There’s a first time for everything.
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First time buying Cian flowers. First time making him breakfast. First time spending his birthday together. First time they go on vacation...
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There’s bound to be a lot of firsts between them, especially with their relationship being as new as it is, but all of those first are things he’s thankful for so far, because they’re with Cian and no one else. They make him happy. They’re perfect.
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There’s no one else with whom he’d rather have all those firsts.
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”We do. Exciting, huh?”
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There are things he may be used to, luxuries he has enjoyed for most of his life, but even those are things he can gain a new appreciation for with Cian by his side.
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It's probably why the smile he gives him comes so easily.
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"What do you wanna do?"

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

they really are perfect. he wouldn't trade them for anything.

"really exciting."

cian pays the space around them a quick glance, observing, admiring, before returning back to mars with a grin.

"i dunno. it is really private..."

it's a knowing grin; one that should be expected.

"what do you wanna do?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Of course there’s no surprise when Cian’s words come, because it’s exactly what he would have expected him to say. It’s why he chuckles, shaking his head as if in a disbelief that isn’t actually there.
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”Private, with no interruptions if we don’t want them, but there’s still people who could hear us, so keep that in mind.”
[break][break]
Mars smirks, because as if they have ever cared about any of that.
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Then again, his words aren’t entirely true, are they? There could be interruptions if they encounter a problem or something of the sort, but that’s unlikely to happen…
[break][break]
A late summer day with clear skies, a smooth fight to Alto Mare. What will they do with those hours?

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

"true, but we both know we can't be quiet."

they could try like they usually do, but eventually, they both stop caring enough. or maybe they never cared at all and trying to be quiet is all part of the fun. likely the latter.

after cian removes whatever distance is between them, the hours seem to fly by real fast, and the next thing he knows, they're about to land in alto mare.

"that was a fun plane ride."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Plane rides, even those that are only a couple of hours, involve a lot of waiting around. On a private jet they also involve things like comfortable seats, champagne, and fancy snacks, but in this case both of the latter things never come. Probably because it’s not long after take off that they get too busy for all of that; busy until it’s announced that they should fasten their seatbelts because the plane is about to land.
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Alto Mare.
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”Oh, was it? What was your favourite part?”
[break][break]
As if he doesn’t know.
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There's a chuckle, and a kiss on his cheek follows it.
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Landing will take a few minutes, and it will probably be the last few minutes they have all alone for some time. After all, even a rich CEO can’t escape the hassle of airport customs… Most of the time.
[break][break]
”Have you decided what you wanna do first yet, by the way?”

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

"i can't pick, really. i loved every bit of it."

love.

when would be the right time to say it? is there even a right time? he's struggled with his feelings for long enough to know what he feels is genuine and real, so what's stopping him?

he buckles his seatbelt, smiling as mars kisses his cheek.

"are you hungry? we could grab some food first."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Love.
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It’s a nice thought: the idea that Cian may love every moment they spend together. Does that mean he loves him, then? That they love each other? Mars is no fool, and he knows his own feelings, just like he knows exactly what’s stopping him from sharing them…
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It’s the memory, it’s the thought of everything that happened the last time he loved someone, and it’s also those words that haven’t left his mind ever since that recent fateful night:
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Every flower dies. Every seed perishes.
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Is it maybe also that he’s worried about what’s to come?
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He really should tell Cian about all that…
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And yet, he just smiles, because being with him makes Mars incredibly happy, as does that one word no matter how often it’s pronounced.
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You.
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”Oh, food sounds great. How about some authentic Alto Marean pizza?"
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French toast and pizza… Birthdays count as diet cheat day, right?


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

birthdays definitely count, but it's not like cian cares too much about his diet anyway. so the suggestion is met with an eager smile and a nod.

"sure, but you gotta make sure it's authentic-authentic, not tourist-authentic."

leave it to someone who's clearly traveled around and gone on multiple holidays to know the difference.

he quickly leans in to kiss mars' cheek before settling back into his seat, sighing.

"getting through customs is gonna be a drag."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

”Babe, you think I’d fall for tourist traps?”
[break][break]
When visiting a new place? Maybe. But, in Alto Mare? Never. Not when he has been here so many times before. Not when it’s one of the only places linking him to aspects of his heritage that he actually loves. Those are not things he has told Cian about, but they may be things he tells him about later into this little trip of theirs…
[break][break]
He had suggested visiting Alto Mare not just because it’s a place he thought Cian would like, but also because it’s one he truly loves more than most.
[break][break]
”I know, sorry about that. Once it’s over we can do whatever we want, though.”
[break][break]
With a faint smirk, he takes Cian’s hand, also leaning back into his seat.
[break][break]
They probably shouldn’t be complaining when flying in a private jet and enjoying all the privileges that come with it (such as not having to wait stupid amounts of time to get off the plane), but leave it to someone like Mars to always find ways in which things could be better.
[break][break]
Then again, Mars could probably get out of it with a few calls, but he’s not that entitled.



[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

cian's definitely the type to fall for tourist traps but only because he likes experiencing everything at least once, or at least that's the reason he gives for falling for them.

"just making sure, hehe."

he winks, taking mars' hand in his before resting his head back, enjoying the rest of their flight as they descend down for their landing.

and after a rather smooth landing, cian peers out the window, smiling.

"looks like we're here."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Hehe.
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Really?
[break][break]
”Hmm… Too cute.”
[break][break]
Their fingers intertwine, a thumb drawing gentle circles upon the back of Cian’s hand while Mars looks out the window. It’s soon that they begin to descend and that the canals for which the city is so famous come into sight. Usually, the main way to access the isolated island would be by ferry from Cherrygrove City, but there are definitely more perks than what Mars made obvious to having the sort of connections he has.
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The airport is small, and in reality, going through customs won’t be bad at all.
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”Yeah, we’re a little far from the city, but I guess it gives us a chance to see more of the island on the way there.”
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Taking the ferry would have been nice too, even if much more time-consuming...
[break][break]
Maybe next time.

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

if cian could only describe alto mare with one word, it'd be beautiful. everything from the colors to the architecture just speaks to him. it's so unique and unfamiliar that he can't help but be enthralled by it all.

by the time the plane slows to a halt, cian's about ready to jump out to start exploring.

"come on, mars! up, up! we gotta get going."

he wastes no time in dragging mars out of the plane and, eventually, through customs.

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

It really is too cute.
[break][break]
Mars has seen many sides of Cian before, and he would definitely claim to know him well, but he can’t help but feel happy every time a new one shows itself. Just as happy as Cian himself is when they land in Alto Mare, but probably not as excited – it would be really difficult to match that kind of excitement.
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”Okay, okay! We’re going.”
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He laughs, and he lets Cian drag him out of the jet and through customs, a smile lingering on his lips even after they leave the small airport to find the car that’s parked waiting for them.
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”Do you wanna drive or should I?”
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Does Cian even know how to drive? Mars has never had a reason to ask…
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He may know him well, but there's still a lot of things that are left to be discovered.


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+ CIAN MAHER