Welcome to Choteau, Montana, in 2018. What was once only a small city focused on fossils, has now started to turn into an equestrian mecca. Everyone still knows everyone, so the question remains, what will you become?
06/04 - Site opened 18/04 - Update log #01 including new features! 27/04 - A New skin has been released!
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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It felt strange. No, it wasn't the usual feeling of being out in the real world again. Instead, sat in a cafe, looking out the window - it still seemed like he was back home. Or what used to pass as home. There were small differences, the vista mainly and the shop names were different but it was nothing short of that small town he had left behind. He was certainly crazy for moving to another one. A bigger city where he was just a number might have been a better choice but he had gotten his fill of the noise of people.
At least here, he didn't have people crossing the street to avoid him or having to deal with that SOB's parents. Perhaps killing off the more than likely future mayor of the town hadn't been the wisest move but he had done his time. After all, he hadn't been the one to start it anyway...
Kacey sipped at the tasty but overpriced latte he had ordered. Checking the messages on his phone, he frowned a bit. There still hadn't been any word from Flick. Not surprising really, considering she hadn't wanted him to give up, as she put it, on living in Estes but she wasn't the one dealing with the real headaches. In time, she'd understand and, if not, it wasn't like the rest of his family was speaking to him anyway. It was just him and Colin the asshole cat. Good times.
He leaned back into his chair, watching the slow foot traffic on the street. Tourists, some of them, pointing at the pretty buildings or stopping to take a picture while the locals skirted around them. It was always the same but at least they seemed like happy people and there was nothing wrong with that,
Reaching across to another barren table, Kacey grabbed hold of a discarded morning paper. Why some people left things behind instead of throwing them away he didn't know. Turning to the classifieds, he scanned it. So far the job hunt had been slow. There were a few things on the horizon but he hadn't gotten anything set in stone. But this was horse country; odds are he'd be mucking out stalls somewhere. Which was fine but part of him hoped for something a little less hard on the back but he'd take what he could get. A paycheck was a paycheck and that was nothing he was about to turn down.
Post by Rylee Mae Olken on Apr 13, 2018 2:49:06 GMT
Coffee was a necessity in Rylee's life. She practically lived on the stuff. If it wasn't coffee, it was some other form of caffeine. She wasn't sure how she'd make it through her day without the bitter taste of the liquid gold. She wandered down the streets of the unfamiliar town, looking for a coffee shop. She was sure they'd have one. It should have been the first place she had found in the town, but she hadn't been looking hard enough. She had been making all of her coffee at home. But she needed to get out and meet more people, and see the sights. It would do her some good.
The coffee shop ended up being on her right after she had walked a bit. Getting my steps in, she thought to herself. She walked through the door, and headed to the cashier. The room was quiet, as she had imagined a coffee shop to be. It was peaceful. After the noise in the barn, she needed the quiet. It had been mostly horses, and the normal sounds of the morning chores being done, but still. She was grateful for the peace. Rylee usually didn't mind the noise, but this morning seemed different. She just wanted to sip on her coffee, maybe enjoy a conversation, and relax. Dammit, she deserved it.
"Large black coffee, please," she ordered. She didn't feel like anything fancy or sugary this morning. Black coffee was her main go-to. The barista handed her the drink, and Rylee nodded her thanks. She looked around the room, and noticed an attractive young man was sitting at a table by himself, reading a newspaper. She headed over to him, and smiled. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, motioning to the chair across from him. The only way to meet new people was to talk to strangers. Hopefully she didn't get herself into too much trouble talking to this one.
Post by Kacey X. Morris on Apr 15, 2018 1:43:48 GMT
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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Normally someone might say that having to share a table with someone was annoying. More so when there were a selection of other tables that were available but Kacey wasn't most people. Chalk it up to the number of years spent not having the luxury of a table by himself or having the ability to be choosy. He was well and truly desensitized.
Kacey looked over his paper long enough to nod and give a "Sure, go ahead." before going back to studying the pages in front of him. He still wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do. Maybe he was fussing over nothing, at least with a job interview on the horizon. It wasn't glorious or anything but work was work. Trouble was that he never really thought of a proper direction for himself. While he was a decent chef (one way or another he had gotten passed the view of cook) and could work with horses. It was a hard pick.
Still at least in this town, he had a chance to start over. That was all that really mattered in the end. Whether he was working in a kitchen, cleaning up someone else's mess or mucking out stalls but at least he was free. Having spotted a few other options in the paper he liked if the current job offer fell through, Kacey put down the paper, folded it neatly and started on his latte some more.
