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!.
"I also feel like I'll be here forever. I don't see myself do anything else, except maybe teach future EMTs. That might be fun." Quinn smiled at Mads and gave an understanding nod. "Anything that injects a little fun into it," She joked, knowing how fresh faced and over excited the young one's could be when they first came in, and how quickly they were knocked down several pegs. "Well, fun time is over. Please feel free to come visit me during your shifts when I'm not on call. It's always nice to have some company."
Quinn gave a nod and a mock salute, "Will be sure to pop by when I need a break," She promised, knowing that realistically if she did that, it'd be all the time. “Sorry ladies! Work calls. It was a lovely lunch with you both.” Quinn gave the other woman a wave and all, "Good luck, hope the day improves!" She said, more to both than just to one. She checked her watch and, seeing she didn't have long left herself before she needed to get going, she stood to tidy up the lunch room and head on back to the trenches.
“Oh yes, watching the babies being held by their new parents is always very cute. Sometimes we have emergencies, and you want to cry. But you have to be strong for the parents and family.”“I agree. It’s so nice to see everyone pitch in to make the Hospital run well....That’s honestly my favorite part of the job is bringing a woman in who is about to give birth. Much better than a car accident victim.” She gave a small smile at that and a nod of agreement. "I feel there's no tougher job than emergency services. The police see awful things too, but I think we get the brunt of it - naturally." Because whenever there was anything health related involved, guess who was called, and Quinn had had her fair share of dealing with aggressive people, and those brought in with handcuffs on. “I agree, There’s always something new to learn, I think.” She nodded as she took a bite of her lunch, unable to help but glance toward the clock - forever clock watching in this kind of job.
“I do enjoy going into the nursery after a particularly stressful shift and go see if a newborn wants to be swaddled.” Quinn gave a small chuckle, "It is a bit of medicine, isn't it?" She said softly, thinking of how therapeutic it was to pick up a baby for a cuddle in the middle of a bad day. Quinn took a swig from her drink and started finishing up her food. “Yeah, there always seems to be new faces – even if the person was there for five years. There’s a lot of new nursing students and med students, too, so that adds a lot of new people as well! But I’m glad people are still wanting to come into the medical field.”...“The medical field keeps us on our toes for sure. I know I’m not looking forward to yet another set of first aid tests. I find it hard to figure out people’s names, though thankfully all the doctors and surgeons have name tags.”
Quinn nodded, "it's very fast paced. I'm one of those fixtures that's been here for a while, and will probably be here until I'm the crusty old nurse everyone avoids if they want to keep their head," She joked, though she knew her maternal nature would never let her turn grumpy - she liked helping people too much, even the nervous fresh faced newbies with their silly questions. “Really? I hope a few of them stay. I hear I’m supposed to get someone to train on the ambulance soon, it would be nice to have the help.” She agreed with that too, "perhaps if they paid better, more would stay - turn around is high right now and we're forever short staffed... but I guess we don't do it for money." If she did, she'd have left a long time ago, she was lucky her salary was enough to help at home with the bills and that Arrow pulled in more than enough for the rest.
"although i think jase and arrow deserve more credit than caveman .. maybe stone age?" Quinn considered it for a moment, picturing the men in her head having a conversation with two clubs in their hands and a cave about their heads - responding in monosyllabic grunts instead of works. "Yeah I guess they can have a little more credit...perhaps full sentences instead of just one word answers?" she joked and let out a quiet laugh. She took another mournful of ice cream and sucked on it slowly as she let Heidi open up, she was getting full herself anyway and would need to slow down to avoid horrible indigestion. She knew well enough by now that a lot of people just needed someone to talk at, to listen to them, to be there to sound things out or bounce words off of. "yeah but i don't understand why. i can think of a million ways i'd love to see him suffer but .. like you said, i don't want him hurting." Quinn pursed her lips for a moment in thought before treading carefully on her answer. She knew all the lads in their group carried past trauma and it was tough to navigate at the best of times. "Well you said this all links to his past...how much of it has he shared with you? Perhaps it comes from shame a little bit or it's just one of those boxes in someone's mind they don't like to open up?" she didn't want to put her foot in anything or go into how things had been for her and Arrow in their difficult days but hopefully it might help bring some understanding or clarify to things.
