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!.
Following the fire at Blue Acre stables and the rebuilding of the barn, some of the riders decide to put on a fundraiser to help toward the costs of the replacement. They hire out the fairgrounds for the evening and put on a couple of displays and set up a few funfair games to try and earn back what they can. Naturally there can be trouble stewing in the wings, perhaps a few people try to sabotage the games or cause an argument but generally this will be a mix-mash of Seven Oaks and Blue Acre volunteers and customers with some fun and potential drama. It's pretty open as to what happens, so throw your characters into the mix and let's shake things up!
Just a couple of small rules to follow for the site plot thread:
* No word count! This is to keep the thread on the move even if your muse is suffering, but please be mindful to give something for everyone to respond to. * No god-modding still counts - it may be difficult with everyone in here but try not to move people's characters around without checking. * Follow the posting order, don't jump your turn. * 3 days allowance to reply - after that, we'll skip your turn so the plot can keep moving.
Leo pouted as he was handed a use-to-be-white discoloured apron, frowning down at the fabric in his hand. "I'm not wearing that," He warned Lexi. It would not only ruin his outfit but also cramp his style. "That, I'll have," He pointed to the slightly squashed chef's hat in her hand and grinned when she rolled her eyes and handed it over without a fight. There was no use arguing with Leo - if he didn't get his own way, he'd throw down better than a damn toddler. He donned the hat with the excitement of a child and tossed the apron into a corner, raising his eyebrows when Lexi tried to nudge him toward the roll buttering station.
"Nu uh, absolutely not. I am man, me tend to fire!" He grinned wide and picked up the tongs, clicking them together as he went over to place a few burgers on the open flames. When Lily had told him he was volunteering at the fundraising, no room for argument, he had said it would be BBQ-ing or nothing. Compromise struck, this was how he found himself on a Saturday morning, still sporting bedhead and half open eyes, poking at the meat on the BBQ.
ethan watched as people started to set up the event around them. being in charge of the pony rides, well not so many ponies, more the push button horses that students learned to ride on at blue acres, and one or two locally sourced children sized ponies he'd asked for them to be set up away from the music and other loud attractions. the last thing he wanted was a broken bone on a screaming kid and a parent that didn't have a clue that their child falling off an animal twice their size would hurt.
he had them all set up along the fence, saddled and ready to go. it would be a long day but in the long run it would be worth it and he had a schedule to rotate the horses and ponies throughout the day so they'd have breaks from standing there saddled. it would be more work in the long run but their comfort was the most important. he stood there waiting with one or two other volunteers, one hand resting on the fence and the other stroking bramble's neck as he stood there waiting for the bright eyed kids to see them across the park.
Stephanie arrived at the fundraiser, even though she coached at the barn that had recently burned down she didn't quite know where she could put her talents to good use, so she decided to attend the fundraiser and spend some money to help rebuild the barn her three horses would be living in.
After getting out of her car, she headed towards the first tent wanting to browse first before she decided on what to purchase. Steph was pretty devastated by the news of the barn burning down, as it was basically where she spent all of her time since moving to England from the States. The barn belonged to one of her best friends growing up and Naomi had given her a job once she had confided in her what her old boss had been caught doing, which was a lifesaver for her. She walked past the pony rides, smiling at the fact that the lesson horses were getting used and it was a great way to promote the lesson horse program.
Steph walked up to one of the food tents, deciding that food would be a great place to start. She patiently waited in line, waiting to see if anyone recognized her.
Crisp air went through Moses’ lungs as his team set up the tent for their beverages bar. There were a few beverage tents around, but Moses’ made sure his team knew they would be considered specialty. For the cool moms and dads and everyone else. Giggles were heard after his terrible pop reference.
He was also helping set up entertainment. Moses had the equipment; Lounge had the performers. Knowing him, there would be a lot of familiar faces – and Moses was looking forward to it. While he didn’t necessarily have to work today – he wanted to make sure the staff he brought had breaks throughout the day to get food and drink. Also, some time to hang out with people. Plus, it was a fundraising event – he couldn’t say no.
Once the tent was up, Moses put out the sign of their options. There was a mixture of warm and cold beverages. Some small bar snacks were available too.
It had to be Aofie that pulled the short straw for the fundraiser, wasn’t she? It was as if all the other librarians were out to get her for something she did but didn’t know that she did. Either way, it happened and Aofie had to suck it up. Thankfully, she didn’t have to really converse with too many people. She was selling books, not beverages or food. It would be great if she had some people to peruse what the library had to offer – but with all the other things that were happening, she really doubted it would bring anyone in.
