mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

This wasn't how Mateo expected his night to go and now he felt he couldn't just leave her there. "I'm thinking a water might do you more good than that."

@ninaxgray

"Well, I'm alive. You can stop panicking now." Nina sits up, suddenly aware of the pieces of asphalt digging into her skin. Glancing up to the strange man, the blonde rakes her fingers through locks of wild hair. "I'd like another drink, my buzz is wearing off."

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo let out a soft chuckle at the woman's response and smiled. "A secret between us then?" And when she said she'd be hiding with a beer he let out another laugh. "I can't say I didn't think about hiding under the front desk a few times today. It's been... a day. And you? I'm hoping your reason for being at the bar is merely because you felt like having a drink, not because you felt you needed one." His way of wishing her a day of not having a bunch of upset guests upset over... well, anything they could complain about, it seemed.

@zchraa

Zehra glanced up from her seat at the bar, raising an eyebrow as Mateo made his half-hearted defence. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she swirled her own drink. "I’m not here to judge," she said, shrugging softly. "If anyone deserves a break, it’s the guy dealing with entitled guests all day. Besides," she added with a smirk, "a martini on the clock might just be the best idea you’ve had all shift."

She leaned back slightly, before gesturing to her own glass. "Consider it self-care. At least you’re classy about it. Me? I’d probably be hiding in the pantry with a cheap beer." If she was honest about it, she would have ended up half-soaked in a closet hiding from whatever was bothering her. "Rough day?"

@mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo was almost relieved for the man's response and he nodded. "Noted." He then tentatively took a sip of his drink. "Just, uh...maybe this stays between us. And the bartender."

"The holidays are... a lot. Especially in jobs like this and retail. I've been in both."

@masoncambridge

"Hey...none of my business, but might want to pop a mint before you go off doing whatever the hell you do." Mason jokingly said as he flashed Mateo a sly grin. "Holidays getting to you?" He enjoyed the holiday's, it just seemed busier than usual and that may be from the new faces popping up around town or just because he actually ventured outside his shop or home.

[mateoxdiaz]

open starter: @aurorabaystarter

where: fire and ice bar in seascape hotel

Summers in Aurora Bay were much busier than the winter months but that didn't stop the holiday rush that happened each December at the hotel. Some people flew into town to visit family and friends, while others chose to take their vacations this time of year. No matter the reason, the hotel had been busy.

After endless guest complaints, Mateo had found his way to the restaurant inside the hotel, Fire and Ice Steak House. It was then he was offered a drink by one of the bartenders, and after having spent an excruciating amount of time listening to a guest complain to him about room service, he took them up on it.

He was still on the clock but he was about to take a sip from his martini anyway when he noticed the person beside him. "This isn't what it looks like." He stole a quick glance at his glass before adding, "okay, maybe it is."

[mateoxdiaz]

"Does it get busy during Christmas time? I heard it's decorated in lights but I've never come to see it for myself." Mateo had been in town for several years but there were still things he'd yet to give a try. It didn't help that he was a bit obsessed with his job and was a raging workaholic. "The lighthouse? During Halloween I kept hearing it was haunted. I don't believe much in ghosts."

@samucl-kane

"It is, for half the year, until the summer. Tourists take breaks from the beach to check it out, especially in the spring." And when the spring festival happens? Forget about it. Sam spends weeks in preparation for it so that he can help the workers answer questions and navigate the crowds. "Only place quieter is down by the lighthouse, especially around sunrise, but during the day, it's a great spot for that."

@mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

"It's truly wonderful. Tell me, where did it all begin? Are we talking musicals, plays, talent shows?" He chuckled softly, knowing he questions might be a bit silly but Mateo liked hearing people's stories.

@cavenshh

Lia had really been enjoying how much she got to be back in her own head and mind when it came to singing. For awhile there she had been very distracted by life in general, but getting back to the simplicities of singing and being able to just exist, it was very much something that she loved doing, tonight was no different.

She made her way over to the bar, planning on grabbing her last drink for the night and heading home, but she couldn’t help the grin that crossed her face at the compliment. “Well, I thank you very much, very happy to have gotten some kind of talent handed down to me.”

@mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

closed starter: @castillo-aargon

where: the reef

Mateo had invited his cousin out for drinks that night because he felt they could both use company, but mostly for Cas. He was aware that the anniversary of Rosalyn's passing was upon them and he knew it couldn't be easy. Mateo had suffered heartaches of his own but he'd never experienced one so personal and deep and he couldn't imagine exactly how Cas felt. All Mateo knew was to be there for him in any way possible.

"I'm glad you came." Admittedly, he was a bit afraid he wouldn't want to.

