Closed: With Maple (@untemperd) in their shared apartment.
"Well that went over well," she stated as she entered their shared space after getting into a bickering match with one of the other residents. "I get people are upset, but you'd think people actually knew them." All of this was circumstantial. If they weren't trapped in this apartment and it wasn't the end of the world, the likelihood that anyone would care for more than fifteen minutes about the death of Fred and Diane was minimal.
"What did they want us to do? Bring them back here?" Devon thought those who were being super emotional about the whole thing had the slightest clue of how difficult the terrain was out there. If it weren't for their crew going out and sacrificing their own lives, they'd all be withering away. "Also, fucking Hobbs. What an idiot," she sighed before tossing her body on the couch. "I wouldn't be surprised if that's why he broke up with his ex. Such a moron."
once the initial shock , hurt , and fear passed came pure exhaustion. flopping onto the bed , maple gripped the light yellow pillow and let out a muffled scream. she can still see the eyes of their peers widening , the gasped shock as fingers pointed and accusations followed. maple wanted it out. their eyes squint together , tears collecting in the cotton , but the images refused to fade. " people did know them , devon. we knew them. they were important and . . . " they suck in a deep breath " i fucked this all up for everyone. " that day replays in their head frequently , even worse now knowing how disastrous keeping it hidden from the others turned out to be. " hobbs does have an affinity of not thinking of the consequences , that's true , but people probably would've found out anyway. we should've told everyone from the start , now it looks so much worse than the truth. "
the familiar voice that follows the echoes of her own brings maple to a standstill , allowing her to catch the breath that trembles in her chest. it's haggard and burns in their lungs but for the moment each breath becomes slower and deeper until maple finally feels strong enough to turn. gripping the railing , maple pushes away tears , their vision focusing on the features of jun--- relieved to see more concern than that of anger between his brows. " i'm sorry , i just thought you were someone more . . . on the side of that new committee. " they huff out , slowly shrinking down onto the step , the cold concrete helping maple continue to stabilize from the rush of emotions that built during the lobby meeting. maple pauses , " did you just say that you bite? "
open to : EVERYONE !
location : the LOBBY into STAIRWELL !
timeline : end of CHAPTER ONE !
“ no , please you just --- have to understand. ” hands that tremble push back strands of greasy hair , maple's voice that has always been quiet easily becoming lost in the swarm of shocked and ( rightfully ? ) angry exclamations of the other residents. teary eyed hues fret back and forth for a friendly face , but none meet maple's gaze , just that of the FINGER of a self appointed committee member pointing between their eyes , shouting of lies and treachery and murder.
with a labored breath , maple turns , pushing the finger away and searching for the nearest exit. like a tired swimmer fighting against an ocean wave , maple is left exhausted trying to get through the frenzying crowd. when she makes it to the stairwell , the accusations and shouting ricochet off of the empty steps. “ stop , please. i don't know what to say to make it any less bad. ” she calls back , desperately , at whoever's footsteps were following theirs.
it was nearing nightfall which was ever - the - more eerier, now that they were finally beginning to understand what was awaiting them. it was frustrating, to say the least. not having much skill to fight, let alone negotiate some harmony. alfie understood people were restless, but they were beginning to run short on water and food. the weather was getting colder, too. it wasn’t exactly an ideal living situation. let alone the fact they had a handful of children under their roof to take care of. it would be understandable for one to feel as though they were beginning to lose their mind.
alfie turns to the other, perhaps a face they had recognized during the meeting. ❝ i don’t know about you, man. i’m still waiting for someone to yell, ‘ cut ’ ! like i’m on a weird tlc reality show or something. ❞
most nights , maple lingered as long as she could in the presence of others. though usually she didn't interact , the reminder that she was alive and others were too brought more comfort than the frozen sheets of their bedroom where nightmares usually laid in wait and dread of what tomorrow could bring festered. sometimes they spoke with others , but always the quiet one , maple mostly kept to their pencil and journal. chewing on the long eraser empty end of their pencil ( struggling with a new stanza ) , their ears perked up and turned to the other--- surprised and delighted to get to know another resident. “ yeah , i feel the same way. it's like mtv's punk'd and stephen king got together to create the best , worst prank ever. ”
open to everyone
time: present (2009)
location: lobby
months had passed since the start of the outbreak. even though people beginning to accept that this may our lives now, there was still a restless energy permeating the apartments. it was all too common to see people walking, sitting, or working in various places around the complex — all the try to alleviate the helplessness that comes with knowing there was no way to get back to how we were before. in a twisted way, the apartment looked more like a community now than it ever did before. jenny sat hunched over a table in the lobby, sketching some of her fellow residents who milled about. her eyes went up and down a few times between her paper and the nearby resident before she made eye contact.
