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]

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 ]

[obdure]

[ Adolphe, you're so silly. He raises his eyebrows when he looks away, but doesn't ask. Maybe he was busy?

Jacopo doesn't chide him because he also sometimes skips meals, or he will eat his day's worth in one meal. Even right now he's just thinking of having some meal bars, a drink, and a smoke. One of these aren't food, but listen here.

A SIGH since he thinks they shouldn't be forgetting to eat. ]

... I haven't eaten, too. So either I toast these pastries or I reheat some spaghetti.

[ For tonight, for us. ]

[chrysanths]

Go eat some pastries.

[ They should not be eating pastries for dinner, but here they are.

Adolphe doesn't realize that Jacopo means for them, and not just for himself. After all, he already got his pastry? Why would he need another one? ]

[obdure]

[ adult life is about choosing dessert for breakfast and breakfast for dinner... ]

Pick another one for yourself and I'll toast it.

[ Jacopo is leaning over to scavenge through the bag while it's next to Adolphe, peering in to decide on two for himself. ]

[chrysanths]

[ all day breakfast menus are supreme ]

Alright... this one.

[ He points because I don't know what others there are but he's choosing. ]

[obdure]

[ breakfast is the best meal type which is why i chose morning for this cafe

The type doesn't matter, but if we care to ponder and be excited about the bread...

One is a caramel twisted danish with a lemon curd inside and strawberries because strawberries are in season.

Duck fat poached pear danish, sweet and savory.

Pork belly with fish sauce caramel tile, another sweet and savory.

Seafood risotto-stuffed croissant. Just savory. ]

Milk or water?

[ Jacopo takes the bread and goes to the kitchen to toast, dogs following him in a single file line because they get a feeling they'll be fed, too. Which they're right. He's putting out food for them after he puts the pastries into his air fryer conventional oven duo. ]

[chrysanths]

[ I'm so fuckin hungry those sound delicious... duck fat pastries?! aaaaaa ]

Water is fine.

[ He watches the dogs get in a single line. Wow... ]

[obdure]

[ stuffs a pastry into you they really sound good..... haven't gone to this bakery in a while.

TOASTY PASTRIES and dog feeding. He will need to be in the kitchen for five minutes, but it's right behind the living room so they can still chat. ]

What practical skill were you so focused on that had you forget to eat, anyway?

[ Jacopo also forgets sometimes, but when work lets up at the end of the day he's starving. ]

[chrysanths]

How to fix the sink and faucets on my own and a bunch of other things.

[ If he can't make himself useful with a job, he might as well learn about other things that he should know about. ]

[obdure]

Ahhh... Handyman stuff is useful. I've watched a couple of videos to save me from buying services before. It's sometimes ridiculous how easy it actually is?

[ But Jacopo didn't often have to figure it out. The pastries are ready, so he brings them out on a big enough serving tray with two glasses of water. ]

You know the home improvement store a couple of blocks down hosts how-to seminars?

[ Lounges back on his half of the couch. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe is still sitting on the couch, thanking Jacopo for the food and water. ]

It's fine. I'm not interested in attending those.

[ He drinks some water and takes a bite out of the pastry. ]

[obdure]

But you're looking up home repair videos...

[ Jacopo is trying his best here, confused as he eats a pastry. It is tasty. ]

What are you interested in?