⋇ ⋯ 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑤 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝘩𝑎𝑚.

❝ some people got the real problems, some people out of luck. some people think i can SOLVE them, lord heavens above. ❞ ( forty-three. sheriff. )

[matthvws]

KEVIN.

@matthvws !!

     ❛   calling for help ? a classic … call for help.  ❜

‘ You got me there kid, now, fancy helping me lift this so I can stop calling for help? ’

[matthvws]

ELLIOT.

@matthvws​ !

❝ We got that kid that was spray painting … phallic images on only green and blue cars. Mrs. Johnson, the lady with the green Volkswagen who lives over on Pine? Brought some cookies down to the station to thank us — they’re in the break room. ❞

‘ Fascinatin’ what kids spend their TIME doing these days. I’ll drop a thankyou note to her later, I’ve told her before she doesn’t have to do that but I guess it’s in her nature. You had a look in yet? You caught the kid, you should have first pick. ’

[matthvws]

MARION.

         they are strangers now. it STILL tastes sour on her tongue: the word divorce. they’d warned her, how young — how FOOLISH. how the odds were against her and they’d end in that very word. what was that people often said? never say ‘never’?  she’d done it. she said never. and look at them now. two strangers in an empty station, eyeing each other with a telling caution, when once upon a time they’d felt like they could never want to look away. never. ❛  interesting girl — i guess. i’ll pass her hazel’s chemistry notes from last year. she can come and get them. ❜ well, that’s one way to rip off the bandaid, since it’s near impossible for an 18 year old to skip all the way to new york for a set of notes. she follows him into the room, she finds it oppressive, but she forces the tiniest of brief smiles. ❛  it’s fine. ❜  a moment’s pause.  ❛  i got an offer in hartford. new gallery, big space. radical exhibitions. i took it.  ❜

Matt had always been one for sentimentality; perhaps not with his parents, a pair of strangers whom had whipped him into becoming the man he was today, but with his family, even as it lay in tatters currently, he would always treasure the small things. Perhaps it was why, despite his years of appearing as nothing but a gruff and grumpy sheriff, he cracked a small smile at the sudden news. ‘ That’s great news. About the gallery, I mean. ’ His smile dissipates just as suddenly as it had appeared – what little interaction he still had with his daughters, the children who had chosen a side even when nobody has asked them to, was tense. ‘ The girls... They’re moving with you, then? ’ The sentence is loaded like the barrel of a gun, small nod punctuating his words as he waits anxiously for an answer. Any answer.

[matthvws]

KEVIN.

❛ Was your prom? Nice, I mean… FUN? Worth it? ❜ Kevin inquired, attempting to force a subject change. Or at least, get the attention directed elsewhere. Though with the older’s chuckle, Kevin couldn’t help but let nude lips curl in response. ❛ Yeah, ❜ She went on, dark brows raising for a second. ❛ Maybe. ❜

He’s not often the kind to talk at length about himself, but he's known the younger long enough to know when she’s uncomfortable. He lets out a deep chuckle, memories of an alcohol-infused punch bowl and a ridiculous, rooftop stunt flashing through his mind. ‘ FUN? For some, for younger me, maybe, don’t think it’d be my idea of fun now. ’

[matthvws]

PIPPA.

“Oh, I mean … no! I wouldn’t want to … you know … disturb her. Uh, do you … know who … she’s with? Or if, she’s like … alone? Or, I dunno, with … Jamie?” 

He glances off to the side, mind carefully rolling through the transcript of his and Kev’s earlier conversations, before resting his eyes upon Pippa once again. ‘ I don’t think you’d disturb her, you’re her best friend, after all. Jamie? Maybe... Don’t you guys, uh, all hang out together? ’

[matthvws]

KEVIN.

❛ PROM? That's… not really my scene, anyways. Actually, I’m not sure I’m even GOING. ❜ Kevin confessed with a shrug. ❛ Thought I’d just stay home–– catch up on some reading. ❜

‘ I know, I know, I just thought –––– –– Might be nice, you know? It’s your only one n’ all... But hey, if you don’t wanna’, you don’t wanna’. Just know I’m happy to help with whatever if you change your mind. ’ He rests a hand on her shoulder, rare chuckle escaping from between his lips, ‘ catch up? I think it’s the books that need to catch up with you, Kev. ’

[matthvws]

LIZA.

