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]

Like... doing things tomorrow? No, I don't have anything.

[ But now he's curious about what Jacopo would propose. ]

[obdure]

I have some scenic bookends I bought some years back I never assembled.

[ Like buying books you never read. Tilting his head while still stroking his chin. ]

I could also go for something sweet... A sundae. [ Goes insane. ] Or baking some cookies.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe has never heard of bookends, so he doesn't know what they are. He doesn't say that though and keeps listening for suggestions. Eating something sweet this late can be bad for them, he thinks. So. ]

We can do the first one. Do you like... putting things together?

[ Since he mentioned "assembled". ]

[obdure]

[ they're adults they can do and eat whatever at any time, technically. But right for their health. ]

I think it can be therapeutic... When I was a kid, I used to save up to buy train models to build.

[ Since they decided, he will get out the bed from Adolphe's side since they're holding hands. And because they're still holding hands, he helps Adolphe up. To the living room!!!

In cabinet under the bookshelf, he pulls this box out for Adolphe to look at. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Oh, he's helped up. To the living room they go! It's probably like 2 AM or something. When Jacopo pulls out the box, Adolphe just... stares at it. ]

Book nook...

[ The fuck is that. ]

[obdure]

[ oh to be awake at 2 am and decide to do something and fuck up your sleep... adult life... ]

You basically build a puzzle diorama, but it's used as a bookend to keep your books upright.

[ He starts opening it. ]

I think with both of us, we can finish in an hour? Maybe a little less.

[chrysanths]

So it shouldn't be too hard, I guess?

[ An hour with two people working on it. It doesn't sound so bad, until Jacopo opens the box and he sees all the pieces and the instructions booklet. ]

....... Why is this so thick.

[obdure]

[ hm............... daunting. ]

... Maybe the diagrams are large. Most assembly manuals have a bunch of white space.

[ Lays out all the pieces on the coffee table, then the glue. He will start grouping things. ]

It is technically for all ages, so it has to be easy to understand for children?

[chrysanths]

Aren't most things not all ages, because they're scared the children might eat some small piece?

[ This has a lot of small pieces. Anyway, he opens the instruction booklet and flips through the pages. There's a lot of white space.

But there's also a fuck ton of instructions. ]

[obdure]

I meant kids of a certain age. Whatever.

[ It is likely for kids who are cognizant enough to NOT eat the small pieces, but Jacopo barely recognizes or deals with toddlers and babies.

Jacopo leans over to see the booklet... Squinting at the labels of the panel pieces, then reorganizes the piles where they're grouped per sections in the manual. ]

We can start with the walls to get them out of the way. They're easy enough... Then the furniture?

[chrysanths]

We can work through the biggest ones and work our way down to smaller pieces.

[ He nods to confirm Jacopo's strategy. Alright. Let's do this. Adolphe picks up some pieces and starts assembling them. ]

[obdure]

[ Cool. If Adolphe thought they could do this in peace and quiet... ]

I've only been to Paris once. [ Brought up because this diorama is in France. ] Ever traveled?

[ Even though he knows Adolphe was in the military and also knows his job history, he asks, anyway. Maybe there's a surprise here? It's better not to assume, too. ]

[chrysanths]

... Not for the sake of leisure, no.

[ He keeps trying to put the pieces together, though sometimes he seems to either hesitate or seemingly zone out. ]

What did you do in Paris?

[obdure]

[ Understandable. I'd be either very awake or very sleepy at 2 am. Jacopo is a bit on the awake side. ]

So we're kind of the same. I was there for work.

[ Finishes the smallest of the three walls and puts it to the side to work on the next. ]

There were couples everywhere even though Paris smells like piss and sewage... [ Jacopo, do you have anything positive to say ever? ] For being the culinary capital of the world, I found French cuisine to be mediocre. Italian is by far better.

[ why did you get this bookend ]

[chrysanths]

[ me having no choice but to be awake at 2 am

But also. Wow. That's really an Image of Paris that Adolphe is thinking about right now. ]

... I was never into Paris being a romantic capital of the world or whatever, but... are you sure that's not your bias speaking?

[ Your italian cafe, Jacopo. ]

[obdure]

[ changes your job

Jacopo is painting an honest picture of Paris while building this quaint bookend. Look at this little sign that says "Paris" on it. ]

Aside from cuisine, there's not much to Italy, either.

[ Oddly, he isn't defensive... There isn't a single drop of patriotism. ]

[chrysanths]

[ He didn't think it was for patriotism... just his cafe theme and all. He's never really thought of Italy either.

Adolphe finishes decorating and placing the walls. Despite having gloves on, he's not doing bad at all. There's a sort of delicate care that goes into these, even though it seems difficult at times. ]

What kind of work did you do in Paris?

[obdure]

[ Adolphe is very nice for not assuming Jacopo would have some pride. He does for a lot of things, though, just apparently not this. There's a look of approval at seeing how well their little bookend is coming along and he is impressed? Working with gloves on is hard with delicate pieces.

But now he massages his temples for a second before applying the stickers onto some pieces. ]

I was in the same company, so real estate... I took the opportunity when it came up to work with a team in the European branch—they handled properties specifically targeting rich expatriates. It helped that I knew French, too.

The rich are annoying no matter where you go.

[chrysanths]

I assume so.

[ But wow. Even in a European branch. It must be a really big company, he thinks. ]

People are pretty universal about being annoying. So your visit to France wasn't all that great?

[obdure]

You're right on being universally annoying. [ can they both like people please ] I was there for work and for work it was great. I learned a lot.

[ But for... Leisure? He's having a hard time remembering anything worthwhile. All he remembers is work. Luxurious dinners with clients, which again is paid and reimbursed. Work, work, work.

He scrambles for something when he normally wouldn't—in Paris, but he can't talk about anything except work? A couple of things come to mind when he starts on the little furniture. ]

There was a place that had incredible wine. [ Genuinely, he was impressed. ] I also had an amazing croissant this one morning. Whopping eleven euros, but on company dime. The historical landmarks are fine... Tourists kind of ruin it. The museums are worth visiting even with the crowds. A lot of cafes and the smaller ones are often quiet. The coffee was mediocre, but sitting inside a cafe and watching the day pass by through a window has its perks.

[ Some bustle. Some peace. ]

The French didn't gossip too much. Thank god.

[chrysanths]

[ Oh. Adolphe nods. ]

There's really something about just relaxing inside a cafe and having the time pass.

[ He sure experienced that at Jacopo's cafe. ]

... I wonder why it's like that.

[obdure]

[ Low mumbling of an incredibly awful epiphany, ]

It sounds like we don't know how to relax.

[chrysanths]

[ ...

Well. He can't really refute that. ]

Sleeping is relaxing, isn't it?

[ Even though the two are here right now because they couldn't sleep. ]

[obdure]

[ Jacopo personally wants to defend himself that he knows how to relax (that isn't the same as actually relaxing), but it's past 2 am and this miniature chair has to be assembled. ]

Sleep is a bare necessity, Adolphe.

[chrysanths]

So is eating, but that's a hobby for many people.

[ He's trying to concentrate on trying to assemble this little outdoors sign. ]