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!.
"Nova is actually pretty loving when she wants to be, besides the boredom escapes she's been the best mare I've had so far." Katerina smiled as she glanced to the mare in question, watching her glance to the chatting humans as if wondering what they were discussing. "The quirky one's always are the best," Not that wanting to escape was quirky, but she found the one's that had a little bit of 'something' about them tended to be the one's that did the best, had the talent or the drive to go far. Her's weren't particularly quirky either but they had the breeding and training to be naturally talented without too much crazy.
She grinned back at Riley. "No unplanned pregnancies please madam." A small laugh but a nod in agreement. "I will agree with that, thank you." Not that it would be such a ball ache for her, but it would make things complicated - and a little awkward. Her heard dropped a little to talk of the fire. "I don't know how someone could be so cruel and evil" Kat nodded, whole heartedly agreeing. "I don't understand it either, any lover of horses would never do such a thing. It had to be a random attack." Though it felt targeted, she didn't understand how or why someone would do it.
"Yeah, if she was out alone she tends to get bored and go looking for trouble.” she smiled, glancing at the mare with a knowing look. "don't we all," she agreed, though she couldn't say she'd been causing trouble since moving to England, back home she had always been on the lookout for adventure when she'd been bored. She was getting braver in this foreign country as exploring, though it would be nice to have friends to do it with. She couldn't say she was a troublemaker, though the odd trouble did occasionally follow in her wake.
”Ah an easy life’s over-rated. .I’ve had mares all my life and they’ve all been tetchy” Kat smiled and nodded an agreement. "My other horse is a mare, and she can be somewhat more temperamental but she is the easier to handle " though both her horses had manners and were well behaved most of the time, her mare was more likely to do as she should from the word go, but did argue back when she was told off for not listening properly. ”Nice to meet you too Katerina. . if Croatian is as handsome as his name I get why Nova took a shine to him.” she grinned and nodded again. "I am perhaps a little biased but she has picked herself the finest looking man in the stable." ”Ahh of course the fire. . I’ve been away for a while and only just heard about it. . did all of the horses get out okay?” Her smile fell to think of the fire and all it had caused. "Luckily yes, everyone was able to get out with only minor injuries but it is still such a shock. An awful thing to happen." and the fact that they thought it to be intentional...all the worse.
"Nope but i've had a few suitors jump over barrels for me" Katerina laughed, delighted to find that the stranger had a sense of humour - much better than if she'd accidentally put her foot in the situation by making an inappropriate joke. "As they should," She agreed, forget wrapping around your finger, that was far too low key. "Yeah that could work. .hopefully there was just a railing down and she spotted a chance to explore." Kat nodded, "I'm not sure what was the cause, perhaps even something going on that riled her up enough to go for it?" She didn't know the mare so could only guess, but if the yard was busy hers often got excited and were prone to idiot moves.
She smiled easily at the look of relief, not that she would have held anything against the woman anyway - they were horses, things happened, and this was the drama with having a stallion anyway. "oh good, i'm glad." Kat shrugged, "It's fine, if I wanted an easier life I should have gotten a gelding," she said lightly, though he had been a gift from her father and was a fine stallion. "I'm Riley, houdini here is Nova. . have you boarded here long?" Her smile widened at the introduction. "Nice to meet you Riley...and Nova. I am Katerina, her new boyfriend is called Croatian, he's just down the barn." Though far enough away that the mares stables nearby weren't an issue. "I actually board at Blue Acre but.. for obvious reasons... I am temporarily here."
”I’ve been telling Lily those fences aren’t high enough for years. .ah yes that would be my mare, much like her mother, loves a good tease” Kat laughed lightly, "I hope you do not feel the need to hop fences for it however?" She joked back. The fences were in good repair luckily, and her stallion's field was the correct height - which was likely why he hadn't been able to get through to her - but perhaps some of the other post and rail needed a little extra on top. "It might be worth adding a line of electric tape around the other fields, much like the stallions have," It certainly stopped them from thinking about jumping.
”Is your horse okay? Not too wound up I hope.” She nodded with an easy smile. "He is fine, just a superficial cut - no harm done." which was lucky, considering stallions, but hers was generally one with better manners than she'd seen in other males. ”No, you’ve been a trouble-maker, no treats for you” Katerina chuckled and stepped forward to offer the mare a pat, glancing at the other woman to check she was alright to do so first. "I'm Katerina, by the way." She realised it might be worth giving a name, to make this less awkward.
