Welcome to Hickstead, home to both Seven Oak Stables, and Blue Acre - two rival stables. Both offer opportunities for their clients to reach the highest level of excellence. Each stable differs from the other, so choose wisely and never forget, loyalty is everything... Meanwhile as the stables battle it out, there's trouble brewing at the university. Be careful, if you don't pick a side you may get caught in the cross-fire...
This is an chilled out rpg with a super friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Remember to sign up with your characters full name in all caps and don't forget to do your claims! Thank you and Welcome, we've been established since 10th March 2009 but unfortunately have had to close guest view of our boards due to multiple sites ripping off our hard work, such a shame! Come chat to us in Discord before joining if you like!.
He was questioning himself again for the fifth time as he sat across from the support group hall. He hadn't been to a support group in a long time even though there were days where he felt like the world was crashing down around him because of random things triggering his instincts - and yet it was those instincts he thought that would protect him that failed him.
He rolled the coin between his fingers; it wasn't too late to leave now - he could go home. But that was really the issue. There was only so long that he could spend sat in his chair staring at the barren walls and empty rooms with no one and nothing to look at or really do. There was only so many hours he could stand to shuffle cards and practice tricks he knew. He just needed some noise; voices, a safe space that kept his mind ticking over just enough that he didn't sit there and cry himself to sleep.
Would it be so wrong to just sit in with these men who really needed people? Was he just being selfish wanting to go in and be there? He remembered his support back home, how close he was to the many men and women in that room before Veronica had banned him from going. She'd thought he was cheating on her, which was never even a thought in his head. But still, without that, he'd lost a lot of friends. Never got to explain it to them. And when she'd destroyed his phone and broken his sim card - it had broken the remaining freedom and safety he'd had.
He frowned, he should go in - pay forward something, anything; there were boys in there that had seen or done things that haunted them, or suffered in some way. People had been there for him when he'd broken down and struggled, surely it was a good thing to return the assistance now that he was free to do so? Slowly he rolled his chair across the street over to the doors and paused shy of grabbing the handle, before letting out a small breath and started to try and get the door open on his own.
larkyn had been making the drive to the city since she'd settled in hickstead. she wasn't in the army as such anymore but she still wanted to do what she could for her fellow servicemen. she wore the uniform on occasion now rather than every day but she wore the memories and mental scars all the time and there was no way to sugarcoat that or hide it from the world. as much as she tried there were people who could see what she was going through and most of them happened to be at the very place she was going too now. but she wasn't there to share, oh no. she drew the line at that. she hadn't been injured in the line of duty and that's what she thought these sessions were all about. helping the people who had been hurt and needed to cope with what had happened to them. nothing had happened to her.
she reached into the back seat to ruffle the fur on kings head as she took her seatbelt off. "well you ready kid?" she asked with a smile as she got out of the car and opened the boot of her car so she could get king ready to take in. she'd approached the organizers a few months ago about bringing in a service dog that the members could interact with. she'd seen it on base and while she'd been away on deployment, there was a certain joy that dogs brought with them where they went. her dogs she'd been tasked with working and training had been a source of comfort for not only her but the other members at the bases and camps and she knew they'd be able to do the same thing here.
so she'd picked king, he was an old soul in a young dogs body she thought. he was chilled out and not one to get over excited. he also loved meeting new people so this was the perfect place for him. she clipped his harness around his torso and she ruffled his fur again. "so handsome." she said as she kissed his nose, grabbing his leash and letting him jump down from her boot. she closed it and walked across the carpark with her sneaker clad feet with king padding along beside her. as she approached the doors she could see there was someone already there, trying to get to the handle of the door. king let out a bark of excitement at the thought of a new person and before she knew it she was being tugged towards the stranger. "do you mind if i help?" she said as she came up to stand next to his chair, not reaching across him until he said he'd be okay if she helped. if he wanted to open the door she wouldn't push the issue, she'd simply wait her turn. but king seemed to be a lot more interested in the stranger, sniffing the wheels of his chair intently.
"Do you mind if I help?" she said as she came up to stand next to his chair, not reaching across him until he said he'd be okay if she helped.
