Hope, 28, is a botanist at the New York Botanical Garden, usually tending to the flora and fauna in the garden, in charge of the greenhouse at the conservatory of plants for research and scientific experiments and oftentimes holding school tours and classes for kids. Coming from a line of doctors in the family, she stuck out as the one Zhang kid that never made it, and she couldn’t be happier. Stuck in a greenhouse at the garden’s conservatory when the outbreak happened, she locked herself in until things didn’t seem to be ending and she packed up and headed north, meeting Santiago’s and Scout’s team to follow them on their journey with nowhere else to go. However, with the team’s direction back south of New York, she wanted to go back to NYBG, whether to find people she knew, or find supplies, or just a hidden layer of sentimental value wanting to check on the plants. But somewhere in between she got separated from the group, and her only option was to follow the vague direction Santiago said he was heading for, south, and the only thing she knew in the south in Manhattan, was the Wexley from an old friend or two.
Useful Skills
Botany, Herbology, Wilderness Survivalist, can climb very well, has good grip strength, Bouldering, Rock Climbing, Tree Climbing, Has the willpower to argue with you for days if you let her.
Additionals.
Full Name: Hope Zhang Xue Qi
Chinese Name: 张雪荠
Nicknames: Chestnut
Birthday: 5th August, 1996
Birthplace: Long Island City, Queens, New York
Current Home: the Bronx, New York pre-outbreak, most likely found in a tree or something.
Religion: Buddhist
Orientation: Pansexual
MBTI: ENFP-A The Campaigner
Enneagram: Type 8w9, The Bear
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Face Claim: Chase Sui Wonders
Voice Claim: Chase Sui Wonders
Physical Attributes.
Height: 4’10”
Build: Lean, Small, Strong arms and shoulders
Exercise Regime: Burning Calories through pure spite and picking fights. And also climbing, hiking and bouldering.
Allergies: None.
Hair Color: Black, Brown in the Sunlight
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Glass/Contacts: 20/20 vision baybee, fight me
Dominant Hand: Right
Tattoos: ankle tattoos, left with a dandelion, right with a chestnut
Scars: scraps and cuts the never healed right, mostly callus on her hands and scars on her knees.
Piercings: ear piercings
Outfit Clothing Style: Oversized shirts and utility pants, flannels, combat boots, dr martens.
Background Information.
Hometown: Long Island City, Queens, New York
Current Residence: preoutbreak the Bronx, New York / now apt #502 at the Wexley
Spoken Languages: English / Mandarin / Conversational Spanish
Driver’s License: fuck no
Occupation: Botanist at NYBG
Biography.
Hope was one of those kids at the hospital that liked to sit on the counter and just watch her parents and everyone work, swinging her legs around with such blind optimism that the Earth and everyone will get better, it’s just a lil’ sick and needs the right medicine. She was ambitious at first as a wide eyed 9 year old kid, excited about helping people and making some miracle drug to save Mother Earth and her people. And then she realised how much effort and science it took. A second generation American, her parents were both doctors at a hospital, working their way up to where they were in the medical world. Her parents dedicated their lives to two things only, surviving in these lands as doctors and making sure their children could do the same, passing the medicinal knowledge down the line, hoping that their children would continue to help people this way. But perhaps Hope’s brain just wasn’t.. sciency enough for them. Her older siblings all seemed to fall in line with their studies. Once she was old enough to be introduced to study, she kept asking the annoying question “Why?” Being from a family of doctors, Hope just didn’t function like the rest of them, still smart, still bright, but in completely different sectors - plants. Hospitals soon exchanged for gardens, watching doctors turn to watching botanists work. Biology fascinated her, just not in most human biology like her family had hoped. Most of her youth studying biology and medicine had been spent doodling flowers and plants, singling them out in public, being able to point out their names, from the sturdiest of trees to the most delicate of dandelions. What a disgrace.
Hope tried her best to ignore the disappointment rolling over her shoulders, walking in strides towards a degree in botany, pretty sure she would’ve been disowned if there wasn’t the prospect of joining the elite list of Dr Zhangs, even in plants, she’d still be a doctor right? A PhD in botany wouldn't be too shabby too, she knew she could do it. Still, the blowback from her parents was a lot and she chose a college as far away from New York as possible at Clemson in South Carolina. But by the time she finished her degree, Hope didn't really feel like wasting more time in books, she wanted to be with the plants. She landed herself a job back in her home city at the New York Botanical Garden, remembering being a young girl getting lost in the beauty for hours there, it was all she ever wanted. Skipping a doctorate, she did the ballsy move of kicking herself out of her parents house before they could after moving back from South Carolina, paying rent, living in the Bronx with a couple of others sharing a shitty New York apartment. Contact with her parents became minimal, once every few months, cold, transactional as if the check-ins were just out of formality. But she was happy, kicking ass, loving plants, no one takes the botanists seriously, when there are lives to save in this new world, and she takes no one’s shit either.
