Cian had read her mind with ease.
[break][break]

Which meant no Rustboro for them. Good.
[break][break]

"Ooo, yes, that's a must." She took a mental note of the suggestion, securing it into the pockets of her memory with one modest gulp of her drink. "Oh! And with a balcony, too! So we can sit out there and drink some hot cocoa when it's cold."
[break][break]

The thought brought a smile to her face.

[break][break]

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


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

"that sounds really nice."[break][break]

nice and warm. it's something he finds himself looking forward more to every day.[break][break]

"we can also stand outside when it rains and pretend like we're in a romcom. i've tried it by myself. it's not that special."[break][break]

he chuckles, his face alight with a smile. it's hard not to be when with her.

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

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

"I can imagine, yeah!" She chuckled at the thought of her sweet boyfriend standing alone in the rain, his dyed blonde curls deflating beneath the weight of the water.
[Break][break]
"What else, what else," Penelope picked up the loose end of their conversation, continuing it forward in attempt to siphon further insight on what CIAN MAHER considered a perfect home. "Name me your musts and your wonts."

[break][break]

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


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

finishing off the rest of the winter's kiss, he sets the empty glass down before looking back at her.[break][break]

"i'm not a picky person really..."[break][break]

so there's not much in the realm of musts. he's flexible enough to even move away from his hometown.[break][break]

"i'd like hardwood floors. maybe a fireplace if possible. oh! and a spacious kitchen so it doesn't feel like i'm gonna knock something over every time i move."

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

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

From the hardwood floors to the spacious kitchen, everything he mentioned fell perfectly in line with her wishes. The only difference? There were a few nonnegotiable wonts hovering around in her head, but those were mainly meant for herself. Small things she could mention in passing here or there, especially when house hunting drew closer to their horizon.
[break][break]

"Ah, see, this is why I love you. You're taste? Perfect."
[break][break]

Reaching over, she gave one of his cheeks a quick pinch.



[break][break]

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


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

"perfect just like me."[break][break]

one of his cheeks turns a warm shade of pink after her pinch.[break][break]

he waves down one of the staff and makes a gesture for the menu, curious to see what other drinks they have here besides beer. they must have something, surely.[break][break]

while he waits, he asks her the same question.[break][break]

"what are yours? musts and wonts. first time i'm hearing those terms, by the way."

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

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

"Maybe I should coin the term then."
[break][break]
There were honestly a lot of desires to be had with their new apartment. Most she'd been willing to forgo in light of their partnership in this endeavor. But there were still a few which lingered in her thoughts, like phantoms of the night, malicious in their persistence.
[break][break]
"Hmm. Hardwood floors are a must. A balcony, too -- for our romcom moment, you know."
[break][break]
She gave herself a quick pause, then continued, fingers drumming along the table's edge.
[break][break]
"Three bedrooms: one for us, one for our computers, and one for my office. That's a must. As for won'ts?"
[break][break]
A smile spread wide across her face.
[break][break]
"I won't go anywhere without you. Also non-tile floorings for the bathroom. Fuck that. And thin walls. Fuck that, too."
[break][break]

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


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

an entire office just for her?[break][break]

"think we can share that office? stack two desks next to each other and work side by side?"[break][break]

he chuckles, making the suggestion as a joke because while the thought of working next to her sounds nice, the reality of it would feel quite suffocating, he imagines.[break][break]

"oh yeah. no can do with thin walls with how loud we can get."[break][break]

with all the gaming and the cybers, they must be allowed their privacy.[break][break]

"we have so much in common, babe. who knew?"

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

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

Cian's tease was initially lost in the reaction to her suggestion.
[break][break]
"Oh, I just figured--"
[break][break]
Gym leaders didn't bring home that much. Or, any, really. Maybe she was wrong, though? Maybe Cian had...applications to fill out. Applications that required an entire room dedicated to it.
[break][break]
But, when realization settled into the crinkles of her face, Penelope was quick shift gears, a smile brimming.
[break][break]
"You mean how loud you are?" She shook her head, chuckling. "No thanks. Sharing a gaming set up is bad enough. Can't do an office too."
[break][break]
It was an obvious jest. They were both painfully aware of just how loud she could get during her raids, too. And how, combined with his own yelling, their small space always devolved into a tornado of chatter and laughter. But that's what made them perfect for each other. They could be loud together.
[break][break]
Eeling one arm around him, Penelope tugged herself closer to him. The warmth of his touch was growing too tempting to ignore.
[break][break]
"I knew. Obviously."

[break][break]

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


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

gym leaders don't usually have much paperwork to do, no. but cian has started to dive into the world of politics, involving himself with the governing body of rustboro to act as its de facto mayor.[break][break]

he still needs time to adjust, though.[break][break]

"me? i'll record you the next time you go on a raid. holy."[break][break]

laughing, he leans closer into her as well, not minding how obnoxiously cute they're being in public.[break][break]

"did you? like, from the very moment you bumped into me you knew?"[break][break]

pretty sure they bumped into each other and no one was to blame but he spins it in a narrative that suits him. it's funnier this way.

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

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

Public decency was lost in the swirl of alcohol they had both chugged down. If people really cared how cute they were acting together, then they ought to look anywhere else but there, because Penelope showed no signs of letting up any time soon.
[break][break]
"Hey! That's different," she squeaked, an exaggerated look of surprise painting her features. "And at least I'm not as bad as you when you're playing Zombies with 'The Boys'!"
[break][break]
God, together, their combined shouting could bring down a whole complex.
[break][break]
"Excuse me? Don't you mean, from the very moment YOU bumped into ME?"
[break][break]

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


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

"huh?"[break][break]

wrong. he's as silent as a rattata when he plays zombies because he's terrified and needs to listen to his surroundings at all times.[break][break]

"HUH?"[break][break]

wrong. she bumped into him.[break][break]

"your memory is so bad..."[break][break]

but he loves her regardless and it shows in the way he smiles at her.

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

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