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!.
Lorena had been somewhat disappointed by the ease at which she'd broken in. She did love a challenge, and whilst she was aware that not every door was going to offer that kind of opportunity - blood, sweat and potential for tears - she was surprised that Camilla's security was quite so lax. Of course, she had to remind herself, this was not some underground treasure lair hidden in the depths of the Amazon (it sounded ridiculous but she'd been there before). This was a teachers office in the middle of a University in South East England. Nothing adventurous or excitable about that. Which added to the disappointment really. She hadn't seen her arch nemesis for some years now, and she almost missed her. Almost. She wasn't exactly here to see her for a quick coffee and a catch up, she'd come here for a reason - reluctantly, she would admit that, but Camilla had her own set of talents that were somewhat useful and Rena had found her pool of helpful contacts dwindling over the years. It was as if there wasn't enough money in the business or something. How about that.
She wasn't in it for the money though, and she was self aware enough to know that it was very rich of her to say that, and to not need to worry about money. She didn't actually have much of her own, she wasn't afraid to admit it. Her ways and means of life rested almost solely on Robert as her benefactor, and it was only because she was good that she didn't bleed him dry of it. She had a little money saved away, tucked into an offshore bank account, completely illegally naturally, for a rainy day or a desperate situation. It was handy to have on those occasions of threat of kidnap and ransom, when she didn't want to bother Rob. The old man did not need to have a heart attack at his age. Still, her way of life was pretty cheap and easy. She slept wherever she could find a place to put her head, often finding some comfort in being able to see the night sky above her, and she ate when she remembered to. Her lifestyle was her hobby, and she had little interest in material things. She didn't have a permenant residence, right now, being in Hickstead, she'd stuck herself in a local hotel. It wasn't likely she'd be here long anyway.
Sighing, she glanced at the clock ticking away on the wall to her left. Where the hell was Camilla? She'd checked her schedule for a reason - so she wouldn't be sat in this ridiculous chair for hours and hours, holding on to the need to pee. It was going to ruin her entrance if Mill's came in to an empty office and then Lorena bursts in from the freaking toilet shouting 'surprise bitch it's me'. She would have to hold it. Her long fingers drummed on the arm rest of the chair as she stared at the damn clock. She had to keep the back to the door otherwise it would ruin her hilarious idea to do a James Bond villain swivel, but God was this boring!
Sometimes, Camilla loved being a professor. She loved the respect, how her students tended to worship the ground she walked on, and being able to command the room like it was nobody's business. She was idolized and nobody dared to question her. And then, there were other days where it felt like her face was red from the amount of times she wanted to palm her face violently and beat her head against a desk. Maybe cry under the desk with a bottle of wine. It was two weeks to finals and she was getting some borderline stupid questions - and yes, contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as a stupid question. And stupid questions held her back from leaving the classroom despite the fact that the class had ended over fifteen fucking minutes ago.
"Does that make sense, Margot?" she asked now, after firing off an explanation on Mayan sacrifice and the significance of the architecture around it. Her student nodded, although there had been a glazed look in her eye. Seriously, Camilla worried for these freshmen exams that she was going to be grading for the first few days into winter break, "Well good, please run along. I have to get back to my office before my next class." Neverminded that her next class was tomorrow and then rest of her day would be spent looking over papers, planning out the last two weeks of the semester, and planning out what bottle of wine to crack open this evening. As soon as the classroom emptied, a loud sigh escaped her as she packed up her stuff. She had to remind herself that she loved being a professor - feeling a little wistful over ole treasure hunting days and discovering new things that hadn't been in the textbook. Sure, sometimes those adventures also had run ins with She Who Must Not Be Named but even that seemed reasonable now compared to what she just went through.
The woman made her way back to her office now, still day dreaming as she walked through the hallways and stepped around chattering students. Eventually she would offer a smile as she passed by. It wasn't long before her feet had her in front of her office, those shiny letters speaking to her: CAMILLA A. KENSINGTON. They reminded her of why she was here - how to be great and commanding, even without the treasure hunting. Pushing the door open, Camilla stepped inside and came to an abrupt stop. Someone has been in here. Her dark brown gaze fell on her office chair, facing away from her, and she could not help but to frown, "I didn't leave my chair like that..."