But when the world comes crashing down and Mother Nature turns her back on them, guess who will be in her corner, working hard in taking care of the only Earth they’ll ever have?
Hope was in the greenhouse at the Botanical Garden working her shift when the outbreak hit up north in the Bronx. She hadn't been paying attention to the news at all, music blasting and humming while she worked overtime, the winter was hitting and she was hoping to make sure all the plants were transplanted and settled in the artificial warmth until they started work on the outdoor winter exhibits. She pulled out her ear buds when she finally heard screams, "what?" and the grotesque face slammed against the glass panes right in front of her, high grade glass the only thing protecting her from death. She immediately fought back the oncoming chompers at the entrance with a shovel and managed to lock the greenhouse. Just her and the plants. They were safe. She tried to call her family she hasn't spoken to in months, her housemates, her old college friends. Nothing. Hours, days, weeks passed. She had access to water, electricity, edible plants and fruits. Following the news on her phone until service was cut off. Fuck it, she was a fighter, she wasn't going to just lay down and die.
She whispered an apology to her babies in the greenhouse, packing seeds, seedlings, fertile soil, several sturdy useful plants, everything she could carry and couldn’t bear to leave behind and left the greenhouse to find a way to survive up north. It wasn't until she was picked up by a group, she remembered Santiago, she remembered Scout, they were heading back south into the city, which sounded stupid to Hope, but she understood the reason, and she had no other reason not to tag along.
With no goal other than to survive, she was happy to go wherever the group was going, learning to defend herself properly, foraging edible plants and food for the group, carrying her own small portable garden as they jumped from place to place. But as they headed further down south back pass the Bronx, Hope wanted to go back to the Botanical Garden, just a quick trip, it’ll be good for supplies, wanting to see if any of her colleagues survived, and most importantly, if any plants survived. But a series of unfortunate events got her separated from the group, by then she had gotten used to being with her new found family, and the only sense of direction she has, was south. And in the south to Manhattan, the only thing she had to her knowledge - was the Wexley.
Headcanons.
Her family took the family on a trip to the botanical garden for a family day and they absolutely lost their 5 year old girl. Hope got distracted by a rare species she’s never seen before and trailed behind one of the workers in the garden following them around all day. By sunset, she was found hands in the dirt, giggling over getting to pot seedlings and young trees into the ground, excited to grow up with them. Years later when she joined the Garden as a botanist of her own, she looked for those plants and trees, and greeted them with humility - thank you, and I’m home.
She also once got lost hiking with Beau during their college days in South Carolina and from then on was made to wear bright colored clothes into the forests for their weekly hiking trips. She had way too many ugly ass college football shirts way too big for her that really grew her into that oversized clothing style for awhile.
While out there surviving, Hope had fashioned a small portable garden she carries with her as the group moves from place to place, allowing them to grow small humble, but useful plants yet bring them wherever they go.
Despite it all Hope was glad her parents instilled strong cultural values and practices in their ethnic roots. Her parents had insisted on keeping their kids’ Chinese Names as a sense of cultural pride in the system. Her Chinese name means snow chestnut, the nickname of chestnut from close friends and family has grown on her. But they also wanted to make sure they had an English one as well to make things less complicated for them in their future. It perhaps created more bureaucratic confusion than necessary if they had just westernized themselves with first name last name, hospitals where they were born were baffled at what to write, schools were confused, thinking Qi was her last name, classmates didn’t get it, but their family gets it. She gets it. And that’s what matters.
She is absolutely terrified of driving and tried to learn to drive in South Carolina in a pick up truck from Beau on stick shift and absolutely hated it. Probably the biggest reason for not staying there after graduation even though she loved the nature there so much. Hope cycled most times during her college years unless someone else was driving.
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Anora did her best to follow what was, to her, mostly incoherent ramblings. From what she understood her hopes were raised and then quickly squashed at the projected timeline. She pouted. "Great. I'll tell my tastebuds to check back in four years." The sarcasm wasn't directed to Hope personally. Mostly.
