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!.
"Itty-bitty bits of chicken cook pretty quickly. The trick is not burning the crumbs coating it." Flynn smiled, "which is why I leave the skill cooking to you," She teased, mock gasping when her son joined in the joking, "Good!" His cheeky grin made her laugh, and she looked at Bruce, "Hey now, who said we could bash on my cooking?" She teased. "Don't worry kiddo, I used to think it was pretty ew too." Flynn grinned at how unconvinced her son looked, "I hope you don't think that about it now," she said to Bruce with a teasing smile.
"Might be a good idea not to touch it then." Flynn pressed her lips together as Liam frowned slightly, clearly not quite as amused as he got Bruce's joke - but he was quickly distracted by food as his mum helped him fill his plate - with a healthy dose of vegetables too. "Thank you, it's all about the seasoning added to the breadcrumbs." She smiled and took another few bites, realising how hungry she was now that she was finally over her stressing. "But the puppets are so cute!" Flynn glanced to the video as it played, watching for a couple of seconds before deciding she agreed. "Okay, the puppets are kind of cute, but the song.. not so much." She shook her head, even as Liam laughed at the screen and started trying to sing along as he picked up the words. Flynn looked across at Bruce, "You know he's going to sing this for weeks now..."
"And I promise that the chicken is cooked." Flynn raised a brow, "I really hope so, nobody needs food poisoning to finish off the day," Though she was teasing, she trusted Bruce not to try and send them all running for the bucket. "Yeah!" Liam gave a grin in response, liking the fact that Bruce matched his energy. He wasn't bad at eating his veg but he wasn't the most keen. He was good at eating meat at least, which Flynn was glad about, and he'd taken a little persuading to try some new recipes but then been surprised that he liked them. She smiled as he hurried off with his juice, his ordeal for the day basically forgotten - if only she could be the same.
"Just by being in here, you're doing all you need to." Flynn rolled her eyes but smiled, she would always love his sweetness, he always made her feel appreciated and wanted. She gave him a quick kiss in passing, laughing when Liam scrunched his nose up, "Ew," when he caught her. One day he'd understand - not even that long in the future which felt odd to her. "I'll have water with dinner." Flynn nodded and grabbed a couple of glasses, filling them with cold water and placing them both on the table. A wine was tempting but she didn't feel up to it just yet.
"Kai time!" She grinned and slipped into her seat, giving her son a little help to clamber onto his and tuck him in. "Is your arm all better now?" Liam looked at the bandage around his arm and nodded, though his lips turned down a little. "It doesn't hurt as much now," He blinked and gave it a small poke then muttered an 'ouch', his lip threatening to wobble, "But it hurts to touch it," Flynn gave Bruce a look and a small smile, and then she saw the laptop and shook her head, "Uh oh," But at least it would distract her son. It was pretty quick to take effect as he tuned in to watch the video whilst Flynn dished some dinner out to him and then to herself. "This is wonderful," It was a good idea too - healthy enough but still a treat. "Though I'm not sure about the video,"
She caught the scent of cooking - wonderfully delicious as it always was when Bruce cooked - as she headed into the kitchen again with Liam. He had her hand in his, usual for him as he quite enjoyed being independent, but she figured he was feeling a little residual worry himself from his time lost in the woods. "I asked for Chicken nuggets," Liam announced, looking up at Flynn and then Bruce hopefully, it smelt similar, and Flynn glanced to Bruce, wondering what he'd been able to whip up - she knew he wouldn't have just stuck nuggets on a plate and thrown them in the oven; which she had to admit she might have done on occasion in the past. "Whatever it is, it smells wonderful," She added, smiling as she caught his approving nod, glad he didn't mind her ransacking his wardrobe.
"You're just in time to set the table." Flynn nodded and released Liam so she could gather the bits to start setting the table. "I helps!" Liam announced, and Flynn smiled as she handed him the place mats. "We're having popcorn chicken and chips, with steamed veg on the side." Flynn's smile widened and she shot Bruce a grateful look, she would never stop being thankful for him. "Mmm perfect!" She said, seeing Liam pull a face at the 'veggies' part but she knew he'd eat them all the same. "Chicken and chips!" He exclaimed in excitment, and Flynn rolled her eyes but followed him to the table with the cutlery to set it. "Do you need me to do anything?" She asked Bruce once it was set, knowing he was going to say no but asking all the same. "A drink?" She asked, opening the fridge and handing her son a juice she knew he was about to ask for.
