#(chat | matthew)

[werewolfroman]

LOCATION: The University WHO: @matthewbaudelaire

Nearing the end of his shift, Roman had one room left to clean before could call it a night and head home to down a fifth of whiskey where he might be able to catch some shuteye.  With the large cart with cleaning supplies, the mop, broom and bucket filled with water the man entered the room to see a figure standing there.  “Sorry,” he mumbled under his breath.  “I thought everyone was done for the night,” he commented.  By this time in the evening, the rooms were supposed to be cleared out but he guessed someone was staying late.

The moment he caught a glimpse of the man, realisng it as his eldest son, he started to back up from the room.  “Sorry, I uh.  I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he quickly said, hanging his head down so they didn’t have to make eye contact.  “I uh, I can come back later.”  He offered, wanting Matthew to be comfortable, not sure where the boundaries were anymore when it came to his son.  Or maybe he never knew what they were, but he was at least trying to respect them.

[werewolfroman]

WHO: @matthewbaudelaire WHERE: Roman’s Property

Midafternoon, Roman was outside in his jeans and white tank top digging a hole  near the trailer when he noticed a vehicle coming up the long gravel driveway towards his home.  The car was easily recognizable, many nights he had been brought home in the car.  With the shovel stuck in the ground and a cigarette hanging down between his lips, the werewolf leaned on the wooden part of the tool as he paused what he was doing to wait for his son to exit the car.  Things between them were not in a good place, every time he thought there was some progress he was proven wrong.  What was the saying one step forward then twenty steps back…well at least that is what it felt like between his eldest and him.

When his son started to walk towards him, the man placed two fingers on the cigarette and inhaled hoping the nicotine would soothe his nerves.  “What do I owe the visit?”  Roman questioned, unsure of his son’s intentions of being there.  Roman knew he didn’t look well, his eyes were sunken in and he hadn’t slept in a few days besides small intermittent naps.  He was also down a few pounds, which was becoming more noticeable with his thinning frame.  Roman left the shovel in the ground, figuring he would come back to his little project later as he started to move towards the trailer, motioning for Matthew to follow.  “You want a drink?  I have some colas and sweet tea in the fridge?  If you’re hungry, I can make you a fried bologna sandwich,” he offered.

[werewolfroman]

WHERE: Paranormal Beans & Comics WHO: @matthewbaudelaire & @duderosiers

Just a couple hours before noon, before Roman stirred awake from his slumber.  The oncoming headache caused him to groan, why did he have to kill that cheap bottle of whiskey last night?  Still, he pushed forward knowing today was an important chapter in his life.  A day that could set the standard between Matthew and himself.  Perhaps, if things went well it meant he could finally have that relationship he longed for all these years.  Or it could do the opposite and completely turn Matthew away from him, the odds currently were 50/50.

Roman was hoping to strengthen his odds as he stepped in the shower and cleaned off the stench of the auto shop, whiskey and who knows what other stenches clinging to him.  Once out, he stared at himself and began grooming himself.  It had been awhile since he trimmed his beard and today he had real reason to groom himself, truth be told it had been awhile since he cared to put in any effort in his appearance.  Hell, he even got out the nice underwear that didn’t have holes in it.  Although it was casual, Matthew didn’t really give Roman much to go off, besides where to meet and what time.  So, he decided to dress nice and not in his usual jeans and white tank top.  Instead, he got out some black slacks, nice leather shoes hidden in his closet and a nice button up shirt.  Only problem, the clothes practically swallowed his thin stature, strange what less than two years could do to someone.  But, any of his other nice clothes would do the same so he decided to go with it.  Maybe, it would be a point in his favor that he at least attempted to put in effort.

Call it military training, always needing to show up at least fifteen minutes early.  After all, if you’re not early, you’re late.  A motto drilled into the wolf when he signed his life way to the government all those years ago.  In his truck, he looked into the mirror to check himself once more.  You can do this.  In reality, he was not exactly sure if those words rang true.  The man pulled out his wallet and then lifted his wife’s picture from its spot to stare at the beautiful woman for a couple minutes.  “Corey says our son is happy,” he softly spoke to the photo, his eyes starting to water.  “I don’t believe in a lot, but I do believe in you.  Give me strength.”  Sure, it was just a picture of the woman he loved all these years from when they first got married, but she was the closest thing to G-d he ever knew.

