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!.
Tre chuckled a little when the younger man commented that's what he heard often about people with siblings - they always got along better once they were older. Jeremy's question just made him shrug a bit, "I dunno, yeah, we had different interests but I just always was annoying I think. They didn't want their kid brother tagging a long and I did want to tag along." Their age gaps weren't too terrible, at the end the day, it was just that their personalities were all over the place. Tre suppose it didn't matter now though, they all got along decent enough. His eyebrow arched a little bit when Jeremy stated the reason why he didn't get into trouble, "Fancy events? When you were thirteen or fourteen? That doesn't sound fun at all."
He shrugged a little, "I don't know, anything above a double tree is majestic." Tre said with a smile, not like he had the money to go staying at Four Seasons or anything unless it was for a naval ball - and that was for reckless fun. Seemed best to stray away from work conversations though, seemed like they were tredding water a little too close to some personal stuff for Jeremy, and well, hey, they just met like twenty minutes earlier - no need to get into some territory, "Huh? Oh, yeah. Five days a week - so lots of commuting. It's alright - not all of us can have your commute," Tre joked now, "And, I don't know about you, but I only have to worry about myself - not dating or anything."
It was interesting to hear a younger person complain about 3D printing, but then again, perhaps the age gap between the two men was a little less than Tre originally thought, "Probably sorcerery." Tre said with a straight face now, one he might use on his nieces or nephew before allowing a smile to crack his lips, "Sit on a window sill and look outside? Jeremy, you sound like a princess waiting for someone to come to your rescue." Who knows though, maybe Jeremy was waiting on someone. Green eyes rolled at the idea of meetings, "Yeah, countless meetings. They need meetings to decide when the meetings are. I'm sure you have that a lot too though in a hotel business."
Best time to go? Tre had to think a little bit, glancing at his watch, still too early, "I'd say happy hour if you want to combined food and beer after work, but honestly, any time is good. And quite frankly, they still seem to be building their regulars." He gave thought for a moment, before asking, "Do you have a business card or anything?"
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Tre knew that this small and very unexpected reunion could go either way - either he'd get to stay and drink his beer or he'd be tossed out on his ass without much of a thought. It honestly was 50/50. All what Tre could really do was hope that despite how everything ended between the two of them - that there was still something there. Bri Loates was a sight for sore eyes though, he couldn't deny that. Green eyes watched her eyebrows raise, but her steely smile loosened just a bit, and the man figured he was safe: "My bar." Bri said, both confirming and agreeing with him at the same time if that were even possible, "Guess it's my lucky day then."
He hadn't been expecting her eyes to narrow at him, steely once more, but her smile remained just a tad bit loose. Tre didn't break though, he just continued to smile at her, even as she raised her finger at him: "And that can go right back in it's box." Okay, well, that got him. Tre laughed, a little incredulously as he pulled back just a bit, cocking his head just ever so slightly as Tre dared to continue smiling at him, a sparkle in his eyes, "What? My smile?" He was fairly certain that she used to love this smile, but he wasn't stupid enough to bring that up - at least, before getting served.
Bri herself seemed to be in a high and mighty mood, clearly, she was still deciding on how this would go as well. The man knew he had to play it safe, but damn, it was kinda hard to just not pick back up. Why'd he break up with her again? Probably something stupid, given he had been in his late teens or early twenties, "Ah, I have no doubt I will." He leaned back on the bar again now, his forearms resting there. Damn, he still had his jacket on, or else maybe he could have worked a bicep flex in there tactfully. Green eyes still rested on Bri for a moment before following her gaze to the taps, "Grey? I don't know what you're talking about - maybe I'm just distracted by someone," Tre replied now, his green eyes moving back to her own green ones now, locking gazes, "I think I'll have a Guinness and...maybe some more time with you?"
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Tre blinked at his niece's outlook about the sheep, mulling it over before laughing, "You're right. The sheep won't sell me out, so maybe they are good neighbors." After all, its not like the animals cared about promotions or getting ahead in their lives, they just wanted to eat and not be disturbed. Tre could get behind that, even if they did tend to pop out of no where when he was driving through.
