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 already been a loooong day for Bri, and God only knew that it was only going to get longer. Mel had hit the teenage years with full force and was really living up to the reputation, having thrown a completely uncharacteristic tantrum over her punishment for being late home the night before. Bri wasn't stupid or naive, and she remembered well her own teenage years - or just about at least - and so, rather than lock her daughter up until she was 18 - which scarily wasn't long away now, just a few months - she let her out to play with strict rules in place. One of them, was a curfew. She as going to go out with her friends, and lose track of time, and perhaps have a cheeky drink, Bri knew that, but she still expected her to be home at a reasonable time. School was a priority, as was getting a proper night's sleep and having boundaries. So when Mel had come home almost an hour late, Bri had not been best pleased. Removing her phone from her for the day may have seemed unnecessary, but at least her daughter might take her threats seriously.
Whilst she was sulking, having refused the dinner Bri had cooked for her, Bri was working hard at the bar. One of her staff had called in sick and though it was meant to be her day off, she'd come in to take the brunt of it and help the others. She didn't have a day off very often, she didn't feel she could afford to, but when she did it was usually to spend time with her daughter. Perhaps it was better today they had space from each other given that Mel was hardly speaking to her - only enough to ask if she could have her phone back yet if Bri wasn't going to be in. Bri had refused, inciting more tantrum and feet stomping from Mel.
The bar was already booming when she got down, and only continued to expand into absolutely heaving. She spent hours pouring pint after pint, laughing with the patrons - most of whom were regulars that she knew quite well - and having the odd shimmy to a particularly good Juke box tune someone had picked. Regardless of how many times she'd heard the song this week alone. The hours rolled on and things finally began to slow, enough so she could wipe her brow and lean against the bar for a moment's reprieve. "Well damn, at least we'll be able to pay the electric bill this month," She jested with a co-worker.
Tre had been watching the clock hands go by, ticking down to 18:30 and his freedom from the base. It had been one of those days where the man had been convinced that four hours had gone by when really it had just been two minutes. People really hadn't been lying to him about how they sent him to an early grave stationing him out in Croughton with a heck of a commute back to Hickstead. But commuting was better than sitting, and as soon as both hands of the clock rested on 6, he was up and punching out of base. Cool chilly air hit him as he left the warmth of the building, but that didn't bother Tre at all when he could taste freedom. Bundling up in his bomber jacket, he lifted his helmet from his motorcycle and placed it over his head before igniting the engine and getting the hell out of dodge.
The drive back to Hickstead was peaceful, zig zagging along the quiet roads as moonlight lit the backdrop of the English countryside and the occasional glimpses of the sea. While the cottage core quiet living would never be his thing - in this moment - Tre could understand why people craved such a life. Time passed before he saw the sign for Hickstead, informing him that it was 6 kilometers away, but that Willow Bridge was a mere 4. His hands flicked the handles of the motorcycle now, sending power to the engine so he could stop in either city soon for not only was he hungry, Tre was convinced he needed a drink. He didn't make it very far though, deciding that Willowbridge would be his destination for the night - at least for that beer. Parking his motorcycle, Tre headed out downtown to figure out just where to get that beer.
An illuminated sign caught his green eyes now, causing the man to stop and stare, "Ivy's Poison," he mused out loud. The name hit a note, long locked away in his memory bank, but Tre shook it off before any feelings or sentiments could snare him. God. He really did need that drink. With that in mind, he pushed the door in and walked right in. The interior was quite lively with cliental and music. Tre carefully weaved his way through the thinning crowds before he ended up at the bar now, just hearing the last of a bar tender's comment on the electricity bill. While his green eyes had been on the taps, Tre couldn't help but to feel as if he knew that voice well, and yet, he still pushed it aside, "Well, that's great about your electricity bill, but more importantly," Tre started now, "What do you have on-" and then his green eyes fell on the speaker, leaving him pratically speechless for the first time in thirty four years, "Bri?"
