the screw up.

[mateoxtorres]

he makes space for people. even when he forgets to take any for himself.

⚡AT A GLANCE:

40. warm. steady. dependable. quietly supportive.

meet MATEO TORRES;

📍 THE DETAILS

BIRTHDAY: january 27, 1986 CURRENT LOCATION: kismet harbor, oregon in driftwood haven LOCAL STATUS: arrived in kismet harbor at 12 years old (1988) OCCUPATION: owner of wingman's pub & freelance handyman VEHICLE: 2005 ford f-250, black EDUCATION: dropout of kismet harbor high school (2002)

❤️ FAMILY & RELATIONS

PARTNER / SPOUSE: single. SEXUALITY: heterosexual. CHILDREN: mateo jr torres ruiz (june 27, 2024). NOTABLE RELATIONS: older half-brother to dalia delgado. cousin to vincent & diego castro.

🐾 PETS

sunflower (spayed, pitbull, october 3, 2018).

🌿 HOW THEY MOVE THROUGH KISMET HARBOR

INTERESTS: flipping houses, motorcycle rides, bourbon, late night conversations, being outdoors COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: the renegades biker club, parenting pioneers, shop class (instructor) REGULAR SPOTS: wingman's pub, handyman's helper, mad monk brewing, driftwood diner, pinhead paradise, the tackle box, tails'n'trails

🪞 REPUTATION VS REALITY

FIRST IMPRESSION: rough-around-the-edges but dependable, the kind of guy people trust with keys, problems, and quiet favors. looks guarded, works hard, doesn’t say much unless it matters. VIBE CHECK: street-smart. emotionally reserved. quietly protective. loyal once earned. self-sacrificing. avoids vulnerability. steadier than he lets on LIKES, HABITS, TINY TELLS: always keeps a carpenter’s pencil tucked behind his ear — even when he’s bartending. wipes down bar counters twice even if they’re already clean. rolls toothpicks between his teeth when he’s thinking (or avoiding saying something real). keeps a lockbox of old handwritten notes from his mentor, tucked under his bed. listens to classic rock when he works, spanish boleros when he’s sad, silence when he’s angry. RUMORS & CONTRADICTIONS: “he’ll fix your sink at 2 a.m. but act like it was no big deal.” // “he’s rough around the edges, sure, but he’s got more heart than half the town combined.” // “some say he’s cold — nah, he’s just a man who’s been disappointed too many times.” // “he doesn’t trust anyone… but he’ll take care of you without saying a word.” // “heard he bought the pub because he didn’t want someone sleazy running it.”

🔗 POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS

locals who know him as the “fix-it guy” who shows up without overcharging or judgment

bar regulars or coworkers who’ve seen him play the role of quiet guardian late at night

younger townies who see him as an unspoken older-brother figure, whether he admits it or not

someone who remembers his rougher years and isn’t sure whether to trust the man he is now

a complicated, slow-burn romantic connection testing his fear of commitment

fellow parents navigating unconventional co-parenting and emotional restraint

someone who sees past the gruff exterior and challenges him to stay instead of disappear

FULL BIOGRAPHY & OTHER INFORMATION

[nelxruiz]

closed starter for @mateoxtorres

"No mi amor, that's for papá." Penelope gently took Teo by the hand, drawing him away from the glass she had just set down for him in their backyard patio. "This one is for you my love." She continued, giving him his cup. The fact he was a few weeks shy from turning two made her both sad as well as happy. He was growing into such a unique little man and though she could see Mateo in him a lot, she noticed that the many influences he had in his life shaped him to be his own person. "Did you decide where to do his birthday party?" She asked Mateo, having told him a few days prior on the phone that she wouldn't mind him to pick a location, even if it were at his own bar. That was his place, and so it was Teo's too. She wanted him to be more involved this year rather than taking it all out of his own hands. Doing it as a team. "So I don't have much savings, with me being unemployed and with us planning the wedding and all, but if we wanted to hire like a cowboy or anything, I could arrange for that to happen."

