It’s the sort of cheering that might be a sensory overload to those not used to it - the ever-present hum of an audience of tens of thousands. Every so often a cheer breaks out of the cacophony, to the rhythm of Raihan’s name. The bright stadium lights are what hit the senses next, hot and imposing at first, but relaxing and welcome after a moment.
Raihan sighs, rolling his head around his shoulders in apparent boredom as he scrolls through his phone. The crowd is nothing but white noise now. ]
Geez… leave it to the Champion to leave the great Raihan waiting. If my long-awaited win is by default, my fans are gonna riot! [ he glances to a well-dressed man and the imposing woman standing by his side, raising an eyebrow. ] Hey, Chairman! Any idea where our boy is at?
[ the man simply shrugs his shoulders, and the woman looks exasperated. With a response like that, it’s likely that Leon’s just gotten lost again… which doesn’t bode well. Thankfully, it seems like asking was all he had to do - the crowd begins to roar as the stadium’s cameras pan upwards, where Leon is flying down on the back of a Corviknight. He appears to have a young passenger with him as well… Raihan might not know the story, but it’s probably something heartwarming, heroic, and so very Leon. ]
Bloody show-off.
[ it might sound annoyed, but the smirk on Raihan’s lips shows more amusement than anything. If there’s anyone out there that could appreciate a flashy entrance, it’s Raihan. When Leon lands and turns to face him, he cocks a challenging eyebrow. ]
You’re late, Leon! I thought you ran away with your tail between your legs.
[ “As if I’d shy away from an opportunity to battle my greatest rival!”, the long-haired man replies, tossing off his cape to the delight of the crowd. That’s Raihan’s cue as well, pulling out his first Poké Ball. ]
So you are ready to lose. That’s what I like to hear!
[ the battle that ensues is a marvel to watch from start to finish - Leon and Raihan meet each other tit for tat, reading each other’s strengths and weaknesses in the practiced way that only longtime rivals can. It comes down to the wire between Duraludon and Charizard, brought to their full potential with their Gigantimax transformations. The crowd had been going wild with chants and rhythmic clapping cheers before this, but they’re going balistic now. The titans battle with the cataclysmic might that only Galarian battles can bring, but it ends as it usually does - with Leon as the victor.
Raihan grits his teeth for a moment at the loss as he recalls Duraludon, but it doesn’t last long. He quietly thanks Duraludon for his efforts, and in a snap moment he’s smiling for his traditional post-loss selfie. Once it’s been squared away, he meets Leon at the middle of the pitch to shake his hand and concede defeat. It’s a strong handshake that ends up pulling into a bro-hug, much to the delight of the crowd. There’s still post-match interviews to do, but in this moment, the roar of the audience and the companionship of his rival is all that matters.
but of course, he takes the opportunity to snap another well-angled selfie with the two of them in frame. it's for the fans, you know. ]
THE EXHIBITION MATCH -- closed to Ahsoka
It’s the sort of cheering that might be a sensory overload to those not used to it - the ever-present hum of an audience of tens of thousands. Every so often a cheer breaks out of the cacophony, to the rhythm of Raihan’s name. The bright stadium lights are what hit the senses next, hot and imposing at first, but relaxing and welcome after a moment.
Raihan sighs, rolling his head around his shoulders in apparent boredom as he scrolls through his phone. The crowd is nothing but white noise now. ]
Geez… leave it to the Champion to leave the great Raihan waiting. If my long-awaited win is by default, my fans are gonna riot! [ he glances to a well-dressed man and the imposing woman standing by his side, raising an eyebrow. ] Hey, Chairman! Any idea where our boy is at?
[ the man simply shrugs his shoulders, and the woman looks exasperated. With a response like that, it’s likely that Leon’s just gotten lost again… which doesn’t bode well. Thankfully, it seems like asking was all he had to do - the crowd begins to roar as the stadium’s cameras pan upwards, where Leon is flying down on the back of a Corviknight. He appears to have a young passenger with him as well… Raihan might not know the story, but it’s probably something heartwarming, heroic, and so very Leon. ]
Bloody show-off.
[ it might sound annoyed, but the smirk on Raihan’s lips shows more amusement than anything. If there’s anyone out there that could appreciate a flashy entrance, it’s Raihan. When Leon lands and turns to face him, he cocks a challenging eyebrow. ]
You’re late, Leon! I thought you ran away with your tail between your legs.
[ “As if I’d shy away from an opportunity to battle my greatest rival!”, the long-haired man replies, tossing off his cape to the delight of the crowd. That’s Raihan’s cue as well, pulling out his first Poké Ball. ]
So you are ready to lose. That’s what I like to hear!
[ the battle that ensues is a marvel to watch from start to finish - Leon and Raihan meet each other tit for tat, reading each other’s strengths and weaknesses in the practiced way that only longtime rivals can. It comes down to the wire between Duraludon and Charizard, brought to their full potential with their Gigantimax transformations. The crowd had been going wild with chants and rhythmic clapping cheers before this, but they’re going balistic now. The titans battle with the cataclysmic might that only Galarian battles can bring, but it ends as it usually does - with Leon as the victor.
Raihan grits his teeth for a moment at the loss as he recalls Duraludon, but it doesn’t last long. He quietly thanks Duraludon for his efforts, and in a snap moment he’s smiling for his traditional post-loss selfie. Once it’s been squared away, he meets Leon at the middle of the pitch to shake his hand and concede defeat. It’s a strong handshake that ends up pulling into a bro-hug, much to the delight of the crowd. There’s still post-match interviews to do, but in this moment, the roar of the audience and the companionship of his rival is all that matters.
but of course, he takes the opportunity to snap another well-angled selfie with the two of them in frame. it's for the fans, you know. ]