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]

[ 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? ]

[chrysanths]

[ Honestly though? The trivia is a little endearing for some reason. He has no idea why he feels that way, but he does.

The white tiger merely stares while comfortably lying down. Adolphe can't make heads or tails to see if it leans in any way in terms of mood. ]

That baby bird took a "liking" to you.

[obdure]

[ Sometimes people find things quaint for no reason.

Jacopo purses his lips... ]

And you enjoyed watching me make my first arch-nemesis, since you laughed.

[ He turns his attention away from the tiger for the second and motions with a wave of his hand for Adolphe to come back. ]

[chrysanths]

I did.

[ Adolphe returns since he got his confirmation. There is a tiger that flops onto the white one and it bats at its face. Begone peasant. ]

[obdure]

No offer to help me fend off the chick... Cheeky.

[ Like he himself isn't.

Jacopo continues to beckon Adolphe over, making space for him, and even grabbing him to readjust where he should be. ]

We're going to take a photo.

[chrysanths]

Huh—oh.

[ He is readjusted and ripe for photo taking. Adolphe looks for the camera. Where is it... he looks down at Jacopo's hand. ]

... I'm not good at getting my pictures taken.

[ Jacopo might as well sneak a photo again. ]

[obdure]

[ They can be close in prep... Jacopo is raising his phone, ready to position it, but he thinks on this.

Instead of the camera app, he plays a silly video of the dogs. This one can be all of them dressed for Halloween, though it seems like the three large dogs are eying something down the hallway. In the distance, down that hall to the door, is a dog-sized cockroach. They can only see the backside, which is most of the costume.

Then there's the most dramatic and abrupt head turn where they can see Harold's little face, eyes big and head empty.

The camera ZOOMS IN on his face... And cockroach Harold cracks a puppy smile. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe looks confused when the camera function never comes on and instead, a video plays. He's not sure what he should do. Just stand there? The answer is yes, because now he sees a video play out on the screen.

...

Adolphe laughs a little. ]

Why is he... he looks so silly.

[obdure]

[ Jacopo smiles at the laugh, eyes still on his phone. ]

Too cute to be a cockroach, right?

[ With some swift swipes, he changes to the camera app and sets it on shutter mode. It all happens very fast where the camera takes several photos in quick succession to capture the lingering remnants of Adolphe's laugh.

The tigers are of course in the shot, too. It's almost like they're posing with them considering they're a little different in each frame. ]

[chrysanths]

[ Jacopo ends up getting those shots with the laughter, which surprises Adolphe. He didn't expect such a bait and switch so easily... ]

... You're good at this, huh.

[obdure]

Or you're not that difficult when getting your pictures taken.

[ They can see a couple of shots real quick and it's quite natural, with of course Jacopo obviously smiling for the camera while Adolphe more so smiling naturally from having laughed earlier. There's a tinge of fondness in his eyes and endearment in his smile as they swipe through, emotions half a shade deeper than they should be.

It takes him a moment to say more. ]

... In this one it looks like the tiger is going to chomp on your head.

[ Because the tiger is yawning in the background and the angle makes it look like that. ]

[chrysanths]

Yeah? It looked like there was no effort from your part to help make that happen.

[ He got tricked, but he doesn't hold it against Jacopo. He seems to be enjoying his time.

Then Adolphe sees the yawning tiger shot. ]

Scary.

[ Absolutely deadpan. ]

Good thing I'm all the way here.

[obdure]

I don't pride myself in tricking people, but... You smile and laugh around me every once in a while. I'm taking this as a debt I'll repay later.

[ If Adolphe held it against him, he'd bully him for being a little childish, but he'd also understand. Does he feel guilty? Maybe a little.

Not a whole lot though. ]

Scary. [ Same exact delivery. ] Let's try to keep it that way.

[ Adolphe being here and not there offering his left hand as a chew toy. Jacopo pockets his phone and motions to look at the pandas right by. ]

[chrysanths]

Is that something you really want to see more of?

[ It sounds so... pointed for some reason. He won't smile on demand, but...

Anyway.

Adolphe follows Jacopo's gaze to the pandas. It's... not very exciting. Some loaf around. Some sleep. Some... are fighting each other for some reason before their parent breaks them up. Okay. ]

... Wow.

[obdure]

What do you mean...? Like I want to see you smile more?

[ Adolphe's question feels weirdly accusatory and pointed to him. They were taking a photo! And it's better if they're both smiling, isn't it?

... But it's strange because if he thinks about it deeply, it feels familiar. He doesn't think he has asked Adolphe to smile before though. Or anyone.

They are at pandas and the pandas are cute. They are going about their lives even though two of them are having the most laidback wrestle ever.

One stands on its hind legs and just plops onto the other like this is the wrestling move of all time. It simply looks clumsy. ]

[chrysanths]

Yeah.

[ ...

He feels a little awkward all of a sudden as if he wasn't supposed to say that. Everything is just... weird. He feels like he said this before, but... not anywhere in the zoo nor the cafe home. Deja vu? ]

Is this how they actually fight? It reminds me of that red raccoon thing standing.

[obdure]

[ Jacopo isn't sure how to respond to that and he'll need a moment to string his thoughts and words together... They both can be a little awkward for a moment.

Good thing the pandas are so funny. ]

... I don't know if they fight at all. Adult pandas don't have many natural predators in China, so they don't... Really have a reason to fight. I think they're playing. These are also bred in captivity.

[ Watches this panda mufasa shove this other panda off the smallest ledge ever, but the one falling lets out such a pathetic scream. ]

[chrysanths]

... That sure is a scream.

[ Today he learns that pandas can scream like that. Amazingly pathetic. ]

Is this one of your favorites?

[obdure]

I didn't know they make that noise. [ They are usually sleeping, but he thinks it's a little funny. ] I wouldn't say one of my favorites, but they're a must-see. You never know when China decides to enact panda diplomacy and take them back because our government made a decision they don't like.

[ He hasn't thought about favorite animals since he was a kid... Aside from dogs, which are closer to pets.

It's been enough time, hasn't it? He has thought it over, examined his feelings, and also scrambled through every combination of words to use. ]

It wouldn't be an awful sight to see you smile more often. [ This is direct enough, isn't it? ] But you're not the type to do it on command. You'd need reasons...

[chrysanths]

[ cries in panda diplomacy

Meanwhile, Adolphe is surprised that such a thing exists. He nods, listening to what Jacopo says about it.

But then. Oh. ]

... I didn't realize how much it meant to you.

[ He means just smiles in general not just... his smiles. Lmao. ]

[obdure]

[ APPARENTLY IT ISNT DIRECT ENOUGH??? APPARENTLY THEYRE ON DIFFERENT PAGES ENTIRELY?

Jacopo doesn't even consider that Adolphe is thinking about it in a general sense. He isn't overly friendly, despite being amicable and friendly enough... Sure, smiles are nice, but what normal person cares so much about smiles even from strangers?

There was actually more he wanted to say... Something he repeated in his mind like once or twice, but now he's shocked into silence being (not) called out.

JUST QUIET WHILE STARING INTENSELY AT THE PANDAS... While his cheeks start turning pink, maybe even a flushed red. ]