antonelaa

[antonelaa]

while it was an direct path to a train wreck to even let herself be forced to attend such an event, charity galas held a warm place in her heart. things like these had helped open up her heart to such causes in the first place, which helped direct her to the stances she so openly supports now. even if it puts her in an awkward position with the rest of her family and some of the upper elite’s members. but deep within her, even she knew that avoiding natasha after her scandal wasn’t her best moment. even when she hid behind her aggressive monologues against their lifestyles; nela still put her own reputation instead of her extending a hand to her friend. but the threat of a train wreck returns when a familiar figure saunters over to the bar and nela tried to not stare until the other had spoken to her first. still avoiding her gaze, nela mixes her moscato sangria with the stirrer as she responds, tone she hoped was neutral enough. “i mean, if you can spot the dj, that’s a question for him.”

the   event   had   been   going   on   for   a   few   hours   and   natasha   felt   she   had   already   played   her   good   girl   facade   enough   for   the   night   .   she'd   been   polite   ,   handled   with   grace   any   and   every   mention   about   her   past   scandal   ,   she'd   even   wrote   a   check   with   a   lot   of   zeros   to   help   whatever   charity   the   event   was   dedicated   to   .   taking   one   last   look   at   her   reflection   before   leaving   the   bathroom   ,   the   blonde   rubbed   the   rest   of   the   white   powder   on   her   gums   ,   leaving   no   trace   of   what   she   had   done   .   throwing   her   hair   back   ,   the   blonde   was   already   confident   by   nature   ,   but   the   champagne   flutes   and   white   lines   were   starting   to   take   effect   ,   parading   towards   the   bar   like   she   was   on   a   runway   .   “   i   want   …   ”   her   eyes   roaming   over   the   menu   that   rested   on   top   of   the   counter   .    “   just   give   me   the   strongest   drink   you   have   .   but   make   it   cute   ,   put   like   an   umbrella   on   top   of   it   or   something   ,   thank    you   ,   ”   she   said   ,   giving   the   cute   bartender   a   wink   .   dark   hues   scanning   the   place   ,   until   they   stopped   on   the   figure   next   to   her   .    “   do   you   know   when   they'll   drop   the   christmas   tunes   and   finally  put   something   more   upbeat   ?”   @nepofmstarters​​​

[antonelaa]

 toy drive & charity gala // location: bar sixty-five.

“i sure do hope you don’t have any plans after this because i’m itching for an after - party.” and while it wasn’t her first , nor last , drink of the night , nela surprisingly is only just a tad tipsy. the young woman only slightly swaying to the unnamed instrumental playing in the background as the other guests milled about ; her gaze going back and forth from her friend to some few familiar faces in the crowd from time to time. once her gaze returned to mabel , one of her eyebrows raised , questioning .. “did you have plans after this?” // @mabelbaldwin​​

[antonelaa]

// ft. @mabelbaldwin !!

[antonelaa]

“i can understand the tree part. also, the charity part. but ..” and a part of her feels the ‘we should all be taxed more instead’ lecture coming on, but the moment felt too pure. the tree before them reminding her of simpler days; coming home from rehearsals to watch both the rockefeller tree being lit up and their own christmas tree being lit up in the family living room too. little things like that that just makes leaving altogether a little difficult sometimes; her own familial attachment almost making her cringe. “let’s just say i don’t go to a lot of these. i’m definitely here for the children. and the donating.” a pause. “let’s hope we make their christmas day. otherwise, wouldn’t it be a waste?”

          “  don’t  you  just  love  these  events  ?  i  mean  if  you  sit  in  the  perfect  spot  ,  you  can  look  at  the  top  of  the  beautiful  tree  while  listening  to  the  music  ,  zoning  out  everyone  nearby  ,  ”  her  head  is  tilted  back  just  slightly  ,  eyes  focused  solely  on  the  tree  rather  than  to  the  person  who’s  situating  themselves  close  by.  “  i  really  hope  the  children  enjoy  what  they  get  from  this  gala  ,  they  honestly  deserve  it  ,  a  plethora  of  gifts  to  open  on  christmas  day.  ”          [   +   @antonelaa​   ]

[antonelaa]

toy drive & charity gala // location: the gallery.

