red-man-of-mustache

[red-man-of-mustache]

Starting Over

Waow, I sure have been absent a lot lately huh? More than usual, but also more fierce in trying to say "I'll be back" or not go on hiatus.

We've had a good run. Mario and I. Literally ten years. On and off yes but still, a full decade of me writing the guy and enjoying every second of it. I still say he's one of the muses that came most naturally to me.

It's been a while since I've had a full day of replying to things, getting asks out or musing ... and truthfully, I'm done. This time, I've come to realize that my muse is so far away that I don't see this being remedied. There will be no more coming back from the brink of hiatus hell, no more popping back in to revive the flame. It's over. My run with Mario is at it's end and it pains me to say that really. At least, portraying him. I'll always be a huge fan of his media.

That's the TLDR. If you'd like the rest of my thoughts they'll be below the cut so as to not clutter the dash. Mostly reminiscing and clarifying why I've come to this decision.

I've made Ganondorf his own blog. He's not going down with the plumber.

Any questions, thoughts, anything really, my discord is available upon request. Just reach out in messages. ^^

One thing about Mario is he's, in my opinion, timeless. Certain aspects of his media are products of their time but still the message, the overall goofiness, and the content within can be enjoyed when or wherever. I remember being a kid and my first foray into his world. It was magical. I fell in love with the simple mechanic of running and jumping to get where you needed mixed in with the other things that came about when the situation called for it. Then I discovered his other escapades into certain genres, chief of all being RPG's. Legend Of The Seven Stars, Paper Mario, and the M&L series. We all know how excellent these titles are for expanding on most corners of this universe with admittedly surface level characters.

But, that's what I think makes this particular franchise beautiful: simple motivations and character archetypes that cascade to make the plots of these games we all love. Mario is a hero. Wherever he can, he will help. The Mushroom Kingdom receives most of his attention naturally but he's not foreign to traveling, getting into a bind and helping people locally. We see parts of him peek out along all his adventures: he's brash, aggressive, passionate, and so many other shades of human.

This inspired me way back when to role-play him. Specifically however I was spurred to come here, tumblr, to be him by my Girlfriend. Usually I'd shrug off specific requests for characters as I have a need for things to flow naturally but I followed her request and never looked back. Ten years later, I'm still typing on this blue wall of a site.

The ups, downs, and all arounds of life have all taken me in various directions but I always would come back ready to be a goof again amongst like-minded people.

Not this time however.

There's just.... something in the air. I don't have the will to force out another reply or even crop another icon. I don't have it in me to muse over the games like I used to. And it's not to say I'm soured to the media. Quite the contrary actually. I bought Brothership day 1 and although I believe there's pacing issues (A la Dream Team) I'm hooked.

I don't feel at home anymore dwelling on this blog.

That's not anyone's fault. And that's okay really. We need to be able to look ourselves in the eye and say when things aren't working out. Being afraid of starting over has held me back in a lot of areas in life, specifically with interpersonal relationships. Not anymore.

I won't be starting again with Mario however. This chapter of my life has come to a close. I hold Mario and by extension my writing as him very close to my heart. Yet, I just don't have it in me anymore.

I'll be honest: I wish to bring joy to people with what I do. It's as much for me as it is you, the person reading this. I can't fake that. I have been for a bit actually. That's not okay.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm using Mario to fill a void in my life.

These kinds of thoughts don't "get to me" per se but why am I asking myself such questions? It all comes full circle to the simple act of logging on and writing for him. I can choose not to be here as I've unfortunately been doing. I can choose to step away and recuperate. What I can't choose however is where my heart lies.

So this is goodbye. Goodbye Mario and all the things I've conjured around him. We had a great run. The spirit of it will live on while I play his games and cheer him on.

This blog and it's predecessor represent an especially tender part of me. Both of them will stay up as a testament to that. I believe I've contacted most of the people I speak with regularly before making this public but if you have any questions OR want further clarification just reach out. I think I've rambled long enough here.

I love you all. Being Mario has been a feeling I'll never be able to replicate or capture ever again and honestly? That's a good thing. These fond memories will live on and I can come back to look at them whenever.

[red-man-of-mustache]

Starting Over

Waow, I sure have been absent a lot lately huh? More than usual, but also more fierce in trying to say "I'll be back" or not go on hiatus.

