☾ LIONHEARTED BOY ☽

Lourdes loved to antagonise, but there was something in the way Matty said those words that caused any dig towards him to die on her tongue instead of coming out in the world. Nobody in the world could say that they have the best relationship with the people who raise them, and maybe Matty isn’t any different. The way Pandy would describe Claire sometimes made it all the more clear. “I mean, I think it was websites? He could have been talking about anything, but I wasn’t listening, sorry. And ugh, you wish you’d wanna hear about boats. I swear, my dad talks about them like they’re….I dunno, something living. Like a dog. Or a horse. I mean, dad please chill, it’s just a boat!” The raven haired woman looked out into the sea, the first memories of her learning how to swim in these waters, and her dad telling her to never be afraid of the waters they were in. She knew a thing or two about boats, because anyone in Christian’s vicinity never goes home without knowing what an anchor or a stern is. But all of that is swept aside as her sly grin grows, more and more with Matty’s confusion. “You know our mothers’ heads would fucking explode. And that’s honestly all the reasons to do what I do!” She chuckled, her eyes alight with mischief, and that naive sense of loving that rose inside of Lourdes whenever Pandora was mentioned. “…maybe I do. And last I checked, I’m well within my rights of the bro-code, because Pandy and I aren’t exes.” With Matty, she didn’t need to cloak her feelings for his sister, and that feeling made her feel safe. “…I…like her a lot.” 

      As riveting as the conversation about their dads was Mathieu certainly didn’t care about it anymore. Elbow digging further into the sand as he shifted himself over to one side to properly look at his friend as he spoke to her. “Okay, first of all, you obviously didn’t read the copy of The Bro Code I got you from Amazon. I’m pretty sure it lists siblings as being off limits too, not just exes,” the athlete countered with a crooked grin looking the picture of relaxed sprawled across the beach as if it were his own living room. He should have felt shock by the confession or at the very least confused but somehow, it made sense? It wasn’t news to him that neither of the girls were exactly straight and they did spend an awful lot of time together, so why wouldn’t have feelings blossomed? “Does she know that? Cause I’ve got to say Howard, if she doesn’t you’re definitely confessing to the wrong Marlowe sibling.” Matty teased, his easy-going nature in display as his free hand reached forward to playfully shove at Lourdes’ shoulder. He wasn’t exactly unused to Lourdes telling him about her crushes, they were birds of a feather in that way. Constantly racking up body counts for their imaginary little black books but something about this one felt different. Maybe it was because the crush in question was his sister. “More importantly, does she like you back? Or is this some unrequited love type of thing? Cause I’ve got to say if you’re hoping for me to talk you up to Pandy and change her mind, she’s not too pleased with me right now so I can’t exactly be helpful.”

                                   — MATHIEU MARLOWE!                   A CHARACTER STUDY: TURBULENT TEENS.

Vale would have had to be an idiot to not know who Mathieu Marlowe was, even if she didn’t give a shit about sports. He was a hot athlete, which meant that not only did he have leagues of men rallying after him to win the cup or the ring or the plate or whatever the fuck it was with his sport— but he also had a healthy following of girls commenting hearts and propositioning marriage on his photos. “Mm, I love a man that knows how to clean,” she replied, all saucy, mood already lightening as she surveyed the man before him. Of course, she wasn’t going to reveal that she knew the guy, making herself into one of those awful little fangirls that fawned over him — he definitely didn’t need his ego stroked that much. “Here alone?”

      The abrupt shift in her tone should have been enough of a red flag for Matty to turn his attention elsewhere but it only proved to amuse him further. Girls who could go from extreme ends of the emotional spectrum were either unstable or actresses. Sometimes, both. He didn’t have enough information to know what exactly he was signing himself up for but it wasn’t like he was planning to propose or anything. It was just small talk in a crowded bar with a pretty girl. Completely innocent. “Oh, yeah?” The blonde encouraged with a flash of his signature boyish grin, six foot frame leaning against the counter to close some of the gap between them. “What else do you love in a man? I’d like to know how my stats rank up before I offer to buy you a drink.” Mathieu wasn’t really concerned with how he compared to anyone else, not when he was off the ice anyway but that hardly meant he wasn’t interested in what she’d say. “Came with friends,” he answered nonchalantly gaze leaving hers only momentarily to glance at the group of rowdy guys trying their hand at darts. “But I don’t think they’ll miss my presence much. How about you? Any angry boyfriend I have to worry about trying to deck me for talking to you?”

