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!.
"I can't believe I dragged you to that movie. It was terrible," Gwyn commented now to her friend, Christopher White, as they climbed into her sports car, "I don't think I should be left in charge of that next time." Apparently not all romantic dramas were made equally, and this one felt more like it dragged on for hours than the 90 minutes, and that was saying something. Romance movies usually moved along so quickly. Perhaps next time, she should just settle for an action movie - those could be fool proof, right? Yes, they could, or so that was what the young woman reassured herself of as she closed her door and turned on her sports car.
The engine ignited with a powerful roar before settling into a purr, "Thankfully, I at least know how to pick the food. To Dino's we go!" And with that, she hit the gas, allowing the young man to pick the tunes as they drove through Hickstead to get to the main bride to take them into the appropriately titled Willow Bridge City. Gwyn always thought it was nice to get out of the small town every once in a while for a place that was just, well, a little bit bigger. As she approached the location where Dino's was settled, blue eyes kept peeled for a parking spot, before spotting one and taking a claim.
She parked the car now, killing the engine and glanced over at her friend now, "Ready to have your socks knocked off with some of the most delicious food in town?" They had hung out a few times since first meeting in November at the barn and it became clear to Gwyn that they were fully compatible when it came to being friends - even if he could be a little silly at times. The one annoying thing though was that hanging out in Hickstead, she'd get these looks from envious girls and it would drive her insane, its not as if she had been stopping them from coming up to flirt with the Chris White. Thankfully though, with Willow Bridge being bigger, she hoped that wouldn't be an issue here, "I'm hoping youre starving, because I am thinking three course meal. I think it's restaurant week." And with that, she hopped out.
Chris felt odd being dragged out to a movie and dinner. It was more something he associated with a date - though Gwyn wasn't someone he was interested in romantically. Being the person that he was, he allowed her to pick the movie. He should have know better as they ended up watching a romantic comedy. "It was quite funny though if you think about it. Hollywood has always thought that's the way romance goes." He shrugged his shoulders as he got into her sports car. Chris had offered to drive, though he lost the battle. "What was your least favorite part?" The red head buckled his seatbelt as Gwyn drove off.
The man laughed, hoping secretly that the food at Dino's would be better than the movie they had seen. "I have to admit, I haven't been to Dino's yet. Please tell me it's good, I'm starving." Chris worked all day at the barn and barely had time for lunch. The horses at Seven Oaks caused chaos - the cooler weather getting the best of them. As he watched the scenery of Hickstead turn into Willow Bridge, he noticed the similarities - though it seemed to be a bit more industrial looking. The car pulled into the parking lot and Chris unbuckled his seatbelt once the car was safely in park. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan. What is restaurant week anyway? Are you saying there will be a lot of people?" He opened the car door, closing it softly behind him and started heading towards the front door of Dino's.
Gwyn actually shot her friend a morbid look, uncertain if the two of them actually sat through the same movie together. Granted, over the past few months of getting to know Chris White, it was probably just his laid back and down to earth attitude that was convincing him that the movie hadn't been that bad. When he asked the young woman her least favorite part, she simply replied, "The whole thing was my least favorite part. The only thing that movie had going for it was the chemistry of the lead couple, but chemistry cannot save cheesy dialog. Please do not tell me that you try to pick up a girl when she's crying to you at the bar." Although, if Chris said yes, Gwyn would promptly tell him that she would be attending his next shift to see that work in action.
They drove along, and blue eyes could not help but to notice how the colors of the leaves and scenery had been changing - there was no doubt in her mind that with the colder weather now upon them that hot mess girls at R&R were not Chris's only problem, "So, what's worse? The drunk college kids or the springy horses enjoying the weather shift?" It was a valid question. Gwyn absolutely hated helping out Orion during this time of year simply because of how the horses behaved and its not like she could call out sick simply because she didn't want to deal with the ones who acted like they were hopped off on coffee.
When he informed her that he had yet to eat at Dinos, the young woman was floored, "What?!" He was lucky she hadn't just slammed on the breaks in shock, but she did make sure to shoot him a look with her blue eyes, "How can you not have eaten there before? You've been here for like...months." Perhaps Chris White, despite his impeccable looks for a man, did not get out as often as she thought. God, it was like she was saving him from himself. They parked, and she got out, "Well, I am about to blow your mind then. Or well, Dinos is. But I am part of blowing your mind since I brought you here." She locked her car and started to walk, glancing over her shoulder to make sure he was keeping up with her as she waltzed through the door, "Restaurant week is like, a fixed menu where you get a 4 course meal for 50 £ but you can still choose what you get. Its a great value and you still amazing food so...I hope you're hungry." Although, he was a guy, so he always had to be hungry, right?
