
Peasley straightened up and opened his eyes wide, as though he were being called to attention. “Okay.”
Looking at Peasley, thinking about Luigi's fast ideas, suddenly reminded Mario of something.
“When we were’a up against a for-mi-da-bi-le enemy, and we had ta-do a coordinated attack,” Mario began, sitting next to Peasley on the stairs, “we would’a get, you know, psych’ad out.”
“Psyched out?”
“Yes, yes, exactly. So Luigi, he’s’a develop a little system, where we count to three.”
Peasley blinked.
“Because’a, you know, doing something scary straight away, it’s’a not possible. But, if you decide that you’ll do it on the count’a three, it’s’a easier.”
Peasley hummed to show he was listening, leaning his cheek into his palm.
“Maybe… you decide you will take’a Luigi on so and so day. Tell him that’s’a the plan, so you can’t change’a it. Like a longer countdown.”
Peasley hummed again, more pointedly this time. “Hmm!”
“Yes?”
“In fact, on Tuesday it is the anniversary of when Luigi came to me with the red rose. He was so graceful even then, you know.”
Mario’s face cracked into a smile at this. Of course, Peasley would have a very different memory of that day. To Mario, the special day had been the day before, when Luigi had received the flowers. The following, comparatively, was the day Luigi spent agonising over the minutiae of a boring plumber’s outfit and an hour-long journey.
“I should tell him to come and visit on Tuesday,” Peasley thought aloud, flipping his hair and blinding Mario. “Then I can get prepared… Good, good. Perfect!”
Mario tapped Peasley on the back. “Sounds’a like you have a plan.”
Peasley beamed. “That I do! And with that, I bid you farewell!”
Mario should have been offended, when Peasley barged his way out of Mario's house without saying thank you. Instead, giddiness swept through him.
-
On Monday evening, naturally, Mario was merely hanging out for the news.
“Oh, by the way,” Luigi piped up, “Peasley asked me to visit tomorrow for a special occasion.”
“Ah,” Mario did his best to look as neutral as possible, “what's the special occasion?”
“It's… ahem… The anniversary… of something.”
Mario grinned slyly. “And what is that something ? Hm?”
Luigi wrinkled his nose. “Marioo-oooo!”
Mario feigned fear as Luigi swung at him with a tea towel. “Anyway, I’ll leave in the early morning to go and see him. I’ll be back in the evening.”
“Of course, bro. Hey, make sure to wear your best clothes tomorrow. Your new overalls or something.”
Luigi turned back, stroking his chin, as though Mario had just taught him a fascinating factoid. “Why?”
Mario’s eyes widened as he spat out, “er, because it’s your something-iversary.”
This seemed to resonate with Luigi well enough. “You’re right. I’d best look sharp,” he wagged his index finger at nothing at particular. “I wonder if I have any nice brooches… oh, or my lucky socks!”
“What would you need lucky socks for?”
Luigi blinked. “Well, it would be nice if something lucky happened.”
Mario grimaced. “Ew!”
“What’s so gross about hoping I get a rare flower as a present? They aren’t stinky, you just watch too many rubbish gardening shows.”
At this, Mario sighed while rubbing the base of his nose. He had to stop overthinking all of this, viewing the affair from his own perspective. As far as Luigi knew, this was just a nice day in the Beanbean Kingdom to commemorate their courtship.
“Fine, fine. Well, I’m more than sure that Peasley has something lucky planned for you. So dress accordingly, okay?”
“Hahaha, you kind of sound like Peasley saying things like that.”
Mario wrung his hands. “Which just means ,” he blurted, “it’s so obvious that even I thought of it.”
Luigi beamed. “I’m glad you’re so sure. Tomorrow will be nice!”
He hoped Peasley really went through with the proposal tomorrow. He didn’t think he could hold out keeping this secret much longer.
-
“Mario? You’re already up?”
Mario nodded quietly. He was sitting at the edge of his bed, legs crossed. “I wanted to say goodbye!”
“Aw,” Luigi grinned. “Well, goodbye, bro! I’ll see you tonight. We could watch a movie?”
Mario smiled. As if , he thought, gleefully. He kept anticipating how Luigi would march through that door and say “bro, I’m getting married.” It was a little tacky, he knew, but the thought excited him like it was the night before his own birthday and he was but a little boy.
The image of Luigi carrying those flowers on this day however many years ago floated in Mario's head persistently. He had been so… gleeful. The term “contagious laughter” was meaningless compared to the shared emotion of that day. It was contagious glee. Contagious excitement. Contagious thrill. It wasn't as though Mario were going through it himself, because he honestly wouldn’t care as much if it had been him.
Peasley himself being a little self-impressed aside.
“Mario?”
“Y-Yea! We’ll definitely watch a movie together tonight! Sorry, I was just thinking about how happy for you I am.”
Luigi tilted his head. “Aww, thanks, bro. But anyway, see you tonight.”
Mario wanted desperately to say, “no, you don't get it,” but that would have to wait until this evening.
“See you tonight, bro. And - don't let Peasley forget to bring you to the garden!”
Luigi paused. “The garden? Did I tell you about that!?”
Mario bit the inside of his cheek. Hard. God! I swear to-!
“Yes. While back. That. Okay, bye-bye!”
“Bye-bye, Mario!”
-
“How do you think the garden is getting along? You have an eye for these things.”
