the mind behind the mind

gwen hope, 36, political financial advisor @ cfg

[gwenxhope]

( aja naomi king, cis-female, she/her) SPOTTED: GWEN HOPE in new york city! heard the THIRTY SIX year old belongs to THE MOB as a FINANCIAL OPERATOR. word on the streets is that they can be EFFICIENT, but they can also be CONTROLLING.

BASICS

FULL NAME: Gwen Ida Hope

NICKNAME(S): G; G-Money; Guinevere

D.O.B / AGE: January 11, 1990 / 36

RESIDENT OF NEW YORK: Resident since birth, Upper East Side

GENDER: Cis-female 

PRONOUNS: she/her 

SEXUALITY: Bisexual

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Biromantic

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single 

HOMETOWN: New York, NY

OCCUPATION: Political Financial Advisor @ Caravelli Financial Group; Financial Operator for The Mob

PETS: aquarium of fish 

PERSONALITY 

LIKES: plans, agendas, to-do lists, logic puzzles, statistics, smart spending, fashion, tv dramas, opera, family time

DISLIKES: laziness, disorganization, lack of accountability, pink stilettos, the marriage mart

POSITIVE TRAITS: motivated, direct, driven, analytical, efficient straightforward, soft towards her family

NEGATIVE TRAITS: overachiever, competitive, lacks tact at times, controlling, unfeeling, robotic

BIOGRAPHY

Gwen Hope was born into a legacy. One she has always strived to live up to. As the Hope’s eldest daughter; the matriarch position was one that she knew the generations before her would be a large position to fill. But Gwen always knew she could fill it, with her logical and analytical mind; she has always been an overachiever. Competitive bordering on obsessive when she was growing up, Gwen honed these skills into a world she made her own. She got into finance, because everything about it is tangible and transactional; it helped too that for all her family with their big ideas they needed someone to make the plans.  Fiercely loyal to her people; Gwen is fine to not be the biggest personality but the mind behind the biggest decisions.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

[sotohpecnerefer]

Aja Naomi King

[dadivosos]

all he could do was stand and stare ---- he was actually astonished people like her existed though he had been told about people like her but they almost existed to him like a myth. " are you just saying these things because i'm a man ? " brow arched , slightly intrigued. " not my fault i was the fastest swimmer , love. " in his head that was a win already. " you don't seem to be like the type to do anything much less have the tiniest bit of fun. " alfie let out a loud sigh , almost veering on a groan before yawning , " does it get exhausting ? being this way ? "

[gwenxhope]

"Yes, I am. To be fair a woman would never approach me in the way you did, so inherently it's both because you're a man and because of how you approached me." Gwen furrowed her brows, having no idea what he meant about being the fastest swimmer, but she also didn't really feel like she wanted the answer. She scrunched her nose in slight disgust as he tried to judge her. "Or my type of fun is just extremely different than yours which definitely is the case." She didn't know where this man got off on trying to belittle her after she didn't respond the way he wanted her to. "Being what way? Please insult me more, show why the first remark I made to you was well earned and deserved. I cannot wait to hear you tell me how boring and stiff I am. It will be the highlight of my trip."

[dadivosos]

" so now i am your enemy ? " he could scoff at the statement but she might find that insulting as well. eyes scanned the woman's body language , she always seemed tense but the nails digging into her hands were a new addition. this might have been more emotion than he had seen from her even during their relationship. " so me actually agreeing with you and informing you that rin was actually in the wrong now makes me not your friend , " he nodded before adding. " rin's an adult , she knows she shouldn't have done anything against your family , your brother however , you tell me if you haven't done something remotely similar in your position with the caravellis ? " he did not know the affiliation of the hopes with the caravellis within the mob , but he did know about the caravellis and they weren't exactly the most legal. " she's not only apologized and has tried to move on but your refusal to see anything from her perspective other than yours is a bit childish. nothing happened to you or your brother , on the contrary , he is back at his job and it's almost as if she never wrote her article. however , you and your pride are allowing someone to somewhat spiral , someone you claimed to care about in the past. so i would take a good long look in the mirror before you put the blame fully on her. "

[gwenxhope]