“you look like shit,” she said as she leaned back, dropping her pencil on top of her drawings. quickly trying to course-correct she added, “i mean, you look like you feel like shit.”
everyone had seen the terrors of this new world. no one was left unscathed and their recent rendezvous alongside the daily suppliers certainly left unforgettable horrors in the eyes of maple hargrove. by now, months into this new role she jumped into, the poet figured at some point it would become easier--- but it became the opposite. sure, she became more evolved in using firearms and while fears still grips them it was easier for them to now bypass such strongholds. but that was all mechanics. their body going into auto-pilot to get things done. remembering the beauty of the world, continuing to pray better days were coming, and hoping everyone would live to see the end of this was dwindling. that was what NEVER became easier. it wasn't exhaustion that slowly ladled out who she was--- it was her growing despair. and it weighed heavy. “ i'd say both statements are spot on. ” maple wasn't insulted, never caring much about their looks before. however, she did take note. being a lookout was only one half of her role. the other was feigning confidence that everything was okay. “ if you have any spare face cream or mascara though, i'd be more than grateful. what're you drawing? ” maple steps up, gently placing their crossbow down on the table and plopping down in an empty seat.
OPEN TO everyone.
LOCATION some hallway of the complex.
hobbs took precaution in his analysis of those with trembling hands. the cold was inescapable at this point , but so was the infection. besides , he didn’t exactly know the whereabouts of everyone all the time , but he’d seen ENOUGH out there to tell the difference between early infection and someone who needed a jacket.
“ listen , you didn’t ask for any advice , but my suggestion ? ” tone remains unwavering at his approach , steady and calm before his gaze wanders in the slightest towards their surroundings. with a clear coast at hand , hobbs returns his attention to them before dropping to a lower volume when he speaks next. “ holland used to be a fuckin’ fabric fanatic. if you’re cold , her door’s not exactly gonna be locked all the time anymore. ” confirmation of the neighbor’s disappearance , not just inability to show up , comes through minor implications. she’d failed to show up at their latest meeting , even the morning before that , and it didn’t take a GENIUS to put two and two together.
it was cold , practically freezing. wintertime in boston was not an easy foe to battle year by year--- especially given the califorinan blood that burned through her veins that craved scorching sunlight rather than crystallized rain. but even though their hands trembled and goosebumps ran a path down their back , maple liked it. with rations of coffee and matcha and other sweet tasting sources of caffeine running low and out, it was the cold keeping them alert. therefore maple didn't bother with a heavier coat and instead let the winter chill make a home in their bones. “ i already have a jacket , ” maple responds nonchalant , eyes flickering towards hobbs before returning to what had caught their attention and put them at a stand still in the hallway. with a pale , shaking finger maple raised it up towards the glass and drew a FROWN over the frosted smiley face someone had left on the window. “ and you're going to scare someone talking like that, or turn this place into a frenzy of who can get their hands on what first. ”
「 victoria pedretti . demiwoman. twenty7. she/they. 」 resident file #0001 … maple hargrove has been living at park place for seven years until the apocalypse. their neighbors at the time said they were gentle and melancholy, and always spent their free time writing poetry while working as a daycare center assistant. now they spend their time as a lookout and carrying around their crossbow. rumor has it they tend to side with the saviors throughout all of this. if they ever had a chance to leave, the first thing they would do is take a long drive with the windows down.
act I: just there
scene I: quiet child
* tw: abuse, parent death
maple was never considered a happy child. their entire life was spent being quiet, still, and out of the way--- just as her mother liked. for their mother, margot hargrove was an enigma. a famous novelist who wrote novels of the love she could never possess. ( abuse tw start ) in the morning she’d sign books after a talk show appearance, and at night throw dishes at the man who took her last name or pull the hair of the child who shared the features she hated. in public, margot would say maple was the best child a mother could ever asked for: polite, quiet, well-mannered, and beautiful. at home, maple was WRETCHED; a stain on the legacy of the hargrove name who was ugly, troubled, and always in the damn way. no one ever knew. for as good and loving as mark hargrove was to his only child, he never got her out. for as kind as their teachers were, they never reported the sights they believed their eyes were imagining. to get out, maple would have to do it themself. ( abuse tw end )
scene II: quiet neighbor
getting accepted into boston college was the happiest day of maple’s life. not only was it an amazing university, but it was also far away from sunny california where she was raised and where her mother remained. maple majored in early child development, hoping to give children the protection her teachers never gave. maple also minored in creative writing before quickly dropping it once the references to her mother became too much. however, the love of poetry remained. everywhere they went they carried pen and paper. observing, writing, and feeling. the first two years at boston college were FREENG. while they were still quiet, awkward, and kept to themselves--- they were able to assimilate to the atmosphere and make friends. ( parent death tw start ) however when the news of their father’s dire and quickening condition came, maple had to give it up. mark hargrove had the rare fatal disease of als, and margot hargrove neither had the love or care to take care of him. with little help financially from margot, a friend recommended park place. maple and their father quickly moved in and while continuing classes online, maple took care of mark until he quietly passed away 6 months later. ( parent death tw end ) once mark passed, complete contact and financial aid from margot ceased. maple was FOREVER on her own now and it was exciting and terrifying. completing her classes online and graduating, maple decided to stay in park place and apply for a job at the daycare center in the building. the building, neighborhood, and the possibilities of life began to shine bright once more. maple slowly began to open her shell. still quiet but still here.
