El Imitador

Mateo has all but forgotten his early life, for it does nothing to increase his wealth and power today. He remembers being born on May 12th, 1850, in Caracas, Venezuela. At the time the country was in political turmoil, with various caudillos fighting to gain power. Mateo was no different; He followed military leader Antionio Gùzman Blanco through three separate presidential terms, using his delight for violence to assist Gùzman in using brute force to secure his first term. Mateo was just 15 at the start of his leader’s first term. Mateo lived well during the 7 years the country was under Gùzman’s dictatorship, obtaining wealth and land.

Between and during presedential terms, Mateo remained close to the country’s leader in the form of a personal guard. Gùzman favored the young man for his loyalty, military prowess, and pleasant appearance. Indeed: Despite seeing many battles and stressful nights, Mateo had sustained very few injuries and maintained a handsome, youthful appearance. He was a nice “trophy” soldier to have around when Gùzman took many trips out of the country to France in the mid 1880s.

It is here that Mateo’s story becomes unforgettable. In 1885, during his time in Paris with Gùzman (ambassador to France at the time), the former president of Venezuela insisted that Mateo have his portrait made by a French painter. Approaching his 60s at this point, Gùzman urged Mateo that now was the best time to have a portrait made- While he was still youthful with a full head of hair and handsome features. Mateo agrees.

The name and face of the painter are fuzzy but Mateo remembers the man marvelling over his appearance as he painted the soldier’s form. How perfect he was. How beautiful he was. And oh— How beauty would be such a treasured and esteemed attribute in the world his leader was crafting back in Venezuela! Gùzman parroted the painter’s praises.

“Wouldn’t you like to live young and beautifully like this forever?” Says the painter. He cannot recall the face, but Mateo remembers a strange glint in the strangers eye. “To live deliciously?”

“Oh, how I wish.” Mateo replies, eyes glued to the sly grin the painter wore.

The painter’s finished work is an absolutely gorgeous piece. A lovely portrait of Mateo standing proud in his military uniform. He returns to Venezuela with it as he follows Gùzman back for his third and final presidential term. His ego now stroked, Mateo lived deliciously with his military leader and president whom, at this time, had become most corrupt: Stealing money from the country, seizing property from the Catholic church, and abusing his power. Mateo played a role in the corruption, always encouraging his leader’s bad behaviors, and using his own muscle to take down anyone who opposed.

By the end of Gùzman’s final term, Mateo was well-aware that his wish youth eternal had come true. He sustained injuries, broke hearts, and made bad deals within the time he had returned to Venezuela but his body had nothing to show for it. But what did change was his beloved portrait. The man in the portrait now wore a twisted grin, carried scars, and held a bleeding heart within his hands. Mateo was delighted.

Fast-forward 80-some years. Mateo is no longer enamored with his immortality; Loved ones are long dead and he is no longer recognized for his prestige as a soldier because time has forgotten him. He's tried every possible sex act and drug imaginable. He has wealth from the coffee bean plantation he started 50 years ago with the money given to him by his now-dead military leader, but there's nothing left for Mateo to buy. He's broken plenty of hearts . And he can't kill himself. Believe him, he's tried-- A total of 43 times. He may lose consciousness or appear injured for a short period of time but he always wakes up and his wounds are healed. Only his portrait suffers.

Being unable to die has caused Mateo to become rather cynical and hard to please. Very few things cause him to feel anything anymore. The only sure-fire way he's discovered to melt away his numbness is through an adrenaline rush. While sex can accomplish this, physically fighting does it quicker.

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Mateo makes a name for himself in the professional wrestling world of South America and even toured in North America a few times. He blew most of the money made from his wrestling career during touring, knowing he still had a nice fortune waiting back home in Venezuela from his coffee bean plantation.

As he had to every two decades or so, Mateo disappears from the public in the early 2000s as to not draw attention to the fact that he never ages. That, and he grew tired of how theatrical professional wrestling had gotten. From 2002-2014, Mateo remains in South America, growing his wealth and entertaining himself by causing misfortune to happen to his competition in the coffee bean industry.

While in "hiding" and quietly re-establishing himself as the son of the professional wrestler he once was, Mateo takes delight in the prevalence of social media. Unlike before, when he had to physically seek thrills, social media and the internet made it much easier. He could engage in shaming or praising others from the comfort of his home. He could "Catfish" all day long before ghosting someone. Entertaining was at his fingertips.

Of course, it social media wasn't "enough" for long. Nothing was ever enough for Mateo. He finds himself drawn to another form of fighting-- Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA. It was less about who could talk the most shit and make the flashiest entrance and more about who could do the most serious damage. Delightful. As the "son" of a former professional wrestler (and being very wealthy) it wasn't hard to find a personal trainer and agent to get his career in MMA fighting going.

By 2017, he has won several competitions in South America in the heavyweight division. His popularity continues to grow, only stunted by the COVID-19 outbreak from the years of 2020-2023. Come 2024, he has become the heavyweight champion of South America and has been invited to fight in the UFC. He's rarely lost a fight-- How can he? His wounds heal rapidly due to the portrait's power, meaning he can't be overpowered by another. It's just a game of stamina; Who will tire out first?

MMA fighting suits him. It gets him sex, money, and power. He can talk a lot of shit and end careers in one night. He can steal sponsors, lovers, fans, all whilst remaining physically beautiful.

Just don't look at his portrait.