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!.
Please DM Forever on DISCORD should you wish to discuss any of the below opportunities. Any characters listed under 'short term' are open to dating other characters before their endgame - they can be a bit stop on your character's way to love - if you need some drama in your life.
Please DM Forever on DISCORD should you wish to discuss any of the below opportunities. Any characters listed under 'Crushing It' are open to short term dating - they can be a bit stop on your character's way to love - if you need some drama in your life.
Ronan felt slightly better when the other male informed him that the hazing tended to happen to every new person who joined verses Ronan had gotten picked on personally. Plus, he and Mason couldn't look any more different from each other - which also helped in the young male's relief that he hadn't been a specific target based off of awkward and sullen looks. At his vow of revenge, he couldn't help but to notice the smile spread across Mason's face, "That's the spirt." Blue grey eyes stared at him for a moment before he offered, "You know, if you want in on it, I'll allow it." It was a bold move on his part, given that he was certain that the other male had some authority around the station and probably shouldn't go along with the idea of revenge, but hey, he bet some of the older guys had done the same thing to him.
He was certain he had an idea with the firehose but Mason was quick to shoot it down, "I hate to break it to you but that would probably make them look better in the shoot." Shit. The man had a point. After all, he came from the very country that he was certain put Hot Firefighter Calendars for Charity on the map. It must have shown on his face because Mason continued on, "If i'm right in thinking who put you up to this. .I know for a fact they hate cats. .it'd be such a shame if they were to end up holding one in the shoot." A mischievous grin couldn't help but to fall on his face now, "Remind me to ask Jamie to put in a request for a bunch of squirmy kittens then when he's scheduling with Sparks Kennels potential adoption animals." He just wouldn't admit to the chief as to why he wanted the kittens, and thankfully, Ronan himself did like cats thanks to his grandfather's. So he had a good excuse if prodded for an answer.
They were both eyeing that dirty fire truck now, and Mason shockingly offered a small escape, "Well. .b-shift have finished so my team will have to finish it. . care to stick around?" Blue grey eyes stared at Mason now, sorta shocked - both on the team offer to finish it and the fact that he was actually offered a chance to hang out. Well, guess Hickstead was full of surprises, "I don't mind...I can help finish the truck. Maybe all of that scrubbing will build up my scrawny body for the calendar." He joked now, probably not, Ronan was going to settle for some bare arms and a puppy or a kitten to make himself calendar acceptable, "So...when I come off of the call and switch boards, does this mean you think I'm cool enough to adopt onto your shift?"
Blue grey eyes watched Leo leave to go get himself a horse - whether it was his actual horse or perhaps a different one - Ronan wouldn't know until he reappeared. This was turning into quite the morning, meeting the young co-owner of the Seven Oaks Stables. Truth be told, had he been back in Australia, he probably wouldn't have even given the blonde male a shot at friendship. He hadn't been very good at making friends back home, falling into the role that his fellow classmates had assigned him and thrived in it. Despite Leo being a few years older than him, he still looked the part of what might have been a popular kid in school. Blonde, muscular, that charismatic personality. It was strange to think that moving across the ocean would make Ronan a bit more open to the thought of people talking to him, especially people who he would have thought wouldn't have given him a second glance.
A snort escaped Max. Hello, earth to my human the horse seemed to say with that delievery and the young male couldn't help but to laugh, "Sorry. Shall we get ready then?" While a true school master probably would have preferred that Ronan would have gotten back on the brumby to work him after that shake up of the fall, the young male was no school master and neither was his horse. They were born and bred for the wild. So Ronan could hardly fault the refusal that Max had given him, even as annoying as it hard been. Just getting back on the brumby after a fall like that was a win in his book. Seeing as the arena would no longer hold their interests, he opened the gate and lead his horse out. Rechecking his cinch and saddle, Ronan quickly remounted the brumby now who decided to stand still for him - probably as an apology for earlier.
