I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠’ve always thought of the arcade as a second home to me. The buzzing ambient hum of the machines, the dimly lit rooms, and the scent of stale popcorn and soda were all too familiar to me through m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ semiweekly pilgrimage to that world of neon and electronics. Whenever I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ had longer than normal shifts, it was all I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ could think about, staring at the clock and just waiting for the call to clock out so I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ could spend some of m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ cash on arcade games that had lost appeal to all others but myself.
Finally having finished m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ shift on what would have otherwise been a normal Friday evening, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ left the drab normalcy of the office, the journey blurring together out of anticipation until I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ entered the door, opening with that familiar chime I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ had become all too accustomed to. “Varra! Nice to see you; work ended a little early?” The owner of the arcade chuckled behind the desk as always and welcomed me, fully aware that I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ was in fact nearly an hour later than m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ usual schedule. Always one to crack a joke, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠’ve known the old Ram since… probably forever. He ran the arcade since I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ started going, and with how much he enjoyed the machines himself, he probably would continue to run it for the rest of his life.
“Haha yeah, very funny… in fairness, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ managed to come right over once it ended still. I’ll probably not be able to come in at m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ pre-work time until you actually get some new machines!” I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ playfully jabbed back. James burst into laughter as he printed out m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ complimentary free pass, a reward for m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ patronage through the decades of playing the same games as the crowds eventually died out through the years. Even so, it wasn’t for the whole evening, just for a single session or soda. After all, it would likely bankrupt the arcade if m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ visits were truly free.
Inserting the token into the soda machine, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ noticed the arcade to be somewhat more empty than even its driest seasons. In fact, James and I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ were the only people in the building, a disturbing occurrence that I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ admitted would more than likely continue. I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ dreaded the day when the arcade would eventually close down, as even m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ patronage would not be able to maintain it forever; however, James insisted that he would be able to pay for it out of pocket as long as he could. Trying to keep that thought out of m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ mind, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ began m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ pilgrimage to the arcade boards.
One would think that the process of continually playing the same cabinets that never replenished would get boring after a few years; however, most of the games are easily replayable enough to last a lifetime, and it’s been m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ goal for the better part of a year to get m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ name up in lights on top of every cabinet’s leaderboard. Frankly, with the lack of general attendance, it seemed more a matter of time than anything else, already having achieved m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ goal on nearly half of the boards. But today was not one I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ wanted to try beating some of the harder scores, but for something else.
With all the games in the arcade, one drew m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ attention more than any other today. ‘The Legend of Nex.’ I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ remember when it first came here as though it was yesterday, originally scoffing at the concept but eventually warming up to it as the years passed. The game was a very clear Zelda ripoff, releasing a year after the original game, and its function as an actual adventure game seemed incompatible with the regular coin-munching score-based machines I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ was used to. However, the world and character had a certain charm that was undeniable, making me constantly come back to it every couple of months, beating it to completion in a single thirty-minute session.
I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ tried looking online to find more about the game, only to turn up mostly empty-handed. Created by the small company Interaction Unlimited, ‘The Legend of Nex’ managed only a few hundred arcade sales across its short lifetime, far too few to warrant an actual console port of the game, where it would likely have fared way better. From the developer I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ talked to, it was an issue with management wanting instant returns in an industry they had no prior engagement in and misunderstanding how arcades differed from the home. Perhaps if they improved in their marketing or invested in a version built for the NES…
Shit… Sorry for rambling; I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ tend to get carried away regarding these sorts of things… Anyway, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ decided to play the game once again, trying to speedrun reaching the ending as fast as possible in lieu of any actual scoring system, as points were not tracked. In any case, the game wasn’t popular enough to even have been dumped on MAME, and none of the devs I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ spoke to had any copies in their possession. Perhaps I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ could have asked James if I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ could rent the cabinet to dump it myself, but I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ don’t have to worry about that anymore.
Much like in Zelda, you controlled the main character, in this case a cute pixel rendition of a brown pine marten, across a small overworld, collecting keys from six distinct dungeons placed around the map. Without the usual limitations on most 8-bit consoles of the time, the game’s sprites had an unusual level of fidelity and detail for the time of release. The artist seemed to have left the industry altogether after Interaction Unlimited’s failure, however, so I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ couldn’t track him down to ask directly.
