MARCH UPDATE

POSTED ON Mar 17, 2023 12:27:22 GMT

PENELOPE LIVY likes this

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A cybersecurity conference had brought Gunner to Rustboro that weekend. On the surface, he was merely accompanying a team of lawyers from Wesson & Sons. In reality, however, he was scouting potential contractors for HBIC. He'd bring their business cards to PENELOPE LIVY later.[break][break]

After a full day on his feet, Gunner wanted nothing more than to put his feet up and grab a drink. While his coworkers from the law firm were good companions, they wanted to do karaoke, which Gunner wanted to avoid at all costs. So when he realized he'd be drinking alone, he sent off a text to the last person he expected to see during that trip: CIAN MAHER.[break][break]

"Hey Cian, I'm in Rustboro. Going to grab a drink or two downtown. Want to hang out?"

[break]

Much to his surprise, the other man had agreed. That was how Gunner found himself at a booth with a glass of stout beer and plate of nachos. He glanced at the door, watching for Cian's arrival.

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POSTED ON Mar 20, 2023 8:36:39 GMT

noah faber likes this

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"hey guys i'm going to head out for a bit, okay? i'm just going for a couple of drinks with a friend. nothing to worry about."[break][break]

with enough reassurances, cian departs noah faber and kyle lopez's home to fly over to rustboro where he quickly meets up with Gunner Graves.[break][break]

cian arrives not long after and slides into the booth with gunner with a drink in hand. stout beer as well, given how the ipas remind him of PENELOPE LIVY.[break][break]

fuck.[break][break]

"so what brings you to town, man?"[break][break]

there's a distinct lack of energy from cian. very different to how he had been during their last encounter.[break][break]

Gunner Graves[break]

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TAG WITH @gunner

POSTED ON Mar 20, 2023 12:44:48 GMT

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As soon as Cian sat down across from him, Gunner noticed the lack of upbeat energy in the other man — as if something had wrung the joy out of him.[break][break]

"A cybersecurity conference. I'm scouting for potential contracts for the Bureau, even though I'm technically here as part of my cover with a law firm."[break][break]

Gunner was dressed more casually than the suit and tie he'd worn during his last meeting with Cian. Clad in a simple polo shirt and slacks, he exuded more 'business casual' and less 'secret agent'.[break][break]

He took a sip of his beer and eyed Cian over the rim of the glass. "Are you doing okay? You look rough."

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Mar 22, 2023 4:31:39 GMT

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while gunner's outfit is classified as business casual, cian's can only be described as depressed and unemployed casual. the latter isn't true, he still runs the rustboro gym, but he's been on sick leave the entire past week.[break][break]

gotta use up those sick days.[break][break]

"huh? me? rough? nah, that doesn't sound like me."[break][break]

his chuckle comes out flat. no point avoiding it. he's sure it will feel good to share.[break][break]

"penny broke up with me."[break][break]

Gunner Graves[break]

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POSTED ON Mar 22, 2023 15:25:12 GMT

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Gunner had no idea who 'Penny' was. Of course, he knew PENELOPE LIVY, his direct supervisor, but she was Miss Livy at work. And surely there were other Penelopes in Hoenn besides her. What were the odds Cian knew and had been dating Gunner's boss?[break][break]

Next to none, right?[break][break]

"Oh, damn," Gunner said, frowning. He'd been broken up with enough times before to empathize. "That is rough. How long were you together?"[break][break]

By the way Cian looked, Gunner guessed he'd been dating this Penny girl for at least a year, or maybe a couple months shy of that.

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POSTED ON Mar 23, 2023 7:21:49 GMT

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the odds should have been next to none. things would've been far less painful that way.[break][break]

"a little over a year, i think. not so sure anymore. time seems to have blurred the moment she became a councilwoman."[break][break]

"sorry, i don't mean to bring you down. let's, uh, drink!"[break][break]

he raises his glass to gunner.[break][break]

Gunner Graves[break]

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POSTED ON Mar 23, 2023 17:09:25 GMT

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Gunner was in the middle of drinking his beer when Cian said the word 'councilwoman'. He almost spat it right back out. Instead, he nearly choked. Coughing violently, he set down his glass and reached for a napkin to wipe his mouth.[break][break]

"Councilwoman?!" Gunner exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. "You were dating Councilwoman Livy?!"[break][break]

Some patrons nearby turned to see what all the commotion was. Suddenly aware that highlighting Cian's misery was neither helpful nor the mark of a good friend, Gunner lowered his voice again before speaking.[break][break]

"It's fine, Cian. You can talk about it if you want." Still, he frowned. "I had no idea Miss Livy was seeing someone."[break][break]

Not only that, but a Rocket defector who had left the organization six months ago. If Penelope had been dating Cian for longer than that, had she known he was a member of Team Rocket? Had she convinced him to leave it?

