#and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter

[invictarre-archive]

@skullkxd​ asked: “Hey. Five bucks and I’ll carry your suitcase to the hotel.”

Is it the most honest way to earn a buck? No. But it’s one of the easiest.  /  unprompted.

                     ❝  No thank you! Char- ❞ he gestures to the approaching pokemon, Leon’s suitcase and carry-ons clutched in his arms ❝ -already has me covered on that front! You might not be able to see it from here, but he’s all muscle; definitely way stronger than the both of us combined.  ❞

The bag hanging from Leon’s shoulder is mostly empty, containing nothing but pokemon water bowls and a rather useless map of Alola. He’s bookmarked the wrong island, for a start, and seems unaware that this return ticket points to a different airport than the one he was dropped off at. Finding the hotel has been a nightmare, hours of aimless wandering past beautiful landscapes and landmarks with none of them being the one destination he needed.

...Hey, that’s an idea! 

Maybe their new friend could help. They certainly seem like they're confident finding his way around.

                     ❝  If you’d be kind enough to lead us to the hotel, I’ll pay you ten!  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #skullkxd

[bybhritam]

FOOL'S PARADISE

I remember laughter

My rollercoaster emotions

Oh, how they echo in my mind

Like counterfeit excitement

This happy pandemonium

Of zooming in on our next high

And it feels like flying

It's a fool's paradise

And here we go denying

That there's always a price

And no easy way out

But we can leave our gilded cages

In the silence of minds

I remember the question

Who are we really living for

N' I could feel you by my side

Rare like the flower

Peace without euphoria

This surrender feels so right

And it feels like flying...

There ain't no denying

It feels like, like flying

Two worlds colliding,

There ain't no bargaining

No giving in without a fight

Model of defiance

In the face of adversity

You keep your target in your sights

And it feels like flying

Outta fool's paradise

And there's no denying

But I'll pay the price

With my fear and doubt

I'll leave them in their cages

And rise to blinding heights

[invictarre-archive]

@grimmssnarl​ asked: Ah, back home to Kalos! Time for Leon to enjoy his spouse's presence and hopefully get some well-earned rest. Oh, but wait a moment.... 

His luggage felt heavier, and now it was moving! If he dared to open the bag....... He'd find an impidimp had stowed-away within!  /  unprompted.

                     ❝  Oh, buddy...  ❞

Leon sighed, opening up his bag to scoop the Impidimp out. He couldn’t say he was entirely surprised - after that Shiinotic had snatched it off his arm and fled into the depths of the Tangle, he’d been half expecting the mushroom bastard to stuff it full of paralysing spores or something. A pokemon stowaway wasn’t that bad, all things considered. It had taken an abundance of treats to bribe the Shiinotic to give it back, and by then he was late for his flight and would have missed it had he not sprinted all the way there. 

There had been no time to check his bag, but what was he supposed to do now?

He held the Impidimp at arm’s length, staring into those eyes. Letting the little stowaway run amok in Lumiose simply wasn’t an option, but neither was catching an immediate return flight to Ballonlea. 

He couldn’t release it.

He couldn’t return it.

He didn’t want to catch it.

What other option was left?

                     ❝  You’re not going in the house, you know. I know what Galar’s fairies are like when they’re left unsupervised. But if you need food or healing, there should be something left in the bag-  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #grimmssnarl

[invictarre-archive]

@skullkxd​ asked: [ TEXT ] it’s an image of Ree’s wrist! They’ve got a Z-ring!

[ TEXT ] I finally earned it! It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.

That looks a lot like Leon’s Dynamax Band. Maybe they work in similar ways?

That’s a mystery for another time, however! He types back immediately, Rotom buzzing excitedly in his hand and no doubt sharing its own congratulatory messages. He’d probably come back later to find a whole slew of new texts sent by his little ghost buddy.

[TEXT]: Congratulations, Ree! We’re all so proud of you! Make sure you and your friends take some time to properly celebrate 🎉🎉🎉

[TEXT]: So, what happens now?  :0

#skullkxd #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter

[invictarre-archive]

@skullkxd​ asked: PUTS UP THEIR FISTS IN DEFENSE OF LEON. They don’t know who rose is but they’ll throw hands for Leon  /  unprompted.

                     ❝  I never told you about him, did I?  ❞ Leon asks, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

Some might even say subdued.

Though Ree’s desire to leap to his defense is sweet, it’s too late for that. He doesn’t want to see Rose hurt, not at all! He just wants to know the truth, to get the answers that have been driving him crazy even before the whole mess with Eternatus.

Getting out of Galar had been a much-needed escape from it all, building an entirely new life in Kalos and finally learning what it meant to be himself, but he’s never realised just how little he talks about those events. It’s always been assumed that people just knew, have already heard the stories of the Second Darkest Day and the chaos that followed.