I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ could typically complete most runs within a half hour; however, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ was getting tantalizingly close to sub-25 minutes and wanted to finally achieve m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ goal in today’s session. Booting the machine up with a quarter presented me with that earworm of an opening jingle before the game finally started proper. Having already memorized the entire route by heart and even getting the hang of manipulating the item drops, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ was more than prepared for a successful run; however, by the ten-minute mark, disaster struck.
While load times are usually a non-issue for arcade games, the scope of ‘The Legend of Nex’ necessitated a break of maybe one or two seconds for when going between dungeons and the overworld. Whether that be a hardware limitation or a conscious choice on the part of the devs was anyone’s guess, but a perfect opportunity to get a quick drink from m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ soda bottle, resting near the gamepad. I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ reached for it as I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ always did as the transition began; however, m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ hand slipped just at the last second, causing the soda to sway forwards before finally toppling.
It was as if it happened in slow motion, watching a car accident in which I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ had no means to prevent the inevitable action. The cap easily dislodged from the rest of the cup as it hit the control panel; the now-free soda easily flowed over the cabinet, seeping into the internals. I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ quickly turned m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ attention to the screen as it corrupted into a garbled mess of pixels before an audible pop instantly caused it to turn dark. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that the board was fried, and the horror I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ felt in that instant was indescribable, knowing fully well that this could have been one of the few remaining boards of the game in existence.
m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ mind very quickly turned to that of guilt and shame, wondering if I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ should even show m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ face at the arcade again after what happened. I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ could easily pay for the cost of the board itself, but to me nothing could have offset the cost of what both myself and the owner found to be a priceless object. Deep in m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ thoughts trying to come up with any sort of explanation to James, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ failed to notice the purple liquid of the soda slowly seeping down the front of the cabinet, sparks accompanying it as it dripped onto the arcade carpet below.
Finally beginning to snap out of m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ trance, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ saw the soda begin to pool outwards from the initial point of spillage before something miraculous happened. Guided by the still crackling sparks from the fried arcade board, it took the form of an anthro figure before beginning to bulge upwards. Before I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ knew it, there was a figure, the same pitch black and neon colors as the carpet that they seemingly spawned from, getting up from the ground. Despite the massive increase in graphical fidelity and change of hue from his normal washes of brown, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ had played enough of the game to instantly recognize the figure as Nex. Still in a state of shock, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ could only let out a single sentence, dumb in retrospect but a symptom of m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ state of mind at the time:
Within a few seconds, an alarm immediately started, no doubt due to the smoke still emitting from the busted arcade cabinet where Nex undoubtedly emerged from, causing me in a panic to grab the paw of the ex-video game character before bolting to the exit without explanation to the owner as to what happened. M̶̡̤͔͌͐̃̇̀̑̈́̉͑͘͠͝͝y̴͖̔̈́́́̓ apartment wasn’t too far from the arcade, so by the time I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ became too exhausted to run, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ was back in the safety of m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ own home. Finally able to properly think for the first time since I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ spilled the soda, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ was finally free to think and process the fact that the character from a video game I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ played (and ruined) was standing right in front of me, real as day.
The few hours were a complete blur. For more than obvious reasons, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ still haven’t returned to the arcade out of shame for what happened, even though I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ fully know how it was an accident. Perhaps rushing off after the fact could have made it worse, but I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ couldn’t stand to have seen the look of disappointment on James’ face, not to mention having to explain the fact that the game’s main character had instantly materialized in front of me! In any case, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ decided to look up the price for the average arcade cabinet, sending that amount in an envelope to the arcade itself with no return address, so he could at least not suffer from m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ mistake.
What I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ spent the most of the night dealing with, however, was Nex himself. For someone who literally materialized out of an arcade game, he was surprisingly levelheaded, knowing both who I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ was and that he was not previously part of the ‘real world’ as he watched from inside the screen. I’m not sure if it was some sort of haunted game or if any memories he may have had were manufactured, but in any case it certainly helped in getting him accustomed to having an actual life. From what he told me, while he did not mind his role as protagonist, playing out the same story again and again grew tiresome, and having an actual life now was a nice change of pace for him, which he was grateful to me for.