“i think andy williams is wrong about many things. mostly because it wouldn’t be the most wonderful time of the year with you around.” it was, admittedly, a cliché remark for such a cliché night but nela was already starting to feel a little aggravated by her older brother’s insistence on having the rest of the siblings behave on such a night. doesn’t he know that when their parents don’t look, the rest of them cease to care? but at this very moment, her frustration found a target in her old friend-turned-nemesis-of-sorts, gabriella. “did new york’s most famous divorceé find it in her little heart to donate to the poor?” // @nxpintxs​ 

[antonelaa]

toy drive & charity gala // location: the rainbow room.

“have you tasted these? heaven. absolute heaven. almost makes me wanna take back my impromptu anti-capitalism speech earlier. almost.” the young woman gushes over the truffled wild mushroom with gruyere that she’s procured, momentarily forgetting her worries as she approaches the other. while the two aren’t so close, antonela hadn’t seen enough reasons for her to act a certain way towards the other. in her eyes and will full respect, lottie seemed .. harmless. and while her guard wasn’t down, nela wasn’t gonna pick a fight with someone like her. “the chefs deserve all the respect and all the bonuses, if you ask me.” // @lottiefms​​

[antonelaa]

a lot of things felt simpler to navigate as a child. auditions, family gatherings & parties felt simpler. making friends definitely needed to be up there, as well. the araceli & the choi clans had history; the expectation for nela and juno to establish one also felt simpler when she was a child but her constant reality of working productions had always stopped her. now that they’re older, it could be different. should be different. she had been minding her hair, feeling some strands might have moved out of place when she sees juno coming towards her plate. the young woman doesn’t stop the awe-struck look towards the plethora of desserts that the other had brought. “very, very open. you had me at desserts, babe.” she had joked before wiping her hands on a napkin and adjusting the chair next to her to make room for juno. “you know, creme brulee still keeps reminding me of high school musical. even if i did technically know what they were before watching it.”

[      CLOSED  STARTER      ]          ››          @antonelaa​  .

WHO :  juno  &  antonela

EVENT :  toy  drive  &  charity  gala  @  rockefeller  center

WHERE :  rainbow  room

         things  have  always  been  a  little  awkward  with  nela  .  but  that’s  simply  due  to  not  knowing  one  another  very  well  .  however  ,  juno  was  determined  to  change  that  .  their  families  have  been  friends  for  so  long  that  it’s  only  fair  to  get  to  know  nela  .  and  with  nela’s  family  in  attendance  ,  she  made  sure  to  greet  them  when  she  spotted  them  .  her  mother  would  not  let  her  hear  the  end  of  it  if  she  didn’t  greet  them  .  after  filling  up  her  plate  with  an  array  of  desserts  ,  she  walks  over  to  nela  .  “  hey  .  ”  smiles  at  the  other  .  “  is  this  seat  taken  ?  i  come  bearing  desserts  .  ”

[antonelaa]

the decor had always been the first thing the young woman grew to scrutinize over the years. while still keeping her awe of them close, the criticisms grew, evolved, and mutated as her intense dislike of their reality also increased. the young woman had been looking around at the various bits & pieces that worked to unite the whole theme together, pursuing the warmth of the season & tended to pull at the sensibilities of its audience. but she was sure the whole thing was a scam .. of sorts. her whole body turned as a voice pulled her out of her jaded reverie, her own champagne flute already at a halfway point. “the amount of plastic included in half of these could leech harmful chemicals to the environment, if it hasn’t already.” she’d stated before taking a sip & giving the other a questioning glance. “unfortunately, there are no keg stands here.” though after she glances back at the decor, she quirks an eyebrow. “and i think i’m gonna start needing to do one at some point.”

