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Tweak says, "I needz moar Visine!"

Tarim Vasquez (halfpinthero) wrote in avalonis,
@ 2010-07-18 20:00:00

Entry tags:

marco vasquez, tarim vasquez

Lazy Sunday
Who: Marco and Tarim Vasquez
When: Sunday Evening
Where: The Vasquez apartment, South-East Quarter
What: Brothers bonding over video games
Rating: PG for safety, will update if content changes unexpectedly
Status: In Progress

The Vasquez brothers weren't very sentimental, but like any family, they had their traditions. Two years ago, Tarim had bought an old Super Nintendo from a kid at a garage sale, including several games. Ever since, the brothers had held Sunday evening as a holy night: Marco had several hours off of work, and Tarim was usually finished with all his homework. So, for nearly two years now, the boys had a weekly video game brawl to top of their week.

For Tarim, he was grateful for an excuse to take a night off from his "job" in Downtown. He had lost his focus the night before, and earned a nasty cut along his right arm for his efforts. Luckily, Marco had been off at a job all day, so he could clean and bandage it properly. Now that Marco's shift is nearly over, he wears a long-sleeved shirt; he might be sweating, but it's better than having to lie to Marco about yet another beating.

It's a little after seven, around the time Marco is due home. After a day of homework, first aid and cooking, Tarim places a bowl of chips and dip on the coffee table, before taking a seat. Holding a controller loosely in his hands, Tarim watches as Mario and Luigi bounce along the screen until he hears the door open. "Marco!" He shouts, grinning to himself as he holds up another controller. "It's game time!"

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halfpinthero
2010-07-19 02:29 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, yeah..." Tarim chides, scooting over so Marco can sit with a good view of the couch. He winces slightly, his bandaged arm rubbing against the couch, but he hides it by fiddling with his controller; Tarim had become pretty good at hiding the bruises and cuts from his job. "But you're my guardian if anyone from school asks. Jason Peters is still pissed you pulled him over." Jason is a senior at AHS, and two months ago was arrested for underage drinking... by Marco. Tarim was still trying to live it down.

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aboutaverage
2010-07-19 02:49 am UTC (link)

"Jason Peters was drinking underage and driving under the influence. I really don't care too much about what he feels about me." Marco muttered. He pulled his shoes off and propped his feet up on the coffee table, not caring too much about the fact that his socks were next to the chips.

Marco finally started up the game, trying to get comfortable while going through the first level. "So, what'd you do today?" He asked, despite being slightly distracted.

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halfpinthero
2010-07-19 02:53 am UTC (link)

Tarim sinks into the couch as Luigi - he always plays Luigi - stomps a turtle before Mario could reach it. "Not much. Finished my history paper. I never want to read about women's liberation again." He mutters, biting his tongue slightly as he gets further into the game. "Did you have to go to the Vale today?" He teases, taking just a moment to glance at Marco. Marco knows Tarim reads his blog, and he had laughed to himself this morning when he saw Marco's latest rant...

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	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 03:10 am UTC (link)
	Marco glanced at Tarim out of the corner of his eye, which cost him a mushroom, or something, he'd sort of missed what it was when Luigi beat him to it. "No, but I was lucky enough to be Uptown right by everyone's headquarters. I didn't see anyone, but being there in that mood just sucks." He complained. "But, whatever. You know? It's one guy's opinion." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	halfpinthero 2010-07-19 03:19 am UTC (link)
	Tarim nods, trying to hide a smile. Marco was clearly in a bad mood, it wouldn't be good to push his buttons too much... "Did you get any autographs for me?" He's finally unable to resist, breaking into a grin. "I bet Watchtower is there. You should get her autograph. She's the prettiest." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 03:27 am UTC (link)
	The look that Marco gave Tarim was a decent mix of amusement and annoyance, and went on just long enough to effectively kill off Mario, at least for a moment. Then Marco shook his head and returned to the game. "How many years do you have left of this awkward teenage stuff again?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

halfpinthero
2010-07-19 03:30 am UTC (link)

"Until that subscription of Maxim that's supposed to go to our neighbors runs out?" Tarim ventures, grinning triumphantly as Luigi takes the lead. Marco was always the first one to get the mail; he probably didn't know Tarim knew of that little goldmine. "I mean, come on, it's not like I bring girls over while you're away. That you know of." He adds, quickly swiping a chip while trying to play in one hand. It doesn't go well.

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	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 03:44 am UTC (link)
	"...need to move out of the South East Quarter, all out roommates are perverts and stoners..." Marco just muttered to himself. At this point, Marco wasn't so much as trying to win the game as just stay in it. "Yeah, just don't get her pregnant, okay? Use protection. Not like magic shield protection." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

halfpinthero
2010-07-19 03:48 am UTC (link)

The game pauses as Tarim erupts in a fit of giggles, taking several seconds to get his composure, even as the occasional laugh still escapes. "Y'know, I'm gonna have to try that now, someday." He adds, unpausing the game, though still thinking on the matter. "I mean, I can breathe while the shield is on, so they're not airtight... that wouldn't work, would it? You'd think it'd hurt. And I wouldn't be able to focus and keep it up. ...the shields, I mean." He adds, before breaking into another fit of giggles.