       ‘’ i ; uh, yeah ! —- – sure, i mean i wouldn’t want to, want to get in trouble for perverting the course of justice, but then again, it might be better to talk to lori first. she’s kind of in CHARGE around here & i’m just, you know, not actually THAT, that important, really. brooks. lorelai brooks. any-anything else i can help you with? ‘’

‘ You wouldn’t... You’re not going to get in any trouble, being busy isn’t a crime, nor is referring me to your boss, don’t worry. I’ll try n’ find her, do you know where I could do that? Hey ––– – Everyone in this place is important, y’hear me? Don’t underestimate yourself. While you’re here, you seen anythin’ suspicious? Anyone snooping around, poking their nose where they shouldn’t? ’

[matthvws]

MARION.

        brows knit, distracted by the collision, but she doesn’t comment. once upon a long time ago, she would have laughed a long tinkling drawn out sound that would have carried throughout the whole room. that was a different person. she tries not to think of that person much.  ❛  um — yeah, yeah fine.  ❜  she’s already feeling claustrophobic, and the mask of casual lightness fades a bare touch. eyes drift back to his knee before they lift again, searchingly, like she’s looking for somewhere else on his face to rest on besides his eyes. ❛  I uh — went by the house… met your charge — listen do you, have a minute? can we go somewhere? unless here’s the most private place to you know, talk about… stuff.  ❜

Matt is no stranger to the heavy weight to the atmosphere. It was there the afternoon Kennedy had disappeared from their front lawn, there the evening the officers delivered the news that they were stopping the search, and there the night the divorce papers landed solemnly in his letterbox. It was an unwelcome guest in his and Marion’s shared life, perhaps the only thing continuing to connect the pair. ‘ You met Kevin? ’ The abrupt shift in his features was evident, concern stitched across his brow; she would never harm Kev, but her sudden appearance must’ve given the teen quite a fright. He made a mental note to call her. ‘ Yeah, sure, we have a conference room... ’ His words trailed off as he moved around his desk, holding a flat palm out in the direction of a nondescript door, ‘ lot of the guys are out on patrol, no one’ll bother us. ’ He pushes open the door to display a large, circular table surrounded by chairs, one he’s used many a time for early morning briefings. ‘ Is this alright? ’

[matthvws]

PIPPA.

Pippa deflated more than slightly at the revelation that Kevin wasn’t home, and she nodded slowly, looking back up at Matt. “Oh, do … you know where she is?” 

‘ Uh, ’ he paused, pang of familiar, parental guilt washing over him, the look on Pippa’s face providing a nostalgia for the days when his kids would project the same emotion. ‘ I’m not sure, she just said she was heading out, did you... Want me to call her, or anythin’? ’

[matthvws]

@scvlley.

‘ Miss Scalley? Are you free to answer a few questions or direct me to someone who can? I’m looking to grab some medical records. ’ 

[matthvws]

KEVIN.

❛ Benny’s? Yeah, sure… How’s– how’s it going? I haven’t really stopped by the station lately, and – I should! I could help out. ❜ 

‘ It’s... Alright, might be best if you kept your distance from the station for a while, though, the atmosphere’s not somethin’ I think you need. Not with your prom and everythin’, you should be enjoying yourself. ’

[matthvws]

MARION.

      it had to happen one way or another. their children weren’t going to be the ones to draw first stick, and — as much as her instinct tells her to avoid this as much as possible, she has to do the responsible thing.  she steps up, waiting for the person in front of her to move out of his line of vision before she speaks.   ❛  hey… uhh… busy??  ❜  she asks, eyes drifting almost hopefully for something that might possibly give her a ‘get out of jail free card’.  (@matthvws.)

He’s tired ( having been juggling the growing pressures of guardianship alongside the advancing urgency of the recent disappearance ) and the officer grumbling into his ear did nothing to lessen his anguish. ‘ Get outta’ here... ’ He grumbled to the man in uniform, his bulky form moving swiftly out of the way, pale, exhausted hues meeting those of his former wife.

‘ Marion. ’ He spoke, surprise evident in his tone and obvious in the manner in which he stood abruptly from his seat, knee hitting the underside of his desk and nearly sending a mug emblazoned “ World’s Okay-Est Boss ” to the floor. ‘ No, no, not at all. Not right now. Is everything alright? ’

[matthvws]

@pippv .

‘ Oh, hey Pippa, I don’t think Kev’s around right now but I think she’ll be back in an hour or two. ’

[matthvws]

@kcvins.

‘ Hey kid, I was thinking we could head to Benny’s tonight? I know it’s nothin’ special but with everything that’s goin’ on, I wanna’ make sure we’re still spendin’ time together, that you’re still alright, with school and everythin’. Up for it? ’

[matthvws]

ANGELINA.

‘ oh, i see ——- — well, she gave you a birthday card at least, right ? so on some level that means she cares. ‘

          “ That optimism of yours... Doesn’t it get a bit tiring after a while? ”

[matthvws]

JON.

     “ lookin’ for something fun to do. they like that someone’s pissed off about it. they like the reaction. ”

          “ Kids these days have a different idea of ‘fun’ than what I used to. So, I should... Leave ‘em be? ”

[matthvws]

     @jcnack .

          “ Why are kids in this town hellbent on stealing? At first, I thought they were desperate, parents in a tight spot money-wise; but half of ‘em come from families with more money than sense.  Looks like some sorta’ weird game if you ask me. ”