Still where there was a will there was a way and Anora was stubborn enough to convince herself that if she found what Hope needed maybe they could convince those Avocados to come a few years earlier. "So where would you even find an Avocado tree?" Her question conveyed she was considering the task.
"And... how big are these trees?" Illy's brow cocked realizing this could be something as big as an Oak. "Are we talking like a little olive pant? Or is this like... the size of an Orange tree?" The heart was willing but the body was not strong enough to lug something that big back home.
"Can't rush mother nature, even if we frankenstein it a little bit," Hope simply shrugged it off with a contented resolution to the problem. Nothing much else they can do, trees just take forever and there's no way to transplant an entire fucking tree in this day and age. They've be slower than a confused chomper. Grafting cuts a lot of corners it done right but nothing like an instant gratification.
Hope grinned at Anora as if knowing the continued line of questions meant that she was thinking about it, more than happy to take any help that might come their way. "Oh you know.. fancy housing estates, parks maybe, the Botanical Garden had one in our greenhouse, that's where I got the seeds from, but out there.. it's hard for avocado trees to survive New York winter, they need sun all year round, but it's not impossible," her voice started excitedly at first but faltered at the realization that most trees in the wild perhaps might not have survived the years, it might be a futile try but still, Hope wouldn't mind a trip back to the Garden in the Bronx.
maddox was quick to point out the bird that had landed on the pavement across from them. "that is a eastern bluebird." maybe his companion wasn't interested in another of his fun facts but too bad so sad! learning was fun! "it's new york's official state bird. and it's the first one i've seen in.. months." he considered the bird's appearance as a good omen. maybe it was the universe sending them a sign. or, maybe, the government had just gotten their shit together enough they were able to start sending drones out again.
"we still don't have geese but hey, this is something." sadly the former was probably a pretty easy target for any infected who caught sight of it. and even if those little assholes hissed and bit you maddox still felt bad for them.
"Oh! Look at that!" Hope exclaimed once Maddy had pointed it out to her as she lifted her head from down by the soil. Though she stopped herself from being too loud to scare it away. "That's what they're called huh? I use to see them all the time at the Botanical Garden, they made the cutest chirps while I worked," she smile softened taking the pause in their work that Maddy had came to help even for a short while.
She wasn't too well verse in the bird sphere like her friend but she drew on whatever she's heard him yap with them before, memories pulling up funny ones as she tried to stifle her laugh, "you mean the geese that chased you down Central Park once?" They were scary but Hope could only laugh from the sidelines back then. "More importantly though," Hope bent back down to continue getting rid of weeds, "will those birds eat all our fruits? I don't mind some, but we gotta save some for ourselves too." Hope would have to keep an eye out for any bird pecked fruits because those with effectively render useless to them.
Maddie chuckled along with her friend, but caught the diminished joy with the mention of the colony's success. They weren't naive to the recent losses of the Wexlians, Hope included, but she believed that they should be proud of what they'd all achieved. Despite all the shit the world had thrown at them. Although she understood how she might have touched a nerve with the memories Hope's garden brought forth. They would just need to work harder to keep her friend's mind on the present.
"I don't know," Maddie started with an overtly feigned disbelief Hope wouldn't have ever been a farmer in New York. "There are an awful lot of rooftops that could use the greenery and fate wouldn't have let us not meet," she countered with an almost knowing smirk - the belief that the universe brought together those destined for connection no matter the circumstances stronger than ever.
"There's never been a truer statement," Mad agreed freely, taking another drink. "But at least we can still have sleepovers which may just happen tonight," she added positively with a chuckle and wiggle of her glass. "Once Ducky gets back we'll get him in on the fun too."
"You mean some farm to table rooftop? Bet the rent on that will cost me more than my entire body on the black market," Hope joked at the thought, not really sure about Maddie's confidence in fate. Every little decision could've thrown them all off a different path, but she was glad to have been on the timeline of sharing it with the siblings, no one else she's rather slum it out in a rent controlled NYC apartment with. "I was always more of a flowers girlie. Maybe a florist in another life." It was fun to imagine a completely different life for them, "you could've been like... a Broadway dancer and Ducky could've been some genius bird expert tour guide." She giggled at the amusing thought of their make believe life.
"Oh my god, yes yes yes, I want a sleepover! We should find some trashy old movie to watch. Where did Ducky go anyways?" Hope hadn't seen Maddy in awhile that day or two to be honest and she had mostly chalked it down to being busy elsewhere.
