Wish/Characters/Matthew Black

Matthew

File:Wish-Black-Matthew.jpg

• Full name: Matthew Aaron Black
• Called: Matthew (preferred), Matt
• Sex: Male
• Species: Human
• Age: 45
• Ethnicity: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Scandinavian
• Height: 6'0"
• Weight: 221 lbs.
• Measurements: 48/42/45
• Hair: Short Mohawk, Brown
• Eyes: Hazel-green
• Other Details: 5" circumcised penis

History

Matthew has had a hard life. His mother left his father when he was just three years old. His sister wasn't even one yet, and little did his mother know, but Matthew's half-brother had just been conceived. They moved back to his extended families rural home where they were surrounded by four of Matthew's six uncles and their families. It was only four of his uncles because one was already deceased, and the other lived all the way across the country. It was a large enough property that even with that much family, there was still an inordinate amount of space to be had. Matthew was happy for most of early childhood . . . until he started school.

Starting first grade in the late seventies was no picnic for Matthew. His nervousness was compounded by bullying early on, leading to severe social trauma. Matthew was taught that there is never a good reason to fight, so he didn't fight back when the bullies hit him; but still got in trouble for fighting. Matthew suffer devastating emotional damage in those early years that would follow him his whole life. He did eventually fight a bully in high school, but that is a story for another time.

Matthew didn't really make friends, he just kept his head down and tried to survive. He never attended a single social event, and quietly attended those rare events that were required of him without participating. He didn't even attend his own prom or even graduation. He didn't even have a picture in his senior yearbook. He instead lived vicariously through his medieval fantasy and science fiction stories. It was about midway through high school that Matthew discovered Role-playing Games. D&D was forbidden in the house because a preacher had once scared his mother away from buying the game for the family . . . but there were other role-playing games. There was Top Secret SI, DC Heroes, and Palladium to name a few. Matthew found the escape in those games was even superior to the escape from his books, and he immersed himself in them, and the culture surrounding them. He was among the founding members of early nerd culture.

Matthew did well in school, but didn't really apply himself. Once he graduated, he really had no path to higher education. His single working mother just couldn't afford it. That left the military as the best option to pay for his continued education. He ended up joining the US Navy for a six year enlistment as a Data Systems Technician. It became clear to him rather quickly that it was a mistake. Creative personalities do not fare well in a military environment. He spent six years in "hell", and barely made it out with an honorable discharge. The only thing he gained from his time in the navy was a love for punk rock music and culture.

He returned to the family farm, and convinced his mother to let him work the farm for room and board while he tried his hand at writing a novel. A year later he had successfully written a high fantasy novel, but after only three rejections gave up on his dream of writing for a living forever. He continued to merely exist for the next decade with little change. He occasionally tried to get a job, but people, and his discomfort around them, always sent him back to the homestead. It wasn't just the people. Matthew was running away from himself as well.

Very early in life Matthew started becoming attracted to girls. Even as early as the first grade he felt physical attraction to the girls in his classes. As he grew up, and his peer's taste in women aged with them, he found that his did not. He still found girls his own age desirable, but he was also still attracted to the younger girls as though he were still their age. As he got older he discovered that society deemed that this made him a monster, and he believed it. It's best to keep the monsters away from the regular people, so he kept to himself. On the farm in the middle of nowhere, he was safely away from everyone. Even when he finally discovered that he was definitely NOT a monster, and that he controlled his actions, not his libido . . . it was too late. He was a forty year old virgin living with his mother.

His only relief was, as always, fantasy. Soon after getting out of the navy he found a gaming group. He played with them as often as he could, and eventually found a true friend in Daniel Harrison. It was the deepest kind of friendship. There was literally nothing that the friends wouldn't do for one another. The other members of the group were friends as well, but Matthew would literally die for Daniel. The only other person he would go that far for was his mother . . . but that wasn't an option.

Just a few years before, his mother been diagnosed with throat cancer. Matthew took her to her chemotherapy appointments and radiation treatments and looked after her, and she survived. Recently, however she was diagnosed with lung cancer and pass away not two weeks later. Matthew was pretty certain that she has hid her symptoms until she was sure there was nothing that could be done. Not having had a "real" job for most of his life, he started working a factory job. The hours were long, but the pay wasn't terrible. he hated not having time for the things he loved, reading and writing and role-playing . . . but you have to make a living. Now if only he could make himself go into his mother's old room . . . maybe he could find a certain ring that would turn everything around.

Family

• Linda Belle Jackson-Black Mother (deceased): Matthew loved his mother very much. When he returned from the service in 1995 he went back to live with her in an attempt to establish himself as a writer. He helped around her farm for many years. Eventually he ended up taking care of her when she got cancer even though his brother and sister did not. He inherited everything from her, but still misses her. He still hasn't changed her room of the house.
• Leah Kimberly Black-Johnson Sister (42): Leah cut ties with the rest of the family in the late nineties due to a falling out with their mother when she had been an alcoholic raising them. She hasn't talked to anyone in the family for years. The last time she contacted Matthew was six years ago when their absentee father was dying.
  • James Allan Johnson Brother-in-law (44):
    • James "Jimmy" Allan Johnson Jr. Nephew (16):
    • Emily Lynn Johnson Niece (13):
• Jason Wayne Black Half-Brother (41): Jason was a jock and a druggie during school. He ended up in jail on drug offenses where he turned his life around and found Jesus. Unfortunately he also found racism. While not actively in any hate group, his racism and alcoholism have driven a wedge between the brothers.
  • Terri Yvette Smith No Relation (deceased): Jason's high school baby-mamma.
    • Lilly Anne Smith-Keane Niece (21): A daughter from Jason's misspent youth.
    • Craig Levi Keane Nephew-in-law (22):
      • Rachael Jane Keane Grandniece (3):
  • Sarah Lynn Jones-Black Sister-in-law (35):
    • Henry Matthew Black Nephew (18):
    • Linda "Lindy" Belle Black Niece (9):
    • Justice James Black Nephew (3):

Friends, Enemies, and Acquaintances

• Daniel Bernard Harrison Best Friend (35):
• David Henry Schmidt Friend (37):
• Seth Evan Hanson Friend (33):
• Brittany Ellen Baroffio D&D Group Member (25):

Work Relationships

• Jose Manuel Avila Sanchez Boss (34):
• Tristan Lloyd Kane Coworker (22):

As Main Character

• Play as Matthew