So I was getting back into Golden Sun and then I thought of this...DURR.

Disclaimer: I do not own the awesomeness that is Golden Sun and its characters.

Isaac doesn't know what makes him keep coming back to the slot machines. It's been a while since he's won any of the prizes that he played the game to win in the first place. He vaguely remembers how heavy his wallet had been when he had jokingly told his friends that he would go lighten it in some of Tolbi's games.

Dice had been extremely boring, and Isaac hadn't even resorted to his game strategy of "improving his chances" by using his Psynergy.

...it had been Garet's suggestion.

Isaac had left the dice games, off to explore what other entertainments Tolbi could give him.

And then he had found the little room above the inn and the pretty girl behind the counter had welcomed him in.

The first game he had gotten a prize with little effort, but when it started becoming rarer that he would win another, he had quickly stormed out.

After replenishing his supply of game tickets, and lightening his wallet in the process, he had gone back to the slots just as fast as he had left.

He didn't know what kept him coming back, even after getting fishy looks from the shop owners whose hesitation in giving him the game tickets showed so blatantly. Even after the rest of his friends had had to come to the little room above the inn to drag him away a few times. He was even beginning to see visions of stars and crescent moons.

Maybe it was that short thrill he got whenever he did win something of value. It was comparable to the feeling he had gotten when he had defeated Saturos, only to find out soon afterwards that it had been a fluke. No man could describe how much he had wanted to push Alex into the light of the Mercury lighthouse at that moment.

Maybe it was the attractive girl behind the counter, who mysteriously knew his name and made him feel welcome every time he walked in. She would always give him a warm smile, as if she knew all that he had gone through. As if she knew his life story.

The day came that he had to leave Tolbi at last. He played the slot game once, but he didn't win anything. He looked up and met the girl's eyes, realizing that all this time she had been watching him play.

"Would you like to use your remaining tickets to play again?" she asked, as usual.

"...I have to leave," Isaac started, trying his best not to sound emotional.

She eyed him knowingly, exclaiming amiably, "Come again!"

It was a heavy blow. Her face showed no signs of disappointment, no tears that showed her desire for him to stay. Quickly, he looked away and tried to convince himself that there had been a hint of longing in her voice.

He turned to go, but couldn't help glancing back once more.

She wasn't looking at him any longer. She stared straight ahead at the wall, wearing that warm smile of hers. It would have to be for the next person to come, not him.

With an almost-empty wallet, and a broken heart, Isaac left the establishment. He resolved never to fall for an NPC ever again.

Those gold diggers.

I ship this. No, not really.