agora | THROUGH A FRACTURED EXISTENCE, TO THE RHYTHM OF ETERNITY.

THROUGH A FRACTURED EXISTENCE, TO THE RHYTHM OF ETERNITY.

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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.

[ Low mumbling of an incredibly awful epiphany, ]

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

[ ...

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. ]

[ 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.

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

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

[ A laugh. They're about to finish up on the very last parts before they can assemble the Box. ]

Sure. You wanna claim napping as one of your few hobbies now?

[ Honestly, he wishes he could. That way he could at least tell himself that he sleeps in for the sake of wanting to instead of it being a depression-related thing. ]

... I should just take advantage of being unemployed and sleep all I want, shouldn't I?

[ Many people would love to just sleep. Me too tbh ]

Of course, but don't sleep all day.

[ They can start putting the pieces together to form the bookend now. ]

We won't be able to sit in cafes if you do.

[ Yup... time to put everything together. Adolphe is still doing his best to be delicate about it despite everything regarding his hands.

But... wait. ]

We're going to a cafe?

[ Jacopo is obviously the type to bitch and complain, so the fact he hasn't commented on anything is a good sign.

The walls are propped up! ]

I didn't mean today we're going. [ Jacopo rotates the bookend a bit in place on the table to see if it feels stable. ] Just that you'd miss out if you take your new hobby too seriously. Like eating breakfast, dinner, walking the dogs, gardening, watch the sunrise or sunset, and watching new episodes of a show...

[ Despite Jacopo often partaking in luxurious lifestyle sometimes, these are simple, mundane, and everyday.

All of these are things they do together, he doesn't realize. ]

[ Adolphe pauses and looks over at Jacopo. ]

But we do all that already...?

[ oh... it really is we. did he sound a certain way? clingy? desperate? what was he thinking saying any of that? he tries not to lose composure as he fiddles with the wire for the small lights in the bookend. ]

Yes, because you don't sleep all day.

[ That is the point! He implies... While purposely not looking at him. ]

Well...

[ He thinks Jacopo has a point so he's saved from Adolphe trying to tease him. ]

Yeah, I guess. I never said it was my hobby though...

[ He gives all of the assembled pieces to Jacopo since it would be easier to do from that side rather than his. ]

[ THAT'S RIGHT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE FUN OF HIM!!! ]

... We can make it a hobby today since it's almost past three. [ He isn't disillusioned. He can feel it in his bones he's going to wake up past noon. ] And we can decide what we want to do after.

[ Thank you for the rest of the pieces. He glues them in place. Done! It's time to test the light, which Jacopo gestures to Adolphe to press the little button on the front of the base.

Throws out stuff for them to sleep on and decide when they wake up. ]

Museums are free on Sundays for the whole month. Been a while since I took the dogs to a dog park. [ Thinking. ] We could also just stay at home.

[ Lazy day. ]

[ He presses the little button and watches it light up. Oooh... Adolphe watches it as if he's watching Christmas lights turn on for the first time—a similar kind of wonder. It's just a little bookend and yet. ]

Right, but... shouldn't we go back to bed?

[ Instead of being out here.... ]

[ The light with the mirror reflection in one hidden side of a bookend wall gives it the illusion that this little street actually goes on and beyond what they made. It's something so simple, but Jacopo perks up when the light turns on from the little street lamp.

He forgets to respond because there's just a childlike wonder... It shows in how bright his eyes are despite it being THREE AM and the soft curl of his lips. ]

[ Jacopo doesn't answer him and Adolphe also tries to take a peek at what captivated his attention. There are more lights and he sees the mirror illusion that seemingly extends the little bookend world. He watches Jacopo, smiling a little. It's nice to see someone else like that too. He doesn't feel alone.

He keeps his mouth shut because he doesn't want to ruin the moment... but he keeps watching with a slightly fond look on his face. ]

[ He is admiring!! But eventually he looks at Adolphe not out of curiosity, it's all by chance, and catches the look on his face.

Just a blink of seeing his soft expression, Jacopo frantically shifts his attention elsewhere. Embarrassment wells even though he only looked at him for a whole second, but he pushes it down and tries to cover it by rubbing the lower half of his face.

