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!.
Give Me A Day or Two, To Think Of Something Clever.
"I need the parts by the end of the week," he muttered darkly into the phone, eyes narrowing at the wall as the supplier tried to give him some excuse, "No, they are going to be delivered here by the end of the week or this relationship between the garage and you is over." And then, he quickly hung up before any more excuses or whining could come out of the phone. Kasey Caufield didn't have time to listen to the world's smallest violin anymore. That was the one thing he hated about being involved in a business, everybody had an excuse for delays. Hickstead was small, but it wasn't fucking remote. He didn't know how Heidi did it, considering that she ran the whole operation, he would have been grey by now if he had her job. At least he just had to bitch out people or keep them on track. Rubbing his temples, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to recenter himself and be at peace or whatever.
After a few minutes, it seemed to finally sink into him and he opened his eyes. Cerulean eyes found amber ones, and Dog was staring at him from his dog bed. Animals were funny, they always seemed to know when something was up, "I'm fine," he said gruffly. The response was just some loud tail thumps before the Belgian Malinois got up and walked to the office door to sit down once more and stare back at his human. Kasey knew that look. His gaze shifted to the clock for a moment, he supposed he could start lunch break early, "Okay." He said now, getting up, walking over to the door and opening it. Dog didn't need to be told twice before he ran out. Kasey just followed him, cutting through the lobby. The clerk and the regulars were used to it by now as they headed out and walked a few doors down to grab some food to go. They waited by their favorite cafe, who had become used to the pair also. Always had the same order: a turkey club sandwich and some rotisserie chicken to go. He'd order ahead and pay in cash, outside, so he could stay with this dog and didn't have to enter the food establishment.
With their food in hand, they walked back to the garage. Dog charging ahead and leaving Kasey behind in the dust. Cerulean eyes did catch, however, that instead of going back in through the lobby to cut back to their domain, his dog went into the garage. The male frowned, mainly because he knew the dog was going to be a distraction to whoever was working today. Like his human children, his dog didn't seem to understand that the world did not revolve around him and he did not need to stick his long nose in peoples stuff. Sighing, Kasey picked up the pace a little and managed to get to the garage now. Poking his head in, he scanned the garage to soon find the Belgian Malinois, poking someone's leg as they worked under a car. Given the fit of the work pants and the size of the feet, he immediately recognized who it was, "DOG! Leave Elle alone. She's working." To the dog's credit, he backed off from nosing the young woman's leg, but he sat down now, panting happily away and waiting for her to come out from the car. Sighing, he headed over to the pair now, "Sorry about him, Elle."
Elle's hands shook as she worked on putting in the car's new battery. It was a pretty simple fix, but she was still stuck on replaying last night's scene with Ryan, and it was getting harder to control the tremours working their way down her spine. He didn't mean to. He always said he didn't mean to. He loved her. If she would just do it right in the first place, then he wouldn't have to be angry and have her fix her mistakes. It had been dinner this time, and he was right, he had told her before not to serve the white wine with beef, but she'd been flustered as she'd had problems getting the oven to turn on and had begun to panic about dinner being late. He'd been quick to remind her, already in a foul temper from work. She would not forget again.
Usually she could hide it in the day, she was away from him, she could breathe and reset herself and smile and pretend everything was absolutely fine. Today was tough though, she felt exhausted, and her cheek hurt. She could handle the pain, she was horrifyingly used to it, but for some reason it just throbbed worse today. She'd deliberately put herself in the back today, picking up every job she could as she rushed from one vehicle to the next to get their parts in or figure out their issues or get them serviced and fit to pass their MOT's. She took a moment, straightening up from under the bonnet and putting her hands on her hips as the shaking intensified. Calm. Breathe. We're okay here. She took three long, slow, deep breaths in and then out until she could get herself under control. She needed to get this battery in sooner rather than later, the shaking needed to quit it.