Luigi surveyed the expanse of flowers surrounding them. As the years passed, his input had become increasingly obvious in the garden layout. It wasn't unlike the rest of the castle, in that way.
“It looks great!”
Peasley hummed. “I should like to think you'll soon be telling the gardeners what to do. I'm sure as far as they're concerned you already live here.”
Luigi did that nervous rubbing-the-back-of-his-head thing. It was almost as bad for his hair as wearing that hat all the time was, but Peasley had never mentioned it, for fear he would stop. “Yeah.”
“Do let's go to the fountain for a moment, I want to show you something.”
The fountain, which in fact referred to a tiny stone sculpture of a nameless fairy which had not seen much attention compared to the grander statues, lay nestled in a circle of trees that just so happened to perfectly obscure anyone within the space from view. Peasley had managed to go his whole life without bringing any attention to the spot that would have resulted in some well-meaning servant or a hurried Lady Lima from interrupting. So, naturally, it was where Peasley had kissed Luigi for the first time.
The word “kissed” was perhaps a little generous, but that had been the intention , anyway, and to this day Peasley refused to admit to himself that he had any nervousness problems around Luigi. Luigi had seemed more than pleased with how it had turned out, in any case. He had gotten so flustered afterwards that Peasley had feared he was going to float away like a cartoon character.
Whatever the case, Peasley was fairly sure he’d manage very well this time.
“Here it is,” Peasley gestured towards a brilliant collection of Chinese bellflowers growing pristinely among the chaos of unkempt bushes that enveloped them.
“Oh, wowie!” Luigi clasped his hands gleefully. “It’s’a beautiful! You did this?”
“Heh heh heh… yes. No small feat, you know. It took around 10 months, I believe. But I wanted you to see it, because…”
Luigi turned to Peasley innocently, cheerfully.
“Luigi,” Peasley clasped the ends of Luigi's fingers with his own and held them up to his lips, softly kissing them. “May I ask you a question?”
At this, Luigi appeared to sense something and grew hot. “Sure…?”
“We have been courting for a good few years now. Do you remember? When you came rushing here, a red rose in hand.”
“Yes!” Luigi jumped enthusiastically, almost yanking his hands out of Peasley's grip.
“And in that time, I didn't even think it'd be possible, but… my love for you has only grown… just like a rhinoceros. Uh, I mean, a red rose.”
Luigi reflexively laughed as his face went even redder. “Hahaha…”
“One thing is clear. I shouldn't want it to ever end.”
“Me, me neither.” Luigi nodded.
“Which is why… I wanted to ask…”
Luigi became very alert.
“Peasley…”
“Will you take this anti-aging powder?”
Beat.
“I mean, bellflower?”
Luigi looked a bit befuddled, his deepening blush notwithstanding.
“I'm sorry, I meant.” Bloody hell! Every time! “It's… let me try that again.”
Luigi nodded, laughing softly.
“This Chinese bellflower -” Peasley picked it with his free hand, “- has a lot of meanings, but one of them, as you may have read, goes as follows - An unchanging love.”
Luigi looked at the purple bloom, then back at Peasley. And something clicked.
“ Peasley. ”
“Luigi. Ever since I met you - ever since you saved me - and I gave you that yellow rose, my love for you has not changed. My love for you is unchanging, endless. And I want that to be true until my dying day,” Peasley tried not to start crying.
“Do you mean?” Luigi, for his part, had already started to cry.
“Luigi…” Deep breaths, don't say anything stupid. “Would you take this bellflower? Or, in other words.”
Luigi looked at the flower silently, a tear catching on the tip of nose.
Okay, just get it out. DO it.
One.
Two.
Three.
“Luigi, will you marry me?”
Luigi instantly let out a sob and fell into Peasley's arms. It was only thanks to Peasley being fine-tuned to his voice that he was able to make out a “yes”.
-
When Luigi came home, he didn’t even say any coherent words, giddily squealing through his teeth. All he did was show Mario a dainty purple flower. There was a lot of jumping, and a lot of crying.
“You know what it means?” Luigi pointed at the purple petals.
“What's it mean?”
“Unchanging love.”
“That is really sweet,” Mario grinned. Those must have been the flowers that took ten months to grow.
“And I think…” Luigi looked somewhat wistful, “it's fitting. Remember what we were saying the other night? Nothing changes?”
Mario nodded.
“That’s the promise. Peasley to me-” he flushed pink “- but also me to you.”
Mario sighed happily. “Yeah…! Nothing changes. It's a promise.”
“Funnily enough, these flowers were actually in the garden you mentioned this morning,” Luigi stroked his moustache. “Funny coincidence, ri-”
Luigi’s eyes widened. Realisation fizzled in his eyes.
“Hold on a second.”
Luigi pointed at Mario playfully. “You- you knew , didn't you!”
Mario started cackling when Luigi poked him in the nose. Through giggles, he said, “Hey, when he needed help, your fiancé knew who he had to call.”
Luigi fake-groaned. “No wonder you were so antsy all weekend. You know, you said ‘hurry up and propose’ in your sleep a few nights ago.”
Mario coughed loudly. “That's- uh, well, maybe I was talking to someone else.”
“Oh, I'm sure,” Luigi nodded extravagantly. “Well, now you can help me get ready, right? For the wedding.”
Mario beamed. They didn't watch a movie that night.