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]

... I'm eating.

[ You want him to get up?? ]

[obdure]

You can still turn your head as you eat.

[ I-di-ot. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Just his head?? Adolphe looks questioningly at Jacopo before turning his head. There. ]

[obdure]

[ .......... Tries not to snicker............ ]

[chrysanths]

[ ............

He gives Jacopo a flat stare after he finishes eating. ]

[obdure]

[ Sips some more of his coffee, but the smirk is obvious. ]

I can't finish my assessment because you didn't turn the other way.

[chrysanths]

Forget it.

[ He huffs and turns back around, away from Jacopo. Adolphe is finished with his food, so he just stays like that for a while, relaxing against the backrest of the couch. ]

[obdure]

[ Jacopo sips the last of his coffee, considering to forget it like Adolphe asks. He could take the plates and the cups to the sink, then head out with the dogs following him to go to the yard. He's busy. ]

After I've done half of the work?

[ He's busy, but instead he places the cup on the table and positions himself in front of Adolphe, down to one knee on the floor, and cranes to whichever side Adolphe is turning away to... Just to look up and see his face. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe looks only just a tiny bit annoyed as he glances over at Jacopo. The way he's on one knee reminds him of something... or gives him a feeling that this gesture us supposed to be one of equality or something. ]

Stop teasing me...

[ grumbling ]

[obdure]

I'm not teasing you.

[ Even though he definitely is, he says it with a gentle and soft smile in spite of the weariness dabbed on the corner of his eyes... He doesn't even know the ends of his lips are quirked up like this—it's natural.

There is an inkling he's making an expression that he normally wouldn't. Why does this feel familiar? Looking up at him, on one knee... Where is it coming up? Ridiculous. Stop. ]

You're looking better than when you got here.

[ He pats Adolphe's knee, then gets up to collect the empty plates and cups. ]

[chrysanths]

[ After Jacopo gets up to collect all that, Adolphe just sits there, looking confused and a little dumbfounded. He's not sure how he should feel in response, but he doesn't feel... bad. His smile is nice. There's something about this that makes him think that it's endearing and that he should treasure things like this.

... ]

Thanks...?

[ That's really all that comes out of his mouth. Adolphe feels like he should have teased back about how Jacopo seemed like he was flirting with him just now, but... he feels like something will explode if he says it out loud. ]

It was the rest.

[obdure]

More of it and you'll be looking like a human being in no time.

[ you would attack him by accusing him of flirting on this workday morning honestly fair jacopo is so rude

He goes to the kitchen to put the plates and cups in the sink, then gathers the dog bowls, too. As that happens, Harold and Olive trot over to Adolphe to sniff and plead for attention while the other two are waiting by the door.

Rinsing all of this, he checks his watch and— ]

Shit.

[ The noise of scrambling in the kitchen, then Jacopo is at the foyer putting on his loafers while holding an attache case. The dogs seem to know what this sound means for some reason, so Harold and Olive dart to the door, too.

Jacopo quickly grabs each dog by the chin with one hand and kisses their muzzle or between the eyes. A short little phrase in Italian for them, then he opens the door to head out for the day and dispense the dogs in the yard, but he pauses with a hand on the doorframe.

... ]

I'll be back.

[ He never really needed to say it, much like he never needed to welcome anyone back. It's foreign, but not bad. ]

[chrysanths]

... Alright.

[ Adolphe looks at the dogs and how they just fall into habit with Jacopo's actions. It's honestly really impressive, but this tells him that it happens often.

It makes him wonder. Jacopo doesn't seem to be used to living with someone else. Should he welcome him back when he returns? Adolphe only thinks this because he thinks it would be a nice gesture.

He also wants to sleep.

...

Adolphe ends up fetching his netbook to use while sitting on the couch. It doesn't really seem to be for entertainment purposes.

This is what he ends up doing until Jacopo returns. ]

[obdure]

[ Adolphe should just go back to sleep.

However, Harold is here to keep Adolphe company, having been purposely left behind. The pomeranian will settle next to Adolphe, then sometimes crawl onto his lap, or the crook of his elbow, and unfortunately will beg... for treats........ Because Adolphe is new, this little dog thinks he can manipulate him.

Anything Adolphe does, Harold will accompany him. Maybe even take a nappy.

