Matthew "Matt" Watts
Matt had a very ordinary childhood, the only child of a happily married church-going couple. His father was a farmer, and Matt was always happy to do the same when he grew up. He went to college intending to study accounting to help with the farm's bookkeeping when he graduated. He finished nearly two years of his studies before his parents were killed in a boating accident while on vacation.
Matt dropped out of college after the accident, and moved back to Bluewater Township to inherit his family's farm business. He was young, but well trained for the work, and he slipped into the role easily. The community quickly came to honor him with the same respect they gave his father.
It was soon after that he met Leila, who four years younger, and only 16 years-old at the time. It was Leila who initiated the relationship. He hadn't realized how lonely he was, but having her passionate spirit around brought life back to the farm again. They fell in love quickly, and he did actually ask her father for her hand in marriage, but her parents declined to support the relationship, citing an "inappropriate" age difference (he was 22, she was 18), and that they wanted their daughter to go to college first instead.
Matt and Leila went ahead with the wedding anyway. They are not currently in contact with her family. Matt has an aunt and some cousins living out of state.
character tag: matt
name means: gift of God (English)
birthdate: February 27, 2051
age: 32 as of February 2083
zodiac: picses
MBTI: ISTJ - the duty fulfiller
character traits: loner, simple, generous, observant, dependable
appearance:
- height: 6'0"
- hair: blond
- eyes: brown
- body: tall, lanky but durable
- dress: jeans, cotton shirts in warm tones, casual and comfortable, wears a hat in the summer
- distinguishing features: a farmer's tan for half the year
romantic history:
- first kiss: a girl named Susan, summer camp, at age 15
- v-card goes to: Rebecca Miller, high school girlfriend, at age 18
- notable relationships: Rebecca Miller (age 17-18, 2 years, mutual break up, she moved away for college); Vivian Klien (age 19, 6 months, he broke up with her when his parents died); Leila Watts (age 20-present, currently married, 10 years).
- number of partners: 4
romantic present:
- currently: married, Leila Watts, summer of 2073, 10 years
family:
- parents: Henry and Beatrice Watts
- siblings: none
- children: Felicity, Hunter, and Flint Watts
- BFF: Paul Gallagher
lifestyle:
- TS2 aspiration: family/fortune
- hobbies: he's generally too busy for many hobbies, but enjoys fishing and watching sci-fi dramas
- job: owns the Watts family farm and market
- education: high school graduate, two years of college, he studied accounting
- drugs?: enjoys a nice smokey whiskey, tried weed once in college but wouldn't do it again
- sex?: he's subtle but capable, rarely ever very bold but he can be accommodating
- god?: yes, he believes in a humble and solid way
- his parents?: he finds he misses them more and more the older he gets
loves: dancing silly with his kids // making things grow // being generous with what he has // a quiet evening with his wife // the smell of firewood // his home // being a pillar of the community // tradition // ivory lace on a woman // and red lipstick // spending a long, lazy winter with his family // the first snow // relaxing into the warmth of Leila's voice when she's talking // fishing // standing in a field of pumpkins // his kids' laughter
hates: crop pests // yoga // people who think they're better than him // change // losing someone he loves
theme song: "Fire and Rain," by James Taylor
(click for full size)
1. name: Matt
2. grew up: on a farm
3. favorite food: grilled fish and fresh veggies
4. favorite color: golden orange
5. favorite weather: cool autumn harvest
6. favorite drink: whiskey, on the rocks
7. currently reading: the Cabela's catalog
8. most important job: farmer
9. if he had one wish: that his parents could meet his children
10. thing he loves most in the world: fishing at sunrise
11. one word to describe him: rock
12. something else: plays by the rules
[mosaic credits] 1. Hat In The Barn, 2. Summers Passed, 3. i like my salmon simple, 4. Golden Cornfield Tradition, 5. Loaded for harvest, 6. On the rock's., 7. Sierra Nevadas Nostalgia, 8. Autumn Corn Nuggets - Fall Nature, 9. Last Resting Place, Wymondham, Norfolk, 10. Two men in a boat, 11. Monster Walnut Found, Can you crack it? Wonders of California Geology, 12. ...or another...
A straightforward, strong man with dreams of his own and a lifestyle he wants and needs. Paired with a woman with very different wants and needs.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel sorry for Matt, but I do feel sympathetic. Most men would find it difficult to move where it seems he must move in order to keep the woman he loves.
