^No, I'm pretty sure that Brendan doesn't really have lines like that anymore in ORAS. I think the worst thing he says (that I've seen people jump on, anyway) was a line when you (as May, obvs XD) first meet him, and he says something about how when he heard about Norman's kid moving in next door, that he'd hoped you would be a boy. I personally didn't take that as a mean comment, at least not intentionally so; a bit tactless, maybe, but hey, he's supposed to be like 12 years old, and some kids just have no tact, regardless of their gender (I know, because I was one of them....and still am, sometimes XD lulz i am just not the best with social cues at times XP). And I guess Brendan is also a bit surprised on how good of a trainer you turn out to be, but I have the impression that Brendan's been a trainer for a bit longer than you have, and so it's more of a comment on your noob-ness than a slight against your gender. Like, "Huh, you're already pretty good, even though you just started out as a trainer", instead of "Omg, you're good, but you're a girl, wut
". But again, that's just my feeling on him in ORAS. And I can't speak for how he was in the original games, 'cause I never owned them. XD
Now, uh, on to me discussing the actual topic, and answering those questions. XD
What made you support this pairing?
Like with many people, it was the nostalgic bike ride/nighttime stroll towards home after you beat the League that did it for me. Just...that quiet, soft, fairly romantic music, the introspection of how much they've grown and how far they've come, gazing up at the stars, no rush and hurry, just the two of you existing, that intimate feeling of being with someone and feeling like you're the only person that matters in the whole world, or matters the most.....man, I'm a sucker for those kinds of moments, and so after a whole game of some pretty strong ship teases, this moment did me in. Sure, grand, bombastic, epic love stories and moments have their place, but THIS kind of scene feels more...idk, realistic? And I love it especially because it's not really about Brendan and May being in love with each other, so much as it's about their character development, and thanking each other for helping them grow as a person, and to me, that's far more romantic than dramatic declarations of love. So, uh, ironically, the scene not being about ~love~ is what made me ship them....XD
What was your favorite Hoennshipping moment from ORAS?
Lol, the above that I just described. XD Again, I'm
such a sucker for well-done scenes like that. Quiet moments of intimacy and a comfortableness and overlaid with narrative symmetry are my jam~~~ XD
Have your views on this ship changed at all since playing the ORAS games?
Well, yes, in the sense that I didn't ship it before I played the games, but I didn't play the original games either, so it wasn't exactly on my radar before, and I don't have anything to compare it back to XD ORAS definitely introduced its wonders to me though!
How do you think Brendan/May would react to any potential love rivals?
Ahhhh. In a general sense, I despise love triangles and any kind of that sort of drama, ESPECIALLY if two girls are being pitted against each other over someone, because lord knows we're conditioned to tear each other down enough as it is, and this kind of crap needs to stop being glorified or seen as a ~necessary step~ and rite of passage in life, and it all just ends up being this toxic, downward spiral and I Do Not Approve. :/ Also, with the advent of me discovering polyamory, my impatience with love triangles has greatly increased, and I just don't see much appeal in them. HOWEVER, I do recognize that, being teenagers and dealing with puberty and weird hormones and conflicting emotions and the insecurity that comes with trying to find your place in the world and how all of that relates with the people around you, being jealous and insecure over relationships is something that'd be in-character and an experience that most teenagers probably go through during their lives, especially depending on how rigid of a society they've grown up with, and deviation from the 'norms', either in yourself or in the people around you, is something you've been taught to fear, it's often dealt with by lashing out. So, okay. It's a thing. And realistically, these are things May and Brendan would probably go through.
*grumps*
Brendan, I think, is likely to be more insecure in himself than May is (we're already shown in the game that he's not secure enough in his own masculinity to be comfortable with being seen buying dolls), so I think he would become more visibly upset and agitated at people showing interest in May, and he might not have the self-confidence to think that he'd be interesting enough to hold May's attention long-term. So this would lead him to acting out, and doing increasingly ridiculous things to get and keep her attention. Like, if May's showing interest in something that Steven is saying, Brendan would barge in between them and be all, "HEY MAY, LOOK AT ME, WATCH ME JUGGLE THESE ROCKS
". May's reaction to these displays would be bemusement, I think, and at first Brendan would brush off her attempts at talking to him about it, and be like, "What, no, I'm totally fine, of course there's nothing wrong, why would there be", though eventually she'd hem him in to talking about his ~feelings~. As Brendan matures and gains more confidence in himself, I think he would start to mellow out and not feel that he has to try so hard to be "enough" for May.
As far as May goes, I think she would go sort of the opposite way. My impression of her as a character is that she's bubbly and enthusiastic and energetic and loud, and instead of being like Brendan, who, the more insecure he is, the louder and more obnoxious he becomes, when May is insecure, I think she would become quieter and more withdrawn. If she saw Brendan as being interested in someone else, or someone hitting on him, she would have started off as her usual self, like, "OH HEY BRENDAN YOU KNOW I WAS JUST THINKING, oh wait you're talking to someone and you're busy, sorry for interrupting and being a bother, I'll just....go.....away...somewhere else now..." And I think May is a person who gets embarrassed easily, as she doesn't fit into the traditional gender roles of being demure and refined and ladylike, and when she gets excited about something, she wouldn't realize how loud and fast she'd start talking, but when she does or has it pointed out to her, she'd blush and start stammering and shuts herself up as quickly as possible. She'd paste on a smile too if confronted about it by Brendan, and force herself to focus on other things in an effort to pretend it's all fine, but as she herself matures and grows comfortable with Brendan, and maybe once he tells her that the things she thinks are embarrassing about herself, he thinks are cute, then she'd be able to open up and be honest.
Okay, okay, I'm MOVING ON, i swear XD
How would the other characters see the Brendan/May relationship?
I'm pretty sure just about everyone in Hoenn ships it. Especially their parents. XD I think Steven would think it's amusing, Wallace would be laughing at Brendan's probable jealousy of Steven, even though Steven would never date a kid like that, Zinnia would tease the heck out of them, Wally would be a little devil and join in with Zinnia, and maybe when he's hanging out with them individually, innocently suggest for them to get flowers for each other and eventually long-sufferingly put up with their pre-date jitters. Teams Aqua and Magma, and especially Archie and Maxie, would side-eye the boy/girlfriend of their
adopted child pest, and indulge in a little hazing and they'd be the ones who would give the "don't you dare break their heart, or I will hurt you" speech. Lisia would coo over them and give them matching outfits, with Wallace's help. XD
okay, now i'm done, for reals. XD
just didn't want to see this thread die quite yet 
