Foreword: This month was kind of hard to get going, and I was GOING to update a few days ago, but my internet went out and other issues led me to not updating until today. But it's "No school November" which tends to mean "Razzi gets to have no life on days off and thusly gets time to write". So I'm hoping I'll have a nice holiday season gift of on-time chapters as we lead into a new part of the story.
Just a few things about Chapter 40 here- It was fun to write because it feels a lot like my way early chapters, in the fact that I only (in reality) have two PoV's going on. And the main thing I wanted to tell you is that, with a few exceptions in random sentances or paragraphs, the last bit in today's chapter is over two years old. So that would be why it REALLY feels like an early chapter. I'm going to write about why I put this bit in that I've had sitting around in my LJ since, honestly, I don't need longer AN's. So if you're curious, you can pop over there (link's in the profile).
And I own nothing. Not even the pink pajama Peach pleasantly picks.
Peach's door shut, and she was still grinning. This was a fantastic idea…she didn't want to spend a single moment without her new best friend before she had to, even if those moments were spent asleep. But now the prospect of sleeping in the same bed with Bowser came up, she was terrified. What was she supposed to wear? How was she supposed to act?
Peach raced over to her vanity to begin preparing for the night before realizing she hadn't Peach never intended on sleeping in the same bed with Mario when she packed. But she did prepare herself for looking cute in the morning with her friends, so she had plenty of cute pajamas perfect for sitting at a breakfast table…but what was right for this kind of ordeal?
She held up a pomegranate nightgown, slit down the front generously and up the side to her mid-thigh. She shook it out, staring at it with possibility, before throwing it back in disgust. That was not what she wanted for tonight…
A few more nightgowns went through her hands. Why didn't she just bring pajama pants with her? Then she found some, crumpled at the bottom of the drawer. Pink drawstring pajama pants with little hearts, brought in case there was a chilly night and for no other real reason. But if she was sharing sheets with someone, particularly someone as fond of her as Bowser, she didn't want to deal with bare legs. A smile spread across her face, the pajama pants reminding her of sleepovers with Daisy and late-night movie parties with the little girls from Mushroom Town. This seemed perfect.
Now that she'd found that, finding a white tank-top to go with it was a snap. She ran over to her bathroom, pajamas thrown over her shoulder. Peach kicked off her shoes and earrings, and then frantically undressed, moving faster than she had been getting ready for bed all week. She traded her layers of crinoline and underskirt for the light and roomy pants, slipping into a comfortable but rather foreign-feeling sports bra and the soft, white tank-top.
Peach shook out her hair, brushing it down and washing off her make-up. As much as she wanted to look absolutely perfect for Bowser (he was doing her a favor and all…), years and years of lectures on wearing nothing but a clean, washed face to bed kicked her desire out the window. She fervently brushed her teeth until foam was spilling out her mouth, and every few seconds her eye would dart to the door.
Finally, as Peach was nervously dabbing her face with age-resisting cream, she heard a knock at the door. She turned to look so quickly she smeared a line of white cream across her nose. Quickly, she rubbed it off and sang, "coming!"
Sacrilegiously kicking her dress into her bathroom in a puddle of expensive pink satin, she shut the bathroom door and stumbled to the one Bowser was standing behind. Peach took a deep breath that she wasn't sure she should have needed and threw it open.
Bowser stood there, shelless and wearing his own pair of pajama pants. He shuffled awkwardly in the doorway, whispering harshly, "can I come in? Before anyone sees?"
Peach had been staring at Bowser. She forgot he slept without his shell, but the memory of Bowser's birthday breakfast was all coming back to her now. She remained standing in the doorway, her eyes seemingly locked on Bowser's chest as she thought about the ten royalties, all piled on Bowser's ridiculously uncomfortable bed.
"Peeeeaaaach?" Bowser whispered, a bit harsher. He shifted his reasonable weight from one foot to the other, looking down the hallways. "I don't think you want people to see me, either,"
She finally snapped out of her mild trance and looked up at Bowser's pleading face. "Oh, of course! Come in!"
Moving to the side, Peach allowed Bowser plenty of room to rush in. His tail whipped as he ran into the room, showing off his defined yellow back. It probably took quite a few muscles to lug around such a heavy-laden shell, though even without it, Bowser still walked in a slump.