Anora shrugged at the shared observation. She could easily dismiss the the Gold Star Hope was trying to give Aspen for her good behavior. She was a hater, in her heart, and not even her own sister was immune from that pissy attitude. "It's probably because there's no one around for her to try and fuck." As much as she knew Aspen's sleeping around was a total nonissue... Illy still couldn't let it go. It was trashy! Not to mention annoying, having to watch her flutter her eyelashes at every person polite enough to give her a moment of attention. "Oh yeah, she's full of good intentions." There was obvious sarcasm in her tone but no elaboration on the point.
She scooted several feet down the buffet table to scoop some sort of pasta on to her plate. She thinks of the few times their dad had attempted to cook a homemade dinner after the divorce. Time was probably the one resource he'd never been able to give his children enough. All the money in the world couldn't make up for a absent father and although Illy knew that those sporadic pasta dinners were his attempt at acknowledging it--she'd always hold it against him.
The train of thought they were exploring was definitely piquing her interest. "What about avocados? God, could we have Guac again?" The garden had occasionally held onions and they had been a God send to add flavor to the bland shit the kitchen had been putting out. "Chips and Guac and a margarita... I could die happy." She sounded a little too serious at the prospect. Maybe it was a red flag that she'd be fine with dying as long as it was after a little treat.
"Oh I'm glad she isn't trying to fuck around the farm," Hope scoffed, it was something she'd absolutely kick people off the farm if they did. She doesn't care what your kink is, bottom line rule is don't ruin their crops. Hope was at least no nonsense in that way, guess some Type A parts of her family did pass on to her. Hope doesn't try to argue against the sister that would know Aspen like the back of her hand, simply raising an eyebrow at the sarcasm, perhaps plenty she still wasn't privy to. "Sounds like words of caution that I should take note of." After all, Hope doesn't really spend too much time with people outside of the farm. There was only so much energy she could spare in a day.
Hope let out a soft sound of a whine and a despondent sigh at the idea of avocados again, "oh my god I miss Guac so much.. Avocados take like a decade to grow from seed. Well.. -don't tell anyone because I don't wanna get people's hopes up yet, I've managed to get seedlings growing, and I'm trying to get some grafting done but we need to find a good avocado tree out in the wild first, I have one or two grafted already from a tree I found but it's not the strongest tree, and the more we have growing the better the chances. That might drop us down to a four year wait." Hope rambled on slightly as they picked at the food, her excitement evident in the way she talks about the plants she grows, a skip in her step even as she moves down the buffet line.
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Rosie loooooooooooved Hope's sundress. Alright, she loved almost all sundresses, but Hope's was super cute.
""It does! I gotta admit... as much as it pains me... diner food would not have been appropriate." Maybe if she ever got married one day. Then again, not doing a diner themed wedding could be a fun twist. Ember would be planning it, obviously. She'd be happier not doing a diner, most likely. Rosie should have angled a diner themed wedding to Charlie . . .
"I love having a wider range of fruits and veggies. It's like...living a new life. We did grow a lot of strawberries that first season. And peas, but bean sprouts are so fast and easy. I think everyone was really tired of bean sprouts pretty quickly. But I still love them!"
"It's up to the bride and groom to decide what's appropriate, I've been to some whacky themed weddings." Diner wasn't one she ticked off the bucket list but honestly, everyone here was probably just happy to see food in abundance again. And so was Hope.
She laughed remembering the tales told to her at the start of it all while she was cooped up at the Botanical Garden trying to survive there. "And I heard about the sweet potatoes era too at the start, better than starving I guess!" Beau's fault apparently, and she'd whole heartedly believe it. "I lived off whatever edible plants were at the NY Botanical Garden at the beginning and let me say, some of the plants just don't taste good without seasoning."
"What you don't want to slow dance with me? I'll have you know that I'm an amazing dancer. You're just totally scared that you're gunna fall madly in love with me when you feel my romance vibes."
Grinning at the tiny brunette, Aspen couldn't deny that if Hope ever wanted a romp the she wouldn't jump at the opportunity, but she was also sort of her boss. That was a lesson learned the absolute hardest way a lot in her younger years that now she knew better. Sleeping with your boss usually lead to getting fired. And Aspen surprising found that she really enjoyed helping with the crops.
"I bet we can get him to put on something really good. Something classic." Considering most of their jams seemed to be on CD. "Spice girls?"
"How could I ever get over all that charm? More like I don't wanna exude too much charm for others to see, can't stand out too much if it ain't your wedding!" Hope laughed at the ridiculous idea though not disputing Aspen's confidence in her dancing skills. The joke flirting itself simply bounced off mostly because she wouldn't fuck around with people she worked professionally with, in this case - the farm. And also people in general kinda just suck, no offense to Aspen at all, Hope falling in love anytime soon? In her dreams. She's seen the mess some of these relationships have caused in this building (oof) and the most unproblematic couple she knew in Ziggy and Beau wasn't here anymore to make her believe in love.
