His enthusiasm almost immediately bled into her, as a similar smile smeared across her face.
[break][break]
"Awesome, yeah."
[break][break]
Even if it was a year out, into the way distant future they weren't confirmed to have, the very prospect of purchasing, owning, and decorating a place with someone, from start to finish, was almost a dream come true. At the very least, it wasn't something she would've expected from herself.
[break][break]
"But, I guess for now..." She gave his hand another squeeze before gesturing toward their surrounding with one sweeping wave of her free arm. "Home sweet home."
[break][break]

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


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

his gaze follows the sweeping gesture of her arm to what he could now call their home. for the year, at least.[break][break]

"home sweet home."[break][break]

how lucky of him to have found her.[break][break]

still packed with joy, he leans in to kiss her cheek before asking:[break][break]

"how should we break the place in?"

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

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

"how should we break the place in?"
[Break][break]
The question elicited a natural laugh from her. Out of all the confusion and restless thoughts that raked her mind, this was something she could answer with confidence.
[Break][break]
One corner of her lip curled upward into an impish smirk and she cocked her chin upward to meet his gaze.
[Break][break]
"I think of a few ways..."
[Break][break]
Pushing up to her tippy toes, she pulled him back to her, tying off her invitation with a sweet kiss.
[break][break]

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


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

with the mineta figure watching in the background, they break in the place, though they end up in a different room away from its pervy gaze.[break][break]

"i'd say we broke in the place really well."[break][break]

he chuckles, out of breath and practically panting as he sinks further into their bed. many years of running have finally paid off in the form of his heightened cardio.[break][break]

his head tilts over to give her a peck on her cheek.[break][break]

"good job, love."

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

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

"Yeah," she sighed, "I don't think we could've done any better than that."
[break][break]
Smiling at the kiss, Penelope scooted closer, as to hook her legs around his and slowly pull him into her.
[break][break]
Even if they were tired, even if they were sweaty, she wanted-- no, she needed to be close to him.
[break][break]
"It kinda reminded me of the first night we met."
[break][break]

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


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

legs intertwined, he shifts closer, body pressing into hers.[break][break]

"damn, that was a while ago."[break][break]

he thinks back to the first night they met, to the casino where she had bumped into him and in some odd turnaround ended up on a date with him. they gambled the night away.[break][break]

the memory makes him smile.[break][break]

"how so?"

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

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

Honestly, it was hard to explain.
[break][break]
When they first met and connected beneath the artificial stars of the casino floor, Penelope couldn't shove away the flutter that caught onto the inside of her stomach. And since then, since the very beginning, there was something about the minor gym leader that just drew her in.
[break][break]
Even now, months later, she could still feel the desire to stay close tickle her skin.
[break][break]
There was also the fact that...
[break][break]
"Mmm.. it's a little embarrassing to say," she mumbled, pressing her face further into the pillow, both to muffle her voice and hide her reddening face.

[break][break]

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


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

"mmm?"[break][break]

he shifts to prop himself up on an elbow so he can lean in closer with the clear intent of tearing her away from the sanctity of her pillow. he even grins, chuckling as he pulls the edge of the pillow down slightly.[break][break]

"what is it, babe?"

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

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

Arceus was this embarrassing. Penelope could quite literally feel the apples of her cheeks heat up as the pillow was forcibly pulled back, revealing the rest of her blushing face to Cian.
[break][break]
Finally, she gave in to the pressure.
[break][break]
"Do you remember what you told me? After we woke up together?"

[break][break]

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


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

oh, gods. this is a real test for him.[break][break]

"we both know my memory is shit."[break][break]

in spite of that, he remembers the morning quite well, better than he does the night prior at least.[break][break]

"i said i didn't think you'd still be here."

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

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

"You're right," She tried laughing off, knowing cian's fruitcake tendencies.
[break][break]
But, to her genuine surprise, he actually remembered exactly what she was referring to.
[break][break]
"Yeah, you did." Penelope bit down a smile, her gaze falling to the bed sheets between them. It was embarrassing to admit this, but for him, she'd do anything. "Mm, i dunno. Back then, when you said that, I thought 'I feel the exact same way.'"
[break][break]
After spending nearly a year kept up in her room, away from the world, she was surprised anyone would willingly stay by her side more than a few seconds after dawn. And she wouldn't blame them -- she was always the first to run away, too. But with Cian, it always felt different, even from the start.
[break][break]
"I still feel that way now. Sometimes, it just doesn't feel real. Like, I don't know."
[break][break]
Pink pinched her cheeks.
[break][break]
"I just love you so much. More than anyone else."
[break][break]

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


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

pink colors his cheeks too only because he wasn't expecting her to be this sentimental. that's usually his thing. almost always has been, actually. but to hear it now warms his heart.[break][break]

"i love you too. more than anyone else."[break][break]

even more than his brothers.[break][break]

he shifts closer to kiss her cheek.[break][break]

"i'm not going anywhere. you're like stuck with me, basically, until we both eventually die from old age or something."[break][break]

it better be old age.[break][break]

"until then, i'll try my hardest to make it worthwhile for the both of us."

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

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

Penelope wasn't the sentimental type. Far from it, sometimes. Work consumed her mind more than anything else, and if it wasn't working, then it was her goals or current events, or literally anything else. But ever since meeting Cian, that began to change. Bit by bit, he weaseled his way into her mind, until it became impossible to go a day without at least thinking of him.
[break][break]

it even made me want to try saying that gushy shit she never would've thought to say before. Love was truly an incurable illness.
[break][break]

"It better be old age."
[break][break]

Because she wouldn't accept anything less.
[break][break]

"It's already worthwhile," She murmured, "but I'll keep trying too. For us."

[break][break]

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


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