"i know he does but he didn't trust me enough with this. or that's what it feels like. what did he think, i'd leave him because he has a past? or a child from before we met?" Quinn gave a sad smile and a small half shrug as she put down her spoon, giving up on the ice cream as her stomach began to protest. "Maybe it's himself he doesn't trust? Or he's worried it'll all fall apart. Our boys aren't used to stability after all. We have to keep proving it to them again and again. But I get what you mean." She agreed, not wanting Heidi to think she was disagreeing with her very valid feelings. "i swear this kid knows when i'm made at their dad and it's never my side they take." Quinn chuckled a little and smiled again. Sometimes she really missed being pregnant, it had been such a miracle for her. "Kids always know when you're fighting, be glad this one can't give verbal opinions just yet."
Yeah I think things are heading back to the right track so don't be too worried to probe. It might encourage more conversation! A quick night out and then a long sleep? Perhaps a massage and a spa weekend...no men or children allowed?
“EMS. I’m sure you’ve had a few adventures yourself. That's a whole other kind of breed of person...“I work in L&D. Midwife and Doula,”“That’s actually true. Seriously, I may also be in the medical field, but both of your specific professions need a stomach of steel. Definitely earned my respect anyway.” Quinn smiled and gave a small shrug, "I think we all do an incredible job, my respect always goes out to all parts of the team - we all work damn hard and see some awful things." She couldn't say that one department was any worse or 'easier' than the other - they each all had their own challenges and difficulties in their own ways regardless of whether there was blood and guts and puke or other bodily fluids or not. "Delivering babies definitely brings a little something special to the day," She added with a smile, knowing how rewarding that must be on a hard day.
Do you like moving around where you are needed, Quinn?” Quinn nodded, "I do, it brings a change of pace to the day. Sometimes on quiet days on the ward it's nice to be able to relieve the stress and pressure for someone else. Plus it keeps me in tune and practice with all my medical training." She had no issue with spending a night doing countless stitches, as the next night she might be back on her ward watching someone wake up from surgery, and it was good to know she had the skills needed when she needed them there.
“I haven’t really floated around that much while here, but it sounds like there are quite a few people I haven’t met yet. Heck, I don't think I've been off my floor! I don’t tend to mingle either. Though it’s hard when I’m stuck by the ambulance bay.” Quinn smiled, "it is good to get a chance to meet more and more teams for sure, it makes switching jobs for the day good too when I can put names to faces right off the bat." Besides, she had always been a people person so the more people she knew, the better. It felt more personal too when giving a patient over to another team if she knew the person she was handing off too.
Yeah they are, though I think there is improvement in that department so perhaps not for much longer. haha I feel like it will only take a couple of drinks and I'll be asleep!
Yeah I can agree - some more than others I have a couple of days off next week? I promised to spend some time with Arrow as we keep missing each other recently but perhaps the Thursday?
She was quiet for a moment as she let her friend muse over what she'd said, giving her quiet and peace as she returned to the ice cream, savouring the sweetness. She would suffer for it tomorrow that was sure - she knew she would when her stomach ached. She couldn't quite enjoy sweet things to way she used to these days - age was a factor, even if she wasn't that old, but some of her taste had changed since having Hallie. It was odd how much your body changed as a woman going through pregnancy - men definitely got off lightly, that was for sure. She understood how it felt, to be at odds with your other half. God knew her and Arrow had had some cracking arguments over the years, some grounded on better reasons than others. But they always found a way back to each other, a way to get things on track again and she had no doubt the same would be for Heidi and Jason - they just needed some time.
"why do i picture grunting and wooden clubs." She chuckled at that, trying to encourage the joke. "Because that's normally very accurate?" She offered, having seen the boys talk first hand and how much there did seem to be grunting involved and lot's of nods and shrugs - non verbal communication kind of stuff. "i should be happy about that but.." Quinn leant back against the chair and smiled softly. "But you're not." She said gently. "I get it, you love him, you don't want him to be hurt either." She mused other another spoonful of ice cream. "He's being stubborn, but I know he misses you too. And he'll want to fix this - he loves you."
