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]

"Dear customers" pay every time they're here.

[ A small wry expression, as if that's enough to explain everything. He passes off the coffee cup to his right hand, lowers his left, and resumes drinking it. Quiet sip by sip. ]

[obdure]

[ His eyebrows knight gently. ]

You're saying you want to come here, but not buy anything?

[ Yeah! That's annoying, but? He's very confused. What's the point of coming to a cafe, otherwise? ]

[chrysanths]

See? You wouldn't like it.

[ Yeah. That's all he's getting out of this. ]

[obdure]

[ The feeling he gets is that he wouldn't mind if Adolphe just hung around, but he can't just say that. ]

... But why come here in the first place? What would you be enjoying?

[ Like. Is it the atmosphere? Jacopo wouldn't go out of his way to hang at a cafe just because it gives him good vibes???

But maybe Adolphe is different? ]

[chrysanths]

[ Yeah. In fact-- ]

I like the atmosphere here. It's cozy and always smells nice.

[ That's a little more detail than what Adolphe wanted to say, and he's always been conscious about oversharing, but he feels like he can't stop dumping words. ]

And I like... talking to you.

[ It's almost through gritted teeth, but his face still looks neutral about it like whatever is blocking him from feeling annoyed. He already said his reasons as to why before. ]

It's better than staying in my car.

[obdure]

[ He has a million thoughts right now that can't be easily crammed into meta, mostly questioning this situation and how he feels. What's normal? How should he react for it to stay normal? How does he reconcile the joy he feels when he heard what he said and then also the strange disconnect that he barely knows him?

Trying to stay composed and to slow down his thoughts. He delivers this flatly with a squint. ]

And you accused me of flirting.

[ Even though he knows that's not what this is, he thinks they need a brush of levity. ]

[chrysanths]

Yeah? And?

[ binch,

With that, some of what he was like the first time when he visited starts to show. The second time felt like he was prevented from expressing anything on his face, and it's still a bit similar now. ]

[obdure]

You don't think this is a bit like flirting.

[ He can feel Adolphe's "no" coming up next, so he moves onto the next part even though he's studying his expression... Or lack thereof.

A small lopsided smile. ]

Why don't you ask me to be your friend?

[ Maybe this will help with the guard they've both put up... It could clear up the dissonance a bit, too. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Predictably, Adolphe is about to say "no" to the flirting comment.

And is surprised when Jacopo says the next thing.

Adolphe did say that he felt comfortable with Jacopo, but when he says that, he feels like there's some sort of power imbalance that knocks the scale enough to be broken in one go, but why? It's a simple suggestion. Was it the wording that he suggest it, as if he's desperate for company? It would be nice, to not feel so lonely. Did he ever feel lonely?

Yes.

Yes, he has. There's no denying it.

He feels like an overreacting stray animal that growls at an outreaching hand that has all the best intentions. Why is he so scared? Is it because this is only their third meeting, yet it felt unusual in so many ways to the point that it felt surreal? Are these his decisions?

But none of that shows on his face nor body language. ]

... Don't people naturally become friends instead of asking one another?

[obdure]

That's hard to do when you're a customer and I'm an employee unless we spend time outside cafe hours.

[ And he can't just let a customer come in to loiter here without paying for something... Others might catch on, whisper, and become resentful for no reason.

That's his paranoia, of course. Still, he wants no trouble for himself or Adolphe. He's starting to get self-conscious and looks elsewhere, even grabs a towel to start wiping the counter even though IT IS CLEAN. ]

So I'm putting it out there, even though it isn't something I'd normally do... But with you—I seem to be doing a lot of uncharacteristic things already.

[ So why the fuck not. In his nature, he would have just let these feelings settle and fester. He'd wait for however long for this to naturally pass or to develop.

Acting on it is better, isn't it? Some control, he tells himself, and it's... A bit freeing. It relieved some of the anxieties, but also there's a small hope.

As much as he values Maria's company, Adolphe's company is different. Maybe without the words to say it, Adolphe can read that he likes talking to him, too. Jacopo hopes he can't. ]

You're free to reject it. The choice is yours.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe stays quiet. A lot of his inner turmoil has quieted down, and he's surprised that Jacopo said that. He's tempted to ask if he's a mind reader, but doesn't. ]

I'm not rejecting it.

[ But. ]

I just find it weird. It feels like we're not allowed to be friends after hours.

[obdure]

[ Jacopo slows down on wiping the counter and gives him a quizzical look paired with an amused smile. ]

A simple and direct "yes" works.

