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!.
"No. They'll get here eventually." He nodded, relieved that Rhett didn't want him to go anywhere. He tucked himself back in at his side for the moment. "It'll be... fine Dei, It'll... be fine." He nodded, catching the yawn and frowning slightly. "You really should rest, you need it." His body would still be working hard on healing, he needed to sleep. Which was made difficult by the doctor arriving and interrupting. Still, the news was necessary. "He is important to me." Dei gave Rhett's hand a careful squeeze at that - yes, Rhett was important to him too - ridiculously so.
"Well, you are lucky to be awake so soon. You were whisked off into surgery as quickly as we could; a punctured lung, broken ribs serious ankle break and some moderate internal bleeding which has been taken care off by the surgical team. Other scans indicate a hairline fracture in the front of your skull where you hit the windscreen of the car, and your lower spinal cord is pinched. Minor burns and cuts, uncertain if you have a concussion, but with that head wound we believe it's likely you do. We did our best to stitch that forehead wound but only time will tell now it heals up." The list seemed to keep on going, and Dei almost wanted to tell him to stop -it was too much. "So.. what do you mean.. pinched spinal cord?" He glanced to Rhett, also wanting to understand more about what that meant.
"Honestly, we don't know. It could mean not being able to walk unassisted, it could just be a small set back until your body settles back into place. We don't know if it will right itself, or if we need to look at a rehab routine to reteach you how to walk." He glowered slightly, his anger a sudden rush. "How can you not know? What was the point in all those years of medical school just to shrug and go 'anyone's guess'. Even I could suggest the fucking wait and see method." He rolled his eyes, not in the slightest regretting his out burst. What kind of news was that to give someone - it might be shit, it might not be.
The doctor's words left a blankness heavy on his mind, far too much to process in a single moment. There were so many questions to ask and yet not a single one jumped out to be asked. He closed his eyes.
"How can you not know? What was the point in all those years of medical school just to shrug and go 'anyone's guess'. Even I could suggest the fucking wait and see method."
He could hear the irritation in Dei's voice. He sighed quietly.
"I'm not sure... what any of that means... but, questions are for later. Please leave... Deal with this later."
The doctor frowned slightly at Dei's outburst, not ok with the hostility.
"Of course, we can discuss it more in depth when you're more awake," the doctor nodded, "Nurse will be around soon to check in on you."
With that he left he let his head fall to the side against Dei, exhausted.
"Try... try not to argue... with them, hmm?" he asked softly, "They're just doing their... job Dei."
"I'm not sure... what any of that means... but, questions are for later. Please leave... Deal with this later." At first Dei wasn't sure if he was the one being told to leave, but when the Doc made a motion to go he relaxed. His glower followed the doctor to the door, "Fucking bite me," He muttered at the doc's expression. What were they going to do, remove him? He'd like to see them try - a red hot poker couldn't pry him from the man in his arms. "Of course, we can discuss it more in depth when you're more awake, Nurse will be around soon to check in on you."
Dei tucked Rhett's head back onto his chest, gently running a thumb over his cheek to sooth him - and also himself. "Try... try not to argue... with them, hmm? They're just doing their... job Dei." He couldn't help but frown - it had always been his most natural facial expression and it was even now. "Well, they're doing a shite job." He said honestly, his hand drifting gently to run along rhett's arm, thumb rubbing soothing circles without thinking about it. "I could pick up a medical book for an hour and still do better. It's ridiculous."
"Well, they're doing a shite job. I could pick up a medical book for an hour and still do better. It's ridiculous."
"I will bite you," Rhett warned quietly, "When I am back... home. I will make sure... to leave as many bite marks as you c-could want."
He shivered a little bit, feeling a little bit cold as he laid there but he didn't bother to pull the covers higher or closer, knowing sooner rather than later he would get far too hot.
"It won't be for... for too long Dei," he murmured, all but falling asleep, "Just... just don't cause trouble... please? For me?"
He didn't care how needy it sounded, how pathetic, he just didn't want to wake up to a fight. He was barely keeping everything together as it stood and he knew he couldn't handle anything else to boot.
"I will bite you," Dei raised a questioning eyebrow. "When I am back... home. I will make sure... to leave as many bite marks as you c-could want." He smirked slightly, looking down at Rhett and raising a hand to his cheek again for a moment. "That sounds promising, I look forward to it," He couldn't think about that far just yet, it didn't seem close enough, but he liked the promise of it. He felt the shiver and he frowned, gently going to pull the blankets up a little more, tucking them around Rhett's body without shifting his position.
