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!.
Monique double checked the bathroom for the fifth time. Deac had a habit of leaving towels on the floor, and, whilst she wasn't the tidiest of people, she did at least have some house pride and tried to keep it neat. With the 'family' coming over and all, she was trying to make it even better than usual. Having never had her own place until recently, she was finally learning about the whole 'house pride' thing. It made a huge difference, how you wanted it to look, when you were used to squalor and filth and having very little. Now, they had a whole flat, and furniture to fill it, and it had never felt so full. Now, they just needed the people they loved to come and fill it too.
She bopped along to the music a little, popping in on her way past Nick's bedroom to check in on him too, to see if the little tyke was awake yet. He'd settled down for his nap an hour ago and so far, hadn't made a peep. Things were going so much better this time round for them, and she was so grateful for it. Could you believe it - Moni, grateful. She didn't stir him, only pulled his bedroom door a little to keep the noise from waking her son. He would be sure to wake up for visitors soon enough anyway, but she didn't need him to scream the house down before it happened.
"does everything pass muster babe?" Monique wandered toward Deac's voice, quickly pressing a kiss to his cheek and then surveying what he'd done. She raised an eyebrow and pressed her lips together to hold in a laugh. "It's a great attempt, love." She promised, as much a compliment as she could give. "Probably still too upmarket for our lot anyway," She snorted, though she guessed with all the money Jason and Arrow made these days, they were probably used to the fancier shit these days.
She saw the shrug, but made no comment about it or the smirk - did he think she was being funny? Perhaps if you liked dry bitchy humour. If so he was really in luck with her, good for him. "I was thinking more like the beach. . but I guess the parks closer." the beach at this time of year? She raised a brow at that and glanced to the door, knowing full well the weather was typically English for December and quite arctic. "Guess I'll be seeing you again on the six o'clock news." If she watched it - which she didn't. If there wasn't some kind of drug gang down there that would kick him off their turf, he'd probably die from hypothermia or something stupid.
It seemed her more genuine suggestion was met with good reception. That was her nice deed for the month done then - Moni thought a week was too short a time, month was easier. Not that he'd be on her conscious if he had gone off to die on the beach, he should have been better prepared. "Best get my walking shoes on then.""Hmmm," Monique responded, just about avoiding grunting. "Thanks for the beer." Moni nodded, taking the bottle and chucking it straight in the trash. She watched him go, a slight crease between her eyebrows. Something about him had nudged the back and her brain and she wasn't sure why or what it was. It wasn't like he gave her the creeps but... she shrugged it off. God knows, but if he came back she'd do a little more digging into him.
She didn't bother to care for the guys response, whether she'd just insulted his ego or been put on his shit list or similar. She met far too many assholes a night and had been around the block far too many times to know that she didn't have the capacity to give a shit the way other people always did. She'd seen some of the others at work, a fake smile plastered on their face for 16 hours and wondered how the fuck they could do that, and why they even bothered to try. You got a smile out of Moni, a real one, then congrats to you - you were doing better than 99% of people out there. ”Right.” Nothing that needed a response there, she carried on wiping down the bar and then setting glasses back where they belonged from their quick fire stint in the washing machine out back.
”Homeless actually. .decided to stick around town for a little longer but the hotel’s fully booked tonight. Know any other places around here that’ll take anyone this late?” If he was fishing for a sofa, he was barking well up the wrong tree, and if he hadn't figured that out yet then he was clearly two pennies short. "Park bench?" She bit back, a hint of a smirk at her response. Though the cops were pretty active in this town compared to others she'd lived in, and he was likely to get picked up and turfed out pretty damn fast. "There's a hostel a few miles out, probably your best bet." If he could survive the walk. She shrugged, that was the best he was going to get out of her and even then it was more helpful than she usually cared to be. Perhaps he'd caught her on a good day after all. God forbid someone caught her on her worst.