When Harry said the words back to her they sounded ridiculous and it made her feel like what she said made absolutely no sense. She didn't answer him, too unsure of what she would say next which made her feel untethered and she did not like this feeling. Gwen refused to look broken or at a loss for words. Her brows furrowed instantly at the mention of the Caravellis and her work with them. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I take my friendships and working relationships both seriously and don't cross people that mean something to me. So your argument is flawed. It isn't something I could even fathom doing." The fact that he would accuse of her of something like that made her feel like he either truly had no idea who she was or was defending Rin over her blindly. "So now you're calling me childish for being angry at a close friend of many years, because I too also knew Haerin way before I knew you, decided to publish something about my brother knowing my family was in grief over the loss of a family member. Nothing happened. Except our cousin died, Harold. You can forget all you want what has happened to me, but this is my daily life. Do not tell me that I need to look in a mirror when every day I get up and have to handle the estate of my murdered cousin that will remain an unresolved case. I am not allowed to grieve. Because your girlfriend, who you mention is an adult, decided to put all of that away and write something to hurt my family. It's not just pride, it's protection and caring about my family. So no, I cannot see it from her perspective because I am too tired to care to do something like that."

[celestinadelcastillo]

Another smile, slow to form but no less bright, cut across her lips with the compliment to how much there was to be proud of. A notion that Celestina firmly stood within belief of. While the smile held on her features, there was a subtle and fleeting uptick of one brow with the last of Gwen's statement. For once, the words, “which brother?” left her lips already sounding foreign in the Atlantic air. In her opinion, Santiago was on his best behaviour tonight - seldom for Celestina to admit, though choosing her event for his reformation act was an irony she only would ever welcome while the other brother was higher than the fireworks displayed across the coastline at the end of the evening.

[gwenxhope]

"Surprisingly your older brother." She was not attempting to snitch on her close friend but it was semi-amusing to her that the man who always seemed to be on her about her younger sibling's behavior and there he was. It seemed like he was very blissful in some ways though. She supposed it was marriage. "Though I don't think acting out is really his style, he just seemed rather...mellow perhaps is the term to use?" Gwen never had done anything with drugs in her life, she was weary of taking the correct amount of Extra Strength Tylenol. "Honestly it's nothing you should have to worry about though, you should be able to enjoy your event and not think about how their actions effect you." Now that it seemed like Santiago had rightened his ways it would be a lot less of an issue.

[junghaerin]

𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡 rise in her face, but she let out a slow breath before speaking. “gwen, i’m sorry i made a mistake that was so inexcusable to you that it made you see me as this evil, conniving person. i’m sorry i hurt you. i’ll say it again, even if you don’t care. but this — what’s going on between me and harry — has nothing to fucking do with you, okay? i’m not going to stand here and defend my feelings for him.” she took another drag from her cigarette, trying to steady herself. “i told you tonight because tonight is the first time we’ve shown up somewhere together as a couple. i thought hearing it from me would be marginally less shitty than finding out from someone else.” she exhaled slowly, turning her face away from gwen as the smoke left her lungs. maybe it was masochism, seeking gwen out when she knew exactly what would come of it. traditionally, rin ran from confrontation. she refused to apologize, refused to show any emotion at all really, then drank about it later. but she didn’t want to be that person anymore. and she didn’t blame gwen for how she felt. “you can hate me, but don’t take it out on him, okay? we’re two separate people who happen to be in a relationship. nothing about him has changed. i’m a shit person, i know. but he’s a good person. so be mad at me, not him.”

[gwenxhope]

"Don't curse at me. I don't curse at you, even though one would think I've had every right to. You say it has nothing to do with me, then it has nothing to do with me. Fine. Your feelings for him are none of my business nor do I want to make them my business. Just odd that he would ever be an option if we were friends." Gwen was stating facts not out of an extreme amount of hurt, because Rin had already hurt her to the point where if she continued to hurt her it was just now par for the course. "Honestly Haerin, whether it came from you or from someone else it would have not felt great. But I also feel as though you continue to say words that are supposed to make me feel like you are sorry, but then your actions do the opposite. You make it out as if I am not justified several times over for feeling the way I feel." Gwen let out a scoff as Rin pleaded for Harry's innocence. This was ridiculous. It was like one of her dramas and she loved watching them, but she hated the idea of being in one. "Don't tell me what I should and should not do in regards to Harry. I didn't like it the first time you attempted to do it in the hospital, and I will not allow you to do it now. I will speak to Harry and trying to defend his honor is not needed. I will address the situation myself without your feedback. I should be the one telling you not to do anything to him."

