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]

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

You have any plans tomorrow?

[chrysanths]

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

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

[obdure]

[ Hmmm. ]

I was going to offer a glass of wine.

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

[chrysanths]

[ 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.

[obdure]

... 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.

[chrysanths]

[ 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. ]

[obdure]

[ 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. ]

[chrysanths]

[ 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?

[obdure]

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.

[chrysanths]

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

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

[obdure]

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.

[chrysanths]

[ 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?

[obdure]

[ 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.

[chrysanths]

[ 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. ]

[obdure]

[ STOP SOMETIMES YOU GIRL DINNER STRUGGLE MEAL and then have an expensive treat after

His eyebrows knit as his gaze shifts down to his spaghetti, then to his glass, just anywhere really to avoid seeing Adolphe smile. ]

It's just breakfast. [ Deflects. ] You'd still prefer savory?

[chrysanths]

[ mood though ]

Yeah, but... I'm really fine with anything.

[ Especially since he's getting it for free? He doesn't even think of making demands because he's always the thankful sort. ]

[obdure]

Then I better not hear you complain.

[ Just saying, even though he's generally confident on the recipe... He's not a chef or anything, but it's his grandmother's with some tweaks.

... Dinner is a good time to talk about things, right? Now that they're friends and now roommates. ]

What do you even do?

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe complain unless you're like jiaoqiu and suddenly make it deathly spicy. I'm pretty sure Adolphe would remember that spanning universes. ]

What do you mean?

[ What does he do... for what? Job? How he took care of himself before? He doesn't know. ]

[obdure]

[ Do not die to spicy, Adolphe... They are too European to survive Chinese spice, though Italians can handle more peppers than other people in Europe. ]

... Like... Your job?

[ The most important thing. ]

[chrysanths]

[ He suffered thrice in heaven... He thought he could water it down, but he could not. Useless attempt. Jiaoqiu spice is eternal (unfortunately). ]

Oh.

[ ............... ]

I don't have a job right now. I got laid off from my last one.

[ The spaghetti is finished. ]

So I've been doing odd jobs and participating in research for money nowadays.

[obdure]

Your luck really is bad...

[ Jacopo had ran into bad luck before, but not all at once like this? At least not in a very long time.

He sips his wine. ]

What did you do before?

[chrysanths]

Writing comprehensive wellness reports for various orphanages and to see if they were still fit to run. I was checking the one that was near my house, but...

[ He munches on some salad. ]

... one of the children there caused the fire. He had severe depression and sleep apnea, so I wanted to help him with at least one of those.

[ Obviously, that didn't pan out. ]

Luckily, no one died in the fire.

[obdure]

That's good that no one died.

[ Even though fire is destructive, taking everything very quickly. Jacopo munches on some salad, too. It's just a simple italian dressing, but honestly i love italian dressing.

It's kind of Adolphe to go out of his way for the kid and he wants to ask how they're doing. Or if it's just something Adolphe had to put down for a bit as he FIGURES HIS LIFE OUT. ]

Went to college? Got a degree?

[chrysanths]

No, and no. I got drafted to the military instead.

[ The hand with the fork stays still on the table as he thinks about something, but his expression is neutral. ]

[obdure]

[ He isn't going to ask about military-assisted job prospects because Adolphe likely looked into it... Jacopo was never in the military, so he isn't going to stick his nose in it like he knows how the benefits work.

Tasty... Spaghetti... He's done with his plate and will have more salad. ]

I'd offer you a job here, but... I'd imagine you want to hold yourself up. [ On top of a place to stay, Jacopo doesn't want to keep stacking things. It can feel like a debt. ] You should still send me your resume.