Usually, the few that lingered when the lights were about to come on where easy to group - you had the usuals, who always had a good time and rarely wanted to leave until it was done. There were the dancers, who were just there to appreciate the good music and throw out their cares to the world in moves. Then there were the alcoholics. Desperate for any last lick they could get before they were turfed out to go home and search their cabinets for something else to nurse their habits. Those were the one's sat slumped around the counter top now - not many tonight, only three, and Moni slowly prised hands off empty glasses to retrieve the glassware and tidy up. It was curious to her that the other, sat at the end of the bar, had only been sipping beer, not having had many at all, and not in the least bit drunk. He was the one she had her eye on most. Because he didn't fit the mold.
It wasn't to say he was a creepy weirdo, he was good looking, and didn't have the leer that others usually did in that behaviour, but good looks didn't stop a guy from being an asshole. It might be that he was dreading going home, for some reason or another - people came to forget their problems after all. But they'd had instances before, of the staff being harassed or followed home. Moses didn't stand for it, and neither did the bouncers - good guys quick to step in and help a girl out. But it happened. Moni hadn't gotten where she was by being oblivious; she was vigilant and knew how to handle herself.
She glanced at the empty bottle and was quick to swipe it up, nodding to his 'thanks' and throwing it out. As they were no longer serving she expected that to be his cue to get up and leave, instead he surprised her with a question. "Busy shift?" An eyebrow quirked, her naturally fiery temper raised a tired head, keen to snap back at him, and though she managed to bite back the 'what do you fucking think', she managed a barely polite and no less sarcastic "Not at all, a crowded bar is a quiet night." Well fuck, she tried. She had never been known as the friendly one though. "You scared to go home, or just homeless?" Oh well that sounded worse but the fact she spoke proved otherwise. Normally she'd go back to ignoring.
It was coming to the end of a busy night, and Moni felt run off her feet. There were nights when she didn't mind it, in fact generally she thrived off it - the buzz of adrenaline when you had a hundred people trying to catch your attention and she wasn't giving them shit. There was power in it, and though she was not a complete asshole about the power trip, she did enjoy ignoring the drunk dickheads that were rude. Clicking, whistling, catcalling or waving at her was not going to get them jack shit. And she made it clear. Unlike others who went down the ignorance route and pretended not to see them, Moni would look right at them, dead in the eye, a cold and hard look that she had perfected as a child, and then she would serve the person right next to them. Somehow, she still got tips too - people loved that grumpy, hard edged exterior, thinking it to be some kind of vibe for the bar. She thought that was amusing, it was just how she was; prickling and generally unfriendly with a moody bitch face. But she actually made a bit of effort behind the bar to be less so.
She was tired tonight though, the adrenaline had worn off pretty fast - blame it on the sleepless night. At first, Deacon had been the one keeping her up, which she hadn't minded, and then their child had woken her up only an hour after they'd drifted off... and then kept her awake most of the night. She'd minded that, as much as she loved the child she had been desperate for sleep by the morning, and then it was too late. She had shit to do before her shift. Sometimes a sleepless night wasn't as worth it when it wasn't from being out in the club, or from your insatiable partner. Even then it was debatable when the night slowly came to a close and your eyes felt like they were burning from tiredness. She wiped the bar down as they handed over the last of the drinks they would be serving; cutting the rest of the patrons off. Almost time for them to clear out, and thank fuck for that.
"no, no more risks. two whoops is plenty." She nodded at that, serious enough that she hoped it might make a real impression on them both - because granted she was the one agreeing to the risks, it wasn't like it didn't take two to tango and all of that. "you have pockets too you know." She scrunched her nose when he poke it and rolled her eyes. "You would think, right? But a lot of girl clothes actually lack's pockets." She said, which was kind of sad and also true. "But... I'll it to my list of items in my bag," She winked as a compromise. There were other options too, naturally, perhaps she should look at that if Deacon wasn't brave enough to take the sip. Granted, she had a feeling Arrow would be a complete asshole if that got out, and she didn't blame him for not being keen.
She smiled as he clutched her hands tighter, squeezing his gently in response. "things are very different." Moni nodded, glad he agreed with her. Last time, they'd both been so young. He hadn't even hit adulthood yet, and they had been too busy fooling around behind everyone's backs, and then gotten pissed off at each other, she had flown off the handle with a moments notice, hormones not helping her mind or her heart as she'd hidden the pregnancy from him for as long as possible, and then they had changed their minds about what to do repeatedly. It hadn't been good. Now they were in a stable relationship - solid and sure in each other and where they were going. They had their jobs, their home and they had been doing well with Nick since his return to his rightful home.