Scott flinched and looked back at the speaker, glancing at her face for all of a few seconds before lowering his gaze. Everything is ok. I'm not in danger. It's not her. He looked at the door for a moment, how hard he was failing to open it and felt his stomach drop. He nodded quickly - maybe he should've given up. He went to back his chair away from the door before he noticed the dog sniffing at the wheels of his chair. There was a mix of emotions - the first being pure happiness, followed swiftly by hopelessness.
He had visibly brightened up upon seeing the dog, but as quickly as that light came, his shoulder's sagged and the perk to his face faded to nothing again. He missed his dog, but she'd made him re-home the border collie he'd had. She had impressed it on him so many times that she wanted nothing to do with the dumb mutt, and because he was useless and couldn't walk on his own that he couldn't have a dog - he had no right to one.
He could hear her voice in his head and it caused him to shiver; he couldn't handle it. He wrapped his arms around his chest and squeezed, trying to give himself a hug that as no where near what he craved or wanted, but it was all he had and he made do. He had no right to have a dog, he knew that - and with how things were, he couldn't afford a dog even if one was handed to him. He could barely afford the apartment he was renting to stay in, let alone feed himself - he'd fallen so low that he'd had to resort to hand-outs and going to the community gardens; not that he lasted long there, a lot of people made it clear he wasn't welcome.
Drew was running a little bit behind time today, which was unusual for him generally but annoyingly becoming some kind of bad habit. He hated being late, call it army mind control but it had been drummed into him too much in his long years of servitude that being late made him feel itchy and uncomfortable. He'd gotten caught up in work though, and wanted to make sure he'd finished the job properly and to the best of his ability before leaving. With his artificial limb it made life a little hard when trying to make up the time on foot - pun intended - he had gotten a lot more stable with the fake but he wasn't quite up for running just yet and a lopsided speed hobble was as quick as it got.
He didn't like to miss a session. It was one of the first things he'd looked for when settling in town; most places had a support group of some description for the disgruntled Army rejects and it hadn't taken long to find this one. He had been surprised by the sheer number of attendee's considering the size of the town - it seemed that Hickstead had become some kind of retreat for previous soldiers in varying degrees of recuperation. The group had helped Drew when he had been thrust back into civilian life so abruptly, barely ready to come to terms with his injuries and the things he had lost. Now, he was on his feet and getting on with his life he wanted to help the others and to keep talking about the parts that he hadn't been able to say yet.
As he approached the building he saw a small hold up out front and he frowned slightly, wondering if everything was okay. With the nature of the group sessions, things sometimes got heated and there had been more than the odd altercation over the years - these were always worked through in the end. Drew schooled his face into a warm smile even though he didn't recognise either occupant, giving them a small wave as he slowed to a stop, allowing for some space. He also knew how much his fellow servicemen - and women - preferred space when they were recovering from their traumas. "Hey there, everything okay?" He asked, looking from the guy to the woman, "I'm Andrew, by the way, are you joining group today?"
she wondered if she'd done the wrong thing by asking if he'd needed help. she'd seen him flinch and wondered if she'd been too quiet in walking up to him, though she'd thought her boots on the pavement and the jingling of the harness king was wearing might have been enough to let him know she was there. she knew that some returned solidiers had issues with being snuck up on and she thought she should have cleared her throat or something now because it seemed to have really put him out. she watched as he moved the chair back from the door so she could open it for him and that's when she saw him notice king. she almost smiled a little as the dog sniffed around the wheel and then looked up at the man sitting in the chair, his tail wagging slowly as he considered the stranger with a head tilt before his giant tongue flopped out of the side of his open mouth. there wasn't a person king met he didn't like but he certainly had the knack for knowing when people needed him, he was going to be a brilliant service dog after some work.
she'd been about to step forward to open the door when she saw the sag in his shoulders and something about the motion stopped her, as if walking through the door and away from him with king was the wrong thing to do at the moment. she blinked a little as she chewed her lip, looking through the glass on the door and around the carpark for someone who might be able to help. she wasn't emotional, she didn't do comforting and she didn't know what words to say to people. the reason she was able to come to these sessions is because her dogs did all the work, all she needed to do was hold the leads and the dogs did the work. normally once people saw her dogs they didn't even know she was in the room and that's how she liked it. she kept a hold on king's leash but she watched as king whined softly towards the male who was holding himself in the chair, as if he was telling the man it was okay. he might still just be a young dog but he was good at what he did. "this is king." she said softly as she reached down to ruffle the dogs ears gently, wondering if he'd talk to the dog then.
