(As Long as We're Together) Everything's Gonna Be Okay

The Morning After on Both Sides, in All the Wrong Ways

"Your minions gave you my message?" Wario asks at his next rendezvous with Bowser.

"I did. I'm impressed. I didn't think Mario would be so quick to trust an outsider that easily."

"Neither did I. I even impressed myself." Wario flashes a smile with all his teeth. "Guess he was just glad something was finally going right."

"Good. That means we're ready for stage 2."

"Stage 2?" Wario repeats.

"Mario?" Peach approaches him in the conference room. "I just wanted to thank you for helping us get this whole crisis handled before it got worse."

"Thanks." Mario blushes.

"I hope this means the Sammer Kingdom will be built before the year is out. The guy really sounded like he knew what he was doing."

"We barely talk about business at all." Mario points out.

"I can still tell when someone loves their work." Peach replies. "And he's a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. I just...look, I know your sense of judgment is hardly ever wrong when it counts, but he seems like a good friend."

"We're not friends." Mario says.

"You blew off a committee meeting to hang out with him."

"Can you please let that go?"

"Have you let that go?" Peach retorts.

"Why is it so important I remember that anyway? It was one meeting, and I've been to all the others that came before and after."

"Fine, fine." Peach holds up her hands in surrender. "But can I at least point out how good it is to see you really enjoy yourself? Besides you, nobody was more heartbroken than me when Luigi walked away like he did."

"Leave Luigi alone, okay?" He knows she means well, but he really can't take her sympathy right now.

"Fine, he's off limits too. Just tell me. Are you planning on hanging out with him more?"

"I might be." Mario shrugs. "Don't know what else we could do around here that would interest him, and you just reminded me that hanging with someone I work with probably isn't a good idea."

"Mario, do you even know how worried sick we all were?" Peach demands, squeezing his arm. "First Luigi's memory never came back, and then he almost died switching sides to help us. And now he---" At Mario's glare, she backpedals, "I brought him up, right when I said I wouldn't, didn't I?"

Mario nods.

"Look, I know what an amazing person you are, and I know how much you love him, memory or no memory. I just want you to remember there's a life outside of him."

"Peach, you know I never give up, not really." Mario squeezes her hand. "Whatever happens, I'll land on my feet. I always do."

"Then here's hoping you don't change your mind."

"Wario is an interesting character. But at least you know what to expect from him. No lying, because he lays it all out on the table."

"Do you understand how risky this is?" Wario demands.

"I paid you; you don't get to quit now." Bowser reminds him. "Do your job, or I have no problem throwing you in my dungeon."

"I'll do it." Wario promises, not fazed by the threat.

"Then what're you still doing here? Go." Bowser swipes a hand, nearly missing Wario's head as the fat man gets out of the way.