even now, he finds it easier to deflect. it's an old habit he has yet to shake.[break][break]

"but what would they do without me?"[break][break]

their star minor league gym leader. a local celebrity. they would be lost without him, surely.[break][break]

"oh, yeah. kicked his ass so hard it'll be a while until he comes back."[break][break]

he chuckles, recalling the fight. not that it was much of one.[break][break]

"he was about as slow as his avalugg."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

"I'm sure they'll be fine, love. Your mental health comes first anyways."
[break][break]
Again, it was easier said then done, especially for someone like her. But Cian wasn't her -- he could afford the break. Rustboro wasn't going anywhere.
[break][break]
"Damn, I wish I was there to see it."
[break][break]
By now they had reached the self check out lane. And, like clockwork, she immediately began to scan the groceries, expecting Cian to main the bagging station.
[break][break]
"Speaking of which -- I don't think I've ever seen one of your challenges. Maybe I could come with you to work one day and just sit and watch?"
[break][break]
She wasn't quite sure how Minor Gyms worked in regards to spectators. Hopefully they were allowed.

[break][break]

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


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

hoenn isn't going anywhere either. but they are both bound to their jobs albeit in different ways. that may soon change for him, however.[break][break]

actually, it will.[break][break]

now at the checkout lane, cian does as silently instructed and mans the bagging station. he is quick with his work, precise in the way he makes sure every item goes where it should.[break][break]

"you know you can swing by any time you want."[break][break]

he would love for her to visit. maybe he'll even start taking his challenges more seriously.[break][break]

"not thinking of giving me a challenge yourself?"

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

"Hell no, " She shook her head, chuckling. "I can't battle for shit."
[break][break]
Strategy, combinations, tactics -- all things battle-related were far beyond someone like her. It made Penelope worry sometimes, because who knows the next time she'll have to defend herself, but is she doing anything to prepare for it? Nah.
[break][break]
There have been a few people who've offered their expertise to her in the past. Namely, MATIAS SILPH. But she never reached out about it. Sometime she wondered if it'd be worth it to train up a bit -- just enough to exhibit some self defense in the case of an emergency, but whenever she grew close to doing just that, responsibilities kicked in, urging for her attention elsewhere.
[break][break]
As the final item was scanned and slid over to Cian to bag, Penelope thoughtlessly fished out her wallet from her purse and plucked a credit card from it's holding. One swipe later and they were good to go.
[break][break]
"Here, pass me one of those."
[break][break]
After securing her wallet back into her pocket, she reached over and yoinked one of the few plastic bag Cian was probably holding by then.
[break][break]
With that, they were off, readied to finish their journey back to her apartment.
[break][break]
"Oh! Before I forget. I was invited to some banquet in two weeks" A charity event an old asshole friend was hosting. If it weren't for the good cause, she would've passed it up without a second thought. "Be my plus 1?"

[break][break]

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


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

"and that's exactly why you gotta visit my gym. it'll be a learning experience."[break][break]

he'll do his best to teach her, anyway.[break][break]

penny beats cian to the punch and pays before he even has a chance to reach for his phone. maybe carrying a wallet would've allowed him to pay quicker but who carries them around anymore? everything is digital.[break][break]

at her command, cian hands her one of the tote bags (not plastic because he's eco-friendly).[break][break]

"of course. how fancy we talking here? and do i have to smooch any butts for funding or whatever?"

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

Guess she'll just have to go then. And, who knows? Maybe she'll discover a hidden talent inside her through their sessions?
[Break][break]
Gripping the handles of the totes (not plastic bags, because Cian is eco-friendly), she made headway out the door and began their short walk back to the apartment.
[Break][break]
At this point a nice, orange cream color had coated the sky, and the sun was just about to dip below the horizon.
[Break][break]
"Nah, we'll just be attending to show some support." Since her appointment, Penelope hadn't need to brown nose her way through conversations as much. It was refreshing, to say the least. "But, yeah, it'll be fancy fancy."



