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]

I didn't like it at the beginning, either. Coughed up a whole lung from one drag—I don't remember exactly when it became a habit. [ A shrug. ] I don't smoke inside, but it hangs around.

[ So it's more of a warning. ]

Utilities, maybe supplies. [ Whether for cleaning, toilet paper, etc. Whatever. ] Food we can decide. I know some people prefer to buy and manage their own.

[chrysanths]

[ He nods. ]

I can cook basic things, but I'm used to making leftovers to eat another time or day.

[ As in, he can follow a recipe and make it work, but he always made a lot for himself, even though he doesn't eat too much. He eats a normal amount. This is how he saved money while being satiated. ]

It would be nice to have access to a stove again.

[obdure]

[ Leftovers culture. ]

I make whatever is easy to get through the day.

[ He thinks of food like calories and sustenance... Despite owning a cafe and having opinions on food. The man is inconsistent. ]

Does that mean you want to manage your own?

[chrysanths]

[ honestly, you got all these famous chefs who just want to eat pizza for dinner and call it a day so it's not too weird ]

If you want some, tell me beforehand and I'll have a freshly cooked portion for you too.

[ Leftovers culture means he won't be cooking every day... is there a microwave in here ]

[obdure]

[ There is a microwave and an air fryer a la conventional oven style... ]

It would save me time.

[ Sometimes Jacopo just has a coffee with some buttered toast or jam toast. ]

You can use whatever you find in the fridge and pantry, then.

[chrysanths]

[ Jacopo is truly an air fryer kind of guy... ]

I'll note that. I can handle most household chores if you tell me what to avoid--

[ ... ]

For some reason, I expected you to own an efficient roomba.

[obdure]

[ it's just a conventional oven rebranded... There's an oven here, yet you know. Conventional oven is easier to clean.

Jacopo squints at him. ]

Huh?

[ He doesn't even know where to begin with this. ]

[chrysanths]

Since you like saving time, right? And that thing could clean for you.

[ He thinks this makes sense. ]

[obdure]

I do, but the stick vacuum can turn into a hand vacuum for the same price as a roomba.

[ The cost benefit analysis. He has thought about it. ]

A roomba can also get stuck. Sometimes it needs to be babysat. It seems easier for me to use my Sunday morning to vacuum.

[ And not go to church. ]

[chrysanths]

... Makes sense.

[ Now that Adolphe takes a look around from where he stands, he feels like he can understand in trying to be frugal while still having a lot of money. That's what he would do too, after all. ]

Is there anything I should know about while I live here?

[obdure]

[ This pad is a mix of secondhand marketplace and deals. ]

The cafe opens at six in the morning, so employees will be here before that. I had the ceiling of the first floor padded with decorative pattern tiles, but it works for sound occlusion. It's still not completely soundproof.

[ There's that. Jacopo reaches into his pocket and tosses over a key ring with three keys: the cafe, the yard gate, and the second floor. ]

During cafe hours, come through the yard instead of the front to not draw too much attention if all you're doing is coming back upstairs. I know it's annoying.

[ BUT IMPORTANT, tries to think of more. ]

If you want the dogs out of your room, close the door at night. Not that they'll be up here all the time.

[chrysanths]

[ He wouldn't have known, honestly.

Adolphe nods with all those points, but then he realizes-- ]

My room? I'm not sleeping on your bed.

[obdure]

It's "your" room for now as you are sleeping on the bed.

[ What else... He demonstrates with the coffee table, because it's a rising table. ]

There's storage in the coffee table and you'll find the remote and the paper tv manual in here. There's also storage in the sofa.

[ After pushing down the coffee table, he opens up the larger side of the sofa to show there is storage space in here. At the moment just a bag of extra sheets and blankets.

Closes that up after demonstrating, too. ]

Let's go to the bedroom.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe stares at this coffee table. He has never seen a rising table before. Wow. He's fascinated. Storage in the sofa too?? Wow...

Then he just wordlessly follows Jacopo to the bedroom. ]

[obdure]

[ It's kind of like this. Jacopo truly tried to min-max a solitary space.

To the bedroom, it basically looks like this. The bed can easily fit two people and there are more pillows than the photo... The desk is cleaned up, though there is still a stack of realtor magazines on the floor, but in a storage box. By the desk is a guitar on its stand. Photos are the same as outside, of places and art but not people.

