Marco

> Aye... Hate hide-and-seek. Let's play Marco Polo instead.
>
> **Marco**, The Friends We Left Behind

Marco is one of the main antagonists in The Friends We Left Behind, and appears in the fourth level of the game alongside Polo.

## Background

Though Marco's exact background is unknown, it is implied in the game that Marco is the Imaginary Friend of Pete Gustavo.

Marco and Polo appear to have some kind of connection, though their exact relation to each other is unknown.

## Personality

    Marco speaks in stereotypical pirate lingo exclusively. He appears to like water as well, since he spends most of his time in bathtubs filled with water. Marco has a gruff personality and seems completely unintimidated by Polo, even going as far as to threaten him with his hooks.

Marco has an affinity for rubber ducks, which helps you know where he is hiding in the fourth level.

## Appearance

Marco is the orange Imaginary Friend. He is a large fish with gills resembling those of an axolotl's. He has one eye, while the other one has an "X" over it. He has sharp teeth and two large tusks. He wears a green feathered medieval flat cap on his head. He has a large brown-toned fur coat. The fur is tipped with orange in some areas, most concentrated along the bottom of the coat and his sleeves. Marco wears a shirt with a white ruffled collar and an orange bow. He has a black vest with golden frog clasps and wears a large brown belt with a golden buckle over top of it. He has brown baggy pants and orange pointed clogs that resemble an elf's shoe. There is a green band around either shoe.

Marco does not have hands, and instead has 2 golden hooks.

## Gameplay

In the fourth level, the player is trapped in the bathroom with Marco and Polo. The player must avoid Marco and Polo, whilst trying to lure Polo in by flushing toilets. When the level begins, look behind you and fill your bucket with water. This will enable you to flush the toilets, since there is no electricity in the asylum. Holding the bucket means you will not be able to hear either Marco or Polo, since your parabolic mic will no longer be in use.

While Marco switches between bathtubs, Polo endlessly walks back and forth along the stalls. You will know which tub Marco is in because a rubber ducky floats at the top of whichever tub he is in. He switches roughly every 2-10 seconds, depending on the difficulty.

After filling your bucket, choose a toilet to flush. Polo will hear it and rush after the player the moment you flush a toilet, so you need to slide away out of the stall quickly after doing so. After Polo enters the stall, quickly re-enter it and open the door. Polo will be distracted and facing the other way for just a moment, so it is imperative this is done quickly. If timed correctly with Marco's tub mechanic, Marco will be able to enter the stall, and he and Polo will crash into each other. To complete the level, go into the same stall as them, and take a photo.

If you fail to get them to crash into each other, the player will have to refill their bucket in the first toilet stall at the beginning of the level.

### Extra Tips

* Standing up is unnecessary - stay crouched down to save time.
* Since it's difficult to time Marco's mechanic correctly, For this reason, it's best to flush a toilet far away from Polo and open the stall door, and keep repeating this step until Marco runs in. This may take a few tries as the timing needs to be right.
* This level is not very dependent on sound, and it is more useful to keep the bucket on hand rather than swapping it for your parabolic mic.

## Jumpscare Quotes

* *"Finally something to put in the tub other than me rubber ducky!"*
* *"What do ye think yer doing?"*
* *"I can't wait to sharpen me hook!"*
* *"Tag, yer it!"*
* *"Say yer prayers"*
* *"Cannonball!"*
* *"Walk the plank."*
* *"Ye better hope ye can swim."*
* *"Arrr matey!"*
* *"I wonder how long ye can hold yer breath."*
* *"Avast!"*

## Trivia

* According to Grant Marrs' TikTok, Marco was inspired by Wario.

## Gallery

Official concept art of Marco by Grant Marrs.