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!.
ahlia was surprised she was running across Andrew again. How long had it been now? She had seen him a bit ago on a job, and they hung out a bit in college. Since then, the connection was lost. Life did happen, but Dahlia was happy that they would see each other again, even if it meant it was a shared job.
A new attachment was being built at the resort near the beach. From what Dahlia heard, the owner was looking into adding a new pergola area, and maybe a rentable space. Like a separate hut. Dahlia didn’t practice too much architecture when she was in school. She focused more o the outside. Where the flowers and such should go. If someone gave her enough money, Dahlia could design a house.
Honestly, she didn’t even know too much about the project. The client wanted things to be cohesive and built together. It didn’t make too much sense to Dahlia, but she was curious.
The woman sat in a seat at a quiet spot in the Starbucks. Dahlia had her sleek leather bag next to her. She pulled out a few notepads and some sketch pads just to sketch and write a few things down. Now it was just a waiting game.
Drew was running late - not by much, just by five minutes or so, but it was unusual for him. By proxy, thanks to his long stint in the army, he had a habit of being dead on time in general - it wasn't even on purpose anymore, he just seemed to time everything just right. Not today though apparently, and though he was getting pretty good on his foot, he didn't dare hurry along too much. Running was still not an option just yet, and when he tried to rush he tended to look a bit of an idiot, hobbling away with his bad foot swinging a little too wild to look natural. Plus it felt uncomfortable and awkward, so he had to settle for just a slightly faster walk than usual. He was never late for clients, he knew it was a bad impression to give, but he figured as it was Dahlia and she was an old friend that she might understand and offer him a little forgiveness.
He was looking forward to working with her, his business was still relatively new and only just taking off from the ground. He hadn't been into it long, only just under a year, and though he had taken a couple of local classes on agriculture and landscaping, most of it he went by his good eye, and the use of his previous degree in Architecture. He was happy to be using it, and it sure as heck came in handy when making sure everything on his sketch fit when you got to doing it in person, but his real passion these days were the gardens. He hoped his business continued to thrive, but so far it was all good and promising feed back - and he was enjoying himself whilst he did it.
Pushing open the door to Starbucks he located Dahlia in a quiet corner and attempted to catch her eye, throwing up a hand in hello to show he'd arrived, before he joined the back of the queue for a coffee. It luckily didn't take long to progress and he took his latte over to her, sliding into the chair opposite and placing his satchel on the ground against his good leg for now. "It's lovely to see you again Dahlia, I'm so sorry I'm late," He apologised quickly with a sheepish smile. "I don't even have a good excuse for it. I have to say though, I'm looking forward to collaborating on this with you."
he waved her hand, showing that she didn’t mind. “No worries at all, Andrew,” she smiled. Dahlia didn’t meet with a lot of people, and those that she did – she was good friends with them. It was rare she had new clients nowadays, as her currents kept her busy. The only time Dahlia managed to get a bit annoyed was bridezilla season. Andrew was a friend, so she let it slide.
“Yes! It sounds like a massive project. I do wonder why they didn’t want to do it in the spring, but we’re here to just make things look pretty, right?” she teased. She knew that building and any decisions for that took a long time. Things always took years to develop. “I do have a few ideas, but why don’t you show me what you were thinking first?” It was easier for Dahlia to change her stuff than it was for him. “But first...how have you been? It’s been a minute!”
He smiled at her polite wave, “No worries at all, Andrew,” Inclining his head as he responded with a quick, "thanks that's very kind." as some would be been irate or at the very least frustrated with his tardiness. He had found that most people in town were relatively friendly, for which he was pleased. Naturally there would always be people you didn't get along with quite as well, but for the most part he found the residents here more than friendly and accommodating, and he'd even starting to spring up new friendships - something he had hoped for but hadn't been sure he could achieve moving somewhere completely alone and starting afresh.
“Yes! It sounds like a massive project. I do wonder why they didn’t want to do it in the spring, but we’re here to just make things look pretty, right?” He smiled at that and nodded, "It does make more sense in Spring, but I think from what they were saying when I consulted last that they had been waiting on planning to add in the potential space at the back?" He worked hard to make sure he took in as much relevant information as possible to make sure he caught on to their interests even if they weren't discussing the garden ideas; it all tied in.
“I do have a few ideas, but why don’t you show me what you were thinking first? But first...how have you been? It’s been a minute!” He chuckled but unzipped his back to pull out his sketchbook as he spoke. "I've been good thank you, how are you?" He asked, flipping open the pad to the designs he'd been working on so far. "So, this is sort of where I was going with it for them. I was thinking of separating the garden a little so that there is a divide between them and the space they may rent out; a sense of privacy without there actually being some kind of wall, and then making this area a little more private and secluded for the owners so they can have peace - it'd be a perfect suntrap right there so makes sense to have the seating area here." He indicated the areas with a pencil.
bit thinned out but could be worse!” Dahlia, like everyone else in her family – always had a hard time keeping still. She was now feeling the jobs she had put on herself. She wasn’t young anymore, being able to stay up until 3 am and survive on two hours of sleep. There was the thought of telling him how lonely she had been, wanting something more in life. Moses had met someone, albeit not started anything yet, and she was just…here.
