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]

Just take this one so I can eat the other one.

[ Forces it on him so he can execute his min-max no leftover pastry plan since he toasted all of them already and there is an extra one. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Well.

Okay!

He takes the pastry forced on him and looks down at it... then takes a bite. ]

A sweet one...

[ He mumbles after swallowing. ]

[obdure]

It's not as sweet at this one.

[ The last one he's taking with the strawberries and lemon curd or whatever, so it's sweet. He gave Adolphe the sweet and salty one. ]

Just didn't really have time to develop interests?

[chrysanths]

Yeah.

[ sweet and salty... he likes it, so he ends up finishing it pretty quickly. He doesn't realize he finished the pastry until it's gone. ]

I was always trying to make ends meet and keeping myself as healthy as possible.

[ It was a very "three choices, pick two" sort of situation. ]

[obdure]

[ He is eating the most sugar for you, Adolphe... Granted, he doesn't mind it. It isn't overly sweet, naturally tart instead. There is, however, sugar and cream.

Reflecting as he feels criticism rise up his throat, but like. ]

I'm usually busy, so I can't say I dabble in a lot... But I used to play the guitar.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe looks over to the direction where he saw the guitar last in this place. ]

Being busy really cuts into our time, huh. Would you play again if you had time?

[obdure]

[ It is in the bedroom, but that is still a direction which Jacopo knows. he's near done with this pastry, pacing himself. ]

It does.

[ Again, he never really thought about it much nowadays, so Adolphe's question actually puts him in a strange place despite how incredibly simple it is. This is free time, too. Free time he'd use to progress on his projects, but he's here spending it in other ways.

His eyes travel along the room like he's lost, thinking. ]

I... Suppose I would. I enjoyed it before.

[chrysanths]

Could I see you play some time?

[ He slightly tilts his head. Adolphe figures this would satiate his curiosity and have Jacopo do something that he enjoys at the same time. ]

[obdure]

[ A snort as he starts finishing up this pastry. ]

You'd suffer my rusty playing? It's been a while.

[chrysanths]

I'd like to see you play.

[ So, yes. He'd like to suffer Jacopo's rusty playing. Adolphe doubts it would be terrible anyway. ]

[obdure]

[ He takes a napkin and wipes his mouth and fingers, then sips his glass of water.

Wouldn't it be a waste of time? He looks at Adolphe, a man who doesn't have much... Maybe he keeps to a bare minimum, actually.

... A sigh. ]

All right, but you can't laugh if I make a fool out of myself. Got it?

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe keeping to a bare minimum is the perfect way to describe his current lifestyle. He does so badly here. Maybe I should kick him back to virche ]

I won't. I doubt that you will anyway.

[obdure]

[ YOU DID THIS TO HIM...... WHO ARE YOU BLAMING HERE? It's fine Jacopo is here to encourage him to live, as vague as his attempts are.

Adolphe didn't say now, but Jacopo stands up to go fetch the guitar. He's barely gone, now back with it and tuning the strings. ]

Is it worth asking what kind of music you like? Or are you going to say you don't listen to music, so you don't really have an opinion.

[chrysanths]

[ lmao ]

Well... you're right. I don't listen to much music, but I remember hearing one.

[ He's doing his best to not be so... nothing. ]

The song kept repeating the days of the week.

[obdure]

[ Squints at him... And then wracks his brain.

IS THIS LIKE A CHILDREN'S SONG? He plays a children's song that teaches them the days of the week??? ]

[chrysanths]

[ .... ]

No, not that one. It sounded like this.

[ He hums a small part of seven by Jung kook. lol lmao.
The way Adolphe doesnt even recognize what Jacopo played... ]

Heard it was popular?

[obdure]

[ THE ONE ABOUT HAVING SEX 24/7, Jacopo has to have heard it. It was mainstream. His eyes roll up as he figures out which notes those are as he plays the song in his head.

And starts playing k-pop, but in acoustic. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Stop he only heard the clean version

Adolphe watches Jacopo play and seems impressed. ]

You can play it just like that?

[ wow ]

[obdure]

I learned that I could play by ear pretty well, which was convenient.

[ He actually has no idea if it's something he intrinsically learned, or if he had the latent talent for it. Doesn't matter since he still pauses in some areas when he gets a note or two wrong, having to correct it so the song sounds right. Sampling chords here and there, but eventually it does sound more like the song even though it sounded pretty good at the start, granted.... As best as he can remember it.

If he looked like he isn't much of a pop person, then you would be right.]

[chrysanths]

[ Neither is Adolphe but he's not really an anything person. He is satisfied. ]

What about your favorite tune?

[obdure]

[ Slows down in playing k-pop as he has the most confused face because he's trying to remember... How to play. You are asking so much of him.

But eventually he starts playing Serie de Fragmento, predictably. He doesn't know how predictable it is of him. He just really likes this song. ]

[chrysanths]

[ He is getting to know Jacopo... ]

It sounds a little melancholic... where did you hear it first?

[obdure]

[ Through watching him play guitar. ]

You think so? It sounds peaceful to me.

[ But there probably is something melancholic, or monotonous about it. The question has him frown and knit his eyebrows as he tries to figure that out. A shrug? ]

... I don't remember, but I must have heard it from somewhere.

[chrysanths]

It must have had an impact on you if you can say that it's your favorite.

[ But Adolphe won't push for the answer if Jacopo doesn't know either. ]

[obdure]

I wonder if it's something I heard when I was young. [ Quieter, unsure about this one: ] Or a dream.

[ He's struggling to remember, now that he's wondering if it's important—from where? ]

Well, we can't end the day on a melancholic note.

[ Plays a brighter tune, though not super energetic or fast. It's also slow. ]