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]

But is it yours?

[ He doesn't care about other people.... ]

[obdure]

[ Gives him a bit of a tired look. ]

Dreams are for children and fools.

[ Despite having been so uncharacteristically and yet also characteristically generous and kind in his roundabout ways, he is still bound to being cynical and pragmatic.

Or he thinks he should. It doesn't answer the question, so he scrounges something up. ]

Being a cafe owner has been a breath of fresh air.

[chrysanths]

So, which is it?

[ Not a dream, but a rest stop. ]

[obdure]

Are you worried I'm going to up and leave someday?

[ Is this how this question got pulled from his mention of being forced to move around a lot?

He stands up and gets a third serving now that his stomach has settled with the first two, but he doesn't avoid the conversation. He's back at the little kitchen table with Adolphe. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe looks confused. ]

No. A dream is just something you want that seems a little out of reach when you first thought about it, right? Owning a cafe wasn't one for you?

[obdure]

[ why are you looking confused, he looks confused back because previously Adolphe asked if he planned to stay playing cafe owner for a long time.

He eats... Thinks. ]

It wasn't. I didn't have dreams that were so specific when I was younger.

[chrysanths]

[ Yeah because he knows people sometimes wanna do different things... he wasn't even thinking about what that meant for his stay here ]

I wonder how people can think of things like that.

[ dreamless individual ]

[obdure]

[ Just as Jacopo was about to mention Adolphe has been asking him a lot of questions (and it may be making him self-conscious), he's thrown a bone. ]

... Did you not want anything?

[ SIr... ]

It didn't need to be specific. It could be vague and nebulous.

[chrysanths]

[ Let him guide the natural course of conversation... ]

Wanting something enough for it to considered as a dream? I don't think I ever did.

[ He thinks about hot days when he wanted AC... but that was the extent of his wants that could be dream-esque. ]

[obdure]

[ After a spoonful of risotto, his eyebrows furrow. There isn't pity, but instead he's a bit disgruntled. ]

I suppose it is a small privilege to be able to dream in the first place. [ If basic needs aren't met in childhood, he's thinking... It doesn't need to be profound. Kids loved dreaming about being an astronaut or a doctor. ] I don't think it should be.

Owning a house in this economy is kind of a dream.

[chrysanths]

Yeah? Is it really a dream when it's trying to meet self-fulfillment needs?

[ He laughs a little. ]

Sure. A small house on my own that doesn't have a lawn that I need to take care of. That would be a great dream to have.

[obdure]

[ Adolphe..... Help. ]

There are plenty of tiers to lodgings. Apartments, condos, motorhomes, townhouses, and the list goes on. The second floor of a cafe included. [ ... ] Obviously, some are easier to acquire than others. To own a house is nice.

[ But it is Pricey depending on where you live and stuff, but he isn't going to go into that. ]

... I meant it more as a dry joke.

[chrysanths]

A dry joke, but... well, it's true. It would be nice to get a house of my own someday.

[ mortgages!!! fuck these things

But Adolphe comfortably answers that question. It's just a prospect, but most of all, he doesn't think it'll ever come true. It's easier to talk about things that he thinks he'll never be able to attain. ]

[obdure]

It's not a bad dream... And it could be within grasp if you consider rural. [ He does want to help this dream be less of one since it's realistic. ] I don't know why, but the countryside suits you.

[ It's just... A vibe that Jacopo can't shake off. He finishes his third plate now, sipping his water after while wondering if he should share a bit more. ]

My dream when I was young was to be someone, like making a name for myself worth remembering. No specific profession in mind or anything, so it was silly.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe tries to think about the countryside for a bit and looks at Jacopo. ]

There's nothing silly about wanting to be remembered.

[ That's how he interprets it. ]

I can agree that the city life isn't for me sometimes, but...

[obdure]

... That isn't what I said. It's not that deep.

[ A little unnerved?? Why did Adolphe attack his child self like that so easily because it is actually part of it. When he was a child, he didn't know or understand it at the time.

It's a little clearer as an adult, though he doesn't have so much time to self-reflect, either. Time is finite yet he's using it to chat. ]

But?

[chrysanths]

[ ???

Adolphe looks confused at the first part, because he thought an answer like that would be obvious, and not something really deep at all.

Anyway. ]

... It's more convenient to be in the city.

[obdure]

[ Most people would just think he was an ambitious kid wanting to be at the top regardless of how, not that it's about being remembered which stems from you know other things.

Both statements are true, though. ]

It is, but Amazon delivery has made it easier. Not that I trust other people to pick out my produce.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe makes a Face at produce picking because it's true. ]

No one should be, because most people aren't qualified to even tell them apart.

[obdure]

[ A low whistle. ]

Qualified. [ Woah... Only people with a masters in corn can pick out corn. ] Sounds like you'd need to start up your own farm.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe rolls his eyes, but can't help but to half-smile anyway. ]

That sounds like too much work for me.

[ Though Adolphe gets the sense that he'd like doing it to an extent. Perhaps if the environment was different... ]

Most people don't check for anything when picking out their produce.

[obdure]

That's how they get moldy berries or tasteless melons, then complain like it isn't their fault.

[ This also reminds him something, ]

Actually, I'm thinking of gardening in the yard.

[chrysanths]

What are you thinking of putting in there?

[ Ah. Wait. This makes him think of something. ]

You'll have to make a fence to keep your dogs from getting in too.

[obdure]

Tomatoes are good for beginners and people love anything that's labeled as organic or homegrown. I read up a bit and we could do a raised bed and I know a guy who does woodwork for a hobby.

[ strokes chin.......... it's about drawing people in... getting an edge on competition. it won't be a big supply, but the returns would be pretty good. Scarcity will fake the luxury, too. ]

They avoid the roses already, but... You're right. A fence would be good measure.

[chrysanths]

I heard some dogs love digging up gardens and eating vegetables, so I think it would be a necessary measure.

[ Not that Jacopo's dogs would but... who knows... maybe Harold will be a vicious cabbage eater. ]

Why a vegetable garden though?