It was still overpriced even if the quality was in it. Although everything seemed more expensive than he could remember. People weren't kidding when they said inflation was a bitch. Then there was the fact that he was sharing a table with someone now. That was nothing that bothered him unless she wanted conversation. That was something he wasn't good at, at the best of times. Unless she wanted simple small talk about the weather, he was good at that.
It felt awkward but there was nothing for it. After all, getting up and leaving now was beyond rude. Plus, what was the worst thing that could happen? So far no one in the town seemed keen to bite so that was a bonus. So small talk it was. "Having a nice day today?"
Post by Rylee Mae Olken on Apr 16, 2018 19:28:32 GMT
Being away from her family was difficult. She missed the stables back home, even though her father could be a bit controlling when it came to the horses. But that was where she had learned everything she knew about training horses. She had even learned to ride at the stables back home, when she was a lot younger. However, it was good for her to get away. She needed to be away from her father's control, and see what she could do on her own.
Rylee sat down at the table, and sipped her coffee. The bitterness of the black coffee tasted good, though she was careful not to burn her tongue. She probably should have put ice in the drink before she drank it. "Thank you," she said, smiling at the stranger. He didn't seem very interested in talking, though. He had continued to read the paper. Rylee pulled out her phone and began scrolling through social media. She almost regretted sitting down with the man. She had been trying to meet a new person, and see how the town was. Maybe they were from here, but also maybe not. It would be a wonder if she'd actually find out or not.
She peered up from her phone as the man began talking to her. She smiled at him, and nodded. "Yeah, it's been pretty good. Mostly been in the barn with the horses, so far," she said. Rylee had been up early so she could do her barn chores. She didn't get a chance to drink her coffee when she had gotten up, so it was definitely necessary now. "What about yourself?" she asked the stranger.
Post by Kacey X. Morris on Apr 21, 2018 1:13:12 GMT
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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Kacey wasn't exactly the champion of small talk, really he hated it, but fitting in was something that he was hoping for. Maybe it was a misguided attempt but he didn't want a repeat of Estes. Although the less he thought about the whole town knowing about his past, the better. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what percentage actually did. Even if there were rules with probation officers, not all of them followed it. Surely the police knew. At least, he was guessing anyway. Maybe it was a state of paranoia. For the moment, he was going to try to be in the here and now.
The woman seemed pleasant enough anyway. And she was attractive. Not that he was the type to try to jump the bones of the first willing person he could find. Really, he had never been that way. Even if there was that joke about ex cons and wanting to make up for lost time. There was no harm in noticing her appearance, anyway. The thought was just that, a thought.
At least she was having a nice day. Kacey managed some sort of a smile, before discarding it. Being that friendly just felt like he was trying too hard. "It's been a day." It was a vague answer but it was true. Things were hardly a bunch of champagne filled glasses. He had put in his resume at a few places, cleaned up a few dozen messes made by Colin the asshole cat, which brought things up to where they were now. Hardly interesting. "So you work with horses?" He asked before continuing. "I put in an application at Eagle's Nest." Which was a rather silly name for a horse farm even if the view was nice. "I have an interview with them."
It wasn't like she needed to know that but he had nothing better to say. He wasn't even sure if they'd hire him and it was hardly glamorous work. But everyone had to start somewhere and while he had put his hat in the ring at a few eateries, that wasn't his first choice. That had been done before and was something along the lines of painful but for now, a paying job kept a roof over his head and food on the table and that was all that mattered.
Rylee loved talking to people. Small talk was okay, but she preferred actually getting to know a person. Find out what they enjoyed and things like that. She was very fond of other people. However, she was fairly good at small talk. She enjoyed a nice chat over coffee, and talking to a cute guy was always helpful. She hadn't really noticed his looks when he was hidden behind the newspaper, but she was grateful for what she saw now. He wasn't bad looking at all. Always a plus in her books. She hid a smile behind another sip of her coffee, and then frowned.
"Just another day, eh?" she questioned. Usually when people said that, it usually meant their day hadn't been the greatest. "Well, maybe we can change that," she smiled, sitting up straight in her seat. She was always game for trying to turn someone's day around. Or at least improving it in any way she could.
"Yeah, I'm the lead trainer at the Rusty Bucket Ranch," she said, happily. Maybe she shouldn't have been giving her place of work to the first stranger she met, but she didn't care. She could kick some ass if she needed to. But for some reason, she didn't feel like she'd have to with the person in front of her. "I haven't been to Eagle's Nest yet. You'll have to tell me what it's like," she said, referring to a future conversation that may or may not happen. She was hoping it would, as she really could use some friends in the area. "I wish you luck, though! I hope it's what you want!" she said. "What are you hoping to do there?"
