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!.
Coralina nursed her wine, swirling the wine in her glass and staring down into the depths of the whirlpool it created. The wine was beginning to warm in her hands, despite how she held the stem delicately between her manicured fingers rather than the base like most people did. She had been here a while after all, and a sigh escaped her at the thought of it. She'd been out the hospital for some time now, but she still didn't feel 100% yet, and restlessness ate at her. She'd been confined for some time, and it reminded her far too much of the stifling life of her childhood - so many rules and restrictions and everything in between. She'd broken out of her 'prison' a few times, much to the disgruntlement of her friends and Grey, but he understood.
The paps had had a field day when they'd found out what had happened, and her parents had fought hard to keep things out of the papers - as had she to some extent, but only to keep her peace here in this town and not have to run off to a new corner of the world to have her privacy. She didn't care what they printed about her life, as long as she got to keep her head down and keep pretending she wasn't a royal abandoning her duties to 'slum it'. She took a small sip of the white wine, wrinkling her nose a little - it wasn't the best, she hadn't chosen well, though wine had never exactly been her speciality. Sometimes it was the only alcohol she could take that would numb the world a little. She had thought about ringing grey, or texting him, and she couldn't help unlocking her phone to stare at his contact, finger hovering over the buttons... but every time she re-locked the phone and tucked it away. She was fine really, she'd be fine, she was just feeling a little... down... in need of a pick me up, of being away from the heavy presence of her 'duties' and her parents and the rest of them that were now on her case again that they knew where she was.
Cora returned to her swirling of the wine and leant back primly in her corner booth. At least here was was anonymous. It was a nice bar, more upmarket than the others in town, and normally she avoided it - too many people just her type in here, someone bound to recognise. Today though, she felt the dark ambient atmosphere and soft music would lull her into some relaxation, or at least feel like she was away from the prying eyes - if only for a moment. So far, it hadn't really worked. Despite sitting in a darkened corner, she still felt exposed, and all she could do was wish that Grey were sat beside her so she could tuck into his side and hide.
Regatta sign up name:LEONIE VIKTORIA WAGNER Single or Double? single but open to doubles if someone wants a pair!! (may capsize boat but let's hope for the best and that her rich background has some impact)
name:TOBIAS KAI OLIVER Single or Double? single (does not play well with others, will be moody if he loses)
Cora patted the bay's glossy neck quickly and then headed over to the main ring for her test. She felt a little rusty, but it was good to be showing again. The horses were loving the atmosphere, and performing well with it, though Ezra couldn't help playing up a little in the warm up. She took her turn around the edge of the ring before the bell rang, and then she was turning down the centre line. Ezra fought a little with the contact, locking his neck. He had a habit of getting like that when he was anxious, and she tried to settle him with her seat as they went through the movements, working the reins gently to encourage him to relax.
Their circles were a little stiff, and Ezra never truly relaxed through his back like she knew he could which was a shame for her, but he gave some lovely paces and their transitions were on point, the gelding response to her subtle movements, even if he felt unsure. He was a good lad, easier to persuade than her second ride, even when he felt nervous about what he was doing, she just needed to build more trust between them for him to settle quicker. She gave the judge her final salute and then released the contact on the reins, somewhat disappointed she hadn't managed to get Ezra to soften as much as usual, but still pleased with how he'd gone otherwise.
Cora felt rusty - she wasn't sure this was her best idea, to enter a high stakes showjumping class when she wasn't long recovered from her hospital trip. She'd been back riding a few weeks, and the horses were feeling good - better than ever really. She felt like she owed it to them to get out and about with them, especially as she hadn't checked out the show scene since moving here. She'd been a little worried about her name getting out, but considering she wasn't exactly hiding out here, she threw caution to the wind and entered.
Her nerves were dancing havoc in her stomach as she entered the ring - first up and the pressure was definitely felt. She patted Cap's neck to settle them both as he picked up on her nerves, and then she clucked him forward into a canter. The bell rang, but Cora took her time to approach the first - too many people rushed once the bell went, panicking about missing the timer, but there was long enough to take a circle, take a breath, and set the horse up nicely for the line of six. It was important to get this right, or the gelding would have no chance. She sat soft in the saddle and allowed the horse to find his stride a little, holding him in check as they popped the first, then onto the next five. She was careful to keep him steady so he didn't start rushing the line, and they landed clear over the final to the cheers of the crowd.
