agora | THROUGH A FRACTURED EXISTENCE, TO THE RHYTHM OF ETERNITY.

THROUGH A FRACTURED EXISTENCE, TO THE RHYTHM OF ETERNITY.

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

[ today i learned italians call it gravy ]

Store bought is just... buying it ready-made from a store.

[ Jacopo. Please. Suddenly, he remembers that Jacopo owns a cafe and probably has a hand in how the food tastes with the trial samples that he tested. He wonders if those are his own recipes or tweaked from existing ones, but either way, it makes Adolphe's own cooking skills feel very... lackluster.

But it's fine, since he always cooked for sustenance rather than flavor. ]

You put in a lot of effort for something "store bought", so I was surprised.

[ He didn't have to see Jacopo preparing the ingredients, but he can tell by the state of the kitchen. Adolphe is impressed. ]

[ probably just sauce or gravy... ]

Adding things didn't take that much extra time. [ Why are you (rightfully) criticizing him? He knows that he's going a bit beyond, but it isn't that beyond. ] It's also your first night here. We might as well indulge in freshly diced tomatoes.

[ Adding so much attitude to this words to try to shake Adolphe off on overthinking it. It isn't worth overthinking (Jacopo can overthink by himself). It Isn't A Big Deal.

He shakes kibble into the dog bowls, then moves back to the stove to sample the sauce. His expression is lukewarm, unimpressed, and he adds another hit of black pepper before covering it. ]

It's almost ready. [ He opens the cabinets to plates, which Adolphe can see there aren't a whole lot of dinnerware. Probably only enough for 1-3 people. ] Can you bring the dogs up? There's a door stopper by the shoe rack.

[ To keep the door open so Adolphe doesn't need to key fiddle more than he needs to. ]

[ Adolphe's entire reaction to Jacopo's attitude: k ]

Sure.

[ He goes over to the door, takes the door stopper, keeps the door open with it-- ]

It's dinner time...!

[ Will he expect to see a swarm of dogs running at his direction?? ]

[ YEAH SHUT UP GOOD

The dogs know what time it is....... But they see Adolphe and they're more curious and happy to see him instead of eat. He's new? Familiar, but new to the routine!

So they do bombard him, but don't jump on him. They're just crowding around him when they come in, instead of rushing up the stairs. Olive and Vera nose his hands while Harold stares at him expectantly from the ground.

Rocco is watching behind them, tail also wagging. ]

[ The dogs are all great. Olive will feel that the hand is the same as usual. Vera will feel as if the nose walked into a wall. Smoosh. After petting those two with his right hand, he bends over to give Harold some pets too and gestures to Rocco to come over. ]

[ These dogs do not understand... They are going off vibe. If Adolphe has good vibes, then they're happy for him even if one hand is incredibly stiff. Rocco comes over for his turn, ears pinned back but tail still wagging. The dogs continue to crowd... New person new person new person new person.

Distantly upstairs, ]

Hey, dinner! Dinner.

[ skdjgdsjh they're SO cute......... Adolphe feels like he hasn't been this loved since... forever, really. But when Jacopo's voice is heard, Adolphe laughs a little. ]

Come on. It's time for you guys to eat.

[ After one more pat for everyone, Adolphe leads the dogs upstairs. ]

[ The dogs seem to know they've loitered for too long by the sound of Jacopo's voice and with Adolphe's lead they will climb up the stairs. In the kitchen, there's a mat rolled out and the dog bowls set upon it for each dog. They go to their bowl and start munching.

For them, a familiar kitchen stand holding condiments and liquor has transformed into a small kitchen table. Two plates of spaghetti and one large bowl of salad for them to serve themselves. ]

I didn't know if you wanted to eat on the couch to watch some TV or here, but we can move. [ Hand on his hip. ] There's more if you want second servings.

[ Adolphe is, once again, fascinated by the furniture. ]

Here is fine. Thanks.

[ He goes over to the kitchen to wash his hands and walks over to the table. Wow. Spaghetti. This is so much better than how he makes it for himself. After sitting on the chair, he looks down at his food and waits for Jacopo to sit too. ]

[ Also glasses of water, me forgetting... He is about to sit, but then. ]

You have any plans tomorrow?

I have one appointment at noon. Did you need me for something?

[ ??? Why isn't he sitting. ]

[ Hmmm. ]

I was going to offer a glass of wine.

[ That's why he isn't sitting. He would need to fetch wine glasses. ]

[ Wine? With spaghetti?

...]

I should be fine if it's just a glass, and not an entire bottle. Do you eat like this every day? This is fancy.

... I had poptarts for dinner last night and a glass.

[ So, no. Do not misunderstand. He doesn't eat like this every day, but he goes to get the glasses and the bottle in his fridge, then pours and sets them on the table.

Now he sits. ]

Do remember most of the sauce came from a store bought jar.

[ Adolphe decides it's better to not judge because he was homeless until today. ]

You have really high standards when it comes to food.

[ Like. Yeah? But still.

Adolphe takes a fork and eats. It's... good.

Definitely better than his own. ]

[ You are housed now. Jacopo loves strays.

Adolphe will soon see Jacopo's fridge is a bit bare even with the groceries, but at least it isn't empty or full of one thing. It's still sparse because he'd normally just make something quick and easy, then leave. At least there are fruits. They are easy and nutritious.

He eats his pasta. To him it tastes okay and acceptable. ]

I just know what good food should taste like.

[ Raises his eyebrows at his reaction. ]

[ He takes care to eat the salad too. Yummy. Adolphe is a little glad that he himself isn't picky, or his life would have been a lot harder. ]

It helps being a cafe owner, huh?

I guess it does... I still wouldn't say food is a passion. I don't have a background and I didn't develop the menu or anything, most of it is lifted from when the old owner still ran the show.

[ Jacopo was at first a customer, too. Came often... Had everything on the menu. ]

I did add some more items based on what my grandmother made for breakfast when I was a kid.

Which ones? Was the one I ate one of them?

[ He keeps eating, but makes sure not to talk with hus mouth full. ]

We don't bake in-house, so it isn't any you've had, but I did have a hand in developing the olive croissant. Workshopped it with a local bakery.

[ He sips his wine... Which is actually fancy vs their makeshift elevated store bought spaghetti. ]

I can cook some for you in the morning, though... Before you head off for the day.

[ Adolphe also sips the wine and... he can definitely taste the quality at least. Fancy. He's also surprised to hear the offer. ]

Is that fine? You have to work, don't you?

[ I hope it's easier for him to imagine Jacopo having Oreo pop tarts and then having fancy wine after. ]

I technically don't need to work in the cafe. [ But... He's there. A lot of the time. ] And I'd be making breakfast for myself, anyway.

[ It is, actually. The only thing holding Adolphe from laughing at the mental image is the shock of the breakfast offer. ]

If you're sure. It would be nice to have breakfast like that.

[ He's grateful, so he smiles a little. ]

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