Animal Crossing has been our saving grace these past few months (even when it's not). We can’t go outside anymore, but we can run around our sunny, friendly islands to our heart’s content. A few weeks ago, the game went through a major upgrade when they introduced swimming. 

First of all, my lil cutie jumping into the water is the CUTEST GODD*MN THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE, second only to my lil cutie taking a deep breath and diving down for some mysterious sea creatures. 

And when they introduced the most adorable swimming in the world, the makers of Animal Crossing also gave us Pascal, an old favorite, and a scallop-hungry otter who gives you gifts if you’ll just part with one of the many, many scallops you find on the ocean floor. 

Pascal is part otter, part Cheech Marin maybe? (Maybe it’s just the whiskers and the hat, but it is certainly evocative.) He’s also got the wisdom of your best, very stoned friend in undergrad, giving you the pick-me-up you didn’t know you needed after you brought him Whataburger. 

And after he gives you your gift and swims away with his scallop, you can find him and swim alongside like the best friends that are you. Cheers to you, Pascal! I’ll see you later, bud.