For those who have actually played the game...
Are these two completely useless or doing whatever they're doing on purpose? Obviously the subtext is impossibly queer, regardless of if their relationship is actually romantic or sexual. But I can't imagine the Pokemon Company allowing it to be said aloud, and nowadays it sure seems like they expect the fanbase frothing over characters (and creatures) to drown out their own marketing.
Hot_Soup43
Jun 29, 2026 11:08PM
^^^Tbf there isn't anywhere else to look. They're just in a white void.
Adawal
Jun 30, 2026 1:07AM
^they're mostly just "haughty employer × annoyed employee" in the base game, with the (admittedly made-up) flavor of their dynamic being entirely mutual. in the DLC, Lebanne seems to actively defend her relationship with Jacinthe, but don't quote me on that. i didn't buy the fuckass DLC
Lifeisfunguys
Jun 30, 2026 1:18AM
^ well i bought the fuck ass dlc and
ehh not the best
Aquwin
Jun 30, 2026 2:00AM
Basically Lebanne went around challenging people(we've only heard girls saying the challenge) that if they can defeat her she'll become their partner no one could until she met Jacinthe who beat her through out the game she makes it clear she has no problem being a maid she just hates that she has to behave a certain way because the things she do could hurt Jacinthe's image so she can only let lose when the other SBC members are not around she makes it clear at the end of the base games she never planes on leaving Jacinthe and in the DLC they go more in depth about their relationship and how Lebanne is never happy because she feels because she can never beat Jacinthe she's not worthy to actually be with her and she's mad at herself for it later in the DLC one of the other women Lebanne challenged comes to battle her to become her partner and because of the Mc beats them in a double battle which makes Jacinthe mad because she knows that Lebanne sticks to her rule but she doesn't that time and make it clear they are partners and she has no plane on leaving her again Also their pokemon speaks to this because Lebanne has a full dragon type team but Jacinthe doesn't have a full fairy team because she has the corresponding fossil pokemon that of Lebanne's which is a rock/Ice type so that their lead pokemon match so Jacinthe breakes her trainer type to have the partner pokeon of Lebannes
ninryu
Jun 30, 2026 2:10AM
^ So they're gay, got it.
Galim
Jun 30, 2026 2:58AM
^^ The gist I'm getting is that they were pretty useless about it in the base game, but the DLC actually gave them a conflict arc and they talked it out. Overall has a censored dub feel but still probably more direct than some sapphic manhua, and leaves room for fanworks across the spectrum.
Swag Wagon
Jun 30, 2026 3:19AM
I dunno if it's Nintendo specifically that has a problem with representation, but Game Freak's fuck ass shit ass leadership is a different story.
Splatoon has a few openly gay characters and it's a mainline flagship franchise.
Galim
Jun 30, 2026 3:53AM
^ Well the Pokemon Company, Game Freak, and Nintendo are all technically separate. I thought Game Freak were pretty okay (by Japanese corporation standards, anyway) and the Pokemon Company basically had them on a leash, though? Did I miss something?
BeanBeanKingdom
Jun 30, 2026 5:47AM
Pokémon doesn't even fully confirm straight ships to the point most characters' parents barely ever both exist. Jacinthe/Lebanne and Canari/Gwynn are by far the most blatant they've ever been with portraying yuri relationships, in the latter case Gwynn straight up says she loves Canari multiple times and in the DLC Canari also tells Gwynn she's much more important to her than her fans. Jacinthe and Lebanne have in-universe shippers among the SBC members.
Lifeisfunguys
Jun 30, 2026 9:29AM
still waiting for the official pokemon dating sim coming 2098
MajesticJuggler
Jun 30, 2026 9:40AM
Yea, I think it's less gay erasure and more Pokémon upholding a "no romance, no kissing" policy. The closest we got to full-on romance was that one kiss at the end of the Kalos anime and that one guy giving you Protect after your heart-to-heart with Shauna in X and Y.
Zesc
Jun 30, 2026 10:18AM
^ Basically this. Despite the old fans having grown up, it's still targeted at children, to whom romance is at best kinda cringe. (Also, wasn't there a wierd long distance relationship with that Idol in Black and White?)
Imho, representation-wise, they're going above and beyond of what you can expect from an animal bloodsports JRPG. (Like, ever noticed how ethnically diverse the cast is, esp. for a japanese developer?)
Lifeisfunguys Jun 29, 2026 10:13PM
shes lookin up her skirt
Fairy of the Gilded Lilies Jun 29, 2026 10:29PM
Lebanne is losing on purpose.
