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!.
Starting her first week back in Hickstead ending up at the bar, was probably not the best outcome, but it’s what she needed at this point. Of course, she didn’t fully realize where she was going, until she was already here, sitting at the bar. The Lounge, although it was her favorite place when she was here prior, it was for other reasons, now it was just a reminder of what she was torn from. She leaned against the bar and smiled at the bartender. ”Vodka Cranberry please” she said before pulling out some money. She handed it over and took the drink before turning and looking towards the dance floor.
She sighed before taking a drink. Being back in Hickstead was weird but being back here was even more awkward for her. How could she be stupid enough to come back to the place that she met him. It wasn’t like Hickstead was a big town, that’s why she loved it enough to come back, but at the same time, the memories, although good, were what she was almost avoiding. The dancing, the fire, the appointments after, and everything in between were almost too good to be true for her. Of course it also led to her brother dragging her back to London. She wasn’t even sure how her family had found out about her injuries as she had refused to tell them anything for fear of what they did. She saw a few couples dancing, and watched for just a minute before turning around and finishing her drink. Of course, she would basically torture herself by coming back, so she was adamant to leave.
She moved to the side and didn’t see the person in front of her before bumping into them. ”Oh I’m sorry” she said before looking at them.
Luc hadn't had a night off in a little while, and he was looking forward to it. Though he didn't have anything planned, he'd been working like a dog the last few weeks and it was nice to be able to just take a breath and relax. Things had been good, just busy - but secretly he was pleased for it. It felt fantastic, to feel like life was good right now. His jobs were going well and he had opened up a new dancing school, hiring a local studio in town that was surprisingly decent for the reasonable price he paid. He'd taken on extra shifts to start with to afford it, but dancing was his passion and he'd missed it. Now, he'd begun to pick up more students he had been able to reduce his shifts and take some time back for himself - as well as to open up more classes to try and entice more new students - and to help with the current one's.
He had considered texting Nulpi to see if she was around this evening. Since their first date; the blind one, which had been ironic in his opinion - he'd gotten to know her, and found that for the first time in a little while, feelings were stirring. He was cautious. He had been burned before.. several times now in fact, by women walking away from him and him holding out ridiculous hope. This time, he would tread carefully, and be sure before he took too many steps and ended up right back where he'd started. In the end, he'd decided tonight he would have for himself, and so he'd eaten a quick meal and decided to nip out for a drink at the lounge. It was more relaxed than the bar and he wasn't looking to get drunk, just have a tipple and enjoy himself.
Luc had just arrived, shrugging out of his leather jacket as he moved to step up to the bar to place his order. As he did, he happened to bump into someone, having been distracted as he removed his layers. Unlike him not to be observant enough to notice someone so close - which meant his thoughts were more preoccupied than he realised, and he was certainly becoming a real civvy again now. He reached out an automatic hand to steady the person without thinking, and turned to apologise. ”Oh I’m sorry” He smiled on instinct and shook his head, "No, I'm sor...." And then it twigged. That voice. He blinked, trailing off mid apology and turning fully to look at the young woman standing in front of him. A dousing of ice cold shock as he looked her over... twice.. and then up and down a few more times - unable to believe his eyes. "Emilie??"
Emilie was shocked. This was definitely not what she was expecting, and to top it off his hand was still on her shoulder keeping her upright. When she read his lips just stating her name she closed her eyes and shook her head. "I um. I uh. I was just uh leaving. um Sorry again" she stuttered out before attempting to move.
He reminded her of before. Before the fire, the dancing, the flirting, even during the fire, helping her get out, the burns, the jacket, the checkups after. Everything. Before Blake forced her away. She wasn't sure who exactly called them of course, but she also hadn't had the guts to keep in contact with anyone from Hickstead. How could she explain that her parents freaked out, and demanded her back home. How could she explain that she couldn't just leave like she wanted to without feeling a bunch of guilt. Plus she was still healing at the time.
The burns were just slightly redder than her normal skin on her hands. She worked through not being able to sign, and even getting it back to the place it was with the movement of her hands. Her arm on the other hand had a much more aggressive scar. She tended to wear more long sleeves and things that would cover it, as it led to questions, and subjects that she didn't want to talk about. It was hard enough being back where it happened, although she hadn't gone back to Blue Acres. It was worse to have people look at her with pity upon seeing the scar and making assumptions. She ran into that barn, knowing full well what could happen, but she didn't expect the constant judgement.
"I'm sorry" she says again softly. Those simple two words had a load of meaning. Sorry for just disappearing. Sorry for not texting or getting ahold of him. Sorry for bumping into him.
