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!.
Alax hadn't really expected ambulance driver as the job to leave the woman's lips. She looked far too pretty for that, but perhaps, it was just a general assumption that EMTs didn't have time to look pretty. At least her thoughts didn't betray her on her lips as she offered, "That sounds like quite the job then. No wonder you need coffee."
She couldn't tell if a quiet seemed to fall over them, but it didn't feel awkward at least. For once, Alax didn't feel weird about not forcing a conversation. Granted, she supposed the stranger was still catching up to the morning hours of daylight if she had been working late. They both wordlessly watched the barista fleet about, when Alax finally managed to fess that she was thinking about moving here. A smile crossed her lips, "I like it. It's peaceful. Plus its nice to just take my home with me rather than leave it behind." And Hickstead did have bodies of water for her to get with a month of planning, "Ah you're a local? You must like it here if you decided to keep your roots here."
Alax could feel her cheeks burning from the brush of their hands. The low level mood lighting must have kept the obvious at bay though as the brunette waved her 'sorry' off as if it were nothing. Blue eyes managed to steal a look at her now as she sipped her coffee, which was an impressive feat given how hot it must have been, "I'll call you whatever you prefer." Her lips twisted, mainly because she had to think - did she like her name? Alax shrugged her shoulders, "I can't tell if its the name or my parents." But that was a conversation she wasn't willing to go through that topic with a stranger, "So...what's there to do for fun here?"
Galaxy 'Alax' Walker had a long day. A very long day. Between upset kids, stubborn ponies, runaway rescues, and shoveling an endless amount of stall, the young woman came to the conclusion that she was allowed a drink or two for all of her hard work. She didn't know how the Ledor-Kita's did it, or Bode or Amanda did either. Alax was merely a stablehand, and perhaps this was the first barn in a while that left her beat. She had a colleague drop her off downtown, assuring them that she could make it back to the boat yard easily from there and walked down the streets.
Dusk was falling upon the sky now, and stars were twinkling to get out. Alax knew she probably didn't look her best, and she must not smell that great either, but she didn't care. She wasn't looking to get laid tonight, she was just looking to have a drink. Blue eyes wandered pass bar and bar again, before deciding that maybe the R&R was her best bet. Yes, it was annoying loud, but the bar section was a bit tamer. Alax ducked inside now, skirting along the inside of the walls and made her way over to the bar. It wasn't too packed yet - probably the quiet before the storm.
She knew what she wanted, she didn't need to think. Two bar tenders were working, she recognized the girl, Harper, unmistakable with her pink hair. But she wasn't the one who came over. Instead, a guy parked it in front of her. Alax found herself staring at him, not making out his words, as she suddenly found herself wondering if she smelled like horse and sweat. But that chiseled face, complete with piecing blue eyes, and framed by dark hair wasn't the only thing distracting her, "I know you..." her face furrowed, staring at him, "You were in the dressage show last month...Chris, right?" Because remembering that wasn't creepy at all.
Apparently she had slammed into an older woman with enough force to nearly cause her to stumble. Alax's heart nearly jumped up into her mouth, where suddenly the world around her felt like slow motion. Her hand shot forward, grabbing the woman by the arm to make sure she didn't fall over while the woman managed to catch herself. Together, it felt like they both collectively let loose a sigh of relief before relaxing. Quickly, Alax let her hand drop now as she issued her apology.
The woman, shockingly, didn't seem upset at all by her, and actually invited her to help look at horse blankets. Alax found herself gawking, before looking over her shoulder, making sure that the brunette wasn't actually talking to an employee. Confirming she wasn't though, the young woman returned her gaze, "Uh...well," her gaze looked passed the older woman now, to the 'help wanted' board. It would seem that gave her intentions away, as the following up question came: "You aren't looking for a job are you?" It was so direct, but Alax appreciated direct, "I am actually...new to town. I don't ride anymore...but I'm still good at mucking a stall and tacking up a horse." Blue eyes watched as the woman inspected a blanket before finding it dissatisfactory and replacing it, "I'm Alax...what does your horse look like?" Because she supposed that after nearly knocking the older woman, she could help her pick out a blanket.