OPEN STARTER + @nepofmstarters

❄ ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʀᴏᴄᴋᴇꜰᴇʟʟᴇʀ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ❄

it wasn't hard for beau to feel like an imposter at a glitzy and glamourous high scale event. it feels like yesterday he was couch surfing, working doubles and filming self tapes in the middle of the night. now, with his career blossoming (break out roles in a popular television show on hbo & lead role in a popular netflix film), he often has to pinch himself and snap back into reality. a strange reality, to say the least. despite feeling like he doesn't fit in with the uber rich and famous, you'd never know it. in an armani black button up and a few spritz of a designer cologne, he was feeling confident and ready to socialize. he was more famous than his parents at this point. odd, that his father's writing on various blockbusters got him in the door, and now he was here. at an over the top upscale event. faking it till he made it, he grabbed a champagne flute, "charity events, huh? look at this place. i'll drink to that." he said to the person next to him, eyes studying the room. so pristine. "it beats a frat party...or does it?"

[antonelaa]

“you don’t have to convince me of your qualifications. i think i trust you enough to make me any drink.” unfortunately for antonela, the charity gala invited her entire family and they had all decided to come. though in antonela’s case, her attendance required for a modified wardrobe. in the end, though, the young woman was just happy to have donated her annual score of items to the drive. because while it was absolutely backwards to live life rich, the least she could do is use her privilege for good.

after adjusting her gloves, she proceeds to scrutinize the bar top in an attempt to figure out what her first drink should be. “you could play nice. if they don’t accept, let me have a go at ‘em. i have my best negotiation tactics on hand.”

[      OPEN  STARTER      ]          ››          @nepofmstarters​​  .

WHO :  lari  &  your  muse

EVENT :  toy  drive  &  charity  gala  @  rockefeller  center

WHERE :  bar  sixty-five

          as  far  as  charity  galas  go  ,  the  vibe  is  pretty  standard  for  lari  .  adults  chatting  .  drinks  being  served  .  older  adults  talking  business  .  and  of  course  ,  there’s  got  to  be  some  sort  of  drama  to  end  the  night  .  they’re  almost  expecting  for  something  to  happen  .  it’s  reminiscent  of  their  days  spent  attending  embassy  galas  with  their  father  .  now  she’s  glad  he  and  his  new  wife  are  not  in  attendance  .  oh  how  times  change  .  

 eyes  survey  the  event  room  ,  immediately  zeroing  in  on  the  bar  .  “  do  you  think  i  could  talk  the  bartender  to  let  me  have  a  go  behind  the  bar  ?  ”  she  asks  the  person  next  to  them  .  “  i  promise  you  i  actually  know  how  to  bartend  and  can  make  a  decent  drink  .  ”

[antonelaa]

“ click - clack of the silver heels, a nerve - wracking stare, and her signature accessory: the opera gloves. long - rumored to be the former stage actress’ way to further herself from the high - rollers of the country’s elite youth in a .. symbolic way. tonight, she digresses from the usual cloth & sequin, opting for a rhinestone pattern on top a near - transparent fabric. a hushed word from the araceli household help says that fiery antonela almost went in a custom piece with obscene words embroidered in the front, but was stopped by iconic broadway star cleo araceli, her mother, and was pushed to wear a 2015 badgley mischka spring piece instead. “ // @nepofminspo 

[antonelaa]

W I R E D , autocomplete interview featuring ... antonela araceli !  ( task one , @nepofminspo )

she figures it was either broadway nostalgia or pure nepotism bull that she was invited in the first place , making her eyes roll in the taxi cab that she’d taken on the way to the studio. but antonela was a fangirl .. somewhere deep in her cynical little soul .. that she puts on her best stage smile & tries to enjoy the shoot . when else was she ever gonna get the chance ( or even want the chance ) to do a wired interview ? 