"It won't be for... for too long Dei," He nodded a little, "I know." He wouldn't let it be too long. Of course, he'd give him as long as he needed to heal properly, but he was already looking forward to the thought of getting him home to look after him. "Just... just don't cause trouble... please? For me?" Dei gave a small snort and was about to crack one of his usual wise-ass jokes, but a look at Rhett's face made him pause and he deflated a little. "I promise, I won't cause any trouble, but I won't lie here and let them off for doing the bare minimum or being vague." He didn't want to upset Rhett, he wouldn't stress him out, but he meant it when he said he would take proper care of him. "Rest now, you don't need to worry."
"I will need to set an alert for it," he murmured, smiling a little as his eye lids dipped.
"I know."
"I promise, I won't cause any trouble, but I won't lie here and let them off for doing the bare minimum or being vague. Rest now, you don't need to worry."
He reached out for Dei's hand and held it weakly, "I guess I can... can settle for that. I just- just expect to see you still here.. and not kicked out."
"I will need to set an alert for it," Dei gave a small chuckle, "you do that," he agreed, knowing he would be only too happy to let Rhett do whatever he wanted to Dei once he was out of here. He gently took Rhett's hand, linking their fingers together. He vowed to himself he'd never let Rhett slip through his fingers again. "I guess I can... can settle for that. I just- just expect to see you still here.. and not kicked out." Dei nodded as he helped Rhett settle, gently fluffing at his pillows to help get him comfortable. "I promise, I'll still be here when you wake." He meant it to, no matter what.
He didn't doze as Rhett did, he stayed awake and watchful, keeping an eye on Rhett and everything else around them. It was quiet for some time, but a few nurses came and went to check on him. Dei couldn't help but give them an unfriendly glower, observing every touch, every glance they gave Rhett, ready to snap at a moment's notice. He wasn't going to let anything happen to Rhett again, not on his watch.
He grunted his acknowledgement and before he knew it, he was out. He didn't dream much, but there were flickers of the crash. He didn't know how else to interoperate the images that flickered on his eye lids. Some were confusing, others were significantly frightening. The lurching forward, the windscreen...
When he woke again, he could feel the sweat on his brow and he became aware of the fact that his heart was racing. He winced as he shifted, growling softly as he tried to move himself up in the bed more. The pain in his hands hit him and he immediately stopped trying to move up in the bed, cradling his hands to his chest.
He looked around for Dei, not quite sure if he was still by his side or not. Without thinking too much about it he forced himself to sit upright, the pain absolutely knocking the wind out of him. He could only frown as he stayed upright by sheer force of will, trying to get some semblance of function. The pain made him feel sick and his only thoughts were to get up and make it somewhere else to be sick. He reached out for the bed rail with shaking hands, unaware of the loud blaring monitors beside him. He grabbed at his legs reefing them over the edge, glaring at them and willing them to work. He couldn't not walk! Have to get to a bathroom... Briefly he wondered if he was dressed decent but the nausea hit him hard enough to throw the thought out. He didn't care. Pulling himself onto his legs and holding the bed rail for a moment, he steadied himself and went to walk. Nothing. He whimpered quietly and tried a step - falling. He barely registered the fact until he hit the ground, cords snapping taunt and then lax as machines toppled and emergency alarms sounded.
Dei stayed by Rhett's side for hours, but at some point he had to use the bathroom. He was only gone for a couple of minutes, and he'd been tempted to pee with the door wide open so he could still keep an eye on Rhett, but something about that seemed unsanitary, and he didn't want to make any noise that might stir Rhett before he was ready to wake. He was washing his hands when he thought he heard a noise. A slight furrow of his brows as he shut off the tap and dried his hands, tipping an ear to the other room. He was good at picking up the sound of conflict, having spent his childhood years hiding from it.
He hurried for the door, getting a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach that something was wrong. The second he opened the door, he understood what it was. Rhett's monitors were going off like a nightclub light show, and he glanced from the empty bed, to Rhett's toppling form, rushing forward in the blink of an eye. "Rhett!" He shouted, not that it could do anything to help him. He couldn't help but feel like this was the same as the car accident all over again; seeing something awful happening to him, being unable to stop it, the only thing he can do it be two steps behind, be too late, calling out his name in fear.
