[attr="class","cian"]confusion laces his expression for moments because he's certain he's never met a liam king. but at the question, he realizes, dipping his head just slightly in recognition.

"contractually obligated to."

sir almost slips out; he catches it in time.

"still healing, but better."

a pokeball pops open, revealing his choice for the battle.

"you can have the first move."

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

"So am I. What are the chances?"

Of course, their contracts likely outline drastically different reasons. Gavin's here because Rocket wants him to scout talent. Funny, then, that he keeps finding himself pitted against their own.

He hums to acknowledge the healing injury, cants his head.

"Generous of you. Can it mega?"

Sharp eyes might catch the glint of a keystone embedded in Gavin's glasses, but he won't use it unless they're on an equal playing field. Steelix slams her tail into the earth, which shakes with the impact and kicks up the start of a SANDSTORM.

[attr="class","cian"]"don't have one for it."

it's only then that a playful smirk graces his features, perhaps starting to ease up to his superior. the different appearance helps, he finds.

"but by all means."

the SANDSTORM picks up, wrapping around them, and from above, a HAIL starts to fall.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

"They're rather uncommon, I hear."

He speaks specifically of Glalie's stone but it rings true of the stones in general from a foreigner's perspective. FERNANDO SILPH had been surprised to see the tools 'Liam King' had at his disposal. Shame he couldn't go back to Galar and rub it in their faces.

The playful smirk is returned.

"I don't want to be too harsh."

He'd suspected hail to be a possibility; he nods to himself, clicks his tongue. Steelix DIGS itself into the earth, golden tail flashing in the sun before it vanishes under feet of dirt and rock.

[attr="class","cian"]"please. i'm sure we can take it."

around them, the temperature starts to drop, but nothing comes from it just yet.

glalie hovers forward, ready to counter the attack from below.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

The bravado, whether false or genuine, amuses Gavin. His smile lingers.

"If you insist..."

While Steelix remains underground, Gavin lifts a hand to pull the keystone free of its housing. It flashes in the sun, glows with brilliant energy whose recipient remains concealed until she bursts from below with an earth-shaking roar.

A brutal swing of her IRON TAIL seeks purchase against Glalie's spherical core.

[attr="class","cian"]the shield of PROTECT forms a little too soon and the IRON TAIL manages to break through. it slams glalie backward, rolling through the air before crashing into the ground.

sand splashes all around them.

"damn."

they'll have to work on their timing.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

SHEER FORCE prevails against the shimmering barrier and Steelix lets out a victory cry like the rumbling of an avalanche, tail cutting a deep swathe in dirt and rock as it curves back behind her.

Electricity crackles in the titan's maw but there is no risk of paralysis from her THUNDER FANGS, only crippling agony. The same force that had crashed against the protective shield now seeks to crush ice between steely jaws.

[attr="class","cian"]glalie shifts off the ground, rising with determination before her jaws open up wide to counter the THUNDER FANG with an ICE FANG of her own. frost and ice meet electricity, but the power of the mega evolution prevails.

glalie's sent back once more.

maybe cian overestimated their capabilities here.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Air hisses and crackles as the attacks collide in spectacular fashion. Though pleased to see his Steelix prevail, Gavin doesn't gloat with words nor expression. He had the advantage of evolution, after all.

He simply clicks his tongue, and the SANDSTORM from earlier begins anew. The golden coils of his Steelix remain clearly visible within it as she slithers forth in preparation for her next attack.

[attr="class","cian"]the momentary lull from not being attacked grants them time to recover. glalie shakes, rising off the ground once more.

they don't have much of a choice, so with a nod of approval, the temperature around them drops in an instant.

SHEER COLD wipes across the battlefield.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Gavin blinks, and it's as if he's in Circhester again.

The chill raises gooseflesh on his arms, the sharp scent of winter invoking memories of foggy glass and snowball fights. His breath mists in the air before him and he watches in mild awe as a sheen of frost creeps across Steelix's golden hide.

It's a horrible sound, the groaning of steel beneath the threat of sub-zero temperatures. Ice splinters and cracks as she coils with a furious lash of her tail, scattering shards of ice that nip at exposed skin. The steel serpent prevails against the cold, dragging her tail against upturned earth to hurl a ROCK SLIDE in revenge.

[attr="class","cian"]it's powerful, but it's not enough to take down the steelix. cian clicks his tongue, frustrated as he watches the ROCK SLIDE hurl towards them.

it slams against glalie, though her horns hold strong against the impact.

the SHEER COLD continues.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn