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!.
A year had passed already for Jon and Lana. She hadn't dated in forever so a year felt like a long time. She was enjoying herself though. Heck, they had already spent time in Italy already so it meant things were going well, right? They were kind of still in the honeymoon phase, but they were both too old for the drama. At least, she was.
Lana had told Jon she'd meet him in front to the clothing shop. The craft fair had begun and while she always participated, she didn't tend to the shop this weekend. While it wasn't the most romantic date to walk around and look at art - it was them. The art museum was their first date after all.
She pulled up in the back where Jon's apartment entrance was. Lana sent him a quick text that she was here, and was staying in her car to avoid the afternoon chill. It had been a minute since she was this bundled, so she was happily looking forward to Jon taking it off of her.
Jonathan couldn't believe that he had been dating Alana already for a year. It had seemed to fly by, especially their first trip together to Italy. He felt comfortable around her very quickly after he had told her his past career. It was something he was terrified about telling someone, scared to know what someone he had feelings for him thought about it.
He had left the clothing store in the hands of one of his employee's for the afternoon. After he got dressed, deciding to dress up for the occasion, he got a text message from Alana - notifying him that she was at the back of the store.
It didn't take him long to bundle up, adding a scarf and a wool jacket. After he pulled on his black dress shoes, grabbed the bouquet of flowers and the little gift bag that was on by the back door and left. He waved at Alana and locked the back door behind him. It wasn't long before he got himself in the car and sat down. "Happy anniversary, my love." He smiled, placing the flowers and the gift bag on his lap. "I hope you weren't waiting long. I do have two gifts for you though."
“Happy Anniversary darling,” she smiled. He was looking quite dashing as always. Alana let him settle in before she leaned over and gave him a kiss. She looked at the parcels in his lap, and she was curious now. Alana had gotten Jon a new side table for his bedroom. Well, more of a set. They had often had to share one when she stayed over. Alana had taken note of the brand, color, and style the last time she was over.
“No, of course not! If you had me wait, I would’ve been already inside,” Alana laughed. They were both good about communicating time issues. Something that was much needed for their busy lifestyles.
She put her car in reverse and headed towards her studio. It was a bit closer to the walk than Jon’s shop, and she also had great parking. “Are you excited to see some new artwork?” she asked, as they were stopped at a red light.
"I really can't believe it's been a year already, I feel like it's flown by...in a good way." He glanced at Alana who looked stunning as always. Jonathan gently kept a hand on the flower bouquet, not wanting to squish the flowers and also not wanting to have them fall on the floor of the car.
Jonathan smiled, glad that communication was something they were good at. "Perfect, I should really think about giving you a key here soon. I had to go back and get your second gift." He was excited to see Alana's face when she opened the two presents he got for her.
"Of course! Thanks to you I'm starting to get more and more into art. Do you know any of the artists that will be there? Are some of them local?" He didn't want to be an art expert, but at least know a bit of the terminology so that he could chat with Alana about it when they went to the gallery as a date.
“Oh, are we key status now? I should probably get you one for my place too!” she laughed. They were adults now, and a year probably felt like forever. A year when she was a teen probably equaled a day or something. It was interesting to see how time had changed between teens and adults. Maybe it was because Alana was more careful about how she spent her time. She allowed the fun, of course, but being stuck with someone that didn’t fit her – that was cut short now. There was no wondering if it would work out. She was too older for that now.
“Look at you! You should be proud of me too, I listened to a full hockey game. Can I tell you the teams and scores? Absolutely not, but listening counts, I hope?” She didn’t understand it. She probably wouldn’t understand it, same with Jon not understanding her work. But it was mutual respect for each other. Alana would happily hear Jon yell at the TV, as happily as he would probably struggle through another gallery.
“The people showing at my shop, are all people I know! They run their own studio space in there too, so it’s a mish-mash of everyone. A few of the artists on the walk I know, and some I don’t. Most are local to the city – but I think there are a few people from the town of Hickstead as well. A lot more people this year which is super exciting.” Alana turned left, and two rights before finding the parking lot of her gallery. After a slew of cars, she made the left-hand turn and found her designated spot.
She parked and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Shall we make a game plan of what we want to do? Or just say fuck it, and get lost in the crowd?” Alana smiled, placing a hand on his.
"I mean, you practically spend the weekends with me anyway." It did seem a bit early, but wasn't like there were any timelines. Relationships varied in how they were depending on the pair and what they were comfortable with. "Don't ask me to repeat any the full biographies of the artists but it was van Gogh. He had an interesting life I hear." Cutting off your ear wasn't something everyone did. It made him cringe at the thought. "Really? You did? Did you understand any of the rules?"
He glanced out of the window as they drove along towards the Art Walk. 'So we should set aside some time to mingle at the studio then? It's nice to hear there are a mix of people though, I'm excited to see what they have." During the past year, he had learned more and more about Art - trying to understand something she enjoyed. "Whose exhibit are you most excited to see?"
As they pulled into the parking spot, Jon carefully moved both of the gifts onto the dash and unbuckled his seat belt. "Well you could open your gifts first? Then we can lock them in the car and no one has to carry them around." He suggested, turning to face her. It would make things easier though he didn't mind either way. "Maybe we could grab something to drink first and then get lost in the crowds?"