Perhaps... Perhaps this is his chance to be a little more transparent. Ree’s opened up to him a lot, so it’s only fair if he repays the favour.

                      ❝  ...How much do you know about Galar, Ree?  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #skullkxd

[invictarre-archive]

@skullkxd​ asked: [ Text ] Leon? I just … I want you to know I love you. Ok?  /  unprompted.

As has quickly become commonplace, Rotom responds to the text before Leon gets the chance to.

[ Love! ❤️❤️❤️ Love youuuuuuuuuuu, yes! 🔥 ❤️❤️ 🔥🔥🐉🐉 ❤️❤️ ]

[ There’s a chain of several heart-related images sent. Most of them are Teddiursa plushies holding cartoon hearts, ripped from various online stores. ]

Leon doesn’t see the message until a little while later, when he finally pauses his own training session to rest his team and check any notifications he may have missed. Their text makes him smile, as does Rotom’s adorably eager response to it, and he fires off a response of his own.

[ We love you too, Ree. Stay safe out there! 💛👑 ]

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #skullkxd

[invictarre-archive]

@ofthesunne​ asked: "Hey. So... You're the strongest trainer in Galar, right? I'm the strongest in Alola. I... kinda need to battle you? It's not gonna be official, but, I just need to know if I can lose."  /  unprompted.

                     ❝  Of course you can be defeated. You just need to be pit against the right opponent.  ❞

Leon has to bite back a smile, the compliment already working to fuel the competitive flame inside his chest. It’s a good thing the new Champion isn’t here - hearing that Leon’s still considered Galar’s strongest would surely be a right kick in the teeth. 

( He’s not going to deny it, though. )

She’s come at a good time, too. Ever since losing his title, not only has Leon’s strength been speeding upwards at a rate even he’s managed to be surprised by, but he’s found the freedom to be a lot more relaxed about his battles. Gone are the days of needing League authorisation and televised appearances; he can accept and decline challengers as he pleases.

Luckily for Alola’s Champion, he’s never been one to turn down such an interesting battle proposal.

                     ❝  I’ll battle you if that’s what you want, but I don’t want to hear any complaints when I win. That sounds like a fair agreement, right, Champ?  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #ofthesunne

[invictarre-archive]

@furiousfates asked: A dog?

Buddy the Yamper barks at Leon, knowing that he would be happy to see him. The little corgi bounds over, little sparks of electricity flourishing at his paws, as he soon enough has his front paws on his owner's old rival's legs.

"Yam!"

See, he's all ready to lick your face and cover you in drool, Leon!

                     ❝  Buddy!  ❞

Leon kneels down immediately, cooing and bundling the little corgi into his arms. Even after all these years, he still gets the same burst of joy from hugging the Yamper against him, pressing a kiss to that fluffy forehead before the inevitable licking starts up.

                     ❝  Have you been a good boy? Have you been a good boy?   ❞

These babytalk theatrics are over the top even for Leon, his voice pushed up so high it's a miracle it hasn't started to crack. He's like an overcharged battery, buzzing with excitement and needing to release it all right this instant. Buddy's eager welcome is feeding into his own, spurring him on to give Galar's Best Puppy all of the praise and attention he deserves.

                     ❝  I missed you too! Yes, yes I did! Mm-hmm!  ❞

                     ❝  But you're such a clever puppy, you must have been helping Sonia and Hop so much. Yes! You're the best pokemon assistant any Professor could ask for-  ❞

#furiousfates #i can make it easy; i can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; i'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter

[invictarre-archive]

@spikemuthtoothfairy​ asked: Leon gets a text!

Hey!

Don't ask me how I know, but from all of us here - we love you, and we're always here for you and yours. Thank you for being such a wonderful brother and such an amazing person. I'm blessed to have you in my life, Leon. <3 :)  /  unprompted.

Rotom responds even before Leon can, sending off a mess of heart emojis and thumbs-up. It likes James, has often spammed his phone with defunct URLs it had stored in the clipboard and nonsensical emails sent in the early hours of the morning, and simply can’t resist this opportunity to send back some love of its own.

                     ❝  Leeeeeeeeon! Jay- Jaymezzzz!  ❞

Its electronic trill makes Leon laugh, his eyes lighting up for the first time in over an hour, and the text has him bashfully hiding his face in Marshy’s squishy body. It’s silly, he knows, to be embarrassed by such genuine affection, but even after all this time he’s still stunned into admiration by how much love he’s surrounded himself with. His brothers, his wife, his friends... All of them incredible, wonderful people, able to guide him forward even when he’d lost sight of his path. 

Trust me, they say. 

I do, he responds.

This isn’t the roaring energy of Galar’s praise, nor the constant burn of he and Char’s constant bond, an eternal flame ignited in both their chests.

It’s soft, unconditional, given unprompted even in his weakest moments.