Alax couldn't help but to quirk an eyebrow when the other woman informed her that she had just gotten off of work, "Night shift? Do you work at a hospital?" That was probably a poor choice of her to assume - women could do a lot of things besides work at hospitals, yet that was exactly where her brain went, "...Or something like that?" She wasn't sure if that made it better or made it more awkward, only time would tell on how brunette would react to it.
The two women went off to the side, watching the teenager dart around making their coffee's now. Her cup of black coffee would be easy enough to make, although, Alax realized now it might be more of an 'americano' rather than drip coffee. Blue eyes looked away from the action now and back towards the stranger, "I'm thinking about moving here. I live over in central Europe right now, but...I live on a houseboat so...I try to scope out places before I figure out how to move it." Alax thought a bit more about the woman's question, and realized her accent was rather distinct to the area, "Uh...are you from here?" She wasn't exactly the greatest holder of conversation, but Alax figured she better try while their coffee and food was being made.
At the question about her name, Alax ran a hand through her hair - a tick of some sort, "It's short for Galaxy...my parents, they were kinda hippies." Molly waved them over now, placing their coffee down on the counter. As they went out, her hand went to grab her coffee, only to accidently graze the bruentte's hand, causing her to yank back for a moment, "Sorry," she grumbled before grabbing her coffee, "So...what's your name?"
It wasn't often that Galaxy 'Alax' Walker left her boat house behind in another country, but she decided it was best to take a short trip to the United Kingdom to see what it had to offer before she decided to make the trek via ocean from a neighboring Europe country for good. She had been hopping all over England, staying in cozy hostels and making her way down the coast line. Each little town more quieter than the last - the kind of quiet that Galaxy often enjoyed. Some places seemed more gossipy than others though, meaning that the young woman quietly wrote them off her list as potential relocation destinations.
She was in Hickstead now, a quiet little coastal town that neared a greater small city. It was cute, and supplied the very type of work she could do - horses. Well, stable hand work. From what Galaxy understood, there were three or four barns within the limits of Hickstead proper. The young woman was certain that the decision was made for her now, at least, in the back of her mind. As long as she was left alone to her work and not required to sit on of a horse, this seemed to be the best bet for her next location to rehome in. The only unfortunate part about this whole trip was that Galaxy appeared to remain on central europe time and awoke accordingly - meaning she was up at the crack of dawn.
Her hostess mentioned a coffee shop near by, so that's where Galaxy decided to head off to - rather than tempt the fates by remaining at the hostel and accidently waking up anyone at the wee hours of the morning. Arriving at Parker's Pastries, it looked like Hickstead was already alive with early birds or perhaps night owls as they stood in line. Galaxy couldn't help but to notice a beautiful girl standing in front of her now, but truthfully, she looked dead to the world - so the young woman didn't bother trying to force conversation (and perhaps, it was best this way.) She did manage to sneak payment for the brunette's order now though, but apparently she wasn't sneaky enough, or the cashier just liked selling people out as Galaxy could feel the other woman's eyes resting on her now, "You looked dead so I figured I'd...nevermind."
She really hadn't thought this through as she stepped around the woman now to place her own order of a breakfast sandwich, a cupcake, and black Raven's Blend coffee, "Put the order under Alax - uh A-L-A-X." And with that, she scooted herself off to the side to hover by the pick up area, fighting hard to not sneak a glance at the brunette woman now.
Galaxy 'Alax' Walker nearly had a start when she saw the time on her phone, and promptly rolled out of her bed and hit the floor on the balls of her feet and the palms of her hands. The chill in the air hit her stark skin, further pushing her awake better than a cup of coffee. Green eyes looked to the windows of her house boat quickly, "At least I remembered to close the curtains," she muttered to herself as she set off to get herself cleaned and dressed. She really needed a job to put her on track - not only for money, but for the need of a schedule so she would stop sleeping in so late.