We've had a good run. Mario and I. Literally ten years. On and off yes but still, a full decade of me writing the guy and enjoying every second of it. I still say he's one of the muses that came most naturally to me.

It's been a while since I've had a full day of replying to things, getting asks out or musing ... and truthfully, I'm done. This time, I've come to realize that my muse is so far away that I don't see this being remedied. There will be no more coming back from the brink of hiatus hell, no more popping back in to revive the flame. It's over. My run with Mario is at it's end and it pains me to say that really. At least, portraying him. I'll always be a huge fan of his media.

That's the TLDR. If you'd like the rest of my thoughts they'll be below the cut so as to not clutter the dash. Mostly reminiscing and clarifying why I've come to this decision.

I've made Ganondorf his own blog. He's not going down with the plumber.

Any questions, thoughts, anything really, my discord is available upon request. Just reach out in messages. ^^

One thing about Mario is he's, in my opinion, timeless. Certain aspects of his media are products of their time but still the message, the overall goofiness, and the content within can be enjoyed when or wherever. I remember being a kid and my first foray into his world. It was magical. I fell in love with the simple mechanic of running and jumping to get where you needed mixed in with the other things that came about when the situation called for it. Then I discovered his other escapades into certain genres, chief of all being RPG's. Legend Of The Seven Stars, Paper Mario, and the M&L series. We all know how excellent these titles are for expanding on most corners of this universe with admittedly surface level characters.

But, that's what I think makes this particular franchise beautiful: simple motivations and character archetypes that cascade to make the plots of these games we all love. Mario is a hero. Wherever he can, he will help. The Mushroom Kingdom receives most of his attention naturally but he's not foreign to traveling, getting into a bind and helping people locally. We see parts of him peek out along all his adventures: he's brash, aggressive, passionate, and so many other shades of human.

This inspired me way back when to role-play him. Specifically however I was spurred to come here, tumblr, to be him by my Girlfriend. Usually I'd shrug off specific requests for characters as I have a need for things to flow naturally but I followed her request and never looked back. Ten years later, I'm still typing on this blue wall of a site.

The ups, downs, and all arounds of life have all taken me in various directions but I always would come back ready to be a goof again amongst like-minded people.

Not this time however.

There's just.... something in the air. I don't have the will to force out another reply or even crop another icon. I don't have it in me to muse over the games like I used to. And it's not to say I'm soured to the media. Quite the contrary actually. I bought Brothership day 1 and although I believe there's pacing issues (A la Dream Team) I'm hooked.

I don't feel at home anymore dwelling on this blog.

That's not anyone's fault. And that's okay really. We need to be able to look ourselves in the eye and say when things aren't working out. Being afraid of starting over has held me back in a lot of areas in life, specifically with interpersonal relationships. Not anymore.

I won't be starting again with Mario however. This chapter of my life has come to a close. I hold Mario and by extension my writing as him very close to my heart. Yet, I just don't have it in me anymore.

I'll be honest: I wish to bring joy to people with what I do. It's as much for me as it is you, the person reading this. I can't fake that. I have been for a bit actually. That's not okay.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm using Mario to fill a void in my life.

These kinds of thoughts don't "get to me" per se but why am I asking myself such questions? It all comes full circle to the simple act of logging on and writing for him. I can choose not to be here as I've unfortunately been doing. I can choose to step away and recuperate. What I can't choose however is where my heart lies.

So this is goodbye. Goodbye Mario and all the things I've conjured around him. We had a great run. The spirit of it will live on while I play his games and cheer him on.

This blog and it's predecessor represent an especially tender part of me. Both of them will stay up as a testament to that. I believe I've contacted most of the people I speak with regularly before making this public but if you have any questions OR want further clarification just reach out. I think I've rambled long enough here.

I love you all. Being Mario has been a feeling I'll never be able to replicate or capture ever again and honestly? That's a good thing. These fond memories will live on and I can come back to look at them whenever.

[red-man-of-mustache]

I don't advertise fancy.

Because I don't know how.

But, if you're looking for some last minute Christmas gifts, I got my Ebay shop up and running again. I got anywhere from toys to European glassware. And some $5.00 fun stuff.

I'm currently looking for a job, so this would really help me out.