Before he exited the truck, he reached down and pulled out his flask and took two swigs so his nerves would calm and his hands wouldn’t be shaking at the table.  And just like many like him, he kept a small bottle of mouthwash in his truck to mask the scent of whiskey on his breath.  “Alright, you got this.”  Another few words of encouragement as he exited his truck and headed inside.  When he entered, he didn’t see Matthew and checked down at his phone to see he still had some time to spare.  His dark eyes scanned the place, the area was fairly open.  Most likely the reason his eldest chose this place.  Somewhere where he would not cause a scene, somewhere very public.  Finding the furthest table from the entrance, he sat with his back against the wall…another military training stuck in his mind as he waited patiently

[werewolfroman]

LOCATION: Back Alley near curfew WHO: @matthewbaudelaire

“Last call!”  Steve shouted as he looked up the clock knowing they had to be closed down in less than an hour.  Roman walked up and pulled out his wallet, grabbing cash he borrowed from Corey to help fund this little adventure.  

"Let me call you someone,” Steve commented towards Roman as he closed out the man’s tab for the night.  “I’m fine,” he mumbled under his breath.  “Need to take a piss,” he grumbled.  Steve, concerned about the curfew and Roman’s status sighed and reached for the small book of numbers they had for regulars who had one too many drinks.  Little did Roman know that Steve was calling his eldest as he slipped outside to take a piss and find his truck, wherever the fuck he parked it.

“Hey, um is this Matty?”  The bartender questioned, it had been awhile since he had to dial the number.  “Sorry to call, um this is Steve um at Clovers.  The curfew is about to go into place and your dad disappeared, he was pretty messed up.  He left before I could take his keys, I just thought I should let you know.”

The sky was still lit by the sun given the summer time as Roman swayed back and forth down the sidewalk.  “Fuck,” he grumbled.  He had everything under control, tonight was just a fluke.  Had just one too many, it happens.  It doesn’t mean he has a problem.  Roman continued down the cement, using his hands on the building to help maintain his balance.  It was a weird sight, hardly anyone was around and no cars in the street.  The man was lost, he had no idea where he parked his truck and he was in no condition to drive.

So he did the best thing he could, he stumbled into an alley and pressed his back against the cool bricks and lowered himself down onto the ground to rest.  Roman reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his flask to take a sip as he closed his eyes and pressed his head back against the wall to rest his eyes.

[werewolfroman]

LOCATION: Cafe WHO: @matthewbaudelaire

Riddled with anxiety, Roman stepped inside the cafe a little early and asked for the back booth so Matthew and him could have their privacy.  “Hey doll face,” Roman greeted his server with his devilish smirk.  “What can I get you hon?”  Usually, he would order a milkshake for Matthew along with his personal order.  But the last time he tried doing a small gesture for his son, it ended with the two of them arguing and Roman placing the responsibility of losing everything on his eldest.  Something that was not fair, because at the end of the day the older Baudelaire knew everything was his fault.  “I will just have an order of fries, extra crispy please.  And a vanilla milkshake.”

As he waited for the food to come out, he practiced mentally what he was going to tell Matthew.  Honestly, he was not exactly sure how any of his grown children would act finding out they have a younger sibling.  Every part of them hoped they would be excited.  But, it also meant he had a child with someone other than Carina and he knew that could hurt them.  It was not long before she brought out his shake and fries and he started dipping the fries into the milkshake as he waited nervously for his eldest to arrive.

Finally, when Matthew stepped into the restaurant Roman gave a little wave to show where he was sitting.  “Thanks for coming, it is nice to see you” he greeted the man.  “Are you hungry?  You can have some of my fries or order something, whatever you want.”  He hoped for once they could have a civilized conversation that didn’t end in a fight, but if history indicates anything it was doubtful.  “Um, how are you doing?  Having a good day?”  He questioned trying to start off on a good note.

[werewolfroman]

LOCATION: BJ’s Burgers around 3:30...4:20ish for Matty WHO: @matthewbaudelaire​ The moment Matthew agreed to meet him later that day at a burger joint, Roman set the bottle down.  Although Matthew had no heightened senses, his oldest son knew Roman enough to know the signs of when he had been drinking and right now was not the time to upset him further…well further than he is going to be after their conversation.  With just several hours to sober up from the small amount he had since waking up he fixed him a sandwich in hopes the bread would soak most of the alcohol up.  And before leaving, he brushed his teeth hoping to get any residual scent of alcohol off his breath and replace it with a minty smokier scent.

Anxiety struck Roman the moment he stepped inside the restaurant and he had no liquid courage left in his system as his eyes looked around for his son to see if Matthew arrived early.  There was a tightness in his chest and this nagging feeling that this would be the last time he saw his eldest and he at least wanted one moment of their meeting to be pleasant.  So when he settled down and the waitress came by to take an order, he looked up and flashed his golden smile towards the woman and laid down his particular charm with the lady and ordered Matthew a banana milkshake, something he used to do when his son was just a child.  On their special days out (something he did with all the children, let each one have their own day with him), he took Matthew out for a day celebrating his child and all the things he wanted to do within reason and always ended it with a milkshake of Matthew’s choosing and more often than not ended up being a banana one that his son would order, which was always beyond him.