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
"Well, that's great about your electricity bill, but more importantly," The voice didn't register at first. It had been a good many years since she'd heard it, and they had both aged since then - her ears weren't always quite what they used to be, and his voice had changed ever so slightly; a rougher, lower tone to the smooth. Something in her brain picked up, a little straightening of her spine before she even realised she'd done it. She was already turning when he started to ask what was on tap, and then he abruptly stopped. "What do you have on-" It stil didn't quite register, it had been so many years, but she frowned slightly, aware that she knew whoever it was she was about to see, already trying to put a face and a name to the voice.
It clicked just as he said her name, her eyes landing on his as surprise flooded through her. Never in a million and one years could she imagine Atreus of all people appearing at her bar. The chances were up there, it was possible, but not exactly probable.. right? Or was she wrong on that count. Her brain flew at a thousand miles an hour, and she tried hard to rein it in. He looked older - obviously, he was older - but he wore it well. Of course he did, he'd always been frustratingly handsome, and even more so with a salt and pepper spray of grey. A small part of her was annoyed at that, at how he seemed to suit the wrinkles and the crow's feet. "Bri?"
She realised she was standing there, staring at him like a moron and she blinked, bringing herself back out of it. It took her a second, to steel herself, but she did it. Without really even thinking about it, her walls came flying up, a little on guard as she gave him a slightly tight lipped smile. "Of all the bars to step into... you decide to choose mine." She joked, raising a fine eyebrow.
Well, at least he knew that he was not the only one feeling utterly floored by the situation he just walked in. The look on one Brielle Ivy Loates face said it all. If it weren't for the fact that he too was feeling utterly flabbergasted, Tre might have poked fun at her. Now that the initial shock was over, at least for now, his green eyes really took a good look at his old flame. Time served her well. Not that she hadn't been beautiful before back in her youth, but somehow, she looked even more gorgeous. Tre wasn't sure how that was possible, unless Bri had somehow stumbled upon the fountain of youth.
He watched now as she blinked, finally reeling herself in from the shock and a cool steely expression came up complete with a tight lipped smile, no doubt followed by mental walls. Well, guess he would be in for a night. While he wondered if it was best that he should just step out and find himself another bar, the man decided that Atreus Constantine was no coward - certainly not before the former love of his life. Well, she might have been the only one really, but fuck if he was getting into that mind space and head games, "Your bar?" oh yes, he would definingly have to keep his wits about him.
Tre soon offered up his best defense mechanism, his smile. And boy, he did not hold back. That boyish, charming watt smile lip up his face - the sort of smile that got him through everything in life - the good, the bad, the getting out of mischief. He wasn't sure, if after all of these years, it was still a match for Brielle Loates, but he could hope that it could crack that steel armor she had up, "Well, I consider myself lucky then I walked into this bar, Bri Loates, cause I get to lay my eyes on you." Laughter escaped him, god, he couldn't even take himself seriously, "Really though, I can't believe you're here. In the flesh. I hope you're still willing to sell me something on draft."
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
At least she wasn't the only one who seemed completely floored by finding themselves in this situation, so there was that. It made her feel a little less idiotic to be staring given the way he stared right back. Part of her wondered if he'd turn tail and walk right back out, but that didn't really seem like his style, not the Tre that she knew.. or well, had known - if she was going to be honest. It had been a good number of years since they'd seen each other, so much so that they'd gone on to live more of their lives apart than together - realistically, they were strangers to each other.
It helped her straighten herself out at least, and as Tre blinked, she knew he was righting himself too. Shake it off and get on with it. "Your bar?" Her eyebrows rose a little, the tight lipped smile loosening a little in place of one more coy and a tiny bit smug. Not in a mean sense, but more a pride in herself and the humour of it too - because yes of all the bars he could have picked in all the land, he was in hers... where she was all the more welcome to throw him out on his ass if she so desired. Not yet though. Yet.... "My bar." She agreed in a warning voice. As in... yes, my place so don't you damn going making a mess in here...
