of course.

cian softly chuckles, nodding as he finally turns to look at the painting. it's of a sunflower.

"if you're bad at it...just say you're into abstract art or something."

"let's take a class when we get back. or here, if they offer one somewhere."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

”See? That’s way too smart, smarter than what I would have done.”
[break][break]
Mars chuckles, but reality is that the reason why he dislikes the fact that he’s not good at painting is because such a knowledge is frustrating – perhaps because it means he’s nothing like her. Still, this is something he doesn’t say.
[break][break]
”I like the idea of making you pretend you love my toddler-like paintings, though.”
[break][break]
They’re probably not as bad as toddler-like…
[break][break]
Despite his own words, he grins with confidence, and Cian’s hand is squeezed so very gently.
[break][break]
”Yeah, let’s do that when we get back.”
[break][break]
And so, they move on to the next painting.

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

"oh, will i actually have to pretend, though?"

even if he does, mars might never know as cian's quite good at acting. it's not lying, though, is it? if it's to make mars happy?

painting by painting they go, and soon enough, they reach the end of the art exhibit. it approaches evening, which means...

"so. time for the canal?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Mars wouldn’t know if Cian pretends or not, and that much he’s aware of. If he were someone else, perhaps this would concern him; perhaps it would make him doubt, perhaps it would make him wonder just how often Cian pretends. Instead of doing all of this, he smiles about it.
[break][break]
”Aw, are you saying you’d like your boyfriend’s paintings even if they’re shitty? You’re so sweet.”
[break][break]
He chuckles, kissing Cian's cheek, and it’s with these loving gestures that they continue onwards – painting by painting until reaching the last exhibit.
[break][break]
”Yeah, let’s go.”
[break][break]
The canals.
[break][break]
There’s things he probably should tell him when they’re there…
[break][break]
Thinking on this yet still smiling, Mars leads them out of the building and towards the waterways.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

the waterways are beautiful, as they usually are, but even more so during this time of day. it's getting later, approaching evening as the sun continues to drift down towards the horizon, slowly shifting colors to a warm orange.

cian tugged mars down the stairs.

"do we just...approach someone?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

A city built as if on the water itself.
[break][break]
Perhaps, that is part of why Mars likes Alto Mare so much; why there’s something so calming about it, something that makes him feel safe.
[break][break]
It probably also has to do with the memories that come with it, and with the fact that it makes him think of his father, but maybe it’s better to think that it’s about the water.
[break][break]
About these canals.
[break][break]
About being here with Cian instead of with anyone else.
[break][break]
”We could… We could probably rent a boat or something, or we could just watch the sunset from one of the bridges, up to you.”
[break][break]
He smiles, looking at him.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

a few options are presented to him and he ends up choosing for the one that seems the most romantic.

"let's rent a boat."

and in typical cian fashion, he walks straight up to the first one he sees and starts negotiating like all tourists do.

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Truth is Mars could have given him a few more options. He could have suggested more typical tourist things like taking a gondola down the canal and all of that, but those things would have been less private, less intimate, and thus less enjoyable no matter how romantic they may seem.
[break][break]
So, he’s glad Cian chooses to rent a boat, and for a moment, he simply watches him as he approaches the nearest one and starts to negotiate with the person in charge of renting it.
[break][break]
There’s a chuckle, and Mars approaches too; easily smoothing down the deal so that within a few minutes they’re boarding a small boat.
[break][break]
”Towards the sea or deeper into the city?”



[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

cian huffs because he definitely didn't need mars smoothing down the deal. he had it handled, thanks!

"towards the sea."

because that's the option mars would like more. or at least he thinks it is.

"better view of the sunset, right?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

’Towards the sea.’
[break][break]
They’re the words Mars had wanted to hear, and they’re perhaps words that will always make him smile. After all, to him only a few things are better than being at sea and away from land, and it’s all the more perfect when having Cian by his side.
[break][break]
”Yeah, always.”
[break][break]
A confident smirk is given, and it remains tugging at his lips as he calmly pilots the small vessel through the canal – towards the open ocean.
[break][break]
”So, how’s your birthday been so far?”

[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

always.

the word, as simple as it may be, leaves him smiling as they venture out into open waters, breaking free from the narrow waterways of alto mare.

how has his birthday been?

"perfect, thanks to you."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

’Thanks to you.’
[break][break]
Mars would have been glad and relieved just by hearing Cian’s birthday has been perfect, but there’s no denying how happy the addition of these three simple words makes him. How couldn’t it, when this in itself has been his goal all along? To make sure that Cian enjoys himself. To make sure he has an amazing day – a day he’ll never forget.
[break][break]
It’s nice to know that he can do things like those for him.
[break][break]
”Yeah? That’s good.”
[break][break]
Once reaching open waters, they come to a stop, and Mars goes to sit next to him.
[break][break]
”What would make it even better?”
[break][break]
Is this enough?
[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

not much, honestly. he has everything he could ever want right there with him.

this time, he decides to voice his thoughts.

"nothing. i already have you."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