[clark-sanders]

"Hey, Miss Hope." Clark tipped his hat, recognizing the woman as he got closer. "You mind if I take a seat next to you? We don't have to make small talk I just need a breather. And I don't think I broke in these boots nearly enough." A joke but he was tired of wandering around. That and he needed a good vantage point to watch as the Harrigans interacted with people at the party. He pointed at the chair next to Gwen and gave her a soft smile. "Unless you're waiting on someone. Wouldn't want to mess that up for you. I'm told I can be pretty intimidating. Or maybe it was irritating, I don't know, I get those two mixed up." @gwenxhope

[gwenxhope]

Gwen had a raging headache at this point at was pretty sure that the fireworks were happening already and the waves coming from off the beach whooshed in her ears loudly. If she wasn't mistaken she couldn't remember the last time she had exhaled. Hearing her name she let out the breath she'd unintentionally been holding, giving a polite smile as she looked towards the man approaching her in a cowboy hat. "Hi, Clark. You can just call me Gwen." Though it was a very polite gesture she definitely didn't find it all that necessary for the moment. Focusing on regulating her nervous system was of higher focus. "I appreciate that. I mean the small talk part. I don't mind if you sit there. I'd rather it you than someone else." Who the someone else was unfortunately growing into a laundry list of familiar faces for her. She looked down at the boots and then back up at him. "What made you decide to go with a cowboy hat and boots for a Hamptons white party, if you don't mind me asking? And I promise this isn't my attempt of small talk I am just curious." She gave him a subtly softer smile than her initial one. "I'm not waiting for anyone. You're not messing anything up. I've been told I am both as well. Intimidating by quite a few people, irritating just by my siblings."

[dadivosos]

the air was dense and thick with tension though it wasn't necessarily the good kind by any means. the loss felt by various groups long with the loss of one of the host's brother could be felt throughout the crowd despite those unaffected simply marveled at the location. he didn't necessarily feel like he owed the woman an explanation the same way he didn't feel like explaining to his parents why his nights were now usually not free for him to spend endless hours in his office. " i've known her longer than i've known you , " he said simply , not necessary providing any explanation on why rin was the way she was. " then she'd be your friend , " again , feeling her argument simply lacked direction. " i am not justifying what she did , if it wasn't her we both know it would've been someone else. she actually feels bad for what she did not there's no point in saying that since she can't exactly take it back. " he paused. " plus speaking about however i felt would've been inconsiderate because of how you felt , despite how you feel about it. --- it was the better option. "

[gwenxhope]

His starting statement was one that did not help the situation whatsoever, in fact it only boiled her blood further. Gwen thought of blood pressure in these moments, knowing her family always warned her about getting high blood pressure, which was certainly something she would get with the type of work she did. But never would she think it was because of personal issues. Harry seemed to just want to make things worse with the more he said. She gritted her teeth as she dug her nails into the palms of her hands. "I would rather have an enemy that I see than an enemy who pretends to be a friend. Seems the same can be said for you." Gwen couldn't believe she had been so blind to two people that she had considered close only showing who they truly were. She let out a mixture of a scoff and laugh at his inane excuse. "It seems like taking anything I felt into consideration was the least of your concerns, you have only shown that you could not care less about me. So you and Rin have that in common. I mean nothing to you. Which would be fine if you hadn't pretended that you were my friend."

[junghaerin]

𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 it land exactly where gwen had meant it to, and a sigh immediately passed her lips. she didn’t have a clever answer ready. instead, she lowered the cigarette from her mouth, ash trembling at the end before she tapped it off with her thumb. “yeah,” she said, glancing at gwen. “good thing.” she realized there was no way to say this that wouldn’t end with a verbal tongue lashing from her ex-friend, so she decided to just say it. “listen, i wanted to tell you that harry and i are here together.” a pause. “we’re dating.” her brow furrowed slightly, like she knew how bad it would sound out loud. “i wanted you to hear it from me. but i haven’t gotten a chance to see you before tonight, and you’ve made it very clear you don’t want to be around me so…” rin shrugged. “…but i’m telling you now.” she didn’t say anything else, not yet. she just stood there, cigarette between her fingers, waiting as if she’d stepped onto a minefield.

[gwenxhope]

"Okay...it seems like poor decision making on his behalf. But if that is your prerogative." Gwen thought it was ridiculous that she had to be told this, but also was somewhat annoyed with Harry for allowing himself to be fooled by this clearly opportunistic woman after she'd confided in him her frustrations. She of course wasn't going to say that all to Rin, because she was sure that the words meant to get a reaction in some way. "So you've chosen to tell me at this event that you are dating my ex boyfriend. I am not quite sure what the incentive is at this point, but really nothing could shock me at this point. It has been a respectable amount of time if we were still friends, however the motive of doing this after I have set a boundary with you sees rather retaliatory." Gwen remained even-keeled in her sentiments knowing there was a chance that it had nothing to do with her. "Do you have Stockholm syndrome? Why do you continue to attempt to talk to me knowing that I am going to be unkind towards you?"