At the touch of his hand, her stomach swooped a little. It was a sweet gesture, and it seemed silly but she felt it meant more than just saying words. "i think the four of us will be just fine." Moni grinned, "The perfect little family." She laughed softly, half teasing, but deep down - very deep down - that little kid she'd once been that had dreamed of a family, would have been amazed at where she was now. A family of friends, and another type of family - Deacon and their two kids. It might not have been what she expected or thought she wanted, but now she knew how much she was excited for it, she knew it was right. Still grinning, she shifted in Deacon's lap and tipped her chin down to return his kiss.
She felt his shiver and her grin turned wicked, an eyebrow quirking slightly. Sometimes she was amazed about how much time had changed, how he'd been a kid when they'd met, and now here sat a man. A guy who was strong, capable and looked after her - she was so proud of him, every day, for how he'd grown. She would have loved him regardless but she had to admit that the solid muscle tensing beneath her finger tips was one heck of a turn on. The pair had always been on the edge of wild and their relationship was always passionate, even when they'd been fighting she'd found it hard to stay away. "Later?" She promised in response, knowing exactly what he was thinking about. "Or not even later, just...not right this second," She added with a grin, feeling that even with her serious news that sitting in his lap wasn't easy to ignore for long.
She watched him carefully as she said the words, her eyes searching his to see how he was going to take it. She knew things were different this time, the first time they had been kids, and hadn't known what to do with themselves, but now - they were in a committed relationship, they had decent jobs, they had a flat and they were doing okay. They'd even worked out how to handle Nick. Was it ideal? No, the timing wasn't awful but they still had a young child. But she wasn't so afraid this time. "two's enough." Moni raised an eyebrow, unsure what that response meant about how he was feeling - there was an almost smile, hinting at his lips, but she didn't know if that was an afraid smile right then or not. "Two is plenty," She agreed, especially for one's they hadn't planned.
"well that's a skill we can't talk to the bank." Moni snorted and raised a brow, "I mean.. technically it's a skill we could donate to the bank, but I'm not carrying a buttload of babies thanks." She shook her head, besides she had no interest in dating eggs - that was a terrifying idea. She burst into laughter as he balked at her motion. She wasn't really serious, as easier as it would be for them, it wasn't too bad to have had two accidents, and she wouldn't want to do that to him. "we'll just be a lot more careful." Moni laughed softly and tilted her head, "No more 'risking it' ... you're going to have to start carrying protection around with you." She warned with a slight snort. Considering their penchant for catching the mood at inappropriate times, they may have chanced it one too many times. "are you okay?" Moni took a moment to consider his question seriously and then nodded with a shy smile, curling her fingers to hold his hand. "I actually am...I think... it's a little scary but not like last time. Things are different this time. I feel like we'll be okay? How about you?"
"just say the word and i'll quit." Monique raised an eyebrow at the tempting offer and she peered up at him, her answering grin held a naughty edge to it as she ran her fingers teasingly down his chest. "But then we'd have to find a way to make money at home," She tilted her head, "I know one way we could make it, I think you might even enjoy it." She joked, letting out a small laugh - absurd really, there were certain lines even she wouldn't cross for money - not really. She'd managed to avoid those kinds of things so far in life, even as they'd gotten dire. She gave him a quick kiss but she knew she couldn't dance around the topic forever - she'd already worried or intrigued him by now, it wasn't far to leave him to worry about the news.
She relaxed under the contact of his hands on her thighs, watching his face carefully. She knew him well, and he wouldn't be able to hide from her, not anymore. Whatever he was feeling, she'd see it and she needed to know, for real, how he was going to handle it. "you." She held back a smile at the slow blink. Oh Deacon, the poor soul sometimes sold himself short with dumb looks like that. Good job she loved him regardless. She gave a nod to confirm. "pregnant?" She nodded again. "are you sure?" She rolled her eyes at that, as if she hadn't checked already. "Well the two sticks I peed on said so, unless you want to go and get another just to make triple sure." She raised a brow but the smile on the edge of his lips gave away that this reaction wasn't going to be like the last one. She gave a small sigh all the same, a slight pinch of her eyebrows giving away her worry. "Clearly, you and I together are far too ridiculously fertile." She shook her head and then mimed scissors at him pointedly.