The door doesn't click open until late evening, probably 8-9pm. The other three dogs come in first. ]

[chrysanths]

[ When Jacopo said "I'll be back", Adolphe thought it would have been an hour or so. When it became clear that it wasn't, he napped on the couch a bit with Harold. Fortunately, Adolphe doesn't know where the treats are and doesn't end up getting up from the couch apart for water for himself. ]

Welcome back.

[ He looks over at the opened door. ]

[obdure]

[ Harold would try to lead him to the pantry for the treats... He would guide him to sin... But Adolphe is resistant. One day, Adolphe. One day you will succumb and give him a treat.

The dogs swarm Adolphe upon hearing his voice because again... He's new and different to their routine. This is also new for Jacopo. It pulls him out of his thoughts.

Door closes and locks. ]

I'm back.

[ Quietly and tired, as he takes off his shoes and loosens his tie. He enters the living space with a bag in one hand and his attache case in the other. ]

I got leftover pastries and samples. [ bread.... ] Want any before I put them in the fridge?

[chrysanths]

[ He will be sin-resistant for a long time. Meanwhile, he pets the dogs when they swarm him. There, there. Petting for everybody. ]

I'll take a few samples. I'm good with any of them.

[ ... ]

Good work today.

[obdure]

[ Hewwo hewwo, says the dogs, each having their own needy personality. They do not care if your hands are gloved or feel different.

He was going to rummage through the bag, but the comment has him take a pause. It's not like he hasn't heard it before. He has heard it plenty from coworkers and upper management, but they're people who benefit from his efforts.

It's a little different to hear it from someone outside of that environment. It almost melts away the fatigue. ]

What were you up to? [ He leaves behind his case next to the sofa so he can just plop onto the empty side, smile plastered on. The dogs make way for him. ] Slept the whole day?

[ Tosses him the pastry bag. ]

[chrysanths]

No, I actually didn't sleep after eating breakfast, so I drank some coffee and did things on my computer.

[ Is it really being secretive if Adolphe just thinks that they're not things worth bringing up? He catches the pastry bag and takes a bite out of one. ]

How was your day?

[obdure]

Sounds peaceful.

[ Jacopo personally wouldn't call it secretive.

Harold stares at the potato and asparagus croissant Adolphe takes a bite out of, but Jacopo scoops him and puts him onto the floor. No. ]

Awful. I don't want to think about it. [ BUT HE WILL COMPLAIN. ] The other person was late to my first appointment, then a car almost ran me over because the driver decided he didn't have eyes for the moment. I had to notify people I was seeing later that we would need to push the meetings back. Some we couldn't go over time, which meant we lost minutes. One went grossly overtime... My second espresso was so obviously burnt and it lingered even after getting a new shot.

My ex-coworkers continue to act like they don't know how to do their jobs.

[ He still feels Aggrieved, though. Sinking into the couch, head just hanging back in the armrest as he dies. ]

Renewal contract negotiations went smoothly, otherwise. Made some headway on future plans, too.

[chrysanths]

You had to make that many appointments for a renewal contract?

[ And he went back to his old workplace to do it?? Damn. Adolphe munches on the pastry some more. ]

[obdure]

Only one was a renewal, the rest were for other things... Most of it is for the cafe, a few are some side projects.

[ He just stares at the white dappled ceiling, feeling the weariness return and weighing on top of him. His mind starts becoming crowded, much like when he first stepped in before the greeting and... Warm welcome. It's his usual, but he's finding he doesn't care for it much right now. ]

What were you doing on your computer?

[ Innocent curiosity. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Jacopo is so busy... Adolphe nods to that, but when Jacopo asks that question, Adolphe leans back into the backrest. ]

Watching tutorials on practical skills. Did you eat dinner?

[ He didn't make anything, which is why he's currently finishing the sample pastry. ]

[obdure]

You didn't just have some leftover spaghetti already?

[ Jacopo stops staring at the ceiling to readjust so he can look at him from this side of the couch. ]

It's late.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe sits there in silence for a good several seconds. ]

Right... I forgot.

[ He says in a defeated tone. Turns out that when you think over the pros and cons of welcoming someone back when you think they'd be back in an hour or two and them not doing that can make you forget about stuff. It's not Jacopo's fault, really, but he's not looking at the man. ]

It's fine. I'll eat it tomorrow.

[ so he really only ate breakfast, skipped lunch and dinner to eat sample pastries

His digestive system needs to remind him that he's no longer homeless ]