Climbing into the car, Claire hadn’t stopped her spiel, but it make her realise that she was turning into her own mother and that thought made her stop in her tracks, stilling in the driver’s seat. I’m becoming my mother. Especially when Claire had made Topher promise her, on notarized paper, that they wouldn’t have any children of their own. A loveless existence surely, but it was much better than stressing about every little detail, like she watched her own parents do. But Mathieu and Pandora, as much as the woman wanted to deny it, were her own children. Legally and in actuality, and she would never have had it any other way. She had zoned out, fingers on her lips as she sat in thought, but Matty’s voice was starting to come to her, his explanation entailing incels (involuntary celibates, that her brother was in danger of becoming on), defending girls and something something something. In the privacy of a locked car, she drops the lawyer act. For once in her life, she could see that Matty didn’t need a lawyer right now, he needed a parental figure. Stopping short of reaching out to touch her son, her face softened and she nodded. “Okay. I believe you.” She sighed, “Matty….” What was Claire supposed to say? It didn’t look good on his record, and he needed a PR manager more than he needed a lawyer. “You’re a good kid, you know? When we first met, I…I thought I saw this fire in you. I saw it in you because it was the same for me as a kid. Always angry and bitter and ready to fight the world. I even took kickboxing just because I could use it to fight someone. But…our world is a different one. That fire, your temper…you need to channel it in other ways.” This moment of mellowness made the woman choke up, and she straightened in her seat. “We’ll talk more about this once you’re fully awake.”

      The cool surface of the unopened window provides the blonde some solace for his pounding head. Lids half closed in exhaustion as he awaits for Claire’s expected wrath. More than anything she hated being made to look a fool in front of her friends. For as long as he had known the woman she had run a tight ship. Mathieu and Pandora were an extension of her image and as so they were expected to be better than all of the other kids. It didn’t matter than none of them were actually kids anymore, it was still a competition and Matty knew this slip up would be used against Claire in an instant if the others got a whiff of it. And it made him feel horribly. Contrary to popular belief he didn’t go out of his way to mess things up, they just happened. The silence that falls between them as he awaits his ear full threatens to suffocate until Claire’s suddenly telling him she believes him. The breath he doesn’t even realize he’d been holding releases immediately, the tension in his shoulders that often accompanied his fights with Claire relaxes as well, although confusion is clear in his crystal gaze. “Why does you being understanding somehow feel worse?” Matty mumbled under his breath, a lightheartedness to the statement despite the truth behind it. He almost preferred for her to yell at him, it felt better than feeling the weight of disappointing her. “Is Pandy right? Do I get preferential treatment?” Matty questioned suddenly, gaze turning from the window toward where his step-mother sat behind the driver’s sear. “Is that what this is right now? Cause I don’t like it. I’m this close to telling Topher myself so he can yell at me in your place.” 

for → open. location: iris & eve rooftop time: march 6th, 10pm

“Oh my fucking god!” Vale screeched, mouth wide-open in a gasp. All down the front of her very new, very expensive dress was a large red stain, no doubt caused by the wine in her hand that’d tipped right towards her chest when someone had bumped into her. “You’re going to fucking pay for that, asshole!”

      Emerald hues watch in mild amusement as an unfamiliar brunette screeches after a clearly intoxicated middle aged man who didn’t bat an eyelash over her anger. Mathieu barely avoids a similar fate of wearing alcohol instead of drinking it when the man stumbles past him. The act of narrowly maneuvering around the messy drunk brings the hockey player closer to the distraught female. Not that he minds, everyone knew Mathieu Marlowe couldn’t resist a damsel in distress.  “He paid with a groupon, so I doubt you’ll get much money but fortunately for you I know just how to get a wine stain out.” One of the perks of having a stepmother who drank the substance like it was going out of fashion. “A little dawn dishwashing detergent and hydrogen peroxide should get that right out.”