She was in a yurt-style tent, so Aofie really could just kind of hide away in the warmth of the tent. Shelves of gently used books and donations lined the sides of the tent. Aofie sat in a white rocking chair behind the table. She had her own books to read, as well as some crafts like knitting to keep her occupied for however long the event was. Her dogs lay silently at her feet, snoozing away. They were still young, but they knew when to keep calm.
From what it sounded like, there were quite an amount of people.
Hardcovers (£3) Paper Backs, Magazines (£2) DVDs, Digital Media (£1)
Hazel smoothed a hand over the front of her clean, freshly ironed apron, running a hand over the imaginary wrinkles and checking everything was in place ready for the opening. She'd brought some of her most popular pastries from the bakery, having spent an extra hour and a half this morning in the kitchen, baking extra to make sure she had enough to sell. She'd come early to set up too, having left her capable assistant at the store to hold down the fort if anyone popped in. Looking at how busy the place was already, she figured that most of the customers would be here.
She had also pulled in a friend to help her so that she could take some pastries to go around the other stalls, to be able to offer them out to the people also working the fundraiser - even the volunteers had to eat. She put aside her worries about her husband for now and focused on the here and now, trying to smooth out the wrinkles on her face too. "Freshly baked today, everyone," She called out as a few customers strolled past with a curious look.
Fresh rolls with filling - cheese, ham, egg and cress, bacon - £4.50 Chocolate twists £3 Iced Buns - £2.50 Cinnamon rolls - £3.50 Apple turnovers - £3 Jam Doughnuts - £3
Harper looked at her boss. He was all giddy, living his best life. She wondered how Moses always acted so...content and happy. While Harper wasn’t always in a bad mood, she lacked her boss’ energy. At least he pepped her up. He had gotten everyone donuts, coffee, and breakfast sammies. Bless that man.
Harper would be taking the first shift since she had to perform for the lounge as well. Bartend for a minute, take a break and then sing some sets. She waved people over, promising a good time. While Harper was a lesbian, she knew men and women drooled over her boss. It was funny and she wasn’t against using that to pull people in.
“Oy! If you want a snog on a cheek by my hot boss, come buy a drink!” Harper let out before she felt what was a roll of paper towels bonk her gently on her head.
working in the daylight hours was a little unusual for him. normally he was still curled up in bed after a closing shift at the bar. but he was here, as bright eyed and bushy tailed as he could be, which meant bleary eyed and just a little cranky. that would fix itself after he drank his body weight in hot coffee and ate as many pastries as he could. he could smell them from the tent they were in and they just made his mouth water. the first chance he got he'd be following the smell like a bloodhound and spend whatever was left in his account.
he lugged the crate of soft drink cans towards where his work had set up their tents and he set them down on one of the tables and started unloading a few of them so the customers could see what they had on offer, that wasn't hot and didn't contain alcohol. he snorted a little when he heard harper and he couldn't help but turn to look at her and moses and poke the bear just a little. "do you mean your boss or your boss boss?" he said with a grin.
TWENTY TWO | MANAGER OF THE R&R NIGHTCLUB | ERIN JADE THORNE RAE HUNTER | 0
Tristan had jumped at the idea of helping out with the rebuilding of the barn. He knew it was the rival barn, but as he wasn't super competitive with Daisy and Uno he tended to be neutral.
He dressed in a nice pair of blue jeans and a plain white dress shirt, something he would wear to work anyway.
"Hey, Moses." He greeted, walking behind the counter of the tent. Tristan also greeted Harper and Dylan. Tristan got himself ready to mix up any drink that needed, setting up his cups and making sure the ice in the cooler closest to his station was filled.
"So, no need for trouble today please." Tristan rolled his eyes. He usually took the roll of big brother at work and he assumed today would be no different.
Alison and her horses had a job of providing some entertainment, in one of the corrals. Alison put the surcingle, and pad on Penny. Alison then grabbed her long whip, a bucket, and a sign that read; “Please pay if you like what you see.” She caught Penny and Pete's eyes, and they followed her to the corral. She left the bucket out and leaned the sign against the fence. She opened the gate, her horses followed her in, and she closed it.
