A/N: Thank you for the kind words! :D I'm so excited for this to pick off soon hehe! Again, I had to split this chapter up because it was over 6k words - so expect another upload today or tomorrow because I'm impatient! Would you guys be okay with long chapters? Let me know! I'll happily start posting them in full if that's what you guys would prefer! Thank you for reading!
"Are you two close?" Peach asked warmly as she turned to Mario, quite fond of their waitress's bold personality. She already knew the answer from their interaction, but smiled as his face lit up at the question. "She seemed very excited to see you."
Mario nodded. "Yes, Daisy is my sister-in-law," he stated proudly. "My brother finally married her a year ago. Though, she had to propose."
Peach giggled, knowing such an outgoing person wouldn't hesitate to do such a thing.
"I admire that of her. She clearly knows how to get what she wants," Peach praised, earning a nod from Mario. "She seems very independent."
"She always has been. Sometimes it makes me worry." He sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "Luigi - my brother," he added, "is very docile. Daisy often drags him in some...trouble, especially with royal guards. I am not sure how it happens, but it seems to happen a lot."
Peach didn't necessarily know what he meant, or what sort of trouble he was talking about, but simply nodded in understanding as she took a sip of her drink; it wasn't her information to pry into. Besides, Daisy seemed charming beyond belief, if not a bit rough around the edges. What's the worst she could have done?
After putting down her cup, Peach, too, leaned back in her chair, surprised by how comfortable it was. She gazed around the busy booths, examining the laughing faces of koopas, goombas, and humans alike, before turning back to him, reminded of her earlier question.
However, before she could even part her lips, Mario spoke up.
"I'm sure you're wondering how koopas and humans are getting along here?" Mario asked, knowing very well that was her first question of the night. Peach blushed as she realized how rude of a question that was before slightly nodding. "Well, this side of the Dark Lands is where humans usually live. Things are more inclusive back here."
Peach hummed as she pondered over his response. She had never really thought about a place like this existing in the first place.
With the war, it was understandable that the two species would always be at each others' necks and isolate one another. The Mushroom Kingdom wasn't happy about koopa residents, either, and always kept them under strict regulation.
But, nonetheless, she had never seen the two communities this warm to one another.
"How many humans are there in the Dark Lands? I thought the queen wasn't exactly...fond of us." She spoke quietly, fearful of coming off as rude, as she leaned towards her company. "I've never seen anything like this."
Mario shrugged. Thankfully, the chattering was loud enough for them to talk about such a taboo subject without being questioned.
"Not too many. But, the ones who are here, they are loyal to her. You don't really have a choice. Being a human by itself is already tricky." He sighed. "Or, they pretend to be. I'm sure plenty are still loyal to the Mushroom Kingdom," he added.
Peach nodded, satisfied with the response.
It made sense: stating your loyalty to a rivalring kingdom would easily get you 'taken care of.' Though much less, the Mushroom Kingdom too had koopas and goombas living there, in separate sections of the kingdom, just like this. She could easily tell the Dark Lands were much harsher towards humans, but her kind were also quite unjust towards koopas.
Now in a position where she was the minority, Peach cringed as she realized how...awful it must feel for the other creatures in the Mushroom Kingdom to be treated so differently. She had never even thought about about all of that being...iffy. Standing in the 'human section' of the Dark Lands, it quickly creeped on her how wrong such a thing was.
Humans were surely never forced to this section of the Dark Lands, but it was clearly the only safe option. Where she had lived, Koopas were never treated badly...but they were almost always regarded as potential criminals and were shunned away from the human population. Was it the same here?
But, it seemed to be the usual for kingdoms that despised each other. Peach took a long drink as she evaluated Mario's response.
"Next question," Mario demanded with a teasing smile, just loud enough to be heard over the loud chattering. "We only have so long for you to get your answers."
Peach arched her brow as she put down her cup.
"Mario, I'm not going to interrogate you all night," she softly laughed. "Do you have any questions for me? It's only fair if you ask a few as well."