She shut the door and Bowser quietly moved to a wall, unsure of what to do. He'd imagined this scenario many times before. Peach let him in, they stared each other down, said a few pleasantries, and she shut the door. Then, she would rush at him and…well, the longer the koopa king let himself daydream, the better he knew every nook and cranny of this bedroom. As well as the more breakable pieces of furniture.
But this wasn't Bowser's daydream. This was reality. So while Peach's shutting of the door, sheepish smile, and muttering of feeling unsure of what to do wasn't nearly as exciting, it was perhaps better. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea," she muttered.
Bowser's eyes went wide. "No! Why wouldn't it be?"
"Well," Peach replied, walking over to sit on the edge of her bed, "I don't know…what to do. You always have a plan for what to do."
Bowser walked over to join her. "Peach," he started, as he reached the bed. But if he knew anything about Peach it was that she wanted respect…and he wasn't certain he was even allowed to touch her bed while she was on it. In a quick, questioning tone he asked, "can I sit down on your bed?"
"Oh, of course," Peach replied all in a flurry. With a gracious smile, Bowser sat next to her. The bed hardly creaked; it appeared more than willing to accept both their weight. "It's a lot softer than your bed," she said unnecessarily. "And it's big."
"I know, Peach," Bowser replied with a half-smile. "I helped pick it out. Mostly with you in mind."
Peach blushed. "It looks just like a normal Bowseresque guest room to me," she whispered.
"It is," he agreed. "You don't usually come to…visit…here. If you'd like, we can replace the décor to suit your style more. But the closet, the bathroom, the vanity, and…the bed, were all designed with you in mind." Bowser smiled. "Because I love you."
Peach laughed, resting on her hands behind her. "I know you do." She smiled back at him. "But I still don't know what we're supposed to do now."
"Well," Bowser sang, looking out of the upper-corner of his eye to appear innocent. "A few obvious things come to mind."
"Like wha-aaah! Bowser!" Peach tried to stop herself from laughing as she angrily smacked him with a pillow. Bowser laughed, shielding himself with a bare arm.
"We can elope first if it makes you feel better!" He added after grabbing the pillow. His eyes twinkled with delight.
Peach continued laughing. "Is this how you treat all the ladies who invite you to stay with them overnight?" she asked, pretty sure the answer would honestly be yes. Besides herself, what kind of person would ask their just-a-friend to stay with them overnight?
"Considering you're the only one who ever has, yes."
Peach stopped her onslaught for a moment, blinking in surprise. "Really?"
Bowser chuckled, staring down at his beloved. "What, did you expect me to be some kind of womanizer, using a new groupie every night to try and get over you?"
"Well…a little," Peach replied.
Bowser imagined himself as thus and laughed. "Naw. I probably could be like that. I'm sure sexy enough and have enough ladies crawling to get under my shell. But when you're in love with someone as much as I am, it kind of loses its appeal." He grinned, tipping her chin affectionately. "Good thing you're flipping gorgeous or I'd think I was insane."
"Aww, Bowser. I'm not-"
"Gorgeous? Shy-guy crap, Peach. You're the most beautiful creature in our entire bizarre world. Especially right now; you just look happy and…simple." He put a claw through her brushed-out hair, then fixed her almost-falling tank-top strap. "This is the face I want to fall asleep to." He turned his smiling face back to hers, looking rather smug. "But you knew that, didn't you? You're just fishing for compliments!"
Peach shrugged. "Mmmyeaaah," she admitted. Immediately, she was laughing uncontrollably as Bowser started smacking her with the pillow. It didn't hurt, but it was enough that Peach decided to fight back.
The pillow-fight escaladed as they walked over the bed, knocked into lamps, and fell over each other, wrassling to secure as many pillows as they could. By the time they stopped fighting, over a half hour later, breathless on their backs on the floor, the room looked suspiciously like it did at the end of Bowser's daydreams.
He rolled over and grinned at her. "See, Peach? You don't need plans. That's what's so great about being with the one you love."
"You're ridiculous," she answered, chucking her pillow at his face. But the truth of his statement just resonated inside her; her heart was swollen to the size of a beach ball and he looked much too defined to be fair. Maybe if she'd picked the pomegranate nightgown, she'd have won the pillow-fight by sheer distraction. "Hey Bowser," she said, her breath almost completely caught.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for coming. I…I'm gonna miss you."