"Table for two. The reservation is under Gwyn Knight." She said to the hostess now, who looked over everything before beckoning for them to follow her. It didn't look too crowded yet, "Looks like Willow Bridge doesnt have a lot of early dinner eaters."
Chris was surprised to hear that his friend disliked the movie. Romantic comedies weren’t really his thing, but this particular one was a bit better than the ones he had seen previously. “Oh come on, it wasn’t really that bad. Alright, there wasn’t really a plot but there never is in those kinds of movies.” Chris usually ended up getting dragged to a rom-com by one of his previous girlfriends - they all seemed to have the same base storyline. “That is my secret. Only my coworkers know the truth.” His eyes gleamed at the joke. It wasn’t something he found appropriate to do - leaving the flirting for when he was off the clock. “You haven’t flirted at work, have you?”
As Gwyn drove around, he couldn’t help but be a bit sad. Summer was his favorite season and now it was slowly coming to an end. Even Duchess was starting to get more antsy with the changing of the weather. “Oh, definitely the college girls. Trying to tell them that they are cut off is honestly the worst. Just ask Harper, she’ll agree with me.” He was surprised that the two women knew each other, though there weren’t many people who didn’t if they came into R&R. “Are other animals at the vet clinic going a bit crazy too? Not just the horses?” He could imagine it leached over into all species - even the younger humans.
“I really haven’t gone out much. The only places I’ve been is Starbucks, Parker’s and the Pizza place. I’ve been working or riding.” His family members also wanted to see him and hang out - not just while the ones that rode were at the barn while he was working. Chris also wanted to get better at cooking at home now that he had given himself time to move in and get settled. “I am prepared to be amazed. That does sound like a good deal. How often do they do this week?” If it was worth it, he would have to come back - even if it was just for getting takeout for him to take as a meal for work. “Actually, I’m starving. What about you?” He had worked the late shift at the Lounge the night before, meaning he really only had toast and coffee for breakfast.
Chris followed Gwyn into the restaurant after she had locked her car. From the sight of the parking lot, he could tell that it would be quiet - though maybe it was still early in the day. “Maybe? I do tend to just eat when I can unless it’s my day off. How have you been since we saw each other last?” Chris pulled out Gwyn’s chair before he sat down on the chair across from her.
An unlady like snort of laughter escaped Gwyn at her friend's joke. She supposed she wasn't surprise that Chris wanted to leave some of his life shrouded in mystery. He was probably the best of both worlds for someone, a hot mystery man who still knew how to have fun rather than be downright Edward Cullen about everything. The man's prompt about her own flirting at work caused Gwyn to make a face, knowing fully well he was making a point to her, "At work? Ew. No. It's not like the vet's office is sexy. And I don't flirt at the barn, because, well, no offense, but I find horse people to be a lot of work." One equestrian girl had been one too many for her - not that anything was wrong with them per say, but the young woman quickly learned they were not her type. Kudos to any non-equestrian who could keep up with them.
Out of the corner of her blue eyes, she could have sworn that Chris almost looked sad as he watched the scenery go by. It was tempting to ask if he was one of those people who got depressed when things started to change color and die off, but figured that might be too morbid for a friend hang out that borderline looked like a date to others. Not like it was her fault that she was unimaginative when it came to guy friends, and she hadn't really been feeling sitting on a horse. Her last excursion with Chris, while on a gentle horse, had left her unable to walk for two days afterwards it felt like, "Noted." The young woman said with a grin when Harper was brought up, "And yeah. All animals have been driving me nuts lately. Its like they can feel something in the air."
She supposed it wasn't surprising to hear that Chris was married to both his places of work and his horse. Willow Bridge probably seemed ions away when someone was always spending their time in Hickstead. While Gwyn loved living here, she was certainly a London girl at heart, and sometimes the larger city across the river helped fill that hole, "They do it only twice a year, so this today is specials," the young woman said with a grin, "Be prepared to have your socks knocked off your feet." With that, they were inside, and Chris was helping her out into her chair. Something that Gwyn had been tempted to protest, but decided against it, Dino's was too nice to be calling out her friend on being a bonafide gentleman to her, "I'm always hungry for good food." She said now, her blue eyes scanning over the fixed menu in front of her. Five appetizers to pick from, three entrées, and two desserts. Plus wine to compliment? She was in heaven.
As for herself, Gwyn merely shrugged, "Same old me. Just work split between the clinic and helping out my uncle. I also feel like I'm dancing around with this university girl, trying to figure out if we're official or not." The young woman hoped they were official, she certainly got jealous enough when she saw Harley talking with other people who were not yours truly, but Gwyn also didn't want to come off as needy or jealous or anything else by wanting something official. Or maybe it was fine she wanted to be official. Honestly, it was hard sometimes to figure out what someone wanted when Gwyn herself knew so much about what she wanted, "What about you?"