"Liam was very smart, and knew to stay where he was until help arrived." She nodded, giving Bruce a brief smile and nodded, "Well, that's my smart boy," She kissed Liam's forehead, "just don't ever do that to us again, never run off like that it's dangerous." She couldn't help but tell her son again but her tone was soft, her anger faded away with the relief still at the forefront. She heard Bruce chuckle at the mention of puppets and she knew she had definitely missed something. "How about you go and have a bath and get your pyjamas on, and I'll set up the laptop so you can watch it while you eat dinner?" She raised a brow at his large grin, seeing Liam frown slightly, ready to protest. "He was curious to know what the fox says."
"Ah," She half smiled at that, "it's a terrible song," She commented, but her lips twitched again anyway - she'd take it if that's what had gotten her son home safe. "I think that's a good deal, Liam. No arguments," She warned as she saw his mouth open, ready to. He sighed but nodded, and she helped him gently off the counter. "We won't be long," She promised, herding her child up the stairs and preparing him a bath. He perked up as she added his favourite toys, smiling as she played with the submarine with him, not minding in the slightest as he soaked her t-shirt. At six he was perfectly capable of bathing himself but after the scare of losing him she didn't want to take her eyes off him, opting to join in his games instead for ten minutes, and then helping him into his PJ's.
Flynn pulled on a change of clothes herself before they went back down - switching into a pair of comfy joggers and one of Bruce's t-shirts for comfort. Even when he hadn't worn them, they still smelt faintly like him and it made her feel better - relaxed, safe. They trooped downstairs to the smell of cooking, Flynn finally feeling more settled now her son was clean, changed and his arm was okay. "Alright, what's for dinner chef Bruce?"
"Um... there's a lot of mentioning the sounds other animals make and they ask what a fox says... There's a good clip of it with puppets that I'll show you when we get home." Liam thought about it then nodded, he liked puppets, as long as they had funny voices and were colourful he was easily entertained by them. And now he was wondering about the noise a fox made, the one the fox has been making earlier had just sounded horrible; like someone screaming. "If you had walked off, trying to find your own way home, Gizmo wouldn't have found you as quickly as he did." His expression cleared a little as he understood, making a little 'oh' sound, but then he was no longer worried - Gizmo had found him, and they were going home now.
And he promptly forgot all his fear once he was home and with his mum again, in her arms. It was like it almost hadn't happened for him, but he needed as his mum told him not to do that again. "I sowrry," Tears threatened and his sniffed, but continued to cling to his mum as Bruce disappeared. Flynn didn't want to put him down, especially as Liam happily hung on to her, and she instead followed Bruce into the kitchen with the intention of cleaning up her son's face. "You might want to get your ma to look at your sore arm." Flynn's face pinched in worry. "What happened?" She asked, looking from Bruce back to her son as he then held up his sore arm and his lip began to wobble again. "Foxy bit me," Flynn's heart leapt in worry but she managed to hide it from her son.
A glance to what Bruce was doing and she managed a brief smile, he was already onto the antiseptic water. Going into Nurse mode, she gently popped her son on the kitchen counter top, and then rolled up his sleeve as he pointed to which one it was. "Okay sweetie, let's take a look," She took his arm gently, turning it so she could take a proper look at the wound. She relaxed a little to see that the skin hadn't really been broken, it must have been a quick nip and with his long sleeve, it must have saved him. "Ouch, that must hurt. Let's get this all fixed up, shall we?" She gave Liam a reassuring smile as she always did for his grazes and cuts and he nodded, before she glanced at Bruce, "Thank you," She said again as she reached for the bowl, taking time to clear his wound properly and thoroughly - the last thing she needed was infection - and then she wrapped his arm for caution. She would rather have it open for the air but just for today, she wanted to keep it clean. "Alright, I think it's time to get clean - you are filthy!" She exclaimed, setting the boy in a giggle as she kissed his head, and then gave Bruce one in turn. "I wants to see the fox puppets!" Liam piped up, and Flynn frowned slightly, confused.
