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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Aug 6, 2021 9:36:46 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

[attr="class","cian"]the compliment is met with a soft smile that feigns innocence as though cian's capable of such a thing. he approaches mars, leans in real close only to whisper:

"i know."

then a quick kiss on his cheek and he brushes past, heading towards the door.

mauville hills is quiet this early in the morning apart from the few morning people that are out running as well. what is with successful people and waking up early to run? is that a thing?

"it's been a while since i ran this early."

[attr="class","noodles"]Martín del Mar

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Mars | Tuesday

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Aug 6, 2021 10:13:05 GMT

CIAN MAHER likes this

[nospaces]

[attr="class","blboxmm"]

Typical.
[break][break]
There is a smirk at both Cian’s words and the kiss, Mars for some reason finding himself watching him for a second or two before following along and walking out the door.
[break][break]
It’s a long way down from the penthouse, and despite it being summer, the morning air is still somewhat chill since the sun has just begun to rise. Dew coats every single grass-blade, and the sky is a painting of blues and yellows in soft pastels.
[break][break]
It’s a nice August morning, and Mars reminds himself of that. It’s here. It’s now. It’s the morning air of Mauville Hills and being by Cian’s side. It’s not everything that lingers in his mind.
[break][break]
”Really? I’d almost call you lazy. Maybe you should join me for my morning jog from now on,” he winks, but these are words he says without giving any thought to them, and he catches himself a second too late. His morning jog has never been something he wanted to share with anyone – not when considering the main reason why he jogs this early in the first place. It’s private. Intimate. Personal. And yet, he just said what he said.
[break][break]
Instead of waiting for a reply, Mars does as they intended to do when coming down here and runs.
[break][break]
Always running from his problems.

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","credit"]milky

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Aug 6, 2021 10:46:37 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

[attr="class","cian"]too distracted by a couple who look to be in their sixties running across the road, cian doesn't even notice how mars has taken off.

"maybe i should."

it's only when he turns that he realizes just how far mars has gone.

"alright."

with a chuckle, cian picks up into a run, pace much faster than it needs to be simply because of the distance he needs to cover to reach mars' side.

soon, he floats beside mars.

"you're pretty fast."

[attr="class","noodles"]Martín del Mar

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Mars | Tuesday

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Aug 6, 2021 12:05:44 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","blboxmm"]

It’s cathartic.
[break][break]
All he has to do is focus on the road ahead; on breathing, on each step, on moving forward, on running as fast as he can possibly run.
[break][break]
Run from the past that haunts him. Run from the memories. Run from the nightmares. Run from his feelings. Run from every single problem in his life…
[break][break]
But, is he running from Cian?
[break][break]
When he catches up, Mars can’t help but laugh. ”Am I? You’re keeping up just fine.” He isn’t really trying just yet, but even Mars isn’t narcissistic enough not to know that Cian could probably easily leave him behind. It makes him curious, because this is a side of Cian he hasn’t seen before, and it’s an important one.
[break][break]
”You better not tell me you wanna race.” A smirk. This is bait, obviously.

[break][break]

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Aug 6, 2021 19:08:50 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

[attr="class","cian"]"well i never said i wasn't fast."

in fact, cian's most definitely faster, but he wanted to feign some semblance of humbleness. it doesn't last long, but then again, does it ever?

at the question, he chuckles, shaking his head.

"nah that sounds pretty boring."

this is also bait.

"only because i'd win, of course."

with a smirk, cian nudges against mars' shoulder before picking up the pace.

[attr="class","noodles"]Martín del Mar

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Aug 6, 2021 19:42:46 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","blboxmm"]

It’s fine if the attempt at humbleness doesn’t last. Neither of them are humble people, and maybe that’s one of the things Mars likes about Cian. There’s charm in someone who knows his own worth, and there’s allure in realizing they share that.
[break][break]
Even if sometimes they both may be idiots who think too highly of themselves, but of course Mars would never even bother with thinking that.
[break][break]
And speaking of idiots…
[break][break]
Of course he takes the bait.
[break][break]
”Oh, fuck you.” Once again, there’s a smirk, this time accompanied by a chuckle. And sure enough, he speeds up too in order to keep up, even if he’s well aware that there’s no way he can win in a race against Cian.
[break][break]
It’s still really fun.

[break][break]

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Aug 6, 2021 19:50:29 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

[attr="class","cian"]his heart thumps in his chest, still steady despite the fast pace they both find themselves in. it comes as no surprise when they overtake a few others along the way; cian makes sure to gracefully weave past them, flashing them smiles and good mornings before speeding ahead.

not long after they turn a corner, he picks up the pace once again, fully expecting mars to keep up.

in fact, he tilts his head over, smirking as he says:

"breathing pretty heavily over there, mars. you doing okay?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Martín del Mar

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Mars | Tuesday

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Aug 7, 2021 2:59:04 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","blboxmm"]