she'd heard the footsteps of someone else walking towards them and she knew they were blocking the door inside but she didn't feel it was her place to ask to clear it. they'd been here first so anyone else would just need to wait their turn if they kicked up a fuss. luckily the stranger didn't seem all that fussed that there was a traffic jam before him. she gave a short nod when he asked if everything was okay. "sure, i was just introducing king to this guy." she said with something of a smile because she hadn't gotten his name yet, not that she'd asked. but then again, the dark haired stranger seemed to know the right questions to ask. she was relieved that someone willing to talk like that had joined them, otherwise she'd just have been standing there without a clue what to do. "i'm lark and this boofhead is king." she said as she motioned down to the german shepherd. "king'll be there to steal the show today." she joked a bit as she glanced back at the man in the wheelchair.
Scott forced himself to stop hugging his torso - he wanted that comfort so badly but wasn't about to ask perfect strangers to be substitutes for his needs. He was already inconveniencing this lady and her dog, he didn't want to be that nuisance.
"This is King."
He looked up at her, nodding as the dog moved closer to him. He wanted to reach out and ruffle the dog's fur but he forced his hands to stay on the arm rests. He didn't deserve to do nice things like that. He knew it.
"Hey there, everything okay? I'm Andrew, by the way, are you joining group today?"
"Sure, I was just introducing King to this guy."
Scott looked to the new voice and forced a fragile smile on his face, offering a tiny wave before giving a quick thumbs up.
"I'm Lark and this boofhead is King." she said as she motioned down to the german shepherd. "King'll be there to steal the show today."
Scott listened to the interactions going on and felt a pit of shame in the fact he wasn't joining in. He hadn't even given his name. He was an idiot, he knew it. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of old folded paper and and looked down at it for a moment. He frowned and tried clearing his throat quietly, trying to work up the energy to speak.
"S..S...Sc-ott."
He regretted the attempt immediately, reaching up and rubbing his throat, the pain was incredibly unpleasant. He slowly shook his head, and unfolded the paper which read; My name is Scott, I don't really talk any more and I'm entirely wheelchair bound.
He would have to make a note that he usually preferred using sign language, but he also didn't want people to think that they would have to learn to use that to talk to him. He felt bad just throwing that at them like that, but what else could he do? He was taking up their time to go into the building, causing the headache. He really should've just gone home and stayed there in the silence, much as that would've upset him. But at least then, he wouldn't be causing issues.
He smiled easily enough as they responded to his greeting. His smile tugged at the scar across his face, but he didn't let it bother him. Being with these people had helped him to accept himself as he was now, and that it was okay if he wasn't as whole or as pretty as he used to be. He nodded to the guy's thumbs up, glad that everything was okay. The place had decent wheelchair access - he was petty sure it had been a requirement so that everyone could come to the meetings regardless of whether they were on two feet or not. "sure, i was just introducing king to this guy." Drew smiled and looked down to the dog, "well he seems very sweet," He chuckled, bending down to say hello to the dog.
He was an animal person, though he hadn't owned his own dog. It was on his agenda when he was settled and had a house - and a man and all that to go with it. The perfect little family. "i'm lark and this boofhead is king. king'll be there to steal the show today." Andrew nodded and grinned slightly, "I don't doubt it... I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy his company." Considering how many of the group he knew had or had previously had dogs whilst in service or after - it might be good to have one bounding about them all.
"S..S...Sc-ott." Andrew turned his attention to the guy and smiled again, giving him the time to get out his word. He wondered if something had happened, seeing the way he rubbed his throat afterward. My name is Scott, I don't really talk any more and I'm entirely wheelchair bound. Drew quickly read the paper and then nodded in understand. "It's nice to meet you too, Scott. Is this your first coming?" He asked, directly the question to both of them; he didn't think he'd seen them around but he could have missed the odd session they had appeared at.
there was no dog in the world sweeter than king and he knew it. he was big, he was scary and he had teeth big enough to scare children but he didn't know how to use them, he rolled over for just about anyone and he loved to just sit with people. she'd trained him but she'd lucked out a little with the personality he'd been born with, perfect for this kind of work, just what he was born to do. she smiled a little as king reveled in whatever attention the new person was crouching down to give to him. "oh he'll be your slave forever now." she said with a soft laugh as she leaned down to rub kings ears gently, not that it mattered any to the dog, she was old news now. he had two new friends to get to know and he was going to get to know them whether they wanted to or not.
