*this list is in no way complete, matteo is always in need of connections
*if something stands out to you, please message me ! all can be tweaked if need be.
Sonata One↳ The Accidental Companionship taken by adeline bourbon
whilst the dulcifying lagoons of venice prompted ink to flow effortlessly across his brimming journal, they did little to patch the cavity of loneliness that slowly eroded his gut. partaking in what he does best, matteo relayed the spectacular sights of venetian canals and mosaics to his friend back home - only, it wasn’t his friend who answered his letter. a slip of his wrist partnered with a fumbling post-boy provided for a strange, yet comforting relationship over the remainder of his travels: matteo now had someone to converse with about both his woes and his feats, whilst the stranger was given the opportunity to see the world through a poet’s eyes. the two strangers formed a peculiar companionship that he hoped would no longer be shrouded in mystery, and that they would finally meet in person in france.
Sonata Two↳ The Friendship
matteo finds it rather tedious to maintain friendships, especially given his penchant for international escapades. the gentlemen back home are far too immersed in the lives of lords and first-borns to converse with the likes of a rhymester, no matter his favorability with the nobility. though there is one individual with whom he’s shared many a story with since their time at sea, and there’s an understanding between the two that whenever matteo finds himself back home, he would send word of his arrival. they aren’t confidantes, but they are indeed comrades - a relationship matteo plans to deepen now that his stay in france appears prolonged.
Sonata Three↳ The First Love taken by alina lorraine
when matteo was a mere twenty he fell in love for the first - and last - time. it was without question that he engaged in rakish behavior long before meeting his beloved, after all, he was a man armored with flowering words capable of pricking even the most guarded of hearts. yet as dances shifted into promenades, he began asking his servants to arrange for the arrival of his soon-to-be partner. the heirloom ring that once weighed heavily in his pocket offered his heart the same fate as it then sat collecting dust in his desk drawer. how could matteo expect to give them the life they deserved when the bustling bazaars of turkey beckoned him?
Sonata Four↳ The Deal
matteo needed money; his allowance had already dwindled thanks to the eldest schellenberg, but it was time he took matter into his own hands. when he wasn’t swindling precious jewels, he found himself gambling with the gentleman in versailles. whether on the newest horse to arrive from england or the undefeated boxer for two years running - matteo betted. yet there was a factor that set him apart from the rest; he just wasn’t any good. upon running into you on his swift (albeit, crazed) attempt to escape the expecting fists of those whose wallets suffered from matteo’s lack of fortune, you agreed to front him the money. but it came at a cost. you wished to use his words to [enter character motivation; ex: seduce, persuade, convince, etc someone].
plots:
*these are more than welcomed to be tweaked to fit a certain character’s storyline and/or personality
“The Negotiation.”
or
“matteo helps you make the [insert title] jealous by pretending to be interested in you. in return, you promise to introduce him to one of your wealthy friends.”
“to earn money, matteo writes for hire, he produces poems for members of society to gift their lovers, for a small price. you think you’ve received the most ardent profession of love - that is, until you see matteo exchanging a similarly looking paper with a nearby gentleman.”
“you and matteo went to university together, and long story short, you owe your ‘exceptional writing’ distinction to him. through certain circumstances you hear about his financial predicament, and offer him funds as compensation for his help back in college. and let’s just say, matteo does not embrace your ‘help’ with open arms.”
aesthetics: clenched teeth. bitter whiskey. flying fists - down onto tables, of course. humorless chuckles. unbuttoned shirts.
“Muse.”
or
“matteo always found comfort in his quill, and after a less than desirable evening, he found himself in your company; company that assuaged him far more than his pen ever could. and so he asked to meet again. and again. and after each rendezvous, when he was alone in his study, he put his pen to paper and wrote.”
aesthetics: stained fingers. a setting sun. good-natured banter. gifted poems. reluctant partings. promises of next time.
"Thief."
or
"though unbecoming of a lord, matteo begins to pickpocket the unsuspecting members of society - though he maintains that this is a last resort. and he does pretty well, that is, until you lay your eyes on the diamond necklace dangling from his pocket and the suspiciously bare neck of a nearby titled woman. will you use it as blackmail? will you want in?"
aesthetics: glittering jewels. waves of dismissal. wide eyes. a thundering heartbeat. negotiations. bitter begging.
"Partner."
or
"being removed from society for years rendered matteo clueless when it came to recent betrothals and the current financial standings of those staying in versailles. and yet somehow he met you [tba], a member of non nobility with a near palpable resentment towards those in power. matteo was (he supposed) a criminal, yes. but he wasn't stupid (debatable). the last thing he needed was a pissed off prince. he needed your knowledge, and you, a cut of the fortune."
"matteo can't afford to put his heart on the line, not when his dream is in jeopardy. and so he uses and discards people without care, as if they were valued at no more than a dinner towelette. it was different this time, though. at night he lay awake, eyes trained on the ceiling, staring but never truly seeing. how could he manage to sleep when the image forever burned beneath his lids, seared into his thoughts was the look on your face when he told you the truth."
*can be friends turned enemies or lovers turned enemies
aesthetics: withheld apologies. deep breaths. weary eyes. one step forward - one step back. foreign feelings.
for artistic muses: please teach him how to paint
for muses with two left feet: please let him teach you how to dance
for non french muses: maybe he stayed with you during his travels
lastly, he needs enemies. and lovers. whether the relationships are built on a lie or not, i would like to see him eventually settle down.
