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!.
”Nah, I’d have been happy just going for drive. .I mean the company’s not that bad. .” Damon grinned lopsidedly, shooting a sideways look. "Well, if that isn't the biggest compliment I've ever had." He teased, though as he'd gotten older he'd naturally settled into her humour. When he was younger, he'd been so shy and somewhat awkward, it was why he hadn't been able to believe his luck with having Ashley. Their hiccup in the looming form of his brother had been predictable, but at the end of it all the fact that she'd come after him, had chosen him, had helped to settle things in his head. Going off to university had helped him gain confidence in who he was, and now he made the jokes, rather than being the butt of one.
He smiled as she played along with his joke. ”Why thank you kind sir.” Damon mentally cursed at himself as he saw Ash take her heels off, he should have thought of that - he hadn't brought her spare flip flops. He copied her and slipped off his smart shoes, not wanting the sand to ruin them, but he had to admit there was something nice about feeling the sand beneath his toes, still warm from the heat of the spring sun. ”Ooh all the power . .” He laughed but nodded, "that you do," He said seriously, she held all the power of his heart in her hands. ”Here?” Damon surveyed the area but it looked as good a spot as any. "Here is perfect," He agreed, and he put the bag down carefully, digging out a little blanket so they could protect their smart clothes. He spread it out before helping her sit, and then he dug out two glasses and the champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, popping the top and offering her a glass. "Cheers," His stomach somersaulted - almost time.
"Well, if that isn't the biggest compliment I've ever had." She snickered a little and glanced at him. ”Stick around, there’s plenty more where that came from if you play your cards right.” She teased back. She gave him a flirtatious look when he agreed with her having all the power. Women always seemed to hold all of the power. She wasn’t as seductive as some of the women in town but she knew how to get under Damon’s skin. As he did with her. Her heart gave a little flutter as he pulled out the blanket and helped her sit down. Dammit how did she get so lucky with him, he was a proper gentleman. She let her feet dig into the sand, enjoying the feeling while Damon pulled out more things from the bag, Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. Who said romance was dead. She took the glass with a grin and gently tapped it against Damon’s. ”Cheers” She smiled, pecking him on the lips. She felt a sense of peace wash over her as took a sip of the bubbles whilst looking out at the waves, listening as they crashed into the sand.
”Stick around, there’s plenty more where that came from if you play your cards right.” He grinned and raised a bow slightly, peering down on her. "I intend on it, can't let you get away now." If only she knew his intentions - soon she would. Hopefully this wouldn't backfire on him. He smiled as she looked at everything he unpacked, knowing it was probably a bit out of the blue, but he was close to giving away the surprise now anyway so what did it matter if she was curious. ”Cheers” He returned the light kiss and took a sip of his champagne, liquid courage, before he placed it carefully in the sand beside him.
And then he steeled himself, reached into his pocket and turned to face her. "Ashley," His voice softened, his heart hammering as he brought one knee up, kneeling on the other as he looked at her. "I fell in love with you the moment I laid my eyes on you, and I know it hasn't always been easy, but I couldn't imagine my life without you there by my side. I want to wake up next to you always, I want to come home to you every evening, I want to work to be the man you deserve every day." He cleared his throat slightly as he popped open the top of the ring box. It was pretty, but simple, something he thought she would like. It had cost a fair bit, he'd put a lot of savings aside to get her something she deserved. "Ashley White, will you marry me?"
"I intend on it, can't let you get away now." She turned to face him and gently reached up to run a hand through his hair. ”I’m not going anywhere. .you’re stuck with me forever.” She smiled. He’d have a hard time getting rid of her. She’d been through the pain of losing him once and she was adamant she was never going through that again. She took a sip of the bubbles in her hand as she looked back out at the calming waves, enjoying the moment. "Ashley," His voice brought her attention back to him, her breath catching in her throat as he shifted to be on one knee. I fell in love with you the moment I laid my eyes on you, and I know it hasn't always been easy, but I couldn't imagine my life without you there by my side. I want to wake up next to you always, I want to come home to you every evening, I want to work to be the man you deserve every day."
Her heart hammered in her chest as she listened to his words, her eyes beginning to water slightly – she had a reputation to uphold. She loosened her now vice like grip on the glass in her hand and placed it down onto the sand, not trusting herself to not spill it in the moment. As he popped open the ring box, she let out a soft gasp as she laid eyes on the ring. It was beautiful. "Ashley White, will you marry me?" She let out a small squeal of excitement as she leant forward quickly to kiss him just as he finished speaking only to pull away reluctantly to answer. ”Yes, hell yes!” She moved a hand to his cheek and let her eyes rest on his. ”I’d love nothing more than to be your wife.”
”I’m not going anywhere. .you’re stuck with me forever.” Damon smiled at that but he was glad to hear it. He didn't want her going anywhere without him, and he didn't think that would ever change. He'd loved her since they were teenagers and that love hadn't gone, even with everything that had happened between them, and he knew it never would. His eyes searched hers as he bent on one knee, trying to gauze her reaction and the answer she might give him. She didn't look appalled or horrified or that she might throw the champagne and run away, she seemed shocked but he thought there was a slight smile on her lips, some excitement in her eye. He could have sworn he even saw a hint of a tear in her eye but he could have been seeing things. Ashley wasn't a crier.
