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!.
This wasn't Toby's idea way to fish, but he had limited options in this neck of the woods without travelling further ahead - and he was reluctant to do that just yet, especially as he hadn't yet branched out to purchase himself some wheels. He had felt the tension creeping up his spine over the last few weeks since his move back to Hickstead, and he knew he needed to release it in someway or another that wasn't at the gym. Oddly enough for a guy like him - on leave from the army, a known control issue and somewhat uptight - he found fishing one of the few things that genuinely relaxed him. Maybe it was the mindlessness of it, that rather than make him more taunt, it forced his body to release inch by inch with the quiet of the action, the lack of doing.
He already had the gear, and he'd brought it out of storage at his parents, dusting off the rod and his net to haul it to his new apartment. He'd had to pop down to the docks and into a local store to pick up tackle and bait, but he didn't mind spending the cash for this kind of thing. He knew at some point he would need it, and apparently now was that time. He'd had to apply for a permit to fish at the pond, but he was well versed with that - it was either this or the ocean, and he didn't fancy sitting at the seafront all day. Despite the ridiculous amount of families there seemed to be in Hickstead, he was rather hoping for a spare couple of hours on the side of the bank which permitted fishing; as far as he knew, the kids didn't come along this part of the pond and it gave the fishermen some sense of peace.
Toby added his bait to his hook and cast off, pausing with the rod still in his grasp as he waited to see what kind of fish the pond hosted - some places were used to the fishing and were eager for the bite, ready and quick on the draw to take a chance. Other places he could be sat for hours with not even a bite, but he was willing to weather the time. As noting happened to his line and there was no tug or ripple of water, he slowly tranfered his rod to his stand and went to settle into his chair - ready and waiting with a cold water at it's side. Just as he was sat, he heard steps behind him. His back got up without a second thought, training kicking in as he turned his head slightly to catch sight of the person in the corner of his eye without whipping his head around. And then his rod shuddered as they suddenly tripped over it, jerking his line and almost sending the whole thing over. "Careful!" He snapped, "Did you miss the miles of space there is to walk around my rod?"
It was a nice day to just get lost walking. Well, it was more of a requirement with Frankie's exercise requirements, but Marley didn't much mind it. It got her out of the house and into the sun and fresh air. Better, her mother often remarked, than being sat with her piles of books in her bedroom all day. But as good as it was to get out, it also came with its share of bothers. There were other people about, people Marley was sure to either outright avoid or offer up an awkward, shy nod of the head and polite smile as she tried to steer her young dog away from causing undue fuss.
And usually that was ok - she could manage that. Usually she could get by on her walk without any accidents along the way that would lead to some awkward show. But of course, life liked to be an unpredictable mess of a thing. Her border collie was more energetic than usual, and more than once Marley had almost been pulled off her feet a few times as Frankie lunged at random people and things.
After a little while things seemed to settle down and thinking the worst was over, Marley's thoughts and focus abandoned her in part. It was in that moment that Frankie caught sight of a rabbit and that spelt the end of whatever calm had existed. Before Marley could recover, the red collie was off like a flash, yanking the lead out of her hand. Without thinking, she took off after her dog, calling for her to heel but the dog was far too enthralled by the chase to listen. And stupidly, she stumbled through fishing gear that had escaped her notice.
"Careful!" He snapped, "Did you miss the miles of space there is to walk around my rod?"
Marley had the decency to look completely embarrassed and ashamed as she looked back, "I'm really sorry!"
She went to turn back, to chase after her dog when Frankie made a return visit, jumping up at Marley and pushed her back into the pond with an excited bark before spotting the man and rushing over to greet him. Coughing and spluttering, Marley made her way back onto the bank, drenched from head to toe in pond water. Outfit: Main | Accessory
Toby couldn't help himself. He might well have been told to have good manners toward women, and be military trained, but he also had quite a grumpy disposition when things didn't go to plan, and a hot head. The two traits were not the most ideal at being hand in hand unless you liked someone with a short fuse and one heck of a resting bitch face. Perhaps it was the upbringing, as people loved to use that excuse wherever possible. The strict as shit parenting coupled with several years stint in the army had only done wonders to reinforce the giant rod up his ass. No amount of party animal friends could shift it, many had tried and failed before.
The women might well have looked embarrassed but it wasn't enough for Toby in that moment. He didn't have a suggestion on what else he expected but he couldn't help being pissed off. A piece of quiet was all he had asked for, how hard could that be? "I'm really sorry!" He harrumphed at that, but made no further comment for a moment, now intent on righting his rod. He made another loud huff as he saw that the line had been snapped. Wonderful. "Fuck sake." He muttered, ignoring the woman's apology, especially as she quickly disappeared soon after the issue anyway. Of course she wasn't going to hang about after causing a ruckus. Nobody ever took responsibility for their actions anymore. He went to work on his rod, taking off the previous and attaching a new wire. He just had it set up and was about to cast out when a dog came bounding up to him, unleashed and unattended.
