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]

... I can see that, Adolphe. I obviously meant in other ways.

[ But he lets out a sigh, having no intention to be a bad cop in an interrogation when Adolphe invited him out on a beautiful day which they shouldn't waste.

Later, maybe. ]

If you don't feel so great, tell me. [ He comes to flick his forehead. ] Or else.

[ Lightly threatens. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Why is his forehead being flicked!! Adolphe frowns and just. Flicks Jacopo's forehead in return and starts leading him back with everyone else. They're holding hands! His right hand this time. ]

[obdure]

Hey—why did you flick my forehead?

[ He isn't the one who was misbehaving! But they can be led out of this nook and Jacopo catches up to walk beside him. Wordlessly, he positions them so that he's closer to the crater's edge again with Adolphe closer to the wall so he can see any bugs or birds coming his way.

this is service dog energy is what i'm realizing ]

[chrysanths]

[ SERVICE DOG ENERGY this is so funny but also so accurate right now. And... Adolphe actually recognizes this behavior. Wow, it's like he had experience with one. ]

Just because. Let's get going.

[obdure]

[ it's unintentional since obviously Jacopo doesn't know too much and he has never had a service dog. His four are just spoiled children.

Simply, he observes and make note. He just wants to make Adolphe comfortable, but would never admit to what he's doing... ]

We are going. You won't be able to pick out your favorite animals by the end of the day if we don't.

[ A sigh and a grumble as he looks out to the side, seeing all of the plants and the birds. ]

We didn't even take any photos down there.

[ They can wind up back to the top and leave the cage, though they must pass by the nursery and watch the stumbling chick screech again. ]

[chrysanths]

I'm fine, since I don't think I'll forget the things here anytime soon.

[ Because he had been ACCOSTED by them (one willingly). ]

But you can take plenty of pictures in the next exhibit.

[obdure]

It'd be good to still have some for memories. When you're old and wrinkly, you can look back on it.

[ Are they still mindlessly holding hands? Jacopo won't notice because he's trying to persuade and argue for something. ]

What? Am I your photographer now?

[chrysanths]

[ Sure they can be mindlessly holding hands. The handholding continues. ]

What's this about you being my photographer? You're the one who said something about not having taken any photos over there.

[obdure]

[ They will realize eventually... ]

They would be photos for you since you've never been here. I have plenty of the zoo already. Why would I need more photos?

[chrysanths]

You were also the one snapping photos first.

[ This is where he realizes that they're holding hands, but he just keeps it that way. This is fine. ]

So you seemed invested. I don't really need photos...

[obdure]

Well, one of us should be.

[ And since Adolphe is like this, Jacopo decides he has to be the one invested wholesale. He squeezes his hand. ]

I'm taking them.

[chrysanths]

... Okay?

[ He'll just let Jacopo do that. A child passes by, staring at the two. They murmur "no fighting" before scampering away as if to avoid the consequences of saying it. Adolphe looks surprised. Were they fighting? No. But it makes him aware that other people, including children, are aware of their presence in public. ]

... Let's keep going.

[obdure]

[ Adolphe, you get on his nerves in such funny ways by being low maintenance and just existing.

The child comes and goes after being AUDACIOUS, but now he's a bit self-conscious. ]

... We weren't fighting.

[ Sulks........ Wait, they're holding hands. He slowly lets go. ]

This trail should lead us to the tigers? We'll see a bunch of jungle animals on the way, mostly monkeys.

[chrysanths]

[ Sometimes, one must force themselves to be low-maintenance. Existing though? Sounds like a skill issue for Jacopo. Adolphe looks at Jacopo letting go of his hand. ]

Tigers should be fun to watch if they're not sleeping. Maybe they'll feed it when we're there.

[ Rated G for General meat eating. Fun. ]

[obdure]

[ He gets you!! But life is more than that!!! And why are you specifically looking at him letting go of your hand. He crosses his arms, his usual pose. ]

We're likely to see more action from the tigers than the pandas. Feels like every time I've been here and those bears are asleep.

[ But along the monkey jungle trail! There are a ton of small monkey enclosures and they are quite animated. They can stop by each one and read the placard... Aside from monkey enclosures, there are like... Tapirs, smaller jungle cats, etc. ]

[chrysanths]

Don't they sleep like cats? 18 hours a day or something.

