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!.
Shaun looked out the kitchen window with a soft sigh, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. He was sober today, a lot more conscious of the world around him, and when he'd thought to check the cupboards, he knew he had to do some shopping as the boys had picked the shelves all but clean. Which brought him to more things he needed to do. Laundry was piling up, there was a stack of scattered ironing to do, hell even the floors needed a go over where the dog had tracked mud inside.
He would've just gone back to his stupor in the living room where he spent most nights, unable to force himself to go back into the room he'd shared with his wife. It was the closest thing he had to her left - that and the chair in the living room. It was easier to stare at that chair all night than it was go back to their bedroom and sleep there without her.
He would've traded places, wanted to make his pacts and deals but nothing was going to give him his wife back. So he set about chores to try keep himself together for a few hours before the ruckus that was his sons came home from school. He managed it, mostly, but it was wearing him down. With the last of the groceries away, he set about doing the dishes which had piled up and set them on the side board to drain.
The sun was out at least, so he forced himself outside and leaned on one of the porch supports with Danny sitting by his feet. The dog wasn't by any means young, but nor was he too old, but even he felt the absence of Tracy. Shaun leaned down and ruffled the fur between the dog's ears gently, determined to stay outside for a little bit and maybe catch one of his kids on their way home.
Link made his way into the house via backdoor and hung his bag up on the coat rack on the wall. He glanced around the kitchen to see the dirty dishes that had been piling up in the sink this morning were now cleaned and drying on the side. He glanced at the clock wondering if one of his brothers had gotten home early and had a clear round, he doubted it unless it had been Derek. He tried to pop in a couple of times a week which he appreciated. Link was planning on getting around to it after school but now he didn't have to which he wasn't complaining about. He opened the cupboard to grab a packet of crisp and couldn't hide the surprise on his face to find it stocked with goods, along with the fridge. Maybe Derek had been round earlier than usual.
He pulled open the crisp and popped one into his mouth as he moved towards the lounge to check if his dad was still breathing. He pushed open the door quietly and poked his head around, frowning slightly when he wasn't in his usual spot on the couch. He paused in the hallway and listened for any movements from above but couldn't hear anything. He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck as he headed for the front door to check whether the car was still in the drive, hoping his dad hadn't gone to get more alcohol under the influence. Link pulled open the door to see his dad on the porch with the dog and lifted his brows in disbelief. "Dad, you're up? Hey. ." He said, stepping onto the porch and bending down slightly to scratch the dog on the head.
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
Shaun stirred, turning so he could see his son. He knew just by the voice who it was, and offered a thin smile.
"You sound surprised," he said, his tone neutral, "Can't say I blame you. I haven't exactly be around much have I?"
He knew deep down that his drinking was an issue. It wasn't a good thing, but the wheel was still turning and he wasn't sure he could reach out and stop it. But it was the only thing that kept him grounded, or as much as the alcohol could. He knew he had the kids to raise, but he was flailing with it. He hadn't been there to raise the kids, that had been Tracy's doing. She'd been there when he was away fighting to help play their way through life. He was only there when the fights weren't coming his way, when it came to teaching the boys the basics.
"How was school?"
He felt his question might've been far too lame, too ... normal, but it was all he could think of - how to talk to his sons.
"You sound surprised, can't say I blame you. I haven't exactly be around much have I?" Link shrugged and leant against the opposite beam. He hadn't really been around much himself with school every day and picking up some extra shifts at the pizza place to try and save some more money. "Honestly no. .but I've only really been around in the evening anyway." After the funeral he'd spent weeks holed up in his bedroom but now he spent as less time as he could at the house. It just didn't feel like a home anymore. He needed to keep busy. So busy that by the time he did get home, he went straight to bed and crashed out, only to wake hours later screaming into his pillow to muffle the sound as the nightmares began to kick in. He'd had them almost every night since he'd heard the crash on the phone but he wasn't about to tell his brothers about that problem. "How was school?" He couldn't help but smile slightly. "Great. .I think I aced my biology exam."
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
"Honestly no...but I've only really been around in the evening anyway."
"As long as you aren't stirring up trouble like Jace, and being responsible," Shaun said, his tone soft - he knew Link enough that it was unlikely he was stirring mischief.
He couldn't help but smile slightly. "Great...I think I aced my biology exam."
To that Shaun looked over at Link, studying him with a slight tilt of his head - a little bit of the former Shaun showing through those dark eyes. He nodded a few times, as if chewing on that information.
"That's very good to hear," Shaun said in his round-about way of praise, "At least you're confident about it. Your mother would be incredibly proud of you, you know that right?"
He cleared his throat and rubbed his chin a little bit, "Very proud indeed. You need anything for any of your other classes?"
He wasn't sure if he was asking the right questions regarding his education, but he was trying at least. The only headaches he had were those caused by Jace, with the sheer amount of suspensions and phone calls to remove him from school grounds or because of his lack of attendance.
"As long as you aren't stirring up trouble like Jace, and being responsible," Link let out a snort as he smiled, shaking his head. ”I know mischief is my middle name but I never get kicked out of class or fail anything.” He said, never liking being compared to his older brother. "That's very good to hear, At least you're confident about it. Your mother would be incredibly proud of you, you know that right?" Link picked at the tips of his fingers, trying to distract himself from the overwhelming sensation of grief that threatened to pull him under at the mention of his mother. He swallowed, fighting back the lump in his throat as he looked back to his dad. ”I know. . I feel like she’s still watching over me. . you know.” He said, smiling sadly. "Very proud indeed. You need anything for any of your other classes?" He shook his head. ”No, I’ve got the last few exams next week then I’m done for the summer. . then the college life begins. .” He said with a small grin.
