Catherine
Hop isn't sure he's never seen so much emotion on Marnie's face! He still wasn't sure if she was happy or nervous to see him though. 
"It really has been! Wyndon was the last place before we parted, wasn't it?" He swayed side to side, holding his clipboard behind him now. "Vacation, hah! Well, I suppose it is. But I'm still doing my research while I'm here." He explained, giving her a grin. 

"I'm working with Sonia now and being a professor's assistant! I wasn't really cut out for battling and I realized I like helping Pokémon more. Both you and Bede took over as gym leaders... I think that's so cool!"

Marnie actually didn't mean to be here? He wondered how she got lost. The only person who got lost was Leon as far as he knew. "Well, maybe! But I'm not trying to leave just yet. I'm just exploring around. I take it you are too?" Hop asked, now looking back to the man.
Theola
"Oh yeah, now I remember." Hop had gotten further than her in the tournament. Lucky him, he didn't get stuck with Victor on the first round. Still, working for Sonia? That's not something she ever expected from him. "Never took you for a nerd!" She snicker. "Aah, sorry, I mean. You are tall and skinny. Maybe you are one!" She let out a louder snort. Aah, that wasn't very nice of her.

"Sorry... I'm well, I'm trynna be less blunt, y'know? Must be spikemuth and my bro bro rubbing off on me, but I hear I gotta be nice as a gym leader. Least that's what some have said." Was nice the word? Oh bother... Bede always had guidance from Opal. And yeah, she has her bro, but Marnie was pretty dead set on figuring this stuff out on her own. Ack, there she went, being stubborn again.

"Research huh?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "No rest for you then? Can't you learn to tale a break? Not that working hard ain't something to be proud of. Just wondering why you'd defete the purpose of your vacation by working."
Esther
Sycamore noticed the two, eventually confused on why Hop fell down but looked over to Garchomp by his side. He whistled softly, His garchomp lowering its head so he could give him a pet.

*"Dont worry..! This is my partner Garchomp.."*

He chirped, giving the Pokémon head scritches as it let out a low coo. Augustine turned back to Hop, tilting his head. 

*" Do Garchomp's not exist at your home..?"*
Catherine
"Wh-what! I am *Not!*" He sputtered. His face was flushed when she also pointed out his physique! Well, he guessed those were common features for nerds. 

"No, it's quite all right! You're blunt but you've been telling the truth." Hop managed to laugh a little at that. She and Piers were definitely siblings. Both in skill and in behavior! He wondered if thats how he was with Lee. He was *Sure* He's changed since then. 

"Well, for me I'm not sure if its really a vacation. I just kinda got invited. Plus, I *Am* Having a vacation! Sonia isn't breathing down my neck or nagging me to do things all the time, hah! Anyway there's tons of new Pokémon that aren't from Galar, so of course I gotta document them!" He reasoned.

"Like this one!" He pointes to Garchomp. "Well, I haven't seen them! Galar's huge so there's a lot I haven't seen. Can you tell me more about it?" He asked, eyes practically sparkling as he looked up yo the Pokémon and professor.