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!.
Milo let his mind run through the simple scenarios she was describing, imagining them indeed being two strangers meeting by chance or fate in a much more natural way than now. Perhaps he could see her smiling across the dim lighted bar, her eyes twinking in the light as she raised her drink to glossy lips. He'd come over to buy her another and notice the horse keychain on her purse, they'd talk about their shared interest. As the music changed, he'd ask her to dance, smiling down as she pressed up to him.
Or it could have been the train, Kat reading a book by the window with only her compartment containing any free seats. He'd apologize and sit across, looking at the landscape but stealing glances at her wishful expression before finally asking about what she was reading or where she was going. They would speak of adventures or experiences they had, maybe places they wanted to visit. She'd smily shyly when the train slowed, gingerly slipping him her number as she disappeared in the crowd.
Or perhaps in the rain, they'd reach for one cab in London. She would be without an unbrella and he would offer to pay, walking her to the door of her apartment, all charm and attention. She'd thank him and as he turned away to go back, he'd pause, turning to face her and ask if she was free for dinner that night. She'd blush and nodd, her eyes giving way to excitement. His heart would race and with a quick 'pick you up at 6', he'd be heading back to the car, smiling to himself.
He'd court her, take her on adventures to see the world, wake up with her in his arms before finally proposing. Yes, it would have been so different, so much easier. He'd not worry about his future or disappointing their parents or whether she'd like him. He would know.
"It would be easier," he finally drawled out. "But would it be us? If we had met any other way, would that end up the same relationship and the same 'us' as we are now? Would you change it?"
He smiled with the corner of his mouth, sadly. Would he change it? Milo couldn't answer that, try as he might. From his youth, he knew that easier did not mean better so would it have been better if their meeting, the basis of their relationship, was easier?
"Roleplay?" he echoed, nearly chocking on his drink and his eyes showing his confusion. His mind, much to his chagrin, immediately zipped towards the less innocent interpretations of the word and he wondered if he ever could persuade Kat of that. It would have to be sometime in the far, far, very far future as he doubted he would need that sort of bedroom excitement for years to come. Pulling his mind back to the present, he casually wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin before leaning forward. "Tell me more."
They were interrupted as a waiter approached them to take their order, nodding as he quickly jotted it down on a pad of paper. Glancing at it, Milo wondered if the man was a doctor in his past life as there was no way of identifying the squiggles on the page in any way. Hoping for the right order and not a side of mussels or snails, he turned his gaze back to the girl across from him, lips curling into soft amusement. "So what exactly did you have in mind?"
Milo debated giving in to the temptation of quietly returning to work and leaving Katerina to take care of the wedding preparations with their relatives. It was a cowardly move for sure but he couldn’t immediately let go of the idea. At the very least, he mused, once his own parents arrived with his sister in tow, Katerina would escape some of the scrutiny and criticism. Annaleise would not give up an opportunity to come to England and party, even if it meant that she was stuck with her mother for the majority. At seventeen, the young woman was ready for some fun and adventure of her own.
”My mother and sister will want to assist if you’ll allow them,” he smiled at Katerina and her mother. ”They are flying in this evening but I am sure they are excited to meet you. My father isn’t one for wedding details but I am sure he would love someone to go golfing with or fishing. He is on vacation here and plans to maximize his time away from work. Would you like to join him, Senor de Luca?”
Milo smiled pleasantly at Senora de Luca as he fixed the couples their coffees before making Katerina’s exactly how she liked it. Presenting it to her, he seated himself into one of the armchairs with his black expresso, subconsciously filling up the whole furniture and radiating his typical dominance. His eyes watched the interactions unfolding before him, trying to understand the subtle nuances between his fiancée and her family. As much as he hated the arrangement at his core - thankful as he was that the blonde was in his life - he wanted to tread carefully among the old-fashioned and to do that he needed information. A part of him roared to go protect his woman from the scrutiny that seemed to radiate from her mother however, he simply watched. He did not think that stepping in now would help the situation. Besides, once they married, scrutiny would come and it would not be as well meaning as this. The elite was a harsh place that spared no one, no matter how stunning or successful.