[mateoxtorres]

"I was thinking Kismet Park. I booked a reservation for the pavilion but I can cancel it if you don't think that's a good place to have it." He knew that she was giving him more involvement and that it came with trust. He didn't want to fuck it all up. That was what he was often worried about being a father. "Don't worry about any of that." Mateo said, sitting down in front of his drink that Nel had placed out for him. "Thanks for this," he said before continuing, "yeah, a cowboy would be fun. I'm no fan of clowns honestly." @nelxruiz

[giacalloway]

"Business owners always amaze me." she sighed, focusing on the bar and then back to him a moment later. "I don't know how you guys put up with the people like me that show up and then leave very drunk after causing a scene." Not that she was one that caused a scene; she was known to be a partier where she could be but she wasn't exactly one that would consider herself a problem. Though this was Gia she were talking about; she'd been told she were a menace before. "I already know you have some of the best food and drinks in this place than." she stated, even if she hadn't made it out here yet. "But no, not exactly." she shook her head. "I've been in town for about six months, give or take." @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

Mateo studied the blonde woman as she spoke. He didn't know her, but there was a part of Mateo that could see her causing a scene and then leaving. Intentionally, or not, that was still to be decided. "I'd like to think so but I know that makes me biased." He shrugged his shoulders, "Well," he looked at the woman's vehicle before he turned back to the bar. "How about we test your theory on havin' the best food and drink and then we can take a look at your car. Then it's not biased for when I hopefully fix it up and then you eat and say that just because I helped you out." @giacalloway

[marixdominguez]

She watched Mateo closely as he filled the plates up with food. Her face was soft and a smile was fixed on her lips. As he looked at her, she saw him soften and it made her heart swell. "I'm glad I came over, too." Mari was glad to spend any time with him, but this felt different. A good different. "I'll have to cook for you one day. You'll be surprise of how good I can cook." She said, smiling. @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

"Yeah?" His brow raised curiously in her direction when she mentioned cooking for him. "I ain't the best cook but I've learned a few things over the years from the cooks at the pub." He handed off a plate to her, "Lots of things you do surprise me but never in a bad way." His admittance fell easily from his lips. "You are full of them, the surprises that is." Mateo's lips twitched with a smile. "But I promise I'm not complainin' about that or you. Not ever." @marixdominguez

[dakotawhawkins]

"I think that's the one thing about being a parent we all as a collective group of people can agree on." Dakota nodded. Sure, no parent wanted their kids to be sick or get some sort of terrible heath problem, but, Dakota knew that aside from that, the one thing all parents could agree on was that they dreaded the day that their kids began questioning if what their parents had done had been genuine. "It's my biggest fear, right next to losing them." he nodded. "So I try really damn hard not to think about it; and it helps that I have a support system that reminds me every day just how great of a dad I am. It's why I try to do the same with my friends." he admitted, nodding towards Mateo to indicate he was talking about him specifically. "I'm just happy that yeah, we seem to have some time before those days roll around." he nodded. "I'm fortunate that I don't have to co-parent but I know Wyatt and Nel are both great people. I've worked with Wyatt on a few cases and that was enough for me to know what kind of people he surrounds himself with." Dakota nodded. "I'm glad you were one of the fortunate people that got a great hand in the co-parenting department." @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

Mateo nodded his head along to the words Dakota was saying. The thought of losing his son kept him up at night, in ways that he never imagined possible. "Yeah, it's good not to think about it. The what ifs in life are never good to think about in the first place." Mateo knew that from experience, time and time again. "That's always nice to have." He had one, a small one, but that's how he preferred to keep his personal life. Dakota was one of the few newer people he'd been letting into his thoughts. "Me too." He nodded his head, "They are great parents. I've got no worries with them." How could he? Nel had found a man that was better than he could have ever imagined being and that was what made him happy for her. What made him happy that Wyatt chose to stay even when the baby wasn't his. "I appreciate you, man, really." @dakotawhawkins

END.

[mateoxtorres]

starter for @fatmaxaslan

location: wingman's pub

A rag slipped into a glass, his hand moving around the circular opening as he dried it off. It was the last one that was brought out from the dishwasher. He set it on the shelf that held other clean glasses when a woman came and sat down at the bar. He didn't feel like he had seen much of her before, at least, not by herself. Mateo tossed the rag under the bar into the bucket that he'd later take to launder. "Evenin'," he greeted her, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "What can I get for you tonight?"