She looked over the sketch and plans Andrew had presented her. “We could play with the Keyhole idea. Where there are hedges that line the walkway and around the extension. Trellises can add privacy as well, with the vining type – also add some more shade. Maybe even a pergola too?” Jeremy had been a bit secretive about the project, maybe it was because his parents were telling him to do it. Despite having ownership of the hotel now, his parents did tend to keep an eerily close eye on him. “Being able to see the coast I’m sure will add some desire.” Her brain was running now that she had a sense of what was being presented.
"A bit thinned out but could be worse!” He smiled at that and gave a small nod in understanding, "you appreciate being busy but at the same time a day off is nice." He suggested, he enjoyed working and keeping busy but he knew rest was meant to be important and all that. The issue with his history is that he was used to being full on all the time, so coming out of that had been difficult as it was, but keeping his hands busy had helped with his brain too. He watched Dahlia glance over his plans, hoping she wouldn't disagree too much - generally most people found his ideas agreeable but every now and then he clashed.
“We could play with the Keyhole idea. Where there are hedges that line the walkway and around the extension. Trellises can add privacy as well, with the vining type – also add some more shade. Maybe even a pergola too?” He nodded along at that, "Yep, that's what I was thinking, as long as we're careful not to over-do it with the shade in their privacy corner - privacy yes but if we arrange it a little wrong it might put too much perpetual shade on it." He mused, looking over the plans again. “Being able to see the coast I’m sure will add some desire.” Drew nodded as he leaned back a little. "Oh absolutely, a good view brings a lot of allure, regardless of the inside."
eah, my brother gifted me a spa day in a week – so I’ll be looking forward to it.” That the was a nice thing about having siblings who were busy people too. It kept them in check and was most welcomed. Plus, their parents were most likely about to hunt them down to chill too.
“There are some great vine plants that will allow privacy over a light pergola. But still, allow some light in. Do you have the color ideas you were thinking for the outside?” She knew there was a lot of white in the front, but the back seemed to be open to interpretation. “I had some flowers picked out, in yellow, pink, and white tones. Some bright greens, too. But I can change those out if the outside slats would clash.”
"Yeah, my brother gifted me a spa day in a week – so I’ll be looking forward to it.” He gave an easy smile at that, eyebrows raising slightly. "Oh yeah? That sounds nice," He hadn't even though about the idea of a spa, though with his injury, he regularly had to massage his lower leg where he was missing his foot. He liked the idea of a proper massage from a professional, but there was something about being naked in front of a stranger like that, lying prone on a table, which felt somewhat vulnerable to him. Perhaps it was because of all his scars and imperfections, which he had come to accept on his own but wasn't quite used or ready for the rest of the world to see.
“There are some great vine plants that will allow privacy over a light pergola. But still, allow some light in. Do you have the color ideas you were thinking for the outside?” He considered the image for a moment, putting the vine plants into what he had in mind and then giving a nod of agreement. "Would probably work," He agreed. “I had some flowers picked out, in yellow, pink, and white tones. Some bright greens, too. But I can change those out if the outside slats would clash.” Drew looked back down to his plans, a slight crease appearing between his eyebrows in concentration. "I think it's likely to work fine, might have to wait to see how it looks in person, the pink may clash a little." Not that colour schemes were 100% up his alley but he could tell when something didn't look quite right.
ure! I can hold off planting until a siding is picked. Most of the flowers I’ve thought about come in multiple colors and patterns.” Dahlia knew Richard would allow her to go with the flow. She had scared him once, by allowing him to get everything he wanted and it was…not what he wanted at all. But she also knew that she didn’t want to push his buttons.
“Have you worked with this client before?” Dahlia asked, curious to see if Andrew had ever worked with someone like Richard. She was sure Andrew had dealt with a few people that were high maintenance. It seemed to be a thing that happened in their line of business. Dahlia always joked about who was worse, the rich and famous. Or brides? They seemed to be fifty-fifty, but she would never voice that out loud unless it was around people that understood it.
"Sure! I can hold off planting until a siding is picked. Most of the flowers I’ve thought about come in multiple colors and patterns.” Andrew gave a nod in response and a quick smile to show his approval. "Well that sounds like it'll make things easier." Sometimes you had to plan to be flexible even if it didn't seem you could - a quick need to change something needed to be as easy as possible, especially if you had a particularly difficult or stubborn client. Luckily for him, he hadn't had too many, and in all honesty in his initial consultation he usually made it clear that he was a human being and would only be treated as such, not a slave or a lesser man. He didn't do being talked down to, it was his business after all and he had his pick of clients, he wouldn't take anything thrown at him for the sake of it if something was just going to give him a headache.
“Have you worked with this client before?” Drew shook his head. "No, not this one but I've met several similar." After all, you tended to get 'types' after a while. He didn't mind picky or fussy as long as they were opened minded and respectful about it. It was rare someone liked what you did perfectly first time because everyone had a different view of the world and a different imagination. Occasionally he happened, like some kind of Christmas miracle, but he fully expecting to need to make rearrangements or changes along the way. "Have you?" he asked, wondering if she had given her asking him.