He watched as the peppers were cast aside now, perfectly chopped as his niece went on to the cucumbers and...seeding them. Damn, she really was putting him to shame, although family members could argue that Tre was mentally younger than Zola. Unlike the young woman before him, people tended to say that he never fully grew up. Tre pushed his coarsely chopped peppers to join the the uniform ones that his niece had created, grabbing an onion next, figuring it best he be the sacrificial lamb. He chopped it in half, but paused at the last of Zola's words. Sharp green eyes glanced over at her now, "Who's calling you 'tame?'" Tre straightened up, turning towards his niece to give her his full attention, "Do I need to go beat the crap out someone?"
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Well, at least he knew that he was not the only one feeling utterly floored by the situation he just walked in. The look on one Brielle Ivy Loates face said it all. If it weren't for the fact that he too was feeling utterly flabbergasted, Tre might have poked fun at her. Now that the initial shock was over, at least for now, his green eyes really took a good look at his old flame. Time served her well. Not that she hadn't been beautiful before back in her youth, but somehow, she looked even more gorgeous. Tre wasn't sure how that was possible, unless Bri had somehow stumbled upon the fountain of youth.
He watched now as she blinked, finally reeling herself in from the shock and a cool steely expression came up complete with a tight lipped smile, no doubt followed by mental walls. Well, guess he would be in for a night. While he wondered if it was best that he should just step out and find himself another bar, the man decided that Atreus Constantine was no coward - certainly not before the former love of his life. Well, she might have been the only one really, but fuck if he was getting into that mind space and head games, "Your bar?" oh yes, he would definingly have to keep his wits about him.
Tre soon offered up his best defense mechanism, his smile. And boy, he did not hold back. That boyish, charming watt smile lip up his face - the sort of smile that got him through everything in life - the good, the bad, the getting out of mischief. He wasn't sure, if after all of these years, it was still a match for Brielle Loates, but he could hope that it could crack that steel armor she had up, "Well, I consider myself lucky then I walked into this bar, Bri Loates, cause I get to lay my eyes on you." Laughter escaped him, god, he couldn't even take himself seriously, "Really though, I can't believe you're here. In the flesh. I hope you're still willing to sell me something on draft."
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Tre did nothing but shake his head, still grinning, "Come on, Andrew. Since when have I given you an excuse to not trust me unsupervised?" Actually, he was fairly certain a lot, but hey, semantics. Grabbing himself a spare cutting board, he took himself a bell pepper or two and started working on it. Unlike his niece, Tre was doing some rougher chops, but who the fuck needs julienned bell peppers? Or cucumbers for that matter? Still, the man figured he should check in with the boss, "If you need these smaller, just let me know."
Green eyes watched his brother in-law leave the kitchen now, and it wasn't long before it was just him and his youngest niece. Zola's question prompted him to look back to her now, and smiled, "Croughton. The land of sheep and about nothing else. Nothing exciting." That was the truth, they really did stick him somewhere to stay out of trouble before forced retirement, "I'm over in civilian. I didn't want to be stuck on base or in some shack surrounded by sheep." Tre realized that some people might actually like that, but not his cup of tea, "Besides, if I was suck over on base all the time, I'd never get to see any of you."
The commute was annoying enough, well, mainly long. He didn't mind it, especially in nice weather so he could use the motorcycle. But it would appear that England preferred its rain and cloudy days over sun, "What about you? What trouble have you gotten into now that we talk freely? Seeing any one?" Truth be told, Zola was the tamest out of his nieces and nephews, and likely the most straight laced, but Tre figured it didn't hurt to ask. And honestly, he was one of those uncles that tended to be genuinely interested in their lives.