She finished with the battery and double checked everything was set before she crossed that one on her list. A wipe of her perspiring forehead and then she was underneath the next car that had been said to be making a rattling noise. She heard the snuffle before she felt the nose, and though she was on high alert most of the time, it caught her a little by surprise being so intensely focused on her job. She jumped and smacked her head against the underneath of the car. "DOG! Leave Elle alone. She's working." At least that had warned her to Kasey's appearance. She'd been terrified by him when she'd first met him, his size and his bulk and his general expression had warned her off - big scary guy, her instincts screamed at her to run, but she'd stuck it out and got to know him. Very, very slowly. He was a decent guy, and she'd never seen any untoward behaviour around women before from him. "Sorry about him, Elle." She carefully pulled her out from under the car and managed a brief smile, "You know you never need to apologise for him." She loved Dog, he always brightened up her day.
Give Me A Day or Two, To Think Of Something Clever.
Kasey could not help but to wince a little at the thump that had come from under the car when Dog's wet nose made contact with the young woman's leg. If that drew blood, he was certain he would never hear the end of it from Heidi. Cerulean eyes shot the Belgian Malinois a look. In typical fashion, the dog did nothing more than ignore his scolding look as he waited for Elle to emerge from underneath the car to give her a proper greeting. The male tended to watch himself around the young woman, knowing fully well that when he first came to the garage, she may have been mildly terrified of him. He was also certain that she had her fair share of history behind those blue eyes of her. He always did his best to give her space though, if she didn't want to share anything with him, that was her call.
Before long, Elle head appeared from underneath the car, rolling herself out. As soon as she was sitting up right and managing a brief smile, Dog flopped right over her legs - looking for the love that he thought he was denied by the Caufields. The move made Kasey roll his eyes before returning his gaze down towards the young woman. He offered her his usual slight smile. The antics of his dog had locked them into conversation, since he couldn't leave the dog unattended despite Elle being here. He swore to Heidi for permission of free ranging him at the garage, he'd kept watch over him all the time, "I didn't realize you were on schedule to work back here today," in fact, he was fairly certain that she had either been off or slated to do some other work at the garage per some rotations. Hedging his bets, he cut straight to the chase, "Everything okay?"
She gave an inconspicuous rub of her forehead, the part she'd thwacked against the car, but it didn't really hurt. She'd had worse, but it did give her an excuse to have the red mark on her cheek at least; she could blame it on the car. She gave a genuine smile though at the sight of that soppy face, unable to help but feel pleased to see the pup. Not always confident with people, she was great with animals, she found them comforting - for obvious reasons. Her attention remained mostly focused on the dog for a moment, having greeting Kasey so as not to be rude, she liked that Dog gave her an excuse to keep her gaze averted, to keep her relaxed as her hands scratched the animal behind his big floofy ears, chuckling as the animal flopped over her legs, her smile widening without being able to help herself. "You big sop," She murmured, but she enjoyed it all the same.
"I didn't realize you were on schedule to work back here today," His words meant she had to pull her attention away from Dog and concentrated on Kasey - non scary Kasey, she reminded herself. She couldn't help it though, she was always on edge after a fight with Ryan - particularly a bad one. "I took an extra shift," She said quietly, not stopping with her ministrations of cuddles to the animal in her lap. She might not be so scared of him anymore but she couldn't help but feel a little wary - particularly when she was in a tense mood. In her defense she hadn't known he was on today either. "Everything okay?" Ah, one of those. Had she given something away? She automatically tensed, nerves and anxiety setting her shoulders, a muscle jumping in her neck as she forced herself to swallow and nods. Perhaps it was too quick, and she hid the tremour in her hands in Dog's fur. "Yep, everything is fine," She forced on a bright smile, her specialty. "Everything okay with you?" She quickly diverted the conversation away from herself so he couldn't pry.
Give Me A Day or Two, To Think Of Something Clever.
Kasey was keenly aware that his dog was providing the young woman the perfect plan for ignoring him. He knew that was going to be the issue when he requested Heidi that he could bring Dog to work with him, the big floof would always get in the way of any conversation - serious or not. And Heidi had warned him about that, but Kasey ignored that small fact. Now his boss was clearly being proven right as the dog allowed his tongue to loll out while he sprawled on top of Elle's legs, acting like he was king of the world.
