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!.
Roman nodded once, he knew Jax understood more than most.
“I’m inactive. Navy put me on medical leave and won’t clear me until I see a professional. I think they’re being dramatic.” His professional opinion though, “The other reason why I’m out here is because my dad, he left when I was like…eight, died and apparently left me and my sisters a large sum of money and a stupid mansion that I get lost in…daily.” "Inactive, shit. But if you jump the hoops, you're back in action right?" he tilted his head, feeling a slight pang of jealousy. "Just know that uh, when you do go back to work - we'll never cross paths like we used to, fleeting as they were."
“I’m only going to overstep my boundaries once…you might want to consider letting your sons know you are in town. Better to hear it from you than a stranger or somehow run into you in town.” Hazel eyes continued to stare for a moment, before then shrugging, “That’s it though. My one dumb lecture. You know, if you need a place to crash, you can come move in with me. I have a shit ton of space in ‘my section’ of the house. I’m not even there half of the time.”
Peeling off his sunglasses, he observed Jax, taking in how he looked. Whatever was going on, on his side of the fence was taking a bit of a toll but he didn't push it.
"I know, I know - better you lecture me than my father. I have plans to go and see the boys tomorrow, catch up as it were. I'm not even sure they'll care, but I'll do it anyway, gods only know what a life they've had because of my choices," he shrugged, "Thanks for the offer, but I was able to grab a small flat when I was allowed to move freely. I don't like intruding on other people, you know that."
It had taken him a fair amount of time to track Jamie down, having avoided reaching out to their mother or his parents. He remembered his son mentioning riding and from there he began tracking him down in a town that was filled with horse folk. A few strange glances, a few necessary checks and now he was waiting for Jamie to turn up at his trailer.
"Dad?!"
Roman looked up at the voice and smiled warmly as he clapped eyes on his son. Gods he'd grown up a lot since he'd seen him last, it actually hurt him knowing he'd been so absent in seeing him grow up but he stowed it away.
"Hello Jamie."
"What are you doing here?"
Roman watched the thick-set horse with mild curiosity before turning his full attention back to Jamie, that smile still fixed on his face. "Well," he said slowly, "I'm hear to see you, first off. I thought I'd surprise you, and let you know that I'm going to be home a lot more now. No more post cards, no more face-time calls, nothing."
"Roman?" That stupid golden retriever-esque grin hit his face now, "Shit man, I didn't think you'd be here or else I would have hit you up."
Roman smiled, "You're fine Jax, honestly."
"You on homeleave? What's up?"
He embraced the bro hug more than gladly, giving Jax a firm pat on the back before they seperated and he considered the question, his expression serious and almost pained for a moment before he replied.
"Not many people know I'm back home," he said calmly, sticking his hands in his pockets, "Not even the boys... As for why I am home... it's, messy. But that's not important. How have you been? What are you doing in these parts, thought you'd be at home or deployed still."
Roman settled onto a vacant bench and sipped at the luke-warm coffee he'd been carrying around for the last hour or so, hoping something would prompt him to go home. Or do something. There was plenty to do, but he didn't feel like dealing with any of it, which threw him off kilter. He'd offered his sons to come hiking, but they'd mumbled some excuse on the phone about homework which Roman let slide and wished them well on their exams and the like before the phone went dead.
He sighed; his sons were... a complex mess for teens, but he supposed that it was his fault to some level for not being there as they grew. He couldn't really blame them for not wanting anything to do with him, but he did want to be apart of their lives, wanted to see them do well but the more he tried, the more they pushed him away.
Maybe he was trying too hard, not being cool enough for them perhaps. Whatever it was, it was a damned mystery and it wasn't the sort he liked. He didn't have much of a mind for riddles and brain-teasers - he could do them, it wasn't a case that he couldn't - he just didn't enjoy them like some people, and his sons seemed to hand them to him constantly. There was a bang of annoyance that he couldn't just keep working like he had, stayed on base and just shut the world out entirely. But no. There was no chance he'd get that. Instead, he had to work out how to live normally with very few friends, and no real desire to reach out to his parents.
Even as he was mulling over trival things, movement caught his eye and he looked, tilting his head - was that? Was that Jax? He frowned - was it really him or was he just hopeful that a stranger looked like his closest friend? Either way, before he knew what was doing, he was on the move. Moving purposefully to get in front of the man, to make him see him before he spoke.
full name • Roman Aleksandr Hughs nicknames • RAH, Rogue age • Thirty-Eight birthday • January 2nd occupation • Former Special Forces - Sniper gender • Male sexuality • Heteroflexible
the appearance
face claim• Leati Joseph Anoa'i
identifying features• Long black hair that has a natural semi-curl to it, dark brown-black eyes and a well maintained beard. Has several small scars on the right hand side of his face that are fading, the only sign of injury he has - has a fake right eye.