No sooner was he up on Max and sticking his feet back into the stirrups did he hear approaching hoofsteps. Glancing over, he saw Leo give a friendly wave from ontop of a large large and muscular horse. Ronan couldn't help but to let out a low whistle and a snort escaped Max, who tossed his head just slightly, "I know you can take him but that isn't this sort of ride," he muttered to the chestnut brumby now before waving back. Squeezing Max just ever so slightly to send him forward, they soon were walking step in step with the other horse and rider, "I've stolen this beast, let's go before they call the police and come running after me." A grin fell onto Ronan's lips, "Well, I guess we can't be having the police coming after us. Good thing our horses are fast and I assume, where we are going, they cannot follow us." Without missing a beat, he then added, "Criminal business aside, your horse is quite the looker."
"Whoa whoa whoa just...calm your tits for a second," Kenzie exclaimed now, "I'll help you. Nobody will be able to find it, it's my specialty." He couldn't help but to frown, she would be the sort of person to use such an expression, "I don't think you - wait, you'll help me?" Ronan felt a little dumbfounded by her easy agreement to his request. Truthfully, he had expected a lot more of a fight out of her given their introduction to each other. He wouldn't question it beyond what he just asked though, the young male wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth - especially when that horse agreed to help him find his grandfather's missing cat. Granted, he knew he had promised her a hefty fee but money was replaceable in the long run - Muffin was not.
When the dark haired girl quirked an eyebrow at him and gave him a look, Ronan couldn't help but to wonder what he had done now, only for her to deliver her jab and pair it with an eye roll, "You hated me after one sitting? Damn, I am impressed. I didn't know I was that good." Okay, so he cringed at that and he wouldn't deny that he deserved that line, "Okay, so maybe hate is a strong word. Whatever it is we feel about each other, we burry the hatchet and start aknew." Truth be told, the young male was surprised that Kenzie didn't hate him. Perhaps he had caught her in foul mood that day, after all, it's not like she had exactly wanted him to sit with her that day. Ronan would forever remain on the defense that there was no other choice, he needed to eat his food and Kenzie's table was literally the only one that gave him that option.
He continued to hold the door open while she retreated back into her room now to grab her stuff, officially agreeing to help him out, "Thanks Kenzie, I owe you..." Hopefully, nothing serious actually happened to her - like being hit or somebody actually stealing her and it was just a matter of wandering off for whatever reason or getting stuck in a tree. Ronan hoped the worry didn't come across his face, he didn't really want to be pegged as a softie but animals made it hard to hide that fact, "Last time we saw her, she was just lounging on the front porch this morning. She has a collar and everything." As blue grey eyes watched her finalize her stuff, he couldn't help but to ask, "How on earth did you get into finding animals? I admit, I was surprised when I got your name from a fellow student when the police rejected me."
Ronan Slade couldn't take it anymore. He had to something about his grandfather's cat. That beloved fluffy ragdoll cat was the sole companion of his grandfather when Ronan was out and it had been the thing that got his grandfather through his grandmother's passing. There had to be something he could do. Granted, the young male didn't know how to find a cat - who suspiciously disappeared off of the property which was odd - Muffin always kept closed by, even when she was allowed outside. She never strayed far and considering the significant amount of money that the breed cost - he truthfully suspected fowl play. Naturally, the police didn't take him seriously - or at least, they could not spend their time out looking for a cat and so he filed a report and they informed him to just put up flyers with a reward.
Thankfully, when he had been putting up his flyers - a classmate spotted him and suggested that he go talk to Kenzie Solo and gave him her dorm room and number. Supposedly, she had her own private eye business that was run out of her dorm room. In the back of his mind, Ronan could not help but to cringe at the name Kenzie, remembering his ill fated lunch with a dark haired girl who did nothing but aggravate him. Maybe, just maybe, it was a different Kenzie and not her. He could hope. Kenzie can't be that much of a unique name on campus. After all, all of their parents thought they were going gold with names for individuality only to discovery in primary school, there were like three other kids that shared their same name.