"i prefer whipped actually." Moni chuckled and tilted her head, her long red locks sliding over one shoulder at the motion. "Oh I'm sorry let me correct that..." She murmured, and then she made a 'whip' noise instead and grinned cheekily. Once upon a time she'd rolled her eyes at the puppy-like way he'd followed her around. She'd been younger too, despite the age difference between them, and she'd been a rowdy, unruly teenager. She still kind of was in her twenties too but she remembered when the little fourteen year old punk had suddenly been flung into the lives - a miscreant, and then Ash's brother. And suddenly she had to compete with this toe-rag for her best friends attention. Then he was just always there, and it always seemed to be her and him. It was weird how the dynamic had changed - her, Ash and Arrow always, but there had been a shift over the years where him and her had become the twosome, hanging out together, laughing together, falling for each other. It had snuck up on her where suddenly she didn't find him annoying but instead she sought him out, looking for him in every room she went.
And now here they were, cuddled up together in their flat, their child happy and safe, and now... another on the way - unplanned once again. It was scary but she felt that they might be able to do this, this time. "i thought i was your adventure bud?" She laughed and patted his cheek in a consolatory manner. "Well you should have ditched work to come with me," She joked, though she no longer condoned that ... as much anyway, sometimes it was necessary or warranted - but bills had to be paid and money needed to be made to do that. "sounds a little more serious than needing to decide what to order for dinner tonight." She half smiled but it didn't reach her eyes as she let him tug her down into his lap, settling in a straddle with one leg on each side of him, she rested her hands loosely on his shoulders, she looked down at him and gave a slow exhale to steel her nerves. "So... I'm pregnant..." She bit her lower lip, anxious for his reaction.
"hey yourself." She smiled as he leaned down to reach her lips. She loved how tall he was, how he made her feel tiny next to her - his little firecracker. She had always been good at looking after herself, and she didn't need protection, but she still felt safe wrapped in his arms, felt like they could tackle the world together and she loved it. Sometimes she thought it was funny how they used to be the same height, that it just attributed so much to the man he had grown into being from the boy he once was when she first met him. "better now it's over." She rolled her eyes at that, "sap," She teased, though her hand went up to his at her cheek, holding on for a moment to press her face into his contact for that extra few seconds.
His hug surprised her and she welcomed it, feeling a little tension from her day ease out of her at the sweet gesture. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, snuggling into him gladly. "how about you shorty? get up to anything fun without me?" She laughed slightly at that and reluctantly went to pull back a little so she could gaze up at him, craning her neck to catch his gaze. She didn't want to beat around the bush too much, but she couldn't just blurt it out too suddenly. "Oh you know me, been having all the crazy adventures whilst I waited for you to come home," She joked, and then her smile wobbled a little. "But, there is something I need to tell you so.. maybe come and sit down?" She stepped out of his embrace but slid her hands down his arms to take his hands, giving a gentle tug to get him to follow her to the lounge.
Monique had deliberated how to go about this. It wasn't really the best timing, and it wasn't planned - again. Maybe her and Deacon needed a return to sex education in school, or they were just highly unlucky. Well, that was presumptuous that she thought this was bad luck. Whilst Nick had been the complete wrong timing and had sent her and Deacon up and down and all around the place, she wouldn't change things for the world as to how they had ended up. A second kid though? So close to them having Nick back? It was a lot to ask - her and Deac were only young, they couldn't afford not to work, and they had only just got into the swing of things with Nick now that he'd been back several months. Still... what was she meant to do? She had options, she knew that but, they felt wrong. She hadn't chosen differently before, and now she didn't think she wanted to.
She was anxious to tell Deac, he'd been out all day and she'd had a nervous energy since she'd found out for sure. Having felt nauseous for the past couple of mornings, and having mood swings that were giving herself whiplash, she had known something was wrong and gone out to buy three tests at lunch time whilst she had the flat to herself. All three had come back positive. She hadn't wanted to tell Deac over the phone, and it felt weird pretending she didn't have big news for him when he'd text her about dinner earlier. She heard the front door go and headed out of the bedroom to greet him, still considering how to go about this. "Hey babe," She smiled all the same and raised onto her tip toes to give him a quick kiss. "How was your day?"
