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!.
Seth sat in the room, one leg bouncing as he waited. He'd been pulled in by the cops and he hadn't resisted them for once - he wasn't even sure what he was supposed to have done. He hadn't spoken to anyone, hadn't tried to steal or otherwise cause a crime. So why he was in again was beyond him. If anything, his mood was soured. Try to live a normal life and every bastard tries to kick you in the guts.
Leaning back into the uncomfortable chair, he found himself shaking his hand coupled with irregular clicking of his fingers. He growled and stuffed his hands into his pockets to rid the horrible tick. He had nothing to worry about right? His frown deepened - had he done anything? Fuck, maybe? His mind recounted his steps of the day, he couldn't say he'd done anything that would warrant the attention of the cops. So why the fuck was he here?
He had to stop the bouncing of his leg, it was irritating him, so without another thought, he put his feet up on the corner of the table and tried to ease his mind, but even then his brain just trailed off to something else and left him feeling worse. Last time he'd been in a room like this it hadn't gone well... He twitched, remembering the beat down. He wasn't prepared to deal with that. He got up from the seat and began pacing the back wall of the room, needed to be on the move, distract himself.
She had heard the murmurs. Nobody wanted to deal with the man in the interview room, at least not from dispatch and somehow all of the other detectives went missing or were working other cases - which left her, the new girl. Diana Perry peered over the file on Seth K. Cannon and boy, was it fat, along with a note that he had some sealed stuff from juvie as well. Stealing. Loitering. Harassment - particularly of police officers. And then, also in big, bolded, underlined letters: Hostile. What a wonderful sounding gentleman. And to top it off, he was only twenty five. Diana sucked in some breath and slowly let it out. And this was who they found loitering on the security footage right before an armed robbery went down at one of the jewelry shops. Hickstead was small. Things don't go unnoticed.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath in and let out. She thought about those stupid zen tapes she loved listening so much post divorce, "Keep yourself grounded, Dia. Dot loose your patience. Cool as a cucumber." Because she was going to need it. Sticking the file underneath her arm, she walked to the interview room and took a glance into the window. Well, at least he's easy on the eyes. Blue eyes watched her suspect for a moment. Seth bounced one leg a lot while sitting, looking around at everything. He then leaned back, his fingers drumming. Then stuffed them away. Then his leg was up on the table. And then he was up, pacing. This was going to be a little harder then she thought. It also explained why he wasn't cuffed to the table. Good thing she was a real tough cookie.
"Sterns," she barked, still watching the window, "Why on earth is he essentially shirtless?" Another thing she honestly wouldn't complain about. A voice came, "We offered one. He refused." Funny, that didn't answer her question. Guess beat cops were the same here as they were in London a good percent of the time - dicks. She held out her hand expectantly, and one was placed into her hand. With that, she opened the door and stepped in, closing the door gently behind her. Diana never let her gaze leave the man though - she knew better than to turn her back on someone with thick rap sheet, "Mr. Cannon. I'm Detective Perry. Could you please take a seat so we can have a discussion as to why you may be in here?" She moved towards the table now, guard up as she pulled out her own chair and slid right in, "In fact, did my colleagues in uniform let you know why you were brought in here?" She was hedging a bet the answer was no, but figured she'd allow the benefit of the doubt. For now, at least.
when i walk in the room i can still make the whole place shimmer
thanks aofie!
Forty Five . Detective . Hetero . Single Mother of Azura Hope Perry
The second he heard that door, he froze and looked up, immediately guarded.
"Mr. Cannon. I'm Detective Perry. Could you please take a seat so we can have a discussion as to why you may be in here?" She moved towards the table now, guard up as she pulled out her own chair and slid right in, "In fact, did my colleagues in uniform let you know why you were brought in here?"
A female cop? What the fuck was this bullshit? He listened to her with a frown ever deepening his features. Folding his arms, he leaned back against the wall and snorted.
"Don't call me that! And I won't be taking a fucking seat," he grunted, "Might just make you feel safer."
He hated the formality - Mr Cannon. It made him sick. He was not that monster! Just the thought he reached up to the faded burn on his chest. He knew the story, and it made him ill almost always.
He began fidgeting again, "No, they didn't and I sure as fuck couldn't be bothered to ask. That's the thing with all you cops - you think I can read your minds."
He knew he was over-reacting, but it was the only thing he could do. These individuals didn't care. They were soulless bastards who hid behind their power without ever asking the real questions - why did he do it? Or she do it? What made them snap?