Mario smiled at her suggestion, knowing this was steadily going better than he had planned. He hummed to himself as he tried to dig up a question he had for his mysterious date. He casually stirred his drink as he attempted to come up with a question.
His eyes peeked up to Peach once he had decided.
"Why are you in the Dark Lands?" He asked curiously. "I know we all have our reasons, but I am curious. Why now? Why here?"
Peach and her father randomly showing up to the Dark Lands with so much conflict going on was questionable. As much as he was overjoyed to meet her, it still raised countless questions.
Peach's smile instantly flattened, causing Mario's intriguement to fall away and be replaced with regret. He awkwardly shifted in his chair as he fiddled with his gloved hands. Had he been too forward in such a question? Was he prying too far?
She hesitated as she pondered on how to summarize her response.
Peach exhaled, not realizing she had been holding her breath. "My father said taxes had gone up due to the war. We couldn't afford such a change...so we didn't have much of an option other than coming to the closest kingdom." She sighed as she leaned on her hand. "It's awful leaving your home behind. But, fathers know best, don't they?"
He didn't. Peach refused to believe that this was for the best. She had never noticed a single difference until the day her father randomly decided to pack up and leave, vaguely explaining their reasons. But, she had no other option but to follow behind him, as she always had.
She had no one else, after all.
They had left so quickly that Peach was left in a puddle of questions without answers. Questions were nearly always dodged, leaving Peach with no other option but to trust in her father. Turning her gaze to her lap, Peach sighed in regret.
Peach's stomach twisted as she remembered everything about the Mushroom Kingdom: the smells, scenery, and even the food, and how it would likely be years before she would see any of it in person again. She ached for the peaceful, calming atmosphere of the kingdom, especially when temporarily living somewhere as chaotic as the Dark Lands.
She gave a lighthearted smile as she sat in a pool of her sickening nostalgia. It had only been a few months since they had left for the Dark Lands, but every little memory made her heart ache for her home.
Mario easily picked up on the bitterness behind her smile as his brow furrowed; she was not being honest with him. No matter how soft her words had been, or how casual she had acted, that subtle smile was telling enough to make Mario's face rush with worry.
Without hesitating, Mario leaned towards her. "Peach, I will do everything I can to make you feel at home. I know the Dark Lands are...different, but the opera house has quickly become a small family to me. I want you to feel that way about us." He paused as he emphasized his words. "About me."
Peach's eyes shot up from her lap to Mario's gaze, who stared at her with a deep, concerned passion. So much so, that it quickly made Peach's face rush with color out of both embarrassment and shock from his forward statement. She bit her lip as she tried to digest what he had said.
Mario, though silently, was just as shocked as Peach as the words left his being. While he didn't understand his intense care and concern for the woman, attempting to reassure her in any means possible felt right. Seeing her distressed, on the other hand, felt anything but.
Something about her feeling anything but happy, even for that slight moment, made his head bubble with the need to change that.
Peach fiddled with her fork. Why was she being treated such a way from someone she barely knew? The amount of passion within his gaze startled the smile off of Peach's expression as she tried to look anywhere but at him. This in itself made Mario's passion falter, but he held his ground.
Being looked at in such a way, especially from someone she barely knew, felt wrong. This was the type of gaze you would see exchanged between a couple or a man and woman who were in love;
Peach was not worth of such a look, seeing as her gaze was not coated with the same infatuation.
For every inch she casually leaned away from him, he subtly leaned closer. Peach silently groaned as she remembered why she had abandoned pursuing suitors.
"I'll be okay, Mario, you don't need to-"
"I don't want you to be okay, Peach," Mario quickly interrupted. He had to hold himself back from grabbing her hands. "I want you to enjoy your time here. Just let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you to make that happen."
Peach gave a hesitant nod. As forward and as clear as his intentions were, his words were kind and coated with worry. She felt a bit regretful for regarding him as a typical suitor, seeing as he showed genuine concern for her wellbeing. The men in her past simply pursued her for her looks, yet Mario was concerned about how she felt.