Bowser smiled at her, stretching his claw out to take her hand. "Anytime, Peach. Really. Best favor in the world. But out of curiousity…are we going to sleep on the floor?"
Peach laughed and, still holding Bowser's hand, stood up. "No, of course not! The bed's big enough for two of us. The point is that I don't want to be alone tonight…as long as you don't try anything on me." She raised an eyebrow at him as Bowser bit his lip. "Are you gonna be able to manage that, big guy?"
"You sure you don't wanna just elope? Then it won't matter!" Bowser replied.
Peach laughed and nodded, pulling him over to his side of the very large bed, intending on leaving enough room between them for an entire extra princess. "I'm certain. I'm also tired, so…" she crawled in under the covers on her side, pulling the red satin up to her chin.
Slowly, Bowser climbed in. It felt so strange; not only because he was getting in the same bed as Princess freaking Peach, but because the bed was actually comfortable. "I should get a less-manly bed," he muttered to himself. "This is really awesome." He stretched out (there was plenty of room), and let his mane lay comfortably on one of the few remaining pillows from their war.
Peach smiled, rolling onto her side facing Bowser. She lifted a hand to hit the light-switch, the light from the polluted city and volcanic tips giving the room a hazy sort of half-light. Bowser looked particularly happy in this lighting, his smile carved into his face with sheer honesty and joy. He seemed comfortable without his shell and in the soft bed, and completely in love. That was the face she wanted to fall asleep to.
And she did. Peach fell asleep within the next few minutes, seeing Bowser understood she was tired and refrained from speaking. He instead watched her breathe in complete peace. Maybe she was dreaming. Maybe even about him!
Bowser didn't realize he had inched any closer to her, but soon he was brushing his arm against her. He paused, feeling like he should pull away but desperately not wanting to. Solving his problem, Peach stirred just enough to grab hold of his arm and pull it closer. She smushed her face into it, driving Bowser absolutely crazy…he could feel her smile as she held onto his arm like a scaly teddy bear.
Lovingly, he took his other arm and wrapped it around her, embracing Peach's sleeping form. She reciprocated, curving into him. Bowser could no longer see her face as she slept, but he could feel her breathing and he could feel her form against his. That was better, anyway. Irreplaceable.
He squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to forget that this would possibly be the last time he could be this close to Peach. Tried to forget that in just a few hours, she would be boarding the plane to bring her back to her normal life. Forgetting was easier than expected…and soon Bowser was fast asleep.
He slept better than he ever had before.
xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx
When Larry wanted to read under a blanket, he took it seriously. A lovely nook next to his bed, crudely carved by patient koopaling claws, held his lantern and a sizable amount of midnight snacks, as well as extra room to store the giant comforter he now had thrown over his four-post bed. The quilted plush blanked used to cover his parents' bed, but once his father was left a widower, he deemed the frivolous blanket unnecessary. He preferred sleeping on rock-hard beds with steel-wool sheets, Bowser had declared.
The best thing about the comforter as a ceiling was that it was not only thick enough to prevent his lantern light from escaping into the room, but that, even after all these years, he could still faintly smell his mother. Somewhere among all the scents of mold, stone walls, and Cheezy-Gooms, there was the unmistakable odor of lilacs, charcoal, and something he couldn't quite pin.
Larry had never actually smelt his mother, per-se, but once she died, the gaurds needed to provide his egg with a method of warmth and protection that could connect him to familiarity through scents; the same way a mother would have warmed him. They settled on the old comforter. It didn't take him long as a young koopaling to find the blanket and steal it for himself.
But tonight, he wasn't thinking about his mother, even if the charcoal was especially pungent. Larry had read the very same paragraph about twelve times in a row, but the adventures of a mild-mannered reporter and his secret identity just didn't catch his attention that night. He was completely preoccupied with thoughts about his Mama Peach and the fact that she very well may be leaving that next morning.
He groaned, realizing how pitifully slow he was going with his reading, and shut the book. Larry stood up on his bed, grabbing the lantern on his way out to put the book away. He pushed the blanket aside and hopped down, swinging the lantern as he went. Once Larry straightened up, he was just inches away from a partially lit face of horror; its mouth was open in a manic grin with fangs glinting, eyes looking in completely different directions. Larry screamed something akin to Wendy's shrieks, tumbling backwards and knocking his head on his bed. The lantern clattered to the floor, extinguishing itself almost immediately.
