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

[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..... ]

[chrysanths]

[ Oh.

Huh.

Instead of being bored with the story, he finds it nice. Also, impressive. ]

That must have been some terrible coffee if it could ruin your entire day.

[ Damn. ]

[obdure]

Seven dollars for something that tasted like instant coffee and milk.

[ Layers. Layers... Even though Jacopo knows it could just be he woke up feeling like garbage, so it stung even more. Just another slight against him.

He will not say that, though. ]

[chrysanths]

I guess that was also the day when you happened to go to Starbucks for the first time?

[ lol

But this guy. Investing already? This cafe is his? He's heard that real estate agents can make a lot of money while losing years off their lifespan, so the switch is impressive. Perhaps it wasn't the money.

Good for him, Adilphe thinks as he takes another sip of the coffee. ]

... If you're the owner, why do you let yourself get pushed around by your employees?

[obdure]

[ They do lose years off their lifespan... They lose years off their sanity. Perhaps coffee shop is supposed to be healing even if it's rough.

Starbucks is the enemy and the joke does have him smile a bit because it is funny and WE LOVE DUNKING ON STARBUCKS, but just as quickly he scowls. ]

You—[ Closes his mouth to fix his tone. ] I am not getting pushed around.

[chrysanths]

Then what was all that with your employee?

[ Despite how Maria is a force to be reckoned with. ]

[obdure]

It's how we are outside of work. I've told her to get it together when we're clocked in, but she's incorrigible.

[ never change Maria ]

[chrysanths]

Sounds like you're fond of her.

[ He did not, but he can joke sometimes. ]

I guess she's a friend of yours?

[obdure]

Who'd be friends with a girl so loud and noxious?

[ Adds to the joke, but half-hearted. t's audible enough where Maria shouts back, "I can hear you, asshole!" and the blond man also working cracks a hearty laugh. Adolphe at this point is the only one left, so SHE JUST LETS IT RIP. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe laughs a little, but keeps his voice down. He can't help it when it's displayed like this. This must be what's it's like to have friends at this age, he thinks to himself as he takes another sip of the coffee. ]

It looks like you would, for the record.

[obdure]

[ Maria saunters over, hand on the table as she looms over both men (barely), "you joining the bully Jacopo club?" ]

You're supposed to be working.

[ The guy is still laughing as he's wiping down tables, "there are no perks except a good time." ]

[chrysanths]

[ Ahhh, well. The offer sounds tempting, but he barely even knows the guy. ]

... I'll pass.

[ He's trying to be cordial instead of a menace. His ever-slowly rising social skills. ]

You three sound like good friends.

[obdure]

[ Thank you. You're not instantly his enemy. Maria winks apologetically, "awww, well if you ever reconsider! Just keep visiting us!" ]

I wouldn't call this good.

[ Glaring at her which will eventually get her leaving the table, saying she's just trying to convert someone into a regular! He should give her a raise!

Fakest excuse ever and she's unashamed. ]

They behave when there's more people. Barely.

[chrysanths]

... Well, I never went to a cafe like this before.

[ Employees talking with their customers and actually having quality food... Adolphe would just take his drink and sit in the corner so that he wouldn't be bothered.

But this morning's interaction? He doesn't dislike it for some reason. ]

So... I'll probably come back another time.

[obdure]

[ HE should be pleased that Adolphe is saying he'd come back. He should. They have quality food for the price. Their coffee is good. They're LOCAL and supporting local is so much better.

But there's a record scratch in Jacopo's brain. ]

What do you mean a cafe like this?

[ Squinting at him a bit. ]

[chrysanths]

[ ?

Adolphe doesn't know why Jacopo is squinting at him. ]

I like the atmosphere. Coffee is good too and it's not overpriced.

[obdure]

Oh, [ He truly feels stupid for overreacting again. ] I thought you were going to say that the cafe is... Weird.

[ Which would be rude, but Adolphe has been candid so far and he wouldn't be wrong. Jacopo doesn't think today, with him, has been normal in the slightest. He's not sure why... He's seated here, chatting with him.

He's not sure why he feels oddly comfortable. Relaxed, even. When has he felt relaxed? It's been not as busy in a stressful way after he quit real estate, but still busy where he doesn't take the time to unwind. That's wasted time that he can focus on work.

This is uncharacteristic of him. Unexplainable. It bothers him.

...

It would annoy him to hell if Adolphe said all of this was weird, no matter how true. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe always finds it comfortable. If it were anyone else, he feels like he would have rebuffed them hard by ignoring them outright and drink his coffee in silence. He's not a very social person and would rather be left alone.

But he doesn't remember how long it's been since he's had conversation like this with someone around his own age. Or at least, he thinks so? He looks over at Jacopo. There's really nothing special about this setup. He's just here because he didn't want to get into a car accident. ]

This is the first cafe where I could sit down with an employee and try out a trial test food unprompted, but it's not that bad. If I really didn't like it—

[ His own phone rings—well, it vibrates very loudly. Adolphe checks his phone, some sort of outdated smartphone that probably hasn't been seen in ten years. Still usable somehow. He sighs upon seeing the message and puts his phone away. ]

... I guess I can go home now.

[ I forgot to mention but he has gloves on. Just black gloves. Nothing special. ]