She felt a pinch of defeat. Maybe, just maybe, Peach could manage to appreciate his words, and even learn to pursue them, with time. After all, he was kind, wealthy, and clearly fancied her. What more could she want from someone?
With that question, her eyes instinctively landed on her ring as her stomach fell. Maybe Mario could make her feel the way he had, if she let him? Could this be a sign for her to find someone else? While she had never pursued her admirer, she quickly craved for the attention he had given her after he disappeared.
As if sensing the awkward aura around Peach, Daisy peeked her head through the kitchen doors as she kicked them open once again. This time, she held two plates of food as she skillfully weaved between the countless tables and guests, even pausing to pour some drinks for a few tables. How she managed to do this was impressive in itself.
Within a few seconds, she had reached the two and carefully put their plates in front of each other. Mario eyed the food hungrily while Peach, too, couldn't deny how amazing it looked. She silently thanked Daisy for her perfect timing.
Daisy placed her hands on her hips as she sighed. "Sorry for the wait. Luigi was excited to hear that you had a little date with you," Daisy snickered with a wink towards Mario. The shocked expression on Peach's face made Daisy force an awkward smile. "I'm kiddin', I'm kiddin'," she reassured.
The three shared a small laugh before Daisy took a step back.
"Anyways! You two enjoy your meals." She gave one final smile in Peach's direction. "You know where to find me if you need anythin'!"
And with that, the two were alone once again. Instantly, Mario dug into his meal with a wide grin on his face. How he managed to take such large bites without making a mess was weirdly impressive.
Peach quickly followed suit, though far more dainty.
"I believe it's your turn to ask a question," Mario stated between a hearty bite of his meal. He seemed unshaken from their earlier topic, as if it hadn't even happened, which allowed Peach to relax, as it wouldn't likely be brought up again.
Peach forced a smile, slightly exhausted as she thought over her long list of questions, almost all of them revolving around her mysterious ghost - or, well, phantom, as everyone said.
"Tell me about this phantom," Peach whispered thoughtfully. Mario began to talk before being cut off by a wave of specific questions. "Who is he? What is he? Can he invade dreams?" Peach cleared her throat as she realized how excitable she had become as she slumped back in her chair awkwardly.
Mario eyed her oddly, not expecting that last question.
"No one knows who he is or if he's actually a ghost. And...dreams? I'm not sure," Mario stated with a small chuckle. He, at least, had never experienced such a thing. Though, with all of the mysterious things the phantom had done, he wouldn't be surprised if it had happened.
Mario paused for another large bite of his meal.
"He appeared a few years ago, according to Pauline. We don't know how long he has existed, but he first harmed someone four years ago, and killed a handful more after." Mario knew 'handful' was an understatement, but knew that was a fact that wouldn't mean much if he tweaked it a bit.
Peach paled at the word 'killed.' Her ghost was a murderer? He had deaths on his hands? Was that what was going to become of her if she wandered where he told her not to go? A slight shudder ran up her spine as she realized she had been grabbed by someone who could have easily killed her without a second thought.
While, at first, she was fearful, intriguement quickly followed. Why didn't he kill her? Why didn't he kill everyone? Did he have a reason? While she wasn't too afraid, she had to admit that that information was a bit chilling.
Peach took a small bite of her meal as he continued.
"It's odd, but the phantom has grown much softer over the years. He has only killed three people this year." He frowned. "Whether a ghost or not, he is powerful. But, he seems to have had a slight change of heart. Though, not by much."
Peach sat in silence as she vaguely remembered his form. He had towered over her; easily double her height, if not more. From what she could feel of his claw, he was strong, and the idea of him killing someone didn't seem so crazy. Hell, even his claw in itself was enough to grab her and do as he wished.
Mario noticed her silence and took it as concern. With a shake of his head, he continued. "He won't harm you! He has only touched workers who wandered beneath the opera house. Or, the ones who have...done questionable things to our actresses. You are smart enough to do what he asks, yes?"
