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]

[ 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 ]

[obdure]

[ it isn't your fault but you are a nightmare. you are now his nightmare. ]

... No friends to sofa surf or crash?

[chrysanths]

I have no connections.

[ Just say that you don't have friends



But he really doesn't have any worth noting, he thinks. ]

[obdure]

[ Jacopo squints because he thinks he can scrounge up connections, even though he wouldn't call them friends. ]

... A grown man shouldn't be sleeping in a car.

[ Even though like... He has done it. ]

[chrysanths]

A grown man also shouldn't be sleeping in the streets, but beggars can't be choosers.

[ Just this fuckin guy sleeping in a ferrari is such a funny image lmao ]

[obdure]

[ IT WAS BEFORE HIS FERRARI... ]

If the police find you sleeping in your car, they'll give you trouble even if it's in a public lot.

[ ... ]

And that's why you should accept my offer.

[ You didn't offer anything yet. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Looks up at Jacopo, staring into his eyes again. Staring. Staring. Staring. ]

You didn't offer me anything.

[ He went through his memories so many times and doesn't remember a single thing about it. ]

[obdure]

[ Staring back... Staring back. ]

I didn't, but I'm preparing you. [ Grumble. ] Don't give me a weird look.

[ That he shouldn't be surprised when he offers and also don't make it a big deal. ]

You can use my place for a bit. It's better than being a public nuisance.

[chrysanths]

[ Sorry to Jacopo, but who wouldn't give him a weird look after that. At least for Adolphe, he just raises his eyebrows in surprise. ]

Why?

[ Other than "being a public nuisance". He's surprisingly not suspicious of the invitation, but he really wants to know why. ]

[obdure]

[ It's weird. He knows it is and calling Adolphe a public nuisance is meant to cushion it for himself and for him. It's hard to come up with excuses when Adolphe is an adult who can take care of himself.

He drums his fingers on the counter's surface. ]

Because I'm responsible.

[ Beats this dead horse insult until the corpse is nothing but ashes. ]

[chrysanths]

[ There's a slow blink. ]

You feel responsible for me?

[






what ]