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!.
"How does it go?" Bruce pulled a face and laughed. "Um... there's a lot of mentioning the sounds other animals make and they ask what a fox says... There's a good clip of it with puppets that I'll show you when we get home." He could do a lot of things, but singing wasn't one of them, and he didn't know the lyrics well enough to do the song any justice. He smiled at the confused look. "If you had walked off, trying to find your own way home, Gizmo wouldn't have found you as quickly as he did." He gave the boy's hand a reassuring squeeze, while taking careful note of how he was being careful of his arm.
"Oh thank God!" He stepped away, allowing mother and son to take comfort from each other. "Oh you scared me, sweetie. Never, ever do that again, Thank you. Thank you so much," He bowed his head with a soft smile before heading into the kitchen where he filled a large bowl with warm water and added some antiseptic into it, before finding a new pack of cloths. "You might want to get your ma to look at your sore arm." He suggested softly.
"Um... there's a lot of mentioning the sounds other animals make and they ask what a fox says... There's a good clip of it with puppets that I'll show you when we get home." Liam thought about it then nodded, he liked puppets, as long as they had funny voices and were colourful he was easily entertained by them. And now he was wondering about the noise a fox made, the one the fox has been making earlier had just sounded horrible; like someone screaming. "If you had walked off, trying to find your own way home, Gizmo wouldn't have found you as quickly as he did." His expression cleared a little as he understood, making a little 'oh' sound, but then he was no longer worried - Gizmo had found him, and they were going home now.
And he promptly forgot all his fear once he was home and with his mum again, in her arms. It was like it almost hadn't happened for him, but he needed as his mum told him not to do that again. "I sowrry," Tears threatened and his sniffed, but continued to cling to his mum as Bruce disappeared. Flynn didn't want to put him down, especially as Liam happily hung on to her, and she instead followed Bruce into the kitchen with the intention of cleaning up her son's face. "You might want to get your ma to look at your sore arm." Flynn's face pinched in worry. "What happened?" She asked, looking from Bruce back to her son as he then held up his sore arm and his lip began to wobble again. "Foxy bit me," Flynn's heart leapt in worry but she managed to hide it from her son.
A glance to what Bruce was doing and she managed a brief smile, he was already onto the antiseptic water. Going into Nurse mode, she gently popped her son on the kitchen counter top, and then rolled up his sleeve as he pointed to which one it was. "Okay sweetie, let's take a look," She took his arm gently, turning it so she could take a proper look at the wound. She relaxed a little to see that the skin hadn't really been broken, it must have been a quick nip and with his long sleeve, it must have saved him. "Ouch, that must hurt. Let's get this all fixed up, shall we?" She gave Liam a reassuring smile as she always did for his grazes and cuts and he nodded, before she glanced at Bruce, "Thank you," She said again as she reached for the bowl, taking time to clear his wound properly and thoroughly - the last thing she needed was infection - and then she wrapped his arm for caution. She would rather have it open for the air but just for today, she wanted to keep it clean. "Alright, I think it's time to get clean - you are filthy!" She exclaimed, setting the boy in a giggle as she kissed his head, and then gave Bruce one in turn. "I wants to see the fox puppets!" Liam piped up, and Flynn frowned slightly, confused.
"What happened?" Bruce had done his best to distract the child from his pain when he'd found him, so he left Liam to tell his mum what had happened. "Foxy bit me," It made him glad that they didn't really have any wild predators in New Zealand, other than the odd nutcase possum, and the biggest thing he had to worry about was keeping out of the way of rams and not getting between a ewe and her lambs.
