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In his young childhood, Pac-Man was friends with the main ghosts and enjoyed playing with them. He considered them to be genuine friends, and other Pac people were slightly weary of such a sight.
When Pac-Man first meets Orson, the ghost acts incredibly shy and a little hesitant at first. But Pac encourages him to come out of his shell, and the two unexpectedly quickly became friends. Their personalities bounce off of each other so well. And while he liked to hangout with Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde, Orson was special. He was amazed at Orson's tech skills at such a young age and the two would run experiments, confide in each other, get excited together, etc. Pac would encourage Orson to pursue being a scientist/inventor (despite not knowing much of the specifics and sometimes getting a bit annoyed at the science-y explanations), and Orson would be the straight man to young Pac (while also finding the Pac's enthusiastic/witty demeanor charming). They have the closest bond, despite their differences. Pac knew for a fact that Orson is his best friend. And Orson felt honored to have a BFF such as Pac.
But then, things started to change.
First, I,B,P & C and Pac-Man had a falling out.
It was so long ago, no one could really remember how it all went down and dissipate. But, many Pac-Worlders say that one day one of his ghost friends & him had a angry altercation, resulting in the little Pac fainting and unable to wake up.
That of course scared and angered the people in Pac Village rightfully so, and when Pac was awake again, he tried to talk to his ghost friends. But they had already made up their minds. As had the village. Forbidding them to touch a Pac person again, including Pac Man. Now with those friendships shattered, the ghosts leaned in to being the mischievous delinquents they usually are.
Pac is disappointed, but doesn't hold any grudges against them.
Meanwhile, Pac Man continues to be Orson's best friend despite the Pac people's cautions/protests. They often meet in secret now to avoid the stares Orson would get from the Pac-Worlders.
Orson quickly learns about what happened with the other ghosts and gets a little scared about their future. He even considers ending their friendship. But Pac is undeterred.
"But, what if I hurt you one day?"
Younger Pac smiles, and firmly puts a hand on Orson's shoulder. "You're my best friend, Ors. You never will. I know you won't."
Orson feels so lucky to have a friend like Pac.
As days change and years start to go by, ghosts get more rowdy and Pac-Man steps up to the plate to protect Pac-Land and all its inhabitants. He sparks a rivalry with his past ghost friends, and that continues to this day.
As fame came along to Pac-Man for protecting the Pac people again and again, the friendship between Orson and Pac drifts. Rarely Pac tries to check in on Orson, and Orson thinks Pac-Man doesn't see him as a friend anymore.
When that actually couldn't be further from the truth.
..
With one of Orson's only friends gone, he isolates himself to his gadgets and tech. He tries to make friends with other ghosts, but it never lasts. He continues to wallow in mourning of a beautiful friendship lost.
He sees Pac fall in love, get married, get a dog, have children and overall have a happy life. This breeds an unquenchable jealousy in Orson. Resentment. Then, anger. Why does Pac-Man get showered in gifts and praises? Why him??
Cue PMW, where created from these negative feelings, is Toc-Man. Orson also finds Toc-Man as a way to get other ghosts to respect him, even though they had no idea it was a ghost controlling Toc-Man the whole time. He lets PC'S family be kidnapped with blind rage.
When the end of the game comes, Orson finds himself standing (or rather floating) in the ruins of the Toc-Man mecha, holding a tissue and when he looks up, he sees him, the guy he's been pushing back this whole adventure;
Pac-Man. The guy he once called his best friend.
Pac-Man's eyes are wide in surprise, his mouth shaped in an "o", not expecting to see Orson here.
With seeing Pac-Man's shocked expression, Orson sneezes into his hankercheif and mournfully laments."It's not fair! Why doesn't anyone ever root for ghosts?" He sniffles again, floating out of the wreckage, closer to Pac-Man. "Nobody loves a ghost..."
The jealousy is just sorrow now.
Pac Man blinks with surprise and realization. His heart heaves for his best friend.
Yes, after all this time, Pac never stopped seeing Orson as a friend. However, he does not say that. Instead, what he says shakes Orson to his core.
Pac Man smiles fondly and doesn't even hesitate his words.
"I love you, Orson."
Abruptly looking up to Pac, he sees him holding out his hand. With that same goofy smile he's always had. "And I can forgive you."
And suddenly all that resentment, all that envy, all the negativity just poofs away. And gets replaced with a heaviness... absolute soul crushing-
Guilt.
Everything falls. Orson can not believe it.
"You'll forgive me?"
Pac-Man just nods. No questions asked.
