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!.
It was not in the bingo of today’s shenanigans that Taylor heard the trip wire alarm go off. Her cameras picked up some town kids breaking and entering, and when greeted by the neighbor’s dog – fled. Which also left one of the gates and barn door open. She was going to have a stern word with the kid’s parents if the neighbors didn’t get to them first.
She had thankfully managed to get most of the herd that fled back in, but there was the one that was playing hard to get. Mainly because she was too much of an explorer and saw chasing as a game. But Tina loved horses. It was something that Taylor witnessed when a few riders came by and the Alpaca was goo-goo gaga for it. Taylor was going to use this information today and phoned the ranch up, and Kegan swiftly sent someone over. She was curious to see the poor sod that was sent over.
After making sure the gate had a replaced lock, Talor heard the sound of tires on the drive. She made her way out, already looking like she fought a bear. It took her a minute to register who it was. “Ah what’d you do to piss the boss lady off?” she snorted. “Yeah, I had a break-in, unfortunately. Some asshole kids. I guess they weren’t strong enough since my fence can be climbed, but they decided they needed to break it. I got most of them in, but I have one that is still loose. I’m about to have some breakfast and coffee. You need to eat?”
At least Kegan sent an attractive one. Well, to be fair – most of the people on that ranch were attractive. But Raleigh was at least old enough for Taylor that she didn’t feel icky about it.
“Good for her, Willow Brooke is a very hard place to get into. Let alone a full ride. I’m sure your parents are happy they don’t have that price tag looming over them.” Despite being in education, well kind of, Taylor often wondered why certain students paid so much money for university. She didn’t judge or anything, but it just caught her off guard constantly when she saw how much people were paying a semester.
“Rory is good. I think she’s been wanting to expand the family soon, so I think she’s trying to convince Nick. No idea how that’s going since I don’t want to pry. We are kind of getting up there in age, so I think she’s worried that her biological clock is about to shut off,” she added, hands moving expertly through the piles of strawberries. Taylor was thankful at least one of the sisters liked the idea of having a baby. Taylor heard all the terrible stories that pregnancy gave women. While the baby was amazing, the gestational diabetes and losing teeth was not it. Also the recovery. Taylor was completely okay with adopting a kid or maybe she would remain single for life.
“Yeah, it’s fun. Though, I think Daisy would ignore all the limits for pay. Or not have the right poker face.” There were a lot of things about Daisy that Taylor wondered how the young woman became the way she was. Taylor sometimes wished she had the work ethic the Malloy family had. Maybe it was the family dynamic they had and wanting the best for everyone around them. It kind of made Taylor jealous, since she and Rory didn’t have that kind of family.
“I see a big stash of strawberries coming over from the wash station. So I’m guessing strawberries first since they’re the most commonly requested. I hear we may have some fruits left for some extra pie fillings or a mystery batch,” Taylor grinned. This really was the only time she was sociable and happy about it. Outside of her sister, of course. There was something about being surrounded by older folk that have been on the land for ages, and them lovingly telling the younger folk to chop faster.
It didn’t take long for a large strainer of strawberries to be placed in front of them. Taylor grabbed her pairing knife and began chopping off the greens. “Other than farm life. How’s your family? Calliope is at a fancy private school, right?”
Taylor wasn’t surprised that Rory brought something. It seemed to be a theme for the two sisters. There usually wasn’t coming over with something in hand. They weren’t raised that way, but it was a habit both picked up separately in life.
The kettle whistled and Taylor turned off the burner, grabbing two mismatched handmade mugs someone made for her. Perks of being in the art department, Taylor got some interesting gifts from her students. “Oh, thank you! Yes, I’m sure it’s been busy for you,” Taylor smiled, taking out one of her wooden tea organizers. She picked out an orange vanilla for herself but left it open for Rory to choose whatever she wanted.
“Honestly, I don’t quite know what to do with myself. I was working on setting up a new loom before you came, but it’s in a time-out right now,” she admitted, with a bit of a laugh. Taylor swirled some honey in her cup, before pouring the hot water over the tea bag. “I’m only teaching one class this semester so that I will have more time for personal projects.”
“Sure, sure. She’ll be back I think next semester?” Taylor shrugged, stretching her arms and twisting her back. There were a few cracks here and there. “Well, you wouldn’t be the first time,” she snorted. Granted, there were a few teachers that made sure they did their best. But sometimes Taylor mainly knew the professors from her area. Art, or even the theater department. There were a lot of times that Taylor helped with props or even sets. Nothing too much, but enough to get a few more people interested in her craft.
“Weaving and textile art,” she responded, going and rearranging the pillows she had graciously used for herself. Taylor wasn’t one to stand there and chat. She was in her classroom after all, and Camilla had shown no interest in coming in any further, “I think we may have some shared students?”
“I never had a cat around me as a pet, per se. There tends to be a few more barn cats out in these parts.” Taylor often saw herself as never really needing pets. Her animals were a lot of work already. Plus, with her house still under repairs, it didn’t feel smart or ethical to have another being to look after.
“Try…Cookie? Honestly, I only nicknames at this point. If there’s an actual name, I don’t know it.” She knew that wasn’t useful, but the old hag tended to call out whatever and the cat would always come. Taylor just wished the cat would stop hassling in her trees. There were plenty of other goddamn trees.
“None of the above. I just want a new one. I need more space to separate them soon since rabbits tend to…make multiple copies of themselves. I’m starting to get a bit too many, so I’m hoping to separate them to figure out who I want to spay, and who I want to keep as my breeders. Thankfully, I have a few people interested in a few babies. Mainly former students of mine.” The weaving community in Hickstead seemed to be growing, and Taylor liked to think she helped in it. Not as a brag or anything. But with all the lovely raw material around being produced and made, it was hard to not have it be a thing. Plus, her yarn barn – as well as Seven Siren’s carried a lot of foot traffic.