Is he going crazy? No it's 3 am.

Despite that, he's still smiling once he calms down and his hand is drawn back. It's been fun. ]

Right, back to bed.

[ He pushes the button to turn the bookend off and looks over to his bookshelf... After short deliberation, he slides it into a space and wow. A bit of personality to this rather personality-less bachelor pad. ]

Come on.

[ He offers a hand to pull Adolphe up, then they can head back to the bedroom. ]

[ His bachelor pad has suddenly gained personality, with its first step being something pretty unique. Adolphe looks at the bookend that's placed on the bookshelf before taking Jacopo's hand with his right hand to stand up with his help. Time to head to the bedroom! ]

You're right. That was nice.

[ Back and the dogs are sleepily laid around, tails wagging. Welcome back. ]

It was, wasn't it... Let's see if we'll still feel that way when we wake up.

[ Because of course he doesn't do this usually. Or at all, honestly. He lived alone and if he decided to do anything after waking up, it would be either having a smoke out in the balcony or working. Again, he thinks it's been fun even if he might wake up like groggy and lethargic in the morning.

Onto their sides of the bed, which feel much nicer after some productivity and good feelings. ]

Adolphe.

[ Not quite goodnight yet, so he must have one more thing to say? ]

[ Thank you for the warm welcome, dogs. Adolphe goes to his side of the he'd when he hears his name and he looks up from the bed. ]

Yeah?

[ Doggies on the bed come to snuggle. Cozy under the sheets... There's a pause as he reconsiders because what is he thinking? Quietly, ]

May I... Hold your hand?

[ For the night. ]

[ No, because that's weird.

I'm just kidding. It doesn't take long for Adolphe to come to a decision. It's easy for him to make, all things considered. ]

Yeah.

[ Before he holds out his right hand, he takes the glove off. It's a perfectly normal hand. Jacopo can hold onto this one. ]

Good night, Jacopo.

[ you're so right

In the silence, he reaches out and holds Adolphe's hand like he did before. Carefully, gently, and loose in where he can slip away if he wanted. His hand samples before taking it completely, holding his bare hand like he never wants to let it go.

Jacopo doesn't understand why this specifically is so comforting... And why his heart hangs a bit heavy as he holds his hand. Regret, guilt, but not enough for the peace it offers to disappear. ]

Goodnight.

[ He won't dwell on these strange feelings... Because the exhaustion is taking hold. Jacopo falls asleep easy and he will likely sleep past noon without an alarm, in some chaotic position where some of him is half off the bed, but still grasping onto Adolphe's hand even if it's just pinkies nebulously overlapping. ]

[ Adolphe doesn't fall asleep as fast, wondering how their relationship became so... odd, so familiar. Adolphe doesn't help either, only contributing to all this, but why? He doesn't want to feel desperate for attention nor touch, though spending time with Jacopo has been nice in its own way.

It's still confusing, but can he really complain when it's been nice? He made a friend, obtained shelter, food, water, isn't as stressed about money... it's like the perfect relief. He knows this is temporary though. He can't stay here forever and while Adolphe is thankful, he doesn't plan to overextend his stay. He doesn't want to feel like a moocher.

These are his thoughts before he also eventually falls asleep.

The next morning, Adolphe finds himself disoriented because he wakes up in a completely different position than he was last night. He still feels Jacopo's hand, somehow remained in his throughout the chaos and just... gets up to look at Jacopo proper.

Adolphe wonders if he was kicked and shoved last night and didn't notice because he was just so exhausted. He's not the one sleeping past noon this time, but he still woke up at 11 in the morning. He gently lets go of Jacopo's hand and withdraws it, goes to do his morning routine, and thinks about brunch—or just lunch at this point when he walks over to the kitchen.

He went grocery shopping at some point, so now he'll finally use those ingredients to make some quesadillas for lunch! Yippee! They're gonna be great and relatively healthy.

Then he looks at the dogs like. Right. The dogs need to be fed. He's not sure how much they should be fed, but also... where the fuck is the dog food. He saw Jacopo getting it out before, but where was it... ]

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