MARCH UPDATE

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POSTED ON Oct 8, 2021 16:28:22 GMT

it had been a perfect birthday.

sadly, it has to come to an end eventually, and it's with a heavy sigh that he steps off the plane that just touched back down on hoenn soil. how unfortunate. if only they could've stayed in alto mare forever.

as they wait in line at customs, he asks:

"how busy are you today?"
Martín del Mar
☉

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Azul

Mars | Tuesday

He/Him

August 4th

Canalave City, Sinnoh

Bi / Demiro

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Oct 8, 2021 16:55:44 GMT

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All of his efforts had paid off: they had had a great time together, he had done everything he could to make sure Cian enjoyed his birthday, and in many ways, Mars would call the day perfect. A memorable one. One that he himself would look back to with fondness. Even if, by the time they return to Hoenn soil, there are still many things he hasn’t told Cian that he probably should have taken the chance to mention while alone together.
[break][break]
Cian’s words, while harmless in nature, remind him of the first and most important one of them.
[break][break]
’How busy are you today?’
[break][break]
You.
[break][break]
The word eats at him, as it has since that one strange night, but it’s impossible not to smile at it.
[break][break]
Before saying anything, he takes Cian’s hand, squeezing gently as they wait in line.
[break][break]
”I said I’d stop by the office if I had time, but I didn’t schedule anything. Why? Something you wanna do?”
[break][break]
Foresight on his part, really. Or, perhaps simply him knowing that he wouldn’t want to just leave Cian’s side to go work after spending an amazing day together.

[attr="class","rigidtag"]CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","rigidpokes"]

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Oct 8, 2021 17:24:45 GMT

the gentle squeeze is returned.

"yep. there's something i want to show you."

he grins, all too excited.

"it's a surprise, though. i already texted andrea the address."

only because he doesn't have the driver's contact info, otherwise he would've gone straight to them instead.
Martín del Mar
☉

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Azul

Mars | Tuesday

He/Him

August 4th

Canalave City, Sinnoh

Bi / Demiro

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Oct 8, 2021 17:59:26 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","rigid"]

[attr="class","rigidw"]

’There's something I want to show you.’
[break][break]
Despite the way the word rings in his mind, Mars can’t help but raise an eyebrow at this; finding Cian’s gaze while wondering what in the world he could mean. A surprise? For him? That sure is a twist compared to the previous day, isn’t it?
[break][break]
”Oh? Exciting. Alright, I’ll look forward to it.”
[break][break]
He smirks, because how couldn’t he?
[break][break]
”Do I at least get a hint?”

[attr="class","rigidtag"]CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","rigidpokes"]

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Oct 8, 2021 19:02:41 GMT

"well, it's not a gift for you, sadly."

where would he even have found the time to get a gift for mars? the two practically spend all their free time together. but if anyone could do it, it'd be cian.

"but it's something i've been looking forward to for a while."
Martín del Mar
☉

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Azul

Mars | Tuesday

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Oct 8, 2021 19:14:13 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","rigid"]

[attr="class","rigidw"]

Cian could have probably found a way to get him a gift, just like Mars has managed to do so, but even if he didn’t do as much, hearing of it isn’t disappointing in the slightest. Not when it comes followed by words like those.
[break][break]
”Babe, if it’s something that you’ve been looking forward to and that’ll make you happy, then that’s better than any gift.”
[break][break]
He says this with a wink and a smirk, as if he’s being jokingly soppy, but the truth is that he means his words, and that now he’s even more curious about what it could possibly be.
[break][break]
”Do I get another hint?”
[break][break]
Mars has never been good with not knowing things.

[attr="class","rigidtag"]CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","rigidpokes"]

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POSTED ON Oct 8, 2021 19:55:18 GMT

ugh. so soppy. he even rolls his eyes in response.

the question, though? that's met with a grin.

"no."

it's okay not to know things, mars.

and soon enough, they find themselves in the car and on the way to the mysterious location.
Martín del Mar
☉

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Azul

Mars | Tuesday

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Oct 9, 2021 2:04:50 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","rigid"]

[attr="class","rigidw"]

Obviously, as should only be expected, the fact that Cian rolls his eyes is met with an all too rare and ever so slight pout – one that may just be there only for his sake. Who else but Cian would get to see Mars doing things like those, after all? No one, because there are one too many sides of him that he’d never show anyone else.
[break][break]
Sides like the way the pout remains when the answer comes, and how it’s even accentuated – perhaps more honest this time. It comes in company of a look that’s almost pleading, as if he were saying ’please?~’, but of course, even this side of Mars would never actually beg for anything.
[break][break]
As they enter the car, he ends up chuckling, and while he looks out the window like a curious child wondering where the hell they might be going, soon enough he turns to Cian, and that all too familiar question is asked:
[break][break]
”Are we there yet?”
[break][break]
A smirk, because how couldn’t he smirk when considering how many times Cian asked him just that on the previous day?

