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!.
It had been a few months since that fated day at the library that Ronan Slade had passed Jaana Hagen his number in an attempt at starting a friendship. For all intensive purposes, it had worked. They texted off and on, and hung out on the occasion within a group of people, but never one on one. They always missed each other, something popping up at the last minute with school work, family, or uniquely to their individual needs. On the rare occasion that Ronan had hosted a weird hodgepodge of friends over at the cottage, his grandfather had taken a special liking to the redheaded girl. Why? The young man had no idea. Maybe it was because she was polite, or gave off a naïve, wholesome air, but Roy Shaeffer would not let up on how Ronan should ask her out on a date.
Ronan kept on dodging around the questions and demands of his grandfather as best as he could. It wasn't that Jaana wasn't nice, she was, and she could be interesting. They just didn't seem to have much in common other than being a transplant to Hickstead, and coffee he supposed since she worked at Hickstead. Besides, the young man couldn't help but to have another girl on his mind - a gothic, costume loving, horse riding girl from a stupid theater fashion class. But Ronan didn't know how to handle that situation either, being friendly with just about anyone, let alone talking to girls and asking them out on dates. Still, to get his grandfather off of his back, Ronan did just that. Although, instead of Piper Kita-Ledor, he asked Jaana Hagen out.
Which is how he found himself waiting outside of the Pier's Amusement Park. While it was normally a summer attraction, they repurosed it for winter time. Some of the more romantic rides were still available, and they had recently switched their lights display from the christmas holidays to that of Valentine's Day. Neverminded it was still January. Plus, there was hot drinks and the nightsky. Whoever said that wasn't romantic was out of their mind. Still, Ronan felt like he was getting a little jittery, and he had arrived early. This was Jaana Hagen after all, he had no reason to worry. And yet, he had this nagging in the back of his mind that this might be an awkward night. And it hadn't helped that even though he was a nobody at Hickstead University, their date news had still traveled like wildfire and he didn't exactly know how he felt about Bambi Pelner, one of Piper's on and off friends and coworkers, knowing about this date either.
All of that worry came to a halt though when he heard approaching footsteps and looked over to see Jaana, who, well actually looked beautiful. It caught him off guard, "Jaana, hey!" Ronan called out, stuffing his hands into his pockets and offering a genuinely nice smile, "You look nice."
"People ought to quit worrying so much about whispering to their horses and just start listening to them." —Greg Darnall
For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.
Uncle Bryne had given Jaana his spiel of safety and made sure she was home at a reasonable time. Most teen girls would roll their eyes, but with her past – Jaana knew not to bend the rules. While Bryne was a lovely man to most people, she knew when threatened – his old self would come out.
She dressed cute, but reasonable for the weather. While there wasn’t a lot of snow, there was still a chill in the air. Jaana considered it not too bad, but still dressed warmly – in case there was a lot of walking. The pier could mean a lot of different things.
Once she was dressed, Jaana met her uncle in his car. He gave her another spiel of proper protection, slipping her some rubbers. She didn’t think things would get that far, but at least she cared enough to give them to her.
Jaana saw Ronan standing there, looking a bit lost in thought. She wondered what he was thinking about it. Probably nerves? She was nervous, too. “You look quite handsome, Ronan,” Jaana greeted with a smile. “Thanks for asking me out,” she added. “What have you planned for us?” she asked, gently nudging him with her elbow.
Her ears picked up her Uncle’s car finally driving away. There were times she wished he wasn’t so down her neck, like a lot of the people her age – but she also wasn’t about lying and pushing things either.
Ronan could only hope that he hadn't looked too out of sorts in the young woman's eyes when she approached, he hadn't even been certain of what to expect out of Jaana and how she viewed all of this. Thankfully though, she greeted him with a warm smile and her words put him at ease: “You look quite handsome, Ronan. Thanks for asking me out.” Relief eased through the teenager, the stiff posture of his body suddenly relaxing, "Thanks. And, uh, thanks for agreeing to come out." He replied now, smiling. The hardest part was over, at least for now, and perhaps the two of them could just enjoy the night and this date. He pushed his nagging feeling aside, as well as the feeling that they were being watched, as he felt a gentle elbow in his side.
Blue grey eyes looked to her now as she asked them of their plans. Right, plans. He almost wished he hadn't been wearing a beanie so he could run his hand through his hair - nervous habit after all, but fought the urge, "I figured we could walk the pier and wander through the amusement park - do some rides, eat funnel cake, play games, people watch. No strict schedule or anything to adhere to, just fun." There would be a whole lot of 'winging it' on their parts, which Ronan felt a little bad about, but all of this was a little new and a little awkward - and truth be told, it was likely that both of them hadn't imagined doing this with each other.