"Now we're talking, he has to have some Spice girls somewhere, let's go!!" Hope hopped lightly before letting Aspen lead the way to voice their demands to the DJ for something more fun while the sun was still up, "bet you're like a Baby Spice."
"It's always so much fun to see how Rosie works everything into something so interesting, and I know for a fact that Roman is excited for some new things in our ration baskets. He's really been getting into the cooking scene. I mean he's not an amazing cook, but he's coming along. He's got the heart for it." Besides, anything she didn't have to cook always tasted amazing.
"I actually have been writing down some of our Township recipes now for the things we've been making, and how we've stretched things, or used the seasonal flavours. I don't spend near as much time cookie at Rosie's as I used to, but I will never tire of brainstorming with that woman to figure things out." Heck, they'd managed a decent cooking shortening using the tallow from hunts brought back to town. Maybe when Adam was older Charlie would pick up a few more shifts in the diner again.
"Don't forget that you're definitely going owe Adam a dance, by the way."
"Ooh is he house husbanding up for you?" Hope teased at the idea of Roman cooking at hone for them, poking at her arm before grinning, "if there's anything he's specifically looking for, let me know and we'll try and see what we can do." There were still plenty of things the farm don't have, mostly trees that'll at least take years even if they speed up the process. But every other crop, Hope could work her magic.
She perked up at the mention of Charlie writing down recipes for all the ways they've been making food work. "You guys should make a lil cookbook, post apocalyptic cooking! I'm sure everyone would appreciate it and a hundred years from now someone's gonna find the genius you have." She raised a finger at a trivial thought, "like, have you ever seen thought struggle meal recipes back in the day? Water pie was the weirdest thing ever to me." Even the apocalypse might not convince Hope to try that one.
"Of course! How else can I pay my little farmer helper in the field? I'll show him how to own the dance floor together. How's the little rascal fairing today? Not too overwhelmed I hope."
"I have. I'm actually Ashton's mom. Amelia." A familiar introduction around these parts, it never failed to tickle her even back in the day. If there was one thing it seemed that she'd always be able to count on, it would be that an introduction of 'Ashton's Mom, Amelia.' would seemingly suffice in most situations.
"Oh yes, Beau, what a sweet boy." Though considering she didn't see him here, Amelia thought it best to just sort of breeze past and stick to happier topics. "Considering his degrees I'm not surprised that you're the one working the farm. I think between you and the staff at Rosie's this place is blessed with some of the best food there is. I gotta say, if it weren't rationed, I would definitely be getting just so fat during my time here." She'd definitely grown a whole new appreciation for food.
"Oh!! Of course, I see the resemblance now," Hope squinted at her features, underneath that awkward beard of his that in her opinion he didn't know what length he wanted, the face and eyes all look the same. If nothing else ignoring work relations, she knew of him as Beau's friend as well, and that was enough to put him in her good books, any friend of Beau's is a friend of hers.
"I'd like to think he's out there running his own farm too," Hope softened the rambunctious grin into something akin to somber genuineness, feeling the hurt of him leaving the building during the chaos, and she wasn't even invited to run away with. Did she even cross his mind in that time? Who knows, she didn't want to know the answer. But all she hoped was that they were alive, and if they ever decided to come back.. the garden and farm would be ready for them. "For ending up a dumb jock, he's smarter than he looks. ..I learnt a lot from him." All the notes and ideas he left behind in their apartment, Hope had studied them from cover to cover, making everything he dreamt of come to live.
She put back the cheekiness in her voice after the a mellow moment of a silence mourning. "As you should! I think we've all lost too much weight, of we could have all the crops we could, I hope one day we'd get to just.. eat without worry. What's a few more pounds on the scale compared to the joy of food?" Mother nature gives even in times of destruction. "I'm guessing you'll be staying? Wanna take a stab a being a farmer?" It was mostly joke, (unless..) but can't fault Hope for trying to recruit her team.
And it was. Nothing could be more so, and the beautiful spread of fresh food that they had all worked to so hard to bring to the table was the cherry on top. Watching this little world they'd created bloom and blooming right along with it, Aggie felt truly like a product of it. Lately, she'd felt nothing but optimism and joy with the new fresh beginnings that stretched out before them all. Even the virus was far less a threat than it had ever been, and bright futures were once more seeming less and less things of myth and legend.
