Val Mateo

28 - Set Designer - THE CRITIC - She/Her

[purplefairydragon7]

Female / Latina / Scorpio / Ravenclaw / ENTP / New Yorker / Neutral Good ( @valmateo )

[valmateo-blog]

cody-j-wartick:

Cody was only planning on getting something small with an iced tea.  He wasn’t sure he could handle much more.  Still, he was hungry and the chicken noodle soup he had been living on for the past week was no longer appetizing.  

The young man was shocked when the waiter approached with a drink.  He glanced up at him, confused for a moment before the waiter gestured over at the woman sitting at a table not too far from him.  

A genuine smile crossed his features as he raised the glass.  “Thank you,” he offered before taking a drink.

The smile on the man's face was met with one from Valentina, and she expectantly watched as he took his first sip. The beverage was common in her family, and with many Puerto Rican families around the world, but she didn't know many New Yorkers outside of her neighborhood who knew about the cocktail at all. It was sour, but sweet, and the perfect spring drink as far as Val was concerned. But any time you ordered alcohol for a stranger there was no telling how it would go.

"What do you think?" Val asked him, her voice only slightly raised since the man was only a few feet away. She took a sip of her own nearly empty drink, the waiter bringing her a refill without her even having to glance his way. Val laughed and thanked him with a grin. "You know me too well.” She looked back to the stranger with a laugh. “I’m a celebrity!”

[cody-j-wartick-blog]

Cody needed to get out for a bit.  He was hurting.  He wasn’t sure which was worse, the cravings or the pain in his knee.  The past week had been absolute hell on him and it was written all over his face as he walked down the street, actually using a cane.  It had been dreary as of late and his knee always got stiff and decided to act up when the weather was bad.  

He.  Was.  Miserable.  It was written all over his face, but he had to do this, for himself… for the handful of people that gave a shit about him.  This was important.

Exhaling slowly, he sat down outside of a restaurant.  Today marked the first day where the smell of food didn’t have him feeling physically ill.  

[valmateo-blog]

Seated under an umbrella outside a Queens pub, legs kicked up on the empty seat across from her, Valentina was flipping through the latest issue of American Theater magazine, a half eaten sandwich sitting in front of her. She’d been surrounded by the sounds of the street when she heard someone shuffling toward the outdoor seating. She glanced up, watching a young man struggle to comfortably sit down. He looked exhausted.

Valentina didn't know anything about the man, but it looked like life had been especially hard on him from what she could determine from the grimace on his face and the heavy sigh coming from his lips. She caught his gaze and offered him a small smile, but then returned to her magazine. Her reading was interrupted only to speak to the attentive waiter asking her about a refill.

When the young waiter approached the tired man who’d taken a patio seat, he wasn't just ready to take his order. He was carrying a cocktail - a Puerto Rican favourite of citrus rum and cranberry juice - and placed it unceremoniously in front of the young man with a gesture toward Valentina before asking the man if he wanted any food. In response Valentina lifted her own glass of the same drink toward the restaurant patron, and offered only one word  and a smile in explanation.

"Salud."

[valmateo-blog]

evelyn-phettson:

Evelyn smiled and nodded. “Evelyn Phettson, but you can call me Eve. You’re quite welcome, it’s a delight to help a pretty face.” She replied as smoothly as she could, caring less about how the other might react to her words. The woman couldn’t help herself, she spoke whatever was on her mind most of the time. “I admire another woman with a sense of talent, hard working atttitute, doing something she loves.” Shifting on her feet, she lapped at her lips and kept talking. “I can strongly relate, making connections are a method of rising to the top and I intend to keep climbing. I’m always interested in other’s work, however, how they look and perceive their own fashion world and such or how they work in it.” She smiled again and leaned over to place the coffee tray down. Then she walked over to the railing where she leaned her weight against it and crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell me, do you enjoy your work? Must be quite fun, but like anything, I imagine you get tired of it every once in a while.” Even Evelyn got tired of her work every blue moon or so, even if she considered herself to be a workaholic. But everyone was different. 

Eve’s compliment received a bright smile in response. Valentina knew how to take a compliment with grace - or with self indulgence, depending on her mood. Today, it was a bit of both, with a knowing smile, taking the woman’s words to heart, but not bothering to giggle and blush and fawn over the phrase. Her eyes followed Eve as she moved to set down her drink and lean against the railing, and she nodded at the question of whether she enjoyed her work.

