Been in Diamond city for two months, talked with Pauline.

She was surprised I was looking for a therapist, but was really happy about it... I guess I really do worry people? She asked what I wanted out of a therapist and I blanked on it.

Surprised she recommended her therapist. Hell, I'm surprised she even has a therapist.

We set up a meeting for me under an alias, but she warned I might need to look around to find a therapist that I "click" with. Strongly advised me to stop wandering and stay in town for a while, too.

So far, I'm not sure if the therapy is doing anything for me, though, it's only been a few weeks. The therapist isn't just asking questions, she's trying to make conversation to get to know me. Because I'm using an alias, everything I say is a bit of a lie, which I doubt helps the process. I don't outright lie, but I omit a lot.

I'll admit, it is refreshing to be in one place for longer than a month again, even if I'm twiddling my thumbs over what to do with my free time. Money isn't an issue, but I've been looking for a part-time job under my new alias.

Worked out the alias with Pauline. When out, I'm shapeshifted even squatter, with balding black hair, lots of wrinkles, no mustache, and no neck. Went with a comically husky and gravelly voice to top it off. A real charmer...

Probably not far off from what I'll end up looking like. Gotten fatter and wrinklier over the years, but I've been lucky with the hair so far.

Being in the city takes me back to when Luigi and I used to live here.

We were delivered by a stork, but never got delivered to our parents. According to the staff at our orphanage, we were dropped off there; that means the stork either couldn't find our parents, or they don't exist.

I ran away several times. It wasn't because it was a bad place; I can't remember the staff doing anything awful, no one could bother me, and we got schooling. It was just boring.

Luigi was always on his best behavior, an absolute angel. Was, and still is, taller and better at sports than me. Everyone at the orphanage liked him well enough, and he had his circle of friends. Always acted like he was my older brother despite us being twins.

By contrast, when the mystery of the burning beds began, and was obviously me, the kids at the orphanage tried to get the staff to do something, but there was no proof. I burned their fingers when they tried beating me up, and they still couldn't prove I'd done it.

Luigi would've probably been adopted, but the staff didn't want us to be separated because we were twins, so whoever wanted him would have to take me along as well. The one other kids called evil. For good reason, but younger me would disagree.

One time, we did get adopted by a family, but I was abandoned. Not a bad experience; wandered the city for a while, roasted turnips, lit thugs on fire, and killed a giant rat nest. In hindsight, it should've been scary, but everything is less threatening when everything is flammable with a little effort.

When I was taken back to the orphanage, Luigi tackled me in a hug. I'm not sure what happened to the family, but they never showed up at the orphanage again.

And then I started running away.

My "expeditions" usually went on for months at a time, and I'd run around doing odd-jobs for money. Figured out a few more magical abilities and got out of plenty of weird situations with them. Kept it a secret, too; made them look like tricks rather than actual magic. I learned some bits from the people I met; never give out your name, and never get close to a mage.

In my teens, I met Pauline and bummed at her place a few times. Did favors for her, things involving fires at her father's competitor's rallies. She returned the favor when we got older, getting me jobs with her connections. We didn't get romantic until I saved her from an ape. Only a few months later, Luigi and I traveled out of the province.

Luigi never liked to leave his comfort zone, so when we had to leave the orphanage, he freaked out, acted like it was the end of the world. He started seeing me as the older brother. In hindsight, I was a terrible brother, constantly trashing him for being an idiot with his money without teaching him anything. Sure, he went to school, but budgeting didn't get drilled in. He got really clingy, too. Only started living on his own in his late twenties, after I gave him some money and nudged him out of the house in Toadstool's Kingdom.

He complained about our small apartment despite it coming out of my pocket along with the groceries. He made money, but wasted it on gambling and expensive gifts for his friends' parties. Still can't beat him at poker without some luck.

Life then was a little unremarkable, but I was on the grind for interests that didn't require constant traveling, like medicine and biology. Adventuring is about the only thing I want to do now; probably always was.

Today, Pauline and I went to a big band meet.

She dyed her hair ginger and put it up in a ponytail, wore a nice dress. I made myself a lanky monkey fella with long sideburns. She brought her guitar, and I brought my sax.

Despite everyone being inconsistent, we had a good time. There were some cool players there; this one guy tapped his bari saxophone like a drum, another one brought in a massive sax. I think he called it a contrabass.

We're planning on joining another meet in a few weeks.

New discovery; there are at least eight different stage plays based off the the first time Toadstool was saved from Bowser. Now, I usually ignore anything that involves my adventures, but Pauline and I were looking at what was playing at the theatres, and I saw the selection of plays mostly involved Toadstool, Bowser, and me. Many versions of the first kidnapping feature Bowser's son, who probably wasn't even born at the time. There's a few that have yoshis despite the yoshis only being involved in the one adventure... maybe also when I was a baby? Kamek said something about that being a little true. There's even one where we're furries.

People think these are different adventures, and that Toadstool's been kidnapped over twenty times. Pauline wondered why I was laughing like a crazy person. Doubted she'd find it funny, so I waved it off as something dumb.

They even think Toadstool and I have a thing for each other. I can't even call it a missed opportunity. That ship never sailed because it never existed in the first place. Now I'm tempted to get a drink with Bowser and laugh about the portrayals.

Annoyingly, Toadstool asked Pauline about where I was. Was wondering why the sudden interest, but the Star Festival's coming soon; it's a big event that celebrates a comet that arrives once a century. Guess she wants me at the kingdom for the festival.

I did disappear for a year... and the house is probably a dusty mess...