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!.
His frown deepened as Caleb's cough continued, progressively sounding worse with every drag of air on the intake. He saw the deft and well practiced grab of the cloth, the wipe of his mouth, the attempt to hide what he was clearly used to hiding. Drew noticed it all in a couple of glances, but made no comment. It was hard, old feelings prevailed and all that but they were at war with the conflict of how he felt now, and how things had ended - the hurt and the betrayal and everything that had come with it.
"I'm fine, Just a cough." Drew's mouth twisted slightly, a show of his disbelief. He didn't question it though, whilst concerned, it wasn't his business and he wasn't owed anything - likewise, he didn't owe Caleb anything. He was quiet for a moment, letting Cal get himself settled without feeling rushed. Part of him wanted to be up on his feet and moving, on the go, away from here, but something kept him sat there with Cal. "I'm sorry, for everything. For all I did, said, acted. For not trying harder, for being a fool. I'm sorry I hurt you at all. I didn't want to." Drew opened his mouth to speak then abruptly closed it, the anger about to get the best of him, instead he swallowed the words and forced himself to be rational in his response. "That's a lot to be sorry for, Cal. But it's not as simple as that." He sighed, a heavy noise. "It doesn't change what you did or what happened, it doesn't fix anything. It's just a word."
"I'll make sure that never happens." Drew responded to Cal's soft smile with a tired one of his own. "So will I." He meant it to. Nothing was going to pull him away from Cal now, he'd learnt his lesson and they'd lost so much time over the years, wasted time. It wasn't worth wasting anymore pretending or lying.
"I'll never stop worrying, Never..." Drew shook his head slightly, pressing another careful kiss to Cal's fingers, not wanting to cause him any more pain, but wanting to reassure him. "That sounds exhausting, Cal. I'm not the one you need to worry about." He frowned as Cal winced, not liking the sight of pain on his face. "Promise me Andrew, you'll take care of yourself - please, promise. I don't want to wake up again to find that you haven't." He nodded, a half smile at that. Anything to reassure him so he would rest. "I promise, Cal. So please, don't think about me right now. Get some rest, I'll be here when you wake." Another promise. He didn't want Cal to hold out for him, he needed to rest and heal and not be thinking about Drew - who was perfectly capable of knowing what he needed or didn't need in order to look after himself.
"Sure! I can hold off planting until a siding is picked. Most of the flowers I’ve thought about come in multiple colors and patterns.” Andrew gave a nod in response and a quick smile to show his approval. "Well that sounds like it'll make things easier." Sometimes you had to plan to be flexible even if it didn't seem you could - a quick need to change something needed to be as easy as possible, especially if you had a particularly difficult or stubborn client. Luckily for him, he hadn't had too many, and in all honesty in his initial consultation he usually made it clear that he was a human being and would only be treated as such, not a slave or a lesser man. He didn't do being talked down to, it was his business after all and he had his pick of clients, he wouldn't take anything thrown at him for the sake of it if something was just going to give him a headache.
“Have you worked with this client before?” Drew shook his head. "No, not this one but I've met several similar." After all, you tended to get 'types' after a while. He didn't mind picky or fussy as long as they were opened minded and respectful about it. It was rare someone liked what you did perfectly first time because everyone had a different view of the world and a different imagination. Occasionally he happened, like some kind of Christmas miracle, but he fully expecting to need to make rearrangements or changes along the way. "Have you?" he asked, wondering if she had given her asking him.
Oh nice, I know it's not as nice a feeling as being able to feel the weightlessness but does it not feel nice to be in the water? Have a bit more freedom of movement?
The quiet between them lingered, felt awkward. Emotions kept shoving back and forth in Caleb, vying for attention and he didn't know which one to focus on. Such was his turmoil, he could bearly think in that moment. Even the passing of all this time hadn't really changed how he felt about things. It was too difficult when you met the love of your life, and then they walked away from you with such hurtful words. You didn't come back from that, not easily. He'd had to work hard to get some balance back in his life, to feel safe again. It sounded ridiculous but when your entire life collapsed in on itself the way it didn't when him and Caleb were over, the world felt very unfriendly all of a sudden. Like it was out to get you, to destroy you.
"I'm sorry..." the words caught him a little off guard, hanging just as awkwardly in the air between them as the silence had been. They interrupted his internal devastation and be blinked. "About time.... But for what?" the words were out before he could stop them, before he'd even realised he'd formed them. It was true though, they should have been said a long time ago, it was far too late now. And what part was he sorry for? Being here? Running into him? Or for what he had did or what he had said? Did it change anything? Probably not. The cough made him frown though and even after everything he felt a touch of concern, almost reaching out to him. "Are you unwell?"