Elle gave him the smallest possible answer to work with, "I took an extra shift." He couldn't help but to quirk an eyebrow at that - one of those - what sort of person would want to take an extra shift kind of look. There were plenty of answers out there though such as covering for someone, not wanting to be home, needing the extra money, it was an endless black hole so he didn't bother pulling strings, "I'm sure Heidi appreciates it." He commented now, cerulean eyes still resting on her. But then came his follow up question, and the man watched as Elle's features began to change. She tensed - nerves and possible heartache playing across her face. Kasey, to his internal credit, suddenly felt a little callous for asking her point blank if everything had been okay.
"Yep, everything is fine," She forced on a bright smile, "Everything okay with you?" Ah, so this was hte game she wanted to play. A sigh escaped him, knowing that he was going to be a jerk right then but figured he wouldn't push it, "Elle. I have two kids, one of which is still a teenager. You should work on your delievery of 'fine'." But he wouldn't force it, he had learned with both Rex and Tally that forcing any sort of conversation was just as dangerous as trying to stick a kitten into a bath tub for...well, a bath. So he wouldn't do that with Elle either. Instead, he humored the young woman and answered her question, "Truth be told, I'm dreading Heidi going on maternity leave. Like, happy for her and Jason and all, but I don't want to wrangle Dei or Dodger." Technically, Elle was part of that also, but unlike the guys, he doubted that he'd have any issues with her, "My daughter also...she told me she wants to live on campus when she starts University in January...I'm...less than thrilled." Maybe this would make him human enough to Elle instead of the mildly, anti social, terrifying man that he could be.
She kept ruffling the dogs ears, finding an itchy spot Dog seemed to particularly enjoy and honing in on it. Her attention may have seemed solely on the animal but she was hyper aware of Kasey and what he was doing. A glance up at him so he didn't think she was completely ignoring him - that would be rude - to see the look on his face. A very disbelieving look. She felt a rush of something that felt like an odd mix of guilt and worry, that maybe be was going to push a little too hard. There was no reason not to take extra work, bills needed paying and she liked the work. "I'm sure Heidi appreciates it." She gave a small nod and returned her attention to the dog. "She sure does." Elle agreed, trying not to stray down the path of this query too much.
She heard the sigh and an eyebrow raised slightly, not wanting to ask but knowing she probably wasn't going to need to either. "Elle. I have two kids, one of which is still a teenager. You should work on your delievery of 'fine'." Elle was not a hard person, didn't have a stubborn bone in her body, but she also couldn't just come out with what was going on. That was iron clad behind a steel bloody vault. "With two kids, one of which is a teenager, you should well know when to leave things alone and let a woman have her privacy. Her reasons are her own and don't need to be pried out unwillingly." A little firmer than she intended, but her tone was soft, careful. She wasn't trying to offend only to warn that she wasn't going to start spilling everything in her head.
"Truth be told, I'm dreading Heidi going on maternity leave. Like, happy for her and Jason and all, but I don't want to wrangle Dei or Dodger." Elle gave a small chuckle at that, patting Dog once again before reaching for her necessary tools. "You don't think you're big, bad and mean enough to handle those two puppies?" She would have thought he could handle the two males given that he had kids and all. She'd worked more with Dodger than Dei, given that the latter was also part time. Both seemed fine but she couldn't help but keep to herself when on shift with them. Luckily, Dei seemed to prefer it that way, and Dodger didn't give the impression he minded either. "My daughter also...she told me she wants to live on campus when she starts University in January...I'm...less than thrilled." Elle glanced up at that, hearing the unspoken concern in his words. "And you'd rather she stayed at home?" She guessed, understanding his fear. After all, her leaving home had been where it'd all gone wrong for her. But that was her fault and not the way everyone's world went. "At least she won't be far from home... A little taste of freedom without being a million miles away?"