[giacalloway]

Gia nodded, taking a step to the driver's seat and pressing the button that did in fact pop the hood of her car. "It was smoking a little bit down the street. I pulled over and gave it a look but I didn't see anything that looked wrong." she stated. "So I continued and drove here and now it's making this weird sputtering sound." she exhaled. "I'm not sure if it's fixable but -" she shrugged. "Thanks for looking at it regardless." Truthfully, Gia knew she should probably just invest money in another vehicle instead of fixing this one, but, the convenience of having a car that was already paid off often blurred her vision. "This your place?" she questioned. Not for any reason aside from the fact that felt like a common occurrence in Kismet Harbor; people had a tendency to own places here. "I've always adored dive bars like this one." @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

A smoking vehicle was never a good sign to Mateo, but he kept that thought to himself. She had at least pulled over to check it out, even if she hadn't known what she was looking for. Mateo figured that was better than some might have done. "Yeah, not a problem." He told her with a slight nod of his head. Keeping busy with his hands was something that he did because he enjoyed it. His gaze shifted to the bar behind him, "Yeah, I've owned it for a few years now." He answered as he looked back to her. "Take it you're new to town?" @giacalloway

[dakotawhawkins]

If anyone understood what he'd wanted when becoming a father and how important it was to make sure you're doing right by your children, it was Dakota. His own parents hadn't been terrible; if you took out the part where his dad tried to manipulate the entire family to believe things that weren't true and the fact that they divorced, though that would never be something he considered a 'keep away' from children as sometimes it was the only option for everyone to be happy. But even with parents as good as what Dakota would consider his, there were things he didn't want to do with his own children, though even then he wasn't perfect. "I just hope they know that everything we've ever taught them is for their own benefit." Dakota sighed. "I think it's the only thing as a parent we can really control." he spoke, nodding slowly. "Just know that if you ever need that confidence boost, man, I'll tell you you're doing great every time. Just like moms, us dads have to stick together too." @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

"I'm afraid for the day that it starts to get questioned, y'know?" Mateo's lips thinned in thought. "We were all teenagers once and listening to our parents was not high on the list of things I liked doin' before I had more free will and freedom, let alone when I did." He shook his head, "I just know there will be somethin' that we don't get along about and hell, it might just break my heart." The admittance fell from his lips well before he had thought it through. Clearing his throat, he gave the other a smaller smile. "Though, I guess I got chunk of time before I start really worryin' about that." "Yeah," he nodded his head, "I've met a few more days, so it's nice to have that kind of support. Especially co-parenting. Adds a whole different layer of complicated and Nel and Wyatt are great people." @dakotawhawkins

[marixdominguez]

She listened to him and nodded. "We'll have to take a look at both." Mari was honestly excited to see the pictures and see all the work he put in. Something about it just filled her heart and she found herself even more attracted to Mateo than she was before. Maybe it was she knew he could work with his hands. She moved back to him and took a drink. "Everything looks amazing. I can't wait to eat." @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

"Yeah, we can look at both." He nodded his head in agreement. The work he put into the house brought a sense of fulfillment for Mateo. No one could take that from him. He had done this on his own, for himself and no one else. It meant that he had completely separated himself from his father, not that the man seemed to care. Nor did he care now, still. Mateo didn't even know where he was. "Good," he gave her a faint smile, loading up the plates with food. "I'm really glad you came over tonight." Mateo looked to her, features softening as they often did when he was around her. @marixdominguez

[giacalloway]

Gia didn't exactly know how long she'd been standing there when the other's voice sounded in her ears. "Oh thank god." she exhaled, placing her phone in the back pocket of her jeans while simultaneously turning to look at the other. She didn't know why but something about the other brought her a sense of comfort; maybe it was because he was the first person to offer help; so much for Kismet being the town to help people. "Do you know much about cars?" she questioned, eyes shifting from him to the vehicle and back to him. "If not -" a pause as she caught a glimpse of the sign on the building he'd emerged some, or so she assumed. "A drink will while I figure out how to call a tow company and my sister to pick me up." @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

