Peach was worried, she hadn't seen or heard from Luigi for at least a week. Mario, ever the worried big brother was losing his mind. If they didn't hear from Luigi soon Mario was going to march into Boo's territory to get his brother back and damn the consequences of a royal consort attacking another kingdom.
"I know you want to go rescue Luigi, but he's beaten King Boo himself countless times. We should give him a little longer." Mario sighed, eyes shifting to the windows.
"I know, I understand I have duties to this kingdom now that I'm your consort…But I can't help but worry that something horrible has happened to Weegee."
She understood his fears though because that was her best friend and brother-in-law they were talking about.
"I love that you care so much Bro but I'm fine," Luigi said from the other side of the room, causing Mario to leap out of his chair and run to his little brother. Bear hugging the other and pulling him deeper into the room. Peach couldn't help but notice Luigi was wearing something she'd never seen him in, and they went shopping together ninety-nine percent of the time so where had he got these clothes? Boo? Which weirdly made sense. The Ghostly King did seem possessive enough to think ahead and make Luigi wear whatever he wanted.
"I'm sorry, you know how I worry," Luigi smirked and ruffled Mario's hair. What had happened in the time he'd been gone? She'd missed him dearly, not nearly as much as his brother but still...They were best friends after all and this whole business with Boo was just weird in her opinion, Boo had started out after Mario and her, but his focus had shifted to Luigi and Luigi alone. Now that they were married, and Luigi was the 'living bride'...What would happen? Would Luigi be alright, she had every right to be worried as Luigi had and still was a citizen of the Mushroom Kingdom.
"I know but you're going to have to let me deal with Boo." Something had happened, but what was going on with Luigi and King Boo? Peach was dying to know what the visit was like. She motioned for them all to sit and the brothers moved to sit, a toad bringing tea that she'd ordered earlier seemed surprised at Luigi's presence but quickly got a third cup and plate for him.
"I apparently have duties that I will have to take care of so…" Mario frowned at Luigi and shook his head.
"I don't understand why you would even entertain the thought of sticking around Boo?" Luigi sighed and took a sip of his tea before Luigi spoke up.
"I know both of you have a million questions but I'm still trying to figure out what is going on, there isn't a lot of information about Living Brides and their duties. Boo has shared some of it but I'm fairly certain he's keeping things from me." It sounded reasonable but Luigi seemed distant, he would clam up sometimes and she wondered what was worrying him right now. Not to mention he clearly wasn't about to answer Mario's question, not that there was much of an answer there…He was a consort now he had to comply to a certain degree.
"I still think you should just stay here WeeGee, I hate that you're going to be gone so much." Luigi placed a hand on Mario's and smiled at his brother.
"I understand why Boo picked me better now, as a Living Bride of the Ghost Dimension I am the last thing keeping the current King from going insane. Again." As far as Peach could remember King Boo no matter which one was insane. So why had the other Living Brides allowed insanity if they were there to stop it?
"But why does it have to be you? Why couldn't he have chosen someone else!" Mario cried out and Peach thought perhaps it had to do with the way Boo had seemed obsessed with Luigi.
"I've beaten him so many times already, I could keep him in check if he goes off the rails again in a way others couldn't Mario…Besides while I might not have chosen this myself it's better than someone who would let him go insane again." But what had given Boo back his sanity long enough to pull Luigi into a dream and marry him? Something else was going on here and Boo was hiding something from them, hopefully, Luigi was right, and he could handle Boo even at his most insane.
"Mario, we've talked about this. I can't stay, I have to do what I can and hope that Boo stays more focused on me than any plans he might have cooked up." It wasn't fair in any sense of the word but she'd support him as best she could.
"What have you found out so far? More heads together are better than one." Mario and Luigi smiled at her, and Luigi leaned forward.
"The last living bride died, Boo isn't sure where or exactly when. Just that the artifact that rules over the Ghost dimension began to diminish, signaling the need for a new one. He had very little time to gain a new Living bride, he didn't marry the last one apparently his father did whoever that was. We've always known him as King Boo so that leaves plenty of questions." Taking a quick sip of his tea he continued.
"He chose me because he knew I was strong so there's a reason there...He said Champion before correcting himself and saying consort. I'm not sure what's going on behind the curtains but whatever it is I know I can rely on you two to bail me out if I need it." He finished with a laugh and Peach was more worried now than she was before, what in the world was going on with Boo that he felt he had to trap Luigi like this?
"I don't like this, it feels like a trap, a long con Luigi, and if you're in the ghost Dimension that's so far away…" Luigi smiled at his brother, in a I know what you mean but don't worry kind of way.
"Don't worry so much! That's my job!" Mario chuckled and patted Luigi's arm.
"Look we've never really been separated this long; just tell me you'll visit so I know your being treated alright and not like locked in a painting." Luigi snorted, Mario turning away to take a sip of the tea he'd been ignoring, making a face at no doubt cold tea Mario placed both hands on it and steam slowly began to drift from the cup, taking another sip with a pleased hum.
"I'll help however we can Weegee, but you must remember to ask for help." Luigi hugged his brother and let out a breath, eyes a little sad. Peach felt her heart pull at the sight.
"We'll help…I know as a ruler that my hands are for the most part tied but I won't hesitate to help you however I can." Luigi reached out across the table, their hands slipping together.