Chris chuckled with his friend, glad that she found his joke quite hilarious. What was funnier was Gwyn’s not very lady-like laugh - it wasn’t something he had heard come out of her mouth before, granted they hadn’t known each other for very long yet. “Hm, part of me doesn’t believe you. Some people like the scrubs. I think it’s the whole sexy nurse thing.” Chris shrugged his shoulders - no one had flirted with him at either of his jobs. He had been a bartender long enough to know the difference between flirting and being drunk. “I won’t disagree with you on that one. Horses take a lot of work, which doesn’t exactly leave time for a romance.” Somehow they all seemed to find someone interested in them - some of them being people who didn’t ride horses. It seemed to work out though from the stories he had heard.
He didn’t like the fact that Summer was coming to an end, though like every season it was inevitable and had to happen. “Though there aren’t many Uni kids left. Some must have gone home for the Summer and for that, I am forever grateful.” They were the rowdy bunch that got mad at him if he had to cut them off of alcohol - that was all part of his job after all. “Does it seem to be similar ailments or is it all different?” He wasn’t someone who believed in coincidences but animals tended to be more prone to illness with the changing of seasons. Willow Bridge wasn’t somewhere he spent his time - Hickstead was more his style. Chris was always up for a new adventure though, and the man never said no to food. “So you’ve dragged me out on a special occasion then. Does this solidify our friendship then?” Chris laughed - if he had known this he would have dressed up a bit more than what he was wearing currently. “Does that mean I’ll have to wear my sneakers barefoot then?" That might not be the best idea and it would make him look foolish.
The red head made himself comfortable in the chair across from Gwyn, slightly surprised that she didn’t protest his gentlemanly gesture. It probably made them look like a couple to the outside, but he knew they’d always stay friends. “Me too, don’t tell me we will order everything on the menu and share?” He didn’t know quite how this worked - other than choosing things off the menu of course. “So, you are working too hard then? Tell me about this University girl, I think you only mentioned her briefly last time.” He knew she was interested in her - though the feelings needed to be mutual if something was to happen there.
“Me? Ah same. I took Duchess in a local competition recently and getting settled into lessons. The Lounge has been a bit chaotic. Everyone wants to have their summer drinks to keep cool.” He didn’t really have anything else going on, which seemed quite boring. The waiter came and placed two menus on the table after greeting them - explaining how the restaurant week worked.
"If anybody says scrubs are sexy, they got hit in the head with a brick, sexy nurse fettish or not," Gwyn replied, certain that it should have gone without saying. But maybe she was a werido, who knew. As Chris mentioned that horses were a lot of work, she found her head cocking to the side dramatically, her one eyebrow arching to add yet more dramatic flair, "Why, Chris White, are you suggesting that Duchess is the sole reason that you are single?" The young woman shook her head now, letting a 'tsk tesk' escape her lips as shook her head now, jokingly adding on in a solemn tone, "Blaming the defenseless horse...that is a low blow."
Poor Chris, he probably hadn't deserved it. But Gwyn Knight was feeling sassy all of the sudden. Probably from having to remain quiet during that god awful movie. Her commentary had not gone unnoticed by another pair who had actually had the audacity to shush her at one point, to which her friend here laughed. Speaking of laughter, a burst of it escaped the blonde as Chris noted he was thankful for summer, "Ah. Work more low key without those rascally drunk teenagers and twenty somethings?" She wasn't surprised. Gwyn frequented the R&R enough to know that while the UK and other European kids could hold themselves together, there were enough Americans around at that University who didn't handle their beverage of choice as well, "I don't think dogs and cats are affected as much as horses by the weather, but they do have allergies as well it seems."
At the mention of their friendship, Gwyn queued her best leo dicaprio great gatsby impression, "Why yes, I think we are officially friends." And then she rolled her blue eyes, "You're far too young to be making dad jokes like that." The young woman supposed it could be construed as fancy, but Gwyn couldn't help it if she were a woman of high tastes, "And don't like the atmoshphere fool you. You are not my type. I just like to eat nice." Plus she hadn't been up for a ride and there was no doubt in her mind Chris needed a break from both the club and the stables, "Hmm? Oh! Harley. Yes. She's quite shy and a stakeboarder, sorta different, but I think that's part of the allure. We literally, ran into each other, after I had been catfished."
A waiter appeared with the menus - explaining the situation. Three course meal - pick appietizer, main dish, and then a dessert. All up front. Drinks were seperated. Gwyn nodded, shooing the waiter away as she picked it up now to peer over, "Ah! Well glad you are finally settling in along with her. Did you do well at the horse show? I should have known one was coming up. Orion was getting a lot of calls all of the sudden."