But the young man wouldn't let that ruin the night for either of them, and if nothing else, this simply allowed them to get to know each other a bit more outside the drulls of school and the occasional run-in at Starbucks. Even though he kept his hands firmly in his coat pockets, Ronan was quick to offer his arm out to Jaana to hold onto as he nodded towards the colorful opening of the Pier's Park now: Neon Lights, Screams, and Laughter along with the smells of food and hot chocolate just beckoning them to join in on the fun, "Ready for an adventure?" He asked her now, "Hopefully this will be a different expirence for you. I wasn't sure if they have this sort of thing in Norway."
People ought to quit worrying so much about whispering to their horses and just start listening to them.
For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.
“Oh? Well, that still sounds fun! It’s been a moment since I have been able to walk down here. I didn’t realize there was so much here.” Jaana had only been down here, for a passing by moment. Despite her age, she never really did the lingering about kind of thing. Maybe it was because she always felt the need to be moving around and staying in one place felt a bit too captive. Either way, she was going to enjoy herself. Ronan was nice, and while awkward, she never felt like there was any kind of ill feeling.
“Lead the way!” she laughed, “Well, I will say the winters are not as bad as I’m used to. It is funny watching people bundle up in weather we think is nice.” If anything, English winter was more ice and wet than snow. However, she was sure Northern England would be different. It was nice not having to wear such thick layering. More cute options that way.
“Should we try and get all the crazy rides out before we eat? Is that something people do?”
He couldn't help but to laugh, "I think there are plenty of things to do here if you know where to look." Truth be told, Ronan himself had thought that the pier was only good in the fall and summer time, however, his grandfather had told him otherwise. It was pretty cool to see the pier amusement park lit up in the winter though, themed accordingly as well with snowflakes, polar bears, and other themed lights. Although, he saw a hint or two of Valentines Day trying to squeeze its way in despite it not being February yet. Ronan made a mental note to avoid any tunnels of love.
At Jaana appeared fine with his plans of winging it. He had never been much of a strict schedule sort of guy, unless it had to deal with stuff on his father's ranch. Although, it's not like Ronan had ever really been on a date either - even this outing with Jaana felt different than simply hanging out with her. The young man wasn't sure if his heart was entirely into the evening, but he wasn't about to let that affect his time with Jaana - she still deserved his all, even if it was just for an evening, "Oh yeah. I've heard Norway gets very cold. This must be child's play for you." Ronan defilingly was feeling the cold.
Her question made him think for a moment, before nodding, "I think that's a solid plan," he replied now, after all, he certainly wouldn't want to make an idiot out of himself, "I think there's roller coasters, tilt a whirls, bumper cars, my personal favorite of flying chairs..." he rattled off now, man, he sounded like a total dweb than his usual off put social outcast self. Blue grey eyes looked to her now, "Anything sound good?" He asked, watching her mull over stuff now. The young man stood there, a bit awkwardly, as he caught glance of a few other couples walking by and noticed they were doing something they were not. Ronan did his best to not sigh, mainly because he didn't know how else to ask this question.
"Jaana..." he said now, glancing back at her now, "Did you...did you want to hold hands?"
People ought to quit worrying so much about whispering to their horses and just start listening to them.
For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.
“Let’s do your favorite then!” Jaana didn’t know too much about these rides but they sounded fun. At least, the stuff on the TV made it look fun. She realized though, that she was lied to about a few things. The so-called real-life stuff. Especially about school and relationships.
When Ronan asked to hold her hand Jaana gave him a look. It wasn’t a judged look, but an awkward look. “I uh, what?” Maybe she didn’t hear him the first time. Her face remained a bit off until she finally understood. “Oh! Uh, we can try?” Jaana offered a hand like a handshake.
Well, Jaana certainly had solved the conundrum of rides pretty quickly when she elected to go with Ronan's favorite. He didn't mind though, despite the cold, the flying chairs were a good, easy ride to ease into the mood. Whatever the mood was. The young man still wasn't sure, and quite frankly, he wasn't sure what Jaana thought of it either, "Sounds good. They're this way." Ronan replied with a smile, nodding with his head as they began to walk in the direct of the rides, and he made sure to stick closely to the red head so the crowds didn't gobble her up.
For a moment, Ronan thought this night might actually be okay. Then he asked a stupid question, and the young man clocked the look on her face. So much for that thought. Thankfully, Jaana didn't look repelled by the idea as many girls in Australia had been. She did, however, look quite confused: “Oh! Uh, we can try?” It took everything in Ronan's power to not shy away. Thankfully, and quite comically, Jaana held her hand out - but like a handshake.
Blue grey eyes looked at the hand, and he couldn't help but to chortle, "That's a hand shake." He informed her now, reaching to grab her hand with his left hand. Gently, he squeezed it before guiding her to drop it, as they walked hand in hand under the stars and clouds, "This is holding hands." Ronan watched her now, "Is it okay or does it make you uncomfortable?"
People ought to quit worrying so much about whispering to their horses and just start listening to them.