Orson, still shook, shakes Pac's hand. He's nervous to reply. "Thanks... Sorry for kidnapping your family and stuff."
Pac-Man shakes it off and lets bygones be bygones.
When Pac leaves ghost Island with his family, Orson finds himself crushed by his own actions. How could he have done that? To his best friend no doubt!
"Does.. does he still consider me his friend?"
The guilt feeds into a new feeling: Denial.
Orson repairs Toc-Man, and continues to wear him around, more confused than ever. He feels whiplashed. Perhaps even coping with the denial.
Inky, Blinky, Pinky & Clyde get an opportunity to go to Pac-Man's belated birthday party a week later. Orson assumes Pac forgot him once more and his anger relapses. Especially since he invited the other 4 ghosts that were Pac's childhood friends. Since when did Pac Village invite ghosts back with open arms again??
..
When the two meet in pmw2, Pac-Man almost calls him Orson, but falls back to the Toc-Man name since Orson didn't seem to be showing himself anytime soon. He decides to respect his friend's boundaries, weird as they may be to him right now.
When they finally talk it out and it's revealed TM had misplaced his invitation, Orson's taken aback by Pac's suggestion to join him for dinner, and to have a little make up party.
He wasn't expecting Pac to be so forward and welcoming. Anxiously he gave in with a little push from Pac and the two head back to Pac Village together.
When they get there, the Pac Villagers are at first spooked by such a large mecha walking in to town, but Pac reassures everyone that TM just wanted to get to know everyone and was there as a guest. Orson was especially surprised that Pac-Man continued to refer to him as Toc Man, seemingly respecting the persona.
Ms.Pac-Man was more than happy to bake a cake for him after everyone finished dinner, and Pac's son even asked him questions about his metal wings and rocket pack.
He felt genuinely welcomed.
During the little party when he got a moment, Pac Man pulls TM aside, away from the village.
Pac-Man sighs, crossing his arms. "Okay Orson, you can come out now."
Orson's stunned. He feigns ignorance. "What? Who's Orson? I don't know any Orsons!"
Pac sighs again, letting his arms fall.
"Look man, I've been letting this go on out of respect for you, but, I just can't let you do this anymore. It's making some people uncomfortable." He pauses, relenting. "It's.. kinda making me uncomfortable."
TM's facade cracks. "But.. what if you don't want to see me?"
Pac-Man covers a chuckle up with an exhale. "Orson, I've been waiting to see my friend this whole time. I do want to see you. The real you."
There was a moment of silence, before Toc-Man powers down, and his mouth opens up to reveal Orson, sheepishly taking his hands off the controls.
Pac Man is elated to see him, despite Orson's color being deluded. "There you are!"
Orson floats down to meet him and gets unexpectedly caught in a crushing bear hug.
"It's been too long man! It feels good to see you!"
Orson stiffens. It's been awhile since someone had physical contact with him. He's almost forgot what a hug felt like. And he realizes; Pac-Man isn't fainting.
Pac abruptly lets him ago before he can react, and excitedly waves for him to follow.
Pac has to reintroduce Orson to everyone and clarify about their guest. Some are even more antsy than before, but once again, even more enthusiastically, Pac-Man assures everyone that Orson's a good guy.
Orson meets PM's wife, son & baby daughter properly, eats cake, sings songs and even dances. But the best thing was reconnecting with Pac-Man. After all this time he is actually relieved and internally ecstatic to learn Pac never stopped calling him his friend, even with the strange looks PM had gotten from other Pac people throughout the years. That evening was one of the most fulfilling hours of Orson's life up to that point.
..
Eventually, the sun sets and everyone goes home. Orson stays long after the party is done, and he and Pac find themselves sitting on top of Pac's house, looking up to the stars. Ms.Pac had put the kids down to bed and informed her husband not to stay up all night before going to sleep herself.
And there they were now, silent as could be watching the stars twinkle over Pac-Land.
"That was a pretty sweet party, wasn't it?" Pac says.
Orson responds slowly, almost distant in the reply. "It was. I haven't had that much social interaction in a while. Everyone was surprisingly very nice. Especially your family..."
Pac Man picks up on that quickly, turning to his friend. Though, letting a moment of silence pass before speaking up. "Orson? Is everything alright? You've been quiet ever since the party ended. Is something bothering you?"
Orson doesn't speak. He glances briefly to Pac, regret crossing his eyes. He turns away. "Do.. do you remember when I kidnapped your family... on your birthday?"
Pac Man blinks, sitting up straighter. "Yeah? Why do you bring it up?"