[attr="class","rigidtag"]CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","rigidpokes"]

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Oct 9, 2021 9:31:57 GMT

are we there yet?

adorable.

"no."

and not much else is said besides that. it's almost too fun to tease mars, to watch how anxious he seems to be.

eventually, they arrive at rustboro's famous gym — the one that's owned and continues to be operated by the stone family.

"we're here!"
Martín del Mar
☉

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Azul

Mars | Tuesday

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Oct 9, 2021 10:02:06 GMT

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[attr="class","rigid"]

[attr="class","rigidw"]

”Ciaaan.”
[break][break]
This time, he whines, because as much as Mars may trust his perfect and amazing boyfriend, not knowing things does make him anxious indeed – particularly not knowing where the fuck he’s going. Who could blame him, really? Mars has always been bad at that sort of thing, and lately his life has been filled with one too many mysteries all too suddenly.
[break][break]
Thankfully, this mystery is one that is solved with much more ease than that of his “prophecy”.
[break][break]
When Cian announces their arrival, Mars looks out the window, the sight being all too recognizable even if he has never cared much for pokémon battles or collecting badges. How couldn’t it be? There’s more than one reason why Mars had made it his business to know.
[break][break]
”The gym? Why are we here?”
[break][break]
A few possibilities come to mind as he turns to look at Cian, but instead of asking, he simply steps out of the car.

[attr="class","rigidtag"]CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","rigidpokes"]

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POSTED ON Oct 9, 2021 14:08:16 GMT

why are they at the gym?

"thought it'd be nice to have a little run."

a lie, clearly, as neither of them are dressed for it. he steps out of the car as well, then reaches for mars' hand before leading him into the building.

the doors slide open, and after a friendly wave to the receptionist, cian leads them deeper into the building.

"are you excited?"
Martín del Mar
☉

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Azul

Mars | Tuesday

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Canalave City, Sinnoh

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Oct 9, 2021 14:27:57 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","rigid"]

[attr="class","rigidw"]

This time, it’s Mars who rolls his eyes at the obvious lie, even if this is quickly followed by the smirk that tugs at his lips when Cian takes his hand.
[break][break]
”Babe, come on, you can do better than that.”
[break][break]
It’s easily that he follows along, and while he does pay close attention to their surroundings, his focus remains on Cian and on the way he’s acting. This place means something to him, after all, and that is a fact Mars is all too aware of.
[break][break]
Even if he still doesn’t know the actual reason they’re here.
[break][break]
”Hell yeah, so you better tell me what’s going on soon.”
[break][break]
Soon.

[attr="class","rigidtag"]CIAN MAHER

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POSTED ON Oct 9, 2021 16:50:26 GMT

"alex used to run this gym. it was where he conducted his gym challenges, and where i worked as well."

worked, trained, whatever the word is, there's no changing how he spent years of his life in this very building.

it's almost sad to be returning to it without alex.

but he smiles, confident and proud.

"and now, it's where i'll conduct my challenges."
Martín del Mar
☉

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Azul

Mars | Tuesday

He/Him

August 4th

Canalave City, Sinnoh

Bi / Demiro

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TAG WITH @mars

POSTED ON Oct 9, 2021 17:21:35 GMT

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[attr="class","rigid"]

[attr="class","rigidw"]

”Oh I know that much,.. Never really came in here, though. Did it look like this back when you worked here?”
[break][break]
It’s with genuine curiosity that the question is asked, because when will Mars ever get a chance as good as this one to learn about that part of Cian’s past? It all also inevitably makes him think of ANA STONE, and of that one conversation they had about her family back when they visited the spa.
[break][break]
If only for a moment, he’s distracted thinking about all that, but it’s the proud smile on Cian’s face that grounds him and brings him back.
[break][break]
”Cian! Really?”
[break][break]
Cian’s smile is mirrored by one bright, happy, and equally as proud – proud of him, that is.
[break][break]
”That’s awesome!”
[break][break]
A hug follows this, because while all of it resulted someone expected from the moment they arrived at the gym, they're still happy news, and Mars really is proud of him.

[attr="class","rigidtag"]CIAN MAHER

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