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Laughter escaped him when Jeremy managed to connect the dots on where Tre himself landed on the pecking order of his siblings, "Yeah. I'm the youngest. If you ask my siblings, I got away with everything unlike them." Techically, it wasn't his fault that their parents had been checked out by the time he accidently came along and they just let him run wild unlike Clio and Giorgos who were held to a higher and stricter standard, "I have two. I think we get along better now that we're older. Can't say we were the best of friends growing up." But Tre felt like that was always the case. It was curious to hear the other man mention that his parents often were not home, he knew people could go either way with that amount of freedom, "I'm sure teenage you enjoyed them being absent then," Tre joked.
At Jeremy's musings over the ships, the older man merely grinned, "Yeah. They're pretty majestic. I'm sure any of your properties could rival them on a grandiose scale." Well, Tre had no doubt they were certainly prettier than a war ship or a navy hauler, but everybody had their opinions. The follow up question certainly caused Tre to arch an eyebrow, Jeremy certainly was a curious fellow. He merely shrugged, non committal as always, "Eh. I probably said the wrong thing, or did something that ruffled feathers. Can't change any of that now." Well, Tre knew exactly what he did, but he wasn't about to get into it with a civilian over it. That shit was classified. Besides, the nonclassifed evidence was sinking and disintegrating as they spoke, "I'm over in Croughton. Long commute, but I find driving through the English countryside relaxing. I'm sure you have an easier one."
Green eyes stared across the pond, mulling Jeremy's options over future boats, "Man, 3D printers. Everything is just getting too advanced nowadays." Heck, even in the military, they pretty much used drones for everything now. All of these young kids don't know what a dog fight is. The change in subject caused him to laugh, "Yeah. Stuffy meetings are the worst. I bet you would find paint drying more interesting that some of the stuff you have to sit in on." Maybe he was wrong and Jeremy Kirby was all about those meetings, but his choice words didn't make it sound like it. As for the bar, "They give me free food when they feel like it, but most of the time I still pay. Don't work there though, too busy with my military stuff. Maybe when they force retirement on me, I can do it." Tre said with a smile, "You should come by some time, have a break from those stuffy meetings you mention."
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Tre supposed that he wasn't surprised to hear his niece inform him that she figured this out all on her own with the help of youtube - then the three of them worked together to perfect it to the bar. They certainly were a curious group of siblings, they all got along. It often seemed like Zola needed a challenge to keep herself busy, not that she would get into trouble if bored, but something to just keep her brain flexing, "Well, it's quite good, so thank you for the preview."
Speaking of flexing her brain, the eighteen year old seemed to have a rather pointed observation as to why she didn't have many friends, "Well, that's pretty observant of you," Tre commented now before musing, "But I'm sure we can still find a sudoku solving roller skating friend for you." There was no doubt in his mind that some of the analysts over at the base had some teenagers that were into that sort of thing. Then, his brow furrowed, "When did roller staking become a thing again? I thought that went out of style after the 90's." God, he was getting so old now that everything from his youth and young adult life was coming full circle.
Green eyes watched as his niece mulled over his question now before she launched into a detail explanation - something she probably wouldn't share with Grace, not yet at least. It was a little surprising to hear about all the competition - he knew about the two clubs more or less, but he didn't know about some of the others, "Well, nothing wrong with being the scrappy underdogs of the culinary scene." Although he was certain that Clio did not agree with him on that one, "I'm sure they'll find a niche," and hopefully a steady return on money, "But enough about business. That's boring adult talk." Tre waved his hand now, like a topic could be dismissed like a human or a dog as he took a another sip of his water.
The man grinned now when his niece agreed to a day at the beach, "Excellent. We'll just put you on the back of my motor-" but he cut himself off now, realizing that his brother-in-law was still in the room, "car. We'll go for a ride my convertible." Tre corrected himself, offering a wink to Zola just in time for the cutting board to be unceremoniously plopped in front of them. Green eyes stared at it, raising an eyebrow before looking over at Andrew: 'If you’re going to sit and chatter, might as well make the salad.' Touché, touché. He looked over to see a spare knife and nodded to it, "Here Zola, pass that me that knife. I'll help you. I'm sure since the two of us are legal adults, we can handle this without any overlord supervision," He said jokingly now, grinning, "That is, if your dad here thinks we can be left alone to our own devices."