Galim Jun 29, 2026 11:04PM
For those who have actually played the game...
Are these two completely useless or doing whatever they're doing on purpose? Obviously the subtext is impossibly queer, regardless of if their relationship is actually romantic or sexual. But I can't imagine the Pokemon Company allowing it to be said aloud, and nowadays it sure seems like they expect the fanbase frothing over characters (and creatures) to drown out their own marketing.
Hot_Soup43 Jun 29, 2026 11:08PM
^^^Tbf there isn't anywhere else to look. They're just in a white void.
Adawal Jun 30, 2026 1:07AM
^they're mostly just "haughty employer × annoyed employee" in the base game, with the (admittedly made-up) flavor of their dynamic being entirely mutual. in the DLC, Lebanne seems to actively defend her relationship with Jacinthe, but don't quote me on that. i didn't buy the fuckass DLC
Lifeisfunguys Jun 30, 2026 1:18AM
^ well i bought the fuck ass dlc and
ehh not the best
Aquwin Jun 30, 2026 2:00AM
Basically Lebanne went around challenging people(we've only heard girls saying the challenge) that if they can defeat her she'll become their partner no one could until she met Jacinthe who beat her through out the game she makes it clear she has no problem being a maid she just hates that she has to behave a certain way because the things she do could hurt Jacinthe's image so she can only let lose when the other SBC members are not around she makes it clear at the end of the base games she never planes on leaving Jacinthe and in the DLC they go more in depth about their relationship and how Lebanne is never happy because she feels because she can never beat Jacinthe she's not worthy to actually be with her and she's mad at herself for it later in the DLC one of the other women Lebanne challenged comes to battle her to become her partner and because of the Mc beats them in a double battle which makes Jacinthe mad because she knows that Lebanne sticks to her rule but she doesn't that time and make it clear they are partners and she has no plane on leaving her again Also their pokemon speaks to this because Lebanne has a full dragon type team but Jacinthe doesn't have a full fairy team because she has the corresponding fossil pokemon that of Lebanne's which is a rock/Ice type so that their lead pokemon match so Jacinthe breakes her trainer type to have the partner pokeon of Lebannes
ninryu Jun 30, 2026 2:10AM
^ So they're gay, got it.
Galim Jun 30, 2026 2:58AM
^^ The gist I'm getting is that they were pretty useless about it in the base game, but the DLC actually gave them a conflict arc and they talked it out. Overall has a censored dub feel but still probably more direct than some sapphic manhua, and leaves room for fanworks across the spectrum.
Swag Wagon Jun 30, 2026 3:19AM
I dunno if it's Nintendo specifically that has a problem with representation, but Game Freak's fuck ass shit ass leadership is a different story.
Splatoon has a few openly gay characters and it's a mainline flagship franchise.
Galim Jun 30, 2026 3:53AM
^ Well the Pokemon Company, Game Freak, and Nintendo are all technically separate. I thought Game Freak were pretty okay (by Japanese corporation standards, anyway) and the Pokemon Company basically had them on a leash, though? Did I miss something?
BeanBeanKingdom Jun 30, 2026 5:47AM
Pokémon doesn't even fully confirm straight ships to the point most characters' parents barely ever both exist. Jacinthe/Lebanne and Canari/Gwynn are by far the most blatant they've ever been with portraying yuri relationships, in the latter case Gwynn straight up says she loves Canari multiple times and in the DLC Canari also tells Gwynn she's much more important to her than her fans. Jacinthe and Lebanne have in-universe shippers among the SBC members.
Lifeisfunguys Jun 30, 2026 9:29AM
still waiting for the official pokemon dating sim coming 2098
MajesticJuggler Jun 30, 2026 9:40AM
Yea, I think it's less gay erasure and more Pokémon upholding a "no romance, no kissing" policy. The closest we got to full-on romance was that one kiss at the end of the Kalos anime and that one guy giving you Protect after your heart-to-heart with Shauna in X and Y.
Zesc Jun 30, 2026 10:18AM
^ Basically this. Despite the old fans having grown up, it's still targeted at children, to whom romance is at best kinda cringe. (Also, wasn't there a wierd long distance relationship with that Idol in Black and White?)
Imho, representation-wise, they're going above and beyond of what you can expect from an animal bloodsports JRPG. (Like, ever noticed how ethnically diverse the cast is, esp. for a japanese developer?)
last edited at Jun 30, 2026 10:22AM
luinthoron Jun 30, 2026 5:08PM
Fun. :D