Though now in a completely dark room, this invader had the unmistakable voice of Lemmy as he asked, "Why'd you turn off the lights?"
"Lemmy, you nit-wit!" Larry seethed. He felt for the lantern, carefully opening the door and blowing a flame just large enough to hit the wick and start up the light again. "Why'd you come in here like that? Did you want to give me a heart-attack? Or are you just a fan of watching your siblings sleep now?"
"I dunno," he slurred, shielding his eyes from the accusatory light of Larry's lantern. "I just wanted to ask you if Mama Peach is really going home tomorrow. I think Morton made it up to scare me."
"He most certainly did not," Larry replied, still a bit sharp in his voice. He put the book back on the shelf it belonged and walked over to his brother and his fort-bed. "She has to go home tomorrow; that way no one suspects we kidnapped her."
"Oh, okay," he muttered. "When's she coming back?"
Larry bit his lip, not daring to face his brother. "I don't know. Probably not until King Dad picks her up for another visit…but he doesn't usually take her here."
"Why not?"
"Because, Lem," Larry tried to reply, but he couldn't find the words. "I don't know why."
"But doesn't Mama Peach like us? And King Dad?"
"Yeah, probably. It seems like she does…but that doesn't mean she can come to the palace."
"Why not?"
Larry shook his head, a little saddened that this seemed to be all the world would let him think about tonight. "I don't know if they can be together. I think Mama Peach and Dad like each other a whole lot, but she has responsibilities. Kinda like superheroes. You know Superkoopa?" Lemmy grinned. He certainly did know Superkoopa! Nodding at Lemmy's glee, Larry continued, "Know how Superkoopa and Koopis Lane never get together 'cause he doesn't want her hurt, even though they really like each other? I think it's like that. Mama Peach and King Dad live in too different of worlds to actually work as a together."
Lemmy shook his head. "No, Larry, das wrong. Koopis Lane and Superkoopa do get together. They got married a few years ago, and she's not dead yet!"
Larry sighed, nodding. "But it took them nearly sixty years and twelve different continuaincies to get around to it for real. I don't think Mama Peach and King Dad have that kind of time, Lemmy…"
"Then it's a good thing we're helping them out, huh?" Lemmy shouted back, happily ignoring his unnecessary rise in volume.
Larry opened his mouth, ready to sneer, you just don't get anything!, but Lemmy looked too dang excited to disappoint. "I guess that's true," he tried. "They've never had a flock of cupids on their side like this. Maybe something will be different after all."
Lemmy grinned, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Good. I like Mama Peach. I want her to stay forever."
"Me too," Larry replied. There was silence for almost a minute when Lemmy muttered that he forgot why he'd come in. Larry laughed. "You wanted to know if Morton was lying about Mama Peach leaving."
"Oh! Yeah! And he wasn't lying…just wrong." Lemmy replied triumphantly.
Considering his brother's surprisingly deep reply, Larry nodded. "You know…that sounds exactly right, Lemmy."
He grinned. "'kay, well, bye then," Lemmy muttered. Awkwardly, he ran out of the room, leaving Larry alone again to chuckle.
He looked down to the floor and saw his book sitting patiently on the floor. Larry grinned and picked it back up. Sometimes he needed to be a lot more like Lemmy…less worrying, more optimism.
He carried his book back to his bed-fort and flipped to that paragraph he never quite finished. With amusement, he read that last line in its full effect- "Even after so many years, Koopis's smirk still made him feel weak in a way that had nothing to do with kryptoshrooms. She was worth all the trouble that his secret identity gave him, even with the Toyman bearing down on them."
Larry decided that Peach and Bowser had nothing to worry about. They were as meant to be as Superkoopa and Koopis, even if it took them just as long.
xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx
Volcanopalace began its morning ritual of grinding up the inside of the volcano's rocks. Cooling lava began sizzling hot, gears clanged, rocks smashed, and all other kinds of commotion began the day. It was 8:30 on the spot, and Bowser's eyes opened…mostly out of habit. The bed was so soft, he felt inclined to stay in there all morning.