"great minds think alike." Quinn chuckled and gave a nod, digging into some more of her guilty pleasure Ben and Jerry's whilst she gave her friend time to let it out. Sometimes you just needed to wait and let someone mull something over and then talk out loud to a friend. She laughed at the moan her friend gave but she appreciated it - you had to enjoy the proper stuff or you shouldn't be eating it. She kept digging away at the ice cream, watching the pot begin to empty reluctantly and knowing that if she kept going too much longer the whole thing would be empty - and she'd likely be the sad sap with indigestion from it.
"he really is." She smiled and nodded in agreement, glad that others could see it in him. Zeke was such a sweetheart, despite the things that he had been through - which was quite a lot for such a young lad. The issues with his mother, and Daz's impact in his earlier years. But he had a wonderful father, Arrow was fantastic with him, and his had good family around him too. "i wouldn't have believed it if i didn't know him." Quinn chuckled and gave her ice cream a rest for a moment. It was hard to see even with those who hung around him, he didn't often show it, but she'd seen it plenty; he was a good man. "has he talked to jason?" A slight smile, Quinn glanced at her from the corner of her eye. "He had a man to man chat with him, yeah.." The same way they had had a girlie chat. "He's wallowing." She said, hoping it would make her feel better.
"That’s fair, except when it’s after you just changed their linens or turn them over.” Quinn chuckled and then shook her head, "Honestly, if you want something with a strong stomach, find a nurse." It was true - she knew police officers also saw some horrific things themselves but nurses were generally the one's cleaning up gross messes - and they couldn't gag or pull a face at it, for a lot of people it was their dignity and it would be fair. You had to be tasteful, as gross as it could be sometimes. "Ugh. I think I'd rather take vomit over number two." She chuckled at that and gave a non committal gesture, "If only we could actually pick and choose, huh?"
Quinn took a few bites of her salad as she sat down with the others, listening to the others talk for a moment as she shoveled in lunch. “Oof, giving out all the Narcan then?” "It's become more and more of a problem lately. Definitely going to have to ask for more in the ambulance." Quinn was lucky that she'd rarely come across addicts in her line of work, but as they didn't get out anything stronger than the paracetemol you could get off the shelf until they were on the wards, it just didn't tend to happen. “We’re ships passing in the night. It’s been a busy night for everyone. Madison? Quinn? Easy enough, I hope, I’m Phryne, but you can call me Fry, like the food. What sections are you in?...."Nice to meet you both. I'm on the EMS team so I usually drive the ambulance. And you?" ” Quinn smiled, "Nice to officially meet you. I'm generally on the recovery ward but I move about as needed." She had no issue with that, and regularly volunteered to cover A&E when needed.
"Sorry," She apologised with a sheepish smile as she saw Heidi jump, she hadn't meant to scare her but clearly the woman had been in her own thoughts; wallowing. "how can you tell." Quinn gave her a sympathetic smile, "Honestly, if this hadn't happened to me before there wouldn't have been ice cream in the freezer." She teased. So the circumstances hadn't been the same, they couldn't be, but the rest of it was similar - arguing with your other half, not just small one's but colossal arguments where people were hurt and needed space. Quinn remembered how she had felt when she'd woken up married to Arrow - and he hadn't wanted it. "i'll replace this." Quinn frowned and shook her head, waving it off, "don't be silly, that's just the cheap stuff for the kids." Which sounded harsh but when they ate it so frequently as they did, it was better to save the pennies. Besides, kids didn't appreciate the expense - only what flavour it was.
She wiggled the new ice creams at her and smiled. "oh you meant the really good stuff." With a nod, she slid the other flavour over to herself and dug in. She could quite happily dig into this at any time of the day or night. "baby wants both?" Quinn smiled as she spooned ice cream into her waiting mouth, "have at it," She said after a moment, making an appreciative noise at the cookie dough sweetness. "now i know where zeke gets it from." Quinn raised an eyebrow with a curious noise, wondering what she meant. "i don't think i've met a boy that would willingly offer to share his room with a girl at that age. let alone sleep on the floor for her." Quinn's expression softened, as it always did when she thought of the kids. Zeke may not have been hers by blood but she never thought of him as anything less - he was her son. "He's a wonderful boy, such a sweetheart," Her smile widened, "Would you believe, he takes after Arrow for that." Her hard edged husband, who had a heart of gold and was sweet beneath the surface.