It can be found here:

(Why it says 'security measure' I have no idea.)

[red-man-of-mustache]

Why still use fire flowers when you have that Firebrand ability?

"What a nice question! It's-a because it takes-a me more focus to make-a the fire on my own. Most times I'm-a standing still, even if-a my stance may change up a bit-a. With-a the fire flower though I can-a make flames left, right, or-a center just fine! So, basically, more control over fire is-a why I do it."

[red-man-of-mustache]

"Arr! This ain't no trick, I'd like to be your treat!"

"Mumamia! That's a pretty convincing Shark costume ya got there!" Gives all the candy despite the context of what he said.

[red-man-of-mustache]

"All righty, I won't-a question your deep-a knowledge on this-a subject." He decided not to disregard her matter-of-fact musings. Not that he was doing so before but rather he wouldn't counter them this time. She was in a new world technically and this may be a culture shock to her. So, he'd move onto the main event: getting her to go outside again! "We'll see if we can-a find some soul cakes while we're up-a there." He reassured, moving on to try and comfort her however slight it may be.

" Well, last-a time you went up we at-a least got everyone to calm down and-a see you weren't-a hostile! Everyone who didn't get to-a see you will just assume it's a costume! That's-a how it goes tonight. I'm-a not afraid of you. And I'll be with-a you the whole time! We just-a go door to door, say the magic words, then we get-a candy."

"F̴u̵n̴?̸ ̶C̸a̷n̶d̵y̶ ̵i̷s̴ ̵f̵o̵r̴ ̵t̷h̸e̸ ̴d̵e̶a̸d̸.̴ ̸S̵o̸u̵l̷ ̸C̷a̴k̸e̸s̵ ̴a̵r̶e̷ ̵f̸o̷r̵ ̶t̶h̷e̸ ̵l̴i̵v̸i̶n̸g̴." The Shadow Queen answered knowingly. "I̶ ̵h̶a̷d̴n̷'̸t̷ ̸r̷e̵a̴l̵i̵z̵e̷d̶ ̸A̸l̴l̸ ̷H̵a̷l̸l̸o̶w̸'̸s̴ ̸E̵v̵e̶ ̵h̴a̶d̶ ̷b̸e̸c̶o̶m̸e̷ ̴s̴o̴ ̷c̶a̴s̴u̸a̷l̵."

Finally, almost reluctantly, she pulled her full, massive form from her doorway, an eternally awkward giant in a world eons away from what she'd known. "N̷o̵r̶m̵a̸l̵l̸y̴,̸ ̵t̴h̴i̴s̶ ̴d̶a̶y̸ ̶w̶a̴s̸ ̶f̴u̵l̶l̴ ̷o̷f̷ ̵r̴e̸v̷e̴r̷e̸n̶c̴e̵.̶ ̷P̴l̷a̴y̴ ̶w̶a̷s̵ ̸t̷h̷e̴r̷e̴,̶ ̷t̷o̷ ̷e̸n̴t̵e̶r̴t̷a̵i̷n̶ ̵t̴h̸e̵ ̴d̷e̶a̴d̸,̶ ̷b̸u̷t̶ ̴w̶i̷t̶h̵ ̴r̶e̶s̸p̷e̵c̶t̷.̵.̶.̵a̵n̷d̷,̸ ̷f̴e̶a̸r̶ ̶o̷f̵ ̴a̶t̷t̸r̷a̸c̴t̸i̵n̸g̷ ̶t̵h̸e̷ ̵w̸r̶o̸n̶g̷ ̷s̷p̸i̸r̵i̷t̷s̴."

There was another pause. "L̴i̷k̸e̷ ̶m̴e̸."

Perhaps this day held a bitter reminder of why the Shadow Queen choose to wear the body of a human even in the distant past.

Without eyes, her gaze slid from the town back down to the tiny man.

"W̵o̷n̷'̴t̴ ̴e̵v̸e̸r̵y̸o̸n̴e̶ ̷i̷n̴ ̷t̴o̶w̴n̸ ̶b̶e̵ ̷a̸f̴r̷a̸i̶d̷ ̴o̵f̴ ̵m̶e̷?"

[red-man-of-mustache]

In the midst of all the chaos, up waddles... Kirby, dressed in a sheet like a ghost! He belches up a plastic pumpkin almost as big as himself, holding it above his head and waving toward Mario. Looks like he's trick-or-treating too!