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
Link let out a snort as he smiled, shaking his head. ”I know mischief is my middle name but I never get kicked out of class or fail anything.”
Shaun chuckled, "And I'm proud of that; you are so unlike your older brother, chalk and cheese. Nothing alike."
”I know. . I feel like she’s still watching over me. . you know.” He said, smiling sadly.
Shaun smiled back, his smile just as sad, "She is, and she always will as long as you need her to."
”No, I’ve got the last few exams next week then I’m done for the summer. . then the college life begins. .” He said with a small grin.
Carefully Shaun moved over to Link and pulled him into a hug, ruffling his hair, letting out a heavy sigh, "Time has flown by so fast, I can't believe it won't be that long before you hit college. I know you are going to do extremely well and no matter what you choose to study, I'm sure you'll ace it."
"And I'm proud of that; you are so unlike your older brother, chalk and cheese. Nothing alike." Link let out a small laugh and shook his head ”Honestly. . I don’t think any of us are like him. .” He said with a soft sigh. Of course he loved his brother, as much as he didn’t understand or like him, he was still his brother at the end of the day. "She is, and she always will as long as you need her to." He nodded, his heart swelling again at the mention of the hole in their family. Surprise washed over him as the man came over, pulling him into a hug and ruffling his hair like he used to when he was a kid. Not missing the chance, he wrapped his own arms around Sean, hugging him back, probably harder than he should have but his dad hadn’t shown this much affection since before the accident and he didn’t realise how much he needed it. "Time has flown by so fast, I can't believe it won't be that long before you hit college. I know you are going to do extremely well and no matter what you choose to study, I'm sure you'll ace it." He pulled away, sniffing and wiping his eyes quickly. ”Thanks dad. . that means a lot.” He said with a smile. He was still figuring out what he wanted to study at college but he still had a few weeks to decide.
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
Link let out a small laugh and shook his head ”Honestly. . I don’t think any of us are like him. .” He said with a soft sigh.
"I don't think your mother or I would handle two versions of Jace," Shaun said, offering a small smile.
He pulled away, sniffing and wiping his eyes quickly. ”Thanks dad. . that means a lot.” He said with a smile.
"You know where I am if you need me for anything," he said, nodding once, "I might be all over the place right now, but I'm trying... But either way, what do you want for dinner tonight? I'll see how rusty I've gotten. Or if you want to help out, you can."
He was a decent cook, but he hadn't gotten to cook all that often, and with his wife gone it had taken another backseat blow.
"I don't think your mother or I would handle two versions of Jace," He gave a soft laugh and shook his head. ”yeah I don’t think we could handle two brothers like him either.” He said with a slight grin. It was hard enough dealing with one Jace, never mind two. He wouldn’t be surprised if Jace eventually got diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. Considering his outbursts, it would be fitting seeing as he was a literal walking IED. "You know where I am if you need me for anything, I might be all over the place right now, but I'm trying... But either way, what do you want for dinner tonight? I'll see how rusty I've gotten. Or if you want to help out, you can." He looked at his dad and offered him a small understanding smile. ”I know you are dad. . just sucks when we see you passed out on the couch. . you know?” He wasn’t having a go at him, just trying to get his feelings across. ”Sure I’ll help. .could have Spaghetti Bolognese? Think Derek dropped off some mince the other day that needs using.”
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
He gave a soft laugh and shook his head. ”Yeah I don’t think we could handle two brothers like him either.” He said with a slight grin.
Shaun's smile was a touch lop-sided, letting out a soft huff of air, "Agreed, one version of Jace is enough."
”I know you are dad. . just sucks when we see you passed out on the couch... you know?” He wasn’t having a go at him, just trying to get his feelings across. ”Sure I’ll help. .could have Spaghetti Bolognese? Think Derek dropped off some mince the other day that needs using.”
Shaun nodded a few times, "Yeah, I can only imagine how it looks for the rest of you. I'll try to quit the drink, ok? I can't make promises, just offers," he ruffled Link's hair again, "Sounds good to me. Maybe once I get back in the swing of cooking again, I'll make a big family meal, get everyone in the house for once."
He turned and headed inside, holding the door open for Link.
"Agreed, one version of Jace is enough." He snorted and nodded in agreement, choosing to bite back the remark he was thinking. One version of Jace was one too many. He breathed out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. He hoped one day his brother would get the help he needed, he just needed to be willing to accept it first. "Yeah, I can only imagine how it looks for the rest of you. I'll try to quit the drink, ok? I can't make promises, just offers," He smiled, leaning into his dad's hand and looked up at him with a small smile. "That's all we want." If their dad showed he was trying to change then that's all they could ask for. "Sounds good to me. Maybe once I get back in the swing of cooking again, I'll make a big family meal, get everyone in the house for once." His lips curved into a grin as he followed his dad into the house. "Like old times. .that'd be good." He didn't know if some of his brothers would go for it but he'd do his best to convince them. He'd wrangle Crev to help him wear them down too. Link moved into the kitchen and started pulling ingredients out of the fridge for dinner.
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
Shaun nodded and moved to the kitchen, looking around for a moment before fetching what he needed out cupboards to get dinner together, asking Link to get various other food items together. It mightn't have been a full three course dinner, but Shaun figured it would have to be better than eating frozen meals constantly. Maybe things were on the mend in some ways - perhaps not perfect, and nothing could ever seal up that gap that the boy's mother had left behind, but he could at least attempt to slowly stitch a new chapter into their home. Maybe things would be alright - he could only hope so.