Lorena was just considering her options when she finally heard approaching footsteps. Her need to pee had risen somewhat by an alarming degree - to the point where the plotted plants were looking like a viable option - and she'd read every word in front of her within eye sight; who didn't love reading instructions on a bottle of spray over and over again. Honestly, she didn't see what Milla could be doing to take so long to get back to her office - say a few words, click through a few slides, they'd all been to class and they all knew the teachers weren't the one's that did all the hard work. Okay, so she was being a little basic, but she wasn't good at sitting still for long periods of time. She never had been, though she'd coped through school because she'd had something solid to focus on, something to prove, but now she wanted to be out and about, up and on her feet running from one adventure to the next. Not sitting here waiting around for enemy number one to show up.
Ah, finally! The door! She half expected Camilla to notice the door was no longer locked. A pitiful one at that too, considering it had taken Lorena a mere thirty seconds to crack the code. She'd barely finished her first round of the mission impossible theme tune she'd hummed whilst she'd worked. It didn't quite fit for Indiana Jones, not ancient Egypt enough. She all but held her breath, impatience rearing it's familiar head again as she waited for the penny to drop. Why was it taking so long? "I didn't leave my chair like that..." And that was her cue, enter center stage Lorena. She spun the chair slowly, a dramatic experience, one leg folded over the other, both forearms resting on the arms of the chair as she lounged. "Surprise bitch, did you miss me?" Okay so not her most eloquent entrance, but she felt that worked better than 'I've been expecting you' because she had, but only for the past ten minutes, and this wasn't her office. "I see Professing has dulled your intelligence somewhat. It didn't take particularly long," She commented, an eyebrow arching as she looked her old enemy over.
She didn't look much different, but then it hadn't been all that long and Lorena guessed she probably looked little different either. Rena took a long moment to look over the other woman; from her annoyingly long ass shapely legs, right up to her sharp chin and haughty expression. Nope. Nothing had changed their either. Her smirk widened, unable to help herself.
Embarrassingly, a yelp of surprised escaped her when the chair quickly spun around. Papers scattered to the floor as she dropped her folder as well, and then in all of the fast comotion came a voice. A voice that she knew well and hadn't heard in a while, "Surprise bitch, did you miss me?" Lorena Fucking Reeves. And naturally, she didn't stop there, "I see Professing has dulled your intelligence somewhat. It didn't take particularly long." Dark brown eyes narrowed, "If it wasn't undignified, I'd launch across this room and throttle you right now," she hissed, unable to hide the venom from her voice. How dare she just invade her life like that - into her office of all places as well. Camilla didn't even want to think about what her arch nemesis could have messed around with while waiting. She wouldn't put it past her. Before she could even get a good look at the other woman, she heard a voice in the hall, "Camilla! Is everything alright? I heard a scream."
The woman shot another blaming look in the direction of Lorena, before she leaned ever so slightly out of hte office to address the voice, "Don't worry about it Aiden. An annoying little 'Ren managed to get into my office. Must have left the window unlocked. I'll take care of it." And yes, that digging pun was intended. And just like that, she back in her office and slamming the door. Now alone again with the other woman, did Camilla really get a good look at her. Lorena Reeves looked the same as ever with that mischievous smirk, her unruly hair, and that glint in those bright blue eyes that suggested that she had just owned Camilla. The nerve. As they both eyed each other, the woman noticed how the other's smirk just continued to grow, which did nothing more than annoy her even more - as if that had been possible. At least she still had height on her enemy, which made it easier to just look down on her.
