”True, but a lot about doing business is about interpersonal connections, and closing a deal over the phone is not the same as doing it in person… I don’t wanna just be stuck in an office all day, you know?”
[break][break]
It probably would be difficult to understand, but the stupidly long meetings and the negotiations that can seem like such a hassle are one of the things he likes the most out of his job. Probably because he loves talking to people. Probably because he enjoys the feeling that comes when they give into his wishes and a deal is closed exactly as he had planned – as per usual, Mars likes winning a little too much.
[break][break]
And yet, as much as he may like that feeling, it’s nothing compared to how happy he feels when hearing Cian’s next words – no matter if they’re said in passing and with a scoff.
[break][break]
‘You know I’d come with you.’
[break][break]
He smiles, and not just because of the presence of the word.
[break][break]
”I know, but I love it when you say that kind of stuff.”
[break][break]
Love.
[break][break]
The topic is set aside to focus on the pizza, and he too takes a bite. Cian’s right: it’s good.
[break][break]
”Better than anything we could order in Hoenn, right?”
[break][break]
Sorry, Hoennian pizza places, but it's just the truth.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

it is difficult to undertand but only because cian's never really worked a day in his life before, at least not in the same way mars has. he could never do an office job, and he's never even thought about trying.

love.

"i dunno. joe joe's pizzeria compares quite well."

no it definitely doesn't. joe joe's does one of the worst pizzas he's ever eaten in his life, but there's something about it that keeps him going back for more. maybe it's the buy one get three special.

"i could see myself living here, you know."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Cian will probably never understand all the reasons why Mars likes his job so much, but that’s alright, because he doesn’t really need to understand. It doesn’t change things between them. Not as long as Cian knows that those things do matter to him...
[break][break]
”Babe, why do I have a feeling I’m better off not even asking what Joe Joe’s Pizzeria is?”
[break][break]
Probably because if Cian thought their pizza were anything Mars would like, he would have ordered it for them before today. But, he hasn’t, and that says enough, doesn’t it?
[break][break]
He chuckles, but as much as he may be enjoying the moment, the next words do take him by surprise – even if Cian had claimed he would be okay with coming to live here with him just a moment ago.
[break][break]
”Yeah? Would you wanna live near the canals or out of the city?”
[break][break]
It’s not like it’ll ever happen, but it’s nice to dream – to imagine. Something fun to talk about while they enjoy their pizza.



[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

"you've never tried joe joe's pizzeria?"

sarcasm drenched his words. as gross and delicious as joe joe's could be at times, depending on one's sobriety, he knew mars would most likely hate it, which was why he had never bothered ordering it for them before.

now, though? he just might have to.

with his first slice done, he reached for another.

"near the canals, please. i want a balcony so i can stare out into the canals."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

”No, and you better not order it next time we’re at your place just because you think I won’t like it. Don’t torment your poor boyfriend.”
[break][break]
Poor. What’s so poor about Mars? His life may not be perfect, he may have suffered through things that most people out there wouldn’t even be able to imagine, and there may still be a lot of awful things haunting him and keeping him from living peacefully, but at these moments, while enjoying something as simple as a pizza with Cian, his life seems pretty damn perfect.
[break][break]
It may be why he smirks, and why talking about unlikely hypotheticals like moving to Alto Mare together makes him so happy.
[break][break]
”Oh, true… Getting up in the morning to open the window and seeing the canals then sounds pretty perfect. If we’re moving here I want a sailboat, though.”
[break][break]
As much as he enjoys his yacht, there’s a certain charm to going sailing – one he deeply misses. Doing so in the seas near Alto Mare sounds amazing…
[break][break]
”Big house or small one?”
[break][break]
Definitely not an apartment.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

"we'll get you a sailboat, don't you worry."

was it fair of him to say 'we' when it'll most likely be mars' money that'll end up purchasing the sailboat? perhaps. it was a team effort, after all.

"hmm, i could see us living in either one."

smaller houses were naturally more comfortable, private, and it was what he preferred.

