mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

"My plans?" Mateo honestly hadn't thought much about it. He would probably visit his brother, sister in-law, and niece if nothing else. Although, he wasn't sure if maybe he'd be doing anything with Mei and his daughter. It was still strange to think that he even had a daughter.

"I will most likely be here. Do you have any plans?"

@tjmontgomerys

closed starter / @mateoxdiaz

location: sea scape hotel

"What are your plans for the holidays?" Trevor asked, ruminating on how different his plans for the holidays were going to be without Paris—without their traditions and without somebody by his side. He would probably spend the holidays with his family now, torn between playing the role of the dutiful son and the estranged brother, caught in the crossfire between his mother and his siblings.

[mateoxdiaz]

"Dramatic? Don't you think it's dramatic to be laying on the ground of a park in the middle of the night? All I saw was you. Here. What was I supposed to think?" Mateo let out an exasperated sigh and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Can I call you and Uber or something?"

@ninaxgray

"Pssh. Dead? That's a just little dramatic, isn't it?" Nina flicks her spare hand into the air, before fixing her attention back onto the cigarette. "Never seen a drunk person fall over before?" He was probably right in his assumption, but several drinks down Nina fails to see it that way.

— @mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo's shift would be finished soon and he was getting ready to head out for the night when he heard a noise out by the pool. He turned and spotted movement through the window and he rushed outside the best he could. "Hey! What are you doing?" He called as he saw the man land on his feet after moving over the fence. "Grab it now and leave or I'll call security."

@kailomas

With: @aurorabaystarter Where: Seascape Hotel

"shit." Kai cursed under his breath as he realized he'd left his phone beside the pool, he could see it through the fence. He really could not be bothered to go all the way back inside and explain that he'd just been in visiting the pool to give a little lesson to the last of the tourists for the season. It would be a whole drama that he wasn't ready for, when he could just hop the fence, grab his phone, and hop back. Simple.

Climbing in wasn't the problem, however. The problem was someone had seen him climbing in, so with a sheepish grin he looked up at the stranger. "Hey! Just grabbing my phone, I swear."

[mateoxdiaz]

closed starter: @cavenshh

where: the golden hour lounge

Mateo decided he'd visit the lounge for a quiet place to have a drink. The issue was that he was supposed to be leaving work at work, not continuing to think about it. However, as he listened to one of the lounge singers perform, he knew he had to try to get her to perform at the Seascape someday.

"You're incredibly talented." Mateo smiled at the woman as he found her at the bar to offer to buy her a drink.

[mateoxdiaz]

"Nothing specific, no. I'm actually here to just clear my head." Mateo visited the gardens when he first moved to Aurora Bay and he found them so peaceful he often visited when life was a bit crazier than he cared to endure.

"This is probably the only quiet place in town."

@samucl-kane

OPEN STARTER for @aurorabaystarter at the botanical gardens

“Hi, no. All exhibits are open through the winter here, except the plant nursery. Mostly because we aren’t germinating any seeds, but there are other parts of the garden that are still stunning to look at. Are you looking for anything specific?”

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo had spotted the woman laying down in the park and at first he feared the worst, but as he approached her he realized she was laying there, smoking. He let out a breath and shook his head as he listened to her speak. "You scared the hell out of me. I thought you were dead. Are you alright, do you need a cab?"

@ninaxgray

Open: @aurorabaystarter (Feel free to assume connections) Where: Laying on the concrete path in a park

Nina doesn't quite know it got to this point of the night. Drinking at Oasis, then stumbling through the park only to find herself on the ground and looking up at the sky. She accepts where fate and alcohol has brought her, only now realising her company for the night too had fallen onto the ground. "Want some?" Plucking her cigarette out of her mouth between her index and middle finger, succumbed to the asphalt, holds it out towards the other person.

"People suck, y'know? Like so many people in this town choose to be the bastards that they are."

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo couldn't tell if he was dying or simply anxious, maybe a bit of both? Anxiety felt a whole lot like he'd assume dying would, but he had to keep calm. He was meeting a five year old- his own daughter, surely it couldn't be that bad. There was the possibility of her disliking him or wanting nothing to do with him, but that was something he was desperately trying not to think about too much.

When his eyes met the little girl's he immediately took note at how much she looked like Mei. She seemed so calm and sweet and Mateo felt a pang of sadness for not being there when she was born. He'd missed years of her life and it was more painful than he'd expected it to be.

"I- oh.." He stammered, having not realized he was just standing there staring until Mei spoke to him again. "Hi, Luna." He smiled.

@themeixhuang

Mei smiled up at him as she took her spot beside him, trying to keep from just staring at him- because even though Mateo had been back in her life now for a few months, she'd gone years thinking she'd never see him again and that he wasn't even alive, so really, she felt it was a bit warranted. Still, right now wasn't about her, right now was about him and Luna, so when he gave the okay, Mei nodded, "Okay. Come on."

Without even thinking too much on it, Mei looped her arm through Mateo's and led the way to the table. Luna was concentrated on painting green grass all along the bottom of the pumpkin, with blobs of colors all around as flowers. "Lu, I have someone I want you to meet." and with that Luna's head popped up, bright round eyes and a toothy smile on her face (and a smudge of pink paint on her cheek) as she looked from Mei to Mateo then, staring at him for a moment. Luna looked a lot like Mei, but she'd always been convinced the little girl had her father's eyes. Mei gently nudged Mateo a bit closer, even giving his arm a squeeze before she spoke again, "Luna, this is Mateo, can you say hi?" and Luna did just that, her smile growing into a bright grin as she waved at him and let out a bright and excited hello. Mei turned to Mateo then, her smile dimming just a bit, turning a bit nervous almost as she looked to him, "Matty, this...this is Luna." The nickname came out of her without even thinking about it, so many emotions swirling through her in that moment because she realized then...she was hoping he thought she'd done a good job in raising their child. She hoped he loved her.

