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!.
Adalia finished setting herself up, just about - she tended to fuss a little when setting up, feeling jittery until she started painting. It was that odd itchy feeling she got when she wanted to paint or draw, but didn't know where to start and ended up faffing with her hand wandering around the page but unable to make a mark. She guessed it was equivalent to people not knowing where to start cleaning in a room full of mess. She riffled around in her bag for her favourite pencils and her other sketching tools, her eyes following the movements of the real life model as they began to arrange themselves in the way they wanted to sit for their first pose. Apparently he would move a couple of times so they could attempt different angles. Adalia wasn't sure if that was a good or dangerous thing with the view she had already been given.
She glanced up and smiled as someone started setting up next to her. She knew the art world could be a little bit uptight at times, depending on the circles you travelled. Adalia was freelance and aside from joining the odd class, she didn't have much interaction with other artists. Sometimes she regretted that, wanting to make more friends in a similar line of work to her, but sometimes when she'd reached out in the past, they hadn't had the same free spirited and chilled out nature as her, not understanding why she didn't take art 'seriously' because her work and her style was different, or they didn't think she took it 'seriously'.
“Make it a whole bottle and I’ll join you with a view like that.” Adalia blushed a little, not having realise she would have been heard and glanced up again, slightly embarrassed. "I'm sure that could probably be arranged. You distract them, I'll whip out to the corner shop and be back in five." She joked, checking she'd set everything up now before taking a step back and relaxing. "I'm Adalia, by the way. Have you done one of these before?"
Jessie almost couldn't believe they'd made it to the jump off - Wildfire was such an unknown and could be a real handful on his best day. The firey chestnut made it well known he was excited for clearing his fences as he strutted about the warm up, a keen eye taking a look at everything around him as his ears pricked and he snorted loudly at every passing person. Jessie kept him moving, wanting him both to stay warm and keep focused, stay on the job - the minute he started to lose concentration would be when things went to pot, and just before she was announced back into the ring, she popped a couple of jumps, ensuring the horse felt loose and ready to go against the clock - he was fast and agile, but sometimes his giddiness got the best of him.
She figured they may as well have fun and go for speed though, given that they'd gotten this far. "Gotta risk it for a choccy biscuit, hey bud?" She murmured to Wildfire as they circled once before the bell went and she released the beast. She let him fly off at the start, a little too fast - the first jump Wildfire set off for at a blinder and jumped a bit flat, knocking the top pole. Oops. Jessie winced but carried on regardless, too late to regret it now. She spun the horse on his haunches, cutting off a corner to the next and taking out a stride for the double - she hung on and turned for the next, the horse flying beneath her, she could feel his adrenaline thrumming through him as the crowd cheered them on and they spun for the final fence. Jessie abandoned all reason and clicked the chestnut on. He responded, taking off for the fence miles away, and though his scope made it over with some room to spare, unfortunately he went just a little too flat and rolled the top pole to the ground. Grinning ear to ear, Jessie patted the boy anyway, happy with how he'd gone, having done all she'd asked.
Adalia wasn't sure what had made her sign up for the life model classes - she'd already done several in her years as a student, but that had been some time ago and she felt she needed to get some practice back in for drawing people. She supposed she hadn't needed to pick a naked life drawing session, but where was the fun in drawing people if you didn't get to see the whole form, right? Besides, there was going to be some draping of fabric over parts of the body, to work on the drawing of textures. The class wasn't too expensive, and it was nice and local, held at the university, so it wasn't far to go - and the teacher was meant to be really good. So, it was an obvious choice really.
Adalia had brought her own easel, though they had some ready for students to borrow if they needed: art supplies were expensive, and not everyone could afford it all. They did provide the paper to sketch on which was handy - and cheaper than a canvas, but it made sense given that these were just sketches today and nothing concrete. As the model came out - a guy, count her lucky stars, and not too bad on the eyes either - Adalia couldn't help but press her lips together to suppress a smile. No need to be creepy. "Now all I need is a glass of wine," She couldn't help commenting quietly, getting herself set up in the circle of easels.
Adalia had missed competing. She'd been a little busy recently, with several big pieces of art commissioned, and a few weddings out of town, she'd been run off her feet with barely time to get a lesson in for practice, let alone a show. She felt guilty when her time was short, feeling bad for leaving Rex behind on her long days away, but having no choice if she was going to be able to earn the money to own and feed the horse in the first place. The young gelding worked well on the flat but wasn't quite where she wanted him to be just yet - he had a lot to learn, and she needed to squeeze in some time now to get some lessons in.
