kiss with a fist

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​​​

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.”

          “  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​   ]

“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?”

         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  .  ”

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.”

 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  .  ”

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.”

Freaks and Geeks (1999 — 2000)