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]

[ Adolphe thinks it would be a disservice for him to be a decorative anything, but he looks at Jacopo laughs at the tumbling chick. ]

It screamed with all its might...

[ Then fell. Sounds about right. Silly babies. That exact chick squints at Jacopo like "punk what you lookin at" ]

[obdure]

[ He's focused more on the chick, so he doesn't look over to Adolphe. The chick really is funny... It is trying to walk over to them, but then it SCREECHES toward Jacopo in defiance and tumbles back down which has him chuckle again. ]

I'm pretty sure the screaming is what's making it fall over.

[ WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, LITTLE CHICK. Jacopo shouldn't be looking content and smug about this. There is fondness, though. It is a baby. ]

[chrysanths]

Its small body can't handle the wrath inside the shriek.

[ Or something like that. ]

It looks like it has something against you for some reason.

[obdure]

Big lungs. That's good.

[ Healthy! ]

I wonder why... I haven't done anything to it?

[chrysanths]

Yeah... wonder why.

[ The chick is so angry that it's funny. Adolphe looks over at the other chicks. ]

It's the only rebellious one too.

[obdure]

[ It is thrashing about!! Jacopo starts worrying that it'll hurt itself, so he's going to step back and stand behind Adolphe.

It stops....... ]

More like it has anger management issues.

[chrysanths]

You're going to assign a little baby chick anger management issues?

[ Adolphe can't help but to laugh when Jacopo stands behind him. ]

Sounds like it has a lot to look forward to in its life...

[obdure]

Assign? I'm not assigning anything. I'm speaking the truth.

[ Jacopo peeks over Adolphe's shoulder to see the chick and the chick sees him...

It starts vibrating violently, ready to scream, and Jacopo quietly goes "no, no, no. We can't have that." He steps completely away from view of the incubator. ]

You think you can work your magic and calm it down?

[ The keeper mentions the babies like soft singing. ]

[chrysanths]

What magic--no, I'm not going to sing...

[ Adolphe looks at them like. What... No... ]

[obdure]

What's with that look on your face?

[ Help, he tries not to laugh, but it's so obvious in the way his eyes crinkle... The keeper does reassure Adolphe that he doesn't need to do anything. No pressure. ]

You do have a type of magic.

[chrysanths]

I don't have magic.

[ He looks so incredulous, feeling like he's getting bullied... Adolphe nods once at the keeper to acknowledge them. ]

Stop trying to goad me.

[obdure]

I'm not goading you.

[ They can move on and start the spiraling path along the crater down. There are so many plants... So much green. It's a garden in here especially with the butterflies and different birds scattered around.

There are other people here, too. Children includes. It's a wonder for all ages. ]

I'm being serious as someone on the receiving end of it.

[ As serious as joke magic can be, of course. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe huffs, looking off to the side, but then a butterfly decides to rest on his nose and Adolphe is not very fond of bugs being all up in his face, especially with a menacing pattern.

So he just freezes.

He will not hurt this butterfly. He will keep his hands to himself. He must. He must. ]

[obdure]

[ Jacopo expects some response in return, but also knows silence is very much a response from Adolphe. His eyes shift over and he... Sees this. YOU'RE JUST FROZEN IN PLACE? MY MAN?

Funny. He takes a picture of this, too. ]

You're glaring at this butterfly like it hurt you.

[ Reaching out, he carefully guides the butterfly onto his own finger to take it away. ]

[chrysanths]

[ He breathes out a sigh of relief when Jacopo takes it away. ]

I wasn't glaring. I was trying not to swat it on reflex.

[ So he had to freeze up like that? He really didn't have to, but he did. ]

[obdure]

Sure. You looked very, very focused. Either way, you succeeded.

[ He still thinks it's an intense look, but he sends the butterfly off. When it flutters away, he gently pats Adolphe's shoulder. There, there. ]

You don't like bugs? Or did it just take you by surprise.

[chrysanths]

[ There's something like a scowl on his face. It's not a full one, but it's there. ]

Do you like things suddenly coming up at your face? I don't.

[obdure]

The dogs do it to you all the time when you're on the floor at whatever capacity.

[ Whether sitting or unfortunately laid down, they do just bum rush with all their energy. Maybe it isn't so at Adolphe's face because they're trained, but they do bombard.

People walk past them, which has Jacopo gently take Adolphe's hand and move them along the spiral path down. He positions himself toward the inner side where all the butterflies and birds would be.