Katerina smiled past her mother's make up comment; she had only dabbed on a little to make herself look fresh, and stepped forward to take their coats, reaching in to give her father a kiss on his cheek. "He will be with us shortly, he is working." She'd been disappointed when he'd pulled away to roll out of bed early this morning, but she'd gotten up to make a start on the day; reluctantly. Her father frowned and Kat bit back a sigh, wanting to get in quickly before her father could dwell. "How was your journey?" She asked, putting their coats up on the hanger, just at Milo appeared. She tried not to look relieved.
"Katerina, do we have company?" She turned to him, a sweet smile already on her face and she nodded. "Yes, please meet my father, and mother." She introduced, though they all knew each others names. Her father took the offered hand with a firm shake. "Milo Jaeger, senior De Luca." "Pleased to meet you," He took back his hand and then had a look around the entryway, as his wife was already doing. "You have a lovely home." Kat's mother complimented, her English a little more stilted. Both her parents spoke good English - her father was better than Kat, and she was better than her mother. "Would you like to come through?" She asked them, trying not to cringe at how awkward and stiff this felt. She was putting on a show, and she hated it.
Katerina had checked everything about three times already, but once more didn't hurt. She was nervous, incredibly so, and it showed in her anxious energy and the slight shaking her hands as she checked the casserole cooking merrily in the oven, and ran her clean hands over her pretty dress - smoothing it out... again. Everything had to be perfect. It was funny, at home, she had often run away from her responsibilities at home, spending days whittling away hours at the barn or in town, hiding away somewhere on a random hilltop painting the countryside where her parents couldn't find her, or laughing as her horses galloped along grassy paths and the wind whipped around her. Not caring how she looked or how she cooked. Her mother had dragged her in every night and forced her to learn things that her husband would expect her to be good at - play an instrument, sing, cook, clean. Very boring really, though she had come to enjoy some cooking now she was on her own with it. She liked to put songs on and sing along as she cooked, sometimes dancing.
She had cleaned the entire house from top to bottom, and she'd made fresh bread for the morning's breakfast, and a casserole for their evening sit down dinner, knowing her parents would like it and checking with Milo the same for his. She knew this mattered to her, and that was why she was scared. Milo's parents opinion of her mattered, this would be the first time they met. It mattered that everything went well with both families, that her parents were proud of her, and most importantly, it mattered for Milo. She didn't want to embaras him. It was why she'd made sure everything looked spotless, including herself- not a hair out of place, not too much make up. Her mother would pick holes in something, of that she was sure, but she would do her best.
Kat let out a quick exhale and glanced at the wall clock, running another hand over her hair and trying to rearrange her features into less of a 'bunny in headlights'expression. The doorbell went. She swallowed, and plastered a warm smile on her face, going to open the door to greet whoever was on time first. Her smile widened as she saw them, and she no longer needed to try so hard. "Mama! Papa!" She was enveloped in a tight hug first from her mother, and then from her father, melting a little into their embraces as their familiar feel and scent overwhelmed her. She had missed them, she couldn't deny it, even without their restricting hands around her neck. "Please, come in." She stepped back to allow them entrance. "Katerina," Her mother said warmly, touching her cheek and then removing her coat. "nascondi il viso dietro tanto trucco" She gave a quiet tut and then her father was in, shutting the door behind him. "e dov'è Milo"
Translation - "you hide your face behind so much makeup" and then "and Where is Milo?"
Kat saw the other woman's slight frown and hoped for a second she hadn't just overstepped the mark. She had spent her first few months at Hickstead keeping to herself, trying to adjust to England and it's customs and cold, before branching out - the arrival of her horses had helped get her out into the world more, and her naturally chatty and outgoing self which had been somewhat squashed was beginning to reappear, but she was still unsure and still hesitate about upsetting someone. She had to live here, she didn't want to make life difficult for herself, but back home in her little village she was used to just talking to everyone and anyone. She forgot that England wasn't always such an open place.