Just like the other night, he didn't seem all that much of a talker, but she let it slide over her - he was busy working, concentrating on the horse, it wasn't always time for idle chat about previous nightly escapades. After all, it wasn't like she'd stuck about to talk things out with him, to share breakfast or get his phone number. She guessed she had it now, after all that - what a weird coincidence.
"I see, "So there are a couple different shoes I can put on him until that time. Since you are trying to work out what he is more suited to, I will just put him in a standard shoe. Still good enough to work in until you figure his forte, and after that, we can discuss the type and style of shoe he goes in from there. Saves you and me a lot of guess work now. Sound agreeable?" Cora gave a nod, money was no object and no expense would be spared when it came to her horses, they could have gold plated shoes for all she cared so long as they were what was best for the animal. "Agreeable, for sure." She said, "it's just what's best for him." And at least a few months in, they'd know how his feet tended to keep - whether they grew fast or fell apart easily. She gave Cap a light stroke when he turned his nose her way, and then decided to break the quiet again. "So, how have you been keeping?" That seemed a neutral enough question.
She caught his frown and raised a delicate brow, waiting for the moment it would twig on who she was - especially from his awkward position. It didn't seem to take long, a few seconds at most, which pleased her. It would have been embarrassing if she'd remembered him, and he hadn't, though she liked to think she was memorable enough that it wasn't a situation she'd be likely to encounter. "Cora." Her lips curled into a smile and she gave a nod to confirm that he'd got it right - even better. For all she knew, he had a new conquest every night and had to work to remember a name, but then who's to say that wouldn't have been her if she'd had a different upbringing.
"This is unexpected." She chuckled and gave a nod, "Yeah, and I promise it's purely incidental - I haven't tracked you down. But, we're new here and you were highly recommended." She shrugged, patting the horse once again and glancing away to watch the horse as he in turn, observed Grey's approach. "I tend to be good at what I do," Cora nodded, "Apparently so," Considering how many had given him a good review - his reputation preceded him. "Time to put you to the test," She added with another quick smile. She didn't know him enough yet just to 'trust him', but she'd know pretty quickly if something wasn't right about his work. "Are you going to be doing anything specific with your horse? Hard riding, competitive type stuff, or are you more leaning into general riding?" Cora watched Cap as he snorted at Grey but then relaxed, used to this kind of behaviour from a man and being the perfect gent to raise his hoof and place it where the guy wanted. He sank into a relaxed posture and lowered his head a little, settling in for the work. "I'll be competing with him, it'll be mostly showjumping and some dressage, once I know where his strengths are I'll lean more toward one than the other so I can specify his training and fitness."
She felt Grey tense, and she did too on instinct, unsure what was about to come out. She gave a wince when she did, tensing was not a good idea right now - she was fragile and somewhat battered, she needed to be relax and resting. "Want what is best for her? Really? Because what I see isn't best. What I see from you is a pair of self-righteous assholes. This is the twenty-first fucking century and you are all but selling your daughter like she's a piece of meat. I'm sure in your time that's all you knew, but times have moved on and Cora is her own person, not a chest piece to shuffle around at a whim." She laid a hand on his arm, "Grey... p-please.." She whispered, glancing to her parents for their horrified reactions. Though Cora didn't buy into the reasons behind the family traditions, she still knew that her parents did, and she sort of understood why they happened.
"Your daughter is not a robot, she is not a slave and not a dog that lays at your feet," Cora paled slightly, seeing the way her parents bristled, the way her father drew himself up. If they wanted, they could have Grey dragged out on his ass and thrown in a cell. It sounded over the top, and it was given the circumstances, but they would do it, they had the authority to do whatever they wanted. They could make him disappear. "Mother, father..please... just believe me. Grey needs to stay, and you leave." She tried to be firm, her voice wobbled slightly at the flair of pain, sweat began to bead on her brow. "I don't like this at all, we let you out on free rein for far too long." Her mother said with a shake of her head. Cora frowned slightly and swallowed, unhappy.
She relaxed a little at the kiss to her forehead, hearing the buzz of a button but not realising Grey had pressed it. "I'm going nowhere." She nodded and went to clutch onto his arm, not wanting to let go of him. He was the only thing keeping her together in that moment. "I think its time you two leave, because in less than thirty seconds nurses will be in to shoo you out, You are not helping her to recover by being the local Stonehenge. Another day we might talk, but no more." There was a moment of silence, in which Cora's painful, laboured breathing became clear. Her parents looked at her, her pale and sweaty face, the way she shook, the clutching of her hand on Grey's arm, and they were about to speak again when the nurse burst in. She took one look at Cora's condition and frowned, "Out. You, you and you. Out." She pointed at them all in turn with a firm hand and a scary eye. "G-grey s-stays...." Cora muttered, looking away from the looks of pain and hurt on her parents faces. They were chased from the room by the angry nurse, allowing no response from them other than to actually leave.