His eyes flickered back to the older woman as he heard a question thrown his way and his eyebrows rose in surprise as the question processed. It surprised him at the boldness of his Italian in-laws - money was not something that was ever discussed outside of a business setting, at least never in Germany and among the elite. Money was not a topic to discuss because everyone has it. If the Senora de Luca was bringing it up, it was only for one of two reasons - either she had no understanding of the German culture or she was treating her daughter as a business transaction. Frankly, he wasn’t certain which explanation made him more uncomfortable. Clearing his throat, he smiled. ”Business is always unpredictable Senora but it has been offering many opportunities. It really is a boring topic. Please, do you plan to do some sight-seeing while you are here?”
Milo chuckled as his mind raced forward in time, painting a rather vivid picture of what kind of ‘thank you’ he was expecting from his fiancée. They would have to be quiet, he supposed, mostly. Why had he never considered soundproof walls before was beyond him - of all the useless modifications that had been made to the house over the past few years while he was enjoying his bachelor lifestyle, surely he could have spared some time to think of such a convenient luxury. Alas, as an old proverb from one of his managers went, good thoughts come late. So, as things stood now, they would have to be quiet. Now, how they would remain quiet was an entirely separate - and rather creative - topic on itself. His eyes fell onto Katarina’s lips and for a second he considered his options before having to abort his thought process, all too aware that his pants were a little tight.
”I will hold you to it in every respect,” He threatened, turning to the sink and running cold water. Splashing some on his face, he flicked a few droplets in the young woman’s direction playfully. ”How unfair of you to make me suffer alone, mi bella.”
Turning off the faucet, Milo leaned back, wiping his hands on a towel and gathering his composure. The mask came back too easily unfortunately, the relaxation turning into coolness, the playful teasing into composure. Within a few second, Herr Jaeger, the heir to his uncle’s vast fortune and power was back, Milo disappearing into some dark corner. It had become easier to slip into his softer, more relaxed state around Katrina in the past few weeks especially once they broke the physical barrier, but he still worried each time the mask came on that he would frighten her off. Their connection, their bond, was still so fragile and they were still just learning about each other. Today, however, required them both to play their roles - the same roles they would need to show to the world whenever they were seen in larger, more blood-thirsty company.
Even his dark thoughts couldn’t keep him from refusing his fiancée's food offering. Smiling and nodding in affirmative, Milo allowed her to feed him a piece of the snacks, teasingly biting her fingers as she did. Shaking his head, he turned back to his coffees, savoring the delicious fresh food. Having freshly made meals on the regular was definitely a perk he was not about to take for granted, especially since Katerina seemed to make very detailed notes about what dishes and flavors he preferred, slowly catering her cooking to his taste. Giving her one last encouraging smile, he led the way back.
”Apologies senora and senior, I have been meaning to upgrade the coffee machine for a while but,” he placed the tray on the coffee table before his future in-laws, flashing them a practiced smile. ”It never makes the priority list. Crème, sugar?”
"You promise?" Milo raised an eyebrow as he let her pull away and turned back to the coffee. Regardless of the annoyance in the back of his head, he hoped it would become easier once his own family was around to distract and entertain the de Lucas. He was certain his mother would instantly wrap Siniora de Luca into wedding plans and - he smiled wickedly to himself - he hoped they ran it past Katerina before making them final. Although, if that allowed him more private time with his bride, he wouldn't complain. His father and, most importantly, his uncle could discuss a variety of topics with Senior de Luca - was there any marriage details to finalize? A contract? His head started to hurt.
"Do you think they will want anything with the coffee? Do we even have something in the fridge or pantry?" he raised an eyebrow, moving two new cups to be filled and moving to grab a tray along with sugar and cream.
"Zum Donnerwetter," Milo couldn't help a chuckle before looking at the door leading to the living room and, confirming that the couple could not be seen, pulled Katerina into a tight hug against his chest, digging his nose into her hair. "You silly girl - you think you can go anywhere now?" His arms wrapped tight, eyes closing as he inhaled her familiar scent, relaxing slightly. It wasn't that bad that her family was here really - he just hated walking on eggshells in his own house. The situation was bizarre enough as it was in the current time and age; an arranged marriage was not what he wanted and as much as he was falling for his bride, he simply couldn't relax around her parents.