act II: still here
scene I: quiet world
maple had thought themself observant, but in truth only to that of nature, passion, concepts, and philosophy. when people walked near whispering of rumors of infected people, monsters, and death--- their head was focused on the clouds searching for words to describe their shapes no one else had ever thought. so when the world was quote on quote ending, maple had seen no warning. those first few days were spent with the daycare, assisting in handling the children and helping keep them calm as there was nothing else much to do. there was no one they needed to find or needed to save. the few friendships maple made in college had burned out once they moved off campus, and california had no friendly faces they’d ever care to see again. park place apartments and the people within it are all she truly has.
scene II: quiet breaths
while maple still donates as much time as they can to continuing to help the children who had parents similar to her own, maple had somehow found herself in the role of a lookout. their quiet, still, and calm nature was deemed perfect for the dangerous yet crucial job. despite the fear at such a role, it was the first time she felt needed, wanted, and seen. therefore, they accepted. whenever they are not contributing, maple mostly keeps to themself. writing away in a journal no one is allowed to read. though more frequently she is pushing herself to be more open and friendly. she isn’t really funny or good with speaking. on paper, she’s eloquent but when talking she lacks the words. but they try.
character notes scribbled in the margin :
maple has totally kept their last name a big ole’ SECRET ! because fuck you margot .
she does not really watch movies but LOVES star wars. she feels like luke skywalker but the parents are reversed. though like leia, does not believe in the redemption of darth vader.
no one EVER is allowed to read their poems. friends in college once read them and said they should be published like their mother now no one can read them.
POSSESSIONS she notably owns: the journal ( obvi ), poetry books ( mostly from the romanticism era ), a han solo action figure, a giant ball of rubber bands, a bop-it, and a mug from dollywood.
keeps her hair short above her shoulders and HATES having it touched
maple keeps their graduation certificate WEGDED under the leg of their dining table to keep it from wobbling.
their middle name is SPROUT ( and will answer to that )
maple is bisexual and biromantic !
wanted connections :
* details are not set in stone ! can be changed to fit any muse !
1. we’ve made quite the mess of things | OPEN
maple and wanted are around the same age and have lived in the apartments for a similar amount of time. bonding over this, they became close quickly and were known as a duo. one was usually not seen without the other-- twin flames burning a trail throughout boston. however when the apocalypse began, their relationship shifted. they have found themselves on polarizing ends one too many times and it has caused a seemingly unrepairable tear in their friendship.
2. why are you always here ? | JENNY RONAN .
the apocalypse is bound to have a few close calls, and for maple, it doesn’t help that wanted just happens to always be the one saving their life. they were grateful the first couple of times, but now it’s become somewhat of a pattern. the unrelenting teasing from wanted does not help that hated feeling maple gets knowing she owes someone her life.
3. nice apocalypse we’re having today | BEVERLY GLASS .
maple and wanted did not really care for each other before the apocalypse. they didn’t know each other, rarely spoke to each other, and could never find something in common. that is until monsters began trying to kill them. with their new found roles and a need for trust to survive, the awkward pair are trying to spend more time together to build rapport and find more things to talk about other than the apocalypse.
4. the master and the padawan | FAITH CHAMBERS .
as an assistant daycare teacher and poet at heart, maple was not at all prepared to fight monsters. when it came to choosing weapons ( let alone using them ) they were lost and clearly out of their depth. thankfully wanted came in and offered their assistance. wanted took maple under their wing and showed her how to use the classics such as: loading a gun and shooting it, properly holding knives or large blades, hand to hand combat, and using a crossbow. while maple has improved there is still much to learn, and getting in practice time with her own personal master yoda is one of her favorite parts of the week.
5. to do it or not to do it | OPEN
while romantic love may be a main theme in poetry, maple has never experienced it and it had never been the focus in her poetry. not having the best example of it from their parents growing up, maple has always decided not to bother with dating or complicated things. therefore when she bumped into wanted one random tuesday and decided to have drinks, the realization they had this in common was perfect. the friends with benefits agreement between them was long-standing, easy, and low maintenance. but when everything went to shit and important resources needed to keep such a thing easy and uncomplicated became scarce; it became complicated. while the desire to give in grows stronger, maple and wanted have to consider possible repercussions.
other connections wanted:
close friends (1/2), mutual dislike (0/1), mother figure (0/1), someone interested in their poetry (0/1), maple saved their life (0/1), nerd friend (0/1), etc.
loved by maggie <3 27, cst, she/her, n/a triggers !
↬ ambition, love, and poetry haunt the quiet survivor; each wishing to have her all for themself. but ambition cannot be had, for duty to her compatriots and survival take heed. love, maple does not need for she never had it and does not BELIEVE in it’s existence. it flees in search of someone more dewy-eyed. alas poetry, the demon, maple craves and fights it’s constant luring. they can never be free from it and the GHOST who inspired it.
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
origamiaround
blakekathryn
kaledo-art
dailybridgerton