Reaching over to gather Hope into a tight hug, she made a happy little noise with the effort of the squeeze she managed, before stepping back to flutter her hands over Hope's hair and dress, before lifting a hand up to encircle her fave.
Hope beamed brightly as the lady of the hour graced her with her radiant presence, taking the tight hug with a warm embrace, despite her height she tip toed to reach up top and throw her arms over her shoulders, giggling at the chance to properly wish the bride congratulations in between her wondering around greeting all of her guest. "I'm beautiful?? Psh, you're beautiful babes, stunning, jaw dropping, I'm literally gagged. It's your day, you're looking more amazing than ever. I'm just not covered in soil and dirt for once."
She laughed as she gives Aggie a twirl and sweeps of invisible dirt from her own dress, a rare occasion to catch her in one in the last few years but she appreciates the chance to be pretty again. "I'm really glad the crops made it in time, I was really worried for a hot second with the weather." She sighed, eyeing the table of food that made all the stress and grumble and tantrums she threw to get more help worth it. "How are you doing? Tired yet from bride duties talking with everyone? Want a lil break?"
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Yeah, like Anora would ever forget about the hours spent under the sun digging fucking potatoes from the dirt. The only saving grace for those mandatory shifts in the field was that Anora could easily get Aspen to do both of their work as long as she kept her talking. Which, was like the easiest thing in the world to do because Aspen is in capable of keeping her mouth closed for more than three consecutive minutes. Anora gave Hope a semi-serious warning about the younger sister. "...Don't let her know how helpful she's been because it will go to her head and she will ruin this." It wouldn't be on purpose ( anora was the one who ruined things on purpose ), but Aspen had a habit of getting... overexcited.
"When she was thirteen she basically kidnapped this new girl in our neighborhood. She heard the kid's parents were total dicks and thought our parents wouldn't mind adopting another sister." It had actually been kind of impressive how Aspen had kept the seven year old hidden in her bedroom for two days. At least the kid had been excited for the 48 hour sleepover and wasn't totally traumatized by the whole thing.
"What about Jalapeños? Or Habaneros?" God everything tasted so bland these days. Finding a bottle of hot sauce had become a special little treat for Anora due to the rarity.
Hope wasn't dumb, she had been across on all the rotations and shifts people have been taking up, gladly sharing that report with the council to see who's been pulling their weight and then some. It was just like back at the Botanic Garden managing new interns or high school part-timers trying to slack off. Though she doesn't say anything about Aspen picking up her sister's share of the work, that was ultimately their own decisions and problems, not Hope's, as long as the work gets done. "Really? She's been... surprisingly calmer in the fields actually." Hope tapped a finger to her chin as she thought back, at least a small observation on the difference in her demeanor out on the fields and normally. Though Hope would easily give credit to simply being with nature, it has that affect to people simply just being one with the earth.
An eyebrow was raised at the new Aspen lore unlocked, pausing for a second not quite sure how to response, or whether Anora had been kidding or not. "Uh- she really puts taking matters into her own hands in a whole new light, huh?" An awkward chuckle before she recollected herself, "guess at least there were good intentions there." Whatever it is, Aspen wasn't kidnapping anyone else at least, lesson learnt, Hope presumed. She'll go off of whatever her own judgement of Aspen was as a person.
"Oooh chilies!" Hope sighed despondently at the thought, dying for a taste of spice herself, "I'll definitely try to see if the scouts can find seeds. I managed to get the few usual bird's eye chili plants growing though we won't get them till the summer. Can you imagine? A whole chili eating contest would be so fun."
"Ray Ray!" she greeted gleefully, pulling her in for a hug with one arm while the other held tight to her champagen glass. Madison doubted they would ever get over the luck she and Ducky had at becoming part of such a thriving community. But she was convinced it had everything to do with Hope. Ever since the two'd met, she seemed to be Madison's lucky charm. Things always just seemed to work themselves out when she was around and it would appear that hadn't changed with the end of the world.
"Do you know how many dicks I would have had to suck to afford that? No thank you," she joked with a chuckle of her previous career choice, taking a seat next to where Hope lay. She took a drink of her champagne and watched as the bubbles slowly dissipated, gently rolled the stem between her fingers. Despite having long ago become numb to the reality of their life choices, they still felt the soft sting of shame whenever they spoke about it. "But we have it now and that's all that matters," she went on optimistically, soaking in the remaining heat of the sun. "And we have your amazing strawberries and my favorite, limes. You should have become a farmer before all this shit. You would have made a killing at the markets. We could have probably afforded a Manhattan apartment then," she joked with a smirk as she took another drink.