"I know some about cars, yeah." Mateo wouldn't deem himself a mechanic, but he was the type of guy that had like to figure out how things worked and why they worked. He didn't grow up handed funds left and right, having earned everything he worked from. Mateo hadn't known a lick about renovating a home when he bought his first, but he learned. "I can take a look. You're welcome to have a drink either way." He offered to her, "Can you pop the hood for me?" Mateo asked, looking to the hood. @giacalloway

[dakotawhawkins]

The other's story resonated with Dakota, not because of his own story but because it wasn't too far fetched to have those types of stories in the court room. Kids that had a rougher upbringing and while there wasn't much Dakota could do, he definitely tried his best to fight for them. "For what it's worth, though, I can tell just from what little bit I know of you that you're doing a great job with your son; none of your own trauma is becoming his trauma and honestly you have all the more reason to make it his trauma from what it sounds like." he started. "Not that I condone that, but, you know, it would make sense if you did." he added, hoping it made his statement a little more clear. "I can tell you're the kind of guy that just wants better for him than you had for yourself." he smiled. As the other mentioned is half sister, Dakota nodded. "I can see that." he stated. "I'm glad you guys are able to keep on touch; hopefully you guys can get closer the longer that you know each other." @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

Mateo listened intently as the other spoke. It wasn't what he expected to hear, not at first anyway. Yet, it made all the sense to him. He let out a quiet breath, looking away for only a beat. "Yeah, that's the goal." Mateo said aloud, "It's easy, I think, to pass things down without evenin' meaning to so I have been tryin' to be more aware of it all." For Mateo, it also helped that his son had two other incredible role models in his life. His mother and the man that was practically already his step-father, just not on paper. "But, I appreciate you sayin' it, really. You know it doesn't always feel like I'm gettin' it right so it's nice to that it's noticed, even though we don't know each other that well." But, well enough. "Yeah," he nodded his head again, "I'm hopin' so to." @dakotawhawkins

[giacalloway]

✦ open starter for ANYONE (capped at 1 - 0/1) ✦ based on: 🚲| where gia is beyond done with her car that's in questionable condition

"I swear -" Gia exhaled, kicking the tire of her car at the same time that she slammed the door of the driver's side. She barely knew her way around this town; but she was certain being stranded on the side of the street in Downtown Kismet Harbor was the last place she needed to be. Sure, there was the upside that it was within walking distance of most everything she'd need to get to, however, she was beginning to think the money she'd invested in this car at this point could've bought her a few bicycles that were more reliable than the car. Or hell, at this point she could've probably put two down payments on another car that would at least not break down once a week. "Why do you hate me?" Gia asked, dramatically as she whined, arms outstretched and face towards the sky as if to be asking the universe why she was hated. "I don't have time for this shit today."

[mateoxtorres]

From inside Wingman's Pub, Mateo heard the slam of a car door. While wiping down a glass in his hand, his gaze shifted out the window where he spotted a young woman standing outside her car. He couldn't make out what she was saying from inside, but he knew her look well. From what he could put together, it had to do something with her car. Mateo carefully set the glass on the bar top to be used for the next patron when he told the working bartender that he was stepping out for a minute. Pushing the front door of his establishment open, he was met with the midday sun and fresh ocean breeze. "Excuse me," he took a few more steps closer to the woman and her car, "anythin' I might be able to help you with?" @giacalloway

[daxtonxhays]

"You have nothing to be sorry about Mateo, you have been amazing and been a great support honest," he smiled and Dax honestly meant it. He really did look up to the other and respected the man for sure. He knew that Mateo really cared for sure. "Ya, I wish people saw it that. Am glad not many people bother me too much because of that but I do get a few assholes and me being hard of hearing too makes them think am ignoring them or not listening to them makes things worst," he shrugged his shoulders. Dax had gotten into a fight or almost fights because people had thought he was ignoring them. @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

Mateo merely nodded his head to the other's words. Words of appreciation were not something that he handled well. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he looked at Dax. "No problem." It was the best he could do to accept Dax's appreciative statement. "Yeah." He paused for a beat. "I'll keep an eye out when tourism season picks up." He figured by now that the regulars were aware of Dax's condition. @daxtonxhays

END.

