[attr="class","cian"]finally reaching for his drink, cian twists the cap off, then sips.

"i'm sure he'll come around."

for moments, he considers letting the next thought pass without being voiced. but something, he isn't sure what exactly, pushes it to the surface.

"dad's excited to meet him."

[attr="class","noodles"]boruta maher

[attr="class","cian"]oh, but they will. Roman Maher will be invited to the maher family dinner soon enough.

"i hear he's not allowed to leave fallarbor."

tapping idly at his phone, cian asks:

"how do you think that makes him feel?"

[attr="class","noodles"]boruta maher

[attr="class","cian"]there's a line that cian doesn't even bother dancing on. he simply crosses it, unbothered by whatever consequences may await him on the other side.

"you're doing it wrong."

he shrugs.

"he's just going to resent you even more for not letting him leave."

his finger stops scrolling for a moment, as if the pause would emphasize his next point:

"i know i would."

[attr="class","noodles"]boruta maher

[attr="class","cian"]"so? other kids his age are traveling the region and he's stuck in a shitty town no one visits."

it must be suffocating.

"why don't you bring him here? we can show him around rustboro."

[attr="class","noodles"]boruta maher

[attr="class","cian"]"hm."

no, bo isn't being overprotective, but that doesn't discount the fact that kids roman's age are currently out and about, exploring and seeing what the region has to offer.

roman has barely left fallarbor.

"that sucks."

but there's not much they can do, he supposes.

"maybe i could try talking to her."

[attr="class","noodles"]boruta maher

[attr="class","cian"]"why not?"

his phone buzzes with a text but he doesn't check it just yet. his eyes remain on bo, watching him past the couch.

"i'm pretty charming. bet i could get her to say yes."

[attr="class","noodles"]boruta maher

[attr="class","cian"]"why's that?"

say it.

"do you not trust me, bo?"

say it.

[attr="class","noodles"]boruta maher