"No mentioning the sleeping situation," he murmured in her ear as the expresso machine hummed beside them. Involuntarily the corners of his mouth twitched up, remembering just what the sleeping situation was and how much sleep they truly had been getting. He had planned to show her something completely new that night but suddenly his plans were changing. Yet another reason he was a little on edge - who the hell cared if he was fucking someone? Especially when he wasn't straying, wasn't cheating, wasn't doing a last 'hoorah' like many others in his situation. He was sleeping with his own future wife!
"Of course, please make yourself comfortable," Milo's mouth twitched in a shadow of a smile that did not reach his eyes as he watched Kat usher her parents into the other room, her cheeks slightly flushed. Perhaps he should have dug deeper into the de Luca family dynamics when he had the chance and been more prepared. It wasn't as though he couldn't have asked or hired someone to find out, he simply didn't think it would have mattered. Groaning in frustration, he gripped the countertop, hanging his head. Apparently, he should have been a tad more curious about his in-laws if only to survive until the wedding day.
It wasn't exactly fair of him to think poorly of them - after all, Katerina loved them even if she seemed much more stressed than usual. She grew up with them and she was happy to see them even as her mother aimed to smolder her. The sound of Katerina's soft footsteps brought him back. Looking up at his bride, he cocked an eyebrow. "Anything else I should know not to mention in front of your parents?"
"I didn't want extra people in our house while we were getting to know one another," Milo responded, frowning slightly as he followed the older couple. It was throwing him out of balance to see the elder De Luca's reacting to their daughter....not coldly but certainly in a way that made him raise an eyebrow. He could feel Kat stressing and to show his support, he squeezed her hand in his. It seemed as though her mother was trying to find every tiny fault in her decisions since she had come and they had found their peace. Well, they certainly found more than that but somehow, he wasn't confident that it would placate his soon-to-be in-laws.
"It makes no sense to hire before the wedding anyway - not with our plans to go on a honeymoon right after," giving the blonde's hand one more squeeze, he stepped to the counter, starting up the artisan coffee and grounding up an imported Italian blend. "Once we're back, Kat and I will return to the discussion of what kind of help we need around the house. It will depend if Kat wants to pick up her career here."
"Thank you although your daughter did bring much more colour and comfort to it," Milo smiled, stepping aside to let the older De Luca couple to enter the door and nodding for the driver, standing a bit behind with their luggage to come forward and bring the array of suitcases and small accessories. "I hope that your trip was pleasant - may I offer you some refreshments? Coffee or tea? Some wine?"
It was strange seeing his future in-laws in person - her mother seemed to be a copy of her daughter albeit older, more mature but just as elegant and impeccable, her faded blonde hair set in a modern yet classical style to highlight her features and her dress underlining her lithe frame and high class. The man was dressed in fashionable clothes that Milo could have sworn were the latest season and, despite their bright details, they complimented him quite well, giving an air of success and pleasant retirement. His blue eyes matched his daughter's perfectly.
Of all the days that emergencies happened, it had to be today. Milo groaned and spun absently back and forth on his work chair, listening as the man on the phone rattled off his concerns and forecasts. Twiddling with a pen, the young man nodded his head, trying to keep his impatience at bay. It seemed that the day was off to a stressful start - his phone went off at nearly 6am, causing Milo to disentangle himself from his good dreams and rather attractive wife to haul himself to his office and deal with the crisis. By the time he was done and ready to crawl back under the heavy duvet, Kat was already in the shower. Sensing her nerves, Milo decided not to join her.
The rest of the morning was a blur - he went meeting to meeting, answering a few emails in-between and signing the few papers that needed to be authorized before his long weekend. It was promising to be quite the reunion with neither parental couple seeing their child's soon-to-be counterpart. He could sense Kat's desire to be liked by his mother and her nervousness that everything be perfect. It vexed him that he couldn't send everyone to hell and join her in the kitchen to take her mind off the upcoming stress. Frankly, he could picture quite a few ways he could take her mind off her parents, his lips involuntarily curling up.
