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!.
The man couldn't believe what was happening. No one in their right mind would go out in a storm to rescue someone, but Cal wasn't just someone to the three men. Christian owed a lot to Cal after taking him in as an employee - they were becoming more and more like family as of late. "You are a bit crazy, but he means a lot to all of us so let's go then."
He looked outside and it seemed as if the storm was starting to pass. The man walked over and put on his rain gear on, prepared to face the storm head on. "Okay but no one is going out there without the rest of the.." Before he could finish, the two of them had already left. Christian let out a sigh - so much for them all sticking together. The long haired man followed suit, closing the door behind him before starting his eight kilometer run. He was thankful he kept himself in shape, swimming for exercise for emergencies like this.
As he approached, Christian could hear that Eli had found Cal. He fixed the hood of his rain jacket as he got closer. "He's alive? Well someone must have wished for a miracle. We can carry him back together and get him safely inside. Someone can call an ambulance so he can get looked at just in case." It took him a few glances to realize Cal was in fact still breathing - the storm hadn't blown him away or worse drowned.
“Really? I think at seven years old, these three have yet to surprise me nicely. Have yours cooked for you yet?” Christian often let them help him in the kitchen - doing simple things like pouring water into a pot or measuring out ingredients for a recipe. It was quite cute watching them try and do adult tasks - though they were growing up before his eyes. “See that was a smart idea. My girlfriend’s parents are a great help. Even now when they’ve outgrown diapers. We both are busy working so they look after them when they aren’t in school.” He often felt terrible leaving them, but there was always work to be done at the Marina.
Christian nodded in understanding. “I get that. There needs to be some sort of parent and child group for everyone to make friends.” It was hard as his friends were all at different stages in life - and some of them lived back home in the USA. He tried his best to keep in touch with them - but it was difficult with the time difference. “Oh roses do smell nice. Do you have them all in one spot then?” He left the gardening to Ama and her mother - the lawn maintenance was more his thing come the Summer. “Definitely, I do feel terrible for those that can’t have children of their own but desperately want to.” Younger Christian didn’t fathom the fact that he would one day end up with triplets - and ones that weren’t biologically his either.
“Glad I’m not the only one that feels that way. Have you encountered anyone else from back home?” He hadn’t yet - being in the Navy meant he couldn’t control where he lived, meaning his friendship group was limited to those he worked on boats with. Now that he was in Hickstead, he had a few friends he made since moving there. “That’s nice to hear. Is your husband American as well?”
Christian nodded, it was an expensive boat that they would be working on. He knew his boats pretty well by now - not only due to being in the Navy back home. "Alright, that should be easy enough. That's a pretty nice boat, don't see many of those on the waters." He turned over to face Aria who seemed to be wanting to get going.
"Yes, but if you go too fast you could miss something. I understand the pressure because I was new once too." Granted, it was a few years ago now but he had his Navy experience to thank for that. He chuckled softly when he heard Aria whistle, wondering if she had ever seen a boat like the one they were to be working on. "I agree. If we were all rich I don't think we'd be working. Though, I love my job. Don't get me wrong." He gave Cal a smile - truly lucky to have a wonderful boss like him. The coworkers were pretty decent too, though sometimes they annoyed him.
As they approached the boat, he had a glance at the exterior first. It was something that tended to be overlooked, though the boat seemed in excellent condition. "Yeah, let's start there. Did you want me to hold the flashlight while you have a peek at the engine?" He always carried one in his pocket at work, just in case he was needed to work somewhere dark. Christian began making his way down towards the engine.
Christian has a no nonsense attitude towards everything. He is someone who likes to fix things himself before consulting the Internet or an expert, which often gets him in trouble. He is a loving, kind and caring father to children who are not biologically his own. Despite his no nonsense attitude, he is a complete sweetheart and will stand up for those who can't or don't have a voice.
enemies
As Christian is a bit hard headed, I'm sure he has enemies. Someone who disliked him from the Navy after what happened with his best friend maybe?
“I really wish they wouldn’t. I get enough surprises at work to make me want to have a quiet home life.” Between having been in the Navy and working at the Marina fixing boats - he had enough to keep him on his toes. He did love his kids though, even if they added to the chaos. “Don’t you wish that we could clone ourselves?” It would make looking after the children easier. He was lucky that Ama’s parents were also very hands-on with them, taking care of them when neither of them was available.
Christian nodded, he was thankful that he retired from Naval duties just after they adopted the triplets. “I do know how you feel. People tend to change once they get married and have children. Do you still keep in touch with those friends?” Christian only had two friends he had known for what felt like forever. He moved to the UK and with his Navy days, he wasn’t really ever in one spot for very long. “Gardening? I definitely don’t have a green thumb. What would be your favorite thing you’ve grown?” Christian was happy fixing mechanical issues in the home. Growing a garden was something he never really learned how to do.