"I'm Rylee, by the way," she introduced herself, realizing she didn't know the stranger's name in front of her. If she was to make new friends, she needed to know their names, at the very least.
Post by Kacey X. Morris on Apr 26, 2018 1:51:15 GMT
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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Kacey wasn't exactly sure that he wanted some stranger's help to make his day better but in the grand idea was the thought behind it. It was nice of her. Even if she was just the sort of person who was nice to everyone without asking too many questions, it was something he would take. It had been a long time since someone, aside from his sister, actually cared whether or not he was happy. So despite the unknown on what she thought would make his day better, he smiled. "Hasn't been a bad day. It's more that nothing's made it stand out." Unless he wanted to count that today was the first day that Colin the cat, hadn't ripped down the curtains but that wasn't that great.
She seemed like a trainer. While he wasn't great at guessing people's jobs, it looked like it fit. "I was going to guess that or that you were a regular competitor." Kacey didn't want to admit that he wasn't sure what the correct term was, maybe rider was the proper thing to say. With any luck, if he was too wrong she'd forgive him.
"It seems like a nice place from the road, anyway." He had driven by it several times by now with the number of interviews and the general job hunt game he had been going through. It sucked but it was nothing really to complain about. At least there were jobs to be had, things could have been so much worse.
"Thank you." He was pretty sure that he was going to need all the luck he could get but that was beside the point and maybe he was overthinking it. "Just a stable hand. Nothing fancy." He couldn't help but downplay it a bit. Maybe it was a habit of trying to seem unimportant for one reason or another but it wasn't some dream job by any stretch of the imagination. "I can ride too so who knows, I might get to do a little more than muck stalls." At that he chuckled a bit. That did seem to be the beginning and end of many a stablehand's work.
Kacey offered his hand across the table, out of what was now becoming a habit in this town. "Kacey. It's nice to meet you." And it was. This time, this town, he was getting that fresh start, hell or high water. One friend at a time.
Rylee shrugged. "I could totally make it stand out," Rylee said, with a smirk. She wasn't exactly sure how she was going to do it, but she was going to try. Maybe he'd be down for some sort of adventure or something crazy like that. She could at least offer. She understood a boring day, but she usually tried to make hers at least some what interesting. Usually, the horses helped with that. She never knew what she could be working with out at the ranch.
Rylee wasn't sure if competitor was the right term for barrel racing, and pole bending, but she wasn't sure what else it would be called. She did compete, so it worked. But she was also a trainer, and she loved her job. She smiled at the guy. "I also compete, so you wouldn't be far off either way," she said. Competing was always a rush for her. Some English riders considered it to be a petty sport, and for the younger generations, but she grew up with it. And she wouldn't trade her western riding for the world. Hell, it had brought her this far in life. She did dabble in English, and knew how to ride fairly well, but she didn't have an English discipline horse. She thought about buying one, but for now, she had no need. Besides, it would look fairly silly at her ranch.
"Nothing wrong with being a stable hand," she said. "I don't know what I would do without mine." Her stable hands were her favorite people. They helped her out tremendously with the horses. And she always did them favors when she could to help them out as well. She tried her best to make sure they felt appreciated, and did her best to let those who knew how to ride do it as much as possible.
Rylee grabbed the outstretched hand and shook it firmly. "Nice to meet you, as well," she said. "I'm going to guess from the job application that you're new to town, as well?"
Post by Kacey X. Morris on Apr 30, 2018 1:17:31 GMT
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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Was he a little worried about having the day stand out? Well, a little bit. In his youth that could have been an interesting list of things that his parole officer would certainly frown about. However, now, he was older and perhaps wiser. Doing the stupid things of his youth were very much so in the past. What she had in mind, on the other hand, was a mystery. Part of him was afraid to ask but the words came tumbling out anyway. "And how would you do that?" Caution to the wind.
At least he hadn't been wrong. Although, in all fairness, this seemed like a horse town. He almost doubted that there was someone out there who didn't have a connection to horses. Even he was trying to get one and he had just showed up! Really, that sort of work was more fun than waiting tables so it was a matter of a limited skill set but the facts were still there.