the personality
likes • Wrestling, Working Out, Keeping Busy, Drinking, Spending time with his Sons, Relaxing, Trail Riding, Animals, Hiking, Swimming, Paint Ball / Airsoft dislikes • Getting Emotional, Arguing/Shouting, Abusers, Drug Users, Seeing others struggle, Religion, Animal Haters strengths • Reading People, Inventive, Dancing weaknesses • Cages his own emotions/thoughts, Pickles, Parties/Gatherings dreams • Getting to be an actual Dad fears • Being a disappointment to his sons, Himself overall personality • Roman is usually quite stoic and guarded upon first meeting him, but after a while once he's had some time, he opens up a decent amount to people. He's generally friendly, if a little intimidating, but is willing to provide a shoulder or lend an ear to those that need it. He's gentle, kind, easy going and polite. But for all his good traits, he has his share of not so great ones - being quick to form judgement, takes most things seriously and even literal at times. He's a bit of a neat freak that cannot stand mess or disorganized spaces.
the history
father • Dane Hughs, 67, Ex-Army mother • Amelia Hughs, 66, Nurse siblings • Younger Sister - Sophie, 36, Younger Brother - Bradley [Onyx], 34 important people • JAX MERRICK SHEPHERD JR. Oliver and Jamie - (his two sons, 18 & 19) hometown • Hickstead, England overall history • The oldest of three, Roman took to protecting his younger siblings like a duck to water. He was over joyed and loved them dearly. There was never a moment where he let others bully or treat his siblings poorly - a trait that sometimes got him into trouble at school. But overall, he was a good kid doing his best.
Whilst his father was sporadically around, he always worked to make his father proud when he was home, though at times it seemed impossible. Good grades and being sporty were not enough for the older man to praise, which at times led to arguments between his parents late after he was in bed. It was enough to make Roman more determined to change his father's mind, even going as far as asking his father what he wanted. His father told him that he would only be proud of him if he followed the same path into the army then he would be proud.
With that, Roman threw himself at school and took top honors. It was at sixteen that he met Shelby - a woman he would consider his soul mate. Moving through college together, Roman was almost tempted away from joining the army, even going as far as proposing to her at nineteen when they learnt of the child they were expecting. This news was welcomed by Roman's mother and siblings, however his father was not impressed with the prospect of having grandchildren.
He tried his hardest to get Roman to reconsider throwing his life away over 'some girl', and whilst those hateful words didn't spur him into immediate action, it did cause an underlying rift to begin. Even when Roman learnt of a second child, he tried to insist to Shelby that it would be beneficial money wise but she always countered his arguments with not wanting to have her children not know their father. There were plenty of heated arguments over Roman's constant mentions of joining the army, the two falling out and taking a break. It was in this moment that, without any forethought, he did what he wanted and enlisted.
He didn't tell anyone about what he'd done, simply packing up as soon as he was told to and was off. Roman was far too caught up in the seeded idea of needing to please his father that he almost missed the arrival of his second child. When he turned up in uniform on the ward, it was a super bittersweet moment. Roman felt regret for being so hasty, but Shelby was done, handing back her engagement ring stating that "he clearly loved the concept of wanting to die" and that he "had to give that ring to Death". She made it clear that he was allowed to see his kids for visits and the like, and that he would be allowed in their life, but that was as far as she was willing to go. After that, head hung, he went back to the army and threw himself at it.
Within a few years he was picked up by the Special Forces, and from there the rest was left behind him. He got a few brief periods of leave, spending what time he could with his sons though that time was awkward at best. Over the course of the years in service, Roman made a great many friends but only a few of them would be friend's he would gladly defend and give his life for - especially Jax. The two meeting during a joint operation and growing a friendship between them.
Time went by in and time home was far less frequent. He was only forced to go home after his convoy car triggered a hidden explosive and he was unfortunately on the side that took the brunt of the force. Some hand of luck however left him mostly unscathed - though still required surgery for his injuries. Several broken ribs, multiple fractures in his face and arm, a burst ear drum and his sighting eye damaged beyond repair. Patched up, he was briefed over what had happened and he was initially hurt and furious but soon came to accept that he was no longer able to continue in the force as he so wished - at the least, not in the same field that he once occupied.
Now he's back home in Hickstead, settling back into life as a civilian, and learning to manage his world with his new found limitations.
Notes: - Entirely deaf in his right ear; eardrum burst from explosion close by. - Has a false right eye, thus blind in that eye; was severely damaged by shrapnel in explosion. - Has partial dentures from where his jaw was broken. - Denies his PTSD from service. - Does not sleep well, if really at all. - Has not acknowledged his parents or his siblings since returning. - Is struggling to get to know his sons.
the role player
alias • BlackJack, Jac age • Mid 20s other characters • It's a small army back here...