Andrew kept his gaze on Caleb, it felt important to keep his eyes on him, for one or both of them he didn't quite not. For him, he wanted to just drink him up as much as he could. With what had happened, it was terrifying to think he might have never seen him again. "I panicked. Just the thought of shutting my eyes, not seeing you... It hit me strange." His gaze softened, understanding dawning as he listened to Caleb's words. He gave a small nod and a careful squeeze of the hand he held. "I know the feeling. But I promise, wild animals couldn't rip me away." nothing could. He would fight tooth and claw to be here by his love's side until he was ready to go home. And even then, he didn't think he'd be able to leave.
"The only thing I need is you, the rest of it can all go fly a kite in the park, You need to take care of yourself too. It's not like I can run out of here and join a marathon." Drew gave a weary chuckle. "Fly a kite, hmm?" he repeated, amused by the turn of phrase. He shook his head a little, his returning smile tired but still a smile. "I'm fine, don't worry about me." and he was fine now. Everything else.. sleep, food, rest or whatever... Could go to damn hell. He just needed to know Caleb was going to come out of this fine and then he'd deal with everything that came after it.
"Yeah, my brother gifted me a spa day in a week – so I’ll be looking forward to it.” He gave an easy smile at that, eyebrows raising slightly. "Oh yeah? That sounds nice," He hadn't even though about the idea of a spa, though with his injury, he regularly had to massage his lower leg where he was missing his foot. He liked the idea of a proper massage from a professional, but there was something about being naked in front of a stranger like that, lying prone on a table, which felt somewhat vulnerable to him. Perhaps it was because of all his scars and imperfections, which he had come to accept on his own but wasn't quite used or ready for the rest of the world to see.
“There are some great vine plants that will allow privacy over a light pergola. But still, allow some light in. Do you have the color ideas you were thinking for the outside?” He considered the image for a moment, putting the vine plants into what he had in mind and then giving a nod of agreement. "Would probably work," He agreed. “I had some flowers picked out, in yellow, pink, and white tones. Some bright greens, too. But I can change those out if the outside slats would clash.” Drew looked back down to his plans, a slight crease appearing between his eyebrows in concentration. "I think it's likely to work fine, might have to wait to see how it looks in person, the pink may clash a little." Not that colour schemes were 100% up his alley but he could tell when something didn't look quite right.
The conversation felt stilted and awkward, so much unspoken between them, so much hanging in the air. This felt somewhat ridiculous - the idea of the two of them just exchanging pleasantries like the last time they saw each other wasn't when they'd been ripping each other's hearts out. As if they hadn't spent years together, hadn't learned every line and freckle on each others bodies. As if they hadn't known each other inside and out - or at least, so Drew had thought, until Caleb had told him they were done. "It is." Well, that was the end of that. Perhaps he should leave, this felt like it was just going to get worse the longer they sat there.
He didn't know what he'd been expecting to be honest, and perhaps he should have thought about it before he asked. Maybe he'd thought Cal would say a couple of years or something, that he'd fell into this place with a recent job or following a friend - and yet then the ball dropped. "Ever since I broke us up," A sharp stab to the heart, of course it had to be said but something about it hit home. He shifted slightly, trying to hide the uncomfortable flash of pain from the words. He cleared his throat, trying to get past the lump that had suddenly appeared there. "Right..." He said, shaking his head slightly, "Of course." He didn't know what more to say about it without dredging up the past, the anger and frustration and the hurt. He hesitated, once again considering leaving.
Drew watched him carefully, realising he was probably staring a little too intensely, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't stop drinking him in, seeing that he was alive, knowing that he was alive. They had come so close to the end, he still hadn't shaken off the terror yet. He didn't know if he'd even be able to. "I have a feeling that you'd sooner handcuff me to a radiator than let me leave," He gave a small smile at that, and gently squeezed his hand. God if he didn't want to never let him go, but he knew at some point he'd have to step away, even if for just a moment. "Oh absolutely, I didn't even realise that was an option." He teased gently, though he'd rather just never have him leave and be it at that.
He leaned into Cal's touch, turning his face into the palm and closing his eyes momentarily, soaking in his touch. Warm and gentle, he would never take it for granted again. "I promise you, with everything I have, I will not ever - never ever - leave your side again. I'm tired of being alone in the world. There has only ever been you and I was a fucking idiot. I see it. I know it. I want to be wherever you go. From now until always." He smiled and re-opened his eyes, but the smile fell to hear the change to his heart beat. He touched Cal's chest gently. "Hey, what happened there, where did you go?" He asked, wondering what had upset him in that moment. He had waited to hear those words for so long, but he wanted to hear them again when Cal was okay and up and about again. "I don't want to sleep anymore.. but I am so tired." Drew leant down to kiss his cheek gently. "You need to rest, I'll be right here the whole time. I promise. Nothing bad will happen, I'll make sure of it."
"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?"
Drew squeezed his hand carefully, scared to hurt him with how banged up he was. "I have no plans on going anywhere, not ever." His heart sung to hear it, but he'd been told that before, and he couldn't help but he fearful and dubious, that tiny inkling that it might not be true. "You'd better not. I'm not letting you get away from me again." not easily anyway, not if he had any say in it at all. The scary truth was there were things he didn't have a say in. It was Caleb's actions that had put himself in the way of the car, but the car had been the thing to send him to hospital. The stupid wayward car, with it's idiot of a driver. Andrew hadn't had the capacity to think about that part of it yet and the fact that the driver had some serious penalties to pay, but that would come in time once he could stand to leave Cal's side.