[mateoxdiaz]

closed starter: @themeixhuang

where: christmas markets

The last several months had been a lot of craziness that Mateo wasn't prepared for. It was almost comedic to think that he used to be a body guard, someone who was trained to expect the unexpected, but what had really tripped him up was finding out he was a father. It was hard getting to know his daughter when it meant having to be around the woman who rejected him all those years ago. What made it harder was the think that if she hadn't rejected him then they could have been a happy little family all this time.

Throughout all these months Mateo was spending time with Mei he had all these feelings crop up. Feelings of want and desire, memories of those nights they snuck around to be together in secret, and memories of hurt and heartache. Memories of her refusing to leave with him and memories of her father sending men to hurt him so badly he'd be walking with his cane the rest of his life. More than that, his feelings for Mei had come back to some degree but he was trying his best to suppress them. He knew it wouldn't end well for him if he let them continue to blossom.

Despite all of it, Mateo wanted to know his daughter and he'd just have to try not to let his guard down so much with Mei as to not be led on once more. He waited at the Christmas markets' entrance for Mei and Luna to arrive, his nerves eating him alive from the inside out.

"Hello" He finally spoke when he saw her, giving her a little wave of his hand before looking down to greet Luna as well. "You two look just beautiful." He said it in a playful tone.

[mateoxdiaz]

Mateo figured the sweater wouldn't be a bad idea and he found himself agreeing with her about the bracelets as well, but when she continued talking he felt a little overwhelmed. It was the last thing she said that made him laugh. "Right. I just might at this point. I guess I should quit while I'm ahead. Go with these. Thank you for the help."

@maiaxanderson

Maia smiled as Mateo picked up the sweater, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "A sweater is a solid choice—colors are always a safe bet, especially if you’re unsure. And honestly, the bracelets? Great idea. You can’t go wrong with a little extra sparkle." She nodded approvingly, clearly liking the mix of options he was considering. "They’re right over there—just past the scarves. We’ve got some fun ones with little embellishments if you want something playful, or simple ones if you’re going for that ‘effortless chic’ vibe." She grinned. "You’re getting there—just try not to leave with the entire store." @mateoxdiaz

[mateoxdiaz]

"If you don't stop all that I'm going to have to assume you're trying to butter me up to ask me to do something for you." Mateo joked but happily ordered a drink of his own. It was nice being able to work somewhere he genuinely cared about again, as well as having co-workers as his friends. He was grateful for his job at Seascape, even if sometimes it was... a lot.

"Well we're working ourselves to death with the holidays coming up. It's a shame. We should just retire early." He chuckled softly before taking a sip of his bourbon.

"Crazy. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's the truth." Mateo let out a sigh, unsure how he should even go about telling his friend the news he'd only recently learned. Saying he was a father was still a strange thing for him, especially since it was something he'd wished he could be for years and apparently had been, he just didn't know.

"I have a daughter. Luna. This woman I was madly- stupidly in love with years ago showed up in my life again, and well... we have a daughter. Five. She's five. How'd I miss so much of her life?"

@jaspermorgan

@mateoxdiaz

“A drink sounds good,” he smiled. “It's on me, of course. Anything for my most trusted and valuable employee-" he then lowered his voice and pressed an index finger to his lips, grinning- "but don't tell anyone else I said that."

The hotel bar was fairly busy when they arrived and managed to find themselves seats at the bar itself with a view of the live singer on stage. Almost any of music gave Jasper the urge to tap his foot along to the beat and only a handful of songs made him want to get up an dance. Probably to Matteo's relief, Jasper wouldn't be dragging him up to dance- the song that was playing wasn't the right kind.

Jasper ordered their respective drinks, which arrived quickly and after taking a sip of his, Jasper turned to Mateo, savouring the taste of the whisky on his lips. "So how's things with you? Outside of work, I mean. I feel like it's been an age since we got to catch up without talking about guests and maintenance related stuff."

[mateoxdiaz]

"Perhaps we should have our own transportation services as well so you can either stay in a room or still get the hell out." Mateo joke, although the man wasn't wrong.

It was the way he spoke of money that got under Mateo's skin a bit. It wasn't as easy to come by as others, and if he was in that man's position he surely wouldn't be the manager of a hotel.

"Well, I'm sure it could be put to better use than getting strangers drunk."

@the-nelson-quinn

“ just checking cause it would be a fairly genius business model. I can imagine it would make a pretty penny “ Nelson noted with a small smile. He was not the business type. Perhaps once upon a time he would have had the aptitude for that sort of thing, but Nelson was more of a spend all your money now and don’t worry about where it came from kind of guy. “ no I’m trying to often spend as much as I can. I have no use for it. And as long as my brother and his kids are taken care of. Who cares who ends up with it all?” @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."