”I leave you alone for a couple weeks and of course you get into trouble the day I come back. .what did she do?” The tone was friendly and Kat relaxed a little, her smile widened a little, liking the amusing reprimand the woman gave her horse - it sounded like something Kat would say to hers, in fact it was like what she was just saying. "Just a little field hopping, the grass is always greener. Unfortunately she decided to tease my stallion, who was most frustrated about the fence between them." She laughed lightly, after all there was no harm done from it.
"Stai fermo, amore mio. Ho quasi finito." She muttered to the horse as Croatian snorted and shuffled, shifting away from where Katerina crouched by his feet, checking out a small cut he'd managed to give himself having wonderful fun in the field. One of the mares had managed to clambour into the paddock next door, and being a typical stallion, Croatian had pranced about like an absolute moron trying to show off. He'd started striking at the fence between them and ended up slicing his foreleg in, what luckily appeared to be a superficial cut. "Stupido sciocco" But she said the words affectionately as she finished cleaning it and left the dirty swabs in the warm water. It wasn't bad enough to need anything more now that she'd cleaned it out, it would be best to leave it open to air. She hoped it didn't swell, and stood up with a sigh, bucket in hand.
She gave the stallion a quick pat on his bulging grey neck, smiling when he turned his great head to blow on her face. "Sì, mi ami davvero, vero." Rolling her eyes, the Italian slipped naturally from her lips and she left the stall with all her medical supplies, ready to clean up. It was weird, being in another stables, but they had all been quite welcoming so far and she'd had no trouble - accidents happened, like today, she didn't hold it against the yard. Speaking of... as she headed down the barn with the bucket of dirty water and swabs, she caught sight of someone outside of the offending escapees stable and she paused. "She's probably tired herself out after such a busy day, visiting other paddocks." She added a smile so the woman would know there was no malice, her voice soft, the English words lilted with her Italian accent.
GENDER: lady AGE: twenty-one D.O.B: 3rd september SEXUALITY: straight STATUS: taken PLAY-BY: bar refaeli HAIR: blonde/dirty blonde EYES: olive green
"WILD HORSES I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU"
TATTOOS: none SCARS: none DRINK: an occasional glass of wine SMOKE: nope DRIVE: nope GLASSES: none HOME: milo's house BORN AND RAISED: tuscany, italy
"THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND"
can be quite quiet. almost shy. keep herself to herself when she doesn't know people. can be outgoing and a really good laugh with people she's comfortable with. likes a challenge and won't give up. determined. bold. brave without being forth-coming or bossy. passionate about things she believes in. responsible. quite traditional. loves the idea of adventure. happy with the simple things in life. lovely. forgiving.
LIKES: Tuscany countywide , warn sunny days , spring sunshine , the morning birdsong , horse riding , peace and tranquility , writing , being held by someone she loves , French toast , cooking , painting , experiencing new things , her cousins , her family ( when her fathers not being over bearing ) , good comedy programmes , movie nights with friends DISLIKES: potatoes , people who lie , people who think they know everything , people who talk 'loud and clearly' at her because she's foreign. , arrogant guys , sleep deprivation , when her father gets over protective , having an untidy apartment , gory movies , really wet and windy days , a lot of people staring at her , classical music , war , arguments , ignorance , annoying adverts STRENGTHS: painting , singing , writing , basically anything creative , observant - good at picking up on little things WEAKNESSES: too kind at times , can be wary with new people , can't say no to a challenge or dare , has a heart for adventure , too forgiving sometimes FEARS: getting mugged, she's completely alone in England and she's scared that something will happen to her and she'll have no-one. , being alone, she doesn't mind time to herself but she's quite sociable. , everything to do with her arranged husband - fears he will be over bearing or over protective or abusive SECRETS: she still thinks about the guy she met in American when she was on holiday and wishes she could have kept in touch with him. , doesn't think she'll be able to cope if Milo turns out to be an asshole
"I'LL RUN FREE TO"
STATUS IN SOCIETY: upper class OCCUPATION: currently none, aspiring writer/artist EXPERTISE: riding, writing, painting WEALTH: family money PROUDEST MOMENT: the first time she won a first with her first horse - Callisto. Her father came to watch, and when she heard the results she was over-joyed. It was just a simple dressage competition, but she was so proud, and even more so when her father was equally as proud. MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: her father finding her in america. it was embarrassing because he made her feel like a child for running away. she knew he would find her eventually, but she had thought she might have more time, or that she might have been smart enough so that he couldn't follow her. alas not.