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TAG WITH @cian

POSTED ON Mar 24, 2023 7:04:08 GMT

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gunner's reaction is amusing enough to earn a laugh from cian. a genuine one — it has been weeks since he remembers last laughing.[break][break]

"yeah, i guess she kept that pretty under wraps."[break][break]

for good reason too, probably. he had assumed it was because she didn't want the possible backlash of it being a conflict of interest. but maybe it's just because she was ashamed of him.[break][break]

the thought makes him down his drink to just about a third left.[break][break]

"but yeah we were dating. lived together as well at the end."[break][break]

Gunner Graves[break]

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POSTED ON Mar 24, 2023 16:46:40 GMT

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"Wow, it was that serious?" Gunner asked. Though he had reined in most of his initial shock, his brows still arched in amazement.[break][break]

His thoughts turned to his own relationship. It was too early for him and Summer Atreides to consider living together, and their lifestyles were too different, too. Not only that, but she didn't know about his real job as a government agent. How would it work out?[break][break]

Those were musings for another day. Gunner returned to the present, to the bar in Rustboro City and his booth with Cian.[break][break]

"So, uh, what have you been up to since then? Focusing on your gym to keep your mind off it, I'm guessing?" Gunner asked before sipping more of his beer.

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POSTED ON Mar 24, 2023 20:10:10 GMT

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"mhm!"[break][break]

it had been that serious, so much so that he planned on moving out of rustboro, his home, just for her. just because she didn't like the city.[break][break]

foolish man.[break][break]

"actually i took a few sick days to really try and embrace the pain. that didn't work out so well, but it helped to have company around."[break][break]

in an attempt to shift the topic back to gunner, he asks:[break][break]

"are you seeing anyone right now?"[break][break]

Gunner Graves[break]

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POSTED ON Mar 24, 2023 20:19:14 GMT

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The comment about 'embracing the pain' brought an awkward chuckle to Gunner's lips.[break][break]

"Well, at least you had company. What are friends and family for, right?" he said, unsure if his words were bringing any actual comfort to the other man. He tried a different tactic. "Anyway, fuck Penny. You're better off without her."[break][break]

Inwardly, he cringed. He couldn't believe he'd said that about his own boss. But he assumed it was what Cian wanted to hear. It wasn't like Penelope had died, leaving her boyfriend to wallow in a pit of despair and grief. No, she'd chosen to end their relationship when it sounded like it had been going well.[break][break]

"Uh, yeah," Gunner replied, shifting in his seat as the metaphorical spotlight shone on him instead. He didn't like discussing his personal life, least of all his love life. "I've been seeing this girl for a few months and we just decided to start dating, officially."

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POSTED ON Mar 30, 2023 10:47:59 GMT

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"dude, that's my ex you're talking about..."[break][break]

not to mention her being gunner's boss...[break][break]

but he's joking, which he hopes his friend gets after he lets out a laugh. it seems he's already started to loosen up after a few sips of his drink.[break][break]

he's glad that the spotlight is now on gunner's love life instead.[break][break]

"oh, nice! how did you two meet?"[break][break]

Gunner Graves[break]

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POSTED ON Mar 30, 2023 12:57:23 GMT

Summer Atreides likes this

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The laugh that followed Cian's admonition eased Gunner's nerves. Some guys pined over their ex-girlfriends for a long time while others felt better cutting ties completely. Cian seemed like the latter, or at least eager to move on.[break][break]

"Do you remember the Winter Masquerade party that happened last December? We met there and danced together," Gunner said, his tone casual. He'd gotten familiar with describing his and Summer Atreides's encounter without going into unnecessary detail.[break][break]

After finishing off his first beer, he continued, "We enjoyed each other's company so much that we met up a couple of weeks afterward for dinner. Ever since then, we've been hanging out a lot."[break][break]

Gunner waved down a passing waiter and ordered another beer. While he waited, he said, "To be honest, I'm not sure how serious it's going to be. It took me some time to get over my last ex, and I haven't dated someone in a while, so…" He shrugged.

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POSTED ON Mar 31, 2023 8:52:27 GMT

PENELOPE LIVY likes this

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"oh yeah. the winter masq was fun."[break][break]

even if he had attended with PENELOPE LIVY, he still remembers the event fondly, having danced with a few others as well.[break][break]

"if you're ready, you're ready. i'm sure you know but being single is nice but it can't compare to having someone in your life like that."[break][break]

he orders another beer as well.[break][break]

"is she from hoenn?"[break][break]

Gunner Graves[break]

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