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!.
apparently, or so they tell me but i'd rather be fat than hungry. well you know, every thrill seeking activity i can find over there and they have some whoppers. also found some amazing climbs!
they'll need to let out our uniforms when we get back! but what's the point in going to america and not eating your weight in shit. i've been planning.
he could go for some breakfast and he wasn't about to dissuade her from cooking it if she wanted to. she seemed harmless enough and unless she'd brought anything to poison the food with her, it didn't seem like she was here to take them out with eggs and bacon. "i could go for some food." he said with a little grin as he leaned back in the chair he was sitting on. he chuckled when she assured him that his comic books were safe and he rested a hand on his head. "you wound me. they're priceless." he said with a chuckle. he had a few that were probably worth a few hundred dollars when they were in mind condition but he actually read the comics that he had. he didn't see the point in keeping something for the sake of keeping it, he was careful, didn't ruin them and kept them packed away when he wasn't using them, if that wasn't enough it was no skin off his nose, he'd just grab a different comic to replace it. so he had a collection but he wasn't a collector, at least not as he saw it.
he couldn't help but grin a little as he saw the face she pulled and it gave him an odd little thrill to know that he'd struck a nerve. he didn't know what it was but he was a little bit glad he'd irked her, sort of like a little jab that he could turn into a flirt if he wanted and that was a weird feeling for him, normally he treated girls just like anyone else but there was something about this one already and he'd only just met her. "you broke into my house, i'll fawn over your beauty when i know you're legit." he teased her as he leaned forward a little and he let an easy grin slip onto his face. "ah you don't have to worry, i've decided you're not a blood splatter worthy threat." to be honest he was pretty sure he'd be able to pick her up and put her on his shoulder and carry her out of the house if he really thought she was there to do harm to them but he was relaxing more by the second.
he nodded and raised a hand up slightly, as if to say he was cool with it. "i figure when i go i go." he chuckled a little and to be honest so long as it wasn't in a fire, he was probably okay with it, granted it was as natural as possible. murder might not be natural but the nighshade was so that's what made it the plus. "as long as it's cool, i'm good." she just walked in the front door? he was sure he'd locked it when he'd got home last night. he was darn near positive but he'd been that tired he couldn't be sure. he'd have to remember to double check that later on or when he got home from nis next shift, make a point to lock it. "well if you're the kind of riff raff that's going to walk into my kitchen, i really don't see the benefit to locking you out." he said with a slight chuckle and one of those easy grins of his. was he flirting? a little. did he think he should? probably not. did he care? not a chance.
he couldn't help but smile at the roll of her eyes and he resisted the urge to roll his own eyes at her, he simply shrugged as he looked at her, hoping it was as casual as he was trying to be. it wasn't every day that he woke up to beautiful women standing in his kitchen and even if she'd been there to rob them blind, he couldn't say it had been an unpleasure so far. "yeah generally." people still knocked in his experience, though she couldn't tell if she was teasing of being serious. he relaxed a little more as soon as she said mason's name. it didn't mean she wasn't there for the wrong reasons but it reduced them greatly. he'd been friends with mason since he'd started at the firehouse and he was usually a decent judge of character. "that's a shame. here i was thinking i had it made this morning." since she wasn't here to take them for all they had, he set the bat down in the doorway and it seemed the motion had brought her attention to the fact he had been holding it in the first place.
"nah, defending my comic books and video games from would be cat burglars.." he joked as he let it rest in the frame of the door to the kitchen. he glanced down at the bat as she said she didn't want her face rearranged and he felt his smile widen just a little at that. "well i have to admit, it's a nice face." there was no harm in a little flirt was there? mason hadn't mentioned a girlfriend and he didn't think he was in the habit of hiding parts of his life. so she could have been just a friend? someone he met on a call. there were a number of possibilities really. had it not been early morning and had his brain been working a little more he might have put more thought into it but he wasn't going to. "but the trick is to leave no visible marks and not dirty the kitchen." not that he had much experience beating people with a baseball bat but he could only assume that it wasn't good practice to beat someone's face in, that would just put blood everywhere.
he knew they were, they were the three things he'd found brought him the most joy in life. there were other things such as his job and the friends he had, but it was one of those 'what three things would you grab in a fire' moments. although he did have to admit he'd grab his roommate before he ever grabbed the food in the fridge. he felt a little less vulnerable once the fabric was covering his chest, something like a thing suit of armour that let him relax just that little more. "ah the old dealy nightshade." he grinned as he watched her rummage around his kitchen. "good call." he joked with her as he leaned on the back of the chair. so she wasn't willing to share her name just yet was she? well that would be a fun game to try and play with her. he shifted to slip into the chair so he was sitting at the table, his arms crossing as he leaned his arms down on the surface. "so did you break a window to get in?"
had she not been bending into his fridge without warning, he would have felt worse about the fact she knocked her head as he made her jump. as it was he flinched when he heard the thunk of her body hitting the plastic and he almost took a step forward to see if she was okay. he steeled himself to stay where he was though, because even though he'd lowered the bat and his guard she was still a stranger in his home and he didn't know why she was there. what he couldn't ignore was the shapely figure she had, it was hard to ignore when it was all he could see of her at the moment but he couldn't deny he enjoyed the view she was giving him.