He felt a little testy in the warm up but she was out of time to get him to relax any further, trying to use the time before the bell to get him to settle. It didn't quite work. Though Rex settled a little, he wasn't quite as relaxed as he could be, and the tension rode through in the test, a little hollow in the neck, a little against the bit. He didn't quite round over his back as he should, and he fought against her request to bend better around the inside leg. A shame but she could understand it, and she gave him a gentle pat at the end of their test all the same. Time to get those lessons in.
She saw him shrug, unable to help but catch his far too alluring gaze. A flush bit her cheeks and she hated it, how bloody embarrassing. You'd think she'd never spoken to a guy before, so ridiculous. ”Its summer and most of the university students have gone home so things are usually a bit slower till September.” Her eyebrows raised a little. "Ah, I didn't realise students were such a big part of your demographic." She cringed internally, what on earth was she going on about. Talking demographic. He was going to think she was some kind of weirdo. She wondered briefly how many of the tattoos were stupid college kids getting idiotic things permanently inked on their bodies then, and if so how many regretted it within 24 hours. Then again, who hadn't been young and dumb in their teenage years at least a little.
She watched him pick up his pen and write it in, there was no turning back now. Well, that was a little dramatic. She could still cancel the booking if she later chickened out, but getting something booked in felt a little more... definite. ”Consider it booked.” She smiled in return, a little mix of nervousness and excitement rolled into one, especially with that damn smile on his face. Her stomach was doing freaking cartwheels, forget just the fluttering of butterflies. "Alright then... It's a date." She flushed again at her use of the word, she shouldn't have done it. God damn.
”In all aspects of life.” Adalia laughed at that and gave a shrug, sipping her wine as she looked to her friend, seeing her mull over the words. She had no qualms with how anyone wanted to live their life, whether that be on their own or coupled up, or with someone of the same gender or other. She was open minded and willing to learn about other people's opinions and how they thought. Even if that wasn't the way she lived her life. ”True. . maybe in a few years.” Adalia sucked on her spoon for a moment then chuckled. "There's no time limit on it," She promised her friend. Damn, people got together well into their 70's and all ages these days.
”It’s scary but you’ve gotta put yourself out there sometimes. .maybe try one date with the guy and see how it goes? Adalia smiled gratefully at Zoe for her pearls of wisdom and nodded. "Yeah you're right, I guess I am jumping the gun a fair bit. He might be a complete asshole." She laughed, rolling her eyes. He didn't seem like one, but you never did know. Maybe on the first date he'd show some awful true colours and she wouldn't want to see him again anyway. She hoped not, he seemed like a nice guy, his artwork was incredible and ... Well... She couldn't help but notice his face wasn't too bad either. ZOE ISLA BLACKWOOD
"I must have missed the memo on the three month rule. Do people really get engaged that quickly?" Adalia laughed slightly and nodded as she swigged another mouthful of wine. "Some people really go by the word shotgun, it's kind of scary I think. I can't imagine getting married to someone so fast." She'd heard that you didn't actually get to know someone properly until about four months or so, when you finally caught each other on a bad day, or annoyed each other or similar. Heck, even the first year was usually all sugar and sweet and all things nice, she didn't think she could marry someone until she'd seen all their sides. ”No it’s the 3 month salary on a ring rule some men go by" Adalia raised a brow, "Guess you gotta hope he gets paid well..." but she was joking, never had been the type to care about money.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the attraction to marry a woman - I like what a man has to offer too much... well, the appendage attached to them anyway. That’s why I like both. .much more fun.” Adalia laughed a little at that, taking another sip of wine and realising she was almost out. "Maybe you'll have to become one of those progressive people that lives in a three? That way you can have one of each?" She suggested, it sounded bonkers to her, she couldn't imagine loving two people at the same time, at least not the same amount of love. She just wanted one person to spend her life with, that was enough. "I have heard of that happening, though I think it was done in a joking manner. Looks like you better sign up for Tinder, Zoe." Adalia snorted a laugh at that, glancing at Zoe to catch her expression. ”Oh I’m on them all already, don’t worry.”"Ah so that's what's been keeping you so busy." She teased.
As the cheese appeared, Adalia's mouth watered. "It smells amazing, nice job Cassie." She praise, reaching for a piece of bread and diving right in there. Call it a weakness of hers, but she didn't half love cheese. "Really? I'm shocked that happened. Though I ride Western, there seems to be more riders at Seven Oaks that do the same." Adalia shrugged, chewing her mouthful before she responded. "I have no idea, but let's hope things can stay settled for a while." The conflict sucked, and it has to be tough on the workers and owners too. She attacked the cheese some more for a moment as the other two discussed boxing. It wasn't that she wasn't interested but she didn't like talking with her mouthful and the cheese was too good to resist. "I don't know if I'd ever actually be able to hit someone though, if it came to it." She admitted, which would make self defence seem like a waste of time. After a moment she sat back to take a break from the food, hearing Cassie ask about the barn she smiled and nodded her agreement. "They certainly outdid themselves. I'm impressed they could afford it." Though perhaps they'd gotten a healthy pay out from the insurance.