A few hours later, the young woman was standing on high street down town, green eyes staring blankly as she decided on what to do. The problem with being nomadic in Europe is always starting over once laying down new roots - something that Galaxy often forgot about once the problem presented itself once more. The good news was that she knew what kind of work she wanted to do - and one of the marina workers informed her that there was an equestrian tack store in downtown Hickstead. With her steely determination set now, the young woman wandered the main street until she stumbled upon it and headed inside. Warmth and the smell of leather greeted her like a warm thread, the bell signaling her arrival.
Thankfully, nobody descended upon her though. She wasn't one for much talk, and considering she was only looking for work rather than buying, it was best this way. The one problem though was that there wasn't a bulletin board posted by the front. That signature Galaxy Walker frown set in, realizing she was going to have to venture in further to look for it, "Great," she muttered to herself, as she stalked forward into the store and its aisles on her hunt. It took a minute or two, given she refused to talk to anyone, but Galaxy finally spotted the bulletin board over by the blanket section, and even from her distance, green eyes made out a few flyers that said 'Help Wanted'. The young woman rushed forward, eager to get to it when someone accidently stepped back to admire the colors of the blankets, and Galaxy more or less crashed right into them, "Shit," Galaxy muttered, before looking to the older woman now, barely able to hold her eye contact, "Sorry...I didn't see...you."
Sure enough, after two weeks of hunting, Galaxy 'Alax' Walker had managed to find herself a job - thanks to both an advertisement at the local tack store and running into one Amanada Mckenzie. Helping Hooves had welcomed her with open arms, almost a little too welcoming for Galaxy, uncertain of what to make of the Ledor-Kita's warm attitudes. The other employees had been just the same - a stark contrast to her own sour patch attitude. A fifteen year old volunteer, Brooklyn Hazelton, had nearly talked her to death a mere day into her job. Thankfully tonight, Galaxy was finally alone. The young woman had volunteered to close up shop, relishing the idea of being left alone in peace.
The stalls had been a joint effort while the horses had been out in the pasture today or in their lessons, but now, they were all inside and munching on their hay for the evening, grain already taken care of. Galaxy was doing the finishing top off of water, her mind wandering. Her first week had been kind to her, only Tina - a rescue horse- had managed to get a one up on her when leading her inside. The antics of the chestnut mare had been something to behold, as well as her athletes, but thankfully given that Galaxy's own two feet with on the ground, her wits remained about her. Perhaps what hurt more was that everyone had witnessed it, between the Ledor-Kita girls, Tegan, and Izzy, they all saw it, and all reassured her it was fine, but the young woman couldn't help but to wallow - their reassurances making it worse. Now Galaxy just felt like she had to prove herself.
But tonight was not that night, and she would enjoy the quiet to herself in the barn before she went back home to her boathouse waiting for her on the water. She knew she lived an odd life - something that Galaxy had only shared with the Ledor-Kitas, knowing that references were a need and she came clean to them about her background - her parents, the accident and charges, the settlement. Unlike her former high school and friends, they didn't bat an eye, and simply expressed their thanks for being honest with her and agreed to pay her under the table. The young woman would always be thankful that people like them existed in the world, because back home in Savannah, it hardly felt like that - especially after parents with their cult and the accident that ended the life of a horse as well as her friendship with her best friend.
Galaxy had finished her choices now, wondering if she could think of another task to do before closing up, just to prolong her work when she heard a sound. A frown rested on her lips, "Hello?" she called out, nothing. Shaking her head, Galaxy went to turn off the water, and undid the hose, carefully winding it up and making sure all the water flooded out so it wouldn't freeze. Once again, Galaxy heard a sound and a sense of paranoia washed over now - flashbacks of news channels replaying her parents crimes in her head and reminding her that danger might lurk in the corner. Quietly, she set the hose down now and grabbed the closest thing to a weapon she could find - a pitchfork - and clutched it tightly.