"try knocking next time?" he said as he raised a brow slightly as she finished eating whatever it was she'd shoved into her mouth. had she broken in just to steal food? well then she really should have just knocked on the door because if there was anything he'd been raised with it was you helped the hands that reached to you for it. he leaned the bat against the doorframe and let it go from his grasp as she mentioned mason. so she wasn't a stranger to his roommate. that was something at least. but he couldn't let the opportunity slip past. he patted his hands down his chest and looked down as if puzzled. "i guess i'm not." he said, not being able to help the quick smile that crossed his face.
"three things i'm serious about, my car, my family .. and my bacon." he said as he stepped further into the kitchen, going to the clean pile of laundry in the basket by the back door. it hadn't been put away the day before and now jay was thinking it had been an act of forethought. he found a black tee, not bothering to check if it was his or masons before he pulled it on. there wasn't much of a size difference between them and he just wanted to get a shirt on, there was something a little vulnerable about standing in the presence of a gorgeous woman while he was half naked. "promise you won't put arsenic in it?" he joked as he leaned his hands on the back of the chair at the small dining table in the kitchen. he nodded a little as she introduced herself and he offered his own name in return. "jay."
he was stirred from his not so deep slumber by the sound of the front door closing. his room was just above the front door so he usually heard the comings and goings of people from the house. but this, this woke him up because it shouldn't have happened. he stretched as he looked at the time on his watch, feeling every aching joint almost groan as he worked out the kinks that had been put their on his shift last night. once he'd done that he kicked the covers off before he found a pair of dirty jeans on the floor, pulling them on quickly and as quietly as he could. it wasn't mason in the house, his best mate was working right now and he'd told jay he wouldn't be around for hours. so they that left only one option, someone had let themselves in and was helping themselves to their stuff. he dropped to his knees quickly as he felt under the bed for his baseball bat, used to hit balls but he figured it could also be used to whack would be burglars over the head.
he knew there was crime in hickstead but he'd hardly seen it. never had anyone break into his houses or places he'd lived, never had anything stolen from him and people were usually nice. there was he odd drug fuelled idiot but that was easy enough to brush off. this was the first time someone was actually committing a crime against him. as far as he knew, he admonished himself as he crept down the stairs, his bare feet making no noise on the carpeted stairs. he kept his breathing quiet and gripped the bat in his hand. they were in the kitchen? which meant they'd walked past the living room full of things to pinch and gone for the toaster and kettle? that didn't make any sense. maybe it was mason. he felt his fingers falter a little on the bat but he kept it close as he walked down the hall.
when he reached the kitchen, he wasn't expecting what he saw. there was a pert little derriere poking out of their fridge and it made him stop short. he blinked and wondered what kind of burglar went straight for the fridge so he found himself relaxing a little. not totally but enough that he no longer felt like he was going to belt the first person he saw. he leaned his bare shoulder against the door frame and rested the top of the bat against the floor gently before he looked back down at the woman in their fridge. "put my bacon down and nobody gets hurt." he said with something of a smile as he waited for her to respond either with violence, surprise or charm.
identifying features• with his dark hair and light eyes, jay has a look that tends to grab attention when he walks into a room. he stands at about six foot, is built well because of his love of throwing himself off of very high points and his job takes a lot of fitness. when he's not donning his uniform he's in jeans and sneakers because comfort is paramount when not working.
the personality
likes • his job, spending time with his mates, cleaning - he stress cleans, rock climbing, horse riding, playing just about any sport, adrenaline seeking activities, heights, camping, eating ice cubes, helping people, secretly likes romance movies, diet soda, surfing, video games, cheesy soap dramas, history.
dislikes • not being able to help someone, when people hurt other people, ear buds, heavy metal music, getting burnt, people who brag, sick days, being injured, not being able to play sport, cheese, rope burns, children crying, paper cuts, paperwork.
strengths • his fitness & his ability to adapt.
weaknesses • looking before he leaps & being dared.
dreams • to find the 'one'.
fears • watching one of his co-workers perish.
overall personality • daring| it's something of a bad habit of his. all his life he'd pick dare over truth whenever asked, there is something about the thrill of not knowing what's coming and then actually doing it. whether that be eating something he shouldn't, going somewhere he's not allowed and doing something that probably won't do him any good. though he has done some growing up since his teenage years, he still does carry this with him now. he won't back down from a reasonable challenge, he'll still do dares that he knows probably won't kill him and he's more than willing to give anything a go once.