Straightening, she side stepped her mess and marched right on over, her Louboutin heels echoing over the floor, and Camilla felt like a prowling lioness going in for the kill. Placing the palms of her hands down angrily on her mahogany desk, she put much of her weight on them as she leaned in across the desk now and into Lorena's personal space, "What are you doing here? Don't you have some archeology site to go wreck with your bull whip and unorthodox methods?" And yes, she used her best haughty expression and leveraged some edge into her voice. Truth be told, she was surprised that her enemy was here. Dare she say she was seeking her out? Which had been a first - normally they had just been running into each other on digs or inconveniently in tombs, never on purpose and always an unfortunate surprise. However, this felt different. Like it had been cleverly planned and on purpose.
Lorena let out a burst of joyous laughter at her yelp, unable to help herself. She had always been someone who laughed first and asked if they were alright after, too busy clapping a hand to her thigh and catching her breath from the hilarity of the situation to worry about the other person's feelings. It was even funnier as the papers went flying, and she wiped at her eyes, taking a large breath to enable herself to speak, "Oh God that went even better than I expected, you really have lost your knack, Milla." She managed to get out as the laughter died down. Her being sat on a chair in an empty office would never have caught her out before. The amusement still played clear on her face as the other's eyes narrowed on her, and she waited for the icy retort - the cold to Rena's flames, as they'd always been. "If it wasn't undignified, I'd launch across this room and throttle you right now," Rena gave a quick snort of amusement and opened her arms, wiggling her fingers at her in a 'come get me' motion. "Be as undignified as you like, come get me. I dare you." Her own eyes narrowed, having far too much fun to stop now.
Well damn it if she hadn't missed their back and forth witty repartee. She knew there was no way in hell Camilla would do anything so uncouth as to leap across the desk to get at her, that was much more Rena's scene. In fact, she may have done that once or twice before, and it was with unabashed pride to admit it. "Camilla! Is everything alright? I heard a scream." Lorena opened her mouth to say something that would only make matters worse when she allowed Camilla's look to silence her. "Don't worry about it Aiden. An annoying little 'Ren managed to get into my office. Must have left the window unlocked. I'll take care of it." Lorena gave a little crap of her hands. "Oh excellent, very punny." She complemented, still having far too much fun with this whole interaction to remember that she was about to ask for the woman's help. She beamed at Camilla as the woman observed her, observing right back without shame.
Then there was a flurry of movement and Rena blinked, caught by surprise this time as her heels clicked their way over and Camilla was suddenly right in her face. She didn't blanch, meeting her gaze head on, squaring her jaw and tilting her chin up in her usual show of stubbornness - despite the issue of being shorter, Rena didn't let Camilla use it to her advantage. "What are you doing here? Don't you have some archeology site to go wreck with your bull whip and unorthodox methods?" Lorena rolled her eyes and relaxed against the supple cushion of the chair. Camilla did enjoy high luxury comfort, there was that she had going for her. "Oh I absolutely do," She agreed, and that was part of the problem. "The issue is, I need ...your help." She admitted, having to work just a little bit to get out the horrifying words.
She wasn't surprised when the other woman decided to take a great joy in the scream that escaped her, but it did nothing to improve Camilla's mood at the situation that she found herself in. Lorena really had the audacity to slap her own thigh while laughing, causing dark eyes to roll, "Why don't you stuff it Rena, it really was not that funny," she commented now, unable to hide her anger and naturally, it was causing some low level insults to escape her, "And don't call me 'Milla'." As soon as the words escaped her though, the woman it had been the wrong thing to say. Knowing the feisty blonde, she'd be calling her 'Milla' or 'Mills' for the rest of her, hopefully, short visit. In fact, Lorena clearly was still trying to egg her on, her fingers trying to pull her in, dangerously daring with her blue eyes narrowing back at Camilla. A 'hrumpf' sound escaped her as she tossed her head defiantly, still aiming her icy gaze back at her, "You wouldn't be able to handle me."