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
"Guilty as charged," Tre said with a grin now, "Got into trouble all the time. My parents were too exhausted to discipline me by the time I was born, so my siblings were annoyed how I always got off scot free." Actually, Tre was pretty certain that school and the military was really what disciplined him in life, but there was no need to bore the other man with that sort of thing, "Guess you couldn't get away with a thing if you were the only child." Although given the quiet nature that Jeremy seemed to have, the man doubted that the other got into too much trouble growing up.
It was tempting to joke that Jeremy Kirby looked a little too big to fit into an airplane, but thought better of it in case he was one of those guys who took words as is. He offered a smile at the paddleboat comment, "Hey, a paddleboat is still a boat, and it can carry you." Tre was pretty certain that he and Grace had gotten stranded back out in one of those American lakes due to the choppy waves and his niece tiring out given she had been no older than eight. Tre often liked to poke her about it and how they lived to tell the tale. At the question on whether he flied planes for a living, green eyes looked up at the man and said jokingly, "That's classified." After a beat though, he soon relented, "I did. I still do for fun. I'm grounded for now. At least at work - I can fly recreationally though."His gazed moved out towards the water once more, watching the sink officially disintegrate into the water now, "Guess I need stronger paper next time. I'll make a note." Hopefully though, the next time he would want to do this, it would be more than just sticking it to his papered orders.
"I have to say, you have quite the handshake there, Jeremy," Tre commented now as they broke it now, although perhaps it wasn't surprising given the other man's work in the hotel industry. He nodded a yes to Jeremy's question about military work now, "It does. Keeps me out of trouble and makes enough money to help my niece and nephew out with their bar. You should stop by it some time. If nothing else, stop by when I'm there because they keep on shoving more food at me than I can eat." Growing up overseas thanks to being a Navy brat, he found it a little surprising when people left their hometown merely to return to it after university or college, "Oh yeah? Why did you come back? Just the family business or didn't like what you saw beyond the boarders of Hickstead?"
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Tre had been watching the clock hands go by, ticking down to 18:30 and his freedom from the base. It had been one of those days where the man had been convinced that four hours had gone by when really it had just been two minutes. People really hadn't been lying to him about how they sent him to an early grave stationing him out in Croughton with a heck of a commute back to Hickstead. But commuting was better than sitting, and as soon as both hands of the clock rested on 6, he was up and punching out of base. Cool chilly air hit him as he left the warmth of the building, but that didn't bother Tre at all when he could taste freedom. Bundling up in his bomber jacket, he lifted his helmet from his motorcycle and placed it over his head before igniting the engine and getting the hell out of dodge.
The drive back to Hickstead was peaceful, zig zagging along the quiet roads as moonlight lit the backdrop of the English countryside and the occasional glimpses of the sea. While the cottage core quiet living would never be his thing - in this moment - Tre could understand why people craved such a life. Time passed before he saw the sign for Hickstead, informing him that it was 6 kilometers away, but that Willow Bridge was a mere 4. His hands flicked the handles of the motorcycle now, sending power to the engine so he could stop in either city soon for not only was he hungry, Tre was convinced he needed a drink. He didn't make it very far though, deciding that Willowbridge would be his destination for the night - at least for that beer. Parking his motorcycle, Tre headed out downtown to figure out just where to get that beer.
An illuminated sign caught his green eyes now, causing the man to stop and stare, "Ivy's Poison," he mused out loud. The name hit a note, long locked away in his memory bank, but Tre shook it off before any feelings or sentiments could snare him. God. He really did need that drink. With that in mind, he pushed the door in and walked right in. The interior was quite lively with cliental and music. Tre carefully weaved his way through the thinning crowds before he ended up at the bar now, just hearing the last of a bar tender's comment on the electricity bill. While his green eyes had been on the taps, Tre couldn't help but to feel as if he knew that voice well, and yet, he still pushed it aside, "Well, that's great about your electricity bill, but more importantly," Tre started now, "What do you have on-" and then his green eyes fell on the speaker, leaving him pratically speechless for the first time in thirty four years, "Bri?"
