Without hesitation, her lips curled up into a smile, and a shot of air blew out from her nose.
[break][break]
"mhm."
[Break][break]
It was such a lame response, but with her head being thrown into a haze and her heart spiraling out of control, not many other words fit her thoughts. And, beyond just that, a part of her just wanted to confirm this moment, one last time, and erase whatever shrivels of doubt still lingered in her head.
[Break][break]
Slow and cautious, she leaned forward, eyes fluttering close.
[Break][break]
Kiss me,she thought, desperately.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

as lame of a response as she might think it be, cian finds it to be just the opposite. his heart leaps, bounds, and the pink in his cheeks contrast the dark blue of the night sky.

whatever consequences that may come will be dealt with later. for now, lost in the moment and in their bubble, he leans forward, closing his eyes as he finds her lips in a kiss that almost feels longing.

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

 This kiss wasn't like the ones they shared before.
[break][break]
The intimacy alone felt like soft rain on a summer evening.
[break][break]
Like time stopped when her lips met his, and the fluttering she felt in her stomach only continued to intensify, up until hitting its climax, where it stayed until their lips would eventually part.
[break][break]
Like the pounding of her heart blocked out all else, forcing her to keep her attention on Cian, and him alone, or otherwise succumb to the raw emotion that flared up her chest.
[break][break]
At least, that's how it felt for her.
[break][break]
When they finally broke apart from one another, she couldn't help but smile, and soft laughter fell from her lips.
[break][break]
Giddy, she fell back into the pile of pillows behind her. The stars glimmered up above, and for the first time in a long ass time, she felt good. Happy, even.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

are we cursed, brother?

his question to caden maher floats into his headspace only to be met with a smirk.

no, they aren't cursed. he had just been trying to find an easy excuse to why things have not worked out for him. why he's lonely, miserable, and unlovable. he'd been a fool then.

"i think this is my new favorite spot in hoenn."

he chuckles, gaze lost in the stars.

"by your side, i mean."

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

His words felt like fire on her skin.
[break][break]
And, for a second, she had to question whether this was still real. If he was still real.
[break][break]
She lightly tugged on his shirt, hoping he'd fall down beside her, so she could crawl up into the crook of his neck.
[break][break]
"Well," she chuckled, "you officially have 24/7 access to it. Just make sure not to go too crazy with your privileges."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"lucky me."

tugged by his shirt, he lowers back down by her side, nuzzling closer as the soft blankets cushion their weight.

chuckling, he kisses her cheek sweetly.

"the same goes for you, by the way. you can always reach me, penny. day or night."

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

"I'm going to hold you to that," she smiled.
[Break][Break]
Looking up, her eyes trace the stars dotting the sky. There weren't too many, thanks to Lilycove's bright lights and city structure, but there were enough for Penelope.
[Break][break]
"Are you a big star gazing kinda guy?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"kinda. i love doing it when i get the time to."

his gaze sweeps across dark blue painted by dots of yellow and gold.

"the stars here are similar to rustboro, though. they're quite hard to see, aren't they?"

sighing softly, he tilts his head over at her, preferring the view to the stars.

"there's this cabin just outside petalburg we used to go to when we were younger. i'll take you sometime. the skies are so clear there it's beautiful."

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

"the stars here are similar to rustboro, though. they're quite hard to see, aren't they?"
[break][break]
She sighed.
[break][break]
"It's awful, isn't it?"
[break][break]
To be so close, yet so far from the natural beauty hoenn had to offer. It was enough to make her pray for a city-wide blackout on more than one occasion.
[break][break]
At the mention of the cabin, Penelope looked up at him again, eyes quick to light up with excitement. "I'd love to see it."
[break][break]
Smiling, she rolled back into place, her head snuggling closer onto his chest.
[break][break]
"My dad and I actually used to go star gazing a lot, back when I was little. It felt like those were the only time we weren't at each other's necks. At some point, it made me even consider becoming an astronomer, which would've been a disaster since I'm shit at math."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

cian laughs.

"same. i also think there's a height requirement..."

which she likely does not meet. not that it matters because it's meant in jest, but teasing her is still fun.

appreciating her weight on him, he smiles.

"that sounds nice. when was the last time you went stargazing?"

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

"Heyyy," she laughed, giving him a playful slap on the chest.
[Break][Break]
When was the last time they went out?
[Break][Break]
She knew itd been years, but how old was she again? 10? 11, maybe?
[Break][Break]
"I don't remember."
[Break][Break]
Was the answer she went with. It came out softly, like a painful memory bubbling back to the surface without permission. "Before I first ran away, I think. So 10?"


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

perhaps he has poked at something painful, something she would've much rather have kept private, and though it's not too late to stop, he presses on, curiosity (and perhaps an instinctive need to protect her) getting the better of him.

"i never knew you did."

his voice is soft as well.

"how..." he pauses, "how many times did you run away?"

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

"Five times?"
[break][break]
Another unsure answer. Though, unlike the first, this one came with relative ease, but that came with no surprise. It's always harder to remember the good moments, than the bad.
[break][break]
Sighing, her eyelids slid close. For a moment, she just wanted focus on Cian's warmth and the security that came with it.
[break][break]
"My parents and I, we never really saw eye to eye."
[break][break]
Her brows furrowed.
[break][break]
"They wanted me to become a doctor-- follow the family tradition, and all that. Obviously, it didn't pan out that way, but getting to where I am now was a struggle."
[break][break]
Turning, she flipped back over towards Cian, her cheek resting on the top of his chest. Looking up, her eyes meet his, "I remember, back when they started ramping up their expectations of me-- that's when I started to do it. I would normally run and hide with our neighbors or friends. Except for the last time. That time I kinda hid out in a random person's shed for, like, 3 days."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]