"Guh, nevermind, that's too much work for you," Hope made a face, never having judged either siblings of their work but rather a face made for the empathy of just how much effort it took for their line of work. Hope would've gotten fired day one for punching a client that pissed her off, she just knows it. "You should bank on exclusivity and charge way more, supply and demand or whatever, I wasn't a business student." She joked as if a light bulb blinked above her head. Not that it mattered anymore in the world they lived in.
Hope's expression softens at the statement of their reality, "..mmhmm." She half heartedly agreed, only because of the price it costed. What she'd give to find Beau again, or have everyone they lost still alive, this would've been theirs to run together. ..where did they go? Would they ever come back? Not that she'd ever regret fighting back against a head bitch in charge, she will always fight back. She snapped out of her somber thoughts as Maddie continued, perking up to put on her best face when the conversation but back on her. "Yes! The limes, oh my god I'm glad the small limes grew up fine," she snorted at the thought of her being a farmer, "if I was a farmer I wouldn't be staying in New York now, would I? I'd stay back out in South Carolina and would've never met you and Maddy." Hope stuck her tongue out at Madison, both of them finding excuses for their lack of capabilities to figure out a way to share an apartment in Manhattan. "Admit it, you miss sharing an apartment with me, no one can fill your Hope shaped void in the new apartment."
[ 🧭 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhere would they go if they could disappear tomorrow ?
headcanons ask meme
[ 🍃 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they feel like they belong ?
Hope since young never felt like she belonged, not in school, not at home, not even in her apartment and the only place she truly felt she belong was with the garden, in the forest, with the plants. Even now, with her best friend missing and gone that shared that same tacit understanding of that connection with nature, her one place she feels right at home is with the rooftop garden and with the farm. Though she has quite an extroverted, blunt and radiant joy, it's more of an over compensation to how she felt, amongst the plants she's softer, kinder, more at ease and peace with the world.
[ ⚓ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat does “home” mean to them ?
Home is the people she cares the most about, most people suck and Hope rather be spending all day with plants and crops, but there are a handful of people that she cares more about and they are what home is to her.
[ 🧭 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhere would they go if they could disappear tomorrow ?
Clemson, South Carolina. Take her back to simpler days of studying plants, hiking mountains, silly student life, freedom.
"You did wonderful. It was truly a pleasure to work with all the fresh ingredients, you're a miracle worker, Hope, really." Charlie offered her friend a soft but genuine smile, reaching over to give a squeeze of her arm as she stood back to make sure that the tables were set up just right. At least to her standards. "I can honestly say I'm not sure how much I'll eat tonight because I was sneaking bites all through the prep."
Chuckling as she turned back to her, Charlie wrapped her up in a hug without much warning, giving her shoulders a little pat as she let her go. "I just want you to know that we're really so appreciative of all the extra work you put in for the extra crops. Truly making things special here with the food." That was always the best part of any wedding, in her opinion.
"Heh, thanks, and thank you for your help too with the harvest, Adam was also great help!" Not really physically but his joy and giggles by the field brightened up the work day all the same and helped lift their spirits through a grueling harvest. "Hey, crops wouldn't be food without you guys too, that's kitchen privileges for sneaking some bites. How else can you tell that it's good?" More food for them! Though Hope foresee them packing the leftovers for the next few meals too, and that excited her.
Hope gladly returned the hug with a tight squeeze, joy brimming through in a grin, embarrassment tinge over a dusted flush across her cheeks for the kind words, "it's alright, I know I threw a bit of a fit over the request but you guys made it possible for pitching in to help. I had no way to do it myself." It's still crazy to know Charlie after all those years in school together, yet nothing seemed to have really changed. "You're gonna hafta teach me some of your secret recipes!"
which one: pet parent edition (maddox&madison&hope) roomies with a pet
which one ship prompts
send me a pairing and i'll answer:
@duckycooper @survivalxofxthexfittest
Who vetos more names? (bonus: what type of names would they like/hate?):
Hope! She probably really hates all the food name options because like why would we wanna name the kitten over something so delicious that they wanna eat it! That's so morbid. Plant names though that's fine.
Who is very invested in training the pet? (and who is better at it)?
Maddie (Madison) probably takes the best care in the training of a pet, unless it's a pet plant! Hope is too distracted at the Botanical Garden.
Who gets into cooking for the pet?