"WISH I COULD RECKLESSLY LOVE"
FATHER(S): lucas de Luca - fourty-six - business man MOTHER(S): marianne de Luca - fourty-two - painter STEP-PARENT(S): none OTHER HALF: fiancee (arranged marriage) - MILO CHRISTOPHER JAEGER SIBLINGS: matthieu de Luca - twenty-three - studying law CHILDREN: none
katerina was born to two modest Italians who fell in love many years ago when they were younger. She was the youngest sibling and she would always be so, for her parents were content with just two children. Matthieu and Katerina were born two years apart but they were always close as children, learnt of the world together even if mattieu was older - he was quieter than his sister, whilst Katerina was always the more adventurous one. Their parents doted upon them but Katerina and her brother were never spoilt - they were taught good values in life and Katerina soon began to help her mother with the housework as she grew, and studied hard at school.
Whilst at school matthieu found an adoration for politics and law, but his sized fell in love with stories and writing. She had written many a story as she grew older which her parents had always cherished and praised her, thinking it was a gift. Her mother was a talented painter and whilst she taught Katerina the same talent her daughter was never quite as good with a brush. Pen and paper on the other hand? That's where the magic happened and by the time Katerina was fifteen she'd already decided upon writing - in particular, journalism. Her father disagreed, journalism meant travel and he had always wished to keep his family close to him - so close in fact that he attempted to arrange a marriage to one of the family friend's sons, Pablo.
Whilst Pablo was a lovely, honest, hard working young chap, Katerina and him held no affections for the other, they were hardly friends. Arranged marriages were not all that uncommon in their part of Tuscany, where fathers jut wanted the best for their daughters. Katerina protested at first, but for her fathers sake she agreed on one date with Pablo. She certainly found him to be a nice man but there was no spark, and outraged when her father refused to accept this she scraped some money together for a brief escape to America.
It was there she fell in love with freedom - her first taste of adventure. She knew little English but she met a boy of her age - seventeen by then - called Sullivan at a local stables. She had been taught to ride in her youth though she'd never had much time to really delve into it as much as she wished. At first she was uncertain of the boy but over her time in America they be and close and he taught her of his language, his city and slowly but surely he worked his way into her heart. Of course it wasn't soon as she'd realised that her father arrived, saw what was happening, forbade it and dragged her back to Italy.
He was not always a nasty man though he occasionally threw a belt buckle her way if she severely misbehaved, but he was a proud family man and he did not wish for his daughter to marry someone not of his choosing. For two years Katerina worked quietly on her studies, began earning at a small job in town and helped her mother with housework. She thought she might not be able to live this life forever and was considering her options when she was told of her father finding someone new for her to marry and that she was to be shipped off to England to be this stranger's new wife.
HEY THERE! my name is clips/admin lily and i'm eighteen years old. i'm a wiminz and i've been roleplaying for several years. but enough about me, here's my character. =]
[/color]:[/b] Katerina Evangelina de Luca
nicknames: Kate, Katie, Rina
age: nineteen, march 17th
religion: none
sexuality: straight
marital status: single
occupation: aspiring journalist
playby: bar refaeli
hometown: Tuscany, Italy
parents: Lucas de Luca, fourty, business man Marianne de Luca, thirty-nine, painter
siblings: matthieu de Luca, twenty-one, studying law
brief history: katerina was born to two modest Italians who fell in love many years ago when they were younger. She was the youngest sibling and she would always be so, for her parents were content with just two children. Matthieu and Katerina were born two years apart but they were always close as children, learnt of the world together even if mattieu was older - he was quieter than his sister, whilst Katerina was always the more adventurous one. Their parents doted upon them but Katerina and her brother were never spoilt - they were taught good values in life and Katerina soon began to help her mother with the housework as she grew, and studied hard at school.