She watched him pull out a diary and riled through. With being self employed, she could generally fit things around her work easily enough, or shuffle things if she really had to. She didn't like to move her clients if she could help it, it wasn't fair for them if you set a date and then moved it - it wasn't a professional thing to do. Her eyes flittered from wall to wall, taking in the prints hung up to show the talent of the artists at home in this shop. ”If you want to get it done all at once, I can fit you in next Wednesday but if you want to split the sessions, I can fit you in this Friday and next Monday afternoon if that’s any good?” Her eyebrows rose in slight surprise, not realising how fast it would be possible. "That soon?" She considered her diary and what it looked like for the next few weeks, mentally working through her bookings. "Wednesday would be good, if one session works?"
”Hey, I’m a bartender and self-employed, you think I can afford the stupid 3 month rule for a ring?” Adalia chuckled and gave a sip of her wine and then a shrug, "I think you should be able to for someone like me - I'm worth every penny." She joked, though for her it wasn't about the money anyway - not that this was anything more than a joke. “Wait, did you seriously ask her to marry you?” ”Nah, I just said to marry me if we’re both still single at 40 but she said no.” Adalia laughed loudly and rolled her eyes, glancing back at Zoe from the corner of her eye. "Unfortunately, I don't have the attraction to marry a woman - I like what a man has to offer too much... well, the appendage attached to them anyway." She laughed, a cheeky grin on her face.
“I can bring the cake out first if we do want to start with that first. Though I did make baked brie if we wanted that next.” She gave a nod and an easy smile, "Mmm baked brie sounds amazing - but so does cake. Bring anything," She said with a laugh, unable to help herself - she loved food far too much. “I do think most people are set on the school schedule even if you don’t have children. The summers seem to make people a bit happier.” Adalia nodded, "Yeah that is true - plus the nice weather when you come out of the darkness of winter." She mused, having found it hard to draw enjoyment from Winter over the years.
”It usually is! I’m surprised there hasn’t been any myself.”... “Well, some of us are lovely but there are some that just seem…grumpy? I’m not sure that’s the right word.” Adalia smiled and sipped her wine for a moment, "yeah, I've seen plenty of those around - just like in every day life, you get the Karen's of the world." She rolled her eyes. ”I’ll come down and kick their ass if you need me to? I’ve been having boxing lessons” Adalia laughed and shook her head, "Honestly I think that'd be more likely to make it worse! I've got it." She promised, knowing her friend was joking all the same. “Oh, that sounds terrible. I wonder if they know about the fire than they let on? I seem to have more students though now that the two barns have merged. It’s nice though, being able to offer group lessons. It could be? For the most part, I think all the horses and humans came out unharmed. Though I don’t know about you, Adalia but my three horses took awhile to settle down after it.” ”well that’s a relief at least.” She nodded, musing over it for a moment. "Yeah, the horses were quite unsettled by it though i don't blame them - it was quite an event for them to get over."
Her stomach gave a little flip at his smirk, how was it he could make that happen when she didn't even know the guy - attraction clearly, it ruled the roost sometimes, when it really shouldn't. ”What can I say, I’m serious about my artwork.” She gave a slight nod and a smile at that, it was a fair response, and she guessed people that were serious about their hobbies or passions did it all the time even if it was messing around. She did some silly art and photography at times too. Though painting on himself was impressive; especially as it wasn't just paint, but permanent. ”Great. . when do you want to be booked in?” Adalia smiled and gave a small shrug, "I'm pretty flexible, what availability do you have?" She asked, hoping that by booking a date she'd finally get around to doing this like she wanted; and even better if it could be Mal who did it.
”Try before you buy kinda thing.” Adalia chucked at that, unable to help but find the words coupled with her friends expression amusing. "It's a sensible thing to do," She returned, though for her it wasn't honestly about that. She was the slightly squishy romance kind of girl, but she understood how other people tended to work too. ”Maybe. . stranger things have happened. . could be nice.” Adalia smiled and gave her wine another sip, glancing at her friend. "I think it would be nice, just to meet that right someone, and have them there with you..." She grinned slightly, feeling like it sounded a little silly and so she trailed off instead, even though she was with one of her best mates. ”Well you’ll only know if you try.” She nodded at that, thinking back to Mal and his ridiculously good looking face. "Yeah it's true, it's just a scary thought, that whole possibility of getting hurt."