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo: Thanksgiving? I haven’t fully processed Halloween yet

@greengideon

Gideon: You given much thought about Thankgiving this year yet? Gideon: Want me to set a plate for you at my place? @aurorabaystarter

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo was taken by surprise when the stranger pulled him close to herself but he quickly caught on. He subtly searched for who she may have been concerned about, but he knew it didn't matter in the moment. He needed to make sure she was okay. "I wouldn't miss it for anything. We should get going if we want to make it on time though."

@gcldrushed

location: choose your own adventure

" thank goodness you're finally here!" eleanor exclaimed, relief flooding her voice as she spotted someone approaching. she quickly linked her arm through theirs, eager to escape the creeping presence of the person she had been chatting with. their questions had taken a strange turn, and elle couldn't shake the unsettling vibe—she really tries to give people the benefit of the doubt, but their energy was really off and she had been listening to way too many true crime podcast these last few days. " please play along, " she whispered urgently, glancing back as she waved a hasty goodbye at the stranger before hastening their steps. // @aurorabaystarter

[mateoxdiaz]

“Maybe it’s because you��ve always got something to do with it.” Mateo continued to tease his friend and moved to sit on the bar stool beside him, stuffing his cane under the bar to keep it out of the way. “I don’t see how anyone could dislike you.” That was genuine even if he said it in a slightly teasing tone.

“I’m alright.” He wasn’t about to go into how he was still reeling that he recently found out he had a daughter he knew nothing about. “Seascape is getting ready for yet another busy season with the holidays coming up. I’m mentally preparing myself for it.” He said with a chuckle. “How are you? You know, besides running everyone off?”

@castillo-aargon

a sly smirk grew on whiskered lips as he was verbally jabbed by his good friend. cas shook his head, quickly slipping the bartender his card. "why do you always assume I'm the perpetrator? they could just not like me for some idiotic reason. always seeing the worst in me, huh pendejo?" his low chuckle signifying everything was in jest. "how've you been, lately? everything been good at seascape?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink.

[mateoxdiaz]

Be honest… how do you feel about being a father?

Terrifying. I’ve had a kid for years I didn’t know about. It’s weird because my own child is a stranger to me but I want to be there for her now.

[mateoxdiaz]

Be honest... how exactly are you feeling at this moment?

Stressed. Confused. I've been feeling like that for months. How else are you supposed to feel when the woman you loved, who said no to running away with you and whose father nearly killed you, shows up in the same town as you and says you have a daughter together?

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo: You should! I'll give you a tour sometime and we can get dinner together after. Mateo: Are you wearing a costume then? @themeixhuang

Mei: That's good to hear. Maybe I should stop by the hotel some time? I've never actually been to the restaurant in it but I've heard it's good. Mei: Aww okay. I am yeah, my friend convinced me to go with her, so Lu will be with the sitter

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo smiled at the enthusiasm to help, but he almost worried he was getting too many options. He had no idea how he was supposed to leave the shop with just one thing. "Sweater would be nice, right?" He picked up one that had several colors so maybe he could just hope that one of those were her favorites. "A bracelet or two wouldn't hurt. Maybe I'll get all three. Where are the headbands?"

@maiaxanderson

Maia smiled warmly, understanding his uncertainty. "Five-year-olds can be a bit tricky, but don’t worry—you’re in the right place." She glanced around her shop, her mind already running through potential ideas. "I’ve got some cute clothes that are fun but practical for kids her age, and if she’s anything like most five-year-olds, she might love little accessories too."

She led Mateo toward a section filled with bright and playful items. "How about a dress with her favorite color or a cozy sweater? And maybe a fun bracelet or a headband to go with it?" Maia pulled out a colorful beaded bracelet from a nearby display, grinning. "It’s simple, but kids love things like this. Plus, it’ll make her feel special. What do you think? Anything catching your eye so far?" @mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo Diaz ~ Dollar Store Pirate

@aurorabayaesthetic

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo: All is well here, thank you for asking! Mateo: I was not planning on it. Are you? @themeixhuang

mei 📲 mateo

Mei: Hey Mei: Just checking in, hope today was good? Mei: And also just curious if you're thinking of going to the Halloween party the town does? They tend to go all out @mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

Sometimes after a late shift at Seascape, Mateo would find himself at Fire and Ice's bar to grab a drink. He was currently doing that when he heard the man beside him speak. He turned to look at him to give him a sympathetic look, only to realize he knew the man. "What'd you do to them this time?" Mateo teased his friend as he moved to sit next to him.

@castillo-aargon

open starter for @aurorabaystarter

assume connections or dm for plots!

where: fire & ice when: evening

a late-night get-together with the entirety of the justice department was not on castillo's list of 'things he wanted to do tonight'. however, he was an elected official so there was an expectation of him to be convivial. and to hopefully get another term. so, the man swallowed his pride, donned a respectable suit and tie, and brought himself to fire and ice.

leave it to him to get there early. castillo found himself sitting at the bar, alone, waiting for anyone he knew to enter the restaurant. no such luck yet. his jacket tucked in his lap, cas quickly looked at his phone to see if he had messed up the time. he had been very forgetful lately. grief will do that to you, i guess. but, no. he was just the 'old man overtly on time' trope in this moment. rapping two knuckles on the bar, he summoned the bartender to him. "scotch on the rocks, please?" voice low and gravely.

noticing a figure close to him, also finding themselves at the bar, cas opted to make some sort of small talk. can't withdraw forever, right? "a little sad to be stood up by co-workers, right?" his voice loud enough to hear, but still living comfortably in his low register. "didn't think i was that unlikeable."