It was his turn to hold his breath as he waited for her response, watching her put down the glass. Okay so she wasn't going to throw that at him, that was a good sign. The squeal of excitement was even better and his expression turned hopefully as she leant forward to kiss him. He returned it quickly, but he still needed an answer - to be sure. ”Yes, hell yes!” A quick rush of relief and he let out a harsh breath he hadn't known he was still holding; finally able to breath. ”I’d love nothing more than to be your wife.” Damon let out a quick laugh, "Oh thank God," He admitted, the rush of his own emotions almost swallowing him as he made to take her hand, his own trembling as he slipped on the ring and then took her face in his hands, "I love you so much, Ash," He murmured and then went to bring her in for a kiss, his lips crashing against hers in the whirlwind of his emotions.
"Oh thank God," Ashley let out her own laugh at his words. She couldn’t believe he’d even think for a second that she would turn him down. It made her wonder if she had she been slacking in telling him how much she adored him. She often forgot that he wasn’t a mind reader and didn’t know how she felt without actually expressing it all of the time. She was a more hands on, less words woman. She practically beamed as her fiancé - yes she was already calling him it – slid the ring onto her finger, which was a perfect fit. He had clearly done his homework. The brunette lifted a hand, placing it on one of Damon’s as he cupped her face. "I love you so much, Ash," She smiled, bringing her own lips to his. ”You and Josh are my world.” She murmured, in-between kisses.
He grinned wide as she laughed, the sound was light and joyous, not laughing at him exactly - though he could forgive her for anything in that moment, even laughing at him. It sounded silly, to think that she might say no given the family they had and the life they had built together, but it was just one of those little insecurities he knew every man had. Because this mattered, and he cared about the answer, of course he was going to be nervous regardless of everything that he knew. Like how much he knew she loved him, as she proved that every day time and time again.
It was a relief that the ring fit well, and he already liked the way it looked there on her hand, feeling the cool band against the skin of his hand when she placed hers over his. ”You and Josh are my world.” He couldn't quit smiling, even as they kissed his lips were stuck in a stupid grin. He pulled away eventually and let out a long breath, content in that moment, feeling that nothing would ever beat that moment in time. "Well, I can sleep tonight at least." He admitted, "I thought for sure you would figure out something was up soon enough... I was even surprised James didn't give the game away." He shook his head, looking a little sheepish.
Ashley reluctantly let Damon pull away, lowering her hands from his face as he did. "Well, I can sleep tonight at least. I thought for sure you would figure out something was up soon enough... I was even surprised James didn't give the game away." Well at least one of them would be sleeping. She was practically buzzing at the moment and doubted she would be able to sleep any time soon. She smiled and shook her head. "I was wondering why you were getting nervous as the night went on but other than that I was oblivious. . and clearly James can keep a secret when he needs to." She said, impressed her brother had been able to keep the surprise to himself. She shifted so she was sitting comfortably on the blanket and rested her head against her fiancé's shoulder. "tonight was perfect." She murmured.
He didn't want to pull away from her really, he loved being close to her, always wanted to hold her in his arms, have her close to him. It was hard to let her go, but he wanted to look at her - to talk to her now he could finally take a proper breath. He smiled when she did, a natural reflex, and kissed her forehead, unable to help himself. "I was wondering why you were getting nervous as the night went on but other than that I was oblivious. . and clearly James can keep a secret when he needs to." Damon gave a small laugh and his cheeks flushed a little at her words. "I was hoping it would be a yes, but there's always that little seed of doubt that you'll surprise me and say no. I thank your brother for keeping it quiet though." He wouldn't have minded too much if Ash had been told, it wouldn't have spoiled things, but he would have been a little disappointed.
Damon shifted with her, and wrapped an arm around her, tucking her in close to his side and kissing the top of her head. "tonight was perfect." He smiled again, a soft smile, feeling a moment of easy contentment as he looked across at their view. "I'm glad, it's hard to get perfect but I wanted it to be close as - because you're perfect to me, and you deserve nothing less." He knew it was cheesy and corny and everything else, but he loved the girl with all his heart and he wanted nothing more than for her to know it whole heartedly.
She smiled, closing her eyes for a moment as he kissed her forehead, cherishing the sweet gesture. "I was hoping it would be a yes, but there's always that little seed of doubt that you'll surprise me and say no. I thank your brother for keeping it quiet though." She snorted and fought the urge to roll her eyes. "I love you, of course I was always going to say yes." She said with a smile, nudging his shoulder gently. It was cute he had asked her eldest brother permission for her hand, she knew her brother wouldn't have denied his request but even if he did, she'd have hoped he would have asked her regardless. She was her own woman and didn't need anyone's blessing to be married. Ashley snuggled into his side as he wrapped his arm around her, allowing him to pull her in close. "I'm glad, it's hard to get perfect but I wanted it to be close as - because you're perfect to me, and you deserve nothing less." She let out a soft laugh and glanced up at him. "I'm far from perfect"
He raised a brow at her snort, fully expecting some kind of rebuttal in one form or another. He loved her for it though, for the fire she had compared to his own cool and quiet nature. She said all the things he wished he could sometimes, never let anyone stand over her or get in her way. He loved her tenacity. "I love you, of course I was always going to say yes." He chuckled, pretending to topple a little when she nudged him. "You know how my brain works .." Was his only defence as he grinned back at her.
He felt her snuggle into him and his arm wrapped a little bit tighter, wanting to keep her secure again his side. When she chuckled, Damon looked down to her, still feeling that anxious and excited little course of energy through his veins that she'd agreed to be his wife. "I'm far from perfect" Damon's grin widened just a little at that and he gave her a wink. "I know," He joked, not meaning a second of it. "But you're perfect to me." He amended so she couldn't get offended - not that she would, she knew his jokes and she knew he thought the world of her.