GENDER: female AGE: twenty-three D.O.B: 26th august SEXUALITY: straight STATUS: dating PLAY-BY: luanna perez HAIR: dyed red - naturally brown EYES: dark brown
"I WANNA HIDE THE TRUTH, I WANNA SHELTER"
TATTOOS: has a couple - the one and this on her right ribs and finally, these SCARS: a couple DRINK: yes SMOKE: occasionally - trying to quit DRIVE: yes GLASSES: nope HOME: flat 22, woodbain flats
"YOU, BUT WITH THE BEAST INSIDE, THERE'S"
confident to the point of egotistical, moody, carefree, spirited, feisty, spontaneous, hard to pin down, night owl, thick skinned, short fuse, easy to piss off, stubborn, holds a grudge, protective - fiercely so, independent, self preserving, tenacious, will do what she think is right, a little closed minded, challenging, won't back down from a fight or a dare, has a resting bitch face
LIKES: late mornings , black coffee , going with the flow over making plans , driving in the summer - windows down, music blasting , festivals , drinking with friends , good banter , a decent dare , making people laugh DISLIKES: sand beneath her toes , hot drinks aside from coffee , jeans , cliques , authority , desk jobs , people wussing out , daz and his crew STRENGTHS: fun loving , quick witted , street smart , tactical and strategic , has good instincts WEAKNESSES: stubborn - too bull headed , can't let go of things and will hold stupid grudges , hiding her emotions, she wears everything on her face , can't say no to a dare , quick to temper FEARS: Young kids and babies , that she is everything her mother said she was – unlovable and a terror. And that she’ll always be alone SECRETS: has always had sticky fingers and used to steal a lot as a teenager - pick pocketing, shoplifting, filching from other kids at the homes. she almost got caught once and pinned it on a friend of hers who ended up getting in huge trouble for it.
"NOWHERE WE CAN HIDE, NO MATTER WHAT"
STATUS IN SOCIETY: working class OCCUPATION: barmaid EXPERTISE: mixologist - excellent with cocktails stealing - excellent at pick pocketing/shoplifting, good sleight of hand can pick locks WEALTH: not much PROUDEST MOMENT: beating ash in a fight - she was new to the home and knew she was going to have to fight to not get picked on. he was one of the cockiest assholes there and she wiped the smirk right off his face when she beat him. MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: having to give away her's and deacon's son for a little while - not even just embarrassing but her worst moment in general. she felt awful, and even though he's back with them, it sits in the back of her mind that she was still able to hand him off to someone else.
Monique had a tough go at life but she surprisingly doesn't begrudge it. She was thrown into a children’s home before she can remember, though she has brief memories of a mother who hated her. There was never any physical abuse but her mother would say awful things to her, and often neglect her. She thinks the police may have been involved but she's too young to remember - all she knows if she spent some years in a kids home. She was later transferred to another when she was older, partly because of her age and the ages of the kids with her, and partly because she'd been picking fights and causing trouble. In the second home, she met Ash and Arrow - two lads who at first she was at odds with, but after besting Ash in a fight she earned herself some decent respect and came to think of them as her family; her brothers.
They planned a way to escape when they were old enough to know they needed to get out - she had to have been around 16 at the time. It went wrong. Arrow ended up stabbing one of the other kids, and Ash managed to get out without them and Monique following suit - losing both Ash, who disappeared, and Arrow who was left behind. She wandered the country for some time, picking up work and lodgings were she could but it was hard graft being under 18 - not many people wouldn't question her. Only six months later, someone picked her up and dragged her back to the children's home - kicked and screaming. When she got there, she found out that Arrow had also managed to escape and was back to being on her own. She tried to get out several times but in the end, the only way she managed it was by turning 18 and being set loose. She worked her way back down the country, making change as she could - before catching wind of where Ash had settled from an old friend. It surprised her to find both Arrow and Ash in Hickstead, their differences settled, and she joined them without too much fuss to make a new life for herself.
