❝ you’re... oh. ❞ contrary to the vibrant smile and call of his own adopted name, which is exactly what he would normally expect, geno receives... that. at first unwilling to take the smack personally does he then realize that it isn’t just from initial shock, but from purely not knowing who he is. this isn’t... mario. this isn’t the one who graciously helped him repair star road. this isn’t the man who retrieved the star rod to allow the granting of wishes. hell, this isn’t even the plumber whose end-game involves saving the princess. this is an entirely different person... somehow.
❝ sure? i mean... uh. sorry about that? ❞ what is he even supposed to say? he’s completely unprepared for this! cheeks are flush with obvious shame. he might as well have just gotten all into a stranger’s personal bubbles for no good reason. gaze tossing aside, he is awash with his own embarrassment.
❝ i mean it. you’re just... you look just like him, and... ❞ no. no need to be so melancholy when they’ve only just met! a jolly smile lifts his features, but it’s so painfully forced. it’s like meeting an old flame whose candle has been reignited. it might seem to be the same, but it... isn’t. huh.
❝ don’t worry about it, ❞ he offers with a shake of the head. ❝ forgive me for being so rude. ❞ his voice is low and uncharacteristically meek. he’s flat-out ashamed and admittedly a little crestfallen.