[marixdominguez]

She turned to look at him as he talked and smiled as she listened, her eyes going around and then back at him. "It's amazing. You did a great job with it. Do you have any pictures of what it looked like before?" Mari asked. She would love to see the whole transformation of the place. She had never knew someone to do all the work themselves and not just hire someone to do it. That's what her parents did when they wanted something renovated. It'd be interesting to see the change and know who did it. @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

At the mention of pictures, Mateo's lips thinned while he thought. "If I've got any photos, they're in a box in one of the closest. Takin' photos on a cell phone wasn't really a thing back then. Or we might be able to look up the listin' from back in the day." He had lived there from the get-go, so if the original listing could be found, it would show its previous state. "We can look after we eat. Honestly, I've been here so long, even I've forgotten what it used to look like." The admittance found space in the room, making him feel a little lighter after saying it. @marixdominguez

[dakotawhawkins]

"She'd either be really embarrassed that I was complimenting her or tease me for being such a softy I can guarantee it but she's definitely one of those people that is hard to miss because she has such a bright presence. I know my kids certainly think so." Dakota smiled a little wider, nodding as he looked at the other. He listened as the other spoke of his own childhood and while he had all the more reason to be upset about it still in Dakota's opinion he seemed to handle it with a lot of integrity. Likely from a life that he knew he'd never have been able to change. "I unfortunately see a lot of those cases in my day to day life." he stated. While Dakota was just a child advocacy lawyer, a lot of those cases were divorce cases, mixed with custody battles. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that." he admitted. "I don't understand, honestly. Not being in love with the person you chose to marry or be with but also putting your kids in that type of situation either." he shrugged. "I guess it's better than being miserable but, it's one of those things that it's just hard to see on the other side of it all." he shrugged. "A half sister is something. I take it you guys aren't close either?" @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

Mateo took in the words as Dakota spoke, warmth spreading through him. He'd never admit to being the sentimental type, nor would people ever accuse him of such a thing. Yet, listening to the other man, he felt something. Hope, perhaps. "She sounds like she does." His head gave way to the slightest of nods, acknowledging the man's apology for what he had gone through. What had happened was in the past and it was a part of him that he had tried not to continue to carry it with him. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin his own son's life with his past trauma. "I don't get it either." Mateo agreed, though he shook his head. "I honestly didn't know about her for a long time, up until like a year or two ago." Mateo admitted to the other, "So we're keepin' in touch since she left town but I wouldn't say we are close like siblings that grow up together." @dakotawhawkins

[marixdominguez]

She nodded and opened up the fridge before grabbing two beers and closing it back. Mari waited until he was done grabbing plates and everything before she smiled and handed him a beer before she opened hers and taking a sip. "Okay." She said softly and just watched him as he cooked. After a few moments and finding him even more attractive than before, she moved from the counter and started looking around his place. "I love your place." She said and looked over everything. "How long have you lived here?" @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

Mateo opened up his beer, the hiss of the cap being popped off a familiar sound. His gaze remained on her, taking her in as she looked around his place. Mateo smiled easily around her, much more easily than he often did. At her question, he didn't answer right away. "I've lived here since I was eighteen. I moved out after I was old enough and had been able to save up enough for a shit hole of a house." Though it was not that anymore. "And spent the last few decades working to make it what it is now." A project that he held an immense proudness for. @marixdominguez

[daxtonxhays]

Dax looked at his boss for a moment and thought about it. The male did not even realize nor did he consider that it was totally an option at all. Growing up Dax was lucky that he was even able to learn sign language from a young age which really helped. "Really?" he replied surprised. "I mean, that will be great especially for dealing with new people new to the bar and stuff. I did not even think that was an option." he added with a smile.

"Thanks Mateo, seriously. You have been a great boss and mentor. Especially you knowing about everything with my family," he sighed. Not many people knew that Dax came back to Kismet to take care of his brothers because his parents were in jail and his older brother was on the run. @mateoxtorres

[mateoxtorres]

Mateo should have suggested it some time ago, but he didn't think it had been much of an issue. Though with tourist season quickly approaching, it was becoming more of a realization that it wouldn't be a bad idea. "Yeah, shoulda done it a while ago for you, I'm sorry, that's my bad." It wasn't that Mateo didn't care, but rather, it hadn't crossed his mind. "Ain't your fault, you know, people deserve to be given chances regardless of their family and past." @daxtonxhays