Matty is a dear friend and teammate, but Christ this kid can be a dumbass. He’s like the little brother Andy’s never had, someone he’s quick to show up for in any case. So when Andy gets a call that he needs someone to pick him up from the Sheriff’s station, he’s quick to get things taken care of and head to the Sheriff’s Station – Even if it’s gotten pretty late, and he’s in his slippers. Andy nods as he pulls out of the station, eyes on the road as he listens to Matty speak. “He’s not gonna hear it from me,” he confirms, glancing over to the other man before his eyes return to the road. Matty reminds him a lot of himself when he was in college, all fire and energy, quick to throw a punch at anyone who gave him the wrong look. It’s something he’s mostly grown out of – Even if he’s quick to cause a scene during a game, never censoring his trash talk. A brow arches as the younger man continues, backtracking on his first request. “I’ll call my guy in the morning, give ‘em your number.” Andy begins again, before turning to the other man as he stops at a red light. “You good, kid?” He questions, quick to address the obvious. “What happened tonight?” 

      Bruised knuckles brush against chapped lips, the dull ache in his head continuing to grow despite the tylenol he managed to convince one of the guards to pass along to him while he waited for Andy’s arrival. “Thanks, man.” Mathieu responds lacking his usual enthusiasm. His tired but has nothing to do with the time of night or even the fight he’d just been apart of. Matty’s hand falls from his face to pinch the bridge of his nose, six foot two inch frame slouching further into the leather interior of his teammate’s car. “I’m sorry for dragging you out here in the middle of the night,” the blonde offered up suddenly, the idea of pulling Andy away from his wife and kid weighing heavily on his conscience as they speed through the unusually quiet streets. “Tell Ro I owe her one too. Consider me on babysitting duty no questions asked the next time you guys need it.” They weren’t brothers by blood but Andrew remained one of the closest things the twenty-seven year old had to one. 

     He rarely allowed himself to admit as such out loud but most days he considered himself closer to Andy and Ro’s budding family than his own. “I’m fine, just some creep with no concept of the word no bugging these girls.” He hadn’t gone out of his way to look for a fight but he hadn’t exactly done much to deescalate the situation either. Mathieu possessed the iota of common sense to piece together now but that didn’t do much to help after the fact. “I don’t know. I guess...” Matty hesitated, a moment of silence falling between them before he continued. “I’ve just been riled up with all these cameras around. And I got into a fight with Pandy the other day. It usually doesn’t bother me but, I don’t know man. Sometimes it feels like she resents me and I don’t know what to do about it.” Sisters were so hard to understand, women in general really.

— RHOCI PRESENTS FAMILY TREES: THE MARLOWES.

BRAD PITT starring as Cornelius ‘Neels’ Marlowe

Graduate of Harvard Medical School Neels Marlowe was known as one of Hollywood’s best plastic surgeons before his untimely death in 2003. Some of the best noses on the west coast today were shaped by his scalp. He was survived by his two children: Mathieu and Pandora Marlowe who were left in the custody of his younger brother Christopher Marlowe and then new wife Claire Woodrow-Marlowe.

CHARLIZE THERON starring as Guinevere ‘Gwen’ Marlowe (nee Lovelace)

At seventeen Gwen Lebowski left her midwestern town to seek fame in the city of angels. When she got there she quickly changed her name to something more suiting of a star and quickly took to booking television roles. Her dreams of transitioning to the silver screen where only just beginning to reach unknown heights when she met her demise in the same plane accident as her husband.

MATTHEW NOSZKA starring as Mathieu ‘Matty’ Marlowe

The jovial boy who was often photographed reeking havoc on the set of his mother’s tv show has grown up to channel that energy on the ice. A pivotal member of the LA Kings defense Matty Marlowe never falls to put on a show. Whether the 27 year old is on the ice or off it all eyes can’t help follow him. Rumor has it a reckless heart still lies with that sculpted chest of his which will surely make the first season of RHOCI an interesting one to watch.

LUCY BOYNTON starring as Pandora ‘Pandy’ Marlowe

“That sounds wack. Wonder what that feels like.” Lourdes couldn’t remember a singular moment in her life when Charity had been anything but positive to her. Maybe she’s biased, but she can clearly picture her dad’s voice in her head, giving her positive soundbites of encouragement. Charity though….well, not without a backhanded insult to go with it. But she didn’t take it to heart; Lourdes thinks she did alright, even if she didn’t end up like Jolie, she still got back on her own two feet and a little help from her happy pills. “Mmmhm Claire and Topher, a match made in some boring office space, I’m telling you. Like I used to think Topher was fun, till I actually talked to him once and almost snored b c no thanks, technodaddy. I don’t wanna listen to my dad talk about boats, and I don’t wanna listen to you talk about websites.” Lourdes might have actually cackled at that sentence and the mention of Pandora; everytime she went over to Iris and Eve, she could swear her and the blonde had more than just some flirting going on between them. “I mean, if all goes to plan Matty boy, I might end up being your demon sister in law. So touch wood on that one for me, won’t ya?” 