"I know. Thank you." She smiled at him because as heartbreaking as all this was Luigi was a strong individual and she wasn't about to think otherwise.
"I'll visit, but it's going to be sporadic at first because we are working on a plan to keep Boo sane, I only came by to check on you. I know you were probably going stir fry with me gone for so long." Peach adored how much these two cared for each other even if they didn't show it often.
"Mario. I have to tell you something and it's not going to be something you want to hear, or ma and pa. But, I doubt Boo will think to not say anything about it." Oh, oh this was going to make or break them if Mario and their parents were as judgmental as Luigi was worried.
"Weegee?" Mario looked worried and She didn't blame him after being told something like that, but she knew what Luigi was going to say and she supported him, all of the princesses did and would run as much or as little interference as possible for him should they need to.
"Mario...I'm Gay. Marrying Boo wasn't idea at all, but I'm not upset by being wed to a man...Even if said man is a ghost and I want to beat him upside the head with the Poltergust for daring to take away my dreams." Mario frowned and really looked at his brother, mustache twitching in agitation. Was she really going to have to stop an argument? She thought Mario was better than that, so why was he acting like this?
"We all knew that Luigi. We just wondered when you were going to tell us," Mario said with a disgruntled look and Luigi's jaw dropped, honestly so did hers. Luigi had been so certain they hadn't known he was gay and would judge him harshly, dump him on the streets, or something.
"You...Knew? How long has everyone figured that out!" Mario laughed, lightening Peach's heart at how happy he sounded.
"Lu, you seriously thought none of us knew. I mean I was blind to it for the longest time till someone accidentally blurted out about your crush on Spike." Luigi's face scrunched up and he let out a long and low breath.
"I hate you." Mario laughed and punched Luigi on the arm gently and threw an arm around his brother's shoulders. She knew Luigi was teasing him that he didn't actually hate his brother, but it was weird every time either of them said it to the other.
"I know, but I gotta tease you about shit like that every once in a while. What else is a big brother supposed to do?" Luigi huffed and hugged his brother fully before turning back to his tea.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Luigi asked his cup and Mario shrugged, suddenly looking serious.
"I would have if you had started to flirt with Spike, He's such a jerk." Luigi chuckled and held his cup like a lifeline.
"I wouldn't have he is a jerk. But I. I always thought everyone hated you know?" Mario grimaced and put a hand on Luigi's arm.
"It was a poorly executed joke; uh the others were trying to tease you and you never seemed to get it. I only knew because a few times I hissed at them, and they told me why they'd say stuff." They certainly weren't funny if Luigi got the impression that they hated same-sex relationships.
"I seriously thought that everyone was going to hate me Mario, I thought I was going to have a very lonely life. That I was going to grow old and just be that weird uncle that everyone was uncomfortable with." Tears stung her eyes because he'd told her this before and she'd be damned if that ever came true. He would be the best uncle no matter what! He was too sweet to be anything else.
"No, no way bro! We love you and it doesn't matter who you fall in love with!" Luigi nodded a watery smile on his face, dripping tears into his teacup.
"Thanks, Mario, but now that doesn't even matter really because I can't fall in love with anyone now. My marriage is loophole-free, Boo's got me cornered on that one." That was not acceptable, there had to be some way to free Luigi from it! Mario exploded in rage, cursing Boo, his name, his kingdom, his everything, and Luigi watched calmly.
He'd probably had a breakdown or two already if he was watching his brother's rage so calmly, eventually, he helped Mario calm down and she watched as they goofed off and chatted for a bit before Mario had to leave, consort duties waited for no one, not even a hero of the kingdom. Luigi sighed and leaned back in his chair; eyes suddenly serious as those deep blue orbs landed on her.
"Now that Mario's done grilling me, you can ask your questions." She smirked behind her cup of tea, lukewarm now but enjoyable all the same.
"How are you doing." He snorted and leaned forward to the table to make himself another cup of tea.
"I visited the library like you suggested and the history books covering the Living Brides are insane." Peach tilted her head, waiting for him to continue.
"I'm certain most if not all of them have been messed with by former kings and probably the current one too. None of them agree on anything, not all of them agree on the need for a Living Bride despite the books on the relic that is required for the ghost Dimension to continue state it needs a living bride and to top all that off there are pages or whole tomes missing to complete any information about either the relic or the bride."
So, the only place he could get information was from King Boo himself-who could skew information also or just plain not know things. Luigi certainly had his work cut out for him if he was supposed to keep Boo from losing his mind again, then on top of that any feelings Boo might have for him and she was certain there was something there as Boo did always go after Luigi more than anyone else who had ever beaten him…
"And how are you feeling considering all the things that have happened? I mean sleuthing and tiptoeing around all day must be emotionally exhausting in addition to physically." Luigi nodded, using a napkin to wipe away any tea or crumbs from his face.
"It is really draining, but it's mostly because one-second Boo seemed sane. We have had a few conversations where he was lucid and then other times…It almost seems like he goes back to his old behavior. Threatening to shove people into paintings. Honestly, I don't know if it's the king's insanity or if something is trying to possess him."
What could possess a ghostly king? She didn't know anything that had the power to do that, so it was more likely Boo's own insanity shining through. That left her with more questions than anything else at this point.