He washed and dried his hands before he turned the oven on and took the things out that he'd need to make popcorn chicken. "Okay sweetie, let's take a look," He glanced over, pleased to see that it wasn't worse than it had looked. "Ouch, that must hurt. Let's get this all fixed up, shall we?" He bit back a chuckle as Flynn was well and truly into nurse-mode, which he found very attractive. "Thank you," He bowed his head, pleased that he had been able to find the child so quickly. "Liam was very smart, and knew to stay where he was until help arrived.""Alright, I think it's time to get clean - you are filthy!""I wants to see the fox puppets!" Bruce chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "How about you go and have a bath and get your pyjamas on, and I'll set up the laptop so you can watch it while you eat dinner?" He suggested, giving Flynn a wolfish grin. "He was curious to know what the fox says." There again, he only knew about the song because a couple of his students were talking about Glee when they were supposed to be working with their horses, and they had shown him the part of the music clip part of the show they were talking about.
"Liam was very smart, and knew to stay where he was until help arrived." She nodded, giving Bruce a brief smile and nodded, "Well, that's my smart boy," She kissed Liam's forehead, "just don't ever do that to us again, never run off like that it's dangerous." She couldn't help but tell her son again but her tone was soft, her anger faded away with the relief still at the forefront. She heard Bruce chuckle at the mention of puppets and she knew she had definitely missed something. "How about you go and have a bath and get your pyjamas on, and I'll set up the laptop so you can watch it while you eat dinner?" She raised a brow at his large grin, seeing Liam frown slightly, ready to protest. "He was curious to know what the fox says."
"Ah," She half smiled at that, "it's a terrible song," She commented, but her lips twitched again anyway - she'd take it if that's what had gotten her son home safe. "I think that's a good deal, Liam. No arguments," She warned as she saw his mouth open, ready to. He sighed but nodded, and she helped him gently off the counter. "We won't be long," She promised, herding her child up the stairs and preparing him a bath. He perked up as she added his favourite toys, smiling as she played with the submarine with him, not minding in the slightest as he soaked her t-shirt. At six he was perfectly capable of bathing himself but after the scare of losing him she didn't want to take her eyes off him, opting to join in his games instead for ten minutes, and then helping him into his PJ's.
Flynn pulled on a change of clothes herself before they went back down - switching into a pair of comfy joggers and one of Bruce's t-shirts for comfort. Even when he hadn't worn them, they still smelt faintly like him and it made her feel better - relaxed, safe. They trooped downstairs to the smell of cooking, Flynn finally feeling more settled now her son was clean, changed and his arm was okay. "Alright, what's for dinner chef Bruce?"
"Well, that's my smart boy, just don't ever do that to us again, never run off like that it's dangerous." While Bruce wanted to jump to the child's defence, he also didn't want to undermine the boy's mother either, they were a joined front.
"Ah, it's a terrible song," He nodded with a grin, as it was a terrible song, but catchy nonetheless. "I think that's a good deal, Liam. No arguments," He bit back a chuckle, he could see so much of himself in the child. "We won't be long," He bowed his head. "Take all the time you need, I'll just be down here, slaving away in the kitchen." He gave a grin and waved them off.
Left to his own devices, he sliced the potatoes into chips and coated them with oil and lemon pepper spices before putting them into the preheated oven. He then sliced up some carrots and broccoli and popped them into the steamer. Next he set up his crumbing stations, and once the chicken was dices, he went through the process of dipping each piece in the egg and then the breadcrumbs, setting them on a tray as he waited for the oil in the pan to heat up, and then started cooking them in batches, making sure each piece was golden brown.
"Alright, what's for dinner chef Bruce?" He grinned as they walked back into the kitchen, nodding in approval for her choice of tops. "You're just in time to set the table." He said. "We're having popcorn chicken and chips, with steamed veg on the side." He probably could have bypassed the vegetables, but they were an important part of every meal.
She caught the scent of cooking - wonderfully delicious as it always was when Bruce cooked - as she headed into the kitchen again with Liam. He had her hand in his, usual for him as he quite enjoyed being independent, but she figured he was feeling a little residual worry himself from his time lost in the woods. "I asked for Chicken nuggets," Liam announced, looking up at Flynn and then Bruce hopefully, it smelt similar, and Flynn glanced to Bruce, wondering what he'd been able to whip up - she knew he wouldn't have just stuck nuggets on a plate and thrown them in the oven; which she had to admit she might have done on occasion in the past. "Whatever it is, it smells wonderful," She added, smiling as she caught his approving nod, glad he didn't mind her ransacking his wardrobe.