Especially when his eyes were opened wide enough for him to see the still-sleeping figure in his arms. There was no way he wanted to leave this heaven and its finest angel.
Instead he closed his eyes again and nuzzled his face into Peach's disarrayed hair. "Good morning, love," he muttered, hoping not to wake her.
He stayed like that, too comfortable and elated to move, but too well-adjusted to his schedule to fall back asleep. Soon enough, Peach stirred herself, and Bowser reflexively loosened his grip.
She yawned wide, stretching her arms until she accidently hit Bowser in the face. Peach desperately tried to swallow her yawn as fast as she could to apologize, feeling rather awkward and embarrassed. Like Bowser, she'd completely forgotten the company she had requested for the night…though it did explain why she'd slept so much warmer and easier.
Bowser laughed, holding Peach's hand to assure her he was perfectly fine. "Having your hand whack me in the face first thing in the morning is possibly the best thing in the world, Peach," he reassured. She laughed, easing her way a little farther from Bowser to see him better, putting her arms at a comfortable position beneath her head. The bed quickly readjusted itself as to not leave a canyon in the mattress's middle "Did you sleep well?"
With a pleasant sigh, she answered, "Very. I think you helped… I probably would have been too listless to sleep otherwise."
"Yeah," Bowser agreed with a toothy grin. "I wouldn't have fallen asleep at all last night if I couldn't hear you beside me. It was basically awesome."
"Oh," Peach quietly interrupted, "I think I should tell you. I woke up in the middle of the night and we were…embracing. And I know it would have been more polite and proper to scoot away when I realized that, but it was really warm and I was really tired, and," Peach started to blush, "you're…surprisingly soft. I didn't wanna move."
Bower nodded at her. "You can cuddle in my arms whenever you want, Peach. Just don't go around telling people how soft I am."
She laughed, "Don't worry, I won't. It can be one of our little secrets."
They were quiet for a bit, just enjoying each other's company on the soft bed. "You do realize I can tell people that I slept with Princess Peach now, don't you?" Bowser asked with a grin. His head was propped against his arm so he was almost sitting up, but still eye-to-eye with Peach.
Peach's sweet smile disappeared as her eyes grew cold. "You do realize that if you do, I'll make sure I never see you again…and when I do have to, you won't be happy that I know your soft-spots." Her cold eyes twinkled just a bit as she tried to hide her inner laughter.
"Aw, can't I tell my kids at all?"
Peach looked to the side and bit her tongue as she teasingly considered. "Not in that wording."
Bowser gave her a toothy grin. "Alright, how about…" he sat and thought, his grin fading with the silence before coming back. "Nope, no matter how I say it, it sounds dirty."
"Well, it wasn't,"
"I know, real pity! What was the point?" Bowser complained. In response Peach gave him a quick little smack to the arm. "Just kidding, Peach. I still love you."
With a bit of a giggle, Peach added, "I should hope so!"
Bowser raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
Peach was taken a bit aback, but didn't show it as she shook her head slightly. "I guess I think it would just ruin the point of love…if all you…or anyone…was interested in was the….err…more physical part."
Bowser gave a bit of a wicked grin before softening. "Naw, there's a lot more to my love for you than that." He adjusted his posture a bit, reminding Peach of a little kid excited to tell a story. "I've had this speech planned for years, Peachy."
"What speech?" She laughed.
"About why I love you, of course!" He replied with a barking laugh. Triumphantly, he began, "I love the way you play with my kids like your own…the way you play with any kid like your own. I love the way you smile when I talk to you and the way your eyes twinkle when you laugh. I love the way you let everyone know what you're thinking, the way you can swing a frying pan at someone's head and then make a chocolate-chip pancake in it later."
As Bowser continued, Peach began to massage her chin with a free hand. Her heart was beating insanely loud and strong, warmth spreading through her whole body and keeping her hands busy with her chin seemed to make sense. He continued, seemingly lost in a world of her. His smile spread foolishly across his face, his eyes glazed in love as he spoke.
"I love how beautiful you look, even for a human, from the tips of your hair in the sunlight to your itty-bitty shoes. I love your personality and your heart, your understanding and forgiveness. I love your perfection and even more your so-called flaws. I love the way you say my name, how I can always tell what you think about me when you say it. I love the way you're Princess, the way you're Peach. I love-"
"Bowser," Peach said calmingly. As she said his name, she considered what he must think from just those two syllables and her heart swelled just a bit more. "Bowser, you don't need to tell me these things."