“ okay nerds , let’s get this pretty board up here. “ she shuffles in her seat until she’s comfy & she taps the cardboard before flashing the camera a smile . “ i’m antonela araceli and this .. is my wired autocomplete interview . “ 

𝒘𝒉𝒐  ...

who  is  ... antonela araceli ?

“ hmm , very existential. who is antonela araceli ? well , she’s me. i’m she. antonela araceli is .. a former stage actress and a lover of the arts. a hater of other things. “

who  is antonela araceli .. related  to  ?

“ oh , well , the obvious one is my mother. cleo araceli. she was christine in quite a few productions and recordings of phantom of the opera. and then velma kelly in chicago. and some other stuff. she’s .. she’s fabulous, as usual. my dad is a businessman. good for him. “

who  does  antonela araceli .. look  up  to  ?

“ shaquille o’neal. literally. i’m five-five and three-fourths. he’s .. way taller. you get it. “

who  does antonela araceli ... listen  to  ?

“ myself. unless you’re one of the brilliant directors i’ve worked with in the past , chances are , i don’t listen to you. other than that , i’ve been bumping a lot of sean kingston throwback songs. beautiful girls changed a generation. prove me wrong. “

𝒉𝒐𝒘  ...

how  is antonela araceli ?

“ oof. thank you for asking. i’m a little hungry, not gonna lie. kinda want some pizza. shoutout to richie’s , best pizza on the east coast. and yes , i put pineapples on it. i’m a woman of taste. “

how  was antonela araceli discovered  ?

“ i .. auditioned, actually. for a lot of many things. my biggest role and my actual break is dorothy on the wizard of oz at .. uh , the rose .. no, the clover theatre. it was super fun. i loved everyone in that cast. we bonded so hard. miss them! “

how  to  be antonela araceli for  halloween  ?

“ aww , this is cute. um .. red hair. i do love my opera gloves , my arm - length gloves , so have some on. and .. honestly , i love turtlenecks. and graphic tees. and a really nice skort. and you gotta belt out a rendition of ‘over the rainbow’ , like you gotta do it. i make the rules and you have to do it. sorry not sorry. “

𝒊𝒔  ...

is antonela araceli  a  natural red head ?

“ um .. yes , actually. it’s all natural. but i did dye my hair a lot more after college. nothing drastic , just like .. brown - ish colors. sometimes blonde if i feel like it. but i like fading back to my original reddish hair. “

is  antonela araceli from brazil ?

“ i .. have family there. my parents are originally from there , yes. one ..actually, two of my brothers are born there. but me , myself , i am from new york. but i like to go back and visit family. and the people and the culture are beautiful and it makes me feel so at home. “

is  antonela araceli  in  a  relationship  ?

“ no , i am single. single pringle. i feel empowered , don’t worry. “

𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕  ...

what  is  antonela araceli  known  for  ?

“ wizard of oz, probably. but i also did a production of matilda , seussical , the sound of music , and a favorite: a christmas carol. i worked my ass off as a child , evidently. “

what  is  antonela araceli  like  in  real  life ?

“ i don’t .. know. a lot more grumpy , i think. when you’re in front of cameras , there’s a lot of smiling going on and as a teen it just made my cheeks hurt so i frowned whenever i could. frowning can be good for you. “

what  color  are  antonela araceli’s  eyes  ?

“ hazel. like the kelly clarkson song. “

what  does  antonela araceli  think  of  live musicals on tv like grease live ?

“ vanessa hudgens definitely stole the show. and i wanna see more keke palmer and musicals. and i love carly rae jepsen , but ... i wanna be frenchy. like at some point. before i turn thirty preferably. but overall , i think they can be really fun. a lot more nerves than just performing in a theatre, for sure, but for those that do it and have fun? more power to you. break all the legs, babes. “

𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆  ...

where  does antonela araceli  come  from  ?

“ new yawk , baby. “

where  is antonela araceli  right  now ?

“ okay , mom. i’m in a studio shooting this awesome interview. “

where  can  you  meet  antonela araceli  ?