Extraordinary portrayal. You are an artist with words and images.
People should not marry so young. My final word on that.
Beth, yes, isn't that just the lesson of it all? lol! Don't marry young! But man, I remember that age so clearly, and they think they know everything! And now I've got Dallas and Lucy chomping at the bit to get themselves hitched. What do you tell them?
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm having a lot of fun with these. They're so telling too! By the time I'm done, I won't even need to tell the stories, lol! :)
The fact that Paul is his only BFF made me sad.
ReplyDeleteI really love his profile, but hey! I married young! It can work, so don't count it out. I'm rooting for Dallas and Lucy all the way. LOL
ReplyDeleteI do feel sorry for Matt. I wish he had fallen for someone else, someone who has goals and dreams like him.
Aw. So many of the things he loves, I guess, are a little tainted right now.
ReplyDelete"People should not marry so young. My final word on that."
As a general rule, I agree. It definitely can work out, of course, because there are exceptions to every rule. I wonder what would have happened with Matt and Leila had they met maybe 4 or 5 years later. Would the relationship have been more assured of being smooth-sailing, or would they never have been attracted to each other at all?
I love this profile but I have grown to really love Matt, so that's no surprise.
Laura, ah, yes, some of my couples are like that. Even ones who aren't on the rocks though, so it's not necessarily a bad thing. Not every marriage has that "best friends" kind of vibe. Bella and Cameron are a good example. They're fine, and totally hot for each other, but they both take their most trusted matters to other people.
ReplyDeleteRiverdale, lol! I married pretty young myself too, so I do know it can work. Though I have to say, I did a lot of maturing between 18 and 22.
And right, I don't think we could stop Dallas and Lucy if we tried ;)
Carla, oh, what would have happened if they waited? I happen to know the exact answer to this question, but I can't tell you yet, because they're going to talk about that in the next piece ;)
I do love Matt too, for being exactly who he is. He really is such a great guy. (And then comes that big fat "but..."). :\
There's so very little of his family in his mosaic, but so much of it in his likes/dislikes.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I do love all your characters, and I do love Leila, Matt and Corbin a lot.
I think... when people marry for the wrong reasons or without the appropriate maturity/personality, at whatever age, it can be a mistake.
I suppose that's why I have nothing but encouragement for Dallas and Lucy, but sadness for Leila and Matt.
edit: fixsnest was the word today!! A Coincidence?
I wouldn't call Leila and Matt's marriage a mistake. It has been and still is a important part of their life experiences. Even if they are to come to the conclusion that perhaps parting is the better option because staying together will suffocate either one of them, it should not take away the meaning of it in their lives. Yet the above babbling would only make sense in retrospect for the ones involved after they truly sort everything out. In the mean time, box of tissues ready.
ReplyDeleteKiri, true about the abundance/lack of family between the mosaic and the loves. The mosaic asks very specific questions though, so sometimes it doesn't really represent the whole picture, you know? I do think it gives a good feel for the character's personality though.
ReplyDelete#9 is for his family though, and #11 is too if you interpret it the way I do ;)
LOL @ your spam-word! They do seem oddly relevant sometimes!
lepifera, I wouldn't call it a mistake either. But then, I don't really believe in mistakes, personally. I think everything happens for a reason, everything serves a purpose, and everything can be learned from... or at least I like to believe so. Some meanings and reasons are obvious, while others we spend our whole lives searching for.
(Sorry, it's too early for philosophy, I've only had one coffee so far, lol!)
Oh, I wasn't sad because Leila wasn't his BFF, I was sad because didn't he meet Paul through Charlotte? If he and Leila divorce, and his BFF is through his ex-wife's BFF... well, that whole situation won't help him at all.
ReplyDeleteThis is Laura, BTW, I figured I should stop duplicating your name :P
Ah, it was supposed to use my Google account, oh well.
ReplyDeleteLaura, ah, yes, I get it now! Yes, that would absolutely be a sticky spot. The four of them are *very* close, and that's also another one of the many reasons Leila has nagging at her to stick out this marriage.
ReplyDeleteI know, our mutual name has got to be confusing for the other commenters, lol! Maybe we should work out a code or something?
And LOL, it's also crossed my mind that my readers might think I'm commenting to myself too. (I'm not! I promise!!!) :)