“Let’s make the studio the last stop then, so we won’t feel rushed and all that,” Alana suggested, knowing full well she would get too involved. “Yes, let’s open gifts. Yours is currently in the back,” she smiled. They were still in the box, but still too large to have sat in Jon’s lap for a comfortable ride.
“Coffee always sounds like a good idea! We can make some in the studio and then leave through the back way so we won’t get all caught up!” Alana opened her door before clicking the button to open her trunk. “Here, open your gift first, since it’s a bit…cumbersome...” Hands shimmied the well-wrapped box to the edge of her trunk. It was wrapped in a thrifted tablecloth that Alana washed and pressed. It would be returned to the wrapping box if Jon didn’t want to keep it.
"Sounds like a plan, that way we can both concentrate on the Art collections." It was something he never knew he was really interested in until he met Alana. He didn't know anything about the artists or any of the pieces - though he was learning what he liked and didn't like. "Please, open yours first. Ladies do go first after all."
Jonathan nodded and got out of the car, gently closing the door behind him. "I didn't have the best sleep last night, and you know me I also never say no to coffee. Does the fancy machine work again?" It was something he wanted to have in his store - his staff worked hard and deserved something similar. He stopped at the trunk, smiling as Alana opened it. "If you are sure." He placed the gift bag and the flowers gently in the trunk, smiling brighter when he saw the tablecloth. "Sneaking about the back makes it sound like we need to hide from someone?"
"Wow, are you always so fancy with your wrapping? I feel lame with my gift bag." He began unwrapping the gift, wondering what was under the cloth.
“Nah, nothing secret..unless you want to get a good grip on the cake.” Alana knew that wouldn’t happen. They both were very non-handsy PDAs. At least in the sense of a make-out session or grabby hands. They held hands and gave each other short kisses – but that was the extent of public knowledge. In privacy, it was free for all.
“Yes! It’s been fixed and it’s been wonderful. But for the art walk people get the kettle coffee,” her eyes watched intently as Jon opened his gift. She really hoped he liked them. When the tablecloth was gone, it revealed a box of matching tables.
“Ta-dah! I hope you like them,” she smiled. They looked like the décor of his bedroom, modern – but still simple enough.
Jonathan raised his eyebrow. Holding the cake sounded like some secret term, unless there was actually cake to be eaten. "Uh, there is cake? I mean now that I'm not a pro athlete I guess I can eat what I want." It was something he truly missed eating during his pro hockey days.
"I really don't mind drinking kettle coffee. No need for me to have the special treatment." He thought it would also look bad if the owner and her boyfriend got the fancier coffees. Jonathan began unwrapping the gift, trying to guess what Alana got him from the shape. Once the tables were revealed, he smiled. "Why thank you. Those are really cool! Is it because you don't have a table on your side of the bed yet?" They were something that would fit nicely in his apartment. He turned and gave her a hug, placing a kiss on her cheek. "I'm going to guess that someone local made these?" He was getting better and better supporting local businesses - as he was an owner of one himself.
Jon thanked her as he picked up the first larger package wrapped in brown paper. He knew it would be obvious what it would be from the shape. "I think you'll know what this is."
“That, and you were stressing about making sure you found me one that matched,” she smiled, kissing his cheek back. “If they don’t end up fitting, we can exchange them.” But Alana had done a lot of measurements and did her research. Granted, in the end – it would be Jon’s final say, but he thankfully loved them.
“They were built by someone in the city! I can’t remember the name, unfortunately – but I’m sure I have the name at home.” Alana, unfortunately, wasn’t someone that knew her furniture history, or design too much. She just knew she liked a certain kind. Despite being an art teacher, she did tend to prefer non-painted furniture – unless it was more of a modern piece. Or if there was no saving the originality of the piece.
She looked at the package that she was handed. “Oh!” Alana gingerly grabbed the package, and jokingly held it up to her ear to shake it. But she didn’t. By the shape, it felt like a jewelry box or something like that. But Alana opened up the paper, carefully, so she could reuse it. It revealed a teal box with gold font on it. “Oh, you went somewhere fancy, didn’t you?” she asked twinkling with excitement.
Jon laughed at her comment. He often blamed his type A personality to finding things that matched. Some people considered it over the top because it was just furniture, but the man tried to take pride in his apartment behind the clothing store. “Well, yeah. I feel like I’m living in Hickstead for the long haul so I figure its time to make it feel like home.” Jon shrugged his shoulders - sure that there were others that felt the same way. “As an artist, isn’t it weird when things don’t match or at least fit? I think they will. I can always get help to move the bed over a bit if they don’t.”
The man nodded, he knew Alana would try to have things that were locally made if she could. “Oh no, I was just curious. I heard from a few customers about a furniture maker in town.” Jon had basically sold all of his furniture with his apartment in Chicago and had to start fresh - so furniture wasn’t really something he needed to look into now. “Is it that new place on Main Street?” Jon continued glancing at the tables while Alana was unwrapping her gift.
He watched as she shook the box, feeling a slight blush come to his cheeks. It was something he had a long discussion with Gideon about and now was the true test. “Not super fancy, not like Tiffany’s or anything.” The thought of engagement this early was scaring him. Inside the box were an earring and bracelet set, which he hoped Alana would enjoy.
