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!.
Blaise heard the sigh and knew Brook was not in the mood to play today. Neither was she really, if she was being honest with herself. The bone aching tiredness still left her feeling cold, and a little lacking of the amusement she normally felt with the frustrating handsome police officer. She caught the look of the assholes who had brought her in look less than impressed and she smirked but walked past without another taunt. Best not rile them further, for now at least.
”I’m taking you because I don’t trust those two to get you there in the condition you left in.” she made a small noise of agreement as she followed him, the most compliant he was likely to have seen her. "at least one of you has some semblance of a brain." she muttered, wrapping her arms around herself as they eventually stepped outside into the cool of the almost Spring air. "Which town are going to?" she asked. She had vacated a few local areas prior to settling in Hickstead, and though it had been a few years it was likely she would know an officer or two if she was unlucky. Depending on the town.
She caught the shake of his head, knowing she was just adding fuel to the fire but unable to help herself. She just couldn't let things rest - she didn't call herself a bitch for the fun of it. The issue was that she had been this person for so long now, it was hard to let go. This hard as rock exterior, the sneering and the jibes and the I don't give a shit attitude, it never used to be her - or at least, not wholly. She had always been fierce and loyal and protective, but she had been softer - once upon a time. Vaguely, she wondered if any of that was still in her, of if she would go on this way until she eventually died - probably at an early age.
She took in several deep breaths to get herself to chill out and by the time the other officer walked in to fingerprint her, she was back to her shit eating grin self. Not bothering to offer any responses to the woman, but she complied, eventually the office lapsed into silence to complete her tasks and then left her alone once again. Just in time to be replaced by her favourite one. ”I’m going to have to take you to Willow Bridge Station. .our holding cells are full.” She frowned, wondering what that meant for her - better or worse. ”let’s go. .” She cocked a brow but actually did as told and stood - there was no point arguing this, she would only make it worse and be back in the cuffs. "You're taking me?" She was surprised at that, thinking he would have rather palmed her off by now. "Can't get enough of my sharp wit and pretty face, huh?" She added, smirking and giving the assholes who had hauled her in a little wave as she walked past - what were they going to do, arrest her?
"Likewise." She shrugged, she knew she was somewhat problematic but it took an asshole to know an asshole. Silence descended after his show of anger. For once she didn't really have a witty remark. "Sorry." She gave a slight nod to show she'd take it. She didn't care if he wanted to stomp his feet, the response had been automatic, and she would rather she hadn't - but old habits died hard and all that. She watched him right back, watching her. There was nothing in her left to explode, she was done for the evening, for the day - for the week.
Blaise watched him stand. "I have no choice. .some one will be in momentarily to take your fingerprints and explain what will happen" She rolled her eyes - how wonderful. One of those hard handed morons was going to be man handling her again. Wonderful. She couldn't wait. "At least send the taller one back in, he was friendlier." She said sarcastically - he wasn't, he was the one that pushed her around, but she'd given up with it now. She waited until he left the room, before she let her shoulders slump, momentarily putting her face into her hands. She'd royally screwed this one up. She would deal with it tomorrow, or the day after, and how to get herself out of this shit but really who was she kidding? There was no coming back from her life. She let out a sigh, pulling her hands down her face and sitting back in the chair, folding her arms as she waited for someone to come in. They couldn't see her fall apart.
They were stuck at this ridiculous impasse and it was driving Blaise insane. "You're infuriating." She almost snarled, but she managed to hold back the snap and turn it into a grumble instead. It wasn't something she liked to think about or admit but they were two sides of the coin. The sooner he understood that she couldn't just trust him, the same way he just couldn't trust her, the easier it would be. When he didn't comment she knew her point had been proven and she made a face that said as much, watching him expectantly.
That's when he slammed the desk and even she flinched a little. Not that she thought he would hit her, but men had proven her wrong before. ”Dammit Blaise you’ve already been that stupid! We have enough evidence to charge you this time and you’re a flight risk so there’s a chance you may not get bail. You might be held in custody until your court date.” She stared at him, working through it and keeping her expression neutral, not letting him see the cogs turning. Well, if everything was going to come crashing down, it wasn't like she had much to lose. She didn't have her kid back, they were never going to give her her son back, what else was there. She knew her lips were turned down at the corners and she was fighting herself to hold it all in, because she couldn't let him see it. She couldn't show any weakness. "Is that so." She said slowly, letting out a soft exhale. A calmness settled over her, the anger and frustrating just... ebbed away. "Okay, so what now? Are you charging me?"
"trust you? no. I barely trust someone i'd call a friend so, definitely not." Blaise raised her eyebrows pointedly. "And you don't think that's the pot calling the kettle black?" She rolled her eyes. "You don't trust me, but I'm meant to trust you... sound's about right." Blaise sighed - they were right back where they started, constantly going around and around in circles over her life and his life and the opposite ends they sat at. "I know you don't do it for fun, i've seen the types of people that do this for fun and you aren't one of them." So had she, though there was the occasional time that had been personal - which had absolutely made it fun. Stealing from her ex, for example, had been the best thrill of her life.