“Ha, you’ll have to stand in line after my boyfriend.” She laughed at that, too true, the damn man came first. Lucky man at that, she hoped he continued to treat her right - or he'd have several angry and vengeful women after him. “I’m sure you are the perfect wife material, Adalia.” She beamed at that and inclined her head in a joking thank you, only for her smile to fall as Zoe's response - ”Well you keep turning me down every time I propose to you, so no.” She looked a-gasp at the retort. "Well, you just don't have a big enough ring. I've told you before." She teased. “Let me know what you ladies think of the wine. If we like it enough I can get her to order another case.” Adalia nodded as she took another sip, "I would not say no if it was offered again," She admitted, though she wasn't exactly a wine connoisseur.
“I made a German chocolate cake with buttercream icing and I used shredded coconut on top.” Adalia's mouth started to water at the thought and she quickly shoved some more food into it instead. ”Okay, now I want desert for starters” She laughed at Zoe's comment and nodded in agreement, "Yeah me too, you can't leave us on that and not expect us to need to taste test.." She joked, settling for more savoury humus instead. “Other than my students starting to get restless because school is coming to an end I have no hot gossip.” Adalia smiled at that, "I remember that feeling myself," It was a shame when you got to adulthood and didn't get breaks like that unless they were unpaid; well as self employed anyway. “Definitely. I teach Western basics at Blue Acres and I would have thought the fire would bring people together…but now I’m not so sure.” ... "The bar has been unusually ungossip worthy this week and my photography clients are mostly harmless. I’ve only been there once to shoot a horse and their owner seemed lovely. .why what are these new people like?”
Adalia sighed and gave a slight shake of her head, "They just seem a bit..standoffish, and there's always tension. It's hard to feel very harmonious, I almost had someone bite my head off the other day because I touched their tack. I was only moving it to get to my own." She sighed and shook her head. ”I forgot about the fire. . how is it over there now?” Adalia glanced to Cassie, "I think it's doing well, everyone returned to BA pretty quickly, maybe because of the tensions?"
She tried to ignore the way his half smirk did something to the odd butterflies in her stomach. There was no way this guy didn't know exactly what he was doing, he was far too good looking not to realise the effect his grin had on women. "Most of them are only small. . and mainly places I can reach but I used a mirror for some." A slight raise of her eyebrows at that, briefly wondering which part he'd had to use a mirror to do before politely nudging that image away - best not to think about it right now. "That sounds like dedication," After all, if it wasn't comfortable he had to have really wanted to do it.
Adalia couldn't help it, she blushed at his look and then the rest of her body flushed with warmth at the travel of his eyes, and there was that damn smirk again. "Oh I'd do all kinds of things. ." Her cheeks darkened in another blush as she held his eye contact. Well that held some promise, and she tried really, really hard not to think about it anymore. "But tattoo wise. . I actually like your design. . but to bring homage to your passion, I'd frame the tattoo in like an old photo print frame." That was a safer topic of conversation and she leaned forward to peer over at his sketchpad, watching what appeared from the tip of his pencil and then nodding in approval. "I really like that idea," She admitted, a finger running gently over the edge of a line before she straightened. "I'll take it."
"I'm a commitment phobe. . I like getting myself out there with different people." Adalia laughed and gave a shrug, sipping her wine as she got a little more comfortable in her chair. "There's nothing wrong with that either," She figured people should be allowed to live how they lived; if they wanted to sleep around she saw no harm in it, but for her, she wanted that romance, that silly romcom kind of love and sweetness. She just couldn't help herself. "Maybe one day, one will be good enough to wiggle their way in past your defenses. Defeat them all." She joked, as if it were just a fairy tale like that; so easy.
She grinned in response to her friends laugh. Adalia was comfortable in her own sexuality, and she didn't care what other people liked, she knew Zoe was playing with her, but that her friend was a friend and would never push boundaries - so she had no issue with a joking flirt every now and then. "Ah being hung up on an ex is a no go. . and I can't give great advice on the hot ones. . they're usually trouble but I love them." Adalia bit her lip as her mind wandered to the two lads, and then she shook it off a little. "No, I don't think Aaron's ready for anything, but if nothing else I think he'd be a good friend. Mal... I guess I'll have to see. Maybe I shouldn't judge a book by it's ridiculously good looking cover." She gave a dramatic sigh. She wished she could be more casual sometimes, but she found it hard. She wanted the cherry pie family kind of life and she wasn't going to achieve that by screwing around or bed hopping.
[attr="class","character-FBmesstext1"] If you think it will help your rating I am concerned to put you behind the wheel and in charge of the car. Oh I can't wait to see it 😉