And it’s just the push he needs to banish the rest of his Darkest Day thoughts. They still linger at the back of his mind, baring their fangs like untamed Mightyena as they wait for their next chance to strike, but for now, at least, they are quiet.

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered ask #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character. #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #spikemuthtoothfairy

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@skullkxd asked: hey. know i'm early, but -- [ they shove a spherical object into his hands. It's an apriball -- a friend ball, specifically -- and inside of the pokeball is a little rockuff. Ree shoves their hands into their pockets, looking away bashfully. ] This is for you. Open it now and meet her.  /  unprompted.

Yes, it is still a couple days before his birthday, but the gift’s appreciated all the same. The day itself is a little irrelevant, if they’ve gone through all this trouble to get him something.

                     ❝  You remembered my birthday? Ree- Thank you!  ❞

The apriball itself is a curious thing. Leon knew they existed of course, had seen Ball Guy handing some out to Challengers at every stadium, but he’d never thought about getting any for his own collection. Ultra Balls, Luxury Balls, even the occasional Heal Ball worked much better for his training style.

But now, holding the ball in his palm... He could see the appeal. Some research would be needed before he could identify the type based on its appearance alone, but the design looked pretty. He’d have to be sure to return this favour, whenever their birthday was drawing near.

The center button was pushed, familiar light bursting out onto the ground and forming into-

!!!!

Leon’s excited gasp was drowned out by Rockruff’s little bark, curled tail already wagging furiously as she was scooped up and cradled in his arms. It was the same way he’d held Yamper countless times back in Galar, the muscle memory of someone who’d gotten well acquainted with puppy pokemons’ tendency to wriggle and launch themselves onto the ground at mach speed.

When he finally turned to look at Ree, he was beaming. Smile bright as always, and eyes filled with the same innocent, childlike wonder of a starting Trainer coming face-to-face with their first pokemon. 

                     ❝  I know I said it already, but thank you! This means a lot.  ❞

                     ❝  Does she have a name yet?  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #skullkxd

[invictarre-archive]

@musesbymeri​ sked: ✘ - How do you feel about Oleana?  /  honesty meme (accepting - 2/10)

                     ❝  I don’t feel the same fury I hold against Rose, but that doesn’t mean she’s at all blameless for what happened. Hop told me all about what she said, how beating him and his friend would make me ‘lose heart’ and become that much easier to manipulate, and that hurt more than I was expecting. I resent Rose for all he did to me, molding me into the perfect pawn for this insane scheme, but how much of that was Oleana’s influence? The very fact that she thinks she knows how to get in my head suggests that she’s gone through these thought patterns before, has got ways to make me play puppet and dance along to their tune, and I-I don’t know if I can forgive someone like that.  ❞

Leon ignores his voice cracking and trembling, forcing himself to stay steady and rational about it all. 

                     ❝  Even during the events of the Second Darkest Day, all she cared about was saving the Chairman. She wasn’t fussed about me, fighting for my life against the beast he woke up, nor did she spare even a single thought to the millions of people now terrified out of their minds and at the mercy of the random Dynamaxing. I don’t want to see Rose dead, and I’m glad he escaped the event unscathed, but ensuring his safety should never have been her first priority.  ❞

                     ❝  But her devotion to him is... admirable, I suppose. Loyal ‘til the end. I don’t know how much she was motivated by the rose (ha) tinted goggles she was wearing, but it doesn’t matter in the end. Anyone involved in awakening Eternatus is not someone I wish to keep company with.  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #musesbymeri

[invictarre-archive]

time to re-paste my tags and tag everything I’ve been getting lazy with  :))))))))

can’t wait for these to get deleted !!!!!!!!!!

#dear queen of hearts; let me grow you red roses so you can learn how to be kind | out of character #hard and fast shines the grin that we flash; but there's a vulnerable stripe or two on me | musings #you can learn a lot of things from the flowers; for especially in the month of June | inbox memes #let us together see how high we can fly before the sun melts the wax in our wings | dash commentary #pull the sword from the stone and start forging your own legendary stories | headcanons #I've found fame to be a fickle food; lying delicately across an ever shifting plate | aesthetics #all the parts combine to one with all of us around the sun; everything will fall away; make order from the disarray | worldbuilding #I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered ask #owo ??? what's this ????? *notices your post* | saved #there's no such thing as time to kill or time to throw away | dash games #every fight has its costs that we've had to pay; all won by the strength of the party we've made | muse relevant imagery #under a canopy of stars where thought and truth divorce; in that latticework of dreams we are guiltless | dani x leon #I think we deserve a soft epilogue my love; we are good people and we've both suffered enough | v: galar's golden boy #up where the mountains meet the heavens above; out where the lightning splits the sea | v: vientown ranger #through the rain and the storm and the flood I can feel their approach like a fire in my blood | v: treasure town trio #edge of glory; write your story; seize the moment with no regrets | v: my hero academia #and the cat's in the cradle with the silver spoon; little boy blue and the man in the moon | npcs: arthur brandt-muriell #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #we can outshine the sun; we need only believe that two stars shine brighter than one | v: childhood

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@ardynzunia​’s Ruby asked: "Hi! Are you moving in?" The voice comes from high above Leon's head, from a small boy on the roof. He's perched on the edge, legs swinging where they dangle from the eaves. "It's nice to meet you!"  /  unprompted.

