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]

[ Help... A laugh. ]

They have their dumb moments. A lot of them. [ But he does think his dogs are quite clever. ] I can just put them in the yard, Adolphe.

[ A cacophony of whining from the dogs. Why is Jacopo so heartless? The little doggies say. ]

[chrysanths]

[ He looks at the dogs and then at Jacopo. ]

Do they howl?

[ The cacophony of whining might as well be that. ]

[obdure]

... No. I think—unless they hear a howl.

[ It's contagious? ]

Are you considering sharing the bed?

[chrysanths]

I'm not going to suggest something that you seem to be very definite on refusing.

[ It just helped that Adolphe didn't want to either, but it's not Jacopo's fault. It's just Adolphe. ]

[obdure]

I wouldn't say very definite...

[ It's both of their faults. Let's be real. ]

[chrysanths]

[ ... ?

Adolphe looks at Jacopo, waiting for him to say more because it sounded like he trailed off. ]

[obdure]

[ Jacopo doesn't say anything for a while, wondering if Adolphe is going to say anything.

—oh, he's being put on the spot. Uh. ]

It wouldn't be the worst thing...

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe wouldn't want to make Jacopo feel uncomfortable but maybe... just this once, should be okay. ]

... I guess we can try it once...?

[ He's a little surprised by what he says himself, but. ]

If you're uncomfortable by it, just let me know. I can sleep on the edge.

[obdure]

Please don't do that.

[ NO EDGE SLEEPING FOR YOU. He isn't going to be so fussy about sleeping in a bed with another man since it isn't. Weird. It'd be worse with a woman because more people would grief him about it.

... Still, he hasn't shared a bed with someone in a while. ]

I'm not uncomfortable with it. [ Just like. Nervous, which he won't be saying. ] I sometimes toss and turn. Hopefully, you're not so light a sleeper.

[chrysanths]

[ Jacopo just being griefed everywhere he goes.

Adolphe is surprised, but. Okay. ]

Alright. I should be fine...

[ He hopes! He's still somewhat of a light sleeper, but he only sleeps like a log when he's extremely tired.

Adolphe looks at the dogs. Are you happy now, you little munchkins. Adolphe even gets up from the couch to walk on over to the room. ]

[obdure]

[ They have all stopped crying... And Rocco and Olive are grabbing their dog beds to bring to the bedroom.

Jacopo looks at them with a squint, but they innocently look back at him... He stays in the living room a bit, confused over it all, until Rocco guides him back to the bedroom.

Well, onto the bed. Jacopo just takes one side normally and half of the pillows.

Frowns.... Deeply...... ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe only needs one pillow and some space for himself, so he's fine with whatever is available. The lights are also off. He tries to make this look easy, but he finds it more effective when he can just stop thinking about anything. ]

Good night.

[ He's half-expecting Harold to lie down near his head or something. ]

[obdure]

Good night, Adolphe.

[ He frowns a little less when he says that, then turns off the lights.

And yes Harold will try to squeeze between them except there's a good amount of space, so he'll press against one of them while Vera sleeps at the door of the bed. The other two dogs placed their dog beds at the foot's base, time for sleepy.

Hopefully, Adolphe won't be waking up in the middle of the night because Jacopo will be. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Unfortunately, Adolphe will. He still sometimes gets nightmares and wakes up in the middle of the night every now and then. This is one of those nights. Surprisingly, he kept still without tossing and turning before he woke up.

But now he's trying to catch his breath and staring at the ceiling, or at least what's supposedly there in the darkness. It's fine. He can just sit up for a while, calm down, and then go back to sleep, like he usually does... while being completely unaware what Jacopo is awake. ]

[obdure]

[ Harold wakes up when he notices familiar movements on the bed, already coming over to Adolphe and snuggling with him.

Vera is pressed against Jacopo, who is holding her a bit. He's been awake for a bit, so he sees this and stays quiet...

Should he say anything? ]

Nightmares?

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe jolts a little where he sits, clearly not expecting Jacopo being awake. ]

... It's fine. Sorry, Just go back to sleep.

[ He assumes that he was the one who woke Jacopo. ]

[obdure]

I was already awake.

[ Apologies are unnecessary. He sits up, too. ]

And I have trouble going back to sleep, anyway.

[chrysanths]

[ Feeling Harold snuggle closer makes Adolphe give him a gentle pat on the head with his right hand, still gloved. ]

Did you drink coffee or something?

[ He asks this despite having an inkling that Jacopo might suffer a very similar thing. He remembers how the dogs acted, which finally starts bugging him a little. ]

[obdure]

[ Harold sleepily blinks, so slow... And it may seem like he has fallen asleep because his eyes are closed for a long time. He is teetering between awake and slumber. ]

No. This happens sometimes.

[ Vague.... Even though he now knows they suffer similar things. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Poor Harold living between the borders of eepy and wakey... ]

Insomnia?

[ He's not going to turn this into a guessing game after this, but he feels like he has to talk about something so that he doesn't feel awkward. ]

... Your dogs seem used to it.

[obdure]

Not quite. Sometimes I think that would be better.

[ It is awkward... And he wonders if he should have kept his mouth shut so they could both have gone to sleep with the peace that comes with solitude.

But he doesn't know why it is that he felt compelled to reach out. He kind of looks forward and rubs his eyes a bit.

Should he say more? He is wired and yet weary. The lack of sleep and the pump of adrenaline make a dangerous combo. ]

I have recurring dreams every once in a while... [ It'd be silly to call all of them nightmares, so he generalizes them and their frequency. ] Some of them are nightmares.

They seem... So real and they wake me up in the middle of the night.

[chrysanths]

... Like tonight?

[ Adolphe's voice is quiet. He's suddenly not focused on his own problem, but Jacopo's. ]

Do you want some heated milk? I can get you some...

[obdure]

[ Squints at him, baffled?? ]

Hey, you woke up after me, so whatever you're going through is fresher.

[chrysanths]

You didn't answer my question.

It doesn't work for me, but I heard it helps many others, so you should try it.

[ It also doesn't feel fresh, but he doesn't say that. ]

[obdure]

... I've never tried.

[ Because he tells himself he isn't a child. He doesn't need something like that? He just has to force himself back into bed, close his eyes, and try to forget. Reason it all out that there is no reason to feel so many ways about stupid dreams.

Still, why is Adolphe focusing on HIM? Frowning. ]

Does focusing your attention on me help you?

[ To point out that he can see it. He even pulls the sheets to drape it over Adolphe's head. ]