“Most days,” she laughed, raking her fingers through thick brown hair with one hand, still holding her coffee in the other. “No, I really do love it. I’ve been interested in the theater since I was a kid. Of course when I was a kid I thought I was going to be an actress.” She emulated a dramatic pose on stage, looking up into imaginary spotlights and moving her open palm in front of her as if miming the shape of a rainbow. Valentina laughed at her own antics and stepped toward Eve, leaning against the railing at her side. “I figured out in high school though that I’m much better creating the scenery than I am chewing it. Went to college for film and theater design, got my Master’s in Scenic Design. Worked for several smaller theaters, now I’m at Second Stage. Hoping for a promotion next year. And if not...” Valentina paused, sipping her coffee with a laugh. “Well I’ll look for another theater I suppose!”

[valmateo-blog]

lucas-andrews:

Lucas lost count of how many champagne flutes he’d gone through in the last hour and a half that he’d been standing in the same spot. Not enough, he thought to himself, otherwise the anxious feeling might’ve subsided by now. Sloppy wasn’t his thing in any scenario, he tried to keep his rep squeaky clean and just generally wasn’t fond of that sort of thing. But even now that he had the distraction of someone’s company, Lucas still wanted nothing more than a bottle of Jameson and his couch.

The woman’s suddenly sparked interest was refreshing to him and he laughed at the image of her doing just as she described. “Yes, that one was tough to get. It was one of the few we went after rather than were offered to us. I’ve seen many starry-eyed fans have their way with that thing, so I’m glad to hear you had your turn.” Lucas said with a smile and then his eyes dropped to her hand as it was offered to him. “No way – nice to meet you, Val.” He responded genuinely while taking her hand, holding it between both of his own as he gave it a shake. “I’m Lucas Andrews, I used to work on Broadway as well.” Taking a look around himself, he tilted his head and grinned. “Apparently I can’t escape it.”

Val smiled brightly at the man, nodding her head as he introduced himself. “I thought I recognized you,” she said coyly, not yet revealing the fact that she’d identified the man upon first glance. His face was fairly well known among the theater community, after all. Interestingly, however, he didn’t have that haughty air about him that Val had come to expect from so many of Broadway’s better known names who’d chosen to leave the scene. So many seemed to have an air of distaste for the very scene that had brought them their success, so it was a breath of fresh air for Mr. Andrews to seemingly not have the same negative feelings at heart for the place Valentina called home.

“Hard to escape Broadway in New York City,” Valentina mused, finishing her flute of champange and glancing around the space, observing theater bigwigs in their cocktail attires schmoozing over appetizers and booze. It was always fun to mingle with the elite. But after a while, Valentina longed for the company of people who were a bit more grounded, and a bit less infatuated with themselves. She glanced at Lucas and noticed his empty glass, and offered him a smirk, a slightly mischievous look on her face. 

“Could you go for something stronger than champagne?”

[valmateo-blog]

lukeroman:

The expression on the girl’s face clearly read that she was unaware of why she was being stared at from inside the apartment, and Luke closed his eyes, the lighting causing his head to hurt worse. “I just-” he paused, looking back at her. What was it he’d heard exactly? He could’ve sworn it was a knock on his apartment door, but, here she was standing with a stapler in hand, clearly not knocking on his door to wake him up. “I thought someone was knocking on my door.” he admitted, rubbing his face to wake himself. “I guess it was you I heard and I just thought it was knocking.” he admitted. “Sorry for bothering you..” he started, moving slightly so that he could look at what she was doing. “Can I ask you what you’re doing anyways?” 

Val smiled at the man’s sleepy attempt at conversation, enjoying his groggy way of speaking and the way he was squinting his eyes at the natural light filling the apartment’s halls. Valentina knew that was how she looked after a night of hard partying, and she inwardly wondered whether the man had had an exciting night of his own the evening before.

“Sorry if I woke you. I’m a little rough with the stapler,” Val admitted, taking another flyer from her messenger bag. She held the paper against the cork board, and with the stapler swung open she quickly slammed it against the four corners of pages. Admittedly it was loud, and in the midst of sleeping could have been misinterpreted as an awkward, demanding knock. When the man moved behind her to look at the flyers, she stepped aside slightly, letting him have a clear view of the board. “Auditions for Shakespeare in the Park in Queens. Don’t ask me why they have me all the way in fucking Staten advertising it,” she laughed, the sound of an upbeat indie pop band audible from the headphones that sat around her neck. She pulled her phone out of the pocket of her snug jeans and paused the tunes, looking back at the barely awake man with a flirty sort of smirk. “Don’t suppose you’re looking for a bit part in a play in Queens, eh?”