Give Me A Day or Two, To Think Of Something Clever.
Elle's firm statement about not wanting to talk caught him a little by surprise, not because Elle just quite simply did not want to talk, but more because of the firmness in her voice. Truth be told, Kasey hadn't realized that the young woman had a bit of backbone, but he supposed, just like himself, the quiet ones were always the fiercest. He held up his hands in mild surrender, backing off immediately, "I'll leave you alone. But if someone's bothering you, you let me know." And the man would stay true to his word, he wouldn't bother Elle McKenzie about her situation again unless she told him, that, or it began to affect her work. But Kasey figured that his statement did not need anymore explanation.
Their conversation seemed to recover as he gruffed over not wanting to deal with the two young male mechanics, only leading to Elle softly chuckling: "You don't think you're big, bad and mean enough to handle those two puppies?" Her words made Kasey wryly smile, mainly because those words confirmed what everyone thought of him, "I can handle them, I just assume they'll annoy me at some point or another." But that was probably a given, considering how often the man did get annoyed. It couldn't be helped though, it was just his personality at this point and he liked things to go quiet, smoothly, and for him to be left alone - which likely wouldn't be the case with Heidi's absence.
At the young woman's question about his daughter, Kasey shifted just a little, as if he were uncomfortable, mainly because Elle had guessed correctly, "Yeah." He replied, uncertain if elaboration was needed. He wasn't sure if it made him a terrible dad or not, or just stereotypical like all of the other dads out there in the world. Cerulean eyes glanced off, distracted as he mulled over Elle's next words, "I suppose. I didn't go to University, but I know what dumb teenage boys are like and it worries me. Guess that's what every dad says though. Didn't worry about Rex leaving the house, but Tally, well, it feels like a whole other ball game." And truth be told, as awful as it was, Kasey was closer to his daughter than he was his son. His gaze wandered back to Elle now, "Think I'm being dramatic?" It felt like an honest question, one that could get an honest answer.
She watched him hold up his hands in defence and she bit back a sigh - now she'd done it, she'd caused drama and made it into a whole thing. "I'll leave you alone. But if someone's bothering you, you let me know." She nodded, grateful that Kasey was the respectable kind of guy to understand when no really meant no, even if it was just implied, rather than to keep pushing. She knew people meant well, when they pushed, just wanting to 'help' but all it did was make things harder for her. She knew well enough what happened when other people got involved in her life and she needed this to remain her business only.
She pushed it all to the back of her mind, best to move on and ignore the awkward moment from a second ago. "I can handle them, I just assume they'll annoy me at some point or another." Elle gave a small chuckle and raised a brow as she straightened up again, stretching out her aching lower back. "I'm pretty sure that's a given, but you can just embody your parental side to kick them into line, no?" She joked, chuckling at the image of Kasey putting Dei in the naughty corner, or Dodger having a time out until he apologises. She couldn't see it going that far, but it was amusing to think about all the same.
"Yeah." Elle's smiled softened at that, feeling sympathy toward the man despite not knowing how it felt just yet to have to watch your kid grow up and move away from you. "You and probably ever other parent ever," She reassured him softly. "You're not alone there." Because it usually made people feel better to know that. "I suppose. I didn't go to University, but I know what dumb teenage boys are like and it worries me. Guess that's what every dad says though. Didn't worry about Rex leaving the house, but Tally, well, it feels like a whole other ball game." She stayed quiet for a moment, letting Kasey talk. "Think I'm being dramatic?" Elle leant her hip against the car she was working on. "I guess it comes down to whether you trust her, and whether you feel you brought her up well enough to be smart about boys and the trouble they bring." She wouldn't lie to him and say it'd be fine. She thought she would have been fine, her parents too, and she'd been the stupid teenager who'd fallen into the wrong relationship. It was too easy to say it was fine and it be a lie, but if Kasey had taught his daughter how to recognise the signs of trouble, how to stay away from it - if she had a smarter head on her shoulders than Elle had, then she'd come out unscathed.