"You're just in time to set the table." Flynn nodded and released Liam so she could gather the bits to start setting the table. "I helps!" Liam announced, and Flynn smiled as she handed him the place mats. "We're having popcorn chicken and chips, with steamed veg on the side." Flynn's smile widened and she shot Bruce a grateful look, she would never stop being thankful for him. "Mmm perfect!" She said, seeing Liam pull a face at the 'veggies' part but she knew he'd eat them all the same. "Chicken and chips!" He exclaimed in excitment, and Flynn rolled her eyes but followed him to the table with the cutlery to set it. "Do you need me to do anything?" She asked Bruce once it was set, knowing he was going to say no but asking all the same. "A drink?" She asked, opening the fridge and handing her son a juice she knew he was about to ask for.
"I helps!" Bruce grinned, keeping his attention on the chicken and hot pan, being careful not to splash oil around as he shook the pan to move the last batch of chicken around so that it browned on all sides. "Mmm perfect!" He grinned. "And I promise that the chicken is cooked." He laughed at Liam's reaction to the veggies. If he'd thought about it, he should have cut the carrots into chips and cooked them along with the potatoes, but it was too late for that now. "Chicken and chips!""Yeah!" He cheered as he tipped the chicken onto the rack where the rest of it was resting.
"Do you need me to do anything?" He gave her a grin and shook his head. "Just by being in here, you're doing all you need to." He told her as he took the chips out of the oven. "A drink?" He shook his head. "I'll have water with dinner." He said as he plated up the portions and carried the three plates to the table. "Kai time!" He said with a grin as he put a plate on each mat. "Is your arm all better now?" He asked as he went to collect the laptop and set it on the table before he loaded up You Tube and found the video he wanted to show Liam, making sure it wasn't going to be too loud, and pressed play. He sat down with a chuckle and took a sip of the water from his glass.
"And I promise that the chicken is cooked." Flynn raised a brow, "I really hope so, nobody needs food poisoning to finish off the day," Though she was teasing, she trusted Bruce not to try and send them all running for the bucket. "Yeah!" Liam gave a grin in response, liking the fact that Bruce matched his energy. He wasn't bad at eating his veg but he wasn't the most keen. He was good at eating meat at least, which Flynn was glad about, and he'd taken a little persuading to try some new recipes but then been surprised that he liked them. She smiled as he hurried off with his juice, his ordeal for the day basically forgotten - if only she could be the same.
"Just by being in here, you're doing all you need to." Flynn rolled her eyes but smiled, she would always love his sweetness, he always made her feel appreciated and wanted. She gave him a quick kiss in passing, laughing when Liam scrunched his nose up, "Ew," when he caught her. One day he'd understand - not even that long in the future which felt odd to her. "I'll have water with dinner." Flynn nodded and grabbed a couple of glasses, filling them with cold water and placing them both on the table. A wine was tempting but she didn't feel up to it just yet.
"Kai time!" She grinned and slipped into her seat, giving her son a little help to clamber onto his and tuck him in. "Is your arm all better now?" Liam looked at the bandage around his arm and nodded, though his lips turned down a little. "It doesn't hurt as much now," He blinked and gave it a small poke then muttered an 'ouch', his lip threatening to wobble, "But it hurts to touch it," Flynn gave Bruce a look and a small smile, and then she saw the laptop and shook her head, "Uh oh," But at least it would distract her son. It was pretty quick to take effect as he tuned in to watch the video whilst Flynn dished some dinner out to him and then to herself. "This is wonderful," It was a good idea too - healthy enough but still a treat. "Though I'm not sure about the video,"
"I really hope so, nobody needs food poisoning to finish off the day," Bruce laughed, as that would be just the way to finish a day like this! "Itty-bitty bits of chicken cook pretty quickly. The trick is not burning the crumbs coating it." And not dropping it out of the pan as he shook that, because if that happened, he'd have to think of something else quickly to go with the chips. He enjoyed the challenge of cooking for more than just himself, while also coming up with meals that Liam wasn't going to screw his nose up and outright refuse just from the look of it.