Her eyes narrowed on the smile. That freaking award winning smile, could melt the pants of a woman from seven feet away - eight on a really good day. It wasn't without it's effect on her, but she was older and wiser and was able to stand firm against it as she raised an index finger. "And that can go right back in it's box." An eyebrow rose, pinning him in place like a naughty school boy. She knew exactly what he was up to with that number one trick. "Well, I consider myself lucky then I walked into this bar, Bri Loates, cause I get to lay my eyes on you." She couldn't help but crack a grin in response. "Let's see if you still feel that way in a little while." When she wasn't hanging off his every word and swooning at his smile like she used to. "Really though, I can't believe you're here. In the flesh. I hope you're still willing to sell me something on draft." Brie pursed her lips as she glanced over to the taps, inclining her head to the shining labels on display. "Eyesight not what it used to be?" She asked, "That's the trouble with getting old and grey." Not that she was one to talk.
Tre knew that this small and very unexpected reunion could go either way - either he'd get to stay and drink his beer or he'd be tossed out on his ass without much of a thought. It honestly was 50/50. All what Tre could really do was hope that despite how everything ended between the two of them - that there was still something there. Bri Loates was a sight for sore eyes though, he couldn't deny that. Green eyes watched her eyebrows raise, but her steely smile loosened just a bit, and the man figured he was safe: "My bar." Bri said, both confirming and agreeing with him at the same time if that were even possible, "Guess it's my lucky day then."
He hadn't been expecting her eyes to narrow at him, steely once more, but her smile remained just a tad bit loose. Tre didn't break though, he just continued to smile at her, even as she raised her finger at him: "And that can go right back in it's box." Okay, well, that got him. Tre laughed, a little incredulously as he pulled back just a bit, cocking his head just ever so slightly as Tre dared to continue smiling at him, a sparkle in his eyes, "What? My smile?" He was fairly certain that she used to love this smile, but he wasn't stupid enough to bring that up - at least, before getting served.
Bri herself seemed to be in a high and mighty mood, clearly, she was still deciding on how this would go as well. The man knew he had to play it safe, but damn, it was kinda hard to just not pick back up. Why'd he break up with her again? Probably something stupid, given he had been in his late teens or early twenties, "Ah, I have no doubt I will." He leaned back on the bar again now, his forearms resting there. Damn, he still had his jacket on, or else maybe he could have worked a bicep flex in there tactfully. Green eyes still rested on Bri for a moment before following her gaze to the taps, "Grey? I don't know what you're talking about - maybe I'm just distracted by someone," Tre replied now, his green eyes moving back to her own green ones now, locking gazes, "I think I'll have a Guinness and...maybe some more time with you?"
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
"Guess it's my lucky day then." Bri pursed her lips and hummed slightly, a noise of non-committal. She wouldn't exactly go calling it that - was he expecting a free drink for old times? If anything, Tre was more likely about to be charged double for the fun of it. It wasn't like things had ended poorly, not really, but there had been a bitterness on her side for the dumping. She'd grown older and wiser since then, moved on, but she didn't see the harm in just a little reminder that this was her domain, and his ridiculous mega-watt smile would not get him special treatment in this bar.
An eyebrow quirked at the laugh - but the smile remained. Stubborn bloody bastard. "What? My smile?" It took effort not to roll her eyes, instead she kept her firm gaze on him, that being the confirmation enough he would need to know that yes, she meant his smile. "The smile is worth zero currency here, I only deal in cold hard cash," she said simply, knowing how often he had used the damn thing over the years to get what he wanted - especially from her. It was like some kind of snake charming magic, a big old grin from him and her mind would empty of everything but whatever he'd asked her to do.
"Ah, I have no doubt I will." She did not, and she felt Tre would be in for a surprise if he thought things would slip right back into how they used to be, Bri wasn't a love struck teenager anymore, and she'd learned a lot from the trials and tribulations of her life. Her daughter had given her many a life lesson too - patience and standing firm, being some of those. Her eyes roved over his trademark lean - was he trying to put moves on her? "Grey? I don't know what you're talking about - maybe I'm just distracted by someone," Bri made a point of smoothing her features - definitely trying to put on moves. "I see the years haven't made you any wiser," She commented. "I think I'll have a Guinness and...maybe some more time with you?" Bri sighed and turned to grab a clean glass, then moved over to the taps to pour with practised ease. "That'll be £8.50 for the Guinness." She instructed, "as for your other.. request.. if it ain't on tap, it ain't on offer."
