THROUGH A FRACTURED EXISTENCE, TO THE RHYTHM OF ETERNITY.

[bitemark]

IL MATTINO

Il Mattino is an Italian cafe sidled between a bookstore and a jewelry boutique in small but popular business district, just a downhill walk from the local non-denominational Christian church and residential area. The ocean is less than a ten minute drive away and within view in the distance. The area is cool even when the sun is at its apex at noon with a tinge of sea salt in the breeze.

The cafe itself is medium-sized with plenty of light let in with the large storefront windows. The decor is simple, but accented with key decor with wheat centerpieces and plants. There are some trinkets that are displayed that may look out of place, like atop the charging counter there's a sliding puzzle painted in pink, orange, yellow, blue, purple, and all shades in between.

The cafe specializes in coffee and brunch, though pastries are sourced from local Italian bakeries in downtown Little Italy.

While the establishment has two floors, the cafe takes up the ground floor. There is a yard for some reason, but that's because there are four dogs. They're kept separate from the cafe to make sure patrons are not disturbed, but people are free to go outside to pet them. Reviews have mentioned the owner lives on the second floor and the dogs' names are Harold, Olive, Vera, and Rocco.

DRINKS ✦ FOOD ✦ all sorts of pastries available

Comments

[obdure]

[ Adolphe can watch him turn around to glare at Maria, who also leers at him from the corner of her eye, lips curled like the devil. There is a vibe that war could break out, but Jacopo turns and drops it.

Rubbing his temples. ]

It's fine. [ He runs his hand through his hair before composing himself, arms crossed and back against the chair. ] I wanted to hear your opinion, anyway... But I might as well keep you from miserably passing out.

You're free to send me off, of course. Your comfort is the most important here.

[chrysanths]

... I'm not uncomfortable. I thought you were.

[ Anyway, he looks at the croissant again. Okay, well. They never answer him about the price, so Adolphe just bites the figurative bullet to take a bite out of the croissant. If it ends up being expensive, he'll just pay for it and never come back.

That's why he's not surprised to see that it tastes good. He takes another bite. ]

... I'm not really a food critic, so all I can say that it's good.

[ He can actually say more, but he doesn't like having expectations forced on him so he just lowballs himself. ]

My opinion of it would probably change if I know how much this costs.

[obdure]

I'm not uncomfortable...

[ These two are so stupid it hurts me. Jacopo has not stopped feeling a bit embarrassed since the start of this thread. Life is... Hard.

Jacopo may seem a bit aloof by posture, his eyes brighten as Adolphe starts. There's a smile, not expectant, just maybe a bit excited? A bit proud. ]

We're here to serve everyday people, not snobby food critics. [ Remember when he said don't worry about the price. ] How much would you pay for it?

[chrysanths]

[ Look. He doesn't think well of most people, okay. Sometimes people are just out to get him and he'll have to live like that. ]

Between... five and seven dollars?

[ If he's going to be for real, he would prefer to not pay at all. ]

The ingredients you listed made it seem intimidating.

[obdure]

[ That's not very upstanding citizen of him to not want to pay at all, but sometimes we want free things in life. ]

Seven dollars sounds fair and around what we're thinking.

[ He leans forward, now resting his arms on the table. ]

This is just a trial batch, so we only have a couple and they're free as we work stuff out. You got the last one.

[chrysanths]

... I see.

[ He got the last free croissant... it feels like he's won the lottery for some reason, but he's still guarded.

Despite that, he finishes the food and drinks all the coffee. He might need a minute or two to let that sink in before he leaves again. ]

It's a bit heavy on the aftertaste.

[obdure]

[ Hopefully, you don't get food coma'd. The croissant is like a person's face large and so buttery (good).

Hmm. He strokes his chin, squinting. ]

I'm guessing you mean the olive...? It's meant to be a hint, but it is strong of a flavor if not used carefully. Or is it something else?

[ The chocolate, the butter, the walnut oil, buckwheat, etc. ]

[chrysanths]

The oil and butter. I'm not much of a chocolate eater, so that could be why too.

[ He will fortunately not go into food coma from a single croissant despite it being so large. ]

... But is it really okay for you to ask a sleep-deprived person of their opinion?

[obdure]

Honestly, you kind of come off as someone who prefers a bit more savory...

[ Men truly have it all. They can eat a massive buttery croissant and feel fine while I eat one and I'm full for half a day if it's with coffee.

Maybe he should have given Adolphe a savory pastry instead. Maybe a sweet and salty. ]

Is it all right for you to drive?

[chrysanths]

I do.

[ Prefer savory, which probably means something when he mentioned the aftertaste. ]

I'm going to sit here for a while to wake myself up before I go again. Actually, I'll get another cup of coffee.

[ He looks over at Jacopo. You work here... ]

[obdure]

If you visit again, you can get a savory one instead. We have a decent variety, though the tartines are also good. Just not on-the-go friendly.

[ And this time pay for it.

Yes, he works here, so he's actually very prompt about getting up. It's casual and lax, but still ready. He pushes the seat back in. ]

All right. One cup of the same?