Whilst at school matthieu found an adoration for politics and law, but his sized fell in love with stories and writing. She had written many a story as she grew older which her parents had always cherished and praised her, thinking it was a gift. Her mother was a talented painter and whilst she taught Katerina the same talent her daughter was never quite as good with a brush. Pen and paper on the other hand? That's where the magic happened and by the time Katerina was fifteen she'd already decided upon becoming a journalist. At first her father disagreed, journalism meant travel and we've had always wished to keep his family close to him - so close in fact that he attempt to arrange a marriage to one of the family friend's sons, Pablo.
Whilst Pablo was a lovely, honest, hard working young chap, Katerina and him held no affections for the other, they were hardly friends. Arranged marriages were not all that uncommon in their part of Tuscany, where fathers jut wanted the best for their daughters. Katerina protested at first, but for her fathers sake she agreed on one date with Pablo. She certainly found him to be a nice man but there was no spark, and outraged when her father refused to accept this she scraped some money together for a brief escape to America.
It was there she fell in love, though she did not realise it until it was too late. She knew little English but she met a boy of her age - seventeen by then - called Sullivan at a local stables. She had been taught to ride in her youth though she'd never had much time to really delve into it as much as she wished. At first she was uncertain of the boy but over her time in America they be and close and he taught her of his language and slowly but surely he worked his way into her heart. Of course it wasn't soon as she'd realised that her father arrived, saw what was happening, forbade it and dragged her back to Italy.
He was not always a nasty man though he occasionally threw a belt buckle her way if she severely misbehaved, but he was a proud family man and he did not wish for his daughter to marry someone not of his choosing. For two years Katerina worked quietly on her studies, began earning at a small job in town and helped her mother with housework until she could not live that life anymore. It was recently however that she was told of her father finding someone for her to marry and that she was to be shipped off to England to be this stranger's new wife. [/ul]
[/color]:[/b] - Tuscany countywide - warn sunny days - spring sunshine - the morning birdsong - horse riding - peace and tranquility - writing - being held by someone she loves - French toast - cooking - painting - experiencing new things - her cousins - her family ( when her fathers not being over bearing ) - good comedy programmes - movie nights with friends
dislikes: - potatoes - people who lie - people who think they know everything - people who talk 'loud and clearly' at her because she's foreign. - arrogant guys - sleep deprivation - when her father gets over protective - having an untidy apartment - gory movies - really wet and windy days - a lot of people staring at her - classical music - war - arguments - ignorance - annoying adverts
strengths: - great painter - good singer - amazing writer - intelligent
weaknesses: - too kind at times - can be too withdrawn or wary with new people - can't say no to a challenge or dare - too forgiving sometimes
secrets: - she still thinks about the guy she met in american when she was on holiday and wishes she could have kept in touch with him. - part of her just thinks she should marry pablo and hope they fall in love just for her family's sake.
fears: - getting mugged, she's completely alone in england and she's scared that something will happen to her and she'll have noone. - being alone, she doesn't mind time to herself but she's quite sociable. - not being able to get a job
habits: - plays with her hair when she's thinking about something - chews her lip when she has something to say but is holding back - fidgets/shifts when she's nervous
overall personality: katerina almost has two sides to her, on the one hand she's quite quiet, almost shy and she'll keep herself to herself. she can be a little withdrawn and she won't speak up to strangers unless they speak first really. it's mostly with people she doesn't know that she's like this with, whereas on the other hand she can be quite outgoing and a really good laugh. she likes a challenge and she won't give up - she's determined and bold and brave without being forth-coming or bossy or anything like that. she's not very outspoken apart from when she's writing. she seems very quiet and gentle and she is, and then you see the passion and the real power in her writing and you see exactly what her soul is like - bold and brave and full of opinions and passion for life.
katerina's very responsible. she won't really go out and go for drinks and get pissed and sleep around, she's just not like that. she's not prude or anything but she's quite traditional really. it all comes down to her family and her upbringing - she wants to settle down with a man she loves and have her job and her children and her husband and just to live a happy life. she doesn't want the drunken nights, the drama's, and all that. she's not materialistic in the slightest, she's happy with the simple things in life. katy's quite big on family seeing as, being italian, she has a lot of family and she wants her own family too, so she's a family-woman. still she's lovely, forgiving and quite an interesting person.[/size][/ul]
don't need toooo xD
credits! template by MOLLIVER ! @ Caution 2.0. lyrics are from "one more time" by the epically awesome daft punk.