Dei didn't know how he crossed the room so fast, but he did, trying to at least cradle Rhett's head before it could snap against the floor. "What were you trying to do, you stupid idiot." He growled slightly, crouching down next to him and looking him over quickly, wanting to check he was okay. "Come on, back to bed." He tried to stay calm, not wanting to worry him, as he tried to help get him up right again.
"What were you trying to do, you stupid idiot." He growled slightly, crouching down next to him and looking him over quickly, wanting to check he was okay. "Come on, back to bed."
He shook his head slowly, "Felt sick.. Had to get to a sink. Too warm."
He tried to help Dei move himself, but he wasn't as strong as he knew he normally was.
"Need my tablets," he muttered. "Wasting again."
It was then that a male nurse rushed into the room and shook his head, helping Dei get Rhett back up onto the bed before fussing about the various leads that were now all over the place.
"Ripped out your IV, you shouldn't even be getting out of bed, your ankle is a wreck."
"Felt sick. Too hot. I need my tablets."
The nurse frowned, raising a brow, "Oh, and what do these tablets do?"
"For my Graves Disease. Weak, wasting away.."
The nurse frowned, "That's not on our list of medications for you. Let me go get the head nurse and we'll get things sorted."
"Felt sick.. Had to get to a sink. Too warm." He frowned and shook his head, "You can't get out of bed though, you need to press the button for the nurse." There was no point saying it now, but he couldn't help himself - feeling sick himself with anxiety for Rhett. He wished he hadn't left the room now; this was the reason he hadn't wanted to. Not because he'd thought Rhett would be so stupid but more for the fact that he had thought something would happen.
"Need my tablets, Wasting again." Dei's brow furrowed, confused, but he didn't have time to ask as someone came in and was suddenly on Rhett's other side, helping Dei get him back into the bed and fussy about IV's and everything. Dei was more concerned about the person meant to be attached to them. He looked him over as if expecting to see blood pouring out again - a recurring nightmare he saw whenever he closed his eyes. "Ripped out your IV, you shouldn't even be getting out of bed, your ankle is a wreck....Felt sick. Too hot. I need my tablets....Oh, and what do these tablets do?...For my Graves Disease. Weak, wasting away.." Dei shook his head slightly, watching the back and forth. "Graves Disease? What is that?" He asked, though his irritation was quick to rise as the nurse ignored him. "That's not on our list of medications for you. Let me go get the head nurse and we'll get things sorted."
Dei couldn't help the slight rumble in his chest, his patience was low on a good day, but even less so in this moment. "Oi, nurse Jackie, I said what's Graves Disease?" He bit his tongue to avoid snapping a shitty comment about being ignored. He didn't want to upset Rhett. He hadn't heard of it before, but he wanted to know what was wrong, what it meant, what he could do for Rhett. "Are you comfortable? Do you need a bowl or anything?" He asked as he helped to fluff up Rhett's pillows and pull his blanket back up. He almost laughed as he realised what he was doing; fussing over someone. "You know, my younger self would be throwing up to see me doing this...fluffing pillows and fussing over someone." He admitted quietly.
"You can't get out of bed though, you need to press the button for the nurse."
"Graves Disease? What is that?" He asked, though his irritation was quick to rise as the nurse ignored him.
"Oi, nurse Jackie, I said what's Graves Disease?"
His head was heavy with a dozen other thoughts but they were quick to evaporate from the forefront, allowing himself to focus back on Dei again.
"Are you comfortable? Do you need a bowl or anything?"
"I'm good, but no bowl. I just felt like I was going to be sick, I don't know if anything was going to happen."
"You know, my younger self would be throwing up to see me doing this...fluffing pillows and fussing over someone." He admitted quietly.
"I'm glad that you aren't... throwing up over the fact that you are doing something... like this," he said softly as he let his head fall back onto the pillows, "Graves Disease is an immune system disorder... My thyroid is fucked up basically. Fucks with my body - my hands tremor, I'm heat sensitive, acute weight loss, fatigue, irregular heart beat, sleeping issues - it's partly the reason why I'm an insomniac. I'm on strong medication to keep it.. all in check. It can't be fixed."
"I'm good, but no bowl. I just felt like I was going to be sick, I don't know if anything was going to happen." Dei glanced at the nurse as he was ignored once again, irritation rising. The only way he could hold it at bay was by looking at Rhett, and remembering the promise he had made; that he wouldn't start shit with the staff. It was getting really damn difficult though. He curled his hands into fists for a moment and bit his tongue, having to focus on Rhett again to avoid flipping off the nurse. "I'm here, if you need something," He said softly, returning the Nurse's attitude by ignoring her right back.