[chrysanths]

... I'll figure that out once I see pictures of the thing.

[ Because what are tartines. He doesn't know most pastry names... Anyway, ]

Two more shots of caffeine in it.

[obdure]

The menu describes what it is, you know.

[ Definitely lowkey thinking wanting to See the photos is a little childish, but he also understands. ]

You mean espresso? [ Raising his eyebrows and smirking a bit because that does sound like such sleepy person talk. It is funny. ] Two shots.

[ He will take the cup and the plate to get it out of the way. It isn't long before he returns with a hot cup, pleasant roasty aroma wafting. It's placed carefully on the table right in front of him. ]

[chrysanths]

You can describe the food down to its ingredients and that means nothing to most people.

[ Adolphe is... a common man. Commoner, basically. The every day kind of guy who doesn't concern himself with the intricacies of pastries nor other cafe terms. He just needs a general description of the food and he'd be good.

That's why he squints at Jacopo when he mentions espresso and stares as if to roll his eyes, but he's doing a great job at holding it. ]

Are you the kind of person who corrects people when they say small, medium, large at a Starbucks too.

[obdure]

[ Adolphe is so silly, but maybe when he's more awake then it'll be better and descriptions won't read like just ingredients. ]

First of all, I don't go to Starbucks.

[ He really took a potshot at snobby food critics when in reality HE IS A SNOB. There's a mind to tell Adolphe to enjoy his coffee, so he can rest behind the counter or in the back. Adolphe is any other customer and doesn't need conversation if he has his double shot coffee.

But... He isn't sure why. He pulls out the chair again and takes the same seat. ]

Second of all, they shouldn't be using those words. There's nothing Italian about Starbucks. They use French roasts. Plus, it is confusing to customers and somehow despite being simple terms so many people screw up the pronunciation.

[ SO, YES. HE WOULD BE......... THIS IS A LONG-WINDED ANSWER... THE COFFEE HE GAVE YOU IS VERY GOOD THOUGH? ]

[chrysanths]

[ Honestly, he thought Jacopo would have returned to work and is surprised when he sees him taking a seat. Must be slow right now to have a conversation with a random customer, he thinks. ]

People will screw up anything, no matter how simple it is.

[ Adolphe personally doesn't have much opinions about it, but it's pretty annoying when he has to deal with it. ]

What's the difference anyway? French and Italian roasts.

[obdure]

[ It is a bit slow right now because people are at their usual work time of a 9-5... Though there are still people filtering in and out. It seems like the staff handles them fine. It will get busy when brunch and lunch approaches. ]

Italian is darker and stronger, so it has more of a smoky taste than French. Frankly, I don't think you can call Starbucks coffee.

[ It is... Watered down. ]

Is that why you didn't get enough sleep? People screwing up simple things?

[chrysanths]

[ Well. ]

Sure. You can say that.

[ He takes a sip of the newly arrived coffee. Delicious. More caffeine. He wants to sink into the ground and perish from how exhausted he feels. ]

It's also the reason why I'm here, trying not to get into an auto accident by forcefully waking myself up.

[obdure]

... That sounds really bad.

[ Jacopo doesn't have an obviously worried or concerned expression like you'd see from like mothers or sympathetic people. Well, his worried and concerned tend to look like a scowl with how his eyebrows knit. ]

I get you, though. I used to work in real estate and it was god awful. Felt like everyone around me was slacking and when I did work longer to get stuff done, they work less.

[chrysanths]

Then the amount of work you've just done becomes the new standard and you get piled with more work next time... That's really the worst.

[ But, huh. Real estate? Where's the pipeline here? Did he get fired? He has so many thoughts. ]

What made you work in a cafe after real estate?

[obdure]

It becomes expected, but what's the point if no one else pulls their weight.

[ Thinking about his old job makes him want to smoke, but... Can't right now. ]

I didn't think you'd be that interested in me.

[ BECAUSE YOU WERE RUDE AT FIRST. Not that rude. He overreacted. ]

[chrysanths]

... Can you not word things weirdly.

[ Especially after the "flirting comment" he made earlier? Please. ]

Is me asking a question so weird that it warrants you saying that...

[obdure]

I—it isn't like that. Customers often will talk about themselves.

[ It's the customer service relationship! ]

[chrysanths]

[ Unfortunately, today just isn't Jacopo's day. Adolphe is not the kind of person to talk about himself very much and would rather redirect. ]

If it isn't weird, are you fine with answering my question from before?

[obdure]

[ When has any day been his day? ]

It's not weird, just don't complain if you end up finding it so boring you're going to fall asleep instead.

I was already investing into this cafe while I was working and I had a good relationship with the previous owner. [ Have you ever been hustling since forever. ] Picked it up after I quit which happened to line up with them retiring two years back.

I also like coffee and think people should start the day right with a good cup. I've had coffee that has ruined my day before. Had good coffee that made my awful day feel less bad. Morning's important.

[ yaps... yaps so dramatically..... ]