It doesn't impede on Adolphe's view. He can see all of the manmade nature and its beauty, likewise be able to see anything come toward him. ]

[chrysanths]

[ All of it is a sight to behold. Adolphe looks around while being gently led around by Jacopo. It's amazing how nature can look like, and for some reason it reminds him of something he saw in Jacopo's cafe... ]

... It's nice scenery.

[ He glances over at him. ]

[obdure]

[ They can look out and in the descent see the spiral path on the other side. It's dotted with people and children in the distance, all enjoying the day like them. There is an abundance of plants and flowers, the sky is without a single cloud, and the light blooms the colors around them.

Jacopo doesn't quite notice the number of butterflies that have landed on his hair. It's maybe two to three, the rest he can see he gently ushers away. ]

It is nice.

[ He doesn't get it... He has visited the zoo more than once before and been in this dome more than once, but everything seems much more vivid. How can scenery he has already seen be different?

Did he not appreciate it before? That might be it. He was with people he was trying to network with. He was distracted, focused on so many other things.

But not now. He's here to enjoy himself and he can't help but smile in the face of beauty—soft, gentle, and with nostalgia he shouldn't have. Maybe the hand in his is what helps him... Not that he realizes he's still holding on. ]

I've been here before, but something feels different. Maybe it's the good weather—or I'm in a good mood.

[ He turns to Adolphe to check on him and make sure he's feeling comfortable, especially now that he isn't getting assaulted by bugs.

His smile stays, though upon seeing him he feels strange... "It's because of you" invades his mind and heart like a virus, but he forces himself not to say it. That's just insane. ]

[chrysanths]

To come to the zoo with a bad mood... sounds like a day wasted.

[ Well, Adolphe isn't in a foul mood. On the contrary, his mood is great. It's easier to smile, enjoy himself, and take in the view to appreciate what is around him. His view always felt so narrow--focusing on a single thing just to get through the day. It's a wonder to him now, to have his viewpoint expand to take in all this.

It's nice--what Jacopo says echoes in Adolphe's mind. It really is nice out here. Adolphe looks comfortable, marveling at the sights. ]

So, why not both?

[obdure]

[ Jacopo had always avoided being face to face when Adolphe smiles... Because he had a feeling that something in him would change, like everything else in his life ever since Adolphe showed up in his cafe. It felt like he would stop being him—that everything that he built up would not make sense or fit anymore.

And he's right. It changes him in a way he wished it didn't. Like how Adolphe's presence changed his lifestyle and peace in a way he didn't want, but he can't go back to how it was before. Even if Adolphe were to leave some day, he would remember how things were when he was here... And the imagination of his smile would make something warm swell in his chest.

He had come to like this peace they have, but these complicated and twisted feelings could change that, too. ]

Thank you—for inviting me.

[ He lets go of Adolphe's hand, then runs it through his own hair. It disturbs the butterflies he didn't know were resting on his head.

GOING TO WALK AHEAD. COOL OFF. COLLECT HIMSELF. ]

We're almost to the bottom.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe isn't sure why Jacopo said that, because... it's not like he would be leaving, right? That's the sort of thing you say at the end. But then Jacopo lets go of his hand, the butterflies scatter and Adolphe feels like he's being left behind. He catches up quickly. ]

What's at the bottom?

[ He asks, despite the fact that he'll see it for himself very shortly. ]

[obdure]

[ Is there a rule for thanking someone? Does it have to be at the end of an experience? Can't it be at the beginning or the middle when you find that youre happy or you're having such a good time? Goddamn??? Let him live?????

Jacopo isn't leaving! He's just ahead for a single moment to make sure he's not making a weird face, or that his face isn't hot and flushed, just anything that would be weird right now. There's no push or distance added when Adolphe catches up. See? He's here still and walks by his side. ]

We passed by the waterfall, so you should be able to guess there's something like a small pond down there. A couple of semi-aquatic birds at that... It's picturesque, worthy of photos.

[ Adolphe really didn't need to ask because one more revolution and they're at the bottom. It is cute floor space with a pond and a bridge, again a lot of nature down here. ]

There are also giant pelicans.

[ Like pelicans if they stood on a rock would be the same size as a man. Kind of terrifying. One is perched right by the bridge to cross............. it is jamming the flow here. The people are concerned and don't want to cross, so they're stuck crowded at the bridge's mouth. ]

They're evil.

[ SAID SO CASUALLY. ]

[chrysanths]

[ It is to Adolphe's limited experience!! Letting him not live emotionally seems to be his thing, so we are on track. ]

Are they really...

[ Adolphe looks eyes with one, wondering if it's just needlessly aggressive and evil like Jacopo said or just wants somem affection. What are your secrets, giant pelican. Do you wish to be petted. ]