"sup?"

responding out of pure instinct, he stops, turns, and locks eyes with a man who looks oddly familiar.

oh, shit.

"you look different."

this is the first time he's seen jayden dressed in something as proper as this. he even looks like a ceo! imagine that. but that raises a concern:

what is it with cian and ceos? he can't seem to shake them.

"it's been a while, huh?"

jayden cross

☉

different. did he? he certainly didn't feel like it.

[break][break] "you look the same."

[break][break] despite the way it may have appeared, especially with the deadpan expression that the ex-beast often frequented, this was actually a compliment. there was something to be said for people who had enough stability to remain consistent throughout their lifetimes, without succumbing to the ebbs and flows of everyday life.

[break][break] "yes, it has." jayden offers no other condolonces than this — he isn't sure how much cian knows, or was privy to know, about his activities in kanto. or rather, how much cian wanted to know.

[break][break] instead —

[break][break] "what are you doing here?"

[break][break] ah.

[break][break] "oh — that's right. you're a minor gym leader here, aren't you?"

[break][break] jayden did like to keep tabs on his friends, after all.

[break][break] that was what he and cian were. friends. though, perhaps it was a little more complicated than that.

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

"you keeping tabs on me, jayden?"

whatever little distance exists between them is quickly closed as cian approaches, almost teasing in the way he smiles and leans in close.

his eyes wander for a moment, taking jayden in properly before flicking back up to meet his.

"i like this new look. you look good."

jayden cross

☉

he blinks.

[break][break] "of course."

[break][break] it doesn't occur to him to do anything else. it has always been second-nature to him to keep tabs on most rockets, especially the ones that he's been in contact with. as his father had once told him, 'mischa, you must always know your surroundings. you can never be caught off-guard.'

[break][break] even within his home. within rocket.

[break][break] but maybe that wasn't the only reason he'd kept tabs on CIAN MAHER.

[break][break] jayden doesn't move as the other approaches him, only looking after him in the deadpan way that he usually does. his expression is curious as the other peers over him, only to betray his bemusement when the other offers a compliment.

[break][break] "thank you," he says, genuinely. he tilts his head, looking at the other in turn. "you as well, cian."

[break][break] a pause, before he adds, "what've you been up to? i don't think i've seen you around lately. the gym keeping you busy?"

[break][break]

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

the returned compliment is ignored, brushed aside because, in all honesty, cian knows.

what has he been up to?

besides the gym, he now works for dahlia goode and the league, but he isn't about to tell a former beast that even if said beast is a friend.

actually, is jayden even a friend? yes, cian thinks so, but is it a shared sentiment?

"yeah! i'm a big shot now running the gym."

he huffs.

"when are you going to visit?"

jayden cross

☉

it's probably a good think that cian doesn't leak his secrets. jayden isn't the type to betray his loyalty, which is a fact that the other probably knows all too well.

[break][break] "a big shot, hm?"

[break][break] the ex-beast seems to consider this, sincerely.

[break][break] "how about now? i'm free."

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

"you know it."

in fact, he's probably the most active minor league gym leader even if he doesn't realize it, and that's something considering his other responsibilities.

"hm? now?"

he grins.

"you really wanna get beat this early in the day?"

jayden cross

☉

many people did not know it, considering that jayden very rarely let his emotions show. that being said, the ex-beast was a little more competitive than he would like to admit — especially when his opponent in question was someone like CIAN MAHER.

[break][break] "bold of you to assume that you'd win. i was a beast, after all."

[break][break] his eyes gleam.

[break][break] "let's go."

[break][break]

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

"was."

the correction comes quickly in a teasing manner as cian reaches out to playfully nudge jayden on his shoulder. but he accepts, leading them to his gym which takes about no time.

inside, they find themselves on the battlefield, and as usual, his tyranitar is sleeping off to the side of the room.

"single?"

he means the battle-type but whatever jayden may perceive it as is fine with him.

jayden cross

☉

[attr="class","top"]

someone more prickly — perhaps like parker jones — may have taken offense to the statement, but jayden doesn't. after all, the conditions of his dismissal were a matter of duty. he did what rocket commanded, and did not question it.

[break][break] quite different from CIAN MAHER , even if he wouldn't know it.

[break][break] "sure," he says, reaching for his pokeball in turn. his drifblim materializes between them both, staring owlishly at the other trainer. "i'll be using marya."

[break][break] as always, the secondary meaning of the phrase rises above jayden's head completely.

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

the sleeping tyranitar pokes its head up to see if it's needed. cian shakes his head in return, sending it back to sleep. there will be no need for SANDSTORMS today.

instead, he calls out an unfamiliar pokemon, and watches as the dark-type materializes in front of him.

"i don't have mine named but it's a samurott."

its SWORDS DANCE empowers it as it stares down the drifblim, ready for a fight.

"good luck, cutie!"

jayden cross

☉

[attr="class","top"]

he blinks. a samurott?

[break][break] "it looks different," he remarks.

[break][break] jayden is not ordinarily one to mince works, and neither is his drifblim. so as the dark-type empowers himself for battle, the ghost-type does as well. she preps herself with a STOCKPILE, her body beginning to glow.

[break][break] cian calls him cutie, which is a little different but not unsimilar to the phrase bestie, both of which the other has used with him before. it's familiar.

[break][break] the ex-beast looks over from where he is standing beside his friend. "have you faced many difficulties as a minor gym leader here?" he arches a brow. "you must see kyle lopez often."

[break][break]

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

"punk-ass lopez? yeah, i've seen him around."

how long has it been now since kyle lopez has owned cian a nice hotpot date? too long.

"no difficulties, though. things are pretty chill here. occasionally you'd get hotshot trainers just wanting to bully us but we're used to it."

the glowing STOCKPILE is met with an immediate AQUA JET. samurott closes the distance within seconds before slamming its body into the flying-type.

jayden cross

☉