[valmateo-blog]

lukeroman:

Luke’s eyes were heavy and the sun coming through the curtains of his apartment were making his migraine increase. He wasn’t usually one to sleep this late in the day, but being up all hours of the night with calls on the latest project, on top of the fact that he barely slept at all anyways. He could hear what he assumed was the faint tapping on the door and he groaned, placing his hand over his eyes to block out any sort of light as he began the trek through his apartment and towards the front door. “Coming..” he faintly called, unsure if there was even anyone at the door, but prepared to shoo them off as quickly as possible if they were.

Staten Island wasn't a place Valentina frequented. It was out of the way, first of all, and without a car, her options were to pay out the ass for a taxi, take the ferry, or  take the bus. She'd chosen to take the ferry, and after two hours of listening to podcasts and sitting next to strangers, she was in an apartment building.

She wasn't there to meet with anyone, but instead to hang up fliers advertising auditions for Queens theatre in the park. Who was going to make the two hour commute both ways to participate in the cast, Valentina didn't know, but she'd been asked to paper the entirety of the city to help out the first theatre that had ever given her a chance, and she wasn't about to say no.

With a stapler in hand, Valentina was attaching a flier to the bulletin board hanging outside someone's apartment when a groggy man opened the door and stared at her, seemingly bewildered by her existence. Val looked at him over her shoulder, arching her eyebrows, and when he didn't go away she slid her headphones around her neck and blinked at him expectantly, as if she wasn't the stranger who didn't live there randomly stapling things to the community message board.

"Can I help you?”

[valmateo-blog]

shyguyscotty:

When Scott came back he stopped in the doorway, seeing someone talk to the plumber right now. He had his wallet with him, enough money in it to pay for the service and was surprised to see the guy laughing with the woman. When the woman came up to him he raised his eyebrows. “Part of what family?” He asked then and offered his hand for the handshake. “I’m Scott, nice to meet you too.” He said and then turned to the guy to pay him. When he told him it was only 350 Dollars now he was surprised, but didn’t question it and just paid it. “Was that thanks to you?” He asked Val once the guy left to do the work he had to do.

There was a typical New York attitude for you. Immediately skeptical of a favor. She didn’t know if New York was the man’s original home, but if it wasn’t he was fitting right in. Valentina laughed at the man's slightly confused expression and question about what exactly he'd gotten himself into. Valentina shook his hand and brushed mid back length brown hair behind her shoulder, though the wind was determined to blow it right back in her face again while she tried to speak.

"The mafia," she said, no sense of humor in her voice, but rolling her eyes to alert the man to her joke. "I grew up in Queens, where your plumber is from. I was friends with his brother in high school. I heard the rate and saw your face, and figured I'd forget I'm a New York native for a minute and help a person out. He gave you the price he'd have given me. So you owe me a drink. Or at least a street taco.”

[valmateo-blog]

sierramonroe:

Sierra furrowed her brows at the reaction she got although she shouldn’t be all too surprised since she was after all, the one that bumped into the person and placed the blame all on them. Before she could really say anything or respond back, the girl had talked again and Sierra cocked her head to the side. It took her a moment to place the name to the face. Though, Sierra still didn’t know the girl’s name or remember it, she just looked familiar.

A smile grew on her face when she mentioned Second Stage and Engagements. Quickly nodding her head, she let out a small gasp. “Yes! I was on Engagements. It was two years ago at the McGuinn Cazale theatre!” she said excitedly. “It’s Sierra. Sierra Monroe. I’m really sorry but I really don’t remember your name,” she admitted sheepishly and felt a blush creep to her cheeks. 

It was funny how something as simple as a little recognition could get someone to turn their frown into a smile. It was something Val had learned early on in life. New York City was such a blur, with too many faces to remember them all. But if you had a knack for faces and names, and if you honed it just a bit, you could get yourself pretty far with just a memory and a compliment. Flattery wouldn't get you everywhere, but it sure didn't hurt in the cutthroat world of the Big Apple.

