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!.
Lindsay dint quite know why his cousin needed all these massive dogs. He loved them, there was no denying it – but my god. Aofie wasn’t exactly built like Linds, if anything, she was about half his size in height and weight, but she managed to deal with her three Irish wolfhound mixes. Lindsay could deal with them, too, but it was if children knew when mom or dad wasn’t around. Their behavior tended to change from well-behaved to slightly below that.
But here he was, stuck with Finn, Jensen, and Tilly. Three massive fiends bounced down the pebbles of the beach. Aofie was working late today and needed him to take her three dogs out. Of course, Dublin couldn’t do it either because he also had work. Maybe Lindsay needed to work Sunday, too – but out of his current family, he wasn’t available on the weekends.
The afternoon weather was bright, but the sun wasn’t too harsh. It wasn’t like Texas, where stepping out – all the moisture on him left. He had already built a decent sweat though, chasing these giant furballs through the woods and then into the edge of the beach.
Waves crashed, revealing glittering pebbles and sand. Lindsay felt like he needed to be riding a horse or something, like Fabio. Is that what women liked? Or was it the Harry Styles type now? He truly was lost in thought, only realizing he had lost control when he found himself damp. Screw that, soaking. And three dogs splashing around him. He had no idea what had happened. But it wasn’t the dogs that were prancing around him that made Lindsay embarrassed, it was the fact that he was looking up at the face of someone that was equally stunned at his presence.
“Uhhh...I promise my name isn’t Eric,” he said, not really comprehending what left his mouth. Lindsay really should’ve just sat up and run off, but the water felt good after his run. But his brain was finally wired to the right place, and he sat up. It was a good thing that he didn’t have his phone on him or his full wallet. “Lie to me and tell me I fell gracefully, and not over the air,” he laughed, pushing some wet hair off his forehead.
It was just one of those days that felt just right. The sun wasn't too bright, the warmth was mild, and the light breeze kept things fresh. It was just the sort of thing she needed after another day of job hunting - and it let her take the dogs out for a much needed patrol walk in a new space. So they went down to the beach and began walking along, Rodney taking up the lead whilst Sparks merely meandered at her side.
She was vaguely aware of the sound of other dogs but didn't pay it much mind - she knew her dogs, they wouldn't start something and she hand control over them. She looked over, spotting the man and the dogs around him, smiling slightly to herself. It was always nice to see people out and about with their animals - but the peace was disrupted by a loud splash. Looking back again, the man was now in the water and her natural inclination to help took hold. Without much thought, she hurried her own dogs over to the fallen man.
“Uhhh...I promise my name isn’t Eric."
Whilst he sat himself up, Ursula couldn't help a soft giggle as she covered her mouth to try and hide the action. In another time, something like that would've set off some kind of alarm bell that meant a bully was getting ready to start on some tirade about her name, but this she could let go. He was a stranger to her.
“Lie to me and tell me I fell gracefully, and not over the air,” he laughed, pushing some wet hair off his forehead.
Politely and quietly she dipped her head down and laughed softly, "I can safely say I didn't actually see you fall, so I would have a guess that it was graceful and not a stumble. Are you ok though? Didn't hit your head on anything?"
Perhaps it was an over pry on her part, but her care still extended to this man and despite her desire to want to continue on her walk, she offered her hand out to him.
Lindsay waved a hand. “No, I’m fine. I’ve hit my head before, and nothing similar. Though, I have a feeling I have some sand burn...but I guess I could lie about that, too. Fought a sea bear, maybe?” He refused her hand and stood up, the dogs taking that a sign to go sniff the other dogs, before prancing about. At least they showed that they cared briefly, making sure he was still breathing. Some animals couldn’t give a living fuck. Aofie at least trained her dogs well. She needed to, with all the weird men that seemed to be coming into her life.
“Name’s Lindsay Walsh. Yes, yes go on...” he laughed, knowing full well what comments often followed. “I promise you; it is indeed a unisex name. And what is yours?” Lindsay asked, wringing out his hair. He pried some more of his wet strands away from his neck, before wrapping everything back into an even messier bun.
“No, I’m fine. I’ve hit my head before, and nothing similar. Though, I have a feeling I have some sand burn...but I guess I could lie about that, too. Fought a sea bear, maybe?”
Ursula watched him stand, dropping her hand back down - does my hand offend you? Why is that?"Perhaps so, though I'm not all that creative."
She smiled politely, eyes dipping down to double check her dogs who were sat either side of her barely giving the other dogs much attention, their dark brown eyes staring at her, awaiting her orders.
“Name’s Lindsay Walsh. Yes, yes go on...” he laughed, knowing full well what comments often followed. “I promise you; it is indeed a unisex name. And what is yours?”
Her brow furrowed a bit, not getting the joke, "I-"
She stopped, trying to work out what to say without sounding like a cow but all she could think was to ask if he thought her stupid for not knowing that his name was a unisex one? Would that be too out of line?
"I'm aware of that," she said politely, not meeting his eyes, "My name is.. Ursula Gascoigne. By all means laugh, most people do."
Perhaps that was a little too much, but she was so tired of the jokes and the comments people made about her name routinely that she felt the need to beat the man to the punchline.
“I mean, did you steal their voices when they did?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow. If Aofie taught him anything, that the Disney cartoon movies were quite great. The Little Mermaid being one of his favorites. “I would’ve…make them squirm a bit. But I think it’s a nice name,” Lindasy offered, with a truthful smile.
Finding that he wasn’t enjoying his feet getting wet further, he stepped onto the sand and slipped off his sneakers. Yikes was that a bad idea – but might as well enjoy the sand and salt. “You have some beautiful dogs there. What are their names?” Lindsay inquired, hoping that the question would lessen some of the awkwardness. His cousin’s dogs were off doing their own thing anyway, ignoring the 101 Dalmations knock-off greeting.
“I mean, did you steal their voices when they did?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow. “I would’ve…make them squirm a bit. But I think it’s a nice name,” Lindasy offered, with a truthful smile.
"If only," she replied levelly before tilting her head slightly to the side, considering his response, "Thank you - you're one of few I've met to say that."
And that was the honest truth too, there had been far too many times in her life where people just scoffed or believed it to be a tragic name.
“You have some beautiful dogs there. What are their names?” Lindsay inquired, hoping that the question would lessen some of the awkwardness.
At that, Ursula's eyes drifted down to the two seated and otherwise quiet Dobermans by her side, a tiny hint of a smile now tugging at her lips. They were such good boys.
"Their names are Rodney and Sparks," she replied, "Former working dogs for the Police. Rodney retired a few years back, and Sparks was forced to retire early after severe injury on the job."
“Pleasure to meet you both,” he greeted the dogs. Almost as if they could respond to him. But so far, they hadn’t shown any signs of attacking him, but Lindsay knew better than to push. “This lot are my cousin’s. I don’t know how she keeps them in check, but I guess I need to add more to their run today to get them more tuckered out.”
His clothes were still damp, and he wasn’t exactly prepped for a runback. Even though his clothes were quickdry, the wet chafing wasn’t ideal for anyone. “Do Rodney and Sparks like fetch?” He knew Aofie’s did and it would allow him to recover a bit from his fall. Also to let him stand and get some sunshine. Lindsay wasn’t in a rush.