“True, I should start believing in karma or something. I know some people don’t like children but, they do exist.” When he was younger, he didn’t really ever see himself being a father. It was something that took awhile to be used to - the triplets weren’t his own after all so it was a different experience. “It’s an odd city. Washington feels like a big city with all the government buildings, but I enjoyed growing up and living there.” Most of the tourists that visited there wanted to see the White House, but there were several other sights to see that were often missed. “I do have to admit, it took me a moment to realize you weren’t from here. My accent won’t ever go away, though there seems to be more and more Americans around here. Don’t you think?”
"I'd rather it be me than you. Someone has to go get him." Christian was slightly shocked that Perry was acting so caring towards him. Usually, he was cold and standoffish. "I appreciate your concern, but he can't be out there alone." Christian had years of Navy experience under his belt - and unfortunately, he had to deal with his fair share of grief as well. The two of them were important to him and he would much rather sacrifice himself over the other two.
He heard a voice he didn’t recognize and turned. When Perry spoke first, he took a moment to look at the stranger, who he now knew as Eli. “Ah, Eli? I’m Christian. I don’t think it’s safe for anyone to go out on the water right now. We will just have to wait for the storm to pass and then go out and look for him.” He assumed the two of them were friends - though maybe more was going on behind the scenes. “I know he means a lot to all of us, but it would be foolish if we did.” Christian felt like such a dad at the moment, but it really wasn’t safe.
Christian nodded, he knew not all employers were forgiving about him being late. “Thanks, so a brand new boat huh? Any clue whose it is?” There were several wealthier people in Hickstead now so it was hard for him to tell. “Hello, Aria. Long time no see.” He smiled, Aria was someone he didn’t know too well yet but the younger woman seemed nice enough.
As their project was explained to them, he raised his eyebrow. This wasn’t something that was often asked of him to do - though he was ready for the challenge. He watched Aria as she took in what was about to happen. “It really won’t be that bad, we’ve got this.” He sounded more confident than he felt, but four eyes were better than two. “Okay, let’s go see this boat. Elodie always brings the best cookies but it’s not a race. We should get this done right the first time.” Food was always something that tempted him, but those cookies could wait until they were done.
After turning to Cal, he spoke again. “And where is this fancy new boat? I believe we are both ready to begin.” He quickly glanced at Aria, who really looked ready.
It was Christian's turn to take the kids to school. The morning was hectic as Juniper had spilled maple syrup on her favorite shirt. He threw it quickly in the laundry pile and, after some convincing he pulled another shirt over her head. He was late, but everyone was out the door and into the car. Ama had left for work early as wedding season was starting to be upon them.
With three screaming children in the backseat, he was ever so thankful that they were now old enough to run into the school themselves. His eyes glanced as the large school door closed behind them, leaning his head against the head rest of the car seat. School runs were typically stressful when he did them. He shook his head and drove off towards the marina - knowing that Memphis would be waiting for him.
The twenty-five minute drive dragged on. People were driving slow due to an accident on the road, which slowly made the patient man frustrated. It felt like forever before he pulled into his usual parking spot and got out of the car - heading towards the main building.
On his way there, he noticed Aria was also close by. The new trainee was a fast learner from what he saw so far, so he wondered why Memphis needed both of them. "I'm also here, sorry. School run was a bit hectic this morning but I'm ready whenever you are." He nodded to both of them, taking a moment to settle down before work would begin.
Christian had heard there was a storm coming when he left Ama that morning. Winter was coming, which meant rainy season. He kissed his girlfriend goodbye and left for work. There were a lot of boats to work on - the most difficult on his list being one that had recently gotten into an accident. It meant Christian had to basically dismantle, order parts and rebuild the whole front end.
With the local radio station blasting away, he drove off towards the marina. About twenty minutes later, he pulled his car into his usual spot - glad that no one had ever dared to park there. It wasn't like he was rude if someone had parked in his spot, it just seemed to make the work day much better.
After locking up his car, he headed towards the main building in the marina, greeting his coworkers with a simple hello or good morning. The burly looking man picked up his tool kit from his locker and headed towards the boat that needed major repairs. He connected his phone to the small bluetooth speaker nearby, started his music and began his work.
He lifted his head from the bow of the boat as he heard his name. Christian recognized the panicked tone from Perry's voice, dropped the wrench and ran towards his younger coworker. "Coming!" He called, not bothering to zip up his jacket as he ran into the radio room. Without a greeting to Perry, Christian switched the stations on the radio to the one Cal had, raising the microphone closer to his mouth. "Cal? Come in Cal."
Crash. The sound sent a chill down his spine - it meant the weather was getting worse. "There's nothing else to do. I'll grab a boat and go get him. I don't think anyone's radio is going to work in this weather." He turned to Perry, zipping his outer layer up - preparing to go face the elements.