      "Please literally never refer to the man who raised me as technodaddy ever again,” Matty choked out in between exaggerated gagging noises. Even in the best of circumstances the inclusion of Topher into any conversation soured his mood but the thought of his childhood friend referring to him in such a manner struck a chord that disgusted him to his core. “Did he really talk to you about websites? Actually I don’t want to know but I'll definitely talk to your dad about boats any day.” Christian Howard seemed to be the only parental figure in Mathieu’s immediate circle of folks his parents knew that actually acted like a parent. Not just to his own daughters but to anyone in his presence who needed a guiding hand and he appreciated the man for it. In the midst of carving his name into the sand with his finger, the male pauses his action to gaze curiously toward his friend. “My demon sister in law? As hysterical as it would be for our mothers to find out that they were becoming in-laws, I’m a little confused. Do I have a brother I don’t know about? Or are you talking about Pandy? Do you plan on seducing my sister, Lourdes Howard? I feel like that’s against bro-code.”

Rarely did the retort of her brother’s words phase her. While Pandora was the one to make the dry disdain towards her brother, it had no ill-will or meaning. Never did she actually mean that she hated him. Sometimes it would’ve been easiest to let him riot with the consequences of his choices but the younger sister wouldn’t allow that to happen. Even if it meant she had to pick up and further guide him to the light, considering her own struggles with her life recently overpowered her and made her an unwelcoming presence, then this was the purpose of the moment. Seafoam hues rolled at the childish moment, one of the many between the siblings, and surely it wouldn’t be the last to come. It’s how they operated with each other. Being the other’s saving grace when times were needed. “I feel like sometimes you do need a lecture for the fucks of it, Matty,” she brittle tone had no time for playing around. The woman did not have time for bullshit nor drama. Considering their mother had decided to sign them up for a reality television show, which she had no fascination being apart, and was attempting to save his ass for any mercy from the tabloids. Gripping to the steer-wheel with all of her will-power, her knuckles were gravely gasping for circulation but nothing of the such will happen. “Seriously, do you just love to fuck things up when you have everything you’ve wanted in this world?” After all, her brother was loved by many. It still seemed like it wasn’t enough. 

Of course, a retort in her less than welcoming tone came from the other. All she could do is roll her hues before snickering. “What crawled up my ass?” A pause, only shooting momentary hues in his direction. A ‘hm’ rolled through her lips to build the emphasis of her words. “Let me think… a lot of fucking things. I wish it was easy for me to know what the fuck I want to do and have some guidance with what I want. Sadly, I can’t even get our parents to take two seconds from their fucking lives, on top of this whole reality television show being in our faces, to have a conversation with them about a direction or guidance.” The irritation in her tone did not mean to be directed toward Mathieu. He was in the fault. His scenario should not be overshadowed by Pandora’s lack of assistance in her complex life. Considering he was the only person in her vicinity, it was easiest to take it out on someone else. A cavernous sigh rolled from her lips, “Fine, I’m sorry.” Spoken through a mutter. “You had every right to step in and help them out. But you have to understand there are reasons why I am tough on you because you’re too good to be continuing this lifestyle that you are doing. Got it?” And this was the final point that needed to be inserted because Pandora wanted to move on already. Her own well-being and her own worries had coursed into the atmosphere. If she could’ve gone back, she would’ve salvaged Matty from knowing the complications circulating through her conscience. All she could do was nod in his direction once hearing he was okay. That should’ve been the first thing she asked but today was clearly not her day. The female was drowning and attempting to stay afloat but every day, it seemed like it was failing her. “You’re not going to handle it alone even if I am being the biggest bitch in the entire world right now,” she interjected words instantaneously. Turning onto their road in Ventura, the drive up the hill always left her speechless at the estates occupying both sides of the road. It was like they were in their own sector of the world. “What were the charges?”

