So staring right off with the fact that Tumble is most def being watched (if his match being moved up got mentioned to Rose is anything to go by) and boy is that still unsettling!!! Hate it! No thank you! Also damn Oleana I get that you don't wanna chit chat with some kid but did you have to burn our boy so bad? Like it seemed like a short trip you couldn't indulge him for at least a few minutes??? Ma'am please...
Aaaaa more Rose content! It's so great to see him ever the affable businessman he portrays himself as. The way he opens the convo celebrating Tumble's victory so it sets a good mood that many wouldn't want to challenge, while also putting Tumble at ease is master class socializing. This is made all the worse by the fact that Tumble is grappling with the feelings from the Nessa talk so I'm sure this only further makes Tumble want to ignore what she said even more since now the chairmen himself says Tumble is good- so it must be true! ... Right?
Though really when we get into the meat of the convo, this feels much less like a conversation that Tumble should be a part of, and more an ambush on Prof. Magnolia. The strategic way he brings up the energy crisis in front of Tumble- working him up over it and then posing himself and his company as the saviors working to help Galar really puts Magnolia in a tough spot right from the get go. Even Sonia clearly didn't know the full extent- and the way you illustrate that with Magnolia literally put in-between Sonia and Tumble as they are grappling with this info is just -chef's kiss- so freaking good. And from there it just get worse and worse for Magnolia. Letting Tumble hear exactly what he wants (you're already helping by following your goal!) and offering Sonia her big breakthrough and a place to help literally save the future of Galar while cutting off any of her more reasonable points... The man really knows how to sell it. He even made another exhibition match seem like Tumble's idea! All while managing to (presumably) get everything else he wanted out of this conversation! It's genuinely amazing and goddamn do I hate him for it!!! And left in the aftermath is a frustrated Prof. Magnolia who ends up snapping at Sonia- pushing her away and probably further towards Rose because, hey! At least he supports her! But it's so painful cause it's clear that Magnolia understand the nuances to this that Tumble and Sonia don't. She knows that the devil is dancing in the details no matter how rosy it looks at first glance- but she also seems to believe that Sonia and Tumble can't really understand it. (And while I get that for Tumble, it feels very unfair to Sonia and makes Sonia's frustration so much more understandable) So in the end Magnolia just looks stubborn and impossible to deal with even to 2 ppl who would might side with her otherwise,
On that note, it wouldn't surprise me if Rose has an idea of how close Tumble is to Sonia and Magnolia with how much info he seems to have access to. Which, makes it feel even more like an ambush... hmm...
I love to hate your Rose so much Liv.
Also look at Tumble, trying to follow up on those strange voices and not getting anywhere. On one hand I'm proud of him for trying- on another- please god tell an adult (not rose) about what's going on I beg of you Tumble.
Aaaaaa team bonding!!! I always love seeing this crew interacting! It's so good to see Stephan growing thanks to the help of the rest of the team. It so sweet that even Raph is participating now. I love the way Shamrock explains what teams are, and in turn seeing Raph slowly open up to the idea of wanting to be on one. It's hard to admit to wanting something like that for him, but bit by bit he's getting there and it warms my heart to see it. (And will probably break my heart later on but that's neither here nor there.)
(Also calling him Shamrock at the end so quietly aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa)
The caaaave! So quick note- love the idea that Nessa dynamaxes for some challengers and gigantamaxes for others. First I love the idea that she can just decide which one to do on the fly, and also I love the implication that she didn't go as hard on Tumble as she could have. Tumble was really doing bad leading up to dreadnaw, so the idea that Nessa might have chosen the easier form for Tumble to deal with is so understandable but also so,
so bad for Tumble if he finds out. All the pride for that moment- for Shamrock's victory- will turn so sour and negative so fast if that's the case. I really hope there's some other explanation, but for now I will be low-key stressin' about that line coming back to haunt us. (Also good baby boy for giving those revives someone else who theoretically needs them more but also aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Tumble please plan for the worst at least a little bit)
On another note, I love that Tumble falls back into old habits but quickly reigns them in with the help of his team. It's just so natural he'd be excited to battle in this new place with other trainers and new pokemon! But he really is trying to do better and sticks to it until he really can't anymore. Like really, despite Martin's absolutely
correct stance that they shouldn't battle- Tumble is stuck in a really hard spot both morally and realistically. Like. I really do not think Bede was letting him through without a fight by the looks of it if only cause Bede is a condescending asshole who wants to make Tumble upset on the best of days. And while it's easy to say that this problem doesn't concern you- these are challengers just like Tumble is. It feels like it concerns him b/c it concerns ppl
just like him. Separating those sorts of feelings can be hard for adults let along a good kid like Tumble who just wants to do the right thing. It's just. We know he's making a mistake, but it's such a damn good reason to make the mistake we can't even fault him for it.
And as a small aside- I understand Martin's thinking- but gosh does benching yourself never, ever go well in these situations. It only puts others in more danger- and if anyone gets hurt because of this I don't see Martian forgiving himself any time soon...
I love the entire lead up to the battle. I adore the way Tumble really does try to reach a solution peacefully with Bede instead of jumping right to battle. Even if he didn't understand the words, it seems he really is trying to listen to what Martin was getting at. I'm sure some of it is the genuine fear of facing Bede w/o Martin's help- but he still really did try to do things the peaceful way until (1) Bede made it clear he would not cooperate without a fight, and (2) that one of his pokemon volunteered to battle. It's a small touch but it really shows how much this boy is trying to do right by his team.
And it's not like he's wrong to trust in Stephan since the first battle ends up in their favor! A bit rough but they still win the first round in the end! Maybe they can do this! Maybe they'll be okay!
... Liv they better be okay
Liv I swear-
Once again I adore your art on this update! Even though there's less action in this page there's a lot to love. I freaking love how often you kept Oleana's face unseen- either cutting it off or showing her from behind. It gives her such a mysterious and imposing presence that fits her so well- and makes it really surprising when she pops up to move Rose along to his next appointment. Your use of shading and expressions really help make the Magnolia and Sonia fight intense despite it not lasting long. And your unique designs for pokemon are always a treat to see! Another amazing job!
mm I wonder! Gross hair boys is a wonderful nickname for them
funding 
(stephan bby i trust you with my life)