“ i go to a lot of plays and shows that piques my fancy. and a few gallery openings. i’m a lot more out and about than you think , probably. you’ll see me. say hi. “

𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔  ...

does  antonela araceli  have  siblings  ?

“ yes , she does. my older brother artie , my two younger brothers matteo and ryan. shoutout! “

does  antonela araceli sing  ?

“ short answer: yes. i had training. “

does antonela araceli dance  ?

“ another short answer and it is a resounding yes. “

does  antonela araceli  speak  brazilian ?

“ portuguese, actually. i feel like google should know that and should’ve schooled you already but if not , then this is the moment. it’s portuguese and yes , i speak it sometimes. “

does antonela araceli have  instagram  ?

“ indeed , i do. follow me @ nelaraceli , not your dreams. kidding. follow your dreams , kids. go crazy , go wild! “

𝒅𝒊𝒅  ...

did antonela araceli  ever  delete  their  social  media ?

 “ i don’t delete anything , actually. i archive things a lot, for sure. um .. i’ve only ever hidden my profile once when i was younger but nowadays, it’s pretty much on all the time. i just delete the app from my phone if i think i really need a break. “

did antonela araceli had  a  fight  in  public  ?

“ okay , i’m gonna say this now. i do get confrontational. but it comes from a place of caring. mostly. “ [ pause ] “ i’m a passionate person. sue me. please don’t , i don’t need a lawsuit. thanks. “

[antonelaa]

if back in college, she would have heaps of homework; her so - called ‘apprenticeship’  (  really, it was just nela shadowing a few theatre directors around town  )  would have menial - seeming tasks like these. she hands out flyers to a musical that’s about to open in a few days. she flashes a half - genuine smile and attempts to hand one out to another as they neared her usual spot.  “ little shop of horrors -- support a local theatre! “ was the go - to line as she holds out a flyer for the show.  (  @pangkuphos​  )

[antonelaa]

-- “hey, do you have a second? i need another person to take a picture for me?” and she’d gesture to the wonderful mural on the wall; antonela had been messaged by the artist to see it in person and now that she has, she’d love to give it more exposure that it rightfully deserves. “in front of this, actually, if you don’t mind?”  (  @laylasfm​  )

[antonelaa]

"i was only half serious about chopping off my hair, but i gotta admit -- i've been warming up to the idea a lot! i've been getting too attached to this old thing, i think.." she'd gesture and even flick a strand or two of her soft, brass - colored hair. (  @lcrissas​  )

[antonelaa]

"i don't have a lot of people to show this to. trust issues and all. but there is you and i have some time to kill, so .. would you be willing to critique a short play idea with me?" and if her hands weren't occupied with her binder & click-pen, she'd put them together, as if to pray.  (  @scftspoken​  )

[antonelaa]

Freaks and Geeks (1999 — 2000)

[antonelaa]

as it goes with any holidays that involved the araceli family gathering in one room, sitting in one table .. nela gladly skipped. usually, she’d take a first class flight to somewhere far and more tolerable. though this year, she’d decided to just hop around town. she knew that not everyone celebrated and if her previous instinctual adventures proved right, there would be something for her. she’d even settle for a night in a posh hotel for herself, if it turned out that the city became filled with ghosts instead. but ghosts no more as another had bumped into her, dropping their phone. nela’s eyes widened slightly as they picked it up, “yeah, i figured. are you, like, good? is that -- “ gesture to his phone -- “okay? mine would’ve cracked.” because she was too stubborn to put a screen protector in.

It was thanksgiving and it really wasn't a thing Mason celebrated. The only American tradition thing that the boy did was watching football, but once the game was over it was now Mason trying to figuring out what he wanted to do. He had a a gym bag in one hand if he decided to go to the gym and then if he didn't want to go it was him going to have a drink or maybe a couple. He wasn't sure, but either way he would find something to do. As he walking down the street he was looking at his phone and not paying attention and ended up running into someone. "Oh I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention," he said picking up his phone.