If nothing else, Ronan knew that for the sake of locating Muffin, he would be willing to swallow his bride and work with her. If nothing else, money spoke and he could offer up to 400£ - that was how depressed his grandfather was. So he hiked over towards the girls dorm and walked on in. He ignored the looks he got, knowing that he fully looked out of place walking through the hallways. His face remained sullen as always as he walked up the door now. Taking a breath, willing it to not be THE Kenzie, he knocked on the door. When it opened, disappointment ran through him as his blue grey eyes rested on the same dark haired, khol rimmed eye girl. She probably shared his same resentment, so he was quick to step forward to block her from to shutting the door in the face, "Look, before you toss me out of here - I need your help," quickly he handed over the flyer with MUFFIN'S PICTURE, "I think my grandfather's cat got catnapped, she went missing and it's unlike her. And I hear you are exceptionally good at finding stuff. I'll even give you the reward money if you help me. I know you and I got off on the wrong foot - and we can still hate each other - but Grandpa loves this cat and needs her back."
- I Ain’t Worried – OneRepublic - My Consequence – Hey Violet - The Last of the Real Ones – Fall Out Boy - Immigrant Song – Karen O, Trent Razor, & Atticus Ross - Shut Up – Simple Plan - FireFlies – Owl City - Stitches – Shawn Mendes - Love You A Little Bit – Tanner Adel
It would appear that this series of unfortunate events for Ronan was quite humorous to the other male. However, Mason wasn't coming off as spiteful or a jerk about it, just stating the obvious and probably pitying Ronan for managing to fall for the ole 'hey, wash the truck kid' joke. "Yeah b-shift have a few assholes on their crew," Mason commented now. A mildly dramatic sigh escaped the young male, sounding like his horse when he's asked to do something in an arena. A hand reached up to rest on the back of his neck as blue grey eyes looked to the ceiling for a moment, as if it held all of the answers in the world, "Yeah, I feel a little stupid that I fell for their antics." He muttered before looking back to Mason. Maybe the other male would be his alley in this station though, Mason didn't look like the kind of guy that those B-Shift people would mess with, Ronan certainly wouldn't. Plus, he could have let Ronan just carry on verses stopping him, so he had to be nice.
Honestly though, the young male knew he should have started questioning stuff when he was fairly certain that another senior fire fighter, Wren, mentioned that as a volunteer, he would mainly be manning the dispatch stuff verses insane manual labor. He caught movement out of the corner of his eyes, just in time to brace himself for impact as Mason clapped him on the back, smiling at him, "The newbies always get hazed, those idiots just forgot we don't haze the volunteers...tends to scare them off becoming future probies." Ronan snorted a laugh, he could honestly see why that would be the case although he doubted that the other male needed to be told that, "Nah, they didn't scare me off. I'll just have to exact my revenge," he replied now, thinking for a second before adding on, "Maybe if that calendar event happens, I'll get 'em with the hose when they're stripped...er as long as they aren't holding puppies or kittens." Mason's answer to that comment will tell him everything. His blue grey eyes wandered to the truck now, only a smidgen soapy, and something dawned on Ronan, "So...what should we do about the truck?"
Ronan couldn't help but to allow a laugh escape him at Leo's further joke. That guy was on a roll with the cracks, and for some reason, Ronan found them utterly hilarious. Maybe Seven Oaks and Hickstead really was starting to rub off on him, "With my noodle arms? I think those doctors will remain utterly safe from throwing abilities. I'll leave that job to Max." Speaking of the horse, he was still enjoying the attention that he was receiving from Leo, especially that little scratch followed by the other man's comment: "I am always open to new best friends". Max had snorted, as if he were agreeing with Leo. Blue grey eyes rolled, Ronan shaking his head slightly, "I swear Max, you're acting like I pay you no mind ever." But as soon as Leo placed his hands back into his pockets, and the brumby realized that there were no more treats to be given, Max quickly turned his attention back to his horse now. Stretching his neck ever so slightly to bop his muzzle against Ronan's helmet in greeting.