Liam continued to cuddle the pup, drawing more comfort from his happy excitement, feeling safe now that Bruce was here. He knew Bruce wasn't his dad, but he always knew he was more involved in his life than his dad was - and sometimes it was confusing. He felt safe with Bruce, he liked Bruce, and he liked that Bruce made his mum happy. She laughed more now, and smiled more, and she got to be home more. He was young, but he knew these things. But right now, he was glad Bruce was here, he knew the man would look after him ad take him home - plus he had brought Gizmo, he new best friend.
"No? Really? But there's a whole song dedicated to what the fox says." He frowned slightly, not sure that he knew it, "How does it go?" He asked, looking up at Bruce expectantly as if he would burst into song. Distracted, his arm didn't hurt so much anymore - though he couldn't help but touch it as Bruce mentioned that the fox had gone. "Well, he's gone now, so you must have done something to help. And well done for remaining in one spot when you knew you were lost, as that's half the problem solved." Liam blinked, not realising that was a good thing, and not understanding what he meant by half the problem being solved. "Don't know about nuggets, but I'm sure I could throw together some popcorn chicken and chips when we get home." He gave a keen nod at that and as they went to head home, he reached up to take Bruce's hand, hugging his sore arm close to his chest.
"Honey, we're home." Flynn burst into the hallway the second she heard the door, the words already out by the time she'd already seen them. "Oh thank God!" She exclaimed to see her son with Bruce, dirty and tear-stained but whole and walking. He was raising his arms already but he reached down and scooped him up into her arms, squeezing him a little too tightly as Liam hugged her back for a moment and then began to protest. "Oh you scared me, sweetie. Never, ever do that again," but there was nothing but relief in her tone, her eyes opened, tension stil thrumming through her as she looked to Bruce, "Thank you. Thank you so much," Her eyes welled with tears - relief, stress, gratitude - she didn't know which one they were for.
Liam took the offer of a tissue, wiping his face on it and managing to subside his crying to the odd sniffle. He felt better now that Bruce was here - he liked Bruce, and he felt safe with him, he knew the man would know how to get them home. "That's why we're here." He managed a watery smile and a slight nod, his hands going to the pup again for comfort, gently running over is furry head. "You saw a fox? What did it say?" Liam didn't quite get the joke and he frowned, confused - but it did take his mind off what had happened. "Foxes don't talk?" He giggled slightly, thinking Bruce must be silly.
"Let's get home and we'll have a look at where it bit you. How did you get close enough to a fox for it to bite you?" Liam glanced back a short way to where the fox had been stuck, the noise was no longer happening so maybe it had gotten free of it's own accord. "It was stuck in the fence over there," He pointed awkwardly to the place he'd come from and then drew his arms back in as the memory of the shock of the bite came back to him. "What are we going to have for dinner tonight?" His mind was distracted once again by the question and he blinked, "I wants chicken nuggets," But he knew that his mum was unlikely to be cooking that for him tonight, it would probably be stir fry or something gross.
Back at the house, Flynn jumped for her phone as she heard it ting, and breathed a huge sigh of relief to read Bruce's message. Texting back a 'thank you so much' she still didn't know what to do with herself. She paced even though she knew he was safe, the knot in her stomach had eased but not gone - she would need him in her arms before she relaxed.
Liam was normally quite a brave kid, and surprisingly logical. He tended to think things through and tried to stay calm if he didn't know what to do - but sometimes there were times that didn't warrant that kind of thought. He was only six, he was lost and he wanted to help the animal but he didn't know how - and now it had bitten him, and the bite hurt. He didn't want to be here anymore, he wanted his mum and he wanted to go home.
He was crying quite loudly and at first he didn't hear the crashing through the undergrowth. But when the loud noise came closer and increased in volume and he perked his head up, tear tracks drying on his cheeks. A bark, and Liam didn't dare to hope - it could be any dog, though it sounded like Gizmo. He loved the pup and spent almost all his waking time with the pup; he knew his bark. And then he was there - Gizmo, his arms automatically opening to scoop the puppy up for comfort, trying to bury his crying face in the pup's fur. "Gizzzyyy," He hiccuped.