He mildly hoped Rhett wouldn't take his words the wrong way, but it was true. Even a few month's ago, you wouldn't catch him dead in a hospital for someone else's sake. His friends perhaps but it'd have to be bad, not just a stomach flu. He didn't ever envision falling for someone, he didn't think it was in the cards for him - nor did he even want it. Now here he was. "I'm glad that you aren't... throwing up over the fact that you are doing something... like this," He grimaced at the thought, "so am I, I don't really do vomit." Though if Rhett did right now, he'd do whatever he could to help him.
"Graves Disease is an immune system disorder... My thyroid is fucked up basically. Fucks with my body - my hands tremor, I'm heat sensitive, acute weight loss, fatigue, irregular heart beat, sleeping issues - it's partly the reason why I'm an insomniac. I'm on strong medication to keep it.. all in check. It can't be fixed." He frowned as he took in what he was saying, "why did you never tell me?" Okay so he got that they had meant to be fooling around, and then Dei had made a point of the fact that they were not an item... denial of course but still, there was a huge reason Rhett wouldn't tell him, and yet Dei couldn't help feeling indignant. "But it's manageable? With the medication? You're alright?" He worried about him, hearing about this awful disease, the last thing he needed to hear was that Rhett was going to die on him from this.
"I'm here, if you need something," He said softly, returning the Nurse's attitude by ignoring her right back.
He grimaced at the thought, "So am I, I don't really do vomit."
Rhett's smile was small, but it was about all he could manage despite the situation. Better than nothing. Better than just staying stoic faced. He couldn't do that for long.
"I appreciate.. the offer."
He frowned as he took in what he was saying, "Why did you never tell me?"
He sighed, shutting his eyes - it was an inevitable question really. The only person that knew was Cora, and that was because they were close friends - she made sure during his lapse of judgement that he took his tablets. Made sure he was still breathing at the end of it.
"I never said about it.. because I've made that mistake before. I've told people before.. and it sent people to the hills. Claimed they were no longer interested. I knew better, people thought it was like catching AIDs," frowns a little bit, "I learnt not to share my condition. No one has really cared. My parents don't even know."
"But it's manageable? With the medication? You're alright?"
Nodding slowly, he turned his head to face him, "Yeah, it's manageable, so long as I take my medication... and maintain a strong.. diet and exercise routine. It might kick me when I'm an old... old man, but for now, it's at bay."
He caught the smile, it felt like a small victory and he held onto that. It wasn't as big as it usually was, there wasn't an edge of smirk like he often had with Dei, but it was something at least. A hint of good humour. "I appreciate.. the offer." He nodded, "Good, I don't do it for just anyone." He promised, hell, even with Shiloh and the other girls, he'd curl his lip and shake his head at them, then jerk his chin toward one of the others to come hold back their hair instead. They were stupid enough to get into that situation then he wasn't going to save them. Rhett though, it was different. It was all so much different. He pushed down the fear of it, now was not the time to consider that, he needed to be here and be present in this moment for Rhett. It was not about him.
With Rhett's sigh, Dei carefully settled in to hear was he had to say. "I never said about it.. because I've made that mistake before. I've told people before.. and it sent people to the hills. Claimed they were no longer interested. I knew better, people thought it was like catching AIDs, I learnt not to share my condition. No one has really cared. My parents don't even know." Dei frowned and shook his head, "I'm not an imbecile, you know I wouldn't have freaked out for it." Dei might not care much for education all the time, but he wasn't stupid, and had a surprisingly good brain for storing knowledge - there was a reason he wasn't failing classes. Anymore at least. Some effort was still required sadly. "If I was concerned I'd have just looked it up, or asked you." He shrugged, considering him and Rhett had been honest with each other from the start. Ignoring the fact he'd run away because of his feelings...
"Yeah, it's manageable, so long as I take my medication... and maintain a strong.. diet and exercise routine. It might kick me when I'm an old... old man, but for now, it's at bay." Dei nodded, somewhat eased by that. Though at least with Rhett in hospital, he had no choice but to look after himself properly anyway. "I imagine I'll be long gone by the time you're old," He said with a snort and a roll of his eyes - Dei had no doubt he'd end up killing himself off before he even hit middle age, if he was lucky, but that wasn't the point. He leaned forward to kiss Rhett's forehead gently, "But, I'm relieved for you that it's manageable at least." He added.