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
He watched Zola go to work with prepping him a citrus water, noticing a skill or two that must have rubbed off from working with her older siblings at the restaurant, "Did Grace and Quentin teach you that or did you just decide to figure it out on your own?" Tre inquired now. It wouldn't surprise him if it turned out to be the latter, Zola had always been...a bit different. It wasn't a bad thing, she was just always matter-o-fact and appeared to like solving things on her own rather than ask for help. Speaking of matter-of-fact, the teenager gave him just that sort of blunt answer he was expecting from her: “Eh, it’s been a little rough. Meeting people..is hard.” Andrew must have ducked out, since Tre had not been expecting such a truthful answer in front of a parent.
Tre mulled the best way to ask why, but realized perhaps with the youngest of his nieces, she was the one who often did best with direct. She wasn't exactly like her older siblings where the answers needed to get milked out of them, "Yeah? Sorry to hear that. Is work just getting in the way? Or something else?" The man was willing to bet it was a bit of both, but it was still curious to hear her thoughts on the matter. He took the glass from the table once it was slid in front of him, and took a good swig from it as he listened to Zola continue to talk, "Ah, well, I think they know what they're doing. I wouldn't have helped them out otherwise...are you worried about it being a restaurant?" Tre knew Clio had been - given the failure rate, but Grace and Quentin were adults, they had to learn and start somewhere.
Although it was hard to concentrate on the worries of the older two when he thought back on Zola's earlier comments, "You know Zola, if you ever want to blow this joint, you can always text me. I'm generally free in the evenings. Despite what Giorgos thinks and what your mother tells you, I am the cool uncle."
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Both men appeared to be distracted by the ducks as they swam by, silent for once. That was one thing Tre did have to say about this post, it was awfully quiet and peaceful. The man didn't find it a bad thing per say, not after a lifetime of shitty war zones with the occasional nice post, but it was certainly different. Green eyes looked to the stranger as he spoke - his words musing, "Of course," Tre said with a smile, "Something like that. I think having siblings makes one develop nerves of steel though. Gotta always be on guard when you're little."
The stranger's question made him laugh a little, "I'm more of a plane guy than a boat guy, but they're still nice," replied, watching his paper boat slowly start to sink, "As for the funeral, the pond might have just given her a warrior's funeral just now to a watery grave." The man before him looked fancy enough to appreciate boats, but Tre had learned to not judge a book by it's cover long ago. It was one of the worst things to do a person, lead to that individual to be underestimated and boy, did they often come back with an vengeance. At least now he had a name, "Pleasure to meet you, Jeremy," he said now, extending his hand out in a handshake, "Work brought me here, I'm stationed over in Croughton. A chunk of my family lives here though, and they own Pirates Bounty in town...I guess I kinda own it too." He mused out loud, "Judging by your accent, I assume you're from around here?"
He felt as the ones native to Hickstead appeared to have their own stork of brogue or accent, countryside almost compared to what he had heard in London when his father had been posted to the Embassy.
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
As his niece pointed out that at least he had family in the United Kingdom, Tre felt a little guilty at coming off so nonchalantly about the reassignment. Technically, family might not be the only thing that he had in the United Kingdom, but the man was quick to banish that thought as soon as it crossed his mind. This wasn't London, this was Hickstead and Croughton was no London either. He smiled warmly, "How very right you are, Zola. Good thing I have you and your siblings to remind me what counts." While his niece's voice was as straight and narrow as always, granted, he come to learn that was just her personality, Tre couldn't help but to feel like he detected something there - like sadness. A question best saved for when Andrew wasn't around.