"I think I'll continue to entertain my depraved mind thanks, And the gutter? Really, worst insult you can muster?" Charlotte put a hand to her chest in outrage. "How disgusting," She curled her lip slightly at the man, not liking the fact that he hadn't moved from her daughter's side as instructed. She didn't want him near her, someone of his low status, and clearly he was only using her. She would not allow it, in any way.
"Don't apologize." Cora glanced to Grey and shook her head slightly, she had to, for how this was going to play out. She knew her parents would drag her away again eventually, back to the life behind bars that she hated, but she'd hoped for a little more freedom, a little more life before it had happened. She wished she'd warned Grey earlier - he didn't deserve this treatment. "I should have... warned you." She admitted, earning a frown from her father. "Warned him? Of what, your family?" He shook his head, a slight pinch of hurt appearing between his eyes. "We love you Coralina, we only want the best for you. This is not it." Her father looked to Grey and Cora knew he thought he was being kind, but he was wrong. "Grey is... the best for me." Which only earned pitying looks from them both - as if she were still a child that didn't know better.
"I think we're at an impasse here." It wasn't quite that far, and Charlotte raised a brow, "our daughter does not always know what's good for her, but we are here to decide that. There is no impasse, whether she requests you to stay or not doesn't matter. You will be removed." She waved a dismissive hand and glanced to their outside company expectantly. Both parents were taken aback as Will appeared. "Your Royal Highness', Grey is harmless... I vetted himself once I learnt where Cora was running off to." Richard narrowed his eyes, "yes, we'll deal with you later. The fact that you've known this was happening and did not inform us of it is troubling, and against your duties as her head guard." He shook his head. "Perhaps it is time your duties were removed from you." Cora's eyes widened, her heart monitor had already picked up in worry and now it doubled. "This is not Will's fault!" She gasped at the rush of pain as she sat upright. "It is partly his fault. He has failed in his promises." Richard said simply.
"That's what you think. Lay back sweet-heart, please, I will not be going unless you tell me to." Cora shook her head, too worked up to lay back. She put a hand to her abdomen as the stitched wound pulled sharply, and she let out a hiss between clenched teeth, her face paling. "I can't s-stop them.. if they... take you ... I'll never see you... again." The thought terrified her.
"Couldn't care less whom I'm talkin' to doll-face, You both waltz in unannounced and expect me to yield to your pom and frill or whatever the fuck this is? Fuck that, think again. I don't know who you are, I couldn't give to rat's ass' about you both to be frank - you're irritating me. The only bowing I'll do is to a porcelain god with a cracking hangover, or if my girlfriend asks me to. So I don't know where this 'boy' comes from, but you're walking a fine line, because I am more man than you both combined. Now, I'd like to see your little lap dogs try to remove me from this room, because it won't happen. The only person that will make me do anything is laying in that bed, so spit and threaten me all you like. Your daughter, my girlfriend - bite me. She goes nowhere."
The speech did nothing to impress the parents, it only soured their expressions, and Charlotte picked up on that important word like a vulture, even letting out a small laugh of incredulity. "Girlfriend? I don't think so." There was no way her daughter would be touching the boy with a barge pole, whether she already had or not. "You can forget all those notions of dating, Coralina will be returning home with us, and you will be returning to the gutter from which you came." She added, turning her nose up as if he smelt. Richard left that talk to his wife, he was not in the habit of handling the matches in the family, though he attempted to make connections with other royalty to get his children the best opportunities. There was interest in Cora, there always had been, but she was somewhat difficult to handle.
Cora felt a wave of emotions in those few moments from waking - the pain at first returned, and then came relief that Grey was still with her, and then panic and a strange sense of fear to see her parents. They couldn't be here, this wasn't right. She wasn't ready to deal with this. Before she could process it, Grey pressed a kiss to her forehead and she turned her attention to him. "Morning Pigeon. It would appear your folks are here." She shifted slightly, looking warily at Grey and then to her parents, trying to push herself upright. "I'm sorry," She said to Grey first of all, knowing this was about to be bad - if it wasn't already. "Coralina, you had us both so worried. What on earth happened? This is exactly why you should not have been here in the first place." Her father went from worried to scolding in a switch, and she barely had a moment to breath. "Will, remove this boy from the room. It's not appropriate for him to be here." Her father added, waving a dismissive hand at Grey. Cora shot upright in panic, and then winced. "No! He s-stays."