"Besides, in my experience, this all goes one sided and nothing I say will change that. SO why the pretense? Hmm? Do you get some kind of kick out of beating a dog when it's down? Do you find enjoyment in letting someone like me go to prison over crimes I didn't commit? I am sure you do in some way, even if you deny it."
Starts pacing the back wall, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead as his breathing picks up and his fidgeting gets worse. He didn't care about how hostile he was being, it just felt like the best thing to do because he was sure he knew what was coming and that all of this was just some sick joke for the people on the other side of that door. His mind was racing wildly, but there was no stopping the rush of anxiety that hit him like a punch in the guts.
It did not go unnoticed by Diana how the man's facial features deepen by both her appearance and her words, which wasn't surprising, nor was she quite certain yet what was more insulting to him: her choice of words or her gender. She supposed it didn't matter though, a person like Seth Cannon, at least by the book, would not remain quiet for very long and it would probably be a matter of minutes, no, seconds, before he voiced his displeasure with everything about her - from her choice words, her career choice, maybe the fact that she was a woman, but most importantly, without a doubt, it would be hostile and about how she was so terribly wrong about him. And just like that, as if on que, blue eyes watched as the man leaned back, folded his arms, and snorted at her.
"Don't call me that! And I won't be taking a fucking seat," he grunted, "Might just make you feel safer." To Diana's credit, her face remained unchanged - bored yet passive, there wasn't a twitch of annoyance or flare up to signal anger. Dealing with him was going to be like dealing with her teenage daughter, 110% patience. Getting angry here wasn't going to do her any favors, and she had a bunch of curious uniforms on the other side of that mirror who were waiting to her to fail, "Fine. I will call you Seth." Diana replied now, her tone relaxed but precise, cutting loose the curt and clipped tone she used earlier. He would see through it, but she didn't care at this moment, she had to start somewhere even if he was well versed of being in the interview room.
Blue eyes caught the Seth's fidgeting movement again. Her head tilted, just slightly, watching it. How curious. And then, he went off about the uniform division, "No, they didn't and I sure as fuck couldn't be bothered to ask. That's the thing with all you cops - you think I can read your minds." Ah, so he was going to loop her in with the rest of them. Diana didn't bother saying anything though, she had a sense that he wasn't done yet with mouthing off to her. It was fine, the woman had all the time in the world today. And just like that, Seth continued his accusatory rant, "Besides, in my experience, this all goes one sided and nothing I say will change that. SO why the pretense? Hmm? Do you get some kind of kick out of beating a dog when it's down? Do you find enjoyment in letting someone like me go to prison over crimes I didn't commit? I am sure you do in some way, even if you deny it."
'Anger ruins joy,' she thought to herself now, thinking of those stupid audio tapes, 'Steals the goodness of my mind. Forces my mouth to say terrible things. Overcoming anger brings peace of mind. Leads to a mind without regrets. If I overcome anger, I will be delightful and loved by everyone.' That was it, yes? Blue eyes watched Seth pace around. He was building up his anxiety all on his own, with the pacing and racing thoughts, "Ah, well, I like dogs. There are no bad dogs, only bad people. But maybe people are like dogs and they too are a product of their upbringing." She commented,"And perhaps, unlike some of my uniformed colleagues hiding behind that mirror, I don't care to book people and send people away without proof that they in fact. Leads to law suits and dragging my name through the mud, and I don't want that, Seth."
That fidgeting of his seemed to be getting worse. He didn't want to calm down, or perhaps couldn't, Diana supposed it could be either one, "Would you like some water?" she asked him, since he wasn't getting any fucking hot coffee or tea while she was in this room, "If not now, you may have it any time." He'd probably consider her stalling, in fact, Diana could hear the accusation building up, so the woman continued on, "You were picked up on video camera footage hanging around at a cross section on High Street and Brighton Street yesterday afternoon. I think my colleagues would want to proclaim it as suspiciously loitering, but to me, it looked like you were minding your own business," she paused, thinking, but there was no gentle way to deliver the next line, "When you moved out of the camera shot, a few minutes later, an armed robbery went down. Did you see this?"
when i walk in the room i can still make the whole place shimmer
thanks aofie!
Forty Five . Detective . Hetero . Single Mother of Azura Hope Perry
He didn't try to conceal his contempt at that. But he left the snide comment that was on the tip of his tongue alone. Even so, his hands were still shaking - was it just him or was the room wobbling a little bit? He shook his head and leaned back against a wall, looking down at his hands and continued to shake despite his efforts.