"Ew," He beamed in response to the kiss and laughed at the boy's reaction. "Don't worry kiddo, I used to think it was pretty ew too." The joys of being the baby of the family, all his older siblings did that kid of stuff first, and while he still thought girls had cooties, his brother was going out on dates and his sisters were bringing boys home.
"It doesn't hurt as much now," Bruce arched an eyebrow. "But it hurts to touch it,""Might be a good idea not to touch it then." He advised as he bit back a laugh, trying to keep his face as straight as possible - it was hard to look sympathetic while laughing at the person. "Uh oh," He rolled his eyes and chuckled. "This is wonderful," He smiled. "Thank you, it's all about the seasoning added to the breadcrumbs." And it was actual chicken, rather than the mystery meat that was found in premade chicken nuggets. "Though I'm not sure about the video," He grinned again. "But the puppets are so cute!"
"Itty-bitty bits of chicken cook pretty quickly. The trick is not burning the crumbs coating it." Flynn smiled, "which is why I leave the skill cooking to you," She teased, mock gasping when her son joined in the joking, "Good!" His cheeky grin made her laugh, and she looked at Bruce, "Hey now, who said we could bash on my cooking?" She teased. "Don't worry kiddo, I used to think it was pretty ew too." Flynn grinned at how unconvinced her son looked, "I hope you don't think that about it now," she said to Bruce with a teasing smile.
"Might be a good idea not to touch it then." Flynn pressed her lips together as Liam frowned slightly, clearly not quite as amused as he got Bruce's joke - but he was quickly distracted by food as his mum helped him fill his plate - with a healthy dose of vegetables too. "Thank you, it's all about the seasoning added to the breadcrumbs." She smiled and took another few bites, realising how hungry she was now that she was finally over her stressing. "But the puppets are so cute!" Flynn glanced to the video as it played, watching for a couple of seconds before deciding she agreed. "Okay, the puppets are kind of cute, but the song.. not so much." She shook her head, even as Liam laughed at the screen and started trying to sing along as he picked up the words. Flynn looked across at Bruce, "You know he's going to sing this for weeks now..."
"which is why I leave the skill cooking to you," Bruce grinned, good thing he loved cooking. "Good!" He couldn't help but laugh. "Hey now, who said we could bash on my cooking?" He raised his hands in mock surrender. "There is nothing wrong with your cooking. I thoroughly enjoy the nights off that I get." He said in hopes to appease her. "I hope you don't think that about it now," He raised his brows. "Oh no, some girls still have cooties." He replied with a straight face and a dramatic shudder. "Boys too, when they catch then from the girls!"
"Okay, the puppets are kind of cute, but the song.. not so much." He chuckled as he dished his own meal up, making sure to put a good amount of veg onto his plate. "You know he's going to sing this for weeks now..." He gave her a look of wide-eyed innocence, as if that thought had never crossed his mind, before he leaned closer to Liam. "All those funny sounds you can hear between the singing, are actually the sounds that a fox makes." The variety of sounds a fox made was amazing, and made him wish they were native to his country.
"There is nothing wrong with your cooking. I thoroughly enjoy the nights off that I get." Flynn gave Bruce a narrowed eyed look, "Are you trying to suck up to me?" She teased, knowing he was being genuine really but unable to help teasing. She was more than happy to give over all the cooking to him anyway, but she liked taking over one or two nights so that he could have a break, and it stopped her from being lazy. She could far too easily get used to having Bruce 'look after' her, he was the sort that just would and would do so gladly but she never wanted to take him for granted like that, and she liked doing it the other way around - waiting on him for a change, and looking after him.