"You're both ruining a perfectly good nap, My name is irrelevant to you asshole. And you don't tell me what to do. I am staying right where I am and there isn't a god damned thing you can do about it. Now, you both seem lost - the psyche unit is the next floor up, better get moving before the orderlies put this place on lock down looking for you both." Cora's parent's both bristled, her father drew himself up impossibly taller, her mother took on a haughty, unimpressed expression and her lips puckered in displeasure. "How dare you." She was able to utter, still shocked that this stranger had spoken to her in such a way. "Do you have any idea who you are talking to?" Richard reached out to place a placating hand on his wife's arm. "I think it is clear, that he does not." Though it did not make things any more okay. "Get on your feet boy, and bow as you should." He frowned, "You are not addressing some commoner off the street, and I do not think this is appropriate attire or manners of which to speak with us."
Alerted to the raised and abrupt tone, a couple of additional bodyguards came in, warily looking back and forth between the young man and the royalty. "I will ask you politely once more, and then if you do not move, you will be forcibly remove. Get away from our daughter." Charlotte said firmly, pursing her lips as she glared at the man, looking him over and deciding that he was not good enough, not worthy enough, not the sort she would allow her daughter to entangle with. The rumble of voices broke through Cora's deep and restful sleep, and she slowly began to stir, shifting a little and smiling softly to feel the warmth of Grey still tucked around her - safe and secure... and yet, something was wrong. She frowned slightly, trying to pull herself from her sleep. Somehow she managed to blink her eyes open, and though they were bleary, she wondered if she was dreaming still. "Mum... Dad?"
Cora let Grey lull her to sleep, her eyes already drifting closed with the touch of his lips on her cheek. She felt safe, wrapped in his arms, and though the pain was not taken away, it was eased just a little by his being there with her. His comforting words swirled around her brain, beating off her circling worries from what the doctor's had told her. Maybe they could get through this together, maybe it would be okay if she couldn't have kids. She wasn't sure yet, but Grey had made her feel more secure about the possibility of it, and her last thought as she drifted off was how much she loved him and how thankful she was to have him. She swore to herself that she would be sure never to take advantage of him.
***
It was obvious something exciting was happening by the arrival of the limo and an entire host of police. Everyone was alarmed as secret service hustled inside to clear out as many of the civilians as possible. They would have liked more time, but the Prince and Princess had not given them a choice; they wanted to see their daughter, and they wanted to see her now. Ideally, they wanted to move her - back home where she belonged. They had known this was a bad idea, to let her run ragged. It was time to remove the wild from the child and settle her in her rightful place and role as royalty. Richard strode into the hospital, Charlotte firmly at his side. They had already been informed of the room number, and the way, the hallways clear and hushed as they tipped their chins high and glided along. There was no preamble, no gentle knock and the poking in of a head - that just wouldn't do. An agent opened the door to Cora's room for them, and the pair swept in like they owned the place, critical eyes taking in the room, the bed, their daughters prone form, and the half naked man curled around her within a moment. "And who, on earth, are you?" Richard demanded in a commanding voice, following quickly by his wife as she added, "Get away from her at once."
"Uh-huh. Right. Well, we're going to look at a nap together yeah? Nap and cuddles sounds really good." She managed a small smile, it faintly amused her the way he went around trying to get her to sleep. "Cuddles are al-ways... good." She agreed quietly, "especially.. yours." She added, always feeling her best settled with him. She just seemed to fit and when he wrapped an arm around her, she felt safe and protected. Like nothing bad could happen. Even now, when something awful had happened, she felt like with him there, everything would be okay. She yawned again all the same, her body urging her to get more sleep.
"Made you feel normal? Odd thing to say." She was too tired to talk it through, and it would take a lot of explaining. Instead she gave a small sigh, "My title.. is my.. job, and my.. life. I don't.. get to go out.. and do what normal people do." Was the easiest way to say it. Her whole life had been about etiquette, and politics, how she was to conduct herself, what she would be doing when she took over from her parents, who she might marry and how many kids she might have. She paled to think of that last part.
"Well, that doesn't matter to me. Princess, angel, demon, cultist - it doesn't matter. You are you and that's all that matters me. Who gives a flying fuck about scandals? Cause I can safely say I am not someone the Royal family would want hanging around. But that's tomorrow's issue sweet heart." She took in his words for a moment, wondering if he was just trying to humour her. "I want you... hanging around." She mumbled, another yawn as her eyes slid closed without her choice. "Just don't.. let them take.. me back." She whispered, afraid to lose the life she'd begun to build here.
