InsaneJournal

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Who: Okoye and Hope
When: Thursday after this
Where: Around New York
What: Getting coffee
Status: Green



Just as planned, Okoye had gone to see Hope for coffee and a bit of chatter. Okoye, was still new to New York, not to mention new to actually having some sort of relationship with anyone who was not from Wakanda or royalty. Being friends with others was a new concept to her, but even she knew. These people, those who fought within Wakanda were all worthy of being called friends in her eyes.

After speaking with Hope for a bit about coffee, they two agreed to lunch, and surprisingly, Okoye had managed to buy some clothes outside her Dora uniform to wear, since it was unheard of for a warrior to wear their armor outside of battle here, and not to mention the Dora’s weren't here. Something Okoye was also going to have to get used to. Being here alone, without her sisters.

Still, as she made her way into Stark’s she’d been shown what floor and lab room, Hope would be in, As she came to knock gently on the door frame before the sliding doors opened and the General stepped inside.

Pore size analyzers, ellipsometers, and microhardness testing - oh my! Hope was a busy bee, currently in the middle of atom probing (sounded dirtier than it was), but she knew her stomach would start snarling if she didn’t eat soon. Therefore, when she heard the knock and saw Okoye enter the lab, she straightened up to stretch her back and whip off her scientist goggles. All with a friendly smile - because friends, they were new for Hope as well. But being with Scott sort of opened up more possibilities, enabling her to ease into not being such a frigid, unapproachable bitch. It was a work in progress.

And ever since the debacle with Thanos had become a lot quieter dust settling, Scott had gone back to his freelance work with engineering - whereas Hope continued to work for Stark Industries. “Hey!” she greeted, slipping out of her lab coat and buttoning up an actual, snazzy pea coat instead. “Thanks for meeting me. Are you in the mood for something hot and savory, or just hot coffee?”

As Hope greeted her, Okoye glanced around the lab, but her lips curled into a smile as she came to focus on Hope. “Hot and savory sounds wonderful.” She wasn't accustomed to eating American food, so she was grateful for Hope willing to help and show her a bit of New York’s food to see what she would enjoy.

So far, the pink drink as Hope calls it, had quickly become one of Okoye’s favorites. So so far she trusted the woman, which was no small thing.”Please, lead the way.” She replied as she came to shift to the side to let Hope step out while she would follow closely beside her.

“Things have calmed greatly, since the battle.”

Hot and savory it was. There happened to be a halal cart nearby, just up the block; Hope often would wonder that way for lunch, and she had to admit that it really hit the spot on a cold, blustery day. Plus, it wasn’t overly expensive. “I’m glad for the calm,” she nodded, scanning her badge to exit the building after they took an elevator down to the lobby. “I think we all needed a moment to recharge. Are things calming in Wakanda too, now that your King is back?”

It must have been a stressful time to have T’Challa suddenly disappear like that. Not to mention Hope knew firsthand how much of a tailspin she’d been thrown into after suffering the fate of being dusted.

“A moment of calm is always welcomed.” She added with a firm nod of her head. When asked about T’Challa, Okoye smiled brightly. “Yes, with our King back and the threat no longer looming over us, all is well within Wakanda once more.” Something she was extremely grateful for to be honest.

“What will we be trying today?” She asked, curiously as she came to follow Hope out the building and soon out into the streets of New York. It was always moving, never stopping. At first, it took her a while to grow accustomed to it, but Okoye found herself oddly, enjoying the city more than she had thought she would.

“How about some meat over rice? With the white sauce and the red sauce - definitely get the red sauce,” she grinned. Strands of dark hair blew about, but she tucked them back behind her ears and within the confines of her ponytail - luckily, it wasn’t too cold outside, instead, there was just a pleasant nip in the air. They could find a nice bench and do some people-watching while enjoying lunch.

She approached the cart manned by one single vendor - he was pretty friendly (and recognized her, so yeah, she’d come here before). “Just the lamb and chicken platter, with a Coke,” was her order, though he already knew it. That was why he had the red sauce all set - and added a generous ‘drizzle’ or two with the squeeze bottle.

“And whatever she wants,” Hope added, glancing toward Okoye and pulling out some cash. “My treat.”

“The same. With water.” She replied as she came to watch the vendor prep their meals. Okoye had never had food from a cart before, but she trusted Hope. Hearing the woman say she would pay, she nodded slightly. “I’ll pay next time.” She informed her, hoping they would hang out again after this.

“Sounds good,” Hope agreed, chuckling. She didn’t mind paying but really, she was of the same mind as Okoye - that they’d do another friendship thing again soon. She had Jane as a friend now, her fellow scientist, but she was always up for expanding her social circle. Besides, Okoye was pretty impressive as a person.

Their food was put into styrofoam containers and handed over, along with plastic utensils and some napkins; Hope tucked her Coke can into her jacket pocket. “Want to sit on that bench over there?” she nodded toward it. “We can talk about something besides battle. Like...gossip or something.” Was that standard protocol? And even if it wasn’t, didn’t everyone love to gossip anyway?

Okoye smiled once her food was brought to her, as she followed Hope to the bench she pointed out. “In truth, It's been a long time since I’ve just held a conversation with someone. Least outside of battle.” She admitted. The last time she had a decent conversation, it was her poking fun of T’Challa when they had gone to get Nyota.