caring| if he didn't care about people, he'd be in the wrong job. since he was a young child he's been sensitive to how other people are feeling and he's always cared about trying to make them feel better. he knows that sometimes he can't and that sometimes it's company a person needs rather than a caring word but he feels people's pain deeply and it's something he's had to work through on the job.
reckless at times| he was born with the habit of taking leaps before he really looked where he was landing. it's been both a pro and a con for him growing up. it's led to broken bones, scraped knees, embarrassment and failure. it's also led him finding out exactly what he's capable of, how far he can push himself and to pick himself back up and try again. he's able to keep a cool and calm head while he's on the job because it's other people's safety he's keeping an eye on. but while he's out on his own and having adrenaline filled adventure, he'll let himself relax and land where he lands.
romantic| he's a closet romantic. he knows that a way to most women's hearts is a mans ability to woo them, to charm them and to treat them the way they deserve to be treated. he'll buy flowers, he'll organize dinners and surprises for anyone he's dating. he'll plan extravagance and he'll plan simple, there is no limits he won't go to when he's showing someone just how much he loves them. of course he'd yet to find the one and finding someone to share his life with is something he wants more than anything.
confident| he's never lacked the ability to see his worth. his parents were sure to instill that in him at a young age. that his worth wasn't defined by how good he looked, how fast he could run or how smart he was. his worth was determined by how he acted, how he treated people and what he did with his life. he's never had a problem walking into a room and owning it because he's been able to grow up knowing who he is and where he fits into the world, which is wherever he damn well wants because the sky's the limit.
gentleman| if one was to look under the dictionary at the word gentleman, there would be a picture of jay michaelson underneath. he treats everyone the way he'd want to be treated and he doesn't lack respect for anyone based on their looks, their job or where they live. he holds doors open, helps carry groceries and will stop and walk women and children across the street. grandmothers adore him, mother's love him and father's fear him because he just might be good enough for their little girls.
overall history • jay knows he was born luckier than most. his parents weren't rich by any means but as their only child he was doted on by both of them. they tried for a few years to have another child but when it didn't happen they accepted that and focused their attentions on raising the one son they did have. while he was doted on he wasn't spoiled and he grew up with a healthy appreciation of working for money. there were chores to be done, homework to be finished and then after came fun. and the fun they had, was very fun. he grew up going to different places around the world, his parents taking him on holiday from pretty much the moment he was born. his passport had more stamps on it than most by the time he was ten and he'd spent just as much time in his mother's home country of israel than he had in england.
while the travelling slowed the older he got and the more important school became, the experiences didn't end. whacked by the adventure bug when he was born he was always begging his parents to take him to the places he really wanted to go. he wanted to rock climb, abseil, ride horses, learn to kayak and sleep under the stars with nothing but the ground under him. they didn't always oblige when he asked but he did them as often as he could get them to take him. his father learned to love camping because it was one of jay's favorite ways to spend the weekend. since wanting to start riding lessons at about the age of six, after six or so years of weekly lessons jay was gifted his first horse on his 12th birthday. jay renamed him rocket and soon he was joining jay and his dad on their camping trips away where jay would spend the day riding trails around camp grounds while his father relaxed and read books by the tent.
while his parents were as fun loving as he was and willing to take him on these adventures, he also knew the sharp taste of being in trouble. the worst punishment he remembers was a three month grounding from riding. he was about fifteen and a he and a few of his friends had decided that it would be a very fun idea to borrow his friends dads car and tie a sled to it and see just how long they could ride it before they had to let go. well it had been going swimmingly until one of jays friends suggested someone try and ride it down and across one of the dry creek beds in the area. well of course jay raised his hand at that and soon they were speeding towards this creek bed. as soon as the cars tires landed on the other side, the trouble started. the sled flicked up at the bump and sent jay flying. it broke his wrist, his nose when he hit the ground and scraped up just about every knuckle he had. there are still scars on some of them if you look close enough. he'd been lucky he'd missed the trees, bushes and fences in the area. not to mention they'd been stupid enough to attempt this next to a road.
when his parents found out about it, to punish him for his stupidity and lack of common sense in that moment, they grounded him, literally. he still had to go and take care of rocket but his dad came with him every time and hovered like a hawk. his parents arranged with the barn owner for someone else to ride the horse while he was grounded but the sight of that was tough. while he might not have learned the whole lesson his parents had wanted him to learn, it did make him realize that he wasn't impervious and that broken bones actually hurt so he did start thinking about whether he wanted to do the things people dared him to do.
once he graduated high school, with reasonable enough grades thanks to his parents gentle guidance towards homework and not pressuring him to get perfect grades, he thought hard about what he wanted to do and he applied to join the fire department. they knocked him back at first because of his age but that didn't deter him, at the next intake he was there again and they accepted him this time. for the last six years he's been working at the station and he wouldn't change it for the world. he loves going to work and knowing that today might be a day where he saves someone or helps stop a person from losing everything. he can't see himself doing anything else with his life and he doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.