He wasn't capable of talking in that moment. How could she be here? This had to be some kind of trick, for sure. His brain was stuck, it couldn't concentrate on the idea that this was real, that she was actually standing in front of him. He had to look her over, as if to check she was alright. She seemed okay, she looked well - actually. That was good. He was glad. He was many things in that moment. "I um. I uh. I was just uh leaving. um Sorry again" Luc frowned, blinking and coming back to as she said the words. Well no, that just wouldn't do. As much as he didn't want to scare her off or anything, he also couldn't accept her just disappearing on him again without a word of explanation.
"Wait, don't go." He reached out to try and grab her hand, his touch firm, but gentle. He wouldn't force her to stay, but he couldn't just see her in a moment and then let her leave again. He'd spent a lot of time going over things with her in his brain and what had happened, where he might have gone wrong. She owed him her story, to explain herself and where she had been. Was she back for good? There were mixed feelings on that but he needed time to take in all of this situation and the implications, he couldn't figure it out in half a second. "I'm sorry" Luc's frown deepened, trying to work out what the words were for. "For what?" He asked, not letting her get away that easily.
Emilie wasn't sure how to handle him just staring at her. She rubbed her hand against the burn scar on her arm and looked down before stating she was leaving and moving to leave before she felt him grab his hand and looked back at him. She knew that he'd be understanding if she explained it all, but how could she explain at the same time that she was back, but not in the same place. She wasn't even sure if it all made sense in her head. She was essentially starting over again. The only thing quite a few people remember of her is that she worked at Blue Acres, and in the eyes of some people at Seven Oaks, she was the enemy. It was hard on her to constantly be on edge and expecting the worst from everyone, so at the same time it was almost the same here. How would he handle knowing that she was ashamed of how she was dragged away and didn't feel like she could reach out?
When he asked what she was sorry for she shut her eyes, moved her other hand through her hair and sighed. "I don't know, everything, anything." she said quietly again before looking up to him again. She looked down before quietly saying "I don't even know where to start". She was almost hoping he would just let her leave, go back to whatever he was doing, as obviously he was doing much better than she had been. Being smothered by her family was one thing, but to have to then explain it to the person that she was closest to here, was going to be almost impossible. How could she explain that she felt like a scolded teenager when she was dragged home. They completely babied her because of her hearing loss, and then to top it off, when she finally moved out and away, the second the first thing bad that happens, she's dragged back and once again treated like a little kid, even though she had Luc at the time to help her and support her. The drastic differences between the two was almost too much. Luc at least brought her to the horses that she saved to help her, understood when it became too much to sign, and helped her at appointments, whereas her family didn't allow her to go anywhere alone because she couldn't sign, and thus in her eyes she was incompetent to be able to do anything on her own.
He couldn't help but stare, he had honestly never expected to see her again. When she'd disappeared without a trace, he'd had to give up and just hope she was okay. Now she was here, in a place he hadn't expected to run into her again. His hold wasn't tight, he didn't want to hurt her, he just wanted her to give him a chance - he needed to understand what he was missing, if she was okay now and happy at least. He was fast to release her wrist, not wanting her to feel trapped if she really couldn't handle talking to him. "Sorry, I just... I can't see you walk off again, not like this." He didn't want to say the words 'you can't' either, because if she needed to, he'd let her go. It would hurt, but whatever she needed.
"I don't know, everything, anything." Well that was something at least. He opened his mouth to respond and then promptly shut it, not wanting to interrupt her if she was about to speak more. Everything. That was quite broad. Sorry he ran into her again? Sorry she hadn't picked up the phone? Sorry for leaving? There was a lot she could be sorry for, but he needed something a little more specific than just that. "I don't even know where to start". Luc gave her an understanding smile, his hands awkwardly going to cross his chest and then relaxing again and finding his pockets instead, not wanting to appear standoffish. "The beginning is a very good place to start.." He said softly, or he supposed, the end for them. He cleared his throat and then rubbed the back of his neck. "Why did you leave? What happened? Did I do something?" He felt ridiculous for asking, but he felt the need to ask, worried he had scared her off from her home.
Emilie nodded when he said that he couldn't see her just walk off again. She wasn't sure how it would all go, she wasn't even sure how he would handle it, but it wasn't going well for her. When he asked if he did something wrong it broke her heart. He was absolutely perfect, she was the broken one. She couldn't help herself, and moved forward before wrapping her arms around him and leaning her head onto his chest. She closed her eyes and just took a deep breath and this was absolutely what she needed right about now. His constant support is what helped her through the beginning part, and she hoped that he didn't absolutely hate her enough that he pulled her off of him and yelled at her. Honestly that was probably her biggest fear at this point.
