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!.
Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. - Oprah Winfrey
“I’m glad we’re on the same wavelength then. Unless you wanted to see me running an screaming stranger danger,” Tempe teased. She took the flowers before giving them a good breath in. “They’re so beautiful. They’ll sit beautifully on the new side table I made for my bedroom.” Okay, maybe that was..maybe a bit too much information. But did it sound welcoming?
She gingerly placed the bouquet down and went for a bottle to open it. “I don’t know how true it is, but I have a sneaking suspicion,” Tempe smiled. Her son had become such a caring young man. He didn’t fault her or call her a villain. It was because her village was so strong, and he was surrounded by people that didn’t villainize her or judge her journey.
The sound of the bottle popping open, with a slight fizz was whispered through the wind. Tempe poured a half glass each before sitting down. She gingerly pulled a flower out of the bouquet and placed it behind her ear. “What do you think? Does it make me look like a fairy?” Tempe inquired.
Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. - Oprah Winfrey
Tempe smiled. “Well, to be honest – I feel somewhat stable. I mean, I’ve been stable for a bit – but I think finally seeing Tanner as a grown adult. If that makes sense, I don’t feel like I failed him.” She was lucky she had the village she did. Tempe, if she stayed in the States – probably wouldn’t be alive. She would’ve died, trying to stick a wire up her. Or maybe forced to bear more children from a man the age of a grandfather. The thoughts made her shiver and frown for a moment.
“And there is a man I’m talking to. Not really, I guess. But I feel something. We’ve only run into each other a few times, and those times feel like hours and months versus just a few split seconds.” Her eyes looked off longingly, thinking of Kas. His stoic appearance, but still caring when she needed him. “Though the last breakup has been a bit tough. I know it happened a while ago, but I don’t think those feelings ever fade. They do say dating at our age is tiring,” she laughed.
“What about you? Have you started talking to anyone, or hanging out?” Tempe didn’t know how vulnerable Elliot would be with her, but she could at least try and see what info he was willing to give.
Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. - Oprah Winfrey
Tempe looked up from playing with the napkin out of nerves. There he was, dapper in jeans and polo. She took a moment to drink the image of a cleaned-up Kas. Not that he looked bad beforehand. After staring like a deer in headlights, Tempe smiled before standing up. “Hello. I see you were also…convinced to come out today,” she smiled. “Well, I’m very thankful that it is you.” Fingers sheepishly pushed some curls out her face.
She felt like a teenager, asking someone to dance. Tempe almost felt like crossing her legs and batting her eyelashes, but she was too old for that. “Can I interest you in a glass of sparkling cider?” she asked. “I’m sure Tanner would hate for it to go to waste.”
Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. - Oprah Winfrey
Tempe didn’t know if she needed to be suspicious or not. Tanner had sent her a text to meet him at the pond for a picnic and a family photoshoot. At least he didn’t tell her that it was a surprise, as Tempe was not a fan of surprises. Something that she had voiced quite a few times, especially when it came to birthday parties and so on.
She couldn’t tell him no, as they were already having a bit of a hard time spending time with each other lately. Summer and spring were the busy seasons for both, and despite living in the same house – it didn’t mean they had all their meals together. Thankfully, the shop was closed for the day of the picnic. Tempe’s schedule was open – which gave her time to get ready. She showered and dressed in something that was not pants for once. With the weather getting warmer, Tempe needed some movement and freedom.
Her hair fell in its natural curls after a good amount of product and diffusing. A light layer of makeup, but nothing outlandish. She gave herself a small look over before driving to the park. Tempe found the spot Tanner told her to meet. Instead of family, there was a nicely set up picnic table with a light blue tablecloth runner. A vase of wildflowers and two bottles of sparkling apple cider in a chiller. As well as a disposable film camera.
Tempe tilted her head as she slowly approached. On a small plate, a note read, you deserve this! Dammit, her son was about to make her cry. It took her a moment to notice the second place setting across from her. Would it be filled by the person who she hoped it would be?
Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. - Oprah Winfrey
A small laugh escaped Tempe. It was true that the people didn’t know how things worked. But it didn’t make Tempe rage like it did for Elliot. She wondered what made him stick around for so long. Other than his dad, of course. He was a good worker, but almost everyone knew that it wasn’t fulfilling for him.
“And why haven’t you told him no? I mean, you already know that you don’t want it, right?” she asked. Maybe It was because Tempe didn’t have that father-and-child blood relationship that Will and Elliot had. Something about lineage. While Will was a somewhat old-fashioned person, she didn’t think he would force Elliot to take over.
“Yeah, I would. But I also know if I do, I don’t know if I would be able to build as much as I’d like. And I do enjoy building and going out.”
Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. - Oprah Winfrey
“Oh yes, I believe it is Eva. Granted, my son has been getting a lot of female attention lately. As long as none of them start talking about marriage or kids,” she joked. Some people could say Tempe had no right to tell Tanner to not have kids, but she didn’t want him to have a child in the way she did. Either with him being the victim or the villain.
She graciously handed him her plate of untouched quice. “No, no – you sit. I’ll grab myself a plate and you a cup.” Tempe didn’t allow Elliot any time to refuse. It didn’t take long for her to come back out with a slice for herself and her largest mug filled with black.
Tempe sat back down, tucking her feet in, something she always found comfortable doing. It wasn’t the best thing for her posture, but she was allowed some kind of comfort. “If not for Tanner...I’m guessing a terrible customer?” she prodded, breaking a piece of quiche off. Tempe knew that feeling all too well. Mainly from men who told her that they knew more than she did. But who was often sent out to help them with their botched fence job?
Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. - Oprah Winfrey
Summer was over and Tempe didn’t quite know what Fall was going to bring in. Tanner was working his ass off, and Tempe felt like she had rarely seen him over the summer. Plus, he was looking at his phone – giggling like a schoolgirl. If he was staying out of trouble, that’s all that mattered.
A yawn escaped her as she sat in her rocking chair on the freshly finished front deck extension. The crisp air was welcomed and Tempe was enjoying the caramel coffee, waiting for her freshly made quiche to cool down. As she was about to dig in, she saw her cousin Elliot walk up to her. He looked angry, as always, but she smiled at him.
“Good morning, Elliot. If you’re looking to kidnap Tanner, he’s off walking a pack of ten this AM. I got a broccoli cheddar and bacon quiche here, with a fresh pot of coffee.” Elliot seemed to be appearing more at the secondary Scott home. Not that she had a problem with it, but he did appear giddier.
elliot -- scott anna kendrick/ed skrein* → 30 → cousin
* FC is open, the one that is listed is a suggestion. Elliot is also a uni-sex name, so the player can choose which gender they want to play them as.
Elliot is Tempe's younger cousin. They were born via surrogacy as Phoebe wasn't able to birth safely after her surgery. They help their father at the shop but do their own thing. Like Tempe, they're very handy and knowledgeable in construction.
phoebe -- scott juliann moore* → 64 → aunt → owner of Scott's Hardware
* FC is open, the one that is listed is a suggestion
Phoebe is the wife of William. She met William in college while she was doing a study abroad, and the two fell for each other instantly. William's family didn't approve of their relationship as Phoebe was a woman that was dealing with a bad case of sciolis that didn't get fixed until they got back to Hickstead. William followed her back home, and the two have made a lovely life together. She was a bit more hesitant to take Tempe in, but after seeing the distress and pain the teen was in - she became the mother Tempe never had.