He was very startled at the height announcement, "Five Eleven?!" Shit, that was taller than he thought, "Well, at least I know who to ask to help me raid the baklava if Clio decides to put it up high like she did w hen we were teenagers." Tre commented now as he followed after Andrew into the kitchen, the smell of dinner prepping greeting him, which was always a welcomed smell, "Water and whatever citrus you have to stick in it. I'm fine with tap since supposedly UK has the best tap water in the world." And he was ready to judge that for himself. He sat himself down at the island counter now, green eyes watching Zola get to work, "How are you liking it here, Zola? Your sister tells me you're a hostess at the pub."
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Tre had been so enraptured with watching his little paper boat make it five feet out into the pond without sinking yet that he hadn't realized that he had a visitor until they spoke: "Did you lose something in the water? Or is the edge of the water interesting?" Well, that was unexpected. He glanced up and to the right of himself to see a rather tall man (although unfortunately everyone was tall compared to him, even his one niece). He must have been utterly unreadable through his aviator sunglasses since the stranger soon followed up with an apology for 'scaring him'. Well, that did it.
The man placed his hands on his knees before pushing himself up now. The height difference was even worse than he thought - this man was easily 6 feet tall. Still, Tre ignored it as always, whipping off is aviators now and flashed a smile, "Takes a lot more to scare me than just saying a hello unannounced." Truth be told, he knew he had always been lucky that he flew planes. While he had still lost friends in the field, Tre didn't suffer from PTSD that a lot of ground mission members got. Green eyes flickered to the paper boat now, looking like it was on the verge of meeting its inevitable watery grave, "I made a paper boat and was sailing it across the pond. Looks like she's taken her last voyage though."
His gaze flickered back to the man now, still grinning that stupid boyish charming look that got him around his whole life, "I'm Tre, new to town. You are?"
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
Now that he was finally settled in, Tre Constantine figured it was time to do the thing he might have been most avoiding since coming to Hickstead: seeing his older sister. She wasn't that much older than him, but she had enough years on him to still lecture him should she feel like it. But it was a risk that Tre was willing to risk, for while he had managed to pull off seeing Grace and Quentin Constantine without running into his sister, he hadn't been able to see Zola, who had been absence from her hosting duties that day. The man also prided himself in being the cool uncle, so no matter what, Tre knew that he was going to make it happen and preferably sooner rather than later.
So he left his small little abode that the Military had provided him and pulled his Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle out of the gargae, and left. The speed of the bike, as well as Tre's quick reflexes, got him to their little (read big) abode in Oldaker without any issue and record time. Pulling up to their house, the man came to a stop, resting the weight on his leg before killing the engine. Through the tinted lenses of his aviators, he glanced out the spacious mansion and for a moment, wondered if he should have called ahead to warn the St. Germain and Constantine family that he was coming, "Nah," Tre voiced out loud to his thoughts before getting off.
Walking up to the door, he ran the doorbell and braced himself. Instead of Clio Constantine answering though, it was her husband, "Andrew, hey," Tre greeted now, putting on his best infectious grin to win him over. Andrew, to his credit, returned the smile but kept his own cool façade up, "Tre! We were not expecting you. Please come in." And just like that, Tre was offered access and in he stepped, while Andrew called out to Zola to come and greet him. Being left to his own devices for the short time, his green eyes staring over the wall, or shrine, to the family photos throughout the years - both forced and natural.
Hearing footsteps on the wooden floor, he turned to see his youngest niece now and was rather shocked. Had it really been that long since he had seen her? Given her height, it felt like it had. And it felt even more awkward when she had to bend down just slightly to give him a proper hug. Well, this was utterly embarrassing, followed up by her own question. Andrew, no doubt, was hovering somewhere to eavesdrop for the answer to that very question, "Oh, Navy reassigned me here. New assignment," he replied nonchalantly, leaving out the bit about how he pissed someone off to get sent here, "More importantly, when did you become a weed? A...very tall, weed."
If you decide to, I'll ride in this life with you & I won't let go 'til the end ❦