Peach nodded, but silently groaned as she realized his answers only brought more questions.
At the mention of the opera house's depths, Peach tapped her chin in thought.
"Have you been beneath the opera house? I didn't even know there was space beneath it until he-" Peach bit her tongue as she corrected herself. "-until I heard about it."
Mario paid no attention to her slip up.
"I have thought about it, but it wouldn't end well. The stagehands say that the walls are a part of him. That this building has eyes on every corner. Everything that happens, he knows. If I went down there, he wouldn't be happy with me." Peach leaned forward at his fearful description, knowing exactly what he meant. "But, for those who have gone down there, with strict permission to only fetch props, they say it leads through the walls and covers everything. It's crazy, I know, but that's what I have heard."
Peach quickly connected some dots about his methods of spying. Ever since she had arrived, a steady feeling of being watched had hovered around her, especially during rehearsal or when she was in her room. Yet, the eyes that she felt didn't feel the same as the creature she had met in her dream, somehow.
She couldn't forget that gaze, seeing as it felt like she had felt it so many times before.
"What do you know about his identity? I feel like I've-"
Out of the blue, Daisy's hand quickly shot across the table to refill Peach's drink, interrupting them as her arm blocked their view of one another. Peach smiled awkwardly, however, as her drink had barely been touched in the first place. Why did it need to be filled back up?
Slowly, as if taking as long as possible, she filled it to the brim before taking half a step back away from the table.
"Mario, oh Mario!" Daisy softly teased through clenched teeth. "You don't want to scare her off! I don't think you should be telling her your ghost stories-"
Peach shook her head earnestly as she smiled and cut of their waitress.
"I brought it up," she kindly reassured, hoping to clarify. Instead, Daisy's blood ran cold. "I have no plans of being scared off! Don't worry." Mario and Peach softly laughed, but Daisy simply looked between the two silently. "Do you happen to know anything-"
Before she could even fully ask her question, Daisy waved it off nonchalantly.
"Other than him being some sort of joke to scare you guys, I have no clue," she quickly replied. "Seems to be working pretty well." She eyed Mario specifically, who blushed in embarrassment.
"Anywho!" Daisy turned to Peach with a coating of kindness that seemed a bit rushed.
"Peach, it was lovely to meet you. My shift's over here in a minute, but don't be shy to let Weegi and I know if you need anything while you're here. You know where to find us."
Mario eyed her suspiciously. For the years she had worked here, she had always gotten off at nine, sharp. Why was she bailing so early?
Peach forced a kind smile, not knowing if she would take up that offer or not. As much as she admired Daisy's personality, something about her was off-putting. Perhaps it was just the stress of a long work night?
"And as for you, shorty," Daisy mumbled back to Mario, who already had his face stuffed back in his pasta. "Stop feedin' her rumors. Got it?"
Mario seemed far more interested in his meal as he continued eating, resulting in Daisy rolling her eyes as she turned around and left the table to themselves.
Instead of heading through the kitchen doors, however, she rushed through the diner's entrance, shoving past an elderly couple of koopas who had just walked inside.
Peach cringed as the couple almost fell, but thankfully caught their balance. They shot a confused glance towards Daisy, but shrugged it off as they headed towards the seating area.
"What was that about?" Peach mumbled with a furrowed brow as she turned back to Mario, who had just finished his last bite. Peach noticed that nearly all of her pasta had barely been touched, so she quickly followed suit.
Mario quickly pushed away his empty plate as soon as she spoke.
"She's convinced the phantom's fake. She hasn't stepped foot in the opera house, so I don't blame her." He sighed in defeat. A clear layer of embarrassment coated his words. "Sorry about that. Most people react that way."
Peach shook her head.
"Don't be. It makes sense." She gave a gentle laugh. "It sounds a little crazy when you think about it."
Mario nodded, thankful that she wasn't holding this against him.