"Do you think it might be time to head home?" He peered up into Bruce's face, blinking as another few tears fell from his lashes. He gave a quick nod, he really really wanted to go home. "Your mummy is a little worried about you. Gizmo was missing you too. If you can't tell." Liam's lip wobbled but he took a deep breath, trying to be brave. "I don't know the way back," He sniffed, going to wipe his eyes roughly with his arm and then making a pained noise. "I tried to helps the fox and it bit me."
She shut her eyes briefly as he kissed her forehead, trying to suck up some more comfort from him. If anything had happened...God, it didn't bear thinking about. She had to trust that he was just round the corner and Bruce would find him. She was used to doing, not used to sitting back and letting someone else do it. "I know you do, but if he gets home before I do, he's going to want you." She knew he was right, and she would want to be here for him, but it was so hard. "Why don't you write out a list of jobs he's going to need to do, because he left the property without telling anyone? Or make him his favourite meal because you know he'll be hungry when he walks in?" Flynn nodded, but knew she would not have the focus to cook or be able to sit down. She would pace until he came back, she wouldn't be able to stop herself.
Flynn returned his squeeze and gave a flicker of a smile to the kiss of her fingers. "You will know anything as soon as I do, my love." She nodded, "Okay... be safe." She would trust nobody else to find her son but Bruce. She watched as he headed out the door, her eyes following him until she couldn't see him anymore, and then she went back to pacing, alternating looking out of the front and back windows to keep an eye out for if her son was on his way back.
---
Liam knew he was going to be in trouble, but it wasn't his fault, not really. He didn't meant to get himself stuck in this position. He'd been playing in the back garden when he'd heard it - a high keening cry that sounded like something was hurt. At first he even thought it might be a person, but as he'd followed it, it had become more like an animal. He should have told his mum he was going out the front for a moment - it was only a moment - but he figured that as it wouldn't take long he didn't need to tell her.
He had followed the path down to the trees, and then following the noise even further, until he'd realised he'd gotten himself lost. He didn't panic, he had started to worry but he tried to keep calm, as his mum always did. Instead he focused on his reason for being here - the noise. He was finally close enough to see what it was. A fox, stuck in a fence. He was only a kid, just six years, but he wanted to help it. It didn't occur to him it might panic, that it might bite, that he should get an adult. Instead, he had toddled over and tried to help it through. It had bitten him - not badly, just a nip, but it had been enough for him to take a step back, and then he'd tripped over his own feet in hurry and grazed his knees. Tears ran cold down his cheeks as he looked around, unsure which was was the way to go home. "Muuuuuuummmmy!!"
She settled against him for a moment, trying to breathe in his calm and make it happen for herself. It wasn't quite possible, though she knew she would feel worse if he wasn't here - unsettled and panicky. Bruce made her feel like it would be fine, they would find Liam in no time and it wasn't a scary situation, even though her brain knew that it was - her son was missing and she had no idea where he was. She took a step back when Bruce did, looking up at him with slightly baleful eyes as she could see him figuring out what he was about to say. She felt that she might not like it.
"I understand your need to do something, but I need you to stay here. Liam's been gone for a while, and the last thing he is going to want, if he returns while we are out, is to find a note." Flynn wanted to argue, there were words on her tongue ready to go, but she also knew he had a point and she deflated a little. "I feel so useless," She admitted, her feet itching to move, desperate to do something productive. She knew that this was outside the norm for Liam and he would be upset, or anxious, he wasn't the kind to lose track of time - she needed o be here to comfort him.
Flynn watched the exchange between Giz and Bruce, managing a small smile at the puppy's enthusiasm but still feeling bad that she wasn't able to come with him. As soon as he was gone, she knew the worry would hit her full throttle once again and she'd be panicking. She returned Bruce's kiss and then looked at him with wide eyes. "I will phone as soon as we know anything." Flynn nodded and grabbed her phone from where she'd left it, making sure it was turned up loud. "Please do... if you see anything just.. call me." She knew he would but she just need to know.
She felt a little more tension ease away as Bruce kissed her head. They would find him, no matter what, she knew Bruce would help make everything right. There was something about it that was so centering, so calming - it helped to ground her. She felt guilty that she had to worry him with this, but he was the first person she had thought of, the only person she needed comfort and support from.