Andrew heard the sigh but did not say anything further about what had happened. He couldn't stand to think about it let alone talk about it yet, and if he could spare Cal from knowing any of it, he would. "I'm sorry I caused everyone so much distress, I just... acted again without thinking." Drew was quick to shake his head as he brought Cal's knuckles to his lips again. "No, don't..." he didn't want him to apologise, even if he hadn't wanted him to do it in the first place. He leant forward as Cal's arms went around him and returned the kiss, lingering for a moment to soak up everything about Caleb. His forehead came to rest against Cal's and he took a long inhale to settle his anxiety.
"Yes, I will always be concerned for you. For everyone. I am going to be fine, even through the battles to come. I am going to keep fighting to be by your side Andrew, ok? Always. I fucked up once, I'm not letting it happen again." He opened his eyes after a long moment to stare at Caleb directly. "Just never do this to me again, and that's all I ask. Never leave my side, Cal, and we can do this together." those words he'd wanted to hear years ago said now - to be by his side forever. He hoped Caleb meant it, he wasn't ready to go through heartbreak again.
Andrew watched Caleb warily for his response, unsure how he would take it. He didn't know himself how he felt about it right then. Turmoil for sure. He'd had no idea where Cal had ended up and now he was here, irony had a funny way of putting a foot in the door. It was an odd moment of quiet as they looked at each other, and he hated the awkward tension between them. It was Caleb's own fault, if Drew had had his way they'd still have been together. But that hadn't been his choice. "That's good, I see. It's a nice area to live, peaceful." Andrew nodded. Peace sounded good, he needed peace in his life, but he wasn't sure he'd be getting any now he knew Caleb was somewhere in town. He felt like he'd be watching every face for him in the street, every shop window incase he was inside.
He realised he hadn't said anything in response and he cleared his throat then nodded. "Yes, it seems like a nice place." Or it had until he'd found his damn ex was here. He felt Cal studying him, having looked away for a moment, but now he returned to the man who had broken his heart, looking right back. Damn it hurt to see the way Caleb looked at him. He shouldn't be looking at him like that, they hadn't seen each other in years, Cal had made no attempt to contact him or fix what he had broken. "Hopefully you'll enjoy living here, it really is a nice place. The people are nice." Andrew gave another polite nod, feeling stiff and formal and unsure how to act. There were words burning the back of his throat that he couldn't say, it was not the time and place. "So far it's been pleasant. How long have you been here?" he was curious to know if this was a new move or if he had been hiding here all this time, ever since he'd smashed Drew's heart and done a disappearing act.
Noted! I will not be meeting Jimmy any time soon. Ah, good job you said that, it was about to go in my cart No beer it is. Thank you - I'm looking forward to it.
"Might keep it then," Andrew gave a faint smile and squeezed Caleb's hand gently, his eyes on his. He would never take that look for granted again - the sight of Caleb looking at him, aware, eyes bright and intense, he would never forget that. "The only thing I care about seeing, is you alive and well. Stubble, no stubble, I don't care...as long as you are here, with me. That's all I need." He raised the hand he held to his lips and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. He needed Cal to listen to him, to never scare him like that again. He had lost him once, and it had been terrifying to think he was going to lose him again, after everything. This was more final too, even though he had moved on before he had known Caleb was out there somewhere, even if they had been done. But this had been scary, seeing it happen, being there and having to wait and wait not knowing. Never again.
Drew watched the expression on Cal's face as he told him what had happened. He wanted to ease the pain he saw there and he shifted in his chair, unable to do anything for him but be here. "I don't remember that," Drew relaxed a little at that. "I'm glad, it was...." quite horrible, he finished in his mind. He didn't want to say it. It wasn't fair to him, he didn't need to remember it. Andrew would never forget it. "I remember telling you that I love you... we were walking the dogs... I don't remember much else.. I remember thinking I saved you.. then nothing after that. I did it because I ... I-I... Why don't I remember anything?" He squeezed his hand again gently. "Because it was a serious trauma, Cal. It wasn't good. I thought you were dead. Everyone did." He swallowed hard against the tide of emotions that came with saying those words, even though Cal was talking. It still didn't make things any less easy to take.
"You weren't hurt, were you?" Drew shook his head but managed another small laugh. "You nearly died but you're concerned for me? I'm okay, Cal, I just needed to know you were okay." he said softly, his eyes warming a little. He didn't bother to mention his stupid food. It would be okay in the long run and he could her by on it as it was, but something was definitely wrong with it. It wasn't sitting right on his leg and it was uncomfortable to walk. He'd resorted to limping already and he knew he'd been to bring his crutches back out of retirement temporarily.