"then why won't you accept my help? you want to straighten out your life for your son? how? you're in a vicious cycle. .you steal to survive, to get enough money to live but what happens when something sticks? what happens when you get sent down?" Blaise ground her teeth together, working her jaw in frustration. "I don't know," She growled through her gritted teeth, hating to admit it. She'd had a plan, years ago, but once you were in it was hard to get out. She was surviving, enough to cover the cost of a place now at least, and she was working her way - but it was precarious, and a hard way to make money; she'd started grifting recently, trying her hand in conning over pick pocketing but it was tough. "I won't get sent down, I'm not that stupid."
”believe what you want about other officers but I would never stand in the way of a child getting back to their mother.” She'd pissed him off again, and her lips thinned, hiding the smirk as she pressed them together, too frustrated to be amused. It was her turn to observe him as she turned back to see him turned away. She'd hit a nerve somewhere, she didn't know enough about him to even guess at what nerve it was this time; he had as many as she did, though she hated to admit it. She let the silence spread between them, letting him come back to her and refusing to fill the quiet - he wanted to pry so hard, that was on him but she wasn't going to help.
”fine, you don’t want my help with your son, fine. .but at least let me help you. Sort your life out and be the best mother you can be, your son deserves it. She narrowed her eyes, rapidly trying to build her walls back up as he tried to bulldoze through "Firstly, you don't talk about my son." She leaned forward across the table. "Secondly, what you're asking, is the equivalent of me telling you to trust me, after all the terrible criminals you've known. That I'm different to all the rest. You're saying that you would just believe me, without doubt, that I wasn't going to turn around and burn you?"
She raised her eyebrows, the problem was there was no trust between them, and no reason for that to develop. He might not have hurt her yet, but he hadn't proved himself either. "It's not even that you're asking me to trust you, it's the fact that you're asking me to trust you with my son's life. He's not a part of this right now" She indicated between him and Brook. "There's a reason for that, whether he's out of my reach or not, I choose to keep him away, because I know I cannot bring him into this life. You think I'm stupid or selfish enough to live this life for the fun or it? For the thrill? I do it for my son, everything I do is for my son."
She watched him ignore her, trying not to feel irked - which was what he wanted. Always a game with them, back and forth, cat and mouse - it played into fate that they were criminal and cop. Her eyes followed his movements as he looked through her file; surprisingly thick - she was quite proud of herself. Maybe she'd need her own drawer some day. Her own filing cabinet. "ha. good one." She snorted, ignoring the sarcasm. He was really not giving her much today and it was starting to incite her.
The cat was out of the bag now. She'd been trying to keep her son a secret all her life - not for her sake, but for his. She didn't need people prying into who or where he was, she needed him to be safe; safe from her. She didn't need Brook looking into this, digging up old graves. She would go back for her son when she could, but right now it wasn't right for him. She saw the way his expression changed as he leaned forward and she turned her face away, hardening. She didn't want his pity or his softness. "I can try. .if you let me." She huffed, eyebrows drawing together, jaw tightening in anger. "They say that every time, but it's people like you that have added layer and layer and locked door after locked door between us. You'll just make it worse to fuck with me."
She grinned at the look on his face, a slight twitch as if he were holding on to his patience. She couldn't help it, he was so fun to tease. He gave such good reactions and the bitch in her always rose to it. The grin didn't reach her eyes though. This wasn't the best time to joke. Knee jerk reaction to be smug and catty but she really was in some trouble here and she needed to tread carefully.
He frowned and so she frowned, folding her arms with an annoyed huff. She shouldn't talk anymore or she'd tell him something shed regret. None of the cops knew much about her aside from her physical attributes and rap sheet. She was so careful to keep it locked down, it was silly to let this one in. He'd betray her like the rest had. "I know you don't do it for fun. . you do it to survive." This time she held back the eye roll. "well if you know that why not just let me go," it was a nice try but she knew that wouldn't happen.
"let me help you then. .for once just let someone help." she grit her teeth, fingers clenching to fists. He just didn't get it. "You can't help me get my boy back so just leave it alone." ah fuck. She growled and shut her mouth. Congratulations Blaise, you idiot.
Her eyes wandered whilst he was gone, it was something she did without thinking - picking up any information she could find and filing it away for future reference. There wasn't much to see, he was careful with his displays, unlike some of the other officers who posted whatever they felt like, making it easier for criminals like her. You might wonder how police work could influence her life, but if you knew where their focus was right now, or where their main priorities were, what kind of things they considered important, it helped to know the kind of person she was dealing with and where the police force's focus was, how much they would bother with a petty theft if they had missing children or a serial killer on the loose. The clatter of mugs chinking announced Brook's return and she switched her attention back to him, leaning back against the chair.