"Oh!" His mood instantly brightened at the sight of the Pink Puffball. Twas the cutest costume he'd seen all night! He's gonna try his candy spell again...

"Okay Kirby, take a look at-a this magic trick then!" He cleared his throat and got a little close, waving his wand over the candy bowl to initiate the so-called magic. "Abra-cadabra-, Trick-Or-Treat-a!" This time he used his wand to tilt the bowl and pour Kirby a sizeable haul of candy. It was okay, he had plenty more inside. This technique was an evolution from last time however.

[red-man-of-mustache]

"Well it's-a nice to meet-a you Noctua!" Mario tipped his hat. Albeit foreign to him this hat was at home on his head. Any headwear would suffice really. "Thank you, my-a motto is simple works-a best! I like-a your costume too."

"Erm-" Mario peaked out his door slightly to eye the toilet paper lining his house and the eggs that've been discarded. ".....It's-a better now that I see a friend. I got-a dropped some candy not too long ago! That helped."

@sharp-shooter-no-more-moxxie Continued from x

[red-man-of-mustache]

"Happy halloween!"

The whimsical old lady just dropped off a bag of candy in front of mario from a portal she just made. You could see her hand, and it was waving before going back in the portal. So many tricks have been going on he needed a treat.

@theoldsecretkeeper

(wanted to do something nice for him fhdh So many eggs and tp dhdjs)

He sees food. He's happy! He recognizes that voice too and remembers how friendly she was. Mario will remember this. "Happy Halloween from-a Mario!" Despite the state his house was in, he began to dig into his candy right then and there. A few treats in he reached up to give her hanging hand a high-five for good measure.

[red-man-of-mustache]

Well they say Trick or Treat but- leave it to the upgraded Axem Rangers to- pull a trick by... TPing Mario's House or whatever as much as they can.

((Axem Rangers X. Ollo from deisbookofdemons- I thought this would be funni but also fitting for the teenage warriors. Fun fact I used to a own a certain Brighton and Twila blog that rped with ya from a pretty long time ago. They're on here too now. Been really into SMRPG since I got it like a month ago so I know the original Axem Rangers too.))

"HOW DO YOU ALL KNOW WHERE I-A LIVE!?" Mario considered burning the toilet paper but that would burn his house down... he would just have to take it down by hand. AFTER taking down this antagonistic force!

[red-man-of-mustache]

...Mario's house is getting egged. He can see a certain bow creature and another weapon being on a pogo-sword. (Bowyer and Claymorton)

He's not a magikoopa anymore. He's angry a Hammer Bro now. He steps out onto the porch, hammer in hand, fire in his annoyed eyes ready for a fight.

[red-man-of-mustache]

"Um-" Mario followed along with her distorted speech, even leaning to leer past her at the plants she had cultivated. Something that can grow without sunlight was certainly impressive... guess the light and dark weren't black & white as he thought! She was fostering life despite bringing about darkness wherever she may go. This only brought more perspective to his pasta-filled mind.

"You're close. Erm, people just-a do it for fun! There's-a the old superstitions and-a stuff but mostly people dress up, play pretend, get-a candy, maybe go to a party or-a two, then go home with-a their treats!" He gave a quicker overview, then an idea spawned in the noggin. "Oh! Why don't you come-a Trick-Or-Treating with-a me?? I can-a show you how it's-a done. I bet you'll enjoy all of-a the free candy too and seeing everyone's costumes."

"'̷H̷a̸l̷l̸o̵w̶e̴e̴n̷?̷'" Shadow Queen tapped a thin finger to the side of her mouth. "I̴f̶ ̸y̴o̷u̶ ̴m̸e̵a̶n̵,̴ ̶'̶A̶l̴l̵ ̸H̵a̶l̸l̶o̴w̴'̶s̵ ̶E̸v̸e̷'̵,̶ ̸t̸h̵e̷n̴ ̶o̵f̶ ̵c̴o̴u̸r̴s̵e̵ ̵I̴ ̶k̸n̷o̷w̵ ̵w̵h̵a̵t̸ ̷t̴o̴d̷a̴y̸ ̵i̵s̶.̶ ̷T̸h̶o̴u̸g̵h̸...