Give Me A Day or Two, To Think Of Something Clever.
Cerulean eyes watched Elle as it looked like she bit back a sigh from his reaction, but he knew better than to reassure her. Kasey did and said his part, anything else further was know up to the young woman to decide. Knowing how private she was, he doubted that she would every come to him to discuss these things. The push back said it all, but at least the man offered, and that offer would stand until the day he died. Hopefully Elle would recognize that if dark days were ever ahead of her. It was best for them to not linger on it now, and Kasey surged ahead in the conversation, expressing his doubts on Dei and Dodger's ability to be mature while Heidi would be gone.
The topic felt like a good segway to move away from what was troubling Elle, and she seemed rather keen to move on from the awkward moment. So, he let her: "I'm pretty sure that's a given, but you can just embody your parental side to kick them into line, no?" A grunt escaped him at the thought of using the tone saved for his kids on those punks, "Then they'd know I'd care, and I don't think I want to let that one." Kasey said with a soft smile, "Besides, I'm more threating as a boss rather than a parental figure. What do you think?" Although, the older man was willing to bet that his own two kids highly disagreed with that statement - Kasey just needed someone to care about to become dangerous if he thought there was a threat.
A gruff laugh escaped him at the young woman's observation and her reassurance, "No, I suppose I'm not." Kasey knew every parent had this worry, and yet, he thought he'd be a little impervious to it. Maybe it was the fact that when he was growing up, his dad was out of the picture (and likely dead) while his mom was checked out (and he did little to help once he left), or maybe there really was some truth that once your child was born, they would always be your child no matter their age and you would always worry. Someone had told that to him once, perhaps it was Morgan's parents, but Kasey had laughed it off. A kid or two wasn't going to make him soft. But how wrong he had been, "I like to think I taught her right. Just don't think the worry will ever leave me...I still worry about Rex too, but in a different way." Kasey gave a little more thought before a gruff laugh escaped him, and he added on, "And since I'm American, I usually tell Tally to bring her boys home so I can discretely threaten them. I have friends back home who liked to sit around cleaning their shotguns whenever the prom dates came over."
She heard the grunt and hid a smile, unable to help but see Kasey as the gruff work father for the lot of them - even if Dodger wasn't particularly young himself. He was young enough, still almost half Kasey's age, as far as Elle knew - and Dei was even younger. Both boys were very self sufficient and independent lads who tended to keep to themselves, she oculdn't see anyone telling them what to do without getting a hard word for a reply. "Then they'd know I'd care, and I don't think I want to let that one." Elle laughed softly and gave him a look, "You care?" She joked, teasing a little. "I had no idea." A lie obviously, Kasey couldn't hide the fact he cared, it was in his gaze even if he didn't say a word. "Besides, I'm more threating as a boss rather than a parental figure. What do you think?" Elle pretended to think about it for a moment and then shrugged. "Threatening is a very strong word... are you sure you don't mean something else?"
Elle smiled when he laughed, pleased to have drawn the amusement out of him. "No, I suppose I'm not." Though she couldn't speak for herself, not yet anyway... but she knew a lot of parents were relieved to know that they had the same concerns as others. She put down the rag in her hands again and went to close the hood of the car she was working on. Confident it didn't need anymore tinkering for now. "I like to think I taught her right. Just don't think the worry will ever leave me...I still worry about Rex too, but in a different way." Elle watched him quietly for a moment, as she liked to watch people when they didn't realise anyone was looking - they always let a little part of themselves out, and Kasey's care as a father was shining. "I think you always worry unfortunately," She admitted. "And since I'm American, I usually tell Tally to bring her boys home so I can discretely threaten them. I have friends back home who liked to sit around cleaning their shotguns whenever the prom dates came over." Elle let out a little laugh at that, "and how's that gone for you so far?" She could imagine Kasey's daughter to have a fiery spirit as like her dad, and finding out that said father had been threatening the men she brought home would surely lead to a heated debate.