Definitely Hope, she'd love to just think of ways to make food from produce for their pet, back kibbles and snacks, and wet food and everything in between, she just finds it so much fun and don't mind help in the kitchen from the siblings.
Who lets the pet sleep in the bed even though they swore they wouldn’t?
Maddy (Maddox) probably! He can't say no to that face of a kitten when it sneaks into his bed.
Who tries to teach the pet new tricks?
Maddy! Every time finding a new trick online and trying to teach it and probably failing.
Who takes the pet on “spa days” for grooming?
Maddie absolutely will lead the charge, but gotta have spa days together with all of them, no one left behind on a pampering session! Money is hard but when they do have extra they splurge it together.
Who makes a scrapbook of all the pet's achievements?
Hope! She has those little old school disposable film cameras and love to take photos of flowers and her friends and her flat mates, celebrating every milestone in a lil scrapbook. She still has her camera even but ran out of film and has no way to develop them anymore.
Who throws a birthday party for their pet every year?
Maddie and Maddy would both do it, Hope thinks it's a bit much not even knowing when the actual birthday is.
Who tries to teach the pet to "talk" using buttons?
Maddy for sure! All part of the tricks to teach and the cat as officially learnt to say fuck you on buttons!
Who insists on having a pet cam at home and checks it regularly?
I don't think any of them could really insist on a pet cam, they're a little expensive and they trust the kitty to vibe on its own.
Who uses the pet as a reason to cancel plans and stay in?
Absolutely Hope, she use excuses to leave human engagements and sometimes end up back in the Garden or just chilling at home.
Who holds long conversations with the pet and insists the pet understands?
Maddie sometimes does late night chats until they both fall asleep.
Who gets emotional when the pets fur starts turning white?
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say Maddy actually, underneath he's just a sweetheart that cares.
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"So you're the one I have to thank for this spread? This is amazing." Amelia had tasted a little of everything, doing her best to not eat too much on a stomach no longer used to such volumes of food. It was all so heavenly, though, and she'd found herself with a whole new appreciation for food that she'd never had before.
"I think I was more excited for the caramelized carrots than I was for the champagne."
"Nah, not just me, it was a team effort," Hope waved it off before a cheeky grin grew, "buuut... a lot of it is me." She was more than happy for people to appreciate where their food was coming from. They should know that food wasn't a given anymore, they had to work for it or there'd be nothing. "Right?? You have to try the broccoli, it's so fresh and I don't know what wonders the kitchen did but it's awesome," Hope had already begun placing the charred broccoli on the other's plate as she spoke.
Now that she's gotten a good look at the older woman, a sense of familiarity washed over, "you've been around the Wexley before, right? I've seen you before all this, in the diner at least." She shook off the guessing game and simply explained herself with her answer, "I'm Hope. Beau's best friend from college, so I used to be around once in awhile."
Anora didn't give a fuck about the wedding. What she did give a fuck about was decent food and liquor. If the price for that was showing up looking hot and having a quickie with Ethan while everyone was busy watching fake promises being made, so be it. Anora was piling her plate with the colorful, fresh, delicious looking fruit when the other woman commented on the food. She paused with the scooper and gave a half-friendly smile. "You did really good. It's still weird to think that just a couple of people can actually run those fields."
Illy expected something like the Wexley farm to need... actual farmers to run. And tractors. And barns. And... all the other farm-y stuff. But in two years they'd managed to sustain a variety of fruits and vegetables. And... a few pot plants. Which Illy was equally grateful for. "Should I like, shake your hand? Thank you for your service?" There was sarcasm, but not too much. The food basically wouldn't exist without Hope.
“Psh, aw thanks! To be fair when we do need help, we always put out a call for more hands on the field, but the few of us take charge to plan and plant.” Hope couldn’t even take all the credit, Beau had left behind detailed plans and grand ideas for the rooftop garden and beyond, even every season planned, the genius mind was his and Hope just studied and worked with him for a long enough time before to understand the blueprints well and execute his ideas to perfection. A part of Hope thinks that Anora wouldn’t really care about that details though and fair enough, doesn’t concern her.
Hope joined her in picking up a plate and lightly humming to herself, picking up some of the food and fruits too, “no handshake necessary, maybe thank your sister! She was a big help with the harvest and the season in general.” If there was sarcasm, it slipped off her back with a tease back to her sister, she didn’t understand the dynamic between the two siblings to be honest. “In another year hopefully we’ll get some apples too!” Hope beamed at the thought, “any request for crops you hope to see for the next season?”