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	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 04:02 am UTC (link)
	Marco stared silently at Tarim for a moment, eyebrow raised. Then, taking advantage of the game being paused, Marco put the controller down and got up, walking away from the couch. "I need to go get a drink and attempt to scrub that out of my brain, and then maybe go curl up in a ball and cry." He joked, though he was already heading to the kitchen for a Coke. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	halfpinthero 2010-07-19 04:07 am UTC (link)
	Tarim rolls his eyes as his brother walks past, even if the effect is rather lost by his silly grin. Shoveling several more chips and dip into his mouth before Marco can polish them off, Tarim shouts to his brother. "So, how's work going?" He asks, trying to phrase his questions carefully. "Any news about the Downtown area?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

aboutaverage
2010-07-19 04:19 am UTC (link)

"Work?" Marco responded from the other side of the room. "It is what it is. Nothing major today, just a long shift... But no one pointed a gun at me today, so, you know, that's a plus." Marco returned to the couch with his soda, plus an extra for Tarim, which he left on the table for him. "I didn't hear anything about Downtown, though." He didn't bother to ask why Tarim wanted to know. He could only assume that he was looking for news on their mother.

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halfpinthero
2010-07-19 04:23 am UTC (link)

"Oh." Tarim says, clearly disappointed as he grabs a soda from the table. Over a year, and still no word about a new vigilante Downtown? Not even stories about some good Samaritans? 'I need to get out more.' He thinks to himself, touching his sore arm gingerly for a moment. Instead of unpausing the game, he sits there, playing with the pull tab on his soda. "I know you hate the heroes, but would you like them better if they spent more time on Downtown?" He suddenly asks, watching Marco carefully.

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aboutaverage
2010-07-19 05:07 am UTC (link)

Marco froze, soda in hand, surprised by the question. It was a strange question for Tarim to ask, and Marco wasn't sure what he was trying to get at. "Um..." He thought about how to answer. "I don't... I don't know. It's not so much about where they work, it's more what they do, I guess. Everything has to be flashy, and ridiculous. Eventually it stops being about helping, and starts being about headlines." He shrugged. "That's my problem. And I don't hate heroes. Anyone can be a hero. I just hate the ones who think they need a cape to do it."

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halfpinthero
2010-07-19 05:10 am UTC (link)

Tarim nods quietly, smiling inwardly to himself. Maybe he could bring Marco around... slowly, very slowly. "Well, you know when I become a badass superhero one day, I'm going to have a six-foot cape. There's nothing you can do about it." He jokes. Even as a kid, Tarim had joked about one day becoming a superhero. So far, for all Tarim knew, Marco still thought it was a joke. 'So glad I haven't added a cape yet...'

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	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 05:23 am UTC (link)
	"Right, because a cape that's taller than you is perfect for running around rooftops. There's nothing that could possibly go wrong there." Marco smirked. "If you want, I'l even get it bedazzled for you. Maybe even some nice multicolored sequin, so people can't miss you when you trip off the fire escape." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

halfpinthero
2010-07-19 05:33 am UTC (link)

"See, you should totally be my fashion designer." Tarim jokes, finally unpausing the game in an attempt to gain an advantage over Marco. "I'll be off saving the day, and you can hem my pants and clean my room and have dinner going when I come home. You can be my Alfred!" He suddenly exclaims, eyes widening at the mental image. Marco would look awesome in a penguin suit!

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	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 05:39 am UTC (link)
	"That was uncool!" Marco nearly dropped his soda as he grabbed for the controller, but managed to grab it without spilling or killing Mario. "I'll only be your Alfred if you're a rich billionaire who pays me to tell you that you're being reckless. Then t might be worth hemming your short people pants." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

halfpinthero
2010-07-19 05:42 am UTC (link)

Tarim chuckles evily as Luigi races ahead, watching his brother squirm. "We could make a badass team, too, you know. You run after the bad guys, and they shoot you, and I'll be all 'stop, evildoer!' and block the bullets!" He proclaims, hopping slightly in his seat. "They'll call us... umm... riot shield! And you'll be Riot, and I'll be Shield." Tarim nods to himself. "I think this could work."

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	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 05:54 am UTC (link)
	"Really? You think so? Because I sort of have a problem with the part where my whole gig is that people just shoot at me." Marco complained as he tried to get Mario to jump off of Luigi's head. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	halfpinthero 2010-07-19 05:57 am UTC (link)
	Tarim nods. He hates to think of just how dangerous Marco's job is; it's easier to joke and pretend that there's no chance Marco won't be coming home after work. "See, that's why you have me around. We could even get matching outfits. It'll be awesome." He declares triumphantly, even biting his tongue as Mario jumps on Luigi's head. 'Crap.' (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 06:11 am UTC (link)
	Marco laughed and nodded, then shook his head. "Yeah, no, that's just not going to happen. You will never ever get me to wear spandex. Just sayin'." He grinned. "So am I winning yet?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	halfpinthero 2010-07-19 06:15 am UTC (link)
	Tarim sighs, pausing for a second and pointing to the screen. "You lost a life. I lost three." He explains, a bit shocked. Despite Marco's apparent lack of how the games work, he always manages to win. "I'm starting to think that, when you're at work, you're actually going somewhere and practicing. That's the only possible explanation." He whines. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	aboutaverage 2010-07-19 06:19 am UTC (link)
	"My job is just a series of events involving me jumping on turtles and going down pipes. I have real world video game experience." Marco joked. "Maybe you should practice more. I hear that video games are more important than getting an education nowadays." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	halfpinthero 2010-07-19 06:22 am UTC (link)
	Tarim rolls his eyes. "Alright then, next time I'm picking the game. We're getting a soccer game, and a biking game, and... uhh..." Tarim sits, boggled, trying to think of a non-incriminating activity. "...sleeping in until noon and making waffle sandwiches for lunch?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

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