He said nothing to Max, but returned the hello with a scratch now, allowing Max to then dip his head into the scratch and barrel his head into Ronan's arms as best as he could. The young man was relieved when Leo brushed off his 'Lilly's brother' comment like it was nothing, Ronan supposed that the other was quite used to it now. It appeared that his follow up recovery also worked, since the blonde was puffing out his chest just so, "I know right? You've got good eyes kid, not many people see it so fast." Laughter left Ronan as he grinned, "I've been honing my observation skills since getting here." He replied, as he worked to put the reins back over Max's head and neck now. While for a spit second, Leo seemed surprised at the invite, he was quick to accept, "Sure, let me lasso a horse, and that'll give you time to check you can get back up in the saddle?" Ronan assumed that he may have just offered the perfect excuse to get out of whatever work he should be doing with running the stables.
"Yeah, we'll just be waiting just outside of the arena for you," he said now, nodding towards the gate. Ronan was feeling confindent about getting back in the saddle, despite the soreness, it wasn't as bad as he thought now that he was shuffling about. It must have been the shock that had really winded him. With the chance at a trail ride on the horizon now, he went to work rechecking his saddle and tighting up what he needed to do, "No rush on tacking up, it's not like we'll be going anywhere without you."
He had been convinced that he had at least managed to scrub half of the truck with the soap. Although, when he took a step back to admire his soapy work, he became a little discouraged to see that it had only been 1/4th of the truck. A sigh escaped him, this was going to take longer than he thought. How the heck was he suppose to get to the tall parts of this beast anyways? Instead of tackling that question though, Ronan decided to pocket that one for now. Mainly because he didn't want to deal with it yet. Frustrated, he threw the soapy sponge at the truck now just in time for a voice to cut in: "Hey, Ronan right? I'm Mason." Shit, someone just witnessed him throwing a sponge AND they knew his name. Blue grey eyes glanced over now to find the owner of the voice.
Now, Ronan wasn't into guys, but the man standing across from him could be a bonafide man crush. In fact, he looked like the sort of fire fighter that you'd find on one of those fundraiser calendars where they posed with puppies and kittens while shirtless and yet somehow still in half a firefighter's uniform. And then, Mason moved closer and said something very curious, "Who's got you washing the truck? That's the probie's job not a volunteers." Blue grey eyes stared at the other male like he had just grown three heads, and then Ronan's gaze turned to the fire truck, and then back to Mason again, "Those motherfuckes." The teenager felt like an idiot now, he knew he should have been questioning that guy. Sighing, Ronan lifted his dry hand to run through his hair now, a little embarrassed, "I didn't get a name...explains why he was so fast to leave me here though." A slight laugh escaped him, "Nice to meet you, Mason. And yes, I'm Ronan. Guess I should have realized I was being hazed, huh?"
"If you ask nicely, they'll even set it straight for you," joked Leo now and Ronan couldn't help but to snort a laugh, which might have been a terrible idea with the blood and his nose. It was a stupid joke, but it got to him nonetheless. "I'll try and be on my best behavior then when I go to the doctor's," the teenager replied before turning a dramatic glare towards Max, "Unlike someone." It was almost as if the chestnut horse knew he was being guilted, since Max just went back to nosing Leo now, even though one of his ears remained firmly cocked in Ronan's direction. Little butt nugget. He thought to himself, figuring that his father had also felt these same feelings about him when growing up. When the other man commented on how horses were always like that, the whole 'what did you expect', the teenager just shrug now, glancing back to the blonde, "I don't know. Guess I am not used to it. I have to keep on reminding myself that we've only been here for two months so stuff's different." He also wasn't sure if he sounded like some brat just then, so Ronan added, "Not his fault though, I should have been prepared for anything."