"Ah, well, I like dogs. There are no bad dogs, only bad people. But maybe people are like dogs and they too are a product of their upbringing." She commented, "And perhaps, unlike some of my uniformed colleagues hiding behind that mirror, I don't care to book people and send people away without proof that they in fact. Leads to law suits and dragging my name through the mud, and I don't want that, Seth."
He snorted, his tone remaining clipped and unfriendly, "I don't care what you like or what you think is the case. All you law-dogs are the same, it's hardly surprising that the rest of them are hiding behind a mirror. Makes them feel better."
"Would you like some water?" she asked him, since he wasn't getting any fucking hot coffee or tea while she was in this room, "If not now, you may have it any time."
"No. I don't think I will, I don't trust you not to do something stupid."
His distrust was complete, everything an officer ever did to him in the past was cause him some sort of suffering. He was expecting it. His eyes naturally, instinctively, jumped to stare at the door as if some faint noise beyond it caught his attention. He knew he'd never make it out that door, not without getting the absolute shit kicked out of him.
"You were picked up on video camera footage hanging around at a cross section on High Street and Brighton Street yesterday afternoon. I think my colleagues would want to proclaim it as suspiciously loitering, but to me, it looked like you were minding your own business," she paused, thinking, but there was no gentle way to deliver the next line, "When you moved out of the camera shot, a few minutes later, an armed robbery went down. Did you see this?"
Seth's gaze went back to her, his expression going utterly dead and some colour dropped from his face. Quickly he folded his arms and shifted his legs, subtly reminding himself that he was still vertical and fine. Subconsciously he worked his jaw. He had seen it, hell, he'd even felt the beat down, heeded the sentry's threats.
"What does it matter?" he spat, a slight tremble in his voice now, "Why string this out? Suspicious loitering my ass, what bullshit. Any fucking reason to kick a person. I'm not playing to your games, I am not doing this again."
He began pacing, arms still folded, trying to self remedy. He glanced at the door, maybe he would be stupid to hope to get out of this hell hole... No, she confirmed there were people on the other side of the wall, they'd be on him in an instant. He twitched his head suddenly to one side, like a severe nerve tick hit him - was that motherfucker on the other side of the wall? Was he here pissing in the officer's pockets? Was this going to end up like it had countless times before? He turned to the woman, looking her over, evaluating his options. He probably could grab her, force his way out...
He paused and looked at the mirror, glaring at the people he couldn't see. Then he moved on again, pacing back and forth. His stomach flipped, this was all going to end in fucking disaster. He put his back into a corner again and sunk down onto his haunches, reaching up to comb fingers through his hair, growing aware of how warm the room was, of how sweaty he'd gotten. He could feel his heart racing, slamming up against the wall of his ribs, feeling the room spin as he shut his eyes.
It would seem that neither herself or Seth were earning favors with each other given the look of contempt that he just gave her matched how she felt about him in this exact moment. Although, Diana wouldn't stoop to the level of her colleagues, and unlike them, she actually wanted to get to the bottom of this rather than just pin it on some troubled man. Given the attitude and failure to cooperate, the woman could see why Seth Cannon was hardly well received at the Station. At the same time, his file would go on to suggest that there had been various times of mishandling him, so she could see why he felt the way he did: "I don't care what you like or what you think is the case. All you law-dogs are the same, it's hardly surprising that the rest of them are hiding behind a mirror. Makes them feel better."
Ah, another tyrranid about how they all were the same and she was no different. Color her surprised The follow up to the water hardly surprised her either, "Would it help you to know that it's coming from a sealed bottle, so it cannot be tampered with?" Given the past five minutes, probably not. Nonetheless, Diana felt mildly obligated to inform him that there was no way to tamper with it.
Leaning back in her seat, blue eyes watched Seth as she unloaded her information onto him. With each word, his expression lost more and more emotion along with color. Well, that is curious. Diana continued to watch as the young man shifted now, his leg twitching just slightly as he folded his arms. Nervous tick. Perhaps untreated AHDH, always a possibility not to be ignored nowadays. "What does it matter?" Seth spat. Diana noted a slight tremble in his voice now, "Why string this out? Suspicious loitering my ass, what bullshit. Any fucking reason to kick a person. I'm not playing to your games, I am not doing this again." And then, he began pacing. Not once, did the woman leave her seat, she simply watched him like a hawk, her body relaxed but her mind alert. Sometimes, it takes the body 30 seconds to realizes that it's being attacked, and that's if caught off guard.