After several minutes, the server came out with the sweet tea and milkshake in hand.  Roman quickly thanked her as sat there waiting for Matthew.  As ten minutes passed since the agreed upon time, Roman looked down at his cell phone to check to see if his son texted him, something to indicate his tardiness but nothing.  A sigh left as he drained the sweet tea and got a refill.  If he was nervous before, he was far more now as he tapped his fingers on the table just trying to stay calm as his knee kept bouncing up and down.  Did something happen?  Matthew had always been the reliable one.

On his third glass of sweet tea, he looked down at the milkshake in the tall glass and saw how the ice cream sunk from melting.  There was a tinge of pain as he debated whether to call him, to make sure he was safe.  Something had to happen.  But there it was, his son safe and intact stepping through the doors nearly forty minutes late.  There were no other words, but wounded to describe what he felt.  But, it was hard to even say anything after all the damage he has done over the years.

“Son,” he greeted his eldest, trying to hide the hurt in his voice.

[zaina-castillo]

One of many perks of working with your boyfriend, especially on the same shift you get to leave together.  The raven haired beauty ran up towards Matthew, a smile planted on her face as she kissed his cheek leaving a lipstick smudge on it.  Zaina quickly helped wipe it off as she giggled at her little piece of art, his cheek being her canvas.  Instinctively her hand reached down towards his as she laced their fingers together.  “Probably naughty of me, but I worked the schedule where we both have a long weekend together and I was hoping maybe we could take a small weekend trip somewhere.  I don’t care where, just pick a direction and let's go.”  Perhaps it was a bit of an overzealous request, but they have been steadily dating for a few months now and she selfishly wanted the man all to herself.  And isn’t that what couples do?  Go one a weekend trip to test their relationship?

As they exited Erzsebets together, her dark eyes turned towards him eager for a response.  “Or we could just order in food and spend the whole weekend at your place.  I could be your muse,” she offered in case he was hesitant about leaving Opulence for a small extended weekend.  Matthew had a lot on his plate, she understood that he had an obligation to his younger brother and a lot of other things that plagued him.  But, she was hopeful that he might be willing to set certain things aside for a few days of freedom from everything that chained him down.  “Hey,” she said, wanting to get his attention as she raised her hand to softly cup the side of his face.  “No pressure,” last thing she wanted was to be another thing he had to worry about.  Zaina crinkled her nose a bit then lifted herself up on her tippy toes even with her stilettos she still had to do it to reach him, so she could brush her lips against his.

When they reached the vehicle and he unlocked the doors, she slipped into the passenger seat and started tinkering with his radio, wanting to listen to the music of her youth.  As the music blared in the small car, she stared out the window with the softest of smiles just feeling this was exactly where she belonged…next to him.  After several minutes, she reached for the volume to turn it down.    “روحي,” Her hand moved to his thigh as he was driving.  “Did you decide?”  She inquired with hopeful eyes. @matthewbaudelaire​

[zaina-castillo]

LOCATION: Matthew’s Place WHO: @matthewbaudelaire​

The texts exchanged had Zaina concerned over Matthew’s well being.  Anytime it came to the man’s father, something inside him would break and it hurt knowing there was very little she could do to comfort him.  While the two dated, they shared intimate parts of themselves.  Matthew was one of the few people in her life that knew she had a brother out there that she wished to resolve things with.  And, she knew some of the most horrific experiences in Matthew’s life concerning his family.  Once they ended their texts, she quickly got dressed and headed out the door.  On the way to Matthew’s she stopped at a small local grocery store and picked up several items.  Stuff for her to make her meal, but a few snacks and other things to make sure he had a nice balance of different foods stashed at his place so he wouldn't starve anytime soon.

With the plastic bags in her hands, she was outside Matthew’s door.  For a moment she hesitated about going inside and was tempted to just leave the bags at his front door and send him a text that there was food for him.  Yes, she knew he wanted her to comfort him during this troubling time.  However, things between them have not been great.  The kiss he initiated and then walked away from sent her into a near frenzy and it was alarming how little control she had when it came to the human.

It took a few minutes, but the raven haired beauty stepped through the threshold and looked around the place.  “Here, heading to the kitchen.”  She called out.  The vampire had been there numerous times during their relationship and she knew her way around everything.  As she got into the kitchen, she started putting the items away that he would use later and kept the ingredients for the meal she was going to cook out.  Not wasting anytime, she started cutting up items, dicing things and getting everything prepared.