"You can call me anytime." She nodded, feeling a little better for it - she would never call him for something trivial anyway but she still didn't like to interrupt. "thank you," She said softly. "And we were doing things they can do without needing me there." Flynn was glad for it, she would have felt worse if he'd had to cut it short because of this - but right now her worry for Liam trumped everything else most of all. "Sorry, I didn't see him." She deflated a little, though she had known it was likely the case it was still worse to hear him confirm her thoughts. She didn't understand where he would go, at least not without telling her.
She followed his gaze to the window. "If Gizmo was a few years older, I'd just let him loose and get him to bring Liam home." Flynn, looked to the kitchen door where Gizmo was, "Can we not?" She asked, before he answered her anyway. "However, I can't do that, because knowing my luck, the pup would run the opposite direction and then we'd be looking for two little ones." The corners of her lips turned down, he was right, Gizmo's attention was all over the place right now, too excited by all the smells and sights and sounds of life. "How about Gizmo and I go for a walk and see if we can find him?" Flynn nodded, chewing on her top lip with worry. "I want to come," She felt the need to move, to do something. "I know he might come back but I need to do something proactive." She could leave a note for him to call her if he came home, but if she was moving she might not feel so anxious.
She was still searching when she heard the door, and for a second her heart leapt that it was her son, and he'd just been down the road. At this point she wasn't been angry she just wanted him home, safe. She only felt s slight twinge of disappointment that it was Bruce, though it was accompanied by a swift shot of relief to see him. If he was here she knew it would be okay, together they would find Liam and everything would be fine. She wrapped her arms tight around him and buried her head in his chest, allowing herself to take a brief moment of comfort in him.
"When did you last see him and where is Gizmo?" she pulled back and chewed on her lower lip, running a tense hand through her hair - though it was clear she'd already been doing that plenty. "He was playing in the back garden, I only took my eyes off him for a few minutes and suddenly he wasn't there anymore. But I didn't start panicking until I came out and couldn't see him at all. Gizmo is in the kitchen in his bed." she'd also hoped Liam might have taken the pup but the animal was snoozing in his bed, though he'd begun to get restless as Flynn's rushing. Liam knew not to take the puppy out on his own, but it left her with one less reason as to where he was. "I'm sorry to pull you away from work, I'm just really worried now. Did you see any sign on your way back?" she asked hopefully, though realistically she knew Bruce would tell her if he had so to ease her anxiety.
She hadn't started panicking until it ticked toward an hour. Kids were kids, they often got themselves into trouble and lost track of time, and her son was somewhat of a dreamer sometimes but he rarely went out of bounds. The garden was secure, or as far as she knew it was, and Liam always asked before he went out into the front - with so much space in the back he rarely bothered unless he wanted to ride his bike. In those cases, she always made sure she was doing things where she could keep a close eye on him, make sure he was okay and nothing was going on. He hadn't asked to play out front though. Everything had been normal, she had worked a few hours this morning at the hospital - very early - and come home to distribute lunch and relieve the sitter.
Liam had come in from the back garden to sit at the table for his sandwich and crisps - much to his reluctance when he'd wanted to grab it and run back outside. They'd spoken a little but she could tell her son's mind had still been preoccupied with games, and then after wolfing down his food he'd pegged it back outside. After clearing up the kitchen she'd started on some of the housework, and she'd glanced outside periodically to check on her son. That was until her last check almost an hour ago when she couldn't see him. Frowning, Flynn had gone out the back to double check she wasn't being silly or her eyes deceiving her. When she couldn't see him, she'd called his name a couple of times but to no answer. It was unlike Liam not to call back.
She hadn't worried yet, thinking he'd have gone inside and she must have missed him she started checking the house. From top to bottom, and then calling his name. Maybe it was paranoia, but her son was only six, he was just a kid, and the second she didn't know where he was, panic began to rise. She choked it down for as long as possible, checking his favourite hiding spots, checking the back garden again in it's entirety and then checking out the front - but there was no sign on him. That's when she'd called Bruce, trying not to sound like she was freaking out.. when she was absolutely freaking out.