The woman did her best to ignore Lorena's commentary from the back about her pun while she tried to stave off a would be interrupter. She didn't want anyone to walk in on her with the blonde, mainly because she would have to explain who Lorena was and knowing Lorena, she would have her own colorful commentary that would just make matters embarrassingly worse. Once it was taken care of and she turned on the other woman, who still seemed to be making her herself at home at her desk, and demanded her answers. Dark brown eyes watched the blonde as some unexpected, and no doubt painful words, escape her, "Oh I absolutely do. The issue is, I need ...your help." Now that did it. Camilla arched an eye brow, staring at her before a coy and sly smile started to grow across her features. She felt like a cat that had caught itself a canary, a beautiful, blond, boisterous canary.
The distance between her and Lorena was quickly shorten, Camilla carried herself across to the desk with a new found spring in her step. She placed her palms down on the desk, leaning in to invade Lorena's space before hoisting herself onto the desk to sit there. Her long legs crossed, and for a moment, she raised her one hand, to look at her manicured nails before tilting her head, looking back down at the blonde now, "I'm sorry, Lorena," she purred now, "I don't think I heard you the first time. Do you mind repeating what you just said?"
Lorena's laugh was impossible to stifle, not with that damn look her rival gave her across the over the top desk. It was even better when she accomplished an eye roll out of the young woman. If Lorena had a drink on her she'd start playing Milla bingo. She'd already had hit about three by now which would be sure to earn her a shot at least, of the gold stuff. In fact, it begged the question of why didn't she have a drink in her hand in that moment. "Why don't you stuff it Rena, it really was not that funny," Lorena snorted and raised a brow. "Because it is that funny from where I'm sitting." punctuated by another snort of laughter. "And don't call me 'Milla'." Lorena answered that with a devilish grin of her own, not needing to tell Milla that she'd just nailed her own coffin with that one. What a perfect way to ensure Lorena called her that in every sentence from now on. A guaranteed torture.
"You wouldn't be able to handle me." Rena's eyes lit up with the challenge, a mischievous twinkle taking hold as she lifted her chin and looked the other woman up and down. "What makes you think you could handle me?" a flirtatious lilt added allure to the words. She just couldn't help herself, when Camilla set things up in that way. Some people had made comments about their banter before, querying in subtle and less subtle tones as to whether the twl had any 'history'. They did not, though Rena supposed she could see why people made the assumption. They did have a tendency to argue like an old married couple, Rena found it funny but she was pretty certain it just fucked dear old Milla right off. Rena didn't bother saving energy for those kinds of irritations, it seemed like a waste of time. People made assumptions, you had to just roll with the punches and find the funny in that kind of shit.
One thing guaranteed to get under her skin though, without shadow of a doubt, was that look right there on her rivals face. Shit eating grin, naturally. It pissed her off all the more at how attractive the woman made it bloody look. She stayed perfectly still, a habit of hers when something dangerous approached, as Milla strode closer. If only to show herself as equal predator and not prey. She refused to flinch as her space was invaded, setting her jaw instead, her blue eyes cooling somewhat. Her price had already taken a hit from those words, she didn't need any more torture from it. She was usually more of the doer, the talker, the one who couldn't sit still, even if she wasn't moving there was normally a flow of energy around her all the same, but she made no motion now, no sound. There was no point overdoing it, Milla would consider it in her own sweet time. "I'm sorry, Lorena, I don't think I heard you the first time. Do you mind repeating what you just said?" It was her turn to eye roll and she gave the woman a firm look. "You know perfectly well what I said, and what it cost me to say it just the once. That's all you're getting. Either that or you're getting old and clearly wouldn't be any use to me anyway." because an insult and rile-ing her up usually did the trick. Rena broke the spell, pushing away from the desk and standing, she began pacing in front of the desk, pausing to observe Milla's things, picking them up and rearranging them, if only to be irritating. "It benefits you told. Remember that old Persian secret you were looking into. Well I found it." She punctuated her words by spinning on the spot, pinning Milla with her gaze.
None of this exchange was remotely surprising to Camilla - the two young woman had picked right back up where they last left off, insulting each other with their preferred method and personality, yet it still perplexed her to find the voluptuous blonde in her office. And yes, she went there. As much as it pained Camilla Kensington to admit, her frienemy was awfully distracting physically as she was mentally, and perhaps, that just often pissed her off even more when Rena Reeves got under her skin. That devilish smile did nothing to reassure her that this interaction would be going her way.