She stalked her way through the barn, and right when she felt her guard go down, Galaxy rounded the corner and slammed right into somebody, a startled scream escaping her. As her gaze fell on the individual now, her tension relaxed for they were no axe murderer. Still, it was hard to not be a bitch about it, "You scared the shit out of me," the young woman started now, her face automatically going into sourpatch bitch face mode, "I thought I was alone tonight, what are you doing here?"
full name • galaxy blue walker nicknames • alax (pronounced al-lax, like alex) - prefered age • twenty five birthday • december 10th occupation • stablehand & groom for hire; drifter gender • female sexuality • bisexual
the appearance
face claim• melissa roxburgh
identifying features• Alax stands at roughly average height at 5 foot 5 - neither insanely tall nor insanely small, just somewhere in the boring middle. She has a heart shaped face, that is framed by long, ash blonde hair. Her thick dark eyebrows give away the fact that her hair is dyed, and also cause her blue eyes to pop. Alax has facial scars on the left side of her face - notably on her forehead and across her left eyebrow - from a bad riding accident. She also has THIS tattoo on her right upper arm.
the personality
likes • Peace & Tranquility, Keeping to Herself, Her House Boat, Hot Tea on Cold Days, Ground Work with Horses, the Crunch of Leaves Beneath her Boots, Warmth, White Chocolate, Decompression Days, Ignoring Feelings dislikes • Nightmares, Being in the Saddle, Anxiety Attacks, Propaganda, Talkative People, Dark Chocolate, Large Groups, Talking about Feelings, The Nagging Feeling that Someone is Talking about Her behind her Back strengths • Putting on a Tough Exterior, Mastery of Tea Steeping, Horse Communication weaknesses • Discussing Private Feelings, Suffers Panic Attacks in the Saddle, Overall offputting dreams • Putting her Past behind her, Sitting on a horse comfortably once more fears • Having another Equestrian related Accident, Falling in love overall personality • Alax often comes off as aloof to strangers, someone who doesn't care to talk but isn't bold enough to be outright rude. She can carry on ho-hum conversations with ease, but if someone tries to broach something that she doesn't want to discuss, she's quick to close off and tighten up. People often joke that she's a sour patch kid, first she's sour than she's sweet. Alax often tries to keep people at an arms length though as far as any relationships go - friendship or otherwise - for fear of getting burned. Perhaps there's no true way of getting to know Alax past skin deep, for she wears her skin like armor. Her attitude can be extended to horses, while she's great with them on the ground and can hold her own, the second she's up in the saddle, she can be prone to crippling anxiety relating to a past accident. It is something that Alax knows she needs to work on, just like her attitude about people, yet she is content with ignoring the roots of her issues and past, and acting like they don't exist.
the history
father • Eric Walker, 42, drifter - unknown employment mother • Marina Johnson, 42, drifter - unknown employment siblings • Rainbow Bliss - 22 & Sage Rowen - 20 important people • Charlotte 'Lottie' Beaumount, 45, Aunt; Taylor Chamberlain, 25, ex-best friend hometown • San Francisco, California (Birth & Early Life); Savannah, Georgia (Teenage Years) overall history • Galaxy 'Alax' Walker was born to two high school teenagers in Northern California - Eric Walker and Marina Johnson who quickly became overwhelmed with their lives. Alax's grandparents on both sides were overbearing on equally on how to raise a baby and how they ruined their lives and futures - The Walkers in particular being aggressive. In defiance of their respective parents, Eric and Marina shut them off and proceeded to figure out their lives on their own without their high school diplomas. Alax was soon joined by two others siblings, Rainbow and Sage, in the following years.
Even at her early stages of life, Alax felt like she remembered her parents always struggling while living on the outskirts of San Francisco, but they always appeared to make do and skirt by through various means. Her parents were not always happy though, with their situation, their rambunctious children, or the lowly state of their lives. They wanted to make their lives easier without the need to lean on their families - particular the Walkers since Eric's family was well off from cattle ranching. Both Eric and Marina turned to hard work out in the various farming fields, taking their children with them when they were not in school.
