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]

[ 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. ]

[chrysanths]

[ He is so called out... Adolphe knew it was obvious but still!! He's still a little speechless when Jacopo puts the sheets over his head.

.... ]

Yeah.

[ They're already at this point. He might as well admit it. ]

[obdure]

[ Thinking... Thinking a lot. The silence stretches for a bit before he speaks. ]

... Fine. Fetch me a cup of milk.

[chrysanths]

[ Wow. So commanding. There's an instinct to refuse, but he represses that goes to get him the milk. There's a little microwave ding when it's finished and Adolphe brings it back. It's warm. ]

Here.

[ He holds it out to Jacopo.

Thanks for indulging him. ]

[obdure]

[ Imagine being like I'll feel better by distracting myself by taking care of you and then deciding no fuck you actually.

There's like barely a sliver of moonlight that's in the bedroom and it illuminates just a bit that Jacopo is misty-eyed. Sometimes eyeballs are more wet than usual. ]

Thank you.

[ He takes and holds the cup a bit, waiting for it to cool down. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Sometimes you have too much pride about being given milk like a child. That would have been real funny though. ]

You can drink it right away. It's not hot. Just warm.

[ Unless Jacopo has a sensitive tongue. ]

[obdure]

[ Oh. ]

It'll cool down so fast... You should have given it to me piping hot, then.

[ HE HAS TO BE FORCED TO DRINK THIS MILK ALL AT ONCE? He does start sipping. ]

[chrysanths]

[ No?? Take your time, Jacopo. Damn. ]

It's not like it's really cold here for the milk to turn cold that fast too... just drink however much you want.

[ Warmth is supposed to help you feel better, or something. ]

[obdure]

[ HAS HE EVER TAKEN HIS TIME?

Oddly enough, he does slow down when Adolphe gently chides him. Maybe he is a child. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe seems a little happy because his suggestion was taken seriously. ]

How do you feel?

[obdure]

[ Looks down into his cup and instinctively swirls it around even if it's just milk. ]

Like garbage.

[ Said honestly... In his heart, it feels like it was said through gritted teeth, but it comes out effortlessly. ]

[chrysanths]

Because of your nightmare?

[ Sorry, Harold. Adolphe gently picks him up and puts him in a position where he looks like he's standing on his tiny legs, but Adolphe will support them with his other hand.

In a terrible, but quiet falsetto: ]

"If you pet me, you'll feel all better!"

[ This is embarrassing, but he hopes Jacopo laughs. ]

[obdure]

[ ... At first, he just stares because what are you doing you grown ass man? Harold is sleepily letting Adolphe do whatever with him, but his little head lolls before spun upright whenever he wakes up a little.

Eventually, he does laugh... Mostly at Adolphe. He does reach over to pet Harold even though he has another dog strewn along his lap. Vera is also doing her best. Seems like the other two are also awake, watching them protectively. ]

All right. Come back to bed.

[ Whether sitting, too, or lying down. Just get back on. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Okay. Jacopo laughed. This is all Adolphe wanted. He knows he's bad at cheering people up normally, but he didn't work several years involving orphanages for nothing. Not that Adolphe is treating Jacopo like a child, but he really doesn't know how else to do it.

He puts Harold back down on the pillow and sits on the bed. ]

[obdure]

[ In the end, you won, Adolphe. Even at the expense of your dignity.

Jacopo continues drinking the milk in silence before he starts again. ]

I'm going to tell you my dream so you can feel better taking care of me, all right?

[ Since it helps Adolphe, apparently... Or is that just an excuse for him to finally let it out. He doesn't know. ]