     There was no one on the planet Mathieu cherished quite like his younger sister. When their parents sat the young boy down to inform him of their growing family, they had been hesitate, treading the topic carefully. Clearly apprehensive toward what his reaction would be of having to suddenly share their unwavering attention but Matty defied all expectations by being excited rather than annoyed or upset. Never had there been a moment of Pandora’s existence, even when she was but a fetus in their mother’s stomach, where he hadn’t loved her fiercely but that love also meant they fought just as often as they got along. Usually her words of annoyance barely pierced through his thick skin but he was more sensitive than usual. “Congratulations, Pandora. You figured me out. There’s nothing I love more fucking things up!” The words roll off his tongue dripping in sarcasm as he reaches for the jacket he had thrown into the backseat upon entering the car. “Maybe if you’re lucky I’ll fuck up enough to get exiled somewhere in Antarctica like Claire’s always threatening. I’m sure your life would be much easier if that happened.” Fingers busy themselves digging through the pockets for his phone and airpods. If Pandora was set on spending the rest of the drive nagging him than he would just drown her out with music. It was the second time in the last five minutes she had told him he had ‘everything’ and it was starting to seriously get on his nerves. What did she even mean by that? Did she not have everything he had?

    Mathieu just barely gets a headphone in his ear, ready to childishly block his sister out all together, when the next words out of her mouth give him a reason to pause. His arm frozen in mid-air as she rapidly fires a list of things toward him in a heated manner. Letting the second headphone fall into the cupholder the blonde leans back into his seat with a sigh, jacket forgotten in his lap while his mind raced. In an instant his irritation shifts to concern and guilt, hazel hues returning her short lived gaze before they are back on the road. "You’ve got to learn to communicate better,” he commented with a humorless laugh. A headache threatening to split his head in half even as he tried to find words to soothe his sister’s restless heart. She hadn’t asked for any but he wasn’t the type of person to let that stop him. “Let’s get one thing clear, you don’t need Claire or Topher to figure out what you want to do with your life. That’s an answer that comes when it comes, Pandy.” It may not have seemed like it but it was probably much better for his sister that she found her own path rather than be designated one by their parents. Were Topher and Claire perfect? No, far from it. But at the very least they weren’t the kind of parents who planned every aspect of their lives. Rolling his neck to release the tension building there Matty adjusts himself for the umteenth time before continuing his train of thought.

@fvckbci​:  i mean, i’ve been filled with the devil since day one, but that’s on me. 

“Boy, same! The day I was born, my mother wept with sadness because she knew I was going to be more epic  than she would ever be. And then she called me a demon child and we called it even!” Hanging out with Matt by the beach was something Lourdes considered traditional at this point. Ever since their “mothers” (Lourdes hated hers, and she was sure Claire wasn’t actually Matt’s mom) started pitting each other because of some weird dick measuring competition, she found that her chaos aligned with his so well, and he was such a good friend to her. “How does it feel to be demon siblings, Matty boy?” 

      In the world of rich and influential children were used as currency and trophies. Much like the hungry games they were expected to compete against each other in order to win the favor of their parents but Matty rarely ever took Claire’s warnings to stay away from Lourdes seriously. She may have considered the girl a trouble maker but wasn’t Mathieu technically one as well? It’s why they got along so well. They were kindred spirits in a world that wanted nothing more than for them to despise each other. “Unlike you, my mother thought I was an angel,” Matty winked playfully to emphasis his statement. The fleeting memory of his mother leaving his mind just as quickly as it had sprung into it. “Claire and Topher though, they definitely saw more of my devilish side than she did.” Finishing the contents of his beer the blonde tossed it into the nearest trash can before laying back down on the sand. “As fun as it would be to be spawns of satan with you, I think my sister would burn me alive at the stake if I ever dared to call someone else my sibling. Maybe we can be demon cousins?” 

“Yeah, yeah, cut the bullshit Mathieu. I’ll make sure Topher doesn’t hear about this, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to go easy on you.” She stormed out of the precinct, having cleared out the paperwork and legal minutia that would have been involved. Claire hated going to the Sheriff Station, wouldn’t be caught dead walking in and out of there with anyone in sight, and especially with her betting horse…—her son. She had long ago resigned herself to considering Matty her own child, even though her and Topher had nothing to do with it. But the boy was smart, and given that children were such a currency in their circles, she was going cash him for all it was worth. So like any good mother, she worried for her kid. Waving her hands to gesture the boy into the car, she pauses at the handle. “What the hell was that about?” And he answers, and she’s happy to say that she believes him. “Why? I don’t care if you tell me right now you’re in some kind of underground fighting ring, even though I would kill you for that kind of behaviour. But as your lawyer right now, I need to know what kind of trouble you have gotten yourself into, kid.”