[ He has no clue. Adolphe stops by one of the placards.

Noses: Most Old World monkeys have small curved nostrils set close together. Most New World monkeys have round nostrils set far apart.

Cheek pouches: Macaques and some of the other Old World monkeys have cheek pouches, where food is stuffed on the run, so it can be chewed later. New World monkeys don’t have cheek pouches.

Rump pads: Some Old World monkeys, such as drills, have sitting pads on their rumps, but New World monkeys do not.

Tails: Some New World monkeys, such as spider monkeys, have prehensile tails, but Old World monkeys do not. And one Old World monkey, the Barbary macaque, has no tail at all!

Adolphe slightly tilts his head, not knowing how "macaque" is pronounced, so he just lets the word stay in his head. Makes it annoying to read though. ]

New and old world monkeys...

[ Then he looks at a tapir. ]

... Is it normal to look like a cross between anteater and hippo...

[obdure]

That speaks to how much pandas loaf around.

[ At least Jacopo thinks so. Pandas tend to not do much, which is a travesty when they pull in so many people and you can end up waiting in line for one to two hours for them. ]

Macaques.

[ Says it just because he's reading it... Even though he has read this before. He would say this and not Spinny Rift. He's have a chill and educational time, enjoying a nice day.

Then ADOLPHE KEEPS TALKING. What kind of question is that? He snorts before giving the tapir an apologetically smile. Sorry Adolphe insulted you, little tapir. It looks at them with the most head empty eyes. ]

... It didn't ask to be born looking like that, you know?

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe just looks at Jacopo like.

What the fuck.

Huh????

It's only worse because he doesn't think that Jacopo is pronouncing the name of the monkey. ]

[obdure]

[ Innocently looks back at him... Thinking that Adolphe knew he was just reading the monkey name.

????????????????? ]

Imagine someone coming up to you and asking why do you look like that?

[chrysanths]

[ He's about to comment on the pronunciation, but this is.

Hm. ]

Why should I care about some random person's opinion when it's not even job-related?

[ ?????????????? ]

[obdure]

[ Adolphe. You're getting distracted. ]

You're doing that to the poor tapir is what I'm saying.

[ The tapir looks at them... Then snorts its semi long snout.

He pats Adolphe's shoulder. Let's move along the trail. ]

[chrysanths]

Look, it doesn't even know what I'm saying. It doesnt care.

[ Like him!!

Anyway, they resume down the trail. They pass by some jungle cats in which Adolphe comments on how different they look from the usual cats that they see.

Then they're here at the tigers. The pandas are actually right next to them with a very strong, reinforced wall between them. It's also transparent, so the animals can see each other. Looks like they're getting along fine though and not trying to enact predator and prey actions on the glass. ]

Oh, a white tiger... Never seen one before.

[ Its piercing blue eyes stare at Jacopo. ]

[obdure]

I didn't know that makes it okay to ask if something is abnormal.

[ He's just teasing, not at all serious, and Jacopo will add that these cats are obviously a little feral... But they can definitely see how domestic cats got domesticated from these. Drops a random fact here about the predator with the highest success rate is actually the black-footed cat which doesn't look too different from regular cats if not for its fur pattern.

Do you give a shit about this, Adolphe? Too bad. Unfortunately, Jacopo comments on shows and movies, likewise drops trivia if he knows any.

Do pandas know what danger is...? Jacopo is distracted with a panda almost falling off a tree before turning back to the tiger exhibit. ]

... That's new.

[ Stares back at it with his boring brown eyes. ]

[chrysanths]

[ He holds himself from responding to the first bit. People really just say whatever they want and think they can get away with it. He listens to each trivia Jacopo gives. More useless information to remember!

The white tiger continues to stare at Jacopo and Adolphe thinks it's staring at himself so he just moves a little away from Jacopo to confirm it. ]

Animals like you for some reason.

[ Sure. That's a way to put it. ]

[obdure]

[ People do, people do, but he doesn't quite think you're those people. Unless they are talking about strange critters who have no feelings... Honestly, if Adolphe wasn't going to comment on strange animals, Jacopo was going to.

Sorry that he is informational, but all of it is fundamentally useless. It's for enrichment, sir. Adolphe needs it, especially. He doesn't need to remember it, though. ]

You think so...

[ Is this a friendly look, tiger? Hovers a hand over the glass wall? ]