"Careful." she warned, half to annoy him as she saw him spill the coffee. Careless, he didn't seem too fussed about his own health. Not the way some guys liked to take care of themselves. Brook seemed like the type to throw himself head first into a fire to save someone else. Everyone said they'd do that, not many people were genuine about it. She wasn't sure if she liked his gaze on her or not, she shifted under it. He had a way of seeming like he could look right into her, it was intense and it made her feel like she couldn't lie, couldn't hide. " I'm not going to force you to tell me anything. .but I'll listen if you do." Her gaze narrowed slightly, only a little. Not the usual bullshit, he was so different to the other police, it almost made her talk. Almost. She blew out a huff and curls her fingers around the steaming cup. "I don't do this for fun, you know." she burst out, almost angrily despite the fact she wasn't angry at him. "I just. I have to. I don't have any other choice!" She let go of the cup and leant back in the chair again, folding her arms and then uncrossing them. Annoyed at herself. "You think I enjoy this kind of life? Always looking over my shoulder? Beg, borrowing and stealing? Getting hauled in here, manhandled but asshole 1 and 2? Newsflash.. I don't."
She tilted her head to try and gain a better read of him as he thought over the question. She didn't know if he'd answer it, or if he did, whether it would be honest or not. It would be easy to make up some bullshit just to fill the blank - because I want to, because I feel I have to, because I'm bored... easy ready-to-go kind of answers that they'd both know were shit, but they'd just accept it, shrug and move along. Just as she thought he might not answer at all, he did that thing he occasionally did and surprised her again. "Honestly. .I don't know." accompanied with an awkward shrug. She frowned, her fingers tapping against the table without conscious thought. What the fuck was that supposed to mean? She wanted to drill him, make him explain that. How can he not know, or was it that he didn't want to say. Did it mean something? Did it mean nothing? Understanding men was harder sometimes than solving a bloody rubix cube.
Blaise wisely, for once, kept her mouth shut. Of all the times she had nothing to say, it was apparently now. She couldn't ask him for more clarification, this wasn't the time or place to start asking for answers like that, and she didn't know if she wanted to hear it, whatever it was, but sitting here, not caring about her charges, more intrigued by the man charging her, was making her restless. "Do you want a coffee or anything?" Disappointing. She thought he might have something more interesting to say. "Yeah, alright." he knew how she drunk her coffee, a weird piece of information but it was true. It almost freaked her out to realise she knew how he liked his, and other odd and familiar mannerisms like that. "there are things I can't tell you." she said bluntly, knowing at some point he would start his own series of questions. Circling back to why she did this, what she gained from it. Not much sadly, but her life was set on a different path to his. Her eyes watched him carefully for his response, waiting for that typical 'you can trust me' bullshit the cops always enjoyed spewing in times like this. She couldn't though, she'd made those kinds of mistakes before.
She caught his glance and looked away, releasing the grip on her own wrists so he'd stop staring. She felt uncomfortable, seeing him watching with that weird concerned little crease between his eyebrows. It was odd to have someone care, even a little tiny remote bit - she didn't exactly know what they were to each other, but she was slowly learning that there was something there that made them care, weirdly, about each other, in a messed up tangled kind of way.
"The last thing I want is for you to end up in jail." Her eyes flickered to his, confused, uncertain. She didn't know what to make of things when he said stuff like that. What did it mean, was he being serious? She frowned slightly, not sure what to say. After a few moments of awkward silence she let out a tiny sigh, a little release in breath. "Neither do I." she admitted. She'd probably last okay in there, and it wouldn't be for that long, she'd get out on good behaviour within a few months for sure, but it would be another black spot on her way to getting her son back.
She chewed the inside of her cheek, a habit of hers for when she was thinking her way out of a tough situation. "Look. .i'll try and get the assault charges dropped out of self defence but I don't know about the others. ." She watched him warily, her eyes trying to search his, keeping herself carefully contained from letting too much emotion out. "why do you want to help me?" she had to ask, she was a thorn in his foot for sure, why did he care? What did he get out of this? She just screwed him around and played games and got into trouble and made messes that he went around cleaning up... and now he was trying to help her? She didn't understand, and she thought maybe she wanted to figure it out this time.
"You just can't help yourself can you. ." Her eyebrows rose slightly, giving her a haughty look at didn't look right on her face. She'd never had enough money in her life to be haughty, and she probably never would. The rate she was going she'd either be dead or in jail in five years time. She had a wonderful outlook on life, but at least she wasn't delusional. "Nope. They earned it." She smiled at him without humour. This was and always would be a sore spot for her, police and the way they treated her. She couldn't help it, and even with this guy who was nice to her and helped her, it was hard not to be an asshole to him. Seeing that look in his eyes, that one that said he wanted to firmly shake her, gave her a stupidly sick enjoyment, whilst on the other hand it just made her feel guilty and empty. Talk about conflict.
