Maybe a little too obsessed with gambling and good alcoholic drinks, this is where he spends most of his Thursday nights out in CΓ‘diz. It all started when Mateo de Fonollosa turned 17 years old. Instead of hanging out with his friends in the basement of Javier DΓaz-Formentor, the Spaniard thought that there must be more to life than staying in the same βman caveβ every single Friday night, drinking the same beer, seeing the same people every. single. Thursday. This is when Mateo found out about The Green Room.
The Green Room is a bar located in a somewhat secret spot. One would not assume a place of this kind behind the wooden door of a somewhat unimpressive building. Entering a dark, shadowy corner which only welcomes those who are truly invested in finding it, he found a place that fulfills him with a feeling of risk, excitement, satisfaction, tension and belonging.
Thereβs this thing with gambling. One would say that as a trickster, gambling is not asβ¦ tricky anymore. Yes, Mateo is able to manipulate the game. With the blink of an eye, the cards will be changed for his benefit. Nothing easier than gambling for a trickster. Yet Mateo has one rule which he strictly follows: Not making use of his tricks while playing cards and gambling in The Green Room. This is the only place where he sticks to the rules of the human world, the only place where he behaves like a normal person without any supernatural powers, the only place where he will undoubtedly feel the rush pulsing in his veins.
When Mateo came back to CΓ‘diz after spending a time span of approximately two years in New York City, he found out that the owner of the bar was no longer able to financially carry the bar due to high debts. This is when Mateo, now 31 years old, decided to support the owner β a Spaniard who wants to stay anonymous for the sake of his safety β by investing in the bar. This is also when Mateo became an investor. He never shared this information with any of his family members or close friends, keeping The Green Room one of his secrets, a place he can disappear to.