"Oh that's fine," Val laughed when the woman admitted that she didn't know her name. 'Honestly I think most of the cast just called me "psycho bitch" anyway. I'm Val. I was a design intern on that set. Worked with the costuming and the set. I was the one who made that one girl try on fifteen different outfits before we decided on one." Val raked her fingers through her hair and smirked in an amused but self satisfied sort of way. "No one minded after a critic who frequents runway shows was thoroughly impressed by the costume choices though, now did they?"

[valmateo-blog]

evelyn-phettson:

Evelyn confidently smirked, it looked almost smug on her. “Well it should rightfully cost a fortune, I designed it myself after all.” And like any artist, she admired her own work, loved and cherished it and only created more. But she was typically dressed up in her business attire, not the more casual yet still underlining professional outfit she wore currently. “Not many fashion designers can make it big in New York, but I’m quite proud of my work. It seems to strike interest in the Great Apple.” But most things did, fashion was always a trend and Evelyn was proud she had chosen a career she loved. “I’m quite impressed someone actually recognized a brand of clothing from just looking, I can only assume you know a thing or two about fashion as I do.” Well naturally Evelyn would know more about fashion in her own personal department of the world, but she was eager to hear the stranger’s response. It was always funny though, people did know her brand name, her style of clothing, her lines of seasonal collections and her runway shows but not many recognized her face. Her curious eyes glanced around, knowing she’d have to cut a conversation short if her client arrived. But it didn’t appear as if there here yet if they skipped out Evelyn would bring a world of Hell to them. 

Val laughed when the woman smugly proclaimed she'd designed the outfit. It wasn't an incredulous laugh, but an amused one. She liked a person who stood up for the quality of their work, someone who knew what they were worth. Which wasn't entirely surprising, considering those were traits Val thought herself to have as well. She listened as the woman spoke about the fashion world of New York, and nodded knowingly. Though she wasn't a designer herself, she had followed the careers, and lack there of, of many designers over the years. Costuming had been a part of her education along with set design, and while she hardly looked fashion conscious in her currently sloppy attire, the young woman knew her way around a Fashion Week event or a fashion magazine.

"I work in theater set design, but I've studied fashion quite a bit for costuming, especially for period pieces. So many classic productions have very time specific costumes. Grease, Annie, Chicago, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mame...I mean it goes on and on. Broadway companies can afford to hire people to design and sew custom looks, but the off-off Broadway places where I got my start leaned heavily on being able to buy ready-made outfits that suited the shows. And other than that, I'm always having to go to events and galas and shit, and I usually try to strike up deals with up and coming designers as opposed to shelling out a fortune or wearing the same thing every time. Course I can't fit into a lot of sample sizes but..."

Valentina shrugged and took a sip of the coffee the woman had offered her, watching as the woman's eyes darted around the coffee shop. There was no one else on the second floor, though the downstairs was busy with people hurrying in to get their caffeine fix and then scurrying out again.

"I'm Val," she introduced herself, holding her cup of coffee with both hands. "Thanks for the coffee."

[valmateo-blog]

[valmateo-blog]

evelyn-phettson:

Evelyn felt a little more nervous than usual today, though the exact reason for her feeling such a way was unknown. She had met with countless clients over the years, but she had to admit this one was a little different. But as she climbed the stairs, a small tray in hand with one iced coffee and one hot, she noticed and heard shouting. It was only when she crept closer that she noticed a young woman leaning over the railing, is that who was shouting for a refill? She pressed her lips together, God if her client heard this shouting they might just back out of the deal using the obvious reason that Evelyn suggested the noisy place. Glancing down at her own coffee, she usually purchased some type of treat for her client or clients just to break the ice. But, she wouldn’t mind handing over a coffee if only to make sure everything was content. She walked over to the woman and cleared her throat to get their attention. “Excuse me, Miss, you’re more than welcome to take my coffee.” She tilted the tray as she gently lifted the hot java out and extended it out to the stranger. “I haven’t opened it yet, I’m only here to met a client and it might be better if I was without caffeine.” The fashion designer explained, hoping the stranger would ‘ take the bait’ in a sense. To think of how far she’d go to strike a deal in order to make her fashion empire grow, it might just reward her in the end.

When Val heard a meek, proper voice calling out to her, she stopped her laughing and playful banter with the baristas downstairs and turned to face the slim chestnut haired woman who was offering a cup of coffee to her. Val's expression turned from inquisitive to genuine surprise, and then she laughed, taking the to-go cup into her hands.