The chestnut horse had paid him no mind now, clearly distracted with his prize. Ronan just shook his head a little bit, blue grey eyes rolling, "I think you have a new best friend," he commented now now before gently grabbing the reins. When Leo commented on how Max had a good nose, he couldn't help but to laugh, "As in it's shape or his ability to find treats just about anywhere?" The teenager shifted now, leaning against the fencing. His ride might be done, mainly because he wasn't sure if he could get back up on the horse without sounding like a box of rice crispes. When Ronan had pointed out the obvious fact that Leo had been Lilly's brother, the teenager wish he could have backtracked: "That would be me." Those words went along with a nose wrinkle. He wasn't even sure if the conversation had been saved with the following statement, "Glad to hear you're enjoying it, that's what it's here for." For all his anti-socialness, he figured he should still try and salvage his mistake, "Sorry man, I didn't mean to stick you with a tag line." What a shitty recovery, "For what it's worth, I can already tell you're the cooler sibling." Slightly better, and then an idea hit him as well as motivation for getting back up on the horse, "I haven't hit the trails here yet really, did you want to go for a ride?"
"Thankfully, my nose seems to be in tact," Ronan responded, "Despite the blood. I suppose I should be an adult and get it checked out by a doctor to make certain though." All what he could think is that the visor of his helmet put just enough room to avoid a complete collision with with Max's neck. The next part would be standing up, but the young man didn't quite feel like doing it. He was quite content on the ground, his muscle and bones still recovering from the shock of it all. He also hadn't had a fall like that in quite some time, but Ronan knew that was part of the deal when you got up to ride a 1,000 pound animal with feelings and a mind of it's own, sometimes shit just happens that you couldn't control and that was neither his fault nor Max's fault. "Come back to check to see he didn't kill you yet?" the stranger noted, and it brought a smile to Ronan's face, "I would hope so after being my horse for nearly seven years."
As Max went to investigate the stranger, the young man decided that maybe he should finally get up and off of the ground now. As he pulled himself up, his body protested greatly but he just ignored it. There was no real pain, just soreness that no doubt would be worse tomorrow. Soon, he found himself shuffling over to the fence now to be the stranger and Max, just in time to hear his name and question. Leo. That name sounded awfully familiar to him, "He can have some. Honestly, Max probably wouldn't leave your pockets alone anyways." Blue grey eyes watched as if on que, Max started in for the pockets as hands disappeared only to repear with treats. The chestnut's ears went completely forward as he inched his nose towards Leo's hands now, nuzzling it before snatching one of the fibre nuggets. And just like that, it hit him, "You're Lilly's brother." Well, now he felt stupid, "I should have recognized the family resemblance. Sorry about that. Nice place you and your sister have. I think this has become my haven since moving here."
This had to be some sort of joke. Blue grey eyes was staring at the daunting project before him and felt keenly aware that there was no one else standing besides him. But no, it wasn't a joke, at least not one where someone was going to come back and say 'haha sorry Ronan, we'll actually help you' because the real laughter echoing down the hallway before the sound of a door shut said it all. A sigh escaped Ronan, boney fingers running through his brunette hair as he stared at the fire truck. It required a wash and had to look squeaky clean, because apparently one could not go to put out fires in a dirty truck. It occurred to Ronan that he probably shouldn't think such sarcastic thoughts, mainly because there probably was a safety issue to dirt.
When he had decided to become a volunteer and give himself something else to do besides just hanging out at the stables or annoying his grandfather, he thought he would just be organizing files all day and being taught how to handle the dispatch room. Never in a million years did he think he'd be getting grunt work like this, at least, to not tackle it by himself. Granted, Ronan supposed that being a volunteer meant that he was at the bottom of the food chain in some peoples' eyes and considering the guy who asked him for his 'help' had looked like a real meat head, Ronan realized that maybe he shouldn't have been all that surprised. Plus, its not like he had been volunteering that long. A whole two weeks. He barely knew anyone yet.
Besides, standing here and silently bitching to himself wasn't going to get the job done nor would it get him out of here any faster. All what he knew was that he was about to log some serious hours now on his volunteer work. Grabbing the washing hose, he turned it on and sprayed down one side of the truck to the best of his ability before filling up some buckets with water and soap. Turning off t he hose now, he grabbed two buckets and walked them over before retrieving the last two. Blue grey eyes stared at the truck one more time before grabbing a soapy sponge and started. There was probably some karate kid joke in here somewhere with all of this cleaning. At least it was the kind of work that he could tune out. So much so that he hadn't even realized that someone had entered the garage.