If anyone had been listening into this conversation, they perhaps would have been shocked to think Camilla Kensington a tomb raider with how often she seemed to stumble right into Rena's verbal traps: "What makes you think you could handle me?" The blonde asked her now, that stupid devilish smirk still on her face along with a matching twinkle in her eye - oh, she was enjoying this far too much. Camilla merely smirked, and pointedly said, "Because I know you too well, Rena. That, and I like a challenge." And maybe, just maybe, the woman wouldn't mind making the other woman beg for mercy, but alas, that required them to not bicker for an hour - and for Lorena's sexuality to bend a little bit.
Besides, there were bigger fish to fry so to speak - even if fried fish was vastly unhealthy. She was invading Rena's space now, leaning across the desk as her chocolate brown eyes peered into Rena's piercing blue orbs. Unfortunately for Camilla though, the blonde remained infuriatingly defiant in repeating herself, and simply talked smack once more, "I may be getting old, but remember, you're the one who came to me." She pointed out now, as Rena got up now and marched around the desk. Camilla merely watched her like a cat now, turning around to lean up against her desk and frowning as Rena felt the need to touch all of her things, "Please do not touch--wait, what?" But just like Rena said, Camilla could hear perfectly well, "The Achaemenid Empire lost treasure? You can't be serious. I can't actually believe that a ruffian like you found it." Or well, maybe she could, "Why do you need my help then?"
"Because I know you too well, Rena. That, and I like a challenge." Rena raised a delighted eyebrow that dear old Milla had risen to the occasion and her expression indicated 'touche' rather than flirt back again. She hadn't really come back just for this witty-verging-on-insulting repertoire, as amusing and entertaining as it was. It would keep Rena going for a few more months at least before she required a top up shot.
Lorena stared defiantly right back into those big brown doe eyes Milla used like a weapon. "I may be getting old, but remember, you're the one who came to me." Not something she particularly liked her frenemy pointing out. It wasn't in her to be stuck up though, but humble wasn't 100% on her dance card either. "Yeah yeah technicalities." She waved it off dismissively, despite the fact that was literally the reason she was standing in this office trading barbs with Camilla. She was pretty sure she'd have dropped dead before the dark skinned beauty - because who could annoyingly deny her prowess - picked up a phone and rang Rena of all people.
"Please do not touch--wait, what?" Lorena didn't bother to repeat herself, she knew damned well Camilla had heard her, it just took a minute to penetrate the automatic firing of insults. "The Achaemenid Empire lost treasure? You can't be serious. I can't actually believe that a ruffian like you found it. Why do you need my help then?" Lorena picked up one of the little figurines on the nearest shelf and pointed it at Camilla to indicate her guess was bang on the nose. "Ding ding ding, you're a winner," She sang, before replacing the figure on the shelf - a little less gracefully than she probably should have. Now for the tricky, sort of tail between legs part that she was going to hate so much. "Believe it, sister, I found it..." She hesitated, "Or well, I've found the location. Nearly lost my head for it. A local guide actually did lose his head for it... kind of messy that... I might not be hugely welcomed back but he knew what he was getting into.." She shrugged it off, "I can't get in." She admitted. "There's some whole complicated process and I was able to get some of it open, and then I fucked it and the whole thing closed - now even the part I worked out won't do what it's meant to. I need another brain on it. There's language even I don't understand associated with it, and I'm just playing the guessing game using the nearest language to it I do know."
It should not surprise her that Rena Reeves waved off her statement and called it a mere technicality, after all, that girl was not humble at all, and yet, it still annoyed Camilla Kensington a great deal. Her dark eyes narrowed, clearly it would kill the blonde beauty to admit that she needed help. How things never changed, but now that they were older and wiser with a bigger past and history, it only drove Camilla that much more mad. If only she were horrid looking, or bisexual, than perhaps, selfishly, she could have handled this a bit better if not to just let out her frustrations. But alas, the woman know that she would be just stuck word sparing and pulling out her hair until the end of their days.