[ Said from a man who also circles around the point... Though Adolphe not rejecting it does not mean that he's accepting it. ]

I didn't know friendship had strict rules like a prerequisite number of hours before you can call each other "friends." Maybe I did it all wrong before.

[ That's just his opinion and from his experience, but he teases anyway. ]

[chrysanths]

I'm not saying that it's a prequisite... but that's just how it sounded like from the way you said it. As if you can't leave the cafe apart from walking your dogs.

[ Anyway, he would usually reject this sort of thing, but again. There's something about Jacopo. He's curious about him, but the curiosity wages war with his current priorities. ]

[obdure]

Naturally, it takes time to become familiar and learn you're interested. [ So! They're just skipping that to negotiations. ] I can leave the cafe, but it's usually still for work.

[ To meet up with suppliers and other local business owners... Networking and stuff. Thinking. ]

I'm free during the evenings and on Sunday, but you're free to stay after hours.

[ Like before when they were just doing their own thing (well, Adolphe was napping). ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe has more than enough reasons to be obstinate, but. ]

... Thanks.

[ Jacopo has offered and he'd feel stupid if he refused. A part of him wants to accept it anyway, but for... friendship reasons instead of everything that seems to be attached to it. How could it not be tempting?

It makes Adolphe more curious about him, because just like him, he doesn't seem to be the type to offer friendship so easily either. ]

It would be nice to walk with you and your dogs again too.

[ He smiles a little. Just a bit. Adolphe seems more relaxed than before. ]

[obdure]

They do miss you, I think... They look into the cafe a bit when we're about to leave, as if expecting someone. It could also just be my imagination.

[ Granted, Jacopo thinks the dogs would miss absolutely anyone, but maybe this is a roundabout way to say he also missed Adolphe without admitting it—because it is insane.

It's also insane to see Adolphe smile a little and hope he smiles more often. Christ.

BUT friendship will make... Some of these strange happenings easier on them. It can define what they've found odd and strange as natural and normal now.

He folds the towel and puts it away. ]

You still have to pay, but you can pay in other ways. Favors.

[ It's only fair... And he knows that he himself wouldn't want to take charity for too long, so he can't imagine other people would, either. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Aw, doggies... cute... ]

Sure. I can handle that.

[ He doesn't know Jacopo well, if at all, but it seems like Jacopo would give reasonable favors. And he'll bet on it. ]

[obdure]

[ He doesn't have inclinations to take advantage of people in this life, fortunately. This... Went well, so his amused smile becomes a content one. ]

Then we're settled.

[ ... ]

Even though you look like garbage, how have you been?

[chrysanths]

Terribly. There's a reason why I couldn't come here at all.

[ Though Jacopo can probably piece things together. ]

... Lost a lot of things.

[obdure]

[ He is piecing it together, but... The city is large. What are the chances? His eyebrows knit. ]

To a fire?

[chrysanths]

An orphanage caught on fire. The place I lived in was in the area.

[ He ends up drinking all of his coffee and looks down at the empty cup on the saucer, thinking about how huge the fire was. ]

I didn't have many things.

[ As if that's the biggest concern, but it's merely some sort of deflection. ]

[obdure]

[ Adolphe... Jacopo's eyebrows furrow deeper, eyes still on him as he takes the empty cup and saucer away. ]

You didn't have that many things. [ In the tone of wanting to throttle him. ] That doesn't make it any less distressing! So your place also caught on fire?

[ BE DIRECT AND CLEAR ]

[chrysanths]

Yeah. My luck would have it, it's the only unit in the neighborhood that caught on fire. And I'm trying not to spiral about it again.

[ let him deflect ]

So the last few weeks were in adjustment to that.

[ PO boxes, gym membership for their showers, looking up ways to earn money, coin laundries and coping with everything that happened. ]

[obdure]

You're one unlucky guy.

[ I'm sorry, Adolphe. Jacopo does feel bad, but he doesn't think trying to make it feel less than awful is the answer... However, he's also the type that thinks it's better to be furious as you grit your teeth and bear it.

He tries to loosen his frown before it becomes too permanent. ]

... And everything's covered? Nothing at the moment you're lacking, right?

[ Please don't be still sleeping in your car is what he's praying. ]

[chrysanths]

Food, water, shelter. Cheap food by the bulk, water fountains, car.

[ So he really chose luxury today by coming to this cafe lmfao ]