[break][break]

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


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

"fancy fancy. alright, i'll dig out the tuxedo."[break][break]

it's somewhere in his closet in rustboro. he might have to send it to get dry cleaned since the last time he wore it was for the star soiree last year, and what an event that turned out to be.[break][break]

it doesn't take them long to get home. by then, the orange cream color in the sky has dipped into a calm midnight color, almost supernatural in the way the colors seem to float in the air.[break][break]

the sun dips just below the horizon as the door unlocks.[break][break]

"oh, i forgot. do we have wine?"

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

"Of course we have wine."
[break][break]
With a long, drawn-out smirk, Penelope eagerly slipped into her apartment, set down her totes on the cleaned-out coffee table, and retreated into her kitchen. It only took a second for her to emerge back out, now with her hands wrapped around the necks of two different bottles.
[break][break]
Raising one up, she squinted her eyes, carefully reading it's name. "I've got a bottle of Pinot, and..." Penelope raised the second one and gave it a quick gander, "Rose"
[break][break]
She shrugged and placed both down on the edge of the dining room table. Despite her previous words, she wasn't much of a wine girl -- both were just gifts from her colleagues, which is why they were both still unopened
[break][break]
"I have no clue which will be better with Ramen, but we can always test and see."

[break][break]

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


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

"perfect."[break][break]

it's not like cian actually knows the difference between the two by name but once he sees the bottles it becomes very clear. he assumes the pinot is red and the rose is the other one.[break][break]

"i'm sure we'll get through them no problem."[break][break]

he gives her a quick peck on the cheek before stepping into the kitchen himself to unpack all the groceries. he lays out what he needs on the counter, neatly separating them.[break][break]

"okay. i got this."[break][break]

he starts cooking nondescriptly.

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

First sneaking away to turn on some music, Penelope quickly returned and began helping Cian cook nondescriptly.
[break][break]
As a fellow non-chef herself, there weren't many pointers she could give, or opinions she could have that wildly stray outside what he was already doing. So she mainly just did whatever asked, easing the burden of acting as head chief by offering cute kisses and from behind hugs here and there. Typical couples cooking shit.
[break][break]
When they finished, she placed both her hands on her hips and gave the two pristine bowls a proud smile.
[break][break]
"That looks good as fuck."

[break][break]

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


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

"doesn't it?"[break][break]

not that it's surprising. cian is a wonderful chef, after all. who else could watch one tiktok video and proceed to replicate it almost to near perfection?[break][break]

after taking a few snaps of the two bowls (he even took the time to shape the slices of meat into crystablooms), he lifts his phone and points the camera at penny to snap a quick picture as well.[break][break]

"cooking dinner for my girlfriend. i can't imagine a better gift for my birthday than that."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

Not much of a social media girl herself, Penelope only watched as Cian took his pretty pictures.
[break][break]

"Maybe 1,000,000 dollars," she teased, "but, yeah, this is a close second for me too."
[break][break]

While Cian carried the bowls to the table, Penelope moved for the wine glasses and utensils, setting both around the twin set of bowls. Only after everything is properly prepped and ready does she dim the lights and light the few stray candles that sat both between them and around the living room space.
[break][break]

"For some nice atmosphere."

The smell of fresh pine wood permeated the space between them. Penelope's favorite scent.
[break][break]

With a soft sigh, she settled down onto her side of the table, smiling.
[break][break]

"It smells great, love."
[break][break]

She reached out for her filled wine glass and lifted it far enough to reach the middle of the table.
[break][break]

"Happy Birthday to us!"
[break][break]

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


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

"happy birthday, love. to us!"[break][break]

his wine glass meets hers, toasting, and it doesn't take long until their meal when he finally speaks up again.[break][break]

"i got you something."[break][break]

he reaches underneath the table and into the backpack he had brought with him earlier to pull out a picture frame with a bow wrapped around it.[break][break]

it's a picture of them at one of the picture booths when they last went to the pier in lilycove. they look happy. in love.[break][break]

"for your desk in the office. i expect to see it the next time i visit."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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