“This shall be a pleasant change from what I am accustomed too.” She said as she uncapped her water and took a sip of it. “Before the threat to the entire universe, what was your life before?”

Hope felt it was damn time for an actual conversation too - it felt like, for so long, their lives were focused on thwarting Thanos. That was always in the back of her mind until recently - and it was a heavy weight that had been lifted from her shoulders.

But as for her life before all that, well. Maybe it wasn’t as interesting as Okoye’s but Hope had still seen some shit. “It was a lot of dealing with other threats here at home,” she said, her tone amused. “Namely one guy who stole my father’s technology to try to make ‘soldiers’ for world domination and all that. Scott and I took care of him - I helped train him to become Ant-Man, and he excelled in the role. I also didn’t expect to fall in love with him, but - “ She shrugged casually, taking a few bites of lamb and rice. “It happened. Now we’re sort of a family. Me and him and my dad, and Scott’s daughter. He’s also pretty friendly with his ex-wife and her current husband.” That was good, Hope thought. A good example to set for Cassie.

“What about you?”

Okoye listened and thought for the moment. “I've been with the Dora s since I was nineteen,” she informed Hope as she took a bite out of her food. Hearing about family, Okoye frowned slightly.

“My husband and I had discussed children. But never had any,” she said as she looked out to those walking around them, before sipping her water once more.

“Family, whether blood or not is important to have,” she said with a firm nod.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were married?” Hope sounded surprised, but then again, it wasn’t like it was that much of a shock. She hadn’t asked about Okoye’s personal life - well, for one, it was rude. And two, as discussed, they all recently had been gearing up for a battle royale and personal stuff had to not be at the forefront.

She sipped her Coke thoughtfully. “Is it...I mean, you think it’s beneficial? To be married?” Admittedly, Hope had been considering it more and more. Especially with Avengers stuff being something both she and Scott did - if something happened to either of them, she’d want a next of kin and all of that. A loved one to leave her assets to - her father was getting on in years, as much as she hated to admit it. But beyond that, marriage seemed like a nice custom. Sometimes.

“I am,” she said as she ate at her food. “It has its benefits yes,” she said thinking for the moment. “My husband and I are both from the same tribe,” she said softly. She hasn't thought of Wakabi since arriving because if the battle they all readied for.

But after their own battle in Wakanda, he was now locked in a cell and labeled a war criminal to Wakanda and a threat to the throne and their people. It wasn't information Okoye made known, but if the topic called for. She would.

So Okoye was married and her husband was back in Wakanda. She’d never mentioned him before, not to anyone that Hope had seen (she wasn’t obsessively monitoring network conversations, but still) - and it was possible there was a story there?

“What’s the situation with him?” she asked, tucking one knee over the other, making herself more comfortable on the bench. Her rapidly-dwindling (because of delicious) container of food was balanced nicely on her lap. “Is he back in Wakanda with your tribe?” Then she added, “if I’m being nosy, feel free to tell me to ‘eff off.”

Okoye sipped her water and thought for the moment. “In Wakanda, a King is chosen through royal combat. Either by yielding or death. A few days after the crowned king, an unknown cousin of T'Challa arrived and challenges him. The man.. he was not fit to be king, his heart was so full of hatred. Wakabi had sided with him.” she said exhaling a moment.

“In the end, there was a fight with the Dora's and the border tribe. Wakabi and my tribe. We were nearly defeated if not for M'baku and his tribe helping us. In the end, Wasabi yielded to me and the Dora s and T'Challa had defeated his cousin and was proven to be the right fit King Wakanda needed. Wakabi is currently held in prison as a war criminal and threat to the throne on Wakanda.”

Okay, wow. Hope’s eyebrows shot nearly up to her hairline. She couldn’t even imagine what that would be like, what a toll it would take on a marriage. Love didn’t always conquer all - for someone who had dedicated her life to protecting Wakanda, and that being paramount, Hope could see what a difficult position Okoye had been put into.

“That must be hard on you - on you both,” she observed. “I don’t know what it’s like firsthand, but I’m here if you ever want someone to listen. Unbiased ear. I won’t tell you what to do or anything.” Like she was even qualified to give advice on that.

“It's not. He betrayed Wakanda, he now faces the consequences for his actions.” Okoye loved Wakabi. But she lived Wakanda more. “We each made a vow to protect Wakanda for anyone who threatens our people,” she said finishing her food as she looked over to Hope.

“Still, it’s likely a little more complicated when you mix in heart matters,” she sighed. “They always tend to make things complicated, though.” If it had been any other person it would perhaps be more cut and dry, but a husband - yeah, that added some layers to the whole thing.

Then again, what did she know? She hadn’t really been into the idea of love and marriage before falling for Scott. Marriage especially. “Well, anyway - “ Hope closed the empty container, all that delicious food digesting happily. “If you’ve still got some room left, you want to try a piece of legit New York cheesecake?”

Okoye didn't see it that way. But the women also walked in different parts of life. Still, when the subject was changed she nodded her head slightly. “I’d like that,” she said as she took her empty container and came to her feet. Tossing it away as she looked down to Hope and smiled slightly.

“Great, because I know just the place. Follow me.” Hope found a trash can and deposited the lunch waste appropriately, then it was off a block or two for a sweet treat to pep up the day. It might mean a sugar crash during the later afternoon hours, but whatever. Totally worth it.