Thank god Mars is in good shape.
[break][break]
Needless to say, this is not how his morning run usually goes.
[break][break]
Usually, he’s alone with his thoughts and won’t even bother with things like conversation or music as he moves forward – running as far and as fast as he can run. Running until it's hard to breathe, until muscles ache, until he’s exhausted and can no longer run. Until all the memories fade away, returning to that dark corner of his mind where they usually lie and allowing him to go on about his day as if nothing had happened.
[break][break]
This time, it’s not the memories that fill his mind.
[break][break]
This time, he’s not alone.
[break][break]
This time, he looks at Cian.
[break][break]
And, as he does, it occurs to Mars that this may as well be the first time he sees Cian doing something he really loves. It all comes with a certain ease to him, as if naturally, and this is obvious just by running next to him. It’s nice to see, even if keeping up becomes harder and harder with every passing minute.
[break][break]
It makes Mars smile.
[break][break]
”Me? No need to worry about me, dulzura, but it’s sweet that you care.” He grins, and even though he might hate himself for it a second later, this time he’s the one who picks up the pace. ”Keep up, Cian!”
[break][break]

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Aug 7, 2021 7:04:50 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

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

typical.

it's been a while since cian's actually tried to push himself, but with mars now speeding ahead, he's forced to pick up the pace as well, legs carrying him even quicker. it's only then that he actually realizes just how fit mars is. it's not everyone who's able to keep up, let alone lead.

but experience makes the difference.

cian glides ahead, breathing still relatively light. he looks calm, at ease, perhaps in his element as he flashes mars a parting grin before running even faster.

"it's okay to give up, mars!"

[attr="class","noodles"]Martín del Mar

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Mars | Tuesday

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Aug 7, 2021 7:35:52 GMT

CIAN MAHER likes this

[nospaces]

[attr="class","blboxmm"]

Mars really hates losing.
[break][break]
It comes with having an ego, and he just isn’t used to it. So, stupidly competitive as he is, of course he tries to keep up even if it hurts like hell and it takes everything he has in him.
[break][break]
But in a situation like this, being fit and being competitive simply isn’t good enough.
[break][break]
”Man... What the hell?” Usually, he’d be annoyed, yet there’s something easy and carefree about the way Cian passes him without a problem, and Mars can’t help but stare at him. His heart flutters at the grin, although this could very well be a result of all this running.
[break][break]
He slows down, taking a few steps before finally stopping.
[break][break]
His breathing is heavy and he knows he’s sweating, but he doesn’t care at that very moment.
[break][break]
It’s not okay to give up, but sometimes losing is not such a bad thing. Sometimes even Mars can convince himself that this is the best outcome if there’s something even better to gain from it, and this is one of those times.
[break][break]
”Cian…”
[break][break]
What can he even say? He’s out of breath, yet he still smiles when looking at him.
[break][break]
”You really are amazing.”
[break][break]
He means it.
[break][break]

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Aug 7, 2021 9:22:20 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

[attr="class","cian"]casually, his gaze drifts over his shoulder and notices how there is a clear absence of a pog bank ceo next to him, or even anywhere close to him. so he slows down too, panting as he turns back around.

it doesn't take him long to reach mars. he slows to a halt, still looking almost as fresh as when they started.

"you okay?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Martín del Mar

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Aug 7, 2021 9:46:55 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","blboxmm"]

He needs a moment, alright?
[break][break]
It’s not hard to steady his breathing once no longer running, but he’s still tired. Somehow, Cian doesn’t seem to be though, and it only serves as a reminder of how hard he worked for years to be so good at running.
[break][break]
Inevitably, it also reminds him of everything they discussed on that one night at Slateport; of the reasons Cian doesn’t compete anymore.
[break][break]
Does he miss it?
[break][break]
Is it bad that Mars can’t help but wish he could have seen him win a race?
[break][break]
These are the things he can’t help but think about as Cian approaches, but instead of voicing any of these thoughts, Mars laughs. ”You’re going to make me feel like I’m out of shape, you know?” A smile.
[break][break]
”...That was fun.”
[break][break]
It had been... despite losing.
[break][break]
Then again, aren't things always fun when he's with Cian?
[break][break]

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Aug 7, 2021 10:14:29 GMT

[attr="class","cian"]cian misses a lot of things. running, sure, but more so the feeling of winning; the satisfaction of knowing he's the best at something, that he beat out all others to achieve it.

but also the feeling of approval, of support, and of love.

even now, on an innocent run that has nothing to do with tournaments or races, he inevitably thinks back to simpler days.

"it was. we should do it again."

despite the chuckle, he means what he says.

"maybe one day you'll be able to keep up."

[attr="class","noodles"]Martín del Mar

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Mars | Tuesday

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Aug 7, 2021 10:37:36 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","blboxmm"]

’We should do it again.’
[break][break]
Running with Cian instead of on his own?
[break][break]
Mars thinks about it one more time; about sharing something that has been so intimate for so long. And, honestly, even though before he ran from the thought, this time he looks at him and smiles:
[break][break]
”Yeah, we really should.”
[break][break]
Then, he laughs, even though he also does mean his words.
[break][break]
”Oh, fuck off. So rude to me today of all days.” A smirk, because he’s well aware he hasn’t actually told Cian what today is.
[break][break]
Will he think Mars is talking about the nightmare? Just in case, he corrects this.
[break][break]
”...I guess I may have forgotten to tell you.”
[break][break]
He hadn’t, but the simple truth is that now he doesn’t mind if Cian knows.
[break][break]
Even if he has kept it from everyone else.

[break][break]

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