[camillacaravelli]

A perfected smile settled across her face as she accepted the congratulations with an easy inclination of her head, one hand remaining curled around the stem of her champagne flute. “Thank you.” It was then she raised the glass to take a sip before returning her attention back to Gwen with the faintest tilt of her head. “You read that off a fortune cookie before you got here?” Her words were meant nothing more than a tease, before she continued. “Give us six months and we’ll have plans for the second one finalized.” Expansion had always been the objective once the brand established itself.

[gwenxhope]

Gwen laughed softly at Camilla's comment, mostly because it did sound stilted and robotic. Which of course Gwen was mostly those qualities, however she was happy for the woman and Camilla's closest friend. "I did not, but I definitely don't fault you for thinking that." She was not known for her creative heartfelt sentiments by any means. "Second one? Is the location going to be another New York location or somewhere else in the States or are you potentially going international?" She felt like any three of the options she just listed off could be possible with their work ethic.

[dadivosos]

he paused as she began to speak , immediately regretting his decision. " are you really pulling the woman card on me ? i can't believe you thought you ate , " he shook his head with a small scoff. " relax , simone de beauvoir , i meant no harm. " though now with her answer he might as well should have. " well that's the whole fun , " statement coming out as if it was obvious to everyone but the woman. " well , if you wanted me to buy you a drink you should have said it earlier. "

[gwenxhope]

"I am not pulling anything, I am just making an observation. Thought I ate? I don't do that." Gwen knew slang, but it was not in her vernacular and something about those particular words did not seem like they fit in this man's vocabulary either. "Do you know who Simone de Beauvoir is because you were trying to impress someone or were you forced to learn who that is?" She questioned as she looked the man over, not appreciating people poking fun at her not because she took herself too seriously, but mostly because she didn't know if the joke was at her expense. "If that's what your intention is then perhaps, but I am not really that type of drinker." Gwen had said these things in the past and some men would view that as a challenge, but it wasn't that she was trying to break out of. "I don't normally go up to people I don't know and tell them to buy me a drink unless they are a bartender, of course."

[nick-nellson]

TED LASSO 2.03 Do the Right-est Thing

[gwenxhope]

@dadivosos (harold cho)

[celestinadelcastillo]

Nine months of work finally materialised before her very eyes and so yes, she was beyond proud of the accomplishment - who wouldn't when she and Cami had created a vision on the Atlantic shoreline no one could fucking top? The part that had something pressing quietly against her senses was the matter of hosting the Mob's annual white party inside it, which was a variable that had no business appearing on her face and accordingly would never. The picture she presented was one of perfected poise with the smile already in place when her eyes found Gwen's across the space. "Thank you," she breathed out. Then, because Gwen was one of the small number of people in front of whom she could afford to let the hostess performance slip an inch, "God, Gwen, you sound like one of the reporters." With a playful roll of her eyes, she straightened once a waiter handed her and Gwen each a champagne flute. "But, I'll tell you, if you're dying to know. It was originally going to be west coast, but we grew up in the Hampton's. It only made sense, you know? Sentimental value and all." Contrary to every available impression she tended to produce, she did have a thing for sentiments.

[gwenxhope]

Gwen was sure that Celestina was exhausted and when she commented the way she did, Gwen couldn't help but let out a small laugh. She knew that it was a matter of time that the other woman got to relax, but unfortunately there was still a small amount of time left where she had to be on. But there was something nice about the snappiness and familiarity. "Well, the difference between me asking and some journalist is that you know I'm not asking because I have to and I wouldn't ask you if I didn't want the answer." Gwen pointed out, taking the flute happily she listened as she sipped. "A place you grew up that you now have a major luxury hotel to continue your legacy. It's fantastic, you have an extreme amount to be proud of. Though, I think your brother might be the one this time that is acting a fool instead of my brother."