Orson takes a heavy inhale, then exhale, and begins speaking, looking forward. "When I created Toc-Man... At the time I was just so.. jealous. You have so many people who love you.. and I... felt betrayed. Left out."
He brings his hands together, glancing down to them. Pac-Man listens intently to his friend. "I had never felt so lonely. I thought that you'd forgotten me. That our friendship meant nothing to you."
A frown is ever growing on the ghost's face, and he closes his eyes. "That's why, when I saw the ghosts had captured your family instead of you, I adamantly held them hostage. And hired those monsters to attack you. I was jealous! Envious to a fault. ...Vengeful." The regret is clear.
Pac Man speaks softly. "..You were, huh?"
Orson squints, mist forming in his eyes. "Yes. But at the end.. When you held out your hand... What you said... It broke me!"
Swiftly turning to Pac, Orson breaks down, the anguish and guilt overflowing in his words, and tears start to trickle down. "At that time I thought you'd actually forgot me! That you didn't like me anymore! But your sentiment shattered that so called "certainty" of mine! And then I just felt so guilty for putting your family through that! Pac-Man, I freaking locked your NEWBORN in a CAGE! A CAGE!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?? I felt so bad, I hid in Toc-Man almost every hour of everyday after! And then I denied you even meant what you said in the first place! HOW COULD YOU FORGIVE ME SO QUICKLY LIKE THAT FOR WHAT I DID TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?!?! HOW COULD I TREAT MY CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND LIKE THAT?!"
Briefly he holds his gloved hands to his face, continuing to cry, then clenches his fists and brings them down to his chest, looking at Pac directly. "I feel so guilty for doubting you too! How could you claim to still like me even after all that? For Ghost's sake, this morning I FAUGHT you because I thought you had forgotten me again! But you hadn't!!"
Orson's hands fall to his sides, pressing against the roof sat beneath them. "Your family's been so nice to me today... And I'VE only been a crummy friend to you! So WHY?!!"
Pac-Man is speechless for a moment. He doesn't know what to say. But then, he smiles small, and softly. As Orson has once again shut his eyes, the tears unable to be contained, Pac slides closer and puts a hand on Orson's shoulder.
"Because you're my best friend Orson."
Orson's eyes pop open, and he makes eye contact with the yellow ball.
Pac-Man speaks, calm. "I knew you felt guilty just as soon as I saw your face pop out of Toc-Man. I understood why you did those things. We've been childhood best friends for as long as I can remember. I know you. The Orson I knew was just hurting, and I could understand that."
Pac-Man glances down briefly, letting out his own admission as he scratches the back of his head with his free hand. "I'm sorry for not making enough time. I should've come to talk with you so we could sort it out together. I didn't know how lonely you felt.. how isolated you got..."
Orson crosses his arms and looks away, agreeing with a sniffle. "Yeah... We should've..."
Pac continued. "I'm sorry you felt that way. That I made you feel that way. That's why I forgave you so easily."
"And, to tell you the truth, even with my fame and starting a family keeping me busy... I missed our friendship dearly." He sheepishly adds, a hand now on his heart.
Again the yellow Pac glances down briefly, the weight of his emotions sinking in. "I..."
And suddenly, to the surprise of Orson, Pac-Man lunges onto him with a hug, with warm sympathy and genuine heart. "I just want you to know that I mean it Ors. I love you, and I hate to see you feel this way. Please remember that I will always be here for you. No matter what."
Orson feels like tearing up again, and after a moment to register, hugs his best friend back, just as sincere. "...Alright. Thank you Pac. ..I love you too."
A long moment passes with the two friends just sharing a hug.
"See?" Pac man speaks up, puzzling Orson. He elaborates. "You couldn't hurt me a bit."
And that brings the tears of the ghost out again. Only, these were happy relieved tears this time.
That night their friendship is fully restored. Pac Man makes time to check in with Orson, and Orson comes out of his shell again, sharpening up his tech skills more than ever. He becomes good friends with the four main ghosts, and continues to develop a no nonsense attitude when it comes to serious matters (including his inventions and tech, which the other ghosts don't really get)
When they meet in pmw3, their banter is suddenly just like old times. Pac is genuinely happy to talk and hear from Orson, even with Orson messing up with his teleportation device numerous times. Even with the world ending, Pac can't help but be himself. And Orson secretly immensely admires that.
The two are best friends to this day. Their bond, unbreakable. Pac-Man knows he can rely on Orson. And Orson is now always certain in Pac-Man.