There were bigger things to suddenly fry now though, and imagining besting Rena at her games would have to come second now. It took all of Camilla's power to not have her jaw just lie there on the floor. The woman wasn't even sure how she felt about Rena possibly discovering the Achaemenid Empire lost treasure. Both envy and shock came to mind: "Ding ding ding, you're a winner." If it hadn't been for that statement, Camilla would have cringed at how that figurine had been placed back on her shelf. The woman actually found heself listening to the blonde's tale with baited breath, even just the words gave her the rush of the past, that adventure she yearned for that books and papers couldn't give her.
"Figures you would get someone to lose their head," Camilla commented, interjecting into Rena's story, but soon shushed herself again. Until the end, where the most magical words left her frienemy's mouth: "There's some whole complicated process and I was able to get some of it open, and then I fucked it and the whole thing closed - now even the part I worked out won't do what it's meant to." A sly smile spread across her lips, followed by uncontrollable laughter as Camilla flung back her head, "Oh Rena, you were never smart at the puzzles. Did you finally figure out just going into something guns ablazing doesn't solve everything?"
Oh, how she been waiting for this moment her whole fucking life since graduation. Camilla couldn't decide what was more exciting, the fact that Rena really did need her help and was indirectly asking for it, or the fact that Rena couldn't make her great big discovery without her. She leveled a look at the blonde now, cunning yet sultry, full of dangerous pride, "I'll help you on one condition - ask for my help directly. And I want a 'please' on there. No beating around the bush or Rena semantics on this one. I want you begging me."
She knew she'd surprised her nemesis, it was all over her annoyingly perfect face, and she would have made a joke about it if she wasn't trying not to choke on her own words for help. Her eyes rested on another figurine, fingers toying with it, stroking the smooth of the china like a distraction. She wasn't really concentrating, and if she wasn't careful she was going to break something expensive. For a treasure hunter she sure was a clumsy one and had a penchant for not just trouble but for accidentally dropping things.
"Figures you would get someone to lose their head," For once, Lorena let herself be needled and shot Camilla an unfriendly scowl instead of a sarcastic comment. "Shame it wasn't yours." Oh oops, there was the comment. Annoyingly, Mila probably wasn't dumb enough to lose her head, she'd have checked out every angle and possibility before even stepping into the cave, not even close to losing a hair on that pretty head, let alone the whole thing. Urgh, not the laugh. It went right through her, and Rena pulled a face, turning to face her again in a sulking manor. "Oh Rena, you were never smart at the puzzles. Did you finally figure out just going into something guns ablazing doesn't solve everything?" She shrugged, working hard not to be petulant. "It solves more than your 'look from afar' approach." Rena muttered, annoyed. "I'm surprised you've ever put a hand on any treasure, unless it was handed to you by someone who goes in guns blazing."
That look spelled trouble, Lorena could smell it, and her gaze narrowed on Camilla, crossing her arms as if she could hold back whatever insult or deal she was going to get flung at her. She steeled herself, half tempted to throw one of those silly little figures on the floor in a temper tantrum. "I'll help you on one condition - ask for my help directly. And I want a 'please' on there. No beating around the bush or Rena semantics on this one. I want you begging me." She sighed, and an eyebrow rose. "Careful, you might get more than you bargained for, talking like that." Her voice lowered, the connotations of knees and begging was too much to ignore. She rolled her eyes and took two quick steps forward and then dropped to her knees, ignoring the bite as they hit the deck with a bang. "Oh dearest, sweetest queen Camilla, will you do me the dearest honour of being my second in command and coming on a treasure quest with me? The most daring and bravest treasure hunter alive?" She couldn't do it any better than that, it wasn't in her nature and she reached for Camilla's cool hand with a wide, Bambi like expression that didn't really suit her. "Hurry up and answer, if someone walks in right now they might very much get the wrong impression. Or perhaps the right one, who knows."
