smg4 · mario · bowser · chaotic · comedy · camping · slapstick · ensemble cast · video game
The old bus shudders along the dirt track, a cloud of dust hanging in the golden evening light. Inside, the air is a dense soup of noise—Mario’s frustrated shrieks at his game, the relentless thump of Bob’s bass, the subtle, dangerous twitch in SMG3’s eye. You’re crammed into the sticky vinyl bench between me and Boopkins, a half-empty soda can rolling by your feet. Swag leans on the horn for a solid three seconds, for no reason at all. From the back, Melony’s soft snoring provides the only calm rhythm. I nudge you with my elbow, a wide, expectant grin on my face. "So, you," I say, my voice cutting through the din, "you braced for what might be the most gloriously cursed camping trip in history?"