"Paul, you seem to have everything under control," he finally had had enough, interrupting the continuous monologue with a quick phrase.
"But Mr. Jaeger, I haven't even mentioned the schedule-"
"Goodbye Paul, say hello to you misses," hanging up and closing all work applications, Milo leaned back and closed his eyes. Somewhere downstairs, he heard the echoes of the doorbell, the sounds eliciting another frustrated groan. All his plans at quick distractions disappeared, replaced by the need to be charming, cool and collected. Making his way to the bedroom to switch into a more casual black v-neck atop his jeans, he made his way downstairs.
"Katerina, do we have company?" he asked, approaching the small group with a practiced smile and reaching out his hand. "Milo Jaeger, senior De Luca."
Milo couldn't fully hide the smirk that etched out on his lips as he absently swirled the water in his glass, breaking Katerina's gaze to look out across the river. A pair of swans lazily lounging upon the faint current made him wonder how they could find such peace - and how he could replicate it. His bride (he may as well be honest with himself) certainly was opening up to be quite a different young woman than he had initially believed - there was some inner fire and confidence wanting to come out. Even the way she now started to approach subjects head on both surprised him and pleased him. He would not be able to live with a meek mouse of a woman especially if it got progressively worse with time. Nothing could be worse than simply seeing a shadow disappearing this way and that all to be out of the way.
"Feelings - especially feelings of lust fueled by alcohol - can be deceiving in the morning. I didn't want to do something either one of us might have regretted," Milo turned his gaze back, allowing his body to relax elegantly in the chair and watching her expression. "I want you to be sure - us to be sure - that the feelings are true and mutual. Our meeting is not conventional and it adds its own issues." He had wished they met differently, naturally as she had put it. Bumping into each other in Paris gazing at the Eifel Tower, seeing each other across a plaza in Milan, enjoying the small streets of Venice or even walking along the Thames in London. Anything at all would have been better than picking up a stranger at the airport, knowing the bare minimum and knowing there was no way out.
Milo nearly tripped at her words - frankly, he had been avoiding the incident and had expected it to come up at one point. He had hoped that point wasn't today. Lady Fortune was fickle and had decided to abandon him at this moment however. Pinching the bridge on his nose as he pondered it for a minute, he stopped infront of the small café.
"Let's get seated before we breach that topic, shall we?" he offered her the door, allowing her to go in first before following. Asking the hostess for a table on the terrace, he followed both women to a picturesque booth with a fantastic view on the river and the old part of town across a bridge. Thanking the woman as they were left with a pitcher of water and elegant menus in plain leather binding, he poured them both glasses before running a hand through his hair.
"I...I am sorry I hurt you," Milo tried to catch the blonde's gaze. "I hope you know it was not my intention."
"Of course. There are a few lovely cafes on the way - I think one of them would be quite pleasant," Thanking the vendor and tucking the small box into his pocket as he payed for the purchase without another glance, Milo opened the door for the young woman, allowing her back onto the charming street of the central town. Taking a look at the sky above, he nodded to his own thoughts. The sky would hold and there may even be some breaks in the cloud.
"This way," offering her his arm, Milo started down the street, careful to match his stride to the woman's. There was one specific café he liked, a small charming inn that now offered patio seating facing the river and the swans that lived there year round. The food was hearty and delicious, a bonus to the picturesque location. Glancing over at Katerina from the corner of his eye, he watched her, his mind racing back to the intoxicating night.
"If it makes you happy," Milo turned back to the vendor who was delicately waiting for a decision, her hands folded in front of her and a soft smile gracing elegant features. "Can we have the first ring? No tags - I believe my fiancée is long overdue for one. I will have the box on the side."
"Of course sir," the woman smiled, taking the tray of options away and going back to the display that held the original ring Katerina liked. Turning to the young woman so that the vendor couldn't overhear, he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I believe the wedding bands you'd like will be at the other vendor," he stated simply, "It's a bit of a walk but if the weather holds, it should be nice. Are you hungry?"