speech impediment? it didn't shock her but it did surprise her a little. it shouldn't have, people came here and they suffered from all sorts of trauma due to their jobs and what they'd given in service to their country. she'd been lucky, all she'd given were the years she had. she hadn't lost a part of herself, she hadn't been too traumatized by what she'd seen and she'd gotten out before the changed, all because they'd taken her dogs off her. that she hadn't been able to stand. it would have been easier to accept being injured than it was being reassigned, so they'd lost an asset, at least that's what she thought. if they thought they had someone better to train the dogs for combat then she couldn't argue with them. she could just a much better job for a lot more money out in the civilian world.
"nice to meet you scott." she said with a smile as she read the piece of paper. "and you're a man who doesn't talk to boot, where have you been all my life." she said with an easy smile, trying to bring a joke to the surface to help ease whatever worry scott might have about being in the small group he was in now. she didn't know sign language but she was happy to write notes back and forth if it meant that she'd be able to talk to someone. it's what this place was about, being there for people and while she wasn't a bleeding heart that was willing to spill her guts and feelings, she could small talk with the best of them. "should we go inside?" she asked both men, wondering if she could convince either of them to join her for a cup of the awful coffee they had in the building.
"well he seems very sweet," He chuckled, bending down to say hello to the dog.
"I'm Lark and this boofhead is King. King'll be there to steal the show today."
Andrew nodded and grinned slightly, "I don't doubt it... I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy his company."
"It's nice to meet you too, Scott. Is this your first coming?"
Scott felt a pang in his chest as the conversation moved on so easily. He couldn't really respond to people easily, but he needed that contact. That socializing aspect he was lacking in his life. He looked to Andrew and gave a small nod of acknowledgement. It had taken a lot for him to accept that it was probably a good idea to go and sit with the support group. He mightn't talk to anyone, or engage, but he couldn't bare to sit at home.
"Nice to meet you Scott." she said with a smile as she read the piece of paper. "And you're a man who doesn't talk to boot, where have you been all my life."
Scott looked at Lark, his face going through a few different expressions all at once. He dipped his head, trying to shake the awful feelings he was having. She sounded like his ex - a man who doesn't talk? He couldn't tell if she was trying to joke around with it or if she meant she preferred men not to talk at all like his ex did. He had to try and clear the dry lump in his throat, not making eye contact with her or the dog any longer.
"Should we go inside?"
He made a rough, slightly agitated motion towards the door before nodding. He needed to either get inside, or start the long move back to his empty apartment.
"oh he'll be your slave forever now." Andrew chuckled at that, continuing to give the dog his full attention for the moment, rubbing the animal behind his ears and smiling. "I will happily accept that responsibility." He agreed, it seemed like a fair exchange in his opinion. Damn he forgot how sweet dogs were, and how easy it was to enjoy their company. "Sorry, I'm being rude." He apologised, going to straighten up and quit attending to the animal. He had been brought up with manners, and these had only been instilled in him during his long army career. "nice to meet you scott. and you're a man who doesn't talk to boot, where have you been all my life." Drew gave a small chuckle and shake of his head, "oh dear, we've made such a bad impression on you so far? Let's see if we can try to rectify your opinion." Drew joked light-heartedly, knowing that the woman didn't mean any offence by it, but figuring he should keep the tone easy.
He glanced to Scott with a little curiosity, wondering how he was handling the back and forth and not wanting him to feel left out for not currently having a working voice. He patted the dog once more to fill the quiet for a moment, and then heard Lark speak - "should we go inside?" A glance to Scott, Drew nodded again as he saw that he made a motion. "Sure, ladies first?" He offered, stepping forward to go to take the door out of old habits. Hopefully he wasn't offending her by doing so, but it was just how he'd been raised; open doors and pull out chairs and take coats, and aside from that he was a pretty fair person and tried to help people as he could and be polite. "I imagine it'll be starting soon, we'd better get good seats." He said, another small joke - as if the place was a bloody show. "Have you both been before?"