Her horses followed her as she walked to the center of the corral, and they both bowed when she signaled with the whip. She half-passed to the arena fence, and they did the same. She held her right leg up, and Penny and Pete both held their front left legs up and put them back down when Alison did, and then she did the same with the left. They trotted after her, when she ran around the arena, and stopped when she did. She held the whip out so they would know to stay, and she backed up into the center of the arena, then she started moving the whip around while she turned, and they trotted and cantered after it. She moved the whip so it was straight up, and they stopped. She made a pulling motion, with her hands, and they walked to her.
She motioned to Penny to stop, and then went up to Pete and caught his eye. She held her right hand up, and Pete touched it with his right hoof and put it down when she pulled her hand away, and then she repeated this with her other side. She then caught Penny’s eye again and then signaled for them to rear, and they both did. Alison then went by Penny’s side and started backing up, and they both did too, and they stopped when she did. She then half-passed again, for a little while, and they did too. Alison then signaled for them to stop, and then she turned and went in front of them, and she signaled for them to lie down. They both did.
Alison leaned the whip against the fence and then mounted Penny. She clucked her tongue, and Penny got up and started walking, while Pete followed. She clucked it again, and both horses started trotted, and again and they both started to canter.
Alison put her hands on Penny’s back, and carefully brought her knees up so that she was now on her hands and knees. She lifted up her right arm, and left leg, and held them straight for several seconds, and then she brought them back and did the same with her other side. She sat up, so that she was now kneeling, and held her arms straight out at her sides. She then grabbed the handles, and brought herself up, so she was now straight up in the air. She held herself there for a few seconds and then brought herself back down.
Emma was ready to help rebuild the barn, but as she was going to help with the pony rides. The blonde put a halter on her old Halflinger mare, Lola and used a lead rope to lead her over to where the pony rides were being held. She greeted the others with a hello and a smile, backing Lola up with the other lesson horses and ponies.
She wasn't quite sure how the day was going to go, but Emma had been up bright and early to bath the mare. Her flaxen coat shimmered in the sun and her tack had been meticulously cleaned. "Come one, Come all for the amazing pony rides!"
Emma wasn't one for advertising but someone had to be in charge of getting people's attentions. She was sure there were young kids who wanted to learn how to ride and Emma was there to give them the experience.
Lexi sighed as she watched Leo pull the hat on. She'd thought it might be the lesser of two evils but the apron would have been great too - health and safety and all that, plus she felt bad for Bella having to deal with the stains he would undoubtedly traipse home with. It was much like having an overgrown child - supervising Leo. She had sadly drawn the short straw; quite literally. Lily had lined them up and had them pick straws when nobody had volunteered to babysit the big kid. Unsurprisingly, Leo had walked in on them but in true Leo fashion, had not been offended. She wondered just how thick his skin actually was.
She finished added prices to the board with the chalk, slapping Leo's hand away when he tried to wrestle the chalk off her. "Leo, if you don't quit it, I will brand your forehead with the tongs," She warned, looking at the instrument hovering by the fire pointedly until Leo backed off and went back to flipping the burgers. She placed the board out the front so everyone could see what was on offer and then went to stand near the till to take orders. "Anyone for hot food?" She called out, knowing people would come soon enough as the smell of cooking meat began to waft.
Burger £4.50 Cheeseburger £5 Halloumi burger £5 Hot dog £3.50 Cheesy chips £3
[attr="class","character-bluedreams-text"]Nicola had agreed to help run the makeup tent, knowing she had her own equipment to help face paint or do temporary tattoos for the young kids. She couldn't believe how many people came together to help raise money for the new barn. Hope was sure that not everyone attending rode at Blue Acres, or rode at all, but it made her heart feel warm.
She herself wasn't competitive enough to care about the rivalry, and it was good publicity for her salon too. Hope began setting up her station, getting her brushes out as well as her pots of colour. "I'm ready, whenever you are."
Hope was sure people would bring their kids with them and those kids needed to be entertained somehow. The blonde tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and glanced at her station, seeing everything was out and ready for the first customer.
As soon as Tenaya had heard about the fundraiser, she knew she had to help out. She didn't quite know anyone that rode at the barn that had burned down, but that didn't mean she didn't want to help out.
She headed down to the area with the tents and began browsing what was available for her to do. She figured that she would start with something to drink. The blonde stood in like at the bar tent and waited her turn.
"Yes, Hi. Can I get the cranberry margarita please?" She said once it was her turn. Tenaya pulled out her wallet and paid for her drink before she continued on.
As she didn't have children, she just glanced past the faceprinting tent and the pony rides. She had read a sign saying that there would be a riding show though and headed off to go find the riding arena.