Leon very nearly jumps out of his skin as he hears the voice, taking a moment to calm himself before looking up. He wants to scowl. He just about manages to contain himself.

                     ❝  That’s my wife’s roof. Please get down, before I have to fly up there and get you myself.  ❞

It’s not like Leon to be so snappy, but can he really be blamed? The bandages under his shirt are quickly getting uncomfortable, the knot tied a little too tight and the gauze no doubt already stained with blood and the sweat from sitting in a stale airplane cabin. He’s scared, had been shaking like a leaf as they’d finally landed on Kalosian soil, and had been looking rather forward to shutting himself inside his new home and just... forgetting the rest of the world for a moment.

He sighs. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy.

                     ❝  And yes, hi, it’s very nice to meet you too. I’m Leon.  ❞

#ardynzunia #I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter

[invictarre-archive]

@shepherd-tothestars​ asked: "WAIT!! You were directly attacked by the Shadowed One?! And lived?! Incredible...! I can't imagine the after effects of all that... It's been so long since Eternatus was even seen among anyone... Are you really okay???" - words from a concerned alien grandpa.

                     ❝  Shadowed One-? Oh.  ❞

A shadow of hurt flashes across Leon’s face for a second before he raises his hands, ready to placate the other’s worry. The enthusiasm of his concern was touching, really, but it was a little unpleasant to be reminded of how unlikely his odds of survival had been. Even now, he can vividly remember how he’d felt, up on that roof.

Scared. So scared.

In pain, clawing at the floor as he’d fought to stay conscious.

Convinced that this was it, the end of his story.

                     ❝  I- yeah, it wasn’t too happy to see me. My team and I managed to knock it out of the sky, but we couldn’t keep it contained.  ❞

He tugs the collar of his shirt to one side, just enough to glimpse the jagged lightning scars across his shoulder. He’d survived, yes, but the after effects would be carried on his skin forevermore.

A small price to pay, all things considered.

                     ❝  ...You have to understand, a hit like that would’ve killed the kids. I needed to protect them.  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered ask #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character. #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #shepherd-tothestars

[invictarre-archive]

@iruludavare​ asked: “Who’s This?”  /  meme.

                     ❝  That’s a very old picture of me and my brother. ‘Cause of our age difference, Hop started at the Trainer School around the same time I was graduating it, so to celebrate his first day and my last, I took us to the local PokeCenter to mess around with the League Card creator. Wanted to capture the memory, y’know? That one was the best out of all the attempts, so I printed us both a copy.  ❞

As expected, the card isn’t in the best condition despite Leon’s best efforts to keep it safe. PokeCenter League Cards aren’t made to last, and every tiny crease and fold has caused the photo to crack and fade away along the lines. The corners are dogeared, the card splitting apart into all of its paper layers, and the sides have been sellotaped together to prevent the damage spreading.

It’s old, and tattered, and probably something that a lot of people would have already thrown away… But Leon’s always had a sentimental heart.

During those long, homesick nights after he’d first become Champion, stuck in some high-class Wyndon hotel room miles away from everyone he loved, that League Card was the only thing keeping him company. Even when his brother couldn’t be with him physically, he was in that photo, tucked safely away in a pocket of Leon’s wallet. 

He wonders, sometimes, if Hop still has his copy. If the memory of Leon had kept him company as he watched the televised matches or boasted to Wooloo about all the future successes they’d have.

                     ❝  But, hey, do me a favour and don’t let him know I still carry this around. He’s easily embarrassed.  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered ask #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character. #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #iruludavare

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@grassius​ asked: “ you’ve an.. interesting sense of fashion, dear ser.”  /  unprompted.

                     ❝  Thank you! But I must say, it seems like I’m not the only one with an incredible fashion sense. You’re looking great! Really elegant.  ❞

He meant it, too. For while his own fashion sense may appear as though he was getting dressed in the, dark surrounded by clothes that aren’t his, Leon had always appreciated a well put-together outfit on others.

He extends a hand.

                     ❝  I’m Leon Delarosa. I don’t believe we’ve met.  ❞

#I can make it easy; I can take the lead. if you think they're looking at you; they're looking at me | answered #it's our time to shoot for the stars; and we're not gonna stop until the world is ours | in character #and it feels like flying out of fool's paradise; I'll leave them in their cages and rise to shining heights | v: a new chapter #grassius