[SIDESTORY] Morbit Oneshots

[A_Mi_Manera]

A Geezer Adventure: 





You march through a trail the outskirts of town with your luggage in hand. If you remembered how much of a walk it was you would have taken up the cab driver's offer to take you the rest of the way. This was frankly a mistake on your end. 

Your journey arrives to a close after about half an hour, your grandmother's house surrounded by vehicles of other relatives. Outside your cousin Charon is there greeting people in Grandma Erica's place, age has made her a little less social over the years but she continues to host regular holiday events and reunions. You approach the porch.

Geezer: Hey! 

Charon's attention turns toward you. He wraps up things with your aunt and walks down the steps.

Charon: Geezer!

Geezer: Yooooo!

He gives you a hug and a pat on the back. You awkwardly hug him back with your arms full.

Charon: Glad you could make it. Grandma missed you....

He looks down at your bags.

Charon: You need help with your stuff?

Geezer: Nah I got this, brought something pretty nice you might be interested in.

Charon: Mm? Did you now? Lay it on me."

Geezer: Inside first, I don't want it touching the dirt.

You gesture to him to move over. You rush through the doorway and drop your bags on the couch.

Geezer: Check this out yeah? Managed to snag one of these early.

You flash him a compact disc inside its case. 

Charon: You got the new system? 

Geezer: Heck yeah I did! Grabbed a chunk of the launch stuff too.

Charon: Launch? It's pretty much a port machine right now, I'm surprised you didn't wait. 

Geezer: I mean yeaaaaah but... they're good ports and more stuff is coming down the line. You seen the new Flip game? 

Charon: Mm, in a magazine. There's no way they'll be able to avoid performance issues, it'll be downgraded hard for final release.

Geezer: I got the demo, I don't think it will.

Charon: On you right now? 

Geezer: Yeah! You wanna take a look?

Charon: If you can set it up on the TV I'll gladly. 

You start pulling the console out of its bag. 

Geezer: Feel free to look through the games yeah? I got a few.

Charon: Mm, will do....

You watch him smile slightly going through. Your cousin's been more of a frowner since you first met him so you can't help feel like you've done some good.. 

Charon: You know if someone brings kids you're going to have to watch your stuff.

Geezer: Absolutely aware, not gonna let them touch the discs. 

Charon: Don't blame you. Noticed you've got a copy of Arc Tag 2. 

Geezer: Yeah? You remember playing Arc Caste in the liquor store yeah?

Charon: Mm, it's still there you know? We have a proper arcade in town these days though so it's a little lonelier. 

Geezer: Game was a quarter sink so I picked up the new one. Roster is huge!

Charon: Is it a one for one port?

Geezer: Mostly? A friend of mine who's more into fighting games said that there's a few differences where characters who mash buttons to do more damage during super animations can get more inputs in.

Charon: Oh? Button inputs yes?

Geezer: Yep. So like... you know Blitz right? From the first game?

Charon: Mm. 

Geezer: So because her animation lags the console version slightly for her super, and it does more damage if you press light and heavy punch repeatedly during it, it makes it possible to do it more times than the arcade version. 

Charon: You can mash during it?

Geezer: You never knew that?

Charon: I'm not good at fighting games, I just like them. 

Geezer: Fair enough! Also got the console set up. Wanna get that demo out of the way first? 

Charon: Yeah. 

You both clear up room on the couch and sit down. You hand him the controller.

Charon: What are you doing?

Geezer: Letting you go first.

Charon: Geezer I'm bad at these....

Geezer: Relax, it'll teach you everything. Check out the opening yeah? It's got really fancy visuals.

Charon: Mm... I'll be honest I never would have associated a flip game with grunge. 

Geezer: It's experimental. They wanna keep up with the time. You can press start whenever.

Charon: There's other characters?

Geezer: In the menu but not in the demo yet. They'll be like 6 of them in final release.

Charon: Mm, unfortunate. I wanted to try Barry.

Geezer: Barry is a dumbass. I don't do Barry like that.

Charon: He's a ammonite, he's trying his best.

Geezer: He looks nothing like a ammonite. 

Charon: Flip looks like a mammal more than a fish so I think it isn't a exclusive issue. 

Charon rubs his eyes. 

Geezer: You okay?

Charon: The visuals look a bit odd to me, it's moving so fast.

Geezer: Yeah that's uh... the framerate. It moves 60fps, more than double what movies do and it's 3D so it'll do that. 

Charon: Mm... I'll adjust. 

Geezer: You sure?

Charon: Maybe. I think you should play first so I can get a better understanding on this honestly

Geezer: Sure. 

You take the controller back from him. 

Charon: Everything all good back home?

Geezer: Yeah, why?

Charon: Just wondering... it's been different without you around.

Geezer: Yeah?

Charon: Grandma still feels bad about what happened. Apparently you weren't supposed to lose your body like that. A paradox of sorts.

Geezer: Freak accidents happen with time displacement...  besides I'm over it. You done and saved me you know. Made me immortal too, can't complain about that. 

Charon: Mm. There's been no loss of function?

Geezer: Nah, not really. You don't gotta feel bad Charon, we made it out and I'm still here right? Better than ever even. 

Charon: If you say so.

Geezer: Without ya'll I wouldn't be here at a family gathering playing video games on the couch. I'd be on the street or way worse you know? 

Charon: Is... is that a whale?

Geezer: Yeah it is. You sure you don't want a turn.

Charon: After your run. Then I'll gladly take a crack. 

Geezer: Good... you can pick next game after you know.

Charon: Mm. 

Geezer: We've talked about what happened as kids plenty you know?

Charon: I do. It can't be helped....

Geezer: Promise you I'm fine. 

Charon: Mm. You done?

Geezer: Eh?

Charon: The demo.

Geezer: Yeah. Your turn next as promised.

Charon: Hand it over.

You handed him the controller. 

For a little while you were able to distract him from the usual worries that drown the room when you show up.