briefly, cian wondered if mars had any childhood friends he still kept in touch with. they'd likely be in either sinnoh or kalos, wouldn't they? maybe they could visit them sometime in the future.

but for now, his attention shifted to the souvenirs, and as he entered the shop, he took one quick glance around in awe and excitement.

"aw, this place is cute."

the first thing he gravitated towards were handmade wooden puzzles of various buildings in alto mare. it lokked fun to assemble, and maybe it was something @elliott and Roman Maher would appreciate.

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Mars does have childhood friends, and most of them are indeed in Sinnoh. There were a handful in Kalos too, but the memories of them are faded and he only vaguely remembers them, because of course his family would have never let him keep in touch with anyone he knew back at that point in his life.
[break][break]
Still, some of them are in Hoenn, and he probably should introduce Cian to them…
[break][break]
Briefly, he wonders if Cian has even told anyone that they’re together, and if he actually wants him to meet the other people who are important in his life.
[break][break]
Yes, briefly, if only for a mere second, he doubts, but those things are easily pushed away in favour of looking at souvenirs.
[break][break]
”It kind of is, huh? Those are nice, I can’t even remember the last time I did a puzzle.”
[break][break]
There’s a chuckle, his attention shifting to absentmindedly looking at their surroundings in search for something that catches his eye.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

cian could count on one hand the number of people he had told about mars, but that had nothing to do with the pog bank ceo himself, but more so because cian just didn't like sharing that part about his life with most people. the most important people in his life knew, apart from boruta maher.

"i'll get one for us to do as well."

he sifted through the options, selecting some that he thought looked best, and one that looked the most difficult to do.

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

There’s only a few people who Mars himself has told about Cian, but really, who else would he tell?
[break][break]
So far, he has been cautious about it because of his family, but in reality he’d be more than happy if everyone in his life knew about it, because such things simply matter to him. It’s almost as if out of pride to him; about being proud to be with Cian.
[break][break]
”You will? That’d be cute… Look at you, already coming up with things for us to do together during our retiree life here.”
[break][break]
A kiss is blown in Cian’s direction, chuckling a moment later, but while Mars may have been joking, there’s still something nice and sweet about the idea of doing something like a puzzle together.

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

as nice and sweet as it was, he knew he wouldn't be able to hide the inevitable fact that...

"i fucking hate puzzles, though."

he had no patience. most of the puzzles he had tried to solve in the past were abandoned not long after he started because honestly, he had no time for them.

still, he smiled at mars.

"but doing one with you sounds like fun."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Let’s be honest, Mars thinking he could have completed a puzzle is his own hubris talking and nothing more, because while he’s incredibly stubborn and could have pushed himself to do as much after a lot of frustration, that’s also not a good thing at all. It wouldn’t end up being fun for either of them, and isn’t fun the whole point of things like these?
[break][break]
So, when hearing Cian, he can’t help but chuckle, giving him a wink with his next words:
[break][break]
”Babe, who says the puzzle wouldn’t just be an excuse?”
[break][break]
Since, knowing himself, and knowing them both, it’s all too likely that they’d end up getting distracted once the puzzle bored them or frustrated them even in the slightest, and then things would actually be fun.
[break][break]
Doesn’t that mean Cian’s right, then?
[break][break]
Even if he actually does mean doing a puzzle together, the comment makes Mars happy, as does the way Cian smiles at him when saying it.
[break][break]
”You’re cute. We can try sometime, I bet we’d end up having fun anyway.”
[break][break]
A kiss on the cheek, because don’t they always have fun together?


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

"an excuse for what? hehe."

leave it to cian to play innocent at the most obvious time. he simply smiles, sifting through more puzzles before ending up with a few to purchase.

he leans into the kiss, happy.

"we would. did you pick out some to buy?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

The fact that Cian plays innocent comes as no surprise, so instead of somehow making it even more obvious, he decides to play along, stepping closer as if to look at the puzzles too. It’s over Cian’s shoulder that Mars looks at the few options he chose, and of course the next words are whispered to his ear in a quiet and low tone:
[break][break][break]
”Then I guess that’s for me to know and for you to find out.”
[break][break]
He smirks, and then there's the kiss, ever too happy not to do things like those even if at a small store.
[break][break]
”Hmm…”
[break][break]
Is he going to buy anything?
[break][break]
Mars almost hums as he considers the question, looking at their surroundings once more.
[break][break]
”I don’t really know who to get stuff for, though… Maybe I’ll get one of my friends a couple of those shot glasses or something, he’d put them to good use.”
[break][break]
For a second, Mars wonders if there's anyone else he should get some souvenir for.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

it's only when mars whispers in that sweet and sultry tone of his that cian finally notices the store owner. she's an old lady, likely in her sixties, with aging gray hair and a smile bright enough to warm the darkest of days.

no guilt comes, however. sorry, granny.

"he sounds like a fun time."

he looks around then, too.

"you should get something for andrea."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Sorry, granny.
[break][break]
Not like Mars is actually sorry, of course. There’s nothing shocking about the fact that the feelings and opinions of the elderly are nowhere high in the list of things that are important to him, and as to go along with this, he barely even notices the store owner after the moment when they first walked through the door.
[break][break]
In reality, he’s just all too focused on giving Cian his undivided attention.
[break][break]
”He can be really fun, yeah. We went to school together... I think you’d like him.”
[break][break]
Except for the fact that URIAH BLACK did offer to beat Cian up more than once, but obviously Mars isn’t going to throw his friend under the bus like that… or is he?
[break][break]
Thankfully for Uri, the mention of Andrea distracts him.
[break][break]
”Oh. You think so?”
[break][break]
Would Andrea even like some souvenirs?
[break][break]
Mars takes a moment to consider this.

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

"yeah? why haven't i met him?"

but then again, the same question could be asked to cian as well, as he's yet to introduce mars to any of his friends or family.

cian nods, pretty certain that andrea would appreciate a souvenir.

"i think she'd appreciate it. she works really hard, after all."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

’Why haven't I met him?’
[break][break]
The same question could be asked to Cian, and in fact, Mars had even mentioned it earlier...
[break][break]
Why should he answer when Cian himself hadn’t, then?
[break][break]
Perhaps because there’s no point in being petty about things like those. Perhaps because he knows it would be hypocritical of him to be upset about things like those when the last thing he himself would want is for Cian to meet the people who call themselves his supposed “family”.
[break][break]
But, that’s much different, isn’t it?
[break][break]
”You can meet him whenever you want, it’s just… Kind of complicated, I guess. He joined the military after moving to Hoenn.”
[break][break]
Mars shrugs at this, but it’s as simple as that: friend of his or not, there’s nothing smart about introducing his boyfriend, who also happens to be a criminal, to a League officer.
[break][break]
After all, there’s one too many things Mars hasn’t told Uri for his own sake, but once more, he allows the topic of souvenirs to distract him from such things.
[break][break]
”True, she does… I wonder what I should get her, though. She’s not much for that sort of thing.”


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

the military? cian laughs.

"sounds dreadful."

who would ever? he couldn't even begin to imagine. but then again, is rocket much different? both require time, commitment, and loyalty, and both required them to get their hands dirty eventually.

he picks up a random puzzle, extending it over to mars.

"she likes puzzles, and little keychains."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