"Oh no, some girls still have cooties. Boys too, when they catch then from the girls!" Flynn let out a small noise of indignation. "If anyone is giving out cooties, it's the boys!" She argued, "You are covered in them," She waved a hand at Bruce but couldn't hold back the smile. She raised a brow at Bruce's look of innocence, not quite believing it as she tucked into the chicken, glancing at Liam to see him mostly engrossed in the video and not as busy eating. He'd picked at his veg and been going mostly for his chicken. "All those funny sounds you can hear between the singing, are actually the sounds that a fox makes." Flynn chuckled and looked over again at Liam as he frowned, then pulled a weird face, "They sound weird? Like people screaming?" He didn't quite believe it was true.
"Are you trying to suck up to me?" Bruce opened and closed his mouth a couple of times. "I...I would never!" He protested. "Well, only if I thought I could get away with it." He teased with a grin as he blew her a kiss. Some people may think it strange how he liked to cook dinner and do the dishes. They may wonder if he had been a bachelor for too long and couldn't hand the reins over. However, the reason he liked doing stuff was because he had visited too many school friends when he was growing up, and the mother seemed to have to do everything while the father yelled instructions from his lazy-boy with a beer in one hand and remote in the other, and Bruce had vowed he would never be like that when he was an adult.
"If anyone is giving out cooties, it's the boys!" He arched an eyebrow in question. "You are covered in them," He chuckled as he wiped hand down his arm, as though wiping something off, and then flicked his fingers at her. "I'm caring and sharing with my cooties!" He had known that the video would distract the child from his food, but it wasn't a long clip and dinner was never a rushed affair. "They sound weird? Like people screaming?""Yes, like screaming." He said with a smile, wondering if Liam would remember that he had said it was the sound of screaming that had caught his attention and led to him being lost.
She pinned him with her look as his mouth opened and closed, "I never knew such a good fish impression," She teased, trying to hold in a laugh. "I...I would never!" An eyebrow rose. "Well, only if I thought I could get away with it." She released the smile she was holding in, "Mhmm, there it is," She teased, but she pretended to catch the kiss he blew and keep it. Some people would think it sickening, but she had every intention of making sure he knew he as appreciated really - and that she especially appreciated him being cute.
Flynn went along with the show, pretending to flinch at the cooties and try to dramatically wipe them off, and onto Liam - who pulled a face too and tried to dodge her hand. "Nooo, no cooties!" Flynn grinned, "I'm caring and sharing with my cooties!" Flynn shook her head, "You can keep your cooties to yourself thanks," She laughed, taking a sip of her water as the video ended and Liam rejoined them in dinner. "Yes, like screaming." Liam frowned again, picking at his veg and finishing off the chicken instead. "That's why I went in the woods, I thought it was a person," He remembered it, but he hadn't realised the noise was the fox in the end, only that he'd heard something and it had turned out to be an animal. "They are weird." He decided, looking to his bandaged arm again with a frown.
"I never knew such a good fish impression," Bruce laughed and rolled his eyes. "Nah, this is a fish impression." He sucked in his cheeks and then opened and closed his mouth, before relaxing his face and laughing again. He grinned when she caught the kiss, it was something he remembered his own parents doing when he was a child, and his father was heading out to the fields with a kiss stored in his pocket.
"Nooo, no cooties!" He laughed as Liam tried his best to avoid the dreaded 'cooties'. "You can keep your cooties to yourself thanks," He pouted. "But I share everything with you." He said with a grin as he looked pointedly at the shirt she was wearing. "That's why I went in the woods, I thought it was a person, They are weird" Bruce gave the boy a soft smile, proud of his confession. "This is why you need to tell your mum or me when you hear things like that." He said. "If that had been a person, like you thought, they would have needed an adult to help them too." Okay, it was a little reckless on the child's part to have run off after a noise, but he couldn't help but admire that Liam was doing what he thought was right.