It did not go unnoticed by Diana how the young man observed his surroundings, the gears behind his eyes working, trying to figure out if there was some way he could escape. She wondered how the others felt on the other side, watching this from the safety of their plexiglass mirror window. And then, his gaze fell on her. Diana simply stared back, unreadable as ever. She needed her motherly instinct to kick in, but in the back of her mind, the woman couldn't help but to think about what good that would do her considering that her own teenage daughter remained angry and aloof with her. Seth sunk now, closing his eyes. This was bad. She was already loosing him and this had hardly begun. Not to mention, he had been eyeing her up in a way that suggested that he thought he could take her on.
She pulled out the screen shots of the camera footage, and placed them on the table for whenever he decided to get up, "Seth, I am not stringing this out. I am simply asking questions," Diana said now, "And I know this is a shock, but bullshit in not my forte unless it's over a pint a beer." Her blue eyes went back to resting on him, "And I suck at games, my daughter informs me of this all the time." She was certain he would probably inform her that he didn't care about her personal information, "I'm after the truth, not a reason to just throw you behind bars unlike some of my other colleagues. It would be silly of me to do that given that I know nothing about you, even though you know everything about me since I am a...law dog?" Her voice as as calm and collected as ever.
when i walk in the room i can still make the whole place shimmer
thanks aofie!
Forty Five . Detective . Hetero . Single Mother of Azura Hope Perry
"Would it help you to know that it's coming from a sealed bottle, so it cannot be tampered with?"
His hands were gone, shaking violently against each other as he sat back in the corner. Fuck. He pressed his back into the wall but everything was moving on him, making his throat go dry. His eyes going unfocused as his breathing almost became hyper-short and shallow. What was she asking? He screwed his eyes shut tighter, desperately trying to cling to a thought - anything at all - that could stop the panic.
"Seth, I am not stringing this out. I am simply asking questions."
What was she harping on about?
"And I know this is a shock, but bullshit in not my forte unless it's over a pint a beer. And I suck at games, my daughter informs me of this all the time."
He reached out, hands trembling as he grabbed the fabric of his jeans and drew his lead legs up to his chest one at a time. He put his head against his knees, looking slightly green, his other hand tucking away, running a thumb over the crude stitches in his side. It felt wrong, so wrong and he couldn't place if it was sweat or if he'd popped one when he sat.
"I'm after the truth, not a reason to just throw you behind bars unlike some of my other colleagues. It would be silly of me to do that given that I know nothing about you, even though you know everything about me since I am a...law dog?"
Seth didn't even register the faint noise that escaped him, a pitiful whimper of fear. He could almost swear he could hear the laughter on the other side of the wall, the sound of the warden's keys in the lock. He couldn't do that again. Not again. He shrank back tighter into the corner of the room, every inch of him tense, waiting for hands to seize him.
Her blue eyes remained on Seth Cannon the whole time as she talked. For talking a big game, it would seem that he no longer cared for what she had to say nor wish to deal with the situation which he found himself in. Although, as time went on, Diana's trained eyes began to notice certain things which would suggest that something was not right. His hands were shaking as he retreated to the corner to sit down in, unfocused on her and barely registering her words. Truth be told, the few times he managed to look at her, one would have thought that she was talking to him in pig latin by the look in his eyes.
"Seth, is everything okay?" she asked now, continuing to watch his rattling hands as he grasped at his jeans. Diana knew the answer, everything was not okay. The woman had hoped by asking Seth Cannon a question, it might cause him to snap back to reality. But that was not the case, as instead of answering her questions, he merely pulled up his knees and rested his head against them, the man's skin looking like a pale shade of green. He continued to zone out to a plain that she herself was not on, "Shit," she muttered, realizing now what was happening as a sound escaped Seth.
For a second, she thought she heard the door click, but Diana waved her hand, signaling to the one-way window that nobody was to come in. That was the last thing she needed, and it was certainly the last thing that Seth needed. There was a chance that she would not be getting answers today, and if she didn't, she might not get them at all. As soon as he was on the street, he may disappear again and Diana couldn't have that happen. But she also felt loathed to put him into holding, even if technically, she had enough to warrant a 24 hour hold. Carefully, she got up now and walked over to him. The woman made certain to make her movements non threatening and purposely slow.
She sank down next to him, "Seth...Seth, can you hear me? You're having a panic attack." Blue eyes simply watched him, "I want you to concentrate on the sound of my voice, and your breathing. That is all that matters right now." Gently, Diana slowly placed the palm of her hand on his arm, and simply let it rest, "Can you breathe with me? Breathe in for four seconds, hold for three, and blow out for four."
when i walk in the room i can still make the whole place shimmer
thanks aofie!
Forty Five . Detective . Hetero . Single Mother of Azura Hope Perry