"I do appreciate the parenting advice. They may not be babies anymore, but I feel like I'm learning something new for each new stage of their lives." Christian couldn't imagine what they would be like once they hit their teenage years. He could remember what he was like back then - often feeling sorry for his parents for having to deal with him back then.
He took a sip of his drink before setting it back down on the table, glancing over at the triplets who were enjoying their Strawberry shortcakes. "That must be nice. Do you enjoy being at home? I'm sure the baby keeps you busy during the day though. My partner and I both work, but the triplets are all in school." It was odd to call Ama his girlfriend - especially since they felt like they were practically married. He was thinking of proposing to her soon though, recently making an appointment with the jeweler to make a custom engagement ring for her.
"Some people aren't that kind. I've had my fair share of evil glares when the kids run rampant around the grocery store.." Sometimes he had no choice but to bring the kids with him, especially if it was wedding season - which meant Ama was busier than usual at the shop.
Christian raised his eyebrow, it was nice to meet a fellow American. "Always nice to meet a fellow American, I'm from Washington. Do you miss home still sometimes?"
The triplets were busy chatting away and started eating their portion of the snack. "True, I don't need to get them used to food bribes though." He didn't need to teach his kids to be dependent on food or rewards. The two parents were trying to raise the triplets the right way - but like anything it was difficult.
"I really hope they are comfortable enough to tell either of us to say if they weren't." The three of them were stuck in a sort of shy shell when they first started living with their new family. "I can imagine, is she at home with the rest of the family?" The only time he was without the kids was when he was at work, or if either of their parents agreed to look after the kids to give them a few hours off.
Christian smiled, glad that the woman took it lightly. "I know but I do try and be nice to people my children try and run over." It was a nice teaching opportunity for the triplets to learn their manners. They could be a handful, but at least they respected others around them.
"Wow! That's a really long time. Where did you live before then? I've been here a few years now, just before the triplets arrived."
Christian smiled, glancing at the triplets. It was obvious they didn’t hear the advice he was given as they were distracted by something else in line. “Thank goodness. I’ll use it against them next time.”
He put his card back in his wallet and placed it in his pocket. “Good to know. I was maybe hoping they’d grow out of it. But they aren’t too terrible, just need some extra encouragement.” His daughters liked to keep their rooms clean, but it was his son that needed a push or two to tidy up after himself. It seemed even though they were triplets, their personalities were all different.
“I’m glad they seem to enjoy it. I think I’d be worried about how to manage giving each child enough attention. Though, I feel I have that problem now.” It was a challenge having three kids that were the same age. He tried his best to divide his time away from work between the three kiddos. “I can imagine. I’m sure your eldest will have your first grandchild before you know it.” Christian didn’t really want to think about being a grandfather quite yet, as the triplets were just seven years old. “That must have been an odd feeling though.”
Christian picked up two of the hot chocolates from the counter. “Yes, you’d be surprised how many times I have to call them.” He often got odd looks when he called his kids over as their names weren’t exactly common.
“Not a problem, it’s the least I can do after my children nearly ran you over.” He nodded and followed behind the woman, setting the two mugs down on the table before heading back to get his own Mocha and the other hot chocolate. Once everything was brought over, he sat down.
“Have you been in Hickstead long?” He asked, once his children were settled at the table and ready to eat their snack.
It was difficult being a first-time dad to three kids at once. At first, it was a learning curve for the two of them, but they were handling it well. “I hope my kids didn’t hear that or else I’ll have to reverse the reverse psychology.” Christian smiled. He didn’t often get the chance to chat with other parents, so he was enjoying the rare opportunity.
“Anything to get them to clean their rooms. Why does that seem to be the bane of their existence?” Granted, he didn’t exactly like cleaning his room either, but it was something that needed to be done and he would hate to allow Ama to do it all on her own.
Christian smiled; it was always much easier if the other kids helped out. “I’m glad. Is it too early to tell if the older kids enjoy having a baby around yet?” He was the oldest sibling and had heard mixed feelings about older children learning that they were going to have siblings. He himself remembered being very excited about becoming a big brother.
“Glad you are able to. Ah, talking about grandchildren already? Isn’t it a bit early for that?” Christian wasn’t ready to talk about being a grandfather yet, the triplets were much too young to even think about dating let alone marriage. “Thanks. I know they are unique, but it makes it easier calling them in a crowd somewhere.” He didn’t want to say that they came with that name - even though their father was his best friend, and he practically was their father since their biological father died when they were young.
Christian nodded, it was easy to convince the three kids to share a snack with him. He allowed Marnie to order before he asked each child what they wanted. Once he reached the front of the queue, he ordered three hot chocolates, his Mocha and a strawberry shortcake to share. Christian paid, making sure Marnie’s order was on his bill as well.