"I guess there are some good hearted New Yorkers after all! Either that or you're a tourist..."

Val paused, surveying the woman's clothing. She was in color, which New Yorkers tended to avoid, but she didn't look like a visitor to the city. She was polished, well dressed, in a fashionable yet smart garment that looked quite familiar the more Valentina studied it. She took a sip from the hot coffee and brought her eyes back to the woman's face with a blase expression.

"Not a tourist in a local label, right? That's a boutique brand." She gestured toward the woman's torso with her free hand, the other still cradling the cup of coffee. "Quite lovely. Costs a fucking fortune though."

[ethanxmonroe]

Text ✉ Ethan & Valentina

[valmateo-blog]

ethanxmonroe:

ETHAN: Is this real life? Are you actually agreeing with something completely without the slightest hint of nagging? 🤔 I’m so glad though! You have no idea, I almost drove myself crazy trying to find the right shades but after working through all my lipstick palettes and eyeliners, I actually got it! I better write the shades down before I forget, otherwise you might hear a scream of frustration in a few hours…

ETHAN: Oh wow, that looks gorgeous! I might even go a little pinker on the lips to match the flowers. Just a little bit. Looks like a ton of work though…are you filling up that entire frame?

ETHAN: Yeah, three in total! I really like that idea actually…let me see what I can do. I really don’t use those colors a lot…yellows are such a pain to get right without them looking awful.

ETHAN: Alright…are you ready? I think I got two looks that might work. Obviously I’m still gonna flesh them out and all that fun but you know, prototypes never hurt.

VAL: You didn’t write the shades down??? Dios mio. Haven’t you learned by now! Last time we worked on a project together you about ripped your hair out trying to recreate the perfect rainbow eye or some shit.

VAL: I love you but you drive me crazy. Thinking so, yeah. Maybe leave a few open spaces, or even fill in with something more industrial looking. Metal maybe. Did we ever get an actual theme for this collection? I felt like the designer talked out his ass for thirty minutes on our conference call.

VAL: No I have no interest in seeing your work. YES of course, show me.

[ethanxmonroe]

Text ✉ Ethan & Valentina

[valmateo-blog]

ethanxmonroe:

ETHAN: Okay, so I’ve been thinking and trying out a look or two and I gotta admit, I sat on that one way too long but I think it’s gonna work. Let me know what you think? 

[ PHOTO ]

ETHAN: I think those colors would work with that floaty, floral dress, you know? I wanted to go for a bright look and I think the fading would make it a little less “in your face”…I’m not sure though so I could really use your input as a very honest friend and critical co-worker. 😜

VAL: What can I say? I’m a critical bitch. But actually, I like it. The pink and purple look like a dead on color match which is fucking hard to do.

VAL: Great minds must think alike because I was inspired by the florals too. Check out what I’m working on for the set.

[ PHOTO ]

VAL: How many models are we working with? Three? I think one model in oranges and yellows for the makeup would tie it all together, but it might kinda intense. Show me some ideas that might work?

[valmateo-blog]

It was the first of three days off for Valentina, and she wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. Most of her time was spent thinking about, and working on, set designs for the various projects she was a part of, or running around to various events networking for the theater. Now, on a Friday, she found herself without a single weekend plan.

She wasn't sulking, however. She'd gotten out of bed, thrown on her comfiest clothes, grabbed a magazine, and made her way to a modern coffee shop ten minutes away from her Ridgewood, Queens loft.

The coffee shop was a popular spot for people from all walks of life. Executives, construction workers, screenwriters, students, they all tended to make their way into the quirky coffee shop that combined modern design with old fashioned New York decor. The young woman had purchased a cup of coffee and climbed upstairs, seating herself on one of the funky yet comfortable couches. It was only thirty minutes later that she realized her cup had gone dry, and she stared at it with a pout. Valentina made her way to the lofted area's railing, leaning forward on her arms and peering down to the busy epicenter of caffeinated goodness below.

An eagle eyed employee noticed Val's glance, and shouted up to her. "Val, you need a refill?"

"Yeah! Any kind hearted New Yorker down there willing to bring me another?" Her eyes scanned the busy floor, then suddenly matched gazes with an unsuspecting customer. "What about you doll. Do me a favor?"

[valmateo-blog]

Valentina Mateo

[valmateo-blog]

Carrion Mateo // Zorra Lindo

So fucking proud of my brother.