"Why not?"
Unable to find a better answer, Peach took a deep breath. She removed her hand from her chin and tightly held his finger that was resting on the bed. "Because," she said quietly, "I know." Her words were almost a whisper, but Bowser knew exactly what she meant.
His eyes locked with hers. They stared for a few moments, Peach still clutching his finger.
"I love you, Princess Peach," the mighty koopa king gently reminded her. The princess lying next to him sighed. She closed her bright blue eyes and inhaled his musty, smokey scent.
"I don't want to go home, Bowser." Peach's words were broken and scratchy, and she didn't dare open her eyes just yet.
"You wouldn't have said that a few days ago. Glad you finally came to your senses."
Peach smiled; ever so happy he was here to lighten her mood. Of course, that only led to it darkening again. "Bowser," she murmured. Although she hadn't intended to sound alluring, her murmuring spread chills through Bowser's body. "Bowser, I don't want to go home because…"
With his thumb, Bowser gently massaged the pale hand that was gripping his index finger. His quiet solace gave Peach the confidence to open her eyes and continue. "Because you're not there. I…I'll miss you."
Bowser's heart was fluttering too fast and his love was too deep to joke to the princess. He couldn't bring himself to comment on what she said…in fact, he couldn't seem to form any words at all. In the quiet, Peach continued.
"No one at home loves me like you do. I don't think anyone loves me like you do…it's so…nice. No one makes me laugh like you do…no one makes me feel safe like you do…no one makes me feel special like you do…no one…" Peach's voice began to falter and Bowser could tell she couldn't speak much longer. Her crystalline blue eyes, draped in sparkling tears, told Bowser everything else her parched throat couldn't.
He inched closer to her and she willingly accepted his gesture, putting an arm on his and the other arm she slid under his neck. He held her, running his hand up and down her back as he inhaled her sweet, pure scent. He felt her shake just slightly as she started to cry. Bowser would have given anything to have Peach cry about going home after a kidnapping, he would have given anything to have her sob about leaving him, but now that it was actually happening, now that his princess was in his arms and her heart was breaking, he would do anything to stop it.
"Peach," he whispered. She sniffled in response and stopped shaking. "Peach, I love you, and I'll always love you. No matter where you are, who you're with, I'll always love you. I'll always be thinking of you and if you remember that, I'll make you feel special, make you feel safe, make you laugh. And I can always kidnap you if you feel lonely surrounded by a million people."
Peach pulled her face from Bowser's chest long enough to let him see her smile. "Thank you." She sighed and placed her head back on his yellow-ridged chest. "I knew that, but it's so nice to hear it. No one else could say that and mean it, Bowser. No one." She smiled again as she felt him squeeze her closer, giggling a bit as well.
Snuggling closer into the warmth, Peach mumbled, "you're soft."
"So I've heard," Bowser teased, running his claw through her luscious hair. They were silent for awhile before Peach asked when she had to leave. At that reminder of reality, Bowser felt like he'd been floating through the air and had just been shot back down to Earth. "Well, no one's come to wake you yet, so…we don't have to deal with that yet."
Peach hadn't thought about someone coming in to wake her up, hadn't thought about someone seeing their king clutching her in her bed. Uncomfortably, Peach said, "but if someone comes in, what will you tell them?"
Bowser grinned, although he knew Peach, her face stuffed into his soft underbelly, couldn't see it. "I'll tell them I slept with Princess Peach."
Author's Note: I'm not sure if you can tell the difference between my old writing and new writing in that last bit, but it sure was fun to go through and give it tweaks. Honestly, I probably would have written that scene a very different way if I hadn't already written it, so I liked relying on my old view of how this would go. And I'm going to plug my blog again, because I just deleted three lines of AN about that last bit. :P So go read it there, if you're honestly curious.
Next chapter is going to be interesting for all of us, I think. There's not much I can say about it, because there's not much written yet. But I can say that I have a schedule planned out, and 42 is going to be an AWESOME holiday present once it's updated. Even if I have to cut bits out of the story to make sure you get the content I want you to get during that chapter. Because it's honestly the very least you guys deserve for your ridiculous patience.
-Razzi