The other door is obviously to the personal bathroom. Jacopo goes to the bed, then crouches. ]

So there's storage under here.

[ He pulls out these from under the bed. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Min-maxing a solitary space would also be my dream...

It's a foreign concept to Adolphe though, who could barely make use of space due to the lack of anything that he has. He looks down at the magazines, the storage box, guitar, photos... then even more storage from under the bed. ]

... I think I understand why you won't be getting a cat anytime soon.

[ That thing would be impossible to find in this home of SO MANY SMALL HIDING SPOTS. ]

[obdure]

Another pet on top of what I have would kill me, honestly... Even if cats are low maintenance.

[ Four dogs is a lot. If you told him a couple of years ago he would have four, he would say you're crazy. Even now, he thinks it's insane.

He pushes the baskets back under the bed and stands back up. ]

Anything you want to tell me? Like... I don't know. Allergies. Any needs. Preferences. Any weird rituals that I should respect.

[chrysanths]

[ Jacopo says that, but Adolphe isn't sure what he should note. Being a decent roommate sounds like common sense, like not going through other people's belongings and respecting their wants. Still, he'll try to list some. ]

If you need something from me, like buying groceries, tell me several hours ahead of time. Also, knock first. If I don't respond in three seconds, you can just open the door.

[obdure]

[ These are reasonable. ]

Who doesn't knock first... [ asian family ] But I should open the door even if you don't respond?

[ ??? ]

[chrysanths]

Yeah. I could be sleeping, so feel free.

[ It would be funny if Jacopo just stood outside the door to wait for a response but never gets one because Adolphe is sleeping. ]

If there's anything else later, I'll let you know. For now, those are the only two things.

[obdure]

[ The thing is... He would just wait and wouldn't open the door, but now he's told he can. ]

All right. The bedroom has a lock, so use it as you want. I already took out the documents I need to review.

[ So he doesn't really need anything from the bedroom. ]

You should shower first.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe was about to say something, but hesitates. He wonders if he looks that bad. ]

... Alright.

[ He goes to drag the backpacks over to the corner. He'll set everything up later. He doesn't think of getting Jacopo's phone number, because despite having a cell phone, he doesn't really like using it. ]

[obdure]

[ At least Adolphe doesn't smell? But Jacopo just thinks it's efficient that Adolphe showers first, because... ]

I'll fix something store bought to eat.

[ So something quick and easy for when Adolphe is done showering. He'll excuse himself from the bedroom to return to the kitchen.

Even though he says store bought, he's cutting up some fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, etc. to add to the store bought tomato sauce... Thinning it out with some beef broth.

Salts the boiling water on the other burner until it's like the sea for the pasta. They're having spaghetti... And for veggies he will just toss a quick salad mix.

You can decide if you want Adolphe to finish and come in either at the middle or when the food is done. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe's shower is really quick--five minutes for washing, soaping, drying. He puts on fresh clothes, a large long-sleeved cotton shirt and a pair of comfortable pants. He doesn't even use the hair dryer and picks up after himself, making sure the bathroom is clean after. He still has the same black gloves on.

He ends up walking to the kitchen while the food is still being made. ]

Spaghetti?

[ Smells good. ]

I thought you were going for store bought.

[obdure]

[ It is very aromatic even though he cracked the kitchen windows open, though it's also to let cool air in as the kitchen warms up... He even has his tie loose and shirt unbuttoned a bit.

He startles a bit when Adolphe appears, not used to having someone around— ]

You sure shower quick.

[ Jacopo thought he'd take longer...

When Adolphe points out the discrepancy, he looks at the state of his kitchen and... Yeah. This isn't exactly store bought, even if the salad mix is from a sizable bag and the pasta sauce is from a jar. He's adding fresh ingredients to it which is more effort than he intended to put in. It's more than he would put in if he was just making food for himself.

... ]

I'm not using a homemade tomato sauce, so it's basically store bought.

[ Yeah? Yeah! Don't question it. He takes out three slow feeder doggy bowls and one regular small one while the pasta sauce continues cooks. Italians call it gravy but that is too confusing to me, an American. ]