"I̸ ̴w̴a̴s̵ ̷w̴o̶n̴d̶e̸r̵i̸n̴g̸ ̸w̵h̷e̸n̵ ̶t̶h̶e̷ ̵p̶e̵o̸p̵l̷e̴ ̸o̷f̸ ̸R̶o̵u̶g̵p̴o̴r̴t̸ ̵w̷o̶u̶l̷d̵ ̵l̶i̶g̸h̶t̴ ̶t̵h̵e̸i̶r̷ ̷h̷i̴l̶l̵t̸o̷p̶ ̷b̴o̴n̴f̴i̸r̴e̷s̷,̵ ̵o̵r̶ ̵p̴r̷e̸p̴a̴r̸e̴ ̶d̶i̷n̴n̴e̶r̴s̶ ̷f̵o̸r̸ ̵t̵h̶e̶i̵r̴ ̸r̸e̸t̵u̵r̴n̵i̴n̷g̶ ̶d̸e̸a̵d̵.̴" Shadow Queen gestured inside to the darkness of her house. The whites of several night-blooming flowers could be seen decorating various shelves throughout her living room. "I̴ ̵h̷a̴v̶e̴ ̵n̵o̸ ̵d̸e̴a̴d̷ ̸t̸o̵ ̶l̵i̷g̴h̷t̶ ̵c̵a̷n̴d̶l̵e̴s̶ ̶f̸o̵r̵,̴ ̶o̵r̴ ̴e̶a̷t̵ ̶w̸i̴t̶h̷ ̶s̶o̵ ̶m̴y̷ ̶h̶o̵m̵e̴ ̵i̵s̴ ̸d̵a̸r̴k̴." This was a perfectly logical explaination to her.

S̷o̶,̸ ̷t̸h̷a̴t̸'̶s̶ ̷w̷h̷y̶ ̸y̴o̵u̴ ̸a̶r̴e̶ ̶n̴o̸t̷ ̸r̵e̶d̷ ̸t̶o̷d̷a̸y̵?̴ ̷T̸o̵ ̶b̶l̸e̶n̸d̸ ̸i̷n̶ ̷w̶i̶t̴h̴ ̵t̵h̶e̸ ̷s̴p̸i̴r̸i̸t̷s̸?̷ ̴A̵n̴d̸.̶.̶.̶p̸e̴o̷p̷l̵e̷ ̸n̷o̷w̵.̷.̸.̶p̸u̸t̶ ̸e̸n̵t̴i̵r̸e̴ ̶t̴e̸e̸p̴e̸e̵s̷ ̶o̴v̸e̸r̵ ̸o̵t̷h̴e̷r̷ ̶p̴e̶o̵p̵l̸e̴'̵s̶ ̸h̶o̴u̶s̵e̴s̷,̷ ̶o̵r̴ ̵m̴a̷k̷e̶ ̸t̴h̷e̴m̴ ̸t̷a̸k̵e̶ ̷u̵n̴n̶e̵s̸s̴e̴s̶a̵r̶y̶ ̵s̷o̴j̸u̷r̴n̶s̶ ̶t̷o̷ ̴t̸h̸e̶i̷r̴ ̶d̴o̸o̵r̴s̷t̸e̷p̵s̷ ̴i̵f̶ ̸t̶h̵e̷y̸ ̴d̶o̷n̴'̴t̸ ̷h̷a̶v̴e̸ ̶c̵a̷n̸d̸y̵ ̴t̷o̷ ̸a̴p̸p̴e̷a̵s̷e̷ ̵t̵h̵e̵ ̶s̵p̷i̵r̴i̵t̴s̸?̶?"

[red-man-of-mustache]

TRICK OR TREAT!" The imp is dressed like a flower and in his arms is a imp toddler dressed up as a Minecraft bee holding out her treat bag.

Mario eagerly answered the door, dressed in his Magikoopa garb with a wand in one hand and the candy bowl in another. It was bustling with treats. He took a gander at the duo before him and jolted.

"Mumamia!" He feigned fear a moment at the yell then smiled and began waving his wand over the candy bowl. "It's-a nice to see you Moxxie! I never knew you had a kid too."

