I've Got the Strangest Feeling This Isn't Our First Time Around

61

"Paulie, she already has a name. Sweetie Pie." Spike points out as they look at the Chomp's picture again.

"I know that but come on! That's a horrible name for a Chain Chomp." Pauline argues.

"The alternative being what, exactly?" Mario wonders.

"Bow Wow or Yip Yip?" Pauline shrugs.

"Mm, yes. Sylvia is in custody." Snoozemore tells the group. "She had representation, but it was discovered she was conversing with Toadia in the week leading up to her petrification. Congratulations.", then leaves for his office.

"So...party?" Mario offers, looking at Luigi. "My place, say 9? I'll cook."

"So will Destiny." Luigi says apologetically. "Meaning me and Spike are out."

"She cooks?" Spike lights up, clapping. "Is there anything she can't do?"

"That is the question." Mario mutters. "Then looks like I'm flying solo."

Pauline pulls out her phone, and upon checking something, says, "Not anymore! I'll bring the wine."

"What happened to grabbing Sweetie Pie?" Luigi asks.

"Just got a text from the shelter." Pauline holds up her phone. "Looks like Sweetie Pie hates everyone that isn't round shaped like her, goes crazy when anyone else touches her. Meaning I'm out of the running."

"Aw, that's too bad." Spike says sympathetically.

"Shall we?" Pauline asks Mario, who nods.

"I'll take it from here." He says, nodding towards the pipe. "You two get going."

As Luigi and Spike start to leave, they hear Mario call behind them,

"Enjoy your night with Desiree!"

"Destiny, Mario." Pauline reprimands him when they're at Mario's house.

"I know what I said." Mario says smugly, then starts pointing to the snacks and naming them. "Taralli, Grissini, Bruschetta, Fichi Jam, Prosciutto and Melon, Focaccia, and--"

"Olives. Yum yum." Pauline says sarcastically. "So why did you call her Desiree?"

Mario takes a bite of melon with prosciutto, then hands it to Pauline, "Want a bite?"

Pauline takes it, biting into it herself, then says, "Mmmm, sweet and salty.", making Mario nods in agreement.

"Mario, come on. You don't like Destiny." Pauline pushes. "Why not?"

"When did I say that?" Mario plays dumb.

"When you called her by the name of the ex-girlfriend that cheated on you with half the parkour team." Pauline says, smug.

Mario hands her a glass, "It's your wine, and you're not even drinking."

"Wait, are you seriously jealous?" Pauline realizes, which finally snaps Mario out of his denial long enough to set the glass down and protest, "What? No! No, it's the fact that she shows up out of nowhere after being gone for 3 years! Sue me for being worried my dreamwalking partner is gonna be heartbroken."

"Really?" This is news to Pauline. "You think Destiny's the kind of girl who would do that?"

"The woman is flawless, okay?" Mario exclaims. "Amazing smile, rocking body..." he shudders.

"When did you get a good look at her body?" Pauline laughs.

"And she's a fucking saint dedicated to eradicating the world of AIDS, because of course she is!" Mario finishes.