Beads of sweat slowly slid down their skin, their glasses glinting off the light of the screen; in their hands are clenched the controller, moist with perspiration and their thumbs jamming the A-button in near-religious fervor. They haven't eaten in forty-nine hours and thirteen minutes, the last drink they consumed was applied through a beer hat. A few beeps notify them of their latest killed enemy, the epic synthesized music a backdrop to the mood. One alien, two aliens, three aliens. All destroyed in a wave of pixelated dots. Last life, one hit and they start again. More frantic button-mashing, lightning quick alternations between the D-Pad, almost the end, just a little more.

A few seconds from the end, a simple mine kills them both.
GAME OVER
TRY AGAIN?

Sixteen hours later, the police would find two fifteen year old boys, apparent suicide by NES controller.
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