[dadivosos]

" you do know it's a party , right ? " he questioned the woman and the expression she carried from the moment he walked in. he could've let it go , be a sensible person but --- he was english at an all american party. party in the u.s.a , am i right ? " what is it that americans do to get in the american spirit other than break up democracies ? " he paused. " let's go get you a long island tea. my treat. "

@gwenxhope

[gwenxhope]

Gwen's brows were already furrowed that she didn't need to change her expression when the man approached her. "It is truly like a man to critique how a woman they do not know should be acting." She let out a small huff of a laugh at the audacity the man had to assume that what her issue was that she needed a drink. "I don't think my issue is that I don't have a drink with five different alcohols in it. That's not a treat, that's a death sentence." It sounded like something her younger brother would love to drink and that meant she would stay far away from me. "I will have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, your treat."

[dadivosos]

he didn't necessarily feel like he owed gwen an explanation when he showed up with rin -- not that it meant anything , but it did. he knew it was too complicated , it didn't make sense to him all that well but he knew something needed to be addressed. " so , " he started , holding out the champagne flute almost as if it were a peace offering. " how much do you hate me ? " though hate might have been a strong word. " or strongly dislike me. "

@gwenxhope

[gwenxhope]

Gwen looked out towards the shore, inhaling and exhaling with the waves. There was no scandal or drama of Harry's choice to be with Rin, they were two adults. It had been a little over five years since she had broken it off with Harry and months since she had been friendly with Haerin. Though she did wonder if she was still close to Rin what that discussion would have looked like. But she was in some ways hurt by the lack of communication from Harry, whom she had ranted to various times about the woman that apparently he had been with. They were neither worth her heart rate or blood pressure spiking Gwen reminded herself.

Hearing Harry's voice though threatened that peace as she looked over to him and took the glass before moving her eyes away from him again. "Hate or dislike would mean that I am putting thought towards you. And considering you have put no thoughts towards me nor my feelings that would be counterproductive. You had various occasions to tell me of your feelings and relationship with...her." Gwen inhaled and exhaled once more, playing it off as she took a sip of the champagne. "You had plenty of opportunities, Harry. You have erred in various ways but you will learn what type of person she is and how easy she'll throw you to the wolves when it best serves her. Why choose a woman who was my friend? And what if she was still my friend?"

[junghaerin]

who: @gwenxhope where: white party

𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 to stay sober tonight. then, she remembered she’d be in the same vicinity as gwen, and she seriously debated adjusting that plan. the idea of showing up on harry’s arm, of telling people they were a couple, terrified rin for one reason: gwen. gwen, who only months ago had been considered a close personal friend. then rin had gone and written that stupid article about her brother, which had been bad enough on its own. but then she started dating gwen’s ex? rin knew the optics, and they didn’t look good. the way she’d hurt gwen was the first time in a long time, since chicago maybe, that she’d felt the sting of regret. she wanted nothing more than for gwen to forgive her, and yet here she was with gwen’s ex-boyfriend.

she decided it would be best to say something directly, if only so gwen didn’t hear it from other people and think rin was too much of a coward to face her. was that the right thing to do? probably not. but rin found herself doing it anyway. she was outside, smoking a cigarette because if she couldn’t drink, she could at least smoke, when she saw gwen and decided it was now or never. “hi, gwen,” she called, giving an awkward little wave. “i, uh. i like your dress.”

[gwenxhope]

Gwen was here for work purposes and to support two women that she appreciated that were ambitious and daring in a way that brought about good outcomes. She was not here, because she was a social butterfly. And nearly had left a dozen times, missing the comfort of her computer. This was potentially the time she would actually do it as she roamed outside and she nearly let out a groan at Haerin's words. There had been plenty of opportunities for the woman to come clean now about her involvement with Harry. Neither of them owed her an explanation, however it still came off shady just like the article she wrote.

"If I was a pettier woman I would ask if you would like to borrow this too. Since it seems you just need everything about my life to actually be yours. But it's a good thing I am not. I like my dress too." She said as she looked over at the woman, waving the residual smoke away even if there wasn't really any. "What can I do for you?"

[gwenxhope]

character: Celestina del Castillo @celestinadelcastillo

location: the white party event

Gwen was absolutely ignoring the annoyance she was feeling and the tinge of a headache that was starting to form from some of the guests in attendance. Celestina and Camilla deserved all their flowers and she wanted to make sure that she got to see both of them before contemplating a departure. She wanted to ensure also that she kept an eye on her younger brother, hopefully he was not in the mood to act out today. A rare occasion and a miracle wrapped in one. So far she had only spotted him once and he seemed fine. Seeing Celestina she gave a soft smile as she approached. "Congratulations, this is nothing short of what I know you and Camilla could accomplish. Was there any motivation that made you all choose here or did it just fall into place?"