"I'm here." She knew that he was, that he wasn't going anywhere but logically it felt better for her to hear the words. She settled again, curling up closer to him. Her heart monitor picked up for a moment to be with him, and then calmed as she relaxed in his hold. "You should so you can heal, But I understand it." She shook her head carefully, "I can heal.. awake." That dark threatened the edge of her vision but she fought it, not ready to return to that heavy, oppressive feeling. The real world hurt, in many ways, but at least she knew what was real, she knew where she was and what was happening now.
His silence for a moment worried her, was he about to leave? Was he upset? It was a big thing to process, it once again spun their relationship it's it axis - it made a difference, as much as she didn't want it to. At some point, he would have to meet the family and they him, at some point he would catch himself in a newspaper and it wasn't fair to just spring that on him without warning. It had almost happened once. "Alright your Majesty." She caught the chuckle and she sighed, not surprised but also a little frustrated. It did sound far fetched and out of the blue. "I wish I was..joking." She admitted. "I always.. wanted to be normal.. you made me ... feel normal." She yawned, trying to hide it.
Her eyelids felt heavy. "My parents are.. Prince Richard and P-Princess.. Charlotte.. of Hampshire." She didn't know if he would even know them, it was better if he didn't, she'd never understood people's obsessions with the royal family. "I am the Gr-reat-grandchild.. or the Queen of England." It sounded insane, she knew it did and she cringed as how ridiculous she sounded, she hated her formal titles. "You can ..google me as.. Lady Coralina A-Astley. Enjoy..all the... scandals..."
"No one should ever arrange the life of someone else, Not unless they are prepared to deal with the repercussions of those arrangements." She managed a tiny smile, knowing that he was one of the few people who would understand; other people didn't. They thought she was lucky to have her life, that she shouldn't complain and should just get on with it. All she'd ever felt is trapped - a bird in a cage. Rhett made it bearable, but Grey set her free. She knew she owed him an explanation, and that he may feel it was too much, especially now with her current situation. It felt like a mess.
She wasn't sure if he would say no, but of course he didn't. "Of course," Cora saw him remove his coat, trying to stem the sobs that racked her bruised and broken body but they weren't ready to be done. "Just give me a moment and I'll lay right with you. I'll be gentle, I promise." She didn't care if it hurt, "I just.. n-need you." It was all she would ever need. She tried to make him some room, the beds were not built for two, but with some manouvering she found herself tucked into him, her fingers interlacing with his as she cried it out. "We'll make this work. But first, we need rest." She swallowed, the tears slowly subsiding to hiccups, each one hurt and she winced, but there was nothing she could do to stop them.
"I don't.. want t-to sleep." It was true. She was afraid of it right then, she just wanted to be awake and alive, with Grey wrapped around her, protecting her as he always did. "I need.. to tell you s-something." She was able to manage when the tears finally gave out and her breathing steadied. Her head hurt worse than ever, her body aching all the more and she felt spent, but at some point soon this would come to fruition and Grey would be blind sighted. She took a moment to compose herself, taking a deep breath and letting it out slightly. "I.. have not been.. entirely honest." Which was true, a lie by omission was still a lie. "T-the reason for.. many things you may h-have picked up on.. is that I am a part.. of the r-royal family." She cringed to say it, shuddering slightly. "N-not in line to the throne.. aside from a ..dramatic tragedy but.. a Lady, in my own.. right." She held her breath, worried for his reaction.
"More like I don't know what I did to have someone like you in my life, But I feel like I was given something incredibly special with you Cora. I do." Her heart squeezed slightly. "I feel the same, I never.. expected to get this.. in my life." She bite her lip - she would have to tell him at some point. "I always... knew I would have my life.. arranged for me."
It took her a moment to manage it, but then she was finally staring at the offensive wound. It was bound in thick bandages, a little blood spotted the white and she wondered if that was meant to have happened. She touched the bandages and then she felt it. The sobs. It was all too much, too quick to take in. She pulled the covers back over herself, not wanting to see it anymore and instead, she reached out to Grey. "P-please, will you.. c-come here." She needed him to hold her, not matter if it hurt her to get there. She shifts slightly to make some room, already anticipating him saying yes as her fingers tried to clasp his hand and weakly pull toward her. The sobs were already coming, and they hurt, but she couldn't stop them.