"big house sounds nice, though, so we'd have space for our pokemon."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

It definitely would be Mars’ money that they’d spend if they were to get a sailboat, but that’s not really what matters to him. Under those circumstances, it would be a decision they’d make together, so saying ’we’ is actually correct.
[break][break]
”Aw, you’re so sweet. Will you go sailing with me, then?”
[break][break]
Does Cian even know anything about sailing and how different it is from just chilling on a yacht? Probably not, but that’s fine.
[break][break]
”Big houses can feel empty easily… But I guess it’s fine if we have our pokémon around. We can also invite people over – plenty of new people to meet at Alto Mare, right?”
[break][break]
Neither of them are shy or antisocial, after all, but Mars knows well just how empty a huge house can feel sometimes. Although, that probably has to do with the fact that he always hated the Marzán villa at Canalave and that his family never let him have pokémon as a child…
[break][break]
He takes another slice of pizza.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

had cian ever been sailing? likely not. it was a relatively common holiday activity but the mahers just never got around to it, he supposed. he didn't feel like he missed out on much, but now, when asked to accompany mars, he wished he had gone at least once before.

"i've never been so you'll have to teach me, but of course."

it was a good point: big houses can feel empty easily, but he was also sure that they'd have no issues solving that.

"definitely. plus, you already speak the language, so it'll be easy to meet new people."

not to mention the fact that they were both very sociable.

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

”Of course I will, it will be fun.”
[break][break]
Will be. As if it will actually happen one day. As if they’re sure of it. As if they both know that they’ll be together in the future.
[break][break]
Maybe it’s just something that happened naturally or maybe it’s just that they don’t want to break the illusion when talking about these things, but upon realizing it, Mars can’t help but smile at the thought of whatever may await them.
[break][break]
’You’ sounds so much sweeter when Cian says it to him, especially when accompanied by words like these...
[break][break]
”Babe, we’re still in Johto, you’d meet new people just fine. Plus, who could resist your charm?”
[break][break]
A wink then, because of course there’s wink, yet his words are still honest.



[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

cian rarely planned anything for the future but, somehow, he knew they'd still be together in the future, and so plans came naturally, never forced. it made him feel safe, secure, and optimistic in a way he'd never been before.

hopeful.

mars' wink was met with a chuckle and a shrug of a shoulder.

"no one, really."

because his charm was infectious, as he had been told.

"so, when are we moving?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

The last time Mars had planned his future with someone, it had all been lost; everything they had built together had crumbled, and she had been taken from him in the cruelest way possible. For the longest of times, he told himself he would never dare plan a future with someone again, but here he is now, talking about moving to Alto Mare with Cian while eating pizza at a restaurant…
[break][break]
Why does it make him so happy?
[break][break]
Why does he feel so sure about it?
[break][break]
Why is the thought so warm and comforting?
[break][break]
It’s things like these that strengthen his resolve, but at these moments, the only thing in his mind is Cian – for once not considering every threat and obstacle. He can think about those things later, and he can keep planning how to take care of them too.
[break][break]
”When do you wanna move?”
[break][break]
It couldn’t possibly happen anytime soon, yet his smile is there regardless – unwilling to burst their bubble.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER

it was a simple question, and yet, it carried with it so much weight. he didn't know his answer; he just knew that a move would be inevitable. honestly, he'd move anywhere with mars.

"whenever."

their bubble persisted for a little longer.

he bit into his pizza, chewing quickly before adding:

"how about next year?"

it left almost too casually.

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Whenever.
[break][break]
Wherever.
[break][break]
It obviously isn’t as easy as that and will never be, but Mars can understand the sentiment that exists behind those words, and he shares it: one day they will move together, no matter where to. Is it wishful thinking, or is it just that he has full confidence and faith in their relationship?
[break][break]
”Next year?”
[break][break]
That would be almost impossible with the way things are now, but the idea is too nice to let all those thoughts ruin it.
[break][break]
So, his response comes equally as casual and just before taking a bite from his slice of pizza:
[break][break]
”Sure, next year.”
[break][break]
And then, he smiles.


[break][break]

+ CIAN MAHER