Maybe he was a little bias. Okay, a lot. It just seemed like saying stable hand wasn't much of a job title even if there were people around the world who made their living that way and there was nothing wrong with that. Perhaps it seemed more like a job for someone in their teens and twenties but in his case he had fucked up both those things. Of course, had he not, he wouldn't even be sitting there. He would have gone to art school and done something in that field. Life was funny like that. With the number of things that didn't work out.
Kacey nodded. "Yeah. This is week three." Somehow it felt like a world away from his other life. The town was still small but this one was different. He was in horse country now and that was a far cry from a town that pretty much survived on tourist traffic. This place had it too but it wasn't the same - no where near. "It's a nice enough town."
[attr="class","box2"]Rylee should have expected that question. She hadn't been sure of how she was going to make his day stand out. She could kiss him, but that seemed a bit forward, and she really wasn't that type of person. She could ask him to go on a trail ride with her, but she wasn't sure if he had a horse, or even liked riding. She did have an extra horse, however. "We could go for an adventure down one of the trails?" she offered. Even if they just went on foot, she would be happy. It was something that could make the day interesting. Maybe they'd see some wildlife, or run into a waterfall or something fancy like that. She was sure something interesting would happen. She could also trip and fall, and break her leg. That would make the day stand out. In a bad way, though. And that's not what she was aiming for. Besides, she needed her legs for her job. She was quite fond of them.
"Nice," she said. She had loved her move to Choteau. It had been a big change for her, but in a good way. She was able to get out on her own two feet, and start a life for herself that didn't include her father's name. She wasn't even sure if anyone around here knew who her father was. Not that he was a huge bigshot, or anything. But back home, most people knew who he was, and by relation, who she was. She figured moving to a small town, she'd still know everyone, and everyone would eventually know her. But at least here, she had her name to herself. She wasn't associated with anyone else. In a way, that was good and bad. She didn't have anyone here she could rely on. But at the same time, she figured she only needed herself. And so far, she felt that she was doing a pretty damn good job. "I love it here, so far," she said. "It's been an adventure and a half, but well worth it."
She brushed her hair out of her face, and sipped on her coffee. "What brought you here?" she asked, being a bit forward. But she was a curious woman. Despite the many times her curiosity had gotten her into trouble. But she figured her question was harmless, over all. Everyone had their reasons for moving to a small town. Maybe he had family here. Maybe he didn't. She definitely didn't really have a significant reason for being in this small town. It had just been a off-the-wall choice, and here she was. [newclass=.box2]margin:0px auto; width:300px; height:425px; background: transparent; overflow:auto; padding:8px;[/newclass] [newclass=.box2::-webkit-scrollbar]width:5px;[/newclass] [newclass=.box2::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background: #850af7;[/newclass]
Now we're lost somewhere in outer space, in a hotel room where demons play.
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
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He wasn't sure what to expect where the answer was concerned. Okay, maybe he knew for a fact that she wasn't going to ask him to rob a bank or something. After all that sort of thing only happened in a few movies right? Real people didn't go in for that sort of nonsense. He also liked to think that the idea of shoe shopping or playing bag boy, as it were, was something of a boyfriend activity so he was safe there. At least he hoped to the heavens anyway. That was not his idea of fun.
So instead, it seemed more likely that things would be mundane and that was an overall thought that he was not disappointed over. Even if her answer left the briefest of frowns on his face. Of course, it was horse country. That was the sort of things that people did. "I don't have a horse." For now anyway, but that was hardly the point. Getting one tomorrow (like that would ever happen unless he found a very large bag of money and at that he'd be spending it on a few other things first!) would hardly make much difference for today.
"Unless you have someone I can borrow." Kacey was hesitant. Really he had never been on a trail ride in his life. Not once. While members of that program were trusted compared to others, no one ever seemed willing enough not to have some sort of fence around where they were. Perhaps a getaway... horse and an open area was too tempting for some people. Not that he really cared to inform her of that. That would be a big bowl of awkward.
He nodded and swallowed a little more expensive coffee. He hadn't been there long enough to form an opinion. At least not until he had a means to support himself, maybe then move into a more comfortable dwelling and finally not having the town try to lynch him was right up there. So far he hadn't managed anything but one of those (and that was just because he was trying to keep certain things under wraps!) but it was early days. He couldn't judge, couldn't be sure of everything quite yet.
"I needed a change of scenery." Kacey replied with something of the understatement of the year. "You know how it is. Bad blood with family. I couldn't take it anymore." It was close enough to the truth though only half the story but he doubted she wanted all the details. It wasn't like he was the first person to have a totally screwed up family. He gave an easy smile, adding a lighthearted: "Or did you mean this place? I needed a pick me up." With that, he chuckled. As bad of a habit as it was he had grown to rather like coffee but there were worse addictions.