Finally she moved back and looked up at him before sighing. "Should we sit down?" she asked simply before gesturing towards the tables. She moved to sit before putting her purse on the table in front of her and fiddling with the straps. "Well, I kind of have a question to ask you before I start.... Did you contact my family? About the fire?" she said softly. If he had told her parents she wasn't sure how she'd take it, seeing as how it ended up with her feeling like a prisoner and useless for years.
He relaxed somewhat when Emilie nodded, he trusted her enough that she wasn't going to a runner now that she'd nodded. Hopefully she could understand where he was coming from. He needed the truth, even if hurt him in some way. It was closure, which insinuated an ending and he didn't know if that was what he wanted, but it would at least help close that confusing chapter of his life. He wasn't looking to start anything up again with her, but he at least needed to know she was okay, happy and that he hadn't done something to upset her.
Her hug surprised him, thoroughly. He thought he'd upset her by asking her to stay, and suddenly her arms were around him. It was natural for him to reciprocate, for his arms to go around her in response, to let her rest her head on his chest. He couldn't pull away, though a part of him thought it was ironic that she had chosen to throw her arms around him when she hadn't even wanted to call him after she'd left. He had to admit he was confused, but he tried not to puzzle over it too hard, just allowing it to happen- she needed it in that moment, and she'd said she was sorry.
"Should we sit down?" Luc nodded and released her. "Yes, I think that would be appropriate." He agreed, following her over to one of the tables and sliding into a seat, the rest of his day completely forgotten about. "Well, I kind of have a question to ask you before I start.... Did you contact my family? About the fire?" Luc sighed and shook his head. "No. I tried but... I didn't know where to start on how to do that. I used the knowledge I did have, but didn't seem to get anywhere. I kept hoping you would contact me, knowing where I was when I didn't know where you were." Maybe he could have tried harder, there was that, but it was hard when you only had minimal information.
Emilie sighed and nodded her head when he said that he didn't, and he hadn't found a way to contact her. That was probably her parents fault at that time. She looked down, not wanting to see or hear his reaction, and kept playing with the strap on her bag. "Somehow my parents found out about the fire, sent my brother here to bring me back home. Since according to them I obviously couldn't handle living on my own." she said softly.
She shook her head before continuing. "For the first few months I wasn't allowed to do anything because of my hands, and then essentially I was a child to them again. I couldn't do anything, or go anywhere for the first year or so. Because of my injuries they didn't let me sign, didn't let me do anything on my own, and honestly it was the worst. I've never hated being deaf so much than I have the last few years. Up until last year I wasn't able to go anywhere alone, and I finally said enough. I opted to leave, without fully telling them again, and I hope they don't suspect Hickstead again. I've never considered getting a cochlear implant before these past few years, never felt so useless than these last few years" she rambled on before finally stopping. She didn't want to look up and see how he was handling it. Sure it was probably not that bad in his eyes, but she wasn't sure if she could handle him thinking it wasn't that bad.
He couldn't look way from her - half afraid this was all a lie and she'd disappear from him again. He wasn't ready for her to vanish just yet, and even if things had changed between them, he still couldn't help but care for her. A slight frown adorned his face as she looked down, wondering what had happened for her to be so down about it. She was avoiding him still, even now, when he was sitting right in front of her. "Somehow my parents found out about the fire, sent my brother here to bring me back home. Since according to them I obviously couldn't handle living on my own." His frown deepened. It wasn't hard to figure out how they'd found out about the fire if they had any insight into the life here, or any social media regarding it. The news crews had been all over it; local or course but it was still a big deal. He also did not like the words 'bring me home', as if she'd had no choice.
Luc wanted to ask, but he stayed quiet, letting her get it all out. If he stopped her now, he was worried she might never explain everything. "For the first few months I wasn't allowed to do anything because of my hands, and then essentially I was a child to them again. I couldn't do anything, or go anywhere for the first year or so. Because of my injuries they didn't let me sign, didn't let me do anything on my own, and honestly it was the worst. I've never hated being deaf so much than I have the last few years. Up until last year I wasn't able to go anywhere alone, and I finally said enough. I opted to leave, without fully telling them again, and I hope they don't suspect Hickstead again. I've never considered getting a cochlear implant before these past few years, never felt so useless than these last few years"
He blinked, trying to take in everything she had said. It took a minute to sink in before he shook his head. "How can they have so much control over you? That is ridiculous, you are your own person." It wasn't something he could quite understand, having always been told by his dad to stand up, to be the man of the house. He had been conditioned to join the army, despite never wanting to, because of his father. "How are your hands? Did they heal?" He glanced to them in concern.