“Nah, the first time. I usually give them treats or something. But I usually have a small class, so I can afford that.” Truthfully, she made it that way. Taylor didn’t think she could handle any more than six students max. It did make it an interesting time, as her class had gotten a bit more popular. She never thought a waiting list would be a thing, but she had multiple classes going. Those that didn’t make her university class, still did private times with her outside of school. For a discounted price as well. Taylor wasn’t that greedy of a person.
“Let us go wrestle our way to the chopping station. I can get into a mean rhythm!” Taylor took one more sip of her coffee before bringing it to the chopping area, claiming two spots. If someone wanted her place, then….she could elbow a few people if needed.
Taylor was about ready to burn her loom down. While she knew that warping her loom was a pain in the ass, today – it felt more pain than normal. Sensing a break, Taylor sat up and closed the door of her home studio. Almost to put it in time-out.
As she was starting the kettle for tea, Taylor heard the newly installed door knocker on her door. Who in the right mind? Oh! Right, duh. Taylor had invited Rory over for lunch since the house had been officially completed. It took a lot of time and trades, but the house was officially done and the second floor was decorated for the most part. Taylor could at least have her bedroom upstairs instead of the guest room on the first floor.
“Coming!” Taylor scurried to the front door and let her sister in. “Hey! I’m just making some tea, come on in!” she grinned, closing the door after Rory stepped in. “Having a good weekend so far?” she asked, making her way back into the kitchen.
“No, mainly because she knows not to ask me,” Taylor snorted. “Her kids are still around, so she at least has people to call upon.” She wasn’t an evil person, though. If her neighbors needed a ride or help with someone like snow, she would always help. Hell, she even went grocery shopping if needed. But Taylor was easy to say no if she didn't want to do something. There were plenty of able and willing people.
“Yeah, long enough to know I don’t want to leave. Cat wise? Super chill once in the arms. Getting her might be a fight, but as long as you’re calm. I also have some dried fish if needed, but once she feels safe – she’ll be fine.” Taylor knew cats were finicky beasts. They weren’t like dogs and their body language was extremely noticeable. Cats had their own, but it was still difficult for people. “It’s best you let her go once you get back on the ground. She likes to use people as a launch pad. You’re covered up decent enough to not catch those back claws.”
“Nothing too crazy. I have a few tomatoes, attempting some peas, and hoping for some pumpkins. I gave up zucchini, the pests get to them too fast. If my home was complete, I would do something bigger. But it just means, you get more of my business, right?” Maybe that wasn’t the best segway into it, but it was common knowledge now. Farmers around these parts rarely exchanged money.
“Nah, socks are the best. I don’t think anyone has ever said no to socks.” They were also one of her better-selling items anyway. Both machine or hand knit. “It just means they’ll be used all the time. Plus, they’re easy to patch to make them last longer if they get super rubbed down. I can make yah pair of your color choice if I can finagle some help with a rabbit coop.” Some people would see it as a fair trade, but Taylor wasn’t inexpensive. Handmade took time and if it meant that she didn’t need to build a rabbit shelter, she would happily make it work.
“Oh, my llama mug? It was a secret Santa at work,” Taylor snorted. It was so cheesy, but she loved it. “My students convinced me to run a secret Santa, and some poor soul got me. I try my best to use it at work all the time. Makes it easier to tell if someone snagged it or something!” Taylor took a sip of her coffee once it was done, and put some cream in before finally standing up.
“I guess we should figure out what station they want us in?” She was hoping for chopping. It always got way too hot near the stoves. Even in the wintertime.
“Aurelia? Last time I checked she was on sabbatical. If she’s here, she’s staying home and teaching,” Taylor responded – sitting up. She stretched her arms, also as a barrier to hide her yawn. Taylor scooted herself around, still not standing up.
“Ah, Camilla.” Tayloe only knew her because a lot of their students cross-trained. Though, that didn’t mean that Camilla knew Taylor. She tended to keep herself under wraps, unlike Aurelia – who seemed to make it known that she was the art teacher. Not in a nasty way or anything. Just she was considered the cool one – who tended to bend the rules. Which irked Taylor, and she didn’t know why. Thankfully, Taylor’s students liked her enough. Plus, there was Alana Teal. She seemed to be around more than Aurelia at this point.
“Nope,” Taylor added, showing off her staff badge. “I was just relaxing after a class. Those large frames don’t move.” It was then that Taylor finally stood up. Her body looks like a student compared to Camilla’s more curvaceous look. “I can pass a message off to her if you need?” she offered. “Or you can call her, depending on how urgent it is.”
“I think it would be rude if it didn’t,” Taylor shrugged, handing him the cup. He was a fireman, wasn’t he? She was sure there was a lot of hospitality towards him, right? Or she could be completely wrong. Taylor didn’t know how other people dealt with the service people. She knew people could be extremely rude about it. “Yeah, I live here,” she responded, nodding over to her house. “It was an older person, but it’s my neighbor. I don’t think she likes coming out of the house when her cat is in the tree. Since she knows I would give her a stink about it. I keep telling her that her cat needs to be inside. She gets stuck all the time. I swear she has some ulterior motive behind it or something.” It was as if the hag had plans for Taylor to meet someone since it always happened when Taylor was home. She at least had some kind of interaction out of it, but it had gotten too coincidental now.