#where are my tAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGS

[invictarre-archive]

@behemothbash​​ asked: "... So then they sent the Z-Crystals over to Sonia, b-but she couldn't— uh, sh-she didn't wanna use 'em 'cause she— she said I'd— uh— I'd be bet-better since 'm stronger— or, uh, my team— my team's st-st—"

Hop stops speaking and huffs with a frown, clearly frustrated with himself. He's quiet for a moment, clenching and unclenching his fists. There's a nod from him before he continues, "since my team. Is stronger." The assistant plays with the fur on one of his sleeves, embarrassed. Arceus, he hates how hard it is to speak properly when he gets excited like this.

"It's... real neat stuff." He finishes lamely.

Leon has always been fascinated by battle techniques. A lot of his later childhood had been spent clinging to Sonia’s side, pestering Professor Magnolia about the latest developments in Dynamax technology and how the phenomenon worked. He could still remember the delight he’d felt upon learning that Charizard had a Gigantamax transformation, and he could just as easily recall the way Charmeleon’s eyes had sparkled as it looked at the image.

He’d had that same flutter of excitement back when he’d arranged the Mega Evolution vs. Gigantamax cultural exchange battle. Though it hadn’t gone according to plan, it had sparked an interest in Megas that he continued to pursue even to this day, hours of his time having been poured into reading every publicly-available paper he could find on the topic.

Z-moves were, admittedly, something he didn’t know much about. He knew the basics, that they required crystals sorted into specific pokemon typings, but aside from that he was lost.

Part of Leon’s brain tells him to go read up on it. He’s got his RotomPhone on him, he could pull up all sorts of academia in seconds, but that would deprive his brother of the chance to explain it himself. Hop is clearly excited about this, and for good reason! It’s no secret Galar so rarely allows its population the chance to explore battle techniques from overseas, Leon had to beg the League just to let Mega Evolution be showcased,  and yet now Hop is being offered the opportunity to train with his team and see how Z-Crystals work. 

It’s something exclusive, something new.

Leon is so proud of him.

                     ❝  It sounds exciting! Your team must be thrilled, too.  ❞ Leon can see him getting frustrated with himself. He offers a smile and gently nudges the conversation back onto the topic at hand.

                     ❝  You must have done so much research into this, especially since you've been chosen to use the crystals, so... Could you tell me about them? Do you know what pokemon you’re going to train with first?  ❞

Leon assumes it’ll be Felt, but still. Always best to ask.