[attr="class","box2"]Rylee noticed the frown on his face when she mentioned going down one of the trails. She had hoped for a more enthusiastic response. Though, she tended to be a bit more outgoing and excitable than most. "Oh," she said, slightly disappointed.
She loved going trail riding. And so did her horses. But she had only been able to take one of her horses down the trails so far, so it'd be good to get both of them out. So she perked up when he mentioned having another horse. "As a matter of fact, I do," she smiled at him. "I have a Quarter Horse and an Appy." She would put him on the Quarter Horse, as her Appy tended to be a bit of a wild ride. "Dragon is a great horse. He'll do pretty much anything asked of him. It'll be interesting to get Dagger out on a ride, though. He can be a bit of a trouble maker," she said.
Rylee nodded at the man. She didn't quite understand bad blood, as her family had always been close, but she could try to sympathize. "I see," she said. "Well, I'm glad you're here." She didn't know him well, but a nice person was always a good thing to see. And so far, he had been quite nice to her. Hell, he had let her sit with him, despite the coffee shop having more than enough seats for her.
She laughed and raised her coffee. "Don't we all," she said, and took a sip. She had needed a pick-up herself. Though now she was excited about the prospect of a trail ride, so the coffee's effects weren't as strong. Her own adrenaline was pumping through her veins and waking her up in the process.
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
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At least he could breathe a little easier. Maybe he worried over nothing (he was rather good at that!) but things seemed to be going well. As well as two strangers talking over coffee could be. If he didn't know better they were managing to function better than some blind dates but that wasn't exactly conclusive. Not when dating was a bit of a high pressure situation. Wanting to put your best foot forward. This was just a chance to be oneself or as close as he was willing to go with all of that.
The bonus was that she was even willing to let him borrow a horse. A disaster in the making? Well, that was something that they would have to see down the road. Kacey nodded, "I say the safer mount would be the way to go." Agreeing with Rylee's unspoken thought. Personally, he wouldn't have it any other way. After all, there was a big difference between that and what he was used to. He didn't want to get hurt, nor anyone else for that matter. That certainly wouldn't earn him any friends. Not that he wanted loads of them, just people tolerating him being there was enough. Low standards, apparently.
With that settled, Kacey wasn't quite sure if she meant that in the sense of today or something for later. Although she had discussed the idea of making his day better. Was now the time? Oh! He was being silly! He wasn't inside anymore, he didn't have to worry about offending someone with a question. "Do you mean today? I'm free all afternoon." That was the bonus of having a cat. Not the Colin ever looked happy to see him whether he was gone an hour or a day.
"Thank you." Okay, he knew that Rylee was just being nice but he'd take it. Even if it was a social reaction or just the overall thought that it was nice to have another person around that was willing to muck stalls. He'd take it. As long as he could get through the trail ride without falling off or something equally embarrassing that was all that mattered. A break from the same old, same old seemed nice though. The idea. With all the moving, packing, unpacking and trying to hide things, he had failed to take time just for him. Hell, even coffee equaled looking through the classifieds!
He needed a break and if Rylee was willing. The more the better.
[attr="class","box2"]Rylee nodded. "Dragon is sweet. He'll basically do anything you ask of him. You won't have any troubles with him," she agreed. She wouldn't put a stranger on Dagger, ever. Dagger was a wild child in the making. You'd think he wasn't gelded. It'd be good to get him out on the trails, however. He needed the training. "It'll be a good time. You might find Dagger amusing with the way he acts. We'll see how wild he gets," she said.
She was free all afternoon, as well. Nothing going on in her books. She didn't have to work today, which was always a plus. Riding her horses sounded like a great idea. "Absolutely we can go today," she said, excitedly. "I've got nothing planned for the day," she said. They could even go when they were finished with their coffee. She just had to brush the horses out and they'd be ready for the ride.
"Anytime," she smiled. Everyone deserved to be welcomed to Choteau. And he was a nice person. She liked him, so far. She was trusting him with her favorite mount, after all. She took another drink of her coffee, and realized it was all gone. "My horses are at the Rusty Bucket Ranch," she said. "Do you want to meet me there or at the trails?" she asked.
Welcome to Choteau, Montana, in 2018. What was once only a small city focused on fossils, has now started to turn into an equestrian mecca. Everyone still knows everyone, so the question remains, what will you become? 