There, they were exposed to many subcultures within California, but most notably, Eric and Marina were drawn into commune life, and soon turned it as their way of life - ripping their children from California's school system. Life on the commune was fun for Alax and their siblings, they were left to run wild and take part in group activities. They learned how to read and write, and identify plants and animals. Unfortunately, they were too young to understand that there was something amiss with the adults, and their parents fell into a brainwashing trap. As Alax and her siblings grew older though, they began to see through the lies and questioning their situation.
Their questioning made Eric contact his sister, who relocated to Georgia, and had married well into old money, asking her to take the children for a while. His sister, Charlotte 'Lottie' Beaumount, eventually agreed. Soon Alax and her siblings were shipped off to Georgia like they had been a nuisance that the commune and their parents couldn't be bothered anymore. Lottie welcomed them with stiff and open arms, writing her brother and his girlfriend off as trash as she was determined to right what was wrong to the children. She put Alax and her siblings into a nice, private school in Savanah, Georgia, and hoped to retrain them into entering society.
It was awkward and uncomfortable for Alax, but she slowly started to adjust. School was hard, both in education and socially. All of her classmates knew her background somehow, they all seemed to whisper behind her back while being friendly to her face. She did have one friend though - Taylor, who had decided to take Alax under her wings and helped her out. They soon became unseperatable as Taylor helped Alax with school and introduced her to new social groups and the world of the Equestrian and Boating. Hanging out with her best friend, her horses, and her sail boat, soon became her favorite past time, and Lottie was thrilled. Alax learned how to ride, lesson by lesson. Everything felt like it was going well, until news stories across the United States started picking up.
Crimes began to happen in San Francisco, many believing it to be akin to the old Charlie Manson ways. Low level burglaries with satanic messages, and each one kept on getting bolder and bolder, until murder. Each new episode left Alax chilled, and it prompted her to try and find her parents, or at least, call them. Lottie told her to pay no mind to it, but there was a nagging feeling that Alax could not quite ignore as these series of crimes began to get worse and worse, while Police were closing in in California. Then, one stormy day at school, news broke out that the Police had apprended many culprites in relation to a cult, a commune, that had been behind all of the crimes - Eric Walker and Marina Jonson had been amongst the perpetrators.
Alax's world spun, the judgement of her fellow students came crashing down upon her along with the fall of grace. Who could ever socialize with the daughter of brain washed cultists. Maybe she was just like them. Maybe it was hidden away. Taylor told her to ignore everyone, but Alax didn't listen as she cut school in the middle of day. Through a brain fog, she ended up at the barn and saddled one of Taylor's horses to go for a ride, angry at the world and wanting to run away from her problems in the thundering rain. The stablehands had tried to stop her, but she and the horse pushed through and left while the stablehands called the police.
Out in the rain, everything looked different. The fields, the trails. Everything was slippery but Alax didn't care. Unfortunately though, the elements did. What happened next, Alax can't even remember. One second she was in the saddle, the next she was out of it, and crashing into the environment. There was blood all over her face, and the painful screams of Taylor's horse. The police had found her hours later, crying hysterically, over a Taylor's horse who had a broken leg. The horse had to be put down on the spot, and Alax was booked for stealing and reckless endangerment.
Lottie and Taylor's parents managed to work out a settlement that involved the charges being dropped, but the damage was done. Taylor could no longer speak to Alax, could not even look at her, and quickly turned mean girl on her. Alax supposed she understood, and finished out her school years as a zombie and a social outcast through the halls. Her siblings managed to fair better in it all, but they had their own issues and matters to deal with in regards to the news of their parents. Lottie was utterly disappointed in Alax as well, even though she still loved her like her own. Time would heal all, but the teenager didn't want to wait for time.
As soon as she turned eighteen, she left and ran away, six months before graduating high school. She worked odd ends and jobs, saving money away, before eventually getting a broken down sail boat to fix. After that, Alax was gone. She ended up halfway across the world in Europe, living her boat. Eventually, her path took her to England, where she soon sell of her boat and traded it for a moving boat house. Alax moved all down the coast, still working odd ends and being a groom for various equestrians and barns, until recently, where she found herself in Hickstead, UK, and decided to park and stay for a while.
the role player
alias • forever age • old other characters • the herd