Quinn heard the top stair creak and she shifted in bed, unable to get comfortable. She had never been a great sleeper before but since having Hallie, she slept even less. She wasn't sure if it was a motherly thing, always on the listen out for a whimper or cry of a child, or the hint of worry or danger. It was bloody annoying is what it was. Especially whilst Arrow slept sounded beside her, the soft snore of his breath in her ear. She sighed quietly and rolled onto her side for a moment, her eyes glazing over him in the gloom, and despite herself she smiled gently. He always looked so peaceful - and so innocent - when he slept. She reached out the touch his cheek in the softest caress, not wanting to wake him, as she slipped out of bed and donned her dressing gown, creeping downstairs.
"Couldn't sleep?" She asked quietly as she spied Heidi in the kitchen, delving into ice cream like a lost treasure. She didn't blame her, she hated arguing with people, especially Arrow, but she went the other way and tended to lose all her appetite when it happened. "You know, I keep the really good stuff hidden away," She smiled, reaching into the fridge and rummaging around for a few minutes before she was able to get to the best bits, revealing some Ben and Jerries, still unopened, triumphantly. "Here we go - I have Cookie dough, and Pish food?" She offered, going into the cutlery drawer to grab herself a spoon and sitting next to her, putting the tubs on the counter. "Can't have you eating alone."
“Vomit, eh? Dang…well, I’d rather take vomit over number two that’s for sure. Good thing for backups, though.” ...“Yikes, throwing up?” Quinn scrunched her nose slightly and nodded in answer to the question - a lot of vomit. She tilted her head slightly as she thought on Phryne's words, "If it's only once, I'll take number two over repetitive vomit," She decided. If it was just once, she'd have it. By the third chunder, the smell was firmly imprinted in her nose and she hoped to hell it wasn't going to put her off her lunch.
Once everything was in the machine she washed her hands - thoroughly, several times - in the sink, finally feeling clean after her morning's horror. “That’s not exactly pleasant break conversation.” Quinn glanced over, realising they were eating, and pulled an apologetic smile. "Sorry," She said, as she went to grab her own lunch from the fridge. It wasn't anything too exciting, she'd made a large bowl of salad so that she could just grab a bowl's worth ready made for her working days, having put a few pieces of chicken in to beef it up.
“For me I'm dealing mainly with overdoses tonight so lots of people are foaming at the mouth.” Quinn's eyebrows went up, "So a fun evening ahead for you," She could sympathise, there were some days that were better than others, in different ways - it could be a night of bodily fluids, or it could be difficult patients, or a night where everything went wrong. Rarely was it boring. “I’m Maddison, but Maddie is fine too. I think I’ve seen you two around before but it’s always nice to put a name to a face.” Quinn grabbed her water and headed over to the sofa's with her lunch. "I'm sure I'd seen you both in the usual mad rush of work," She grinned, "I'm Quinn."
Quinn sighed as she peeled off the soiled gloves and washed her hands - thoroughly. She was only five hours into a twelve hour shift and she was exhausted already. Hallie was being difficult at night at the moment, screaming bloody murder at two hour intervals for no reason other than to check her lungs were working. Quinn could confirm that they were. It wouldn't be so bad bu she had agreed to cover a couple of extra shifts whilst a few of the other nurses took annual leave. The money was useful but she now regretted it, the bags under her eyes felt like they had bags under her eyes. Add to that the fact that the last guy she'd attended in A&E had decided to chuck up his entire day's stomach contents all over her and it was going to be a long shift.
She grabbed a fresh pair of scrubs from her locker and quick changed, stripping off and slipping into the clean pressed clothes. It was lunch time for her - luckily - and she was starved, having skipped breakfast and been on the go since, with no time to stop. Her stomach rumbled as she entered the break room, icky clothes balled up in hand, her first point of call was to shove her clothes into the washing machine, pulling a face as she grabbed her sandwich and glanced at the other women already in there. "You don't even want to know how many times that makes it that I've been thrown up on today." She rolled her eyes.