Emilie finally looked up and caught him asking about her hands. She nodded and turned her hands over on the middle of the table before shrugging. "Took a bit of time to be able to sign again. The burn on my arm is still rather tight at times, and I sometimes struggle with it, but I've dealt with it for a while." she said simply.
She took a deep breath and sighed before quietly asking "Are you still mad at me?". She truly hoped that he understood, but she completely got it if he didn't. She wasn't sure how she could explain how suffocating it felt, and how she felt like even after healed she couldn't leave. They had told her time and time again that she couldn't do anything on her own.
He watched her, noting the way she avoided his gaze. He didn't know what she was expecting him to say or do, but avoiding him wasn't going to change anything. His gaze flickered down to her hands when she raised them, turning them over. As they were brought toward the middle of the table, he took a better look at them. "Took a bit of time to be able to sign again. The burn on my arm is still rather tight at times, and I sometimes struggle with it, but I've dealt with it for a while." He frowned slightly, looking at the skin, his lips turning down slightly. "I'm still sorry it even happened to you," He said gently. He reached across and folded his hands over hers, a promise that he meant the words.
He leant back in his chair after a moment, releasing her hands and looking at her again. "Are you still mad at me?" Luc's brow furrowed again and he went to shake his head, and then hesitated and shrugged. "I don't know what I am," He admitted, shock was still the forefront of it that was for sure. "I'm not mad though," He said softly. "Confused, I guess, and surprised... glad you're okay, I was worried. It's more hurt than anything, that I wasn't included in anything and then suddenly... you're back, all without a word." He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. What a whirlwind.
Emilie shook her head when he said that he was sorry that it even happened to her. "I don't think I regret helping the horses... I just regret the aftermath more. My parents freaking out wasn't in my to do list. I truly am afraid that they'll try it again. They're not wanting me to be independent again after that." she said simply before looking down at his hands as he took them away.
She looked back up as soon as she asked the question. She was hoping that he wasn't, and that her explanation was good, but she was almost afraid that he would be mad still. When he said that he didn't know what he was she nodded. "I'm sorry. By the time I healed enough to use my phone in their eyes, I didn't know what to say." she said quietly. What do you say after disappearing for about 6 months? Oh Hi! How have you been? and acting like nothing is wrong? Even then her family was up her ass the entire time and she couldn't do anything alone.
"I don't think I regret helping the horses... I just regret the aftermath more. My parents freaking out wasn't in my to do list. I truly am afraid that they'll try it again. They're not wanting me to be independent again after that." Luc sighed quietly, his emotions all of a jumble as they warred with frustration over the whole situation and understanding, and compassion. It could not have been easy for her. "I'm glad you don't regret helping them, but it seems to have become some what of a mess..." He could understand her parents, as awful as it sounded, the fear they must have had, and fear made people do all sorts of things - stupid things and brave things alike. He'd seen it in war, both sides of stupid. But the common theme was always that people would do anything for the ones they loved, even if it wasn't in that person's best interests. He felt that maybe if the roles had been reversed he would have tried harder, but was that him being unfair? Possibly.
Her hopefully look broke him just a little, he wasn't good at this kind of thing. Not with the way he had been brought up to treat women. It was difficult to be mad, even with what had happened with Kara he'd struggled to be angry. Mostly feeling sad and at a loss when he'd found her happy with someone else, rather than furious she hadn't waited for him. "I'm sorry. By the time I healed enough to use my phone in their eyes, I didn't know what to say." He sighed again, a heavy kind of sigh as he listened to her, a slight shake of his head out of confusion and uncertainty rather than a flat out no. "I know, but it doesn't erase the last six months of silence as it's been from my side. The lack of acknowledgement of what we were or might have been by your continued silence even when you returned to town. I can't cut off the hurt or frustration right now from an apology." he bit down the impulse to say sorry himself at the end, because it was true and needed saying, and he shouldn't need to apologise for his feelings. His tone was courteous, he wasn't loud or cross, just ...sad really. It was going to take time to heal this.
Emilie only kept her eyes on his lips, and was purposefully avoiding eye contact as she wasn't sure how she would be able to handle him looking at her. She knew that eventually she would have to deal with these kinds of things from when she left last time, but she honestly wasn't prepared, not sure how you could fully prepare for things like that either. She nodded when he said that it was a mess. That was one way to explain it for sure. She almost wished that she could hear so she didn't have to look at him at all. She was nervously playing with the ends of her shirt before he started talking again.
She bit her lip when she realized that it wasn't going to just be fixed. She didn't expect it to, but she also didn't expect him to be so mad at her still. She figured that at least explaining would help, but she wasn't sure how she expected it to just be fine. "I understand, I hope that you're happy now? That maybe eventually, we can be friends?" she asked quietly. She hoped that he wouldn't hold it against her forever.