"Um-- I'm-a gonna cast a spell to move-a this candy!" He didn't think this hand situation through too well... so, he poured some candy into the younglins bag, immediately fixing his stance to say "Ta-da~"

[red-man-of-mustache]

"Hoo-hoo~ That-a tickles!" His body did bob when pressed. She seemed to be keen on tapping whatever confused her in the moment and honestly Mario didn't mind. "Noooo, I came for-a candy!" He clarified but then rolled into a full explanation. "You knock on-a someone's door, then you yell Trick-Or-Treat! and they give-a you candy! The tricks are-a pranks usually. However anyone might-a describe that.... Teepeeing someone's house, ringing their doorbell and-a running away, that sorta thing."

"C'mon..." Now his arms crossed. The wand was dropped as he made the motion and he swiftly picked it back up to assume the gesture correctly. "Don't-a tell me you don't-a know about-a Halloween. People dress up, people have-a fun.... everyone knows!" He was a tad pushy because some part of him felt this may happen. If he was going to chaperone the Queen while she experienced Halloween proper then so be it...

The Shadow Queen looked up from her potted plants when she heard the knocking. More of her night lilies had bloomed, perhaps for the last time, as the deep chill of winter was begining to crawl it's way into Rougeport's air.

Winter. She'd see snow again.

And, before that....

A lot of people nowadays don't know how much the old sayings are true. Namely, how spirits are known to walk the land on this night--when the barrier between the living and dead becomes thin. The Shadow Queen remembered those old days. Both as herself, and clothed in a human skin--her own disguise, in a way.

Tentatively, she opened the door. "H̷e̶l̶l̷o̵?̶" She cocked her massive head curiously. Her profile almost seemed to blend in with the darkness of her home. "L̴i̵t̸t̵l̵e̴ ̴R̷e̵d̵ ̶M̴a̵n̵?̶" She poked Mario's costume in confusion. "You're not red anymore."

What was he now? Little Blue Pointy Man?

"I̸s̸ ̵t̷h̴i̷s̵ ̵t̸h̴e̷,̸ ̸'̸T̴r̸i̴c̶k̷'̸ ̶y̶o̵u̶ ̴s̵p̴e̵a̴k̶ ̵o̷f̴?̶ ̵Y̴o̷u̸r̸ ̸c̸h̴a̵n̸g̴e̷ ̸i̴n̴ ̵c̴o̸l̸o̴r̶?̶"

[red-man-of-mustache]

Where's The Candy Gonna Go?

Okay, so, of all people Mario could be visiting on this day he chose a lonelier figure: The Shadow Queen! He thought that she could use a bit of company and festivity to brighten up her disposition especially after being woken up so suddenly. With a calmer demeanor after their world-ending battle and the few times he's seen her since then this should go well! Plus, everyone is dressing up so they should be fine walking around. Unless, somehow, she knew about Halloween and had decided to further dress up...

Besides, free candy! They would just need to keep an eye out for any offending parties who decide to ingule the "Trick" part of Trick-Or-Treat.

Aaaaanyway, These thoughts and musings once more brought Mario to the depths of Rogueport. Then to the mighty structure of the so-called Thousand Year Door. Even with her seal broken the latent power in the air was palpable. Mario always felt a pressure while here but luckily it wasn't viral like a few other foes he'd faced. In the spirit of the happy holiday Mario had dressed up: he was currently garbed as a Magikoopa. A blue robe over his body with a matching hat(not cap) that reached high above his head. He even had a wand! Though it was a replica it was made of the proper material. A good fake for a good costume. When near enough to the Thousand-Year Door Mario took a deep breathe, sack in his free hand, then he knocked upon it with his wand. Afterwards, he puffed his chest and put that air to use he had held in.

"TRICK-OR-TREAT!!"

@adara-of-the-flame

[red-man-of-mustache]

"Mister?? You make-a me feel official-like! You can-a call me Mario y'know."

"MARIO?!?"

[red-man-of-mustache]

There's something I love about Peach holding really dangerous weapons like nothing and just being all "Oopsie.." about it🥺🩷

This was partially inspired by that moment in SSBB Subspace where her evil clone was holding that giant weapon used to turn the fighters back into trophies😌

That and I love how she was in her scenes, especially when on Meta Knight's ship! Being all💅 when there's literally a whole explosive battle going on around her💥