At least he loosened the cuffs, that was nice. "Sit down Miss Turner" The use of the surname. Her eyebrows furrowed, wondering where this was going to go, she wondered if it might be fun - perhaps not. He looked stern and serious, the not-so-fun version of Brook. She hated complying to people, particularly police, and she sat somewhat sourly, trying not to look too bitter. She peered around the bland room as she waited impatiently for his return. There was nothing in this room that even showed some sentiment of Brook, it was weirdly void of anything personal - interesting.
Handcuffs now off she rubbed her sore wrists, sighing as she winced at the spots where they'd rubbed her skin raw. That would scab - lovely. "breaking and entering, theft, assaulting a police officer....Someones been busy." She shrugged and looked at him without expression. "So many houses and so little time." she said, looking bored. "You're looking at jail time here Blaise." She looked at Brook with a blank face, but inside was turmoil. She knew she was building up a decent rap sheet every time she got caught, and every time she didn't the stain on her soul grew darker. She'd never get her child back, despite how everything she was doing was for him. It wasn't working, and she didn't know how to fix it. She sighed, jail certainly wouldn't help her. "Wouldn't you love that?" She was trying not to be a bitch but it was the only thing that came naturally to her these days.
Of course it had to be a day he was working this shift. She rolled her eyes so hard they almost rolled into the back of her head. What did she expect really though, considering he seemed to eat, sleep and breath his job, of course he would be here. If she didn't want to be seen getting caught doing this stupid shit then why do it in his town, she was almost asking for him to find out - almost. She bit back the sigh, ready to face the music he was about to preach at her as he stalked over. She stared right at him, rather than avoiding him. She would not be seen with her tail between her legs like she knew she was in trouble, she would stand loud and proud and keep rolling those damn eyes of hers until they hurt.
"this is your final warning, stop boasting about your arrests, people are trying to work and quite frankly, no one gives a damn....And you should know better, you're already on a warning, clean up your act and start being the mentor you're supposed to be." Okay, so she had to appreciate the royally ass spanking the idiots just got for their stupidity. It felt nice for once to have an officer on her side, normally they all treated her the same. The second they knew she had a rap sheet she was scum to them, they didn't even bother asking why. It was why she didn't trust them, they never tried to help her. Apart from this one. This one was weird, and different and confusing and made her feel upside down. She wasn't sure if she liked it yet or not.
"i'll handle this, go and take you're lunch." Blaise twisted her head to watch them stalk off, wishing she had a hand free so she could give them a little wave, instead all she could go for was a smirk and blow them a kiss, which they didn't seem to appreciate. Her gaze fell back on Brooke, wary of his reaction, whether he'd give her the 5th degree or just sigh and give her that look he had. The one she liked to think was reserved just for her these days. "Can you at least loosen the cuffs before you spit me up and chew me out? Tweedledum and tweedledumber have overdone it a little bit." she said, wiggling her hands a little as she tried to get some semblance of feeling back into them.
"You may as well quit fighting, girlie. You're coming to the station." Blaise growled, refusing to give him an easy time, even as he slammed her against the side of his police car and yanked her hands behind her back. Stupid really, she'd gotten careless and complacent and had broken into the wrong home. The kind of home which had bloody hidden cameras, which had managed to catch her face as she'd run off with the family crown jewels. They'd caught up with her pretty quickly in the rundown hostel she was hiding out in - sadly all she could afford, even with all the hidden cash stash, and she'd given them a run for their money. The taller one was out of breath, the fat one wasn't even in sight yet - probably having a heart attack back at the hostel.
She didn't bother to say anything in her defense, no doubt they'd use it against her if she did - she'd played these games many times before. She let them shove her into the back, awkwardly trying to rearrange herself into a slightly more comfortable position, as much as possible with her hands stuck behind her back. He'd done the cuffs too tight and they cut into her skin, her shoulders screaming a little already. Asshole. Just because she'd head butted him. They weren't far from the station - she was kind of disappointed it wasn't Brook that arrested her, he could use her cuffs on her any day - but she guaranteed he wouldn't find it so funny.
They grabbed her arms and unceremoniously pulled her from the car, shoving her between them as they entered the station and man handling her across to the reception. "Yeah alright, I got it." she growled through gritted teeth as the pissed off tall one gave her another shove, this one a little harder than necessary and she nearly stacked it. That'd be fun - if she fell like this she had no hands to save her fall. She'd experienced it before. Broken noses sucked. "Got ourselves a live one, folks." the fat one announced proudly, puffing out his man boobed chest as he got the receptionist to start on the paperwork.