If there was one thing Josh disliked about Ranging more than anything else, it was meeting reqs for patrol hours. He had to have a certain number of patrol hours every month, and these hours could be spent saving the lives of people trapped in the elements. His Pokémon were, of course, good at patrols, but making laps around a rural road, especially in a jungle and not in a field, was so boring. He couldn't even go on a high speed run aboard his Pokémon out of fear of missing someone in trouble under his watch!

Reaching Fortree's western city limits, Josh sent out four of his Pokémon, all wearing similarly-styled riding gear: his Manectric, Saber; his Boltund, Crash; his Glaceon, Inky; and lastly, the Jolteon he was to mount, Blinky. The Jolteon and Glaceon led the way, a lot more mist than normal seeping from his blue, crystal-shaped tail. His emotions seemed to run a bit high, perhaps out of jealousy that he didn't get his turn first.

Not far from the gate, he caught sight of another Ranger. It brought Josh back to the days when he was still a Rookie, but no longer. His red uniform showed he had enough experience with the job to do missions on his own if need be. He slowed his Jolteon to a trot, the rest of his Pokémon following suit. "...Sacha?" Josh called out as he approached the black-haired man who, unlike himself, looked like he actually groomed his hair more than a few times a year.

Blinky greeted the Rockruff bouncing between her paws, laughing with the small canine that was harmlessly bouncing off her quill-covered legs. Inky took a few steps back, visibly agitated by the playful Pokémon but was otherwise well-behaved. Perhaps the increased intensity of cold mist floating away from his body would give the young one a clue that he wanted to keep his distance.

"That's me! I'm more formally known as Ranger Devlin or Gym Leader Devlin, but I go by Josh," he introduced himself. "These two are Blinky and Inky," he introduced his two mount Pokémon. It was truly extraordinary some of the magic that breeders could work; those two were on the cusp of the largest sizes possible for their species. "This is my second trip to Hoenn; I actually came here when I was a semi-pro Pokémon racer. I still race as a hobby, as you can see," he gestured toward his Glaceon in full riding gear, "but a lot has happened and I had to give it up."

Josh smiled at Cherie's enthusiasm. "I've actually seen Lycanroc on the circuit a couple of times. They're not what I would call fast, but they won't wear out over running really long distances. Blinky here is the opposite," he gently pat the Jolteon's quilled head through his racing glove so he wouldn't get poked. "Where you headed from here? If you're headed south, my Pokémon can help you get there a lot faster." Inky gave Josh a "not me" stare and a cry that sounded like a pout.

Every person Josh cold rope into at least trying a Pokémon race for themselves was more potential to get national subsidies for Hoenn. His biggest goal that was tied directly to his position as a Gym Leader was to get Hoenn its own racing league. With his new position as a Gym Leader, he wouldn't be able to participate in Johto's again any time soon, nor would he be able to return to his Johto residence. Perhaps it was just in the cards for him to make his new permanent residence Hoenn.

"Not every Pokémon has the personality or the drive for it," Josh replied, "and that's okay! I once tried a Pokémon Contest and I didn't care for them at all. There truly is no correct way to raise Pokémon. It's about what you can do for them, and what they can do for you." Sacha had expressed interest in joining a Pokémon race one day, which made the Leader smile. "That's awesome! My Pokémon can help you practice, if you want!" All three of the others following Josh, his Glaceon, Manectric, and Boltund, seemed more than capable of letting a guest rider at their reins.

Inky raised his head at Josh's assumption that he enjoyed carrying guests on his back, then trotted away, taking his anger out on a wild Chikorita. The intimidated-looking Chikorita turned tail and fled, Inky giving chase at speeds that could easily outrun his quarry. By the time the sound of a whirling barrage of RAZOR LEAF crossed Josh's ears, the Giaceon was standing on top of a Chikorita ice cube. Inky was quite a bit worse for wear, his icy skin riddled with small cuts that looked like they really stung. The Glaceon's trainer lobbed a Poké Ball toward the Grass-type. While Meganium weren't particularly swift, another grass-type of the right body shape would be very helpful!

"Maybe some day," Sacha laughed, shaking his head. "I feel like if I got into a racing accident, I'd be done for," the man admitted. He was only in his early 30s, but his age was still somewhat catching up to him. There were already aches and pains that he endured from his years in the coal mines. Adding to them with some other type of injury that affected his movement wasn't ideal.

Quietly, though, he watched his Glaceon fight the wild Chikorita and had to keep himself from snorting at the little ice block the ice Pokemon had made. "I guess that is one way to catch a Pokemon," Sacha chuckled softly, looking down the path they were walking on. He kept scanning the ground, the sky, the trees. He didn't like to be caught unaware if he could help it.

"Have you been a Gym Leader long, Josh?" Sacha asked after a while, Cherie trotting happily beside him once more.

Josh Devlin

ooc: skipping!

Sacha's hesitancy was understandable. With the number of Pokémon that were faster than one could legally drive on the highway, accidents were a constant fear of anyone involved in the sport. It just so happened that the people that enjoyed it were crazy enough to value the adrenaline rush from a high-speed competition over the threat of injury. "Fair. Very fair," the Leader acknowledged the older man's hesitancy. "I was unfortunate enough to be in an accident some years ago, and thankfully it wasn't career ending. I have the Federation's rigid safety standards to credit for that."

Josh couldn't help but give a laugh back regarding the Chikoritacube Inky had wrought to help with the catch. "About a month," he answered. "It's been keeping me very busy, which is why I haven't taken on many Ranger jobs. But I love it." He would go on to share his experiences as a Gym Leader, some of his Gym Pokémon, as well as his rise through the Ranger ranks.