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Multimedia Confessions - Season 2

You're introduced to a young Saya-jin/Endurion male of Blasian descent at about 6'0" with a fighter's frame. His hair spiked and black with eyes of light gray and electrical blue ends on his hair. He wears a black three piece suit with a dark blue collared tie, a tie, and black boots.

"This is Ryo Nazo Blackthorn, a Time Patroller and younger brother to Joshinari Blackthorn. Ryo works in the seven-star restaurant known as the Tori Dragon Palace (which is two blocks away from the Pixel Palace). Now it has expanded where all across the media, all around the multiverse, many pop in to have a drink. Sometimes, they share stories, and even secrets. Because—as we all know—what the bartender hears is confidential... isn't it?"

Episode 11 – Tari and Theo

[Cues: Miri Dawn - Dawn]

So here I was tending the bar and walking in was Tari…and her…I guess either adopted son or brother, Theo. Given Tari as a whole, I assumed something light…but she surprised me by asking for scotch whiskey.

I obliged as Theo asked if I had anything fruity…and without alcohol.

"Mocktail. How about I give you a Strawberry Agua Fresca?" I said to him,

A mix of water, strawberries, sour lime, and some sugar had a fitting mocktail to his tastes. I serve him before pouring Tari her drink…and I notice she looks…rather down in the dumps.

"Leave the bottle." She asked.

"In a talking mood to explain what's got you down…" I gently say.

"Nothing much to talk about…I can't go home again. You saw how my show ended…" Tari remarked.

"I did…but how did you get out of your…I guess afterlife." I ask.

"Gateway to the multiverse…with you reality warpers…there's a will there's a way. I came across it by accident thanks to my abilities. I can travel through different video game worlds…but I can't go home. Long story short, my corpse is a bit of protective seal…keeps Sheridian from rearing his ugly head again and keeps anyone else trying to replicate what made me." Tari mused.

"Wait, I thought he died." I asked.

Theo slurped his drink before putting the glass down. Tari downed hers as Theo explained to her that Sheridian basically hid a piece of himself in Tari's code as a backup copy of himself.

"I managed to get rid of it, but I can't get the bit of code in my corpse. If I return, so will he." Tari said before drinking straight from the bottle. "Ain't enough he put me through all this….guess he needed one last insult."

I make Theo another mocktail, a fruit punch one. The subject goes to the accident that got her self-aware. Turns out that non-canon SMG4 episode…'Into the Marioverse'...was non-canon for a reason.

"I basically pulled a Sonic '06…went back to prevent it from happening so it never did and no one remembers but me….in the process…I was changed. It was basically opening Pandora's Box…couldn't unsee it." Tari said. "And in the process, I couldn't exactly stay in my 'afterlife server'. So me and Theo were basically without a place…" Tari explained to me.

She took another swig from the bottle. The topic turns light as I ask about where she's been…and the mood is far better. Tari was admittedly one still haunted by her past, but had made peace with it even with an uncertain future. But then Peach came out….the former SMG4 Princess nearly had a panic attack, but Dawn calmed her down to tell that it wasn't 'her' Tari.

"What's her problem?" Theo asked.

"Trauma." I said plainly as Peach right back into the kitchen. "She's an exile from her own universe…so when she's not having therapy, she works here as one of our chefs. This is a restaurant too…"

Theo's eyes were wide as I gave him a menu.

"Tari, can we order some food? Please?" He said with puppy-dog eyes.

Tari couldn't resist and she ordered to-go. Peach was resistant, but she did come out to speak with them. I hung back, but I was listening in. Nothing too juicy…mostly just Peach apologizing for freaking out. I took over once Peach returned to the kitchen.

"She's really tortured, isn't she?" Tari asked me.

"Yeah, and your counterpart is…well passive is the nicest word I could say." I simply say. "But don't worry, Peach is going forward. Besides, I'm more inclined to ask about your travel plans?"

"Oh, well…I have a few places in mind." Tari said before looking at her Meta Runner arm's clock. "Maybe I'll tell you next time, but I'd like the check please."

I obliged, she paid with a tip, and they were off on their way. It was nice to see Tari made it out ok…but I do get a chuckle out of what possible worlds they could be going through. I did go to Peach to check on her, asking if she's okay. She nods.

"I'm fine. I just have to get used to seeing multiple counterparts." Peach said warmly. "Thank you for your concern, boss."

I try my best for my employees. You see a lot of strange things at the Tori Dragon, meet a lot of strange folks…so I've seen plenty here running the Tori. And that ain't no lie…swear to it.

(A/N: I think I may try a bit of a story arc detailing some of Peach's troubles going on in the background through a new experiential concept called 'Off the Clock'. No, it won't be a spin-off but chapters with Multimedia Confessions itself. Break chapters focusing on the lives of the Tori Dragon staff when they're not doing confessions. Aside from that though…what did you think of the concept? Interested?)