One thing he was curious about, however, was the popularity of the game he starred in, and upon letting him know that his birth may have accidentally destroyed the last copy of the board in existence, he instantly grew quiet. I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ thought at first that he was feeling despair, but was mistaken, him instead concentrating for a few seconds before holding out a clenched fist. The pattern-infused hand opened to reveal a USB, m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ eyes growing wide as I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ quickly realized what it was. Being a personification of the game’s code, it seemed as though Nex in some form contained the ROM data for ‘The Legend of Nex’ within his very being.
To confirm, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ quickly plugged the USB into m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ desktop and booted up the program up through MAME. Apart from some slight graphical issues, no doubt a symptom of the file never being tested through the emulator up until now, it appeared identical to that of the cabinet I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ played with for all those years. After sending the file to the original developers as thanks for their help in m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ initial research, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ quickly uploaded the ROM to the Internet Archive for others to enjoy. Stuck in m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ feelings of euphoria, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ completely forgot to check in on the actual personification of the game, still standing in m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ living room.
I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ quickly realized that, obviously not having a home anymore, Nex would need somewhere to live, and being the only person who knew of his existence, it made most sense for him to move in with me. Without an additional bed for him to use, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ simply set up a spot on the couch for him to crash on, giving him a blanket as well as the remote for him to entertain himself with the TV. As I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ retreated to m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ room, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ could hear him flicking through the channels, and when I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ turned around, the expression on his face was that of pure curiosity as he intently watched whatever was happening on screen.
As the night began to roll over into dawn, m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ brain was practically fried. Unable to get to sleep after everything that happened, I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ realized that I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ was in no shape to work that day, not to mention that it was probably best to actually better get m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ new roommate accustomed to the real world and figure out a way to properly pay for two livelihoods on a single income. From how he watched the television, Nex had no proper grasp of how the world worked outside of what he saw in the arcade, and I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ realized there would be a lot I̴̢̨̧̹͍͉̺̦͕̦̙̩̥̬͔̖̮̬̞̥͈͌̏̾̓͑͊͆̍̈̈̃͗̓̅̾͘͜͝͠͠ would need to explain to him tomorrow. But above anything else, an emotion that took over m̴̨̡̧̢̧̢̧̡̧̨̨̡̡̨̧̛̛̛̛̛͉̝̺̺͉̫͍̪̭͈͎̹͖̼̻̦͍̼͓̬̫͙̦̫̹̹̣̪͕͇͔͓̠̠̯̟͈͇̼̲̤͚̪̪̺̱̯͖̖͔̳̗̺͓̣̲͕̲̟͕̮̳̦͉͎̜̖͙̱̖͈̼̙͕̣͔̺̮̦̤̘̺̟̖͍̗̙̫̺̹̘̳̮͉͓̥͚͎͙̝̥̰̩͎̹͙̯̪͉͚̳̬͇̫͖̟͚̺͉͔̰̭̪̲̞͚̯͓̣̲̻̭̥͈̘̮̱̯͎̥̦͙̙̗̆̂̉̂̾̈́͐̋̒́̂͑̊̈́̄̑̃̍̆̓͆͗̃̽̉̓̉̏̽̇̃̇̓̽̍̒̔̎̔̔̅̀́̅̆̋͗̅̀̑͑̓̄̓̈́͂̓̌̃̿̓̊̈̅̃́́̏̈́͊̈̊͐̀̊̒̈́͗̒͒̓͐̎͂͂̐̀̔͑̎̀̉̃̋̌͂͑̔̏͌̃̎̌̃͛̑́̅̈́̓̈́͊̎̈̽̏̑̍̅͆̀̊̈͐͆̓͐̋̀͌̋͑̈́̂̓̒̀̓́̂̈̈́̈́̄̔͑̿͊̈́̈͒̂̈́͛̅̓̆̅̏̋̔́̍̿̚̚̚͘̚̕͘̕̕͜͜͜͜͜͜͠͠͠͠͝͝͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅȳ̷̢̤̟̞́͊͆̎͐͊́̾̈́̈́̑͋̾̏̋̅̎͐̋͆̆́̀̉̔̚̚̚͘͝͝͝͝͠͠͝ brain, overwriting that of guilt and shame for what happened with the soda, was that of excitement.
After all, maybe a roommate could be fun!